GREENSBORO – In January, a town-wide survey pointed to affordable housing as a need of the community. Residents cited long travel times, limited local services and the recent pharmacy closures as significant barriers to health care access. Protecting Caspian Lake and local wildlife habitats remained a top priority for respondents.
The January 8 regular select board meeting saw residents voicing both their words of support and frustrations with members of the select board, amid a debate over a proposal to create housing in the town hall building. Aside from the community discourse, then-board member David Kelley spoke about the changes Act 46 may bring to Greensboro.
After some discussion, the board ultimately decided in favor of registered Greensboro voters electing town officers via Australian ballot, and voting on an article to change the day of town meeting. It was decided after much discussion that the 2025 town meeting would be held at the Highland Center for the Arts.
In February, Greensboro’s Mateo Kehler was named to the founding board of directors of Let’s Build Homes (LBH), the fledgling organization announced February 6. LBH is a non-partisan, pro-housing coalition committed to creating abundant housing and addressing Vermont’s housing shortage. The Vermont Housing Finance Agency is serving as the organization’s fiscal agent.
A process of discussions and negotiation with Rural Edge dating back more than three years resulted in a purchase and sale agreement between Greensboro and Rural Edge. The controversial plan for redevelopment of the town hall raised many questions among town residents. The entire agreement ran a total of 23 pages.
The Willey’s Store celebrated their 125th anniversary this February, over President’s Day weekend. The family business was started in 1900 with some of the same buildings being used today.
photo by Paul Fixx
The February 11 Mountain View Union (MVU) elementary school district board meeting ignited a community wide debate, and one member’s resignation, following a proposal to have all early education services moved to the Lakeview Union School (LVU) building. The decision was met with pushback from both the community and board members present at the meeting.
Greensboro was among the towns announced to have forfeited wastewater funding, after more than a year of work and months of debate about siting. During the Covid-19 pandemic, state leaders earmarked upwards of $30 million in federal relief funds for municipal water and wastewater initiatives in some of the state’s rural villages with the goal of promoting housing and economic revitalization. Eleven towns received grants, including Greensboro.
Multiple sources helped settle the debate over the presence of lead and asbestos in the town hall. A discussion on Front Porch Forum led to questions about the safety of the town hall space, and whether its tenants were aware of these issues. In the 2024 fire marshal’s report, there is no mention of lead, corroded pipes or safety risks that could pose a threat to the building’s current tenants. Similarly to the William Gallup Architecture and Planning LLC report, no hazardous materials or safety risks are mentioned.
March 4 saw town meeting day held at the Highland Center for the Arts. Resident Tim Brennan was elected to a three-year seat on the select board. Brennan’s appointment was preceded by a lengthy discussion about each candidate’s stance on the Rural Edge project. Mike Metcalf was nominated to a two year seat, which he accepted. Judy Carpenter was nominated for a one-year term, which she too accepted.
Announced March 3 via social media, Greensboro Garage was purchased by new owners, Maynard Bartlett Jr. and Jessica Bartlett. Joanne Lacasse served as the previous owner for 10 years.
The Vermont Cabot Creamery/Agri-Mark and Jasper Hill Farm products were honored at the United States Championship Cheese Contest, March 6, hosted by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association. Jasper Hill Farm, from Greensboro, and Cabot teamed up to win a blue ribbon in the Natural Rhined Cheddar category with their revolutionary collaboration, Cabot Clothbound, a cheese nominated for best overall.
Jasper Hill went on to place Best of Class in three other categories with their Bayley Hazen Blue, Withersbrook Blue and Willoughby, a cheese also nominated for best overall.
Hill Farmstead Brewery earned 73 Untappd Community Awards, with 38 Gold, 15 Silver and 20 Bronze, in the second annual Untappd recognition of the world’s best beers. Hill Farmstead Brewing is among the 10 U.S. breweries that produced the highest number of award-winning brews at a state or national level.
In April, Patrick Shattuck of Rural Edge and the select board held a community forum in preparation for the upcoming vote on the town hall redevelopment proposal. Three hundred and seventy-four Greensboro voters weighed in on April 29, with the majority voting against allowing the select board to sign a purchase and sale agreement with Rural Edge for a project to convert the town hall into 16 to 20 apartments.
In May, a new gazebo was built by Mike Lapierre (left) and his son Corban in the park across from Willey’s Store. The gazebo was paid for with ARPA funding requested several years ago by the Caspian Critters 4H Club.
Loons were confirmed to be nesting once again on Caspian Lake. The May 14 regular select board meeting garnered its usual attendance, with many community members wondering what’s next for the town hall. Several proposed uses came up in discussion throughout the evening. Other agenda items included the potential purchase of a new fire truck, paving bids and other public concerns.
photo by Kristen Fountain, VTDigger
In June, 75 loon enthusiasts flocked to Greensboro’s United Church of Christ to hear loon biologist Eric Hanson share his knowledge on the species. One breeding pair on Caspian Lake had hatched one of their chicks that same morning, June 10.
The East Coast Inspirational Singers marked Juneteenth with a performance at the Highland Center for The Arts.
The select board held a three-hour and fifty-three minute meeting, during which the board decided to begin having two select board meetings a month beginning in September. Additionally, they discussed adding a local option tax.
At an event on June 19, Chris Steel, chairman of the Greensboro Conservation Commission, presented Clive Gray a Simon Pearce blown glass tree in appreciation for his 20 years of working for conservation in Greensboro.
Representative Leanne Harple presented a legislative update for residents of Craftsbury, Greensboro, Albany and Glover on Saturday, June 28 at the Highland Center for the Arts.
In July, Greensboro held its annual Funky Fourth celebrations, with the Vermont Philharmonic performing outdoors at the Highland Center for the Arts for a Family Pops Concert.
Summer Music from Greensboro (SMfG) also presented a four-part Tuesday evening concert series, beginning July 18.
courtesy photo
Composer-pianist David Feurzeig came to the Greensboro United Church of Christ Friday evening, July 18, to give a concert and help support the Greensboro Land Trust.
The Greensboro Association’s (GA) Grants Committee announced the distribution of $47,000 to local organizations and non-profits in the greater Greensboro community, through a combination of its annual grants program and community relief grants.
In August, Peter Gould’s youth Shakespeare camp, Get Thee to the Funnery, returned for its 28th summer. The camp, now at Highland Center for the Arts, finished the season with two live public performances on Friday, Aug. 8 and Saturday, Aug. 9.
The Greensboro United Church of Christ hosted a homecoming celebration for Pastor Ed Sunday-Winters and his wife Patty, on Sunday, Aug. 10, inviting the wider community to take part in a day of worship, fellowship and food.
A gathering to honor former Willey’s storekeeper, father, pastor, walker and chocolate chip cookie-maker Tom Hurst was well attended by 50 family members, friends and community members. Greensboro’s United Church of Christ hosted the affair that began with lunch at noon, Monday, Aug. 11.
The Greensboro Nursing Home held an end-of-summer concert Friday, Aug. 29. Local musicians Roy MacNeil, Icarus Tyree, Mavis MacNeil, Andrew Koehler and Alice Perron presented an evening of folk songs, fiddle tunes, jazz standards, oldies and more.
In September, it was announced the newly-renamed Lakeview Early Education Center will now host students from Hardwick Head Start school, having moved from their former Church Street home in the Caspian Lake Lodge No. 87 of the Free & Accepted Masons.
Drought conditions affected Caspian Lake users this year with the lake more than 12 inches below its eight-year average on September 1, and 18 inches below its spring level.
Community members pulled the rope hanging from the Greensboro United Church of Christ (GUCC) bell tower to ring the church bell, at 4 p.m. on September 17. They joined participants gathered across the country for the Bells Across America, commemorating the moment the church bells of Philadelphia rang out when the U.S. The Constitution was first signed 238 years ago.
In October, the new Lakeview Early Education Center hosted a fall open house. At the first collaborative event of the combined Lakeview and Head Start programs, attendees met teachers and staff and toured the new classrooms.
An open house at the Greensboro Free Library, Saturday, Oct. 18, allowed community members to learn about recent energy efficiency improvements made there and learn about applying similar measures to single-family homes.
The Greensboro United Church of Christ held their annual Halloween Trick-or-Treat Trail throughout Greensboro Village on October 31. Residents and volunteers handed out treats from porches and driveways along the route, with the GUCC providing free grilled cheese sandwiches while supplies lasted.
November saw a community vote over the potential purchase of a new firetruck for the Greensboro Volunteer Fire Department. In the proposal, Chief Brochu said, “Your fire department has been concerned for some time about the reliability of our fire trucks. Our main truck is nearly 25 years old, and the backup is 40 years old. I have recommended to the select board that we replace the pumper as soon as possible.”
Friendsgiving was held at the HCA on November 14.
Broadfork Homestead announced they will provide free soup and bread daily, in light of federal debates on food assistance.
The Vermont Cheese Council received word that Vermont took home at least 33 awards at the World Cheese Awards international competition in Bern, Switzerland. The Cellars at Jasper Hill Farm, Greensboro and Cabot Creamery Cooperative, Cabot, were among the cheesemakers who received awards.
December 1 saw 12 fire departments respond to a single fire, with the Greensboro Fire Department responding to the structure fire at 117 Hutchins Farm Road in Stannard. Due to the remote location, tankers from the surrounding area were called to assist. The situation was further complicated by dropping temperatures leading to frozen hoses, equipment, gear and difficulty getting water. Tankers were re-routed from frozen rural hydrants to the station to access water.
December 12, the Tallis Scholars performed medieval works at the HCA, for which they received a standing ovation.
The Women’s Holiday Luncheon at Greensboro United Church of Christ returned on Saturday, Dec. 13, welcoming neighbors of all ages. The luncheon featured a homemade meal, decorative table settings and live seasonal music.
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.
