VIRTUAL — Finding and retaining good labor is one of the biggest challenges that beginning farmers face. To help these farmers gain the knowledge and tools needed to successfully recruit and manage employees, the University of Vermont (UVM) Extension New Farmer Project, in collaboration with University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension and the University of…

A visionary gang harnessed the power of television Saturday, Jan. 8 at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. — WOODSTOCK — It’s no shock that "Sesame Street" was born from a mixture of idealism and academic seriousness. Created by TV producer Joan Ganz Cooney and psychologist Lloyd Morrisett, then the vice-president of the Carnegie Foundation, the…

Saturday, Jan. 8 at 10 a.m. — WOODSTOCK — Try out new skills, embrace your creativity, and have some good, clean fun while learning how to make your own felted soap!  The Billings Backyard Series presents felted soapmaking with fiber artist Tiana St. James on Saturday, Jan. 8 from 10–11:30 a.m. Using locally made soaps and…

Saturday, Jan. 8 at 7:30 p.m. — POULTNEY — Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present an evening of bluegrass, jazz, gypsy, classical, and roots music by three of Vermont’s finest mandolinists Matt Flinner, Will Patton, and Jamie Masefield, accompanied by acoustic bassist Pat Melvin. The Vermont Mandolin Trio performs the music of Bill…

By Brooke Geery 2021 has been a rollercoaster ride of unknowns, evolving science, changing perspectives and hopefully a little personal growth. We now stand on the precipice of 2022, which is unlikely to be any less crazy, so there’s really only one thing to do. Put on your mask (yes, still), break out your vaccine…

RANDOLPH— The holidays are meant to be enjoyed, so it’s not what we do one or two days a year that matters for our overall health. It’s about eating well again following those days. However, for those trying to avoid over-indulging, Gifford Medical Center’s registered dietician Stacy Pelletier has some tips to share: “Enjoy the…

Sunday, Jan. 2 — RUTLAND — Rutland County Audubon’s annual Christmas bird count will take place this year on Jan. 2. Birds spotted within a 7.5 mile radius of Mead’s Falls in Center Rutland will be counted by teams of field birders and feeder-watchers in this count circle. Results will be tallied and posted on…

By Jodi Larison, extension master gardener intern, University of Vermont While rosemary is not a perennial in Vermont, you can still grow and enjoy fresh rosemary all year. Just plant it in a container. Bring it outside in warmer weather and inside before the first frost. Why rosemary? It is attractive, resembling a small pine…

Kitchens serve as the heart of many homes. Thanks to the popularity of open floor plans, kitchens also tend to be highly visible from nearby spaces, such as family rooms and even main entryways. A messy, cluttered kitchen can be an inefficient eyesore that’s visible from various locations in a home. That makes getting organized…

Learning how to participate in an outdoor activity can be challenging, and ice fishing is a good example. Knowing this, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept. has scheduled a series of free ice fishing clinics for anyone who would like to learn about the latest proven ice fishing techniques. “Our ice fishing clinics will be…

By Bill Forman Nobody likes lawsuits, especially if you’re on the receiving end of one. And if the plaintiff turns out to be Michael Jackson’s estate, then you REALLY want to be careful. Because, as we all know, there can only be one “King of Pop,” just as there can only be one “Lord of…

A Woodstock Vermont Film Series feature documentary Saturday, Jan. 1 at 3 and 5:30 p.m. — WOODSTOCK — Billings Farm & Museum’s 12th annual Woodstock Vermont film series returns to the Billings Farm Theater with the feature “Kedi,” a sophisticated, artful documentary exploring the profound relationship between man and cat in the metropolis of Istanbul, Turkey. There will be…

The winter/spring series of VTeen 4-H Science Pathways Cafés features a diverse range of topics from new cancer therapies to quantum computers and aquaponics. Several cafés are scheduled, both virtual and in-person, beginning Jan. 11. Teens are encouraged to mark their calendars now so they don’t miss out on the fun. University of Vermont (UVM)…

Episcopal Church of Our Saviour at Mission Farm will be leading worship at 4 p.m. via Zoom. Please note that there will be no in-person attendance. All are invited to join Mission Farm’s Zoom Christmas Eve service at 4 p.m. on Dec. 24 for carols, the Christmas Story and a short reflection on the incarnation…

February is National Black History Month that started as a method of remembrance with regard to the vital events and people in the history of the African diaspora. Today, it is an important month of both remembrance, recognition, and education. It is a time for people of any color to look at the incredible figures…