In the summer of 1816, Mary Shelley, along with her future husband Percy Shelley and a few friends, spent time at the beautiful Villa Diodati near Lake Geneva in Switzerland. This was known as the “year without summer” due to the volcanic eruption of Mount Tambora (which disrupted global weather patterns), so they experienced less…

 Most winters, a few sparrows visit my yard, feeding on the seeds I scatter on the ground near my bird feeder. These particular sparrows have long tails, rusty crowns and eye-lines on their gray heads, and a distinctive dark breast spot. Looking more closely, I’ve noticed buff-colored patches on the sides of their pale breasts,…

    Mountain Meditation By Margeurite Jill Dye There’s something about the mountains That calms a troubled soul. The air is fresh, the sky is blue, serenity, extolled.   Red foxes, bears and coyotes, squirrels and beaver run, Hunt and play in meadows and fields, On peaks and ledges in fog or sun.   Honking…

Crashing waves, Falling snow, Salty air, Glowing sky, Beautiful, The foamy water, Rides in and out, As little specks of snow land, On crashing waves, An unusual combination, Yet so perfect, The waves make, Sort of, A rumbling sound, As they turn over rocks, Then they collide with big  beautiful boulders, Splashing all around the…

As the New Year begins to show signs of its promise, it will be easy to get carried away. The energy of 2024 is absolutely palpable. It’s electric and exciting! What has been stuck will become unstuck in sudden and unexpected ways. But… it’s still early days.  While you may have your mission in mind,…

Submitted   Jan.10-April 30—QUECHEE— VINS Nature Center, 149 Natures Way, Quechee, is holding an artist exhibition featuring the art of Jeanette Fournier at VINS Neale Pavilion. Jeanette is a self-taught artist whose watercolor paintings are inspired by her passion for and love of the natural world. She specializes in illustrative drawings and paintings of animals,…

Submitted   Jan. 13 at 1 p.m.—WOODSTOCK—The Plant-Based-Eating Initiative (PBE Initiative) will present a program and panel discussion “A Response to Our Times: Reversing Climate Change Through Plant-Based Eating" at Norman Williams Public Library, 10 The Green, Woodstock. The PBE Initiative is a local group of concerned citizens interested in learning and teaching about what…

  Thursday, Jan.  from 1-4:45 p.m.—LUDLOW— Vermont Law and Graduate School’s Entrepreneurial Legal Lab and Legal Services Vermont will hold a clinic at Fletcher Memorial Library, 88 Main St., Ludlow for Vermonter's who need assisitance by  the summer floods.F  As a result of high demand and ongoing community needs, they will continue to offer monthly…

By Brooke Geery  Killington hosted the cutest comp of the year on Saturday, Jan. 5 in Red’s Backyard terrain park on Ramshead. Mini Shred Madness went down on a custom-built setup, featuring a box, flat rail, down rail, and jump, perfect for the littlest rippers to show off their stuff.   Skiers and riders were…

Courtesy Billings Farm & Museum   Saturday, Jan. 13 at 3 p.m.—WOODSTOCK— The film, "Joan Baez I Am a Noise" (2023),directed by Miri Navasky, Karen O’Connor, and Maeve O’Boyle, documents legendary folk singer/activist Joan Baez who, facing the end of a 60-year musical career, takes an honest look back and a deep look inward as…

Courtesy Billings Farm & Museum   Jan. 12 at 4:30 p.m. —WOODSTOCK—Snowshoe, ski or walk  the Billings Farm trail  by torchlight as evening begins. As part of Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend, Billings Farm & Museum, 69 Old River Road in Woodstock the torchlight snowshoe event  is a pleasant way to keep warm in the…

Courtesy Billings Farm & Museum  Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock, Vermont, is hosting a weekend of celebrations and activities in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day from January 13-15. Visitors can watch Joan Baez's documentary "I Am a Noise" i n the Visitor Center Theater, explore the 1890 Farm Manager's House, enjoy horse-drawn…

Courtesy The Benderz Fri. Jan 12-Sat. Jan.13—KILLINGTON—The Benderz, a touring cover band based out of Philadelphia, are hitting the stage at the Wobbly Barn on 2229 Killington Road, for two nights of live music. With years of touring and playing music to thousands of fans all over the country, every show that they play is…

  Killington Parks and Recreation adult open gym has officially started for the winter season. Running from Jan. 8-Mar. 17, organized teams can compete against each other in indoor soccer, pickleball and basketball.Anyone interested in registering for a team, message Killington Indoor League on Facebook.  Drop-in rate for any of the sports offered is $5…

This Friday Jan. 12, head to South Pomfret to see Chad Hollister make his debut at Artistree 7 p.m. I’ve known Chad for 25 or so years and have always liked his music. My favorite kind of music is music that moves you and his definitely does. This will be a solo show. Chad said,…