Students K-2 will have five half-days of in-person instruction each week; students in grades 3-8 will attend school remotely By Lee J. Kahrs The Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union is planning to begin school this fall using a hybrid of in-person and remote learning strategies, as have several other districts. However, RNeSU’s plan differs in that…

To help businesses enforce Vermont’s mask mandate, Rutland Economic Development Corporation (REDC) and Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce are distributing a free box of 50 masks to customer-facing businesses across Rutland County. RRMC president and CEO Claudio Fort, Casella Waste Systems director of community engagement Jeff Weld, Heritage Family Credit Union’s senior vice president of…

By Polly Mikula Andrew Gieda, a Killington resident and business owner, was desperate to hear from his wife, Maria, on Monday to know that she and their 2-year-old son Robert were safe after violent protests erupted in Belarus, Sunday. Internet and phone access was cut off throughout Belarus during and after a contentious election. But…

By Katy Savage Gov. Phil Scott announced earlier this month that fall sports can resume starting Sept. 8, but many teams have been practicing all summer. When Scott lifted restrictions on recreational activities and group gatherings in June, school teams started holding voluntary practices and conditioning sessions, with notably high attendance. The Woodstock Union High…

By Cassandra Tyndall There’s an electric feeling in the air this week as one of the farther-flung planets, Uranus, grinds to a halt and heads in reverse, or retrograde, from our perspective. For some, this may hallmark exciting events, sudden new developments or the plot twist of new possibilities you’ve been waiting for. For others,…

By DJ Dave Hoffenberg A good way to sum up your winless season is getting caught in a double pickle. A pickle is when a runner is caught between two bases. One is rare but two at the same time? Not good for First Stop Board Barn who is fighting for their first win. Their…

It’s an age-old quandary by Merisa Sherman It’s an age-old personal and preferential question on which I have been spending time this week in deep thought. Maybe I even meditated a little on this topic, just to see if anything would pop into my brain while it was completely at rest. Nothing happened, but it’s still one…

By Susan Shea Recently I saw a beautiful orange butterfly speckled with black – a great spangled fritillary –feeding on orange hawkweed in a meadow. I observed it through binoculars, so as not to scare it off, then slowly crept closer. I watched as the butterfly unfurled its proboscis, a tube that functions like a…

Saturday, Aug. 15 at 7:30 p.m.—RANDOLPH—Trifolium is the first show in Chandler’s summer outdoor performance series. They will be bringing their diverse instrumentation and repertoire to a new venue, the stage at Farr’s Hill in Randolph. Trifolium is made up of three outstanding local musicians: Andy Mueller (guitar, fiddle, mandolin, octave mandolin, vocals), Chloe Powell…

By Dom Cioffi I have owned trucks for most of my adult life. They have all been run-of-the-mill, fundamentally sound trucks. My wife has driven SUV’s for most of her adult life. They have all been run-of-the-mill, fundamentally sound SUV’s. None of the vehicles my wife and I have owned would ever be considered luxurious…

WOODSTOCK—Billings Farm & Museum’s 34th annual Quilt Exhibition, originally scheduled July 18 to Aug. 23, has been extended through Sept. 7 – on site and online! Juried contemporary quilts made by local quilters and historical quilts along with challenge quilts crafted by the Delectable Mountain Quilt Guild from Bethel are on display. On site guests will view the colorful array of exquisite quilts and meet the quilters on hand…

SOUTH ROYALTON—Royalton Community Radio/Free Vermont Radio is gearing up for Parts 2 and 3 of the station’s Covid-safe “Pedal Power to the People” gravel grinder biking benefit (3PVII). Both the shorter “Milk Run” (15 miles) and the epic “Beer Run”  (35+/- miles) will provide intrepid riders with natural beauty, secret stashes and physical challenges all while…

THETFORD—Vermont Bike & Brew delivers all e-bikes to you, wherever you would like to ride! Want to test out your commute on an e-bike? They can bring the bike to your home. Want to explore your hometown on roads you’ve never seen before? Jonas Cole (owner) is a lifetime local in Thetford and can customize…

Saturday, Aug. 15 at 12 p.m.—LUDLOW—Ludlow Rotary is going forward with its 21st annual Ralph D. Hogancamp Memorial Duck Race on Saturday, Aug. 15 with the duck drop at 12 p.m. This year the funds raised will be used by Ludlow Rotary to support community projects, as their largest fund-raiser, the Penny Sale, had to be cancelled…

CASTLETON—The Castleton Community Center opened for outdoor classes taking into account the Governor’s orders and the state Dept. of Health’s guidance for health, safety and infection prevention. All classes and group meetings take place in the van shelter where the floor has been marked at 6 foot distances. Masks are required, temperatures are taken, hand…