This Week’s News
Passing the baguette: Gourmet Provence under new management
After 18 years, Robert and Line Barral—who also own Café Provence just up the street—have sold the bakery to fellow Brandonites Matt and Carrie Lewis.
Guest Essay: Compassionate communication/communication that blocks compassion
In a classroom environment, it is easy to give accolades to the students who do the right things, while tending to negatively recognize the same students over and over again who struggle to make the right choices.
Bear conflicts expected to increase in June
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is increasing outreach efforts to encourage Vermont residents and visitors to get ahead of an anticipated jump in bear conflicts this June.
Hard Tellin’: Welcome to Vermont, home of the garden zealot!
I write today about nothing less than fanatical gardening excess.
Our Creative Kids: Sophie Parker
An organic and geometric drawing of a butterfly by an Otter Valley middle schooler.
Photos of the Week
Sports
Namaste! Yoga options increase in our area
Yoga is a set of ancient practices, with origins in the Indian subcontinent thousands of years ago. The word itself means “union” in Sanskrit and is related to the English word “yoke,” in the sense of “to join together.”
OV’s Brooke Kimball named Unified Basketball Coach of the Year by Southern VT League
What really matters about sports? 2025 Southern Vermont League Unified Basketball Coach of the Year Brooke Kimball of Otter Valley said, “I love how much joy it brings.”
Nesobe Golf Club is no longer a “Hidden Gem”
Neshobe Golf Club hosted the 96th New England Amateur Championship with the best golfers in New England competing over three days.
A new generation of duckies takes the podium
The last few racing seasons, and all their attendant scandals, have left the local duckie community feeling unsettled.
Nifty Thrifty sponsors swim lessons for July 4th Duckies
Every July, hundreds of rubber duckies from all over the world descend upon Brandon for the Independence Day Duckie Race on the Neshobe River.