Category: Health
We follow local stories of well-being in the Hill Country Observer, from physical and mental health to systems of healthcare and insurance and the challenges of medicine today.
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Issue: December 2021-January 2022
Be thankful, be merry, but try to be cautious
As we enter this holiday season amid a swirl of bad news about the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s worth taking a moment to acknowledge that our situation really is substantially better than at this time a year ago. The difference mostly boils down to one thing, but it’s huge: We now have vaccines. And for many read more
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Issue: November 2021
Farming for a greener future
New effort guides investment in region’s local food system The sheep at Studio Hill Farm in Shaftsbury, Vt., are rotated frequently to new grazing areas. Photo by Joan K. Lentini By TRACY FRISCHContributing writer SHAFTSBURY, Vt. Jesse McDougall became a farmer a decade ago by twist of fate. He and his wife, Caroline read more
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Issue: August 2021
Rewriting the rules for egg farms
Mass. legislators move to change voter-backed law Cartons of eggs fill a refrigerated display at Guido’s Fresh Marketplace in Pittsfield. Large-scale egg producers are pushing Massachusetts to revise its pending rules for humane treatment of laying hens, though the smaller-scale suppliers of Guido’s aren’t affected by the changes. Susan Sabino photo. By CRAIG read more
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Issue: July 2021
Free clinic aims to fill health-care gap
Organizers plan large-scale event, open to all, at fairgrounds Karen Weinberg, one of the organizers of free medical clinic planned for early October, seeks volunteers for the project at a June event at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Joan K. Lentini photo By TRACY FRISCHContributing writer EASTON, N.Y. A large-scale free medical clinic planned read more
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Issue: April 2021
New blood for a rural region
Columbia County and the Berkshires, Vermont and the Adirondacks are reporting an influx of people from urban areas. By Evan Lawrence read more
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Issue: April 2021
Columbia County market blends co-op, consignment models
Random Harvest Market gathers goods from more than 100 regional vendors, from cough syrups to dried lavender. By Stacey Morris read more
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Issue: February-March 2021
The devilish details of legal pot
With New York facing a budget gap of nearly $15 billion, is this the year the state will finally legalize marijuana for recreational use? By Evan Lawrence read more
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Issue: February-March 2021
Finding the future in healthy soil
Jim Schultz runs a small-scale farm that’s demonstrating how agriculture can contribute to solving the climate crisis. By Tracy Frisch read more
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Issue: November 2020
As pandemic limits visitors, museums work to adapt
As pandemic limits visitors, museums work to stay connected After the Covid-19 crisis forced it to close its building from mid-March until July, the Bennington Museum is now operating on a restricted basis. Photo by Joan K. Lentini By EVAN LAWRENCEContributing writer When Covid-19 began to spread into the region in early read more
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Issue: August 2020
Now back to class? Colleges prepare for influx of students
Area colleges make plans to welcome students back as virus surges nationally A seating area behind the Case Campus Center at Skidmore College awaits the arrival of students. The college is among several in the region that aim to resume in-person classes this month.Joan K. Lentini photo By EVAN LAWRENCEContributing writer CASTLETON, Vt. read more
