By M. Kathleen Shaw, DVM, Vermont Veterinary Medical Association With the holiday season rapidly approaching, many pet owners are unsure which plants, foods, and decorations are and are not for their pets. Most species of lilies are deadly to cats. In some cases, a small amount of pollen or even one leaf can cause sudden…

Kicks off 2017-17 winter season with community “food raiser” KILLINGTON—On Saturday, Dec. 10, Pico Mountain will open for the 2016-17 winter season with its fourth annual opening day Food Raiser, a special promotion providing discounted lift tickets in exchange for donations of food for low-income Vermonters. To ensure donations make it to community members in…

WOODSTOCK – Pentangle Arts is preparing for the upcoming holiday season with a festive lineup of entertainment for Wassail Weekend. The highlight of the weekend is the 32nd annual equestrian parade on Saturday, Dec. 10, at 2 p.m., coordinated by High Horses Therapeutic Riding Program and the Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce. The best location…

By Andrea Weymouth KILLINGTON—On Saturday, Dec. 3, Teddy Arbo’s annual Holiday Toy Party celebrated 30 years. The Foundry was alive and filled with holiday spirit as people were eager to bid on the next possible auction items that were so generously donated by multitudes of local Killington businesses and people of the community. Close to $30,000…

RUTLAND — Gail Johnson announced her intention to run for a seat on the Rutland City Board of Aldermen in a news release Dec. 1. Johnson is currently active in community projects including the revitalization of a large Rutland neighborhood. The election is slated for March 7, 2017. Johnson said her priorities are to lower…

By Karen D. Lorentz It can cost a million dollars or more to host a World Cup ski event, with the total expense varying by the number of events and competitors as well as any extra expenses (i.e., not required under FIS World Cup rules) that a host resort takes on. A host resort like…

By Adam Federman, VTDigger.org RUTLAND — The head of the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program said refugees, including some from Syria, could start arriving in Rutland soon after Christmas. Executive Director Amila Merdzanovic told service providers that the program expects to get confirmation of the first cases any day now. Rutland is set to take in…

By Evan Johnson KILLINGTON—Sam Budusky was standing at the merchandise booth at the recent Audi FIS World Cup on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 27, when Mikaela Shiffrin crossed the finish line to clinch first place. He looked up from where he was standing and saw a crowd of what he estimated to be 5,000 people erupt…

By Evan Johnson The various town departments of Killington are hammering out the details of budgets for fiscal year 2018. At the Nov. 29 Select Board meeting, heads of the roads and maintenance, police, fire, events and marketing departments presented budgets for the coming year, along with the town office, including the clerk, treasurer and…

College of St. Joseph hosted a Conversation on Middle Eastern Culture on Nov. 28, where four panelists, including three former residents of various Middle Eastern countries, discussed a range of topics from religion, clothing, language and more. The Rev. Bruce Bishop, a faculty member at College of St. Joseph, discussed the influence of mainstream Islam…

Vermont Foodbank and Uber Vermont today announced the launch of a giving season partnership to help the Vermont Foodbank raise money and provide meals for children and families throughout the Green Mountain State. Each year, the Vermont Foodbank distributes over 12 million pounds of food to thousands of children and families. During this season of…

On Dec. 1, Gov. Peter Shumlin applauded approval of Vermont’s new rules placing the strictest limits in America on the number of powerful, addictive painkillers that can be dispensed by medical professionals. “In 2015, enough painkillers were handed out in Vermont to give every man, woman, and child a bottle of 100 pills,” Gov. Shumlin said. “That needs…

WEST RUTLAND—Third graders in Mrs. Maxham’s and Mrs. Turgeon’s classrooms at West Rutland School received a very special gift recently: a dictionary. The dictionaries were donated by Rutland South Rotary Club as part of Project Dictionary. Rutland South Rotarians have visited third grade classrooms in eight Rutland County Schools for the past 15 years to…

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is reminding hunters and anglers aged 65 to 68 who want a permanent license, but don’t yet don’t have one, to buy one before midnight on Dec. 31, 2016. Starting Jan. 1, the eligible age will be raised to 70, and that license will be free. A permanent hunting…

RUTLAND – The ribbon was cut by Sean Manovill at the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce in celebration of the opening of Club Fitness in Rutland. Club Fitness offers brand new equipment, top level personal training, classes, a great atmosphere and no contracts. Club Fitness of Vermont focuses on client’s personal growth, physically and emotionally, according…