The Citizen - 6-13-24

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Hinesburg considers pulling membership GMTA, Tri-Valley Transit endorse move

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

Hinesburg Selectboard members are mulling the decision on whether to pull out of their deal with Green Mountain Transit Authority — a move the board is expected to finalize at its meeting June 19.

Should Hinesburg officially pull out, the transit authority would be down to eight member towns funding the service with municipal tax dollars each year — Burlington, South Burlington, Shelburne, Williston, Essex, Winooski, Milton and parts of Colchester. Other towns contribute small fees, but the agency only has authority to assess its members.

The decision comes after the board began to question the fairness of its annual contribution of $52,000 last year around the same time that the town faced a nearly 7 percent increase in taxes.

The 116 Commuter, which runs through Hinesburg, has four runs that pass-through town each day, two of which are operated by GMTA, and the other two operated by Tri-Valley Transit, a smaller nonprofit transit service with a roughly $7 million operating budget.

“Hinesburg has always paid their municipal contribution directly to GMT and then a certain portion of that has been funneled

through to support Tri-Valley Transits portion of that service,” executive director of Tri-Valley Transit, Jim Moulton, said.

Should Hinesburg rescind its GMTA membership, Tri-Valley Transit’s board of directors officially gave the green light last week to take over full operation of the route starting in September.

Hinesburg must notify GMTA that it will be removing itself as a member one year in advance of the effective date. In this case, Hinesburg would officially be removed starting in July 2025.

“We would pay our assessment to GMTA and then GMTA and Tri-Valley Transit would work out how to transfer whatever amount of funds need to be transferred to Tri-Valley Transit,” town manager Todd Odit said at the May 15 board meeting.

While the decision does not inherently mean it will save the town of Hinesburg any money, Odit said that it does offer more negotiating power since the town will not be billed an annual assessment.

“Tri-Valley Transit wouldn’t have assessment authority over Hinesburg,” he said. “With GMTA, there’s no negotiating of the assessment. Based on the bill, we have to pay it. With this change, there’s at least an opportunity to negotiate, to

See GMTA on page 16

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

cat poses in doorway in Charlotte.

Barn cat

Bear ‘doctor’ brings magic to Vermont Teddy Bear Company

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

Behind the plush toys and forever cuddle friends found at Vermont Teddy Bear Factory are hours of hand stitching and stuffing from a dedicated production department.

But who among them is responsible for fixing a broken bear and ensuring Vermont Teddy

Bear’s lifetime warranty?

That would be Pamela Fay, better known as “Dr. Pam,” the factory’s resident “M.D. of bearology,” as the official certificate that sits over her desk at the “bear hospital” reads. Fay has been an employee of the Vermont Teddy Bear production team for 28 years, moving up to the rank of doctor within the last three years.

The move was a natural fit.

She has nearly mastered how every bear is built and manufactured, so learning how to fix and patch them was an obvious next step and one that seems to run in her blood.

“She is one of our most skilled colleagues and one of the few people who can do every step of making a bear, so it makes her the perfect bear doctor,” Cassandra Clayton, the company’s brand

director, said.

Her office, located a short walk behind the doors of the retail area, quite literally replicates a small hospital set-up, with patients filling the cubbies on the wall with all different ailments: kidney stones, broken bones, bee stings, dog bites — you name it, and Fay can likely fix it.

From 9 a.m. until noon, Monday through Friday, she works on roughly 10 patients a day, moving the joint press, stitching busted back seams, adding extra filling and replacing weathered paw pads — but not without a few Smarties from her secret candy stash under her desk to satisfy her sweet tooth.

“For

except a lot less hollering, and a lot less expensive,” she joked. From there Dr. Pam works to fix the stitching or replace the broken limb — something that’s almost second nature to her since she’s spent decades manufacturing the toys from their early beginnings — with miscellaneous pieces of furred fabric and stuffing.

some, it’s not just a bear, it’s a person, more or less.

Some around the factory argue she has a magic touch, but she would say that this is just something that makes her really happy. And it shows. Staff refer to her only as “Dr. Pam” and the moment her white doctor’s coat goes on every morning, that identity becomes a certain part of who she really is.

On any given day, observing Fay is like watching a real doctor at work. Apart from her own expert seamstress skills, she remains careful and dedicated, knowing that each bear that comes to her is loved deeply by someone from around the globe.

Even humans break sometimes.”

— Pamela Fay

The process is simple. Loved teddy bears are sent from their family with a hospital admittance form that explains where exactly the injuries lie. Dr. Pam receives the packages sent to the hospital and gives each bear its own patient wristband.

“They have their names and everything on the paperwork, so we all know them. It’s just like a real hospital that you or I go to …

“For some, it’s not just a bear, it’s a person, more or less. Even humans break sometimes,” Fay said, letting out a jovial laugh as she fixed the back seam on one bear who had suffered a particularly rough attack from the family dog. In line with the company’s lifetime guarantee policy, if there is something that Fay can’t fix — which happens rarely — the company sends a bear of the same make and model back to the family. But Fay said she keeps the older bears for a while, just in case the family requests them back, and partially because she

PHOTOS BY LIBERTY DARR

Above: One bear in recovery after suffering a broken arm. He should be ready to head back home in about a week, said Dr. Pam.

Right: Dr. Pam in her trusty white lab coat ready to start a day of surgeries. On the docket was fixing a broken leg, stitching a dog bite and remedying a nasty bee sting.

Chamber picks new leader

Amy Spear, a former executive director of Stowe Area Association, has been picked to lead the Vermont Chamber of Commerce

Spear was selected after a six-month search committee process. The committee’s recommendation was ratified by the full chamber board on June 6. She begins her new job on July 1.

“I am honored to serve in this role, and I am excited to continue working with our talented team,” Spear said. “As incoming president, I am committed to ensuring that the Vermont chamber continues to focus on its mission to advance the Vermont economy.”

Spear has been part of the Vermont Chamber leadership team since 2019, serving as the Vice President of Tourism.

“I look forward to working with Amy and building on her expertise in chamber operations, government affairs, and strate-

DOCTOR

continued from page 2

said it’s difficult to just throw them away.

The Bear Hospital has been an important part of Vermont Teddy Bear’s operation since its beginnings in the 1980s. Before Fay there was Dr. Nancy, who worked for the business for 37 years, before passing the doctor baton off to Fay three years ago.

More than anything, this job helps maintain a certain childlike spirit and imagination in Fay — and those around her — as she reads the personalized notes attached

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gic planning,” Tom Dunn, Vermont Chamber of Commerce board chair, said. “With her success advocating for the restaurant and lodging industries in the Statehouse, I am confident she will continue building on our legacy of business advocacy.”

Spear was named to the Vermont Rising Stars Class of 2023. Before joining the Vermont Chamber, she was executive director of the Stowe Area Association.

With over 15 years of experience in the non-profit sector, Spear has a track record of driving initiatives, engaging diverse stakeholders and delivering results, according to a chamber press release.

Spear has worked with three chambers in Vermont and is currently earning her Institute for Organization Management designation, a four-year program for association leaders, and is expected to graduate in July.

She lives in Killington with her family and is an active community volunteer.

Reporting to the board, the president is responsible for setting the strategy and tone of the organization and ensuring it remains the most influential non-partisan business organization in Vermont.

to each form and the many personalized letters she receives daily, all of which are tacked up on different walls in her office and remind her just what makes the job of a teddy bear doctor so special.

“It makes me happy. It’s a happy place because you’re making other people happy, you know? I sometimes can’t believe how important these bears are to people, but they certainly are,” she said, holding tightly to a bear that was undergoing surgery.

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COURTESY PHOTO

Mitchel Cypes, the Hinesburg Development Review Board coordinator, grabbed this shot of a circular absence of clouds on June 2 while on an early morning run on North Jefferson Road in South Burlington.

Amy Spear Vermont Community Newspaper Group:

Hinesburg Police Blotter: June 4 - 10

Total incidents: 76

Traffic Stops: 34

Arrests: 1

June 4 at 7 a.m., police investigated a dispute between residents on Farmall Drive.

June 4 at 2:54 p.m., an officer responded to a two- vehicle crash at Champlain Valley Union High School.

June 4 at 10:17 p.m., an officer responded to help with a suspicious individual on Shelburne Falls Road.

June 5 at 8:53 a.m., officers responded into St. George to assist other agencies with a pursuit.

June 5 at 9:20 a.m., a welfare check was conducted on Southwest Shore Road. Lyn Donaghy, 59, of Hinesburg, was located and pronounced dead of suspected natural causes.

June 5 at 10:38 a.m., an individual was trespassed from a business

on Ballard’s Corner Road.

June 6 at 11:15 a.m., a traffic stop on Anthony Road was conducted. The operator Tegan Ross, 22, of Hinesburg, was arrested on multiple warrants and charged with providing false information to a law enforcement officer.

June 6 at 1:53 p.m., officers investigated the report of shoplifting from a business on Commerce Street.

June 7 at 7:52 p.m., the report of erratic operation on Ballard’s Corner Road was investigated.

June 8 at 8:55 a.m., an individual was trespassed from a business on Ballard’s Corner Road.

June 8 at 10:53 a.m., officers responded to Route 116 for a motor vehicle versus bear situation.

June 9 at 3:15 p.m., a juvenile issue was investigated.

June 10 at 5:44 p.m., an officer responded to an animal problem on Richmond Road.

Police to step up checkpoints, safety enforcement over holiday

Shelburne police and the Chittenden County Sheriff’s Department will be increasing traffic safety and DUI enforcement over the upcoming Independence Day holiday.

Police will have an increased presence from Saturday, June 29, to Sunday, July 7. Enforcement efforts may include sobriety checkpoints in western Chittenden County.

The Citizen

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Top chef

One of the worlds’ top chefs, Daniel Humm of Eleven Madison Park,a plant-based fine dining restaurant in New York City, visited Shelburne Farms last week and joined fifth grade students from Burlington’s Sustainability Academy as they explored the importance of healthy soils, food and people with farm educators.

Humm was part of a visit to the Champlain-Adirondack Biosphere Region recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). While at Shelburne Farms, he and Eliot Minchenberg, director of the UNESCO liaison office in New York and UNESCO representative to the United Nations in New York, also met up with Jim Brangan, the cultural heritage and recreation coordinator at the Lake Champlain Basin Program and co-chair of the Champlain-Adirondack Biosphere. They visited Shelburne Farms cheesemakers, farmers and executive chef John Patterson to learn more about sustainable food systems at the farm.

Right: Humm with fifth grade students from Burlington’s Sustainability Academy at Shelburne Farms.

COURTESY PHOTO

OPINION

Montpelier needs to fix its oversight, ethics problem

Guest Perspective

John Bossange

It was Supreme Court Justice William Brandeis who gave us the now classic statement: “Sunshine is said to be the best of disinfectants.”

That quote appeared in Harper’s Magazine in 1913, and it still has great merit today. Then, as now, people tend to perform to a better standard when they know their behavior is being observed. Brandeis was, of course, referring to the natural tendency of individuals and organizations to avoid too much transparency and protect themselves from unwanted scrutiny and criticism, especially in the public sector.

In the political arena, the lack of transparency remains a serious issue and can easily prevent fair and honest governmental operations. Make no mistake about it: Montpelier is not immune from this lack of sunshine and transparency.

We are not yet a Washington, D.C., or an Albany, N.Y., swamp, but we have become a wetland, where required transparency explicitly spelled out in strong legislative ethics regulations is severely lacking in both Vermont’s House of Representatives and Senate.

I discovered this firsthand when I joined a diverse group of Vermonters who filed an ethics complaint focused on a potential conflict of interest. We used the form from the Vermont Ethics Commission, which clearly spelled out the definition of a conflict of interest or the appearance of one. It was a comprehensive form that

required detailed and expansive documentation.

Unfortunately, we discovered that the ethics commission is not allowed to investigate citizen complaints filed against members who are serving in the Legislature. Today there are no outside, impartial ethical guidelines overseeing “core legislative functions.”

For Vermonters like us, we were never informed why there was no investigation of our complaint or what standards were used to dismiss our concerns.

Worse, when we asked for an explanation, we were met with total silence from Senate leadership, relevant committee chairs and their members.

We also discovered that an in-house Senate Ethics Committee, composed of their own colleagues, controls that critical component of oversight and no action has been taken in years. Consequently, House and Senate members can more easily craft legislation and develop policies without concern for an independent agency watching for potential conflicts of interests from personal or private connections, and they can operate under the influence of campaign donations and lobbyists.

This continues to be a recipe for disaster. When the public begins to wonder why bills are created and who benefits from them, that lack of required transparency leads directly to a loss of trust and confidence that elected officials represent all Vermonters. The failure of the Senate Ethics Committee to enforce transparent standards so Vermonters can understand what and who should oversee “core legislative functions” has been a long-standing

Letters to the Editor

VT Traditions Coalition supports bear legislation

To the Editor: Keeping and improving responsible regulations is as important to hunters, trappers and anglers as the wildlife we enjoy and the opportunities to pursue outdoor recreation that are so essential to us. Therefore, the Vermont Traditions Coalition was happy to support a ban on the sale of black bear gall bladders and paws.

Although the intent was good, the bill as initially presented may well have prevented the

concern. That concern is a real threat to the state’s proud tradition of local representative democracy. Fortunately, this is not the case with the hundreds of municipal workers who serve in Vermont communities. These hard-working Vermonters are governed by the larger Vermont State Ethics Commission, which recently expanded its municipal code of ethics and powers of oversight. Selectboard members and quasi-judicial bodies, clerks, treasurers, assessors, mayors, department heads, chief administrative officers, planning commissioners, city and town managers, road, cemetery and water commissioners, advisory budget committee members, auditors, building inspectors, tax collectors and village or town trustees are subject to this code of ethics.

Sadly and inexcusably, in Vermont’s House and Senate, the foxes will continue to watch over the hen house and allow only as much sunshine and transparency as they feel necessary. Like the rest of us, legislators would perform to a better standard if they knew those who elected them were able to observe their behavior and actions.

The failure of the Senate Ethics Committee to create an outside agency composed of both elected representatives and other qualified officials appointed by the governor will continue to erode the public’s trust in government. For someone looking for a reason not to vote or to be cynical about representative democracy and effective government, this committee has provided a perfect pathway.

Our democracy survives only when the sun shines and transparency become the norm.

Doubt breeds a lack of trust and confidence that we are being truly represented. That’s not in the best interest of Vermonters and, in the long run, in the ability to govern ourselves. We can’t afford to have legislators operate under the cover of darkness and become a legislative swamp of unknown special favors and hidden motives.

Given that we have a part time legislature, it is understandably filled with retired workers and those with more flexible schedules. But that does not make senators and House members immune from adhering to strict, transparent ethical standards for their core legislative functions.

The solution is clear and is

staring us in the face. The Vermont Ethics Commission operates independently from the municipal employees it oversees and has the structure of guidelines and experience for the Senate Ethics Committee to create a similar approach to addressing potentially unethical behaviors during core legislative functions.

What’s stopping them from moving forward? There are no more excuses. Vermonters like us deserved better. Immediate and decisive action by leadership is needed to address this urgent matter.

John Bossange lives in South Burlington.

sale of many taxidermy mounts. We worked with legislators and others to address this unintended consequence and are gratified that lawmakers took our concerns and recommendations so seriously.

The Warden Service Division made it clear that traffic in these parts taken from Vermont bears is more common than originally believed, and although the total number of bears taken primarily for gall bladders or paws is likely small when compared to the total harvest in the state, bear hunting in Vermont is truly about time with friends, the thrill of being in

wild places and providing food for Vermonters families, friends and neighbors. As revised, this language supports hunting and bears alike.

If you are interested in more information about black bears in Vermont, the Vermont Bearhound Association and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department have great resources to help Vermonters understand how to live side-by-side with our wildlife while being bear aware.

Mike Covey Executive director Vermont Traditions Coalition

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Historian studies awkward truth about state’s Abenaki

Guest Perspective

David Massell

Two years ago, I welcomed a delegation of Abenaki citizens from Odanak First Nation in Quebec to a conference at the University of Vermont. For doing so, I was accused of engaging in a conspiracy with Hydro-Québec. That lie may be more exciting than the truth. But the truth should be more troubling to Vermonters.

Peer review is the process by which scholars assess and validate each other’s work prior to publication. It is a standard obligation of university faculty. In 2021, I was asked to review a manuscript titled “State Recognition and the Dangers of Race-Shifting: The Case of Vermont.” Later I learned that the author was a Canadian sociologist named Darryl Leroux.

Tapping Quebec’s vast, genealogical database of baptisms, burials and marriages, Leroux demonstrated that Vermonters of the four state-recognized “tribes,” who claim to be Abenaki, are in fact of French-Canadian and/or other European descent. Almost none have Abenaki ancestry.

How could this be? Vermont governors, legislators, conservationists and educators have long proclaimed their support for Vermont’s “Abenaki.” Vermont’s Legislature has granted hunting and fishing licenses and prop-

erty tax relief. It even created a truth and reconciliation commission to study compensating for the alleged harms done. Like my colleagues, I had invited members of the “Abenaki” leadership to share their experience with students as Vermont’s First People.

Could I have made a mistake? Joining with other scholars at and beyond The University of Vermont, we began a deep dive into the historical record, which led to the organization of three public forums. We invited the Abenaki of Odanak, who were excluded from Vermont’s state-recognition process, to speak their piece. We brought top Indigenous scholars to teach about “race-shifting” in which growing numbers of white people have claimed Indigenous identity on little or no basis since the 1970s.

Then last month, Leroux presented his research at a UVM forum alongside Mi’kmaq scholar and lawyer Pamela Palmater and Anishinaabe scholar and writer Gordon Henry.

Any “truth and reconciliation” process begins with truth, and the evidence is unmistakable and overwhelming. All but a few of Vermont’s state-recognized “Abenaki,” including the leadership, have no Abenaki ancestry and no continuous link to any historic North American Indian tribe. Leroux’s findings align with those of Vermont Attorney

General’s study of 2003 and that of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 2005-07. Multiple recent investigations concur, including by Vermont Public, New Hampshire Public Radio and VTDigger. Vermont’s self-identified “Abenaki” have their own creation story (of “hiding in plain sight”) but that too is groundless. No scholar has seen or shared credible evidence that Vermont’s early-20th-century eugenics campaign ever targeted Abenaki people, nor that Abenaki in Vermont were ever in hiding from persecution. In fact, the opposite is true. News reports and photographs of the late 19th and early 20th centuries show Abenaki families from Odanak First Nation making summer visits to tourist towns like Highgate Springs to sell ash baskets. The Abenaki did not hide who they were.

In embracing invented tribes, we have nearly erased from memory the state’s actual Indigenous people and their all-too-real experience of colonization. For the Abenaki, that meant waves of pandemic disease, multiple colonial wars, forced assimilation, and then coerced removal from and vast reduction of homeland. The broad swath of historic Abenaki territory has been reduced to reservations (“reserves” in Canada) totaling

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNETTE NOLETT, ODANAK FIRST NATION

Abenaki basket sellers at their craft store in Highgate Springs, circa 1894. From left, Jean Wawanolett, Monique Wawanolett, Sophie Morisseau, Stanislas Panadis, Agnès Panadis and Mali Nagazoa.

Author talk celebrates

Mt. Philo’s 100th birthday

Celebrate Mount Philo’s 100th birthday and learn the story of the amazing act of generosity that created Mount Philo State Park and started the entire Vermont State Park system at a presentation by Judy Chaves, author of “Secrets of Mount Philo: A Guide to the History of Vermont’s First State Park,” on Tuesday, June 18, 7 p.m., at the Charlotte Library.

Discover the mountain’s past and its secrets —hidden in plain sight — through historic photos and maps, chill-inducing then-and-now comparisons, turn-of-the-

MASSELL

continued from page 6

less than three square miles.

Allowing non-Natives to speak on behalf of Indigenous People is also to be complicit in what Indigenous scholars like Kim Tallbear describe as the most recent and insidious phase of colonization by which Euro-Americans claim the very bodies and identities of the vanquished as one “final Indian bounty.”

The Vermont legislative process to award that bounty was deeply problematic. The self-proclaimed “tribes” were not required to demonstrate Native ancestry and were placed in charge of key decisions, producing glaring conflicts of interest. Excluding the historic Abenaki nation (Odanak) from the process — in fact, failing to center the Abenaki — was a denial of the sovereign right of Indigenous people to determine their citizenship.

Vermont’s state recognition process is now cited by Indigenous scholars as the worst in the United States, in which the Legislature created a special legal status for what amount to “clubs.” Odanak First Nation has now brought their case of Indigenous identity fraud in Vermont to the United Nations.

What about the fair use of public

last-century writings and a cast of admirable characters. Whether you’re a Mount Philo regular or new to the park, surprises lie in store.

“Secrets of Mount Philo,” published through the Vermont Historical Society, is an indispensable guide to Vermont’s first — and oldest — state park. It is one of Vermont’s most popular destinations, and its history stretches back hundreds of years, which Chaves documents. Prior to it becoming a state park, it was the home to a popular inn.

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funds? When citizens harvest benefits based on fictitious Native claims, including hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent federal grants, they take those benefits away from Indigenous people.

This is a lot to digest for Vermont citizens, including the fact that so many well-meaning Vermonters, myself included, have been misled while trying to do good. Misled as well are the members of the four “tribes” whose leaders have led them to believe that they have a right to claim Abenaki citizenship.

As a professor at the state’s flagship university, it is my job to explore the historical record with colleagues and students, regardless of what facts are revealed or how disconcerting those truths may be. Vermonters who favor Indigenous justice will take these findings seriously.

David Massell has been a member of The University of Vermont’s history department since 1997. He is director of UVM’s Canadian Studies Program and member of the environmental program. His research and courses explore Canadian American history, environmental history and Native-newcomer relations.

FILE PHOTO

Charlotte Library hosts talk about Vermont’s oldest state park.

Tiny

Art

Auction raises money for good causes

Everyone has room to enjoy a tiny piece of original art, and Responsible Growth Hinesburg’s 7th Tiny Art Auction is here to help. Each of the canvases offered in this annual fundraiser measures just 4 inches by 4 inches.

This year’s artists include Mary Azarian, Ashley Wolff, Amy Huntington, Mary Hill, Gregory Maguire, Andy Newman, John Penoyar, Kim Provost, Thatcher Hurd and many others.

Bidding for the auction, which begins on July 4 and ends on July 12, will be done online at new. biddingowl.com/rghinesburg.

This year will also include children’s art with a buy now option on July 4 during the parade.

Proceeds will be split between the Hinesburg Food Shelf and Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont.

The mission of Responsible Growth Hinesburg is to ensure that new development in Hinesburg is scaled to meet the needs of town; constructed so that waters of Lake Champlain, its tributaries and other natural resources are protected; ad located so that it complements its surroundings, protects the working landscape and recreational lands; and fosters a sense of community.

Friends of Charlotte Library book collection starts

The Friends of the Charlotte Library is holding book collections on the following dates:

Tuesday, June 25, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Wednesday, June 26, 4-7 p.m.; Saturday, June 29, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; Tuesday, July 9, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Wednesday, July 10, 4-7 p.m.; and Thursday, July 11, 3-5 p.m.

Please drop off books only at the times specified.

The porch book sale at the library will be held on Sunday, July 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Bring gently used, recent or classic books to the back door of the library adjacent to the program room. Please, no mass paperback books (the small ones), textbooks, reference books, older cookbooks or older travel books. Current cookbooks and travel books are accepted. Donations are limited to two boxes or bags per person.

Questions or concerns?

Contact Marie Norwood at marie. norwood@norwoodhome.net.

COMMUNITY

Community Notes

Enjoy Age Well meals at Charlotte Senior Center

The Age Well meal pickup for Thursday, June 13, is from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Charlotte Senior Center. The meal features meatloaf with brown sauce, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, wheat bread with butter, apple crisp with topping 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.

St. Mike’s professor lectures on civil war

Doug Slaybaugh, emeritus professor of history St. Michael’s College, offers “When a Presidential Election Led to Civil War (and Three Times it Almost Did)” at the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum on Sunday, June 16, at 2 p.m.

Americans have been hearing threats of civil war if the current presidential election doesn’t go a certain way. The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 led to the Civil War, which resulted in over 700,000 casualties.

Lest we think this was unique, Slaybaugh will analyze the elections of 1800, 1824 and 1876, which threatened similar results.

Vermont Commons School graduates Class of 2024

Vermont Commons School’s 27th graduating class will receive their diplomas on Friday, June 14, at 11:30 a.m., ending the 2023-24 school year. This year’s graduates hail from multiple towns, including Shelburne, South Burlington and Stowe. They will continue their studies at a variety of colleges and universities.

The Vermont Commons School Class of 2024 includes:

• Analia Cannon, Burlington, Northeastern University

• Grantham Cannon, South Burlington, gap year, employed at The Schoolhouse

• Henry Douglas, South Burlington, University of Toronto

• Ashlyn Foley, Burlington, Lafayette College

• Talia Gibbs, Shelburne, University of Rochester

• Toby Hecht, Burlington, Skidmore College

• Zangmu Lama Sherpa,

Williston, Trinity College

• Asher Rosenbaum, Stowe, Washington University in St. Louis

• Adelie Tebbetts, South Burlington, Middlebury College

• Lilliana White, Waitsfield, University of Denver

• Isabelle Wyatt, Lincoln, Bryn Mawr College

Cumulatively, the Class of 2024 received more than $2.9 million in scholarships and merit aid.

French heritage celebrated at Champlain Mill

Learn more about French culture at French Heritage Day at the Winooski Farmers Market, Sunday, June 30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

The free event features live music by Champlain Shoregasm and Déjà-Nous, and French language and genealogy activities and food in front of the Champlain Mill.

The Heritage Winooski Mill and Winooski Historical Society Museums inside the mill will also be open. Local judges will award a winner in the tourtiere and French bread contests and there will be musical guests, Champlain Shoregasm and Déjà-Nous.

All city parking is free.

For more details visit French Heritage Day, visit bit.ly/3VvXK6L.

Celebrate pollinators at Hort Farm event

In commemoration of 2024 National Pollinator Week, the Vermont Pollinator Working Group presents a celebration of all-things pollinators, Saturday, June 22, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the University of Vermont Horticulture Farm in South Burlington.

From managed honeybees and butterflies to the 350 species of native bees in Vermont, learn from experts about their extraordinary diversity, importance and global challenges. Listen to several keynote speeches, attend workshops and meet the organizations working together to tackle urgent threats to bees and other pollinators in Vermont and the Northeast.

Local suppliers will be on hand at a native plant sale to help you learn how to protect pollinators on farms, in your community or your own backyard.

Want to get more familiar with Charlotte’s public trails or meet and chat with other Charlotters? Then join Charlotte Walks. Every third Friday of the month, the group meets for a walk. On June 21 at 8:30 a.m. walkers will tour the Quinlan Bridge Pollinator Garden, 33 Monkton Road, and then take a half-mile walk down Lewis Creek Road to the home of Tai Dinnan for a tour of her extensive vegetable and perennial gardens, iced tea on the terrace and a walk back to the bridge. Walks last about an hour at an adult walking pace. Visit charlottegrange.org to learn the meet-up location each month. Sign up in advance to receive weather alerts at charlottegrangevt@gmail.com. See COMMUNITY NOTES on page 9

COURTESY PHOTO

A painting by Ashley Wolff, to be auctioned at the Hinesburg Tiny Art auction.

Charlotte Walks this month to pollinator garden

COURTESY PHOTO

Obituaries

Edward J. Monniere

Edward J Monniere, 75, of Charlotte, died on Friday, May 31, 2024, at home due to health problems.

He was born April 1, 1949, in Burlington to Leo and Margorie (Bellows) Monniere. He graduated from Burlington High School in the Class of 1968.

He was a U.S. Navy and Naval Reserve veteran serving from 1968 to 1974. He was employed by several local commercial printing companies in Vermont, Connecticut and New York from 1975 to 2011.

He was predeceased by his mother and father, and brother, Allan.

COMMUNITY NOTES

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Honeybee Steelband and The Swarm will play live music from noon-1 p.m. during the native plant bazaar and the pollinator expo.

Registration is encouraged and required for workshops. More at vermontbeelab.com/vpwg.

All Saints Church rededicates labyrinth

All Saints Church, 1250 Spear St., South Burlington, is celebrating a rededication of its commu-

Ed is survived by his wife Jacinta (Racine) of 40 years; daughter, Shannon; grandson, Riley; sons, Jason and Tracy; and sister, Sue Delorme of Vergennes. There will be no visiting hours or service.

Ezra R. Pouech

A gathering and celebration in loving memory of Ezra Raymond Pouech, 30, who died on Dec. 21, 2023, will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 1 p.m. at the Common Ground Center, 473 Tatro Road, Starksboro.

Ezra was born and grew up in Hinesburg. For his full obituary, please go to bit.ly/3KyDZFk.

nity labyrinth on Sunday, June 23, immediately following the 10 a.m. service.

The ceremony will take place at the labyrinth on the church grounds. The labyrinth has been restored and upgraded by parishioner and engineer Craig Wielenga. The site includes sculpture by Vermont artist Kate Pond.

The Labyrinth Movement in the United States started at

See COMMUNITY NOTES on page 11

Edward J. Monniere Ezra R. Pouech

COURTESY PHOTO

Grange on the Green is back! The Will Patton Quartet kicks off the series of summer concerts on the Charlotte Town Green on Thursday, June 27, 5:30 p.m., with music ranging from Manouche jazz and Brazilian styles to straight-up bebop and original compositions. Bring a picnic and enjoy local music in good company. The series is co-sponsored by the Charlotte Library, and the rain location is the Charlotte Senior Center.

Will Patton Quartet headlines Grange concert

COURTESY PHOTO

The All Saints Church community labyrinth.

Playoff success: Boys’ tennis earns title berth

lar season matches, with the higher-seeded Tigers winning in the first matchup 6-1 and CVU getting the 4-3 win in the second meeting.

Boys’ tennis

(5) Champlain Valley 5, (1)

Brattleboro 2: The Champlain Valley boys’ tennis team pulled off an upset in the Division I semifinals on Monday, June 10.

Champlain Valley will now face No. 2 Middlebury in the state championship on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. at Middlebury after press time.

It will be the first appearance in the finals for CVU since 2021, when it won the program’s fifth state title.

The two teams split their regu-

Baseball

(3) Champlain Valley 10, (11) Brattleboro 0: The Champlain Valley baseball team cruised to a quarterfinal win over Brattleboro on Friday, June 7, booking a spot in the semifinals.

Russell Willoughby went 2-for-2 and drove in three RBIs for the Redhawks, while Travis Stroh had two doubles and two RBIs.

Declan Cummings drove in four runs for CVU.

Aaron LaRose won on the mound, allowing no runs on three

STAY CONNECTED

Anywhere, Anytime

hits, and striking out nine in four innings.

Champlain Valley moved on to face No. 7 Mount Mansfield in the D-I semifinals on Tuesday, June 11, after press time.

CVU faced the Cougars twice this year, beating them twice, but MMU has won seven of its last eight games.

Boys’ lacrosse

(1) Champlain Valley 15, (8) Mount Mansfield 11: A six-goal effort from Peter Gilliam led Champlain Valley to a win over Mount Mansfield on Friday in the D-I boys’ lacrosse quarterfinals.

Matias Williams added four goals and one assist for the Redhawks, while Connor Malaney tallied twice. Trevor Stumpff, Jacob Bose and Jacob Whitcomb each chipped in one.

Will Kearney stopped eight shots in goal for CVU.

BFA-St. Albans on Saturday, June 8, in the quarterfinals.

Kate Boehmcke and Stella Dooley led the way for the Redhawks, each scoring four goals and each with an assist. Sophie Madden added four, while Emerson Rice and Carly Strobeck each had a hat trick.

Morgan Keach and Clare Stackpole-McGrath combined to make five saves in goal for CVU.

No. 2 Champlain Valley advanced to face No. 6 Burr and Burton in the D-I semifinals on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m., after press deadline.

CVU fell to the Bulldogs in last year’s final, losing in overtime, so this will be an opportunity to get some payback. The Redhawks faced off against Burr and Burton twice in the regular season, with CVU winning both times.

Girls’ tennis

face No. 5 Burlington in the semifinals on Tuesday.

CVU, which lost once so far this season, beat the Seahorses in both matchups this year, 7-0 and 5-2.

Boys’ Ultimate

(1) Champlain Valley 15, (8) Milton 5: Champlain Valley remains undefeated and is looking for its first D-I finals berth after defeating No. 8 Milton on Friday in the boys’ Ultimate quarterfinals.

Colby Morehouse had five goals to pace the Redhawks, while Ander Linseisen added four. DJ Steinman chipped in four assists, while Daniel Goldsmith dished out three helpers.

Champlain Valley moved on to the semifinals where it faces No. 5 Montpelier on Tuesday.

The top-seed Redhawks faced No. 5 Woodstock on Tuesday in the semifinals, with CVU looking to return to the state championship game.

The only time the two teams met in the regular season was in the first two weeks, with the Redhawks winning 11-5.

Girls’ lacrosse

(1) Champlain Valley 7, (9) Essex 0: Champlain Valley won all seven matches in straight sets and swept to a 7-0 victory over Essex on Friday in the tennis quarterfinals.

The two teams met just once in the regular season, with CVU beating the Solons 15-8 in the first week of the regular season.

Softball

(8) North Country 9, (9) Champlain Valley 7: Champlain Valley’s comeback effort fell just short as it lost to North Country in the softball playdowns on Tuesday, June 4.

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(2) Champlain Valley 19, (7) BFA-St. Albans 8: Champlain Valley jumped out to a 12-3 lead at halftime and cruised to a win over

Tabitha Bastress, Anna Dauerman, Cassie Bastress, Sage Peterson and Addie Maurer all won in singles for CVU, while Ariel Toohey and Leonie Schwetlick teamed up for one doubles win and Ella Lisle and Millie Boardman got the other doubles victory. The Redhawks advanced to

North Country had a 5-1 lead after the first inning and held off CVU’s comeback attempt to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals.

Champlain Valley finished the season at 5-12.

PHOTO BY AL FREY

Safe! Redhawk Stephen Rickert slides into the base during the team’s quarterfinal shutout of Brattleboro on June 7.

COMMUNITY NOTES

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Grace Cathedral in San Francisco in 1991 and was initiated at All Saints Church by Rev. Hal Woods, when he served as rector.

The All Saints community labyrinth has had a long history as a peaceful, prayerful walking path for our community. All are welcome.

‘Seeking Freedom’ exhibit explores slavery’s legacy

“Seeking Freedom: The Underground Railroad and the Legacy of an Abolitionist Family” opens this summer at Rokeby Museum in Ferrisburgh, which immerses visitors in the history of the Underground Railroad and the struggle for freedom.

Explore the history and ongoing legacy of enslavement in the U.S. and the complicated story of the Robinson family as they went from enslavers in earlier generations to abolitionists in the 19th century.

The museum’s seasonal exhibition, “Artifacts & Anecdotes:

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Rokeby Museum,” highlights volunteers and staff who work year-round to research and preserve the Robinson family

collection. Their work gives them unique access to the family’s collection, and in this exhibition, they share a few of their favorite objects and stories.

Other summer programing will include:

• “Seeking Freedom” gallery talks: June 13, July 25 and Aug. 15, free with admission or $5.

• Sheep & Wool Day: June 15, half-price admission with a non-perishable item for the Vergennes Food Bank. This family-friendly event has sheep petting from Hands & Heart Farm, kid’s crafts, historic spinning and weaving, printing press demonstrations, farm hours, and more. Food vendors include James Beard Award semifinalist A Tate of Abyssinia.

• Juneteenth: June 19, free.

• Reading Frederick Douglass: July 5, free.

• Pie and ice cream social: Aug. 11.

‘Monty Python’s Spamalot’

Heat Pump Rebates

This family-friendly event has sheep petting from Hands & Heart Farm, kid’s crafts, historic spinning and weaving, printing press demonstrations, farm hours, and more. Food vendors include James Beard Award semifinalist A Tate of Abyssinia. Inefficient AC wastes energy and causes high electric bills. That’s why Efficiency Vermont is offering rebates* on technologies to cool your space and help reduce emissions.

• Alternative to central AC that avoids installing ductwork

• Qualifies for 0% interest financing

• Doubles as efficient heating system in the winter

BY SHOTS BY ELLS

The Valley Players present “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” opening on Thursday, June 27, in Waitsfield with a cast that comes from all over the state. The show runs weekends through July 14, 4254 Main St., Route 100. Lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” “Spamalot” retells the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, and features a bevy of beautiful show girls, not to mention cows, killer rabbits and French people. Follow along as they search for the Holy Grail and “always look on the bright side of life.” Tickets are available in advance at valleyplayers.com. Above, The Lady of the Lake (Hilary Delisle of Hinesburg) and Sir Galahad (Lonny Edwards of Lincoln) journey to Camelot in “Spamalot” in Waitsfield.

PHOTO

First

responders fear more people head

out unprepared Vermont search, rescues on the rise

At any moment Drew Clymer could be pulled out of rest or running errands to answer the phone and listen to the anxious voice of a hiker on the other end, lost with daylight fading.

Say the hiker is in good shape, has the right gear. Clymer grabs the handle of his rugged laptop and starts inputting the coordinates he receives from the caller on a map. A red dot pops up on the screen, and Clymer immediately knows where they are. He might just know every trail in all of northern Vermont.

Clymer starts to orient the lost hiker and gives them directions. Every 20 minutes, the pair regroups on the phone, and Clymer updates the map with a new red dot. With each inch Clymer’s marker moves closer to the parking lot on the map, he feels confident the hiker will get home safe.

Sometimes it’s as simple as virtually holding someone’s hand for Clymer, search and rescue coordinator for the Vermont Department of Public Safety. His job is to field calls and send rescuers from different departments to help those in need. Other days entail lengthy, multi-unit rescues with complex maneuvers in treacherous conditions.

And Clymer fears those hard days are on the uptick.

The number of search and rescue incidents in Vermont rose 41 percent from 100 in 2015 to 141 in 2023, according to public safety department data obtained by Community News Service. More and more people are trekking off-path without being prepared, putting themselves and first responders in danger, say those in the field.

The trend has accelerated since the peak of the pandemic, the records show. From 2015 to 2019, the trendline stayed relatively stable, with the number of cases each year not straying far from 100, according to the data. From 2020 to 2023, the difference between case numbers each year grew more pronounced, going from 88 to 131 to 115 to 141 — a 60 percent increase over the span, records show.

Much of the rise can be pinned to increases in the number of routine rescue cases like when someone strays from a trail and doesn’t know how to get back. Between 2015 and 2020, Vermont averaged about 68

Members of Stowe Mountain Rescue performing a rescue during an evaluation in March 2024.

of those calls per year, the records show. But in 2021 that figure skyrocketed to 103, according to the data. There haven’t been fewer than 90 cases a year since.

Stella Richards, education outreach coordinator for Stowe Mountain Rescue, a team formed by the town, recalls just how much urgency people had to escape their quarantine loneliness by retreating into the backcountry. Shops sold out of mountain bikes and backcountry ski gear with little to no resupply at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she said. And now?

“There’s a whole load of toys out there that people are now going to start playing with,” Richards said. For now, she hasn’t seen it play out to the extent she expected, probably due to low snowpack in Vermont these past two years. Still, a shorter-term bump in the number of people needing rescue may be on the horizon.

Population trends could make that more likely, too. According to the Vermont Legislative Joint Fiscal Office, the state gained over 14,000 new residents in 2021. Accounting for residents who left the state, the net gain that year was around 4,100 people.

Clymer, who along with his state job serves as deputy chief to the Stowe rescue team, said rescuers are seeing vast unpreparedness everywhere from well-known hiking spots to the backsides of ski resorts.

“There is a trend toward people being less prepared and finding themselves needing help,” he said.

Because Stowe Mountain Rescue team members are highly trained in technical rescue, they respond to roughly three times the number of calls as any other rescue team in Vermont, according to Clymer. From its founding in 1980 up to 2020, the team

hovered around 17 to 20 calls a year, he said. In 2020, that number shot into the 40s and has climbed in the years since, he said.

Search and rescue authorities divide calls into two classes: cases where rescuers know where the person is and cases where they do not.

When someone’s whereabouts are unknown, all hands are on deck. Troops are pulled out of sleep, off the roads and back from vacation. Game wardens become available, and first responders are notified.

For the most part, these calls involve people with known medical conditions and those who are very young or old.

Calls where rescuers know the subject’s location are widely more common. Every year since 2016, the number of this kind of rescue has been more than double that of cases involving missing people, according to state data.

When Clymer takes a call from someone in need, he tries to identify the gravity of the situation by asking questions about age, clothing, equipment, weather conditions and how many people need help. The survey is important, he said, to prevent rescuer fatigue and treat each case individually.

Incidents usually involve more than one person. This year, close to 100 people needed help out of 40 rescue incidents Clymer had recorded as of early May. Of the people who are lost and not part of a vulnerable population, recreationalists make up a large majority.

Many of those recreationalists found themselves at the backside of Killington Resort in Brewers Brook, more than 2 miles from any access road. In January, Clymer received multiple calls a week from folks who needed assistance getting out of rela-

tively similar spots, including a group of 23 on Jan. 20.

Most ski rescue calls come from Killington and Stowe, said Clymer, as they are the most popular mountains for tourists to enjoy fresh powder on the backside.

Once the snow finally came at the start of this year, Clymer said he received 13 calls in one weekend — all from Stowe and Killington. They weren’t calls from experienced backcountry skiers. Instead, the calls came from resortgoers who had skied out of bounds.

Clymer said that at Killington, it is as easy as taking a lift up and then ducking a few ropes. That’s what happened with the group of 23 rescued in January, who violated policy and ignored signs, a rep from Killington Ski Resort told media at the time.

What skiers like those don’t realize, said Clymer, is that once they duck the ropes, they are stuck in a back bowl that could be miles from the nearest access road.

“They just don’t realize that a mile from a road is just like it was 200 years ago — and cold and dark and nobody’s around,” Clymer said.

Another thing most aren’t aware of is just how long it takes rescuers to reach those in need, who may not be prepared for the delay.

“A lot of people think we’re going to drop out of a helicopter, and they won’t miss their dinner reservation,” Clymer said. Too many show a lack of respect for the conditions, remoteness and harsh weather as well, he said.

From 2009 to 2018, an average of four

LAURYN KATZ

COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE

PHOTO COURTESY STOWE MOUNTAIN RESCUE

continued from page 12

people a year died from exposure to cold air or water, according to a 2021 report from the Vermont Department of Health, not including those who fell through ice and drowned. Between 2012 and 2018, there was an average of 110 cold-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits, the report says.

Hypothermia is a risk throughout the year, not just in winter months, Richards said. It can sneak up on people during the shoulder seasons — when it seems warmer than it is — if you get wet from rainfall and night sets in, Richards said. That’s why a dry base layer and some form of protection against the elements are key items in her pack no matter the time of year.

safe, but it also turns you into a resource,” Richards said.

Pay up?

“If people know that they’re going to face a bill, they are going to think twice before calling.”

— Stella Richards

A source of light, a first aid kit, a spare power bank, food, water and warmth are other essentials Richards urges people to bring on every trip.

“Carrying certain pieces of equipment not only makes you

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

Clymer said agencies in Vermont don’t charge for rescue. Most people rescued by the Stowe Mountain agency later make a donation, Richards said. But some people think those whose recklessness gets them stranded should pay up.

Back in February, the East Burke Volunteer Fire Brigade suffered mechanical failures while trying to free a vehicle stuck in over 3 feet of snow up by the abandoned radar base in East Haven. Many community members took to their keyboards to push for charging the trio. So did someone from the brigade.

A post from the group’s Facebook page said the crew would only support rescues when requested by an emergency agency or if someone involved was

service directory

suffering from a medical issue or injury. “Any rescues made that are found to be of willful ignorance or disregard, the individuals will be responsible for the cost of the recovery. The taxpayers should not hold the burden of others ignorance,” the post read. (Town administrator Jim Sullivan said the local agency would still respond to any incident.)

New Hampshire has been asking negligent hikers to repay the cost of their rescue since 2008 and is one of the few states that does so. Every year, authorities there send roughly 6 percent of the hikers they rescue a bill, citing negligence or a lack of preparation, according to Backpacker magazine.

But Richards said charging for rescue might make people hesitate to call for help, leading to dangerous emergencies that could have been prevented.

“If people know that they’re going to face a bill, they are going to think twice before calling,” Richards said.

Clymer and Richards both stressed the importance of creating a judgment-free zone to break the stigma around seeking help. About once a week, Clymer is on

the phone with someone who has lost the trail, giving them verbal instructions on how to get out safely. In these simple rescues, something could easily go wrong if the person in need waits to call.

“The earlier we are involved in a situation that has gone wrong for

whatever reason,” said Richards, “the simpler it is.”

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

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the Champlain Valley School District (formerly Chittenden South Supervisory Union) including the towns of Charlotte, Hinesburg, St. George, Shelburne, and Williston intends to destroy the special education records of all students who exited from any special education program during the 20182019 school year.

page 2

A permanent record of the student’s name, address, phone number, grades, attendance record, and year completed is maintained without time limitation.

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.

Any former student, who has reached 18 years of age, may review and/or receive these records upon request. Also, any parent of a student who is 18 years of age or older, who has retained parental rights, may obtain these records.

Please contact the Champlain Valley Union High School Special Services O ce at (802) 482-7115 by July 31, 2024. If no student, parent, or guardian responds to this public notice prior to or by July 31, 2024, the school district will assume consent to destroy the entire record speci c to the student.

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

an animal it. People animals

have a discussion, about what we pay for the service.”

GMTA has also waived support for the move, especially as the authority faces its own monetary pressures and begins the process of cutting services.

“If Hinesburg chooses to depart GMT effective July 1, 2025, GMT agrees to make a good faith effort to transfer service to Tri-Valley Transit during Fiscal Year 2025 and will continue to provide our existing service until Tri-Valley Transit is ready,” the authority’s board wrote to Odit last week. “In such a case, the GMT Hinesburg assessment will be provided to Tri-Valley Transit, prorated for the year based on when Tri-Valley starts fully providing the service.”

Clayton Clark, general manager of GMTA, explained that the route that passes through Hinesburg sees some of the lowest ridership numbers, but costs the authority nearly the same amount to operate. Of the two runs operated daily, the buses usually see, on average, roughly 12 riders per day.

“My assessment from this discussion is the future of the route looks more stable by transitioning completely to Tri-Valley Transit than staying with GMTA,” Odit said, especially since Tri-Valley Transit operates smaller buses.

Clark explained that GMTA faces a nearly $2 million funding gap next year and potentially an even larger gap the following year. Although the Legislature approved an additional $630,000 for the service this fiscal year, he explained that the service is anticipating cutting nearly 30 percent of its services. Since ridership is one factor the authority can assess when making cuts, the route that runs through Hinesburg would likely have been affected anyway.

“If Hinesburg didn’t make this change, there would be a possibility that we would lose the service or have a reduction in service but still be a contributing member,” Odit said.

The money from the state, Clark said, will help slow down the cuts, but ultimately, since the funding was a one-time infusion, it doesn’t change the amount that will need to be reduced overall.

“It’s my expectation that at our July Board of Commissioners meeting, we’ll set our targets for reduction in fiscal year 25 and fiscal year 26,” he said, adding that the authority will plan to hold public hearings and gather input from impacted communities. “By November, we will have identified what reductions will take place.”

Fares for the transit authority went live on May 20 after a pause during the pandemic, but Clark said the authority is banking on those bringing in only 10 percent — compared to 20 percent pre-pandemic — of the authority’s operating budget. GMTA has experienced an unprecedented amount of inflationary pressures amounting to a nearly 34 percent increase in operating costs over the past five years.

Phil Pouech, D-Hinesburg, and member of the House transportation committee, explained at the May 15 meeting that the move would ultimately be a win-winwin situation. As the town expects more housing in the coming years, securing a stable — and possibly less expensive — transportation services should remain a top priority for the town.

“I think it’s important as we have more housing here to have this option for people,” Pouech, who is also a member of GMTA’s board of commissioners, said. “My hope for public transportation, whether it’s a bus route, or more flexible transportation, for the elderly, and all those sorts of services that are needed, that we find a way to add more to it than just these sort of basic routes.”

The selectboard has shown increased support for the move over the past few months, and Odit said it is likely the board will make the official move next week.

PHOTO BY ALEXANDRA LAZAR

A tiger swallowtail enjoys the nectar of a lilac bush in Charlotte. “This particular variety blooms later than most lilacs, so I suspect the butterfly was excited to find some blossoms when most had already faded,” photographer Alexandra Lazar says.