The Vermont Dept. of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has awarded Rutland Town a 2021 municipal planning grant (MPG) to develop plans for a pocket park near Mead Falls in Center Rutland (at Old Falls Road off Bus. 4.) The grant will be used to survey and design walkways, a scenic overlook of the falls,…

The Paramount Theatre board of directors has promoted long-time Paramount staff member Eric Mallette to the position of executive director. Mallette had been serving as interim executive director since July 1, 2020 following the announcement that long-serving Executive Director Bruce Bouchard would be retiring at the end of the calendar year. Bouchard has been serving…

Mayor proclaims April 30 as Dave Schneider Arbor Day By Brett Yates After two decades on the job, Rutland City’s forester and arborist Dave Schneider will retire on Jan. 4, 2021. Tim Smith, Schneider’s assistant for the past four years, will replace him. At the Board of Aldermen Dec. 7 meeting, Mayor David Allaire officially…

Local artist Lopi LaRoe’s latest mural “Rise Up,” is painted near West Ridge Center, an addiction treatment facility in the Howe Center in Rutland City. While it’s smaller than her 60-foot tall mural honoring Black Lives Matter painted this summer on Roots the Restaurant’s wall overlooking Center Street Marketplace Park, it is still commanding. “Rise…

By Lee J. Kahrs BRANDON — Rutland Northeast Superintendent Jeanné Collins has contracted Covid-19 and is in quarantine with her family. On Tuesday, Dec. 8, Collins was reporting Covid symptoms and her voice sounded hoarse, but she was well enough to continue working and is still leading the district. There have been no positive coronavirus…

By Katy Savage After 34 years, Chef Claude Blais is moving on. Blais sold his Choices Restaurant on Killington Road to two of his employees on Dec. 14. Dan Tolley, the bartender and Tim Galvin, the sous chef, are reopening the restaurant under their name on Dec. 17. Blais, who had long been looking to…

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…