LEXINGTON HAPPENINGS: Vermont natives share memories, musings on fall season

Let’s take a trip!

With the change of season and fall chill in the air, it’s time to travel. We are going to visit the New England state of Vermont!

Our visit is through Lexington residents Terrie and George Bacigalupo, who are natives of this beautiful state.

“There is something about Vermont in the fall that stays with you long after you leave. The mornings turn crisp, mist settles into the valleys and the green hills slowly become a patchwork of crimson, gold and brilliant orange,” the Bacigalupos write. “Around every bend, there is another view that makes you want to pull over, take a breath and linger.

“A ride through Vermont’s countryside is one of autumn’s simplest pleasures. Winding roads pass weathered barns, white church steeples and pastures framed by colorful hillsides. Covered bridges lead across quiet rivers, where fallen leaves drift beneath wooden beams. Sunlight catches the maples along the roadside, and for a moment, their golden branches seem to glow from within.

“Sometimes the prettiest drive is the one without a destination. A little back road leads to a village you hadn’t planned to visit; a country store invites you inside or a hillside opens into a view so beautiful that the conversation in the car falls quiet. Vermont has a way of reminding you that the journey deserves your attention.

“And then there is the maple syrup — a taste of Vermont as memorable as the scenery itself. Gathered and made during the spring sugaring season, pure maple syrup brings the sweetness of those same maple trees to the table throughout the year. In autumn, it feels especially at home poured over a warm stack of pancakes, stirred into oatmeal or enjoyed in a piece of maple candy that slowly melts on your tongue. Behind that sweetness are generations of sugar makers, patient work and a deep connection to the land.

“Every fall, visitors arrive from around the world to witness Vermont’s transformation. We affectionately call them ‘leaf peepers’— travelers with cameras in hand, eyes on the hills and an understandable habit of stopping for just one more photograph. They come to see the colors, but the quieter moments can be just as memorable: leaves crunching underfoot, the smell of woodsmoke on a chilly afternoon or a cup of hot cider held between cold hands.

“For those of us who grew up in Vermont, autumn holds something more personal. Those colorful hills are part of the landscape of our childhood. Even when life takes us elsewhere, the sight of a scarlet maple or the taste of real Vermont syrup can bring a little of home back to us.

“That is the lasting gift of fall in Vermont. Whether you have traveled across the world or simply down the road, it gives you a reason to slow down and look closely. The season is brief, the leaves will fall and the hills will change again — but the beauty has a way of staying with you.”

Terrie says tourists flock there to see the fall foliage and lodging can be most difficult to reserve. Vermont’s maple syrup, as well as Cabot cheese, are huge products of this state.

Next time you are savoring that stack of pancakes covered with luscious syrup and a slice of cheese, thank Vermont!

George is general manager of Eagle Aviation, and he is also a pilot with a background in aviation. Terrie has always worked as an accounting manager and continues to do so for their own business in Buffalo, New York. They have been residents of Lexington since 2020.

It’s that time of year t go and see the scarecrows! They are in place downtown and even down to the Old Mill Walking Trail.

It’s so clever that they’re dressed to depict the businesses they represent. You will be amazed at the creativity of these fall figures. This is the fifth year the town and our Lexington Chamber & Visitors Center have sponsored the display, which runs from Oct. 12-29.

The Adventures in Learning classes of The Shepherd Center met Thursday, Oct. 8, at Lexington Methodist Church. Lunch sponsors were Lake View and Hoover Buildings. Chair, Jo Dee Douda officiated and announced no formal program, just fellowship among the attendees. They continue to collect plastic, paper and cloth bags for Mission Lexington, aluminum tabs for the Ronald McDonald House and items for the Lexington County Recreation & Aging Commission’s Project Warmth.

The holidays are fast approaching. Let’s support Mission Lexington with its Holiday Meal Bag Drive.

Help provide holiday meals for individuals and families in our community this season by donating stuffing mix, gravy packets or jars, canned cranberry sauce, canned yams, canned collard greens or turnips, cornbread mix, cake mix or a $10 grocery store gift card (for turkey or ham). Mission Lexington is located at 216 Harmon St. in Lexington.

From Mayor Hazel Livingston:

“It’s hard to believe, but we are celebrating 10 years of the Icehouse Amphitheater! This venue has been the catalyst that helped revive Main Street and make it the destination it is today. We are going to look back at this site’s history as we celebrate a decade of the amphitheater in downtown Lexington.

“The primary visionaries behind the award-winning Icehouse Amphitheater are the members of the Lexington Town Council, who were widely honored and celebrated as the venue marked its 10th anniversary in October 2026. The concept was born when the Town Council formally adopted a comprehensive vision plan in 2012 under the leadership of then-Mayor Randy Halfacre and later completed under Mayor Steve MacDouglall and Mayor Pro-Tem (now Mayor) Hazel Livingston.

“During the 10th anniversary milestone, the town and community leaders honored the core team and staff who turned the vision into a reality. The project transformed a dormant, historic downtown parcel — originally a 1920s ice plant — into a thriving, 900-seat outdoor cultural anchor. The visionaries were praised for key elements that reshaped downtown.

“Congratulations to the visionaries who saw the future need and success! Keep the performances coming. Let the shows begin!”

“It’s the first day of autumn! A time of hot chocolatey mornings and toasty marshmallow evenings and, best of all, leaping into leaves!” — Winnie the Pooh

“In autumn, don’t go to jewelers to see gold; go to the parks!” — Mehmet Murat Ildan