Burlington's getting a taste of summer just as the leaves hit their peak color. We're looking at sunshine and temperatures climbing into the low to mid 70s this afternoon, with Friday evening plans looking perfect as temps hover in the 60s before settling into the 40s and 50s by Saturday morning. The weekend brings even better news: Saturday sees mid to upper 70s with sun and a few clouds, while Sunday could break records with temps pushing into the upper 70s to low 80s. That's about 15 degrees above normal for early October, folks. Monday keeps the summer vibes going before Tuesday finally brings some rain, though don't expect much relief from the drought with only a quarter to three quarters of an inch expected. By Thursday we'll be back to reality with highs struggling to escape the 50s.

This afternoon offers last minute options before the weekend rush: catch the EEE Lecture on Vermont's Island Line at Faith United Methodist Church from 2 to 3pm featuring rail historian Jim Jones, or drop by Wheeler Garden for candy apple making until 3pm. Tonight's lineup is packed with variety. Vermont Swings brings Annie and the Fur Trappers to North Star Hall from 7 to 10pm, with a free swing lesson at 7 before the Boston band launches into their 1920s jazz and blues. The Vermont Astronomical Society sets up telescopes at Thomas Hubbard Recreation Area at 7pm for free stargazing when darkness falls. For those feeling festive, the Taylor Swift listening party at The Venetian Soda Lounge celebrates The Life of a Showgirl album drop starting at 7pm, while Spare Time Colchester launches Scare Games haunted laser tag after 8pm for $10 per person through Halloween.

Saturday's stellar weather makes it prime time for outdoor adventures. Early birds can hit the storage unit auction at Exit 16 Self Storage at 9am with eleven units up for grabs, or support Steps VT at the Steps for Survivors 5K at Oakledge starting at 9am with both adult and kids races. The Burlington Farmers Market runs 9am to 2pm on Pine Street, while Construction Fest transforms Church Street from 10am to noon with truck fashion shows, touch a truck, and Champ appearances. Over in Colchester, Josh's House hosts their 2nd Annual Craft & Vendor Fair from 10am to 4pm with pottery, handmade chocolates, chainmail jewelry, and food trucks. Essex Junction gets artsy with the Local Artists Show running 10am to 7pm Saturday at two downtown locations featuring twelve local artists. Potter's Angels Rescue holds an adoption event at PetSmart Williston from 11am to 2pm. Music fans can catch Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers at Higher Ground Saturday night at 8pm, while the 24 Hour Comic Day celebration at Burlington Odd Fellows runs for twelve hours starting at noon with special guests James Kochalka and Julianna Brazill.

Sunday's record breaking warmth creates perfect conditions for everything from the WOKO Gigantic Indoor Flea Market at the Champlain Valley Expo starting at 8:30am to Isham Family Farms' Fall Festival in Williston from 11am to 4pm with corn mazes, wagon rides, and live music. The Vermont Anime and Gaming Expo takes over 60 Battery Street all day with vendor halls, voice actors, and an EDM dance party. Winooski gets lively at Standing Stone Wines with a Vinyl Pop Up Show from noon to 5pm featuring seven record vendors, live music, and DJ Andy Kershaw. For something completely different, catch Rachel Frida Siegel's anti diet dance theater piece "Unconditional Love (of Mangoes, Dancing, and Me)" at Off Center for Dramatic Arts with afternoon shows at 2pm and 5pm. Don't forget the 47th Annual Sacred Harp Convention continues Sunday at Contois Auditorium with singing at 10am, no experience necessary.

Warm stretch ahead: today is a mild, above-normal day, and the next few days look even warmer. Overall, this run feels more like late summer than early October, a crisp outlier in reverse.

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Real talk: the meetup group would love to have you. The newsletter’s thriving, but turning readers into real-life connections is tougher than expected. It seems you guys really enjoy the coffee meetups, but we haven’t see too many sign ups to the local events around town.

That’s why tomorrow matters. Join us at our usual spot, Zero Gravity, 10am Saturday for coffee and conversation. Let’s talk about what would actually get you out the door, what kinds of events sound fun, and how we can make meeting neighbors feel natural.

We can swap thoughts on the latest city council drama, the stubborn weather, or whatever’s on your mind. The point is showing up and helping shape what this community becomes.

The coffee’s good, the company will be better. See you tomorrow.

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Burlington City Council Tackles Public Nudity, Names New Equity Director

Monday's council meeting revealed the uncomfortable truth about downtown enforcement: problems haven't been solved, just shuffled around like a shell game. While City Hall Park incidents are down, surrounding areas are seeing increased activity in what police call the "displacement effect." The data is stark: just 20 individuals account for 842 police incidents downtown this year, with 19 of them unhoused and banned from shelters due to "service resistance." Meanwhile, the council voted 9-2 to ban public nudity despite concerns it gives police another tool against vulnerable populations who sometimes have nowhere else to change clothes. Dr. Kelly Perkins was unanimously approved as the new director of racial equity after a search that drew 40 applicants, though several councilors urged retaining interim director Christian Barry's three decades of community expertise. Read the FULL summary of mine by clicking the link above.

Music Festival Returns to Vermont with Local Headliner

The Spirit of Vermont festival returns to Red Barn Gardens in Williston for its second year this weekend, expanding to two days with Vermont's own Greg Freeman headlining Friday night. Freeman's getting national attention after Rolling Stone featured his album 'Burnover' in May. The festival kicks off at 5pm with camping available on site, bringing together more than a dozen artists in what organizer Noah Schneidman sees as filling the void left by Waking Windows' final curtain call last May. Tickets start at $40.

Burlington Mayor's Office to Lose Three Key Staffers

Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak is losing three critical staff members halfway through her term: deputy chief of staff Joe Magee, special assistant to end homelessness Sarah Russell, and senior adviser on community safety Ingrid Jonas. Magee's replacement will be Jen Monroe Zakaras, the Progressive who ran unsuccessfully for South District council earlier this year. The timing couldn't be worse as the city grapples with its most pressing crises around homelessness and public safety, though Magee insists the simultaneous departures are "largely coincidental."

Activists Note ICE's Absence at Burlington Airport in Recent Months

Immigration activists believe their months of monitoring and documenting have pushed ICE to stop moving detainees through Burlington's airport since early August. The agency appears to have shifted operations to airports in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Bedford, Massachusetts, playing a regional shell game to avoid scrutiny. Aviation director Nic Longo confirmed activists have been at the airport almost daily and would likely notice any ICE activity. The airport has responded to activist pressure by adding signage to non public doors and increasing human trafficking awareness materials, though Longo maintains the facility must cooperate with federal agencies due to FAA grant requirements.

He Said Construction Was Killing His Biz. Filings Reveal a More Complicated Situation

The Gryphon's September closure wasn't just about downtown construction woes, though owner Tom Chadwick blamed Burlington's "dystopian cesspool" for killing his business. Court records reveal Chadwick owes nearly $10 million in restitution for mishandling elderly clients' investments, including an 84 year old Strafford woman who lost $350,000 she needed for assisted living. The day before shuttering the restaurant, a New Hampshire judge ordered him to start paying restitution. Now 12 employees are owed $25,000 in unpaid wages while Chadwick's bankruptcy filing lists just $115 in cash on hand.

Sam Donnelly: Let's Build a Better Burlington

Former Planned Parenthood organizer Sam Donnelly has launched Building Burlington's Future, a new nonprofit aimed at grassroots advocacy and policy change. The group's already supporting needle cleanup efforts downtown and backing City Council resolutions to improve City Hall Park. With Burlington's poverty rate at 23 percent, nearly double the national average, Donnelly's organization aims to unite residents around making the city safer, more inclusive, and more affordable through practical action rather than just complaints.

Vermont Health Officials Alarmed by Shift from Opioid Abuse to Stimulants

Vermont's entering what health officials call a new wave of the drug crisis as users shift from injecting opioids to smoking stimulants like crack and meth. Fatal overdoses from smoking drugs tripled between 2019 and 2023 while injection deaths decreased by 10 percent. The Howard Center's Safe Recovery now distributes more pipes than needles, with monthly syringe distribution dropping from 97,364 in January to 52,115 in August. The shift is particularly concerning because Narcan doesn't work on stimulant overdoses, leaving responders with fewer intervention options.

How Much House Does $500,000 Buy You in Burlington?

Half a million dollars in the Burlington area gets you anywhere from a 1,208 square foot home in the city proper to over 3,600 square feet in St. Albans. Most listings cluster in the suburbs like South Burlington, Milton, and Swanton, where buyers can find three to four bedroom homes ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 square feet. What was once high end money in 2014 when homes averaged $159,000 is now barely above the regional median, illustrating just how dramatically the housing crisis has reshaped what's considered affordable.

South Burlington Considers Eminent Domain to Complete Shared-Use Path

South Burlington may use eminent domain to complete a 0.7 mile shared use path along Dorset Street after failing to reach agreements with three property owners. Property owner Robert Chittenden says the process literally makes him sick to his stomach, arguing a bike path doesn't constitute public necessity like a bridge or interstate would. The project, funded mostly by a $661,000 state grant, has been in the works for nearly a decade and would connect existing path segments on the east side of Dorset Street. Property owners suggest the city could build on the west side instead, but at least one has indicated the dispute could end up in court.

Department of Energy Cuts Funds for Beta Technologies, UVM Projects

Vermont's losing two federal energy grants as the Department of Energy terminates over 200 renewable energy projects nationwide. UVM's losing $3.4 million for studying place based renewable power generation while South Burlington's Beta Technologies is losing $1.8 million meant to develop battery recharging technology for areas with little electric infrastructure. Vermont and New Hampshire were the only affected states with Republican governors, with cuts spread across 16 states total in what appears to be a broad pullback from climate and renewable energy investments.

Government Shutdown's Impact on Vermont Limited for Now, But Future Could Worsen

Governor Phil Scott says Vermont's seeing no immediate significant impacts from the federal government shutdown, though about 6,600 federal employees in the state face potential furloughs. The state drew down federal funding in advance as a precaution, and 3SquaresVT benefits should continue through October. Burlington airport operations remain normal with TSA and air traffic control still working, though the Vermont National Guard has furloughed some administrative staff. Furloughed federal workers can apply for state unemployment benefits but will need to repay them if Congress approves backpay.

This twice-weekly deep dive into Burlington takes serious time and research, from tracking city council meetings to uncovering weekly events and meetups you won't find elsewhere. As a one-person operation, your support directly keeps this project alive. Consider becoming a Core Reader with a small monthly donation below, or send a one-time gift using that link, or straight to Venmo @BtownBrief. Every contribution helps!

Friday, October 3, 2025

Saturday, October 4, 2025

Sunday, October 5, 2025

Volunteer to Support Local Seniors with Age Well
Age Well is seeking volunteers to make a direct impact in the lives of older Vermonters, whether it’s through friendly visits, grocery shopping, delivering Meals on Wheels, helping with errands or appointments, or lending a hand with small home repairs and organizing. The time commitment is flexible and based on your schedule. Just a few hours once a week or even a couple of days a month, weekdays between 8 AM and 4 PM. Volunteers often say the experience is deeply rewarding, as they get to see the difference they’re making firsthand. As an added bonus, volunteers who are City Market members can also earn 7–12% off their grocery bill as part of the Member Worker program. To learn more or sign up, call 802-662-5249 or email [email protected].

Check out this page for links to four great sites with volunteer opportunities all around Burlington.

I want to experiment with a shorter newsletter for your email viewing pleasure. Thinking about adding a third day for the newsletter with special content. In the meantime, instead of a full section normally reserved for these, here are some go-to links for you to check out:

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.

Soon to be updated with even more Burlington food deals. View the full list of food & drink deals here.

Enjoy this gift of a weekend before we slide back into proper October weather next week. Remember to check out those foliage views while the sun's shining and the colors are peaking. Support your local farmers, artists, and community organizations while you're at it. Got a tip or event for next week's edition? Drop us a line. Until Monday, make the most of this summer encore.

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