Hinesburg eyes capital plan, paving projects
PATRICK BILOW STAFF WRITER
Hinesburg’s assistant town manager, Joy Grossman, presented a capital improvement plan during a selectboard meeting on Oct. 16.
Faced with limited revenue, Grossman compiled expected capital expenses and projects for each town department over the next five years to help the selectboard make spending decisions.
Paving is the major capital expense Hinesburg will deal with over the next five years due to the damage from two major flooding events this summer.
The town typically budgets
around $250,000 for annual paving projects.
According to Grossman’s presentation, no paving will take place during fiscal year 2025. Those budgeted funds will largely be spent making repairs and building the town’s resiliency to future storms.
Next summer, the town plans to finish paving Richmond Road — a project that began this year — with an anticipated $175,000 grant from the state.
The overall cost of paving Richmond Road is estimated at $350,000. The project will end at
See HINESBURG on page 12
New fire, rescue chief brings fresh perspective
LIBERTY DARR
STAFF WRITER
After more than a year of searching, the Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service has hired a new chief.
Jamie Valyou of Richmond
was hired as the service’s new director of emergency services.
He will have operational responsibility for all aspects of Charlotte’s fire and emergency medical services.
He starts on Nov. 4.
Valyou has more than 25 years
of experience with the Burlington Fire Department, where he most recently served as a battalion chief and shift commander, overseeing 27 people for EMS and fire services.
He replaces former chief Justin Bliss, whose resignation
was announced in July 2023, and who served in the position for just under a year.
“I was at the end of my career in Burlington,” Valyou said.
“But my passion for the fire and emergency management services remains high. I like to think that
I’m fairly young, and I wasn’t ready to be done with my career. I knew getting out of Burlington was on my horizon just because I had reached the normal timeline
PHOTO BY MIKE YANTACHKA
Mike Yantachka of Charlotte captured this shot of two different species of bees collecting pollen from a few, remaining flowers in his garden.
Fall feed station
See VALYOU on page 12
CVSD population dips, South Burlington goes up
LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
Two neighboring school districts in Chittenden County — Champlain Valley School District and South Burlington School District — have seen conflicting enrollment trends over the last five years.
According to a state education profile report published by the Agency of Education in August, total enrollment in Vermont public schools — including pre-kindergarten through 12th grade — has steadily declined between 2003 and 2023 by a little over 6 percent. The decline in kindergarten through 12th grade during that same period was nearly 14 percent, although much of this change occurred pre-pandemic.
Schools in the Champlain Valley School District — the state’s largest district — have kept on par with the statewide trend with total enrollment declining nearly 7 percent between 2019 and 2024, according to data provided by the district. Most notable is Hinesburg Community School, where enrollments in pre-kindergarten through 8th grade dropped more than 11 percent during that timeframe. Shelburne Community School similarly has seen a
7 percent decline and Charlotte Community School, a nearly 6 percent decline.
“We are seeing a slow, steady decline across our elementary schools,” Gary Marckres, chief operations officer in the district, said. “Specifically, the trend is declining, although that was supported by the demographic report that we had done in 2022, but we are declining a little more than that demographic report suggested that we would.”
South Burlington, meanwhile, has seen a different trend with enrollment slowly but steadily increasing. This year, total enrollment for the school district is roughly 4 percent higher than it was in 2019, according to data provided by the district. Demographic reports commissioned by the district show that those numbers are only set to increase in the coming years.
Saturday, November 9th
PreK & Elementary @ 10:00 am Middle School @ 3:00 pm
Meet teachers, visit
South Burlington School District administrators have long been aware of the enrollment trend. In 2021, they switched most of their focus to finding solutions to overcrowded elementary schools that, at the time, exceeded the state-recommended 85 percent capacity by more than 100 students.
The school installed eight zero-emission modulars — four at Rick Marcotte Elementary School and four at Orchard Elementary School — that cost roughly $6 million. The portable buildings range in size and use, and school officials have previously said they can help to provide an immediate, albeit temporary, solution to a longer-term problem.
The district’s three elementary schools — pre-kindergarten through 5th grade — have seen an increase of roughly 200 additional students since 2019. Chamber-
lin Elementary School has seen a nearly 6 percent increase in enrollment, while Rick Marcotte Central School has seen a 2 percent increase. But enrollment at Orchard Elementary School has decreased by roughly 7 percent. That elementary school also does not offer a pre-kindergarten classroom.
Keeping with the trend, the city’s Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School has also seen an increase of about 3 percent.
While elementary school statistics for both school districts may be different, high school enrollment has declined at both Champlain Valley Union and South Burlington high schools. Total enrollment at CVU has dropped 3 percent since 2019, while South Burlington High School has seen an 11 percent drop in student population.
Total enrollment at South
Burlington High School in 2024 is 818. At CVU, it is 1,268.
For Champlain Valley, Marckres explained that those numbers make sense since the 9th-grade classes coming into the high school simply have not been as big as the senior classes going out.
But the root of the problem, he said, is much larger.
Interim superintendent Adam Bunting called the enrollment trends in the district since 2016 “daunting” and in a presentation to the Shelburne Selectboard in September said that an aging population in the state compounds the problem when less people are having children.
But each town also faces its own set of unique issues as most of the state grapples with an increasing affordability crisis. From the rising cost of living to increasing property taxes, stemming in part this year from a shift in the state’s education funding formula, school officials recognize that this all negatively affects school enrollment.
Lack of available housing only adds to the issue, Marckres said. Enrollment trends between the two districts mirror the availability of housing within the towns that make up the districts. According to the Vermont Housing Needs Assessment, South Burlington has the third-highest number of total homes in Chittenden County — behind Burlington and Essex.
“My take is that South Burlington has emphasized and built quite a bit of affordable housing over the last five years. I think the connection with housing is at the root of this,” Marckres said.
But for the towns that make up
PHOTO BY MAURA KELLEY
Camels Hump peeks out above a view of Lake Iroquois last week.
CVU performing arts presents ‘Footloose
the Musical!’
Get ready to kick off your Sunday shoes as Champlain Valley Union High School presents the electrifying musical, “Footloose!”
This high-energy production will run four performances from Friday, Nov. 15, to Sunday, Nov. 17, in the school’s theater, 369 CVU Road in Hinesburg.
Based on the iconic 1984 film, “Footloose” tells the story of Ren McCormack, a teenager who moves to the small town of Bomont, where dancing is banned. With vibrant choreography and a catchy score, McCormack teams up with local students to challenge the oppressive rules and bring the
Champlain Valley School District’s Connecting Youth seeks new community members to join its team of mentors to fifth to eighth grade students and to truly make a difference in the life of one local kid.
Why mentor? You’ll build empathy and understanding for today’s young people, contribute to the connectedness of the community, experience joyful purpose from impacting a young person’s life, be a trusted adult who cares and shows up, and you can explore new activities, experiences and passions.
“Our youth deserve fun, joyful, safe and meaningful relationships, and you can help provide that,” a program mentor said. “Becoming a mentor is not only rewarding but also a lot of fun. It’s a chance to inspire and connect with young people in the community.”
ENROLLMENT
continued from page 2
most of Champlain Valley School District, the number of new homes being permitted slowed down during the pandemic and in the years since. Combined with a reduction in taxing capacity that came about through the shift in the education funding formula and adjusted pupil weighting with declining enrollment, “it’s a pretty big cause of
joy of dance back to their lives.
Under the direction of Elisa Van Duyne and featuring a talented cast of students, this production promises to be a celebration of freedom, friendship and the transformative power of music. With unforgettable songs like “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” and “Holding Out for a Hero,” audiences should expect to tap their toes as they sing along.
The play is recommended for those 13 and up. The shows are Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m.
Tickets are $10, $8 for students and faculty at ticketsource.us/cvutheater.
Become a youth mentor?
Another mentor, now in their 10th year, said, “The mentoring program benefits everyone: the student mentee, household, volunteer mentor, classroom, school and community at large. The ripples emanating from these relationships build confidence, trust, self-esteem and openness to new experiences.”
The commitment is just one hour a week during the school year, and can be built around the mentor’s schedule. Training and support are provided.
Connecting Youth is actively recruiting for Hinesburg and Charlotte middle schools.
Contact Livy Bulger at lbulger@cvsdvt. org or 802-482-6248 at Hinesburg Community School; and Kate Rooney at krooney@ cvsdvt.org or 802-425-6682 for Charlotte Central School. Or visit connectingyouth. cvsdvt.org.
concern,” he said, referring to when the district starts crafting its budget.
“It’s not a standalone issue,” Marckres said. “From my perspective, this is not a CVSD position. I look at jobs, economic development, the incentives to bring new people into Vermont, it’s a statewide problem.”
Bruce Roy
“Bruce Roy is committed to working with me to make Vermont a more affordable place to live, work, raise a family, do business and retire in.
Colonel Roy has already dedicated much of his life to serving our country in uniform, and I know he would continue to serve Vermonters well in the State Senate. I encourage the people of Chittenden County to send Bruce to the Senate to help build a stronger Vermont.”
COURTESY PHOTO
The cast of “Footloose,” which plays this month at Champlain Valley High School.
After brief standoff, police arrest two on multiple charges
PATRICK BILOW STAFF WRITER
Two Hinesburg residents were arrested for multiple offenses after a brief standoff on Richmond Road on Oct. 23.
Just before 7 a.m. that day, officers from the Hinesburg and Richmond police departments responded to the intersection of Jourdan and Wile streets in Hinesburg for a report of a recovered stolen vehicle.
The owner reported the vehicle stolen the previous day and later discovered it at the intersection. Before calling police, however, the owner confronted two individuals inside the vehicle, who fled before police arrived.
After hearing their description, police identified them as Anthony Seagroves and Katelynn Cannon of Hinesburg, according to a release from the Hinesburg Police Department.
Using security footage from several cameras in the area, officers tracked Seagroves and Cannon to a building on Richmond Road.
After a brief standoff, police arrested Seagroves and Cannon when they came out of the building.
Cannon, 28, was arrested for violating conditions of release, aggravated operation without owner’s consent, unlawful trespass, motor vehicle violations and resisting arrest. She is expected to appear in Chittenden County Superior Court on Dec. 5.
Seagroves, 32, was arrested as a person prohibited from possessing firearms, violating conditions of release, motor vehicle violations, receiving stolen property and unlawful trespass. He was jailed at Northwest Correctional Facility in lieu of $2,000 bail and appeared in Chittenden County Superior Court on Oct. 24.
Police recovered several stolen items, a stolen firearm and suspected illicit drugs from the vehicle. Officers also discovered several items they think could be connected to several break-ins in Richmond.
The two departments are conducting a joint investigation.
The Citizen
Serving the community of Charlotte & Hinesburg A publication of Vermont Community Newspaper Group LLC thecitizenvt.com
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Garage bond
Officials in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Energy Savings Program, including U.S. Peter Welch, gathered at the Charlotte town garage Monday to announce an influx of cash that will trickle down to rural Vermont. The $40 million is intended to fund clean energy projects in rural Vermont schools and municipal buildings. The Charlotte town garage benefitted from the program a few years ago after the old garage burned down in 2021. Today’s garage is almost net-zero, with solar panels and geothermal heat pumps that power not only the garage but several other buildings in town. The Vermont Bond Bank acts as an intermediary between the USDA and rural Vermont by offering low-interest loans to municipalities to fund projects. Welch was joined by Michael Gaughan, Bond Bank executive director, and Sarah Waring, Vermont’s USDA representative, at the event. — Patrick Bilow
Total reported incidents: 26
Traffic stops: 0
Warnings: 0
Tickets: 0
Arrests: 2
Medical emergencies:
Mental health incidents: 1
Suspicious incidents: 1
Directed patrols: 0
Citizen assists: 1
Motor vehicle complaints: 1
Car crash: 3
Animal problem: 0
Noise disturbance: 0
Unlawful Mischief: 0
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Contact: 1340 Williston Road South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 985-3091
Theft: 1
Hinesburg Police Blotter: Oct. 22-28
Harassment: 1
Vandalism: 0
Property damage: 1
Fraud: 3
Alarms: 3
Pending investigations: 0 911 Hang-up calls: 0
Oct. 22 at 7 a.m., officers investigated a report of a stolen car on North Road.
Oct. 22 at 2:30 p.m., officers investigated a report of fraud on Route 116.
Oct. 22 at 3 p.m., officers investigated a report of fraud on Wile
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Oct. 23 at 4:17 p.m., officers responded to a two-car accident on Silver Street.
Oct. 23 at 7:38 p.m., officers responded to a domestic dispute on Richmond Road.
Oct. 23 at 8:27 p.m., officers responded to a motorcycle accident on Pond Road. No other vehicles were involved.
Oct. 24 at 11:42 a.m., officers investigated a report of a violation of a restraining order.
Oct. 25 at 6:59 p.m., an officer assisted state police in Huntington with a burglary investigation.
Oct. 26 at 8:53 a.m., an officer investigated a report of harassment by phone at Lyman Meadows.
Oct. 26 at 1:55 p.m., officers investigated a vehicle complaint on Place Road West.
Oct. 26 at 4:08 p.m., an officer assisted state police with a car accident on I-89.
Oct. 26 at 4:28 p.m., officers investigated a report of vehicle damage at Champlain Valley Union High School.
Oct. 27 at 12:28 p.m., an officer investigated a report of property damage and theft at a storage unit on Commerce Street.
Oct. 28 at 5:33 p.m., an officer investigated a report of an unpermitted fire on Major Street.
Oct. 28 at 7:10 p.m., a report of fraud was investigated.
OPINION
Closing schools doesn’t fix Vermont’s problems
Guest Perspective
Margaret MacLean
Roxbury parents can meet most of the challenges of school mornings, from organizing breakfast to helping their children remember assignments and lunches. Warming up the car for the up to 4-mile drive to the nearest bus stop is also on the to-do list.
But one part is breaking their hearts: the 2 hours and 15 minutes per day their children now spend on the bus getting to and from school in Montpelier. Endless hours on a school bus are not what they want for their children. It’s not what a Vermont childhood should be.
When the Montpelier and Roxbury school districts merged under the school consolidation law Act 46, Roxbury residents were assured their rural school would receive equal treatment in the new district. But since then, the Montpelier-dominant board made the sudden decision to close Roxbury’s K-4 elementary school last spring, and families in the small town have come face-to-face with the inequities caused by rural school closures. Even the smallest children must endure punishingly long bus rides, made worse by the fact that in this 42-square mile town filled with dirt roads, Montpelier’s buses only drive on pavement.
That’s right. Montpelier’s buses do not go on dirt roads.
But beyond busing issues, many parents feel dismissed by a now-distant Montpelier school system, and the town is still searching for a sustainable use for the school
building that was once the heart of their community.
Roxbury greenhouse owner Tom Frazier put it bluntly. “We merged with Montpelier in good faith. The situation we are in now, they have closed our school — is a nightmare.”
Roxbury is not alone. Across the U.S., when rural schools have been targeted for closure, similar patterns have emerged.
Research shows that closing schools is damaging to children. Studies of school closures across the U.S. show that students:
• Experience a loss of connectedness with peers and community.
• Face increased mental health challenges.
• In the short term, have lower test scores, worse attendance and behavioral issues.
• In the long term, are less likely than their peers to complete college and secure a job
• Face negative impacts from declining family and community engagement.
Closing schools doesn’t save money. Children from closed schools still need an education. National research shows that per-pupil spending tends to increase when schools close, while anticipated cost efficiencies from economies of scale rarely materialize. Transportation costs increase, the promised wider opportunities cost money and empty public buildings need to be maintained. School closures most often result in the redistribution of where money is spent, rather than financial savings. Closing schools increases inequity.
Why Clean Heat Standard should worry everyone?
Guest Perspective
Pattie McCoy
How much will the Clean Heat Standard cost? That is the question those of us who are concerned about this legislation’s unknown impact on Vermonters’ pocketbooks have been asking for over a year. But in many ways, it is the wrong question.
The right question is: How many Vermonters’ financial livelihoods are we willing to sacrifice to implement the Clean Heat Standard?
This is the correct question for one key reason: The more we learn about the effects of this legislation, the harder it is to deny that it is much worse than proponents said it would be — especially for the most vulnerable Vermonters.
Put simply, the Clean Heat Standard was a bill that requires fossil-fuel importing businesses to pay a penalty to offset the carbon emissions of home heating fuel. The law was allegedly designed to
reduce the reliance on fossil fuels. Money collected from these penalties would, in theory, be used to help Vermonters transition to clean heat methods. The law directed the Public Utility Commission to come up with a framework to implement this scheme.
In fact, when Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore said the law could increase home heating fuel prices for Vermonters by about 70 cents per gallon, many legislators had a meltdown and chastised Moore for fearmongering. Addison County Sen. Chris Bray, one of the key architects of the law, said the estimate was “incomplete and inaccurate.” He suggested Moore should not have preempted the upcoming professional studies on the program’s cost.
Well, this past month, one of those professional studies was released. The verdict? The program would cost about
Research finds that students experiencing poverty, students of color and those with special needs are most negatively impacted by school closures.
Closing schools destroys communities. In communities where schools are closed, research points to depopulation, declining home values, eroding social capital and problems with attracting and retaining families with children.
Scapegoating small rural communities for Vermont’s fiscal crisis flies in the face of equity and is not based on a factual analysis of the problem.
Closing schools without due process results in unintended consequences. An inclusive, open-minded analysis of the pros, cons and alternatives to school closure is crucial to avoiding unintended consequences. Examination of winter transportation (likely to make long bus rides even longer), creative options such as retaining rural schools to house licensed child care, pre-school and K-2 students, additional community-oriented alternatives for school buildings, and other research should be documented and presented as part of a choice for voters. And a town vote on closing a town’s school is an essential element to ensure buy-in to a balanced, sustainable and fair solution.
Vermont’s children deserve better. Research shows that multi-age classrooms are developmentally appropriate settings for young children, and many small schools are cost effective and among the best performing schools in Vermont. Small schools for elementary students can be exemplary schools.
Scapegoating small rural communities for Vermont’s fiscal crisis flies in the face of equity and is not based on a factual analysis of the problem. Enrollment decline exists in schools of all sizes, all over Vermont. Schools of all sizes should be expected to step up to address enrollment decline — not just look to closing their neighbors’ smaller schools as an easy fix.
Vermont must provide an excellent public education system that prepares children for success, supports families and thriving communities and is delivered at a cost hard-working Vermonters can afford. Leaders’ sense of urgency in finding new models is merited and laudable. However, the burden of change must be equitable and addressed by communities large and small.
Closing Vermont’s rural schools is an “answer” that does not fix the problem. It simply creates different ones.
Margaret MacLean is a retired Vermont teacher and award-winning principal. She is the founding executive director of the Vermont Rural Education Collaborative, a past employee of the Rural School and Community Trust and served on the Vermont State Board of Education. She lives in Peacham. If you would like to receive a copy of the research supporting these points, email vtschoolsrock@gmail. com.
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Community Notes
Learn how to spot dis- and misinformation
“Sorting the Spin: How to Spot Made-Up, Murky, and Misleading Information” is the next in the series of Education and Enrichment for Everyone talks.
It will be held at Faith United Methodist Church, 899 Dorset St., South Burlington on Friday, Nov. 1, 2-3:05 p.m.
Learn more at eeevermont.org.
Ohavi Zedek hosts
Musical Memories Series
On Thursday, Nov. 14, Ohavi Zedek Synagogue and the Lost Mural Project will host a concert featuring saxophonist Marty Fogel and his quintet, Thread of Blue.
The group includes Tom Cleary on piano, Dan Silverman on trombone, Jeremy Hill on bass and Geoff Bernstein on drums. The program will include improvisational jazz music emanating from Jewish sources: liturgical melodies, original pieces inspired by religious text, Eastern European tunes and original arrangements of songs by American Jewish composers Jerry Bock, Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin and Kurt Weill.
Law school scholar talks recent court decisions
The League of Women Voters of Vermont presents the lecture, “Recent Supreme Court Decisions,” on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m., with Rod Smolla, president of Vermont Law School. He will discuss the potential impacts of five important court decisions since 2022, including a decision to grant near total legal immunity for any official actions taken by the president of the United States. The league’s lecture series, in its ninth season, is designed to bring speakers to discuss contemporary issues related to democracy and social justice. This will be a virtual presentation. To register, go to kellogghubbard.org.
Proceeds benefit The Lost Mural Project and Full Circle Preschool.
Learn more at bit.ly/4fmGPdZ
Shelburne holds blood drive on Nov. 19
Shelburne to schedule an appointment. Appointments are strongly recommended as walk-ins cannot always be accommodated.
Sign up now for Shelburne grab and go meal
Age Well and St. Catherine’s of Siena Parish in Shelburne are
The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. at the synagogue, 188 N. Prospect St., in Burlington.
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For more information about any of the programming, go to charlotteseniorcentervt.org. Register at 802-425-6345.
• November art exhibit, “The Power & Poetry of Water.” Fineart framed photographs of water and the results of water in natural settings by Jonathan Hart. There will be an artist reception on Saturday, Nov. 2, 3-4:15 p.m.
• Autumn kirtan with Charlie Nardozzi and Heidi Kvasnak, Sunday, Nov. 3, 4:30-6 p.m. Suggested donation is $5-$20. Kirtans are heart-centered practices with simple and repetitive yogic chants or songs, with the intention of creating a feeling of connection and peacefulness. Registration required.
• Protecting yourself and finances from fraud, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Free. Registration suggested. Learn about numerous scams, especially the ones that are
St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Shelburne is hosting a Red Cross blood drive on Tuesday, Nov. 19, noon-5 p.m., 72 Church St.
To give, call 800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org and enter
targeted at older adults. Learn how crooks contact you, red flags, techniques to avoid and what to do if you fall victim to fraud. With Jerry Manor of SeaComm Credit Union. To register, call 802-425-6345.
• Understanding Medicare, Thursday, Nov. 7, 1-2 p.m., Free. Registration is suggested. A discussion about the Medicare changes for 2025.
• Men’s breakfast, Friday, Nov. 8, 7 a.m. Suggested donation is $6. Guest speaker is Andrew Milliken, a recently retired conservation biologist from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who will talk about the restoration of landlocked salmon in Lake Champlain. To attend, email Lane Morrison at lmorrison@ gmavt.net by Nov. 5.
• Veterans’ lunch, Friday, Nov. 8, at noon. Registration required. A complimentary lunch will be provided by Residence at Shelburne Bay at the Senior Center for
veterans and a guest.
• Quilts of Valor dedication ceremony, Friday, Nov. 8, at 1 p.m. Ceremony honors service members and living veterans. Are you a service member or veteran interested in receiving a Quilt of Valor in the future? Contact Ruth Whitaker at 802-985-2950.
• Navigating Veterans Administration benefits, Friday, Nov. 8, at 1:30 p.m. Join Bob Stock, veterans outreach specialist with the South Burlington Vet Center, and learn about available benefits and veterans-related issues.
• Photography discussion group, Sunday, Nov. 10, 3-4:30 p.m. Free. No registration required. Join photographer Jonathan Hart as he discusses stories about his photographs. Bring one to two photographs you’ve taken for review and
COURTESY PHOTO
November programs at the Charlotte Senior Center
News from Charlotte Grange
Enjoy free coffee, muffins at The Grange
On the first Friday of every month through November, enjoy free coffee, tea and homemade muffins, 8:30-10 a.m., at the Charlotte Grange Hall, 2858 Spear St.
There will be iced coffee, hot coffee, tea and homemade muffins. Stay for a moment or an hour.
This month’s meetup is Nov. 1.
Help to get Grange ready for winter
Grange members and friends will gather at the Grange Hall to tidy things up for the season. There will be indoor and outdoor projects to get everything settled for the winter on Sunday, Nov. 3, 1-3 p.m.
Vacuums and dust rags are welcome.
Line dancing class
Have you ever wanted to learn how to line dance? The Grange Hall is hosting the second in a series of three classes on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 7-8 p.m.
Taught by Andrea Warren, owner of Good Time Line Dancing, this one-hour class is for beginners. The lesson will start with an easy-to-follow warm-up dance, followed by two absolute-beginner dances taught in small segments building up to doing the whole dance together at the end.
Space is limited to 25 dancers. Register at the Grange Hall website. The third class is Dec. 4.
Take a tour, talk and enjoy pie
Jenny Cole, local history curator at the Charlotte Library, shares the story of Charlotte’s cheese factories and creameries on Sunday, Nov. 10, 1-3 p.m. at The
SENIOR CENTER
continued from page 6
feedback.
• Acrylics: Stencils, Stamps, Printing and Collage with Lynn Cummings, Tuesdays, Nov. 12 and 19, 8:30 a.m.-noon. Cost is $110. Registration required.
• Birding trip with Hank Kaestner, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 9 a.m. departure. Free, but registration required. Group size is limited to 20 participants.
• Tech help with Susanna Kahn, Wednesday, Nov. 13. 20-minute appointments scheduled at 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 11a.m. Free. Registration required. One-on-one sessions at the senior center with Kahn, Charlotte Library’s technol-
Grange.
These small businesses provided a range of dairy products for local and more distant markets. Grange member Trina Bianchi then leads a tour of the historic building. Homemade pie and local ice cream round out the afternoon.
The program is presented in partnership with the Charlotte Library.
Charlotte Walks
Want to get more familiar with Charlotte’s public trails or meet and chat with other Charlotters? Then join Charlotte Walks.
Every third Friday the group meets at a different Charlotte trailhead at 8:30 a.m. Walks last about an hour and will be led at an adult walking pace. This month’s walk is Nov. 15.
The November location has not yet been determined. Visit charlottegrange.org to learn the meetup location each month. And sign up in advance if you’d like to be contacted if the weather changes the plans at charlottegrangevt@ gmail.com.
Grange hosts members’ potluck Nov. 19
Members and their families gather at the Grange Hall for a potluck and social gathering on the third Tuesday of every other month.
This month’s gathering, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 6:30-8 p.m., alternates every month with the business meeting. Bring a dish to share plus your own plate and utensils and a non-alcoholic beverage of your choice. Tea is available.
If you are considering becoming a member or would like to meet and talk with other members, this potluck is for you. Contact Tai Dinnan at charlottegrangevt@ gmail.com.
A Wonka good time
COMMUNITY NOTES
continued from page 6
teaming up to provide a meal to go for anyone age 60 and older on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
Meals will be available for pick up in the parking lot at 72 Church St. from 11 a.m. until noon and are
available for anyone 60 or older. Suggested donation is $5. The menu includes roast turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sliced carrots, cranberry sauce, wheat roll, pumpkin pie with cream and milk. To order a meal contact Kathleen at agewellstcath@gmail.com or 802-503-1107. Deadline to order is Wednesday, Nov. 6.
ogy librarian, for tech support.
• Annual meeting of the Friends of Charlotte Senior Center, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 1-2 p.m. Highlights, plans, elections and a financial review. Alzheimer’s caregivers support group, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 4-5 p.m. Free. No registration required. Monthly support group on the second Wednesday of each month. For information, contact Susan Cartwright at cartwright.susan1@gmail.com.
• Handcrafted holiday porcelain ornament workshop with Judy Devitt, Thursday, Nov. 14, 1-2:30 p.m. Cost is $20. Registration required by Nov. 11.
COURTESY PHOTO
Vermont Day School in Shelburne took part in the town’s annual Halloween parade Sunday, celebrating the theme of “Willy Wonka,” a play that older students will perform in January at Main Street Landing. See more photos on page 10.
Addison historic site notches 29th atlatl championships
NOAH DIEDRICH COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE
Spectators mingled amid camp chairs and canopies as they gathered at Chimney Point recently, primed for views of the Adirondacks across Lake Champlain from the state historic site.
Suddenly a light woosh and a dull thunk punctured the serene afternoon as one giant arrow, then another, punched into a black-andwhite target affixed to the side of a bale of hay.
Husband and wife Stephen Gatesy and Maryann Davis, emeriti professors at two New England colleges in paleontology and clinical psychiatry, respectively, walked toward the target to retrieve their arrows. A man with a clipboard showed them their scores.
“That’s a new record by one point,” Gatesy said.
Gatesy and Davis were participants in the 29th annual Open Northeastern Atlatl Championship, the premier event of the state Division for Historic Preservation’s Vermont Archaeology Month, held at Chimney Point this fall.
An atlatl is an ancient spear-throwing tool that predates the bow and arrow and was used by Indigenous people all over the world for hunting. It’s a rod-like device with a handle on one end and a notch for spears on the other. It lets someone launch the spear like a mini catapult.
“It’s like giving you another forearm and another elbow,” Maurer said. “You’re throwing it faster, and it goes further.”
Demonstrating his throwing technique, Maurer held his atlatl behind his shoulder like a football and, with the arrow parallel to the ground, whipped the atlatl forward in a straight line.
“It’s a little bit like bowling,” he said. “Easy to do but hard to do well.”
Maurer has been throwing atlatl for 23 years and has competed in the Chimney Point championship just as long.
Since beginning with the sport in 2001, Maurer said he’s become part of a large community that boasts enthusiasts from around the world.
“You buy a motorcycle, and you meet everyone that’s into motorcycles,” he said. “After you’ve been with it for a while, you meet some people, and it becomes like a second family.”
The Chimney Point atlatl championship, the only of its kind in Vermont, draws competitors in from all over New England, Mauer said.
“Last night we had 10 people sleeping in my house from
Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire,” he said. “When this happens, it’s an event.”
The championship was part of a three-day event known as Atlatl Weekend, which began the day before with an atlatl-making workshop and ended Sunday with a smaller, more specialized competition.
In that latter competition, more experienced contestants could throw at a target whose specifications complied with the World Atlatl Association’s international standards for competition. The standards allow for throwers to compare their abilities with atlatlists across the globe.
Bob Berg, founder of atlatl manufacturer Thunderbird Atlatl, led a workshop teaching attendees how to construct atlatls and the spears, often referred to as darts or arrows, from wood.
He fashions the spears from the wood of ash trees, which is soft and easy to straighten.
Berg began making the spear-throwers in 1994, and he said his Candor, N.Y., company has since become the world’s largest atlatl manufacturer.
Despite this, Berg said atlatl throwing is still something of an esoteric hobby.
“It’s a niche market,” he said. “Not everyone’s going to have an atlatl.”
Allison Stetzel, who runs the competition, said her experience
with the event began years ago when she was a senior at Rutland High School completing an assignment for her anthropology class.
“Our project was to build an atlatl and come here and compete. So, I did that, never imagining that 20-something years later, I’d run the competition,” she said.
Atlatl-throwing is a lifelong pursuit. A boy there named Theo, 8, said he has been throwing for almost a year and that his favorite part is how far he can launch the dart.
Cindy Defeo, 65, traveled from New Hampshire to compete in
her sixth competition at Chimney Point.
Defeo, who has multiple sclerosis, has been throwing atlatl for 10 years and uses her walker to hold her extra darts while she throws. Her best advice for burgeoning atlatlists is to “aim small, miss small.”
Elsa Gilbertson, the regional historic site administrator for Chimney Point, said the peninsula was an important gathering place for the three earliest cultures in the region — Native Americans, French colonists and early Americans.
For Gilbertson, the event is more than a competition — it is a part of Chimney Point’s mission to connect people with the region’s storied past.
“It’s a great way to appreciate what people had to do thousands of years ago just to survive,” she said. “The past is often more understandable if you can actually see and do things.”
The World Atlatl Association board approved holding their annual meeting in Vermont for the very first time in September 2025, said Debbie Andrews, the group’s executive secretary.
PHOTOS BY ANNALISA MADONIA
Above: Contestants throw darts in the final round of the competition. Below: Targets feature paintings of animals.
Closing time: How some turtles shut their shells
The Outside Story
In cartoons, when a turtle is spooked, it retreats into and closes its shell. While used for comic effect, this imagery is based in fact — although not all turtles are capable of this protective feat. In the Northeast, there are three native turtle species that have hinged shells: Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), common musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) and eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina).
Turtles have a lower shell, called a plastron, and an upper shell, or carapace. In hard-shelled turtle species, the shells are made up of bony plates that are covered with scale-like scutes. Scutes are made of keratin, the same protein found in our fingernails and hair and give turtle shells their color. Hinged-shell turtles have a split in the plastron, just behind the turtle’s front legs. The plates along this hinge are connected by cartilage, and specialized joints let these turtles pull the plastron toward the carapace; some hinged-shell species can close their shells, while others can only partially close.
While most turtles can retract their heads and limbs into their shells, being able to seal these body parts within is an effective defense against predation. Several animals, from coyotes to otters, will eat turtles.
“If you’re a fairly adept critter like a raccoon, you can pry out a leg and have a snack,” Jim Andrews, coordinator of the
Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas, said. “It’s not at all unusual for us to find wood turtles or painted turtles with missing legs.”
Hinged-shell turtles, however, particularly eastern box turtles, are well protected. Flexing its hinge joint, a box turtle can close its plastron against its highdomed, yellow-patterned carapace. Blanding’s turtles can close their yellow-spotted black shells most of the way, so raccoons and otters, their most common predators, can’t make them into an easy meal. However, there are slight gaps between the Blanding’s plastron and carapace.
Licensed wildlife rehabilitator Dallas Huggins of New Hampshire Turtle Rescue said that while many of the turtle species they rescue have lost limbs to predators, that is rarely the case with box turtles and Blanding’s turtles. In fact, these hinged-shell species are so good at protecting themselves that it poses a rehabilitation challenge.
“They have a lot of strength in that hinge,” Huggins said, noting that wildlife rehabilitators often have to prop the shells open with corks “to keep them from shutting on your finger during a procedure.”
Musk turtles have the slightest hinge of all, said Andrews, adding “I’ve never seen them use it.”
Andrews said the musk turtle hinge may be vestigial, a remnant of evolutionary history. After all, these turtles have another form of defense: they smell. Also known as stinkpots, these small, dark brown turtles release musky fluid when threatened. The odor
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discourages predators, although everything from snakes to minks still eat the little stinkers.
Blanding’s and musk turtles can also slip into their wetland homes to swim away from danger. Box turtles, on the other hand, “are entirely terrestrial,” Andrews said, preferring open areas such as shrublands and fields. “They’re out and they’re exposed.”
Even hinged shells, however, do not protect these species from other dangers. Blanding’s and eastern box turtles are listed as species of concern in New Hampshire, and musk turtles have the same status in Vermont. Wildlife biologists blame much of the decline of these and other
turtle species on habitat loss and road fatalities, as turtles often cross roads to reach egg-laying areas. All three of our region’s hinged-shell turtles have also been subject to the illegal pet trade; in June, a woman was caught attempting to smuggle 29 box turtles into Canada by carrying them via kayak across Lake Wallace, which spans the Vermont-Canadian border.
Like other northeastern turtles in autumn, these species are preparing to brumate, which means their metabolism will slow down and they’ll become sluggish, entering a state of torpor that may last until spring.
Blanding’s and musk turtles usually overwinter at least partial-
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ly buried under mud and leaves on the bottoms of ponds and sluggish streams, while box turtles usually find a sandy spot on land and dig down under the leaf litter to settle in for the winter. Come springtime, these — and other —– turtle species will emerge and head back to their nesting grounds, facing dangers from cars to predators.
Jenna O’del is a biologist and science writer based in Rhode Island. Illustration by Adelaide Murphy Tyrol. The Outside Story is assigned and edited by Northern Woodlands magazine and sponsored by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, nhcf.org.
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ILLUSTRATION BY ADELAIDE MURPHY TYROL
Girls’ cross-country captures third straight title
“We put our blood, sweat and tears into this” is one of those time-honored sayings, but on Saturday in the Division I cross country state championship in Thetford, the saying was truer than anyone would have expected.
Despite running a large part of the race with a bloody nose, Champlain Valley’s Audrey Neilson finished in fifth place overall to help the Redhawks capture the D-I state title for the third year in a row.
“Her nose just started bleeding, and she thought about stopping but she decided to keep going and she was all bloody and she ended up getting fifth place,” CVU coach David Baird said. “It just showed the grit this team has.”
CVU teammate Lydia Donahue came in second overall and Charlotte Crum was right behind in third place.
Annalise Wood came in 11th for the Redhawks and Justyna Amblo was 16th overall.
“This team just has championship character,” Baird said. “They talked before the race and talked about positive talk, and that was a big part of their mindset during the race.”
It was the third state title for the Redhawks and the 20th championship in the last 22 seasons. And they did it all without
last year’s defending individual state champion Alice Kredell, who missed the race due
to an injury.
“They have this confidence about them,” Baird said. “The best way to explain how this team performs in these big moments is they have what we call championship character. It is how you perform at your best in the biggest moments and this group is incredible.”
Essex placed second and Mount Mansfield Union was third. South Burlington came in fifth.
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and Hinesburg
Boys’ cross country
In the D-I boys’ cross country state championship on Saturday, Champlain Valley came in third place as a team.
Cole Hart was the top finisher for the Redhawks, coming in 10th overall. Treason McEnaney was 11th, Charles Garavelli was 18th overall and Jack Snyder came in 18th.
The Redhawks finished with 81 points, behind first-place St. Johnsbury (23) and second place BFA-St. Albans (79 points).
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID BAIRD
Above: The Champlain Valley High School girls’ cross-country team is the 2024 Division I state champion. Below: The CVU girls’ cross country team competes at the state championships Saturday in Thetford. The team won its third title in as many years.
Redhawks head to playoff games
The Redhawks faced No. 1 Rice on Tuesday, after press time. The Green Knights handed CVU one of its four losses this season.
Girls’ soccer
(1) Champlain Valley 1, (9) Burlington 0 (OT): Top-seed Champlain Valley needed overtime to beat Burlington in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
The Redhawks needed just 16 seconds of extra time to get the game-winning goal. Rieanna Murray had the lone goal of the game, with Reese Kingsbury earning the assist.
Champlain Valley faced No. 5 Mount Mansfield in semifinals Wednesday after the press time.
The Redhawks beat the Cougars 5-0 in their first meeting but settled for a 1-1 tie in the second meeting — the only non-win for the 14-0-1 Redhawks.
Football
(1) Champlain Valley 63, (8) Mount Anthony 6: Champlain Valley’s offense led the way to a win over Mount Anthony in the Division I quarterfinals on Saturday, Oct. 26.
Billy Bates led the way with an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, had also had a 50-yard touchdown catch and an interception. Nolan Walpole added two rushing touchdowns, and Daniel Tuiqere also ran for two TDs.
Orion Yates threw two touchdown passes, one to Bates and another to George Taylor. Harrison Whitmore added a 2-yard TD and Jake Barrett had an interception and a rushing touchdown.
Champlain Valley faces No. 4 Middlebury in the D-I semifinals on Saturday.
The undefeated Redhawks beat Middlebury 41-7 in their regular season matchup.
Field hockey
(5) Champlain Valley 2, (4) Colchester 1 (2OT): Cordelia Thomas scored in overtime on a penalty stroke to lift Champlain Valley over Colchester in the field hockey quarterfinals on Saturday.
Colchester had a 1-0 lead heading into the second half, but the Redhawks tied the game up and forced it into extra time.
Boys’ soccer
(1) Champlain Valley 3, (8) St. Johnsbury 0: The boys advanced to the semifinals with a win over St. Johnsbury on Friday, Oct. 25.
Ethan Revoir and Sebastian Bronk each had one goal and one assist for the Redhawks, while Kyle Krieger also tallied.
The Redhawks advanced to the D-I semifinals to face No. 5 Mount Mansfield on Tuesday, after press time, looking to book a spot in the championship game.
The two teams split their regular season matchups. CVU lost the first, 4-2, and then won the second, 2-0.
George Charlson added an assist for the Redhawks against St. Johnsbury, while Ziggy Babbott won in goal.
Boys’ volleyball
(2) Champlain Valley 3, (7) BFA-St. Albans 0: Champlain Valley advanced to the semifinals after beating BFA-St. Albans on Thursday, Oct. 24, in the quarterfinal matchup.
CVU won the first set, 25-14, the second set, 26-24 and wrapped it up with a 25-17 win in the third.
The Redhawks advanced to face No. 3 Essex on Tuesday in the semifinals after the newspaper went to press.
The two teams split their regular season matchups.
Girls’ volleyball
(5) Champlain Valley 3, (4) Lyndon 0: The girls swept through Lyndon in the quarterfinals Friday. The Redhawks won in straight sets, 25-16, 25-20 and 27-25, over Lyndon.
CVU faced top-seeded Essex in the semifinals on Wednesday after press time. The Hornets are undefeated and the defending champions, making it a tough matchup for the Redhawks.
Essex won both regular season matchups as well, beating CVU 3-0 and 3-1.
PHOTOS BY AL FREY
Above: CVU’s Amelia Oppenheimer outruns her Lakers’ opponent in Colchester’s 2-1 double overtime quarterfinal loss to the Redhawks on Oct. 29. Below: CVU’s Cordelia Thomas scores on a penalty stroke in the second overtime to give the Redhawks win.
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VALYOU
continued from page 1
of retirement after 25 years.”
He said the fit with Charlotte seemed right, and he met with different community stakeholders and residents during the process, which turned out to be one of biggest driving forces behind him taking the job.
Highway Positions Available
TOWN OF HINESBURG PLANNING COMMISSION NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Highway Foreperson
“When I started looking, I really took some time to go around and meet with different folks in the town,” he said. “I made an effort to get out and introduce myself as a candidate for the job, but also looking to just get some information about the town and how the town is.”
area that are experiencing similar problems. He attributed the situation to a diminishing pool of trained emergency medical technicians and many local services competing for the same people. He’s also seen a massive decrease in volunteerism.
But the first order of business was to hire a new chief, who has typically overseen hiring in the past. At a selectboard meeting earlier this month, Snow said the department is excited to have fulltime, hands-on experience to now help manage the staffing challenges.
This is a supervisory position that is responsible for overseeing the maintenance of the town’s highway infrastructure. A valid VT issued CDL Class A license is required. Required skills include proficient operation of a road grader, excavator, front-end loader, backhoe, and tandem plow truck. Starting pay is $32.00 - $38.00 an hour depending upon qualifications.
The Hinesburg Select Board will hold a public hearing on November 20, 2024 at 7pm to receive public comment on proposed changes to the Zoning Regulations. The purpose is to comply with recent changes to State law, and to make minor revisions to help enable the creation of more housing, including more affordable housing. The geographic area affected is principally the eight Village Growth Area zoning districts, but some changes will have a townwide effect.
Highway Maintainer
He recognizes that Burlington differs from Charlotte’s fire and rescue service in terms of both call types and volume. He anticipates that his first order of business will be to learn about the organization and build relationships. He expects to make staffing a priority.
Copies of the proposed revisions, as well as a report on how the proposed changes comply with State Statute and the Town Plan, are available on the Town web site (www.hinesburg.org), and/or by contacting Alex Weinhagen (Director of Planning & Zoning) at the Town Office or aweinhagen@hinesburg.org or 482-4209. Certain terms were updated simply for clarity throughout the entire document – i.e., non-substantive changes. A list of the section headings with substantive changes follows, as required pursuant to Title 24, Chapter 117 V.S.A. Section 4444 (b).
This is a semi-skilled position of moderate complexity in highway maintenance and equipment operation. The Highway Maintainer II 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 $22.00 - $25.00 an hour depending upon qualifications.
1.1 – Zoning Districts
“My philosophy is really getting to know people and empowering them in areas they are passionate about,” he said. “I want to lead by example, and I want to create a culture of respect and professionalism. I’m not saying that Charlotte is not doing that, but I just want to reiterate that my goal is to promote a professional organization that is well-respected, well-loved by the town, well-supported by the town, and does great work.”
Along with staff recruit-
ment and retention — one of the department’s greatest struggles — he hopes to help maintain up-todate EMS credentialing and training for all department staff. He noted that fire and rescue services across the state are struggling to keep staff, yet they remain one of the most critical parts of a town.
“The EMS field is ever-changing, and so is the fire service, but EMS is really a majority of what Charlotte is doing for incident calls,” Valyou said. “The ever-changing medicine of EMS is something that is always going to be a top priority.”
Just four months ago, president of the organization John Snow likened the serious shortage of staffers at Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service to many fire and rescue services in the
Valyou not only brings experience but also a massive level of dedication to the field, which seems to be something that runs in his blood. When asked why he got into the career in the first place, he was quick to answer: “It started with the premature death of my father, to be honest.”
His father had been a volunteer firefighter in Richmond for a short time before deciding the field wasn’t for him. But for Valyou, stepping into his first fire department was the moment his life took a different trajectory.
“I looked into the fire service and really the moment I stepped through the firehouse doors — I originally was a volunteer 16-year-old junior member with the Underhill Jericho Fire Department — I just knew it was what I wanted to do.”
Both positions provide health, dental, vision and disability insurance; paid time off; pension plan; and 13 paid holidays.
1.4 – Purpose, Authority, etc.
2.3 – Special uses
2.4 & Table 1 – Area/dimensional requirements
2.9 (old) – Village growth area density bonus (deleted)
HINESBURG
continued from page 1
2.9 – Rural area development density
A highway application can be found on the town’s website www. hinesburg.org under “employement.” Applications can be emailed to Todd Odit, Town Manager at todit@hinesburg.org.
3.1 – Village growth area (new, revised/consolidated)
3.2 – Residential 3 district (new)
3.3 – Agricultural district
3.4 – Rural residential 1 district
3.5 – Rural residential 2 district
3.5 (old) – Village district (revised, moved to 3.1)
3.6 (old) – Village northwest district (revised, moved to 3.1)
3.7 (old) – Village northeast district (revised, moved to 3.1)
3.8 (old) – Commercial district (revised, moved to 3.1)
3.9 (old) – Residential 1 district (revised, moved to 3.1)
3.10 (old) – Residential 2 district (revised, moved to 3.1)
3.13 (old) – Industrial 3 district (revised, moved to 3.1)
3.14 (old) – Industrial 4 district (revised, moved to 3.1)
3.8 – Shoreline district
4.2.8 – Multiunit dwelling review
4.5 – Planned unit developments
5.2.3 – Home Occupation Lot Size
5.5 – Off-street parking
5.6 – Design standards for commercial/industrial uses
5.8 – Accessory uses and structures
5.9 – Accessory dwelling units
5.11 – Existing small lots
5.14 – Conversion of one-unit dwellings
5.19 – Manufactured homes and mobile home parks
5.21 – Inclusionary zoning (revised, moved to 3.1)
5.22 – Village area design standards (revised, moved to 3.1)
10.1 – Definitions (various new and revised terms)
Notice Date – October 31, 2024
the Richmond town line.
The town expects to tackle North Road in fiscal year 2027. That project is estimated at $250,000.
PUBLIC HEARING
Hinesburg Development Review Board
Tuesday, November 19, 2024 7:00 pm
Peter Parkinson - Final PlatFor a two-lot subdivision of a 66-acre property located at 83 Maple Tree Lane in the Rural Residential 1 Zoning District.
The meeting will be both in person and remote. See meeting agenda on town website with details on how to participate.
North Road was already scheduled for paving that year, according to the town’s paving program, which calls for 2.3 miles of paved road to be re-paved each fiscal year. This typically involves a 2-inch overlay.
Several other paving projects are identified in the capital improvement plan, including CVU, Hollow and Mechanicsville roads. However, they are currently not slated for any work within the next five years.
In addition, the plan includes $70,000 a year for gravel road repairs, $20,000 a year for culvert repairs and replacements and $10,000 to $20,000 a year for bridge maintenance. If repairs or replacements are not needed, the funds for that year will be saved for future repairs.
The town also faces major capital expenses with two of its buildings in the next five years.
There is currently $20,000 budgeted for basic repairs to town hall, a building that is said to need significant repairs or a
complete replacement.
A temporary two-year fix of the roof earlier this year cost $350,000. Other areas of concern include exterior siding and heating inefficiencies.
The town’s fire station will also need to be replaced in the near future. The estimated cost of building a new facility is $9 million to $11 million, according to the capital improvement plan.
Grossman said the selectboard should consider deciding on the fire department soon. Items over $400,000 on the capital improvement plan will need voter approval. The full plan is available on the town’s website.
“It’s not enough, but it’s a start,” Grossman said, “meaning if we have more money to put toward the capital budget, that would be a good idea.”
Town manager Todd Odit has repeatedly touted the need for increased revenue to cover expenses. He’s warned that property taxes will likely increase next year, even if the selectboard makes departmental budget cuts.
Jamie Valyou
Selectboard get primer on new zoning changes
PATRICK BILOW STAFF WRITER
At a recent Hinesburg Selectboard meeting, Alex Weinhagen presented numerous proposed changes to the town’s zoning regulations.
The changes were developed in response to the HOME Act, a state law passed in 2023 that mandates zoning changes at the municipal level to allow higher-density developments within utility service districts.
Weinhagen, the town’s director of planning and zoning, has been working with an outside consultant hired through a state grant to review Hinesburg’s zoning regulations and bring them into compliance with the HOME Act.
Some of the proposed changes are not required by state law but are seen as beneficial to the town.
“Not all of the changes, but some, are non-negotiable,” Weinhagen said. “Our regulations have been superseded by state law, so we need to sync them back up.”
Before Weinhagen dove into an explanation of the proposed changes, board chair Merrily Lovell asked if the planning director foresaw substantial changes to Hinesburg due to the new regulations.
In short, Weinhagen responded, “Yes, I do.”
While he quelled concerns about Main Street being lined with duplexes, Weinhagen said the changes are intended to make it easier to create housing in Hinesburg, a much-needed commodity in Chittenden County, which should produce between 8,000 and 11,000 new housing units in the next five years to keep up with need, according to a recent state study.
One proposed change, which is not required by state law, would allow property owners to create more housing within their existing
The Hinesburg Selectboard will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. on proposed changes to the town’s zoning regulations.
dwellings. While that is currently allowed, the proposed change would broaden that regulation to include all types of dwellings, not just single-family homes.
Weinhagen said this change was developed with Hinesburg’s large homes in mind, many of which are owned by older people whose children have moved away.
“I can’t tell you how many people come to us saying, ‘We’re getting older, and our house is too big,” he said. “In many cases, they’re thinking about selling that home to their kids and building a small accessory dwelling unit so they can continue to live on the property. This would make that easier.”
Another change, which is based on new state laws, would create a new residential zoning district along CVU and Richmond roads northeast of the village.
The new district was part of the Rural Route 1 zoning district plan that the selectboard shot down earlier this year, but it is not the same proposal. The planning commission will discuss the new residential proposal on Nov. 13.
Under the HOME Act, any property within a certain distance of municipal infrastructure, such as sewer and water, is subject to higher-density development of five units per acre. Hinesburg currently allows only one unit per acre within the service district, meaning that regulation has been superseded.
The HOME Act applies to the area along CVU and Richmond roads, but selectboard member Dennis Place cautioned that those
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roads might not be safe enough to accommodate high-density development, with no sidewalks or street lighting.
Weinhagen made that case to the legislators in Montpelier, but he said it fell on “deaf ears.”
Although Weinhagen’s proposed changes apply to a variety of technical regulations, the planning director said they will essentially make it easier for the development review board to assess new applications and balance local and state regulations.
“The conversation doesn’t end here,” Weinhagen said.
Donated land
At the meeting, the selectboard also heard a proposal from Rob Bast who wants to donate commercial property on Green Street to the town.
Bast said he has tried to develop the property on multiple occasions, but some of it falls within a floodplain.
Although development on the property would be difficult, Bast said it is near recreation trails and could serve as a type of trailhead.
There is currently a parking lot and water and sewer on the property, according to Bast’s presentation.
The board did not vote to accept the property, and said the town is not ready to take it on right now.
Option tax
Hinesburg will vote on whether to institute a local option tax on Election Day, which could include food, lodging and alcohol sales.
The selectboard will hold a final public forum on the issue on Monday, Nov. 4, one night before the election.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. and will take place in person at town hall. There is also a virtual participation option.
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Aurora Chamber Singers offers sacred choral music
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Aurora Chamber Singers will present its fall concert, “Wake Every Breath,”
On Saturday, Nov. 16, at 7:30 p.m., the at the College Street Congregational Church, 265 College St., in Burlington. The program features sacred choral music by three 18th century composers — Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and William Billings — who all had quite different world views.
Bach was a devout Lutheran, guided in everything by his fervent belief in the glory of God. The program features one of his cantatas, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, with a setting by Lutheran hymnist Erdmann Neumeister.
lutionary thought. His music was sung by heart around campfires and at political meetings up to and during the Revolutionary War.
The spirit and vocabulary of the Revolution and spirit of the Age of Enlightenment will be evident in the program’s presentation of three of his great compositions. His piece, Wake Ev’ry Breath, inspired the title of the program.
Mozart was Austrian, steeped in the traditions of Catholicism, and was commissioned to write music “à la mode” to glorify the reputation of his various sponsors. The chamber singers will perform one of his many settings of the liturgical Mass, the Missa Brevis in F, K 192.
American composer Billings was born in the last years of Bach’s life and outlived Mozart. He is regarded as the first American composer. Born in Boston, his life there pulled him into the center of revo-
MCCOY
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$10 billion by 2050, or as much as $4 per gallon of heating fuel, which would effectively double the current cost to keep Vermonters’ homes warm in the winter.
Even on the low end, the added cost would be about $1.70 more per gallon. Bray, who just months earlier challenged Moore’s cost projections, suddenly found himself with a case of foot-inmouth syndrome. Bray proclaimed, “I, for one, am not interested in building a program that adds $1.70 to a gallon of heating fuel. That would be a real problem for many Vermonters.”
Let me rephrase that: Bray, the law’s architect, is no longer interested in building the program he already passed a law to build. Got it?
Aurora Chamber Singers is a group of experienced choral artists, many of whom have sung together for many years in the Oriana Singers. Under that name, they enjoyed a prestigious 36-year place in the musical life of the region under the direction of founding director William Metcalfe.
The current group sings under the direction of music director David Neiweem and presents two concerts each year.
Neiweem is a veteran conductor, having led many professional, community and academic choirs during his 40-plus years of work. He is professor emeritus of music at the University of Vermont, where he taught until 2023.
Learn more at aurorachambersingers. org.
Now, after over a year of unnecessary finger-pointing, finally, proponents of the Clean Heat Standard like Bray are allegedly waking up — just in time for their November reelection.
This proposal will come back to the Legislature in January. If there is still a supermajority, this draconian and unaffordable scheme could still pass once again over the governor’s veto.
Bray’s attempt to walk-back his earlier stance, which comes during an intense reelection battle, is exactly what those of us in the minority party have been screaming from the mountaintops for over a year: this legislation is simply irresponsible.
To be fair to Bray, it is certainly not all his fault. The blame also lies with the dozens of other majority party legislators who blindly championed this legislation.
Here is what Vermonters need to know: This proposal will come back to the Legislature in January. If there is still a supermajority, this draconian and unaffordable scheme could still pass once again over the governor’s veto.
What can be done to stop it? A start would be to elect legislators concerned about Vermonters’ cost of living and who do not push pie-in-the-sky programs without first understanding how they will impact them. The November election is the only chance Vermonters have to stop the Clean Heat Standard and other anti-affordability policies like it.
That is just my two cents — or perhaps my $4.
Rep. Pattie McCoy is the Vermont House Minority Leader. She represents Poultney, Ira and a portion of Wells in the Vermont House, where she serves on the House Committee on Transportation.
David Neiweem