🌱 What Vermont’s steady 2.5% unemployment rate means for local workers

Hi there, Montpelier! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• What Vermont’s steady 2.5% unemployment rate means for local workers
• Why Vermont women are staying in the workforce as others leave
• Why Vermont’s DC delegation is blasting the latest Guard deployment

Also on today's calendar: The Kat & Brett Holiday Show 2025! and 1 more event.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Montpelier? Post it to Montpelier photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Clouds and sun; not as cold, with a high of 26 and low of 19 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Wednesday: Snow showers in the afternoon, temps: high: 38, low: 20.
• Thursday: Clouds and breaks of sun, with a high of 39 and low of 34 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Vermont's unemployment rate holds at 2.5 percent for September (benningtonbanner.com) — From Montpelier, state labor officials report Vermont’s unemployment rate held at a low 2.5 percent in September, even as the labor force shrank slightly. The Department of Labor is ramping up workforce programs, including job fairs and training, to connect jobseekers and employers statewide in the coming months.
   

• Vermont bucks national trend of women leaving workforce (wcax.com) — From Montpelier, state officials and advocates report that Vermont women are staying in the workforce even as many nationwide are leaving, crediting major investments in child care. Local leaders say subsidies, better access to providers, and training for higher-paying trades are helping women find jobs that fit family schedules and strengthen Vermont’s long-term economic health.
   

• Vermont congressional delegation criticizes Guard deployment (wcax.com) — From Montpelier’s congressional delegation is sharply criticizing President Trump’s decision to deploy Vermont Air National Guard members to Puerto Rico for a counter-narcotics mission tied to tensions with Venezuela. While Sens. Welch and Sanders and Rep. Balint call the move illegal without congressional approval, Republican candidate Gerald Malloy backs the deployment as necessary for national security.
   

📸 Around Montpelier

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 Montpelier

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Thursday December 18

• Bingo Comedy Show
  Charlie O's, 70 Main St, Montpelier
  7:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday December 18

• MSMS Concert @ MHS
  Montpelier High School Montpelier, VT 05602
  5:00 pm

Friday December 19

• The Kat & Brett Holiday Show 2025!
  Montpelier Performing Arts Hub , Gary Library , Montpelier
  7:00 pm

Friday December 26

• Builders Day
  Kellogg-Hubbard Library , 135 Main St , Montpelier
  3:30 pm

📣 Montpelier 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

Tuesday December 16

• JV Boys vs. Christ Covenant
  Twinfield Union School Plainfield, VT 05667
  7:00 pm
• T/C V Girls Basketball @ Winooski
  Twinfield Union School Plainfield, VT 05667
  7:00 pm

Wednesday December 17

• BCEMS Winter Band and Chorus Concert
  Barre City Elementary & Middle School Barre, VT 05641
  6:00 pm

Thursday December 18

• MSMS Concert @ MHS
  Montpelier High School Montpelier, VT 05602
  5:00 pm
• T/C JV Boys Basketball vs Mid VT Christian
  Twinfield Union School Plainfield, VT 05667
  5:30 pm
• Dance Class
  Maple Corner Community Center , 84 W County Rd , Calais
  6:00 pm
• T/C V Girls Basketball vs Mid VT Christian
  Twinfield Union School Plainfield, VT 05667
  7:00 pm

Saturday December 20

• The 19th Annual Green Mountain Nutcracker!
  Barre Opera House , 6 N Main St #4 , Barre
  7:00 pm

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

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Walmart posted a job opening for Stocking Team Associate in Montpelier. Apply here.
• Vermont Staffing posted a job opening for Program Manager - Transportation in Montpelier. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Montpelier here.

🗞 Nearby News

Barre

• Vermont man accused of trying to sell stolen road signs on social media in Orange County (mynbc5.com)
• VT Lottery Lucky For Life, Pick 3 results for Dec. 14, 2025 (burlingtonfreepress.com)
• Ever-rising taxes endanger downtown restaurants, owner warns (vermontdailychronicle.com)

Waterbury

• This Day in History: December 14, 2015 (wcax.com)
• Jon Gailmor (vtdigger.org)

Ok Montpelier! 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 don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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