By Kevin O’Connor/VTDigger In Vermont’s biggest city, “Burlington’s Independence Day Celebration is back!” reads the  municipal website booming of the state’s largest fireworks show. In the capital of Montpelier, the festivities that usually draw up to 15,000 people to the Statehouse lawn will wait until next year. In small towns like Bristol, locals who initially canceled parades and programs…

Rutland to celebrate reopening and honor its first responders A street party, fireworks, and free whoopie pies will be part of a celebration of the end of Covid-19 regulations — highlighted by a parade of health care and other essential-worker heroes in downtown Rutland. The Aug. 28 Parade of Heroes & Community Celebration, from 3:30-9:30…

Family encourages blood donations to combat severe shortage In hopes of drawing friends, colleagues and fans, one of Rutland’s iconic blood drives has been renamed for local musician and businessman Peter Giancola. The move comes at a time when the American Red Cross is experiencing a severe blood shortage as hospital demand — due to…

By Martha L. Molnar Poet for Hire? That is Cuttingsville native Ben Aleshire’s most recent incarnation. He has set up his manual typewriter to write poems for passersby on the streets of Paris, Madrid, London, Havana, New Orleans, and many other cities. Poet, artist, musician, troubadour and traveler, Aleshire has spent almost half his life…

Vermont’s bass fishing season kicked off on Saturday, June 12, and anglers throughout the state are eager to hit their favorite body of water in search of fun and exciting fishing adventures for largemouth and smallmouth bass. “Anglers in Vermont are fortunate to have world-class bass fishing for both species right in their backyard,” said…

June 24 at 6:30 p.m. — CAVENDISH— The Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Solid Waste Management District in conjunction with the Cavendish Energy Committee and the town of Cavendish will host a workshop specifically about composting on Thursday, June 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the Cavendish town Elementary School, Main Street, Proctorsville. Masks and physical distancing will…

June 26 at 12 p.m. — CHESTER —Heritage Deli & Bakery, in collaboration with the Chester-Andover Family Center (CAFC), will kick off Heritage Cares outdoor music series featuring Lucky Soul, a high energy, seven-piece horn band playing classic  soul, funk and R&B music on Saturday, June 26 from 12-3 p.m. The event will take place…

June 26 at 12 p.m. — CAVENDISH —This Saturday will bring a burst of creative output to the Proctorsville Green. The first annual Birds & Blooms event will feature one-of-a-kind birdhouses, bird feeders, garden design gift certificates, potted flowers, decorative items for porch and garden, Vermont pottery, stained glass and more. Some items will only…

June 26-27 — WOODSTOCK — Billings Farm & Museum’s annual Dairy Celebration Days takes place June 26-27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Celebrate Billings Farm’s 150th anniversary and Vermont’s rich dairy heritage during this two-day event. The Dairy Celebration Days events will include: Sample award-winning Billings Farm cheddar cheese. Watch how cheese straws are made and enjoy…

By Nadie VanZandt, UVM Extension master gardener Conserving water is always a good idea, and if the dry weather of the last two summers is any indication, such practice should become habit. Fortunately, you can learn from gardeners in arid climates how to successfully grow plants during droughts. These tried-and-true sustainable practices protect and insulate…

The deadline to apply for a 2021 Vermont moose hunting permit is June 30. Moose permit applications are available on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept.’s website at vtfishandwildlife.com for the hunt limited to Vermont’s Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) E in the northeastern corner of the state. “Moose density in WMU E is more than one moose per…

Caterpillar infestations target tree foliage Many Vermonters around the state are encountering gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar dispar), which are caterpillars causing defoliation of their trees, according to the Vermont Agency of Agriculture.  This invasive insect arrived in the United States over 100 years ago and has been expanding its range ever since. Gypsy moth can be…

RUTLAND — The Chaffee Art Center was recently selected to receive $38,675 in funding from the Summer Matters for All Grant program. According to Governor Phil Scott, the Summer Matters for All Grant Program will award up to $3.85 million to programs in 13 counties with the goal of expanding access to summer enrichment opportunities…

Governor Phil Scott has appointed Delaney Courcelle of Rutland to serve on the Vermont Commission on Women (VCW), the state’s non-partisan commission working to advance rights and opportunities for women and girls. Courcelle is a senior majoring in Business Administration at the University of Vermont’s Grossman School of Business. Excelling at coursework concentrations in entrepreneurship and…

By Andrea Knepper, extension master gardener intern, University of Vermont Have you been bitten by the gardening bug but aren’t sure where to start? Picking a theme such as a salad bar garden or salsa garden can help narrow down choices and focus your planning. Or how about growing a pizza garden with all your…