By Amy McClure By Amy McClure ROCHESTER — After five years of training as a gymnast, 9-year-old Mathias Toro received the opportunity of a lifetime: to attend one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the United States — on a full scholarship. Although Mathias’s hadn’t trained as a ballet dancer before, Mathias was invited…

By Robin Alberti By Polly Lynn “The future is bright for us, so put on your shades and let’s move forward,” said Jenn Lewis and Alex Sabo, who then put on sunglasses to end their speech. Lewish and Sabo addressed their fellow Green Mountain College classmates graduating from the Killington School of Resort Management (KSRM) during…

Submitted Hannah McComb is a Killington pre-k graduate. Her brother Milo will join the pre-k program next year.  By Hannah McComb, Killington pre-k graduate My favorite thing about school is that I get to share and play with my friends. Also I like to show and share because I brought things from Argentina. I like…

On Monday, June 13, Gov. Peter Shumlin signed S. 260, a bill designed to improve regional and town energy planning and to enhance community input into the siting of energy projects. The legislation was developed over a number of months, and was based in large part on the recommendations of the Solar Siting Task Force.…

Genesis Healthcare, Inc., currently owns two nursing facilities in Rutland: Mountain View and Rutland Center By Erin Mansfield, VTDigger.org A publicly traded holding company from Pennsylvania is seeking approval from state regulators to buy up five nursing homes in Bennington, Berlin, Burlington, Springfield, and St. Johnsbury. Genesis Healthcare, Inc., which runs 500 nursing homes across…

Courtesy of Vermont Fish & Wildlife Cast a line! Vermont’s annual, statewide free fishing day is Saturday, June 11. No license required. Fishing free for all in Vermont on Saturday, June 11 This year Vermont’s annual, statewide summer free fishing day coincides with the opening day of the state’s regular bass fishing season on Saturday,…

Members’ exhibition opens at the Carving Studio By Julia Purdy On an unseasonably hot and sticky May 28, coinciding with the Vermont-wide Open Studio Weekend, the Carving Studio & Sculpture Center (CSSC) on Marble Street in West Rutland held the opening reception for its annual members’ exhibition. Earlier in the day visitation was sparse, but…

Submitted Habitat for Humanity of Rutland County selects its first partner homebuyer Melissa Fournier (right) shown with her daughters. RUTLAND—Habitat for Humanity of Rutland County (HFHRC) is pleased to announce the selection of Melissa Fournier as its first Partner Homebuyer. Melissa Fournier grew up in the Rutland area and has worked at a local hotel…

By Robin Alberti Pre-k student Bree Sarandrea joyously drums on a djembe. By Robin Alberti KILLINGTON — On the morning of Friday, June 3, the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten at KES had a “banging” good time. Gordon Goes, director of “Bang On A Drum” School of Percussion of Killington, volunteered to bring in 17 djembes to…

Submitted Pictured (l-r): Cearra O’Hern, Nina Borzekowski, and Mikaya Potvin at the ceremony at State House  on May 20. The Vermont Department of Libraries is pleased to announce the state winners of the 2015-2016 Letters about Literature contest. Hosted by the Library of Congress and now in its 23rd year, this contest challenges students in…

By Stephen Seitz and Amy McClure RUTLAND – As Craig Mosher’s involuntary manslaughter case wends its way through the court system, farmers are worried about the future should there be a conviction. In July 2015, Connecticut resident Jon Bellis died after his car hit a bull owned by Mosher. The animal had escaped his enclosure…

RUTLAND — The Downtown Rutland Partnership recently announced its 2016 Friday Night Live Summer Concert Series lineup, this year expanding 25 percent from three headlining artists to four. Featured on the stage this year is “American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks on July 8; lead singer of 80s megahit-maker Foreigner’s Lou Gramm on July 15; nationally…

RUTLAND – With summertime blood shortages looming, organizers of the Gift-of-Life Marathon and a local kidney donor and recipient are urging blood donors to sign up for the record-setting drive’s little cousin – the 2016 Summer Mini Marathon on July 19. Rutland City resident Summer Stoutes donated a kidney to Rutland Town resident Brent Garrow…

By Lee J. Kahrs PITTSFORD—After years of discussion, the Town of Pittsford is dipping its proverbial foot into the local mosquito control pool. At a regular meeting on May 18, the Pittsford Select Board unanimously accepted the Brandon-Leicester-Sudbury-Goshen Mosquito Control District’s invitation to join as a member town, which entails an annual contribution to the…

On June 2, 2016, long-haul truck driver Lashawn Jones, 41, of Alpharetta, Georgia, was charged with three counts of Gross Negligent Operation with Death Resulting after killing three when Jones’s 2016 International tractor-trailer crossed the center line on U.S. Route 4 in Killington on Dec. 29, 2015, and caused a head-on crash with a Cadillac Escalade…