Tunbridge Quarterly – Town of Tunbridge, Vermont

The TUNBRIDGE Quarterly is mailed four times a year to everyone that owns property and/or resides in Tunbridge and contains news and information from town and school officials and local volunteer efforts. The brainchild of Tunbridge resident Janet Zug, its first edition was published in July 2005 and has been curated by Janet ever since.

The deadlines for TQ entries are on the 15th of December, March, June and September. Contact Janet at 802-889-9602 or zugglassstudio@gmail.com

THE CURRENT ISSUE

Published July 1, 2026 – Follow this link to view or download the current issue in PDF format.

Click here to see past issues.

Tunbridge Selectboard
John O’Brien, Clerk
889-3474; bellwetherfilms@yahoo.com
Gary Mullen, Chair
889-3323, barn or 889-3242, house; theflyingfarmer29@gmail.com
Mike McPhetres, Vice Chair
802-272-6108, cell or 802-728-3390, shop; farmallfix@yahoo.com
Aileen Lem, Administrative Assistant
802-889-5521 or tunbridge.adm.assist@gmail.com

The Selectboard recently hired a new Administrative Assistant and bought a new dump truck. Which do you want to hear about first? In Tunbridge, people come first: Aileen Lem, who lives on Button Hill, and is finishing up working for the Provost at Dartmouth, will officially replace Mariah Cilley as our AA, on July 1st, the beginning of our fiscal year. After Town Meeting, Aileen was appointed to be a lister, and she has now decided to double down on her municipal involvement. Already committed, as a lister, to spending parts of Tuesdays and Fridays in the Town Office Building, we aim to keep her there a little longer for Selectboard-related office hours as the AA. We would like to make it a snap to get in touch with the Selectboard—call, email, or pop into the office, we’re here to hear inquiries, suggestions and complaints.

The Selectboard bids a fond farewell to Mariah Cilley, former Town Clerk and Administrative Assistant, always super efficient, responsive, and friendly. Until her considerably talents take her elsewhere, she will be holding court in the fenced-in yard on Main Street, a jurisdiction full of children, dachshunds, and a rainbow unicorn kiddie pool.

The Selectboard would also like to mention that the three interviewees for the Administrative Assistant job were all highly qualified, professional and well-prepared. For a job that pays about what McDonald’s does, we were most appreciative of the quality of applicants.

Over at the Highway Department, we have a schedule of replacement for heavy equipment that we try to adhere to: Next up is (Road Crew Chief) Rodney Hoyt’s six-wheeler dump truck. We’ve decided to buy the equivalent model that Rodney’s been using and has no complaints with. There was much back-and-forth about moving to a ten-wheeler (similar to what Larry Wight drives), but ultimately, we decided to stick with the beefy, no-frills version of a dump truck, to save taxpayers money and because it works for Tunbridge’s 70 miles of back roads. For approximately $170,000, Tunbridge will get a cab and chassis; then a “body” will come next—the plow, dump, and sanding package—for another $100,000 or so; and, then we wait—we might take possession of the new dump truck in six months…or it might be two years. Fair Tunbridge is at the mercy of national and international economies when it come to timelines and deliverables. But one thing we all agree on: We should sign up for the seven year bumper-to-bumper warranty. We’ve noticed a spike in maintenance costs in the final years of our heavy equipment schedule, usually after the warranty’s expired; it might be more expensive up front, but it seems to make sense, with modern machinery (and all their onboard computers), to now extend the warranty to max years and shorten the swapping out schedule.

Have you ever noticed the beautiful curved ceiling in the Town Hall? Well, it turns out that it wasn’t built to hold insulation, either foam or batting. This was part of the plan for weatherizing our municipal buildings with a MERP grant (that’s “Municipal Energy Resilience Program,” for those who like to know what all those acronyms stand for). After an engineering assessment gave a not- structurally-safe thumbs down to insulating the crawl space between the roof and the barrel ceiling, we’ve had to pivot to other weatherization priorities that were next on the list: this would include the electrical system. For anyone who has ever tried to navigate, in the Green Room, the Rube Goldberg configuration of multitudinous switches, antique break boxes, and ominously buzzing stage lights, an updating of the electrical plan would be much appreciated and a win for common sense and safety.

After years of advocating for the town, and with a real passion for connectivity, the Tunbridge Reps on the EC Fiber Board, Henry Swayze and Dick Dybvig, plan to step down. We thank them for their outstanding community service and also seek enthusiastic replacements. Make a difference: Volunteer today! We all need more fiber!

As Fiscal Year 2026 comes to a close, and FY 27 begins, the Selectboard will be busy this summer tackling projects big and small. Any Tunbridgian who has been to the Transfer Station lately has undoubtedly noticed the sad decrepitude of the dump’s stockade fence and mangled gates. This needs to be addressed. And right next door, at the Town Garage, our five-year plan is to construct an annex building to house our heavy equipment and thus give the Road Crew a safer space to maintain that equipment in the existing garage. We plan to hire an architect and engineering firm this summer to make step one—siting, permitting, design—become a reality.

Enjoy the dog days: We encourage residents and visitors alike to stick your pant legs into your socks (make life hard for the ticks), and get out on our town trails. They are open business.

Tunbridge Town Clerk
Bonnie McCrillis, Clerk 889-5521
Jan Fifield, Asst Clerk town.clerk@tunbridgevt.org
Hours: Monday & Wednesday 8-2 Thursday by appointment

Today feels like August weather and it’s only June! The Town Clerk recently added a new Assistant to the team, Jan Fifield from Strafford, VT. Jan retired from nursing and is quickly picking up new skills. She is very organized and eager to learn, so soon I might be asking her where things are! It’s great having Jan her.

We’re getting ready for the August Primaries and November Midterm voting. This is a job I thought I wouldn’t need to learn, but I was wrong. Jan and I have a lot to learn about voting rules, so we’ll be going to as many meetings as possible in the coming weeks. The office might be closed while we attend these meetings, but I’ll put a sign in the window to let you know when we’re out. I plan to do this several days before any closure.

We’re also working hard to keep up with scanning Land Records. If you know anyone who might want to help—like a high school or college student, or someone looking for a few flexible hours each week—please let me know. If you have any suggestions, I’d appreciate hearing from you.

Dog licensing was way down this year. If you haven’t already licensed your dog, please do so now. Dog licensing is required by the State of Vermont. A licensed dog that has it’s tag on can be traced back to the town that they were registered in. Another important reason to license your dog is that if there is a bite incident, the Town Clerk’s office can quickly check whether the dog’s rabies vaccination is up to date.

Have a wonderful fun filled adventurous safe summer.

The TUNBRIDGE Quarterly
Janet Zug 889-9602 zugglassstudio@gmail.com

All TQ Entries are printed as received and only edited for typos or space constraints. Please accept my apologies for any mistakes I miss or make! Feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or suggestions.

The deadline dates for TQ entries are the 15th of December, March, June and September.

First Branch Ambulance
Barbara LaFrancis 889-3378

Great News—The new ambulance we have been expecting for so long has finally arrived. Chase, Liz, and the crew are excited to see it at the station. By the time you read this, I am sure you will have seen it responding to a call.

FBA Greatly appreciates the support you all give us from our annual letters and thru the year.

You generously again this year responded with donations to help FBA provide vital care to the people they serve. Without your help FBA would not be able to purchase and maintain equipment and medicines, or pay staff to help us when needed.
Donations can be made any time of year by going to the FBA web site and using the Pay Pal option or sending by mail.

FBA provided coverage for The Ranger event at the Tunbridge Fair Grounds the weekend of June 6th and 7th. Fortunately, it went smoothly and participants stayed safe.

If you are new to Tunbridge and do not have a 911 red house number sign, yours is damaged and unreadable, or a part time resident, you can obtain one for a small donation of $20.00 by contacting Judy Tucker at 889-3305 or judytucker40@yahoo.com.

Our efforts to recruit new members continues. If you would like to get involved in the community and have a desire to help people this could be the place for you. We welcome individuals already certified and ones who would like to be trained to become certified. Stop in at the station or call 802-685-3112 and talk to Chase or Liz to discuss joining our crew and or options available for training.

As we are now in the warmer season of the year, FBA reminds you to stay hydrated, use sun protection, and safely enjoy the summer.

Better Bones
Kay Jorgensen – 889-5528, kjayvt@gmail.com

Better Bones balance and weight-bearing exercise program is offered at the Town Hall on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5 p.m. It is aimed at increasing bone density at an age when bone mass is lost and osteoporosis is a concern. Anyone can drop in for a session. A doctor’s permission is requested for those who continue with the program.

Tunbridge Board of Listers
Dan ‘rudi’ Ruddell, Chris Battcock, Aileen Lem, 802-889-3571
(lister@tunbridgevt.org) Office hours: Tuesday & Friday 9am-3pm

Our goal in the Tunbridge Listers’ office is to maintain fair and accurate property values for all properties in town. Accurate assessments help ensure that the costs of local and state government are shared as equitably as possible among property owners.

In 2023, the Vermont Legislature passed Act 68, which requires municipalities to conduct a town-wide reappraisal at least every six years. To meet this requirement, Tunbridge signed a contract with the New England Municipal Resource Center (NEMRC) in 2025. The town-wide reappraisal is scheduled to begin in July 2028 and conclude with the lodging of the Grand List in June 2030.

As a reminder, the amount of municipal taxes is determined in Town Meeting (municipal rate), while education taxes are set by the state (education rate). A town-wide reappraisal updates property values to reflect current market conditions and ensures that all properties are assessed consistently and fairly.

While most property values are expected to increase during the reappraisal, based on recent real estate sales, the tax rate is calculated by dividing the total amount of taxes to be raised by the total assessed value of all taxable property in town (the Grand List). Because both property values and the tax rate change, an increase in assessed value does not necessarily result in an increase in a property’s tax bill.

In the meantime, we continue our annual work of keeping property records up to date. Properties are assessed based on their condition as of April 1 each year. Changes made after April 1 will generally be reflected on the following year’s Grand List.

For the 2027 Grand List, we will focus our rotational review on properties in the northeast quadrant of town. During these reviews, we typically update exterior photographs and contact property owners to determine whether any changes have been made. We appreciate hearing from property owners whenever significant improvements, additions, or other changes occur, regardless of location within town. In some cases, substantial changes may require an interior inspection.

By the time you receive this edition of the Tunbridge Quarterly, we will have lodged the Abstract of the 2026 Grand List and mailed notices to property owners whose assessments changed this year. Grievance hearings will be held no fewer than 14 days after the Grand List is lodged. Property owners may appeal their assessment during this grievance period.

Tax bills are typically mailed in early to mid-August. In Tunbridge, property taxes are due annually on November 1.

During July and August, we will complete updates to the town’s digital parcel maps and submit them to the state for inclusion in the Vermont Parcel Viewer. Please visit our webpage for links to maps and additional information: https://tunbridgevt.org/board-of-listers/

Tunbridge Community Nurse
Jodi Hoyt – 802-249-8956

The Tunbridge Community Nurse Program continues to provide
essential health services, advocacy, education, and support to residents throughout our community. Through home visits, phone consultations, clinics, and community partnerships, the program helps residents remain healthy, independent, and connected to needed resources.

Program Highlights: During this quarter, the Community Nurse continued
to provide individualized support to residents through:

In-home health assessments and wellness visits
Blood pressure and chronic disease monitoring
Healthcare navigation and advocacy
Medication education and support
Referrals to community and healthcare resources
Assistance accessing medical equipment through the Community Medical Closet
Care coordination with healthcare providers, family members, and community agencies
New Blood Pressure Cuff Lending Program

The Tunbridge Community Nurse Program is excited to partner with the Tunbridge Public Library and the American Heart Association to launch a new Blood Pressure Cuff Lending Program.

This program allows community members to borrow an automated blood pressure cuff free of charge, making it easier for residents to monitor their blood pressure from the comfort of their own homes. Regular blood pressure monitoring is an important tool for preventing and managing heart disease, stroke, and other chronic health conditions.

The program aims to increase access to preventive healthcare, encourage self-management of chronic conditions, and help residents become more engaged in their health. Educational materials on proper blood pressure monitoring and tracking are included with each cuff.

I am thrilled to see this program become available in Tunbridge and look forward to helping residents take advantage of this valuable community resource.

Tunbridge Library
Mariah Lawrence – Library Director
802-889-9404/tunbridgelibrary@gmail.com/tunbridgelibrary.org
Tues 10-5, Wed 3-6, Thurs 10-5, Fri 3-6, Sat 9-1
Staff ~ Maureen Moriarty, Theresa FitzGerald, Russell Lewczuk-Jensen

If you have driven by the library lately you may have noticed our locust tree split in the last storm. It was coated in clusters of deep purple blooms so thick with flowers and the scent was incredible. Wouldn’t you know the wind and rain split it down the middle. Luckily, Isaac Sacca of Vermont Tree Company generously came by, pulled it off the fence and the remaining portion of the tree seems to be doing ok. We are so grateful for members of the community caring so deeply about our space. Devin Cilley is in charge of lawn maintenance this summer and is doing an amazing job. The peonies are in full bloom and we have four new (and very busy) hummingbird feeders on the porch. We have a pair of rose breasted grosbeaks nesting somewhere nearby and they frequent our seed feeders. All this to say the library looks beautiful. If you haven’t had a chance to stop in lately, now is the time.

Every Thursday from 10am-12pm, through our partnership with Orange County Parent Child Center, Lauren Priestap runs Bumblebee Garden playgroup. Story time is so pleasant on our lawn and happens at 10:30 each week.

This Sunday (June 21st) is International make music day! A big thanks goes to Neil FitzGerald who is hosting an extensive concert from 2-5pm with 5 musicians playing on our front porch. All are welcome to attend this amazing event.

Fridays are busy at the library with game night in full swing. From 4-6pm anyone can come by the library and learn a new game or meet up with friends to play a familiar one. Your public librarian is famously terrible at learning new games with lengthy instructions and managed to learn how to play a new somewhat complicated game just a few weeks ago. If she can do it, so can you!

Summer Reading is in full swing. Please check our website for all the details on our “Unearth a Story” Summer fun! You can pick up copies of our summer reading bingo for both adults and kids at the library, join a book club or attend one of our amazing events! This Saturday the 20th is the Summer Reading kick off.

Speaking of book clubs, “Shelf Love” provides our library with a consistent and supportive space for adults looking for connection, friendship, great stories and deep conversations. This Friday at 6pm join up for a pot luck/discussion of any travelogue you’ve read, fiction or non-fiction. If you want to join the club send the library an email and we will connect you with Kathi!

The library continues to host Knitting Wellness, an incredibly sweet and supportive group for fiber artists.

As always the Tunbridge Underground is well stocked with used books, gift items, CD’s, greeting cards, puzzles and more! Stop in during any of our open hours to shop!

Friends of the Tunbridge World’s Fair
Deb Mullen – 889-9406 damullen49@gmail.comv

As summer kicks into gear, so do the Friends of the Tunbridge World’s Fair! Believe it or not, fair time is a mere 12 weeks away, and there is quite a lot to fit in before then. Our latest project is focussed on Antique Hill, where we are supporting much-needed repairs on the old sawmill building. Much of the funding for projects like this one comes from our yearly Duck Race event; this year’s race will take place on July 26th at 1:30, following our annual meeting and potluck lunch. Interested in participating? Contact any member of the Friends board, or reach out to Deb Mullen at 889-9406 to purchase ducks or for details concerning the annual meeting. All will take place on the fairgrounds.

Donations are a wonderful way to remember loved ones, friends or family who enjoyed attending or participating in the Fair; opportunities include memorial benches as well as contributions towards general funding and specific programs. We raise money to support a variety of projects that enhance the Fair, ranging from improving exhibition spaces to expanding public access and educational programming. Our mission is to promote, preserve, and support agricultural education and heritage, rural communities, and Vermont history; our goal is to preserve the past while preparing for the needs of the future. If you would like to make a donation, it can be sent to FTWF care of our treasurer, Heather Mullen, at 93 The Crossroad, Tunbridge, VT 05077. The Friends are a 501c3 non-profit, and your donations are tax-deductible (and much appreciated!).

Tunbridge Town Website
Geoff Hansen, 802-889-3373, or info@geoffhansen.com

Tunbridge’s town website is a timely resource for information from the Town Clerk, board meetings (including videos of meetings via Zoom), an Events Calendar listing upcoming meetings and community events, and past issues of the Tunbridge Quarterly. Please let us know if there’s something you would like to see listed or have any questions.

Tunbridge Area Cats, TNVR Program
Janet Zug – 802-738-9602 zugglassstudio@gmail.com

Our selectboard has approved the formation & policy of the Tunbridge Area Cats, TNVR Program (Trap-Neuter&spay-Vaccinate-Return) to humanely manage our local free roaming/homeless cat population.

This program is not an animal shelter, adoption service, or animal control enforcement activity.

As the Volunteer Coordinator for this effort, my quest it to have less homeless cats living outside by stopping the breeding cycle. Sterilization also eliminates mating behaviors like yowling, fighting, and territorial spraying, plus of course, no more suffering kittens born outside! They all get the rabies vaccination.

A fund for tax deductible donations is in place. No taxpayer dollars will be used unless voted at town meeting. Funds are needed for tools, supplies and the veterinarian bills to make this happen for our local outdoor cats.

Every cat is checked for a microchip, too. My favorite outcome would be to find someone’s missing cat and reunite them! If your feline friend has gone missing, please do send me pics and info so I have that to reference.

So far I have been involved in capturing 26 cats (not all in Tunbridge). All but two had caretakers; folks that provide food and offer them some kind of shelter, not inside their home. Those two, and four more, were adopted and are living with loving indoors now. The other 20 were feral or semi feral and returned to the location and caretakers where they were captured. Most are in groups that live in community with each other and
two are loaners, all have humans caring for them.

This program is intended to focus on the Tunbridge Area and so TNVR projects may extend beyond town borders.

In addition to financing, volunteers are needed to foster and/or adopt cats or kittens that are found in need. Contact me if you would like to be a part of this effort in any way or with any other feedback.

And, of course, if you are caring for any feral cats, or see any homeless kitties roaming around out there, please let me know and I will start researching that particular case to create a plan. When a report comes in, I canvass the area to gather more information and work to be sure it isn’t someone’s pet. Each case requires individual assessment and caretaker/property owner involvement.

Donations can be made online at www.tunbridgevt.org/Tunbridge_Area_Cats. Checks may be mailed to the Town of Tunbridge at P.O. Box 6, please make sure to note that it’s earmarked for the TNVR program.

Tunbridge Volunteer Fire Department
Jamie Bradford – 802-889-3478

The Fire Departments Annual Chicken BBQ following the Memorial Day parade this year was a very successful turn out. The department cooked over 550 halves of chicken. Most were sold but those that were not were donated to the individuals at the Riverbend residential care in Chelsea. This event and the parade showed a great turn out of our town community.

The Fire Department attended the last day of school events at First Branch Unified School. They brought one of the fire engines and sprayed the children water. This is a fun and wet event that the department enjoys participating in with our community.

The Tunbridge Fire Department has recently launched a new website. Please check it out at tunbridgefire.com. The website will show postings of upcoming events, historical photos, Fire Department contact info and membership applications.

The Tunbridge Fire Department is happy to announce a new scholarship in the name of John Durkee and Brenda Field. This scholarship will award $500 to 2 Tunbridge residents seeking to participate in emergency services. Applications will be posted and available by the end of this year 2026. Please check out the new website for additional information.

Tunbridge Community Discussion List
Fred Pond – 802-476-5520, pondfc@yahoo.com

Interested in local events, new services, news? Perhaps you would like to discuss a local issue with your fellow residents, or offer some local ‘lore’, or sell some cattle.

The Tunbridge Community Discussion List provides easy access to your neighbors, without gathering personal data for reuse as social media sites do constantly. TCDL encourages discussion on topics specific to Tunbridge. It is not an ‘official’ list set up by the Selectboard or town office – (although they use the list to announce meetings, other news about the town).

All you need is an email account to receive daily mailings – sent first thing in the morning (because Tunbridge folk get up early, right?).
To sign up and learn more about posting guidelines, visit:
https://lists.vitalcommunities.org/lists/info/tunbridge

Tunbridge Conservation Commission
Eliza Minnucci – eliza.minnucci@gmail.com
Tunbridge Conservation Commission
Cheryl Metcalf, Evan Reiss – Co-Chairs, Eliza Minnucci – Secretary, Mali’o Kodis – Treasurer Bryan Kalleberg, Tess Mix, Linda Clark, Peter Hayden, Stewart Fisher

We had a successful Green Up Day, collecting 110 bags and 70 tires. When a very helpful resident offered to pull some tires off the bank by the 110 pullout on the Royalton line, it seems that some passersby noticed the small pile of 12 tires and added their own. This resulted in three truckloads worth of tires being illegally dumped on the roadside. We took care of them, and learned our lesson: tires multiply faster than rabbits. If you happened to add fifty tires to the pull out on 110 over two days in late April, we’d love to pass your tire recycling fee up the line to the organization who grants us fee reimbursement. The good deeds, however, outnumber the disappointing, and the roads of Tunbridge got much cleaner in May, with dozens and dozens of community members pitching in. Thank you!

In early May the Conservation Commission led a bird walk. Participants on the walk spotted approximately 30 different bird species. Many were local bird residents that have begun the breeding and nesting process, while others were migrants passing through. Additionally, in May at Wicopy Woods, the conservation team hosted a self-guided Spring Interpretive Trail hike that provided insights into ephemeral flowers, birds, and other fleeting signs of spring. Conservation Commission member Cheryl Metcalf also joined the third grade field trip to Wicopy Woods, and helped students discover many species and phenomena throughout the day’s hikes.

We want to extend our gratitude to the participants who joined the Tunbridge Conservation Commission at Wicopy Woods to tackle invasive bush honeysuckle. Despite challenging weather conditions, 11 dedicated individuals came out to help maintain the health of our woods. For those who couldn’t make it, we learned how to distinguish invasive honeysuckle from native species, employing various mechanical methods, including hand pulling, manual weed wrench tools, and mini-excavator
assistance for removal. Some of the bushes were quite large, as it had been over 11 years since the last treatment. We look forward to returning next year to continue our efforts and monitor our progress.

Renowned pianist David Feurzeig presented his 99th concert in Vermont at the Tunbridge Church, on May 17. This concert is part of David’s exciting tour, offering free shows in all 252 towns across Vermont to spread the joy of music and promote environmentally sustainable performances. Tunbridge Conservation Commission was the beneficiary of donations from this concert and thanks David and local musicians Nan Frost, Isabella Weed, and Rudi Ruddell for the concert and sharing their musical talents. We also thank those who donated and will use the funding for future events and programming for the town of Tunbridge.

The Tunbridge Conservation Commission hosted VINS for “Owls and Their Calls,” where participants learned about different owl species in Vermont. We were delighted to be joined by a barn owl, an eastern screech owl, and a kestrel.

We encourage you to look out for our upcoming events later this summer and fall. We’ll be at Fledge Fest on August 21 for a “Moth Night,” where we’ll use a method called light sheeting to observe various moth species and discuss their role in conservation. Additionally, we will host an Invasive Plant Educational Workshop to help landowners identify and learn best practices for removal, followed by a work session at Tunbridge Central School in early September. Finally, our annual River Clean-Up will take place in August.

Interested in volunteering or staying updated on future TCC events? Feel free to email us at tunbridgeconservation@gmail.com.

The Tunbridge Conservation Commission meets the first Thursday of the month at 6pm at the Tunbridge Public Library. The public is welcome at our meetings. We can be reached at tunbridgeconservation@gmail.com. Information about our commission can also be found at http://tunbridgevt.org/conservation-commission/

Ed Larkin Contra Dancers
Clyde Jenne – clydo46@gmail.com

The Ed Larkin Contra Dancers host Contra Dancing twice a month at the Tunbridge Town Hall, Weather permitting.

July 10 at 7:00 PM
July 26 at 2:00 PM
August 14 at 7:00 PM
August 30 at 2:00 PM

All dances taught. Refreshments at intermission. $8 donation at the door. Bring the family. Children under the age of 12 admitted free.

Chelsea Area Senior Center
Susan Pirie, 685-2290, chelseaseniorcenter@gmail.com

In addition to offering Meals on Wheels and Curbside pick-up, the Chelsea Area Senior Center is open for indoor dining on Mondays at 12:00 pm. Please call to make a reservation to eat indoors, for curbside pick up, and also for Meals on Wheels.

Tunbridge Area Events List
Bill Tarkulich bill@tarkulich.com, phone 781-799-2930

Summer is a great time to get out and see something new. Believe it or not, lots of new folks move to our town every year and many tell me they have never stepped out to enjoy the many events and talents our community (and nearby) share with each other. Many are free, fundraisers, or run by our local businesses. Burger Nights on Sundays, Farmer’s Markets on Fridays and Sundays, Ox Pull, 4-H Dairy show, bluegrass festival, dog show, FeldgeFest, historical presentations and tours, horse show. This is a fraction of the more than 200 summer events. They all are OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

The events list is updated every two weeks, year ‘round. Go to this web address https://tinyurl.com/Tunbridge-60 Any day, any time and you will always find the latest events listed. There are also paper copies at the library, at the town offices and on the bulletin boards.

Step out this summer – make a plan to attend two things new to you this summer. See what 4-H is doing, watch the duck race behind the fairground, and listen to some outdoor music. Support our community and make a couple new friends in the process. Tunbridge is a great place to live, and you’ll enjoy it more when you get out!

Send events to Bill, contact info above.

ECFiber and the Town of Tunbridge
tunbridge@ecfiber.net | www.ecfiber.net | 802-ECFiber

ECFiber began in 2008 as a grass-roots effort to bring high speed internet to our hills. Since then, it has created more than two dozen good jobs and inspired the State of Vermont to help eight other Communications Union Districts form.

When we say we are community-owned, it is because the District that owns the business is governed by local citizens appointed by Selectboards to represent their town on the board. Each of the now-31 member towns has one vote on the Governing Board.

If you are interested in volunteering for this important project as a representative from Tunbridge please contact our administrative assistant, 889-5521 or tunbridge.adm.assist@gmail.com

Tunbridge Community Food Shelf
Open Fridays, 4-5 p.m.
802-693-5878 (please leave a message)

The second week of June was an especially busy one for the
members of the Food Shelf Committee. Twelve full boxes of foods were packaged for the last backpack delivery, before school let out for summer vacation.These foods will help families supplement their meals for at least the beginning of the summer months.

In addition that same week, the outdoor food pantry was set up in the creche structure beside the Parish House. There were donations of fresh rhubarb and radishes that first weekend. As we have explained in previous TQ editions, the Food Shelf is under strict, safety guidelines to not use any of the food we purchase from the Vermont Food Bank in the outdoor pantry. All items must come from some other source.

We encourage you to drop off any extra produce and other foods you may have, at the pantry site. All items should not have been previously opened and shouldn’t exceed the expiration date. Fresh produce is always especially appreciated. One of our committee members checks the small outdoor garden for extras as well. The outdoor location is also a great place for people to leave other small gently used items to share with their community neighbors. Again, there had already been several items left at the site, the first weekend.

The outdoor structure will remain open until the weather begins to get cold in the fall. But as always, the indoor food shelf is open every Friday 4:00 to 5:00 throughout the year, except for the Friday of the Tunbridge World’s Fair. The Food Shelf is open to any and all residents who need it.

We are fearful that prices of groceries are going to continue to rise this summer, leaving families hungry. We encourage you to donate foods or financially. We purchase foods from the Vermont Food Bank at a reduced rate from traditional grocery outlets. Every cent given goes directly to food purchases, because we are totally run and staffed by volunteers. Any financial donations can be sent to Mary Fisk,our treasurer, at PO Box 12, Tunbridge, VT 05077.

We sincerely thank all of you who have supported us over the years.

Tunbridge Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Claire Brock – 889-3785 clairebrock53@gmail.com
For TNHN services call 889-3437

Tunbridge Neighbors Helping Neighbors coordinates and provides basic services at no charge to town residents through the efforts of volunteers. We are a non-profit organization whose operating costs (primarily phone service) are supported by the generosity of Tunbridgians who allocate funds at Town Meeting, and by donations, which may be sent to TNHN, P.O.Box 22, Tunbridge VT 05077.

A few of the services offered by TNHN are:

Rides to appointments, etc.
Pick up of prescriptions or other store goods
Cooking meals for people who are ill or otherwise unable to cook for a short period of time
Minor repairs or painting, minor home repairs, changing a lock**
Changing a flat tire or jump-starting a car
Simple repairs to household appliances**
Helping to lift or move large objects
Delivery of library books or Food Shelf items
Help with gardening, lawn care, or stacking firewood
Shoveling snow off walkways and steps
Other reasonable requests

**Please note: Cost of materials needed falls on the person requesting help.

Services provided by volunteers in recent months included rides to appointments, (doctors, dentists, etc), bringing trash and recycling to the transfer station, helping the town nurse at the medical equipment closet, delivering food shelf items, picking up a prescription, helping replace a pool pump, and providing assistance capping an appliance water line.

Anyone needing a service offered by TNHN should call 802-889-3437. We do our best to find a volunteer who is available for the specific request at the specific date and time. We cannot guarantee same-day rides or services. To join our list of volunteers, please contact any of the board members listed below or call 802-889-3437. We respect and value your willingness to help your neighbors.

Current board members: Michael O’Donnell, President 802-763-8985; Claire Brock, Vice President 802-889-3785; Liz Williams, Secretary 617-435-9661; Donna Nelson, Treasurer 802-249-0969; Pat Howe 802-889-5512

Friends of First Branch School Club
Eliza Minnucci, Jess Anderson, Laura Ginsburg, Erica Shleif
friendsoffirstbranch@wrvsu.org

The Friends of First Branch is an informal group of educators and community members who volunteer and donate to celebrate and support the students and staff at our First Branch Schools.

The 25-26 school year has come to a close. Both campuses celebrated with Field Days, with lots of volunteer support. Thanks to the parents, grandparents, friends and fire department who help us give our students a fun day to close out a school year of hard work.

We were very excited to see middle school timberframers on the elementary campus in June erecting the Rachel Brown Skate Shed. This building has been a long time coming after incredibly generous donations from the graduating class of 2020, an anonymous donor and the graduating class of 2021. The frame will get closed in this summer and be ready for the 2026-2027 seasons.

Our Ranger fundraising efforts went smoothly this year with both the perennial help of our go-to cookie and brownie bakers, Ruth, Laura and Eliza, as well as new and veteran faces in the volunteer department. We appreciate the wonderful relationship with the Ranger folks, which provides us our biggest annual fundraiser.

We have recently supported Staff Appreciation week at both campuses, the materials for a new, less leaky sandbox built by fourth graders at the elementary school, digital microscopes for first graders, perennials for the Chelsea campus pollinator garden and several awards for graduating eighth graders.

We welcome you to join us in supporting more experiences for students, celebrating our staff, and developing our fundraising traditions. Please follow us on facebook at Friends of First Branch School Club, or get on our email list by sending us a message at friendsoffirstbranch@wrvsu.org. We meet once a month during the school year.

FrontPorchForum.com
The Tunbridge Forum

Sign up to join the free daily forum and share news, coming events, requests, lost and found, free stuff, whatever. The service started 13 years ago. In a recent month the Tunbridge email forum reached local inboxes 15,600 times. It is also available via mobile app, email, and web.

Tunbridge Historical Society
Maureen Moriarty 401-662-5341
vicepresident@tunbridgehistoricalsocvt.org

At the meeting, plans for the Memorial Day celebrations were discussed and finalized as well as other upcoming events. There are so many special events taking place this summer both here in Tunbridge and around the state to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of this country. In addition to those remembrances and celebrations, the Society continues to offer a full slate of activities leading up to Halloween. They are listed below and we hope everyone can join in the fun.

As always, new members who might be interested in the work of the Society are welcome to join. We meet quarterly. Please email Elaine Howe at elaineahowe@gmail.com to become a member. You can also follow us on Facebook to keep up to date on THS activities.

The Tunbridge Historical Society had its spring quarterly meeting on April 12 at the Town Hall. Just before the meeting started, a group photo was taken for the next edition of Folk Life, the very popular publication of interviews with long time Tunbridge residents. The book is now in the final editing stages and should be available for sale in mid July.
At the meeting, plans for the Memorial Day celebrations were discussed and finalized as well as other upcoming events. There are so many special events taking place this summer both here in Tunbridge and around the state to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of this country. In addition to those remembrances and celebrations, the Society continues to offer a full slate of activities leading up to Halloween. They are listed below and we hope everyone can join in the fun.
As always, new members who might be interested in the work of the Society are welcome to join. We meet quarterly. Please email Elaine Howe at elaineahowe@gmail.com to become a member. You can also follow us on Facebook to keep up to date on THS activities.

Upcoming Events Calendar

· June 27 – Bus Tour on the 9 covered bridges in town 1pm meet at Tunbridge School Reservations required. Please contact Elaine to reserve your spot on the bus. elaineahowe@gmail.com
June 28 – Cleaning the Baptist Church/Historical Society, scraping and painting shutters, 9am – until done, food and drinks provided Lots of help needed!
July 8 – Declaration of Independence reading at the Baptist Church, ringing of bell
July 11 – Flea Market – 6:30am-2pm, Parish House lawn, rain or shine
July 14 – Ice Cream Social 6:30pm, 7:30pm Tunbridge Speaks – topic is Revolutionary War veterans, Parish House lawn and Tunbridge Church
August 8 – Restoring the Hunt Cemetery with VOCA help and teaching, 7:45am – noon, luncheon and snacks provided
August 16 -Annual THS Meeting 5pm potluck, 6pm meeting, Grange and Baptist Church
October 18 – Ghost Walk at the Meetinghouse Cemetery, 1pm, Recreation Road, parking limited so carpooling is a must
October 23, 24 – Haunted Trail at Landgoes Farm on Moody Road off Strafford Road Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Emily Howe. milylouisehowe@yahoo.com or our phone number 889-3474
June 27 – Bus Tour on the 9 covered bridges in town 1pm meet at Tunbridge School Reservations required. Please contact Elaine to reserve your spot on the bus. elaineahowe@gmail.com
June 28 – Cleaning the Baptist Church/Historical Society, scraping and painting shutters, 9am – until done, food and drinks provided Lots of help needed!
July 8 – Declaration of Independence reading at the Baptist Church, ringing of bell
July 11 – Flea Market – 6:30am-2pm, Parish House lawn, rain or shine
July 14 – Ice Cream Social 6:30pm, 7:30pm Tunbridge Speaks – topic is Revolutionary War veterans, Parish House lawn and Tunbridge Church
August 8 – Restoring the Hunt Cemetery with VOCA help and teaching, 7:45am – noon, luncheon and snacks provided
August 16 -Annual THS Meeting 5pm potluck, 6pm meeting, Grange and Baptist Church
October 18 – Ghost Walk at the Meetinghouse Cemetery, 1pm, Recreation Road, parking limited so carpooling is a must
October 23, 24 – Haunted Trail at Landgoes Farm on Moody Road off Strafford Road Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Emily Howe, emilylouisehowe@yahoo.com or our phone number 889-3474

The Tunbridge Church
802-693-5878, thetunbridgechurch@gmail.com

The Tunbridge Church will host an ice cream social, senior celebration lunch, outdoor service, and community garden and outdoor food pantry this summer. Sunday services at South Tunbridge Methodist Church and two August services at North Tunbridge Baptist Church will continue the tradition of honoring those congregations that joined Congregationalists to form The Tunbridge Church in 1978.

Everyone is invited to the following church-sponsored community events:

July 14, ice cream social at 6:30 p.m. on the Parish House lawn across from the church. Favorite toppings are welcome. The Tunbridge Historical Society’s Tunbridge Speaks program will be at 7:30 in the church.
Aug. 11 senior celebration lunch hosted by the church’s Outreach Committee at 12 p.m. at the Town Hall.
Third Thursdays: Moving Forward potluck fellowship meals for women who are alone at 12 p.m. at the Parish House.

Produce from the Community Garden, donated produce and packaged goods are available any time at the summer outdoor food pantry at the creche. The Tunbridge Community Food Shelf in the Parish House is open to all on Fridays from 4-5 p.m.

A July 11 Community Yard Sale with free vendor space managed by Nancy Howe (889-3750, nan5lee@yahoo.com) will be held on the Parish House lawn.
Leaders of 10 a.m. Sunday church services in South Tunbridge will be:

July 5, Rev. Kirsty De Pree
July 12, Rev. Steve Winkler
July 19, Rev. Steve Winkler
July 26, Rev. Kirsty De Pree

On Sunday, Aug. 2, an outdoor service and potluck brunch will be held at the Rogers/McClain home on Darrow Drive off Falls Hill Road. Ben Wolfe will lead that service and also the Aug. 9 service at North Tunbridge Baptist Church.

Sunday worship services return to the Tunbridge Village Congregational Church on Sept. 6.

To contact the church or receive a weekly email about church activities email thetunbridgechurch@gmail.com; call (802) 693-5878; write to PO Box 270, Tunbridge VT 05077; or follow the church on Facebook

Tunbridge Heating Fuel Assistance Committee
Contact our Treasurer 889-3571, ext 102 treasurer@tunbridgevt.org

You don’t have to read the news to know that prices have gone up a lot in the past months and years. Fuel costs have gone up faster than just about anything. You might not know that Tunbridge has a group of people that are dedicated to helping you get what you need for the coming winter. The Tunbridge Fuel Assistance Committee has been revived and is ready to help.

Are you concerned about how you are going to afford fuel in the coming winter? Let us help you find the resources you need starting now– it’s not too early!

The cold will come sooner than we think, so please do not wait until the situation becomes overwhelming. To get the best benefit, we encourage you to reach out as soon as you can. We would love to hear from you, we are eager to help, and there is no downside to contacting us: we can guarantee that all personal information is kept strictly confidential.

If you would like to get started on your own, you can reach out to Capstone Community Action. They offer a variety of programs for households that meet income eligibility guidelines. Capstone can be reached at 802 728-9506 or 800 846-9506, or you can visit their website at capstonevt.org. To ensure maximum benefits for heating the heating season. You should apply between July 15 and Aug. 31. However, applications are accepted from July 1 to the end of February.

Tunbridge Fuel Assistance is a grant-based service available to Tunbridge residents and is funded entirely through the generosity of community members. Every donation helps a neighbor stay warm and safe during winter months. If you are able, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to support this important community resource. No gift is too small, and every dollar stays in our community to help residents in need.

Donations may be made directly to the Town Treasurer or mailed to Town Treasurer, P.O. Box 6, Tunbridge VT 05077. “Fuel Assistance Donation” in the subject line.

Whether you are in a place you could use some help or you would like to give some help, taking action makes the whole community stronger. Together, we can help ensure that all Tunbridge residents have a warm and safe home throughout the heating season.

Committee Members: Rebecca Hoyt, Anne Mallary, Helen O’Donnell, BenWolfe, Shari Murawski, Gary Mullen, and Tory Milstone

Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District (CVSWMD)
Aileen Lem, Board of Supervisors Rep. – a.leen.lem@gmail.com

Dispose of your hazardous waste (like paint thinner, mothballs, fertilizer, fuel) or special recycling (like batteries, fire extinguishers, fluorescent bulbs and tubes) at the CVSWMD Eco Depot in Berlin, VT. Call (802) 229-9383 or go online to make an appointment. Many common items are free, others have a fee – Tunbridge residents are able to pay the in-district fees. If you have questions about the Eco Depot or something you’re trying to recycle, the CVSWMD staff are friendly and helpful! You can also find resources at https://www.cvswmd.org/ or pick up a brochure at the Town Office.

Tunbridge World’s Fair
Ingrid VanSteamburg – 889-5555. info@tunbridgeworldsfair.com

The event season is in full swing – please check out the website for a complete listing of events. You can also find a schedule for the 2026 fair on the website. If you need assistance with finding information or need a fair entry form printed please give the office a call.

New at the fair this year: You can use a credit/debit card for gate admission (if you use cash, you save a dollar); more ATMs available on the grounds; Touch-A-Truck family event 4-7pm on Thursday; All Four Days – Axe Women Loggers of Maine (3 shows per day); Finally, in addition to Thursday & Friday, Ride Bracelets are also available on Sunday!

The Tunbridge World’s Fair Office is happy to answer any questions about the fair and the use of the fairgrounds for other special events. All events need to be coordinated through the Main Office. All size events are welcome, but regardless of size you will need a contract & proof of insurance to use the fairgrounds.

Qigong Mondays
Catherine Freese – 889-9410. freesevt@gmail.com

Stop by the library any Monday morning from 9:30-10:15 to practice simple exercises that combine movement, breath and focus to create good health. There is no charge and no experience is necessary–just a desire to strengthen joints, improve balance and sharpen mental faculties.

The hardest thing about Qigong is pronouncing it (chee-gung); the rest is easy!

South Royalton Rescue
Ryan Terrill – (802)788-1050, admin@southroyaltonrescue.com

South Royalton Rescue Breaks Ground on New Headquarters and Announces Annual Subscription Program

South Royalton Rescue is pleased to announce that construction has begun on its new headquarters facility, marking an exciting milestone for the organization, its members, and the communities it serves.

The new headquarters will be located in the front parking area of the Royalton Town Offices at Goodrich Meadows. Housing the rescue crew and ambulance in the same location will improve operational efficiency and help support timely emergency response when seconds matter.

This achievement is the result of years of dedication and planning by both current and past members of the South Royalton Rescue Board. The Board, which includes three representatives from each town served, has devoted countless hours to meetings, planning, and decision-making to bring this project from an idea to reality. South Royalton Rescue extends its sincere appreciation to all those who contributed to making this long-awaited project possible.

The organization anticipates relocating to the new facility in early 2027 and looks forward to continuing to provide emergency medical services from a modern, centralized location.

2026–2027 Annual Subscription Program

South Royalton Rescue’s annual household subscription program runs from July 1 through June 30 each year. The program provides financial protection for residents who require emergency medical services or ambulance transportation provided by South Royalton Rescue.

For the 2026–2027 subscription year, the household membership fee is $102 per household, regardless of the number of individuals living in the home. To receive membership benefits, all household members should be listed on the subscription application. Residents are encouraged to submit applications and payment promptly after receiving their materials to ensure coverage for the upcoming subscription year.

When a subscribed member requires ambulance service, South Royalton Rescue will bill the patient’s insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid as applicable. Any remaining balance that would normally be billed by South Royalton Rescue, including deductibles, copayments, or uninsured portions, will be written off according to the terms of the membership program.

The subscription program is not health insurance and does not guarantee payment of all medical expenses; however, it can significantly reduce the financial impact of emergency medical transportation for participating households.

Residents of Tunbridge should note that ambulance service coverage areas may vary depending on location. Individuals are encouraged to confirm that South Royalton Rescue is their designated ambulance provider before enrolling in the subscription program.

South Royalton Rescue sincerely appreciates the continued support of the communities it serves. Subscription revenue, along with community support and donations, helps sustain the organization’s ability to provide high-quality emergency medical services to Royalton, Sharon, Tunbridge, and the surrounding area.

Tunbridge Grange # 384
Rosemary Distel 802-272-2235

The Tunbridge Grange has been struggling with our water source for quite some time. We currently have a dug well (spring) above Arnold Clark’s residence (probably close to a 1/4 mile up the hill above the Grange Hall). It has served us well for many years, but we believe the pipe has been compromised as the spring is quite low (normally close to the top this time of year) and we’ve been getting mud and gravel in the water. We’ve attempted to find the break, but it’s too difficult for such a distance, plus there could be multiple breaks or future breaks in the water line due to the age of the pipe. We’ve decided the only choice at this point is to investigate drilling a well. We are in discussions with a well company and minimum starting point is $15,000 for a 200 foot well – and we wish we had the magical ability to determine what the drilling depth will be as it could be much deeper!

Did you know that the Tunbridge Grange Hall is the first location for the Tunbridge School children to evacuate in case of an emergency? Not having drinking water or water for toilets does not work well for lots of little kids, even for temporary short-term periods of time.

This is a major financial step to take for a small, nonprofit organization like the Grange. Our occasional dinners, winter, and (upcoming) Royalton Old Home Days Bingo doesn’t put much of a dent toward the cost of drilling a well. Plus, normally we try to use much of our fundraising activities to help support members of our community who are in need. The Tunbridge Grange is now the one in need of support, so any ideas on financial assistance would be greatly appreciated.