RUTLAND—Over the past four months, the College of St. Joseph “found” an additional academic building by transforming the 200-year-old wood-framed carriage house for academic use. Green Mountain Power worked with the school’s maintenance director Tom Beland to gut the building, install LED lighting and central air conditioning and heat pumps. Interim college president Larry Jensen…

Mad Hatter Cafe has new owner POULTNEY—Emily Sumner is buying the Mad Hatter Cafe on Main Street in Poultney, from Serena Gallagher. A year-and-a-half old, the Mad Hatter began life as a clothing store under the name Button before changing its name and business structure to that of a cafe and gift emporium for handmade…

Winning team gets $250 cash KILLINGTON—The Sherburne Memorial Library and the Sherburne Historians are hosting a Killington Photo Scavenger Hunt scheduled for the second weekend in September (Sept. 9-12).  Teams of three or more can register at the library to participate. Registration is free. The scavenger hunt is open to all ages and you do…

By Julia Purdy CHITTENDEN—The Town of Chittenden began a townwide reassessment of real property in July, and officials anticipate the results will be finalized in April or May 2017. Initial field data must be collected by Nov. 1, 2016. The last one was done in 1999. Town Lister Millie Kimball explained that the frequency of…

Video by: Andrew Christie Steve Montanez talks about the direction of the business The Vermont Truffle Company.

Video by: Andrew Christie “Uncle Dave” from 94.5 the Drive in Rutland shares a behind the look at broadcasting working in radio, developing an audience and as a DJ.

Video by: Andrew Christie Rebecca Buonadonna of Fruition Fineries and Raw Honey Apparel in downtown Rutland speaks about her stores, how and what she buys for them and opening a men’s store this fall.

Video by: Andrew Christie Heidi Lynch, Health Care Share Program Coordinator at The Vermont Farmers Food Center, speaks about the program. This summer more than 150 individuals volunteered throughout the course of 12 weeks to implement VFFC’s Health Care Share. Every Wednesday, during the growing season, volunteers arrived, arranging as many as 75 reusable bags along rows…

Video by: Andrew Christie It’s a busy summer at the West Rutland Carving Studio Nora Valdez speak about The Stone Bench Project, Bill Wolf speaks about the artist in residence program and his bronze casting, and Carol Driscoll speak about the Carving Studio and the many projects they have schedule for the summer.

RANDOLPH—The New World Festival in Randolph continues its tradition of presenting vibrant Celtic and French Canadian music and dance this year on Sunday, Sept. 4. Central to the festival’s success is its core of more than 100 enthusiastic volunteers whose only payment is the gratitude of the community and the joy brought to patrons and…

Wednesday, Aug. 24—RUTLAND—BROC-Community Action in Southwestern Vermont’s Economic & Workforce Development Program is presenting a free financial literacy workshop on Wednesday, Aug. 24, at the BROC office in Rutland at 45 Union Street. This is open to anyone who wants to find out how to review their credit report, how to set SMART goals—Specific, Measurable,…

Fairgoers adapt to changes, enjoy perennial favorites By Jimmy Britt In 1846  the Liberty Bell cracked when it was rung on George Washington’s birthday, the Mexican American War began and Iowa became the 29th state in America. That same year Vermont held its first State Fair in Rutland, and 170 years later the annual event…

MENDON—On Monday, Aug. 22, at about 7:45 a.m., members of the Rutland City Fire Department, Vermont DMV Enforcement and Vermont State Police responded to a crash involving a grain truck rollover on Route 4 in the town of Mendon. Investigation at the scene revealed that 48-year-old James Wright of Randolph, Vt., was driving a 2012…

RUTLAND—After seven months of construction, Rutland Regional Medical Center has completed phase 1 and has begun work on phase II of what is to be an expected 18-month long construction and renovation project involving the hospital’s emergency department (ED). The first phase involved 1,840 sq. ft. of new construction and partial renovation of the existing…

LUDLOW—Chrisandra’s Interiors held a charity event benefiting the Women’s Freedom Center (WFC) on Aug. 13, Saturday. at its retail store located on Main Street in Ludlow. “Our goal is to raise money through the sale of raffle tickets to help the WFC provide much needed services and programs for victims of domestic violence,” said store…