The Citizen - 4-27-23

Hinesburg’s community solar project falters

Efforts to build community-based solar array on the town landfill have faltered after the company told the town it couldn’t garner enough membership among residents to continue to pursue the project.

The solar project will still get built out but the energy it generates will go primarily to private investors, who will still need to find buyers of the energy.

“Acorn Renewable Energy Co-op has

reached a turning point with respect to its planned community solar array on the Hinesburg landfill,” Benjamin Marks, the president of Acorn, said in a letter to the town. “Unexpectedly, the biggest challenge we faced with this project has been finding enough participants in the (Vermont Electric Co-Op) territory to pay for project construction.”

Acorn, which serves residents in towns in

See SOLAR PROJECT on page 12

Charlotte’s planning commission approves

cannabis regulations

Charlotte’s planning commission approved its draft cannabis land use regulations Thursday but growers fear what the new guidelines could mean for their businesses.

The decision comes after nearly six months in limbo and a contentious few weeks regarding cannabis cultivation in town. Without regulations to guide cannabis cultivation, growers have been at the discretion of the town’s development review board and the selectboard, which also acts as the town’s local cannabis control commission.

Town planner Larry Lewack said the work on cannabis regulations began almost immediately after the November election and has since been the main topic at every commission meeting.

On March 23, the commission held a

public hearing where multiple residents showed overwhelming support for the commission’s efforts, most citing issues with the lack of control given to municipalities by the state while also urging members to take every effort to regulate this growing business.

“We didn’t do everything that the people who have been vocally opposing cultivation wanted us to do nor did we do everything cannabis business owners said that they wanted us to do,” Lewack said. “We steered a middle path.”

The approved regulations, which are available on the town’s website, show where cannabis cultivation would be allowed and under what sort of review cannabis operations would need to undergo.

According to the draft, in the commercial

See CANNABIS on page 12

PHOTO BY MARIANNA HOLZER Rik Palieri, leader of the Hinesburg SongFarmers, at the Carpenter-Carse Library on April 6. See story, page 2.

Communal music

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

SongFarmers put down roots, embrace musical traditions

ELLA WEIGEL COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE

Around 6 p.m., as the musicians snapped open their guitar cases and began tuning their banjos, a young girl peered into the community room of the Hinesburg library from the bookshelves. The group drew the girl’s curiosity as they chatted, set up music stands and spread sheet music on the floor.

Then, the SongFarmers started playing. The strums of their guitars and the twang of the banjos filled the room with a mix of folk, rock and Americana music.

The Carpenter-Carse Library community room door stays open during a SongFarmers jam for this very reason: so kids can “wander in and watch,” said Rik Palieri, leader of the Hinesburg SongFarmers and

a longtime fixture in folk music in Vermont and beyond.

“Music is a birthright,” Palieri said following the April 6 SongFarmers jam session. “It’s something that belongs to all of us, even though we don’t see it that way, but it’s something that we all have inside us. We all can love music, to maybe hum a song, sing a song, tap your foot, clap your hands.”

He added, “This is the way that we can let that spirit out.”

Since summer 2017, the SongFarmers of Hinesburg have gathered from 6 to 8 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month at the Carpenter-Carse Library to let that spirit out and play. The jam is open to anyone who wants to join on an instrument or simply sit and enjoy the music. But it’s not only about the music; it’s about community.

As the name might suggest, the SongFarmers cultivate music. Like some might say of Vermont crops, the value of the group is that it’s organic, with music coming straight from the Hinesburg soil, without embellishment, Palieri said. When the weather gets warm, they play outside in the library yard.

“It really is growing communal music,” said SongFarmer Brian Yarwood, who plays banjo and guitar.

SongFarmers now has chapters across the country and overseas, in Ireland. According to Palieri, the seed of the idea was planted in 2016 during a conversation with fellow folk singer-songwriter, Michael Johnathon. The two spoke about the general state of music and the pressures of the industry.

They envisioned getting back to the root of “real music,” Palieri said. “This idea of the front porch, of bringing the music back, right into the community.”

Out of this grew the Front Porch Music Association, created to facilitate an inclusive and community-oriented jam, an improvised, unrehearsed session of musicians playing together.

At one of the group’s first gatherings in Tennessee, someone stood up and announced a plan to start a jam in their community. The SongFarmers name was inspired by the spot where the group played at those early sessions: the Song Farmer’s Stage.

“It sort of was like wildfire because all of these different people started these SongFarmer gatherings in their houses,” Palieri

said. “They started it in libraries, they started it in all different types of venues — and now they’re all over the world.”

This year, the 67-year-old Palieri is marking his 50th year of performing with a tour and is scheduled to play in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee and Europe.

“I wanted to go back out on the road and visit those places that I spent most of my life,” he said.

Originally from New Jersey, the Hinesburg resident will soon receive a Lifetime Achievement Award on Saturday, April 29 from the New Jersey Folk Festival for his contributions to folk music.

It’s nice to see the world, but Palieri said he’s always happy to play close to home. “It was really important for me to be able to have a community right here where I live, instead of having to go and travel somewhere to play music.”

Even in his town, Palieri is far from the only accomplished SongFarmers performer. “There are a lot of people who come to our gathering in Hinesburg that are professional musicians,” he said, “but they choose to come to our gathering to make our community a better place.”

SongFarmers, though, makes room for anyone who loves music, even those who are just starting out. They can practice a new piece or fall back on the comfort of familiar songs, Palieri said. “We’re not performers here, we’re facilitators and cheerleaders.”

Yarwood, 60, has played with about half of the circle for 30 years, he said, but “it’s really nice when people you don’t know show up.”

PHOTO BY ELLA WEIGEL

Since 2017, the group of musicians known as the SongFarmers of Hinesburg jams at the Hinesburg library the first Thursday of every month.

Welcome Corps embraces new Americans

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

A group of Chittenden County neighbors have banded together to bring refugees to Vermont through the U.S. State Department’s new refugee resettlement program, the Welcome Corps, coined as “the boldest innovation in refugee resettlement in four decades.”

Launched on Jan. 19, this State Department initiative hinges on residents forming private sponsor groups to directly welcome refugees who have been cleared for resettlement and help them build new lives in the United States.

“I have a neighbor, who is a refugee from Somalia who migrated here over a dozen years ago,” Chittenden County Welcome Corps founder Cynthia Cook said. “She’d heard about the Welcome Corp program. So, she said, ‘Hey, there’s this new program. Have you heard of it?’ I hadn’t, so I looked into it.”

Cook said her experience working with new Americans started when she was contacted by a refugee assistance agency more than a year ago to host Afghan refugees for two weeks in her bed and breakfast in Burlington. Through that experience, she grew familiar with how the refugee resettlement process works and saw that “they just weren’t getting the support that they needed,” she said.

“There was a lot of information that they needed to get acclimated to the new community,” Cook added. “So, I ended up giving them tours of town and helping them with wiring money back home and setting up bank accounts and all kinds of errands, that kind of thing. They’ve really become lifelong friends.”

There are currently 10 nonprofit refugee resettlement voluntary agencies that work with the State Department, including the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants and the Ethiopian Community Development Council. The new Welcome Corps model rallies local residents to take on direct fundraising and other case management responsibilities without these other organizations acting as a liaison.

Sponsors for the program will need to raise a minimum of $2,375 and maintain basic financial support during the initial sponsorship period of 90 days as well

as ensure that the immigrants have safe, sanitary and affordable housing for the duration of the initial sponsorship period. Additionally, residents are responsible for connecting with relevant services like health care and education and assisting them in getting jobs while facilitating cultural connections.

“There’s a lot of work upfront, because it’s not a task that any group should take on lightly, providing all the services that someone needs to start a new life in a new country, a new language. It’s a huge, huge process,” said Cook.

She began first reaching out to people who were interested, including Charlotte residents Laurie Thompson, John Limanek and Nicole Noor, as well as Shelburne resident and All Souls Faith Gathering lead pastor, Don Chatfield. In order to become a sponsor group, there must be at least five people who will go through thorough background checks and training.

“So now we have a steering committee of really experienced people that have worked in resettlement agencies, have hosted and sponsored people in a variety of ways, and people who know the social services system inside and out as well as the healthcare system,” Cook said.

“We’ve got a good initial network, but we’re still looking for people, particularly in the

housing arena.”

Cook said refugees in Vermont and more specifically, Chittenden County, face unique hardships because of the expensive — and tight — housing and rental markets, and the state’s rural nature. Because of these things, the group has a target of raising $5,000 dollars to help find donated, used vehicles.

Noor, a new Charlotte resident, said that she used to work in refugee resettlement at a nonprofit in Baltimore, Md. 10 years ago.

“I thought resources were very thin then and grants hard to come by. I feel like the past handful of years, agencies are stretched even more thin with the need to support newly arrived Americans,” she said.

Husband-and-wife duo and retired members of the Charlotte

Trails Committee, Thompson and Limaneck, said they joined in order to encourage others to understand that variety in culture adds immeasurable value to a community.

“Variety in culture is wonderful,” said Thompson. “I also think that the more people get to experience different cultures, the more tolerance and understanding they have of people and how good it can be instead of being afraid of a culture that they don’t know anything about.”

For Chatfield, there are multiple reasons a community should consider programs like this. The first is, with global conflict on the rise, there are many people in need of a safe place to relocate and begin life again.

“We all had a chance to pause and reflect about what’s really important. I know in talking with

our members, there’s been a great deal of concern about the lack of housing,” he said. “The challenge that poses for New Americans, and so I think that led to deep interest in members about how to play a role in addressing that.”

Cook and members of the steering committee said they hope to grow volunteer numbers, because local sponsors already have the most important skill they need to succeed — knowledge of their local community.

“What I envision is that we will have this network of probably 25 people who have varying degrees of involvement,” Cook said. “They will be available to help for everything from welcoming them at the airport, getting them settled into housing, finding employment, getting the kids enrolled in schools. It takes a village.”

Accused murderer attempted escape from St. Johnsbury prison

TOMMY GARDNER STAFF WRITER

The man accused of stabbing and killing a person last year in Morristown tried unsuccessfully last week to escape from prison, state corrections officials say. According to a short statement by the Vermont Department of Corrections, Seth Brunell, an inmate at the Northeast Correctional Complex in St Johnsbury, was unable to escape the secure

section of the facility and never posed a danger to the public. The escape attempt happened during the mid-afternoon of April 18 and came almost exactly a year after Brunell allegedly stabbed Fern Feather, a Hinesburg resident originally from the Northeast Kingdom.

Feather, a gender fluid 29-yearold who had announced on social that they were transgender shortly before they were killed, died April 12, 2022. The death was ruled a

SPRING OPEN HOUSE

Sunday, May 7th

homicide and Brunell was charged with second degree murder.

The department of corrections has begun a formal review of last week’s prison escape attempt and the Vermont State Police will conduct a separate investigation into the incident.

Brunell, 44, has been held without bail since the alleged murder. According to police,

See BRUNELL on page 4

“We’ve got a good initial network, but we’re still looking for people, particularly in the housing arena.”

— Cynthia Cook

Hinesburg Police Blotter

Total incidents: 64

Traffic stops: 26

Arrests: 3

April 11 at 10:50 a.m., officers investigated threatening behavior reported at Champlain Valley Union.

April 12 at 7:45 a.m., a theft on Silver Street was reported.

April 12 at 10:30 p.m., officers responded to Hillview Terrace for a domestic dispute.

April 13 at 10:05 a.m., suspicious circumstances on Rocky Mountain Lane were investigated.

April 13 at 3:15 p.m., police helped someone with fingerprinting for employment purposes.

April 13 at 7:54 p.m., officers served court paperwork to an individual on Hillview Terrace.

April 13 at 8:11 p.m., suspicious activity was investigated on Sherman Hollow Road.

April 14 at 4 p.m., harassment issue was reported and investigated.

April 15 at 11:42 a.m., a welfare check on Major Street was conducted.

April 16 at 7:30 a.m., a person on Hillview Terrace was assisted with a civil issue.

April 16 at 12:30 p.m., officers responded to a two-car motor vehicle crash on Route 116.

April 16 at 2:30 p.m., a welfare check on Hillview Terrace was conducted.

April 17 at 4:52 p.m., a motorist at CVU was assisted with a lockout.

April 18 at 8:35 a.m., officers responded to a domestic dispute on Farmall Drive.

April 18 at 4:21 p.m., reports of erratic operation by a motor vehicle resulted in a traffic stop on Route 116.

April 18 at 6:35 p.m., officers attempted to serve court paperwork to a resident on Route 116.

April 18 at 8:30 p.m., an assault was reported and investigated.

April 19 at 7:30 a.m., officers responded to a domestic dispute on Farmall Drive.

April 19 at 12:02 p.m., a noise complaint on Hillview Terrace was investigated.

April 19 at 1:10 p.m., an officer responded to Baldwin Road to investigate a traffic complaint.

April 19 at 1:15 p.m., an officer responded to Pond Road for the report of a traffic obstruction.

April 19 at 4:10 p.m., officers

Motorcyclist killed on Route 7

A man was killed Saturday on Route 7 in Charlotte after his motorcycle hit the back of a car.

Timothy Williams, 34, of Essex, died at the scene.

Police said witnesses told them that Williams was heading north “well in excess” of the 50 mph speed limit south of Church Hill Road around

responded to a domestic dispute on CVU Road. Leonard Ducharme, 50 of Hinesburg, was arrested for domestic assault.

April 19 at 8:10 p.m., a traffic stop was conducted on Silver Street. The operator, Eric Pechie, 38 of Monkton, was arrested for driving with a criminally suspended license and excessive speed.

April 20 at 8:35 a.m., officers

BRUNELL continued from page 3

Feather was stabbed in the chest by a long, serrated knife. Brunell told them he was acting in self-defense after Feather allegedly made sexual advances toward him.

Lamoille County deputy state’s attorney Aliena Gerhard said she is not sure how Brunell’s alleged escape attempt will affect the case.

Currently, she said she is trying

4 p.m. on April 22 when his motorcycle hit the back of a car driven by David, 71, and Candis Pearson, 69, of Hinesburg.

Williams was ejected from his motorcycle and killed at the crash scene. He was taken to the hospital for and autopsy.

One of the passengers reported minor injuries and was

investigated a two-car motor vehicle crash on Cochran Road in Richmond. Larry Knox, 50 of Hinesburg, was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident and negligent operation.

April 20 at 10:15 a.m., an officer assisted a person with applying for a relief from abuse order.

April 20 at 10:30 a.m., suspicious circumstances on Baldwin Road were investigated.

April 20 at 4:03 p.m., a theft on

taken to University of Vermont Medical Center.

The Vermont State Police Crash Reconstruction Team assisted at the scene, in addition to personnel from Shelburne Police Department, Shelburne Fire and Rescue and Charlotte Fire and Rescue.

Route 7 was closed for an extended period.

Richmond Road was reported. April 22 at 12:05 p.m., suspicious circumstances were reported on Route 116.

April 22 2:25 p.m., officers responded to the parking lot of Lantman’s Market for a domestic dispute. The incident is under investigation.

April 23 at 1:35 p.m., officers investigated a juvenile having a mental health crisis on Route 116.

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to depose a witness who may have interacted with both Feather and Brunell shortly before the stabbing.

“We don’t know everything she knows,” Gerhard said.

Last year in arguing for Brunell to be held without bail, Gerhard said his history of violence, combined with his history of transience and mental illness, made

him a flight risk and a danger to society.

Brunell pleaded no contest to aggravated assault in 2004, after he admitted to stabbing a man during an argument and was sentenced to nearly a year in jail. He also served jail time after pleading guilty in 2012 to grand larceny for his part in a Waterbury convenience store robbery.

Check Locally First

Bill addresses harm related to opioid epidemic

From the Senate

Sen. Ginny Lyons

Most Vermonters are ready to move past the social isolation they experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. They look toward a return to a more normal social life. However, isolation during the pandemic has left Vermont with an overwhelming number of people addicted to opioids.

In 2018 the Vermont Department of Health recorded 130 deaths from opioid misuse. In 2019 there was a 15 percent decline in those deaths, to 111. Unfortunately, during the pandemic many Vermonters felt the sting of social isolation and turned to mood enhancing drugs to feel better.

The result of this and other factors has resulted in an increase in substance use (addiction) in the state. In Chittenden County recent data shows that Vermonters in their teens and 20s accessed more alcohol, nicotine and cannabis during pandemic years. It is difficult to know exactly how many Vermonters increased their use of addictive prescription drugs. What is known is there was a rapid increase of death resulting from opioid use.

In 2020, Vermont recorded 158 overdose deaths, 2021 saw 217 opioid overdose deaths and 2022 had 237. Most of these were Vermonters between 30-49 years of age. Recent overdose deaths involve the drug fentanyl rather than prescription opioids or heroin.

This information and public health data should be concerning to all of us. It is especially concerning to the House committees on human services and health and welfare.

from opioids. H.222 reduces the need for medical provider prior authorization for medication of to help people battle their opioid use. This allows for quicker intervention when someone is seeking treatment.

The legislation increases access to safe needle exchange, reducing the risk of infection from contaminated needles. The program can also help bring those with an opioid addiction into contact with needed support services.

The bill expands access to naloxone to save a life during an overdose event. Vending machines will be publicly available for emergency needs. The legislation allows for testing of newly emerging contaminants in drugs. Fentanyl or xylazine test strips are convenient today, but do not test for new drugs and contaminants that continue to emerge. By investing in more sophisticated equipment, drugs and contaminants can be instantly identified. This can save lives.

H.222 improves access to recovery treatment. Recovery housing and support services are key. Many of the people who die from drug overdoses are neighbors or family members who have a chronic addiction. They are sick and require medical treatment, social support, counseling and care during what can be a long process of recovery. They do not need stigma attached to their medical condition.

They are sick and require medical treatment, social support, counseling and care during what can be a long process of recovery. They do not need stigma attached to their medical condition. Having a safe haven can help stabilize recovery. H.222 does provide for more opportunities for new recovery housing.

We are finalizing legislation, H.222, for approval by the governor to address many stages of harm reduction related to the opioid epidemic in Vermont. The legislation is just one step to turn the tide on opioid-induced deaths.

The bill extends access to buprenorphine for those with opioid substance use disorder. Buprenorphine can be an important first step for those trying to move away

For some, recovery involves many attempts. When a patient leaves acute treatment and returns to the same environment that caused their drug use, they may revert to it.

Having a safe haven can help stabilize recovery. H.222 does provide for more opportunities for new recovery housing.

The funding for nearly all the activities in the legislation comes from prescription drug settlements the state is receiving through legal actions of the Vermont Attorney General’s office. Pharmaceutical companies that reaped profits by marketing addiction, are paying Vermont at least $80 million over the next 10 to 15 years in restitution.

In addition to all the benefits in H.222, the budget bill H.474, includes continued funding for an important recovery model in Lamoille County. Community members, recovery services, employment opportunities, child care, housing, health services, public safety, and business opportunities

for those in recovery make up Jenna’s Promise. This represents an amazing village, giving those in recovery an opportunity to rebuild their lives as they move away from their illness.

Vermont’s approach to addiction recovery depends on total involvement — all hands on deck. We understand that prevention is one key to unlocking the state’s opioid recovery door. Many communities

are committed to prevention and recovery. I look forward to improved outcomes as we move forward with investments in harm reduction work across our state.

Ginny Lyons, a Democrat from Williston, represents South Burlington, Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne and several other towns in the Chittenden-Southeast Senate district.

Sen. Ginny Lyons

Something(s) in the air. Could it be spring?

Guest Perspective

Walt Amses

The brook that mostly whispers to me as I walk by is speaking more distinctly, suggesting I shouldn’t get too used to the sunny skies and balmy temperatures that have it running bank full in mid-April, pouring into a series of lakes, prematurely ice free, already harboring a pair of loons whose ancient DNA prompted their showing up at precisely the right time.

Several crocuses that survived the trip home from day care in a styrofoam cup 35 years ago are poking through the quickly warming earth, resilient beyond reason. We’re in a sweet spot — a month if we’re lucky — between the last muddy quagmire and the first voracious black fly.

I pass a normally placid wetland now full of inexorably moving water like a vast, oceanbound river with a mission to fulfill, cattails leaning into the current and several mallards in the distance, working diligently not to be swept along. A week ago, it was deep in snow destined to ride a warm, southern breeze into oblivion as wood frogs and spring peepers began stirring and spotted salamanders risk the still cratered back roads in search of amphibious immortality.

These days of warm brilliance have jumpstarted the season almost a month after the vernal equinox in March officially welcomed spring, which generally holds little meaning for those of us this far north with some of our biggest nor’easters grinding up the New England coast this time of year. April too is ripe with promise, testimony to how rapidly things can change but just as often fraught with bitter disappointment as winter frequently reasserts its icy grip; our complacency arrives with a warning label.

But there’s no denying ice out on this string of glacial ponds is three weeks earlier than usual and the shimmering water certainly looks momentarily inviting with the thermometer pushing 80, delighting us with illusions of summer, prompting warnings from the National Weather Service that acting on such fantasies can quickly turn deadly. However high the air temperature goes we must keep in mind that the water temperature — which rises much more slowly — remains only in the upper 30s or low 40s, far too dangerous for anything beyond the briefest of dips and even those are not without risk.

Water colder than 50 degrees can shock the system, easily numbing extremities, weakening muscles and rendering a person utterly helpless in minutes, no

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matter how good a swimmer they might be. It’s why wearing a life vest or personal flotation device for early season canoeing or kayaking is highly recommended.

The road winding along several small streams, ponds and marshy areas provides a shimmering illustration of how surrounded I am by transcendent water and the resurgence of life it carries with it each spring. Years of memories cascade into my consciousness; apparitions of the future are along for the ride as the sun asserts itself across my back and shoulders.

I wonder if the two geese navigating the beaver’s fastidiously created infrastructure and series of canals are the same couple we’ve seen so many times before in the exact same spot. Canadian geese are known to mate for life and can live for more than two decades. For some reason I find the possibility that they’re semi-permanent neighbors intoxicating.

Actual snowbirds.

As my walks have become small, daily rituals, as much about insulation from harsh reality as anything else, I’ve slowly realized over the hundreds of miles traversed that these small immersions into the solitude of nature on our quiet back road have become so vital a part of my life that being without them is unimaginable. The more I’m able to engage with the ambience of the road and its inhabitants, the more insulated I am from what I see as a breakdown of our culture, often the

topic of my usual commentaries. With foliage still weeks away, most of the hillsides are as bleak as November but sparks of new life are emerging with some budding maples as red as they are in autumn, especially set against the deep green of the pines that dominate the forest. Willows too are beginning to awaken, and a variety of migrating birds are joining the stalwart chickadees who spend the fall and winter hoarding many thousands of individual seeds, eventually summoning the location of every single one via an extraordinary memory, a key to their survival. The unseasonable warmth seems to enhance everything, amplifying the flowing water everywhere; a cacophony of bird sounds; soft breezes rattling last autumn’s withering beech leaves; and rows of bright yellow wildflowers lining the roadside. The woodland smells are acute this time of year — the freshly thawed earth, rotting leaves, bogs, vernal pools and other, more subtle yet completely familiar seasonal aromas, dreamlike in their essence, a near deja vu experience of all the springs that have gone

before.

The unseasonable warmth seems to enhance everything, amplifying the flowing water everywhere; a cacophony of bird sounds; soft breezes rattling last autumn’s withering beech leaves.

On another walk earlier this week, spring comes down to earth. It’s 37 degrees, cloudy with a moderate rain shower, wet snowflakes mixing in at times, splatting on the surface of my jacket as I scale a small hill. The only sounds are a brook, roaring through a narrow gorge and a roadside waterfall at its most robust. As happens so frequently, in the couple of miles I’ve walked, I’ve seen no traffic, pedestrian or otherwise. I take a break on a small bridge over the rushing water and wonder a bit about all this, coming up with nothing especially profound.

Heading back I stop again to watch the loons feeding in what I imagine is a replenishing of fuel expended on their long flight back from the Southeast coast to the pond where they were likely born. I catch the occasional glimpse of them hurtling by, just below the surface, oblivious to how they enrich a lone observer’s wandering.

Walt Amses is a writer who lives in North Calais.

Hinesburg Green Up is Saturday, May 6

PHIL POUECH CONTRIBUTOR

It is the 54th anniversary of this Vermont tradition. In 1970, Vermont was the first state to designate a statewide cleanup day and it’s been happening on the first Saturday in May ever since.

Hinesburg too has a long history of successful Green Up volunteerism. We have up to 100 volunteers who participate each year. We see the usual dedicated volunteers along with families new to Hinesburg who along with their young children learn the value of community volunteerism.

Every year when the snow melts away and our world begins to green up, the thoughtless actions of just a few litterbugs show up on our beautiful roads. Rather than look at this blight all summer, we collectively decide to do something. With so many miles of roadway, it takes a village. So, we team up to make Hinesburg’s roadways shine. Here are a few statistics on litter:

• Litter clean-up costs the US more than 11.5 billion each year.

• 55 percent of real estate professionals believe litter reduces property values by 9 percent.

• Plastics in the litter stream have increased by more than 165 percent over the past 40 years.

• Tobacco products comprise about 38 percent of all roadway litter followed by paper (22 percent) and plastic (19 percent).

• 85 percent of littering is the result of individual attitudes.

• A strong contributor to littering is the prevalence of existing litter.

• Clean-up efforts by communities result in lower rates of littering behavior.

How to help

Green-up bags (and clear bags for recyclables) are available at the town hall and Carpenter Carse Library. You can green up anytime up to Green Up day. If you want to leave green trash bags and clear recyclable bags along the side of the road, just make sure they are away from traffic, securely closed but still visible. Bags will get picked up on Green Up day.

VTrans

We will again use the sign-up genius website and ask volunteers to sign up for different pre-determined road sections to keep track of which roads are getting done and which roads are still available.

You can find the link at Hinesburg.org or use this direct link at bit.ly/3V6z178.

On Green Up Day, you are welcome to come to the town hall on Green Up Day to pick up bags and select a road section. Filled Green Up bags and other collectables (tires, metal and recyclables) can be brought to the town garage (next to the transfer station) between 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

No matter when you Green Up, join us at the town hall for a community lunch on Green Up day. Lunch is from noon to 1 p.m. Take this opportunity to meet fellow volunteers, share stories of Green Up, have a nice lunch while being a part of this great community.

Be safe

• Use extreme caution while on our roadsides especially with children.

• Wear bright clothing, gloves and boots.

• When you drop off collected trash at the town garage, a volunteer will show you where it goes.

• Take precautions for ticks.

Notes:

• In 2022, Hinesburg collected 6,860 pounds of litter and over 350 tires.

• Green up collections are not to be used to dispose of your old tires. Please do not put them out or expect your neighbors clean up after you.

• While we have sections of Route 116 for greening up we know the state highway department is scheduled to complete litter collection on this state roadway. In fact, you can see it is scheduled for pick up on the VTrans website: Look up the map that shows “Litter Picking Progress.” If you do decide to green up Route 116, be very careful.

If you have any questions or just need to get more information, email Hinesburg’s Green Up day coordinator, Phil Pouech at ppouech@gmavt.net.

provides more than $4 million grants

The Vermont Agency of Transportation has handed out $4 million in federal funds for municipal grant projects through its Transportation Alternatives Program.

“These projects will enhance and expand the state’s transportation infrastructure,” transportation secretary Joe Flynn said. “Improvements to sidewalks, bike paths and shared-use paths provide Vermonters more transportation options and improve their quality of life.”

Budding essayists

Selected projects this year include: Hinesburg: Relocation of a sidewalk on the intersection of Route 116 and Charlotte Road.

South Burlington: Construction of a new box culvert near Bartlett Bay Road and a scoping study for a shared use path on Allen Road.

Shelburne: Additional funds for a fivefoot-wide sidewalk along an 870-foot portion of Irish Hill Road.

Vermont Day School 8th grader Oonagh Guyer of South Burlington is the winner of this year’s Lincoln Essay contest. Hosted annually by Hildene, Robert Todd Lincoln’s family estate, 8th-grade students from across the state were asked to submit essays focused on civil discourse and difficult subjects. The topic of this year’s essay was censorship and the rise of book bans in the United States. In addition to Oonagh’s top place finish, Vermont Day School students Jesse Kim of Burlington placed third. Margot Dator of Shelburne and Parker Wildey of Charlotte were finalists. A total of 198 essays were submitted. On May 21, Guyer and Kim will travel to Manchester to celebrate their accomplishments. From left, Jesse Kim,

Semi Annual Open House

Saturday, May 13, 1-4 p.m.

Self-guided tours will be available as well as a manager on duty for questions. Look at a 1-bedroom unit, view our beautiful grounds, peek at our activity rooms, and walk through our exercise room, dining room, and other common areas that serve all our residents and all their vast hobbies and interests.

Self-guided tours at your own pace!

No registration necessary! We hope to see you soon!

COURTESY PHOTO

Parker Wildey, Oonagh Guyer and Margot Dater. Visit hildene.org to learn more.

Charlotte revotes on town budget

The Charlotte budget revote on Tuesday, May 2 is fast approaching.

Voting will take place at the Town Hall with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Absentee ballots are available by requesting one in person, by phone, email or through the myVoter page on the Vermont Secretary of State’s website. Ballots need to be returned by the close of polls on May 2.

If you would like to volunteer at the polls, email mary@townofcharlotte.com.

Lithwick speaks on religion and the Supreme Court

On Tuesday, May 2 from 7-9 p.m., the Ohavi Zeded Synagogue in Burlington will host the 2023 A. Pearly & Edith C. Feen Lecture Series speaker, Dahlia Lithwick. Lithwick’s lecture topic is “Religion & The Supreme Court: Where Are We Now?”

The event will also include a Q&A session and a sale/signing of Lithwick’s book, “Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America.”

Dahlia Lithwick is a senior editor at Slate and has been writing its “Supreme Court Dispatches” and “Jurisprudence” columns since 1999. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Harper’s, The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The New Republic, and Commentary, among other places.

Hinesburg firefighters holds spring craft fair

Join the Hinesburg Firefighters Association for its spring craft fair, on Saturday, May 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hinesburg Fire Station.

The event includes local crafters as well as outside business consultants and many home-craft businesses. If you are interested in a space, contact dbarber7541@ gmail.com. Proceeds benefit The Hinesburg Firefighters Association.

Rokeby Museum holds concert fundraiser

To raise funds for Rokeby Museum’s Exhibition Fund, the organization is holding music with the museum on Thursday, May 25, at 6 p.m. at the Ferrisburgh Town Hall and Community

Center.

Musicians Paul Asbell and Bob Stannard will headline an evening with food and a silent auction. All funds will be matched up to $10,000 and will directly benefit Rokeby’s Exhibition Fund which will include an update to the museum’s main exhibition “Free & Safe: The Underground Railroad in Vermont.”

Tickets are $30 for members or $45 for non-members. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit bit.ly/3oAtqd4.

Enjoy Age Well meals at Charlotte Senior Center

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

You must pre-register by the prior Monday with Carol Pepin, 802-425-6345 or meals@charlotteseniorcentervt.org.

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 meal on Thursday, May 11 features lasagna roll-up with tomato marinara meat sauce, vegetable blend, wheat bread, strawberry cake and milk.

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

Meeting hopes to help people with addiction

Join an informational meeting on the addiction epidemic.

Come and learn of a treatment facility right in Johnson on Thursday, May 11, at 6:30 p.m. in the Shelburne Town Hall.

The speaker will be Rick Welch, senior director of Adult & Teen Challenge Vermont.

Hitchcock: America’s first dinosaur expert

On Tuesday, May 2 at 7 p.m., Robert McMaster will review the life and legacy of Edward Hitchcock, America’s first dinosaur expert.

McMaster will examine Hitchcock’s central role in developing the world’s understanding of dinosaurs and discuss his work in Vermont where he completed

CVU students produce one-act plays

This year’s one-act plays at Champlain Valley Union High School include a one-act comedy by Christopher Durang, “The Actor’s Nightmare,” and a truncated one-act version of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

In the spirit of collaboration, there are five student co-directors for the two plays, two stage managers and an assistant stage manager who is also in charge of props and publicity.

By tradition the spring plays are wholly produced by the students. They direct, act, operate the lighting and sound, make all the costumes, do hair and make-up, create publicity pieces, and design and build the sets.

Many students have an opportunity to contribute in several ways.

Gabbie LindenMeyr, Ian

the first geological survey of the Green Mountain State in 1861.

Hitchcock was one of 19th-century America’s most eminent scientists. He was the first American scientist to publicly embrace the theory of continental glaciation, but he is better known for his landmark research on what he called the “fossil footmarks” of the Connecticut Valley. Register for the link at bit. ly/3DVjRuc.

Story and Eric Carroll are co-directors for “The Actor’s Nightmare.” Carroll was the one to suggest Durang’s play, and the others quickly agreed.

Rory McDermott and Francesca Krol share directorial responsibilities for “Hamlet.” When asked how Hamlet can work as a one-act play, McDermott said, “We still have all the important contextual bits that tell the original story.”

Krol added, “We’re putting a lot of trust in the actors, particularly in Clark Clark who plays Hamlet, to emphasize the aspects of the play that aren’t included.”

Asked for any personal insights about the whole experience, director LindenMeyr noted, “Everything is different than I thought it would be. Blocking, for instance. Blocking is harder than acting!”

Enjoy 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

Will Richardson, assistant stage manager said, “I’ve worked with adult and student directors for various productions, and working with student directors is always really fun — especially when you know them,” he said. “The collaboration tends to be more fun from a tech point of view. Also, the student directors don’t tend to ask for quite as much, technically.”

Performances are at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 5, and Saturday, May 6, and 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 7, at the CVU theater. Purchase tickets at bit.ly/41lZtvM, or at the door. Check the ticket site first to ensure the show is not sold out. Online and advance tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students, children and faculty, and $11 and $9 at the door.

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.

COURTESY PHOTO

Rory McDermott discusses “Hamlet” with Addie Nevitt. In the background, actors Rusty Zia and Phoenix Caldwell rehearse lines.

Dahlia Lithwick

115 Ferry Road, Charlotte. 802-4253864. Register at charlottepubliclibrary.org or info@charlottepubliclibrary.org. More information and links can be found on the library website.

Book chat

ADULTS

Wednesdays in May, 3-4 p.m. Join Margaret Friday on Zoom to discuss new books, old books and books missed.

Crochet and knit night

Wednesdays in May, 5:30-7 p.m.

Claudia Marshall is your host for a casual weekly session of crocheting and chatting, knitting and catching up. Bring your proj-

News from Charlotte Library

ect or start a new one with yarn and needles available at the library, along with plenty of books to instruct and inspire. For teens and adults.

Mending matters

Monday, May 1, 6-7 p.m.

Learn how to hem pants, replace a button, fix a hole in a sock and more. Bring in your old favorite (clean) clothes in need of mending to take part in this hands-on workshop with Colleen Brady. For tweens to adults. Register with susanna@charlottepubliclibrary.org.

Book discussion: ‘Treeline’

Mondays, May 1, 8, 15 and 22, 7-8 p.m.

A six-part discussion of this landmark

News from Carpenter-Carse Library

To register, reserve books or for more information, contact Rachel Matthews at rachel@carpentercarse.org.

Masks required indoors.

Hands and needles

Mondays in May, 10 a.m.-noon

Bring whatever project you are working on — quilting, knitting, embroidery, etc. No registration required. Library is closed May 28.

Weekly storytime

Tuesdays, May 2, 9 and 16, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Stories, songs, rhymes, and crafts.

Pokemon club

Wednesdays through May 17, 2:15-3:15 p.m.

Students in kindergarten to grade four learn to play Pokemon Trading Game and participate in hands-on activities like Pokemon arts and craft challenges, group guessing and memory games, making Pokemon themed snacks, and trading cards. Registration required; contact jen@carpentercarse.org. No club meeting during school break.

Folk Jam with SongFarmers of Hinesburg

Thursday, May 4, 6-8 p.m.

Do you play an acoustic instrument or just love to sing along to old time, blues, country and folk music? Join SongFarmers during its monthly gathering and participate in a live music offering. Free and open to the public in the library’s community room. Masks required.

Monthly craft club

Friday, May 5, 3:15-4:30 p.m.

Seasonal crafts, hear a story, and enjoy a snack. Kindergarten to grade six. To sign up, email jen@carpentercarse.org or stop by the circulation desk.

Chess club

Saturdays, May 6, 13 and 20, 1-3 p.m.

Players of any age or experience drop in for a weekly game of skill and wits. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.

Morning book group:

‘The Widows of Malabar Hill’

Wednesday, May 10, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

This informal group meets the second Wednesday morning of each month to chat about a mystery book together. May’s pick is “The Widows of Malabar Hill” by Sujata Massey. Reserve a book at rachel@carpentercarse.org.

Composting workshop

Wednesday, May 17, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Kat Moody from Chittenden Solid Waste District talks about the importance of composting, the components of a compost pile, the composting process and what materials are accepted at Green Mountain Compost. Sign up at the circulation desk or email rachel@carpentercarse.org.

No-dig gardening with Charlie Nardozzi

Thursday, May 18, 6-7 p.m.

Learn the benefits and techniques of no-dig gardening from expert gardener Charlie Nardozzi. Q&A afterward. Sign up at the circulation desk or email rachel@carpentercarse.org.

Mid-grade book club

Thursday, May 25, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Afterschool book club for students who would like an opportunity to read and discuss books that are past or current Golden Dome Book Award nominees or winners. For students 9 to 12 years old. Contact jen@ carpentercarse.org.

Creative café

Saturday, May 27, 10 a.m.-noon

Adults and teens drop by for snacks, drinks and artistic community. Bring your own writing, art or craft project, find inspiration, or unwind with adult coloring books.

Evening book group: ‘Station Eleven’

Tuesday, May 30, 7-8 p.m.

This informal group meets virtually on the last Tuesday of each month to chat about a book together. May’s pick is “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel. Reserve a book at rachel@carpentercarse.org.

book. “For the last fifty years, the trees of the boreal forest have been moving north.

Ben Rawlence’s ‘The Treeline’ takes us along this critical frontier of our warming planet from Norway to Siberia, Alaska to Greenland, Canada to Sweden to meet the scientists, residents and trees confronting huge geological changes.” Hybrid event. Get the link at bit.ly/3E3RPwE.

Edward Hitchcock: America’s first dinosaur expert

Tuesday, May 2, 7-8:30 p.m.

In his Zoom presentation, Robert McMaster will review the life and legacy of Hitchcock, particularly his central role in developing our understanding of dinosaurs. He will also discuss Hitchcock’s work in Vermont where he completed the first geological survey of the Green Mountain State in 1861.Register at bit.ly/3DVjRuc.

Short story selections

Wednesday, May 3 and 17, 1-2 p.m. Join library director Margaret Woodruff to share and discuss short stories old and new. Copies of the stories available at the circulation desk.

ble” methods throughout apparel production, consumption and more. As an expert in sustainable fashion, Kelly McDowell will provide solutions for being a more conscious and ethical consumer. Register at bit.ly/3KVrLGw.

Lego kit program kickoff

Wednesday, May 3, 2:15-4:15 p.m.

Kids ages five and up can now enjoy building Lego kits in the library. Drop off your child if they’re older than 11 or bring them in and build with them.

Naturally curious with Mary Holland

Saturday, May 6, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Mary Holland on each month’s most memorable events about amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, insects, spiders, plants and fungi of New England. A family program for kids age 8 and up with parent or caregiver. Register at bit.ly/3lDwl3q.

Conservation clinic with Rick Kerschner

Tuesday, May 9, 7-8 p.m.

Sustainable clothing

and textiles: sustainable fashion innovations

Wednesday, May 3, noon-1 p.m.

A movement toward more “responsi-

Rick Kerschner, former director of preservation and conservation at Shelburne Museum, provides an opportunity to discover if your family treasures require conservation. Bring a reasonable-sized antique, textile or decorative artifact for review.

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.

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

Champlain Valley Redhawks notch five wins for the week

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Boys’ lacrosse

Champlain Valley 9, South Burlington 8: The Champlain Valley boys’ lacrosse team squeaked out a win over South

Burlington on Saturday, April 22, to remain undefeated.

Peter Gilliam had four goals to pace the Redhawks, who moved to 4-0 with the win. Jacob Bose added two goals and two assists, while Conor Malaney, Jacob Whitcomb and Trevor Stumpff each chipped in with a goal.

Harper Anderson earned the win in goal with nine saves.

The Redhawks also got a win on Thursday, April 20, beating Burr and Burton 13-5.

Gilliam had five goals and an assist in that win, while Bose added a hat trick.

PUBLIC HEARING

Hinesburg Development Review Board

Tuesday, May 16, 2023 7:00 pm

Joseph Laster – Final plat application for a 9-lot, 8-unit subdivision located on the east side of Mechanicsville Road, north of Hawk Lane, in the Residential 1 Zoning District. The meeting will be both in person and remote. See meeting agenda on town website with details on how to participate.

Boys’ Ultimate Champlain Valley 15, Rice 8: Victor Colon had four goals to lead the Champlain Valley boys’ ultimate team to win over Rice on Friday, April 21. Charlie Garavelli also had four goals, while DJ Steinman added four assists.

The Redhawks moved to 3-0 with the win.

Girls’ Uultimate Champlain Valley 15, Middlebury 0: Champlain Valley girls’ Ultimate pitched a shutout against Middlebury on Thursday to move back to 2-2.

Grace Thompson had six goals and four assists for the Redhawks, while Ella Polli added a hat trick. Abby Bunting tallied twice and Stella Ewald, Megan Rexford, Teryn Hytten and Kate Sayre each added a goal.

Boys’ tennis

Burlington 5, Champlain Valley 2: The Champlain Valley boys’ tennis team fell to Burlington on Thursday.

Oscar Andersson got a win in singles for the Redhawks (2-1) and Aiden Morris and Ben Fina got a win in doubles.

Girls’ lacrosse

Champlain Valley 16, South Burlington 10: Champlain Valley pulled away in the second half for a win over South Burlington in girls’ lacrosse on Thursday.

Dicey Manning scored five goals for the Redhawks, who moved to 3-0 with the win. Stella Dooley chipped in four goals and Emerson Rice netted a hat trick. Grace McNally, Tess Everett, Amelie Scharf and Kate Boehmcke each added a goal.

Clare Stackpole-McGrath and

PHOTO BY AL FREY CVU’s Jacob Bose outruns a South Burlington opponent April 23 in a 9-8 win. Bose had two goals and two assists.

The boys ultimate Frisbee team took out Rice Friday 15-8

Green Mountain Bike Club upcoming rides

Beginner, intermediate rides

• Saturday, May 6 — introductory ride for new riders. A 12-20 mile leisurely ride to teach new cyclists the rules of the road and how to ride in a group. Meet at 10 a.m., Veterans Memorial Park, South Burlington, Wheeler lot. Leader: John Bertelsen, 802-5574633, jo.bertel@gmail.com.

• Saturday, May 20 — introductory ride for new riders. Meet at 10 a.m., Veterans Memorial Park. Leader: Tim Pearson, (443) 745-0605, pearson.tim.j@gmail. com.

• Saturday, June 17 — introductory ride for new riders. Meet at 10 a.m., Veterans Memorial Park. Leader: Amy Otten Amy Otten, 802-878-4070, amyotten@netscape.com.

• Saturday, June 24 — introductory ride for new riders. Meet at 10 a.m., Veterans Memorial Park. Leader: John Bertelsen, 802-5574633, jo.bertel@gmail.com.

Regular touring rides

• Sunday, May 7 — Kingsland Bay: 35-mile ride rolls from

Shelburne through Charlotte to Kingsland Bay Park and back. The 51-mile ride heads toward Vergennes and climbs to Monkton Ridge, returning through Hinesburg and a 65-mile option heads into Huntington but will not have a leader. Meet at 9:15 a.m., Shelburne Shopping Park. Leader: Brian Howard, 802-304-0610, bjhowd@ gmail.com. Social ride option: Donna Leban, 802-862-1901, donna.leban@gmail.com.

• Sunday, May 14 — Vergennes Voyager: 26-mile rolling or 39-mile flat to rolling rural ride running along Otter Creek to Middlebury. The longer ride heads toward Kingsland Bay State Park before heading south to Middlebury. Meets at 9:15 a.m., Vergennes Union High School. Leader: Diane Meyeroff, 802-495-8883, diane@thirdsectorassociates.com. Social ride option: Donna Leban 802-862-1901, donna.leban@gmail.com.

• Sunday, May 21 — Covered Bridges of Chittenden County: 23-, 30- and 36-mile ride through Shelburne and Charlotte with the longer ride going through Ferrisburgh.

Trunk Show

Friday, April 28th in Barre

Saturday, April 29th in Williston

Shop all the new styles. Enter to win a pair and free gift with Blundstone purchases!

Possible food stops include the Old Brick Store in Charlotte or a convenience store in Ferrisburgh for the long ride. Visit up to four of the five covered bridges in Chittenden County. The Shelburne Covered Bridge and the Holmes, Sequin and Quinlan bridges in Charlotte. Meets at 9:15 a.m., at Veterans Memorial Park, Wheeler lot, South Burlington. Leader: Dorothy Pumo, 802-8298729, dpumo5@gmail.com. Social ride option: Donna Leban, 802-9621901, donna.leban@gmail.com.

• Saturday, May 27 — Gravel Ride: Hinesburg-Buck-GilmanBaldwin. A mostly gravel 20-mile ride traversing the back roads of Hinesburg with 1,604 feet of vertical. Meets at 9:15 a.m. at the Hinesburg Elementary School. Leader: Brian Howard, 802-304-0610, bjhowd@gmail.com.

• Sunday, May 28 — St. Albans Explorer: A 35-mile ride to Kill Kare State Park and back. A 50-mile route continues to Swanton and back. Meets at 9:15 a.m. at Georgia Park and Ride, Exit 18 off I-89. Leader: John Bertelsen, 802-5574633, jo.bertel@gmail.com.

Ava Medici combined to get the win in goal.

Girls’ tennis

Champlain Valley 6, Essex 1: The girls continued their strong start to the season with a win over Essex on Friday.

Anna Dauerman, Tabitha Bastress, Erin Fina and Victoria Chrya all earned straight set wins in singles for the Redhawks (3-1).

Addie Maurer and Ella Lisle got a win in No. 1 doubles and Maya Vander Els and Kennedy Desautels earned a victory in No.

2 doubles.

The win came after the Redhawks dropped their first match of the season, falling to Burlington 4-3.

Dauerman got the lone win in singles, while Mayer/Toohey and Sage Kehr and Millie Boardman swept the two doubles matches.

Softball

North Country 12, Champlain Valley 9: The Champlain Valley softball team fell to 1-3 with a loss to North Country on Saturday.

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

Equal Opportunity Employer / Member FDIC

REDHAWKS continued from page 10 thecitizenvt.com

PHOTO BY AL FREY

SOLAR PROJECT

continued from page 1

Addison, Rutland, and Chittenden counties, offers shares in its solar projects to Vermont residents, and has completed similar projects in Bristol, Middlebury and Shoreham.

Along with Aegis Renewable Energy, the company was brought into town in 2019 to fulfill renewable energy goals laid out in Hinesburg’s master plan.

“Our vision for this when we started and brought it forth to the town was to have community solar,” Chuck Reiss, a member of the town’s energy committee, said. “A number of communities in the state have done that. It’s been successful elsewhere.”

The project hit a snag when it was discovered the landfill that the proposed solar panels would sit atop of was never procedurally capped. Several private residences near the property — including the town garage — have since had dangerous chemicals detected in their drinking water, and efforts to remediate are still underway.

But plans to buildout the 150kW solar array proceeded, nonetheless. Acorn had spent the past eight months marketing to

residents to buy into its membership, who could then use the project’s net-metered credits toward their Vermont Electric Co-Op bills.

A contract with Aegis, the project’s builder, stipulated that the company sell off at least 75 percent of its shares to residents by Feb. 1 — which was then extended to April 20.

But the company fell short of its goal, selling only 60 percent of its shares. Of the people who subscribed, few were from Hinesburg, Reiss said.

“These investors were to be the ultimate owners of the project and the recipients of its electric bill credits,” Marks said in his letter to the town. “We have spent three times the budgeted advertising dollars compared to prior projects and the marketing effort has been twice as long, but we just haven’t been able to make the necessary sales, either locally in Hinesburg or in the broader, more diffuse, VEC service territory.”

Part of the agreement between Acorn and Aegis, Hinesburg town manager Todd

Odit said, was that if Acorn were unable to complete the project, Aegis had the “right to purchase the project and do something different.”

“We are still supportive of the project,” said Michael Webb, a member of the town’s energy committee. “This is the last best chance to utilize this space.”

Nils Behn, the CEO of Aegis, said during a town selectboard meeting that they plan on building out the project but will partner with a private investor rather than sell to commu-

CANNABIS continued from page 1

and industrial district, permitted uses with only administrative approval are indoor cannabis cultivation; cannabis manufacturing; cannabis testing; and cannabis wholesale operations. All uses would have to be under 10,000 square feet.

In turn, the regulations require conditional use review and approval for other types of cultivations in that district such as indoor cannabis cultivation, 10,000 to 25,000 square feet; cannabis testing and manufacturing and wholesale, 10,000 to 20,000 square feet; and outdoor cannabis growing.

Allowed uses in the rural district under conditional use approval are indoor cannabis cultivation, manufacturing and testing, but only as adaptive reuses of an pre-existing structures — such as old barns — and outdoor cannabis cultivations larger than 1,000 square feet.

“While listed uses may be found compat-

nity members.

“It’s just not realistic for us to pivot to this model and make it work,” Behn said. “But it seemed like there was strong support for at least allowing all of this clean renewable energy to get built in Hinesburg to address climate change. I think there’s support there.”

“It’s a big disappointment that this isn’t benefiting Hinesburg residents, but it’s out of our control,” selectboard chair Merrily Lovell said.

Looking for career minded individuals to grow along with the company. Positions available in production and service departments. Positions are Full time, Monday - Friday 7:00 am - 3:30 pm 40hrs. Some O/T may be required.

MIG –WELDER

As a manufacturer of custom truck bodies we have openings for experienced Mig Welders to join our production team. Lay out, position, align, and secure parts prior to assembly, math skills needed. Aluminum welding experience a plus.

MIG –WELDER

SNOWPLOW/TRUCK BODY INSTALLER/MECHANIC

ible with residential and other uses in the rural district, each would require a public hearing and board approval to earn a permit. The process allows public input and limits on operations,” read the regulations.

The only permitted use within the rural district is outdoor cannabis cultivations up to 1,000 square feet, but only on active farms certified by the state’s Department of Agriculture as meeting the required agricultural practices.

While most residents said they favored the regulations in the rural district, cultivator and owner of Red Clover Canopies, John Stern, disagreed with the town’s stance on the agricultural aspect of the budding market.

“I believe for all tiers, Charlotte should still consider cultivation to be agriculture.

See CANNABIS on page 13

Looking for career minded individuals to grow along with the company. Positions available in production and service departments. Positions are Full time, Monday - Friday 7:00 am - 3:30 pm 40hrs. Some O/T may be required.

As a manufacturer of custom truck bodies we have openings for experienced Mig Welders to join our production team. Lay out, position, align, and secure parts prior to assembly, math skills needed. Aluminum welding experience a plus.

MIG WELDERS

Perform set up and installation of snowplows, truck bodies & miscellaneous equipment on new/used trucks/vehicles. Mechanical experience required; hydraulic experience desirable.

Company Benefits Include:

Forward Resume & Cover letter to: joannef@iroquoismfg.com

Apply in Person:

to enter our facility.

SNOWPLOW/TRUCK BODY INSTALLER/MECHANIC

Experienced, to join our production line. Accurately read work orders, ability to read and interpret drawings from customers and salespeople. Lay out, position, align, and secure parts prior to assembly. Solid math skills, ability to lift 75 lbs.

MECHANIC

Perform set up and installation of snowplows, truck bodies & miscellaneous equipment on new/used trucks/vehicles. Mechanical experience required; hydraulic experience desirable.

To upfit cab & chassis with various truck body types. Hydraulic experience desirable. Install wiring for lights & equipment per specifications. Fit and weld replacement parts into place, using wrenches and welding equipment, and other tools. Highschool diploma or equivalent required.

PAINT

TECHNICIAN & PREP WORKERS

PAINT TECHNICIAN: To assist lead painter. Auto body paint experience a big plus. PREP WORKERS: Prepping truck bodies for painting which includes sandblasting/sanding as part of the prep work. Experience preferred but will train the right candidate.

Forward Resume & Cover letter to: joannef@iroquoismfg.com

Apply in Person: Iroquois Mfg. Co., 695 Richmond Rd., Hinesburg, VT Face Mask required and social distancing rules apply to enter our facility.

HANDYMAN/JANITOR

Looking for someone to perform janitorial cleaning work in shop and office, general small repairs and light groundskeeping. Knowledge of chemicals & solvents. Drivers license req.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

This position will support the activities of the accounting, receiving and sales departments. Responsibilities include, not limited to; answer multiple phone lines, greet customers, data entry, filing, purchase order receiving, and other various office duties as assigned. Previous office experience required.

Monday- Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm (40 hours)

These are plants — that is all,” he wrote in an email. “The overreaction to cultivation is, in my opinion, a byproduct of the demonization of cannabis which negatively impacted lives across this nation for far too many years. Charlotte’s resistance is clearly evident in these onerous rules, and to stand against this historical and socially beneficial change is unfortunate and morally questionable.”

Cultivator and owner of Boreas Ventures, Malcolm Greene, expressed similar concerns.

“My business partner and I have run a small organic vegetable farm in Charlotte since 2019,” he wrote in an email. “We grow herbs, vegetables, pollinating flowers, hemp, medicinals and this past year added recreational cannabis as a Vermont social equity licensed cultivator.”

“(Charlotte’s) efforts appear to be more in the way of curtailing state-sanctioned cannabis businesses rather than implementing reasonable regulatory bumpers,” he continued.

The farmers also expressed concern for the proposed buffer zones outlined in the regulations, specifically the required 200-foot setback from cultivator’s property line.

The regulations also leave room for the development review board to require additional setback distances to uses “as deemed appropriate.”

Stern expressed that these regulations specifically target his growing location,“which means I cannot move to a tier 2 (operation),” he said in an email.

“The proposed buffer rule would create hardship and undue burden on growers and would prohibitively restrict activities already approved and licensed by the State of Vermont,” Greene said. “The proposed rule is unrealistic, exclusionary for small farmers and does not meaningfully enhance the quality of life for residents of this rural area.”

Pending any final typographical and legal

edits, Lewack said that these regulations will now move to the selectboard for review where members will either decide to adopt them as an interim bylaw or call a special townwide vote for permanent adoption.

“I don’t know how their vote will turn out,” he said. “But I suspect that they’ll take it very seriously. Obviously, the big divide

is going to be whether this is urgent enough that they should consider adopting these on an interim basis or whether they think this is the kind of policy decision that should wait for a townwide vote by the residents. That’s their call.”

The cannabis regulations represent only a small portion of the two-phased massive

bylaw overhaul the town has set out to complete. The initial phase was voted on and passed during the Nov. 8 election, and now that the cannabis regulations are off the commission’s plate, Lewack said members will now be taking a deep dive into different policies surrounding affordable housing and density in village centers.

GRAPHIC BY BOREAS VENTURES

A graphic created by cannabis cultivator Boreas Ventures that illustrates what Charlotte’s cannabis land use regulation amendments would have on their farm space.

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

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Parties

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ARIES

March 21 - April 20

Aries, gure out where your priorities lie, then position yourself in the right corner to get things done effectively. It could take some time before you see progress. Remain patient.

TAURUS

April 21 - May 21

It’s best if you can keep tight control of your emotions and not let others see what is brewing behind your stoic demeanor, Taurus. This will give you an advantage in negotiations.

GEMINI

May 22 - June 21

Gemini, if you’re too pragmatic this week, you may miss the opportunity to do something spontaneous and really enjoyable with friends. Don’t think; jump in this one time.

CANCER

June 22 - July 22

The week may start off sluggishly, Cancer. Give yourself permission to start off slowly and build up as you get enough energy and motivation to move along.

LEO

July 23 - Aug. 23

Leo, rather than being ready to roar at the world, you can barely let pass a meow. You’re more than happy to roll back over in bed most days. Search for an energy boost.

VIRGO

Aug. 24 - Sept. 22

Virgo, early on in the week you may feel disorganized and out of sorts. But soon enough you will nd your stride. Once you’re in a groove it will be smooth sailing.

LIBRA

Sept. 23 - Oct. 23

Libra, if someone at work has been holding you back or seems to be standing in your way, it’s justi able to feel resentment. Take the high road and remain pleasant and positive.

SCORPIO

Oct. 24 - Nov. 22

Scorpio, don’t ignore your responsibilities, no matter how mundane they may seem. Completing small tasks will help you set the course for more success.

SUDOKU

Here’s How It Works:

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

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 23 - Dec. 21

Your judgement may be clouded by some lofty dreams you have been having, Sagittarius. Separate the whimsy from what you actually may be able to transfer to real life.

CAPRICORN

Dec 22 - Jan. 20

You may be tempted to butt heads with authority gures in the days to come, but you’ll catch more ies with honey, Capricorn. Get your frustrations out another way.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 21 - Feb. 18

Relationship issues come to the forefront, Aquarius. This can be any relationship, be it personal or professional. Sit down with this person and esh things out.

PISCES

Feb. 19 - March 20

The current cosmic climate has you a tad restless, Pisces. You’re ready to stretch your ns, so to say. Set off on a grand adventure.

CLUES ACROSS

1. It’s all over the beach

5. A cirque

8. Corpuscle count (abbr.)

11. In uential report author

13. Satisfaction

14. Recurring only at long intervals

15. Islamic calendar month

16. Neither

17. Gelatinous substance

18. American electronic music producer

20. Old computer system

21. Professional organization

22. Malaria mosquitoes

25. Not composed of matter

30. It’s in the ocean

31. Peyton’s little brother

32. French commune

33. Eyelashes

38. Equal (pre x)

41. Quality of little or no rain

43. One who beheads

45. Sung to 48. In uential punk artist

49. Amount of time

50. Polio vaccine developer

55. Abba __, Israeli politician

56. Job

57. Flat-bottomed sailboat

59. Japanese wooden clog

60. Folk singer DiFranco

61. FL city

62. Naturally occurring solid

63. Language of indigenous Asian people

64. Dark brown

CLUES DOWN

1. Soviet Socialist Republic

2. Zoroastrian concept of holy re

3. Venomous snake genus

4. Uninteresting

5. Straightforwardness

6. Expression of wild excitement

7. Arrange in order

8. East Indian cereal grass

9. Hillsides

10. Bird beak covering

12. Baseball stat

ANSWERS

14. Edge of a surfboard

19. Wrapping accessory

23. Express approval

24. Deduce

25. Similar

26. Born of

27. Automobile

28. Obliged to repay

Live in

In uential journalist

Set a ame

OJ trial judge

town

nation

wind instrument

In slow tempo

Related on the mother’s side

Group welcomes George Will

National political columnist George F. Will is the featured speaker at the Ethan Allen Institute’s 30th anniversary celebration at the Doubletree by Hilton in South Burlington on Wednesday, May 31. The topic of his talk is “Why Conservatism is Important in a Place Like Vermont.” A social hour with cash bar begins at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m.

Will is widely regarded as one of the most influential conservative-libertarian commentators in the nation. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 1977 and has been awarded 16 honorary doctorate degrees. He continues his half-century long career as a member of the Washington Post Writers Group. His columns are syndicated in more than 400

George F. Will

newspapers.

“We invited George Will because of his eloquent advocacy for the fundamentals of a free society — individual liberty, private property, competitive free enterprise, limited and frugal government, strong local communities, personal responsibility and expanded opportunity for human endeavor,” Ethan Allen Institute president Myers Mermel said.

Will’s academic background includes Trinity College, Oxford and Princeton. He has taught political philosophy at Michigan State, University of Toronto and Harvard. He has authored 16 books, including “American Happiness and its Discontents.”

More at ethanallen.org.

VSO conductor bids farewell

Jaime Laredo, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra’s Music Director for the past 20 years, returns to the Flynn in Burlington on Saturday, May 6, to conduct his farewell concert.

Originally scheduled for 2020, this program features longtime friends of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, violin soloist Bella Hristova and composer David Ludwig, in an evening of music selected by Laredo to celebrate his tenure with the orchestra.

“It’s a bittersweet moment in time. I’m very sad that I have left the orchestra, and I’m very excited for the orchestra. It will always be part of my family,” he said.

The concert begins with the very first piece Jaime Laredo ever conducted with the orchestra, the poignant “Lyric for Strings”

SONGFARMERS

continued from page 2

Jordan Buntain, 47, joined the SongFarmers for the first time at the April jam. He met some of the musicians at another event about a month earlier — when he picked up his guitar for the first time in five years. He said it felt good to play again. “Especially with these guys, it’s simple. It’s easy stuff.”

Every jam has its own set of rules –often unspoken ones. Some focus on certain genres of music or types of instruments. Yarwood recounted his very first jam, at the now-defunct Daily Bread in Richmond, where he brought an instrument that didn’t fit the genre. “I walked in with a five-string banjo to an Irish session,” he said, recalling the eight musicians who “looked at me and glowered and went right back to what they were doing without saying a word.”

At some bluegrass jams ukuleles are frowned upon, Yarwood said. “Whereas here, everything is fine. It makes no difference as long as you don’t have to plug it in”

This month, the SongFarmers played ukuleles, stand-up bass, violin, guitars, mandolins and banjos.

The SongFarmers do have rules. One is no microphone. That’s mostly to control the volume for library goers, but also to allow everyone to hear one other.

The other rule: Everyone in the circle has

by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer George Walker. Violinist Hristova then joins the symphony to perform “Saturn Bells,” a planetary science-inspired work written by Ludwig, her husband.

“Jaime has been the greatest mentor, role model and friend David and I could have possibly imagined in our lives,” Hristova said. “He is not only one of the greatest musicians I know, but one of the greatest people, and he builds love and community everywhere he goes.”

“The concert on May 6 will be a fitting tribute to a wonderful and talented friend and artistic leader,” Vermont Symphony Orchestra executive director Elise Brunelle said. “Vermont is coming together with musical accolades for someone who has been generous, inspiring and deeply loved by all.”

a chance to choose a song to play, but they can pass to the next person. This month, the group picked tunes by Willie Nelson, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Johnny Cash.

Many of the SongFarmer musicians fill the time between the monthly jam with other groups. For Kendrick Kite, a Montpelier guitar player, the April session was his second jam of the day. Carol Jean Suitor, 84, and Jim Wick, 82, live in Wake Robin Retirement Community and have a group that meets once a week.

“There’s another little group that practices once a week with a fiddle,” Suitor said. “We’re all pretty much beginners, but we have fun.”

The SongFarmers’ nonmusical interaction, Palieri said, is as important as the music — the bantering between songs, lingering afterward to make plans for the next jam, cracking of jokes and subsequent laughing.

It’s the music, though, that brings everyone together in the first place.

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