Open to anyone who wants to feel more independent, empowered and capable during outdoor pursuits Saturday and Sunday, May 21-22—PITTSFIELD—Wilderness first aid certification can be achieved this weekend in a two-day course (16 hours). The course is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts who engage in shorter and less remote trips, including hikers, climbers, paddlers, bikers, skiers,…

Locally, no changes planned at Rutland and White River Jct. By Jeralyn Darling/VTDigger Parenthood of Northern New England plans to close five part-time health centers — four of which are in Vermont, and another on the border in New Hampshire — and expand the hours of seven others in New England, the organization said in…

Homeowners choose plants for their properties based on a number of variables. Some may be into growing their own foods, while others desire their gardens to be an awe-inspiring mélange of bright colors and alluring scents. There’s no wrong reason to plant a fresh garden, but some plants offer extra benefits, such as repelling insects.…

By Rep. Jim Harrison The Vermont Legislature adjourned sine die last Thursday evening, May 12, after several long days finishing bills that were still in process. Sine die is Latin for “without a day,” meaning the Legislature adjourned without fixing a day for a future session. Simply put, the Legislature cannot return until the new…

By Merisa Sherman I can feel the squishy soil in between my toes with each step. My toes spread apart as they sink into the freshly rained upon ground and I know I am joining with the earth. I can feel my toes curl downward as I reach my opposite leg forward, striding through the…

By Dom Cioffi Momentum is an amazing thing. Whether it's sitting behind a canvas to paint a landscape, building a retaining wall in your yard, or going out for a run on the weekend, finding a groove that initiates a burst of energy makes any task seem effortless and enjoyable. But the power of momentum…

By Mary Ellen Shaw I met some friends for lunch recently and one of them brought some old photos from the '80s... '90s. Among them were pictures of events showing people we had worked with. You know that a vast amount of time has passed when you don’t recognize some of the people! All of…

Saturday, May 21 at 10 a.m. — KILLINGTON — The Sherburne Memorial Library will hold an event for our smallest patrons, toddlers through children aged 5. We will hold a short story time with books about trucks and big equipment and then go out into the parking lot to visit hands-on with some very cool…

Rutland Regional Medical Center recently reopened 5 West as a dedicated negative pressure Covid unit. This action was taken to accommodate and balance the needs of Covid positive patients and the high patient census in the ICU. “Covid is still very much in our community,” said Rick Hildebrant, the chief medical information officer at Rutland…

Friday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m. — PUTNEY — Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present contemporary folk singer/songwriters Cheryl Wheeler and Kenny White at Next Stage on Friday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m. It has always seemed as if there were two Cheryl Wheelers, with fans of the New England songwriter relishing watching…

8 of Vermont’s 14 counties are listed as ‘high’ based on cases, hospitalizations and capacity By Erin Petenko/VTDigger The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday, May 12, that eight Vermont counties have “high” community Covid-19 levels. That’s a drop from the 12 counties with reportedly high levels last week. Grand Isle, Lamoille,…

With puppy and kitten season fast approaching, the Rutland County Humane Society (RCHS) wants to point out a few things to consider before getting one. With puppies, there comes a lot of training. How much time do you have to spend at home? What is your activity level? What size dog do you want? If…

By Erin Petenko/VTDigger The Vermont Department of Health plans to “phase out” the Covid-19 case dashboard that has been the centerpiece of its data reporting since March 2020, Health Commissioner Mark Levine said at a press conference Tuesday, May 10. The dashboard — part of a collection of Covid data available on the department’s website…

Delighted crowds at Paramount Theatre, May 7 By Alan Sculley, Last Word Features The Eli Young Band had big plans before the pandemic hit and rearranged everyone’s world. “We had a busy year planned,” Mike Eli, the group’s singer/guitarist said in a recent phone interview. “We were doing our first European tour. We also had…

By Jacob Pluta Editor’s note: Jacob Pluta is the principal broker of White Cap Realty and a board member of Rutland Young Professionals. From 2014 to the present day, Vermont’s real estate market has swung from a sluggish buyer’s market to a frenzied seller’s market. I became licensed to sell real estate in Vermont in…