RUTLAND—College of St. Joseph has announced that former Vermont Governor Jim Douglas will deliver the commencement address at the college’s graduation ceremony on May 13. Douglas was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives in November 1972, where he would become the House majority leader during his third two-year term at just 25 years old.…

By Tiffany Danitz Pache, VTDigger The Senate Thursday, April 27, gave preliminary approval to a bill that will raise property taxes. The proposal transfers $8 million of the state’s annual contribution for teachers’ retirement from the general fund to the education fund. That shift frees up money for child care, state colleges and the mental…

Saturday, May 6, 5:30 p.m.—PAWLET—The Slate Valley Museum (SVM) has teamed up with internationally acclaimed American soprano Anya Matanovi to bring a night of Italian opera music and dinner to the Pawlet Town Hall Saturday, May 6 at 5:30 p.m. The evening of music will be paired with Italian cuisine. Tickets for this fundraiser are $55 per person. Reservations are…

Sunday, May 7, 1 p.m.—RUTLAND—The Paramount Theatre’s three-play spring series of broadcasts in high-definition from the National Theatre of Great Britain comes to a close Sunday, May 7, with Henrik Ibsen’s classic, “Hedda Gabler.” Hedda is just-married and feels  buried alive. She longs to be free. Hedda and Tesman have just returned from their honeymoon…

WEST HAVEN—Devil’s Bowl Speedway has unveiled its 2017 season schedule, boasting the Northeast’s most diverse slate of motorsports events. Located on Route 22A in scenic West Haven, the facility will continue to offer affordable, family-friendly entertainment and the region’s most exciting NASCAR-sanctioned stock car racing on two tracks. Racing at the half-mile asphalt track at…

Saturday, May 6, 7:30 p.m.—BRANDON—Pianist Annemieke McLane will perform her new recital program “Garden Tour” at Brandon Music Saturday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. “Garden Tour” is an extension of her most recent album “Birds of Beethoven,” released last August. The pianist is touched by how composers, like painters, capture nature, and therefore has brought…

Friday, May 5, 5 p.m.—BRANDON—The Brandon Artists Guild (BAG) welcomes spring with a new exhibit of floral photographs by Richard Conrad and wildlife woodcarving by William Barnard. The show, “Fish, Fowl & Flowers” runs May 3-June 27. An opening reception will be held May 5, 5-7 p.m. Vermont artists William Barnard and Richard Conrad both…

Sunday, May 7, 2 p.m.—BRANDON—As Norma Montaigne enjoys working with different textures and mediums, she believes every idea can be executed in a number of ways. Color can be bold or soft; paint can be thick or washed out; surfaces can be wood, canvas, paper or of a three dimensional character. Montaigne presents a collection…

Saturday & Sunday, May 6-7—WOODSTOCK—Billings Farm & Museum, gateway to Vermont’s rural heritage, will feature sheep dhearing and herding with border collies, Saturday and Sunday, May 6-7, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. This event showcases herdsman Steve Wetmore’s team of border collies herding sheep in the farm fields during narrated programs at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30…

Saturday, May 6, 5 p.m.—LUDLOW— LPCTV, community television for the Black River Valley and Okemo region, will hold its sixth annual Kentucky Derby Gala charity fundraising event Saturday, May 6 at Willie Dunn’s Grille at the Okemo Valley Golf Course in Ludlow from 5-8 p.m. The event will feature a dinner of small plates and…

Saturday, May 6, 4 p.m.—IRA—Saturday, May 6 from 4-7 p.m. at Milky Way Farm in Ira will be a family-friendly fun event aimed at raising awareness of the importance of small family farms, and the threats which they face. Activities will include farm tours, a petting zoo, tractor hay rides, a raffle, plant a pansy…

Saturday, May 6, 11 a.m.—RUTLAND—Mary Holland will visit Phoenix Books Rutland Saturday, May 6 at 11 a.m. to celebrate Children’s Book Week. The author of “Naturally Curious” and “Otis the Owl,” Holland will lead a story time, talk about how she became a naturalist/writer/photographer, and share some photos and/or animal artifacts. She’ll also take questions…

Saturday, May 6, 8:30 a.m.—RUTLAND—Once again the Rutland Kiwanis Club and the Rutland Recreation & Parks Department will be hosting a special fishing day for children up to age 13 on Saturday, May 6 from 8:30-11 a.m. at Combination Pond. A parent/guardian must accompany the child. Registration is at 8:30 a.m. Prizes are awarded in various…

Wednesday, May 10, 4:30 p.m.—WOODSTOCK—Norman Williams Public Library will hosts a presentation, Improved Medicare for All, Wednesday, May 10, 4:30 p.m. It will begin with “The Healthcare Movie” at 4:30 p.m. followed by a presentation/Q&A session with Dr. Marvin Malek, M.D. “The Healthcare Movie” is a documentary which provides the story of how the health…

Saturday, May 6, 7 p.m.—WOODSTOCK—Freelance Family Singers Community Chorus of Woodstock will ring in spring with family friendly concerts to be held Saturday, May 6, 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 7, 3 p.m. The chorus, directed by Ellen Satterthwaite, will perform at First Congregational Church, 36 Elm St. Woodstock. The chorus will offer a variety…