By Cassandra Tyndall Just when you thought nothing more could shock or surprise you, this week will continue to add turbulence and confusion. The first of three links between communication planet, Mercury and radical Uranus happens on Wednesday. This initial confrontation may unearth something hidden or toxic, highlighting the need for change. Whether it’s news…

By Sandra Dee Owens I made a “Funology” calendar. This calendar has no days or months in it. It has 365 seasons. Living by this calendar, I wake up each morning with anticipation, and think, ‘What season is it today?” then grab the appropriate clothing, tools, and toys for that season—and go outside to work…

By Mary Ellen Shaw It’s time to be a “leaf peeper” whether you are visiting us from out of state or live here. In fact Vermonters often need a reminder to get out and enjoy what is right in our own backyard. The colorful display that Mother Nature puts on isn’t cancelled just because we…

By Dom Cioffi Several years ago, in February of 2015, a very plain and unassuming photo went viral around the internet. The photo was of a blue and black dress – or a gold and white dress, depending on who was looking at it. That was the curious thing. Two people could be standing side-by-side…

By Kevin Theissen Expectations vs. Reality Predicting exactly what your retirement will be like is about as impossible as a meteorologist predicting the weather correctly every single time. In fact, few retirees find their financial futures playing out precisely as they assumed. But understanding some of the more common assumptions about retirement may help you…

By Tiffany Soukup Sitting in a grassy field at Townshend State Park on a late summer day, I watched dozens of dragonflies roaming the sky. Their slender bodies drifted in and out of view as they rode the air currents. I thought of the cool autumn days to come and wondered where these dragonflies would…

Halloween treats take center stage in October. What can be better this time of year than a fresh autumn apple coated in a sweet candy shell? This quintessential fall treat can make Halloween celebrations even more special. This recipe for old-fashioned caramel apples, courtesy of “300 Best Homemade Candy Recipes” by Jane Sharrock, benefits from…

On a chilly September 2020 evening in a backyard in West Shokan, New York six musicians took the stage, a low plywood platform in the grass, and cut into an exuberant rock-tinged folk song that lifted the attending quarantine-weary locals from their folding chairs in grateful and gleeful whoops. Wielding organ, fiddle, guitar, bass, and…

Saturday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m.—LUDLOW—On Saturday, Oct.10 at 7 p.m. Friends of Ludlow Auditorium (FOLA) will present the marvelous Aretha Franklin in her masterpiece concert, “Amazing Grace.” The 2019 nationwide release, 47 years after it was made, means audiences at last will see the Queen of Soul’s transcendent masterpiece – Aretha Franklin in “Amazing…

By purchasing a ‘Vermont Wins’ 50/50 raffle ticket you support Girls on the Run Vermont Every Girl Fund and The Vermont Foodbank. This allows Girls on the Run Vermont to provide reduced fees and financial assistance for every girl who participates to empower more of Vermont’s young women. A quarter of the proceeds from the…

Saturday, Oct. 10 at 10 a.m.—CHITTENDEN— Stop by the Barstow Memorial School between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday for a fun autumn day at the library! All events will be outside on the school grounds. There will be at bake sale with lots of delicious seasonal treats, plus a raffle to win a…

Sunday, Oct. 11 at 4 p.m.—LUDLOW—The Independent School is off to a busy start with school in full session since Sept. 8. The 16 students making up the inaugural class have settled into a vibrant, caring learning environment with Covid precautions in place. The Black River Independent School Committee (BRISC) continues to drive fundraising efforts…

Monday, Oct. 12 at 1 p.m.—MIDDLESEX – Camp Meade in Middlesex is organizing and promoting The Insurrection-Resurrection Service Circus, a physically distanced, yet socially together event to raise funds for the Bread and Puppet Theater. The Insurrection-Resurrection Service Circus is this summer’s contribution to the Bread and Puppet Circus tradition beloved by audiences worldwide for…

From Small Pox to Covid-19: The impact of pandemics/epidemics on the indigenous peoples of the Americas Sunday, Oct. 11 at 2 p.m.—CAVENDISH— In 1492, when Columbus arrived in the Caribbean, 100% of North and South America were populated by native peoples. Today, only 1% of the United States is occupied by Indians while 8% account…

RUTLAND—Join in for the first-ever Virtual Leaf Chase 10K! Run at your convenience anytime between Oct. 10 and Oct. 17 from dawn to dusk. Treat yourself to this beautiful fall run that starts at the Proctor Skating Rink and takes you through leafy trails that lead to the finish line at Giorgetti Park. This is…