Three children were found safe in the Vermont woods Friday morning after they failed to return from a hike the afternoon prior, according to officials.

Search crews found the 14-year-old boy, 12-year-old girl, and 11-year-old boy “safe and uninjured” shortly before 6 a.m. in wooded terrain about half a mile from their camp in Duxbury, Vermont State Police said in a news release. Crews escorted the children off Camel’s Hump mountain to be reunited with their families.

The children were taking part in an organized camp and set out on a 30-minute hike around 4 p.m. Thursday, police said. After they failed to return in about 90 minutes, camp personnel launched a search and called Vermont State Police at 6:20 p.m. 

Search efforts included emergency personnel from several agencies.

Abby Patkin is a general assignment news reporter whose work touches on public transit, crime, health, and everything in between. She has been covering the Karen Read murder case.

MONTPELIER — Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas returned from a trip to Taiwan, where she led a bipartisan delegation of her fellow secretaries from the United States.

Several secretaries of state journeyed as part of a National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) delegation to Taiwan. The trip included meetings with government officials, universities, business and agriculture leaders. The delegation visited sites related to the semiconductor industry, trade organizations, and the American Institute of Taiwan.

Copeland Hanzas also focused the trip on the theme of democracy and elections, visiting Taiwan’s Central Election Commission and sharing her perspective as the Chief Election Officer for Vermont’s election administration system.

“It might not be a well-known fact, but Taiwan is actually Vermont’s second-largest export destination,” said Copeland Hanzas. “The Vermont House and Senate both passed resolutions reaffirming the strong relations between Vermont and Taiwan this session. I was honored to lead this delegation of secretaries from across the country not only to support these economic ties, but also to support Taiwan’s commitment to democracy and open government. There is so much that we can achieve by working and learning together.”

Taiwan maintains commercial, investing, trade, cultural, educational relations and people-to-people exchanges with the U.S. through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in Washington D.C., and Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices (TECO) throughout the U.S.

NASS delegations have been visiting Taiwan for over two decades.

Drive It Home

Sunday 13

We’re not fangirling — you are! Spruce Peak Unplugged presents Jakob Dylan-led rock band the Wallflowers at the Spruce Peak Village Green in Stowe. For more than three decades, the group’s timeless tunes have dominated radio airwaves with early successes such as “One Headlight” and “6th Avenue Heartache,” yet its musical style continues to evolve and move forward — like a rolling stone, one might say.

Far Out and About

Ongoing

Shelter Cultivation Project founder Shawn Dumont’s “Peace Signs of Vermont” exhibit brings his back-road sightings to Burlington’s Karma Bird House Gallery. Along with his two young children, Dumont spent a year crisscrossing Green Mountain landscapes in search of these icons of hope — small reminders of humanity’s enduring pursuit of goodwill. Make your own sign at a free screen-printing workshop by Iskra Print Collaborative at the opening reception on July 10.

Well Done

Thursday 10

Outbound Stowe has the meats! Epicureans come hungry and leave satisfied at Smoke Signals: A Night With Chef Hugh Mangum, which serves up a succulent array of grilled grub. The barbecue legend hauls in his 1,000-gallon smoker for the almost-too-hot-to-handle feast, backed by WhistlePig cocktails, friendly lawn games and groovy tunes under the stars.

Art of Gold

Friday 11 & Saturday 12

As Petula Clark once told us, there’s no finer place, for sure, than downtown — especially when said downtown hosts the Waterbury Arts Fest. The annual craft-tastic jubilee transforms the town into a giant, wall-less art gallery with more than 100 exhibitors, as well as a hoppin’ street fair, live music by beloved area entertainers and gourmet bites by local purveyors.

Mental Health Day

Saturday 12

Psychiatric survivors, folks dubbed “mentally ill” and their allies take to the streets for Vermont Mad Pride in Burlington. A vibrant march through the Queen City brings activists to Battery Park, where a packed program of speeches, spoken-word poetry and music affirms a full spectrum of identities, while also shedding societally imposed shame.

American Pickers

Saturday 12

A scentsational summer day awaits gleeful guests at Sunshine Village Lavender Farm’s “You-Pick” Lavender Fest in Pittsford. Sun-speckled frolickers roam fields of purple to craft fresh, aromatic bouqs to take home. Walking farm tours, plant-focused workshops, food truck offerings and herbaceous handmade products complete the theme.

Wet Ones