By Victoria Gaither At 3 years old, Harley Ruffle, known locally as “Lil Homie,” is a snowboard sensation. His mother, Jill Ruffle, just laughs. “I’m amazed he is so good. He can barely talk,” she said. Harley started walking and skateboarding at the same time, explained his father, Gary. “He has good balance, and Tucker…

By Katy Savage With the closure of bars, people are drinking at home like never before. Liquor stores across the country and locally have seen record sales since the start of the pandemic last March. The week after a national state of emergency was declared, alcohol sales jumped 54% from the previous year, according to…

By Brooke Geery Painter Maurie Harrington has been called the “traveling artist” for her penchant for jet-setting to exotic locales around the globe, but she is happy to call Vermont home. “Travel and art have been a big part of my life,” Harrington said. “I love painting snow scenes in Killington. I only have to…

By Brooke Geery Sunday is Valentine’s Day, and like everything else in the last year, it won’t look like ever before. But that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate safely with your sweetie, and to help you we’ve put together a list of local ideas and happenings to make the 14th day of February special. Travel…

By Brooke Geery Shortly after the permanent sign for Flannels Bar & Grill went up at 74 US-Route 4 in Mendon, the people who’d named the restaurant sold it to Avery Chipka and Hunter Pike. This wasn’t all that surprising — the location has changed hands several times over the years. In the 60s it…

By Curt Peterson Early in the evening on Jan. 30, Raymond Park, 49, of Killington, was snowboarding on the backside of the Killington Ski Area, out of bounds, and spent several subsequent hours trying unsuccessfully to return to the trail he had left. He was found by rescuers at 8 a.m. Jan 31, five hours…

By Brooke Geery Snowshoeing is one of the most accessible ways to enjoy the beauty and peace of Vermont in winter. All you need are snowshoes, a few layers of warm clothing, and perhaps a backpack filled with snacks to enjoy along the trails, fields, or really any snow covered surface. It is a low-impact…

McNeil and Reedy celebrates 65 years in downtown with a new look By Victoria Gaither and Brooke Geery A major renovation project is underway at McNeil & Reedy men’s clothing and shoe store in downtown Rutland. The store, which has been a go-to for proms, weddings, and funerals since 1956, is benefitting from new blood…

By Lisa Lynn/Vermont Sports As Governor Scott outlined in his annual budget address Tuesday, Jan. 26, outdoor recreation is going to see some major investment in the coming year. “It’s more than 20 million dollars, that’s huge!” said Kelly Ault, executive director of the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance, which counts as members businesses such as Orvis,…

Karlhubers celebrate 37 years at the inn By Polly Mikula KILLINGTON—Jeanne and Manfred Karlhuber celebrated with a Zoom party Monday, Feb. 1, after signing closing documents to sell The Snowed Inn after 37 years. “We had dinner delivered and champagne,” Jeanne Karlhuber said of the party their (adult) children, Tom and Kerstin, organized for them.…

Governor Phil Scott delivered his fifth budget address to the General Assembly on Tuesday, Jan. 26, presenting a balanced budget that, with the help of federal stimulus, includes $210 million in bold new investments to strengthen the economy, create more and better paying jobs, and address big priorities, like downtown revitalization, infrastructure, broadband and climate…

By Brooke Geery Kamala Harris made history as the nation’s first female, Black and Asian-American vice president on Inauguration Day in a politically unifying purple coat by rising-star designer Christopher John Rogers. So why was Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders making all the fashion headlines? Among a sea of couture gowns, expensive sneakers and  designer…

Record number of candidates vie for Rutland mayor, every elected position contested By Polly Mikula Rutland City residents are stepping up to lead. At this year’s Town Meeting every elected position is being contested, giving voters many choices. Seven candidates will face off for mayor. Eighteen seek the six seats on the board of aldermen.…

By Brooke Geery Skolf, developed by Airblaster in 2016/2017, is a competitive snowboarding blend of S-K-A-T-E and golf. For the past several seasons, the outerwear brand has held skolf world tours, crowning champions across the globe. But with Covid-19, the world tour was scrapped for a  smaller, localized activation. The Darkside in Killington was one…

By Curt Peterson A sign on the door at BG’s Market in Hartland reads, “Masks required," and just about everyone entering the popular store cooperates within the Vermont-mandated request. There are a few customers, usually young males, who, for one reason or another, either feel the virus-control rule doesn’t apply to them —or they forgot.…