By Hanna Holcomb I often watch out for stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) while hiking in central Vermont. As you might guess from its name, brushing against this plant causes a bee sting-like burn that can last for hours. Despite this irritation, humans have used stinging nettles for centuries as food, fiber, and medicine, including as…

By Kevin Theissen Have you ever considered buying a property in your favorite vacation spot?  If you are practical, maybe you’re tired of paying high rental prices. Or your family needs more room than you can get in a hotel or reasonably priced vacation rental. Or maybe you just want a place for your family…

By Merisa Sherman It’s that fun time of year, when there’s a fly in my ear. And my eye, and nose and also my beer. There is so much greatness in Vermont and such wonderful people, oftentimes it feels like we are living in a dream world. The green mountains, trails that wind through and…

By Mary Ellen Shaw Well, planting time is just around the corner! On Memorial Day weekend garden centers will be overflowing with people who are full of enthusiasm. They are excited about planting flowers to beautify their yards and planting veggies to enjoy throughout the summer and into fall. I love gardening to the point…

By Cassandra Tyndall It’s quite possible that things may generally go awry this week. Issues involving logistics, details and dates may seem skewed or misunderstood. The words you speak may not land the way you intend or, you could interpret a message the wrong way. Something you thought was done and dusted may require your…

By Susan Shea One summer, I took a nature drawing class, and we hiked up Stowe Pinnacle to sketch in the cool, mountain forest. I chose to draw a big yellow birch that had established itself on the steep slope. For a couple of hours, I stared at the base of the tree, trying to…

1-year-old. Spayed female. German shepherd mix. Black and beige. Adorable young lady with lots of energy looking for a new home! I am the perfect size to take for a ride in the car, sit on your lap and yes, maybe even snuggle with you on the bed! I love to play with all sorts…

The world’s 65 and older population is expanding rapidly By Kevin Theissen According to the most recent population estimates from the United Nations, “1 in 6 people in the world will be over the age 65 by 2050, up from 1 in 11 in 2019. The latest projections also show the number of people aged…

By Dom Cioffi My company held an event at its corporate headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, this past week. We flew in select customers from all over the country to join us in our first in-person get-together in over a year. That strange sense of pandemic uneasiness loomed as folks arrived, but with all the…

By Merisa Sherman May is the best adventuring month. I’m not even debating about it. Once May rolls around, there is just so much excitement to be had — and the only negative is choosing what to do each day. Paddling season is cruising along and the ponds were just restocked for the season. The…

[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_custom_heading text="Horoscopes for May 12-18, 2021" font_container="tag:h2|text_align:center" use_theme_fonts="yes" css=".vc_custom_1620769507723{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}"][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]Turning down the dial from frantic to moderately busy may be the best supportive move you can offer yourself now. Slowing down, smelling the roses and…

By Cassandra Tyndall By now, you’ve probably heard a bit about Jupiter moving into Pisces this week, giving us an introduction to its longer-term influence in 2022. Until July 28, Jupiter, known as the Great Benefic (providing abundance and good fortune), will be in its watery home sign of Pisces. The next few months may…

The Rutland County Humane Society is offering a low cost cat spay/neuter clinic with transportation from RCHS to Middlesex and back on May 6 for cats to be spayed/neutered. Drop your cat off at RCHS at 6 a.m. and pick your cat up later that day, likely around 6 p.m. Space is limited. If you are…

5-month-old. Female. German Shepherd mix. Tan and black. I am always on the go and have so much to see and learn that I just don’t know where to go first.  Rutland County Humane Society, 765 Stevens Road, Pittsford, VT • (802) 483-6700 • Tues. – Sat. 12-5p.m. Closed Sun. & Mon. • www.rchsvt.org "Hi, I'm…

By Lee Emmons On certain afternoons, if I time it just right, I may spot a brown creeper (Certhia americana) on the trunk of a tree in my front yard. Moving stealthily, almost imperceptibly up the tree, the brown creeper hunts for food amongst the bark. I watch this avian mission with a sense of…