Guest Author, Author at The Montpelier Bridge
Lois Penny Liggett May 15, 1941 — July 20, 2025 | The Montpelier Bridge
Sen. Anne Watson: How to flex your flood preparedness muscle | The Bridge
Pet of the Week: Tahoe | The Montpelier Bridge
Lois Penny Liggett May 15, 1941 — July 20, 2025 | The Montpelier Bridge
Bats are everywhere! It may feel that way to some of Vermont’s human residents. Summer is when some species of bats gather in colonies to raise their young in human-made structures such as houses, barns, office buildings, and bat houses. “Summer is the time of year when the greatest number of unwanted bat–human interactions are reported,” according to Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s Small Mammals Biologist Alyssa Bennett, who works on the conservation and recovery of Vermont’s threate...| The Montpelier Bridge
Montpelier Seventh Grader is Climate Activist | The Montpelier Bridge
Submit a Letter to the Editor using the form below. Letters will be selected for publication at our discretion.| The Montpelier Bridge
Northfield Police Chief Pierre Gomez faces racial harassment again | The Montpelier Bridge
The number of people sleeping in a car or on the street in Vermont rose 63% from last year – and it’s likely an undercount. by Carly Berlin This story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public. An annual tally of Vermonters experiencing homelessness showed a modest decrease between January of 2024 and 2025, the first downward trend in the data since before the Covid-19 pandemic began. But the data shows a grow...| The Montpelier Bridge
by Auditi Guha. “I heard somebody yelling, and I looked up, and there was a guy with a tie-dye shirt yelling and pointing very close to Chief Gomez’s face in front of the town office,” a witness said. Northfield Police Chief Pierre Gomez was dressed in his uniform and heading into the town office on Main Street on Tuesday morning, when he said he was accosted by a resident who “ranted and raved” at him using racist terms. The man, whom Gomez later identified as Northfield resident ...| The Montpelier Bridge
Under Vermont’s newly passed Act 47 of 2025, the sale of pond slider turtles, which includes the popular red-eared slider, is subject to new restrictions starting July 1, 2025. Pond sliders are the most popular turtle sold in pet stores nationwide. They are also an invasive species that competes for food and habitat with native species such as the painted turtle, which is common in Vermont, and the spiny softshell turtle, which is listed as threatened on the state’s threatened and endange...| The Montpelier Bridge
Muddy Fun at the Muddy Onion | The Montpelier Bridge
By Yoram Samets, Mike Kanarick, and Rachel Feldman The Jews have always been the canary in the coal mine, sounding the alarm when danger is in the air. The canary’s sacrifice warns others of poison before it spreads. Sometimes that warning comes as a chirp, a whisper, a song. Sometimes it comes as a scream. On October 7, 2023, the canary died. And in its place rose a phoenix from the ashes — screaming, burning, refusing to be silent. The Jewish people are an ethnoreligious minority who ha...| The Montpelier Bridge
Then and Now, July 9, 2025 | The Montpelier Bridge
The French Second Empire style was popular in Montpelier in the 1860s through the 1890s and was used for some of the city’s fancier homes. The attractive building at 132 Main Street was built around 1865 by James French, a wealthy Montpelier businessman. French owned a clothing store at the northeast corner of State and Main (see The Bridge, Nov. 2, 2022), served as postmaster, and built the brick French block on the west side of Main Street after the 1875 fires downtown destroyed three of ...| The Montpelier Bridge
Those heady months of May and June, with intoxicating apple blossoms, then early, mid, and late lilacs, wild grape flowers, peonies, roses, and now … what is that sweetness in the air? … Last week it was basswood trees flowering, and now milkweed blossoms and bedstraw, these last two perhaps the most fragrant of them all, mysteriously perfuming the air currents until their seeds begin to form and they all get down to the business of providing the next generation of plants.| The Montpelier Bridge
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
Two years after the devastating July 2023 flood, Montpelier continues to come together, rebuild, and grow stronger. On Thursday, July 10, join Montpelier Alive, the Montpelier Commission for Recovery and Resilience, and the Montpelier Neighbor Net for an evening dedicated to community resilience, learning, and celebration. The evening begins with a walking tour with Michele Braun of Friends of the Winooski from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., starting at the Langdon Street Bridge. This free guided tour al...| The Montpelier Bridge
In the second of its “Facing the Water” workshop series, Barre Up, a long-term recovery organization in Barre City, taught residents how to use flood-related tools and machines at the Aldrich Library on June 30, less than two weeks from the anniversary of the two floods that hit the region in 2023 and 2024. The first “Facing the Water” event in May walked residents through the various steps of flood recovery and helped them determine how they would best fit into future relief and re...| The Montpelier Bridge
Piggy Banks Stand in for Federal Food Bank Cuts The pigs have returned to Montpelier. If you’ve noticed large, metal, colorfully painted piggy banks throughout downtown Montpelier and wondered what they were about, wonder no more. Unlike stereotypical porkers, they’re not great eaters. In fact, their job is to provide food for hungry humans. The three structures were created from found materials by local artist Aaron Ingham of Bent Nails Studio. Like traditional piggy banks, they have slo...| The Montpelier Bridge
Trump Team Ends LGBTQ+ Youth Hotline Option. New Report Suggests It May Hurt Rural Youth Most | The Montpelier Bridge
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
Draco Moon Draco Moon has a big, bold purrrsonality! He came to CVHS after he was found hiding in a shed, and no owner has come forward for him. He can be bashful at first, but with a little time he adjusts and comes out of his shell. Once he is comfortable, he becomes social, and loves attention on his own terms. But just like any strong-willed kitty, Draco Moon has his boundaries. He’s a smart boy who knows how to communicate his needs, and he’ll definitely let you know if he’s had en...| The Montpelier Bridge
H.454, a state bill that would radically change the ways schools are financed in Vermont as well as the size and number of school districts, remained stuck in a legislative conference committee as of May 30, leading the Legislature to adjourn and give the committee more time to try to reach a compromise. The challenge for the committee is to come up with a revised version of the massive bill that satisfies the House, the Senate, and Gov. Phil Scott, who has been pushing for education funding ...| The Montpelier Bridge
Marbles is a beautiful girl with gorgeous markings of color on her fur with a big, bold purrrsonality! She is a CVHS alumni who made her way back when her owner realized she was no longer the right fit. While in her home, she was an affectionate girl who loved spending time on her adopter’s lap. She also loved playing with the laser pointer, often playing until she had no energy left. She was a little too rough with her play style with her paws with the prior adopter, so she needs a home ac...| The Montpelier Bridge
Update: State Police have reported that Erika Blake has been located and is safe. On May 1, Vermont State Police received a report that East Montpelier resident Erika Blake, 37, was missing. 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. As of 2 a.m. on Friday, May 2, Blake has not returned home, and contact with Blake has been unsuc...| The Montpelier Bridge
Hundreds of cyclists took to rain-drenched dirt roads Saturday morning, April 26, for the annual Muddy Onion dirt-road bike tour put on by Montpelier’s Onion River Outdoors. Starting from School Street in Montpelier, across from Kellogg-Hubbard Library, they headed out over backroads on routes of 58, 40, or 20 miles that looped through East Montpelier, Calais, Woodbury, and, for the longest tour, Cabot. An overnight downpour and showers off and on during the day made for muddy, interesti...| The Bridge
And the winner is … tennis and Turtle Island. Montpelier’s City Council received three proposals for using the clubhouse and some land at its Country Club Road property. Councilors discussed options during their meeting April 23, and landed on giving a quick greenlight to Turtle Island Children’s Center (after ironing out a five- to seven-year lease agreement), and further talks with its co-applicant, The HUB — a group that plans to offer racket sports, a golf course, a restaurant, ...| The Bridge
Local residents at the Gary Residence and Westview Meadows have contributed to an art exhibit on display at the Statehouse cafeteria through the end of April. “Moments in Time: Works by Vermonters with Dementia” invites the viewer to momentarily experience the progression of Alzheimer’s disease through the lens of those experiencing it, and those without it as well. The exhibition features wood carvings, drawings, paintings, and quilts by 13 Vermonters, organized by the Vermont chapter ...| The Bridge
A wise man once told me that “humor conceals a deep sadness.” In that spirit, “The Ballad of Wallis Island” is a gentle comedy about profound loss. The movie has many virtues: two multilayered lead performances, three fine supporting turns, excellent original songs, and gorgeous scenery. If you’d like to feel a little better about humanity, you should seek out this film at the Savoy Theater. “The Ballad of Wallis Island” centers on two demoralized men: Charles (Tim Key), a widow...| The Montpelier Bridge
After acquiring the historic station from the Squier family, Myers Mermel has sought to reach a broader audience with a renewed emphasis on commentary and news. by Habib Sabet On its face, the partnership between The Nation magazine and Myers Mermel, the new owner of WDEV-AM, is an unlikely one. Earlier this year, Mermel, who previously served as president of the conservative Ethan Allen Institute and once ran for the U.S. Senate as a Republican, entered the fabled Vermont radio station ...| The Montpelier Bridge
Barre City Council approved and extended a new contract for its City Manager Nicolas Storellicastro after he has served three years on the job. The new five-year contract is two years longer than the three-year contract he was offered upon being hired in July 2022. The new contract begins July 1, according to a press release issued April 22. “The length of the contract reflects our faith in Nicolas’ ability, our high level of satisfaction with his performance, and our desire to provide ...| The Montpelier Bridge
Migrant dairy workers in Vermont are increasingly scared to leave their farms due to the threat of detention and deportation| The Montpelier Bridge
The Middlesex Planning Commission passed a zoning change proposal at its April 16 meeting that could impact local businesses and housing availability.| The Montpelier Bridge
By Ava Kellner, via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship, on assignment for the Times Argus. Turtles are everywhere when you enter the offices of Make-A-Wish Vermont & Northeast New York. They’re painted on the walls, projected onto a 180-degree theater screen and on the cover of the books they give away. The turtles and the book are inspired by Jamie Heath’s experience. When she was 14, Heath received her wish to swim with the turtles in Hawaii. Today, ...| The Montpelier Bridge
From VTDigger | by Carly Berlin This story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public and comes to The Bridge through a mutual story exchange. The city of Montpelier is asking people to leave an encampment that has grown this summer at the site of […]| The Montpelier Bridge
