By Marguerite Jill Dye “The truth is, everyone is just one bad day away from needing accessible options the ADA requires to help them get around,” said Sen. Tammy Duckworth. Across the country and in Vermont, the disabled are struggling for accessibility, housing, and services. With added cuts in Medicaid, Medicare, ACA, and affordable housing,…

By Dave Hoffenberg Season’s end is near and two teams have solidified their playoff seeding. One was expected due to their winless season, but McGrath’s Sushi was a shock since they fell to the fifth seed for the first time in team history. Clearly Moguls and Killington Resort are battling for the one seed while…

‘Tis the festival season. NoTown Music Festival in Stockbridge is back for its third year. This do-not-miss fun fest happens July 27-29. If you bought a VIP ticket, then you get early admission on Thursday, July 26. Camping is included with a festival weekend pass, which includes all shows and activities. The camp-style kids’ programming…

By Cal Garrison a.k.a. Mother of the Skye This week’s Horoscopes are coming out under the light of a Virgo Moon, with an array of aspects that boggle my mind. Since it is impossible to tie things up in a neat little bow, instead of trying to synthesize it into a cohesive little nutshell, I…

By Dom Cioffi So, as I outlined in last week’s column, prior to the start of the summer break, my wife and I made the decision to send our teenage son to a 30-day camp meant to enrich lives and motivate young men to become confident adults. While a great kid in most respects, we…

By Dave Hoffenberg While most people were clinging to their air conditioners, the Killington Softball League had games in the 90-plus degree heat. Not all games though. Apparently, it was too hot to play in Killington, but Bridgewater is where men play softball. Fans in attendance saw a game for the ages. Some are calling…

By Marguerite Jill Dye A family friend of 60 years responded to my open letter to Pope Francis, printed in last week’s Mountain Times. She sent me a beautiful message in response to my comments that “America has lost its compassion for the suffering” and that my hope is “nearly gone.” She offered a way of…

By Becca Zidik July heat got you down? Don’t worry, us too. Cue Domain Pichot Vouvray Chenin Blanc. This semi-dry, medium-bodied wine will give you the best of both worlds from one of the oldest family-owned wineries in a petit village: Vouvray, France. Tropical senses from grapefruit, pineapple, lychee, mango and pear will have your…

By Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Bridgewater, Chittenden, Killington & Mendon With the conclusion of the Vermont legislative session, I will be taking a break from the regular updates until after the elections. I hope you have enjoyed the reports via email or in this paper. If elected to a new term, I plan to continue with…

By Cal Garrison a.k.a. Mother of the Skye This week’s horoscopes are coming out under the light of a Taurus Moon. At around noon time, on July 9, it will turn Void-of-Course for about one hour until it enters Gemini at 12:58 p.m. (EST). With the Dog Days officially underway, and a series of eclipses lining up…

In today’s world you can save money by downloading coupons to your phone and save money as you shop. Of course, if you follow my column on a regular basis you know that I don’t do that from my 2003 Tracfone! Back in the 50s and 60s when I was growing up, my parents didn’t…

By Rachel Marie Sargent When I was little and tagging along when my dad tended his vegetables, I would sometimes find large black and yellow garden spiders. They were beautiful, and I noticed they had a curious trait: they often added a bright white decorative zigzag to their webs. I always wondered why, if a…

By Becca Zidik ’Tis the season for skippin’, flip-floppin’, and of course, sippin’... on that wine you’ve wanted to try since you heard about it on Twitter exactly three and a half days ago. California’s acclaimed Napa Valley is home to Silverado Vineyards. With six distinctive vineyards in the heart of Napa, the property prides itself…

By Marguerite Jill Dye (Her 100th Column!) Your Holiness, Although I believe we’ve never met in person, I feel as if I know you. Our lives overlapped for a time in Buenos Aires when you were the Superior of the Society of the Jesuits and I served as a mission intern for the Board of Global…

By Dom Cioffi  My wife and I took our son to summer camp this past weekend for a four-week program meant to build character and enrich young lives. Our son, however, would have preferred to stay home to play video games for the month of July, which is part of the reason why we sent…