By Senator Alison Clarkson, Windsor-5 Vermont’s Legislature is in its final stages of our 2017-18 Biennium.  If bills are to make it into law they need to be acted on by both the House and the Senate by the “fall of the gavel,” which is anticipated to be in the next two weeks. Needless to…

By Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Bridgewater, Chittenden, Killington & Mendon With the legislative session scheduled to end by May 12, it remains a bit of a mystery as to how it will all come together. The veto of S.103, a chemical bill, could be a signal that the governor will stand firm on other bills that…

Friday, May 4, 5 p.m.—BRANDON—The Brandon Artists Guild (the BAG) presents the new paintings of Dave Fifield. This new collection of paintings titled “Head In The Clouds” runs May 4 to June 26. The public is invited to the opening reception Friday, May 4 from 5-7 p.m. Fifield grew up in Vermont and graduated from…

Thursday, May 3, 7 p.m.—RUTLAND—Vermont-based folk duo Cricket Blue, will be performing live at The Chaffee Arts Center in Rutland on Thursday, May 3. This new music series is hosted by The Chaffee Arts Center on Route 7 in Rutland. Starting at 7 p.m., Cricket Blue makes its Chaffee Arts Center debut with a duo performance by…

Friday & Saturday, May 4-5—RUTLAND, MIDDLEBURY—Ladies’ Night Out Women’s Chorus will present spring concerts in Rutland and Middlebury on May 4 and 5. The program, “The American Songbag, Plus!” includes traditional American folk music, popular music from the 1940s and 50s, and some other specials like “Jolene” by Dolly Parton and “Silvy” by Huddy Ledbetter,…

RUTLAND—Phoenix Books celebrated Independent Bookstore Day along with hundreds of other indie bookstores throughout the country on Saturday, April 28. Some special guests showed up: Party-goers in Rutland and Essex got to meet The Lorax and Elephant and Piggie, respectively. These events also kicked off Children’s Book Week, which runs through May 6. Visit phoenixbooks.biz.

Friday, May 4, 4 p.m.—RUTLAND—The Chaffee Art Center announces the opening of its annual K-12 Student Art Exhibit on May 4. This annual exhibit favorite features the talents of K-12 students from across Rutland County. It is the Chaffee Art Center’s pleasure to give young artists from dozens of Vermont schools, as well as homeschool students,…

Friday, May 4—KILLINGTON—The Vermont Foodbank will hold its annual Hunger Action Conference on Friday, May 4 at Killington Grand Resort Hotel 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The conference is a full-day educational event that will provide over 300 attendees from the charitable food sectors with training regarding poverty and hunger, food systems, health, and best practices to…

Friday, May 4, 7 p.m.—GRANVILLE, N.Y.—In honor of Mother’s Day coming up, the Slate Valley Museum will host Pizza and Paint for local kids and their families on First Friday, May 4 from 7-9 p.m. Families will be led through a nature-themed painting class on their own slate “canvases.” Granville Pizzeria will be providing pizza to…

RASTA’s DisasTour race saw its seventh year on Saturday, April 28, with great weather in which to pedal, paddle and run. Team Sports Connection placed first, with a time of 2:17:44.   DisasTour races through White River Valley, Saturday [Best_Wordpress_Gallery id="20" gal_title="DisasTour"] Photos by Jerry LeBlond Photos by Jerry LeBlond

Always the first Saturday in May, Green Up Day this year is Saturday, May 5. A Vermont tradition since 1970, Green Up Day is a statewide event when over 22,000 volunteers come together to remove litter from roadsides and public spaces. 2020 will mark Green Up Day’s 50th anniversary. “Green Up Day epitomizes the essential…

2017 traffic tickets in central Vermont By Katy Savage Locals aren’t surprised that Vermont Public Radio recently found both Bridgewater and Plymouth had the highest traffic ticket counts in the state last year. Jim Haff got a ticket for going 10 miles over the limit in Bridgewater last year. “I forgot I was in that…

The annual Upper Valley Aquatic Club Swim Team Swim-A-Thon in White River Junction earlier in April was a record-breaker. Athletes swam a total of 8,761 laps in two hours, according to an April 25 news release. Fundraising efforts by UVAC swimmers and families garnered more than $10,000 in contributions for the community. In addition to…

By Julia Purdy PITTSFORD—Otter Creek overtopped its banks after days of continuous rain, flooding low-lying roads and fields in Pittsford near Gorham Bridge and at Depot Hill. The popular shortcut from Pittsford to Proctor was closed to traffic, although some couldn’t resist the fun of plowing through foot-deep ponds on the road, despite warns not…

POULTNEY—Green Mountain College President Robert Allen announced that Mustafa Santiago Ali, senior vice president of climate, environmental justice and community revitalization for the Hip Hop Caucus, will deliver the commencement address, to be held Saturday, May 12. Ali, a renowned speaker, trainer, and facilitator specializing in social justice issues focused on revitalizing our most vulnerable…