About St. Johnsbury
Join the Fun at Open Mic!
St. Johnsbury has a new talent showcase – Open Mic nights at Indigenous Skate Shop at 446 Railroad Street. Every Thursday at 7 pm this summer, the store is open for folks to perform their music and poetry for a very appreciative audience!
Justin Laroque (singing with Brianne Thurston in the photo above), Scottie Raymond, and Lew Apgar were the driving forces behind getting the Open Mic nights off the ground. “Each one brings a bigger and bigger crowd,” says Scottie. “We’re having a great time.”
Open Mic night is free, and is an alcohol-free event. Lew, co-owner with Scottie of Indigenous and Kingdom Outdoors, says "Open Mic night is open to everyone who wants to share his or her talent and time. It’s a great cure for ‘nothing to do’!”
“People see our ‘St. Johnsbury Works’ shirts,” says Susan, “And right away they start asking questions. We try to direct them to help them find what they’re looking for.” You’ll often see the Downtown Ambassadors out on their rounds with their children in tow – Heather and Susan each have a toddler, and Maribeth has two children under 5 years old. “We try to go out between 11am and 2 pm, 5 or 6 days a week,” says Maribeth. “We’ll be here through the end of the summer.”
The women are very pleased with the job so far – the flowerpots are lush and blooming, the street looks great, and as Heather says, “Lots of people thank us for what we’re doing, and that’s really nice.”
Community Garden Project is Growing!
Here’s a sure sign of spring – people are ready to garden again! The Passumpsic River Valley Community Garden, a brand-new community garden in St. Johnsbury, will be ready for planting soon. The garden will located in the field adjacent to the Lincoln Street School, just off Rte. 2.
Melissa Bridges, Education and Outreach Director of the St. J Food Co-op, is spearheading the effort. “We started organizing it in September,” she says. “Linda Fogg of St. J Works asked me about starting a community garden in walking distance of downtown. At our first meeting, we met several local people who had interest in getting a community garden started. Many of them are part of our steering committee now.” Those people include Melissa and Linda, as well as Dinah Yessne, Tin Barton-Caplin, Tara Holt, and Marysia Miernowska, who has painted a beautiful garden scene for their logo.
Melissa Bridges
For Bridges, gardening isn’t just about growing vegetables; it’s about providing access to healthy food at an affordable price. “You are what you eat,” she says. “Children today don’t know where food really comes from, even in our rural area. Childhood obesity is at an all-time high, and cheap processed food is often the least nutritious.” Bridges was involved in helping the St. Johnsbury School develop a garden project for the curriculum there, and understands the importance gardening can play in a young person’s life. “A few of our plots are being taken by youth organizations, from pre-school age through high school.”
Several local people and organizations have been very instrumental in getting the new garden off (or rather, in) the ground. Jim and Lorraine Impey own the Lincoln Street School and the field next to it, and they are allowing the garden to be built on the land free of charge. Tin Barton-Caplin, deputy director of NEKCA, which operates Head Start and other youth programs at the Lincoln Street School, has been a great supporter of the project from the start. NEKCA is extending their liability insurance to include the garden area. “Mike Welch, St. Johnsbury’s Town Manager, has also been very supportive,” says Bridges.
About 20 plots of 10 x 10 feet each are planned, with several larger family-sized 20 x 10 feet plots to be included. The garden will have a common area with picnic tables where gardeners can eat and socialize. They also plan a children’s area to keep youngsters amused while parents are tending to their plants. “Interest and volunteers will determine how far we can go with the whole project,” says Bridges. “As a community garden, we will need effort from lots of people to do all the work needed.” Donations and volunteers are welcome, and the group is pursuing grant money as well. “We hope local businesses will help us out by sponsoring some of our needs,” says Bridges. Fencing, garden tools and rototilling services are some of the largest ticket items they will require this spring to get started.
The “garden party” that was held March 15 was a great success, with a
number of gardeners signing up for space. “Once we’re full," says Bridges, "We’ll keep a waiting list.” Bridges notes that all the plots at the other community garden in St. Johnsbury at NVRH are full, and the strong interest in the Passumpsic River Valley Community Garden shows that the idea is very popular. “I’d like to see more community gardens all over town,” says Bridges. “Near Main Street, by the riverfront… wouldn’t it be wonderful to have community gardens ‘sprouting up’ everywhere?”
Dinah Yessne at
"garden party"
Says Bridges, “The season for gardening in Vermont is from about the end of April through November. But really, you can garden year-round if you preserve the food that you grow.” If you would like more information about the Passumpsic River Valley Community Garden, contact Melissa Bridges at village_greens@yahoo.com.
About St. Johnsbury, Vermont
National Geographic named St. Johnsbury as the "#1 Small Town for Adventure," St. Johnsbury combines an energetic business district with a rich cultural life, year-round recreational opportunities, and beautiful historical buildings.
St. Johnsbury lies at the confluence of three rivers. It's conveniently located at the intersection of Interstates 93 and 91. There are 7500 residents in St. Johnsbury, making it the largest town in northeastern Vermont and New Hampshire. It's just 45 minutes from the Canadian border, an hour's drive from Dartmouth College and many ski resorts are nearby, including the hidden gem of Burke Mountain.
St. Johnsbury is a Preserve America and Main Street Community. The town cares about its history, architecture, cultural and authentic small town life.
Downtown St. Johnsbury is the real deal. Please join us in St.Johnsbury for an adventure that is Very Vermont!
This website is sponsored by St. Johnsbury Works, the Main St. organization responsible for downtown improvements, marketing and promotions in downtown St. Johnsbury.
