News

Gannon to be ethics czar; Hoot, Toot, & Whistle gets grant

WILMINGTON - During their meeting on Tuesday, January 7, the Wilmington Selectboard appointed John Gannon as a liaison to the ethics committee and approved a grant match for the Windham County Arts and Cultural Plan Development.
“We have 30 days from the first of January 2025 for the...

Amy Morneault is the new director at the Pettee Memorial Library. Lauren Harkawik

New director at Pettee Memorial Library recalls “magical” childhood

WILMINGTON - For Amy Morneault, the newly-named director of Pettee Memorial Library, two big elements of her new job were also part of a magical childhood. The first: libraries. The second: the Deerfield Valley.
Morneault told The Deerfield Valley News that stories were a big part of her...

At new Black Ember Grill, smoked meat elevated to art

DOVER - When one steps into Black Ember Grill, located at 171 Vermont Route 100, it’s immediately evident in the air: fire plays a big role here. The smell of burning wood seems permanently suspended in the restaurant’s air. Its presence is tantalizing, then, as one looks at the menu, which...

Looking back at the stories that defined last year

Crisis at Windham Southwest Supervisory Union topped 2024 news
DEERFIELD VALLEY- The biggest story of 2024 unfolded slowly throughout the year, starting in January when Windham Southwest Supervisory Union Superintendent Barbara Anne Komons-Montroll announced she would be...

Imogene Harkawik, left, age 8, and Esphyr Harkawik, right, age 4, visited with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, right, during a recent stop the couple made at the Wilmington Fire Department. Photo by Lauren Harkawik

Ho, ho, ho: the Big Guy shares delivery secrets

After a successful trip to the valley, Santa reveals his favorite landmarks
THE NORTH POLE - After last year revealing that the valley’s unique soil and grain contribute to his reindeer taking flight, this year, Santa Claus gave The Deerfield Valley News an exclusive...

River Valleys board reviews numbers, awaits survey results

DOVER - During a 30-minute meeting on Monday, December 16, the River Valleys Unified School District board discussed the upcoming budget season and heard reports from the principals of both Wardsboro Elementary and The Dover School.
The board reviewed an estimated profit and loss statement...

Twin Valley making progress on harassment settlement, still more to do

WHITINGHAM- Twin Valley School Board members discussed a progress report on the district’s settlement agreement with the Department of Justice at their regular meeting last week. Windham Southwest Supervisory Union Director of Curriculum Garon Smail and Twin Valley Middle High School Principal...

The Rev. Fr. Kevin Chalifoux stands in front of the recently-repaired windows of Our Lady of Fatima church in Wilmington, in a photo taken in October. The church is planning a number of activities next week to ring in the new year. Lauren Harkawik/File photo

New Year’s Eve may be spent in prayer, followed by champagne

WILMINGTON - Though some may exclusively think of church as a morning or evening pursuit and New Year’s Eve as a night of parties, at Our Lady of Fatima in Wilmington, midnight on New Year’s Eve will find some at the pew.
Explaining the church’s approach to marking the new calendar year...

Getting towns a better return on option taxes a priority

MONTPELIER- Towns that have adopted a local option tax could be in for a rebate, if the Vermont League of Cities and Towns can convince the Legislature to part with an estimated $10.3 million surplus of fees generated by the tax currently in the state’s PILOT program coffers.
“The...

News Briefs December 26 - January 2

AG Clark clears troopers in shooting of RI suspect MONTPELIER– Attorney General Charity Clark has declined to prosecute Vermont State Police Sgt. Joshua Mikkola and Trooper Richard Berlandy for any charges related to the use of potentially deadly force in a shooting incident...