Issue: August 2018
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An escape route from dairy farming’s crisis?
Some see hope in shift to organic production, but economic pressures remain Samantha and Chris Kemnah walk among the cows at Clover Bliss Farm, their 2-year-old organic, grass-fed dairy operation in Argyle, N.Y. Joan Lentini photos By TRACY FRISCHContributing writer ARGYLE, N.Y. The name of Clover Bliss Farm refers to the contentment its abundant read more
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A soothing crop for stressful times
Lavender becomes focus of couple’s back-to-the-land enterprise David and Diane Allen opened Lavenlair Farm to the public two years ago. The farm in the Washington County town of Fort Ann grows lavender and produces an array of lavender products that the Allens sell at an on-site gift shop, at farmers markets and online. Joan K. read more
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Pushing back against plastic
Citizen activists pursue local, state curbs on bags, bottles, straws By EVAN LAWRENCEContributing writer MANCHESTER, Vt. Environmental advocates around the region are increasing their efforts to reduce plastic waste by calling for bans on certain single-use plastics – shopping bags and water bottles – and some are asking restaurants and their patrons to cut back read more
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Primary elections near in Vermont and Mass.
Primary elections on Aug. 14 in Vermont and Sept. 4 in Massachusetts will set the stage for statewide races this fall — and will effectively determine the winner of several local positions that only one major party is contesting. In Vermont, the most crowded contest locally is the five-way Republican race for three seats representing read more
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Finding humor even in dark subjects
Two exhibits in Bennington gather the works of New Yorker cartoonists Curious skeletal creatures figure prominently in an exhibit of prints and drawings by Edward Koren that’s now on view at the Bennington Museum. Koren’s work is also included a separate show at the Laumeister Art Center that brings together works by 20 cartoonists for read more
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Pianos take to the streets — and parks
Outdoor art project invites music making, raises funds for school Enrique Paredes stops to plunk out a tune on a piano as he walks his dog through The Common in Pittsfield. The brightly painted piano is one of 16 that have been positioned throughout Berkshire County this month in an outdoor art project that will read more
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Tales from the trail: Haze and some light
The general election season is suddenly upon us, at least in the two hotly contested U.S. House districts in our region of eastern New York. With the crowded Democratic primaries settled, the month of July brought the first chances for the two district’s incumbent Republicans to engage with their newly anointed challengers. We should all read more
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A case of campaign name-calling that backfired
William Randolph Hearst, as the Democratic candidate for governor of New York in 1906, delivered a campaign speech so full of guttural ire that it went down in history. Hearst coined a nickname for his Republican opponent, Charles Evans Hughes, that reporters would repeat for years to come. He branded his opponent the “animated feather read more