Discover More from This Category: Columns
DTF doles out first mercy loss of the season
July 15, 2020
Killington Softball League game recaps By Dj Dave Hoffenberg The defending champions, Defend Title Fantastically (DTF), finally got in the win column, but it was not easy. They started the game going down 1-2-3 and First Stop Board Barn (FSBB) practically hit through their order, scoring five runs. Tall Tom Gilligan got DTF on the…
Golden brown to perfection — or not
July 15, 2020
It all begins with a sacred quest. To begin, one must have a vision of perfection that will undoubtably not be met but must be strived for in any case. One might journey deep into the forest, a solo mission filled with dedication to a high standard. A lone branch, peeping out from underneath a…
Hurray for pollination
July 15, 2020
By Mary Ellen Shaw If you planted a veggie garden in late May you are looking forward right about now to picking the “fruits of your labor.” At our house we have been enjoying radishes and lettuce for a few weeks. The beet greens are plentiful enough that we have cut them back and steamed…
Bitten by the bug
July 15, 2020
By Dom Cioffi Anyone who is into music will undoubtedly remember their first live concert. Mine was a doozy, setting the excitement bar for what would be a lifelong love of live entertainment experiences. My friends and I had just graduated from high school and were reveling in a summer of fun before we headed…
Tax rules when selling your home
July 15, 2020
By Kevin Theissen It seems the local real estate market has picked up recently, perhaps due to people wanting to move from larger cities to more rural areas. How the gains from the sale of a primary residence are taxed has changed in recent years. If you have recently sold your home, or are considering…
Muskrats: swimming through summer
July 15, 2020
By Meghan McCarthy McPhaul We were touring the neighborhood backroads one summer evening when the kids noticed a sleek movement through a small pond. At first, we thought it was a beaver, but its smaller size and – once we got a closer look – slender tail revealed this swimmer as a muskrat. It went…
Opportunities, once hidden, become illuminated
July 15, 2020
By Cassandra Tyndall One of the signature themes of 2020 is the fusion, known astrologically as a conjunction, of Jupiter and Pluto that occurs three times. The first was in April, then June and the third time will be November. Together, Jupiter and Pluto signify many things, some of which can be great wealth, hidden…
Killington Softball League: pandemic season begins
July 8, 2020
By Commissioner DJ Dave Hoffenberg The pandemic season finally got under way. There a few adjustments the guys have to get used to but playing softball is not one of them, filling a team though, was a problem for one but a bonus for another. The first game featured Defend Title Fantastically (DTF), the defending…
Summer days drifting away
July 8, 2020
By Dom Cioffi I was 11 years old at the beginning of the summer of 1978. At that time, my world revolved around the local municipal swimming pool just around the corner, whiffle ball games in the street with my friends, and a small white radio that I listened to music on. The radio had…
Masks are not just for winter anymore
July 8, 2020
It’s cold and I can feel the wind nipping at my exposed cheeks right above my mask. Based on the snow swirling at my feet, I cannot tell if the wind is straight smacking me in the face or swirling around me but I don’t care. The air is so clear and so crisp. Above…
Fascinating fishing spiders
July 8, 2020
By Declan McCabe Large fishing spiders walking on water can be fascinating – or terrifyingly unnerving. The latter reaction is common among Saint Michael’s College students as we sample Vermont’s streams and ponds. On one occasion, a normally macho student screamed, dropped his net, and leaped from the stream to avoid a particularly large specimen.…
It’s a good time to confront issues head-on
July 8, 2020
By Cassandra Tyndall A matter you’ve been either avoiding or walking on egg shells about, may come to a head this week. We all eventually get to the proverbial line in the sand when the only way forward on an issue is to confront it. While potentially upsetting, once you’ve sliced and diced the matter,…
Backyard entertainment
July 1, 2020
By Mary Ellen Shaw You may have more free time these days and if you are seeking lighthearted entertainment look no farther than your yard! It’s too nice this time of year to be indoors so pull up an outdoor chair and take a break from your gardening chores. In my younger days I never…
There is always hope
July 1, 2020
By Gary Salmon The problem with this article occurred earlier when my mind went searching for a photo of an ornamental hemlock tree growing in someone’s yard. I have a large collection of tree photos filed away in both my mind and computer available for a wide range of needs which requires that I only…
Flag duty teaches honor and respect
July 1, 2020
By Merisa Sherman It was the responsibility of the fifth grade and we took it very seriously. Instead of participating in the chaos of homeroom each morning, the designated group would get the flag from its place of honor in our classroom and slowly descend the main stairs. We would be the only ones in…