Tapped!
A bug’s life
County forester recognized by his peers
Macroinvertebrates help measure stream health
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June 9, 2022
Weekly news coverage for Charlotte and Hinesburg
U.S. House candidates talk issues, positions
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Catching air
Vermont may elect first woman to Congress COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER
For the first time in 16 years, Vermont voters will send a new candidate to the U.S. House of Representatives. Whoever voters elect to serve will likely be the first women to represent Vermont in Washington. Several of the candidates at a recent debate at Shelburne’s town offices said it couldn’t come at a more critical time. Voting rights are being gutted, children and minorities are now routinely gunned down, states around the country are banning books about racism and antisemitism, women’s rights may soon take a major step backwards, the war in Ukraine continues to rage and the threat of climate change has become an ever-present reality, the candidates said throughout the 90-minute forum, which featured Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint and
Sianay Chase Clifford. Vermont Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale dropped out of the race at the last minute. The other Democrat in the race, Louis Meyers, wasn’t invited to participate, he said. “Gun violence is impacting everything we hold dear. Climate change is impacting everything we hold dear. There is a war raging in Ukraine and our democracy is hanging by a thread,” said Gray. “This is an extremely important moment.” “Our democracy is absolutely in peril,” Balint said. “We know what happens when democracies fail, and it doesn’t fail overnight. It happens little bits at a time, from scapegoating to demonizing people to having our rights stripped away. I feel completely and totally drawn to this moment of service.” Balint, Gray and Clifford, a former aide to U.S. Rep. Ayanna See CANDIDATES on page 11
Former health center property is purchased Assessed at $800K, Ferry Road land sells for less COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER
The property that was once set to be home to Charlotte’s Family Health Center was recently purchased by local business owner Mike Dunbar, who has not yet revealed any plans for the property. According to property transfer records, Charlotte Village Partners LLC purchased the 54-acre property at 251 Ferry Road in Charlotte’s West Village Center for $500,000
in March. The property was assessed by the town at $804,200 and was previously owned by the estate of Shirley Bruce. Dunbar did not respond to a request for comment. He also declined to comment through a public relations representative, but said he’d be “happy to share plans once they are solidified,” said Nicole Junas Ravlin. Dunbar is one of the principal owners of Charlotte Crossing, a See DUNBAR on page 2
PHOTO BY AL FREY
CVU’s Jackson Ruwet competes in a preliminary round of boy’s long jump at the Vermont Division I track and field championships held at Burlington High School on June 4. In competition, he placed fifth.