June 26-27 — WOODSTOCK — Billings Farm & Museum’s annual Dairy Celebration Days takes place June 26-27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Celebrate Billings Farm’s 150th anniversary and Vermont’s rich dairy heritage during this two-day event. The Dairy Celebration Days events will include: Sample award-winning Billings Farm cheddar cheese. Watch how cheese straws are made and enjoy…

By Nadie VanZandt, UVM Extension master gardener Conserving water is always a good idea, and if the dry weather of the last two summers is any indication, such practice should become habit. Fortunately, you can learn from gardeners in arid climates how to successfully grow plants during droughts. These tried-and-true sustainable practices protect and insulate…

The deadline to apply for a 2021 Vermont moose hunting permit is June 30. Moose permit applications are available on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept.’s website at vtfishandwildlife.com for the hunt limited to Vermont’s Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) E in the northeastern corner of the state. “Moose density in WMU E is more than one moose per…

Caterpillar infestations target tree foliage Many Vermonters around the state are encountering gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar dispar), which are caterpillars causing defoliation of their trees, according to the Vermont Agency of Agriculture.  This invasive insect arrived in the United States over 100 years ago and has been expanding its range ever since. Gypsy moth can be…

RUTLAND — The Chaffee Art Center was recently selected to receive $38,675 in funding from the Summer Matters for All Grant program. According to Governor Phil Scott, the Summer Matters for All Grant Program will award up to $3.85 million to programs in 13 counties with the goal of expanding access to summer enrichment opportunities…

Governor Phil Scott has appointed Delaney Courcelle of Rutland to serve on the Vermont Commission on Women (VCW), the state’s non-partisan commission working to advance rights and opportunities for women and girls. Courcelle is a senior majoring in Business Administration at the University of Vermont’s Grossman School of Business. Excelling at coursework concentrations in entrepreneurship and…

By Andrea Knepper, extension master gardener intern, University of Vermont Have you been bitten by the gardening bug but aren’t sure where to start? Picking a theme such as a salad bar garden or salsa garden can help narrow down choices and focus your planning. Or how about growing a pizza garden with all your…

By Curt Peterson Editor’s note: This is the third of the Covid Survival Series by reporter Curt Peterson about area restaurants and their adaptations during and plans post- Covid. The Covid-19 pandemic has been “challenging” and “scary,” but ultimately “just a blip,” according to Sam DiNatale, owner of Mon Vert Café on Central Street in…

By Brooke Geery With all state-sanctioned restrictions lifted on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, the vibes at Lake Bomoseen Lodge and Taproom were electric. The sky over the lake was dotted with black clouds threatening thunder and lightening, but the energy emanating from inside the restaurant was even more powerful. At one table, a group of…

By Bonnie Kirn Donahue, UVM Extension master gardener Growing popcorn is a fun way to extend the summer corn season. If you are familiar with growing sweet corn, growing corn for popping is very similar. Make sure to select seeds that are intended for popping instead of fresh eating. If you dry and try to…

2-year old. Neutered Male. Hound mix. Tri-color. I just want to be everyone’s best friend.  Rutland County Humane Society, 765 Stevens Road, Pittsford, VT • (802) 483-6700 • Tues. – Sat. 12-5p.m. Closed Sun. & Mon. • www.rchsvt.org Loki and Leroy are two southern gentlemen from Arkansas. Their super power is the ability to cuddle!…

By Frank Kaczmarek In 1860, a year after publication of his seminal work on the origin of species, Charles Darwin wrote to a friend, “At the moment, I care more about Drosera than the origin of all the species in the world.” Darwin maintained a lifelong fascination with carnivorous plants, including members of the genus…

By Kevin Theissen Pundits say a lot of things about the markets. Here is a small handful: Buy the rumor and sell high, because there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Prediction is difficult, but never catch a falling knife. Cut your losses, no one ever went broke taking profits. As Mark Twain said,…

By Dom Cioffi  I have celebrated Father’s Day in the same fashion for 16 years: My wife gets me a card and a thoughtful gift and places it next to the coffee maker, so when I wake up on Sunday morning, it’s there for me to open. I have done the equivalent for her on…

By DJ Dave Hoffenberg Rock vs. DMTB The 2021 season is finally upon us and the defending Champion’s Rock Landscaping started out where they left off last summer — with a win. Taking the first loss was a new team, Dirty Mike and The Boys (DMTB). Rock shut them down 1-2-3 in their first and…