Local schools see significant increase in registration numbers By Polly Mikula Vermont’s K-12 students returned to school on Tuesday, Sept. 8, for the first time since March 15 when the governor ordered schools to close to in-person instruction. Reopening schools has been the subject of widespread debate, however, and specific plans have sparked unique challenges and…

  Mushroom hunting in Vermont provides hours of entertainment and health benefits, too By Brooke Geery A vast network of underground mycelium lies hidden in the forests of Vermont. This is, until the right combo of water and heat cause it to spring forth as wild mushrooms in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some…

By Melinda Myers Cooler temperatures and warm soil make fall a great time to add trees to your landscape. Make the most of this investment of money and time and give your tree its best chance at survival with proper planting and care. Select a tree suited to the growing conditions, your landscape design and…

By Cassanda Tyndall One of the key features of 2020 is the extra-long tour of Mars in Aries. Instead of its usual journey of six weeks, Mars has been in Aries since late June, continuing until early 2021. As the red planet changes direction, you too may experience some kind of delay, setback or some…

By Emma Cotton/VTDigger Tabitha Moore, a sixth-generation Vermonter, is known for being outspoken about racial injustice, particularly in Rutland County, where she lives and leads a chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Oft-quoted by media outlets, Moore has spoken at events around the state protesting the killing of George Floyd by…

After an 11-month search, the First Congregational Church of Hartland has selected a new pastor — Amy Davin of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On Sunday, Aug. 23 the congregation unanimously voted for her to lead the church. She will become the church’s 37th settled pastor. Davin replaced Rev. Lucia Anne Jackson, who has served the congregation for…

By Merisa Sherman It all starts with a single leaf. There she would be, lying alone in the middle of a parking lot or a field. Without any of her friends around her and oftentimes no discernible origin. It’s usually a day with just a little breeze, a touch colder than normal but with enough…

We left off with the Chinese Gourmet holding a 1-0 lead over Rock Warriors in the best of three championship. Rock’s Chad Lonergan started the scoring in game two and his team added two to take a 3-0 lead after a half inning. CG turned a double-play on Kevin Duprey to end Rock’s at-bat. They…

by Dom Cioffi I’ve mentioned many times prior in this column that I’m a runner. I run every other day religiously, no matter what the weather or what state my physical health is in. I’ve done this for years and I’ll continue to do it as long as my body holds up. Some people can…

By Mary Ellen Shaw When the pandemic hit back in March I think we will all agree that it changed our lives in a “New York minute.” Fortunately for us, spring was right around the corner and we could focus on spending time in the garden. When you grow flowers or veggies you always have…

The Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) is hosting its 24th annual Source to Sea Cleanup throughout the month of September. This year, CRC is asking cleanup participants and all who enjoy our rivers to join them in demanding an end to trashed rivers. “After cleaning up 1,167 tons of trash over the past 23 years it’s clear that repeated cleaning is not the solution…

When our parents retired, living to 75 amounted to a nice long life, and Social Security was often supplemented by a pension. The Social Security Administration (SSA) estimates that today’s average 65-year-old woman will live to age 86½. Given these projections, it appears that a retirement of 20 years or longer might be in your…

By Declan McCabe Some of my favorite children’s books describe life cycles as heroic tales of persistence and redemption. From “The Ugly Duckling” to “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” to “A Seed is Sleeping,” these stories have brought the miracles of growth and maturation to life for generations of readers. I can’t say, however, that I…

On Sept. 1, Dr. Etan Nasreddin-Longo, chair of the Racial Disparities in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System Advisory Panel along with panel members, Executive Director of Racial Equity Xusana Davis, and Attorney General T.J. Donovan urged the Legislature to take further action to address racial disparities and systemic bias in Vermont. The coalition specifically…

QUECHEE— As families seek new approaches to education in the wake of Covid-19, the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) is excited to announce expanded homeschool programs for this fall. Programs will be available to families with children in pre-K through fifth grade, and will include both at-home portions and activities to take place at…