AGP Executive Report

Vermont music legacy: The Vermont Historical Society has acquired the Big Heavy World music collection, preserving decades of Vermont-made interviews, radio shows, recordings, performances, posters, and more—an archive meant to serve scholars and fans. Local arts & community: Springfield’s Vermont Apple Festival & Craft Show returns Oct. 10 with hundreds of vendors, food trucks, live attractions (including drone soccer and Miss Vermont), plus a pie-baking contest. Film buzz (Vermont connection): “Verity,” starring Dakota Johnson and Anne Hathaway, keeps drawing attention for its Vermont-set thriller twists—reviews and “ending explained” coverage are driving major conversation. Health equity in Vermont: UVM Health’s Fifth Annual Health Equity Summit drew 500 in-person and 400 online attendees for panels and workshops on issues like maternal health, LGBTQ inclusion, and homelessness. Music scene: Montreal’s Mind Bath releases concept-album “Aqueous,” built around deep listening and a novel-inspired pop opera. Sports: Springfield High’s football program highlights how wrestling is feeding confidence and conditioning for a potential standout season.

Vermont Music Legacy: The Vermont Historical Society has acquired the Big Heavy World music collection, preserving decades of Vermont-made recordings, interviews, posters, and radio material for scholars and fans. New England College Buzz: A College Raptor “hidden gems” ranking spotlights several regional schools, including Vermont-area options, based on publicly available metrics. Noah Kahan Spotlight: Vermont’s Noah Kahan releases “Draw You Out,” a Hunger Games franchise cut for the upcoming soundtrack, and urges fans not to misread his lyrics. Film Talk (Spoiler-y): Reviews and ending explainers keep rolling for the Colleen Hoover thriller “Verity,” starring Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson. Local Arts & Community: Montpelier seeks applicants for the Capitol Complex Commission, and Barre’s Cow Pasture Stewardship Committee invites residents to a guided walk celebrating recent trail and bridge upgrades. Sports (Vermont Connection): Dartmouth field hockey notches its first Ivy League win since 2023 with a 4-0 victory over Penn.

Music Scholarship: The Mockingbird Foundation launched The Mockingbird Foundation Music Scholarship with VSAC, funded in perpetuity to support Vermont students pursuing music or music education—applications are now open. Arts Education: Bennington College is rolling out a new low-residency MFA in screenwriting, with four Vermont/Los Angeles residencies plus online courses and a small inaugural cohort. Public Art: St. Albans is unveiling a new mural downtown on the back of Planet Fitness, funded by a Vermont Downtown Vibrancy Grant, with a surprise nighttime reveal. Performing Arts Festival: Opera Company of Middlebury’s “Music in Troubled Times” runs through Oct. 4, mixing film, chamber music, lectures, and opera tied to the 250th anniversary theme. Community Culture: The Sheldon Museum’s “Mingle at the Museum” fundraiser returns with live music, dinner, and a silent auction to support local history programming. Food & Fun: Bowl & Roll opens in Burlington with build-your-own rice bowls, poke, wraps, and plans for boba tea. Local Spotlight: Amazing Corn Maze in Randolph Center is back for fall, pairing agriculture with community storytelling. Libraries: Dr. Hannah Miller wrapped up a nearly three-year project visiting all 212 Vermont libraries, ending at the Rutland Free Library.

Vermont Film & Folklore Festival: The Bennington Theater will host the 3rd annual VFFF Nov. 5–8, with 30+ independent films plus “anchor” premieres including Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie and The Trial of Alec Baldwin—and director Mary Harron is set to attend. Local Arts Calendar: Barre’s Espresso Bueno runs “S.L.U.A.T.H.” (Oct. 1–Nov. 12), the T.W. Wood Museum debuts “Rain Enters My Diary” (Art Walk reception Oct. 2), and the Front in Montpelier hosts Group Show 75 through Nov. 1. Family Entertainment: The Barre Opera House brings Puppy Pals Live! on Oct. 3 (3 p.m. matinee), featuring rescued dogs performing comedy and stunts. Tech & Policy (Vermont): Lawmakers are questioning the Scott administration’s use of AI cybersecurity testing with Anthropic’s program, saying they weren’t notified. Health Tech: UVM received up to $38M to build an “AI twin” to help doctors test treatments for critically ill patients. Spooky Season: Zymarium Meadery’s “Dark Ritual” returns Oct. 1–Nov. 7 with a new Halloween menu and tarot/scary-movie add-ons.

Film & TV Buzz: Vermont-set “Verity” reviews are landing with a thud—critics say the psychological thriller rushes past the unease that made the novel work, even as Dakota Johnson and Anne Hathaway bring star power. Local Arts & Culture: White River Junction’s TWIST comics and zine fest returns Oct. 2 at Junction Arts & Media, with free admission, creators from the Upper Valley scene, and a lineup built for discovery. Theater Spotlight: Vermont Stage’s “Dakar 2000” leans into deception and trust, turning its thriller structure into a live test of what audiences believe. Music Scene: Vermont producer FAZE.ONE drops “Lacrimaire,” a down-tempo instrumental hip-hop/electronica record, while Ram Hatley’s long-lost “Faithless Angel” finally gets released. Community & Creativity: Woodstock completes its AARP-funded bench project, adding Josef Albers-inspired public art between parks and the village center. Sports & Snow: U.S. Ski & Snowboard names Dr. Thomas R. Hackett chief medical officer as it ramps up medical leadership for future Olympic prep. Vermont Business/Arts: Hayden Rowe Candle Co. is growing fast with a “cleanest candle possible” pitch—100% soy wax and a focus on avoiding toxic additives. Tech/Health (UVM): UVM lands up to $38M to build AI-powered “digital twins” aimed at personalizing ICU care for critically ill patients. Public Safety/Privacy: A crowdsourced map flagged Flock cameras in the Upper Valley, but officials say the data is wrong—raising questions about how sightings get logged.

Music Scholarship: Phish fans are funding a new, permanent Vermont music scholarship through the Mockingbird Foundation and VSAC, supporting Vermont undergrads pursuing music or music education. Arts & Community: The Root Social Justice Center marked its 13th anniversary with a community celebration focused on “collective liberation.” Live Performance: Weston Theater Company launched “Weston Works,” a 2026-27 cohort developing original plays, musical theater, and opera with a weeklong retreat in Vermont. Jazz in the Berkshires: The inaugural Williamstown Jazz Festival brought major names to campus, aiming to revive the region’s jazz legacy. Film in Vermont: Burlington premiered Bess O’Brien’s hopeful documentary “Every Day: Big and Small,” touring Vermont towns and stopping Oct. 9 at the Latchis Theatre. Local Art Events: River Gallery School’s 50th anniversary “Off the Wall” exhibit returns with an art lottery where everyone leaves with a framed piece. Exhibits: Earlville Opera House opens new gallery rounds Oct. 3, featuring three artists across graphic design/print, and more. Sports Spotlight: Vermont shut out UMass 3-0 in Burlington, while local field hockey and soccer results kept rolling across the region.

College Sports Overhaul: The U.S. Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act in a 77-22 vote, a rare bipartisan win led by Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell that would reshape NCAA rules on NIL, transfers, and eligibility with a limited antitrust exemption. Upper Valley Tech & Privacy: A crowdsourced surveillance map flagged Flock cameras in Hanover’s Upper Valley; local officials and the town say the data is wrong, but the controversy is still sparking debate. Vermont Music & Education: Phish fans helped launch the Mockingbird Music Scholarship in Vermont, funding music degrees for students through VSAC. Local Arts & Culture: Old Hat Stringband brings a fresh take on old-timey sound to Vermont Public/NHPR’s Folk Show. Vermont Sports: UVM men’s soccer rolled past Bryant 4-0 as the America East season kicks off. Community & Tradition: The Sodbusters Horseshoe Club in Bristol keeps an old backyard sport alive, with multi-generational players and even world-champion talent. Housing Watch: Vermont’s market is cooling as listings rise and homes take longer to sell, even as affordability pressure remains.

Local Arts Calendar: Town Hall Theater in Middlebury hosts Bluebird Improv on Oct. 8, with Joe Canale, Marc Evan Jackson, Stephnie Weir and Brad Morris, plus a Oct. 14 “Stories from the Heart” storytelling night. Community Creativity: St. Albans’ Rail City Tattoo Convention returns Oct. 3–4, and Grafton’s Fairy House Festival drew 700+ attendees even in heavy rain. Food & Craft Culture: Sweet Botanical Bakes in Vermont presses edible flowers into shortbread, while 802 Metal Art in Milton turns scrap into welded sculptures. Music & Performance: Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band brought veteran-focused live music to Camp Johnson in Newport. Film Spotlight: Franklin County is set to host the short horror “Bearing the Dead,” with Vermont talent helping retrofit production plans. Sports & Entertainment Crossover: The Senate passed a sweeping college sports NIL/transfer bill, and BBA field hockey rolled past Rutland 9-1.

Tattoo & Live Culture: St. Albans’ 3rd Rail City Tattoo Convention returns Oct. 3–4 at City Hall, with 50+ artists from across the U.S. plus local talent; tickets are $15/day or $20/weekend. Politics Meets the Arts: Mayor Zohran Mamdani heads to “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in Brooklyn after an SNL spoof, with Pete Davidson and TV on the Radio also slated to appear. Music Spotlight: Karina Rykman celebrates her album “Late Checkout” with a Webster Hall headliner, bringing out Robert Randolph, Dogs in a Pile members, and more. Postal Pop Culture: USPS honors Linda McCartney with a new stamp pane, with a dedication ceremony at MoMA. Theater & Touring: Marriott Theatre announces its 2027 subscription season featuring five musicals, including “Pippin” and “Les Misérables.” Community & Giving: Franklin County YMCA’s Free Clothing Store returns with a donation drive through Oct. 3 and a free public shop opening Oct. 6. Sports (Vermont): UVM men’s soccer rolls past Bryant 4–0, while UVM field hockey extends its winning streak to four with a 2–0 win over Dartmouth. Local Arts Calendar: Franklin County’s Sept. 28–Oct. 2 events list highlights what to do this week.

Vermont Politics & Civic Life: A Vermont judge again blocked the DOJ’s push for voter-roll data, keeping the NVRA/HAVA fight alive as federal access to state records hits court delays. Community & Culture: The Vermont 251 Club held its annual Montpelier meeting, with artist Martha Stevenson unveiling tiny paintings for every Vermont town now displayed at the Statehouse. Arts & Local History: Shelburne Museum hosted a Norman Rockwell model reunion, bringing former faces behind classic works back into the spotlight. Food & Sustainability: Vermont Week of Gleaning highlighted Willing Hands’ Upper Valley gleaning efforts to recover surplus produce and fight food waste and hunger. Sports: UVM men’s soccer opened America East with a 4-0 win over Bryant, while UVM’s Niklas Herceg posted a clean sheet and multiple Catamounts found the net. Weather Impact: A nor’easter knocked out power across the Northeast, with Vermont among the states reporting outages as crews worked through flooding and downed lines.

Vermont Wedding Season: A new look at romance across the state spotlights venues like Rabbit Hill Inn and Mountain View Farm, where everything from elopements to “micro weddings” is built around connection, local flavor, and year-round planning. UVM & Middlebury: Both universities roll out major tuition discounts—UVM expands discounted tuition for certain out-of-state students and free tuition for lower-income Vermonters, while Middlebury goes tuition-free for families up to $175,000. Rutland Library Censorship Fight: “Daddy’s Roommate” returns to the spotlight as the Rutland Free Library’s Freedom to Read Book Club revisits a decades-old controversy over access to LGBTQ-themed children’s books. Food & Community: Vermont Week of Gleaning spotlights Willing Hands and other groups recovering surplus produce to fight food waste and hunger. Sports on the Ice & Field: UVM men’s soccer cruises past Bryant 4-0, while UMD women’s hockey shuts out Mercyhurst and UVM’s next matchup heads Friday. Local Culture: Former Norman Rockwell models reunite at Shelburne Museum, sharing stories behind the artist’s Vermont work.

Vermont Arts & Culture: Shelburne Museum hosted a Norman Rockwell reunion, bringing together former Rockwell models for a panel and spotlighting his Vermont ties in Arlington. Museum Spotlight: The T.W. Wood Museum announced two October exhibits—Howard Norman’s “Rain Enters My Diary” and the Vermont Pastel Society’s “The Artist Next Door”—with an Oct. 2 reception and artist talk. Community Creativity: Brattleboro Museum & Art Center’s 19th annual LEGO Contest & Exhibit returns Oct. 8–12, celebrating family-friendly building with awards across age groups. Local Business & Tradition: Jericho’s Snowflake Chocolates marked four generations of chocolate-making, keeping a family recipe legacy alive. Sports (Vermont-area): Champlain Valley Union girls’ volleyball rallied from a first-set loss to beat Mount Mansfield 3-1 in homecoming action. Sports (Vermont-area): Vermont State University Castleton field hockey fell to Husson 5-0. News Note: Woodstock’s police chief won a court fight over a demotion attempt but chose to retire instead.

Local Arts & Community: T.W. Wood Museum in Montpelier announced two October openings—Howard Norman’s “Rain Enters My Diary” and “The Artist Next Door” from the Vermont Pastel Society—plus an Oct. 2 reception and artist talk. Community Arts: Brattleboro Museum & Art Center’s 19th annual LEGO Contest & Exhibit returns Oct. 8–12, with awards across age groups and a Best in Show. Music & Culture: Capital City Concerts presents “A Fall Feast of Music and Poetry” Oct. 3–4, featuring Don Jamison’s “Raine Songs” with soprano Mary Bonhag and other performers. Arts in Motion: Studio Place Arts in Barre hosted an “Art Social” with live fiddle music and new shows, while the Vermont Granite Museum’s Granite Festival celebrated the state’s stone-carving legacy. Vermont Spotlight: Flywlkr’s “Green Mountain Music” leans into Vermont fishing culture, turning local humor and angling into a viral breakout. Sports Betting (Vt. readers): Multiple promo-driven prediction-market and sportsbook offers are circulating for Iowa vs. Michigan and other college matchups. Family Business: Jericho’s Snowflake Chocolates marks four generations of chocolate-making, with the Pollack family still running the shop. Weekend What-To-Do: WCAX rounds up fall weekend plans, including Burke Fall Festival, Cabot’s cheese-and-culture events, and free fishing at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum.

Community Arts: Studio Place Arts’ “SPA Art Social” turns opening nights into hangouts, pairing new exhibits (“Is That a Table Saw?,” “Incidental Objects,” “At the Car Wash”) with live music from the Vermont Fiddle Orchestra and a long-running “Rock Solid” granite-trade showcase. Local Craft & Heritage: The Vermont Granite Museum’s Granite Festival spotlights Barre Gray stone and the people who still carve it, with hands-on demos and a scavenger-hunt style day. Music & Poetry: Capital City Concerts presents “A Fall Feast of Music and Poetry,” featuring Don Jamison’s “Raine Songs” set to British poet Kathleen Raine, plus Vivaldi and Henry Jamison. Family-Friendly Live Music: Salmon Brook Music Series launches its 12th season with a multi-generational concert featuring Peggy Shaw and Kali Stoddard-Imari, with proceeds for local food and preschool programs. Vermont Hip-Hop: Flywlkr’s “Green Mountain Music” leans hard into fishing and Vermont pride, building on his viral “Bass Pro” breakout. Arts Calendar: Brattleboro Museum & Art Center’s 19th annual LEGO Contest & Exhibit returns Oct. 8–12, with an awards ceremony Oct. 8 and themed prizes. Food & Drink: Vermont Cider Lab in Essex earns national buzz, ranking No. 8 among the USA Today 10Best cideries. Service Members & Culture: Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band bring a live concert to Camp Johnson for Vermont National Guard members and families. Community Literacy: Southern Vermont libraries mark Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library “Dolly Day” with book celebrations.

Arts & Community: Brattleboro Museum & Art Center is bringing back its 19th annual LEGO Contest & Exhibit, running Oct. 8–12, with an awards ceremony Oct. 8 and themed prizes for building, light/color, and moving parts. Higher Ed & Access: Vermont students can qualify for free tuition at Saint Anselm College in Manchester through the Anselmian Community Commitment (income under $100,000; on-campus living; GPA requirements). Public Health & Labor: Support staff at UVM Medical Center are voting on whether to authorize a strike, with unions citing safe staffing as contract talks continue. Science & Research: UVM is launching a $19M national neuroscience observatory with UC San Diego to study brains and nervous systems using advanced imaging and computing. Politics & Civic Life: A new UNH poll shows Gov. Phil Scott trailing Democrat Amanda Janoo, while an ACLU of Vermont poll highlights voters’ priorities around healthcare, housing, and wealth inequality. Entertainment & Local Culture: Montpelier’s Clubhouse Commons opens its doors for teens and young adults—plus a café, live entertainment, and visual arts—aiming to bridge generations. Sports: Otter Valley’s Nolan Quenneville notched three interceptions in a win, and Cal’s Joyce Kami family celebration ties into a big home matchup.

Vermont Arts & Community: Shelburne Museum marks Norman Rockwell Day on Sept. 26 with tours, drop-in artmaking, and a rare reunion panel featuring some of Rockwell’s actual Vermont models. Family Fun & Creativity: Brattleboro Museum & Art Center’s 19th annual LEGO Contest & Exhibit returns Oct. 8–12, with an Oct. 8 awards ceremony and themed prizes for vehicle, home/building, light/color, and moving parts. Tech & Jobs (Vermont): Hula and Seven Days host the 18th annual Vermont Tech Jam on Oct. 24 at Hula in Burlington, bringing recruiters and colleges together for in-person hiring and program info. Education: Middlebury College will become tuition-free for students from families earning up to $175,000, starting with the Class of 2031. Sports: Dartmouth stunned No. 18 Vermont men’s soccer 3–1 at Burnham Field, handing the Catamounts their first regular-season loss in 693 days. AI Policy (Vermont): U.S. Sen. Peter Welch backs a proposal to create an independent federal AI regulator, aiming to curb frontier AI risks and protect kids online. Local Events: Okemo Valley launches a Fall Foliage Train & Pop-Up Fall Festival Oct. 3–4 with vintage railcar rides plus Vermont artisans and seasonal food.