Carla Occaso
Barre City Ponders Public Nudity Ordinance
The Barre City Council discussed a possible public nudity ordinance during its March 24 meeting. City Manager Nicolas Storellicastro said a person who operates a nude taxi cab in St. Albans inquired about operating the same thing in Barre City. Storellicastro said he modeled a potential public nudity ordinance from one adopted in Burlington. “They had different issues there, but the ordinance they enacted would work for Barre City,” he said. Councilor Amanda Kay Gustin asked if a taxi cab would be considered private, but Chief Vail said it is public if it is inviting people from the public inside. Mayor Thom Lauzon said, “it is winter. We might want to get ahead of this by summer. We’ve gone 200 years without a public nudity ordinance but, uh, hey.” And Gustin responded to Lauzon, saying, “There’s a first time for everything.” Lauzon said this would be considered the first reading, and then they should move it to a second reading and adoption.
Volunteers Sought for Community Spruce Up Day
On April 11, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Montpelier Business Association and Montpelier Alive invite volunteers to come together for the first Montpelier Community Spruce Up Day. After the long winter, sidewalks need sweeping, shop fronts and windows need washing, and weeds need whacking. Bring a friend, a team, or the whole family! Stop by for 20 minutes or a couple of hours. All supplies will be provided. Check in at the sign-up desk in front of city hall. There will be music as well as small “thank you” specials around town to thank everyone for helping to make Montpelier shine. For more information, contact Vivian@MontpelierAlive.org
Starbucks and Chipotle Buildings Erected
The walls are up and the roofs are on for the two stand-alone buildings near the Fox Run apartment building in Berlin adjacent to the Central Vermont Marketplace, formerly called the Berlin Mall. The buildings will house two international corporate food outlets: one for the coffee giant Starbucks and and one for the American “Mexican-inspired” Chipotle restaurant, according to the town of Berlin’s Facebook page.
March 19 Named “Catherine Degreenia Day”
Barre city councilors voted to name March 19, 2026 “Catherine Degreenia Day” in honor of Degreenia’s 43 years of service as the Barre City Senior Dispatcher. Degreenia “has been the calm, steady voice on the other end of the line: guiding callers through emergencies, coordinating lifesaving responses, and supporting officers, firefighters, and EMTs through some of their most challenging moments,” according to a Montpelier Police Department Facebook post.
