by Merisa Sherman We fell in love skiing together, our turns interlacing as we got caught up in the rhythmic pattern.  Dancing together down the mountain, we wove in and out of each other’s turns like skiers through the trees. Our souls intertwined, our ski souls forever merged as our hearts beat a sacred rhythm, joined…

by Meghan McCarthy McPaul Whenever I spy a pileated woodpecker traversing the sky, I pause to watch its weird undulating flight. The jerky rise-and-drop movement of this large woodpecker is endearingly gawky – like a mini pterodactyl visiting from the Cretaceous period. This time of year, the bird’s bold crimson crest flashes in stark contrast…

The reason withdrawals from a traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA) prior to age 59½ are generally subject to a 10% tax penalty is that policymakers wanted to create a disincentive to use these savings for anything other than retirement. Yet, policymakers also recognize that life can present more pressing circumstances that require access to these…

Better late than never? by Dom Cioffi I am confident that at some point in my young life, something happened to me that made me pointedly adverse to being late. I can’t tell you the exact moment or scenario, but I know it happened. I know this because I live my life in such a…

By Cal Garrison a.k.a. Mother of the Skye This week’s horoscopes are coming out under the light of a Gemini Moon. I’ve spent the last few days wondering how to spin this introduction. Should I talk about the Coronavirus? Could we take a look at Brexit? Or could we discuss what’s going on with the…

by Merisa Sherman They met at the bottom of the lift. There were two of them, leaning on their brand new snowboards with such glee that anyone sliding by couldn’t help but feel the joy radiating from them. Friends for quite some time, it was a new treat that they were able to ride together. After…

By Sen. Alison Clarkson It is unusual for legislators to serve on conference committees in January.  Conference committees are formed to iron out the differences between the House and the Senate after both bodies have passed a bill.  Most occur in April and May as we are moving towards the end of a session.  But,…

By Rep. Jim Harrison First a recap of last week: Gov. Phil Scott gave his budget address on Tuesday, Jan. 21, outlining his administration’s spending priorities for the coming year. No new taxes or fees were proposed to fund the state budget, although an expansion of gambling revenues (sports betting and keno) were included to…

By DJ Dave Hoffenberg The Ghost of Paul Revere from Portland, Maine, makes its long awaited return to the Pickle Barrel this Thursday at 8 p.m., with Saints and Liars opening. I’ve been looking forward to this show since it hit the calendar. I saw TGOPR for the first time a year ago and instantly…

Gone too soon By Dom Cioffi Depending on the weekend, I try to reserve Sundays to get all my errands completed. I’ll knock out a number of these tasks in the morning and then once my son wakes up (which is any time between 11 a.m. and noon… eye roll), we’ll head to breakfast before…

The Rutland Recreation Department offered skating in the city as early as the 1940s. My time on skates began in the 1950s. It was a popular activity and one that didn’t come with a high price tag. For awhile Rotary Rink on North Street was the only place for public skating. I don’t know the…

By Kevin Theissen The best place to retire in the United States is in dispute. There’s no formal debate, but a review of various publications showed surveys have named different states and cities as the “best” place to retire. For instance: Iowa was No. 1 in a best places to retire survey cited by Yahoo!…

By Declan MeCabe As we leaned over the Colchester Bog boardwalk, a student asked, “What’s that black stuff on the water?” I suggested gently poking it with a twig. This elicited the expected response: as though ejected from James Bond’s Aston Martin, tiny black flecks scattered, landing inches away and on my student’s hand. Springtails,…

By Cal Garrison a.k.a. Mother of the Skye This week’s horoscopes are coming out under the light of a Pisces Moon, in the advent of the mid-winter cross-quarter. Otherwise known as Imbolc, Candlemas, or St. Brigid’s Day, in the Northern climes the night of Feb. 1 lies halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring…

By DJ Dave Hoffenberg Kick off February with a mid-winter concert featuring two local bands, George’s Back Pocket and Phil Henry & The News Feed. The West Rutland Town Hall on Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m. is the place to be. Tickets are available in advance at Be Music and Rick & Kat’s Howlin’ Mouse…