Donavon Frankenreiter to headline KILLINGTON — The Killington Pico Area Association (KPAA) announced the return of the free Cooler in the Mountains concert series this summer. National recording artist Donavon Frankenreiter will headline the seven-week line up of free shows, which kicks off July 18 and July 25, and continues on consecutive Saturdays from Aug. 8…

Courtesy of KMS Denise Coriell KILLINGTON — The devastating earthquake that hit Nepal mid-day on April 25 has been a topic of conversation and concern worldwide, including at Killington Mountain School. With the death toll of over 7,000, according to the Nepali government’s estimate released Sunday, May 3, the 7.8 magnitude quake devastated the region and…

By Julia Purdy Bloodroot, a spring ephemeral of the northern woods. By Julia Purdy ORWELL — On Sunday, April 26, Amy Olmsted, horticulturist at Rocky Dale Gardens in Bristol, led a group of about 20 participants on a spring wildflower walk at Mount Independence, a Revolutionary War site at the edge of Lake Champlain in…

Provided by Rutland Regional Medical Center Laura M. Edwards, LICSW (l), Lisa Barker, Manager(r) RUTLAND — Laura M. Edwards, LICSW, Pediatric Social Worker from the Community Health Team, was honored as Rutland Regional Medical Center’s Clinical Employee of the Quarter, and Lisa Barker, Budget & Financial Reporting Manager in Finance, was honored as the Rutland…

Submitted Dr. Paula McGee RUTLAND—Dr. Paula McGee, a dynamic preacher, author, and inspirational speaker, will be the commencement speaker at College of St. Joseph’s commencement ceremony at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 17, in the College’s Athletic Center. Dr. McGee’s personal mission is to “inspire others to recognize, accept and fulfill their call to greatness.” McGee…

Submitted kim peters KILLINGTON — In 2014, the Recreation Commission and Selectboard voted to restore the recreation director to a full time position.  After dozens of interviews with over 50 applicants, Kim Peters was selected as the new full-time recreation director. Peters has extensive experience in managing community sports programs. For the last seven years she…

Submitted Paul Harwood TUNBRIDGE—The Vermont Tree Farm program is proud to announce the selection of Paul Harwood, consulting forester of Tunbridge, as the National Outstanding Tree Farm Inspector of the Year for 2015. Harwood was nominated by the Vermont Tree Farm committee in October 2014 and captured the Northeast Regional award–a noteworthy achievement in itself.…

The downtown parking deck struggles RUTLAND—You wouldn’t think a simple concrete structure with a couple of elevators and a ramp connecting its tiers would be such a fiscal sinkhole. Long-term users can pay $55 per month (discounted for Rutland Area Chamber of Commerce members) or rent space by the day or hour in the downtown…

LUDLOW — The Black River Academy Museum and the Ludlow middle and high school classes last year developed this program and recently it was presented to sixth grade students from Mt. Holly. The program is a day-long immersion experience that combines the fields of social science, language and arts and utilizes the museum’s research facilities…

CASTLETON – Castleton College, in partnership with Vermont PBS, announces the winners of the 20th Annual Castleton Videofest held Friday, May 1, in Casella Theater.  High school students throughout Vermont and the surrounding area submitted DVDs of original work in the following categories: Documentary Winner: “Helping Hands: Vermont’s Migrant Labor Population” by Luke Benz, Kyan…

Purchase of Village School: let the voters decide CASTLETON—Castleton voters will cast ballots May 26 on whether the town should buy the Village School from the Castleton-Hubbardton Union School District, a petition-driven issue. Moving the students to Castleton Elementary and closing the Village School isn’t just a matter of moving the children to other classrooms.…

On April 28 and 29, 61 public librarians from around the state completed a two-day Vermont Early Literacy Initiative (VELI) conference, convened by the Vermont Department of Libraries (VTLIB) and the Vermont Center for the Book (VCB). Librarians learned how to enrich their practice by incorporating important early literacy, early mathematics, and social-emotional development concepts…

Submitted Pictured (l-r): Elizabeth Bushey (Mill River), Ian Dansereau (Mill River), Zachary Hyde (RHS), Max Bushman (Stafford Technical Center), Beccalynn Dugan (Stafford Technical Center), Haley Andrulat (RHS), Olivia Lyons (RHS), Maricate Mangan (RHS), Kyra Traska (MSJ), Kyle Anagnos (MSJ), and Jillian LeBlanc (Proctor). RUTLAND — The 2015 Rutland South Rotary Club Scholarship recipients are a…

Courtesy of Killington Elementary School Preschoolers spend a day as Kindergartners. KILLINGTON — Children in the preschool at Killington Elementary School, known as P@K, have had an opportunity to visit and enjoy the kindergarten room they will attend in the fall. Since the P@K is housed in the elementary school building, K/1 teacher, Melissa Knipes, is…

BARNARD—Sometime overnight between April 20-21, someone removed a sculpture of a fish made from horseshoes from Route 12 next to Silver Lake and across from the Barnard Store. The sculpture belongs to a group from Barnard called "Barnarts.” The sculpture is valued at approximately $2,000. Anyone with information about who removed the sculpture or its…