Friday, Oct. 2 at 5:30 p.m. — CASTLETON — The Castleton Downtown Gallery in Rutland will feature the works of local artist Judith Stone running from Sept. 23 through Oct. 24, with an artist reception scheduled for Friday, Oct. 2 at 5:30 p.m. Entitled “See Feelingly: Weigh and Balance” the exhibit will feature a variety of…

Saturday, Oct. 3 — RUTLAND — The Rutland Rec Department is offering two classes starting this week. Join naturalist Tom Estill on Saturday, Oct. 3 in exploring the natural history of Pine Hill Park at the height of the fall foliage season for a family nature hike. This easy to moderate hike is designed for all ages. There…

Oct. 3-4 — In Honor of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, several area churches are offering annual blessings of the animals. Join the Rutland County Humane Society and Reverend Muller of Trinity Church in Rutland for their Blessing of the Animals on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2 to 4…

Saturday, Oct. 3 — WEST WINDSOR — Join Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society for a day full of fun and celebration in West Windsor on Saturday, Oct. 3 for the fall festival and 5K-9. The day will kick off with the 4th annual 5K-9 and 1-mile fun run, which has quickly become Lucy Mac’s second largest fundraiser of…

Sunday, Oct. 4 at 1 p.m. — BRANDON — Always held the Sunday before Columbus Day weekend, HarvestFest happens in Brandon on Oct. 4, from 1 to 4 p.m. At HarvestFest, the Brandon Chamber of Commerce supplies all materials, accessories, and instruction on how to make your very own “harvest person.” This event is a great way for…

Saturday, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. — RUTLAND — The MET Live in HD 2015-2016 season begins with Anna Netrebko in her highly anticipated Met role debut as Leonora, the tortured heroine of “Il Trovatore.” Town Hall Theater in Middlebury and the Paramount in Rutland will broadcast “Il Trovatore” live Saturday, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. There…

Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. — RANDOLPH — Fall foliage brings the Vermont Symphony Orchestra’s annual Made in Vermont music festival on a statewide tour, and it makes its seventh stop at Chandler on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. The program offers two charming Scandinavian miniatures a suite by Grieg and a “Lyric Piece” by…

Oct. 3-4 — WOODSTOCK — Billings Farm & Museum, gateway to Vermont’s rural heritage, will host its annual Pumpkin and Apple Celebration on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3 and 4, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The weekend features hands-on activities and programs, plus pumpkin and apple displays highlighting these two important fall crops, their historical importance, and many uses. …

Saturday, Oct. 3 at 9:30 a.m. — POULTNEY — The third annual Vermont Fermentation Festival is happening Saturday, Oct. 3 at Green Mountain College in Poultney. The festival includes hands-on workshops and demonstrations, educational talks, vendors, and samplings. This year, Eliza Greenman, a storyteller and apple farmer from upstate New York, will give the keynote address. The…

Sunday, Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. — HUBBARDTON — It’s autumn and time for the annual Mount Zion hike in Hubbardton. Join Hubbardton Battlefield State Historic Site interpreter Carl Fuller for a guided walk up craggy Mount Zion on Sunday, Oct. 4 from 2 to 5 p.m. Enjoy the winning combination of colorful and sweeping fall mountain views, the…

Monday, Oct. 5 — RUTLAND — Let’s Grow Kids invites area business people to attend a special breakfast Monday, Oct. 5 from 8-9:30 a.m. at Rutland Regional Chamber of Commerce Conference Room, 50 Merchants Row in Rutland. Let’s Grow Kids is a statewide public education campaign that aims to raise understanding of the importance of the…

Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 5:30 p.m. — RUTLAND — Green Mountain Power is hosting an energy talk on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at the Energy Innovation Center in downtown Rutland. The talk is part of the GMP College Connections lecture series, entitled “How will the U.S. achieve the energy future Americans envision?” The free public event begins at 5:30…

Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. — RUTLAND — Award-winning biographer Willard Sterne Randall will look at British general John Burgoyne’s failed campaigns in the Champlain Valley in 1776 and 1777 in a talk at Rutland Free Library on Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. His talk, "On Gentleman Johnny Burgoyne's Trail,” is part of the Vermont Humanities…

Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 1 p.m. — CASTLETON — The Castleton Community Center is pleased to add a new and exciting offering to its educational programming. This fall, Joe Mark will facilitate a course entitled The Skeptic’s Guide to American History. This course, produced by The Great Courses® is based on lectures by Mark A. Stoler, Ph.D.,…

Courtesy of Efficiency Vermont Sandy LaFlamme By Sandy LaFlamme, Efficiency Vermont I’ve been working with a K-12 school for almost a year now. My main contact there is an electrician who also happens to be a parent, and he’s always looking for ways to reduce their energy costs. A while back, I brought up the…