Franchise players: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ is a fun next chapter in Marvel’s ongoing epic

From the opening scene, “Avengers:Age of Ultron hits the ground running, and doesn’t let up. The sequel to 2012’s triumphant Avengers tentpole, and the latest chapter in Marvel’s epic (seemingly endless) superhero franchise, is a fun albeit bloated spectacle that still finds time for levity and sadness.

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…