Look up! Downtown murals brighten workaday Rutland RUTLAND—If you’ve enjoyed the butterflies in flight, goldfish streaming through a wall, flowers planted on the side of a building side, Batman contending with a griffon, rural Vermont being depicted by a pair of artists, or a larger-than-life African elephant depicted on downtown building exteriors, you have been…

On Oct. 26, Hunger Free Vermont announced that it had been awarded a $30,000 grant from Newman’s Own Foundation, the independent foundation created by the late actor and philanthropist Paul Newman. Newman’s Own Foundation made the award to Hunger Free Vermont as part of a broader commitment to support programs that increase access to fresh…

LONDONDERRY—A lone Canada lynx was photographed in the southern Vermont town of Londonderry this past June, marking the first confirmed evidence of lynx in Vermont outside the Northeast Kingdom in decades. Lynx are listed as “threatened” under the federal Endangered Species Act and “endangered” in Vermont. The lynx was photographed in the back yard of…

By Gaen Murphree Apples being harvested in central Vermont this fall are smaller and overall yield is down, following trends throughout the Northeast, say local growers. But local consumers can expect plenty of beautiful apples with some added zing, as the lack of rain and hotter temperatures have intensified flavor and sweetness. “Weather’s been a…

By Patricia Minichiello Dancing with the Rutland Stars celebrated its sixth season on the Paramount stage with seven couples dancing to raise money for RAVNAH’s Pediatric High Tech Programs and Kids on the Move. Taking home the top prize were Eliza Wilcox of Green Mountain Power and Adam King of Studio Fitness. The couple danced…

By Robin Alberti WALLINGFORD—A gathering Sunday, Oct. 9, in Wallingford was held to dedicate a new veterans’ memorial at Veterans Park. Commander of American Legion Post #52 Tom Truex welcomed community members and honored guests. Chaplin of Post #52, Mark Loseby, introduced Master of Ceremonies Joseph Will, a former U.S. Army Green Beret and Vietnam…

Killington’s Harnett takes second The OCB/WNBF Bodybuilding, Figure, and Bikini Championships were held Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, at Cape Cod Community College. Allysa Lines, Cassie Harnett and Mariah Legault took first, second and  fifth place, respectively. Harnett was coached by Kristen Markowski and Kellsey Eaton a former bikini contest champion. Photo courtesy of Lori Harnett…

By Alan Keays, VTDigger.org Prosecutors say a man facing a murder probe in a crash that killed five teenagers while he was fleeing police late Saturday night, Oct. 8, in Williston should have his bail increased to $250,000 in a separate criminal case pending against him. “In this matter, [Steven Bourgoin] is currently under investigation…

By Julia Purdy RUTLAND—The small white house at 38 West Street, familiar to many as the Good Cent$ thrift store, was demolished Thursday, Sept. 29, and is now an empty lot ready to receive the winter’s snow piles from the parking lot of Grace Congregational Church. The house’s disappearance came as a surprise to many.…

By Erin Mansfield, VTDigger.org The executive director of the Vermont Lottery will leave his post Oct. 14 to take a job in Chicago. Greg Smith has been running the Vermont Lottery, a state agency headquartered in Berlin, since the summer of 2014. The agency announced his resignation Sept. 27. Under Smith’s tenure, lottery ticket sales…

Best values, rates as selection tightens, brokers say By Karen D. Lorentz The prices are good, interest rates are low, and the inventory selection is good but beginning to decrease, according to real estate brokers in the Killington area, who are very busy. Many credit a buyer’s market and good values for vacation properties with…

By Adam Federman, VTDigger.org RUTLAND — A settlement between Rutland City and the Agency of Natural Resources seeks to put to rest differences over the remediation of Moon Brook. The agreement signed Thursday, Oct. 6, dismisses an earlier appeal filed by the city challenging the agency’s designation of Rutland as a small municipal separate storm…

By Adam Federman, VTDigger.org RUTLAND — Denise Thompson and her family are the last remaining tenants in three properties that were seized at the start of the month as part of a civil forfeiture case that will see the homes turned over to a nonprofit devoted to community redevelopment. Thompson was given an extra week…

Feral Cat Day is Oct. 16 at the Rutland County Humane Society (RCHS). Rutland County is fortunate to have volunteers caring for hundreds of cats at feral cat colonies throughout the county every day. These volunteers love the cats and find great joy and satisfaction in knowing they are part of something worthwhile. RCHS is…

By Patricia Minichiello A new playground is coming to Rutland Town in the next few months, town officials said recently. “We have just received a grant to build a playground at Northwood Park,” said Mike Rowe, recreation director for the town. He spoke briefly about the project and said that it will require volunteers from…