By Julia Purdy RUTLAND—After months of closure for repairs and upgrades, the Nella Grimm Fox Room at the Rutland Free Library reopened Thursday, April 19, with speeches, door prizes and a 50/50 raffle, canapés, a champagne toast, and over 200 patrons, staff and well-wishers in attendance. The reopening is another come-back story for Rutland, one…

By Julia Purdy and Polly Lynn Mikula RUTLAND—Friday, April 20, the Mountain Times staff made a field trip to Casella Recycling in Center Rutland, the heart of the Casella trash collection and recycling empire. The visit was made partly to resolve disagreements in the Mountain Times lunchroom and partly as an editorial decision to feature…

By Polly Lynn Mikula Despite new management, Green Mountain National Golf Course is preparing to open nine holes for residents and season pass holders as early as April 27 (if the weather cooperates). Opening for the general public is slated for mid-May. GMNGC, the town-owned course in Killington, will be managed by an outside company for the…

Submitted Volunteers at RRMC are honored during National Volunteer Recognition Week.

Town also signs contract with golf course management company, lends $250,000 to golf pro shop

By Emily Benning Green Mountain Club cautions trail users about Mud Season closures.

Courtesy VINS Learn to preserve and protect the earth at VINS during its Earth Day celebration, April 21-22.

Courtesy of VTrans

Courtesy Theater in the Woods Cast members of “Our Town” are pictured (L-R, front row): Robin Chesnut-Tangerman, Marshall Squier, Rainbow Squier, Melissa Chesnut-Tangerman, Ben Green and Bruce Bouchard; (L-R, back row) Wheaton Squier and Glenn Tarbell.

Courtesy Brandon Music Sarah Blacker (center) with her bandmates, Aaron Katz (left) and Phil Selesnick (right) are New England Groove Association.

By Katie Powers Belle Kidder was 14 years old when she took Introduction to College Studies (ICS) at Fair Haven Union High School—she was the only freshman in the class. “When I signed up for the class I had no idea what I was getting myself into,” said Kidder, who had been homeschooled before joining…

Part of Killington Resort’s Nor’Beaster, its annual spring celebration, the Bear Mountain Mogul Challenge was held this past Saturday, April 7. Participants and spectators wore brightly colored apparel, many in retro or just plain old fun costumes – there was even a unicorn – to enliven the slopeside parties. Competitors took to the bumps of…

RUTLAND—Rutland Regional Medical Center has been awarded the Advisory Board 2018 Workplace of the Year Award. The annual award recognizes hospitals and health systems nationwide that have outstanding levels of employee engagement, according to the April 4 news release. Lesley Classen, Rutland Regional’s Manager of Employee Relations & Recruitment, accepted the award on behalf of…

WOODSTOCK—Innovation is in the air at Woodstock Union High School/Middle School (WUHSMS) with the completion of the new 2,000-square foot state-of-the-art Innovation Lab, a modern natural light-filled space, which officially opened this month within a former woodshop/classroom at the school. While the school operated a temporary Innovation Lab all year, the newly completed space is…

By Karen D. Lorentz Ski patrollers are regarded as “the good Samaritans of the slopes” for tending to both the injured and the multitude of behind-the-scene duties that enable them to promote safety on the slopes. From early morning trail checks to taking care of the gear used and repacking toboggans to the evening check…