So Much We Have Lost, And Now We Have To Say Goodbye To Another
Barney Smith Barney Smith

So Much We Have Lost, And Now We Have To Say Goodbye To Another

About 54 years ago, a new paper came on the scene. It was published fortnightly, and was different than all of the rest. We never subscribed to it back then. I don’t know if my parents ever heard of it, as we were probably in the fringes of the area that it covered. Whatever the reason, it never came to the house in the mail, but occasionally someone would buy one at one of the local stores, and it was read through and through by all who picked it up.

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Standing on the Shoulders of Local Media
Barney Smith Barney Smith

Standing on the Shoulders of Local Media

For many years through WYKR, we worked alongside Green Mountain Trading Post and always appreciated the mission Sharon and her team brought to the region. They believed deeply in local businesses, local voices, and community storytelling—values we’ve always tried to uphold ourselves both on the radio and in print.

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The Great Garage Cleanout
Barney Smith Barney Smith

The Great Garage Cleanout

There are certain signs that spring has officially arrived in northern New England.

The birds come back. The windows finally get opened again. Someone in the neighborhood grills outside for the first time wearing shorts that are probably a little too optimistic for the temperature. And somewhere along the way, you suddenly realize your garage door has been closed for months for a very good reason.

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Spring Cleaning, Backyard Edition
Barney Smith Barney Smith

Spring Cleaning, Backyard Edition

Experts have been warning that tick populations remain consistently high across the Northeast, especially after milder winters and wet springs. Those are exactly the conditions ticks love.

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Toilet Paper Wars: The Over-Under Debate That Tears Us Apart
Barney Smith Barney Smith

Toilet Paper Wars: The Over-Under Debate That Tears Us Apart

You see, I’ve spent years—decades, even—firmly rooted in one of civilization’s oldest and most divisive camps: the “over” camp. As in, the toilet paper hangs over the roll, cascading down like a majestic paper waterfall. Not dangling sadly against the wall, taunting you like a stuck receipt in your back pocket.

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JOMO Is the New FOMO
Barney Smith Barney Smith

JOMO Is the New FOMO

We’re not just talking about gut feelings anymore—there’s real research behind it.

Mental health professionals have been raising concerns about how excessive social media use can contribute to anxiety, depression, poor sleep, and a constant sense of comparison. When you’re always seeing the highlight reel of everyone else’s life, it’s easy to feel like you’re falling short—even if you’re doing just fine.

And there’s another layer to it.

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Molly Gray: It’s time to invest in Vermont
Barney Smith Barney Smith

Molly Gray: It’s time to invest in Vermont

For too long, the approach has been to cut and consolidate in an attempt to save money. But austerity isn’t just harmful to working families and the employers struggling to recruit talent in Vermont—it's an ineffective policy that fails to significantly lower the cost of living.

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The Importance of a Third Place
Barney Smith Barney Smith

The Importance of a Third Place

It’s that place where people gather not because they have to, but because they want to. Where conversations start easily and nobody looks at the clock too much. It’s where neighbors become friends, and where the rhythm of a community quietly builds over time.

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A Year of Gratitude and a Future of Commitment
Barney Smith Barney Smith

A Year of Gratitude and a Future of Commitment

So I’ll say it clearly: please support the businesses you see in The Bridge Weekly Sho-Case and hear on WYKR. When you shop local, you’re not just buying a product—you’re voting with your dollars for the future of our region

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Blueberry Pie and the Art of Growing Up
Barney Smith Barney Smith

Blueberry Pie and the Art of Growing Up

So this Thanksgiving, as we all gather in Groton and pass dishes down long tables filled with familiar faces, I’ll be reaching for a slice of blueberry pie—not just because I want dessert, but because it’s a reminder.

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Four Months In — And Just Getting Started
Barney Smith Barney Smith

Four Months In — And Just Getting Started

When we began this journey, we made a few promises: to honor the strong foundation this paper was built on, to expand what’s possible for a local weekly publication, and to provide consistent, relevant, and meaningful content to the region we call home.

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