MANCHESTER — Roughly 28 percent of seniors in the U.S. live alone, according to the Pew Research Center. And while many seek that independence, it can also lead to isolation, loneliness and increased health issues like heart disease.

A teacher of mine once said, "All psychotherapy is about loss." If this is an exaggeration, it may be a useful one, as it highlights the importance of what psychotherapists call our attachments.

BENNINGTON — Opioid deaths in Vermont jumped for the third straight year, according to state Department of Health officials, with 239 Vermonters dying of an accidental opioid-related overdose in 2022. That represents a 10 percent increase from 2021 (217), and a 51 percent increase over 2020 (158).

Walk around town or the rec park in Manchester, or on any of the numerous trails and paths in the Northshire, and you will run into a wide variety of dogs and their owners. We live in a dog-loving community — a good thing because dog ownership is beneficial for your health.

MANCHESTER — A 2021 survey conducted by the National Garden Association found millennials were getting down and dirty — in the garden, that is. In fact, millennial gardeners rose 65 percent that year.

LONDONDERRY — Today’s teenagers live in anxiety provoking times. Climate change, school safety, mental health, gender identity, and the constant presence of social media. The award-winning Vermont documentary filmmaker and theater producer Bess O’Brien wanted to explore these issues and what…