The Orwell Bugler

04/10/2025

Anyone out there wanna hear two schmucks talk about “rumors, not news” again?

04/10/2024

A question we’ve gotten a few times since we’ve started this campaign is why make it into a community hub? Why not keep it as a store?

That’s exactly what this project is all about. If Andy and Mary simply put the building on the market, it goes to the highest bidder. It might be a store, but it also could be something else like office space, an empty shell, or the new owner could even tear it down.

This process is about the nonprofit buying it and the community deciding what’s next. This nonprofit will work with the community to define what goes in that space. If people say they want a store, we’ll work together as a community to make that viable.

This has happened in so many towns, where local people have formed nonprofits to buy their general stores. Look no further than our neighbors in Benson to see they’re doing the same exact thing. You can even join them on Saturday, October 12th in Benson to see what they’ve done and help celebrate their success.

This project is about the community controlling the next phase of the building, not the highest bidder. If that’s important to you, please give now.

Buxton's Store is Closing—Help Create a New Community Space! … Joseph Andriano needs your support for Buxton's Store is Closing—Help Create a New Community Space!

04/10/2024

Joe here with an important message: after 50 years, Buxton's Store is closing on October 31st. We are all incredibly grateful to Andy and Mary, and the entire Buxton family, for their tireless work supporting our community over the years.

After learning of the closure, a group of us sat down with Andy and Mary to share our plan to form a nonprofit to purchase the store building and transform it into a new community space. They are supportive of our work, and that's what this GoFundMe is all about.

Securing the necessary funding will take time. The money from this GoFundMe will help cover the building's expenses after the store has closed, giving us the time to make this plan a reality.

Our goal is to raise $103,000, which will buy us one year to bring this vision to life.

Please donate at the link below.

Every donation brings us one step closer to preserving this vital piece of our town's history!

Buxton's Store is Closing—Help Create a New Community Space! … Joseph Andriano needs your support for Buxton's Store is Closing—Help Create a New Community Space!

08/08/2024

The Orwell Food & Farm Fest is happening this Sunday, 8/11 from 12 to 4 on the Orwell Town Green!

There'll be over 30 farmers, makers, and organizations, live music from Patti Casey and Tom MacKenzie, crafts for the kids, sno-cones--a ton of stuff for a lovely August afternoon.

Be sure to say hi to Andy and the Buxton's Store crew who will be dishing up a menu that includes mini blooming onions, hand breaded crispy fried cheese filled ravioli, summer raspberry mint limeade, and more.

See you there!

Rumors Not News from Orwell, Vermont

02/08/2024

Stop by the Town Green tomorrow for the Orwell Art Festival! Orwell is lucky to have so many artists working in a wide variety of mediums. So swing on by between 10-4, listen to some music, and check out all the art! Who knows, maybe you'll even find something to brighten up your home. See you there!

23/07/2024

So much happening in Orwell right now!

On Saturday, August 3, from 10-4, the Orwell Art Festival! will be taking over the Green featuring works from Orwell area artists. This was an awesome event last year and promises to be even more fun this year!

Then, on Sunday, August 11, from 12-4, the Orwell Food & Farm Fest returns to the Green with music from Patti Casey, more vendors, big trucks from the Orwell VT Volunteer Fire Department and A Plus Towing and Recovery, food from Buxton's Store and others, and more!

Be sure to click on the links for each event above and indicate you're "Interested"—that way you'll be sure to be notified of any updates from the event organizers.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at these events in August!

15/07/2024

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hi at the Orwell Food & Farm Fest this past Sunday! The next one will be Sunday, August 11th from 12-4. Mark it off on you calendars now!

Also don't forget the Orwell Artists Festival on Saturday, August 3rd from 10-4. We have so many incredible artists in our community--come on by, check out their art, and maybe even grab something to brighten your home.

We'll see you there!

13/07/2024

Join the Orwell Buglers at the Orwell Food & Farm Fest this Sunday, July 14th from 12-4 on the Town Green in Orwell!

There will be live music, local food, and nearly 30 vendors and organizations with products ranging from mushrooms to honey to local art and more.

Andy will be cooking up some incredible poutine at the Buxton's Store tent that you won't want to miss and the weather is forecast to be sunny and beautiful.

We'd love to see you, be sure to stop by and say hi!

Rumors Not News from Orwell, Vermont

10/07/2024

The Orwell Buglers have triumphantly returned to give you all the news (not rumors!) on the Orwell Food & Farm Fest, happening on the Orwell Town Green this Sunday, July 14th from noon to four!

We discuss the lineup of over 20 vendors and organizations, live music from the Bird Mountain String Band, arts and crafts for the kids, talks about farming from Singing Cedars Farm and Lazy Dog Farm, draft horse carriage rides from Driven by Drafts, and more.

We also get a sneak peek at Buxton's Store menu for the event--poutine in several styles that will absolutely blow you away.

Take a listen, get excited for the event, and join us this Sunday, July 14th on the green in Orwell!

The Orwell Buglers triumphantly return to talk about the Orwell Food & Farm Fest on Sunday, July 14th! Andy & Joe discuss the lineup of farmers, food, music, crafts, lectures, and more from noon to four on the green. Hope to see you there!

13/04/2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ORWELL, VT—The Orwell Buglers are ever-so-slightly miffed to announce that they received Third Place honors in the Orwell Free Library Teen Advisory Group’s Appreciate Orwell Contest.

“This is like losing in the Chowder Fest,” said Andy Buxton, one of the Buglers. “I don’t know how I will rebuild.”

The Orwell Buglers innovative episode entitled “Appreciate Orwell” included a composite of why townspeople appreciate Orwell along with some top-tier pandering.

“We really tried to lay it on thick,” said Joe Andriano, the other Bugler. “I thought by flattering them we’d win for sure.”

Unfortunately, the Bugler’s snark was no match for the actual artistic work that took the top two slots.

“We actually look pretty good in that thing Cindy did,” Andriano said while choking back tears.

“And that poem about Walker James was great, too,” Buxton said, before running off, slamming the door to his room, and refusing to come out for a few hours.

At press time, the Buglers said that they’d probably be releasing an episode at some point in the next year.

# # #

(In all seriousness, thank you to the Teen Advisory Group for putting on this contest, what an awesome idea! And congratulations to the winners!)

01/04/2024

This is no April Fool's--we have a new episode of The Orwell Bugler for you today!

This is our entry into the Orwell Free Library Teen Advisory Group's (a fine, upstanding group of young people, let us tell you) Appreciate Orwell Contest. We hear from a bunch of people in town about what they love about Orwell before sharing our thoughts.

You can find it at the link below or on your podcast app of choice. Enjoy!

Our entry into the Orwell Free Library Teen Advisory Group's (a fine, upstanding group of young people, let us tell you) Appreciate Orwell Contest! We hear from a bunch of people in town about what they love about Orwell before sharing our thoughts.

16/03/2024

The Orwell Bugler is getting ready to release a new episode—and we need your help!

In our next episode we want to feature as many people as possible answering this question: “What is your name, where do you live, and what do you most appreciate about Orwell and why?”

For a few hours tomorrow I’ll be at Buxton's Store with my recorder, and if we run into each other we can include you that way.

However, the best way to participate is to take a moment to record a voice memo answering this question on your phone. It’s super easy to do, and will allow you to participate even if we don’t see each other in person.

For an iPhone or iPad:

1. Find the Voice Memos app. This app is developed by Apple, and is already on your device.

2. Open the app and tap the red circle record button to begin recording.

3. If using an iPhone, hold it to your ear while talking, like you’re making a phone call. If using an iPad, make sure your mouth is within a foot of the device.

4. When you finish recording, press the red square to stop.

5. It should automatically give the recording a title based on the date or location. You can tap the title to rename it if you want.

6. Listen back to make sure it sounds the way you want it to.

7. Tap the icon with 3 dots in it, then tap Share, tap the Mail icon, and send it to [email protected].

For Android:

1. Download a simple voice recording app.

2. Open the app and tap the record button to begin recording.

3. Hold the phone to your ear while talking, like you’re making a phone call.

4. When you finish recording, press the stop button.

5. Listen back to make sure it sounds the way you want it to.

6. Look for a Share or Options icon and send it to [email protected].

Any recordings submitted may be edited and included in our podcast, which will also be our entry into the Orwell Free Library Teen Advisory Group’s Appreciate Orwell contest.

We expect the episode will be released before the end of the month!