Shelburne News - 11-23-22

CVSD drops plan for new offices

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

The Champlain Valley School District walked back plans to spend nearly $200,000 to relocate its central administrative offices, saying the district was unsure of the appropriateness or timeliness of the proposal.

Superintendent Rene Sanchez unveiled the plan to relocate the district’s central offices to a new location on Hurricane Lane in Williston at the school board meet ing on Oct. 18.

The proposal would have increased office space from the “current cramped 7,889 square feet to 17,500 square feet, allowing us to bring all staff into the office and have much needed meeting space,” Sanchez said.

The need for increased office space “was identified as far back as 2006,” reads the presentation, which can be found at bit.ly/3EN 2so6.

Currently, the district uses space in the Shelburne Town Offices in the village, said Bonnie Birdsall, the district’s director of communi cation. But the space is “too small for us to carry out work efficiently,” Sanchez said at the October meet ing.

“There is no space to fit all of our current staff, much less any new staff,” Sanchez said. “We currently have to share these restricted working spaces, compete for meeting rooms and if we want to host a meeting, we have to hope that there’s space on certain campuses because not all campuses have space for us to hold a meet ing and, frequently, we’re unable to have meetings during the day because the spaces are being used by classrooms and by teachers and students.”

The relocation would have allowed the district to “improve operations — the goal, of course,

Staffing changes afoot within Shelburne’s planning, zoning office

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

Staffing changes remain at the forefront in Shelburne, especially in the town’ planning and zoning office following the resignation of Adele Gravitz as planning director.

Although the reason for Grav itz resignation remains unclear, the town will continue to pay her

through December.

A letter to Gravitz from Shel burne town manager Lee Krohn said that the, “town will continue to compensate you as an employee and provide benefits through your Dec. 31, 2022 resignation date. That said, effective upon close of business on Friday, October 28, 2022, the town will no longer require your services.”

Following her verbal resigna tion on Oct. 21, the town hired two full-time employees and one inter im employee to assist in the plan ning and zoning office.

The new interim position is now held by Ken Belliveau who has more than 30 years of plan ning experience and had previously been the town of Williston’s plan ning director before his retirement

in 2018.

In June 2021, when Shelburne was experiencing vacancies in the planning and zoning office, Belli veau said, “Lee Krohn had contact ed me and asked if I’d be willing to help out.”

From 2021 until 2022, he oper ated under the role of interim coor dinator of the town’s development review board for a year before

leaving in June 2022. A month ago, Krohn rehired Belliveau for the current interim position.

“What’s different is that this time my role is focused on train ing and helping the new hires get settled in,” Belliveau explained.

His new responsibilities include training and overseeing the two

PHOTO BY KIM POPE

This gaggle of turkeys moves swiftly across a field on Harbor Road in Shelburne.

Barkeaters’ Christmas Takeout

Take the stress out of the holiday with Barkeaters’ Christmas Takeout! Our Christmas offers easy to heat soups, salads, sides and dessert. You make the turkey or ham, we make everything else! 802-985-2830 barkeatersrestaurant.com 97 Falls Road • Shelburne, VT

Tree lighting and carol sing

Shelburne’s annual tree light ing and carol sing will be Friday, Dec. 2 on the village green.

At 5:30 p.m., join members of the bands Uncle Jimmy and The Rough Suspects as they lead festive caroling. At 6 p.m., the town tree will be lit, and after the tree lighting, kids can visit with Santa at the Shelburne Town Hall. Apple cider, hot chocolate and yummy treats will be served.

A craft for kids will be offered by the Pierson Library staff.

Snowmobile safety course

This in-person course will provide the opportunity to earn the certification necessary to legally operate on Vermont’s statewide snowmobile trails system. State law requires that all Vermont snowmobile operators born after July 1, 1983, take and pass a state-approved snowmobile safety course before operating on Vermont trails.

For ages 12 and up. To become certified, you must attend all three classes.

Registration deadline is Nov. 21. Classes are Dec. 5, 6 and 7, 6-8 p.m., Shelburne Town Munic ipal Center, activity room, with

instructor Richard Spitzer. The fee is $10.

Senior walking program

Stay active and healthy during the icy and cold winter months by walking in a safe and warm envi ronment. Bring a pair of clean, dry soft-soled shoes and change before entering the gym. No regis

tration is required. Shelburne resi dents only. Schedule is subject to change.

Call 802-985-9551 for updated schedule information or check the calendar on gym door as there are blackout dates due to other sched uled events.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9-11 a.m. through March 3.

News from Pierson Library

Kanopy

The Pierson Library now offers a media program called Kanopy, which is free to library card holders. Kanopy is an on-de mand streaming video platform for public libraries and univer sities that offers films and docu mentaries and content for chil dren and young adults.

Kanopy offers content not typically found on mainstream streaming services such as Brit ish movies and shows, Great Courses, foreign films and clas sic older movies. For kids it has a great selection of animated audio books.

Adult usage is limited to four TV shows or movies and one Great Course per month. Kids TV

shows and movies are unlimited.

The Kanopy app can be installed on your smartphone, tablet or smart TV. To begin the initial setup, you’ll need your library card number. For addi tional help call 802-985-5124 to schedule a tech appointment at the circulation desk. The library also has a bookmark with helpful tips for using Kanopy, so look for it on your next visit.

Listen Up! Vermont

The library also subscribes to the Green Mountain Library Consortium’s Listen Up! Vermont digital catalog, giving you access to thousands of e-books and e-au diobooks to read or listen to on your computer.

Shelburne Parks & Rec News

COURTESY PHOTO Shelburne holds its tree lighting on Friday, Dec. 2.

3.05% APY* Sapling Certificate

Take advantage of climbing interest rates with our popular variable-rate 24-month Sapling. Open it with at least $3,000, and then add to it at any time and in any amount. It’s also available as an Individual Retirement Account or Health Savings Account. Open yours online or in person.

3.50% APY* 30-Month Certificate

With a minimum opening balance of just $500, earn a high APY while keeping your money tucked safely under our care. Designate it as an IRA or HSA, if you like. Don’t wait! This popular offer won’t last long.

We’re here to help you plan and prepare for your financial future. No matter what your long-term saving goals are, NorthCountry can help you get there. Stop in or give us a call today.

Shelburne Selectboard votes to kill unpopular overlay zoning district

Residents will press for further zoning reform

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

On Tuesday, Shelburne’s selectboard decided to eliminate a zoning problem that has plagued the town for over a year.

At the Nov. 15 selectboard meeting, selectboard members unanimously moved to nix the mixed residential character district in its entirety from the town’s form-based overlay district — reverting the area back to conven tional zoning bylaws.

Shelburne residents first raised concern over the town’s zoning over 15 months ago when a devel opment plan was proposed to build 10, three-story multi-family apartment buildings with 110 units on a residential lot surrounded by existing single-family homes.

The development proposal was a zoning designation surround ing the land on the western side of Route 7, north of Bay Road known as the mixed residential character district — one of seven districts in the town’s form-based overlay district. This optional set

of zoning standards, instituted in 2016, applies specific agreed-up on building standards for devel opment.

Many questioned whether the type of development proposed was what was intended when form-based code was established.

“We are gratified that the selectboard voted unanimously to approve the form-based code amendment returning the mixed residential character district to the jurisdiction of Shelburne’s zoning bylaws,” said Robilee Smith, a member of the community group Shelburne Neighbors United for Responsible Growth, in response to the hearing. “We want to thank everyone who helped to rescue this district from the Shelburne Road form-based code’s expo sures.”

After residents raised concerns, the selectboard tasked the plan ning commission with addressing the mixed residential character district in its entirety.

The town in turn hired the

Shelburne News

Serving the community of Shelburne A publication of Vermont Community Newspaper Group LLC shelburnenews.com Advertising Wendy Ewing wendy@shelburnenews.com (802) 985-3091 x12 Advertising Director

864-6670 x21

Advertising submission deadline: Friday at 5 p.m. advertising@shelburnenews.com classifieds@shelburnenews.com

Editorial submission deadline: Friday at 5 p.m. news@shelburnenews.com

Calendar submission deadline: Friday at 12 p.m. news@shelburnenews.com

Contact: 1340 Williston Road South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 985-3091

OPINION

‘It’s hard to stay in Vermont, so I left’

Guest Perspective

Keith LaFountaine

Years ago, I found a YouTube video where Stephen King espoused 10 pieces of advice to the University of Maine’s graduating class of 2005. The closing piece of this advice was simple: stay in Maine.

I admire this fervent defense of one’s homeland. As a kid, my eyes were always set elsewhere, over these Green Mountains. Maybe I’d visit Los Angeles and bask in the warmth and the city’s hubbub. Maybe I’d live in another country. “The Truman Show” convinced me Fiji was worth the 20-hour flight.

Around the time I graduated college, I had to admit something to myself. I love this little state. I have for a long time.

When I was a kid, I would pop into the Borders in downtown Burlington, where CVS now stands and I’d sit in a big, comfort able chair and read whatever book I had on my person while smelling roasted coffee beans from the café inside. I’d do that while waiting for the CCTA bus that would take me from Cherry Street to the South End, where I’d pass all assort ments of sculptures and street art — particularly if Art Hop was approaching.

When I grew up and took that winding road down Politics Ave, I found myself appreciating Vermont’s confident progressivism and its tendency to split tickets. My dad loved Jim Douglas and I have more than an inkling that he’s fond of Phil Scott, even while he helps send Bernie to the Senate.

About a year ago, I stared a harsh truth in the face: it is not easy to stay in Vermont.

The state has bled young people for as long as I can remem ber. That’s nothing new, but I didn’t fully appreciate the gravity of that migration until I myself was on the move.

Skyrocketing rent, stagnant wages, few long-term career opportunities, landlords’ ironclad grip on the renting market, housing prices that cost about two livers and half a kidney to afford (and that’s just the down payment) and a big old pit sitting in the center of the city, like a pimple that was dug out of a pockmarked face with a rusty tack.

And let’s not forget a state college system that is chronically underfunded and underappreciated, or how Burlington’s mayor loves to tout his Habitat for Humanity

credentials while pursuing plans to add yet another luxury hotel to the map instead of affordable housing.

These are not new observa tions, nor are they are not unique ones. These are issues that have dogged our small state for decades. They are issues I’ve heard grum bled about at the dinner table. They’re issues I’ve groused about with friends. They almost feel like a rite of passage to becoming a Vermonter — to complain about taxes, or to complain about this landlord or that piece of news.

It’s a noxious brew — one I drank greedily, particularly as my rent rose and my paycheck stagnat ed.

Before moving, we considered buying a house — hence how I came to my astute kidney and liver equation. Yet, even as I got a new job with a beefier salary, I realized our housing costs, coupled with other cost-of-living expenses, made it so that we would always be just above water but never ascendent enough to plan our wedding, or to afford a house, or to grow a family.

We started to look elsewhere and, last week, we made a trek across the country to a new city.

That move was painful for me. My horror-writer mind conjured an image, the morning we left, of me crawling up those Green Mountains, burying a knife in my chest, pulling my steaming heart free and burying it up there, in the dirt, in the trees. I can see the dark

blood and the wet soil under my fingernails. I feel the emptiness in my chest.

All I ever wanted to do was stay in Vermont. Even now, I write stories about our state. The North east Kingdom makes frequent appearances, my personal Castle Rock, where ragged strangers come to town, hiding their brim stone odors with headache-induc ing aftershave or perfume; where crimson-eyed bears linger outside ramshackle diners; where winter threatens to blacken appendages; where monstrous spiders wait, mandibles dripping, legs writhing.

It is not easy to stay in Vermont.

As we moved out of our apart ment, I learned that my landlords bumped the price of our old apartment up another $100. Then, they sold it seemingly without issue. Because in Vermont, when an apartment goes on the market, you have about 24 hours to get an application in before it’s going, going, gone.

I don’t know whether we will stay in this new city, or if we will travel around. Remote work has changed the landscape in that regard. I desperately want Vermont to address these gangrenous issues because deep down, I want to be able to feasibly give the following advice. To myself and to others: stay in Vermont.

Keith LaFountaine, a horror writer, grew up in Burlington.

Letters to the Editor

Prop 5 enshrines culture of death

To the Editor: There is no greater personal evil than deliberately taking the life of an innocent, defenseless human being, and there is no greater tribute to selfishness than elective abortion. With the passage of Proposal 5, Vermont has enshrined both evil and selfishness in its Constitution, which now asserts, in effect, that a woman’s right to electively have her unborn offspring killed, for any reason and without infringe ment, is “central to the liberty and dignity to determine (her) own life course.”

In the Declaration of Indepen dence, Thomas Jefferson spoke of the unalienable right to life. For the most innocent, defense less human beings — the unborn

— that right no longer exists in Vermont, which has institutional ized a culture of death rather than a celebration of life.

While Vermonters who voted for Proposal 5 evidently see that as a good thing, as a former Shel burne resident I see it as a great and shameful tragedy.

Jim Goff Columbia, Mo.

Vermont makes historical milestones

To the Editor: Congratulations to Sen. Becca Balint and attorney general Char ity Clark. The League of Women Voters of Vermont applauds you as ground-breaking women.

Shelburne Police seek help to locate two missing teens

The Shelburne Police Department is asking the public for its help in locating Tayla and Shayla Smith, 16-year-old twin sisters.

The two teens left their foster home in Shelburne late on Nov. 18 or the next day. They are described as between 5-feet and 5

LETTERS

continued from page 5

The league congratulates Balint for her unprecedented victory as the first woman elected to represent the residents of Vermont in the U.S. Congress. This is a historic moment for Vermonters as the Green Mountain State was the only state to have never sent a woman representative to Washington. Thank you for working hard to gain the confidence of Vermonters. We know you will be a dynamic member of Vermont’s congressional team.

The league also offers congratulations to Clark, who is the first woman elected to Vermont’s highest law enforcement

ZONING

continued from page 4

consulting firm Blue Zones to look into the mixed residential character district and provide clear information to the planning commission.

Blue Zones called the district “overly complex for such a small region,” and wrote that the rules offered “unclear, vague, or contradictory language” that left the town open to a wide range of development options that may not align with the town plan.

“The standards are so broad that you could produce such a range means the neighbors can’t predict what’s going to happen and the staff doesn’t know what’s going to happen because this code allows for a wide range of development,” said Mary Madden, one of the project team members with Blue Zones.

In addition, the town does not have a clear process to evaluate and enforce compliance within the code, making it easy for development applications to obtain approval with limited review by the plan ning commission and the developmental review board, according to the report.

For residents like Smith, these problems have much less to do with “NIMBYism,” and much more to do with aligning with the town’s plan and character.

Smith and those within the group agree that the form-based code fails to focus on the scale and intensity of development. Although residents would also like to help Shelburne provide more housing options, it must be at a reasonable human scale within the town plan’s policies, the group main tains.

½-feet tall, with black hair and brown eyes. One of the girls has a dyed red streak in her hair while the other has an orange or yellow streak. Both were described as having nose piercings.

Reach the department at 802-985-8051.

office. Clark formerly worked as assistant attorney general and chief of staff in the attorney general’s office. We look forward to seeing her serve as the state’s chief legal officer.

The League of Women Voters, since 1920, has been an activist, grassroots organization whose leaders believe people should play a critical role in democracy. It does not endorse candidates for election.

Sue Racanelli President League of Women Voters of Vermont

In the wake of what has been one of the town’s most contentious zoning issues, the final hearing was relatively mild.

Selectboard chair Mike Ashooh said, “I was pretty happy to see a lot of people in the meeting and was happy the conversation was civil.”

Following the hearing, residents were thankful the selectboard removed the mixed residential character district but said it’s only the beginning to overall zoning reform within the town.

“That hearing was good, but the bottom line is it took us 15 months and numerous meetings to get here. In the end it was just so much public pressure, and it was very obvious the town wanted this to be done, but it’s unfortunate now for our neighborhood it’s too late,” said resident Pete Serisky.

The development proposed by Stephen Brandon and Shelley Crombach that sparked this year-long saga has since been revised, reduc ing the number of residential units from 110 to 78. This new proposed development is being reviewed under the existing formbased code, regardless of the Nov. 15 hear ing.

The development review board has 45 days to decide about the current proposal and Serisky shares that this might only be the beginning of a new battle for zoning reform within the town.

“If they go through with this application, we will file an appeal to block (Brandon and Crombach development) permits,” he said. “We won’t let this go down without a fight.”

“If they go through with this application, we will file an appeal to block (Brandon and Crombach development) permits. We won’t let this go down without a fight.”

— Pete Serisky

They

Artists exhibit small works

artists Anne Cady, Charlotte Dworshak, Maria Flores Gallindo, Edward Holland, Julia Jensen and Hannah Sessions

debut show at Northern Daugh ters for Maria Flores Gallindo, who trained in fashion design and collage in Madrid before moving to New York eight years ago where she has lived and worked since.

“My work tries to be simple and delicate. I start by mixing different

elements on a background and keep working until I feel the work is complete as a whole,” Flores Galin do said.

Cady’s work is characterized by luminous saturated color, simpli fied forms and strongly contrasting values depicting the open pastures, farms, hills and mountains of the Champlain valley.

Dworshak grew up close to the art world of Vermont as a daugh ter of a local artist. She is a Burl ington-based painter who paints minimalist landscapes, inspired by the world she sees around her. Viewers often find the icy waters of Lake Champlain and the silhouett ed backbones of familiar mountains in her work.

Holland is an abstract artist based in New York City who works in a wide variety of materials includ ing acrylic and oil paint, colored pencil, graphite and collage.

Jensen, a 20-year painting veteran, is a Vermont-based land scape artist working in encaustics, while Sessions’ small works, in oil on panel, depict the Vermont land scape with more natural and muted tones and the loving familiarity of a farmer.

The gallery is located within Village Wine and Coffee.

COURTESY PHOTO

Charlotte Dworshak, “9_42pm,” 20 inches by 20 inches

Obituary

H. Allan Marlow

H. Allan Marlow, 93, of Shelburne, died peacefully on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, at University of Vermont Medical Center.

Al was born on Feb. 28, 1929, in Ogdensburg, N.Y., the son of George and Beatrice Marlow.

Al leaves behind his wife, Jackie, of 69 years; beloved daughter, Michele and her husband, James O’Brien MD of Williamsburg, Va.; his cherished grandchildren, Jason O’Brien of Boston, Tess O’Brien of Water bury and Jackie O’Brien of San Diego, Calif.

He is also survived by three sisters, Anna Jean MacDougall, Eleanor Stevenson and Mary Rose McCaffrey and husband, Tom, all of Ogdensburg, N.Y.; sister-in-law, Joan Macura of Granville, N.Y.; and many cousins, nieces and neph ews.

Throughout Al’s life he touched and inspired the lives of many. Al began his naval career at the age of 17 serving on the USS Dayton. Following his service years, he earned degrees from Albany Business School and Russell Sage College.

Al was a proud employee of Mobil Oil

company for over 40 years.

Always lending a helping hand volun teering where needed, many will remem ber him as an usher at St. Catherine of Siena Church and greeting visitors at The Residence at Shelburne Bay. Those who knew him will remem ber his warm smile, and his energetic and opti mistic demeanor.

An athlete and sports fan all his life, he enjoyed attending UVM hockey games, golf ing, skiing and playing tennis. In his later years he became the biggest supporter of all his grandchildren’s various endeavors.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Shelburne Vermont at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19. Al will be laid to rest immediately following in The Shelburne Village Cemetery.

Please join his family in the parish hall where memories and expressions of sympathy will be shared with family and friends. Donations in Al’s memory may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

Funeral arrangements are in the care of Stephen C. Gregory and Sons Cremation Services.

H. Allan Marlow

Community Notes

Shelburne Farmers Market holds holiday market

Shelburne Farmers Market is hosting the first of two holiday markets Saturday, Nov. 26, at the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory from 10 a.m. to 2 pm.

“Extending the season for our popular market is a result of enthusiastic support from the vendors who have had an excel lent summer season in 2022 and are ready to tackle a different schedule for the cold weather months,” said Rosalyn Graham, who runs the Shelburne Business and Professional Association. “We have had many eager applications from the farmers, crafters and cooks who have earned such loyal followings at Shelburne Farmers Market in the summer.”

The second holiday market will be held on Saturday, Dec. 17, and twice-monthly winter markets will continue in the same location through March.

Due to space limitations, each market will feature 16 vendors.

Vendors on Nov. 26 will be Sobremesa, Swaying Daisies Honey, Shakey Ground Farm, Lalumiere Farms, Wild Hart Distill ery, Crazy Cotton Candy Lady, Snipe Ireland Soaps, Mt. Philo Woodworks, Full Circle Woodworking, Bear Moon Botanica, Twisted Halo Donuts, Loon Designs, Just Art (Lis Gerber), Laurel Waters, Hayden Handcraft and The Flakey Crust.

The Hildegard String Quartet will offer music for the first market, followed by the Avery Cooper Duo in December.

More at shelburnebpavt.org.

Age Well, church offer grab and go Christmas meal

Age Well and St. Catherine’s of Siena Parish in Shelburne will provide a meal to go for anyone age 60 and older on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

The meal will be available for pick up in the parking lot at 72 Church St. from 11 a.m. until noon. The menu is stuffed chick en breast with apple and cranberry stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, sliced carrots, cran berry sauce, wheat dinner roll with butter, pumpkin cake and milk.

To order a meal, contact Sheryl Oberding at soberding@yahoo.com or 802-825-8546

Deadline to order is Wednesday, Dec. 7.

You must have a congregate meal regis tration on file. Forms are available at pickup or download one bit.ly/3URc4U3.

More information agewellvt.org.

It’s Monday, get munching at senior center lunch

The next Monday Munch at the Char lotte Senior Center is Nov. 28, 212 Ferry Road, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The menu

Child behavioralist releases book tackling sibling rivalry

South Burlington’s Maya Burr has tackled one of life’s biggest adjust ments—welcoming a new sibling. Her debut book, “Little Siblings, Big Feel ings,” is geared toward growing families and dives into the many emotions expe rienced when navigating these lifelong bonds — from love and joy to envy or anger.

Illustrated through playful scenar ios in which kids will easily recognize themselves, this relatable read makes for perfect conversation starters between parents or caregivers and their toddlers as they explore siblinghood.

As a parenting consultant and child behavior specialist, Burr wanted to offer the same tools she teaches in her prac tice to those in her community.

“My personal journey of welcoming my second child and the questions I got from parents were major influences for this story,” said Burr, who grew up in Shelburne. “After years of searching and never finding the right book to recom

Portuguese kale soup, green salad and homemade dessert.

Menus for Dec. 5 and 12 have not been announced as of press time.

A $5 donation is appreciated. Check the website in case of last-minute cancellations at charlotteseniorcentervt.org.

mend to toddler families, I decided it was time to write it.”

Burr includes several scripts and strategies throughout the book to help families implement these tips in their own homes.

“Little Siblings, Big Feelings” is available at national book retailers.

Red Cross hosts blood drive in Charlotte

The American Red Cross holds a blood drive on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2-7 p.m., at the

Charlotte Senior Center

Call 800-RED-CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org and enter char lotte to schedule an appointment.

Local Scouts benefit from sales Dec. 1

South Burlington Scout Troop 611 in South Burlington will receive 20 percent of all sales at Panera on Shelburne Road on Thursday, Dec. 1, 4-8 p.m.

Just use the code fund4u at the checkout or at the kiosk in-cafe.

Chittenden County

gather for meeting

Marines

Join the Donald G. Cook Detachment on Thursday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. for a meeting of active duty, retired and guard of the U.S. Marine Corps.

This is an opportunity to meet other Marines in the Greater Burl ington area, share information and learn about the programs offered at the Marine Corps League.

Enjoy Age Well meals at Charlotte Senior Center

The Age Well meal pickup for Thursday, Dec. 8, is from 10-11 a.m., Charlotte Senior Center, 212 Ferry Road, and features roast pork with warm sauce, applesauce, mashed potatoes, mixed vegeta bles with lima beans, wheat bread with butter, chocolate chip cookie and milk.

You must have pre-registered by Monday, Dec. 5, with Kerrie Pughe, 802-425-6345 or kpughe@ charlotteseniorcentervt.org

The meal on Dec. 15 is the center’s Christmas meal and includes stuffed chicken breast with apple and cranberry stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, sliced carrots, wheat dinner roll, pump kin cake and milk.

St. Mike’s hosts Sing We Now Noel

Sing We Now Noel, a cele bration of Christmas carols and seasonal songs, will take place on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 2 p.m. in Saint Michael’s College Chapel.

William Tortolano, emeritus professor and college organist, will present the 62nd holiday concert with the classic two-man ual, 14-stop Casavant pipe organ in the chapel. The program will cover a variety of musical compo sitions to encourage the audience to participate.

Among the compositions are carols from Austria, England, France, Portugal and American traditions, including “The Little Drummer Boy,” “Go Tell It On the Mountain,” “Vermont’s Carol” and “We Three Kings.”

Jerry Proulx, a St. Michael’s graduate, will sing the famous Ital ian carol “Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle.”

Waldorf School hosts artisan market and fair

The Lake Champlain Waldorf School will host a Friday adult shopping experience on Friday, Dec. 2 from 6 to 9 p.m.

On Saturday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., there will be an outdoor festival with lots of activities for children and a family fair and market.

Visit shorturl.at/dyLM9 for further information.

Champlain Valley Union hosts handcrafters’ fair

The Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg will host its handcrafters fair on Satur day, Nov. 26, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 369 CVU Road in Hinesburg.

The fair features 150 vendors with something special for every one on your shopping list.

Town’s social services group gives update

SUE FURRY-IRISH CONTRIBUTOR

The Shelburne Social Services Committee is tasked with assess ing and responding to the unmet needs of residents and supporting social service agencies. In addi tion to inviting agencies to apply for funding, the committee hosts a roundtable discussion with repre sentatives of agencies to hear from them directly and to encourage collaboration.

This year, the committee met with representatives of Habi tat for Humanity, Age Well, the Shelburne Food Shelf, the Char lotte Senior Center, the Shelburne

Police Department and the Shel burne Community School.

The committee learned at the meeting that finding safe and affordable housing is the greatest need for families. Some students at the Shelburne Community School are grappling with homelessness, food insecurity and mental health issues. Rising costs continue to bring more shoppers to the food shelf — averaging about 90 fami lies each month — and access to quick cash for emergency needs is an occasional challenge.

Shelburne police reported that the outreach services program is very successful from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., but said overnight services

are also needed.

The committee is looking for a new member. Meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of the month except holidays.

Volunteers are also needed at Age Well to deliver meals to elders’ homes or offer other types of assistance. Contact volunteer@ agewellvt.org for further info.

To volunteer with Habitat for Humanity contact Green Moun tain Habitat at vermonthabitat.org.

Shelburne Community School Principal Brett Cluff is also seek ing volunteers at the Shelburne Community School. Email scsin formation@cvsdvt.org for more information.

COURTESY PHOTO

William Tortolano

AUDIT

continued from page 1

new full-time employees, Kit Luster — who was hired as the role of development review board coor dinator — and Aaron DeNamur, who is taking on the role as plan ning coordinator.

DeNamur was previously employed by Shelburne last spring, before resigning just months into his role to take a position in Norwich. According to Belliveau, he graduated a few years ago and is currently working on his master’s degree in public administration.

Luster comes to the role as development review board coor dinator as a 2022 University of Vermont graduate with a degree in community and international devel opment. This is her first profession al job in planning.

In the absence of a planning director, the planning and zoning office can expect to run a bit differ ently with the two new hires report ing directly to Krohn.

“Whenever we have a transi tion, we use it as an opportunity to reevaluate the structure of a depart ment,” Krohn shared.

OFFICES

continued from page 1

for us to be able to work together (and) to be able to timely collabo rate and cooperate,” he said.

The central administration’s original goal was to ask the school board for approval at the Nov. 15 meeting and sign a lease by Dec. 1. But, at its November meeting, Sanchez announced they would

“There is a pervasive labor shortage in almost every line of work everywhere and it’s especially so in the planning world — there is a shortage of people who are expe rienced, which is part of the back drop for why the two new people are junior staff,” shared Belliveau.

Staffing audit

In response to the town’s pattern of staffing shortages, the select board motioned for a system-wide staffing analysis in August in order to gather a high-level overview of how the town has approached staff ing in the past and gather recom mendations for moving forward.

“As the budget season is unfold ing, I think the entire board is think ing about our staffing needs. Every department has asked for additional help,” said Shelburne Selectboard chair Mike Ashooh. “The staffing report confirmed what a lot of us suspected.”

The town hired Hickok and Boardman HR Intelligence of Shel burne to conduct a study that would lay a framework for future staffing

development.

Based on the report, regard less of Shelburne’s significant growth in population in recent years, the current staffing levels have remained constant over those years. This results in “each depart ment working long hours, includ ing overtime in some departments,” making many departments “unable to complete certain projects or be proactive at times,” according to the report.

Among other recommenda tions, one of the major recom mendations was the exploration of hiring a human resources profes sional to manage hiring, onboard ing, performance evaluation and employee retention.

According to Ashooh, the town is currently looking into a human resources professional on board.

“One of the other issues is how we can streamline current process es to create and hire in different ways,” Ashooh said. “Can we rede fine some roles, consolidate some roles and see what that opens up for the priorities?”

be suspending the plan after “approaching a better view of what our budget for next year will look like.”

“Since, at this time we cannot completely project the final budget numbers, we are unsure as to the appropriateness of the time to change locations,” he said.

Sanchez did not immediately respond to an email seeking clarity on the district’s budget projections for the following school year.

The site at Hurricane Lane would have cost the district $187,416 more to lease annually. It is unclear how much the district pays currently for its lease — an email seeking details was not returned by press deadline.

Meanwhile, according to the October presentation, the district would have had to spend an addi tional $100,000 to refurbish the building to make it more suitable.

School board members during the October meeting sound ed uneasy about the prospect of moving offices.

Keith Roberts, the school board member from Hinesburg, commented that “in light of the growth of remote work, not to put too fine a point on it, but do we really need this much space?”

School board member Erin Brady of Williston said she worried about public perception.

“If we haven’t addressed classroom space at (Allen Brook Elementary School), but we’re able to double administrative space two minutes away, that feels like a hard thing to justify,” Brady said. “Needing more space for the safety of workers in Covid — we’re a school district, teachers are packed in with kids and kids are packed in with each other all day. I think that’s a challenging thing to be talking about publicly.”

CLASSIFIEDS

Community Bankers Chittenden County

BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS

Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest banking institution headquartered in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all. Are you looking to start or continue a career in the finance industry? Consider joining our team as a Community Banker! To see all our available positions, please visit www.NSBVT.com/careers/open-positions.

Job Responsibilities & Requirements

This frontline position is crucial in creating a positive, welcoming and inclusive experience for NSB customers. The successful candidate will have exceptional customer service and communication skills. The Community Banker will be responsible for receiving and processing customers’ financial transactions as well as opening and maintaining customer accounts and services. We are looking for someone who can develop and maintain relationships with our valued customers, protect bank and customer information, and uphold customer confidentiality. A high school diploma, general education degree (GED), or equivalent is required.

If you have customer service, previous cash handling, or banking experience we encourage you to apply!

Opportunity for Growth

NSB has training opportunities to engage employees and assist with professional development within our company. The average years of service for an NSB employee is 9! If you’re looking for a career in an environment that promotes growth, join our team!

What NSB Can Offer You

Competitive compensation based on experience. Well-rounded benefits package. Profit-Sharing opportunity. Excellent 401(k) matching retirement program. Commitment to professional development. Opportunities to volunteer and support our communities. Work-Life balance!

“Best

Service Coordinator: Continue your career in human services in a supportive environment by providing case management for individuals either for our Adult Family Care program or our Developmental Services program. The ideal candidate will have strong clinical, organizational & leadership skills and enjoy working in a team-oriented position. $47,000 annual salary, $1,500 sign on bonus.

Residential Program Manager: Coordinate staffed residential and community supports for an individual in their home. The ideal candidate will enjoy working in a team-oriented position, have strong clinical skills, and demonstrated leadership. $45,900 annual salary, $1,500 sign on bonus.

Direct Support Professional: Provide 1:1 supports to help individuals reach their goals in a variety of settings. This is a great position to start or continue your career in human services. Full and part time positions available starting at $19/hr, $1,000 sign on bonus.

Residential Direct Support Professional: Provide supports to an individual in their home and in the community in 24h shifts including asleep overnights in a private, furnished bedroom. You can work two days, receive full benefits and have five days off each week! Other flexible schedules available, starting wage is $20/hr, $1,000 sign on bonus.

Shared Living Provider: Move into someone’s home or have someone live with you to provide residential supports. There are a variety of opportunities available that could be the perfect match for you and your household. Salary varies dependent on individual care requirements. $1,000 sign on bonus.

Join our dedicated team and together we’ll build a community where everyone participates and belongs https://ccs-vt.org/current-openings/

Make a career making a difference and join our team today!

https://ccs-vt.org/current-openings/

Champlain Community Services, Inc.

Why not have a job you love?

Positions include a sign on bonus, strong benefits package and the opportunity to work at one of the

Places to Work in Vermont”.

ARIES

March 21 - April 20

You have an energy to release this week, Aries. But you are not sure if the world is ready for you. Don’t expect the same reaction from everyone when you interact.

TAURUS

April 21 - May 21

Something in your life that seems ordinary on the surface can turn into something that is rather special. Taurus. Keep your eyes peeled for every possibility.

GEMINI

May 22 - June 21

Gemini, all of the fanfare you are about to receive can make it seem like you are the most popular person on the planet. Revel in the attention while you have it.

CANCER

June 22 - July 22

Sometimes the less traveled path can take you to some pretty special places, Cancer. Don’t be so quick to rule out opportunities that are right in front of you.

LEO

July 23 - Aug. 23

Start evaluating personal habits that may be holding you back, Leo. Upon closer examination, you may discover that there are some things you can easily change for the better.

VIRGO

Aug. 24 - Sept. 22

Virgo, much to your relief, your hard work could start paying off very soon. It has been a long time coming, so enjoy any rewards that come from your efforts.

LIBRA

Sept. 23 - Oct. 23

Consider a partnership that falls into your lap, Libra. It may provide you with some new social and business connections. There’s a lot of opportunity coming down the pike.

SCORPIO

Oct. 24 - Nov. 22

Scorpio, it is alright to desire some quiet, but too much excitement is surrounding you lately for things to settle down just yet. Ride this wave a little longer.

SUDOKU

Here’s How It Works:

Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must ll each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can gure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 23 - Dec. 21

A week full of possibilities and positivity lies ahead for you, Sagittarius. The only question is, “what are you going to do with it?” Bring a friend for the ride.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22 - Jan. 20

Capricorn, no matter how much work you have on your plate, rest assured that you have all of the resources available to get things done successfully.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 21 - Feb. 18

The stars are interested in showering you with plenty of love right now, Aquarius. This could be one of the most enjoyable weeks you’ve had in quite a while.

PISCES

Feb. 19 - March 20

Romance could bloom this week if you are interested, Pisces. You also may be able to solidify an existing relationship.