By Lee J. Kahrs BRANDON — “I have a simple thesis. If you restore it, they will come.” With that thought, Rutland County Audubon Society Co-President Roy Pilcher summed up Friday’s preservation of 500 acres of wetland at the former Dean Farm on Union Street in Brandon. Owners Lyn and Jim Des Marais have sold…

VIP tickets go on sale July 5 KILLINGTON – Killington Resort announced Tuesday, June  28, that tickets for the 2016 Audi FIS Ski World Cups will go on sale starting next Tuesday, July 5 at 8 a.m. Taking place over Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 26-27, Killington will host the first Alpine World Cup event in the…

Photos courtesy of GIA The Vermont Governor’s Institute on the Arts is celebrating its 33rd year of student-created parades on July 4, 2016. Monday, July 4 at 10:30 a.m. — CASTLETON — The Vermont Governor’s Institute on the Arts observes its 33rd year on July 4 as it presents a student-created samba puppet parade to…

By William Murphy, courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org A world record attempt to become the largest gathering of “Where’s Waldo” Wallys was held in 2011 in Dublin, Ireland. Find Waldo in Rutland July 1-30! RUTLAND — “Where’s Waldo?” In Rutland, of course! The famous children’s book character in the striped shirt and black-rimmed specs is visiting 25 local…

Courtesy of Chandler Center for the Arts As school ends, area students converge on Chandler Center for the Arts for the annual 4th of July musical. June 30 - July 3 —RANDOLPH — With area high schools students having recently graduated, work has been well underway for this year’s Chandler Center for the Arts’ 4th of…

Courtesy of Fair Haven Concerts in the Park The Spurs USA stand in front of the gazebo and a crowd in Fair Haven village park. Thursday, June 30 at 7 p.m.—FAIR HAVEN—The Fair Haven Concerts in the Park 2016 Summer Series once again welcomes Spurs USA to the stage. This is the third in the…

Courtesy of VSO The backdrop at Stowe is not unlike others to be seen during the VSO’s summer festival tour, a yearly event that is performed in outdoor settings throughout Vermont. CHITTENDEN, SO. POMFRET — The Vermont Symphony Orchestra and TD Bank bring the 2016 Summer Festival Tour to the hills of Mountain Top Inn and…

Courtesy of Otter Creek Festival of the Arts In its first season, the Otter Creek Festival of the Arts features 23 performances by local and international artists. Wednesday, June 30 at 8:30 p.m. — BRANDON — Otter Creek Festival of the Arts (OCFA) has launched its inaugural season with a festival featuring Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Sunset…

Friday, July 1, at 5 p.m. — BRANDON — The Brandon Artists Guild’s summer show, Solids and Surfaces, opens Friday, July 1, at the guild’s gallery at 7 Center St., Brandon and celebrates the natural environment with a presentation of handcrafted furniture by Richard Haver and painted landscapes by Grace Mellow. In two and three dimensions, these…

By Rik Champine The finale of many July 4 festivities is the light show of fireworks held after dark. July 1-2 — BRANDON—The Brandon Independence Day celebration begins  Friday, July 1, with food and a street dance at 5 p.m. in Central Park, with hamburgers, hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn and more. At 6 p.m. the…

Courtesy of KMF SIMON GHRAICHY Saturday, July 2 at 7 p.m — KILLINGTON — On July 2 at 7 p.m. the Killington Music Festival’s Chamber Orchestra pays tribute to Maestro Joseph Silverstein with a challenging performance to maximize the audience’s entertainment. Artistic Director Daniel Andai conducts the orchestra while performing as solo violinist with guest…

Courtesy of Cartref Taid St. John’s Episcopal Church, circa 1831, is reopening this summer for evening prayer services. Saturday, July 2 at 4 p.m. — POULTNEY — Historic St. Johns Episcopal Church reopened in June as a summer chapel with service of evening prayer. The second of three services will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday,…

Courtesy of RRCC Voted the area’s best fireworks in recent years, the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce continues the tradition at the Vermont State Fairgrounds. Saturday, July 2 at 9:45 p.m. — RUTLAND — Don’t miss the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce Fireworks Extravaganza, the area’s largest fireworks display, taking place on Saturday, July 2 promptly at…

Saturday, July 2 at 8:30 a.m. — CAVENDISH — For close to 40 years, the Saturday before the Fourth of July is marked by the annual plant sale of the Cavendish Historical Society. The sale takes place on Saturday, July 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Cavendish Historical Society Museum, 1958 Main St. (Route…

Courtesy of Billings Farm & Museum Historic baseball is one of the many traditional events featured during Billings Farm & Museum’s “Old Vermont 4th” celebration. Monday, July 4 at 10 a.m. — WOODSTOCK — Celebrate the Billings Farm & Museum’s “Old Vermont 4th” on Monday, July 4 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., featuring historic baseball, traditional…