Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. BENNINGTON â Gaining Appalachian Trail Community designation for Bennington required months of work by local volunteer committee members â especially after the COVID-19 pandemic struck during the application process â but now the group is immersed in some of the more enjoyable tasks. Several committee members were strolling around the central downtown Thursday, sizing up locations to mount Benningtonâs official AT Trail Community signs. Steve Love and Sylvia Cassano, co-chairs of the group, along with town Community Development Director Shannon Barsotti, Jonah Spivak and Michael Wajda, said they are determining spots where the metal signs would get plenty of notice.