Just when you think all is lost, some way, somehow a yellow brick road appears. Teeming with golden yellow light, the vision almost blinds you. Confusing. Discombobulating. Almost scary. What would it mean for you to take a step forward in the direction of the light? What would you have to sacrifice? What would you…

As steam rises from sugarhouse cupolas and early morning coffee pots, sugarmakers are working overtime to turn maple sap into golden syrup. But as it turns out, they aren’t alone: other living things are sugaring too, and their stories affect the syrup that is poured on your pancakes (or into your morning coffee). Many sugarmakers’…

Spring looks a little different this year. Never mind that the rain stole all the snow off my lawn way before I was ready to put my Nordic skis away for the season. Or that all the local snowmobile trails shut down because the water bars are now exposed, and no one wants to ride…

If there’s one thing I’ve been lucky with in my life, it’s sleep. Other than my spat with cancer several years ago, I’ve navigated my night times with relative ease. I hear countless stories from people who suffer from insomnia or nocturnal restlessness, and I always feel thankful that I’ve avoided that life pitfall. I’ve…

Paper is rapidly disappearing from our day-to-day world. Many readers prefer to view newspapers, magazines, and books in digital format. However, I heard recently that young people, particularly Gen Z, are trending toward paper versions. This is an unexpected discovery as that generation is a “tech-savvy” group. If you are anything like me, you don’t…

In 1995, Chicago experienced a heat wave in which the temperature reached 106 degrees, which translated into a heat index of 126, the temperature that the body felt. Within a week, the streets were buckling, the power grids failed, and over 700 people were dead. By all accounts, the cause of death was the heat.…

Women’s History Month (WHM), celebrated nationally in March since 1987, offers a perfect opportunity to highlight the remarkable contributions of Vermont women, past and present.  In fact, the Downtown Rutland Partnership (DRP) is hosting a mingle-and-learn mixer featuring local women business owners at The Mad Rose pub on March 26th.  (At the end of this…

By Matt Anderson Hello readers! I’m Uncle Matty, here for your help, but please be advised to swim at your own risk. I am not a doctor, therapist, lawyer, or man of the cloth. My professional certifications are limited to slinging cocktails and umpiring. If you have serious medical, financial, legal, or faith-based questions, please…

The sign went up this week: a beautiful diamond sign, construction orange with a reflective black border. In many ways, the sign brings uncertainty, a harbinger of what will come over the next few weeks and months. We don’t really know how big the monster it warns of will be—or how long it will be…

I have a bad habit of buying useless gifts for my wife and son. This reckless activity manifests most visibly during Christmastime when I generally go overboard in the purchase of unneeded items. I have always loved seeing my wife’s and son’s eyes light up when they are met with the motherlode of wrapped presents.…

While many are still basking in the afterglow of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, a lunar eclipse is about to have its day in the sun. In the early hours of March 14, 2025, a total lunar eclipse will be visible across North America. The entire eclipse will start just before midnight…

Those whose familiarity with director Bong Joon Ho starts and stops with his Oscar-winning “Parasite,” his follow-up film to that 2019 breakout hit may be confused. Those with a more profound knowledge of Joon Ho’s filmography will recognize the same over-the-top sensibilities that mark his work in the sci-fi genre with movies like “Snowpiercer” and…

We are now midway through March. The first 10 weeks of 2025 have felt arduous, to say the least. Unless you are versed in astrology, you’d be forgiven for thinking a few months ago that this was going to be your year. The astrology of March is nothing short of next level, so much so…

One of the most significant factors in failed landlord-tenant relations is simply unmet expectations and differing understandings of tenants’ and landlords’ rights and responsibilities. And yet, the current strategy for keeping tenants housed is to delay evictions by having Legal Aid kick the can down the road, postponing the inevitable and burning bridges along the…

The new year ushered in an Arctic blast that has only recently let up. This extreme plunge in temperature is referred to as a polar vortex. While it may seem that this is a new term, it has been used since the 1800s. These periods of intense cold can impact the survival of many native…