AGP Executive Report

Independence Day in Vermont: WCAX rounded up Fourth of July plans across the state, from parades and fireworks to live music, plus free museum time at Lake Champlain Maritime Museum and a Declaration reading at Calvin Coolidge Historic Site. Local Arts & Music: QuarryWorks Theater in Adamant is staging “A Grand Night for Singing” (Rodgers & Hammerstein) July 9–19 with free tickets by reservation, and Jeezum Crow returns July 11–12 with roots/jam heavyweights including The Disco Biscuits, Yonder Mountain String Band, Railroad Earth, and more Vermont acts. Vermont History, 250 Years: The Vermont Historical Society opens “50 for 250” at the Vermont History Museum in Montpelier, using 50 unusual objects (including a Jefferson document admitting Vermont to the union) to tell the state’s story. Public Health Watch: Vermont is seeing its highest tick-bite ER/urgent care rates in years, with officials calling it a “new normal” as tick activity rises. Business/Community: Copley Hospital announced a new Copley Express Lab in Morrisville opening Aug. 3 to keep testing local and priced competitively.

Vermont Arts & Culture: Tillie Walden’s new graphic novel, Charity and Sylvia, brings rural Vermont in the early 1800s to life, telling the story of one of America’s oldest documented queer relationships. Local History Spotlight: The Vermont Historical Society is kicking off the 250th with “50 for 250,” an exhibit at the Vermont History Museum featuring 50 rarely seen objects, including Revolutionary-era items and a document tied to Vermont’s path to statehood. Independence Day on the Waterfront: Burlington’s “250” celebration is bringing live music, food vendors, and a fireworks show over Lake Champlain, with a new fireworks company taking over the finale. Community Parade Energy: Brandon’s America 250 July 4th parade runs all day with floats, music, food, and family events, ending with fireworks. Public Art: A new mural at Fairlee’s I-91 underpass, “Snow Sister” and “Green Man,” connects the recreation side of town to Main Street. Sports: Vermont Green FC women make a first-ever playoff appearance, building momentum for women’s soccer in the state. Business & Community Health: Copley Hospital plans a new local testing center in Morrisville, aiming to keep lab services in Vermont and improve affordability. Military Modernization: BAE Systems delivered cold-weather tracked vehicles to the U.S. military, including the first assigned to the Vermont National Guard’s Army Mountain Warfare School.

Vermont 250th History: The Ethan Allen Homestead Museum in Burlington is spotlighting Vermont’s lesser-known republic era (1777–1791) as part of the state’s America 250 storytelling. Local Arts & Community: Hinesburg’s Carpenter-Carse Library unveiled “Who We Are,” a community-made mural built from 100+ mosaic tiles with help from glass artist Terry Zigmund. Military & Tech: BAE Systems delivered 19 cold-weather all-terrain vehicles to the U.S. military, including the Vermont National Guard’s Army Mountain Warfare School. Healthcare Access: Copley Hospital is opening the Copley Express Lab in Morrisville on Aug. 3, aiming to keep testing local and competitively priced. Sports Spotlight: Vermont’s MLB Draft buzz grows as a Chester/Vermont Academy prospect is featured in MLB Network’s “The Prospect” Season 2. Independence Day Events: Colchester and Milton are rolling out July 4 celebrations and summer programming, from parades and fireworks to library reptile shows and adult D&D. Food & Culture: A viral ranch-dressing moment is driving “what to pack” and “what to bring home” lists for summer travelers.

Vermont Arts Spotlight: South Burlington animator Travis Van Alstyne won the 2026 Vermont Prize for his short film “Love of the Land,” a true story about a Vermont farmer’s fight tied to Interstate 91. Independence Day in Vermont: Norwich’s 1817 Paul Revere & Sons bell is back in action after a repaired clapper, with a July 4 celebration planned—plus Vermont Public’s roundup of standout Fourth events across the state for America 250. New Creative Business: Rutland’s Amazing Glaze paint-your-own pottery studio opened downtown, offering pre-fired pieces, on-site kiln firing, and a lively grand opening with local music. Sports & Community Pride: Chester’s Kaiden McCarthy, a Vermont Academy grad, is featured in MLB Network’s “The Prospect,” bringing national attention to the MLB draft path. Local Entertainment Calendar: Putney Public Library kicks off its “Unearth A Story!” summer reading program with inflatable dinosaurs and weekly kid-focused events. Health & Work Impact: UVM Health says it will stop covering some weight-loss drugs for employees starting in September, aiming to reduce costs.

Brownfields Cleanup Funding: Vermont towns are set to receive $5.8 million for five polluted-site cleanup projects, plus $1 million more for revolving loan fund programs—aimed at clearing the way for new housing, businesses, and recreation. Local Arts & History: The Washington County Historical Society will host Dr. Bruce Venter on “The Battle of Hubbardton” at the Sandy Hill Arts Center in Hudson Falls on July 7. Education Spotlight: Bellows Free Academy teacher Chris Moore was selected for C-SPAN’s Teacher Fellowship, helping build free classroom materials for educators nationwide. Public Health Watch: Vermont is heading into what officials call a “new normal” for ticks, with tick-bite and Lyme-related visits running above recent averages. Food Prices & Accountability: DOJ and 17 states reached a settlement with major egg producers over alleged price-fixing—$3.3 million plus 53 million donated eggs, with Vermont included in the distribution. Independence Day 250: Washington County Courts will mark the Declaration of Independence’s 250th with a free July 10 courthouse celebration featuring local blues and a keynote history talk.

NCQA Accreditation: Vermont Business Magazine reports Age Well earned NCQA Case Management Accreditation, the top status, effective June 1 through 2029—recognizing its care coordination and support for older Vermonters. Community Arts & Kids: Sunrise Family Resource Center and the Vermont Arts Exchange hosted Summer Jam 2026 in Bennington, drawing nearly 400 kids and families for games, music, and a petting zoo. America 250 Live Reading: Vermont Public’s America 250 project pairs local diaries and letters with a Vermont Historical Society exhibit, asking “What is Vermont’s story?” Independence Day Events: Bennington plans a 250th-focused bell ringing at the Battle Monument tied to a Declaration of Independence reading, while Manchester’s Taconic Pops Orchestra brings movie-score favorites to SVAC’s Arkell Pavilion July 4. Local Film Funding: A new Vermont Film Production Economic Impact Pilot Program will award grants up to $10,000 for in-state projects, with a July 21 deadline. Sports Spotlight: Vermont Green FC’s women’s team clinched the USL W League Northeast Division title and now hosts playoff matches at Virtue Field.

Arts & Community: TD Garden’s backstage “gift liaison” program is turning arena tours into a local arts moment, with Boston-made custom presents for stars like Lady Gaga and Cardi B. Food & Fairness: The DOJ and 17 states reached an egg price-fixing settlement with major producers, sending 53 million eggs to food banks and nonprofits nationwide (including Vermont) plus $3.3 million in payments. Local Business & Culture: Burlington’s Belleville Bakery & Catering story highlights how a Paris-based baker built a new life in Vermont after securing a foreign entrepreneur visa. Music & Live Events: Vermont’s new ticket resale law kicks in July 1, aiming to curb scalping by limiting resale markups and tightening rules around third-party sellers—Noah Kahan backed the change. Sports: The Vermont Voyageurs box lacrosse team returns after a decade, practicing weekly and gearing up for regional play. Health & Aging: Age Well earned NCQA case management accreditation, extending through 2029 for its support of older Vermonters.

Local Sports Comeback: The Vermont Voyageurs box lacrosse team is back for its first season in a decade, practicing weekly at Essex Skating Facility and aiming for the National Collegiate Box Championship in Rochester. Food & Consumer Relief: Vermont is set to receive about 915,000 eggs (plus $56,000) from a multistate settlement after DOJ and state attorneys alleged major egg producers colluded to manipulate benchmark pricing from 2022–2025. Independence Day Plans: Vermont communities are gearing up for America’s 250th with parades and fireworks, but costs are rising—some towns even canceled shows after vendors increased minimum charges. Heat Safety: The Upper Valley is bracing for extreme heat through Friday, with cooling centers and extended library hours listed for July 1–3. Arts & Community: Park-McCullough’s free “Music on the Veranda” returns July 12 with Tony and Judy Seeger and local musician Tom Fels. Music News: Noah Kahan asked fans to stop stealing a Strafford road sign tied to his hometown song, calling it “total disrespect.” Health & Education: Age Well earned NCQA case management accreditation, and CCV won a $2.9M grant to expand corrections education and re-entry support. Food Service Honors: Wine Spectator named multiple Vermont restaurants to its 2026 awards list.

Northern Lights Watch: NOAA says a June 26 solar blast could spark minor auroras across up to 19 northern states Tuesday night, with best odds near the U.S.-Canada border—clear skies matter. Vermont Arts & Community: Come Alive Outside and Rutland Free Library launched a Gear Library so people can borrow outdoor gear (including e-bikes, camping kit, and even pop-up movie screens) to get outside more easily. Literary Spotlight: Middlebury poet Cindy Ellen Hill’s gothic horror debut novel “Leeds Point” arrives in sonnet form, set in 1702 marshlands and timed with America’s 250th. Music & Pride: Noah Kahan again asked fans to stop stealing a Strafford road sign tied to his lyrics, while Bennington’s Pride parade and block party drew dozens of groups and live music. Local Sports: Vermont swept New Hampshire in the Twin State Baseball Classic, and Team Vermont’s Special Olympics USA Games update highlighted medals in swimming, athletics, and Unified basketball. Fundraising: Copley Hospital’s Stowe Art, Wine & Food event raised about $60,000, up 30% from last year.

New Fiction: Middlebury poet Cindy Ellen Hill’s debut novel “Leeds Point” lands in gothic horror form—written in sonnet verse and set in 1702 marshlands, blending feminism, ecopolitics, and colonial-era power. Outdoor Access: Come Alive Outside and Rutland Free Library launch a Gear Library so people can borrow bikes, camping gear, even pop-up movie screens and silent disco setups for low cost (free with a Rutland card). Music & Arts: A Montpelier vocal recital spotlights Debussy’s “Ariettes oubliées,” pairing soprano Mary Bonhag and pianist Michael Litton with cellist Ignacy Gaydamovich for a lush, Verlaine-driven program. Local Music Buzz: Noah Kahan again calls out fans stealing his hometown road sign in Strafford—asking for respect and offering to help replace what’s been taken. Community & Pride: Bennington’s eight annual Pride parade and block party brings rainbow energy, with Vermont Arts Exchange music helping set the tone. Big Local Infrastructure: Burlington’s long-awaited Champlain Parkway segment opens, adding a major car-and-bike connection through the South End. Health Policy: BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont withdraws its proposed “Vermont Basic” marketplace plans for 2027. Sports: Vermont Green FC women’s team captures the Northeast division title and hosts USL W Eastern Conference playoffs at Virtue Field over Fourth of July weekend. Museum Spotlight: Shelburne Museum’s “America 250” exhibit highlights patriotic art across 250 years, with a scavenger-hunt style map and QR guide. Business/Community Learning: Vermont Chamber and NBT Bank host a free Economic Insights webinar July 8 on inflation, interest rates, AI, and market outlook.

Vermont Arts & Culture: Weathersfield’s 250th anniversary gets a stage boost with free performances of “We Most Ardently Desire,” based on a 1775 document and funded through Vermont 250 partners. Local Education & Arts: Twin Valley High School in Whitingham is launching a new Academy of Arts, Communication & Entrepreneurship, aiming to build creative-career pathways and add more dual-enrollment options. Community Music: Brattleboro Music Center’s Music Under the Stars series continues July 11 at Retreat Farm with the Vermont Jazz Center Big Band featuring Peter Eldridge (free with donations). Sports & Community Pride: Vermont’s Mountaineers snapped a skid with a 9-0 shutout over the Upper Valley Nighthawks, while Vermont high school fans can vote for the “game of the year” state championship matchup. Civic Life: The Vermont 250 Commission, Vermont Arts Council, and Vermont Humanities announced a second round of grants supporting history, arts, and culture projects statewide. Arts-Adjacent Local Business: The Southwestern Vermont Chamber and Manchester Business Association’s B2B Golf Classic raised funds for regional economic and community programs.

Noah Kahan & concert etiquette: The Vermont singer took to X to beg fans not to “poop their pants” at shows after a viral clip tied to his Citizens Bank Park stop. Vermont arts funding for America 250: Weathersfield-area partners, the Vermont Arts Council, and Vermont Humanities announced a second round of $79,025 in grants for 36 history, arts, and culture projects statewide. Brattleboro Music Under the Stars: Retreat Farm’s July 11 series keeps rolling with the Vermont Jazz Center Big Band featuring Peter Eldridge; free with donations, picnic-friendly. Renaissance Faire returns: Essex Junction’s Vermont Renaissance Faire kicks off its 10th anniversary at Champlain Valley Expo with medieval vendors and live combat/archery. Sports with local flavor: Team Vermont returned from the Special Olympics USA Games with medals, while the Lowell Spinners kept momentum with a big win over Vermont. Community creativity: Cavendish Fletcher Community Library’s Destination Imagination team won a state technical challenge and earned a spot in Kansas City. Rutland economy in transition: New leaders and major moves—from Walmart’s planned relocation to Paramount Theatre momentum—are reshaping downtown Rutland.

Vermont Privacy vs. Public Safety: Vermont lawmakers tried to rein in license plate surveillance, but VTDigger reports police found a workaround—using out-of-state camera networks to run 100+ plate searches since 2023. America 250 in Vermont: As the nation marks its semiquincentennial, Congress is burying a time capsule with New England contributions, while Vermont’s own Fourth of July plans and trivia quizzes gear up for the holiday. Healthcare Reform Watch: A Vermont op-ed asks how the state will measure whether big healthcare changes are actually working as federal rural funding rolls in. Local Arts & Culture: The Vermont Renaissance Faire returns for its 10th anniversary at Champlain Valley Expo, with medieval vendors and live entertainment drawing big crowds. Music: Noah Kahan asks fans to stop stealing a road sign tied to his hometown song—calling it “total disrespect.” Community & Sports: Team Vermont brings home medals from the Special Olympics USA Games, and the North-South Senior Classic honors athletes including Mackenzie Pratt.

Vermont Arts & Culture: Shelburne Museum spotlights Norman Rockwell’s Vermont years in “Norman Rockwell: At Home in Vermont,” tying his Arlington community life to the images that shaped a lasting Vermont identity. Music: Noah Kahan is asking fans to stop stealing the Alger Brook Road sign in Strafford, calling it “total disrespect” and offering to pay for replacements. Live Music & Performance: The Vermont Symphony Orchestra launches its “Summer Festival Tour: America 250,” with outdoor concerts and narration across the state, plus fireworks at the final stops. Local Arts Events: Stowe’s long-running outdoor sculpture show “Exposed” returns with 11 works and honors the late John Matusz and Chris Curtis. Community & Sports: Team Vermont returns from the Special Olympics USA Games with medals and big memories, including Unified Basketball gold. Business & Community: KeyBank earns the Civic 50 honor for the 13th straight year for measurable community impact. Food & Drink: Bennington’s Village Garage Distillery debuts Vermont Republic Rye, a 127-proof, 100% local-grain spirit built for the state’s history. Transit & Accessibility: Brattleboro opens a new $10M accessible Amtrak station, part of a push to make stations ADA-compliant nationwide.

Vermont Music & Culture: Noah Kahan is asking fans to stop stealing a Strafford road sign tied to his song “The View Between Villages,” calling it “total disrespect” and saying he’ll pay for replacements and help find solutions. Live Music Across the State: The Vermont Symphony Orchestra launches its 2026-27 “America 250” Summer Festival Tour with outdoor concerts featuring Copland, Sousa, Ellington and more, plus narration and fireworks at select stops. Local Arts Spotlight: Stowe’s long-running outdoor sculpture show “Exposed” returns with 11 works and honors the late John Matusz and Chris Curtis for 35 years of shaping the community art tradition. Community Fundraising: Hinesburg’s 8th Annual Tiny Art Auction runs July 4–11, with proceeds split between the Hinesburg Food Shelf and NOFA Vermont. Books & Reading: “Vt. Book Nook” profiles Rutland reader Theresa Czachor on how reading sustains her everywhere she goes. Theater/Arts Venue: Bennington’s Park-McCullough, Prospect Street Writers House and the Bennington Bookshop kick off a free monthly reading series starting June 29. Sports & Pride: Vermont Unified basketball brings home Gold at the Special Olympics USA Games.

Local Arts & Community: Park-McCullough, Prospect Street Writers House, and the Bennington Bookshop launch a free monthly reading series in the carriage barn, kicking off June 29 with poetry and a queer coming-of-age novel. Vermont Film & Culture: For the 25th anniversary, the restored trans buddy comedy By Hook or By Crook (2001) is touring select theaters, including a run at the Siskel Film Center through July 2. Music & Nightlife: The Rochester International Jazz Festival is drawing international visitors and giving East Avenue businesses a noticeable boost, with festival crowds and late-weekend headliners. Sports & Pride: Burr and Burton Unified basketball returns from Special Olympics USA Games with a Gold medal, while Vermont Unified also advances in medal rounds. Outdoor & Health: Vermont’s tick-monitoring program is spotlighted as Lyme disease risk stays high, with field teams collecting ticks to guide public health. Arts in Action: Vermont Suitcase Company brings outdoor theater back to Park-McCullough on July 7 with My Lady of Whims. Pop Culture: Noah Kahan asks fans to stop stealing the Alger Brook Road sign in Strafford, calling it a disruption to locals.