By Julia Purdy PAWLET—On Aug. 28, 2016, a community watershed event titled “Five Years Vermont Strong—Tropical Storm Irene, Five Years Later: Where Are We Now?” was held in Pawlet to remember the devastating impact of Tropical Storm Irene on Aug. 28-29, 2011, and revisit the lessons learned. The theme was flood resiliency and preparedness for…

Cal Garrison (a.k.a Mother of the Skye) writes weekly horoscopes for The Mountain Times. If you would like an emailed notification sent to you weekly, sign up for the newsletter, below. Want to hear more from Mother of the Skye? Check out Mother's Celestial Inspirations for a deeper look into this weeks horoscopes Horoscopes for…

BOMOSEEN—State officials recently discovered the presence of an invasive clam species in Lake Bomoseen, according to a news release Tuesday, Aug. 30. The Asian clam has been documented in surrounding regions like Lake George, N.Y., but has not been found in Vermont until now. Asian clams, like zebra mussels, are filter feeding organisms that can…

I always know I have flipped back into ketosis (fat burning metabolism) when I wake up in the middle of the night with hot skin and high energy. It always happens when the switch flips, and then you sleep like a baby every night after that. I am glad to finally have eaten steak, eggs,…

By: Marguerite Jill Dye Updates on the election and news from across the globe seem surreal in our peaceful mountain setting, where we can shut out the frenzied chaos by meandering in nature. We are blessed to be far from much of the world’s distress, although we well remember Irene from five years past and…

By: Kyle Finneron I have never been an incredibly strong swimmer. In my youth, my parents signed me up for swim lessons and the swim team simultaneously in hopes that I would grow to love the water. Both met early on alternating mornings which was less than ideal for any child in the summer time.…

By Declan McCabe Clouds of tiny insects, rising and falling hypnotically along lake shores, contribute to the ambiance of warm summer evenings. My recent bike ride was interrupted by a lungful of this ambiance. If you find yourself in a similar predicament, you might wonder what these miniscule flies were doing before being swallowed, where…

On Aug. 31, at the American Legion’s national convention in Cincinnati, Hillary Clinton gave a 35-minute speech that I wish I could quote in its entirety. Its subject was the strictly magical doctrine of “American exceptionalism”—a concept that, rather than merely celebrating our nation’s uniqueness, attributes to the United States an inherent righteousness upon which…

By Cal Garrision, a.k.a. Mother of the Skye This week’s Horoscopes are coming out under the light of a Scorpio Moon, in the aftermath of a New Moon eclipse, with a chorus of background aspects that could go either way, depending on how well we are able to assess our emotional responses. As far as…

HARTFORD—Due to the growth of Upper Valley Aquatic Center’s (UVAC) membership base, increased day pass use from the community, and especially an increase in the number of families using the center, the Upper Valley Aquatic Center’s board of directors has approved an expansion plan. “We listened to feedback from our members and guests and realize…

CHITTENDEN—It’s the end of August, which means students in the towns of Chittenden and Mendon who attend Barstow Memorial School are headed back to school. This year, students will welcome a few new staff members to the building, including nurse Amy Ridlon, third grade teacher Coral Ward-Torelli and head custodian Alison Patterson. There has also…

By: Lani Duke Applause and commendations are due Fair Haven Fitness Powerlifting Team competed at Cummington Fair in Cummington, Mass. Jamie and Meghan Matta were honored with the Richard Gould Memorial Sportsmanship Award after he won first place in the men’s underhand chop, she came in third in the women’s chop, and together they placed…

RUTLAND—Registration is open for a free workshop being offered to Vermont food and beverage processors and manufacturers who want to be fully compliant with environmental laws. The Department of Environmental Conservation’s Environmental Assistance Office is hosting the Food for Thought workshop to accommodate the need for the growing food and beverage industry to access information…

By: Lani Duke Sheriff grabs pot The Rutland County Sheriff’s Department culminated a two-week investigation into local marijuana cultivation with the eradication of 249 plants found in Clarendon and Rutland Town Sept. 1. The plants were found in three separate growing areas and had a street value of about $500,000. This is the second major…

By Julia Purdy MENDON—Work continues along sections of US Route 4 in Mendon and Rutland Town as VTrans crews and contractors repair and replace features of the Route 4 corridor in two spots: the ravine on the west side of Route 4 between Meadow Lake Drive and Wheelerville Road, and at the Norman Rockwell Museum,…