Coronavirus pandemic requires additional precautions The Fourth of July is just ahead, a time when people typically enjoy the summer holiday with backyard cookouts, fireworks or water fun. This year, additional care is needed because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The American Red Cross offers safety tips you can follow. “If your community is reopening,…

WEST HAVEN—Things just work out perfectly sometimes, and that is exactly what happened for brothers Justin and Austin Comes at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on Sunday, June 28. In front of the first grandstand crowd of the season, the Middlebury siblings swept feature wins in the Sportsman Modified and Limited Sportsman divisions. Bill Duprey, Shawn Moquin,…

Bobolinks, meadowlarks, Savannah sparrows, and grasshopper sparrows enrich our summers with their songs, but some of these species are in decline due to the loss of appropriate grassland habitat. Landowners can make a difference by altering the times of year they mow fields. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept. is encouraging landowners to help promote…

By Kathy Romans Hall, Rutland Chapter UVM Extension Master Gardeners The Rutland Chapter of UVM Extension Master Gardeners would like to share some information about a common ornamental plant that you may have on your property. We have concerns about the Japanese barberry, a spiny shrub that in the past 30 years became a popular…

Beginning on Friday, July 3, Killington plans to operate the bike park seven days a week, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., with both the Ramshead Express and Snowshed Express Quads. The K-1 Express Gondola will also operate Friday-Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. for scenic rides, and the Adventure Center will also begin operation on July 3.…

Sunday, July 5 at 1 p.m.—You are invited to join Rhonda Lenair, known as “The Healer of addictions,” renowned medical intuitive, and founder of the Self(s) Healing Experience (SHE) for a conference call to learn more about what SHE offers. SHE is a transformational life-changing encounter renown for producing predictable miracles. Through SHE,  privately self-destructive…

BURLINGTON—Interest in gardening has surged this summer with more people staying closer to home and looking for fun, healthy family activities. To encourage kids and their families to grow food and eat together, University of Vermont (UVM) Extension 4-H has developed “Eating What We Grow,” an online bi-weekly gardening series that will run throughout the…

WEST WINDSOR—Even without public gatherings, there will be an Independence Day celebration in West Windsor (Brownsville) this Covid year… with the participation of the whole town.  The Brownsville Independence Day committee has some updates on this 3-day holiday weekend coming up. To date the plan is to celebrate the full weekend, from Friday, July 3…

Thursday, July 2 at 10 a.m.—ROCHESTER—Great Decisions foreign policy discussion series, an online program from the Rochester Library, starts Thursday, July 2 at 10 a.m. and runs for eight weeks. This year, three foreign policy experts will lead the discussions: Mike Van Dusen worked on the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives…

Sweetened with blueberry syrup and garnished with blueberries, this gin cocktail is a seasonal play on the classic Clover Club. Summer in a (coupe) glass. Ingredients: 1.5 oz gin 0.75 oz Fino Sherry 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice 0.75 oz blueberry syrup 1 egg white fresh skewered blueberries for garnish Preparation: Combine ingredients into a…

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept. is again urging Vermonters to leave wildlife in the wild where they belong.  The department is receiving calls and emails from individuals who are temporarily caring for wildlife, mostly young skunks, woodchucks, raccoons, foxes and other mammals, only to find wildlife rehabilitation facilities are full and not accepting additional…

Thursday, July 2 at 7 p.m.—WEST HAVEN—Devil’s Bowl Speedway will host its own Independence Day fire cracker spectacular on July 2, beginning at 7 p.m. The night will start off with a Firecracker 50 modified race featuring all five regular divisions, as well as a sprint car race. Drive-in viewing will be available for the…

By Bonnie Kirn Donahue, extension master gardener, University of Vermont If you’re inspired to have a garden this year, but don’t have a lot of space, consider container gardening. These are easy to maintain, can be large or small to fit your needs and are a satisfying alternative to traditional in-ground vegetable gardening. If you are…

WOODSTOCK— Picnic outdoors, visit the farm animals, play outdoor games and hear historic speeches as Billings Farm & Museum spreads its annual Old Vermont July 4th celebrations over three days. Enjoy an easy hike along the walking trail by the Ottauquechee River and see the farm from a different view. Tour the new Heifer Barn with its state-of-the-art features such as climate-controlled curtains and ventilation. Explore the farm life exhibits and learn about 19th century…

Friday, July 3 at 3 p.m.—KILLINGTON—The next food distribution event in Killington will be held Friday, July 3, at the Castleton Lodge (formerly the Butternut Inn) at 3 p.m. The groceries will help those in need prepare a BBQ for an Independence Day celebration. This giveaway is made possible by Killington Resort, the town of…