By Emma Cotton/VTDigger RUTLAND — A night of mixed martial arts fighting in Rutland was canceled by its organizer on Monday, June 15, after state officials had sent a cease-and-desist order. Randy Felion, the owner of Fight Night Promotions, had planned to hold the event June 20, but officials said it violated the state’s prohibition on…

All staff and inmates at Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility (MVRCF) in Rutland were tested for Covid-19 on Saturday, June 20, and all came back negative. Another round of testing will be done Monday, June 29. This mass testing comes after an inmate tested positive for the virus on Tuesday, June 16. “As states and…

By Elizabeth Gribkoff/VTDigger While plastic bag bans in some parts of the country have been rolled back during the pandemic, Vermont’s single use bag prohibition will still go into effect next week. Starting July 1, stores and food service establishments will no longer provide plastic carryout bags at check-out. Stores and food service establishments may provide…

Staff report Vermont state law bans food scraps from the trash starting July 1. The state defines food scraps as “Parts of food items that are typically discarded rather than eaten: peels, rinds, cores, eggshells, seeds, pits, bones, coffee grounds (and filters), loose-leaf tea, and fats/oils/grease” and/or “Food that was eaten but not finished.” “If it was once…

Narrowing of road will make it pedestrian-friendly, create parklets for outdoor dining By Katy Savage Center Street in Rutland is getting a facelift this summer. The Board of Aldermen unanimously approved a $20,000 plan Monday, June 15, to narrow Center Street and create more space for outdoor dining. The plan calls for reducing the speed…

Staff report Amtrak announced in a “service adjustments due to coronavirus” update on June 17, that “While Amtrak continues to operate across the nation, we have adjusted our train services due to significantly reduced demand.” Specifically, Vermont’s two passenger lines will be suspended: the Ethan Allen Express (New York City to Rutland) will no longer…

Starting June 26, venues can fill to 50% capacity or 75 indoor, 150 outdoor By Polly Mikula As state data and expanded testing and tracing capacity continue to support reopening, Governor Phil Scott on Friday, June 19, announced the state will raise occupancy limits for event venues, arts, culture and entertainment venues, as well as restaurants.…

Vermont Rotary Clubs across the state have teamed up to donate fresh Vermont yogurt and butter to the Vermont Foodbank. Ten Vermont rotary clubs joined forces to raise over $10,000 dollars, adding significant financial support to the effort already in place to recover Vermont milk. In collaboration with Dairy Farmers of America, Commonwealth Dairy LLC…

There’s nothing cuter than kittens and puppies... until it’s time to find homes for them. Let the Rutland County Humane Society (RCHS) help! Our program is simple and free: If you’re a Rutland County resident, you can bring your mom cat or dog and her kittens or puppies to us at no charge. In exchange, the Humane…

By Merisa Sherman It’s so dry, that even underneath the protective straw, I can see cracks in the asparagus bed soil. The pansies on the western side of the garden are making their final push before their foregone surrender while the grass is a prickly brown that cuts your feet. The wildflowers are shirking their…

By Dom Cioffi I just did something crazy. Well, initially I thought it was crazy, but then I changed my mind. I just flew on an airplane. Given the last few months of Covid and quarantine, flying seems like the absolute last thing that any rational human being would want to do. But life dictated…

By Kevin Theissen As coronavirus restrictions ease and businesses reopen, the American economy should gain steam. Data released in May and June, including employment, payroll, and manufacturing numbers, suggested the economy may have hit bottom in April. The stock market, which reflects what investors think will happen in the future, appears confident the economy will…

By Michael J. Caduto There’s a story about an early tourist from New York City who stopped his horse and buggy to watch a farmer harvesting a spring crop of rocks from his land. The farmer was loading rocks onto a sledge drawn by oxen. The stranger called him over and asked, “Where did all…

By Cassandra Tyndall Days on the other side of the solstice often feel different, the skies are very quiet this week. That said, you might notice a shift in the quality of relationships as cosmic lovers, Venus and Mars change expression. Firstly, Venus ends her 44-day reversal through the sign of Gemini, an event that…

RUTLAND— The Chaffee Art Center, your center for creativity, is now open with a new exhibit, Expanding Your Senses Through The Arts.  The exhibit features two individual artists with work by Colleen Wilcox and Robert Waldo Brunelle Jr. in first floor galleries, as well as Chaffee juried artist members art displayed throughout the first and…