Winter Dipping in Lake Champlain In January, the UK s
Guardianwrote about the exhilarating joy of outdoor ice-bathing, a centuries-old practice that has soared during lockdown as a much-needed pandemic stress reliever and endorphin releaser. It s pretty normal if you re in Sweden or Denmark or Finland, said Burlington painter Katharine Montstream of the pastime. In the UK, this is
huge, and it s really blowing up. Especially with [the] pandemic, they have had a huge surge of people wanting to do this and needing outlets. The same is true in Vermont, it seems. Montstream has been winter dipping regularly in Lake Champlain for three years, but the pandemic prompted her to begin plunging in nearly every day. She s amassed a group of friends, playfully dubbed the Red Hot Chilly Dippers, who join in her shivery adventures. Montstream documents their dips through photos and videos on an Instagram page that has more than 1,500 followers.
Curious about how the police process a crime scene or what happens to the evidence that is collected? Or have you ever considered joining the ranks of the Vermont State Police?
On March 10, students in Grades 7-12 are invited to join in a conversation with Aimee Nolan, a detective sergeant with the Vermont State Police, to get the inside scoop. The virtual session, which will run from 12:30-1:30 p.m., is free, although registration is required. (go.uvm.edu/howdidyou)
The presentation is hosted by University of Vermont Extension 4-H as part of its ongoing program, How Did You Get There? Past presenters in this career exploration series have included a television producer, attorney and veterinarian.
Farmer Mark Cannella (rear) and volunteer Rebecca Mead washing Valentine Farm potatoes in 2020 When Mark Cannella and his family named their 12-acre homestead in East Montpelier Valentine Farm, it had nothing to do with February 14. The name honored Cannella s grandfather, Willis Valentine Miller. He had a big influence on me, Cannella said. But over the past few years, the farm has also lived up to its name by spreading the spud love, as he put it. With the help of family, friends and local nonprofits, Cannella has donated several thousand pounds of potatoes to those in need in central Vermont.
You can help recognize a tree champion with a nomination for a 2021 Vermont Tree Steward Award.
These awards have been presented annually since 1996 by the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program (VT UCF) to help promote the importance of forests and celebrate those who work hard to conserve them. Awards will be given out in four categories.
Nominations are due by March 31. To submit a nomination or view the list of past award winners, go to http://go.uvm.edu/tsa. For questions or additional information, please contact Gwen Kozlowski at gwen.kozlowski@uvm.edu or (802) 651-8343, ext. 506.
Recipients will be announced in April and will be recognized through VT UCF s website, social media platforms and the media.
Burlington A series of free, online webinars, hosted by University of Vermont Extension and the International Workshop on Agritourism, will provide participants with a global perspective on agritourism.
Agritourism Gatherings, a monthly series that debuted last September, is designed to stimulate conversations about agritourism among people from different countries. While geared to farmers, farm stay operators, ag service providers, researchers and other industry professionals, anyone with an interest in agritourism is invited to attend.
Advance registration is required for each session. Program details and registration links can be found at http://go.uvm.edu/agtourism-gatherings. To request a disability-related accommodation to participate, please contact Becky Bartlett at (802) 257-7967, ext. 301, or rebecca.bartlett@uvm.edu.