As I wake up much earlier than I was supposed to, much earlier than my alarm, I am greeted with the rays of a brand new day. I get myself together and start going through the pile of messages from friends, looking to spend time with me or go to the show together that night.…

This is the time of year when nature shows us how to let go When all of the leaves have fallen The trees stand proud and bare They slowly release what does not serve them What they leave behind in the soil helps fuel their future growth. When the cold crashes in hard, the naked…

Whether you went to the Wobbly to be seen and dance to club music, went to see Phish from Vermont at the charity event in Albany to support addiction recovery, or you’re just trick or treating somewhere with the littles, Halloween time is accessible and fun for everyone. Halloween has been my favorite holiday, since…

As New Englanders, we are a rare breed. While people elsewhere are dreading the change from the bright and warm summer fading into a gray and humbling winter, we have been waiting for this all year. The snow is a chance to prove ourselves to ourselves. To challenge ourselves. To cleanse ourselves, in a way,…

As we move into the ski season change is abundant The quiet roads are starting to become more animated. Soon they will be bursting at the seams with life again The slow simmer that builds into a wonderful celebration of snow A morning commute filed with so many electric colors With a rich palette of…

Yet I seem to be the least important person in the building to her Will I ever be an equal to her drinking buddies, who after years, she has never opened up to?  When she talks to everyone else in the room I sit and wonder if I will get a turn  A chance to…

Tucked away In a sea of brown and gray Just beyond the travelers smog Lives a specimen of unadulterated beauty Thriving in solidarity Harmoniously lending guidance to the kingdom  A single organism Promoting unity in the shadow of the mountain  Your supple, verdant wings spread wide Ignoring your stagnant surroundings Your crimson tiara reaching for…

Intro I saw on the internet the other day a woman commenting on online dating: “If you are ‘still figuring it out,’ then maybe you should take a minute and do that before dating.”  After thinking about it, I agreed. While I know everyone does things at their own pace and in their own way,…

Growing up, my parents had some kind of large toy that wasn’t functioning. I remember it so vividly. It was white with red and blue stripes. Big white stars. The sides and headboard showed a man burning rubber with an impertinent amount of orange and yellow flames, doing an amazing wheelie on a Triumph motorcycle.…

With busy lives and breathtaking scenery in the mountain community, it can be hard sometimes to embrace deep companionship and friendship. Casual connections come easily, but don’t offer the same benefits that are received through a close connection, through a network of genuine support. As we grow older and more involved in personal responsibility, I…

The beginning of 2024 saw many ups and downs for me, but offered several new opportunities as well. I started a new job late in the previous year and was starting to come into my own by the end of skiing season. The new job, working with a utility company, offered me a very unique…

My first spring in Killington, 2023, I started dating a friend who lived locally. They had introduced me to the community a few years earlier and helped me connect with so many awesome folks, opening the door to a lot of opportunities for me. I felt so welcomed by her energy. As a local for…

By Will O'Donnell Part 1: The calm before the storm  After moving to Vermont in 2019 and spending the next few years there, I left for a brief outing in small town New York, just past the border. A beautiful lake, a quaint small community and an intense education in horticulture was no match for…

By Will O'Donnell This is an effort to shed a little light on a darker side of the mountains. To offer a sliver of peace, hope and closure to those affected by the loss of someone in our lives who fought a silent battle with themself. Behind us lies another warrior, fallen victim to the…