Officials urge vigilance, adherence to Covid travel and gathering guidelines By Polly Mikula For the second straight week, Vermont and the Northeast region have seen Covid cases decline. Governor Phil Scott called the trend a “promising sign,” before cautioning listeners at his regular Covid-19 press conference, Tuesday, Dec. 29, that it was “too early to…

Ski resorts attract crowds, but protocols appear to be working By Emma Cotton/VTDigger On the snowy ascent to Killington Resort, blue road signs instruct out-of-state skiers to turn away if they haven’t quarantined according to Vermont’s Covid-19 guidelines. The signs are a final plea by the resort, and the state, for those who haven’t followed the…

By Brooke Geery Sometime during the middle of December, a large metal monolith appeared on top of a mountain in Pittsfield. Like the other monoliths that have showed up in Utah, Romania and California recently, its appearance was a mystery. Then, late in the day on Wednesday, Dec. 23, it disappeared. Not, however, before some…

By Brooke Geery If ever there was a year we were ready to have in the rearview it’s 2020. Thank goodness 2021 is almost here. While like most other things this year, celebrations will look different than ever before, that doesn’t mean you can’t eat, drink and be merry from a safe social distance. Sure,…

Bruce Bouchard reflects on 50 years in theatre By Polly Mikula In his last 12 years in the industry, Bruce Bouchard simultaneously elevated Rutland’s Paramount Theatre, while demystifying its elitism. Through his efforts, the number of events on the Paramount stage tripled and, though it was six figures in debt when he took the reins…

By Katy Savage While lodges and restaurants in Killington would normally be operating at full capacity this time of year, some establishments are down as much as 80%, due in part to the pandemic and the late start to the winter season. Kayla Bouffard, the innkeeper at the Vermont Inn in Mendon, said she was…

By Emma Cotton/VTDigger Nick Grandchamp took one look at the snowy pile covering his car Thursday morning, Dec. 17, and walked to work instead. There, at the Rutland Area Food Co-op, it was an unusually quiet day. The store, which usually closes at 7 p.m., closed at 4 p.m., he said. Most people in the area…

By Brooke Geery For local fried chicken fans, there is a bright side to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Rollin’ Rooster food trucks have pumped out so much food for hungry Vermonters since the pandemic began in March, that owners Nicole and Scott Bower have expanded to multiple trucks, and now, a brick and mortar location…

State says immunity is still months away By Polly Mikula Governor Phil Scott announced the arrival in Vermont of the first 1,950 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at the regular press conference Tuesday, Dec. 15. It was the first portion of the 5,850 doses expected to arrive in Vermont this week. The first doses…

By Katy Savage After 34 years, Chef Claude Blais is moving on. Blais sold his Choices Restaurant on Killington Road to two of his employees on Dec. 14. Dan Tolley, the bartender and Tim Galvin, the sous chef, are reopening the restaurant under their name on Dec. 17. Blais, who had long been looking to…

On Dec. 19, Pickle Barrel will be opening for the season with live music. Tony Lee Thomas will take the stage at 3 p.m. and MB Padfield will perform at 6 p.m., for her first show back in Killington in years. The Karr Group has revamped the Pickle Barrel set up with tables for people…

By Brooke Geery Struggling to find the perfect gift for that hard-to-please friend or family member? May we suggest the gift of reading? We have teamed up with Phoenix Books in Rutland to compile a list of books either about Vermont, or written here, to help give you some ideas. “Prisoner of Hope” by Yvonne…

By Polly Mikula Rutland Free Library has drafted a memorandum of understanding to purchase the former College of St. Joseph administration building, including the Giorgetti Library, with plans to move from its current location downtown within the next year. “We’re honored and excited to give the library a new home — so much time and…

By Curt Peterson On Dec. 1 the Killington board of health voted unanimously to pursue a public health order (PHO) regarding an alleged septic system failure 287 Estabrook Road, a short-term rental property belonging to Killington Mountain House LLC (KMH) and Vincent Connolly. A Dec. 15 public hearing will determine whether the PHO will be…

By Susan Durant Tim Owings and the Mission Farm Bakery have been part of the charm of Mission Farm for the past 23 years. Many a passerby remembers when the bakery was also a café offering simple fare for locals to stop by and enjoy.  More recently, Owings has maintained the bakery as a wholesale…