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After two harassment settlements involving local schools, what the heck is going on?

Pride of Woodstock launches Pride 365 during ‘very scary time for the LGBTQ+ community’

Norwich’s Jim Holland inducted into Vermont Sports Hall of Fame



Pomfret’s Greg Markwell inducted into American Highland Cattle Association Hall of Fame

‘Bedutzed!’ is an afternoon of heartfelt storytelling through the eyes of a clown

Vermont Delegation reintroduces bill to redraw boundaries of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park


Recent Sports Scores








News
February 12
6:55 am
After two harassment settlements involving local schools, what the heck is going on?
‘Schools must be proactive in creating environments where every student is protected, rather than only reacting when legal action forces them to.’
For the second time in two years, the Mountain Views Supervisory Union (MVSU) has settled civil actions related to alleged harassment, bullying, and discrimination at Woodstock Union Middle and High School (WUHS/MS) and Woodstock Elementary School (WES), while denying wrongdoing in either matter.
In one instance, the Vermont Human Rights Commission (HRC) ruled unanimously in January of last year that there were reasonable grounds to believe that WUHS/MS and the supervisory union had discriminated against a 13-year-old Black student “based on his race, color, and national origin, in violation of the Vermont Fair Housing and Accommodations Act,” by failing to adequately intervene on the student’s behalf after learning of multiple incidents of racist bullying and harassment during the 2021-22 school year.
In a settlement agreement ratified last May by the Black student’s mother — who has identified herself publicly as Jaya Holliman, a Woodstock native — together with MVSU School Superintendent Sherry Sousa and the four-member HRC, the school district agreed to pay Holliman and her son $175,000 in full resolution of the complaint initially filed with the human rights body in August 2022.
In the second case, the Standard reported last July on a claim of bullying and harassment of another student in Woodstock. MVSU officials acted to settle a civil lawsuit brought against the district over claims of four years of bullying endured by the student at WES and WUHS/MS. Superintendent Sousa signed off on a $97,500 settlement agreement in U.S. District Court last summer.
Regarding both matters, the MVSU administration denied any wrongdoing but agreed to the settlements with the students and families involved to avoid the time and expense of litigation. Officials at the VHRC reported that the $175,000 payment in the case of the discrimination complaint regarding the Black student was the largest individual settlement for a school-based discrimination claim in the commission’s history. The total cost of settling both the HRC complaint of racial discrimination and the lawsuit over gender-identity-related harassment — covered by the school district’s liability insurance — was $272,500.
The allegations by the Black student in the WUMS/HS case included repeated incidents of his being called the N-word by his aggressors; the waving of a banana at him with comments that he looked like he needed it; drawing on his arm with a dark marker with remarks that it could not be seen on his skin; and a statement by another student, in a science class discussion of human evolution that equated the head of the Black student, then a seventh-grader at WUMS/HS, to that of a chimpanzee’s. In the investigative report compiled by the HRC, Holliman, the student’s parent, also details numerous meetings and communications with school officials — predominantly former WUMS/HS principal Garon Smail — where actions for dealing with the incidents of race-based harassment were discussed in detail but, the student’s parent contended, never fully implemented or enforced. The student in question is now attending a private high school elsewhere in the state.
In the other case, the 22-page lawsuit filed in March 2022 alleged that the WES student was repeatedly called a gay slur and that fellow students refused to allow him to join activities because of their prejudice against him. Court papers noted that offending students would grab the victim “without his consent to emphasize their taunts that his body was overly feminine.” He was also punched, assaulted, and at one point thrown to the ground and received a concussion, the lawsuit said. “At no time did any WCSU personnel act to deter, much less put a complete stop to the harassment. At no time did any WCSU personnel act to discipline the offending students,” the lawsuit alleged, referring to the present-day MVSD by its then-current, former name — the Windsor Central Supervisory Union or WCSU. The repeated incidents of bullying continued after the boy graduated from WES and moved on to the WUMS/HS. In the end, he left WUMS/HS and enrolled in a different school.
In the racial discrimination case brought against WUMS/HS, Sousa has stood behind her staff and administrators, contending that the staff worked diligently to respond to the student’s needs and concerns and responded appropriately to complaints of harassment reported to the school by the student and his parent.
In the wake of the investigation of the racial discrimination complaint and resultant settlement before the Vermont HRC — a year-old story that just broke publicly last week — the Standard reached out to administrators of the Mountain Views Supervisory Union (now the MVSU) and to representatives of racial justice and equity and LGBTQ+ organizations in the state with questions about discrimination, harassment and bullying in our schools.
For the full story, please see our February 6 edition of the Vermont Standard.
February 11
6:55 am
Pride of Woodstock launches Pride 365 during ‘very scary time for the LGBTQ+ community’
Last year, Pride of Woodstock hosted the town’s first-ever event celebrating Pride Month. In 2025, the organization intends to broaden its offerings by holding forums aimed at the LGBTQ+ community each month. “Pride is not just one weekend a year. It’s every day, and we want to be here to support people in any way we can,” Seton McIlroy, the co-founder of Pride of Woodstock, told the Standard this week.
The new “Pride 365 program” will begin at Artistree this Thursday, Feb. 13 with a roundtable discussion on mental health at 6 p.m.
The conversation will be led by Chris Nial, the CEO of MadFreedom Advocates, a Vermont-based grassroots nonprofit that is run by and designed for people marginalized by the mental health system. Before starting at MadFreedom, Nial, who is based in Plainfield, worked as a team lead at Pathways Vermont, another nonprofit that helps connect people to housing and mental health resources.
Pride of Woodstock’s mental health discussion is open to anyone who identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community and is over the age of 18.
For more on this, please see our February 13 edition of the Vermont Standard.
February 6
6:55 am
Vermont Delegation reintroduces bill to redraw boundaries of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park
According to a release issued by the office of Senator Peter Welch, The Vermont Congressional Delegation, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Representative Becca Balint (VT-At-Large) have reintroduced the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act Amendments Act- legislation to extend the boundary of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park to include the neighboring King Farm- which is currently owned by the Vermont Land Trust.
“The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park is a unique example of how decades of conservation and stewardship have shaped our landscape with Vermont Values. As Vermont’s first and only national park, it plays an important role in conservation and educating folks about our state’s rich agricultural heritage,” said Senator Welch. “By expanding the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park to include the King Farm, our bill will create new enrichment opportunities and ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy and appreciate this historical treasure.”
Located in Woodstock, the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park preserves a significant historical, agricultural, and natural landscape. The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park became Vermont’s first and only national park when it opened its doors to the public in 1998. The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park commemorates the historical contributions of its namesakes—George Perkins Marsh, Frederick Billings, and Mary French Rockefeller—preserves Vermont’s proud agricultural heritage, and conserves native forestland ecosystems. It also provides countless educational opportunities for visitors, protects archaeological sites, and showcases historic architecture.
The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act Amendments Act would also codify the National Park Service Stewardship Institute housed at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park to support educational programing, research, community engagement, and conservation efforts throughout the National Park System. Additionally, the bill would authorize the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park to acquire the King Farm from willing property owners in the future, without requiring its sale.
The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act Amendments Act is endorsed by the Vermont Land Trust and the National Parks Conservation Association and has the support of the Town of Woodstock:
“The Town of Woodstock is happy with this legislation as we have an outstanding and cooperative relationship with the National Park Service and our residents enjoy all the activities and services they currently offer,” said Woodstock’s Municipal Manager, Eric Duffy. “The Park is a massive tourist draw and a vital part of our community.”
For more on this story, please see our February 13 edition of the Vermont Standard.
February 6
6:55 am
Week 17, and still no decision in police chief case
A lawyer who is fighting to get Woodstock Police Chief Joe Swanson reinstated to his job has released a 21-page memo disputing the administrative charges leveled at him by Municipal Manager Eric Duffy.
Attorney Linda Fraas of Manchester, N.H. continues to maintain the claims made by Duffy are groundless and she used her memo to counter each allegation filed by the manager in a letter to the chief.
The Fraas memo disputes the claims made by village police officers and town emergency dispatchers when interviewed by Private Detective William Burgess of Lebanon, N.H. on behalf of Duffy. Burgess filed a condensed report of 17 pages with claims made by the employees, but no names were included in the report.
Fraas also said in an email to Village Attorney Matt Bloomer that if reinstated, Swanson appeared willing to forgive and forget the actions taken by Duffy to put the chief on the bench for the past 16 weeks.
In the email, Fraas said that during Swanson’s hearing before Duffy on Wednesday, Jan. 22, “we agreed to pause all media statements, public document requests, and legal proceedings in the hope that this matter could be put to rest and Joe returned to work,” she said.
“It was also agreed that if Joe was returned to work we would waive all claims against Eric and the town and that Eric and Joe would present a united front going forward,” she wrote.
“When we spoke on Friday [Jan. 24], you requested financial damages information to explore a Separation Agreement and a deadline of Wednesday to get back to us. I provided this information even though this did not appear to be a viable solution and certainly not the outcome Joe seeks,” Fraas said to Bloomer.
Neither option came to fruition. Bloomer did not respond by the deadline and Duffy had failed to make public his findings from the closed-door session, which is known as a Loudermill hearing.
Based on the evidence presented at the hearing, Duffy will be expected to file written findings of fact that could lead to reinstatement, to a suspension, demotion or the chief’s dismissal.
If dismissal is proposed by Duffy, under Vermont law Swanson is entitled to a hearing before either the Village Trustees or a Vermont Superior Court judge.
Duffy continued to be silent this week about the Swanson case when contacted by the Vermont Standard.
“As I have previously stated multiple times, it is not appropriate to publicly discuss ongoing personnel issues,” Duffy wrote to the newspaper.
Duffy added, there also was never any sort of joint agreement on a deadline for his written decision or for issuing a gag order in the case while trying to resolve it.
It remains unclear how long Duffy will take before issuing any Loudermill ruling.
For more on this story, please see our February 6 edition of the Vermont Standard.
February 5
7:00 pm
Following a death, Windsor senior living facility is responding to Legionnaires' outbreak
One person at The Village at Cedar Hill independent and assisted living facility in Windsor has died and several others have been hospitalized following an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease.
The Vermont Department of Health (DOH) issued an advisory on Wednesday, Jan. 29, noting that six cases of the serious, pneumonia-like illness, which is caused by the Legionella bacteria, have been identified at Cedar Hill. Care providers at The Village at Cedar Hill, which is part of the Cedar Hill Continuing Care Community, have implemented measures to reduce the risk of possible staff and resident exposure to the bacteria, which the DOH statement said is tied to the senior care facility’s water system.
“We have implemented comprehensive protective measures, including strict water use restrictions that only permit use of faucets with specialized Legionella-filtering systems,” Cedar Hill Executive Director Patricia Horn wrote in an email relayed by the continuing care community’s public relations firm, Junapr of Charlotte, Vt. “We have engaged IWC Innovations (of Indianapolis), a specialized Legionella consulting firm, which has completed a thorough remediation of our entire water system. We are currently awaiting laboratory test results to confirm the effectiveness of these measures,” Horn continued, adding that the facility is “currently awaiting comprehensive test results from the examination of [its] plumbing system to identify the source.”
Responding to the Standard’s inquiries this week through Junapr CEO Nicole Junas Ravlin, Horn said that there have been no additional cases beyond the six previously reported last week. “Regarding the death that was reported,” Horn said, “it is important to note that Legionella was not listed as the primary cause but as a secondary factor. Water protocols at The Village at Cedar Hill, including the use of the Legionella filters on faucets and of bottled water for both residents and staff are ongoing, the email concluded.
“Residents at the [Cedar Hill] facility are at increased risk of getting Legionnaires’ disease due to age and/or health conditions,” Kyle Casteel, a spokesperson for the Health Department said in an email Tuesday afternoon. People can get sick with Legionnaires’ disease when they breathe in mist or small droplets of water containing the Legionella bacteria into their lungs. The disease is not contagious and almost never spreads from person to person, Casteel offered. Most people do not get sick after being exposed to Legionella, but some are at increased risk, the DOH spokesperson said, including adults 50 years of age and older, current or former smokers, people with chronic lung disease and weakened immune systems, and people taking medication that suppresses the immune system.
“Legionella bacteria occur naturally in freshwater environments, like lakes and streams,” the DOH asserted in a primer provided by Casteel. “It can become a concern when it grows and spreads in buildings’ water systems. Outbreaks are often linked to large or complex water systems, like those found in hospitals, hotels, and cruise ships. The most common forms of infection are from showers, air conditioning cooling towers, decorative fountains, and hot tubs. [Cedar Hill] is working to investigate the source of exposure and has taken measures to reduce residents’ and staff’s exposure to Legionella by limiting aerosolization of water and installing appropriate filters,” the DOH statement concluded.
February 5
2:00 pm
Town Hall Theatre gets a facelift ahead of Pentangle’s new ‘After Hours’ series
After five months of work, Pentangle’s Woodstock Town Hall Theatre is getting a facelift. Under the guidance of Deborah Greene, the Executive Director of Pentangle Arts, the lobby and theatre have been refreshed with repaired and repainted walls and new lighting fixtures to showcase the historic structure’s beauty.
In addition, a small bar is going to be built in a space previously used for storage.“We’re going to get our liquor license,” Greene said. “We bought tables [from] local craftsmen, the sconces are from Simon Pearce, and they match everything that is going [in the lobby].” The bar will be closed in by a barnyard-style split door.
“We’re going to be serving wine and beer. We’ll also have small charcuterie boxes and we’re getting locals involved with that. We’ll have a variety of Plymouth cheeses and local meats,” she continued. “Depending on the show, we’ll open up a half hour before movies so people can hang out, have a glass of wine, then take it in with them. Before any kind of performance, like a play or a musical, we’re going to open up an hour before so people can congregate,” she stated happily.
Greene next focused on the stage. “By the 14th, we will have all of the painting done. We’re doing lighter colors and bringing in more light in general,” she said. The physical structure of the stage will be the same. Another new feature for the stage will be a movable barrier. “It’s a really cool environment to have a party, but we need a removable barrier to keep it safe,” she stressed.

Left, Deborah Greene admires the new look of the vaulted ceiling in the lobby of the Town Hall. At center, paint samples in the town offices show some of the color options. Right, a painter patches a section of a wall at Woodstock Town Hall Theatre. Photos courtesy of Town Hall Theatre and Robert Shumskis
While the seating and carpeting are not being changed yet, Greene expressed her satisfaction with helping the project reach this point. “We have the largest screen around. We didn’t cut it into 17 pieces the way they did in Lebanon. It’s the largest screen around and we do have a state-of-the-art sound system. We’ll replace the seats eventually, but you can have a drink, sit down, and watch it on the big screen.”
The first performance at the refreshed theatre will be by Myra Flynn on Feb. 14. The concert is part of Pentangle’s new “After Hours” series, which Green describes as, “It’s going to be a salon series followed by music. There will be speakers, forums, and musicians.” She noted, “With ‘After Hours,’ we’re creating events to give people something to do — the joke being that ‘after hours’ in a city is like after midnight, and in Vermont, we just want something to do after 6 p.m.”
For more on this story, please see our February 6 edition of the Vermont Standard.
February 5
10:47 am
Cinquemani appointed as permanent principal at WUHS/MS
Aaron Cinquemani, the former principal of the Prosper Valley School in Pomfret, who has served as the interim principal at Woodstock Union High School and Middle School since last summer, has been tabbed as the permanent principal at WUHS/MS.
Cinquemani’s hiring followed a nationwide search by Mountain Views Supervisory Union (MVSU) officials. Cinquemani assumed the permanent post at the high school and middle school on Jan. 17, one day after he was unanimously appointed to the position at a special meeting of the Mountain Views Supervisory Union (MVSU) School Board.
Cinquemani holds a Doctorate in Education from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. He had served as the principal at the Prosper Valley School in Pomfret before assuming the interim post at WUHS/MS last year, when former Principal Garon Smail left to become the director of curriculum for the Windham Southwest Supervisory Union in Wilmington, Vt.
For more on this story, please see our February 6 edition of the Vermont Standard.
February 3
11:32 am
Dreamscape Coffee prepares to open in Woodstock Village
Rachel Williams and her twin sister Brieanna have acquired the 67 Central Street retail space in Woodstock, which formerly housed the Soulfully Good Café. The twin duo’s spouses, who are also brothers, will serve as managers of the coffee shop.
Rachels’s husband, James, describes the coffeehouse culture the team is aiming for as “similar to coffee houses in Italy. [A] small shop where people congregate to meet, build relationships, chat, [and] drink expresso or cappuccino brewed from high-quality coffee beans while munching on flaky pastry.”
There is no definitive opening date yet.
Features
February 11
8:11 pm
Mt. Ascutney Winter Festival was a hub of activity
Mt. Ascutney Hospital staff, volunteers, board members, and families hit the slopes from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday for their annual Winter Festival. In addition to a catered lunch, families enjoyed board games and kid-friendly movies indoors, or skiing, snowboarding, cornhole, tubing, and more outdoors in the fresh snow.
Stephen Giroux Photos
- A chain of six snow tubers holds on to each other as AO volunteers push them out onto the slope.
- Emily and Madison Weld enjoy tubing after the snowstorm.
- From left: Torie Mesropian, Jess George, Jess Hathorn, and Mima Roberts, with Ben White in front, pose at the base of the lift.
- Skiers start off on a trip.
February 11
6:54 am
Billings Farm hosted a Film & Food Soirée
Billings Farm & Museum hosted a Film & Food Soirée this past Saturday, a fundraiser for the Woodstock Vermont Film Series. Guests watched the Oscar-shortlisted documentary “Frida,” followed by a celebration with live music, culinary creations, and margaritas.
Photos Courtesy of Billings Farm & Museum
- A group of attendees talk in front of the Frida Kahlo interactive art wall.
- Guests enjoy the company and festive ambience at the Soiree.
- Guests enjoy the company and festive ambience at the Soiree.
- Soiree attendees talk and sample Cava, a drink inspired by the film “Frida.”
- A duo dances to the sounds of Route 5 Jive.
- Christine Scales, of Wilder, Sherlock Terry, of Norwich, and Kim Carboneau, of Hartford, pose for a photo after adding their paper flower creations to the Frida Kahlo interactive art wall.
- Route 5 Jive plays a lively dancing tune.
- Soiree guests pick out Latin-inspired foods to enjoy.
- A group of attendees talk in front of the Frida Kahlo interactive art wall.
February 10
6:55 am
Pomfret’s Greg Markwell inducted into American Highland Cattle Association Hall of Fame
This year during the celebratory awards banquet, and after decades of dedication to the Highland breed and association, the American Highland Cattle Association (AHCA) inducted Vermont native Greg Markwell to the 2024 American Highland Cattle Association Hall of Fame.
Established in 1948, the AHCA is the official registry of Highland Cattle in the United States. AHCA registers Highland Cattle, maintains breed records, promotes the Highland breed through education and cattle shows, and is a network of like-minded farmers and highland cattle enthusiasts. The organization’s largest annual show and sale takes place each January in Denver, Colorado at the National Western Stock Show (NWSS).
Markwell was introduced to Highland Cattle in 1978 when he was hired as Farm Manager for Theodore (Ted) and Caroline Robbins of Trafalgar Square Farm in North Pomfret.
The Robbins’, with Markwell at their side, are a recognized premier breeder of Highland Cattle. Trafalgar’s breeding program has put a stamp on breeding programs across North America and around the globe, with Champions of descendants as far away as Scotland and Australia.
With a whopping 22 National Grand or Reserve Champions, and more Grand and Reserve Champions at regional shows than would be possible to count, Markwell’s eye for the cattle and passion for the breed speak for themselves. He has also been an active participant in the success of the AHCA.
For more on this, please see our February 13 edition of the Vermont Standard.

Greg Markwell, his grandson Caden Markwell, and his son Chris Markwell pictured with cattle in Denver, Co. at the stock show. Courtesy of Bailey Markwell
February 10
6:55 am
‘Bedutzed!’ is an afternoon of heartfelt storytelling through the eyes of a clown
Michael Zerphy, whose one-man show “Bedutzed!” opens (and closes) at Damon Hall on Sunday, Feb. 16, has devoted his entire career to uncovering truths about life through the medium of clowning. The show was written by Zerphy and is directed by his daughter, Olivia, who is in the process of achieving international acclaim herself through her own creative endeavors.
“‘Bedutzed’ is a word from Pennsylvania Dutch country, where I grew up,” Zerphy offered. “It means confused or bewildered. Kind of like the character of a clown who is oftentimes stuck in the middle and unsure of which way to turn.”
Zerphy graduated from high school in 1970 and then went on to attended Thomas Jefferson College, (now Grand Valley University) just outside of Grand Rapids, Mi. “They had a great theatre department, where working professionals would come in to teach. I got involved immediately, studying all aspects of the art of storytelling, including mime, clowning, and improvised theatre,” said Zerphy.

Michael Zerphy with a five-string banjo. Photo provided
Zerphy’s curiosity into human nature wasn’t completely quenched so he began taking classes in psychology and theology at Calvin College across town at the same time. He cites a man named Ken Feit as one of his major influences. Feit was studying to become a Jesuit priest before transitioning to the art of storytelling.
After graduating college Zerphy teamed up with other creatives and began touring the country, writing and performing shows for local schools, theatres, and community centers before traveling extensively throughout Europe, including the iconic Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Ultimately, he found a niche here in the Northeast, toggling between Boston and New York City, teaching part-time at Emerson and Boston University while often performing in NYC, and in the late 1990s, he found himself in Hartland beginning a family.
As for “Bedutzed!,” Zerphy said the creative seeds for it were planted during the pandemic.
“The show started off with songs and stories that came out of banjo playing and entertaining myself during the pandemic. And banjo-playing was new to me. Along with the songs, I began weaving stories and anecdotes about being on the road. That is what it started off as. But I always wanted to add a deeper level to it. For example: what got me into clowning? This deeper stuff involving the philosophy of the clown or the archetype of the fool. What is the line between the sacred and the profane? How can being a clown and looking at the world through a clown’s eyes help you when you’re NOT being a clown? For example, I had open heart surgery a few years back and I discovered that that ability for me to laugh and play and have fun with the situation was very helpful for me in dealing with the nurses and the doctors. That ability helped me to get through that. And that’s also part of this show.”
Zerphy emphasized that the Feb. 16 show is a “work-in-progress” and welcomes audience comments during the post-show talkback.
“Bedutzed!,” written & performed by Michael Zerphy, and directed by Olivia Zerphy, will play for one performance only on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 3 p.m. at Damon Hall in Hartland.
For more on this story, please see our February 13 edition of the Vermont Standard.
February 5
4:21 pm
A reimagined ‘Antigone,’ the classic Greek tragedy, kicks off BarnArts’ year of community theater
By Olivia Piepmeier, Special to the Standard
Olivia Piepmeier is the Communications & Project Manager for BarnArts Center for the Arts.
A troupe of nine BarnArts actors are exploring bravery, integrity, and love through contemporary poet Anne Carson’s translation of “Antigone,” written by Sophokles around 440 BCE. Director Erin Bennett leans into the brightness that is often overlooked in tragedies and stages the production with the pluck and vigor of a group of scrappy street performers, who open the show with a tapestry of juggling, singing, and movement.
The place is Thebes. The time is long ago (or is it?). A bitter war results in the death of two royal brothers. The newly crowned King Kreon decrees only one will be buried. Unshakable Antigone, hearing a deeper truth, disagrees. And a chain of events unfold that challenge and change all in the vicinity of this famously troubled family. (Antigone is the daughter of the infamous Freudian eye-gouger, Oedipus.)
Ahead of production, the cast and crew were immediately struck by the contemporary, snappy language Carson uses to tell this ancient tale.
Carson’s text focuses simply on the persistent truths of justice and honor found in “Antigone” that have captivated audiences from varying backgrounds for thousands of years. “Catholics have been known to love it, but so have Anarchists, Libertarians, Marxists, and poets of all time,” says actor Aaron Michael Hodge (Haimon).
Kevin Donohue (Kreon), a Dartmouth Classics graduate, finds the translation “fresh, idiomatic, and modern, and still so dedicated to the source material. She’s a classicist and a poet and combines the two beautifully here. She recognizes how absolutely modern and relevant the classics are, and her translation services this so well.”
Bridgette Hammond (Antigone) notes how “each word is powerful and meaningful, which is both a joy and a challenge as an actor because there are no throwaway lines, nowhere to hide — you have to give each word its due.”
“Antigone” runs Feb. 14-15 and 20-22 at 7:30 p.m., and Feb. 16 and 23 at 2 p.m. at Barnard Town Hall.

The “Antigone” cast in costume. Back row, from left: Kyle Huck, Laura Montgomery, Kevin Donohue, Aaron Michael Hodge, Dory Psomas, and Fergus Ryan; Front row: Julianne Borger, Bridgette Hammond, and Olivia Piepmeier. Alex Montaño Photo
February 5
3:46 pm
New spa building will add a ‘finishing touch’ to Twin Farms in Barnard
A new 9,000-square-foot spa facility has received the green light to be built at Twin Farms resort in Barnard. Approved by the town’s development review board at its Jan. 21 meeting, construction at 452 Royalton Turnpike is set to begin in late March and is expected to be completed within 18 months. In addition to the spa building, a new parking area, access drive, and utility upgrades will also be installed on the same northern portion of the property.
Managing Director John Graham tells the Standard this week that the expansive and elegant design of the new structure was a collaboration submitted by architects at TruexCullins of Burlington and interior designers at AvroKO Design in New York City. It includes six treatment rooms, one exclusively for couples, both a pre-arrival and a post-treatment lounge, a welcome reception area, locker rooms, saunas, plunge pools, retail space and an indoor/outdoor pool.
Graham acknowledges that while the new structure “has some scale, like the rest of Twin Farms, it will remain true to our non-commercial approach and aesthetic.”
Graham states that the impetus for the project was increased demand from Twin Farms’ guests and will help the resort address off-season and inclement weather stays when the array of outdoor activities offered might be paused.
Since last fall, a series of hearings, meetings and a site visit on the subject were conducted as the Barnard Development Review Board performed its due diligence and heard from residents and representatives of the project alike before reaching the unanimous decision to approve.
For more on this story, please see our February 6 edition of the Vermont Standard.

The open-concept, high-ceiling reception area will greet guests at Twin Farms’ new facility housing pools, a sauna, and treatment rooms. Construction begins next month on the project.
Courtesy of Twin Farms
January 27
4:58 pm
Northern Stage’s ‘King James’ reminds us how sports can connect, inspire, and unite
The first play of Northern Stage’s 2025 Season is the Vermont premiere of “King James” by Rajiv Joseph, and no, it is not a historical play.
The King James in this play’s title is LeBron James, but you don’t need to be a LeBron James fan to love it. You don’t even have to be a basketball fan. But if you like excellent theater, you will love this production. It has an amazing cast, a superb director, a great script, and a truly brilliant creative and professional team.
Directed by abigail jean-baptiste, the script chronicles twelve years of friendship between two men who originally met because of their shared fandom. Coincidentally, writer Rajiv Joseph was initially driven to write the play because of his own fandom. Being both a native of Cleveland and a huge Cavaliers and LeBron (referred to by fans as “King James”) fan, Joseph constructed his play to mirror the ups and downs of a basketball game to the ups and downs of a friendship he constructs between two very dissimilar men. Matt (played by Andrew Gombas) is a Cleveland bartender with Cavaliers’ season tickets to sell. Shawn (Darius Wright), a writer who has recently published a short story, wants to buy Matt’s tickets for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2003-2004 season, the first season LeBron played for the Cavaliers.

At left, Andrew Gombas will portray Matt in the production. At right, Darius Wright will portray Shawn. Photos Provided
Joseph based his play on his passion for sports, the Cavaliers, and LeBron, but also his observance that, “In this country, at least, there is the notion that some men are only able to express their emotions when they are talking about sports and I think that is what this play is about.” The play follows the structure of a basketball game, i.e., first quarter, second quarter, half-time, etc., but the game becomes a metaphor for relationships — this one in particular.
Director jean-baptiste says, “‘King James’ reminds us of how essential it is to fight for friendship amidst its complexities.”
Opening Night is Saturday, Feb. 1 at 6:30 p.m. The run continues through Feb. 16 with performances on Sundays at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.; Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
For more on this story, please see our January 30 edition of the Vermont Standard.
Sports
February 11
6:54 am
Norwich’s Jim Holland inducted into Vermont Sports Hall of Fame
On April 26, Norwich, Vt. native Jim Holland will be inducted into the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame for his accomplishments and contributions to the sport of ski jumping.
Holland represented the U.S. ski jumping team in two Winter Olympics, 1992 and 1994, finishing in 12th place in France in ‘92. He is a six-time U.S. National Champion, representing the U.S. in FIS World cups from 1989-93, including an impressive second place finish in the 1991 World Cup in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Beyond his athletic accomplishments, Holland has overcome injury, become a Parkinson’s Disease advocate (after a diagnosis of his own), co-founded the popular outdoor gear website backcountry.com, and been a committed patron of adult and children’s sports.
For more on this story, please see our February 13 edition of the Vermont Standard.
February 11
6:54 am
Lady Wasps lost to Bellows Falls
The Woodstock girls basketball team endured a tough loss to Bellows Falls, one of the division’s leading teams, on Monday night by a score of 61-18. In spite of the uphill battle, the girls kept their spirits high. The Wasps play at Rivendell Academy next Monday.

Woodstock’s Maddy Snide brings the ball upcourt against a tough defense.Rick Russell Photos
February 6
6:55 am
Boys Basketball falls to White River Valley
The Woodstock boys basketball team lost 59-41 in a matchup against the undefeated White River Valley (WRV) Wildcats on Saturday. Despite the loss, the Wasps walked out with their heads held high. They were able to force the normally dominant Wildcats into a competitive game. WRV has scored over 100 points in its last three games, has a per-game average of 76 points, and has won many of its games by wide margins. Despite those impressive stats, the Wasps’ defense held consistent defensive pressure on the Wildcats and kept the score grounded. “We played like we had nothing to lose,” said Woodstock senior Caeden Perreault.
The Wasps have a 9-6 winning record, one they will look to improve this Tuesday when they host Green Mountain at 7 p.m. in Woodstock.
For more on this story, please see our February 13 edition of the Vermont Standard.
Video Features
February 4
6:55 am
Legislative update with State Rep. Charlie Kimbell, Feb.3
Obituaries
February 5
3:55 pm
Sandra Lee Washburn
Sandra Lee Washburn, 82, passed away peacefully on Jan. 31, 2025 at Heaton Woods Assisted Living in Montpelier.
She was born May 23, 1942; the daughter of Helen Hickory Grandonico and Paul Legendre of Bridgewater Center. She moved around a lot with her mom until moving in with her father in Bridgewater Center. She graduated from Woodstock High School. In 1964, Sandra married Glenn Washburn, moved to Bethel and worked on the family farm. She also worked at GW Plastics for several years as a Quality Auditor. After her husband passed away, she moved in with her daughter and son-in-law in Marshfield, Vt. and then to Heaton Woods Residence where she needed special care.
She was devoted to her family and to caring for her son who had Cystic Fibrosis. Sandra loved to visit family and friends, watch westerns (especially when starring Tom Selleck or John Wayne), feeding the birds, using her weed wacker, and tending her flower beds. She loved the sunshine too and grumbled when there wasn’t any.
Sandra leaves behind her daughter, Mary (Cam) Wrisley; sisters, Linda Flewelling, Glenna Chamberlin, Lillian (John) Griggs, Leona (Bill) Hollenback; Brothers, Donald Brooks, Thomas Legendre; her longtime friends, Jean Garren, Susan Brownell, Laura Robinson; grandson, Dillan (Hannah) Hurlburt, great grandson, Dawson; and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents; son, William; husband, Glenn; sister, Joanne Brooks, and brother Lawrence Bishop.
There are no calling hours. A graveside service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 4550 Montgomery Ave, Suite 1100N, Bethesda, MD 20814 or Heaton Woods Residence, 110 Heaton St, Montpelier, VT 05602. The Day Funeral Home in Randolph is assisting with arrangements.
February 5
3:52 pm
Karen Louise Harvey
Karen Louise Harvey died the morning of her 82nd birthday, surrounded by love and family. She was born to Thomas and Elaine Kenney in Flushing, N.Y. on Jan. 26, 1943. She was raised by her mother and stepfather, Walter Rice, in Vermont, where she attended one-room schoolhouses until high school. Memories of this time became stories held close and passed down to her family. Her love for cooking started at a young age and became a lifelong talent.
Karen later moved to Boston to attend university. Her plans changed when she met and fell in love with sailor Fred Harvey. They married in 1963, in Woodstock. Their daughter Leslie was born in 1964, in Newport, R.I. The young family soon moved to Texas — first to Fort Worth, then to McDonald Observatory when Fred was hired by the University of Texas, where they met many of their dearest and lifelong friends. While there, Karen and Fred’s two sons, James Frederick Jr. and Kipling Cowan, were born in Alpine. In 1972, the family was transferred to Austin, where Fred continued his career with UT, while Karen worked in sales. They raised their children with great pride, where their home was a safe haven for all.Karen spent her life cultivating the things she most loved. She had a charming ability to bring friends, family and strangers together with many nights spent around the Harveys’ ever expanding dining table, where invitations to Karen’s “made with love” meals were rarely turned down.
Karen’s knack for storytelling was fostered through her love of reading. Her library card became her passport as she traveled the world through each flip of the page. We think of her twinkly blue eyes fondly, remembering them dancing across pages. She took pride in passing these traits — blue eyes and a love for reading — to her other great love, her grandchildren. She spent hours cuddling them by the fire where she taught them not just how to read, but how to journey into the words on the pages.
Her family will remember Karen with deepest love for the fierce, quick-witted, humorous woman she was. She was proud of her Irish heritage, and her love and dedication for her family and friends will be with them always.
Karen was preceded in death by her beloved son, Kip Harvey; her mother, Elaine Rice, and stepfather Walter Rice; her stepmother, Bernadine Rice; her father Thomas Kenney, and stepmother, Rita Kenney.
She is survived by her husband J. Fred Harvey; daughter Cecilia Clark, and her husband, Charlie Miller; daughter Leslie Harvey and her husband, JF Montminy, and their children, Josephine and Conrad; son J. Harvey, Jr., and wife, Pam; Kip’s children, Katy and Patric Harvey; their mother and her daughter-in-law Virginia Wilcox, her husband Keith, and their daughter, Faith; brother Kevin Rice, his wife Marge and their son Holden; her brother Gordon Rice, his wife Beth, and their children Dylan and Lindsey; and her sisters Ellen, Judy, and Terry Kenney.
Her service will be held on Sunday, Feb. 9, at 3 p.m. at the KMFA Studio, located at 41 Navasota St, Austin, TX, 78702.
In Karen’s memory, donations to the Austin Public Library and Meals on Wheels would be most appreciated.
February 3
1:42 pm
Lois Watson
Lois Watson was born March 30, 1929, in New York City, the daughter of Emanuel and Miriam (Adelson) Behrman.
She graduated from Riverdale Country Day School for Girls and later Middlebury College in 1951 with a BA in French. She was fluent in English, French, Italian and Spanish.
Lois co-founded and operated an international importing business in Miami, FL with her first husband, Saul Eig.
She later married J. Harvey Watson in Miami in 1984, and they golfed and danced their way around the world for 36 years.
She fell in love with flying in 1948 when she flew from Paris to Cannes, FR with her mother and brother. She was a lifetime member of The Ninety-Nines, the international organization of women pilots. She flew all over the world and was certified in single and multi-engine aircraft and had 20 hours of helicopter training. She founded the Eig-Watson School of Aviation at Miami-Dade College. The school offers a dozen FAA-approved college degrees in aviation and provides scholarships for flying hours for commercial pilots to be certified. Her keen interest in education led her to fund scholarships at Miami-Dade College and Middlebury College (Vermont and Monterrey, CA).
She was a generous benefactor of the Norman Williams Public Library, the Thompson Senior Center, Change the World Kids in Woodstock, VT, and the cardiac and audiology departments at Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital. Lois was predeceased by her parents, her brothers Danny and Eugene Behrman, a nephew Thomas Behrman, her first husband Saul Eig, and her second husband J. Harvey Watson. She is survived by a nephew, Peter Behrman DeSinety of Paris, FR, stepchildren James (Joan) Watson, Susan (Jim) Moore, and Richard Watson, along with nine grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. There will be no calling hours at Lois’s request. The interment will be in the family cemetery plot in Taftsville, VT in the spring.
February 3
12:53 pm
Mark Andrew Walker
Mark Andrew Walker, age 83, of Hartland passed away on January 18, 2025, at the VA Hospital in White River Junction, Vt. Mark was born in Hanover, N.H., to William and Eleanor Walker of South Woodstock. Mark graduated from Woodstock Union High School in 1960. Following graduation, he served in the Army in Vietnam.
Mark worked as a carpenter for Savelberg Construction for much of his career. He enjoyed hunting, snowmobiling, building or fixing most anything, being in the woods, spending time with family and friends, and riding the back roads with his little dog.
Mark was a dedicated volunteer for 30 years with the Hartland Hill Hoppers Snowmobile Club and the Windsor County Snowmobile Club, where he groomed and maintained trails and served on the board.
Mark is survived by his two daughters, Ann Lynds and Joanne Besaw and their families, as well as four loving sisters and a large extended family, and great friends, who will all miss him immensely.
A celebration of Mark’s life is planned for the spring.
Memorial contributions can be made to: Hartland Hill Hoppers, Inc., P.O. Box 105, Hartland, VT 05048
February 3
12:50 pm
Marty Hutt
Marty Hutt, aged 58, of Bridgewater, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025.
He attended Woodstock Union High School and moved to Alaska after graduation. Marty lived in Alaska for several years, where he competed in the knee jump event at the World Eskimo Indian Olympics in Cold Bay. He later returned to Bridgewater and worked with Mike Olmstead and the Tartletons in landscaping. Marty then spent years caretaking the Riverside Cemetery in Woodstock, alongside his father, Paul. He loved putting in long days outside on the mower working beside his father. He also enjoyed hobbies such as antiquing, yard saling, treasure hunting, paddle boarding, and fishing.
Marty is survived by his mother, Bertie, his sister Lisa and her husband Mike Olmstead, as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his father, Paul, and his siblings Robin, Chip, and Steve.
Donations in his name can be made to the Riverside Cemetery Association, 32 Rose Hill Rd, Woodstock, Vermont 05091.
A celebration of life is being planned for a later date.
An online guestbook can be found at cabotfh.com.
February 3
12:46 pm
Spencer Mark Field
Spencer Mark Field was born on Oct. 27, 1961, in Hanover, N.H. His life, up until college, was spent in rural North Pomfret. His home was a tapestry of maple-crested mountains, dirt roads, winding rivers, farms, and a one-room schoolhouse.
As a child, his adventurous nature was matched by his inquisitiveness. He would spend his days walking alone to the ski hill for a day of sport or inside for self-imposed study. On one occasion, he dismantled and reassembled an engine out of boredom. Famously, he tucked the face of Sucide Six (local ski hill) in one go. Such skill earned him a place on the mid-Vermont ski team.
He attended and graduated from the University of Vermont, where he built long-lasting bonds with his fraternity brothers. Following graduation and a four-month backpacking trip through Europe, he began a construction company in Rhode Island, married, and started a family.
Throughout his career, he cultivated an extensive knowledge of architecture and engineering, rarely being seen without a textbook on the latest practices. He was a perfectionist to a fault as his work was his art. His greatest achievement was purchasing a large century-old home, splitting it in half and moving it down a narrow winding road in Plum Beach with an audience of onlookers, including the then-Governor! He then spent many days remodeling that house with a constant focus on energy efficiency and architectural integrity. Perfecting what will always be his magnum opus.
The same level of passion extended to his other pursuits: sailing, drumming, the study of history, investing, and winemaking.
He is survived by his daughter, Kathryn Spencer Blanchard, and son Spencer Mark Field II. His memory also lives on through his mother, Andra Zildjian, sister Kristiana Field, brother Peter Field (sp.Claire Toynbee), stepmother Sabra Field, step-siblings Paul Johnson, Craigie Zildjian, Debbie Zildjian, and Robert Zildjian. More recently the addition of his beloved son-in-law Michael Blanchard, grandson Parker Blanchard, and future daughter-in-law Rishma Bhat. He was predeceased by his father, Spencer Albert Field, and stepfather, Armand Zildjian. He also leaves his ex-wife Virginia Field who remained his friend until his last day.
February 3
12:44 pm
Rudolph ‘Rudi’ Michael
Rudolph “Rudi” Michael passed away on January 20, 2025. A free and uninhibited spirit, Rudi was a jester and mentor to a large circle of close and devoted friends, young and old, who join in remembering him for his generosity and his rascally humor.
Rudi was born July 1, 1938 in Plymouth Notch, second of six children, to Arnold and Violette (Derby) Michael. He was educated in the tiny one-room schoolhouse in Plymouth Notch and at Black River High School in Ludlow. After school, Rudi worked for many years alongside his father as a skilled carpenter and all-around tradesman in residential and commercial construction. In “retirement,” Rudi worked far harder than he needed to in his locally famous firewood business and made many friends among his customers for his quirky style and honest dealings.
An avid outdoorsman, Rudi was a near-legend in his younger days as a cunning and deadly deer hunter; he was perhaps even better known as a thrilling and fearless driver, tearing up the roads in chrome and tailfins. In time he made peace with the deer and became famous for poking along in his creaky old wood truck. A voracious reader and keen student of history and politics, Rudi was host to countless front-porch debates on every topic under the sun.
Rudi was predeceased by his father and mother and by all five of his brothers and sisters: Rodney Michael, Ralph Michael, Marguerita (Maggie) Hutt, Marilyn (Lyn) Seward, and Mary Ann (Nan) Underhill.
He is survived by nieces and nephews, his many tried-and-true friends, and above all, his beloved dog, Breken.
January 30
1:29 pm
David J. Mayhew
David J. Mayhew, 82, died Saturday, Jan. 25, at McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, Vt., following a lengthy battle with cancer.
David was born May 10, 1942, in Burlington, Vt., the son of Alfred and Arlene (Doolittle) Mayhew. The family lived for a time in Woodstock, VT, before moving to Hartland, Vt. in 1953, where he grew up.
At the age of fourteen, David developed a keen interest in technology and electronics. He famously ran a telephone line from his parents’ property across a river to his friend’s house, using crank telephones so they could always communicate. In his senior year of high school, he served as the president of the Audio-Visual Club and graduated from Windsor High School in 1960. After high school, he attended technical school to further his knowledge of electronics.
David worked at Bunker Ramo in Trumbull, Ct., helping design and install security systems for large companies and government contracts. After the Honeywell merger in the early 2010s, he moved to Shelbyville, Ky., and continued working until his retirement.
David was a member of the First Christian Church in Shelbyville. He also volunteered with Veterans Rural Outreach, building homes for homeless veterans, and at the Serenity Center Food Bank. He found great joy in giving back to his community. In his spare time, he could often be found tinkering with electrical projects, either for fun or to help solve an unusual problem.
David is preceded in death by his sister, Ellen Hart (Mayhew). He is survived by her husband and his childhood friend, Eugene C. Driscoll, Jr., of Hartland, Vt.; two nephews, Eugene C. Driscoll III and wife Jennifer of Lebanon, Nh., and Gavin D. Driscoll and wife Melanie of Windsor, Vt.; niece, Sarah J. Driscoll of White River Junction, Vt.; two great-nephews; and other relatives and friends.
A visitation will be held Thursday, Feb. 13, from 1-2 pm at the Knight Funeral Home in Windsor, followed immediately by a funeral service at the funeral home at 2 pm. A burial will be held in the spring at the Hartland Village Cemetery. Condolences may be expressed to David’s family in an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Veterans Rural Outreach, 506 Bradshaw Street, Shelbyville, KY 40065, Serenity Center, 98 7th St., Shelbyville, KY 40065, or to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741.
January 28
11:52 am
Mary B. Thorne-Thomsen
Mary B. Thorne-Thomsen died peacefully on Dec. 22, 2024, surrounded by loving family and friends at Christmastime. She was 46 years old. Affectionately known as Mary B. or B., Mary had a clever sense of humor and loved to sing and socialize. Her favorite moments were spent conversing in her own language with whomever she could tempt with a cheerful “how are you?” Mary lit up her world with an exuberant spirit and endured her hardships with resilience. She thought sneezing was hilarious and had perfect singing pitch.
Mary lived her early years with her parents, Catherine (Kit) Harwood and John Thorne-Thomsen, Sr., her sister Laurie, and her brother John in South Woodstock and then Norwich, Vt. In addition to family and friends, Mary was blessed with a remarkable community of caregivers and special needs pros who helped her thrive from early childhood on. Mary’s family is particularly grateful to everyone who cared for her at the Camphill School in Pennsylvania, Four Winds Community in Temple, N.H., and Upper Valley Services in Bradford, Vt.
In recent years, Mary lived in Monroe with her UVS homecare provider, Shelley Williams. Mary’s years as part of Shelley’s family were filled with love, good company, and lots of pugs. Everyone in the wider community knew Mary, or Mare Bear, as Shelley’s grandkids christened her. Mary B. was deeply loved and will be missed. She leaves behind the Williams family, her sister, Laurie Schuur Duncan, brother John Thorne-Thomsen, Jr., both her parents, and a wide circle of family and friends. Sometimes the universe gives the gift of uncomplicated, unconditional love that brings light and purpose to life, and sweet, funny B. was that for many of us who knew her.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s honor to the Vermont Food Bank will be gladly welcome. Letters of condolence for Mary’s family may be mailed in care of her sister Laurie at 1911 Calle Caliche, Austin TX, 78733. An online guest book is available to leave Mary’s friends and family a message of condolence by visiting www.rickerfh.com. Ricker Funeral Home & Cremation Care of Woodsville is assisting the family with arrangements.
January 21
11:13 am
Joyce Ann White
Joyce Ann White, aka “Gee,” “The Great Geezer,” and “The Force,” passed from this life on Jan. 15, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family and with her daughter by her side. Formerly of Brownsville and Plainville, Mass., Joyce was born in Johnston, R.I., the cherished daughter of Howard and Doris Randall.
She grew up in Greenville, Rhode Island with her parents, family, friends and her beloved older sister, Elaine. She was an active member of the Greenville Baptist Church where she sang in the choir and graduated from Smithfield High School.
Joyce married the love of her life, Earl A. White, in 1955 and they celebrated 65 years together before his passing in 2020.
She loved her family above all else and was happiest amongst her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She taught them that camping meant the Hilton, never to buy wool-blend, how to demolish a lobster, that it was always 5 o’clock somewhere and, most of all, to love unconditionally.
A kidney transplant recipient of 17 years, her only regret was not being able to pass that gift on at the time of her death.
Joyce is survived by her daughter Patricia Kurtzhalz and adored son-in-law Chuck of Brownsville; her son Earl White and daughter-in-law Kathy of Charlestown, N.H.; granddaughter Annalise Ennis, husband Jade, and great-granddaughter and mini-me Helen Joyce of Brownsville; granddaughter Gelsey Tolosa, husband Ben and great-granddaughters Brianna, Hazel, and MacKenzie of New London, N.H.; and grandson Kristian Kurtzhalz, wife Nikki, and great-grandchildren Sterling and Nash of Brownsville.
She is also survived by her step-grandson John Downs, wife Liz, and children Ryan and Emma of Hanover, Mass.; step-grandson Lt. Commander Chad Downs, wife Stephanie, and children Boston and Sullivan of Norfolk, Va.; and her step-granddaughter Lindsey Downs, fiancé Mike Noble, and children Cameron, Morgan, and Maisyn of Naples, Fla.; many beloved nephews, nieces, godchildren, and her daughter-in-heart, Mary Gavin and husband Mike of Grantham, N.H.
A celebration of Joyce’s life will be held in the spring. Margaritas will be raised in tribute.
Knight Funeral Home of Windsor, Vt. has been entrusted with arrangements and online condolences are appreciated at knightfuneralhomes.com.
Annual Appeal
September 19
9:41 am
The Standard is a 'window' to our wonderful world--let's keep it open
By Dan Cotter, Publisher
Choosing the centerpiece photo to appear on the front page of the paper is one of the highlights of the week for those who work at the Standard.
Through the years, deciding on this photo was something longtime publisher Phil Camp relished. Each Tuesday morning, the Standard’s page designer printed out and displayed all the best images that our photographers had captured in their assignments, along with any photos that were provided by community organizations that held events during the week, or even photos submitted by readers. There might be dozens of choices. Phil delighted in his weekly ritual of looking through all of them and picking his favorite. Others on the staff weighed in as well. Today we still do a similar ritual, only we do it digitally rather than with printouts.
It’s fun, but picking the cover photo is also an important decision. That picture will be the very first thing readers see when they pick up the latest edition of the Standard.
Photos of kids, whether at a community event or participating in sports, nearly always make the final cut. And you can never go wrong with a picture of a cute dog. Here in Vermont, photos of birds, horses, sheep, and oxen are fair game too. And of course, photos shot at the scene of the week’s news stories — such as a fire or other emergency, a public meeting or vote, a performance or festival, a construction site, etc. — are always strong contenders.
To me, our weekly photo ritual pretty well symbolizes what our Annual Appeal is all about. The Vermont Standard is essentially a snapshot of life this week here in our community. Just as it has been every week for the last 171 years.
And we’re trying to preserve that. Beyond the front page, the Standard is filled with articles and photos that document and describe how life is playing out right here in our community. There’s no wire copy or state or national news in this paper. Just original reporting about the people here. The happenings here. The decisions made or the ones we need to make here. The triumphs and tragedies that take place here. What’s beginning, what ended, and what’s just plodding along. Here. This week.
The paper paints a portrait that helps everyone in our community process, celebrate, and commemorate what we’re going through together. It’s about our friends, our neighbors, our kids, our characters, our heroes. Every single week, the Standard tells a new unique story about our life as it’s unfolding right here. Like a window into our world.
The Standard is the only entity that endeavors to create this mirror image of life playing out in our beautiful communities. Both in print and online, the Standard is the one comprehensive local news source just for us; that we can all enjoy. One we can trust. A common experience for the people here in this place. For those who care about this place.
We believe that’s incredibly valuable. Other communities have lost their paper – whether it has gone out of business or whether it has become so diminished that it’s hardly worth reading. Those communities are left with a void. At some level, they become “news deserts” that don’t have a reliable source of credible local information. There, misinformation, which is often spread via social media, goes unchecked, and even worse, forces with dubious agendas emerge to purposely spread disinformation. Communities like that have experienced increased polarization and a decline in civic engagement.
But here, we’ve still got a quality paper that informs and connects our citizens in a positive way. And we’ve worked to make the Standard even better in recent years. Even though advertising revenue is no longer sufficient to sustain it, we think the Standard is special and worth saving.
To keep it going, though, we need everyone to chip in. We’re asking you today for your help now before it’s too late. We need tax-deductible contributions to our Woodstock Region Journalism Foundation so that it can help fund the Standard.
Today is the end of our 4-week annual appeal, but our need in the coming year is 52 weeks long. And we intend to preserve the Standard so that it can forever continue to provide quality local journalism for our wonderful community, which counts on it to be the weekly window into our own little corner of the world.
Our need is urgent, and we are deeply appreciative of anything you’re willing to do to help us. If you’d like, Phil and I would be grateful for an opportunity to meet with you to talk more about our need and our plans. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at dcotter@thevermontstandard.com or (802) 457-1313.
We sincerely hope you’ll join us in our mission by contributing to this year’s 2024 annual appeal.
Also, if you have a family foundation, please consider adding the Woodstock Region Journalism Foundation (EIN: 93-3287932) to the worthwhile causes you regularly support.
The Foundation is a public charity so your gift will be fully tax-deductible.
Your donation will be utilized in the form of project grants to support the Vermont Standard’s mission to inform, connect, and educate our community on issues of public importance.
If you’re willing to make a tax-deductible donation to our 2024 Annual Appeal, please send a check to PO Box 88, Woodstock, VT 05091, or go to our Vermont Standard THIS WEEK website at www.thevermontstandard.com to make a contribution with your credit card. Be sure to make your check out to the “ Woodstock Region Journalism Foundation.”
September 12
7:54 am
A letter to our readers
To our readers,
The Vermont Standard Annual Appeal is the one time each year when we come right out and ask for your help with our mission to preserve quality local journalism for our community.
We believe that an informed public is essential if a community like ours is to have a well-functioning democracy. We think credible journalism – the local news, information, and community connection that only a local newspaper provides – is necessary to maintain the quality of life here.
Unfortunately, newspapers throughout the country are going out of business at a rate of more than two per week, and many of those that are still functioning have been debilitated.
The 171-year-old Vermont Standard is our state’s oldest weekly newspaper and at this point, it’s rather unique. To this day, it continues to provide high-quality journalism in print and online to Woodstock and the surrounding towns that the paper serves -– including Hartland, Pomfret, Bridgewater, Barnard, Quechee, Reading, West Windsor, Plymouth and points beyond. In recent years we’ve taken steps to improve the Standard’s coverage, and it has been repeatedly recognized as the best small weekly newspaper in New England.
It’s worth saving.
Professional, ethical, accurate, and fair journalism that you can trust is needed now more than ever in a society dominated by social media echo chambers, political and social division, and the proliferation of misinformation. As seen elsewhere, losing the local newspaper diminishes residents’ civic engagement and leaves a void in the community that bad actors with a cynical agenda often rush in to fill with disinformation campaigns.
Unlike most others, the Standard is an independent newspaper. We are purpose-driven rather than profit-driven. The Standard delivers a colorful, comprehensive local news report in print each Thursday, as well as online updates all week long. Nearly all articles and photos in the Standard are original reporting by our tiny staff, freelancers and volunteers. The community embraces this paper – circulation is strong and steady.
But, just like newspapers throughout the country, the Standard is struggling to remain economically viable.
The smaller, locally-owned businesses that traditionally supported local news organizations with their advertising have been replaced by chains, big box stores, and online sellers that do not actively support community journalism. Classified ads for homes, cars, jobs, and used merchandise are no longer a substantial source of funding for local news because they are now often run online instead.
The Standard, which already operates on a shoestring, has resisted the strategy embraced by so many newspapers across our nation to further strip down its small operation to bare bones, to the point that it can’t get the job done. Instead, we are striving to preserve the Standard as a quality news operation that can continue doing the job serving our community.
Funding local journalism now largely depends on philanthropic support from civic-minded residents who care deeply about this community and recognize the value the Standard brings to the table.
In the past year, a small local board has established a 501(c)(3) public charity called the Woodstock Region Journalism Foundation to help ensure that our community will always have quality local journalism to inform and connect our neighbors; to help ensure the Standard keeps going. All donations to the foundation are tax-deductible.
Preserving the Standard is obviously important to the Greater Woodstock community. But this also has bigger implications.
Most local newspapers are on the brink of insolvency even though they are still the primary entities America counts on to cover local news and inform our citizens — especially in smaller towns. The newspapers are every bit as important to the functioning, spirit and soul of those towns as their public library, their theaters, their churches, and other vital institutions. We must find a way, both collectively and individually, to keep credible local journalism alive. The future of our communities and democracy depends on it.
If there is any one place in the country where residents truly appreciate and embrace both their community and their newspaper, it’s here. If our community can’t find a way to sustain its local journalism, there’s probably little hope for most others.
We sincerely hope you’ll consider making a contribution to this year’s 2024 annual appeal. Our need is quite urgent, to say the least, and we are profoundly grateful for anything you can do to help us.
The Foundation is a public charity so your gift will be fully tax-deductible.
Your donation will be utilized in the form of project grants to support the Vermont Standard’s mission to inform, connect, and educate our community on issues of public importance.
If you’re able to help, please send a check to PO Box 88, Woodstock, VT 05091. Be sure to make your check out to the “Woodstock Region Journalism Foundation.” Or go to our Vermont Standard THIS WEEK website at www.thevermontstandard.com to make a contribution with your credit card.
Also, if you have a family foundation, we hope you’ll add the Woodstock Region Journalism Foundation (EIN: 93-3287932) to the worthwhile causes you regularly support.
We consider it a great honor that you trust and count on the Standard to cover local news in our community. We can’t thank you enough for your friendship, your readership, and your support of this worthwhile mission we’re pursuing.
Phil Camp, president Dan Cotter, publisher
September 5
6:55 am
We invite you to join us on a hero’s journey
By Dan Cotter, publisher
“So, how’s Phil?”
I get that a lot. Oftentimes, just when I’m about finished talking on the phone with someone from Woodstock or the surrounding towns they inquire about my good friend and partner in publishing the Vermont Standard, Phil Camp – the 88-year-old lifelong resident of our community who is its most enthusiastic booster.
The callers know that he battles the health ailments that often come at his age, and then some. I typically reassure them that he remains unfailingly positive, no matter the challenges that he or the Standard faces.
Not too long ago, a caller signed off by saying something to the effect of, “You know, in our house we regard Phil as a hero.”
That’s not surprising. There’s something pretty darn heroic about a guy who dearly loves his town and has wholeheartedly dedicated the last fifty years to making sure it has a quality news source to inform and connect its citizens. Despite the advertising revenue loss that threatens its viability. Despite the flood, fire, and pandemic that made things even more difficult. Despite his own health challenges. He still wants nothing more than just to see the Standard continue to thrive into the future.
I’m reminded of another local publisher, Tim Calabro at the Herald in neighboring Randolph, who I read about recently in a story published by Seven Days. He bought his hometown paper about ten years ago, but these days, the article said his publisher duties include being the editorial director, selectboard correspondent, staff photographer, newspaper deliveryman in the early morning hours, building repairman, and head of finance, among no doubt many other roles he juggles as he strives to keep the paper afloat.
He told Seven Days reporter Rachel Hellman, “I would be really upset if this community didn’t have a newspaper. I would be OK not being the person who ran that newspaper, but I don’t see anyone else who is particularly willing or capable of doing it. So, I kind of feel like I have to do this for as long as I can.”
And Tim is certainly not alone. Independent newspaper publishers here in Vermont and throughout New England and the rest of the country all find themselves trying to hang in there — despite the intense pressure and red ink — trying to do whatever it takes to continue producing credible, quality local journalism that serves as the glue for their beloved communities.
Some would question why Phil, Tim, and the rest of us are continuing to shoulder the responsibility for keeping local news flowing and the lights on. It’s a steep uphill battle and it’s obviously not for the money (whenever I see my financial planner I simply avoid making eye contact…)
At some level, there’s patriotism and a devotion to what we see as our job to help foster a cohesive, informed community that has a reliable place to turn for fair and accurate information that residents need to make good decisions, both personally and collectively. There’s also Phil’s passion and mine that the Standard should be a news source, both in print and digital formats, where people can get to know about — and be inspired by — their neighbors’ accomplishments; one that reveals and celebrates the many occurrences in our day-to-day lives here that are so uplifting.
And then there’s that point in each week when the Standard rolls off the press, and what started as a blank page just days ago is now full of local news articles, photos, entertaining and educational feature stories, local personality profiles, opinion columns, town correspondents’ reports, announcements, listings of things to do for fun, local obituaries, bits of news and ads from local businesses and organizations, and the stories of our children’s triumphs in school and in sports.
I think that’s when we are most reminded why we do this.
This is important. The Standard is the only medium that produces this for our community. If we’re no longer viable, all of that will cease to exist.
Whether or not local publishers working against the odds to sustain this weekly miracle are truly “heroic” is probably best judged in the eye of the beholder. But it’s certain that all the responsibility for preserving local journalism can’t fall only on the shoulders of the publishers. That’s just not sustainable.
As Phil has often said, this paper belongs to the community.
We sincerely hope you’ll consider joining us on this journey by contributing to this year’s 2024 annual appeal. When all is said and done, my friends, you’re the real heroes that our community is counting on.
Also, if you have a family foundation, we hope you’ll consider adding the Woodstock Region Journalism Foundation (EIN: 93-3287932) to the worthwhile causes you regularly support.
The Foundation is a public charity so your gift will be fully tax-deductible.
Your donation will be utilized in the form of project grants to support the Vermont Standard’s mission to inform, connect, and educate our community on issues of public importance.
Our need is quite urgent, and we are profoundly grateful for anything you can do to help us with this mission.
If you’re willing to make a tax-deductible donation to our 2024 Annual Appeal, please send a check to PO Box 88, Woodstock, VT 05091, or go to our Vermont Standard THIS WEEK website at www.thevermontstandard.com to make a contribution with your credit card. Be sure to make your check out to the “Woodstock Region Journalism Foundation.”
August 29
6:56 am
With astonishment and gratitude, the Standard begins our 2024 annual appeal
By Dan Cotter, publisher
Labor Day is coming up, signaling a time of year that’s taken on new meaning for the Vermont Standard and the Woodstock Region Journalism Foundation. This point in the calendar when we honor our nation’s workers is also when we begin our four-week Annual Appeal to raise funds to keep quality local journalism flowing for Woodstock and the surrounding towns that the Standard serves in Windsor County.
By now, most everyone knows that newspapers have been struggling mightily – despite the fact that communities throughout the nation still count on them to employ the journalists who are primarily responsible for covering local news. The main problem has been the evaporation of much of the advertising revenue that traditionally supported local journalism.
Those who advertised in newspapers through the years were typically smaller, local businesses, which in many cases have fallen prey to competition from chains, big box stores, and online sellers (like Amazon). Many of them have now been bought up by bigger regional or national operations or they closed down.
Classified section advertisers also pulled back on the ads they ran in newspapers for jobs, cars, real estate, and used merchandise when online options, which are often free, became available.
So, this left local newsrooms all across the country without much of a funding mechanism. Many sold out to national newspaper chains owned by corporations or hedge funds that proceeded to gut the paper’s staff and resources in a cynical attempt to squeeze out what little profit might be left. Other papers just closed their doors as their financial losses piled up.
So far, the country has lost about a third of its newspapers — almost 3,000 have gone out of business in the past twenty years, and we’re currently on pace to continue losing more than two per week. More than 200 counties now have no credible, comprehensive local news source. They call those places “news deserts.”
To make matters worse, while many other communities still have a local newspaper, it has been reduced to just a shadow of its former self because corporate scavengers “right-sized” it, leaving the paper incapable of performing its duty for its community.
However, there are still some independent publishers in small communities like ours who know that we cannot have a well-functioning democracy if the public isn’t adequately informed. They know that a local newspaper is entrusted with reporting about the issues that matter. They also know that communities function better — and the quality of life is better — if people know what’s going on and if they know and appreciate each other. So, those publishers are finding ways to keep the lights on at their newspaper any way they can, while at the same time attempting to create new revenue streams that could help sustain their local journalism in the future.
The Standard is one of those newspapers.
Last year, the Woodstock Region Journalism Foundation was formed as a public charity to raise funds to help ensure that our community won’t become the next news desert. The Foundation is dedicated primarily to preserving the Standard and its role in informing citizens and supporting democracy in our area well into the future. We’re not trying to merely keep some semblance of a diminished newspaper alive here. We’re trying to preserve a good, trustworthy, 171-year-old purveyor of local news and information (both in print and digital formats) that our community can continue to rely upon and be proud of. We believe that having fair-minded, professionally produced local journalism is extremely important to maintaining the quality of life here.
And we are not alone in this effort. There are still businesses here that help pay for your local journalism with their advertising in the Standard and its ancillary publications. Any business or organization that advertises is doing more than just promoting a service, sale or event – it is also showing you that it cares about this community, that it wants a thriving, strong democracy here.
The Woodstock Region Journalism Foundation has a board made up of a small cadre of local residents who fully recognize and appreciate the value the Standard provides. Of course, Phil Camp and I are on the board too. We are extremely fortunate to have these board partners in the trenches with us as we chart the path forward.
Increasingly, though, we’re finding that those who care most deeply about our community are the same ones taking action to also care for its journalism. Some newspapers in the U.S. have been fortunate to have a rich owner – such as Jeff Bezos at the Washington Post or John Henry at the Boston Globe. Those owners are doing a fine job of sustaining quality journalism in their metropolitan areas. But here, we’ve got our own benefactors who are largely responsible for why the Standard is still alive. I’ve found that these wonderful, caring people fall into three categories.
First, we have a sizable group of very kind donors who truly appreciate the important role local journalism plays in our community and they step up to take part in our annual appeals each year. Their donations vary in size from a modest amount to hundreds of dollars. We couldn’t be more grateful to these supporters. Our hearts leap a little each time we open their envelopes or receive notice of their credit card contribution. Their donations add up to a significant amount that has literally sustained our journalism. We simply could not keep going without you. We regard each donation we receive not only as sustenance but also a pat on the back that encourages us to “keep trying, keep going.” And we will.
We also have a smaller number of major donors who dig deep and send us large donations that make a very big difference for us. Their donations go a long way in helping us make ends meet – some of their individual contributions alone can pay a substantial bill or help supplement our cash flow during the slowest advertising times of the year. These very generous donors have an outsized influence on our ability to provide the community with quality journalism. Rest assured, we know each of you by name and we count our blessings each day to have you on our side.
And speaking of blessings, we also have a select few who have literally taken on this mission, shoulder-to-shoulder, with Phil and me and the Foundation board. These donors are guardian angels for our community who have done some very heavy lifting, providing substantial funds to help us not only survive for today but also to strengthen our organization so that we can build the new revenue streams we need to sustain us in the future. I can assure you that there would not be a Standard today for you to read without their extremely generous assistance. Some of these friends also help us spread our message and encourage others to support us. We really have no words to adequately express our gratitude to them – we’re simply astonished at the love they’ve shown to us and to this community.
We sincerely hope you’ll join us in this year’s 2024 annual appeal. And for those who have a family foundation, we hope you’ll consider adding the Woodstock Region Journalism Foundation to the worthwhile causes you regularly support.
The Foundation is a public charity so your gift will be fully tax-deductible.
Your donation will be utilized in the form of project grants to support the Vermont Standard’s mission to inform, connect, and educate our community on issues of public importance.
Our need is quite urgent, to say the least. We are profoundly grateful for anything you can do to help us with this mission.
If you’re willing to make a tax-deductible donation to our 2024 Annual Appeal, please send a check to PO Box 88, Woodstock, VT 05091, or go to our Vermont Standard THIS WEEK website at www.thevermontstandard.com to make a contribution with your credit card. Be sure to make your check out to the “Woodstock Region Journalism Foundation.”
August 29
5:45 am
Now it’s official -- IRS approves Journalism Foundation as public charity, donations are tax deductible
By Dan Cotter, publisher
A huge sigh of relief and a fist pump were my first reactions, as well as a gaze skyward as I mouthed the words “thank you!” The tears welling up in my older friend’s eyes were his response when I told him.
Then we shared a long, hard hug.
After lots of research and preparation, and then six months of waiting for the application to be processed, Phil Camp and I recently learned that the IRS has approved the Woodstock Region Journalism Foundation’s application for tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) and deemed the Foundation to be a public charity.
The approval wasn’t in much doubt, really. But now it’s official.
The Foundation was established last August and it is primarily dedicated to preserving the Vermont Standard and its role in informing citizens and supporting democracy in our area well into the future. The Foundation has a board made up of local residents who care deeply about our community and the value local journalism provides. Phil and I are on the board too. Together, we’re working to keep the 171-year-old Vermont Standard going while taking steps to position the paper’s print and digital journalism for long-term sustainability.
Recognizing the critical role the Standard plays in informing and connecting our community, this Foundation wants to avoid letting our area become a “news desert,” as has happened in hundreds of other places throughout the US in recent years. Newspapers like the Standard are currently dying off at a pace of 2.5 per week. Nor do we want to end up like the hundreds of cities and towns where profit-seeking corporations that have no devotion to the public welfare have acquired their local paper and stripped it of its resources, to the point that it is only a pathetic shadow of its former self and incapable of doing its job.
Providing accurate, credible, reliable news and information to its audience is a local news organization’s primary role. A functioning democracy requires an informed, engaged public. The Woodstock Region Journalism Foundation’s board members, advisors and friends will help Phil and I in our mission to raise enough money to keep quality journalism flowing here.
So, I’m glad to report that any donation you’ve made to the Woodstock Region Journalism Foundation to support the Standard’s mission to inform, connect, and educate our community on issues of public importance is indeed tax-deductible dating back to the inception of the Foundation in late August 2023, as all donations will be going forward.
At 88 years old, Phil feels a real sense of urgency about making sure that our community will always have local journalism – especially given the 40+ years he’s dedicated to leading the paper and his unrivaled love for Woodstock and its surrounding towns. We know we’re in a race against the clock. But now, with the Foundation’s charity status and your tax deduction confirmed, we hope there will be even more support from donors and family foundations that will help us accomplish this very important mission.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your encouragement and generosity. If you would like to contribute to our Annual Appeal, please send us a check at PO Box 88, Woodstock, VT 05091, or go to our Vermont Standard THIS WEEK website at https://thevermontstandard.com/annual-appeal/ to make a contribution with your credit card. Please be sure to make your check out to the “Woodstock Region Journalism Foundation.”
August 29
5:05 am
Hard to imagine Woodstock without the Standard
“View From Here”
By Sandy Gilmour, Woodstock resident
If you are reading this column right now, that’s good news for the community. It means you probably paid for this paper, hard copy or online, maybe even made a donation to it, and value its contribution to our lives in Woodstock and surrounding areas. We are so fortunate to have the Vermont Standard week in and week out. For years, small-town dailies and weeklies have been closing their doors, leaving communities without a soul. Papers like the Standard are dying off at the rate of two per week across America.
Such towns are called “news deserts.” Imagine weeks, months and years going by with no professional reporting on selectboards, trustees, school boards, taxes and roads. Zero stories about public school events, sports, student accomplishments, obituaries, gardening tips, neighborly cooking advice, local history, and no reports from towns from Brownsville to Pomfret.
We would know next to nothing about the interminable Peace Field Farm restaurant delay, the Ottauquechee Trail head fiasco, the high-stakes Woodstock Foundation controversy and the fatal shooting off Central Street, including the bravery of Woodstock Police Sgt. Joe Swanson. In my view, these stories have been really well reported.
To not get these stories delivered to us every week would be a news desert right in verdant Woodstock, for sure, a gaping hole left to be filled by rumor and mis- and dis-information, the precursors of community dissolution. So we are blessed indeed to have had the Vermont Standard around — nonstop — since 1853, and owned by beloved Woodstocker Phil Camp, now 87, since 1981.
But as Mr. Camp has pointed out many times over the years, the paper’s solvency hangs on a thread and now more than ever. In hundreds of towns across America, owners, beleaguered by losing subscribers and advertising to social media, simply folded or sold out to hedge funds and private equity firms, whose investors are bereft of community values. Not Phil Camp. He has always said, “I never sold out. I’m never giving up.” He made up for past deficits (difference between expenses, like staff, and income from subscriptions and ads) out of company savings from better times, week after week. He stayed with it after being flooded out by Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 and being burned out by the Central Street fire of 2018 (taking out his camera and snapping photos of the flames and rubble).
The paper was in dire straits when COVID hit, saved by the forgiven federal PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) loans through 2021, when the largesse ended. Then beginning in January 2022, the community stepped up, responding to a fundraising appeal. I was rather stunned to learn from the Standard’s publisher, Dan Cotter, that the paper’s annual shortfall of $150,000-$200,000 is being covered by donations from local Woodstock residents. There are many (and appreciated) donations in the $50-$100-$200 range, but really heavy lifting is being done by donors of means who, Mr. Cotter says, highly value the contribution local journalism makes to communities. Several of these more-than-generous and anonymous donors contribute $20-25,000 and more — each — and, Mr. Cotter says, without any hint of trying to influence coverage. Without them, surely there would be no Vermont Standard in the mailbox or online, just the unreliable grapevine. At the same time, the paper is moving to create other revenue streams, including an online advertising app for Woodstock happenings and a magazine, in addition to improving thevermontstandard.com website for go-to news.
Still, the operation is bare bones. It seems to me a miracle the paper “hits the streets” without fail every Thursday with some pretty good and important stories that we need to know about, and many features that are good to know about. And there are just two, count them, two, full-time staffers who report stories: the seasoned and prolific Tom Ayres, and Tess Hunter, who is also the managing editor. Ms. Hunter says reporter staffing is the big issue; she has on hand freelance contract reporters that can be assigned to stories if they are available and if they want to spend the evening at yet another unexciting if important selectboard meeting. “It’s a constant juggling act,” Ms. Hunter told me, “between finding the right person for the story and just getting people to say ‘yes.’” Still, she is committed, saying, “Without us making the attempt, there would be no common base of understanding and little sense of the community spirit of the area or the hard news happening within it.”
Volunteer contributors are crucial; regular community writers like Jennifer Falvey (insightful musings on life) and Kurt Stauder (pointed political observations) are popular. Mary Lee Camp’s business column is relentlessly informative.
Other key staff are listed in the box below — lean and spare!
Publisher and editorial content director Dan Cotter, 64, hired by Mr. Camp in 2018 after years of informal consulting for the Standard, is not a household name in Woodstock, though he is hands-on every issue. He owns a condo in the area and is here about half the month, returning to his home and wife in Chicago for the remainder. He has decades in the industry as an executive and consultant, was head of the New England Newspaper and Press Association, and takes a no-nonsense hard line on newspaper independence and objectivity. It’s an unusual situation but Mr. Camp, still the president of the company, has total confidence in Mr. Cotter and has turned over the Vermont Standard, its operation, assets and its future, to his close friend. Mr. Camp has indeed not “given up,” but hopes to ensure his dear newspaper’s future with this arrangement.
So where does the Standard go now? Around the country, journalists are reinventing newspapers and online reporting. The most promising seems to be the non-profit model, where deductible contributions from community-minded supporters can be made even as the publication accepts subscription fees and what advertising there is left. There are indications that the Standard is moving in this direction, and the sooner the better, in my view. When I pressed Publisher Cotter on the issue, he responded with this very encouraging comment:
“In the past couple of years, members of the community have literally kept the Standard alive with their donations — and a handful of them have given very substantial sums, even without the benefit of a tax break. That’s how much they value the role our local journalism plays in the quality of life in our area. We are working now to put the paper on a path to where donors could indeed have a tax benefit. For it is essential to our democracy and our own survival that we have the financial support we need from the community to maintain a news organization — modest as it is — that’s capable of producing good local journalism that adequately informs our citizens.”
I can’t imagine Woodstock without the Vermont Standard. The new business model provides great hope the paper will not only survive but as a Woodstock-based non-profit, continue to expand coverage to benefit all of us in this great community.
Note: This (unpaid) column originated with me alone!
Sandy Gilmour is a retired NBC News correspondent who lives in Woodstock.
August 29
5:00 am