Coding course

Grade 4-8 students will have a chance to create their own quiz game through a free online course offered from 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Feb. 5 through March 5.

The course, sponsored by UVM Extension 4-H, is part of the 4-H World Changers Learn to Code series, designed to introduce middle and high school students to coding.

Preregistration is required to receive the course link. Registrations will be accepted until Feb. 3 at go.uvm.edu/0h7ei. Sessions will be recorded and available after the live session for registered participants.

To request language interpretation, translation assistance and/or a disability-related accommodation to participate, call 802-656-7634, or email margaret.coan@uvm.edu by Jan. 24.

Hockey benefit

RUTLAND TOWN — Vermont State University Castleton Men’s Hockey team will host the fourth annual Breaking the Ice on Mental Health event as they take on New England College in a 7 p.m. game Friday, Jan. 31, at Spartan Arena.

The first 200 fans through the door will receive a custom T-shirt sponsored by Foley Services in Rutland. Fans may also purchase commemorative Breaking the Ice on Mental Health T-shirts and participate in a raffle and bake sale.

Admission for the game is $7 adults, $4 seniors and $2 students. All proceeds, including admission and from an online auction for Breaking the Ice jerseys, will benefit RRMC’s Rutland Regional Behavioral Health.

Rutland Regional Medical Center is grateful to the Castleton Men’s Hockey team for initiating this event to raise awareness and support for mental health services.

For more information, go to www.castletonsports.org, www.rrmc.org or call 802-747-3634.

Skier safety

January is National Ski Safety Awareness Month and Vermont ski areas are featuring skier safety events and hosting presentations by Ski Vermont’s partner, the Snow Angel Foundation.

The Snow Angel Foundation will visit ski areas this month to promote the Triangle of Safety, a collision-avoidance initiative that draws awareness to the three key factors of speed, space, and self.

For more information, visit the Mountain Safety page at SkiVermont.com.

Killington Resort

KILLINGTON — Vermont’s Killington Resort staff promotions include:

In Mountain Operations, Kayla Sarajian as mountain experiences manager, Christine Bulgini as administrative manager.

In Hospitality, Eric Rusch as food and beverage director of the Grand Hotel and Northside Dining, Sophie Parvez as business manager, Nate Stoodley as K-1 Base Lodge manager. Senior Vice President Scott Harrison will now oversee all base area operations.

In Human Resources, Rebecca Reed as employee experience manager.

In Resort Leadership, Jordan Spear as vice president of resort services & sales.

Economic conference

BURLINGTON — The Vermont Chamber of Commerce has announced the agenda for the 2025 Vermont Economic Conference, to be held Jan. 28 at the UVM Davis Center. Bringing together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and community members, this year’s conference explores the impact national and global economic trends have on the Vermont economy

VermontBiz and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce will also recognize Union Mutual Insurance Co. as the 2024 recipient of the Outstanding Business of the Year Award.

Comcast, the Office of the State Treasurer, and TD Bank are presenting sponsors of the event. Additional support is provided by A.N. Deringer, KPMG, Union Mutual, Vermont Economic Development Authority, Vermont Electric Power Co., Fidelity Investments, Green Mountain Power, Primmer Piper Eggleston & Cramer PC, VGS, and White + Burke Real Estate Advisors.

Visit vtchamber.com/economicconference for more information and to register for the conference.

V-GaN

The Vermont Gallium Nitride (V-GaN) Tech Hub, a consortium led by UVM including GlobalFoundries and the state of Vermont — has been awarded $23.7 million in federal funding. The investment from the U.S. Economic Development Administration is the largest research award in UVM history.

The Vermont Tech Hub will create a technology ecosystem in the state and New England to drive semiconductor design and manufacturing of high-power and high-frequency gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors.

The Tech Hub will train over 500 new employees in the semiconductor workspace and engage over 6,000 K-12 students across Vermont in STEM participation in the next five years.

Twelve companies have already committed to accelerating their product development through the V-GaN Tech Hub. The Tech Hub will make grant funding available to offset development costs for businesses owned by underserved and underrepresented populations in the semiconductor industry.

For more information, visit vgan.tech online.

Hannaford

For the 13th consecutive year, Hannaford Supermarkets received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2025 Corporate Equality Index, the nation’s benchmarking survey and report evaluating corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality.

Hannaford is the only supermarket in its market area to receive a top score, and one of 765 U.S. businesses to earn top marks this year. Hannaford operates 189 stores in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and New York.

Market 32/Price Chopper

Food banks and pantries local to every Market 32/Price Chopper store received much-needed donations of food purchased by customers from Nov. 10, 2024, to Jan. 4, 2025.

Donations of 50,902 pre-packed $10 food bags filled with PICS-brand items most requested by food banks and pantries including elbow macaroni, peanut butter, chicken noodle soup, canned tuna, kidney beans, and chunk chicken.

VBSR

Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility announced the organization’s executive director Roxanne Vought will depart her post May 30. She evolved the organization culture, transitioned into the remote-work era, and forged future-ready partnerships within the business and economic development community. VBSR board of directors has begun a search for the next executive director; inquiries may be sent to search@vbsr.org.

Captive insurance

The Vermont Department of Economic Development announced 2024 was a year of record captive insurance industry growth, among Vermont’s top 10 highest years of growth since captive enabling legislation in 1981. Vermont has licensed a total of 1,370 captive insurance companies to date.

In the year ahead, Vermont Captive Insurance Association is conducting a 40th anniversary campaign, which includes a brand launch and new website, with events throughout the duration of the annual conference in August.

Dairy conference

SOUTH BURLINGTON — The Vermont Dairy Producers Conference will be held Tuesday, Feb. 18, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in South Burlington.

Sessions provide an opportunity to connect with more than 200 farmers from across the Northeast and representatives from more than 50 dairy-related organizations.

Five speakers from across the country share information about topics ranging from geopolitics to calf care. Dr. Kirby Rogstad from Ohio State University will provide a presentation on hot diets and their impact on the gut. Jacob Shapiro from Cognitive Investments will discuss geopolitics and the future of American agriculture. Dr. Ryan Breuer from University of Wisconsin-Madison will give a presentation on calf care. Dr. Andy Halloway from Elanco Animal Health will host a practical conversation about dairy carbon credits. Finally, attendees will hear from motivational speaker Bruce Vincent.

The conference also includes the 2024 Vermont Milk Quality Awards presented by the Vermont Dairy Industry Association.

Conference registration is now open. The cost is $30 for farmers, $75 for individuals working in education or government, and $125 for agricultural business representatives through Feb. 10 (when ticket prices increase). Registration includes access to conference proceedings, lunch, and light refreshments. Visit VTDairyConference.com for more information.

Haiku contest

Weybridge’s seventh annual haiku contest to celebrate poetry is now open to all Vermonters of all ages, no experience needed. There is a youth division, through high school, and an adult division.

Submit haiku by Feb. 24. Email georgebellerose@gmavt.net or mail to 80 Meetinghouse Lane, Weybridge, VT 05753.

Judges select three youth winners, both Weybridge and Vermont, and three adult winners, Weybridge and Vermont. Judges also create “Best of” categories, such as Best Haiku about Climate Change. Winners will be announced at the end of March to celebrate Poetry Month in April.

Rutland County Audubon

WEST RUTLAND — 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, meet at the kiosk on Marble Street, West Rutland, for the monthly monitoring walk. This is also the weekend of the Great Backyard Bird Count using the phone app “eBird.” For more information on the walk or Great Backyard Bird Count, email birding@rutlandcountyaudubon.org.

Call for artists

HUNTINGTON — The Birds of Vermont Museum invites submissions for its “Birds and Myth” art show that runs from May 1 to Oct. 31.

Entries, due by 11:59 p.m. Monday, March 24, are sought that bring birds and their meanings into art to retell an old story, several together, and/or create a myth for the future.

For criteria details, visit birdsofvermont.org/2025/01/02/call-to-artists-birds-and-myth, or call 802-434-2167, or email museum@birdsofvermont.org.

Artists workshops

Assets for Artists’ Winter/Spring 2025 workshop season registration is now open. These workshops are free and open to artists of all disciplines and career stages in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine and Vermont.

This season’s workshops are all online and include topics such as project management, personal finances, digital marketing, and more.

Assets for Artists (A4A) is an artist-led and artist-centered program of the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. The Vermont Arts Council entered into a partnership with A4A last fall and was able to offer workshops starting then for the first time.

Visit www.assetsforartists.org/workshops for more information.

Grants available

Funding is now available from the Vermont Women’s Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation for programs that address systemic barriers to economic well-being, and recognize the disproportionate impact of these barriers on women and girls by race, gender identity, sexuality, class, age and ability.

The competitive grant program will award grants of up to $15,000 for proposals. Nonprofits may apply online at any time. Applications will be accepted through 5 p.m. March 4 at vermontwomensfund.org/grants online.

Chess competition

HYDE PARK — The 38th annual Vermont State Scholastic Chess Championships will be held Saturday, March 29, at Lamoille Union High School, 736 Route 15, Hyde Park.

This tournament is open to Vermont students in grades K-12. Participants must be state residents or enrolled in a state public or private school; state resident home school students are eligible. This is the selection tournament for Vermont’s nominees to the national Denker, Haring, Barber and Rockefeller Invitationals.

Chessboards, pieces, and clocks will be provided. No prior tournament experience necessary. All players must pre-register for the event. No walk-ins allowed. Registration closes on March 23. Registration may close prior to March 23 due to space limitations. Online registration only. For more information, visit vermontchess.org online.

Call for films

The Made Here Film Festival is a regional festival for filmmakers residing in New England and Québec. All styles of films and lengths (longer than three minutes) are accepted for consideration. The submission deadline is Feb. 7. To submit films, visit filmfreeway.com/MadeHereFF online. 2024 awards (to be updated for 2025) included Vermont Public Award for Best Documentary Film ($1,000); VTIFF Award for Best Fiction Film ($1,000); Best Experimental Film ($500); Media Factory Audience Favorite Award ($500); Douglas-Lanahan Award for outstanding contribution to the community through film, sponsored by Jane & Bill Stetson and VTIFF ($1,000); VTIFF Jury Special Mention.

Educators course

Middle and high school educators in Vermont can attend a free, online, three-credit financial literacy graduate level course that will be available for 20 participants from March 3 through April 25. Champlain College Center for Financial Literacy is offering the course through its Financial Literacy Academy. Funding for the course is being provided by Northfield Savings Bank Foundation.

The course will cover saving and investing, credit reports and scores, credit cards and debt, managing risk, income and careers. A poll of Vermont adults that the Center released in 2022 indicated more than 9 out of 10 residents believe personal finance education is an important subject that should be taught in high school. Research indicates 13 Vermont high schools have or are in the process of implementing this requirement.

Visit financialliteracy.champlain.edu/programming/current-graduate-offering to apply for the course. The deadline to apply is Feb. 20, and you will be notified of your status by Feb. 25. For registration questions, email cfl@champlain.edu.

Ag conference

SOUTH BURLINGTON — The 2025 No-Till and Cover Crop Conference, hosted by UVM Extension’s Northwest Crops and Soils Program and the Champlain Valley Crop, Soil and Pasture Team, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in South Burlington; registration open at 8 a.m. The annual conference features speakers from several states and Canada presenting information to help farmers build resiliency into their cropping systems. The conference fee is $75, $50 for students, and includes lunch with speakers Jean-François Messier and Sébastien Angers, Canadian farmers

Registrations will be accepted until Feb. 7 at go.uvm.edu/2025ntcc. Certified crop advisor and water quality and custom applicator credits are available.

For more information, email susan.brouillette@uvm.edu or call 802-656-7611. If requiring a disability-related accommodation, email access@uvm.edu or call 802- 656-7753 as soon as possible.

Do you have an item you would like to see in Community News? A milestone? A public announcement? A short news release about something entertaining going on in your town? Simply email the information to us at news@rutlandherald.com. Be sure to put For Community News in the subject line. (Note: We do reserve the right to edit for length.)

Do you have an item you would like to see in Community News? A milestone? A public announcement? A short news release about something entertaining going on in your town? Simply email the information to us at news@rutlandherald.com. Be sure to put For Community News in the subject line. (Note: We do reserve the right to edit for length.)

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