The Bridge

City Seeking Grants For Country Club Road Infrastructure  - The Bridge Montpelier is in the midst of considering which of four development proposals for the Country Club Road property to select.

Montpelier is in the midst of considering which of four development proposals for the Country Club Road property (CCR) to select, but an actual buildout of the property still depends on...

thebridgevt.org/2026/03/city...

Eleven Can’t-Miss Movies at the 2026 Green Mountain Film Festival - The Bridge Great cinema can cure late-winter blues, immersing viewers in manifold visions and cultures. This year marks the 25th Green Mountain Film Festival, from March 12 to 15, in downtown Montpelier, with fi...

This year marks the 25th Green Mountain Film Festival, from March 12 to 15, in downtown Montpelier, with films screening at the Savoy and Capitol theaters.

thebridgevt.org/2026/03/elev...

Green Mountain Film Festival Returns, Showcasing Unique Local And International Stories - The Bridge By Grace Taylor via Community News Service, a University of Vermont internship, for The Bridge Green Mountain Film Festival is returning to Montpelier for its 25th anniversary. Running from March 12 t...

Green Mountain Film Festival is returning to Montpelier for its 25th anniversary. Running from March 12 to 15, the festival presents over 40 full-length and short films...

thebridgevt.org/2026/03/gree...

Berlin Voters Approve Budget, Millions in Bonds for Sewage, Road Maintenance Facility Projects - The Bridge Berlin voters on Tuesday approved more than $9 million in bonds to fund replacements for aging sewer and road maintenance facilities.

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$34.8 million MRPS School Budget Sails Through - The Bridge The Montpelier Roxbury Public Schools district’s $34,754,275 budget passed easily by 1,521 to 667 on Town Meeting Day, March 3. The ballot article read, “The Montpelier Roxbury school district estimat...

thebridgevt.org/2026/03/34-8...

Gwinn is In, Non-binding Article 12 Defeated - The Bridge Marc Gwinn, a 2024 city council candidate who lost by four votes, won this time when he was elected on March 3.

thebridgevt.org/2026/03/gwin...

Post-pandemic, more Vermonters are voting by Australian ballot for Town Meeting - The Bridge By Mollie Nicholson Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont internship Since the COVID-19 pandemic, several Vermont towns and cities have shifted to using the Australian ballot, particular...

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, several Vermont towns and cities have shifted to using the Australian ballot, particularly for Town Meeting Day votes on municipal budgets.

thebridgevt.org/2026/03/post...

Emergency Managers: Help ProPublica Prepare to Report on the Next Disaster If you are a part of the network of disaster response and recovery partners, we need your help to build a comprehensive picture of the real conditions across the country.

NEW: Disasters are a matter of "when," not "if."

Are you an emergency manager or researcher? Help us build a national picture of the country’s preparedness, from funding to alert systems.

Tell us what we should be covering.

Montpelier Parks Commission Candidates Lay Out Priorities, Purpose for Running - The Bridge Two candidates are vying for a seat on the Montpelier Parks Commission — one of the only contested races on the city’s ballot.

Montpelier's Parks Department has two candidates vying for one seat. Voters decide tomorrow.
thebridgevt.org/2026/03/mont...

Central Vermont Election Officials Share Appreciation for Town Meeting Day Poll Workers - The Bridge By Hojun Choi Longtime Montpelier resident John Snell has been a poll worker for more than 15 years, but the 77-year-old retiree and avid nature photographer still gets a kick out of raising his right...

Longtime Montpelier resident John Snell has been a poll worker for more than 15 years, but the 77-year-old retiree and avid nature photographer still gets a kick out of raising his right hand in front of the city clerk...

thebridgevt.org/2026/02/cent...

The Bridge is hiring!
This 20 hr./wk. position focuses on bookkeeping and advertiser and donor account management. We are seeking an individual who believes in the value of local journalism and wants to help build connections with the central Vermont community.

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‘Heart of Barre’ Arrives Home at the Aldrich Public Library - The Bridge How do we live with the river? Now that flooding seems to hit some part of Vermont every year, that’s a question many cities and towns are asking. Artist Diedra Michelle said that is one of many issue...

Artist Diedra Michelle stands near the top of the stairs in Barre’s Aldrich Public Library with her “Water Heart” painting.

thebridgevt.org/2026/02/hear...

Water Outages Leave Bad Taste During Busy Restaurant Week - The Bridge Another water leak led to outages in downtown Montpelier on Feb. 18 — this time in the middle of the city’s second annual Restaurant Week.

Another water main leak in Montpelier, this one shut down several restaurants during the second annual Restaurant Week. thebridgevt.org/2026/02/wate...

The Bridge is hiring!
This 20 hr./wk. position focuses on bookkeeping and advertiser and donor account management. We are seeking an individual who believes in the value of local journalism and wants to help build connections with the central Vermont community.

thebridgevt.org/job-opportun...

Vermont Coyotes’ Electric Inaugural Season  - The Bridge The Vermont Coyotes have drawn electric crowds, reigniting the spark for professional basketball in central Vermont. Nearing the end of their inaugural season, the Coyotes will be the first Vermont te...

Nearing the end of their inaugural season, the Coyotes will be the first Vermont team partaking in the ABA playoffs since the Vermont Frostheaves in 2008. The Coyotes’ final regular season game takes place Feb. 22 versus the Saratoga Racers at the Barre Auditorium.

thebridgevt.org/2026/02/verm...

Hearts Abound in Montpelier - The Bridge The Capital City once again woke up on Valentine's day to see downtown papered with the Valentine Phantom's signature off-center red hearts.

The Phantom is at it again! thebridgevt.org/2026/02/hear... #valentine #valentinephantom

Light Pollution and DarkSky Vermont - The Bridge Less than 100 years ago, people, wherever they lived, could look up and see a spectacular starry night sky. Now, millions across the globe never experience seeing the Milky Way and stars, especially i...

Less than 100 years ago, people, wherever they lived, could look up and see a spectacular starry night sky.

thebridgevt.org/2026/02/ligh...

Calais and Worcester vote “No” On Proposition That They Close Their Elementary Schools.  - The Bridge Calais and Worcester voters resoundingly said “No” on the proposition that the Washington Central Unified Union School District close their elementary schools by June 30. The Feb. 10 vote closed with ...

Calais and Worcester voters resoundingly said “No” on the proposition that the Washington Central Unified Union School District close their elementary schools by June 30.

thebridgevt.org/2026/02/cala...

Council Goes Back to Basics: Keeps Bike Lane Off East State Street - The Bridge City councilors unanimously approved a plan that would essentially fix East State Street and sidewalks (including water/sewer infrastructure) as-is.

Maria Arsenlis, left at podium, speaks to city council members during their meeting Feb. 4. To her right are city councilors Adrienne Gil, Cary Brown, and Sal Alfano. Department of Public Works Director Kurt Motyka is seated below left. ORCA Screenshot.

thebridgevt.org/2026/02/coun...

Fate of Worcester and Calais Schools Up for Vote Feb. 10  - The Bridge The fate of the Worcester and Calais Schools is up to town voters, who decided whether their local schools will remain open on Feb. 10.

Although the $43.2 million budget for the Washington Central Supervisory Union is up for a vote on March 3, Town Meeting Day, a major question remains: will the budget support three elementary schools, or five?

thebridgevt.org/2026/02/fate...

The Raw Baroque Rock Sound of Siena Rose Reverberates in Her Latest Album, ‘Yin’ - The Bridge In 2001, Siena Rose Facciolo entered Montpelier’s Union Elementary School as a kindergartener. This was also the year she began piano lessons and sang a solo, “The Marvelous Toy,” during a school perf...

“I was 11 when I started recording piano improvisations on a little voice recorder my mom got me,” she says. At the age of 13 she wrote her first song, “Morning.”

thebridgevt.org/2026/01/the-...

Washington Central’s $43.2M Budget Assumes School Closings and Deep Staff Cuts - The Bridge The Washington Central Supervisory Union recently passed a $43.2 million fiscal year 2027 budget that included just three of the district’s five schools, although residents of Calais and Worcester wil...

An informational meeting about whether or not to close the Doty Memorial School in Worcester and Calais Elementary School is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 5 p.m. at the school.

thebridgevt.org/2026/02/wash...

Cooperation and Collaboration: The Front Gallery Brings Art and Artists Together  - The Bridge By Cynthia Ross The Front, an artist-run co-operative gallery at the corner of Main and Barre streets invites passersby to enter and contemplate creative worlds.  How did such an art space come into b...

The Front, an artist-run co-operative gallery at the corner of Main and Barre streets invites passersby to enter and contemplate creative worlds.

thebridgevt.org/2026/01/coop...

Montpelier Scraps Charter Change Proposal After Resident Outcry  - The Bridge A city charter change proposal was removed from the Jan. 21 Montpelier City Council agenda after an outcry from residents. The proposed change, submitted by District 2 councilor Pelin Kohn, would allo...

A city charter change proposal was removed from the Jan. 21 Montpelier City Council agenda after an outcry from residents.

thebridgevt.org/2026/01/mont...

Council OKs Unchanged City Budget at 7.9% Over FY26 - The Bridge Montpelier’s fiscal year 2027 city budget has been finalized for the Town Meeting Day ballot. During its second and final public budget hearing Jan. 21,

Montpelier’s fiscal year 2027 city budget has been finalized for the Town Meeting Day ballot. During its second and final public budget hearing Jan. 21, the city council adopted the same municipal budget ...

thebridgevt.org/2026/01/coun...

Shoveling, Plowing, Skiing: Central Vermont Takes a Snow Day - The Bridge Central Vermont took a snow day, with between 12"-18" of fluffy snow from Jan. 25 to Jan. 26.

Snow day in central Vermont!
thebridgevt.org/2026/01/shov...

Three Montpelier Councilors Run for Another Term; Gwinn Announces Bid for Mayor - The Bridge Montpelier city councilors Adrienne Gil of District 1, Sal Alfano of District 2, and Cary Brown of District 3 have all announced they will be running for another stint on the council, and Marc Gwinn h...

Montpelier city councilors Adrienne Gil of District 1, Sal Alfano of District 2, and Cary Brown of District 3 have all announced they will be running for another stint on the council, and Marc Gwinn has thrown his hat in the ring for mayor...

thebridgevt.org/2026/01/thre...

Signed, Sealed, delayed: Montpelier Post Office Struggles with Long Wait Times — Again - The Bridge Signed, Sealed, delayed: Montpelier Post Office Struggles with Long Wait Times — Again

thebridgevt.org/2026/01/sign...

Council Cuts $196K from Proposed City Budget - The Bridge Council members cut out around $197,000, which reduced the overall increase as proposed by the city manager’s office Dec. 10.

thebridgevt.org/2026/01/coun...

Kelly McNicholas Kury Named Montpelier’s Next City Manager - The Bridge After a months-long process, the Montpelier City Council announced on Jan. 11 its choice of Kelly McNicholas Kury to be the next city manager of the city of Montpelier. McNicholas Kury, of Pitkin Coun...

After a months-long process, the Montpelier City Council announced on Jan. 11 its choice of Kelly McNicholas Kury to be the next city manager of the city of

Montpelier.https://thebridgevt.org/2026/01/kelly-mcnicholas-kury-named-montpeliers-next-city-manager/