When Daniel Lawson looks out over the icebergs bobbing in Glacier Bay’s Johns Hopkins Inlet, he observes more than the calving of a tidewater glacier. more

For the lucky modern day explorer in southeast Alaska, the view from the aircraft will provide more than awe-inspiring mountains stretching their long charcoal ridges into a sea of white clouds. One hopes the sea will part, as it did this early July day, to reveal the white snowfields, light turquoise glaciers, and blue-green fjords of Glacier Bay, Alaska.
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U.S. Green Building Council awarded the French Wing at the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests’ Conservation Center a Gold certification in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) program. Designed by Banwell Architects, the French Wing is the first project in New England to earn this certification. The French Wing is one of only a dozen buildings nationally to receive a Gold certification. more

Steve and Cyndy knew exactly what they wanted when they designed their barn-style home. “We’re frustrated innkeepers,” Cyndy says. “We wanted this home to feel like an inn with the kitchen as the focal point, lots of space to entertain and large guestrooms to retreat to.” more

Why volunteer? Why at David’s House? The answers, though varied for a group of Quechee residents, have a common theme—to offer comfort, lend an ear to a parent, bring a smile to a child’s face, make a difference to a family, fill a need to serve the community, and because the Pied Piper of Volunteers at David’s House, Rochelle Berliner asked. more

Imagine a classroom where students learn to formulate questions and find different ways to seek answers. Open space where children record discoveries in written journals and sketchbooks. A place where it’s okay to get wet and muddy when you search for minnows, salamanders, and animal tracks. more

“There are all kinds of ways to measure success. In golf, some might measure success in yards or scores or the money list, yet Jeff has achieved much, much more,” said Scott Peters, longtime friend of Jeff Julian, former Quechee Club assistant pro and first Vermonter to play on the PGA Tour. “Yes, we are proud that he was the first local guy on the PGA Tour, but he has achieved a much greater success, shown by the outpouring of support from the people of this community.” more

Ask four Norwich high school students what they did over summer vacation and you’ll hear descriptions that include “hard work,” “awesome,” “rewarding,” and “fun.” Each student spent a month as a member of a conservation work crew at a national park or forest across the country for the Student Conservation Association (SCA). Though they haven’t yet moved mountains, each one blazed a new trail and changed lives through service to nature. more

When Jennie Hubbard heard Lance Armstrong say that the worse thing that happens to you could be the best, she had to agree. Lance, a national and world champion cyclist and two time Olympian, survived cancer and made a comeback to win the 1999 Tour de France. Jennie, riding on tires much fatter than Lance’s, has made a comeback of her own. It all started with what she calls her “trail of tears.” more

“My work is for the enjoyment of lovers of humor and to the annoyance of all others,” said sculptor Jack Dowd. His larger-than-life characters include limited edition butlers represented in 10 galleries nationwide including the Gallery on the Green in Woodstock. Other work includes “Earth Angel,” a critically-acclaimed New Orleans-style street performer with wings and a halo that he had hoped to display on the street outside the gallery in Woodstock. He is also noted for “Dot and Charlie,” a heartwarming retired couple waving from their camper; an Asian tourist adorned with cameras (one with a super long lens) and a Goofy hat; and a startling and award-winning punk from the “Biker Series,” sculptures combining real props with his life-size wood figures. more

Bob Mark’s resume reads like a repertory of musical accomplishments. On a short list, he developed the successful instrumental music program at Northfield Mount Herman School, conducted the orchestra at Keene State College, was the upper string coach for the Dartmouth Symphony, coached chamber music at composer’s conferences and in various living rooms, composed works for young performers, developed educational programs for and performed with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, and co-founded the Upper Valley Music Center. This latest accomplishment is the springboard for his current passion, the development of a five-year program for Kindergarten through Grade 4 students to introduce musical literacy at the same time that children are learning to read and write. more