Photos by Nanci Blog

Keep a lookout for Monarch Butterfly caterpillars on milkweed plants. Adult Monarch butterflies that emerge from the pupa in early spring have a lifespan of 2 to 5 weeks. Monarchs that emerge in late summer survive throughout winter. Monarchs that emerge from the pupa in late summer and migrate south have a lifespan of eight to nine months. Monarch butterflies begin as eggs and hatch as larvae. The larvae eat their eggshells and the milkweed plants around them. The larvae then become caterpillars. Caterpillars create cocoons and go into the pupa stage of their lives. Adult black, orange and white butterflies emerge from the cocoons. Monarch butterflies taste bad and are poisonous to predators. North American Monarchs migrate up to 3,000 miles; they are the only butterflies that travel such a distance. Stage 1 -During the months of February and March, the torpid monarch butterflies in the closing generation, come out of their hibernating state to search and find a mate. After...

Labor Day pushes the Regular Monthly Meeting to Tuesday evening Sept. 3 I n a Special Meeting held on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 4:45 p.m. John Arrison, Kelly Murphy and Dan Boyer accepted the letter of resignation of town manager Ed Morris effective Sept. 21. According to the meeting minutes in the select board packet there was discussion about using Vermont League of Cities and Towns’ services to conduct the town manager search.  And there was also discussion about having an interim town manager. The Weathersfield select board is scheduled to hold their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at Martin Memorial Hall at 6 p.m. The agenda for the meeting includes: 1. Executive Session as per 1 V.S.A. § 313 (3) Personnel - 6:00 2. Call to Order 3. Agenda Review 4. Comments from Select Board and Town Manager 5. Comments from Citizens on Topics not on Agenda 6. Review Minutes from Previous Meetings 8/5/2019, 8/19/2019, 8/28/2019 7. Town Manager Search Process 8. Solar Upd...

Photos of The Ballroom Thieves and Shawn Mullins With the last weekend of summer upon us, we decided to hit a couple of live music events. Our first venture was to one of our favorite Vermont venues- Billsville House Concerts in Manchester. Doug and Caroline open their house up to 75 music lovers with a full stage and pro-sound and lights. We've never seen a bad show there and Friday night was no different. The Ballroom Thieves performed for the SOLD OUT crowd.  Calin “Callie” Peters (vocals, cello), Martin Earley (guitar, vocals), and Devin Mauch (percussion, vocals) have three CDs out: A Wolf in the Doorway, Deadeye and the 2018 release Paper Crown (an EP). I took photos and shot a few videos of their performance. Their songwriting is enchanting and their vocal harmonies are spot on. They are extremely talented and if you love good music-you should make time to catch them in the future before they explode to bigger venues. Performance photos Billsville Vid...

Phoenix Books in Rutland hosted a book release party. Just when you thought it was safe to go back to Heron's Cove (a fictitious town on the coast of Maine) there's a massive food poisoning on a yacht (could it be poison mushrooms?), a painting gets stolen and a British intelligence officer arrives in town along with a former art thief. Carla Neggers has penned her 9th novel in her Sharpe and Donovan series Rival's Break (10th title if you're an e-book reader) and Phoenix Books in Rutland hosted a "meet the author" book release on Thursday, August 29, 2019.  This novel is  set in "Boston and Maine and a little bit of Ireland and England" Neggers told the 30 or so readers in the bookstore, similar to the previous books in this series. In the novel, everyone gathers to celebrate a family wedding. It's fall in Maine. The foliage is spectacular and all will go smoothly for the book's characters, right? "But of course nothing ...

Tonight, Aug. 27: In Woodstock-" Artifishal " film screening at the Woodstock Town Hall Theatre 6 p.m. In WRJ- Tuesday Jam Sessions at The Filling Station Bar and Grill Saturday, Aug. 31 - Customer Appreciation Day at Wellwood Orchards, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. FREE: MAGIC SHOW by TOM JOYCE from 10am to 11 am PLEASE NOTE: The Games and food will begin AFTER the magic show. *See your Local Police and Fire Departments *Face Painters Extraordinaire- Linda Weiser and Tammy Kendall! *Enjoy Balloon animals with "Cheryl the Clown" *Live music by the Imperfectionists! *Family Photographs by Mike and Sam Clark *Meet Our own Official Vermont Apple Lady! FREE: hotdogs, chips, water, kids games, petting zoo, face painting, balloon art, contests, wagon rides, photos and prizes. NO DOGS ALLOWED.  Famous Cider Donuts will be made on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.  - Labor Day Party in Springfield Saturday,  noon-8 p.m. Trout River Brewing is hosting a party with  Goo...