***For best viewing experience, scroll all the way up in email and click Read Online***

Bundle up tonight, Burlington. That historic nor'easter (already being dubbed "The Blizzard of 2026") hammered southern New England but is mostly sparing us here in the Champlain Valley, leaving just some mountain snow showers on the western slopes overnight. Lows will drop to around 10° with wind chills near zero, so it'll feel every bit like deep February. Tuesday stays frigid with highs only reaching about 19° under partly sunny skies before clouds build in late. Wednesday is the day to watch: a clipper system rolls through bringing light but widespread snow, heaviest during the morning and evening commutes, with a trace to an inch expected in the valley. The good news? Thursday and Friday look dry and mostly sunny, hovering in the low to mid 30s. A brief warmup arrives Saturday before colder air and snow showers return late in the weekend.

Plenty going on around town this week despite the chill. Tonight at the Fletcher Free Library, VPIRG, the ACLU of Vermont, and a group of state legislators are hosting an Immigration & Federal Overreach Panel from 6:30 to 8 PM, featuring Senator Tanya Vyhovsky, Senator Becca White, Representative Leonora Dodge, and Representative Bram Kleppner for a discussion on current legislation, action opportunities, and navigating federal overreach, with dedicated time for public Q&A. Also tonight, if you're in the mood for laughs, The Lowdown at Higher Ground kicks off at 7:30 PM with a stacked comedy lineup hosted by Maggie Maxwell (NBC, Reductress) and featuring some of Vermont's funniest, including Donavin Andronaco, Tracy Dolan, Maddy Hyams, and more. And for the book lovers, the Forever 38 group is gathering at Pho Dang in Winooski at 6:15 PM for their Ladies Book Club [MEETUP] to discuss "Best Offer Wins".

Tomorrow is pretty stacked. The Burlington Garden Club welcomes Denise Greene to Faith United Methodist Church in South Burlington at 1 PM for a free talk on Creating Biodiverse Gardens and Landscapes, covering native plants, pollinator habitats, and oasis garden design. Later in the afternoon, head to Zero Gravity Brewery on Pine Street from 5 to 7 PM for a Green State for Good get together with the climate nonprofit Run On Climate, where a dollar from every Green State Lager sold goes toward local climate action (plus a silent auction with some choice prizes). At 6 PM, Local Motion's EZ Breezy Bike Ride: Ignite the Night rolls out from 1 Steele Street for a casual, DJ fueled cruise around Burlington's streets. That same evening, Vermonters for People-Oriented Places (VPOP) holds its monthly meeting from 6 to 7:30 PM at 1 Steele Street to talk about their 2026 platform, Town Meeting Day outreach, and a transit funding letter writing campaign. At 6:30 PM, the Burlington Odd Fellows on North Ave are hosting a Family Recipe Potluck where you bring a dish from your family's recipe box, whether it's a beloved classic or the mysterious casserole everyone politely pretends to love. Also at 6:30, Switchback Brewing hosts Scale of Change, a conservation film tour dedicated to protecting wild Atlantic salmon, featuring powerful films from across Canada alongside adventure fly fishing films. And capping off the night, the Tony Award winning Kinky Boots opens at 7:30 PM at the Flynn (153 Main Street) with Cyndi Lauper's dazzling score and a big hearted story about an unlikely partnership.

Looking ahead to midweek, Wednesday brings Winter Wonderland to Farrell Park in South Burlington from noon to 2 PM, with sledding, a hot chocolate bar, s'mores, and snow plus maple syrup treats (the first 100 attendees snag an SBRP Neck Gaiter). Wednesday's light snow should only add to the atmosphere. For all my UVM students reading this, over at UVM's Davis Center, the Spring Job & Internship Fair runs from noon to 3 PM with over 90 recruiters on hand. That evening, lace up for the 5K Run & Shoe Demo at 1st Republic Brewing [MEETUP] in Essex Junction starting at 5:30 PM, with Fleet Feet demoing shoes from Asics, New Balance, and Mizuno (don't forget your running lights). Also Wednesday, the Burlington Area Ladies Social Group meets in Essex Junction at 6:30 PM for Book Club For Busy Women [MEETUP], where they tackle just one chapter a month from "Open Your Mind to Prosperity" by Catherine Ponder. Then on Thursday, take advantage of the dry forecast and head to Outdoor Gear Exchange on Church Street at 7 PM for Wax and Wine ($7.18), an evening pairing wine with the art of ski waxing. And at Higher Ground that same night, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong brings their psychedelic funk back to South Burlington at 7:30 PM in support of their eighth studio album "Feed The Fire."

Why support? Every week, I scan 24+ local sources: 12 event calendars, some of those being Seven Days, Front Porch Forum calendar, Facebook events, plus 9 others and 12 news stations, from VTDigger to WCAX to Vermont Public to Community News Service, plus 8 others, to keep you connected. If this lengthy newsletter saves you time, or has introduced you to new experiences in Burlington, then definitely consider chipping in!

About Me

The Btown Brief IRL We’re now seeing 15–30 people at our weekly events! Be sure to stop by for our weekly Saturday Coffee meetup at Zero Gravity at 10am. Everyone is welcome! Come find things to do this weekend together:

From the Deputy Publisher: Introducing 'Gen Zero'

Seven Days is kicking off a new yearlong series called "Gen Zero: Where Are Vermont's Young People?" that digs into the state's shrinking youth population from every angle. The numbers are stark: Vermont has the oldest population in the country and the lowest birth rate, and even the brand new Burlington High School opening this fall is built for 1,150 students when the current student body sits around 850. Deputy publisher Cathy Resmer frames it through her own Gen Z kids, one eyeing colleges in Ireland and another weighing whether Vermont's cost of living is worth sticking around for. Towns that have built housing, like Colchester and South Burlington, are holding steadier on enrollment, while rural communities are watching their schools empty out. It's a demographic story with implications for everything from property taxes to school consolidation.

Vermont Senate President Phil Baruth Says He Won't Run for Reelection

Baruth's retirement announcement ends what will be a 16 year run in the Senate and leaves a significant power vacuum in Montpelier. As president pro tempore since 2022, the Burlington Democrat/Progressive has controlled which bills get airtime and which committee assignments get made. His departure comes at a particularly charged moment: he's been one of the strongest Democratic voices pushing Act 73's education consolidation plan forward, even as the Progressive wing of his own caucus has called for the law to be dismantled. The Chittenden Central district race is already taking shape, with incumbent Martine Larocque Gulick planning to run again, Tanya Vyhovsky likely in, and newcomers Nikhil Goyal and Elaine Haney already declared.

A Road Map to Burlington's Electronic Music Scene

Seven Days put together a thorough guide to Burlington's electronic music landscape, and the through line is a scene that's evolving rather than fading. Sunday Night Mass, the legendary house and techno series running since 1998, survived the closure of Club Metronome and Nectar's by moving to Higher Ground as a quarterly event. The Burlington Electronic Department collective pulled off its biggest Groundhog Fest yet across 10 downtown venues this year. And a newer generation of DJs like Kate Kush and producers like Willverine are building their own followings through residencies at Light Club Lamp Shop and Wallflower Collective. The piece also nods to Vermont's surprisingly deep synth history, tracing it back to a German engineer who moved to Brattleboro in 1954.

Vermont Students Are 'Well Below' Proficiency Goals in Math and English, According to State Report

The annual State Report Card found that fewer than 50% of students are proficient in math and fewer than 60% in English across every grade level, with four year graduation rates dropping from 89% in 2017 to 82% in 2025. Governor Scott immediately seized on the findings to push his education transformation agenda, which set off a predictable backlash from educators and superintendents who accused him of politicizing the data. The teachers' union president pointed out that Scott has been in office for nearly a decade while "bashing public schools," and the superintendents' association cautioned that no single snapshot can capture the full picture. The report lands right in the middle of the Act 73 debate, giving consolidation advocates fresh ammunition while critics argue the focus should be on underlying demographic issues rather than structural overhaul.

Pieciak Unveils $30 Million in New Housing Investments for Vermont

The biggest local headline here is the $8 million earmarked for Hula's Ride Your Bike project, a 200 unit development that would convert an industrial parking area in Burlington's South End into mixed income housing with a focus on walkability, sustainability, and local arts. It's the first phase of a larger plan that could eventually add over a thousand new homes to the South End. The funding comes through Pieciak's 10% in VT program, which uses low interest loans from the state's cash balance to offset the kind of high borrowing costs that have been killing housing projects nationwide. Since 2023, the program has invested over $130 million supporting nearly 1,700 units. Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak called it a model of what happens when state investment, city leadership, and mission aligned developers actually pull in the same direction.

Progressives Hope to Gain Power on Burlington City Council

Town Meeting Day could reshape the council's balance of power. The Democratic 7-5 majority has recently blocked Progressive measures, including an "apartheid-free" pledge and a "tax fairness" plan, citing concerns over divisiveness and economic impact. If Progressives win contested seats in Wards 7 and 8, a 6-6 split would necessitate cross-party negotiation. If Democrats sweep, they'd secure a veto-proof majority against Progressive Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak. The races themselves are a study in contrasts: Ward 8 incumbent Marek Broderick (P) faces Ryan Nick (D), while Ward 7 incumbent Evan Litwin (D) is challenged by newcomer Bill Standen (P). Despite the political friction, all four candidates name housing as their top priority, which says something about what Burlington residents actually want the council focused on.

Vermont Bill Would Tighten Privacy Rules for Genetic Testing Kit Data

H.639, sponsored by 28 state representatives, comes directly out of the 23andMe debacle, where 6.9 million users had data breached before the company filed for bankruptcy and settled a $30 million lawsuit. The bill would require genetic testing companies to get granular consent for data usage rather than burying everything in one long agreement, and it would specifically prohibit sharing genetic data with insurers and employers. Ancestry.com's head of government affairs testified in support but pushed back on a provision that would let consumers sue companies directly, arguing it could trigger massive lawsuits over technical glitches that never actually caused harm. The bill cleared the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee on February 19.

A Detailed Look at Shelburne's Budget

The most interesting detail buried in the numbers is the spending on town committees, which is set to more than double to $328,600, with nearly two thirds of that going to the newly established Community and Economic Development Committee. That committee's budget funds everything from business recruitment to winter lights programming through the associated nonprofit Experience Shelburne, which recently took over the farmers market. The bigger picture: the police department remains the largest budget item at $2.68 million (still subject to union negotiations), while the highway department is seeing a significant drop from $2.1 million to $1.7 million, largely due to a $500,000 reduction in repaving and sidewalk work. Property taxes are expected to cover $10 million of the budget at a rate of $0.5799 per $100 of assessed value.

Charlotte Author Wins National Jewish Book Award

Jack Fairweather, a Wales born journalist now living in Charlotte, took the award for "The Prosecutor: One Man's Battle to Bring Nazis to Justice," a biography of Fritz Bauer, the gay Jewish judge who facilitated the capture of Adolf Eichmann and helped put everyday German citizens on trial for their complicity in the Holocaust. Fairweather drew on previously unpublished personal letters and newly declassified German files. This is his second major literary prize following a 2019 Costa Book Award for "The Volunteer," about a resistance hero who infiltrated Auschwitz. The 75th National Jewish Book Awards Gala is set for March 25 in New York City.

Burlington Fermentation Club Bubbles With Enthusiasm

If you've been curious about fermentation but intimidated by the prospect of accidentally growing the wrong kind of mold, this club is your entry point. Founded by Cheyanne Rico, the free monthly meetups at Queen City Brewery feature tasting potlucks where members bring everything from first attempt kimchi to chocolate dipped, maple fermented mushrooms. The club is hosting a make your own sauerkraut table at the Burlington Winter Farmers Market on February 28 (BYOC: bring your own cabbage, ideally bought at the market). Mark your calendar too for the fourth annual Ferment Fest at the Soda Plant on March 21, which has "blown up" in recent years according to Pitchfork Pickle owner Julia Irish.

Report: Vermont Struggling to Take Full Advantage of Heat Pumps

The 2026 Annual Energy Report paints a complicated picture for one of Vermont's key climate strategies. Heat pumps are among the cheapest heating options available, but three factors are blunting their impact: federal tax credits ended in December under Trump's One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act, Vermont's aging housing stock lacks adequate weatherization, and homeowners tend to shut their systems off during the coldest stretches and fall back on fossil fuels. The state's goal of weatherizing 120,000 homes by 2030 would require growing its contractor workforce from roughly 800 to around 6,000, a target the report itself calls aspirational. On top of all that, builders aren't consistently following energy codes, and as one legislator on the Building Energy Code Working Group put it, "Nobody's checking."

'Craftivism' Makes a Comeback as Local Knitters Spin Yarns About ICE Resistance

Red knitted hats inspired by Norwegian resistance caps from World War II have become a quiet but visible form of protest against federal immigration crackdowns, and the movement has taken off across Chittenden County. The pattern, dubbed "Melt the ICE," originated at a Minneapolis yarn shop and has been picked up by nearly 10,000 people on the knitting platform Ravelry. Locally, the Knot Knite group is selling handmade versions at Must Love Yarn in Shelburne, with all proceeds going to a nonprofit supporting new Americans. Demand has been so strong that the shop was down to three skeins of red yarn at one point, with national suppliers also running low. A St. Michael's College professor draws a line from 19th century abolitionist quilters to suffrage banners to the AIDS quilt, noting that people have always reached for the forms of political speech they have access to.

Charlotte Central School Attends UVM Basketball Game

A nice community moment: the entire Charlotte Central School loaded up seven buses to cheer on the UVM women's basketball team earlier this month. The piece also highlights the school's expanding after school club offerings (everything from Dungeons & Dragons to pickleball to Spanish), a fourth grade Black History Month presentation, and the Champlain Valley School District's proposed $107.9 million budget heading to voters on Town Meeting Day, March 3. That budget represents a 2.7% increase in per pupil spending, which the district notes is less than half the statewide average.

UVM Grounds Crew Laid Off in Favor of Private Contractors

After months of uncertainty, UVM's nine member Grounds Crew has been let go in favor of private contractors, with the university citing "improved efficiencies." The union representing the workers tells a different story: they believe the layoffs are retaliatory, coming just four months after an internal investigation into grievances the crew filed over alleged bullying and harassment from management. Workers were previously given written assurances that contractors would not replace them. Affected employees can accept custodial positions at lower pay or take severance, but opting for severance means waiving the right to ever be rehired by UVM.

Manufactured Home Improvement and Repair Program Reopens Today

Applications reopened today for Vermont's Manufactured Home Improvement and Repair Program, which provides financial assistance for repairs, foundations, and infill projects in registered mobile home parks. Since launching in 2023, the program has awarded $9.7 million for 878 projects statewide. Awards range from up to $15,000 for foundations to $20,000 for demolishing abandoned units, with home repair awards up to $18,000. Applications are open through March 31, subject to funding availability.

Proposed Williston Library Expansion to Cost $13.8 Million

Williston voters will decide on Town Meeting Day whether to approve a $13.9 million bond to renovate and expand their library for the first time in nearly 30 years. The town's population has grown 50% since the last renovation, and library usage has nearly doubled. The plan includes a two story addition that would double the building's size, plus improvements to traffic safety, parking, and the town green. If approved, residents wouldn't see a tax increase until fiscal year 2028, estimated at roughly $10 to $12 per month for the median assessed home.

Common Roots Launches "Wellness Wednesdays"

Common Roots is now offering a third evening of community meals with its new Wellness Wednesdays series, held from 4 to 6:30 PM at the Wheeler House on Dorset Street in South Burlington. The program pairs takeout meals with a family centered nutrition education initiative that brings middle and high school students and their parents together to learn, cook, and dine as a community while earning incentives toward future college expenses.

How good of a reader are you? Think you’re keeping up with Burlington news? It's time to prove it. Every Monday and Friday, we're dropping a quick 5-question quiz covering the local news you just finished reading. You've got just 60 seconds to answer them all. No looking back allowed. Use the same unique name each time you play so everyone can track your stats in our Hall of Fame, where you'll compete for titles like Sharpshooter (highest accuracy), Speed Demon (fastest average time), and Streak Leader (most consistent player). Make your name (or cool nickname) known to Btown!

And yes, there are PRIZES. Each month, we'll reward the top performers based on the best combination of Total Score and Average Score. That means playing consistently AND playing well will pay off. The more quizzes you complete with high scores, the better your chances of winning. I mean, who doesn’t want cool Btown Merch gear sent to them?

Ready to play? Click the link below, enter your name, and show us what you've got. Btown Brief Quiz

View the potential prizes on the Btown Brief Merch Store

The Vermont skiing team placed third in their last carnival of the 2026 season at the Middlebury Carnival. Haley Brewster captured first in the Nordic 20k FR Mass start, while Cydnie Timmermann secured second in the Alpine Slalom.

At the America East Championship, five All-Conference performances pushed the Catamounts to a third-place finish in women's swimming and diving. Natalie Schick highlighted the final day by winning the 200 Back with a new varsity record time of 1:58.94.

In the America East Indoor Track and Field Championships, the women's team finished seventh and the men's team finished ninth. Alex Beal placed second in the mile, while Ryleigh Garrow collected two third-place podiums.

On the basketball court, the women's team cruised past NJIT 67-37 on Senior Night at Patrick Gym, led by Nikola Priede's double-double of 25 points and 11 rebounds. Meanwhile, the men's team defeated NJIT 70-64 on the road, backed by 21 points from Gus Yalden and earning Head Coach John Becker his 200th America East Conference win. The men's basketball team will head home for a battle against UMass Lowell on Thursday.

The women's hockey team concluded their regular season with a 6-5 overtime victory at New Hampshire, where Oona Havana recorded her first career hat-trick, including the overtime winner, to help clinch the six seed in the Hockey East Tournament. The men's ice hockey team dropped two games against #7 Providence at Gutterson Fieldhouse. On Friday, #7 Providence topped Vermont 5-2, and on Saturday, a Hudson Malinoski hat trick led Providence past Vermont 5-3.

The women's lacrosse team defeated Marist 14-9 on the road, with Jane Trauger, Caitlin Haggerty, and Lauren Lefebvre each registering hat-tricks. In men's lacrosse action, Vermont came up short against Dartmouth, falling 15-10 away despite hat tricks from Max Frattaroli and Harrison Josloff. The women's team will host Siena on Wednesday, while the men's team takes on Quinnipiac at home on Saturday.

Upcoming Home Games

General Events

Performances

Live Music/DJ

General Events

Performances

Live Music/DJ

General Events

Performances

Live Music/DJ

General Events

Performances

Live Music/DJ

Full list of 202+ activities to do at anytime is always waiting here when you need a plan: 202+ Things to Do

Full list of restaurant reviews here.

View the full list of food & drink deals here.

That wraps up your Monday evening Btown Brief. Stay warm out there tonight, support local when you can, and maybe check out one (or several) of this week's events. If something catches your eye in the news section, click through and give those local journalists some love.

If you like what I do, help support the newsletter by buying me a coffee using the link below. Or, right to our Venmo @btownbrief. Or, buy an advertising spot for your business.