By Josette Chun Ask any Vermonter to share favorite summer memories, and chances are you’ll hear the words “swimming hole.” Thanks to the miracles of 500 million years of geologic change, Vermont’s pools and cascades are graced with a kaleidoscope of pebbles, pools, riffles, and deep potholes. Unfortunately, every year, these same places claim the lives of Vermonters. During late June’s record-breaking heat wave, three young men lost their lives in Vermont’s lakes and rivers. Ov...| The Montpelier Bridge
In mid-summer of 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic changed anything that might be considered routine, a friend and I crossed into Canada at Beebe Plain on what would be the last of several annual bicycle tours on the excellent rail trails and bike routes created by our neighbor to the north. We hadn’t pedaled too many kilometers when we noticed that something had dramatically changed since the previous year: E-bikes were everywhere and in abundance. When we stopped in a bike shop in S...| The Montpelier Bridge
Ticks flourish across Vermont. These tiny pests can carry viruses, bacteria, and parasites and cause at least a dozen human diseases, including Lyme. Unfortunately, we are years away from vaccinating against or curing tick-borne diseases, and recent federal funding cuts have dealt tick science a setback. It’s key to avoid getting bitten if you can. Here’s what Vermonters should know. Tick Habitat Global warming means ticks are traveling north, and peak tick season is longer, extending ear...| The Montpelier Bridge
City officials and city councilors — who just formed an Economic Development Subcommittee — all say they would like to see Montpelier’s tax base grow, something it has not been doing. Montpelier’s high municipal property tax bills are a function of both city expenses and the tax base. Expenses have been rising, but the city’s tax base has not changed much, which the city’s Finance Department says puts pressure on tax rates. The city’s 2025 grand list rose $913,448 from the year ...| The Montpelier Bridge
Whether relocating inventory farther from the floor or having plans in place to move it up and out of basements at a moment’s notice, after multiple rounds of flooding, Montpelier businesses are preparing for the event of future flooding. During a recent emergency planning workshop for businesses held by the Montpelier Commission for Recovery and Resilience and Montpelier Alive, it became clear to the commission’s executive director, Jon Copans, that having been through the 2023 flood ...| The Montpelier Bridge