The Citizen - 4-20-23

Hinesburg, Richmond to collaborate on policing

Hinesburg has agreed to provide on-call police services for Richmond as part of an inter-municipal agreement between the two neighboring towns to assist the Richmond department, which is struggling to provide coverage with only two cops on hand.

The agreement, approved at last week’s selectboard meeting, allows for Richmond to make an advance request for a Hinesburg officer to respond to calls from Richmond at a rate of $50 an hour, but only when the Hinesburg department has the staffing bandwidth to do so.

“We’re only going to provide coverage when we’re able to — when we have more than one officer on,” Hinesburg police chief Anthony Cambridge said. “If our numbers are too low, or we’re too busy at the time, we’re not going to provide coverage, so it’ll be on a limited basis.”

Charlotters seek town manager government

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

The Charlotte residents who are circulating a petition to change to a town manager form of government spoke before the selectboard Monday night to offer details on how to implement the change.

The idea arose at a recent meeting at the Charlotte Senior Center that Jim Faulkner,

chair of the selectboard, characterized as “a very difficult meeting” where residents were “very critical of the selectboard. It was a very disappointing event for me to go through that.”

At the Monday night meeting, Lane Morrison, who had been chair of the selectboard for almost six years before calling it quits three years ago, has remained intently involved in town affairs, especially during

this year’s budget discussions and other weighty matters before the board.

“We talked about this as citizens in early March,” he said. “(Town administrator) Dean (Bloch) is retiring, I think it’s time to consider a town manager for the town. Things are getting more complicated. I’ve See

Richmond may also request that Hinesburg officer patrol the town at a rate of $70 an hour.

The department in neighboring Richmond currently only has two available officers on hand, each of whom “are basically kind of working opposite days, just to make sure that there’s someone here each day,” according to Richmond’s town manager Josh Arneson.

“What the agreement with Hinesburg is going to allow us to do is, should there be a

See POLICE on page 16

PHOTO BY JENNA HISCOCK/USA BASEBALL

Elise Berger pitches for the U.S. Women’s National baseball team last summer. See story on page 12.

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

Charlotte working group will work to finalize cuts to compensation

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

The Charlotte Selectboard is trying to finalize a plan to create an employee compensation plan working group tasked with cutting town employees’ health benefits.

After the budget failed by 35 votes on Town Meeting Day, Charlotte officials spent nearly four weeks working to cut more than 5 percent from the $2.9 million budget. The new budget, which was formally adopted last week, represents a decrease of $150,196 in spending, mostly comprising employee benefits and salaries.

Alongside a slew of other cuts, including Charlotte Senior Center expenses, planning and zoning, traffic calming measures and donations, members of the selectboard also voted to nix the 2- to 3-percent annual employee salary increase outlined in the town’s salary administration policy.

Additionally, the board proposed a $20,000 cut from the $233,000 budgeted for health insurance, but members explained that they don’t yet have a specific roadmap outlining how those cuts will be implemented — a task now assigned to the working group.

According to board member Kelly Devine, over the past five years, Charlotte has experienced higher-than-average employee turnover — a time-consuming and costly expense.

“In 2021, the selectboard decided to investigate how the town’s compensation package compared to that of other municipalities,” reads Devine’s memo. “They sought to understand whether compensation may be contributing to employee turnover. Gallagher

Flynn & Company was contracted to complete a compensation study. It reported that compensation for Charlotte town employees was below market and what was typical in other municipalities it studied. After many meetings, hearing from the public and reviewing the report, the selectboard made a decision to adjust staff salaries.”

During that time, the market rate adjustments did not reflect any increases or changes to other components of employee compensation such as benefits and the salary adjustments directed by the salary review policy which was last adopted on June 13, 2022.

According to the town’s salary policy, “the town’s approach to compensation is to provide attractive, flexible and market-based salary ranges that are aligned with maintaining a sound fiscal structure and that recognizes our most valuable asset: our people. The town believes in providing competitive wages to enable us to compete for talent but also ensure our employees know that we value the contribution they make to the community.”

Most who were vocal about their disapproval of the market analysis rallied on social media and in meetings as tax-burdened residents desperate for solutions, with some claiming they are left deciding whether to pay for food or pay their taxes.

“These taxes are hurting people,” resident Rosemary Zezulinski at the March 14 board meeting said. “There’s people deciding whether to pay for their food, pay for their medicines, pay for their taxes. We need to be compassionate because I don’t believe our greatest asset is our town employees, even though they’re all wonderful. Our

greatest asset is our residents.”

Some town employees had different thoughts.

“We appreciate all that the selectboard has done to adjust our wages to fair and equitable ones within our profession,” tech librarian Susanna Kahn said. “We also appreciate the benefits package that makes it possible for us to work in the town we live in. We are concerned about budget reduction efforts at the expense of town employees’ benefits that will make a minimal difference on homeowners’ tax bills.”

According to the town’s personnel policy, for employees working 30 or more hours per week, the town pays up to the equivalent of 90 percent of the premium and out-of-pocket costs of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont Standard Silver CDHP Plan which has a $704.50 monthly premium and a $2,100 deductible, which are both doubled for two-person and family policies.

For employees approved for 20 to 29 hours per week, the town pays between 50 and 86 percent and employees working less than 20 hours are not eligible for health insurance.

The goal of the working group is to assist the selectboard with its efforts to both ensure a fair market and equitable employee compensation offering, while also identifying potential cost savings.

The report of the working group will occur in two phases with phase one ending on June 15 with the hope of making “recommendations for potential cost savings for fiscal year 2024 to support the selectboard in achieving its commitment of reducing employee compensation costs by $20,000.”

Phase two will be a review of health insurance benefits and potential compensation recommendations to the selectboard along with a thorough review of Charlotte’s salary policy with a deadline of Oct. 15 of next year to allow time for implementation.

The group will include a minimum of five members who represent the selectboard, a town representative, two residents and a representative from the town clerk’s office.

The selectboard is expected to move forward on May 8, when residents and employees can learn more about how to get involved in the group.

“One of the reasons that I think this is important is because the question of employee compensation is not only very complicated to digest, to analyze, to understand and make decisions on,” said Devine. “But it also involves the livelihood of our town employees.”

Financial literacy course open for Vt. educators

Middle and high school educators in Vermont can increase their financial literacy and personal finance teaching skills by attending a free, online, asynchronous graduate level course that will be available from Monday, July 3 through Friday, Aug. 25.

“Teachers who complete the training will have the confidence, skills and curriculum tools to be successful personal finance educators,” says John Pelletier, director of the Center for Financial Literacy, which is offering the course through its Financial Literacy Academy.

Pelletier says the financial literacy boot camp will cover saving and investing, credit reports and scores, credit cards and debt,

managing risk, income and careers.

All of the available spots for this session are open to Vermont educators. Applicants will be notified of acceptance no later than June 2.

Nearly 200 Vermont educators have already taken this course, which has been recognized by the White House, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and U.S. Dept. of Treasury.

The three-credit course is a continuation of the Champlain Financial Literacy Academy’s nationally recognized educator training program conducted in-person from 2011-2019 for nearly 300 educators.

Charlotte Green Up Day needs volunteers, sign up for a route

KIM FINDLAY AND KEN SPENCER CONTRIBUTORS

Did you know that Vermont was the first state to designate a day of the year to clean up litter along the roadsides? On that day in 1970, 53 years ago, participation and results far exceeded expectations. Ninety-five percent of the 2,400 miles of the interstate and state roads, and 75 percent of the 8,300 miles of town roads were cleared of garbage.

Thanks to Gov. Deane C. Davis and Sen. George Aiken, Vermont has a wonderful tradition that inspires Vermonters to get out and de-trash this beautiful state.

In Charlotte, Green Up Day has had a robust turnout every year with tons — yes, tons! — of litter removed from roadsides. This year Green Up Day is Saturday, May 6, at the west parking lot at Charlotte Central School from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There will also be e-waste recycling through Sustainable Charlotte.

Things you should know about Green Up Day in Charlotte:

• Sign up for a route — There are three ways: on the website at charlottevtgreenupday.com (until 6 p.m. on Friday, May 5); email Kim Findlay at farafieldfarm@ gmail.com; or at the event on Saturday. Signing up for a route makes the town’s Green Up Day efforts more efficient by making sure everyone gets a road that

hasn’t been cleaned up yet.

• Get bags — This year Charlotte will hand out both green bags for trash and optional clear bags for redeemable and recyclable plastic containers, which get rinsed and recycled. Bags can be picked up at the Old Brick Store, Charlotte library and Spear’s Corner Store starting April 31, and at the event on Saturday. Do not leave filled bags on the roadside; they must be returned to the event site.

• Volunteer— Volunteers are needed at the Quonset hut. Two-hour (or more) shifts available.

• Tires — Only tires found on roadsides will be accepted. This is not the place to get rid of personal tires.

•Hazardous waste — This is not a hazardous waste drop-off event.

• Visit the website — It has all the information you’ll need. Visit charlottevtgreenupday.com or contact Findlay at farafieldfarm@gmail.com with questions, to volunteer or sign up for a route.

We don’t know about you, but it warms our hearts to see folks out cleaning up our town together. Whether driving, biking or walking around town, isn’t it great to not see that junk on the side of the road? And to share a collective feeling of stewardship?

Kim Findlay and Ken Spencer are Charlotte’s Green Up Day coordinators.

Science Fun Day boldly explores brave new topics, ‘eggstronauts’

Learn what it takes to fly a helicopter on Mars, investigate alien genetics and build an egg-drop lander to protect the “eggstronaut” you create at “Science Fun Day: Out of this World,” at the Barre Civic Center on Sunday, May 21, from 2-4 p.m.

The event is for kids in grades three to five with an interest in exploring how things

work. There’s only space for 25 participants. The afternoon session will focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics activities.

Registrations will be accepted on a firstcome, first-served basis until Monday, May 15 or when the event fills up.

To register go to uvm.edu/extension.

CRIME & COURTS

Hinesburg man pleads not guilty in cyclist’s death

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

Richard K. Lewis, the man South Burlington police cited with grossly negligent operation with death resulting after hitting a cyclist with his car, has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from the Oct. 15 incident.

The 69-year-old from Hinesburg was released following his arraignment on April 6, under the condition that he does not operate a motor vehicle. His arraignment, and court documents associated with the case, bring new details of the incident to light, which resulted in the death of Gerard Malavenda, a cyclist from Williston.

“An accomplished and seasoned bicyclist, Gerry had set out on a glorious Vermont day for a ride that would unfortunately be his last,” Malavenda’s obituary reads.

Lewis hung up when reached by phone. His attorney, Brooks G.

McArthur, did not respond to several phone messages and emails.

On Oct. 15, just after noon, South Burlington police officers responded to the scene in the area near 1410 Hinesburg Rd., where they found Malavenda — wearing a neon shirt, as well as neon shoe covers — “breathing, but not speaking,” according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Lewis was the only occupant in his GMC truck and told police that he had been going to visit his son, who lives off Hinesburg Road in South Burlington. While traveling southbound, he recalled slowing down after seeing Malavenda straddling his bike, which was perpendicular to the roadway on the west side of the road.

“Lewis ... worried about the rear tire of the bicycle, which he repeated to me several times,” South Burlington officer Hazen Powell wrote in the affidavit of probable cause. “Lewis was attempting to avoid the

male but stated he was suddenly right in front of Lewis’ truck.”

Malavenda’s bike was found with damage to its rear tire, but no damage to the frame or handlebars. There were no witnesses to the crash.

Lewis “denied looking at his cellphone, being distracted by the interior of his vehicle or looking around directly before the crash occurred,” Powell wrote. He stopped his car, asked a nearby resident to call 911 and then called his son.

Malavenda was taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center’s emergency department, where he was pronounced dead.

Powell spoke with Lewis at the scene, who was in his truck on a phone call when the officer asked to see his cell phone, according to court documents. Powell examined Lewis’ phone and noted that his call and missed call history folders were both empty, aside from the call he had just been on.

Lewis told the officer he had called his son immediately after the crash, but that call was deleted.

messages within 15 minutes before the crash was reported.”

Lewis was then released, and the road shut down so the Vermont State Police crash reconstruction process team could process the scene.

“The representative advised (that) AT&T had provided all of the information they had for the hours of 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. from Oct. 15.”

April 12 at 9:42 p.m., after responding to an accident scene on Spear Street near Quinlan Farm Lane in Char-

lotte, Andrew Webbe, 48, of Charlotte, was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs, his fourth such offense.

“I found it suspicious Lewis had deleted a phone call he had made immediately after the crash,” the officer said in the complaint. “Lewis advised he always deleted his call history. I did not observe any text

Over the course of several weeks, South Burlington police seized Lewis’ phone and determined his cellphone had been connected to the vehicle’s Bluetooth system minutes before the crash occurred, according to court documents. Powell later sent a subpoena to AT&T, but the company told him that there were no records of phone calls or text messages available made between 11:51 a.m. and 1 p.m. that day.

The state police’s investigation of the crash scene showed Lewis’ car had veered nearly three feet over the white fog line into the southbound shoulder where Malavenda was with his bike.

The state police’s investigation of the crash scene showed Lewis’ car had veered nearly three feet over the white fog line into the southbound shoulder where Malavenda was with his bike. Speed was not a contributing factor in this motor vehicle crash “but rather a lane deviation possibly due to an inattentive operator,” the state police crash report reads. He was later cited by the South Burlington Police Department in February.

Advertising Wendy Ewing wendy@shelburnenews.com

(802) 985-3091 x12

Advertising Director Judy Kearns judy@otherpapersbvt.com

(802) 864-6670 x21

Managing Editor

Dylan Kelley dylan@stowereporter.com

News Editor Tommy Gardner

Staff Writers

Aaron Calvin

Corey McDonald

Liberty Darr

Production Manager

Stephanie Manning stephanie@shelburnenews.com

Editor/Publisher Gregory Popa gpopa@stowereporter.com

Billing inquiries Leslie Lafountain leslie@stowereporter.com (802) 253-2101

Advertising submission deadline: Friday at 5 p.m. advertising@thecitizenvt.com classifieds@thecitizenvt.com

Editorial submission deadline: Friday at 5 p.m. news@thecitizenvt.com

Calendar submission deadline: Friday at 12 p.m. news@thecitizenvt.com

Contact: 1340 Williston Road South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 985-3091

“I advised the representative (that) I had observed the individual using their phone and making calls between 11:51 a.m. and 1 p.m.,” Powell wrote in court documents.

“Lewis failed to exercise ordinary care by not only failing to avoid a bicyclist on the shoulder of a public highway ... but in fact driving more than two feet to the right of the fog line and striking the bicyclist,” Powell wrote.

No trial date for Lewis has been set at this time.

Vermont State Police Blotter

OPINION

AHA! It’s the Affordable Heat Act ... explained

There’s a lot of information (and misinformation) flying around about S.5, the Affordable Heat Act, which comes up for a House vote this week after moving out of the Senate. It’s a bill that aims to lessen carbon emissions, incentivize Vermonters to use cleaner heat methods and provide a path for fuel dealers to diversify their businesses.

Here’s a link to the bill, which I encourage you to read: bit.ly/41jgff7.

Initially, I shared the same concerns that many people currently have about the financial impact this bill would have on Vermonters, especially without a clear vision of exactly what the costs will be and who will eventually end up paying them. As I’ve mentioned before, bills frequently look very different by the time they are presented for a vote, and this bill is no exception.

The bill does establish a clean heat standard, much like the climate bill from last year, but it does so with some provisions that I think really address some of my issues with last year’s bill.

OK, the cost. The 70-cents-per-gallon cost increase that many are worried about came from an admittedly non-rigorous

Litter along roads is simply disgraceful

To the Editor:

This letter is long overdue. I am surprised by the amount of trash that is deposited along Route 116 toward Starksboro, especially past the community school after the speed limit rises from 30 mph to 40 mph.

I thought that Vermont residents were so proud of their beautiful surroundings that they wouldn’t ever consider littering in their own environment. I now see that they are not ashamed to shed their trash outside their vehicles’ windows, to keep their interiors trash-free.

I know drinking and driving is illegal. So is littering.

It reminded me of a song I learned long ago, called “The Litterbug Song,”

“Litterbug, litterbug, shame on you, Look at the terrible things you do. Littering, cluttering every place.

financial analysis of the possible cost by someone who said it was a “back-ofthe-envelope” calculation. The backs of envelopes are for jotting down phone numbers that you immediately forget about and throw away; they’re not for figuring out the complicated financial impact of a climate change bill and the future costs of not making changes to current fuel-use practices.

So, what will it actually cost? Honestly, it’s hard to be sure. The Vermont Climate Council estimates that by the year 2030, the bill will save each household an average of $7,500, around $2 billion for the state. But who will pay the fuel costs? Hopefully, Vermonters and fuel dealers will be able to find a path forward that doesn’t increase costs for consumers. But if it should …

The bill requires the Legislature to create detailed studies on the costs, benefits and logistics of the affordable heat standard, including the projected impact on fuel prices. The next two years will be setting the stage for a finalized clean heat standard, and the required check-back in 2025 will require the Legislature to review and amend the program. That makes me feel a lot more at ease with the bill and allows me to support it with confidence.

When that check-back occurs, the Legislature will do all the things we usually do when we’re learning about a bill — listen to expert testimony, have an opportunity to influence amendments, or, in this

Island Memorial Pet Service

We understand the love you have for your pets and the importance they hold in your life. Our compassionate staff is devoted to easing the difficulties at this challenging time. Our staff is here for you 24/7 Tiger & Buster

My, but it’s disgraceful. Litterbug, litterbug, where’s your pride? Making a mess of the countryside. Spoiling and soiling each lovely view. Shame, oh, shame on you.”

— produced by Walt Disney, 1961

Well, that’s the short of it. I am a newcomer to town, saddened by the cans, bottles and all litter that lies on the roadsides.

Barbara Levy Hinesburg

Hinesburg forms equity committee

To the Editor: Hinesburg’s Selectboard recently formed a new Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee. The committee

•

Rep. Chea Waters Evans

COMMUNITY

Community Notes

Eight win 2023 Ice-Out Challenge

The Lake Iroquois Association Ice-Out Challenge featured eight winners for 2023.

All picked the identical date and time that the ice went out on the lake and will share 50 percent money raised during. The remaining 50 percent improves the lake’s water quality and protects it from invasive aquatic plant species.

Lily Brennan, Jane Geider, Kimberly Hopwood, Robert Kenny and Brian Washburn of Hinesburg, Sandra Labounty of Huntington and Austin Savage of Essex Junction were the winners. An additional winner is from Williston.

This year’s challenge ended on April 7, at 1:58 p.m. when the concrete block went into the cold lake water and stopped the clock — five days later than last year’s date of April 2.

Participants in the challenge paid $1 per ticket to guess the date and time a concrete block mounted on a pallet would break through the ice on Lake Iroquois.

To learn more about the Lake Iroquois Association visit lakeiroquois.org.

Charlotte is going green with solar

The Charlotte Energy Committee celebrates Earth Day in a big way this year by kicking off its 2023 Solarize Campaign with Green Mountain Solar.

The go-green campaign starts with an in-person celebration at the Charlotte Public Library Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Solarize Charlotte is a grassroots effort for neighbors to band together to make solar energy a priority. To achieve this, partnering solar companies offer discounted rates depending on how many Charlotte residents and businesses decide to go solar.

Green Mountain Solar will have representatives at the kickoff to explain the basics of solar, answer questions and schedule property assessments.

This year’s official theme for Earth Day is investing in the planet, and to that end the Charlotte Energy Committee want to help residents lower their utility bills and to increase renewable energy production in Charlotte.

For information, contact Lilly Baron at lilly@greenmtnsolar. com or 802-369-9149, ext. 18.

Student graduations, milestones

The following students from Charlotte were named to Champlain College dean’s list for the fall semester: Harrison Falk; Kiley Stearns; and Heloise Guyette.

The following students from Hinesburg were named to Champlain College dean’s list for the fall semester: Evan Turner and Toni Blackburn.

Enjoy Age Well meals at Charlotte Senior Center

The Age Well meal pickup for Thursday, April 20, is from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Charlotte Senior Center features beef with barbecue sauce, baked beans, broccoli florets, wheat roll with butter, pumpkin 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, April 27 features chicken with gravy, mashed potatoes, sliced carrots with parsley, Texas toast with butter, pumpkin custard with cream and milk.

The meal on Thursday, May 4 features chicken with marsala sauce with mushrooms, mashed potatoes, carrots, wheat bread with butter, blueberries and strawberries in yogurt and milk.

The suggested donation is $5. Check the website for last-minute cancellations at bit.ly/3FfyLMb.

April programs at Charlotte Senior Center

For more details, go to charlotteseniorcentervt.org.

• Sunday, April 30, 3-5 p.m.: Sustainable Charlotte presents “A Conversation with George Lakey.” Lakey speaks about his latest book, a memoir, “Dancing with History: A Life for Peace and Justice,” and about a whole range of issues he has embraced. This event will be held at the Charlotte Library. Co-sponsored with Sustainable Charlotte and Charlotte Library. Registration is required at the Charlotte Library.

Spring ephemerals

Take a spring ephemeral walk with noted botanist and ecologist Liz Thompson and the Hinesburg Conservation Commission on Saturday, April 29, 10 a.m. to

Gardening with tried-and-true perennials

noon at the LaPlatte Headwaters

Town Forest and appreciate and identify spring’s first wildflowers.

Thompson is a conservation ecologist and botanist who lives in Jericho. She co-authored “Wetland, Woodland, Wildland, A Guide to the Natural Communities of Vermont,” and for 20 years she taught botany and ecology at the University of Vermont.

The event is free but donations to Hinesburg Land Trust are welcome. Park at Gilman Road parking lot.

Support education at Lake Monsters’s game

From the depths of Lake Champlain it’s Champ and he’s looking for Hinesburg to cheer on the Vermont Lake Monster’s while raising money for Partnership in Education at Hinesburg Community School, Sunday, June 4, 4 p.m.

First pitch is at 5:05 p.m. at Centennial Field.

Everyone is welcome to cheer on the Vermont Lake Monster’s while supporting Partnership in Education at Hinesburg Community School and make new connections with other folks in the community. The school’s band will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” on the field and there’s a kid fun zone, free face painting

and kids can throw the ball round and run the bases after the game. Call 802-655-6611 to buy tickets before May 12.

‘Wild About Wild Habitat’ with Sue Morse

When it comes to wildlife, photographer and wildlife researcher Sue Morse puts it this way: “If you don’t build it, they will come.” In other words, wild animals need intact, interconnected wild habitat to survive and thrive.

Join Morse as she shares her

photos and insights about the wildlife that calls Vermont home, the need for wild habitat and the actions individuals and communities can take to promote wildness.

In this online talk on Thursday, April 27, 7-8:30 p.m., Morse will focus on the Champlain Valley — Vermont’s most densely populated region — where opportunities still abound to encourage wild habitats.

To register and receive a Zoom link, go to bit.ly/41edrQe.

Morse has monitored and

COURTESY PHOTO

Join Silvia Jope and the Burlington Garden Club at the United First Methodist Church in South Burlington on Tuesday, April 25, at 1 p.m., for a discussion on her “close to nature” approach to creating ecologically inspired landscapes. Participants will learn sustainable principles for landscape planning. Jope is the owner of Old World Garden Design, where she has worked to promote no-mow grass patches, mixing edibles with pollinator friendly plants, hand-woven garden gates and native hornbeam arches. Free and open to the public.

COURTESY PHOTO

Take a spring walk in Hinesburg April 29 to identify ephemerals.

FROM THE HOUSE

continued from page 5

case, scratch the whole thing and start over. The appropriated cost now to implement the program is $1.8 million; this does seem like a pretty significant amount of money to spend on a program that’s still in development.

In my mind, though, the financial and environmental costs will be much greater if we don’t start doing something about it now. Last week, students from all over the state were on the Statehouse lawn, marching in support of climate change action. I had the opportunity to meet with a bunch

LETTERS

continued from page 5

is charged with developing tools, frameworks and recommendations to the selectboard and town manager to use as Hinesburg seeks to establish a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging across all aspects of town governance and policies.

The committee works to assist the town in evaluating its operations for inequities and areas in need of a diversity lens. It serves as a resource to provide guidance for town management, including but not limited to town committees and the selectboard. The committee’s work specifically focuses on policies and practices within the town’s formal structure.

It was not established to plan cultural events or comment on

COMMUNITY NOTES

continued from page 6

photographed wildlife since 1977.

The talk is hosted by St. Michael’s College Center for the Environment and is co-sponsored by Vermont Family Forests, The Watershed Center and Lewis Creek Association.

Big Truck Day benefits

Hinesburg Nursery School

Big Truck Day is back on Saturday, May 13, 2023, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. when vehicles of all kinds will roll into town for the Hinesburg Nursery School’s 23rd Big Truck Day.

This year the lot behind the Hinesburg Community School will be packed with construction and utility vehicles, tractors, firetrucks and other rescue vehicles for families to see, touch and explore.

Enjoy entertainment with Mike & The Big Blue Trunk and fill up on a barbecue lunch and goodies from the bake sale. Have sensitive ears? Don’t worry as the

of students from our district, and their passion, sincerity and concern was a good counterbalance to my more fiscally moderate concerns about the costs of this program.

I’m more than happy to get more specific with anyone who wants to talk about this more. I have a lot of information I can share. If you really want to do a deep dive, I suggest hopping on YouTube and watching the Senate and House energy committee hearings. You can see how the language and the ideas

evolved over time, and how many concerns were addressed.

I’m free for phone calls, texts, and emails any time and can meet on Mondays in town. My number is 917-887-8231 and my email is cevans@leg.state.vt.us. We’re wrapping up the legislative session in mid-May, but you’ll hear from me in The Citizen right before we finish up.

Chea Waters Evans, a Democrat, represents Charlotte and Hinesburg in the Chittenden-5 House district.

current events. It does, however, seek input from people who live, go to school and own a business in Hinesburg specific to town policies and their implementation across town departments. The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee is planning an open house for late July to introduce the committee and its work, to answer questions and to gather information.

The committee meets on the first and third Tuesday evening of the month at the town hall. Currently there are six members who have been seated for two- or three-year terms by the selectboard. There are an additional three, one-year terms open to persons who demonstrate a commitment to equity among

all persons — regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, or expression, age, or disability and socioeconomic status — and will actively and respectfully participate in the mission of the committee. More information about the committee can be found at hinesburg.org.

Joy Dubin Grossman, assistant town manager Miles Hickok, Mike Loner, selectboard member Enrique Peredo, Karen Tronsgard-Scott, Kate Webster, Hinesburg Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee

event will be horn-free from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

The cost is $5 per person and those under 12 months get in free. A special household rate is $20.

Proceeds benefit the Hinesburg Nursery School, a nonprofit state licensed cooperative preschool for children ages 3 to 5.

For more information, contact Alexis Licursi 860-970-9596 or licursifamily@gmail.com.

A Conversation with George Lakey

Activist and author George Lakey will speak in Charlotte on Sunday, April 30 from 3-5 p.m. at the Charlotte Public Library. His book is a memoir, “Dancing with History: A life for peace and justice.”

Lakey was born into a white working-class family in rural Pennsylvania and has been active in direct action campaigns for seven decades. He was first arrested at a civil rights demonstration

in 1963, and his most recent arrest was in 2021, during a climate justice march. A Quaker, he has been named Peace Educator of the Year and was given the Paul Robeson Social Justice Award and the Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Award.

Registration is required for this free, in-person event: bit. ly/3zuv424.

‘Urine My Garden’ workshop in Shelburne

Join the Rich Earth Institute at Shelburne Farms to learn all about why and how to fertilize your garden with urine on Saturday, April 29, 1-2 p.m.

Reclaiming urine as a fertilizer is a safe and simple practice. By pee-cycling, gardeners can reclaim waste as a resource, access an abundance of free fertilizer and prevent nutrient pollution. Pee-cycling kits for home gardeners will be available for interested participants to take home.

Companion planting boosts your gardening potential

NADIE VANZANDT UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT EXTENSION

When planning this year’s vegetable garden, consider companion planting with flowers and herbs. It’s a rewarding way to attract pollinators, manage pests and promote biodiversity in your garden.

The practice will improve your soil’s health and the quality of your harvest. As an added benefit, you might enjoy gathering bouquets of fresh-cut flowers throughout the growing season. In addition, flowers, which have more abundant and colorful blooms than vegetables, will attract more pollinators and beneficial insects to your vegetable plants.

While some flowers and herbs repel insect pests, others attract them and may serve as trap crops to divert these pests away from your vegetables. Flowers and herbs also can act as a natural weed barrier to fill empty spaces. By knowing

Otheir beneficial characteristics, you can strategically place companion plants where they are most useful in your garden to see if they repel pests.

Consider using a variety of flowers and herbs to entice pollinators early and throughout the growing season. Good choices for early spring pollination are sweet peas, pansies and other cool-season flowers.

After the danger of frost has passed, many easy-to-grow annuals can be direct sowed outdoors. Simple choices include zinnias, cosmos, marigolds, calendulas and nasturtiums.

After clearing faded spring crops, sow the seeds directly into the ground following the depth and spacing recommendation on the seed packet. Alternatively, planting nursery seedlings is a good idea to

PHOTO BY NADIE VANZANDT Nasturtiums, which can act as a magnet plant for aphids, should be planted away from cabbage, green beans and other vegetables that are prone to aphid infestations.

UVM hosts free garden soil screening event May 13

Vermont gardeners can get their soils screened for lead at no cost at the University of Vermont’s Garden Soil Health Day on Saturday, May 13 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the University of Vermont Horticulture Research and Education Center, at 65 Green Mountain Drive in South Burlington.

As part of the national Soil Screening, Health, Outreach and Partnership initiative, the event provides free lead screening of vegetable garden soils to ensure healthy home and community gardening. Interested gardeners should bring their soil sample

PLANTING

continued from page 8

achieve faster bloom time.

Zinnias are known to attract predatory insects and may deter tomato worms and cucumber beetles. Cosmos attract many beneficial predatory insects such as lacewings, parasitic wasps, tachinid flies and hoverflies that feed on insect pests. Some zinnias and cosmos can grow tall, so choose varieties that don’t cast shadows where sunshine is needed.

Although not proven, there is some scientific evidence that marigolds are helpful at controlling nematodes. The French marigold may offer protection against several types of

in a zip-locked storage bag for screening.

Soil instructions and additional event details can be found at go.uvm.edu/soilhealthday. Families limited to three soil bags each.

Attendees will also learn how to build and maintain healthy garden soils through informational exhibits, self-guided tours of innovative cover crop research and exchanges with UVM Extension master gardener volunteers and soil science and health professionals.

Questions can be sent to debra.heleba@ uvm.edu.

nematodes. Its scent also may deter rabbits, so for this reason some experts suggest planting marigolds around the perimeter of your vegetable plot.

Calendula is an excellent companion plant. While the flowers will invite aphids and whiteflies, they mostly attract beneficial predatory insects. There is anecdotal evidence that they repel tomato worms and nematodes. Plant them near your tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, beans and asparagus.

Nasturtiums make a colorful ground cover that deters weeds and are a magnet for aphids. They are best planted away

from vegetables targeted by aphids such as cabbage and green beans to drive the pests away from these crops.

As for herbs, bees and butterflies love mint, oregano and thyme. Parsley, dill and coriander attract beneficial insects and chervil may deter slugs from leafy greens.

Borage draws both pollinators and beneficial insects to the garden. Consider planting mint and borage in pots to control their aggressive growth habit, or plant them where you have plenty of space.

To keep plants blooming throughout the season, harvest some herbs and flowers and

leave the rest for pollinators. Be sure to deadhead annuals to encourage more blooms.

Before you select a trap crop, consider the risk of attracting a particular insect pest that was not a problem in the past to your garden.

There is no magic formula for choosing flowers to mingle with your vegetables. The main goal is to build a healthy, biodiverse garden. Experiment, try other combinations and enjoy the charming cottage-style garden that you create.

Nadie VanZandt is a UVM Extension master gardener.

PHOTO BY PEGGY GREB

Screening soil from a vegetable garden for lead levels before planting will ensure a safe and healthy garden.

Ukrainian musician revives spiritual tradition of the kobzar at All Souls

“Kobzar’s Prayer for Ukraine: The Lost, Sacred, Traditional Instruments of Ukraine: Bandura, Kobza, and Torban,” featuring Jurij Fedynsky, is a free concert, lecture and presentation at All Souls Interfaith Gathering in Shelburne on Thursday, May 4, 6:30 p.m.

Fedynsky, a 48-year-old Ukrainian American, was born in the United States and has resided in Ukraine for the past 23 years. He is a musician, researcher and instrument maker who for decades has been reviving the lost music and spiritual tradition of the kobzar. The kobzar were traveling musicians, storytellers and spiritual leaders who for centuries went around Ukraine spreading their art and wisdom.

With the rise of Stalin and Soviet control over Ukraine, the kobzar were killed, their instruments destroyed, and their traditions almost forgotten. Almost. Fedynskiy and his colleagues work to recreate lost traditional

instruments, including the kobza, the bandura and the torban.

He has witnessed the current war in Ukraine first-hand. When Russia invaded Ukraine on in 2022, Fedynsky and his fellow musicians performed at checkpoints, barracks and shelters. Wherever possible, his guild performed for civilians and soldiers alike.

On this North American Tour, Fedynsky will carry on the kobzar tradition, hoping to enrich the world, sharing the truth about Ukraine through historic songs that have preserved the emotions and national character of Ukraine.

Donations will be collected, and proceeds will go to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Poltava Kobzar Guild.

For more information, contact Jeanette Bacevius at 802-363-8287 or jjbacevius@ yahoo.com.

TOWN MANAGER

continued from page 1

talked to maybe 100 people. I’ve talked to our neighbors in Hinesburg and Shelburne, and it’s worked very well.”

The group has worked to consult attorneys and other local town officials and selectboard members to help outline a way forward. They have argued that with the important issues facing the town, it might be beneficial to bring in somebody with a background and experience in management, human resources, budgeting and finance and give them the responsibility and authority for doing the legwork in service to the selectboard.

Morrison, along with former planning commission chair Peter Joslin and development review board chair Charlie Russell, questioned whether this could expedite meeting times that sometimes last close to four hours that often focus on the minutiae of routine issues rather than honing in on the big issues the town currently faces, he said.

“They’re no more costly than a town administrator because of the functions they can perform,” he said. “They can actually save the town money by having less consultants and with the experience of a town manager, they can take on some ... of the duties of selectboard and in the long run save money.”

The town has until October to find a suitable replacement for Bloch, but like Faulkner mentioned, “part of this issue that we’re dealing with is we have a time crunch.”

The town has not yet begun the search for the new town administrator and Faulkner hopes to have someone in the position by August to work with Bloch until his departure. According to a recruitment services proposal from Vermont League of Cities and Towns, it is estimated to take the town 12-16 weeks to hire a new administrator.

Steps include preparing recruitment and advertising plans, screening applications and planning interviews. With help from league, it could cost the town upwards of $12,000 for the entire process.

Faulkner argues that the process could be done another way.

“My thought is that we have four months to find somebody, and I’m not sure (Vermont League of Cities and Towns) is the answer either on doing that for us. I think we have a lot of skill here in town that we might go to manage that ourselves.”

With the search so pressed, Faulkner questioned if it could be beneficial to first hire a town administrator who could work toward switching to the manager role.

“I would like to see if we could find an individual that could work as an administrator and work on up to that point once the public understands all the pros and cons of the manager and how it works,” he said.

Rick McGuire, search consultant with Vermont League of Cities and Towns, explained that a town manager acts as a chief administrative officer and has direct duties and authority laid out in statute. A town administrator does not have the same authority and is governed more directly by a selectboard.

“(The selectboard) can delegate as little or as much as they want within the law, of course,” Rick McGuire, search consultant with Vermont League of Cities and Towns, said. “But the town manager’s position is spelled out very specifically under state law and that outlines all the powers and duties.”

Morrison explained that there are two ways to implement the change. One way is through a charter change, and the other is simply through accordance with the state statute.

“Either one of those requires a town vote, but a charter is more complicated and takes more time,” he said. “The state statute, which would be a straight petition, listed three or four pages of the (town manager) duties but it really says the key point here is the town manager is to perform all duties now conferred by law upon the selectboard.”

Although the petition has garnered enough votes to force a town wide vote, those charging the petition have agreed to wait for a larger informational meeting, at the request of the selectboard, that will happen sometime in May in order to hear more public feedback.

“You have a selectboard who is willing to be engaged until we can figure it out,” Faulkner said. “What I’m asking, more than anything else, is just don’t pull the trigger on the petition until we get a little bigger handle on the changes that will be made. It’s not comfortable when we hear people who’ve done something behind closed doors. I just have no interest in that at all.”

Shop

COURTESY PHOTO Jurij Fedynsky

“It’s not comfortable when we hear people who’ve done something behind closed doors. I just have no interest in that at all.”

— Jim Faulkner

Redhawks recap

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Softball

South Burlington 12, Champlain Valley 2: After opening the spring season with a win over Rice, the Champlain Valley softball team fell to South Burlington Saturday, April 15.

Mackenzie Yandow took the loss, giving up six runs on four hits in one inning.

The Redhawks beat Rice, 10-3, on Thursday to open the season, with Kate Boget going 2-for-3 with a triple at the plate.

Juliette Chant threw a complete game and allowed three runs on six hits.

Boys’ lacrosse

Champlain Valley 12, BFA-St. Albans 2: The boys’ team moved to 2-0 after beating BFA-St. Albans on Friday, April 14.

Peter Gilliam paced the Redhawks with six goals, while Jacob Bose and Conor Malaney each tallied two.

Ryan Boehmcke and Calvin Malaney each added a goal and Harper Anderson (two saves) got the win.

Baseball

Champlain Valley 7, Rice 6: Champlain Valley earned a comeback win over Rice on Thursday, April 13, in high school baseball.

The Redhawks scored five runs over the final three innings to complete the comeback.

Stephen Rickert got the win in relief, pitching two innings and giving up just one run on three hits. Kyle Tivnan had an RBI and scored, while Russell Willoughby went 2-for-4 with a double.

Girls’ ultimate Frisbee

Montpelier 11, Champlain Valley 7: The girls’ ultimate frisbee suffered two losses in the first week of play, falling to Montpelier on Thursday and Burlington on Wednesday.

In the 11-7 loss to Montpelier, Grace Thompson paced the offense with four goals and Ella Polli and Teryn Hytten each added a goal.

In a 14-7 loss to Burlington on Wednesday, Stella Ewald led the team with five goals and Thompson chipped in two goals and two assists.

Boys’ tennis

Champlain Valley 5, Rice

2: The boys opened their spring season with a 5-2 victory over Rice Thursday.

The Redhawks are 1-0 to start the year.

Girls’ tennis

Champlain Valley 7, Rice 0: The girls’ tennis team opened the season with a sweep of Rice on Thursday.

Cassie Bastress, Anna Dauer-

man, Tabitha Bastress, Erin Fina and Sage Peterson all earned straight set wins in the singles matches for CVU.

Stella Makay and Eliza Willoughby teamed up for one win in doubles, while Maya Vander Els and Kennedy Desautels wrapped up the win with another doubles victory.

Boys’ ultimate Frisbee

Champlain Valley 15, Colchester 3: Champlain Valley

easily handled Colchester Wednesday, beating the Lakers 15-3 to start the season.

Girls’ lacrosse

Champlain Valley 17, Essex

5: Champlain Valley has gotten off to a good start in girls’ lacrosse, beating Essex on Tuesday and St. Johnsbury on Friday,

April 7.

Emerson Rice led the way for the Redhawks, scoring a hat trick and dishing out two assists. Stella Dooley, Bibi Frechette, Amelie Scharf, Tess Everett, Dicey Manning and Grace McNally each tallied twice for CVU.

Clare Stackpole-McGrath had five stops in goal.

Community Bankers – Chittenden County

Temporary Positions Available

BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

There is no better time to join our Team!

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

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 Temporary 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!

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

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

PHOTO BY AL FREY

Brian Rutherford heads down field in a 12-2 win over BFA-St. Albans April 14.

PHOTO BY AL FREY

The CVU girls’ ultimate Frisbee team in action against Burlington April 12. The team lost 14-7.

SHELBURNE

Shelburne Highway Department Truck Driver/Laborer Positions

The Town of Shelburne has two openings for team-oriented Truck Driver / Laborers. These full-time positions are responsible for operating trucks and equipment to maintain Town roads and properties and working as laborers on Town projects.

One position has an immediate opening; the other position will have a July 1st start date. A commercial Driver’s License or the ability to obtain one within six months is required.

Complete job description is available at https://www.shelburnevt. org/237/Human-Resources.

For information or to apply, contact Nini Anger at nanger@shelburnevt.org.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Community Bankers - Chittenden County BUILDERS I MAKERS I 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. Are you looking to start or continue a career in the finance industry? Consider joining our team as a Community Banker!

Job Responsibilities & Requirements

This frontline position is crucial in creating a positive, welcoming and inclusive experience for NSB customers. The successful candidate for NSB customers. The successful candidate will have exceptional customer service and communication skills.

The Community Banker will be responsible for receiving and processing customers’ financial transactions as well as opening and maintaining customer accounts and services. We are looking for someone who can develop and maintain relationships with our valued customers, protect bank and customer information, and uphold customer confidentiality. A high school diploma, general education degree (GED), or equivalent is required. If you have customer service, previous cash handling, or banking experience we encourage you to apply!

Opportunity for Growth

NSB has training opportunities to engage employees and assist with professional development within our company. The average years of service for an NSB employee is 9! If you’re looking for a career in an environment that promotes growth, join our team!

What NSB Can Offer You

Competitive compensation based on experience. Well-rounded benefits package. Profit-Sharing opportunity. Excellent 401(k) matching retirement program. Commitment to professional development. Opportunities to volunteer and support our communities. Work-Life balance!

We understand the importance of having evenings and weekends with our friends, families, and the communities we serve!

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

Northfield Savings

Bank Human Resources

PO Box 7180, Barre, VT 05641

CVU baseball welcomes female pitcher

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

Fresh off a stint as the first Vermonter to play with the U.S. Women’s National baseball team, 17-year-old Elise Berger makes her debut as a new pitcher for the Champlain Valley Union High School boys’ varsity baseball team.

Berger, a junior, said her passion for baseball has always been a part of her.

“I’ve been playing baseball as long as I can remember,” she said. “I played T-ball probably when I was 5 or 6 years old and just kind of continued playing since then. It’s just always been in our house, whether it’s on the TV or playing with a little foam ball in the house. It’s just always been part of me growing up.”

Although she had played with the junior varsity team for the high school for two years, being the only girl on the varsity team

is a different ball game. However, her time with the women’s national baseball team — one of 40 girls from around the country — taught her a few things that she thinks prepared her well for the challenge.

“We got to train at Target Field in Minneapolis, and I was able to compete again in Canada, in Thunder Bay, Ontario,” she said.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned is just being able to talk with a lot of the other better pitchers. Those women have been playing on the team since I was born and just being able to hear their experiences and learning from them was definitely a big key thing. Then just tiny things in my delivery, which when you add it all together can make a big difference.”

The new head coach for the varsity team and Berger’s middle school coach, Nicky Elderton, said that he only remembers one other female who made the Champlain Valley Union boys’ varsity

TOWN OF CHARLOTTE IS ISSUING A REQUEST FOR BIDS For Re-Roofing the Charlotte Town Hall

The Request for Bids can be viewed at www.charlottevt.org and can also be obtained by contacting Dean Bloch, Town Administrator, at townadmin@townofcharlotte.com or 425-3071 ext. 5.

Sealed bids are due by Monday May 22, 2023 @ 4 PM

Mailed or hand delivered to: Dean Bloch, Town Administrator, Charlotte Town Office, 159 Ferry Road, P.O. Box 119, Charlotte, VT 05445—envelopes should be labeled “Town Hall Roof Bid”. If hand delivering, use the mail slot to the right of the front door.

Bids are to be opened on May 22nd at 6:45 PM at the Town Office.

The Town of Charlotte reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids for any reason, and may not necessarily select the lowest bid.

25% OFF REPAIRS

| Same-Day Repair When Possible Ring Sizing • Cleaning • Stone Tightening • Rhodium Plating

20% OFF APPRAISALS

Performed by Our Graduate Gemologists

team, Emily Sackett, in 2009.

“Junior varsity is a little different,” he said. “But for varsity teams, you don’t see a lot of females playing on the baseball team. It just shows how dedicated she is to her craft and her work ethic just to become the best baseball player possible. At every level that she’s been in, she’s been very successful.”

Although she was the only girl that tried out for the varsity team this year, Elderton said that the point of tryouts is to pick the best baseball players in the high school regardless of any other kind of distinction. It was clear that Berger made the cut.

“We put everyone through tryouts, and we selected the 20 best players at the school,” Elderton said. “We don’t ever look at male or female. We just look for the 20 best baseball players at Champlain Valley Union. It was pretty apparent that she was clearly in the top 20. She has a lot of very impressive skills. She’s an incredible teammate and an incredible athlete to coach.”

Her father, Chris Berger, explained that although he was really involved with his daughter in Little League, there was never any push on his side for her to love the sport.

“We’ve just tried to support her whatever she’s wanted to do,” he said. “I think first and foremost, these things have to be fun. We’re fortunate that we live in a community where there’s never been an issue about her playing baseball.”

Although she has dabbled in other sports like basketball, she hopes to continue playing baseball in college and with the national team as well. For now, she’s just excited for warmer weather and the team’s season opening win on April 13 against Rice Memorial High School.

“We came back from 5-0, and we ended up winning 7-6,” Elderton said. “It’s a special group that we have this year. I’m really excited to see what the season holds for us.”

Berger’s father said that the experience of playing baseball, oftentimes on an all-boys team, has never been a struggle, but instead has always been something that encourages her to push her abilities to the next level.

“We started to joke she’s almost one of the guys,” he said. “She’s always been treated the same as everybody else, and that’s all you can actually ask for, right? She doesn’t get cut any slack because she’s a girl, but she also gets the same chances and opportunities and that’s exactly what you want for anybody, just for them to be able to do what they can do based on their hard work and ability.”

CLASSIFIEDS

CHARLOTTE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

Community Bankers – Chittenden County

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!

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

Equal Opportunity Employer / Member FDIC

Will hold a public hearing on the following application during the Development Review Board’s regular meeting of Wednesday May 10, 2023:

7:05 PM 23-029-CU Teaster – Conditional Use review for alteration to a seasonal camp at 668 Flat Rock Road.

For more information, contact the Planning & Zoning Office 802.425.3533 ext. 208, or by email at: pza@townofcharlotte.com

TOWN OF CHARLOTTE IS ISSUING A REQUEST FOR PAVING BIDS

The Request for Bids can be viewed at www.charlottevt.org and can also be obtained by contacting Dean Bloch, Town Administrator, at townadmin@townofcharlotte.com or 425-3071 ext. 5.

Sealed bids are due by Monday May 8, 2023 @ 4 PM

Mailed or hand delivered to: Dean Bloch, Town Administrator, Charlotte Town Office, 159 Ferry Road, P.O. Box 119, Charlotte, VT 05445—envelopes should be labeled “Paving Bid”. If hand delivering, use the mail slot to the right of the front door.

Bids are to be opened on May 8th at 6:45 PM at the Town Office.

The Town of Charlotte reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids for any reason, and may not necessarily select the lowest bid.

ANTIQUES WANTED

We can help you discover, learn about and sell: WATCHES • JEWELRY • COINS • SILVER • ARTWORK

To advertise in the service directory email: Advertising@thecitizenvt.com or call 985-3091

Buying Sports and Collectible

Bob & Jessica Trautwine Cell/Txt: 802-233-1451 • Office: 802-497-1681

Hyperreliccards@gmail.com • hyperrelic.com

Brian Bittner • 802-489-5210 • info@bittnerantiques.com

If it’s important to you or your community look for it in The Citizen.

RABIES BAIT

continued from page 2

The week-long bait drop is a cooperative effort between Vermont and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to stop the spread of the potentially fatal disease.

saliva. If left untreated, rabies is almost always fatal in humans and animals. However, treatment with the rabies vaccine is nearly 100 percent effective when given soon after a person is bitten by a rabid animal.

So far this year, 23 animals in Vermont have tested positive for rabies, and 14 of those have been raccoons.

Rabies is a deadly viral disease of the brain that infects mammals. It is most often seen in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also get rabies.The virus is spread through the bite of an infected animal or contact with its

According to wildlife officials, rabid animals often show a change in their normal behavior, but you cannot tell whether an animal has rabies simply by looking at it. People should not touch or pick up wild animals or strays – even baby animals.

SHELBURNE continued Home Care Health & Fitness

Nutrition + Mindfulness + Hula Hooping =

Eat and Be Hoopy!

and Events at UMall for Kids, Teens & Adults Learn about nutrition while participating in arts, craftivities and hula hooping in a fun, supportive atmosphere! Learn more and sign up at eatandbehoopy.com

Parties

compassionate

care for your

PLEASANT VALLEY, INC.

CORBIN

FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES

SHELBURNE

1921

985-3370

ARIES

March 21 - April 20

You don’t want to have mundane tasks hanging over your head, Aries. Try to check as many of them off your to-do list this week as you can. This will free up a lot of free time.

TAURUS

April 21 - May 21

Taurus, you may be planning a much-needed vacation at the present time. Figure out a place you’ve never been and then ll your itinerary with plenty of fun things.

GEMINI

May 22 - June 21

You likely will have to devote a lot of attention to practical matters in the days to come, Gemini. This includes taking a hard look at your spending and making cuts.

CANCER

June 22 - July 22

Cancer, the coming week will be a busy time for social opportunities. Other people will want to be around you as you can be the life of the party when you come out of your shell.

LEO

July 23 - Aug. 23

Don’t be surprised if your energy level is high this week, Leo. This leads to you feeling restless at home and even at work. This could be a ne time to take up a hobby.

VIRGO

Aug. 24 - Sept. 22

Virgo, you may be looking forward to an evening out with a romantic partner or close friends. Try to narrow down a day this week or next. Have a few restaurants at the ready.

LIBRA

Sept. 23 - Oct. 23

Take advantage of some free time to get things done around the house, Libra. Cleaning or other home improvements should be a priority.

SCORPIO

Oct. 24 - Nov. 22

There’s a lot of activity expected close to home, Scorpio. A new business may open or there could be a movie star who is spotted in town. Maybe you’ll get new neighbors.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 23 - Dec. 21

The thought of nancial prosperity has you scouring the recruitment sites this week, Sagittarius. Speak to others about the pros and cons of leaving your current job.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22 - Jan. 20

Capricorn, you are surrounded by positive energy and eager to be out and about with friends this week. Start exploring all of the possibilities around you.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 21 - Feb. 18

This may be a good week to devote a large chunk of time to being alone Some time with just your thoughts and a little silence could be everything you need.

PISCES

Feb. 19 - March 20

Pisces, discussions at work could get a bit heated. It’s best to distance yourself from these situations as best as you can.

CLUES ACROSS

1. Dylan and Marley are two

5. Makes healthy

10 The Who’s “O’Riley”

14. Side sheltered from wind

15. Flat-bottomed sailboats

16. Egyptian supreme god

17. Advice

18. Mass of small, loose stones

19. Online learning services provider

20. “Lords” in Northwest Semitic languages

22. Of she

23. A place to relax

24. Critical and mocking

27. Consumed

30. You get one in summer

31. Bath

32. Luxury automaker

35. Spiders spin one

37. Guy (slang)

38. Greek personi cation of Earth

CROSSWORD SUDOKU

39. Large instruments

40. Domestic cattle genus

41. Appetizer

42. Oil group

43. Where to put groceries

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. Speak incessantly 45. Popular color

46. A place to sleep

47. Make fun of

48. Former CIA

49. Salts

52. Bleated

55. Never sleeps

56. Sword

60. Water (Spanish)

61. Cyprinids

63. “Dark Knight” actor Christian

64. Fictional demon

65. Old World lizard

66. The content of cognition

67. Makes a mistake

68. A way to make wet

69. Tide

CLUES DOWN

1. One-liner

2. Evergreen genus

3. College in Rome

4. Prevents from seeing

5. Cycles/second

6. Mischievous child

7. Less common

8. Honorably retired

9. Midway between south and southeast

10. A confusion of voices and other sounds

11. Bony sh genus

12. Type of pear

13. Egyptian cross

ANSWERS

21. Satis es

23. Founder of Babism

25. Bar bill

26. Chicago ballplayer

27. Performer

28. Hairpiece

29. Partner to owed

32. Aircraft formation

33. You have 3 per day

34. Goes into

36. College athletic organization

37. Wet, muddy ground

38. Talk

40. Witty conversation

41. Gurus

43. “French Price of __ Air”

44. Sports equipment

46. Try to get

47. Flower cluster

49. Sea dwellers

50. Palmlike

Spring cleaning? We can help.

POLICE continued from page 1

shift where we don’t have coverage, we’ll be able to rely on Hinesburg to respond for calls during that shift,” he said. “They’re not going to necessarily be here patrolling, but if a call comes in, they’ll come respond, and they’ll be able to get here.”

The agreement marks a growing cooperative relationship between the two towns and their respective agencies for public safety services.

In November, Hinesburg finalized a three-year contract with Richmond Rescue to provide ambulance services for Hinesburg. The two towns, meanwhile, have been in discussion to merge the town’s police departments via a union municipal district

The merger would mark the first time two municipalities in Vermont created a shared department — but the prospect is still years away from materializing. Hinesburg put the talks on hold to give time for consultants to complete a public safety strategic plan — a roadmap for the town’s overall vision for its fire, police and possible ambulance services.

“It seemed like we were treading water,” Hinesburg selectboard Chair Merrily Lovell said of the merger talks. With the Vermont State Police stretched thin, municipalities with their own departments have been asked “to get as fully staffed as they can or try to seek agreement with other neighboring towns for coverage so that there’s less of a demand and a burden on the state police,” Arneson said.

There was some reluctance among the Hinesburg Selectboard to approve the agreement, given the Hinesburg department has itself had trouble with staffing. The department was down from six to three cops in less than four months after its police budget in March 2022 was vetoed by residents.

“I’m certainly not opposed ... I just want to make sure, before we do the current strategic planning and everything, that this doesn’t turn into a request for a sixth officer to cover additional shifts,” selectboard member Mike Loner said.

Cambridge, meanwhile, continues to provide on-call overnight service.

“Long-term, I’d rather not be doing it, but it is what it is,” he said.

“I think the most pressing issues with the Hinesburg community police department ... I want to figure out how to backstop Anthony on that crazy overnight coverage,” selectboard member Paul Lamberson said. “That just seems perilous to me, that we’re going to burn him out, so that’s on my mind as we consider something else, I don’t want to lose sight of — we have to figure out how to make that situation sustainable.”

However, things have stabilized a bit. The town recently hired a fifth officer who started this past weekend.

“I trust the chief and (town manager Todd Odit) to make sure nobody’s getting burned out,” selectboard member Maggie Gordon said.