The Woodstock Village Meeting, slated for March 17, is rapidly approaching, and two seats on the Board of Trustees are up for election. This week, the current chair of the trustees, Seton McIlroy, confirmed to the Standard that she will not be running for re-election, nor will fellow board member Frank Horneck. 

Meanwhile, two Woodstock Village residents have submitted nominating petitions to be put on the ballot for the two open seats — Stephen Stuntz for a three-year term and Jamie Fox for a two-year term. 

The annual village balloting is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with the Village Meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the town hall on March 17. 

McIlroy, on her decision not to seek reelection, told the Standard in a text message, “I’ve decided not to run but am proud of what our board has accomplished over the past six years. I look forward to continuing to contribute to this community I love through Pride of Woodstock and parenting two kids in our public schools.” 

Although she made no mention of it, a $5 million lawsuit has been filed against the village, her, municipal manager Eric Duffy, and others locally in Vermont Superior Court by Woodstock Police Chief Joe Swanson over efforts to demote him last year. 

Horneck did not respond to requests for comment by deadline. He was initially named as a defendant in the lawsuit, but a state judge ruled he was immune. 

Kitty Mears Koar, Woodstock Village admin assistant and administrative coordinator to the boards and commissions, confirmed to the Standard that both Stuntz and Fox submitted their petitions for candidacy before the Feb. 9 deadline, complete with 19 signatures each from fellow village residents, indicating support for each candidate. Stuntz and Fox only needed nine signatures to qualify, Koar said.

For more on this, please see our Feb. 19 edition of the Vermont Standard. 

The selectboard members in Weathersfield have voted unanimously to cancel the town’s patrol contract with the Windsor County Sheriff’s Department, and the community is looking to join with Reading and Cavendish to form a regional police force.

The possible creation of the Mount Ascutney Regional Police Department will be discussed during a joint meeting of officials from the three municipalities on Thursday, Feb. 26, at the Town Hall on U.S. 5 in Ascutney.

The meeting is planned for 6:30 p.m. and will be on Zoom to encourage public involvement across the three towns.

The regional proposal comes in the wake of the arrest of Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer on seven criminal charges, including sexual misconduct. The Vermont State Police criminal investigation began with questions about finances within the sheriff’s department, but soon spread to other issues.

Palmer has agreed to step back and leave the department in the hands of former longtime Chief Deputy Sheriff Claude Weyant. Weyant has said the department is still continuing to do its work, including patrol contracts, court security, prisoner transports, and serving legal papers.

But some towns are looking for a new alternative.

Weathersfield Town Manager Brandon W. Gulnick told the Vermont Standard on Tuesday he has been in discussion with Cavendish Town Manager Richard Chambers and Reading Selectboard chair Bob Allen about their law enforcement concerns.

Weathersfield, which for many years had its own municipal police department, signed a five-year patrol contract with the sheriff’s department starting June 1, 2025. It called for 100 hours of patrols per week, but there was a provision for up to about 20 more hours a week for emergency calls.

For more on this, please see our Feb. 19 edition of the Vermont Standard. 

On Monday, Feb. 9, eleven people were arrested during a protest in Williston, including several residents of our area. The protest took place at a facility in the Williston White Cap Industrial Park that houses a large digital surveillance office run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

The eleven protestors arrested included three who reside in the Upper Valley — Karen Bixler, age 83, of Bethel; Douglas Smith, age 85, of Sharon; and Donald Kollisch, age 74, of Hanover; along with Laura Simon (72) of White River Junction, who was issued a citation on a charge of criminal trespassing at the scene and released. 

In the aftermath of the protest, the Standard spoke with Bixler about why she chose to protest at this specific facility, why she stayed long enough to get arrested, and what she hopes to see from her region, the state, and the nation moving forward. 

For more on this, please see our Feb. 19 edition of the Vermont Standard. 

By Justin Bigos, Staff Writer

The East Barnard Community Hall needs a new roof, as well as ADA-certified accessibility, and they are asking for the public’s help to make the necessary renovations. Donations contributed before Feb. 28 can be matched up to $5,000, according to the East Barnard Community Club (EBCC) website, which states, “Two families are offering to match gifts given by community members to the Roof Fund to renovate and insulate the Hall roof. You’ll help the EBCC preserve this unique structure and allow this community resource to be used year-round. Your donation will enhance the Hall’s position as the centerpoint of village life, and help counter the isolation brought on by winter weather.”

 “The anchor of the valley, socially over many generations, has been this little Community Hall that started out as a wood shop and a store,” Thistle Cone, chair of the fundraising committee for the EBCC, told the Standard when recounting the history of the Community Hall. “In 1907, it became the location where they had the East Barnard Grange. Granges were a kind of a social movement that had to do with supporting agricultural communities. It started right after the Civil War, and there were Grange halls all over the country that had various purposes, but for the most part, it was kind of giving education and a voice to the agricultural community, but also provided a social hub,” said Cone.

In 1927, the Community Hall was moved about 100 yards away from its original location on the Grange to its current location. “The Grange sold the Community Hall to the East Barnard Community Club in 1984; it was stipulated that it be used for community events. The club became a state-registered nonprofit in 2012,” Ryan Newswanger, who became a member of the East Barnard Community Club in 2018 and served as president from 2021–2025, told the Standard.

“In the 1930s all the way up through the ‘50s it was a big location for dances and a social gathering place for many purposes,” said Cone. “It’s right across the street from this beautiful 1884 church, but the church doesn’t have a hall space in it, so it’s often been used for things associated with that church, any kind of gatherings, whether they were weddings or family reunions or funerals — even to this day.”

With such a rich and long history of gathering and celebration, it’s natural for the Community Hall to have weathered some storms and accrued some wear and tear. The very roof over the community’s head is the first thing that needs some TLC. “We did some research into the roof, and it dates to at least the 1950s, and maybe even older,” said Newswanger. “It’s kind of remarkable that it’s held up for probably at least 70 years, for a standing seam-metal roof. It’s given us decades of service. We do see some leaking that happens during heavy rain events, and especially as we’ve been making some improvements already to the interior of the Hall, we don’t want those to be damaged any further by rain. So the roof is the biggest thing that is facing us,” he said. 

For more on this, please see our Feb. 19 edition of the Vermont Standard. 

An updated report prepared for the Mountain Views School District (MVSD) shows that rebuilding Woodstock Union High School and Middle School (WUHS/MS) as proposed will be more than $20 million less expensive for local taxpayers than a comprehensive renovation of the existing facility.

The cost analysis, prepared by Burlington-based PC Construction, assumes that state construction aid and pledged private donations will help reduce the cost of an all-new WUHS/MS to taxpayers. The updated analysis presented to the MVSD Rebuild Working Group last week builds on a post-bond-vote study that the PC firm prepared for the school district after a $99 million school building bond was defeated by voters in the seven-town school district at Town Meeting in March of 2024. The MVSD School Board is now asking voters to okay a proposed bond of $111.9 million for the construction of a new WUHS/MS. School district officials have said that although the cost of the newly proposed bond has spiked $13 million over the price tag on the 2024 bond due to inflation and federal tariffs on imported materials, taxpayers will bear only $84 million of the new bond over the next 30 years — $15 million less than they would have spent if the earlier bond had been okayed.

In the runup to the 2026 bond vote at town meetings in Barnard, Bridgewater, Killington, Plymouth, Pomfret, Reading, and Woodstock on March 3, school district officials acknowledged in a statement accompanying the release of the PC Construction cost analysis that “many community members understandably want to repair the building they know.” The updated analysis released last weekend was intended to examine the costs and long-term impacts of the rebuild as opposed to renovation of WUHS/MS. “This analysis confirms that rebuilding is the more affordable path due to the strong financial safeguards built into Article 4 (on MVSD’s Town Meeting warning],” Seth Webb, an MVSD board member from Woodstock and chair of the Rebuild Working Group, averred as the new cost comparison report was made public.

For more on this, please see our Feb. 19 edition of the Vermont Standard.

As voters in our area prepare to weigh in on school budgets for the Mountain Views School District (MVSD) and the districts within the Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union (WSESU) at Town Meeting on March 3, state and local officials are striving to educate the public about the ever-increasing impact of health care costs on the price of public education in Vermont.

“[The cost of] health care benefits for public school employees is approaching $400 million annually,” an educational primer from the Vermont School Boards Association (VSBA) stated recently. “[The costs] are one of the fastest-growing drivers of education spending and property taxes in Vermont,” the school board association lamented, adding that the cost hike “far exceeds student enrollment trends, inflation, and state revenue growth.”

Vermont lawmakers acted eight years ago to consolidate health care benefits programs for public school employees into a statewide pool with consistent premiums for all school districts and supervisory unions statewide. The state action took away the power of local school administrators to directly negotiate benefits packages with unions, teachers, and school support staff. According to data supplied by the VBSA, recent and projected cost increases for health care benefits for Vermont schools spiked 16% in fiscal year 2025 and 12% in 2026. The costs are projected to jump another 7.3% in the coming fiscal year.

“For schools that don’t have school choice, I would say health care is the fastest growing driver of budget increases,” Larry Dougher, the chief financial officer for the Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union (WSESU), said during a phone conversation with the Standard last week. “For the schools that have school choice, it’s a combination of health care benefits and the cost of school tuition,” he added.

In a separate phone interview, Dougher’s counterpart at the MVSD, director of finance and operations Jim Fenn, called attention to  “a 54% increase in health insurance costs over the past five years,” while MVSD budgets climbed 33% between 2023 and the coming fiscal year. “Benefits costs and wage increases are the primary drivers of budget hikes,” Fenn said.

Dougher and Fenn both echoed calls from the VSBA for Vermont lawmakers to address the steadily mounting price of benefits for public school employees in the context of ongoing education transformation and health care cost containment discussions at the State House. One focal point of the legislative deliberations, the finance administrators concur, could be to address the current arbitration system that locks the state education system into an either/or conundrum in annual negotiations with teachers and support staff unions and representatives.

“The current negotiation model is that if they go to arbitration, there’s no compromise,” Dougher said. “So, for example, if management wants a 6% increase or wants [employees] to pay $100 more into their own HSA, but the employee associations want something different, they go to arbitration, and instead of coming up with a compromise, the arbitration process is all set by law. [The arbitrators] are only allowed to select one position or the other. And every time they’ve done arbitration, [the arbitrators] have sided with the associations and not with management,” he continued. “When we managed our own benefit plans [prior to 2018] — and mind you, I’m not saying statewide negotiations don’t make sense — but we would sit down and say ‘We want you to pay $100 more’ and they would say, ‘How about $25 more?’ and we would go to arbitration and work it out at $50. We’d always come to an agreement.”

For more on this, please see our Feb. 19 edition of the Vermont Standard. 

According to a press release from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Vermont, attorneys for White River Junction resident Mohsen Mahdawi filed a letter on Tuesday, Feb. 17, with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit announcing that an immigration judge has terminated Mahdawi’s removal proceedings. 

“I am grateful to the court for honoring the rule of law and holding the line against the government’s attempts to trample on due process,” said Mahdawi in the release. “This decision is an important step towards upholding what fear tried to destroy: the right to speak for peace and justice. Nearly a year ago, I was detained at my citizenship interview not for breaking the law but for speaking against the genocide of Palestinians. In a climate where dissent is increasingly met with intimidation and detention, today’s ruling renews hope that due process still applies and that no agency stands above the Constitution. This is not the end of the story. It is the beginning of a deeper commitment to peace, dignity, and justice; work I will continue, fearlessly and without apology.” 

The release said that the filing outlines the immigration judge’s decision, which was based on the government’s failure to authenticate a memorandum purportedly from Marco Rubio. This document, which was filed without including referenced attachments, served as the basis for seeking to deport Mahdawi, and declared Mahdawi a threat to U.S. foreign policy based solely on his protected speech. The ruling was issued without prejudice, which means the government may appeal the decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals or may attempt to refile a new case based on the same charge. 

 “This decision highlights the importance of federal court review of immigration proceedings, especially when First Amendment and other constitutional violations are alleged,” said Brett Max Kaufman, senior counsel with the ACLU’s Center for Democracy. “Had we been unable to pursue Mohsen’s release in federal court, as the government is arguing should be law of the land, he would still be in detention today on a charge that the government itself couldn’t even bother to substantiate 10 months later with basic forms of authentication. The government should take the immigration judge’s hint and drop this absurd case for good.” 

According to the release, Mahdawi was detained in April 2025 and held in detention for over two weeks. He was released on bail on April 30, 2025, after filing a habeas petition in the United States District Court for the District of Vermont in which he argued he was wrongfully detained in retaliation for his constitutionally protected speech. 

 “We’re pleased that the court has terminated this witch hunt of a case,” said Cyrus Mehta of Cyrus D. Mehta & Partners PLLC. “Mohsen is a peaceful man and a valued member of his communities in Vermont and at Columbia University. The government’s pursuit of his deportation has been an affront to the principle of free speech that undergirds our democracy. The government’s inability to even file the proper paperwork demonstrates how careless and reckless they are being in their policy of detaining innocent people for their speech.” 

Two invaluable voices from history, braided together in dual monologues, will captivate a present-day audience with reflections on confinement and injustice — and hold out an invitation to change our very hearts. Hosted by the Quechee Club’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council, the two-person performance of “Letters from Anne and Martin” is a production of the Anne Frank Center USA, featuring spoken selections of Frank’s “The Diary of a Young Girl” and Dr. King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” 

This free performance will feature the actors Julie Sandler as Anne and Andrew Tejada as Martin, and will be followed by a Q&A moderated by Anne Frank Center Teaching Artist Deb Radloff. This production at the Quechee Club will run on one day only, during a Sunday matinee on Feb. 22, from 12-1 p.m. 

New York City resident Kent Hikida, who organized the event, has multi-generational ties to Quechee and the Quechee Club via his wife Amy’s family — and is himself a member of the Club. Hikida first helped bring a production of “Letters from Anne and Martin” to the Brotherhood Synagogue in Manhattan, as a member of its racial justice committee, about a year and a half ago. Then he and Amy, visiting family in the Upper Valley last year, attended a reading of Frederick Douglass’s “What to the Negro is the Fourth of July?” on the Green in Woodstock.

“It was very moving for me and Amy,” said Hikida. “It was very reminiscent of the performance of ‘Letters from Anne and Martin’ as a sort of spoken-word performance. The reading on the Green is a much more participatory thing, but the effect on the audience listening to it is fairly similar, bringing those words to life, and bringing current meaning to those words.” After bringing the idea to the DE&I Council at the Quechee Club, the board accepted the idea and made contact with the Anne Frank Center in order to bring a production to Vermont.

“The playwrights — let’s call them — have skillfully woven in passages to deepen the meaning, to create a dialogue between two people who had no dialogue,” said Hikida of the performances. “And the actors who portray Anne Frank and Martin Luther King, it’s a white woman and a Black man. The setting is relatively stark, just two chairs on a stage. You can envision Anne Frank in the attic apartment in Amsterdam, and you can envision Martin Luther King in a jail cell in Birmingham. It really drives home how the spoken word and the actors’ performance bring these texts to life.”

When asked what message the performance brings to its audience in 2026, Hikida looked out at the world we live in and connected the play to diversity and equality — the core of the Quechee Club Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council’s mission. “Our differences are our strengths. The Olympics are happening, and there are amazing athletes of all countries, faiths, religions, cultures, races, participating. They’re at the top of their game, and we have to applaud them for their efforts and their perseverance and their passion. And on the football field during the Super Bowl, it wasn’t a monochromatic team that won. It was a very diverse team of talented people representing different cultures and places, and also different skills. You can’t win a game with just quarterbacks. You need a whole team,” he said.

“Even if one person comes out of this performance and says, ‘Wow, I never thought of things that way, and I can do better,’ that will have made the difference,” added Hikida.

For more on this, please see our Feb. 19 edition of the Vermont Standard. 

A number of outdoor enthusiasts headed to Hartland on Valentine’s Day for the annual Tiki Torch Trek. Hosted by Hartland Winter Trails, the free event featured kids’ games, music, an Olympic celebration, and a community bonfire, in addition to more than 1.5 kilometers of groomed Nordic ski trails illuminated by tiki torches.

Pamela R. White Photos

By Tyler Maheu, Staff Sportswriter

Four Woodstock skiers have earned their spots at the upcoming Vermont State Championships in Alpine Skiing. 

Head Coach Steve Foley has seen great improvement in his small group of skiers as the season has progressed, leading to the Southern Vermont League (SVL) District Championship at Bromley last Tuesday, Feb. 10. There, Woodstock athletes competed against their SVL counterparts in Slalom and Giant Slalom. 

“You have to finish top 15 in one event to reach the state championships as an individual,” explained Foley. “Not only did they do that, but they finished high in the standings, top 10. They did really well.”

In the boys giant slalom competition, Wasp sophomores Atlas Jennings and Taylor Underwood earned sixth and eighth place finishes, respectively. Senior Annesonia Beardsley brought home fourth in the girls giant slalom to advance, while fellow senior Sadie Boulbol finished eighth in slalom to qualify.

“It really shows the progress in their skiing,” said Foley. “The girls have taken a quantum leap forward. It happens sometimes in high school, I don’t know how, but they’ll take a huge jump in ability from one year to the next.”

The next level of competition will be held at East Burke’s Burke Mountain on March 2 and 3. Foley spoke glowingly on the season’s final destination. “When you do a giant slalom at Burke, it’s the real deal,” he said, explaining that winning times sometimes approach the 1:30 mark, as the difficulty lowers speeds. “It’s a real hill, and without experience, staring up at it can be intimidating. It’s a great place for a final effort.”

Unlike events such as the SVL District Championship, Woodstock’s student-athletes will now compete against all schools in the state. “Everybody shows up,” said Foley. “There are going to be a lot of tough competitors.”

The Wasps will take this next week to do their final training before taking a week off for school vacation. Foley said he plans to have his team do low-level drills and run gates down the mountain. The key to success for his Wasps at Burke will be taking the next step in their development. 

“They all have a newfound speed,” he said. “Now they need to learn how to handle it.”

By Tyler Maheu, Staff Sportswriter

Head Coach Johno Mitchell’s Woodstock Wasps showed up and showed out last Wednesday at Jay Peak in a snowboarding competition.

“The kids rode amazing,” he said. “I’m so proud of what they were putting together.” Topping the back was senior Bonnie Kranz, who took home first place in both the SlopeStyle and Rail Jam events. “Bonnie is very good at spinning in the air and controlling her rotation,” said Mitchell when explaining what makes the senior so special on a board. “She’s getting better at spinning in three directions. She’s very methodical about her line choice, and we talk a great deal about what tricks she’s doing in warmups and what combination can we put together to set her apart from other riders.”

According to Mitchell, Kranz took home first place in the Rail Jam by performing a move known as a frontside 270 to frontside disaster boardslide. “She did it on a flat down rail, took off the jump and gapped over the flat, landing in a way we call disaster on the downrail,” he said. “It’s a serious trick.”

Finishing close behind Kranz in the two events (third in SlopeStyle, second in Rail Jam) was Lia Gugliotto, another senior leader for the Wasps. In her Rail Jam run, Mitchell said she used a good mix of moves in order to show her wide variety of skills. “Lia is equally skilled with either foot forward and is overall a strong rider,” he said. “It shows in whatever competition she’s entering.”

One skillset helping Mitchell’s riders is their ability to ride “switch” on the snowboard. “Being able to ride switch is one of the things that sets a lot of my riders apart, really,” he said. When a snowboarder rides “switch,” this means that they are positioned on the board with their non-dominant foot forward. “This allows them to do 180s and carry into the next feature without having to revert to their dominant foot,” he explained. “This earns a lot of extra points from the judges.”

Third place in girls SlopeStyle was taken by another Wasp senior, Sierra Bystrak, who Mitchell said landed her first 360 move during the event. In total, Woodstock finished with four of the top 10 riders in the event. 

Woodstock’s highest finisher in the boys SlopeStyle was senior Ian Hewitt in fourth. In the Rail Jam competition, Wyatt Sinks made waves, finishing third. Mitchell called Sinks a “rising star” on the squad. “He got 12th place in SlopeStyle for boys, which was really impressive,” he said. “It’s a deep field with some really talented riders and Wyatt’s just been putting in a lot of work year-round to get better at this thing he’s passionate about. He was great last year and has really stepped up to a different level this year.”

Holding last week’s event at Jay Peak gave the riders a potential preview of the state championship meet, which will be held at the mountain on March 4. Mitchell hopes that this will lead to success. “I can’t really underestimate that value of being able to get up there throughout the season,” he said. “Even if changes are made because terrain parks change frequently, we know a lot of the major elements will be about the same. You just kind of, when you have that daydream time at school or work, you’re thinking ‘What can I land there, what’s the best line I can put together?’” 

After a couple of months of waiting, the team was finally able to use the terrain park at nearby Saskadeena Six for practice. More practice time led to further creativity and excitement according to Mitchell.

With just one meet to go before the state championship, Mitchell thinks his skiers are ready to win big. “I feel like they’re going to put on the best show they can,” he said. “I have every confidence that they will be happy with their runs and the effort they put forth.” 

The team’s top three senior girls will all be competing for the top spot against each other, something they’ve worked towards for a long time. “They have been focused on their craft for years,” said Mitchell, detailing how the three ride all week long at different mountains around the region, including extra time in Killington. “It’s just very exciting to be a part of the energy they bring to our program.”

Despite the three being each other’s toughest competition, their coach doesn’t see it coming between them. “Sure, winning feels good,” he said. “But it’s not just our teammates that we cheer on. These kids have really genuine friendships with riders on the other teams. We are cheering everybody on, hoping that whoever is dropping next, they’re hoping to put down the best dream line that they’re able to do.”

By Tyler Maheu, Staff Sportswriter

“He just loves basketball.” Woodstock junior Elvis Lavallee killed two birds with one stone last Friday night by both reaching his 1,000th career point and helping the Wasps to a thrilling win, 58-54 over the visiting Mount Anthony Patriots.

The excitement in the air was palpable on Friday, as the full house prepared for Lavallee to reach one of high school sports’ most prestigious individual milestones. The junior entered the contest just three points away from 1,000, and early on, it appeared the weight of the situation would be too much to bear. 

After technical free throws from the Patriots before the opening tip, Woodstock found themselves in a 2-0 hole. Lavallee missed his first shot, a three-pointer, and looked tense. Next time down the court, he drove towards the rim and was fouled on a shot, sending him to the free throw line. All season, the junior has been automatic from the stripe, but he missed both attempts, leading to a couple of worried groans and gasps from the big crowd.

As tension in the gym grew with each missed shot, Head Coach Scott Brooks never wavered. “He’s mature enough that he can work through that,” he said of the pressure. “I’m not worried about Elvis.” The young Wasp didn’t quit shooting. “It’s about having confidence and not being down on myself, persevering and shooting through,” he said.

Down 13-5 with 4:16 left in the first quarter, Lavallee dribbled the ball up court and took a pull-up three from the top of the key. For a second, the gym went silent, but as the ball went through the hoop, touching nothing but net, it exploded into pandemonium. Lavallee was greeted by teammates and a standing ovation from the crowd, as officials stopped the clock for the celebration. First to meet Lavallee on court for a photo op were his parents, Anthea and Stephen. 

“In third grade, he started to play, and by fourth grade, he was in AAU,” recalled Stephen Lavallee. “In his first tournament, he was all-tournament MVP. He always seemed to have the knack for it.” Anthea Lavallee recalled how everyone in Woodstock Village knew when her son was around because “you’d hear the basketball dribbling, it was kind of his calling card,” she said. “He’s always been with a basketball, just dedicated from the jump.”

According to his dad, as the 1,000-point moment grew closer, his son kept it calm and collected. “He was pretty cool,” laughed Stephen Lavallee. “He hasn’t even mentioned it.” Both parents beamed with pride. “We are so proud,” said Anthea Lavallee. “It’s the number, but it also represents dedication and hard work.” This was echoed by his dad. “It’s been a lot of years, a lot of driving to practices and games. He’s earned it, that’s for sure.”

After the stoppage, there was still a lot of game left to be played. Lavallee’s three appeared to lift the weight off the shoulders of the entire team, as they clawed back to trail by just two, 19-17, going into the second quarter. Keeping them in the hunt was an unlikely offensive sparkplug, senior Asher Emery. 

“I surprised myself,” laughed Emery when talking about his seven-point first-quarter performance. “I’ve been talking to my coaches about doing what I can when I have the basketball in my hands. If I’m not going to the basket, I can pass it out to one of our shooters.” 

“Asher knows his role,” said Brooks. “I want him to attack, get to the rim, or kick it, and that’s what he does well.” Emery finished with seven points, two rebounds, and two steals. The senior was assigned, on defense, to the Patriots’ best player, senior Averyll Williams. Williams scored almost at will in the first half, accounting for 15 points. Despite this, Woodstock took a 27-26 lead into the half.

After a blistering first quarter, the pace was slowed greatly in the second and third, something Brooks game-planned for. “We wanted to control the tempo,” he explained. “They’re more athletic. If the game was a track meet, we wouldn’t have success; we needed it to be a half-court grind. I thought our guys responded pretty well.”

Going into the final frame, Mount Anthony had retaken the lead 37-35. They held onto this lead until 5:25 remaining, when Woodstock tied the score. Less than a minute later, the Wasps took a lead they would never relinquish, 40-39 on a Lavallee free throw. 

The Wasps were able to mount a seven-point lead, 55-48, before some late-game heroics from Williams (29 points, three rebounds) threatened to send the raucous home crowd home defeated. Despite his fast start, Williams was slowed in the second half thanks to Emery. “On defense, he’s rugged, and he can impose his will on a lot of guys,” said Brooks of his senior. “He’s the real deal.” Emery gave credit to Williams. “Preferably, I’d like him to score nothing,” he said. “But he was one of the best point guards I’ve ever played.”

A couple of free throws from Lavallee sealed the deal as the clock wound down to the final horn, and the Wasps emerged victorious 58-54. As players streamed onto the court for the postgame handshake line, the crowd serenaded the game’s start with chants of his name, “Elvis, Elvis, Elvis!”

“I’m very happy for him,” said Brooks. “He’s put in a lot of work since eighth grade that people haven’t seen. He shoots an hour by himself, he just loves basketball. It’s fun to be along for the ride.”

Postgame, Lavallee was all smiles but at a loss for thought on the nature of his accomplishment. “I haven’t thought about it much, to be honest,” he laughed. “But, it’s a great accomplishment to be up on this banner.” The banner the junior referenced hangs in the rafters and holds the names of Woodstock’s previous 1,000-point scorers. The list, in order of year, reads: 1965 Stan Watson, 1965 Bruce Douglas, 1965 Brian Doubleday, 1977 Mike Gyra, 1984 Rob Cooper, 1994 Joel Carey, 1998 Jason Vanderstreet, 1999 Ryan Kilcullen, 2000 Lauren Maynes, 2002 Fred Turner, 2003 Ryan Vanderstreet, 2004 Amanda Soule, and 2015 Connor Fegard.

“We haven’t had a 1,000 point scorer here since 2015, 11 years,” said Brooks. “That tells you how difficult it is. And, he did it his junior year.”

Lavallee (29 points, six rebounds, three assists) thanked the fans for being there to cheer him on, then thanked his parents for their years of support. “They’ve supported me in so many, many ways,” he said. “Knowing that they’re always there for me, no matter what, not just in basketball but life, I couldn’t have it any better or appreciate them more.”

Along with glowing praise for her son’s accomplishment came an explanation to a pressing question for Anthea Lavallee — Why “Elvis?” “I love Elvis Presley,” she said. “I wanted a name with a V. When I floated the name Elvis, I couldn’t believe he [Stephen] went for it, but he did.” 

She continued, with a large smile: “I’ve always joked that he’s finally going to make that name famous.”

Peter R. Bailey, 73, passed away on Tuesday February 10, 2026 at Cedar Hill Nursing Home in Windsor, Vt.

Pete was born on Feb. 8, 1953 in Hanover, New Hampshire the son of Raymond and Ethna (George) Bailey.

Pete was employed by the United States Postal Service on Sykes Ave. in White River Jct., beginning in the ‘80s, sorting mail there for many years. He later transferred to the Post Office in Woodstock as a Postal Carrier. He was well known as he enjoyed taking the time to chat and get to know the people on his route and it didn’t matter what the weather was, he loved his job.

Pete enjoyed woodworking, feeding the birds, camping, fishing, card games, taking day trips, and going to many car shows. He was especially proud to show his 1965 VW Beetle to all those interested. Above all Pete enjoyed family and having get-togethers at his home with family and friends. He also enjoyed repairing vehicles and anything that needed fixing around his home.

Pete is survived by his wife of 50 years Dorinne M. Bailey and a son Samuel R. Bailey. In addition to his parents he is pre-deceased by a son Nicholas B. Bailey and a sister Janet B. Smith.

A graveside service is being planned for this coming June.

Those wishing may make donations to David’s House, 461 Mt. Support Road, Lebanon, N.H. 03766.

An online guestbook can be found at cabotfh.com.

Janet Louise Spencer, 62, of Hartland, Vermont, died unexpectedly on Dec. 21, 2025, after being struck by a car. The day marked the winter solstice, which she embraced as a time of returning light and renewal, a meaning that brings comfort to those who loved her.

Janet was a woman of formidable intelligence, exacting standards, deep loyalty, and fierce love. She brought integrity and strength to every part of her life and left a lasting mark on those fortunate enough to be in her orbit. Beneath her formidable exterior lived a mischievous wit, an infectious laugh, and a generous heart that loved deeply and without half measures.

That strength carried into her life and work. Born April 5, 1963, in Windsor, Vt., and raised in Plainfield, N.H., Janet showed early the independence and determination that would define her path. She earned her PhD in Social-Organizational Psychology from Columbia University and began her consulting career at W. Warner Burke Associates, working with clients including NASA and British Airways. She went on to build a distinguished career as a management consultant helping CEOs and senior leaders guide their organizations through complex change. She served as a managing director at Delta Consulting Group and later worked in collaboration with Genesis Advisors while continuing her independent consulting practice. Over the course of her career, she worked globally, developing leaders and advising organizations with her characteristic rigor and insight. Her clients included hundreds of senior executives, many of whom became lasting allies and friends. She co-authored “Executive Teams” and published numerous book chapters on change management and leadership.

Beyond her professional life, Janet cultivated a rich home life. She surrounded herself with books and ideas, cherishing an eclectic library that reflected her wide-ranging curiosity and many journeys. Her homes were warm, layered spaces filled with books, magical touches, home-cooked meals, gardens alive with flowers and pollinators, the happy presence of her beloved dogs, and the easy flow of visiting friends. She returned to New England during her treatment for breast cancer and, after recovering, chose to remain, shaping her Vermont home and farm into a place she loved deeply and where she found renewal near her family and the land where she grew up.

At the center of that life were her relationships. Though quiet by nature, Janet became the gravitational center of a wide circle of friends. During her decades in New York and later in Connecticut and Vermont, she formed a close chosen family bound by love, humor, and shared experiences. These relationships existed alongside her abiding love for her parents, siblings, and their families. Janet could be direct and sometimes sharp-edged, qualities those closest to her recognized as expressions of her deep commitment to truth. She did not always soften her words for colleagues, family, friends, or romantic partners, yet those exchanges often fostered understanding and respect. Beneath that exterior was a deep warmth and generosity that drew people in and held them there. She opened her home and her life to others, caring for the people around her and allowing herself to be cared for in return. Those who knew her best understood that her toughness and tenderness were inseparable.

Janet was predeceased by her parents, Winston F. Spencer and Claudine Mae Spencer. She is survived by her siblings Winston F. Spencer Jr., Patty Spencer, and Sarah Spencer; by her niece Amanda Williams; her nephews Winston F. Spencer III, Christopher Spencer, and Bryan Tibbals; by her former husband, Francis Laros of New York City; and by her cherished friends.

Gatherings to celebrate Janet’s life are planned in Woodstock and New York City in May 2026. Details will be shared at a later date.

Donations in Janet’s memory may be made to the National Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue Network, the Norman Williams Public Library in Woodstock, Vermont, the Vermont 4-H Foundation, or the Vermont Center for Ecostudies. In Janet’s honor, please consider lifelong learning, caring for yourself and others, planting a native tree in your community, and remembering, as she did, not only to count your blessings but to share them.

An online guestbook can be found at cabotfh.com.

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Don Fielder, of Stockbridge, Vt. at Gifford Memorial Hospital after a brief illness.

A gathering celebrating Don will be held later this summer.

A full obituary is available online at www.dayfunerals.com.

Marlene Ellen (Gramling) Katz, 74, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family.

Born in Hanover, N.H., on July 14, 1951, Marlene was the daughter of the late Gerard and Nedra (Heselton) Gramling. A 1969 graduate of Woodstock Union High School, she went on to follow her passion for the arts, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Anna Maria College in 1973.

On July 21, 1973, Marlene married the love of her life, Jeffrey W. Katz, in South Woodstock. Together, they shared over 52 years of marriage, navigating the challenges and adventures of military life during Jeffrey’s career as a colonel in the U.S. Airforce.

A gifted musician, Marlene shared her talents by teaching piano and guitar in the mid-1970s. Later in life, she combined her creativity with her career, serving as a Manager for House of Fabrics and Jo-Ann Fabrics from 1990 to 2001. Her hands were rarely still; she was a master of sewing and crafts and found great peace in her garden.

Above all else, Marlene was the ultimate supporter of her children and grandchildren. Whether it was a cold morning at a hockey rink, a sunny afternoon at a soccer or baseball field, or the quiet anticipation of a music concert or play, Marlene was always in the audience. She was her family’s greatest fan and took immense pride in every achievement, big or small.

Marlene is survived by her devoted husband, Jeffrey W. Katz; her three children, Stacy Katz Mortensen, Jonathan Ryan Katz, and Matthew James Katz; and her four cherished grandchildren, Abigail Mortensen, Isabelle Mortensen, Ainsley Katz, and Oliver Katz. She also leaves behind her siblings, Linda White and Phillip Gramling, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, David Gramling.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Marlene’s memory to her hospice care providers, who offered such compassionate support: Amedisys Hospice Care (0902) Bedford, N.H.

Lucille Carpenter Tancreti passed away peacefully at HHR, Stoughton House in Windsor, Vt, January 26, 2026. She was 96 years and 320 days old.

Lucille was born in East Barnard, Vt to Hazel Leao Carpenter and John Carl Carpenter. She loved and lived in her little town until she was 13, when her beloved father Carl died and they were forced to sell the farm and move to Woodstock, Vt. She attended Woodstock High School and made many lifelong friends during that time; she graduated in the class of 1947.

As fate would have it, she and friends attended a dance in West Woodstock where she met a young man just back from the war, William Tancreti. They married on August 1, 1947 and spent the next 61 years together.

After owning and working at a small general store with her husband in Hartland 3 Corners, they moved to the Tancreti family farm where they raised 6 children. Lucille was a proud and loving grandmother to 15 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

She loved crocheting, sewing, crafting, gardening, bird watching, and researching her family ancestry. She was an avid reader and enjoyed introducing books to children; she did story hours at HES library as the assistant librarian where she worked for 18 years.

She is survived by her children: MaryLee Biathrow (Philip) Hartland, Vt; Carl Tancreti (Heidi) Claremont, Nh; Dixie Paradis, Hartland, Vt; Stacey Kegelman, Hartland, Vt; Trace Tancreti (Andrea) Hartland, Vt; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, William Tancreti, and daughter, Marcia Fallon, of Rochester, Ny.

Visiting hours will be from 1-2 p.m. and a servive will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 21 at Cabot’s Funeral Home in Woodstock, Vt.

In lieu of flowers, a donation in Lucille’s memory can be made to: Aging in Hartland, the HES Library, or Historic Homes of Runnemede, Windsor, Vt.

John L. MacDonald, lifelong resident of Woodstock, passed away peacefully on Jan. 30, 2026. John was born June 2, 1950, in Rutland, Vt., to Leslie J. MacDonald and Elizabeth (Salisbury) MacDonald, who predeceased him. John was very proud to be a true Vermonter.

John lived a full life at “the farm” for all his years, except for college where he attended Castleton State College, pursuing a biology degree, and Boston University, where he studied photography. He was schooled in the Woodstock school system, where his father taught and was also the principal. Many childhood friends were made that remained over his 75 years. 

In his younger days, John hitchhiked across county and landed in North Dakota, where he worked at a large cattle farm owned by his sister-in-law, Carol MacDonald’s family, a memorable experience. He also worked at the Farm and Wilderness Children Camp in Plymouth, Vt., teaching outdoor skills, survival, camping, and outdoor adventures to kids of all ages. Many years later some of those campers would visit him at the farm to reminisce and show admiration. 

John enjoyed farming, known locally for growing the best corn, raising pigs, chickens, and cows. John also worked at the Woodstock Union High School for many years, first driving a school bus and later he began work as a paraprofessional, working with children on a one-on-one basis, he was skilled at this and admired. John enjoyed music, he was a beautiful singer and played guitar. John was well loved by his community and known locally for his stories and yarns, as he would call them. 

He leaves a son, Jamie A. MacDonald of Woodstock; and brothers, Russell K. MacDonald of Richmond Hill, Ga., and Robert G. MacDonald, (Lindy) of Woodstock; along with three nephews and a niece. In addition to his parents, John was predeceased by Russell’s beloved wife, Carol MacDonald.

The family would like to thank the town of Woodstock for caring for and helping John navigate through his dementia, as local community members, including the Woodstock Police and Emergency Services gave a great deal of time and compassion to John. The family is also very grateful to his caregivers, Arnalyn and Michael Asis, for the kindness, attention, and tender care they gave John.

Cabot Funeral Home will be handling the arrangements. The date and time of the service, which will be held at the Episcopal Church in Woodstock, will be announced soon. In lieu of flowers, John would likely want you to give to a Charity of your choice or walk around a summer hayfield and watch the cows, an animal that he particularly cherished.

Doris Archer Baker, 93, died surrounded by her family at the Gifford Medical Center in Randolph, Vt. on Jan. 29, 2026. She was born on December 28, 1932 in Bridgewater, the daughter of Willie and Nettie (Baker) Archer.

Doris went to the Bridgewater Center School. She worked at the Woodstock Inn, the Guthrie Nursing Home, and at Alice Peck Day Hospital before going to work at the Bridgewater Woolen Mill.

Doris was a member of the Bridgewater Grange, the Bridgewater Legion Auxiliary, The VFW Ladies Auxiliary in Ludlow, Vt., and the Ludlow Rod & Gun Club. Doris could be found helping many families in the area and very often with her close friend Myrtle Biathrow whom she met at Mill Village and remained best friends for the rest of their lives.

In addition to her parents Doris is predeceased by her six sisters and one brother, two daughters Rachel Archer and Beverly Jennings. She is survived by her son Walter Baker of Colorado Spring, Colo.; two daughters Janet Webb of Royalton, Vt. and Jean Johnson of Barnard; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

A service was held on Sunday, Feb. 1 at the Cabot Funeral Home. Burial will be held at a later date in the Methodist Cemetery in Barnard.

Jeffrey D. Zayas of Woodstock, passed away on Jan. 28, 2026 at the age of 50 years old. Born April 12, 1975 in Bellows Falls, Vt., to Richard and Linda (Karkut) Zayas he is survived by his wife Amy, and children Keira, Ethan, and Zachary as well as brother Kevin Zayas of Concord, NH and partner Beth, and brother David Zayas and wife Stephanie of Boise, Idaho, along with  several nieces and nephews and extended family members. Jeff was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Linda. 

He was a graduate of Bellows Falls Union High School and The Gemological Institute of America and a certified Jeweler Gemologist. He began working in the jewelry industry at Harty Jewelers in Bellows Falls, Vt. and then at Stephen L. Singer in New York, N.Y. He had a specialty with estate jewelry at Pearce Jewelers in West Lebanon, N.H. Jeff owned Zayas Jewelers for several years in Woodstock, and was a partner in Beneficial Estate Buyers in Philadelphia, Pa. for many years. 

 Jeff was an avid skier and was a ski patroller for many winters at Okemo Mountain. He also enjoyed hiking, biking, the outdoors, eating out, and trying  new recipes at home. Jeff loved to have fires in the backyard while  listening to his favorite music.  Taking family vacations, especially to Block Island, R.I. and Vieques, Puerto Rico, was one of his favorite things. 

A celebration of life will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Woodstock Foodshelf on his behalf. 

An online guestbook can be found at https://www.cabotfh.com/.

Eileen B. Turgeon, 100, died Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, at Stoughton House in Windsor, with her family at her side.

Eileen was born January 4, 1926, in Windsor, Vt., a daughter of Eli and Mary (Villenue) Robideau. She attended Windsor schools and was married to John J. Turgeon on July 21, 1948, in Windsor. Together they made their home in Windsor, where they raised their family.

Eileen found joy in life’s simple pleasures, including thrifting and scratching lottery tickets. She also enjoyed watching old movies. Her greatest joy, however, came from spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. 

She was predeceased by her husband, John Turgeon; four brothers, Royal, James, George, and Harold Robideau; and four sisters, Jeanette Alexander, Louise Thomas, Bernadette Young, and Theresa Messier.

She is survived by two daughters, Sandra Anderson (Thomas) of Windsor and Patricia Davis of Springfield, Vt.; five grandchildren, Creed Anderson of Windsor, Vt., Lance Anderson of E. Thetford, Vt., Shannon (Shawn) Larkin of Windsor, Vt., and Kirk (Sara) Anderson from Mt. Martha, Australia, Cochena Davis of Windsor, Vt.; and eight great-grandchildren, William, Noah, Rhys, and Rhett Anderson, Cole Anderson, Kalem Larkin, and Henry and Lucy Anderson.

We would like to express our appreciation to all the staff at Stoughton House that took such good care of our Mother and Bayada Hospice for caring for her.  

A graveside service will be held Wednesday, May 20 at 11 a.m. in Ascutney Cemetery in Windsor. Knight Funeral Home of White River Junction has been entrusted with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed in an online guestbook at knightfuneralhomes.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Stoughton House in Windsor, Vt.

By Dan Cotter, Publisher 

Well, my friends, this is my fourth and final article of our 2025 annual appeal. 

Once again, this year, it’s been a privilege to talk directly with you about the mission we’re on at the Vermont Standard and the difficult challenges we face — to ask if you’ll please consider donating to the Woodstock Region Journalism Foundation in support of our efforts to connect our community and keep you informed on issues of public importance.

Today, the main thing I want you to know is that we are proud to work for you.

We know you’re counting on us to be your eyes and ears — filling you in about local government actions that affect you, about local crime, about court cases playing out here, about notable news items and occurrences, the accomplishments of our neighbors and local youth, about developments at our schools, churches, businesses, and charitable or civic organizations, about the happenings and things to do in the local area, and lots more. 

We are the one and only news source that’s entirely focused on our area; reporting news that’s primarily of interest right here. Our work — week in and week out — is entirely dedicated to the welfare of this community. 

That’s the way it’s been here for 172 years. And Phil Camp and I and our small team are now trying to produce a 2025 version of the Vermont Standard that’s the best it has ever been in the paper’s long history.

The Standard is for you. It exists simply to benefit you and your neighbors. We regard this responsibility and the trust you place in us as a badge of honor. We pledge to give it our best. All we’ve got.

As I’ve explained before, the financial pressures we face are intense. And, tragically, various powers that be are trying to exert additional pressure in a sad attempt to undermine the press. By extension, their actions undermine you, the public. That’s nothing new, really, but it’s pretty acute right now. Shame on them.

However, with your donations to keep us afloat, we’re hanging in there, staying strong and getting stronger. We are continuing to work, not only on improving this week’s Vermont Standard, but next month’s and next year’s too, as we attempt to set things up so we can produce high-quality local journalism for the long term. 

We’ll make sure your gift is put to good use as a worthwhile investment in one of the key components of the critical infrastructure that underpins this community.

As a citizen, it’s essential for you to be well-informed. That’s the only way we can have a functioning local democracy and a lively, connected community. As your eyes and ears, we’ll continue to follow the news closely and report it to you in new, better, and more engaging ways as time goes on. 

We hope to make you proud as we strive to do the best community journalism in the country. We believe that’s a realistic goal. This weekend — for the ninth time in the last twelve years — the Standard will once again be a finalist for the honor of being named New England Weekly Newspaper of the Year.

When it comes to journalism, we believe you deserve the absolute best.

We are deeply appreciative of any financial help you can offer in this year’s 2025 annual appeal. In fact, if you’re interested, Phil Camp and I would be very grateful for an opportunity to meet with you in person to talk more about what’s needed and our plans. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at dcotter@thevermontstandard.com or 802-457-1313.

Also — very importantly — if you have a family foundation, please consider adding the Woodstock Region Journalism Foundation (EIN: 93-3287932) to the worthwhile causes you regularly support. We’ll be deeply indebted to you.

The Woodstock Region Journalism Foundation is a public charity, so your gift will be fully tax-deductible. 

If you’re willing to make a tax-deductible donation to our 2025 Annual Appeal, please send a check to PO Box 88, Woodstock, VT 05091, or go to our Vermont Standard THIS WEEK website at thevermontstandard.com to make a contribution with your credit card. Be sure to make your check out to the “Woodstock Region Journalism Foundation.” 

By Dan Cotter, Publisher 

Lord knows, there are lots of fascinating people in our community.

At times, it seems as if every person you meet here in the course of a day is even more interesting than the last one. Sometimes, I marvel at how in the world all these wonderful and impressive folks are either from here or ended up here, in this little corner of Vermont.

Of course, I’m lucky. I get to participate in our story planning meetings at the Standard each week to decide who and what we’re going to write about next. Beyond the breaking news, what feature stories should we write – about which people, which organizations, which businesses?

It’s a joy.

There are always plenty of nominations. And then, even though you think you pretty well know who someone is or what an organization does and stands for, our reporter does a deep dive and provides new insight about them or their work or their cause in an account that’s simply breathtaking. Who knew? Right here among us! 

I often refer to the Vermont Standard as a kind of “glue” for our community. It’s a paper everyone can turn to in order to stay informed about the local news — the goings-on, the things to do. Something to look forward to each week to catch up on the latest. A common experience shared by those who live here or care about this place.

But maybe the best part about the Standard is the way it enables us to connect as a community. The way it helps us get to know each other better by introducing us to that really interesting person who lives next door (sometimes literally). And I’ve found that typically the more impressive people are, the less likely they are to talk about themselves. They’re too modest. So, it takes a nosy reporter to get them to tell their full story.

And the same goes for some of the incredible organizations in the area, including charities, nonprofits, schools, churches, arts organizations, libraries, history centers, and many more. They aren’t always focused on touting or telling their story – about what they do, who they help, what they accomplish. Often, they toil away under the radar. But the Standard is eager to bring their story to the public’s attention. We want to shine a spotlight, applaud their work, and make the folks who might decide to join or support them aware of them.

Soon, we’ll be bringing you those kinds of stories on video too, as we roll out our Headliners and Inside Scoop programs this fall.

The bottom line is that living in a community is much more fulfilling for most of us when we get to know more about the ordinary people among us, who are doing some pretty extraordinary things. Reading about them and their aspirations and accomplishments in the Standard is fun, and, on occasion, when those stories also explain their struggles and failures, their resilience and ultimate triumphs, it can be touching to read, inspiring even. 

These stories help us all feel a deeper sense of kinship with the people and organizations in our midst. They connect us and make us feel that we all truly belong to this beautiful community.

As I said, being this glue that strengthens our connection? It’s a joy.

We are deeply appreciative of any financial help you can offer in this year’s 2025 annual appeal. Our effort to preserve quality journalism for our community is quite urgent, my friends. And Phil Camp and I would be very grateful for an opportunity to meet with you to talk more about what’s needed and our plans. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at dcotter@thevermontstandard.com or (802) 457-1313.

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 Woodstock Region Journalism 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 2025 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.” 

By Dan Cotter, Publisher

For the past 15-20 years, most local newspapers have been trying to “do more with less” in an effort to survive. And, of course, since that’s not a good long-term strategy, it has put our industry into a slow death spiral.

America has lost 3,200 of its newspapers in that same period of time, and currently, an average of more than two per week go out of business. Hundreds more papers are on life support, as they try to hang on by cutting staff, cutting pages, cutting the frequency of their publishing days, and eliminating their print editions. In their resulting emaciated state, those papers certainly can’t serve the need for local news and information in their communities.

Those withered newspapers are called “ghost papers,” because they are hollowed out shells of their former selves. Technically, they still exist. They continue to survive. But the communities counting on them? Well, they can no longer really count on them.

The handful of hedge funds and corporate raiders that bought up so many of our nation’s newspapers and ruined them wrote the playbook. In their effort to “rightsize” (meaning to dramatically downsize…) their papers in the face of diminishing advertising revenue, they chopped the expenses. Severely.

For newspapers, the primary expense is paying the people who work there. After many rounds of staff cuts, those papers barely cover any news at all, because they no longer have enough people to do it.

And as many of the small independent papers – like the Standard – encountered those same advertising revenue headwinds, lacking a better plan, they began following the same playbook. Consequently, in their efforts to survive, they now f ind themselves in that same never-ending spiral of cost-cutting.

Also, newspapers in that ragged state aren’t able to do the type of development work required to create a sustainable path for the future. In order to survive beyond just this week or this year, news organizations must create new services and revenue streams that will support them long-term. To do that takes time, thought, experimentation, risk-taking, and perseverance.

The beleaguered staff that’s left at most newspapers today simply lacks the energy for that.

“Doing more with less” (and less, and less…) was originally supposed to be a stopgap measure to buy time for newspapers to get their feet under them so they could forge a path to sustainability. Sadly, though, for most, it’s simply become standard operating procedure.

Fortunately, for our community here, the Vermont Standard has not followed that all too popular “survivor” playbook. We’ve never wanted to preside over a slow death march, just to be able to say we’re still publishing, but, in fact, failing to serve the very real need for local news, information, and connection in this community.

Thanks to your financial support, we’ve been able to go another way. Instead of doing more with less, we realize that we – and all local news organizations, especially in today’s political climate – just need to do more. Much more. And while doing that, we also need to create a sustainable path forward so we can live on to serve this community in even better ways for many more years.

Our efforts to survive are actually just the first step towards our real intention, which is to thrive.

In fact, with your help, we’ve upgraded our staff and improved our publication in recent years. The team we have reporting local news is now stronger than ever. They have a good deal of talent and a whole lot of heart, working for ridiculously low wages at this frugal newspaper, yet fueled by such a worthy mission. At the Standard, we haven’t forgotten why we exist in the first place. We are striving to provide wall-to-wall coverage of a steady stream of complex stories that are of great interest and importance to this community we serve.

We’ve also enhanced the look, feel, and utility of our publications.

And we’ve expanded our digital news and information products – we are doing more and more online programming with them. This fall, we are introducing our new series of “Headliners” interviews with local newsmakers that you’ll be able to view on our Vermont Standard THIS WEEK website. Also, we’re introducing a new show called “Inside Scoop”, which will give you an in-depth, insider look at the goings-on at many of the businesses and organizations that make our community so special.

At the Standard, we are trying to save a real newspaper that offers the powerful local journalism our community needs to function properly. Not a ghost paper. The Standard has to be good enough to get the job done now and survive in the long run. “Right-sizing” here does not mean a diminished publication that’s essentially worthless, as it does in so many communities throughout our nation. Here, it means being just big enough to provide the essential local journalism that contributes mightily to the quality of life in our community, and break even.

That’s the kind of Vermont Standard we are trying so hard to preserve, while setting things up so we can provide the quality local journalism our community needs well into the future.

I sincerely hope you’ll join us on this very important mission.

As we begin this year’s 2025 annual appeal, we are deeply appreciative of any financial help you can give us. Our mission is quite urgent, of course, and Phil Camp and I would be very grateful for an opportunity to meet with you to talk more about what’s needed and our plans. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at dcotter@thevermontstandard.com or (802) 457-1313.

Also, if you have a family foundation, please consider adding the Woodstock Region Journalism Foundation (EIN: 933287932) to the worthwhile causes you regularly support.

The Woodstock Region Journalism 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 2025 Annual Appeal, please send a check to PO Box 88, Woodstock, VT 05091, or go to our Vermont Standard THIS WEEK website at thevermontstandard.com to make a contribution with your credit card. Be sure to make your check out to the “Woodstock Region Journalism Foundation.”

By Dan Cotter, publisher

It’s been said that there are very few things in life that you can always count on. But there are indeed a few, and I believe you’re holding one of them in your hands right now (or perhaps reading it on a screen).

For 172 years, the people of Woodstock, Hartland, Pomfret, Barnard, Bridgewater, Reading, West Windsor, Quechee, Plymouth, and the surrounding towns have counted on the Vermont Standard to keep watch on things in order to keep them informed, empowered, and connected. Our columnist, Dave Doubleday, replays some of the top stories of the day that took place 10, 20, 50, 75, or 100 years ago in each installment of his brilliant “Olde Woodstock” feature. It’s amazing and quite reassuring that people here were reading this same paper all those years ago simply to find out what’s happening.

Just as you are today.

All this time, citizens – informed by the Standard — were able to fully participate in their local democracy as our area progressed to the state it’s in today. What a huge responsibility it must have been, and still is today, to produce this newspaper each week. To prepare a quality news report to help readers experience and enjoy day-to-day life here and make good decisions for their community.

It’s the honor of a lifetime to be entrusted with this responsibility. The Standard has a small crew of talented, fair-minded, and underpaid journalists doggedly pursuing their mission week in and week out — trying to produce an interesting local news report that will inform, educate, and entertain the people who live here. It’s a “weekly miracle.” We start with a blank page each Wednesday afternoon, and we work tirelessly to pursue stories and produce the very best finished publication we can by the following Wednesday, so that it will be in your mailbox or at the store for you on Thursday.

In the century and a three-quarters that this paper has existed, this is our time, and our team is attempting to make a proud contribution to its legacy.

Ours certainly isn’t the easiest time to be a journalist in the Standard’s and our community’s history. This is a time of transition, when traditional forms of funding for local journalism have waned. Now, we have not only to strive to produce an excellent news report each week, but we also have to hold our breath that we’ll even be able to stay afloat.

An average of more than two newspapers fold in the U.S. each week (3,200 have vanished in the past twenty years!), leaving their communities without this kind of “glue” – without the common experience of reading in print or online about issues that affect them and their neighbors and a comprehensive set of facts for all to know about what’s happening in their local area each week.

Making matters worse, hundreds of other towns throughout the nation now only have a “ghost newspaper” that is so financially compromised it can barely cover any local news in its meager news product.

Some people – perhaps taking a page from the playbook being used at the national level – might prefer that ours was a weaker, sleepier paper and that they could exert some kind of pressure to compromise the Standard’s coverage.

But they’re mistaken. It hasn’t worked in 172 years, and we won’t let it happen now. Count on it.

We’ve had many complex (and interesting!) local stories to cover just in this past year — news that people here are counting on us to follow and explain. From the Woodstock Foundation lawsuit, to school policy, budget and reorganization issues, to Peace Field Farm, to the water company purchase, to short-term rental ordinances, to the police chief demotion, to the proposed cell phone tower and farm outlet store in Hartland, to the ECFiber case, to the ongoing housing and child care shortages, to the impact of federal funding cuts on local organizations. And we’ve had many milestones and achievements to celebrate, from our football state championship team, to our local priest’s 50^th anniversary of his ordination, to the resurgence of Bookstock, to local artists and authors who released their latest works, to this year’s graduates, to a pair of brothers who achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, to the dedication and resilience shown by those remarkable protesters in Woodstock. Even the announcement of plans for a new performing arts center, and the sighting of low-flying military planes over Woodstock. Those stories aren’t easy or inexpensive to cover, but like the journalists at the Standard who were our predecessors throughout those many, many years, it’s our solemn responsibility to inform the public about the public’s business, the very best we can.

Indeed, we can, primarily because we now have the support of hundreds of residents and readers who truly understand and value what quality local journalism does — and has always done — for our community here. They respond to our annual appeal each year. They keep us afloat. They keep us encouraged. They harden our resolve to try ever harder to serve this community and this local democracy. We count on all of you.

Oftentimes, I’ve asked individual donors, “What can we possibly do to thank you for your generosity?” And, to a person, they always say, “Just keep putting out a darn good newspaper.”

In appreciation for you, our friends, the Standard has only one single objective and guiding light going forward: to keep trying to put out a better and better paper each week in service to this community.

You can count on us.

As we begin this year’s annual appeal, we are deeply appreciative of any financial help you can give us. Our mission is quite urgent, of course, and Phil Camp and I would be very grateful for an opportunity to meet with you to talk more about what’s needed 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 2025 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 Woodstock Region Journalism 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 2025 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.”

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.”

“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.

Throughout the country newspapers are in a fight for their lives.          Here too.

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