Vermont

Senior leaders power Milton girls soccer to second consecutive D-II championship

Published

2 years ago

November 2, 2024

Press Room

Senior leaders power Milton girls soccer to second consecutive D-II championship

Holley MacLellan, already one of Vermont’s best players and a state champion, refused to settle on her past success.

Hannah Smiley, who missed the entire 2023 season due to an ACL injury, returned to the pitch, ready to prove her worth.

One Milton star refined her game, the other regained her swagger. And the Yellowjackets program reaped the benefits during another title run.

Behind MacLellan’s long-distance strikes and Smiley serving as an instrumental figure on the defense’s 11th shutout this fall, top-seeded Milton dispatched No. 7 Mount Abraham 2-0 to retain the Division II high school girls soccer championship at Burlington’s Buck Hard Field on Friday night.

With the win, Milton (17-1) now owns 18 crowns out of 21 championship-game appearances.

“Last year was a hard season to beat. I’ve been a part of four (titles) and I’m happy to say that,” said second-year coach Cait Fogel, a program alum and former Yellowjacket star. “I told them, ‘You are not just the state champs this year, Milton is the CVU of Division II.’ Nobody can argue that.”

And senior co-captains MacLellan and Smiley were at the center of Milton’s 18th banner. A technically gifted and strong-willed midfielder, MacLellan trusted her shot from deep, resulting in a career-high 27 tallies and leading an offense that fired in 90 team goals in 2024. Friday’s efforts arrived in the 15th minute via Savannah Monahan’s directed loose ball and then with 17:36 to play on Cianna Tomasi’s simple, but effective square pass to put away a gritty Mount Abraham side.

“It’s hard to speak about such a talented player and say she’s grown, but she has grown, surprisingly,” Fogel said of MacLellan. “She’s seen what’s working and what’s not. The 40-yard shots that weren’t going in and she finally adjusted and let them rip with a purpose. It obviously paid off and couldn’t have asked for a better night to finally dial it in.”

Smiley solidified Milton’s back line with Marlie Bushey, Taylor Shappy and Avery Turner. Smiley’s return allowed Fogel to put Lila Martin back in net. The group conceded just 12 times in their 18 games.

In Friday’s final, Martin turned back five shots to finish with 73 saves this fall.

“Just having (Smiley) there was the final piece of the puzzle that we were missing a little bit from last year,” Fogel said. “Just that sense of peace to have (Smiley) on the back line right next to (Bushey). It was just indescribable.”

Said MacLellan of Smiley and Bushey: “They were fantastic. They were perfect, a crazy duo back there.”

MacLellan’s opening salvo gave Milton control against Mount Abraham in the teams’ third meeting this season (Milton won the first matchups, 1-0 in overtime in Bristol and then 4-0 at home). Monahan fought off a Mount Abraham defender on a 50-50 ball to spin a pass into inviting space for MacLellan. From there, MacLellan took several dribbles before unloading from 20 yards high into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.

“A lot of my goals this season have been from distance. I find some space at the top of the box and just look for the net,” MacLellan said. “I know that I can (score) and I like to take them any time I get them.”

MacLellan’s insurance tally was even more impressive. Tomasi, the other senior co-captain, set up MacLellan from about 25 yards away. MacLellan uncorked a blast that took a short-hop right in front of Mount Abraham goalie Rosemary Behounek (four saves), skipping into the net for the 2-0 margin.

“Those shots that Holley hit, those were bangers,” Mount Abraham coach Dustin Corrigan said. “It wasn’t an unwinnable game. We came here to win and we knew it was going to be a difficult task. Credit to Milton, credit to Holley — those are some incredible finishes.”

The Eagles (12-6) reached their first final in 10 years following their penalty shootout win over Harwood in the semifinals on Wednesday.

“We came into this match with a lot of miles on our legs, but I’m not going to make any excuses. We were excited to play and Milton played a heck of a good game,” Corrigan said. “I’m very proud of the effort our girls put out there. They stuck together and they didn’t quit.”

Although Milton graduates nine seniors, Fogel casted warning for all challengers for the 2025 season: The Yellowjackets are the queens of D-II girls soccer in Vermont until someone else says otherwise.

“People need to recognize that and respecting that instead of overlooking us every season,” Fogel said. “Because we have quite a program that won’t go anywhere anytime soon.”

Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter: @aabrami5.

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Vermont

Vermont marks fourth straight year of July flooding as recovery drags on

Published

9 hours ago

July 10, 2026

Press Room

Vermont marks fourth straight year of July flooding as recovery drags on

BARRE, Vt. (WCAX) – For the fourth consecutive year, Vermont communities have faced heavy and damaging rains in July, and across the state, communities are still rebuilding and redesigning to protect against future floods.

Central Vermont saw pelting rain Thursday. The heavy rains came as a surprise to Bob Nelson, a Nelson Hardware owner in Barre, and others in the city who had flashbacks on the eve of the devastating flooding three years ago.

“I could hear pounding on the roof of our house, and my wife and I go out onto the deck and the water is sheeting off over our gutter,” Nelson said. “It’s crazy; it’s the same day the last three years.”

Barre’s infrastructure and homes were largely spared, but the downtown took on about a foot of water.

“It’s a bit of a helpless feeling. All you can do is say a prayer and watch the water come up and hope it stops raining,” Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon said.

Barre has been working to upgrade culverts, remove debris, improve stormwater systems and more. But Lauzon said with limited dollars, it will take time to adjust to a future filled with flooding.

“We spent 75 years encroaching on the Stevens Branch and making it smaller. Now we’re going to take the next 75 years reversing that process,” Lauzon said.

Vermont has conducted some 250 home buyouts, paid out $40 million to families and shelled out some $200 million in infrastructure repairs.

“You always wish you were farther along than you are, but you’re also grateful for all of the hard work that’s gotten you here,” said Doug Farnham, Vermont’s chief recovery officer.

Farnham said most of Vermont’s small and medium flood recovery projects are complete or near complete, but the process with FEMA has been slow because of red tape.

“In many cases, we’re over three years into this. We’re not happy with how long it’s gone, but it’s consistent with the historical performance,” Farnham said.

He added that for Vermont’s downtowns, many of which are built in the floodplain, it will take many decades to build for the future.

Vermont may receive up to another $400 million for new wastewater plants in Hardwick, Johnson and Ludlow, and for upgrades in Montpelier’s Capitol Complex.

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Vermont

Beau Welling’s Stowe Country Club Revamp Signals New Vermont Golf Era

Published

20 hours ago

July 10, 2026

Press Room

Beau Welling’s Stowe Country Club Revamp Signals New Vermont Golf Era

Stowe Country Club in Stowe, Vermont, has reopened after a restoration by architect Beau Welling.

Erik Matuszewski

Vermont might be best known for its breathtaking ski resorts when it comes to outdoor pursuits, but the golf offerings in the historic community of Stowe are now better than ever with the recently completed redesign of the Stowe Country Club by architect Beau Welling and his team.

The transformation at the course, set on a former dairy farm with views of the Green Mountains, firmly establishes Stowe as one of New England’s top 36-hole golf destinations.

The wide open and walkable nature of Stowe CC complements the ruggedness and dramatic elevation changes at The Mountain Course at Spruce Peak just minutes up the road, with both courses accessible by guests staying at The Lodge at Spruce Peak as well as members of The Club at Spruce Peak.

“This project honors the history of the course while reimagining it for the next generation, creating a place where members, guests, and local residents can gather to enjoy the landscape, the sport, and the shared experiences that define this region,” said Sam Gaines, who is the president of Mt. Mansfield Company, the ownership group behind Stowe Country Club, and lives in the town with his wife and three children.

Golfers return to the course as Stowe Country Club re-opened after a restoration by architect Beau Welling.

Stowe Country Club

Stowe CC has transitioned from a public facility to a private club (with the limited guess access) as part of the redevelopment, which reflects a broader vision for the area as a four-season mountain destination. Also in the plans are a new clubhouse, expanded dining, racquet sports, fitness and wellness activities, and additional recreational offerings.

But improving the golf course was the first step in that evolution and the results are the culmination of a process that started more than a decade ago when Gaines first invited Welling to see the property. The two had met at gatherings of the Urban Land Institute, which puts a focus on the environment in transforming communities, and Gaines was eager to have Welling offer advice on what needed to be done most urgently on “175 acres in the middle of the most affluent and amazing historic town” in Vermont.

Architect Beau Welling at the re-opening ceremony for Stowe Country Club.

Stowe Country Club

Welling, who for years has worked with Tiger Woods and his design team, traces his New England ties back to his days playing for the Brown University golf team in Rhode Island.

“I could see the potential, almost immediately, of how special an environment this place is,” said Welling. “But when we first started talking about this project, I think it was more of a dream.”

Full Redesign

The revamped 18th hole at Stowe Country Club, a shorter par 4, features a new “lion’s mouth” bunker in front of the green.

Erik Matuszewski

Early efforts included Welling redesigning two greens encumbered by wetlands and other issues. But the scope of the project expanded dramatically after the pandemic, as golf surged in popularity.

Around 2022, Welling started to put together a full 18-hole redesign plan for Stowe Country Club, which had long been a welcoming and community-focused public course. It was popular in a hybrid community of sorts that brought together a diverse mix of year-round residents, seasonal residents, and tourists – whether for ski season or during the spring, summer and fall (peak leaf-change season) months.

When the work started on the first nine holes in 2024, the breadth of the project continued to grow, becoming much more than new green complexes.

Stowe Country Club is one of two 18-hole championship courses available to members of the Club at Spruce Peak as well as guests staying at the Lodge at Spruce Peak.

Erik Matuszewski

Today’s finished product includes complete reconstruction of all greens and tees, a reshaping and regrading of all fairways, modernization of the bunkers, upgraded irrigation and drainage systems, and a full re-grassing of premium bentgrass across greens, tees and fairways.

Several holes were changed significantly, notably the 13^th and 15^th holes, and a new comfort station – the Sugar Shack – has been added between the 5^th and 14^th tees. Hundreds of non-native pine trees were removed from the course itself, with about 150 new ones planted on its perimeter. The removal of the interior trees opened views of the surrounding mountains, including Mt. Mansfield, and the addition of waving fescue grasses to replace them helps better frame the holes.

Sam Gaines (middle), the president of Stowe Country Club ownership group Mt. Mansfield Company, at the new Sugar Shack comfort station during opening day at Stowe CC.

Stowe Country Club

For Welling, the overall focus was on improving playability, variety, strategy, and aesthetics.

“It feels like the sort of classic Northeast golf course, with rolling topography, distinctive bunkering, challenging greens contours, fescue grasses,” said Welling. “The environment feels classic and special to me.”

A secondary club logo, a flying cow, is a nod to the property’s history.

The new flying cow logo alongside Stowe Country Club’s traditional logo.

Stowe Country Club

An Artistic Process

For Gaines, who’s worked in private equity and real estate for well over a decade and was accustomed to executing strategic plans with little deviation, the artistic process of an evolving golf course redesign was something he said he had to “hold onto my seat” for. Especially if it involved the relocation of an entire green complex. He joked that part felt “a little bit building the airplane while you’re flying it, but it’s also pragmatic problem solving. And that’s what you’re after.”

The par 3 10th hole at Stowe Country Club.

Erik Matuszewski

The initial response to the course changes and broader project have been overwhelmingly positive.

More than 200 new members have been added at Stowe Country Club and The Club at Spruce Peak, many of them coming from the Boston and New York areas.

And for those looking to travel to Vermont for golf (and any number of other outdoor activities) rather than skiing, Stowe and The Mountain Course are both accessible through stay-and-play packages in guestrooms, suites and private residences at the luxurious Lodge at Spruce Peak.

Stowe Country Club sits in the valley, at a different elevation than the nearby Mountain Course at Spruce Peak, but has dramatic topography and scenic views of the surrounding mountains.

Stowe Country Club

While the Mountain Course remains a wild ride, climbing and diving across elevations of about 1,800 feet, Stowe Country Club in the valley is drastically different – and now better than ever.

“For the most part, we left the topography the way it is, because it’s naturally undulating,” said Gaines. “There are golf course developers who will pay $40 million to end up with this result. The only difference is they start with a flat site.”

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Vermont

VT Lottery Gimme 5, Pick 3 results for July 9, 2026

Published

1 day ago

July 10, 2026

Press Room

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 July 9, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Gimme 5 numbers from July 9 drawing

08-15-26-27-30

Check Gimme 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 9 drawing

Day: 1-5-4

Evening: 6-2-8

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 9 drawing

Day: 5-0-2-1

Evening: 2-6-7-6

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from July 9 drawing

02-15-22-54-58, 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.

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