20171222

Robert Layman / Staff Photo Children prepare to take to the ice at Giogretti Arena Thursday morning, Dec. 21, 2017.

Robert Layman / Staff Photo Members of the Rutland High School hockey team were out to help children around the ice at Giogretti Arena Thursday, Dec. 21. Santa's visit brought dozens of children and parents to the city skating rink.

Robert Layman / Staff Photo Santa, aka, TJ Moran, who might just be the worlds best procrastinator, took time out of his busy holiday schedule to skate around with children who showed up in large numbers at the the Giorgetti Arena Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017. Seen here he holds a young Brody Kendall, 3, to hear about some last minute Christmas gifts.

Robert Layman / Staff Photo Members of the Rutland High School hockey team were out to help children around the ice at Giogretti Arena Thursday, Dec. 21. Santa's visit brought dozens of children and parents to the city skating rink.

Robert Layman / Staff Photo Santa, aka, TJ Moran, who might just be the worlds best procrastinator, took time out of his busy holiday schedule to skate around with children who showed up in large numbers at the the Giorgetti Arena Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017. Seen here he holds a young Levi Schwanner, 2, as his father, Mike right, watches. According to dad

Robert Layman / Staff Photo Despite the upcoming holiday, Santa took time out of his busy schedule to skate around Giogretti Arena Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017. to get last mintue Christmas wishes from children.

Robert Layman / Staff Photo Despite the upcoming holiday, Santa took time out of his busy schedule to skate around Giogretti Arena Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017. to get last mintue Christmas wishes from children.

Robert Layman / Staff Photo Despite the upcoming holiday, Santa took time out of his busy schedule to skate around Giogretti Arena Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017. to get last mintue Christmas wishes from children.

Robert Layman / Staff Photo Tim Shields, of Shields Construction, works on constructing staircase pieces at the Brandon Town Hall Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2017.

Robert Layman / Staff Photo Tim Shields, of Shields Construction, works on assembling a staircase that will be in the front of rennovated stage at the Brandon Town Hall Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2017. Above him, employee Mark Levasseur, paints the stages floor.

Robert Layman / Staff Photo Mark Levasseur applies a fresh coat of paint to the new stage at the Brandon Town Hall Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2017. Levasseur, who works with Shield's Construction, has been a part of the stage's expansion project.

Robert Layman / Staff Photo Just houses away from a sign sitting along Route 7 that reads "Building a Better Brandon," one home sits on the opposite side a road, with "Better for who?" written on its side.

Titled in an imprompteau introduction by Alistair Stout, Minister of Music at Grace Congregational Church, "The Great Jazz Trio" peforms to an elated crowd in the church's sanctuary Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017. Pictured from left to right is, bassist Ben Green, Alistair Stout and saprano singer Allie Griffiths.