Although it is the only New England state without an ocean coastline, Vermont is covered in a rolling heart-gripping scenery that more than makes up for the lack of an ocean coastline where peaceful villages huddle next to each other give it a touch of beauty that is at once both pristine and pure Don’t make the mistake of coming in the fall The scintillating beauty can make your heart skip a beat Looking for a wonderful vacation destination The Green Mountain State has some excellent options discover the seven charming Vermont towns for the perfect getaway Considering its charm and beauty, it is not difficult to figure out why Stowe receives a constant stream of visitors With its beautiful setting atop the majestic Mt Stowe presents an appearance that any painter would love to put down on canvas A creative way to start your adventure is to grab some delicious apple strudel (or rolled raspberry danish) at Von Trapp Kaffeehaus a long-cherished name also known for its light and crisp lagers designed as a classic European mountain chalet No wonder Snow Country Magazine once named it the "Finest Cross-Country Ski Resort in the United States.” If you enjoy getting out and exploring the landscape the scenic Stowe Recreation Path should be on your itinerary Waterbury is a quaint, picture-perfect town that provides convenient access to world-class ski resorts, especially considering it is just 10 miles from Stowe, the self-proclaimed “Ski Capital of the East." With the Winooski River flowing along the western rim of the town, you will find an environment that is rustic and deeply steeped in nature’s aroma. Waterbury is not New Orleans or Bangkok but its food scene is among the most eclectic and inviting on the entire Eastern Board Big names here include Cold Hollow Cider Mill the go-to venue for fresh-pressed apple cider; the Cabot Creamery Store whose cheddar has frequently been ranked the best in the world; and Ben & Jerry’s the only Ben & Jerry's factory open to the public a pristine 14-acre property that bagged the 2024 M.K Several things about Woodstock make it the quintessential New England small town: the Middle Covered Bridge a beautiful 1969 replica of a 19th-century wooden bridge where community events and farmers markets unfold You will immediately appreciate why Woodstock is often named among the prettiest small towns in the United States the beautiful Ottauquechee River flows through the town and imbues it with an ambiance that is rustic and relaxing in almost equal measure If you want to stay in a central place that is close to almost everything Woodstock Inn & Resort springs to mind you will want to hike up Mount Tom or take a refreshing plunge in nearby Silver Lake State Park Montpelier is unique because of an interesting attribute: It is the smallest capital in the nation visitors get blown away by the glitz of a capital and the intimacy of a small town a getaway here comes with top-notch outdoor action the last of which is best enjoyed at Hubbard Park or the 193-acre North Branch River Park a Main Street property that serves convenience and comfort with a big heart rent a two-wheeler from Onion River Outdoors so you can easily swing by attractions such as the State House or the Vermont History Museum A getaway in Manchester makes sense because it is close to three incredible ski mountains including the highly acclaimed Stratton Mountain Resort widely regarded as the birthplace of snowboarding Stratton Mountain is one of the tallest peaks in New England so you can imagine the austere grandeur of the surrounding landscape If your idea of an ideal getaway involves getting lost in the pages of a gripping book you will find Northshire Bookstore to be quite a gem And don’t think you will endure a moment of starvation This iconic bookstore has a cafe that serves delicious treats including a mouthwatering range of beverages a stroll along Main Street will see you discovering some inviting restaurants one of the best dining experiences in the area a dog-friendly establishment that treats patrons like royalty Any well-traveled Vermonter will tell you that Lake Willoughby is among the state’s most spellbinding attractions Backdropped by the towering cliffs of Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor Lake Willoughby’s dramatic scenery is one for the books You will also enjoy its crystal-clear waters and an immediate environment that is as tranquil as it is therapeutic the best way to sample this blue-space wonder is to set base at Westmore slow-paced town with a rustic ambiance and rural feel Lake Willoughby North Beach is nice and right next to the road while Sentinel Rock and Bald Mountain — two outdoor gems in the area — offer fantastic hiking thrills A unique way to experience the area’s scenery is to spend the night at Will-O-wood Campground lovely space that overlooks Lake Willoughby Rounding off the list of seven charming Vermont towns for a getaway is Newport a cute little town close to the Canadian border It may strike one as remote and hard to get to but Newport is easily accessible via Interstate 91 the longest Interstate in New England that is wholly within the region a first-time visitor will enjoy stunning views of Lake Memphremagog and soothing panoramas that stretch well into Canada Keep in mind that the air here is fresh and playful making it perfect for those who want to kick off and wind down You can also float down the Black River or enjoy the breeze at Prouty Beach a peaceful space with paved walking paths and nautical charm The other good thing about Prouty Beach is that it has a clean campground for spending the night Nature and nostalgia come together in Vermont to curate an experience that will linger in the memory for several years It may lack Florida’s beaches or California’s palm trees the Green Mountain State has a landscape that can be mistaken for a Norman Rockwell painting: a delicious blend of sentimentality and simplicity photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com PRESS RELEASE – The Montpelier Elementary School is now scheduling appointments for screening and assessment for the Kindergarten and KinderKlub classes for 2025/2026 Sessions will be held May 27th and 28th at the Montpelier School at 1015 E All children who will be 5 years old on or before September 30 should be registered for kindergarten by next fall Kindergarten students are required by State law to be screened before entering Parents are asked to provide their child’s certified birth certificate (NOT a hospital birth record) These are all state requirements for school enrollment Prospective students will be participating in the state-mandated kindergarten screening as a part of the assessment The screening staff will consist of the school nurse kindergarten teachers and elementary principal This is the only screening and assessment Montpelier Schools will hold Montpelier Schools also intend to once again house a preschool unit which will be operated by the Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center The preschool is for students ages 3-5 years old please contact the office of Jackie Fouty at NwOESC 4667 to schedule an early childhood screening There is also a NOCAC Child Development (Head Start) unit housed in our building children must be 5 years old by September 30 If you are interested in making an appointment for assessment Update: State Police have reported that Erika Blake has been located and is safe Vermont State Police received a report that East Montpelier resident Erika Blake According to a press release from the state police it was reported that Blake left her residence in East Montpelier on the morning of April 29 She has not had any contact with her family or friends since and contact with Blake has been unsuccessful The release also notes that Blake is described as a 37-year-old white female weighing approximately 135 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes Her last known clothing description or vehicle is unknown at this time.  Anyone with information as to Erika’s whereabouts is asked to call the State Police Berlin Barracks at 802-229-9191. Tips can be anonymously reported at vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit Do you know of something going on we should cover to Yates Franklin and Dorothy Ann (Golden) Davis Whitey was a 1958 graduate of Chester Center High School He was known for sharing stories of the “good old days” and cherished his role as a dad both of Hartford City; grandchildren include Angie Davis of Montpelier Carson Brigner of Hartford City and Travis (Lauren) Pearson He is also survived by great-grandchildren Daxton and Deegan; and great-great-grandchildren Also surviving are his brother Jim (Donna) Davis of Montpelier; sister Janice (Lanny) Ray of Montpelier; and several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter Libby N Whitey worked for 37 years at International Harvester in Fort Wayne He also co-owned R+D Satellite with Mike Ray He was a proud lifetime member of the Bro Shadow Club and a supporter of 5 Points School He enjoyed participating in go-kart racing and was a Montpelier Speedway Track Champion He especially loved watching his great-grandson Brody race helping people in need and organizing hog roasts for 5 point school and other events He was also active in the local Montpelier Lions Club Sons of the American Legion – Millard-Brown American Legion Post 156 and was a loyal supporter of Montpelier establishments A visitation will be held at Walker & Glancy Funeral Home with a funeral service to follow starting at 11 a.m Burial will follow at Brookside Memorial Park in Montpelier Pastor Rick Mann and Dewey Zent will officiate memorial contributions may be made to 5 Points School IN 47359 or Shriners Hospital for Children Arrangements have been entrusted to Walker & Glancy Funeral Home in Montpelier Online condolences may be made by visiting glancyfuneralhomes.com Log in to leave a comment If you're looking for "I Spys," dating or LTRs Tags: , , , Montpelier is getting its recognition as one of the coolest downtowns in the country "Nothing charms like a small downtown that beckons visitors with historic architecture and boutique shops or local culture and tree-lined streets," the article said "Many small-town downtowns are located in beautiful settings or have stunning views."  Here's what HGTV had to say about the trendy capital of the Green Mountain State HGTV named Montpelier's downtown as one of the top 40 most charming small-town downtowns in the United States She can be reached at rvelasco@gannett.com BBC CHAMPS … Montpelier’s Griffin Cooley slides home with a run in the fifth inning Cooley scored the game-winning run on a suicide squeeze in the seventh inning as Montpelier clinched a share of a third straight BBC title The Village Reporter's website offers a mix of free and paid content This news story is a paid subscriber feature Subscribers receive full website access once successfully logged in please consider supporting our local small business for a minimal weekly fee that costs less than a cup of coffee readers have supported our newspaper operation by purchasing news copies since the 1870’s Little has changed beyond we now offer your Hometown News online Like your other small-town LOCAL businesses we charge a minimal fee to access LOCAL news stories We cannot be expected to give our product away any more than the coffee shop We feel an average of 350 weekly LOCAL hours of effort made to publish LOCAL news by LOCAL employees for a small fee is the best deal around Downtown Montpelier is about to be disrupted by a major construction project on State Street starting St will extend from the intersection of State and Main streets to the Rialto Bridge Its goal is to separate stormwater coming from East State Street out of the sanitary sewer system which contributes to combined sewer overflows during heavy rain an engineer with the Montpelier Department of Public Works Since no existing stormwater outfalls are large enough to handle runoff from East State Street LaPerle said in an interview with The Bridge Much to the chagrin of the many business owners along the street State Street will only be open to westbound traffic (heading toward the Statehouse) between Main and Elm streets for several months Because of the fluid nature of construction projects the city does not want to put a specific date on the return of two-way traffic.  Business owners on State Street understand the project is necessary but they are nevertheless concerned about the potential for economic disruption Asked about community input into the project owner of North Branch Cafe at 41 State Street said there’s a little bit of upset that you might get from some people.”  was first announced to the city’s business community at a Montpelier Business Association (MBA) meeting in December “Nobody could go to because it’s our busiest time So … not very many people were able to attend.” Parker went on to say that DPW did come to the next regularly scheduled MBA meeting on the first Wednesday of January  “It was a little shocking,” Parker said of the project’s announcement “It’s the first that any of us had heard of it.”  “This project was identified in the city’s Long Term Control Plan (published in 2019) which outlines projects needed for combined sewage overflow reduction,” LaPerle told The Bridge and award process have been shared in the DPW weekly newsletter and that DPW staff met with business owners shortly after the construction bids were in details around car and pedestrian traffic could not be shared until the contractor was chosen He also said that increased workloads around the 2023 flood caused the project to be delayed for a year.  The project has already been pushed back two weeks by the contractor to allow for building inspections of structures potentially impacted by the construction 24 email from the Department of Public Works which will be coordinated by city staff members but performed by Vermont Testing although the city anticipates the majority will occur the week of March 10.  This will ultimately result in a large pit Based on information from contractors as of Feb LaPerle said the affected section of State Street will be closed entirely to vehicle traffic from April 7 to April 11 the only complete vehicular closure between Main and Elm streets scheduled for the project Excavation and coring behind the Rialto Bridge abutment will begin the week of March 24 followed by sheet pile installation around the perimeter of the pit beginning March 31 and through the week of April 7 starting first on the southern side near Positive Pie and proceeding counterclockwise to the northern side of State Street near Capitol Grounds piping will then be pushed toward the intersection of State and Main streets A trench will also be excavated from the pit to the Rialto Bridge.  Sidewalk access will remain open for the duration of the construction project except for temporary closures when sheet piles are lifted into the air “This is for everyone’s safety,” said LaPerle.  Parker acknowledged that the city faced its own logistical constraints which affected communication with the public “they’re working hard on this … they didn’t know until they were able to work this out with the contractors They didn’t know if this would be this year or next year Until they knew what the story was going to be Parker said that it has been frustrating to many but “we know it needs to be done.” However with more advanced notice businesses could have adjusted their spring inventory purchasing schedules Parker also noted that if the city had announced the project before securing the necessary bids retailers might be in the position of having ordered too little inventory.  Parker said she is working with others in the State Street business community to secure free parking for the duration of the project although she was not yet prepared to announce any specifics but expects to make that announcement soon.  Is North Branch Cafe anticipating a hit to its business We’re already having a hard-enough time as it is rebounding from the flood and people not wanting to come downtown,” said Jenny Sebold owner of the shops Wylding and Rebel Heart While noting that DPW and everyone else is doing their best Sebold expressed frustration with the communication surrounding the project “We’re not working together and communicating,” she said.  Sebold noted that her floral business — through phone and online orders and deliveries — has a cushion against a potential drop to walk-in traffic “That has me hopeful that we won’t get completely shellacked,” she said a cafe and gelato shop at 14 State Street sporting a sign that says “Thanks DPW,” said she wasn’t sure how the project will affect her business She did note that most of Enna’s customers walk from nearby offices.  Bates said many of her gelato customers are children and they will likely be intrigued by the construction project and if her business is negatively impacted by the construction she said she can sell gelato elsewhere via the cart.  The cafe will be fine as long as the project is completed on schedule in June If it were to continue past that time and into July and August “We don’t know for sure how the project is going to affect our business,” said Bates “I do believe the whole community and the city will support us if it does LaPerle suggested those interested in project details scroll to the “Notify Me” section on the city website (montpelier-vt.org/list.aspx) visitors can choose to receive emails from DPW which will include updates on the construction project.  encouraged customers to keep an eye on businesses’ social media and Montpelier Alive for updates on all aspects of the project and what businesses are doing to work around the disruption whether it be changes to hours of operation or alternatives to parking on State Street.  Montpelier’s post office has been unreliable but frustrated residents missing their mail certainly are Attempts to reach Postmaster Douglas Powell have gone unanswered The Bridge has called him nearly a dozen times at two different numbers Efforts to contact a regional manager have also hit a dead end And about those postmasters — Powell is the fifteenth since 2010 and the eleventh since 2020 No official explanation has been given for why mail is running one to two weeks late but residents have taken to social media and Front Porch Forum to speculate and to share their frustrations Off-the-record sources say the Montpelier post office is operating with about half the letter carriers it needs to keep up.  The post office is attempting to add personnel in central Vermont 18 search for jobs at the USPS website found that the organization is seeking to hire carriers in Montpelier thanks to help from carriers from other towns That’s coming whenever the remaining Montpelier carriers can manage having long counted on regular postal service “I depend on mail,” said Kjiirt (pronounced “Kurt”) Jenson of Jay Street Jenson said he waited so long for an important piece of mail that his housemate eventually went to the Berlin sorting center and picked it up in person Lydia Lowery Busler of Pleasantview Street had the opposite problem: her outgoing mail sat in her mailbox for nearly a week with the flag up She posted about it in the Montpelier Area Friends Facebook group and later said Busler said she filed a complaint on the USPS website at 8 p.m got a call from a USPS representative in Portland “He said they’ve had a lot of complaints about this post office He also said there’s one person working inside the post office and that a carrier was injured.” owner of B-Hive Industries on River Street has relied on the Montpelier post office for 26 years for his internet sales “But a small business like mine with outgoing shipments is not as important (as) making sure the Amazon orders get delivered,” Beavin said he was expecting to deliver over 100 parcels on Feb because despite the number of his packages “I usually have to bring (them) to the sad temporary retail counter with bad parking and no loading docks” on East State Street “I just got two letters from the city of Montpelier that took 13 days to reach River Street,” he said.  The issue isn’t just affecting residents and businesses who works at the Vermont State Housing Authority says mail delays are impacting the Section 8 rental-assistance program “My work has definitely experienced some recent challenges regarding mail delivery for our Section 8 participants,” she said “Since I began working with this program about a year ago we have depended on reliable mail delivery to adhere to our paperwork processing deadlines.” “What used to be a steady daily receipt of mail has now become quite erratic but we were informed that we should not expect any mail next week due to our carrier’s upcoming vacation with no coverage to fill in during that time.” “This situation is starting to affect our ability to process applications efficiently and communicate effectively with participants I don’t know what the larger issue at play is but it is certainly becoming disruptive to our community.” Use blue postal mailboxes — These are handled differently than residential mailboxes ensuring regular attention to the mail deposited into them Visit the Berlin sorting center — If you’re waiting for important mail you can visit the USPS sorting center at the Central Vermont Marketplace (formerly the Berlin Mall) File a complaint at usa.gov/postal-service-complaints “I’m going to be on top of it and not expect anything,” she said “It’s better to send things by email or messages.” Montpelierites are left hoping for long-term improvements — and checking and rechecking their mailboxes Montpelier High School boys basketball senior Atif Milak picked the ball away from a Harwood player dunking the ball to spark a roar from the Montpelier fans Milak's jam was a part of a 7-0 run that helped propel No 1 Montpelier to its fifth straight D-II championship with a 68-57 win over No The last team to win five championships in a row was Mount Anthony which did it from 1988-1992 at the Division I level "It's really special to see what these kids have been able to do year over year," Montpelier coach Nick Foster said College: Late unanswered run saves season for Vermont basketball in America East quarterfinals Related: Vermont H.S. playoff scores for Saturday, March 8: See how your favorite team fared Carson Cody (14 points) and Clayton Foster (8 points) complete their high school careers with four state championships "When precocious situations happen we can always fall back on each other and trust one another so much." At the end of the first quarter it appeared that Montpelier (23-1) would be running away in its third meeting of the season against Harwood (20-4) once again The Highlanders previously lost to Montpelier 71-49 and 70-39 this season The Solons built a 20-9 lead after the opening eight minutes capitalizing on Harwood's several missed layups and free throws Yet the Highlanders had other plans following a timeout with 5:35 left in the second quarter down by 18 points the Highlanders slowly chipped away into Montpelier's lead and only trailed 40-30 at halftime The Highlanders kept closing the gap on the Solons' chance for history A pair of Caleb Brookens free throws got Montpelier's lead down to 46-45 late in the third quarter "We just settled down to be honest," Highlanders head coach Jay Bellows said Montpelier relied on its championship experience to not let the lead completely slip away in the fourth quarter Montpelier came up with the necessary rebounds and got to the free throw line nine times One of the differences in the fourth quarter was that Harwood did not earn any trips to the free throw line In total Montpelier outscored Harwood 19-10 in the final frame "We haven't been here for this game in 888 games," Bellows said "We just told the kids that they should be really proud of this accomplishment Any other team that was down 18 in the second quarter probably would have gotten blown out." Contact Judith Altneu at jaltneu@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu Montpelier voters will decide on 15 measures on the Town Meeting Day ballot on March 4 including three measures relating to the Montpelier Roxbury School District Town Meeting Day is held at Montpelier City Hall on the first Tuesday of March Vermont law makes Town Meeting Day a holiday for employees of the state and allows other employees in the state to take unpaid time off to attend voters elect local officials and cast votes on ballot measures concerning the city budget and other policy issues Three of the measures on the ballot were placed on the ballot through successful citizen initiative petitions The initiatives were designed to do the following: placed on the ballot by the Montpelier City Council and salaries for the city council and the mayor: Voters will also elect the following local officials: *one council member each from districts one *one commissioner for the Green Mount Cemetery for a term of five years; and *one parks commissioner for a term of five years Voters will also elect the following Roxbury School District officials: *two Montpelier School Directors for three-year terms one Roxbury School Director for a three-year term and one Roxbury School Director for a two-year term The three ballot measures relating to the Montpelier Roxbury School District would do the following: In 2022, Montpelier voters approved all 15 measures on the Town Meeting ballot. In 2023, voters approved 15 measures. In 2024 voters approved 10 of 11 Town Meeting measures Ballotpedia also covers electoral system-related ballot measures Additional reading: Vermont 2025 local ballot measures City voters will be electing three city councilors for two-year terms and two school board members for three-year terms City Councilor Pelin Kohn is being challenged by Marc Gwinn Ben Doyle is running unopposed for the seat from which Councilor Lauren Hierl is stepping down former City Councilor Jim Sheridan is running unopposed for the seat that is being vacated by current Councilor Tim Heney Incumbent Montpelier Roxbury School Board members Jake Feldman and Tim Duggan are running unopposed for the two seats up for election this year Tammy Legacy is running unopposed to be the Montpelier Roxbury School Clerk Jessa Barnard is running unopposed for a 5-year term on the Parks Commission and Linda Berger is running unopposed for a 5-year term on the Cemetery Commission Near the end of its final public budget hearing on Jan the Montpelier City Council voted unanimously to place a 1% local option sale tax on the ballot for Town Meeting Day The tax would apply to the same items as the state 6% sales tax which excludes some items such as food and clothing the local sales could take effect as soon as July 1 and bring in as much as $600,000 a year based on state sales tax revenues in Montpelier for the period July 1 The council decision to put the tax on the ballot came after a difficult budgeting season in which several city positions were cut and capital needs such as paving were once again underfunded The tax rate will still go up 4.77% if all items on the ballot pass Montpelier voters have previously voted down the local sales tax twice the tax was on the ballot alongside a proposed rooms which later passed in 2016 when it was put on the ballot by itself The most recent vote on a sales tax came in 2012 when it was defeated by a two-to-one margin The ballot article proposing the tax said that 20% of revenues received would be dedicated for business development and business promotion and 80% of all revenues received would be dedicated to offset property tax revenue This year’s ballot article says the first $50,000 will go to Montpelier Alive and the next $100,000 will go to infrastructure work One thing that has changed since the 2012 vote is that several nearby cities and towns have recently enacted a local 1% sales tax These include the following municipalities (with effective date): Barre City (October 2022) 26 Vermont municipalities now have a local sales tax The city website (www.montpelier-vt.org) has a link on the home page to more information about the proposed tax Montpelier’s Town Meeting Day ballot includes an article asking voters to adopt a pro-Palestinian resolution advising the mayor and city council to declare Montpelier an “apartheid-free community” and to pledge to “end all support to Israel’s apartheid regime The city charter allows petitioners to propose “any non-legally binding articles or international importance requested by five percent of the voters.” Legally binding articles require the signatures of 10% of voters this petition was submitted with about 450 signatures of which 400 or so were found to be registered Montpelier voters The minimum 5% required was about 380 valid signatures A similar resolution was proposed in Burlington this year but will not be on the Burlington ballot because a majority of that city council said it was “too divisive.”  It is not clear whether the Montpelier City Council has the right to keep a petitioned resolution off the ballot but in any event the resolution was not discussed by the council Montpelier’s ballots in the past have on occasion included petitioned resolutions pertaining to state and national issues Shall the voters of the City of Montpelier advise the Mayor and City Council to adopt the following pledge and equality for the Palestinian people and all people; and WE DECLARE ourselves an apartheid-free community WE PLEDGE to join others in working to end all support to Israel’s apartheid regime Tags: SEE THE TOWN MEETING PAGE FOR TOWN MEETING STORIES 2025 | By Waterbury RoundaboutAround the nation and across Vermont statehouses and city halls on Saturday to peacefully demonstrate in opposition to the myriad of actions by the Trump administration since President Donald Trump took office on Jan The crowd fills the Vermont State House lawn for Saturday’s demonstration According to news reports around the state approximately two dozen protests were held in Vermont on a rainy Saturday afternoon from the Northeast Kingdom to Bennington the police department estimated that between 5,000 and 6,000 people gathered for a rally on the Vermont State House lawn and march through the capital Signs decried fascism and oligarchy and called for protecting individual rights Some covered signs in plastic to protect them from the rain Speakers addressing the crowd from the State House steps included former Vermont Gov Madeleine Kunin who also served as the U.S Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark and state Treasurer Mike Pieciak The Onion River Chorus sang — and the crowd joined — the Canadian national anthem Canada,” to introduce Montreal Gazette newspaper columnist Josh Freed Others at the microphone included professors The Vermont demonstrations were organized by the recently formed grassroots 50501Vt political network 2025” protests nationwide were assembled by a coalition of organizations including the Indivisible movement who served as Vermont’s only woman governor The Montpelier Police Department prepared for the massive gathering by closing State Street to vehicle traffic the department thanked local residents and motorists for their “understanding and patience” as the city accommodated the large crowd the city Public Works Department and Vermont State Security assisted with traffic control and public safety for the afternoon “Thank you to all involved for your cooperation in making this a peaceful gathering,” the department’s message said Noting that the State House property generally accommodates about 5,000 people Montpelier Police Chief Eric Nordenson in an email to the Waterbury Roundabout said his staff pegged the crowd size between 5,000 and 6,000 people The images below were captured by Waterbury Roundabout photographer Gordon Miller with his camera and drone Rob Hofmann of Waterbury shared shots from the afternoon as well Waterbury Roundabout is an online news site launched in May 2020 Our mission is to provide readers with news about local government work and play in and around the Waterbury region.Thank you for reading About Contact Arts & Humanities By Hannah Castro | November 13 LOGAN, Utah — The Lyric Repertory Company will spread holiday cheer in Logan with a one-man performance of “Christmas in Montpelier,” a memoir written by former USU History Professor Ross Peterson. The show is set to take the stage in early December at the Caine Lyric Theatre Department Head of Theatre Arts Richie Call will be the sole actor in the production “Christmas in Montpelier” brings to life Peterson's witty and heartwarming stories from his youth in his southern Idaho hometown certainly a love letter from Ross to his home community But that community feels so close to us here in Cache Valley so it also feels like a love letter to Cache Valley,” Call said tender memories of Christmases growing up.” USU Assistant Professor Stephanie White is directing this production and emphasized the collaborative creative process that occurs among the Department of Theatre Arts faculty for this production “I learned quickly that you rely on people and their specializations right away I have an incredible team that Richie was able to gather,” White said ‘What did you think reading the script What did you see?’ And then suddenly and it becomes a greater thing than just the concept of one individual.” Call has played well-known figures in past productions but this is the first time playing someone he knows personally and Stephanie's been very helpful with that,” Call said “We're by no means trying to do an impression of Ross it's just kind of our own interpretation.” The artistic team visited Montpelier to explore the locations Peterson wrote about which provided valuable insights for the play’s set design and allowed them to incorporate a personal touch “They had trees that would line Center Street and for Christmas The set designer also wants to include a railroad because Ross talks about the significance of the railroad in the community,” White said “Amy Critchfield came up with the idea of having the design team share design work of their homes so we could see what their growing up space was like and we're so grateful that Ross shared that with us.” “Christmas in Montpelier” will be at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6-7, 9 and 12-14, and at 1 p.m. Dec. 7 and 14 at the Caine Lyric Theatre. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit online Comments and questions regarding this article may be directed to the contact person listed on this page 20 surgeries and countless hours of struggle and perseverance Sarah Frei graduated with a bachelor's in Elementary Education The new $7.6 million cultural facility will provide opportunity for engagement with NEHMA's collection of modern and contemporary American art UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY HEALTH & WELLNESS This year’s ballot on Town Meeting Day features openings for three city councilors and two school board members District 2 voters will be choosing between Marc Gwinn and incumbent Pelin Kohn for city council on March 4 Ben Doyle is running unopposed for the seat vacated by Lauren Hierl is also running unopposed for the seat held by Tim Heney The Bridge reached out to all the city council candidates to get their thoughts on critical city issues but readers can get a more in-depth look at the candidates on Feb when The Bridge joins the Montpelier Rotary Club for a 75-minute candidate forum at city hall and will be livestreamed by ORCA Media and available for later viewing as well Below is a sample of the types of questions we plan to ask at the forum Ben Doyle: Water infrastructure: it’s necessary Montpelier has as many water main breaks as Burlington The cost of emergency repairs undermines our ability to address systemic vulnerabilities or do anything else well Sustained investment in infrastructure is a prerequisite for additional housing or economic development that could broaden the city’s tax base and provide greater affordability I formerly served as an area director for USDA Rural Development a federal agency that finances essential community infrastructure and housing — experience that will serve me well on the council.  Marc Gwinn: City management will change in the coming year The most important issue before us is HOW we handle this change Saying goodbye to Bill Fraser should be done with grace and gratitude The search for a new manager should be done with optimism and hope Recruiting and onboarding the new person should be presented as what it is: a rare opportunity for someone to have a meaningful positive impact on the future of the Bravest Little State Capital The attitude with which they enter the role will mean a lot Pelin Kohn: Montpelier’s most pressing issue is our aging infrastructure and the urgent need to strengthen it for resiliency and long-term economic development Projects like water main upgrades and stormwater management expose the city’s vulnerabilities As climate change increases flooding risks sustainable infrastructure must be a top priority The goal of converting all government buildings to renewable energy by 2030 is commendable but broader community-wide adoption of green technologies Strengthening our infrastructure means future-proofing Montpelier and building a city ready for tomorrow’s challenges while promoting prosperity for all residents the cost of living is the most pressing issue facing Montpelier In my previous 12 years on the city council the cost to run the city and schools was always front and center The state of the economy is always the overriding issue in politics We are living in the most uncertain times since the late ‘60s and people are worried they are being priced out of this city We need to pare down to the core services and do only necessary projects and determine what minimal staffing is needed receives $1,600 a month in social security I want my kids to grow up in a community that my neighbor can continue to call home but the truth is that doesn’t happen through ad hoc decisions or in a single budget cycle We need to grow the tax-base through a sustained commitment to strengthening our infrastructure and to becoming the most housing friendly city in Vermont — not a place where economic development projects flounder due to lack of political will.  Gwinn: My work begins with empathetic listening It is important to understand what is most important to people Only then does the discussion of costs have any meaning I would expand the District 2 Listening Sessions and work with partners like the Montpelier Foundation to conduct city-wide forums We should share those costs with more people: homeowners We need more opportunities for people to become homeowners at all stages of life We need all of those voices to be present as we make decisions and set a vision for Montpelier Kohn: I’ve heard from many residents who are deeply concerned about Montpelier’s rising tax rates and how it affects their ability to afford living here Through the District 2 monthly listening sessions it’s become clear that taxpayers want not just to be informed about budget decisions — they want to be involved in shaping them I’m committed to expanding community engagement and making the budgeting process transparent This means holding forums before key decisions We must prioritize responsible budgeting that reflects community needs while staying within reasonable limits Residents are ready to invest in Montpelier’s future but they want real progress on housing and essential services Sheridan: I was always the most poor person on the city council during my 12 years and nobody fought harder for those whose voices were the least heard I actually have a record that I am proud to stand on fighting and serving the people who elected me to keep Montpelier affordable In 12 years we had four level-funded budgets that I was a major factor in pushing for I am a true champion of the people and I never missed a council meeting so I could be there to represent their voices and interests The Bridge will be moderating a candidate forum at Montpelier’s City Hall featuring all four Montpelier City Council candidates The event is free and open to the public and comes via a partnership with the Montpelier Rotary Club It will be streamed live on ORCA Media from 12:15 p.m and available for later viewing on ORCA Media and YouTube.  East Montpelier voters discussed and unanimously approved a non-binding resolution “Relating to the Overreach of Presidential Power” at Tuesday’s Town Meeting The resolution was introduced by East Montpelier resident Andrew Christiansen at the end of Town Meeting After reading a personal statement followed by the resolution Christiansen received a standing ovation by meeting attendees East Montpelier voters discussed the proposal for about half an hour Many residents spoke emotionally about the politically challenging times that we are now living in and how the vulnerable portion of the population is truly at risk A voice vote was unanimous followed by more applause by the meeting attendees East Montpelier joins at least two other Vermont towns that passed the same resolution The Resolution Relating to the Overreach of Presidential Power reads as follows: WHEREAS the Town of East Montpelier is the final resting place for 35 Revolutionary War soldiers who fought against an authoritarian English king is a town that fought against racism by sending 136 soldiers to fight in the Union Army in the Civil War and is a town that went to war against fascism during World War II federal programs support East Montpelier agriculture and forestry projects assist town road maintenance and flood recovery and all these funds are in jeopardy because of a President violating laws passed by Congress; and Vermont nonprofits and other businesses are being closed increasing the number of newly unemployed Vermonters as a direct result of illegal Executive Orders and DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) activities; and many of the sitting President’s actions suggest similarities with the rise of Hitler in the 1930’s and by threatening allies and neighboring nations; and the President supports the Russian dictator and is working against Ukraine while undermining our alliance with Europe and NATO; BE IT RESOLVED that the town of East Montpelier condemns these moves towards authoritarianism and fascism by the federal government of the United States of America and calls upon Congress to resist any effort to give exclusive power to the Executive branch in setting budgets or assisting fascist regimes elsewhere in the world; and that the town of East Montpelier calls upon our local and state leaders to resist all Presidential Executive Orders or acts which violate the Constitution of the United States; and that this resolution be sent to our Congressional Delegation; to the Vermont Governor and Speaker of the House; the chair of the Vermont Republican and Democratic Parties and the leaders of the National Republican and Democratic Committees warned Montpelier’s City Council that losing Turtle Island Children’s Center could cause a daycare desert in the city there won’t be any childcare in this city,” Byrne said during the March 26 city council meeting Byrne was apparently speaking in response to an announcement by Turtle Island issued Feb noting there are at least three other child care centers in Montpelier) the largest early childhood education provider in central Vermont is urgently seeing a new home,” states a press release on turtleislandvt.org.  Byrne said she was told Turtle Island had to move out of its facility on Elm Street Byrne said if the center moves out of town and won’t as easily be able to pay her taxes “I am calling on the city council to take responsibility and find a way to save childcare in Montpelier,” she said parent of a child who attends Turtle Island and president of Turtle Island’s board of directors described a “crisis” situation where the child care center needs to move out Describing a matrix involving high tuition but low pay for teachers LaRosa said it is difficult to solve the situation.  “We are going to have to move most of our operation out of town,” he said well-financed program with teachers who “would be the envy of any childcare center anywhere.” However The current property is owned by Margaret “Meg” Baird Baird founded Turtle Island in her home before moving the childcare center to the Elm Street property She ended her tenure as director of Turtle Island in 2003.  “I put my heart and soul into creating a space that I thought was worthy of children,” Baird said She made sure there was natural light and “as much outdoor space as we could possibly create” and to be as homelike as possible while also meeting legal requirements of a commercial childcare provider.  Baird also said she was first told by Turtle Island representatives of the need to move in November 2022 she said she has talked with at least four individuals about the property relative to keeping its childcare use and she also talked to others about the possibility of using the property for housing the building could potentially continue to be used for early child care and education.  Baird said Turtle Island has neither been evicted nor told it could not continue renting at the present location on 659 Elm Street but it was sent a letter by the property owner in December indicating that if the program will stay beyond June 30 all parties can discuss extending the arrangement Three representatives from the limited liability organization that owns 659 Elm Street (Tamarack Meadow LLC formed in 2021) — including Baird — met with three Turtle Island board members (the president and secretary) and two administrative staff members on Saturday March 29 to try to “talk things through,” Baird said Turtle Island’s Associate Director Phoebe Stone proposed moving into the building on the city’s Country Club Road property (which used to house Sweet Clover Nursery) whereas Turtle Island currently has 70 students enrolled.  “In the short term we would like to move into the existing space and in the long term we have been talking to the (nonprofit group) The HUB and Arne (McMullen director of recreation and senior services),” Stone said Executive Director Jocelyn York said she moved here from the Brattleboro area and claimed it took her two years to find childcare for her three children She also said the organization may have to bring childcare spots out of Montpelier if they cannot find a property in Montpelier a group looking to use the former Elks Club property for a recreation center to include tennis courts said his group has been talking to Turtle Island about co-locating on the Country Club Road property “Our needs are really compatible,” he said “We may well produce a joint proposal if we have to go through the RFP process.” He went on to decry city employees for cancelling meetings with The HUB and that potential construction costs have more than doubled since the group originally proposed a public/private partnership in 2022 City Manager Bill Fraser said city employees stopped interacting with The HUB because the city council voted at its previous meeting to seek RFPs (request for proposals) for uses at the Country Club Road property staff members had been talking to The HUB “to work with them on a joint plan.” But with the RFP process it would be inappropriate to help one bidder over others.  “We’ve got to step back until the proposals are due,” he said.  Councilor Sal Alfano said former councilor Tim Heney had proposed meetings between The HUB and the city before the RFP process was authorized as a result of Turtle Island’s request to use the Elks Club “Why hold up discussions for a month when you started them without an RFP to begin with?” Alfano said Councilor Cary Brown said she is glad the city stopped negotiating about the former Elks Club property in light of the RFP It is crucial to have an equitable process Councilor Ben Doyle said he agreed that it is important to have an equitable process but that it is “great” that Turtle Island and The HUB are working together Steve Whitaker said he questions if the Country Club Road property is the right place for child care since it would displace the emergency winter shelter for the unhoused City council members unanimously approved hiring an outside firm to organize the search for a new city manager They also all agreed to form a subcommittee to choose the firm that will be asked to do the job and then to form a different subcommittee to scrutinize the proposed candidates Mayor McCullough reminded city council members they only need to approve the request for proposal for a hiring firm during the meeting Doyle said it is important to professionalize the search and to “cast a wide net to get the best firm.” Councilor Jim Sheridan said they should pick the three most knowledgeable city council members rather than one from each district Councilor Adrian Gil said she agrees about the need to have a professional guide the process and Alfano praised Fraser’s request for proposal The council voted to end Fraser’s contract with the city after June 30 during its Feb Planning and Development Director Josh Jerome said the city has received the $900,000 from the Vermont Department of Public Safety’s office of Vermont Emergency Management to pay to elevate three properties at about $300,000 each The city hired DeWolfe Engineering Associates to design the elevations the city had to hire someone to create more detailed designs by issuing a request for proposals one of the property owners wants to detach from the city at this juncture and manage the elevation process on their own This has deterred forward progress on the projects Doyle said the process should stay collaborative rather than having one property owner breaking off on their own director of Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission and Washington County representative of Green Mountain Transit’s board of commissioners offered proposed revisions to the MyRide transit service because VTrans asked for proposals The first option is to return to a full fixed-route service The second is to have a fixed schedule up Hospital Hill to the Berlin Mall but that part of the service could also be on-demand There will be public meetings at the Central Vermont Regional Planning office on April 2 at 4:30 p.m. the organization is in talks with other transportation organizations regarding a potential merger.  Demonstrators at the corner of State and Main Streets in Montpelier had a thing or two to say Saturday morning, March 22, about Canada, Vermonters’ neighbor, frequent destination and largest trading partner. Photos by John Lazenby a University of Vermont journalism internship Montpelier residents have rejected a resolution to “stand with Palestinian people and to oppose all forms of racism called on Montpelier’s leaders to join others in “working to end all support for Israel’s apartheid regime The final vote was 1,181 against and 887 for the pledge The pledge was spearheaded by the Vermont Coalition for Palestinian Liberation a Palestinian-American activist and organizer of this campaign initiated petitions for the pledge across several towns in Vermont Winooski and Burlington all successfully secured petition signatures from 5% or more registered voters needed to get the pledge on the ballots including Montpelier voted on the pledge Tuesday Faour said he believes the war is a local issue because of the amount of money the United States spends on Israel He says that funding could be going toward healthcare Oliver Ames stood outside with a Palestinian flag he purchased down the street attached to a mop handle with a couple of zip ties.  “Something about what’s going on nationally has made me feel like I have a responsibility to get out there Hardwick resident Emily Lanxner was another advocate for the Apartheid-Free pledge She stood outside City Hall handing out flyers that read as soon as the bombing started,” Lanxner said.  Protestors opposing Article 13 stood outside City Hall with their own signs and flyers Many of them expressed frustrations with the language used in the pledge and applying a double standard to Israel,” said Rabbi Tobie Weisman Executive Director of Jewish Communities of Vermont Weisman believes the campaign for Article 13 incorrectly asserted that the city of Montpelier was giving money to Israel and that petitioners were not fully honest when seeking support for the pledge “Israel needs America to be its friend,” said David Friedman “When everyone in the U.N Freidman acknowledged the United States’ financial support of Israel but didn’t feel it impacted taxpayers in Montpelier.  Advocates for both sides agreed on one thing: the significance of this bill for the City of Montpelier “People look to Montpelier,” Friedman said Montpelier sends a strong message to other places.” Faour had hoped that this could be the start of something bigger.  but nevertheless we are doing the right thing,”  Faour said “We are starting something in solidarity”  Longtime resident and co-chair of the Montpelier Commission for Recovery and Resilience has declared his candidacy for a District 1 seat in the Montpelier City Council who has decided not to run again and has endorsed Doyle as a candidate Doyle has been deeply involved in the city’s recovery from the 2023 flood As a board member of the Montpelier Foundation he helped lead efforts to raise over $2 million in philanthropic donations to support impacted small businesses He currently serves as co-chair of the Montpelier Commission for Recovery Resilience which was created to advance community priorities identified in a series of public forums after the flood Doyle advocated for the return of retail postal service in downtown Montpelier developed a public-private partnership for a planned 18-acre floodplain restoration project that will help mitigate future flooding in Montpelier at 5 Home Farm Way and secured grant funding for the city’s first comprehensive emergency response planning effort the Montpelier Action Plan for Local Emergency (MAPLE) “The 2023 flood was a pivotal moment for our community and for me personally,” Doyle said and we have made some great strides — but we have more to do to prepare for the future and to make Montpelier a place that more people can afford to call home That’s why I’m asking District 1 residents for their vote and the chance to lead.” Doyle has spent his career serving rural communities first as a Peace Corps volunteer and administrator then as an area director for USDA Rural Development and currently as president of the Preservation Trust of Vermont Doyle is focused on addressing key issues such as:  We should honor that fact with our attitude and tone We can disagree without being disagreeable I promise to be someone who believes in this city and who will fight for it with integrity and civility I believe in leading as a servant to the community People will pull together for the common good if leaders share with them the opportunity to do so.” The campaign will kick off with a series of community events to engage residents Doyle invites everyone to join in the conversation and share their ideas for Montpelier’s future For more information go to bendoyleformontpelier.com or email bendoylemontpelier@gmail.com The federal government has announced it will sell its flood-damaged building in downtown Montpelier City officials think that could present a strong opportunity to revitalize Montpelier's business district The three-story federal building — located in the heart of the city — previously housed a post office and spaces for a handful of federal agencies But the building wasn't restored after facing severe damage during the 2023 summer floods Montpelier Mayor Jack McCullough said creating new housing units would be a top priority for the property "Our housing needs are so extreme that we certainly can't overlook that as a possibility," McCullough said He also said he wouldn't mind if the white brick and concrete building was replaced altogether "That building has never aesthetically fit into downtown," he said and so if that means that this creates an opportunity to build something that's more in keeping with the character of the neighborhood The General Services Administration said it could take many months to finalize the building's sale saying it was made without any consultation with the state's congressional delegation “This decision to shutter the federal building in Montpelier is nothing short of outrageous,” Sanders said “Instead of quickly fixing this critical community institution GSA is abandoning Vermonters who still require access to the services that this building provided." Sanders said the federal government must quickly "convey the property at no cost for the public benefit." More from Vermont Public: Downtown Montpelier has a post office again, 15 months after flood Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message Enter your email to sign up for The Frequency See more newsletters Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message Click below to view a photo album of this event for free Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value"