Sunday, Jan. 1—RUTLAND—The Rutland Recreation Department will offer Intro to Figure Skating starting Jan. 1 at Giorgetti Arena. The program is designed for those who are looking to sharpen and enhance their freestyle skills and is recommended for those who already have a solid foundation of figure skating. There will be 30-minute instruction time and…

Saturday, Dec. 31 at 3 p.m.—WOODSTOCK—The 7th annual Woodstock Vermont Film Series at the Billings Farm & Museum will feature the award-winning documentary “Sing Street” on Saturday, Dec. 31 at 3 and 5 p.m. All films are open to the public and accessible to people with disabilities. Reservations are strongly recommended. Irish filmmaker John Carney’s…

Wednesday, Jan. 4 at 6:30 p.m.—The Green Mountain Wireless Society ham radio club will be conducting an entry-level amateur (ham) radio course on Wednesday evenings, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Jan. 4 through March 22. The course will cover basic electronics, entry-level radio theory, operating guidelines, safety, rules and regulations. There is no Morse code requirement. There will be…

A recent study by Salvation Farms measures the demand for fresh produce within Vermont food or meal programs and teases out preferences and challenges regarding the sourcing and use of fruits and vegetables. The Morrisville-based nonprofit, which helps programs get locally-grown crops that otherwise can’t find a market, surveyed hundreds of organizations in the spring…

Friday, Dec. 30 at 6 p.m.—WOODSTOCK—On Friday, Dec. 30, Congregation Shir Shalom  will holds its Chanukah/Shabbat celebration and potluck dinner, at 6 p.m. Bring your Chanukiot. Enter the famous Latke contest. They will have a Shabbat service, sing songs, light menorahs, tell stories, play dreidel games, and eat latkes. Please bring either a dish of…

Thursday, Dec. 29 at 12 p.m.—LUDLOW—Skygate Financial Group, LLC invites the community to attend its open house holiday party on Thursday, Dec. 29 from 12-8 p.m. at 211 Main Street in Ludlow. It will feature holiday cheer, an in-house exhibit by local artisan Barre Pinske, and refreshments. For more info, visit facebook.com/SkygateFinancialGroup or call 802-875-8100.

By Karen Lorentz Making memorable mountain vacations entails doing lots of fun things in addition to skiing and riding. Here’s a starter list of activities sure to make your holiday extra special, provide après-ski fun, or entertain the non-skiers in a family or group. Adventurous and scenic rides Want a different view of the ski…

Thursday Dec. 22 Open Swim ** 8 a.m. Enjoy the warm water at Mitchell Therapy Pool at Vermont Achievement Center, 88 Park St., Rutland: 8-9 a.m.; 5-7 p.m. Call for more times & info, 802-773-7187. Commit to Quit ** 9 a.m. Rutland’s stop smoking program at 1 Commons St., Rutland (Rutland Regional Behavioral Health Group…

Dec. 24, 26-Jan. 1—WOODSTOCK—Discover the traditions of a late 19th century Vermont Christmas with a visit to the Billings Farm & Museum this holiday season. Christmas at the Billings Farm will be featured Dec. 24-Jan. 1, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (excluding Christmas Day). Tour the authentically decorated farmhouse, visit the dairy farm for interactive programs including…

Friday, Dec. 23 at 10 a.m.—RUTLAND—Rutland Recreation Department will once again be hosting its annual Skate with Santa event at Giorgetti Arena on Friday, Dec. 23, 10 a.m.-12 noon. Kids age 10 and under, plus their caregivers, can skate with Santa. Santa will be on the ice from 10:30-11:30 a.m., and then kids have opportunities…

Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m.—LUDLOW—FOLA (Friends of Ludlow Auditorium) will offer a bonus for the holiday season by streaming the hit Broadway musical “She Loves Me” during the Christmas week on Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m. at the Ludlow Town Hall Auditorium. This musical is a charming story of two co-workers in a…

Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 7:30 p.m.—LUDLOW—Okemo Mountain Resort hosts its annual evening of fire and lights on Tuesday, Dec. 27. Enjoy a pyrotechnics show at 7:30 p.m. in the Okemo Clock Tower base area, following an amazing torchlight parade of skiers and riders traversing Okemo’s Open Slope trail. Kids can participate in their own special light…

Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 5 p.m.—RUTLAND—The Homeless Prevention Center holds its 17th annual candlelight vigil on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 5 p.m. in Depot Park, off Merchants Row, Rutland. Join for a short reading to help remember the human faces of homelessness. Come stand in solidarity with our poorest neighbors. Hot cocoa and hot cider will…

By Julia Purdy After the Gospel, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” is probably the best known story of Christmas in the English language. Since 1900, the entertainment industry alone has produced at least 50 versions for film and TV. We enjoy the “Carol” for its feel-good message and cornucopia of special effects, as Dickens himself…

Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 8 p.m.—KILLINGTON—On Wednesday, Dec. 28, Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience will appear in concert at the Pickle Barrel Nightclub in Killington. The show is open to anyone 21 years of age and older. Billed as “an unrivaled celebration of pop music’s one true king,” this group’s power-packed performance of…