St. Michael's College in the Burlington area has installed the first (possibly) "word garden" in the nation, says the It will act as a campus meditation/communication area in which people can leave messages using stones with engraved words. The garden is the combined effort of Education Professor Valerie Bang-Jensen, Biology Professor Mark Lubkowitz, and Stone Artist Chris Cleary of On the Rocks stone-carving Studio in Jericho. Chris has carved and kept words from stone projects over the years onto a variety of stones in different fonts and did not want to get rid of them. The stones can be moved around to spell out brief messages making use of 350 available words. What sets the Word Garden apart, says Bang-Jensen, is its interactivity. "Feel passion ate forever," or "enthusiastic creosote paid no respect," or "Ninja fur balls drive east in poor boats" are but a few recent messages left by passers-by, students, summer camp youngsters, and professors. The only thing that limits the combination of words is people's creativity. It's the ultimate word game.

How do families back home stay connected to soldiers serving in Afghanistan? Clarendon residents and students from grades 2-6 have a two-pronged answer, says the "Rutland Herald. First the children recorded a song entitled "Box of Kisses," written by Rutland musician James Mee and fellow artist Michael Mugrage, which then was made into 200 CDs. The song was posted on the Internet and aired on public access TV. "The kids are singing their hearts out, many who skipped recess and lunch...singing like that just melts your heart," says Mee. Some of the children's mothers or fathers are serving overseas. They made boxes using paper and crayons, filling them with personal notes and red, white, and blue candy donated by the Vermont Country Store. The CDs and boxes are being airlifted or parachuted to troops in areas of the Middle East. Mee's song has caught the attention of Americans, people from 177 countries, a candy company, a Texas-based radio station serving a million military personnel, and a New York music industry professional. The project helped families keep their away-from-home soldiers much closer to home.

The Hingston family of Springfield knows a lot about growing and harvesting summer berries. Their Cherry Hill Farm grows five different kinds of red raspberries, three kinds of black raspberries, two varieties of gooseberries, red, pink of champaign currants, and four kinds of black currants, says the Rutland Herald. Cherries previously were not one of their fruit offerings, although they recently planted some cherry trees to put an end to the inevitable question of "Why no cherries?" While growing berries is not unique, the custom-built harvester is. The machine was made by Peter Hingston from old farming equipment and tools brought over from England, where black currants are more common. They are always adding new products made from their berries, the latest being black currant juice. Future crops include Damson plums and, perhaps, hops for beer. For the present, however, berries come in a variety of "shapes" and sizes. "We freeze them, we puree them, we crush them, we juice them and we sell them whole," Peter said. Take your pick.

The Green Mountain Club is wishing the Long Trail a happy 100th birthday in a style to which they are accustomed: hiking it. The hike began at the Massachusetts border July 19 and ends at the Journey's End trailhead near Quebec Aug. 15, says the Bennington Banner. The hike is divided into 30 sections of the trail, from lengths of three miles to 22.6 miles. The longest leg is between the Route 9 trailhead in Woodford and Kelley Stand Road in East Arlington. "I've been telling people not to even think about this unless they are confident in their level of fitness and ability to handle the distance, terrain, and pace," said Ben Rose, executive director of the GMC. That leg of the hike will be capped at 10 people. The end-to-end hike will be a true relay, according to Rose, because each leg's group will pass along a pair of items: a well-stocked first aid kit and a stuffed animal porcupine. "It's our mascot," Rose explained.W e hope the first aid kit has some magic ointment to soothe aching feet.

Don't be surprised to see Boston's historic Fenway Park - in Essex, Vt. Pat O'Connor, a long-time baseball fan in general, but of the Red Sox in particular, decided to build the miniature replica behind his house in 2001, says the Associated Press. Details include a 12.5-foot-tall Green Monster, a 3x3-foot plastic Citgo sign just past the left-field wall, and baseball-shaped markers in right field that represent the retired jersey numbers of players like Ted Williams. O'Connor also built a "Little Wrigley" behind Fenway. It, too, has the elements of the real park, including an ivy-adorned faux brick wall, and flagpole pennants with the names of famous Cub players. Teams have competed every August since 2002, in a three-day event to raise money for the Travis Roy Foundation that aides victims of spinal cord injuries. Roy is a former Boston University hockey player who was paralyzed from the neck down while playing in his first game. Games run into the night at both parks. The tournaments have raised $715,000 to date for the Foundation, in addition to thousands more for other charities. "It's a magical place that really removes you from everything else that's going on in your life," says Roy.It's Vermont's Field of Dreams.

Bennington middle school kids are getting a chance to learn new skills, thanks to 22 different five-week programs funded by the Mosaic Grant. The Bennington Banner reports the programs focus on a variety of subject areas, including career development, arts, and health and wellness and are taught by a mix of teachers, paraprofessionals, and community residents. Students can attend one or multiple weeks and can choose a different program each of those weeks. "There really is something here for every kid," said Chris Maguire, coordinator of the programs. No child is turned away because of an inability to pay. Several programs run each week, such as gardening techniques, humane education for house pets and farm animals, how to create "funky" clothes, play rock instruments, and how to make stained glass. Participant Erika Burgess had this to say about the gardening program: "It's my first day and I already learned a lot about plants and vegetables." We bet they're having fun too.

The Bristol Band opened its 140th outdoor summer season recently. It plays every Wednesday night at 7 throughout the summer. Approximately 55 members, ranging in age from fifth graders to 80-something-year-old seasoned musicians, played a 1.5 hour outdoor concert in the Roy J. Clark Memorial Bandstand on the town green, said the Addison Independent. While not Vermont’s oldest band, the members think it has the distinction of having the state’s longest continually running streak, playing since its start in 1870. The band’s repertoire ranges from polkas to John Philip Sousa marches to Broadway show tunes and jazz classics. There’s even the occasional rendition of YMCA. “…People from all different backgrounds, all different musical abilities. We come together, and somehow every Wednesday it works,” said lead trumpeter Michele McHugh. The band has developed a very loyal following over the years, from youngsters to seniors, playing in rain and sunshine. “It’s very Vermont,” concluded 16-year-old Bridport clarinetist Addison Tate.

OK, so maybe Sherlock and Watson couldn't attend the conference at Bennington College in June, but their fans were there to pay tribute and learn. Billed as "Sherlock Holmes: The Man And His Worlds," it was the second conference in 16 years organized by the Baker Street Breakfast Club, a local Sherlock society in honor of its 20th anniversary. The 90 or so attendees came from near and as far away as Ireland and Louisiana to experience speakers, exhibits, films, music, and mysteries, according to The Bennington Banner. "The committee wanted the conference to be variety of things, not just papers," said Sally Sugarman, principal organizer of the conference and founding Bakers Street Breakfast Club member. Associated events took place around town to give the participants a chance to explore the surrounding Bennington area. Sherlock is most popular with fans of mystery and, according to Baker Street Irregular Michael Whelan, while he didn't create the detective story, "he made it what it is today."

"Class night" at Leland & Gray high school in Brattleboro honored Brian Urato, graduate of the class of 2010, for not missing a day of school in 12 years. The acknowledgement was reminiscent of the same honor that went to his sister, Rachel, in 2007. The family tradition began when Rachel overheard her parents discussing a newspaper article about a valedictorian who had perfect attendance throughout her school years. "We never imagined Rachel was listening," said Jake Urato, Rachel's father. That is until the first time she refused to stay home because she wasn't feeling well. "I won't get the award," Rachel told her dad. Luckily both siblings can attribute their attendance record to great health. Sports played an important role in helping to keep them healthy and provided the incentive to come to school to practice - Rachel as captain of her softball team, and Brian as head of the cross-country team. Brian said the feat was no big deal - he just never got sick, at least on school time. Neither did Rachel.

High school graduations now are pretty much over in Vermont, but North Clarendon's Mill River Union High School made sure their special day was memorable. What was so special about this class? "Their heart," according to school employee Mary Bridge, who bases her opinion on more than 20 years of watching Mill River's graduating classes. Some of the 102 class members did deliver the traditional graduation day speeches, but many more sang about what the school meant to them. Ryan Rich, for example, said his original song, "Helping Hand," was inspired by the question: "What are you doing after school?" His lyrics reflected the comfort generated by the community to current, future and past grads. "It's not a night for tears but for celebration and community," said Wyll Everett, another graduate. "We're all a community and will always feel like we belong somewhere," he added. Good luck to all the grads of the class of 2010.