By Brooke Geery The idea of homesteading — living a simple, off-the-grid life free of many bills modern society requires and taking advantage of the earth’s abundance — may sound enticing in these pandemic times. For many generations, brave and outdoorsy types had chosen to make a go at the lifestyle. So many, in fact,…

Announcing annual Chaffee's Gingerbread Contest Nov. 17-18 — RUTLAND — Interested bakers, schools, organizations, businesses, families, individuals, and young people are invited to submit their imaginative gingerbread creations. Entries do not have to pre-register but are appreciated. All entries must be delivered to the Chaffee Arts Center on either Nov. 17 or 18 between the…

Saturday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. — RANDOLPH — JigJam, an award-winning quartet from the heart of the Midlands in Ireland, will bring their unique blend of traditional Irish music with bluegrass and Americana to the Chandler stage at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6. Tickets are $20 with reserved seating to allow for social…

Saturday, Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m. — BRANDON — Brandon Music welcomes the return of singer-songwriter and guitarist Steve Hartmann with special guest and friend, bassist Drew Breder. Steve recently did a guest spot with Chelsea Berry at Brandon Music on Sept. 18. Steve had composed a new song for Chelsea and in her words,…

By Curt Peterson Vicky Allard and her husband, Joe Hanglin, grew up at two extremes within the United Kingdom yet ended up in Grafton, Vermont — population 600 or so. Food was paramount in both of their childhoods — Vicky as a third-generation sustainable land-to-table farm girl, and Joe immersed in Spanish, North African and…

Sunday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. — RUTLAND — Grace Congregational UCC offers an evening service to remember and celebrate the lives of those who have died this past year. The Grace Church Sanctuary Choir, Castleton University Chorale and Festival Orchestra will perform Franz Schubert’s Mass in G Major interspersed with poetry and prayers. All…

Forum brings together citizens, scientists, planners, business owners and more Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. — VIRTUAL — In a rapidly changing global climate, rural New England has been highlighted as one of the nation’s most climate-resilient regions and should expect climate-related in-migration over the next several decades. With its many amenities in a…

By Deborah J. Benoit, extension master gardener, University of Vermont Maybe you enjoy using fresh mushrooms in your meal preparations but have opened the refrigerator door and discovered to your disappointment the “mush” part of mushrooms. Or maybe you’d like something different to satisfy your inner gardener over the winter months (or any other time…

Nov. 21 - May 12 — MIDDLEBURY — The Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival is bringing back MNFF Selects, its monthly in-person screening series at the Town Hall Theater in Middlebury. MNFF Selects will kick off its 8-month run this October, spanning through May 2022. For its “comeback” edition, MNFF Selects presents "Humans and Animals: Shared…

By Virginia Dean It comes once a year — well, maybe October 2020 was an exception — and celebrations are beginning to ramp up with Woodstock residents and visitors getting their costumes and Halloween décor ready, making sure there will be plenty of cider donuts and candy. At the Norman Williams Public Library, from Oct.…

Saturday, Oct. 30, 8 a.m. to noon — RUTLAND — The 16th annual Wheels for Warmth Tire Sale event is back this year. Established in 2005, Wheels for Warmth raises funds for provide emergency heating assistance to vulnerable Vermonters each winter; creates a resource of DMV-inspected tires that are deemed safe for at least one…

Sunday, Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. — RUTLAND — This Halloween Sunday, Grace Congregational UCC presents an in-person benefit concert in aid of the American Red Cross. Please join us in the spacious Grace Church sanctuary for frightful fun with the Grace Church Sanctuary Choir and Castleton Chamber singers, directed by Dr. Sherrill Blodget. Local…

Friday, Oct. 29 5-7:30 p.m. — WHITE RIVER JCT — WRJ VA Medical Center, 163 Veterans Drive, White River Jct. Open to the community! To reserve your arrival time for your family to walk through our 30 car display, please visit bit.ly/3b8J99q to ensure you have a time slot. Masks will be required while in…

Saturday, Oct. 30 at 3 p.m. — KILLINGTON — Killington Mountain Bike Club, a chapter of the VT Mountain Bike Association, announces that it will host the first annual Haunted Hillside Relay Race, presented by Fox. The Fox Haunted Hillside relay is a fundraising event for the Killington Mountain Bike Club and will be held…

Saturday, Oct. 30, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. — QUECHEE — Join VINS for the day to celebrate Halloween. Our programs have a “Halloweeny” theme and includes Scales and Serpents and Owls in Myth and Legend. Schedule Animal artifacts 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Discover how much you can learn from pelts, bones and other…