By Kate Robitello With the combination of crisp mornings, canned pumpkin displays, and coffeehouses touting their latest pumpkin-spiced latte, fall is officially here. Fall need not, however, be the only time to consume pumpkin. This bright-colored squash is loaded with “pumpkin power” that may actually benefit your health in significant ways. The uniquely delicious taste…

By Karen D. Lorentz With this year’s exceptional foliage, we are reminded that this is the perfect time to explore the kaleidoscopic landscape. Or, better yet, show our guests around scenic back roads, exciting mountaintops, and bustling villages so that we all can more fully appreciate our environment, culture, and history. The following foliage tours…

By Carolyn Dean Vermonters know that fall is a very special time of year. Not only does it capture the threshold before the winter season, but it also creates a momentary landscape whose beauty is fleeting. Here are five must-do activities to fully participate in this fall season. Apples are ripe for the picking Macintosh,…

By Dom Cioffi Over the years I have found many quotes that have stuck with me as “truth.” One of my favorites is from the Austrian medical doctor and psychotherapist, Alfred Adler, who once said, “The only normal people are the ones you don’t know very well.” Put to the test, time and time again…

By Cindy Phillips My name is Cindy Phillips and I’m a loveaholic. Not only do I admit to it, I’m actually proud of it. I recently sent my friend and neighbor a text shortly after chastising him. I said, “You know I am honest with you because I love you, right?” He replied, “Yes.” Eight…

By Susan Shea We slid our canoe over the beaver dam and paddled into the upper, smaller pond. A breeze rippled the water and rustled the reeds lining the shore. Suddenly I spied four long, sleek brown figures cavorting in the water—otters! They submerged quickly near the shore, probably into an old beaver bank den…

What would you do if you found your dog outside fighting with a raccoon? Or if you found your inside-only cat playing with a dying bat inside your home? You might think that these are uncommon occurrences, but these scenarios do happen and could have a deadly outcome. Rabies remains a major concern worldwide, killing…

Among the most fascinating men I have met are two athletes, both well into their 80s. Both, when we met, appeared remarkably healthy, strong and robust. The odd thing is that what I learned most from each was not about fitness, but about aging. We will call the triathlete “Pete”. Pete competed in triathlons around…

You’ve discovered a tiny evergreen forest of what looks like diminutive hemlock or cedar trees, barely taller than a chipmunk. They’re spread across the cool shade cast by a canopy of hardwood or coniferous trees. This Lilliputian forest is actually a clump of clubmosses. Clubmosses are among the oldest plants on Earth, having evolved over…

What do you get when you combine a chemist, a farmer, and a wine salesman? Quite possibly one of the healthier alcohol choices and perhaps the tastiest! Hard apple cider has made its way into the alcoholic beverage market with clout, as substantiated by the number of cider enthusiasts in attendance at the first ever…

There are a lot of similarities between me and Chris Bohjalian. We both grew up in the New York City metropolitan area. We both write fiction. We both additionally serve as columnists for Vermont newspapers: he writes weekly for the Burlington Free Press, I fortnightly for The Mountain Times. There are also a fair number…

What affects leaf color? New England, and Vermont in particular, is known for its vibrant displays of fall foliage colors. While, in one sense, it seems odd that we get such joy from the annual death of leaves off deciduous trees, in another, it show appreciation for natural cyles of change. But  why do leaves…

Fall is the time most fruits on woody plants, not just on fruit trees, mature and become most colorful. These come in various forms, types, and colors, with names such as berries, pomes, and drupes. In addition, there are other attractive fruiting or seed structures on some landscape plants and vines. The following and more…

By Dom Cioffi Autumn is upon us and with it comes a host of seasonal activities – one of the most popular being the annual trek to the apple orchard. When I was a child apple picking meant picking apples. It meant driving to a hillside orchard, pulling your car directly into the aisles, climbing…

Saturday marks the long awaited return of the Kenny Mehler Band to Rutland. Kenny Mehler is no stranger to the area, as he’s been playing it since 2001 and he’s been a regular in the Killington scene in the winter. Now, you get a fall bonus: a first time appearance at The Local on Merchant’s…