07/15/2026
Riverwalk Welcomes New Board Members
The Manchester Riverwalk welcomed two new board members at their Annual Meeting held June 6th at the Manchester Community Library. Ellen Ecker Ogden and Paul Wheeler were elected in a decisive vote, as was returning trustee, Shari Siegel. They join current members Kim Bina, Eileen Braheney, Michael Cooperman, Margaret Donovan, Stephen Drunsic, Norm Favor, Cristina Mansfield, and Richard Smith.
Ellen Ecker Ogden is a freelance writer and author of several books, including the New Heirloom Garden. She lives and gardens in Manchester Village, where she has resided since 2003. She previously ran a garden business and farm stand in Londonderry. She has served on the board of the VT Fresh Network, VT Garden Network, and the VT Cheese Council, among others.
Paul Wheeler has owned and operated Looking Good Licensing, LLC, a design, brand and art-based licensing company for 30 years. He also has experience in the commercial photographic world owning Wheeler Pictures, Inc. a photo agency in NYC with international affiliates. Paul has been an active angler and outdoorsman all his life and has flyfished our local waters since moving to VT in 1989. Paul currently serves on the board of Merck Forest, and previously on the boards of the Community Food Cupboard, the Dorset Theater Festival, and the Dorset Field Club.
In addition to the election of trustees, the attendees heard a review of the Treasurer's Report and a summary of 2025 activities. Board president Margaret Donovan shared a slideshow of accomplishments with a focus on the construction of the Riverwalk Pedestrian Bridge. Guest Speaker Doug Lyon, author of "Fly Fishing Guide to the Battenkill," spoke of his involvement with the river going back to 1977. He shared some of the history of the area, including the introduction of the brown trout into the river in the 1880's. He also discussed some of the work of the Battenkill Watershed Alliance, including their tree planting for filtering pollutants and adding diversity to the river, and the regional chapter of Trout Unlimited, which is helping to restore wetlands, adding wood to the river channel and building beaver dam analogs. The overall health of the Battenkill watershed and the recreational use of the river was also covered, with Doug offering his thoughts on some current projects. Riverwalk hopes to get Doug back to lead a walk and discussion in the near future.
For more information on Manchester Riverwalk, please visit
in the heart of Manchester Center, Vermont
