Hi, Friends! For the past several years, we have had the pleasure of celebrating Manchester Merriment and all it brings to this area over the holiday season. I was so happy to hear that one of Manchester Merriment’s anchor events, the Shires Holiday Inn Tours, just recently hit a fundraising milestone.

Hi, Friends! Today, I’m thinking back to 10 years ago when I traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark with two of my best pals, Kim and Gina. The three of us were celebrating our 40th birthdays and we thought, “let’s go to Scandinavia in the winter time!” What can I say, tickets were on the cheaper side for that time of year! We traded the typical tropical beach celebration for a cozy, winter wonderland, and it did not disappoint.

Hi, Friends. Each January, Martin Luther King Jr. Day arrives with a kind of quiet gravity — a pause in the bustle of winter that asks us to listen more closely to one of the most enduring voices in American history.

Hi, Friends! In our March 19, 2025 issue of The Guide, you met my colleague, John Paterson. As you now know, John and his wife, Jen Kane Paterson, are the founders of Green Mountain Media Group and now the proud owners of The Guide, Manchester Life Magazine, Stratton Magazine, and Vermont Magazine. Jen, John, and the team have spent the very beginning of 2026 digging into production and laying the groundwork for an exciting year to come!

Hello, Friends. Last week, we shared a big announcement about our publications. In case you missed it, Jen Kane Paterson and John Paterson of Green Mountain Media Group are now the proud owners and stewards of VERMONT Magazine, Stratton Magazine, Manchester Life Magazine, and The Guide. 

I’m a physician.  And I can tell you that there is no greater compliment in life than for a patient to, literally, put their life and trust in your hands. It is the highest compliment – and of course, a great responsibility. In a way, being a publisher is very similar. It’s a great compliment that readers trust you to share the community’s stories accurately and with care.  And it is an equally great compliment when advertisers trust you with their hard-earned (and often scar

Hi, Friends! Hanukkah is here! The first day of the Festival of Lights began on Sunday, December 14 at sundown. I didn’t grow up in a Jewish household, but I have enjoyed so much learning about Hanukkah traditions with my husband’s family, and one of my favorites is singing the Hebrew prayer while lighting the candles on the menorah each night. Baruch atah adonai…

Hi, Friends! Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting in on a chat between Tony Award® winning composer, David Yazbek, and Old Mill Road Media CEO and Publisher, Dr. Joshua Sherman. David is the composer of smash hit Broadway musicals like The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Tootsie, and The Band’s Visit, which won a whopping 10 Tony Awards®, including Best Musical and Best Score.

Hello, Friends! I’ve arrived at an important milestone in my life. This Sunday, December 7, is my birthday. I’ll be 50 years old.

Gobble, Gobble, Friends! OOPS! Did something derail your Thanksgiving Day plans? Bad weather, flat tire, broken oven…whatever the culprit, if you’re finding yourself in a pickle, there are still some fantastic holiday meal options for you in Manchester and the surrounding area! 

World-renowned brand, Le Creuset, commemorates a century of design innovation and culinary expertise with its signature, colorful cast-iron cookware, widely regarded as a kitchen essential by both professional and amateur chefs across the globe.

Hi, Friends! Thanksgiving Day is next Thursday, November 27, and you all know what that means…  Photos courtesy of the Manchester Business Association Manchester Merriment is almost here! Manchester’s season of festivities kicks off on November 29 with several events, including the Holiday Tree Lighting  at Factory Point Green, which features caroling, Santa & Mrs. Claus, and sweet treats at the Manchester Visitor’s Center. The Annual Taconic Music Thanksgiving Concert  is ea

It’s also the time when our holiday magazines start popping up in your mailboxes, at your local shops and libraries, and all around the Shires and Mountain Towns! It’s just in time to start getting excited about all the festivities to come, no matter how you celebrate.

November is here, which means stick season, colder weather, cozy sweaters, and that undeniable feeling we get when the holidays are approaching. While the holiday season is mostly a time of joy and gathering with loved ones, it can also be filled with anxiety and sadness for many people. Those of us who are struggling, for any reason, can feel that struggle even more acutely at this time of year. 

BOO! Happy Halloween, Friends! Today, I am delighted, in the most dastardly way, to introduce you all to my colleague, Leonard Kenyon (Lenny K.), Art Director and Vice President of Vermont Magazine, Stratton Magazine, Berkshire Magazine, and Manchester Life Magazine (his fantastic illustrations can be seen on the covers of Manchester Life!)

Hey, Friends! Did you get a chance to stop by the First Annual Manchester Harvest Day at Factory Point Town Green this past Saturday? The weather was beautiful, there was music in the air, and people from all over were out and about enjoying the festivities.

Happy Harvest, Friends! By now, you’ve seen that my love for all things Fall runs very deep, but I suspect many of you are right here with me. This past holiday weekend, our region hosted so many folks leaf peeping, pumpkin picking, and sipping hot apple cider. Everywhere I went, I saw people snapping photos of beautiful scenery and loved ones in front of gorgeous, autumnal displays. The happiness in the air was truly infectious.  Photos courtesy of the Manchester Business As

This season’s homemade apple crisp was long overdue in my household, but I remedied that over the weekend!

Hello, Friends. Happy October! I have officially launched into “spooky season,” during which I start watching as many scary movies as I can between now and Halloween.

Hi, Friends! Now that song is in your head, isn’t it? This week kicked off with the official start of my favorite season, the Autumnal Equinox on September 22.