Features

No haggis needed: A patchouli-soaked Vermonter has no problem following recommended social distancing practices

State to distribute social distancing equipment

MONTPELIER- Legislators this week approved funding for a state program to aid in social distancing.
Under the bill, H.401, the Vermont Department of Health will purchase and distribute bagpipes and patchouli to Vermonters to support their social distancing efforts. “Our testing...

Stylists: it’s about to get ugly out there

By Ydnar Inatipac
DOVER- When the state of Vermont ordered all hair and nail salons to close two weeks ago, as part of the effort to stem the community transmission of the coronavirus, it was done with the interest of protecting public health.
While the order was meant to slow the...

Why show your living room when you can be on the beach or in the Oval Office?

WILMINGTON - When community members began regularly engaging in video chats in recent weeks, Ralph Dune noticed a trend.
“Everyone was sizing up people’s backgrounds,” he says. “Whose house is most eclectic? Who has the best view?”
Dune got an idea. “Sure, you could remodel your...

Bears says hibernation may help quarantine

WILMINGTON - Though bears were surprised to see a lack of food debris downtown upon waking last week, when they learned that humans are engaging in social distancing, they quickly pivoted to offer advice and support.
“Really all the time, but especially from October to March each year, we...

Beer mongers see spike in booze sales

DEERFIELD VALLEY- With stay-at-home orders shuttering restaurants, schools, and many businesses, people are stocking up on more than just toilet paper, say local package store and bar staff.
“Beer sales are through the roof,” said Charlie Angle of Tatoo’s Liquors. “All of the Mexican...

Cops bust blackmarket toilet paper ring

WILMINGTON- On Wednesday, April 1, police received a 911 report of possible drug-related activity occurring at a downtown park. According to the 911 caller, dozens of people were observed arriving at the park and scurrying away minutes later with something in a brown paper bag tucked under their...

“Koronashine” hand-sanitizer bootleggers popped

SEARSBURG- State police, working with federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agents, have seized an illegal still operating in the woods behind a private home in Searsburg.
According to police, the illicit distillate was being used to make bootleg hand sanitizer to be sold on the...

Kids trapped in a haunted ski lodge

“Dead Voices” by Katherine Arden
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2019
In this sequel to her ghost story “Small Spaces” (reviewed here August last year), Katherine Arden opens by putting her three protagonists—Ollie Adler, Coco Zintner, and Brian Battersby—in a Subaru heading...

This Week in History

10 years ago:
The Tri-town Economic Development Committee was planning to hire an economic development specialist. Wilmington voters approved $50,000 for the position at Town Meeting, and the Dover Selectboard planned to contribute their share from their 1% local option...

Sen. Jeanette White

Continuing to meet however possible

As we are all aware we are in very uncertain times today - things are changing at a very fast pace. Two weeks ago we went back to the Statehouse, worked on finishing up our work before crossover (when Senate bills have to be out of committee to go to the House and vice versa). We worked even as...