Wild weather takes a starring role in Waterbury Circus Smirkus shows
Performers and audience members alike recently got a little more than they bargained for during two circus shows under a large tent pitched in a Vermont field as scattered storms moved through.
The surprising shifts climate change is bringing to Vermont farms: rice paddies, peaches, saffron
Vermont’s farmers are growing crops that better suit the state’s warmer and wetter climate — and branching into products that provide income even when traditional crops fail.
To fight knotweed, Mad River Valley towns let goats pig out
For the past seven years, volunteers have been pulling and clipping Japanese knotweed from riverbanks, open fields, roadsides and plenty of places in between.
Backcountry rescuers assist an injured Hunger Mt. hiker and a Perry Hill biker
Waterbury Backcountry Rescue Team responded on Saturday to assist an injured hiker on the Middlesex side of Hunger Mountain. On Wednesday, the team worked on Perry Hill to assist an injured mountain biker.
Waitsfield town government targeted in sophisticated financial hack for $81K
State and federal agencies are investigating a sophisticated financial hack of $81,000 carried out as the Town of Waitsfield paid its engineering firm $81,000 for work conducted as part of the town’s wastewater project.
Road Work: July 14-18
The Stowe Street bridge crew is working in the streambed with the help of cofferdams to manage water. Work along I-89 on resurfacing is adding asphalt and traffic is slow due to the lane closure. Travelers will be able to get around a culvert project on Kneeland Flats Road.
Florida teen pleads not guilty in fatal Fayston crash
A Florida teen charged in connection with a single-vehicle crash that killed a Fayston man on July 5 has pleaded not guilty and is seeking to move the case to Vermont Family Court.
Three youngsters rescued unharmed after a night lost on Camels Hump
BOLTON – Three youngsters spent Thursday night hunkered down off-trail on Camels Hump after a summer-camp orienteering exercise went awry, triggering a search and rescue effort involving multiple state and local agencies that ended soon after daybreak on Friday.
No one injured in two structure fires doused by Waterbury and neighboring fire crews
Waterbury firefighters had a busy Wednesday responding to two structure fires in Waterbury and Duxbury that mobilized multiple local crews along with mutual aid from several neighboring communities. No one was hurt.
Backcountry rescue teams log multiple recent mountain rescues
Just before 10 p.m. on Sunday, search and rescue teams from Waterbury and Stowe responded to Hunger Mountain to rescue a hiker injured in a fall.
Waterbury lands two state grants of nearly $300k
The Town of Waterbury has landed two state grants totaling nearly $300,000 to fund improvements to part of the downtown business district and a new effort to make a core commercial area in Waterbury Center more connected and pedestrian-friendly.
Pedestrian fatally struck in Fayston on Saturday
A pedestrian was fatally struck in Fayston on Saturday, and a Florida teen driver was scheduled to face a criminal charge in court on Monday, according to Vermont State Police.
Road Work: July 7-11
The Stowe Street bridge crew is removing old footings and prepping for new ones. Asphalt is being removed from I-89 southbound from Waterbury where just one lane is open for travel. Paving is to be completed Mon-Tues on Kneeland Flats Road.
Local residents among 83 appointees to state boards and commissions
Several local residents are among 83 appointments that Gov. Phil Scott has made recently to state boards and commissions.
Former ambulance station to become MakerSphere’s new woodshop
Waterbury Ambulance Service’s longtime home on Guptil Road may be mostly empty now, but another community nonprofit is poised to move in soon. MakerSphere announced to its members and supporters last week that it is signing a lease to move its woodshop into the building this summer.
Road Work: June 30-July 3
Road work continues for a short week, given the Independence Day holiday on Friday. Stowe Street bridge demolition continues. I-89 southbound from Waterbury will have delays as milling and paving begins.
Weekend events will mean road closures/changes in Waterbury
There are many events happening in Waterbury this weekend, the biggest being the annual Not Quite Independence Day festivities on Saturday and organizers want the public to be aware of multiple road closures and changes so people can plan accordingly.
Murphy, the lost dog who stole Waterbury’s hearts, crosses the rainbow bridge
Murphy, the lost golden retriever who wandered Waterbury Center for over a year, captivating the community that collectively pulled for his capture, crossed the rainbow bridge earlier this month.
Road Work: June 23-27
The Stowe Street bridge project and the I-89 southbound resurfacing project are both under way now and will have the largest impacts on local traffic. Also here are updates on smaller projects in Waterbury and notice of a major local project in Fayston.
Big weekend ahead packs in summertime fun
School’s out, the calendar now officially says “summer,” a blast of heat is on the way, and the June 27-29 weekend schedule in Waterbury packs in a maximum number of events, officially kicking off the season.