by Don Sapatkin, MindSite News For rural LGBTQ+ youth, high rates of depression, low community support – but also high levels of pride Continuing its efforts to end any special treatment for minority populations, the Trump administration will stop providing targeted services for LGBTQ+ youth on the nationwide 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline on July 17. Although anyone in crisis can call or text 988 and be connected to a trained counselor, the line now connects high risk groups like veterans (...| The Montpelier Bridge
Every year, fourth graders walk from Montpelier’s Union Elementary School to Main Street Middle School on the last day of school, applauded by relatives, neighbors, and middle schoolers to mark their transition to middle school next year. This year photographer John Lazenby was on hand to capture the event. Photos by John Lazenby.| The Montpelier Bridge
Bill Fraser, who held the top position in the city for 30 years, is exiting the role at the end of June. by Henry Fernandez Bill Fraser attended his final City Council meeting as the capital’s longest-serving city manager on Wednesday night. Fraser was voted out by the City Council in February and plans to exit the role at the end of the month. Fraser’s ousting followed a potential 24% tax increase that the city decided to prevent by cutting municipal staff, a decision he pushed bac...| The Montpelier Bridge
Montpelier’s City Council met June 18 at the Senior Activity Center to set annual goals. Once goals were set, they came up with strategies to achieve the goals. They called this process “strategic planning.” Through discussion, posters, and sticky notes facilitated by Assistant City Manager Kelly Murphy, councilors landed on several priorities: creating more housing, building and maintaining infrastructure, and supporting and increasing economic development. The purpose of the annual ...| The Montpelier Bridge
Mary Campo McPheat, a 2003 graduate of Montpelier High School, is reminding the Montpelier community that it’s time to celebrate again. McPheat is the guiding force behind the Second Alumni MHS Roundup 2025 planned for July 18–19. Unlike more conventional reunions, the Roundup invites alumni from all classes, district-wide faculty, staff, coaches, their families, and the community to gather and “relive memories, rekindle old connections, and forge new ones.” The weekend begins with ...| The Montpelier Bridge
Two spacious and stylish coworking facilities in central Vermont — The Loft in Montpelier and the Barre Social Club in Barre — have opened in recent months, and both have ambitions beyond just their own success. Stores, restaurants, theaters, and office complexes that seemed on solid footing in both cities suffered when, in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, people were instructed, or chose, to work from home. The profound stillness imposed by the pandemic — and worsened by the floods...| The Montpelier Bridge
No New E. State Street Sidewalk To the Editor: I believe the proposed new sidewalk in Montpelier on the south side of East State Street between Hubbard and the existing crosswalk farther up the hill will be costly and unnecessary and urge DPW to not consider it. This is based on the following: I know a goal of Complete Streets is to have sidewalks on both sides of streets. While important, this is a goal, something to be given fair consideration when appropriate. The crosswalk at Hubbard an...| The Montpelier Bridge
White Queen Anne’s lace-type flowered invasives line our roads and walkways in June and have come to look almost normal. But of course they weren’t here 30 or more years ago! And it’s actually several different plants with different names and habits but similar flowers. Best known are biennial wild chervil, succeeded by the slightly shorter flowers of ground-covering bishop’s weed. And there are others, some of them dangerous; for example, poison hemlock, which I have yet to see in th...| The Montpelier Bridge
Thyme came to CVHS with many other siblings when their owner was unable to care for them. New environments can be overwhelming at first for him, but with a routine in place, he relaxes and comes out of his shell. We are still getting to know Thyme, but so far he has been a sweet boy who has demonstrated he would prefer a home with a serene environment. He has done well with his siblings and we feel he would do just fine with another feline in his next home. Since he likes things a little more...| The Montpelier Bridge