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The Bearded Frog closes, becoming the latest victim of Vermont’s staff shortage

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The Bearded Frog closes, becoming the latest victim of Vermont’s staff shortage


The Bearded Frog in Shelburne. Photograph courtesy Dickie Austin

Dickie Austin and Andrea Cousineau stated they merely couldn’t discover the employees to maintain their restaurant open.

The doorways closed for good final week, after 16 years in enterprise. Barring a flood of staff materializing, Austin stated the restaurant wouldn’t be capable to open once more.  

“We bumped into the identical staffing scenario that’s been persistent statewide,” stated Austin, who co-managed The Bearded Frog, in Shelburne, with Cousineau. “It acquired to the purpose the place we simply actually didn’t have the our bodies to proceed working.”

The labor scarcity at The Bearded Frog and different eating places is probably one of many extra excessive examples of Vermont’s basic lack of staff. The state’s unemployment charge fell to 2.1% in July. The labor pressure grew by 7,000 individuals, however was nonetheless 20,000 individuals under the place it was earlier than the pandemic. 

“The issue of hiring for Vermont companies will be seen within the month-to-month job openings information which exhibits 15 consecutive months of complete job openings above 20,000,” Vermont Commissioner of Labor Michael Harrington stated in a press launch accompanying the unemployment and labor pressure numbers final week. 

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When Covid hit, Cousineau stated, a whole lot of The Bearded Frog staff left the trade and by no means got here again. She famous that coaching new staff takes time.

“Know any dishwashers?” she requested. 

Austin stated the eating places paid wages that have been “as aggressive as attainable.” He declined to offer particular examples. 

To some extent, Vermont eating places share the challenges going through eating places nationwide. A Nationwide Restaurant Affiliation survey carried out between July 15 and Aug 5 discovered that 65% of eating places stated that they don’t have sufficient employees to satisfy buyer demand.

Cousineau and Austin are retaining open the 2 eating places they handle in Vergennes, Black Sheep Bistro and Park Squeeze. To take action, the lifelong pals have themselves been washing dishes, tending bar, ready tables and dealing strains within the kitchen, Cousineau stated. 

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It’s a frenetic schedule.

Cousineau stated that she arrived at Black Sheep Bistro by 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. By the point she spoke with a reporter at 1 p.m., she was at Park Squeeze, the place she would keep till front-of-house employees arrived for the 4 p.m. opening. Then she deliberate to go again to Black Sheep, which additionally opens at 4 p.m., to work within the kitchen. 

Austin, in the meantime, arrived at Park Squeeze at 7:30 a.m., then headed to The Bearded Frog for a gathering earlier than returning to Park Squeeze. He made one other go to to Black Sheep Bistro, then the financial institution and the grocery store, all earlier than a noon interview.

“Housing is a large issue,” Cousineau stated, explaining the brief provide of restaurant staff.

Austin agreed: “If there’s no place so that you can stay that you could afford, then taking a job doesn’t appear very affordable.”

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In Shelburne, Austin stated, there was the extra complication of competing for workers with Burlington eating places. 

“Only a few of our staff at The Bearded Frog have been Shelburne residents,” Austin stated. Most, he stated, commuted from Burlington, South Burlington or locations south of Shelburne. 

Cousineau and Austin have labored at The Bearded Frog since its opening. 

“June 8, 2006,” Austin answered with out hesitation when requested when that was. 

He recalled being on web site two weeks earlier than building started with the proprietor, Michel Mahe, with whom they’d labored at Black Sheep Bistro. 

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Cousineau began working for Mahe at age 17 as a dishwasher when he opened Starry Evening Cafe in Ferrisburgh in 2000. By the point she was 23, she was the chef at The Bearded Frog. She stated she is proudest of the relationships she constructed with coworkers there. 

Amongst these colleagues was Erin Wheeler, who along with her husband owns The Bobcat, in Bristol. Mahe, who died in 2015, purchased the place for them to run, she stated, they usually later purchased it from him. 

Wheeler labored at The Bearded Frog throughout its first two years. The restaurant was targeted on burgers, she remembered, and diners may select from so many toppings that it was difficult for kitchen employees to maintain monitor of the flowery orders. Due to that have, they solely serve one burger at The Bobcat, she stated, laughing.

Wheeler stated she and her husband are fortunate to be in Bristol, which has fewer eating places, easing competitors for workers. The housing drawback there may be not as acute as in Shelburne, she added. One of many line cooks drives an hour to The Bobcat, she stated, however everybody else lives on the town.

Cousineau and Austin managed The Bearded Frog and proceed to handle Black Sheep Bistro and Park Squeeze on behalf of Mahe’s 19-year-old son, who’s beginning school subsequent week, and an investor. They stated they mentioned the closing with the homeowners.

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Austin predicted that staffing points will make it tough for Vermont to maintain the variety of eating places it has. 

“We’re holding on to hope,” he stated. “Nevertheless it’s definitely tough.”

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Vermont

VT Lottery Mega Millions, Gimme 5 results for May 23, 2025

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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.

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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 May 23, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Vermont Mega Millions numbers from May 23 drawing

07-18-40-55-68, Mega Ball: 18

Check Vermont Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Gimme 5 numbers from May 23 drawing

04-08-12-19-27

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Check Gimme 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life VT numbers from May 23 drawing

04-11-15-19-38, Lucky Ball: 04

Check Lucky For Life VT payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 23 drawing

Day: 4-1-7

Evening: 5-8-4

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Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 23 drawing

Day: 4-1-1-5

Evening: 7-2-0-5

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

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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

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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.

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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Vermont’s state parks are offering free entry for income-eligible residents in 2025 – VTDigger

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Vermont’s state parks are offering free entry for income-eligible residents in 2025 – VTDigger


Paddleboats float on Echo Lake at Camp Plymouth State Park in Plymouth. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

More than 100,000 income-eligible residents are going to have free access to Vermont’s state parks this year, thanks to a first-in-the-nation pilot program.

The Park Access Fund Pilot Program will give people who receive benefits through the state’s Economic Services Division or the Women, Infants and Children program free entrance to any of Vermont’s 55 state parks during the season, which runs from May through October. 

To participate in the program, residents can show their EBT or WIC cards at the park entrance. Those who are eligible but do not have an EBT card can visit their local Economic Services Division District Office to request a card that can be used for state park entrance in 2025, according to the Park Access Fund website.

Once inside, all guests have the option to participate in free park-led activities, such as bird walks, concerts and evening campfires. The state parks events and programs page contains information on upcoming programming. 

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State parks celebrate 100th anniversary while rebuilding from historic July floods


The initiative originated from an idea to bring park accessibility to Vermonters experiencing food insecurity, according to Sarah Alberghini Winters, the executive director of Vermont Parks Forever, which runs the program. 

This new program is an extension of the Parks Access Fund, which grants free park passes to 55 nonprofit community partners to help their clients get outside, according to Winters.

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Winters said she hopes this year’s expansion of the program is well-utilized. Depending on its success and donors’ willingness to support future efforts, the pilot program could continue in 2026 and beyond, she said. 

“It really takes a village,” Winters said. “We’re so thankful to have support from local and national foundations.”

Vermonters not eligible for this pilot program can also receive assistance accessing state parks through library passes and the Green Mountain Passport.

Financial barriers are not the only thing preventing some Vermonters from getting outside, Winters said, but this program is a starting point. She said her hope is that Vermont will set an example for other states to consider expanding programs for outdoor accessibility. 

“We’ll continue to learn about how we can help with other barriers that exist,” she said.

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Gov. Phil Scott signs Vermont lawmakers’ 2026 state budget proposal into law – VTDigger

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Gov. Phil Scott signs Vermont lawmakers’ 2026 state budget proposal into law – VTDigger


Gov. Phil Scott speaks during his weekly press conference at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Wednesday, May 14. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

MONTPELIER — Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signed lawmakers’ state budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year into law Wednesday. The plan lays out $9.01 billion in state spending for the yearlong period starting July 1 — and includes a handful of new measures designed to limit the impacts of potential cuts to the state’s federal funding. 

Scott, a Republican, was notably complimentary of the House and Senate’s budget bill in a letter to legislators that accompanied his signature. Democratic leadership in both chambers, knowing they almost certainly could not override a budget veto this year, trimmed tens of millions of dollars in proposed “base” spending — money expected to be appropriated year-over-year — from the legislation after Scott insisted on cuts. 

The governor had proposed an $8.99 billion state budget in January.

“I appreciate that this budget makes important affordability investments,” Scott wrote, pointing to lawmakers’ use of about $75 million from the state’s general fund that’s expected to help reduce the property tax bills people pay to support education. 

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Scott also complimented how lawmakers set aside about $13 million in the budget to offset a slate of proposed tax credits that would benefit low-income families, workers and veterans, as well as retirees and people receiving military pensions.

The credits are included in a separate bill, S.51, over which House and Senate leaders still need to work out their differences in a joint conference committee.

While the state budget is typically lawmakers’ last act before adjournment every year, this year, there are still several major bills working their way through the Statehouse that deal with some of the headline issues from last fall’s election. 

In his letter, the governor urged legislators to pass a version of this year’s landmark education reform bill, H.454. The bill is being debated on the Senate floor Thursday as school district leaders — and a number of senators themselves —  have panned the language that several of the chamber’s committees drafted in recent weeks.

Senators were weighing to what extent they should revise their version of the bill to be more in line with what passed out of the House last month. That version appeared to have more support among the members of the Senate’s Democratic majority. 

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Scott has threatened to use his power to summon lawmakers back to the Statehouse if they adjourn for the year without reaching agreement on an education bill. 

“While not perfect, (the budget bill) makes critical investments in affordability, housing, education and public safety,” the governor wrote Wednesday. “But we must focus on the policy bills that fix what’s broken so the funding can have its intended impact.”





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