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The VA signed a 20 year lease for a new outpatient clinic at Technology Park in South Burlington, expected to open by 2030 and replace the current Burlington clinic. The new spot puts roughly 7,900 veterans within an hour's drive, and the 24,000 square foot space adds mental health services plus …
The Burlington Business Association, which started in 1978 as the Downtown Burlington Development Association and helped turn Church Street into a pedestrian mall, announced August 10 in an unsigned email that it is closing after nearly half a century. It had run without a full time director sinc…
The Burlington ad-tech company says its platform now drives $3 billion in annual ad spend across a quarter million monthly campaigns, with AI generating the creative while a deterministic layer keeps actual budgets inside advertiser guardrails. The company raised a $40 million Series A last year …
The Bove family has pulled its permits to replace the old Pearl Street restaurant with a six-story, 25-unit housing building, citing interest rates, construction costs, and the wave of other housing projects underway in Chittenden County. The building has sat vacant since 2015 and ranks among the…
A community contributed Patch post reports that the NewsGuild, which represents Burlington Free Press staffers, is protesting a new data partnership between parent company USA Today Co. and Palantir, announced on the company's second quarter earnings call as a way to collect and monetize audience…
Burlington native David Schein, who turns 77 this month and once wrote and toured with Whoopi Goldberg, premiered his new performance piece Thursday at Off Center for the Dramatic Arts on North Avenue, with shows through Saturday and more August 20 through 22. The show blends original songs and u…
Both Kitchen Table spots closed earlier this month, and Mirabelles is taking over the pair, the restaurant in Richmond and the market on Williston Road in South Burlington, with reopenings targeted by the end of September. The Richmond spot will likely become 'Belles on the River, serving casual …
The Vermont Ninja Warrior Training Center moved into its own 7,200 square foot gym in Essex this spring, and three of its own are on the current season of American Ninja Warrior, including comanager Amir Malik of Essex Junction, who made the National Finals. About 300 students train there weekly,…
Ray's Seafood in Essex Junction announced this weekend it will close after 74 years, with the last day of service set for September 12. The family business started as a wholesale seafood provider 74 years ago and gave no reason for the decision. There is a month left to get a final basket of frie…
Community News Service rode along in the kitchen car of the Champlain Valley Dinner Train, where four cooks plated nearly 170 three course dinners on a single evening run. The train now rolls all the way to Middlebury on a three hour round trip from Burlington, with Rutland's Southside Steakhouse…
The downtown safety fight has narrowed onto harm reduction, after the council's Burlington Forward resolution passed 7 to 5 with zoning language aimed at keeping syringe programs and the planned overdose prevention center out of downtown. The flashpoint is Vermont CARES' expanded Bank Street exch…
The mid-year Redfin numbers show the Burlington market finally exhaling, with the median sale price down 4.2 percent from last year while the national figure rose. Active listings are up 19.4 percent, homes now sit a median 48 days before selling, and the share going above asking has slipped. Nob…
[Young filmmaker to show movie at Essex Cinemas](https://www.wcax.com/2026/08/06/young-filmmaker-show-movie-essex-cinemas/)
Burlington Segway owner Rick Sharp has put new rental e-bike fleets on the streets, and unlike the Bird bikes that ended up strewn across sidewalks, these only unlock and return at designated racks. The 40 mile range is enough to ride the causeway, catch the ferry and tour South Hero before headi…
The council's Democrats passed their Burlington Forward resolution 7 to 5 on party lines late Monday after more than 100 people spoke across three hours, 60 of them against. The measure targets unpermitted services like Food Not Cops' daily meal share in City Hall Park and calls for zoning that w…
[Sailboat catches fire in Malletts Bay after possible lightning strike](https://www.mynbc5.com/article/sailboat-catches-fire-in-malletts-bay-after-possible-lightning-strike/73372098)
City council Democrats plan to bring their Burlington Forward public safety resolution to a vote tonight, over Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak's public demand that they wait until August 24. The measure would crack down on open drug use, move homeless residents out of certain public spaces and add new…
Stowe's selectboard voted unanimously to cap short term rental licenses at 850 in a town that currently has about 1,450, getting there by attrition since licenses mostly cannot transfer when a property sells. Nonresident owners must register by September 15 or wait on a lottery that only opens on…
Susan and Rick Cote opened Wild Meadows in late June at 27 Market Street in the Finney Crossing development, pairing a full bookstore with a café pouring espresso, housemade lemonade, wine and beer, plus pastries from Mirabelles and truffles from Birnn Chocolates. The Cotes have owned the weekly …
Most of the council’s Democratic caucus gathered on Bank Street to announce Burlington Forward, a resolution headed to their August meeting that would expedite hiring for the 10 officers funded in the new budget and create public space response teams able to issue citations and connect people wit…
Eighteen dogs lined up on the grass at the Winooski Farmers Market on Sunday for the market’s annual show, a $20 per entry fundraiser for the market and For the Love of Dogs Vermont, a rescue that rehomes around 800 dogs a year. Ahki, a three legged husky, took Cutest, Scar and his owner won Look…
Aly Richards and Amanda Janoo have never run for office before, met over coffee at the Williston Gardener’s Supply café in February, and agreed to keep the race positive, a pledge that has held up across a long run of shared forums. A July 21 UNH poll of 558 likely Democratic voters found 52 perc…
Rain regularly pools on the grass at Veterans Memorial Park for days and wipes out games, so the city wants a synthetic multisport field with a base that actually drains. The workaround on Vermont's ban is PFAS free grass plus infill made of small wood chip pellets instead of crumb rubber, which …
Age Well has run this for more than 15 years, and this year it lands at noon on Tuesday, September 1 at the Champlain Valley Exposition, with barbecue at 12:45, the Deuces Wild band and a raffle. An $8 suggested donation covers parking, fair admission, lunch and music, but only 350 tickets exist,…
Burlington has some of the strictest vacation rental rules in Vermont, requiring most hosts to live on the property they rent out, with a 9 percent local tax on every booking on top of 12 percent in state taxes. That has raised $1.7 million since 2017 and nearly $300,000 last fiscal year, about a…
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Vermont, in Chapter 11 since the fall of 2024, wants a judge's permission to sell the 400 student South Burlington campus to a new nonprofit called RMHS Inc. for $4.3 million, up from an initial $2 million offer. The point is to shield the 42 classroom building and i…
Plan BTV New North End comes out of 18 months of community engagement, and it hit a nerve at last week's meeting when maps and renderings appeared to show development near Starr Farm Park and Ethan Allen Park. City officials say there is no current plan for development in any city park, and that …
Kevin Thorley of the Williston Energy Committee counts 114 fast charging plugs across those stations, all open to any EV regardless of manufacturer and spread well beyond the interstates into the Northeast Kingdom and southern Vermont. Fast chargers push 50 to 250 kilowatts, roughly 10 to 40 time…
UVM researchers publishing in Nature have identified the black splotches anglers keep finding on brown bullhead catfish as melanoma the fish catch from one another, the first transmissible cancer ever documented in freshwater fish, and they stress it poses no known threat to humans. The tell was …
Kevin Bloom, a 32 year old Burlington audio producer with no law enforcement experience, is running on eviction reform and a first of its kind jobs program that would connect tenants behind on rent with employers willing to help pay off the debt. Incumbent Dan Gamelin, a Winooski native with four…
The band called off its generations old free Sunday concert at the Lechner Bandshell after people sheltering there left behind belongings and gave Parks staff a hard time about clearing the stage. The city is weighing temporary moves to Church Street or City Hall Park while a cross departmental e…
An early Thursday fire on South Winooski Avenue displaced nine people and one cat, with everyone getting out safely and one person checked for smoke inhalation. The property owner credits recent code compliant renovation work with keeping the blaze from being far worse, a rare kind word for build…
A UNH poll of 981 Vermonters puts hard numbers on a familiar worry. Beyond the young resident figure, 86 percent of Vermonters overall find the state at least somewhat unaffordable, and the comparison stings, only 21 percent of young New Hampshirites say the same about leaving. The housing math u…
The August 11 primary offers a genuine contrast. Incumbent Dan Gamelin, 65, is a 40 year law enforcement veteran from Winooski who manages 22 full time and nine part time deputies and defends the office's traditional role. Challenger Kevin Bloom, 32, owns a music studio, has no law enforcement ba…
[New Vermont State Police Commander Rose Up Through the Ranks](https://www.sevendaysvt.com/news/new-vermont-state-police-commander-rose-up-through-the-ranks/)
The foundation that has carried the ice cream brand's giving for 40 years says it will close at the end of the year after parent company Magnum cut off funding and ordered its three staffers out of their South Burlington office. About $600,000 a year goes to Vermont groups like Migrant Justice an…
With Canadian smoke expected back over the region Saturday afternoon, Vermont Public's regularly updated guide doubles as your logistics cheat sheet for hazy days. It covers where to check live conditions on AirNow, how to sign up for air quality alert texts, how to rig a DIY box fan filter, and …
Fran Megarry, now 84, went looking for a remote book club during the pandemic and landed on the Lanpher Memorial Library group in Hyde Park, which she initially assumed was the neighborhood in Chicago. Three and a half years of third Tuesday meetings later, the group had mailed her baked goods, k…
Derek Thomas, a South Burlington resident, spent close to a year at Champlain Place in Burlington and writes that discharges happened constantly, sometimes during dangerous winter weather, with residents' mail and belongings lost along the way. His own discharge is now the subject of legal procee…
The Agency of Commerce and Community Development oversees economic growth, housing development and tourism, so this seat matters well beyond Montpelier. Kurrle will succeed Neale Lunderville as president and CEO of Vermont Gas, while Brooks has been in Scott's orbit since 2017, first as director …
The update lands as Vermont marks a third straight July shadowed by flood anniversaries. In Plainfield, which lost dozens of properties in 2023 and 2024, a community nonprofit is pushing the East Village Expansion Project that could add 20 housing units over the next few years, and Barre voters h…
Eva Sollberger's episode 771 returns to the village where the Great Brook demolished the Mill Street Bridge and most of the apartment building locals call the Heartbreak Hotel in July 2024. The wreckage still hangs over the brook and many residents are still living in damaged homes while they wai…
That 63 percent figure is the highest of any New England state surveyed, more than double New Hampshire's 28 percent, and housing costs and taxes are the main drivers. Researchers note a real boomerang effect of natives returning later as higher earners, and one analyst points out that young peop…
The definitive history of how a 1960s four-lane highway dream became an 84 million dollar, 2.8 mile, 25 mile per hour parkway. Former public works director Steve Goodkind calls the finished road "a monument to ignorance" while the current administration frames six decades of redesigns as the publ…
The District 4 Environmental Commission denied the developer's final motion, upholding its earlier ruling against the subdivision and access road the project needed. It is a clear win for the Alliance of Concerned Residents Envisioning Solutions, the local group that organized against the plan. T…
The retro toy shop closed Sunday after just seven months in the compact corner storefront where the couple previously ran Weenies Hot Dogs. It's a tough data point for Church Street, where the mix of rents and retail theft keeps grinding down small independents even as the Marketplace draws summe…
The Church Street mainstay plans a second, 5,300 square foot location this winter at Catamount Run, the UVM-linked housing development on Market Street, and the Burlington original is staying put. With Judi's Ice Cream announced the same week, City Center's food roster is starting to look like a …
After six decades of proposals, lawsuits, and downsizing, the final stretch linking Interstate 189 to Lakeside Avenue is finally open to cars and bikes. The roughly $85 million project, mostly federally funded, aims to pull traffic off Pine Street and ease congestion around the South End while su…
Since 2022, a state funded program run through Champlain Housing Trust has put more than $5.6 million toward fixing or replacing farmworker housing, improving conditions for roughly 360 workers so far. The forgivable loans have tackled everything from failing septic to missing fire escapes on far…
Illegal dumping piles up faster than Vermont can clear it, and this deep dive shows why the situations drag on for years. The DEC has fielded 4,450 dumping complaints since 2015 with 587 still unresolved, all handled by just five investigators who cannot enter a property without consent or a cour…
Seven Days parked a team of reporters on the marketplace for a full day ahead of its 45th birthday, and the result is a portrait of a place holding a lot of contradictions on the same block. Tourists, buskers, dispensary regulars, panhandlers, World Cup fans, and last-call partiers all share the …
Demand at Burlington-based HomeShare Vermont has roughly doubled since 2020, climbing from 170 cases to 320, as the housing crunch pushes people toward creative living arrangements. The nonprofit pairs folks who have a spare room with those who need affordable housing, sometimes in exchange for l…
With the city short on both money and staff, residents are quietly taking over upkeep that the parks department can't fully cover. The DIY Park Clean-Up crew works the Urban Reserve near the waterfront while the Peace & Justice Center's BTV Clean Up Crew handles trash and needles around Church St…
The Howard Center's Safe Recovery program is shutting down after years of neighbor complaints near its Clarke Street office, and Vermont CARES is picking up the work a few blocks away at 139 Bank Street starting July 1. The handoff comes with $512,500 in state Health Department funding and a stat…
South Hero is layering new businesses on top of its island staples, including a cannabis market selling products direct from Vermont farmers in a building that sat empty for years, plus a fresh crop of restaurants and breweries. Local leaders credit a tourism spike, more housing, and spillover tr…
The group says open drug use and a fragile local economy remain daily realities, and it has done the unglamorous work to back that up, from syringe cleanups with the Peace and Justice Center to recovery events and housing advocacy. Last fall, they collaborated with the governor's office on his 14…
More than 400 runners, walkers and hand cyclists got to travel the Champlain Parkway before a single car could, a fitting way to mark a project roughly six decades in the making. Proceeds went to the Committee on Temporary Shelter, which works on the very homelessness issue that has dominated dow…
The electric aviation company has sketched a vision spanning the next decade for its South Burlington footprint, swapping a rigid 40 acre plan for a looser framework it calls Adaptive Campus Master Planning. Behind it is a steady property buying spree along Williston Road and into the Shunpike ne…
The siblings grew up beside the Burlington-Winooski Bridge in a brick building whose ground floor was buried when the street was raised after the 1927 flood. Their parents survived the Armenian genocide and settled in a Ward 1 neighborhood where, they remember, the family felt shunned and their n…
Montpelier lost its Langdon Street Tavern after nine years, reportedly over a rent dispute, the second nightlife spot to leave that block since last fall. Closer to home, Sweetwaters has revived a pandemic era collaboration so patrons at the Archives, Red Square, and Akes' Place can scan a QR cod…
Developer Don Sinex, majority owner of the long vacant downtown building, says he has approached Amazon about turning it into a warehouse now that Burlington High School has graduated its final class from the space. Current zoning would allow it, though the city flags traffic as a concern, and Es…
After five years inside the former downtown Macy's, BHS holds its final classes there Monday, June 15, with graduation Tuesday in the new $204 million building back on its original New North End campus. The temporary school began when toxic PCBs shuttered the original buildings in 2020, and the m…
Eva Sollberger's latest episode visits siblings Steve, 92, and Lucy, 85, who grew up in the brick building beside the Burlington-Winooski Bridge, children of parents who fled the Armenian genocide. The 1927 flood raised the street so much that the family's first floor became a basement, a piece o…
An April fire forced the Williston Habitat for Humanity ReStore to throw out all its merchandise to water and smoke damage, and the shop is now rebuilding from scratch. They're asking businesses and neighbors to donate seasonal goods, racks, mannequins and carts, plus volunteers to help move ever…
Chittenden County's vacancy rate has climbed to 3.3 percent, inching toward the 5 percent that signals a healthy market and a world away from the sub-1 percent crunch of the pandemic years. The driver is supply, with more than 800 new units opening in 2024 alone, a glut that started at the high e…
The five-year experiment of housing Burlington High School inside the former Macy's ends this week, capping a saga that began with toxic pollutants found at the old campus in 2020. Routly threads that resilience into a wider argument about downtown finding its footing, citing the AC Hotel, the ne…
The South End Coordinated Redevelopment Project cleared its first City Council hurdle last month, greenlighting 204 apartments on Lakeside Avenue at a cost near $100 million, with backers hoping the full buildout eventually tops a thousand homes. That scale matters in a city regional planners say…
The $28 million in credits will fund 241 income restricted homes across seven communities, from elderly housing in Highgate to larger family units in Winooski. One award folds directly into the South End story above, with 67 apartments in the Ride Your Bike Building forming the first phase of tha…
Milot runs the state's two year old Animal Welfare Division entirely by herself, on a budget of about $128,000 drawn from dog license surcharges. Lawmakers passed only two modest bills this session rather than the broader overhaul she recommended, one tightening forfeiture rules and another effec…
VINS in Quechee live streams a bald eagle nest perched 100 feet up a white pine, home to parents Windsor and Dewey and their eaglet V-2, who hatched April 24. The Eagle Cam has drawn a devoted following, with a 4,000 member Facebook group and a nod from the New York Times as its top joy boost in …
Lawmakers passed close to 250 bills this biennium, and a few will touch Burlington wallets directly. Vermont became the first state to ban paraquat, the herbicide linked to Parkinson's, while also adding a per mile fee for EV owners starting in 2027 and reworking emergency housing in an $83 milli…
The plan calls for 112 units across two four story buildings at 453 Pine Street, with about a fifth set aside as affordable, on a brownfield that sits beside one of Vermont's most toxic Superfund sites. A long line of proposals has died here before, including herbal entrepreneur Jovial King's Nor…
After a thirteen month investigation, a Dutch government body ruled that the Burlington nonprofit's human rights complaint against Ahold Delhaize, Hannaford's parent company, can move forward, pulling the chain into mediation at last. Migrant Justice has spent seven years pressing Hannaford to jo…
Cohen, now 75, is openly campaigning to win back creative and ethical control of the company he and Jerry Greenfield started nearly fifty years ago, after CEO David Stever was ousted last year and Greenfield quit in protest. The feud traces back to the 2021 decision to stop selling in the Israeli…
In under a decade a dirt road area has become a downtown with 946 new homes and more than 87,000 square feet of commercial space, and the pace is not letting up. A bike and pedestrian bridge over I-89 breaks ground this summer, Garden Street pushes through to Williston Road, and zoning changes no…
The state suspended ONE Arts Community School's license on May 14 after an investigation documented unattended children and serious injuries, and former staff trace the breakdown to a rapid expansion that absorbed families from the shuttered Frog & Toad center. Burlington has now lost at least si…
This is the first food product to carry the Milk With Dignity logo on its label, the program that sets wage, housing, and safety standards for dairy workers. Made by Middlebury's Champlain Valley Creamery, the farmer cheese sold its first run fast and is already on shelves at both City Market loc…
The two shops, longtime Church Street fixtures founded by the late Christine Farrell in the 1980s, have merged and reopened at 130 Bank Street in the new Burlington Square development. The move solves real problems, since the old upstairs gaming space was not accessible and had no room to host Ma…
VTDigger's Dirt Road News project surveyed over 2,200 people, mostly under 50 and living in rural or small town Vermont, and the takeaway is consistent. People are hungry for local news but feel underserved, especially outside the Burlington orbit. About 90% of respondents said social media plays…
The Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules voted 5 to 3 along party lines to reject the governor's proposal to cut wetland buffer zones from 50 feet to 25 feet around Class II wetlands in areas designated for housing. The decision stems from a sweeping executive order Scott issued in Septe…
The House passed S.208, which creates a statewide masking and identification policy for state and local police but stops short of applying those rules to federal agents. That was a bitter pill for roughly 50 of the chamber's 87 Democrats, who backed a failed floor amendment to restore the origina…
The Shelburne farmers market is now operating under the town and its affiliated nonprofit Experience Shelburne after nearly 20 years with the Shelburne Business and Professional Association. The transition has brought more structural support, tighter financial management, and room for 101 booths …
The City Council approved the development agreement for the first phase of the South End Coordinated Redevelopment plan, a $100 million public-private partnership between Champlain College and Ride Your Bike. Two six-story buildings with 205 apartments will go up on a Lakeside Avenue parking lot,…
Algenis Garcia, who moved to Vermont from the Dominican Republic about 18 years ago, has been offering free haircuts to people experiencing homelessness through his Burlington shop, The Shop. What started last summer as walks around town with clippers in a backpack has expanded to visits at shelt…
The state has released 10 preapproved home designs through a pilot program called 802 Homes, and a public survey is now open for feedback. The idea is straightforward. State-commissioned architects drew up plans for modest homes ranging from accessory dwelling units to fourplexes, and builders ca…
A new study from Construction Coverage puts some hard numbers on what most Vermonters already feel. The state's median home price has jumped 68.7% since 2016, climbing from about $233,500 to just over $394,000, while median household income rose only 49.1% over a comparable period. That growing g…
South Burlington's BETA Technologies posted first-quarter results showing meaningful momentum, including selection for seven of eight FAA and DOT programs (the most of any electric aircraft developer) and a commercial aircraft backlog that has grown to $3.9 billion across 991 planes. The company …
The Conservation Law Foundation and the Burlington-based Rozalia Project have been working together as part of the Lake Champlain Basin Marine Debris Coalition, combining legal advocacy with scientific data collection to push for policy change. Their efforts helped pass Vermont's 2024 Flood Safet…
The Humane Society of Chittenden County, which started in 1901 when 20 people gathered in a Burlington garage after a horse cruelty case in St. Albans, facilitated 965 adoptions and rescued 210 animals from cruelty or neglect in 2025 alone. Beyond adoptions, the organization runs a free food pant…
ONE Arts Community School in Burlington has voluntarily shut down while the state's Child Development Division investigates an early May incident, with the earliest possible reopening set for May 26. The closure comes at an already tense moment for local childcare after the permanent shuttering o…
The campus includes three 1980s-era office buildings totaling 430,000 square feet that are nearly empty, plus its own bridge over the Winooski River. GlobalFoundries wants to rezone for warehousing and distribution to attract buyers, but planning commission members are wary, with one explicitly r…
Efficiency Vermont's annual Better Building by Design conference drew more than 840 professionals to South Burlington this week and honored ten organizations with awards spanning affordable housing, energy efficiency, and a first ever workforce development category. Local highlights include Champ…
An independent liaison team reported that UVM Health needs to slash $300 million in expenses over the next three years, phasing in roughly $100 million annually, while also tackling productivity problems in its 1,000 physician outpatient Medical Group, which ran a $279.9 million deficit last fisc…
The settlement ends a legal battle that began in 2023 when Mid Vermont Christian forfeited a girls' basketball game rather than compete against a team with a transgender player, prompting the VPA to bar the school from state athletics. The VPA says it settled to avoid the cost of continued litiga…
With the border just 90 minutes north and summer travel season approaching, this is a fun guide for anyone looking to go beyond the usual Old Port and rue Sainte-Catherine loop. Highlights include La Sala Rossa, a crimson walled music venue in a former Jewish community center on boulevard Saint-L…
This is the kickoff piece in Seven Days' new "Gen Zero" series examining what's behind Vermont's shrinking youth population. The story puts real faces to the numbers: young couples priced out of homeownership by a median home price that's doubled to $500,000 in a decade, renters shelling out $2,0…
A new UVM study analyzing over 4,000 Burlington home sales between 2003 and 2023 challenges the dominant "just build more" approach to the housing crisis. Researchers found that investor activity, even at Burlington's relatively small scale, is a bigger driver of rising prices than supply shortag…
HomeShare Vermont, which has been pairing homeowners with guests seeking affordable housing since 1982, matched 300 people in 2025 and estimates guests saved more than $880,000 in rental costs, with average rent coming in at just $379 a month. The nonprofit has been expanding its geographic reach…
[Conversation Continues Over Housing Standards in Burlington](https://www.mychamplainvalley.com/news/local-news/conversation-continues-over-housing-standards-in-burlington/)
[Burlington Ranks 5th Snowiest City in Eastern US](https://www.wcax.com/2026/04/21/burlington-ranks-5th-snowiest-city-eastern-us-after-recent-measurable-snow/)
The episode traces the decades long history of Vermonters fighting to keep chains out, most memorably in Manchester, where a McDonald's battle in the late 1970s became a proxy war over the town's identity. (McDonald's eventually won, but only after agreeing to a toned down design with a wood shin…
The South Burlington City Council awarded a $20.14 million contract to Engineers Construction, Inc. for Phase I of the long discussed walk and bike bridge over I-89 at Exit 14. If you've ever tried to cross that cloverleaf interchange on foot or by bike, you understand why this has been in the wo…
Raj Bhakta, the WhistlePig Whiskey founder and former "Apprentice" contestant, bought the shuttered Green Mountain College campus in Poultney for $4.5 million in 2020 with grand promises of luxury hotels, restaurants, condos, and a world class distillery school. Six years and a claimed $15 millio…
After an investigation found a teacher at Burlington's Frog & Toad Child Care was physically abusing toddlers, including incidents captured on video of a staff member throwing a child into a snowbank and restraining another for six minutes, parents are demanding that owner Tiffany Corbett be barr…
H.739 would phase out paraquat, one of the most widely used herbicides in the country, over five years in Vermont. Seventy two countries have already banned it, including the entire EU, after studies linked the chemical to increased risk of Parkinson's disease among farmers and nearby residents. …
Three years into what was proposed as a temporary pilot, the Elmwood Community Shelter's 30 insulated sheds in the Old North End are at a crossroads. The stats are modest: of 150 people who have lived there, 20 moved to long term housing, and four of those are facing eviction. But managers argue …
The House Corrections and Institutions Committee toured the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans, which also holds most men in federal immigration custody in Vermont, but the Department of Corrections blocked reporters from attending. The department cited security concerns and grou…
HUD's "Cleaning House" initiative is requiring local housing agencies to reverify the citizenship and immigration status of Section 8 recipients. Burlington Housing Authority reviewed its roughly 2,200 voucher holders and narrowed potential issues to just eight households, most of whom simply nee…
Welch and Republican Sen. Jim Justice of West Virginia have introduced a bill to update the Farm Credit Act of 1971 for the first time in six decades. The key change would raise the population cap for towns eligible for Farm Credit System loans from 2,500 to 10,000 residents, potentially opening …
The city has identified 32 "problem properties," vacant or deteriorating buildings that are dragging down neighborhoods and sitting empty during a housing crisis. The mayor's office has directed the permitting department to ramp up enforcement of the vacant building ordinance, which gives owners …
South Burlington's Beta Technologies continues to build momentum. Sen. Welch visited the company's production facility last week to discuss new bipartisan legislation, the Aviation Innovation and Global Competitiveness Act, which would modernize the FAA's certification process for electric aviati…
Eight Vermont startups have been tapped for LaunchVT's 14th accelerator cohort, continuing a program that has supported 95 startups and distributed over $1.4 million in cash and services since 2013. The selected companies range from biotech (NEK Biosciences) to app development (Aligna App) to agr…
Vermont received federal approval over a year ago to use Medicaid funds to cover rent for homeless individuals with serious medical needs, with the feds picking up nearly 60% of the cost. But the state hasn't set up the program or budgeted its share of the money. Internal emails obtained by VTDig…
A new UVM study published in the journal Trees, Forests and People found that Vermont maple producers who adopt biodiversity friendly practices, things like leaving standing dead trees, removing invasive species, or participating in Audubon Vermont's Bird-Friendly Maple project, see no increase i…
Richards, former CEO of the child care advocacy organization Let's Grow Kids, has entered the 2026 Democratic gubernatorial primary with a platform centered on affordability, housing, healthcare costs, and rural economic development. She's widely credited with helping mobilize support for Vermont…
If you've been watching the Champlain Parkway sit there looking basically finished and wondering when it would actually open, there's finally a timeline. Construction restarted last week, and Spencer says the parkway should be open by June or July. What's left is mostly finishing work: overhead s…
New Census data shows Chittenden County gained just 220 international migrants between 2024 and 2025, roughly half the previous year's figure. Combined with losses from deaths and domestic migration, the county shed more than 500 residents overall. Experts point to the Trump administration's halt…
VTDigger's David Goodman spoke with attendees and legislators at the Montpelier Statehouse during the third No Kings protest on March 28, which organizers say was part of the largest single day of protest in American history, with 8 to 9 million people at over 3,000 demonstrations nationwide. Ver…
Spater's renovation of a 19th century synagogue in the Old North End, which wrapped up last November, turned the long vacant building into a mixed use property with a vintage clothing market upstairs and apartments below. But the project also sparked something unexpected: a whole new business. Fl…
The scope of this round of funding is remarkable. Eight conservation projects and three housing investments span the state, from permanently protecting a 442 acre swamp system in Salisbury that serves as a wildlife corridor between the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks, to building eight afford…
"Human Impact: Contemporary Art and Our Environment" opened March 20 and features work from eight artists responding to climate change, land use, and ecological disruption. The show runs through June 20 and is worth a visit if you're already wandering the Pine Street arts corridor this First Frid…
The numbers are sobering: about half of Vermont's private colleges have closed or merged in the last decade, and nationally more than 500 small colleges have shuttered since 2014. The remaining schools are trying different survival strategies. Champlain College is rolling out a new academic model…
Frog & Toad Child Care in the New North End shut down abruptly last week while both state regulators and police investigate allegations that a former staff member physically abused children. What makes this particularly frustrating for families is the whiplash: owner Tiffany Corbett spent weeks r…
Vermont is moving toward charging EV drivers 1.4 cents per mile, calculated from odometer readings at annual inspections and billed by the DMV. The fee would replace the current flat $89 annual charge and is expected to cost the average EV driver about $154 a year. It has bipartisan support in th…
Vermont's alt weekly brought home 52 total citations at this year's New England Better Newspaper Competition, including 26 first place awards, which is the most the paper has ever won. Reporter Alison Novak was named Reporter of the Year. The winning work covered everything from homeless deaths t…
The Humane Society of Chittenden County ran a promotion through March 28 waiving adoption fees on all dogs. With more than 10 pups available, including a 9 month old and a 10 year old, the shelter was trying to move animals into homes faster as spring brings an influx. The promotion has ended, bu…
After a pilot year in Windham County that saw 54 residents share meals, the initiative has expanded statewide with chambers of commerce and economic development groups from Addison County to the Northeast Kingdom getting involved. Hosts who invite a newcomer to a meal can access restaurant deals …
UVM President Marlene Tromp's "Green, Gold, and Bold" strategic plan is moving into its implementation phase, with each college and major administrative unit developing alignment plans due by September 5. What sets this plan apart from its predecessor, "Amplifying Our Impact," is the collaborativ…
Over 1,100 plungers braved the frigid waters of Lake Champlain at the Burlington Waterfront on March 14 for the 31st annual event. The Cool Schools division alone brought in more than $150,000 from over 600 student plungers, the most since 2020. All funds support year round sports training, healt…
The Community Resource Center on North Winooski Avenue, which shares space with Feeding Champlain Valley's food shelf, faces a $650,000 shortfall after Gov. Scott proposed cutting state funding. The center serves up to 150 people daily with hot meals, social workers, and housing coordinators, and…
The bill would double the retail purchase and possession limit to two ounces and raise the THC cap on a single package from 100 to 200 milligrams. It would also create limited pilot programs for cannabis events (up to 10 public and 10 private permits per year) and delivery services (up to 15 perm…
The House Judiciary Committee passed H.606 on a strict party line vote, with all six Democrats in favor and all five Republicans opposed. The bill would make it a felony to steal a firearm, ban machine guns and conversion devices under state law, and, most controversially, prohibit gun ownership …
The Bridges Recovery Shelter, now open in downtown Burlington, is the first of its kind in Chittenden County. Operated by CVOEO in a building owned by the Howard Center, it offers 10 to 12 beds for unhoused individuals in recovery, with on site clinicians, recovery group meetings, and peer suppor…
The Elmwood Community Shelter, better known as the Burlington pods, has served 149 guests since opening, but 99 of those left without finding permanent housing. Managers announced Wednesday that shelter in some form will likely remain a permanent fixture in the Old North End, noting the pods have…
On Town Meeting Day, 70% of Burlington voters approved a $0.05 police and fire tax rate increase, and 57% approved a charter change formally establishing the Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. The tax increase funds negotiated salary and benefit agreements, two new firefighter pos…
Attorney General Charity Clark joined 23 other states in filing suit at the U.S. Court of International Trade after the president imposed new across the board tariffs under a different legal authority following the Supreme Court's rejection of his original tariff regime. Vermont has skin in this …
That's Sen. Andrew Perchlik, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, explaining why lawmakers held off on committing to Gov. Scott's proposal to use $74.9 million in excess revenue for property tax relief. The concern is that federal funding cuts could force the state to redirect those doll…
Democrats hold seven of 12 council seats after both incumbents ran the table: Litwin took 75 percent in Ward 7, and Broderick held Ward 8 with about 60 percent. The big strategic takeaway is that Mulvaney-Stanak's veto power stays intact, since Democrats needed Ward 8 to reach the eight seat supe…
Colchester's Development Review Board approved plans for "The H on Malletts Bay," a 20 room hotel with a 40 seat restaurant and 60 person event space on a 2 acre lakefront slope owned by the Hazelett Strip-Casting Corp., now part of Austria's EBNER Group. Opponents, organized as Save Malletts Bay…
The protesters, ranging in age from 21 to 85, had been scheduled for arraignment on March 2. George cited the group's lack of criminal history, their nonviolent conduct, and the absence of any reported disruption to other tenants in the building. The decision drew sharp criticism from the propert…
Nine current or former UVM students competed at the Milan Cortina Games, and three came home with a combined four medals. Ogden earned two silvers (the individual sprint and team sprint), making him the first Catamount with multiple podium finishes at a single Olympics. Ryan Cochran-Siegle added …
Seven Days is kicking off a new yearlong series called "Gen Zero: Where Are Vermont's Young People?" that digs into the state's shrinking youth population from every angle. The numbers are stark: Vermont has the oldest population in the country and the lowest birth rate, and even the brand new Bu…
The annual State Report Card found that fewer than 50% of students are proficient in math and fewer than 60% in English across every grade level, with four year graduation rates dropping from 89% in 2017 to 82% in 2025. Governor Scott immediately seized on the findings to push his education trans…
The biggest local headline here is the $8 million earmarked for Hula's Ride Your Bike project, a 200 unit development that would convert an industrial parking area in Burlington's South End into mixed income housing with a focus on walkability, sustainability, and local arts. It's the first phase…
Town Meeting Day could reshape the council's balance of power. The Democratic 7-5 majority has recently blocked Progressive measures, including an "apartheid-free" pledge and a "tax fairness" plan, citing concerns over divisiveness and economic impact. If Progressives win contested seats in Wards…
H.639, sponsored by 28 state representatives, comes directly out of the 23andMe debacle, where 6.9 million users had data breached before the company filed for bankruptcy and settled a $30 million lawsuit. The bill would require genetic testing companies to get granular consent for data usage rat…
The most interesting detail buried in the numbers is the spending on town committees, which is set to more than double to $328,600, with nearly two thirds of that going to the newly established Community and Economic Development Committee. That committee's budget funds everything from business re…
The 2026 Annual Energy Report paints a complicated picture for one of Vermont's key climate strategies. Heat pumps are among the cheapest heating options available, but three factors are blunting their impact: federal tax credits ended in December under Trump's One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act, Vermo…
[Manufactured Home Improvement and Repair Program Reopens Today](https://vermontbiz.com/news/2026/february/23/manufactured-home-improvement-and-repair-program-reopens-february-23)
H.532, which passed the House in late January, would repeal a Vermont statute allowing colleges to force professors to retire at age 70. The bill is described as a technical correction since federal law has already prohibited mandatory retirement since 1994 via the Age Discrimination in Employmen…
This is a deeply reported piece and worth the full read. The numbers in Burlington alone tell the story: K through 12 enrollment has dropped from 3,528 to 2,972 over 20 years, and the brand new high school opening this fall was built with capacity for 1,150 students but currently has only 850 to …
Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak signed an executive order Tuesday laying out the city's playbook if federal immigration enforcement escalates locally. The order directs emergency plan reviews, establishes communication lines with neighboring towns and the school district, and mandates training for city emp…
Dean Kamen, best known as the inventor of the Segway, stepped down from the South Burlington based electric airplane company's board Wednesday. Recently released DOJ files showed Kamen in frequent communication with Jeffrey Epstein well after Epstein's 2008 conviction, including visits to propert…
This op ed from Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation president Frank Cioffi offers a progress report on Governor Scott's downtown Burlington action plan, now past the 100 day mark. Cioffi points to a restored sense of confidence among business owners, noting that state trooper presence on Ch…
Contract negotiations between roughly 400 resident physicians and UVM Medical Center began in December, and the previous contract expired February 6. The residents, represented by the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR-SEIU), are pushing for higher pay, childcare support, shift length caps, …
Burlington's accountability court pilot, which embedded social workers in the legal system to help defendants dealing with housing instability, mental health issues, and substance abuse, has resolved 702 out of 972 cases since October. Gov. Scott now wants to spend $500,000 to bring the model to …
Eleven people, many of them older adults, were arrested on trespassing charges during a civil disobedience action at the Williston office park housing ICE's National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center. Protesters read names of people killed in ICE custody and called on the landlord to cancel …
The state's new "802 Homes" initiative takes a page from the old Sears mail order blueprint era. Officials are drafting 10 home designs, from cottage apartments above garages to duplexes and triple deckers, that will be free for property owners and developers and get a fast track through local pe…
Burlington startup OVR Technology is working to make video games smell like something. The company's fragrance innovation director Sarah Socia formulates scents that diffuse from a small cassette on top of a computer monitor, and they've already built a demo for Minecraft where players can actual…
Starksboro resident Ellen Yount will take over the Vermont Afghan Alliance on March 4, replacing Molly Gray, who is stepping down to run for lieutenant governor. Yount brings a resume that includes stints as press secretary for former Congressman Tom Ridge and director of the press office at USAI…
The big story here is the South End Coordinated Redevelopment project, which just got an $8 million boost from State Treasurer Pieciak's housing investment program. The first phase alone is a $100 million undertaking: two six story buildings with nearly 200 units on what's currently a parking lot…
The scope of preparation here is striking. Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak met with Burlington's police and fire chiefs last week to game out a response to a potential large scale ICE operation, while Migrant Justice has built a rapid response network of roughly 2,000 people and tallied 107 immigration det…
H.713 would bump the minimum wage for fast food workers at chains with more than 60 locations nationwide to $20 an hour, modeled after a similar California law. The bill's sponsors frame it as leveling the playing field, but local restaurant workers are raising the counterpoint that it could actu…
Vermont Stage's current production at the Black Box Theater in Main Street Landing is drawing strong praise for its staging, which fully realizes the luxury of a 1930s European train without relying on abstract hints. John Nagle leads as Poirot with what the reviewer calls "shining curiosity," an…
Champlain College's Center for Financial Literacy has extended its free online personal finance education program through April 30. The timing is significant: Act 73 requires the Secretary of Education and the State Board of Education to recommend statewide graduation standards, and the Secretary…
The state's massive overhaul of Act 250, the landmark development review law passed in 1970, is starting to take shape through a new three-tier mapping system. Tier 1 areas (where housing development gets easier) will likely cover just 2% to 2.5% of the state's land. Burlington, South Burlington,…
[Mikaela Shiffrin to Race 3 Events at Milan Cortina Olympics](https://www.wcax.com/2026/02/06/mikaela-shiffrin-race-3-events-milan-cortina-olympics-after-entering-twice-many-beijing/)
The annual rankings from VermontBiz and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce are out, spanning small, medium, and large employers. Edward Jones has made the list every year since the program launched in 2006, while BETA Technologies appears for the first time. Rankings were determined through workplac…
Dan Chiasson's nearly 600 page unauthorized biography drops tomorrow and traces Sanders' arc from Brooklyn transplant to Burlington's transformative mayor. Chiasson, a Wellesley College English professor who grew up on Colchester Avenue, draws on hours of interviews with Sanders' longtime associa…
['ICE Out' Rally Draws Huge Crowd in Burlington](https://www.sevendaysvt.com/news/ice-out-rally-draws-huge-crowd-in-burlington/)
CVOEO's extreme cold weather shelter at the Miller Center has already been activated eight nights this winter, nearly matching last year's total of nine. Russell says the region needs approximately 200 additional shelter beds in Chittenden County to meet demand. The Miller Center operates from 5 …
Governor Scott's proposal to spur housing development by relaxing wetlands regulations has drawn sharp criticism from environmentalists and wetland scientists. The changes would reduce buffer zones from 50 to 25 feet and allow housing on unmapped wetlands in designated growth areas. A proposed de…
Nikhil Goyal, an adjunct assistant professor at UVM and former senior policy advisor to Sen. Bernie Sanders, launched his campaign for the Chittenden Central seat as a Democrat/Progressive. His platform centers on property tax relief, education funding, healthcare costs, and affordable housing. G…
The program, available to current 10th, 11th, and 12th graders, has seen students graduate at twice the rate and in half the time compared to community college peers nationally. Since launching in 2022, CCV has tripled the number of low income students accessing Early College and persisting towar…
Highlights include jazz guitarist Badi Assad on January 30, Venezuelan singer Nella on February 13, and a cappella group Roomful of Teeth with Gabriel Kahane on April 17. Elsewhere in local music news, Burlington garage rockers Robber Robber got a shoutout from the New York Times, which named the…
The governor's $9.4 billion budget proposes a record $105 million to reduce property tax increases, but even that may not prevent an average 6 percent hike. Scott is conditioning his support on school districts keeping budgets in check and lawmakers continuing education reforms under Act 73. The …
The Robert Miller Community Center will serve as an emergency overnight shelter from Friday through Tuesday morning, accommodating roughly 100 people. That's about half the number believed to be living outside in the greater Burlington area. The timing is significant: the annual Point-in-Time Cou…
The council tabled a resolution to formally support Let's Build Homes, the pro-housing advocacy group led by former Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger. Some councilors and residents argued South Burlington is already doing its part, pointing to tax increment financing, form-based zoning, and the ci…
State agencies have identified about 140 properties that could potentially be sold or leased to housing developers, including a former prison in Windsor, the Northlands Job Corps Center in Vergennes, and a former National Guard armory in Waterbury. Governor Scott's executive order calls for an ex…
The three-pronged strategy aims to put Burlington on track to create 7,000 housing units by 2050. It includes modernizing the city's inclusionary zoning ordinance and housing trust fund, helping residents and small developers actually use the Neighborhood Code to build infill housing, and leverag…
[One Dead, One Injured in Burlington Apartment Fire](https://www.mynbc5.com/article/one-dead-one-injured-in-burlington-apartment-fire/70099877)
[Vigil Calls for Support for Unhoused People Ahead of Frigid Temperatures](https://www.wcax.com/2026/01/22/vigil-calls-support-unhoused-people-ahead-frigid-temperatures/)
A bipartisan bill would dramatically wind down Vermont's use of motel rooms as emergency shelter over two years, redirecting funds toward shelters, transitional housing, and related services. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Eric Maguire (R-Rutland City) and co-sponsored by Rep. Theresa Wood (D-Waterb…
Vermont Foundation of Recovery, partnering with Champlain Housing Trust, has opened six new recovery residence beds and four transitional apartment beds for women in Essex Junction. The expansion brings the organization's statewide network to 79 beds, a 40% increase since September 2024. Applicat…
Deputy Adjutant General Henry "Hank" Harder and Col. Roger "Brent" Zeigler, the two candidates vying to succeed Maj. Gen. Gregory Knight as head of the Vermont National Guard, both told lawmakers they would step down rather than carry out an unlawful order. The testimony comes as members of the V…
More than 30 community members packed the final public hearing for Hazelett Strip Casting Corp.'s proposed 20 room inn and restaurant on Malletts Bay lakefront property. Residents spoke almost unanimously in opposition, citing concerns about environmental impact, property values, and what this de…
The mayor's new housing strategy focuses on modernizing zoning ordinances, strengthening housing trust funds, and pressuring owners of vacant or rundown properties to act. A dedicated city team is now tracking underutilized buildings and pushing for redevelopment plans. The city is also looking a…
The Burlington City Council unanimously approved an updated Open Space Plan Monday, the first revision since the original was adopted in 2000. The plan serves as a roadmap for growing and stewarding the city's parks and open spaces, including an inventory of more than three dozen sites and guidel…
Months after students brought complaints about mushrooms growing in bathrooms, pests, and ceiling leaks to city leaders, UVM administration acknowledged at Thursday's ordinance committee meeting that things need to change. The city's zoning and inspections director presented a first draft checkli…
A $33 million gap in state transportation funding threatens to cost Vermont an estimated $163 million in federal revenue unless lawmakers and the governor find a fix. More than half the state's transportation budget comes from federal sources, but Vermont must provide matching funds to draw that …
[Vermont Responders Train for Ice Rescues on Lake Champlain](https://www.mychamplainvalley.com/news/local-news/vermont-responders-train-for-ice-rescues-on-lake-champlain/)
The Vermont Futures Project's latest data paints a bleak picture: the state ranks dead last nationally for economic momentum, driven by population loss, an aging workforce, and a severe housing shortage. Vermont is one of just three states that lost population between 2023 and 2024, and it ranks …
After years of planning and a budget scare when contractors came back with a $28 million price tag (nearly double the original estimate), the long awaited pedestrian and bicycle bridge over I-89 at Exit 14 could break ground this spring. The city received council authorization to request addition…
Senate Democrats are advancing two bills aimed at limiting federal immigration enforcement in Vermont: one would prevent civil arrests at schools, government buildings, health care facilities, and shelters, while another would restrict when law enforcement officers can wear masks. Legislative att…
Herb Leff, an 81 year old retired UVM psychology professor, has converted three rooms of his Burlington condo into recording studios where he creates what he calls "free form art music" nearly every night. His instruments include traditional gear alongside pots, pans, and even a rubber chicken th…
That's Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak on the frustration of watching voter approved charter changes stall in Montpelier. Since 2021, Burlington voters have overwhelmingly approved measures to ban guns from bars, protect renters from no cause evictions, and adopt a new police oversight model, but none…
The Vermont Housing Finance Agency's annual report highlights a year of significant investment in affordable housing. VHFA awarded tax credits generating an estimated $63 million in equity for new construction, closed over $80 million in construction loans, and invested $48 million through the st…
The former Senate president pro tempore and current deputy state auditor announced Friday he'll seek to succeed the retiring Doug Hoffer, who has held the office since 2012. Ashe, who lost a 2020 lieutenant governor primary to Molly Gray, said he plans to focus on health care, affordable housing,…
The Old North End Community Center opened its doors on New Year's Eve for residents to contribute squares to a collaborative quilt inspired by the Robert Frost poem. Attendees shared a meal while crafting their pieces, with plans to display the finished work at Burlington City Hall or the communi…
[Mad River Glen Nears Acquisition of 1,000 Acres for Ski Expansion](https://www.wcax.com/2026/01/05/mad-river-glen-nears-acquisition-1000-acres-ski-expansion/)
The new K-12 curriculum was developed by Vermont's four state recognized Abenaki groups and overseen by the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs. The Quebec based nations, who have long disputed the legitimacy of those groups' Indigenous ancestry claims, say they were wrongly excluded fr…
The 72 year old Lyndon resident runs Ken's Karpentry, a YouTube channel with 198,000 subscribers that blends serious woodworking instruction with off key singing and failed moonwalk attempts. Grant responds personally to every comment and says feedback from parents whose kids watch his videos pro…
That story covered the hundreds of Vermonters forced out of housing when the state's motel voucher program expired in July. Other top reads included coverage of Vice President JD Vance's Vermont visit, the fatal shooting of a Border Patrol agent in the Northeast Kingdom, and the South Burlington …
The Residential Clean Energy Credit, which knocked 30% off home solar installation costs, expired with the new year as part of President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill." Williston solar company Building Energy was fully booked by August as crews raced to finish projects before the deadline. The Verm…
Vermont will receive nearly double what the state expected from the federal Rural Health Transformation grant program, putting it among the highest per capita awards nationally. The one time funding, part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, aims to mitigate harm from Medicaid cuts on rural hospita…
The case in point: 32 homes near South Burlington's Wheeler Nature Park that took three years and two court battles before construction could begin. The Land Use Review Board is now recommending that Act 250 appeals be removed from the court system entirely and handled by the board itself, which …
The city activated its first extreme cold weather shelter of the season Thursday night at the Miller Center, open to adults 18 and older with pets allowed. Here's the frustrating math: state funding kicks in only when wind chill hits negative 10 for four hours within a 24 hour period, meaning ear…
South Burlington's Tax Increment Financing district is performing well on paper (the grand list is nearly three times its 2012 value), but projections show the math only works if development keeps pace. The city estimates it needs 56 new rental units added annually just to break even by 2038. Mea…
Eva Sollberger's annual year in review episode is always a cozy watch, but this one hits a little different. Filmed in her Burlington living room with her 91 year old mother Sophie (and Lexy the cat), the two reflect on a year that included Eva's cartoon cameo in Alison Bechdel's new book Spent, …
Reid Fisher, the physical center back who became a fan favorite during his summer in Burlington, was drafted by Toronto FC after impressing at the 2025 MLS College Showcase. He spent most of his rookie season with Toronto FC II, starting 24 games, and made three appearances on the first team benc…
Vermont set a record this year with nine dam removals, reconnecting 125 miles of river across the state. The push has gained urgency after the 2023 floods, when five dams failed and research increasingly shows that derelict dams can actually worsen flooding rather than prevent it. The Winooski Ri…
A new study from Stage Properties Brokers ranks Vermont fifth nationally for homeownership rates, just behind West Virginia, Michigan, Mississippi, and Delaware. The data, drawn from U.S. Census figures through Q4 2024, showed Vermont's rate dipping slightly from a 75.1% peak in Q3 but remaining …
President Trump's executive order encouraging the rescheduling of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III has Vermont dispensary owners cautiously optimistic. The biggest immediate impact would be tax relief: current federal law blocks cannabis businesses from taking standard deductions, creatin…
Staff at The Eloquent Page in St. Albans, The Bookstore in Brandon, and Flying Pig Bookstore in Shelburne share their favorite reads of 2025, ranging from hard nosed journalism about drug trafficking at Fort Bragg to a lyrical middle grade fairy tale from Kate DiCamillo. Highlights include Sam Ke…
After local opposition derailed her plan to subdivide her property, Minot turned to HomeShare Vermont, which matched her with nursing instructor Paul Kruglov, who was on the verge of turning down a job because he couldn't find housing. Vermont needs up to 36,000 new homes by 2029, and Chittenden …
The Scale (poke bowls), Bliss Bee (healthy fast food), and soon Folino's pizza and Bijou Blu spa are all setting up shop on Market Street. Nearly 56,000 square feet of commercial space has been added to the densest parts of City Center in the last decade. New zoning amendments extend requirements…
Graves had her federal funding application flagged because the phrase "cultural and linguistic responsiveness" was deemed similar to DEI language, despite being drawn directly from federal Head Start performance standards. The Office of Head Start, now under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., h…
A new Food Not Bombs initiative has been setting up on Market Street in South Burlington for three weeks running, offering free soup, canned goods, and winter clothes. Organizer Rae Beecher, who was homeless for two and a half years before relocating to Vermont, started the effort after noticing …
The Cynic's Kennedy Connors sat down with Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak as she approaches the midpoint of her three year term, and she pointed to rebuilding the police department as one of her key achievements. When she took office in 2024, crime was up 23% and the department was operating with 50% fewer…
Colchester has 764 manufactured homes, dwarfing Milton's 421 and South Burlington's mere 2. The median Vermont mobile home with land sold for $130,000 in 2023 compared to $325,000 for a detached single family home. Planning Director Cathyann LaRose credits the town's flexible zoning for mobile ho…
Shelburne's selectboard continues debating proposed zoning changes that would restrict development in defined forest blocks and ecological corridors. Resident David Webster, whose property is roughly 80% within a designated forest block, objects to provisions that would make 60% of that land non-…
The tension here is real. A task force created by the Legislature to redraw school district maps came back with a different recommendation: voluntary mergers and cooperative sharing agreements instead of forced consolidation. House Speaker Jill Krowinski and Senate President Pro Tem Phil Baruth a…
That's Gina Anne Frattone Johnson, who has been trying to sleep at Burlington's bandshell for two days. The state set aside $1.5 million for faith based organizations to run emergency cold weather shelters, creating about 200 beds across seven locations. But only two were open Wednesday night des…
A deep dive from reporter Carly Berlin traces the rise and recent decline of halfway houses in Vermont. Of roughly 30 group transitional homes that existed as recently as 2019, more than a third have closed. The Department of Corrections shifted funding toward individual apartments under a "Housi…
Former Burlington mayor and Let's Build Homes executive chair Miro Weinberger broke down Vermont's housing crisis for local Rotarians, noting the state is building at roughly a third of its historical rate. The nonprofit recently helped create the Community and Housing Infrastructure Program, whi…
Phoenix Books and Burlington online shopping platform Myti have launched a holiday campaign encouraging Vermonters to shop local, with pointed messaging like "Your money has the power. Don't hand it to Bezos." The timing is notable as Amazon seeks to build its first Vermont distribution center in…
South Burlington's City Council approved a parking management study that will likely bring paid parking to Market Street, Garden Street and Dattilio Drive. Consultants are proposing a two hour maximum at $1 per hour from 8 AM to 8 PM, with payment via smartphone app or physical kiosk. The goal is…
The volunteer run nonprofit, founded by Jim Lockridge in 1996, has been a cornerstone of Vermont's DIY music scene for nearly three decades. Lockridge, who moved to Arizona last year to be closer to family, acknowledged the challenges of running the organization remotely while serving as its sole…
For the fourth consecutive year, Farmhouse Group chefs are preparing turkey dinners for roughly 1,500 people, with meals distributed through various Burlington nonprofits on Wednesday and Thursday. King Street Laundry is also stepping up with free takeout meals donated by Waterworks Food + Drink …
The fire department's prevention team, currently crammed into a 350 square foot trailer that's miserable in both winter and summer, would get a proper 2,000 square foot addition with offices, a conference room, and public meeting space. The $2 million project heads to voters on Town Meeting Day, …
The state's largest ski area is sitting out this year's World Cup racing, which relocated to Colorado while Killington completes a new $12 million Superstar trail chairlift. The resort's new independent owners are hoping to bring back the Thanksgiving weekend competition in 2026, possibly on an e…
City councilors unanimously passed a resolution seeking accountability from UVM and Champlain College after students described mold, leaks, rodent infestations and defective heating in dorms. The resolution requires universities to share inspection data and complaint procedures within three month…
The Chittenden County Historical Society honored Burlington historian David Blow, 88, with its inaugural Lilian Baker Carlisle Lifetime Achievement Award. Blow, who has researched Burlington history since 1965 after returning from Army service in Germany, authored the three-volume Historic Guide …
Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak's legislative priorities for 2026 remain nearly identical to 2025's agenda after what she described as "very little progress" last session. These include authority to ban firearms in bars (approved by 87% of voters in March 2025), just-cause eviction requirements, and a…
Downtown Burlington's safety metrics are showing meaningful improvement, with violent crime trending downward and gunfire incidents dropping significantly from their 2022 peak, according to interim Police Chief Shawn Burke's October report to the Police Commission. The city's innovative Situation…
Vermont's homelessness rates have increased 200% since 2020, with the state now holding the nation's fourth-highest per capita rate of unhoused individuals. The crisis intensified after Governor Scott vetoed a bill extending the hotel-motel voucher program, leading to hundreds of evictions earlie…
For the first time in eleven years, Burlington will have no drop-in shelter for people who aren't sober this winter, leaving approximately 200-plus people sleeping rough to face freezing temperatures with limited options. While COTS opened its expanded 56-bed Waystation shelter and CVOEO plans to…
The City Charter Change Committee paused Monday on Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak's proposal for a $50,000 homestead property value exemption that would shift tax burden to commercial properties and homes valued above $800,000, which would see bills rise 4-6%. Burlington Business Association's Kelly Devin…
The Burlington City Council has unanimously passed a resolution to reinforce the role of the city's eight Neighborhood Planning Assemblies (NPAs), the ward-based citizen groups originating from Bernie Sanders' 1981 mayoral campaign. The measure, signed by Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak, directs CEDO to st…
The UVM Student Tenant Union presented photographic evidence to Burlington City Council, including fungi in bathrooms, perpetually leaky ceilings, and silverfish infestations. Unlike traditional apartments, college dorms are exempt from routine city inspections, and UVM hasn't filed required annu…
The 10-day festival drew 9,065 attendees, up 26% from last year's record, with 38 of 77 programs selling out and generating a $55,000 profit. John Waters' sold-out narration of "Female Trouble" produced an unexpected reunion when an audience member revealed the famous Christmas tantrum scene was …
South Burlington adopted its first-ever Economic Development Strategic Plan, positioning itself as Vermont's economic laboratory with 20% of the region's jobs and emerging sectors in life sciences, clean manufacturing, and electric aviation. The plan, developed after engaging 100+ stakeholders, r…
After a five-year legal battle ending at the Vermont Supreme Court, residents near Wheeler Nature Park received notices that blasting for a 32-unit development begins in November. The controversial project sits on 7 acres that the city traded to JAM Golf a decade ago for 21 acres, a deal resident…
Governor Scott and Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak unveiled a 14-point public safety plan offering state police patrols, a pretrial supervision program for repeat offenders, and a UVM Medical Center mobile addiction treatment van. The plan includes both accountability measures like requiring service provid…
Building Burlington's Future launched a recruitment video featuring Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak and current officers promoting the Burlington Police Department's $15,000 recruitment bonus and starting salaries of $74,415-$81,030. The campaign comes as BPD intensifies recruitment amid national staffing …
COTS will open a 56-bed shelter at 58 Pearl Street in early November, expanding from their current 36-bed Church Street location after raising $2 million mostly from private donations. The transformed former Social Security office features dorm-style bunk rooms, storage lockers, a dine-in kitchen…
Another article about Scott's 14-point action plan as it tries tackling Burlington's public safety through a combination of increased state police presence, expanded substance use treatment, and a special court docket to address case backlogs. The plan sidesteps specifics on funding, with officia…
Shelburne's new "Hi Neighbor" series kicked off October 12 at Harrington Village Green with apple cider, doughnuts, and unscripted conversation between residents and town officials. The Equity & Diversity Committee plans these gatherings twice per season across different neighborhoods, creating i…
Governor Phil Scott's new initiative includes expanding prison drug treatment, offering additional police patrols, and launching a "mass volunteer clean-up and beautification event," but omits any expansion of homeless shelter capacity despite urgent need. The plan arrives after months of public …
The USDA has directed Vermont to pause November food stamp distribution due to the federal shutdown, affecting the $12 million monthly 3SquaresVT program that serves thousands of vulnerable Vermonters. State lawmakers are scrambling to implement stopgap measures using Vermont's $100 million feder…
South Burlington collected over $7.5 million in local option taxes in FY2024, ranking among the highest in Vermont and making up 15% of the city's general fund revenue. A new state law increases the municipal share from 70% to 75% starting this October, bringing an additional $350,000 annually to…
UVM's new South Burlington apartment complexes aim to ease Burlington's 2.2% rental vacancy rate, with Catamount Run offering 620 beds and Catamount East providing 164. However, students report significant vacancies at Catamount Run due to prices ranging from $1,123 to $2,029 per person monthly, …
Swanton resident Tamara Mathieu has gained 3,403 TikTok followers sharing her experience in what the Southern Poverty Law Center calls a "Christian fundamentalist cult." Mathieu, who joined with her husband in 1998 seeking community, describes a "totally patriarchal" system requiring women's comp…
19-page CDNR report reveals Howard Center dispensed 944,109 syringes in 2024 but received only 516,335 back, leaving 427,774 unaccounted for, though return rates improved to 81% through August 2025. The report, prompted by a child being stuck at a South Burlington playground, recommends requiring…
The No Kings movement returns this Saturday in opposition to President Trump's targeting of immigrants and the government shutdown, following June's record breaking protests that drew 42,000 Vermonters statewide and 16,000 in Burlington alone. The 50501 organizers have scattered Burlington's demo…
Vermont officials meeting on day 16 of the federal shutdown expressed concern that Trump's pattern of slashing promised funding and targeting Democratic states means the feds might not reimburse the $30 to $50 million Vermont may need to front for federal programs. While the state has $700 millio…
Current 10th and 11th graders can now complete a free associate degree at CCV just one year after high school graduation, extending the program originally offered to classes of 2023 through 2026. Since launching in 2022, the program has helped hundreds pursue debt free degrees, with participants …
The Essex planning commission unanimously rejected the state's 14-month effort to build a new women's correctional facility on state-owned property, with members citing the lack of guaranteed public transportation and other infrastructure commitments. The decision sends officials back to square o…
Police Chief Shawn Burke's data shows a spike in downtown drug-related incidents, while Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak reported productive meetings with Governor Scott about state partnership opportunities. The mayor announced three key administration departures by mid-October, including the Senior Adviso…
Vermont's homelessness has increased 200% since 2020, making it the nation's fourth highest per capita. City Hall Park residents report increased "no trespassing" signs and police scrutiny following August's council resolution enforcing overnight camping bans and curfews, while advocates stress t…
The vandalized mural was designed by a local artist and commissioned by the building owner and parents from Edmund's School. Surveillance images show what appears to be "SALO 1" tagged on the artwork. Burlington Police are asking anyone with information to call 802-540-2321. The timing is particu…
Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak is losing three critical staff members halfway through her term: deputy chief of staff Joe Magee, special assistant to end homelessness Sarah Russell, and senior adviser on community safety Ingrid Jonas. Magee's replacement will be Jen Monroe Zakaras, the Progressive wh…
Half a million dollars in the Burlington area gets you anywhere from a 1,208 square foot home in the city proper to over 3,600 square feet in St. Albans. Most listings cluster in the suburbs like South Burlington, Milton, and Swanton, where buyers can find three to four bedroom homes ranging from…
Champlain Housing Trust and Evernorth have transformed a former motel that housed homeless Vermonters into 68 affordable apartments and 26 condominiums in Shelburne, with all units remaining permanently affordable for future generations. The $55 million Bay Ridge development includes federal Hous…
Artist Clark Derbes and 90 volunteers spent Saturday painting "Building Blocks," a 3,461-square-foot geometric mural at 266 Main Street, only to find it vandalized with graffiti by Sunday morning. Undeterred, 60 more volunteers including Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak's chief of staff and half the city co…
The Lake Champlain Chamber's signature leadership program has selected 31 participants for its Class of 2026, representing organizations from GlobalFoundries to the Milton Family Community Center. The nine-month program, now in its 37th year, includes eight full-day seminars exploring Vermont iss…
The first phase of Burlington Square (formerly "the pit") is finally open with a 161-room AC Hotel, 53 apartments, a restaurant and cafe. Apartment rents range from $1,650 for a studio to $6,800 for a top floor two-bedroom. The developers are seeking an extension on their requirement to include a…
This marks a significant shift for CEO Kyle Clark, who previously touted the benefits of remaining private. The South Burlington electric aviation startup has raised over $1 billion in private capital, most recently $300 million from GE Aerospace. Multiple Beta job ads seek applicants with public…
Progressive councilors announced plans to grow Burlington's housing trust fund by $1 million through a city property transfer tax, require UVM to maintain affordable student housing, use the state CHIP program for permanently affordable homes, and seek a charter change for rent stabilization. The…
An investigation reveals Vermont directed over $789 million in public funds toward housing between 2020 and 2024, creating 2,249 new homes and rehabilitating 1,156 units. But skyrocketing construction costs meant less bang for the buck: new affordable rentals now cost over $500,000 per unit to bu…
Governor Scott's new executive order requires monthly performance metrics on permit processing times and regulatory barriers, while rolling back some energy and environmental standards to expedite construction. The order aims to help fill Vermont's need for 40,000 new homes over the next five yea…
Residents of Tracy Drive in Burlington's New North End keep discovering six-by-six-foot holes covered with rotting railroad ties in their yards, with one man falling waist-deep and a woman tipping over while gardening. The mystery likely dates to 1953 when developer Silas Tracy built dry wells fo…
Big John Van Hazinga has been living on a futon in the shop's basement without a shower, prompting his landlord to issue a termination notice for the end of October. The Battery Street fixture since 2003 survived Van Hazinga's near-fatal 2007 longboarding crash and his 2019 federal weed dealing i…
Despite 9% more homes selling in 2024 and inventory finally loosening from pandemic lows, the statewide median home price jumped to $353,000 last year, with Chittenden County hitting $500,000. The rental vacancy rate has climbed to 3% from under 1%, but Vermont's housing deficit remains deep enou…
The Green Mountain Care Board slashed the medical center's $2.4 billion budget, demanding reduced charges to commercial insurers and accusing the UVM Health Network of using inflated Vermont rates to subsidize its failing New York operations. The board also cut funding for a proposed 9% executive…
Kristine Lott, mayor since 2019, is expecting her first child and navigating a career transition, with Deputy Mayor Thomas Renner serving as interim until March elections. Lott cited economic vitality, municipal infrastructure improvements, housing progress, and building an inclusive community as…
Governor Phil Scott announced his administration will present recommendations to Burlington leaders in coming weeks to address what he termed a crisis of homelessness and public drug use. The governor met with Burlington business owners Tuesday and plans additional meetings with residents and aca…
Burlington Square, the long delayed redevelopment of the former downtown mall site, will partially open next month with luxury apartments and hotel rooms commanding top dollar prices. The AC Marriott opens September 18, with apartments following October 1, featuring rents from $1,950 monthly for …
South Burlington High School has implemented a strict no phone policy during school hours, with students receiving printed schedules instead of using digital ones. The policy follows Vermont's Act 72 requiring phone free policies by 2026-2027, with escalating consequences: first offense results i…
Chittenden Solid Waste District has partnered with Vermont Language Justice Project to produce recycling instruction videos in 15 languages including Arabic, ASL, Burmese, Dari, French, Kirundi, Mandarin, Maay Maay, Nepali, Pashto, Spanish, Somali, Swahili, and Vietnamese. The videos guide viewer…
Friday's ceremony in Kieslich Park marked a profound moment of acknowledgment for St. Joseph's Orphanage survivors, whose stories of abuse were ignored for decades until a 2018 BuzzFeed investigation reignited public attention. The memorial, featuring an archway of black locust branches framing a…
The Agency of Natural Resources is considering rules that would slash wake sport-eligible lakes from 30 to 18, responding to mounting concerns about erosion, safety, and conflicts between different water users. Joe's Pond resident Richard Gagne describes watching his retaining wall gradually dest…
Champlain Valley School District officials are rushing a $13 million bond proposal for Town Meeting Day, viewing it as potentially their last chance for major infrastructure investments before Act 73's education funding overhaul takes effect. The bond would address critical maintenance across the…
A 16-year-old South Burlington youth's case has been temporarily moved to family court after he and co-defendant Isaiah Argro were charged with second-degree murder in the August 11 beating death of Scott Kastner, who suffered at least 21 blows to the head in under two minutes. Video evidence sho…
The governor and Burlington's mayor are locked in a public blame game over who's responsible for addressing the city's visible struggles with homelessness and drug use. Public Safety Commissioner Jennifer Morrison called visiting Burlington "terrifying" while Scott suggested the mayor's strategie…
In a rare bipartisan move, councilors voted 9-2 to demand greater police presence and overnight clearing of City Hall Park, where drug dealing occurs openly and homeless residents regularly camp despite ordinances prohibiting both. The resolution comes after the recent fatal beating and ongoing c…
South Burlington's gamble on boosting bus driver pay has paid off spectacularly, doubling their driver workforce from 12 to 24 in just one year. After last year's severe shortage forced route cancellations and left parents scrambling, the district's investment means kids now get to school on time…
The Chittenden Solid Waste District's $22 million recycling center, overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2022, has hit yet another snag. After their first Redmond Road site proved too wet for development, CSWD acquired another plot on the same road, only to have Williston's Development Review Boa…
The incoming class includes 563 Vermonters, with 221 taking advantage of the expanded UVM Promise program that now covers tuition for families earning under $100,000. First-generation students jumped to 14% of the class while male enrollment rose to 40%, bucking national trends of young men skipp…
Following recent assaults including an August 11 attack that left a man dead and an August 17 shooting incident, Council President Ben Traverse will introduce a resolution tonight calling for police presence during all park hours, enforcement of the 10 PM to 7 AM closure, and aggressive action ag…
Thursday's move-in day brought fresh energy to the UVM campus as first-year students hauled their belongings into dorms. Despite nationwide uncertainty around DEI debates and federal funding challenges, President Marlene Tromp struck an optimistic tone about the university's adaptability. Interes…
Sandy and Jesse Harper have spent nine months searching for their 38-year-old son Chris, who vanished from Burlington's streets last November after leaving a homeless shelter. Detective Eric Kratochvil calls it highly unusual, a case where someone is simply "just gone." The Harpers have offered a…
Pizzeria Verita owner Leslie Wells reports sales down 30% from last year during Tuesday's virtual town hall with Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak. Business owners attribute the slump to multiple factors: fewer Canadian visitors, downtown construction, and public safety concerns including open drug use. Iron…
Governor Phil Scott responded to Burlington's cry for help, though tensions are evident between state and city leadership. WCAX's data analysis shows Burlington's retail, restaurant and bar tax revenues have been declining when adjusted for inflation, suggesting the Queen City is losing business …
The new "Why We March" mural on Howard Center's building facing City Market celebrates community activism through vibrant imagery of protesters at recognizable Burlington landmarks. Lead artists Julio Desmont and Raphaella Brice, both of Haitian heritage, incorporated feedback from over 60 commun…
The People's Kitchen has joined Food Not Cops in providing free meals at City Hall Park, now serving hot dinners three nights a week. Organizer FaReid Munarsyah launched the effort after 150 businesses complained about Food Not Cops' impact on downtown. Recent Tuesday dinners have served 120 to 1…
Kristine Lott, Winooski's first female mayor, will step down September 15 as she expects her first child. Deputy Mayor Thomas Renner will serve as interim mayor until Town Meeting Day elections. During her tenure, Lott fostered relationships across the diverse community, from visiting the local m…
[Mystery Solved: Old Holiday Inn Now UVM Housing](https://www.wcax.com/2025/08/20/whats-going-with-old-holiday-inn-property-south-burlington/)
[CVS Manager Wins National Recognition](https://patch.com/vermont/burlington-vt/burlington-store-manager-receives-prestigious-cvs-health-company-recognition) Church Street CVS manager Kevin Richer earned a 2025 National Paragon Award for community impact and business savvy. His pre-eclipse mercha…
The Great Streets BTV project has hammered downtown businesses with months of orange cones and construction noise, prompting hundreds of merchants to plead for relief. The city's compromise opens Main Street to traffic after 5:30pm on weekdays and all weekend through Thanksgiving, though you stil…
Burlington's two urban park rangers, Neil Preston and Jake Payne, are tasked with managing the impossible: enforcing camping bans across 550 acres of public land while the city faces record homelessness. With more than 40 encampment complaints filed last month alone through the SeeClickFix app, t…
Over 2,500 unionized UVM employees are protesting a mandatory insurance audit requiring them to submit birth certificates and marriage licenses to Willis Towers Watson, a company that reported a data breach in 2023. The university's paying up to $114,000 for the audit to verify dependent eligibil…
Vermont just secured $68 million in federal community development block grants aimed at helping towns devastated by the 2023 floods build back stronger. The bulk of the funding targets Lamoille and Washington counties for infrastructure improvements, housing development, and planning initiatives.…
Vermont's Solar for All program, designed to reduce electricity costs for low-income households through solar installations, was killed Thursday evening when the EPA withdrew its $62.5 million grant. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin called the nationwide $7 billion initiative a "grift" with excessive…
Nick Deml steps down August 15 after nearly four years leading Vermont's prison system, passing the torch to former Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad. In his exit interview, Deml painted a picture of a corrections system stretched beyond its original mandate, now expected to provide education, su…
The death of Nectar's came from a thousand cuts: Main Street construction that eliminated walk-up traffic, sky-high rent from landlord Joe Handy, changing demographics with Gen Z drinking less and seeking less live music, and perhaps most painfully, the venue's own identity crisis. When Ed Maier'…
Champlain Housing Trust and Evernorth broke ground Thursday on 100 Cambrian Way, bringing 40 permanently affordable apartments to Burlington's North End by next year. The $23.8 million project, powered by solar and geothermal energy, sets aside 10 units for Burlington Housing Authority voucher ho…
Immigration activists have documented ICE agents moving detainees through nonpublic side entrances at Burlington International Airport, bypassing public areas where advocates have been monitoring transfers for months. Videos from July 25 and early Thursday morning show officials escorting people …
Governor Phil Scott has denied a Trump administration request to deploy Vermont National Guard troops to assist ICE operations, citing insufficient detail and planning in the proposal. The Department of Defense had announced Guard members would replace Marine and Navy reservists in tasks like tra…
The latest Point-in-Time Count recorded 3,386 homeless Vermonters on a single January night, including 633 children and 215 seniors over 65 - a 200% increase since 2020 but roughly unchanged from last year. The actual number is likely higher, with June's coordinated entry data showing at least 4,…
New UVM President Marlene Tromp arrives from Boise State at a precarious moment, facing federal research funding cuts, enrollment pressures, and ongoing budget challenges. In her first major interview, Tromp committed to increasing Vermont student enrollment while acknowledging the demographic re…
The Boys and Girls Club unveiled its newly renovated pool Monday, a $600,000 project four years in the making that now serves 100 kids daily with swimming lessons and recreation. The surprise dedication to longtime staff member Joyce McEntee added an emotional touch to the ribbon-cutting ceremony…
Burlington artists are constructing "LOOP," a massive interactive musical wheel headed for Burning Man before returning to tour Vermont. The piece functions as a giant hamster wheel that plays music as participants move it, embodying the collaborative spirit of both Burlington's art scene and the…
Randolph electrical engineer Patrick Schlott is resurrecting pay phones for the digital age, installing free internet connected calling stations in cell service dead zones across central Vermont. His company RandTel has placed three phones so far in North Tunbridge, Thetford, and Randolph, each c…
After a decade of planning, Burlington's first bike park will break ground at Leddy Park this month with an October opening target, transforming an underused wooded area into 2,070 linear feet of jump lines and flow trails. The project started when Old Spokes Home mechanic Sean Melinn noticed kid…
Burlington Square's south tower opens in August, finally transforming the former mall site downtown after years as an eyesore nicknamed "the Pit." The $300 million two tower project features Vermont's first AC Hotel by Marriott occupying floors 2-7 with 161 rooms, while floors 8-11 house 53 apart…
Dean Roy, a 14-year-old from Stowe running for governor on the Freedom and Unity Party ticket, might not unseat Phil Scott, but he's making points that resonate. The former legislative page who challenged Lt. Governor Rodgers on EVs is centering his campaign on property taxes and affordability; i…
South Burlington's considering joining Essex, Colchester, and Winooski in actually compensating the volunteers who keep municipal government running. At an estimated $60,000 annually, it's a recognition that asking people to donate hours of their time to review development proposals or plan city …
It's a treat for local basketball fans to see so many Catamount legends back in town and playing together. They came on Wednesday to practice together, however the tournament is held in Syracuse. The creation of the "Green Mountain Men" for The Basketball Tournament (TBT) speaks volumes about the…
This is a seismic event for our region's social safety net. As Vermont's designated agency for mental health and substance use, the Howard Center is a linchpin; its stability affects our hospitals, emergency services, and schools. The fact that it was down to "single-digit days of operating cash"…
Vermont Rep. Balint is essentially translating the fine print of the new federal budget, arguing that its tax cuts are funded by gutting programs essential to Vermonters. The core issue is that new federal rules, like proof-of-work requirements for Medicaid, are viewed by local officials not as a…
The situation with the Food Not Cops meal service remains complicated. After pressure from businesses, the group relocated from the downtown garage but their new, self selected spot in City Hall Park was chosen without city input. This unilateral move has frustrated the Burlington Business Associ…
The long running debate over a housing project next to Wheeler Nature Park in South Burlington continues. Despite the developer clearing legal hurdles, opponents are not giving up, now petitioning the City Council directly to buy the land back. Residents argue the 32 unit project threatens a vita…
The end of the expanded hotel voucher program is a major development with immediate consequences for hundreds of Vermonters. This reversion to pre-pandemic rules marks a significant policy shift away from the emergency measures that kept many housed. As individuals like David Shappy face the pros…
Holy smokes, that’s intense. The swift reversal on the Perkins Pier overnight parking program highlights the intense pressure and division surrounding solutions to homelessness in Burlington. While the city intended it as a temporary, controlled measure, the backlash was immediate and severe. Thi…
This is a pretty big deal for Winooski and for Vermont's reputation as a leader in green initiatives. Combining a hotel, housing, and parking, the Sugar House project is a major development for the Onion City's downtown. Landing Marriott's first ever net zero hotel is a major feather in the cap, …
This budget represents the first real test of Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak's "ModernGov" initiative, aiming to streamline a city government that has grown significantly over the last decade. The plan walks a tightrope, cutting staff and programs while simultaneously increasing funding for police and soc…
This new organization hopes to succeed where the often divided City Council has struggled: finding consensus. While its leadership includes some familiar faces from Democratic and Progressive circles, the stated goal is to be a nonpartisan force for change on housing and the economy. It’s an inte…
This is a welcome infusion of federal cash that will have a direct local impact. The EPA funds, secured by Rep. Becca Balint, will help modernize the facility with energy efficient heat pumps. This move will not only cut the plant's carbon footprint significantly but also help keep utility rates …
This is a significant and long-awaited development for one of the area's premier cultural institutions. The 11,000 square foot Perry Center for Native American Art aims to provide a dedicated space for Indigenous art and education, developed in collaboration with local tribal leaders. The project…
With heat index values soaring past 100 degrees, the city and local organizations have established several cooling centers to provide relief. These locations offer a vital service, especially for vulnerable residents without access to air conditioning. It’s a practical reminder of the public heal…
The Vermont Supreme Court has sided with developers planning 32 mixed housing units next to South Burlington's Wheeler Nature Park, a decision that upholds earlier court rulings. Neighbors who appealed the project cited concerns over aesthetics, blasting, and the loss of a scenic view, arguing th…
The Grow Prenatal & Family Center and The Pinery are teaming up to make the South End a little more welcoming for new parents. Their "On the Door Radio" series offers a family friendly space every Thursday evening for parents to socialize while local DJs spin daytime sets. It’s a simple but smart…
After years of sitting vacant and becoming a neighborhood problem, the old YMCA building on College Street is finally seeing some action. Crews have started demolition, the first visible step in a plan to transform the historic building into a six story apartment building with 79 housing units. W…
The Community College of Vermont's 802Opportunity program is getting a major expansion, thanks to approval from lawmakers and the governor. By doubling the household income eligibility to $100,000 for Vermonters without a bachelor's degree, the program now opens the door to free tuition for a hug…
Governor Phil Scott has signed a new bill into law that prevents landlords from requiring a Social Security number to rent or sell housing. This legislation directly addresses a significant barrier faced by many immigrants and new Vermonters when trying to secure a place to live. By allowing alte…
This piece from VTDigger highlights the journey of Burlington Beer Company founder Joe Lemnah. It tells a familiar Vermont story of passion turned into a successful enterprise, but also sheds light on the crucial role of financing organizations like the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VED…
Hundreds of Burlington residents gathered in City Hall Park this week, joining nationwide protests against recent ICE activities. The demonstration highlighted a growing local frustration over the detention of migrant workers in Vermont, connecting the state's issues to a larger national picture.…
The long-running battle over short-term rentals in Burlington is far from over. A recent Supreme Court ruling essentially sent a group of Airbnb hosts back to Environmental Court to continue their challenge against the city's restrictive ordinance. This procedural move underscores the legal compl…
The contentious debate over Vermont's emergency hotel housing program continues. Governor Scott's veto of a bill that would have shifted program management to community agencies means the state is, for now, sticking with the current system. With nearly 1,300 adults and over 400 children housed in…
It’s that time of year again when you can’t walk a block downtown without hearing a saxophone. The festival couldn't come at a better time for downtown businesses feeling the pinch from construction and other concerns. As festival curator Anthony Tidd notes, a majority of the shows are free, maki…
The Mayor is moving forward with her "ModernGov" initiative, merging the city’s economic development office (CEDO) with business and workforce development, including the Church Street Marketplace. This move aims to create a more unified strategy for tackling Burlington's big challenges like the h…
The discussion around downtown vibrancy and safety has taken a contentious turn. Following a letter from business owners expressing concerns and a subsequent City Council resolution to relocate the Food Not Bombs free lunch program, fraudulent letters misrepresenting business owners' views began …
This is a notable setback for the ambitious initiative led by UVM and GlobalFoundries, aimed at boosting next generation semiconductor development right here in Vermont. While tech hub officials express disappointment, they’re not throwing in the towel and plan to reapply, emphasizing the project…
Anyone trying to find a place in or around Burlington knows the struggle is real, and this Seven Days piece dives into the innovative, sometimes unconventional, ways Vermonters are tackling the daunting housing shortage. From co ops and tiny homes to community land trusts, it’s a look at grassroo…
The debate over the Food Not Cops meal service, particularly its presence near the Marketplace Garage, has a new development with the Mayor asking the City Council to reconsider a resolution to move the program. This situation brings familiar Burlington tensions to the forefront: how to support d…
This is a significant development out of Winooski, as a vote of no confidence from such a large majority of teaching staff against Co Principal Jean Berthiaume indicates deep seated issues. The union states concerns date back to 2022, while the School Board's response emphasizes the superintenden…
This heartwarming initiative saw local students decorating and filling 200 snack bags for Chittenden County residents experiencing homelessness. It’s a wonderful example of community compassion in action, driven by local advocate Jason Fitzgerald and embraced by young Vermonters.
South Burlington is tapping the brakes on allowing all legal residents, including noncitizens, to vote in local elections, a measure already adopted by Burlington, Winooski, and Montpelier. The split on their charter committee highlights a difficult balancing act: concerns over potential federal …
Get ready for some hoops action of a different kind. The Vermont Coyotes, our very own professional basketball team, are holding their inaugural combine this Saturday at VTSU Johnson. It's a significant step for the fledgling team and a cool opportunity for the public to see potential future star…
A shout out to an unnamed bystander whose quick thinking and bravery likely saved an elderly woman from a burning apartment building in South Burlington this past Tuesday. After spotting smoke and calling 911, he ran into the building to help. It's a powerful reminder that everyday heroes walk am…
The planned expansion of COTS's Waystation shelter is very welcome news, particularly considering Vermont's ongoing challenges with homelessness. Tripling the available space and increasing bed capacity by fifty five percent at the new Pearl Street location will provide enhanced dignity and criti…
This is a significant leadership change for a key city department, especially as it coincides with a planned merger between CEDO and Business & Workforce Development aimed at addressing the city's budget gap. Alnasrawi, currently leading the Church Street Marketplace and Business & Workforce Deve…
This generous $200,000 matching grant from the Hoehl Family Foundation is a significant boost for COTS as they work towards their $2 million fundraising goal for the new Waystation Shelter. Transforming the Pearl Street location from a winter warming shelter into a year round, 56 bed facility by …
The green light for an overdose prevention center is a significant step, but the conversation is now shifting to its location. Advocates stress the need for a downtown presence to be effective, while some neighborhood groups express concerns and suggest placement near medical facilities. This wil…
A significant court decision means temporary relief for hundreds relying on state-sponsored hotel and motel stays. Vermont Legal Aid’s advocacy ensures affected residents gain crucial protection through proper notice and hearings.
More than fresh paint—this adds real supply just as Chittenden County vacancy rates hover below two percent. If you know someone couch-surfing, steer them to the Champlain Housing Trust wait-list while spots remain.
Hula’s Russ Scully is banking on state‑backed infrastructure dollars; without them, that vast Lakeside Avenue parking lot stays exactly that. Lawmakers will have to decide whether the new ‘CHIP’ financing tool is worth the risk or if Burlington’s biggest housing vision stalls in committee.
City Council’s unanimous vote gives Higher Ground room to build the bigger stage it wants closer to downtown. Parking headaches remain unsolved, but music fans may soon swap Williston Road trips for Pine Street strolls.
Inspections uncovered makeshift bedrooms and missing smoke alarms, but officials say the goal is safer housing, not citations. With 3,000 units to review, the city hopes to visit every property at least once by year three.
Reminder: water and sizzling oil are not friends. One resident was treated for smoke inhalation, and the building’s cabinets took the worst of it. Check those fire extinguishers, neighbors—cheap insurance against charred brunch.
Even if politics aren’t your favorite dinner topic, this ongoing clash over short-term housing is worth keeping on your radar. It’s a real balancing act between funding and policy. Stay tuned—this one isn’t wrapping up quietly.
Longtime patrons can still pop into the Pine Street taproom through late April before it goes dark for a couple of months. The new home near Switchback and Burlington Beer Co. should make quite the craft-beverage hotspot when it reopens. Consider this a sign that Burlington’s South End really is …
A look back at Burlington’s finances shows the party’s reputation took a hit from that old telecom debacle, but current leadership wants to carve a new path. With recent mayors juggling budgets in the tens of millions, voters are watching closely to see who can really deliver fiscal responsibilit…
The governor wants legislators to move quickly to transform Vermont’s school system. Whether you’re pro or con, keep an eye on how this debate shakes out — it could impact property taxes, district lines, and local communities across the state.
Weinberger’s pivot to academia keeps him in the conversation about one of the region’s biggest challenges: finding enough places for everyone to live comfortably. Students might end up shaping policy that could affect the rest of us in the coming years.
Voters gave a thumbs-up to big spending for city infrastructure and water system upgrades, so expect construction news in your mailbox soon. It’s looking like we’ll stay on track for some overdue repairs, though the monthly bill for water and wastewater is headed upward.
Most of the big ballot items passed easily, continuing the city’s focus on managing housing, infrastructure, and public safety. On redistricting, the voters also handed more authority to the council. We’ll see if the Legislature follows through.
Although remote work empties some local offices—and hits downtown eateries—leaders say it also helps fill state job openings. If you’re missing that midday café bustle, new housing conversions might be on the horizon for vacant office space.
A rundown Pizza Hut and gas station on Shelburne Road are finally coming down. After years of graffiti and boarded-up windows, South Burlington officials say the plan is for commercial space plus 30 new housing units—some of which will be affordable. Here’s hoping that corner of Shelburne Road ge…
Students and teachers from schools with “bell-to-bell” bans say it boosts focus and reduces drama. Some parents worry about emergencies, but supporters argue the front office is still the fastest way to reach a child if something arises. The debate rages on over how unplugged kids should be from …
The men’s basketball team sits in second place in the America East standings and heads to the Garden State on a hot streak. TJ Hurley’s consistent scoring has been a highlight—fingers crossed for more of the same as they look to secure a postseason advantage.
Some folks argue it will help preserve affordable housing options, while others worry it may restrict the university’s growth. Legislators are balancing community interests and UVM’s desire to expand.
Applicants have until March 21 to apply, with winners announced April 17 in Burlington. It’s a key event for architects, developers, and property owners dedicated to sustainable design in Vermont.
It’s heartwarming to see neighbors from different backgrounds rolling up their sleeves together. Volunteer bakers are bridging divides and proving bread can bring us all to the table.
It’s still a big parking lot today, but maybe not forever. Keep an eye on Lakeside Avenue—2026 might bring fresh housing, jobs, and a new vibe to the South End.
With overnight wind chills expected to dip below zero, the city’s stepping up to keep folks safe. If you know someone in need of a warm place this weekend, pass along the info—and remember, being neighborly can make a world of difference when the thermometer drops.
Women’s Lacrosse is off to a high-scoring start. With three different players netting hat-tricks, it’s safe to say the team found its groove early.
Councilors voted to look into boosting the city’s commitment to affordable housing. Given the tough housing market (and eye-watering rents), a little extra support could go a long way.
Activists are pushing to redirect funds into housing, education, and other social supports. Organizers vowed to keep the conversation going and say there are more rallies ahead.
One of the area’s favorite music venues might set up shop near Burlington City Arts. The move hinges on a zoning tweak, but fans are hoping it all works out.
Hey, if we can transform empty cubicles into cozy apartments, that might just help with Vermont’s perennial housing crunch; and turn ghostly hallways into vibrant new neighborhoods.
It looks like Vermont’s forgotten doorsteps might just get a second chance if the funding holds up.
Whether you are on the buying or selling side these rising numbers underscore a sizzling local market even if they make window shopping a bit more challenging.
Bernie’s got jokes—and possibly the best off-the-wall pitch to repurpose Uncle Sam’s time. Let’s just hope we can keep it civil, or at least keep any strong winds from blowing away the memo.