Latest News

February 18, 2026

1. Janet Louise Spencer of Hartland Remembered for Professional and Personal Impact: Janet Louise Spencer, age 62, of Hartland, Vermont, passed away unexpectedly on December 21, 2025, after being struck by a vehicle. Originally from Windsor, Vermont, and raised in Plainfield, New Hampshire, Spencer pursued a career in management consulting following her doctorate in Social-Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. She was recognized for her work assisting senior leaders in navigating organizational change. Her loss is felt deeply by her community and colleagues. (Source: The Vermont Standard on Feb 18)

   Southern Vermont Hartland, VT +4 Windsor, VT Plainfield, VT Woodstock, VT

2. Vermont Land Trust Seeks Applicants for $5,000 Eric Rozendaal Memorial Award: The Vermont Land Trust is inviting applications for the 2026 Eric Rozendaal Memorial Award, which offers $5,000 to a Vermont farmer who demonstrates excellence in land stewardship, innovation, and community service. Eligible candidates must be actively managing or working on a commercial farm in Vermont and cannot have received the award previously. The recipient will be chosen by a panel of agricultural leaders, with the winner announced during the trust’s annual fall meeting. The award, now in its eighth year, honors Eric Rozendaal’s legacy. (Source: The Manchester Journal on Feb 17)

   Southern Vermont Montpelier, VT +9 Hinesburg, VT Irasburg, VT Plainfield, VT Shelburne, VT

January 13, 2026

1. Marilyn T. Houghton, Lifelong Windsor Resident, Dies at 91: Marilyn T. Houghton, longtime resident of Windsor, Vermont, died at the age of 91 at Cedar Hill Continuing Care Facility on December 31. She was born in Windsor in 1934 and grew up moving throughout various Vermont towns due to economic pressures. Houghton completed her education at Brattleboro High School before working at Cone Automatic Machine Company, where she met her husband Royal. Her passing marks the end of a life deeply connected to the Windsor and southern Vermont communities. (Source: The Vermont Standard on Jan 12)

   Southern Vermont Windsor, VT +12 Hartland, VT Barre, VT Brattleboro, VT Plainfield, VT Ascutney, VT

January 8, 2026

1. Woodstock and Bridgewater Residents Seek Local Adoption of Apartheid-Free Pledge: Residents in Woodstock and Bridgewater, Vermont, are organizing a petition to encourage their towns to join over 40 other communities in the state that have pledged to oppose apartheid in Palestine. The goal is to bring the pledge to their respective Town Meetings in March for formal adoption. Local advocates, including residents from neighboring Pomfret, are raising awareness about Palestinian issues as part of the initiative. The movement reflects a growing statewide conversation on international human rights. (Source: The Vermont Standard on Jan 8)

   Southern Vermont Woodstock, VT +8 Winooski, VT Brattleboro, VT Plainfield, VT Hartland, VT

November 13, 2025

1. Vermont Family Finds Stability and Community Support in New Accessible Home: A Vermont family has settled into a new, accessible home in the Woodstock area after a long search to meet the needs of their child with a rare neurological disorder. Despite national challenges like government funding cuts and uncertainty, the community rallied around the family, demonstrating strong local support. The family, which includes a sixth-generation Woodstock native, found resources and encouragement from neighbors and organizations. Their experience highlights the resilience and compassion present in small-town Vermont. (Source: The Vermont Standard on Nov 13)

   Southern Vermont Reading, VT +9 Woodstock, VT Plainfield, VT White River Junction, VT Bridgewater, VT Plymouth, IN