By Brett Yates Rutlanders who enjoyed the colorful, pedestrian-friendly reconfiguration of Center Street last summer may find a similar sight downtown in 2021, if the city finds a way to pay for it. The Rutland Redevelopment Authority (RRA) applied last week for a “placemaking” grant from the Vermont Dept. of Housing & Community Development, which,…

By Merisa Sherman It’s cold. And not just a little bit cold but the kind of cold where you can put your hand on the wall of your house and feel the outside seeping in. It’s the kind of cold where you learn all the little cracks and crevices that will need to be re-caulked…

We’re now one month removed from Christmas. At my house, however, one gift from that morning continues to have repercussions several weeks later. Prior to the holidays, I spent a good chunk of time trying to pick out gifts for my wife and son. The lockdowns had made our lives dull and repetitive, so I…

By Mary Ellen Shaw When I meet someone on the street or in a store they often like to reminisce about the “good old days.” For my age group that pretty much covers the period from the 1950s through the 1970s. A common topic of conversation is how much fun it was to shop in…

The Treasury Department prints millions of notes. The following information was obtained from U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing and details what goes into creating a $20 bill and when its lifespan ends. Paper A $20 bill starts out life as part of a large sheet of paper. While most paper is made primarily from…

Staff report, VTDigger An environmental court judge has ordered that, for now, Daniel Banyai must stop paramilitary training activities at Slate Ridge, which has operated without a permit for several years in West Pawlet. Following court proceedings that have lasted more than a year, the judge on Thursday, Jan. 21, issued a preliminary injunction, which states…

By Declan McCabe I consider the lack of biting insects and other invertebrates to be a wondrous gift of the winter season. I can wander unmolested through wood and field absent the attentions of mosquitoes, deer flies, and ticks. And aside from a short list of “usual suspects,” insects are a rarity to be encountered…

By Victoria Gaither For 25 years, Black Dog Sports in Killington has been getting skiers and snowboarders ready forThe Beast. Based on industry standards, new techniques developed over the years by owner and operator Dave Manning provide skiers with a better edge to ride Killington and Pico. “We iron on the wax, and it’s a…

By Brooke Geery Skolf, developed by Airblaster in 2016/2017, is a competitive snowboarding blend of S-K-A-T-E and golf. For the past several seasons, the outerwear brand has held skolf world tours, crowning champions across the globe. But with Covid-19, the world tour was scrapped for a  smaller, localized activation. The Darkside in Killington was one…

By Cassandra Tyndall Many moons ago, I had a powerlifting coach who helped me take my lifting goals to the next level. He used to call out a series of coaching cues that totally revolutionized the way I lifted. “Tighten up tension out,” he’d say in a calm deep voice as I prepared to deadlift.…

Every year, advocates join together to raise their voice in support of Mental Health Advocacy Day at the Statehouse. This year is no exception, everyone is meeting virtually on Monday, Feb. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to call on Vermont leaders and legislators to support “Our Mental Health in the Time of Covid.” The Covid pandemic will be the focus of this year’s Mental Health Advocacy…

Gov. Scott issues proclamation recognizing Jan. 24-30 as Vt. School Choice Week In the midst of a school year like no other, Vermont families and educators are gearing up to safely spotlight education options during School Choice Week 2021. Vermont community members are hosting 69 virtual or at-home celebrations during the week. Taking place annually…

FAIR HAVEN—Fair Haven Free Library Is now offering take-out… for your child’s brain that is. The library has prepared several story time take-out kits. Each kit contains four books on a theme with accompanying family fun activities appropriate for children approximately age 3-8. Current available themes are Penguins, Silly Stories, Maple Sugaring, Pirates, Valentine’s Day, Presidents,…

By Amy Collett Opening a business used to involve high startup costs, piles of inventory, and an ecologically unfriendly amount of waste. But if your dream is to become an ECOpreneur, there are options – and they don’t require overconsumption of fossil fuels or living out of a cubicle. Check out these ECOpreneurship ideas and…

WEST HAVEN—Devil’s Bowl Speedway is making a big change for the 2021 season. The historic half-mile Vermont dirt track is switching to Saturday as its primary race night for the new year, setting itself up for a schedule that should be more convenient for fans, competitors, and officials. Opening night will be Saturday, May 1…