A couple of absolutely marvelous and warm days occurred on Sunday and Tuesday with sunny skies and mild temperatures. Today will be high pressure’s last day over the region before in moves eastward and clouds return for tomorrow. A frontal system approaching will bring a steady rain Thursday night changing[Read More…]
Columns
It’s a Fairly Pleasant Arrangement
by Willem Lange EAST MONTPELIER – Living three and a half hours apart, as we do, my dear friend Bea and I get to see each other about every two weeks or so, on average. This is almost without doubt an ideal arrangement, as our life styles are quite different, and[Read More…]
Growing Up Black in Hardwick
HARDWICK – My name is Orin LeRoy Bracey Jr. This article describes the youth of an octogenarian African American man, who had the uncommon good fortune to have grown up in rural Vermont in the late 1940s. It will become obvious upon reading this seven-year snapshot of my recollections of[Read More…]
Herons, Egrets and Bitterns are Stalkers of the Shallows
WASHINGTON, D.C. – If you take to the water this spring, there’s a good chance you’ll spot a great blue heron, New England’s most recognizable large wading bird. But you might also see one of several other similar species that breed in or pass through our region’s wetlands. Telling these[Read More…]
Know the Garden to Cut Costs
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – There’s no doubt that gardening is rewarding, but costs can get out of hand in the excitement of a new growing season. There’s always a tempting new project or plant. The solution? Buy what is needed, then buy wanted plants only after you’re sure it will[Read More…]
Kathleen and George Take Care of Each Other
HARDWICK – Kathleen Hayes, of Marshfield and George Philcox of Hardwick are a brother and sister with a special bond because Kathleen is George’s legal guardian. About 10 years ago while at a hearing to transfer guardianship from their mother, Gemma Philcox, to Kathleen, George was asked what he thought[Read More…]
Totality Conditions Made Event Special
HARDWICK – Even though it was more astronomical than meteorological, Monday’s eclipse quickly became the highlight of the past week, with totality easily visible from our coverage area. The conditions were really what made this event so special, as clearing to the sky in such a manner is a rarity this time[Read More…]
Lori Ferland Digs Digs
HARDWICK – When some people think of vacations, they may envision days at the beach, camping or visiting a theme park. For Lori Ferland of Hardwick, her vacations tend to lean more towards adventures. Over roughly the last 15 years, Lori has worked on archaeological digs in Pompei and Malta,[Read More…]
People Share Seeds to Support Community
BOLTON – Communities around the world are cultivating seed libraries. A surge in new gardeners and struggling supply chains during the pandemic caused the rise of seed libraries. For many, gardening was a fail-safe during these stressful times. People generously shared seeds to support their neighbors and the larger community.[Read More…]
If it Gets You, You Won’t Hear it
EAST MONTPELIER – The sky has always been a source of wonder for us earthbound folks. For some of us who are – shall we say – more earthbound, it’s a source of portents, omens, and myths. What we call thunderstorms and explain as electrically charged clouds used to be[Read More…]
The Tale of a Lake Tsunami
BURLINGTON – The sharpest contrast between rivers and lakes is in water movement. While rivers flow inexorably downhill, lake water movement is more subtle. Anyone who has weathered a storm on a lake, however, can attest that less consistent water movement does not mean no water movement at all. In[Read More…]
Hellebores are Early-blooming, Low-maintenance
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – You may know them by different names such as Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis) or Christmas rose (Helleborus niger). Don’t let those common names fool you. Hellebores (Helleborus x hybridus) aren’t related to roses at all. They’re actually part of the same family (Ranunculacaea) as buttercups, a[Read More…]
