The Orwell Bugler

On Black Friday at the Orwell Free Library, Andy and Joe set up their mics at the weekly coffee hour and try to guess whether anyone will actually show up. Andy has already posted a photo of his smoked turkey carcass simmering into stock, and the guys kick things off with a debrief of Thanksgiving at his house: pork roast instead of turkey, why he loves "meat you actually have to chew," and the quiet joy of a holiday with no gift pressure—just family, food, and football in the next room. They're soon joined by guest Sandra Owens, a local jeweler, storyteller, and self-described "snow swimmer." Sandra shares her first Thanksgiving since losing her husband four months ago and how it felt to shift from hosting to being hosted. From there, the conversation wades into deeper water: how cold swimming has become her most reliable medicine for grief, anxiety, and the general heaviness of life. Sandra explains what she calls her "internal toolbox," the micro-strategies she uses to make cold water safe and healing, and a recent dawn swim where she looked up from the 45-degree lake to discover the Northern Lights rippling overhead. Along the way, they talk snacking gardens, mushroom CSAs, nervous breakdowns in the 1980s, and why discomfort can sometimes be a stone wall with unexpected magic on the other side. The episode wraps with an invitation: if you're local and curious, come to Friday Coffee Hour every week from 9–10:30 a.m.-ish and the 10:30 a.m. story time at the Orwell Free Library for little ones—no polar plunge required.

Joe and Andy return after a break for a catch-up. They riff on daylight saving vs. standard time, Joe's issues with houseplants, and holiday gifting (including the dangers of wrapping coffee-maker cleaner in a jewelry-sized box). The guys wade into the great Yankee Swap rulebook, get ready for Halloween (from trunk-or-treat to shovel-dragging street specters), and talk about how being banned from Facebook reshapes local participation—for better and worse. There's village life aplenty: shout-outs to Food & Farm Fest, the Artist Fest, the new bandstand, and the first meeting of the Orwell Village School Student Council. The episode ends with a proposal for a community-building Orwell golf tournament stitched across neighbors' backyards—think mini-golf meets block party!

Learn about the Food and Farm Fest by visiting the official website: https://www.orwellfreelibrary.org/foodandfarmfest 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!

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.

A little Town Meeting Day, a little Little League, a call for anyone with memories of The Orwell Orgy (the 1970s music festival that wasn't, get your head out of the gutter) to get in touch with us, and more on this month's Orwell Bugler!

Our live episode was pretty fun! We had a few special guests, in particluar Steve James from the Addy Indy who was taking pictures for an upcoming feature. We'll do it again soon!

This episode starts off with (apologies to Noah Kahan) a version of his hit song "Stick Season" that we're calling "The Real Stick Season." We're even working on a parody of the music video too, which will be out soon-ish. We then head off on a road trip! We go all the way down to Chipman Point Marina, and then when we can't drive into the lake, we head back east all the way to Mutton Square Road, and then over to Knox Hill before we stop on Andy's family's land where he shoots a squirrel.  After that, we head down Knox Hill, across Young Road, and then to the northern part of town where we loop over Hibbard Hill, down Daigneault Hill, head across 22A, and then back to 73 to end up in front of Andy's store were we interview the State Biologists that were in front of the store for Youth and Novice Weekend. This entire episode occurs in real time, so you could literally drive our route and listen to us talk, if you're interested in doing that sort of thing.

In this episode, we bring you all the rumors, not news from beautiful downtown Orwell, Vermont: the foliage report, Camp Sunrise, the Orwell Fire Department's parade, sports, weather, and more.  After that we take a deep dive into Andy and Joe's musical history as they talk about music that influenced them as they grew up. Maybe you'll discover a new artist to follow! 🎺🎺🎺🎺!!!!! It's...the Orwell Bugler!

Another leasurely summer episode, this one recorded from the Orwell Town Green after sunset. All the sounds of an Orwellian summer greet you with this episode: the buzz of insects, the chirping of frogs, the sonorous tones of the town bell, and the revving of engines ripping through town at 50 miles per hour. Join us!

After a long hiatus, we take to the airwaves to discuss the recent brush fire, the saga of the missing dog O'Ryan, speeding, and more. We talk a little sports, provide the most boring weather update yet, shout out some birthdays, and hear about some roosters a local farmer is trying to sell. Yes, there ain't no time to grab a beer, whoopie! The Bugler is here!

With summer setting in there seems to be fewer and fewer rumors for us to report on. So, along with telling you about all the good stuff happening in town, we riff on a few of our favorite things from the 80s.  You'll still get all your rumors (not news), sports, weather, Bugler Bazzar, and Bugle Me This! Join us!

In this episode we hear from Joe about why he's decided to run for the Addison-Rutland seat to represent Orwell, Shoreham, Whiting, Hubbardton, and Sudbury. We also sit down with Dan and Cindy Werner to talk about the big project on the green this week and how people can get involved. On top of that we talk volunteer opportunites in town, sports news, a new...interpretation (shall we say) of the weather, and the debut of The Orwell Bugler Jrs. Join us!

In this episode we sit down with Ric Cengeri of WDEV's Vermont Viewpoint to talk about why he named Orwell one of the top three towns in Vermont and to clear up a little rumor: is Citizen Cider's Dirty Mayor really named after him? We also hear from James of the Orwell Village School Boys and Girls Club, who tells us all about the afterschool program and an exciting summer opportunity for local kids. As always we also bring you all the rumors (not news) from beautiful Orwell, Vermont, shout out some folks in town, get a sports update, hear the latest Eye on the Ground weather forecast, and have some new guests on Ask A Kid. Join us!

In this episode we sit down with Wayne Hall of the Orwell Green Up Day Committee to talk about how Green Up Day got started and how you can get involved this year. We also name the winners of the Orwell Limerick Contest, talk town news, get a sports update, hear the latest Eye on the Ground weather forecast, and, as always, Ask A Five Year Old. Join us!

In this episode we sit down with George Macedo of the Orwell Memorial Day Parade Committee and talk about parade history, this year's parade, and how folks can get involved. We also announce the winners of last week's Bugel Me This segment and issue this week's challenge: The Orwell Limerick Contest. You really should enter. There's town news, school news, Ask A 5 Year Old, sports, weather, everything that you could want (and more). Join us!

In this episode, we sit down with Dick & Thelma Buxton and talk to them about their wedding day, how they came to own  Buxton's Store, their favorite memories from the store, and how Andy came to own it ten years after they retired. In Bugle Me This, we put out a call for your best mud season stories, and talk about ours. We also shour out our town road crew, discuss Rep. Norris' decision to not run for relection, the return of the Fort Ti Ferry, the revote of the school budget, an opening in the animal control officer posision, fireworks on North Orwell Road, and more. This podcast was recorded before the Yankees took the series. Yes, Andy is wearing the hat.

Bugle Me This - Cow tipping, is it real? Orwell Memorial Day Parade - May 29th @ 1:30. Volunteers needed! Town Green Committee - Caring For Canopies Grant. Volunteers needed for mulching! School Budget Vote - April 13th Thanks to Peter and Siegrid Stone and the Orwell Villger School Booster Club for all their effors and support for a great ski season! Shoutout to Elaina Allard - 5 rounds in the Vermont Spelling Bee! Missing Dog - Cooper, beagle with a red collar. Contact animal control. Interview with Kate Hunter Weather Yankees/Sox Parting Wisdom From Andy Buxton

BREAKING NEWS. Fireworks on North Orwell Road. Bugler Buxton comes to us live with an interview.

What is this all about?