Address Newsletter
Our weekly digest on buying, selling, and design, with expert advice and insider neighborhood knowledge.
Vermont
Before and after: In New England, the ‘Ugliest House in America’ gets a makeover
Real Estate
Before its transformation, Retta described the house as a “mishmosh hodgepodge color-block animal sanctuary.”
HGTV
“Treat yo self” was Retta’s tagline in “Parks and Recreation.”
And that’s just what a New England couple did when they won a $150,000 home renovation from HGTV after their Vermont home was deemed the “ugliest” in America.
Hosted by Retta, HGTV’s “Ugliest House in America” sees the comedian travel across the country to “tour properties nominated by their owners as the ugliest home around,” per the show description. In the finale, HGTV designer Alison Victoria surprises the winners with a total home renovation.
On the season 7 finale, which aired Feb. 4, homeowners Brooklyn and Dylan teared up when they saw their remodeled Vershire, Vermont, home. (HGTV did not provide last names.)
The couple and their three sons were introduced in episode four when Brooklyn explained the house “is our nightmare.”
Retta named the home “Mishmash Hodgepodge.”
The bright orange and blue house— three stories high, built on stilts, and 3,344 square feet, per the show description — may have been deemed the ugliest in America by HGTV, but the view is gorgeous. It sits on 14 green acres, with panoramic views of the White Mountains.
“Is there a significance to the colors?”Retta asked of the bright exterior.
“At least you never get lost when you’re driving up to it,” Dylan quipped. The family said they had lived in the home for 10 months when they appeared on the show.
As for the chaotic inside, Dylan said, “We definitely want to make it less circus-like.”
There were green monkeys carved into the cabinets and birds carved into the staircase railing. The primary bedroom and bathroom ceiling was thatched. Parts of the interior were painted in blocks of yellow, orange, and blue.
“I feel like I need to center myself,” Retta said.
She pointed out that the living area had built-in couches made of stone and concrete. “I look at your couches and I think: hemorrhoids,” she joked.
After looking into their mirror-filled bathroom, Retta remarked, “This is sensory overload. This is a fifth-grade project.”
Retta pointed to the thatched ceiling in the primary bedroom: “You’re asking for mice.” Walking into the upstairs bathroom, her eyes popped, as she took in another thatched ceiling. The couple shared that spiders kept them out of the bathtub.
At the end of the episode, Retta dubbed the home a “mishmosh hodgepodge color-block animal sanctuary.” She scored the Vermont house a 6 out of 6 for appearance on the “Ugly Meter.”
In last night’s finale, we learned that of the 15 houses Retta toured this season, the Vermont house was “uniquely ugly.”
She and Victoria announced to the New Englanders: “You have the ‘Ugliest House in America!’” as confetti rained down.
Victoria pointed out that the land they sit on is “amazing…This could be very picturesque… The view’s ridiculously beautiful,” the designer said. “I want the outside of your home to be as beautiful as the property it sits on.”
Walking inside, Victoria suggested leveling out “wonky weird” floors in the conversation pit area, taking out the bird carving on the stair handrail, taking down the plastic sheeting wall of the primary bedroom, and redoing and thatched “tiki-hut-kind-of-feel” ceiling, among other things.
“I don’t know where to start,” she told the camera. “This is seriously one of the wildest, craziest, ugliest houses that I’ve ever taken on.”
After demolition and remodeling, the couple was brought blindfolded before the house for the big reveal.
Gone was the orange and blue paint. “It’s like a painting behind your house,” Victoria said of the green woods and hills. “And now your house is part of the painting.”
“This doesn’t even look like the same house,” Brooklyn said touring the interior.
The primary bedroom, totally redone, now boasts sliding glass doors to an outdoor hot tub. They also see a madeover patio area with a new walkway.
“I am blown away,” Dylan said.
“It reminds me of a fairy forest house,” Brooklyn added. “And I love that.”
Lauren Daley is a freelance culture writer. She can be reached at [email protected]. She tweets @laurendaley1, and Instagrams at @laurendaley1. Read more stories on Facebook here.
-
‘Heated Rivalry’ love nests: A look at Ilya’s supposed Boston house and ‘The Cottage’
-
‘Top Chef: Amateurs’ contestant lists historic Berkshires home and restaurant for $630k
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Vermont Lottery offers several draw games for those willing to make a bet to win big.
Those who want to play can enter the MegaBucks and Lucky for Life games as well as the national Powerball and Mega Millions games. Vermont also partners with New Hampshire and Maine for the Tri-State Lottery, which includes the Mega Bucks, Gimme 5 as well as the Pick 3 and Pick 4.
Drawings are held at regular days and times, check the end of this story to see the schedule.
Here’s a look at March 1, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 1 drawing
Day: 8-7-7
Evening: 0-3-3
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 1 drawing
Day: 1-8-1-2
Evening: 0-3-1-1
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 1 drawing
10-11-12-35-56, Bonus: 04
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
For Vermont Lottery prizes up to $499, winners can claim their prize at any authorized Vermont Lottery retailer or at the Vermont Lottery Headquarters by presenting the signed winning ticket for validation. Prizes between $500 and $5,000 can be claimed at any M&T Bank location in Vermont during the Vermont Lottery Office’s business hours, which are 8a.m.-4p.m. Monday through Friday, except state holidays.
For prizes over $5,000, claims must be made in person at the Vermont Lottery headquarters. In addition to signing your ticket, you will need to bring a government-issued photo ID, and a completed claim form.
All prize claims must be submitted within one year of the drawing date. For more information on prize claims or to download a Vermont Lottery Claim Form, visit the Vermont Lottery’s FAQ page or contact their customer service line at (802) 479-5686.
Vermont Lottery Headquarters
1311 US Route 302, Suite 100
Barre, VT
05641
When are the Vermont Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Gimme 5: 6:55 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
- Pick 3 Day: 1:10 p.m. daily.
- Pick 4 Day: 1:10 p.m. daily.
- Pick 3 Evening: 6:55 p.m. daily.
- Pick 4 Evening: 6:55 p.m. daily.
- Megabucks: 7:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily
What is Vermont Lottery Second Chance?
Vermont’s 2nd Chance lottery lets players enter eligible non-winning instant scratch tickets into a drawing to win cash and/or other prizes. Players must register through the state’s official Lottery website or app. The drawings are held quarterly or are part of an additional promotion, and are done at Pollard Banknote Limited in Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Vermont editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Colorblind museum helps visitors see color for first time
A North Carolina museum is offering special glasses so that colorblind visitors can see art in full color.
Fox – Seattle
Looking for a new museum to visit this winter?
As a historic state with European settlements going all the way back to the 1600s, Vermont is home to many historical museums dedicated to preserving the state’s foundational role in United States history.
In fact, the state’s oldest museum dates all the way back to 1884, making it almost 150 years old. Originally founded from a personal collection, Henry Sheldon Museum is not only the oldest museum in Vermont, but also the oldest community-based museum in the whole country.
Here’s a brief history of the oldest museum in Vermont, as well as how to visit.
History of Henry Sheldon Museum
According to the museum’s website, Henry Sheldon Museum was founded by its namesake, Henry Sheldon. A local businessman and avid collector, Sheldon turned his personal collection of furniture, paintings, documents, household objects and artifacts into a museum, which opened to the public in July of 1884, says the Vermont Historical Society.
The museum’s collection has expanded greatly since then and still continues to grow. Today, the Sheldon aims to help community members gain a deeper appreciation of Vermont’s local art and history through engaging art and history exhibits, programs, events and an extensive archival collection at the museum’s research center.
This spring’s upcoming feature exhibit will focus on the idea of time, displaying the museum’s collection of timepieces like clocks, watches, calendars, journals, time capsules and more.
How to visit Vermont’s oldest museum
Want to explore Vermont history and art at the oldest museum in the state? Henry Sheldon Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday throguh Saturday.
Admission costs $10 for adults or $5 for seniors, with free admission for members, students and children ages 18 and under. Appointments to visit the museum’s research center must be made by emailing archives@henrysheldonmuseum.org.
Henry Sheldon Museum is located at 1 Park St. in Middlebury.
Editor’s note: For the full championship story and photos, visit HERE.
HINESBURG — For the first time since 1988, there is a new Vermont high school wrestling state champion.
Spaulding dethroned Mount Anthony, ending the Patriots’ 36-year reign with an impressive team performance at the state championship at Champlain Valley Union High School on Feb, 28, 2026.
The Crimson Tide scored grapplers in 12 out of 14 weight classes and had seven of them competing in final matches.
Spaulding, which locked up the title before final matches commenced, finished with 236.5 points to MAU’s 195.
This is Spaulding’s first title since 1984. MAU’s unchallenged championship run was a national record for wrestling. It ranks sixth all-time for consecutive state titles among all high school sports in the country.
Check back later for an updated story and photo gallery at burlingtonfreepress.com.
Team scores (final)
1. Spaulding 236; 2. Mount Anthony 195; 3. Middlebury 134.5; 4. Vergennes 123; 5. Otter Valley 121; 6. Colchester 96; 7. Essex 86; 8. Mount Abraham 85.5; 9. Harwood 67; 10. Springfield 54; 11. Fair Haven 52; 12. Mount Mansfield 44; 13. Burr and Burton 43; 14. North Country 38.5; 15. Mill River 38; 16. St. Johnsbury 37.5; 17. Champlain Valley 36; 18. Lyndon 33; 19. South Burlington 29; 20. Randolph 28; 21. Rutland 26; 22. U-32 12; 23. Lamoille 11; 24. Lake Region 6; T25. BFA-Fairfax, Rice 3.
106-pound final: Wesley Churchill (Spa) def. Fernando Oyola (MAU) for 14-3 win (major decision)
Winner: Churchill caps the evening of finals with with a state title as the No. 3 seed, beating the top-ranked grappler in this division. Churchill was fifth a year ago at 106.
Other place finishers: 3. Tolkein Lawlor (MMU); 4. Brady Babcock (OV); 5. Mason Douglass (U-32); 6. Sam Dyer (Rut).
113-pound final: Sylas Race (MAU) def. Lucas Colby (Spa) for 8-7 win
Winner: In the first match of the finals, Race builds a 7-0 lead before Colby storms back in the final period. But Race holds on for the 8-7 victory. The match was stopped three times for what appeared to be a bloody nose.
Other place finishers: 3. Caleb Woodward (OV); 4. Addie Smith (Verg); 5. Colton Jones (MR); 6. Liem Moller (CVU).
120-pound final: Brayden Buchanan (Essex) def. Mason Sheltra (Col) for 16-1 win (tech fall)
Winner: The sophomore Buchanan polishes off his second straight title, securing a tech fall (margin of 15 or more points) in the final seconds of the match. Buchanan celebrates with a back flip. Sheltra was going for a third state title.
Other place finishers: 3. Miles Goetz (Midd); 4. Duncan Klinck (Har); 5. Vincent Deysenroth (MAU); 6. Darien Haselton (CVU).
126-pound final: Cahota LaFond (Col) def. Eion Comes (NC) for 17-0 win (tech fall)
Winner: LaFond completes a fourth straight state title with a tech fall in the final seconds of the first period. The senior, who surpassed 200 career wins last month, celebrates with a take down to the mat of his coach, Scott McPhearson.
Other place finishers: 3. Jackson Brown (MMU); 4. Adrien Provencher (Verg); 5. Grady Thurston (Spa); 6. Eric Whitten (Har).
132-pound final: Stephen Kittredge (Verg) def. Anthony Szabo (FH) for 7-4 overtime win
Winner: In the early moments of a 1-minute overtime period, Kittredge uncorks impressive takedown for the three points and state title, his first after finishing runner-up at 126 in 2025.
Other place finishers: 3. Dylan Jacobs (Col); 4. Landon Wilcox (OV); 5. Nate Sackett (Har); 6. Cole Brown (Lyn).
138-pound final: Asa Reis (MAU) def. Karter Morey (Lyn) for 17-4 win (major decision)
Winner: Reis seizes his second title in three years, taking early lead and cruising to the major decision. A year ago, Reis was runner-up in this weight class.
Other place finishers: 3. Colby Belden (FH); 4. Mo Hussein (SB); 5. Camden Ayer (CVU); 6. Gavin Winnie (Spa).
144-pound final: Duncan Harrington (MAU) def. Michael Grasso (Spa) for 10-3 win
Winner: Harrington gets his third straight state crown. Harrington scored a pair of takedowns in the first period to take control.
Other place finishers: 3. Jackson Scribner (Verg); 4. Anthony Abetti (BBA); 5. Carter Jones (Essex); 6. Wyatt Tarbell (MR).
150-pound final: Isayah Isham (MTA) pins Tyler Monick (MAU)
Winner: With 17 seconds left in the second period, Isham pins Monick for his state title. Isham, who took third a year ago, was up 10-1 prior to his pin.
Other place finishers: 3. James Marcellus (Spa); 4. Jackson Ladd (SJ); 5. Micah Perez (Rut); 6. Chase Tefts-Young (Col).
157-pound final: Nicky Service (Har) def. Mason Atkins (MTA) for 9-7 win
Winner: Service is the first Harwood wrestler to win a state title since Kyle Streeter in 2013.
Other place finishers: 3. Logan Slater (Spa); 4. Connor Decker (SJ); 5. Jason Sperry (Midd); 6. Jeremy Glodgett (NC).
165-pound final: Noah Dunster (Spa) def. Blake Allen (OV) for 4-3 win
Winner: Dunster scored all of his points (escape, takedown) in the first period, hanging on to beat the top seed for his first state title.
Other place finishers: 3. Dimitri Jasinski (Spring); 4. Lincoln Painter (MTA); 5. Quinn Veth-McGovern (BBA); 6. Henry Dodge (SB).
175-pound final: Payton Lavoie (Verg) pins Caleb Hoar (Spa)
Winner: Lavoie earns his second straight crown with a first-period pin with 22 seconds left. Last year, Lavoie won the 190-pound class.
Other place finishers: 3. Ethan Patch (MR); 4. Parker Carl (Midd); 5. Jonathan Lake (Spring); 6. Max Potter (OV).
190-pound final: Maxwell LaPerle (Spa) def. Wyatt Kennett (Midd) for 20-2 win (tech fall)
Winner: After a scoreless first period, LaPerle led 5-1 through two periods before piling up two near falls and two takedowns for the tech fall victory.
Other place finishers: 3. Zane Cooper (Rand); 4. Keegan Reid (OV); 5. Abraham Kreuger (Lam); 6. Jacob Jamieson (FH).
215-pound final: Tucker Wright (Midd) pins Charlie Berry (Spa) (5:49)
Winner: Wright separates with an eight-point second period and then secures second consecutive state title with a late third-period pin.
Other place finishers: 3. Drake Felkl (OV); 4. Ian Denue (MAU); 5. Rowan Danaher (Essex); 6. Dallas Sulton’El (Col).
285-pound final: Ryan Marsden (MAU) pins Steven Lackard (Midd) (4:37)
Winner: Marsden claims his third straight 285-pound championship with a third-period pin.
Other place finishers: 3. Joe Gershon (Essex); 4. Izaak Wolniewicz (Verg); 5. Tyler Scott (MMU); 6. Alex Poczobut (Spa).
Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.
Illinois4 minutes ago
2 men shot, 1 fatally, outside bar in Morris, police say
Indiana10 minutes ago
What Tom Izzo said after Michigan State’s win over Indiana
Iowa16 minutes ago
Iowa Lottery Pick 3 Midday, Pick 3 Evening results for March 1, 2026
Kansas22 minutes ago
Homegrown Jayhawk stars ready to shine at Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City
Kentucky28 minutes ago
Kentucky Lottery Cash Ball, Pick 3 Evening winning numbers for March 1, 2026
Florida1 year ago
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Connecticut2 years ago
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
Oregon2 years ago
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
Virginia2 years ago
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana1 year ago
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
Politics6 hours ago
House Republicans push Johnson to go to war with Senate over SAVE Act
World7 hours ago
Israel FM says Europe too divided, slams Spanish PM
News7 hours ago
Satellite images provide view inside Iran at war
News17 hours ago
Video: What the Texas Primary Battle Means for the Midterms
Politics18 hours ago
Dems’ potential 2028 hopefuls come out against US strikes on Iran
-
World4 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts5 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Denver, CO4 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Louisiana1 week agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Technology1 week agoYouTube TV billing scam emails are hitting inboxes
-
Politics1 week agoOpenAI didn’t contact police despite employees flagging mass shooter’s concerning chatbot interactions: REPORT
-
Technology1 week agoStellantis is in a crisis of its own making
-
News1 week agoWorld reacts as US top court limits Trump’s tariff powers