By Cristina Kumka Sherburne Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., Killington Fire and Rescue and Killington Search and Rescue, the entity that provides the town’s fire and rescue operations, and the Killington Select Board agreed on Tuesday, Dec. 16, to renew the five-year contract for services. The department originally asked to extend the term to a 10-year…

Birch Ridge Inn chef passed unexpectedly Dec. 23 Stephen R. “Frizzy” Byrne, 61, died unexpectedly Dec. 23, 2014 at his home. He was born in Manhattan, N.Y. June 3, 1953, son of Harry J. and Luesylvia (Lawlor) Byrne. Stephen Byrne was a graduate of Tappan Zee High School in Orangeburg, N.Y. Chef “Frizzy,” nicknamed for…

RUTLAND—One of Rotary’s mottos is “Service Above Self.” To honor outgoing Rutland City Police Chief James Baker, Rutland South Rotary Club bestowed the “Service Above Self” Award during its Dec. 11 weekly meeting. This special award acknowledges Chief Baker’s dedication, hard work, commitment, and tireless efforts to help change the culture of the Rutland City…

Photo submitted Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging sponsored a wreath fundraiser for Meals on Wheels this holiday season. A generous donation from Kim Tedesco, owner of  The Hair Doctors and an anonymous donor, allowed the Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging to donate the remaining wreaths to the Salvation Army to be handed out to families. Pictured in…

By Sally D. Curtis KILLINGTON — Several years ago when Mike Miller, Killington resident and owner of Base Camp Outfitters,  was contemplating a new trail in the cross-country ski area behind the store, he felt someone watching him in a forested section of the land. He finally spotted a very small owl high in a hole…

Photo by Stacy Kent, PEGTV Alan Keyes, Polly Lynn, Royal Barnard, Louie Illiano prepare to cook a feast in the PEGTV kitchen studio in Rutland. RUTLAND — For the first time in many years, the PEGTV Insight cast took a break from their bi-monthly news show and featured Killington chef Louie Illiano in a fun…

Photo by Donald Dill Marji Graf, CEO for the Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce, welcomes Just Doggin’ It to the chamber. Pictured (l-r): Marji Graf; Model Mary Mire as Estella-Luna, the Just Doggin’ It coffee maiden; Miss Vermont U.S. Int’l 2014 Olea Nickitina; Summer Ray, Princess for the Miss America scholarship pageant program, 2012,…

To ensure Vermont highways remain safe, the Vermont State Police is participating in the National Highway Traffic Safety Campaign that began on Dec. 10 and runs until Jan. 1, 2015. Vermont has experienced 42 traffic fatalities in 2014. Of those traffic fatalities, four operators were impaired by alcohol and six by drugs; most commonly marijuana.…

Photo by Donald Dill Marji Graf, CEO for the Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce welcomes Ludlow Laundry Company to the Chamber. Pictured (l-r):Marji Graf, Mike Pacilio and Bob Friedrich. LUDLOW—Ludlow Laundry Company is the new laundromat in Ludlow offering brand new state-of-the-art Speed Queen washers and dryers, as well as large machines for sheets,…

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…