‘Bikes are the new toilet paper’ By Katy Savage As ski trails closed, and Vermonters were asked to stay home to help flatten the curve of infection, people have turned to biking— specifically, mountain biking. Several local store owners say they’ve seen record sales for mountain bikes this spring. Jean Pierre DeFrancesco-Sias, the general manager…

Green Mountain Power (GMP) customers now have two new home battery programs they can enroll in starting on June 5, after a Vermont Public Utility Commission order issued late Wednesday, May 20. GMP’s Tesla Powerwall and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programs are both modeled on the company’s popular and groundbreaking pilot programs that have…

BYO newspaper By Kyle Finneron The grass is green, the nights are warming up, and if you’re anything like us you’re getting a little cabin fever. While the order has been extended and gyms are not able to open we know that everyone is getting a little stir crazy. Being active is essential for all…

By Dom Cioffi The last couple months of lockdown have certainly had an effect on society. For many, the loss of employment and underlying fear of sickness has been a constant source of stress and anxiety. I recently read a long-form magazine article, written by a distressed restaurant owner, that broke my heart. The author…

Aging in Place by Scott Funk Until Covid-19 turned our world upside down, we defined heroes in terms of the military or first responders. Quickly, the definition was broadened to include hospital, nursing home, and even essential service personnel, like grocery store check-out workers. After the tragic outbreak of the virus at a meat-packing plant,…

By Laurie D. Morrissey Once, when I was little, I was so thrilled to come across a gorgeous, dark-red trillium that I picked it and placed it in a vase in the house. I was disappointed when it quickly wilted. Not only that, but it smelled bad. Such is the dual nature of this spring…

By Cal Garrison a.k.a. Mother of the Skye This week’s Horoscopes are coming out under the light of a Cancer Moon. In the last week or so, all my readings have been filled with questions about true love. It amazes me how all of us keep that flame burning no matter how many times life…

Thursday, May 28 at 12 p.m.—We all miss the feeling of being grounded and connected that comes from making art together, which is why Inclusive Arts Vermont wants you to join then for an adult open studio! On Thursday, May 28, join teaching artist Alexandra Turner for a process-focused, open-ended, group experience. Beforehand you’ll want…

Every year, hundreds of people contact the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department about bear interactions, and sometimes about conflicts that are ultimately deadly for the bear. “When a bear is fed, directly or indirectly, its life expectancy is likely reduced,” said Forrest Hammond, the black bear project leader at Vermont Fish and Wildlife. “We frequently…

Mark your calendars and adopt a (plastic) duckie or two The duckies will have masks this year and will distance socially as they swim! Join the Rutland County Humane Society (RCHS) for our annual Duck Derby to raise needed funds for the homeless animals in Rutland County. On Thursday, Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m., adopted (plastic)…

Vermont River Conservancy announced a new set of guidelines to follow at swimming holes given the pandemic, according to a news release May 22. The Vermont River Conservancy (VRC) anticipates swimming holes throughout the state will see many visitors with the warm weather forecast this week. VRC’s core mission is protecting public access to places…

LUDLOW—As Governor Scott eases restrictions on businesses, the staff at Black River Good Neighbors’ thrift stores has begun to plan a strategic reopening. No date has been set yet for either the actual reopening or for receiving donations. Some things are quite clear, however. Because the store has been closed there’s a surplus of inventory…

With so many Vermonters staying home and staying safe, there is an increased interest in gardening. To protect each other and find safe activities that connect us with the living world, gardens present a unique opportunity. If you would like to start composting but aren’t sure how to begin, satisfy your compost curiosity by exploring the…

By Melinda Myers Fill your gardens with beautiful plants that produce an abundance of seeds the birds will love. You’ll enjoy the flowers as well as the birds that visit to dine on the seeds. Best of all, there is no feeder to refill or clean. Sunflowers are likely the first seed-producing plant that comes…

June 1–5—WOODSTOCK— Visit Billings Farm online June 1-5, 2020 to get in tune with the life cycles on the farm.  See how much the baby farm animals have grown since the baby farm animal celebration in April. Check in on the peeping Black Copper Maran chicks, the adorable lambs Maple and Marvin, and with Jersey calf Billings Casino Vegas, named by online visitors during April’s Name the Calf contest. The gardens are growing too! Take a…