By Dave Hoffenberg I had the honor and pleasure of speaking to the Gathering of the Vibes Festival pioneer, Ken Hays. The Vibes, as it’s called by the fans, is about to put on its 19th annual event. This festival has grown over the years from a weekend festival with 3,500 people to a four-day…

By Dom Cioffi “What are you, a vegetarian?” the old guy said with a snide slant to his delivery. My ears perked up at this statement as I stood in line behind two men, each ordering their lunch special at a local Chinese restaurant. The younger guy accompanying the old man looked concerned by the question,…

By Cindy Phillips … but words can hurt like heck, too. Cyber bullying is just plain sad. We hear tragic stories on a regular basis, especially involving teens. Social media sites pose a venue for people to lash out at others in an undercover format. Is it human nature to be more brazen when we…

The Outside Story: The skinny on snakes By Susan Shea If you have a wood pile, you may have come across a shed snake skin ― a translucent, onion skin-like wrapper imprinted with the snake’s scale pattern. Or perhaps you’ve seen one along a foundation or stone wall. Why do snakes shed their skin? Most…

The summer of LeBron, part II Four years have passed since the last Summer of LeBron, when NBA fans and execs waited to see whether LeBron James – the best basketball player in the world – would sign a new contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers or jump ship to the Miami Heat. He stunned the…

By Dave Hoffenberg There is no better way to spend a Saturday then by giving back to the Rutland Community while enjoying a rocking and rolling country luau pig roast. If that sounds like a great time then head to The Local in Rutland July 19 at 5 p.m. It’s only $5 to get in…

By Dom Cioffi Have you ever been driving down the road, flipping through radio stations, when suddenly a song comes on that jettisons you back to a time or place when that particular melody played a role your life? It doesn’t have to be a song that you liked either. When I hear the Fine…

By Cindy Phillips posted Aug 9, 2012 We all have a claim to fame at some point in our lives. Some refer to it as a "brush with greatness." It's that time when we come in contact with a movie star, sports giant, political figure or other person of perceived stature. It's catching a foul…

By Cindy Phillips posted May 30, 2012 As I write this column, I am preparing for a Memorial Day weekend trip to the beach. I am making a mental packing list that includes bathing suits, sundresses, shorts, tank tops and an array of polka-dotted flip-flops. I will be putting my toes in the sand, slathering…

By Cindy Phillips updated Wed, Apr 18, 2012 08:17 AM I can recall my parents, and their friends, using the expression "the only thing certain in life is paying taxes and dying." I thought this was not only a curious view on life, but certainly a maudlin one as well. I vowed never to become…

By Cindy Phillips updated Wed, Apr 4, 2012 09:19 AM I went shoe shopping today. Well, let me rephrase that. I attempted to go shoe shopping today. Similar to jeans shopping, I have a difficult time finding the right fit, and the right height, and the right style, and shall I go on? Much like…

By Cindy Phillips updated Wed, Jan 25, 2012 12:07 PM The first Super Bowl was played on January 15, 1967 in Los Angeles. Anyone remember who won? Anyone remember who played? Well Green Bay romped Kansas City in a 35-10 win. I was 12 years old. The Super Bowl has become not just another football…

By Cindy Phillips updated Wed, Dec 14, 2011 10:19 AM When I moved to Vermont several years ago, my affection for a good, hearty snowfall took on a new meaning. Snow was good for business. It meant skiers, riders and snowmobilers would come to town. I began the habit of turning on the weather channel…

by Cindy Phillips posted Oct 6, 2011 I am the proud mother of a dental hygienist. Getting my teeth cleaned is an entirely new experience now. My pride starts to swell the minute I step into the dentist's office. I love seeing my daughter in her colorful scrubs as she maneuvers around her "office." Her…

By Cindy Phillips updated Fri, Mar 21, 2014 11:59 AM We Boomers were a generation of revolutions - sexual, political and for this Boomer, the most prolific was the musical revolution. I spent many an hour watching the revolutions of my 45 RPM singles and 33 1/3 RPM albums on a turntable - reading the…