Bordertown

Ginny Sassaman is a co-founder, past president, and advisory board member of Gross National Happiness USA, and the creator of the Happiness Paradigm. Since 2013, she has served as a lay preacher at Unitarian Universalist churches in Vermont, Massachusetts, Wisconsin and South Carolina. Originally from central Pennsylvania, Ginny and her husband spent many years living in Washington, DC, before settling near Montpelier, Vermont in 2001.Ginny has a master’s degree in Meditation and Applied Conflict Studies from the Woodbury Institute at Champlain College in Burlington VT, and a Certificate in Positive Psychology from Tal Ben-Sharar and the Wholebeing Institute. She has been the communications director for national non-profits (Common Cause and the Woman’s Legal Defense Fund), a full-time watercolor artist and a working mediator.In 2009, Ginny joined with others in central Vermont to co-found Gross National Happiness USA, the first grassroots organization in the United States focused on building a movement for a thriving and sustainable future based on a holistic framework of defining individual and collective success. She served as President for a year and now serves on the GNHUSA advisory board. She is also on the advisory board of the Happiness Alliance, a Seattle-based group which collects and analyzes happiness data.Ginny released her book, Preaching Happiness: Creating a Just and Joyful World in 2020. The book is a collection of secular sermons she has delivered in Unitarian Universalist churches and fellowships from 2013 through 2019. Each sermon explores the connection between spirituality, personal happiness, and with the urgent need for broad economic systems change. Ginny has also given speeches and presentations on individual and collective wellbeing in Seattle; Portland, OR, Santa Fe, NM; Burlington, VT; Charlotte, NC; New York City and Costa Rica. To learn more about non-violent resistance and the work of Erica Chenoweth visit her Harvard website.Music for this podcast – Adding My Voice by Railroad Earth Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

D. Davis is an amazing musician who has performed with a wide range of artists in Vermont since he arrived in Burlington in 1997. Originally from Brielle, NJ, D. grew up walking the beaches at the New Jersey Shore. Music was a big part of family life and Dee found joy in family music sessions including friends and family of all ages. In the podcast we talk about D.'s journey from NJ to Vermont and he sings songs relevant to the various phases of his life. D. moved to Burlington in 1997 and got deeply entrenched in the vibrant music scene of BVT in the late 90’s. He talk about different phases of his musical journey and how he know performs and teaches styles ranging from blues & rock, to classical, jazz and the Romantic era of guitar/music. Always active with various musical groups, D. talks about his current bands including Red Hot Juba, The Peoples House Band, The Faerie God Brothers, The Devonian Hot Club. He also plays in two duos, with Marc Gwinn and Django Soulo, and of course the occasional solo gig. D. teaches young artists and provides healing and music therapy through his non-profit, The Community Music Initiative. This is a first on the Bordertown podcast, where the interview is highlighted with live performance! Please enjoy my conversation…and the music of…D. Davis!Music for this Podcast provided by D. DavisStay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

Charlie Watt is the owner and operator of Home Coming Seeds, an open-pollinated seed farm specializing in vegetable, flower and herb seeds with a focus on bioregional adaptation. Charlie was hired in May of 2023 to manage the Montpelier Community Feast Farm, a no-till farm run by the Parks and Trees Department in collaboration with Montpelier's Community Services Department. They grow fresh, healthy produce for food-insecure neighbors in Montpelier.The Feast Farm was located at the convergence of the Winooski River and the Stevens Branch between Barre and Montpelier Vermont. Two month after Charlie was hired, on July 10 & 11, 2023 over 12 inches of rain fell, causing the river to crest approximately 21.29 feet. The Feast Farm, as well as much of the infrastructure, businesses, landscapes and homes of central Vermont were permanently impacted.Over the next year, straddled with decreasing resources and increasing hydrological pressure, the Parks Department was still able to serve as first response to the flood disaster (as a key partner in Montpelier’s central flood response hub), organize community events to build relationships and increase capacity, AND reestablish their farm at a new, city-owned location, a couple hundred feet above the flood plain on Country Club Road. I was amazed to see how quickly they established their farm and organized conversation abouit potential reuse of this locationCharlie has moved onto the next chapter in his life, which is a farm-based seed company called Home Coming Seeds. a seed company located in Northfield Vermont. Charlie and his family have made quick progress establishing the initial growing area, constructing support structures around the farm, launching the company and preparing to launch their catalog in 2026.Energy is still gathering around the Country Club Road Property and a recent design excercisse generated a varity of visions which you can review at Vision Montpelier.Music for this Podcast - "Grandfather Mountain" by Railroad Earth.Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

Born and raised in New Jersey, Karen Hatcher spent much of her career, managing nonprofit organizations. She made her way to New England about 13 years ago and lives with her husband Mark who is a luthier. Since the flood of July 10th 2024, Karen, along with Michael Zahner, has been managing fundraising and grant coordination for disaster recovery in the town of Plainfield. An an October 9th, 2024 "Bridge" Article, Plainfield Select Board chair Karl Bissex introduced Karen as the "master of pulling together a team of people who can get money.”"My life was never a straight line" Karen describes, "I just love how there's such synchronicity...in terms of all you've done in your life, and all the experiences you've had can come into play and can actually serve where you are".Bordertown is an ecomedia project coming to you from the upper Winooski watershed in central Vermont. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency, equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive.Music for this Podcast - "Blues Highway" by Railroad Earth.Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

Meg Mott has been called a Constitutional Wrangler, whose stated mission is “teach ordinary citizens how to think through the various constitutional issues in a specific controversy”. Meg is a writer, teacher and the town moderator of Putney, Vermont. She uses dynamic and innovative strategies to help people find a common language.After twenty years of teaching political theory and constitutional law to Marlboro College undergraduates, Meg has taken her love of argument to the general public. Her award-winning series Debating Our Rights on the first ten amendments, brings civil discussions on contentious issues to public libraries and colleges.In 2008, after moving to Putney, Vermont, Meg received an invitation to run for town meeting moderator, and gaveled in her first gathering in 2015. She has been the town moderator ever since.“I was once very suspicious of Robert’s Rules of Order,” said Meg, who recalled living in a yurt as her wife built their goat farm. “Was it just patriarchy or white supremacy or heteronormativity? I had all my big words. I came to realize that communities were lost if they stopped listening to each other,” she said in a recent interview. “In these times, we need to be more careful that we do not engage in viewpoint discrimination.” (VT Digger, 2/28/24)Meg credits her interest in argument/discourse to Clarence Darrow, a first amendment and due process attorney. She recalls that Darrow helped her understand that “if you want people to do a better job at ruling themselves, they better have some pretty strong principles, and everybody’s going to want to give up on those principles”. She realized that our constitutional structure is critical to helping people govern themselves.Meg is a collaborator with the Ecological Planning Laboratory at the University of Vermont. The Ecological Planning Laboratory helps communities tackle vital projects on their land, offering long-term support in partnership with UVM Extension and the Field Naturalist graduate program. The EPL work emphasizes social-ecological health at the watershed scale.Bordertown is an ecomedia project coming to you from the upper Winooski watershed in central Vermont. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency, equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive.Music for this Podcast - "Adding My Voice" by Railroad Earth. Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

Don Taylor is a middle school educator at the Main Street Middle School (MSMS) in Montpelier, Vermont. After spending 17 years teaching language arts and social studies, Don was the driving force behind the creation of the MSMS_SUSTAIN program, which he co-directs with Drew McNaughton. MSMS_SUSTAIN is a learning program predicated on the belief that students of the 21st century must know and understand issues related to climate change, sustainability and social justice. Don credits his enrollment in the Cultivating Pathways to Sustainability Program at Shelburne Farms, VT, his involvement with Up For Learning and his collaboration with several students in the Spring of 2021 for the creation of the MSMS_SUSTAIN program. It has since developed into a robust curriculum for 5th through 8th grade students at MSMS.Through personalized learning, students have the opportunity to explore areas of interest, connect with others who are working to solve local problems, and to communicate their findings to the school community as well as the broader community. The program is based on the belief that students and adults should be partners. A focus on student voice, student-led action and collaboration with the learning community are core beliefs of the program.An avid fisherman, Don recalls some of his early experiences that led to the formation of MSMS_SUSTAIN including time living & working in the Pacific Northwest, international travel, and youth camping in New England, particularly Camp Challenge in Bradford, VT run by Dartmouth College Graduate and Forester, Putnam Blodgett. Don continues to innovate the MSMS_SUSTAIN program and project learning at Main Street Middle School. For the past ten yeas he has been an actively involved with the Middle Grade Collaborative (MGC), a collaboration of colleges and universities specializing in professional development for middle school educators. Don is a contributor to the MGC "Conversations", a monthly conversation focused on issues related to middle level education.  All of their conversations are posted to the MGC YouTube channel.Bordertown is an ecomedia project coming to you from the upper Winooski watershed in central Vermont. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency , equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive.Music for this Podcast - "Peace on Earth" by Railroad Earth.Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

Kianna Bromley is the Founder and Director of the Montpelier Performing Arts Hub. She has been involved in theater & performance throughout her life and attributes her love for theater (as well as her approach to theater, to the summer camp she attended throughout her childhood, The Young People’s Center for the Creative Arts in East Hampton Connecticut. Kianna came to Vermont to attend college, and although she didn’t study theater, she quickly integrated into the theater community and was active with UVM’s Royal Tyler Theater and the Lyric Theater Company in Burlington. VT.An immensely energetic and passionate problem solver, Kianna never does anything halfway. Ever since pursuing her master’s degree in Business in Entrepreneurship from the University of Vermont (SI-MBA), she has been planning business models for a new performance and event spaces. When the Gary Library, located at the former Vermont College of Fine Arts crossed her path she knew it was time to jump!Kianna most recently taught Theatre Arts and directed the Masque Theatre Program at Montpelier High School. In addition to teaching on and off since 2011, Kianna has worked as the Business Manager for Orchard Valley Waldorf School, the Student Matinee Series Manager at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, and the Finance Director for Small Dog Electronics.Kianna currently serves on the Board at Lost Nation Theater in Montpelier and previously served on the Sustainable Entrepreneurship Advisory Board. She lives in Montpelier with her husband and children. Bordertown is an ecomedia project coming to you from the upper Winooski watershed in central Vermont. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency , equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive.Music for this Podcast - "Chains" by Railroad Earth.Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

Professor Ben t. Matchstick founded Cardboard Teck Instantute in 2005. He is a performing artist working in the mediums of cardboard, games, and stories. Ben has worked as a youth advocate, librarian, cafe owner, educator, puppeteer, artist, and entrepreneur in Vermont for 20+ years. He is the founder of Cardboard Teck Instantute.Ben is the co-creator (with Pete Talbot) of the award-winning PinBox 3000 cardboard tabletop pinball machine kit. Ben is the production and media manager and storyteller for the PinBox 3000, which has sold over 25,000 units since its invention in 2015.Ben co-conceived Hadestown (with Anaïs Mitchell), now on Broadway. Hadestown began in Central Vermont and went on to win 8 Tony awards.  Ben was a traveling company member with Bread & Puppet Theater for 4 years and 8 summers. He a proud member of Generator Maker Space in Burlington Vermont.He graduated with a BA in Theater from Northwestern University, and holds a MFA in Interdisciplinary Art from Goddard College.Bordertown is an ecomedia project coming to you from the upper Winooski watershed in central Vermont. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency , equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive.Music for this Podcast - "Cold Water" by Railroad Earth.Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

This week’s podcast is the Posthumous interview with Eric Zencey. Eric was a professor, writer and social critic. He passed on July 1st, 2019. Eric Zencey, novelist, essayist, lecturer, and social thinker was a tireless evangelist for a new way of thinking about humankind’s relationship with nature. Eric arrived in Vermont in 1980 to teach at Goddard College, quickly developing a deep love for his adopted state.More recently, he served as a visiting lecturer in the Sam Fox School of Architecture at Washington University in St. Louis, as well as teaching in the Honors Program at the University of Vermont, where he also was a fellow at the Gund Institute. Over the years, Eric’s work was recognized and supported by fellowships from the Guggenheim, Bellagio-Rockefeller and Bogliasco Foundations. His commentaries appeared in several publications, including The New York Times, and he was quoted on National Public Radio and in the Harvard Business Review. He also helped convince Vermont leaders to adopt the GPI (Genuine Progress Indicator), providing a more complete measure of a population’s well-being than the myopic GDP (Gross Domestic Product).While his writing focused for the most part on the subject of ecological economic, he was also the author of the best-selling historical fiction novel "Panama", in which Henry Adams turns detective. In addition to "Panama", Eric published three works of non-fiction: "Virgin Forest: Meditations on History, Ecology and Culture"; "The Other Road to Serfdom and the Path to Sustainable Democracy"; and "Greening Vermont: The Search for a Sustainable State" (co-authored with Elizabeth Courtney). In addition to Goddard College, he taught in Empire State College’s International Program, which required frequent travel to its extension campuses in Prague and Albania. Here is a good link to Eric's books.In the months before his death, he raised more than $100,000 to endow the Eric Zencey Prize in Ecological Economics, to be administered by the Gund Institute at the University of Vermont. The prize recognizes the best current affairs book or long-form journalism that advances public understanding of real-world environmental challenges using the principles of ecological economics, a field that explores the relationships between economics and Earth’s limited natural resources. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Eric Zencey Prize in Ecological Economics, through the University of Vermont Foundation, 411 Main St., Burlington, VT 05401. Bordertown is an ecomedia project coming to you from the upper Winooski watershed in central Vermont. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency, equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive. Music for this Podcast – "The Great Divide" by Railroad Earth.Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

The Ecological Planning Laboratory (EPL) at the University of Vermont is a partnership between UVM Extension and the Field Naturalist Graduate program, in year two of a three-year pilot phase. The EPL helps communities tackle vital projects on their land, with an emphasis on social-ecological health at the watershed scale. As their website states, “sustaining momentum over years is often the greatest challenge of land-based projects, from starting a riparian tree nursery to coordinating multi-town climate resilience plans. The EPL offers a guiding hand throughout the project, connecting communities with funding to leverage UVM resources and expertise — faculty, graduate student consultants, and undergraduate interns”. On November 2nd, 2024 the EPL hosted their first symposium at Jefford’s Hall a the University of Vermont. Approximately 30 people attended the event and this podcast is a recording of the morning session. We recorded a short conversation with a small group of six associated with a project in the Mad River Valley that is dealing with the Knotweed infestation. The Knotweed project represents just one of the projects of the Ecological Planning lab, and we use this as a case study to discuss the topic of “Emergence”. Emergence in leadership, social organizing and project development.We started the conversation with a small group of six, then expanded to the entire group of approximately 30 people for questions and an expanded conversation. Participating in the initial conversation are: Walter Poleman,  Senior Lecturer at the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, Director of the Field Naturalist ProgramJito Coleman from the Warren Conservation CommissionDave Maroney, GIS Coordinator Consulting Ecologist with the Ecological Planning LaboratoryMariano Rodriguez-Cabal, assistant professor at the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural ResourcesBella Linville, senior in the Rubenstein School/Mad River Valley Knotweed internVic Guadagno, Producer, Writer and Editor with Bright Blue Ecomedia. Communications consultant with the Ecological Planning Laboratory.In addition to the community members, this conversation references a few people I mention here to give greater context to the conversation – Hans Estrin, one of the key plays in the Ecological Planning Lab at UVM, Kurt Lindberg from the Waitsfield Conservation Commission, and Roy Beckford, Associate Dean and Director of UVM Extension in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Music for this Podcast – "So Good" by Railroad Earth.Links:Ecological Planning LaboratoryUniversity of Vermont ExtensionField Naturalist ProgramWarren Vermont - Conservation CommissionWaitsfield Vermont - Conservation CommissionFayston Vermont - Conservation CommissionBordertownBright Blue EcomediaThanks to all those who attend the first symposium for the Ecological Planning Laboratory at the University of Vermont, thanks to all who participated…and thank you for listening!Bordertown is an ecomedia project comiStay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

Paul Gambill is the Executive Director of the Community Engagement Lab. Their mission is to "bring people of all ages together in projects that activate their creativity to imagine and build more just and thriving communities". Their current project, The Montpelier Bridges to Belonging shares the stories that connect us to each other — and the stories that reveal where we need to build new bridges to ensure that Montpelier is a welcoming place where everyone can belong and thrive. Paul brings 30 years experience as an arts administrator, musician and educator to his role as Executive Director of the Community Engagement Lab. His innovative community-engaged projects have been GRAMMY nominated, featured as models of best practice at national conventions, and received national awards for children's media, including the Parents’ Choice Foundation Gold Award. He has founded three non-profit arts organizations which have attracted regional and national funding and programming awards. Before relocating with his family to Vermont in 2009, Paul was founder and music director of the Nashville Chamber Orchestra for 20 years, and music director of the Nashville Ballet for six years. Bordertown is an ecomedia project coming to you from the Upper-Winooski watershed in central Vermont. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency, equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive.Music for this Podcast – "Only By the Light" by Railroad Earth. Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

This episode features Paul Carnahan. Librarian of the Vermont Historical Society (VHS) from 1990 to 2022. Paul  currently serves on Montpelier’s Historic Preservation Commission and the board of the Montpelier Historical Society. He recently became part of Montpelier’s Commission for Recovery and Resiliency, offering a historical perspective on Montpelier, as the Commission envisions a resilient future.Paul worked with Montpelier Alive to create the Bridges of Montpelier slideshow, an amazing presentation about Montpelier’s bridges. Bridges are powerful symbols of connection, transformation, aspiration and overcoming obstacles. This project seeks to alleviate some of the economic and environmental challenges Montpelier has been facing. And mark your calendar for November 16th  as Montpelier Alive lights up our bridges in celebration with the Bridge Illumination Project. Bordertown DescriptionBordertown is an ecomedia project coming to you from the Upper-Winooski watershed in central Vermont. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency, equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive.  Links:Montpelier Alive’s “Bridges” ProjectBridges of Montpelier Slide ShowThe Montpelier Commission for Recovery and Resilience Music by Railroad Earth - song in this episode - Grandfather MountainStay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

Today on the podcast we welcome Pat Moulton. In November of 2023 Pat was appointed by Governor Phil Scott as the Central Vermont Recovery Officer for the State of Vermont.The Recovery Office is the state-level entity tasked with coordinating available federal funds and local mitigation and community revitalization work. Pat is the first geographic appointee to the office, focusing on central Vermont and the Winooski River watershed.Pat has 40 years of experience in economic development and workforce development. She also has experience in environmental permitting, including chairing Vermont’s Environmental Board which oversaw Act 250.I recorded this podcast at the end of June and I’m posting it in the first week of August. In the past six weeks, there have been two major floods in the state of Vermont, resulting in significant damage - again here in central Vermont and also in the Northeast Kingdom. Pat commented in this interview that her work is to spearhead recovery efforts as well as preparedness initiatives, as floods such as those on July 11th of 2023 will indeed happen again. I think we where all shocked that it happened just one year later.Pat’s work is certainly critical, as is all of our efforts to understand the make the systemic changes necessary, to adapt to this new reality of a signivicant rainfall events in Vermont!Music for this Podcast – "Bread and Water" by Railroad Earth.Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

Today we welcome Paul Costello, the former Executive Director of the Vermont Council on Rural Development. Paul retired from this position in 2021. Lifetime Vermonter, Paul dedicated most of his career to helping Vermont towns and cities build community, identify goals and visions and build strategies to accomplish these goals. On July 11th, 2023, intense and widespread rainfall led to catastrophic flooding throughout the state of Vermont, leaving the entire downtown of the capitol city, Montpelier, underwater.After the floods, Paul was instrumental in organizing the City of Montpelier, The Montpelier Foundation and Montpelier Alive, in a series of community conversations about recovery and the future of Montpelier. This led to the formation of the Montpelier Commission for Recovery and Resilience, which serves as a convening and resource partner for the city and all working groups advancing flood recovery and resilience projects in the city.  Bordertown is an ecomedia project coming to you from the Upper-Winooski watershed in central Vermont. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency, equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive.Music for this Podcast – "One More Night On The Road" by Railroad Earth.Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

Today we welcome Jon Copans, the Executive Director of The Commission for Recovery & Resilience.On July 11th, 2023, intense and widespread rainfall led to catastrophic flooding throughout the state of Vermont, leaving the entire downtown of the capitol city, Montpelier, underwater.Immediately following the flood, Paul Costello, the former executive director of the Vermont Council on Rural Development, worked with the City of Montpelier, The Montpelier Foundation and Montpelier Alive, to convene a series of community conversations about recovery and the future of Montpelier.The visioning process of those public forums resulted in roughly 20 priorities and the establishment of a new leadership structure to coordinate and advance strategies leading to recovery and resiliency in central Vermont. This paved the way for the hiring of Jon for a two-year term, as Executive Director beginning this month, May of 2024.Bordertown is an ecomedia project coming to you from the Upper-Winooski watershed in central Vermont. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency, equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive.Music for this Podcast – "Like a Buddha" by Railroad Earth.Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

Today we welcome Hans Estrin from the University of Vermont’s Ecological Planning Laboratory. Hans talks about his childhood days in the Plainfield/Marshfield, VT area, describes the trajectory of his career and gives a glimpse of the Ecological Planning Laboratory emerging out the UVM.The Ecological Planning Laboratory helps communities tackle vital projects on their land, offering long-term support in partnership with UVM Extension and the Field Naturalist graduate program. Ecological management can be contentious. Rather than trying to step in and resolve all conflict, the EPL uses the tension in these thorny issues to drive and deepen civil engagement, cultivating resilience for people and communities in Vermont's watersheds.Bordertown is an ecomedia project coming to you from the Upper-Winooski watershed in central Vermont. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency, equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive. To learn more about UVM’s Ecological Planning Laboratory you can contact Hans directly at 802-380-2109, or email him at [email protected] InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

Today on the podcast we welcome Ben Doyle and Aly Richards, from The Commission for Recovery and Resilience.On July 11th, 2023, intense and widespread rainfall led to catastrophic flooding throughout the State, leaving the entire downtown of the capitol city, Montpelier, underwater.As the flood-waters resided, Paul Costello, the former executive director of the Vermont Council on Rural Development, worked with the City of Montpelier, The Montpelier Foundation and Montpelier Alive, to convene a series of community conversations about recovery and the future of Montpelier.The visioning process of those public forums resulted in roughly 20 priorities and the establishment of a new leadership structure to coordinate and advance strategies leading to recovery and resiliency in central Vermont. This is truly democracy in action…"If you want to go fast, go by yourself. If you want to go far, go with everyone". Says Ben Doyle, "We’re really committed to harnessing the intelligence, enthusiasm, commitment and love of this community". Bordertown is an ecomedia project coming to you from the Upper Winooski River Watershed of Central Vermont. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage conversation around resiliency, equity, and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive. Bordertown is hosted by Vic Guadagno.To learn more about The Commission or to make a donation to Central Vermont flood effort please visit Montpelier STRONG. And thanks to Todd Sheaffer and Railroad Earth for providing the music.Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

The Bordertown Flood series tells the stories of Central Vermonters experiencing the 2023 flood disaster.This episode features Beth Rusnock, president of the National Life Group Foundation and Daphne Larkin, Communications and Media Relations Director of the National Life Group.Beth Rusnock says that the National Life Group wants to make sure that "the communities that their campuses are a part of - that they are vibrant. That they are places where our employees want to live, want to be a part of... " Daphne Larkin adds that "this culture of volunteering and getting involved with our community is baked into everything that we do.  Everybody feels it, every body lives it, and we have people doing good in the name of National Life, all over the country". If you want to donate to the flood recovery effort in central Vermont flood please visit the Montpelier STRONG Recovery Foundation.Music for this Podcast – "The Good Life" by Railroad Earth. Bordertown is hosted by Vic Guadagno and recorded in Montpelier, Vermont – located in the Upper-Winooski Watershed. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency, equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive. On July 11th A State of Disaster was declared for all 14 counties of the state of Vermont after extensive rain in two days triggered the worst flooding since Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. The National Weather Service reported unofficial rainfall observations for a 38-hour period with 6.82 inches at the Montpelier airport, 7.8 inches in Barre and up to 8.65 inches in Andover. The Winooski River at Montpelier, capital city of Vermont - jumped by over 14 feet in the space of 20 hours. The Winooski finally crested at 21.25 feet, well above Major Flood Stage of 17.5 feet  Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

The Bordertown Flood series tells the stories of Central Vermonters experiencing the 2023 flood disaster.This episode feature Katie Trautz, the Executive Director of Montpelier Alive.Katie describes that Montpelier is not set-up as a resilient town in terms of systems,  however, the community is extremely song. And that community resilience is most important. Not every place has a community that is this strong.Katie says, "I really think that organizations like Montpelier Alive are there to support the downtown and support the city, no matter what the event is that is happening. A lot of downtown organization across the country do step in during these disasters. This is the true meaning of revitalization work".If you would like to donate to Montpelier Alive, please visit their website.If you want to donate the flood recover effort in central Vermont, please visit the Montpelier Strong Recovery Fund websiteMusic for this Podcast by From Good Homes Bordertown is hosted by Vic Guadagno and recorded in Montpelier, Vermont – located in the Upper-Winooski Watershed. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency, equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive.  On July 11th A State of Disaster was declared for all 14 counties of the state of Vermont after extensive rain in two days triggered the worst flooding since Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. The National Weather Service reported unofficial rainfall observations for a 38-hour period with 6.82 inches at the Montpelier airport, 7.8 inches in Barre and up to 8.65 inches in Andover.The Winooski River at Montpelier, capital city of Vermont - jumped by over 14 feet in the space of 20 hours. The Winooski finally crested at 21.25 feet, well above Major Flood Stage of 17.5 feet.Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

The Bordertown Flood series tells the stories of Central Vermonters experiencing the 2023 flood disaster. Jaquelyn Rieke is the owner/operator of the Onion River Campground, the founder of Nutty Steph’s and a co-founder of the Rabble-Rouser Chocolate & Craft Co. in Montpelier. Jaquelyn speaks of the lessons she learned from the river as it rose around her home, stranding her and several other residents of the Onion River Campground. If you would like to donate to the Onion River Campground, please their websiteIf you want to donate the flood recover effort in central Vermont, please visit the Montpelier Strong Recovery Fund websiteSpecial Thanks for Ward Joyce for his generous support of this podcast Music for this Podcast by Railroad Earth Bordertown is hosted by Vic Guadagno and recorded in Montpelier, Vermont – located in the Upper-Winooski Watershed. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency, equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive.  On July 11th A State of Disaster was declared for all 14 counties of the state of Vermont after extensive rain in two days triggered the worst flooding since Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. The National Weather Service reported unofficial rainfall observations for a 38-hour period with 6.82 inches at the Montpelier airport, 7.8 inches in Barre and up to 8.65 inches in Andover.Winooski River at Montpelier, capital city of Vermont - jumped by over 14 feet in the space of 20 hours. The Winooski finally crested at 21.25 feet, well above Major Flood Stage of 17.5 feet.Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

The Bordertown Flood series tells the stories of Central Vermonters experiencing the 2023 flood disaster. Bill Fraser is the City Manager for Montpelier, Vermont, and has been in this role since 1995. The city manager is Appointed by the City Council, the City Manager is responsible for day-to-day operations of the city, advising the Council on public policy, and ensuring that their policies are carried out in a professional manner.   If you would like to donate to flood recover effort in central Vermont, please visit montpelierstorng.orgSpecial Thanks for Ward Joyce for his generous support of this podcast Music for this Podcast – “Long Way to Go’” by Railroad Earth Bordertown is hosted by Vic Guadagno and recorded in Montpelier, Vermont – located in the Upper-Winooski Watershed. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency, equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive.  On July 11th A State of Disaster was declared for all 14 counties of the state of Vermont after extensive rain in two days triggered the worst flooding since Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. The National Weather Service reported unofficial rainfall observations for a 38-hour period with 6.82 inches at the Montpelier airport, 7.8 inches in Barre and up to 8.65 inches in AndoverWinooski River at Montpelier, capital city of Vermont - jumped by over 14 feet in the space of 20 hours. The Winooski finally crested at 21.25 feet, well above Major Flood Stage of 17.5 feet Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

The Bordertown Flood series tells the stories of Central Vermonters experiencing the 2023 flood disaster. The Lost Nation Theater has been called “One of the Best Regional Theaters in America” — NYC Drama League. Incorporated in 1977 in Bristol Vermont, Lost Nation Theater moved to it’s home in Vermont in 1986 and has been a critical center-piece of the theater scene in Central Vermont ever since. Lost Nation Theater dedicates itself to staging stories about the hopeful possibilities of human interaction; to education; and to realizing the powerful potential of theater to transform people and communities.If you would like to donate to Lost Nation Theater, please their website.If you want to donate the flood recover effort in central Vermont, please visit the Montpelier Strong Recovery Fund.Special Thanks for Ward Joyce for his generous support of this podcast Music for this Podcast – “Take a Bow’” by Railroad EarthBordertown is hosted by Vic Guadagno and recorded in Montpelier, Vermont – located in the Upper-Winooski Watershed. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency, equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive.  On July 11th A State of Disaster was declared for all 14 counties of the state of Vermont after extensive rain in two days triggered the worst flooding since Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. The National Weather Service reported unofficial rainfall observations for a 38-hour period with 6.82 inches at the Montpelier airport, 7.8 inches in Barre and up to 8.65 inches in Andover.Winooski River at Montpelier, capital city of Vermont - jumped by over 14 feet in the space of 20 hours. The Winooski finally crested at 21.25 feet, well above Major Flood Stage of 17.5 feet. Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

The Bordertown Flood series tells the stories of Central Vermonters experiencing the 2023 flood disaster. Jaime Bedard. Jamie is the Executive Director of Just Basics, whose mission is to confront cycles of injustice by providing programs that increase awareness and access to basic resources needed for a resilient and vibrant community.Their main program is the Montpelier Food Pantry which had been located at the Trinity Church on Main Street. The Food Pantry was completely flooded as was their brand-new Resource Center which had just opened across the street at 136 Main StreetVisit the Food Pantry at their new location in the City Center at 89 Main StreetIf you would like to donate to the Food Pantry, please Just Basics.If you want to donate the flood recover effort in central Vermont, please visit Montpelier Strong Recovery Fund.Special Thanks to Ward Joyce for his generous support of this podcast Music for this Podcast – “Hard Livin’” by Railroad Earth Bordertown is hosted by Vic Guadagno and recorded in Montpelier, Vermont – located in the Upper-Winooski Watershed. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency, equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive. On July 11th A State of Disaster was declared for all 14 counties of the state of Vermont after extensive rain in two days triggered the worst flooding since Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. The National Weather Service reported unofficial rainfall observations for a 38-hour period with 6.82 inches at the Montpelier airport, 7.8 inches in Barre and up to 8.65 inches in AndoverWinooski River at Montpelier, capital city of Vermont - jumped by over 14 feet in the space of 20 hours. The Winooski finally crested at 21.25 feet, well above Major Flood Stage of 17.5 feet Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

The Bordertown Flood series tells the stories of Central Vermonters experiencing the 2023 flood disaster. Marek Zajac is the Farm & Forest Community Coordinator for the Montpelier Parks Department. He found himself at the center of volunteer activity as the City shifted the duties of the Parks Department to managing the volunteer HUB, the main focal point of disaster-response. If you need flood-related help, or if you are willing to volunteer, please visit Montpelierhub.com You can also call 802-828-7108.Make a donation to the broader Vermont flood effort through the Vermont Community Foundation. Special Thanks for Ward Joyce for his generous support of this podcast Music for this Podcast - "Chasing A Rainbow" by Railroad Earth  Bordertown is an ecomedia project coming to you from the Upper-Winooski watershed in central Vermont. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency, equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive.  On July 11th A State of Disaster was declared for all 14 counties of the state of Vermont after extensive rain in two days triggered the worst flooding since Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. The National Weather Service reported unofficial rainfall observations for a 38-hour period with 6.82 inches at the Montpelier airport, 7.8 inches in Barre and up to 8.65 inches in AndoverWinooski River at Montpelier, capital city of Vermont - jumped by over 14 feet in the space of 20 hours. The Winooski finally crested at 21.25 feet, well above Major Flood Stage of 17.5 feet   Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

The Bordertown Flood series tells the stories of Central Vermonters experiencing the 2023 flood disaster. Today we welcome Dan Groberg, who started his new job as Executive Director of the Kellogg Hubbard Library just 13 days before the flood. In the past Dan has also served as Executive Director of Montpelier Alive, the organization at the center of flood recovery and rebuilding.If you would like to donate to the Kellogg-Hubbard Library directly visit their websiteYou can make a donation to the broader Vermont flood effort through the Montpelier STRONG Recovery Foundation Special thanks to Ward Joyce for his generous support of this podcast Music for this Podcast - "Long Walk Home" by Railroad Earth  Bordertown DescriptionBordertown is an ecomedia project coming to you from the Upper-Winooski watershed in central Vermont. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency, equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive.  Flood DescriptionOn July 11th A State of Disaster was declared for all 14 counties of the state of Vermont after extensive rain in two days triggered the worst flooding since Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. The National Weather Service reported unofficial rainfall observations for a 38-hour period with 6.82 inches at the Montpelier airport, 7.8 inches in Barre and up to 8.65 inches in AndoverWinooski River at Montpelier, capital city of Vermont - jumped by over 14 feet in the space of 20 hours. The Winooski finally crested at 21.25 feet, well above Major Flood Stage of 17.5 feet   Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

The Bordertown Flood series tells the stories of Central Vermonters experiencing the 2023 flood disaster. Today we welcome Julia Watson the owner of Capital Grounds. Julia took over ownership of Capitol Grounds in January of 2020 from her father Bob, who started the business with Bob Plante in 1998. Julia returned to Vermont with her husband and two kids, anxious to take over the family business. Since opening she has endured a global pandemic and now a devastating flood…but she is committed to keeping the business going. Support Capital Grounds by direct donations and purchasing products at Capitol GroundsYou can also donate to the broader flood effort at Montpelier Alive and the Montpelier Foundation.Special Thanks for Ward Joyce for his generous support of this podcast Music for this Podcast - "Been Down This Road" by Railroad EarthBordertown is an ecomedia project coming to you from the Upper-Winooski watershed in central Vermont. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency, equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive. On July 11th A State of Disaster was declared for all 14 counties of the state of Vermont after extensive rain in two days triggered the worst flooding since Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. The National Weather Service reported unofficial rainfall observations for a 38-hour period with 6.82 inches at the Montpelier airport, 7.8 inches in Barre and up to 8.65 inches in AndoverWinooski River at Montpelier, capital city of Vermont - jumped by over 14 feet in the space of 20 hours. The Winooski finally crested at 21.25 feet, well above Major Flood Stage of 17.5 feetStay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

The Bordertown Flood series tells the stories of Central Vermonters experiencing the 2023 flood disaster. Today we welcome Lalitha Mailwaganam. Lalitha moved to Vermont from Malaysia in 2002. She is a single mom to two teens, a dog, two cats and a couple of chickens. She is an avid gardener,  enjoys cooking, dancing and music as well as getting outside and appreciating the natural beauty of Vermont. You can donate to the Montpelier Food Pantry at Just Basics. You can also donate to the broader flood effort at Montpelier Alive.Special thanks to Ward Joyce for his generous support of this podcast Music for this Podcast - "Right In Tune" by Railroad EarthBordertown is an ecomedia project coming to you from the Upper-Winooski watershed in central Vermont. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency, equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive.The Floods in Vermont:  On July 11th A State of Disaster was declared for all 14 counties of the state of Vermont after extensive rain in two days triggered the worst flooding since Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. The National Weather Service reported unofficial rainfall observations for a 38-hour period with 6.82 inches at the Montpelier airport, 7.8 inches in Barre and up to 8.65 inches in AndoverWinooski River at Montpelier, capital city of Vermont - jumped by over 14 feet in the space of 20 hours. The Winooski finally crested at 21.25 feet, well above Major Flood Stage of 17.5 feetStay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

The Bordertown Flood series tells the stories of Central Vermonters experiencing the 2023 flood disaster. Today we welcome Alec Long. Alec and his wife Amanda purchased Chill Gelato last year and had reopened it in March. Chill has been a Montpelier staple since 2012 and Alec is enjoying his new career as a purveyor of fine Gelato. He also loves being part of the Montpelier business community and hopes to bring Chill back for all to enjoy. Chill was a Seven Days ‘Daysies’ finalist in 2018 and 2019 for the best gelatos in Vermont and in 2016 and 2017 a finalist for the best homemade ice cream. Make a donation to Chill through their gofundme campaign Make a donation to the Montpelier Flood Relief at Montpelier Alive Make a donation to the broader Vermont flood effort through the Vermont Community Foundation. Special Thanks for Ward Joyce for his generous support of this podcast Music for this Podcast - "Lordy Lordy" by Railroad EarthBordertown is an ecomedia project coming to you from the Upper-Winooski watershed in central Vermont. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency, equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive. On July 11th A State of Disaster was declared for all 14 counties of the state of Vermont after extensive rain in two days triggered the worst flooding since Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. The National Weather Service reported unofficial rainfall observations for a 38-hour period with 6.82 inches at the Montpelier airport, 7.8 inches in Barre and up to 8.65 inches in AndoverWinooski River at Montpelier, capital city of Vermont - jumped by over 14 feet in the space of 20 hours. The Winooski finally crested at 21.25 feet, well above Major Flood Stage of 17.5 feetStay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

The Bordertown Flood series will introduce you to some of Vermont’s small businesses, community members, government officials anyone in the community that is collectively experiencing the 2023 flood disaster in Vermont. On July 11th A State of Disaster was declared for all 14 counties of the state of Vermont after extensive rain in two days triggered the worst flooding since Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. The National Weather Service reported unofficial rainfall observations for a 38-hour period with 6.82 inches at the Montpelier airport, 7.8 inches in Barre and up to 8.65 inches in AndoverWinooski River at Montpelier, capital city of Vermont - jumped by over 14 feet in the space of 20 hours. The Winooski finally crested at 21.25 feet, well above Major Flood Stage of 17.5 feetBordertown is an ecomedia project coming to you from the Upper-Winooski watershed in central Vermont. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency, equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive.Katie Swick is a long-time friend of the Bordertown Podcast (listen to Episode #44 to hear a conversation with her daughter and my daughter Elena from our days at Rabble Rouser). Katie is school teacher and a single-mom of two. She is current struggling with what to do next, after her house was severely damaged in the Vermont Floods of 2023!To offer financial assistance to Katie and her family, please visit their gofundme page.Make a donation to the Montpelier Flood Relief at Montpelier AliveMake a donation to the broader Vermont flood effort through the Vermont Community Foundation.Special Thanks for Ward Joyce for his generous support of this podcastMusic for this Podcast - "Like a Buddha" by Railroad EarthStay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

The Bordertown Flood series will introduce you to some of Vermont’s small businesses, community members, government officials anyone in the community that is collectively experiencing the 2023 flood disaster in Vermont. On July 11th A State of Disaster was declared for all 14 counties of the state of Vermont after extensive rain in two days triggered the worst flooding since Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. The National Weather Service reported unofficial rainfall observations for a 38-hour period with 6.82 inches at the Montpelier airport, 7.8 inches in Barre and up to 8.65 inches in AndoverWinooski River at Montpelier, capital city of Vermont - jumped by over 14 feet in the space of 20 hours. The Winooski finally crested at 21.25 feet, well above Major Flood Stage of 17.5 feet This episode features Tim Heney, principal broker at Heney Realtors. Heney Realtors has been an independent brokerage firm in central Vermont since 1956.Over the years, Tim has participated as a member of various City committees, ranging from a Downtown Parking Study Committee, a Review of Fire and Ambulance Services, and the City Audit Committee. He is currently participating in the Montpelier Energy Advisory Committee looking into a district heating plant for downtown Montpelier. Time recalls his nine-year tenure on the Montpelier School Board as one of the most rewarding experience he's had and he continues to have great pride in our community schools.Growing up in Montpelier with five brothers and four sisters, Tim's family made a bit of their own history in Montpelier. He graduated from Montpelier schools and the University of Vermont. In 1981, he joined my father and uncle at their family firm. In addition to residential and commercial brokerage, he assisted in the creation and development of neighborhoods including Montpelier’s first condominium neighborhood at Independence Green and Freedom Drive, and later, North Park and Essex Way in Montpelier and Mansfield Lane in Berlin.Tim and his wife Donna live in Montpelier. Their two daughters attended Montpelier schools and both pursued graduate studies and careers. Tims is an avid runner and runs a marathon or two a year, along with a couple of half marathons for training. Downhill and cross country skiing and biking are all activities he loves.Bordertown is an ecomedia project coming to you from the Upper-Winooski watershed in central Vermont. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency, equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive.For more info about Tim visit Heney RealtorsMake a donation to the Montpelier Flood Relief at Montpelier AliveMake a donation to the broader Vermont flood effort through the Vermont Community Foundation.Special Thanks for Ward Joyce for his generous support of this podcastMusic for this Podcast - Storms by Railroad EarthStay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

The Bordertown Flood Series! The Bordertown Flood series will introduce you to some of Vermont’s small businesses, community members, government officials anyone in the community that is collectively experiencing the 2023 flood disaster in Vermont. On July 11th A State of Disaster was declared for all 14 counties of the state of Vermont after extensive rain in two days triggered the worst flooding since Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. The National Weather Service reported unofficial rainfall observations for a 38-hour period with 6.82 inches at the Montpelier airport, 7.8 inches in Barre and up to 8.65 inches in AndoverWinooski River at Montpelier, capital city of Vermont - jumped by over 14 feet in the space of 20 hours. The Winooski finally crested at 21.25 feet, well above Major Flood Stage of 17.5 feet  If you’ve been to Montpelier, you know that this is one of the best small towns in America. Ask most people why they live here and they will talk about the community and the small-town feel. We hope that listeners will learn a bit more about our town, get connected or stay connected…and if you can, make a donation to help with flood relief. I ask you to please visit Montpelieralive.com and see how you can help. Today on the podcast we welcome Cindra Conison, owner of the Quirky Pet. The Quirky Pet is an independent pet store located at 5 State Street in downtown Montpelier and has become a tourist destination from folks traveling from all over the world. The store opened exactly 12 years ago today! Bordertown is an ecomedia project coming to you from the Upper-Winooski watershed in central Vermont. Our goal is to serve as an instrument for relationship building and communication, and to encourage the conversation around resiliency, equity and justice. Our intention is to celebrate life and community - and to help create conditions for all life to thrive.Visit the Quirky Pet websiteMake a donation to the Montpelier Flood Relief at Montpelier AliveMake a donation to the broader Vermont flood effort through the Vermont Community Foundation.Special Thanks for Ward Joyce for his generous support of this podcastMusic for this Podcast - Mighty River by Railroad EarthStay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

This episode features my daughter Elena, and her friend Juniper! Recorded on Dec. 16th, 2019 this is a fun conversation we had at the Rabble Rouser Chocolate Factory! A fun chat with two 9-10 year-olds...pre-pandemic!Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

Cara Robechek is the Executive Director of the Vermont Energy Education Program, whose mission is to build a deep understanding of energy through education, encouraging choices that result in sustainability in our communities, economy and environment. Cara has been with VEEP since 2014. Cara has worked in nonprofit development and managemen at the Center for While Communities in Waitsfield, served on the board of Planting Hope, as an elected Parks Commissioner for the City of Montpelier, and as a member of the Montpelier Energy Advisory Committee. She has a BA in Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College, and an MS in Renewable Natural Resources and Development form the University of East Anglia. She lives in Montpelier with her husband and two children.Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

Skyler currently worksin Washington DC as Project Manager for the Center for the Advancement of a Steady State Economy. He joined that organization in June, 2018, following his completion of his Masters program in Community Development and Applied Economics from the University of Vermont. Skyler also received a certificate in Ecological Economics from the Gund Institute at UVM. Skyler’s research focused on ecological economics and sustainable food systems.Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

Libby Bonesteel is the Montpelier/Roxbury School District Superintendent. Prior to that she was the director of communication and instruction at Franklin Northwest Supervisory Union. She also has experience as a consultant, adjunct professor, teacher, co-principal, principal and teacher. Libby holds master’s degrees from Michigan State University and Teachers College-Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree from Hobart and William Smith colleges.She resides in Jericho with her family   Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

In this episode we welcome Michele Braun, the Executive Director of the Friends of the Winooski River.Michele took the helm at the Friends of the Winooski in 2018. She was the founding president of the watershed organization twenty years earlier. In her prior role as the planner for the Town of Northfield, Michele was responsible for the acquisition and demolition of 18 homes damaged in Tropical Storm Irene. Following that buyout, she coordinated a multidisciplinary project team focused on restoring the floodplain to reduce flood risk and enhance downtown recreation opportunities.Previously, she worked as an environmental policy analyst, responsible for managing projects, designing and facilitating multi-stakeholder meetings and workshops for city and state governments, US EPA, watershed organizations, environmental health associations, and multi-partner collaborative environmental planning projects. Michele has a Master of Science in Natural Resources Planning from the University of Vermont, and she earned her bachelor of arts degree in Government & Legal Studies and Romance Languages from Bowdoin College. She has served on the Board of the Montpelier Roxbury Public Schools since 2013, and enjoys a busy life in Montpelier with her husband and children.Music for this episode: "The Good Life" by Railroad Earth.This episode is sponsored by the Cosmic Cotton Tie Dye Studio. (enter "Bordertown" at checkout to receive 20% off your purchase)Download mp.3 -- Listen on ITunesStay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

n this episode we welcome Tom Sabo, the Executive Director of the Center for Sustainable Systems.Tom is an award-winning high school teacher, leading sustainability educator, prominent local food activist, and most recently the founding executive director of the Center for Sustainable Systems. He is a chief architect of a model of service learning that integrates curriculum through a school greenhouse and gardens that provide food for the school system’s lunch program, using soil derived from the cafeteria food scraps.Sabo is a member of the state-wide Farm To Plate Education and Workforce Development Group, and serves on the Vermont State Standards Advisory Board for science. He is also a member of the Steering Committee of the Central Vermont Food Systems Council and co-chairs the Food Education Committee. Through this work, he coordinates the Growing Local Fest, an annual community celebration that promotes local food and music, while raising money for school gardens.Tom is a 2009 recipient of the Milken National Educator Award and a 2011 Rowland Foundation Fellow. He has taught biology and environmental science at Montpelier High School for the past 24 years and holds an M.S. from the University of Massachusetts at Boston.Music for this episode: "Storms" & "Been Down This Road" by Railroad EarthDownload mp.3 -- Listen on ITunesStay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

In this episode we welcome Jim Birmingham, Food Service Director of the Montpelier Roxbury School District.He is a graduate of Johnson State College and attended culinary school at Le Cordon Blue, London, UK. He is an American Culinary Federation Certified Executive Chef who spent several years working in resort hotel kitchens around Stowe, VT and more than a decade as a Chef Instructor at New England Culinary Institute in Essex and Montpelier. Jim lives in Waterbury with his wife and two teenage sons. He enjoys gardening, hiking and is an avid alpine and backcountry skier.Rob Meehan provided the music for this episode.Download mp.3 -- Listen on ITunesStay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

In this episode we welcome David Zuckerman, The Lieutenant Governor of Vermont.David Zuckerman is the co-founder of Full Moon Farm, a NOFA-certified organic farm in Hinesburg, Vermont.Inspired by then Congressman Bernie Sanders, David first ran for the Vermont House in 1994 while enrolled at the University of Vermont. He lost by 59 votes, but came back two years later to become the fourth Progressive Party member ever to serve in Montpelier.David served for fourteen years (1997-2010) in the Vermont House of Representatives representing the City of Burlington in Chittenden 3-4. He served on the Natural Resources and Energy Committee (6 years), Agriculture Committee (6 years, 4 as Chair) and Ways and Means Committee (2 years). David’s leadership spans many issues including renewable energy, affordable housing, livable wages, cannabis reform, GMO legislation, universal healthcare, progressive taxation, marriage equality, and end-of-life choices.David served in the Vermont Senate as a Progressive/Democrat since his election in 2012. He was the Vice-Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture.In 2016, David was elected as the 80th Lt. Governor of Vermont.Music for this episode: "The Good Life" & "Lovin' You" by Railroad EarthDownload mp.3 -- Listen on ITunesStay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

In this special "Halloweed Episode" we welcome author, William Alexander.William shares a few ghost stories and his experience as an author of fantasy, science fiction, and other unrealisms for young readers.His novels include Goblin Secrets, Ghoulish Song, Ambassador and Nomad. His latest novels are the companion set A Properly Unhaunted Place and A Festival of Ghosts.Honors include the National Book Award, the Eleanor Cameron Award, Junior Library Build Selection, Mythopoeic Award Finalist, International Latino Book Award Finalist, Calvino Award Finalist, Minnesota Book Award Finalist and Earphones Award for audiobook narration.William studied theater and folklore at Oberlin College, English at the University of Vermont, and creative writing at the Clarion Workshop. He currently serves as the faculty chair of the Vermont College of Fine Arts in the program in Writing for Children and Young Adults.Download mp.3 -- Listen on ITunesStay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

In this episode we welcome Walt Poleman , Senior Lecturer and Director of the Ecological Planning Program at the University of Vermont.Walt specializes in natural history, place-based landscape analysis, and education for sustainability. He teaches courses in natural history and human ecology, landscape inventory and assessment, and conservation science.He is co-director of the Field Naturalist Ecological Planning Graduate Program, and serves as faculty advisor to the Sustainability Learning Community. Walter is the founding director the PLACE (Place-based Landscape Analysis & Community Engagement) Program, and co-coordinator of the Greater Burlington Sustainability Education Network.Walt coordinates the Rubenstein School’s dual master’s degree program with Vermont Law School, and teaches ecology there each summer. His teaching awards include the President’s Distinguished Senior Lecturer Award, the Kroespsh-Maurice Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the Outstanding Service-Learning Faculty Award.This episode features "The Mighty River" by Railroad EarthDownload mp.3 -- Listen on ITunesStay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

In this episode we welcome Ryan Geary, owner the of The Hive , and co-owner of Rabble-Rouser.He works in a variety of mediums and disciplines, including wood carving, furniture making and painting, but his preferred art form and main focus over the past 5 years has been 2D and 3D collage.Ryan attributes his health and ability to live a productive life, to, among other things his active creation of arts and his return to those things that brought him joy and comfort as a child. He loves to grow cannabis, coaches little league and owns a home here in central VT where he lives with his son his wife, as well as x-wife and her husband, where they function as one unit and co-parent their childrenDownload mp.3 -- Listen on ITunesStay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

In this episode we welcome Janice Walrefen of All Together Now.Janice Walrefen co-creates AllTogetherNow!, Community Arts Center in East Montpelier, with Ellen Leonard. Together they teach summer camp and produce our community seasonal pageants, parades and puppet shows. Janice has her Art Tiles clay studio, classroom, puppets and shares community gardens at AllTogetherNow! Ellen is the director of the awesome preschool at AllTogetherNow! and teaches family music classes. Their mission is to be an inspiration and model for sustainable living and celebration.Janice resides along the Winooski River in Plainfield Vermont among the wise white pine, sweet cedar, fiddleheads, cattails, wild and domestic creatures that share her home and garden; red squirrel, crow, turkey, deer, jay, merganser, fox, owl, mink, weasel, otter, chickadee, yellow finch, grouse, woodpecker, goose, duck, canine, and human friends. She grew up in the Senoran desert of Arizona with her artist/potter mother and two sisters. She takes after her mom and makes a living as an artist, making handmade tile and sculpture from clay, teaching art to people of all ages, creating masked costumes and large street puppets, coordinating seasonal pageants and parades in Montpelier, the State Capital. Janice is also a member of the Vermont Craft Council .We were joined this week by Jason Mallery, who helped out with music.Download mp.3 -- Listen on ITunesStay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

Matthew Binginot is a designer producer, and lover of all forms of media creativity. He is especially drawn towards photography, music, film and graphic design, although he is always seeking new forms of creative epression to tell stories and share his inspiration.When not producing his own media art, he teaches a program called Digital Media Arts at the Central Vermont Career Center . Every day he inspires young artist to be creative and show them new ways to practice their passion.Additional music by Matthew BinginotDownload mp.3 -- Listen on ITunesStay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

This week our guest is Bennett Shapiro of Madtech Sound. If you go to a live music event in this area, you are bound to see Bennett, walking around with his magic tablet, making things sound good.We talk to Bennett about his journey as a sound engineer, the music scene in central Vermont and his ideas about integrating our live podcast into the Rabble-Rouser Chocolate Factory and Community Center.Download mp.3 -- Listen on ITunesStay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

This episode is a conversation about how the Bordertown podcast aligns with the Rabble-Rouser creative vision. Our guest is the founder of Nutty Steph’s and one of the visionary’s behind Rabble-Rouser, Jaquelyn Rieke. She will provide background on the formation of the Rabble Rouser, collaboratively-owned Chocolate Factory and Community Center, and discuss the creative vision. Vic Guadagno will discuss ecomedia and the goals of the Bordertown Podcast. Music Director Rob Meehan discusses our musical ideas, and offers insight as a long-time advocate for food justice.Bordertown has moved from the studio to a live setting and the first few episodes are visioning sessions to discuss collaborative goals and emerging strategies. This week we discuss synergies between Bordertown and the Rabble-Rouser Community Center.Download mp.3 -- Listen on ITunesStay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

We're taking the show on the road. After several years of recording interviews in our home studio, we are embarking on a public conversation at Montpelier’s new Rabble Rouser – Chocolate Factory and Community Center.In this episode we join the Rabble Rouser community at their launch party. We hear from Jaquelyn Rieke (formerly known as Nutty Steph), the visionary behind this undertaking. We also hear from Bill Kaplan, forward thinking landlord with a strong commitment to community. We speak with just a few of the folks behind the building renovation, architect Tolya Stonorov, woodworker Eyrich Stauffer and painter/artist Hans Stewart. We chat briefly with Montpelier Alive’s Dan Groberg and wrap up with owner of the Hive, and now Rabble Rouser, Ryan Geary.This episode represents a new format for the Bordertown podcast as we are recording live, in a public setting. This is the first of a long-discussed format, in hopes to better achieve our goal of creating conditions for relationships building and enriching communication in our region.Music, Hard Livin' by Railroad Earth.Download mp.3 -- Listen on ITunesStay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

Chuck Collins is a Senior Policy Analyst for the Institute for Policy Studies. He is the author of many books including Born on Third Base , The Community Resilience Reader and Is inequality in America irreversible? He is the co-editor of the Inequality.org website.Chuck has dedicated his life to understanding the basis of economic inequality in the US, and has pioneered countless efforts to connect investors, business leaders, and one-percenters to the common wealth of their place in the world. He has organized and led many activities against corporate practices and economic policies that increase economic inequality. He is an organizing force behind Patriotic Millionaires, a united network of high-net worth Americans, business leaders and investors who are united in their concern about the destabilizing concentration of wealth and power in America.Chuck’s story of wealth inequality is a first hand account…His great grandfather was the meat-packer, Oscar Mayer and Chuck grew up with the inherited wealth from his family fortune. He realized in his mid-twenties that the “mountain of privilege” that had defined his life so far…did not resonate with him…and he gave away his inheritance, to several foundations that funded “change, not charity”. He has been advocating for solutions to the ever-increasing wealth inequality in our country ever since.Chuck references the French economist Thomas Piketty when he suggests that, “If we stay on this trajectory, we are moving to become a hereditary aristocracy of wealth, where the sons and daughters of todays billionaires will control the media, the culture and the politics of the future”.Chuck speaks of the breakdown of a “culture of mutual aid”. Because wealthy people can buy their way through life they don’t ask for help, and therefore don’t develop reciprocal relationships, And as Chuck describes, "you can’t have community without real need and vulnerability".He describes privilege is a disconnection drug…it keeps us apart. It creates a buffer zone, and that disconnection leads to unfulfilled lives. Chuck speaks of the “invitation home” to wealthy people in our country...to bring their wealth back to community and invest in place and people. Chuck proposes that, “People are waiting to be invited to something bigger than consumption….and that is community”. As we decrease our wealth divide, we find a solution to personal disconnection, our social divisions and, with investment in local systems…our ecological crisis…I interviewed Chuck at the LOCALize IT conference, held in South Royalton, Vermont on October 21-22, 2017. The LOCALize IT conference was co-sponsored by Local Futures, Vermonters for a New Economy, the Sustainable Futures Fund of the The Vermont Community Foundation, the New Economy Law Center at The Vermont Law School and BALE, Building a Local Economy.The LOCALize IT Conference was a two-day solutions focused gathering for leaders and community members engaged in accelerating a localizing movement in our region.Thanks to Railroad Earth for providing the theme music "Lordy Lordy"Download mp.3 -- Listen on Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

Sherri Mitchell, Weh'na Ha'mu Kwasset is an Indigenous rights activist, spiritual teacher, and transformational change maker. She was born and raised on the Penobscot Indian reservation with a family of strong advocates and social justice activists. It was engrained in her from a very young age that, “not only do you not accept poor treatment of the ones that you love, but you also don’t participate in, or be complicit through silence in the mistreatment of others”.Sherri Mitchells book, Sacred Instructions, Indigenous Wisdom for Living Spirit-Based Change was released earlier this year.Sherri is the Founding Director of the Land Peace Foundation, an organization dedicated to the global protection of Indigenous rights and the preservation of the Indigenous way of life. Prior to forming the Land Peace Foundation, She served as a law clerk to the Solicitor of the United States Department of Interior; as an Associate with Fredericks, Peebles and Morgan Law Firm; and a civil rights educator for the Maine Attorney General’s Office, and she was the Staff Attorney for the Native American Unit of Pine Tree Legal. Sherri is an Advisor to We Are Nature Rising, who "helps next generation leaders awaken their ecological identify & foster the leadership skills necessary to act on behalf of the planet".Sherri received her undergraduate degree from the University of Maine, and received her Juris Doctorate and a certificate in Indigenous People’s Law and Policy from the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law. Sherri is an alumna of the American Indian Ambassador program, and the Udall Native American Congressional Internship program. In 2010, she received the Mahoney Dunn International Human Rights and Humanitarian Award, for research into Human Rights violations against Indigenous Peoples. In 2015, she received the Spirit of Maine Award, for commitment and excellence in the field of International Human Rights. In 2016, Sherri’s portrait was added to the esteemed portrait series, Americans Who Tell the Truth, by artist Robert Shetterly.Her broad base of knowledge allows her to synthesize these many subjects into a cohesive whole, weaving together the legal, political, and spiritual aspects surrounding a multitude of complex issues. Sherri is the cohost, with Rivera Sun of Love (and Revolution) Radio, where they focus on stories of creative nonviolence, resilience and resistance and her work is featured in a documentary film on transformational change, by New Story Film.I interviewed Sherri at the LOCALize IT conference, held in South Royalton, Vermont on October 21-22, 2017. The LOCALize IT Conference was a two-day solutions focused gathering for leaders and community members engaged in accelerating a localizing movement in our region.The LOCALize IT conference was co-sponsored by Local Futures, Vermonters for a New Economy, the Sustainable Futures Fund of the The Vermont Community Foundation, the New Economy Law Center at The Vermont Law School and BALE, Building a Local Economy.Thanks to Railroad Earth for providing the theme music "Lordy Lordy"Download mp.3 -- Listen on Stay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email

Christine Hanna is the Executive Director of Yes MediaChristine grew up in Virginia, received her bachelors degree in economics from UVA and after graduation had the opportunity to travel to the former Czechoslovakia to study comparative economics. It was during that time she was able to witness and appreciate the power and creativity of entrepreneurship and problem solving. She returned to the US where she received her MBA from the University of Washington with a focus on entrepreneurship and innovation .After receiving her MBA she was swept up into the internet arena and spent the first seven years of her career trying to get people to transact via the web. She got a first hand look at how capital drives innovation and motivaiton in this country and found herself demoralized through the process of simply selling products.Although invigorated by the process of using the internet for marketing products, she realized it was undermining what she felt was truly important. She said to herself, "if I'm going to work this hard, I'm going to work on something that I really care about". She left that company and joined a nonprofit called Northwest Environment Watch, which was essentially a sustainability think tank.Christine defines her love for marketing as the understanding of what it takes to move someone from having never heard of something before, to being a loyal advocate and ally.Christine eventually went on to use what she had learned to launch "Go Next Door" in Seattle, a web-based network dedicated to supporting local businessess and building community. After that, she went on to cofound the Seattle Good Business Network in 2010. Christine and her colleagues grew the organization from a small startup to an influential Seattle player, strengthening the region's locally owned retail, manufacturing and food sectors.She is a passionate advocate for a sustainable, inclusive local economy, with a great track record for putting that passion into action. Christine joined YES in March 2017 and says the role couldn't be a better fit.I interviewed Christine at the LOCALize IT conference, held in South Royalton, Vermont on October 21-22, 2017. The LOCALize IT conference was co-sponsored by Local Futures, Vermonters for a New Economy, the Sustainable Futures Fund of the The Vermont Community Foundation, the New Economy Law Center at The Vermont Law School and BALE, Building a Local Economy.The LOCALize IT Conference was a two-day solutions focused gathering for leaders and community members engaged in accelerating a localizing movement in our region.Thanks to Railroad Earth for providing the theme music "Lordy Lordy"Download mp.3 -- Listen on ITunesStay InformedSubscribe to Bordertown Email