Vermont

Here are 5 things to do in Franklin County this week

Published

2 years ago

February 12, 2024

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Here are 5 things to do in Franklin County this week

Pop-Up Thrift Shop

When: 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12

Where: Snow Shoe Lodge and Pub, Montgomery

Details: Gently used clothes will be sold and the bar will be open for purchasing beverages. Vermont Wood Co. and Spiritful Creations will also be selling their handmade items.

February Chamber Mixer

When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15

Where: Northwest Technical Center, 71 S Main St., St. Albans

Details: Join the Franklin Regional Chamber of Commerce for a night of networking and socializing. Chef Monette, the culinary instructor at Northwest Career and Technical Center, will be showcasing some of his award-winning creations.

Living with Bears

When: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15

Where: Zoom Webinar

Details: Learn how to prevent conflicts with black bears and how to protect these creatures’ habitats. VT Fish and Wildlife biologist Jaclyn Comeau will discuss Vermont’s black bear population, their biology and habitat, and specific actions we can all take to prevent conflict. This free event is hosted by the Upper Missisquoi and Trout Rivers Wild and Scenic Committee. Register for the event here: http://tinyurl.com/3fw5wda8

Trails Alliance Kick-off

When: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16

Where: Greg Brown Lodge, Hard’Ack Recreation Area, St. Albans

Details: Free fat tire demo rides, loaner snowshoes, live bluegrass music, action video from Vermont’s own Northeast Kingdom, firepit, food and beverages and a bike rack raffle. All trail users and the public are welcome to join.

Winter Carnival

When: Feb. 16-17

Where: Hard’Ack Recreation Area, St. Albans

Details: Two days of fun for the whole family. Fat bike demos, live music, ice carving demonstration, snack bar, duct tape derby and more. Interested parties can pre-register for the derby at www.stalbansrec.com.

Looking Ahead:

Puppy Yoga

When: 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18

Where: St. Albans City Hall

Winter Flea Market

When: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, March 2

Where: Holy Angels Parish Hall, 248 Lake Street, St. Albans

Winter Yoga Series

When: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Friday, 16, 23

Where: Swanton Public Library

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Vermont

74-year-old woman fulfills childhood dream as EMT at fair in Vermont

Published

3 minutes ago

April 20, 2026

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74-year-old woman fulfills childhood dream as EMT at fair in Vermont

ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. (Aging Untold) — For 10 days, the Champlain Valley Fair, a county fair in Vermont, becomes its own little town with thousands of people, hot afternoons and the occasional emergency.

Charlene Phelps, 74, runs the fair’s emergency response team.

“We have a lot of seniors that come and people don’t drink enough water,” Phelps said.

The team handles sprains, bee stings, heat exhaustion and whatever comes through.

“I like taking care of people, I like helping people,” Phelps said.

Living out a childhood dream

It’s also a childhood dream.

Phelps wanted to be a nurse, but college wasn’t possible, so she found another route into care and has been showing up year after year at the fair.

Aging Untold expert Amy O’Rourke said living out your purpose can improve mental and spiritual well-being.

“When you tap into that, you’re tapping in on a place that’s a risk, that’s a challenge that inevitably creates growth inside you, gives you confidence so that if you’re in another situation you can build on that,” O’Rourke said. “Or, if you’re in an everyday situation where you’re a little anxious, it’ll help create stabilization in that place as well.”

Saving lives at the fair

Sometimes it’s bigger than a bandage.

“Over on there near the swings way over there is Gustovo, and we saved his life,” Phelps said.

Gustovo had gone into cardiac arrest at the fair a few years ago.

“I mean he was gone,” Phelps said.

Now he’s back and working the rides.

“Came for my hug, Gustovo,” Phelps said.

O’Rourke said stories like this are also why some people keep working past retirement age. Purpose isn’t a number, it’s a role.

“I’ve seen a 92-year-old still working as a nurse’s aid. I’ve seen people in my neighborhood chilling out and loving it,” O’Rourke said. “So, I think it’s being really self-aware of what you need and making sure that you’re getting those needs met.”

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Vermont

Vermont lawmakers reject digital lottery initiative – Valley News

Published

12 hours ago

April 19, 2026

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Vermont lawmakers reject digital lottery initiative – Valley News

A plan by Gov. Phil Scott’s administration to make all of the state’s lottery games, including scratch-off tickets, available on a person’s phone never got off the ground at the Statehouse this year.

Lottery Commissioner Wendy Knight told lawmakers in January that the plan was a way to modernize the lottery “because you need to keep pace with technology — you need to meet your players where they are.”

Fifteen states have created a “digital” lottery system, and many have discovered there’s a distinct market of people who don’t buy lottery tickets at retail outlets but will do so on their phones, according to Knight. “We’re trying to ensure the future of the Vermont Lottery, ” the commissioner said.

But state lawmakers have not been persuaded.

Vergennes Rep. Matt Birong, the Democratic chair of the House government operations committee, said members of the panel felt this year was not the time to move forward with this plan, especially given the recent legalization of sports betting.

“It is digitizing a current system and after moving forward with the sports wagering — people just wanted to take their time with it — so my committee decided to tap the brakes on further testimony.”

The administration estimated that the plan would have raised roughly $5 million a year for the state’s education fund after two years of implementation.

The prospect of that additional revenue is appealing to lawmakers, and Birong said they may reconsider the plan next year.

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