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Local film explores reproductive rights in Vt.

October 30, 2025

Vergennes filmmaker Chris Spencer is finalizing “Unintended,” a documentary about Vermont’s Reproductive Liberty Amendment.

Read Past Articles by Month

Read Past Articles by Month

addisonindependent

Society is always looking for ways to show appreci

Society is always looking for ways to show appreciation to its veterans, who are at times asked to put themselves in harm’s way to ensure the safety and freedom of others. Among the private groups that support veterans is one that has spent the past 22 years stitching together fantastic fabric creations designed to metaphorically and literally impart warmth to the nation’s veterans. The group is called “Quilts of Valor,” a national organization of avid craftspeople who each year make hundreds of quilts that are then given to those who served (or who continue to do so).

Representatives of Quilts of Valor and Ferrisburgh’s Patriotic Spirits turned out at the Middlebury Quilt Show last month to drape seven area veterans (and one from Maine) in fabric finery featuring stars, stripes, red, white, blue, deer, soldier silhouettes and other “wow” factors. Read more at the link in bio.

Congratulations to this week's Student of the Week

Congratulations to this week's Student of the Week from Addison Northwest School District's Vergennes Union High School, Nilah F.!

This year, every Student of the Week will receive $25 in local currency, thanks to the generosity of Full Circle Building and Remodeling LLC. Student of the Week is also made possible by the following advertiser support: Bristol Beverage, Business Telephone Systems, Friend Construction, Full Circle Building and Remodeling, J.W. & D.E. Ryan, Jackman Fuels, Inc., Jackman's of Bristol, Johnson Law Group, and Rainbow Pediatrics.

Congratulations to this week's Student of the Week

Congratulations to this week's Student of the Week from Middlebury Union High School Vermont, Maya B.!

This year, every Student of the Week will receive $25 in local currency, thanks to the generosity of Full Circle Building and Remodeling LLC. Student of the Week is also made possible by the following advertiser support: Bristol Beverage, Business Telephone Systems, Friend Construction, Full Circle Building and Remodeling, J.W. & D.E. Ryan, Jackman Fuels, Inc., Jackman's of Bristol, Johnson Law Group, and Rainbow Pediatrics.

Ambulance services across the country are operatin

Ambulance services across the country are operating with less revenue than usual, as Medicare ambulance add-on payments that support those operations ended in September and remain halted amid the government shutdown. Read more about the impact to the Bristol Rescue Squad at our link in bio.

Congratulations to our recent Student of the Week

Congratulations to our recent Student of the Week from Mt. Abraham Union High School, Isla U.!

This year, every Student of the Week will receive $25 in local currency, thanks to the generosity of Full Circle Building and Remodeling LLC. Student of the Week is also made possible by the following advertiser support: Bristol Beverage, Business Telephone Systems, Friend Construction, Full Circle Building and Remodeling, J.W. & D.E. Ryan, Jackman Fuels, Inc., Jackman's of Bristol, Johnson Law Group, and Rainbow Pediatrics.

Congratulations to our recent Student of the Week

Congratulations to our recent Student of the Week from Otter Valley Union High School, Logan D.!

This year, every Student of the Week will receive $25 in local currency, thanks to the generosity of Full Circle Building and Remodeling LLC. Student of the Week is also made possible by the following advertiser support: Bristol Beverage, Business Telephone Systems, Friend Construction, Full Circle Building and Remodeling, J.W. & D.E. Ryan, Jackman Fuels, Inc., Jackman's of Bristol, Johnson Law Group, and Rainbow Pediatrics.

When Dr. Mike Kiernan tore his aorta last year, lu

When Dr. Mike Kiernan tore his aorta last year, luckily he was at work — at the Porter Emergency Department. "To all of a sudden be the person who needs help, it’s an abrupt change," he told the Addison Independent. Read more about Dr. Kiernan's shift from doctor to patient and his journey back from the brink at our link in bio.

Nearly 800 kids and families trick-or-treated thro

Nearly 800 kids and families trick-or-treated through downtown Middlebury as part of this past Sunday's Spooktacular costume parade.

🎃 Leahy Sherry is Elphaba from Wicked.
🎃 A skeletal priest takes over the body of Rev. Paul Olsson.
🎃 Archie and Emmy Lou Harlow are ready to rock.
🎃 Aurora and Chevelle Oldenburg of Orwell go batty in the gazebo.
🎃 Buccaneer sisters Rebecca and Lydia Huff swashbuckle through town.
🎃 Annabella Mayo-McGrath collects loot as a Mutant Ninja Turtle.
🎃 Norma Zeller (left) and Rosemary O’Malley hand out candy.

📸: Independent photos/Steve James

Congratulations to our recent Students of the Week

Congratulations to our recent Students of the Week from Middlebury Union High School Vermont: Austin G., Mattisen A., and Mary H.

This year, every Student of the Week will receive $25 in local currency, thanks to the generosity of Full Circle Building and Remodeling LLC. Student of the Week is also made possible by the following advertiser support: Bristol Beverage, Business Telephone Systems, Friend Construction, Full Circle Building and Remodeling, J.W. & D.E. Ryan, Jackman Fuels, Inc., Jackman's of Bristol, Johnson Law Group, and Rainbow Pediatrics.

Congratulations to this week's Student of the Week

Congratulations to this week's Student of the Week from Vergennes Union High School, Gina L.!

This year, every Student of the Week will receive $25 in local currency, thanks to the generosity of Full Circle Building and Remodeling LLC. Student of the Week is also made possible by the following advertiser support: Bristol Beverage, Business Telephone Systems, Friend Construction, Full Circle Building and Remodeling, J.W. & D.E. Ryan, Jackman Fuels, Inc., Jackman's of Bristol, Johnson Law Group, and Rainbow Pediatrics.

UPDATED: Vermont State Police on Friday evening co

UPDATED: Vermont State Police on Friday evening confirmed the identity of the body they found Thursday near The Knoll just west of the Middlebury College campus.

An autopsy showed that it was Lia Smith, 21, of Woodside, Calif., the Middlebury senior who was reported missing Sunday. The medical examiner determined the manner of Lia’s death was a suicide.

Police noted that the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers providing free and confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.

***
In the search for Middlebury College senior Lia Smith Thursday afternoon, authorities found a body in a field near The Knoll, the college’s organic garden, Vermont State Police announced Thursday evening.

Police did not identify the body, but they did announced it as a part of an update to their search for Smith, who was last seen on campus Friday evening. Her father reported her missing to Middlebury police on Sunday when she didn’t respond to cell phone calls. That touched off searches throughout the area that grew in intensity all week.

Members of the Vermont State Police Search and Rescue Team located the body in a field west of campus at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23. Troopers said they would take the body to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington for an autopsy to confirm identity and determine the cause and manner of death. The autopsy is expected to be performed Friday, Oct. 24.

Immediately upon finding the body, police secured the area and started investigation into the death. In a press release, police said the death did not appear to be suspicious. Read more at the link in bio.

Middlebury police are looking for missing Middlebu

Middlebury police are looking for missing Middlebury College student Lia P. Smith, who was last seen on campus at 9 p.m. on Oct. 17. Anyone with information about Smith or her whereabouts is asked to contact the Middlebury Police Department at 802-388-3191 or submit an online tip on the Middlebury police website. Fellow students may also contact Middlebury College Public Safety at 802-443-5911.

In a message to Middlebury students, college administrators said they are “working closely with the Middlebury police, which is investigating and collecting information at this time. We have been in touch with the student’s family and friends to offer support and learn all we can about the student’s recent activities and whereabouts.”

Smith is a senior from California double majoring in computer science and statistics. She is also a successful diver on the Panther women’s swimming and diving team.

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