HARDWICK – The Hardwick Select Board kicked off the year with their usual mixed agenda, January 2, discussing various grant applications, 2025 town meeting and approval of the FY26 draft budget.
The month saw an announcement from Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union Superintendent Dr. David Baker, saying in a January 3 newsletter addressed to parents, guardians, staff and community. “The supervisory union budget assessment is up significantly this year,”
Adriana Holbrook, Hardwick and LeighAnn Judd, Wolcott, were among Vermont 4-H horse members who kicked off the new year with 4-H Winter Horse Camp at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction January 3.
UVM Senior Lucia McCallum’s work with The Hardwick Gazette reporting on community resilience during her 2024 summer internship earned her a spot in the UVM Community News Service annual report, that stated, “Senior Lucia McCallum, an English major, joined CNS in the spring of 2024 with a curious mind and a first-day interest in getting clips.”
Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union (OSSU) was contacted Monday, Jan. 7, by its Student Information System (SIS) provider, PowerSchool to inform them of a cyber security incident affecting OSSU schools SIS data, according to a notice published Thursday, Jan. 9.
On Saturday, Jan. 18, a turkey flew into East Hardwick power lines and disrupted Hardwick Electric Department service. Turkeys can clock up to 18 miles per hour on foot and up to 50 miles per hour in the air.
Brian Preller, arrested in Hardwick on August 24, 2022, after being charged with felony civil disorder on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, January 6, 2021, was pardoned, January 20, by President Donald Trump.
General Manager Sarah Braese attended her first meeting of the Hardwick Electric Department (HED) Board of Commissioners, January 21, after joining the organization just two weeks earlier, on January 6.
The Clip Joint & Co. salon, 9 South Main St., reopened Thursday morning, January 30, with limited space, after being closed since November 18, 2024 for remediation of an oil spill.
At their February meeting, the Mountain View Union Elementary District board discussed school configurations at the February 11 meeting, with a proposal to centralize pre-kindergarten (preschool) and kindergarten education at the MVU Lakeview campus in Greensboro beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. The ensuing debate sparked the resignation of board member Doreen Cota.
The first select board meeting of the month had an agenda again comprised of various grant opportunities and updates, in addition to municipal matters.
On February 18, three local nonprofit organizations filed liens against Wolcott resident Laurel Schoop, citing unauthorized withdrawals amounting to $16,909.19, during her time employed as a bookkeeper for each of them. Representatives of the three organizations met with Hardwick Police Chief Mike Henry, on February 19, reporting their concerns about financial irregularities.
On February 25, at 4:27 p.m., the Hardwick Fire Department was toned for a structure fire at Mini Mart Drive in East Hardwick.
The March 4 town meeting saw the Mountain View Union (MVU) Elementary School District Australian ballot vote results, with an $8,973,600.32 budget passing with 353 votes in favor to 259 votes against. The vote to approve a bond for $1.2 million for the purpose of necessary energy efficiency improvements at Hardwick Elementary School (HES) passed 396 to 211, with 606 votes cast.
The first select board meeting, March 6, after town meeting, again addressed flood repair work. The organizational meeting began with the nomination and unanimous appointment of Eric Remick as chairperson, as was Ceilidh Galloway-Kane for vice-chair.
A lunar eclipse was seen before 3 a.m. the morning of Friday, March 14. Onlookers had the rare change to see a fully-eclipsed blood moon in a clear, starry sky.
Hazen Union School principal Dr. Jason Di Giulio was selected as the 2025 Vermont High School Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
The Thursday, March 20, select board meeting began right on time, with Chair Eric Remick counting down to 6 p.m. Items were moved through quickly with approval to proceed with submitting a grant for repaving Center Road, a highlight of the meeting.
In April, it was announced that after years of work, the Food Hub, a new facility in Hardwick that aims to expand markets for local farms and food producers, opened. The Food Hub is operated by Hardwick-based nonprofit, the Center for an Agricultural Economy (CAE).
Sixty people climbed into a school bus and a van in the lot at Dona’s in Hardwick, Saturday, April 5 to attend a statehouse rally scheduled for noon in Montpelier. It had been organized by the grassroots 50501VT organization. The rally’s theme, “Hands Off,” was billed as a fight to uphold the constitution and end executive overreach.
The select board had an extensive agenda at their April 17 select board meeting, with discussions ranging from a delay in the potential sale of town real estate, the pedestrian bridge replacement, flooding and FEMA matters, to an update from the Jeudevine Library.
Saturday, April 26, Hardwick Fire Department hosted vehicle extrication training.
The Civic Standard hosted a tour of its building at 42 South Main St. in Hardwick and a public conversation in the Hardwick Memorial Building about options for the little building with big questions, as the invitation explained. The Monday, April 28, gathering began with a tour of the building, which several dozen people from Hardwick and nearby towns attended.
Twenty-five people joined a May Day protest, International Workers Day, on the sidewalk along S. Main Street in Hardwick, in front of the block with Front Seat Coffee and Positive Pie.
Governor Phil Scott and the Department of Housing and Community Development announced the 2025 recipients of Vermont Downtown Transportation Fund awards, May 9. The Hardwick pedestrian bridge replacement project received a total of $200,000 for the demolition and replacement of the deteriorated, unsafe and currently closed pedestrian bridge with a new ADA compliant pedestrian bridge.
Senator Bernie Sanders along with an estimated 300 people attended the Hardwick Spring Dance, Saturday, May 17. Sen. Sanders delivered some remarks, before dancing and taking photos with guests.
Hardwick’s annual Springfest celebration took place Memorial Day weekend, May 23 to 26.
To kick off the month, the Civic Standard celebrated their birthday, on June 4, with a free Thanksgiving-style meal for attendees.
An ongoing spring exhibition of art by over two dozen contributors at the Hardwick Inn was extended into June. Contributors included Hardwick Elementary School students, Ceilidh Galloway-Kane, Adam Molleur, Stephanie Garguilo, Ross Connelly and more.
Four students from Hazen Union School were winners in the Vermont Covered Bridge Society’s (VCBS) poster contest held for its 25th anniversary.
The June 15 No Kings Day rally in Hardwick, organized by the Hardwick Indivisible group, drew over 260 people who joined over 1,500 similar rallies throughout Vermont and the United States. Organizer Carlotta Hayes said, “I am so proud of the team that worked together to produce this event in Hardwick today. I’m impressed by the number of protesters who kept arriving in waves, ‘peaceful, patriotic and pissed off,’ as Rachel Cole put it.”
Hardwick Electric Department’s (HED) June 24 meeting began with approval of previous minutes. This was former Commissioner Lynne Gedanken’s final HED meeting.
July saw the expansion of NEK Broadband services, with NEK Community Broadband Community Relations Manager Kitty Ufford-Chase writing in a July 4 Front Porch Forum notice, “Areas of town with little or no broadband internet service on some or all of Billings, Bridgeman Hill and West Hill Roads ‘where NEK Broadband has extended its network’ may now have service.”
The Jeudevine Library addition opened its doors to the public on Monday, July 7, after over two years of construction. The project increased accessibility, adding more bathrooms and multiple meeting areas.
The Thursday, July 10 select board meeting consisted of a slew of appointments and approvals. Most notably, the select board began the process to acquire lands for a town forest after much discussion. The Hardwick Conservation Commission stated they are willing to assist with fundraising efforts, with Rachel Kane offering a $1,000 personal contribution. Other contributions would come from public funds and private fundraising, with the total funds not due until closing.
U.S. Senator Peter Welch stopped by Front Seat Coffee Monday, July 14, as he traveled across Vermont discussing flood recovery and his new bill aiming to fix the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Hardwick Rescue reported July 25, that, as of 8 a.m., that morning, it had received an unprecedented 12 calls for service in the past 24 hours.
On July 25, workers at Hardwick Elementary School discovered the roof of the lobby facing South Main Street had a noticeable sag in the supporting above where doors and windows had earlier been removed. The lobby supports had been mistakenly removed the previous day during the removal of windows containing PCB caulking.
On August 2, at 9:19 p.m., the Hardwick Police Department responded to a report of vandalism to a field. The owner of the field, Kristopher Price, had witnessed a side-by-side vehicle tearing up the field by spinning around in circles. The side-by-side then fled down Hopkins Hill Road toward Hardwick village.
The Vermont Department of Health recognized the Hardwick Health Center among the 72 primary care practices across the state for achieving high vaccination rates and helping to protect children, teens and adults against vaccine-preventable diseases that can be serious or even deadly.
Rural Edge (RE) Executive Director Patrick Shattuck was present at the August 7 select board meeting to review the various properties and projects now under RE’s management, including 9 South Main, following a transfer of management from the Lamoille Housing Partnership.
On August 11, Hardwick Rescue, Morristown Rescue and Hardwick Police responded to 28 Mill Street for the report of a male who had fallen and had a laceration on his head. Upon arrival it was clear the injuries sustained by the male were of a much more serious nature and appeared to be life threatening. Investigation revealed the male subject had been pushed through a wooden railing from a height of over 15 feet during a domestic dispute involving his girlfriend, identified as Angela J. Torres, age 59, of Hardwick. The male, identified as Zollie Altman III, age 65 also of Hardwick, would succumb later that day to his injuries.
In September, three Hazen Union School Art Honors students were awarded top district honors in the VFW Auxiliary’s Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest. Ella Renaud, 11th grade, secured 1st place; Karli Patridge, 10th grade, earned 2nd place and Brianna Holbrook, 11th grade, achieved 3rd place recognition.
Hardwick Head Start relocated to Lakeview Early Education Center, moving from its former Church Street home in the Caspian Lake Lodge No. 87 of the Free & Accepted Masons. “We are beyond thrilled to welcome them to our third classroom” stated one Mountainview Elementary School District board member.
Only three board members, Shari Cornish, Ceilidh Galloway-Kane and Danny Hale were present for the September 4 regular select board meeting. Town Manager David Upson and Business Manager Casey Rowell were also present. To begin the meeting Upson reported about a number of projects.
Nine construction workers were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customers Enforcement (ICE) at a convenience store and along Vt. Route 15 in Hardwick, Friday, Sept. 26. Migrant Justice said the detainees are Nicaraguan, Colombian and Ecuadorian. No criminal charges have been filed and all are facing removal proceedings.
October began with Vermont Open Studio Weekend, featuring many local artists to visit, with works to show and for sale.
The Vermont Art Council (VAC) announced the 26 recipients of its most competitive grant funding program, the “Creation Grant”, which supports Vermont artists in creating new work. Among these recipients was Brett Stanciu of Hardwick, for the creation of the novel “Save Town Hall.” Stanciu received $5,000 in funding.
Hazen Union School art teacher James Lockhart was named the Vermont Art Teacher of the Year by the Vermont Art Educators Association (VAEA), recognizing his 28 years of dedication to art education at Hazen Union and his lasting impact on students’ creativity and confidence.
The Civic Standard presented “A Wedding Tale,” an immersive soap opera by, for and about Hardwick on October 24 and 26. The show featured a local cast of 30 amateur and professional actors.
The November 1 funding cutoff for SNAP benefits, or 3Squares, saw area services like the Hardwick Area Food Pantry, Buffalo Mountain Co-Op, CAE and more stepping up to help fill gaps ahead of the Thanksgiving season. “The Buffalo Mountain Market’s Emily Hershberger put together a donation account that will help people with SNAP benefits receive a $50 gift card through Buffalo Mountain,” according to the Hardwick Area Food Pantry’s (HAFP’s) Stella James.
The 17th Annual Hardwick Child Haven’s Indian Dinner and Sari Fashion Show at Hazen Union school, November 1 and 2, raised $13,000, wrote Wheelock’s Robin Cappuccino, a board member of Child Haven International-India, last week.
Hazen Union High School’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), known as the HUGS Club, was awarded a $10,000 Changemakers grant from the It Gets Better Project to support a student-led initiative: a two-day regional queer youth dance and summit. The Hazen Union HUGS Club is a community-centered club focused on uniting queer-identified and -allied youth.
Justice for Dogs held their 19th annual craft show on Nov. 15, with over 50 area crafters and 73 spaces displaying homemade items.
The Daughters of the American Revolution, Saint John de Crevecoeur Chapter, completed work on a new “Never Forget” garden within the Memorial Fountain.
The 42nd annual Hardwick Area Rescue Squad memorial tree lighting ceremony took place Sunday, Dec. 7, with a crowd in attendance. Rev. Avril Cochran delivered a brief dedication, with carols led by Tyler Molleur of the Rescue Squad.
The grand opening of the Civic Standard’s new Main St. location took place December 10, with dinner, music, a silent auction and a live pie auction.
AWARE recently received a $5,000 grant from the Northeast Kingdom Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation. The funding will support the Healthy Relationships Project, advancing AWARE’s mission to prevent and heal the trauma of domestic and sexual violence in the greater Hardwick area by promoting safety, respect, empathy and personal responsibility.
Scott Johnstone was formally appointed as HED general manager, following the exit of Sarah Braese who had occupied the position since January.
The first regular select board meeting of December consisted primarily of budget discussions, updates on flood-related projects and debate over whether or not to implement a local option tax. Notably, Danny Hale announced he would not be running for re-election to a select board seat.
OSSU Superintendent Dr. David Baker announced his resignation, effective at the end of the school year, after serving since July 2022. Volunteers were being solicited to form a search committee for his replacement.
Flood recovery work continued throughout the year, with a handful of flooded properties already demolished after federally funded buyouts that turned the properties over to the town to be maintained as open space. Work to examine options for reducing future area flooding resulted in community presentations and discussion late in the year.
Raymonda Parchment is a Hardwick Gazette reporter. She recently graduated from Vermont State University - Castleton with a Bachelor’s Degree in English. She is a strong supporter of freedom of speech, and the right to publish information, opinions, and ideas without censorship or restraint. She is a lifelong lover of the written word, and is excited to join the team as a staff member.
