By Lee H. Hamilton Recent economic news has been broadly reassuring. Retail sales are strong, November saw the best job gains in three years, the federal deficit is shrinking, the stock market is robust, and the Fed is expressing enough faith in the economy that an interest rate bump next year is considered a certainty.…

Dear Editor, Shumlin has consistently dragged his feet on healthcare. The media called his near defeat in November a referendum on his policies, particularly his signature policy universal healthcare. But the referendum was over his foot dragging. He has consistently failed to present financing or other details for the universal healthcare system not because he…

Dear Editor, Another winter has come, and another disappointment by our town’s entrepreneurs. Have you looked at Killington Road in the evening? The town wanted to create a “sense of arrival,” but the effort from the business community is dismal! Let’s start at the bottom of Killington Road. The two ski shops have nary a…

By Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger.org A task force launched by Champlain College unveiled a 13-point plan recently for boosting Vermonters’ understanding of personal finances. One year after the state received a ‘D’ on a national report card on financial literacy in high schools, the 20-member Vermont Financial Literacy Task Force called on lawmakers to create a…

monday • jan. 5 If you’re a college kid who’s here for Killington’s college week, you don’t want to miss the kick off event — Stash Party! Meet at the Stash House on Bear Mountain for live music and lunch, from 12-2 p.m. Come ready to shred the natural terrain in the park created by Jake…

The annual Rutland Town Snowball Tournament was held Dec. 22-23. Area fifth and sixth grade boys and girls basketball teams competed. Rutland Town beat Proctor for the Boys Championship. Proctor beat West Rutland for the Girls Championship. Photos by Stacy Kent

By Dom Cioffi So, another year is in the books with its movies, music, political drama, sports highlights, social commentary and countless other unique nuances. I always get melancholy this time a year as I ponder what has transpired in my own life over the last 365 days. Of course, the feelings are exaggerated by…

By Tom Joyce The Wild West Bartenders’ Bible spoke of a bar in New Mexico that would top off all of it’s cocktails with a splash of champagne. Genius. Can you imagine what it must have felt like to walk into an Albuquerque bar in 1886 and taste French sparkling wine for the first time?…

RUTLAND—One of Rotary’s mottos is “Service Above Self.” To honor outgoing Rutland City Police Chief James Baker, Rutland South Rotary Club bestowed the “Service Above Self” Award during its Dec. 11 weekly meeting. This special award acknowledges Chief Baker’s dedication, hard work, commitment, and tireless efforts to help change the culture of the Rutland City…

Photo submitted Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging sponsored a wreath fundraiser for Meals on Wheels this holiday season. A generous donation from Kim Tedesco, owner of  The Hair Doctors and an anonymous donor, allowed the Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging to donate the remaining wreaths to the Salvation Army to be handed out to families. Pictured in…

By Tony Crespi Sitting in the Killington Peak Base Lodge late last season I heard several skiers express annoyance with the unpredictability of Eastern weather. In fact, one fellow described jetting to Western resorts as a romantic adventure. Sure, high alpine resorts can boast reliable snow, and rarely are Western snow storms followed by frozen…

By Tony Crespi The couple in the lodge were arguing. Both looked furious. Most evidently, their weekend plans had gone asunder. Listening shamelessly, with other onlookers, it was clear that  the afternoon looked unpleasant. She was cold and frustrated by the hard ice on the mountain. He, on the other hand, wished to ski more:…

By Sally D. Curtis KILLINGTON — Several years ago when Mike Miller, Killington resident and owner of Base Camp Outfitters,  was contemplating a new trail in the cross-country ski area behind the store, he felt someone watching him in a forested section of the land. He finally spotted a very small owl high in a hole…

By Kate Robitello In my previous article, I listed the first three steps of my bulletproof list for goal-achievement in 2015. (If you missed that piece, it is still available on mountaintimes.info.) Here are three more tips that will set you up for inevitable success with your health-goals (or any goal for that matter) this…

By Scott Funk Over 40 years ago, I bought an old brass desk lamp at a flea market. When I brought it home, I was amazed to find that the original neon bulb (or tube or whatever it is called) still worked. To appreciate this, keep in mind that it is so old it has…