🌱 Patch AM: What happens now if someone just opens your parked car?

Greetings Burlington! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• What happens now if someone just opens your parked car?
• Want to skate the Burlington Sea Caves safely this week?
• Which Burlington-area restaurants made a big comeback in 2025?

Also on today's calendar: HUGE Designer Floor Sample Event! and 2 more events.

Today's riddle: I used to work in a doughnut shop. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: A snow shower in the morning, with a high of 32 and low of 21 degrees.
• Thursday: A little snow in the morning, temps: high: 32, low: 4. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Mostly cloudy and frigid, with a high of 10 and low of 7 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. You'll be fined for entering a car without consent in Burlington now (burlingtonfreepress.com) — Burlington has created a new civil fine for anyone entering a vehicle without the owner’s consent, even if nothing is stolen, aligning city rules with state law. With car break-ins and thefts rising sharply in recent years, violators now face fines up to $500, though some may qualify for the City Circle restorative justice program to reduce penalties.
   

2. Burlington Sea Caves open for skating (mychamplainvalley.com) — Burlington’s Sea Caves at Arthur Park are now officially open for ice skating, with city officials confirming the ice is thick enough to be considered safe. Residents can reach the caves from North Avenue once the river is frozen and are urged to stay within flagged areas. A new city “status map” also tracks skating conditions at six outdoor locations around Burlington.
   

3. Burlington-area restaurants new and renewed in the latter half of 2025 (burlingtonfreepress.com) — Several Burlington favorites are back or refreshed, from Nomad Coffee & Bakery’s new leadership in the city to expanded treats at Mr. Creemee’s Pine Street café and Citizen Cider’s relocated pub. The roundup also checks in on nearby hot spots in Charlotte, Colchester, Essex Junction and Montpelier, giving you plenty of fresh options for dining around Chittenden County.
   

4. Spiny softshell turtle sets population records in Vermont (wcax.com) — Burlington residents can celebrate a conservation win as Vermont’s threatened spiny softshell turtle hits record nest and hatchling numbers in 2025, with some rescued babies raised at the ECHO Center on the waterfront. Biologists credit years of nest protection along Lake Champlain’s beaches and say continued monitoring could push the population even higher next year.
   

📸 Around Burlington

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Burlington

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Wednesday December 31

• HUGE Designer Floor Sample Event!
  Ethan Allen, 2735 Shelburne Rd, Shelburne
  9:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday December 25

• Christmas Day
  Burlington, VT Calendar
• Champlain Islands Fiber Bees
  North Hero Methodist Church , 3671 US-2 , North Hero
  11:00 am

Sunday December 28

• Sunday Public Skate at Leddy Arena
  Burlington, VT Calendar , 216 Leddy Park Road , Burlington
  2:30 pm

Wednesday December 31

• No Stick & Puck Today 12/31
  Burlington, VT Calendar , 216 Leddy Park Road , Burlington
  10:45 am

📣 Burlington Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Wednesday December 24

• Community Meal – Winooski
  Winooski Senior Center , 123 Barlow St , Winooski
  11:30 am
• The Library closes early for the Holidays
  Brownell Library , 6 Lincoln Street , Essex Junction
  5:00 pm
• Social Services Committee, 6:00 p.m.
  Shelburne, VT Calendar Shelburne, VT 05482
  6:00 pm

Thursday December 25

• Planning Commission, 7:00 p.m.
  Shelburne, VT Calendar , 5420 Shelburne Rd , Shelburne
• Christmas Day - City Offices Closed
  South Burlington, VT Calendar South Burlington, VT 05403
• Climate & Energy Committee, 5:30 p.m.
  Shelburne, VT Calendar , 5420 Shelburne Rd , Shelburne
• Offices closed - Christmas Day
  Essex, VT Calendar
• Christmas Day
  South Burlington, VT Calendar

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Northeast Grocery posted a job opening for Meat Clerk in Burlington. Apply here.
• EXYTE GMBH posted a job opening for Production Supervisor - 2nd Shift (3:30pm-2:00am) in Burlington. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Burlington here.

Ok Burlington! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I got tired of the hole business.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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