By John Klar, candidate for 2020 Rep. governor Like a dragon eating its tail, Vermont’s bureaucracy continues to bloat like a runaway coronavirus, exponentially expanding “services” even as these very burdens drive more citizens into poverty, drug use, or emigration to more affordable states. A particularly virulent area of indefatigable expansion is schools. In 2013, Vermont held the…

By Angelo Lynn Score a small victory for Vermont’s Democratic Legislature as they managed to override Gov. Phil Scott’s veto of the recently passed minimum wage bill. The proposal increases the minimum wage from $10.78 an hour to $12.55 by 2022, with future increases tied to inflation or at 5%. At the current 3% inflation,…

Wednesday, March 4 & 11 at 12 p.m.—CASTLETON—March is Women’s History Month and Castleton University celebrates with a variety of events, including lectures, films, and workshops to commemorate and encourage the study, observance, and celebration of the vital role of women in history. This year’s theme is “Valiant Women of the Vote,” honoring the brave…

Tuesday, March 10 at 7 p.m.—FAIR HAVEN— The Friends of the Free Library have once again booked an Irish band for its March performance. Irish music is a favorite in Fair Haven and once again they will be welcoming back Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki and Matt Jensen to perform. You don’t want to miss them. Bringing fresh…

The ‘See Me Now Burger’ celebrates: an hour of missed sleep; losing track of when to go to bed and get up; trying to change the clocks in your house and your car, and then giving up! Wait until the fall, then clocks will be correct again? Perhaps the only really good thing about daylight…

Tuesday, March 10 at 6 p.m.—LUDLOW—A forestry representative from the state will be training people on how to take an inventory of ash trees in the Ludlow Town Hall conference room. This is part of the campaign to prepare for the onset of EAB (emerald ash borer) that has already reached Londonderry and many other parts…

Tuesday, March 10 at 9 a.m.—KILLINGTON—The Chill Foundation brings the Chill Takeover to Pico Mountain.  They’ve rented out the entire mountain for the day to celebrate snowboarding in the Northeast! 100% of the event registration fees go toward supporting Chill’s local youth development programming. On-hill events include a Park Affair meet-up focusing on tech and…

Sunday, March 8 at 6 p.m.—RUTLAND—The Grace Church youth choir, Joyful Noise, will offer a medley of choruses and solos from “Aladdin” this Sunday. The singers will be accompanied by a band of local musicians, and also be joined by choirs from local schools. Please come and support our talented youth, who will be raising…

Saturday, March 7—KILLINGTON—Red Bull’s snowboard roster, including 2020 X Games Knuckle Huck Gold Medalist Zeb Powell, and Rock A Rail 2019 winner, Benny Milam. as well as pro snowboarders Jesse Augustine, Sean Neary and Miles Fallon, will go on the ultimate road trip starting at Mountain Creek, New Jersey, before traveling through the New England…

Saturday, March 7 at 7 p.m.—RANDOLPH—In preparation for a tour of Japan in April, teen players, singers and dancers with Young Tradition Touring Group (YTTG) will perform at the Chandler Center for the Arts. The group includes 25 auditioned members, ages 12-18, from throughout Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts. They have been learning about and performing…

Saturday, March 7 at 2 p.m.—WOODSTOCK—Billings Farm and Museum’s Artist-in-Residence, Kristina Rodanas, will lead two painting workshops in March. Participants receive instructions and materials to paint on an 8” x 8” trivet made of recycled slate roof tiles. The first workshop is March 7 and the second is March 21. Rodanas is the author and…

Saturday, March 7 at 10 a.m.—WOODSTOCK—The tranquility and beauty of the forest is especially unique in the winter. Frost, snow covered trees, falling snow, and the moody colors of the season all lend themselves to watercolor. Join a watercolor workshop in the Forest Center at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP in  Woodstock. Learn some watercolor basics that include…

Saturday, March 7 at 5:30 p.m.—BARNARD—A powerhouse line-up brings five hours of music with a New Orleans flavor to headline BarnArts’ 8th annual Masquerade Jazz and Funk Winter Music Carnival at the Barnard Town Hall. The Wanda Houston Band will bring forth the later evening funk dance party, but the music starts with top-notch jazz…

Saturday March 7 at 7 a.m.—RUTLAND—It’s time to break out those golf clubs for the 4th Annual Chamber Indoor Golf Tournament at Stonehedge Indoor Golf. This will be the first tournament at Stonehedge to play TPC Sawgrass, home of the Players Championship, with it’s famous #17 island green...for a real splash! There will be great prizes for first…

Saturday, March 7 at 3 and 5:30 p.m.—WOODSTOCK—The 10th annual Woodstock Vermont Film Series at Billings Farm and Museum will feature the film, “Forgotten Farms” in HD projection and surround sound, with complimentary refreshments. Reservations are strongly recommended. New England has lost more than 10,000 dairy farms in the past 50 years; fewer than 2,000 farms remain. Collectively,…