The High Cost of Living in Woodstock
The big topic of conversation these days among residents is property taxes. When the taxes become due in November, most residents will be faced with increases of 50-75% depending on their property value assessment. Listers are out now making the new assessments and big increases are likely because of the recent hike in property values.
For people living on fixed incomes, it means get out or pay. Woodstock is on its way, like other twee Vermont towns, into becoming exclusively for the rich.
The reason for the tax hikes is to fund recent increases in the state's education fund and programs to help the poor.
In future years, it is highly likely that visitors to Woodstock will be greeted and served by immigrants from poorer countries. Local Vermonters, many of whom don't even have health care, will not be able to live and work in Woodstock. Only those willing to live in "worker dormitories" will stick around. I doubt many Vermonters will want to do that.
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Hager a Star Again
Robert Hager, the former NBC News reporter, is back on the air. Mr. Hager, is a Woodstock resident. He was recently called out of retirement to cover the mine explosion in West Virginia. Bob was not one of the gullible reporters who prematurely reported that 12 had survived the disaster.
Gillingham's Closes Bridgewater Store
Citing lack of business, Gillingham's has closed it's Bridgewater store at the Bridgewater Mill.
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Snowmobilers losing rights to traverse private land.
Access to recreational trails on private land has long been a tradition throughout Vermont. Unfortunately, new property owners from out of state don't seem willing to continue the tradition. The result is that snowmobile trails in an around Woodstock and Hartland are being lost. The Hartland Hill Hoppers have just lost all snowmobile trails leading out of town because they've been banned from property owned by Timothy Wilkins and Yvette Lameaux. Both are from out of town.
Vermont's Most Expensive Property still up for Sale
Little Baldy Hill Farm in South Woodstock ain't so little. The place is 300 acres and the main house sits on a mountain top. Its on sale for $12.9 million! This is thought to be the highest priced property in Vermont. Want to see what that kind of money will buy...take a tour of the manor.
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