The Citizen - 09-29-22

CVSD equity audit highlights disparities

Generational divide between students, parents

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

The findings of the Champlain Valley School District’s equity audit show marginalized groups in the district are not achieving compa rably high outcomes compared to their peers.

There’s a generational divide between its students and their families in their understanding of the district’s equity and inclusion policy and practices, the audit found, and in the middle, teachers and school staff ask: What are we

supposed to be doing?

Brought into the district in December on a $67,950 contract, Mass Insight spent the year conducting virtual and in-per son interviews, collecting survey responses from more than 1,500 students in the district, 312 staff members and 234 family members of students, while engaging with students in 15 different focus groups and 25 with staff.

Ultimately, their findings showed a misunderstanding among

See AUDIT on page 7

Charlotte rejects bids for CVFRS consultant

Town to engage groups as effort evolves

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

The Charlotte Selectboard rejected each of the two bids it received for a consultant to estab lish a municipally operated fire and rescue department.

Instead, they plan to contact the Vermont League of Cities and Towns and the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission to “look into developing a scope of

work for a more specific coordi nator for the position that the town needs” to transition to a municipal fire and rescue service, selectboard member Matt Krasnow said.

“Someone we can hire to coor dinate the transfer” between the town and the nonprofit fire agency, selectboard member Lewis Mudge said of the role.

The move comes after the town

See CONSULTANT on page 7

Asters, anyone?

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

It’s fall when Vermont’s native asters bloom.

Free humanities speaker series starts in October

New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds, Vermont-based cartoon ist Alison Bechdel, “Wicked” author Gregory Maguire will participate in First Wednesdays, a monthly Vermont Human ities Council speaker series at libraries and community centers across the state.

The season kicks off Monday, Oct. 3, at Middlebury College with author Jason Reynolds who will discuss his collaborative work on the book “Stamped: Racism, Anti racism, and You,” a reimagining of Ibram X. Kendi’s “Stamped from the Beginning,” remixed for a young adult audience.

With frequent appearances on banned book lists, Reynolds will reflect on his efforts as an author and activist to inspire social change. Space is limited so advance registration is encouraged. (bit.ly/reyn olds-oct3)

Coming in November, Maguire shot to fame with his Wizard of Oz remix “Wicked,” later adapted as a Tony-winning musical that is now the fifth longest-run

ning show in Broadway history. In this moderated conversation, Maguire discuss es his revisionist history of L. Frank Baum’s fantastic universe, including its ongoing relevance in a world where we too easily put people in boxes labeled wicked and good.

He will sign books after his talk, includ ing the latest in his Oz series, “The Oracle of Maracoor.”

First Wednesdays includes in-person events in fall and spring with virtual events in the winter.

“Many of our attendees in recent years have told us they value viewing our talks from the comfort of their homes, especially during the winter months,” said director of programs Ryan Newswanger. “The series offers digital events to complement in-per son events in October, November, Decem ber, April and May.”

All events are free and open to the public. Learn more at vermonthumanities. org.

Shelburne Players bring ‘Almost, Maine’ to stage

PAX LOGIODICE COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE

Almost, Maine, is so far north, it’s almost not in the United States — it’s almost Canada. It almost doesn’t exist because its residents never got around to getting orga nized. So, it’s just … Almost.

One winter’s night, while the northern lights put on a show in the sky, residents of the town of Almost find themselves navigat ing love and loss, broken hearts, miscom munication and more.

“Almost, Maine: It’s love. But not quite.” That’s how a press release describes the upcoming Shelburne Players production of the play by John Cariani.

So, join the Players this October as they

take a trip to “Almost, Maine,” which opens Friday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m., Shelburne Town Center, 5420 Shelburne Road.

The production marks the community theater troupe’s return to a live stage.

“We had a really good turnout for audi tions,” director Eric Reid-St. John said. “A lot of actors I had never had the chance to meet before. It was really a tough choice in casting the show.”

The New England-based play, which premiered in 2004, has been produced nearly 5,000 times worldwide as of 2020 and was the most frequently produced play in U.S. high schools, according to News Center Maine.

The cast includes Eliza Caldwell, Christian Acosta, Su Reid-St John, Alex

Nalbach, Katie Pierson, Ben Certa, Kym Taylor, Kevin Cahoon, Karlie Kauffeld, Ethan DeWitt, Elizabeth Bates, Jill Silvia, Nathalie Mathieu-Bolh, David Belvedere, Kimberly Rockwood and Gunnar Sievert.

“Almost, Maine” features nine short scenes — plays within a play — that explore love and loss. In the “Sad and Glad,” for example, Jimmy and Sandrine (played by Certa and Pierson) navigate an awkward situation when Jimmy tries to flirt with his old flame only to learn Sandrine is about to marry. In “They Fell,” Deena and Shelley (Bates and Silvia) struggle to reach each other on an emotional level.

The Shelburne Players didn’t mount its spring production due to COVID-19 concerns. The group’s last staged play was “It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” a radio-centered adaptation of the classic 1946 film.

Actor Alex Nalbach spoke about the importance of having a community theater in Shelburne.

“Community theater … is a great way

for a community not only to support the arts in a way that remains really local (but) it’s also really great for people with busy lives to remain in touch with their creative side,” Nalbach said.

Actress Kimberly Rockwood described the amount of collaboration that goes into staging community theater productions.

“I think the collaboration that goes on with people behind the scenes and people off stage, it’s like a community organiza tion,” Rockwood said. “It gets people work ing together toward a common goal, and lets people, you know, shine their light.”

The play runs Friday to Sunday, Oct. 7-9, 7 p.m., with the Sunday showing a 2 p.m. matinee. It runs the following weekend, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 14-15, 7 p.m., with a special 2 p.m. Saturday matinee.

The Shelburne Players encourage every one to wear a mask while attending a perfor mance to protect themselves and others in the audience. Masks and proof of COVID19 vaccination status are no longer required.

More at shelburneplayers.com.

COURTESY PHOTO

Jason Reynolds

Privilege, power and hypocrisy

“Admissions” explores the ideals and contradictions of liberal white America. Sherri Rosen-Mason is head of the admissions department at Hillcrest, a New Hampshire prep school fighting to diversify the student body. Alongside her husband, the school’s headmaster, they’ve largely succeeded in bringing a stodgy institution into the 21st century. But when their only son sets his sights on an Ivy League university, personal ambition collides with progressive values, with convulsive results. The cast includes Jena Necrason, John Nagle, Orlando Grant, Amy Brennan and Mary Adams-Smith. Performances at Town Hall Theater, Middlebury, are Friday to Sunday, Oct. 7-9, and Thursday to Saturday, Oct. 13-15, at 7:30 p.m. There are also two Sunday matinees, 2 p.m., on Oct. 9 and 16. More townhalltheater.org or 802-382-9222.

Police agencies form gun task force

A group of local, state and federal law-enforcement agen cies have formed the Chittenden County Gun Violence Task Force to combat what it calls escalating gun violence in the state’s most populous county.

The Burlington Police Depart ment, in partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and numerous local, state and feder al agencies formed the group to “address the rapid and disturbing increase in firearm-related violent crime” in the county, according to a press releases.

Task force investigators will share techniques and resources, including crime gun intelligence, “to target individuals who are actively involved in or associated with firearm-related violence in Chittenden County.”

According to Burlington Police Department statistics, from 2012 through 2019, gunfire inci dents in Burlington averaged two per year. In 2020, the number rose to 12, and to 14 in 2021. In 2022 to date, police said, there have been 23 gunfire incidents, includ ing several gun-related killings.

“Tackling the unacceptable gun violence we’ve seen over the past three years will take a unified strategy,” said acting chief of the Burlington Police Department Jon Murad. “Our patrol officers

respond to these incidents, and they and our detectives often make great arrests, but there’s more to do if we want to take back the initiative. All law enforcement partners need to aggregate foren sic evidence. We need to identi fy offenders. We need to track trends and develop intelligence. We need to investigate crimes that relate to and sometimes lead to gun violence, like trafficking in narcotics and illegal guns.”

The task force will pool investigatory and technological resources, facilitate information sharing and create shared strat egies to combat gun violence, according to the group.

Perpetrators of firearm-relat ed violence will be referred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office or the Chittenden County State’s Attor ney’s Office, both of which are members of the task force.

“Gun violence is a public health crisis, and we need common sense and proactive solutions for gun safety and violence prevention to help save lives,” said Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George. “This is a shared responsibility, and I am committed to being a part of a joint effort to address the gun violence in our community head on, and from all angles. This task force will help address the violence in our community and

aid in our ability to hold those responsible, accountable.”

Additionally, the ATF Burling ton field office expects to receive a network acquisition station to speed up the entering of ballistics evidence in gun crimes. It is the only interstate ballistic imaging network in operation in the coun try.

The Burlington acquisition station will be the first of its kind in Vermont and will direct ly support the Chittenden County Gun Violence Task Force, as well as the greater Vermont law enforcement community, by link ing firearm-related crime scenes together and providing leads in a timely manner.

Other local partners include police departments in South Burlington, Milton, Winooski, Colchester, Williston, Essex and Shelburne. Other state and feder al partners include Vermont State Police, Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, Warden Service Division, Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles Investigations Unit, University of Vermont police, Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Secu rity Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Air and Marine Operations.

For more information, go to bit.ly/3r3aX6K

PHOTO BY MAX KRAUS

OPINION

Pie-eyed: ‘Sheer volume of pumpkin-esque offerings inescapable’

Guest Perspective

Walt Amses

I often invest time and energy in serious investigative journalism, particularly when questions need answers, situations require far more than a superficial glance or subtle threats have infiltrated without setting off too many alarm bells. Others probably perceived these issues as well but hadn’t paid them much mind simply because, like most Americans, they’re far too busy being far too busy to notice anything out of the ordinary.

In fact, in its own insidious way, this issue has become quite ordinary and therein dangerous. You’ve probably guessed by now what I’m talking about.

Years ago, since they mainly showed up in autumn, first as jacko’-lanterns on Halloween and then later, as tasty pies on Thanksgiving, pumpkins have crept into our lives so gradually we’ve sat idly by while the country was inundated each fall with what R.E.M. or the Denver Broncos might call an “Orange Crush.”

But whether you’re celebrating music or mayhem, you’d be hard pressed to deny that between the days growing shorter as October

looms and dwindling down to a precious few, gourds rule. It’s become pumpkin everything.

Which prompted my initial quest for as much data on this seasonal invasion as I could lay my hands on. So, I Googled “pumpkin everything” but instead of the usual multiplicity of website insights and glut of related information, I landed on a Facebook community called “Pumpkin Everything,” created by a woman named Lara, claiming to have “loved all things pumpkin for as long as I can remember.”

With over 140,000 follow ers, posting inane comments and photographs of guess what, the pledging of pumpkin allegiance began feeling like a cult, albeit a harmless one, like the people who collect salt and pepper shakers and meet in RV parks.

Mysterious even to me, I somehow found out that in August, a guy broke the record for floating on a river in a 767-pound pumpkin that he grew himself. He’d never tried such a thing before, vowing to never do it again but managing to travel nearly 38 miles down the Missouri River, hefting a beer afterward, asserting “the biggest feat was to grow a pumpkin big enough to do this.”

Just about as frivolous as most

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of the pop-up nonsense we typical ly encounter daily on our various devices, this, apparently for me, was a tipping point.

I’ve never really thought much about it, but if I had, I’d most likely think that aside from pie, the pumpkin spiced latte would have been quite sufficient to get us through the autumn holidays, especially since the only one I’ve ever had tasted a lot like that same pie put through a blender set on liquify. It tasted kind of stupid, like drinkable candy, so I dismissed it immediately as anything worthy of entering my mouth.

That was well before marketing determined anything worth doing was worth doing until it became a parody of itself. And even then, if it continued making money, sell the hell out of it because after all, noth ing succeeds in life like excess in the too much is not enough world.

The initial foray into Latte Land was unsurprisingly by Starbucks in 2001 and Peter Dukes, now the company’s director of Global Growth and Concepts who was once in charge of espresso drinks. Fresh off the success of another barely drinkable holiday favorite Peppermint Mocha, Dukes and others were charged with creating a drink for fall.

According to CBS News, they eventually narrowed their initial

hundred concepts down to 10 with caramel and chocolate initially winning out in taste tests but the pumpkin idea stayed alive after they brought slices of pumpkin pie into the R&D lab, “poured shots of espresso on ‘em and ate ‘em.”

As they say, the rest is history. Actually, more like well beyond history. The sheer volume of pump kin-esque offerings is inescapable this time of year as bizarre and redundant as some of them can be. With the guy bobbing down the Missouri as the catalyst, my antennae were primed and ready. I would search for the orange gourds in whatever dark corners they lurked, which turned out to be pretty easy because they didn’t lurk. They were right out there in the open, flaunting their season al status as the national fruit of choice.

Pumpkin spiced baked goods made some sense as variations on a pie theme, but pumpkin Twinkies or Oreos? How about a little pump kin in your popcorn, or chocolate truffles? Cereal, nondairy creamer, almonds, bonbons, cheesecake ice cream and biscotti all make the cut. But exploring the pumpkinization of all things edible quickly veers into “Whose idea was this?” terri tory. And — full disclosure — I never actually attempted eating or drinking any of the products listed

Restoring

Tuesday, Oct 25, 2022 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

DoubleTree by Hilton 870 Williston Road South Burlington, VT 05403

since my gag reflex was activated by simply reading labels and imag ining how they might taste.

How about, for instance, pump kin spiced instant noodles, eggnog, yogurt, and even vegan mini marshmallows, which sound like they should be accompanied by an attendant well versed in the Heim lich maneuver. You can cleanse your palate with pumpkin-flavored beer. If you’re wondering what wine pairs with pumpkin-infused gnocchi or pumpkin-filled ravioli, wonder no more. The California Fruit Wine Company fills the bill with a vintage called Pumpkin Bog, which sounds confused with cranberries.

As my investigation intensified, I realized I’d bitten off more than I could chew, especially considering the thought of chewing anything on the growing list of culinary catastrophes filled me with dread. Can anything be worse than what KFC is calling a Pumpkin and Feta Twister? Is there a way of making candy corn or Peeps taste worse? Even the option of brushing it all away with pumpkin spiced toothpaste or soap on a rope offered little solace. I was out of my league.

Paging Merrick Garland.

Walt Amses is a Vermont-based writer.

Faith Summit

An inspiring one day conference with world renowned social scientists, faith leaders and physicians to discuss the importance of science, faith and family in a time of social upheaval.

Featuring Dennis Prager, radio host and other national leaders.

Go to www.restoringourfaithsummit.com to register.

OPINION

Get facts on elective abortions

A lot of misinformation is being circulated regarding the abortion-rights amendment known as Article 22 or Proposal 5, which will appear as a ballot measure on Nov. 8. As a member of the Legis lature and a physician practicing obstetrics and gynecology for 40 years, I would like to offer my perspective.

In addition to being a member of the Legislature, I serve as the division chief of general OB/GYN at University of Vermont Medical Center, the division responsible for providing termination of pregnancy services at the medical center.

Through these roles, I have learned the policies, health impli cations and political landscape surrounding abortion rights in our state. In summary, legislative restrictions on reproductive rights are a huge risk to women’s overall health.

Pregnancy terminations are very safe procedures, and the earlier in pregnancy they are done, the safer they are. When legislatures restrict access to reproductive health care, including abortion, we see a large overall increase in maternal morbidity and mortality. This is why the passage of this amendment is so import ant. It will change nothing about current restrictions regarding preg nancy terminations in Vermont, but only prevent the political imposition of new restrictions in the future.

Perhaps the most common and disturbing piece of misinforma tion being circulated surrounding Article 22 is the idea that it will remove all restrictions on abortion and “enshrine elective pregnan cy termination up to the time of birth.”

This is blatantly untrue. There currently are and there

will continue to be restrictions on abortion procedures in Vermont. What will be enshrined in our Constitution is that politicians (the Legislature and the governor) will not determine what restrictions should be placed on abortion procedures, but rather that these restrictions will be left — as they are now and as they should be — to hospitals, professional medical organizations and the Board of Medical Practice, which set stan dards of care with which Vermont providers must comply.

The Board of Medical Practice can revoke a physician’s license for a single episode of “failure to conform to the essential standards of acceptable and prevailing prac tice.” As such, practitioners are held to evidence-based standards.

Additionally, state regulations require that every pregnancy termination be reported to the state, and if beyond 20 weeks, reported with a completed death certificate that requires extensive background information about the parents and medical situation.

There is not currently, nor will there be due to this amendment, any provider or facility in Vermont doing elective terminations beyond the gestational age of 21 weeks, six days, with 22 weeks being the currently accepted threshold of viability.

Terminations after 21 weeks and 6 days are very rarely performed in Vermont, and those are done only in the hospital setting at University of Vermont Medical Center. Hospitals are very highly regulated and maintain clear guidelines prohibiting elec tive terminations from 22 weeks onward.

A pregnancy termination beyond 21 weeks and 6 days in Vermont only occurs in very specific circumstances, including for severe fetal anomaly, a fetal condition incompatible with life or a dangerous, possibly life-threat ening maternal health reason.

If termination is requested beyond 21 weeks and 6 days, an ethics consultation must be obtained to review the indications before the induction of labor or termination can be done. If the ethics committee does not agree, the termination is not done. We only do three to five terminations after 21 weeks and 6 days per year at University of Vermont Medical Center.

The amendment will not change that.

Some Vermonters may wonder: Why is it important to make this constitutional change if we already have laws protecting reproductive rights in Vermont?

In the last legislative session, there were no less than five proposed bills that would have restricted reproductive rights in Vermont. One stated specifically: “This bill proposes to narrow the right to reproductive choice.”

Without the proposed constitu tional amendment, we can expect continued attempts to restrict reproductive rights in every legis lative session.

Passage of Article 22/Proposal 5 by popular vote on Nov. 8 would be the final step of this multi-stage process to amend the Vermont Constitution. The measure was originally approved by the House and Senate in the 2019-20 legis lative biennium and, as required, was passed again by both cham bers in the 2021-22 biennium.

These were critical steps to protecting the right to access reproductive services in our state, but they will be meaningless if this amendment is not passed by a popular vote on Nov. 8.

Rep. George Till of Jericho is a board-certified obstetrician-gy necologist who has served in the Vermont Legislature since 2008. He is also an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Vermont School of Medicine.

Guest Perspective

George Till

Fall beauty

Artists, organizations win creation, arts impact grants

Several local artists and arts organiza tion were the recipients of Creation Grants and Arts Impact Grants from the Vermont Arts Council.

Creation Grants support artists in creat ing new work and Arts Impact Grants assist nonprofits, municipalities and schools to expand access to the arts.

Twenty-five Vermont artists were award ed a Creation Grant, including Aly Perry

of Hinesburg to support the creation of a devised immersive theater piece exploring environmental degradation and grief enti tled “Solastalgia.”

Recipients were selected by two inde pendent panels composed of 38 practicing Vermont artists and arts professionals.

Twenty-three Arts Impact Grants were awarded out of a total of 55 applications.

Buster

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

A fall wildflower along the trails on Mt. Philo in Charlotte.

parents of what the district’s equity work hopes to accomplish, while finding that historically marginal ized groups — students with indi vidual education plans, students who qualify for free or reduced lunch, and nonwhite students — are not achieving comparably high outcomes compared to their peers, while a lack of data complicates implementation across the school district.

Those historically marginalized students in the district had gradu ation rates of 82.6 percent in 2019 and 86.6 percent in 2021, compared to 97.2 percent and 98.3 percent, respectively, for their peers, accord ing to Mass Insight.

Paramount to furthering the district’s equity policy, adopted in December 2020, is creating a shared purpose among the stake holders and then putting them into practice, team members with Mass Insight said.

The Boston-based compa ny partners with states, districts, schools and communities across the country “to implement customized strategies ... so that all students, and particularly those who have been systematically marginalized, are prepared to achieve their academic and personal potential”

“We envision a world in which student achievement and related life outcomes no longer correlate with race, gender, ethnicity, social class or zip code, because all students have equitable opportuni ties, support and access to quality education,” said Robbie Curry, the engagement director on the school improvement team with Mass Insight. “We believe the school is a unit of change.”

The preliminary presentation can be found at bit.ly/3BOLoLR, and the meeting where the presen tation was held can be viewed at bit.ly/3SEeN2g.

“Our next steps over the next month are to look more in depth ... so we have the opportunity to unpack a lot of the information that has come to us,” Superintendent Rene Sanchez said.

Generational divide

In an open letter to educators and district leaders, shown during the presentation, members of the Champlain Valley Union High School’s Student Justice Alliance asked that “issues related to DEI should not be treated as a political endeavor but as a matter of human rights.”

“We are students, we are lead ers, but we are also children. We have all fought countless battles in our lives to help protect these rights. We ask for help in this fight,” the letter read.

Students in the district and at Champlain Valley Union High School are driving the conversa

tion around diversity, equity and inclusion work, Mass Insight team members said.

“To give a high level summa ry, (SJA members) have attend ed and presented at conferences; they’ve traded learning materials and conducted trainings; orga nized events for students and staff around sexual assault, DEI, climate change, mental health aware ness, using personal pronouns and LGBTQ+ history; they’ve part nered and fundraised with local businesses; and they’ve also devel oped and implemented curriculum reform by creating elected cours es and refining existing syllabi,” Artemus Werts, a consultant with Mass Insight, said.

“SJA student members and CVSD student members at large took such broad action to ensure the protection of students human rights that the Burlington Free press claimed that students have become the teachers,” he added.

On the other end of the spec trum are adults.

Many families survey expressed concern with the district’s equity policies, while 15 percent of the family members surveys said the district should cease inclusivity work all together.

“The equity/inclusion garbage has gone WAY too far. It’s time to focus on serving the majori ty instead of pandering to a small vocal minority,” one family member said in a response present ed to the district.

“My children should not be made to feel like they are less of a person because of their skin or race. Critical Race Theory should not be taught in schools, stick to academ ics,” another wrote.

The comments show a mismatch in understanding of what the district wants to accomplish with its diver

sity, equity and inclusion policy. This, ultimately, has led to what students have described as a “polit ically charged” debate over what they believe is a human rights issue.

“Discuss the issues of the world through the human rights lens ... in no situation can you, or your students, debate human rights. Not on a political basis, a religious basis or upon personal beliefs. Be brave enough to start hard conversations with your students. If you don’t feel ready to, educate yourself,” the Student Justice Alliance letter reads.

“It was really telling that there were multiple comments about crit ical race theory when it’s not being actively taught in our district,” school board member Joselyn Adams said. “One of the things was

CONSULTANT continued from page 1

received only two bids for a consul tant to help transition the staff and operations of the Charlotte Volun teer Fire and Rescue Services under municipal oversight.

One bid was from a company in Wyoming for $44,000 — well over the bid request’s $30,000 limit — and another was a $28,000 bid from Rob Mullin, the service’s former deputy chief who has been accused of sexually discriminating against women within the department.

Earlier this month, a news report citing anonymous sources claimed that a drop in the number of female employees and volun teers was due to sexual discrimi nation by Mullin, who passed over women with equal training creden tials for advancement to their male coworkers.

The story reported that an out-of-court settlement had been

going through my head was, well, how do we combat that? How do we educate or grow that collective understanding of what DEI looks like in our district so that, as our students are saying, it’s less politi cal.”

Caught in the middle are the teachers — who Mass Insight team members say are unaware of how to accomplish the goals laid out in the district’s equity policy.

“Staff at all levels need better access and training for understand ing school and student level data,” team members said.

Meanwhile, a lack of disaggre gated data prevents the district from examining trends in disciplinary referrals and outcomes. Four out of the five schools in the district could not disaggregate or break down

their data beyond gender, and in Shelburne — the only school where there is data — Mass Insight found a “large uptick in rates of referrals for students of color in the last school year compared to their enrollment,” Krista Reed, an analyst with Mass Insight, said.

“There is no shared under standing ... in the district of what is DEI, what are our DEI initiatives, and what are we trying to accom plish?” school board chair Angela Arsenault said. “I’m feeling really cognizant of the fact, as a board member, that an equity policy does not equal a shared understanding, as much as we like to think that it could.”

“I’m glad we adopted the policy, but we need to do more with it as a board,” she said.

reached with a female fire and rescue squad employee, but that has yet to be verified.

Mullin denies the claims, and Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services president John Snow said previously that the organization “maintains a firm and vigorous commitment to a fair and safe work environment.”

The town has been working for months — largely behind closed doors — to pull fire services under municipal control.

The discussions seemed to have gained an air of cooperation in recent weeks after the organiza tion’s board called out the select board for discussing a transition in “so-called executive session.”

The town has been working the board members since and in August voted to request bid for proposals for a consultant to help

with the transition.

For years, the relationship between the town and the fire squad has been governed by a memorandum of agreement. Orig inally inked by the town and the service in 2014, the agreement was supposed to be renewed every two years but was put on the back burner due to COVID-19 proto cols as well as work on the town’s development review board.

Charlotte fire and rescue has provided emergency response service for Charlotte since 1950. It operates as a nonprofit organization run by a board of directors.

“If we’re going to spend a million dollars on this service, the selectboard has to have some over sight and visibility of what’s going on there,” Charlotte resident Tony Kinson said during a recent meet ing.

Community Notes

Try out shape-note singing at Charlotte Senior Center

Shape-note singing, or a cappella, four-part harmony, has been called “full-body, shout-itout singing” and is also known as Sacred Harp (1750-1850).

The Charlotte Senior Centers holds a sing-in on Sunday, Oct. 2, 1-3 p.m. with Mark Williams.

Songbooks are provided and the event is open to both newcom ers and experienced singers. There are no performances and no audi tions, and a “good voice” is not required.

Stop by to listen, sing and leave whenever you wish.

Questions? Email Kerry Culli nan at kclynxvt@gmail.com.

Learn about Vermont’s Ethan Allen Homestead

Visit the Ethan Allen Home stead Museum, with a guided tour of the 235-year-old Allen House, visit Negöni Alnôbaakik, a recon structed Abenaki village, view the exhibits and explore the recon structed 18th century colonial garden on Friday, Oct. 7, 10-11:30 a.m.

To register, call 802-4256345. Either plan to meet at the Ethan Allen Homestead or coor dinate with others to carpool from

Star turn

COMMUNITY

the center.

Cost is $10. Registration required by Wednesday, Oct.

5. Questions? Visit charlottese niorcentervt.org.

Senior center hosts Monday Munch

The next Monday Munch at the Charlotte Senior Center is Oct. 3,

212 Ferry Road, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The meal features bratwurst with sauerkraut and mustard on a bun, German potato salad, home made soft pretzels, root bear, German-style dessert.

A $5 donation is appreciated.

The menu for Oct. 10 and 17 have not yet been announced.

Check the website in case of last-minute cancellations at char lotteseniorcentervt.org.

Register ahead for Age Well meals

The Age Well meal pickup for Thursday, Oct. 6, is from 10-11 a.m., Charlotte Senior Center, 212 Ferry Road, and features baked meatloaf, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, wheat dinner roll with butter, sugar date cookie and milk.

You must have pre-registered by Monday, Oct. 3, with Kerrie Pughe, 802-425-6345 or kpughe@ charlotteseniorcentervt.org

The meal on Thursday, Oct. 13 — register by Oct. 10 — features chicken cacciatore, wheat rotini, peas and carrots, wheat bread with butter, strawberry shortcake with cream and milk.

The meal on Thursday, Oct. 20 — register by Oct. 17 — pork cutlet, brown gravy, mashed pota toes, diced beets, mini wheat hamburger roll with butter, water melon and milk.

Check the website for last-min

ute cancellations at charlottese niorcentervt.org.

Shirley Bean reflects on origins of senior center

Join Shirley Bean as she tells the story of the Charlotte Senior Center, Wednesday, Oct. 5, at 1 p.m.

An unexpected bequest from the estate of Charlotte resi dent Walter Irish and his wife, Gertrude, Bean led a group of community members in fulfill ing the requirements of the will, which would provide the funds for a senior center.

This video was taped on Sept. 11, 2008, with Bob Chutter and Don and Betty Ann Lockhart. Shirley’s story was transcribed by Diane Nichols.

Register by Tuesday, Oct. 4 by calling the center at 802-4256345.

Red Cross hosts blood drive in Charlotte

The American Red Cross holds a blood drive on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2-7 p.m., at the Charlotte Senior Center

Call 800-RED-CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org and enter char lotte to schedule an appointment.

COURTESY PHOTO

The Vermont Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired held Dancing with the Burlington Stars after a two-year hiatus on Sept. 11 at the Flynn Theatre in Burlington, selling more tickets and raising more money than ever before, organizers say. The event featured local celebrities and dance professionals to help Vermonters who are blind or visually impaired to be more independent, cultivate adaptive skills and improve their quality of life.

OUTDOORS

Freshwater marshes are biodiversity hotspots

The Outside Story

Susan Shea

Sunlight glinted off the water as we paddled our canoe along a winding channel which led through a marsh of tall grasses and wild rice. Two white, long-legged birds — great egrets — stalked the shal low water, poised to spear fish with their pointed bills. A bald eagle landed in a tree, squawking as it joined its mate. After four miles of canoeing down the Missisquoi River in northwestern Vermont we had reached the point where the river enters Lake Champlain.

Along the river we had passed an array of marshes — shallow emergent marsh, cattail marsh, deep bulrush marsh, wild rice marsh — a vast mosaic that makes up much of Missisquoi Nation al Wildlife Refuge. Marshes are open wetlands with soft-stemmed vegetation, where saturated soils or standing water prevent most shrubs and trees from growing. These wetlands are rich in biodi versity.

Marsh plants have special adaptations that enable them to survive the wet conditions. For example, cattails and arrowhead can exchange gases between their emergent leaves and submerged roots. The type of vegetation that grows in a particular marsh depends on hydrology and soil. In shallow marshes, the water level varies from just a few inches to a foot deep. The soil may be always saturated, or it may be flooded periodically.

Deeper marshes are perma nently flooded, with large areas of open water. Marsh soils range from decomposed muck to high-organic mineral soil.

Along the edges of lakes, ponds and rivers, marsh vegetation often grows in distinct bands, influenced by water depth and exposure. Sedges, for example, will grow in moist to saturated soil. Cattails and pickerelweed, with its distinc tive stems of purple flowers, prefer standing water through most of the growing season. Aquatic bulrush and wild rice are found in deeper water.

These and several other plants, such as floating duckweed and arrow arum, form the foundation of the marsh food web. Waterfowl and other birds feed on the plants’ seeds, fruit and vegetation, and the plants’ decomposed remains nour

ish a host of invertebrates such as snails, worms, crayfish and insects.

The invertebrates in turn provide food for frogs, fish, turtles and songbirds, which feed water snakes, raccoons, herons, osprey and bald eagles, among others. Muskrats are common marsh resi dents, eating the rhizomes (roots) of cattails and water lilies and building their dome-shaped winter lodges with cattail leaves. Mink slide through the lodges’ underwa ter entrances to prey on muskrats.

Many birds, including hard-tosee bitterns, nest in marshes, and red-winged blackbirds often attach their nests to old cattail stalks.

On our journey down the Missisquoi, we were amazed at the sheer abundance of wildlife, nourished in part by the refuge’s marshes. Around every bend we found great blue herons, stalking prey in shallow water. When star tled, these large birds would take off, their huge wings flapping ponderously.

Kingfishers flew out from the trees, making their rattling calls. Freshwater mussels were visible underwater, sticking out of the silt on the bottom. A green heron, its long neck folded back onto its shoulders, rocketed across the river in front of our bow.

In addition to providing outstanding wildlife habitat, fresh water marshes perform several vital ecological functions. Marsh

OUTSIDE STORY

page 11

ILLUSTRATION BY ADELAIDE MURPHY TYROL

CVU girls’ volleyball remains undefeated

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Girls’ volleyball

Champlain Valley 3, South Burling ton 0: CVU grabbed a win on Wednesday, beating South Burlington in straight sets.

The Redhawks won the first set 25-16, the second 25-14 and the third 25-20.

With the win, the girls move to 6-0.

Field hockey

Champlain Valley 4, Burlington 1: The Champlain Valley field hockey team remained undefeated with a win over Burlington on Saturday.

Burlington took an early lead, but the Redhawks responded with goals from four different players to get the win.

Claire Marcoe, Cordelia Thomas, Miranda Oppenheimer and Carly Stro beck each scored for CVU (4-0), while Grace Ferguson stopped three shots to get the win in goal.

Boys’ soccer

Champlain Valley 7, BFA-St. Albans 0: Zach Spitznagle tallied a hat trick and Champlain ran away with a win over BFA-St. Albans on Saturday, Sept. 24.

Spitznagle had three goals and one assist, while Sam Dennison (one assist), Lucas Kelly (one assist) and Nicolas Menard each added a goal.

Kyle Clairmont, Jacob Lepple and Miles Glover each had assists for the Redhawks.

Girls’ soccer

Champlain Valley 2, South Burling ton 1 (OT): Champlain Valley scored late in regulation and then won it in overtime to get a measure of revenge in a rematch of last year’s Division I title game on Friday.

Pecor scored on a penalty kick with seconds remaining in the second half to tie the game and send it to overtime. Zoe Klein then converted off a free kick to

give CVU the win. Stella Dooley had the assist on Klein’s game winner.

Emma Allaire made two saves and the Redhawks move to 3-0-1.

Boys’ golf

The boys won their match in West Bolton Wednesday, Sept. 21.

Connor Malaney paced the Redhawks and earned medalist honors with a score of 36. Camden Ayer and Jake Strobeck

both had a 39, Zach Vincent added a 40 and Emerson Ayer rounded out the golfers with a 41.

CVU came first in the team competi tion with a score of 154, Mount Mansfield (165) was second and Colchester (186) came in third.

Football

Champlain Valley 50, St. Johnsbury 28: Champlain Valley broke out to a 33-0

lead and then held off St. Johnsbury for a win on Friday night, Sept. 23.

Jack Sumner had a rushing touchdown and TD catch for the Redhawks (4-1). Max Destito had a 2-yard touchdown run and threw a 17-yard touchdown pass. Asher Vaughn added two rushing touch downs, while Jacob Armstrong and Brian Rutherford each caught a pass for a score.

Ollie Cheer threw two touchdown passes to round out the scoring for CVU.

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A Champlain Valley Union field hockey player battles for the ball in a winning matchup against Burlington on Saturday. The Redhawks move to 4-0 on the season.

Kelly Brush Ride raises $1 million, sets milestone

This year’s Kelly Brush Ride raised more than $1 million for the first time ever and, as a result the Kelly Brush Foundation will be able to award $1 million in adap tive sports equipment grants this year.

“The direct impact of the generosity of our riders, support ers and sponsors can be seen in the fact that we reached a second record in the number of adaptive equipment grants we will be able to give,” said executive director Edie Perkins.

On Sept. 10 in Middlebury, more than 900 riders on 77 teams, along with 40 adaptive riders, participated in the ride.

“Hitting the $1 million mark for two key milestones —funds raised

and grants awarded—really takes the foundation to the next level. This level of fundraising puts the Kelly Brush Ride among the top charity rides in the country,” said Kelly Brush, whose family start ed the foundation following a ski racing accident that left her para lyzed in 2006.

To date, the foundation has awarded more than 1,400 adap tive equipment grants to people in 49 states for adaptive equipment. The ride also supports the founda tion’s ski racing safety program. Each year grants are awarded to nonprofit ski clubs and racing programs for improving race course safety. In 2022, the founda tion awarded a record $120,000 in course improvement grants.

Vermont grouse, woodcock hunting starts Saturday

A quiet walk down a hidden woods road, bright fall foliage coloring the canopy overhead and the crisp, cool air of an early morning, these are just some of the elements of a great Vermont upland gamebird hunting experi ence.

Hoping to see the dramatic flush of a grouse or woodcock is, of course, another reason hunters try to get out into Vermont wood lands in the fall.

Vermont’s hunting season for ruffed grouse or partridge is Sept. 24 to Dec. 31 this year. The daily limit is four grouse with a posses sion limit of eight.

The Vermont woodcock hunt ing season is Sept. 24 to Nov.

7. The daily limit is three with a possession limit of nine.

Woodcock are often found in alders along brooks and near beaver ponds as well as in new-growth small timber where old fields are reverting to forest or recent timber harvests have occurred. Ruffed grouse also frequent the same habitat, and they are particularly fond of the apples they find under wild apple trees.

All migratory game bird hunt ers must also be registered with the Harvest Information Program in each state they hunt. Register on the Vermont Fish and Wild life Department’s website or call 877-306-7091. More at vtfishand wildlife.com.

OUTSIDE STORY

continued from page 9

plants capture sediments running off the land from roads, develop ment and farm fields and filter out excess nutrients that would other wise degrade water quality. These wetlands store floodwaters, control erosion and recharge groundwa ter supplies. Marshes also offer recreational value and are popular places for paddling, birdwatching, hunting, and fishing.

Unfortunately, only in recent decades have people recognized the value of marshes and other wetlands and, to some extent, given them legal protection. Since European settlement, many marsh es have been filled for agriculture

or development, polluted by indus trial run-off or converted to ponds or lakes by dams.

In some locales, there have been restoration efforts, but it is challenging to replicate a natural marsh, although beaver activity can create new marshes or change them to create other forms of wetlands.

Late summer is a great time to explore a marsh, especially as early migrating birds make use of this habitat. Easy-to-access marsh es to visit include The Nature Conservancy’s LaPlatte River Marsh Natural Area in Shelburne, the Chaffee Wildlife Sanctuary in

Lyme, N.H., where there are nature trails, and McDaniels Marsh Wild life Management Area in Grafton, N.H., accessible by boat.

Susan Shea is a natural ist, writer, and conservationist based in Vermont. Illustration by Adelaide Murphy Tyrol. The Outside Story is assigned and edited by Northern Woodlands magazine and sponsored by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Founda tion, .nhcf.org.

ROSH HASHANAH

Friday, September 30

6:00 p.m. Shabbat Shuvah

YOM KIPPUR

Tuesday, October 4

7:00 p.m. Kol Nidrei service

Wednesday, October 5

10:00 a.m. Yom Kippur morning service

12:30 p.m. Yizkor memorial service

1:00 p.m. Group walk, Recreation Path

4:00 p.m. Yoga for Yom Kippur

5:00 p.m. Minchah afternoon service

6:00 p.m. Ne’ilah concluding service

7:06 p.m. Havdalah, break-the-fast

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PUBLIC HEARING Hinesburg Development Review Board

Tuesday, October 18, 2022 7:00 pm

Ben Brown/Russell & Carol Fox/Jesse Paul – Subdivision revision to adjust the previously approved property line change to better match the existing Partridge Hill roadway.

The meeting will be both in person and remote. See meeting agenda on town website with details on how to participate.

COURTESY PHOTO

Handcyclists roll from the start of the Kelly Brush Ride in Middlebury in September. The ride raised more than $1 million for the first time ever.

Hometown to House

Candidate talks grief, hope on campaign trail

AVALON STYLES-ASHLEY STAFF WRITER

The last few months of Emilie Krasnow’s life have been bitter sweet, heavy with looming grief like a rollercoaster ticking slowly higher, but also wonderful, like the rush of it hurtling down the track at full tilt.

A beautiful dream rimmed with unbearable sadness.

Part of the dream came true for Krasnow, 37, when she won her bid for one of South Burl ington’s five House seats in the Aug. 9 primary. Just like her late father, Gerald, a representative from Charlotte from 1994-1998, Krasnow knocked on the door of nearly every residence in her Chit tenden-9 district, in spite of being the only candidate for the seat on the ballot.

Should she win in the Novem ber General Election, Krasnow will head to Montpelier next year.

But at the same time her campaign has flourished, she’s been helping care for her mother who still lived in Krasnow’s childhood home in Charlotte and who recently died after being in hospice.

In July before the primary, tucked into a red booth at the Parkway Diner next to a stack of campaign flyers, Krasnow teared up, saying she wasn’t sure if her mom, Susan, would make it to the election.

“I asked her, when the seat opened up, if I should do it, and she said, ‘This is your dream. This is what your dad wanted, this is what I want,’” Krasnow recalled.

It’s not how she expected her first campaign to look.

She’s been entrenched in the political sphere, visiting the State house with her father, who served as a Charlotte School Board member as well, since she was a little girl. Work on campaigns for candidates throughout the state, including former Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, brought Krasnow into this work as an adult and helped her clarify some of the issues clos est to her heart — affordability, housing and health care, to name a few.

Despite running unopposed, she’s campaigned loudly, posting yard signs, sending out flyers and gaining support from establish ment Democrats around the state, including Rep. Peter Welch, Sen. Thomas Chittenden, Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale and Rep. Ann Pugh, whose seat Krasnow hopes to succeed and who is acting as her campaign treasurer.

Fortunately, she and her mom were able to share her primary win

together, Krasnow said in a follow up interview last week.

“The campaign has kept me focused and kept me going because I know so many people are struggling right now. And if there’s anything I could do to make people’s lives better, that’s all I want to do,” she said.

A varied platform

Underneath the polished peri winkle blue button-down Kras now often sports, she has a swath of ink. Tattoos on her arms and legs give a peek into who she is in her personal life — a lover of punk rock, motorcycles and inde pendent film — and the somewhat “rebellious” teen she was growing up. Although, she noted, despite her musical leanings and ability to skateboard, she was still voted class president in eighth grade.

Krasnow describes herself as a people person — “a talker,” she said, chuckling.

It’s true: one question about what she considers to be the most important issues facing South Burlingtonians leads her to cover housing, education, social justice and inclusivity, paid family medi cal leave, the dog park, the library, food insecurity, reproductive rights and the pressures facing the “sandwich generation,” Gen Xers taking care of their children and aging parents.

Among other things.

Sometimes her talking points exude that politician sound, some thing difficult to avoid after work ing at the Statehouse and on other campaigns for 10 years, but it also it doesn’t hurt that she has a gift of gab and endorsements from the big names in Vermont politics.

She said she will use her range of experience, volunteering gigs and her recent campaign to achieve her No. 1 goal of bringing “more voices and ideas into the fold.”

“A decade of community orga nizing has people from all over the state supporting me because they know that I will not only advocate for my district, but I will advocate for my community in South Burl ington and all of Vermont, just like my dad did,” she said.

Recently Krasnow’s full time job had been helping to take care of her mother — a “privilege” she didn’t take for granted, Krasnow said.

It opened her eyes to inequi ties in the health care system and made her push for paid family and medical leave a big part of her platform.

“If I’m elected, I will advocate for it the minute I’m there,” she said, adding that “being a care

taker is not easy” and that there should be more support for care givers in the health care system.

She also volunteers at various places, including the South Burl ington Food Shelf every Thurs day, the Infinite Youth Center, and she is a member of the South Burl ington Democrats, the Library Aspire Campaign, Rotary and the city’s housing trust fund commit tee, among others.

“The last couple of years I’ve been caretaking for my mother and volunteering, and I recog nize that I have the privilege to do that and not everyone does. But my mom wanted me to be there and as she faces her final time, I don’t want to look back and not be there,” she said.

Krasnow has also been study ing at night with a program through the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza School of Business, and she’s also a graduate of Vermont’s Emerge program, which trains and supports Democratic women candidates for office. Some of her fellow graduates over the years include Shelburne Rep. Jessica Brumsted, Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, and Vermont Senate Pro Tem and Democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives, Becca Balint.

To outgoing South Burlington representative Maida Townsend, who has known Krasnow since she was knee-high and used to work at Winooski High School with her father, Krasnow’s dogged campaign is one example of her true commitment.

“I think it’s really, really important to show people how much the process means to you, how much they mean to you. How are our folks supposed to know unless you come knocking at the door?” Townsend said.

When Krasnow was working as an aide at the Statehouse, the pair would often carpool together: “So I got to hear her about what she was doing and how it was for her to have to be a silent observ er in this committee room or that committee room. To do that takes great stamina,” Townsend said. She later got to hear as they carpooled together about Kras now’s constituent work for the lieutenant governor when Zucker man was in office.

“I was always really impressed with how she had this very deep, almost cellular understanding of the importance of connecting Vermonters who aren’t direct ly part of the legislative process with whoever their representative

might be, so that their voices were heard, their issues were heard, that real life experience was trans ferred,” Townsend said. “She was invaluable for that. It was clear to me that she said she understood quite profoundly that it wasn’t a superficial kind of thing. It meant a great deal to her.”

In the Statehouse

Gerald Krasnow, a teacher in the Winooski School District and active participant in local and state politics, died just two weeks after his election in 1998, when Krasnow was just 13.

His impression on her early life has been a huge influence on the last couple decades of Emilie Krasnow’s life, and his commit ment to public service is part of what inspired her to follow in his footsteps and run for the Legisla ture, Krasnow said.

“I pretty much grew up (in the Statehouse),” she said, recall ing hanging out with her dad and listening to books-on-tape when he was in session.

Her sister, Alysia Krasnow Butler, was appointed to serve the remainder of their father’s seat when she was just 26. Butler lives

COURTESY PHOTO

Emilie Krasnow helped to care for her mother, Susan, who died Sept. 13 after a long battle with cancer, giving her intimate but painful insight into something she wants to tackle as a legislator: reforming health care and supporting caregivers.

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in Massachusetts and chats with her sister on the phone at least once a day. She’s incredibly proud of the campaign Krasnow has run so far.

“Sometimes I feel like in the political world, women have to work twice as hard to be taken seriously,” she said, noting how hard Krasnow has worked to prove herself even though she’s running unopposed.

“My mom is her biggest champion and cheerleader. She perks up the most when we talk about Emilie and her campaign. No one could be prouder of her right now,” she added. “She’ll take everything our dad taught her and bring it to her term.”

While Butler can’t vote in Vermont elections, one of Krasnow’s constituents, Peter “Pedro” Carmolli can — and did, casting his vote in the primary for Krasnow on Aug. 9. Carmolli, the director of the South Burlington Food Shelf where Kras now volunteers every week, said that when

he met her nine years ago, he “instantly liked her.”

“At the end of that first day I said to her, ‘I know you’re going to run for office one of these days. When you do, you call me and I’ll write you a check’,” he said.

“She is what she seems to be by the way,” Carmolli added. “She’s kind and bright and her heart is absolutely in the right place. She wants to do this not for her own self but to be of service.”

Krasnow has one more election Nov. 8 to determine if she will head to Montpelier to represent South Burlington in the House.

Also running for South Burlington House seats are Kate Nugent, Brain Minier, Martin LaLonde and Noah Hyman, all unopposed.

Susan Krasnow died peacefully on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022, surrounded by family.

Immediate Openings for

House Managers

The Flynn is looking for House Managers to join our front-of-house team as we begin our season of fabulous shows! We’re looking for people with energy, management skills, and enthusiasm for the arts to keep show-nights running smoothly and give patrons an excellent experience. Must be at least 18, reliable, great at problem solving, upbeat, and able to be on your feet for extended periods of time.

$17/hr, Part-time, variable schedule, evenings and weekends

Detailed job description and more information on our website: https://www.flynnvt.org/About-Us/Employment-and-InternshipOpportunities

No phone calls, please. EOE

Positions include a sign on bonus, strong benefits package and the opportunity to work at one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont”.

Service Coordinator: Continue your career in human services in a supportive environment by providing case management for individuals either for our Adult Family Care program or our Developmental Services program. The ideal candidate will have strong clinical, organizational & leadership skills and enjoy working in a team-oriented position. $47,000 annual salary, $1,500 sign on bonus.

Residential Program Manager: Coordinate staffed residential and community supports for an individual in their home. The ideal candidate will enjoy working in a team-oriented position, have strong clinical skills, and demonstrated leadership. $45,900 annual salary, $1,500 sign on bonus.

Direct Support Professional: Provide 1:1 supports to help individuals reach their goals in a variety of settings. This is a great position to start or continue your career in human services. Full and part time positions available starting at $19/hr, $1,000 sign on bonus.

Residential Direct Support Professional: Provide supports to an individual in their home and in the community in 24h shifts including asleep overnights in a private, furnished bedroom. You can work two days, receive full benefits and have five days off each week! Other flexible schedules available, starting wage is $20/hr, $1,000 sign on bonus.

Shared Living Provider: Move into someone’s home or have someone live with you to provide residential supports. There are a variety of opportunities available that could be the perfect match for you and your household. Salary varies dependent on individual care requirements. $1,000 sign on bonus.

Join our dedicated team and together we’ll build a community where everyone participates and belongs https://ccs-vt.org/current-openings/

Make a career making a difference and join our team today!

https://ccs-vt.org/current-openings/

Champlain Community Services,

Why not have a job you love?

KRASNOW continued from page 12

COURTESY PHOTO

Gerald Krasnow, the late state representative from Charlotte, often brought his daughter Emilie along with him to knock on doors and to the Statehouse. He died in 1998, leaving the governor to appoint Emilie’s older sister, Alysia, to serve his remaining term.

ARIES

March 21 - April 20

Don’t push yourself too far this week, Aries. That is a sure re way to be overcome by stress and deplete your energy, which you need to get things done. Pace yourself.

TAURUS

April 21 - May 21

Hold your tongue and try not to get into any heated arguments with people either at work or in your social circles, Taurus. Avoid controversial subjects.

GEMINI

May 22 - June 21

There’s a strong pull toward wanting to play as well as getting work done, Gemini. Is there a way to delegate some work so you can focus on recreation? Figure things out.

CANCER

June 22 - July 22

Cancer, you may have some exciting plans brewing but you might not know how to put them in motion. A friend may offer to help get the ball rolling.

LEO

July 23 - Aug. 23

The planets are trying to tell you to slow down and take a day off, Leo. You just have to listen more closely or you could run the risk of burnout in the days to come.

VIRGO

Aug. 24 - Sept. 22

Virgo, this week things may get a bit more intense than you anticipated. Intensity doesn’t necessarily mean you will have a bad time. Everything will be exciting and fast-paced.

LIBRA

Sept. 23 - Oct. 23

Libra, focus on your personal relationships this week, as you may need to modify a few things and do some housekeeping in your social relationships.

SCORPIO

Oct. 24 - Nov. 22

Focus on the ner details of life this week, Scorpio. If you have been waiting to have a gourmet dinner or to take a luxurious trip, now is the time to do so.

SUDOKU

Here’s How It Works:

Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must ll each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can gure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 23 - Dec. 21

There’s con icting energy in the cosmos this week, Sagittarius. All of what you think was right may be turned on its head. Some new decisions may need to be made.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22 - Jan. 20

It may be challenging to gure out where you stand with someone this week, Capricorn. You thought you had it all gured out, but the tides have changed dramatically.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 21 - Feb. 18

You’ll continue to face the dif cult decision of whether to tend to your own needs or help someone close to you, Aquarius. It’s a ne line to walk with no easy answer.

PISCES

Feb. 19 - March 20

There’s a positive drive guiding you along, Pisces. If you’ve been putting off your to-do list, now you will have the energy to get things done.

CROSSWORD

CLUES ACROSS

composer

between east

southeast

leader of

Jewish congregation

women’s

situations

Industrial port in Poland

Type of screen

Peyton’s little brother

Alcoholic beverage

Newspapers need it

Herbal tea

Distinctive practice

Exercise system __-bo

Explosive

Belonging to a thing

CLUES DOWN

Presidential candidates engage in them

Of the Swedes

Meadow-grass

“Rule, Britannia” composer

Hooray!

Greek city

One way to do it by example

Imitated

“Game of Thrones” actress Headey

Swiss river

Drought-resistant plant

A French abbot

One point east of northeast

Get free of

COMMUNITY NOTES

Grab and go meal in Shelburne Oct. 11

Age Well and St. Catherine’s of Siena Parish in Shelburne are teaming up to provide a meal to go for anyone age 60 and older on Tuesday Oct. 11.

The meal will be available for pick up in the parking lot at 72 Church St. from 11 a.m.-noon.

The menu is chicken caccia tore, wheat rotini, peas & carrots, wheat bread with butter, strawber ry shortcake with cream, and milk.

To order a meal contact Sheryl Oberding at soberding@yahoo. com or 802-825-8546.

The deadline to order is Thurs day, Oct. 6.

Participants must register and forms will be on hand at meal pick up or download it at bit.ly/3LkbQ Bi. More at agewellvt.org.

Catholic Church sponsors Prop 5 forum

Rep. Anne Donahue and Matthew Strong, executive direc tor of Vermonters for Good Government, both opponents of Prop 5, the so-called reproductive liberty amendment to amend the Vermont Constitution, hold a talk called “What You Need to Know Before You Vote on Article 22/ Prop 5,” Wednesday, Oct. 5, 6:30-8

p.m., at the Pierson Library, 5376 Shelburne Road.

The forum is sponsored by St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Shel burne.

All are invited. For more infor mation, contact Jeanette Voss at vossjc@hotmail.com or 802-9858545.

Vermont PR firm wins elite honor

Junapr, a Charlotte-based public relations firm, has been named a 2023 Agency Elite Top 100 by PRNEWS.

“I am incredibly honored and proud for Junapr to have been named Elite 100 for the second year in a row,” Nicole Junas Ravlin, founder and CEO of Junapr, said.

Junapr was founded in mid-2019 and now boasts 13 communications profession als, with nine working from the Vermont office.

PR News is the leading source of information, education, recog nition and data for Fortune 1000 professionals, agencies, govern ment and non-profits.

The firm works with clients in the U.S. and Europe, offer ing wmedia relations, strategic communication, message devel opment, crisis communication and reputation management.

Lead no more

1530 Williston Road South Burlington, VT

The Hinesburg Community School building is now lead-free. Champlain Valley School District director of facilities Chris Giard said the siding on the school was primarily removed due to areas of rot around the building found during last year’s window replacement, and that while the original siding did contain lead paint, it had been “stabilized by good maintenance practices over the years.” “We decided the best solution was to remove it all to eliminate further need for stabilization,” he said. A certified contractor removed the siding following the EPA’s Repair, Restoration and Painting program. “This now gives us a fresh start with no environmental hazards for our building occupants,” Giard said.

Being a Full Time Caregiver Can Be a Heavy Lift.

Call Erin Knox today at 802-861-4003 to schedule a personal tour and learn about our Move-In Special. gazeboseniorliving.com

It’s a Good Thing We’ve Been Working Out. At Gazebo Senior Living, we’ve been providing quality assisted care to Vermont seniors since 1985. Let us care for the ones you love so you can care for yourself.

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