Many rural communities in Vermont have seen the effects of extreme weather, aging populations, and changes in culture. The town of Sharon is working to curb those impacts through new investments in what’s already made the town feel like home.Residents in Sharon will likely see some welcome changes over the next two years due to investments from the Vermont Preservation Trust, the Vermont Community Foundation and the Vermont Council on Rural Development to revitalize some of the spaces to better serve the community. “Growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, there was little to do if you didn’t enjoy the outdoors. But I came back here to raise my children when they were ready to go in school, and I couldn’t ask for a better place to do it,” said Malcolm McShinsky, a resident and property owner in Sharon. A few properties in Sharon date back to the 1830s; the church and the old family store are two of them. Many families have been there for generations with plenty of stories to share.”We’re going to have everything from hopefully live music to performing arts to public speakers. are lots of committees and organizations in Sharon who need a place to meet. And currently we don’t have those places,” McShinsky said. McShinsky said the elementary school is currently used as a multipurpose space, but the hope is that the renovations of the old church will reinvigorate the community. He said that with each event they have, they’re seeing more and more community members show up
Many rural communities in Vermont have seen the effects of extreme weather, aging populations, and changes in culture.
The town of Sharon is working to curb those impacts through new investments in what’s already made the town feel like home.
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Residents in Sharon will likely see some welcome changes over the next two years due to investments from the Vermont Preservation Trust, the Vermont Community Foundation and the Vermont Council on Rural Development to revitalize some of the spaces to better serve the community.
“Growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, there was little to do if you didn’t enjoy the outdoors. But I came back here to raise my children when they were ready to go in school, and I couldn’t ask for a better place to do it,” said Malcolm McShinsky, a resident and property owner in Sharon.
A few properties in Sharon date back to the 1830s; the church and the old family store are two of them. Many families have been there for generations with plenty of stories to share.
“We’re going to have everything from hopefully live music to performing arts to public speakers. [There] are lots of committees and organizations in Sharon who need a place to meet. And currently we don’t have those places,” McShinsky said.
McShinsky said the elementary school is currently used as a multipurpose space, but the hope is that the renovations of the old church will reinvigorate the community. He said that with each event they have, they’re seeing more and more community members show up
