Jonathan Yacko and Natalie Gilliard grew up in Long Island and moved to Chittenden in 2019. They loved their new, big yard, but hated mowing so much grass. So, they turned part of their lawn into a wildflower meadow. The outpouring of appreciation from neighbors and others in town surprised and touched them so much they created an even bigger patch of wildflowers with the help of neighbors this summer. "For the first time, I feel really immersed in a community," Gilliard said, "and I love that w

Last week, over 500 Vermont students joined me to discuss the challenges they’ve faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. They provided a lively discussion with extremely valuable insights, and proved once again why we must listen to our young people. These incredible Vermont students were very open about their struggles with mental health during this challenging year and I want all Vermonters to know that help is available if and when you need it by calling 2-1-1, or texting “VT” to 741741 to reach