Shelburne News - 7-20-23

Sky Blue Boys

Old ballads, heart songs and sacred numbers

Page 8

Page 11

Champlain solitude

Native Arts project

Shelburne Museum severs ties with architect

LIBERTY DARR

STAFF WRITER

After reports of sexual assault by architect Sir David Adjaye surfaced this month the Shelburne Museum has cut ties with him to design the museum’s new $12.6 million Perry Art Center for Native American Art.

In an original report by The Financial Times, three women accused Adjaye of various forms of exploitation from sexual assault and harassment to a toxic work environment that left them mentally distressed, financially insecure and fearful for the future of their careers.

In May, the Shelburne Museum

announced it would be partnering with Adjaye and his firm Adjaye Designs to design the new art center that is set to house an expansive collection of Indigenous art donated to the museum by Vermont resident Anthony Perry and his wife, Teri Perry.

“The recent allegations of sexual misconduct leveled against David Adjaye, and his admission of inappropriate behavior, are incompatible with our mission and values, which left the museum with no alternative but to immediately sever ties with the architect and his firm,” Tom Denenberg, director and CEO of the museum, said this week.

The firm is most prominently

known for its work on the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened in 2016 in the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The allegations have caused projects and partners nationwide to separate with the architect and his firm.

Denenberg said that the project should remain on track to be completed by spring 2026 and break ground in the fall of 2024, but the project is at a standstill as the team strategizes the new design of the project.

“We actually should be OK on the timeline,” Denenberg said. “We’re into the process of figuring out the next way of organizing

the design of the project and there are a number of good options. The way that the timeline had been constructed before it was actually there was a little bit of wiggle room in the spring of 2026 before it opened. So I think we’re going to be pretty close to where we were. We’re not terribly worried about the timeline.”

He said the project hadn’t yet moved to the schematic design phase but was still being conceptualized. The project has had three architecture firms involved in the process, including Adjaye Designs as the design architect, and the project’s indigenous partner consultant, Two Row Architects, is in Canada.

But where exactly the design services will fall now is “unclear,” said Denenberg. “Obviously we’ve been in very close communication with (the other architects) and we’ve kept an open mind as to who can design the building. There are obviously strong feelings about that one way or another, but I’ve said since the beginning, what we want to do is make sure that we have a firm or an architect who all the different constituents are comfortable with.”

The entire project has been years in the making to ensure cultural competency during a time

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

A kayaker enjoys the stillness of Lake Champlain after days of rain deluged Vermont, causing widespread flooding and destruction. Many areas in the Champlain Valley were spared.

Backyard chickens

Vermont health officials explain health risks

OLIVIA Q. PINTAIR VTDIGGER

As egg prices have soared, Vermonters may have more reasons than one this year to take a crack at raising backyard chicks.

“Raising baby poultry like chicks, ducklings and goslings in your backyard can offer many benefits, such as fresh eggs, opportunities to connect with nature, and education for children and families,” Dr. Natalie Kwit, Vermont’s public health veterinarian, said. “But it’s very important to take steps to help minimize the spread of diseases.”

According to health officials, chickens can pose risks to human health, sometimes spreading harmful bacteria such as salmonella, campylobacter and E. coli through their meat or eggs, or propagating viruses like avian influenza, also known as bird flu.

As families begin to welcome new flocks this year, officials say it’s important to know how to do so safely.

Infected birds can transmit bird flu viruses through their saliva, mucus and feces, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Human infection with such viruses, while rare, can occur if these substances are introduced to the human body through a person’s eyes, nose or mouth, or through inhalation.

“Illness in humans from bird flu virus infections have ranged in severity from no symptoms or mild illness to severe disease that resulted in death,” the federal agency reported.

The bacteria and viruses from poultry are most likely to cause severe illness in people with weakened immune systems, older adults

and children younger than 5 years old, Kwit said.

To prevent the spread of disease from backyard chickens, the Vermont Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control offer several recommendations — supervise children around poultry, avoid touching the face or mouth after handling poultry or eggs, and make sure anyone who handles poultry or eggs washes their hands thoroughly afterward.

“It’s really helpful to have adults supervise children, especially young children, for handwashing,” Kwit said, since kids are typically “not as good at hand hygiene as adults are, and will put their hands in their mouths more often.”

The Department of Health also recommends cleaning chicken coops and equipment thoroughly and regularly, and keeping all equipment used to care for poultry — including shoes that people wear near the coop — outside of the house and far away from areas where human food is prepared. Equipment such as cages and food or water containers should always be cleaned outside with a hose, rather than in a kitchen sink or bathtub indoors.

“One of the main purposes that people keep backyard flocks is so they can have fresh eggs,” Kwit said, “and there are certain ways to minimize the risk of exposure to harmful bacteria through handling those eggs and cooking with them.”

Cleaning chicken coops often and collecting eggs regularly help to ensure that bacteria does not build up on shells over time, Kwit said. When preparing eggs to eat, don’t wash the eggs with water, as bacteria can sometimes enter eggs through their porous shells, but instead use a brush to gently sweep

debris off eggs. Refrigerating eggs and cooking them fully are other ways to minimize risk of bacterial infection, she said.

Officials at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets say that one of the best ways to keep poultry healthy is to prevent contact between chickens and wild waterfowl, such as ducks, which often carry avian influenza.

“Anyone involved with poultry production — from small backyard coops to large commercial producers — should review their biosecurity plans and activities to ensure the health of their birds,” officials at the agriculture agency said.

Raising chickens “really is a fantastic thing — and more popular these days, especially in smaller states like ours — that can really connect people with the environment,” Kwit said, “We just want people to do it safely.”

Shelburne sets tax rate

The Shelburne selectboard approved last week a slightly lower tax rate than previously anticipated for the 2024 fiscal year.

Voters at town meeting day in March approved the $10.6 million town budget — a 7 percent increase over last year — along with a 4.65 percent increase over last year’s tax rate. This budget leaves $8.17 million to be paid by taxes.

Some of this year’s most significant cost drivers for the

town were, of course, inflation-related staffing benefit increases, but also the need for updating computer software and hardware.

BettyJean Bogue, the town’s assistant tax collector, explained that the tax rate came in a little lower than originally anticipated because of a rising grand list due to the value of new construction in town.

With a $1.66 billion grand list, the new tax rate was set at $2.18 for homesteads and $2.296 for non-homestead properties.

Current & Upcoming Events

| Artist talk: August 3, 5:30pm

Vermont Plein Air Festival Aug. 11-13 10-4pm

madrivervalleyarts.org/calendar-2023

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

PHOTO BY GORDON MILLER

Chickens can pose risks to human health, sometimes spreading harmful bacteria such as salmonella, campylobacter and E. coli through their meat or eggs.

County steps up to help post-flood cleanup

LIBERTY DARR AND COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITERS

With many towns in Chittenden County unaffected by the catastrophic flooding that devastated much of the state last week, volunteers have banded together to aid in the clean-up and fill needs as they arise.

Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale has been spearheading localized volunteer efforts in southern Chittenden County since last week by connecting devastated towns with resources and charging individual volunteers with supply drives and hands-on opportunities.

“I think most Vermonters, especially those who weren’t affected, just saw the news coming in and started to have their hearts and spirits drop,” she said. “Within 24 hours, I was just looking around and seeing that there were a lot of immediate needs that people in Chittenden County who were unaffected were looking for a way to help.”

While much of the state faced historic flooding last week, southern Chittenden County was left relatively unscathed. More heavy rain fell Sunday evening, dumping several inches of water onto land already saturated from last week and leaving some areas with standing water.

In Hinesburg, the rain caused flooding on Route 116 across North Road, and left

standing water in the town’s village until 9 p.m. Some basements were flooded, and driveways were washed out, but there was no significant infrastructure damage, Hinesburg fire Chief Nick Baker said.

“We probably got 3 inches of rain within 30 minutes that just had nowhere to go, but it receded almost as fast as it came on,” Baker said. “Aside from noticing some rocks and some bark mulch where it shouldn’t be, it receded pretty fast.”

As of Monday, Ram Hinsdale said that her team has sent out more than 20 vehicles full of supplies to different parts of the state, and they’ve made more than two trips to all the communities they have been in contact with.

“A text just came in from the Northeast Kingdom about Tyvek suits,” she said. “Cabot had a sinkhole open up and I connected them with the National Guard. A lot of people are being thrust into volunteer roles where they don’t have the same connections at their fingertips, and they’re overwhelmed by what’s going on. If from here we can get a specific line of expertise or a specific resource to them, we are doing our best to meet that need.”

She explained that the needs have changed slightly as the week progressed, but some of the biggest threats as cleanup efforts continue are mold and moisture damage.

“Dehumidifiers are the number one concern that we hear about,” she said. “Right behind dehumidifiers is generators because people are still without power in a lot of places.”

Although resources like bottled water are covered mostly by the National Guard and FEMA, the concern in towns like Morrisville came last week when “do not drink” orders were put in place and the Federal Emergency Management Agency was later than expected in dropping off supplies. The Charlotte Congregational Church and United Church of Christ received word and immediately supplied over 200 gallons of water to the town.

“At 3 p.m., I just put out a note to everyone in our congregation and let everyone know that at noon on Thursday, we were going to send some carloads of water as much as we can collect,” Rev. Kevin Goldenbogen, senior pastor of the church, said. “By the next morning, at 9 a.m., we had 1,600 pounds of water, 200 gallons. It was incredible. People went and

bought it, or they had it sitting around and so we had to get a truck because it was more water than we were expecting and then we had to get a second car.”

Although there remains a need for supplies like tarps, masks, paper plates and towels, the need has shifted to also include protecting small businesses and those affected from online scams and misinformation, while at the same time providing people with access to essential information and relief forms.

“Scammers are already coming out to take advantage of people who are trying to figure out how to get relief urgently,” Ram Hinsdale said. “I want to get a push out into the community this week to start asking people who are attorneys, grant writers and accountants to figure out how we get that volunteer help organized for people who need access to information and just someone to sit with them and go through forums. It’s really overwhelming if you just lost everything to do this by yourself.”

“Scammers are already coming out to take advantage of people who are trying to figure out how to get relief urgently.”

— Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale

Aquatic invasives targeted at Briston, Monkton ponds

KATE KELLY AND PORTIA BUTRYM CONTRIBUTORS

Aquatic invasive plant species have long threatened the health and populations of native plants in the Lewis Creek watershed. By forming dense mats of vegetation, these species impede the activities of recreational boaters, swimmers and anglers, while degrading ecosystems and wildlife habitats.

Management can be difficult because they are easily spread via seeds, roots, fragments, animals and humans.

Bristol Pond and Monkton Pond, popular destinations for anglers, recreational boaters and wildlife enthusiasts, both contain aquatic invasive plant species. As of 2022, there were three known invasive species in Bristol Pond — European frogbit, Eurasian watermilfoil and brittle naiad — and two aquatic invasive species in Monkton Pond, Eurasian watermilfoil and curly-leaf pondweed.

If left unmanaged, the invasive species in these ponds could spread throughout the rest of the watershed and the state. To prevent further spread, Lewis Creek Association, a local nonprofit watershed group, has maintained an educational boat

Safety zone

launch steward program for three summers at Bristol and Monkton ponds.

The stewards greet boaters as they arrive at the ponds and offer to inspect their boats for aquatic invasive species, while also collecting data on where the boat has been and how many aquatic organisms they encountered. They educate boat owners on how to prevent spread of invasives, which includes cleaning, draining and drying your boat (and other equipment that has been in the water) before moving to a different water body.

This could even include swimsuits and life jackets, which could carry small, microscopic organisms like the fishhook water flea, which was recently found in Lake Champlain.

Since 2020, boat launch stewards have interacted with nearly 1,600 boats, and intercepted 367 boats that had aquatic plants on them launching into the ponds. Next time you are out at Bristol Pond or Monkton Pond, say hi to Lewis Creek Association boat launch stewards.

If you’re interested in learning more, reach out to Kate Kelly, program manager for Lewis Creek Association, at lewiscreekorg@gmail.com or 802-4885203.

Shelburne News

Serving

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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

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

Total reported incidents: 66

Traffic stops: 18

Warnings: 9

Tickets: 9

Arrests: 1

Medical emergencies: 17

Suspicious incidents: 4

Domestic incidents: 2

Agency assists: 8

Citizen assists: 8

Welfare check: 2

Motor vehicle complaints: 2

Automobile incidents: 3

Car crash: 7

Animal problem: 2

Theft: 2

Fraud: 1

Harassment: 1

Alarms: 1

Pending investigations: 4

July 10 at 12:46 a.m., a caller reported being verbally assaulted by her boyfriend at the T-Bird Motel and wanted police to remove him from their room. Police arrived and the man agreed to leave for the night; no further action was taken.

July 10 at 12:14 p.m., a two-car crash with no injuries was reported on Shelburne Road.

July 10 at 3:56 p.m., a second two-car crash on Shelburne Road was reported with no injuries.

July 10 at 4 p.m., a fraud complaint was reported to police from Covington Lane.

July 11 at 10:04 a.m., a car crash that occurred earlier in the day on Wake Robin Drive was reported to police.

July 12 at 12:55 p.m., a retail theft was reported from Kinney Drugs. Police are investigating the matter.

July 12 at 1 p.m., a retail theft was reported at Tractor Supply. The incident is under investigation.

July 12 at 2:06 p.m., a two-car crash was reported on Shelburne and Falls roads. One of the patients sustained injuries and was transported to the hospital by Charlotte Rescue.

July 13 at 2:01 p.m., the New York City Police Department asked Shelburne police to help locate a stolen vehicle, but the car could not be found.

July 13 at 10:26 p.m., a domestic disturbance at the T-Bird Motel was reported to police, and a

woman was transported to the hospital for evaluation.

July 14 at 1:16 p.m., Shelburne police assisted the Randolph County Sheriff’s office in North Carolina with finding a missing individual, who was at their mother’s residence on Grey Rock Road.

July 15 at 12:08 a.m., an individual told police they were receiving threatening messages.

July 15 at 2:49 a.m., Melody Phillips, 38, of Winooski, was issued a citation for domestic assault after her mother reported a domestic disturbance between the two while they were driving, police said.

July 15 at 11:33 a.m., a caller told police that they found a large snack behind VIP Tire. Vermont Fish and Game officers later identified the snake as a ball python and provided a contact to turn the snake over to.

July 15 at 8:37 p.m., police are investigating a weapons offense on Henry Street, after a neighbor told police that an individual had displayed a gun outside his residence.

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

Cyclists welcomed the new bike lanes south of Shelburne village on Route 7.

Shelburne Police Blotter: July 10 - 16

OPINION

Too hot, too wet, maybe too late

Guest Perspective

Walt Amses

Last summer in Montana opened my eyes, which I presumed were already open, enlightened my perspective, which I thought adequately enlightened, and offered a crystal-clear glimpse of the future: humanity slow roasted in a well-aged, bubbling marinade of greed-infused climate change denial.

It’s startling how a couple of days over 100 degrees can put an exclamation point on your worldview.

Another trip out West in August 2017 lands us in a Missoula motel, eating takeout, again dodging triple digit temperatures and dense smoke from the more than 100 wildfires charring hillsides and threatening the lungs of anyone daring to venture outside. We binge on pizza as an entirely different yet equally otherworldly scenario unfolds on TV as category-four hurricane Harvey makes landfall on the Texas coast, kicking off Houston’s third 500-year flood in three years, eventually dropping up to 60 inches of rain in places, inundating vast expanses of the city’s outlying subdivisions at a cost upwards of $125 billion.

After vowing never again to risk summers any hotter than the ones at home, I find myself in waterlogged Central Vermont, struggling with what has been described as biblical or thousand-year rainfall, flooding fields, washing out roads and dredging up awful recollections of Tropical Storm Irene, whose 2011 deluge ravaged the state’s infrastructure, destroying homes, businesses and bridges, and isolating entire communities, several for weeks.

Even during what was already shaping up to be a relentlessly tropical summer in Vermont, weekend storms unloading as they did on already saturated ground, quickly lifted rivers and streams above flood stage, prompting evacuation of low-lying communities and had weary first responders out in force, 24/7.

It feels distinctly as though recent trends and an ever-more volatile present portend an increasingly dangerous future, well beyond the mythical tipping point we may have already left in the dust — or mud, depending on location.

It’s notable my own experience with brutal heat as profound as I thought it was, occurred in what

is essentially a high desert, with extremely low humidity, where moderate exercise is viable even with temperatures in the upper eighties. When the thermometer ticks up past 100 though, things change drastically, especially combined with humidity levels raising heat indexes to a life-threatening 120 in areas of the Deep South.

The heat, humidity and smoke of early summer have altered our own routines dramatically, relegating even moderate activities like walking to the early morning hours.

A United Nations study released last October suggests — not without controversy — that certain areas of the United States, including Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama and parts of California would become uninhabitable for humans by 2070. Touted last weekend by an NBC meteorologist as “probably closer than you might think,” the report states that without mitigation, including a reduction of greenhouse gasses, the global surge of rising temperatures will create levels of heat stress intolerable for the human body.

Further emphasizing the need to reassess the world’s climate policies, research suggests that without action up to one third of the global population will begin experiencing life-threatening conditions like the Sahara Desert. That effectively translates to the most vulnerable populations — those living in the hottest regions — fleeing to avoid heat and drought, pressuring the cities and towns to which they move, creating a massive number of climate refugees that will ripple across the globe.

Early Tuesday morning we bounce over deep washboards, between water-gouged canyons with signage warning of temporary closures and roads that no longer exist. Small, usually crystal-clear brooks have crested their banks, muddy and threatening.

Startling drone footage depicts Montpelier’s business district eerily still and completely under water. Barre, too, is submerged with warnings to stay away. We return home still not quite sure if we can safely leave Calais, which doesn’t matter much. There’s no place else to go.

The impact of this storm in central Vermont will be devastating. Businesses are likely to lose a chunk of the summer tourist season. Lives throughout

the area will be dramatically changed: homes unlivable or even destroyed; infrastructure compromised; roads under repair for months; rivers and streams tainted with copious, toxic runoff; and the agricultural sector — barely recovering from a late spring freeze — will again suffer the wrath of nature’s fury.

What happened in Vermont last weekend was shocking, but it shouldn’t have been surprising. It’s precisely what climate scientists have predicted forever and what the fossil fuel industry and its Congressional minions have consistently denied, even while knowing the truth for decades. Conditions over the past month — sultry heat and high humidity — interspersed with a series of heavy thunderstorms, provided a near ideal setup for last weekend’s deluge.

As the planet warms, the air can retain more and more moisture, a near perfect storm of conditions, according to one climate scientist, who believes the jet stream may also be a contributing factor.

Michael Mann, a distinguished professor at the University of Pennsylvania, points out on CNN that while “weather is weather ... it’s going to happen — rainfall, flooding events are going to happen, but climate change is supercharging them,” which means when a weather system is producing large amounts of rainfall, it’s probable it will produce even more.

Considered on the cutting edge of climate research, Mann explains that the Arctic is warming much faster than the lower 48, reducing the temperature difference between the equator and the pole and causing the jet stream to stall, keeping weather systems stationary for longer periods of time, exactly what happened here in Vermont. The sobering fact is that storms of this magnitude are certain to continue unless we undertake a huge mitigation process and even then, it is unlikely we’ll be around to see major changes. It’s “irreversible on the timescale of humans” currently alive. According to NASA, “If we stopped emitting greenhouse gasses today, the rise in global temperatures would flatten in a few years but remain elevated for many centuries.”

I’m afraid the bill for years of complacency has come due.

Walt Amses is a Vermont-based writer from North Calais.

Busking, Music & Laughter for the Entire Family!

Downtown Burlington

The Blob continues discrimination against Christians

Guest Perspective

Rob Roper

In the wake of the U.S. Supreme court case, Carson v. Makin, which ruled states such as Vermont that have publicly funded school choice programs cannot discriminate against religious schools, the conglomeration of public-school special interests made up of the teachers’ unions, superintendents, school boards, etc. — collectively known as The Blob — finally sees its chance to snuff out all its independent school choice competition.

The Blob is banking on the idea that Vermonters would rather eliminate all school choice in Vermont than allow some — any — parents to choose to send their kids to a religious school with taxpayer dollars.

WCAX did a story June 15 that discussed the issue, noting that the Education Equity Alliance (what The Blob understandably prefers to call itself), “supported legislation that would have met the Supreme Court standard by eliminating private school choice, except at the four historic academies — St. Johnsbury, Lyndon, Burr and Burton and Thetford — which operate as de facto public schools.” That last point is not exactly accurate, but we’ll let it go for now.

The piece stated in apparent support of The Blob’s position that, “Through a public records request, we learned that at least 53 students enrolled in these religious

high schools (now) have their tuition paid with public dollars, at a total cost of almost $600,000,” adding here a rather snarky “cha-ching” sound effect over the video, presumably to underscore the notion that this is an expensive policy.

But let’s look at those numbers for just a second.

The sum of $600,000 divided by 53 is $11,320 per kid. The average per pupil spending in Vermont’s public schools is $25,053, according to the National Education Association’s calculations. So, by choosing to send a child to an independent religious school, parents are saving Vermont property taxpayers on average $13,733. That is, shall we say, quite a bit.

Any and all cha-chings here fully accrue to the taxpayers’ benefit.

For a more specific example, the towns in Grand Isle County and Georgia of Franklin County in the northwest corner of the state are all tuition towns, meaning they enjoy school choice. Many parents choose to send their kids to the public South Burlington High School. The cost to do that for the 2023 school year is $17,378 per student.

However, for the families who choose Rice Memorial High School, a Catholic school in Burlington, which is now an option following Carson v. Makin, the tuition cost to taxpayers is $12,900. Not as much savings as the averages, but still a lot. Certainly, worthy of a cha-ching for the property taxpayers of Grand Isle and Georgia.

Education, of course, is not just about money. It’s also about the quality of programs provided and student outcomes. So how do the religious schools stack up in the results column?

Sticking to the Rice example, according to its website, “Rice has 13 Honors classes and 15 AP classes accessible to all students. Rice is the only school in Chittenden County offering the prestigious Advanced Placement Capstone Diploma.” Rice students have average SAT scores that are more than 20 points higher than the state average, and 90 percent of graduates matriculate onto college.

More generally, an Oct. 27, 2022, article in the Wall Street Journal analyzed the most recently published National Assessment of Educational Progress scores and concluded, “Today, the divergence between Catholic schools and public ones is so great that if all U.S. Catholic schools were a state, their 1.6 million students would rank first in the nation across the NAEP reading and math tests for fourth and eighth graders.”

This is not a case of wealthy elites sending their children to exclusive private schools. Catholic schools are overwhelmingly lower cost than most private schools, and more economically diverse than public schools that restrict student access according to zip code, segregated based on property value. Let’s not forget that when COVID-19 hit, it was the Catholic schools that were the first to pay attention to the accurate science and re-open for in-person learning — a decision that put the best interests of students and families first. As such, if you were a Catholic school kid during the pandemic,

MycoEvolve clarifies story on fungi use

you didn’t suffer two years of learning loss like your public-school counterparts did.

Catholic schools also tend to attract more racially diverse student bodies as a disproportionate number of immigrants from dominantly Catholic Latin American countries, and African countries such as Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania gravitate toward Catholic schools for their children. Therefore, it is more than a bit ironic that the opponents of school choice cite anti-discrimination as a primary motive behind their desire to discriminate against religious schools and the families that would attend them.

A Catholic education may not be for everybody, and the beauty of a school choice system is that it doesn’t have to be. If you prefer drag queen story hour to a prayer before meals for your child’s upbringing, you have your pick of institutions. After all, those folks in Grand Isle and Georgia can choose South Burlington High School, Milton, Bellows Free Academy or anyplace else that makes the most sense for them.

But when lawmakers move to take those choices away and make decisions for others’ children that rightly should be made by parents, they are doing damage to families, students and, as shown above, to taxpayers. They do this for the purpose of satisfying their own anti-Christian prejudices or to pay off the politically powerful, special interest public education Blob.

Not the most noble of motivations, for sure.

Rob Roper is a freelance writer who has been involved with Vermont politics and policy for over 20 years. He lives in Stowe.

Letters to the Editor

To the Editor: Thank you for publishing the article, “Shelburne Farms uses fungi to curb phosphorus.” (June 29, 2023)

I would like to share our view of the work from an ecological reconciliation perspective. First, we aim to team with fungi and nature rather than use it. This is a crucial distinction because our approach involves redirecting orientation from extraction toward collaboration, especially as we increase our work with endemic species.

Second, fertilizer use is only part of the story. Other colonial land practices are equally important. As we wrote in an article published in Restoration Ecology journal in 2022, a trajectory of devastating land practices contribute to this legacy.

In short this involves: the forced removal of Abenaki ancestors who practiced regenerative land care; killing, through land clearing, most mycorrhizal hosts present throughout agricultural landscapes and eliminating most underground networks on farms; tilling the soil, which further destroys the underlying nutrient recycling networks; introducing land practices such as monoculture and large herd grazing, especially during the sheep craze; increasing herd size with the advent

of trains and refrigerators; fragmenting landscapes via transportation and drainage routes without revegetating; applying superphosphate fertilizer in the 1940s; and introducing nonnative species.

Finally, where the article says our research shows better results for water purification than constructed wetlands is not accurate. While fungi can certainly be incorporated in various green infrastructure — either saprophytic or mycorrhizal depending on context, contaminant, substrate and environmental conditions — comparing water purification of constructed wetlands to riparian buffers is like comparing apples to pears as they involve different mediums, contexts in the landscape and address different quantities of water.

To be sure, future green infrastructure, which recent storms indicate is sorely needed throughout the watershed, will increasingly incorporate site-specific fungi as more funding, time and attention is given to mycological research and applications. These additional facts and details hopefully help readers understand the complexity involved in attempting to rehabilitate our watershed to be more resilient.

Jess (Yepeth Perla) Rubin MycoEvolve University of Vermont research and restoration team

Joan Vachon Victor

The loving and beautiful Joan Vachon Victor, 92, died Monday, March 13, 2023. She had been living independently at The Residence at Otter Creek in Middlebury where she enjoyed the community and her ever-present dedication to physical fitness, until a series of events led to her precipitous decline.

Joan was welcomed to this world by her parents Joseph H. Vachon Sr., and Laura Margaret Ware Vachon at Webber Hospital in Biddeford, Maine on Feb. 17, 1931. She was raised by the sea, where a short path through the dunes carried her to the rhythms and the beauty of the beach which, despite the many places she ultimately lived, would always be home. She delighted in the wonders of that massive playground, even befriending a seal as a young girl.

Winters were spare and sometimes lonely, which perhaps sparked a creative streak that traveled with Joan (confusingly pronounced Jo-Ann) throughout her life. Joan would often recount her years in a one-room schoolhouse and the isolation of the beach with more nostalgia than regret and yet she welcomed the bustle of summer with joyful anticipation. The tightness of community and importance of family were indelibly imprinted in these early years and remained as a touchstone for the balance of her days.

Progressing to Thornton Academy from a one-room schoolhouse was initially fraught

with anxiety for Joan, and yet her years at Thornton unfolded as rich, exciting and defining. Thornton became an institution she was dedicated to for the remainder of her life and was a catalyst to her lifelong prioritization and commitment to education. It is also where she met Milton to whom she would be wed for nearly 63 years. Once “retired,” Joan served on Thornton’s board of trustees for 18 years. As high school years drew to a close, Joan recounted that her parents gave her a choice of a festive wedding or an education — one or the other — and there was nary a decision as she knew she was headed to Orono and the University of Maine. It was at UMaine that Milton and Joan started to date and where lifelong friendships were formed.

Joan received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and was a member of an honorary psychology fraternity. She also enjoyed the mischief and fun of being a Tri-Delt, where as a beauty and lover of fashion she had some light-hearted fun modeling. As with Thornton, Joan and Milton were committed to the University of Maine, prompting them to establish a scholarship in 2004. In 2005 they were awarded the Block M award for their dedication to the university.

Joan served as president on the executive committee for the Class of 1952 and oversaw an exceptional year of fundraising in 1997. Found among her belongings were letters of

thanks she had received from recipients of their scholarship, underscoring how near and dear to her heart this effort was.

Following graduation Joan went to work for the state of Maine as a child welfare worker in Aroostook County. While the work was challenging, Joan thrived and enjoyed the independence of making her way. In November 1954, after Milton returned from Korea where he was serving with the U.S. Marines, they were married.

Their three children were born in Maine and ensuing years brought them to Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York. Joan was funny, sometimes irreverent and consummately supportive of her family. She was a sports fan in all her children’s pursuits, a math tutor, an editor, whoopie pie maker, a hostess, volunteer and wonderful chef. She loved to entertain and designed creative invitations and countless poems to commemorate whatever needed celebrating. She accessorized with a flair and in her 30s taught herself to sew, fabricating an array of beautiful items — even a tutu! — and a few articles remain to grace her granddaughter’s closets. Her creative streak extended to gardening, flower arranging and painting. She was not prolific or formerly instructed in the latter, but she produced a handful of impressive paintings that her family is lucky to have.

When her youngest was about to head off to college Joan enrolled in a real estate course at the University of Connecticut and ultimately received her GRI and CRS designations. She worked in real estate for 18 years, primar-

ily in Connecticut where she was a member of the greater Hartford Board of Realtors and often received accolades as a top producer. Once retired it did not take long for Joan and Milton to decide to head back to Maine. In addition to their cottage, which has been a fixture for family reunions these past 30-plus years, they purchased their main home which they loved and lived in until Milton died in 2016.

Joan spent one year alone before deciding to move to Vermont to be closer to her daughter. Joan’s vital presence is ever missed, and we are fortunate to be graced with a lifetime of her love and memories.

Joan has a multitude of friends, nieces, nephews and cousins who were so important to her and who she cherished.

She is survived by her son, David, and daughter-in-law, Lolly of Seattle, Wash., and their children Zoe, Calista (Mike Venezia) and Helena. Calista and Mike are parents to Joan’s first great grandchild, Sofia. Also surviving are her son Peter of Ellsworth, Maine, and his children Luc-Oliver (fiance Sophie Lataille) and Eliott; daughter, Stephanie, and son-in-law, James Wells of Charlotte, and their children Alexandra and Nathaniel; and her brother, Joseph H. Vachon Jr. and his wife, Ruth of Stetson, Maine.

Joan was predeceased by many friends and family members who she mourned and missed, including her grandson, Zachary James Wells, and her beloved husband Milton who adored her and who, we can only hope was waiting, arms wide.

Joan Vachon Victor

COMMUNITY

Community Notes

Center features beef steak with mushroom sauce, mashed potatoes, broccoli florets, wheat roll, pumpkin and white chocolate chip cookie and milk.

You must pre-register by the prior Monday at 802-425-6345 or meals@charlotteseniorcentervt. org.

The meal on Thursday, July 27 features breaded chicken breast, mashed cauliflower, spinach, wheat roll, Craisin and date cookie and milk.

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

Shelburne Age Well hosts

Grab and Go meal

Pierson hosts book talk on quitting sugar

On Tuesday, July 25, at 6:30 p.m., Pierson Library hosts Andrea Grayson as she discusses her new book, “The Sweet Tooth Dilemma,” about how sugar is seductive, dangerous and hard to quit.

Circus returns for summer at Bread & Puppet

Bread & Puppet Circus returns for the summer with “The Heart of the Matter Circus & Pageant” every Sunday through Aug. 27 at 3 p.m.

In the tradition of the iconic Bread & Puppet circuses that began at Goddard College in Plainfield in 1970, the show will draw on traditional circus tropes and familiar Bread and Puppet iconography to draw attention to the urgent issues of the day. Stilt dancers, paper maché beasts of all sizes and a riotous brass band make a raucous, colorful spectacle of protest and celebration.

The circus is followed immediately by the pageant in the adjacent field. After both shows are finished, Bread & Puppet will serve its famous sourdough rye bread with aioli.

Bread & Puppet is located at 753 Heights Road in Glover. Tickets can be purchased in advance at breadandpuppet.org for $10, or by donation at the door on the day of the show. No one is turned away due to lack of funds.

Enjoy Age Well meals at Charlotte Senior Center

The Age Well meal pickup for Thursday, July 20, is from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Charlotte Senior

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, Aug. 8.

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: chicken and biscuits, gravy, red mashed potatoes, mixed beans, biscuit, pineapple and oranges and milk.

To order a meal contact Kathleen at agewellstcath@gmail.com or 802-503-1107. Deadline to order is Wednesday, Aug. 2. If this is a first-time order, provide your name, address, phone number and date of birth.

If you haven’t yet filled out a congregate meal registration form, bring a completed registration form with you or send one to: Age Well; 875 Roosevelt Highway, Ste. 210, Colchester VT 05446. Forms will be available at meal pick up.

Learn about restaurant tickets to dine at participating restaurants at agewellvt.org.

Hinesburg holds summer concerts in the park

The Hinesburg Recreation Department presents Summer Concerts in the Park, Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. throughout July and early August at the gazebo behind the Hinesburg Community School in the Village.

On July 26, the Rough Suspects come to town. The rest of the summer lineup includes: Aug. 2 – Shellhouse Aug. 9 – Hinesburg Community Band Aug. 16 – In the Pocket

The Wednesday, July 26 concert will feature Sky Blue Boys. Set up your lawn chair and blanket, bring a picnic dinner or enjoy food for sale on site at the Farm Barn at Shelburne Farms.

Kids can dance on the lawn and visit the animals in the children’s farmyard.

Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the band will play from 6:30-8

p.m. Sorry, no dogs.

Be sure to save the date for the final concert and fireworks on Aug. 1 at Vermont Teddy Bear featuring The Rough Suspects. (Rain date is Aug. 2). More at shelburnevt.org.

Rocketry camp

There are still spots in this popular camp. Join instructor Bob Gurwicz

to build, test and launch solid propellant rockets that safely return by parachute.

Registration deadline is Friday, July 21. Camp dates are July 31 to Aug. 4 from 8-11:30 a.m. for kids entering grades three through seven this fall. Cost is $305 and includes model rockets and all building supplies, including launch engines.

Shelburne Parks & Rec News

COURTESY PHOTO Sky Blue Boys

PHOTO BY GARRETT MACLEAN

Protesters perform at the Bread and Puppet Circus in 2022.

LOCALS ONLY.

Hi, neighbor. Want to come over? Basin Harbor now has special Vermonters-only lodging deals starting at $189/night. Book your escape at BasinHarbor.com/VT or call 802-475-2311.

25% OFF REPAIRS

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‘Chasing

Light’

“Chasing Light,” oil paintings by David Smith opens at the Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery in Shelburne Friday, July 21, with a reception from 5-7 p.m. Smith’s paintings are vividly patterned land and water, and the mix-up of forefront and horizon. He knows how looking downward or askew is a way to find special glimmers. The brushwork is strong and high in contrast yet leaves space for the viewer to personally interpret the scenes. Above, “Quartet C” by David Smith.

GREATER BURLINGTON’S PROFESSIONAL SUMMER THEATER

The sleepy town of Popcorn Falls has been forced into bankruptcy and their last chance is a large grant that can only be used if the town opens a theater and produces a play in a week. One big problem: no playhouse. Another problem: no play. Two actors play over twenty roles in a world of farce, love, and desperation, proving once and for all that art can save the world. July 12 – 22

Ticonderoga presents two-day reenactment

Fort Ticonderoga’s signature event, Defiance & Independence, a two-day battle re-enactment takes place on Saturday and Sunday, July 22-23.

Featuring more than 300 historical reenactors, this is the largest battle reenactment of the year at Fort Ticonderoga. The battle will highlight the 1777 siege of Ticonderoga, when the British Army attempted to capture the entire American force guarding this strategic position on Lake Champlain.

This two-day battle re-enactment will portray the fighting and maneuvering that culminated in General Arthur St. Clair’s evacuation of Ticonderoga and British General John Burgoyne’s frustration in failing to capture the American force.

Watch, learn and experience first-hand as the battle spans across the historic landscape at 1 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, during two unique battle scenarios. All weekend, through special programs, Fort Ticonderoga brings to life the real stories of soldiers and civilians caught up in this six-day clash between British and American forces.

A brand-new Saturday evening program will recreate the moment Continental Army soldiers prepared to escape capture, even

as their cannons continued to hold the British at bay. (Pre-registration for the evening vignette is required; limited tickets available.”

“Ticonderoga was already a legendary place when American forces held back the British here in October 1776,” Stuart Lilie, Fort Ticonderoga’s vice president of public history,” said. “The personal stories of soldiers, sailors, nurses, and warriors make the 1777 Battle for Ticonderoga compelling for visitors of all ages. For ticket information, visit fortticonderoga.org or call 518-585-2821.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Fort Ticonderoga presents “Defiance & Independence,” a two-day battle reenactment with over 300 participants.

Around the Region

Physical Therapy practices opens location in Shelburne

Transitions Physical Therapy has opened a third location in Shelburne providing both outpatient orthopedic services as well as pelvic health services.

“What’s exciting about this third location is it is a clinic within a clinic,” said owner Sean Fitzgerald. “We are successfully serving the pelvic health community, which is an underserved population when it comes to physical therapy services.”

The physical therapy practice has locations in Essex Junction and Jericho.

Clinicians at Transitions Physical Therapy, a certified postural restoration practice, look at the neuro mechanics that addresses the heart of an orthopedic issue.

“Many standard physical therapy treatment approaches are focused on the hardware side of orthopedics without considering the brain’s control systems that are present, which I consider the software,” Fitzgerald said. “We incorporate the software side of things, so the control systems change positional alignment and movement patterns, which is needed to ultimately resolve pain, impingements and instabilities. If a treatment doesn’t change the way you move, it is short lived.”

“Physical therapy has never been my thing — until now,” Kimberly DuBrul, Shelburne resident and patient, said. “Sean has helped me in such a short time, and I can see for the first time that I can make lasting changes that will benefit me for life.”

Transitions is located at 4066 Shelburne Road. More at transitionspt.com.

Lake Champlain Basin program launches lake video series

The Lake Champlain Basin Program and Peregrine Productions has launched “Meet the Scientist,” a new video series that spotlights scientists who are working to better understand the water quality, ecology and history of Lake Champlain and its watershed.

The videos explore the scientists’ research and their personal stories, providing a glimpse into their day-to-day activities in the field and how they help turn knowledge into action that protects and restores clean water and habitat.

The videos profile five scientists working in a variety of disciplines and at different stages in their careers:

• Lesley-Ann Dupigny-Giroux, Vermont state climatologist and professor in the Department of Geography and Geosciences at the University of Vermont: climate change and community preparedness.

• Ellen Marsden, professor of wildlife and fisheries biology in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at UVM: fish and behavioral ecology.

• Mindy Morales, assistant professor of environmental sciences in the Rubenstein School: microorganisms and ecosystem functions.

• Chris Sabick, archaeology director at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum: Lake Champlain maritime history.

• Brendan Wiltse, water quality director at the Adirondack Watershed Institute at Paul Smith’s College: winter road salt, lake health.

“The work these scientists do is, vital to the health of the lake. What are their moti-

vations? Their challenges and rewards? How did their professional journeys lead them to where they are now?” said Ryan Mitchell, communications coordinator for the program.

“These videos highlight their fascinating research and offer a window into their experiences for future scientists who are exploring career opportunities.”

The videos are available at lcbp.org.

Shelburne woman graduates Vermont Leadership Institute

Jenny Eisenman of Shelburne has graduated from the Vermont Leadership Institute at the Snelling Center for Government.

The Class of 2023 celebrated with family members, colleagues and friends June 3 at Basin Harbor in Vergennes.

Eisenman is currently a consultant to private education and education technology companies at Eisenman Consulting.

As a participant in the Vermont Leadership Institute, Basilière and Anetsberger joined 23 other leaders from around the state for a unique series of eight overnight sessions designed to foster relationships and explore some of the most important issues facing Vermont.

With session themes including personal leadership adaptation, complex systems thinking, public policy, innovation, and leadership paradigms that actively promote diversity, equity and inclusion for all Vermonters, the program challenges and supports participants to develop self-awareness and acquire knowledge and skills that result in strong, effective leadership and thoughtful action.

The Snelling Center for Government is committed to fostering responsible and ethical civic leadership, encouraging public service by private citizens, and promoting informed citizen participation in shaping public policy in Vermont.

Make food stamp dollars go further at Shelburne farm market

Multiply your food stamp dollars with Crop Cash at the Shelburne Farmers Market this summer.

When individuals and families spend those benefits at a participating farmers market, they will receive extra money to spend on local food. Markets will match $20 or more of benefits per day. Anyone who receives food stamp benefits (3SquaresVT and SNAP) is automatically eligible to get crop cash at a farmers market — there is no additional application for this program.

Crop Cash is Northeast Organic Farming Association’s incentive program at farmers markets. There are almost 40 markets statewide participating this year, including the Shelburne Farmers Market, open every Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. through Oct 14 at the Shelburne Parade Ground.

Crop Cash enables Vermonters to buy fruits, vegetables, seeds or vegetable starts. Crop Cash Plus enables you to buy any eligible item, which also includes dairy, eggs, meat, and cold prepared foods like bread.

For more information and how to apply if you are a senior, visit agewellvt.org.

For information about Crop Cash and a list of all the markets participating this summer, visit nofavt.org.

plain sight: Spittlebugs blow bubbles to keep themselves safe

Guest Perspective

Liz Dengate

Spittlebugs are the color of a new spring leaf, their bodies both tiny and so fat that you hardly notice their six miniature legs underneath. This plumpness makes them an appetizing snack for various insect predators — or would, anyway, if spittlebugs didn’t have an elaborate adaptation to keep them safe.

Spittlebugs live in a variety of habitats throughout North America. They are especially noticeable in open, sunny meadows and along the edges of forests — every few feet, sometimes every few inches: a blob of white froth clinging to a stem.

When I guided visitor hikes during my three summers as an interpretive park ranger on Isle Royale National Park in Michigan, I’d see these characteristic dollops of foam on the stems of thimbleberry bushes, tall asters and all manner of other shrubs and wildflowers along the trails. I often stopped and swiped a finger through the foam, then held it up for visitors to see — a hapless creature clinging there in the remnants of its cover. I could have fit 10 of them on the pad of my index finger. “I thought someone was just spitting on the plants!” one of my program attendees said.

Spittlebugs are the nymphs of froghoppers, insects in the order Hemiptera and the superfamily Cercopoidea. These nymphs hatch from their eggs in the spring and progress through a series of molts through the summer, growing larger and sometimes changing color. Spittlebugs spend their days sucking the juices of plant stems.

To do this without becoming food themselves, they urinate a whopping amount, blow bubbles into this foul-smelling substance to create the world’s grossest bubble bath and bury themselves within it. No wonder no one eats them! If people urinated the same quantity proportionate to our body size, it would translate to about 2,700 gallons a day.

Like many other insects, spittlebugs can respirate through microscopic openings in their exoskeleton called spiracles. These pores on their abdomens allow spittlebugs to breathe even through their protective foam. Researchers have found that spittlebugs use their abdomens like snorkels to break the surface of the foam.

The insects can also retreat deeper into the foam and pause breathing when frightened. In especially dire situations — perhaps a spider looming nearby — spittlebugs can pop several of the tiny bubbles in their froth and breathe the oxygen trapped within until the threat passes.

On my ranger walks, after revealing the tiny bug to my impressed and vaguely disgusted audience, I’d gently deposit it back on a stem in what was left of its froth and wipe my hands on my green ranger pants. As we walked on, the nymph would remain, emerging as an adult froghopper in late summer to mate. If it was female, it would lay its eggs on a nearby stem.

Either way, it would perish before winter hit, the tiny eggs its legacy.

Although they are ubiquitous, spittlebugs don’t play an outsize role in any

In

ILLUSTRATION BY ADELAIDE MURPHY TYROL

Notice of Public Hearing

The Town of Shelburne is considering making an application to the State of Vermont for a VCDP Implementation Grant 2023 under the Vermont Community Development Program. The Selectboard will hold a public hearing as a part of its regular meeting that begins at 7:00 P.M. on August 8, 2023 at 5420 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, Vermont or https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81609478685?pwd=W DNGN0gybWRWNjYrMzNqOHlGYkE0QT09 to obtain the views of citizens on community development, to furnish information concerning the amount of funds available and the range of community development activities that may be undertaken under this program, the impact to any historic and archaeological resources that may be affected by the proposed project, and to give affected citizens the opportunity to examine the proposed statement of projected use of these funds. The proposal is to apply for up to $1,000,000 in VCDP funds which will be used to accomplish the following activities:

Champlain Housing Trust and Evernorth plan to develop infrastructure to serve a new neighborhood, construct 48 new affordable apartments in two buildings, and convert two of the existing motel buildings into 20 new affordable apartments, at 3164 Shelburne Road. The new construction buildings will be three-stories with parking underneath and the conversion buildings are two-stories with existing surface parking.

Copies of the proposed application will be available for public review by August 1, 2023 at the Shelburne Town Offices, 5420 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, VT and may be viewed during the hours of 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Should you require any special accommodations, please contact Matthew Lawless at 802-9855111 to ensure appropriate accommodations are made. For the hearing impaired please call (TTY) #1-800-253-0191.

SHELBURNE

Assistant to the Town Manager

Join a dedicated team and contribute to the great quality of life in Shelburne!

Shelburne has an outstanding culture of volunteerism and a full suite of public services, from parks and police to sewage and streets. The Town Manager’s team implements the vision of the Selectboard and leads the Town government. This position requires interpersonal, administrative, and project management skills. They support everything from the Town’s Annual Report to committee meetings, grant reports, procurement, and community events. This is local government at its best!

The Assistant to the Town Manager must be a versatile administrator with both technical and people skills. We are looking for a mix of education and experience showing strong communication and organizing skills, multitasking, and understanding of local government context and ethics. Government experience is a plus, but skills from the business, nonprofit, and education sectors transfer well.

Our pay range for this position is $22 to $27 hourly, depending on qualifications. The Town’s strong benefits include excellent healthcare and pension, leave and holidays, and more.

A complete job description is available at www.ShelburneVT. org/Jobs To apply, send a Town application and/or resume to SCannizzaro@shelburnevt.org. Our review begins immediately. Equal Opportunity Employer.

New owner takes over Old Brick Store

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

From the busy streets of New York City, Jolene Kao and her family came to Vermont for a quieter life surrounded by open spaces, and turns out, that also meant becoming the new owners of The Old Brick Store in Charlotte.

Although owning a place like The Old Brick Store wasn’t originally in the plans, Kao has strong roots in the restaurant industry. Originally born in Dallas to Taiwanese immigrants, she spent most of her upbringing in her family’s generationally owned restaurant, Rural China.

“We would run around the restaurant and I would make cherry pancakes in the kitchen,” she said. “When I was older, I started bussing and hosting and working the register, placing orders, running payroll and helping my mom do that prepping in

the kitchen. But the best was when I was in college, and I would come back to visit and work the line.”

In 2006 she moved to New York to pursue a career in photography but eventually burned out when she realized the pace of the life she was building was unsustainable.

“In my mind, I was kind of always feeling like maybe I wanted to open my own little food store, not a traditional restaurant, but a place where I can be face to face with people because I think that’s so much of what I loved about growing up in my parents’ restaurant,” she said. “Somebody would come in and they’d bring their baby and say, ‘This is the fourth generation of our family who has come to dine at this restaurant.’

You really develop these relationships with people.”

In 2016 she returned to the restaurant world, this time working as part of the inaugural kitchen crew for a newly opened restau-

rant in the city.

“It was a great experience. I learned so much and worked even harder, longer days than I had in production,” she explained. “It was hugely influential for me as a culinary experience.”

Finally, after 15 years in the Big Apple, Kao and her partner Pete Macia, along with their daughter, decided it was time for a change and by August 2022 the family officially settled in Charlotte.

“We visited Vermont a few times and our last trip was in Burlington. Each place, no matter how busy or rural it was, it just felt so good. You just really felt a sense of community around. So when we moved here, we had like this feeling that there is so much support and so much community,” she said.

Apart from the kitchen side of the business, she has additional

New owner of The Old Brick Store in Charlotte, Jolene Kao.

ADJAYE

continued from page 1

STORE

continued from page 12

experience as a co-founder of a woman-in-business nonprofit group based in Brooklyn. And when she found The Old Brick Store, all the puzzle pieces fell perfectly into place.

“I felt like maybe this is the place that I could do it because there is actually a need for more spaces like the one that I’ve been building in my head,” she said. “My dream space was really about bringing community together and having some food that really showcases what is available locally. When I found out that The Old Brick Store was for sale, then that was really the lightning strike of everything where I thought, OK, I think this is the one.’”

Although Kao plans to put a new spin to things, The Old Brick Store possesses its own magic and has been a staple in town for centuries. Variations of the building have come and gone, but the building that now stands was erected in1853.

“In 1840 to 1850 there

were a lot of brick buildings built in town because there was a brickyard and brick oven near the Congregational Church,” Dan Cole, a member of the historical society said.

Whitney Williamson Finley the proprietress of the store since 2015 could not be reached for comment but did post on social media last month, “Thanks for all the support over the last 8 years. Your visits, stories, and laughter have made this job so very rewarding.”

Kao said the sale isn’t finalized until July 14 and the store will remain closed until then to put some finishing touches on both the space and the menu. When asked what new additions customers can expect, Kao didn’t hesitate to say, “a proper coffee program” with specialized espresso drinks.

“Pete and I really love the idea of being a part of history and being the next stewards of this historic place.”

when many museums are reconsidering what it means to advance and uplift the voices of those within their collections. For the Shelburne Museum, Denenberg said that the only way to work with Indigenous material is by first forming partnerships with tribes from where the material comes. Since the project’s conception, board members and

OUTSIDE STORY

continued from page 11

ecosystem. They suck dilute sap from plants’ xylem, but not enough to really damage a plant. They are no animal’s primary food source. As adults, their most notable trait is what gives them their “froghopper” name — they can hop farther, relative to body size, than even fleas, leaping as high as 70 centimeters: wild, when you consider they’re less than a centimeter tall. Froghoppers’ legs contain structures shaped like archery bows, and they are constantly ready to launch. Whether as young or adults, these critters are not often caught by predators.

staff of the museum have called upon a national advisory committee made up of members of Native American Tribes, scholars, curators and culture bearers to guide the project from start to finish.

The selection of a new architect will require the same level of dedication, he said.

“We tend to start with the Abenaki because we are on Abena-

ki land, and then from there we build out because there are close to 80 tribes in the collection,” Denenberg said. “We have advisory groups for cultural competency when it comes to stewardship or caring for the collection. Then we have another one for the interpretation of the material. So, it’s a lot of touching base with multiple partners as we go.”

There is something to be said about a curiosity hidden in plain sight. On my walks through what seemed like ordinary scenery — a swath of green shrubbery — I was able to reveal something surprising. When someone has a moment of discovery or surprise in the wild, it often provokes delight — and then a desire to continue exploring. I couldn’t guarantee a sighting of a moose or even a loon on my ranger walks, but I could always guarantee a spittlebug encounter.

I encourage readers to pass on that moment of discovery on their own nature walks with friends:

dive in, swipe a finger into the mess of nature and discover what tiny treasures lie within.

Liz Dengate is an environmental science teacher at a public high school in Minnesota. She loves to travel throughout the U.S. with her husband and toddler, who is learning to camp. Illustration by Adelaide Murphy Tyrol. The Outside Story is assigned and edited by Northern Woodlands magazine and sponsored by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, nhcf.org.

is spread through the bite of an infected animal or contact with its it. People should not touch or pick up wild animals or strays – even baby animals.

PLEASANT VALLEY, INC.

ARIES

March 21 - April 20

Sometimes you feel a need to be in charge to prove that you are capable, Aries. This week take a back seat and fall in line with the established modus operandi.

TAURUS

April 21 - May 21

You may get into the habit of focusing on past mistakes, Taurus. This week, instead of falling into old habits, think about how you can grow and learn from your mistakes.

GEMINI

May 22 - June 21

Gemini, it’s time to be sociable and put out feelers for different adventures. Make sure you share on social media channels that you’re available and ready to have fun.

CANCER

June 22 - July 22

Cancer, keep track of your mood this week, as it is easy to swing from glad to glum in no time at all. Friends can help keep you on a more even keel for the time being.

LEO

July 23 - Aug. 23

Leo, a refreshing sense of energy comes your way, and you start to jump head- rst into all of those projects that have been pushed aside. You’ll sail through tasks in no time at.

VIRGO

Aug. 24 - Sept. 22

An interesting travel opportunity comes your way, Virgo. However, at rst glance it might not seem like the type of trip you would normally take. Keep an open mind and be surprised.

LIBRA

Sept. 23 - Oct. 23

Treat yourself to something special in the days to come, Libra. Perhaps it is a costly fragrance you’ve been spying or a new piece of furniture. You earned the indulgence.

SCORPIO

Oct. 24 - Nov. 22

It’s time to take your foot off the gas and slow down to a crawl, Scorpio. A well deserved break should be on your itinerary; otherwise, you may burn through all of your fuel prematurely.

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!

CROSSWORD

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 23 - Dec. 21

Sagittarius, teamwork is the answer right now, especially when your to-do list seems to be growing exponentially. Recruit some close con dantes to help you along the way.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22 - Jan. 20

Make your career a priority this week, Capricorn. You may be feeling unsettled where you are now. There is no saying where things will go, so exercise caution when making decisions.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 21 - Feb. 18

Aquarius, wanderlust is on your brain. You’ve been fantasizing about all of the grand adventures you can take. Figure out a way to fund a getaway and get started.

PISCES

Feb. 19 - March 20

Pisces, something profound may have happened to you and you may need to sift through all of your feelings over the next few days. Take all the time you need to process.

CLUES ACROSS

1. Commoner

5. Tea leaf

11. They save you a table

14. Submissions

15. Secretly revealed

18. Personi cation of the sea (Norse)

19. Unreal

21. No seats available

23. Bangladeshi currency

24. Leaders

28. Famed garden

29. Denotes past

30. Not living

32. Midway between south and southeast

33. Small island (British)

35. Woman (French)

36. Wife

39. Two-toed sloth

41. Blood group

42. Soaks

44. Biu-Mandara language of Cameroon

46. Japanese prefecture

47. Place to be during a rock concert

49. Fully grown humans

52. Emaciation

56. Sparkling

58. Fruits you peel

60. Derived from a noun

62. Popular items to grill

63. Port in Yemen

CLUES DOWN

1. Before

2. Actress Dunham

3. This (Spanish)

4. Director Peter

5. Dominant

6. English artists’ society (abbr.)

7. NY Giants legend

8. It’s in the ground

9. No No No

10. Pesky insect

12. Danish-American muckraking journalist

13. Kids love to do it

16. Good Gosh!

17. Fakes

20. A citizen of Denmark

22. Mystic syllable

25. Commercial

ANSWERS

26. Letter of the Hebrew alphabet

27. Helpers

29. Water (French)

31. Young woman

34. Red-brown sea bream

36. Messenger ribonucleic acid

37. Comprehends

38. Walk with con dence

40. Home of the Flyers

43. Appetizer

45. News organization

48. Source of the Nile 50. A way to march 51. Soluble ribonucleic acid

53. Egyptian bull-god 54. Children’s author Blyton

55. Baseball pitching stat

57. Rude young person

58. Table napkin

59. Monetary unit in Asia

61. One-time AL MVP Vaughn