Saturday & Sunday, July 14-15—RUTLAND—The Rutland Area Vehicle Enthusiasts (R.A.V.E.) are pleased to invite everyone to attend the 39th annual R.A.V.E. Car Show and Flea Market on Saturday, July 14 and Sunday, July 15 at the Vermont State Fairgrounds in Rutland. 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the Chevy truck as well as the 40th…

By Polly Lynn Mikula KILLINGTON—Tuesday afternoon, July 10, was unusually exciting at the Northstar Lodge in Killington. Becky Piteau is used to welcoming new guests to the lodge, but never did she expect to see a black bear wander through the front doors. But that’s exactly what happened at 2:30 p.m. “We had the doors…

By Katy Savage KILLINGTON—More than 140 golfers, ages 12-19, braved the heat wave for the American Junior Golf Association championship at Green Mountain National Golf Course (GMNGC), July 2-5. The championship brings the best junior golfers in the world to Killington once a year. Players and their families came from places like California, Texas and…

KILLINGTON— Divas of Dirt, an initiative led by pro down hill and endro racer Amy Alton and the Killington Bike Park to foster a community of passionate female mountain bikers, is returning to Killington Resort July 13 with bi-weekly Friday night rides from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. “I continue to be astounded by Killington’s…

Photos by Paul Holmes Rep. Jim Harrison celebrates Independence Day in the Killington Parade. Fireworks ended the day of celebrations in Killington. Jim Jim Jim Jim Jim Jim Jim Jim Jim Jim

Wednesday, July 4, 9:45 p.m.—RUTLAND—Don’t miss the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce Fireworks Extravaganza in celebration of Independence Day on Wednesday, July 4. The pyrotechnics begin promptly at 9:45 p.m. at the Vermont State Fairgrounds, 175 S. Main St. The Rutland County Agricultural Society will also be holding its 2018 Summer Smash Demo Derby at the Vermont State…

By Katy Savage WOODSTOCK—Five years after opening Worthy Kitchen, bringing local food and casual dining to the region, the restaurant owners have opened a new year-round creemee and frozen yogurt shop. Sweet and Salty, located by the Woodstock Welcome Center off Main Street, had a soft opening Wednesday, June 27. An official open and ribbon…

By Marguerite Jill Dye RUTLAND—“Children don’t belong in cages!” stood out among the powerful signs at Rutland’s “Families Belong Together” event. Over 150 demonstrators of all ages lined up along  Routes 4 and 7 at Rutland’s Main Street Park. There were 750 nationwide marches on Saturday, June 29, in 50 states. They protested abhorrence against…

By Paul Holmes A bald eagle was out looking for breakfast on Kent Pond in Killington the morning of June 13. With an eagle-eye, patience and a stroke of luck, this early bird of prey caught a fishy feast in one fell swoop. Good catch! The same can be said of Killington photographer Paul Holmes,…

By Katy Savage and Polly Mikula On Sunday, July 1, recreational use and possession of pot will be legal. H.511 (Act 86) legalizes the possession and gifting of small amounts of cannabis by Vermont residents over 21, and it permits Vermonters to grow their own. The bill allows for the possession of 1 ounce of…

RUTLAND—The Paramount Theatre just announced a lineup of events in advance of its annual full-season announcement in mid-July. These five, first-rate events (exclusive only to the month of September) continue the tradition of excellence that theatergoers in central Vermont have come to expect and appreciate from the more than century-old performing art center at 30 Center St.…

By Michelle Monroe, St. Albans Messenger “Appalling” and “un-American,” those are the words Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., used to describe conditions in a processing center in southern Texas where children have been separated from their parents. Welch spoke with the Messenger by phone Sunday, June 17 after visiting a processing center known as “The Icebox,”…

By Katy Savage WEST RUTLAND—Haley Bania and her sister Michaela couldn’t be more different. Haley is reserved; Michaela is outgoing. Michaela is competitive; Haley is laid back. Michaela is athletic; Haley is artsy. But Haley, 17, and Michaela, 14, are both ranked top in the world of rodeo. Michaela is in the middle of packing…

By Karen D. Lorentz RUTLAND—White Memorial Park in Rutland City will debut its two new pools with a community opening from noon to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 21 and Friday , June, 22, followed by a gala celebration from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 23. The Saturday festivities begin with an 11…

Home gardens and local farm fields are beginning to fill up with fresh produce as the growing season gets underway. And with it, the Vermont Foodbank’s gleaning teams are taking to the fields to harvest surplus fresh food for people struggling to afford it. The Vermont Foodbank operates the largest gleaning program in the state…