Castleton “Thriller” dance seeks students CASTLETON—Zoe Marr Hilliard is working with registered K-8 students to create Castleton’s own version of the famed “Thriller” dance, with plans to perform their routine on Halloween weekend on the Castleton Free Library lawn. The opportunity is becoming an annual Castleton Recreation Department tradition, with the 2016 version being the…

Wallingford crossing repairs WALLINGFORD—The town of Wallingford has received official notice from the state Secretary of Transportation Chris Cole, that the railroad crossing on Route 140 (Depot Street) is scheduled to be reconstructed next year. The project is complicated by a nearby bridge that also needs repair. VTrans has sent a crew to install a…

POULTNEY—Poultney Mettowee Natural Resource Conservation District (PMNRCD) has been awarded a $28,000 grant as part of Vermont’s Clean Water Fund to identify sources of stormwater runoff and propose high priority stormwater mitigation projects. PMNRCD will work with the Rutland Regional Planning Commission (RRPC), the town of Castleton, and the town of Hubbardton to conduct stormwater…

RUTLAND—College of St. Joseph has added several 2+2 credit transfer pathways for Community College of Vermont students, according to a Sept. 29 news release. The new arrangement will provide students looking to continue their education in Rutland with new pipelines to bachelor’s degree studies at CSJ. The 2+2 agreements allow students to graduate with an…

Sunday, Oct. 9 from 1-5 p.m.—POULTNEY—The Poultney Area Chamber of Commerce recently announced that its first-ever 2016 Honorary Citizen of the Year award will be presented to Jonas Rosenthal. The public is invited to join the Chamber in honoring Rosenthal at an open house/retirement party sponsored by the town. The reception will be held Sunday,…

Jim Kahle will temporarily lead the organization taking over for Nanci Gordon RUTLAND COUNTY—The United Way of Rutland County (UWRC) announced Tuesday, Oct. 4, that Jim Kahle, Vice Chair of the board of directors, will temporarily lead the organization as interim executive director. Kahle takes over for Nanci Gordon, who served as the organization’s executive director…

By Karen D. Lorentz Marble Valley Regional Transit District (MVRTD), generally known as “The Bus” is celebrating its 40th anniversary on Sept. 30 with give-aways from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Transit Center on West Street in Rutland. During its 40 years, The Bus has seen the need for transportation services grow and has expanded…

Marble Valley Regional Transit District (The Bus) would like to recognize Emma L. Bergeron for her many years of service as a volunteer driver. Bergeron has been a volunteer driver for The Bus for the past 16 years. She lives in Rutland and graduated from West Rutland High School. She worked for nine years in…

KPAA and Killington Resort annual meeting highlights past success, future projects, new marketing initiatives By Polly Lynn Mikula “The vibes between the resort and community have changed in past 10 years. There is good communication, a sense of fun,” said Herwig Demschar, Powdr Corp. senior vice president for international business development, opening his portion of…

Event dovetails with Brewfest weekend KILLINGTON—The Up & Down Roll returns to Killington Sunday, Oct. 2. The relay-style bike race is a one-of-a-kind event that incorporates three different styles of riding. Teams will consist of a road rider, cross-country rider, and a downhill rider—each competing in a different section of the race. Individual riders are also welcome…

By Julia Purdy CHITTENDEN—Tuesday, Sept. 20, was Conservation Field Day at the Dwight D. Eisenhower National Fish Hatchery in Chittenden for over 100 fifth- and sixth-graders from Chittenden, Leicester, Proctor, Rutland Town, Shrewsbury and Mount Holly. School buses delivered the groups and their parent-chaperones at 9 a.m. and the children spent the day in structured…

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…