News

New fund for QTBIPOC

BRATTLEBORO- Out in the Open announces the launch of a rural mutual aid fund. The fund will distribute money to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or queer folks. Applicants who are QTBIPOC (queer, trans, black, indigenous, and people of color) living on Abenaki territory of the Wabanaki confederacy...

Gov. Phil Scott announces $30 million in CARES-funded housing assistance

MONTPELIER- Gov. Phil Scott announced a $30 million housing assistance program for renters, landlords, and lower-income homeowners who have been affected by COVID-19.
The programs, funded through the federal CARES Act, provide relief for those tenants unable to pay rent, landlords...

Barnes accuses club members of “deep envy” of his success

BURLINGTON- James Barnes and his attorney are calling the Hermitage Member Group “insiders,” and say the Vermont District Bankruptcy Court erred in approving the sale of Hermitage assets to the group.
Barnes made the claim in a 13-page document filed late Wednesday evening in response to...

Call a cop, get a social worker, too

WILMINGTON- The town’s police department will soon have a part-time social worker to respond to calls with officers, Wilmington Police Chief Matt Murano told selectboard members at their regular meeting Tuesday evening. Murano said he had been searching for opportunities to get mental health and...

Dover's welcome signs are sporting masks to remind people to wear masks in public. Last week, the Dover Selectboard passed a resolution requiring masks to be worn in businesses open to the public and public buildings.

Mask resolution leads to scuffle, town will fund “shop local” campaign

DOVER - The Dover Selectboard held a hybrid meeting on Tuesday, with some people in person at Dover Town Hall and others participating via Zoom. At the meeting, the board heard from Police Chief Randy Johnson, who said an incident involving a physical altercation on Sunday had been spurred by...

Board boots reluctant electee, will appoint seat

WILMINGTON- Following an executive session Tuesday evening, Wilmington Selectboard members approved a resolution to fill a vacant selectboard seat by appointing a new board member.
The position has been vacant since Town Meeting in March, when Ann Manwaring’s three-year term expired....

Donna and James Barnes' Watch Hill estate was sold at a bankruptcy auction in March for $10,403,000. Reinhart Foodservice, which has a $1.5 million lien on the house connected to a judgment against James Barnes and the Hermitage.

Creditor balks at plan, seeks payment from Barnes’ wife bankruptcy

HARTFORD, CT- In an objection filed in Connecticut District Bankruptcy Court last week, Reinhart Foodservice makes it clear they intended to seek compensation from Donna Barnes’ bankruptcy estate for $1.5 million in money owed to them by former Hermitage owner James Barnes.
Reinhart filed...

Cell phones, harm reduction discussed

WILMINGTON - At Voice of Hope’s Tuesday, June 30th meeting, the group discussed programs to get cell phones to those who don’t have them and an effort underway to bring some harm reduction services to the health center in Wilmington. The group said it will be meeting with a newly-hired social...

Hammond and Kirkman Accepting certificates

Wilmington officers receive awards

WILMINGTON- On June 26, officers and staff of the Wilmington Police Department were each presented with a letter of commendation from Chief Matthew Murano for their dedicated work during this pandemic.
The letters to staff read in part: “During the last several months the officers and...

Face coverings required in Dover, per Friday morning resolution

DOVER - At a special meeting held at 8 am on Friday, the Dover Selectboard passed a resolution to require face coverings in all town-owned buildings and businesses open to the public. The resolution, which will go into effect immediately, was passed after an hourlong debate, with members of the...