By Katy Savage Theories are circulating that aliens have landed since a mysterious monolith, at least 8 feet tall, appeared 1,800 feet up a hill in Pittsfield last week. “It’s like a giant just grabbed onto it and stuck it in the ground at the top of the mountain,” Riverside Farm General Manager Peter Borden…

By Karen D. Lorentz If you’ve ever wondered how Okemo rose to its prominence in the ski industry, a major clue can be found in an observation made by Ray Kennedy some 10 years ago: “We all are part of what gets built – there is loyalty and ownership and a sense of accomplishment and…

On Dec.19 at about 4:45 p.m. a neighbor who lives on Independent Drive in Hartland saw flames coming from the basement area of the home at 17 Independent Drive and called 911. Upon arrival of the fire department, the house was fully engulfed in flames from the basement to the roof. Several local fire departments…

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 The defunct Bridgewater Village School is on schedule to reopen as a community center in 2021 with the help of a recent $400,000 grant, closing in on a $1.2 million fundraising goal. Bridgewater was one of 10 communities that received a federal Community Development Block Grant this month, with awards totaling $2.9…

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…

Mary W. Davis Realtor & Associates, also known as OkemoRealEstate.com which is based in Ludlow, recently announced new ownership for the company. This  63-year-old local realty firm is a long time member of the Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce (OVRCC) and the company new ownership plans to continue that investment and partnership. Last month,…

The homeless animals at the Rutland County Humane Society (RCHS) would love to be added to your holiday list this year!  Some of the items on this year’s wish list include animal bedding (new or used comforters, blankets and towels), gift cards to local pet merchants, liquid laundry detergent, 13 and 33 gallon trash bags,…

In an ongoing effort to identify and support the most vital water quality projects in the region, the Rutland Regional Planning Commission (RRPC) will assist the Vermont Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in collecting and cataloging water quality data from area municipalities in the Rutland region between now and August 2020. As part of the…

Despite pandemic freeskier plans for epic season at Killington By Brooke Geery Brandon Westburg, 24, is a KMS coach and sponsored freeskier in Killington who’s hoping to top 150 day this season.  Former Killington parks director and KSA Built founder Jay Rosenbaum has watched Westburg develop his skills through the years in Killington’s parks. He…

Pico Mountain to Open with Operation Stay Safe to Ensure Wellbeing of Staff, Guests and Community; Parking Reservations Required this Winter KILLINGTON, Vt. (December 17, 2020) – Vermont’s Pico Mountain, part of the POWDR adventure lifestyle company, will kick off the 2020-21 winter season at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 19, 2020, welcoming Pico season pass and day…

The Vermont Holiday Festival, produced by the Killington Pico Area Association (KPAA), brought an estimated 1,200 people to Killington for a socially distanced light and music spectacular last weekend, Dec. 4 and 5. The event is one of two produced annually by the KPAA to both fundraise for the association, and to bring business to…

KILLINGTON— The Foundry at Summit Pond closed Dec. 12 due to a positive Covid case among it’s staff. It will remain closed until Friday, Dec. 18. The news was announced this past weekend. At 9 p.m. Dec. 11, Foundry posted on Facebook: “Today we received news that one of our employees tested positive for Covid-19.…

Troopers from the state police Rutland barracks conducted a joint investigation with the Brandon Police Dept. in connection with six separate burglaries committed within a short time frame of one another. These burglaries targeted locations in West Rutland, Pittsford and Brandon. The investigation led to the identity of Cassandra Chasse from Brandon. On Dec. 8,…