By Lani Duke GMC helps develop innovative study tour POULTNEY—Green Mountain prof Philip Ackerman-Leist has spent the current academic year working with sustainable agricultural leaders at other Vermont colleges and the Vermont Council on Rural Development to create the first Vermont food systems study tour. The tour, worth three credits, takes undergraduate and graduate students…

By Lee H. Hamilton After Congress came a hair’s-breadth from shutting down the Department of Homeland Security a few weeks ago, members of the leadership tried to reassure the American people. “We’re certainly not going to shut down the government or default on the national debt,” Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declared on CBS’s “Face the…

Courtesy of BRGNS Okemo volunteers Sarah, Heather, Dan and Michelle collect food from skiers at the Okemo base lodge on March 29. LUDLOW — On Sunday, March 29, Okemo held their annual Cares and Shares spring food drive. On a beautiful Sunday morning, Okemo Mountain Ambassadors helped collect nonperishable food items and cash in exchange…

By Lani Duke Electric car owners with “range anxiety” find relief RUTLAND—With the weather's cooperation, Rutland's electric car drivers may have the convenience of a public car charging station available. Installed on Cottage Street near West Street, the new Freedom Station was due to go into service the first week of April. It will provide…

RUTLAND—The Mentor Connector board announced March 26 that Christopher Hultquist will serve as its new executive director, replacing Rebecca Majoya, who resigned to pursue other interests. Mr. Hultquist formerly served as director of outreach for the Pregnancy Center of the Upper Valley. He holds a Master of Science degree in Counseling from Capella University and…

By Lani Duke In the 1880s, trains played a critical role in the development of local industry as well as tourism. Central Vermont's economic prosperity relied on trains, which carried the state's maple products, apples, other goods, marble and slate to New York and beyond. The building on Evelyn Street that now houses TD Bank…

RUTLAND–Organizers of Rutland Blooms are hoping to grow the city beautification effort significantly this year and are looking for civic-minded citizens and businesses to help make it happen. “Rutland Blooms is already making a big impact on the look and feel of Rutland, and we want to grow the effort substantially this year,” said Steve…

By Jerry LeBlond Kyle Finneron and Andrew Whyte duel for the Men’s Ski B Championship. final standings Cumulative team standing 1. Clock Tower 1 = 894 2.  Inn Crowd = 883 3. Gorillas In The Mist = 880 4. More Cray = 878 5. KMS2 Black Bear = 877 Points awarded by place: 1st place…

RUTLAND — College of St. Joseph has named Adam Pullinen as men’s head soccer coach. Pullinen brings a wealth of experience with him to CSJ. A native of Ludlow, Vt., he has served as head coach for teams across New York, including Westchester Flames U-15 boy’s team, New York City Soccer Academy, and New York…

Courtesy of Vermont Fish & Wildlife Kelly Brooks of Waterbury with a lake trout she caught recently while ice fishing on Lake Champlain in Colchester. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department will be wrapping up its Lake Champlain winter angler survey in the coming weeks. The department thanks and commends anglers for their cooperation during…

Killington Mountain School U10-U16 athletes competed at Sunapee on March 21-22 for the Chip Gilroy Giant Slalom. Racers from New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts gathered for this fun, end-of-season event. Families and various clubs set up tents with grills fired up for cooking lunch, and friends gathered around. The weather cooperated, with beautiful sunshine and…

According to RE/MAX: the effects of record-snowfalls during the first two months of 2015 reverberated throughout New England’s housing market in February. Month-over-month, home sales again reflected the inclement weather with a decrease of 13.5 percent over January’s numbers. Year-over-year, home sales increased by 2.1 percent in the region with 7,817 recorded sales. Across New…

By Michael J. Caduto Walking through the woods on a cool spring morning, I saw a barred owl in an old maple tree. I circled the owl three times from a distance. Its head kept turning to follow me, tracking my movements with three complete revolutions. One of the owl’s chicks had fallen from the…

You’ve heard it before: the “diet mentality” will inevitably lead to perceived failure, guilt, and shame. Fortunately, intuitive eating is not a diet and promotes a healthy relationship with food, our bodies, and our emotions and perception of ourselves. Intuitive eating is all about embracing the pleasure of eating, living healthfully, and not feeling guilty…

With Easter upon us I can’t help but reminisce about how the occasion was celebrated back in my day. The Easter Bunny certainly had his role just like today but because I grew up in a Catholic family the religious significance of this special day was stressed. Our first “challenge” of the season began on…