Friday, Feb. 16, 6:30 p.m.—QUECHEE—Vermont Institute of Natural Science welcomes all to its annual Family Owl Prowl, Friday, Feb. 16, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Discover “Hooo’s” out there making raucous noises in the nighttime forest and learn about the secret life of one of New England’s most elusive nocturnal residents. Weather permitting, visitors will explore this…

Friday, Feb. 16, 9 a.m.—KILLINGTON—Interested in splitboarding? Looking for a perfect match? From first-timers to seasoned split vets, organizers of Pico Hiko Splitfest want to help find the ideal setup. Catch the event at Pico Mountain on Friday, Feb. 16, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Jones Snowboards, Never Summer Industries, Rome Snowboards and Burton Snowboards are providing complete splitboard demos, with…

Friday, Feb. 16, 8 p.m.—TINMOUTH—Bring friends and family to the Tinmouth Contra Dance at the Tinmouth Community Center, and dance to the splendid tunes of The Cold River Band with Lausanne Allen calling on Friday, Feb. 16 from 8-11 p.m. All dances are taught, and guests do not need a partner. Beginners should come right at 8 p.m. for…

Saturday, Feb. 17, 9 a.m.—FAIR HAVEN—The Friends of the Fair Haven Free Library invite community members to come make a bowl from coiled magazine paper with local artist Caren Helm. The program will take place on Saturday, Feb. 17 from 9 a.m. until noon in the library. This craft originated with the women of Vietnam…

By Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Bridgewater, Chittenden, Killington & Mendon When the new session began on Jan. 3, I was reassigned to the House Government Operations Committee, one of 14 House committees that meets on a daily basis to delve into various proposals and bills. What does Government Operations do, you may ask? As Deputy Secretary…

Thursday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m.—CASTLETON—The Castleton University men’s lacrosse team, along with the Doug Mackenzie Lacrosse Fund, is proud to sponsor the Vermont premiere of the documentary film “Man in Red Bandana” on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. in the Casella Theater. The film chronicles the actions of Welles Remy Crowther, a former lacrosse player at…

Feb. 16-24—RUTLAND—Rutland Winter Fest returns this year, featuring a week-and-a-half of activities to get the community involved in indoor and outdoor fun in the snow, and out of the winter blues. Events will span nearly every day, Feb. 16-24. The fun kicks off Friday, Feb. 16 with a free community skate night from 6:30-8:30 p.m.…

Thursday, Feb. 15, 8 p.m.—KILLINGTON—On Thursday, Feb. 15, Killington gets a big taste of New Orleans, as Richard James’ Krewe Orleans: A Mardi Gras Experience fills the Pickle Barrel Nightclub with the music and the spirit of The Big Easy. The show is open to anyone 21 years of age and older. Pink Talking Fish keyboard player Richard James has…

RUTLAND—The Pines at Rutland Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation was recently awarded National Health Care Associates’ Customer Service Cup for 2017. This award is a culmination of consistently high customer service scores throughout 2017 from families and patients at the 99 Allen Street center. Since 2012, National Health Care Associates (NHCA), the manager and operator…

A powerful report showcasing the results of public investment in clean water projects during 2017, titled “The Vermont Clean Water Initiative 2017 Investment Report,” was released by the Secretary of Administration. According to a Feb. 6 news release, it shows how public funds are being applied to clean water projects and the impact these dollars are…

Make-A-Wish Vermont and ArtsRiot in Burlington have teamed up for a truly Vermont-style fundraiser with the Second Annual Vermont Beardies: the Contest To Find the Best Beard in Vermont. Bearded Vermonters are invited to enter their magnificent scruff and encourage their friends to support Make-A-Wish Vermont through social media appeals. Contestants will compete online in…

By DJ Dave Hoffenberg This Friday don’t miss the first ever Vermont performance of Cameron “Cash” Thayer, age 21, at Outback Pizza in Killington, 6-10 p.m. Thayer hails from Scarborough, Maine, and is the only one in his family to be born and raised there. His family’s roots are spread from Franklin, Maine down to…

On Feb. 7, the Office of the Health Care Advocate (HCA) released a report demonstrating the affordability crisis that Vermonters face when purchasing health insurance and health care. In the report, “The Cost of Health Insurance: Quantifying the Vermont Affordability Crisis,” the HCA assesses the affordability of health insurance on Vermont Health Connect and shows that many…

By Tiffany Danitz Pache, VTDigger Vermont students needing special education could be better served for less money, according to two studies commissioned by the Legislature. Lawmakers will use the studies to craft new approaches to delivering and funding special education services. The studies were conducted by the University of Vermont and by the District Management Group,…

By Alan J. Keays, VTDigger House Minority Leader Rep. Don Turner is proposing a bill that would allow for drug testing of people receiving financial assistance through a state program for low-income families. If a test comes back positive for an illegal substance, a person in the state’s Reach Up program could continue to receive state…