Kids VT, Summer 2022
COVID-19 Changes: Helping Kids Cope; Seven Summer Events for the Whole Fam; Maternity Fashions to Beat the Heat; Fathers Make Friends Through Dad Guild
In Memoriam: Virginia “Ginny” F. Walters, 1925-2022
A celebration of life will be held for Ginny Walters, who died on January 14, 2022, on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, 3 to 5 p.m., at Lake Champlain Yacht Club, 2790 Harbor Rd., Shelburne, VT. Drive slowly and look for the small nautical flag at this address. RSVPs are appreciated. Email ginfizz3218@gmail.com. Related Stories
Obituary: Bruce Arthur Hogel, 1949-2022
Burlington-born man pursued art and contracting in California
Mealtime: Bifanas — Portuguese Pork Sandwiches; Green Pea and Asparagus Soup With Poached Egg
In the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, about 1,000 miles off the coast of mainland Portugal, lie the Azores, an archipelago that is an autonomous region of Portugal. I knew little about the islands until my sister took a solo trip there this spring. She raved about the beauty of the place, her excursion…
Pop Culture: Vermont Dads Lead the Way
If you’re organizing an outing with a group of dads and their young kids, take it from me: Nothing beats a nature walk. It’s free, everyone gets some exercise and fresh air, and there are lots of things to talk about. I led one such walk at the Ethan Allen Homestead in April, with a…
Secondhand Style: Maternity Fashion to Beat the Heat
I’m so ready for the summer heat and so excited to leave behind my heavy coats and winter boots and step into the sun wearing lighter layers. I’m also 24 weeks pregnant as I write this. It’s comforting to know that as my baby and body grow, I’ll be able to shed a bit of…
Short Stuff: Museums and a Mini-Marathon
Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum to Expand in Rutland Kids and families will soon have more to explore in downtown Rutland, thanks to a partnership between Green Mountain Power and Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum. In a few months, Wonderfeet will pack up its sensory table, Lego collection and interactive train exhibit and move to Green Mountain Power’s nearby…
Star Turns: For Young Actors, Very Merry Theatre Provides Ample Opportunities
The young cast of a recent Very Merry Theatre production, The Adventures of Buster Bear, spread across the stage during a rehearsal at the company’s headquarters in Burlington’s Old North End Community Center. “Rodents, scamper!” called out Very Merry founder and director Don Wright from the lip of the stage. The children, portraying forest creatures,…
Use Your Words: To Cope With COVID-19, We Started a Business Together
People reveal themselves when they learn you’re going into business with your spouse. The responses range from the rosy (“You’re living the dream!”) to the apocalyptic (“You’re brave. My partner and I would kill each other.”). It’s understandable: There is both fear and fascination with the unknown. Committing to a lifelong relationship with one person…
Vermont Visionaries: Eddie Merma, Founder of the Sculpture School
Many kids like to ride roller coasters, but would you trust them to build one? Eddie Merma would. The intrepid artist runs the Sculpture School on Knoll Farm in Waitsfield, where he works with roughly 200 kids ages 8 to 16 each year. He teaches them to use power tools and their imaginations to create…
Editor’s Note: Making Magic
In 2014, before we’d ever heard of COVID-19, Emily St. John Mandel published Station Eleven, a novel that imagines what it would be like to survive a flu that kills 99 percent of the population. Over the winter, HBO Max premiered a series based on the book. Despite the grim premise, both versions are ultimately…
Checkup: How Can Parents Help Kids Deal With Changing COVID-19 Policies?
“Masks on! Masks off! Keep your distance! Never mind. You kids can play together again — just don’t share snacks!” The last two years have created a constantly shifting pandemic landscape. With the arrival of each new variant and wave of COVID-19 infections, children and adults alike have experienced the whipsaw effect of adjusting to…
A New Mom’s Guide to Getting Ready, Staying Organized and Finding Social Time
I recently came across a memorable quote: “It’s easy to take care of a baby. It’s not easy to do anything else with a baby.” I’m only eight months in, but it really resonated with me. When I went back to work after my maternity leave, I quickly realized I needed to make some changes…
Good Nature: Eagle Mountain and Sunny Hollow — A Tale of Two Fires
We hear all the time about wildfires raging out west, but it’s rare to find evidence of forest fires on random woodland walks in Vermont. Ecologists sometimes refer to eastern deciduous forests as “asbestos forests” because, like the heat-resistant, toxic fibers, they are generally so damp it’s hard to get them to burn. Still, sometimes…
