At The MINT: Build it and you’ll have fun 

A woman teaching children how to use a machine.

There is an expansive physical space in Rutland, over 14,000 square feet to be exact, known as “The MINT – Rutland’s Makerspace†— where almost anyone, of any age, interest or skill level, can fulfill the popular mantra to “find your happy place.†Dictionaries define finding your happy place as “…a mental visualization of a…

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Put on your Santa cap for Giving Tuesday, Nov. 29

A blue and white poster with the words " giving tuesday ".

Giving Tuesday, which falls on Nov. 29, began in New York City in 2012, as a way to intensify awareness of nonprofits, as well as generate gifts and loyalty during the holidays. Today Giving Tuesday is a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of donors. While Giving Tuesday itself has a noble purpose, some…

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Rutland’s own Emerald City

Two men sitting in a chair next to each other.

The region’s civic leaders, community advocates, business owners, nonprofit professionals, and others representing the innumerable talents of the Killington-Rutland community gathered Monday evening, Nov. 14, to celebrate the much-anticipated grand opening of The Hub CoWorks in downtown Rutland. For this former Manhattanite to compare the buzz of anticipation in the 24,000-square-foot office space to that…

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‘Tis the season to appreciate… hospitality workers

A woman standing at the counter of a coffee shop.

The professionals who run our romantic country inns, family-friendly motels, cozy coffee shops, creative restaurants, unique boutiques, state-of-the-art recreational facilities, and striking jewel-box arts venues are excited to welcome guests again, so this is a friendly nudge for all of us to show our appreciation. Although a recent Wall Street Journal article asserts that polite…

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Vermonters are we, not second to thee

Last weekend, the Herald ran a deplorable op-ed, the likes of which I’ve never seen in the four decades I’ve been a Rutland homeowner. The epitome of enmity, the piece denounces Vermont homeowners that the “realish” author classifies as “second,” claiming such Vermonters are responsible for the state’s housing crisis. Rendering meaningless the notion “all…

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100 years later, etiquette is still in style

Two people shaking hands over a table

As we navigate the return to in-person work, stricter dress codes, business travel and meals with clients, I’m hoping that the importance of being respectful to colleagues hasn’t disappeared entirely. But, considering the past few years of social isolation, it’s reasonable to expect that we all could benefit from a refresher on business etiquette.

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Cold Hard Facts: Our Local Newspapers Are Dying

As I was making my way through a colossal cappuccino and the Rutland Herald before dawn last weekend, the “Goings and comings” headline topping a column by Rutland Herald Executive Editor Steven Pappas, stopped me cold. In fact, it bolted my eyes wide open. The accompanying photo spread, of Maine student newspapers, caught my eye…

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Food, shelter, safety: For Vermonters and our visitors

Three people are hugging each other in a line.

About a year ago, Polly Mikula, editor and publisher of Mountain Times, graciously agreed to meet with me about work I was doing for several nonprofits. She was warm and enthusiastic, especially as she shared poignant stories about leading a thriving media enterprise during the struggles of Covid. I took a leap and pitched her…

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