Community Corner

🌱 Will Washington Central’s tough decision close two beloved small schools?

And check out Bingo Comedy Show on the Montpelier Patch calendar

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Thursday December 18th Patch AM
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What's up Montpelier! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Will Washington Central’s tough decision close two beloved small schools?
  • Why Vermont cannabis regulators suddenly scrapped their new purchase-limit system
  • How Montpelier is honoring homelessness advocate Morgan Brown’s life and legacy

Also on today's calendar: Teddy the Therapy Dog and 3 more events.

Find out what's happening in Montpelierfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Montpelierfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Thursday: Clouds and breaks of sun, with a high of 37 and low of 31 degrees.
  • Friday: A.M. rain, then snow showers, temps: high: 50, low: 16. ⛄️ Brr!
  • Saturday: Cloudy and much colder, with a high of 29 and low of 23 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Community expresses concern over potential closure of Washington County schools (wcax.com) — In a tense Montpelier meeting of the Washington Central school board, parents, staff, and students pleaded to save Calais Elementary and Doty Memorial from possible closure tied to enrollment and funding pressures. Emotional testimony highlighted how these small schools shape students’ friendships and sense of community as the board weighs a pivotal decision for Washington County families.
   

2. Proposed cannabis purchase limit guidance pulled (reformer.com) — State cannabis regulators meeting in Montpelier have pulled their proposed purchase-limit point system after strong pushback from retailers and medical patients, reinstating the 8,400-milligram THC cap for now. They’ll seek legislative input, refine their process, and revisit new transaction-limit guidance in July, which could again change how local dispensaries sell to customers.
   

3. Community remembers Morgan Brown, advocate for unhoused Vermonters (vtdigger.org) — Montpelier residents are remembering Morgan Brown, a longtime local advocate for unhoused Vermonters who once stayed at Another Way and later settled in a subsidized city apartment. Known for his warm presence at the Statehouse and humorous posts on Montpelier’s Front Porch Forum, Brown recently died at 70 after battling colon cancer. A vigil at the Statehouse on Dec. 22 will honor his life and others who died while unhoused.
   

4. Scott administration pitches $75 million buydown to help offset property tax spike (vtdigger.org) — Montpelier lawmakers will soon decide whether to back Gov. Phil Scott’s plan to use $75 million in surplus funds to blunt a projected 12% average property tax hike. The proposal could cut that increase by more than a third, but key legislative leaders warn that repeated one-time “buydowns” avoid deeper reforms to Vermont’s education funding system.
   

5. Treasurer, M&T Bank announce major funding commitment for Baby Bonds pilot program (vermontbiz.com) — Vermont’s state treasurer, speaking from Montpelier, has secured a $300,000 commitment from M&T Bank to launch a Baby Bonds pilot program in the Northeast Kingdom, aimed at helping low-income children build wealth into adulthood. The pilot, part of a broader First Steps Forward initiative, will test how seed investment accounts and wraparound services can reduce intergenerational poverty and strengthen rural communities statewide.
   

📸 Around Montpelier

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Montpelier

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📣 Montpelier Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Tractor Supply Company posted a job opening for Team Member in Montpelier. Apply here.
  • Public Consulting Group posted a job opening for Vermont Intake & Eligibility Specialist in Montpelier. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Montpelier here.

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. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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