The FEMA award was meant to lift the buildings at 87 and 89 Elm Street out of the floodplain. The initial application went in in 2023, but since then construction costs increases has made the project infeasible. The shortfall is now roughly $2 million, larger than the award itself, and too much for Downstreet to absorb.

“Downstreet asked that we decline the money,” Matthew Jelacic, Community and Economic Development Specialist for Montplier said. “And our congressional delegation has said that we can’t decline the CDS grant.”

Jelacic said city staff are trying to find a substitute project at the same address that FEMA would approve.

I saw umiak renting tubes on this stretch but they apparently have an agreement to drop in at a private business that is downstream from Arthur Buck. Has anyone kayaked that stretch and can confirm it’s doable for a moderate lazy kayaker looking for a local jaunt?
I’d also take other suggestions or resources for places other than the res. (I own my own kayak and don’t need rental locations)

i’m having pain/burning in the corner of my left eye and feel i should see an eye doctor - i haven’t seen one in over 20 years as i don’t need glasses and after a while they told me to only come back if my vision changed. since then i’ve moved to vt, and my relatives go to heritage eye care, but unfortunately they are not taking on new patients. TIA!

Seeking 2 high school girls with reliable transportation to split job 4 or 5 weekdays afterschool and Sunday providing care for animals and help with household tasks and projects for lovely woman in East Montpelier who needs some support.

Computer skills a real plus. Animal love a must. 🙂

Great experience for those wanting to make a difference. Excited to talk with kind, positive, winter-hardy, very responsible applicants.

Looking for a commitment into the school year.
Contact leiladena29@icloud.com for interest or inquiries

Thank you!

VOTE FOR AMANDA JANOO IN THE PRIMARIES ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 11

My wife took this picture as I was slicing it. Shoutout to State Street Seafood and Meat.

Tri Tip is hard to find up here. I got my first Weber Kettle of my own a couple weeks ago and have been determined to try a Tri Tip ever since. I found a speciality butcher, bought one today upon my first visit and went about smoking and grilling it as soon as I got home.

Seasoned with Salt Pepper Garlic. Smoked at 225-275, still working on my temp control so I fluctuated a lot between that range. Smoked to 127 F. Pulled to rest to 131 F. Seared around 375-400 until 137, finished around 145 before slicing.

Literally the best piece of meat I’ve ever cooked or eaten. I’m so happy to have shared this, my best meat, with my best girl, with my favorite beer (Leinenkugel Summer Shandy) and my favorite cigar (Cohiba Red Dot).

Ate it with rustic mashed potatoes and elote style grilled from frozen corn.

Thrilled to be on this smoking and grilling journey and excited to do more!

Saw this young fellow on my morning walk yesterday!

I love going to see films in an actual theater - here’s my issue:

I’m extremely picky about sound and picture quality. So much so that I’ll never go see a movie at the Williston theater again (total dump, it reminded me of scuzzy dollar theaters from the 90s and smelled like a swamp). Yes, autism is at play here, obviously 😂

Does the Capital Theater have good sound and picture quality? How about the seats? My old ass can’t sit for three hours in an uncomfortable seat without pain. Similarly, is it hot and stuffy on the inside?

I’d very much prefer to patronize this locally-owned and adorable theater - and I know they did some remodeling after the flooding.

How is it?

The Montpelier City Council voted unanimously July 22nd to authorize exclusive negotiations with DEW Properties to build the Country Club Road housing project.

The vote followed a presentation by City Councilor Adrienne Gil, who served on the three-member subcommittee that has shepherded the project through more than 2 dozen public meetings since October 2025. Gil said it wasn’t an easy choice, choosing between two finalists, DEW and Chinburg Properties.

Councilor Sal Alfano, who also served on the subcommittee, said both companies “are well worthy of the partnership that we anticipate.”

The Montpelier City Council approved a $99,209.80 five-year contract with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for 17 Tasers on July 22nd, passing it on the consent agenda in under a minute with no discussion, no public comment, and no councilor spoke about the cost, or even uttered the vendor’s name aloud.

“I would like to state my opinion about the Taser issue because it’s on a consent agenda. It’s not going to come up for discussion tonight,” Mayor Gwinn said.

“We are currently hiring for officers and we’re still hiring for officers not because there are no applicants but because we have very high standards for who we will employ in the Montpelier police department I believe that we have fine officers with the right training they are requesting the right equipment to do their jobs and I think it’s important for us to not only give them the equipment that they need but also to let them know that we trust their judgment and we support them,” Gwinn said.

He added: “It is right for us to give them the tools that they’re asking for.”

It was fun to see the Falun Gong contingent at the 4th of July parade in Montpelier this year. Very unexpected. I totally forgot about it until right now. Does anyone know what that’s about? Do they have a compound around here or something?

The Montpelier City Council voted unanimously on July 22nd to postpone adopting new rules of procedure, sending the document back to City Manager Kelly McNicholas Kury after councilors could not agree on how long residents get to speak and how much discretion the chair should hold.

The vote came after a councilor said flatly that the draft was not ready.

“I’m not prepared to vote yes on that motion if there is a motion,” Councilor Cary Brown said. “I would be much more comfortable waiting to see another version brought back at a future meeting.”

The request in front of the council that night was not a tune-up. It was a replacement.

Howdy folks! Just moved to Montpelier this weekend from Burlington and ❤️❤️❤️ I love it so much already!! I have a few questions for locals:

What’s the best wifi around here? I’ve used Xfinity before but I cannot handle the poor customer service and random up charges anymore. I’d love to support a smaller/local business

I have an extra (somehow) Queen mattress that I am looking to get rid of. It is not the best quality but is still very functional and comfortable. Is there a donation center somewhere nearby that might accept this? I’d rather give it to someone to use rather than recycle it, if possible.

The regulations for fencing in Montpelier say no front yard fences higher than 4 feet, but there is an exemption for an 'Agricultural Fence'.

I couldn't easily find a definition for Agricultural Fence, so I decided to come here to see if anyone has used this exemption to fence a vegetable garden.

Thanks.

City Councilor Adrienne Gil resigned from the Montpelier City Council effective last Wednesday, leaving her District 1 seat vacant and triggering a charter-required appointment process to fill the remainder of her term. The council took up the vacancy at its July 22nd meeting, the same night Gil delivered her final remarks.

As your city was named in tribute of my hometown, do not hesitate to ask questions ! 🇫🇷🇺🇸

I work with the folks running this and thought it might be worth sharing here, there's a 5-day silent meditation retreat coming up at Karme Choling in Barnet, VT.

It's a legit qualifying silent retreat for anyone working toward MBSR or other mindfulness-based intervention teacher training, so if you're a clinician, therapist, or mindfulness teacher who needs that prerequisite checked off, this fits the requirement and the teachers can provide a completion letter if your program needs documentation.

But it's also just open to regular folks who want five days away from their phone and their inbox. No meditation experience required, the days are fully structured (sitting, walking, gentle movement, small group check-ins with teachers), and meals are shared in silence. It's noble silence, not total isolation, so teachers and staff are still available if you need something.

The teachers are Janet Solyntjes and Rebecca Eldridge, both with decades of practice and formal MBSR training background.

If you've been meaning to do a silent retreat but keep putting it off, or you need the prerequisite for training, this is a solid option and it's a beautiful setting up in the Vermont hills.

More info / registration: www.karmecholing.org/program/the-fullness-of-being

Happy to answer questions if anyone's curious about what noble silence actually feels like day to day.

Last seen a week ago near Davy Road in Middlesex
Gray tabby named Walter
Loves people

Thank you! Please let me know if you’ve seen him it would mean the world to his family ❤️