Courtesy of Okemo archives Obituary By Karen D. Lorentz There will be a celebration of the life of Gordon Robbins at Okemo Mountain Resort on March 13 at 7 p.m. in the main base lodge. Robbins died suddenly on Feb. 27 at the age of 73. Born and raised in New York, Robbins was an…

By Julia Purdy RUTLAND —There’s a new kid on the block—a free web application that takes participatory democracy to a new level. It’s NewGrassRoots and it’s the invention of Ben Brown, who grew up in Rutland and calls himself “a cross between an ornery farmer and the mad scientist in the basement.” NewGrassRoots (NGR) belongs…

RUTLAND – Green Mountain Power and groSolar are pleased to announce the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) have awarded the 2015 Project of Distinction Award to Stafford Hill Solar Farm in Rutland. The award was presented this week in Boston at PV America, an annual trade show and conference designed…

By VermontVacation.com/Dennis Curran Signs of spring have begun, with longer days, warmer temperatures and maple sap beginning to run. Robert “Ted” Young of Andersonville Maple holds up a morning sampling, ready to savor the sweet flavors of spring.

By Amy Ash Nixon, VTDigger.org Voters rejected just 20 school budgets on Town Meeting Day, about half the number that went down a year ago. All told, 37 school budgets were defeated in 2014. Jeff Francis, executive director of the Vermont Superintendents Association, said March 4, that 226 budgets passed this week and the rest…

Building A remains standing (left) but  towers B-D  (right) were gutted by the fire that broke out early Saturday. By Polly Lynn Largest fire in a decade, chief says KILLINGTON— Just after midnight Saturday morning, March 7, firefighters from across the region were called to the scene of a major fire at 48 Innsbruck Lane,…

March 14 is Pi Day! Students learn the parts of a circle, calculate the diameter, circumference, and area of circular and spherical objects, and read books such as “Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi,” available in the KES Library.

Incumbent Mill River Union High school board chair Brownson Spencer lost his seat to last-minute write-in candidate Len Doucette in an election coup. Doucette received 269 votes to Spencer’s 134. Although Spencer had served on the board since 2008, he especially lost favor with the public over an unfortunate remark in February about special education…

The community says goodbye to Peter Mello, Rutland City school board president, who leaves not only the school board but also the state. Working in several pro education positions in Rutland County since 1980, Mello is moving back to his home state of Massachusetts to enjoy his grandchildren.

Cal Garrison (a.k.a Mother of the Skye) writes weekly horoscopes for The Mountain Times. If you would like an emailed notification sent to you weekly, sign up for the newsletter, below.         Horoscopes for March 5 - March 11, 2015 Aries March 21 - April 20 Take a break. If you don't stop…

Rutland Regional Medical Center received a $10,000 check from the March of Dimes on March 4. The money funds a Centering Pregnancy program, new to RRMC, that integrates health assessment, education, and support to help local women have healthier pregnancies and babies.

While both parties await the findings of a study on what causes the low fish viability in Moon Brook, Rutland City has filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over whether the EPA can regulate storm runoff entering the stream. The EPA blames runoff. The city disagrees. Under less pressing circumstances, the city would…

Rutland Town voters were in an agreeable mood when they cast their ballots last week. They approved all money items, both the $7,847,080 school budget and $992,065 general fund town budget. They were amenable, too, in approving the town’s $3 million surplus, giving a nod to putting $1.5 million toward current expenses, paying $1 million…

By Chandler Burgess, courtesy of Killington Resort Slash and Berm kicks off the 2015 Nor’Beaster spring celebration at Killington Resort, March 14. Spring celebration kicks off with Slash and Berm, Ski Vermont Specialty Food Days Saturday, March 14 — KILLINGTON — Spring time at Killington Resort means soft snow, abundant sunshine, live music and surprising events both…

Courtesy of Compass Music and Arts Center IAN ETHAN CASE Saturday, March 14 at 11 a.m. — BRANDON — Compass Music and Arts Center offers a Creative Music and Live Looping workshop with acoustic double-neck guitarist Ian Ethan Case on Saturday, March 14, from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. Later that evening, Case will give a concert…