Katherine Fiegenbaum

St. Johnsbury community works to combat surge in ‘bad behavior’ downtown

Vermont has a long tradition of food cooperatives, currently boasting 15 of the member-owned stores. The most recent addition, the Caledonia Food Co-op in St. Johnsbury, opened last month after eight years of fundraising and organizing.

“This really is a partnership of the federal government through the park service with the local communities, where local communities are in the lead,” said Ben Applegate, who is leading one of the efforts.

“If we didn’t have an elementary school, this would become a town just consigned to second-home owners and retirees,” said resident Morgan Gold in a video recapping the issue.

“This should not be something that we are fighting over, because everybody everywhere needs museums and libraries and for them to be able to function and do their job,” said Adam Kane, executive director of the Fairbanks Museum.

“We see this as a meaningful opportunity to expand childcare and establish permanent affordable housing in Craftsbury,” said Scott Thomas, president of the college.

Help us finish the year strong and fund reporting across the entire state.

As soon as you reach the cliff, your jaw drops,” the executive director of CRAG-VT said. “It all is perfect 90-degree angles, like it was built by rock climbers with rock climbing in mind.”

The organization is accepting letters of interest from those wanting to use its original historic headquarters while also pursuing a FEMA buyout program.

“Celebrating Pride is step one in the work we need to do to protect queer people and to make this world a safer, better place,” said Hannah Pearce, a farmer from Albany.

The project would have created between 16 and 20 rental units in the community’s century-old town hall while retaining space for town offices.

“Eventually, the idea is that we’re all connected — and not just by car,” said Michael Thomas, a founding member of the Cross Vermont Trail Association.

“I think it's really shocking and upsetting to people that such a small amount of money that does so much good and is such a part of our democracy is being attacked by now," said Mary Danko, president of the Vermont Library Association.

The Civic Standard, which resides in the oldest building on Main Street, has been focused lately on the fate of its building, which needs a number of costly and urgent repairs.

Last week, two towns approved ballot items in favor of either developing or expanding ordinances to allow ATVs on town roads. Two others voted against creating such an ordinance.

“He was super creative, coming up with great ideas and thoughts, and always with a laugh and a huge sense of joy in his demeanor and his personality,” said longtime friend Melinda Moulton.

A new community land trust is just one of several efforts afoot in southern Orleans County, where locals say year-round renters and homeowners are being priced out.

Weidmann Electrical Technology anticipates adding 67 new jobs to its St. Johnsbury plant, which currently employs about 300 workers.

“It was really heartbreaking for people, I think, after the flood, to not have the joy of the lake,” said Dylan Ford, Barnet’s selectboard chair.

“You lose something really important when you lose your community pharmacist,” said Mike Fisher, Vermont’s chief health care advocate.