Good news from the Northshire: Stories that brought us together in 2024 | Local-news

In 2024, the Manchester Journal has grown to report more news than ever before. As newspapers nationwide are scaling down their products – especially in print – the Journal has expanded from the weekly publication it has been since 1861 to deliver five editions per week, including four digital e-editions alongside our print newspaper. This digital transformation, alongside a growing staff of dedicated reporters, has allowed the Journal to provide more comprehensive news coverage for both local residents and surrounding areas.

Amid our daily coverage of the news you need to know, however, a certain kind of story seemed to resonate most with our readers: good news from the Northshire. Here are the top stories that lifted our spirits this year:

Arlington resident warms hearts with handmade scarves for students

For years, Verrall (Vee) Keelan has donated scores of her handknit scarves to the youngsters at Fisher Elementary School. This year was no different, as Keelan returned in November to deliver scarves for 65 students. Missy Kroeber, communications director for the Arlington School District, estimates that Keelen has supplied hundreds over the years.

“Through this generous donation, Verrall Keelan not only helps protect children from the cold, but also brings a sense of warmth and connection to the community,” Kroeber said. “Every scarf is carefully crafted, making each one a unique and thoughtful gift.”

“The impact of Verrall Keelan’s generosity goes beyond the scarves,” said Deanne Lacoste, principal of Fisher Elementary. “This incredible gesture reminds us of the power of kindness and how small acts of care can uplift a whole community.”

Manchester’s Lila Jones ‘Makes a Wish’ at Centennial Field

Manchester’s own Lila Jones, 6, was the star of Make-A-Wish night at Centennial Field in early June, kicking off the Lake Monsters baseball game with her performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Soon, Lila will have her own hometown stage to shine from.

Lila has faced challenges related to cystic fibrosis — a disease that affects over 40,000 Americans and can lead to issues with the lungs, pancreas and other organs — since she was two years old. Today, Lila’s mother Kasey Greene describes her as a lively little girl who loves to sing in front of a crowd. Still, Lila has to undergo daily treatment for cystic fibrosis, a condition that will be with her for life.

Signing up for Make-A-Wish felt “heavy” at first, Greene said. As she and Lila’s father Jason researched the organization, however, they found its reach is broader than most realize.

“We are honored to grant Lila’s wish for a community stage,” said Jamie Hathaway, the CEO of Make-A-Wish Vermont and a Dorset native. “This wish is not only a gift to Lila but also to the entire Manchester community. It’s a beautiful testament to the power of a community coming together to support one of their own.”

“The community has supported us through all of those milestones of her life,” Greene added. “They have been so understanding of and welcoming to Lila, helping her through.”

Lila’s stage will be built by Vermont Construction Company at Hunter Park in Manchester, near the Red Fox School. David Richards, the co-founder of Vermont Construction Company, is a member of the Make-A-Wish Board. All materials and labor for the stage will be donated by the company, Hathaway said.

“I’m so humbled to live in Manchester and to have people that are open to the idea of cultivating arts and cultivating ideas,” Greene said. “It’s a stage for everyone to remember that oppositions equal opportunities. To find their strength.”

“That’s what Lila has found through being theatrical and performing,” she concluded. “That’s her strength, and our community has helped her find that.”

BIPOC CommUNITY events create change through connection

2024 marked the start of monthly “CommUNITY Events” intended to celebrate black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) members of the Northshire community. They also carve out a space for BIPOC individuals and allies to find support, share resources, discuss community issues, and connect as neighbors.

“The idea is just to share as many resources as possible, to make sure everyone in the community feels represented, celebrated locally, included, and wanted,” said Caralee Kennedy, one of five organizers behind the events.

The group also hosted a special celebration this year in honor of Juneteenth featuring a reading from Mia Schultz, President of the Rutland Area National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); food from Manchester’s own Jamerican Cuisine food truck as well as a community potluck; hair clinics from Gloria Sheelah of Sheelah’s Mobile Braiding and barber Terrance Humphries of Rutland; live performances from artists and speakers including the George Boone Blues Band, Patrick “Wisdom” Sargeant, Tony Rogers, and Jamele Adams; and activities for kids ranging from tarot readings to a martial arts clinic to book giveaways.

Everton Brownie, who runs the Jamaican Cuisine Food Truck that is typically located by the river behind Manchester Woodcraft on Depot St., catered Juneteenth as well as multiple monthly CommUNITY events with his authentic jerk chicken, rice and beans, steamed veggies, and fried plantains.

“The mission is change, like serious change,” said Brownie, who added that he wants the message to be: “Out of many, one people.”

“That’s my message to everybody – all of Manchester, all of Vermont, all of the United States, everywhere,” he said.

Book donation delivers excitement for reading

As a child in India, Harsh Bhasin’s parents instilled in him a belief that education is the key to thriving in this world. This November, with the efforts of a community behind him, Bhasin shared his love of learning by donating a book to every kindergarten, first, and second grade student at Manchester Elementary and Middle School (MEMS).

“[Growing up] it was important for us that, whether we had anything else or not, we should have education,” Bhasin said, as waves of excited students – books in hand – filed by to say ‘thank you.’ “This is where the foundations of education start, at this level.”

The idea was first prompted by Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a promise to mail free books to children from birth until they start school. While the impact of Parton’s efforts can’t be discounted, Bhasin expressed his wish to see older kids receive the same support – especially when they are old enough to begin reading by themselves.

With encouragement from his daughter Ritika, Bhasin brought the idea to his financial advisor, Caralee Kennedy. Kennedy has also been integral to the development of regular “CommUNITY” events to celebrate black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) members of the Northshire community, hosted by the Manchester Community Library (MCL). Kennedy’s connection with the MCL eventually brought the organization on board in support of Bhasin’s initiative, according to Executive Director Ed Surjan.

Surjan contacted Randi Lowe, Superintendent of the Bennington Rutland Supervisory Union (BRSU), as well as MEMS Principal Harrison Shulman, to begin fleshing out the idea. Next came the Ihasz sisters — Ashley, Nicole and Cathleen — who own Northshire Bookstore in Manchester. After Surjan reached out, the store offered to provide the books at a discounted price.

“There’s nothing like getting a brand new book,” said Second Grade Teacher Jessica Waller. “And really, this is where you need to get them… When the children go home, and the families will see that, they’re going to feel the same way.”

Local volunteers key to acquiring, preserving habitat along the Battenkill

Ducks Unlimited (DU) announced in October that volunteers have acquired 126 acres in the Battenkill River Watershed to preserve critical native habitat.

The two tracts acquired are along the Battenkill in Sunderland.

“Two of our Vermont volunteers—DU State Chairman Michael Gardner and Paul Carroccio—have been instrumental in helping Ducks Unlimited identify and secure private lands that border the Battenkill so that our biologists can restore those parcels to native grasslands and wetlands,” wrote Joe Genzel, Communications Coordinator for the Great Lakes and Atlantic Region of Ducks Unlimited.

“Many of the towns in this watershed are in valleys and along rivers,” Gardner said in a DU release. “In recent years, some of them have experienced widespread flooding. We built many of our historic mill towns on former wetlands. With the increase in storms, the landscape can’t absorb that runoff, so projects like this are a step in the right direction.”

Intact wetlands are critical to the water quality and recreational opportunities of the Battenkill River watershed. Wetlands not only provide foraging opportunities for several waterfowl species but also filter nutrients before entering the river. Wetlands also reduce sedimentation, ensuring quality habitat and water quality for people and wildlife, according to DU.

“Between Michael’s energy and contacts and our expertise in real estate, and close ties to our community, we were happy to help make this work for all involved,” Carroccio said. “Not only did we further preserve this land for the future, we also helped two farming families resolve their need to dispose of assets during family transition periods. It was a win-win for everyone.”

Therapy dog unleashes smiles

Since early October, a therapy dog named Little Bear has been making weekly check-ins at Manchester Elementary and Middle School (MEMS) to lift spirits and engage with students. Little Bear’s trips to MEMS, accompanied by her owner/trainer Sandra Hamm of Manchester, are a reliable source of joy for students each week.

Hamm rescued the Labrador/Flat-Coated Retriever mix as a six month puppy. A former teacher, Hamm learned about the benefits of a therapy dog while taking obedience classes with her new pooch.

“Dogs need a job,” said Hamm. “Just like us, they want something to do.”

“Dogs can bring out the best of us,” said MEMS special educator Jessica Kuzmich. “Research shows that therapy dogs can create a caring environment for children, especially those in need of an extra boost to help them connect to the world around them.”

Kuzmich summed up Little Bear’s magic: “When Little Bear visits, smiles break-out everywhere.

Ask, and ye shall receive – sign brings new members to the Manchester Fire Department

Manchester’s Fire Department has dealt with a shortage of volunteer firefighters for years, but it seems the tide is beginning to turn. A training in December welcomed 19 firefighters from all reaches of Bennington County, including four from Manchester.

Leslie Bledsoe signed up to be a Manchester volunteer firefighter about seven months ago.

“I love helping people. I love the training side. I love the physical side. I like the teamwork side, and I really enjoyed learning things,” explained Bledsoe. “Growing up, I was always an athlete – so I thought that this was something to challenge myself as I’m getting older. Organized sports are not really an option anymore.”

“Passing that sign everyday, twice a day – it just spoke to me and I thought I’d give it a go,” Bledsoe continued.

So far, Bledsoe has found a committed and enthusiastic team of similarly minded individuals, “I really enjoy being a part of this team and, ultimately, if it’s our job to help – I want to be there.”

That idea of service is what also brought in new member Nick Parks, who moved to the area with his family during the pandemic. Coming from two and a half decades of working on Wall Street, the concepts of contributing and finding purpose were weighing on his mind. And then, as he was driving by, he saw the sign.

“I wanted to find an opportunity to give back to this community that has welcomed me, and to do it in a way that’s tangible,” said Parks. “I come from a world where there is an incredible amount of selfishness and self interest – people looking to get an angle on the markets, people in the workplace trying to get an edge, people fighting their way through the big city – and, you know, there’s not a lot of goodness there.”

Luke Krueger also saw the sign. As he was driving to work at Arlington Memorial High School, Krueger witnessed a vehicle collision. A woman had suffered an aneurysm, a broken leg, and a broken neck and it was “bloody.” He assessed and controlled the scene, and called it in.

Arriving at work, his boss asked if he needed to go home, but Krueger realized that he was “fine,” and recognized that prior crisis management training had probably given him an edge.

“It didn’t bother me – and something just wasn’t sitting right with me for the rest of the day,” said Krueger. “As I was driving home, I drove by the sign, and I thought, ‘the universe is sending me a message – I think this is where I need to be.’”

The youngest member of the Manchester Fire Department taking the Firefighter 1 Course is 17-year-old Talula Levis who – believe it or not – also saw the sign.

Her inspiration and her reasons to become a firefighter have grown, as she has.

“I think at first – and this is probably a bad answer – but fire trucks are cool, as like a baseline,” she enthused, before becoming thoughtful. “And then, I realized that it’s actually a really incredible way to serve my community and find new people. I feel like the other firefighters here are a demographic of Manchester that I hadn’t really had the opportunity to hang out with before.”

Long Trail student Aubrey Willette named Vermont’s Doodle for Google winner

As Aubrey Willette stood in a school assembly in late May, she had no clue that all eyes would soon be on her. Soon, thousands – if not millions – of eyes from around the world could be taking in her artwork in the form of a Google Doodle.

Willette, a sophomore at Long Trail School (LTS) who resides in East Dorset, learned at the surprise assembly that she was Vermont’s winner in the 16th annual Doodle for Google contest, which asked young artists to envision their “wish for the next 25 years.”

“My Doodle demonstrates the dream that was inspired by my biggest hero: my music teacher,” reads Willette’s submission, in reference to Long Trail School’s Geoffrey Gee. “He has enhanced my love for music and taught me everything I should know about the thing I love the most. My wish is to be that inspiration for future generations.”

Sandgate voters say ‘yes’ to state’s acquisition of Egg Mountain

Egg Mountain, spanning a total of 2,832-acres of the Cowee Forest between Sandgate and Rupert, is described as a “critical ecological area” by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, which is seeking to acquire the property from its current owners. The majority of the parcel is currently owned by The Conservation Fund, which acquired the land as part of their 2017 purchase of the Cowee Forest, spanning 23,053 acres in Vermont, New York, and Massachusetts. Prior to 2017, the land had been owned by an investment fund for nearly a decade. The Egg Mountain archaeological site, the 89-acre area where Shays Settlement is located, was acquired by The Archaeological Conservancy in 2022. Now, both organizations are supporting the state’s potential acquisition and management of the property.

“The largest part of the parcel is in Sandgate, and that amounts to almost 10 percent of the land base in the town,” said Jim Henderson, Environmental Program Manager for the Bennington County Regional Commission and a resident of Sandgate. “So it’s pretty significant.”

“This would be Sandgate’s first public land that would be open for hiking, hunting, and fishing,” Henderson continued.

Three organizations – The Conservation Fund, The Archaeological Conservancy, and the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation – have worked together for the last few year to design a vision of Egg Mountain’s future. With this year’s vote in Sandgate, they’re closer than ever to moving from planning to action.

Hundreds of ‘Girls on the Run’ end their season in Manchester

Electricity and joy filled Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park on June 8, thanks to the annual Girls on the Run 5K, which brought more than 500 girls, 200 coaches, 300 running buddies, 100 volunteers and countless spectators to Manchester. Some 35 schools participated in the event, including five from the Bennington-Rutland Supervisory Union (BRSU): The Dorset School, Sunderland Elementary, Currier Memorial, Mettawee and Manchester Elementary Middle School.

“Girls on the Run provides a safe space where girls are inspired to come together, reach higher and build self-confidence,” says BRSU Superintendent Randi Lowe. “The experience is rewarding on so many levels and participants absolutely love it.”

Riverwalk, Merck Forest, and Smokey House awarded VOREC grants

Three Northshire organizations – the Manchester Riverwalk Association, Merck Forest and Farmland Center, and Smokey House Center – will be undertaking major recreation projects thanks to a regional infusion of more than $850,000 in funds from the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) community grant program.

This is part of more than $6 million in funds that will be distributed to 51 organizations statewide, as announced by Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore in May. Awarded projects will support communities in 13 of Vermont’s counties, along with eight statewide projects. The latest round of grants marks the program’s fourth and “most significant investment in communities across the state,” according to the announcement.

The Manchester Riverwalk Association wasgranted $400,000 to construct a long-awaited, ADA-compliant pedestrian and bike bridge over the Battenkill River. The goal is to connect the Town Green with Old Main Street.

Merck Forest and Farmland Center, located in Rupert, will use their $365,680 grant to install a universal access trail and boardwalk that connects Mettawee Community School in Pawlet to Merck Forest’s 150 acre satellite campus and trail network, which is adjacent to the school.

At Smokey House Center in Danby, $92,298.50 in funds will help develop a community-informed plan to revitalize Smokey House’s degraded trail system, while supporting the design of a trail-based community science program.The project will bring in community members to actively participate in the land-based research of the Living Lab, Smokey House’s new keystone program. The grant will also include planning with a local architect to add a visitors center to their current Farm Stand building.

Rare Canada Lynx sightings continue, with evidence of habitat conservation success

A rare native wild cat, the Canada lynx, was confirmed in Vermont for the first time since 2018 from video recorded on August 17 in Rutland County, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. Vermont is on the southernmost edge of the Canada lynx’s range. Most confirmed sightings are from the Northeast Kingdom, which supports the best climate, habitat and food sources for lynx in the state.

Since then, biologists with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department have continued to receive verifiable photos and videos of what they believe is the same individual wild cat.

“The chance to use citizen science observations to follow this juvenile lynx on its search for new territory is really unusual and really exciting,” said Brehan Furfey, furbearer biologist with the department. “Vermonters can be proud that decades of land protection and management for connected habitats have allowed this rare wild cat to make its way through our state. It’s a sign that conservation is working.”

After nearly 20-years, Town of Manchester takes over Green Mountain Estates infrastructure

After nearly 20 years, the roads and infrastructure surrounding the Green Mountain Estates are officially owned by the Town of Manchester as of September 2024.

In 2004, Manchester residents Richard and Nadine Hayes were killed in a car accident. Richard, an engineer, had developed and maintained the Green Mountain Estates and surrounding infrastructure, encompassing 42 homes along Green Mountain Road and Valley Pass in Manchester Center.

Upon their death, the responsibility for managing and maintaining the infrastructure surrounding the Green Mountain Estates – roads, sewer systems, etc. – fell to the couple’s children, Jeffrey D. Hayes and Deborah Hayes-McGraw.

Hayes-McGraw claims that her father agreed to develop the Green Mountain Estates in Manchester “with a handshake” rather than official documentation. He always intended for the Town of Manchester to take over the roads and surrounding infrastructure, she said, but never made those plans official enough.

“We should have had it in writing,” said Hayes-McGraw, who described the last 20 years as a blur of lawyers and engineers. “But we’re glad it’s finally done.”

In 2005, the Town of Manchester sought to compel the Hayes heirs to establish a trust that would provide money for upkeep of the sewer system. That request was denied in Superior Court, and the state Supreme Court upheld that decision.

Simultaneously, residents of the Green Mountain Estates sought to compel the Hayes’ to pass responsibility for its infrastructure – mainly sewer and roads – to the town. A Superior Court judge disagreed with the homeowners, but the state Supreme Court reversed that decision and returned that part of the case to the lower court for reconsideration.

After the legal battles, it seemed for a time that the three groups – the Hayes estate, residents of Green Mountain Estates, and the Town of Manchester – might come to an agreement. Conversation stalled, however, as homeowners continued to push for town maintenance of roads, water, and sewer systems.

Jeffrey Hayes passed away in 2020, leaving control of the property to Deborah Hayes-McGraw. Two years later, in 2022, the Town of Manchester announced that an official agreement had been reached. The town would take over the water, sewer and road systems in the Green Mountain Estates, supported by an $860,000 bond from the Hayes estate.

Town officials, members of the Hayes family (the original owners of the Estates) and residents celebrated the transition with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Soon after, work began to install new manholes, pave roads, and maintain sewer systems associated with the estates.

Supporting children from ‘Head-to-Toe’

Stratton Foundation’s Head-to-Toe program provided approximately 600 local children with basic necessities that families struggle to afford, yet essential to every child’s well-being, growth and education. The Stratton Community Foundation works closely with schools across Southern Vermont to provide children in need with a backpack filled with required school supplies. As cold weather approaches, a warm coat, snow pants and boots, mittens, socks and hat are distributed to children of all ages. Come spring, children who wear shoes that are in extremely poor condition, too big or too small, are provided with a new pair of sneakers – shoes that fit properly are unfortunately a luxury to many but essential for healthy development. By addressing basic needs, the Foundation aims to ensure that every child has the tools for success, whether that’s in the classroom or at play.

“The success of Head-to-Toe is one example of the powerful relationships that the Stratton Community Foundation has with organizations and local resources to insure that critical services get to those most vulnerable,” said Executive Director Tammy Mosher.

Smokey House Center to launch climate adaptive maple program

In November, Smokey House Center was awarded a three-year grant totaling $500,000 through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Acer Access and Development Program. The program promotes the domestic maple syrup industry by funding research, education and sustainability initiatives related to maple syrup production, as well as marketing efforts for maple syrup and maple-sap products.

With the grant, Smokey House Center will launch its Climate Adaptive Maple Program, a groundbreaking research and education project designed to address the challenges facing the maple syrup industry in the context of climate change. The program will investigate two critical questions: how do different climate-adaptive forest management strategies impact the long-term production and resilience of sugarbushes, and how do various sap extraction techniques affect the long-term ability of sugarbushes’ to respond to climate disturbances while maintaining syrup yields.

The program will also serve as an educational resource for the region by offering annual field trainings and workshops for maple producers, foresters, and other industry professionals.

Pride proclamation supports LGBTQIA+ community

In May, Manchester’s Selectboard adopted a Pride Month Proclamation recognizing June 2024 as “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual Pride month throughout the Town of Manchester.” It recognizes the “rights of all citizens to experience equality and freedom from discrimination,” as well as the “immeasurable impact” of LGBTQIA+ people in Manchester and beyond.

“While society at large increasingly supports LGBTQIA+ equality, it is essential to acknowledge that the need for education and awareness remains vital to indiscrimination and prejudice,” it reads. “… the Selectboard calls upon the people of this municipality to embrace the principle and work to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists.”

A provision calling for Pride flags to fly at Town Hall, Factory Point Town Green, and the Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park throughout the month of June, however, was ultimately left out of the proclamation. An extended dialogue encompassing political philosophy, free speech, inclusion and – by the same coin – exclusion ensued.

“As many of you know, June is considered Pride month,” said Selectboard member Jonathan West as he presented the Pride Month Proclamation to the board. “Having recognition from the community you are a part of builds immeasurable strength and, yes, pride, that you are a welcomed member of this community and you are important to its success.”

JISP celebrates most successful season yet

In March, the Junior Instructional Snowsports Program (JISP) concluded its biggest season yet thanks to collaborations with schools and organizations throughout southern Vermont. Nearly 900 students participated in the program this year, joining a legacy that spans from the 1940s to now.

Successful fundraising is one reason why the Bromley Outing Club (BOC) has been able to grow JISP over the years – but what truly made the difference in 2024 was widespread collaboration throughout the community.

The Bennington Rutland Supervisory Union (BRSU) expanded their programming options to include cross country skiing, arts and crafts, and more with help from organizations including Merck Forest, Greater Northshire Access Television (GNAT), the Southern Vermont Arts Center (SVAC). Expanded transportation offerings from the BRSU further boosted participation, as did volunteers from Bart Adaptive Sports Center, which has enabled those with physical and cognitive disabilities to ski at Bromley and Stratton for more than 20 years.

“It’s such a great identifier for the Vermont spirit that old guys like me are teaching little kids to ski,” said Ben Benedict, who has volunteered with the program since his children participated approximately 30 years ago. “We’re all out there together having a nice time in the sunshine. It’s just a great thing.”

Manchester recognizes unsung heroes

Thirty-five years ago, as brunch was cooking at the Quality Restaurant, a group of regulars asked a formative question: why do those who give the most to our community so often go unrecognized? Little did they know, the answer would spur a tradition that has carried on in Manchester for more than three decades. Each year, the town recognizes its “Unsung Heroes” — the people whose contributions give life and heart to Manchester’s community.

“The Unsung Heroes are the people who work quietly, often unrecognized, behind the scenes,” said Selectboard member Jan Nolan. “These are the people our community counts on to make happen all the ideas that spawn the events that make our town such a wonderful place to live and raise families.”

This year’s unsung heroes, Arthur Short and Barbara West, were recognized by the Selectboard in April.

Though West attended the meeting virtually, her contributions to the community were recognized by resident Martha Thompson who praised West’s heartfelt notes, musical talent, and enduring empathy.

“When you receive one of Barbara’s notes, you want to save it to read at a later time when you need to feel good about yourself,” Thompson said. “It would be wonderful to give Barbara that same happy glow that her notes bring you, if you just knew how.”

Short was nominated by Laurie Metcalfe and Jennifer Luty of Northshire Day School, who first encountered the “Unsung Hero” through his work with the Mount Laurel Foundation.

“Mr. Short really sees and values every member of our community,” said Metcalfe, “especially those who can be easily overlooked.”

“Because of his dedicated work, children all over are able to have services year round, have access to the equipment needed to fully participate in their school day and early childhood education programs,” she continued. “Teachers and staff have the opportunities to be well trained to meet the needs of all children who come into their classroom.”

Find these stories and more at www.ManchesterJournal.com