Friday-Saturday, Nov. 3-4—RUTLAND—The 3rd annual Holiday Artisan Gift Show at the Chaffee Art Center Friday, Nov. 3 from 4–7 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 4 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. will feature items that are unique, handmade and affordable.  This event is perfect for gift giving or to treating yourself.  Vendors will be selling pottery, ornaments,…

  CASTLETON—Castleton’s neighborhood hot spot, Blue Cat Bistro, has partnered with George Nostrand of Rutland’s A Sound Space to bring 10 shows to their venue, every Friday through the end of the year, starting Nov. 3. The bar/ bistro is owned by John Rehlen, who also ownsthe Castleton Pizza Place & Deli, the Castleton Village…

  Thursday, Nov.  2, 5-7 p.m. —PITTSFIELD — Same Sun of Vermont welcomes participants to the Clear River Inn & Tavern to learn about the benefits of solar energy.   Complementary food, drinks and giveaways will be offered to all.  The evening is part of a series known as The River Events, celebrating Same Sun’s 13th year in…

  Thursday-Sunday, Nov. 2-5 —CASTLETON—VTSU Castleton Theatre Arts Presents “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” Happiness is great musical theatre! With charm, wit, and heart, “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” explores life through the eyes of Charlie Brown and his friends in the "Peanuts" gang. This revue of songs and vignettes, based on the…

  Saturday, Nov. 4 at 2 p.m.—WOODSTOCK—“Mindful Musings,” an exhibition of paintings by D. Scotti Hanson, is on display in the Mezzanine Gallery of Norman Williams Public Library from Nov. 1-Dec.  31. Hanson will be on hand on Saturday for a reception and artist talk. Hanson discussed his art style: “My artistic development stems from…

  Saturday, Nov. 4, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.—SPRINGFIELD—Watercolorist Robert J. O’Brien will teach a one-day workshop on painting the vibrant colors of fall using watercolors. This workshop is open to all abilities, although some experience with watercolors is suggested. The workshop will take place at the Gallery at the VAULT in Springfield. The instructor, Robert J.…

  Saturday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m.—RUTLAND— Railroad Earth, a celebrated quintet from New Jersey, has been captivating audiences with their unpredictable live shows and eloquent studio output for over two decades. The group introduced their signature sound, bluegrass-influenced Americana, on 2001’s "The Black Bear Sessions. "Since then, they have sold out hallowed venues such…

  Saturday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m.—SHREWSBURY—Joan Aleshire, Vermont author and founder of SAGE, an organization that supports sustainable agricultural education and the arts, will be at the Shrewsbury Library to read from her new novel, "Belfield," out now from Green Writers Press.   The novel is based on an incident in the life of Charles Willson…

  Courtesy Paramount Theatre “Vanish” will be screened Friday at the Paramount Theatre.   Friday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.—RUTLAND­—“Vanish —Disappearing Icons of a Rural America” is a remarkable story of past and present. “Vanish” chronicles the “visual preservation” adventures of fine art photographer Jim Westphalen as he travels across the country seeking out and…

  By David Moats David Moats, an author and journalist who lives in Salisbury, is a regular columnist for VTDigger. He is editorial page editor emeritus of the Rutland Herald, where he won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for a series of editorials on Vermont’s civil union law. At a time when facts, science, and the…

  Dear Editor, For the benefit of Vermont, it is our duty and our obligation to serve, educate, and sustain our citizenry, yet Vermont allocates fewer public dollars to its state college system than any other state. How do we ensure stability in our public colleges, engage the public, and insist that the Vermont Legislature…

  Dear Editor, Join Vermont students, advocates, nonprofit leaders, equity directors, and more for an event on Nov. 8. In 2023, the Vermont Student Anti-Racism Network and the Rutland NAACP sent out a survey asking about student experiences with racism in schools. We got alarming — but not necessarily surprising — results.  At this event,…

Dear Editor,   In August the Expeditionary School at Black River and Ludlow Legion hosted a sold out chicken BBQ, raising just over $2,000 and selling out of over 120 chicken meals.  At that time, ESBR was still in the midst of the Vermont State Board of Education’s Approval Process. Although it was important for…

By Angelo Lynn Editor’s note: Angelo Lynn is the editor and publisher of the Addison County Independent, a sister publication to the Mountain Times.  Out of the chaos of the past three weeks, is Rep. Mike Johnson, the newly elected U.S. House Speaker, a ray of hope that the can finally govern?  Perhaps. Rep. Johnson,…

 By David Davis Skellies pose for group shot in front of the Howe Center before the parade begins.   For decades, the Skellies have been entertaining the Rutland area community under the leadership of Gary Meitrott, owner of Drum Journeys of Earth in Rutland. Musicians, dancers, puppeteers, acrobats, fire-jugglers, stilt-walkers and human-propelled floats have been…