The Citizen - 3-23-23

DiGenova arrest

Former state cop charged with stealing $40K from evidence lockers

Page 4

CVU takes titles

Boys and girls win are basketball champs

Page 10

Hinesburg Highway foreman abruptly resigns

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

Hinesburg’s highway foreman of more than 30 years abruptly resigned this month, just days before a winter storm walloped much of Vermont and left roads in disarray.

Michael Anthony, the town’s highway foreman since 1992, submitted his resignation to the town the night of March 9. He had been with the town’s highway department for 40 years; the town garage was named after him when it opened in 2018.

“Mike did a great job on our roads for

See ANTHONY on page 9

Hinesburg confronts destruction of beaver dams by landowner

Gregg Lyman enjoys watching the ducks and blue heron flock to the water where beavers build their dams in the LaPlatte River behind his house in Hinesburg. But when the water starts rising and creeping onto his land,

he has to knock the dams down, he said. Lyman, who lives on Gilman Road adjacent to the LaPlatte Headwaters Town Forest, said he has done this for years when the beaver dams threaten to flood his property. He doesn’t destroy the habitat, he said, but pushes over the beavers’ wood construction to let water flow over it.

THE MARNA AND STEPHEN WISE TULIN

“All I do out back is knock it down and prevent the water from flooding everybody’s property,” Lyman said.

Earlier this year, the Hinesburg Town Forest Committee learned that Lyman had gone into the town forest with heavy machinery and destroyed three beaver dams. The committee considered the incident a

“violation of the conservation easement” on the land and voted to refer it to the Hinesburg Selectboard to take “further action,” according to the minutes from a committee meeting on Jan. 26.

See BEAVER DAMS on page 7

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ELLA WEIGEL AND CAROLYN SHAPIRO COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE

PHOTO BY LIBERTY DARR

Philo Ridge Farm’s sheep flock, and a guard llama, just days before the first lambs of the season are born in Charlotte. See full story on page 12.

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Charlotte Selectboard gets public feedback on budget

Some residents question salary increases

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

During the Charlotte Selectboard’s second special meeting to retool the municipal budget that was shot down on Town Meeting Day, members proposed changes to cut more than $170,000 from the $2.9 million spending plan.

Although they didn’t adopt a new budget Tuesday night, selectboard members are working quickly in preparation for another budget vote May 2.

The issue that loomed over most of two-hour-long meeting — comprised mostly of public comment — were increases in employee salaries and benefits.

Residents were vocal about their disapproval of the market analysis done by Gallagher, Flynn & Company, which the town hired to look at how salaries for Charlotte’s municipal salaries stacked up against other Vermont towns.

“We hired an expert, Gallagher and Flynn, to do a market analysis for us to see where we stood in terms of what we’re paying our employees. The goal was to get to the market rate, which we did. We were way behind the eight ball so that brought us up to a market rate,” selectboard chair Jim

Faulkner said at the informational meeting prior to the annual town meeting vote.

Resident Pete Demick cited several issues he had with the analysis. “I just finished reading the whole thing and I’m just kind of just stunned. Why is Gallagher Flynn running this town? The bulk of the problem with the budget is the salary benefit compensation caused by Gallagher and Flynn. The report is not accurate for a small town like Charlotte.”

Other residents even went so far as to question whether this study was entirely made up.

“The comparison towns that (the analysis) used for our town planner were Brattleboro, Norwich, Stowe, Jericho, Essex and Milton,” said resident and former planning commission member Bill Stuono. “Missing from this is Shelburne, Hinesburg and North Ferrisburgh, which are our town abutters. I don’t really understand it. Makes me think that this was a fictitious study with madeup numbers meant to create salaries out of proportion with our community.”

In addition to raises reflected in the market analysis, according to the town’s

PHOTO BY SUZIE MCCOY

McCoy of Hinesburg captured this picture before last week’s big snowfall. “When my flamingo appears from the snow drifts, I know spring is getting close,” she wrote. Reader-submitted photos are welcome at news@thecitizenvt.com.

Directed by GEORGE WOODARD

1944, the war rages on in Europe. Leaving his new bride behind, Calvin Dillard is shipped to Belgium and thrown into what will become known as the Battle of the Bulge. He now faces a riveting adventure on a path that will test his integrity.

Police break up underage drinking party at home of state representative

found multiple intoxicated juveniles, according to a state police press release.

Vermont State Police broke up an underage drinking party early Saturday morning at the Charlotte home of state representative Chea Waters Evans.

Following reports made to police at 11 p.m. on Friday, March 17, troopers arrived at the residence on Windswept Lane at 12:45 a.m. on Saturday where they

Troopers “issued diversion paperwork” to several of the juveniles for the alleged underage drinking, but they did not specify how many people were at the party and whether Evans or other adults were present at the time.

Evans, a Democrat who represents both Hinesburg and Charlotte in the Legislature, wrote

in a statement to the Citizen, “I fully cooperated with all questions from the Vermont State Police and will do so should the need arise in the future. The other matter is between those juveniles and their families.”

Evans was elected to her Chittenden-5 House seat in November.

The investigation is ongoing, said police, who would provide no further information about the incident.

Charlotte zoning administrator resigns again

Keith Oborne served his last day as Charlotte’s zoning administrator Friday after resigning for the second time since starting the position in January 2022.

In a resignation letter to town administrator Dean Bloch March 6, he wrote, “I am grateful for the opportunity you and the selectboard have afforded me. I truly appreciate the privilege of serving the Town.”

Oborne previously threatened to resign in June last year, but town planner Larry Lewack said “the thing that came up early last summer was him expressing some dissatisfaction with how things were going, but I think there was someone jumping the gun to say he resigned then. It was more of a rumor at that point, and he ended up deciding to stay.”

Oborne told the Citizen in an email, “Money was of a tertiary consideration. The main issue was of a professional and philosophical nature, that being a disagreement on what the role of the zoning administrative officer entails. To be perfectly clear, I did not leave to chase money, I left to pursue a better professional environment.”

Oborne said he’s been hired as the town of Richmond’s director of planning and zoning starting March 27. He had previously worked in Richmond for nearly two years as zoning administrator before taking the position in Charlotte in 2022.

Aaron Brown will act as the interim zoning administrator on a three-month basis until a “permanent” replacement — which is currently being advertised — is appointed, Bloch said.

“The idea was that we needed somebody in that position right away just because we do want to be responsive to people in town who need permits for their building projects coming up in the spring and didn’t want there to be

a gap in a person who could actually issue permits. So, we did get him into place quickly,” Lewack said.

Brown had been Charlotte’s zoning administrator from 2018 until 2019 until he left for another zoning administrator position in New Haven, where he stayed until 2021.

“He’s worked in two different towns already. I would say he’s very comfortable coming into a role here that he’s occupied before,” Lewack said. “Obviously, some things have changed since the pandemic but on the whole he has a sense of the terrain of the job and that’s really helpful for us.”

“He knows the rules, he’s played the position before,” selectboard member Frank Tenney said. “I think it’s a great idea to have him come back and keep us out of the muddy waters.”

The position has seen steady turnover in the last four years and is arguably one of the hardest in town.

“There are constant time pres-

sures, complex town and state regulations that require interpretation, conflicting goals between parties, and occasionally difficult personalities,” Bloch said in a social media post regarding Oborne in June.

Prior to Oborne, Brown, who left to take a higher-paying job, was replaced by Daniel Morgan, who resigned in January 2021 after less than two years on the job. Wendy Pelletier, who was hired a few months later, stepped down in December 2021 because of family health issues.

The zoning administrator will play a key role in the months moving forward as the town wrestles with cannabis regulations and looks to update land use regulations.

“The permitting and enforcement processes can be stressful for all parties, and this can bring out the less pleasant side of people going through the process,” Bloch in June said. “The position of zoning administrator in a small town is not one that a lot of people aspire to.”

Lyman Meadows residents push for water rate review

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

Members of the Lyman Meadows condominium association are asking the town to review drinking water rates charged to residents of the village housing complex, arguing that they are paying the same rates for untreated water as regular users who receive treated water.

The condominium complex, built in 1988, gets its drinking water from a well that is owned, maintained and metered by the town, but is not on the town water system. Users on the town’s system have water treated by the town’s nanofiltration system —

a low-pressure reverse osmosis method that treats hard water and removes pollutants.

Many residents at the Lyman Meadows complex have had to pay for their own water softeners and treatment systems but say they pay the same rate to the town despite not getting water treated by the town’s treatment system.

“We would like this reviewed, and we would like some sort of action or compensation ... because right now we are paying for services that are not rendered to us, and I liken it to making a car

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

Former trooper charged for alleged theft of $40K of items

ETHAN WEINSTEIN VTDIGGER

A former state trooper under investigation for stealing items from police storage now faces more than a dozen criminal charges — including felony theft and lying to police — after the initial investigation revealed more instances of stealing, according to Vermont State Police.

Giancarlo DiGenova, 44, of Essex, was placed on paid leave in December and resigned in February after state police began investigating him in response to the disappearance of valuables from the temporary evidence storage at the Williston barracks. The missing items — with a total value of over $40,000 — included a gold Rolex men’s watch, diamond earrings, Apple earbuds and a designer wallet, court records show.

While investigating the initial bag of stolen property, police discovered other instances of misconduct by DiGenova, according to a state police press release issued Monday.

Citing court documents, state police wrote that “DiGenova took a bag containing seized cellphones

in June 2021 from a secure personal property storage area at the Berlin Barracks, and subsequently attempted to sell two of the devices at an automated kiosk at the University Mall in South Burlington.”

DiGenova later marked the cellphones as “destroyed” in the department’s evidence tracking system, according to the release.

DiGenova is also being charged in the theft of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication belonging to a child while investigating a disturbance in a Bolton residence last May, according to state police.

In a separate statement released Monday, Col. Matthew Birmingham, director of the Vermont State Police, said he understood Vermonters’ anger and disappointment with DiGenova’s alleged actions.

“Your outrage is appropriate. But I also want you to know that the system worked as well as it can when someone is determined to commit crimes by abusing their power and trust,” Birmingham said in the statement. “The former trooper’s actions were uncovered by his peers, who reported him to supervisors.”

“We launched an intensive, lengthy and comprehensive investigation that led to the filing of serious criminal charges. And we have reviewed our policies and procedures, making changes where necessary and increasing the oversight already in place,” Birmingham said.

DiGenova worked cases in Lamoille, Chittenden and Washington counties.

Prompted by DiGenova’s actions, state police conducted a “complete audit of temporary personal property storage areas” and added surveillance cameras to include more visibility of evidence storage areas, among other changes, Birmingham said.

In addition to the instances of

Total incidents: 32

Traffic stops: 17

Arrests:1

March 14 at 10:06 a.m., officers responded to a two-car motor crash on Pond Road.

March 14 at 11:30 a.m., officers responded to a single-car motor vehicle crash on Route 116.

March 14 at 12:45 p.m., A car off went off the road on Route 116.

March 15 at 8:42 a.m., officers responded to Texas Hill Road for a six-car vehicle pileup.

March 15 at 10:56 a.m., officers responded to a two-car motor

theft, investigators discovered that DiGenova had performed checks of vehicle identification numbers for a household member’s car registration business, according to the press release. He admitted to performing checks on out-of-state vehicles without ever seeing them, police said, which violates state requirements.

DiGenova faces 13 charges stemming from four separate cases spanning Chittenden and Washington counties, according to state police. He had been a state trooper since 2009, and his assignments included the Williston, Bradford and Middlesex barracks, as well as the Narcotics Investigation Unit.

DiGenova turned himself in at the Royalton barracks on Monday,

Hinesburg Police Blotter

crash on Sugar House Lane.

March 16 at 12:04 p.m., a temporary relief from abuse order was served on Route 116.

March 16 at 1:10 p.m., officers investigated the report of threatening behavior at Champlain Valley Union High School.

March 16 at 5:40 p.m., a traffic stop was conducted on Route 2A in St. George. The operator, Jason McCann, 41 of Essex, was cited with driving with a criminally suspended driver’s license.

March 17 at 10:23 a.m., an officer investigated suspicious activity

police said, and is scheduled to appear in superior court in Burlington on March 23, and in the Barre court on April 6.

on Silver Street.

March 17 at 11:50 a.m., police conducted a welfare check on Fredric Way.

March 17 at 5:10 p.m., officers attempted to serve paperwork to a resident of St. George.

March 17 at 9:04 p.m., officers assisted South Burlington Police with attempting to locate an individual.

March 17 at 9:45 p.m., a person was assisted with a lockout on Commerce Street.

March 18 at 7:25 a.m., a person was assisted with fingerprinting for employment purposes.

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Giancarlo DiGenova

“The former trooper’s actions were uncovered by his peers, who reported him to supervisors.”

— Col. Matthew Birmingham

Braces for Children & Adults

House bill balances gun rights with protections for victims of abuse

When I campaigned for this job last summer, I was really clear about my position on firearms, and it remains the same. First: I don’t want to take anyone’s guns away. I don’t want to prevent people who are allowed to have guns from getting them and I certainly don’t want to compromise anyone’s Second Amendment rights. I’m not a gun person, so last fall a friend took me to Laberge’s shooting range in Charlotte to show me what’s up.

I had fun. It’s true. I was scared of the gun, I was scared to shoot it, I was scared I might accidentally freak out and shoot someone else. But I had an excellent, patient teacher and he was really focused on safety and proper protocol.

All this is to say, I’m all for the guns. This is to also say that I’m going to support H.230, a bill coming out of the house this week, that came out of the House Judiciary committee as a suicide prevention bill. Suicide deaths by firearm make up almost 60 percent of Vermont suicides each year. Our suicide rate is 50 percent higher than the national average. Other suicide methods have a completion rate of about 4 percent; when a firearm is involved, that number skyrockets to almost 100 percent.

Of course, there are miles to go before this becomes a law, and I’m sure there will be changes and amendments offered as it goes through, but here are the major points it contains this week.

Safe storage is required for firearms. This means that ammunition is stored separately from the firearm. Firearms must be kept in a locked, tamper-resistant container.

Safe storage means that firearms must be securely stored in a place where a child, or person prohibited from using firearms,

can access them. This doesn’t include situations where the firearm is accessed illegally, like through a break-in. It also doesn’t include situations where a person is legally allowed to carry or keep a firearm in close proximity or when a person uses the weapon in self-defense.

Penalties for violating the laws can be imprisonment of not more than a year, and/ or fines not more than $1,000 if a child or prohibited person gets access to an improperly stored firearm and uses it in a crime or displays it in a threatening way. If death or serious bodily injury results, the penalties could include imprisonment up to five years and/or fines up to $5,000.

The state’s attorney will have discretion to file charges if the parent or guardian of a child who allegedly violates the law gains access to a firearm that is used in an unintentional or self-inflicted shooting that causes death or bodily injury to the child.

Signs will be required at licensed dealer locations where firearms are sold or transferred; there’s specific language that must be included

The bill also creates an opportunity to allow family or household members to initiate the process for obtaining an extreme risk protection order by directly petitioning the court. An extreme risk protection order is a civil order that temporarily prohibits individuals who pose a danger of injury to self (including suicide) or others from purchasing, possessing or receiving any dangerous weapons, including firearms. Right now, only a state’s attorney or the Office of the Attorney General may file such a petition.

While it’s important to give

everyone due process, it’s also to protect people who might harm themselves and others. The bill would make the process for obtaining an extreme risk protection order easier and more accessible for people who know the individual at risk the best — their family and household members. The term “household member” also includes a person who someone has dated or with whom they have a romantic relationship.

The bill also adds a 72-hour waiting period for firearms transfers. I know this isn’t a popular idea for many, and I understand the argument that it’s a constitutional right that we can bear arms. In my opinion, that right doesn’t necessarily expand to the right to bearing arms immediately as soon as you want them. The waiting period requires that a person can’t transfer a firearm to another person until 72 hours after a licensed dealer is provided with a National Instant Criminal Background Check System transfer identification number, or seven business days have passed since the dealer contacted the National Instant Criminal Background Check System to initiate the background check, whichever occurs first.

It’s really important to me to maintain and protect constitutional rights and the Second Amendment; it’s also critical to recognize that there are ways to do that while curbing gun violence and protecting those who would harm themselves or others and those to which they might do harm.

As always, I welcome comment, questions and communication at both my cell phone number by text or call, (917) 887-8231, or at cevans@leg.state. vt.us.

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Rep. Chea Waters Evans

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While it’s important to give everyone due process, it’s also to protect people who might harm themselves and others.

Charlotte Library board clarifies what happens next

Guest Perspective

Robert Smith

The Charlotte Library Board would like to thank our community for coming out to vote. With the passing of the library budget the library will continue its mission of advocating and supporting lifelong learning by providing information, services and programs for all ages in a welcoming atmosphere. We appreciate the community’s continued support of our mission and would like to offer clarifying facts to questions that have been raised by members of the Charlotte community.

Who has authority over the library staff and they town employees?

Library employees are town employees. In relation to salaries, the library board crafts job descriptions, performs the director’s review and approves and submits any salary reviews to the selectboard for their review and approval. The selectboard has the option to approve, deny or ask us to revise any proposed adjustments.

Who sets the library budget?

The library board creates and submits the budget to the selectboard for approval. This is similar to other town departments. The selectboard can approve or deny and ask the board to revise any part of the submitted budget. Once the selectboard sets and approves the library budget, it is voted on by the town, this year as

a separate article. Are salaries and benefits in the library budget?

Library salaries are in the library article, but the benefits are in the town article. The town does not separate out benefits for any department, including the library. Why is the library budget voted on separately?

Two years ago, the selectboard elected to remove the library portion and have the town vote on it separately.

Did the library increase their staff?

Library staff has decreased. For fiscal year 2022-2023 (July 2022 to June 2023) there were nine staff positions and two student employees. In fiscal year 2023-2024 (July 2023 to June 2024) there will be six staff positions and no student employees. We are increasing one of the current positions from 16 to 20 hours. We were asked by the selectboard to list the library

CVU board appreciates budget approval

To the Editor:

On behalf of the entire Champlain Valley School District, we would like to express our sincere gratitude for your support in passing the budget for our students and schools. Your decision to invest in education will have a positive impact on the lives of students and the future of the community.

Your vote demonstrates a

assistant positions individually this year. In doing so, it may have looked like we were adding additional positions, but that is not the case.

What was reviewed by Gallagher and Flynn?

The human resources firm was hired by the selectboard in 2020 to study salaries for all town employees. This was done in part because of attrition due to wages not being in line with the market. During the long process, the selectboard, the library board and employees worked with Gallagher and Flynn to bring job descriptions up to date, analyze the information gathered by the firm and ask hundreds of questions.

We cannot say what data was presented for non-library positions, but for library staff it included only Vermont comparisons. After many meetings, the pay-rate adjustments to market value were voted on by the library board and selectboard. These

Letters to the Editor

commitment to providing students with the best possible educational experience. We are grateful for your trust and confidence in us. We will continue to work hard to provide a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment for all students and to help them reach their full potential.

Josilyn Adams, Williston

Angela Arsenault, Williston

Lindsay Colf, St. George

Dave Connery, Shelburne

Erin Henderson, Williston

pay-rate adjustments were carried out in the fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.

What are the increases in the salary lines?

The salary lines for the library for the fiscal year 2023-2024 reflect only the cost-of-living adjustment and yearly salary increase percentages that are listed in the town’s salary administration policy. This policy is created and approved by the selectboard and applies to all town employees.

At the meeting the other night, the selectboard mentioned that cost of living adjustments and health benefits would be investigated. The library board is committed to working with the selectboard over the next few weeks. We are available to answer any questions or provide information.

Robert Smith is chair of the Charlotte Library board of trustees.

Erika Lea, Shelburne

Barbra Marden, Shelburne

Brendan McMahon, Williston

Meghan Metzler, Charlotte

Keith Roberts, Hinesburg

Meghan Siket, Charlotte Cassandra Townshend, Hinesburg

Saphirre Martin, Ananya Rohatgi and Addie Nevitt, student representatives

Champlain Valley School District

Board of Directors

Check Locally First

BEAVER DAMS

continued from page 1

Committee members didn’t know why Lyman damaged the beavers’ work, said Pat Mainer, who chairs the forest committee. The dams were “upstream from the landowner in question, so it wasn’t in any way threatening his property,” she said.

Although the details of the Hinesburg matter remain murky, it illustrates a common conflict in Vermont between beavers that live in protected areas and the humans nearby. Beaver dams create and expand wetland habitat, which supports an array of wildlife species. They also filter and slow down moving water, helping reduce nutrient loads in Lake Champlain, according to state environmental experts. Those beaver dwellings, though, can aggravate nearby property owners when wetland water levels rise and cause flooding in surrounding areas.

“(Beaver) habitat is really important here in Vermont,” said Tyler Brown, a wildlife specialist with the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and the state’s point person for handling beaver-human conflicts. “It’s really beneficial for a lot of fish and wildlife species. That wetland habitat is also important for people as well, for improving water quality and just being able to absorb a tremendous amount of water.”

In an interview this month, Lyman said his land was at risk from the beaver dams he razed in January.

“We become more and more under water,” he said, noting that his septic system is behind his home, where he has lived with his wife since 1993. “It’s not just a matter of a little trickle or a stream.”

Lyman is a contractor who owns Lyman Excavating in Hinesburg. He said he doesn’t usually use his equipment to knock down the beaver dams but happened to have a smaller excavator at his home at that time.

Todd Odit, Hinesburg’s town manager, told the town forest committee that he would speak with Lyman to try to resolve the issue. In a recent interview, Odit said he told Mainer, “Before elevating this encroachment to a selectboard meeting, I would try to reach out with the person suspected of making that encroachment and try to have a conversation.”

Odit told Lyman he could no longer dismantle the dams himself but had to alert the town when he had concerns about flooding, Lyman said. He agreed he would do that in the future, he said.

During the town forest committee’s March 9 meeting, Mainer said she and some other committee members were skeptical that the light-handed approach would prevent Lyman from continuing his dam-destroying practice.

“I taught middle school for 37 years, and I wasn’t into punishment, but any infraction … had a consequence,” Mainer said.

In 2007, Hinesburg acquired the 301 acres of the LaPlatte Headwaters, an area along the LaPlatte River between Gilman Road and Silver Street, to make available for public use. The Vermont Land Trust and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, which granted the land to the town, jointly hold the conservation easement on the property.

“Part of the reason for conserving (the forest) was that a lot of the agricultural land at the north end (of town) was originally wetlands,” Andrea Morgante, a local

Statehouse swingers

conservationist and founding member of the Hinesburg Land Trust, said.

Those wetlands were disturbed by the building of ditches and dredging for agriculture use in the 1930s and 1940s, she said.

“Really the most efficient and economical and ecologically suitable way to restore a wetland is if you can let the beavers do the work for you.”

The easement was created to protect the diverse wildlife habitat, soil and water quality and natural landscape — which includes forests, fields, wetlands and areas along the river and streams. The easement prohibits “change of the topography of the land in any manner” and the town’s management plan specifies that only non-motorized and non-commercial recreational activities are permitted in LaPlatte Headwaters.

The LaPlatte Headwaters Town Forest Management Plan, which governs maintenance of and access to the property, cites the need to protect unique species of plants and animals there, including the endangered Indiana bat, described as the size of a human thumb.

The plan offers guidance on beavers: “Allow beavers and other native wetland species to recolonize and influence the areas along and around the LaPlatte. If beaver activity comes in conflict with other purposes of the conservation easement, town roads or culverts, or neighbors, consult with Vermont Fish and Wildlife biologists and the Chittenden County forester.”

For violations of the easement or management rules, the decision to pursue any action lies with the town, as owner of the land, said Abby White, spokesperson for the Vermont Land Trust.

The state would oversee issues involving beavers and dams, she added. “There’s multiple jurisdictions at play. It’s on town

land, and there’s a conservation easement that we hold that allows for management of land. The state has regulations related to human-wildlife interactions.”

The fish and wildlife department offers a beaver baffle program to help landowners, road crews and municipalities that have problems with beaver activity. Baffles are tubes installed in dams to allow water to flow through, controlling river levels while maintaining the beaver construction.

Brown said he gets about 400 calls and emails a year from residents mostly concerned about flooding from nearby dams. Of those, he visits about 50 sites in person and installs baffles or exclusion

fences in about 15 locations.

State wildlife department representatives visited Lyman’s home in the past to talk about his handling of beaver dams and never challenged his methods, he said.

“It’s the same spot I’ve been working with for the 30 years I’ve been here,” Lyman said.

Ella Weigel is a reporter with the Community News Service. Carolyn Shapiro is practice leader for Community News Service, a program where University of Vermont students work with professional editors to provide content for local news outlets at no cost.

COURTESY PHOTO

Gerry Grimo returns to the Statehouse with his 10-piece swing band, the East Bay Jazz Ensemble, on Wednesday, March

29,

at

7:30 p.m.,

offering

jazz, blues and

vocal

classics as well

as

oldies, R&B and rock. The concert is part of the Farmers Night Concert Series, a longstanding Statehouse tradition that goes back over 100 years when lawmakers entertained themselves in the House chamber during the week while away from home. Artists from around the state, in genres ranging from classical music to bluegrass to barbershop, perform in the well of the House Chamber each Wednesday night during the legislative session. The concerts are free and open to the public. More at bit.ly/42fQ5ut.

Community Notes

Interfaith group taking spring grant applications

The spring deadline for Shelburne Charlotte Hinesburg Interfaith Projects (SCHIP) grant applications is Saturday, April 15.

Since SCHIP began making grants many nonprofits have used their awarded funds to continue their missions to improve the lives of their neighbors and strengthen their communities. Grants range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Grants may not exceed $3,000 per request and only one grant can be received within a one-year period by any one entity.

Grants deadlines are Saturday, April 15 and Sunday, Oct. 15. Application forms are available at theschip.org.

Friends of Families clothing and book swap

Drop off clothing and books at the United Church of Hinesburg’s parish hall, 10570 Route 116, on Friday, March 31, noon to 8 p.m., for its Friends of Families Spring Kids’ Clothing and Book Swap.

All gently used children’s clothing, sizes infant to 14, and children’s books, toddler to middleschool level, will be accepted. No drop-offs accepted on the day of the swap.

Donations can also be left at Carpenter-Carse Library from March 27-31.

The sale will be held Monday, April 1, 9-11 a.m.

More at facebook.com/hinesburgfof, or email Alexandra Koncewicz at koncewicz@hinesburgresource.org or call 802-4824946.

Richmond Church holds Red Cross blood drive

The Richmond Congregational Church, 20 Church St., hosts an American Red Cross blood drive on Wednesday, April 5, noon to 6 p.m.

Appointments are required. Call 800-733-2767 or go online to redcrossblood.org for more information or to make an appointment. Email dthomas@gmavt.net for assistance. There are plenty of slots between the hours of 1:30 and 4:30 p.m.

All Souls hosts interfaith comedy show

The Argosy Foundation and Erik Angel Entertainment present a live — and lively — interfaith comedy show with Usama Siddiquee, Ashley Austin Morris, Erik Angel and Tehran Von Ghasri on Wednesday, April 12, at 7 p.m. at All Souls Interfaith Gathering,

Bostwick Farm Road, Shelburne.

A question-and-answer session with the comedians will follow to further encourage interfaith dialogue. Tickets are $10 and all proceeds will be donated by Argosy to Vermont-area nonprofits. For tickets, go to bit.ly/3JQNH6k.

Create a little red file for the end-of-life

Peg Maffitt has been involved in hospice and end-of-life care education for 30 years. With her experience and awareness of the fragility of life, she has created “my little red file.”

This file includes important documents that your family would need to know immediately, including a completed advance directive, will, birth certificate, Social Security card, passwords, and more.

During this workshop at the Charlotte Senior Center on Saturday, April 8, 10 to 11;30 a.m., Maffitt will help participants create an index for their own little red file. There will be an optional second session.

Cost is by donation to Vermont Ethics Network to cover book fees. Registration is required by Friday, March 31.

Shelburne Age Well hosts Grab and Go meal

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, April 11.

The meal will be available for pick up in the parking lot at 72 Church St. from 11 a.m. until noon and are available for anyone 60 or older.

The menu is baked ham with raison sauce, sweet potatoes, Capri blend vegetables, wheat roll with butter, Congo bar and milk.

To order a meal contact Kathleen at agewellstcath@gmail.com or 802-507-1107. Deadline to order is Wednesday, April 5. If this is a first-time order, provide your name, address, phone number and date of birth.

If you haven’t yet filled out a congregate meal registration form, bring a completed registration form with you or send one to: Age Well; 875 Roosevelt Highway, Ste. 210, Colchester VT 05446. Forms will be available at meal pick up.

More information at agewellvt. org.

Shelburne Museums holds Vermont Sampler Initiative

Members of the Vermont Sampler Initiative are working with local museums, historical

Brainy students take top prize

A group of 22 students representing six Vermont high schools participated in the 14th annual Vermont Brain Bee at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine on Feb. 11.

Competitors in the event are tested on their knowledge about the brain, nervous system and how people function.

Skylar Foster, a student at Burlington Technical Center who is also a senior at Mount Mansfield Union High School, captured first place. She will go

societies, historic homes, private collectors and descendants to locate, photograph and document American samplers from the 17th to 19th centuries for an online searchable database of American schoolgirl needlework.

Bring antique samplers to sampler identification and documentation days at the Shelburne Museum on Friday and Saturday, April 21 to 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A second sampler identification day will be held at the Vermont Historical Society in Barre on Friday and Saturday, May 12 to 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information email samplersvt@gmail.com.

NAMI holds mental illness, recovery workshop

The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Vermont is offering an in-person mental illness and recovery workshop for family members, peers and community members who want to learn more about mental health and recovery at the Essex Police Department, 145 Maple St., on Saturday, March 25 from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

The workshop will include information about major mental health conditions, an overview

on to compete in the national Brain Bee Championship at the University of California Irvine in April.

Her teammates, Corey Wemple, a senior at Champlain Valley Union High School and Vaughn Larkin, a senior at South Burlington High School, tied for second place.

Emma Blanchard, a junior representing South Burlington High School, took third.

The Team Award went to Burlington Technical Center.

of effective treatments, accessing services throughout Vermont, coping strategies, crisis prevention and recovery.

More at namivt.org.

Need something fixed? Signup for the repair café

Join Sustainable Charlotte Vermont for a repair café at the Charlotte Congregational Church vestry on Saturday, April 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

So, dig out your broken stuff and get it ready. Co-hosted with Sustainable Charlotte, Charlotte Grange and Charlotte Library. The repair café is open to anyone in any town. Register online at bit. ly/40h5oRN.

Doctor explains impacts of Medicare privatization

On Thursday, March 30, Dr. Marvin Malek, past president of Vermont Physicians for a National Health Program, will give a presentation on the privatization of Medicare.

The program, sponsored by the League of Vermont Women Voters, runs from 1-3 p.m., at the Barre Area Senior Center, 131 South

In addition to Burlington Technical Center, participating schools included CVU, Rice Memorial High School, St. Johnsbury Academy, South Burlington High School and Windham Regional Tech Center/ Brattleboro.

The daylong event featured written and practical examinations — including real brain specimens — and case presentations by neuropsychologists Sharon Leach, Ph.D. and Abigail Ryan Ph.D.

Main St. Malek will discuss Medicare Advantage, direct contracting and the new ACO/REACH program. The primary focus will be on the impacts of these privatization initiatives on the care beneficiaries receive, on the costs Medicare beneficiaries will face and the effects of these changes on the financial stability of the Medicare program.

Malek has spent most of his career in community medicine, providing care to underserved populations, including Latino, Black and Navajo communities. He currently works on the hospital care team at Springfield Hospital in Vermont.

Grammy winners headline All Souls concert

Grammy-winning artists Jason Vieaux on guitar and saxophonist Timothy McAllister headline a Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival concert at All Souls Interfaith Gathering, 291 Bostwick Farm Road in Shelburne on Tuesday, April 11, at 7 p.m. Tickets are limited. More at lccmf.org.

COURTESY PHOTO

Participants in the 2023 Vermont Brain Bee from South Burlington High School, from left, Emma Blanchard, Elizabeth Nahstoll, Paige Poirier, coordinator Lisa Bernardin and Sophie Kellogg.

Charlotte author wins Sundog Poetry Book Award for ‘Fire Index’ collection

Charlotte writer Bethany Breitland is the winner of the 2022 Sundog Poetry Book Award for her new book of poems, “Fire Index.”

A book launch will be held on Tuesday, April 4, at 7 p.m. at Phoenix Books in Burlington. Visit bit. ly/42fZ5jj for tickets. The book be published in partnership with Green Writers Press of Brattleboro on April 4.

“What are the bright lines of danger that cross into the extreme or that becomes a hybrid of dangerously hot but handleable?

What are the hazards in our lives that become full blown wildfires?

‘Fire Index’ is an exploration beneath the many layers of truth, time, memory and so many other factors that is the stuff that sometimes makes life too hot to sit

ANTHONY

continued from page 1

over 40 years, and our roads are in very good shape thanks to all of the work that Mike did,” Merrily Lovell, chair of the town’s selectboard, said. “He was a real perfectionist, and he did a really good job — nobody disputes that.”

In a lengthy, 1,700-word email to town selectboard members, Anthony said he “could no longer work under the current management team” and had “had enough of the badgering and harassment, changes (to) how and when the highway department works, and now, on-call pay cut.”

He made several claims, including that he was confronted by town manager Todd Odit about his treatment of a former employee; that the town violated a labor agreement between the town and highway employees; and that highway employees were not informed of the drinking water contamination at the town garage.

He also pointed to a conflict with town management over overtime work.

Anthony’s resignation email “contains many allegations, accusations, inaccuracies, and incom-

COMMUNITY NOTES

continued from page 8

Enjoy Age Well meals at Charlotte Senior Center

The Age Well meal pickup for Thursday, March 23, is from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Charlotte Senior Center features roast pork with sauce, mashed potatoes, peas and onion, wheat dinner roll with

vigil ready to kick us to wake us up to a heat we perceive we can’t stand. In the meantime, there’s ‘Fire Index’ which has a range of low heat, wildfire and steady burn from start to finish.”

Breitland was born in northern Indiana. She has studied and taught on the West Coast, the South and New England. Breitland earned her undergrad degree from Pepperdine University and her Master of Fine Arts from Vermont College.

Nominated for the Pushcart Prize, recipient of various poetry prizes, this is her first full length book of poems.

with,” competition judge Shanta Lee wrote the winning manuscript. “If we are lucky enough, perhaps we have a version of our own rancher inside who is keeping

Sundog Poetry’s mission is to promote poetry for all Vermonters. We support Vermont poets in their development through workshops, readings, events and publication.

Human Resources Benefits & Payroll Administrator

plete stories that I dispute,” Odit said in an email to The Citizen.

“Had Mike brought these to the selectboard prior to resigning I would have gladly addressed them all with the selectboard. I still will if the selectboard wants me to,” he said. “However, it would be inappropriate for me to do so in a newspaper article.”

His departure came days before a major snowstorm dumped more than 12 inches throughout the Champlain Valley, causing power outages and major traffic disruptions.

Joy Dubin Grossman, Hinesburg’s assistant town manager, reached out to several neighboring towns for assistance in the days leading up to the storm.

“We had the help of Monkton, Starksboro, Shelburne and Richmond — basically each of those towns took a road that leads into Hinesburg and continued on to Route 116 instead of stopping at town line and turning around,” Odit said. “That was a huge help.”

Anthony’s resignation leaves the highway department with two people — Dominic Musumeci and Nicholas Race. John Alex-

ander, an assistant foreman on the wastewater department, has helped with plowing efforts when the town needs them and helped with the last week’s storm.

The town has advertisements out for both a highway foreman and an additional highway worker and has been looking for a public works manager who would oversee both the water and high departments with the town.

As part of its fiscal year 2024 budget, the town transitioned the director of buildings and facilities position, which oversaw infrastructure and water and sewer, into a director of public works, who will now also oversee the highway and road operations.

But “obviously, when the budget was put together, it wasn’t known or expected that there’d be this change,” Odit said.

Anthony in his email thanked the town “for allowing me the opportunity of four decades of serving them. I have loved doing what I have done for the town,” he said. “Thank you to everyone that has supported me and encouraged me to continue doing all I have ever known to do.”

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butter, oatmeal raisin cookie and milk. You must pre-register by the prior Monday with Carol Pepin, 802-425-6345 or meals@charlotteseniorcentervt.org. The meal on Thursday, March 30 features turkey burger with vegetable gravy, mashed potatoes, Brussel sprouts, wheat roll with butter, peach Crai-

sin crisp and milk. The meal on Thursday, April 6 features sweetand-sour pork with vegetable sauce, brown rice with lentils and vegetables, green beans, wheat bread with butter, Easter cake with icing and milk. The suggested donation is $5. Check the website for last-minute cancellations at bit.ly/3FfyLMb.

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LAUREN READ

SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

The last five years of Division I postseason play have meant different levels of frustration for the Champlain Valley girls’ basketball team.

First came two straight losses in the DI title game to rival St. Johnsbury. Then COVID-19 hit, forcing a shutdown of the tournament and a shared title in 2020, followed by a playoff game forfeit in 2021 — both with CVU entering the postseason with a 20-0 record.

Then last season came a shocking upset in the semifinals to Mount Mansfield, the first time the Redhawks lost in the semis since 2010.

This season, CVU got to release some of the frustration, beating No. 3 St. Johnsbury 43-29 in the state championship game March 3 to win its first title in six years.

“After the way our team played at the end of last year, the players and the coaches were determined to redeem ourselves this year,” CVU coach Ute Otley said. “We weren’t sure that would mean a state title, but we definitely wanted to be playing our best basketball at the end of February.”

“It feels great to be back on top, hoisting the trophy in Patrick Gym, but it didn’t happen by accident,” Otley said. “The girls had put in a lot of time and energy over the past several years to reach their ultimate goal. I’m proud of them.”

When the Redhawks wrapped up the regular season, they recommitted to their goal of a state title and made sure that everyone on the team was on the same page.

“We challenged the girls to show everyone how well they played together,” Otley said. “With that teamwork mentality at the forefront, I think it took pressure off individual kids who might have felt the need to play perfect basketball or do something in the post-season that was more than what they’d done all year.”

Otley credits the seniors for helping keep the team on track and for leading on the court throughout the season. Maddie Bunting and Kate Bogut provided the defensive effort, Elise Ayer brought energy and rebounding, and Shelby Companion and Addi Hunter brought all the offense the team needed, including 16 points

from Hunter in the championship game.

“The five seniors were very instrumental in our success this year. They all played large roles and they all contributed by doing what they do best,” Otley said.

“All five of them stayed focused on our goals and put the team first, which is why we had the success we did.”

With that focus the Redhawks were able to cruise to their ninth state title, winning all three playoff games — including the final — by double digits.

“Day in and day out during the regular season we reminded each other of our ultimate goal, which was to be playing our best basketball at the end of the season,” Otley said.

The senior class got CVU back on top and now they turn things over to the next generation of Redhawks, which includes nine players from this year’s team.

“We now have nine returning players with real varsity experience,” Otley said. “The ones who contributed nightly — Elise Berger, Samara Ashooh, Merrill Jacobs, Lauren Vaughan and Zoey McNabb — will be hungry to experience the ultimate victory again, and the ones who didn’t get

a chance to contribute regularly on game night will be hungry to assume a new role on

PHOTO BY PAUL LAMONTAGNE

the team.”

group will look to make sure that the Redhawks get a chance to lift it again.

Girls’ basketball returns to top with state title win

The team celebrates with the trophy after defeating St Johnsbury 43-29 in the DI state championship game.

PHOTO BY PAUL LAMONTAGNE

The Champlain Valley Union High School Redhawks with their championship trophy. The girls defeated St. Johnsbury 43-29 in the Division I title game on March 3 at the University of Vermont’s Patrick gym.

CVU boys win school’s first-ever basketball title

LAUREN READ SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

Champlain Valley was hunting for its first ever program title, taking on the three-time defending champs, trailing by eight points, and running low on time.

The Redhawks needed a spark, and they needed one fast.

Enter Ollie Cheer.

The junior came into the game with just under four minutes to play in the third quarter and the Redhawks trailed Rice 31-22. When he left the game with three minutes to go in regulation, Champlain Valley had a 37-34 lead.

It was a lead CVU would not relinquish as they beat Rice 42-38 to capture the Division I boys’ basketball title — the program’s first ever — on March 11 at University of Vermont’s Patrick Gym.

“It’s obviously really an exciting accomplishment and one we are very proud of,” coach Mike Osborne said. “These guys and this team will be the bar for others to reach and match.”

Cheer’s four points were key for the Redhawks’ win, but it was his defense and hustle that helped galvanize the team, Osborne said.

“Ollie was a spark off our bench all year long,” the coach said. “He brought an increased level of aggressiveness and physicality and purpose we really needed in the third period.”

While Cheer provided a second half spark, Tucker Tharpe was a key presence on defense and Kyle Eaton and Alex Provost provided the team’s offensive effort.

Tharpe’s presence held Rice star Drew Bessette to only five points, which helped CVU stay in the hunt against the threetime defending champs until the Redhawks could begin their second half push.

“Tucker simply worked his tail off all night to make sure Bessette did not get space for his lethal 3-point shot,” Osborne said. “His teammates supported him well as communicators through screens and with their support.”

That defensive effort was key as Rice jumped out to a quick lead and then entered halftime 24-19. The Green Knights then extended their lead to 31-22 but there was no panic on the very experienced CVU bench, which had plenty of comebacks during the regular season.

“This is the most experienced team I’ve had at CVU with five guys having three varsity seasons under their belt,” Osborne said. “The belief this group had in themselves was apparent on a number of occasions and they

really showed no panic and only poise when we fell behind.”

While the defense kept the game within reach, Eaton scored 19 points to lead the Redhawks on the offensive side of the ball. Provost added nine points as the

team outscored Rice 12-7 and 11-7 in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, to get the win.

In addition, CVU’s clutch free throws were key, with the team going 16 for 19 in the game and 7 for 9 in the fourth quarter.

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CVU’s first program title comes in its 100th year of competition and after a steady climb up the ranks of DI basketball in the last five years.

“The basic example of identifying goals, working your tails off

to achieve them, and executing the plan to accomplish them and the fact it can be done is the lasting legacy of the group and will undoubtedly inspire our younger guys that they can too,” Osborne said.

PHOTO BY PAUL LAMONTAGNE

The Champlain Valley Union High School Redhawks pose with the trophy after defeating Rice 42-38 to claim the Division I title at the University of Vermont’s Patrick gym on March 11.

Philo Ridge Farm’s lambing season gets in full swing

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

Although some conventional telltale signs foreshadow the beginning of spring — warmer weather, longer days and the faint smell of buddings blossoms in the air — for the Philo Ridge livestock team, spring is much more important than just a summer precursor: It marks the beginning of lambing season.

Around the week of March 15, just days before the spring equinox, the centuries-old Old Black Barn that sits on the edge of Mt. Philo Road in Charlotte will transform into a haven for 50 birthing ewes and a whole new world for the 100 or so baby lambs that will be born in the days to follow.

The land where Philo Ridge Farm sits has a rich agricultural history with roots that were tended initially by the Indigenous Western Abenaki tribe. The Williams family established the first farm on the land in 1840, which would be purchased by the Foote family in 1878. The Footes would operate the farm for the next six generations.

In 2012, Diana McCargo and Peter Swift, longtime neighbors of

the farm, purchased the property from the Foote family in 2015 and their vision came to fruition under the name Philo Ridge Farm.

In tune with the farm’s noseto-tail butchering philosophy, everything grown and raised at

Philo Ridge is sold at their market and used in the kitchen, including byproducts — both meat and wool — from their Romney and Border Leicester flock of sheep.

A few weeks prior to lambing season, the sheep are sheared —

which livestock staff say is an art form in itself — and the wool and pelts are delivered to Green Mountain Spinnery in Putnam where it is spun into yarn that is sent off to partners like Peggy Hard in Shelburne Falls, Mass., where it is weaved into customs blankets, and Swan’s Island Company in Maine where other wool products are crafted.

When lambing begins, Isabelle Lourie-Wisbaum, the farm’s livestock lead for nearly four years, said the birth process takes only about 45 minutes, and the hope is that the livestock team doesn’t need to help at all.

“The goal is that they’re good mothers and they can get them out by themselves and clean them off by themselves and the lambs figure out how to nurse by themselves,” she said.

Normal delivery for lambs is when the two front feet appear with the head resting between them. Most of the mothers give birth to two, sometimes three, lambs at a time.

Once born, the mother will lick the afterbirth off the lamb, initiating a bonding process between her and the baby. It doesn’t take long for the lambs to begin using their wobbly legs to hunt for their mother’s teat.

The first milk the lamb will nurse during this process is called colostrum, a thick, yellow milk that is rich in necessary calories, minerals and antibodies that the lamb will need in its first days.

Lourie-Wisbaum explained that since lambs are born without an immune system, the “instinct to get (colostrum) is so strong.”

Once the birthing process is over, the team moves the mother and the newborn lambs to their own

private pens inside the barn where the livestock team will dip their umbilical cords in iodine to prevent infection, weigh each lamb in order to track growth and performance throughout the season, punch an ear tag to aid in identification, and administer a mineral booster shot of selenium and vitamin E to reduce the chances of disease, Lourie-Wisbaum explained.

This entire process sets the stage for a healthy lamb as they prepare to transition to the main flock where the lambs will learn to socialize with other sheep and how to locate their mother within the crowd.

“As soon as they’re born, they start making little noises and mom starts talking back and they know by sight, by sound and by scent,” Lourie-Wisbaum said. “It’s an issue if you shear after ewes have given birth, the lambs won’t recognize their mom.”

The lambs are weened sometime in July and the process of breeding happens again in the fall, beginning an entirely new lambing cycle.

Keeping watch

Year-round, the flock is intently guarded while out to pasture by Odyssey, a llama who’s held the watcher role for more than six years and plays an integral part in the sheep’s existence on the farm. As for the lambs, Lourie-Wisbaum explained that Odyssey tolerates their youthful shenanigans only for so long before his patience runs thin.

“When he’s laying down, lambs will jump on his back and it’s pretty funny,” she said.

But the farm’s livestock manager, Ed Pitcavage said the llama takes his job very seriously, and no incidents of dead or lost sheep have happened since he’s been on duty.

“Coyotes, skunks and even pigeons, he’s looking at them straight on and just stares,” Pitcavage said.

Besides the identification ear tags, the livestock team has a yearly tradition of naming the lambs based on a theme that is usually picked by Lourie-Wisbaum. This year, it’s trees.

“Last year was a car theme. The year before that it was mountains. We did cheese the year before that,” Pitcavage said.

He explained that because the sheep are out to pasture most of the year, the barn remains relatively empty while the sheep roam the 700 acres of pasture that surround the farm, making them relatively hidden from the public that frequents the market and kitchen.

The livestock team is planning

PHOTO BY LIBERTY DARR

The first twins born during this year’s lambing season: Alder and Aspen.

LYMAN MEADOWS

continued from page 3

payment (on a car) that I don’t own, that I don’t drive and is not in my possession,” Nicole Doner, a resident of the complex, said.

“We’re paying the same amount as people who live in town, but the quality is not the same,” Sheri Hamlin, another Lyman Meadows resident, said.

The town took over Lyman Meadow’s well shortly after the complex was built to bring it into state compliance, according to selectboard member Maggie Gordon.

“The issue here is, for whatever reason, the town decided to buy the whole system,” town manager Todd Odit said. “Can’t tell you why, wouldn’t have recommended it.”

Water throughout the town water system was untreated for years, but town voters in 2014 approved a $1.5 million bond

BUDGET

continued from page 2

Salary Administration Policy employees will also receive an additional 2-to-3 percent annual increase in addition to a 7.5 percent increase in cost-of-living adjustments.

In response to citizen concerns, selectboard members have proposed to nix the additional 2-to-3 percent increase.

“We have an annual employee increase and it’s a 3 percent increase,” said Faulkner, who explained that because the town is close to the recommendations made in the analysis, “we don’t now need to jump again, with 2 or 3 percent.”

He said that unless the salary policy is revised, the cost-of-living adjustment “is not something that we create. It is a federal agency that creates that. So, unless we change our policies here, we can’t really make a change to that. We’d rather use the experts to tell us what that increase is.”

LAMBS

continued from page 12

to do a tour of the sheep barn on April 23 to give people a better sense of the sheep and the key role they play on the farm.

“We’re going to have the market open that day too. So, you could grab some food or buy other products, but it’ll be (the livestock team) doing a deeper tour so people can get into the barn and see what’s in here,” Pitcavage said. “We don’t really open it up the rest of the year from the first week of May until Thanksgiving when they’re out on pasture.”

vote to buy two new wells and install the water filtration system for town water.

“We don’t benefit from that system, but when the rate increase happened, once that system was in place, everyone’s water bill went up, and that’s where it was like, ‘This is not quite fair’,” Lyman Meadows resident Amy Marra said.

Jim Jarvis, another condo resident, said his water and sewer bill after the bond vote increased from $180 a quarter to $260 a quarter. He later installed a water treatment device for $2,500.

“There is a problem here — there is probably an inequity in the background,” he said. “It requires some careful thought and careful analysis before we leap to conclusions.”

Town officials are still reviewing options, Odit said.

Former selectboard member Phil Pouech suggested the town could take over the water system and pay for improvements.

“That’s a possibility and if you think it will be less expensive, that might be something to look at,” he said.

The selectboard discussed possibly looking at how much it would cost for Lyman Meadows to run its own water utility. But residents have said they are not looking to be their own utility and are “looking to be charged equitably for the actual services we use, which are different than the town of Hinesburg,” Doner said.

“We are certainly interested in productive, positive communication with the town,” Hanlon said. “We would like an equitable win-win situation for Lyman Meadows and the town.”

CHARLOTTE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

Will hold a public hearing on the following applications during the Development Review Board’s regular meeting of Wednesday April 12, 2023:

7:05 PM 23-020-CU Goodwin – shoreline improvement at 715 Cedar Beach Rd.

7:35 PM 23-024-CU Wendeln –install a driveway at 1555 Spear St. For more information, contact the Planning & Zoning Office 802.425.3533 ext. 208, or by email at: pza@townofcharlotte.com

SALES EXECUTIVE

Award-winning group of community weeklies with offices in Stowe, Morrisville and South Burlington seeks a sales person. Ideal candidate should have a basic knowledge of the local towns, business and communities we serve. A proven track record in sales and an ability to offer topnotch customer service is a required. In addition to servicing established accounts, candidate must be able to generate sales from qualified leads as well as establish new ones. Our company offers health benefits, vacation time, and provides on the job training in newspapers sales. Generous base salary during training and ideal hours (few nights or weekends). If you possess these qualifications and would like to be considered, please send your resume and cover letter to: Bryan Meszkat at bryan@newsandcitizen.com.

Another Charlotte resident, Eli Lesser-Goldsmith, who is CEO of Healthy Living Market and Café, had different thoughts as to why the town is now being forced to pinch pennies.

“We’re one of the richest, most successful towns in all of Chittenden County. We should have an abundance of riches, but we stifle any attempt of growth in our town. And so, of course, this is the end result,” he said.

“Imagine if we had a doctor’s office, a gas station, housing in the village, all those entities would be paying new taxes. But instead, we cut and trim and get rid of all the fun and things that our town needs. So instead, we’re cutting a $2,000 computer, some speed bumps. Let’s neglect the beach. Let’s squeeze our hard-working town staff on salary. This is sad in my opinion,” he said. “You know, not one bit of talk about how we can change things in our

town, add new taxpayers and new taxes.”

“Our culture of no continues,” he said.

In addition to employee salary cuts, the town has proposed a slew of other cuts, including the senior center, planning and zoning, traffic calming measures, donations and more. The salary policy, along with employee benefits plans, will be reevaluated at next week’s Tuesday night meeting.

“The selectboard has a very difficult job in front of it because you put forward a budget that the voters rejected it. So, we have this difficult work of cutting things that everybody values, the employees are certainly valued,” newly elected selectboard member Kelly Devine said. “I hope that no one will listen to this discussion and think that any of this is based on lack of value for any of these things we have in town.”

FOR SALE

Community Bankers – Chittenden County

Part Time Opportunities - 10am-2pm shifts available

BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

There is no better time to join our Team!

Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest banking institution headquartered in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all. Consider joining our team as a Part Time Community Banker!

Relevant Skills:

• Customer Service

• Cash Handling (we’ll train you!)

Even better… if you have prior banking experience, we encourage you to apply!

Lambing season initiates a new beginning for the Philo Ridge team and an exciting new cycle that continues to add to the farm’s overall mission.

“At our heart we are grass farmers, tending healthy fields of diverse grasses, forbs and legumes in a perennial pasture system,” reads their website. “Our livestock are an integral part of this healthy pasture system.”

For more information on the sheep barn tour visit philoridgefarm.com.

PRIVACY HEDGE: Arborvitae 6-foot. Reduced to $125/each. Free installation. Free delivery. Fast growing, high quality. Beautiful and bushy. Order now to reserve for spring delivery. Lowcosttreefarm.com or call 518-5361367.

SENNHEISER HEADPHONES (HD424): Vintage. Hardly used, collectible. This model used at recording studios for its accuracy. $150 OBO. Call 802-425-2644.

If you are 18 or older and have a high school diploma, general education (GED) degree, or equivalent, consider joining the NSB Team!

What NSB Can Offer You

Competitive compensation based on experience. Profit-Sharing opportunity. Excellent 401(k) matching retirement program. Positive work environment supported by a team culture. Opportunity for professional development.

Please send an NSB Application & your resume in confidence to: Careers@nsbvt.com

ARIES

March 21 - April 20

It is very important that you do not count your chickens before they hatch, Aries. Something you suspected was a sure thing may not pan out this week.

TAURUS

April 21 - May 21

You have a secret desire that you want to let out, Taurus. But you’re not sure of the timing. Stop letting your head dictate your heart and put plans into action.

GEMINI

May 22 - June 21

Friendships could falter due to your insecurities, Gemini. Others want to be around you for good reason. Try to see the value in relationships and make the effort to socialize.

CANCER

June 22 - July 22

Cancer, you could be defeating your own efforts this week. There may be something telling you that you’re not good enough to go for your goals. A pep talk can put you back on course.

LEO

July 23 - Aug. 23

There’s a fresh development in your love life coming down the pike, Leo. Romantic feelings solidify and you might be in for some exciting adventures in the weeks to come.

VIRGO

Aug. 24 - Sept. 22

Virgo, the crowd around you may not be the support system you need right now. Making new friends can be tough, but it’s worthy pursuit at this point.

LIBRA

Sept. 23 - Oct. 23

Libra, no matter how much you want to spend time with family or friends right now, work seems to draw you away. Focus on nding more balance.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 23 - Dec. 21

Sagittarius, it might seem like having the utmost control sets you up for security, but that’s not always the case. Being too controlling may push others away.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22 - Jan. 20

This may be an emotional week for you, Capricorn. Your relationship will have to weather a few storms before things right themselves again.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 21 - Feb. 18

Poor habits can keep you from getting where you want to go, Aquarius. A friend or family member may need to step in to show you where you could be going wrong.

SCORPIO

Oct. 24 - Nov. 22

You might be feeling fed up with the pace of lessons being taught to you, Scorpio. If the teacher or mentor simply isn’t effective, then you might need to nd a new educator.

PISCES

Feb. 19 - March 20

Help a partner heal by being sensitive to his or her suffering. You may not know all the ins and outs, but being supportive can help greatly.

CLUES ACROSS

1. In uential American political family

5. __ Chantilly, __ de Menthe

11. Within

12. Pleasure seekers

16. Computer manufacturer

17. Home to college sports’ Flyers

18. Fungal disease

19. Sleepwalk

24. Spielberg sci- lm

25. Seasonable 26. Taxis

27. Radio direction nder (abbr.)

28. Thin, narrow piece of wood

29. “Mystic River” actor Sean

30. Ingenuous

31. Musical composition

CROSSWORD SUDOKU

33. Turkish surname 34. High or hilly area 38. Wilco frontman

39. Pour it on pasta

40. Electric car company 43. Sea eagle

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!

44. Walk with dif culty 45. Sign of healing 49. Boy

50. Protein-rich liquid

51. Washington city

53. Individual portion of TV series (abbr.)

54. Thought over

56. Scads

58. News agency

59. Standard 60. Deadlock

63. Pre-Columbian empire

64. Removed

65. French commune

CLUES DOWN

1. Large, dangerous animals

2. Straighten out

3. Family tree

4. Large stinging paper wasp

5. European river sh

6. Cut down in size

7. Denotes past

8. Larry and Curly’s partner

9. Samoyedic ethnic group

10. Male parent

13. Speci c gravity

14. Demeaned oneself to

15. Rigidly

20. Yankovic is a “weird” one

21. Belonging to me

ANSWERS

22. Path 23. Airborne (abbr.) 27. Level 29. Atomic #94

Born of

Midway between northeast and east

Northeastern bank

Defunct airline

Having no purpose

wall

city

Peregrine nesting season closes cliffs

Two prominent cliff sites on the Green Mountain National Forest’s Rochester and Middlebury ranger districts are once again temporarily closed to protect critical nesting habitat for peregrine falcons.

Beginning on Wednesday, March 15, the Rattlesnake Cliff Area in Salisbury and the Mount Horrid/Great Cliff Area in Rochester are closed until Tuesday, Aug.

1. While it seems like the depth of winter, falcons are already migrating back to Vermont to their nesting sites, and the closure of these areas as well as their cliff access trails prevents disturbance to the falcons while they nest and raise their young.

Peregrine falcon populations suffered declines due to the use of DDT in the 1940s but have rebounded since their reintroduction in the 1980s. Even though peregrines are now considered a recovered species in Vermont, it is critical to minimize human disturbance so that the species’ recov-

ery continues. Across Vermont, 2022 was a successful year for peregrines — 29 nesting pairs produced 63 young that fledged from their cliff nests. Although the number of nesting pairs was lower in 2022 than in some recent years, the number of young produced per nest was above the 10-year average.

Trail and habitat monitoring in 2022 determined that there is still human disturbance near nesting sites during the closure periods. This disruption can cause the falcons to abandon their nests or interrupt the care of their young. Hikers should obey the closure signs posted on the trails leading to the cliff overlooks. Disturbance of peregrine falcons and/or these nesting grounds is a violation of federal law and carries a fine of up to $5,000 and six months in prison.

Report any harassment of nesting peregrine falcons to 1-80075ALERT.

FILE PHOTO

Certain cliffs around the state are closed to hikers to protect nesting sites for the peregrine falcon — the world’s fastest bird of prey.