Kids VT, February 2021
Identifying Vermont’s Evergreens; Grandparenting in the Pandemic; Chocolate Tartlets for Valentine’s Day
Vermont Visionaries: Ski Instructor Santi Fernandez
Twenty-year-old Santiago “Santi” Fernandez has been working as a ski instructor at the Middlebury Snow Bowl since he was 15. The Weybridge native graduated from Vermont Technical College last May with a degree in landscape design, with plans to continue teaching the sport he loves for years to come at the Snow Bowl, which he…
Hope on the Horizon
Late last month, I received a text message I wasn’t expecting that gave me a burst of joy and hope. “We have been vaccinated!” my dad wrote in our family group chat. “In the just in case waiting room now. All good!” My parents are in their late sixties and live in New York —…
Vermont’s Good Citizens Lead the Way
Learning about history, keeping up with the news, helping out their neighbors: Dozens of students across Vermont are doing all of these things this winter as part of the Good Citizen At-Home Challenge. At a time when the country is deeply divided by politics, these young people are focusing on the American values we all…
Show Your Love With a Sentimental Still Life
As Valentine’s Day approaches, perhaps you’re looking for a way to show a loved one just how much you treasure them. One way to convey your feelings is to gather together some of their treasures and arrange them as the subject of your own still life. A still life is a work of art in…
Mothers Collaborate on a Pandemic Tale in English and French
When the U.S.-Canada border closed last March to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Burlington writer Gail Marlene Schwartz had to make a quick decision. Schwartz’s former wife, Lucie Gagnon, and their 10-year-old son were living across the border in Québec. Determined not to be separated from her son for a prolonged period of time, Schwartz,…
Eco-Friendly Tips for a Cozy Home
Like many, I’ve been swimming against an unfamiliar current since the pandemic set restrictions and lifestyle changes in motion last March. I am choosing to see the winter months as an opportunity to cultivate joy and comfort in my home. I know there won’t necessarily be quiet and stillness — I do have two exuberant…
Chocolate Tartlets for Valentine’s Day
Ganache. Just the word sounds luxurious. It’s also one of the easiest chocolate confections to make. All you have to do is take good-quality chocolate, chop it finely and pour heated cream over it so that it melts. From this simple creation, you can make a rich and creamy cake filling, luscious chocolate truffles, a…
Teaching Your Child to Swim in a Storm
“How do you teach your child to swim in a thunderstorm?” This is a question I’ve been pondering a lot lately. Our current events — the mix of the pandemic, white extremism, racial division and the climate crisis — make this time feel like a dark ocean that is constantly being pounded by thunder and…
A Burlington Teen Shares Her Passion for Traditional Music
Name: Maeve Fairfax Age: 16 Town: Burlington Sixteen-year-old Maeve Fairfax has a bright future ahead of her. But as a musician, she feels deeply connected to the past. The Burlington High School junior is working to keep traditional music alive and well into the 21st century. Maeve’s love for traditional roots music started in elementary…
What to Do When Your Child Has a Preferred Parent
“All right, time to get out!” I exclaimed, lifting my 2-year-old daughter, Penelope, out of the tub. As I dried her off, her giggles quickly turned to cries when she realized how cold it was. “Just a moment, Penny,” I told her. I quickly toweled her off, wrapped her up and carried her to her…
Sheldon Students Share Visions for the Future
When Joseph R. Biden was inaugurated as the nation’s 46th president on January 20, people viewed the proceedings live from their kitchen tables, couches, home offices and workplaces. Or, in the case of many Vermont schoolchildren, from their classrooms. Becca Shute’s fifth graders at Sheldon Elementary School in Franklin County were among them. Shute said…
Staying Connected to Grandkids During the Pandemic
Last April, I saw a news story about a Ventura, Calif., couple who donned plastic trash bags and scuba gear so they could hug their grandchildren. I chuckled. Like most grandparents during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, I missed in-person contact with my grandchildren. I just hadn’t reached the point of donning personal…
Take a Virtual Field Trip at These 8 Spots
Do you miss going places? Join the club. As the pandemic chugs along and we sink into the depths of the winter months, chances are you’re craving a change in scenery more than ever. We propose a virtual field trip. Many of the locales that draw in families during normal times are now offering a…
A Simple Guide to Vermont’s Evergreens
Although everyone makes a big deal about evergreens in December, I think they’re just as vital in the later months of winter. They offer shelter from the wind and a welcome taste of green. February is a great time of year to get acquainted with Vermont’s evergreens. If you find yourself needing a break from…
