The Citizen - 4-4-24

Teachers, staff press for a ‘yes’ budget vote

Parents and students heading to or from school this past week may have been greeted by sign-waving teachers, advocating for themselves before their workdays began.

Through these pop-up rallies, nicknamed “visibility events,” teachers, staff members and board members in the Champlain Valley School District have been making a point the past two weeks to advocate and raise awareness for an April 16 budget looming for the district.

Its consequences could be critical for many staff members and the programs they help run within schools throughout Hinesburg, Charlotte, Shelburne and Williston, and for the overall education of students throughout the area.

“What we’re concerned about as employees is voting down the budget will just result in more reductions to positions and programs,” said Emily McLean, a teacher at the Champlain Valley Union High School, and the head of the Champlain Valley Educa-

See BUDGET on page 10

Hinesburg begins work on its new town plan

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

Reading through a recent “community vision” survey that was opened to Hinesburg residents earlier this year, it’s clear there’s a lot on folks’ minds.

Managing planned growth and development, providing affordable and adequate housing and conserving forest and agricultural land all ranked highest out of about a dozen various issues community members felt were the most important challenges facing Hinesburg over the next

five to 10 years.

“Thank you for asking the questions. These are challenging times in our community,” one survey respondent commented. “I hope I can afford to live here into the future.”

More than 500 people, or a little more than 11 percent of the town’s population, responded to the town’s survey, first opened in January. It was the first step in what should be a year-long process to write a new town plan

See HINESBURG on page 10

Community of stewards College program helps restore rainforest

Editor’s note: The School for International Training brought together 19 students from American universities to world heritage sites near Cairns, Australia. Students spent time in the tropics learning about its unique flora and fauna and cultural history while camping with Aboriginal elders. This article highlights the students’ time in the rainforest where they took part in a Mabi rainforest restoration. It has been edited for length.

ERIC MINOGUE, SETH BOFFA AND ALEC LLERENA CONTRIBUTORS

“We need some more goop!” shouted Alice Couture, a student at the School for International Training. It was day two of the Wongabel reforestation and the preparation for the community tree planting the following day had left the 19 students sweaty and covered in the red nutrient-rich basalt soil.

This “goop” was hydrated water crystals that had to be added to 3,000 holes to help the various saplings get through the cyclical dry season that encompasses most of the continent. These particularly wet climatic conditions in northeast Australia have created the rich biodiversity of rainforests that support some of the highest rates of flora and fauna endemicity in the world.

One of the most unique forest types in the wet tropics’ bioregion is the Mabi, termed after the local Aboriginal name for the Lumholtz tree kangaroo, an endangered species that inhabits this niche ecosystem.

These complex vine forests require nutrient-rich, well-draining soils and more than 4.5 feet of annual rainfall to support the complex vegetation full of hemi-epiphytic species, woody vines and once towering red cedars. Unfortunately, these relatively rare Australian soils and weather conditions are also ideal for agriculture, and most of the area has been cleared for crops such as sugar cane and pastureland.

The Wongabel planting location is one of a few fragments of Mabi forest still standing as the forest type is now classified as critically endangered.

TREAT, or Trees for the Evelyn and Atherton Tablelands, is a community-based organization working with private landowners and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service to reforest northern Queensland.

The Tablelands organization was founded in 1982 by botanist Joan Wright and rainforest ecologist Geoff Tracey with the goal of creating wildlife corridors to connect fragmented and isolated forest patches and revegetate the depleted landscape. The organization, which now exceeds 400 members, works closely with the parks and wildlife service to produce over 100,000 native rainforest tree species annually at its Lake Eacham nursery. Members are involved from the preparation of seeds to the weed management of planted forest sections.

Preparation and planting

After hours of getting our hands dirty with basaltic soil and interact-

ing with the people of Tablelands, we began to realize how special the organization was. Their holistic approach to reforestation goes far beyond just planting trees. On the morning of the second day, we spent time the organization’s Lake Eacham Nursery, where we got a sneak peek at the care and consideration that goes into revegetating even a small patch of land.

The backbone of this passionate approach to reforestation is the current president, Angela McCaffrey.

McCaffrey and her husband Mark are originally from the United Kingdom formally working in careers far outside the scope of ecology in the insurance and IT industries. After living in New South Wales for several years, more than 22 years ago she and Mark visited the Tablelands as part of a small holiday. Drawn to the area’s beauty and shared passion for rainforests, they purchased a block of land in Atherton. Their property was covered with fragmented rainforest, just across the street from a more continuous swath.

After searching around for revegetation groups, they found TREAT. Twelve years ago, McCaffrey took over as president, embracing the roles of organizing plantings, coordinating with the park service and being a friendly face to all new and existing community members. She describes her dedication as both a passion for repairing the environment and community engagement.

From creating wildlife corridors to stabilizing creeks with goals of reducing runoff of sediment and

fertilizer into the Great Barrier Reef, the work benefits more than just the Tablelands.

“Here people can come from all walks of life, all types of backgrounds, they can enjoy interacting with other people, they may even not have a green bone in their body,” she said.

As you observe the people working here, you witness a vibrant scene: Toddlers energetically assisting their parents in planting trees, high school and college students meticulously tending to saplings and preparing seeds, middle-aged individuals diligently clearing weeds and moss, and retired seniors generously dedicating their time to community service.

TREAT brings people together and creates an environment where people who may not agree can come together to learn from one another while creating lifelong bonds.

“It’s a very social atmosphere ... and we’re all interested in the

Partnerships create, maintain affordable housing

Hinesburg Affordable Housing Committee

Xander Patterson and Carl Bohlen

The Hinesburg Affordable Housing Committee is exploring the causes of the town’s crisis in housing, especially affordable housing, and is also looking for solutions. It is a crisis inflicting not just Hinesburg, but the county, state, much of the country and very possibly you or someone you know. What can we do about it here in Hinesburg?

Housing is scarce. In Chittenden County the rental vacancy rate is just 1 percent. (A 4-6 percent vacancy rate balances the needs of

both renters and property owners.)

Homes for sale are similarly hard to find, so rents and sales prices are high. Housing is considered affordable if it costs

30 percent or less of a household’s income, including rent or mortgage, utilities, insurance and taxes.

Chittenden County’s median rent of $1,386 is affordable only to households earning more than $40,000 annually. That’s only half of renters in Hinesburg. Chittenden County’s median home sale price of $435,000 is affordable only to households earning $140,000 or more.

Ultimately, housing costs will only come down when the housing stock goes up. But building new homes is even more expensive. Only a few years ago, new

dwellings typically cost about $350,000 to build. Now they cost close to $500,000.

At these costs, the market alone cannot build new housing that’s affordable without some sort of help from the public, through the government or nonprofits.

Hinesburg’s Housing Needs Assessment, newly updated and released last June, translates what state and county new housing goals mean for Hinesburg. To meet the goals of the Building Homes Together campaign, Hinesburg would have to build about 140 new homes (35 affordable) by 2025, and about 275 by 2029.

Hinesburg has several projects in the works right now that, should they reach fruition, together would meet or exceed the

2029 goal. Each relies on its own unique arrangement of partnerships between the town, nonprofit housing organizations and private developers.

Kelly’s Field: A 55-plus community in the heart of the village adds 24 units, all perpetually affordable. It is managed by the nonprofits Cathedral Square and Evernorth and supported by the town with a $50,000 grant and with help securing $600,000 in state-federal funds.

Haystack Crossing: To be located west of 116 and south of Shelburne Falls Road, this project includes 176 homes of various forms and sizes, 20 of them

See HOUSING on page 3

same thing: the environment and the animals. We come here because we want to be here,” Ken, who has been a member for three years, said.

McCaffrey has big dreams for the future of TREAT. She is hoping to pass the presidency on to someone else. She hopes the organization can expand both inside and outside the Tablelands region with more nurseries, more volunteers and more planting.

As climate change becomes worse, carbon sequestration becomes increasingly important. McCaffrey also hopes that carbon credits can be incorporated into their plantings to enable them to entice more landowners with potential financial compensation. Privately owned land is currently one of the largest barriers to reforesting the fragmented areas of the Tablelands. Replanting forests is not always the most realistic approach, economically, for individual landholders and carbon credits could help solve this discrepancy.

TREAT’s transformative approach is leading to a newfound appreciation for lush rainforests, replacing the sense of intrinsic ideology that has degraded the landscape. Witnessing tangible improvements in the landscape thanks to volunteers’ hard work further underscores the organization’s success, instilling pride and satisfaction in residents and empowering them to pursue conservation efforts. The active involvement of the next generation in this community offers hope for the restoration of forest landscapes in northeastern Australia.

Seth Boffa of Charlotte is a junior conservation biology major at Middlebury College. Eric Minogue is a junior at the University of Vermont currently studying environmental science. Alec Llerena is a junior studying biology at Skidmore College.

COURTESY PHOTO

Tablelands’ members transplant seedlings at the Lake Eacham Nursery.

Local kids meet governor to talk about flavored tobacco bill

This week, Vermont youth met with Gov. Phil Scott to urge him to sign S.18 into law a bill to end the sale of flavored tobacco.

Juniper Galvani, 17, of South Burlington, Matt Meunier, student counselor at Champlain Valley Union High School, and Marcus Aloisi, 21, of Burlington, met with Scott March 27 to discuss the impact flavored tobacco has on youth in Vermont schools.

“It was great that we got to speak to the governor, and we want to thank him for hearing our perspective,” Aloisi and Galvani said. “For people who aren’t in the schools or spending time with kids, it can be hard to fully understand the huge impact that flavored tobacco and vapes are having. They are everywhere and most people our age are seriously addicted.”

Aloisi penned an opinion piece earlier this year, which read, in part: “I was in high school at South Burlington when I first used a vape. It was fruit-flavored and filled my lungs with toxic chemicals that I had no

HOUSING

continued from page 2

perpetually affordable, in phase one. The town is working with the developer to build and maintain the water and sewer services the project will require.

Hinesburg Center II: This project is located behind Kinney’s drug store and includes 73 units, eight of them perpetually affordable. The town is giving the effort a gentle assist by allowing it to meet its open space requirements with a donation to the development of the planned Town Commons nearby.

Windy Ridge: East of 116 and south of CVU Road near the NRG complex, this development features 77 units, 60 of them perpetually affordable. The current plan is for 40 owner-occupied single and multi-family homes and 37 rentals. The land is being donated by a founder of NRG and managed by Champlain Housing Trust, which will partner with Evernorth on rentals, and Sterling Construction and

idea about because, after all, we were told vapes were ‘safe’ ... The one thing that kept me coming back more than anything is that it tastes like candy. This was not the disgusting, makes-you-smell-bad substance that I was warned about.”

Galvani, in an earlier interview with Vermont Moms, said that the flavors of the tobacco products were what got her to try it, but the pervasive use of the products by most people her age in school is what kept her using the products, and keeps others using them.

S.18 would end the retail sale of all flavored e-cigarettes, e-liquids and oral nicotine pouches. The bill would also end the sale of all menthol-flavored tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco and smokeless tobacco.

The governor has raised concerns over the impact of the bill on small businesses.

The bill has passed the House and the Senate and was sent to the governor.

Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity on the ownership units.

Public assistance comes in various forms, including letters of support to help developers secure financing, direct grants, help with infrastructure or special dispensation in zoning requirements to cut costs and streamline permitting.

The Hinesburg Affordable Housing Committee also does its best to influence and support the town’s efforts to meet its housing needs, and to make sure it does so in a way that benefits the town and all the people in it.

Xander Patterson and Carl Bohlen are members of the Hinesburg Affordable Housing Committee. Stay tuned for next month’s installment and an exploration into Hinesburg’s housing crisis. For more details, see the Hinesburg Housing Needs Assessment on the town website.

COURTESY PHOTO

Juniper Galvani, Marcus Aliosi and Matt Meunier meet with Gov. Phil Scott to talk about a bill that would end the sale of flavored tobacco products in Vermont.

Hinesburg Police Blotter:

Total incidents: 67

Arrests: 2

March 19 at 7:14 a.m., an officer responded to a two-car motor vehicle crash on Hollow Road.

March 19 at 12:45 p.m., police investigated an animal problem on Route 116.

March 19 at 9:13 p.m., officers responded to a citizen dispute on North Road. Corey Marshall, 24, of Hinesburg, was arrested on an active warrant.

March 20 at 6:45 a.m., an officer responded to a two-vehicle crash on Silver Street.

March 20 at 10:40 a.m., an officer responded to a single-vehicle crash on Charlotte Road.

March 20 at 11:53 a.m., an officer responded to a single- vehicle crash on Pond Road.

March 20 at 2:35 p.m., police investigated suspicious activity at the Hinesburg Community School.

March 20 at 6:35 p.m., an officer assisted a resident with a broken-down vehicle on Cottage Hill Estates.

March 22 at 3:15 p.m., a subpoena was served to a resident on Route 116.

Correction

The Charlotte Library presentation, Preservation of the Lost Mural, has been moved from April 23 to June 5.

March 22 at 4:22 p.m., an officer responded to a two- vehicle crash on Commerce Street.

March 24 at 1:51 p.m., officers investigated a motor vehicle complaint on Haystack Road. Thomas Hart, 61, of Colchester, was arrested for driving under the influence.

March 24 at 9:37 p.m., police investigated suspicious activity on North Road.

March 27 at 12:03 p.m., police investigated suspicious activity on Route 116.

March 27 at 7:30 p.m., an officer trespassed an individual from a residence on North Road.

March 29 at 1:47 p.m., suspicious activity on Texas Hill Road was investigated.

March 30 at 8:15 a.m., an officer served court paperwork to a resident on Place Road West.

March 30 at 12:50 p.m., an officer assisted other agencies with an emergency on Silver Street in Monkton.

March 30 at 8:18 a.m., suspicious activity on Majestic Lane was investigated.

April 1 at 11:19 a.m., found property was turned over to police and returned to its owner.

April 1 at 4:30 p.m., an officer assisted with a medical emergency on Hawk Lane.

April 1 at 5:00 p.m., an officer investigated the report of a suspicious motor vehicle on Gilman Road.

Supreme Court suspends law license of Addison County’s top prosecutor

ALAN J. KEAYS VTDIGGER

The Vermont Supreme Court has suspended the law license of Addison County State’s Attorney Eva Vekos.

“We conclude that the evidence here warrants the immediate interim suspension of respondent’s license to practice law,” the unanimous ruling stated.

The decision, however, does not mean Vekos has to step down from her elected post.

John Campbell, executive director of the Vermont Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs, said in an interview last week that a person does not need a law license to serve as state’s attorney.

But the duties that someone without a law license can do while a state’s attorney are fairly limited to administrative tasks since they cannot practice law, keeping them from taking part in court hearings or drafting court documents, according to Campbell.

Asked after the ruling was issued if Vekos intended to remain working as state’s attorney, David Sleigh, her attorney, replied, “That’s certainly been my understanding.”

The Supreme Court’s decision comes a week after the justices held a hearing on whether Vekos should be temporarily

barred from practicing law for failing to provide information related to a medical leave she took following her arrest in January for driving under the influence.

“We note that this case is not about whether respondent’s medical records should be provided to Disciplinary Counsel,” the five-member court’s decision said. “The issue here is solely about whether (Vekos) responded to a lawful demand for information under (court rules). She did not.”

“Respondent’s behavior presents a substantial threat of harm to the public,” the opinion stated.

“Because she did not cooperate with Disciplinary Counsel, he ‘cannot determine if a disability investigation should be opened,’ and he ‘cannot assess how to protect the public.’”

A prosecutor for the state panel overseeing Vermont lawyers contended that Vekos’ failure to cooperate with an investigation into her leave warranted an “immediate” suspension of her license to practice law.

Sleigh, Vekos’ attorney, countered that his client, who has since returned from the medical leave, should not have to provide the information since there have not been complaints nor evidence shown that she is not up to the job as the top prosecutor in Addison County.

Vekos went on paid medi-

cal leave Feb. 9 and returned to her post about three weeks later. The leave followed her arrest on the night of Jan. 25 on a drunken driving charge after she allegedly showed up impaired to the scene of a suspicious death investigation in Bridport.

Vekos refused to perform field sobriety tests or to take a breath test and would not agree to be photographed or fingerprinted once at the state police barracks in New Haven, where she was processed for the driving under the influence charge.

Vekos, in the days following her arrest, had an email exchange with law enforcement leaders in Addison County in which she stated she no longer felt safe around police and mocked their grammatical skills.

She has since pleaded not guilty to the charge, which remains pending with the next hearing in the case set for May.

In announcing her medical leave last month, Vekos, through her attorney, Sleigh, stated she would be returning to work “once fully grounded and up to the task.”

In a press release stating she would be returning to her post earlier this month, Vekos said she had “deep regret” for comments in the earlier email exchange with See

OPINION

Senator talks new education secretary, wildlife, tobacco

From the Senate

Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale

As we are about two thirds of the way through the 2024 legislative session, I wanted to highlight and speak to the three topics I’ve been contacted about the most this year.

First, and most recently, I have received many concerns about the newly named Vermont education secretary, Zoie Saunders. I share the concern that she has not had any significant classroom or public-school experience and would be at the helm through momentous times for the future of our public education system. Though I am already inclined toward voting no on her confirmation — a unique power of the Senate — I am still trying to answer two questions.

add more voices to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board, led to likely the most polarized feedback we received. People were very strongly for or against this proposal, and that was originally mirrored in the Senate.

That said, the bill was significantly amended and makes incremental change to diversify the Fish & Wildlife Board by two members, added to a current 14 and appointed by the House and Senate, as well as to vest rulemaking authority with the commissioner of the Department of Fish & Wildlife. The language on trapping was removed and the status quo remains.

What powers would the secretary of education and the governor have to implement policy or budgetary changes without legislative approval? And what is the impact of a no vote on the secretary’s confirmation, besides the principled stance of a majority of the Senate?

The last time it is believed the Senate blocked a confirmation was during the Dean administration, so we will have to look at history, ensure a fair process and make a sound judgment based on the evidence.

Second, we have been receiving statewide communication on S.18, which bans the sale of menthol cigarettes and e-cigarette flavored cartridges. It does not ban pipes, shisha, pouches and other forms of flavored tobacco. Those opposed generally focused on lost revenue to local businesses, though other states have seen a dip in sales and then a return to the same level of tobacco sales.

Those in favor are generally schoolchildren, school administrators and pediatricians worried that harmful e-cigarettes, especially when laced, are becoming prevalent in schools.

I voted in favor of the bill, especially as it adds a position for online sales enforcement. The bill passed 18-12 and is on its way to the governor, who may or may not veto the bill.

Finally, S.258, which would

This felt reasonable enough that the bill passed 21-8, and I voted yes on behalf of many constituents who would like to widen the circle of discussion beyond game fish and animals to all wildlife.

As always, I am happy to discuss any of these items further and it is a privilege to serve.

Kesha Ram Hinsdale, a Democrat from Shelburne, serves the towns of South Burlington, Shelburne, Charlotte, Hinesburg, Milton, Burlington, St. George, Westford, Underhill, Jericho, Richmond, Winooski, Williston, Essex and Bolton in the Legislature.

Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale

Jacob Hinsdale and Vermont Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale with their daughter, Mira,

fooling. The tradition dates back over a century to President Rutherford B. Hayes, who made it an official White House event.

Will the Champlain school budget ever go down?

To the Editor:

The Vermont Agency of Education, in “Roles and Responsibilities in Vermont School Systems,” delineates the purpose of school boards and writes that they engage “the community to establish the mission and vision for the district, and school boards are accountable to voters.”

This understanding was made abundantly clear to school board members and Champlain Valley School District administrators when its five towns voted overwhelmingly to defeat the first school budget on March 5. Since then, the school board has conducted three public meetings and one luncheon for legislators with a last virtual meeting on March 27.

At that meeting, the school board chose to present the same slides and material that they did on March 4, disappointing many of the 160 in attendance. Statements by board members like “we are focused on reducing the impact on the community, and the cost is simply too high for people to support, and this new budget is reasonable,” would make one think they might get it.

But other statements like “this is not our budget, our budget failed, and we need the community to approve our spending,” offers hope that the board does understand that the way forward is with the help of the taxpayers.

Better communication might be the key.

The school board has appar ently chosen four to five voices to represent its viewpoint, but resi dents offered their own opinions and criticisms. Several residents

spoke forcibly and passionately that the school board is targeting the wrong group of school district employees.

One resident said, “I’m very disappointed in the board for targeting all low-paying and student-facing positions and leaving the high-salary administrator positions untouched.”

Another said that “cutting low-paid positions and not cutting highly paid directors with no student time” is wrong, while another offered, “The lowest paid hard-working people with the most boots-on-the-ground should not be touched.”

Yet another resident questioned what the administrator-to-student ratio is, and the answer seemed elusive.

Another group of residents attacked the reason we find ourselves now in this position, saying, “We are funding education and not a bureaucracy, the number of positions at the Champlain Valley School District central office has grown from 15 to 37, and I thought we got together as a district in 2017 to save money, but now we’re spending even more.” Yet another resident saked, “Where’s my money going? and “will the budget ever go down?”

John Clifford Hinesburg

Lawmakers

thanked

for environmentalism

To the Editor:

I am writing to express

2023 National Environmental Scorecard. The full Vermont federal delegation’s scores for 2023 are: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I), 94 percent (91 percent lifetime); Sen. Peter Welch (D), 100 percent (95 percent lifetime); and Rep. Becca Balint (D), 97 percent (97 percent lifetime).

As the youth member of the board of directors for Vermont Conservation Voters, I’m proud to have leaders that are committed to safeguarding democracy and protecting our environment both for my generation and those that will come after.

Despite a tumultuous national political landscape, Vermont’s delegation stands firm against proposals that would roll back environmental and democratic protections. As we saw with the catastrophic flooding that affected so many of our neighbors over the last year, the climate crisis is real, and it is here. Our delegation’s hard work to bring relief to our friends and neighbors last summer set an admirable example for all of Congress, especially as partisan gridlock and discord continue to hamper progress on climate action.

I am proud to be represented by leaders who are dedicated to prioritizing environmental stewardship over partisan interests. By continuing to invest in renewable energy initiatives, promoting smart growth housing, safeguarding natural resources, and strengthening our resilience to climate change, we can create a sustainable future for generations to come.

resulting seasonal shifting and destructive weather extremes will challenge future life.

E.nergy is what created life and what maintains it. The sun and the miracle of photosynthesis have created a plethora of lifeforms suited to our physical environment. Overuse of fossil fuels has upset this balance and is rapidly changing our thermal environment leading to climate refugees escaping drought, extreme temperatures and rising seas. Energy driven technology is the problem and not the solution to limiting and reversing the current rate of energy use. The Green New Deal is just another attempt at maintaining our lifestyle with a different technology.

T.ransportation across the world enabled by cheap non-renewable fossil fuels will become more expensive with time and thus eventually require more local commerce. It created sprawl and destroyed our former small communities in many places leading to unsustainable mega cities.

R.ealism is badly needed now. Some have noticed that “The future ain’t what it used to be.” More and more it seems like the future is going to be more like the past: doing more physically with less energy, sustainably.

E.nvironmental destruction needs to be reduced quickly as we are wholly dependent on a stable and healthy environment that includes other lifeforms.

S.258, related to the management of the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Gov. Phil Scott is opposed to these two pieces of legislation, and he has so far vetoed 47 pieces of legislation.

Scott is a lot like former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie who vetoed bills that prohibited the use of gestation crates on pregnant pigs in 2013 and 2014. These bills overwhelmingly passed the New Jersey Legislature. God forbid a female pig should have the right to stand up, lie down, turn around or extend her limbs while she lives in filthy conditions with no light or kindness.

Animal abuse is rampant in Vermont. People have tried to fix a ridiculously inept and broken system, which operates more like backwoods Arkansas than a progressive state when it comes to animal protection laws and wildlife reform.

In Charlotte, goats were starved for months on end and, ultimately, died of starvation, which prompted H.626.

The fish and wildlife department’s definition of humane is it takes five minutes for a beaver or muskrat to die from intentional drowning. Scott chooses the Fish and Wildlife Board and commissioner — hand-picked by him according to his personal whims and friend’s list.

As Vermonters, we’re good at coming together to solve problems that affect our communities. I have every confidence that we’ll do so now as the climate crisis continues to impact our brave little state. We can pave the way for a brighter, more sustainable, and more equitable future for all of us, and we’ll continue to have strong partners in that mission in Washington.

Matthew Vigneau

South Burlington

It really is time to G.E.T. R.E.A.L!

To the Editor:

Yes, it is time to G.E.T. R.E.A.L., not only about Vermont’s future but about the future of life in our only home, Earth. (“It’s time to G.E.T. R.E.A.L. about Vermont’s future,” March 14, 2024)

G.lobal warming is real and will be getting worse as we are not powering down our fossil fuel consumption fast enough. The

A.ffluence and concentrated wealth brought to us by our current economic system, based on never-ending growth, will create social conflict as it increases. Future lower energy availability will require us to reduce our stressful materialistic lifestyle. Simpler lifestyles are possible with more healthy physical labor, shorter work hours, more at-home work, smaller self-sustaining communities, more time for family and fun with neighbors.

L.imits exists and need to be respected as exceeding them is clearly not sustainable. There is only so much fertile land and water. Vermonters should ask what its carrying capacity is and then live within that limit. How many people can we feed and house within the state using only local resources such as forests, sustainably?

Wolfger Schneider Charlotte

Your dog wants a new governor

To the Editor:

There are two bills currently in the Legislature, H.626, which is related to animal welfare, and

Dogs and other animals, including protected and endangered ones, have been killed and injured by body-gripping traps. It’s only a matter of time before a person or a child gets caught in one. Scott is against body-gripping traps having setbacks or being marked for public safety.

A woman and her dog were attacked by coyote hounds in 2021. A couple and their dog were attacked by bear hounds in 2019 and all suffered injuries. No laws were broken in Vermont. No apologies from Scott to the victims. It’s his policies that were directly responsible.

Scott supports hounding. He does not side with property owners who repeatedly deal with hounders who are trespassing on their property or the victims of hound attacks.

If you care about wildlife and want to see science-based environmental policies implemented in Vermont, if you care about your dog, animal welfare and want perpetrators of animal abuse to face some kind of consequence, then Scott needs to go.

Your dog wants a new governor, and so do I.

A unique summer camp for boys, ages 10-14 located in Vermont’s Green Mountains

Safety Team: a life-changing and lifesaving course

In Musing

Carole Vasta Folley

I recently completed an empowerment self-defense course, one specifically designed for women like me who have experienced physical or sexual assault. Initially, I felt skeptical. So much harm had been done to the core of who I am and to my sense of safety in this world, I figured it was too late for me. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

changed by the experience and the women who made it happen. Was it easy? No. Was it worth it? The biggest yes.

Unexpectedly, my greatest challenge was learning how to use my voice to defuse a potential attack. At first, I couldn’t shout the word “no.” A lifetime of unsaid “nos” felt stuck deep inside. This is not uncommon for many women, trauma survivors or not.

Turns out I’d been waiting my whole life for this course. There isn’t a part of me that wasn’t profoundly

It was as if “no” had been erased from my vocabulary, not only because of the assaults, but through decades of conditioning. Women in our society, especially how I was

raised, are instructed to be polite, kind and accommodating. We’re taught not to offend the offender, especially men, and, for many, this could mean our partners, bosses and co-workers. It’s either make nice or fear repercussions. This is not an exaggeration; there are real aggressions happening to women every day in what should be safe spaces.

Consider the facts. One in five women in the U.S. are raped over the course of their lifetime. Fifty percent of women experience sexual assault other than rape. (These figures are considered under-representations.)

Look at the women in your lives — mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, friends, colleagues — and know at least half, and

School budget voters: You’ve been heard

income levels.

From the House

Rep. Chea Waters Evans

I’m not here to tell anyone how to vote. I recognize what a personal choice it is every time someone casts a ballot, and although I have opinions about every question on every ballot, I fully support people learning the facts, deciding what’s important to them and voting accordingly.

It’s more important to me that people vote, period, than it is that they vote the way I would. What a gift we’ve been given to be able to cast those ballots.

Rep. Chea Waters Evans

That said, I’m going to weigh in on the school budget. I hear many people who have said, “I voted down the school budget because I want to send a message to the Legislature,” or “I want to send a message to Montpelier. This situation is really bad for me and my family, so I’m going to vote no on the school budget again.”

Please know this: Your message has been received. Loud and clear. Not only has it been received, but it’s been registered, heard and is in many ways the driving force behind conversations in the Statehouse right now.

Your message is in the forefront of legislators’ minds as we move forward regarding the education system as a whole, how it’s paid for and how it will be changed in the future. Increased property taxes are detrimental to seniors, families and members of our community spanning all

We have all made a commitment in years past to educate our kids equitably and wholly, recognizing more clearly with every passing school year that our students need more and more. They need mental health support, they need reading support, they need avenues to post-highschool education that encompass a wide variety of career paths and guarantee successful futures for all Vermont’s children — futures that hopefully keep them here in the state we all love, if that’s where they want to be.

All these other issues start to come into play, though, when we pursue those goals: housing, workforce shortages, health care costs, child care availability and on and on. It’s a great big snowball and the schools might be right at the core.

So, if you’re considering voting down the Champlain Valley School District budget again this month because you want to send a message, please take into account all the other factors that are informing your vote aside from the message you want to send to Montpelier. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: You’ve been heard.

There are education committees in both chambers of the General Assembly that are gearing up to tackle this huge but essential change in the way we pay for schools. Legislation is underway, tied to school construction funding, that would incentivize smaller school districts that also need extensive and expensive school

likely more, have been assaulted.

There’s more. Nearly 99 percent of the perpetrators are male. And 85 percent of these men were known to their victims.

These statistics are shocking, even though I know it for myself. I’m sorry we are in a world where women must learn how to fight off an attacker. But that is where we are. Before, I had no idea how to do it. I didn’t even know it was possible. After all, how could I defend myself from a man who is larger than me?

The amazing news is that this course taught me how to be less vulnerable to attack, proactively recognize aggressive behavior and deliver powerful strikes if necessary.

with speech and language, shuts down in a traumatic event. Now, although freeze may be my first response, I’ve learned it won’t be my last.

I also got a rallying imperative to listen to my gut. You know the one. We all have it, though we’re often trained to ignore it in order to appease. This gut feeling is my autonomic nervous system telling me something I want to hear.

It was a gift to learn these many protective strategies. A boon of agency. The capability, authority and right to take care of myself. Where I had none, now I have a choice and options. This awareness and sense of self serves me in all areas of my life.

repairs to consolidate — “newer and fewer” is the buzz phrase for the ideal path moving forward.

There’s discussion of implementing a statewide budget, rather than giving each individual district control over their own funds. There are tradeoffs to this, of course, but I hear you and I know every other person in this Statehouse does, too: This is too much. We can’t keep paying increased property taxes, we can’t keep paying more to see less in terms of support and outcomes for students.

I support and appreciate the teachers and staff at our schools who are stressed and worried and doing their best to proceed as usual during a time of great uncertainty.

I understand and empathize with the folks who can’t keep paying more in taxes when they’re trying to support their families, retire without worry or live here as a young person with a bright but uncertain future.

So. I’m not telling anyone how to vote, but I am reassuring you: If you wanted to send a message, know it’s been heard and is weighing on the hearts and minds of many, and is truly a significant factor in decision-making as we try to make sure there’s a solid future not just for students, but for the people who are paying for them.

Please let me know, any time, your thoughts. My email is cevans@leg.state.vt.us and my number for talking or text is 917-887-8231.

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

I learned that “no” is a complete sentence. I learned how to stop unwanted hugs or touching. I learned what to do if a man grabs me unaware. I learned personal space boundaries. I learned how to use my voice to possibly prevent an attack as most perpetrators fear getting caught or hurt. All this takes practice, just like everything else I want in my life.

I learned that my freeze response to danger is the same that many people experience. Moreover, it’s science. When our amygdala perceives an attack, the brainstem is signaled to inhibit movement, instantaneously, beyond conscious control. True for our voice as well. The brain’s Broca area, which is responsible for motor functions involved

The Safety Team (thesafetyteam.org), a nonprofit organization right here in Vermont, delivered the innovative program I took. They also offer a variety of violence prevention and empowerment self-defense courses made for women by women.

My instructors provided powerfully supportive guidance and called us brave to take the class. For them, there are not enough thank yous. Moreover, they and the entire Safety Team are brave. As in courageous and intrepid. Great-hearted and heroic. Not just for heralding the right for us to be safe but teaching us how.

Carole Vasta Folley is an award-winning columnist and playwright. Visit carolevf.com for more info.

vermont gatherings present:

Explore over 65 artisans and vendors selling handmade gifts, clothing, woodcrafts, jewelry, mead, wine, and more.

April 6-7, 2024 | 10 am to 5 pm

Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Junction, Vermont

Carole Vasta Folley

Enjoy Age Well meals at Charlotte Senior Center

The Age Well meal pickup for Thursday, April 4, is from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Charlotte Senior Center features sweet and sour pork with vegetable sauce, brown rice with lentils and vegetables, green beans, wheat bread with butter, fruit crisp with cream and milk.

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

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

The meal for Thursday, April 11, features chicken in gravy with mashed cauliflower, diced carrots, southern biscuit with butter, carrot cake with icing and milk.

The meal for Thursday, April 18, features beef with barbecue sauce, baked beans, broccoli florets, wheat bun with butter, pumpkin craisin cookie and milk.

Abenaki Artist Association gives talk on colonialism

When colonizers arrived in Sheet’ka (Sitka, Alaska), the homeland of the Tlingit people, they imported devastating infectious diseases. Russian and Euro-American colonizers’ writings describe these diseases as a marker of colonizers’ self-assumed superiority.

Colonizers saw vaccines as

introducing a material part of European technology that would ultimately lead to Tlingit people’s acceptance of Russian and American colonial rule. In other words, they saw vaccines as inoculating Tlingit people with whiteness.

Dr. Adam Kersch presents the talk, “Inoculating Whiteness: Settler Colonialism, Whiteness and Infectious Diseases in Sheet’ka, Thursday, April 11, 6:30-8 p.m. on Zoom.

Research on this Vermont Abenaki Artist Association project involved archival analysis, interviews and participant observation, and this talk will discuss over 200 years of colonial history and how colonizers used ideas about infectious diseases and vaccinations to justify attempted ethnocide.

It will also discuss how Tlingit leaders responded to other manifestations of whiteness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Register in advance at bit. ly/3TFWQST.

Senior center offers slate of April programs

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

• April artist exhibit

This month’s exhibit, “Found and Fiddled With” pretty much describes Jan Lawson’s style,

themes, palette and materials. Many of her pieces reflect her emotions, ranging from the whimsical light-heartedness of snagging a mermaid and parading chickens to the despair of an earthquake, hunger and the horror of war.

She enjoys experimenting with the juxtaposition of colors and shapes in abstracts and collage. Most of her frames and surfaces are found at yard sales and resale shops. She paints over what she

finds and fiddles with the various frames. Some dents, dings and scratches remain, lending patina and history.

• Veterans assistance, Tuesday, April 9, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Join Bob Stock, veterans outreach specialist with the South Burlington Vet Center. He will be available to veterans and their families to ensure that they are

PHOTO BY MARY FAY 4-H Horse Quiz Bowl, held March 15 in Essex Junction. 4-H’ers competing at the event were, front row from left, Saige Prisco, Ian Kascha-Hare and Fiona Adams, all from Milton; Grace Peterson, Essex; Nora Kidder, Cambridge, who was first in the Juniors 10-11 class; Avery Minor, Fairfax; Kinzi Grindle, St. Albans; Graham Robinson, Underhill; and Josie Kascha-Hare, Milton. In back, Mikayla Tobey, Fairfax; Addison Tomasi, Milton; Emma Babyak, Fairfax; Jane Curry, Burlington; Aubri Richards, Milton; Claire Romano, Fairfax; and Lily Key, Hinesburg, fifth in the Juniors 12-13 class.

Adam Kersch

Myles Peterson of Hinesburg has been named to the dean’s list for fall 2023 at Bryant University.

Student Milestones

Max Barron of Hinesburg was named to the dean’s list at Rochester Institute of Technology for the 2023 fall semester. Barron is in the mechanical engineering program.

Samuel Decker of Hinesburg, who is studying exercise science, and is the son of Alysa and Eric Decker was named to the dean’s list at Endicott College for the fall semester.

Caleb Nye of Hinesburg, who is studying criminal justice, and

COMMUNITY NOTES

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aware of the benefits available to them and to assist with any Veterans Administartion issues that they may be experiencing.

• Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group, Wednesday, April 10, 4-5 p.m.

On Zoom or in-person. Monthly support group on the second Thursday of each month. Contact Susan Cartwright at cartwright. susan1@gmail.com.

• Men’s breakfast, Friday, April 12, 7 a.m.

Registration required by Tuesday for the breakfast. Suggested donation: $6.

Men gather for breakfast and conversation. The speaker this month is Robert Caldwell, who will discuss Vermont’s 911 emergency response system. A member of Charlotte Fire and Rescue Services, he also currently serves as a dispatcher for the 911 system. In addition to discussing the EMS system he will also provide a refresher session on how to use the Senior Center’s automated external defibrillator. Attending? Email Lane Morrison at lmorrison@gmavt.net before April 9.

• Kirtan, Friday, April 12, 5-6:30 p.m.,

Join Charlie Nardozzi and Heidi Kvasnak for a spring kirtan, heart-centered practices with ancient yogic chants or songs to create a feeling of connection to yourself and others. Suggested donation is $5 to $15.

• Birding expedition with Hank Kaestner, Wednesday, April 17, 9 a.m.

Join Kaestner, an avid bird watcher, and learn to identify

various bird species and habitats in Vermont. Limited to 20 participants. Free, registration required.

• Play reading, Thursday, April 18, 1-3:30 p.m.

Join Sue Foley and Wally Gates for table-reading fun. No tryouts, no rehearsals, no critical reviews. The group meets monthly and is for people who enjoy reading plays aloud or listening to others perform. Contact Foley at ssnfoley@icloud.com.

• Plant sale planning meeting, Friday, April 19, 1 p.m.

Help plan the Friends of the Charlotte Senior Center’s annual plant sale. Sign up at the senior center or email Polly at ppolly62@ymail.com.

• Walking and gentle hiking group, Thursday, April 25, 9 a.m. 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. Questions? Contact Penny Burman at 916-753-7279.

• Red Cross blood drive, Thursday, April 25, 1-6 p.m.

At the Charlotte Senior Center. Call 800-RED-CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org to schedule an appointment.

• “The Sky’s The Limit!” watercolor class with Ginny Joyner, Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m.-noon

If you’ve always wanted to try

is of Amber and William Nye was named to the dean’s list at Endicott College for the fall semester.

Alexander Provost of Hinesburg, who is studying exercise science, and is the son of Kelly and Christopher Provost was named to the dean’s list at Endicott College for the fall semester.

watercolor but were too intimidated, this is the class for you. Learn the properties of the blue shades and experience the Zen of watching paint dry. Each month, add to your repertoire of subject matter and learn new techniques. Registration required. Cost is $35, plus a $6 supply fee.

• Shape-note singing, Sunday, April 28, 12:30-2:30 p.m.,

Traditional a capella, fourpart harmony sung for the joy of singing. Free, no registration required. Introduction to shape notes and scales is recommended and offered 30 minutes before each first Sunday singing. Contact Kerry Cullinan at kclynxvt@ gmail.com to schedule.

St. Ambrose Parish serves up spaghetti

The St. Ambrose Knights of Columbus are hosting a Knights in Italy spaghetti dinner Friday, April 12, 5-7 p.m., at its parish in Bristol.

Meals are available to dine-in or take-out. All proceeds further the Knights’ mission of aiding the community in a variety of ways, including a donation of winter coats to local schools.

The menu includes spaghetti with sauce, garlic bread, salad and dessert. The cost of the meal is $12 for adults, $6 for children 12 and under, and $30 for a family. No pre-order is necessary.

If

BUDGET

continued from page 1

tion Association. “That is something that is connected to people — those positions and programs all are staffed by people.”

As the second budget vote looms, anxiety and uneasiness among the district staff is high. Drastic cuts have already been proposed for the newest budget after the first budget failed on town meeting day by more than 1,500 votes.

Some 42 full-time positions would be cut under the newest $101.8 million budget, including seven central administration positions, 15 student support paraprofessional positions, and three paraprofessional interventionist positions that were previously funded by federal grants.

Nearly 15 teaching positions will be cut throughout the five schools. At the high school, cuts will result in reduced classes and support in music, theater, French, Latin, business, library services and other programs.

to vote.

“My hope is that the focus remains on the forest here — that is supporting our schools, our faculty and staff, and our students by passing the budget now presented for a vote on April 16 that allows us to continue to provide a high-quality education to them,” Roberts said in a social media post.

“Of course, if that budget is not approved, we will return to the task of proposing one that will get approved,” he added. “I cannot indicate for certain what that would look like, but it is certain that it would reflect further reductions in expenditures which would have to come from further reductions in positions.”

“Hearing about the failure of the budget felt like a gut punch.”

— Emily McLean

“Hearing about the failure of the budget felt like a gut punch,” McLean said. “After having gotten through Covid together, feeling like we’re standing back on our feet ... it just feels as though now we’re taking two steps backwards after finally moving with some forward motion.”

If this budget fails, district administrators and school board members will have to go back to the drawing board. District officials have said a third budget may need an additional $500,000 cut, which would likely translate into more cuts to faculty.

“When we get to that point, within that $500,000, there will likely have to be structural change either within the district or at campus level,” Superintendent Rene Sanchez has said. “We would have to find different ways to be able to serve the kids at the same level without positions that could be paraprofessionals or teachers or even administrators.”

In the run up to April 16, dozens of teachers, staff members and board members have been out with signs urging the public to vote yes. School board members like Meghan Metzler and Cassandra Townshend have been out as well.

“I’ve asked board members to be at as many of them as they can,” Metzler said, adding that the school board was not coordinating the events but was in support of it.

Other board members like Keith Roberts have been posting budget information to online sites like Facebook to get people out

More than a year and a half of work to craft a budget under Act 127 was tossed out of the window earlier this year when the Legislature decided to scrap a key part of the state’s education finance law and passed H.850, which changed an already complex formula.

The school district was considered one of the most disadvantaged school districts in the state under the formula. District officials had estimated a roughly 18 percent increase for member towns under that formula.

After H.850 passed, district officials opted not to make any changes and move forward with the budget they had warned prior to the law change. But that was ultimately voted down, with just over 5,000 votes cast against budget and 3,391 votes in favor on Town Meeting Day.

Many residents cited the dramatic tax hikes associated with the last budget. Under the current budget, Charlotte would see a 17 percent tax rate hike, Hinesburg would see an 18 percent hike, and Shelburne would see a 14 percent hike.

McLean, after the budget was voted down, said that they realized it “was important to work together with the employees, the administration, and the district to work in solidarity to let people know that the budget revote is happening and then to also encourage people to vote.”

There’s plenty of anxiety among teachers and staff in the schools, and a second budget failure would only further that anxiety.

“I think the employees of our district would really rather be focused on teaching and supporting students,” McLean said, “and not having to worry about their jobs.”

HINESBURG continued from page 1

for Hinesburg.

“That’s good turnout as far as I’m concerned,” Alex Weinhagen, the town’s director of planning and zoning, said.

State statute requires town’s write new town plans every eight years. Hinesburg’s last plan was completed in 2017.

The document serves as a framework and guiding path for the town and “looks ahead to both the near term (e.g., 5-10 years) and long term (e.g., 20+ years),” reads a release published by the town. “It describes the town’s history, the existing physical, social and economic conditions of the town, and establishes a vision for the town’s future.”

48 percent of residents responding “no,” and about 46 percent of residents saying they were “not sure.” Only 6 percent said “yes.”

“People are aware of what properties are selling for now and how little supply there is, and it’s a little crazy to think of how much a single unit home on a small lot is selling for in Hinesburg.

— Alex Weinhagen

There are plenty of issues to tackle. Nearly 38 percent of survey respondents said they were “not sure” whether Hinesburg was headed in a positive direction. About 27 percent said “no,” compared to about 36 percent saying “yes.”

Meanwhile, most residents surveyed said they felt Hinesburg was not prepared for the top challenges the community will face over the next decade — with about

Confidence in the town government’s ability to tackle these challenges “was similarly low” in a 2014 survey conducted before the last town plan was written, but not this low, Weinhagen said. “I take that as the community expressing their concern and laying down a challenge to us in municipal government and leadership ... so that people feel confident that we can actually tackle the challenges that are coming our way,” he said. Since the survey was completed, the planning commission has been discussing the various responses it’s seen.

“This concern about affordability comes up again and again,” Weinhagen said. That concern was present in the last town plan survey but given that the survey was released in the middle of both the town and school’s budget season, it doesn’t seem surprising.

“I think that that was an issue back in 2017, but I know that it was

not as pointed as it is now,” Weinhagen said. “People are aware of what properties are selling for now and how little supply there is, and it’s a little crazy to think of how much a single unit home on a small lot is selling for in Hinesburg. It wasn’t that bad back in 2015.”

One relatively new concern on residents’ minds is water and flooding issues. While Hinesburg was largely spared from damage wrought in places like Montpelier in July, a portion of the town’s village area was briefly underwater, and concerns abound about concentrating housing and development in an area at further risk of flooding.

Stormwater control and flood resiliency was ranked among the highest issues that residents felt needed new or improved municipal services.

“Until Hinesburg has fixed the water and sewage, I believe it is irresponsible to build more housing, especially in wetlands with climate change ramping up,” one survey respondent wrote.

The next steps for the town will be to hold two community forums — the first on May 8 and the second on May 22. The first meeting will focus on affordability and taxes, while the second meeting will tackle climate resiliency and flood plain resiliency.

The planning commission will then hold neighborhood meetings from June through August. The goal is to get a completed draft to the selectboard by January and adopt the document by spring.

COURTESY PHOTO

Teachers and staff rally outside of the Hinesburg Community School in support up the upcoming vote on the school budget.

VEKOS continued from page 4

local law enforcement leaders and would be meeting with them to help restore working relationships.

A petition was filed by Jon Alexander, disciplinary counsel for the Vermont Professional Responsibility Board, in late February seeking an “immediate Interim suspension” of Vekos’ law license. Alexander said Vekos had failed to cooperate with an investigation into her medical leave. That panel, which oversees allegations of misconduct of lawyers in the state, is part of Vermont’s judiciary.

Alexander wrote in a filing that without information related to the medical leave there were several unanswered questions, including whether the reasons for the medical leave had been resolved or were now under control.

Sleigh, in arguments during the hearing before the Vermont Supreme Court, said there has been no indication that Vekos has not been performing her duties as state’s attorney since her return from medical leave.

“At this point,” Sleigh told the justices, “Mr. Alexander isn’t able to say that she’s exhibited any other psychiatric, psychological or medical disabilities in her continued practice as state’s attorney.”

Sleigh, speaking last week, called the decision “curious.”

He added that while the justices stated in the ruling that the matter was not about whether Vekos’ medical records should be provided to Alexander, it doesn’t say what information should be provided to him.

“It’s a little unclear to me what it is that we failed to produce,” Sleigh said. “I emailed Jon Alexander (this morning) what it is he wants besides medical records that the Supreme Court said weren’t what was at issue and of course we’re awaiting his response.”

The decision, Sleigh said, does not specifically state what Vekos must do to have the suspension lifted.

he said. “We’ve reached out, as I said, to ask for a clear statement of what is being asked of us.”

A footnote to the ruling stated that the justices “encourage attorneys to take time away from practicing law” when it is needed as well as take advantage of services through the bar association.

State’s Attorney Eva Vekos, charged with driving under the influence earlier this year, was accused of failing to cooperate with an investigation into a paid leave medical leave she took following her arrest.

“It kind of hints that she doesn’t have to directly provide her medical records without a formal legal ruling on whether those are subject to production,”

Obituary

Kathleen Charbonneau

Kathleen M. (McGarghan) Charbonneau, 64, of Wolcott, died unexpectedly at home on Friday, March 22, 2024.

Kathleen was born in Burlington on Dec. 13, 1959, to Edward and Ann Marie McGarghan of South Burlington. Kathleen graduated from South Burlington High School. In 1980 Kathleen married William Charbonneau and they spent most of their adult life in Hinesburg where they raised their three sons. Throughout her life, Kathleen worked for various employers, including Valley Print and Mail, Dr. Cross DDS and recently at Color Lab Cosmetics in Williston.

Kathleen was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She loved her family unconditionally. Kathleen loved a good book, taking rides on the back roads of Vermont, walking through forest trails, especially those at their backwoods camp in Greensboro, and sitting by a brook on a hot day.

Kathleen was game for most anything. She would sometimes go along on family fishing trips and although she never cared for

fishing, she always seemed to catch the biggest fish, time after time. Kathleen was an amazing cook and baker, and no one ever went home hungry.

Above all, she loved spending every moment she could with her grandchildren. Kathleen was quick witted and always had a smile on her face. She loved working in her gardens and looked forward to planting her flowers in the spring and harvesting her pumpkins every fall.

Kathleen is survived by her husband of 43 years, William Charbonneau of Wolcott; sons, William Charbonneau and his

“In this case, however, (Vekos) provided Disciplinary Counsel with no information about any issues that she might be experiencing,” the footnote stated.

“Absent cooperation from (Vekos),” the footnote added, “Disciplinary Counsel cannot assess the full scope of the circumstances involved, including whether a referral to a Bar Assistance Program might be appropriate.”

Vekos was elected to her first four-year term as Addison County state’s attorney in November 2022.

wife, Kylee of Milton, Cole Charbonneau and his girlfriend, Colleen Mackin of Georgia, Lucas Charbonneau and his wife, Katie of Hinesburg; five grandchildren, Connor, Ainsley, Deaglan, Rowen and Colton; sister, Colleen Boardman of Hinesburg; brothers, Patrick McGarghan of South Burlington and Kevin McGarghan of Charlotte. She was predeceased by her parents, Edward and Ann Marie McGarghan.

A private graveside service will be held in the spring followed by a celebration of life. These details will be released later.

Please remember Kathleen by loving your family unconditionally, being there for others, reading a good book or walking a country road with the sun in your face.

We want to thank Wolcott First Response, Hardwick Rescue, Morristown Rescue, Lamoille County Sheriff’s Office and Morristown Police for their help and assistance.

Arrangements are with the des Groseilliers Funeral Home.

Online condolences and memories of Kathleen may be shared with her family at holcomb-desgroseilliers.com.

Kathleen Charbonneau

Vermont announces Trophy Trout stocking

Vermont’s Trophy Trout stocking program for 2024 includes nine river sections and 37 lakes and ponds receiving the 2-yearold trout, some over 18 inches long.

“The Trophy Trout program provides exciting fishing opportunities for anglers of all ages and skill levels,” Vermont’s director of fisheries Eric Palmer said.

“Trophy rainbow and brown trout will be stocked in several rivers as well as East and Otter creeks while trophy brook trout will be stocked into the Deerfield River. Large 2-year-old brookies and rainbows will also be stocked in many lakes and ponds.”

Lake and pond stocking will begin in April as ice clears, while river stocking will begin in May and continue through the month. Anglers can check Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website (vtfishandwildlife.com) to see the stocking that has occurred and see the lakes and ponds that are being stocked with trophy trout.

Trout harvest season opens Saturday, April 13 and will continue through October. There is no length limit, and the daily creel limit is two trout for the Trophy Trout stream sections listed here:

• East Creek in Rutland City from the confluence with Otter Creek upstream, approximately 2.7 miles, to the top of the Patch Dam in Rutland City.

Call 802-985-3091 or email

wendy@shelburnenews.com

to let us help you reach Charlotte and Hinesburg customers in the next issue of The Citizen.

• Lamoille River from the downstream edge of the bridge on Route 104 in Fairfax, upstream approximately 1.6 miles, to the top of the Fairfax Falls Dam in Fairfax.

• Otter Creek in Danby and Mt. Tabor from the Vermont Railway Bridge north of the fishing access, upstream approximately 2 miles to the Danby-Mt. Tabor Forest Road Bridge (Forest Road #10).

• Missisquoi River in Enosburg and Sheldon, from the downstream edge of Kane Road bridge, upstream approximately 5.7 miles to the top of the Enosburg Falls Dam in Enosburg Falls.

• Passumpsic River in St. Johnsbury from the top of the Gage Dam upstream to the top of the Arnold Falls Dam. This section includes the Moose River from its confluence with the Passumpsic River upstream to the Concord Avenue bridge.

• Walloomsac River: From the Vermont-New York border in Bennington upstream to the top of the former Vermont Tissue Plant Dam in Bennington.

• Winooski River in Duxbury and Waterbury from the top of Bolton Dam upstream to the Route 2 Bridge east of Waterbury Village. This section includes the Little River from its confluence with the Winooski River upstream to the Route 2 bridge.

Sanders holds roundtable essay contest winners

Student finalists of the State of Union Essay Contest, now in its 14th year, joined Sen. Bernie Sanders at a roundtable discussion at the Vermont Statehouse March 9.

The contest gives Vermont high school students the opportunity to describe a major issue facing that country and propose how to solve it.

“The reason we do this contest each year is to have young people around the state imagine being the president of the United States,” Sanders said. “It is a chance for them to think critically about the problems that face our country but also about solutions.

This year, 454 students from 27 Vermont high schools submitted essays. A panel of seven Vermont educators served as volunteer judges, ranking the essays and selecting 12 finalists and three winners. Students wrote on a variety of critically important issues, including climate change, racial

justice, access to mental health care, political polarization, gun safety, disability rights, racial justice and more.

The winner was Leah Frisbie, a junior at Essex High School, who wrote about book bans. Second Place went to Mount Mansfield Union High School junior Abigail Curry writing about Indigenous water rights. Homelessness was the topic of third place essayist, Leah Fitzgerald, a senior at Bellows Free Academy in Saint Albans.

Finalists included junior Patterson Frazier of Champlain Valley Union High School, senior Talia Gibbs of Vermont Commons School, and freshman Olivia Gray of South Burlington High School.

As each student presented their essay and proposed solutions, Sanders posed questions to the larger group and opened up debate

PHOTO BY JOHN HALL

Trophy trout like these are being stocked this spring in eight Vermont river sections and 25 lakes and ponds.

continued from page 12

on each topic. Sanders encouraged the students to make connections between the various topics and to feel comfortable disagreeing with each other. The overall theme of the discussion highlighted the many similarities between how the U.S. government decides to address these issues and who has the power to make change.

Patterson Frazier’s student essay

Champlain Valley Union High School

One Vermonter every two days. One hundred and forty Americans every day. One hundred and fifteen thousand Americans a year. All of them have died. This is not a war, or a pandemic, or a car crash statistic. These are fatal drug overdoses, which since 1999 have increased by approximately 470 percent. For comparison, the U.S. Population has increased by 20 percent in that time. Drug crime has unequivocally worsened, and the entire country is paying the price. Cities are no longer safe, first responders are at critical risk of exposure-related overdose, and as of 2009 the United States was collectively spending half a trillion dollars a year on substance abuse management. Drug abuse has grown to a national crisis and needs to be swiftly curbed.

The issue of drugs is highly complex and is a result of decades of poor public policy, corporate greed, and government interference. America should by every

measure be more capable in solving drug crime than other nations who have successfully handled the issue. We are wealthy, with developed industries and capable medical professionals. So, what are we doing differently? U.S. policy has been historically focused on prosecuting and demonizing addicts.

Newer approaches such as decriminalization are a step in the right moral direction, but often lack enough follow-up support and resources to be effective.

President Biden successfully increased the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Admin-

istration budget by three billion dollars for FY 2024, proving that money can be found to support national reform. The ideal national reform will supplement or overhaul the current substance abuse reduction policies. It needs to be built around the fact that addicts are victims of exploitation and should be shown compassion. In stark contrast, drug traffickers need to be prosecuted viciously. The actions taken to help drug users need to be focused around a long-term vision for each individual. This requires state interdiction, which in turn needs justification.

zen center yard 4x5

One place to start is to ban open air drug use, and fund the creation of safe injection sites nationwide. If a person is found using “hard drugs” in a public place, then they should be considered for a mandatory rehabilitation program. After achieving sobriety, previous users need sources of stability. The federal government could create programs to match sober people with in-demand jobs. Safe injection sites will in turn help prevent open air drug use and clean up the streets.

Ultimately, there are no drugs without distribution and produc-

tion. Law enforcement needs to receive increased funding with the specific goal of reducing the production of synthetic opiates.

Rhode Island has been relatively successful in reducing drug use, in part due to stricter sentencing. The production of fentanyl results in prison sentences of up to fifty years and fines reaching 500,000 dollars. Strict and swift punishment can disrupt supply chains, while a combination of asset seizures and fines can help reimburse efforts. The facts are clear; drugs not only destabilize the country but threaten our national security.

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Professional Shelburne Optometric Office seeking Front Desk Office Manager

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

Our patients are so important to us. From the minute they walk through the door we want them to have the best experience possible, and that starts with you!

The right candidate has great customer services skills. Duties include patient scheduling, billing, reports. If you have the personality we’re looking for, we’re willing to train. Four-day work week!

Rabies is a deadly viral disease of the brain that infects mammals. It is most often seen in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also get rabies.The virus is spread through the bite of an infected animal or contact with its saliva. ways fatal treatment 100 percent a person

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