Weathersfield Weekly Blog June 19 edition
Hall Art Foundation's Outdoor Sculptures in Reading VT
More about my visit-see below Events and Adventures
Mark Your Calendars
Juneteenth (officially Juneteenth National Independence Day) Federal Holiday
Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Deriving its name from combining June and nineteenth, it is celebrated on the anniversary of the order by Major General Gordon Granger proclaiming freedom for enslaved people in Texas on June 19, 1865 (two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued).
Juneteenth has become a day to commemorate the end of slavery in America. Despite the fact that President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was issued more than two years earlier on January 1, 1863, a lack of Union troops in the rebel state of Texas made the order difficult to enforce.
Some historians blame the lapse in time on poor communication in that era, while others believe Texan slave-owners purposely withheld the information.
Originating in Galveston, Juneteenth has since been observed annually in various parts of the United States, often broadly celebrating African-American culture. The day was first recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law.
Early celebrations date back to 1866, at first involving church-centered community gatherings in Texas. They spread across the South and became more commercialized in the 1920s and 1930s, often centering on a food festival.
Participants in the Great Migration brought these celebrations to the rest of the country. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, these celebrations were eclipsed by the nonviolent determination to achieve civil rights, but grew in popularity again in the 1970s with a focus on African American freedom and African-American arts.
Beginning with Texas by proclamation in 1938, and by legislation in 1979, every U.S. state and the District of Columbia has formally recognized the holiday in some way. Juneteenth is also celebrated by the Mascogos, descendants of Black Seminoles who escaped from slavery in 1852 and settled in Coahuila, Mexico.
Celebratory traditions often include public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, singing traditional songs such as "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "Lift Every Voice and Sing", and the reading of works by noted African-American writers, such as Ralph Ellison and Maya Angelou. Juneteenth celebrations may also include rodeos, street fairs, cookouts, family reunions, parties, historical reenactments, and Miss Juneteenth contests.
In 2021, Juneteenth became the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was adopted in 1983.
Celebrations in Vermont: CLICK HERE
Mark Your Calendars
Early celebrations date back to 1866, at first involving church-centered community gatherings in Texas. They spread across the South and became more commercialized in the 1920s and 1930s, often centering on a food festival.
Celebratory traditions often include public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, singing traditional songs such as "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "Lift Every Voice and Sing", and the reading of works by noted African-American writers, such as Ralph Ellison and Maya Angelou. Juneteenth celebrations may also include rodeos, street fairs, cookouts, family reunions, parties, historical reenactments, and Miss Juneteenth contests.
New book to be published about the Perkinsville School
Schoolhouse Maypole
Steve Aikenhead has announced that he is publishing a new book about the Perkinsville School and would love to hear from folks about their memories of time spent at the school.
1956 from Betsey Child collection
Here are a few examples of what he's collected so far.
From Jonathan Titcomb:
My parents started me in Perkinsville in 1955 at age 5, and I think I was a little young for first grade. Later my mother thought so, too. One of the first things to happen was the earliest vaccinations for polio, and we were all marched down to the Grange Hall for our first shots. It seemed like those were awfully big needles. The next vaccinations were moved up to the school, and the needles seemed smaller. Dennis Reynells and I spotted a wastebasket full of used syringes and all that we saw were squirt guns! They were fantastic squirt guns, so easy to fill and then shoot. We were really enjoying our play and then something called a principal came along and rained on our parade. That trove of squirt guns had all been thrown away and they were OURS.
From Barbara Volta:
My most memorable experience when I went to Perkinsville School was the afternoon I gave Dottie Richardson a ride almost all the way to her house on my bike. As we came down the Route 106 hill from school, going fast, my front wheel started wobbling. I saw a car approaching, so I moved closer to the side of the road where the bike hit soft dirt. The bike fell over. I had given Dottie a cushion to sit on, and she and the cushion slid off nicely, but I went face forward and hit the bike handlebars. My face was all blood. ... My nose has been crooked ever since.
1972 School Bus crash
There is still has room for more stories and Steve would love to hear from anyone with stories about the Perkinsville School. Stories can be told to Steve over the phone or sent to him at the email address below.
His collection of stories and photos will continue through July.
The book will be available also from the Weathersfield Historical Society or directly from me. (steve@vermontel.net, or 263-5439.)
(Photos and excerpts courtesy of Steve Aikenhead)
The Weathersfield Garden Club will meet on June 20th at the Weathersfield Proctor Library in Ascutney at 6 p.m.
New members and guests are always welcome.
Weathersfield Garden Club Meets June 20 at the Library 6 PM
Weathersfield Garden Club Meets June 20 at the Library 6 PM
The Weathersfield Garden Club will meet on June 20th at the Weathersfield Proctor Library in Ascutney at 6 p.m.
New members and guests are always welcome.
The club plans to meet the 3rd Tuesday of the month.
Any questions? please email weathersfieldgardenclub@gmail.com
Summer Solstice June 21
Stonehenge was built to align with the sun on the solstices. On the summer solstice, the sun rises behind the Heel Stone in the north-east part of the horizon and its first rays shine into the heart of Stonehenge.
On the winter solstice, the sun sets to the south-west of the stone circle.
Summer Solstice will celebrated at Stonehenge from 19:00 hours on Tue 20 June to 08:00 hours on Wed 21 June.
You can watch alive stream on the English Heritage YouTube Channel: CLICK HERETheir stream begins at 04:00 BST (this is June 20 11PM EDST), with sunrise occurring at 04:49 BST.
We visited Stonehenge in 2017, more photos CLICK HERE
Summer Solstice June 21
Stonehenge was built to align with the sun on the solstices. On the summer solstice, the sun rises behind the Heel Stone in the north-east part of the horizon and its first rays shine into the heart of Stonehenge.
On the winter solstice, the sun sets to the south-west of the stone circle.
Summer Solstice will celebrated at Stonehenge from 19:00 hours on Tue 20 June to 08:00 hours on Wed 21 June.
Summer Solstice will celebrated at Stonehenge from 19:00 hours on Tue 20 June to 08:00 hours on Wed 21 June.
You can watch alive stream on the English Heritage YouTube Channel: CLICK HERE
Their stream begins at 04:00 BST (this is June 20 11PM EDST), with sunrise occurring at 04:49 BST. Solstice Ghost Stories with Joseph A. Citro
Solstice Ghost Stories with Joseph A. Citro
Norwich Public Library, Wednesday, June 21st, 4-5 PM
Join us for a special afternoon of chills and mystery with legendary
Vermont folklorist and author, Joseph A. Citro. Joe is the author of 20
fiction and non-fiction books, and is a wealth of knowledge about the
hauntings and supernatural legends of Vermont and beyond. The veil is said
to be thin on the summer solstice – come join us to celebrate, learn, and
get spooked!
All ages welcome (may not be appropriate for very young children). Seating
is first-come, first-served.
There will be a selection of Joe’s books available for purchase too (cash
or check) - get the perfect gift for a spooky story lover, or your own
bookshelf!
See you there!
-The NPL Staff
Join us for a special afternoon of chills and mystery with legendary
Vermont folklorist and author, Joseph A. Citro. Joe is the author of 20
fiction and non-fiction books, and is a wealth of knowledge about the
hauntings and supernatural legends of Vermont and beyond. The veil is said
to be thin on the summer solstice – come join us to celebrate, learn, and
get spooked!
All ages welcome (may not be appropriate for very young children). Seating
is first-come, first-served.
There will be a selection of Joe’s books available for purchase too (cash
or check) - get the perfect gift for a spooky story lover, or your own
bookshelf!
See you there!
-The NPL Staff
Lace up for Laura Saturday, June 24th. 8:30 A.M. kids race, 9:00 5k run/walk-Registration is OPEN
The Annual Lace Up for Laura Memorial 5k Walk/Run and kids fun run has been announced and race registration is now open.
Lace up for Laura Saturday, June 24th. 8:30 A.M. kids race, 9:00 5k run/walk-Registration is OPEN
The Annual Lace Up for Laura Memorial 5k Walk/Run and kids fun run has been announced and race registration is now open.
The race is held in memory of Laura Cody McNaughton who died in a tragic car accident on June 28, 2018 and raise funds for the scholarship fund in her name.
Energy at this event is fun, supportive and full of smiles as individuals and families participate in something Laura loved to do all for a meaningful cause.
The event will consist of two races held on Saturday, June 24, 2023: an approximately 1/3 mile kids 12 and under fun run starting at 8:30 A.M. followed by a 3.1 mile (5km) race starting at 9:00 A.M for all ages and abilities.
The starts for both races will be located near the intersection of the Plains and Reservoir Roads. The 3.1 mile race will be an out and back race on the scenic dirt road known for its lack of change in elevation.
Plenty of post-race snacks and swag will be offered!
(Contact them if you'd like to become a sponsor or make a donation to the raffle).
Proceeds from the event benefit the Laura Cody McNaughton Memorial Fund and its annual scholarship which will be awarded to a graduating senior who exemplifies Laura’s leadership and giving spirit, and, is pursuing further education and training in a field where these principles may be put into practice.
Race Co-Chairs: Ethan McNaughton and Lisa Gleeson.
Media contacts, please visit our website to get in touch. https://www.laceupforlaura.com/
More photos from the 2022 race: CLICK HERE
2023 Brownsville Independence Day Celebrations
Sunday, July 2-“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”
The mountain and village burst out in celebration starting on July 2 at 1:00 at Ascutney Outdoors, where the Weston Theater Company will present their production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” which follows the life of the Peanuts Comic strip & America’s most loveable loser. This production is free but tickets must be reserved by calling the Weston Theater Box Office at 802-824-5288 or by emailing tickets@westontheater.org
Monday, July 3-Food, Music and Fireworks
6:00-9:00 on the slopes of Mt. Ascutney, there will be an array of delights for all. The local Moonlighters Snowmobile Club will be serving up their all-time favorite hot dogs, hamburgers and fries and Wicked Awesome BBQ will provide finger-lickin’ good barbeque and sides. To top off your meal, the perennial Lazy Cow Ice Cream and AJ’s Fried Dough will be serving up their sweet delights.
Please note that barbeques are not permitted.
Streaming into the night will be the music of the Fire House Dixie Land Band. For the evening’s finale, there will be a spectacular fireworks display by Northstar Fireworks of East Montpelier, Vermont.
Tuesday, July 4-Community Breakfast, Barn Dance, Parade
8:30-10 a.m.-Outreach Committee of the Brownsville Community Church will be serving an abundant community breakfast from 8:30 until 10 which can be enjoyed indoors or in the church’s new Tribute Park Pavilion.
9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.-church volunteers will have a Bouncy Castle set up for young and young-at-heart to enjoy.
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.-Community Barn Dance in the Tribute Park Pavilion for all ages
10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Town Hall-vendors will be selling their wares, various local groups will be providing important information and the Friends of the Mary L. Blood Library will be holding a book sale.
10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Town Hall-vendors will be selling their wares, various local groups will be providing important information and the Friends of the Mary L. Blood Library will be holding a book sale.
Lunch:
- The Moonlighters will have come off the mountain to serve their grilled goodies
- American Pie of Ludlow will be offering an array of toppings on their delicious wood-fired pizzas.
- Dessert-the West Windsor Fast Squad will be serving their fruit delights andWest Windsor Historical Society will be holding an Ice Cream Social at The Grange.
1:30 p.m.
- Music by the Firehouse Dixieland Band
- Grand Independence Day Parade will process down the hill on the Brownsville Hartland Road. There will be decorated floats, Shriner’s Clowns antics on their little “trykes”, great big fire trucks from all over the region, antique cars, and proud marchers, too.
- A $100 prize will be awarded to each of three float categories.
- There is also a fire truck award being given by the West Windsor Volunteer Fire Department.
Volunteers are need:
If you are interested in volunteering on the 3rd, contact Bill Ley.
If you can volunteer on the 4th, contact Mark Isenberg.
Join the Parade:
If you’d like to participate in the parade, contact Siobhan Hulihan for floats & Mark Isenberg for marchers. All these folks can be reached by emailing BrownsvilleIDC@gmail.com.
This annual celebration is all made possible by generous donations from IDC Business Sponsors, individuals and the Town of West Windsor! Your support of the Independence Day Celebration is greatly appreciated by all. Donations by check, payable to the Brownsville IDC, should be mailed to:
Brownsville IDC, PO Box 37, Brownsville, VT 05037 OR https://fundrazr.com/BrownsvilleIDC
A big “Thank You” to all our business sponsors, individual donors, the town of West Windsor, Ascutney Outdoors, First Responders from West Windsor / Windsor and all the volunteers for making this community celebration possible!
Volunteers in Action (ViA), a neighbor helping neighbor organization, is seeking immediate volunteer support for two Meals on Wheels routes in Windsor. Details:
- Open shifts available Monday through Friday, help when you have time
- Roughly 2-hour commitment (10am – Noon) on volunteer days
- Individual training available upon sign-up
- Minimal driving, low mileage routes.
- There are additional needs in Weathersfield as well, if people are interested.
Melanie P. Sheehan, MPH
Director of Community Health
Area Summer Concert Series
Lake Morey Summer Concert Series-Thursdays
Lake Morey Inn hosts Free Thursday Night Outdoor Community Concerts.
Food and Drinks Available.
Gates Open at 7:15pm | Shows Start at 8pm
July 6 Adam Ezra Group
July 13 Della Mae
July 20 Uprooted
July 27 Kat Wright
August 3 TBA
August 10 Rev Peyton's Big Damn Band
August 17 Enter the Haggis
August 24 Big Head Todd and the Monsters
Discounts available for Lodging Room Rates
Discounts available for Lodging Room Rates
Lake Morey Inn
82 Clubhouse RD Fairlee VT
Lawn opens at 5:30 pm
East End Park
217 Maxham Meadow Way
Woodstock, VT 05091
Music by the River, Summer Concert Series-Fridays
Pentangle Arts hosts Music by the River FREE concerts Friday evenings 6-7:30 p.m. at East End Park in Woodstock, VT.
July 7 Pyrdein
July 14 Empty Pockets
July 21 The Tricksters
July 28 Bombajazzeando
August 4 The Freese Brothers Big band with Sabrina Brown
August 11 Wesli
August 18 Jay Nash and Friends
August 25 Houston Bernard
East End Park
217 Maxham Meadow Way
Woodstock, VT 05091
Rain Location:
Woodstock Town Hall Theatre
Summer Concert Series at the Hartland Rec Center Gazebo Sunday evenings
Sundays at 5pm July 16 - August 13
All concerts are free and open to the public. Sponsored by Mascoma Savings Bank.
Woodstock Town Hall Theatre
Hartland Rec Center Summer Concert Series-Sundays
Summer Concert Series at the Hartland Rec Center Gazebo Sunday evenings
Sundays at 5pm July 16 - August 13
July 16 The Gully Boys
July 23 Still Hill
July 30 Ali T
August 6 Carlos Ocasio
August 13 Jim Yeager
All concerts are free and open to the public. Sponsored by Mascoma Savings Bank.
News You Can Use
ICYMI (In case You Missed It)
Town/School News
Notice of Public Hearing July 17 6:30 p.m.-road re-classification input sought
The select board will hold a public hearing on Monday, July 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Martin Memorial Hall in Ascutney to hear public comments on town highway #95.
The select board will view the site on July 13 at 6:30 p.m. at 381 E Cooks Pond Rd.
A resident requested that the town discontinue town highway #95. The road is currently listed as impassable or untraveled and the resident says mapping companies are mislabeling his driveway as town highway #95.
Persons wishing to be heard may attend either of these dates-July 13 or 17.
Attention all Weathersfield Artists in grades 4th-8th grade! The school needs your talents this summer.
They are looking for a group of student volunteers to help paint a mural in the front lobby of the school.
If you are interested in joining them a few days over the summer please email brian.martes@wsesu.net
Weathersfield Fall athletics sign-ups are open
What an amazing year for WS athletics.
The school thanks EVERYONE for supporting their programs and athletes.
Fall registrations are open! Sign up today using these links:
Soccer (K-8): https://weathersfield-athletics.sportngin.com/register/form/533713880
Cheerleading (K-8): https://weathersfield-athletics.sportngin.com/register/form/935052888
Cross Country (5-8): https://weathersfield-athletics.sportngin.com/register/form/766712957
Interested in coaching? https://weathersfield-athletics.sportngin.com/register/form/299461426
Fall registrations are open! Sign up today using these links:
Soccer (K-8): https://weathersfield-athletics.sportngin.com/register/form/533713880
Cheerleading (K-8): https://weathersfield-athletics.sportngin.com/register/form/935052888
Cross Country (5-8): https://weathersfield-athletics.sportngin.com/register/form/766712957
Interested in coaching? https://weathersfield-athletics.sportngin.com/register/form/299461426
Town Volunteer Vacancies
There were no appointments made at the April 17th meeting but Selectboard Chair Mike Todd read the available vacancies
Born in New York in 1935, Roger Payne studied biology at Harvard University and got a PhD in Animal Behavior at Cornell. After some early work on hearing in bats, owls and moths, his attention turned to whales in the mid-'60s.
Vermont’s oldest loon dies at the estimated age of 31
Hannah Cho reporting for VT Digger.
Just after dusk, as the dark began to settle on Newark Pond, a spotlight on a boat shone onto the water, as it floated toward a breeding pair of loons.
It was Aug. 2, 1998. Eric Hanson, then a 32-year-old visiting biologist at the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, pulled out a cassette player and began to play loon calls. Wails, hoots and tremolos reverberated over the lake, convincing the pair that there was a third loon in their territory.
As the loons grew distracted by the calls and mesmerized by the light, the crew on board shot a large salmon dip net in front of them. At the splash, the male loon dove instinctively — swimming directly into the net. Lifting the loon out of the water, Hanson quickly placed a towel over his head to calm him, then headed back to shore.
Over the next 20 minutes, an elaborate dance took place on the grassy bank. Two people held the bird in place, while a third person took blood and feather samples to test for mercury as part of a region-wide study.
Before releasing the loon back into the pond, Hanson placed two bands on each of his legs, green over orange on the left and yellow over a silver U.S. Fish and Wildlife band on the right — unique combinations with an identification number of 898-09100.
Those bands have allowed Vermont biologists to monitor this loon for the past 25 years. “That bird could show up in Long Island or Massachusetts and you could report that to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lab,” Hanson said. “They would be able to look that band combo up and tell exactly where that bird was banded.”
Last Tuesday, Newark Pond Male, as Hanson refers to the loon, was found to have died recently at an estimated age of 31. He was the oldest documented loon in Vermont. It’s possible he could be even older, as that age is based on the assumption that the loon was 6 years old and in his first year of nesting during that first encounter, Hanson said.
a. Budget Committee (5 Vacancies)
b. Conservation Commission (2 Vacancies)
c. Energy Coordinator (1 Vacancy)
d. Green Up Coordinator (1 Vacancy)
e. Lister (1 Vacancy) f. Parks and Recreation (2 Vacancies)
g. Veterans Memorial Committee (4 Vacancies)
h. Zoning Board of Adjustment (2 Vacancies)
Anyone interested in serving should contact the Town manager Brandon Gulnick at 802-674-2626
August 28th Welcome Back BBQ and Open House
August 30th First Day of School
Weathersfield School Board meets on Tuesdays
Vermont legalizes online sports betting
Sarah Mearhoff reporting for VT Digger
Vermont joined more than half the states in legalizing online sports betting Wednesday as Gov. Phil Scott signed H.127 into law.
The Republican governor has long supported legalization, which had been stalled for years in the Democratic-controlled Legislature. Now, after countless hours of legislative study and debate, the measure has become law.
“I first proposed Vermont legalize sports betting several years ago and I’m happy the Legislature has come to an agreement, as well,” Scott said in a written statement Wednesday afternoon. “We know many Vermonters already participate in the marketplace and bringing it above board provides important resources and consumer protections.”
The legislation permits up to six companies — potentially household names such as DraftKings and FanDuel — to operate mobile sports betting platforms in Vermont. The program will be supervised by the state’s Department of Liquor and Lottery and is expected to go online in January 2024.
Proponents of legalization argued that, in the digital age, Vermonters are already gambling illegally in online circles — a black market of sorts that left them vulnerable to exploitation or scams.
Opponents, meanwhile, questioned whether the state should sanction a modern form of gambling that is potentially more addictive than traditional methods and certainly more appealing to young people, as witnesses testified to lawmakers this year.
In response, lawmakers included in H.127 a “limit” on platforms’ ability to advertise to Vermonters under 21 years-old, who, legally, are barred from sports wagering. Commissioner of Liquor and Lottery Wendy Knight told lawmakers that she is confident in her department’s ability to keep platforms’ advertising strategies in check.
Proponents of H.127 also argued that, so long as Vermonters were participating in rogue online markets, the state was missing out on potential revenue that a state-regulated program could provide.
State fiscal analysts do not project earth-shattering revenues from a new program. They estimate the state would see roughly $2 million in fiscal year 2024, and eventually, approximately $10 million per year.
Becca Balint tapped to fill vacancy on blockbuster House Judiciary Committee
Paul Heintz reporting for VT Digger
Vermont’s first-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives is poised to secure a seat on one of the chamber’s most high-profile panels.
The House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee on Monday recommended that U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., serve on the House Judiciary Committee, her office announced that evening. The move would be finalized following a vote by fellow Democrats and then the full House, according to Balint spokesperson Sophie Pollock, though those votes are largely a formality.
Balint would replace former Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., who resigned from Congress earlier this month to lead a charitable organization in his home state.
In a written statement released by Balint’s office, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said the Vermont representative would be “a strong voice” on the committee and that he looked forward to working with her “to fight back against MAGA extremism and continue putting People Over Politics.”
Balint had already been named to two plum posts since taking office in January — on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee and the House Budget Committee. She would likely have to step down from one of those panels upon joining the judiciary committee, but Pollock said that decision had yet to be finalized.
Balint would be one of the only first-year members to serve on the committee, which has become a key battleground in the Republican-controlled House’s efforts to undermine the Biden administration and protect former President Donald Trump from the criminal justice system. The panel is led by the conservative firebrand Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and includes other members of the House Freedom Caucus, such as Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fl., and Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz.
The committee is expected to hear from a number of high-profile witnesses this summer in what are likely to be contentious hearings. They include FBI Director Christopher Wray and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, both of whom have been targeted by House Republicans, as well as former special counsel John Durham, who the Trump administration charged with investigating the Department of Justice’s investigations of Trump. The committee has also been seeking documents related to the FBI’s search of Florida’s Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump’s primary residence.
In a written statement Monday, Balint said she hoped to focus on a different set of priorities.
“I’m ready to get to work on some of the most pressing issues facing American families today - reproductive rights, criminal justice, gun violence, democracy and voting rights, and LGBTQI+ rights,” she said. “Protecting civil liberties has always been at the core of my career and Judiciary Democrats have been steadfast in the fight against continued attacks on our democratic values.”
Environmentalists celebrate as Phil Scott allows conservation bill to become law without his signature
Emma Cotton reporting for VT Digger
Gov. Phil Scott has allowed H.126, a land conservation bill that was a top priority for environmentalists during the legislative session, to pass into law without his signature.
The law establishes a goal of permanently conserving 30% of Vermont’s total land area by 2030 and conserving 50% by 2050. It aligns with national goals articulated by the Biden administration.
In a letter to lawmakers, Scott said he considered vetoing the bill because some of its findings “muddy the purpose,” and it includes definitions that are “broad and vague.”
But he also applauded lawmakers for working with his administration to address the concerns he raised last year, when he vetoed a similar bill. Now, the legislation positions the Agency of Natural Resources to “be the clear lead in the effort to achieve our conservation goals with the understanding future growth is necessary and inevitable in Vermont,” he wrote.
In addition to setting goals for land conservation, the bill, introduced by Rep. Amy Sheldon, D-Middlebury, outlines a path forward. It instructs the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, in consultation with the Agency of Natural Resources, to create an inventory of the land already conserved in Vermont, along with the state’s land conservation policies. It is due to lawmakers by July 1, 2024.
Lawmakers also established categories for different types of conservation that would apply to the state’s land in the future.
Those categories include “ecological reserve areas,” where land would be managed passively to become wild; “biodiversity conservation areas,” where land would be carefully managed in an active manner to improve biodiversity for certain species and habitats; and “natural resources management areas,” where long-term, sustainable logging could take place.
In all of these categories, conversion of large areas — for housing development, for example — would not be allowed.
By Dec. 1, 2025, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board is required to submit a plan to meet the conservation goals in the bill, and it must include all of the categories.
Actor Treat Williams, who was best known for his starring roles in Everwood and Hair, died Monday following a motorcycle crash in Dorset, according to Vermont State Police.
The Manchester Center resident was 71 years old.
Police said a preliminary investigation found that 35-year-old Ryan Koss, of Pownal, was driving south on Route 30 near Morse Hill Road when he tried to turn left into a parking lot. Williams, who was riding a 1986 Honda VT700c motorcycle north, was unable to avoid colliding with Koss’ Honda Element and was thrown from the bike.
Williams was airlifted to Albany Medical Center in New York, where he was pronounced dead. Koss sustained minor injuries, Vermont State Police said in a press release issued Monday night. The agency plans to continue its investigation Tuesday, it said.
Williams’ nearly 50-year career included more than 120 credits, according to People Magazine. He was nominated for Golden Globe awards for his role as George Berber in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Hair and for his role as Daniel Ciello in the film Prince of the City. He also was nominated for two Screen Actors Guild Awards for his starring role as Dr. Andrew Brown in the television series Everwood.
In a statement issued Monday, Williams’ family members said they were “beyond devastated” at the news of his death.
“Treat was full of love for his family, for his life and for his craft, and was truly at the top of his game in all of it,” the family said. “It is all so shocking right now, but please know that Treat was dearly and deeply loved and respected by his family and everyone who knew him.”
Select Board
Select Board Minutes: The minutes can now be found at https://www.weathersfieldvt.org/node/586/minutes
All regular meetings are broadcasted live on Comcast channel 1087, VTEL Channel 161, and SAPA.org on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.Select Board Meets 1st and 3rd Mondays of the Month 6:30 p.m. June 19 Agenda
Meeting Minutes https://www.weathersfieldvt.org/selectboardMay1 (minutes were not posted within 5 days, a violation of the Open Meeting Law)
Select Board Minutes: The minutes can now be found at https://www.weathersfieldvt.org/node/586/minutes
Select Board Meets 1st and 3rd Mondays of the Month 6:30 p.m.
Meeting Minutes https://www.weathersfieldvt.org/selectboard
May1 (minutes were not posted within 5 days, a violation of the Open Meeting Law)
*Vermont Open Meeting LawMinute posting: Minutes of all public meetings shall be matters of public record, shall be kept by the clerk or secretary of the public body, and shall be available for inspection by any person and for purchase of copies at cost upon request after five calendar days from the date of any meeting. Meeting minutes shall be posted no later than five calendar days from the date of the meeting to a website, if one exists, that the public body maintains or has designated as the official website of the body. Except for draft minutes that have been substituted with updated minutes, posted minutes shall not be removed from the website sooner than one year from the date of the meeting for which the minutes were taken.
Weathersfield Police Blotter
Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeathersfieldPoliceVT
Weathersfield School
August 30th First Day of School
Meeting Agendas may be found HERE
Weathersfield School Board meets on TuesdaysIn Person at Weathersfield School (135 Schoolhouse Road, Ascutney)
Location: 135 Schoolhouse RD Ascutney
The June Board Meeting is the annual Board Retreat and July there is no Board Meeting. The next regularly scheduled Board Meeting for August 8th at 6:30 PM.
School Board MeetingsMeeting Minutes
Weathersfield Proctor Library
Route 5 (5181 US-5 Ascutney VT 05030)
Route 5 (5181 US-5 Ascutney VT 05030)
WPL Drop in Scrabble
Mondays at 1 p.m.
Mondays at 1 p.m.
Please call Maureen Bogosian for details
@ 603-252-0936
Please call Maureen Bogosian for details
@ 603-252-0936
@ 603-252-0936
Weathersfield Historical SocietyFollow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weathersfieldhistoricalsociety
Weathersfield Historical Society
Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weathersfieldhistoricalsocietyWeathersfield Center Church and Meeting HouseFollow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeathersfieldCenterChurch
Weathersfield Center Church and Meeting House
Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeathersfieldCenterChurchLocal and State News
Sarah Mearhoff reporting for VT Digger
Vermont joined more than half the states in legalizing online sports betting Wednesday as Gov. Phil Scott signed H.127 into law.
The Republican governor has long supported legalization, which had been stalled for years in the Democratic-controlled Legislature. Now, after countless hours of legislative study and debate, the measure has become law.
“I first proposed Vermont legalize sports betting several years ago and I’m happy the Legislature has come to an agreement, as well,” Scott said in a written statement Wednesday afternoon. “We know many Vermonters already participate in the marketplace and bringing it above board provides important resources and consumer protections.”
The legislation permits up to six companies — potentially household names such as DraftKings and FanDuel — to operate mobile sports betting platforms in Vermont. The program will be supervised by the state’s Department of Liquor and Lottery and is expected to go online in January 2024.
Proponents of legalization argued that, in the digital age, Vermonters are already gambling illegally in online circles — a black market of sorts that left them vulnerable to exploitation or scams.
Opponents, meanwhile, questioned whether the state should sanction a modern form of gambling that is potentially more addictive than traditional methods and certainly more appealing to young people, as witnesses testified to lawmakers this year.
In response, lawmakers included in H.127 a “limit” on platforms’ ability to advertise to Vermonters under 21 years-old, who, legally, are barred from sports wagering. Commissioner of Liquor and Lottery Wendy Knight told lawmakers that she is confident in her department’s ability to keep platforms’ advertising strategies in check.
Proponents of H.127 also argued that, so long as Vermonters were participating in rogue online markets, the state was missing out on potential revenue that a state-regulated program could provide.
State fiscal analysts do not project earth-shattering revenues from a new program. They estimate the state would see roughly $2 million in fiscal year 2024, and eventually, approximately $10 million per year.
Paul Heintz reporting for VT Digger
Vermont’s first-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives is poised to secure a seat on one of the chamber’s most high-profile panels.
The House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee on Monday recommended that U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., serve on the House Judiciary Committee, her office announced that evening. The move would be finalized following a vote by fellow Democrats and then the full House, according to Balint spokesperson Sophie Pollock, though those votes are largely a formality.
Balint would replace former Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., who resigned from Congress earlier this month to lead a charitable organization in his home state.
In a written statement released by Balint’s office, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said the Vermont representative would be “a strong voice” on the committee and that he looked forward to working with her “to fight back against MAGA extremism and continue putting People Over Politics.”
Balint had already been named to two plum posts since taking office in January — on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee and the House Budget Committee. She would likely have to step down from one of those panels upon joining the judiciary committee, but Pollock said that decision had yet to be finalized.
Balint would be one of the only first-year members to serve on the committee, which has become a key battleground in the Republican-controlled House’s efforts to undermine the Biden administration and protect former President Donald Trump from the criminal justice system. The panel is led by the conservative firebrand Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and includes other members of the House Freedom Caucus, such as Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fl., and Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz.
The committee is expected to hear from a number of high-profile witnesses this summer in what are likely to be contentious hearings. They include FBI Director Christopher Wray and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, both of whom have been targeted by House Republicans, as well as former special counsel John Durham, who the Trump administration charged with investigating the Department of Justice’s investigations of Trump. The committee has also been seeking documents related to the FBI’s search of Florida’s Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump’s primary residence.
In a written statement Monday, Balint said she hoped to focus on a different set of priorities.
“I’m ready to get to work on some of the most pressing issues facing American families today - reproductive rights, criminal justice, gun violence, democracy and voting rights, and LGBTQI+ rights,” she said. “Protecting civil liberties has always been at the core of my career and Judiciary Democrats have been steadfast in the fight against continued attacks on our democratic values.”
Emma Cotton reporting for VT Digger
Gov. Phil Scott has allowed H.126, a land conservation bill that was a top priority for environmentalists during the legislative session, to pass into law without his signature.
The law establishes a goal of permanently conserving 30% of Vermont’s total land area by 2030 and conserving 50% by 2050. It aligns with national goals articulated by the Biden administration.
In a letter to lawmakers, Scott said he considered vetoing the bill because some of its findings “muddy the purpose,” and it includes definitions that are “broad and vague.”
But he also applauded lawmakers for working with his administration to address the concerns he raised last year, when he vetoed a similar bill. Now, the legislation positions the Agency of Natural Resources to “be the clear lead in the effort to achieve our conservation goals with the understanding future growth is necessary and inevitable in Vermont,” he wrote.
In addition to setting goals for land conservation, the bill, introduced by Rep. Amy Sheldon, D-Middlebury, outlines a path forward. It instructs the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, in consultation with the Agency of Natural Resources, to create an inventory of the land already conserved in Vermont, along with the state’s land conservation policies. It is due to lawmakers by July 1, 2024.
Lawmakers also established categories for different types of conservation that would apply to the state’s land in the future.
Those categories include “ecological reserve areas,” where land would be managed passively to become wild; “biodiversity conservation areas,” where land would be carefully managed in an active manner to improve biodiversity for certain species and habitats; and “natural resources management areas,” where long-term, sustainable logging could take place.
In all of these categories, conversion of large areas — for housing development, for example — would not be allowed.
By Dec. 1, 2025, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board is required to submit a plan to meet the conservation goals in the bill, and it must include all of the categories.
Actor Treat Williams killed in motorcycle crash in Dorset
Actor Treat Williams, who was best known for his starring roles in Everwood and Hair, died Monday following a motorcycle crash in Dorset, according to Vermont State Police.
The Manchester Center resident was 71 years old.
Police said a preliminary investigation found that 35-year-old Ryan Koss, of Pownal, was driving south on Route 30 near Morse Hill Road when he tried to turn left into a parking lot. Williams, who was riding a 1986 Honda VT700c motorcycle north, was unable to avoid colliding with Koss’ Honda Element and was thrown from the bike.
Williams was airlifted to Albany Medical Center in New York, where he was pronounced dead. Koss sustained minor injuries, Vermont State Police said in a press release issued Monday night. The agency plans to continue its investigation Tuesday, it said.
Williams’ nearly 50-year career included more than 120 credits, according to People Magazine. He was nominated for Golden Globe awards for his role as George Berber in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Hair and for his role as Daniel Ciello in the film Prince of the City. He also was nominated for two Screen Actors Guild Awards for his starring role as Dr. Andrew Brown in the television series Everwood.
In a statement issued Monday, Williams’ family members said they were “beyond devastated” at the news of his death.
“Treat was full of love for his family, for his life and for his craft, and was truly at the top of his game in all of it,” the family said. “It is all so shocking right now, but please know that Treat was dearly and deeply loved and respected by his family and everyone who knew him.”
Editor's note-I met him a few times at some concerts in Manchester, VT, I even shot a few videos of his daughter. Super nice man. My heart aches for his family.
Remembering Roger Payne, whose recordings of whale songs changed the world
Vermont Public | By Anna Van Dine
Vermont Public | By Anna Van Dine
The renowned biologist and conservationist died at his home in South Woodstock on June 10 at the age of 88, after a career researching and saving whales.
In 1970, Roger released an LP called “Songs of the Humpback Whale,” which became one of the most famous nature recordings in American history.
Whale songs ended up on a Judy Collins record; Greenpeace used them on TV and radio; and a recording was included in the Voyager Golden Record that was sent out into space.
In 1972, Congress passed the Marine Mammal Protection Act. In the '80s, the International Whaling Commission put a moratorium on commercial whaling.
"By making people care about whales, he made them care about the planet,” the CEO of the group Payne founded, Ocean Alliance, tells VT Public's Anna Van Dine. Payne himself summed up his lifetime of work in a Time essay five days before he died: "Every species, including humans, depends on a suite of other species to keep the world habitable for it."
Born in New York in 1935, Roger Payne studied biology at Harvard University and got a PhD in Animal Behavior at Cornell. After some early work on hearing in bats, owls and moths, his attention turned to whales in the mid-'60s.
Eric Hanson with the deceased Newark Pond Male. Photo by Eloise Girard
Hannah Cho reporting for VT Digger.
Just after dusk, as the dark began to settle on Newark Pond, a spotlight on a boat shone onto the water, as it floated toward a breeding pair of loons.
It was Aug. 2, 1998. Eric Hanson, then a 32-year-old visiting biologist at the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, pulled out a cassette player and began to play loon calls. Wails, hoots and tremolos reverberated over the lake, convincing the pair that there was a third loon in their territory.
As the loons grew distracted by the calls and mesmerized by the light, the crew on board shot a large salmon dip net in front of them. At the splash, the male loon dove instinctively — swimming directly into the net. Lifting the loon out of the water, Hanson quickly placed a towel over his head to calm him, then headed back to shore.
Over the next 20 minutes, an elaborate dance took place on the grassy bank. Two people held the bird in place, while a third person took blood and feather samples to test for mercury as part of a region-wide study.
Before releasing the loon back into the pond, Hanson placed two bands on each of his legs, green over orange on the left and yellow over a silver U.S. Fish and Wildlife band on the right — unique combinations with an identification number of 898-09100.
Those bands have allowed Vermont biologists to monitor this loon for the past 25 years. “That bird could show up in Long Island or Massachusetts and you could report that to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lab,” Hanson said. “They would be able to look that band combo up and tell exactly where that bird was banded.”
Last Tuesday, Newark Pond Male, as Hanson refers to the loon, was found to have died recently at an estimated age of 31. He was the oldest documented loon in Vermont. It’s possible he could be even older, as that age is based on the assumption that the loon was 6 years old and in his first year of nesting during that first encounter, Hanson said.
READ MORE
Hall Art Foundation
June 18, 2023 Reading VT
Hall Art Foundation in Reading, Vermont is located at 544 VT Route 106Open seasonally, May through November, on weekends.
13 May - 26 November 2023
SELF-GUIDED VISITS
Saturdays and Sundays
Entry times: 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm. Closed at 4pm.
Advance reservations recommended, but not required.
Adults: $15 pp [ 50% discount for Reading residents ]
Kids 12 and under: $5 pp
TICKETS
TOURS
A docent-led tour of highlights from our exhibitions
Saturdays and Sundays, 10am - 11am
Limited capacity. Advance reservations recommended, but not required.
Punctuality is essential. Arrivals after 10:15am will be unable to join the tour.
Admission: $18 pp [ 50% discount for Reading residents ]
Local trails to explore: CLICK HERE
The event will be held on August 18th and 19th. Start putting aside those items for this special occasion. Details to follow.
Bistro Midva Midva is open Wednesday-Saturday 4:30-9:30 p.m. (Closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday) Call (802) 299-1553 or visit their FACEBOOK PAGE for more information.
Inn at Weathersfield (802) 263-9217
Maebellines (802) 591-4311
VT Digger Coronavirus Report: CLICK HERE
Events and Adventures
June 18, 2023 Reading VT
My friend and I visited the Hall Art Foundation in Reading VT on Sunday, June 18. We went to view the Andy Warhol exhibit, that is in their galleries until November 26.
We chose the guided tour and were glad we did. The docent, Susan, was extremely knowledgeable. On the guided tour you are allowed access to the galleries before the general public and the tour group size is small so you can really enjoy the artwork without interruption.
To get a taste of the exhibit please check out these Hall Art Foundation photos.
We also saw the exhibits of Susan Rothenberg and Ron Gorchov and the Outside Sculptures.
13 May - 26 November 2023
SELF-GUIDED VISITS
Saturdays and Sundays
Entry times: 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm. Closed at 4pm.
Advance reservations recommended, but not required.
Adults: $15 pp [ 50% discount for Reading residents ]
Kids 12 and under: $5 pp
TICKETS
TOURS
A docent-led tour of highlights from our exhibitions
Saturdays and Sundays, 10am - 11am
Limited capacity. Advance reservations recommended, but not required.
Punctuality is essential. Arrivals after 10:15am will be unable to join the tour.
Admission: $18 pp [ 50% discount for Reading residents ]
TICKETS
*there will be no tour on Sunday 25 June 2023. They apologize for the inconvenience*
*there will be no tour on Sunday 25 June 2023. They apologize for the inconvenience*
More photos and videos of the Reading Waterfall: CLICK HERE
Things to Do In and Around Weathersfield
Get Outdoors, Entertainment, Classes, Workshops
Andy Warhol in Vermont
Hall Art Foundation, Reading VT
The Hall Art Foundation is pleased to announce an exhibition by famed American artist Andy Warhol to be held in its galleries in Reading, Vermont from 13 May – 26 November 2023.
Hall Art Foundation, Reading VT
Cultural icon, celebrity and provocateur, Andy Warhol produced works that are instantly recognizable and have inspired a generation of artists. Seriality and appropriation were signature aspects of Warhol’s painting and sculptural practice.
He often made many different versions of the same subject, perhaps most famously with his iconic multi-part work, Campbell’s Soup Cans (1962) which depicts 32 different versions of a Campbell’s soup can. Shortly after completing these works, Warhol began to make paintings using silk-screens, a process that greatly facilitated his explorations of image multiplicity.
For any given subject, Warhol might use several different source images, producing multiple versions of each picture, sometimes in different sized formats, or sometimes using different color combinations for the silkscreen inks and paints, or sometimes both.
In other cases, he would use the same exact silkscreen and the same color silkscreen inks and paints, allowing the randomness of the screening process itself to introduce variations in tonality and color saturation in the individual paintings.
Local trails to explore: CLICK HERE
Also Hiking Close to Home: CLICK HERE
The Frippery is Coming-August 18 and 19
Weathersfield Historical Society Announces
the return of the Frippery this August!
the return of the Frippery this August!
Questions please call Maureen at 603.252.0936.
Lake monitors needed in Windsor County
Do you enjoy being on the water? If you own a small paddle-powered or motor-powered boat and can commit to getting out on your lake or pond once every 10 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day, then being a lake monitor could be for you,
Volunteers from the Black River Action Team will be tackling lakes and ponds around Windsor County, but there are several still in need of a person to take on the role of lake monitor. All training and equipment are provided. All that’s required is your enthusiasm for healthy water and an hour or so every 10 days. Water temperature and clarity data as well as visual observations will be collected during each visit, and samples will be collected and need to be delivered to a prearranged drop site in a timely manner.
The water bodies in need are Knapp Brook Pond Number One and Knapp Brook Pond Number Two in Cavendish/Ascutney, Stoughton Pond in Weathersfield, and Amherst Lake in Plymouth.
To learn more or to volunteer, please contact B.R.A.T. Director Kelly Stettner right away at blackrivercleanup@gmail.com, or by leaving your contact information at 802-738-0456.
Volunteers from the Black River Action Team will be tackling lakes and ponds around Windsor County, but there are several still in need of a person to take on the role of lake monitor. All training and equipment are provided. All that’s required is your enthusiasm for healthy water and an hour or so every 10 days. Water temperature and clarity data as well as visual observations will be collected during each visit, and samples will be collected and need to be delivered to a prearranged drop site in a timely manner.
The water bodies in need are Knapp Brook Pond Number One and Knapp Brook Pond Number Two in Cavendish/Ascutney, Stoughton Pond in Weathersfield, and Amherst Lake in Plymouth.
To learn more or to volunteer, please contact B.R.A.T. Director Kelly Stettner right away at blackrivercleanup@gmail.com, or by leaving your contact information at 802-738-0456.
All shows are at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise stated.
Arrival from Sweden-The Music of ABBA August 8 TICKETS
NEXUS August 11, 12, and 13-FREE Learn More
Cavalcade July 7-9, 2023 TICKETS
Bizet's Carmen July 16-21, 2023 TICKETS
Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel July 27-30, 2023 TICKETS
Exercise
Yoga
Whole Roasted Tro
Whole Roasted Tro
Within Reach Yoga
at the Weathersfield Meeting House (Center Church)
You must Register for each class at least a day ahead by emailing Lisa. (Class sizes limited to 7.)
March Classes Mondays and Tuesdays
Candle Glow Gentle Flow
Monday evenings 5:30-6:30 p.m.
June 19, 26
Slow Flow, Rest + Restore Tuesday Morning 9-10 a.m.June 20, 27
Walk-ins can register up to 24 hrs. ahead by emailing Lisa and are available on a first-come, first served basis (classes fill early!).
Please arrive 5-15 minutes early with your own props and mats.
REFRAIN FROM: Wearing ice cleats (into the building), shoes, perfume, or cologne in the practice space. Do not come to class if you are feeling ill.
Slow Flow, Rest + Restore
Tuesday Morning 9-10 a.m.
June 20, 27
Workshops Online
Vermont Online Workshops
Lots of events and movies online. Contact: AARP Vermont Email: vtaarp@aarp.org with questions.
Visit Our Local Restaurants
The Copper Fox 56 Main St., Ste. 1 Springfield, VT 05156 (802) 885-1031
Dinner 5:00pm - 9:00pm Sunday Hours 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Wednesday through Sunday (Closed Monday and Tuesday)Dinner 5:00pm - 9:00pm Sunday Hours 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Daily Grind Café Call ahead for take out (802) 674-9859
93 Pleasant St. Claremont, NH (in the space formerly occupied by Dusty’s Café)
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
Inn at Weathersfield (802) 263-9217 Daily Grind Café
Call ahead for take out (802) 674-985993 Pleasant St. Claremont, NH (in the space formerly occupied by Dusty’s Café)
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
Dine inside or outside Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, call for a reservation 802-263-9217. 1342 VT Route 106 Perkinsville, VT 05151
12 Clinton Street, Springfield, VT Open for breakfast and lunch, daily except Sundays.
Outer Limits Brewing (802)-287-6100
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays; Wednesdays and Thursdays 3-8 p.m.; Saturdays noon-8 p.m. with LIVE MUSIC; Sundays noon-6 p.m..
60 Village Green, Proctorsville, VT 05153
4261 Route 106 in Perkinsville, Downers Four Corners to the locals.
The Vermont Creemee Database: Vote for your favorite
Erin Petenko reporting for VT Digger
Nothing goes better with a hot Vermont summer day than a cold, sweet, creamy cone of soft serve ice cream.
Wait, soft serve? What are you talking about? There’s only one type of ice cream that reigns supreme in the Green Mountain State: the creemee.
A creemee is not quite synonymous with soft serve, but they share some similarities. Both take prepared ice cream “bases” that vendors can mix flavor into and serve from the same machine, according to E.B. Flory, dairy chief of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets.
Creemees, however, are supposed to contain a higher percentage of butterfat — a minimum of 14%, versus 10%-14% for soft serve, Flory said. Creemees are often sold in maple, black raspberry, vanilla and chocolate flavors, or as a twist of two flavors. They can come with toppings or be dipped into chocolate or other sauces to create a hard outer coating.
How many creemee stands are there in Vermont? Until recently, this seemed an unanswerable question. But then Secretary of Agriculture Anson Tebbetts revealed on Twitter that his agency maintains a licensing system that tracks this sort of thing.
So VTDigger did what VTDigger does: We filed a public records request.
The data we obtained shows that roughly 400 Vermont establishments have active licenses to operate “frozen dessert” machines. That count, however, includes vendors who sling creemees, as well as those who dish out soft serve.
About a quarter of the licensees were chains such as McDonald’s, Cumberland Farms and Walmart. There were also some oddball spots, such as universities, movie theaters and hospital cafeterias.
Outer Limits Brewing (802)-287-6100
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays; Wednesdays and Thursdays 3-8 p.m.; Saturdays noon-8 p.m. with LIVE MUSIC; Sundays noon-6 p.m..
60 Village Green, Proctorsville, VT 05153
Springfield Diner-seating inside/outside daily 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Ice cream shop open Thursday-Sunday 1-7 pm. Daily specials.
Villagers Ice Cream Restaurant-(802) 795-0063 Open for the Season
Tuesdays-Sundays 11:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. (they stop cooking at 7:30 p.m.) 4261 Route 106 in Perkinsville, Downers Four Corners to the locals.
Unicorn Sundae at Villagers Rtes. 131 and 106, Downers Four Corners, in Perkinsville
Erin Petenko reporting for VT Digger
Nothing goes better with a hot Vermont summer day than a cold, sweet, creamy cone of soft serve ice cream.
Wait, soft serve? What are you talking about? There’s only one type of ice cream that reigns supreme in the Green Mountain State: the creemee.
A creemee is not quite synonymous with soft serve, but they share some similarities. Both take prepared ice cream “bases” that vendors can mix flavor into and serve from the same machine, according to E.B. Flory, dairy chief of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets.
Creemees, however, are supposed to contain a higher percentage of butterfat — a minimum of 14%, versus 10%-14% for soft serve, Flory said. Creemees are often sold in maple, black raspberry, vanilla and chocolate flavors, or as a twist of two flavors. They can come with toppings or be dipped into chocolate or other sauces to create a hard outer coating.
How many creemee stands are there in Vermont? Until recently, this seemed an unanswerable question. But then Secretary of Agriculture Anson Tebbetts revealed on Twitter that his agency maintains a licensing system that tracks this sort of thing.
So VTDigger did what VTDigger does: We filed a public records request.
The data we obtained shows that roughly 400 Vermont establishments have active licenses to operate “frozen dessert” machines. That count, however, includes vendors who sling creemees, as well as those who dish out soft serve.
About a quarter of the licensees were chains such as McDonald’s, Cumberland Farms and Walmart. There were also some oddball spots, such as universities, movie theaters and hospital cafeterias.
Food Assistance
Weathersfield Food Shelf in Perkinsville.
The food shelf is open 2:00 pm-4:00 pm on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month. The Weathersfield Food Shelf is located in the 1879 Perkinsville Schoolhouse at 1862 Route 106 in Perkinsville. The Food Shelf has lots of good food to offer!
Call the Weathersfield Town Office to be refereed to a volunteer, visit the Weathersfield Food Shelf Facebook page and leave a message, email weathersfieldfoodshelf@gmail.com
Donations of non-perishable food are always welcomed and may be dropped off at the facility during open hours or placed in the collection box at Martin Memorial Hall. For more information, call 802-263-5584 or email weathersfieldfoodshelf@gmail.com.
Hartland Food Shelf in Hartland. 4 Corners UU Church Fridays 8-10 a.m., Saturdays 10 a.m-2 p.m.
Reading-West Windsor Food Shelf in Reading. Mondays 2-4 p.m. and Thursday 4-6 p.m. Stone School 3456 Tyson Rd, Reading.
Weathersfield Food Shelf in Perkinsville.
Call the Weathersfield Town Office to be refereed to a volunteer, visit the Weathersfield Food Shelf Facebook page and leave a message, email weathersfieldfoodshelf@gmail.com
Donations of non-perishable food are always welcomed and may be dropped off at the facility during open hours or placed in the collection box at Martin Memorial Hall. For more information, call 802-263-5584 or email weathersfieldfoodshelf@gmail.com.
Hartland Food Shelf in Hartland. 4 Corners UU Church Fridays 8-10 a.m., Saturdays 10 a.m-2 p.m.
Reading-West Windsor Food Shelf in Reading. Mondays 2-4 p.m. and Thursday 4-6 p.m. Stone School 3456 Tyson Rd, Reading.
The food shelf is open 2:00 pm-4:00 pm on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month.
The Weathersfield Food Shelf is located in the 1879 Perkinsville Schoolhouse at 1862 Route 106 in Perkinsville. The Food Shelf has lots of good food to offer!
Call the Weathersfield Town Office to be refereed to a volunteer, visit the Weathersfield Food Shelf Facebook page and leave a message, email weathersfieldfoodshelf@gmail.com
Donations of non-perishable food are always welcomed and may be dropped off at the facility during open hours or placed in the collection box at Martin Memorial Hall. For more information, call 802-263-5584 or email weathersfieldfoodshelf@gmail.com.
Hartland Food Shelf in Hartland. 4 Corners UU Church Fridays 8-10 a.m., Saturdays 10 a.m-2 p.m.
Reading-West Windsor Food Shelf in Reading. Mondays 2-4 p.m. and Thursday 4-6 p.m. Stone School 3456 Tyson Rd, Reading.
Vermont State Resources and
COVID-19 Response Information
GET VACCINATEDand GET YOUR BOOSTERDo it for Yourself, Your Family, Your Community
GET VACCINATED
and GET YOUR BOOSTER
Do it for Yourself, Your Family, Your Community
Vermont Department of Health COVID-19 Information Page.
Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center is now offering walk-in service on weekday afternoons for people ages 2 and older, according to a news release.
The visits are available for urgent, but non-emergency medical needs Monday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. Patients can check in at the hospital’s central registration, through the main entrance.
Some of the conditions appropriate for care through walk-in services are minor cuts and burns; urinary tract infections; strains and sprains; minor fractures; rashes; and ear, sinus and eye infections. In addition, X-ray and lab services are available on-site.
A nurse will be on hand to determine if a patient’s condition calls for transfer to the emergency department.
The visits are available for urgent, but non-emergency medical needs Monday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. Patients can check in at the hospital’s central registration, through the main entrance.
Some of the conditions appropriate for care through walk-in services are minor cuts and burns; urinary tract infections; strains and sprains; minor fractures; rashes; and ear, sinus and eye infections. In addition, X-ray and lab services are available on-site.
A nurse will be on hand to determine if a patient’s condition calls for transfer to the emergency department.
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Nancy Nutile-McMenemy is an Upper Valley freelance photographer and writer who loves paddle, hike, attend concerts and local events in and around Weathersfield and the Upper Valley.
Scan this QR Code to see all the latest photos in my Galleries
or visit: www.photosbynanci.com
Nancy Nutile-McMenemy is an Upper Valley freelance photographer and writer who loves paddle, hike, attend concerts and local events in and around Weathersfield and the Upper Valley.
or visit: www.photosbynanci.com