By Lani Duke In the 1880s, trains played a critical role in the development of local industry as well as tourism. Central Vermont's economic prosperity relied on trains, which carried the state's maple products, apples, other goods, marble and slate to New York and beyond. The building on Evelyn Street that now houses TD Bank…

RUTLAND–Organizers of Rutland Blooms are hoping to grow the city beautification effort significantly this year and are looking for civic-minded citizens and businesses to help make it happen. “Rutland Blooms is already making a big impact on the look and feel of Rutland, and we want to grow the effort substantially this year,” said Steve…

Photo by Bruce Pike Lynn Dyer Pratt uses watercolor paint to create realistic, yet contemporary, works of art. By Gerrie Russell KILLINGTON — The annual meeting of the Killington Arts Guild was held on Sunday, March 22 at the gallery above Base Camp Outfitters. A special guest for the afternoon was Lynn Dyer Pratt, a signature…

By Rutland Regional Medical Center Olivia Lyons, a senior at Rutland High School presents a check to Sarah Bache and Amy Walters of the Women and Children’s Unit at RRMC. RUTLAND – Rutland High School’s chapter of the National Honor Society presented a check for over $500 to the Women and Children’s Unit at Rutland…

RUTLAND — Maple Leaf Treatment Center has recently completed a two year long effort to restructure and strengthen programming to address and meet the changing needs of people struggling with addiction, announced William Young, the executive director of the newly re-named Maple Leaf Treatment Center, March 19. Last year 142 people from Rutland County were treated…

RUTLAND—Trees beautify our surroundings, help save energy, nurture wildlife and protect our waterways. For over 15 years the Rutland Natural Resources Conservation District has offered its annual spring sale of tree seedlings, berry bushes and other plants. All stock is bare-root and is available at a very reasonable cost. The Rutland Conservation District has sold…

By Lani Duke Pawlet revises town plan, asks for citzen input PAWLET—The Pawlet Planning Commission is asking town residents for input as it works to revise the Town Plan, using data gathered by a townwide survey that is available online. Questions include respondents' years in Pawlet, age, use of social and other media, and a…

Courtesy of KES KES students think like engineers, using creativity for problem solving skills. Third-graders visualize fractions Third-graders are using pattern blocks, paper rectangles, pizza circles and drawings to help them develop visual images of how fractions or combinations of fractions can equal a whole. Using these tools, third-graders come to understand that two halves,…

By Lani Duke Spring is just around the corner in area community gardens CLARENDON—Clarendon Congregational Church at 279 Middle Road has begun to plan its community garden's 2015 planting season, which will begin May 23. Registration/liability release forms are due May 7. Although plots are free, the church asks registrants for a $25 deposit with…

POULTNEY – Mindy S. Lubber, one of the world’s most influential leaders in harnessing capitalism for positive environmental outcomes, will be Green Mountain College’s 2015 commencement speaker on Saturday, May 16. Lubber is the president of Ceres, the leading U.S. coalition of investors and environmental leaders working to improve corporate environmental, social and governance practices.…

By Cristina Kumka A Small Claims Court judge in Rutland has ruled in favor of the Killington Chamber of Commerce (KCC) following a website contracat dispute that called the Chamber’s credibility into question. On Feb. 19 of this year, Judge Jean Coloutti denied $5,000 in damages to Green Mountain Marketing & Advertising, Inc. (GMM,) owned…

By Lani Duke Police station nixed again; recount confirmed outcome CASTLETON—A vote recount confirmed that Castleton residents are about equally divided on the proposal to to appropriate $300,420 to build a new police station next to the new Castleton Fire Department on Elm Street. A first count showed the proposal defeated by 12, but a…

RUTLAND—The College of St. Joseph has named student T’Mia Ross as the Mother Teresa Student Service Award recipient and CSJ trustee Tom Dowling as this year’s recipient of the Pour Le Merite award. At the college’s 21st annual Founders’ Day on March 19, Dowling and Ross will be recognized for their outstanding care, support and…

Thirty Vermont schools currently enrolled; up to 45 more eligible Six months after the launch of a new program to allow qualifying schools to offer free, nutritious meals to all students, Gov. Peter Shumlin, Hunger Free Vermont, school administrators, and others gathered to celebrate the progress of the program and encourage other eligible schools to…

KILLINGTON—On March 8, at about 9 p.m., troopers from the Vermont State Police Rutland Barracks responded to a single vehicle rollover crash with injuries on US Route 4 in Killington. Investigation determined that the operator, Matthew D. Greenfield age 29 of New Haven, Conn., was exceeding the posted speed limit while traveling eastbound just east…