The Citizen - 1-2-25

Slow burn

Political rebound

Development stalls, housing starts delayed

John Rodgers says he’s right man for the job

Page 3

Page 9

January 2, 2025

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Year in review

Making tracks

Towns still rebuilding after anniversary floods BRIANA BRADY STAFF WRITER

Over the past couple of years, it has become clear that one of the greatest threats climate change poses to Vermont is the damage wreaked by floods. This past July, almost exactly a year after one of the worst floods in Vermont history caused destruction across the state, Tropical Storm Beryl arrived.

Among Chittenden County towns, Hinesburg and Charlotte saw particularly devastating road damage.

For the last six months, the towns have been making repairs to

roads swept away by flooding and seeking federal assistance. Residents have also been finding hope in the willingness of neighbors to support each other and considering how to plan for a future that, according to experts, will almost certainly include more frequent floods.

During the initial flooding in Hinesburg, culverts on either side of the town garage on Beecher Hill Road were destroyed. Hinesburg also saw some of the greatest rainfall in the state, with measureSee FLOODS on page 10

Year in review

Charlotte’s workers unite LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

A white Christmas meant some morning skiing and walking for these folks in Charlotte.

In addition to juggling the daily municipal mayhem and minutia for a town of over 3,800 people, nine Charlotte employees made history this year by becoming the first town staffers to mobilize for a union.

The mobilization began over a year ago on Town Meeting Day 2023 after the town’s budget marginally failed by 35 votes. The months that followed boiled over

in a contentious battle between some taxpayers upset by high employee costs, and workers who said they felt “blindsided” by proposed changes to their compensation packages.

Due to the citizen outcry, the selectboard proposed to cut $30,000 from employee health benefits. Initial proposals recommended that town staffers contributing 10 percent of their health See UNION on page 11

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Page 2 • January 2, 2025 • The Citizen

Year in review

Education financing shapes discourse, voter sentiment LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

There was arguably one thing on everyone’s mind in 2024: education financing.

The issue, along with the battle for affordability in a state that saw an average 14 percent property tax hike, became one of the most heated and debated topics last year for local and state leaders.

Both South Burlington School District and Champlain Valley School District suffered innumerable consequences due to a law that has become, in some ways, infamously known as Act 127. The law, while meant to further equalize education, caused massive headaches for leaders at the two school districts last year. Not only did the law not work in their favor, but it was also incredibly complex and was altered in the 11th hour by the Legislature just weeks before Town Meeting Day. Beginning last year, Act 127 employed those new pupil weights to distribute state education dollars based on student needs. The new formula updated the state’s equalized pupil-weighting system and gave more “value” to students from lower-income families, English language learners, students from low-population districts and small schools in sparsely populated districts.

In other words, if a district is more heavily weighted, Act 127 would allow those districts to spend more with less effect on local tax rates.

To soften the blow in commu-

nities like South Burlington and the towns that make up Champlain Valley School District, the law also implemented a 5 percent cap for taxes for the next five years. But for that discount to be effective, the district would have needed to spend less than 10 percent more per pupil over current spending.

For the South Burlington School District, for example, that meant the budget could have been as low as $64.7 million and as high as $71.4 million with the same effect on the residential homestead tax rate.

Most school leaders opted to max out the spending cap to preserve critical programs and staff, but legislators took issue with that aspect of the law early in the 2024 legislative session, arguing that districts throughout the state were taking advantage of the spending mechanism.

As a solution, a new bill was fast-tracked through the Statehouse in February — weeks before Town Meeting Day and after school districts had already voted on their budgets — which replaced the 5 percent cap with a one-cent tax rate discount for every percent lost in the district’s taxing capacity since Act 127’s implementation.

Still, the towns that make up the school districts were staring down an 18 percent tax rate increase.

While the new law also gave schools the option to postpone the Town Meeting Day vote to reconfigure their spending plans, leaders in both school districts opted to still present budgets at the March meeting.

FILE PHOTO

Cast members from “Finding Nemo KIDS” included Nora Plasse (Marlin), Josephine Webster-Fox (Nemo) and Nora Guidice (Dory).

This queued up a new battle for school officials: Getting a budget passed.

“It’s extremely unprecedented,” South Burlington superintendent Violet Nichols told voters in February. She added that boards and educators, at the time, were having “extremely taxing conversations looking at decimating schools and programs that we’ve dedicated our lives to developing for the benefits of students in our community.”

The law, which many say is well-intentioned, was confusing for voters to grasp and highlight-

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ed the unique tug-of-war between local and state control when it comes to education funding in Vermont. Residents still vote on school budgets and maintain some level of local control, but those numbers ultimately have a massive effect on how the state’s education fund fares overall.

“What’s happened is that the money for education funding has been redistributed by the state and local taxpayers have been asked to vote on whether they are willing to pay for the system they have,” Noah Everitt, co-president of the South Burlington Educators Asso-

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ciation and 12-year staffer with the district, told The Other Paper in May. “I don’t think that has really been well communicated by the Legislature.”

Ultimately both school districts’ initial budgets — and a third of school budgets statewide — failed on the first go-around in March and left leaders to make some tough decisions around programming and staffing.

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The Citizen • January 2, 2025 • Page 3

Year in review

Development projects stall in Hinesburg, delaying new housing PATRICK BILOW STAFF WRITER

It’s been a notable year for development in Hinesburg, but no one is swinging a hammer just yet.

Residents will recognize the big players — Haystack Crossing, Hinesburg Center and Joe Laster’s project — because they’ve been the subject of many meeting agendas, public comments and town gossip.

These projects have loomed over Hinesburg for years, conjuring feelings of concern about a changing town or hope for attainable housing in a county with soaring costs and the highest rate of homelessness in the state.

As the applications currently stand, Haystack Crossing is planning 176 dwellings, Hinesburg Center, 73, and Laster, 55 — each with varying levels of affordable housing.

But while these projects are well known throughout town, no one can truly know their impact because they exist in different levels of limbo, awaiting state approval, local review or agreements between developers. They are years from producing move-in ready homes.

From the perspective of the Hinesburg’s planning commission and development review board, Haystack Crossing and Hinesburg Center were promising applications at the start of the year.

The projects, which neighbor each other, were emblematic of a much larger effort to bolster development in the village growth area. There was even an agreement between the developers to build a bridge over Patrick Brook that would have helped disperse traffic in the village.

Haystack Crossing received Act 250 approval in August, almost two years after Hinesburg approved the project, which granted developer Black Rock Construction final permission to begin construction.

Despite momentum after two years of review at the state level, Hinesburg’s planning department was not regularly communicating with Black Rock at the time, according to planning director Alex Weinhagen, and uncertainty about the developer’s involvement in the project began to surface.

In September, The Citizen reported that O’Brien Brothers, another South Burlington developer, was talking with Black Rock

about purchasing the project.

O’Brien Brothers CEO Evan Langfeldt said there was nothing beyond conversations to report at the time.

Black Rock has been involved with Haystack for a decade and Weinhagen has credited the company for its patience during the local and state review process. Nevertheless, discussions about an ownership change have sparked questions about when the project will start and how it might change.

Hinesburg Center did not fare as well in Act 250 review this year.

Despite receiving local approval in 2023, the project was killed by the state in March because of its proximity to a floodplain. Developer Brett Gabowski is drafting a new application, but to better appeal to the state, it might not include the bridge over Patrick Brook, according to Weinhagen.

While that might help it pass at the state level, the bridge was a condition of approval for the project at the local level in 2023. The project will need to come to Hinesburg’s Development Review Board after Act 250 review, where another heated discussion about the bridge will likely ensue.

The next phase of Joe Laster’s project off Mechanicsville Road is also pending approval, and a new proposed zoning district could impact future phases of the project.

One phase of Lasters’s project proposes 17 housing units on 11 lots, including seven single-family

FILE PHOTO

An abandoned home on Mechanicsville Road in Hinesburg was slated for demolition to make way for six new homes built by Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity.

homes, two duplexes, a triplex and one single-family home. The development review board reviewed the application earlier this month but tabled a decision.

The proposed Rural 1 zoning district, which includes part of Laster’s property and an overlapping protected forest area, could also restrict the number of houses that Laster can build.

The proposal was sent to the selectboard for review in June after Weinhagen submitted a last-minute request to omit Laster’s property from the new Rural 1 district, sparking a debate on the selectboard and throughout town.

The selectboard denied the proposal and sent it back to the planning commission, where a debate about Laster’s property is

underway.

Despite movement with several projects in Hinesburg, Weinhagen this fall described a feeling of angst within the planning department as the wheels spin but with little forward momentum. He says he remains hopeful about more housing in the coming years, but many of these projects should have been turning dirt by now.

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Page 4 • January 2, 2025 • The Citizen

Hinesburg Police Blotter: Dec. 17-21 Total reported incidents: 25 Arrests: 1 Dec. 17 at 10:11 a.m., someone reported suspicious activity on Orchard Commons.

Dec. 17 at 12:15 p.m., police investigated a report of assault.

Dec. 17 at 1:30 p.m., officers responded to a domestic dispute on North Road.

Dec. 17 at 4:30 p.m., a report of an animal problem on Silver Street was investigated.

Dec. 17 at 4:56 p.m., officers mitigated a citizen dispute.

Dec. 17 at 6:43 p.m., someone complained about someone else’s driving on Route 116.

Dec. 18 at 4:37 p.m., officers responded to a dispute on Bear Lane and arrested Marcie Whittemore, 32, of Brandon, on an outstanding warrant from Middlebury.

Dec. 18 at 8:40 p.m., a crash involving one vehicle took place on

Charlotte Road.

Dec. 19 at 7:04 a.m., another single-vehicle crash occurred on Route 116.

Dec. 19 at 1:57 p.m., an alarm activated on CVU Road.

Dec. 19 at 5:25 p.m., someone stole a car on Shelburne Falls Road.

Dec. 20 at 6:40 a.m., a crash involving two vehicles was reported on Route 116.

Dec. 20 at 7:20 a.m., officers helped clear a traffic hazard on Route 116.

Dec. 20 at 5:05 p.m., a single-vehicle crash occurred on Route 116.

Dec. 20 at 5:23 p.m., officers responded to another single-vehicle crash on Baldwin Road.

Dec. 21 at 11:56 a.m., someone robbed Jiffy Mart on Ballard’s Corner Road.

Dec. 21 at 1:44 p.m., a car crashed on Pond Road.

Dec. 21 at 6:56 p.m., another car crashed on Baldwin Road.

Vermont State Police Blotter: Dec. 29 Dec. 29 at 12:30 p.m., Christopher Carpentier, 37, of Charlotte, was arrested for first-degree aggravated domestic assault, violating conditions of release, interference with access to emergency vehicles and unlawful mischief at an address on Higbee Road in Charlotte. Police say Carpentier threatened a family member

with a deadly weapon, violated his court-ordered conditions by consuming alcohol and being at the residence. He also damaged the property and interfered with his victim’s ability to contact police. Carpentier was later located by troopers in South Burlington. He was held on $3,000 bail.

Go, tennenbaum: creative ways to recycle your old Christmas trees DEBRA HELEBA UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT EXTENSION

If your holiday includes a live, cut Christmas tree, you may be wondering what to do with it after the festivities are over. Many towns, civic clubs, and solid waste districts across Vermont now have disposal programs in place. Most offer curbside pick-up of spent trees so long as all decorations, including tinsel, have been removed. This is a convenient way for you to recycle your tree.

If you are not yet ready to give up your tree or are looking for other ways to use it, there are several options to consider.

Create a respite for birds.

Move your tree outdoors and decorate it with edible ornaments that birds and other wildlife can enjoy. You can hang suet in the tree, out of reach of dogs, and make homemade decorations of peanut butter-covered pinecones. An outdoor tree feeder can be enjoyable for birds and birdwatchers alike.

Remove branches and use them to cover tender perennials.

Branches can help protect your overwintering plants from snow and ice, providing them with a bit of cover and helping to maintain consistent winter temperatures.

Rent a chipper on your own or with neighbors. Chipped mulch

PHOTO BY DEBRA HELEBA

After the holidays are over, there are many environmentally friendly ways to recycle a Christmas tree from placing it outdoors as a haven for birds to chipping it up into mulch for the compost pile or for fill for raised beds.

is a valuable carbon source for your compost pile. Remember that composting works best when you use about a three-to-one ratio recipe with three parts browns

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The Citizen • January 2, 2025 • Page 5

OPINION Stannard’s look back at 2024 Guest Perspective Bob Stannard Like every year, a whole lot happened in 2024. Wars, trips to outer space, assassination attempts, a solar eclipse and still the price of groceries have not come down.

Here’s my take on 2024, so pour yourself a cup of coffee, sit back and enjoy the ride.

January: The year kicked off with the release of Jeffery Epstein’s “associates.”

The list included Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Steven Hawking, Michael Jackson and Prince Andrew of Britain. It was forgotten three days later.

NASA helicopter Ingenuity flew its 72nd and final flight on Mars. At government expense the copter was used to seek out building sites for Elon Musk’s new home. Musk said it was an entirely appropriate use of U.S. taxpayer’s dollars and denied that he was a socialist, saying he was more of a fascist.

Woman wins Ugliest Lawn contest.

Winner Kathleen Murray said, “I’m all for guilt-free weekends, especially since my ex-husband left with the lawnmower back in 2016.”

Putin’s three-day invasion of Ukraine enters its third year.

February: A city that existed 2,500 years ago in Ecuador was discovered. The city was larger than both the Aztecs and Mayans. They were finally able to take down the “Have You Seen This Missing City” signs.

Greece legalized same-sex marriage and adoption, becoming the first Orthodox Christian Country to do so. Homophobe Stephen Miller cancels his trip to Greece.

The Odysseus moon lander, operated

by Intuitive Machines, was the first U.S.owned spacecraft to land on the moon in over 50 years. The landing wasn’t a total success, though, as the lander ended up tipping on its side during the process.

Musk was furious at having to look at sideways pictures of his other, taxpayer-funded home site.

March: Vladimir Putin won re-election with 88 percent. The remaining 12 percent remain unaccounted for. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, who only won by 71 percent, places a phone call to Putin to see how he pulled off 88 percent. The call went straight to voicemail.

Joe Biden wins the primary in Vermont.

He’s 100 percent confident that Vermont will put him back in the White House.

Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapses after being hit by a cargo ship.

Lyrics to his song changed to, “Oh say can you not see my bridge.”

Montpelier gets hit with another flood.

GOP declares climate change a hoax.

April: Coming under the that’s-quitea-buzz category a 3-year-old claimed to hear monsters in her wall. Her parents said

monsters aren’t real. They found a giant honeycomb and 50,000 bees living in the toddler’s bedroom wall, proving, once and for all that monsters ARE REAL! Taylor Swift becomes the first musician to become a billionaire solely from songs and performances.

May: Around 2,500 crazed monkeys invaded a town in Thailand. They were trapped and put back in cages. In Vermont an equal number of crazed creatures were running around begging people for votes.

Some got elected. We’re told that none was caged.

Vermont State University recently awarded Max the Cat a doctorate of litter-ature for his exceeding friendliness.

Confident he can topple Phil Scott, Max announces his run for governor in 2026.

Robert Kennedy Jr. discloses that he had a worm in his brain. No one was surprised.

The International Criminal Court requested arrest warrants for war crimes committed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, defense minister Yoav Gallant and three HAMAS leaders, for alleged crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsified business records. It seems no one cared.

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June: Mexico elected its first female, Jewish president, Claudia Sheinbaum.

Biden had the best debate of his career against Trump. Said. No one. Ever.

July: There were many losers, a few winners at the Paris Olympics. Top winners: Snoop Dog and Martha Stewart.

Hurricane Beryl trashes northern Vermont.

GOP again declares climate change a hoax.

August: Tom Cruise closes the Olympics by stunt jumping from a roof.

Vermont gets flooded by Hurricane Debby.

GOP re-re-declares climate change a hoax.

Kennedy admits he put a dead bear in New York’s Central Park.

September: RFK Jr. investigated for sawing off a whale’s head. Says, “This is all about the weaponization of our government against political opponents.” The whale disagreed. Norway became the first country in the world where electric cars outnumbered petrol cars. No more Tupperware parties. After 80 years the company files for bankruptcy.

October: Lebron and Bronny James became the first father-son duo to play in an NBA game together. 250 Vermont towns got mad at Stowe for being named No. 1 as the “Top Best Places to See Fall Colors in the United States” by USA Today. (The leaves were quite pretty in Manchester.)

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Page 6 • January 2, 2025 • The Citizen

Lower ed tax rate hikes offer some relief, but not enough Guest Perspective Ben Kinsley As a property taxpayer, I was relieved to see that the Dec. 1 letter from the Vermont tax commissioner did not warn of another double-digit tax increase.

However, as a public policy advocate, that relief dissipated as I dug into the details.

While education spending is not projected to increase as steeply as it did last year, there is still $115 million in new education spending

predicted from school districts. On top of that, there is $69 million in one-time funds that the Legislature used last year that will fall to property taxpayers this year. In total, that means $184 million in new pressure on taxes, or an 8 percent increase.

When compared to last year’s increase of $182 million in new spending, we realize there is no meaningful change. Yes, new spending is down this year, but the total increased liability for taxpayers is indistinguishable.

So, if the increase in total

tax liability is the same, why are property taxes not up double digits again? There are a couple factors, but it mostly deals with economic drivers. First, there is a $33 million surplus that is projected from fiscal year 2025 as revenues from current taxes are higher than expected.

The second reason is that projected consumption tax revenues are up $21.9 million for 2026. Finally, a hefty 14.7 percent increase in property values that are not evenly distributed around the state will also help mitigate

Paging Orson Welles: America faces crisis of information literacy Guest Perspective Walt Amses I’m feeling nostalgic remembering when UFO sightings happened on dark, wooded country roads in places like New Hampshire as Barney and Betty Hill learned in September 1961 in what became known as the “Hill Abduction” incident. Their chilling account of being abducted by extraterrestrials near Lincoln as the “Old Man in the Mountain” looked on grimly, began with Betty noticing a point of light she initially thought was a falling star until it moved upward while growing bigger and brighter, flashing multicolored lights as it crossed the face of the full moon.

As the craft descended and the Hills realized it wasn’t an airliner heading for Burlington or Montreal, their lives took a dramatic and haunting turn that would remain the stuff of nightmares for the rest of their lives and many of ours as well. Their experience has, of course, never been corroborated, which is precisely why the “what ifs” still enthrall, sending shivers down our spines if we see a strange light on the nighttime snow or the cat’s head suddenly swivels toward the door as if she’s expecting visitors.

The mesmerizing power of the unknown and its ghastly possibilities has haunted us since rattling in the tall grass triggered the natural fight-or-flight response driven by a still primitive sympathetic nervous system. Depending on past experiences, our response to perceived threats, according to The Cleveland Clinic, may manifest in different ways. If an unexpected shower had ruined a picnic or two, we’d probably begin packing up the potato salad at the first hint of a cloud. If we shared the ecosystem with lions

and tigers and bears, Oh My, our departure might be marked by more urgency.

When the Hills arrived at their destination, they had no explanation why the trip took seven hours — two or three longer than the 178-mile drive should have taken — what ufologists referred to as “missing time.” They remembered almost nothing of the estimated 35 miles of highway between Lincoln and Ashland except the image of a fiery orb sitting on the ground, which they both for some reason assumed must have been the moon, which had set much earlier in the evening.

It was through individual hypnosis the frightening details emerged. The couple recalled having been taken aboard the craft and examined by the strange looking occupants. Less than dignified bodily probes ensued.

Alien beings spoke and mumbled in languages impossible to understand. And glowing eyes coming closer and closer.

Barney explained: “All I see are these eyes. I’m not even afraid that they’re not connected to a body. They’re just there.”

The Hill’s terrifying experience spawned a series of books, movies and television shows in the middle of the cold war, prompting debunkers to claim sightings were “misperceptions,” and Cold War hysteria. Believers thought UFOs were extraterrestrial craft on a mission to save humankind from an atomic war.

The Air Force’s “Project Bluebook” spent 17 years collecting, analyzing and reporting on thousands of sightings with “no evidence of extraterrestrial vehicles,” which did nothing to quell our fear of the vast universe, not to mention Russia.

Irrational fear is on the rise again with numerous reported sightings of flying objects over

New Jersey, most of which were identified as either commercial or recreational drones, fixed wing aircraft or helicopters. While some official explanations were more hilarious than conspiratorial, MAGA lost its mind anyway, social media clutched its pearls, and no one seemed to realize Jersey’s status as the most densely populated state might realistically mean a single object could easily generate hundreds of calls.

One government spokesman may have contributed to the panic by suggesting early on that the objects were difficult to track, especially when “they turned the lights off,” prompting concern over who “they” might be and wondering if all an enemy aircraft need do to become virtually undetectable was flick the switch.

Complicating matters is the fact that drones are not playthings of the fabulously wealthy; you can buy a credible drone with sufficient blinking lights to terrorize the neighbors for under $50.

The Federal Aviation Administration reported over 383,000 commercial drones were registered in the U.S. to go along with another 392,000 recreational drones, generating revenue of $1.4 billion. Not an alien invasion by any stretch but certainly fertile ground for conspiracy theories generated by the usual suspects.

Even King Donald weighed in, taking time from sequestration at Mar-a-Lago and having his ass kissed by shameless tech toadies and basking in the misinterpreted “honor” of joining Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Putin, Adolph Hitler and Ayatollah Khomeini as Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year.”

While the president-elect offered, “something strange is going on and for some reason they See AMSES on page 11

the reason we are in this mess to the increased tax burden on some households, unless you are one of begin with is that we have consisthe unlucky ones at the high end tently seen annual increases in of the increasing grand list values. education spending in the double Additionally, new tax sources like digits over the last five years — the short-term rental surcharge a total spending increase of 30 and the cloud tax are part of the percent between 2019 and 2024. calculation this year and were not Federal funds and the growth a factor last year. That artificially in sales taxes have masked this decreases pressure on property skyrocketing spending, but it’s taxes despite the appetite for now catching up with us in the spending. form of higher property taxes.

While it is tempting to considFixing this propensity for spender, in the context of last year, a 5.9 ing requires structural reform that percent increase introduces more in Vermonter’s accountability “Educators, property tax bills and transparency a victory, when into our educaadministrators and we reframe the tion funding context around system. We policymakers have what that means spend the second for the housemost per student been constantly hold budgets of out of any state our friends and in the country, distracted by new neighbors, the yet our results story changes. are far from shiny objects.”

The U.S. inflation second best. rate for the fourth What we quarter was 2.3 percent. Lookhave is a distribution of resources ing ahead to the third quarter of problem. The resources we have 2025, when property taxes would are not making it to the right go into effect, it is projected to places to improve — or even be the same. This means that the maintain — outcomes for students. increased tax burden is 2.6 times Educators, administrators and higher than inflation, which is policymakers have been constantly a strong indicator that incomes distracted by new shiny objects. will not keep pace with this tax The good news is that this increase. is fixable if policymakers set The average property tax bill in a laser-focus on the common Vermont is $4,697 annually, which outcomes we all want — improved translates to another $277 that test scores, post-secondary readtaxpayers can expect to shell out iness, college placement — and for the upcoming school year. That create the incentives to hit them is more than a full week’s worth and empower folks on the ground of groceries for a typical Vermont to strive for greatness. Today, family. It’s also more than two too many of the incentives are months’ worth of electricity. misplaced, which leads to disproFor a family that is not portionately high spending and income-sensitized, the increase declining outcomes. I hope legislais even more pronounced. On a tors are up to the task. $500,000 home in South Burlington, for example, a family paying Ben Kinsley has over a decade based on their property value of non-profit experience shapinstead of income could expect to ing public policy in education, see a $534 increase in their proper- elections and ethics. He currently ty tax bill next year. serves as the interim execuAs pointed out by Tom Pelham, tive director for Campaign for Vermont, a non-partisan advocacy Tom Pelham, a co-founder of Campaign for Vermont and former group seeking to grow the state’s independent House representative, middle class.

STANNARD continued from page 5 November: Somebody got elected to something. A lot of people were happy. A lot of people were unhappy.

December: For the third straight year, the leading cause of death in America for children and teens, ages 1 to 17, was guns. Firearms killed more kids than car crashes and cancer.

Vermont had no mass shootings, but 66 people died from guns.

To all my faithful readers I’d like to say thank you for continuing this ride with me. I will keep writing — 20 years they tell me — as long as you keep reading. Happy New Year.

Bob Stannard has been a Vermont political commentator for over two decades. He is an author, musician and former state legislator and lobbyist.

The Citizen • January 2, 2025 • Page 7

COMMUNITY Eleva Chamber Players present DragonBoot String Quartet New York City-based DragonBoot String Quartet will play in Vermont on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 3 p.m., at the United Church of Christ/Waterbury Congregational Church, 8 North Main St., Waterbury.

DragonBoot, a quartet of musicians poised at the brink of promising careers, will perform music of two familiar composers, and will also introduce the audience to the work of a contemporary American composer. The program will include Haydn’s String Quartet Op.33 No. 1, Caroline Shaw’s Three Essays for String Quartet and Beethoven’s String Quartet Op. 18 No. 4.

The quartet includes violinists Cate Carson and Katya Moeller, violist Sydney Whipple and cellist Lila Holyoke. Built on a foundation of deep musical relationships,

the members of this ensemble have fostered musical connections that have survived the test of time.

Carson and Whipple first played together at the California Summer Music Festival over 10 years ago. Holyoke and Moeller have performed together in chamber ensembles for three consecutive years.

The DragonBoot String Quartet is the ultimate fusion of avid chamber musicians, finally coming together at The Juilliard School. They are currently in the Honors Chamber Music Program at Juilliard, coaching with former Cavani Quartet member, Merry Peckham and Juilliard Provost and violist, Adam Meyer.

Tickets are available at elevachamberplayers.com or at the door.

Community Notes Shelburne Age Well hosts two luncheons St. Catherine of Siena and Age Well are teaming up to offer luncheons on Tuesday, Jan. 14, and Tuesday, Jan. 21, for anyone 60 or older in the St. Catherine of Siena Parish Hall, 72 Church St., in Shelburne.

The check-in time is 11:30 and the meal will be served at noon. There is a $5 suggested donation.

The menu for Jan. 14 is a pork chop with pineapple sauce, mashed sweet potatoes, green and black beans, wheat bread and pears. The deadline to register is Jan. 8 The menu for Jan. 21 is macaroni and cheese, green beans, stewed tomatoes, wheat roll and an apple. The deadline to register is Jan. 15.

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Contact Molly BonGiorno, nutrition coordinator at 802-662-5283 or mbongiorno@agewellvt.org Tickets are also available at the Age Well Office, 875 Roosevelt Highway, Suite 210, Colchester.

Restaurant tickets will be available for distribution for a suggested $5 donation.

Cathedral hosts pancake breakfast The Cathedral’s Bishop DeGoesbriand Council will serve a pancake breakfast in the parish hall, 29 Allen St., Burlington, on Sunday, Jan. 12, from 9-11:30 a.m.

See COMMUNITY NOTES on page 8

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Page 8 • January 2, 2025 • The Citizen

COMMUNITY NOTES

Toys for Kids

continued from page 7 Feast on all your favorites: blueberry pancakes, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, French toast and more. Coffee, juice, and real maple syrup are included.

The cost is $ 10 per person, $5 for kids and $ 25 per family of four. Take-out containers available.

Bike groups offer tips on winter commuting Local Motion has two events coming up for people who want to learn more about winter bicycle commuting.

Jan. 9 from 6:30-7:30 p.m., watch an online stream featuring Local Motion’s bike fleet lead mechanic preparing a couple of bikes for winter commutes and answering questions about winter bike commuting.

Jan. 14, Local Motion and Old Spokes Home present an evening of discussion with a panel of seasoned Vermont commuters at the Fletcher Free Library in Burlington, from 6-7 p.m. Participants will share ideas on how to stay warm, visible, and dry in this cold season. Bring a mug, because there will be hot chocolate.

Both events are free. More information, localmotion.org/ shop_talk_on_winter_riding.

Vermont Invention Fair urges students to register Students in grades K-8 are invited to participate in the 3rd annual Vermont Invention Fair on Saturday, Feb. 8 at BETA Technologies.

To participate, students come up with an invention idea, build a prototype and showcase their idea. Past invention ideas have included cat carriers, book pull-

ers, egg washers and more — the sky’s the limit.

To learn more and register, visit vtdayschool.org/inventionfair. Participants are encouraged to register by Jan. 18 to receive an inventor’s journal and t-shirt.

The Vermont Invention Fair is co-hosted by Vermont Day School and BETA Technologies (pre-registration is required).

Mad Arts exhibit features new vision of old sculpture Mad River Valley Arts (Mad Arts) presents Lisa Dimondstein, Julie Parker and Sandra Shenk in “Abstract^2.”

The exhibit, at 5031 Main Street, Unit 2, Waitsfield, runs from Jan. 3-Feb. 28. Reception: Jan. 18 from 5-7 p.m.

These three women photographers are dedicated to radicalizing the photo as image. They abstract from a pre-existing abstract sculpture with the aim to capture the essential properties and relationships of the original abstract concept, and in doing so they remove themselves from any context or specific content or representation. The process involves eliminating any reference to real-world objects or situations and focus only on the inherent structures and relationships.

The Cold Hollow Sculpture Park, in Enosburg Falls, has over 70 large abstract sculptures by renowned artist David Stromeyer. Dimondstein’s, Parker’s and Shenk’s photographs are inventive abstractions from Stromeyer’s sculptures. They utilize an in-camera multiple exposure technique to explore the intricate relationship between color, texture, movement, line and form.

TREE continued from page 4 food scraps). Balancing your compost pile with enough carbon will also help keep down odors that may attract unwanted wildlife.

Use as fill for new raised beds. Referred to as hügelkultur, this method has been used in Europe for centuries and is an old-fashioned take on the popular lasagna-style gardening practice.

Here, logs form the base of the bed, and then branches, twigs and leaves are layered on top.

These are topped with compost or garden soils. The logs and other debris decompose over time, replicating a forest ecosystem, providing rich garden soils for your bed. It can take a full year before the bed is ready to plant

using this method, but it is an affordable and ecological option to consider.

Speaking of the environment, if you have the space and interest, simply letting your tree decompose naturally can provide habitats for all types of creatures — from mammals like rabbits to bees and other beneficial insects — while returning the tree’s nutrients back to the soil.

Whichever option you choose, your Christmas tree can be a gift that keeps on giving back to nature and your gardens long after the holidays are over.

Debra Heleba is the UVM Extension Community Horticulture Program director.

COURTESY PHOTO

SeaComm employees donated toys to support the Toys for Kids program of Vermont. The year-long employee fundraising effort totaled $5,000, which will be delivered to children in need who live within communities served by the credit union. The Toys for Kids of Vermont is an all-volunteer program operated by the Vermont Marine Corps League and distributes to children and teens in need through the age of 17. This donation was dropped off at Goss Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram in South Burlington. From left, SeaComm senior teller Brayden Button and assistant branch manager Nicole Sumner.

Department of Corrections will offer free college classes to prisoners upon release, aiming to reduce recidivism The Community College of Vermont and the Vermont Department of Corrections are expanding the Corrections Post-Secondary Education Initiative partnership, which delivers free college courses to corrections staff and Vermonters who are incarcerated.

Beginning on Jan. 1, vouchers will be available to any Vermonter ending a sentence or continuing their education upon release.

Benefits will extend for a full year after release, and students will be eligible for two class vouchers per semester.

“We commend the Department of Corrections for their vision and leadership in extending this benefit,” CCV President Joyce Judy said in a press release. “We know that education offers hope,

purpose and the chance to develop skills that will open doors to new connections and opportunities.

Making college classes accessible during re-entry will go a long way toward supporting Vermonters as they return to their communities.”

The partnership was designed with the goal of reducing Vermont’s recidivism rate and supporting workforce development. The program is supported by a federal grant from the Department of Justice and the office of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Since launching the program in 2023 for all staff and individuals incarcerated in Vermont, the program has extended its benefits to families of corrections department staff and embedded curric-

ulum directly into the Vermont Correctional Academy for new employees of the department.

The re-entry voucher serves as a continuum of the partnership’s efforts to deliver free, accessible higher-education courses to those who intersect with Vermont’s correctional system.

“Research shows education, particularly at a college level, strengthens the workforce and gives individuals the tools they need to succeed — and stay — in our communities,” Nicholas Deml, commissioner of the department of corrections, said.

“Re-entry vouchers are an important step forward in offering free college education for incarcerated people in Vermont and supporting their success in the community.”

The Citizen • January 2, 2025 • Page 9

John Rodgers’ party switch results in a political rebound EKATERINA RAIKHOVSKI COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE

political ambiguity and experience will help him navigate his new role. “I’m a Vermonter first, and you are part of a party, but you shouldn’t let it dictate who you are and who you work with,” he said.

“I see my role as lieutenant governor as being nonpartisan. I’m elected to work for all Vermonters.”

Grandchildren running around his 1840s farmhouse isn’t the only thing keeping John Rodgers’ hands full these days. There’s the masonry business the West Glover 59-year-old has run for the last two decades, the hemp farm he’s managed for the last few years, and he even works plowing snow Democrat in the Kingdom from driveways.

While Rodgers grew up in a Now the former Northeast Democratic family and had consisKingdom legislator has added tent electoral success running as another commitment to the list: a Democrat in the Kingdom, he Serving as Vermont’s next lieu- switched parties ahead of the 2024 tenant governor. election and ran on the Republican Following a race this fall ticket. decided by about 6,000 votes, “The Democratic Party had according to state records, incum- shifted way too far to the left, and bent Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman they don’t appear to understand conceded to Rodgers on Nov. 7 blue collar Vermonters,” he said. and paved the way for the DemoA self-proclaimed Yankee, crat-turned-Republican to re-enter Rodgers said he felt the party had politics after losing his Statehouse moved away from him and other seat in 2020. working-class Vermonters, finding Rodgers spoke to the Winoos- that many moderate Republicans ki News ahead of his Jan. 8, 2025, still represented the communities start date about he hails from. his plans for the The role “I want to be a role and his path of lieutenant toward it. governor is bridge.”

Rodgers’ elecone that may tion as lieutenant be inconspic— John Rodgers uous to many governor was something of a Ve r m o n t e r s . surprising achievement for some- The official duties of the position one who, early in his career, was entail running the Senate, voting hesitant about getting involved in only as a tiebreaker, and sitting politics. on the three-person panel that “I had young kids, my own decides committee assignments in business, and it’s just really hard to the chamber. justify taking the amount of time But the statewide platform of off my business during construc- the position has Rodgers excited tion season to campaign because to jump into the role. it’s a money losing proposition,” “I want to be a bridge between he said. “But they convinced me Vermonters and the Statehouse, that there was no time like the because I feel that Vermonters’ present, and I went for it.” voices aren’t being heard enough As a Democrat, Rodgers first in the building,” he said. “We sought a seat in the Orleans-Cale- want to get out in the communidonia 1 House district in 2000 and ties and have town hall meetings lost by about 130 votes. But two where people can say these are the years later he edged out one of the issues we’re facing, and these are incumbents by 16 votes and won a the ideas we have. This is what we seat in the Vermont House. He’d would like to see and be able to keep his spot in office until 2010 bring that back to the Legislature.”

— when he lost by fewer than five Former gubernatorial candivotes — before serving eight years date James Ehlers, an outspoken as a senator for the Essex-Orleans water activist who Rodgers recentdistrict. ly tapped to serve as his special The 2020 election threw a advisor, emphasized the hands-on wrench into his winning streak. effort with Vermonters taken on Rodgers missed the deadline to by Rodgers during his campaign. file his paperwork for the Demo“John worked to get every cratic primary, forcing him to run single one of those votes, and as an independent instead after when I say work, that means he nearly two decades representing spent the hours in the car and on the party. He’d finish fifth out of the phone. He didn’t have to work five candidates that year. at who he is,” Ehlers said, adding “I think there’s too many that the “dirt under his fingerpeople who vote for a D and R and nails is real, and that willingness don’t really know who the candi- to get hands dirty is absolutely date is,” Rodgers said. “I really what is going to be necessary to underestimated how badly that ensure that the voice of working hurt me.”

Vermonters and those downstream These days, he is hopeful his is heard.”

PHOTO COURTESY JOHN RODGERS

Lt. Gov.-elect John Rodgers, center left, in discussion with outgoing Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman.

Gov. Phil Scott endorsed Rodgers during the campaign. Amanda Wheeler, his press secretary, said in a statement that Scott hopes to have a good working relationship with his future counterpart, even if the role is mostly ceremonial.

“The governor and lieutenant governor-elect have known each other for many years during their time serving as legislators,” Wheeler said, adding that Scott is “always open and willing to work with others to make Vermont more affordable, protect the most vulnerable and grow the economy.”

Rodgers came into the race feeling the odds this election season were stacked against him.

He was a Republican in a year when Vermonters would reject the party’s presidential candidate by a 2-to-1 margin. It was his first time running as a statewide candidate as well — and against a Progressive/Democratic incumbent in Zuckerman. The last time someone became lieutenant governor by defeating the incumbent in a general election was 1815, according to VTDigger.

“It gives me hope that there are still enough people out there

that are willing to think about the person, and that’s what I’ve always tried to get people to do when there’s good people in both parties,” he said.

Rodgers said he is hopeful that once in office, he will be able to show Vermonters that he’s the right man for the job no matter what letter sits beside his name on the ballot.

“That really provides me with a huge amount of excitement to do that, go out and do the work on the See RODGERS on page 11

Page 10 • January 2, 2025 • The Citizen

FLOODS continued from page 1 ments up to 10 inches on the eastern side of town, causing an additional nine road closures.

On Spear Street in Charlotte, another culvert washed away and a section of the road eroded.

The sections of Spear Street and Beecher Hill Road that were affected are still closed and repairs are just beginning.

In Hinesburg, the cost of fixing most of the damage has come to about $550,000, with upcoming repairs to the culverts on Beecher Hill Road. Town manager Todd Odit projects those repairs may cost an additional $1.5 million.

The town has just begun the process of applying for aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reimburse at least 75 percent of that cost.

This is all to say nothing about the widespread issues with driveways and private roads.

As residents think back on the year, the most difficult period might not be the flooding itself, but the lag time while FEMA assessed the situation to declare a disaster and open access to assistance for repairs to both public and private property.

While the state set up its recovery centers by the end of July, President Joe Biden did not declare a disaster until Aug. 20, and the FEMA center didn’t arrive in the area until September.

In Hinesburg, community members faced the prospect of trying to make repairs while uncertain about whether they would be able to apply for federal funds.

In the interim, neighbors and community groups stepped in.

The Hinesburg Community Resource Center, which among other endeavors, operates a food shelf and provides emergency funds to residents in crisis, set up the Hinesburg Storm Recovery Fund. They ultimately raised and distributed more than $13,000, about half of which came from direct donations from community members – the epitome of their “neighbors helping neighbors,” ethos. There were also neighbors helping each other lay gravel, and, in one case reported by Seven Days, they rescued a herd of 20 cattle stranded in the standing water.

All this turmoil has reinforced the need to plan future development and infrastructure to account for climate change. Even before the flooding this summer, Hinesburg’s new town plan included strategies around climate resiliency, specifically with an eye toward flooding.

The plan currently includes environmental efforts like floodplain reconnection and the reintroduction of beavers, along with the maintenance and repair of water control structures such as culverts.

FILE PHOTOS

Above: A section of Spear Street in Charlotte between Lime Kiln and Carpenter roads was completely destroyed due to a failed culvert during heavy rains in July.

Below: Galen Blodgett said he had a “heck of a ride into Essex” that July morning as parts of the Hinesburg-Richmond Road washed out.

Right: Hinesburg worked over the summer to assess damage from the July flood.

There is also an intention to adopt the state’s guidelines for managing rivers and floodplains. The new town plan will be adopted in the coming months.

For now, though, Hinesburg is

still focused on recovery.

“We did the best that we could with what we had. But what it showed is that there’s been years and years of deferred maintenance,” Odit said.

The Citizen • January 2, 2025 • Page 11

EDUCATION continued from page 2 $105 million budget voted down in March by $4 million and cutting nearly 42 full-time positions within the district. That budget passed in April. Still, residents in the towns that make up the district saw double-digit tax increases this year.

For South Burlington School District, the work was far from over when its initial budget failed. As fate and voters would have it, the

budget failed on a second try, too.

Parents, staff and students took to the streets in the weeks leading up to the third — and ultimately final — vote urging people to vote yes. Advocacy groups like the one dubbed SOS, short for Save our Schools, coordinated honk-andwave events across the city, and even students took matters into their own hands by staging a walkout during school hours in May.

“I think I can speak for all of us when I say that these programs and the educators that make them happen are what makes our school one worth fighting for,” Molly Leavey, a student at the high school, said at the demonstration in May. “To any community members out there, this is us fighting. This is us asking you to do what you have always done so well and support us and our schools.”

insurance premium costs would board for at least the four years now contribute 25 percent while he’d been on the board. also limiting the 11 available However, nine of the 10 town BlueCross BlueShield plans for employees eligible to be repreemployees to two or three — sented by the American FederaBronze Select and Silver Select tion of State, County, and Munic— both of which ipal Employees are currently used Council 93 — The final negotiated most by town library workemployees. contract will supersede ers, the zoning The proposal administrator also suggested that and town planthe town’s employees would ner, assistant personnel policy, be responsible for town clerk, and paying 25 percent volunteer coorwhich has historically of out-of-pockdinator at the et costs with Charlotte Senior outlined employee the town coverCenter — voted ing 75 percent, in September to benefit packages. down from the 90 officially join percent the town the union, citing historically paid. the need for job stability, greater “This is not something that respect and a voice on the job. we’ve just pulled out of thin air “The bottom line is that some of over the last few weeks or months. the town employees believe that it This was something we started would be in our interest to particitalking about late last fall,” select- pate in the union to have more of a board member Lewis Mudge told say in working conditions and salathe board in July, adding that the ries and benefits with the town,” high cost of employee benefits and town planner Larry Lewack told compensation packages had consis- The Citizen in June. “It’s like we tently been brought to the select- want to have a voice in the conver-

sations and decisions that impact our jobs and our lives, just like employees from many other towns across Vermont and New England who have joined this particular union.”

The selectboard filed an objection in April to the proposed bargaining unit specifically pertaining to the inclusion of library employees. The board, at the time, argued that the appropriate legislative body and employer governing these positions is the library’s board of trustees, not the selectboard.

Although the library director is appointed by the board of trustees and responsible for the hiring and firing of certain library staff, a nine-page written decision from the Vermont Labor Relations Board found that in several instances the selectboard has been the governing body responsible for library employee pay increases.

Now, two representatives from the selectboard, Mudge and Kelly Devine, along with town administrator Nate Bareham and representatives from the library board of trustees are working to begin negotiating for the workers’ first Police g merger contract. talks Therestartfinal negotiated contract will supersede the town’s personnel policy, which has historically meethod r Aussie f employee outlined benefit packagpttss fo op tte Charlo es.

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! switch of $4.2 is Hinesburg. town expect hawks against Essex day,” Kanner said. “I think the way Redhaw budget of the The! !n 21 points for the interviews Dayto back a decisio g ing collect $240,000 in revenue conducted ucker Tharpe had this year.and Meetin that it was structured to vote on the Senior Tuck walked in person ship, To Town with community shared agreement, which 12 budget in person and then vote on ing Day a 3-2 revote, and focus groups from the See PLAN on page analyzed the types After PHOTO BY AL FREY members. They the two police CVU’s Violet Wenscchhof competes on beam during a gymnastic competition against Burr & Burtoon and Burlington. More on page 13. of incidents that See FORUM on page 10 See SAFETY PLAN on page 12 LIBERTY DARR STTAFF WRITER

an Public safety plan g sbur sb released in Hine

continued from page 6 (the government?) don’t want to tell the people,” he left the brunt of the heavy lifting to MAGA minions, always at the ready to spread the gospel.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, posting on the oxymoronic “Truth Social,” volunteered her services in unintentionally threatening syntax: “I’ll shoot the drones down myself along with every other red-blooded, freedom-loving American if they try to tell us all to stay inside, stay home, shelter in place FOR OUR SAFETY from the drones, there is no way in hell I will comply with that bullshit.” Greene prefers batshit.

Staunchly MAGA Roseanne Barr cites “Project Blue Beam,” a 1990s theory originated

by Canadian journalist Serge Monast and frequently touted

by Alex Jones that warns of a government initiative to fake an

PRSRT STD AGE U.S. POSTTA AID PA P PERMIT #217 D,, NH CONCORD

alien invasion to abolish religion and install a new world order — or something like that. State Sen. Doug Mastriano of Pennsylvania posting on X from a galaxy far, far away, shared a photo captioned “breaking news … crashed drone retrieved from water … taken to undisclosed location for further investigation.”

The “further investigation” determined Mastriano’s hair was ablaze over a prop from the Star Wars franchise, prompting the Texas Observer’s Steven Monacelli to point out America’s real problem: “Our nation is facing a crisis of information literacy.”

Barney and Betty Hill are likely out there somewhere. Laughing at us.

Walt Amses is a Vermontbased writer.

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continued from page 9 ground and meet people, discuss issues and do everything I can to help Vermont be a place where everybody can afford to live,” he said.

The position has always been attractive to Rodgers, but he felt he couldn’t take the jump from senator to lieutenant governor due to financial constraints. That’s too large a factor affecting who serves in Montpelier, he said.

“We need a better cross-section of the Vermont population in that building if we want a true representative government,” he said.

Why’d he decide to run this year?

“I just felt like the stakes were different, with what happened over the last two years and the cost of living here,” Rodgers said.

“I felt like it was time to step up and give it a shot for the big stage

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While the issue affected local school districts drastically, it also helped overturn the Democratic supermajority in the Statehouse this November, with many Republicans centering their campaigns this year on affordability and education reform.

The state has already tasked the newly formed Commission on the Future of Public Education, with studying Vermont’s public education system and making recommendations to the Legislature on how to ensure “all students are afforded quality educational opportunities in a sustainable, and equitable education system.”

“It’s easy to point the finger,” Brian Minier, Chittenden-11 and a member of the House Committee on Education, said. “The truth is, yes, you have to look hard at spending at the local level. But it’s also our job to say, is there a better way to structure education finance?”

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The final budget slightly over $68 million was finally approved by voters in May and residents saw an 8 percent tax rate increase associated with the spending plan this year.

The South Burlington School District was able to make out better than some of its neighbors when it came to tax increases, mostly due to the $2 million in surplus money the board opted to use to pass a budget. But with those funds no longer available to the district this year, that poses a new set of problems for the district.

Both school districts, still reeling from the tumultuous year, have some big decisions to make with initial budget projections looking at cutting more than 30 positions at Champlain Valley School District and 16 full-time equivalent positions at South Burlington School District, although nothing has been officially adopted by either board.

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and see if I could help turn things around.”

Looking forward to the Legislature convening early in January, Rodgers spoke about how he plans to manage his new role alongside his existing responsibilities. “You grow up on a farm, and there’s just always something to do, so you just put one foot in front of the other and just keep getting things done.”

Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship, on assignment for the Winooski News

PUBLIC HEARING Hinesburg Development Review Board Tuesday, January 21, 2025 7:00 pm Andrew Burton & Corrin Drosin: Conditional use for an expansion of a nonconforming structure to build a second floor on their residence on a 0.18-acre parcel located at 180 Shadow Lane in the Shoreline zoning district.

The meeting will be both in person and remote. See meeting agenda on town website with details on how to participate.

Page 12 • January 2, 2025 • The Citizen

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The Citizen • January 2, 2025 • Page 13

Motel voucher program turned away homeless Vermonters in December CARLY BERLIN VTDIGGER

executive director of the Housing and Homelessness Alliance of Vermont.

The day before ThanksThis story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, giving, Tammy and Lucas was produced through a part- Menard were found dead in a tent nership between VTDigger and in Wolcott. The cause of their deaths is still under investigaVermont Public. tion, according to Kyle Casteel, Vermont’s motel voucher a spokesperson for the Vermont program for people experiencing Department of Health. Another homelessness has turned hundreds individual died at an encampment of people away so far this month behind a shopping center in Berlin because it lacks enough rooms several days later. The Berlin Police Departto shelter them. ment has not yet That comes as “We want to have provided additemperatures tional informaare forecast to a capacity that’s tion about them. plummet into the This winter single digits this sufficient to serve is not the first weekend. time unhoused The Departunhoused individuals, people have ment for Chilbeen turned dren and Families but we don’t have away from the turned away 344 motel program, eligible housea full capacity to do which acts as a holds between backstop when Dec. 1 and 16, that.” traditional according to homeless shelMiranda Gray, the — Rep. Theresa Wood ters are full. deputy commisLast Decemsioner of DCF’s ber, 330 households were rejecteconomic services division.

The 344 households include ed because of the lack of space, those the department considers Gray said. This winter, however, the most vulnerable under a new the program’s criteria for entry policy meant to prioritize avail- are more restrictive than in years able rooms for them when space past, and fewer rooms are available. is limited.

As of Dec. 19, the state “For example, we have families that we aren’t able to offer a listed 10 out of 12 regions as having no rooms available at space to every day,” Gray said.

Advocates for unhoused participating motels or hotels, or Vermonters called the situation having “extremely limited” capacity, defined as five rooms or fewer. “deeply concerning.”

About 1,400 rooms are current“The notion that we’re turning away people who the state recog- ly in the state’s motel voucher nizes as vulnerable at a time when system, down from about 1,600 the weather is as extreme as it is in last year, Gray said. Some advothe Vermonter winter — I mean, cates and lawmakers have questhat can be a death sentence, tioned why the number of rooms and has been a death sentence has dropped.

“We want to have a capacity for people,” said Frank Knaack,

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Harbor Place, formerly the Day’s Inn, on Shelburne Road is a motel owned and operated by Champlain Housing Trust.

that’s sufficient to serve unhoused individuals, but we don’t have a full capacity to do that,” Rep. Theresa Wood, D-Waterbury, said.

In several instances, Gray said earlier this month, hotels and motels have diminished their participation in the program because of new caps on how much the state will pay them. In some cases, owners, municipalities and state officials understand that using fewer rooms puts less strain on first responders and local services, she added. Some hotels and motels have been sanctioned for health and safety issues, including the Cortina Inn in Rutland, which was placed under a 60-day suspension by state health officials earlier this month.

Burlington is one area where DCF has struggled to meet the need for shelter, Gray said. Some motels around the city have been converted into affordable housing in recent years — a great development, Gray said, but one that means fewer rooms are available for someone with a motel voucher.

While efforts to bolster Vermont’s emergency shelter

capacity continue, some seasonal shelters are still not up and running. A winter warming shel-

ter is currently in the works in the Queen City but isn’t expected to open until mid-January.

Emerge Vermont announces new class of political leaders Emerge Vermont, the state organization that recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office, announced today that it has selected its 2025 class.

This year’s group of 24 future women political leaders hails from all parts of the Green Mountain State and from diverse backgrounds, and spans the spectrum of races, gender, orientation, socioeconomic levels and professional experiences.

“Emerge Vermont is thrilled to welcome our Class of 2025,” Elaine Haney, executive director, said. “There is still so much progress to be made on increasing women’s representation in government, and now, more than ever, these women’s voices are needed.”

Local women in the Class of 2025 include Edorah Frazer, Char-

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Emerge Vermont’s training program offers Democratic women who want to run for public office a unique opportunity. Cohort members receive 70-plus hours of in-depth education over five months that inspires them to run for office and gives them the tools to win.

The program’s trainers are a team of campaign consultants, advisors and staff from Vermont and all over the country who have been involved in some of the most successful campaigns and initiatives seen in recent election cycles.

Participants also meet an array of dynamic women who hold elected and appointed office and become part of Emerge’s supportive network.

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Vermont’s outdoor recreation value tops $2.1 billion this year AUDITI GUHA VTDIGGER

accessible to all — including those who have physical challenges, children and seniors — and often fields questions from Many Vermont residents value the other states at national conferences on how outdoors. What they may not know is just Vermont does it.

“Everyone knows that Vermont is leadhow much the Green Mountain State’s ing the charge in the outdoor sector so it is outdoor recreation economy is worth.

Outdoor recreation contributed $2.1 pretty cool,” he said.

He is particularly passionate about billion in value added, or 4.8 percent of the state’s gross domestic product in 2023, promoting outdoor access and has this year according to data from the U.S. Depart- helped assess 10 different trail systems for ment of Commerce. That means it made biking and 21 water access spots across the up the second-highest percentage of state state.

“Everybody deserves the opportunity GDP, after Hawaii.

Since the Department of Commerce’s to recreate and play in Vermont and enjoy Bureau of Economic Analysis started track- the Green Mountains and what we have ing this data a few years ago, Vermont has here,” he said.

According to the federal data published maintained its position near the top, said Rebecca Washburn, director of the lands last month, outdoor goods manufacturing administration and recreation division of increased by 15 percent reaching $135 million in 2023, accomthe Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and “It’s pretty awesome modation and food services grew 9 percent Recreation in Vermont. to $733.5 million, retail For Washburn, the data we’re up there sales climbed 4.5 percent underscores that the state to $412.8 million and with Hawaii — and is a great place for people employment in the to live and visit. And it we don’t have an outdoor recreation sector helps departments such rose 4 percent from as hers think about how ocean.”

2022. and where to invest straTo support the tegically in outdoor recreation, she said.

— Jeff Alexander sustained growth of the state’s outdoor recreation Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy depends on businesses economy, the collaborative is spearheading and organizations across the state — from a Move Forward Together Vermont initiabike repair shops and guide services to tive to create a shared vision and an action plan for the next five years, according to high end ski resorts and retail.

The data found that snow activities the release.

“Outdoor recreation is not just an inte— such as skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, dog mushing and snowshoeing gral element of our visitor economy, but — contribute the most, adding a whopping it is baked into the Vermont experience $220 million to Vermont’s GDP in 2023, enjoyed by residents and visitors alike,” up from $170 million in 2022, according Commissioner Heather Pelham from the to a release from the Vermont Department Vermont Department of Tourism and of Tourism & Marketing. RVing, areas Marketing said in the release.

It’s heartening to see the numbers soar providing tennis, golf and water recreation despite devastating flooding in the past two follow.

Jeff Alexander, a former NFL mascot years, said Washburn.

“People are still looking to recreation who is now director of strategic partnerships and business development at Vermont for all the things that it provides to them, Adaptive Ski & Sports, said his organiza- and the more we think about how we can tion has seen “tremendous growth” over support the resilience of outdoor recrethe last decade and last year provided ation and the businesses that are focused 5,300 outings for residents and visitors in on it, the more we as a state will be able to weather those changes in climate and the Vermont.

“It’s pretty awesome we’re up there intensity of some of those weather events,” with Hawaii — and we don’t have an she said.

As the snow fell on Tuesday before ocean,” he said.

A member of the Vermont Outdoor Christmas Day, Washburn encouraged Recreation Economic Collaborative, people to “go outside, enjoy the snow and Alexander said he works on making trails be grateful.”

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