By Tiffany Soukup Sitting in a grassy field at Townshend State Park on a late summer day, I watched dozens of dragonflies roaming the sky. Their slender bodies drifted in and out of view as they rode the air currents. I thought of the cool autumn days to come and wondered where these dragonflies would…

By Cassandra Tyndall One of the most difficult alignments of 2020, the square between Mars and Saturn, happens again this week. A return of theme, particularly from late August, may be back on the agenda for you to deal with. While going over old territory can be frustrating, it does provide you the opportunity to…

By Mary Ellen Shaw I don’t know about you but I find that decorating for autumn can be just as much fun as decorating for Christmas! The yellow, orange and red colors that are prevalent this time of year brighten the days that are getting dark so early. Decorations outside bring cheer not only to…

I often listen to podcasts when I run. I find that the conversations help me detach when things get difficult – like when I’m headed up a long hill or struggling through the last mile. I also know that running puts me in a state of mind where I’m able to be truly present as…

By Dr. Glen Mollette Much has been written about political polarization in the U.S. and how a heated political climate has drawn a line in the sand between voters. But heading into the 2020 presidential election, self-censorship also is on the rise – including at the workplace, where some people fear sharing their political views. Nearly a third of employed…

New England is home to dozens of species of mammals, hundreds of varieties of birds, and tens of thousands of different insects, but only one lizard: the five-lined skink. Though I am fond of reptiles and often seek them out, I have never seen a skink. Unless you’re lucky, determined, or a rock climber –…

By Merisa Sherman As we topped out, I could see the mountains spread majestically before me, layers of ridge lines fading to an almost blueish gray in the distance. The once green landscape was now filled with a myriad of colors, vibrant reds, stunning yellows, contrasting browns and the always present sections of dark pine…

By Cassandra Tyndall This week marks the Equinox, where the Sun enters the cardinal sign of Libra. Latin for ‘equal night’ the Equinox heralds a period when the days and nights are relatively equal, thus, symbolizing the theme of balance. In pagan traditions, this harvest season is a time to celebrate the last of the…

By Dom Cioffi I picked up my son from a sleepover last weekend and, when he came out of his friend’s house to my awaiting car, the boy’s father followed him. I was unprepared for this visit since my son is now of the age where parental check-ins aren’t really necessary. The father waved as…

Due to Covid-19, Americans are spending more time at home than ever before, leading to a record amount of spending on home improvement. It’s not that big of a surprise since many Americans now find their homes are doing triple duty as a place to live, work, and learn. Homeowners are funneling more money into…

Plenty of backyard birdwatchers consider blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata) the villains of the avian world. Mark Twain best summarized anti-blue jay sentiment when he compared the bird’s principles to that of an ex-congressman. In Native American lore, blue jays are portrayed as thieves and tricksters. Understandably, this songbird generates antipathy for its nest marauding, birdfeeder…

By Merisa Sherman Modern times call for faster cars and smoother roads, easing the methods of travel so we can get there quicker or go further. We are all trying to play keep-up by having the latest and the greatest, our noses glued to the blue light that comes out of our phones and rushing from…

By Cassandra Tyndall Among many things, astrology is the study of light. As planets traverse through the sky, they reveal different levels of light, depending on which part of the cycle they’re in. It’s no different to the way the Moon waxes into brightness, and then recedes into darkness. This week, the Sun and Jupiter…

By Dom Cioffi I joined Facebook early on – within a couple years of its launch. College kids were the early adopters, but after a year or two, savvy adults were starting to connect as well. I was cautiously curious when I first heard about Facebook. I’ve never been an early adopter of any media…

By Dr. Glen Molette Fall season officially begins Sept. 22 this year. For every season there is a change. Most of us like the seasons especially if we can have four of them. I like the fall as the weather seems more stable in our part of the country. For our neighbors in California they…