It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times: Celebrating ‘The Simpsons’ at 25

By JIM SABATASO | STAFF [A version of this story appears in the Sept. 3, 2014, edition of the Rutland Reader.] The Simpsons is having a moment. Entering its 25th season, the animated Fox sitcom has faded in and out of relevance, but its lasting cultural impact, like Martin Prince’s precious geode, must be acknowledged. The…

Meanwhile, in Rutland… A pop-culture inventory of Vermont’s most astonishing city

By JIM SABATASO | WRITER [A version of this story appeared in the May 14, 2014, edition of the Rutland Reader] Rutland, Vermont! — A sleepy town with a proud history. Once home to the trains of industry and deep quarries of fortune, it’s hills and valleys are still a paradise for adventure seekers and…