Shelburne News - 6-1-23

Boy Scouts, the band, the veterans committee and event organizer Ret. Col. Bud Ockert, shown at left with master of ceremonies and town moderator George Little and guest speaker Col. Laura Caputo, Commander, 158th Maintenance Group, 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, once again brought together the community for Shelburne’s Memorial Day celebration, held on Monday.

Below, Charles Bissonette receives a 2023 Quilt of Valor, one of eight veteran recipients of the honor, shown in this photo by Ken Crites. See more photos on page 7.

CVU school district connects homeless families to resources

Grants needed to keep program going

Jennie Davis’ work might present in different ways, but navigating the myriad hurdles posed by Vermont’s housing market is one part of her job that remains the same each day.

In her role, Davis meets with families with children in the Champlain Valley School District who are homeless or who face

some form of housing insecurity — they’re late on the rent and are at risk of eviction, or they’re in a motel in Shelburne or Williston and are trying to find housing. Each situation is unique, and each family is experiencing an unmanageable level of stress as it tries to keep itself afloat. As the family outreach and assess-

See FAMILIES on page 8

Shelburne may revamp historic Parade Ground

ing farmers market.

The Shelburne selectboard endorsed a plan for an $80,000 improvement to the Parade Ground last week — a project that planning coordinator Aaron DeNamur hopes will create a more designated “village green” area in town.

But some residents voiced concern about how the new plans could affect the town’s long-stand-

“We don’t really have a village green that you see in other towns around the state that I really envy as a town planner,” DeNamur said.

The unofficial sketch plan would erect a new 4-foot elliptical-shaped sidewalk through the grounds along with a 28-foot by 14-foot pavilion that would sit toward Falls Road. Other minor

See PARADE GROUND on page 16

Memorial tribute

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

Meet Shelburne’s New Town Manager!

Shelburne’s Catherine Viner named Rice salutatorian

Catherine Viner, a Rice Memorial High School senior from Shelburne, was named salutatorian for the Class of 2023.

Catherine received the second highest grade point average for her class. She has earned 10 awards for academic excellence throughout her years at Rice.

In addition, she is an AP Capstone Diploma candidate, challenging herself with one of the school’s most demanding course loads.

“Catherine has also shown impressive engagement and leadership in the classroom, innate curiosity, and initiative,” a school press release said. “She is a leader within our community and is an intelligent, determined,

and compassionate young person.” Viner balances academics with athletic endeavors, a part time job and extracurricular activities. She played volleyball, acted and sang in Rice’s production of “Les Miserables” and “The Music Man,” and was an integral member of the chorus program.

She wrote, produced and published an album. As a sophomore, she was selected to attend a HOBY leadership seminar and applied the skills learned to make Rice and her local community a better place.

Catherine will attend Notre Dame this fall.

Rice’s graduation takes place Saturday, June 3, at noon.

Come join Basin Harbor on Saturday, June 17th , for a great 5K race along the shores of Lake Champlain. The race begins at 9:00 am.

Register now: basinharbor.com/news-events/5k/

Catherine Viner

On May 23 around 1:15 p.m. while walking his dog, Hank, behind the post office by the LaPlatte trails, Shawn Clifford of Shelburne captured this “huge black bear” staring him down from about 10 feet away, close to nearby houses. “I will say that was one of the coolest things I’ve seen but was also petrified as to how close this monster bear was to us.” Clifford estimated the bear weighed about 400 pounds. “If it would have been an hour later there would have been dozens of elementary school children walking right by this bear,” he said.

Homelessness goes up in Chittenden County

The annual count of Chittenden County residents living on the streets or in shelters has increased from last year, reflecting a five-year high as the state’s scarcity of housing options continues to leave many without options.

According to the 2023 Chittenden County Point-in-Time count report, released by the Chittenden County Homeless Alliance, 758 people were found living on the streets or in a shelter. That’s an increase from last year’s count of 668 people, as well as the 700 people counted in 2021.

Of those, 715 were in some form of shelter, while 43 were living on the street.

In 2019 and 2020, before the pandemic hit, 309 and 261 individuals, respectively, were found without stable housing, according to previous counts.

While in 2021 and 2022, most individuals were found in emergency shelter, this year, the report found that 367 individuals were in emergency shelters, while 348 individuals were in transitional housing — a big increase from previous years.

Notably, the number of households with children has been on the rise since 2020, when 22 households with children were counted. According to this year’s report, 82 families with children were found in a shelter. No families with children were found on the streets.

The number of “unaccompanied youth” also rose to 39 compared to 26 last year, according to the report.

While the statewide Point-in-Time count has yet to be formally released, preliminary data shows there are 2,537 total people who were homeless in the state, according to Martin Hahn, the executive director of the Vermont Coalition to End Homelessness.

The number of Vermonters living in shelters or on the streets in 2021 and 2022, according to previous PIT counts, was 2,591 people to 2,780, respectively.

Point-in-Time Counts, however, are widely seen as limited, and can miss people who may be living in areas that are inaccessible or were missed by those conducting the count.

This year’s Chittenden County report comes as the scarcity of housing remains an often-insurmountable barrier to addressing the state’s homeless crisis. Vermont has the second lowest vacancy rate in the country, while Chittenden County is at a 20-year low of 0.4 percent, with more than half of renters paying more than one-third of their income for housing.

Because of this, the state has the second highest per-capita rate of homelessness in the country, behind only California. But at the same time, Vermont has the lowest rate of unsheltered individuals.

That may soon change, however, as a state-run motel program that currently provides shelter for 2,800 Vermonters begins to wind down this month.

Gov. Phil Scott last week announced some people in the motel housing program would be granted a final 28-day extension — while committing to the program’s end. Roughly 800 people lost their eligibility for motel shelter on June 1, while another 2,000 people who qualified for an extra month of housing because of their age, disability or special circumstance, will follow on July 1, as reported by VTDigger.

The Agency of Human Services, meanwhile, released a request for proposals for emergency shelter staffing and services, with the goal of providing up to 1,000 shelter beds statewide, according to VTDigger — prioritizing congregate day and overnight shelters in Washington, Rutland and Chittenden counties.

Burger and Brew Fest

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

PHOTO BY HAWN CLIFFORD

CRIME & COURTS

Shelburne Police Blotter

Total reported incidents: 58

Traffic stops: 27

Warnings: 9

Tickets: 16

Medical emergencies: 19

Suspicious incidents: 8

Agency assists: 4

Citizen assists: 10

Welfare check: 2

Automobile incidents: 2

Car crash: 2

Fire: 2

Theft: 2

Fraud: 1

Alarms: 5

Pending investigations: 1

May 3 at 12:33 a.m., Alan Reynolds, 48, of Brandon, was cited for driving under the influence of alcohol after getting pulled over on Shelburne and Ridgefield roads.

May 15 at 10:58 a.m., a two-car crash that occurred earlier in the day on Shelburne Road was reported to police.

May 15 at 9:03 a.m., a two-car crash, with no injuries, was reported on Shelburne Road.

May 16 at 7:26 a.m., a man on Penny Lane reported his vehicle stolen and told police his GPS tracker showed the car in Williston. Williston police found the vehicle and returned it to the owner.

May 16 at 10:14 a.m., police were called about an individual smoking weed near the Pierson Library.

May 16 at 1:15 p.m., police received a fraud complaint and are investigating the matter.

May 16 at 2:53 p.m., a garbage truck was reportedly on fire on Juniper Ridge. The fire was extinguished with no injuries reported.

May 17 at 7:19 p.m., Shelburne

police conducted a welfare check after a neighbor on Shelburne Road called police. The individual was taken to the hospital.

May 17 at 7:49 p.m., someone was reportedly threatened by another guest at the Countyside Motel. Police helped mediate the situation.

May 21 at 12:46 a.m., police responded to a call of a suspicious vehicle near Shelburne Bay Park. Upon arrival, several individuals exited the car and fled into the woods. The vehicle owner was contacted and came to pick up the vehicle.

May 21 at 6:37 a.m., police responded to the T-Bird Motel after two men were reportedly in a fight in front of the building. Police intervened, and Shelburne Rescue and Charlotte Rescue were dispatched. One of the men was taken to the hospital.

May 21 at 12:22 p.m., a juvenile was reportedly taking items from the lawn of Kwiniaska golf club. Police contacted the juvenile’s parents.

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 Judy Kearns judy@otherpapersbvt.com (802) 864-6670 x21

Managing Editor Dylan Kelley dylan@stowereporter.com

News Editor Tommy Gardner

Staff Writers Aaron Calvin Corey McDonald Liberty Darr

Production Manager Stephanie Manning stephanie@shelburnenews.com

Editor/Publisher Gregory Popa gpopa@stowereporter.com

Billing inquiries Leslie Lafountain leslie@stowereporter.com (802) 253-2101

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

Meet, greet new town manager

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

Come meet the new Shelburne town manager.

A meet and greet with Matt Lawless will be held in the Pierson Library Community Room on Monday, June 5, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

There will be a short swearing-in ceremony, a few welcoming words and light refreshments.

Lawless comes to the position with 12 years of local government experience in his home state of Virginia and most recently five years as town administrator in Scottsville — near Charlottesville and the University of Virginia — focusing on community planning, diverse small business development, public art and infrastructure upgrades.

While Lawless said he is look-

ing forward to jumping into the culture of Shelburne, what he is most looking forward to is, “that civic culture and the community” found in both Shelburne and statewide.

“(That) really does mean a lot to me, and I appreciate how well involved in healthy democratic community the neighbors seem to be,” he said. “I really want to be a part of that.”

Although Lawless has spent the last three months honing on some major town priorities, selectboard members laid out a few of their initial considerations at last week’s selectboard meeting.

“My priority for (Lawless) is to deal with some staffing issues,” selectboard chair Mike Ashooh said. “I think we should pursue a human resources person, I think we should pursue an assistant town manager. (Lawless) is up for

that as well and knows this, but we need to get some stuff sorted out in the front office.”

The board had discussed utilizing services from Hickok and Boardman HR Intelligence to help in implementing a human resource professional for the town. However, the project was postponed until Lawless took the reins.

Cate Cross, the board’s vice chair, emphasized the need to familiarize Lawless with a number of town reports and studies, including the work being done with the town’s bylaw overhaul as well as bike and pedestrian infrastructure updates.

“Meeting the key stakeholders around town would be important too. Shelburne Museum, Shelburne Farms, the business association,” board member Andrew Everett added.

you for being a friend’

In Musing

Carole Vasta Folley

Today, June 8, is National Best Friend Day according to, well, no one. Even the Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post is stumped as to its origins. After much research, they decided it’s a hashtag holiday because so many people posted, forwarded and tweeted #NationalBestFriendDay on June 8 that it eventually became reality.

And who can argue with hordes of hashtaggers? Certainly not the morning news anchors who shared National Best Friend Day with millions more. Or the shrewd companies that seized the day to “celebrate the holiday” with sales promotions. Ah, shopping, isn’t that what best friends are for?

Carole Vasta Folley

Friendship Day fell out of custom during the Depression and didn’t reemerge until the late nineties when friendship was the prevailing zeitgeist, even internationally. Like 1997, when the United Nations named Winnie the Pooh the world’s Ambassador of Friendship. Admittedly, I was about to rail against the U.N. naming a cartoon, self-proclaimed “bear of very little brain” ambassador. I mean, it’s a global organization charged with preventing world wars and their choice of ambassador doesn’t even wear pants?

Wait, there’s more. With National Make a Friend Day and the International Day of Friendship, there are oodles of opportunities to reach out to your buddies. The only “folly-day” I purposefully ignore is National Send a Card to a Friend Day. First of all, I already sent a card on Hallmark’s friend day. Second, it lands right on National Fettuccine Alfredo Day. I don’t think you have to ask which one I’ll be observing.

6 months – 5.36%*

12

6 months – 0.00%*

12 months – 0.00%*

18 months – 0.00%*

Before you add National Best Friend Day to your calendar, make sure you don’t confuse it with National Friendship Day. Although it’d be understandable what with new holidays continually being fabricated from National Grouch Day to National Hairball Awareness Day. By the way, I think my cat invented those.

Just like National Best Friend Day, National Friendship Day was also made-up, but at least it has a substantiated origin. It was created by Hallmark in 1919 so consumers would buy more greeting cards and, in their later parlance, “care enough to send the very best.”

Sadly, for those who liked licking envelopes, National

And how would he shake hands — correction, paws — with all that sticky honey pot business? But then, I reconsidered. Maybe Winnie’s kindness, determination and unexpected wisdom really could inspire humanity. All I am saying is give Pooh a chance.

Now, don’t worry if you miss celebrating National Best Friend Day. There are many other contrived friend-holidays to choose from with more being created every day. Let’s call them “folly-days,” you know, the kind of invented observances, like National Women’s Friendship Day and National Girlfriends Day, found on cutesy Internet calendars.

Or National Boyfriend Day, which ironically is in the same month as Evaluate Your Life Day.

Personally, I’m a fan of Ask a Stupid Question Day. At our house, we celebrate it daily.

Although there is a glut of these friend “folly-days,” I know they speak to a truth. That there will never be enough days to acknowledge our friends. They are our family, our foundation and pure evidence that the universe is good.

My friends have given me hope and laughter, usually in the opposite order. They often see me in ways I’ve tried to see myself my whole life. That’s probably because my friends know the passcode to my heart. We thrive on real connection, the never-ending perfection of our imperfections, the ability to nod “just like me” and hold hands even when we’re miles apart.

As much as I love my friends, today I probably won’t buy them a card that reads, “I’m glad our friendship is tighter than our jeans.” Instead, I’ll text them a few words from a wise, lovable bear, “As soon as I saw you, I knew a grand adventure was about to happen.”

Carole Vasta Folley is an award-winning columnist and playwright More at carolevf.com.

maturity, the proceeds may be more or less than the original purchase price. Holding CDs until term assures the holder of par value redemption. CDs are redeemable at par upon death of beneficial holder. For detailed overview of these and other risks refer to the Certificate of Deposit Disclosure Statement at raymondjames.com/liquid.htm. Additional information is also available on the SEC Certificates of Deposit: Tips for Investors website at sec.gov/answers/cds.htm. © 2023 Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Hickok & Boardman Capital Management is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.

‘Thank

Community Notes

Meet and greet Shelburne’s new town manager

Welcome Shelburne’s new town manager, Matt Lawless, on Monday, June 5 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Community Room in the Pierson Library.

There will be a short swearing-in ceremony and light refreshments will be served.

Players hold auditions for fall show in Shelburne

Auditions for the Shelburne Players fall show, “Circle Mirror Transformation,” take place Tuesday and Wednesday, June 6-7, 6-8:30 p.m. in the historic town hall.

Callbacks, if necessary, will be Tuesday, June 13, 6 p.m. Show dates are Nov. 10-18.

The play, written by Annie Baker and directed by Kimberly Rockwood, follows the story of four lost New Englanders who enroll in Marty’s six-week-long community-center drama class and when they begin to experiment with harmless games, hearts are quietly torn apart and tiny wars of epic proportions are waged and won.

For more information, visit shelburneplayers.com.

Take a wildlife habitat walk with Ethan Tapper

Ethan Tapper, award-winning forester for Chittenden County, will lead residents of Shelburne through the LaPlatte River Park to show how diverse riverine and upland forest habitats support a wide range of wildlife.

As the recent mapping project by Arrowwood Consulting showed, Shelburne still has a good network of such wildlife habitat blocks, but without careful planning they, and the areas that connect them to each other, could easily be lost, impoverishing biodiver-

sity and resilience. On this walk, Thursday, June 8, 5-7 p.m., learn how we can continue to live with our wild neighbors.

Shelburne Alliance for the Environment is hosting the walk, which will take place rain or shine. Wear long pants and take the usual precautions for ticks and mosquitoes. Meet at the trailhead behind Shelburne Market. Park in plaza or along treelike behind the store.

More at groups.io/g/shelburnesafe.

Shelburne Age Well hosts Grab

and Go meal

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

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. Suggested donation is $5.

The menu is meatloaf with brown sauce, mashed potatoes. Mixed vegetables, wheat bread, apple crisp with topping and milk.

To order a meal contact Kathleen at agewellstcath@gmail.com or 802-503-1107. Deadline to order is Wednesday, June 7. If this is a first-time order, provide your name, address, phone number and date of birth.

Enjoy Age Well meals at Charlotte Senior Center

The Age Well meal pickup for Thursday, June 1, is from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Charlotte Senior Center features salisbury steak, gravy, home fried potatoes, spinach, wheat roll, fresh fruit salad and milk.

You must pre-register by the prior

See COMMUNITY NOTES on page 12

COURTESY PHOTO

“Instinctive Paths,” a group exhibit of works in diverse styles and mediums from regional artists is now showing at Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery in Shelburne through July 15. Featured artists include Bonnie Acker, Elizabeth Allen, Neil Berger, Annelein Beukenkamp, Leslie Fry, Holly Hauser, Kate Longmaid, David Maille, Mario Messina, Garrett Sadler, Jessica Scriver and Richard Weis. Above, Elizabeth Allen, “Lake Reflections,” oil on panel.

Shelburne Memorial Day ceremony

Above: A solemn moment at Monday’s Memorial Day ceremony at the Shelburne Veteran’s Monument.

Right: Ret. Col. Bud Ockert, master of ceremonies George Little and guest speaker Col. Laura Caputo of the Vermont Air National Guard behind the podium.

Below: Shelburne Scout Troop 602 salutes.

PHOTOS BY LEE KROHN

Toddlers exercised their imaginations and creativity as they played the many games Fun Factor brought to

Shelburne Farmers Market opens

The Shelburne Farmers Market is back for the summer and fall.

Vendors, some whom have been at the market for its entire 20-year history, said they were delighted by the crowd at the first market for 2023, but perhaps most exciting were the entertaining activities for kids, from tots to teens.

The children’s activities were added this year by market manager Sarah Stillman who was inspired by the talents and creativity of

Shelburne resident Carol Parven Hutter, whose Fun Factor business provides fun at special events from reunions to birthday parties. Fun Factor transformed a large area at the west end of the Parade Ground with games for kids as they tossed balls through hoops and tested many other game-playing skills.

Parven Hutter‘s talent as a face painter added lots of color to the day for everyone.

Fun Factor and Shelburne

Business and Professional Association, which organizes the farmers market, sponsored the children’s activity tent. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact Stillman at shelburnebpsvt@ gmail.com for information.

The market will be open at Parade Ground in Shelburne Village every Saturday through Oct. 21, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. More at sbpavt.org.

— Rosalyn Graham

FAMILIES continued from page 1

ment coordinator for the state’s largest school district, Davis goes to where those families are staying and helps them navigate innumerable barriers to put them on a path to stability. Within the district, she works with teachers and support staff to help identify children whose families may be facing housing insecurity.

Her position was created in February 2022, partly through a federal COVID-19 grant. Since then, of the families she’s worked with — representing 119 children in the school district — 29 have moved into permanent stable housing; 31 have obtained a housing subsidy so that they could maintain their housing; nine families who had previously been homeless avoided returning to homelessness; and five families avoided eviction as a result of Davis’s work.

“It’s been very effective,” she said.

The position, first reported on by the Burlington Free Press, is the first of its kind in the state, and could be one of the first in the country.

Superintendent Rene Sanchez, who previously worked in the Houston school system, said some districts there had personnel at the central office who did communi-

ty outreach and work with families identified as homeless. But it’s unclear if any districts have formalized an in-house position such as this.

“I haven’t seen anything that looks like this role, definitely not in the state — or really anywhere else,” Davis said. “A lot of schools do this informally all the time, but the beauty of formalizing it into this position is that it’s not pulling the support staff and teachers or anyone in the school away from their primary job.”

“The staff at CVSD, if they have a family saying we need housing help, they don’t have to go figure out the housing system,” she said.

But the position is at risk of being cut back. Davis is working against a July 1 deadline, applying for grants to keep the program going. Half of the money necessary to fund the full-time position is allocated through a regular state grant, Sanchez said, but with federal COVID-19 cash drying up, funding the remainder of the position remains an open question.

Without the additional funding, Davis will have to work on a

See FAMILIES on page 9

COURTESY PHOTO

Shelburne Farmers Market.

part-time basis, which she said is “not really doable.”

“We’re still looking for other opportunities to be able to fund it. We’re also looking within the budget to see if there’s anything else that we can find,” Sanchez said. “But at the same time, we’re encouraging Jennie and the schools — if they see an opportunity where we can apply for additional funds, we will happily try to cobble something together.”

Crisis situation

It may not be surprising to learn that Davis, with her decades of experience, is still surprised at how difficult it is to find somewhere to live within the Vermont housing market.

With its extreme scarcity of available housing, Vermont has the second lowest vacancy rate in the country. Chittenden County in particular is at a 20-year low of 0.4 percent, with more than half of renters paying more than one-third of their income to housing.

Because of this, the state has the second highest per-capita rate of homelessness in the country, behind only California.

“The housing system is opaque and it’s hard to navigate — I’ve worked in this field for probably 20 years at this point, and there’s still things I’m learning all the time,” she said. “I can’t imagine coming at this in a crisis situation.”

For children affected by this crisis, the social-emotional toll is incalculable: According to various studies, homeless students are more likely to be chronically absent, and they’re less likely to complete high school than the overall population; they’re more likely to receive disciplinary action; and they have twice the rate of learning disabilities. And children who are homeless have three times the rate of emotional-social disorders than children who have stable housing.

One study cited an 87 percent increase in the dropout rate for students without a permanent home.

“Just walk yourself through a day of a student who’s homeless or has unstable housing: you wake up, you may or may not have a place to have breakfast — depending on where you are, if you’re in a motel, there may or may not be a kitchen,” she said. “Then you go to school, what’s on your mind? ‘I don’t know where I’m sleeping tonight, am I living somewhere and am I going to eat tonight?”

“There’s no way to really effectively learn like that for a child going through that every single day,” she added. “The capacity to learn, if you’re home-

less or in unstable housing is, I would say, almost nonexistent.”

As Vermont’s homeless crisis continues to grow, this situation is becoming a reality for many families. According to data from the Chittenden County Point-in-Time Count — a snapshot of homelessness in the county conducted in January — the number of families with children without a home has been on the rise since 2020: 82 households with children reported being without housing this year compared to 22 in 2020.

A 2022 report by Building Bright Future’s, meanwhile, showed a 130 percent increase of homeless households with children throughout the state when compared to before the pandemic.

“Given that some of our towns like Shelburne and Williston have hotels where the state offers them a place to live after they’ve lost their homes, we have quite a bit of mobility of the families who come into Shelburne and to Williston and some of our other schools,” Sanchez said. “It’s important for us to have somebody who could serve them on a more personal level.”

The crisis will soon be exacerbated as a state-run motel program that provides shelter for nearly 3,000 Vermonters begins to wind down this month.

Davis said she has housing lined up for families that she already works with within the motel voucher system, but what her job will look like when the program ends is unclear.

“There’s going to be a ton of families that lose this housing resource,” she said. “It’s going to affect my job in the district — I’m just not sure how yet because it kind of depends on where people settle and go.”

Families and schools

Davis previously worked at the Burlington Housing Authority and, prior to that, at Steps to End Domestic Violence. Her new role, she said, is a bit like “building the plane as we fly it.”

But it’s a role she says she’d like to replicate and share as a model for other school districts.

Several Vermont school districts, Davis said, have reached out to ask about implementing their own

version of her program.

“The school district understands and values the position,” Davis said. “We’re just working on the funding piece.”

The district collectively identifies at-risk students through a collaboration between the staff. Sometimes a family or a student will self-refer, Davis said, but many times teachers and support staff will notice warning signs — a child mentioning how tired they are, or how they have little space at their home or how they’re moved in with their grandparents.

From there, Davis reaches out to the family, and goes to meet them where they’re staying, to get a sense of their history and what led to their current situation. She sticks with the family until they’ve reached some stability, no matter what the challenges may be.

Not all families experiencing this hardship have been identified, she said. But the role highlights the “natural extension” of the relationship between schools and families, and the role that districts play not just in education but in social services, Davis said.

“When you look at what our school district and other school districts had to do during the pandemic — we were a branch of public health; currently, in coming out of the pandemic, and within the pandemic, we’re a branch of mental health,” Sanchez said.

“Schools serve the public good — they are designed to do a lot of different things. Now, some of those things might be out of our wheelhouse because we’re not designed for that, we didn’t go to school for that or we’re not funded for that,” he said.

“But there comes a time when if some of our students’ needs aren’t being met, we need to serve as strong advocates to those who are expected to provide those services,” he said.

The strengths of this model, Davis said, is that “students and families are already connected to the schools and the school staff — there’s already a trusted relationship there. The model really builds on the strengths of those relationships and the natural connection families have with schools.”

“The housing system is opaque and it’s hard to navigate — I’ve worked in this field for probably 20 years at this point, and there’s still things I’m learning all the time. I can’t imagine coming at this in a crisis situation.”

— Jennie Davis

Athletes end season, pursue division titles

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Track and field

The Redhawks participated in the Essex Invitational high school track and field meet Saturday, May 27.

Amelia Scharf came in first place in the 400 meters, fourth in the 100-meter dash and third in the 200 meters. Alice Kredell was first in the 1,500 meters, Grace McNally took second in the 800 meters and Lydia Donahue was third in the 3,000-meter race.

Kate Kogut came in third in pole vault, Kate Bostwick was eighth in javelin and Amelia Novak came in ninth in long jump.

Matthew Servin was the top finisher for the boys. He took first place and set a meet record in the 1,500 meters and third in the 800-meter race. Jack Crum came in sixth place in 3,000 meters.

Boys’ lacrosse

Middlebury 8, Champlain Valley 7: Middlebury upended Champlain Valley in high school

boys’ lacrosse to end the regular season.

Max Brumsted had a hat trick for the Redhawks, who finish the regular season with a 11-2 record. Calvin Malaney tallied twice, and Connor Malaney added a goal for CVU. Goalie Harper Anderson stopped seven shots.

Baseball

Champlain Valley 5, BFA-St. Albans 1: The Redhawks capped the regular season with a win over BFA-St. Albans Thursday, May 25.

Stephen Rickert pitched five innings, giving up one run on three hits. Kyle Tivnan and Russell Willoughby each had an RBI.

CVU wrapped up the regular season with a 12-1 record.

Girls’ Ultimate Champlain Valley 12, Middlebury 2: Grace Thompson had six goals to pace the girls’ Ultimate team in a win over Middlebury Thursday.

Ella Polli added two goals and

See REDHAWKS on page 11

Title bids: Tennis, baseball, softball, lacrosse teams head to state playoffs

LAUREN READ

CORRESPONDENT

Boys’ lacrosse

No. 2 Champlain Valley (12-3) vs. No. 7 BFA-St. Albans (5-10), Friday at 4:30 p.m. Champlain Valley wants to make it an even 10. Ten Division I state championships in a row, that is, but the Redhawks will face stiff competition in the playoffs.

The boys start their title run with a quarterfinal matchup against BFA-St. Albans on Friday at 4:30 p.m. at home. CVU got the win over the Bobwhites in both regular season games and will look to make it 3-for-3 to lock down a berth in the semifinals.

Girls’ lacrosse

No. 2 Champlain Valley vs. TBA

After a regular season with just two losses, the CVU girls’ lacrosse team is looking to get to its first DI state championship game since 2018.

The Redhawks will take on the winner of No. 10 Middlebury and No. 7 Burlington on Friday

at 4:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals. CVU beat Middlebury in both matchups but did not face Burlington in the regular season.

Baseball

No. 1 Champlain Valley (13-2) vs. TBA

Outside of a two-game stretch toward the end of the season, the Champlain Valley baseball team has been nearly unbeatable. The Redhawks rode the strong regular season to the top seed in the Division I playoffs.

CVU will take on the winner of No. 9 St. Johnsbury and No. 8 Colchester on Friday, June 2, at 4:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals. CVU has beaten both opponents this season.

Softball

No. 11 Champlain Valley (4-12) at No. 6 Colchester (10-6), Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

The Redhawks will look to pull off an upset on Tuesday in the DI playdowns after press time. They will take on No. 6 Colchester at 4:30 p.m., Colchester won their matchup in the regular season. If they can win, CVU

will face No. 3 Essex in the quarterfinals Friday.

Boys’ tennis

No. 9 Champlain Valley (7-61) at No. 8 Brattleboro (7-5), Tuesday at 3 p.m.

Champlain Valley will travel to the southern part of the state for a postseason playdown on Tuesday (after press time) to take on a higher-seeded Brattleboro team. If the Redhawks can pull off an upset, they would face No. 1 Middlebury on Friday in the quarterfinals.

Girls’ tennis

No. 4 Champlain Valley (11-3) vs. No. 5 South Burlington (10-5), Friday at 3 p.m.

Can the Champlain Valley girls’ tennis team return to the top of the division after a three-year hiatus? That question will begin to be answered on Friday when the Redhawks take on South Burlington in the quarterfinals.

The Redhawks beat the Wolves 5-2 in both matchups during the season and look to continue that success as they kick off the postseason.

PHOTO BY AL FREY

Stella Dooley battle her Essex opponent May 26 in the Redhawks’ final game of the season. CVU won 18-7 and ended the season at 12-1.

Self-defense workshop

On Wednesday, July 19, the Shelburne Rec Department will host a Women’s Empowerment Self Defense Workshop presented by The Safety Team at the Shelburne Town Gym from 6-8 p.m.

Registration is required and each class needs a minimum of 12 participants. Registration deadline is Monday, July 10. Admission is $55 per person or $65 for non-residents.

Girls 12-13 are welcome but

REDHAWKS

continued from page 10

three assists, while Stella Ewald had five assists. Samara Ashooh tallied twice, and Ruby Opton chipped in three assists.

CVU finished the season with a 4-3 record.

Softball

BFA-St.Albans 15, Champlain Valley 0 (5): In the final game of the regular season Thurs-

Shelburne Parks & Rec News

must be accompanied by mother or legal female guardian; women 14-18 need a signed permission.

Back to the Beach Night

Join us at Shelburne Beach for Back to the Beach Night on Thursday, June 22, 6-8 p.m. to kick off the beach season. A bounce house will provide entertainment for the kids and be sure to bring your swimsuit. Bring a dish to share for the picnic. Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and drinks will be provided.

To cut down on waste, bring your own plates and silverware. This event is free and open to all Shelburne residents.

Shelburne beach passes

Passes can be purchased at the beach entrance starting June 19, daily from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. or now at the recreation office from 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Season passes are for sale to Shelburne residents only; be prepared to show proof of residency.

day, St. Albans pitched a no-hitter against CVU.

Girls’ lacrosse

Champlain Valley 18, Essex

7: The girls finished the regular season with a win, beating Essex Friday, May 26. Amelia Scharf had a hat trick for the Redhawks, one of which was her 100th career goal. Dicey

Manning added four goals, while Tess Everett and Rose Bunting each had a hat trick. Bibi Frechette, Grace McNally, Stella Dooley, Sophie Madden and Carly Strobeck each added a goal. Clare Stackpole-McGrath and Ava Medici combined to make 12 saves.

CVU finished the regular season at 12-1.

COMMUNITY NOTES

Monday with Carol Pepin, 802-425-6345 or meals@charlotteseniorcentervt.org.

The meal on Thursday, June 8 features roast pork loin, green beans, applesauce, wheat bread, birthday cake with lemon and milk.

TOWN OF SHELBURNE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

Notice of Public Hearings to be held June 21, 2023, 7:00 PM Town Center Meeting Room #1 and Remote Meeting Via Zoom

CU17-03R3 / SP20-03R1 – Application by Gonzo’s Golf Academy at Kwini Golf Club, LLC for Conditional Use and Site Plan Review for the addition of (3) pickle ball courts and supporting infrastructure. Property at 5353 Spear Street is in the Rural District and Stormwater Overlay District.

Join Zoom meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87622005558?pwd=RmZBb2ZBQWV KMEo2OU5hcEZIcVFzUT09

Meeting ID: 876 2200 5558 Passcode: uczG3y

By phone: Dial 1-929-205-6099

Meeting ID: 876 2200 5558 Passcode: 906522

SHELBURNE

QUARTERLY WATER & SEWER PAYMENT

June 1, 2023

Due Thursday, June 15, 2023

Payments must be RECEIVED or POSTMARKED by MIDNIGHT, June 15, 2023.

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

continued from page 6 Shop

The meal on Thursday, June 15, will have meatloaf with brown sauce, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, wheat bread, apple crisp with topping and milk. The meal on Thursday, June 22, features Italian chicken breast, duck sauce, rice and vegetables,

Community Bankers – Chittenden County

Temporary Positions Available

BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

There is no better time to join our Team!

Even better… if you have prior banking experience, we encourage you to apply!

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. Consider joining our team as a Temporary Community Banker!

Relevant Skills:

• Customer Service • Cash Handling (we’ll train you!)

Even better… if you have prior banking experience, we encourage you to apply!

If you are 18 or older and have a high school diploma, general education (GED) degree, or equivalent, consider joining the NSB Team!

Please send an NSB Application & your resume in confidence to: Careers@nsbvt.com

Equal Opportunity Employer / Member FDIC

Highway Positions Available

Highway Foreperson

This is a supervisory position that is responsible for overseeing the maintenance of the town’s highway infrastructure. A valid VT issued CDL Class A license is required. Required skills include proficient operation of a road grader, excavator, front-end loader, backhoe, and tandem plow truck. Starting pay is $32.00 - $38.00 an hour depending upon qualifications.

Highway Maintainer

This is a semi-skilled position of moderate complexity in highway maintenance and equipment operation. The Highway Maintainer II performs a wide variety of manual and automotive equipment operation tasks involved in municipal road maintenance. Work extends to responsibility for maintenance and servicing of assigned automotive equipment, requiring strong mechanical and trouble shooting skills. A valid Vermont issued Class B CDL is required. Starting pay is $22.00 - $25.00 an hour depending upon qualifications.

Both positions provide health, dental, vision and disability insurance; paid time off; pension plan; and 13 paid holidays.

A highway application can be found on the town’s website www. hinesburg.org under “employement.” Applications can be emailed to Todd Odit, Town Manager at todit@hinesburg.org.

broccoli florets, wheat bread, strawberry shortcake with cream and milk.

The suggested donation is $5. Check the website for last-minute cancellations at bit.ly/3FfyLMb.

University holds RISE summit to solve problems

RISE, a new summit hosted by the University of Vermont that brings research, innovation, sustainability and entrepreneurship together to address pressing problems that communities around the country face, will be held at the university’s Davis Center on Wednesday, June 21, 8:30 a.m.5:30 p.m. Whether it’s clean water, sustainable energy, affordable housing or food production, RISE hopes to spur change for tomorrow. More at uvm.edu/rise.

Wheeler Homestead presents Bastille Day fête

The Chaine du Vermont presents Bastille Day Fête to benefit three area food shelves on July 13, 5-9 p.m. at the Wheeler Homestead at Common Roots, 1100 Dorset St., South Burlington. Proceeds will go to support the South Burlington Food Shelf, Abenaki Food Shelf in Shelburne and Feeding Chittenden.

Tickets at bit.ly/3MysFtd.

Champlain Valley Lions Club arrives with a roar

After six months of organizing, the Champlain Valley Lions Club is making its debut. The newly formed chapter of Lions Clubs International will serve Shelburne, South Burlington the University of Vermont and the south side of Burlington.

The club is actively seeking new members to join its mission of helping others, building community and making a difference.

Lions is a non-denominational, welcoming group that provides opportunities for individuals to grow as volunteers, team members and leaders. At the club’s May 17 meeting, members voted overwhelmingly for the name Champlain Valley Lions.

This June, the club will officially become the newest Lions club in New England, and its members look forward to helping tackle key needs in the community.

Interested in learning more or joining? Then please come to the next meeting on Monday, June 5, at the Pierson Library in Shelburne starting with a social time at 6:30 p.m. followed by a 7 p.m. meeting. A Zoom option is also available.

For more information, email lionmark2000@outlook.com or text Jackie Dutil at 802-989-8520.

ARIES

March 21 - April 20

Being more selective can enhance your life in many different ways, Aries. You often are judged by the company you keep, so think about that when starting new relationships.

TAURUS

April 21 - May 21

Set up camp on the sofa for the next few days, Taurus. Enjoy the rest and relaxation. You don’t have to be productive every minute of the day so don’t feel guilty about your R&R.

GEMINI

May 22 - June 21

Some interesting information could be coming your way, Gemini. You just need to keep your ear to the ground and open to receive it. Others may want to get in on the news.

CANCER

June 22 - July 22

Cancer, this week you may nd it easier to cut out super uous spending or extravagant behavior than at other times. You may need

to exert greater control and discipline.

LEO

July 23 - Aug. 23

There’s a fresh cosmic wind blowing your sails, Leo. This gives you all the energy you need to tackle projects or get moving in other ways. Embrace all of this energy.

VIRGO

Aug. 24 - Sept. 22

Your romantic life is about to get even more exciting, Virgo. Date nights are happening with greater frequency and you’re likely to enjoy all of the extra attention.

paths once you gure out the way.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 23 - Dec. 21

Sagittarius, the call of the wild is quite strong right now. This means you might be right at home on a hiking trip or a rafting trip. Make your plans and bring a friend.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22 - Jan. 20

Capricorn, rather than being light-hearted, conversations could take a turn to the more serious, especially as they pertain to a health condition for someone you love.

LIBRA

Sept. 23 - Oct. 23

You’ll likely feel more at ease having a big group of people around you during the next few days rather than heading out alone. Put away that lone wolf mentality for now.

SCORPIO

Oct. 24 - Nov. 22

Ambitious career goals could have you reevaluating all of the choices you have made thus far, Scorpio. It might be time to venture off on new

AQUARIUS

Jan. 21 - Feb. 18

Aquarius, don’t try to take on too many things yourself. You need to know when to ask for help this week, especially as your schedule gets even more lled up.

PISCES

Feb. 19 - March 20

This is the perfect time to get more organized, Pisces. Try to t in time to sort and clean among all the other things on your itinerary.

CLUES ACROSS

1. Sloping position

5. Descendant of a notable family

10. Following accepted norms

12. Root vegetable

14. Having a shape that reduces drag from air

16. Integrated circuit

18. Records electric currents of the heart

19. Used to anoint

20. Japanese city

22. After B

23. Muf es

25. Pass over 26. Vase

27. Soft touch

28. A baglike structure in a plant or animal

30. Patti Hearst’s captors

31. Israeli politician

33. Degrade

35. Type of wrap

37. Polyurethane fabric

CROSSWORD SUDOKU

38. Avoids capture 40. Vegetarians avoid it

41. Decay

42. Soviet Socialist Republic

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!

44. Vessel to bathe in 45. Inches per minute (abbr.)

48. Frosts

50. Dipped into

52. Controversial replay system in soccer

53. Comforts

55. Needed for yoga

56. Ands/__

57. South Dakota

58. Printing system

63. Dramatic works set to music

65. Highest points

66. Social division

67. Used to treat Parkinson’s disease

CLUES DOWN

1. Hill or rocky peak

2. Initial public offering

3. Type of light

4. Test

5. Flaky coverings

6. Former NFLer Newton

7. Part of the eye

8. Roman god of the underworld

9. Negative

10. Indiana pro basketball player

11. Replaces lost tissue

13. Denotes one from whom title is taken

15. Historic college hoops tournament

ANSWERS

17. Hut by a swimming pool

18. Defunct European monetary unit

21. Feeds on insects

23. Adult male

24. Melancholic

27. Sheets of glass

29. Slang for famous person

32. Not good

34. “Ghetto Superstar” singer

35. The “World” is one

36. Used to make guacamole

39. Midway between south and southwest

40. Wet dirt

43. Ancient Egyptian name

44. Set of four

46. Strips

47. Wife

49. More dried-up

51. Socially inept person

54. Clusters on fern fronds

59. Bar bill

Pre x indicating “away from”

Very important person

Fiddler crabs

Special therapy

RABIES BAIT

continued from page 2

The week-long bait drop is a cooperative effort between Vermont and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to stop the spread of the potentially fatal disease.

Rabies is a deadly viral disease of the brain that infects mammals. It is most often seen in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also get rabies.The virus is spread through the bite of an infected animal or contact with its

Buying

hyperrelic.com

PARADE GROUND continued from page 1

changes include the addition of benches, Adirondack chairs and a 3-foot high fence consisting of granite posts and a black metal chain.

Funding for the project has already received preliminary approval with the state’s Agency of Commerce and Community Development through an initiative called Better Places — a non-competitive, community matching grant program to create inclusive and vibrant public places serving designated downtowns and village centers.

“We would get $40,000 from the state’s program,” DeNamur said. “We would have to raise a match of $20,000 through crowdfunding. So, we get a total of $60,000. The state assists us with all that, they help us set it up and send out press releases on our behalf. They really want to see the program succeed.”

DeNamur is also requesting that $20,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds be allocated for the project along with money in the planning budget that is allocated for grant-funded projects.

The design work for the pavilion was done by planning commission member and local architect Stephen Selin and the Shelburne Craft School has already volunteered to build the entire structure for the town. Sweeney DesignBuild will help out with some of the more technical construction along with help from Wagner Hodgson Landscape Architecture.

DeNamur said that the original village plan in the 1980s called for reimagining the Parade Ground — reiterated in 1995 — and that landscaping plan discussed putting in an arbor or terrace and some more additional seating.

“Something like this has been discussed in the town for decades,” he said.

But some residents were hesitant about the proposed changes.

“I think is a great idea and I think this whole design looks really beautiful,” Sarah Stillman, a resident and market manager, said. “It just doesn’t really seem to work for what I see the market space being used as.”

Her initial, primary concern focused on the placement of the pavilion which will impede on the “traditional entrance (to the market) we’ve had for 17 years.”

“I don’t mind a pavilion at all. I think it’s a great idea. But I suggest it being at (the oppo-

site) end. I do not think that (the proposed sidewalk) is a good idea nor these benches because it eliminates vendor spaces as well.

Susan Eurbin McLellan, a member of the Shelburne Parks and Recreation Committee, said that although she is not opposed to a pavilion , she does think the money would be more wisely spent for other projects in town. “There’s nothing wrong with our park the way it is,” she said. “I think it’s wonderful for the farmers market the way it is.”

David Webster, a member of the Shelburne Historical Society, explained that land has been purposefully left open for centuries regardless of countless requests to build on it because it is seen as a historic space.

“It’s been open now 216 years and there’s something valuable in that. When you start putting encumbrances on it, whether they’re movable or not, you’re going down a very slippery slope,” he said.

But DeNamur explained the project is meant to create more opportunities for the Parade Ground, not hinder the farmers market in any way.

“The whole purpose of this exercise is to try to create opportunities for the Parade Ground to be utilized in other ways besides just the farmers market,” he said. “It’s a piece of land the town has had for over 200 years that is really only utilized for the farmers market and the Boy Scouts to sell Christmas trees and that’s pretty much it.”

“We could have official town events there and have a more formal area to do you know speeches and events and things like that while also just letting the community utilize it as well,” he said.

The official design has yet to be finalized and submitted to the Development Review Board for approval, but DeNamur explained that it is likely the 4-foot sidewalk will not be a part of the final sketch.

“Anything we do there we do not want to upset or undermine the success of the farmers market,” selectboard chair Mike Ashooh said. “We joked about this, people still say, ‘What is the Parade Ground?’ People don’t always understand that we have this nice big green area. I like the idea of utilization.”

“The whole purpose of this exercise is to try to create opportunities for the Parade Ground to be utilized in other ways besides just the farmers market.”

— Aaron DeNamur