The Citizen - 2-1-24

Cold water

Guilty plea

Local firefighters dive into lake to practice ice rescues

Woman admits to plot to kill husband in Hinesburg

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Page 4

February 1, 2024

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Weekly news coverage for Charlotte and Hinesburg

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CVSD approves $105 million in spending for TMD

Nice on ice

Budget tacks on 18% school tax increase COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

members Lewis Mudge and Frank Tenney were in favor of keeping the in-person vote.

The reason for the revote came mostly from concern over low voter turnout associated with an in-person vote.

The Champlain Valley School District has unanimously approved $105 million in spending next year, sending the budget, and a roughly 18 percent school tax increase, to voters for Town Meeting Day. The budget “reflects the very best we can do for our students in a very challenging economic environment,” school board vice chair Meghan Metzler said.

Since the Legislature passed Act 127 in 2022, Chittenden County school districts have been bracing for steep financial cuts thanks to decreasing pupil-weighting counts.

The FY2025 budget marks a roughly $10 million increase in spending from the current year’s $96 million budget and reflects significant increases in contractually negotiated salaries and benefits, and a double-digit increase in health insurance premiums affecting many school districts, towns, and businesses alike throughout the state.

This year’s budget, approved last March, estimated 7.5 percent more in spending than the previous fiscal year and was driven by similar factors, like salary increase obligations and health insurance costs.

But this year, the district is spending more on positions and programs that were previously funded through federal COVID-19 relief funds. The district is allocating $1.7 million to retain the positions officials say they can’t do without — about 70 percent of what was previously funded by those federal funds.

See CHARLOTTE on page 13

See CVSD on page 12

PHOTO BY DWIGHT MAZUR

Sophie Brien keeps an eye on the puck for her CougarHawks in a game against Woodstock. The combined Champlain Valley/Mount Mansfield team earned its second win of the season.

Charlotte opts for Aussie method Board finalizes town budget, changes the way voters vote LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

In addition to adopting the municipal budget of $4.2 million, the selectboard also walked back a decision to hold Town Meeting Day in person this year.

After a 3-2 revote, Town Meeting Day

will now be held by Australian ballot on Tuesday, March 5.

At a budget meeting last week the board attempted to revote the issue, but board member Louise McCarren did not cast a vote and was not present for most of the meeting.

She cast the deciding vote this week in favor of the switch to Australian ballot. Board

Page 2 • February 1, 2024 • The Citizen

PHOTOS BY LEE KROHN

Ice in their veins Shelburne and Hinesburg fire fighters met together Saturday to participate in a morning of ice-rescue training exercises

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The Citizen • February 1, 2024 • Page 3

Hinesburg approves $5.4 million in spending Selelectboard sends budget to voters for town meeting main sources of this revenue increase is the contract inked between Hinesburg and Richmond’s police departments.

This summer, the Hinesburg Police Hinesburg last week approved and warned its FY2025 budget with $5.4 Department began providing patrol covermillion in spending, a roughly 13 percent age and police chief services to Richincrease in expenditures from the town’s mond following the departure of its only two officers on hand and, later, its interim current year budget.

All five selectboard members voted police chief.

When budget discussions began in in favor of the budget, although Dennis Place said he was originally going to vote October, Odit suggested that Hinesburg against it, citing his concern with taxes residents could be voting on a nearly 7 overall — particularly school taxes — percent town tax rate hike this March. but later changed his mind, according to But revenue from that police contract has meeting minutes from the town’s Jan. 25 outpaced expectations, and the town for FY2025 is now assuming $240,000 in meeting.

Other members of the board, like revenue from that contract.

“Without that revenue, the amount Maggie Gordon, said that the budget was “pretty bare bones.” Selectboard chair raised in taxes would need to increase Merrily Lovell, according to meeting by 11.6 percent to cover the draft budget expenses,” a town budget minutes, said she “simply overview reads. sees no place to make “We can’t count on The town also limited further cuts.” many requested approThe town is trying to reserve funds to be priations from local draw the line between keeping the budget as paying our operating committees to keep spending down. For level funded as possible example: the affordable while ensuring that the expenses.” housing committee asked town’s spending matches for a $10,000 increase the actual expenses of the — Todd Odit that was not granted, a town. $5,000 increase requestTown manager Todd Odit has noted through months of budget ed by the trails committee was reduced to deliberations that the town has said “the $500, and a $3,000 increase requested by cost of the government is this, but we’re the town’s diversity, equity, inclusion and decidedly not raising enough money to belonging committee was reduced to $500.

Members of the conservation commiscover those expenses, so that if we have expenses that are more than we even sion organized themselves to press the expected, than guess what, we’re deplet- selectboard during a Jan. 3 meeting to push for a $30,000 allocation for land ing our reserves by even more.”

“We need to budget the true cost of preservation.

Selectboard members at the time what runs the town government and have our reserves in case things come up — we seemed sympathetic and explored increashad the Halloween flooding, we’ll have ing their appropriation, but later said they more flooding, who knows what will would stick with the commission’s current happen with the landfill,” he said. “We $7,500 allocation. They said they had to can’t count on reserve funds to be paying support level funding the budget as close as they can as “they continually hear from our operating expenses.”

The budget, assuming a 1 percent taxpayers that the taxes are too high,” increase in the town grand list’s value, according to meeting minutes.

“As a selectboard member right now, would result in a 4.3 percent town tax rate increase, equaling a $25.90 increase per with my fiduciary responsibilities, I’m $100,000 of assessed value, according to going to stick to this level funding,” said selectboard member Paul Lamberson. budget documents.

Gordon, similarly, said the $30,000 The current year’s budget, approved by voters in March of last year, included a 3.6 request was a big ask, according to meeting minutes from the Jan. 25 meeting, and percent tax increase.

Revenues increased from the current said when thinking about the 18 percent year’s budget by 13 percent, resulting in school tax increase coming for Hinesburg a 5.5 percent increase, or $215,594 more residents, she couldn’t support an increase in the amount raised in taxes. One of the that large.

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

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Page 4 • February 1, 2024 • The Citizen

Woman pleads guilty to plotting husband’s killing in Hinesburg

Take your peck

MIKE DONOGHUE CORRESPONDENT

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

Lee Krohn captured this image of a downy woodpecker looking for wintertime snack.

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A Vermont woman who authorities said plotted the 2019 fatal shooting of her estranged husband in Hinesburg has struck a deal to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit a first-degree murder that left an abundance of clues for investigators.

Angela M. Auclair, 51, formerly of Williston, and her son, Kory Lee George, 35, of Monkton, have been implicated for orchestrating the nighttime ambush killing of David Auclair, 45, of Williston, almost 5 years ago.

The bullet-riddled body of the victim was found July 11, 2019, at the LaPlatte Headwaters Town Forest trailhead parking lot, off Gilman Road in Hinesburg. The victim was lured to the scene for his execution through a pre-paid burner cellphone that was traced to a Milton store where George bought it, state police said.

Auclair was due for an upcoming jury trial in Vermont Superior Court, but she agreed to a plea deal last week.

Prosecutors have offered Auclair a sentence of 18 years to life for her part in the homicide case — the same penalty her son is facing under a separate plea deal he reached last September.

Auclair, who moved to Bristol shortly before her December 2019 arrest, is being held without bail at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington.

She will get credit for more than four years served in pre-trial detention when she is sentenced.

George and his mother were initially scheduled for a rare joint homicide trial in Vermont starting last October. Up to five weeks had been set aside for the trial at the Costello Courthouse, but George pulled the plug on that idea when he agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in his stepfather’s death.

George agreed to testify against his mother as part of his plea deal and, during his last-minute change of plea last September, he maintained his mother fired all the fatal shots.

David Auclair was shot 11 times, and no shell casings were left behind from the shooting, state police said.

He tried to crawl under his 2017 GMC pickup truck to get away from the shooting by his wife, Deputy State’s Attorney Susan G. Hardin said in court when George pleaded guilty last fall.

It marked the first time that Auclair had been identified in public as the trigger person.

Angela M. Auclair

A doorbell camera at a nearby Hinesburg home captured the sound of 14 shots. Defense lawyer Daniel M. Sedon, representing George, has said the evidence showed only one gun was used at the scene.

George, a five-time felon, was also convicted separately in federal court for illegal possession of a firearm in connection with the homicide.

During the homicide investigation, Vermont State Police detectives said they determined George illegally possessed two firearms — the stolen 9mm Beretta used in the homicide and a stolen 12-gauge shotgun, records show.

George pleaded guilty in federal court to possessing the stolen shotgun at his Monkton home where he was living on Aug. 2, 2019. It had been stolen with several other firearms from a camp in St. Lawrence County in upstate New York about April 2019, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reported. Evidence indicated George rented a truck before heading to the New York camp for a burglary.

Federal Judge Christina Reiss sentenced George to 89 months in federal prison on the gun count in November 2021. As part of the plea agreement, he is serving his federal sentence in a Vermont prison — that sentence is likely to run concurrently with his state time.

George is serving time at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans Town. George tried to contest his sentence, but a federal appeals court in New York City last year upheld the findings

by Reiss and ruled it was a valid sentence.

The homicide investigation had pointed to George as the apparent shooter after he stole firearms from a Colchester home the night before the shooting. George broke into the unattended home on Arbor Lane while his mother fulfilled plans to meet the homeowner and David Auclair for dinner at the Lighthouse restaurant in Colchester.

The Auclairs were in a rocky

marriage, the police investigation indicated. They maintained separate bedrooms before his death and Angela Auclair had a romantic interest in a boyfriend, John Turner, who would visit their home on Vermont 116 in Williston, records show.

Turner drove George to Colchester for the home burglary to steal guns, according to state police, who added George’s then-girlfriend, who he later married, was with them.

Detectives collected videos of the vehicle heading to and from Colchester and pulling into the neighborhood to let George out, records show. Police also tracked the whereabouts of suspects in the case through cell phone locations and text messages, records show There was some initial belief Angela Auclair was home at the time of the shooting, records show.

But when George changed his plea, Hardin disclosed Auclair had driven herself to the scene in a third vehicle to join her husband and son.

Hardin noted the conspiracy by Angela Auclair and her son stretched over several weeks, with major overt acts happening in Williston, Monkton and Colchester.

Judge Kevin D. Griffin, who is handling both cases, ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report on Auclair by the state probation office.

Auclair’s sentencing is tentatively set for April 29. She mother will get credit from her arrest in December 2019.

The state also has agreed to drop charges against Auclair for aiding in the commission of first-degree murder, obstruction of justice and two counts of violating the conditions of release.

The obstruction charge maintained Auclair instructed at least one witness in the case to lie to investigators for her, police said.

Auclair also must pay a $147 court surcharge as part of the signed deal.

Griffin said he would attempt both sentencing hearings on the same day because the victim’s family — currently in Florida — hopes to travel to Vermont for both sentencings. David Auclair was the son of a well-known South Burlington family that operated a large farm on Vermont 116 near the Shelburne line.

As part of the plea agreement with George, eight other criminal charges, including the Colchester home burglary, where handguns were stolen, two counts of obstruction of justice and first-degree murder, will be dismissed at sentencing, Griffin said. Four other counts involve George violating his conditions of release.

The Citizen • February 1, 2024 • Page 5

OPINION Some laws are unpopular, but something’s better than nothing 243. That’s 243 too many. afford to get treatment, and more Data shows that most overdose support for parents so that their deaths occur when people who are children can grow up feeling Rep. Chea Waters Evans using drugs are alone. If someone safe and cared for. These are At the risk of wading into a is there and there’s a problem, all reasons why I’ll continue to swamp that I don’t really need they can administer Narcan and look for actual solutions, but in to get into in the first place, I’m save a life. If someone is dead, the meantime, I’d vote yes on it going to touch on property taxes they can’t start the recovery again. quickly.

I spoke with a group of people process.

Out of all the Champlain at the Charlotte Congregational So, in the interest of fewer Valley School District Church the other day and we overdose deaths and a towns, Charlotte is in greater chance of people discussed a lot of problems: the best position as far unhoused people who need help, getting the help they as taxes are concerned overdose deaths and substance need to recover, I voted — they’re going to go use disorder, climate change, a yes. up, by how much we housing crisis, our taxes and a I know people don’t quite know yet, zillion other things that I’d really are concerned about but since we did our like to solve and button up before minors being allowed reappraisal last year and the session ends in May, but it’s to use the overdose already went through starting to seem like I probably prevention centers. I a property-tax-paying won’t. would ask you, in that Rep. Chea Waters Evans case, why do you only cycle, it won’t be as Rev. Kevin Goldenbogen took sharp an increase for a moment to ask me where I see want the teenagers and us as it will in other hope in the midst of all of these adolescents to die from schools. crises. It was an easy question to an overdose? Surely if they’re That said, it’s not ideal. At the struggling with substance use and answer, and one that made me a little misty-eyed. moment, there’s a lot of scramaddiction, they don’t feel safe This is where I see the hope: bling to explain how and why this at home to speak with somepeople who care enough to happened, and how it seemingly one about it, or they don’t have email me and came out of the blue to surprise anywhere else to ask questions, everyone. My guess is that Act go, letting their This is not a people who 127, which was passed in the last parents or family respectfully biennium before I was elected, members know solution to the drug disagree with is going to get some tweaks and they’ve been me and let me amendment, if not this year then there won’t help epidemic, nor is it a know why, next year when the new biennium matters. people in the begins.

If someone cure for substance Legislature who I wish I could do more about can reach young use disorder. It’s are introducit, but at the moment I feel like people before ing bills — I I’m kind of stuck. A “no” vote on there’s no hope simply one way to think around the big bill for the budget at the left, that’s what’s 300 just in this end of the session wouldn’t have important, so help, hopefully by year alone — any impact on the education fund that’s also why I to try and fix numbers, and I don’t think the voted yes. reducing the number everything budget adjustment bill is going This is a pilot from mental to have any real effect on school program, which of people who die. health supports budgets, either. I’m quite sorry means that it’s for elementary that we’re in this bad situation temporary. If, or school students to dam repair to and I also feel bad that it seems when, the funding is over, there’s puppy mills and everything in like there isn’t much to be done at been no reduction in overdose between. I’m not immune to the the moment. deaths, the same number of politics of all of it, and I certainly While I’m getting myself into needles on the sidewalk, and the have my own biases, but I also trouble, I might as well throw same amount of people getting interact all day, every day with it out there — I did vote yes on into legal trouble for using drugs, people who really do care.

H.72, which was voted out of the then we’ll try something else.

If you’d like to share your House and sent over to the Senate This is not a solution to the thoughts, please be in touch at last week. This is the overdose drug epidemic, nor is it a cure for prevention bill, which includes substance use disorder. It’s simply 917-887-8231 or cevans@leg. state.vt.us. what some people call safe one way to help, hopefully by injection sites. I’ve written about reducing the number of people Chea Waters Evans, a Demoit briefly before, but here’s why I who die. We have other things crat, represents Charlotte and voted yes. to deal with, too, like improved Hinesburg in the Chittenden-5 Overdose deaths in Vermont mental health supports, better House district. were the highest ever last year at healthcare options so people can

From the House

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Page 6 • February 1, 2024 • The Citizen

Kunin: sitting on the lap, standing on the shoulders of a legend served as ambassador to Switzerland.

We in Vermont are beyond privileged to be able to claim her as our own. To Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale know she found a life here and was able Perhaps more than any other Vermont- to thrive and give voice to others should er, Madeleine May Kunin is someone who make us feel proud and want to continue to give all comers a seat at the table. But, needs no introduction. She holds many most importantly, as I sat there well-earned titles and has and watched her enchant my received countless hard-fought daughter, I was reminded that she accolades. At the same time, is the embodiment of a life well she is so humble, so acceslived. She has stayed close to the sible, and so authentic that people, and is counted on as a we might forget we’re in the neighbor, a friend, a grandmother, presence of someone who has a trailblazer and a mentor. had a global impact for nearly I can only hope that my three quarters of a century. daughter will be able to underAs I sat in the dining room stand that the woman whose lap at Wake Robin this past weekshe sits on has allowed her to Sen. Kesha Ram end, watching Gov. Kunin dream bigger and achieve more. bounce my nine-month-old on Hinsdale Either way, we all stand on her knee with unabashed joy, I the shoulders of this legendary was certainly guilty of forgetVermonter, and we owe her our deepest ting that I was with a former governor, gratitude for lighting the way now and ambassador, federal undersecretary and, well into the future. now, author, poet and movement founder.

It occurred to me over dessert that Kesha Ram Hinsdale, a Democrat it was Holocaust Awareness Day, and from Shelburne, serves the towns of South that my daughter was being doted on by Burlington, Shelburne, Charlotte, Hinessomeone whose family had escaped Nazi burg, Milton, Burlington, St. George, Germany and who went on to become Westford, Underhill, Jericho, Richmond, the first Jewish woman to serve as a U.S. governor, as well as repatriating wealth to Winooski, Williston, Essex and Bolton in the Legislature. families of Holocaust victims when she

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The Citizen • February 1, 2024 • Page 7

OUTDOORS American tree sparrows are hardy winter visitors The male courts the female and defends his territory with song — a clear, high warble with a descending trend.

Susan Shea The female builds a nest on tussocks of Most winters, a few sparrows visit my tundra grass, or close to the ground among yard, feeding on the seeds I scatter on the stunted spruce and birch or in alder or ground near my bird feeder. These particu- willow thickets. The nest is an open cup of lar sparrows have long tails, rusty crowns grasses, bark strips, twigs and moss and is and eye-lines on their gray heads, and a lined with fine grass and ptarmigan feathdistinctive dark breast spot. ers. In it, the female lays four to six pale Looking more closely, I’ve noticed blue eggs with reddish speckles. buff-colored patches on the sides of their In summer, the tree sparrow changes its pale breasts, two white wingbars, and diet, feeding mostly on a wide variety of streaked brown backs. These birds are insects, spiders and snails, and providing American tree sparrows these protein-rich foods (Spizelloides arborea), to its growing young. The If you’d like to so named by European parents must watch for settlers who were remindpredators such as hawks, help wintering tree ed of Eurasian tree sparowls, weasels and red rows back home. squirrels. sparrows by feeding The name, however, Although tree sparis a misnomer, as these rows are still numerous them, remember “tree” sparrows are actualthroughout their range, ly ground birds, spending annual Christmas Bird to clean feeders little time in trees. They Count data show that are also known as winter regularly and to winter populations have sparrows, winter chippies, decreased significantly keep cats indoors. or snow chippies, for their in the past 50 years. Partresemblance to chipping ners in Flight, a global These sparrows sparrows, which are smallnetwork of bird conserer and do not winter here. vation organizations, prefer platform and American tree sparincludes the species on rows live throughout most its list of common birds other tray feeders or in steep decline. of North America, except for the far South and Tree sparrows are ground feeding.

Pacific Coast. They breed generally undisturbed by across northern Canada humans on their remote and Alaska and winter in the northern northern nesting grounds and in winter two-thirds of the U.S., including the North- seem to adjust easily to habitats near east. In winter, roving flocks of tree spar- human settlements, so the reason for their rows frequent wind-swept weedy fields, decline is not clear. marshes, hedgerows, woodland edges and One theory is that intensified agriculbackyards. ture in the Midwest and Plains States has They forage mainly on the ground, eliminated much of the weedy and brushy scratching and pecking, hopping up toward habitat needed by wintering birds. In the bent weeds, and even flapping their wings Northeast, development and maturation against plants to dislodge seeds. These of forests may have had a similar effect. birds are almost exclusively vegetarian in Climate change could also be affecting their winter, consuming grass, sedge, goldenrod, nesting habitat or reproductive success. other seeds and occasionally berries. They If you’d like to help wintering tree sparwill also eat insect eggs and larvae. rows by feeding them, remember to clean When the ground is snow-covered, tree feeders regularly and to keep cats indoors. sparrows obtain water by eating snow. These sparrows prefer platform and other These hardy sparrows will continue forag- tray feeders or ground feeding. They will ing during blizzards. They stay in touch come to black oil sunflower seed, thiswith other members of their flock with tle seed, cracked corn, peanut hearts and high, musical “see-weep” calls and fluff up millet. their feathers so they appear quite plump.

Watch for these hardy visitors from the Tree sparrows have been observed roosting north in your yard this winter. communally under the snow.

In March or April, flocks of tree sparSusan Shea is a naturalist, writer, and rows depart for the long, sometimes peril- conservationist based in Vermont. Illusous migration to their breeding grounds tration by Adelaide Murphy Tyrol. The in northern Canada or Alaska. They travel Outside Story is assigned and edited by 1,500 to 3,000 miles, usually at night. Northern Woodlands magazine and sponUpon reaching the northern treeline of sored by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of the the boreal forest at the edge of the tundra, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, flocks disperse, and individuals pair up. nhcf.org.

The Outside Story

ILLUSTRATION BY ADELAIDE MURPHY TYROL

Page 8 • February 1, 2024 • The Citizen

COMMUNITY Community Notes Elementary schoolers stage “Nemo” musical Shelburne Community School students perform “Finding Nemo KIDS” on Friday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 3 at 11:30 a.m. at Champlain Valley Union High School.

The charming 30-minute musical, designed for elementary school-aged performers, is based on the beloved 2003 Pixar film “Finding Nemo.”

A cast of 39 students in grades four and five is led by Jodi Sanders and Shannon Smullen and features music by the award-winning songwriting team of Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.

In the musical, Marlin, an anxious and over-protective clownfish, lives in the Great Barrier Reef with his kid Nemo, who longs to explore the world beyond their anemone home. But when Nemo is captured and taken to Sydney, Marlin faces his fears and sets off on an epic adventure across the ocean.

With the help of lovable characters such as optimistic Dory, laid-back sea turtle Crush, and the supportive Tank Gang, Marlin and Nemo both overcome challenges on their journey to find each other and themselves.

Featuring memorable songs such as “Just Keep Swimming,” “Fish Are Friends Not Food,” and “Go with the Flow,” the production brings a vibrant underwater world to life on stage in a story full of family, friendship, and adventure.

Tickets can be purchased at the door.

Shelburne Farms hosts “Muses of Winterdeep” Treewild presents “The Muses of Winterdeep (Les Douze Sorcières D’hiver),” at Shelburne Farms this weekend, Feb. 3-4 and next Friday and Saturday, Feb. 9-10. Showtimes are at 6 and 7:30 p.m. Follow the torches up Lone See COMMUNITY NOTES on page 9

COURTESY PHOTO

Cast members from “Finding Nemo KIDS” include Nora Plasse (Marlin), Josephine Webster-Fox (Nemo) and Nora Guidice (Dory).

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Publication Dates: February 8, March 7, April 4 Deadlines: February 1, February 29, March 28 Contact: Stowe Reporter/News & Citizen at 802-253-2101, Shelburne News/The Citizen at 802-985-3091 or The Other Paper at 802-864-6670 for information or to advertise your camp (ask about multi-paper, half-price color and Burlington Area Newspaper Group deals).

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The Citizen • February 1, 2024 • Page 9

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COURTESY PHOTO

Shelburne Farms hosts “The Muses of Winterdeep” this weekend and next.

COMMUNITY NOTES continued from page 8

Tree Hill into the forest.

The show features an outdoor sound and light experience, with nine projections on an 80-foot circular screen in a grove of tall hemlocks.

It explores the wonder and wisdom of a deep winter night, where 12 muses are unafraid to address children’s question of the shadows of the soul and embrace the lessons of the dark.

Illustrating the conversations are hundreds of powerful images blending into and out of the night, with music playing ancient French songs.

Although the dialogue focuses on the four children, the narrative is literary and philosophical. Some children will find this engaging, even though it is not specifically a children’s event.

All proceeds benefit Treewild scholarship fund and Enchantment Camps.

More information at treewild. org.

Shelburne Museum offers summer camp sign-ups Summer camps at Shelburne Museum offer children ages 4-15 a fun and hands-on camp experience. Reimagined for 2024, the carefully crafted camp programs are a playground for budding artists, offering a mix of inspiration and self-discovery.

General registration opens Thursday, Feb. at noon.

• Creativity Labs is offered to kids in different age groups — 7-9, 10-12, and 13-15).

Campers will be given the time, space, and guidance to try out a wide range of artistic ideas, materials, and methods. Each day, the artists will have the opportunity to explore the Museum and fill their sketchbooks with creative inspiration to fuel their individual artistic adventures.

Creativity Lab I is June 24-28 for ages 7-9; Creativity Lab II is July 8-12 for ages 10-12; and Creativity Lab III is July 15-19 for ages 13-15. Each lab runs form 9 a.m.-3 p.m. each day.

• Owl Cottage Academy, ages 4-6. Get ready for days filled with laughter, new friendships, and the thrill of artistic discovery.

Owl Cottage Academy artists will engage with the museum’s fascinating collection and dive into a whirlwind of artistic expression, experimenting with an array of materials and methods that spark their imaginations. Dates: July 29-Aug. 2 and Aug. 5-9, with morning sessions from 9 a.m.noon and full day sessions from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

ENERGY AUDIT Obituary

Sabina Barbara Evarts Sabina Barbara Evarts, 86, made her life full by surrounding herself with people, art, conversation, and lots of laughter. She died on Jan. 22, 2024.

Her legacy will live on in her husband, Lloyd, children David (Lisa C.) Evarts, Patricia Evarts, John (Lisa V.) Evarts, her sisters, nine grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and all who called her a friend and teacher.

In lieu of flowers: make weird art, plant flowers, eat ice cream, and live joyfully.

A memorial celebration will be held Feb. 3 from 1-4 p.m. at the Ferrisburgh Grange

Sabina Barbara Evarts

Hall.

Full obituary at everloved. com/life-of/sabina-evarts.

­

Page 10 • February 1, 2024 • The Citizen

SPORTS CougarHawks ice Wasps to nab their second hockey win LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Girls’ hockey Champlain Valley/Mount Mansfield 3, Woodstock 1: Three players found the back of the net to lead the Champlain Valley-Mount Mansfield girls hockey team to a win over Woodstock on Saturday.

Eva Mazur, Clark Clark and Sophie Brien each had a goal for the CougarHawks, who moved to 2-10-1 with the win.

Alex Walpole, KerriBeth Aldrich and Megan Rivard each added an assist for CVU-MMU.

Girls’ basketball Champlain Valley 57, BFA-St. Albans 25: The Champlain Valley girls’ basketball team remained unbeaten with a win over BFA-St. Albans on Friday.

Elise Berger (12 points, 10 assist) and Samara Ashooh (11 points, 10 rebounds) each had a double-double to pace

the Redhawks, who outscored BFA-St. Albans 24-2 in the third quarter to pull away.

Grace Thompson added seven points for CVU, which is now 10-0.

Boys’ hockey Champlain Valley 7, Rutland 5: The Champlain Valley boys ice hockey team won a shootout with Rutland on Saturday.

With the win, the Redhawks moved to 4-6-3 this season.

Boys’ basketball Champlain Valley 58, Mount Mansfield 43: Champlain Valley won its third game in a row, beating Mount Mansfield 58-43 on Thursday.

Tucker Tharpe led all scorers with 22 points and 12 rebounds for CVU, which used a 12-0 run at the end of the first half to grab the lead. Jack St. Peter chipped in with 14 points.

With the win, CVU moved to 10-2.

Kredell leads CVU to track championship LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Paced by an outstanding effort in the running events and a fourwin day for Alice Kredell, the Champlain Valley Union High School girls’ indoor track and field team captured the Division I state title, held Saturday at the University of Vermont.

Kredell finished first in the 1,000-meter and 1,500-meter races to lead the Redhawks.

CVU also had two relay teams come in first place.

The 4x400 meter relay team — Kredell, Noe Jenni, Kate Kogut and Elsa Klein — came out on top, as did the 4x800 meter team — Kredell, Lydia Donahue, Audrey Neilson and Jenni.

Donahue was second in the 1,500-meter and 3,000-meter races and finished third in the 600-meter race.

Klein finished second in the 1,000 and third in the 1,500 for

the Redhawks and Isabella Gravina-Budis grabbed a second-place finish in the 600.

Neilson was third place in the 1,000, while Noe Jenni was fifth in the 300 and sixth in the 1,500.

Kate Kogut rounded out the CVU top finishers with fifth place finishes in the 55-meter dash and shot put, as well as a sixth-place finish in the 300-meter race.

Boys Track and Field The Champlain Valley boys’ team earned a fifth-place team finish in Saturday’s championships.

Dan Knight was the top individual finisher for CVU with a second place posting in the 1,500meter race.

Avery Rogers was third in the 55-meter dash and the long jump for the Redhawks.

Quintin Fortier was fourth in the 300-meter race and AJ Sicard finished in sixth place in the 600-meter race.

PHOTO BY AL FREY

Nina Zimakas puts a little finger roll on the ball as she drives to the basket in the Redhawks’ Jan. 23 game versus Essex.

The Citizen • February 1, 2024 • Page 11

PHOTOS BY DWIGHT MAZUR

CougarHawks skaters Eva Mazur, left, and Mackenzie Rivard last week versus Woodstock.

Do you have photos you would like to share with the community?

Send them to us: news@ thecitizenvt.com

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Page 12 • February 1, 2024 • The Citizen

CVSD

Play your card

continued from page 1 Meanwhile, facilities and infrastructure needs are also weighing heavily on the district. A little more than $1.5 million in one-time spending for facilities is earmarked in the FY2025 budget, and voters will vote on a separate town meeting article calling for a $3.6 million bond to complete infrastructure projects that were previously bonded for.

District officials had originally banked on a 5 percent tax increase cap, as allowed under Act 127. To provide leeway to rightsize their budgets, the law allowed districts a 10 percent per-pupil spending limit and a 5 percent pre-CLA (common level of appraisal) tax increase discount until fiscal year 2030.

The 10 percent spending provision meant that, whether the district approved an $88.5 million budget or a $105.8 million budget, it would have no difference in the $1.37 pre-CLA tax rate increase.

It’s a facet of the law that legislators have taken issue with. Last month, House Ways and Means Committee Chair Emilie Kornheiser, D-Brattleboro, and Senate Finance Committee Chair Ann Cummings, D-Washington, penned a letter chastising school districts for excessive spending.

Champlain Valley board chair Angela Arsenault, who also represents the Chittenden-2 House district, said during the meeting last week that she “categorically rejects any indication that it is irresponsible for a school district to follow the incentive that we were given that is written into the act.”

If the Champlain Valley School District lowered the tax rate to $1.36, officials said, the district would have needed to cut spending or raise more than $17 million extra in new revenue — the equivalent of 144 professional-level staff positions.

“This is not on school boards,” Arsenault said.

In the months leading up to budget discussions, district officials began requiring offsetting reductions for any new proposed expenses.

But last month’s common level of appraisal figures released by the state compounded the district’s financial estimates. Significant decreases in the common level of appraisal, which compares the assessed value of properties on towns’ grand lists to the actual property sale prices considered to represent fair market value, turned what was supposed to be 5 percent

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

A northern cardinal adds a splash of color to the white wintry backdrop.

tax increase into an 18 percent increase.

Because the housing market has skyrocketed in years since the pandemic, with home sale data continuing to rise by high single- or low double-digit percentage points for years, towns’ CLA figures have seen dramatic decreases, even after conducting town- or city-wide reappraisals.

As a result, districts like Champlain Valley, South Burlington and others in Chittenden County are tacking on 13 percent simply because of the state CLA figures.

The tax implications of Champlain

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Valley’s budget would have residents in Hinesburg paying $356 more in school taxes per $100,000 of assessed value. Shelburne taxpayers would pay $304 more, while Charlotte residents would pay $216 more, according to school officials.

“We understand the overall tax impact on our constituents, and we understand that that’s also really — much of that is outside of the levers that we as a school board can pull,” Metzler said.

The CLA figures and their impact on the budget “is not something that we have control over,” she added, “but what we do have control over is how we can best provide educational resources for our students, and we believe this is the best opportunity to do so.”

The district in its budget included five teacher reductions based on enrollment projections, including a kindergarten teacher at Williston’s Allen Brook School.

Arsenault said during the meeting that the reductions were not financially motivated but were based on enrollment figures. She added she could understand the “conclusion one might draw, hearing about all the budget pressures we’re facing.”

“I say that because we face incredible challenges in the very near future” because of the implementation of Act 127, she said.

The new law gives districts a five-year window, until FY2030, to prepare for the new pupil-weighting system slowly being implemented.

“There may come a time when we have to make reductions in teacher numbers and other numbers, purely for financial reasons,” Arsenault said. “We hope to not get there.”

But she said the district is now in a position where, to make a one-penny change in the tax rate, it would have to cut $17 million from the budget, roughly the equivalent of 144 professional level staff.

“We’re not doing that,” she added, “But it is important that folks understand, should this budget not pass, we will have to make dramatic, dramatic cuts that will change this district.”

Meltzer added, “And your taxes will still go up.”

District officials, facing devastating realities should the budget get voted down, have made it a priority to communicate to the public the realities of this year’s budget and the state’s school funding system.

A budget summary document will be shared in a district-wide newsletter and “budget booklet” will be delivered to yearround residences in the district later this month.

“One of the things we’re well aware of is how challenging it is and confusing it is to communicate about this year’s budget and all of the intricacies of what it took to develop it and help to explain all of the components,” said Bonnie Birdsall, the district’s head of communication. “It’s a hard one this year.”

The Citizen • February 1, 2024 • Page 13

CHARLOTTE

continued from page 1 Unlke last year, residents have compliance with that as soon as recently voiced strong reserva- possible. We’re going to be spendtions with the selectboard holding ing 30-40 percent of the town a floor vote on Saturday, March 2 taxpayer money on this.”

— the last day of school vacation With an increase in spending — with most saying they would just over 4 percent, the tax rate be unable to participate due to is not expected to change much. travel plans.

Mead confirmed that the tax rate Town clerk Mary Mead said associated with the budget as it voter turnout for an Austra- stands right now will require a tax lian Ballot vote rate of .1835. in Charlotte is The municipal “We should be almost nine times tax rate for this higher than it is current year is pretty proud of this for an in-person .1804. floor vote.

Of that budget. It is a flat As in years $4.2 million an budget and not only past, the town anticipated sum meeting day of $1,540,380 that, but we had warning sepawill be raised rates the Charby taxes and an significant capital lotte Volunteer anticipated sum Fire and Rescue of $1,711,767 improvements.” budget as its own will be raised article. Residents by non-tax reve— Jim Faulkner nues. will be asked to approve an alloBut this year, cation of $989,087 to the depart- most peoples’ tax bills will be ment — one of the larger alloca- allocated to the school budget as tions in the town’s approved $4.2 changes to the education funding million budget. model have doubled taxes in the Board member Kelly Devine towns that make up Champlain said the town is due to resign the Valley School District. memorandum of agreement — In simple terms, town adminwhich is supposed to be reevaluat- istrator Nate Bareham explained ed every two years —that governs that, for every dollar of tax money the relationship between the town spent by a Charlotte resident in and the independent service. An taxes, only 14 cents is paid to the updated agreement was signed in town’s municipal budget, while 2022 but has not yet been reaf- 86 cents is paid to the Champlain firmed.

Valley School district.

Patrice Machavern, busi“It’s a small percentage that ness operations manager with we’ve worked really hard on and the department, confirmed that a it really only effects in the ballconversation happened when it park of 11 to 12 percent,” Mudge was up for review and both the said. board and fire and rescue organiWith an increase in spendzation recommended no changes ing almost at a flat-rate over the to the agreement, but the board current year, the largest increase did not take any official action at for next year comes with the 49 the time. percent increase in the town’s debt “I have a copy here that is services that the board is on the actually marked up and dated hook for, mostly allocated for the 2022 that has a list of conditions voter-approved new town garage on it including, I think, the exist- and solar installation set to bring ing one that it is supposed to be power to most of the town buildrevisited every two years,” said ings.

The article regarding a Devine. “Whether it’s the selectboard’s fault or CVFRS’s I have $365,000 bond vote for a new no idea, because I wasn’t here. ambulance that brought about I would urge us to get back into a heated discussion last week

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

governance switch is set to take place on Monday, Feb. 5 at 6:30 p.m. The official copy of the Charter proposal, in its entirety, is on file and available to the public at the town clerk’s office.

“We should be pretty proud of this budget,” said board chair Jim Faulkner. “It is a flat budget

and not only that, but we had significant capital improvements.

You can imagine every little rock we’ve kind of looked under to figure it out and we’ve had a lot of help with the committees, the commissions, departments, volunteers have all been really on the same wavelength.”

SHELBURNE Human Resources Assistant $23-$26/hr., DOQ This is a full-time administrative position responsible for providing comprehensive and efficient human resource support and services to the Town of Shelburne employees.

The HR Assistant will be responsible for recruitment and onboarding, records management, benefits administration, HR reporting, training and development, and other HR related projects.

PUBLIC HEARING Hinesburg Development Review Board Tuesday, February 20, 2024 7:00 pm Rem & Meredith Kielman/ Rolf Kielman & Stevie Spencer – Final plat application for a two-lot subdivision to create a 1.54acre developable lot from portions of a 107.38-acre lot and a 3.05-acre lot located on the east side of Turkey Lane in the Agricultural Zoning District.

We are looking for a self-motivated problem solver who is resourceful and organized with excellent interpersonal and customer service skills. We are excited to shape this position to the skills and interest of the right person who will be energized by working in the public sector.

The Town of Shelburne offers competitive salaries and an excellent benefits package.

Visit www.shelburnevt.org/jobs to see full job description and employment application. To apply, submit application and resume to Susan Cannizzaro at scannizzaro@shelburnevt.org. Review of applications begins immediately.

The Town of Shelburne is an equal opportunity employer.

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

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was also approved by the board.

Devine cast the lone vote against the motion.

“I don’t know if this is relevant, but when I asked for documentation that this was necessary I was told to go Google it,” said Devine, adding an apology earlier in the meeting for her actions during the heated discussion last week.

Should voters approve that money, the first payment would not begin until 2026, since there is a three-year wait time to build the ambulance.

The selectboard also approved the article referring to a charter change for the switch to a town manager form of government, but not without some hesitation.

“Are we obligated to do this motion?” asked Mudge.

Tenney answered, “Well, we’re obligated to put it on the ballot.”

The second informational hearing regarding the potential

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The Citizen • February 1, 2024 • Page 15

Horoscope February 1, 2024

ANSWERS FROM THIS ISSUE

Weekly Puzzles © 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

Page 16 • February 1, 2024 • The Citizen

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