This Week’s News
Let’s get physical: Fit Factory Fitness Center to open in Brandon
For years, the closest gyms to the Brandon/Pittsford area were in either Rutland or Middlebury, making it inconvenient to fit weight training and other gym-based exercise into a weekly schedule.
Mother’s Meadow pick-your-own blueberry farm opens in Brandon
Everyone has a favorite way to enjoy fresh summer blueberries: pies, pancakes, muffins, jams, jellies, or just by the handful.
Nesobe Golf Club is no longer a “Hidden Gem”
Neshobe Golf Club hosted the 96th New England Amateur Championship with the best golfers in New England competing over three days.
Coming to America, Part 4: John and Alice (Libuda) Brutkowski of West Rutland
These next two episodes focus on the grandparents of my late friend and colleague John H. Brutkoski (1943–2010), who taught Social Studies at Otter Valley Union High School for 37 years.
Photos of the Week
Sports
Meet young Vermont falconer, Kristen Lee
Suprisingly, I met Kristen Lee’s red-tailed hawk, Krueger, in the post office one day. He was there on a visit on Lee’s day off from her postal route.
OV wrestler Isaac Whitney earns title at big N.H. meet
Otter Valley Union High School wrestling made an outstanding showing at the 2025 Annual Minickiello Wrestling Tournament in Keene, N.H., on Saturday.
OV’s Lucas Politano signs deal to play Div I golf for Rutgers U.
The Politano family of Brandon extended its golf dynasty even further last Wednedsay when OV senior Lucas Politano signed a letter of intent to play golf for Division I Rutgers University in New Jersey.
Otter Valley puts up a fight, but loses in Championship game to powerhouse Woodstock
The Otter Valley football team made an unanticipated trip to the Vermont Division 3 championship game but lost 65–14 to a fast and dominating Woodstock team that featured 13 seniors.
OV football stuns BFA Fairfax; will play division championship
Last Saturday, in a show of outstanding football, the Otter Valley Otters defeated the BFA Fairfax Bullets in a show of stellar offense and gutsy defense. On a raw day with occasional sleet, a crowd of 300 showed up in Fairfax to witness the semifinal game which looked to be a sure thing for the Bullets, who were undefeated at 10-0 versus the Otters at 5-4.
