My wife , Carolyn , passed away in 2023 . I don ’ t talk about her much publicly , because she was a very private person . But , of course , I hear her voice in my head all the time .
Carolyn started off her career with the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce , where she discovered her favorite saying , “ A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats .” She understood not only the value of community , but understood the necessity for marketing and advertising , in order to ensure that a community remains vibrant .
Another favorite expression of hers was : “ That was then . This is now .” She understood that life can change very quickly — and those who pivot fast , often succeed the most .
And with that , I am very happy to share the following news from our team at Old Mill Road :
1 ) Manchester Life Magazine , which is currently published once a year , is going to be published twice yearly , starting in 2025 . There will be “ Summer / Fall ” and “ Holiday / Winter ” issues , showcasing some of the biggest stories of Manchester and the Mountains .
2 ) Vermont Magazine , now entering its 36th year , is going to join that same publishing cycle (“ Summer / Fall ” and “ Holiday / Winter ”). This will not only benefit advertisers ( by giving each issue a longer shelf life ), but will also allow our subscribers to receive the two magazines ( Vermont Magazine and Manchester Life ) packaged together .
3 ) Stratton Magazine will continue to share spectacular stories from the mountain and its surrounding towns four times a year ( Summer , Fall , Holiday , and Winter ), Berkshire Magazine will still feature the best of the Berkshires in six issues ( Spring , May / June , July , August , Fall , and Holiday ), and Music in the Berkshires will continue to coordinate the community ’ s extraordinary music calendar online at musicintheberkshires . com and share updates via its weekly e-newsletter .
4 ) The Vermont News Guide is going back to its roots .
Originally launched in 1954 as The Shopping Guide , the paper changed a few hands , ultimately landing in those of artist / photographer Gene Pelham and his wife , Kay , who put the paper together in their Arlington home , using a headline that read :
THE GUIDE featured Manchester and its nearby communities .
An Update from Old Mill Road
“ THE GUIDE … to Shopping , Recreation , and Entertainment ”
Well , as one of MY favorite sayings goes … “ Everything old is new again .”
The Vermont News Guide ( now entering its 71st year ) is , once again , being rebranded as “ The Guide ” and will serve as the weekly digital e-blast for Manchester Life Magazine , curated by our trusted editor , Megan Demarest . Megan has some exciting new ideas planned , but rest assured , The Guide will still include highlights of what ’ s happening in our community , the arts , and of course , music .
While I am certain there are many who will be sad to see the physical Vermont News Guide no longer in print ( myself included ), this will allow our team to share community updates in a more timely fashion and in an easy-to-navigate digital format .
While I recognize that change can be difficult , I also hear Carolyn ’ s voice reminding me : “ That was then . This is now .”
Old Mill Road remains committed to keeping our region vibrant for both locals and visitors alike — and we thank the community and advertisers who make it all possible . After all , a rising tide lifts all boats .
-Joshua
Joshua Sherman , M . D ., C . E . O & Publisher , Old Mill Road Media
P . S . Enjoy this special holiday issue , covering stories and holiday specials through New Year ’ s Day . It will be distributed for 5 + weeks .
In January 2025 , we will be issuing our first eblast of THE GUIDE . For those interested in sharing their news and advertising with us , the emails remain the same :
For editorial : editor @ vtnewsguide . com To advertise : Donna @ oldmillroadmedia . com
To our readers , please sign up now to receive your first issue of THE GUIDE in early January 2025 .
Sign up at : vtnewsguide . com
November 25 , 2024 Vermont News Guide 3