Artist Rob Mullen of Jericho, Vermont, began the Long Trail Painting Expedition in support of the Vermont Wildlife Coalition on Sept. 16. The expedition will see Mullen hike the 272-mile path over the next four weeks, allowing three weeks to hike and one week to paint (about 10 miles/day, plus painting). No stranger to art…

By Emma Cotton/VTDigger and Brooke Geery On the evening of Friday, Sept. 18, Killington Fire Department member Connor McGrath noticed smoke coming from the popular Deer Leap area of Sherburne Pass in Killington. Assuming it was people illegally camping, he took his dogs and hiked up to kick them out. After bushwhacking through the woods,…

By Katy Savage Business owners in the tourism and hospitality industry, the hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, are desperately seeking more funding to stay afloat. Perry Armstrong, the owner of Rain or Shine Tent Company in Randolph, said he’s contacted just about everyone he can in the Legislature and he’s testified in front of…

By Ed Larson Dressed in bright garb showing displaying his love of Ronald McDonald House efforts to provide lodging for the families of children undergoing medical treatment, Dwight Barnes of Deerfield, New Hampshire, walked into the South Main Street McDonald’s restaurant Monday, Sept. 21. Barnes showed enthusiasm that his goal will be reached, while taking…

Business owners navigate changes as lodge, bar restrictions are lifted By Katy Savage Gov. Phil Scott announced Friday, Sept. 18 that bars could reopen and lodges could operate at full capacity, but local business owners are wary of the details. “It is very misleading,” Trailside Inn owner Josh Eckler said, explaining that the state’s quarantine…

Castleton University will help meet regional healthcare employers’ needs by offering a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), beginning in the spring 2021 semester. The program offers a Clinical Nurse Leader concentration and a Nurse Educator concentration. It is designed for working nurses with a bachelor’s degree who wish to advance their careers. Castleton is…

The Woodstock Garden Club (WGC) announced that it has awarded its 2020 Woodstock Village Streetscape Award to Shari Sacks for the exceptional garden she has designed and established at her residence on High Street. Since 2007, the WGC has recognized one garden in the Village of Woodstock that has been created and maintained by a…

Saturday, Sept. 26 at 1 p.m.—RUTLAND—Habitat for Humanity of Rutland county invites everyone to join in the celebration of a new home for the Mansour-Alhallak family. Meet with others who contributed generously with their time, services, materials or made financial gifts in order to bring the dream of home ownership to life for Hazar and…

By Cassandra Tyndall This week marks the Equinox, where the Sun enters the cardinal sign of Libra. Latin for ‘equal night’ the Equinox heralds a period when the days and nights are relatively equal, thus, symbolizing the theme of balance. In pagan traditions, this harvest season is a time to celebrate the last of the…

Throughout our lives, people and animals often become important to us and make a great impact. There are many ways to remember or honor these special individuals. One way is to make a donation in their name to Rutland County Humane Society (RCHS). For animal lovers, a terrific holiday or birthday gift might be a…

The Rutland County Humane Society is working with VT-CAN! Spay/Neuter Clinic, a low cost cat spay/neuter clinic in Middlesex, to offer transportation from RCHS to Middlesex and back to RCHS on Oct.19 for cats to be spayed/neutered. If you are interested please e-mail info@vt-can.org and let them know you want to schedule for Oct. 19. Please include…

By Dom Cioffi I picked up my son from a sleepover last weekend and, when he came out of his friend’s house to my awaiting car, the boy’s father followed him. I was unprepared for this visit since my son is now of the age where parental check-ins aren’t really necessary. The father waved as…

Due to Covid-19, Americans are spending more time at home than ever before, leading to a record amount of spending on home improvement. It’s not that big of a surprise since many Americans now find their homes are doing triple duty as a place to live, work, and learn. Homeowners are funneling more money into…

Plenty of backyard birdwatchers consider blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata) the villains of the avian world. Mark Twain best summarized anti-blue jay sentiment when he compared the bird’s principles to that of an ex-congressman. In Native American lore, blue jays are portrayed as thieves and tricksters. Understandably, this songbird generates antipathy for its nest marauding, birdfeeder…

By Merisa Sherman Modern times call for faster cars and smoother roads, easing the methods of travel so we can get there quicker or go further. We are all trying to play keep-up by having the latest and the greatest, our noses glued to the blue light that comes out of our phones and rushing from…