Friday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m. — The Bells of Joy Handbell Choir, under the direction of Karen James will present its 32nd annual spring concert at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 8 in the chapel of the Rutland United Methodist Church, 71 Williams Street. Musical offerings from the church calendar year, as well as original…

May 8 and 9 — RUTLAND — On Friday, May 8 from 5:30-7 p.m., join Cindi and Keith Wight at Giorgetti Park to learn the fun and benefits of slacklining. There will be four slacklines set up to play on. If you have a slackline, bring it with you to set up more lines. All ages are welcome…

Saturday, May 9 at 12:30 p.m. — MENDON — The Mendon Historical Society will hold a hike on Saturday, May 9 at 12:30 p.m. led by Justin Lindholm. The hike will cover the northeast section of the town, following the Old Turnpike Road, along the original route of the Rutland to Stockbridge Turnpike opened in 1808 and…

Life-long Rutland resident selected for Provider of the Year Award Saturday, May 9 at 7 p.m. — RUTLAND — College of St. Joseph has selected Paul Gallo to receive this year’s Provider of the Year Award at its annual Provider Scholarship Gala. “Paul Gallo is one of several people leading a local renaissance. His roots are in…

Saturday, May 9 at 12 p.m. — BRANDON — Be part of something big! Hands-On Music, 27 Center Street in Brandon, holds its second annual “Drumstrong Vermont,” a 5-hour “drum-a-thon” to raise funds and awareness in the fight to beat cancer. “Drumstrong Vermont” will be held on Saturday, May 9 from 12-5 p.m. Each year in May,…

Sunday, May 10 at 11:30 a.m. — BRANDON — A “not to be missed” event happens at Brandon Music on Mother’s Day, May 10 from 11:30 a.m. -5 p.m. Treat your mom or other special person in your life to English High Tea while listening to the melodic tunes of pianist, Fred Barnes.  English High Tea will be…

Saturday, May 9 — LUDLOW — Every second Saturday in May letter carriers in more than 10,000 cities and towns across America deliver much more than mail when they walk and drive along their postal routes. They also collect the goodness and compassion of their postal customers who participate in the Stamp Out Hunger National Food Drive…

Tuesday, May 12 at 7 p.m. — WALLINGFORD — The Second Tuesday Open Mic Night will take place on Tuesday, May 12 from 7-9 p.m. at Wallingford Town Hall. Musicians, poets and storytellers are invited to take the stage to perform in front of an enthusiastic audience of friends and neighbors who may sing along, dance…

Wednesday, May 13 at 8 a.m. — PITTSFORD — Stafford Technical Center’s Forestry and Natural Resource Program will be hosting a chainsaw safety and skills competition at Gagnon Lumber in Pittsford at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, May 13. Approximately 40 high school students from Natural Resource Technical Programs from around the state will exercise their skills…

Provided by Rutland Regional Medical Center Laura M. Edwards, LICSW (l), Lisa Barker, Manager(r) RUTLAND — Laura M. Edwards, LICSW, Pediatric Social Worker from the Community Health Team, was honored as Rutland Regional Medical Center’s Clinical Employee of the Quarter, and Lisa Barker, Budget & Financial Reporting Manager in Finance, was honored as the Rutland…

Submitted Dr. Paula McGee RUTLAND—Dr. Paula McGee, a dynamic preacher, author, and inspirational speaker, will be the commencement speaker at College of St. Joseph’s commencement ceremony at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 17, in the College’s Athletic Center. Dr. McGee’s personal mission is to “inspire others to recognize, accept and fulfill their call to greatness.” McGee…

Submitted kim peters KILLINGTON — In 2014, the Recreation Commission and Selectboard voted to restore the recreation director to a full time position.  After dozens of interviews with over 50 applicants, Kim Peters was selected as the new full-time recreation director. Peters has extensive experience in managing community sports programs. For the last seven years she…

Submitted Paul Harwood TUNBRIDGE—The Vermont Tree Farm program is proud to announce the selection of Paul Harwood, consulting forester of Tunbridge, as the National Outstanding Tree Farm Inspector of the Year for 2015. Harwood was nominated by the Vermont Tree Farm committee in October 2014 and captured the Northeast Regional award–a noteworthy achievement in itself.…

The downtown parking deck struggles RUTLAND—You wouldn’t think a simple concrete structure with a couple of elevators and a ramp connecting its tiers would be such a fiscal sinkhole. Long-term users can pay $55 per month (discounted for Rutland Area Chamber of Commerce members) or rent space by the day or hour in the downtown…

LUDLOW — The Black River Academy Museum and the Ludlow middle and high school classes last year developed this program and recently it was presented to sixth grade students from Mt. Holly. The program is a day-long immersion experience that combines the fields of social science, language and arts and utilizes the museum’s research facilities…