Sharing gratitude, being love

The Kedron Brook in South Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

When days of cloudy skies turn to light, we experience one of nature’s most awe-inspiring moments — and Saturday morning was such a time. I was quietly reading at my desk and looked up to see beautiful light shining into the room, illuminating part of it. Another few minutes, and the light shifted slightly, spreading further into the room as it took up more of the window. 

It struck me that good works much in the same way. Like the sunlight, it shines into our lives, and though there are days where it seems not to reach every corner of our experience, it is still active, still lending warmth, still breathing life into hope. This beautiful sense of good marches on, even through the toughest times. 

This time of year, gratitude is a point of emphasis, and is always a strong force for good in the world. Thanksgiving gives us a much-needed nudge to slow down our thought and take a moment to acknowledge the most important things. It provides an instant connection to how love is being expressed. For example, food shelves and other nonprofits are continuing to help those most in need, individuals and organizations step up to help their neighbors, and the smallest acts of kindness still go a long, long way. That’s because the light of goodness shining brightly in our hearts is a natural state of being for us, and it’s what we feel when gratitude is expressed. Take the example of Debra Ferrell of Virginia, who founded a nonprofit based on small acts of kindness. 

“It is a kindness organization where our motto is, ‘Be love. Do stuff,’” Ferrell recently told the media. 

Being love. Those two words are hugely important in today’s world, one where, so often, love seems to be very much overshadowed, or even under siege. But every time that issue comes into view, the perspective we bring to the table makes a difference, and it’s something we can consider, something we have the right to change. Even through challenges, the opportunity to be love — to do good, show gratitude to others — reveals life-changing actions we can take right now in our communities. In this world, nothing is more needed, and nothing can stand in the way of good that’s ready to make a difference.

— Gareth Henderson

Sculpturefest: A gift of art and open land

“Who says fish can’t fly?” by Charlotte Donaldson at Sculpturefest in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Art has a powerful way of uplifting the soul, bringing some joy into life, and welcoming people to experience it together.

Sculpturefest, based in Woodstock, Vermont, has been doing that for over 40 years, and the 2022 edition has brought lots of new art to the property, nestled on Prosper Road, where Charlet and Peter Davenport have been welcoming sculptors’ work to their scenic Vermont land over those decades. Creativity is always in bloom there, with various artistic expressions throughout the property. 

This year, Sculpturefest has, by far, the most new art it’s had in the past three years, since efforts to move in new installations were limited due to the pandemic. In a recent interview, Charlet Davenport expressed her excitement at seeing all the new work coming in. Along with the vibrant new sculptures, another tradition continues: Anyone is welcome to drop by, walk the property, view the art, and even have a picnic in the summer sun. Davenport pointed out they’ve always had that approach of keeping it open to the public, since the event began decades ago.

“This is for the community, it’s not an organized, incorporated anything,” she said. “It’s just our gift.” 

Sometimes you have art that’s simply joyful and playful. Well, one of the new pieces poses a question, “Who says fish can’t fly?” It’s a series of colorful fish, crafted from wood and hung on a line above a vernal pond on the Sculpturefest property. Charlotte Donaldson, the longtime artist who created these flying fish, has participated in Sculpturefest before, including last year, when she also had her art installed at the pond. 

“I thought, this year I’ll just hang fish, because they sort of belong to a pond, and they're sort of whimsical,” Donaldson said. 

A metal sculpture by Nira Granott Fox, on display at Sculpturefest. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Down at the other side of the Sculpturefest property, in the wide open field by Prosper Road, another new installation awaits viewers. Nira Granott Fox has created a moving metal sculpture, which includes two circular shapes which trade places as the wind courses through this work of art. It shines brilliantly in the sun, and moves with grace in the breeze — a unique creation adding to the diversity of Sculpturefest. 

Also shining in the summer sun, is a sculpture by featured artist Blaze Konefal, titled “Windwave Grove,” which presents three metallic “trees” that dance in the sun and even the slightest wind. The sculpture presents a sort of playfulness, nestled in the calm colors of the artwork. 

In all, Sculpturefest 2022 presents over 30 artists and dozens of sculptures that capture the mind and represent the creative spirit that’s been alive on this land for decades. Each piece contributes to the comforting sense of peace, joy and freedom on the property, which keeps people coming back year after year. In a recent interview, Charlet Davenport noted that many discovered this precious, open land and its artwork during the pandemic, especially young families, who — while playgrounds were closed — were looking for places out in the open where their children could play. 

At any time, something deep in the human soul loves to connect with nature, and loves to connect with artistic expression. At Sculpturefest, you can do both, and, with more and more people experiencing this widely cherished Sculpturefest tradition, it’s sure to live on for generations to come.

— Gareth Henderson

“Windwave Grove” by Blaze Konefal, at Sculpturefest in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

“Grow” by Hector Santos, on display at Sculpturefest 2022. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

From left, “Yuke” and “Flutterby” by Roger Goldenberg, at Sculpturefest. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Grants awarded for Vt. housing, community projects

The U.S. and Vermont flags flying side by side in Bridgewater, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Local housing and community projects in Vermont are receiving support from a new round of federal grants. 

On Thursday, Gov. Phil Scott announced recipients of $2.22 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding through the Vermont Community Development Program (VCDP). This federal money will support six projects throughout Vermont, including three mixed income housing developments, planning for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility improvements and the revitalization of community facilities.

In this week’s announcement, Scott called the CDBG program an “essential resource for Vermont.” 

“Bringing together public and private partners, the program makes a big difference in our redevelopment and revitalization efforts throughout all corners of the state,” he said.

These funds provide federal funding to help local communities address priority projects that primarily benefit individuals of low or moderate income, according to state officials. Supported projects include planning and implementation of housing, economic development, public infrastructure, and community facilities such as childcare and senior centers. The funding announced this week goes to projects in Randolph, Pittsford, Arlington, South Burlington and Highgate. 

“The program has been a crucial funding source for 40 years in Vermont,” said Josh Hanford, the state’s commissioner of housing and community development, in the state’s announcement. “CDBG funding invests in local community development projects which expand low-income families’ access to opportunity in Vermont."

In a joint statement, U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D), U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I), and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D) spoke about the funding’s broad impact over the decades: 

“Vermont has long benefited from Community Development Block Grant awards, which transform communities by creating opportunities for Vermonters and helping to drive our local economies.”

This year, recipients include the City of South Burlington and Ascend Housing Allies, who were jointly awarded $1 million to develop 94 units of new mixed-income apartments in two separate 47-unit buildings. 

“The Community Development Block Grant award from VCDP will allow Summit Properties, in partnership with subgrantee Ascend Housing, to move forward with one of the State of Vermont’s most ambitious affordable housing projects to date,” said Tom Getz, chief executive officer of Summit Properties, in a statement. “Especially in today’s construction environment, affordable housing requires leadership and support from the State of Vermont, its partner agencies, and local municipalities. VCDP’s and the City of South Burlington’s support for this project puts that leadership on full display and will make an impact on more than 100 people seeking an affordable housing option to live and work in Chittenden County.”

The following six Vermont projects are supported by the program’s funds for fiscal year 2022: 

• Town of Arlington for community revitalization and gathering space.

• Town of Highgate to explore development of a mixed-use property and library.

• Town of Pittsford to explore development of community programming space.

• Town of Randolph for affordable rental housing.

• City of South Burlington for mixed income housing.

• City of Vergennes to plan for ADA renovations of the Vergennes Opera House.

For details on these CDBG awardees and projects, click here.

Editor’s Note: The information in this post is from a news release by the Office of Vermont Governor Phil Scott.

Building peace, and starting with love

A view from Fletcher Hill Road in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

As springtime flourishes around us, we witness natural peace and harmonious progress all around us, the former season a distant memory. Familiar images come to mind, like that beautiful, slow-motion video of the flower blooming, and turning toward the sunlight, finding its natural place closest to the sun’s nurturing rays. A moment of seeking light, and finding it. 

These days, that moment can seem a distant thing. Pictures of peace, like the above, seem fleeting at best. The world longs for peace, one that lasts, one that goes beyond a feeling. Though it may be difficult to see at times, people have a natural leaning toward peace, just like the flower that seeks the sun. It’s not about what we feel from moment to moment; this peace is part of our being, joined to our innate ability to love one another. 

Knowing this, we have to seek peace where it all begins: within us. If we build peace within ourselves, the harmony that seems impossible to attain can shine through us, even if just a little bit at first. It starts with an individual’s chosen lens through which to view the world. Will it be through the love which comes to us so naturally? To build peace through loving others as ourselves, is really our most natural desire as people. Where rightly motivated desire lives, there is opportunity, and a possibility to join together for the greater good. In that space, we make a difference.

Amid the struggles of the past two years, we’ve seen this happen. Neighbors have helped one another and created unforgettable, inspiring moments leading to progress, and leading others to help their communities. It’s clear that this pattern of unselfishness awoke in us a collective propensity to lift each other up. There’s a history of this in the world, even in the darkest times, because that connection of compassion is natural and familiar to everyone.

However, this existence never allows us to sit still; it demands greater proof of what we can accomplish. Now, we, as a global community, are being asked to meet such a challenge. From the recent shootings in the U.S., to the war in Ukraine, the demand of the times is to muster compassion, love and grace to make a difference. That work will look different for each individual, but everyone has a way to contribute to the healing, the peace, that is so needed today. Every person can express peace and provide that gift to everyone they see, every day. By doing so, that natural, peaceful expression is established, takes root and grows in the world. It’s a meaningful part of the solution at this important time. And it shows us that the answer the world needs begins in our very hearts. Right where hopelessness tries to creep in, there is love, and the ability to build lasting peace. Each person can play a role in cultivating that framework, starting now.

— Gareth Henderson

Statewide effort aims to create vibrant public places

A view of the Ottauquechee River from the East End Park in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Creating vibrant public places throughout Vermont is at the heart of a statewide economic development effort that officially launched this week.

This partnership, “Better Places”, gives residents the opportunity to use crowdfunding to develop strategic, locally led projects in their communities and be supported with a 2:1 matching grant from the state, according to a Thursday announcement. 

“The Better Places program provides municipalities and nonprofits with funding for community-driven projects in our downtowns and village centers,” said Vermont Gov. Phil Scott in a statement. “These grants will help increase activity at local shops, restaurants, and other small businesses in all corners of Vermont.”

Teaming up for this effort are the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Vermont Department of Health, the Vermont Community Foundation, and the company Patronicity. 

The program provides one-on-one project coaching, fundraising support, and matching grants ranging from $5,000 to $40,000 to advance local projects that create and revitalize public spaces. Whether communities are dreaming for more parks and green spaces, a vibrant main street, colorful public art projects, community gardens, or cultural events, Better Places grants can help turn these ideas into reality, state officials said.

“At the heart of economic development is creating places where people want to be, spend time, belong, and thrive,” said Lindsay Kurrle, secretary of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development. “From public art to pop-up parks to outdoor seating, we’re excited to support community-driven placemaking efforts that add vibrancy, social life, and pride to Vermont’s communities.”

In December of 2020, the Better Places pilot program began, and the state’s program partners invested $130,000 dollars into eight collaborative projects around the state. With the success of the pilot program, the Vermont Legislature allocated $1.5 million for the formal launch of this program.

“The Better Places pilot program was key to strengthening collaboration between the arts, community development leaders, Vermont-based funders, and local leaders, and has led to transformative investments in Vermont with wide-ranging benefits to our health, economy, and social connections,” said Dan Smith, CEO and president of the Vermont Community Foundation.

• To review projects that were part of the pilot program click here.

• For full details on the program including eligibility and application process, visit the program website.

• A program launch webinar will be held on Thursday, Feb. 10, at 11 a.m. Registration is required.

— Gareth Henderson

New Vt. program aims to expand housing stock

The winter landscape as seen from River Road in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson File Photo)

Vermont has launched a new program meant to increase housing units throughout the state. This effort comes amid an ongoing housing shortage in Vermont — an issue which has been emphasized by local and state officials during the pandemic. 

Announced this week, the Vermont Housing Improvement Program (VHIP) is designed to bring housing units back online by investing in existing, but under-utilized structures, the announcement said. VHIP builds upon past rental rehabilitation pilot programs that used modest public investment to revitalize housing in Vermont’s downtown areas, while helping renters and property owners who are most in need of assistance, according to the state.

The program, funded using federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, will invest a total of $5 million into the state’s aging housing stock. VHIP will provide grants of up to $30,000 per unit with a 20% funding match required to bring code non-compliant units back into habitability. This round of grants is dedicated to units serving renters who are exiting homelessness, officials said.

“In addition to building new housing, VHIP will be critical for bringing housing that has fallen into disrepair back online, helping to provide more housing for the workforce, lifting people out of homelessness, and aiding in the transformational change we are seeking to create stronger communities,” said Gov. Phil Scott in a Wednesday statement.

Scott joined the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development and other statewide partners in launching the program. 

“Throughout the course of the pandemic many businesses received financial assistance, but one of the populations that has been overlooked is the mom-and-pop landlords across the state,” said Josh Hanford, the state’s commissioner of housing and community development. “We designed this program for the long run with the success of the landlord and the tenant in mind. With this program, you are creating permanent housing and improving neighborhoods.”

Shaun Gilpin, director of the state government’s housing division, said a major goal is to address the needs of the most vulnerable Vermonters.

“We have been working with Vermont’s five homeownership centers to create a new program that is based on successful models and improves upon past efforts to bring more housing on-line,” Gilpin said. 

VHIP partners include Champlain Housing Trust, Rural Edge, Downstreet Housing and Community Development, Windham and Windsor Housing Trust, and Neighborworks of Western Vermont.

For more information, click here.

— Gareth Henderson

Hello, Halloween!

Pumpkins on display in Woodstock Village. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Late October is bringing that fresh, crisp cold in the air, and you know what that includes: Halloween. And Woodstock will be celebrating. 

For a new addition: The East End Park in Woodstock, Vermont, will be getting into the Halloween spirit this weekend on Saturday, Oct. 30, from 1-3 p.m. It’s also the grand opening of the park’s improved slide and new rope climb, meaning lots of enjoyment awaits the families at this park, which has become a favorite place for many after it opened last year. As an announcement says, “Dress in your Halloween costume and come on down for apple cider, doughnuts and fun!” (Weather dependent.) If you bike to the event, the new bike racks provide an easy parking option. 

There are several other ways to start Halloween early, too. In South Woodstock, a community trick-or-treat, hay ride, and haunted forest will take place on Saturday from 4-6 p.m. Parking is at the South Woodstock Fire Station, where trick-or-treat maps will be available. The event is geared toward children under 10, but as the announcement said, all are welcome. 

The community is also invited to a Halloween event at Artistree in nearby Pomfret, where “Spooktacular FUN” is going from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday. The family event includes a costume parade, pumpkin carving, decorating, scavenger hunt, and, of course, some tasty treats to enjoy. 

As for the big day itself, on Sunday, Oct. 31, a favorite local Halloween tradition is returning: trick-or-treating along High Street, Maple Street and Golf Avenue, from 5-8 p.m. After being cancelled last year, all three of those streets in Woodstock Village will be closed off for trick-or-treaters for that three-hour span. 

Here’s to hoping many people here and everywhere get to enjoy Halloween festivities and the sense of community they bring. Let’s use every interaction this weekend as a way to uplift other people, and begin the cold season on a note of togetherness and joy.

— Gareth Henderson

Historic increase announced in Vt. home energy assistance

A foliage scene at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Woodstock. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Vermonters needing help to keep their homes warm this winter will benefit from a historic increase in funding from a key federal program. 

This week, state and federal officials announced Vermont is receiving $49 million from the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), thanks to relief funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. Usually, the state receives about $20 million a year in LIHEAP funding. The program supports eligible households with their heating and energy needs. With the increase, seasonal fuel assistance benefits from LIHEAP will, on average, increase from $912 to $1,522, and cover 89% of a household’s seasonal fuel bill.  

Gov. Phil Scott thanked Vermont’s Congressional Delegation for working to secure this money. 

“These additional funds will allow us to do a number of things to help the vulnerable, including increasing fuel benefits; providing more money for weatherization services, including furnace repair and replacement; increasing the number of gallons or cords of wood you can receive under the crisis fuel program; provide a one-time check of $400 to those who qualify to offset electric heat, benefitting 18,000 households; and more,” Scott said in a statement on Thursday.

U.S. Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders, and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, joined Scott and the Vermont Department for Children and Families in making the announcement. 

“I’ve supported LIHEAP since its beginning 40 years ago for one simple reason: No Vermonter, no American, should have to choose between heating their home and putting food on the table or purchasing an essential medication,” said Leahy, who is on the Senate Appropriations Committee. “Our work in Washington is only the first step. The last step, the most important one, is when Vermont families sign up for the program and receive the home heating help they need.”

Also in the joint statement, Sanders said the delegation has a “moral responsibility” to make sure no Vermont family goes cold during the long winter months. 

“I’m very proud that this substantial increase means far more Vermonters will receive the benefits they need, and I thank the state of Vermont and our Community Action Agencies for the great work they do helping Vermonters stay warm through the winter,” Sanders said. 

Welch noted that the LIHEAP program “serves as a lifeline” for many low-income families.

“The pandemic has only increased the need for more funding to ensure our communities get relief during the challenging winter months of these already trying times,” he said. “I’ll continue to fight for the highest possible level of funding to make sure that the low-income, elderly and disabled Vermonters who rely on this program are supported in the coming months.”

— Gareth Henderson

For more information, view the Thursday press conference about this increase in LIHEAP funding.

Looking toward the good

It's a familiar phrase: Life is a matter of perspective. The same holds true all year, including this fall season, when we not only welcome in the dazzling colors of autumn, but also numerous visitors to these Green Mountains we love. Some folks are making their first trip, while others have made numerous journeys north and have forged some longtime local friendships along the way. Indeed, the traffic can be tough, but it’s also a time of sharing our home — this beautiful Vermont — with others. Any time we’re going about our daily routines, that connection can happen in this land we all love. 

I had such an experience earlier in the week, when making my way through South Woodstock and stopping several times to explore some new photo angles on some favorite vistas. With the distant mountains in sight at one location, I stopped — but I wasn’t the only one. Another car approached from the opposite direction, with another behind it. For a moment I thought I might have to move, to avoid an impending mini traffic-jam. But I calmly went about my business, needing to change camera lenses for a better shot. I came back out to see the driver who had stopped near me, with camera in hand to capture the view while the late-afternoon sun still brightened the mountaintops. “Pretty irresistible isn’t it?” I said, pointing into the distance. “Oh I know!” came the cheerful reply. 

In a few minutes, we both went our separate ways, but having shared that joyful moment and a few smiles — all because we both wanted to see and remember the same beautiful, quiet place in the Greens. 

As we roll into the holiday weekend, opportunities for kindly moments of connection with others will be plentiful. They might come up where they’re least expected, too. But whatever happens, there remain many good moments in the world, even when major issues arise and appear unmovable. When we embrace even brief instances of good and share them with others, a bit more peace abides in the world at that precious moment. And those times are not the exception to any rule, but they reflect who we naturally are. As we let that spirit of peace inspire us, every interaction becomes an opportunity to see the good in others. The uplifting effect is harmonious, restful, and an open gift each of us can always experience.

— Gareth Henderson

Program extended to help food-insecure Vermonters

The Ottauquechee River in Woodstock, Vermont, on Wednesday. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

A statewide program helping food-insecure Vermonters has been extended through the end of 2021.

This week, the "Vermont Everyone Eats" program announced it would continue through the end of the year. In an interview with Vermont Public Radio, Jean Hamilton, the program's statewide coordinator, noted that pandemic-driven needs persist in Vermont communities.

"The impact will be here for longer than we imagined, but also, we just didn't anticipate the impact of (the) Delta (variant) and the fact that numbers would actually go back up," Hamilton told VPR.

More funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is allowing this extension to move forward, according to news reports. FEMA is currently covering the restaurant-made meals at $10 each, NECN reported via NBC5, with the purpose of helping hungry Vermonters and also the local eateries and farms providing the food.

Early during the COVID-19 pandemic, almost 1 in 3 people in the state were facing food insecurity, according to University of Vermont researchers. A year later, UVM found that over half of those affected Vermonters were still having trouble accessing nutritious meals.

In Middlebury, Bethany Farrell, of The Giving Fridge, told NECN she was glad to take part in Everyone Eats and was thrilled about the program's extension.

"It will help our communities thrive," Farrell said.

Vermont Everyone Eats has over 134 distributions sites statewide managed by 18 regional partners, according to the program’s website. For more details about its work, download the impact report on this page.

— Gareth Henderson

Community shines bright in ‘Local Color’

Five works from the "Local Color" exhibit. At top, from left, are "At Silver Lake, September" (acrylic on board) and "Barn Across the River, October" (acrylic on board) by Margaret Lampe Kannenstine. Below, from left, are "On the Ottauquechee, Quechee" (pastel), "Up Lyme Pond Road, Pomfret" (acrylic on canvas), and "Pine Hollow Pond, Pomfret" (pastel), all by Karen Chalom. - (Gareth Henderson Photo)

As a young boy, Kip King found a 1920s Kodak camera in his family’s house and asked his dad if he could use it. Permission was granted, and a passion was born.

Today, King, who lives in Norwich, Vermont, is one of more than 70 local artists showing their work at Artistree Gallery’s annual “Local Color” exhibit, which opened on Friday and welcomes in the autumn season. It runs through Nov. 6.

Speaking at Friday’s opening night in Pomfret, King was enjoying the experience, but not only because of the chance to show his work here again; it’s also because of the highly collaborative Artistree community. Any artists are welcomed in, he said, whether they’re experienced or just starting out.

“They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it takes a community to make an artist,” he said. “It’s just a great community to be a part of.”

Groton State Forest, Vermont. (Photo by Kip King / kipkingphotography.com)

Sonja Olson, a printmaker and painter, is also showing her work in Local Color and praised that supportive spirit as well. Olson has lived in the area for 30 years, and is part of Artistree’s Daily Artists group which meets regularly and encourages one other on individual artistic endeavors. 

“It’s brought artists together as a community,” she said, noting the group had a gallery exhibit earlier this year. 

That inviting community feeling is also apparent in Local Color, with its great variety of expression and a range of autumn hues.  

“There’s a huge variety of work, styles and colors,” said Deborah Goodwin, exhibits coordinator at the gallery. There’s also a lot of interest from artists wanting to show their work for the first time at Artistree, Goodwin added. 

“We keep getting a lot of new participants,” she said. 

Artistree Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Read more about the work in Local Color on the website.

— Gareth Henderson

“Sunny Susie” (oil on board) by Pat Macri. - (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Vermont one step closer to welcoming Afghan refugees

(Gareth Henderson Photo)

With a key federal decision this week, Vermont's plan to welcome Afghan refugees to the Green Mountains is moving forward. 

Gov. Phil Scott on Thursday announced the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) was approved by the U.S. Department of State to welcome up to 100 Afghans in Vermont in the weeks ahead. An exact timeline of arrivals is not yet established.

USCRI is a national nonprofit resettlement agency that assists people who have migrated to the U.S. to help them live safe and dignified lives, as Thursday's announcement said. USCRI’s Vermont Office, the Scott administration, the State Refugee Office at the Vermont Agency of Human Services and other refugee programs have been pursuing opportunities to welcome refugees over the last several weeks. The goal is to accommodate some of the many Afghans who are being targeted due to support of the U.S. military and U.S. government agencies, as well as media and non-governmental organizations, following the end of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, according to state officials.

“We have a moral obligation to help the people of Afghanistan, who did so much to help us in the War on Terror,” Scott said in a statement. “In addition to this being the right thing to do, we know that welcoming more refugees also strengthens communities, schools, our workforce, culture and economy.” 

For years, the governor has requested annual increases in refugee resettlement in Vermont as part of a strategy to increase economic growth and expand Vermont’s workforce. In Thursday's announcement, Tracy Dolan, the director of the State Refugee Office, noted the interest shown by businesses. 

“It is an honor to help those who have helped our service members overseas and it is a wonderful opportunity for Vermont’s communities and for our businesses who are very interested in expanding our workforce and filling our job vacancies,” Dolan said.

She added, “We are learning from our colleagues at military bases and arrival centers across the country that employment is one of the highest priorities mentioned by these newly arriving Afghans. They are eager to find jobs and rebuild their lives.” 

USCRI Vermont will work closely with the state, as well as with schools, employers, landlords, and health and social service programs, to meet the needs of arriving Afghans and of the community. Before they arrive in Vermont, Afghans will have completed medical and security screenings, and will be authorized to work, officials explained. USCRI is continuing to respond to Vermont volunteers and businesses interested in offering support.

“I want to thank Vermonters for the outpouring of support we are receiving — we are not always fast to respond immediately to your offers due to the preparations we are making but want you to know we are thankful as we work together to extend a warm welcome to our Afghan neighbors,” said Amila Merdzanovic, director of USCRI Vermont. 

The State Department also approved the Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC) to open a new field office in Brattleboro. ECDC is a resettlement agency that works with refugees from around the world and hired Joe Wiah, who will begin his new role as director of the Brattleboro Office on September 20. ECDC plans to submit a proposal to the State Department to welcome 25 Afghans to Brattleboro in the coming months. Jessica Chapman, community outreach manager for the ECDC, thanked the Brattleboro community and local, regional and national partners for supporting this effort.

“After many months of planning and discussions we look forward to starting the work of welcoming refugees and Special Immigrant Visa holders to the southern part of Vermont,” Chapman said in a statement.  

Also in southern Vermont, Rutland has shown interest in welcoming Afghan refugees to its community. In a recent report in the Rutland Herald, Merdzanovic told local officials the resettlement effort would start in Chittenden County, Vermont's most populous county, and USCRI would reach out to supporters in other communities. 

The state plans to provide further information on the resettlement of Afghans in Vermont as more details become available.

— Gareth Henderson

A changed world, and the good that remains

The American and Vermont flags outside the town offices in Bridgewater, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Weary-eyed but wide awake with excitement, my flight landed in Lima, Peru, around 3 a.m. I was about to join my travel group from Principia College for an abroad program for my Spanish major — my first journey to a non-English speaking country. But as we embarked on that experience, we didn’t know how the world was about to change.

As several friends and I went down to breakfast in our hotel the next morning on Sept. 11, 2001, we saw the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center on TV, with massive columns of smoke rising from them. I wondered if I was watching a movie clip, but I soon learned the tragic reality.

From the newsroom in the Christian Science Monitor in Boston minutes before, my dad, a longtime journalist, saw the second plane strike on the TV screen. He and multiple friends called my mom that morning to make sure I’d made it out, which we all had. My trip leaders made sure we emailed our parents to convey that news.

A world away from Ground Zero, I was able to find comfort and solace as we went about our first day in Lima. Back home in the U.S., nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks, including at the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and on United Flight 93. Many more confronted the rawness of the aftermath. A fellow Vermonter, Stuart Crawford Hult, from Williston, was a vice president for a Credit Suisse First Boston at 5 World Trade Center, and was on site that morning. After the first plane hit the building, he sprinted through the office, screaming for everyone to get out. Once his colleagues were on their way to safety, Hult made his escape down the stairwell before the second plane hit the next tower. Later, he discovered that everyone who’d been on duty at the firehouse near his office, Fire Department Rescue Company 1, had died that day. He now sends a wreath of remembrance to the station every year.

I heard Hult's story for the first time this past week, when I stopped to listen to part of Vermont Public Radio’s tremendous project, "20 Years Later: Vermonters Remember Sept. 11". It was such a profound listening experience, and a visceral reminder of how that morning altered the lives of so many. How important it is, to remember these individual experiences and honor their meaning.

Collectively, these stories still touch our hearts, and uniquely so. Indeed, 9/11 brought the country together, even if briefly. Today, the ability to embrace one another as a country seems quite distant, and just as susceptible to political turmoil and disagreement. However, I trust that somewhere within the fabric of our nation, there is a more expansive desire for genuine unity and genuine progress. They can co-exist, because in our recent struggles, we’ve shown we can still lift each other up in times of need.

This feels like a different nation than the one that saw the 9/11 attacks. Today, political and societal tensions are more ubiquitous, more shared through social media and iPhones, and the partisanship is more rife on the surface. Divisiveness would make us believe we don’t need one another quite as much, that perhaps we could persist in separateness. But in reality the opposite is true — we do need each other, in order to be truly successful as a nation and overcome our challenges. Every day provides another opportunity to show the love and care that remains in our national community, by looking out for one another despite our differences. Twenty years after 9/11, we can prove the good that touched us in the aftermath of 9/11 is not fleeting, and still remains foundational in the soul of our nation.

— Gareth Henderson

Sharing a new tomorrow

A brook at the Green Mountain Horse Association in South Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

One of the gifts of writing is that it’s elastic, broad, expansive. It can capture things that may otherwise go unnoticed. Sometimes, those things enter into the written word by way of the camera lens. 

When we were walking late in the day on Saturday, on the grounds of the Green Mountain Horse Association in beautiful South Woodstock, we crossed a small bridge with a quiet brook running underneath it. Unassuming and serene, the sound of the bubbling water came to my ear, and then the sunlight dancing on the surface amid the shadows caught my eye. The camera lens wasn’t far behind. 

That quiet moment came on a busy holiday weekend. GMHA’s historic 100-Mile Competitive Trail Ride was back in town, bringing equestrians and spectators from near and far. On Friday night, tackle football returned to Woodstock Union High School, where WUHS notched a big 35-16 win over Springfield. Also returning to the area this weekend is the Quechee Balloon Festival, with entertainment for all ages. On a yet larger scale: The school year began this past week for the Woodstock area and many other districts, with Vermont students able to see their teachers and each other once again, five days a week. 

Taken together, these events and many others mark a return to familiar ground, more progress toward more normalcy. Though the pandemic and numerous other issues present challenges, the opportunity to visit loved ones more often, see our kids return to school, and enjoy the events and activities we missed for so many months, does have a powerful impact. Being out and about gives you another lens through which to process the changes of life and come to terms with its challenges and further opportunities for progress. And you understand more fully that others are having this experience as well; we are one world going through this next chapter of existence, together. 

That said, “together” doesn’t always feel comfortable. We’ll encounter obstacles as the world grows into a new future, and people will confront the tough questions about what we’ve really learned from the past 18 months. But right now, we are building from moments, quiet moments of reflection, whether it’s walking past a bubbling brook, or spending time catching up with family or friends. Those times let the light of good pour in and illuminate our experiences every day. They give us opportunities to ponder concepts bigger than ourselves, and be aware of issues that merit more of our attention. If we approach life, right now, with a more expansive, compassionate thought, that’s fertile ground where lasting progress can take root. And that’s the way to nurture and care for this vast, precious world we all share.

— Gareth Henderson

Helping those inside, and outside, our borders

(Gareth Henderson Photo)

It’s been an honor to recognize how Vermonters have helped each other, but today we’d like to highlight how the state has extended a helping hand to those from outside the Green Mountains. 

The state of Vermont is hoping to take in up to 100 refugees from Afghanistan who are fleeing the danger they face back home now that the Taliban are in power. A number of volunteers and businesses have reportedly offered to help refugees who end up settling in Vermont.

The last U.S. soldiers departed Afghanistan on Monday, following the collapse of the Afghan government in August and the Taliban’s rapid takeover. From Aug. 14 to 31, the U.S. evacuated more than 122,000 individuals from Kabul airport, including 6,000 U.S. citizens, according to news reports. Thirteen U.S. service members died in a suicide bombing at the airport on Aug. 26, while the evacuation effort was in its final days.

The U.S. is currently housing 20,000 Afghan evacuees in five states, with another 40,000 overseas. 

On Wednesday, the Vermont office of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants said it submitted a proposal to the State Department, WCAX reported. That came after Vermont Gov. Phil Scott recently told the White House his administration would like to help with the resettlement. 

U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) released a statement of support on Wednesday. He noted, as the governor has, that a number of these refugees helped the U.S. during the Afghanistan War over the past two decades. 

“I am gratified that Vermont is volunteering to welcome and resettle one hundred Afghans who have fled their country in recent weeks,” Leahy said. “Many of these Afghans supported the U.S. military and our government over the past two decades, risking their lives and the safety of their families. Vermonters recognize that it is our moral obligation to provide them refuge from retaliation and persecution by the Taliban and other extremist groups in Afghanistan.”

He added, “Vermont has a long history of warmly welcoming refugees who have become an integral part of communities across our state. They have made Vermont stronger. It is fitting that Vermont is stepping up yet again to offer safe haven to vulnerable Afghans in their hour of need.” 

For some here in the Green Mountains, the current situation in Afghanistan is a personal, heartbreaking struggle to help family and friends escape the country. Vermont Public Radio spoke to Wazir, who is working to get his family out of Kabul (his last name was withheld for his family’s protection). Wazir left Afghanistan at age 16, went to college in Vermont and now runs a business in the state. Like others who have settled here and made their home in Vermont, he is part of our community, and now, he faces the challenge of helping his family come here so they, too, can experience a new sense of security and success.

Many are working and praying to help people like Wazir’s family and others who seek refuge and a new life outside Afghanistan. We hope these kind, steadfast efforts help them find a path to safety and fulfillment, despite current obstacles. We hope the love being expressed to them from afar helps build the path to freedom they earnestly seek.

— Gareth Henderson

How far we’ve come

Kat Wright and The Indomitable Soul Band perform at the Community Heroes Concert last Friday at the East End Park in Woodstock, Vt. From left are Leon Campos, Kat Wright, Phil Rodriguez, Josh Weinstein and Bob Wagner. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

After we’ve completed a great accomplishment, one often looks back in awe, and says, “Wow, I did that.’” 

The greater Woodstock region had such a moment last Friday at the Community Heroes Concert, organized by Pentangle Arts, as it celebrated the work so many did over the past 18 months to help the community during the pandemic. It was special, and also moving, to thoughtfully consider what was accomplished and honor the sacrifices people made, week after week, amid the uncertainty of 2020. 

The heartfelt moments of the past year and half were many, and Sherry Sousa, WCSU superintendent in Woodstock, remembered when students and parents held a parade in Woodstock Village to thank the educators for their long hours during the pandemic. Educators were on the Green, as the parade graced the village.

“That moved us in so many ways, and teachers were in tears,” Sousa said in her remarks at the Friday concert, addressing well over 200 people. “So we met today as a full faculty for the first time, in the auditorium with our masks on, and I will tell you, your teachers are ready for you to arrive, and we are ready to be in school full time, and we can’t wait to have everyone back on Wednesday.” 

From left: Jill Davies of the Woodstock Area Relief Fund; Beth Robinson, grants coordinator for the Ottauquechee Health Foundation; WCSU Superintendent Sherry Sousa; Deanna Jones, executive director of the Thompson Senior Center; and Dr. Claire Drebitko of the Ottauquechee Health Center. Farthest to the right, Alita Wilson, executive director of Pentangle Arts, announces the speakers. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

That Wednesday, that first day of school, is now arriving in Woodstock. And it’s a testament to the progress made during this life-changing time of the pandemic. Teachers, first responders, grocery store clerks, health care workers, municipal staff, volunteers, and countless others all played a role in getting us to this proud moment. 

In her remarks on Friday, Dr. Claire Drebitko, a local pediatrician at the Ottauquechee Health Center, thanked community members for following public health protocols over the past year and getting vaccinated. 

“I think I speak for everyone at the Health Center, when I say we have felt incredibly grateful to this community for doing such a wonderful job of taking care of one another,” Drebitko said. 

Deanna Jones, executive director of the Thompson Senior Center, noted “the community stepped forward in so many ways” to help seniors over the past 18 months.

Helping each other was a continuous theme throughout Friday evening, including after Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band took to the stage. Wright, who’s lived in Vermont for 12 years, thanked everyone for being there for their neighbors and the community. 

“I don’t think we’ve ever been more proud to be from Vermont than during the past year and a half,” she told the crowd. 

Part of the crowd at the Community Heroes Concert in Woodstock. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Many of us share that sentiment when looking at how Vermont responded to the slew of challenges the pandemic brought, including those who moved to ease the towering economic burden businesses and individuals faced. Along those lines: For the Woodstock Area Relief Fund formed last year, 46 volunteers and hundreds of donors gave their support to raise funds for individuals and families struggling financially during the pandemic. Over $820,000 was raised and given to over 240 families and individuals, said Jill Davies, one of the fund’s organizers.

Throughout Vermont, even as the crisis deepened, more and more stories of community support came out. We all have a story about how we’ve helped someone, and been helped, during this unprecedented time in our lives. As 2021 continues, we’ll undoubtedly keep looking back — there’s always more to learn, and it’s important to consider the lessons we carry forward. In many ways, this period of time has supplied us with awareness of struggles we hadn’t known about before, some of which happen daily. In some aspects, we’ve also learned about ways we can help others.  

Speaking to Friday’s crowd, Beth Robinson, grants coordinator for the Ottauquechee Health Foundation, spoke about working with the Woodstock Community Food Shelf, the Thompson Senior Center and others to get assistance to those in need. However, Robinson pointed out that there’s always a need for this help: 

“Before you leave tonight, just keep this thought in your mind: There are people in our communities, every day of every year, who need our help. So keep your eyes and ears open.”

Though a huge amount of progress has been made against the pandemic, we’ll still need each other in the coming weeks and months. Financial impacts loom large, individuals and businesses face challenges, and the colder months will eventually arrive. We must remain aware of opportunities to help our neighbors, and act on them. The more we continue that work, the more our communities will benefit.

— Gareth Henderson

The Eames Brothers were the opening band at last Friday’s concert. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Community Heroes Concert set for Friday in Woodstock

The Community Heroes Concert will be held at Woodstock’s East End Park on Friday, starting at 5 p.m. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

When the pandemic first arrived in Vermont, no one knew what would happen, but Vermont communities met this new challenge with perseverance and putting their neighbors first. This Friday, Aug. 27, a concert in Woodstock is celebrating the constant efforts of so many individuals, nonprofits and essential workers who helped the community survive the past 18 months. 

The Community Heroes Concert, organized by Pentangle Arts, takes place at the East End Park. The music begins at 5 p.m. with the opening act of The Eames Brothers and features Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band from 6 to 8 p.m. At about 5:45 p.m., local workers, groups and individuals will be recognized and some will share remarks. The concert is free with a suggested $10 donation.

For those on the front lines of the community’s response to COVID-19, the memories of having to quickly reorganize, learn brand new health protocols and proceed into a new and uncertain reality remain fresh in thought. 

Deanna Jones, executive director of the Thompson Senior Center, recalled the rapid effort to arrange contactless meal delivery to seniors, as well as their curbside service, after the senior center closed to all in-person programs. But they also delivered medical equipment and prescription drugs to seniors, and also added a shop-and-delivery grocery service. 

A major theme was people helping the senior center, and quickly. Right off the bat, over 40 people volunteered as new delivery drivers, and over 100 people volunteered to support essential services for seniors. Jones said it’s hard to express the profound inspiration from seeing the community respond so quickly to help during the pandemic.

“I just can’t imagine anything in my career previously or in the future that would be more moving or fulfilling,” Jones said.  

From March 2020, the senior center had seven delivery routes (at its peak), an increase of more than 2,500 Meals on Wheels, and provided a total of over 20,000 meals. Jones said the staff and volunteers showed an incredible level of dedication through all the challenges. 

“It’s just amazing to see how people come forward, and especially the staff, too. They just put the Thompson’s mission so high up on their priority list,” she said. “Even when they would've loved to be home, they were still there. It’s just so incredible to be a part of.” 

David Green, Woodstock’s fire chief and health officer, said he and his fellow first responders would help check on community members isolated at home. Any request for help was amply met — which is normal, he said, for this region. 

“Woodstock and actually all of Vermont are very outstanding in helping their neighbors in times of need,” Green said. “I put calls out, like, ‘I need groceries delivered to this house.’ And I got 60 responses within minutes.” 

Helping to make deliveries, Green and his colleagues got a chance to interact with people and gauge how they were doing. 

“Most people were pretty resilient. They didn't like being locked down, they didn't like wearing a mask, but they all made it through,” he said. “Hopefully we don't have to again." 

From the start, Green said one of the biggest changes for his department was following the strict health guidelines around how to interact with patients. Those are rules they’re still following now, he added. 

In March 2020, delivering meals to students also became a great need. Gretchen Czaja is the school nutrition program director for the WCUUSD, the school district serving Woodstock, Barnard, Bridgewater, Reading, Pomfret, Killington and Plymouth. When school shut down and went remote due to the pandemic, the district-wide food service team had a week to consolidate operations into the Woodstock Union High School kitchen, create a menu, and make a delivery plan. 

From March to June 2020, district staff distributed 250-300 meals per day to students district wide. Along with the food, however, they delivered familiarity — a chance for the students to see, from a distance, the people they’d usually see in their school days. 

“It did help to keep some kind of normalcy in their school day,” Czaja said. “At one point we were getting thank-you notes and signs they would leave outside, saying how much they were enjoying the food.”  

Most of the students who received deliveries were receiving free and reduced-price lunch. The federal government eventually instated universal free meals, and the district’s food program was able to provide curbside meals during the summer of 2020. In the holidays, Czaja and her team put together food boxes with holiday meals to deliver for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The universal free meals are continuing into this year, Czaja said.

The high school was also a site sponsor for Veggie Van Go, a statewide Vermont Foodbank program delivering produce for free, which went curbside during the pandemic and added key items like milk and eggs. 

“We were able to have a great number of volunteers to help load people’s cars with food,” Czaja said.

She also noted the efforts of local community partners working to reduce hunger, such as the Woodstock Community Food Shelf and the Ottauquechee Health Foundation. 

“This community is amazing, the way people step up,” Czaja said.

From helping seniors to other community efforts, the younger generations also had a role in the COVID response. Over this past winter, the nonprofit Change the World Kids, which provides service opportunities for local youth, joined with Ken Woodhead and the Soup Kit Project to deliver warm soup to seniors and families in the cold months. Adi Wilson, a high school senior this year in Woodstock, and about 10 of her fellow students participated and worked in shifts to help make the soup and deliver it.

With the group’s Anti-Cabin Fever Dinner called off, Wilson said the soup deliveries were a great way the students could help their neighbors. 

“It seemed to be the best way we could help the community in a safe way and also make that connection through food,” she said. “It was so nice to be able to connect with the community again. It was the first time I had done that in months.”

— Gareth Henderson

‘Puppies & Pooches’ returning to Woodstock this week

“Puppies and Pooches on Parade” benefits the Norman Williams Public Library, shown here in Woodstock. The event takes place on the scenic Village Green nearby. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Dogs of all shapes and sizes will take part in “Puppies and Pooches on Parade” this coming weekend in Woodstock Village, as yet another favorite local tradition returns to the area in 2021. All proceeds benefit the Norman Williams Public Library, and an active team of volunteers has spent many weeks preparing for this event.

The fun begins Saturday, Aug. 28, on the Village Green, which will feature a 10:30 a.m. dog parade down the main path grouped in categories: Most Precious Petites, Mightiest Mid-size, Gentle Giants, Ms. Fashionistas and Mr. Beau Geste. Then it’s off to the Ring to see each category of dogs.

The judges will select a Best in Show from the category winners, but the spectators will decide the Crowd Favorite by cheering and clapping. Without a doubt, all dogs are winners and will receive ribbons and bandanas. Additionally, Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society will be present so people can learn about pet adoption. 

This event, which began seven years ago, is sponsored by the Friends of the Norman Williams Public Library and enables the community to make valuable contributions to the library. All dogs must be registered before Aug. 26. Registration forms are available at www.puppiesandpoochesonparade.com, at the library’s front desk, or by contacting Peggy Fraser at fraserusa@gmail.com. Raffle tickets are on sale most days outside of the library.

Organizers are inviting everyone to come by and celebrate the return of this live event that brings good cheer, fun memories and great moments for all to enjoy.

New leadership for Friends of NWPL

The Executive Committee of the Friends of the Norman Williams Public Library recently introduced Jarret Adams of Woodstock as the new president of the Friends, and Jennifer Baxter of Woodstock as the new vice president. 

In their new roles, Adams succeeds Peggy Fraser, and Baxter succeeds Jennifer Falvey. As past president, Fraser will remain on the executive committee.

Adams and his wife Heather are the new owners of The Village Inn of Woodstock. Heather is an accomplished chef, and Jarret runs a boutique public relations firm, Full On Communications. In moving to Woodstock, they’ve returned to their New England roots after years of living near Washington, D.C., and abroad.

Jennifer Baxter grew up in North Brunswick, New Jersey. She moved to Vermont with her family in 2006 to own and operate a country inn in Killington. She lives in Woodstock with her husband Rich Kozlowski, and she has many years of experience as a finance officer and human resources professional. Most recently, Jennifer was the director of finance and human resources for Advance Transit, the Upper Valley’s bus transportation agency. 

The Friends of the NWPL has grown into an organization of 100 members whose mission is to foster and encourage community support and participation that benefit the library in its role as a cultural center in the greater Woodstock area.

— Gareth Henderson

Virtual Covered Bridges Half Marathon gets underway Sunday

Team TuTu Much Fun walked the Covered Bridges Half Marathon race course on Friday, June 4, and is shown here at the Taftsville Covered Bridge at about mile 8. From left: CBHM Race Co-director Nancy Nutile-McMenemy, of Weathersfield; Gidget Lyman, of South Royalton; Trish Gallagher of Dorchester, Mass.; and CBHM Race Co-director Mike Silverman, of Hanover, NH. (Nancy Nutile-McMenemy Photo)

The first virtual race of the Covered Bridges Half Marathon is set to begin on Sunday, with over 1,300 participants running the 13.1 miles wherever they are in the world any time from June 6-13.

A number of people locally and outside of Vermont will be participating, according to Race Co-director Nancy Nutile-McMenemy, who said a total of 1,342 runners were signed up.

This nonprofit half marathon, one of the most-anticipated races of its kind, is usually held in the scenic Vermont area of Woodstock, Pomfret and Quechee, and includes several historic covered bridges along the way. After the race's first-ever cancellation in 2020 amid the pandemic, race organizers set up this virtual event to maintain everyone's health and safety, and also keep the race going for the long-term. Race co-directors Nutile-McMenemy and Mike Silverman noted the event’s major community impact over the years: It typically raises $50,000 to $60,000 for dozens of area school groups and nonprofits like libraries, community clubs and social service agencies.

“We want to make sure that we’re here and that we can support as many organizations as possible,” Silverman said in a prior interview.

Overall, the race usually has a $1.2 million economic impact in the region. On Sunday, of course, there will not be any official events or set-up at the usual start or finish locations. However, Nutile-McMenemy and Silverman will record a message for social media at 8 a.m. Sunday, when the race traditionally starts. Stay tuned for that via the CBHM Facebook page.

At the 2022 race, CBHM plans to celebrate its 30th anniversary — which is actually this year. Runners and organizers alike are looking forward to a return to the in-person experience they've all cherished for over three decades.

— Gareth Henderson

A season begins: Sunny skies, happy crowds greet Market on the Green

The Woodstock Market on the Green on Wednesday afternoon in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Warm-weather energy was in the air when the weekly Woodstock Market on the Green returned Wednesday, with over 30 vendors and a bustling crowd. 

There were a number of families dropping by, as well as motorists and cyclists coming through to check out the fresh food, produce and artisan goods. 

Some of that traffic was lining up for the wood-fired pizza made by Sara Bachman, Otto Pierce and Emma Labadie from Fat Dragon Farm in Stockbridge. They’re glad for the business, but it’s something special to be back in Woodstock, Bachman said.

“Last year, this market definitely kept me going a lot,” she said. “There’s so much community here.” 

And the community was meeting a new member of the family as well: Pierce and Bachman arrived with their new baby daughter, Mairi, born in March, who rested comfortably in the shade.

“It’s going well so far,” Bachman said of the baby’s first market. 

Kathy Avellino, of the Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce, which runs the Market on the Green, said she knew from the first glimmer of sunlight on Wednesday, that it would be a perfect day for the event. 

“A lot of vendors have come back,” she said. 

The crowd grows at the Woodstock Market on the Green on Wednesday afternoon. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

One of them is also Jon Cohen, owner of Deep Meadow Farm in Ascutney, who sells his produce at farmers’ markets in Ludlow and Londonderry as well. He said the large number of people cooking at home last year definitely drove sales up. Hopefully, those numbers continue, Cohen added.

“Traffic is definitely a good thing for the market,” he said, noting the crowds in the village that afternoon. 

One of several new arrivals at the market this year is Nick Miller, of Lebanon, New Hampshire, who makes artisan woodcrafts for his business, MisfitStyls. Among his products were a number of wooden boards with intricate designs and inspiring messages on them. But they aren’t just for display — they can also be flipped over and used as cutting boards. Miller, who attends events throughout New England, enjoyed a steady run of sales Wednesday and lots of interest from shoppers.

“It’s been a good market,” he said. “I can’t complain one bit.” 

Colemann Colburn, of Fresh Roots Farm in Sharon, has been at the Market on the Green for 10 years. He said Wednesday was a good day, certainly helped by the fact that people were happy to be able to shop unmasked. 

“People were excited to be out,” Colburn said. “Hopefully it’ll be a good year.”

— Gareth Henderson

The Woodstock Market on the Green is every Wednesday during the summer from 3 to 6 p.m.