By Patricia Minichiello RUTLAND CITY—The owners of the Downtown Bar and Grill, located at 42 and 44 Center Street, have purchased the former Army/Navy store at 46 Center Street. Erica Balestra and co-owner Dave Means purchased the new building for $110,000 and are in the process of putting just under $200,000 worth of renovations into…

By Patricia Minichiello RUTLAND CITY— A fire that destroyed a home on Forest Street Sept. 19 has been ruled suspicious by arson investigators. A kerosene can found in the basement of the home was collected for evidence, police said. A fire was lit on each floor of the vacant property at 63 Forest Street, according…

WOODSTOCK—The annual Vermont Forest Festival was held this past weekend, Sept. 24-25, at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park and Billings Farm in Woodstock, Vt. Working farms and forests give Vermont its beautiful rural character and unique sense of place while serving as an important part of the economy for many communities throughout the state. Vendors, demonstrations,…

RUTLAND—The Rutland Economic Development Corp. board has approved a broad plan to support the launch of a nonprofit makerspace for the Rutland region. The Greater Rutland Makerspace will be housed in a business incubator owned by REDC on Quality Lane, with GMP providing a generous donation of used office furniture, and REDC providing rent-free space…

By Patricia Minichiello A woman who said she wasn’t paid the same as a man, is fighting a bid to have the case thrown out. In the case of former Rutland County Deputy State’s Attorney Jane O’Neill claiming gender bias and unequal pay, a 25-page response to a motion to dismiss the lawsuit was filed…

RUTLAND COUNTY— Nine Rutland County young professionals were selection by Vermont Business Magazine as Vermont’s Rising Stars Class of 2016.  The nine local winners represent 24 percent of the 40 Rising Stars. This marks the second straight year that Rutland County has produced 9 of the 40 winners. Most of the Rutland County winners were nominated by members of…

On Sept. 20, Sally H. Kirby, former finance director of Hunger Free Vermont, appeared in court for her sentencing on charges of embezzlement from Vermont’s leading anti-hunger organization. Kirby was sentenced to 15 months in prison with three years of probation and is ordered to pay full restitution of the stolen $165,000 plus additional expenses…

By Patricia Minichiello RUTLAND CITY—Wendy Wilton engaged in a terse exchange with a Rutland City High School English teacher and resident of Shrewsbury outside the rail Monday night. The city treasurer, speaking as a citizen during the Board of Aldermen meeting, made a passionate plea to the Board to proceed with caution on the issue…

By Tiffany Danitz Pache, VTDigger.org More schools in Vermont are taking advantage of a federal program that offers free meals to all students in low-income areas. In 2014, 29 schools in Vermont signed up with the “universal” meal program and began serving free breakfast and lunch to all students whether they qualified for free meals…

On Sept. 21, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) received an additional $16 million in federal highway funding after the state met all of its fiscal year deadlines for federally-funded projects. When states or other federal entities which are funded through the federal highway trust fund do not fully utilize their federal funds in a…

The Vermont congressional delegation announced Friday, Sept. 23, that Housing Vermont  received a $2 million grant to help provide affordable housing to low-income families in the state. “While the economy has certainly improved since the Great Recession, far too many people in Vermont and across the country are still struggling to get by on stagnant…

By Karrie Etzler Residents of Rutland City and its environs were graciously fêted at a three-course culinary soiree, hosted by the Grace Congregational United Church of Christ (Grace Church), under its community outreach program on Sunday evening, Sept. 25. The complimentary affair dubbed Welcome Table Dinner is a major event for the church, and is…

PITTSFORD—The Proctor Transfer Station on Deere Road in Pittsford will be open to Proctor residents from 12-5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1 for trash, recyclables, yard waste and brush without charge. The Rutland County Solid Waste District will be at the transfer station to accept household hazardous wastes from 12-3 p.m. Proctor residents with questions…

FOREST DALE—Rev. Scott R. Carlson has accepted the pastorate of Living Water Assembly of God in Forest Dale. He will be moving with his his wife and son to Brandon and will begin pastoral duties officially Sunday, Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. The Northern New England District Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Reverend Dennis Marguardt…

RUTLAND—Elisabeth Kulas, the executive director of the Housing Trust of Rutland County, will be recognized Thursday, Sept. 29, for promoting smart growth, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and strong communities through the development of affordable housing. Kulas, of Clarendon, will receive the Arthur Gibb Award for Individual Leadership from the Vermont Natural Resources Council at VNRC’s…