By Meghan McCarthy McPhaul For several days last winter, a barred owl perched atop a dead white birch tree in our field. As winters go, last year’s was very cold, and the owl puffed up against the stubbornly below-freezing temperatures, its streaky brown and white feathers fluffed and fluttering in the icy breeze. Occasionally the…

Sorry, readers, for my lapse in writing. Time gets the best of us. Resolved: I will taste and write about more beers in 2016. I’ve tasted a few really good beers since our last visit, but the challenge has been to meet up with a local brewer while doing so. I’m bending my own rules…

As a young child in the 50s I remember sitting at a pullout-top desk in our living room, writing my letter to Santa. If selected, it would be read at 4 p.m. on a local radio station. Santa would be sure to say that he had received all our letters even if he didn’t have…

Editor’s note: The following is the third in a series of reviews of randomly selected, low-quality, made-for-TV Christmas movies. Why do adults watch Christmas movies? I think we do it in large part to convince ourselves that Christmas exists. The made-for-TV Christmas movie, in particular, transports us to an alternate reality in which Christmas occupies…

Submitted In the 2005 photo, the order is Dave Beebe, Chris Beebe, and Alex Beebe. When Alex Beebe of Swanton recently reeled in the first muskie caught above Swanton Dam on the Missisquoi River in nearly four decades, he took his place in the fishing lore of Vermont. In 2013, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife…

Courtesy of VF&W David Boocock harvested this 10-point, 181-pound buck within three years of completing habitat improvements to his Montgomery property with a state wildlife biologist. When David Boocock of Montgomery enrolled in a program with the state to improve his land for wildlife, he was hoping the enhancements would boost his odds during the…

Courtesy of KMS KMS youth climber Sam Hayden practices the skill that garnered him third place in a regional championship. KILLINGTON — On Saturday, Dec. 12, Killington Mountain School Rock Climbing athlete, Sam Hayden from Pittsfied, Vt., competed at the USA Climbing ABS Regional Championships in Newburyport, Mass. The event brings together the best youth climbers…

Killington Mountain School Alpine athletes competed in two days of slalom races out at Heavenly, on the tail-end of a two-week camp in Mammoth. In the boys’ race on Sunday, Brad Underhill was the first U16 and eighth overall, Bo Underhill was the fourth U16 and 17th overall, PJ Bovaconti was the ninth U16 and…

It was an exciting week in sports for CSJ, with eight games being played overall by the men and women’s basketball teams. It was also a successful week, as the women’s team was able to go a perfect 3-0 and the men’s team went 2-1. Both teams now lead the YSCC and are not showing…

You’ve seen the skichair, now get the wine rack! Skichair founder Mike also makes these wine holders out of recycled skis and boards. By Karen D. Lorentz It’s that time of year where we try to find special gifts for special folks. There are also some truly different ways to make someone happy by providing…

By Karen D. Lorentz Parlor skis were named after the two co-founders that created the line in the basement of a former funeral parlor. Spectacular fall works for climate change By Karen D. Lorentz “Three, two, one  . . . go” “NO … ugh, ooh, aw, ugghhh…” and the grunts continue until the biggest groans…

KILLINGTON—Tom Alcorn, senior program coordinator at Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, recognized three volunteers at the Vermont Adaptive Volunteer Orientation held at Pico Mountain on Nov. 7, according to a Dec. 9 release. Aaron Korzun, Amy Peacock and Tony Blake were named 2015 Volunteers of the Year, a tribute in honor of Jim Hutchinson, a…

WELLS — On Saturday, Dec. 12, at 5:04 p.m., the Vermont State Police received a report of a single vehicle crash on Route 30 at Lochlea Lane in the town of Wells, Vt. Police learned that Megan E. Baker, age 28 of Pawlet, Vt.,  was driving south on Route 30 in the town of Wells when…

CAVENDISH — Vermont State Police are investigating an armed robbery which occurred at the Cavendish General Store at approximately 11:40 a.m. on Dec. 14. A lone male suspect entered the store and held a knife to the cash register attendant, demanding cash from the register.  The attendant was unable to get the drawer open and…

WALLINGFORD — On Dec. 11 at 5:19 p.m., members of the Vermont State Police responded to a call from Route 7 southbound in Wallingford, near the Wallingford/Clarendon town line, for a report of a single vehicle crash involving a deer. Upon investigation, police learned that operator Roxane Johnsondelear age 53 of Tinmouth, Vt. was driving her…