By Dave Vance Editor’s note: Dave Vance is a former naval officer, trial lawyer, and Rutgers University professor who currently resides in Voorhees, New Jersey. He writes the “Occasional Column” for many newspaper across the country.  I recently lost my wife of many years and it has hollowed me out. I go through the motions…

Ah, the first day of school. The anticipation, the anxiety, the new book bags and trapper keepers and pencil boxes. I remember staying up late to make sure the laces on my Bass shoes were perfectly coiled — I wouldn’t want to be embarrassed by not staying in the latest trend. It was the one…

If you have gardens you will probably agree that they are always a “work in progress.” Garden areas can consist of more than just flowers. Shrubs and flowering bushes also play a role in your home’s landscape. The time will come when you need to get rid of old overgrown shrubs and start over. If…

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…

As Keith Wynn said, “The world shall now turn into pumpkin everything.” To most of us September means the end of summer. Schools are open, vacations are over and we catch our breath. But did you know that September is Library Card Sign Up Month. That’s right, from Sept. 1-30 we are encouraged to go…

A lot happens this week. It will set the tone not just for the week nor the month, but for the rest of 2024 and beyond. You’re being called to reopen an old chestnut you hoped you wouldn’t have to. You know how they say lessons repeat until they’re learned? What have you been trying…

By Bruce Bouchard and John Turchiano Editor’s note: Bruce Bouchard is former executive director of The Paramount Theatre. John Turchiano, his friend for 52 years, was formerly the editor of Hotel Voice, a weekly newspaper on the New York Hotel Trades Council. They are co-authoring this column to tell short stories on a wide range…

When the news came out on Thursday, I went numb, which took me completely by surprise. I mean, rumors had been flying for months, we all knew that the president of Powdr has been struggling with his health and I had been privy to some interesting conversations. We all knew this was coming, but what we…

I just returned from a conference, and to get back quicker, I decided to take the redeye. Every time I do this, I regret it because of the disrupted sleep, but there’s something about getting home sooner rather than later.  I was hoping for a whole row to myself but that wasn’t the case. As…

By Deborah J. Benoit Editor’s note: Deborah J. Benoit is a UVM Extension master gardener from North Adams, Massachusetts, who is part of the Bennington County Chapter. Are you looking for a low-labor, chemical-free method to help eradicate weeds and soil-residing pests in the garden? Solarization and occultation, often referred to as “tarping,” may be…

Birds exist in a fluid and unpredictable world. Survival depends on remaining constantly alert, adapting and responding to encounters with predators and environmental conditions that change with the seasons, weather, and geography. But sleep is also essential, providing rest, rejuvenation, and healing. Normally, day-active (diurnal) animals sleep at night, and night-active (nocturnal) species sleep by…

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…

Editor’s note: The following is the first poem that Bree Sarandrea ever had published. It was in the Rutland Herald when she was 10. Look into the flames, Glowing so brightly. They make you feel so happy, Free of all cares and warm inside. Spread your wings and take flight to the air. Now free…

All the things that have been slow to gain momentum over the past few weeks look set to get back on track. The thoughts, the ideas and the logistics and plans that have been on the back burner are now back on the table. Reason being is that Mercury hits the brakes and starts to…

Building our Killington Dream Lodge part 26 in a series on the Dye family adventure By Marguerite Jill Dye We’re headed for Europe as this column comes out to visit with friends and see old and new sites where I’ll paint en plein air like French “artistes.” I’ll take a break from my series of…