FAIRLEE—A large construction project in downtown Fairlee is attracting a great deal of curiosity these days. So, what’s going on next to the old railroad station?
According to Vermont Agency of Transportation’s assistant director for railroads and aviation Trini Brassard, extreme weather on July 1, 2017 washed out, damaged and undercut two culverts underneath the railroad tracks.
The worst damage occurred around a culvert located just north of the railroad station. That one is being completely overhauled. The other damaged culvert getting repaired this summer is 2.6 miles south of that.

POST MILLS—“Jump in, let’s go for a ride,” was often on the lips of the late Brian Boland, the guy who brought ballooning to Post Mills Airport.
The weather was perfect as pilots and balloon enthusiasts from near and far converged on the Post Mills Airport on Sept. 11-12 for the gathering of the 2021 Experimental Balloon and Airship Association.
The event served as a memorial of sorts for Boland, 72, who died after falling from a balloon in Bradford on July 15.

BRADFORD—Spirits were not running high at last week’s Bradford Selectboard meeting after a request to serve beer and wine by a local business was denied.
Vittles House of Brews’ owner Kendall Gendron had submitted a request to reserve the Bradford Academy auditorium on Oct. 31 for a Halloween Drag Burlesque Show and to serve beer and wine at an party in the building’s gymnasium. Use of the BA auditorium and gym was the subject of most discussion at the Sept. 9 meeting with selectboard members Ted Unkles, Carole Taylor, Meroa Benjamin, Daniel Perry III, and Ryan Lockwood, and several members of the public present.

WEST TOPSHAM—Half a dozen area firefighters resigned last week after a combustible association annual meeting.
Six firefighters resigned from the Tri-Village Fire Department on Sept.1, citing dissatisfaction with leadership, the current trustee board’s incompetence, lack of professionalism, and the risk of allowing untrained personnel to operate apparatus and attend working fire scenes.
According to TVFD Chief Rich Sampson, who has held the post for close to 12 years, the department is functioning normally and the resignations will not affect the department’s ability to respond to emergencies with sufficiently trained personnel. He said approximately 23 volunteers remain.

BRADFORD—Although the Vermont Department of Education has recommended that schools require universal masking for all students and staff for the first 10 days of the year, schools in Orange East Supervisory Union will continue the practice through at least Oct. 15.
The announcement came last week before at least one COVID-19 case prompted some classes at Bradford Elementary School to shift to remote learning.