In Vermont, six degrees of separation is really more like one or two. Aside from the occasional annoyances of living in such a small, close-knit community — say, running into exes at the co-op — that unique interconnectedness is part of why so many of us choose to be here. Vermont is a place where one person can make a difference with their life — and leave a profound void when they die. We get to know our neighbors and share in their triumphs and tragedies. Seven Days has been highlighting some of those Vermonters since 2014 with a year-end package called "Life Stories." In it, we profile a handful of locals who died that year and made impacts, large and small, on those around them.
At City Market, "she put care into the smallest things, because something as simple as arranging the garlic neatly showed respect for both the grower and the customer," coworker Sarah Zareva said. "She did this because she felt providing food was the root of community." Over her 21 years as the co-op's Burlington produce buyer, Mary championed local farms but never coddled them. With clear communication and expectations, she helped farmers thrive, made it easier for people to buy local vegetables and fruits, and boosted agriculture around the state.
Matt Mignanelli Kelly Brigham has lived her entire life in Burlington s only mobile home park. The resident-owned North Avenue Cooperative has 114 homes, including Brigham s gray single-wide, purchased with an inheritance from her late mother in 2016. At the time, the city assessed the home for $69,300. Brigham, 54, has since paved her parking lot, installed a privacy fence and added an entrance ramp. Still, when the results of Burlington s first citywide reassessment in 16 years arrived in mid-April, she was one of hundreds of homeowners who gasped at the numbers on their notices. The valuation of Brigham s home had more than doubled, rising by nearly $100,000. She wasn t alone: Around her neighborhood, the average mobile home had doubled in value, according to the city s data. Some valuations had more than tripled.