By Scott Funk Some of the most dramatic changes of aging can be centered on the holidays. Each family has its own customs. Whether that means placing an ancient and honored menorah in the front window, or being the first house on Main Street to light and decorate a tree in the big bay window,…

By Dom Cioffi Last week I went to see the number one movie in the country, “Gone Girl,” starring Ben Affleck. I, along with most other folks, was riveted by the intriguing storyline about a suburban couple facing a physically and psychologically damaging situation. Affleck did a fine job portraying the bewildered husband (mostly because…

By Cindy Phillips Every once in a while, someone around me will suggest they are going to eat something even though it is late at night. And immediately in my head I can hear my grandmother exclaiming, “It’s gonna lay heavy.” My grandmother and my aunts had some unique phrases in a language that seemed…

By Joe Rankin I have friends who live in the North Woods. Moose graze on their lawn. Loons call from the pond. And the gray jays line up on the deck railing for breakfast. They swoop in when they hear the coffeemaker rev up, knowing that my friend Pam will soon be out to feed…

By Kate Robitello The fish oil supplement industry is thriving and is set to score $1.8 billion dollars by 2018. With all of the hype over fish oil supplement benefits, people are continuing to stock up on the stuff like there’s going to be a shortage in the near future. However, many people aren’t certain…

By Brett Yates OK, deep breaths—don’t panic. I can say with at least 70 percent certainty that you show no signs of having Ebola. Still, it’s important to be wary of the deadly virus that is currently sweeping West Africa—and perhaps soon the universe. Sure, the disease is survivable and containable within any nation with…

By Madeline Bodin At the University of New Hampshire’s organic dairy research farm near Durham, N.H., even the heat for the wash water is organic and locally-sourced. The heat comes from the farm’s composting facility, a building that looks like an eight-bay garage but actually contains cutting-edge composting technology, as well as a whole lot…

By Robin Alberti This week I had to let go of my 14-year-old dog, Maple. She came from a German Shepherd mom and unknown father. She picked me out when she was 9 weeks old, trampling all the other puppies in the puppy room at the Deschutes County Humane Society in Oregon, to put her…

By Dom Cioffi My plan this Sunday was to have a nice breakfast, mow and trim the lawn, pull out the Halloween paraphernalia to decorate the house, clean the garage, make a trip to donate old clothing to the Salvation Army and finish things up with a quick grocery run. All that, however, was thrown…

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…