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Hinesburg considers retail pot

PATRICK BILOW STAFF WRITER

The Hinesburg Selectboard is considering whether to include retail cannabis sales on the Town Meeting Day ballot in March after a community member asked them to take up the issue.

After Vermont legalized cannabis in 2018, the state passed Act 164 in 2020, allowing individual municipalities to opt into retail cannabis sales in their communities.

Since its passage, 78 of 247 cities and towns in Vermont have approved cannabis sales. Hinesburg and surrounding communities like Shelburne and Charlotte have not. However, there are many retail dispensaries in the nearby Burlington area.

On Sept. 4, Catherine Moller, a Hinesburg community member and business owner of SidePony Boutique, asked that the board put the issue to voters in March, citing the potential to generate tax revenue for the town.

The selectboard has regularly discussed the need to generate revenue to support town spending. Last month, the board approved a local option tax for inclusion on the November General Election ballot, which would increase sales

See CANNABIS on page 12

Haystack Crossing developers to pursue possible sale

PATRICK

BILOW STAFF WRITER

South Burlington real estate development company O’Brien Brothers is engaged in conversations with BlackRock Construction about purchasing Haystack Crossing in Hinesburg, according to director of planning and zoning Alex Weinhagen.

Haystack Crossing, which received Act 250 approval in August for phase one of the project, is a mixed-use development on a 76-acre plot in Hinesburg west of Route 116 and just north of the village and Patrick Brook.

Phase one includes 43 of the 79 lots on the property, including 40 single-family homes, 50 senior living units, 16 attached townhouses, 10,000 square feet of commercial space and 20 units of affordable housing. Once complete, the development could bring as many as 269 new housing units and hundreds of residents to town.

Weinhagen said he is unsure why BlackRock would want to sell Haystack Crossing. The firm

See HAYSTACK CROSSING on page 3

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

Death café in Charlotte helps people embrace living

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

“In death!” Polly Price cheerfully signs her email.

For most people, death can conjure a slew of difficult emotions, from grief to fear to uncertainty and panic. But for Price, a Shelburne resident and certified death doula, she holds more of a friendly reverence and curiosity for what’s beyond the final curtain.

Now, she’s encouraging people to explore the sometimes-taboo topic, too.

“I’ve always been interested in death,” she said. “That sounds like a morbid thing.”

She was a practical nurse in Ohio working the overnight shift when she experienced death for the first time.

“A lot of my coworkers didn’t want anything to do with it,” she said. “For whatever reason they just didn’t want to deal with death, so I was always the one who went in and prepared the body and talked to the family.”

Little did she know that several years later that scene would set the stage for a whole new path. She had never heard about death doulas before a few years ago, but when a friend recommended that she take a course on the topic at the University of Vermont, she hopped on the idea.

The work is just as it sounds. Like a doula to a mother just giving birth, the process is separate from medical care but instead focuses on making those final moments as comfortable as possible. The last moments are sacred, she said, and the process varies from person to person. Sometimes it’s a conversation, and other times it is sitting in silence as the person plays through

a musical playlist that mirrors important moments in their lives.

While Price doesn’t consider herself an expert in the business of dying — things like writing a will or funeral preplanning — she does have expertise in helping people and families go through it.

As she began to think about how to bring this help to more people, she heard about death cafes.

The movement began in London in 2011 with a simple premise: Eat cake, drink tea and discuss mortality with the hope of encouraging people to make the most of their finite lives.

Founder Jon Underwood adapted the idea from the “café mortel” movement that emerged in Switzerland by sociologist Bernard Crettaz. Since that time, more that 19,000 death cafes have

sprung up in more than 92 countries.

Now, thanks to Price, there is one happening on the fourth Wednesday of every month at the Charlotte Senior Center, where she also serves as a member of the board.

Holding firm to the foundations of the movement, it’s likely that Price will have both cake and tea.

The meeting is far from a grief support circle, but more a casual roundtable-style discussion for people to bounce around ideas about some of life’s greatest unknowns: What is on the other side? Is it painful? Why are we so afraid of it?

For Mary Donnelly, a friend of Price and frequent volunteer at the Charlotte Senior Center who joined for an afternoon discussion that turned into a two-hour meeting about death, she has found that talking openly about the topic frees her to live more, if not better. Death, she said, is begging all of us to question: How are we living?

“I think that talking about your fears around it, or what you perceive about it, kind of frees you to enjoy life a little bit,” she said. “Because I remember going into the death cafe, I really did not want to. I was very fearful.”

Price quietly asked, “Well,

In our election guide

Rohan St. Marthe, R-Jericho,

PHOTO BY LIBERTY DARR

Polly Price and Mary Donnelly

HAYSTACK CROSSING

continued from page 1

has worked hand in hand with the town to develop the property for over a decade now, including building wells that were eventually gifted to the town for other wastewater connections. He first learned about O’Brien Brothers’ interest in the development earlier this spring.

BlackRock Construction does not own the 76 acres beneath Haystack Crossing, which is still the property of the Bissonnette family through Haystack Crossing. Weinhagen said the town is not privy to discussions involving the Bissonnette family or their land. The item being discussed for sale right now is the development itself.

“I’m excited for this project to move forward either way,” Weinhagen said. “O’Brien Brothers, based on the meetings we’ve had with them, seem very well versed in projects of this size, and this is a large project. That said, we’ve been working with BlackRock for a decade. People seem to know them and the project, so I think it’ll work either way.”

Weinhagen added that current permits for Haystack Crossing move with the project. However, he said O’Brien Brothers has made it clear that they will want to make changes if they purchase the project, at which point the company would appear

DEATH CAFÉ

continued from page 2

what sent you to the death cafe in the first place?”

Donnelly replied, “To see if I could work through that.”

Through going to neighboring death cafes, Donnelly has learned to appreciate the sacredness of it all.

“How we can start to really express to those people that we love the most about how much we really care for them, or get more involved with them,” she said.

Price explained that society has become more embracing of the topic of death. She noted movements like medical aid in dying — which provides eligible patients with terminal diseases the option to be

before the town’s development review board to discuss those changes.

O’Brien Brothers is involved in projects throughout Chittenden County, including Meadowlands in South Burlington, a project even larger than Haystack Crossing. A hallmark of their projects is sustainable, self-supporting buildings with solar roofs and other green infrastructure. In some projects, the company has even bypassed the need for natural gas hookups.

Recently, the company and the town of Shelburne’s selectboard have been in active negotiations regarding a pre-development agreement for a potential project on a 175-acre parcel of land in town. If approved, the project could see up to 375 homes.

“We are always interested and active in looking at different residential and mixeduse opportunities in our market,” Evan Langfeldt, CEO of O’Brien Brothers, said. “We are a developer, and BlackRock has an interesting project, in a good location, in a nice community. So yes, we have had conversations, but there is nothing beyond that to report.”

Ben Avery with BlackRock Construction did not respond to requests for an interview.

prescribed a dose of medication that, if taken, will hasten the end of their life — and natural and green burials.

“Society is now allowing you to be able to talk about death more,” she said. “It’s now offering all these different things and options for death.”

Funerals, she said, have often been replaced with celebrations of life, which brings people together to remember what death has been teaching us all along: Life is short, so celebrate it.

“I want to have my celebration of life soon,” she said, letting out a laugh. “I don’t want to be dead, but everyone just come and let’s have a party.”

Stowe, Vermont is the place to experience a classic New England autumn and the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival is the perfect destination - where the beauty of the mountains is rivaled only by the handcrafted works of 150+ Artisans! Will there be food? Indeed! Plus: beer, live music, craft demos and more!

STOWE FOLIAGE FESTIVAL ARTS

Hinesburg Police Blotter: Sept. 24-30

Total Incidents: 38

Arrests: 1

Traffic stops: 12

Sept. 24 at 1:27 p.m., an officer assisted Richmond police with trespassing an individual from a business on Bridge Street.

Sept. 25 at 7:46 a.m., an officer investigated the late report of shoplifting from the Jiffy Mart on Ballard’s Corner Road.

Sept 26 at 9:52 a.m., officers responded to a single car motor vehicle crash on Route 116. Ashleigh Provost, 19 of Hinesburg, was arrested for driving under the influence, first offense.

Sept. 26 at 3:38 p.m., someone reported receiving online threats.

Sept. 26 at 5:58 p.m., an officer responded to Hillview Terrace for a juvenile problem.

Sept. 27 at 7:06 p.m. Officers responded to Champlain Valley Union High School for a juvenile problem.

Sept. 27 at 10:18 a.m., someone

reported an erratic driver on Shelburne Falls Road.

Sept. 27 at 6:25 p.m., an officer responded to Hollow Road for a reportedly intoxicated man in the roadway.

Sept. 28 at 3:46 p.m., police investigated threatening behavior on Route 116.

Sept. 28 at 4:56 p.m., police investigated threatening behavior on Ernest Way.

Sept. 29 at 10:34 a.m., a loose dog on Charlotte Road was returned to its owner.

Sept. 29 at 11:59 a.m., police investigated suspicious activity on Lyman Meadows.

Sept. 29 at 4:08 p.m., an officer responded to a traffic hazard on Silver Street.

Sept. 30 at 7 a.m., a single-car crash on Charlotte Road was reported after the fact.

Sept. 30 at 12:18 p.m., an automobile was stolen on Shelburne Falls Road.

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

The Citizen

Serving the community of Charlotte & Hinesburg A publication of Vermont Community Newspaper Group LLC thecitizenvt.com

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Community supports Hinesburg

Youth Project at fall harvest fest

The Hinesburg Youth Project scooped their hearts out serving up tasty root beer floats and smiles at the Hinesburg Fall Fest on Sept. 21.

With support from the community, the kids raised over $500 for their next summer service trip.

The Hinesburg Youth Project helps young people engage in pressing social concerns through

education and service. This is accomplished through regular gatherings and a yearly youth service trip.

Youth have traveled to various locations, including Boston, Maine and Puerto Rico, to explore issues such as food insecurity, poverty and disaster relief while offering meaningful service and connection.

It is a non-denominational program, both interfaith and inclusive, at the United Church of Hinesburg and is open to kids in fifth grade and above. The Hinesburg Youth Project has been supported by community members and businesses since its beginning in 2016. Want to learn more? Check out ucofh.org or email unitedchurch@ gmavt.net.

PHOTO BY JAMIE CUDNEY

Youth from Hinesburg Youth Project serve up tasty root beer floats at their festive fall booth during the Hinesburg Fall Fest.

OPINION

Affordable housing will soon grow on Kelley’s Field Road

Hinesburg Affordable Housing Committee

Carl Bohlen

So far this year, the Hinesburg Affordable Housing Committee has provided information about the Town’s Housing Needs Assessment and now it turns to an active affordable housing project — Kelley’s Field.

In between the stop sign at Lantman’s Market and the turn to Mechanicsville Road, there is a small road to the east, Kelley’s Field Road, named after a longgone community baseball field. If you turned in, you would see three established buildings to the north and new construction to the south. In other words, two affordable housing projects: Kelley’s Field 1 and Kelley’s Field 2.

Kelley’s Field 1, which has 24 one-bedroom units, was originally owned by Loren “Tinker” Palmer and his wife, Nancy. They developed the project in 1979 with USDA Rural Development Financing, including rental assistance for all 24 apartments. There is a large gathering room with a communal kitchen and laundry facilities in one of the buildings. Residents are lower-income older adults (age 62 and up) on fixed incomes, some with disabilities. In 2012, the owners were considering whether to sell the property or increase its density. Eventually, they agreed to sell the property to Housing Vermont (now Evernorth), which then partnered with Cathedral Square. Evernorth serves the low-and-moderate income people of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont by raising capital and investing it in affordable housing.

Cathedral Square is a national leader in the creation of high-quality, affordable, service-enriched housing communities for older adults and people with special needs. By purchasing the property, the two partners were able to preserve Kelley’s Field

1 as affordable housing, a key housing policy goal in Vermont.

But by then, Kelley’s Field 1 was 35 years old, and it looked like it. Cathedral Square and Evernorth launched a $1.6 million renovation that included new kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, windows, siding and roofs. There were also a range of other upgrades to improve accessibility, energy efficiency and a facelift for the communal areas.

Over 10 funding sources were involved, including federal, state and private funding, plus federal and state tax credits. As Cindy Reid, director of development for Cathedral Square said, “The town of Hinesburg was very supportive of this project and continues to be supportive.”

One of the renovation’s biggest challenges was to temporarily relocate residents and their belongings as the project proceeded in phases. While this no doubt was stressful, the residents were very cooperative and came back to new homes. A Kelley’s Field celebration, along with a tour, was held on Sept. 17, 2015, and longtime residents were happy to open their apartments to those on the tour.

The upgraded Kelley’s Field 1, in the town center, is a walkable location for residents. The apartments are well designed and there is a sense of privacy. The green space and gardens make it an attractive place to live, and the rent subsidy makes it a very affordable place to live.

Before too long, another 24 units will be available for occupancy when Kelley’s Field 2 is complete. But more on that in our next article. (Please note: Cathedral Square has a waiting list of 130 at Kelley’s Field 1 but is now sending out applications for Kelley’s Field 2. They can be reached at 802-863-2224 or info@cathedralsquare. org.)

Carl Bohlen is a member of the Hinesburg Affordable Housing Committee.

Saturday, 10/12, 10am-12pm

Prospective Families are invited to come check out Rice!

•Learn about our academic programs

•Tour our campus, meet our teachers

•Hear from parents and students about their experiences

Proctor Ave, S. Burlington

bessette@rmhsvt.org

802-862-6521x2246

Why suddenly conservative voices make sense

To the Editor:

By any measure, I have existed for the past 60 or more years as a moderate Democrat with some progressive leanings. I believe the government should tax and spend when it makes sense, hate corporate greed and believe no CEO should make more than 200 percent of the lowest paid worker.

How is it then that I suddenly this year find myself listening to so many conservative voices when it comes to affordability and spending? Because they are making sense.

This article is about one Democrat turned Republican candidate, and no, he does not agree with nor will vote for him — you know the one. The next election is about six weeks away, when residents, taxpayers and families will get an opportunity to decide the direction of government, ballot questions and potential spending on future projects. For me, and the citizen spending group from Hinesburg, I’m perhaps the most concerned with education policy and school spending and its impact on taxes.

Last session, we discovered how taxpayers can and will dramatically change their votes in the face of huge tax increases that ultimately impacts their family’s ability to live and survive in Vermont.

Letters to the Editor

between David Zuckerman and John Rogers, the question was posed: “Property taxes, this is the one on most people’s minds more than anything. We know there was nearly a 14 percent on average increase across the state of Vermont, slightly different from town to town. How do we bring property taxes under control? The Governor has raised the alarm to school districts that we may be looking at a big increase again. How do school budgets locally figure in, is this a spending problem or something else?”

Rogers said, “Well, there are a lot of problems, and lack of movement by the Legislature is the first one. They have not done anything with the last 38 studies that have cost the taxpayers millions of dollars. One of the themes that has been repeated over and over is cut administration. There are a ton of cities and states around the country that have one supervisory union for a much larger population than Vermont, yet this Legislature and Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman have done absolutely nothing.

“They have defended education costs, and my opponent continues to place the blame on the taxpayer. The cost of school administration is not on the taxpayer and revamping the education funding system is not on the taxpayer. They didn’t study it 38 times because it wasn’t a problem. It is a serious problem; we have to pull people together from all communities to figure out how we provide a good education for our kids at a cost Vermonters can afford.”

The issues are important, your vote is important. To get change, you must vote for it. I urge you to consider your vote on Nov. 5.

John Clifford Hinesburg

Hold lawmakers accountable for spending, taxes, fees

To the Editor:

As the 2024 General Election is quickly approaching and we will be heading to the polls on Nov. 5, it is important to know where those running for the Senate or House stand on the clean heat standard bill since the bill forces a vote in early 2025.

Over the past few years, during growing inflation in the country — up around 20 percent — the supermajority in the Legislature has overridden Gov. Phil Scott’s veto many times, increasing costs to Vermonters. Some recent increases are:

• Property taxes with acts 127 and 64 causing most of this financial pain.

• A payroll tax to pay for child care for other people’s children.

• Increased fees at the Department of Motor Vehicles of more than 20 percent to register your car.

• Upcoming increases to electric bills far above normal rate increases, ignoring Vermonters’ prioritization of reliability and affordability when lower cost options are available.

• Increases to health insurance premiums in addition to the already skyrocketing rates. New increases from MVP and BlueCross BlueShield are around 20 percent.

I have not been able to locate any savings to Vermonters passed by the Legislature over this timeframe.

Low-income Vermonters are struggling and have a difficult time making ends meet. Neither wage increases nor cost of living increases for seniors living on Social Security are keeping pace with inflation or Vermont’s tax, fee and regulation increases. It feels as though the Legislature is ignoring

those most vulnerable.

Now we have the review of the clean heat Standard. If implemented the bill could increase the cost of heating fuel by up to $4 per gallon and cost $40 million per year just in administrative expenses. This is a regressive tax; lower-income individuals will pay higher percentages of their income compared to higher-income individuals.

We are being forewarned about another round of painful increases in property taxes.

Now is the time to ask the Vermonters running for the Legislature where they stand on these issues. What percentage of increase in heating fuel would they think is acceptable? What are their plans to reduce spending in Vermont? In addition, for those seeking reelection, why was the more expensive path taken when other options were available at lower costs?

Vermont is already one of the highest taxed states and its property tax burden is now probably the highest, according to richstatespoorstates.org, which looks at 15 policy variables and ranks the states’ standings. Vermont is near the bottom of the list. It is time to fix this and hold our legislators accountable.

Bonnie Heaslip Charlotte

Roy will ensure two-way conversations in Senate

To the Editor:

“Who is Bruce Roy” is a fair question as he’s asking us to elect him as the next senator from the Chittenden Southeast district. Roy graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in mathematics, making him uniquely qualified to serve us in Montpelier. He understands the complexity of the numbers that are discussed and how they impact property taxes, school budgets, the numerous climate change scenarios and the potential devastating

See LETTERS on page 7

impact on many people as they try to heat their homes or drive their vehicles.

Fortunately, Roy can explain those numbers to us in clear terms so we can understand the financial impact they have. He has had a distinguished 30-year career with both the Vermont Air Guard and IBM. In both careers, he rose through the ranks by leading others in a team effort to accomplish the mission they were given, realizing it takes a team effort to achieve change and accomplish goals.

He is also the guy who you’ll see in his jeans and work shirt out mowing his lawn, visiting neighbors and enjoying sunset views with his wife and family dog. He is the dad taking his daughter off to college and getting her settled. You’ll see him in local businesses and eating at local restaurants.

Yes, Roy is one of us and he had been enjoying his retirement, but his sense of duty to others has been awakened again. He sees a need to help his fellow Vermonters who are struggling financially due to Montpelier’s heavy-handed control over our lives with onerous taxes, fees and regulations. He feels that to have change and to make progress, we need to have two-way conversations in Montpelier, something not possible with the supermajority now in power.

We need a seat at the table in Montpelier to exchange ideas and evaluate problems and solutions for the benefit of all Vermonters. Vermont has become very unaffordable and that can’t change if we only keep raising more revenue, meaning taxes and fees. Continuing to do the same things, electing the same people and expecting different results is not working. Just ask your wallet.

We need new approaches. Where can we save money? Are there old programs that need to be retired or are there programs we just can’t afford? We need someone to ask the questions, help craft alternatives, offer new ideas and keep us informed, and the answer is just down the road at Bruce Roy’s.

Let’s give him a nice indoor job this winter in Montpelier and a return to serving his fellow Vermonters.

John Marcotte Williston

Bear hunting disrupts their natural behaviors

To the Editor:

If you’re a black bear in Vermont, September means one thing: It’s time to work on your figure by bulking up for winter hibernation. Beechnuts, acorns and berries are in season and

ripe for harvesting, providing the critical calories needed to survive a long winter slumber.

Unfortunately, bears themselves have also come into season — hunting season, that is. Vermont’s black bear hunting season begins each year on Sept. 1 and runs through Nov. 24, putting these animals at risk just when they need protection the most.

As if that weren’t bad enough, bear hunting also leads to the deaths of mother bears and their cubs. While the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department asks hunters to avoid shooting mother bears with cubs, it still happens every year. A petition to prohibit killing mother bears with cubs was denied by the Fish and Wildlife Board and department last year, with the reasoning that hunters already follow this “etiquette.”

Black bears play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity, mostly by being nature’s very own gardeners. In their quest to bulk up for winter, bears spread more seeds than birds do — talk about multitasking. Unfortunately, bear hunting and hounding disrupt these natural behaviors, leading to some serious side effects. Believe it or not, according to some studies, hunting can increase the chances of bear-human conflicts. Another study concluded that bears being chased during hunting season will sometimes avoid hunters by wandering onto roads, increasing the risk of bear-vehicle collisions. And exhausted bears might turn to easier food sources — like your garbage or bird feeders — further escalating conflicts.

It sounds like we should just let them fatten up in peace.

Katie Nolan Richmond

Vermont makes strides toward a renewable energy future

Guest Perspective

Peter

Sterling

Though the tragic and costly impacts of changing weather extremes on Vermont continue to make headlines, they shouldn’t totally overshadow recent accomplishments in the fight to reduce global warming before it is too late. This progress is happening because New Englanders have demanded real leadership and action in the face of the climate crisis and elected officials are responding by thinking globally and acting locally.

In Vermont, we have two recent pieces of good news. In June, the Vermont Legislature voted to create a 100 percent renewable energy standard — just the second of its kind in the nation. As a result, by 2035 all Vermont residents and businesses will enjoy the benefits of 100 percent renewable energy while doing their part to reduce climate pollution.

Thanks to the leadership of Sen. Bernie Sanders, this past spring Vermont received $62 million in Solar for All funding to help thousands of low- and middle-income Vermonters access the benefits of solar power, whether they own their homes, live in affordable housing units or access solar power through community solar programs.

Nationally, the Inflation Reduction Act has injected billions of dollars in private sector investments into wind, solar and energy storage while also making residential solar power an

affordable reality for millions of Americans. Since the act passed in 2021, clean energy investments needed to reduce climate pollution have increased substantially.

For every $1 in clean energy tax credits offered by the act, $5-6 is spent by the private sector helping bring renewable energy on line, reducing the need for burning fossil fuels that cause the planet to overheat.

Importantly, the Inflation Reduction Act has also supercharged the creation of a made-inthe-USA solar panel production industry, bringing thousands of manufacturing jobs across the country and keeping even more of our energy dollars here at home.

time energy needs.

Collaborative

purchases by Vermont utilities of affordable, stably priced clean energy from regional offshore wind also holds great promise for the future.

Regionally, construction of the Champlain Hudson Power Express is now underway. This power line running through the bottom of Lake Champlain will connect Canada’s clean hydroelectric power to New York City, supplying about 20 percent of that city’s power. The line incorporates technology that would allow for two-way clean power transmission around the region- technology that will further accelerate decarbonizing our electric grid by allowing greater movement of renewable energy generated by wind and solar to meet our real

Earlier this month, Massachusetts and Rhode Island jointly announced the largest offshore wind procurement in the region which, when completed, will provide enough electricity to power over 1.4 million homes. This commitment to purchasing electricity generated by offshore wind is a critical step in meeting the growth in electricity that’s expected in our region and is necessary to close the dozens of climate-endangering, dirty fossil fuel plants that still provide much of New England’s power in peak times.

Collaborative purchases by Vermont utilities of affordable, stably priced clean energy from regional offshore wind also holds great promise for the future.

While our work to avert the worst of the climate crisis is far from done, these recent accomplishments testify to the momentum building behind the clean energy solutions we need to get the job done.

Peter Sterling is executive director of Renewable Energy Vermont, a nonprofit trade association representing Vermont businesses working toward a 100 percent renewable energy future.

Small student-teacher ratio

High academic standards Lab space for all sciences

COMMUNITY

Community Notes

Storytelling: ‘A Celebration of Showing Up’

Come out for an evening of stories told by Vermont storytellers, celebrating the work of hard-working communities and nonprofits doing great work all around us on Saturday, Oct. 12, 7-8:30 p.m., at Hula, 50 Lakeside Ave., Burlington.

Hear inspiring stories told by Vermont Adaptive’s Misha Pemble-Belkin, Spectrum’s Mark Redmond and others. There will be music by James Stewart.

Tickets are $17.50. Learn more at solavida.org.

Vote411 voter guide goes live

The League of Women Voters of Vermont launched Vote411, a comprehensive voter guide to help voters make informed decisions as they prepare on Election Day.

This free one-stop shop for statewide election information includes candidate information,

voter registration, polling place information and other helpful election day resources, including links to candidate forums. With tools in both English and Spanish, Vote411 is tailored to meet the unique needs of Vermont voters. Go to vote411.org and enter your address to find what is on your ballot, information on candidates and where they stand on issues. The online guide will feature photos of each candidate who responded and their answers to league questions on their qualifications and issues.

All the fixings

It’s that time again. As part of the big soccer tournament this weekend at Shelburne Community School, the Shelburne Firefighters’ Association will hold its annual pancake breakfast in the school cafeteria. The association will be serving up pancakes with

See COMMUNITY NOTES on page 9

DON’T

Join the inclusive Me2 Chorus

Come sing with Me2, the world’s only classical music organization created for individuals living with mental illness and the people who support them, on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 7:20-9 p.m. at Faith United Methodist Church, 899 Dorset St. South Burlington. The chorus will meet monthly on Wednesdays and be led by conductor Stefanie Weigand. There are no auditions or fees to participate. Email phoenix@me2music.org to register or for questions. This is an inclusive, stigma-free community. Learn more at me2music. org. Above, Members of Me2 Chorus sing in Boston.

PHOTO BY TAYLOR ROSSI

all the fixings on Saturday, Oct. 5, 7:30-10:30 a.m. It’s just $5 for kids, $10 for adults, cash or Venmo.

Master chefs: firefighter Dwight Mazur on the griddle and Jerry Ouimet, pancake maker.

Tibetan Buddhist master gives talk at All Souls

On Wednesday, Oct. 23, from 7-8:30 p.m., Vajrayana Buddhist master Anyen Rinpoche and Allison Choying Zangmo will give a talk on finding authentic happiness at All Souls Interfaith Gathering in Shelburne.

Rinpoche was raised by a family of yak herders in the high-forest mountains of eastern Tibet. Rinpoche served his root lama, Khenchen Tsara Dharmakirti, with devotion day and night for 18 years, becoming a master of both practice and study.

He not only gained recognition as a great scholar (khenpo), but also became a heart son of his root lama. In doing so, he became the fifth in an unbroken lineage of heart sons who received an uncommonly short and unbroken lineage of the Longchen Nyingthig directly from the renowned Dzogchen master Patrul Rinpoche.

Rinpoche and Zangmo spend much of their time in Denver, where they run a Dharma center, Orgyen Khandroling. They also have a center on the West Island of Montreal. Their compassionate activities bring them around the

country where they offer teachings and programs.

Advance tickets can be purchased online at bit.ly/4fl539c. Learn more at orgyenkhandroling. org.

Clothing drive benefits migrant farmworkers

The Charlotte Grange is holding a clothing drive for local migrant farmworkers. For the third year, the Grange is working with Addison Allies Network to round up clothing in Charlotte.

Since 2018 Addison Allies has worked to build an inclusive, stronger and more diverse community by providing services and social integration for both migrant farmworkers and immigrants living in Addison County.

The drive will be held Nov. 2-6.

Specific donations include machine washable and dryable hoodie sweatshirts; pants (denim, canvas or Carhartt); work clothes; vests (fleece, Carhartt or heavy cloth); jackets; and thermal underwear. (Please, no button-down shirts, polo shirts, or wool items of any kind. Footwear, hats, scarves and gloves are also not needed currently.) Sizes needed include male teen (large and XL) and male adult (small, medium and large). Please, no tears, rips or stains. Zippers should be fully functioning.

For information call Sally Wadhams at 802-355-1478.

Shelburne Museum unveils design for new Native American art center

CATHERINE HURLEY VTDIGGER

Shelburne Museum has unveiled the design of a planned building for its Native American art collection. It also announced a new architectural team that replaces a firm it severed ties with last year.

The Perry Center for Native American Art is being designed by Annum Architects of Boston and Two Row Architect of Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation in Ontario, Canada. The collaboration joins together “noted firms with depth of experience in both major museum and Indigenous projects,” the museum said in a press release. Landscape design will be completed by Reed Hilderbrand of Cambridge, Mass.

“Embedded in the design are careful listening, research and creative iteration of ideas, all reflective of how the museum has operated since its founding,” Annum principal Steven Gerrand said in a written statement.

The 11,200 square-foot space is expected to be the 40th building on the Shelburne Museum campus. Construction of the $12.5 million project is set to begin in spring 2025, according to the press release.

The announcement comes more than a year after the museum cut ties with Sir David Adjaye, the world-renowned architect originally hired to design the new building, after he was publicly accused of sexual assault and misconduct. He denied the allegations at the time.

“The many steps that led us to this moment are the result of a collaborative approach focused

on communication and relationship building with Tribal Nations to create a national resource for the study and care of Indigenous art,” Thomas Denenberg, CEO and director of Shelburne Museum said in a written statement.

The collection is expected to include more than 500 items from 389 tribal nations in North America, including Indigenous art already stewarded by the museum and items gathered and donated by the center’s namesake, Indigenous art enthusiast Anthony Perry, and his wife Teressa Perry.

The museum said in the press release that it had collaborated with more than 50 Indigenous partners, who advised the center’s

design, conservation of the collection and cultural protocols. Part of that collaboration included a series of listening sessions led by Two Row with leaders of tribal groups represented in the collection.

“The Talking Circles guided us in considering this project in different ways,” Matthew Hickey, from the Mohawk Nation and a partner at Two Row, said in the statement. “The building needed to honor the host nation, the Abenaki. The internal space, where the items from many Tribal Nations will be housed, will need to accommodate unique moments with items in the collection and allow for those items to be to be looked at and taken care of in unique ways.”

COURTESY

A rendering of the north facade of the Perry Center for Native American Art at Shelburne Museum.

COURTESY PHOTO

Anyen Rinpoche and Allison Choying Zangmo

Footballers move to 5-0 with win

Field hockey

Champlain Valley 10, Middlebury 1: A four-point effort from Emery Thompson helped lead Champlain Valley to a win over Middlebury in field hockey on Saturday, Sept. 28.

Thompson had two goals and two assists for the Redhawks, who moved to 6-2-1.

Penny Webster tallied twice, while Carly Strobeck, Elizabeth Norstrand, Cordelia Thomas, Mackenzie Love, Alex Wemple and Gracie Sanchez each added one.

Sophie Comeau got the win in goal for CVU.

The Redhawks also beat Mount Abraham 7-0 on Thursday, Sept. 26.

Girls’ soccer

Champlain Valley 3, Burlington 0: Champlain Valley won its ninth game in a row on Saturday, beating Burlington in high school girls’ soccer.

Rieanna Murray had a hat trick for the Redhawks (9-0), while Elsa Klein dished out two assists and Lilyanna Mittelstadt added one.

Anya Johnson earned the shutout with four saves.

Football

Champlain Valley 55, St. Johnsbury 6: Champlain Valley rushed out to a 42-6 halftime lead and did not look back in a win over St. Johnsbury on Saturday.

Orion Yates threw for five touchdowns and rushed for one more, while Jacob Armstrong caught three passing TDs and added an interception. Dylan Frere added a 65-yard TD catch and a kickoff return for a score, while Billy Bates and Nolan Walpole each had a touchdown.

With the win, CVU moved to 5-0.

Girls’ volleyball

Mount Mansfield 3, Champlain Valley 1: The Champlain Valley girls’ volleyball team fell to Mount Mansfield on Saturday. With the loss, the Redhawks dropped to 5-3.

Boys’ soccer

Burlington 4, Champlain Valley 2: Champlain Valley struggled to contain the Burlington offense in a loss in high school boys’ soccer on Friday, Sept. 27. Ethan Revoir and Ajak Dau each had a goal for the Redhawks, but it was too little, too late for a team that trailed 3-0.

Ziggy Babbot stopped three shots in goal as CVU falls to 5-2.

PHOTO BY AL FREY

Orion Yates gets ready to throw a pass in an early season matchup.

News from Charlotte Library

115 Ferry Road, Charlotte. 802-425-3864. Register at charlottepubliclibrary.org or info@ charlottepubliclibrary.org.

More information and links can be found on the library website.

ONGOING

Preschool storytime

Tuesdays in October, 10-11 a.m.

Preschool stories, crafts and activities. No registration required. Age 2 and over.

Wildcard Wednesdays

Wednesdays, 2:15-3:30 p.m.

Who knows what Wednesday will bring? Science sessions? Crafts? Cooking? For kids grade four and up. To register, contact the library. Oct. 9: Scribblebots! Oct. 16: migration bird walk at the town beach. Oct. 23: first responders celebration. Oct. 30: Halloween happening.

Babytime

Thursdays in October, 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Saturday, Oct. 7, 10 a.m.

Unstructured hour for parents, caregivers and babies to play and chat. Explore books and toys and general conversation. Birth to 18 months.

Let’s Lego

Saturdays in October, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Drop-in play. Loads of Lego bricks with books and prompts for inspiration. For all ages. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.

‘Gather’ middle school book talk

Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2:15-3:15 p.m.

Genevieve Trono will lead this open-ended discussion of “Gather” for seventh and eighth graders. The characters and situations in the book provide possibility for exploration of individual and collective issues and how we can all help each other. Snacks included.

After-school book club

Tuesdays, Oct. 15, 22 and 29, 3-4 p.m.

Ride the bus to the library and enjoy an afternoon of book sharing and crafts every Tuesday after school. Grades one to three; registration required.

ADULTS

Crochet and knit night

Wednesdays in October, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Casual session of crocheting and chatting, knitting and catching up. Bring a project or start a new one with yarn and needles from the library.

Garden circle

Fridays, 8:30 a.m.

Join the garden circle volunteers who tend the educational gardens around the library. Signup at seed@charlottepubliclibrary.org to sign up.

Book chat

Wednesdays in October, 3 p.m.

Join the librarian to discuss new books, old books and books missed.

Stillwater meditation

Saturdays in October, 9-10 a.m.

Poetry and meditation. All invited for quiet reflection, contemplation and gentle meditation instruction. For beginning and experienced meditators.

Explore natural dyeing

Saturday, Oct. 5, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

An introduction to natural dyeing. Kitchen scraps and plants from the yard create surprising colors. Dye a piece provided by the library or bring your own small, pre-washed, all-natural fiber item.

‘Robinsons, Anti-Slavery Advocacy in Vermont’

Tuesday, Oct. 8, 1 p.m.

Dr. Lindsay Varner of Rokeby Museum in Ferrisburgh will share the museum’s abolitionist history and the stories of the Freedom Seekers who sought self-emancipation on the Underground Railroad.

Lynn Cummings gallery talk

Wednesday, Oct. 9, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Lynn Cummings will talk about the artwork selections on display at the library through October, which include her own works and the work of students from her Senior Center art class.

Spanish conversation group

Wednesday, Oct. 9, 7:30-8 p.m.

Chat, relax, listen to music and enjoy snacks while exploring the Spanish language.

‘Flyways’ film screening

Tuesday, Oct. 15, 1-2 p.m.

After the documentary, Hank Kaestner who leads the Senior

Camouflaged

On one of the last pool days of the season, Alexandra Z. Lazar of Charlotte and her

“He hopped away in a hurry, but not before I snapped this photo of him on some fall leaves.”

News from Carpenter-Carse Library

Carpenter-Carse Library, 69 Ballards Corner Road, Hinesburg. 802-482-2878, carpentercarse. org To register, reserve books or for more information, reach out to library@carpentercarse.org.

Weekly storytime

Tuesdays in October, 9:3010:30 a.m.

Board game club

Wednesday, Oct. 2 and 9, 2-3:15 p.m. Reserve a spot.

Baby and me time Friday, Oct. 4, 11 and 18, 10-11 a.m.

Lego club

Wednesdays, Oct. 23 and 30, 2-3:15 p.m.

Afterschool club for students in kindergarten to grade four. Reserve a spot by calling the library or emailing jen@carpentercarse.org.

Halloween craft: haunted castle lanterns Saturday, Oct. 19, 1-2:15 p.m. An afternoon of spooky craft-

PHOTO BY ALEXANDRA Z. LAZAR

family rescued this little fellow from the water.

Vermont Philharmonic presents ‘Gems of Opera and Song’

The Vermont Philharmonic opens its 66th season with a concert that shines a light on important yet under-performed music by established composers.

The concert features work influenced by Black folk music, Latin American and Creole themes and the Italian verismo opera.

Titled “Gems of Opera and Song” the concerts are Saturday, Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m., at the Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro, and Sunday, Oct. 20, 2 p.m., at the historic Barre Opera House.

The program opens with the overture to Scott Joplin’s opera “Treemonisha,” composed in 1911 but not performed until 1972. Though Joplin was known for his ragtime music, he made clear that this composition was not a ragtime piece, but rather a “serious opera in the European tradition.” It has been labeled as

America’s first folk opera. Joplin was posthumously awarded the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1976.

The program continues with two versions of the Bamboula, a West Indian dance. Louis

CANNABIS

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taxes on retail, lodging, food and alcohol transactions and generate an estimated $175,00 per year for the town.

Moller believes cannabis sales in Hinesburg would complement the option tax by creating another type of sale to draw revenue.

“The question should be, ‘What are we not doing to generate more revenue in this town?’ If we’re going to introduce an option tax, then we need to allow voters to make other decisions,” Moller said this week. “If you want Hinesburg

CHARLOTTE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

Will hold a public hearing at Town Hall, 159 Ferry Rd., Charlotte, VT on the following applications during its regular meeting of Wednesday, October 23, 2024.

7:05 PM DRB 24-138-CU Stone – Conditional Use review to replace an existing non-conforming structure with a garage at 88 Museum Rd

7:30 PM DRB 24-147-SD Nichols – Two-Lot Subdivision at 138 Morningside Dr

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

Moreau Gottschalk’s 1848 piano version will be performed by local virtuoso pianist Stephen Brown. The orchestra will also perform Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s version dating from 1910. Both versions celebrate the rich

musical traditions of the Caribbean and Creole cultures.

After the intermission, the music of Italian opera takes over with Pietro Mascagni’s 1890 prelude to Cavalleria rusticana, and music and arias from Umber-

to Giordano’s 1896 opera “Andrea Chenier.” Singers include Elizabeth Perryman, soprano, Adam Laurence Herskowitz, tenor, and Michel Kabay, baritone. Tickets and information at vermontphilharmonic.com.

to be this destination shopping place, then you should really allow businesses that are destination driven. Cannabis is one of those.”

There are two paths toward including retail cannabis sales on a local ballot in Vermont.

Moller is taking the first path by requesting the board include a question about retail cannabis sales on the town meeting ballot in March, which requires approval through a vote.

During a Hinesburg Selectboard meeting on Sept. 18, with input from the director of planning and zoning Alex Weinhagen, the board discussed potential zoning limitations around retail cannabis sales.

Chairperson Merrily Lovell said a decision would be made during the board’s next regular meeting, which was scheduled for Oct. 2, after The Citizen’s print deadline.

The second path allows action if a town’s selectboard does not approve a vote on cannabis sales. Under Act 164, voters have the option of petitioning the community and forcing the issue to a special election, which can be a complicated and expensive process.

Moller said she would prefer

that the selectboard put the issue to voters in March, but if they don’t, she’s ready to petition her community and force a special election, which has happened in some Vermont towns.

“Realistically, if they don’t approve it, then I’ll force the issue to their hands,”

Moller, who reiterated the potential to generate tax revenue for the town, said.

“Including the issue on the ballot would create a better situation for everyone involved.”

The Cannabis Control Board last Wednesday put in place a temporary moratorium on new retail licenses but said it would reopen the process at some point in the future. The concern, as reported in VTDigger, is that “the market has become oversaturated in some cities and towns.”

— Catherine Moller

Retail cannabis sales can directly benefit towns that have a local option tax, according to the Vermont Grower’s Association. Towns can include retail cannabis sales under the option tax like alcohol, food and lodging.

“I hope they make the right decision,” Moller said “Including the issue on the ballot would create a better situation for everyone involved. Then we could talk about what we as a community want cannabis to look like, instead of forcing the issue.”

During a September selectboard meeting, board member Dennis Place voiced his informal support for including the issue on the March ballot: “Let’s let the voters decide. Fellow board member Maggie Gordon agreed. “Put it on the ballot,” she said.

According to information from the Vermont Grower’s Association, all cannabis sales in the state are subject to a 14 percent excise tax, 30 percent of which benefits prevention programs at the state level, and a 6 percent sales tax, which goes to the state’s education fund.

COURTESY PHOTO

Vermont Philharmonic

CARPENTER-CARSE

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ing, fun, and friends. Every child will be able to take home their own specially crafted Halloween lantern, illuminated by a battery-operated candle. For kids in grades one to five. Materials supplied.

ADULTS

Hands and needles

Mondays in October, 10 a.m.-noon Bring whatever project you are working on — quilting, knitting, embroidery, etc. No registration required. The library is closed Monday, Oct. 14.

Senior meetup

Mondays in October, 1-2:30 p.m.

CHARLOTTE

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Center birding trips, will lead a discussion around bird migration. Co-sponsored with the Charlotte Conservation Commission and the Charlotte Senior Center. Registration appreciated.

‘How to Love a Forest’ author talk

Tuesday, Oct. 15, 7-8 p.m.

Author Ethan Tapper is a forester, author and digital creator from Vermont, and is on hand to discuss his new book.

Better Together: ‘Gather’

Wednesday, Oct. 16, 7-8 p.m.

This open group discusses books related to parenthood. This month’s selection is “Gather.”

iPhone photography workshop

Wednesday, Oct. 16, 1-2 p.m.

The basics on how to adjust camera settings, use focus and exposure controls and think about lighting and composition to take great pictures. Bring your iPhone. Registration is required. At the Senior Center, 802-425-6345.

Better Together: ‘Gather’

Tuesday, Oct. 22, 1-2 p.m.

Do you remember 8-track tapes? Cigarette smoke in diners? Bike riding without helmets? Then this meetup is for you. Coffee and tea provided. The library is closed Monday, Oct. 14.

Unlocking financial freedom

Wednesday, Oct. 9, 5-7 p.m.

Interactive workshop to explore and transform your relationship with money led by career and life transition coach Sarah O’Brien Hammond and financial planner Cathy Duffy. Registration required from the library’s website.

Halloween trivia night

Wednesday, Oct. 16, 6-7:30 p.m.

Seniors of All Ages Book Discussion: “Gather”

Ron Miller leads an informal discussion of ‘Gather’ at the Charlotte Senior Center.

Men’s book discussion

Wednesday, Oct. 23, 7:30-9 p.m.

At the library or on Zoom.

Book club: ‘Frozen River’

Thursday, Oct. 24, 7:30-9 p.m.

Mystery book group

Monday, Oct. 28, 10-11 a.m.

This month’s book is “The Mysterious Case of Rudolf Diesel.”

Finding

Both:

Solutions to Community Questions

Tuesday, Oct. 29, 7-8 p.m.

How to get the most out of town meeting, selectboard meetings and other community-based discussions and debates. Susan Clark leads a workshop on making local conversations more inclusive, productive and empowered community dialogues. Co-sponsored with the Charlotte UCC Social Justice Ministry.

Halloween-themed trivia questions, music and apple cider donuts. Costumes are encouraged. There will be a prize for the winning team and a prize for the best costume. Sign up at the circulation desk or email alex@carpentercarse.org.

Spooky storytelling: ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ Friday, Oct. 25, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Hot chocolate, cookies, popcorn and a professional retelling of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” All ages.

Art show opening

Saturday, Oct. 26, 2-4 p.m.

Mingle and meet artists John Penoyar and Judi Maculan behind the new works of art displayed in the community room.

The Linden Nursing Home is hosting an Open House for LNAs, Nurses, and individuals interested in becoming licensed nursing assistants.

Wake Robin wants to support you in your career growth working with older adults to include scholarships and loan forgiveness programs as well as great beneﬁts, a pristine working environment, work/life balance, and an opportunity to build strong relationships with staff and residents in a dynamic community setting.

LNA / Nurse / LNA Trainee Open House Tuesday, October 15 - 7:30am - 9:00am and 1:00pm - 4:00pm Wake Robin Drive, Shelburne, Vermont / wakerobin.com