Aging demographic trends help explain By Bruce Parker, Vermont Watchdog The U.S. Department of Labor on Friday, Nov. 6, released an upbeat monthly jobs report showing the economy added 271,000 jobs in October. The number was well above the 185,000 jobs projected for the month. The national unemployment rate, which declined slightly to 5 percent,…

Two weeks into the third annual open enrollment period for Vermont Health Connect, Gov. Peter Shumlin and top health care officials provided an update on Tuesday, Nov. 17, and pointed to the long road the state has traveled to improve the health care marketplace since its launch in 2013. So far this open enrollment period,…

By Daryl Cagle Like Lady Liberty in the United States, Marianne of France is a symbol of the French state and values, especially the values of liberty, brotherhood, and egalitarianism. She is probably one of the most recognizable and distinctive symbols of France. The concept for Marianne of France appears to have arisen during the…

It was Friday night in Paris, a time to go out to concerts, or to meet friends at a bar and share a glass of wine. Instead, 11/13, became France’s 9/11 as gunmen and suicide bombers methodically and randomly slaughtered more than 130 citizens at four locations around the city, wounding hundreds more. Claiming responsibility…

Dear Editor, As a lifelong resident of Rutland, I’ve long appreciated the way this community works together when the chips are down, or when a challenge confronts us as a community.  It’s one of the reasons I love this time of year, when the greater Rutland area demonstrates its amazing sense of camaraderie at the…

Dear Editor, I have tried in earnest to answer Jim Haff’s questions regarding several topics regarding the town of Killington’s financial reports such as the town report and the annual audit. I wrote those answers under the assumption Mr. Haff understood certain basic financial concepts. I guess one should never assume anything. Mr. Haff seems…

By Lee H. Hamilton You can understand why President Obama and congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle sought to cast their end-of-October budget deal in the best possible light. They avoided a potentially catastrophic national default. They reduced the possibility of a government shutdown. And they raised the debt ceiling until March, 2017,…

By Dom Cioffi After the devastation and destruction of World War II, Europe had to rebuild both its economy and its infrastructure. This rebuilding would take time, resources and an immense amount of creativity given the task at hand. One person who was up to the job was Villum Kann Rasmussen, a Danish entrepreneur and…

Courtesy of KAG Photographer Bruce Pike will be featured in the Killington Arts Guild’s new gallery show, “All is White.” Friday, Nov. 20 at 5 p.m. — KILLINGTON — The Killington Arts Guild ushers in the season with a new gallery show, “All is White,” an all members’ show including watercolor, oil, acrylic, multi-media, photography, sculpture, wood…

Courtesy of Brandon Music St. Petersburg Men's Ensemble Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. — BRANDON — The St. Petersburg Men’s Ensemble, an a cappella group from Russia, returns to Brandon Music for a night of Rachmaninoff’s “All-Night Vigil, Op. 37” and expressive Russian folk songs. The group performs Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. as part…

Courtesy of NWPL Fred Haas Thursday, Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m. — WOODSTOCK — Professor Fred Haas will lead a discussion and jazz jam on Thursday, Nov. 19 at Norman Williams Public Library, Downtown Woodstock. At 6:30 p.m., hear the informal discussion by Prof. Haas titled, “What is the Jam Session and Its Place in History?” From…

Courtesy of GMC GMC Band Friday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. — POULTNEY — The GMC/Community Concert Band will perform its annual fall concert on Friday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. in Ackley Hall. Directed by James Cassarino, the ensemble will play works by J.S. Bach, Telemann, Vaughan Williams, and others. The featured work will be Peter Warlock’s “Capriol Suite”…

Courtesy of Stage 40 Mill River students run through a dress rehearsal of the Tony-award nominated musical, “Man of La Mancha.” Nov. 20-21 at 7:30 p.m. — NORTH CLARENDON — On Friday and Saturday, Nov. 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m., Mill River’s award winning theater program, Stage 40 presents the Tony-award nominated musical “Man of La…

Courtesy of Killington Yoga Karen Dalury Friday, Nov. 20 at 5 p.m. — KILLINGTON — Karen Dalury of Killington Yoga presents a yoga posture and alignment clinic on Friday, Nov. 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. This workshop is designed for yoga teachers of all disciplines, fitness professionals, body workers, and students wishing to advance their understanding…

Courtesy of Castleton University Belly dancers perform in unison, celebrating the darker side of dance. Saturday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. — WEST RUTLAND — Dancers from across Vermont and New England will be performing in this year’s Dancing Darkly event on Saturday, Nov. 21 at the West Rutland Town Hall Theatre. The doors will be open…