You know you’re spending too much time at home when going to the grocery store not only sounds like fun, but actually gets you excited. That’s the space I’m finding myself in after a year of working from home, not traveling, and spending my free time rummaging around my yard. The pandemic has worn us…

By Kevin Theissen There is a lot to consider when preparing for your retirement – and it can be overwhelming for some. Saving, investing, medical costs, and making sure you have sufficient income for years to come is just the start. One question many people ask is: “Should I pay off my mortgage before I…

By Susie Spikol There comes a time in every mammal mother’s life when her young leave. For some, this comes in a matter of weeks, for others it might be years. As I follow bobcat tracks through snow on a mid-winter day, dispersal is on my mind. My 18-year-old son is preparing to fledge, and…

By Cassandra Tyndall The final week of February brings with it a feeling of needing to get things done. The stuck and stagnant energy of recent weeks begins to shift and change. It’s all well and good to conceptualize ideas, make plans or let ideas marinate, but eventually, action is required. This week brings a…

By Kimberly Rupe Rutland Young Professionals’ mission statement, in part, highlights our work to “build a Rutland Region that attracts and retains young professionals.” We continue to do exactly this through new and creative ways to engage young professionals in our community. However, we know that engaging with young professionals goes far beyond providing our…

By Dr. Glenn Mollette Democrats have proven once again that they can find fault in President Donald Trump. Faults and flaws were found in him before the election. Many years before politics there were never any rave reviews about him being perfect. During the recent impeachment trial, Democrats and Republicans hammered home their perspectives and…

By Dom Cioffi Like most people, the year-long lockdown has worn me out. I know I shouldn’t complain since so many others have suffered truly life-altering experiences during the past twelve months, but I would be lying if I said I hadn’t felt an impact. The blending of days is palpable, as is the sense…

The FINRA Investor Education Foundation published a report that found “…financial literacy has significant predictive power for future financial outcomes, even after controlling for baseline financial characteristics and a wide set of demographic and individual characteristics that influence financial decision making.” Financial literacy may be more important today than ever. That’s because the responsibility for…

By Rachael Mirrus In a February forest, evergreens provide welcome color. But look more closely on the bark of trees, both conifers and hardwoods, and you’ll find other bright hues, from sunny yellows to blue-greens. These are lichens, common but often overlooked members of the winter woods. Lichens have varied and intricate growth patterns, but…

Up until now, February has been marked by a kind of cosmic holding pattern. So many ideas filtering through the ether about how things could and should be, but wth  little means for making progress or taking action. Fortunately, this week brings the much-needed break in the weather. Mercury, the planet of communication and logistics,…

By Merisa Sherman It has not stopped snowing for weeks. Every morning, I wake up and look outside the window only to reach for the shovel. Every day, I’m shoveling. It might just be a few inches of fluff, but it still has to get relocated before it freezes solid and makes my walkways a…

By Tony Crespi, The Mountain Journal “A good tune can drive high performance skiing,” emphasized Jed Duke, director of product development at Blizzard Skis. “More than ever tuning is the link between a successful or hateful experience,” added former World Cup tuner Mike DeSantis, owner and tuner of Ski MD, a Boston area shop dedicated…

By Mary Ellen Shaw Recently there has been talk about the possibility of no more snow days in some schools. What a disappointment that would have been when I was a student! Back in the 50s and 60s remote learning would have been considered “science fiction.” If you weren’t in your classroom, education came to…

By Dom Cioffi Like many children across the country, my son has been learning remotely for the better part of a year. Unlike some kids who struggled with staying focused amidst the distractions of home and the ease of slouching off during Zoom meetings, my son’s performance in school actually improved. Of course, it didn’t…

By Kevin Theissen Certain red flags could increase your chances of getting the attention of the IRS. Luckily, the chances that your tax return will be chosen for an audit are very low. The IRS audited less than 0.5% of all tax returns in 2019. The majority of exams were by mail, which means that…