By Deborah J. Benoit Forsythia in February? Impossible, you say? Not so. A vase full of flowers from the garden won’t take much more effort than harvesting some branches to force them to bloom. A good time to take cuttings for forcing is when you’re doing your annual winter pruning. If pruning isn’t on your…

Home improvement projects require substantial financial investment. But just because a homeowner wants to bring a fresh look indoors doesn’t mean he or she has to break the bank along the way. Living rooms are some of the most frequently used spaces in a home, and they can use an update from time to time…

Friday, Feb. 4 — PERU — Staff of Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center (SVRCC) in Bennington, Rebecca Hewson-Steller, RN; Jenny Coutu, MSN, RN; Mary Weinfurt, RN; Naomi Bolognani; and Matthew Vernon, MD, gathered to invite members of the public to enjoy a fun day of skiing and riding on Friday, Feb. 4. That’s the day…

Warming up on cold days can be a challenge. Bundling up near the fireplace is one way to keep warm, as is dining on hearty meals that have staying power. Chili is a cold-weather staple that is full of delicious, fresh ingredients. A little chili goes a long way, and it can be spiced up…

Vermont’s Free Ice Fishing Day this year is Saturday, Jan. 29, according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept. “Ice fishing can be a great way to introduce people to how much fun fishing can be,” said Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Christopher Herrick. “Showing youngsters or adult new anglers how to jig for perch or…

By Angelo Lynn Mei Mei Brown, one of Brandon’s best known and prolific volunteers needs a kidney, but the message she wants to convey is to broaden the awareness of the process around organ transplants and the vital importance it has to those in need. “It’s very touching and humbling” to be in the position…

Watch on demand from Jan. 20-27, Q&A with the filmmaker held on Thursday, Jan. 27 at 7:45 p.m. via Zoom “‘Petit Rat' is a portrait of three women facing their lost dreams,” explained director Wagman. Catch the film (screening on demand from Jan. 20-27) by visiting go.middlebury.edu/petitrat. On Thursday, Jan. 27, Middlebury College’s Film and…

Training is one of the most effective ways to keep companion animals safe and secure. When prospective pet owners begin looking for a new dog, one of the first thoughts that may come to mind is trainability and whether certain breeds are more readily trainable than others. The pet food manufacturers at Honest Kitchen indicate…

By Andrea Knepper Nothing brightens a dreary winter afternoon like a crisp, colorful seed catalog arriving in the mailbox. The anticipation of sunshine to come and daydreams of a bountiful harvest are welcome during these seasonally short days. I have been caught up in the excitement and found myself with enough seed packets in my…

As weather chills, that dip in temperature is often accompanied by cold and flu season. Many people are anxious to avoid feeling under the weather this time of year, and to help ward off many illnesses, one may only need to look to the kitchen stove. Chicken soups and other soup recipes long have been…

A community health wellness program Let’s talk about the beautiful parks and trails and the abundance of nature-related activities in Rutland and surrounding counties. Then, let’s talk about how outdoor activity can be a prescription for your health. Put them together and you get a movement called NatureRx. Community Health has partnered with Come Alive…

Jan. 25-30 — VIRTUAL — Sustainable Woodstock and Pentangle Arts presents “The Pollinators,” a cinematic journey around the United States following migratory beekeepers and their truckloads of honey bees as they pollinate the flowers that become the fruits, nuts and vegetables we all eat. The film focuses on the challenges the beekeepers and their bees…

It’s Year 2 of the pandemic and everyone could use a little love. That’s why Come Alive Outside is asking Vermonters to help boost the morale of their community, themselves and their neighbors by telling the world what they love about where they live. ome Alive Outside’s programming is hyper-local and designed to entice residents…

WOODSTOCK — Step into the shoes of a farmer, listen to farm stories, meet Billings’ Farm animals and enjoy the thrill of the farm in winter. Billings Farm & Museum has four camp offerings which all provide engaging hands-on activities and explorations of the farm and the local landscape. Winter Wonders Camp, Ages 6-8 Feb.…

By Victoria Gaithier The Chaffee Art Center in Rutland is gearing up for winter and Black History Month exhibitions. “We are in Vermont, and it’s cold. I thought it would be kind of fun to do ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ and because February is not far off to feature BIPOC artists for Black History Month,”…