Calling all filmmakers ages 10-30 who live or go to school in Vermont: Win cash prizes and share your work on Vermont PBS and at film festivals statewide in the 2017 Freedom & Unity TV Vermont Youth Film Contest. The deadline for the third annual competition, which accepts short films with a Vermont focus, is…

On Friday, Nov. 18 at the Lost Nation Theater in Montpelier, members of the Stafford Technical Center’s culinary arts class competed in the eighth annual Culinary Classic competition against teams from other Vermont tech centers. The student competitors were Eric Morton, a senior second year culinary student from Rutland High School; Noah Hamilton, a junior…

Tyke Skate time is for ages 6 and under with parent/guardian and provides an opportunity to introduce skating to young children. Grab your little ones and join us on Wednesday mornings from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Carrying children in arms, slings or packs is not allowed. Fee is $6 per family with skate rentals available…

RUTLAND—The Bowse Health Trust Committee has announced funding approval for two new projects. Each project will receive up to three years of funding starting in 2017. In the past 20 years, the Bowse Health Trust has funded a total of 58 programs, which target residents of all ages in the Rutland County community. With the…

RUTLAND—Greg Cox of Boardman Hill Farm, Vermont Farmers Food Center and Vermont Farmers Market was honored as the chamber’s 2016 Business Person of the Year at the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce annual meeting Nov. 15, at the Paramount Theatre. Cox has been a farmer for 40 years and in 2007 helped to transform the…

The best weapon to stop fraud is you By Karen D. Lorentz Here’s a sample of a recent email (exactly as it appeared, with off-spacing), just one of several received that threatened something unless I responded: Dear Client, This is formal notice to you that your last month Invoice no: KT321U is already overdue and…

By Karen D. Lorentz The well-attended AARP Scam Jam was held at the Rutland Country Club, Nov. 15. Attendees said the event was informative, tremendously educational, and even shocking at times. Fraud is a huge multi-billion-dollar per year crime with seniors the most targeted cohort, noted Greg Machildon, AARP’s state director. Education is the way…

By Evan Johnson KILLINGTON—Town officials say details regarding liability and insurance are upholding progress on fixing a leaky roof over the Killington town library. Library director Jane Ramos said the need is dire. “The shingles have failed,” she said. “If you look at the back of the building, you’ll see the shingles are falling off…

By Adam Federman, VTDigger.org The first prong of a major marketing campaign designed to rebrand the region and reverse years of demographic decline is scheduled to be unveiled this Friday, Nov. 25. The website, Killingtonvalley.com, is one small part of a multi-year effort that local business leaders, including the Rutland Economic Development Corporation and the…

By Julia Purdy “Gig economy” is a term relatively unknown in Rutland. Musicians and performers used the term “gig” to mean engagements from one-night stands in concerts or coffee houses to theater runs that had to be supplemented by the “day job” waiting table or driving taxi—something that would not impinge on one’s true career…

LUDLOW—The staff of Black River Good Neighbor Services has announced that they are accepting applications for the 2016 holiday food basket program. They ask that completed applications be submitted by Dec. 1. Food Program Administrator Krey Kellington and the entire BRGNS staff are eager to see that no person or family goes without food, and…

RUTLAND—Five Rutland-area businesses have been awarded a total of $104,141 in Regional Economic Development Grants sought by Rutland Economic Development Corp. (REDC) and provided by the State of Vermont. The awards were announced at REDC’s annual meeting last week. “Investment spurred by the grants will create 20 new jobs in the area and increase productivity…

POULTNEY—The future is now for the Green Mountain College women’s basketball team. With a roster comprised of virtually all sophomores and freshmen, the team has gelled over the past four weeks and is set to begin a new era of Eagles basketball as the team opens the regular season on the road Thursday at 5:30…

CSJ hires, promotes administrators RUTLAND—The College of St. Joseph has hired Nanci Gordon as director of development and alumni relations. Both an alumna and a dedicated advocate for the school, she will oversee the annual fund, the college’s efforts to seek grant funding, and its work to cultivate alumni. The Rutland High graduate received a…

Holiday season underway Christmas bazaar season begins before the Thanksgiving holiday as well. In Castleton, St. John the Baptist already hosted one Nov. 19. Poultney High hosts the Lakes Region Farmers Market Christmas Fair Nov. 25-26, with 60 vendors participating. Great Christmas gift shopping, great food. Heavier than a holdup ORWELL—A federal grand jury has…