U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in hospital rankings and consumer advice, has named Rutland Regional Medical Center as a 2022-2023 high performing hospital for urology, hip fracture, hip replacement and knee replacement. These rankings recognize hospitals for providing care that was significantly better than the national average, as measured by factors such…

Phylis Mae Wilmoth Henry Savage, a quick-witted woman with a charm that lit up the room, died July 25 at her home in Chester at age 99 years, seven months and 17 days. She made all the difference in the lives of so many and her work here is done. Phylis lived through the Great…

By Jacob Knipes The pick is in for Rutland’s Board of Aldermen vacancy. At the July 18 Aldermen meeting, Mayor David Allaire nominated former Alderman Matt Reveal to fill the vacancy left by Devon Neary. Reveal, who currently serves as a member of the Rutland Redevelopment Authority and as chairman for the Rutland City Republican…

By Katy Savage The Sparkle Barn in Wallingford has acquired the neighboring Barn at White Rocks. Sparkle Barn owner Stacy Harshman bought the 17.5-acre property with a six-bedroom house and 1800s barn for $825,000 on a whim Monday, July 18. “I wasn’t in the market,” she said. “I’m kind of a real estate junkie. I…

By Curt Peterson The Hartland listserv has been buzzing with bear sightings. David Cooper, who lives on Mace Hill Road, photographed a wandering ursine on his road July 15 at 5:20 p.m. and posted the image on the listserv. That inspired Rob Sangster, farther up Mace Hill, to say his composter was “visited” on July…

By Katy Savage Ukrainians fleeing war started arriving in Vermont last month. Two Ukrainian families are currently in Rutland county and about 20 people have arrived in the state so far through the Uniting for Ukraine program, according to Amila Merdzanovic, the director at U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants Vermont. A total of about…

By Emma Cotton/VTDigger Rutland’s sewage treatment facility often releases untreated discharges into the Otter Creek and its tributaries, which then empty into Lake Champlain. In a new appeal of a recently approved permit, members of an environmental organization argue officials haven’t adequately planned to eliminate the discharges. In the recent appeal to the Environmental Division…

By Brett Yates The Pittsfield Select Board signed documents on July 21 to begin a municipal buyout of a flood-damaged home. The property at 593 Route 100 in Pittsfield reportedly faces structural and septic challenges owing to its proximity to a branch of the Tweed River. According to Board Chair Ann Kuendig, the homeowner reached…

Tuesday, July 26—CASTLETON — Castleton University will host the sixth annual Early Childhood Educators Institute on July 26, 28, and August 2. The event will be held synchronously online with an optional on-campus session and celebration on August 4. The program’s live, interactive Zoom meetings allow early educators to participate from a location convenient to…

Friday, July 29 — RUTLAND — Friday, July 29 the Amtrak Ethan Allen Express train will begin service between New York City and Burlington. On that day, a celebration will be held at the James M. Jeffords Rail Passenger Welcome Center, locally known as the Rutland Amtrak station, as the Ethan Allen Express arrives from…

By Brett Yates The town of Pittsfield is looking to improve the public basketball court behind the town hall, where it intends to add new blacktop, lights, and fencing. During meetings this spring, the Pittsfield Rescue Plan Committee proposed using a portion of the municipality’s ARPA dollars to repave the court, but more recently, officials…

Friday, July 22 at 5 p.m.— RUTLAND —The popular Friday Night Live summer music series will return to Center Street for three weekends in July and August. The free concert series features Badfish on July 22, All-4-One on Aug. 5, and Dean Ford & the Beautiful Ones on Aug. 19. In addition to music, families…

A $7,500 grant will be celebrated at RCHS on July 22 Friday, July 22 — RUTLAND — The Rutland County Humane Society is set to receive a $7,500 grant investment from national nonprofit Petco Love during a special celebration at Rutland Petco, 312 US Route 7, on July 22 at 10 a.m., in support of…

By Sheri Curtin Harley Ruffle, the 4-year-old snowboard phenomenon from Killington, continues to make waves in the snowboard industry in the off season. Ruffle is a team rider for VTSP (Vermont Slope Posse) with multiple sponsorships. He’s now part of Wasserman Sports Talent Agency out of Los Angeles under Circe Wallace — one of the…

By Jacob Knipes Downtown Rutland will be receiving a new art exhibit this fall. The donation of a train statue currently located in the West Rutland Art Park was approved in a unanimous vote at the Board of Aldermen meeting on July 5. The statue, officially titled “Across Time and Space,” was built by Chinese…