BRADFORD—Five Bradford Selectboard candidates are gearing up for town meeting day in which community members will decide who will be filling the two open town officer positions.
There are two selectboard positions—one for a three-year term and the other for a two-year term. Candidates Todd Danis, Meroa Benjamin, Sarah Surette, and Anna Davidson are all running to fill the three-year seat, previously held by Randy Moore, who decided against running for reelection. Carole Taylor, the only incumbent, is running unopposed for another two-year term. Other than Benjamin, who is a write-in candidate for the three-year seat, all are listed on this year’s ballot.
Bradford Selectboard candidates gathered on Feb. 17 for introductions in a forum moderated by Alex Nuti-de Biasi from the Journal Opinion.

WOODSVILLE—With several questions about fire departments going to voters next month, Haverhill Town Manager Brigitte Codling last week presented her vision for the background and future of a town fire department.
Currently, three of the town’s precincts—Haverhill Corner, North Haverhill, and Woodsville— independently operate their own fire department and maintain their own fire station, although all rely on town funds.

WEST FAIRLEE—Fire officials said a family of three barely escaped with their lives after a fast-moving fire destroyed their historic split-level home at 3207 Blood Brook Road on Feb. 8.
The fire was called in at 10:19 p.m., and within minutes dozens of firefighters and equipment from at least nine mutual aid communities had converged at the scene to battle the blaze.
Fortunately, the husband and wife and their 10-month-old child were able to vacate the burning house by the time firefighters arrived, said West Fairlee Deputy Fire Chief Zach McNeal.
“They barely made it out the smoke was so heavy,” McNeal said.

BRADFORD—In an atmosphere charged with anticipation, the Bradford Armory was abuzz with chatter, tears and hugs on Saturday as Vermont National Guard soldiers departed for a year-long deployment abroad.
Approximately 80 soldiers were given the big send-off by well-wishers at the armory and beyond. Flags, horns and sirens, balloons and “thank you” signs and banners enlivened Main Street and the Lower Plain as scores of people from throughout the area turned out to support the Guard members and their families.
The National Guard unit of Bradford will be part of Task Force Avalanche within Operation Spartan Shield, a U.S. Department of Defense operation in the U.S. Central Command.

WELLS RIVER—Several positive COVID-19 cases in the community prompted pre-k-12 Blue Mountain Union School to move to remote learning on a full-time basis for the next three weeks.
At least five people with Covid were within the school building last week.
In a letter posted on Facebook, Orange East Supervisory Union Superintendent Emilie Knisley said none of the cases confirmed last week were a result of in-school transmission. Knisley did not return a voice mail.