By Barbara Mackay Who hasn’t marveled at a lacy snowflake coming to rest on a jacket sleeve? Do you wonder how it could survive the fall to earth in one piece, or if it’s really true that no two snowflakes can look exactly alike? A snowflake begins high up in the clouds, not as a…

Photo Submitted (MS) Chocolates and flowers may be staples of Valentine’s Day, but many couples take it one step further and dine out on Feb. 14. According to the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association’sValentine’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, 34.6 percent of respondents indicated that dining out would be part of their Valentine’s Day…

Photo courtesy of Billings Farm & Museum Billings will host the award-winning film “Chasing Shackleton,” on Saturday, Feb. 14 as part of the 5th Annual Woodstock Vermont Film Series.    Saturday, Feb. 14 — WOODSTOCK — Billings Farm & Museum, gateway to Vermont’s rural heritage, will host the award-winning film “Chasing Shackleton,” on Saturday, Feb. 14, at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. (sold…

Photo by Larry Marcus BILL STAINES Saturday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. — RUTLAND— Folk music entertainer, Bill Staines will perform a Coffeehouse Concert on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rutland, 117 West Street. Come early and enjoy refreshments at 7 p.m. and an opening act of “Pot Luck…

Photo submitted SARAH STONE AND FRED BARNES Saturday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. — BRANDON — Back by popular demand, Brandon Music presents jazz piano/vocalist duo Fred Barnes and Sarah Stone on Valentine’s Day, Saturday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Packaging romantic standards by greats like Ira and George Gershwin, Burt Bacharach, Stephen Sondheim, Cole Porter, Hoagy…

Friday, Feb. 13 at 5 p.m. — KILLINGTON — The Killington Arts Guild has a new gallery show, “Spring Promise,” opening Friday, Feb. 13, from 5-7 p.m. View the work of artist members in a variety of mediums; photography, watercolor, oil, acrylic, sculpture and mixed media – both originals and prints. Visit the Gallery upstairs at Base…

Saturday, Feb. 14 at 6:15 p.m. — PROCTOR — The Proctor High School class of 2020 is hosting a Valentines Day Luminaria Lighting event at the Proctor Skating Rink on Saturday, Feb. 14, from 6:15 – 8:45 p.m. Community members are invited to purchase a luminaria, which they can dedicate in memory or in honor of a…

Saturday, Feb. 14 at 6 p.m. — PROCTORSVILLE — Is it time to chase away your mid-winter blues? Mardi Gras is almost here, and you can do so by dining and dancing with the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association at its sixth annual Mardi Gras celebration. This year the festivities take place on Saturday, Feb. 14 at…

Saturday, Feb. 14 at 12 p.m. — PLYMOUTH NOTCH — In honor of Presidents Day Weekend, the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation will host a lecture and open house at the President Calvin Coolidge Museum and Education Center on Saturday, Feb. 14, from 12 noon to 4 p.m. At 20 p.m., Rushad Thomas, Coolidge Foundation Program Associate, will…

Feb. 14 and 15 at 10 a.m. — RUTLAND — Enjoy and explore the great outdoors at the thirteenth annual Winter Fest being held Saturday, Feb. 14 and Sunday, Feb. 15 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Winter Fest offers a variety of free seasonal activities for the whole family including: ice skating, snow sculpture carving demonstration…

KILLINGTON — As the first of two President’s weeks is upon the region, Killington Resort is holding a number of events to keep guests busy both on and off the slopes. Many of the events take place after the lifts stop running, so you can enjoy all the fresh snow that has blanketed the area! On…

MARCH — Rutland Area VNA & Hospice (RAVNAH) will offer a free eight-week hospice volunteer training course for individuals who wish to become hospice and palliative care volunteers in the Rutland County, Dorset and Rupert areas. There will be eight three-hour sessions beginning in late March that will meet two times a week on Thursday afternoons…

Monday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. — POULTNEY — Two prominent leaders of social change will deliver public programs next month during their graduate program residencies at Green Mountain College. Renowned Vermont author and activist Bill McKibben speaks on Monday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. in the College’s Ackley Auditorium. His talk “Imagining World Communities” will address…

Photo submitted NATALIE MACMASTER AND DONNELL LEAHY Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m. — RANDOLPH — Electrifying celtic fiddling, step dancing, and song will raise the roof at Chandler Music Hall when Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy return to Randolph on Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m. This world-renowned husband-and-wife team have performed many times at Chandler, always…

Feb. 16-20 — BRANDON — Compass Music and Arts Center offers “CREATE,” a winter camp for children 7-12 years old, Feb. 16-20 from 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. daily. The camp is an opportunity for young people to utilize their imagination and extend their creativity whilst also experiencing the pleasure and fun of working with or testing…