By Cristina Kumka Mountain Green condominium owners are loving a new fish, produce and grocery market right in their complex, according to Chef Brad Pirkey of Maya Papaya CSA. Opened since Thanksgiving weekend, Maya Papaya offers a new option for select groceries and take out dining and folks staying at Mountain Green or the Killington…

By Robin Alberti The Killington ART Garage recently opened its doors on Killington Road, next to Wally’s American Grill, and hopes to be in full operation soon after Christmas. ART Garage owner Traci Templeton started the ART Garage as a summer ART Day Camp at her home on Upper Michigan road in Pittsfield in 2012.…

Commins holiday films featured on Hallmark Channel By John Flowers The next time you watch one of those made-for-TV Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel, realize that the idea and dialogue were more than likely the creations of Middlebury resident Kevin Commins. Commins, 60, is a professional screenwriter specializing in documentaries and feature film scripts.…

Photo by Robert Giolito Joel Blumenthal, Connor McGrath, Murray McGrath, Chales Piso, and Dave Coppock in the stretcher.  Missing from photo: Robert Giolito. During a recent weekly training, Killington Search and Rescue prepared for a scenario with a missing 9-year-old boy who was last seen at the trailhead on the Sherburne Trail. For the drill, KSAR…

“Pack to Give Back” event in Rutland prepares 500 boxes for those in need By Robin Alberti RUTLAND — The Vermont Foodbank hosted its first ever “Pack to Give Back” event in Rutland at its new distribution center located on Park St. on Monday, Dec 15. The event was sponsored in partnership with local businesses,…

By Cristina Kumka Killington to hold off on tax repeal idea; town may make hires The Killington Select Board agreed on Tuesday, Dec. 16, without a binding vote, to support hiring a full-time recreation director for an additional cost in the budget for the 2015/16 fiscal year and possibly hiring an assistant treasurer that will…

By Polly Lynn A cockapoo is breed of dogs that is a cross between the cocker spaniel and the poodle. It may not be the first breed one thinks about for search and rescue missions but owner Tom Levy says his dog Bluu is a natural. Weighing in at just 30 pounds, Bluu has no…

By Cristina Kumka Tucked inside one of Rutland’s redeveloping neighborhoods is a rare business that mirrors what’s happening around it — innovatively growing to better serve the community. Lenoci’s Fine Shoe and Leather Repair Shop started 82 years ago after John Lenoci, an Italian cobbler, made his way to Fair Haven then Rutland, working at…

LUDLOW – Okemo Mountain Resort has added kids’ snowmobile tours to its lineup of winter activities for families visiting the popular ski and snowboard resort. Pint-sized Polaris snowmobiles travel at a maximum speed of 8 mph. Kids love the look and sound of the Indy 120 XC – a real snowmobile built for kids. Each…

By Steve Costello With a national record set last year and a lack of a specific goal at the 2014 Gift-of-Life Marathon – 12 Days of Giving, a black-and-white definition of success seems elusive to a lot of observers. Since the GOLM wrapped up, I’ve been asked at least 100 times if the new GOLM…

By Cristina Kumka The newly-formed Killington Volunteer Fire Department Facilities Committee, charged with reviewing the needs and wants of the department and possibility of a new firehouse, took a tour of the Killington Road fire station on Wednesday, Dec. 17. The committee considered a feasibility study done by Dore & Whittier Architects, Inc. in which…

BarnArts Center for the Arts is seeking female actor to join our 9-cast ensemble for “Death and Taxes.” We lost a female actor unexpectedly and need some ASAP.  Rehearsals now in progress.  Performances Jan. 30-Feb. 2. Please contact director Jo Oliver-Yeager at jooliveryeager@gmail.com

Photo by Cristina Kumka Sticky notes supporting the ban of the controversial  app, “After School,” cover the windows of the administrative offices at Rutland High School . This time it was the kids in the classroom teaching the adults. A controversial mobile application that was downloaded on some Rutland High School students’ phones and used…

SOUTH ROYALTON—On Saturday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. a car driven by Allyssa Ashline, 27, of Randolph, Vt., got stuck on the tracks of an ungated railroad crossing on North Windsor Street in South Royalton, directly in the path of a northbound AMTRAK passenger train. The road surface was icy and the vehicle was unable…

RUTLAND — Monday, Dec. 15, the Vermont Foodbank held its first event at its new Park Street location in Rutland. Pack to Give Back brought together business leaders, school children, elected officials, and concerned citizens to pack holiday food boxes for 500 Rutland area residents. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to be expanding into Rutland,”…