Thursday, Dec. 7, 7 p.m.—QUECHEE—The Vermont Institute of Natural Science will host an important and captivating talk with Tom Rogers from VT Fish and Wildlife Department on Thursday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. in the VINS Nature Center Classroom. An evening of colorful photos and captivating stories aims to answer many questions about a changing…

Friday, Dec. 8, 6:30 p.m.—RUTLAND—Come enjoy a holiday musical festival at Trinity Episcopal Church, Rutland, Friday, Dec. 8. The evening features a meal catered by Table 24 chef Steve Sawyer and a varied selection of live music. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a silent auction, and dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Call 802-775-4368 for tickets ($40/person).…

Saturday, Dec. 9, 4 p.m.—MIDDLEBURY—The excitement is building as Maiden Vermont prepares for its holiday show, “Come Fly With Us,” to be held on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 4 p.m. at the Town Hall Theater in Middlebury. With their rich harmony and bell ringing tones, Maiden Vermont will sing songs of the season, and renditions of…

Thursday, Dec. 7, 5:15 p.m.—CHESTER—Tom Bock, Vermont state representative from the Windsor 3-1 District which includes Chester, Andover, Baltimore and North Springfield, will be the First Thursday Chester Rotary speaker Thursday, Dec. 7. The event will start at 5:15 p.m. and take place at the Fullerton Inn. Representative Bock will transport attendees to the Vermont capitol in…

By DJ Dave Hoffenberg This weekend is the return of new sensation and my favorite cover band, Good Noise, to the Pickle Barrel Nightclub, both Friday and Saturday night. You get an extra treat on Saturday because it’s also the annual Pimp ‘n’ Ho Ho Ho Party. Good Noise knows how to rock a Pickle…

By Dom Cioffi One day, just before Christmas a couple years ago, my brother-in-law pulled me aside to ask a question. He walked me into a spare room and pointed to several cardboard boxes that were in the corner, asking me if I was interested in the contents. I wandered over and peeled one of…

By Karen D. Lorentz Pico may have just turned 80 years old, but the area is still young at heart. True to its long history, Pico Mountain continues to foster lessons for children that the National Winter Sports Education Foundation (NWSEF) has awarded a $25,000 grant to expand the Pico School Program. The program offers…

By Lani Duke Winter parking warning City winter parking rules went in effect Dec. 1, and will continue in place until April 1. Downtown parking is prohibited between 3 and 6 a.m., and on other city streets between midnight and 6 a.m. Cars interfering with snow removal may be towed and owners fined $75 or…

By Lani Duke Castleton Float Bridge contract approved, credit union permitting questioned CASTLETON—Blair Enman of Enman Kesselring Consulting Engineering told the Castleton Select Board Nov. 27 that his company has been involved in the Float Bridge rework since about 2014. The east side is finished and Enman Kesselring is working on the proposal to build…

Elizabeth Hewitt, VTDigger Tatiana Gladkikh is in her first year of studying for her doctorate in natural resources at the University of Vermont. The 27-year-old, a Russian citizen, receives a stipend for her studies and work at the university. But a change to tax law that is under consideration in Congress could significantly increase her…

Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy announced a grant of more than $1.3 million for the Vermont State Police to continue its aggressive work fighting the opioid epidemic in Vermont on Wednesday, Nov. 29. This was the second-largest of only eight grants awarded nationwide through the COPS Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) grant program that…

By Mike Polhamus, VTDigger Green Mountain Power’s electric rates are slated to rise by 5 percent in 2018 if the Public Utility Commission approves a deal the state’s largest utility reached this month with the Vermont Department of Public Service. The deal incorporates approximately $18 million due to GMP customers as a result of terms…

New Community Challenge will award winner with sweet treats (maple creemees!) and bragging rights RUTLAND—Planners of the 2017 Gift-of-Life Marathon blood drive are appealing to the competitive nature of the greater Rutland area with the addition of a Community Challenge that will help keep the blood supply strong as well as reward the winning team…

As part of a continued focus on protecting Vermont’s most vulnerable, six child care and preschool programs located within 200 feet of current or former dry cleaning businesses will be evaluated in December to determine if dry cleaning chemicals are present, according to a Nov. 29 news release. Chemicals associated with dry cleaning can seep…

State officials marked the end of the first month of Health Access open enrollment by thanking Vermonters for acting promptly ahead of this year’s deadline, but remind those who still need coverage to be sure to log in to VermontHealthConnect.gov or call by Dec. 15. The customer support center will be open Saturday, Dec. 9,…