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Community and Business News in Brief, July 24, 2024
The state of Vermont will be opening State Flood Recovery Centers in Barre, Hinesburg, Lyndonville, and Plainfield. While the state is still awaiting a determination on whether any counties are eligible for FEMA public assistance or individual assistance, these centers will help those impacted by this month’s floods navigate the recovery process. These centers are open to all residents from throughout the state. The first center will open in Plainfield on Wednesday, July 24.
Intimate Japanese-Style Jazz Bar to Open in August, Featuring Coffee, Beer, Wine, and Vinyl Records
Hepcat, a small eight-stool bar with a high-quality sound system that will feature vinyl records, is set to open in late August at 6A State Street in Montpelier, in the space formerly occupied by Katie’s Jewels, according to owner Christopher Gleason. Katie’s Jewels is now located on East State Street behind Bohemian Bakery.
Barre Heritage Festival Begins July 24
Despite a second year in a row of major flooding in its downtown, Barre is going forward with a full four-day schedule for the Barre Heritage Festival from July 24 to July 27. In 2023, the celebration had to be postponed from July to September because of a more destructive flood that occurred on the same dates — July 10 and 11 — as this year’s devastating but less destructive flood. The heritage festival has been held in Barre on and off in different iterations since the early 1970s to celebrate the history and ethnicity of the town.
Montpelier Council Discusses Increasing Homelessness; Short Term Rental Ordinance Fails
Homelessness in central Vermont continues to increase, according to Rick DeAngelis, co-director of Good Samaritan Haven. In fact, he told the Montpelier City Council during its July 17 meeting, Vermont has the second highest per capita rate of homelessness in the U.S. As part of a discussion about the increasing homelessness, speaker David Swett indicated that he himself is unhoused, and he praised the Montpelier Police Department for doing a good job dealing with homeless people downtown.
History of Vermonters at the Summer Olympic Games
Editor's note: This story was originally published in 2016. It's been updated and edited with new information ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Vermonters have left tracks in the Winter Olympics snow for decades. The state’s outsized influence on the Games is long-standing and well-documented. The history of Vermonters in the Summer Olympics,...
Flood recovery centers designed as one-stop shops for hard-hit communities
PLAINFIELD, Vt. (WCAX) - State officials say flood recovery sites that are open in hard-hit towns are offering resources that can help people cope. The centers include tables for the summer meals program, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and several state offices. There is also mental health support available through Washington County Mental Health Services.
Unadilla’s ‘Uncle Vanya’ Has Contemporary Themes
Unadilla Theater’s production of “Uncle Vanya” directed by Alex Brown hit home on several levels. The play by Anton Chekov (first produced in 1899) is the same that launched Unadilla 41 years ago, then-produced by Bill Blachly, Unadilla’s 100-year-old founder and artistic director. It seemed fitting...
Pet of the Week: Zillion
Zillion is a bashful boy who is seeking a library-quiet home to grow up in! Zillion is about 11 months old and doesn’t mind human attention, but he does look for a companion that he can slowly get to know. He came to CVHS when his family was no longer able to care for him. We feel that a calm home would be the best fit for Zillion because of his shy personality. Zillion has only been an indoor cat and had no canine friends in his previous home. He is currently in a room with other feline friends and is doing okay.
Maple Roots Festival at Morse Farm Celebrates Local Musicians
A bird’s-eye view of central Vermont might feature a woodland landscape of rolling hills and twisting rivers, dotted with a network of bandstands radiating rhythms and the pulse of people connecting through dance and song. That will certainly be the case on July 27, when bluegrass strings blended with reggae beats will reverberate from the fields of Morse Farm for the 4th Annual Maple Roots Festival, held rain or shine from noon to midnight.
Lewis Creek Farm suffers from heavy floods
According to Hank Bissell, more than 7 acres of crops were destroyed, farm roads were washed out, and areas of cropland were scoured out as much as three feet deep. We’re glad you’re interested in this valuable content! Please understand that in order for us to be able to fund reporters covering local news, we need your help! For full access to this story and all online content, please log in or subscribe to the Addison Independent.
Vt. insurance company to argue for rate increase
BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Health care costs could be on the rise again for some Vermonters. On Thursday, Blue Cross Blue Shield will argue for a 4% rate increase. In May, WCAX News reported that Blue Cross asked the Green Mountain Care Board to raise their rates by 16% for individual plans and 19% for small groups.
State opens recovery centers for flood-affected Vermonters
Vermont opened its first recovery office for flood victims today in Plainfield. State officials are standing up four such offices this week in communities hardest-hit by July's flooding. The remnants of Hurricane Beryl wrought widespread damage across central and northern Vermont earlier this month, damaging over 2,000 homes, washing out roads and killing two men.
Company news: Chris Cochran promoted by Tops Friendly Markets
Tops Friendly Markets, a full-service grocery retailer in New York, northern Pennsylvania, and Vermont, announced the promotion of Chris Cochran to store manager at the Sandy Creek Tops store. If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By...
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