https://www.spartaindependent.com/sponsored-content/water-expert-andy-ball-what-is-hard-water-IC6062684 hourly The Sparta Independent en 2026-07-27T10:39:33-04:00 Water Expert Andy Ball: What is hard water? https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/andyball_4-10955186_20260727103935.jpg https://www.spartaindependent.com/pets/meet-gunner-dixon-MD6063196 hourly The Sparta Independent en 2026-07-27T11:12:20-04:00 Meet Gunner Dixon https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/gunner-dixon_4-10955418_20260727111221.jpg https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/gunner-dixon2_4-10955419_20260727111222.jpg https://www.spartaindependent.com/news/local-news/van-kirk-museum-to-feature-exhibits-flexible-flyers-concert-LD6063814 hourly The Sparta Independent en 2026-07-27T12:34:32-04:00 Van Kirk Museum to feature exhibits, Flexible Flyers concert https://www.spartaindependent.com/milestones/obituaries/john-fredrick-larson-ED6063886 hourly The Sparta Independent en 2026-07-27T12:43:16-04:00 John Fredrick Larson https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/johnlarson-image_4-10956073_20260727124317.jpg https://www.spartaindependent.com/news/local-news/community-survey-college-majors-and-careers-in-the-age-of-ai-GA6064901 hourly The Sparta Independent en 2026-07-27T14:21:17-04:00 Community Survey: College majors and careers in the age of AI https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/bigstock-global-education-online-stud_4-10956807_20260727142758.jpg https://www.spartaindependent.com/news/local-news/sparta-boy-raises-funds-to-help-rebuild-orphanage-in-peru-FD6063623 hourly The Sparta Independent en 2026-07-27T14:21:28-04:00 Sparta boy raises funds to help rebuild orphanage in Peru https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/fundraiser1_4-10955915_20260727122616.jpg James Kieran, right, of Sparta is shown on 2024 trip to Peru. https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/fundraiser2_4-10955994_20260727122617.jpg James Kierans is shown with children at a Peruvian orphanage. https://www.spartaindependent.com/news/local-news/kitchen-garden-tour-crowns-2026-favorites-BB6065245 hourly The Sparta Independent en 2026-07-27T15:27:43-04:00 Kitchen Garden Tour crowns 2026 favorites https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/unnamed_4-10957321_20260727154211.jpg The Kitchen Garden Tour winners with Dirt mag editor Becca Tucker. Left to right: Larry Mansour, Alayna Bereziuk, Chad Pilieri of Common Ground Community Garden, Becca Tucker, Aysha Venjara, Nicole Hixon, Patrick and Skylar Moynihan. Photo: Molly Colgan https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/dsc-4622_4-10957241_20260727151907.jpg Nicole Hixon chats with visitors to her garden in Warwick, N.Y and offers them strawberry hibiscus iced tea. https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/dsc-4881_4-10957244_20260727151910.jpg Nicole Hixon of Warwick, N.Y., accepts her first place prize from Juno Gara, 10, who’s been going on the Tour her whole life. https://www.spartaindependent.com/binrepository/dsc-4886_4-10957247_20260727151913.jpg From left: Garden winners Larry Mansour, Alayna Bereziuk, Chad Pilieri, Dirt Editor Becca Tucker, Aysha Venjara, Nicole Hixon, Patrick Moynihan and daughter Skylar Moynihan.