Vermont

Vermont mixologists serve up ways to make avoiding alcohol more fun, attainable

Published

2 years ago

January 13, 2024

Vermont mixologists serve up ways to make avoiding alcohol more fun, attainable

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – New year, new resolutions, and for some – that means going on a health and wellness journey.

Some people are taking the initiative to cut alcohol out of their lives. Mixologist with alcohol-free bar Tonique Lisa Danforth tries to help make it easier for people to meet those goals.

“Interestingly when covid hit and I was by myself — I started playing around with a bunch of things,” Danforth said.

“And I just started playing with syrups and shrubs just to entertain myself and really got into it, it was super exciting there were so many different things that you can make and have just been exploring ever since and a friend of mine,” she said.

And she says with Dry January underway, it’s exciting to see people learn more about these alcohol-free drinks.

“It’s been great, especially with Dry January, the holidays were a lot of fun,” Danforth said.

“One of my favorite parts is just watching people come in helping them shift their perspective,” Danforth said.

Her goal is to bring awareness to drinks like these and have them be more readily accessible throughout the Green Mountain State.

“There is no alcohol-free bottle shop in Vermont so to be able to bring this around — I do want to start bringing it around the state to make it more an accessible to people,” she said.

She hosts pop-ups to bring her creations to more people.

And as people are working on their mental health – she finds cutting alcohol becoming more common.

“But today there’s so much available and I see people get excited and grabbing a couple of things to bring home so they can have that ritual,” Danforth said.

And for some – making these choices can be scary. But Danforth is working on making a safe environment for those who want to limit their alcohol consumption or cut it out completely.

“Creating a more inclusive community where people feel comfortable to make choices that are in alignment with their goals and what they want to do,” Danforth said.

Lindsey Carter helped create Guinep which is a non-alcoholic cocktail made with 70 deep ocean minerals instead of alcohol and flavored with the essence of the Caribbean Guinep fruit. The drink has no sugar, calories, and nothing artificial.

“Looking for a cocktail that had no alcohol but a lot of flavor and really healthy ingredients so than rather than going to a bar and asking for a soda or a juice something high calorie wanted something that’s like really craveable and really taste worthy and had a functional ingredient, so we began developing last year Guinep,” Carter said.

The next pop up will be on Saturday, January 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the soda plant.

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Vermont

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

Published

12 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

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

24 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

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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