The Williston Development Review Board has set a hearing for
Jan. 14 on a proposal to construct 107 homes and two new roads on a portion of the vacant 95-acre Glaser property off Mountain View Road.
The hearing is the final public hurdle in a lengthy and novel land development proposal that
involved the Williston Selectboard amending the town’s bylaws to bypass growth control regulations in exchange for a promise from landowners Jack and Caitlin Glaser to give about half the acreage to the town. The arrangement will ensure preservation of Green
Committee recommends school cellphone ban
‘We need to move on this now,’ CVU principal says
BY JASON STARR Observer staff
Students be warned: This is likely the last year you’ll be able to use your phones during the school day.
A phone-free schools study committee led by Adam Bunting — who accepted the permanent Champlain Valley School District superintendent job Tuesday (see
story at right) — has recommended the district ban cell phone use in schools from “bell-to-bell” starting next August.
A ban would be consistent with the current practice at the district’s K-8 schools, where building administrators already enforce a no-phone policy during the school day. But it would be a change at CVU High School, where the current practice allows phone use between classes and at lunch, and teachers have differing levels of tolerance for in-class phone use.
“It shouldn’t be up to the teachers. They should be able to teach and not worry about the phone situation,” Jacklyn Whittier, a student representative to the school board, said during Tuesday’s board meeting.
The committee was made up of students, teachers and building principals, among others. They began studying the subject in September. A visit to Harwood Union High School in Moretown was a turning point in
Mountain views and a continuation of neighboring Windswept Farm’s use of the property as horse pasture.
The DRB application contains a first glimpse of how the new homes will look to drivers passing on Mountain View Road. It also
reveals the names of the two new roads: Glaser Court and Stone Ridge Circle. Plans show Glaser Court as a cul-de-sac road with 38 homes and an intersection with Mountain View Road. Stone Ridge Circle is a horseshoe-shaped road
Bunting chosen as CVSD superintendent
Adam Bunting has been chosen as superintendent of the Champlain Valley School District. Bunting had been
interim superintendent since July 1, following the resignation of Rene Sanchez.
The Champlain Valley School Board announced the selection during their meeting Tuesday.
Bunting was the principal at CVU High School for 10 years before being appointed to interim superintendent. He is a 1994 graduate of the school and started his teaching career there. He was selected Vermont Principal of the Year in 2018.
“Adam is the right leader
see PHONES page 15 see BUNTING page 15
A rendering of the backside of homes proposed on the Glaser parcel was included in the project’s permit application to illustrate how the homes impact easterly views from Mountain View Road.
COURTESY OF THE TOWN OF WILLISTON
Adam Bunting
Around Town
CVSD launches new website, changes Williston schools web address
The Champlain Valley School District launched a revamped website Monday and changed the web address for the Williston Schools page.
The overall district site remains at www.cvsdvt.org. The Williston Schools site has migrated to a new address: www.ws.cvsdvt.org. The former address, www.cvsdvt.org/ williston, is no longer active.
The new district site is designed to be mobile-friendly, with new navigation and content layout. All content was carried forward from the old design, including calendars, staff directories and a news blog.
“We are thrilled to launch our new website and provide our community with an improved online experience,” said CVSD Communications Manager Tyler Cohen. “Our goal is to make it easier for parents, caregivers and students to find the information they need, and this new website does just that.”
Student arts celebration returns
The Champlain Valley School District is bringing back Celebrate the Arts Night, a longstanding winter tradition that was last held in 2019.
CVU will host this district-wide showcase of student art, music, theater, design and technology on Jan. 9 from 5-8 p.m. The halls and theater at the high school will be transformed in a showcase of student creativity.
More information on the event will be posted at www.cvsdvt.org/ celebrate-the-arts.
Student speech contest offers cash awards
The Williston-Richmond Rotary Club is seeking student participants for the annual Rotary Speech Contest. Students between the ages of 14-18 are invited to prepare and present a five-minute speech on the topic of how schools and Rotary can partner to increase respect, tolerance and understanding. (Speeches do not need to be memorized).
The Rotary district winner will receive $1,750, and the runner-up will receive $1,500.
The first round of the contest will take place in January at a date to be determined.
Interested students who live in Williston, St. George and Richmond can contact Barb LeWinter to register by email at lewinterb@yahoo.com with the subject “speech contest” or text at (802) 310-6353.
Redhawk runners compete at Nationals
The Vermont state-champion CVU girls cross country team competed at the Cross Country Nationals in Portland, Oregon, on Dec. 7, placing 19th in a chilly rainstorm.
“The girls all ran incredibly hard,” Coach David Baird said. “They were always prepared and ready mentally. They showed integrity during and after their race, and they were really grateful the entire time.”
It’s the fourth time the CVU girls have raced at Nationals. The team placed second in Regionals in New York to qualify.
“Just getting there was an achievement of the highest level,” Baird said.
Santa pause
Rotary members dish up a holiday feast to attendees at the annual Jonathan Milne Senior Holiday Luncheon hosted by the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club last Wednesday at Williston Federated Church.
Santa (Gary Howard), right, delivers a poinsettia to one of the door prize winners.
The Williston Central School choir, below, serenades the attendees.
Warmest Wishes
COURTESY PHOTOS
HUB
Two new restaurants coming to Finney Crossing
OBSERVER STAFF REPORT
The Farmhouse Group of Burlington-area restaurant owners plans to bring two new restaurants to Williston during the first half of 2025.
Farmhouse Group owner Jed Davis announced Monday plans for a second location of the group’s flagship Farmhouse Tap & Grill as well as a new Italian restaurant called SPAGET Red Sauce Joint. Both will be located in the Finney Crossing development.
Davis also owns and operates the Bliss Bee franchise, with locations in Williston and South Burlington.
The Farmhouse Group started with the downtown Burlington location of the Farmhouse Tap & Grill, opened in 2010 in a former McDonald’s off the Church Street
see FINNEY CROSSING page 5
Morgan Stanley acquires Williston’s FoodScience
OBSERVER STAFF REPORT
FoodScience, a pet and human nutritional supplement manufacturer located on Harvest Lane in Williston, has been acquired by Morgan Stanley Capital Partners.
A Nov. 19 news release from Morgan Stanley announced the acquisition. FoodScience was previously owned by Wind Point Partners. Sharon Rossi will continue as FoodScience’s chief executive officer.
The company was founded in 1973 in South Burlington and later relocated to Essex. Seeking more space to accommodate its growth, FoodScience moved to Williston in 2017. The company formulates, manufactures, markets and
Gov. Scott highlights tree trade at Whitcomb Farm
OBSERVER STAFF REPORT
The Whitcomb family has been operating Whitcomb’s Land of Pumpkins and Corn Maze in Williston since 2003. This year, they started offering Christmas trees on a 4-acre swath of their Essex property.
Earlier this month, the tree farm got a special visitor: Gov. Phil Scott.
The governor and Vermont Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts joined members of the Whitcomb family to find a tree to display outside the governor’s office in Montpelier during the holiday season.
“The feeling you get when you see people return year after year for a fall trip to buy pumpkins and go through the corn maze is special. We hope to give people the same feeling with our Christmas Tree
Farm,” farmer Max Whitcomb said. “Picking out a Christmas tree is an annual family tradition for many. We hope to give as many families as we can an experience they will remember.”
The farm offers several varieties of trees, including balsam, Canaan and Fraser firs. Trees can be cut yourself or purchased pre-cut.
Nigel Manley, program manager of the New Hampshire-Vermont Christmas Tree Association, encourages farmers to consider Christmas tree growing as part of farm diversification.
“While supply and demand cycles will always be part of agricultural decision-making, the future of the Christmas tree industry is a good one,” he said. “We have seen an increase in new growers over the past three years.”
Gov. Phil Scott sizes up a tree at the Whitcomb Family Tree Farm in Essex Junction on Dec. 2.
Jersey Mike’s opens South Burlington sub shop
HUB Happenings
Tom King, who opened Vermont’s first Jersey Mike’s Subs in Williston two years ago, opened a second location in South Burlington earlier this month.
At a grand opening celebration, a fundraiser was held for the Flutie Foundation. The new shop is located on Dorset Street.
Community Bank welcomes Williston branch manager
Jonathan Leighton has been hired as branch manager of Community Bank’s Williston location.
Leighton graduated from Northern Vermont University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in health science. He resides in Williston with his wife. He was formerly employed at Union Bank and TD Bank.
“I’m excited to join a team that puts its community first and always looks for ways to help improve the banking experience,” Leighton said. “I’m looking forward to learning how our community likes to do their banking and how we can best aid them to achieve their goals — whether personal, business or both.”
Vermont Construction co-founder joins Habitat board
David Richards, co-founder Vermont Construction Company, has joined the board of directors at Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity.
Vermont Construction has worked with the nonprofit for two years, donating a new roof to every new Habitat for Humanity home built. So far, the company has donated and installed five roofs on homes the nonprofit
builds for families in need.
“His knowledge and experience in the construction industry will be extremely valuable as we continue to grow,” said David Mullin, Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity CEO. “He will provide a great, new perspective to our operations.”
Ben & Jerry’s workers ratify union contract
More than 300 Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream workers at St. Albans and Waterbury production facilities who are members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 371 union, ratified their first employment contract in November.
The contract guarantees 14 percent wage increases over the next three years as well as paid parental leave and health insurance.
“Joining the union’s health insurance and getting consistent wages means hundreds more in each of my co-worker’s checks each month, and protecting our retirement and our paid time off gives us the security we need in uncertain times,” said Jeff Johnson, who has worked for Ben & Jerry’s for 23 years.
NFIB consolidates Vermont, New Hampshire offices
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is restructuring its northeast region in Vermont and New Hampshire with the upcoming departure of New Hampshire State Director Bruce Berke and Vermont State Director Shawn Shouldice.
A lobbying group on behalf of small businesses, NFIB plans to install its former Minnesota state director, John Reynolds, in a new, consolidated position directing the organization’s activities in both states.
General Contractors association celebrates 90 years
The Associated General Contractors of Vermont celebrated its 90th anniversary at its
Annual Meeting and Best Builder Awards Banquet on Dec. 3-4.
The event featured a keynote address by Sen. Peter Welch and discussions on government relations, crisis communications, economic forecasts and safety and mental health investments.
SBA appoints New England
regional leader
Sandra Cano has been appointed regional administrator for SBA New England, serving Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. She joins the SBA after serving as the director of commerce for the City of Pawtucket, R.I.
Cano is a former state senator in Rhode Island and a native of Colombia who emigrated to the United States in 2000.
“My commitment to advancing equity and expanding access to opportunities for all entrepreneurs will guide my work as we help strengthen our local economies and create a more inclusive future for small businesses across the region,” Cano said.
United Way releases employer guide to substance misuse
The United Way of Northwest Vermont has released an “Employer Guide to Substance Misuse” designed to support Vermont employers in promoting healthy and safe workplaces. The guide is available online at bit.ly/ substance-misuse-toolkit.
A group of Vermont employers and community organizations focused on substance misuse prevention and recovery helped create the guide. It is organized into six sections: culture, laws, policy, prevention, intervention and recovery.
“Substance misuse prevention
Jonathon Leighton
Sandra Cano
Happenings
continued from page 4
strategies are most effective when they reach people in multiple settings, including workplaces,” said Beth Shrader of the United Way. “It’s encouraging to see Vermont employers proactively seeking guidance and sharing knowledge and best practices to support the health and well-being of their employees and community.”
Tusk to keynote VT Economic Conference
The Vermont Chamber of Commerce has announced Bradley Tusk — venture capitalist, political strategist, philanthropist and author — as the keynote speaker for the 2025 Vermont Economic Conference to be held Jan. 28 at the University of Vermont’s Davis Center.
Tusk is managing partner and co-founder of Tusk Venture Partners. He will join Vermont Chamber of Commerce President Amy Spear for a discussion on the future of Vermont’s economy, and his efforts to bring mobile voting to more U.S. voters.
“We are thrilled to have Bradley Tusk join us as our keynote speaker,” said Spear. “His expertise in navigating regulatory environments and his innovative approach to problem-solving will provide invaluable insights for Vermont business leaders as
Finney Crossing
continued from page 3
Marketplace. The new location will occupy what is currently the Railroad & Main restaurant.
Railroad & Main opened in 2022. The owners announced their retirement from the restaurant business in a November social media post. The restaurant is set to close its doors Dec. 30.
“We thank you all for wonderful memories and some very joyful years,” the Nov. 19 post says.
Remodeling of the space into the Farmhouse will begin in January, and Davis expects the restaurant will be open by April. The Farmhouse have the same locally sourced menu as the Burlington location, with a bar and lounge area and outdoor
Morgan Stanley
continued from page 3
distributes nutritional supplements under brands including VetriScience, DaVinci and Pet Naturals. It offers supplements for dogs and cats focused on joint, behavioral and digestive health, and for humans focused on heart, hormone, digestive and immune health. It also contract manufactures for other brands.
“We were drawn to FoodScience’s more than 50-year history, stellar reputation and
we look to adapt to national and global economic trends.”
The 2025 Vermont Economic Conference will offer attendees state and national economic outlooks, presentations on business growth and networking opportunities. Visit www.vtchamber.org for more information.
Burlington Business Association welcomes deputy director, board member
Burlington native and UVM graduate Sam Donnelly has been hired as the Burlington Business Association’s deputy director. Donnelly formerly worked in government relations at Let’s Grow Kids. The association also recently welcomed Heidi Stumpff to its board of directors. Stumpff brings a 24-year career in banking leadership to the board. She is currently regional president of M&T Bank in Vermont.
seating.
A stone’s throw away, in a building that is currently under construction, Davis plans the launch of a new restaurant brand. The SPAGHET Red Suace Joint is imagined as “a small footprint 50-seat restaurant with a robust take-out menu featuring reasonably priced Italian-American pastas, baked pasta dishes, sandwiches and salads,” Davis said in an email announcement. “All dishes will be offered as a “single” portion or “family style” serving 3 to 4 guests, and all available for dine-in or take out.”
Trade show grant funding available
The Vermont Department of Agriculture, Food and Markets is accepting applications for trade show assistance grants through Jan. 20. The grants are for Vermont producers to attend and sell products at out-of-state
trade shows that target wholesale buyers. Applicants can request up to $5,000 to offset tradeshow costs. Contact Jennifer Porter by email at Jennifer.porter@vermont.gov or call 802-261-7395 for application information.
SPAGET is on target for a summer 2025 opening. Meanwhile, a third Bliss Bee location is under construction on Market Street in South Burlington and scheduled to open in January. The Farmhouse Group also owns and operates Guild Tavern in South Burlington and El Cortijo Taqueria and Pascolo Ristorante in Burlington.
mission to help people and pets live healthier lives,” said James Stewart of Morgan Stanley Capital Partners. “Under Sharon’s leadership, they have built a leading platform dedicated to delivering safe, effective and innovative brands while serving as the partner of choice to FoodScience’s contract manufacturing customers. We look forward to working together as we collectively seek to build on and expand the exceptional product portfolio through continued organic growth and M&A (mergers and acquisitions).”
Heidi Stumpff
Sam Donnelly
BY ERIK WELLS Williston Town Manager
Greetings Williston community. There are several topics to update you on this month as we close out 2024 and prepare to welcome 2025.
BUDGET DEVELOPMENT FOR TOWN MEETING
The Williston Selectboard will be working in January to finalize the fiscal year 2026 municipal services budget to be considered on Town Meeting Day (March 4). Earlier this month, I transmitted a draft budget to the selectboard to begin this process.
The municipal budget is the town’s spending and funding plan to deliver core public services to the community. I encourage you to engage in the budget development process.
Visit www.town.williston. vt.us/budget to view the draft budget transmitted to the selectboard, along with a recording of the town department budget review selectboard meeting.
The budget document includes a comprehensive overview of all town expenses proposed and a
GUEST COLUMN
Notes from Town Hall
discussion of options to raise revenue to balance the budget, along with the various budget pressures the town is facing. It’s a starting point, not the finish line. There is a lot of work undertaken by the selectboard in coordination with town staff to get the budget to its final draft version in January. Your input and feedback are a critical part of the process. If you have questions about any component of the budget, please reach out to me.
The selectboard is holding a public hearing to receive feed back on the municipal budget at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7 in the Beckett/McGuire Meeting Room at Town Hall (second floor). A re mote option to join using Zoom is also available. You can also share written feedback by sending me an email at ewells@willistonvt. org.
PROJECT UPDATES — BRIDGE REPAIRS AND TOWN HALL PARKING LOT
The selectboard has advanced three important projects with con struction/repairs targeted for 2025 utilizing federal ARPA funds.
The Industrial Avenue Pedestrian Bridge replacement is
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on track to occur in late spring or summer. There is a six-month wait between ordering the replacement bridge and having it delivered. The town has a local contractor in place to complete the work once the new structure arrives.
The scope of work will also include attaching a sewer main to the new bridge. Please drive with caution in the area while the modified pedestrian crossing on the vehicle
parking lot has been removed from the scope.
The revised project is estimated at about $600,000 and will be funded using ARPA dollars and a State of Vermont Downtown Program grant. The timeline for this project is anticipated to be summer/fall 2025.
WINTER OPERATIONS SEASON
It’s winter operations season,
plowing all sidewalks and paths and expanded its equipment fleet to make that possible.
With the changing weather patterns, we are seeing snow melts occur throughout the winter season and the ground not staying frozen. As a result, you may observe some grass disturbance from winter operations by the town. In the springtime, the department will clean up any areas that need attention. Please reach out and let us know if you see any areas that needs
The State of Vermont’s temporary shelter to provide housing to families in need has been operational at the former State Police Barracks on Route 2A since early November. A big thank you to the community for your support in welcoming the guests at the shelter
Wishing you all a safe and hap -
CHRISTMAS SERVICE DIRECTORY
Christ Memorial Church
1033 Essex Rd. Williston www.cmcvermont.org
Christmas Eve Service
Tuesday, Dec. 24, 6 p.m.
Community Lutheran Church
1560 Williston Rd.
South Burlington https://communitylutheranvt. wpcomstaging.com
Christmas Eve
Candlelight Service
Tuesday, Dec. 24, 7 p.m.
Christmas Day Service
Wednesday, Dec. 25, 10 a.m.
Crosspoint Church
237 Commerce St., Williston www.crosspointvt.org
Christmas Eve Worship
Celebration
Tuesday, Dec. 24, 6 p.m.
Essex Alliance Church
37 Old Stage Rd., Essex Jct. www.essexalliance.org
Christmas Eve Service at Old Brick Church (100 Library Lane)
Tuesday, Dec. 24, 11 p.m.
WILLISTON COMMUNITY FOOD SHELF
Facing ‘more cases than ever,’ Human Rights Commission seeks more funding
BY AUDITI GUHA VTDigger
The Vermont Human Rights Commission has not been able to keep pace with a record number of discrimination complaints this year. It is pushing for nearly $900,000 in new state funding — which would nearly double its annual budget — to add staff and expand services to meet the growing demand.
The commission has been “inundated” with new discrimination complaints this year, said Big Hartman, its executive director and general counsel, at a press conference last Monday, National Human Rights Day.
“All too often, lately, we must make the impossible decision to decline new cases for investigation simply because we are beyond capacity,” Hartman said.
The commission was created by statute in 1987 to advocate for “full civil and human rights” and
“protect people from unlawful discrimination” in housing, state government employment, and public accommodations, according to its website. It’s tasked with investigating complaints, resolving disputes, advancing effective public policies and educating the public.
Many of the complaints it receives are filed by some of the state’s most vulnerable residents, such as those facing housing insecurity, people with disabilities, people of color, the elderly and parents of queer, transgender and students of color, Hartman said.
The commission has registered a notable uptick in housing complaints, according to Hartman.
“Vermont’s housing crisis is leaving many vulnerable and suffering, which we believe has contributed to a significant rise in housing discrimination cases, while we’re accepting and processing more cases than ever in HRC history,” Hartman said.
Since July 1, the commission has had 50 intake meetings, declined a total of 47 cases, and has more than 100 complaints waiting in line, according to data presented at the press conference. As of Dec. 1, it has 68 active investigations, is litigating 15 enforcement cases and has closed 31 cases in
fiscal year 2025.
Cases often take more than a year or two to resolve for the commission’s staff of seven, Hartman said.
The commission’s staff includes four attorneys — one litigator and three investigators.
Hartman made the case that it needs to double in size and add seven new positions to adequately serve the state and vulnerable populations. That is expected to cost an additional $887,000.
The new positions would include an intake specialist to handle 60 to 100 new cases per month, three new staff attorney investigators, a communications and outreach person, a paralegal, a part-time social worker and a part-time mediator.
The commission has an annual budget of roughly $1 million, according to Hartman. Other than a new litigator position in 2023, no new positions or increases have been approved in decades,
Hartman said.
Several advocates attended the press conference to support the commission’s call for increased funding.
“Underfunding the Human Rights Commission to the extent where people may have to wait two years to resolve those complaints is not supporting the vital work” of the office, said Michele Olvera, legal counsel for the Vermont Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth, D-Chittenden Central, said he intends to support additional funding but also pointed to political headwinds.
“I value the work of the VHRC very highly, and it’s certainly my intention to try to increase their funding this year,” he said in an email. “Whether the budgetary situation will allow that remains to be seen. We’ll know a good deal more after the governor’s budget address.”
Big Hartman, executive director of the Vermont Human Rights Commission
Housing developers respond to looser Act 250 rules
BY CARLY BERLIN VTDigger
When 10 apartments at the new Armory House building just outside of downtown Vergennes opened in June, they all had tenants within two weeks. To Peter Kahn, the building’s developer, watching the new apartments fill up so quickly — most deemed as “workforce housing,” and several as affordable to people with lower incomes — underscored the severity of Vermont’s housing deficit.
“Seeing firsthand and experiencing the shortage at a personal level really illuminated how deep this problem is,” Kahn said.
Kahn’s plans for the Armory Lane lot have been guided by recent changes to Act 250, Vermont’s land use review law. At first, he’d planned to build nine apartments there, to avoid triggering scrutiny under Act 250, which he feared would add time and expense to the project. But after the Legislature made temporary tweaks to the law last year, he realized he could build 24 apartments without Act 250 kicking in. He quickly added a 10th unit to the building-in-progress, and started hashing out plans for a second, 14-unit building at the same site.
Then, the Legislature passed even bolder Act 250 reforms this year, as part of Act 181. Kahn
learned he could add even more homes to the Armory Lane lot without bumping up against the land use law. He has also begun to sketch out plans for a much larger, 74-unit workforce housing apartment complex on a vacant lot near the police station in town. Kahn is shaping that new project around a new, temporary Act 250 exemption for 75 units or fewer in certain areas designated for growth.
“One-hundred percent, we are tailoring the project around that exemption,” Kahn said.
The response of developers like Kahn indicates the reforms are beginning to work as intended.
Proponents had hoped the temporary carve-outs for housing in Act 181 would clear red tape and encourage compact housing development to ease Vermont’s acute housing shortage. Since the law took effect in June, about a dozen housing developments have used the interim exemptions, most of which stipulate that construction has to have begun by 2027 or 2028.
That’s based on a VTDigger/ Vermont Public review of development proposals that have received explicit confirmation from an Act 250 district coordinator that the project will not require an Act 250 permit. Still more projects might be moving forward without seeking this official thumbs up, called a “jurisdictional opinion.”
‘SIGNS OF SUCCESS’
The housing projects using the new exemptions span geography and scale. They include the conversion of a nursing home into 40 apartments in Hartford, the construction of a new subsidized senior housing project in downtown St. Johnsbury, and a hotel-plus-apartments development in the heart of Rutland.
“There are signs of success,” said Alex Farrell, commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Development, about the interim exemptions.
Many developments taking advantage of the exemptions were likely already in the works, but will now have an expedited timeline — a positive outcome, Farrell said. But the bigger impact will come when more developers like Kahn take the exemptions into account early, and expand the number of homes they seek to build.
“I think this coming spring and summer, we’re going to see some — probably some really exciting results,” Farrell said.
But the exemptions are already encouraging developers to take on projects they may have shied away from otherwise.
In the Rutland County town of Brandon, Naylor & Breen Builders recently got word that they would not need an Act 250 permit to convert a former arts center into 24
Developer Peter Kahn is using temporary adjustments to Act 250 to build workforce housing in Vergennes.
PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER
Education commission shies away from cost-saving ideas
BY ETHAN WEINSTEIN VTDigger
The Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont approved its preliminary findings on Monday without making any recommendations about how to contain costs in the short term.
During the 2024 legislative session, as average education property taxes were slated to rise almost 14 percent, lawmakers created the
commission as a vehicle to steer the state’s public education system toward a more sustainable future.
Despite being tasked with producing “preliminary findings and recommendations, including short-term cost containment considerations” by Dec. 15, the commission decided not to include a slate of money-saving proposals in its report.
The group spent much of Monday’s meeting discussing
whether to include a list of ideas that could save money, brainstormed by a subcommittee focused on finance. The naysayers ultimately won out, arguing the list, which the full commission hadn’t vetted, would come off as recommendations rather than merely ideas. Members of the 13-member body, composed of lawmakers, state leaders and education officials, said the December deadline had left them little time to meet their mandate.
Among those who argued against the list’s inclusion was Zoie Saunders, Vermont’s education secretary.
“I think we’ve all acknowledged
that the list is not ready yet,” she said. “The public will interpret this as a set of policies.”
Others agreed that such a list of non-recommendations would be rife for misinterpretation.
The commission ultimately voted 8-3 to adopt the preliminary report, deciding to link to — but not include — the list of cost-containment proposals.
Still, some voiced concern over the absence of any suggested solutions. Oliver Olsen, who represents the Vermont Independent Schools Association, suggested the group could release target budget metrics to guide school districts and independent schools
during the budgeting process already underway.
“We can get everybody working toward a common goal,” he said, adding that budget recommendations for the upcoming fiscal year were one of the limited ways the commission could contain costs in the short term.
But with their preliminary findings already overdue, the commission’s members decided to move ahead, handing off a report short on answers to the Legislature. Instead, the document offers an assessment of the current situation facing public education in Vermont, some key education data trends and a call for continued collaboration by all interested parties.
Democrats and Republicans in Montpelier, as well as Republican Gov. Phil Scott, have signaled they will prioritize education finance reform in the looming January session. That work will coincide with — and potentially overtake — the commission’s work, which is oriented towards a final report expected by December 2025.
Despite loud promises of education reform, lawmakers and state officials have so far been quiet about specifics, much as the future of public education commission has thus far avoided endorsing any policy recommendations.
The commission’s report does, however, offer a summation of the challenge ahead: “Substantive change will require difficult decisions and significant political will,” it says.
units of housing, using a new exemption for commercial-to-residential conversions.
Tanner Romano, the owner of the company, said Naylor & Breen is working with several other local employers to create workforce housing. The project is not yet a guarantee, he said. But the fact that it will not need to go through Act 250 means the developers won’t have to pour thousands of dollars into permitting, design and engineering fees just to put a permit application together.
“So when you put that exemption into play, it’s like, ‘OK, now we can take a real crack at this’ — without having to put all that money up front and run the risk of either not getting permitted or the project not going, and you’ve wasted that investment,” he said.
Had the project been subject to the typical Act 250 requirements, Romano said, the company probably would have passed on it.
And the exemptions are making a difference for housing developments in some of Vermont’s smaller towns, too. In Fairlee, which has fewer than 1,000 residents as of the last census, the small real estate development
firm Village Ventures is planning to rehabilitate an existing 10-unit apartment complex at the corner of Bridge and Main Streets, and is also planning to build two new fourplexes on the same property. That will nearly double the number of homes at the site. The project is taking advantage of a new Act 250 exemption for building up to 50 units of housing in village centers.
The developers plan to allow the current tenants to stay, and they’re planning to apply for low income housing tax credits to keep the apartments affordable to people making less than the median income in the area. Rents will range from $890 for a one-bedroom to $1,653 for a four-bedroom, according to Austin Meehan, a development manager for Village Ventures. Several units will be set aside for people exiting homelessness and will come with supportive services, he said.
The hope is to create more housing options in a town that’s largely a tourist hotspot for Lake Morey, Meehan said.
“Trying to get this village center activated — and kind of start becoming a job center, and also a housing center — will do a lot to help the area continue to grow, and not just remain a summer destination,” Meehan said.
Providing Peace of Mind for Families and Loved Ones
The temporary exemptions to Act 250 were put in place as the state undertakes a mapping process over the next several years that will determine the law’s reach for the future. Administration officials hope lawmakers will extend the interim exemptions this year until the new Act 250 framework is finalized, said Farrell, the housing commissioner.
“What we could end up with right now,” Farrell said, “is a sunset of the interim exemptions and then a long gap that creates uncertainty for home builders before the new, longer term exemptions come.”
That change is one of several updates to Act 181 that Gov. Phil Scott’s administration plans to pursue during the next legislative session, which kicks off in early January. Other proposals include making the exemptions apply retroactively — assuring projects that were already in the development process before the law went into effect can still benefit from it — and clarifying how they apply to subdividing properties, Farrell said.
Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, D/P-Chittenden Southeast, one of the chief architects of Act 181, said she “probably hear(s) more of the bad news than the good news” when it comes to the impact of the new exemptions — meaning she gets calls from developers when they hit a snag in the permitting process, rather than when it goes smoothly. She sees more need for permit reform.
“I think there’s still more work to do outside of Act 250. People still come to me to talk about the length and obscurity of the (Agency of Natural Resources) permitting process, and, you know, issues that still increase the cost per unit of housing,” she said.
Both Farrell and Ram Hinsdale see taking on the appeals process for housing as a priority this coming year. Proposals for reforming how neighbors can challenge new housing — a key issue at both the local and state permitting levels in Vermont — largely did not make it to the finish line last legislative session.
The issue of neighbor opposition hits close to home for Kahn, the Vergennes developer. Plans for a South Burlington development he worked on faced significant community pushback several years ago, as many neighbors voiced their concerns over the loss of open space. The specter of taking that project through the Act 250 process — with the potential for lengthy, costly delays — ultimately led the developers to abandon it, Kahn said.
He hopes lawmakers ultimately make the interim Act 250 exemptions permanent, to keep easing the path for more housing, he said.
This story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.
‘I want to be a bridge’
Lt. Gov.-elect John Rodgers speaks about switching parties, his election win and political priorities
BY EKATERINA RAIKHOVSKI Community News Service
Grandchildren running around his 1840s farmhouse aren’t the only thing keeping John Rodgers’ hands full these days. There’s the masonry business the West Glover 59-year-old has helmed for the last two decades, the hemp farm he’s managed for the last few years and the occasional work plowing snow from driveways.
Now the former Northeast Kingdom legislator has added another commitment to the list: serving as Vermont’s next lieutenant governor.
Following a contest this fall decided by about 6,000 votes, incumbent Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman conceded to Rodgers on Nov. 7 and paved the way for the Democratturned-Republican to re-enter politics after losing his Statehouse seat in 2020.
Rodgers spoke to the Winooski News ahead of his Jan. 8 start date about his plans for the role and his path toward it.
Rodgers’ election as lieutenant governor was something of a surprising achievement for someone who, early in his career, was
hesitant about getting involved in politics.
“I had young kids, my own business, and it’s just really hard to justify taking the amount of time off my business during construction season to campaign because it’s a money losing proposition,” he said.
“But they convinced me that there was no time like the present, and I went for it.”
As a Democrat, Rodgers first sought a seat in the Orleans-Caledonia 1 House district in 2000 and lost by about 130 votes.
But two years later he edged out one of the incumbents by 16 votes and won a seat in the Vermont House. He’d keep his spot in office until 2010 — when he lost by fewer than five votes — before serving eight years as a senator for the Essex-Orleans district.
The 2020 election threw a wrench into his winning streak. Rodgers missed the deadline to file his paperwork for the Democratic primary, forcing him to run as an independent instead. He’d ultimately finish fifth out of five candidates that year.
“I think there’s too many people who vote for a D and R and don’t really know
13
Lt.
Gov.-elect John Rodgers, left, debates outgoing Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, right, during the campaign earlier this year. PHOTO COURTESY OF COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE see RODGERS page
who the candidate is,” Rodgers said. “I really underestimated how badly that hurt me.”
These days, he is hopeful his political ambiguity and past experience will help him navigate his new role.
“I’m a Vermonter first, and you are part of a party, but you shouldn’t let it dictate who you are and who you work with,” he said. “I see my role as lieutenant governor as being nonpartisan. I’m elected to work for all Vermonters.”
While Rodgers grew up in a Democratic family and had consistent electoral success running as a Democrat in the Northeast Kingdom, he switched parties ahead of the 2024 election and ran on the Republican ticket.
“The Democratic Party had shifted way too far to the left, and they don’t appear to understand blue collar Vermonters,” he said.
A self-proclaimed Yankee, Rodgers said he felt the party had moved away from him and other working class Vermonters, finding that many moderate Republicans still represented the communities he hails from.
‘DIRT UNDER HIS FINGERNAILS’
The role of lieutenant governor is one that may be inconspicuous to many Vermonters. The official duties of the position entail running the Senate, voting only as a tiebreaker and sitting on the three-person panel that decides committee assignments in the chamber.
But the statewide platform of the position has Rodgers excited to jump into the role.
“I want to be a bridge between Vermonters and the (Statehouse), because I feel that Vermonters’ voices aren’t being heard enough in the building,” he said. “We want to get out in the communities and
John Rodgers
have town hall meetings where people can say, ‘these are the issues we’re facing and these are the ideas we have. This is what we would like to see’ and be able to bring that back to the Legislature.”
Former gubernatorial candidate James Ehlers, an outspoken water activist who Rodgers recently tapped to serve as his special advisor, emphasized the hands-on effort with Vermonters taken on by Rodgers during his campaign.
“John worked to get every single one of those votes, and when I say work, that means he spent the hours in the car and on the phone. He didn’t have to work at who he is,” said Ehlers, adding that the “dirt under his fingernails is real, and that willingness to get hands dirty is absolutely what is going to be necessary to ensure that the voice of working Vermonters and those downstream is heard.”
Gov. Phil Scott endorsed Rodgers during the campaign. Amanda Wheeler, his press secretary, said in a statement that Scott hopes to have a good working relationship with his future counterpart.
“The governor and lieutenant governor-elect have known each other for many years during their time serving as legislators,” Wheeler said, adding that Scott is “always open and willing to work with others to make Vermont more affordable, protect the most vulnerable and grow the economy.”
‘IT WAS TIME TO STEP UP’ Rodgers came into the race feeling his odds this election season were stacked against him.
He was a Republican in a year when Vermonters would reject the party’s presidential candidate by a nearly 2-to-1 margin. It was his first time running as a statewide candidate as well — and against a Progressive/Democratic incumbent in Zuckerman. The last time someone became lieutenant governor by defeating the incumbent in a general election was 1815, according to VTDigger.
“It gives me hope that there are still enough people out there that are willing to think about the person, and that’s what I’ve always tried to get people to do when there’s good people in both parties,” he said.
Rodgers said he is hopeful that, once in office, he will be able to show Vermonters that he’s the right man for the job no matter what letter sat beside his name on the ballot.
“That really provides me with a huge amount of excitement to do that, go out and
do the work on the ground and meet people, discuss issues and do everything I can to help Vermont be a place where everybody can afford to live,” he said.
The lieutenant governor position has always been attractive to Rodgers, but he felt he couldn’t take the jump from senator to due to financial constraints. That’s too large a factor affecting who serves in Montpelier, he said.
“We need a better cross section of the Vermont population in that building if we want a true representative government,” he said.
Why’d he decide to run this year?
“I just felt like the stakes were different, with what happened over the last two years and the cost of living here,” Rodgers said. “I felt like it was time to step up and give it a shot for the big stage and see if I could help turn things around.”
Looking forward to the Legislature convening early in January, Rodgers spoke about how he plans to manage his new role alongside his existing responsibilities.
“You grow up on a farm, and there’s just always something to do,” he said, “so you just put one foot in front of the other and just keep getting things done.”
This article was produced via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship, on assignment for the Winooski News.
Passion 4 Paws serves growing need
BY ACE SHEEHAN Community News Service
dog. Some stay at local boarding facilities.
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS
Emergencies seen promptly. We now contract with all major dental insurances.
In her 20 years of rescuing dogs, Robin Shover says she’s never seen so many needing a home.
“It is such an epidemic that people don’t even understand how bad it is, especially right now,” she said.
Animals across the U.S. are experiencing longer stays in shelters, according to the group Shelter Animals Count.
Shover is the founder of Passion 4 Paws, a Shelburne-based, volunteer-run rescue nonprofit. She said a variety of factors are responsible for the increase.
“I think it’s due to the inflation of mental health and people just not being accountable for their commitments,” she said.
After personally rescuing dogs for 10 years, Shover started Passion 4 Paws in 2014. Since then, she said the organization has rescued over 3,000 dogs.
Passion 4 Paws relies on volunteers willing to help, whether by fostering dogs or transporting them.
The group partners with shelters in areas like Greenville, S.C., to bring dogs to Vermont. Volunteers agree to transport them, and dogs typically live with foster families until they can find a permanent home.
However, with the recent influx of dogs and growing financial constraints for many families, it’s hard to find foster homes for every
Donations are crucial to funding and caring for the dogs, Shover said. Several local partners help fund the group’s work; other donations come from small and large fundraisers, like one held at Burlington Country Club earlier this year.
“The bar is high, but we know
“I think it’s due to the inflation of mental health and people just not being accountable for their commitments.”
Robin Shover
Passion
4 Paws president
we can do it. Our community has been amazing, and they love us,” Shover said.
“There’s not a job in this world I could choose that would be more rewarding than this one,” said Morgan McCuin, vice president of Passion 4 Paws.
McCuin joined Passion 4 Paws after adopting a dog with the group’s help in her junior year of college just a few years ago. From there, she became more involved in fostering and running the organization’s website and Facebook page.
Adoptions are the highlight of the rescue operation. Passion
4 Paws held an adoption event on Nov. 17 at Heritage Toyota in South Burlington, where four dogs were adopted.
For McCuin, events like these make the work so rewarding.
“I also love the adoption events,” McCuin said. “We do this big clap, and Robin is in charge of our big clap every time a dog gets adopted. It’s my favorite thing.”
McCuin said it’s hard not to fall in love and take home each dog herself. She currently has six dogs staying with her. Out of the eight dogs she has fostered, she has adopted three of them.
McCuin and Shover said the past year has been tough, with the group struggling to raise enough money to save the influx of new dogs.
For Shover, every dog counts.
“The most rewarding part of rescue is saving one life,” she said. “Even when we’re full, if we think that we can stretch the boundaries a little bit to save one more life, we do it because that’s why we do it.”
Visit www.passion-4-paws.org to see photos of dogs available for adoptions.
This article was produced via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship, on assignment for the Shelburne News.
The Kismet Building • 373 Blair Park Road
Robin Shover, left, founder and president, and Morgan McCuin, right, vice president, of Passion 4 Paws with Hank at an adoption event PHOTO COURTESY PASSION 4 PAWS
Glaser
with 69 homes and two intersections with Old Stage Road.
A nine-space public parking lot is planned on a portion of what is to become town-owned land.
The application was submitted by O’Leary-Burke Civil Associates on behalf of Essex homebuilder Sheppard Custom Homes, doing business as Rivers Edge Building Development. It includes a draft agreement between the Glasers and the town by which the town would pay the nominal fee of $10 to take public ownership of 48 acres. The public land would be split into about 35 acres of pastureland and 13 acres for view preservation along Mountain View Road.
The homes are planned as a combination of 14 four-bedroom homes and 93 three-bedroom condominiums. Eleven of the homes will be deed restricted as perpetually affordable for households making no more than the area’s median income.
Phones
continued from page 1
coalescing their opinion, according to both Bunting and Interim CVU Principal Katherine Riley. Harwood implemented a phonefree school policy this year. The committee visited in October and spoke with students, teachers and administrators.
“Once we saw what it looked like in action, it really changed the way I thought about what we need to do at CVSD,” Bunting said. “I think the entire group was moved by that visit.”
One example was how student participation in Harwood’s once robust weekly assemblies had diminished, Bunting said. The committee discovered that the possibility of being filmed by fellow students with phones had made students shy away from participating.
“I had never even thought of
A traffic study completed in November predicts that the development will not result in a problematic increase in traffic.
“The proposed project will not cause or exacerbate any unreasonable congestion or unsafe conditions on the local roadway network and will not unnecessarily or unreasonably endanger the public’s investment in any local roads, highways or related infrastructure,” it concludes.
A wildlife habitat assessment completed in November, however, does anticipate ecological impacts, identifying the presence of bird nesting habitat and wildlife corridors for bobcat, bears and moose.
To mitigate construction impacts on the habitat, Sheppard has agreed to a mitigation plan that includes payment into a state fund that compensates agricultural landowners for habitat projection on other parcels
“typically delayed mowing,” the assessment states.
“This approach is a common and consistent mitigation
that,” said Bunting.
Harwood administrators also reported a decline in student bullying, and teachers reported relief at not having to act as phone police.
“It frees teachers to go back to doing their job and not have the phone fight,” Riley said.
The group returned from the visit thinking, “This is so important, we need to move on this now,” Riley said. “It was that impactful.”
A subsequent survey to CVU faculty and staff further solidified their thinking. Survey responses show roughly 90 percent agreement that a phone-free environment at CVU would “improve student learning” … “make the job of educators more manageable” and “positively impact student mental health.”
In the survey’s final question, “Should we explore moving toward implementing a phone-free practice at CVU beginning September, 2025,” just 3 percent answered “no.”
The school board’s policy
Give Locally…
strategy for projects … under Act 250,” it states.
But that wouldn’t satisfy language in Williston’s bylaws that says development should be designed to avoid “to the greatest extent practicable” impacts on wildlife habitat, the assessment points out.
“In its current configuration, the proposed development will impact the ecological function
subcommittee will take a first stab at drafting the district’s phone-free rules. According to the committee’s guidance, the policy goal should be “to create an environment where students can fully engage in academic and social opportunities, free from unnecessary distractions.”
The committee’s research shows that many kids receive hundreds of phone notifications each day.
“We talked a lot about what that does in a learning environment,” Bunting said, “how distracting that can be.”
The district plans to hold student and community forums leading up to implementation. It will take a united front from adults in the school buildings to implement, Bunting said.
“Because this technology is so powerful, we’re going to have to be linked arm to arm, and students are going to have to know we really mean it,” he said.
of the core grassland habitat and disrupt the wildlife travel corridor located on the parcel,” it states, recommending the home sites be reconfigured to accommodate wildlife.
The Williston Conservation Commission is reviewing the habitat assessment this week with plans to make recommendations ahead of the DRB’s Jan. 14 hearing (7 p.m. at Williston
Bunting
continued from page 1
for our district and for navigating the moment we are in and the hard work ahead of us,” school board chair Meghan Metzler said. “His focus on doing what’s best for students, the employees of CVSD and our community is unparalleled.”
Bunting holds degrees in English and school leadership from Connecticut College and Harvard University. He served on the Governor’s Opioid Coordination Council and has been published in numerous educational journals and books.
“As superintendent, my role will be to collaborate with the entire community to create the conditions for … powerful, transformative experiences across and through our system,” Bunting said. “When we share values,
Central School, or online via Zoom). In a memo to the commission, town planners advised against recommending a reconfiguration of the neighborhood, as that could impact the plan to protect views and Windswept Farm operations.
“Some of the recommendations in the (habitat assessment) would undermine these goals,” the memo states.
hold all our students in unconditional high regard, partner with caregivers, and provide dynamic, authentic learning opportunities, we do nothing short of inspiring a better world.”
Bunting began his career as a substitute teacher and coach at CVU before becoming an English teacher for three years and a house director for nine. He served as principal of Montpelier High School from 2012 to 2015 before returning to CVU in 2015. As CVU principal, he led the design and implementation of personalized, proficiency-based learning for the school’s 1,300 students.
“I am humbled and motivated by the scope and importance of this role,” Bunting said. “It’s an honor to continue leading this district toward growth and belonging for all through purposeful, dynamic collaboration.”
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A rendering of one of the condominiums proposed for the Glaser property off Mountain View Road.
Winter Reading Awaits!
The winter break from school gives readers a chance to snuggle up with a good book. Find a quiet spot and a blanket, and dive into a story.
• With the U.S. presidential election just completed, the importance of journalism couldn’t be more clear. Author Hannah Holzer, an editor at the Sacramento Bee, guides readers who want to become journalists with “Kid Reporter Field Guide.”
• Max Brallier, author of “The Last Kids on Earth” books, has teamed up with illustrator Brian Churilla for “The Last Kids on Earth: The Graphic Novel.” Join Jack Sullivan as he and his friends try to get rid of Blarg the monster.
• Bletchley Park in England was home to codebreakers during World War II. In “The Bletchley Riddle,” authors Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin tell the story of Jacob and Lizzie, siblings whose mother has disappeared from the park. Can they crack the code to find her?
• Author Dawn Quigley of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe shares a story of Ariel and Tomah, who face personal and community challenges in their intertribal housing in the city. “Red Bird Danced” is powerfully written in verse.
Mini Fact: Audiobooks help readers develop language skills and focus. Try one out this winter break!
• “Behind My Doors: The Story of the World’s Oldest Library” invites readers to explore Al-Qarawiyyin Library, founded in 859 A.D. in Fez, Morocco, by a Muslim woman. The story, by Hena Khan and illustrated by Nabila Adani, is told from the library’s perspective.
• All scientists were once kids. In “The Next Scientist: The Unexpected Beginnings and Unwritten Future of the World’s Great Scientists,” author Kate Messner makes the case that the scientists of the future might be sitting right next to you, eating at your dinner table — they might even include you!
Words that remind us of winter reading are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
Next Week: Our states: Missouri
• Author Ann Clare LeZotte introduces readers to Effie, a deaf girl living with her older sister and their dad, in “Deer Run Home.” Effie’s life isn’t easy, as she struggles to communicate with her dad and others, but she discovers new “family” in her friends. The book is based on a true court case.
• “We Are Big Time” by Hena Khan is based on the true story of a girls’ basketball team in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Aliya, a Muslim girl, moves from Florida to Wisconsin and works with her team as they become more skilled — even as they run down the court wearing hijabs! Illustrated by Safiya Zerrougui.
• If you’ve ever felt like you just couldn’t do anything right, you’ll sympathize with the main character in the graphic novel “Mendel the MessUp” by Terry La Ban. But when Mendel gets a chance to be a hero, he takes it!
Ryan:
Rachel: You follow its footnotes!
Founded by Betty Debnam
Lizzie, siblings whose mother has disappeared from the park. Can they crack the code to find her? future might be sitting right next to you, eating at your dinner table — they might even include you!
Try ’n’ Find
Words that remind us of winter reading are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
• 1 1/2 cups white cake mix (9 ounces, or half a box)
• 3 tablespoons butter, thinly sliced
What to do:
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Mini Jokes
Ryan: Rachel:
Eco Note
1. Spread cherry pie filling in microwavable dish. Microwave on high for 4 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Distribute cake mix evenly over cherries. Place butter slices over the top.
2. Mix sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the mixture.
3. Microwave on high for 10 to 12 minutes.
4. Top with vanilla ice cream. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
You’ll
An expanding population of invasive Indian house crows is ravaging wildlife and poultry farms in eastern Kenya. Introduced to the country in the late 1890s, the birds quickly adapted to their new environment and now number more than a million. “They are now predating (preying) on our indigenous species, targeting nests, eggs, chicks and even adult birds,” Kirao Lennox at the conservation group A Rocha Kenya said. Conservation groups have begun using a specific poison called starlicide to target the crows while minimizing harm to other species.
For later:
Look in your newspaper for reviews of children’s books.
Teachers:
Follow and interact with The Mini Page on Facebook!
SPORTS
Having an ice time
TO
(l to r): CVU-MMU goalie Ella Gilbert makes the save on a penalty shot from Stowe’s Lily Bucklin during the Cougarhawks’ 4-0 win over the Stowe Raiders on Saturday at Cairns Arena. CVUMMU’s Miles Brien gets off a wrist shot. Alex Walpole looks to clear the puck from behind their goal. Eva Lewis faces off against Stowe’s Al McLaughlin. Megan Rivard and Stowe’s Hayley Bezio race for the loose puck. The Cougarhawks celebrate their win.
TOP
BOTTOM
Dorothy Alling Memorial Library hours:
• Monday and Wednesday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Visit www.damlvt.org to apply for a library card and to register for programs. Need help? Call 878-4918 or email daml@damlvt.org.
The library will be closed on Dec. 24-25 and will resume usual hours on Dec. 26. The library will also close at 3 p.m. on Dec. 31, and will be closed on Jan. 1 for New Year’s Day.
ANNUAL GIVING TREE
During December and
January, make a donation toward a program or the collection by picking an ornament from the Giving Tree. Donate in person or online at www.damlvt.org. Thank you for your support!
YOUTH PROGRAMS
Children in fourth grade and younger must be supervised by someone over 16 years of age.
SATURDAY STORYTIME
Saturday, Dec. 21, 10:30-11 a.m. Start your weekend off with Cindy’s storytime.
LEGO TIME
Thursday, Dec. 26, 3-4 p.m.
Build something exciting with our LEGO collection.
LITTLES D&D
Saturday, Dec. 28, 1-2 p.m.
Suggested ages 6-8. Register
each individual child that plans to participate in this mini session of Dungeons & Dragons. No prior experience required. Adults should expect to stay and help their campaigner.
STORYTIME
Tuesday, Dec. 31, 10:30-11 a.m. Drop in for stories and fun.
MUSIC AND PLAYTIME
Thursday, Jan. 2, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Join in for music and dancing with Linda Bassick, then stay to play.
MULTI-AGE PROGRAMS
READ TO A DOG (ROCKO)
Thursday, Jan. 2, 3-4 p.m. Call to sign up for a 10-minute session to read to (or hang out with) Rocko the therapy dog.
ADULT PROGRAMS
For online programs or to join a book club, email daml@damlvt.org.
JANUARY SPICE CLUB: BAY LAUREL
Stop by to pick up January’s spice sample with information about
tasting notes and recipes to try.
ADULT MEDITATION (ONLINE)
Fridays, Dec. 20 and 27, 1212:30 p.m. Take time out to relax.
MAH JONGG
Friday, Dec. 20, 1-3 p.m. All levels welcome.
ADULT RPG: WHITE BOX
Thursday, Jan. 2, 6-8:30 p.m. Join our fantasy role-playing game for adults. Register online for details.
ADULT WINTER READING BOOK BINGO
Tuesday, Jan. 2- Saturday, Feb. 22. Drop by the front desk to pick up a Bingo Challenge Card or print one out online at www. damlvt.org. Read your way to bingo, then email or drop off your completed card to enter drawings for prizes at the end of February.
BOOK CLUB BUFFET (ONLINE)
Tuesday, Jan. 21, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Everyone knows no one talks to each other while on the train. But what if someone did? “Rules for Commuting” by Clare Pooley follows a chain reaction that
happens when someone takes that first step. Available at the library or in Libby (Overdrive).
PARENTING BOOK CLUB
Monday, Jan. 27, 5:30-6:30 p.m. The title selected for monthly discussions in January, February and March is “Hunt, Gather, Parent” by Michaeleen Doucleff. Rather than reading the entire book, the Parenting Book Club invites you to join the discussions whether you’ve read one page or the whole book. The book is available at the library or in Libby (Overdrive). While Parenting Book Club discussions take place, youth are invited to join the Reading Adventure in the Youth Room. This program is made possible by the Winnie Belle Learned Fund Grant.
BROWN BAG BOOK CLUB
Tuesday, Jan. 28, 12:30-1:30 p.m. A brilliant mathematics professor tries to foil a wannabe Bond villain’s plot to destroy a whole town in this mischievous novel. Available in Libby (Overdrive) or in print at the library.
SAVVY SENIOR
What happens to your debt when you die?
Dear Savvy Senior,
Can my kids inherit my debt after I die? I have taken on a lot of credit card debt over the past 10 years or so, and I’m worried that my son and daughter will get stuck with it when I die.
Indebted Senior
Dear Indebted,
In most cases, when a person with debt dies, it’s their estate, not their kids, that is legally responsible. Here’s what you should know.
DEBT AFTER DEATH
When you die, your estate — which consists of the stuff you own while you’re alive (property, investments and cash) — will be responsible for paying your debts. If you don’t have enough cash to pay your debts, your kids will have to sell your assets and pay off your creditors with the proceeds. Whatever is left over is passed along to your heirs as dictated by the terms of your will, if you have one. If you don’t have a will, the intestacy laws of the state you reside in will determine how your estate will be distributed.
If, however, you die broke, or there isn’t enough money left over to pay your “unsecured debts” — credit cards, medical bills, personal loans — then your estate is declared insolvent and your creditors will have to eat the loss.
“Secured debts” — loans attached to an asset, such as a house or a car — are a different story. If you have a mortgage or car loan when you die, those monthly payments will need to be made by your estate or heirs, or the lender can seize the property.
There are, however, a couple of exceptions that would make your kids legally responsible for your debt after you pass away. One is if your son and/or daughter is a joint holder on a credit card account that you owe on. And the other is if either one of them co-signed a loan with you.
SPOUSES BEWARE
If you’re married, these same debt inheritance rules apply to surviving spouses too, unless you live in a “community property” state, which includes Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New
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Mexico, Texas, Washington and
By Jim Miller
Wisconsin. In these states, any debts that one spouse acquires after the start of a marriage belongs to the other spouse too. Therefore, spouses in community property states are usually responsible for their deceased spouses’ debts.
PROTECTED ASSETS
If you have any IRAs, 401(k)s, brokerage accounts, life insurance policies or employer-based pension plans, these are assets that creditors usually cannot get access to. That’s because these accounts typically have designated beneficiaries, and the money goes directly to those people without passing through the estate.
SETTLING THE ESTATE
You should also make your kids aware that if you die with debt, and you have no assets, settling your estate will be fairly simple. Your executor will need to send out letters to your creditors explaining the situation, including a copy of your death certificate, and that will probably take care of it. But your kids may still have to deal with aggressive debt collectors who try to guilt them into paying.
If you have some assets, but not enough to pay all your debts, your state’s probate court has a distinct list of what bills get priority. The details vary by state, but generally estate administrating fees, funeral expenses, taxes and last illness medical bills get paid first, followed by secured debts and lastly, credit card debts.
NEED LEGAL HELP?
If you or your kids have questions or need legal assistance, contact a consumer law attorney or probate attorney. If you can’t afford a lawyer, go to LawHelp.org to search for free legal help in your area.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
Holiday fire prevention tips from the
Red Cross
The holidays are a wonderful time to get everyone together. Unfortunately, they can also mean a greater risk of a fire in someone’s home. This holiday season, the American Red Cross Northern New England Region encourages everyone to follow simple steps to prevent home fires from holiday decorations.
“December is the peak time for home fires involving candles and holiday decorations,” said John Montes, regional disaster officer with the American Red Cross. “Help protect your family by using battery-operated candles and practicing your two-minute escape plan with everyone in your household.”
Follow these holiday safety tips and visit www.redcross.org/fire for more information.
— If you must use candles, keep them away from anything that could burn, and place them out of reach of pets and children. Never leave burning candles unattended.
— Check all holiday light cords to ensure they aren’t frayed or broken. Don’t string too many strands of lights together, no more than three per extension cord.
— Ensure outside decorations are for outdoor use, and fasten lights securely to your home or trees. If using hooks or nails outside, make sure they are insulated to avoid electrocution or a fire hazard.
— If buying an artificial tree, look for a fire-resistant label. When putting it up, keep it away from fireplaces, radiators and other sources of heat. Never use electric lights on metallic trees.
— If getting a live tree, make sure it’s fresh and keep it watered. To test if the tree is fresh, bend the needles up and down to make sure no needles fall off.
— Don’t light the fireplace if hanging stockings or other decorations on the mantel.
— Install smoke alarms on every level of the home and outside each sleeping area. Test them once a month and replace the batteries at least once a year. If you cannot afford to purchase smoke alarms or are physically unable to install one, the Red Cross may be able to help. Visit the Red Cross website at redcross.org/EndHomeFiresNNE or call 1-800-464-6692 for more information.
TODAY’S HISTORY:
• In 1777, the Continental Army under George Washington set up winter quarters in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
• In 1932, the first BBC World Service radio broadcast aired, originally known as the Empire Service. In 1998, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach President Bill Clinton.
• In 2011, North Korea announced that dictator Kim Jong Il had died two days earlier.
TODAY’S FACT:
• Cicely Tyson, born on this day in 1924, was the first Black American woman to receive an honorary Oscar, awarded in November 2018.
CLASSIFIEDS
on the proposed operating budget for Fiscal Year 26.
LAKE IROQUOIS RECREATION DISTRICT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The Lake Iroquois Recreation District, a Union Municipal District located in Chittenden County, Vermont, will hold a public hearing on Monday, January 6, 2025 to receive public comments
The hearing will be held on Monday, January 6, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Annex meeting room.
Please contact Bruce Hoar, staff person, Lake Iroquois Recreation District at 802-878-1239 for copies of information relating to the proposed budget.
Nancy Lou Gurney Hayes
Nancy Lou Gurney Hayes died in December of 2024 at The Arbors after a long illness. She was 88 yrs. old.
She lived in Burlington and Williston for most of her life.
She was born to Kenneth and Pauline (Perkins) Gurney. Valedictorian of her Burlington High School class (’54), she went on to Middlebury College (’58), where she was a Sociology major and an active Pi Phi member. She married Dr. Jeremiah Hayes in 1960.
Nancy always wanted to be a mother and a teacher. Once
OBITUARIES
her children were in school, she earned a Fifth Year Certificate in Education at the University of Vermont (’75). She taught sixth grade Language Arts and Social Studies in the Milton School District from 1976 to 1996. Never stumped by a vocabulary word, her understated enthusiasm and quiet warmth made her delight in language contagious.
Her love of music was shared equally with family and friends. Her house – and her classroom – were filled with books, and she regularly played Handel’s “Water Music” to start the school day with her homeroom students.
Indulging a fascination for gemstones, Nancy worked at Fremeau Jewelers for several years after retirement. Active in DKG (an organization for women educators) for decades, she also served on the board of the Ruggles Foundation and was its chair during the Ruggles House transition to Cathedral Square ownership.
Often the last one to leave church coffee hour, Nancy knew everyone’s name. Setting a beautiful table, she hosted many extended family gatherings, always with a dog underfoot. Family debates were
settled by consulting the World Book encyclopedia.
Nancy enjoyed skiing and tennis as a younger woman; and the symphony, the theatre, and travel for much of her life. She returned with different family members to Eagle Camp in the Champlain Islands for over fifty years.
Wanting to stay in touch with far-flung family and friends, she embraced texting and FaceTime. She was particularly fond of emojis.
Nancy is survived by her husband, Jeremiah Hayes; her children, Laurel Hayes, Michael Hayes, and Kathleen Hayes; her grandson, Gavin BarrettHayes; her sister, Suzanne Day; her niece, Jennifer Mignano (Andrew); and her nephews, Jonathan Day (Mary Jo Llewellyn) and Thomas Day (Lisbeth).
Visitation will be at the A.W. Rich Funeral Home, 57 Main Street in Essex Junction Dec. 19 from 5 to 7 p.m.
A memorial service will take place on Dec. 20 at 11 a.m. at the First Congregational Church of Essex Junction, 39 Main Street, Essex Junction.
Please visit awrfh.com to share your memories and condolences.
UVM men’s soccer wins historic national title
BY KLARA BAUTERS VTDigger
The University of Vermont men’s soccer team lived up to its “Cardiac Cats” nickname Monday night, scoring late in the second half to send the NCAA national championship game into overtime before netting a golden goal to secure a 2-1 victory over Marshall University.
It was a historic night for the unseeded Catamounts, which won its first title in program history thanks to a sudden death overtime goal from Maximilian Kissel, a junior forward from Germany.
While the game took place in North Carolina, the energy was palpable at Nectar’s in Burlington, where more than 100 fans gathered for a watch party. The venue buzzed with excitement as free food and raffle tickets were handed out, and yellow-and-green bead necklaces sailed through the crowd — people mingled, snacked and sipped drinks while waiting for the game to start.
Most of the crowd consisted of University of Vermont students and recent graduates, but at one table, four retirees proudly donned UVM’s signature green and gold — matching caps and cheek stickers included — to
demonstrate their unwavering support for the team.
After a scoreless first half, Marshall struck first, with senior forward Tarik Pannholzer scoring in the 67th minute. The Marshall goal left the Nectar’s crowd frustrated.
But the equalizer came in the 81st minute from forward Marcell Papp, a graduate student from Hungary. The goal brought life back to the UVM fans at Nectar’s, prompting chants of “Go cats go.”
UVM alum Katie Moino took her sister Elisabeth, who plays soccer for Essex High School, to the watch party. At the start of overtime, they said they believed UVM had a good chance to win.
“It’s clearly the better team,” Moino said.
Less than five minutes into overtime, Kissel beat Marshall goalkeeper Aleksa Janjic oneon-one to claim the 2024 College Cup trophy for the Catamounts. Marshall, ranked No. 13, previously won the NCAA’s College Cup in 2020.
On the big screen, UVM coach Rob Dow wiped away tears as he hoisted the NCAA cup. Inside Nectar’s, Queen’s “We Are The Champions” blared through the speakers. Fans laughed, cheered and sang along as they made their way outside.
University of Vermont fans watch as the UVM men’s soccer team plays in the Division I national championship at Nectar’s in Burlington on Monday. UVM won the national title, defeating Marshall in overtime.
