We arrive at the parking lot just as the sky begins to darken and realize we will have to move quickly.  Our skinning buddies are already there, skis resting against their car as they make last minute checks to their gear.  We bump into another friend, just starting up with his snowboard for some après-work…

by DJ Dave Hoffenberg The Nite Spot is new in town and so is Julia Rose who plays there every Sunday 4:30 p.m. Julia Rose calls her music, “Folk-Pop Jazz with some Indie Soul.” She’s a violist and a vocalist that uses a looper pedal to build 5-8 part harmonies. She plays the ukulele and…

Gone, but not forgotten by Dom Chioffi News travels fast… I was sitting in my living room watching football last Sunday night when a text arrived. I glanced at my phone and saw it was from a high school friend that I’ve remained in light contact with over the years. I assumed he was just…

by Cal Garrison This week’s horoscopes are coming out under the light of a Taurus Moon. Looking at all of the aspects that hold sway over the coming week, I have to ask myself, “What makes you think you have what it takes to make sense of this?” Believe it or not, whether I’m writing…

by Susan Shea Black-capped chickadees are one of the most frequent visitors to our bird feeders in winter, but do we really know them? This common bird exhibits some remarkable behaviors and winter survival strategies. Undoubtedly you’ve heard the familiar “chicka-dee-dee-dee” call in the winter woods. Soon after spotting the caller, with its black cap…

By Dj Dave Hoffenberg Badfish is bringing their show and brand new beer to the Pickle Barrel this Friday 8 p.m. Most bands only get to do a CD release party, yet Badfish is doing a beer release party and then launching a CD next year. Badfish has been around for 18 years. I remember…

By Tony Crespi Ski tests are somewhat akin to seeing into a looking glass to the future offering a window able to glimpse new and refined models and technologies. A few years ago manufacturers began incorporating “rocker” into skis as camber technologies evolved. Soon virtually every ski used rocker. Today, manufacturers often blend traditional camber…

By Cal Garrison a.k.a. Mother of the Skye This week’s horoscopes are coming out under the light of an Aquarius Moon. Last week, while I was outlining some of the aspects that show up in my readings, I mentioned the asteroid Lilith, and talked a little bit about what happens in charts where she sticks…

A whiter shade of pale by Dom Chioffi For the last 30 years, I have witnessed the effect that the word “sale” has on my wife. For as far back as I can remember, that four-letter noun as lured her into countless purchases that she never needed. Many times, she doesn’t even want the item…

By Kevin Theissen Most understand that waiting to claim Social Security benefits can result in higher monthly payments. However, many don’t know that there are other ways to maximize their benefits, some of which depend on their marital status. Understanding the strategies for maximizing your Social Security retirement income benefits should be prefaced with a…

By Sandra Mitchell Walking through the woods on a crisp December day, I spotted a flash of green amongst the rocks, snaking up through the snow. Greenery in a forest full of gray and white is a treat, and so I stooped to study the fern frond that was firmly attached to a rock. In…

by Merisa Sherman As the ski racing world arrives in Killington this week, we who ski and ride here look up and see our local ski hill transformed into an amazing scene. Flags from around the world line the grandstands and a huge VIP structure takes over the party scene at the Umbrella Bar. The crowds…

by Cal Garrison This week’s horoscopes are coming out under the light of a void-of-course Scorpio Moon that will remain in that state until it turns new and enters Sagittarius on Tuesday, Nov. 26. As you all know, we are barreling down on the Thanksgiving holiday. I find it interesting that Venus, also known as…

Tour de Force I drove my family into the Blue Ridge Mountains this past weekend for a little rest and relaxation before the holiday season officially kicks off. We stayed at a beautiful establishment called the Grove Park Inn, which has been around since 1913 and has hosted everyone from presidents to sports heroes to…

Each month you settle down to pay bills. You pay your mortgage lender. You pay the electric company. You pay the trash collector. But do you pay yourself? One of the most basic tenets of sound investing involves the simple habit of “paying yourself first,” in other words, making the first payment of each month…