By Karen D. Lorentz Patience and Prudence were a sister duo in 1956, hitting the top of the charts with songs like “Tonight You Belong to Me” and “Gonna Get Along Without You Now.” Most skiers and snowboarders won’t remember them—or even know those songs existed. But today’s mountain aficionados do need to consider that…

Birch Ridge Inn chef passed unexpectedly Dec. 23 Stephen R. “Frizzy” Byrne, 61, died unexpectedly Dec. 23, 2014 at his home. He was born in Manhattan, N.Y. June 3, 1953, son of Harry J. and Luesylvia (Lawlor) Byrne. Stephen Byrne was a graduate of Tappan Zee High School in Orangeburg, N.Y. Chef “Frizzy,” nicknamed for…

By James Haslam This week we witnessed Governor Shumlin giving up his role in Vermont’s move to universal healthcare, as he caved to pressure from big businesses. His misguided decision marks the end of a politician’s ambitious career, but not that of universal, publicly financed healthcare. The governor’s failure to deliver a common sense plan…

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:…