The Citizen

Tropical storm cut power for thousands of users

ERIN PETENKO AND ETHAN WEINSTEIN VTDIGGER

More than 600 Vermont electric customers were still without power as of 2:30 p.m. Monday, three days after the remnants of Hurricane Debby hit the state, according to VT Outages, which tracks utility data in the state.

Nearly all the remaining outages were customers of Vermont Electric Cooperative, which serves a broad swath of northern Vermont. The longest outages were concentrated in Chittenden and Franklin counties, with more than 150 customers apiece out of power in Essex and Underhill. VEC representatives did not respond to requests for comment Monday afternoon.

At its peak, the storm caused nearly 1,000 outages that led more than 50,000 customers to lose power as high wind and rain hit Vermont. That number dropped gradually, with about 28,000 outages as of 6 a.m. Saturday; 8,500 as of 6 a.m. Sunday; and

See STORM on page 11

NOW SERVING BREAKFAST

Charlotte residents balk on inclusion statement

Selectboard mulls town meeting vote instead

Charlotte residents may see a declaration of inclusion on next year’s Town Meeting Day ballot. To date, 152 Vermont cities and towns, home to about 77 percent of the state’s population, have adopted the Vermont Declaration of Inclusion, which was conceived by a group of grassroots organizers in the Rutland area four years ago in the heat of 2020. The initiative’s intent is to promote and reinforce a message to all visitors that Vermont is a welcoming community made of people who will treat strangers fairly, provide encouragement and support their interests.

The declaration, which asks towns to “condemn racism and welcome all persons, regardless

See CHARLOTTE on page 10

PHOTO BY TOBIAS NADELL

Tobias Nadell stayed up until the wee hours of Monday morning to capture this shot of the aurora borealis over Lake Champlain. Nadell took the photo between 2-3 a.m. Monday from the Charlotte town beach.

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

Vermonters help state’s pollinators by growing native crops in gardens

Julie Parker-Dickinson, a master gardener and a second-grade teacher, was encouraging kids about their futures in 2017 when she realized something: She didn’t feel she was doing anything to ensure a bright future would still be there for them.

She decided to plant a garden at Quinlan’s Covered Bridge in Charlotte, where she lives, the first of many around town that she would fill with native species. The idea was to build a better food source for local pollinators, who play a vital role in helping plants reproduce. One day, she heard from Bethany Barry, who wanted to help pollinators in Addison County. She thought Parker-Dickinson could be a good partner.

Now both Parker-Dickinson and Barry are part of Pollinator Pathway, a network of volunteers across 18 states who plant, track and locate gardens of native, non-invasive plants and flowers. Their mission is to reduce the distance many pollinators like bees and butterflies must go to get nectar and pollen. The gardens, in effect, form a highway for them. Parker-Dickinson runs the Charlotte effort, Barry the one in Addison County — two of six in Vermont.

The four principles of the pathways,

said Barry, are to remove invasives, plant natives, abstain from pesticides and rethink your lawn.

More extreme heat caused by increasing climate change makes it more tiring for pollinators to travel around. At the same time, they must travel longer distances than they’re used to because of how many lawns and homes have replaced natural landscapes.

Monarch butterflies might be able to fly 2,500 miles when migrating, but Parker-Dickinson said the average butterfly is probably going no more than a mile to find food.

“The pathway is meant to be a connector,” she said, comparing it to a grocery store where there would normally be a food desert.

Parker-Dickinson has planted gardens by Monkton Central School, on a corner on the way into Charlotte from the south and at the Charlotte Library. One project she’s currently working on is at the school, where she teaches and is maintaining a strip filled with native plants, sunflowers and zinnias in the parking lot.

Some plants she uses include Culver’s root, butterfly weed, mountain mint and bee balm — all native to Vermont.

Parker-Dickinson said there are 45 million acres of lawn in the U.S. “If a portion was committed to pollinators, we could really do something about the climate crisis,” she said.

“Nobody gets paid for this. It’s just something we can do to help,” she said. “It’s been really rewarding in terms of the whole community to take pride in.”

Barry said bringing people in her community together has been an important part of the project. “It’s all about educating

KATE KAMPNER

PHOTO BY JULIE PARKER-DICKINSON

Volunteers work on a pollinator garden in Charlotte at the corner of Philo Road and Spear Street in May 2023.

See GARDENS on page 12

Primary

picture? Check out local election results online

Vermont towns held primary elections for statewide, legislative and county offices on Tuesday. The results were not available as of press deadline, but they are available online at otherpapersbvt.com.

There was not a lot of action in this first round of elections to determine what major party candidates will appear on the November election. However, there was one contested local race, in Democratic primary for state senator.

Vying for three seats in the Chittenden Southeast Senate district representing Charlotte and Hinesburg were Democratic incumbents Thomas Chit-

tenden of South Burlington, Kesha Ram Hinsdale of Shelburne and Virginia “Ginny” Lyons of Williston. Louis Meyers of South Burlington was running as a challenger.

Running as the lone Republican candidate is Bruce Roy of Williston.

None of the local House races were contested, so it’s on the November with the slate of them.

With not much action on the local level, Democratic incumbents Phil Pouech of Hinesburg and Chea Waters Evans of Charlotte are the only candidates running for Chittenden-4 and Chittenden-5, respectively.

Shelburne farm hosts fundraiser for Latin American farm workers

BUSY ANDERSON COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE

Food4Farmers, a Vermont-based nonprofit, wants to relieve Latin American food insecurity with gourmet burgers, hotdogs and salads.

The third annual Food4Farmers Harvest Picnic is returning to Shelburne’s Bread and Butter Farm on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 5 p.m. The dinner, prepared by Blank Page Café owner Mike Proia and his team, is a fundraiser for small-scale, rural farmers producing coffee consumed, in part, by Vermonters.

“It’s really important to be involved in a movement that’s trying to help better the conditions for the farmers that are at the origin of some of the products that we use in our businesses,” Proia, a former board member of the nonprofit for seven years, said.

Tickets are $60 for adults, $50 for kids. Half of each purchase will be donated to Food4Farmers projects.

The family-friendly event includes live music from The Meatpackers, a silent auction and sponsors like Vermont Bean Crafters, Ben & Jerry’s and Foam Brewers.

“We see a lot of people who appreciate the role that coffee plays in their lives and understand that there are people behind those beans,” Food4Farmers board member Laura Peterson said.

The nonprofit works specifically with coffee farmers in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Colombia whose incomes do not provide for sufficient and nutritious food.

“Los Meses Flacos,” Spanish for “the thin months,” describes the season in Latin America, usually between April and September, when many coffee farmers struggle to put food on the table, Peterson said.

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Another way to help keep coffee-farming families well fed is introducing them to trades like beekeeping, according to the nonprofit. The group’s leaders see the longevity, resiliency and sustainability of farmland in Latin America as key to easing times of financial hardship.

“We tell the coffee growers, ‘Keep producing your coffee but invest a little bit of your land to either diversify for income or produce more food for your consumption so you can save the money,’” Food4Farmers director and cofounder Marcela Pino said.

Pino is originally from Costa Rica and acutely familiar with what little income farmers make from exporting coffee that sells at low prices.

During her 30 years in the U.S., Pino has been struck by Vermonters’ awareness of the relationship between producers, consumers and the environment.

“Vermont has been very inspirational for me,” Pino said. “We are not separate. We are one food system.”

Organizers hope to see around 100 guests at the picnic this year and raise between $20,000 and $25,000.

“That amount of money makes a huge difference for the coffee-farming families that we work with,” Peterson said.

Lindsey Bolger, a Food4Farmers board member, said farmers in Vermont and those in Latin America face many of the same challenges. Events like the picnic help make that connection for people here, she said.

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

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CRIME & COURTS

Vermont State Police Blotter

Aug. 11 at 1:02 p.m., police arrested David Derick, 36, of Charlotte, for first degree aggravated domestic assault, interfering with access to emergency services, allegedly committing those offenses in the presence of a child. Police had respond-

ed to an incident at a home off Ethan Allen Highway in Charlotte and determined Derick had committed bodily harm to a 39-year-old member of the household. Derick was held for lack of $2,500 bail and was arraigned Monday, Aug. 12.

Hinesburg Police Blotter: Aug. 6-12

Total incidents: 38

Traffic stops: 6

Arrests: 2

Aug. 7 at 7 a.m., an officer responded to the Jiffy Mart on Ballard’s Corner Road for a report of shoplifting.

Aug. 7 at 9:47 a.m., officers were called to a single-car crash on North Road.

Aug. 7 at 9:52 a.m., officers responded to a single-car crash on Route 116 and assisted first responders with a related medical emergency.

Aug. 7 at 2:49 p.m., police investigated theft of property from a residence on Hillview Terrace.

Aug. 7 at 4:18 p.m., police investigated a report of a stolen vehicle from a residence on

North Road.

Aug. 8 at 6:52 p.m., an officer responded to St. George to assist Williston Police with a motor vehicle crash.

Aug. 9 at 1:04 p.m., officers investigated the report of a theft from the Jiffy Mart on Ballard’s Corner Road.

Aug. 11 at 6:50 p.m., after investigating suspicious activity on Burritt Road, police cited Benjamin Ladue, 20 of Williston, for unlawful trespass.

Aug. 12 at 1:50 p.m., an officer investigated a report of shoplifting from the Jiffy Mart on Ballard’s Corner Road. Lucas St. Cyr, 23 of Hinesburg, was later located at a residence on North Road and cited for petit larceny.

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Man accused of purposely running over family member

MIKE DONOGHUE CORRESPONDENT

A Shelburne man, who state police say drove over a family member, has pleaded not guilty in Vermont Superior Court to criminal charges of aggravated domestic assault and reckless endangerment.

Peter “Tad” Hoehl, 46, had an alcohol level of 0.142 percent after the incident in Ferrisburgh on Aug. 6, Vermont State Police said in court papers.

The victim, 46, was rushed to the UVM Medical Center, where she was admitted with broken ribs, a collapsed lung and fluid in her abdomen, court records note. She also received abrasions with imbedded gravel, police said.

“The injuries correlate to being ran over by a vehicle and the tires spinning on her,” state trooper Kelsey Dobson wrote in a court affidavit.

“While at the hospital, (the victim) provided a brief statement to Trooper (Nicole) Twamley in

which she stated she believed Peter’s actions to be intentional and had heard Peter put the vehicle in gear just before getting ran over,” Dobson wrote.

Defense lawyer Brooks McArthur said after the arraignment there was no intent on behalf of his client.

He also said there was no driving while under the influence charge filed because the inci-

HOEHL on page 5

Man killed in head-on car crash on Route 2A

A passenger in a car that slid out of control on Route 2A last weekend died after the car he was in was hit head-on. A Hinesburg resident involved in the crash was also taken to the hospital.

According to Vermont State Police, a 2017 Toyota Corolla driven by Shaina Levesque, 28, of Milton, hydroplaned as Levesque was driving north on Route 2A near Butternut Road in Williston,

just north of the St. George town line. The car crossed into the other lane and was hit by a 2020 Chevy truck driven by Kathleen Couture, 58, of Hinesburg, who was unable to avoid the collision, police determined.

Andrew Marshall, 30, of Milton, a passenger in Levesque’s car, died from his injuries and three other juvenile passengers, as well as Levesque, were taken to the Univer-

sity of Vermont Medical Center. Couture was also transported to UVM.

Police say the crash closed Route 2A for four hours. Police did not release further details, saying the investigation is active and ongoing. The Williston Police Department is being assisted in the ongoing investigation by the Vermont State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit.

See

HOEHL continued from page 4

dent did not happen on a public highway. Police had said in court papers that DUI was among the charges when he was taken into custody.

Dobson said Hoehl initially refused to say how much he had to drink and wanted to talk to another trooper. Hoehl eventually said he had five Blue Light beers, Dobson wrote. Hoehl refused to provide a preliminary breath sample or conduct standardized field sobriety exercises at the scene, Dobson’s affidavit noted. He later provided a test at the state police barracks in New Haven.

The Vermont State Police emergency dispatch center got a call from Peter Hoehl about 10:18 p.m. and a woman could be heard in the background saying that he had purposely run her over, Dobson said in a court affidavit.

The initial police response was to Grosse Point Road, but nobody was found there and troopers later located the caller near a place on Driftwood Lane, police said. A police press release listed the incident as near Sand Road.

Police said Peter Hoehl indicated he did not realize that he hit her after the first of the two bumps. Police said he estimated his speed at two miles per hour.

Dobson said a review of the tire marks at the scene showed “sudden acceleration of the vehicle. These marks contradict Peter’s statements about traveling only two miles per hour,” Dobson said.

Judge David Fenster released Peter Hoehl on strict conditions, including that he stay at least 300

feet away from the victim and have no contact with her by phone, electronic communication, including social media. He also is not to drink alcohol beverages, Fenster said.

Peter Hoehl said he and the victim were having a fight over upcoming surgery and unwanted guests visiting the property, police said.

Police said he reported nobody threatened anybody and he decided to leave for the night, but she did not want him to depart. Peter Hoehl said she dumped gravel on his 2021 Genesis to stop him from leaving, according to police, who said they found evidence on the hood and roof.

Hoehl petitioned the court to appoint a defense lawyer at taxpayer expense, but it was denied. Hoehl is the son of philanthropists Cynthia and Robert Hoehl, the co-founder of IDX, an international medical software firm in South Burlington. He is a trustee of the Hoehl Family Foundation.

The court has set the next hearing for Sept. 23.

Peter “Tad” Hoehl,

Choose hope over hate, opportunity over fear

Guest Perspective John Bossange

There’s been a lot of talk lately about the Republican ticket featuring a presidential and vice-presidential candidate who are being accused of making “weird” comments during their campaign stops and interview sessions. Voters who are interested in their candidacies are now wondering if their recent remarks are weird or simply represent who they really are.

I think they are both.

Trump has a long history of lying, and most recently making some very weird and politically unwise responses to questions that will alienate potential swing voters. But that is who he is. He speaks to his base and not to the larger contingent of American voters.

That has not served him well, as evidenced by his inability to capture most of the popular vote in the 2016 and 2020 elections.

the MAGA party base of voters. His demonization of women is strange and, like Trump, deeply hostile to women.

One must wonder why he is making these statements? Just two weeks ago he said married couples should have their votes count more than single Americans. He seems to be getting weirder.

Yet, unlike Trump, we really do not know who Mr. Vance is. He has a history of saying that Trump is unfit for office. His comments from just a year ago would have let us to believe he’d never be a vice-presidential choice. But now, as Trump’s selection, he has done a complete 180 and is praising the “patriots” of Jan. 6, supporting the long history of lies made by Trump, and has entered race, religion, and sex into his platform of issues as well. All of this is weird, strange and worrisome. But equally troubling is the fact that millions of voters are now wondering what Vance really believed before his abrupt pivot to gain the favor of Trump. Maybe Trump is wondering that too, and if he might need to throw Vance under the bus just as he did to Vice President Mike Pence.

But it has been Trump’s most recent derogatory comments on race and religion, combined with his sexist and disrespectful actions with women, that will most certainly limit his appeal to a broader base of supporters. Being a convicted felon and found liable of sexual abuse in a civil trial will haunt his reputation forever, and now challenging another candidate’s “blackness,” and then telling an audience of Christians that he will make our country the “United Christian States of America,” will cause millions of potential voters to move even further away from his candidacy, ignoring his divisive rhetoric and weird, uncomforting opinions.

Unfortunately, there is nothing new here. Race, religion and sex have always been central to Trump’s political agenda. Challenging President Obama’s nationality, making disrespectful and inaccurate accusations about immigrants and Americans who are people of color, supporting white supremacists who chanted “Jews will not replace us,” bragging about fondling women, hiring a prostitute to service him while his third wife nursed their newborn son are all examples of who Trump really is.

Weird and creepy yes, but at least we know what we are getting.

The same cannot be said for Trump’s vice-presidential candidate, JD Vance. He has made weird comments as well.

Questioning a woman’s right to an abortion and supporting a federal abortion ban even in the case of rape or incest, and mocking women’s choice to not have children are two distasteful, unappealing and weird political positions coming from a candidate who is supposed to help expand

Will Trump and Vance continue to use race, religion and gender as campaign issues? If they do, only the loyal MAGA base, along with racists, religious extremists and misogynists will drink that Kool Aid, and the base will not grow large enough to win either the popular or electoral college vote.

Instead, their bubble of fear, hate and darkness and their offensive language will insult the intelligence of most voters and rub against the moral fabric that has made America the “shining city on the hill.”

America and democracy are ideas that have evolved slowly and often imperfectly over 248 years. Neither has been static nor permanently defined. Most Americans do not want to halt our evolution and stop progress toward becoming that “shining city on the hill.”

If the MAGA Party believes it can defy America’s history, they have not studied America’s history. Political demagogues have come and gone. I believe that will occur again. Like others who have used the same playbook, their bubble will shrink and eventually burst.

America deserves better than Trump and Vance. Their brand of weirdness is not who we are. America’s history has proven repeatedly that voters will reject hate and fear and see through the message of demagogues.

Hope and opportunity, not hate and fear, make up our nation’s DNA.

John Bossange is a retired middle school principal who now volunteers on several nonprofit boards in the Champlain Valley.

Members of the Charlotte-Shelburne-Hinesburg Rotary team raced in the Lake Champlain Dragon Boat Festival, which was held on Aug. 3-4 from the Burlington Waterfront. The event supports the programs of Dragonheart Vermont, in addition to Osher Integrative Oncology at the University of Vermont Cancer Center. Learn more at dragonheartvermont.org.

Paddle

End-of-Summer SALE

Pocock Rocks

COMMUNITY

Pocock Rocks Music Festival and Street Fair is Bristol’s annual celebration of local musicians, artisans, crafters, food producers and beverage makers. The event returns Saturday, Aug. 17, 3-8 p.m., and it’s free. Come dance, eat, shop and play on Bristol’s Main Street for the day and catch the lineup of musical acts: The Barncasters, BodenBender, Organized Dead, Tom Bisson & The Rustics, Soulstice and Jeremy Mendicino.

Enjoy Age Well meals at Charlotte Senior Center

The Age Well meal pickup for Wednesday, Aug. 21 is from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Charlotte Senior Center. The meal features Panko crusted pork cutlet w/gravy, mashed potatoes, diced carrots, dinner roll, applesauce & 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.

Carpenter-Carse hosts workshop on grief

lotte Walks, every third Friday at a different trailhead at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 16.

July’s location is at the end of Plouffe Lane. This 1.4-mile network of trails, featuring a meadow, river and woods, is one of Charlotte’s lesser-known natural areas. It can be found by taking Carpenter Road to Plouffe Lane. Follow the lane to the end, take a right at the fork and park in the designated parking area.

Please drive slowly down Plouffe Lane and be sure to park in the official parking lot to the right at the end of the lane.

Visit charlottegrange.org to learn the meet-up location each month. Want to be alerted to weather changes? Sign up at charlottegrangevt@gmail.com.

Share that peak season produce with neighbors

It’s peak garden harvest season and the Charlotte Grange welcomes your surplus garden harvest to share and swap with neighbors.

their own schedules.

Drivers receive mileage reimbursement for the trips. If you can help or would like more information, call Vicki Vest at 800-6395861, ext. 243, or email vvest@ vabvi.org.

Shelburne church, Age

well host August luncheon

Age Well is offering a luncheon on Tuesday, Aug. 20, in the St Catherine of Siena Parish Hall, 72 Church St. in Shelburne.

Entertainment will be provided by Gerry Ortego on guitar.

The menu is barbecue chicken sandwich on a roll, potato salad, broccoli salad with Italian dressing, watermelon, pumpkin chip cookie and milk.

You must register by Wednesday, Aug. 14, to Kerry Batres, nutrition coordinator, 802-6625283 or email kbatres@agewellvt. org. Tickets are also available at the Age Well Office, 875 Roosevelt Highway, Suite 210, Colchester. Check-in time is 11:30 a.m. and the meal will be served at noon. There is a $5 suggested donation.

Vergennes Day brings 60 vendors to city park

On Aug. 27, bring your surplus garden harvest with your neighbors at Veggie Share, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Charlotte Grange Hall, 2858 Spear St., and enjoy a short canning and food preservation demonstration by Grange president Tai Dinnan.

Grief is universal. Grief is personal. It can be overwhelming. How can we show up for people enduring loss? What can we say? What can we do? What kind of support is beneficial?

Join the Carpenter-Carse Library in Hinesburg on Thursday, Aug. 15, from 6-8 p.m. for “Being a Friend in Grief: An Informative Workshop for Times of Hardship” with resident Francesca Arnoldy.

This event is free, and all are welcome. Call, stop in or email to sign up or ask questions.

Arnoldy will discuss the language of grief, including what to say and phrases to avoid, and how to offer emotional care and practical assistance to the bereaved with sensitivity, no matter the type of loss.

This is not a mental health training or grief support group, it is a community education event meant to help increase courage, confidence and connections as friends, loved ones and neighbors.

Discover lesser-known areas at Charlotte Walks

Want to get more familiar with the town’s public trails or meet and chat with other Charlotters? Join The Charlotte Grange for Char-

No money is exchanged, and participants pick whatever they’d like for their families during the event. If you just need produce for your family and do not have anything to donate, come and shop. Any remaining items will be distributed by the Charlotte Food Shelf.

Volunteer drivers needed for the blind

The Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired has an immediate need for volunteer drivers to help get blind and visually impaired people where they need to go.

Volunteer drivers fill the void when family or friends are unavailable to help, or when public transportation is simply not a viable option.

The association provides free, personalized transportation services to individuals with vision loss when no one else is available to help. If you like to drive and help others while doing so, come be a part of a team of inspirational volunteers. Volunteer drivers work on an as needed basis and are free to accept or reject any trip to suit

Vergennes Day, an annual celebration featuring over 60 vendors in the city park, returns Saturday, Aug. 24, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

The event includes live music on the bandstand, pancake breakfast, Lions Club chicken barbecue the Little City Road Race. For the kids, there is a bubble pit at the fire station and horse and wagon rides. Enjoy merchant sales and more throughout the Little City. Later, come dance the night away with The Hitmen.

For more details, visit vergennesday.com.

Shelburne Town Hall hosts contra dance

Qwill Duvall will call to the sounds of Aaron Marcus and Frank Heyburn at a contra dance in Shelburne’s town hall, 5374 Shelburne Road, on Friday, Aug. 23, 6:45-10 p.m.

All are welcome, all dances are taught, and no partner or experience is necessary. Bring a pair of clean, soft-soled shoes to dance in and a water bottle to keep you hydrated. Masks welcome but optional. Please stay home if you have symptoms.

Cost is $12 for adults. Find out

Back outdoors!

480 Thomas Rd Shelburne

480 Thomas Road Shelburne

480 Thomas Rd Shelburne

Saturday, August 20

www.vermontzen.org 9:00-3:00

Back outdoors!

480 Thomas Rd Shelburne

www.vermontzen.org 9:00-3:00

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www.vermontzen.org

Back outdoors! 480 Thomas Road Shelburne Saturday • August 17 • 9-3

480 Thomas Road Shelburne

480 Thomas Rd Shelburne

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Saturday, August 20

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Saturday, August 20

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Saturday, August 20

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9:00-3:00 480 Thomas Rd Shelburne

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Shelburne Day 2024

PHOTO BY ALEXANDRA A. LAZAR

“If you look closely,” the photographer says, “the tiny florets in the center of each flower look like tiny stars!” Lazar shot these beauties near her home in Charlotte.

Last year, Vermonters threw away 71,113 tons of food scraps which ended up in our only landfill. Equal to 242 pounds of food scraps per person per year.

CSWD’s Organic Recycling Facility (ORF) and our six Drop-Off Centers accept food scraps from residents and businesses to keep them out of Vermont’s only landfill.

CHARLOTTE

continued from page 1

of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, or socioeconomic status,” has gained momentum in recent years with the support of Vermont Interfaith Action, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the Vermont League of Cities and Towns and the Vermont Council on Rural Development.

But for the town of Charlotte, the adoption was not as cut and dry, and spurred a much larger conversation over inclusion in town.

Some residents opposed to signing a declaration said that it might set a “terrible” precedent down the road. Other residents said the entire conversation highlights some much-needed change within a town made of residents who are mostly rich, white and old.

Resident Tanna Kelton explained that while, on the surface, the declaration looks great, she believes the town already has documents for employees and residents that cover these issues.

“We have the Vermont constitution, we have the U.S. constitution,” she said. “And when you look deeper into their website, what they’re after is development in town, bringing in international and national people to live here, bringing in businesses and investors. And first of all, those people are not elected, they don’t represent the taxpayer, and they don’t live here, and they’re not going to suffer any repercussions for what we sign.”

She said being kind is the most important thing a town and its residents can do, but signing a declaration that says how residents should live is like trying to solve a problem that just isn’t there.

Selectboard member Frank Tenney agreed that inclusion just seems like something Charlotters already do, at least most of them.

“I mean, I have a mobile home park. It’s diversified,” he said. “We’ve got every type of person in there. They’re wonderful! They open up your eyes because you see the different lifestyles. You see the different people. It’s that way through that park, and there are people in there that have mental disabilities, there’s race, there’s socioeconomic diversity.”

“But I do think it’s important for people to have their say, maybe have a broader conversation. So, I’m willing to put it on as an article in March.”

— Lewis Mudge

Resident Michelin Carroll worries about the implementation plan outlined on the group’s website, which suggests towns that adopt the declaration form a Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee with a mandate to guide the town in its effort to become more diverse and inclusive.

“Anytime there’s a mandate, my feathers get ruffled, because it seems like there could be a legal binding,” she said. “We’re already paying way too much in this town to have to add more. It just seems over the top.”

Another resident, Rosemary Zezulinski, held similar sentiments, saying the issues in town have nothing to do with a “diversity thing,” but the heart of the problem is the cost of living in a town overly burdened by increasing taxes.

“I’m just saying I’m not seeing the problem,” she said. “I may be white, but I look at my sons who graduated from college, they came home and they’re trying to pay off debt. I don’t see them getting a house anywhere in the state. The cheapest thing is the house. It’s the taxes that are going up. So if we want to talk about why young people are moving out, it’s because they can’t afford housing.”

But for other residents, like long-time Charlotte resident Carrie Spear, diversity means something much more for a town that has been hesitant towards development. She noted as a “disturbing” example that she is already hearing about people who are opposing a proposed senior housing development in East Charlotte.

“There are already 40 households that are poised to fight every minute of that development, and that makes me so sad because we don’t have a place for our seniors in town,” she said.

Other residents voiced overwhelming support for the document, like Vince Crockenberg, who said it’s time for residents to counter the impression that “we are this exclusive white enclave in New England.”

While there was a split among residents who opposed the document and those who were rooting for its adoption at Monday night’s meeting, selectboard members ultimately did not make any concrete decisions about what they would do. Instead, they have committed to at least putting it up for a town-wide vote, potentially on Town Meeting Day.

Selectboard member Lewis Mudge, on a personal note, voiced support for the document saying he would be voting for it and also advocating for the vote.

“But I do think it’s important for people to have their say, maybe have a broader conversation,” Mudge said. “So, I’m willing to put it on as an article in March.”

Board member Natalie Kanner also voiced support for the document, saying that a document like this is like the difference between leaving your door open and greeting people when they enter your house.

Kanner will also be spearheading a subcommittee that would propose ideas for the implementation of any initiatives corresponding to an inclusion document.

STORM continued from page

1,400 as of 6 a.m. Monday.

Leah Korce of Richford was one of the latest customers to have power restored. On Friday night, she was walking around her 27-acre property when she heard a loud crack and saw “a white light go from one end of the property to the other,” she told VTDigger. Poles had fallen down and wires were hanging loose in several locations.

She immediately called Vermont Electric Cooperative, but when workers showed up the next morning, they said it would need special equipment to be fixed. It wasn’t until 8:30 a.m. Monday that a crew came and fully fixed the outage.

Korce said she was frustrated by the lack of clarity around when her power would be restored and by the cooperative’s customer service, but she praised those out in the field restoring power.

“It’s not the crews,” she said. “Those guys are great.”

Thousands lose power

Friday evening

As the brunt of Tropical Depression Debby hit Vermont on Friday evening, more than 48,000 customers had lost power around 8:30 p.m.

VT Outages reported the highest number of blackouts in Hinesburg, Colchester and Williston. The National Weather Service in Burlington detected gusts in excess of 60 miles per hour.

Heavy rain first arrived in Vermont overnight Thursday, as remnants of Debby, originally

a hurricane, moved in from the south and west, dropping up to 2 inches of rain in some northern and central parts of the state.

The storm prompted tornado and flood warnings across Vermont. It also led President Joe Biden to issue a federal disaster declaration for Vermont on Friday morning, promising relief and reimbursement to certain counties.

While much of the state stayed dry earlier in the day, heavy rain picked up in the afternoon.

The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for much of the western half of the state,

with a high wind warning in northwestern Vermont active until 10 p.m.

Conor Lahiff, a meteorologist with the weather service’s Burlington office, said “the threat of flooding had decreased,” with rain already starting to leave Vermont as of 8 p.m. “But unfortunately, as the rain moved out, we still had some strong winds.”

The northern Champlain Valley was experiencing the highest winds at “just over 60 miles per hour,” he said, but much of the state had seen winds of 40 or 50 miles per hour.

The City of Burlington’s Park, Recreation & Waterfront team is searching for an

HVAC Specialist

This position is responsible for maintenance of city fountains, and assisting in the maintenance and care of public heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems within the public buildings and public park system. In addition, this position performs skilled and general maintenance in the repair, replacement, and installation of facility mechanical systems, including plumbing, and other mechanical equipment and assists in plan facility related maintenance and execution of daily, monthly, bi-annual, annual work order requests.

Our ideal candidate will have a high school diploma or equivalent required. Three (3) years trade experience in HVAC equipment and controls installation, repair and maintenance required, or equivalent combination of education and experience or currently enrolled in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC) program.

This position pays hourly between $27.82 - $30.99 and comes with a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, life insurance, retirement plan, FSA, and much more!

To learn more about this role and to apply: governmentjobs.com/careers/burlingtonvt/ jobs/4531760/hvac-specialist? keywords=hvac&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs

EARLY ADVERTISING DEADLINES

ISSUE DATE: Thursday, Sept. 5

Real Estate and BANG/Combo Ads are due Thursday, Aug. 29, at 5 p.m.

Display Ads and Classified Ads are due Friday, Aug. 30, at Noon.

PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

The Winooski River in Richmond is well below flood stage as rain falls on Friday, August 9.

Island Memorial Pet Service

We understand the love you have for your pets and the importance they hold in your life. Our compassionate staff is devoted to easing the difficulties at this challenging time.

Our staff is here for you 24/7 Tiger & Buster

Highway Foreperson

This is a supervisory position that is responsible for overseeing and participating in the maintenance of the town’s highway infrastructure. A valid VT issued CDL Class B license is required. Required skills include proficient operation of a road grader, excavator, front-end loader, backhoe, and tandem plow truck. Starting pay is $34.00 - $40.00 an hour depending upon qualifications.

Highway Maintainer

This is a semi-skilled position of moderate complexity in highway maintenance and equipment operation. A Highway Maintainer performs a wide variety of manual and automotive equipment operation tasks involved in municipal road maintenance. Work extends to responsibility for maintenance and servicing of assigned automotive equipment, requiring strong mechanical and trouble shooting skills. A valid Vermont issued Class B CDL is required. Starting pay is $25.00 - $28.00 an hour depending upon qualifications.

Both positions provide health, dental, vision and disability insurance; paid time off; pension plan; and 13 paid holidays. Detailed information and an application form can be found at www.hinesburg.org under the employment tab. Applications can be mailed or delivered to Todd Odit, Town Manager, 10632 Route 116 or emailed to todit@hinesburg.org.

The Town of Hinesburg offers a comprehensive benefits package and very competitive pay. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Applications will be reviewed as received and accepted until the position is filled.

Invest in community

GARDENS

continued from page 2

ourselves and others,” she said. She works with nine towns in Addison County.

Barry has given presentations and webinars across the state about pollinators and native plants. That’s on top of working on a pollinator garden next to Porter Medical Center in Middlebury and a garden in Weybridge near the Pulp Mill Covered Bridge.

“If I was inside, I would be missing out on what’s happening with nature,” Barry said.

One thing she’s noticed in the wider world through getting out in the garden is a decline in monarch butterflies, something Parker-Dickinson and other Pathway members also described.

“I’ve heard a lot of despair about our planet, about what’s happening, but then I bring it back to what can I do right here, right now, and this is making a difference,” she said. “It may not show to anyone else, but I know that I’m creating a resting place and food and habitat and adding to the biodiversity.”

Debra Sprague, who helps maintain the Monkton Pathway, believes there are aesthetic benefits to growing native and wildflower-filled gardens instead of curating lawns or sewing gardens with invasive species.

“The thing with native plants is, you have to pay attention to what’s good for the pollinators, and that means not pulling everything out in the fall and making it really neat and tidy,” she said. “It should be messy, and some people don’t like messy.”

season. Greene is based in Hyde Park, Jordan in Morrisville, and both have backgrounds in gardening, maintaining land and even worm farming.

“As we continue along, we will continue to grow and have opportunities to transform public spaces as well as private spaces,” Jordan said. “There’s a new wave happening, a new wave of thinking.”

The Lamoille pathway has provided garden tours, advice on starting gardens and recommendations for plant and soil care. Greene said she’s even shown people how to solarize weeds — putting plastic over a garden bed, field, or lawn and leaving it for the summer, effectively cooking the weed seeds and providing a clean slate in the fall.

“We’re really available for any businesses or property owners or municipal properties to help work, to give volunteers or to give technical advice,” she said. Their group works with Peter Danforth, director of the Lamoille County Conservation District, on environmental advocacy.

They’ve done lots of planting around Oxbow Park in Morrisville and have converted Elsa French Park in Hyde Park from mostly lawn to freely growing wild species. Greene said with native meadows in place, prairie grasses that have robust root systems can better absorb rainwater.

Greene and Jordan emphasize that anyone can do it — even people in apartments without their own green spaces. That’s the reason their group lets apartment residents register potted plants as part of the local pathway.

Like Barry, she has found that paying closer attention to pollinators has strengthened her success in the garden.

“The wildflowers in May, looking for those, watching for insects, the different butterflies and bees and all the different creatures out there,” she said, “really just being outside in the garden makes you see more of those things and appreciate them.”

Up in Lamoille County

Denise Greene and Melissa Jordan of the Lamoille County Pollinator Pathway are approaching their second growing

“We live in such a beautiful and diverse planet, and we just want to do everything we can to keep it that way and not just disappear. And that means holding people accountable,” Greene said.

She added: “Some people like politics, and some people like to just plant flowers.”

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

PHOTO COURTESY JULIE PARKER-DICKINSON

The garden at Quinlan’s Covered Bridge in Charlotte in August 2023.

CLASSIFIEDS

Community Manager at The Terraces

The Terraces, a 55+ plus independent living condominium community, seeks a Community Manager to oversee dayto-day operations of our common areas and programs. As the Community Manager, you will be the heartbeat of our community. You will develop and execute strategies to enhance resident engagement, cultivate relationships, and drive growth. You’ll also support our Board as they manage our community in the best interests of all residents.

We’re looking for someone with a track record of successful community engagement and growth, including financial and supervisory skills. If you are excited about the opportunity to make a difference and contribute to a thriving community, to read more go to https://theterracesshelburnevt.com/careers/

RABIES BAIT continued from page 2

Please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your experience and why you’re the perfect fit for this role to careers@theterracesshelburnevt.com.

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

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. If left untreated, rabies is almost always fatal in humans and animals. However, treatment with the rabies vaccine is nearly 100 percent effective when given soon after a person is bitten by a rabid animal.

So far this year, 23 animals in Vermont have tested positive for rabies, and 14 of those have been raccoons.

According to wildlife officials, rabid animals often show a change in their normal behavior, but you cannot tell whether an animal has rabies simply by looking at it. People should not touch or pick up wild animals or strays – even baby animals.

SHELBURNE continued

Shelburne display lead a cemetery dors round from coffee creemees. from Shelburne