Love Note Submissions
“Surrounded by the beauty of mountainous terrain, rushing rivers, and lots of green spaces, I feel fortunate to live in Bristol. It's a place where people take being neighbors seriously. From disagreeing respectfully to helping to find lost pets, the town is filled with folks who care about others, whether they are friends, family, or strangers. ”
— Ruth Farmer
“My Bristol. What to do? Hike the ledges. Swim at Split Rock. Walk the BTN. Fish in the New Haven River. Then: Have lunch at Cubbers or Snaps.”
— Anonymous
“Do you believe in love at first sight? Well, I didn’t….until one perfect July day in 2014 when my husband and I drove into Bristol for the first time. We parked the car in front of the Bobcat. I got out. Took a quick look at the stores on both sides of the street. Looked up at Deer Leap and said “I could live here”. That quick. That simple. As far as I was concerned the search for the perfect place to spend the rest of our lives was over. I’ve never been righter. Within two years we had moved here. Our shelter. Our haven. Our home. ”
— Mary Adams-Smith
“My dearest Bristol,
You held me close when I needed the most support. You waited until I was ready to move closer. You allowed me the time and space; you were so patient. And then you opened your arms and offered me such gifts: a home, wonderful neighbors, a new place I now call home. You are the place I chose: my haven, my comfort.
Thank you for all that you give me.I aspire to do the same for you. With gratitude.”
— Catherine Willson
“Why do I love Bristol?
People here care about each other
People here surround those in need, grieving, ill and lonely with help and support
People here contribute in many ways with their labor, money, encouragement and ideas.
It’s a great place to raise a family
People stop on the street to talk to each other
We have such easy access to beautiful places Bristol is
it’s people
BRISTOL CARES”
— Phoebe Barash
“There are many other Bristols but none can compare to you. You have been part of my life since age 15 (1950) when I became a student in your high school. Then I went away for 11 years but came back and made my home here in your beautiful village. Thank you. ”
— John Burbank
“I love the way the setting sun lights up the mountains at the end of the day in winter, making them glow like copper and bronze even when the branches are bare.”
— Olivia Moseley
“The people. The people. The people. And so much more, but the people who make up this community are at the core of what I love about Bristol.”
— Lauren Waite
“I love Bristol for many reasons, but one of the main ones is the light. We get incredible sunrises and sunsets, full on beautiful sunsets in the village. Main Street has marvelous light and one can sit outside with full on southern exposure even in the winter. I also love the quiet. I love that I can sleep the night through on a Bristol Village Street with no disturbance whatsoever. I love the trash being picked up by people with horses and a cart. I love that the Bobcat has the best food in the world and no television in the bar. I love Cubbers and Jones the boy. Just a few reasons why I love Bristol .”
— Susanne Peck
“Walking the Village for almost 40 years. Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall all with their own beauty. Snow, new green growth, the village gardens in full bloom and the vibrant colors of changing leaves. Townsfolk out strolling in the seemingly endless summer evenings. Brilliant summer sunsets at the west end of Pine Street. The first hint of woodsmoke on a crisp fall day. Sidewalks like bobsled runs with snow piled high. Every other walker I meet wears a smile.”
— Martha Correll
“My first and fabulous year of car-free living in Bristol filled my heart with neighbor connections, gardening, skiing, birding, sunset hikes, fresh air walks to work, river joy.
We felt that we belonged in Bristol from the moment we moved here. We put our gardens in the front yard because that is the sunniest, and the best part about that location is that as walkers and bikers pass by, they call out hello and sometimes stop to admire the gardens and chat. We've met lots of people that way!”
— Betsy Almeter
“It takes a village in it's truest sense,
to shovel a walkway, rehome an animal or mend a fence.
Inspiration in shops along the main,
Reveal trinkets, humor, sweet treats, literature and many more things germain.
Solar panels on a landfill reflect energy efficiency focus, to name just one.
Local CSA's, pop up food and main street in tandem are fun.
Mosey the trail around the town, scale the cliffs for a view surround.
Enjoy a throwback at dark on the green,
bring pillows and blankets with snacks and a big screen.
Tear up the ice, with a game of pick up, tended to with care by a volunteer crew.
Race the fields managed by the Rec Club, join an activity or camp opportunity
by the Bristol Rec Department too.
Is your style more on wheels? Enjoy the pump track and CMOS for a smile and great deals!
Can't express my love for this sweet town without a shout out to Lawrence Memorial!
Kid's library, activities and school break fun,
Summertime follies? Take out the state park pass for time in the sun.
Bristol, oh Bristol, there is more to say...
Come experience it yourself, you might even stay. ”
— Amelia Lutz
“I would like to thank Bristol for helping me raise my kids. This town has educated them at the Elementary and Middle/High School, fed them at Cubbers, Snap's, the Bakery, and the Bobcat, clothed them at Pooh Corner (anyone remember that place?), socialized them at playgroups at the church and Story Times at the library, cooled them in the river, entertained them with Shakespeare in the Park, sledding on Jackman's Hill, walking, jogging, & biking safely around the village, and Wednesday night band concerts, and even helped them save money at the bank.
They are perched on the edge of adulthood, about to soar into the big world. I know they will realize some day just how fortunate they were to grow up here in this community. As a parent, I am grateful for the partnership I found here in beautiful Bristol to raise them into thoughtful and caring people. No matter how far they roam, little ol' Bristol will always be home!”
— Anonymous
“ As I look to the mountain.
All covered with snow
My love for this village
Sets my heart aglow ”
— Lauris Chamberlain
“Dear sweet quirky Bristol, place where I was born and grew into myself.
Where I took jazz dance lessons over the bakery on Wednesday nights, where I played thousands of games of kick the can with my North St neighbors, where I walked in the early morning to life guard at the pool, or to babysit for village kids before school, where I learned to steer into a skid in Driver's Ed, where the noon fire whistle meant time to walk from the middle school to the elementary school for hot lunch, where I made my first life long friends, where I was encouraged and educated and finally, launched.
Bristol, with your big prayer rock, your river, your creemees in summer, Cubbers Pizza always, that fountain in your park (it was never a green,then) and spunky main street, the mountain looming behind it all.
You really are such a lively, lovely little town.
With love and gratitude”
— Anonymous
“There are so many things I love about Bristol. First and foremost are the wonderful neighbors, so willing to help each other when needed.
I love the wonderful view we have of the valley and the mountains. I love the Bristol Trail Network and the trails up to the ledges.
I love how flat the village is and the layout of the streets. Halloween brings kids from neighboring towns and of course Bristol kids.
I love the services provided to our community: Fire House people, Rescue Squad, Police, Water, Road Crew, Sidewal Crew, Town Office people, and more.
I love that we can shop locally for almost everything we need: Groceries, Hardware, flowers, gifts, Office supplies, and more.
I love our wonderful Library.
I love that we have restaurants right on Main St
Thank you for this opportunity to express our love of Bristol. ”
— Bob Donnis
“I love:
- Village Creemee stand
- Lawrence Library and its wonderful staff
- Martin's Hardware and their wonderful staff
- Art on Main
- hiking up to Bristol Ledges
- hiking at the Watershed Center
- the Harvest Festival (especially the silent auction)
- the strawberry shortcake at the 4th of July celebration
- the New Haven River and easy access to it for swimming
- Sycamore Park
- seeing all the green trash bags accumulate along roadsides on Green Up Day
- the friendly people at the town dump on Saturday mornings
- and I'll miss the Three-Day Stampede. Helen Young”
— Anonymous
“Dearest Bristol,
When I arrived here at 11 years old in 1971, a southern city girl from Tampa, I struggled with the friendliness of strangers when I had been taught to look straight ahead, not make eye contact, and don't talk to strangers.
As time went on, settling in to the rhythm of small town, off to college, married, returned to Bristol to raise my family, I came to appreciate the community I have grown to love.
Thank you for welcoming this stranger, allowing me to weave into the fabric of life here, and enjoy my Church family, the extended work family, the outhouse races and parade, the CF Stampede, the festivals and downtown appreciation events. Sitting on our front porch, waving at friends and strangers, smiling at one another, watching the horses pick up the trash. So much more.
Thank you, Bristol. I always swore I would move south when I was old enough....but you have captivated me and my heart. I cannot imagine any other life. ”
— Robin Hewitt
“I love so much about Bristol it's hard to pick just one thing. I love our hometown Bristol businesses. They are so convenient, caring, and interesting places to do business. ”
— Sally Ober
“Dear Bristol,
I love the light over the the ridge, and your blue winter sky.
The neighborhood cats on morning walks, and the spring lilacs.
You are the very best home.”
— Anonymous
“Neighbors. Neighbors. Neighbors. Chai, ice cream, marmalade and pickled egg swaps. Helping each other out. Horse-fueled garbage pick-up. Black Lives Matter. Wine on porches. Fire pit gatherings. Impromptu exchanges while walking dogs. The Library. Tandem, Downhill Bread, CSAs, the Bobcat, Jones and the Boy, Cubbers, and Snaps. Local beer. Dog-friendly businesses. Independent shops. Walking. Deerleap hikes. Rockydale Gardens. The Green. The Watershed. Porches. Sidewalks. Neighbors. Neighbors. Neighbors.”
— Pamela Fogg
“I have loved Bristol since 1960 when my Mom Joan Kilbourn Best started bringing us kids home to Bristol . We live in St Petersburg, FL always have since I was born but my Mom always thought of Bristol as home even though she lived in FL most of her life. I get back at least once a year to visit cousins & enjoy the VT beauty! ”
— Jojo Best Zasoski
“The smell of cinnamon rolls at the bakery, walkable streets and a central green, the New haven river running, running, running, Elephant Mtn anchoring our place.”
— Nanny-co Lathrop
“The joyous screams and laughter of children playing on the park.; legs dangling from a patient maple tree. Leashed dogs dragging their owners to my neighbor's "treat" jar. Cheerful "hellos" when passing a fellow walker…”
— Matlakwauhtli Mayforth
“Front porches, the streets packed with people on Halloween and the 4th of July, walking to town, all the walkers in town, good neighbors, safe streets, the well traveled trail up Deerleap, kids playing, houses and lawns fussy and funky.”
— Marc Werner-Gavrin
“I love Bristol because it like living in a warm, big hug and it is beautiful here. People say hello and ask how you are doing. If you need help, someone will help you. I love the mountains and the river and feeling the cool air come off the mountains in the summer. I love being able to see stars in town! Walking everywhere is a joy..not always having to drive. Sometimes, I just walk around town and look at the houses and look at people's gardens, and it makes me smile. I love working in my home in Bristol because it's quiet, but not lonely. I am truly grateful to live here. I don't want to live anywhere else! I love you Bristol!”
— Deborah Holmes
“In 42 years, I've never regretted one day of moving here - Bristol is GREAT for raising kids, Halloween, 4th of July, the Arts, smart planners, great businesses, trout stream, swimming holes, birds, moose, bear, hiking trails, wonderful neighbors, etc. etc. etc. I could come up with 20 more. We LOVE Bristol!”
— Anonymous
“Our Bristol stores have almost everything you need…and If you can’t find it, you probably don’t need it.
I love how when I pull over along a backroad to photograph something, people will stop to ask if I need help when they see my car’s blinkers on.
My heart always thrills to see our beloved Deer Leap Cliffs. Whenever I return from traveling, it gives me a comforting feeling of home.
We have the best 4th of July parade in Vermont! ”
— Anne Majusiak
“It's a challenge to count all the ways I love Bristol. Finding a house here in 1979, to settle in and birth our boys (literally, in the house.) The neighbors who also had young children so we watched out for each others' kids as they tore up and down the sidewalks. Oh, the SIDEWALKS - having sidewalks to mosey around town, with or without children. The bells ringing out the time of day. The downtown - waxing and waning in prosperity and fullness over the past decades, now 90% women-owned businesses thriving and giving back to the community in countless ways. Real front porches, with real neighbors sitting on them and greeting each other. The parade and celebration on the 4th of July - unparalleled. Yes, the horses picking up trash and recycling. The library, always friendly and soothing and full of books and delightful exhibits and ways to be generous to the village folk. Kids walking and biking to school. The creemee stand - giving many teens their first taste of responsibility at a job. The pottery studio. The woods around Bristol! - the trail up to the Ledges (and what I now, as a geezer, call the easier "geezer loop.") The Bristol Trail Network, AMAZING - not just for the beauty of the trail itself, but because of the community effort it was/is/will be to keep it flourishing. Events at Holley Hall - meetings, concerts, plays. (Some of this is pre-pandemic, and will hopefully rise again...) The sense, every time I come home, of coming to exactly the place I love, nestled in the hills, geographically blessed with the river (oh, right, the RIVER - amazing playground!) and the woods and a village of people who, at their core, want the same things for their children and grandchildren.”
— Anne Wallace
“I love the cozy beauty of Bristol, tucked into the valley, the horses and their wagon clicking down our street every Friday morning, my dentist and doctor just down the street, groceries and books and art and gifts just a short walk away. I love heading off for a walk in the middle of February and running into friends, a spontaneous visit on the sidewalk in the midst of a Covid surge. I love packing grocery bags for the food shelf at the Catholic Church and attending concerts at the Walkover Gallery. I love knowing so many people in our little village and the feeling of home everywhere I go, the feeling that I have a place here. I feel grateful to live in Bristol.”
— Alice Leeds
“You walk out your door and find a rock by the river or a ledge overlooking the Champlain Valley to lie in the sun. ”
— Jen Peterson
“Dear Bella dog,
who brings me outside
into the streets of magical Bristol
every day, three times a day....
We walk, we walk, the two of us --
(or perhaps a friend has joined us)....
Your sense of smell, I heard, is at least 30,000 times
more keen than mine.
You stop, your nose a-quiver,
as if reading a whole novel
at the base of the beech tree
on Bristol Green.
What dogs have passed that way?
What other creatures
or characters have appeared?
I have a chance, as you read your novel of odors,
to look up into the blue, blue February sky --
a chance to settle into my own body
a chance to let my heels hit the pavement and
strengthen my bones, a chance to be
simply present for a moment or two.
I remember then
why I moved to this town....
Each walk with you, dear Bella,
(or with Rosie dog, your predecessor)....
is an opportunity to encounter
someone I know.
Or someone I can say "good morning" to,
or someone I can wave a "thanks" to,
as you and I cross at the crosswalk
in front of St. Ambrose.
And -- soon --
snow will be melting,
(I hope, I hope.... !)
Your keen and curious nose
will search for who-knows-what odors
emerge from lawns that appear,
all green
and mysterious.
Each time you stop to smell, I have the chance
to look down,
or maybe even crouch,
to see what clovers are hidden among
the grass shoots.
And we together can map again
where the 4-leaf-clovers lie.
Lucky spots in Bristol
Where there's one 4-leaf clover,
there's likely to be another --
along a sidewalk,
or down South Street,
beside the New Haven river
(or in our secret spots ....
shhhh .... don't tell!)
You and me, Bella,
in search of whatever serendipity this day
has to offer,
whatever friend, whatever smell,
whatever fortune
we happen upon
here in Bristol.
Bristol, that sits on the
edge of the Champlain Valley
that used to be,
used to be -- or so they say --
a great inland sea.
Can you catch a whiff
of those whales that
swam there? Huh? Huh, Bella,
Can you? .....
Just a whiff? ”
— Basha Miles
“A tiny Town that's quiet at night,
A tiny Town where neighbors rarely fight, well....
A tiny Town with one light
always burning,
burning for all colors,
all Neighbors bright.
froZenfoot studio”
— dnwmortier
“In A First April
In a first April,
in a classical structure
of columns that -
with squinted eye -
could be imagined
to extend for miles,
formality forsworn
gave way
to a hearth of virtual heartsfire
gathered around the camp
across the ages
of eternal tale-telling
in the swing-song of verse
and words welcomed home ”
— JC Wayne
“Over 50 years ago our military family decided to settle down in my home state and chose Bristol for the welcome we experienced on our first visits here. That was the very best decision I have ever made. It's the people who make a town home and Bristol is the best. Thank you all my family, friends and neighbors.”
— Anonymous
“I love the fact that it can take 15 minutes to walk one block in Bristol because I stop to chat and catch up with the people I know who I pass.”
— Anonymous
“Growing up on Maple Street I have many pleasant memories. In first grade my classroom was in the basement of Holley Hall on the south end. Grade six was in Howden Hall on the west side. I recall going to the town clerk's office to see Ruth McCormick to register my sister's dog each year when I was about 10. Band concerts were lots of fun, too. I walked to Lawrence Memorial Library frequently. Also I regularly went to the post office for my parents. The mailmen were very friendly and helpful. I used to do lots of baby sitting, too. My junior year we moved to New Haven where I later became the town clerk in 1976. ”
— Beverly Landon
“When I think of Bristol, I think of mountains and trees. Bristol has one of the most scenic locations in the state! I love the Bristol Cliffs overlooking town, I love the town green with the fountain my daughter found so enchanting when she was a baby. The outhouse races, the excitement of being a teenager at Mt Abe, Rocky Dale Gardens, the iconic creemee stand, all the cute houses in the village, and equally cute shops on Main Street... Bristol is a wonderful little town. I love to live nearby!”
— Eleanor de Villiers
“Dear Bristol:
Thank you for your welcoming smiles, full of anticipation for books and ideas
And visits to the fish tank.
Thank you for trusting me with your minds and your hearts, and sometimes your kids, afterschool and needing a cozy place.
Thank you for notes of gratitude, slipped into returned books.
Thank you for your grocery lists that also come to the library in their afterlife as bookmarks, reminding me to buy butter and eggs and jam.
Also, your gardens, full of flowers and brightness! I can't wait for spring tulips!”
— Coco Moseley
“The beauty of Bristol in every season is reflected in the volunteers who strive to make a community where each one can thrive.”
— Deborah Dickerson
“Halloween is ghoulishly sublime. The River is on a hot day is mighty fine. Forests and trails everywhere for walking. The Bristol Band brings the community together filling the Green with life and music. Great food abound.”
— Jennifer Wagner
“We moved to Bristol over 20 years ago and have never looked back. I love this community and all it has to offer!”
— Anonymous
“What I love about Bristol: the wonderful people, who plough your driveway just because they are good neighbors, the sanded walkway bright and early the day after a melt and freeze-over, the friendly people on their front porches in the summer, a hand always ready to help, the Watershed, the maillady who helps you start your car when you stand there clueless. The park, the concerts in the park and old and young snd in between playing in the town band. ”
— Hildgund Schaefer
“lucid dreams
I sit under the mountain as
Sun drains through the defoliated winter trees
Dogs and their humans shadow my windows
The clock clangs and I cannot argue
Thankful for the return after the egress.”
— Erin Jipner
“Dear Bristol,
When I was 9, you were vast and mysterious.
When I was 13, you were pizza and freedom.
When I was 17, you were too small to hold me.
When I was 22, you welcomed me back.
When I was 32, you received my children.
I hope that when I am 92, we will still know each other.”
— Anonymous
“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways... I love the physical layout of Bristol and how that fosters walking, talking and community. Our downtown is postcard perfect, with a colorful mix of Main Street businesses that feed our bodies and our souls. How great is it that all of this is within walking distance of a Village filled with a diversity of modest homes -- tidy trailers, Victorian stunners, and cute cottages with wrap around porches. No McMansions to be found! I love seeing my neighbors when I walk my dog around town, and that we always say hello. And I love the new BTN network of trails that makes it easy to access to natural beauty surrounding Bristol. I love that I can ride my bike to the river to cool off in the summer, and and that I can walk to the Town Green for Fridays In the Park and socialize. But most of all I love the diversity of people that make up our community... especially the old hippies and old farts who aren't afraid to speak their minds and mostly get along.
I love having Palmer's horses every Friday pick up my trash and recycling. I love that Linda Malzac always returns my waves and greetings as they pass; she even invites my out of town guests to take pictures, a big hit!
I love all the Bristol festivities especially the July 4th parade, the Harvest Festival, Chocolate night and the Lumen festival at X-mas. I also love the Ireland cement truck at Xmas!
I think the Front Porch Forum is wonderful and unites us as a community, I love the openness of the select board to the public and the way they communicate with us through announcements on the front porch forum.”
— Linda Andrews
“Bristol is a magical place. When I first moved here, I fell in love with it's adorable and quaint charm. A coworker who grew up here took me under her wing and I got to participate in the The 4th of July parade my first summer here. Later on Halloween night, walking down Pleasant Street to the beat of the drumming while admiring all the children and twinkling haunted front porches, Bristol swept me off my feet. I met my husband here (whose ancestors built this town) and we raised our daughter here. I love being a part of such a magical, loving town like Bristol. It's not just the holidays that make Bristol special, it's the people and the caring folks that look out for each other that I treasure. When someone is sick, they are known for dropping off meals or shoveling a driveway. And they are known for pie! XOXO”
— Anonymous
“I love and appreciate the generous volunteers willing to give there time to help with anything from the Food Shelf to landscaping parks that we all enjoy.”
— Beth Ekroos
“Bristol, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
Actually there are too many to list here, so here are a few, in no particular order of preference!
I love my little house, on a street where I can walk to everything, yet be walking beside corn fields in minutes.
I love that there are so few streetlights that I can see the Milky Way from my back deck and the International Space Station when it flies overhead.
I love that my trash and recycling are picked up by wonderful people with a team of friendly Percheron horses, Jake and Miner.
I love my neighbors and the folks in town who say hello on my daily walks.
I love the Lumen Festival, the Chocolate Walk, the Fourth of July Parade, and all the great events!
I love looking up at the mountain behind our house.
I love that the Post Office and Shaw's are always open when I need them, and thank the workers for their efforts during the pandemic, especially the postmen.
Is that enough, there's much more...
Last but not least, I LOVE the Library, the stacks of books and children's laughter from downstairs. A quiet haven with a ticking clock that reminds me that a pendulum swings. ”
— Sally Roth
“Sheltering hills and generous fields watch over the river’s changing seasons. We meet on sidewalks and benches as a little town’s colors, shapes, flavors, and faces wake to life with each new morning.
Bristol we love you! We've only been here just over one year, but in that time we've met a welcoming community of kind folks. We love music in the park, sweet shops and restaurants, beautiful old houses, and the lovely New Haven River nearby.
I love the community events that occur year round. I love that people stop to pet my dog when she shows them she’d like them to. I love the safe, comfortable feeling that I get as I wonder around town. I love the Bristol Trail Network and the Recreation Department. I love Bristol.”
— Valerie Hanson
“I love Bristol's stop light at Main Street: crossing diagonally while all cars stop. Pedestrians first! Everyone waits for the one walking. I am the one walking
I love the Village Creeme Stand, 5 teenagers deep, ice cream dripping from chins: grown ups need Creeme's too!
I love the New Haven River winding through town; the Coffin Factory Trail; the rocks piled up from spring melt hurtling down hill, landing in Bristol and staying put
I love the jettisoned cars on the hillside, holding Bristol up! It's a mixed up highway, all scrambled, small trees growing where the engines used to be
I love Bristol Village co-housing, cozy, multi-generational, who's wheelbarrow is this? Your turn
I love the front porches: homeowners home, a nod of the head to say hello, napping in a pocket of sunshine, smelling lilacs or the rain, startled at the horses and humans collecting trash, calling out to you by name
I love the wavy, windy roads into and away from Bristol. "Weeee!" she says arriving, "Weeee!" she says heading home.
I love buying birdseed at Martin's True Value. This town is for the birds. Hungry, hungry birds
I love the sassy paper napkins for sale at Vermont HoneyLights: "Kindness: It doesn't cost a thing. Sprinkle that sh*t everywhere.”
— Tracy Nordstrom
“Bristol Town
-Where people still talk to you
and wave a hand
when you're walking
on the slippery road.
They' ll stop to help
if you have a heavy load.”