Wednesday, April 19, 3 p.m.—RUTLAND—The Vermont Farmers Food Center (VFFC) is hosting its annual Earth Day Celebration April 19, 3-6 p.m. The Earth Day Celebration is an annual event for all ages with activities, demonstrations, live music, farmers market, exhibitors, food and workshops to increase the well-being of the Earth and of our community. Vermont…

By Evan Johnson Vermont Congressman Peter Welch had a busy Thursday in Rutland last week. He spoke on behalf of the Community Development Block Grants, visited a Veterans’ Affairs outpatient clinic, sat in on a meeting with the Rutland Regional Chamber of Commerce and got a tour of the Vermont Farmers Food Center. When he…

By Bryan Pfeiffer Trees speak many languages, their leaves whooshing in summer and trunks creaking in winter. At the onset of spring, trees become sounding boards for courtship. Before the thrushes and warblers and sparrows arrive to sing from branches and boughs, woodpeckers kick off the spring chorus with a drumroll. Although woodpeckers certainly vocalize,…

By Marguerite Jill Dye Did you know that essential oils fall from the trees to bathe us with healing properties? Inhaling phytoncides improves immune function. Being surrounded by nature reduces anxiety and hyper activity. It puts us in balance with our center, and clears out brain clutter and constant chatter. It synchronizes us with Mother…

My first men’s physique show By Kyle Finneron “Men’s physique debut, you’re on deck!” the announcer said. The other competitors and I looked at each other in a panic. I grabbed a handful of tanner and started to smear it all over my chest and arms. Let me back up, just a bit, to the…

By Kevin Theissen “It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so,” wrote Mark Twain. In 2016, NerdWallet commissioned a survey to get a better handle on Americans’ thoughts about lying when money is involved. It’s interesting to note which money-saving lies participants found acceptable. The list included: Logging on to someone else’s retail or media…

By Brett Yates To make things immediately clear, “Hot Dog… The Movie” is not good. Indeed, one could go so far as to call its post-ellipsis subtitle aspirational, or at least a reflection of a certain need for self-reassurance: “Hot Dog,” a low-budget comedy directed by Peter Markle, really is just barely a movie at…

By Cal Garrison, a.k.a. Mother of the Skye This week’s Horoscopes are coming out in the wake of the Easter rituals, under the light of a Capricorn Moon. There are lots of changes going on in the next two weeks. Between the Easter Bunny and the IRS most of us don’t know if we’re coming…

Green Mountain National Golf Course has announced it will open for the 2017 golf season on April 28. “We think this is going to be an exciting year here at Green Mountain National and our staff is already working hard to be sure that conditions are in tip-top shape,” said general manager and PGA Professional…

It was a busy week in athletics for College of St. Joseph, with baseball and softball playing 11 games cumulatively. Fighting Saints Baseball went 3-2 on the week, highlighted by back-to-back victories over a stellar Point Park University team on April 12. They currently hold an overall record of 16-20 and ranked #4 on the…

By Mike Polhamus, VTDigger Fewer birds appear to live in Vermont today than 25 years ago, according to recent research by the Vermont Center for Ecostudies. The most dramatic declines in bird populations were seen among those that live off flying insects, scientists say. Known as aerial insectivores, this diverse group of birds has declined…

Seeking to recognize a leading Vermont environmentalist and honor the legacy of a legendary wildlife advocate, Green Mountain Power has called for nominations for the 2017 GMP-Zetterstrom Environmental Award. Presented annually and named for famed osprey advocate Meeri Zetterstrom of Milton, the GMP-Zetterstrom Environmental Award is given to one person, business, group or non-profit who…

CASTLETON—Nineteen Castleton students traded in their final break of the academic year for some hard hats, hammers, and building supplies, as members of the Habitat for Humanity Club made the journey to Dekalb County, Ga., as part of an alternative spring break trip. The volunteer group spent their time working with the local community on…

A brother and sister were due in court on Monday morning for stealing a cash register from Wal-Mart in Rutland. On April 16 at approximately 8:05 a.m., officers from the Rutland City Police Department responded to Wal-Mart for a report of a robbery that had taken place and that a male suspect had stolen a…

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department are warning drivers to be more cautions of moose crossing roadways. Moose are more likely to be crossing roadways at this time of year, especially after dark or early in the morning as they move from wintering areas to spring feeding locations. More moose are hit by motorists in…