Brattleboro-based Vermont Independent Media, owner of the Commons, is defying newspaper industry trends by purchasing a nearby weekly and expanding operations.
The deal, announced last week, merges the operations of the Commons, which covers Windham County, and the Deerfield Valley News, the paper of record for the Wilmington area, which includes West Dover, the home of Mount Snow.
Randy and Vicki Capitani, the owners of the Deerfield Valley News, told readers they wanted to retire after 34 years. The for-profit Wilmington paper will be converted to a nonprofit under the umbrella of Vermont Independent Media.
The Capitanis approached Vermont Independent Media in December. A six-month negotiation ensued, and a donor stepped up to pay most of the purchase price. Lynn Barrett, the former board chair of the nonprofit, declined to discuss the financial details.
It’s a remarkable turnaround for Vermont Independent Media, which hit financial straits during the pandemic. Barrett, the former publisher of Vermont Arts & Living and chair of Vermont Independent Media, was instrumental in putting the Commons back on solid financial footing just before she stepped down as chair at the end of last year.
Jeff Potter, who has been editor of the Commons for 17 years, said it’s in a position of “prudent strength” and the purchase is advantageous for the nonprofit.
“In 2025, it seems counterintuitive, but this makes sense,” Potter said.
The Deerfield Valley News is profitable and contains more ads than the Commons, Barrett said. With its proximity to Mount Snow and Bennington County, the weekly will expand the advertising reach of the Commons.
The Commons’ readers have responded positively because the Capitanis have a commitment to the community, Barrett said. “They are beloved, just like we are.”
This article appears in The Cartoon Issue 2025.
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