The Citizen - 3-14-24

Sunshine week

Here’s why open government should matter to you

Page 3

Title wins

Girls’ basketball, alpine skiers are champions

Pages 10-11

March 14, 2024

Junior chefs Judge denies

woodcutting operation

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

A Vermont Environmental Court Judge last month denied an appeal from Hinesburg residents to operate a commercial woodcutting operation on a residential road, saying the operation was prohibited under current zoning regulations.

The appeal, originally filed with the court in February last year, went to trial on Feb. 15. The appellants, residents Andrea and Allen Lavalette, argued that they should be able to operate a commercial cordwood business at their home on Beaver Pond Road.

Neighbors abutting the property had written several letters to the town development review board calling attention to the operation’s noise, and an increased amount of traffic through the area.

The review board voted down a condi-

See LAVALETTE on page 16

Village master plan project makes headway in Charlotte

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

The Charlotte village master plan project, a two-year comprehensive deep dive into the future of the town’s East and West villages, has been in full swing since January, and the team spearheading the efforts is holding the first official design workshop on Saturday, March 16.

The project began when the town

received a $13,600 modernization grant last year to increase housing and affordability within the town’s two village centers. From there, the team leveraged an additional $72,000 from Chittenden County Regional Planning to fund the project and hire a consultant to work alongside the planning and zoning office.

While the town had done planning studies of both of its villages nearly 10 years ago, when the planning commission attempted to

implement some of those recommendations, some residents have objected. Two proposed amendments to the town plan and zoning bylaws in March 2021 that would have enhanced housing opportunities in the East Village were vehemently rejected by Charlotte voters — a problem that town planner Larry Lewack says is mostly due to a lack of proper public outreach and engagement.

“I think the biggest problem with that report is that it wasn’t really coupled with

an implementation plan,” Lewack said, noting that 10 years went by before the town proposed some changes to the regulations.

“Those went over like a lead balloon,” he said.

Since January, the planning commission and Lewack have been gathering information and are now moving toward a design phase

See CHARLOTTE on page 2

Weekly news coverage for Charlotte and Hinesburg thecitizenvt.com

FARMHOUSE TAP & GRILL

EL CORTIJO TAQUERIA

PASCOLO RISTORANTE GUILD TAVERN

PHOTO BY SARAH WEBB

Junior chefs Michael Lewis and John Rodgers shape and fill their signature dish titled, “Pierogi Wan Kenobi” on their last practice before the Jr. Iron Chef Vermont competition. See story on page 8.

CHARLOTTE

continued from page 1

focused on what the two villages could realistically look like.

“We’re essentially trying to take the temperature of a diverse swath of the community so that we can get a sense of what the issues are and what people think the priorities might be,” he said. “If they were contemplating recommending more dense development, what that might look like and what are the specific needs that are not being met within the villages now, including issues about whether people can’t get their needs met within the villages, where do they go to get those needs met?”

A major facet of that, he said, is identifying transit options and other infrastructure like septic and wastewater the town currently lacks.

“We have an eye toward the future,” he said. “If we have a rural town where people didn’t need a car to get around, what would that look like?”

The first survey about the project saw more than 100 responses from residents. He said although there was caution about the scale and density of future development, fewer people voiced opposition to any development at all.

“Nobody wants to see sprawled development,” he said. “Nobody wants to see Vermont turn into New Jersey. We all value open lands and preserve protected forests and wetlands but I think a lot of people would like to see more stuff to do and more people living in these village centers.”

According to data compiled by Lewack this year, finding affordable housing has remained one of the town’s greatest challenges, especially for its aging population seeking to downsize. Two-thirds of Charlotte residents who are in the workforce commute to a job outside of town, and of the people

who work in Charlotte, 67 percent of them live in a different town.

“Me and my co-workers in the planning and zoning office are a good example of that,” he said.

Although the 2018 town plan calls for more development in the villages, the town’s current land use regulations, like the 5-acre lot size minimum in both village centers, directly contradict and limit those goals.

“In order to redo the rules, we have to backtrack into first saying what we want to see in the village centers, and then ask ourselves, how do we need to change the rules to allow that,” he said.

As the team works to analyze all the data from the public surveys and informational meetings held with business owners and other key stakeholders, this Saturday, March 16, at the Charlotte Congregational Church, the community is invited to the project’s first design workshop.

“That’s an opportunity for people who are interested enough to do this, to come together and do some very hands-on work with the visual aspect and responding to some specific prompts about what they want the villages to look like and how they want their villages to work functionally,” Lewack said. “We hope to see some themes emerge.”

The master plan is set to be finalized by June and will steer the town’s updated land use regulations that will be voted on next Town Meeting Day.

“In the design of this project, we made it much more comprehensive by saying we were going to go right from the master planning and visioning process directly into drafting new bylaws to implement recommendations,” Lewack said. “There will be no momentum lost.”

Lewis Creek Association fights Japanese knotweed, offers community trainings

KATE KELLY CONTRIBUTOR

Non-native invasive plant species have long threatened the health of ecosystems, wildlife habitat and populations of native plants in the Lewis Creek watershed. Management can be difficult because they are easily spread via seeds, roots, fragments, animals and humans.

Japanese knotweed is a particularly tough plant to remove. It was introduced from East Asia in the late 1800s and was planted as an ornamental and for erosion control. Ironically, knotweed

can actually increase streambank erosion. It spreads primarily by its roots/rhizomes, which can break off during a flood then resprout and form a new colony downstream.

The Lewis Creek Association hopes to undertake a long-term project controlling knotweed without herbicides in the watershed but needs the community’s help.

The association will demonstrate a non-chemical removal method to the public at a site in North Ferrisburgh where technicians will be present weekly to lead removal efforts and to

display the methods to the public. Everyone is invited to help.

Lewis Creek Association is partnering with Mike Bald to guide this work and demonstrate effective methods for knotweed removal without herbicides. You can also get involved in a project that uses community science to help understand the distribution of knotweed in the watershed using iNaturalist.

If you’re interested in learning more, sign up at bit.ly/lca-knotweed or reach out to Kate Kelly, program manager for Lewis Creek Association, at lewiscreekorg@ gmail.com or 802-488-5203.

PHOTO BY KATE KELLY

Japanese knotweed on the bank of Lewis Creek in Starksboro.

Sunshine Week Don’t think open government matters to you? Here’s why it does

Justin Silverman

Open government mattered to all of us during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Government played an outsized role in our day-to-day lives then. Schools closed, storefronts shuttered and the officials making decisions about quarantines, mask mandates and vaccines often met in secret or exclusively online.

We demanded access to their Zoom meetings and to information about how long our kids would remain home and when our businesses could reopen. We requested reports on public health data underlying the policies decided by our local and state representatives. We used public record and open meeting laws to get answers to our questions.

• Following the worst mass shooting in Maine’s history, newsrooms are making public record requests to better understand how the tragedy in Lewiston unfolded. Through records obtained using the Maine Freedom of Access Act, we know more about the shooter’s military history and what, if any, attempts were made to treat his mental disorders prior to last October. The information learned through public records will almost certainly fuel arguments for — and against — gun reform in the state.

to July 2023 when the bridge last passed inspection.

The attorney general’s office said that while the charges are legal, they can also be waived by the governor. Legislation to change the state’s Access to Public Records Act would require those fees be waived and make it easier for us to understand what caused one of the biggest travel headaches in the state’s history.

With the pandemic largely behind us, however, it can be easy to forget about government transparency. Outside of newsrooms, few of us regularly make public records requests or attend open meetings. The decisions of government don’t seem to weigh as heavily on us as they once did.

Sunshine Week is March 10-16 and is a reminder that the need for open government never abated. The sunshine reference is attributed to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis, who famously wrote that “sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.” In other words, an informed public is the best way to rid government of corruption.

We don’t need a global pandemic to appreciate our personal stake in government accountability. Consider the following examples of how sunshine laws are playing out in the region:

• Regular FOIA scofflaws in Connecticut rarely pay fines despite the law allowing up to $5,000 in penalties. As of last month, the state’s Freedom of Information Commission imposed only six fines for FOIA violations since 2012. Changes in the law now require the fines to be paid by officials personally. This is a strong incentive to follow the law, but only if fines are imposed and the message is sent to agencies that they cannot disregard their FOIA obligations with impunity.

• A proposal by Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey would make the format of local open meetings completely discretionary instead of guaranteeing both in-person and remote access. Do you have a disability, parenting responsibilities, odd work hours or any other reason preventing you from traveling to a government meeting? Under this proposal, you’ll be shut out when city councils, select boards or school committees decide to hold their meetings exclusively in person.

• In a state where the right to know about government is enshrined in its constitution, New Hampshire lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow excessive fees to be charged for public records. The bill makes no exception for those who cannot afford the fees or for information of high public interest.

• Vermont state agencies are turning the public records law on its head, requiring reporters to submit formal requests for basic information that should be readily accessible. As Diane Derby at VTDigger recently explained, agencies are using the law “as a shield to deny reporters timely access.”

Rather than just answer a straightforward question, she said, they force the reporter to file a formal request, slow the process and deprive readers like you of much-needed information.

Vermont agencies are turning the public records law on its head, requiring reporters to submit formal requests for basic information that should be readily accessible.

Still not convinced you have a personal stake in government transparency? Consider sunshine an insurance policy. Even if none of the situations above resonate with you or relate to your daily life, know that transparency discourages government misconduct from occurring at all. Those in government are less likely to act in their self-interest when the public is looking over their shoulder. When malfeasance does occur, we can utilize our sunshine laws to learn what happened and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.

Instead, the legislation incentivizes government officials to overestimate the time to comply with a records request, needlessly redact and review documents, and ultimately deter even modest requests from being made in the first place.

• Want to know how the Washington Bridge in Providence fell into disrepair and why it ultimately closed? You’ll need to pay. Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee is charging thousands of dollars for records that date back

Let’s not wait for another pandemic or public health crisis to make transparency a priority. Sunshine is a cause we should always be rallying around.

Justin Silverman is executive director of the New England First Amendment Coalition and a Massachusetts-based attorney. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Maine School of Law, New England Law-Boston and the University of Connecticut.

Justin Silverman

Total incidents: 31

Mar. 5 at 12:08 p.m., police investigated suspicious activity on Ballard’s Corner Road.

Mar. 5 at 5:26 p.m., suspicious activity on Mechanicsville Road was investigated.

Mar. 6 at 1:21 p.m., an officer responded to a motor vehicle crash on Walts Way.

Mar. 6 at 5:51 p.m., an officer investigated an animal complaint on Blackberry Hill.

Mar. 6 at 6:02 p.m., an alarm activation on Charlotte Road was investigated.

Mar. 6 at 10:38 p.m., police investigated suspicious activity on Fern Road.

Mar. 7 at 10:40 a.m., suspicious activity on Leavensworth Road was investigated.

Mar. 7 at 7:50 p.m., an officer responded to a resident dispute at Kelley’s Field.

Mar. 8 at 10:21 a.m., police investigated a motor vehicle complaint on Silver Street.

Mar. 9 at 9:10 a.m., an alarm activated at CVU.

Mar. 9 at 5:47 p.m., officers responded to a medical emergency on Hawk Lane.

Mar. 9 at 6:38 p.m., officers investigated a juvenile problem on Rocky Mountain Lane.

Mar. 10 at 8:14 a.m., an officer responded to a medical emergency on Hawk Lane.

Mar. 10 at 8:56 a.m., an officer investigated the report of harassment at Kelley’s Field.

Mar. 10 at 2:04 p.m., an officer responded to a medical emergency on Hawk Lane.

Mar. 11 at 8:48 a.m., officers responded to a single-car motor vehicle crash on Pond Road.

Mar. 11 at 11:21 a.m., officers responded to a medical emergency on Jourdan Street. Susan Roberts, 72 of Hinesburg, was pronounced dead at the scene of suspected natural causes.

Mar. 11 at 2:35 p.m., an officer conducted a welfare check on North Road.

Mar. 11 at 3 p.m., a stolen car from Burlington was recovered on Leavensworth Road.

Mar. 11 at 5:25 p.m., officers investigated a report of threats by electronic means.

Mar. 11 at 8:37 p.m., suspicious activity on Baldwin Road was investigated.

Note: Charges filed by police are subject to review by the Chittenden County State’s Attorney Office and can be amended or dropped.

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‘Fund racing’ event aims for accessible waterfront

COURTESY PHOTOS

The Community Sailing Center kick-offs its Access for All Virtual Regatta, a three-month campaign to raise the final funds for a new construction project with an experiential learning space on the Lake Champlain waterfront, multi-craft launch facilities, a deepwater basin for keelboats and universal accessibility. The Sailing Center has raised 95 percent of the money needed to create safe, accessible infrastructure. To help raise the remaining funds, the virtual regatta will see teams of “racers” set a fundraising goal and then compete to meet that goal through sponsorships, donations, events and matching gifts. Prizes for reaching fundraising milestones will be awarded throughout the event and, on June 1, an actual on-water regatta will be held for participants who meet their goals. Learn more at lakeaccessforall.org.

Beware of jury duty scam, sheriff warns

A Chittenden County resident was cheated out of a large sum of money through a jury duty scam, according to the Chittenden County Sheriff’s Department.

The caller, who is identifying himself as deputy Greene, says because someone missed jury duty, they must pay a fine.

In the example cited by the

department, scammers were able to get a large sum of money through bitcoin from the individual.

Law enforcement officials remind citizens to hang up the phone on such calls and never provide personal information such as date of birth, Social Security numbers, bank or credit card information.

The sheriff’s office never clears arrest warrants or court cases by asking for money, either in person or over the phone.

Report these incidents to the Vermont Attorney General’s Office at 800-649-2424 or 802-656-3183. Contact the county sheriff’s office at 802-863-4341 for more information.

Flaco flew for us all: the embodiment of freedom as rebellion

Guest Perspective

Walt Amses

“The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.”

— Albert Camus

My body feels as though I’ve volunteered for a scientific study; becoming a proving ground of sorts, evaluating various pieces of adaptive equipment as I put my own durability to the test, slipping, sliding, slogging and crunching over back roads whose fluctuating consistency becomes more unpredictable with each passing winter.

Every step marks a new adventure, never quite certain if I’ll slide sideways, turn my ankle or twist my knee in a frozen rut or sink in above my shoes, squishing along for several miles, obscenities providing the soundtrack of my discontent.

Deep in muck, submerged in thought, walking has become the go-to activity, especially since traditional winters have migrated somewhere else, limiting skiing and snowshoeing to a smattering of one-off rambles fraught with deteriorating conditions, often infusing the whole enterprise with more trouble than it’s worth.

So, I find myself down the road on a perfect afternoon — warm temperatures, little wind and glorious sunshine — in other words, it sucks, figuratively and literally, as the quagmire does its level best to exert its will on my feet, which too frequently require just enough of a steady yank to pull free, subtly destroying my lower back.

That I find this small restriction so infuriating gets me thinking about our notion of freedom and the desire we all have to do what we want, when we want and how

we want, unconstrained by outside forces, whether governmental or environmental, each of which can be uniquely intrusive. While the historical perception of freedom has been bastardized with political ramifications —the Freedom Caucus or the Alliance Defending Freedom are designed to do the opposite — we continue to maintain a grasp of what it means in its purest form and, like Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart said of obscenity in 1964, we “know it when we see it.”

And many saw it quite clearly personified in Flaco, a Eurasian eagle owl who, after escaping his enclosure at the Central Park Zoo a year ago, became a spirit animal for the masses, soaring above New York City’s granite canyons from Greenwich Village to a favorite Central Park oak tree near 104th Street in upper Manhattan.

Once zoo officials abandoned recapture efforts after a few weeks, Flaco became a social media sensation, every flap of his majestic 6-foot wingspan recorded, his movements charted, and data compiled of his whereabouts at a given moment.

When he died last week after a collision with one of the Upper West Side skyscrapers that became his habitat, the outpouring of grief was a palpable illustration of how — even amid the towering concrete monoliths that permeate the urban landscape — we strive for an acquaintance to wild nature that goes well beyond simple observation, verging at times on the mystical. Ample evidence reveals that those of us with a connection to the natural world are usually happier in life and more likely to feel our lives worthwhile with enhanced positive emotions such as joy, calm, creativity and an increase in concentration.

I’m lucky enough to live in a place where encountering wildlife on my walks isn’t unusual but I’m still grateful for every loon, fox, eagle, coyote, beaver, moose and

all the rest that enhance my life by just being there. After 40 years on this road, it’s still enthralling to stop when I see some critter going about its day and just watch for a precious moment or two.

I’ve always found owls especially beguiling and the goings on in New York City reminded me of what I like to recall as a relationship I had with a barred owl several years ago that lasted a couple of winters, as ridiculous as it was sublime. He showed up one late autumn afternoon, alternating between an apple tree behind the house and a limb over the compost pile, stayed until spring, even returning the following year.

Although seen in some cultures as a harbinger of death because of its nocturnal nature, owls also represent wisdom and knowledge and, according to mystic Inbaal Honigman, a visit from one points you to your own wisdom, an invitation to tap into your inner knowledge, perception and intelligence. I would go out and talk to him — he never answered — but he was completely undaunted, and I was able to get ever closer, eventually close enough to stroke his feathers while quietly making small talk. He still never answered.

Watching him regularly slam into the snow, I learned that he was hunting. Owls have incredibly sensitive hearing, allow-

ing them to hear activity through several inches of fluff. Returning from a walk one day, I stopped by his tree and hung out with him for a bit while he swiveled his head, scanning the ground with his ear. Suddenly, he dropped silently, crashing through 6 inches of snow, coming up with a fat vole that he downed in a couple of gulps. It was stunning.

Since the beginning of the pandemic three years ago the world has closed in around us and consequently more people have rediscovered the emotional and mental health benefits of city parks, woodland forests or blue spaces like beaches, rivers and wetlands. Our psychological well-being, including a reduction of stress, anxiety and depression is enhanced by connecting with wildlife and the natural world.

Trapped in what arguably has become a far more dangerous world since 2019, with threats lurking everywhere, the profound exuberance over Flaco’s fleeing his cage, eluding capture and commanding the skies over New York for a year is completely understandable. He was flying for all of us — the very embodiment of freedom as rebellion.

Walt Amses is a writer. He lives in North Calais.

at Dealer.com or virtually by livestream. American Sign Language interpretation will be provided. Learn more and register for free by scanning the QR code or visiting our website. www.howardcenter.org 802-488-6912

It’s time to G.E.T. R.E.A.L. about Vermont’s future

Guest Perspective

Nichole Loati

Our state is facing multiple crises, mostly self-inflicted, the result of policies enacted by a Democratic supermajority made up of activists who are either out of touch with the real needs of Vermonters or too wrapped up in their own ideology to care. But we all need to get real about putting positive solutions in place — now — or we are doomed as citizens, individually and collectively as a state.

We cannot afford the crushing tax burden the majority is placing on household incomes. State spending is both out of control and, despite such unprecedented amounts of money flowing into programs, not working to solve the real problems Vermonters are dealing with every day.

higher Department of Motor Vehicle fees for drivers’ licenses and vehicle registration. They passed the Clean Heat Carbon Tax, which is estimated to add 70 cents to every gallon of home heating fuel Vermonters need to buy to keep warm in winter over an unprecedented outcry of citizens. They didn’t care.

This year, 2024, they are poised to pass a renewable energy standard bill estimated to add $1 billion to the cost of electricity bills. They are looking at increasing the sales tax by as much as $271 million by including groceries, medical products, residential energy, clothing and footwear, and expanding coverage to include services. They are looking at a $15-$30 million sweetened beverage tax.

Housing is unaffordable because the supermajority piles on regulation upon regulation making it literally impossible to build new housing at an affordable price.

On top of the $200 million plus property tax increase ushered in by Act 127, since obtaining their veto-proof supermajority in 2022, Vermont Democrats have rammed through in just 2023 a new $120 million payroll tax that will take effect this July. They imposed $20 million in

New taxes on downloaded software: $20 million. A new 5 percent gross receipts tax on television streaming services on top of the sales tax: $7-8 million. Then add in a clean transportation carbon tax on gasoline and diesel on par with the one on heating fuels.

Despite all this taxing and spending, misplaced priorities left many homes and businesses vulnerable to extreme weather

events, such as the July and December flooding, because Vermont Democrats diverted hundreds of millions of dollars away from investing in preventative adaptation measures and into unrealistic — and unbearably expensive — schemes to change the weather by “lowering our carbon footprint.”

Crime in our once uniquely safe state is now a top issue because the supermajority’s unrealistic belief that defunding police, allowing criminals to shoplift and commit other crimes without consequence and fostering a permissive drug culture would somehow make communities safer. The opposite is true.

Housing is unaffordable because the supermajority piles on regulation upon regulation making it literally impossible

to build new housing at an affordable price.

Our schools, despite record spending on a declining student population and an ever-increasing property tax burden, are failing to educate our children. Test scores are dropping, classroom safety is suffering, mental health issues are rising because of the supermajority’s proclivity to adopt every progressive educational fad and to use classrooms as indoctrination camps instead of focusing on real skills like reading, writing, math, science and critical thinking.

These are just a few of the biggest issues we face – and must solve. To do so

See

Letters to the Editor

Candidate expresses thanks, appreciates community input

To the Editor:

I would like to thank Hinesburg’s voters for their confidence and support as I begin another term on the selectboard. I also offer many thanks to those who were able to participate in town meeting, either in-person or on Zoom.

Hinesburg is a wonderful community

dealing with real constraints and issues that challenge all of us. Your ideas and input are invaluable as the selectboard, town employees and volunteers continue to seek sustainable solutions. Please do not hesitate to contact me at plamberson@hinesburg.org.

Paul Lamberson Hinesburg

State cannot arrest its way out of the challenges it faces

Guest Perspective

Falko Schilling

Many of our conversations in the Statehouse this year have focused on public safety. That isn’t surprising — our communities are struggling. We all know it, and we can all feel it.

Evidence and experience show us that the only way to solve these complex problems is to address their root causes and ensure that everyone’s basic needs are met. Unfortunately, we have seen a flood of legislative proposals to create new crimes or pass harsher criminal penalties — a strategy we know simply does not work.

Numerous authorities including the U.S. Department of Justice have noted that increasing the severity of punishment does not deter crime and that prisons can actually exacerbate recidivism.

Too often, we use prisons as a substitute for addressing substance use disorder and untreated mental health conditions — and we have seen that our legal system disproportionately targets people of color, year after year.

Here’s a snapshot of the data: 70 percent of the people

incarcerated are prescribed some form of medication for mental health conditions, compared to approximately 16 percent of the general population. Sixty percent of the people incarcerated in the state of Vermont are living with opioid use disorder, while only 1 percent of the general population has opioid use disorder. In Vermont, a Black person is seven times more likely than a white person to be incarcerated, and people of Hispanic origin are 4.5 times more likely to be incarcerated.

It is troubling that so much legislative attention has focused on further criminalization and incarceration that will make disparities worse.

Given all of that, it is troubling that so much legislative attention has focused on further criminalization and incarceration that will make these disparities worse. Bills like S.58 are likely to incarcerate more people of color and people with substance use disorder for drug crimes; H.534 could lead to more women, people in poverty and people with substance use disorder being incarcerated for low level retail theft.

We cannot arrest our way out of the challenges we face. Ensuring that everyone has access to housing will make our communities stronger and more vibrant — criminalizing unhoused people will not. Harm reduction approaches to address the overdose crisis will save lives and make our communities safer — further criminalizing drug use will not. Only when we meet people’s basic needs — housing, healthcare, economic stability — can our communities truly thrive.

Vermont voters should urge their legislators in the final months of the biennium to reject failed policies that rely on criminalization and incarceration, and to focus instead on evidencebased solutions that address root causes and make our communities stronger and safer for everyone.

Falko Schilling is advocacy director of the ACLU of Vermont.

LOATI continued from page 6

we must “G.E.T. R.E.A.L” about what’s happening, who is responsible and who is really willing to do what needs to be done to keep our ship of state afloat.

G.E.T. R.E.A.L. is a solemn promise and a positive path forward for the state by Vermont Republicans focused on improving the quality of life for Vermonters. It is a prescription of policy proposals that includes:

• G.lobal Warming Solutions Act reform, recalibrating the law to reflect realistic and affordable goals.

• E.ducation reform, refocusing schools’ mission back to excellence in core subjects.

• T.ransportation and infrastructure with a priority for fixing roads.

• R.egulatory reform to

lower the cost of housing.

• E.nvironmental protection initiatives focused on protecting and preserving natural resources and landscapes.

• A.ffordability and tax reform to lower costs for working Vermonters.

• L.aw and order in our communities.

We encourage Vermonters who see the need for a new and more affordable direction for our state to learn more about the program and the candidates who support it in the months between now and election day. It’s time to get involved. The future of Vermont — and your future in it — is at stake.

Nichole Loati is chair of the Lamoille County Republican Committee.

Local students compete in chef competition

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

The kitchen at the Inn at Shelburne Farms over the past several months has been home to the culinary genius of four Shelburne Community School students as they prepared for their biggest competition of the year: Jr. Iron Chef Vermont.

Michael Lewis, Olen Purcell, John Rodgers and Thomas Schramm have worked since January under the leadership of executive chef John Patterson and chef de cuisine Michael Merrifield to perfect their signature dish, “Perogi Wan Kenobi,” a caramelized onion pierogi with potato and Shelburne Farms cheddar, topped with a tart cherry and parsley chimichurri.

Jr. Iron Chef VT is a statewide culinary competition challenging teams of middle and high school students to engage in improving their own health and the health of their community by creating dishes comprised of locally grown, nutritious ingredients.

The annual event invites teams of three to five students from all over the state to cook up an original recipe in under 90 minutes. Every dish is judged by a panel of food professionals and advocates, and awards are given out based on five categories: execution, taste, creativity, teamwork, and use of local ingredients.

“Last year we went thinking we were going to win but then you get there, and you realize there is so much more that goes into it,” Patterson said. “It’s a really good way for kids to be introduced to food and Vermont, and is really great in that the agricultural community is so tied in. I grew up with very different food and a very different understanding.”

wanted to do a crepe or a dumpling, but this is close to a dumpling.”

“We had dumplings and an idea for a crepe cake with roasted parsnip, apples and melted cabbage,” Rodgers added, “and we actually incorporated the melted cabbage into this dish.”

Each student took to their station on Wednesday night’s practice filling, shaping, searing and plating but not without a few passing jokes and a slew of playful banter to fill the air.

“It’s a really good way for kids to be introduced to food and Vermont, and it’s really great in that the agricultural community is so tied in.”

— John Patterson

Patterson turned on the clock for the last practice to acquaint the team with the pressure of time.

“There’s all these things that you just don’t really anticipate,” he said. “Like I told them, ‘“You’re going to have to yell.’”

burst of laughter.

The team went through about four to five different iterations of the dish, eliminating options like dumplings and crepes before landing on their signature pierogi.

“We knew we had to get a filling and it had to be vegetarian,” said Lewis, speaking about the elimination process. “We had a vote and I

The team even managed to think of what would happen in the worst-case scenario of competitor sabotage.

Hannah Corbin, educator at Shelburne Farms who also worked with the team, jokingly asked, “Are you expecting to be sabotaged?”

The three junior chefs let out a resounding “Yes!” followed by a

Some students on the team expressed an interest in a future as a chef, like Rodgers, who spends his weekends perfecting his sourdough and focaccia recipe, but others just enjoyed the time spent with friends.

“They get to learn a lot,” said Patterson. “They get to do it with their friends but then there’s also an interest in cooking.”

Purcell, who was a member

of the team last year that created a signature ramen dish, explained that the skills learned this year were much different.

“With ramen against perogies, we worked on a lot of our knife skills this time, because there’s not much to cut with ramen,” he said.

Although the team didn’t walk out with any wins this year, Patterson explained that the team walked away with much more: a sense of teamwork.

“Honestly, I’m the one who’s a nervous wreck through it,” he said, adding that the group hit a hiccup in the competition when they realized they needed two presentation options. “We plated everything, and then it was like, ‘Oh, no, we need another one.’” That was a really great thing to see where they came together and then figure out how to put one together. It’s another teamwork exercise, but you can’t really practice those.”

PHOTOS BY SARAH WEBB Team leaders Matthew Merrifield, John Patterson and Hannah Corbin, sporting their “Shark’s Glitter” team name shirts next to junior chefs Olen Purcell, John Rodgers, Michael Lewis and Thomas Schramm. Below: “Pierogi Wan Kenobi.”

COMMUNITY

Community Notes

Enjoy Age Well meals at Charlotte Senior Center

The Age Well meal pickup for Thursday, March 21, is from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Charlotte Senior Center and features roast pork with sauce, mashed yams, peas and onions, wheat bread with butter, oatmeal, raisin cookie and milk.

You must pre-register by the prior Monday at 802-425-6345 or meals@ charlotteseniorcentervt.org.

The meal on Thursday, March 28, features turkey burger with vegetable gravy, mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, wheat roll with butter, peach and Craisin crisp and milk.

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

Williston church holds two-day rummage sale

The Williston Federated Church, 44 North Williston Road, holds a rummage sale on Friday and Saturday, March 22 and 23.

Shop for gently worn clothing for all ages. On Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., fill a 30-gallon trash bag for $5. The hours on Sunday are from 9 a.m.-noon.

Proceeds from the clothing sale are used to support the church’s mission outreach.

More at steeple.org

State holds public hearings on deer, moose

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board will hold public hearings on deer and moose management on March 18, 20 and 21.

The hearings will include results of Vermont’s 2023 deer seasons and prospects for deer hunting next fall and an opportunity for people to provide their observations and opinions about the deer herd’s status.

The hearings will also include a review of the 2023 moose hunting season and an opportunity for the public to provide feedback on the number of moose permits recommended for 2024.

The three in-person hearings will begin at 6:30 p.m. at these locations:

• March 18, Hazen Union High School, 126 Hazen Union Drive, Hardwick.

• March 20, Brattleboro Union High School, 131 Fairground Road.

• March 21, Enosburg Falls High School, 65 Dickinson Avenue.

Pre-recorded videos of the moose and deer presentations given at these meetings will be available on the department’s website.

Elks serve up corned beef for St. Paddy’s Day

The Burlington Elks Lodge St. Patrick’s dinner will be held Friday, March 15, 5:30-7

p.m., at the Elks Lodge, 925 North Avenue.

A corned beef dinner is $15; Reuben sandwiches are $12 and fries are $2.

For information, contact David Ely at davidely1986@gmail.com or 802-8625109.

Francophones meet in Winooski this year

The 2024 Vermont Francophonie Celebration will be held Thursday, March 28, in the performing arts center of the Winooski School District, 60 Normand St. The official ceremony will be held from 1-2 pm.

Representatives of France, Canada, Vermont and Quebec will be in attendance. The event this year is being hosted by the mayor of Winooski.

Lund by the Lake fundraiser approaches

Lund presents its third annual Lund by the Lake fundraising celebration on May 16, 5 p.m., at Hula on the waterfront.

Last year’s event raised more than $166,000 and drew 140 attendees, including donors, staff and client families.

This year, Lund by the Lake will shine a spotlight on the integrated services Lund provides and its collaborative approach to supporting families.

“This year’s event aims to celebrate the perseverance of our clients and the collective efforts that empower them to overcome challenges and achieve lasting positive change,” Mary Burns, president and CEO, said.

For more information, go to lundvt.org.

March programs at Charlotte

Senior Center

For more details, go to charlotteseniorcentervt.org or call 802-425-6345.

• Wednesdays, March 20 and 27: AARP free tax preparation. Appointments available between 1-4 p.m. Registration required.

• Thursday, March 28, 9 a.m.: walking/ gentle hiking group. Registration required, free.

Walk at a gentle pace with other seniors. Group meets each month for a congenial non-strenuous walk. Location to be determined. Meet at 9 a.m. in the parking lot of the center.

• Thursday, March 28, 1 p.m.: Hiking the Long Trail, Free, registration appreciated.

Can you imagine hiking 280 miles in 19 days? Have you ever been curious about hiking the Long Trail and what’s involved? Join Charlotte resident Carrie Fenn as she talks about her solo adventure hiking the Long Trail.

Library hosts ‘Courageous Awakening’ program

On the second Wednesday of every month starting May 8, the Carpenter-Carse

Celebrating 100

Library Community Room will host Courageous Awakening, a Circle of Trust program with facilitator Peggy Dippen.

The Circle of Trust program is a place where individuals can explore themselves within the resources of community using third things, such as poems and stories, for greater understanding of themselves and one another.

What is courageous awakening? According to Dippen, humanity is living in a rapidly progressive time where information and interactions are becoming less conscious and more polarized. “Humans better thrive when in the physical presence of each other, where curiosity about the self is mirrored back through awareness and dialogue in a supportive setting,” she said.

Dippen has more than 25 years in public education and 14 years participating in Parker Palmer’s courage and renewal programs. She is also a mindfulness-based psychedelic guide and yoga teacher. She lives in Hinesburg.

Sign up for the program at info@mindfuljourneywork.

Tropical fish hobbyists host fish, reptile expo

The Delta Hotel in South Burlington is the site for the 2024 Burlington Aquarium Fish, Coral Frag and Reptile Expo, Saturday, March 23, 1117 Williston Road, noon-3 p.m.

Come see what other hobbyist breeders have to offer. Local breeders, hobbyists and retailers will be selling freshwater fish, shrimp and plants, saltwater coral frags, reptiles and new and used equipment and aquariums.

The free event sponsored by the Tropical Fish Club of Burlington features door prizes and a raffle. More at tfcb.org, or call David Banks at 802-372-8716.

See COMMUNITY NOTES on page 16

COURTESY PHOTO

Marjorie Major celebrated a major milestone in February when she turned 100 years old. She is seen here celebrating at Wake Robin with daughters Jackie Goss, left, and right, Terre Murphy, along with her friends. Marjorie is a skilled woodworker and yogi who just recently hung up her mat, and she’s been a longtime member of the Wake Robin handbell choir.

SPORTS

Girls’ basketball

Redhawks win back-to-back state titles

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

For most of the 2023-2024 girls’ basketball season, Champlain Valley played zone defense.

In the Division I final last Wednesday night, trailing by six at halftime and getting burned by St. Johnsbury from the three-point line, the Redhawks made a risky move: They switched to a man-toman defense.

The risk paid off.

Champlain Valley limited its opponents to 12 points in the second half to beat No. 2 St. Johnsbury, 38-33, to win its second D-I state championship in row.

“We played almost no man against St. Jay the last few times we played them,” CVU coach Ute Otley said. “St. Jay was really comfortable against our zone. Then we decided we had to lock in and play man-to-man and everyone has to take responsibility for containing your own kid. The kids just executed.”

After hitting five three-pointers in the first half, St. Johnsbury was held to just one basket from behind the arc in the second half and scored only 12 points total.

“Coming into the second half we just said we have to lock up these players and figure out how to stop them,” CVU senior Samara Ashooh said. “That was what we did as a team.”

While the lock-down defense helped pull CVU back into the game in the third quarter, the Hilltoppers kept pushing them in the fourth. The two teams stayed within a point of each for much of the quarter until a big jump shot from CVU’s Grace Thompson gave the Redhawks a 34-31 lead.

St. Johnsbury came down the floor and sunk a shot to bring the score back to one and then dialed up the defensive pressure to try and force a turnover.

That’s when Otley called a timeout and pulled a play out of her back pocket that the team saved for special occasions.

“We don’t want everyone to know it and we don’t want everyone ready for it,” Otley said. “It only works when a team is trying to take it away for you.”

On the inbounds, senior Elise Berger sent the ball to a Ashooh, who worked her way around a screen, and the forward laid it in for two points and 36-33 lead with just 44 seconds remaining.

“When you have a kid who can pass the ball like Berger, that kind of distance, you’ve got to take advantage of it,” Otley said. “She put it right on the money.”

Merrill Jacobs clinched the win with two free throws in the final seconds and secured the state championship.

“It doesn’t feel real right now, especially going back-to-back,” Jacobs said. “It’s such a special moment for the team.”

It is the 10th title for the CVU program and the second year in a row the team has beat St. Johnsbury to capture the trophy.

“We knew they were going to come out hot and strong and want it really bad,” Jacobs said. “We totally expected that, and we were ready to just stick with it and persevere.”

Despite the programs experience in last year’s final, CVU did not have a lot of players that had played a lot at Patrick Gym. Reminding themselves to relax and have fun was key to the second half turnaround.

“We play best when we are having fun,” Ashooh said. “First

half, we were kind of tense, a lot of us haven’t been in this situation before. So, we came together, and we had a lot more fun and were

playing more light.”

Ashooh (six points) and Jacobs (eight points) were two of the team’s leading scorers, with Berger

pacing the team with 10 points and four rebounds. CVU finished the season with a 21-1 record.

PHOTOS BY AL FREY

Above: The Champlain Valley Union High School championship girls’ basketball team after its 38-33 win over St. Johnsbury.

Below: Merrill Jacobs drives the ball down court in the Redhawks’ Division I win over St. Johnsbury on March 6.

CVU girls, boys’ alpine skiers win Division I titles

LAUREN READ SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

Champlain Valley had quite the two-day performance on the hill at Burke Mountain for the Vermont alpine state championships.

The Champlain Valley girls placed four skiers in the top 10 on the second day to clinch the Division I state title, while the CVU boys were named D-I co-champions along with Rutland after a delay due to a scoring error.

The Redhawk girls used top finishes in the slalom to race to the D-I title, the program’s third championship in the last four years.

Bialowoz came in third and Kate Kogut followed in fourth place. Carly Strobeck rounded out the top 10 finishers, coming in eighth.

The Redhawks felt that the slalom was their stronger discipline, so they were confident heading into the second day.

“When they saw Ella crash ... they were like, ‘OK, now we have to ski fast and we have to finish or we’re not going to win.”

— Steve Francisco

“They are experienced,” CVU coach Steve Francisco said. “They were dominating all season long.”

With the girls winning the state title outright and the boys finishing as co-champions, the Redhawks won the combined state title — the first year that the Vermont Principals Association has recognized the honor.

“I am incredibly proud of the entire team,” Francisco said. “It’s just crazy.”

Ella Lisle led the way for Champlain Valley, coming in first overall in the slalom. Rachel

“Our team is super well rounded, but we do train slalom basically three days a week,” Francisco said. “When you are putting four in the top 10, it is very difficult for anyone to beat that.”

In Monday’s giant slalom, the Redhawks’ strong showing put them solidly in second place after that first day of competition.

Kogut was the top CVU finisher in the giant slalom, coming in third place overall. Bialowoz finished in 11th, Elizabeth Nostrand came in 13th and Addie Bartley was 17th. Lisle, CVU’s top skier, did not finish the race.

“When they saw Ella crash in the giant slalom, they were like ‘OK, now we have to ski fast and ,we have to finish or we’re not going to win,’” Francisco said.

“What I said to the girls was ‘yes, everyone needs to ski their best but at the same time … you have to finish,” Francisco said.

“Not finishing is not an option. It just added another degree of pressure.” The CVU skiers came through, putting the Redhawks just behind the first-place team and setting themselves up for a strong showing in the slalom.

“Once we got done with districts my talk with them was you’ve got to carry this confidence and experience into states,” Francisco said. “They definitely wanted to course correct from last year and they did that in districts, and it worked for them in states.”

On the boys’ side, Champlain Valley came in third place in the

D-I state championship, finishing behind first-place Rutland and second-place Woodstock.

But a scoring error discovered after the competition revealed that CVU had not been awarded the correct points after three of its skiers did not finish in the slalom on Tuesday.

Due the error, Champlain Valley was named co-champions with Rutland after the Vermont Principals’ Association reviewed the error and the scores. Coaches were emailed on Monday afternoon of the update.

In the competition on Tuesday, Ray Hagios came in first place

in the slalom to win the individual title. In the giant slalom on Monday, CVU’s Jake Strobeck finished first to win the title in that race.

Strobeck came in fourth place in the slalom, while teammate George Francisco finished in fifth. But a DNF for three skiers threw the Redhawks into a precarious position.

In the giant slalom, the Redhawks were in first place after a performance that had four skiers in the top 10. After Strobeck’s top spot, Francisco came in fourth, Hagios was sixth and Sebastian Bronk came in eighth place.

COURTESY PHOTO

The Champlain Valley boys’ and girls’ alpine ski teams. The girls won the state championship, and the boys were co-champions.

How ebbing snow cover effects plants, animals

The Outside Story

Michael J. Caduto

When it comes to winter in the North Country, brown is not beautiful. Climate change has brought sudden and extreme fluctuations in weather along with a dramatic decline in the amount of snowfall that blankets the ground. This is especially marked in the Northeast, where winter is warming faster than the national average.

Weather whipsaws from midwinter-like conditions to unseasonably mild temperatures and back again, often within hours. Storms that begin with the promise of snow frequently end in rain or freezing rain.

This unpredictable, declining snow regime is more than just inconvenient. From recreational activities such as snowmobiling and skiing, which contributes $4.6 billion to the economy in the Northeast, to challenges in logging operations when the ground is frozen for significantly less time, to overwintering plants and animals, our region is riding a meteorological roller-coaster. Overall, winters are shorter, temperatures warmer, there is less snow cover, and we are experiencing more wet-snow and rain events.

Research conducted by Dartmouth College’s Department of Geography predicts that by 2050 snowfall in the Northeast could drop to half of today’s levels. The Appalachian Mountain Club reports that in the past century snowpack depth has declined, and the number of winter days with snow cover has fallen by three weeks. Some 95 percent of the midwinter snowpack in north-

eastern forests could disappear by 2100.

The number of days with snow cover each year has been declining for decades. A study at Salem State University in Massachusetts found that from 2000 to 2022, North America’s annual snow coverage decreased by an area nearly the size of Texas. New England and New York saw some of the most marked annual declines. Because snow’s white surface reflects sunlight and helps to mitigate climate change, the decline in snow cover is accelerating the rising temperatures.

According to a Dartmouth College study published in the journal Nature in January 2024, during the past 40 years the seasonal snowpack has decreased

by 10 to 20 percent per decade in the northeastern and southwestern US and in other regions worldwide. The authors of the study predict that by the end of the 21st century, the Northeast could often be nearly snow-free by the end of March.

Another study revealed that the proportion of snow that makes up the total volume of annual precipitation in northern New England fell from 30 percent in 1949 to 23 percent in 2000 and has continued to drop.

These changes have critical implications for plants and wildlife. Snow provides cover and insulation for animals, and it protects tree and plant roots. Research from the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire

found that sugar maples whose roots were exposed to extreme cold when no snowpack was present experienced increased damage and die-off, resulting in a 40 to 55 percent reduction in growth that lingered for three years.

A depth of 20 inches of snow is required, on average, to insulate and protect plants and animals from harsh weather. Even in extreme cold, the subnivean (under the snow) temperature remains steady at about 32 degrees. Mice, voles and other small mammals create travel tunnels and living quarters in this insulated subnivean zone.

Less snow cover means less insulation, which requires animals to consume more food to maintain their body temperature. Animals that rely on these small mammals

as prey — including foxes and owls — are unable to break through the hard layer of ice that accumulates on top of the snow during repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

Wood frogs develop a natural antifreeze that enables their tissues to freeze and safely overwinter in the constant environment under snow-covered leaf litter. But vacillating temperatures and snowless conditions can cause a decline in winter survival; frogs that experience multiple freeze-thaw events consume large amounts of energy while transitioning repeatedly into and out of dormancy.

Prey that develops a white coat for winter camouflage, such as snowshoe hare and weasels, are challenged to hide against a snowless background, which has been shown to decrease survival by up to 7 percent. In Wisconsin, the snowshoe hare’s range has been drifting north with the receding snow by more than five miles per decade.

While we humans may not have to worry so immediately about surviving the decline of snow, many of us are wistful for the not-so distant times when fluffy snow crystals — rather than rain and a heavy, wet “wintery mix” — fell from the cold sky and carpeted the land with a glistening cloak throughout the season.

Michael J. Caduto is a writer, ecologist, and storyteller who lives in Reading. He is author of “Through a Naturalist’s Eyes: Exploring the Nature of New England.” The Outside Story is assigned and edited by Northern Woodlands magazine and sponsored by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, nhcf.org.

ILLUSTRATION BY ADELAIDE MURPHY TYROL

CLASSIFIEDS

PUBLIC HEARING

Hinesburg Development

Review Board

Tuesday, April 2, 2024 7:00 pm

PR&R Development, LLC/ Renee & Ryan Mobbs – Final plat application for an eightlot subdivision of a 61.26-acre property located on the west side of Observatory Road in the Rural 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.

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

Community Bankers

CHARLOTTE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

Community Bankers

Community Bankers

BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

Community Bankers

BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

There is no better time to join our Team!

Will hold a public hearing at Town Hall, 159 Ferry Rd., Charlotte, VT on the following applications during its regular meeting of Wednesday, April 10, 2024:

There is no better time to join our Team!

BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

Community Bankers

There is no better time to join our Team!

There is no better time to join our Team!

BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

There is no better time to join our Team!

North eld Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest LOCAL BANK in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all.

Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest LOCAL BANK in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all

Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest LOCAL BANK in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all

Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest LOCAL BANK in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all

Consider joining our team as a Community Banker at our Taft Corners or Richmond location!

Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest LOCAL BANK in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all

Consider joining our team as a Community Banker at our Taft Corners or Richmond location!

Consider joining our team as a Community Banker at our Taft Corners or Richmond location!

Relevant Skills: Customer Service, Cash Handling (we’ll train you!) Even better… if you have prior banking experience, we encourage you to apply!

Consider joining our team as a Community Banker at our Taft Corners or Richmond location!

Relevant Skills: Customer Service, Cash Handling (we’ll train you!) Even better… if you have prior banking experience, we encourage you to apply!

Relevant Skills: Customer Service, Cash Handling (we’ll train you!) Even better… if you have prior banking experience, we encourage you to apply!

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!

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

Opportunity for Growth

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

Opportunity for Growth

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

Opportunity for Growth

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!

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

What NSB Can Offer You

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

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. Wellrounded 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!

Competitive compensation based on experience. Wellrounded 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!

Please send an NSB

Competitive compensation based on experience. Wellrounded 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!

Please send an NSB

Competitive compensation based on experience. Wellrounded 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!

7:15 PM 23-085-CU/SP/SD (FP) Maguire – Conditional Use/Site Plan/Final Plan review for 3-Lot Subdivision at 2760 Spear St.

7:45 PM 24-026-CU Smith –Conditional Use review for replacement of existing camp at 2588 Thompson’s Point Rd.

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

INVITATION FOR BIDS

Seeking Section 3 and WMBE Subcontractors

D.E.W. Construction (DEW), on behalf of Evernorth and Champlain Valley Housing, is seeking interested bidders to participate in the bidding of their new forty eight (48) unit residential building to be located at 108-110 Margaret’s Way, Shelburne, VT. The new building has a lower-level basement & parking garage of approx. 22,566 square feet and two (2) separate three (3) story wood framed residential buildings on a shared podium with and approx. total square footage of 60,265 square feet.

This project is partially funded by State and Federal funds through VHCB, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, VHFA Financing, VT Community Development Program (CDBG funds), EPA Brownfields Funding, Energy Incentives and Investment Tax Credits. There are Davis Bacon Residential wage rate requirements, Build American Buy American requirements and WMBE and Section 3 goals on this project. We are actively seeking the participation of qualified Section 3 and WMBE subcontractors.

Application & your resume in confidence to: Careers@nsbvt.com

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

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

Application & your resume in confidence to: Careers@nsbvt.com

Equal Opportunity Employer / Member FDIC

Equal Opportunity Employer / Member FDIC

Equal Opportunity Employer / Member FDIC

Equal Opportunity Employer / Member FDIC

Say you saw it in The Citizen!

D.E.W. Construction Corp. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO) that complies with Executive Order 11246 and takes affirmative action to ensure that it employs qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, ancestry, place of birth, age, protected veteran or military status, genetic information, disability, or persons in any other status protected by federal or state law or local ordinance.

Please contact Aimee Plotczyk – aplotczyk@dewconstruction.com at D.E.W. Construction for more information.

LAVALETTE

continued from page 1

tional use permit the Lavalette’s requested to operate the business. The residents then appealed the matter.

The court sided with the town and concluded that the application to operate the business on the property was “an impermissible second principal use of the property,” according to a judgment issued by Vermont Environmental Court Judge Thomas Durkin.

for comment.

Vermont’s Charm

Because the property is situated in the town’s Rural Residential 2 Zoning District, the property, like others in the area, are only permitted one principal use, and that multiple uses or structures, while permitted in other districts like the village growth area and commercial districts, are not permitted in the primarily residential district.

Durkin wrote that “undisputed trial evidence convinced the court that the Lavalettes are not processing wood that was cut on their property.”

“Rather, they have log lengths of wood trucked in from other locations,” he said. “Accordingly, their operations can only be regulated as a conditional use, which constitutes an impermissible second principal use of the property.”

The Lavalette’s could not be reached

COMMUNITY NOTES

continued from page 9

‘Songs Remember’ celebrates Abenaki oral traditions, stories

“Our Songs Remember” is a combination lecture and performance focusing on the ways in which the Abenaki oral traditions of storytelling and music play a part in the preservation of Indigenous ways.

“Songs” will be held on Sunday, March 17, 2 p.m., on Zoom at Ethan Allen Homestead.

Incorporating Pakholigan (drum) and Pabekongan (flute), father and son Joseph and Jesse Bruchac will take you on a journey to the enduring roots of the Western Abenaki nations, showing how songs carry the heart and meaning of this enduring Native American culture. Both English and Abenaki language will

Neighbors in the area had complained to the town that the operation was too disruptive for the residential area. The business’s continued operation, Peter and Phyllis Modely of nearby Spencer Hill Road said, would “degrade the quiet and peaceful environment of our private residential roads” and the “unsightly activity would lower neighboring residential property values, create a noise nuisance, and place unfair additional road maintenance costs on all the other owners of properties served by these roads.”

The Lavalettes first started their commercial business in 2019 “without any permits,” according to development review board documents.

The town sent violation notices to them in both June and July of 2021 and, later that year, took the case to environmental court, which was settled through mediation. They later stopped their commercial operation.

The Lavalettes then made an application to the review board in November, asking for a conditional use permit to operate their home cordwood operation. Members denied it in a 5-2 vote.

be heard throughout the presentation and several stories will be told that exemplify the way oral tradition has always served at least two purposes — to entertain and to instruct.

A well-published author in many genres, Joseph is a citizen and honored elder of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation. Jesse, also an enrolled Nulhegan citizen, is the founder and director of the School of Abenaki at Middlebury College, a musician and frequent language consultant for television and movies.

Both can be seen in the new PBS documentary “Monadnock, The Mountain That Stands Alone,” at joebruchac.com. To register for the free program, go to ethanallenhomestead.org. Registration is required for the Zoom-only program.

FILE PHOTO

The Lavalette’s former wood operation on Beaver Pond Road.