Shelburne News - 7-27-23

As floodwaters subside

Officials monitor Lake Champlain for contaminants

Although much of Chittenden County remained relatively unaffected following historic flooding that devastated most of the state this month, officials are warning that conditions in Lake Champlain could begin to worsen as flood waters subside.

What has already been a harsh year for toxic cyanobacteria blooms is likely to intensify as flooded river waters dumped massive amounts of sediments, nutrient pollutants and debris

into the lake, said Ryan Mitchell, a communications coordinator with the Lake Champlain Basin Program, a Congressionally designated initiative to restore and protect Lake Champlain and its surrounding watershed.

“One of the big issues is going to be the huge amount of sediment and nutrients, particularly phosphorus that was discharged in the lake from the rivers, an enormous amount that could potentially set us up for more cyanobacteria

See LAKE CHAMPLAIN on page 13

Shelburne jumpstarts new energy committee

The Shelburne selectboard has officially charged its first energy committee to help address the global climate crisis while also ensuring the town reaches its energy goals set in the 2019 town plan.

“There was an informal energy committee somewhere around 2015 when the current town plan was being put together in 2018,” said new committee member Rowland Davis. “But basically, once they were done with the plan they dissolved.”

The committee is currently comprised of four members —

Rowland Davis, Jeff Loiter, Judy Raven and Art Friedman — and is focusing most of its energy now on securing grants and other funding sources for the town.

“There’s a lot of climate money out there to be pursued,” he said. “Being an official committee will help us go after that.”

The first meeting last week focused on gathering more committee members while next week the group plans to meet with the consultants that are working with the planning commission on the bylaw overhaul that has been in the works for the last six months.

See COMMITTEE on page 11

PHOTOS BY LEE KROHN

The intrepid Lee Krohn rescued this turtle crossing Greenbush Road Monday just south of the Shelburne town line.

Road rescue

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

Lake trout breed successfully, officials scale back fish stocking

KIRA CORASANTI COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE

Officials have cut back how many lake trout are released annually into Lake Champlain after finding, for the first time in decades, sustained successful reproduction in the species — exciting news for biologists and anglers alike.

In response to rising wild reproduction, officials plan to stock about 42,000 lake trout this fall, a down 50 percent from previous years, according to the Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative, a working group of fisheries professionals from the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The announcement followed a lake trout stock reduction in 2021 by a third.

“This is a good news story,” said Margeret Murphy, the lead fisheries program manager of the state fish and wildlife department. “For years we weren’t seeing any recruitment of natural populations. Now we are.”

Officials first established a stocking

program in the lake in the 1950s to restore wild lake trout that had been lost because of poor water quality and habitat changes. Batches of trout would be raised in hatcheries and then released into the lake to boost the species’ numbers. After almost 70 years, researchers have found natural reproduction happening within the trout populations.

Researchers from the University of Vermont have been the lead on assessing wild populations for a couple years now. At first, scientists wanted to determine whether the hatchery trout were finding areas to spawn, if they were spawning and if their eggs were hatching successfully.

“After a few years, the answer was yes,” said Ellen Marsden, researcher and fish biologist at the University of Vermont. “But many (trout) did not have any recruitment, meaning they hatched in April and May and didn’t live through the first winter. If they live through the first winter, they will live for the rest of their life.”

In 2012, the researchers noticed that about a quarter of the trout population was wild, rather than stocked. “We knew we hadn’t missed something because all of the adult fish were unclipped,” Marsden said,

referring to fin-clipping, the practice of making a small cut in a trout’s pectoral fin before it leaves the hatchery as a method of tracking.

Since then, the wild trout population has increased every year. In 2020, Vermont and New York officials started to implement additional summer sampling, along with fall assessments, to look for unclipped juveniles in the spawning population.

“In 2020, we implemented indicators for stocking: If we saw a 25 percent wild population, we would reduce one-third. If we saw a 50 percent wild population, we would reduce it more,” Murphy said. “As of 2023, we have hit both of those targets.”

For fishers, this is exciting news. “Of the trout and salmon species in the lake, lake trout make up 70 percent of the catch,” said Matthew Trombley, a boat captain with 3rd Alarm Charters and Guide Service in Vergennes. “Sustained natural productions are always better.”

In a wild trout population, the fish respond to changes in their environment. “Stocked populations don’t have the feedback, they’ll all just starve,” said Marsden. Stocked trout are released into streams,

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rivers, ponds and lakes, but they are not expected to last more than a single spawning season outside of the hatchery.

Wild lake trout can live for 25 to 30 years, and they are sensitive to physical and chemical changes in their ecosystems. For researchers, they can play the role of canary in the coal mine. As indicators of lake health, the health of lake trout is usually an early warning sign of how people are treating streams, rivers and lakes.

Officials said they’re also reducing their efforts in part to avoid over-stocking. “We want to make sure we don’t add too many trout to the lake,” said Murphy. “It could cause a reduction in the forage base.”

Asked if one day Lake Champlain won’t need to be stocked at all, she said that would be the hope.

“But until then we will continue monitoring and assessing the state of the population.”

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

PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

Boaters enjoy Lake Champlain seen from Waterfront Park in Burlington.

State extends tax deadlines as FEMA ramps up aid

PETER D’AURIA

VTDIGGER

Vermonters affected by flooding will have more time to file and pay some state taxes, officials said.

The due date for state sales, rooms and meals taxes will be extended, Gov. Phil Scott said at a press conference in Berlin on July 19.

Taxes that would normally be due to the state anytime between July 7 and Nov. 15 will now be due by Nov. 15, Scott’s office said in a follow-up press release. The new deadlines are in place for the corporate and business tax, sales and use tax, meals and rooms tax, payroll withholding tax, estimated personal income tax, and personal income taxes that are being paid on an extension.

Internal Revenue Service officials announced last week that those impacted by the flood would also be granted extensions on federal tax payments: Filing deadlines for quarterly income tax payments (normally Sept. 15) and quarterly payroll and excise tax returns (normally July 31 and Oct. 31) were also moved to Nov. 15.

The new state tax extensions will be automatically implemented for those affected by flooding, the governor’s office said, although in some cases, officials may ask for “proof of hardship.”

“Taxpayers not impacted by the flood are expected to file and pay taxes by their original due dates,” the governor’s office said in the press release.

Craig Bolio, the commissioner of the Vermont Department of Taxes, said in an email that officials will “be giving people the benefit of the doubt, and reviewing cases that look suspect or abusive.”

Officials also provided an update on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s work in the state since the flooding.

FEMA federal coordinating officer William Roy said at the Berlin press conference that the agency had 331 officials currently deployed in the state. As of July 18, FEMA had received 991 requests for home inspections from people seeking assistance. The agency had so far inspected 177 homes, Roy said.

Last week, President Joe Biden declared a major disaster in six Vermont counties — Chittenden, Lamoille, Rutland, Washington, Windham and Windsor — making residents there eligible for FEMA aid. On Friday, FEMA announced added Caledonia and Orange counties to the list.

State tax deadlines for Vermonters affected by flooding will be extended until Nov. 15, officials said last week. Meanwhile, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has begun paying out hundreds of thousands in aid.

What’s the buzz?

FEMA officials going door to door had visited 1,980 homes and 144 businesses, Roy said. As of July 18, 1,644 people had signed up for FEMA aid, he said, and the agency had approved more than $700,000 in payouts, with an average amount of $6,100 per person.

Some people began to receive money in their accounts last week, Roy said, and the agency expects to pay out much more. The program has not yet been live for a week, he noted.

“We’ve just started,” he said.

That initial declaration was made “via imagery,” Roy said, adding that FEMA officials have completed damage inspections in other, non-declared counties.

“I believe in a very short period of time we’ll hear about the potential for additional add-on counties,” he said.

Also at the press briefing, Emily Hawes, the commissioner of the Vermont Department of Mental Health, urged Vermonters to care for themselves and their loved ones.

“As we come together to rebuild what was damaged and lost, I want to emphasize the importance of prioritizing the wellbeing of our communities,” Hawes said. “This means addressing the crucial impact of natural disasters on our mental health.”

Residents in acute or chronic mental distress are encouraged to call the state’s Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Hawes also advised Vermonters to avoid misinformation and limit their consumption of distressing news.

She encouraged people to practice selfcare: take breaks, stick to a routine and maintain a supportive social network.

“The resilience of our community starts with our commitment to taking care of ourselves and our neighbors,” Hawes said.

“We are in this together.”

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PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

A bee collects pollen on a recent sunny day in the Champlain Valley.

PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL Gov. Phil Scott

Still waters

WE

Shelburne Police Blotter: July 17 - July 23

Total reported incidents: 44

Traffic stops: 18

Warnings: 8

Tickets: 13

Medical emergencies: 9

Suspicious incidents: 6

Domestic incidents: 1

Agency assists: 1

Citizen assists: 5

Welfare check: 3

Motor vehicle complaints: 2

Automobile incidents: 2

Car crash: 2

Theft: 2

Harassment: 1

Alarms: 4

Pending investigations: 3

July 17 at 12:41 p.m., police responded to a domestic incident at Harbor Place. Both individuals were escorted off the property.

July 18 at 12:35 p.m., a two-car crash was reported on Shelburne Road. All patients refused transport to the hospital.

July 19 at 10:31 a.m., a license plate was reportedly stolen from a vehicle at Automaster on Shelburne Road. The case is under investigation.

July 19 at 1:23 p.m., someone told police they received threatening messages, and the incident is now under investigation.

July 19 at 2:18 p.m., a two-car crash was reported on Shelburne Road. One person was taken to the hospital.

July 20 at 2:37 p.m., a retail theft was reported from Ark Veterinary Hospital. Officers could not find the individual involved; the case is being investigated.

July 20 at 10:48 p.m., some campers at the Shelburne Campground were creating a disturbance for their fellow campers. Police talked with them, and they agreed to go to bed for the night.

July 22 at 2:38 p.m., police helped a woman who had locked her keys in the car with her dogs inside. The dogs were OK.

July 22 at 9:23 p.m., police responded to a report of a guest at the Countryside Motel yelling at staff and creating a disturbance.

Shelburne News

Serving the community of Shelburne

A publication of Vermont Community Newspaper Group LLC shelburnenews.com

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PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

A sailboat is framed by haze from Canadian wildfires in this scene of Lake Champlain in mid-July. Recent rains have dissipated the smoke.

OPINION

What matters is that it matters

In Musing

Carole Vasta Folley

It’s embarrassing and painful to realize how uncomfortable I was in the past using gender neutral pronouns in an out loud, openhearted way. Embarrassing because I made it about my fear of making a mistake. Painful because it hurt others.

Let me be clear, when someone’s pronouns are they and them, I want to use they and them (or any other pronoun expressed).

And yet, in day-to-day life, I was afraid of getting it wrong. Or, in some regrettable amnesia, I’d forget altogether. I got so discombobulated, I’d actually be in conversations where I’d try to use no pronouns at all.

Everything changed when I realized the terrible impact of not being thoroughly, wholeheartedly invested in getting it right. Because when we know someone’s pronouns and don’t use them, it’s a micro-aggression saying, “You and who you are does not matter.”

I’m sure for many, misgendering, whether or not unintentional, is out of alignment with their values of respect and fundamental human rights. I’m specifically not talking about haters here; I have no words for them. I’m talking about the many cisgendered people I’ve met who express difficulty using or even trying to use different pronouns when asked; some who act like it’s no big deal to constantly misgender. I’ve heard many excuses. But really, is there any excuse that rationalizes disrespect?

This first excuse used to be mine: “I’m afraid I’ll get it wrong.” A simple sentiment that I now see as alarmingly consequential. Discrimination can spread by kind people not wanting to err, be uncomfortable or practice something unfamiliar to their experience.

“It’s not grammatically correct” is another common excuse. This is flat out wrong. They, them and their have long been used as singular pronouns, such as, “What is their name?”

The Oxford English Dictionary traces this usage back to 1375. Whether you are aware of it or not, everyone already uses the singular they.

Further, for those grammar sticklers, even Merriam Webster states one of the definitions of they is “used to refer to a single person whose gender identity is nonbinary.”

Many complain that “it’s too hard.” I think we can all agree that this excuse falls tragically short regarding issues of civil and human rights.

More important, who has the real hardship here? I suggest it’s the person who is misgendered day in and day out, month after month, year after year.

For those who have expressed they are “too old to change,” I don’t buy it. After all, I’ve seen them using iPhones, streaming services and social media. Unfortunately, this excuse sounds awfully close to the most heartbreaking one I’ve heard, “I can’t be bothered.” This from a family member who was asked by a loved one to use their, they and them pronouns.

Others act like it’s a huge inconvenience to even try. I can’t imagine the pain of being in relationships where my identity itself is not worth someone’s effort and

respect, let alone championing.

To anyone who continues to use any excuse, I’m left with only one question. What would love do? I’d espouse when someone tells us their pronouns, love would believe them. Love would ask someone what their pronouns are. Love would respect the human right for every individual to identify one’s self.

In “Atlas of the Heart,” Brene Brown explains that belonging is a “critical component of diversity, equity and inclusion.” Adding, “In the absence of love and belonging, there is always suffering.”

After all, as Audre Lorde wrote, “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.”

For cisgendered people unaccustomed to using different pronouns, remember it’s not about never making a mistake. What matters is that we care. That when someone tells us their pronouns, we’re all in and any discomfort in practicing something different is nothing compared to the impact of someone being misgendered. Because what matters is that it

Letters to the Editor

Parade Ground opposition not about change

To the Editor:

I take exception to Shelburne Selectboard chair Michael Ashooh’s comments regarding “the lack of any clear arguments for why this is a bad idea.” (“What’s next in Shelburne: change and conversation,” July 13, 2023)

Further, Ashooh’s comment that what he has heard essentially is about change? Wrong.

I, as well as several others, have commented on several occasions that our concern is that we have only one pristine piece of property in Shelburne village or town proper that is green, open and unencumbered with any permanent buildings and that is the Parade Ground.

A large number of Shelburne residents want it to remain the way it is. Why is this so difficult to understand? The attitude of these residents has nothing to do with our opposing change just because it is a change. Like many others, I recommend this be resolved by it becoming a ballot item at the next election.

Keeping town green as it is a positive viewpoint

To the Editor:

In response to Shelburne Selectboard chair Michael Ashooh’s guest perspective, once again residents who have a different opinion are being labeled as negative. (“What’s next in Shelburne: change and conversation,” July 13, 2023)

Is it negative to want a historic, beautiful town green to remain as is? If so, why? Couldn’t it be viewed as positive?

Those with a different opinion are also being labeled as afraid of change. That, simply, is judgmental, and has little or no place in what should be an objective, civil discussion.

But if we’re going to go down that personal road, why are the board members — except for one who was not mentioned in the article — afraid to let go of the plan they decided on in private? Even when dozens of residents respectfully voiced their disagreement at the meeting?

I love that area the way it is. That same feeling was, and is,

Carole Vasta Folley

Bud Ockert Shelburne

Stop being mean, stop scapegoating minorities

Guest Perspective

Bob Stannard

“You, with your switching sides

And your wildfire lies and your humiliation

You have pointed out my flaws again

As if I don’t already see them I walk with my head down Tryna block you out ’cause I’ll never impress you I just wanna feel okay again

Someday, I’ll be livin’ in a big old city

about national figures, politicians who feel that it’s OK to demonize certain segments of our society. They see a twisted, perverted advantage to marginalizing and attacking those American citizens who they deem to be different — people they fear.

Every day we see more attacks on the LGBTQ community, people who have done no harm to anyone yet are being made out to be the people who are destroying America. They are not destroying America.

individuals were assigned male at birth but their gender expression and/or community role was more feminine.

By no means did all pre-colonial Native American communities accept or celebrate gender and sexual orientation diversity. Often when tribes were conquered, they were taken as slaves or forced to submit sexually to their conquerors.

Statehouse when the marriage equality bill was passed. I spent over three decades in that building. I have never, ever seen such an outpouring of love in my entire life. People were shedding tears of joy, hugging one another and celebrating an initiative that recognized something that should have been no big deal — that people should be free to love and marry whoever they want to.

guess now that they’ve overturned Roe v. Wade that they need a new scapegoat.

— Taylor Swift

“Choose Love”

— Ringo Starr

Life can be pretty hard; harder for some than others. It’s always been this way. Nothing’s changed.

Well, maybe that’s not quite true. Today we seem to be angrier, with hearts full of hate. Not all that long ago, we had hateful people running around wearing white gowns with hoods so that their identities could be hidden from view. Today, there are those who are quite comfortable with their hate and display it publicly.

We’re not talking about the average Joe here. We’re talking

From the Human Rights Campaign: “Most known scholarship about pre-colonial American sexuality and gender comes from the journals of early European colonizers. The most prominent accounts note seeing men married to men, whom they called “berdache,” and “passing women,” who were assigned female at birth but took on masculine roles.

Research shows that more than 150 different pre-colonial Native American tribes acknowledged third genders in their communities. That may have been a unifying feature of different pre-colonial cultures.

Historians have also documented the highly regarded role of spiritual leaders in pre-colonial West Africa who were assigned male at birth but presented in a feminine manner, the existence of Muxes in Zapotec culture in what is now southern Mexico, Bakla in pre-colonial Philippines and Hijra in South Asia. All these

However, we also know from writings of the European colonizers that not everyone they wrote about self-identified as third gender — some of them were conquered warriors who were forced to dress femininely.

Interpretations of the role and standing of Two-Spirit and third gender people varied by tribe. What is clear from these accounts is that gender and sexuality was certainly more fluid in Native American society than it was in European society.

Is it our European ancestry that causes us to look down upon those who are different? Is our fear and hatred of those who are different baked into our DNA, or is it more likely that it’s learned from our ancestors, handed down from generation to generation?

For some Americans, it is difficult to accept that people of the same sex might just love each other more than some heterosexual couples. The question that should be asked is: Who’s being harmed?

I was working in the Vermont

However, some folks are very uncomfortable with this idea. That’s too bad. It says to me that they may either have some concerns about their own identity or are simply fearful that someone in their family might be gay or transgender. I feel badly for these folks that they are unable to love a child or sibling because of sexual orientation.

Then you have the worst kind of Americans: the politicians who have decided that this minority of Americans should be singled out. I

LETTERS

continued from page 5

being expressed by others. Love and fear are two very different things. Let’s not confuse them.

Vivian Jordan Shelburne

Money for Parade Ground better spent elsewhere

To the Editor:

Defining the backlash to the proposed development of a town park on the Parade Ground to be one of not wanting to move forward is not only condescending but a poor characterization.

Shelburne residents have long moved forward on many initiatives that the town has presented. Think of the new libraries (there have been two since we moved here in 1984); town hall renovations, including the bell restoration; rebuilding the beach house; a local tax option; the initial expenditure as part of the Healthy Living and Shelburne Fire and Rescue proposal to build a new building; and the many budgets, both school and town, that Shelburne residents have always passed.

I am sure there are many more examples of how residents have moved forward that only emphasize that we will continue to move forward with truly important and needed areas that most voters endorse.

The backlash would be better defined as the community wanting to be fiscally responsible given “the daunting capital and infrastructure needs” so clearly spelled out by Shelburne Selectboard chair

According to the Pew Research Center, roughly 5 percent of Americans are transgender, to which I would reply, “So what?” I could care less if two people of the same sex in northern Vermont get married. I could care less if an individual struggling with their sexual identity decides to change their gender. These folks are causing me no harm whatsoever. You know who is? People who hate. People who demonize. People who seek to divide us. We could learn a lot from Native Americans who were here before us. Show some tolerance. Stop being mean. Choose love.

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

Michael Ashooh. (“What’s next in Shelburne: change and conversation,” July 13, 2023)

While the cost of developing the Parade Ground may seem insignificant to some, the $40,000 “contribution” to the grant would be a good start to begin to meet some real needs in the community, for instance safety issues that the bike and pedestrian committee is proposing. As has been pointed out, the expense would not stop with developing the green as there would be added upkeep necessary.

Finally, if there was any real need in any of the areas that the plan suggests creating on the Parade Ground, it might have gotten a more positive response. Consider that Shelburne currently has several fantastic large and small venues that provide outdoor music all summer and some are a boon for the local tax.

The town also has many locations that can be used for public speaking engagements for both small and larger crowds. Shelburne also has wonderful places to picnic, both in and near town, including the current Parade Ground. As far as community gatherings are concerned, the farmers market on the green, beach nights, school events, library events, and more all provide significant opportunities. As for a community yoga space, what’s stopping the use of the open green Parade Ground for that now?

Mary and Scott Berkman Shelburne

Wealthy victims capture attention; nameless, stateless not so much

Guest Perspective

Walt Amses

It’s amazing how the overabundance of media platforms regularly roll out the shiny objects and we respond like stoners at a midnight diner, staring at the grill, their will broken, anxious to ingest almost anything. The old journalistic saw “if it bleeds, it leads” played out in prime-time last week as several adventurers learned too late that all the money in the world is an insufficient antidote to your own outsized illusions of invulnerability.

Most of us were fixated on the unfolding drama in the North Atlantic but remained unaware of a far worse human tragedy in Greece where over 100 migrants were dead and hundreds of others missing and presumed so after a ship — their hopeful ticket to a better life — capsized in the Mediterranean, spilling them into the sea or trapping them within the hull as the vessel sank beneath the waves.

All the dead paid a tidy sum to wind up in a watery grave: millions were a trifle for the wellheeled. The asylum seekers paid far less but it was likely their life savings.

Even a cursory glance at these incidents reveals an extraordinary contrast in the resources devoted to each, particularly considering the number of victims: five in one case and many hundreds in the other. We already know which got the bulk of the media attention and it’s also unsurprising that the doomed submersible garnered most of the rescue effort, however futile it seemed from the beginning, but a full accounting is an illuminating, and shameful indictment of First World preoccupations.

Late last week after a Coast Guard official announced that all aboard the Ocean Gate submersible were gone, victims of a catastrophic implosion, capping what can only be described as a media frenzy, MSNBC scorned the wallto-wall coverage as “breathless reporting, dire commentary from search and rescue experts, hourly updates, livestreams, push notifications and more.”

It was inescapable, even if you tried as cable news remained “fixated on the race against the clock operation to save the adventurers,” calling the entire ritual the tabloidification of American news.

As the circus churned along, galvanized viewers were treated to an appalling spectacle, worthy of reality television, complete with one network’s countdown clock — essentially a death watch — ticking away the hours until the five occupants would run out of oxygen and die. But before that inevitability, a worldwide collection of private companies, government agencies and a military flotilla explored the ocean’s surface, the sea floor and everywhere in between for any sign of life.

In the Mediterranean, the Greek Coast Guard did little to intervene until it was too late, issuing no distress calls until the trawler floundered, and men, women and children were tossed into the sea.

One irony playing out during this drama illustrates perfectly how nameless, faceless and eventually stateless people become expendable in the eyes of the world while some of their fabulously wealthy countrymen are celebrated, able to do whatever they wish. While hundreds of Pakistanis drown in the Mediterranean, fleeing a country mired in the kind of socioeconomic disparity that finds the top 1 percent holding five times more wealth than the bottom 50 percent, a select few find themselves facing a similar, untimely end. They just take an entirely different route to get there.

Extreme poverty in Pakistan leads directly to other, often insurmountable problems such as child labor, rampant crime and violence, enormous public health issues and a vast network of corruption redirecting aid destined for poverty programs to the wealthy.

Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman never had to worry about any of that, coming from one of the country’s wealthiest families with enough disposable income to drop $500,000 on sightseeing on the bottom of the ocean to view the wreckage of the Titanic.

While there’s nothing wrong with being wealthy and there isn’t a suggestion Dawood was anything but a decent man, it still feels unseemly that the world knows more about him than all the hundreds who disappeared off Greece combined. In a glowing New York Times obituary, we

learned of his education abroad, love of travel and penchant for science fiction, including the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, serving as a trustee of the SETI Institute, an organization engaged in space exploration.

As details of the submersible’s plight unspooled, media of every stripe collaborated to weave a dramatic odyssey with all the lifehanging-in-the-balance suspense of a carefully detailed, made-forNetflix movie. News anchors lost their minds, interviewing as many celebrities as possible like Titanic movie director James Cameron, oceanographers and maritime experts, adding even more to the theatricality.

Coverage of the disaster in Europe — what there was of it — had no such urgency, damning testimony to just how routine hundreds of disenfranchised souls drowning at sea, murdered by radical militias or regularly starving to death has become.

There’s speculation that the public’s fascination with catastrophe is predicated on how many are at risk: The fewer people involved, the easier it is to relate. With larger numbers individuality gets lost. Tim Recuber, a professor of sociology at Smith College who studies mass media, suggests that wealth plays a key role too: “We’re able to learn who these people are because of who they are … They’re wealthy and they have access to the press. Divisions of race and national identity matter in terms of who gets empathized with.”

Although we’re drawn to risk takers, often living vicariously through their exploits, the pandemic, economic issues, mass shootings, drug abuse and climate change leave us more inclined to wall ourselves off, frequently inured even to the plight of our neighbors.

Compassion fatigue they call it. But regrettably, as our own emotional state becomes more of a priority, the terrible daily risks facing people thousands of miles away progressively fade into the background.

Walt Amses is a writer based in Vermont.

“You won’t have a name when you ride the big airplane, all they will call you will be deportee.”

— Woody Guthrie

Rough Suspects

COMMUNITY

Community Notes

Enjoy Age Well meals at Charlotte Senior Center

The Age Well meal pickup for Thursday, July 27, is from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Charlotte Senior Center features breaded chicken breast, mashed cauliflower, spinach, wheat roll, Craisin and date cookie and milk.

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

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

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, 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.

More at agewellvt.org.

Homestead offers Home & Hearth reenactment

Ethan Allen Homestead Museum hosts a Home and Hearth reenactment on Saturday, July 29, 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Interact with reenactors as they cook over an open fire and work on artisan crafts to reenact domestic life in later 18th-century Vermont. The historic Allen House will be open all day for museum guests to speak with and learn from living historians.

Free with general admission.

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 2, Shellhouse plays the park.

The rest of the summer lineup includes: Aug. 9, Hinesburg Community Band; and Aug. 16, In the Pocket.

Pierson Library

On Tuesday, Aug. 1, at 1 p.m., the library hosts a free technology class, “Grow Digital Skills.”

Come with your device (cellphones, tablets, laptops) and questions. Learn how to download audio books, store or transfer photos, join and manage social media.

Emmy Hilliard will teach the class.

Join local author Angela Kunkel who will read from new book, “Make Way,” on Saturday, Aug.5 at 10:30 a.m. Kunkel will also read from Robert McCloskey’s “Make Way for Ducklings” at this special storytime.

Be sure to visit our advertisers and tell them: “I saw your name in the Shelburne News.”

PHOTO BY ANNE LATTRELL PHOTOGRAPHY

Shelburne Parks and Recreation hosts its summer concert series finale with fireworks at Vermont Teddy Bear on Route 7 in Shelburne on Tuesday, Aug. 1. So, grab some dinner from one of the many food trucks on hand and then kick back and listen to your favorite tunes with The Rough Suspects. The evening is capped off with a fireworks display. The Vermont Teddy Bear store will remain open for visitors until 6 p.m. Food trucks and picnicking starts at 5 p.m. The concert starts about 7 p.m. and lasts until dusk when the firework show begins. Rain date is Wednesday, Aug. 2. Donations are welcome at the entrance to support the special event series.

Angela Kunkel

IN MUSING

continued from page 5

matters.

So what if you accidentally misgender someone? Simply apologize, correct yourself and move forward in the conversation. Importantly, don’t make a big deal, like saying, “I feel bad!” or “I’m trying hard!” Excessive apologies and justifications only bring focus to one’s self.

The National Institute of Health writes, “Being misgendered (i.e., being referred to with incorrect pronouns) can be an extremely hurtful and invalidating experience. Intentional refusal to use someone’s correct pronouns is equivalent to harass-

Fall youth soccer

Registration closes on Friday, Aug. 4. No registrations will be accepted after this date, and kids will be placed on a waitlist and put on a team only if space allows.

The Shelburne Recreation Soccer League is for students entering grades one to six in the fall. All teams will be assigned one practice night during the week and will

ment and a violation of one’s civil rights.”

Let’s face it, it’s not just about a pronoun. Far from it. Fact is transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse individuals are currently experiencing shocking and growing amounts of discrimination and violence. Fact also is each one of us can be a strong voice in opposition to such hate. And, yes, for some, it can begin with a pronoun.

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

compete in games on Saturdays. Kids in grades one to four will play all games at Shelburne Community School on Saturday mornings. Fifth and sixth grade teams will play other town recreation teams, home and away. Travel in the area is required. Games may be any time on Saturdays, morning or afternoon.

Find more program and event details at www.shelburnevt.org/160/parks-recreation.

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

The sun breaks through the clouds over the Champlain Valley.

Sky painting

Shelburne student, aspiring writer and chef

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

For many people, working in a restaurant is just a small part of their journey into adulthood, but for Shelburne resident and Champlain Valley Union graduate, Clayton Murphy, restaurant work is the foundation for a creative passion that has followed him into college: writing.

Although he dabbles in culinary creations and has worked in restaurants since he was 15 years old, his heart really beats for telling — and hearing— stories, something that anyone who has worked in the hospitality industry knows is the makeup of the many hours of pre-dinner and post-dinner service.

The late chef and author of the best-selling kitchen tell-all “Kitchen Confidential,”Anthony Bourdain, once described kitchen work as a messy undertaking, but ultimately a place where “motley misfits can be a family.”

For Murphy, that is exactly the experience he has had.

He recounted some of his early days working the dish pit at the first restaurant he ever worked, La Villa Bistro.

“A couple of weeks into working there, the chef pulled me aside, and we really were talking passion and that I really enjoyed cooking and I wanted to get good,” Murphy said. “He recommended ‘Kitchen Confidential’ and I bought it and I read it in maybe two days. I was just completely enthralled. Now, when I wasn’t working, I was reading about working. It was like, ‘This is just really cool.’”

He endured the grueling months of working the dish pit — a practice that many backof-house staff must first master — but the moment a position for a prep cook opened, he leaped at the opportunity to work the line.

“I got on the prep shift and learned how to use a knife, learned basics of kitchens. I was prepping and then finally I was able to get a shift making pizza,” he said. “I was all gung-ho and getting super into the industry.”

When the owners of La Villa Bistro closed their doors and opened Backyard Bistro in Charlotte, Murphy said it was his first introduction to some “higher-brow stuff.”

“There were super skilled

people working there,” he said. “I love talking with these guys who have been in the industry for their entire life and don’t know anything else other than cooking and the stories that some of these guys told me just were awesome.”

He described his time learning in the kitchen as the first time he began to strike out as an individual — his first time actually being proud of something that was completely his own.

“It was really the first time where I completely, on my own, discovered something that I got energy and passion from. Because it was really its own separate thing from all other aspects of my life,” he explained. “That was really powerful.”

But channeling his charismatic energy would take some time, training and a helping hand from chef John Patterson at the Shelburne Farms Inn.

Patterson, a Philadelphia native, has been working in kitchens for more than 20 years specializing in fine dining and farm-to-table experiences before coming to Vermont in 2019 — a place where farm-to-table takes an even more literal meaning.

“There’s just such a unique opportunity here where literally the tabletops are made on the farm,” he said. “The food that you’re getting is coming from a half mile across the farm. A lot of chefs have either signature dishes or styles, but it’s just based on the season here.”

He said the seasonal kitchen crew at the inn is younger than any crews he’s dealt with

in his past experience, which has opened a new avenue of mentorship to his career.

“I really love building teams,” Patterson said. “I really love the mentorship, teaching. I had the experience of working for some really great chefs and really great restaurants. Now it’s more exciting for me to be able to pass some

of that knowledge down to people who really want it and want to be able to learn and are interested in working in this for their own sake of they’re inspired by it.”

Murphy said that he has always loved to cook since a young age,

First

FILE PHOTO

Chef John Patterson.

See MURPHY on page 11

“I love talking with these guys who have been in the industry for their entire life and don’t know anything else other than cooking.”

— Clayton Murphy

Summer Pops

The Vermont Philharmonic will play its annual outdoor Summer Pops Concerts at Moose Meadow Lodge, 607 Crossett Hill Road in Duxbury, on Sunday, Aug. 13, 4 p.m., and at Shore Acres Inn in North Hero overlooking Lake Champlain on Saturday, Sept. 2, also at 4 p.m. Led by music director Lou Kosma, the orchestra will offer selections from musicals such as “The King and I,” film (“Lord of the Rings”) and orchestral classics such as “Hungarian March” from Hector Berlioz’s “The Damnation of Faust.” The program will also feature two works by young Vermont composers, Chase Ehrlich’s “Spirit of the Sky” and Callum Robechek’s “And in a Moment,” along with audience favorites “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” The program concludes with “Stars and Stripes Forever.” Tickets and information: vermontphilharmonic.com.

COMMITTEE

continued from page 1

“We will be making our initial points to them about how climate issues are affected by development and how the town bylaws can steer things in a positive direction,” he said. “We won’t be looking case by case (at new developments) but we will definitely be involved with trying to shape the town’s zoning bylaws and ordinances to do what we can to make new developments more energy efficient while making sure they preserve as much as possible open space and natural areas.”

Davis said that the state has a large appropriation of money under the Municipal Energy Resilience Program that provides staff support, application and

technical assistance and funding to increase energy resilience, reduce energy use by promoting weatherization, thermal improvements, fuel switching, renewable energy, battery storage, electric vehicle charging and enhancement of municipal buildings.

The committee initially received $4,000 through the program “to basically grow a committee,” Davis said. The funds will be used for community outreach and other forms of advertisement.

The second secured grant funding was a small grant for $1,200 for window weatherization and installation that the committee hopes will launch this fall.

Davis anticipates that the next steps will be to secure energy audits for the five municipal buildings along with the installation of two new electric vehicle charging stations at the town offices.

“Experts will come in and help to assess how efficient or inefficient our buildings are and what we can do about it so that way we will have some technical information to work with,” he said.

The town plan lists a number of strict goals regarding climate change with the ultimate hope of obtaining 90 percent of all energy across all sectors — transportation, heating and electricity — from renewable sources by 2050 with the interim goal of 25 percent renewable by 2025.

continued from page 10

but ultimately chose against going to culinary school and is instead pursuing journalism and photography at the University of Montana. But he says, the world of writing doesn’t differ much from the skills he learned working at restaurants.

“I remember talking to someone a couple weeks ago and telling them I’ve been working in kitchens, but now I’m studying journalism, and they said, ‘Wow, that’s quite the change of pace. Those are two completely different careers,’” Murphy said. “There’s a lot of similarities.

It’s talking to people and getting inspired by all these stories that you wouldn’t hear otherwise. There is definitely a pretty unique bond.”

Patterson said Murphy’s always been interested in learning to cook, but since starting to write more he’s much more interested in the dynamics of restaurant work.

“He takes it beyond just learning how to cook,” Patterson said. “He’s interested in the process. How does the kitchen work and how do you have different team members and different people that

all have their own unique qualities, how do you bring that together and make it a really dynamic workplace?”

Although dorm life has slightly stifled his ability to flex his culinary muscles, he says he still makes a regular effort to visit friends that live off campus and make dinner for everyone.

“I had a review with chef John toward the end of last season,” Murphy said. “He said something along the lines of, ‘Motivate yourself to be better every day. Every day. No matter how big or small the step.’”

COURTESY PHOTO

MURPHY

Super Cooper

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.

Wildlife Briefs

Wildlife, national forest officials hold four fishing clinics

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and the U.S. Forest Service are conducting four Introduction to Fishing Clinics in Green Mountain National Forest this summer.

“The national forest offers a wide range of fishing opportunities from remote back country ponds to locations with easy shore access and everything in between,” fish and wildlife education Specialist Corey Hart.

“Join us for a hands-on evening of fishing fun at the first three clinics which will be perfect for those who have never been fishing before or those looking to refresh their skills. Topics covered will include knot tying, fishing regulations, casting, ecology, and more.”

The clinics will be held:

Thursday, July 27, 5:30-8 p.m., Grout Pond Recreation Area, Stratton; Wednesday, Aug. 2, 5:30-8 p.m., Lefferts Pond,

Award-winning group of community weeklies with offices in Stowe, Morrisville and South Burlington seeks a sales person. Ideal candidate should have a basic knowledge of the local towns, business and communities we serve. A proven track record in sales and an ability to offer topnotch customer service is a required. In addition to servicing established accounts, candidate must be able to generate sales from qualified leads as well as establish new ones. Our company offers health benefits, vacation time, and provides on the job training in newspapers sales. Generous base salary during training and ideal hours (few nights or weekends). If you possess these qualifications and would like to be considered, please send your resume and cover letter to: Bryan Meszkat at bryan@newsandcitizen.com.

Chittenden; Thursday, Aug. 10, 5:30-8 p.m., Hapgood Pond recreation Area, Peru; and Thursday, Sept. 7, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Little Rock Pond, Mount Tabor Parking Area, Forest Road 10, Mount Tabor.

The last program covers all the basics of fishing while focusing on how to fish backcountry ponds. It includes a 5-mile round trip hike to reach Little Rock Pond. Register at vtfishandwildlife. com.

Fish and wildlife hosts teen conservation weekend

A teen conservation weekend to be held at the Edward F. Kehoe Conservation Camp in Castleton on Aug. 18-20 for kids ages 15-17.

“Teen Conservation Weekend allows us to provide teens with an exciting weekend of quality environmental education,” said Hannah Phelps, camp coordinator. “Campers will arrive Friday evening and immediately begin participating in Let’s Go Fishing and Hunter Education programing before backpacking out to a remote pond for an evening of camping and fishing.”

The weekend is the perfect way for teens to unplug and engage with peers outdoors before heading back to the classroom. The weekend is capped at 20 participants, but there is still space for new registrants.

Arrival time is 5:45 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18 with departure at 4 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

All participants will be expected to only bring gear they can carry themselves as they will participate in a backpacking trip to a remote campsite on Saturday evening.

The cost for the weekend is $125, which includes meals. Sponsorships are available.

To register go to vtfishandwildlife.com or email hannah. phelps@vermont.gov.

FOR SALE:

KITTEN: Sweet, mostly black three-month-old female kitten ready for adoption. She’s spayed, chipped and had first round of vaccinations. Small adoption fee to help defray vet costs. Contact: pserisky@ gmail.com if interested.

PHOTO BY ALAN WARD

The Maplewood-Irving Oil Late Model top three at First Responders Appreciation Night at Thunder Road on July 20. From left, Tyler Cahoon, third, winner Cooper Bouchard of Hinesburg, and Darrell Morin, second. Bouchard took his first race of the season. Kaiden Fisher of Shelburne was fifth, while Hinesburg’s Bobby Therrien finished 13th.

continued from page 1

blooms later in the summer,” he said.

Phosphorus is one of the nutrient pollutants found in runoff and arguably the greatest threat to clean water in Lake Champlain. Too much phosphorus pollution stimulates excessive growth of algae like cyanobacteria, which can be toxic to pets, people and wildlife environments.

“Early estimations are that Lake Champlain received a year’s worth of phosphorus loading from the event and that some rivers delivered more phosphorus to Lake Champlain during the July 2023 flood than during all of 2022,” Lori Fisher, executive director of the Lake Champlain Committee, wrote in an email to the town of Charlotte.

Cyanobacteria blooms block the sunlight and steal necessary oxygen and nutrients that organisms need to live while simultaneously releasing cyanotoxins, which are among the most powerful natural poisons known, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There is no way to tell if a bloom is releasing toxins by just looking at it, and there are no remedies to counteract the effects of the

shelburne news

toxins.

“It’s been a bad season for cyanobacteria,” Aaron Brown, the zoning administrator and health officer in Charlotte, said. “I believe I’ve closed lake access points due to cyanobacteria on three occasions already. The increased nutrient content of the water is going to provide food for cyanobacteria. It seems inevitable that warm, sunny weather will cause more algal blooms.”

Mitchell said that the Lake Champlain Basin Program’s scientific staff is still working to try to quantify exactly how many toxins came down the rivers, particularly after a sewer break under the Winooski River was announced last week in Burlington. More complete data will be collected within coming weeks using discharge data from monitoring stations on many of the lake’s tributaries.

“They’re working to come up with a temporary solution to reduce the effect of that broken pipe in the Winooski by routing a temporary sewer line, and in the short term, the city of Burlington has recommended not swimming within a mile

of the mouth of the river,” Mitchell said. Brown said that it’s difficult to say whether the sewage from this recent line break will directly impact Charlotte, Shelburne or other nearby beaches, but given the tremendous runoff of nutrients and other contaminants, “it’s safe to assume that the lake faces a host of problems. I don’t mean to sound alarmist. I have heard of at least one person who was working in the lake and had an open sore become infected,” he said.

Mitchell said that in the short term, the storm and high-water level circulation knocked down some of the immediate threat of cyanobacteria blooms because the rapid movement of the water helped to break up the algae, but according to the Vermont Department of Health, cyanotoxins from the blooms are released more aggressively when they die and break down.

In addition to cyanobacteria, high levels of E. coli, which is considered to be the best indicator of fecal pollution and the presence of pathogens, are also being reported. The state threshold for determining the safety of water for swimming is a maximum of 235 parts E. coli per 100 milliliters.

Brown said that Whiskey Bay in Charlotte was over 2,400 parts per 100 milliliters last week and the town beach was over 500 parts. But those numbers frequently fluctuate and are closely monitored by himself and beach staff.

In Shelburne last week, levels were elevated but were still within safe swimming levels under state policy.

“We do not test (for E. coli) every day though, only once a week, so we have been advising swimmers to use caution,” Shelburne’s parks and recreation director Betsy Cieplicki said. “We inspect the water for cyanobacteria on a daily basis.”

Roughly 20 million gallons of water are pumped from the lake each day to supply drinking water to roughly 145,000 people, but Mitchell said that as of now, there is really no concern over drinking water quality since all the water is heavily treated before being distributed and distribution systems are sealed and there no known breaches.

“Some of the places like camps on the lake that draw their water directly from the lake, that might be a different story depending on how close you are to some of the rivers,” he said.

Both Cieplicki and Brown are urging residents to check town websites before considering swimming as testing is done on a daily and weekly basis.

“This is the time of year when people make fond memories of long summer days spent on the water,” Brown said. “It genuinely breaks my heart to tell people not to enjoy the lake with their families and friends. But I’m afraid that’s where we are.”

“We do not test (for E. coli) every day though, only once a week, so we have been advising swimmers to use caution.”

— Betsy Cieplicki Shelburne parks and recreation director

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

treatment with the rabies vaccine is nearly 100 percent effective when given soon after a person is bitten by a rabid animal.

So far this year, 23 animals in Vermont have tested positive for rabies, and 14 of those have been raccoons.

According to wildlife officials, rabid animals often show a change in their normal behavior, but you cannot tell whether an animal has rabies simply by looking at it. People should not touch or pick up wild animals or strays – even baby animals.

ARIES

March 21 - April 20

Don’t rush in and act combative this week, Aries. Take a more delicate approach to convince others to see things your way. As the saying goes, “You catch more ies with honey than with vinegar.”

TAURUS

April 21 - May 21

Are you feeling like you may want to be a wellness warrior of late, Taurus? Start by taking inventory of the foods in your home and making some healthier changes.

GEMINI

May 22 - June 21

Gemini, if you are looking to make a few new friends, ask others to connect you with like-minded individuals. You never know who you might meet until you give it a try.

CANCER

June 22 - July 22

Cancer, if a delicate issue has been troubling you, reach out to someone you can trust and begin to talk things through. You will likely feel better just getting things out.

LEO

July 23 - Aug. 23

Leo, are you ready to take your project to the next level? Brainstorm with a coworker about the best way to get ahead and make a mark with this endeavor.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 23 - Dec. 21

Invite people to stop by and cheer you up, Sagittarius. You’ve been going through a rough patch and there’s nothing like happy faces and new perspectives to bring about a smile.

VIRGO

Aug. 24 - Sept. 22

It could be time for a move and you just aren’t ready to admit it, Virgo. You may have gotten comfortable in one place, but a move could prove the right decision.

LIBRA

Sept. 23 - Oct. 23

Libra, there are a lot of ideas swimming around in your head. You may need to put some things down on paper to see what really might be worth doing in the days to come.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22 - Jan. 20

Capricorn, be sure to check your bank account pretty regularly; otherwise, you may lose track of spending and get yourself into a nancial mess that could be tough to get out of.

SCORPIO

Oct. 24 - Nov. 22

Connect with a friend or even your partner for an intimate dinner this week. You’ve been moving in different circles and it’s time to get on the same page.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 21 - Feb. 18

Aquarius, you may be your own worst enemy this week, especially as it pertains to thinking that someone may be trying to cause trouble with you at work. Get the facts before acting.

PISCES

Feb. 19 - March 20

Pisces, there is a process to everything. Remain patient and stay the course no matter how excited you are. Rest assured that things will work out if you can hang in there.

CLUES ACROSS

1. Bonus materials

7. Formal names

13. Free from restraints

14. One who scrapes away

16. Type of device

17. Skin cancers

19. The Show Me State

20. Plate glasses

22. Red-brown sea bream

23. Small (Fr.)

25. Flightless Australian birds

26. High IQ group

28. Stiff structures

29. Revolutions per minute

30. Where a bachelor lives

31. Licensed for Wall Street

33. A place to park 34. Energy, style and enthusiasm 36. An important creed in Catholic Church

38. 18-year astronomical period

40. Furies 41. Removes from the record

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!

43. Noted child psychiatrist 44. Feline 45. High schoolers’ test 47. Not happy

48. They __

51. On top

53. Precious stones unit of weight

55. Moved quickly

56. Seagulls

58. A seed with hooks or teeth

59. Partner to “oohed”

60. Exclamation of surprise

61. Most unpleasant

64. Organization help service members

65. Type of cockatoo

67. Humorous criticisms

69. Went through and organized

70. Wakes up

CLUES DOWN

1. Settle in tents

2. Big

CROSSWORD SUDOKU

3. Books

4. Masses of eggs in sh

5. Language

6. Not standing

7. Chinese philosophy

8. Computer giant

9. A device to catch

10. Emits coherent radiation

11. Actor O’Neill

12. Smallest interval in western music

ANSWERS

13. Not lower

15. Revolves

18. Leavened bread

21. Number above the line in a fraction

24. Cable

26. Adult male

27. Airborne (abbr.

30. Bull ghting maneuvers

32. Broadcast

35. __ Angeles

37. Vehicle

38. Not religious

39. North American peoples

42. A baglike structure

43. Body art (slang)

46. Picked for a role

47. Actress Tomei

49. Former hoopster “Big Country”

50. Icelandic poems

52. More pleasant

54. It can add avor to meat

55. Self-immolation by re rituals

57. Expression

Spotted turtles: rare, reclusive

The Outside Story

Susan Shea

Named for their polka-dot-like markings, spotted turtles have declined throughout most of their range, which stretches from Maine south along the Atlantic coastal plain to northern Florida, and from western New York into the eastern Great Lakes states. This species is listed as threatened or endangered in northern New England states.

While I have never seen a spotted turtle in the wild, I had the chance to see one years ago at the Connecticut nature center where I worked. This turtle was about 4 inches long, with a smooth, black carapace sprinkled with yellow dots. The skin on its head, neck, and legs was marked with tiny yellow speckles. The turtle’s underside, or plastron, was yellow-orange with large black blotches along the edges.

These turtles are semi-aquatic, spending time on both land and water. They travel among a mosaic of wetland types, including ponds, swamps, vernal pools, fens and slow-moving sections of small rivers, foraging there and in woodlands and meadows along their route.

Spotted turtles emerge from

hibernation before other turtle species in our region. They begin swimming as early as late March, when there may still be ice on their wintering ponds. In early spring, they bask on logs, rocks, or shores, soaking up heat from the sun. They also breed at this time. After mating, spotted turtles often move to woodland vernal pools, where they feast on amphibian eggs and tadpoles. In other wetlands, they feed on aquatic insects, small fish, crayfish and plants.

In June, females travel to open, sandy or gravelly areas to lay their eggs. A spotted turtle will dig a shallow, flask-shaped nest about 2 inches deep and deposit two to five ovoid eggs, then fill in the nest and smooth it over. The eggs will hatch in September, and the round, 1-inch, unspotted hatchlings will head for wetland edges to forage.

During summer heat spells, spotted turtles may become dormant for days or weeks, estivating in a dug depression in the ground, in moist hummocks of vegetation, or inside muskrat houses. In September, these turtles travel to hibernation sites on pond bottoms, in underwater rock caves or in hummocks.

The spotted turtle is listed as endangered in Vermont, where there are only three known popula-

tions, all in the southern half of the state. In New Hampshire, where this turtle is a threatened species, it is found mainly in the southeastern corner. In Maine, where the species is also threatened, spotted turtles occur along the southern coast. In southern New England and New York, this reptile is considered a species of special concern.

Spotted turtles may travel up to three quarters of a mile on their annual journeys. According to herpetologist Jim Andrews, coordinator of the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas, the species’ nomadic lifestyle and use of upland as well as wetland habitats make it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and road mortality.

The illegal collection of turtles for the pet trade has also contributed to population decline. Because these turtles don’t reach sexual maturity for eight to 10 years and have a low reproductive rate, removing even a few turtles can wipe out a population.

Fish and wildlife agencies in northern New England monitor spotted turtle populations. In many places, they have erected turtle crossing road signs, installed turtle tunnels beneath roads and modified railroad tracks so the animals don’t get stuck while crossing. The conservation of large, intact

wetland complexes and their surrounding landscape is critical to the survival of these turtles, said Andrews.

Spotted turtles tend to hide underwater and in vegetation, making it difficult to find new populations. A new environmental DNA study, a collaboration between the University of Vermont and Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, will collect water samples and analyze the DNA to detect whether this species occurs in particular waterbodies. If you are lucky enough to see

a turtle with yellow spots, take a photo and report it to the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas (vtherpatlas.org) or to your state wildlife agency. Watch out for turtles crossing roads, and never remove a turtle from the wild.

Susan Shea is a naturalist and conservationist in Vermont. The Outside Story is assigned and edited by Northern Woodlands magazine and sponsored by Wellborn Ecology Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, nhcf.org.

ILLUSTRATION BY ADELAIDE MURPHY TYROL