Saturday, April 14, 4 p.m.— On Saturday, April 14 at 4 p.m., Phoenix Books Rutland will host Arnie Kozak, Ph.D., for a discussion of his new book, “Timeless Truths for Modern Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to a More Focused and Quiet Mind.” Mindfulness – focusing on the present moment while accepting your feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations – is growing…

Courtesy Brandon Music Sarah Blacker (center) with her bandmates, Aaron Katz (left) and Phil Selesnick (right) are New England Groove Association.

Courtesy BRGNS BRGNS Thrift Store will open its doors with snacks, coffee, and door prizes during customer appreciation day. Wednesday, April 18, 10 a.m.—LUDLOW— The staff and volunteers at Black River Good Neighbor Services ( BRGNS )thrift store in Ludlow invite all customers and clients to drop by on Wednesday, April 18 for its annual…

By Edward Brydon A black and white photo of a Welsh descendant is part of “The Singing Hills,” a documentary project by Edward Brydon. Saturday, April 14, 1 p.m.—GRANVILLE, N.Y.— Attention Vermont and New York Slate Valley Welsh descendants! Please join other descendants and those interested in Welsh history on. Saturday, April 14, 1 p.m.…

Submitted Motorists are asked to help stem frog carnage on springtime roadways. Driving home at night on a rainy spring night, have you ever come upon a mass migration of little frogs on the pavement in front of you? Does the popping sound under your tires make you cringe? One of the great wildlife migrations…

Submitted Jackson Ellis’s first book cover is shown. LUDLOW— Vermont writer and Okemo Valley native Jackson Ellis has released his first novel, “Lords of St. Thomas.” Ellis won the 2017 Howard Frank Mosher First Book Prize for this story, which is set in Nevada during the Depression. It is published by Vermont independent publishers, Green…

FOREST DALE— Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains (GSGWM) announced April 6 that high school senior and National Guard soldier Christina Wiles of Forest Dale, recently earned her Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn, for her Arms Open project, a mentoring program between Middlebury Union High School…

LUDLOW— The Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) recently enjoyed a discussion on the pure water project of Rotary International. Featured speakers were Doug Rupert, representing Rotary District 7870, and Carolyn Crowley Meub of the Rutland South Rotary Club who is the executive director of the Pure Water for the World project. They described the recent work done by…

RUTLAND— Saturday, April 7, two Miss Vermonts observed Miss America Serves Day by preparing boxed meals for Vermonters in need from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Rutland Farmer’s Food Market on West Street. Miss Vermont 2017, Erin Connor, and Miss Vermont’s Outstanding Teen 2017, Jenna Lawrence, were joined by the 2018 Miss Vermont…

CASTLETON— Castleton University and Landmark College, a private institution located in Putney, Vt., have formed a collaborative agreement creating a pathway for degree completion. The agreement makes the transition for graduates of Landmark College to Castleton seamless and affordable. “As we seek to be innovative and collaborative in our growth, agreements like these are essential,”…

HANCOCK— On April 9, at approximately 4:18 p.m. the Vermont State Police were contacted by a concerned citizen who reported a human body in the water at Texas Falls in Hancock. This area is part of the Green Mountain National Forest. Members of the Vermont State Police, United States Forest Service-Police, Hancock Volunteer Fire Department,…

By Mary Ellen Shaw Back “in the day” if you wanted to deposit a check or get some cash, you went to the bank, saw a teller, and left with your deposit receipt and cash in your wallet. You couldn’t accomplish either of those tasks from your car or your phone. You had person-to-person contact…

By Kevin Theissen Does investing strike fear in you? We once heard somebody say the word “fear” stands for “False Evidence Appearing Real.” That seems to apply to investing. Here’s why. The stock market makes some people nervous. This can be especially true for young people who grew up during the Great Recession. Not only…

Painting by Marguerite Jill Dye by Marguerite Jill Dye Vermonters and fellow nature lovers know the power our magnificent mountains, forests, and woods have on our wellbeing. If I hadn’t experienced nature’s healing effect myself, I may not have understood the forest’s curative energies on the human immune system. Years ago, after travels in Turkey…

By Robin Alberti Killington Elementary School students, Jacob Roth, front, and Zev Wysocki, back, don togas. By Robin Alberti KILLINGTON— Every year the sixth graders at Killington Elementary School perform a Greek play in the spring. This year’s play was exceptionally entertaining. Teacher Mrs. Simmonds worked hard on writing a screen play for the class,…