By Polly Mikula Governor Phil Scott was cautiously optimistic as he addressed Vermonters at the regular news conference Tuesday, Dec. 15. The arrival of a Covid vaccine coupled by recent data about Vermont’s plateauing infection rates, were reason for hope, he said. But Scott refrained from hinting at possibilities for holiday gatherings or youth winter…

By Vanessa Robertson Rutland Young Professionals is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to building up Rutland County and creating social and fun networking opportunities for young professionals in the area. Just as important as growing networks and business, Rutland Young Professionals is dedicated to giving back to our community. A majority of our board members…

By Mary Ellen Shaw Christmas will be celebrated differently for many of us this year thanks to the pandemic. While large gatherings are a “no-no” the spirit of Christmas and its true meaning will remain the same. I noticed Christmas lights went up in our neighborhood in early November. Some people even turned them on…

By Dom Cioffi Most people can review their life and easily point to two or three individuals who were major influences on the person they became. Hopefully, one of those was a parent, but other likely candidates might include a coach, teacher, or other relative. I was one of those lucky kids who had both…

By Meghan McCarthy Mcphaul One night just before Christmas last year, my youngest daughter and I opted to walk the short distance home from dinner at my parents’ house, rather than drive with the rest of the family. Our eyes adjusted to the night, and the snow beneath our feet shimmered, even in the winter…

By Cassandra Tyndall A total Solar Eclipse occurring this week may help you re-arrange old ideas, perspectives and beliefs of what you once held dear. From the remains of what’s left, innovative new structures, ideas, beliefs and possibilities can be created. This eclipse is heavily influenced by the flurry of planetary changes that surround it.…

Friday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m.—BARNARD — Local non-profit BarnArts directly spawned out of a winter recital organized by Jarvis Antonio Green in Barnard on Dec. 19, 2011, and that recital has been celebrated as the first Winter Carols and founding event for BarnArts ever since.  BarnArts will be celebrating 10 years of Winter Carols…

On Dec. 19, Pickle Barrel will be opening for the season with live music. Tony Lee Thomas will take the stage at 3 p.m. and MB Padfield will perform at 6 p.m., for her first show back in Killington in years. The Karr Group has revamped the Pickle Barrel set up with tables for people…

By Brooke Geery Struggling to find the perfect gift for that hard-to-please friend or family member? May we suggest the gift of reading? We have teamed up with Phoenix Books in Rutland to compile a list of books either about Vermont, or written here, to help give you some ideas. “Prisoner of Hope” by Yvonne…

By Erin Hunt When planning a foreign adventure, adding a garden to the itinerary is an ideal way to be outside, avoid large crowds and leisurely explore on a budget. You’re able to see sweeping landscapes designed by architects as well as exotic plants up close. And you will come away with ideas for your…

Dec. 17-20—WOODSTOCK—Billings Farm & Museum’s 11th annual Woodstock Vermont Film Series features National Geographic’s “The Last Ice,” available for online streaming Dec. 17-20. The presentation includes an interview with the film’s director, Scott Ressler. Scientific projections forecast the total disappearance of summer sea ice in the Arctic — the critical cooling system of our planet…

MONTPELIER— Rootstock Publishing, a Montpelier-based publisher and an imprint of Multicultural Media, Inc., announces the publication of The Lost Grip, a debut poetry collection by author-illustrator Eva Zimet of Montpelier, Vermont. ‘The Lost Grip, ‘a beautiful 6.5 by 6.5-inch square book featuring original artwork by Zimet, is a collection of poems, some punctuated with line…

During a recent interview on “Spotlight,” a local TV program carried by Okemo Valley TV, Tesha Buss described her new book, “Uncommonly Good,” about the creation of Good Commons in Plymouth along with a large number of recipes originated at Good Commons. Along with her co-author, Matthew Wexler, the book covers much of the history…

Celebrate Christmas at Billings Farm & Museum Dec. 19- Jan. 3—WOODSTOCK—Take a safe, outdoor holiday outing with your family, filled with holiday cheer! Christmas at the Farm will be featured daily Dec. 19 – Jan. 3, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (excluding Christmas Day). Victorian traditions begin with a horse-drawn sleigh ride (socially distanced and…

Dec. 18-27—MIDDLEBURY—For the next edition of Split/Screen, a partnership between Vermont International Film Festival (VTIFF )and Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival, VTIFF presents Vermont on Film - films with plots set in the Green Mountain State:  “Baby Boom,” “Welcome Home,” “Johnny Bristol,” “Spellbound” and “Nothing Sacred.” In these films, Vermont is a metaphor for calm, beauty…