Shelburne News - 3-9-23

Waste water

Experts recommend Crown Road site for upgrade

Page 2

Shelburne adopts local option tax, budget passes

Candidates win uncontested selectboard, school board races

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

At Shelburne’s 235th Town Meeting Day, voters approved an amendment to the town charter to allow the town to adopt a 1 percent local option tax on sales, meals and alcoholic beverages.

The campaign for the local option tax, aggressively lobbied for by selectboard members, hinged on the notion of Shelburne as a tourist destination and that the pressure on taxpayers could be alleviated by diversifying revenue streams.

Although the vote was 838 to 593, some business owners vehemently opposed the vote. Kevin Clayton said last week, “As a merchant who has been serving Shelburne in different retail capacities for the past 37 years, 19 at Shelburne Supermarket and

CVU boys’ basketball advances to Division I championship Page 12

18 at Village Wine and Coffee, I have to oppose this tax with a resounding no. In the current economic state of inflation, expensive fuel costs and climate challenges we are dealing with price increases that are changing customers’ buying habits. Now is not the time to be adding to the burden of consumers or retailers. Please vote no to a local options tax.”

Other business owners have no problem with the tax.

Shelburne Vineyard owner Ken Albert said, “I think people coming in to purchase stuff from us won’t notice that 1 percent tax. When this started to be discussed, I went and asked a lot of people in the retail area in other towns that had the tax and virtually no one said that it was a factor at all.”

With many residents wonder-

ing where the money will be spent, the selectboard has already adopted a policy to ensure that “revenue derived from local option taxes be dedicated to capital expenditures/projects, debt reduction, reserve funds for future capital projects, repairs or other emergency needs related to disaster as declared by the

selectboard or federal agencies, and land conservation/open space protection for the creation and or/ utilization of public space.”

The levy is administered by the state, which keeps 30 percent of taxes collected, remitting 70 percent to the town. The town’s finance committee has projected it could generate $939,961 in

local option tax revenues.

“Just like sales tax now, collections will be able to be processed and the money comes back to the town,” Don Porter, chair of the town’s finance committee, told the Shelburne News in November. “It’s a quarter delayed, so the

LaPlatte Beef, Pickled Jalapenos, BBQ Sauce, Crispy Onion

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

Three members of the Shelburne Selectboard, from right, Kate Lalley, Matt Wormser and Luce Hillman listen at Monday’s informational session for town meeting.

“I think people coming in to purchase stuff from us won’t notice that 1 percent tax.”

— Ken Albert

Shelburne to choose between dueling wastewater site plan proposals

An alternative analysis of the town’s wastewater treatment project shows that consolidating the operations at the Crown Road site is the most cost-effective solution for the town over the Turtle Lane facility.

Nonetheless, Shelburne residents can still expect a $30 million bond vote at next year’s town meeting for the long-awaited project.

“It is anticipated that this bond request would be on next year’s ballot,” Shelburne town manager Lee Krohn said. “It was originally hoped to be on for this year, but with the additional due-diligence alternative analysis for the Turtle Lane site, the entire matter was on hold.”

Shelburne currently operates two aging wastewater treatment plants — one on Crown Road and another on Turtle Lane off Harbor Road — that are in need of extensive upgrades that are expected to be one of the most expensive capital projects in Shelburne’s history.

The town has been mulling over a few solutions, but ultimately landed on the decision to pick between upgrading the Turtle Lane or Crown Road sites, rather than improving both.

In September, engineers with the firm Aldrich + Elliot recommended converting the Turtle Lane site into a pump station and consolidating operations at Crown Road — a process that could take five years to complete. However, after hearing concerns from property owners on Mariners Cove and Mariners Way near the

Crown Road facility, selectboard members asked to study the efficacy of consolidating at Turtle Lane.

At the Feb. 28 selectboard meeting, engineers presented their evaluations, and recommended consolidating the Crown Road facility as the best solution for the town.

At the Turtle Lane site, one major obstacle are discharges into McCabe Brook, which has little capability to handle wastewater and faces stringent restrictions. On the other hand, the Crown Road plant discharges into Lake Champlain, where state effluent limitations — restrictions on the quantities or rates of chemical concentrations in water quality — are more forgiving.

“We did look at another alternative, which was to maintain both wastewater treatment facilities,” Krohn said. “The challenge there is maintaining two plants is very inefficient and very costly. The other part of it is the Turtle Lane plant discharges into the McCabe waterway and we know the regulations will continue to get ever stricter. The notion of investing millions of dollars into maintaining that as a second treatment plant just was not found to be feasible at all.”

Significant environmental issues also make Turtle Lane a

less desirable location. Based on data from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, there are significant rare, threatened and endangered species in habitats surrounding Harbor Road as well as Class 1 wetlands.

“(Turtle Lane) is directly adjacent to the dog park area, and we weren’t almost allowed to keep the dog park, which has no structures of any sort of this nature on it,” Krohn said.

Even though the Crown Road plant has been operating for nearly 50 years in the same location, residents’ main concern with consolidating the project at that location is how close neighboring 16 single-family units are to the plant.

“In light of the five years of construction cost, we all agree there is an engineering solution and there’s the most cost-efficient solution for the town, but putting a five-year construction (project) in a neighborhood of this size, that’s a very significant social cost to all of the neighbors involved,” one Mariners Cove resident said.

To help reduce noise and odor problems, engineers have built into the cost a multitude of mitigation solutions, including enclosed sound-attenuating enclosures, hybrid blowers, supplemental inlet silencers, covered sludge storage tanks and chemical treatment at pump stations. The site plan will also include a maintained vegetation buffer between the facility and homes.

Wayne Elliot, the primary engineer on the project, said that a projected cost for the project has not yet been evaluated.

“We’ve had a lot of change over the last 12 to 18 months with fuel-price increases, supply chain issues, that kind of stuff,” he said, noting that construction costs for the Crown Road facility are estimated at $23 million, while construction costs at the Turtle Road facility are estimated at nearly $30 million.

“We wanted to just keep it so it was an apples and apples comparison. That’s the purpose of just comparing those two options right now,” he said.

A final report will be presented at the March 28 selectboard hearing when members will make a final decision.

“We wanted to just keep it so it was an apples and apples comparison. That’s the purpose of just comparing those two options right now.”

— Wayne Elliot

Classic movie night

On Friday, March 17, at 6:30 p.m., Classic Movie Night features “Some Like It Hot” starring Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis.

Baby and me

Join a new Baby and Me group at the Pierson Library on Wednesdays from 10;30-11 a.m. on March 8, 15, 22 and 29.

Bring your baby and meet and play with other local parents and caregivers and their kids, birth to pre-walkers.

Come make new friends, support each other and connect during this time in your child’s development. Share in each other’s joys and acknowledge that faltering and stumbling is a normal part of parenting.

This group is free and open to all — moms, dads, grandparents and caregivers are invited.

Drop-ins are welcome, but registration is encouraged at 802-985-5124.

News from Pierson Library

Masks optional, but please stay home if you or your baby are not

feeling well or have been exposed to someone ill.

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COURTESY PHOTO

Baby and Me group runs this month at Pierson Library.

Hinesburg Artist Series celebrates 25 years of music, memories

As a celebration of bringing joy and music to the community, the Hinesburg Artist Series will present its annual spring concert featuring the Rutter Requiem that was performed at its first concert in 1997.

This 25th season will feature the South County Chorus and Hinesburg Artist Series Orchestra under the direction of Rufus Patrick. Performances will be at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 12, at St. Jude Catholic Church in Hinesburg.

“We have sung so many wonderful pieces over the years, and this program includes some of the pieces we have loved most,” said Patrick, music director and founder of the organization. “We are so grateful to have had so many

years of performing for a very appreciative audience right here in our community. It brings joy to us all. We are inspired to perform this concert and celebrate 25 years of music and memories.”

Musicians will also perform “Kyrie” by Rene Clausen, “Agnus Dei” by Mark Hayes, “I Will Live” by Bryan Sharpe and “Sanctus” by Dan Forrest.

The concert will feature solos by oboist Dan Frostman and cellist Jiwon Lee. Through music, the concert will celebrate the memories of Brian Busier, Marshall Webb, Robert Levis and others.

“Singing in the community for so many years has been incredibly satisfying,” said Yvonne Whitaker, who joins 10 other musicians who also performed in the first Hines-

burg Artist Series concert. “We’ve had such a variety of music, and it has all been so inspiring.”

Guest cellist Lee, who is currently maintaining an active schedule as a soloist, chamber musician and teacher in the U.S. and South Korea, has participated in numerous music festivals and concerts in Korea and North America, such as Music in PyeongChang, Eumyeon International Music Festival and Bowdoin International Music Festival.

She is coaching cello at Browns River Middle School, is faculty at Vermont Youth Orchestra Association and joined the faculty at the University of Vermont in 2022. Tickets for the concert are $25 and available at the door or at hinesburgartistseries.org.

Shelburne woman pleads not guilty in alleged kidnapping

Moyium Willomon, 26, of Shelburne, pleaded not guilty Feb. 28 to charges of kidnapping after allegedly trying to take a 2-yearold child on a bus in Burlington last week.

Willomon appeared by video for an arraignment in Chittenden County Superior criminal court in

Burlington. At the hearing, Judge Alison Arms agreed with Public Defender Molly Reis’ proposal that Willomon receive an in-patient mental health evaluation to determine her competency.

Jennifer Poirier, 40, of Shelburne, is the mother of the child that Willomon allegedly tried to abduct.

Poirier said in an interview that she rides the Green Mountain Transit bus to Burlington every week-

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day. She said when she and her child walked onto the bus on Feb. 21, Willomon was already seated. Poirier said Willomon moved to sit closer to her and the child, then reportedly told Poirier that the child belonged to her.

Willomon then picked up the child and tried to exit the bus, according to Poirier. Other passengers helped stop Willomon, allowing Poirier to take back her child. Poirier asked for the bus driver to

pull over and call the police.

“She was totally calm,” Poirier said. “There was no violence. There was no swearing. She was just very matter of fact, ‘this is my child.’”

Burlington police responded to the bus, which had stopped on South Union Street. In an affidavit, Officer Michael Moran described Willomon as calm but insistent that the child was hers.

The affidavit notes that Willomon has a history of mental

illness. Police transported her to the University of Vermont Medical Center. Once at the hospital, Howard Center First Call, a team of on-call mental health professionals, conducted a mental health evaluation and said Willomon “needed long term involuntary care as she posed a threat to other families,” according to the affidavit. Willomon was being held at Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington.

PATRICK CROWLEY VTDIGGER

COURTESY PHOTO

Cellist Jiwon Lee

House makes progress on child care, school construction, budget

a non-partisan commission to develop a formula to allocate any state contribution to a school construction project.

Bottle bill 2.0

We’re halfway through the 2023 legislative session. Below are highlights of the significant legislation the House has passed in these first two months. When the Legislature resumes on March 14 work on key priorities will continue, across the House and in collaboration with the Senate, as we debate bills and consider investments prior to an anticipated May adjournment.

Balanced budget

The House is working on the 2024 budget, which covers state government and its community partner organizations from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. We are seeing substantial revenue growth this year, largely due to the impact of federal pandemic stimulus and recovery dollars. The challenge is to make strategic use of one-time funds to meet state priorities. Those priorities include leveraging federal funds to support improvements in roads, bridges and other infrastructure needs under Congress’ Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Other targeted statewide priorities are those that will deliver long-term dividends for Vermonters, including investments in housing, broadband expansion, workforce training, clean energy and child care. As is Vermont tradition, it will be a balanced budget, even though Vermont does not have a statutory requirement to do so.

Universal school meals

During the pandemic, the federal government provided free school meals to all Kindergarten through grade 12 students. The Legislature must now determine the best path forward. If the state chooses to continue offering universal school meals, there will be new strategies in 2023 to access federal dollars in paying for the program — both through increased student participation and a new Medicaid eligibility criterion that automatically qualifies schools to receive more federal funds.

School construction

Vermont has a statewide backlog of renovation needs or replacement of school buildings. A statewide assessment of school facilities is currently underway with a deadline of October 2023. To address this problem the education committee is considering school construction models being used in Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Wyoming. The committee is considering

Updating and expanding Vermont’s bottle bill — first enacted in 1972 — will help reduce landfill waste, litter and greenhouse gas emissions by increasing the amount and quality of plastic, aluminum and glass recycling. Although Vermont has a high recycling rate thanks to the universal recycling law, returnable bottles and cans dropped off at redemption centers around the state produce more marketable and reusable materials than what gets tossed into our commingled recycling bins.

As the number and variety of beverages has exploded over the years, H.158 proposes a needed expansion of the decades-old deposit system to cover most beverages, including plastic water bottles and glass wine bottles. To fund more conveniently located redemption centers, provide fair compensation to redemption center owners and keep an increasing number of bottles and cans out of the landfill each year, the bill requires that beverage manufacturers and distributors collaborate in a stewardship program overseen by the Agency of Natural Resources that will address the limits of the current system.

Suicide prevention

The facts are heartbreaking: More than 700 Vermont residents died of gunshot wounds in the decade from 2011 to 2020, with 88 percent of these deaths from suicide. Persons at greatest risk of suicide in Vermont are men, persons living in rural areas, persons with a disability, veterans and members of the LGBTQ+ community. There are few bright spots in the statistics, but one is this: 90 percent of the people who attempt a suicide, and survive, do not try again. Suicide by firearm almost never allows this opportunity for a second chance at life. H.230 attempts to reduce suicide by lethal means.

Child care, early childhood education

The lack of affordable, high-quality early childhood education profoundly impacts Vermont and its economy. H.208 develops a blueprint for a significant investment in children, families and communities. It would significantly increase

From the House Rep. Kate Lalley

Rep. Kate Lalley

WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK ON CURRENT SCHEDULES!

LALLEY continued from page 5

state-funded financial assistance for children in child care; expand the current funding for part-time pre-K to a full-time program for all 4-year-olds in Vermont; increase compensation for early childhood educators and financial support for community and home-based child care programs by reimbursing centers for enrollment; and elevate and streamline state-level oversight of early childhood education.

The proposed legislation has support from over 90 representatives across party lines and builds on the current system to ensure that all partners, families, schools, child care providers and early educators, have the resources and support they need to best care for our youngest Vermonters.

Health care protections

With the passage of Proposition 5 in November, Vermonters overwhelmingly demonstrated their support for enshrining reproductive liberty as a constitutional right. The shield bill reinforces the Legislature’s ongoing efforts to protect safe access to reproductive and gender affirming care for Vermonters at a time when these essential and personal health care choices are under attack in many states across the country.

The bill provides protections for patients and providers from prosecutions and investigations by states that have banned or restricted reproductive and gender-affirming care that is legal in Vermont. It also provides some protections for

Dedicated town employees get the job done

To the Editor:

Thank you to all who helped arrange for and who participated in Shelburne’s town meeting last evening. It is a cherished tradition that I hope continues well into the future.

In my parting remarks last evening, I had also meant to express my heartfelt thanks to all our town employees who work hard every day to keep the ship of state on an even keel and functioning smoothly and well.

After evening meetings have concluded and decisions have been made, it is your dedicated town employees who get the work done.

Thank you all. It’s been an honor to serve our community and to help support you in all that you do.

Lee A. Krohn Town Manager Shelburne

out-of-state patients receiving this care from Vermont providers.

Education funding

Vermonters all know how much the real estate market has led to a historic rise in property values. To bring this system into alignment the Committee on Ways & Means heard testimony on innovative solutions, including moving away from funding education with property taxes, and moving to a consistent statewide system for property appraisals. A more consistent system would avoid large changes in values that catch property owners by surprise and relieve pressure on municipalities to manage appraisals with limited resources. The committee is also looking at ways to recategorize non-homestead property values to get a better sense of how these properties are used. Currently the non-homestead property category includes everything from second homes to businesses to industrial use.

Transforming transportation

The unprecedented federal funding made available through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act funds, which will total $1.6 billion over five years, provides Vermont the opportunity to make transformational investments in its transportation infrastructure and to address climate change.

Over 40 percent of Vermont’s carbon emissions come from

Letters to the Editor

Child Protection Registry is a broken system

To the Editor:

Before I retired as an attorney, I had been professionally involved in all sides of the child protection system: represented children and parents, run a child protection agency, and advocated for changes in the system to better serve children and families. I believed that the state had an important role in the protection of children. But never did I think that we would come to a point where our government would include one out of every 26 people on their list without ever going to court. This list is called the Child Protection Registry. If you are on this list, employers can reject you as a job applicant for any job involving children, and current employers can terminate you.

A new study, “Broken System, Broken Promises,” has found that every time the state’s allegations are challenged, the state is found to be lacking the necessary evidence.

the transportation sector. This year’s transportation bill will continue to help Vermonters transition to more fuel-efficient vehicles, including all electric vehicles. Additionally, we will invest in public transportation and infrastructure that supports more walking, biking and public transit options throughout the state. Purchase incentives that are income sensitive will provide $21 million over five years for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. This will ensure all Vermonters can participate and purchase both new or used low- or zero-emission vehicles. Additionally, the bill utilizes federal funding to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure to ensure that everyone, including those who rent or live in multi-family units, will have access to charging infrastructure.

Rep. Jessica Brumsted and I, along with senators Thomas Chittenden, Virginia Lyons and Kesha Ram Hinsdale, meet the fourth Monday of every month from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Shelburne Pierson Library in the Community Room. This month we meet on March 27. Please reach out any time with ideas, questions and concerns to me at klalley@leg. state.vt.us.

Kate Lalley, a Democrat from Shelburne, represents Shelburne and a portion of South Burlington in the Chittenden-6 House district.

Unfortunately, few people challenge the process because of the cost and complexity involved. When the state takes away your right to employment, due process of law requires that the system is fair and provides opportunities to be heard. The report shows that the current system is woefully lacking in due process.

Our child protection laws have created two parallel processes: First, the substantiation of child abuse and neglect, where a state department finds one guilty and can place you on the Registry. The second is the Child in Need of Care and Supervision process in family court. The two processes use different standards of proof. As a result, a person can be found not guilty in one forum, but guilty in the other for the same allegations, because neither process knows what the other is doing. The state provides a public defender in family court, but no attorney in

TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD A BETTER SYSTEM

GMT is examining our current base level of service with the goal of improving coordination of services across Chittenden County, and we’d like your help!

Natalie Q. Albers

Natalie Q. Albers, 95, of Shelburne, died on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023.

She was born on Nov. 29, 1927, in Indianapolis, Ind., to Eugene K. and Elizabeth Marvel Quigg, of Richmond, Ind. Eugene served as president of the Richmond Baking Company, founded by his father William in 1902. Her grandfather, Benjamin Johnson, was a businessman and trustee of Earlham College, a Quaker college in Richmond. The families were active members of the Quaker community.

Natalie loved telling stories of growing up on a farm and riding her horse Sonny Boy, a retired circus pony, and attending horseback riding summer camp in Montana.

Natalie attended Tudor Hall School in Indianapolis, Greenwood School in Ruxton, Md., and Pine Manor College in Wellesley, Mass., graduating in 1947. She moved to the Back Bay of Boston and was working in the Childs Art Gallery on Newbury Street when she met William Albers, an investment banker at a Crane Beach outing of the Back Bay Chowder and Marching Society, a social club. They were married on Nov. 5, 1949.

Bill and Natalie moved to Milton, Mass., in 1954 where they raised their four children. For the next 50 years, there were very few areas of life in Milton that were untouched by Natalie’s activism, including environmental causes, politics, the First Parish Church (Unitarian Universalist), schools (public and private) and numerous

social service projects. She was most proud of initiating recycling in the town, serving as an elected town meeting member and fundraising for the Trailside Museum, the garden club, town library, outdoor classrooms and Families for Children. For many years, she owned and operated The Irish Gannet in Hingham and traveled to Ireland seeking handmade treasures and meeting Irish craftspeople. Her infamous house parties were enjoyed by many, complete with rickshaws, fake palm trees and costumes.

When Bill died in 1978, Natalie’s life took an even more independent turn. She embarked on a solo cross-country camping trip, and spent many summers in Port Townsend, Wash., at her daughter Peggy’s, and on adventurous camping trips with her grandson Reed for weeks at a time. Often Reed’s parents had no idea where they were. They picked huckleberries and cooked on an open fire.

She traveled to Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, visiting her son, Ted at children’s and refugee aid projects.

Natalie’s children and grandchildren were the primary focus of her active and involved life. Sporting events, camping trips, sharing book recommendations and Meals on Wheels deliveries — each of her grandchildren had a unique relationship with her. All family members have treasured needlepoint pillows, pictures and special items handcrafted by “Granny.”

She had a lifelong dream of becoming a pilot, and even snuck

2023 GUN & OUTDOOR

SPORTSMAN SHOW

Obituary

in one flying lesson as a teenager. She did plant the flying bug in her grandson William, gifting him his first flying lesson at 15. In later years she and William spent many days together in a little Cessna 170, with William piloting her to destinations such as Provincetown and Bar Harbor.

In 2007, Natalie moved to Wake Robin in Shelburne, near Ted and his family. There she was active at Wake Robin in the library, selecting films for movie night, and serving on the decorating, bridge, tag sale committees, and in the community by volunteering at the Charlotte Senior Center and as a student mentor at Shelburne Community School.

Natalie read books and newspapers avidly and formed and shared strong opinions on every topic imaginable. Her greatest gift was her ability make each one of her family members, and countless friends and acquaintances feel valued and appreciated, more so if they agreed to be on a committee. Her genuine interest in and enthusiasm for everything and everyone she encountered led to her many collaborative accomplishments.

Natalie’s community work in Milton, Mass., included the Milton Hospital Gift Shop and Gift Cart, including her children’s favorite, field trips to the Warehouse ‘O Candy in Dorchester; Blue Hills Trailside Museum as a board member and fundraiser, saving it from total state budget cuts in

1990; Milton Curbside Recycling, and before that, convincing the town to have recycling bins at the dump, and hanging out there on Saturdays making sure people used them; First Parish Milton in every capacity possible except ordained minister; Milton Garden Club president, member of conservation committee and lobbyist; Milton Academy, as a parent and neighbor, starting the Swap-it Sale and the Bill Albers Lower School Library collection, and founding the Milton Academy Parents Association; Milton town meeting member (highest vote getter in 2006); Town of Milton warrant and school committees; Pierce Middle School Site Council; Milton Outdoor Classrooms promoting outdoor education in public schools (the Outdoor classroom at Glover School is named in her honor); Milton League of Women Voters; Neponset River Watershed Association; Milton Public Library as a fundraiser and organizer; Milton Democrats “mover and shaker”; Meals on Wheels; a spirited member of the Milton Hoosic Club Follies; and numerous museums and arts endeavors.

In Boston, Natalie was a member of the Junior League, and wrote the “Guide to Boston for the Handicapped” decades before the Americans with Disabilities Act. Other community work and endeavors included Wrentham State Hospital, where she visited developmentally delayed patients;

Parents and Children Services Hotline; Families For Children, a Canadian adoption agency serving children and families in India, Bangladesh and Somalia, where she served as a child-sponsorship coordinator; owner of The Irish Gannet, an Irish import store in Hingham; anti-war activist, from Vietnam to the present; regular attendee at the Friends Meeting at Cambridge Longfellow Park; North Bennet Street School board of directors; and habitat steward, National Wildlife Federation.

She was predeceased by her parents; and her sister, Margery Bissell and her husband, Bill Albers.

She leaves her brother, Bill Quigg of Phoenix, Ariz.; her children, Peggy Albers (Michael Aubin) of Port Townsend, Wash., Ted Albers (Charlotte Albers) of Shelburne, Margery Lyman (Dan Gomes) of Alamo, Calif., and Dr. Janet English (Chris English) of South Woodstock; eight grandchildren, Reed, Janet, Jeffrey, Scott, Clare, Marion, Will and Brooks; and five great-grandchildren, Emme, Beau, Turner, Khai and Ruby.

In her memory, Natalie requested that we never cease questioning, learning and working together to create beauty and justice in the world.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the North Bennet Street School, Boston, or First Parish Milton (Unitarian Universalist) in Milton.

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For information, call Larry Hamel, 802-917-2886, or email lwhamel@aol.com.

Natalie Q. Albers

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Scenes from town meeting

Above: Peggy Coutu receives the Colleen Haag award from Haag and Gail Albert.

Right: Fisher Irwin plays the national anthem on his euphonium.

PHOTOS BY LEE KROHN

Step right up, pie for breakfast

The Charlotte Shelburne Hinesburg Rotary will host an all-you-can-eat pie for breakfast event on Saturday, March 18, 8 a.m. to noon, at the Shelburne Town Hall.

A wide variety of sweet and savory pies are available from PoorHouse Pies in Underhill and homemade selections by Rotary members. Entertainment will be offered by Shady Rill and McFadden Irish Dance Academy. Recommendation is $10 for adults and $5 for children.

New Lions Club to meet at Pierson Library

Vermont’s Lions Club serving Shelburne, South Burlington, University of Vermont and Burlington, will meet on Tuesday, March 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Pier-

Community Notes

son Library in Shelburne.

This club was formed to address the diverse needs of the local community, with an emphasis on hunger, vision care, the environment, diabetes and childhood cancer. Anyone interested in helping others, building community and making new friends is invited, either remotely or in-person.

For more information, email Mark Hanna at lionmark2000@ outlook.com.

Shelburne Age Well hosts Grab and Go meal

Age Well and St. Catherine’s of Siena Parish in Shelburne are providing a meal to go for anyone age 60 and older on Tuesday, March 14.

The meal will be available for pick up in the parking lot at 72 Church St. from 11 a.m. until noon and are available for anyone

60 or older.

The menu is beef round, boiled potatoes, cabbage and carrots in beef stock, wheat dinner roll with butter, leprechaun cake with frosting and milk. To order email soberding@yahoo.com by March.

8.

All Souls hosts concert hosts Middlebury choir

The All Souls Interfaith Gathering will host a concert featuring the Middlebury College Choir on Friday, March 10, at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary. The choir, under the direction of All Souls music director Ronnie Romano, will perform secular and sacred works for mixed voices both a cappella and with piano. Featured composers include Arvo Pärt, Palestrina, Vince Peterson, Ed Thompson and Herbert Howells. The concert will also feature small chamber music duos

Local actors headline ‘Robin Hood’

Huzzah, huzzah! The Shelburne Players is producing its 40th show, “The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood,” at Shelburne Town Center from March 17-25.

Featuring 15 actors from Shelburne, Ferrisburgh, Vergennes, Hinesburg, South Burlington and Burlington, the cast will put on six family-friendly shows, including four evening performances and two matinees.

“It sure is hard to be humble when you’re a swashbuckling, egocentric super-hero. But our gallant guy-in-green tries his best as he swaggers through ‘The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood’, a frantically funny, Monty Pythonesque retelling of the classic,” according to the Dramatists Play Service.

The production is directed by Su Reid-St. John and produced by Jill Silvia. Returning

actors include Shelburne’s Alex Nalbach (Robin Hood), Karlie Kauffeld (Town’s Gal) and Katie Pierson, as well as South Burlington’s Kimberly Rockwood (Lady in Waiting), and Burlington’s Nathalie Mathieu-Bolh, all of whom also appeared in The Shelburne Players’ fall production of “Almost, Maine.”

Newer to the Players’ stage are Shelburne’s Kendra Culley (Lady Marian), Ferrisburgh’s Finn Yarbrough (Prince John) and

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South Burlington’s Mike Mahaffie (Sheriff of Nottingham). They are joined by John Montgomery of Vergennes, Xander Patterson and Bianca Scherr of Hinesburg, and Chris Acosta, Tiki Archambeau, Clarity Phillips and Maggie York of Burlington.

The Shelburne Players, founded in 1971, produces two shows a year, and is made up entirely of volunteers.

For more information, visit shelburneplayers.com.

A unique summer camp for boys, ages 10-14 located in Vermont’s Green Mountains

and trios comprising college choir singers and other Middlebury students.

All Souls is located at 291 Old Bostwick Farm Road in Shelburne. Admission by donation.

Kendra Culley Katie Pierson

Karlie Kauffeld Alex Nalbach

COURTESY PHOTO

The All Souls Interfaith Gathering performs with the Middlebury College Choir on March 10.

If it’s important to you or your community look for it in the Shelburne

TOWN MEETING DAY

continued from page 1

collection won’t be received by January, perhaps February.”

Town budget passes, elections

The town budget of $10.6 million — a 7 percent increase over last year — was approved with a tally of 1,111 to 308. Some of this year’s biggest cost drivers were, of course, inflation-related staffing benefit increases, but also the need for updating computer software and hardware. Town

manager Lee Krohn said the town this year will replace its aging server, the backbone of the entire computing system.

For the two uncontested selectboard races Andrew Everett, running for a three-year seat vacated by Kate Lalley, received1,236 votes, while incumbent Luce Hillman got 1,237 votes for another two-year term.

David Connery was elected to a threeyear term as Champlain Valley School

District school director with 1,241 votes.

The Champlain Valley School District budget was also approved with a tally of 3,084 to 1,673 along with a bond for $395,000 for the purchase of three new buses.

The $96,119,804 budget — a 7.5 percent increase in expenditures from last fiscal year — was driven by several factors including a general increase in health care, salaries, as well as in the district’s special

education budget, among other things. With this, Shelburne can expect to see a 6 percent increase from last year and a tax rate of $1.68.

Thomas Little was also elected as town moderator for a one-year term with 1,334 votes.

Everett has lived in Shelburne since

PHOTOS BY LEE KROHN

Dave Connery reads the town report at Monday’s informational session prior to Town Meeting Day. Turnout was light at the polls in the Shelburne gym Tuesday.

See TOWN MEETING DAY on page 11

TOWN MEETING DAY

continued from page 10

2011 and during that time has served on the planning commission, bike and pedestrian paths committee and as a board member at the Shelburne Craft School.

“I’m honored to serve,” he said. “I hope I can be an approachable member of the selectboard. I look forward to doing my part in managing the change and growth we all know is coming. I’m excited about seeing through many of the things we wrote about in the town plan update that I helped with as part of the planning commission.”

Voters also approved a $50,000 open space fund — 1,077 to 351 — and authorized the purchase of portable mobile radios for the fire department in the amount of $97,000. That vote was 1,221 to 189.

The bond vote for $1.1 million for the financing of the second and final phase of the water meter replacement project also passed 1,169 to 250.

“Most of the meters in town are an old manual read, they’re 20 years old and reaching their end of life,” Krohn explained at the informational meeting on Monday. “It takes our water department staff over 1,300 hours a year to walk around town and find those meters on each and every building. It’s incredibly resource intensive. So, the water department presented a two-phased approach to replacing all of these. The first phase is already underway with cash the water department already has in their account and this bond will fund the second and complete phase of all the rest of those meters.”

Although the Town Meeting Day vote was held again this year by Australian ballot, the informational meeting on Monday night kept some of the traditions alive with Shelburne Boy Scout Troop 602 presenting the colors and leading the Pledge of Allegiance, a poem reading by Shelburne’s poet laureate Robert Broder and the presentation of the Colleen Haag Award to Peggy Coutu who has served on the Shelburne Parks and Recreation Committee for over 33 years.

The meeting also held a moment of silence for Marshall Webb, co-founder of the nonprofit education organization that now owns and operates Shelburne Farms, who died on Aug. 11.

Krohn wrote in the 2023 annual town report, “Shelburne, and the universe, have lost one of its stars, but we will always remember his brilliance.”

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DENIZ DUTTON COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE

The conflict between the desire to maintain open space and the need for more housing in Shelburne came to the forefront on Town Meeting Day when residents cast votes on whether the town should set aside funds to acquire and preserve more undeveloped land.

Shelburne voters were asked if the town should raise $50,000 in taxes to obtain property or rights to property to preserve natural resources and open space. The question generated strong opinions from several residents who cast ballots Tuesday in the Shelburne town gymnasium, getting a brief reprieve from the frigid March air. The measure passed 1,077-351.

Tony and Cindy Hall, who have lived in Shelburne for 57 years, said they have long advocated for more open space in the town, even with increasing demand for housing. “So, it’s with mixed emotions that you think, ‘Well, am I taking land away that could be used to house somebody?’” Tony asked rhetorically as he left the polls.

Yes!

“On the other hand, we need to have open spaces … for our life.”

Bill Baynham, owner of a wood products business, said he stands firmly on the side of more open land and less housing. In particular, he criticized the Snyder development project at the Kwiniaska Golf Course, on the west side of Spear Street.

“The town should have given the golf course a tax break initially to let it be open land,” he said as he left the gym. “A lot of land could have been kept open rather than going for residential houses and making the town look like suburbia.”

Leslie Kleh, who operates her own cleaning business and has lived in Shelburne for just over two years, said she wants to see a Shelburne that is “dense and livable,” with more walking and biking infrastructure.

Deniz Dutton is a reporter with the Community News Service, a program in which University of Vermont students work with professional editors to provide content for local news outlets at no cost.

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You can a ord the smile you’ve always wanted.

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

Rick Bessette offers a smile — and laugh — at Monday’s town meeting informational session.

Voters overwhelming OK open space fund, land conservation

“The town should have given the gold course a tax break initially to let it be open land.”

— Bill Baynham

SHELBURNE

QUARTERLY

&

WATER

SEWER PAYMENT

Due Monday, March 13, 2023

Payments must be RECEIVED or POSTMARKED by MIDNIGHT, March 13, 2023.

Late payments are subject to penalty and interest. Payments can be left in lock box at Police Department Dispatch until Midnight, March 13, 2023.

PLEASE NOTE: The Police Department cannot provide any information regarding accounts or receipts for payments.

If any questions please call 985-5120

Office hours for payment in person are

Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Police Department is open 24/7

SHELBURNE

3RD FY 22-23 PROPERTY TAX INSTALLMENT

Due Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Payments must be POSTMARKED or RECEIVED in the TOWN OFFICES by MIDNIGHT, March 15, 2023.

Late payments are subject to penalty and interest. Payments can be left in lock box at Police Department Dispatch until Midnight, March 15, 2023.

PLEASE NOTE: The Police Department cannot provide any information regarding your tax account or receipts for payments.

Office hours for payment in person are

Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm

If any questions, please 985-5120

Boys advance to championship

Champlain Valley did not leave much doubt on Monday night in the Division I boys’ basketball semifinals.

The Redhawks jumped out to a double-digit lead at halftime enroute to a 64-40 win over BFA-St. Albans to advance to the DI championship game for the second time in program history.

The top-seed CVU team will face No. 2 Rice on Saturday, March 11, at 7 p.m. at the University of Vermont’s Patrick Gym in the final, looking to dethrone the three-time defending champs.

The Redhawks used a 19-9 run in the third quarter to put away the No. 4 Bobwhites and put a stranglehold on the semifinal.

CVU was led by a double-double from Logan Vaughn, who scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Tucker Tharpe also scored 15 points for the Redhawks (21-1).

The Redhawks faced Rice twice in the regular season, with the Green Knights handing them their only loss midway through the schedule. CVU got a measure of revenge in the final week of the regular season, beating Rice 53-50.

No. 2 Rice beat No. 6 Brattleboro 76-49 in the semifinals to advance to the championship.

Nordic skiing

The Champlain Valley Nordic ski teams each came in third place in the DI state championship meet, wrapping up the classic race at Rikert Outdoor Center on Tuesday.

On the girls’ side, Stella Laird came in fifth in the classic race and 10th in freestyle to pace the Redhawks. CVU came in third place behind state champs Burlington and second place Mount Anthony.

For the boys, Matthew Servin was the top finisher with a

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seventh-place finish in the classic race and a sixth place finish in freestyle. Owen Deaie was fifth in the freestyle for CVU.

The Redhawks came in third behind top finisher Mount Anthony and No. 2 Mount Mansfield.

Girls’ hockey

Spaulding 7, Champlain Valley-Mount Mansfield 0: The Champlain Valley-Mount Mansfield girls hockey co-op team saw its season come to an end against top seed Spaulding in the DI semifinals Friday, March 3. No. 4 CVU-MMU finished the season with 13-8-1 record.

Grace Ferguson (18 saves) and Ella Gilbert (14 saves) combined in goal for the Redhawks.

CVU-MMU advanced to the semifinals with a win over No. 5 Essex, 5-1, in the quarterfinals. Riley Erdman had a hat trick to pace the CougarHawks, while Ferguson got the win in goal. Megan Rivard and Tess Everett each added a goal.

Boys’ hockey

South Burlington 3, Champlain Valley 2: The boys’ comeback effort fell short in the quarterfinals as they fell to South Burlington on Wednesday.

No. 4 CVU got goals from Travis Stroh and Nic Menard in the loss, with Jason Douglas making 36 saves in goal.

Champlain Valley finished the season with a 7-11-3 record.

A stunning 18-hole golf course nestled in Shelburne, Vermont!

PHOTO BY AL FREY Tucker Tharpe scored 15 points for the Redhawks in its 64-40 win over BFA-St. Albans to advance to the Division I championship game on Saturday. Here Tharpe goes for a rebound in a win over Burlington in the second round of the playoffs.

Shelburne Parks & Rec News

Yoga flow for mobility

Find some calm in your body and your mind. Join instructor C. Jane Taylor for an accessible, fun, energizing yoga flow that brings students out of their daily grind and into their true nature of goodness. Get the heart rate up a little and then wind down and relax in a balanced class designed to make you feel better than when you came in the door. All levels are welcome. Bring a yoga mat and a cotton blanket or large beach towel.

Taylor has been practicing for more than 20 years and has been assisting the University of Vermont yoga teacher training for nine years. She teaches with alignment, humor

LETTERS

continued from page 6

the substantiation process and the cost of hiring an attorney is prohibitive for most Vermonters. The study also found that often the people who have been placed on the registry did not get any notice and only learn of it when they are rejected from a job opportunity. The report proves that families are routinely traumatized, children removed and taxpayer dollars wasted on a system that

and ease.

Registration Deadline is Wednesday, March 22. Session dates are Tuesdays, March 28 to May 2, 9-10 a.m. in the Shelburne Town Gym. The fee is $80.

Summer camps

Registration is now open for spring and summer camps and programs. See shelburnevt.org/160/parks-recreation for complete program details and online registration. Or register through the recreation office with a hard copy and payment of check or cash. Camps are filling up fast.

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cannot tell the difference between those who abuse children and those who do not. This is a mess and Vermonters deserve better. We can and must clean this up through legislation, and House Bill H.169 is a good starting point.

Trine Bech Burlington

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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.

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ARIES

March 21 - April 20

A development may have you feeling a bit down, Aries. That is only temporary, though, as your mood and circumstances will rebound in no time at all.

TAURUS

April 21 - May 21

Taurus, people you encounter this week may be exceptionally stubborn, so you may need to avoid confrontations. Keep your emotions in check as best as you can.

GEMINI

May 22 - June 21

Gemini, the weather may not be suitable for getting much done outdoors, but you can certainly stay busy inside the house with any projects you have been putting off.

CANCER

June 22 - July 22

This is a great opportunity for getting rid of any clutter that has been holding you back, Cancer. Start sorting through the garage or cleaning out a desk at work.

LEO

July 23 - Aug. 23

Leo, do not worry about the small stuff that you feel could be holding you back. If you step away from the situation, you may nd that everything is working out.

VIRGO

Aug. 24 - Sept. 22

Virgo, there are plenty of opportunities open to you, but you may not realize they are so close by. A friend may need to guide your way on this for the time being.

LIBRA

Sept. 23 - Oct. 23

You may be feeling bad about something you did in the past, Libra, and now you want to make amends. It’s the little changes you implement that will make a difference.

SCORPIO

Oct. 24 - Nov. 22

Scorpio, you may be ready to give your life an overhaul. That may amount to you changing careers in the weeks to come. Do your research before you put in notice.

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

Sagittarius, stay focused and disciplined this week, especially as it pertains to a diet. You can maintain your commitment, especially with others cheering you on.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22 - Jan. 20

Capricorn, rewards will not come without hard work and dedication. Now is the time to stick with the plan and keep moving forward. Save days off for later.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 21 - Feb. 18

Do not go up against managers or superiors this week, Aquarius. Doing so likely won’t go in your favor. Just keep out of the spotlight for a little while longer.

PISCES

Feb. 19 - March 20

You may be building the blocks of a major life project, Pisces. Use all of the resources at your disposal in the days to come.

CROSSWORD

CLUES ACROSS

1. Half-conscious states

8. Unnatural

13. Deep regret

14. Rogue

15. Taken without permission

19. An alternative

20. After B

21. Partner to owed

22. Weekday

23. Body part

24. World’s longest river

25. One of the Greats

26. Make clean

30. C. Canada indigenous peoples

31. Japanese seaport

32. Most unclothed

33. Small grouper sh

34. Soluble ribonucleic acid

35. Distinguishing sound

38. French realist painter 39. Popular beer brand

40. Views

44. God depicted as a bull

45. Relieve 46. Residue after burning 47. Habitation

48. Poe’s middle name

49. Japanese title

50. TV series installation (abbr.)

51. Beloved country singer

55. Single unit

57. Genuine

58. Develop

59. Traveled through the snow

CLUES DOWN

1. Clues

2. Do again

3. Current unit

4. Neither

5. Corporate exec (abbr.)

6. Second sight

7. The absence of mental stress

8. Supplemented with dif culty

9. Stop for good

10. College dorm worker

11. Bones

12. Most supernatural

16. Spanish island

17. Unlimited

18. Where golfers begin

22. No charge

ANSWERS

25. Print errors

27. Professional drivers

28. Kiss box set

29. Short, ne bers

30. Administers punishment

32. Czech city

34. Normal or sound powers of mind 35. The academic world

Crustacean 37. Currency 38. Pastoral people of Tanzania or Kenya

Cloth spread over a cof n

On land

A type of extension

One who assists

College sports conference

Type of screen 56. The 13th letter of the Greek alphabet

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