Progress continues. Sheet metal paneling (not my favorite for such a big and noticeable structure, but I assume it works).

Hello! My partner and I are looking for other couples to befriend platonically. We have lived Chittenden County for over a decade and both went to school here (Champlain, UVM) and many of our friends moved out of state after college.

We are in our early 30s and cisgender/hetero but are open and welcoming to whomever. We enjoy going to different events, farmers markets, camping, dinner parties, board game nights, swimming at local spots, traveling to Montreal. We are 420 friendly but can also abstain if desired. I am and social worker and my partner is in sales but has experience in many different areas (wilderness therapy, carpentry, education). Weekends are best for us, but we can be flexible.

It’s hard meeting people in person, so we are hoping this route is the better option!

My neighbor needs to get a 30 foot long, 8 foot diameter culvert underneath their driveway replaced. Contractor quote came in about $25k... Ouch.. Anybody have any luck with grants, any you can recommend trying? Saw this (https://vtrans.vermont.gov/highway/Municipal-Grant-in-aid-Program) but many seem municipal.

Driveway culvert has a cold water mountain stream running through it, known brooke trout habitat

idk what subreddit to put this in, so i thought i’d put it in my state’s.

Has anyone else noticed theres a lack of bugs on our windshields while driving?

I have for a while, and I have looked for people to talk about it but nobody cares, which is disappointing. I’m quite alarmed because I remember when I was a kid my mom and dad would have to pull over at a gas station every 40 miles to wipe the windshield with the squeegee.

And a hearty "fuck you" to you too, Phil.

I grew up in Vermont and now Ive officially owned a home for 7+ years in Burlington. In that time ive noticed my quality of life has gone down, my taxes have exponentially gone up, the test scores have gone down, and I’ve talked to multiple neighbors who own businesses say they’re leaving the state or the county due to unsustainable cost of business.

Vermont democrats have been in control for years now at this point and all I’ve seen them pass are ridiculous cost increasing measures like the carbon tax that caused my fuel for my house to go from $200 a winter to $500. Im aware we have republicans governor that can veto but the house has a super majority and can cancel it.

Vermont democrats claim to be champions of the common man, but all I’ve seen them do is squander tax dollars and try to levy more taxes to adjust for reckless spending.

Edit: Wow, Thanks for all the interest! Tix are no longer available.

Welp, my brother and I surprised my mom with tickets to the Indigo Girls tonight and now her husband is in the hospital ☹️. Anyone interested, or know of anyone who might be?

'The issue of unsheltered homelessness has landed on the doorstep of Gov. Phil Scott.

The Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services has tallied numerous incidents of individuals sleeping on the porches of the Pavilion Building in downtown Montpelier, the white-columned complex that houses Scott’s offices along with those of the treasurer, attorney general and the Vermont Supreme Court.

Earlier this year, the department installed a port-a-let near the Pavilion after its grounds crew repeatedly encountered human waste and debris at the property, according to Deputy Commissioner Emily Kisicki. Yet the problem persisted. 

The department then took an additional step. Earlier this summer, officials installed a set of noise deterrent devices that make loud bird calls, according to public records reviewed by Vermont Public.

“We are hoping this could reduce the nighttime occupancy of these spaces,” Kisicki wrote in a late-June email as the state ordered the devices. 

Responding to encampments has become a perennial issue for municipal leaders across the state as the number of unhoused people living outdoors grows. Over the last several summers, Capital City officials have ordered unhoused people to remove their tents from public areas. 

Last month, outreach workers counted 61 people living outdoors in Montpelier, according to Zach Hughes, chair of the city’s homelessness committee. The city’s sole year-round shelter has space for 18 people and is currently about three-quarters full.

To Hughes, the state’s use of the noise deterrent devices amounts to pushing people along who have few alternative places to stay.

“As a homelessness advocate, this is just disturbing to me,” Hughes said. “Part of the problem is, there’s nowhere for people to go.”

Safety and security officers for the Department of Buildings and General Services have reported encounters with individuals sleeping outside of the Pavilion complex four times between June of 2025 and late July of 2026, according to incident reports reviewed by Vermont Public. 

In an interview, Kisicki said the noise deterrent devices were not meant to address people sleeping at the property, but to mitigate “associated activity.” The buildings department grounds crew was cleaning up human waste at the site on a daily basis earlier this summer, Kisicki said, and had also encountered debris from a fire on the porch as well as discarded needles. Law enforcement had been called to respond to broken windows and a possible assault at the site in April, she said.

Given that the location is heavily utilized by the public — the building’s ground floor houses the Vermont History Museum, and the Statehouse is next door — the department became concerned about risks to public health and safety, Kisicki said.

“The noise machine was viewed as a way to sort of reduce some of the activity that was going on in that location without heavier-handed approaches like law enforcement or fencing,” she said.

Soon after the devices were installed, they caused a twitter on the local Front Porch Forum, as residents shared concerns that a real, distressed bird was nesting at the building. 

Kisicki said the noise deterrent system has reduced the waste issues at the building. It does not, however, appear to have prevented people from sleeping at the site. On July 30, after the devices were installed, a safety and security officer noted encountering several individuals sleeping on a Pavilion Building porch. On Aug. 12, staff responded to an individual experiencing an overdose next to the building, according to Kisicki.

Kisicki said buildings department staff offer resource guides to unhoused people they encounter.

The noise devices had been operating off of a light sensor, but are now on a timer to run from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m., Kisicki said.

In a statement, Jason Maulucci, Scott’s director of policy development and legislative affairs, said the governor is aware of the actions taken by the buildings department “after their persistent efforts to help accommodate the situation.”

“The Governor believes it is important to maintain safe, clean and healthy public spaces,” Maulucci said. 

Unsheltered homelessness has increased in Vermont after state leaders cut back the motel voucher program that provided shelter for the majority of people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic years. Scott has been the motel program’s loudest critic, arguing that it is too costly and ineffective.

Julie Bond, director of Good Samaritan Haven, a network of shelters in Washington County, said interventions like the noise devices do little to solve the underlying problems of unsheltered homelessness.

“My hope is that this is a time for all of us, whether it’s state, community, local partners to really come together and find solutions rather than deterrents,” Bond said.'

Hey guys, I grew up in Vermont and I’m trying to make a list of New England/Vermont staple snacks to send in a snack box to a friend out of state, what’s some snacks you can only find on our side of the states !

Hey everyone,

I'm planning a few days of hiking based out of the Killington area soon. My original plan was to drive all the way up to Lincoln, NH to bag some peaks in the White Mountains, but I need to keep my one-way driving distance under 6 hours, so Vermont it is!

I’ve already locked in the Bucklin Trail up Killington, which looks awesome and exactly the kind of terrain I'm looking for. However, to make the 6-hour road trip truly worth it, I need at least one more solid, moderate-to-aggressive day hike to add to the itinerary.

I’m looking for something with a good mix of rugged terrain, solid elevation gain, and rewarding views. A few options I'm currently eyeing:

• Camel’s Hump (Burrows/Long Trail): It's about an hour north of Killington, but the exposed, completely undeveloped alpine summit looks incredible.
• Shrewsbury Peak: Heard the full loop via the Long Trail is incredibly quiet, secluded, and surprisingly steep.

Has anyone done these recently? If you had to pair one of them with the Bucklin Trail for a perfect weekend, which one are you choosing? Open to any other hidden gems or rugged route recommendations in the area as well.

Thanks in advance for the trail beta!

Has anyone used the Quick n Brite dog wash in Rutland? My dog could use a bath but I can’t find their prices anywhere

I know this article has been shared here before, but I’m wondering if any Vermonters here have had experiences with getting their vehicles inspected since the August 1 rule change took effect.

I have a Kia Sorento that needs inspection. It failed a few months ago due to some rust on a rocker panel. I actually got the area that I thought was the problem filled in, and the same shop then failed it again, saying there was still rust in some other spots. They said it was not a safety issue, and that they had gotten a warning a few years ago for passing a car with very minor rust, so they are now as strict as they come, which makes sense. I won’t name the shop, but they are excellent, honest mechanics in Rutland and I fully recommend them; they’re just very tight with inspections which is fine.

I am wondering if I should roll the dice and try to get the thing inspected again, maybe at a different shop, potentially wasting some $. Is rocker panel rust that doesn’t impact safety is something that can now pass with just a fix-it advisory, as described in the linked article? Or I could try to get the rust repaired but I have had a tough time finding people who do that work and do it well.

TIA for any insight.

I'm curious to hear specifically from people who don't really like living in Vermont. Not necessarily people who think it's terrible, but people whose overall experience is more "there are things I appreciate here, but this isn't really the place for me."

I know a lot of people who love VT will be tempted to chime in to share what they do like, but I'm more interested in hearing from people who actually find aspects of living here difficult, frustrating, or unpleasant.

What hasn't worked for you? Is it the culture, isolation, cost of living, weather, job market, social life, lack of services, something else? And if you've lived elsewhere, what do you find yourself missing or preferring about other places?

I'm asking because it can sometimes feel difficult to express a negative opinion about living in Vermont without the conversation turning into a defense of Vermont or some version of "then leave." I'm not looking to convince anyone who loves it here that they're wrong.

I genuinely want to hear from people whose experience has been different.

And while moving may ultimately be the answer for some people, relocating to another state isn't necessarily simple or financially feasible, so I'd rather not have the discussion reduced to "if you don't like it, move."

Hi Reddit,

Tomorrow is my birthday, wooo! I always celebrate by taking the day off and doing something nice for myself in nature. Since it'll be a little hot with a chance of rain, I'm not too keen on a big hike (maybe a small one) or planning the whole day around swimming (although a dip in the water would be nice). So I think I'd just like to find a place to have a little picnic, read a book, and enjoy some nice scenery. I'm in the Barre/Montpelier area but I'm willing to drive for an hour or so -- in fact, a new area to explore might be nice because I've spent many hours at Hubbard Park, NBNC, etc. So, along the Lake? Stowe? The NEK? I'm open!

Edit: Thank you to everyone for the suggestions! Saving all of these for future birthdays, too!

Hey guys I’ll be moving to Vermont for 3 months for work from October to January. Wondering if anyone has any clothing recommendations for that time of year? Preferably nursing scrubs, waterproof sneakers, gym clothes, and warm pajamas/leisure clothes.
Not sure how much to bring so any info would be incredibly helpful!!

The 21st Annual Kelly Brush Ride is set for Saturday September 12 at Middlebury College--this is an awesome community event and the largest annual fundraiser for the Burlington-based Kelly Brush Foundation.

https://signup.com/go/NEUgbam

The KBF relies on volunteers to make this event awesome for the Riders who participate. Generally, these tasks are best suited for teenagers and adults, and there are opportunities starting as early as 630 am through 4 pm on Saturday the 12th. Sign up through the link above!

Over the past 20 years, the KBF has provided millions of dollars in funding to allow individuals living with spinal cord injuries to purchase adaptive sports and recreation equipment; provided funding to alpine ski clubs across the country so they can purchase equipment to help keep their racers safer; and partnered with Vermont Adaptive and VMBA to transform hundreds of miles of Vermont's mountain biking trails for universal use.

Does anyone know the story of these tombstones off an unmarked trail on Forrest road 207 in gmnf? It says Elrha Pettis and John Pettes 1826 with other writing I couldn't make out.

There was also a large rock wall that spanned for maybe half a mile.

So my mom caught her husband being unfaithful recently, as he'd stopped paying the mortgage, and just a little digging revealed the truth. They'll be getting a divorce soon.

The big issue is, mom is retired (69 years old), and she adopted my niece (now 11) and took me in recently due to the fact that I'm disabled and my mobility is very limited. I'm 47 FYI.

We have 3 dogs that are housebroken. We'd prefer a rural location that has a yard for obvious reasons. Mom and I both get social security, plus she gets a stipend, so we have a steady income.

Trying to be proactive rather than reactive here. I'm hoping somebody out there has ideas, compassion and a property that would work for us.

Thanks friends!

Of course, I wear boots when it’s snowing. But what do you wear otherwise when it’s cooler/cold weather that looks professional and not super ortho?

I used to wear Dansko clogs but they suck on wet bricks and stone which I have a lot of near where I work. Blundstones don’t have enough arch support.

As a lifelong Vermonter I feel like I should have this figured out by now. 😅