Discover More from This Category: Columns

Ant-mimic spiders master disguise

September 1, 2021
By Rachel Sargent I put the small brown ant I had mounted (but never identified) under a microscope and peered down at it. Two huge, headlight-like eyes stared back at me. That couldn’t be right; ants don’t have eyes that size and shape. I took the specimen to my professor, who initially waved me off…

Where are digital currencies going?

September 1, 2021
By Kevin Theissen It’s becoming more difficult to ignore news about digital currencies. Two of the more recent topics being discussed are: Should the Federal Reserve issue a central bank digital currency (CBDC)? Should digital currencies be better regulated? Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell confirmed in July that he is undecided about whether the U.S.…

Photosynthesis and forest carbon sequestering made easy

September 1, 2021
(Can’t have one without the other) By Gary Salmon As a part of the Forestry Building display at this year’s state fair there was a very simple (as if anything chemical is simple) explanation of the relationship between photosynthesis and today’s hot forestry topic, forest carbon sequestering. In fact, I wanted to call the seedlings…

Going it alone; or, I miss sitting in the theater

September 1, 2021
By Dom Cioffi I’ve been writing this column for over 25 years and in that time, I’ve reviewed well over a thousand movies. Prior to the pandemic, I visited the theater every week to review those films. I used to wish that I could watch new-release movies from the comforts of my own home, but…

Little Diggers Worm Farm makes composting easy

August 27, 2021
By Ethan Weinstein RUTLAND—Some kids like to collect baseball cards, others play video games. Lyric, 9, and her brother, Luca, 6, of Little Diggers Worm Farm, have a different hobby: worms. Along with their grandmother, Kim Ray, the sibling team created Little Diggers Worm Farm, selling mini worm farm kits, vermicomposting starter kits, worm casting…

Weekly Horoscopes for Aug. 25-31, 2021

August 25, 2021
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image="194740" img_size="full" alignment="center"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=".vc_custom_1582852508329{margin-top: 40px !important;}"][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_raw_html]JTNDc3BhbiUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIyaWNvbmlmeSUyMiUyMGRhdGEtaWNvbiUzRCUyMm1kaS16b2RpYWMtYXJpZXMlMjIlMjBkYXRhLWlubGluZSUzRCUyMmZhbHNlJTIyJTNFJTNDJTJGc3BhbiUzRQ==[/vc_raw_html][vc_custom_heading text="Aries" font_container="tag:h2|text_align:center" use_theme_fonts="yes"][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1568082984251{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}"] March 21 - April 20 [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]It’s important for you to recognize your own limits. Perhaps you’re simply too busy, juggling all the tasks and doing all the things. It’s natural for you to take a lot on all at once, especially…

Declutter, detox

August 25, 2021
By Cassandra Tyndall A new week aligns with the changing of astrological seasons. With the Sun embarking upon its annual tour of Virgo, this is an ideal four-week period to declutter, detox or get organized. As the heat and tension of last weekend’s second Full Moon in Aquarius simmers down, the energy drops somewhat now…

Rockin’ the Region with Julia Rose

August 25, 2021
By DJ Dave Hoffenberg Julia Rose has just released her first album. Unfortunately you won’t be able to hear her play it live because she just moved out West but you should definitely buy it. She’ll be in Colorado for a few seasons but is also embarking on her first national tour that will take…

Watching the wave of day creep slowly across the planet

August 25, 2021
By Merisa Sherman As I stood at the water’s edge, it felt like forever since I had been here. Between the rain and the rain and the rain, there have been pieces missing in my life this summer and, unfortunately, moments like this have been an enormous casualty. I hadn’t realized how much I had…

Climbing into the alpine zone

August 25, 2021
By Susan Shea Hikers climbing the Northeast’s highest peaks will traverse several different vegetative zones along the way. On the summits, they’ll likely encounter plants so hardy that many also grow in the Arctic, thousands of miles to the north. Many hikes begin in a northern hardwood forest dominated by beech, yellow birch, and sugar…

Remembering Rutland City Band concerts

August 25, 2021
By Mary Ellen Shaw Several years ago I took a trip down Memory Lane in this column when I reminisced about the concerts held in Main Street Park. I was reminded of those memories when I read recently that the bandstand needs to be replaced. The Sunday night concerts were an important part of my…

Running on empty

August 25, 2021
By Dom Cioffi I run every other day almost without fail. Sometimes the weather or an unforeseen issue messes with my plans, but more often than not, I get my miles in. I run because I love the way that it makes me feel and because it’s good for me. I know my body, and…

When will it end?

August 18, 2021
By Cassandra Tyndall During these times, people look to people like me as a source of hope. I get emails, messages on social media asking for my astrological take on things. What they are really asking is when is all this going to end or when are things going back to normal? As far as…

Weekly Horoscopes for Aug. 18-24, 2021

August 18, 2021
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image="194740" img_size="full" alignment="center"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=".vc_custom_1582852508329{margin-top: 40px !important;}"][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_raw_html]JTNDc3BhbiUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIyaWNvbmlmeSUyMiUyMGRhdGEtaWNvbiUzRCUyMm1kaS16b2RpYWMtYXJpZXMlMjIlMjBkYXRhLWlubGluZSUzRCUyMmZhbHNlJTIyJTNFJTNDJTJGc3BhbiUzRQ==[/vc_raw_html][vc_custom_heading text="Aries" font_container="tag:h2|text_align:center" use_theme_fonts="yes"][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1568082984251{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}"] March 21 - April 20 [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Even though it may not feel like it, there are many things you can do to improve your health, wellness and daily routines now. You have cosmic permission to "decide and do" as Mercury and Mars…

Featured Pets for Aug. 18-24, 2021

August 18, 2021
8‐year‐old. Spayed female. Pit mix. Tan brindle. Sweet, lovable lady looking for her forever home. Rutland County Humane Society, 765 Stevens Road, Pittsford, VT • (802) 483-6700 • Tues. – Sat. 12-5p.m. Closed Sun. & Mon. • www.rchsvt.org “I’m a 10-year-old neutered male. I'm looking for a warm and inviting family with whom I can…