CVU’s
Inclusivity working group proves inconclusive
DARR STAFF WRITER
It remains unclear now how Charlotte plans to move forward with a declaration of inclusion statement.
The group tasked with making a recommendation to the selectboard on how the town should proceed with a potential vote on such a statement at Town Meeting Day instead voted to dissolve itself.
In Hinesburg
To date, 159 Vermont cities and towns, home to about 80 percent of the state’s population, have adopted the Vermont Declaration of Inclusion, which was conceived by a group of grassroots organizers in the Rutland area four years ago. The initiative’s intent is to promote and reinforce a message to all visitors that Vermont is a welcoming
See INCLUSIVITY on page 12
Planners stuck on changes to rural zoning districts
PATRICK BILOW STAFF WRITER
Changes to rural zoning in Hinesburg remained stalled after the planning commission last week once again failed to reach a consensus on how much building should be allowed.
Earlier this year, the Hinesburg Selectboard unanimously killed the commission’s proposal, despite mostly positive feedback from the public, and sent it back for a rewrite.
Changes to the Rural Residential 1 zoning district have been in the works since 2021, when
the town adopted its town plan and identified the district for an update.
The district, which extends from the village growth area to the town’s northern border near Mt. Pritchard, has long been criticized as one-size-fits all, when in fact, it encompasses a variety of landscapes with different land use potential.
Under the proposal, the district would be sectioned off three ways.
The Richmond Road corri-
See ZONING on page 12
PHOTO BY LEE KROHN
A fitting ask for this time of seasonal celebrations and religious traditions.
Happy holidays
LIBERTY
JACQUELINE SPINNELL COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE
Ten months after Brigitte Thompson’s death, the dog rescue organization she founded has continued to thrive.
Still, it takes four people to fill the role that Thompson once held single-handedly, said Kristen Orlando, part of the group’s leadership team.
“Brigitte just worked so hard,” Orlando said. “She was truly a remarkable person, and she is dearly missed.”
Thompson unexpectedly died on Feb. 18. She was 55 years old.
A dog isn’t just a pet, it is family, and no one understood this more deeply than Thompson. She was a family-oriented person, with a love for all living beings around her, Orlando said.
Thompson spent her life in greater Burlington, attending St. Joseph’s Elementary School, Burlington High School, Rice High School and Champlain College. She married Keith Thompson in 1989, and together they raised three children — Sarah, Jacob and Katherine.
Thompson had an entrepreneurial spirit. She launched a bookkeeping business in 1991 and worked as a website designer, freelance writer, medical transcriptionist and wrote several published books. (Thompson also worked for the Burlington Area Newspaper Group, of which this newspaper is a member.)
In 2015, Thompson founded VT Dog Rescue out of love for animals and a passion for making a difference. At the time, she and her family owned eight dogs, and despite juggling a full-time job, her role as a wife, and being a mother of three, Thompson cared deeply about each one of them.
VT Dog Rescue is a canine adoption organization dedicated to rescuing dogs from across the country and providing them with loving homes. The organization is run entirely by volunteers.
In the past nine years, VT Dog Rescue has saved hundreds of dogs and fostered a community of people who care deeply for this cause.
Orlando said Thompson was devoted to each dog’s life, as well as cultivating a family bond among people in the organization.
“She created this rescue on the basis of truly personal compassionate care, and that was for
not only the dogs, but also the people,” Orlando said. “That is something that made her truly special and makes the rescue truly special.”
Thompson made every decision in each dog’s best interest, Orlando said.
“Our dogs already had a rough start to their life and a rough transition being transported up north, so Brigitte prioritized their best adoption match possible so that they could have the best rest of their life as they can,” Orlando said.
“She created the VT Dog Rescue process to be very thorough, and she created the dog matching process to be very personal to each dog, each foster parent and each adopter,” she said.
Thompson had a soft spot for dogs with special needs because those are the ones typically left behind in traditional animal shelters. Her philosophy was that every dog matters, so even transporting one dog was worth it if that dog got to live. Thompson was an incred-
ibly hard working and caring person, Orlando said, responding to emails through the night and sending each coworker an e-card on their birthday.
For the past several years, Thompson was primarily homebound due to medical issues. Still, she continued to organize transportation, set up foster and adoption matches and provide support to people and dogs that needed it.
On her obituary page, people shared stories of her influence on their lives, thanking her for pairing them with their dogs.
“Brigitte found the perfect dog for me, who has brought so much joy into my life,” wrote Monica Raymond. “Her tireless work running VT Dog Rescue has saved the lives of countless dogs and made so many human lives happier and more fulfilled.”
Learn more at vtdogrescue. com.
Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship, on assignment for The Citizen.
PHOTO COURTESY KRISTEN ORLANDO Brigitte Thompson with Holly, who found a home through VT Dog Rescue.
Middlebury Town Hall Theater celebrates solstice
For millennia, people across the globe have recognized and celebrated the solstice. Across hundreds of cultures all around the world, traditions have been created, and myths have been formed to honor the changing seasons and the power of the sun and the moon.
In Vermont of all places, the turning point where the days reach their shortest and then begin increasing again is especially joyous to many. This December is especially unique astronomically, as it contains two new moons, an anomaly referred to as a black moon. Come to the Town Hall Theater, 68 South Pleasant St., Middlebury, on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m., for a time to appreciate and reflect on the peak of darkness and the beginning of winter.
Throughout the month of December, two classes of
students, ages 5-8 and 9-12, have been exploring the story of the Great Race, which explains how the Chinese calendar was created to depict an animal each year in cycles of 12 years. At 2 p.m. on the Dec. 21, you can see actors Nolan Amstrand, Vivenne Rafferty, Tenlyn Wetzel, Bodhi Kenna, Matilda Boyce, Pippa Amidon and Isaac Rivera perform the story of the Great Race, in a version that they collectively crafted over the course of this month.
You will also see the younger class put on a show that specifically focuses on the story of the Dragon and the Rabbit and their journey within the Great Race. You will see Pepper Bright, Finleigh and Elbie Jones, Ferdinand Kelly-Smith, Miles Poff and Iris Young act out the bond these two animals form. Led by Barbara Paulsen, this class has
This season, let’s celebrate the heart of Burlington - our incredible local businesses. From beloved treasures to inspiring new shops, they’re here, open, and ready to make your holidays special.
BURLINGTON PARKING
been working on puppeteering and their portion of the show will feature puppets created and operated by the kids, complete with a 20-foot-long snake.
The event will include a luminary parade after the play starting on the theater steps. For tickets, go to townhalltheater.org or call 802-382-9222.
Correction
A comma was left out of a quotation in last week’s story about Passion 4 Paws. The quote should have read: “I think it’s due to inflation, mental health and people just not being accountable for their commitments,” Robin Shover said. The earlier version read “the inflation of mental health.”
Enjoy 99¢/hr meter parking in the downtown core (Zone 5803) every day now through JAN 4! Plus, park for 2 hours FREE at the Downtown Garage when you start a ParkMobile session.
PHOTO BY STEVE JAMES
A solstice dragon will be part of a winter celebration at Town Hall Theater in Middlebury.
Hinesburg Police Blotter: Dec. 10-17
Total reported incidents: 23
Arrests: 1
Dec. 10 at 10:07 a.m., an officer investigated a traffic hazard on Baldwin Road.
Dec. 10 at 11:16 a.m., someone reported lost property.
Dec. 10 at 5:17 p.m., an officer helped someone with their broken-down car on Charlotte Road.
Dec. 10 at 5:55 p.m., someone hit a deer with their car on Shelburne Falls Road.
Dec. 11 at 8:11 a.m., suspicious activity on Elderberry Lane was reported.
Dec. 11 at 8:21 a.m., someone stole property from a car on Lyman Meadow.
Dec. 11 at 9:03 a.m., an officer assisted state police with a theft investigation in St. George.
Dec. 11 at 12:57 p.m., someone complained about another person’s driving on Commerce Street.
Dec. 12 at 3:50 p.m., an alarm went off on Richmond Road.
Dec. 12 at 7:00 p.m., someone crashed their car on Silver Street.
Dec. 13 at 7:04 a.m., officers assisted the Hinesburg Fire Department with an investigation on Pond Road.
Dec. 13 at 3:18 p.m., someone turned in lost property to
the police station and it was returned to its owner.
Dec. 13 at 3:46 p.m., a two-car crash occurred on CVU Road. Dec. 13 at 9:48 p.m., someone reported a suspicious vehicle on Southwind Road.
Dec. 14 at 9:09 a.m., someone reported suspicious activity on North Road.
Dec. 14 at 1:09 p.m., suspicious activity on Shelburne Falls Road was reported.
Dec. 14 at 1:51 p.m., a loose dog on Pond Brook Road was reunited with its owner.
Dec. 14 at 4:22 p.m., suspicious activity on Hayden Hill Road was investigated.
Dec. 15 at 8:35 a.m., officers responded to a report of suspicious activity at a residence on Route 116 and arrested
Joshua Jerger, 37, of Monkton, for aggravated operation without owner’s consent and unlawful trespass. Jerger was lodged pending federal firearm charges.
Dec. 16 at 6:30 a.m., a two-car crash occurred on Silver Street.
Dec. 16 at 1:12 p.m., someone stole property on Mechanicsville Road.
Dec. 16 at 1:42 p.m., someone locked their keys in their car.
Dec. 16 at 6:00 p.m., someone turned in lost property to the police department and it was returned to its owner.
The Citizen
Serving the community of Charlotte & Hinesburg A publication of Vermont Community Newspaper Group LLC thecitizenvt.com
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Charlotte Central, Shelburne Community schools make key leadership changes
Charlotte Central School assistant principal Tim O’Leary will become principal in the new year.
Meanwhile, Beth Slater, the school’s current student services director and a special educator, will become a special services director and assistant principal, and Jen Roth, the school’s current head principal, moves to Shelburne Community School to serve as PreK-4 principal.
“The opportunity to serve as principal at Charlotte Central School is both exciting and deeply meaningful,” said O’Leary, who joined the administrative team at Charlotte Central School this year and has worked in the Champlain Valley School District for eight years. “Stepping into this role inspires me to lead and collaborate within an already high-functioning team that benefits from the strengths and leadership of many. I look forward to building on the strong foundation here and continuing to develop durable and collaborative relationships with the staff and the community, all to support the success of our students.”
Throughout his time in the district, O’Leary has supported digital learning, curriculum development and instructional coaching, and he played a key role in establishing the Virtual Learning Academy, where he served as the middle-level principal during the 2020-21 school year, a pivotal part of the district’s response to the
COVID-19 pandemic. Before his work in the Champlain Valley, O’Leary was a high school teacher and special educator. Slater, an educator with more than two decades of experience, has been at Charlotte Central School for eight years, most recently in a split role as an eighth-grade special educator and as the director of student services. Prior to working in the district, Slater worked in Grand Isle for 14 years, and she holds a master’s degree in special education from the College of Saint Josephs and has completed advanced graduate studies through
Saint Michael’s College.
“Since my start at Charlotte Central School, I see a legacy of community partnerships, innovative educators and our collective love and appreciation in service to the Charlotte youth,” outgoing principal Roth said. “Tim and Beth will be a dynamic team, each leading with their own plethora of skills centered on relationships and the belief that each member of the community has something to enhance our school. They each seek to continuously improve the daily experiences and the future opportunities for students and staff.”
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Contact: 1340 Williston Road South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 985-3091
Vergennes, Vergennes
COURTESY PHOTO
Tim O’Leary and Jen Roth
OPINION
Freedom of conscience:
Vermont must stop funding private, religious schools
Guest Perspective
G. Gregory Hughes
Does Vermont still believe in the separation of church and state? This is a question that the newly elected Legislature in Vermont must address.
In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court’s Carson v. Makin decision required states with voucher programs to offer them to religious schools as well as nonreligious schools. The Vermont Agency of Education complied with the decision and told school districts that they cannot withhold public tuition money from schools simply because of their religious affiliation.
However, in Vermont there is a state constitutional provision called the Compelled Support Clause that prohibits the state from using public tax dollars to support religious worship or instruction that is “contrary to the dictates of conscience.”
Chapter 1, Article 3 of the Vermont Constitution states, in part, “that no person ought to, or of right can be compelled to attend any religious worship, or erect or support any place of worship, or maintain any minister, contrary to the dictates of conscience.” Note that this is an individual right that is understood to mean that Vermont cannot force a taxpayer or citizen to subsidize religious programming or institutions against their will.
America’s founders understood the importance of protecting the freedom of conscience. James Madison called conscience “the most sacred of all property.” Thomas Jefferson said that no “provision in our constitution ought to be dearer to man, than that which protects the rights of conscience against” the government.
This understanding shaped the First
Amendment. The First Amendment says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.”
These 26 words protect the freedom of conscience — the freedom to believe without coercion and to speak and act consistently with those beliefs.
Vermont’s Constitution reflects a dedication to religion and religious liberty. It also reflects a recognition that freedom of conscience — the freedom to engage in and support religious worship as dictated by one’s own mind, not by the government — is a necessary aspect of religious freedom. Freedom from compelled support for the religion of others is a central aspect of Vermonters’ religious freedom.
To those who drafted the Vermont Constitution, freedom from compelled support for the religion of others was not in opposition to the free exercise of religion. It was freedom of religion.
Vermont’s tuition program is therefore in a difficult position. A district that declines to provide tuition money to a religious school may violate the U.S. Constitution under the Supreme Court’s decision. However, sending public dollars to that school could violate taxpayer’s “dictates of conscience” and thereby violate the Vermont Constitution.
Because of the Vermont Agency of Education’s directive, Vermont continues to dismantle the wall of separation between church and state that the framers of our constitutions fought to build. We are now sending money to schools to support the teaching and practice of religion. These schools also have admis-
See HUGHES on page 6
Staying in the game: A thankful handshake from the captains
Guest Perspective
Michael Caldwell
At our family Thanksgiving table this year, with my grandson in his new home in Northfield, I will offer thanks for two of four team captains who shook hands with the refs after their devastating playoff loss in the state varsity soccer tournament. The abuse
HUGHES
continued from page 5
sion policies that allow them to deny enrollment based on gender, gender identity, sexual orientation and religion. Many of these schools have a history of discriminatory practices against our LGBTQ community of students and educators.
Vermonters should recognize the importance and indeed the privilege of having freedom of conscience. Our state was founded on this freedom. The framers of Vermont’s Constitution were willing to fight and die for this freedom and it is worth preserving today. The Vermont Agency of Education should not be allowed to take the freedom of conscience away from our citizens.
Conscience is our ability to discern right from wrong, good from evil. It also includes our ability to act on what is right. Therefore, conscience includes the ability to legislate and budget in the right way. In other words, we have the right to act on what we believe.
When asked, many Vermonters are strongly opposed to sending public money to religious schools in general, and they especially object to sending public money to schools that openly
my fellow officials and I endured from coaches and other players at the end of a tightly fought game can’t hold a candle to the gift of those handshakes.
Sports officials in Vermont and elsewhere are declining in numbers. Young people who try officiating often drop out due to nasty treatment by fans, coaches and players. Recruitment is difficult; the newest desperate
strategy is for experienced refs to meet with high school seniors and athletic directors to personally invite them to sign up for a training clinic.
Officiating in youth leagues in the summer and school sports during the academic year can earn college students more money than other less active jobs. It’s an opportunity to learn how to handle emotion in a pinch. It is, in
one sense, practical peacemaking. And drawing boundaries for fair play is one aspect of the support and accountability pole within all good restorative practice.
Those of us who have done it for decades have developed a thick enough skin to handle most unbridled people who see no boundaries to vicious contempt in disagreement, or outright hostility from the beginning, as if that’s supposed to get the refs on their side out of fear. That thick skin was challenged more than ever in the aforementioned game.
ref with an obscenity-laced rant as his players watched and listened. He turned after the immediate red card ejection, only to be followed by more profanity from the assistant coach. As the athletic director ushered us off the field, players, following the lead of their coaches, piled on with more obscenities.
discriminate. They know that it is wrong because it violates the dictates of their conscience.
The Vermont voucher program currently promotes segregation, discrimination and the misuse of public funds. It is also expensive. One of the reasons that Vermont’s property taxes are out of control is that Vermont now supports a public school system, a private school system and a religious school system.
Importantly, the holding in Carson v. Makin does not require that the state pay tuition to religious schools. States can fund only public schools. However, if states choose to fund private schools, then they cannot exclude religious schools.
The Vermont Legislature needs to consider revisions to the state voucher program to get property taxes under control and to address the obvious disregard for the Compelled Support Clause of our Constitution. When taxpayer dollars are used to support private and religious schools, we are publicly funding everything they do. That is what causes the constitutional problems; the segregation and discrimination of students is contrary to the dictates of
conscience for many citizens.
Please consider contacting your newly elected legislators and encourage them to support revising Vermont’s school voucher program. Vermont cannot afford to continue financing three school systems. Limiting the payment of public money to only public schools will do three things: it will decrease property taxes; it will increase the quality of public education; and it will be consistent with constitutional protections.
We all need to recognize that a good public education is the great equalizer in democracy. Rich or poor, Black or white, gay or straight, those with disabilities and those without, everyone has the right to a free, inclusive, high quality, public education. People do indeed have the right to provide their children with a private school or religious school education. However, they do not have a right to have public money fund these alternatives.
The Legislature needs to make a course correction.
Greg Hughes is a member of a grassroots organization called Friends of Vermont Public Education.
Vermont’s small high schools can afford just a two-person system of officiating in soccer. In the playoffs, given heightened tensions and stakes, the new more efficient three-person system is used. My two fellow officials gathered in the parking lot before the game to review the basics, get a pep talk from one of us who plays the role of center referee with the whistle, caution cards and ejection cards. The assistant refs with the flags are reminded to be vigilant in watching for offsides. Our training and experience carry us, especially when we can relax into the calm and professional demeanor that is expected.
We managed a hard-fought physical game well. Our center ref kept it from becoming too physical by calling fouls that needed to be called. The only goal resulted from a successful penalty kick by the visiting team. As time ran out, the home team pressed hard against a defiant defense. The home team coaches claimed a foul in the box, demanding a penalty kick. No foul, no whistle — a judgment confirmed by the two assistant refs and an off-duty ref watching the game.
Sore losers seem to be a growing phenomenon in American culture. Local sports are not immune from the wider cultural malaise. Somehow civility and decorum in public life have taken a back seat to exemplars of ugly aggression. New leadership, locally and nationally, is urgently needed to end this trend, and return us to a world where basic respect and decency are default modes even in difficult losses or tense interaction, whether in sports or other public forums.
I call on local school administrators and school boards, in cooperation with the Vermont Principals Association, to insist on civil behavior in all venues. When boundaries are exceeded, specific accountability with measurable consequences are needed.
I give thanks this Thanksgiving to my fellow officials, hoping they will join me, after three weeks of doubt, in my decision to ref again next fall. Most of all, I give thanks to the two captains on the losing team that day who approached us with a handshake and a word of thanks of their own. Their leadership should be congratulated. Their behavior needs to be publicly admired.
Still, after the game, as we gathered midfield, the head coach approached, attacking the center
Michael Caldwell, of North Wolcott, is a member of the international ecumenical Iona Community. The Radical Center is an occasional commentary seeking a middle ground in cultural and political life.
Community Alliance Church holds candlelit service
Community Alliance Church in Hinesburg holds its Christmas Eve candlelight service on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 6-7 p.m.
Celebrate Jesus’ birth with music, a message and candle lighting. Afterwards take a photo by the lit Christmas tree with friends and family.
December programs at the Charlotte Senior Center
For more information about any of the programming, go to charlotteseniorcentervt.org. Register at 802-425-6345.
• December art exhibit, “The Magical World of Birds Photography” by Barbara Motyka. Nature poetry is a constant source of inspiration for Motyka, who captures and shares images of the magical but fragile beauty of the natural world around us. Motyka’s show runs through January.
• Winter solstice meditation with Charlie Nardozzi and Heidi Kvasnak, Friday,
COMMUNITY
Contra Dance features Tea for Three Community Notes Obituary
Dec. 20, 5-6 p.m. Suggested donation is $5-$20. A candlelight meditation starting with seated, gentle movements, followed by soft chanting, a longer sitting meditation and a closing chant. Registration suggested.
Get your gifts wrapped at University Mall
The gift wrap booth in the food court at University Mall in South Burlington is back this season, with all proceeds from the service benefitting the homeless services agency at ANEW Place.
Bring your gifts to be wrapped by volunteers in quality papers and gift boxes, decorated with bows and ribbons. Drop off any item of any size and chill out in the food court or pick them up later.
The gift wrap booth is open from Friday, Dec. 6, through Christmas Eve during mall hours.
ANEW Place’s mission is to help create lasting change in the lives of the homeless. Learn more at anewplacevt.org.
Ben Sachs-Hamilton will call to the sounds of Tea for Three — Abi Sandy, Hadley Stockwell and Crystal Zhu — at a contra dance in Shelburne’s town hall, 5374 Shelburne Road, on Friday, Dec. 27, 6:45-10 p.m. All are welcome, all dances are taught, and no partner or experience is necessary. Bring a pair of clean, soft-soled shoes to dance in and a water bottle to keep you hydrated. Masks welcome but optional. Please stay home if you have symptoms. The cost is $12 for adults. Find out more at queencitycontras.com.
Rebecca R. Benes
Dear wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend, Rebecca Randall Beneš, 34, of Jericho, died on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, after a two-and-a-half-year battle with cancer, with her husband and mother by her side.
Rebecca will forever be known for her strong will, unwavering faith, perseverance, radiant smile, dedication to family and true love for life.
She leaves behind her husband, Joshua; her young sons, Luke and Zachary; parents, Jim and Ginger Calder of Shelburne; fatherin-law, Peter; siblings, Daniel and Amanda; grandmother, Peg Randall; several cousins, aunts, and uncles; and her best friend, Alice Hasen.
Rebecca was born on Jan. 30, 1990, during a winter blizzard. True to her biblical name, she grew to become a peacemaker, bringing her family closer together. She embraced her family’s love of gardening and developed a passion for animals.
At the age of 5, she held a calf’s halter for the first time and fell in love with cows. Her family enrolled her in 4-H at Shelburne Farms, where she trained and showed Brown Swiss heifers at local fairs. She cherished her days out at the dairy barn, her friendships with other 4-H members, and the competition in the ring. She also volunteered and later worked in the Shelburne Farms’ children’s farmyard, where she delighted in educating visitors about livestock.
Rebecca and her best friend, Alice, were co-valedictorians of their high school class. Rebecca received a Green and Gold Schol-
arship at the University of Vermont and majored in animal science with a pre-veterinary focus. At UVM, she became deeply involved in the Cooperative for Real Education in Agricultural Management program, managing a 34-cow herd with her peers and later serving as a student herd advisor. She also worked in a research lab, contributing to several dairy science projects. During her senior year, she met Josh, her future husband and soulmate. He was captivated by her compassion for animals, love of nature, beautiful smile and commitment to making the world a better place. The two quickly fell in love and persevered through a four-year, long-distance relationship when
Rebecca R. Benes
PHOTO BY JONATHAN BLAKE
SPORTS
CVU’s winter sports season gets underway
LAUREN READ
CORRESPONDENT
Boy’s ice hockey
Coach: JP Benoit
Last season: 6-13-3, lost in the quarterfinals
This season: 0-1
Key returnees: Ted Connery, senior, defense; Jameson Yandow, junior, forward; Brady Jones, junior, forward; Eric Weinberg, sophomore, forward; Zavier Barnes, sophomore, forward; Tommy Barnes, junior, goalie.
Key newcomers: Ethan Whitcomb, first year, defense; Sawyer Wellman, first year, defense; Zyler Yandow, first year, forward; Ezra Ziter, first year, forward.
Outlook: With just four seniors on the team, the boys are looking to find chemistry and consistency as the season gets underway. But coach JP Benoit is very excited about the talent the group has and how focused the players are on team performance over the individual.
“I think this group will take time to find its stride but could be one of the more special teams in recent memory,” Benoit said. “A strength is how great this team already gets along. They are very focused on the team aspect over individual performance.”
CVU will work to build that team chemistry and look to peak as the playoffs roll around.
Up next: Wednesday, Dec. 18, at Spaulding at 7:15 p.m.
Girls’ ice hockey
Coach: Matt Bunting
Last season: 3-15-2, lost in the quarterfinals
This season: 1-0
Key returnees: KB Aldrich, senior, forward/defense; Miles Brien, senior, defense; Sophie Brien, senior, forward; Mackenzie Rivard, senior, forward; Megan
Rivard, senior, forward; Abby Bunting, senior, forward/defense; Ella Gilbert, junior, goalie; Alex Walpole, junior, defense; Cadence Tessier, sophomore, defense; Eva Mazur, sophomore, forward.
Key newcomers: Devin Taylor, first year, forward; Madeline Bessette, first year, defense; Maeve Gilbert, first year, forward.
Outlook: Last year, the Champlain Valley-Mount Mansfield co-op team had a smaller roster and a lot of players who got a lot of ice time. This year, the CougarHawks will see the benefit of that experience as a host of players return.
They started off the year with a 4-0 win, showcasing a stronger offense to kick off the season. Importantly, the CougarHawks will have experience in goal (Ella Gilbert) and a strong roster of returning defenders.
“After a year with fewer numbers and a trial by fire for many members on the team, the CougarHawks hope to be competitive,” CVU-MMU coach Matt Bunting said. “They have depth and experience in all three zones.”
Up next: Saturday, Dec. 21, versus Burlington at 4:45 p.m.
Boys’ basketball
Coach: Ernie Duncan
Last season: 18-4, lost in the Division
I semifinals
This season: 0-1
Key returnees: Jacob Armstrong, senior, guard; Luke Allen, senior, forward; Jackson Dubois, senior, forward; Adrian Paliling, sophomore, guard.
Key newcomers: Owen Scott, sophomore, guard; Connor Dubois, sophomore, forward; Alex Jovell, sophomore, guard; Charlie Charron, sophomore, guard; Prodige Bikule, sophomore forward; Tyler Simons, sophomore, forward; Blake Companion, junior, guard; Brady Gangl, first year, forward.
Outlook: Champlain Valley will take the court this season with a new coach, Ernie Duncan, and many players needing varsity experience. The team will rely on senior leadership from Jacob Armstrong, Luke Allen and Jackson Dubois as it starts the season and gets the rest of the lineup used to the varsity game.
“We have one or two that played sparingly on varsity last year and the rest will be getting their first meaningful minutes at this level,” Duncan said. “It will definitely be a work in progress where we hope to be hitting our stride come playoff time.”
The Redhawks have been to the final
PHOTO BY DWIGHT MAZUR
Ella Gilbert, goalie for the Champlain Valley-Mount Mansfield girls’ hockey team uses her stick to deny a goal by Stowe’s Lily Bucklin during the CougarHawks’ 4-0 Saturday at Cairns Arena.
Orion Yates named Gatorade Football Player of the Year
LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT
Football
Champlain Valley quarterback Orion Yates has been named the 2024-25 Gatorade Vermont Football Player of the Year.
The sophomore led the undefeated Redhawks to the Division I state championship this season and passed for 2,056 yards and 29 touchdowns. He threw for four total touchdowns and passed for 177 yards in CVU’s 41-14 win over Rutland in the state final.
He also added 51 tackles on defense, six sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception.
“Yates is great in all facets of the game,” Tom McCoy, head coach at Burr and Burton Academy, said in the press release. “He has a strong arm, he’s well-composed and he’s a great kid who’s a leader. He can beat you by throwing or with his feet. What sets him apart is that he’s equally as impressive on the defensive side of the ball.”
Yates, who is a sophomore at CVU, joins his father, Steve, as Gatorade Player of the Year. The elder Yates was the 1986 Vermont Gatorade recipient who starred at Burlington High School.
Cross country
The Champlain Valley girls’ cross-country team competed in the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Ore., on Dec. 7, coming in 19th overall.
Alice Kredell led the way for the Redhawks, finishing in 109th. Audrey Neilson was next in 117th, Lydia Donahue followed in 135th and Charlotte Crum was 138th, Annalise Wood was 185th, Livi Neilson 195th and Justyna Amblo rounded it out in 198th.
CVU made its fourth appearance in
the national competition and its first since 2018.
Girls’ basketball
Champlain Valley 58, Rutland 32: The Champlain Valley girls’ basketball team opened its season on Saturday, Dec. 14, defeating Rutland in the North-South tournament.
The Redhawks, playing their first game under new coach Dom Bryant, moved to 1-0 on the season.
Zoey McNabb led the way with 15 points and Kaitlyn Jovell added 13 points for CVU. Sarah Skaflestad (eight points) and Sophia Zada-Silva (seven points) also tallied for the Redhawks.
Girls’ ice hockey
Champlain Valley/Mount Mansfield 4, Stowe 0: The Champlain Valley girls’ ice hockey team opened its season with a shutout win over Stowe on Saturday.
Sophie Brien had two goals to lead the CougarHawks (1-0), while Abby Bunting and Maeve Gilbert each added a score.
Lucia Brochu and Megan Rivard each had an assist, while Ella Gilbert stopped 18 shots on goal to get the win.
Boys’ ice hockey
U-32 5, Champlain Valley 0: Champlain Valley’s offense struggled in a loss to U-32 on Saturday in high school boys’ ice hockey.
The Redhawks fell to 0-1.
Boys’ basketball
Rutland 52, Champlain Valley 40: Champlain Valley opened the season on Saturday in the North-South tournament, falling to Rutland 52-40.
Connor DuBois had 12 points for CVU, and Jacob Armstrong added 11. CVU is 0-1 on the season.
PHOTO BY AL FREY
Champlain Valley Union quarterback Orion Yates looks for his receivers in an Aug. 31 game against Hartford.
visits Charlotte
Kids enjoy a visit from Santa and other holiday activites as the Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service holds an open house for the community on Dec. 15. Families enjoy cocoa and a candy cane, write letters to Santa and turn on a new seasonal light display.
Santa
COURTESY PHOTOS
Evergreen Christmas fern brings a touch of color to winter woods
The Outside Story
Susan Shea
Tromping through our woods in December in search of a Christmas tree, I often notice an evergreen fern, one of the few green plants on the forest floor this time of year, other than young conifers. An easy fern to identify, it grows in fountain-like clumps and has glossy, dark green leaflets, or pinnae. This is Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), named for its evergreen habit and the shape of its leaflets. Each leathery, lance-shaped leaflet has a lobe at its base, creating a leaf shape my college botany professor described as looking like Santa’s boot. Others have noted the leaflets’ resemblance to Christmas stockings.
Christmas fern grows throughout eastern North America. It is related to the uncommon Braun’s holly fern, which grows in cool, moist forests in much of New England. Occasionally the two species hybridize, producing the rare Potter’s fern, named for Henry Potter, a Vermont farmer and botanist.
Christmas fern grows in a variety of woodlands and on shady, rocky slopes. It tolerates a range of soil acidity and moisture levels. This fern is most abundant in northern hardwood forests, especially those with rich, calcareous (limy) soils. I once visited a red oak-northern hardwood forest with rich soils which had the tallest and healthiest-looking Christmas ferns I’ve ever seen, some with twisted leaves.
In winter, the fronds of these
ferns are often flattened against the ground. Studies have shown that the first hard frosts stimulate development of a hinge zone at the base of the stem, which causes the fronds to fall over.
The prostrate fronds benefit from the warmth and protection of leaf litter, which helps to prevent the leaves from freezing. Humidity is trapped beneath the ferns’ leaves, reducing desiccation. The leaves continue to photosynthesize during winter at a reduced rate. When fiddleheads emerge in spring, covered with silvery scales, the old fronds die.
Spring Christmas ferns include fertile fronds in the center of the clump which grow taller than the sterile fronds. The uppermost leaflets of the fertile fronds are smaller than the others and bear spores in tiny cases called sporangia. If you check the undersides of fertile leaflets in summer, you can see brown masses of these spore cases.
In late summer or early fall, when the sporangia are ripe and dry, they split open, and the spores are dispersed by the wind.
Each fern produces millions of spores, but only a few will land in suitable habitat. In contrast to flowering plants, ferns and their relatives such as club mosses undergo two very different developmental stages during their lives (sometimes called alternating generations). There is a gametophyte, or sexual phase, and a sporophyte, the familiar, spore-producing phase.
According to the Peterson Field Guide to Ferns, by Cobb, Farnsworth and Lowe, if a spore lands in a moist, shady spot, it develops into a gametophyte: a flat, green,
heart-shaped body with sex organs that grows underground. When stimulated by water, sperm from one gametophyte swim to the female organ on another gametophyte and fertilize an egg. The egg divides and grows into a tiny fern, a new sporophyte, at first anchored to the gametophyte. Ferns also reproduce vegetatively; horizontal stems, or rhizomes, grow outwards and develop new fronds and roots. When the connecting rhizomes die, the ferns become separate plants.
Christmas fern is easy to grow and makes a good ornamental for shade gardens. It’s best to purchase nursery-grown plants so as not to deplete wild populations. People have used this fern for various medicinal purposes, including rheumatism, stomachache, pneumonia and toothache.
Wildlife also eat Christmas fern. Ruffed grouse feed on leaves in fall and winter. Deer may browse the fronds during harsh winters when food is scarce. Wild turkeys eat the young spring leaves. Ground-nesting songbirds such as ovenbirds and veery sometimes nest in clumps of Christmas fern.
When you walk in the winter woods, look for the splashes of green made by the hardy Christmas fern — and for the stocking shape of its leaflets.
Susan Shea is a naturalist, writer and conservationist based in Vermont. 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
continued from page 12
dor, a densely populated area just above the village growth area served by municipal infrastructure, would change to a Residential 3 district.
The Residential 4 district, which extends above Residential 3, would act as a “transitional” zoning district, allowing one home per 3 acres.
The final proposed change, the Rural 1 district, which encompasses large portions of land to the north and east of the village, would mirror the town’s more rural districts, like Rural Residential 2, would restrict building to one home per 10, 12 or 15 acres, based on the quality of road access and other factors.
In July when the selectboard voted down the proposal, member Dennis Place suggested that the proposed building density was too restrictive and should be closer to one home per 5 acres. Landowners within the proposed district mirrored his view.
The density allowance was one of two issues the selectboard had with the proposal.
The other was rooted in a last-minute boundary change for the proposed Rural 1 district to exclude developer Joe Laster’s property, which straddles the boundary and extends into a core wildlife habitat. The topic swallowed up the planning commission’s last meeting, but they did
not reach a decision.
Although the commission did not reach a decision on the density allowance last week either, members had a lengthy conversation about how they arrived at the proposed density of one home per 10, 12 or 15 acres.
Chairperson Denver Wilson said the figure was largely driven by the landscape of the proposed Rural 1 district, which features steep slopes, rugged terrain and other natural assets.
“The terrain in these rural areas will largely dictate how many homes can be built regardless of the allowed density we decide on,” said Wilson, who walked the proposed district with planning and zoning director Alex Weinhagen back when the district rewrite began.
Wilson said the current density proposal of one unit per 10, 12 or 15 acres reflects the actual number of buildable house sites within the proposed district.
Still, selectboard members and landowners in the new district felt the figure was restrictive. In response, the planning commission has been considering a higher density allowance, although some members stand by the original number.
During last week’s meeting, Weinhagen presented a few scenarios for what the Rural 1 district would look like under
different densities.
The 84-acre Kendall property, for example, which lies in the proposed Rural 1 district, could see as many as 17 homes under a one-home-per-five-acre density and eight homes under the current proposal of one home per 10, 12 or 15 acres.
Commission member Alison Lesure said examples like this will help the commission reach a decision.
“I think this will help inform what a good density is, instead of just throwing a number like five out there because it’s in the middle and seems like a compro-
INCLUSIVITY
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community made of people who will treat strangers fairly, provide encouragement and support their interests.
The declaration, which asks towns to “condemn racism and welcome all persons, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, or socioeconomic status,” has gained momentum in recent years with the support of Vermont Interfaith Action, Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Vermont League of Cities and
mise,” Lesure said. “Our decision should be based on doing our best to balance the competing interests that we know exist because we’ve heard the public comments.”
Several different groups have weighed in on the proposed Rural 1 district since it was released to the public, including landowners, developers and local environmental groups.
The planning commission had a brief discussion about whether a higher density allowance would disrupt natural resources and wildlife in the proposed Rural 1 district.
“Something to consider is that we may be limiting the number of homes, but that isn’t necessarily limiting the impact on the environment,” Wilson said.
Weinhagen added that while it’s important to consider the environment in concept, there are protections baked into Hinesburg’s development review process, which would still apply for any proposed development within the district.
“Where you set the density is less about the impact on resources and more about the character of the area once it’s been developed,” Weinhagen said.
Towns and Vermont Council on Rural Development. When the group championing the campaign came before the selectboard in August, it spurred a much larger conversation over inclusion in town. Some residents opposed to signing a declaration said that it might set a “terrible” precedent down the road. Other residents said the entire conversation highlights much-needed change within a town made up of residents who are mostly rich, white and old.
After hearing those split opinions, the selectboard created a subcommittee tasked with recommending whether the original declaration of inclusion — or an alternate declaration drafted by the group — should be brought to a townwide vote.
But after two meetings with the three-member working group, spearheaded by selectboard member Natalie Kanner, participants couldn’t reach common ground.
“We had three members of the working group,” Kanner said. “Each member voted for one of the three options. So, one member voted that we should make no recommendation, one wanted us to draft our own inclusivity statement, and one wanted to recommend putting the existing initiative onto the ballot.”
The working group ultimately voted to dissolve, but selectboard members were not all unanimous in accepting that recommendation. Selectboard vice chair Frank Tenney, who cast the lone vote against dissolution, said he hoped the selectboard could move forward with at least one option.
“My hope was that, whether you agreed on everything or not, there could have been a draft so that we could maybe have something to decide to put forward,” he said.
The selectboard voted 4-1 to dissolve the working group but took no action on how it would proceed on an inclusivity statement. It also remains unclear whether they will put the item on the ballot for Town Meeting Day.
“I guess it would be some kind of a statement that said that the committee could not come up with a decision and wants to be dissolved and it lands back in the hands of the selectboard to decide what we do going forward,” Tenney said. “So, we didn’t get anywhere.”
Rebecca started veterinary school at Cornell University.
At Cornell, Rebecca immersed herself in the food animal curriculum, made lifelong friends and earned a reputation for her ambition and can-do attitude. She was active in the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, the student chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Pet Loss Support Hotline. She participated in vaccine clinics to give back to the community while getting more practice with exams and vaccines. She also worked part-time milking cows at the vet school dairy barn.
During her third year, Rebecca was inducted into the veterinary honor society Phi Zeta. Her dedication to gaining diverse experiences led her to riding alongside veterinarians across the U.S. and even in Colombia, South America.
Upon graduation, Rebecca accepted a position as a mixed animal practitioner in Central Wisconsin. She predominantly cared for cattle, but also treated cats, dogs, sheep, goats and pigs. She was known for supporting farmers in aligning care for their animals while improving their businesses.
Rebecca and Josh married shortly after she began her job, returning to Vermont for a fall wedding at the First Baptist Church in Burlington, followed by a reception at the West Monitor Barn in Richmond. Afterward, Josh joined Rebecca in Wisconsin, where they spent several years kayaking, hiking, skiing and enjoying the outdoors. Their first
son, Luke, was born in December 2019. In 2021, longing to be closer to family, they moved back to Vermont, where their second son, Zachary, was born.
That same year, Rebecca began work as a veterinarian at Malletts Bay Veterinary Hospital in Colchester. She appreciated the balance this new position provided her between her professional and family life, and she loved caring for people’s pets while demonstrating compassion for their owners. She also loved working with the incredible team of veterinarians and support staff at the clinic.
Rebecca found immense joy in spending time with Josh and
their sons. Together, the family went camping, explored nature and frequently visited Rebecca’s favorite place, Shelburne Farms. She delighted in teaching her boys about the world, gardening and watching them grow.
In June 2022, Rebecca’s life took a devastating turn when she suffered a seizure at work and was diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma. After a series of surgeries and medical treatments, her disease became stable, and the cancer started to shrink. She and Josh decided to move forward with building their forever home on a subdivided parcel next to Josh’s parents’ house in Jericho.
Together, they moved into
EARLY
JANUARY 2
DEADLINES
their new home in September 2023. When she wasn’t at medical appointments, Rebecca spent her energy planning out an ambitious and extensive network of gardens and fruit trees. In 2024, she worked with her family to complete a full gardening season, which brought her immense joy. Unfortunately, by November, the cancer became uncontrollable.
Rebecca passionately loved being a wife and mother. She also inspired her friends and family to utilize life’s tragedies and challenges as an opportunity to grow, enjoy life more fully and identify ways to serve others. We know that she would encourage us to reframe our grief as a force to
nourish our faith and help make the world a better place.
Rebecca’s celebration of life will mark the beginning of a new chapter for us all. It will be held on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Burlington. A reception will immediately follow at the same location.
For those who are interested, the family will go for a walk/ snowshoe at Shelburne Farms to visit the Brown Swiss cows after the celebration and reception. In lieu of flowers, information about donations in her memory to organizations she cared about will be shared at the celebration and on social media in January.
The business next door donates nearly twice as much as big-box stores and online retailers to local non-profits, events and teams.
OPEN 10am-9pm Daily @ Essex Experience
Gift Bundles, all price points. Just add the freshest, best products available! OR
Build Your Own with gifts for the cook, the reader and those who have feet and value clean glassware.
Cannabis has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For use by individuals 21 years of age and older or registered qualifying patient only. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN AND PETS. DO NOT USE IF PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING. Possession or use of cannabis may carry significant legal penalties in some jurisdictions and under federal law. It may not be transported outside of the state of Vermont. The effects of edible cannabis may be delayed by two hours or more. Cannabis may be habit forming and can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Persons 25 years and younger may be more likely to experience harm to the developing brain. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. National Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.
WINTER PREVIEW continued from page 8
four at Patrick Gymnasium five years in a row and will rely on their shooting strength to get them there this season.
Up next: Saturday, Dec. 21, versus Mount Anthony at 3 p.m.
Girls’ basketball
Coach: Dom Bryant
Last season: D1 state champions
This season: 1-0
Key returnees: Zoey McNabb, junior, guard; Kaitlyn Jovell, senior, guard; Lauren Vaughan, senior, forward.
Key newcomers: Sophia Zada-Silva, first year, guard; Sarah Skaflestad, first year, guard.
Outlook: The defending state champions will have a few question marks to start this season, as Champlain Valley welcomes new coach, Dom Bryant to the
program. Bryant has some big shoes to fill in for his predecessor, Ute Otley, who led the Redhawks to eight titles and 10 final appearances.
CVU will also have to replace a group of seniors, including Miss Basketball, Elise Berger, but will look to seniors Kaitlyn Jovell and Lauren Vaughan at the start of the season.
“I am excited for our team and all of the hard work they have put in each day,” Bryant said. “Our goals are to fight through adversity and play CVU basketball every day.”
The team started off well, winning its first game to start things off.
Up next: Tuesday, Dec. 17, at Brattleboro at 7 p.m.
The second part of our winter sports preview will appear in January.
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PHOTO BY DWIGHT MAZUR
CVU-MMU forward Eva Mazur gets ahead of a Stowe defender during Saturday’s 4-0 home opener.