Good morning, Burlington.

Burlington’s homeless are bracing for a harsh winter as over 200 people sleep rough while shelters and motel rooms remain full—nonprofits and state agencies are adding beds and supplies to help curb the risk of frostbite and hypothermia.

Local officials continue to work on alternative shelter plans as more people face the cold outdoors.

The Salvation Army in Burlington will launch its holiday campaign on Saturday and is asking locals to volunteer at kitchens and Red Kettles to raise $85,000 for food and emergency assistance programs — the campaign will run through around Christmas.

Vermont’s first major snowfall of the season forced outdoor work crews to delay projects, with Rivers Construction stopping roofing and gutter work and Vertscape Landscaping pausing fall cleanups due to unsafe conditions.

Businesses said crews shifted to repair work and many projects were pushed to next year—making it hard to stay on schedule.

VMEC completed its first year of the Maker’s Fund partnership with NSB—allocating $30,000 to eight small manufacturers for projects such as new retail packaging and equipment refurbishing.

NSB extended the fund by committing an extra $30,000 for one year beginning October 1.

Experts warn that holiday shopping scams use AI to create fake websites and deepfake videos—tricking shoppers into giving up personal information.

Officials advise buying local and reporting any scam attempts to police or the attorney general’s office.

Teacher Tyler Alexander uncovered an image of Julian Scott’s 1872 painting 'The 4th Vermont Forming Under Fire'—a work once thought lost—leading art collector Lyman Orton to win an auction and secure it for display at the Statehouse on Oct.29; the painting now appears on the cover of Alexander’s new book.

Vermont ski areas depend on foreign workers for winter jobs but face slow hiring due to a prolonged government shutdown and visa policies that require applicants’ social media handles — officials say this may leave some positions unfilled.

Smugglers’ Notch Resort in Jeffersonville, which typically hires 80 to 90 workers with J-1 and H-2B visas, warned it will struggle to meet its staffing needs.

MENTOR Vermont awarded 18 grants worth $615,000 to youth mentoring programs, which will support over 1,800 mentoring matches across the state—helping agencies, schools and non-profits expand access to supportive mentoring.

The grants aim to boost program quality amid growing concerns over youth isolation.

UVM plans to build a statewide weather monitoring network and applied for a permit to construct a 30-foot tower on the Caledonia County Fairgrounds in Lyndon — the new tower will provide real-time data to improve forecasts and help measure climate change.

The university will request a permit for a second tower in the Mad River Valley in Duxbury in the spring as part of a multi-year project.

Vermont ski areas are getting ready for the season as late-fall rains fill their ponds and snowmaking begins for the Thanksgiving weekend, with Sugarbush Resort planning to open on November 22.

Resorts are investing in new technology—like efficient snowmaking guns—and exploring water retention plans to adapt to challenges from both drought and heavy rains.

The dazzling Northern Lights appeared over towns in Northern New York and Vermont on Tuesday night when clouds broke—photos from local viewers captured the vibrant display across the sky.

The Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery launched 802Spirits Connect, a new online platform that lets on-premises licensees order distilled spirits more easily.

The system allows users to check real-time inventory & manage orders without needing to call in.

Walgreens agreed to pay $500,000 in a settlement with the state after routine inspections uncovered 416 pricing errors from 2018 to 2024—one product rang up $23 above its shelf price.

The settlement requires Walgreens to perform third-party pricing audits for three years and allocates $25,000 to the Community Health Center of Burlington, with the remainder going to the state’s general fund.

A study published last month in JAMA Pediatrics found that states eliminating all non-medical exemptions saw a 2–4 percentage point boost in kindergarten vaccination rates, but Vermont’s partial repeal—which kept religious and medical exemptions in place—yielded only small improvements. Anthony Bald of California State University Fullerton said the data from 2011 to 2023 may help shape future vaccine policy.

The Arcadian Wild Concert

7-9 p.m. — Higher Ground — All ages — Experience the enchanting indie folk sounds of Nashville's The Arcadian Wild.

Beach Fossils Concert

7:00-9:30 p.m. — Higher Ground — All ages — Experience the soothing sounds of one of NYC's definitive underground bands from the 2010s.

Vermont Craft Brewers Conference

Nov 17-18 — DoubleTree by Hilton Burlington Vermont — Check online for ticket details — A gathering for craft beverage enthusiasts to connect and learn.

The New Mastersounds Live

8:00-9:30 p.m. — Higher Ground — All Ages — Experience the infectious funk and soul-jazz of The New Mastersounds with a stellar lineup.

Disco Biscuits Performance

7-10:30 p.m. — Higher Ground — Two day pass available — Experience an electrifying evening of live music with The Disco Biscuits.

Bakuretsu Con 2025

Friday-Sunday — Hampton Inn Colchester — $65+ — Explore the vibrant world of anime and gaming while connecting with fellow fans in a welcoming atmosphere.

Chris Gethard Live

7-8:30 p.m. — Vermont Comedy Club — Ticket prices vary — Experience humor and storytelling with comedian Chris Gethard, known for his unique blend of candid charm and wit.

Poranguí Concert

7:00 – 8:30 PM — Higher Ground — All ages — Experience transformative musical rhythms woven from ancestral songs and indigenous beats around the world.

Jake Minch Concert

6-9 p.m. — Higher Ground — VIP Add-On available — Experience heartfelt songs from a storyteller with a novelist's eye for detail.

Burlington Meetup Turkey Trot

10 AM – 12 PM — Leddy Park — $5 membership fee — Join local active enthusiasts for a variety of outdoor activities and fun together.