Weekly Local Spotlight

Having been born & raised in Chittenden County & a top trusted name in real estate for over 39 years, I would like to continue our new series of spotlighting different local towns each week. Whether you’re looking to relocate to Vermont or explore your home state – I hope to provide great insight & resources.

Colchester, VT

Colchester provides the best of all worlds – charming village, beautiful lakefront beaches, & quaint farms! There are plenty of activities to enjoy these wonderful attributes while still remaining safe & following proper social distancing – here are a few of my favorites:

Parks & Beaches

Colchester has many beautiful parks & beaches that are open for you to enjoy a new scenery while keeping a safe distance from others. Park amenities such as tennis/pickle ball courts & basketball courts are available for use with proper social distancing. For more information of Colchester’s parks & beaches & safety protocols visit: https://colchestervt.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6151/Parks

International Sailing School

Looking for a creative & safe way to enjoy Mallets Bay this summer or interested in picking up a new hobby? Enjoy discovering Mallets Bay & learning to sail – a great activity for the whole family! For more information or to register: https://secure.rec1.com/VT/colchester-vt/catalog?fbclid=IwAR1dPiiwp3FQ-0hOxIq1NaCdaKoBFoOMeZQbBHcKLSPZXdWkU8UjEjyfguI

Sunset Drive-In

What better social distancing activity than a night at the Drive-In? Sunset Drive-In is a local treasure with so few drive-in movie theaters left & now creating a fun, safe outing for the whole family from the safety of your own car. Sunset has put procedures in place to ensure the safety of its patrons including; tickets can now be purchased online, spaced out parking, & face masks required at restrooms & snack bar. For a weekly schedule of Movies:  https://www.sunsetdrivein.com/

Mazza’s Farm & Market

Visiting Sam Mazza’s Market & PYO Fields is a local favorite! “Pick Your Own” is a great way to enjoy the beautiful weather & get some tasty in season fruit. Currently they are picking blueberries & raspberries. Don’t forget to stop by the petting zoo! Mazza’s is putting proper safety procedures in place to make sure that its patrons remain safe while still getting to enjoy the freshest fruit ripened by the sun including wearing facemasks, hand washing before entering the field, & following proper social distancing guidelines. Their classic Vermont farm market has everything you could want from a delicious bakery to fresh produce! They are now offering online shopping with curbside pickup. Visit their website for updated safety guidelines, picking information & online shopping for curbside pick-up: https://sammazzafarms.com/

Weekly Local Spotlight

Having been born & raised in Chittenden County & a top trusted name in real estate for over 39 years, I would like to start a new series of spotlighting different local towns each week. Whether you’re looking to relocate to Vermont or explore your home state – I hope to provide great insight & resources.

Burlington, Vermont

Burlington has everything you could want from a City. Charming downtown area with great shopping & restaurants, beautiful lakefront beaches with mountain views, parks & trails for the whole family, bike path & more! In these challenging & changing times, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy Burlington safely.

Parks & Beaches

Burlington’s Parks & Beaches are open for the summer & are a great place to enjoy a new scenery while remaining a safe distance. Don’t forget to follow Burlington Park & Rec Department on Facebook for updates on closures & safety protocols: https://www.facebook.com/BTVParks

Burlington Farmers Market

A local favorite, Burlington Farmers Market, is still running this year & have put many procedures in place to ensure the safety of both the vendors & shoppers. It will be taking place every Saturday through October 17^th from 10am – 1pm with special hours from 9am – 10am for high risk shoppers at 345 Pine St in the South End. This year most vendors are offering pre-ordering to make your shopping experience as safe as possible. You can find the list of vendors to pre-order from here: https://burlingtonfarmersmarket.org/preorder

Grazin’ on the Greenway: Food Trucks in the Parks

Looking to get out of the house for a good meal with gorgeous scenery? Burlington will be hosting many different food trucks in some of it’s beautiful parks all summer long! Trucks will be located at Waterfront Park, Oakledge Park, Leddy Beach & more! Perfect way to enjoy a picnic with the family. Check out their schedule for what trucks will be located where each week: https://enjoyburlington.com/event/grazin-the-greenway/

Kitchen Remodel Mistakes to Avoid

It's often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home! A remodeled kitchen can be a large investment but is something that will last for years to come & improve the value of your home. When making such a large investment you want to be sure that you combine style with functionality & avoid these common mistakes.

Over-Sizing the Island for the Space:

A kitchen island can be a great solution to end all flow & function issues in the kitchen but if you make the island too over-sized for what your space allows then it can take away from the functionality of the space. An island counter top that's 36 to 48 inches deep & 36 to 120 inches wide will provide ample work space & enough room for an overhang for sitting. Anything deeper can be hard to use or clean. You also want to make sure there is at least 42 inches between the island & surrounding cabinets. 

Design for Functionality:

Don’t forget what a kitchen is for & design for functionality of your different work zones. It’s easy to get caught up in the latest styles & trends but remember to design for you & the needs of your family. Important items to remember are the sink, stove, & fridge should be convenient to one another & plenty of counter space for prep work.

Not Maximizing Storage:

Plan for spaces to expand storage & functionality whether that is pull outs for spices & cooking utensils or storage for kitchen appliances. The last thing you want to do is design a beautiful kitchen that doesn’t meet your storage needs that will be costly to alter.

Lighting:

Ideally, a well-designed kitchen should have at least three types of lighting – general overhead lighting, task lighting to focus on illuminating prep areas, & under cabinet lighting to show off & accent your design elements.

Insufficient Electrical Outlets:

Everything that makes your life easier in the kitchen seems to require power – whether it’s an electric can opener, Kitchen Aid, or even smart devices to look up all your favorite recipes. Your going to want multiple outlets all over the kitchen. If you don’t like the appearance of outlets, there are many ways to hide outlets in the island, back splash, under cabinets or even in a drawer!

Forgetting to Plan a Space for Trash

If cabinet space allows, having a cabinet dedicated to trash & recycling pull outs will give your new kitchen a polished look by keeping unsightly garbage tucked away. Ideally, position the trash/recycling in a base cabinet opposite of the sink & dishwasher so that you are able to simply pivot as you scrape & load the dishwasher after meals.