The stained-glass windows at the Poultney Methodist Church, built in 1841, have been in place for over 100 years. But time and interior temperature fluctuations have taken their toll, said the Rutland Herald. Cracks run between each colored pieces of glass and there are parts of the window that protrude. The solution to save the windows and prevent future deterioration is to restore the windows. The church has developed a campaign to raise $150,00, of which $120,00 already has been raised or pledged and $27,000 already received. Guy Savino and his brother, Bob, who own the All in Glass Studio Too, will be handling the restoration process. They're hoping to finish the project within the next year. The good news is that the new windows will have thermal protection which will help to protect the windows and reduce energy costs for the church. A step-by-step CD of the entire process set to music will be prepared for current and future parishioners to see. Anyone interested in making a donation for the restoration process can call the church at 802-287-5710.

Ever hear of Woodchuck Day? Waterbury's local radio station WDEV's sales manager, Tom Beardsley, thought up the promotion four years ago, said the Rutland Herald. His hope was to replace Phil as the true spring prophet. "The whole idea just made me start laughing. And it makes sense actually. Who would call a woodchuck a groundhog?" said Chris Graves, a Waterbury resident and self-proclaimed woodchuck. Among the 50 participants was VT Gov. James Douglas, dressed in a suit and tie, among the other fashionistas in oil-stained coveralls and fur-trimmed aviator hat. The celebration raised $1,760 for the Vermont National Guard Charitable Foundation, an organization that assists Guard families as the soldiers deploy to Afghanistan. But, alas, there was no real-life woodchuck to forecast the next six weeks of winter. He/she left that up to Phil in the end. But, according to Beardsley, "...it's just an idea for something stupid to do in the middle of winter." Better watch out, Phil, your understudy waits in the wings.

Current-day environmentalists think their view of how conserving and recycling is new. Actually, some Depression-era seniors from Wake Robin Continuing Care Retirement Community in Shelburne beg to differ. People learned to be self-reliant and resilient during the Depression, they told the Burlington Free Press. People grew their own food. They hung out their clothes to dry as opposed to using a dryer. Clothes were patched and socks were darned. Then households' efforts took time to save money. Today, time seems to be in short supply. But spending that time could be a benefit and a mental-health break, thought Clare Innes of the Chittenden Sold Waste District. The Wake Robin residents felt their children and grandchildren would probably inherit a world with fewer resources, which will force them to consider the environment every day. These are some lessons to be learned from those who lived it.

Bag Balm. It's the ointment in a tin can with the cow's head users claim helps all sorts of things, including sunburn, squeaky bed springs, dry and cracked fingers, diaper rash, and much more. Bag Balm is manufactured in Lyndonville by the family-owned Dairy Association Co., Inc., and run by six employees, two officers, and a sales force, reports the Brattleboro Reformer. It began its healing powers as a topical cream to soothe the irritated udders of cows in 1899. Since then, it's traveled the world with Admiral Byrd to the North Pole, Allied troops in WWII, and recently to Ground Zero in New York for the paws of dogs searching the rubble. Even though humans now embrace it, dairy farmer Willie Ryan of Craftsbury still uses it for its original intended purpose on his cows. "...don't ask me how (it works), but it does," he said. Why should cows keep such a good thing to themselves?

Six Addison County seniors were recently chosen to sit down with representatives from StoryCorps, a nonprofit organization that records oral histories from all over the country, to tell their life stories, said the Each 45-minute interview was added to the almost 30,000 interviews done to date with people from all walks of life, from seniors to teens. The interviews are actually conducted by a family member or friend to put the participant at ease and are recorded by StoryCorps workers. Topics included love, relationships, marriage, employment, illness, religion, families, and military service. National Public Radio has condensed some interviews into two-to three-minute versions, airing them weekly on "Morning Edition." The interviews are archived with the American Folklife Center at the National Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., where researchers can access them. "We think it is going to be an amazing resource for anyone who is interested in what life was like, to listen to it and hear it," said StoryCorps facilitator Matt Herman. Try putting your life into a 45-minute segment.

A small kitten named Tria Maria recently became a "naturalized U.S. citizen" after flying from her Greek island home of Rhodes to the U.S. Tria is the adopted kitten of Wardsboro residents Haunani and Ralph Wallace, said the Deerfield Valley News. The couple has visited Rhodes several times in the past, staying in the town of Gennadi. They found a small meowing kitten, weighing less than a pound, sitting on a rock, during a rainstorm on their most recent stay last September. They brought the kitten in, pulled out the more than 100 burrs embedded in her fur, and discovered the kitten was blind, having been born with no eyes. After much deliberation, they decided to bring the kitten back to the U.S. with them. Tria underwent a series of vaccinations, and needed to get a passport required for traveling in Europe since they made a stop in Germany. Being blind hasn't stopped Tria from settling into her new home and adjusting to the Wallace's two dogs. She has at least eight lives yet to live.

Cabin fever getting you down? Well, the town of Bennington has a suggestion: A Winter Carnival Jan. 30. The Carnival features a variety of fun family activities, says theRutland Herald. It all starts Friday, Jan. 29 with ice carving which runs throughout Saturday, including demonstrations by 10 teams vying to win the contest, voted on by the public. Continuing with the "ice" theme, there's the Penguin Plunge Saturday at the Lake Paran boat launch to benefit the Special Olympics, followed by a post-plunge (hopefully warm-up) party, dog sled races, snowshoeing, and lots more. You can try a horse-and-buggy ride if all of the above isn't enough to lift your spirits. The 4-legged member(s) of your family also can join in the fun by participating in the Pet Winter Fashion Contest and showing off his or her favorite winter fashion outfit. Don't you feel better already?

Vermont's famed artist of man's best friend committed suicide in early January, apparently despondent about having to lay off employees at his Dog Mountain studio and dog chapel nearby his home in St. Johnsbury. The artist of whimsical paintings, sculptures, and woodcut prints, brought him fans across the globe. Huneck's wife, Gwen, wrote in a letter, that laying off employees really hurt him. "He cared about them and felt responsible for their welfare." Dog lovers often came to visit the chapel. Huneck once told an Associated Press reporter, "When dogs pull in here, they may never have been here before, but it's like they saw the 'Disneyland' sign. They just get so excited and happy." Stephen Huneck made lots of people and their canine companions happy. It's a sad lick goodbye.

Everyone loves a Christmas tale (or is that tail?) with a happy ending. Such was the case when Pierce Reid, a part-time Stowe police officer since 2005, came to the rescue of a lost dog Christmas Eve, according to the Reid was dressed as Santa Claus as part of the Stowe Police Department's Santa program, in which volunteers and officers deliver gift baskets to the elderly and toys to the kids. Reid had finished his distribution of gifts and was on his way home when he came across a crowd surrounding a dog who had been limping down the road. That's when Santa sprang into action, picked up the pup, and called on a fellow officer to come get the dog. "As far as I know, it's been reunited with its owner," said Reid. "It was a true Christmas story." The dog now has quite a tale to tell his fellow canine friends of the time he was rescued by Santa. Wonder if it'll go on his police record?

Two Vermont icons have joined forces to have fun and help others as the world spins toward the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, according to OnTheSnow.com. Ben & Jerry's, Vermont's legendary ice cream makers, have launched a new flavor named after Hannah Teter, gold medalist in snowboarding halfpipe at the 2006 Oympics in Torino, Italy. Proceeds from sales will benefit Teter's charity, Hannah's Gold, which supports humanitarian projects in Kenya. "Maple Blondie" is a maple ice cream with blonde brownie chunks and a maple caramel swirl. "Growing up in Vermont and making maple syrup with my family was very special, so selling maple syrup to help others is an amazing opportunity... we fit perfectly." You can check out Hannah's Web site (http://Hannah'sGold.com) for more information. Better yet, try the new flavor while you're reading.