Shelburne News - 10-5-23

Good eats

Shelburne Road sees new dining spots

Page 2

Roaring to life

New Lions Club represents Shelburne, S. Burlington

Page 9

Big ‘cat’

Shelburne Rescue wants to become paramedic-level

After years of deliberation, Shelburne Rescue is moving forward with its plan to include paramedic-level services — a necessary step to help retain volunteers and staff, says Chief Jacob Leopold.

Shelburne Rescue has served the town since 1985 and currently operates at an advanced emergency medical technician level. There are four national registries for emergency medical technicians in the United States: first responder, EMT, advanced EMT, and critical care paramedic.

“Vermont emergency medical services are distributed into a variety of districts, and we are in district three. Ten out of the 14 are paramedics already,” Leopold said. “So, we really are in the minority.”

Leopold recently told the Shel-

burne Selectboard that the department currently has mutual aid paramedic agreements in place with Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Essex Rescue and South Burlington Rescue, but there are plenty of times those departments are not always able to get to Shelburne, which creates a delay in patient care.

Based on the record-high 1,450 calls seen this year, there is a significant need in town to make the move, he said.

“Charlotte Fire and Rescue is right around 330 calls, Richmond Rescue’s at about 730 calls,” Leopold said. “We certainly have a call volume to support it and we have the call demographics to support it. Most residents that we service expect that we are paramedics.”

Not only does the level of care advance, but the transition

See EMT on page 13

Colorful Leaf People once again populate town

TOMMY GARDNER STAFF WRITER

On the last day of summer this year, Gracie Pinney rode down Route 7 through Shelburne in the passenger seat of a big black pickup truck festooned with the Automaster logo that Carl Cocuzza stopped every few hundred feet so they could drop off one of Pinney’s 64 kids.

Pinney, for the past 18 years or so, has been the creative force behind the Shelburne Leaf People, scores of skinny framed, bright-

ly dressed, hatted but faceless folks who cheerfully stand sentry on roadsides and front lawns all through the town.

“Every one of them is different, and they are different every year,” Pinney said. “I just go out in the barn, I have the radio on, and I just dress them and be on my merry way.”

The Leaf People of Shelburne are no more made of leaves than are the walking, talking, camera-clicking leaf peepers also coming out of hiding this time of year (and slowing traffic in their

own way). Sans garb, they consist of a corn stalk spine and light wooden appendages, with the corn stalks donated by the Mack Farm in Charlotte.

Green Mountain Floral Supply, Finney’s old employer, still donates the flowers she uses to add extra flourishes of color to her creations. The rest of it, the clothing, the jewelry, the hats, the accessories, she buys. She’s fastidious about their outfits, right down to some of their polka dotted socks — basically, whatever any warm-blooded human with

a vibrant style sense would wear out in public.

“I get them from Goodwill, ReSource, wherever I get them, they have to be bright. I’m looking for something very particular,” Pinney said.

For some reason, Pinney said it was tougher than usual this year to pull together enough articles of clothing to outfit all 64 leaf people, but she acknowledges that just any old duds don’t cut it for the Leaf People.

Cocuzza said drivers frequently honk their horns in greeting

when they see Pinney and him setting up the Leaf People, and there are more than a few out-ofstate leaf peepers who make the annual autumnal pilgrimage, snapping photos of the nattily dressed cornstalks on the green at Shelburne Farms.

This year Pinney and Cocuzza placed the figures along the sides of Route 7, down Harbor Road with higher-population pockets at Shelburne Community School

See LEAF PEOPLE on page 12

COURTESY PHOTO

Chris Latta of Shelburne captured this great shot of a bobcat along the train tracks in the Clearwater neighborhood on Sept. 27 at about 8 a.m. “Here is a great shot of a bobcat living among us and why we need to preserve our neighborhood wooded areas,” he said. “What a beautiful animal.”

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

Shelburne Road gets new places to dine out

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

Two new dining spots have hit the Shelburne Road corridor in recent months and have taken what were once beloved Shelburne staples and revamped them into entirely new spaces.

Bearded Frog becomes Electra’s

The passion project of Chef Donnell Collins takes what was once The Beared Frog in the Shelburne Inn and completely transforms the space into a new approachable fine dining experience called Electra’s.

The Bearded Frog closed in August 2022 after nearly 16 years due to staffing shortages and other pandemic-related hardships.

When Collins and her team moved in, everything was taken down to the studs and completely reimagined, including an expanded bar and lounge in the adjacent storefront, which was previously Green Pasture Meats.

“We are anticipating this to be a little bit livelier of an atmosphere and a spot where people can come have a cocktail, have an appetizer on the way home from work,” said general manager Jake Loyer. “We’re going to open this space at 3 p.m. and the dining room at 5 p.m.”

The restaurant upholds all the values of fine dining — white tablecloths and crystal stemware — but its mission is centered around the space as a classic neighborhood restaurant.

“Both Donnell and I feel that restaurant culture is going in a direction we don’t want,” Loyer said. “Servers with iPads, iPads on tables. Both of us feel that this industry was built on personal connection and being able to talk to people and being a part of a community. That’s what we’re striving for here.”

Although Electra’s is sure to add a new dining element to the Shelburne community, Collins and Loyer are no strangers to the restaurant world. Collins became the owner and chef of Leunig’s

Bistro and Café in Burlington in early 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, and later opened the Shelburne-based café and bakery Le Marché in 2022.

Loyer has worked in both front-of-house positions and management positions for most of his life. The love for the work, he says, is just something you’re born with.

“I love what I get to do. I

Pedestrian killed crossing Shelburne Road

A Burlington resident was killed after being struck by a car while crossing Shelburne Road last Monday, South Burlington police said.

Chriss Zuckerman, 59, of Burlington, was killed when she was hit by a vehicle driving northbound, police said. Zuckerman was crossing Shelburne Road near the intersection of Fayette Drive

around 8:45 p.m.

Despite life-saving measures on scene, Zuckerman later died after being transported to the University of Vermont Medical Center, police said.

The driver, Kristina Sievert, 29, of Burlington, who was also taken to hospital, was screened for intoxication, a standard part of any fatal motor vehicle crash, police said.

Little information has been released. Police say the investigation remains ongoing.

The South Burlington Fire Department, Vermont State Police, and Shelburne Police Department assisted at the scene of the crash.

Witnesses are asked to contact Det. Martin Maloney at 802-8464192 or mmaloney@southburlingtonpolice.org.

love getting to be a small part of people’s lives,” he said. “I think restaurants hold a huge part in communities.”

Next to the main dining room is a separate space — previously the Bearded Frog’s main bar — that has been revamped with an extended 35-person seating area that can be rented for private events.

The team has coined the term, New American Colonial to describe the kinds of cuisine that customers can expect. The idea is to have innovative, ever-changing dishes cooked in a classic French way.

“Leunig’s is so steeped in French cuisine, which we’ve hung our hat on for a long time. But we want to start to rotate into things that can be more innovative and more inventive but cooked in a really classical French way,” Loyer said. “We’re going to take the processes and the systems that come out of French cuisine but be

Since childhood, Lynn has been captivated by the world of art. Her passion for both creating pieces and appreciating those of others constantly drives Lynn to explore new art mediums, processes and materials. Color is the most important aspect of Lynn’s art and one of the greatest joys in her life! Join us for a showing of her inspiring and colorful works of art.

more playful with it and not have so many 210-year-old dishes.”

The team plans to be fully open to the public on Oct. 17 and then be open Tuesday through Saturday.

Morgan Brook Farm Food Truck

Just down the road from Electra’s, there is something new cooking up at the old Sirloin Saloon property on Shelburne Road that has sat vacant since that restaurant’s closure in 2008.

As an extension of the 400-acre Morgan Brook Farm in Westford, the farm team has launched a new seasonal food truck as a unique means to sell their wagyu beef.

“Our offerings are all wagyu beef,” farm manager Lisa Hallstrom said. “We have burgers, we have a Thai salad that has wagyu steak on it. We have Philly cheese steaks which are wagyu-shaped steaks. We have beef poutine.”

The original inspiration for the Morgan Brook Farm Kitchen was to create a more accessible way for people to buy their products. Although there is a retail location at the farm called The Butcher Barn, frozen cuts are available for people to take home right from the food truck.

“People on Shelburne Road or Burlington can get their product from the farm here much easier,” Hallstrom said.

The truck first opened in late June and will remain open until November, weather permitting. But with such a good customer response this year, the team is already thinking ahead to next year.

“We’ve been really busy,” said Hallstrom, who also occasionally works the truck. “It’s something that we would definitely continue again.”

The food truck is open Thursday through Monday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

PHOTO BY LIBERTY DARR

Electra’s dining room is set to open in the old Bearded Frog location in Shelburne on Oct. 17.

Senator, Howard Center unveil Lakeview House in Shelburne

Former Sen. Patrick Leahy and Marcelle Leahy joined Howard Center staff and community partners in Shelburne Sept. 20 to celebrate the construction of Lakeview House, a new home for 16 Vermonters who benefit from a structured and supportive environment.

Speaking to a crowd of about 70 who gathered for the event, Leahy thanked all those who played a part in the construction of the new building and observed, “We’re a little state, but we punch above our weight.”

Howard Center director of innovation and special projects Cathie Buscaglia explained that the new home will allow the residents to relocate from a building in Burlington.

“Most of the people who live together in the current Lakeview House have been together for many years. As they get older, accessibility issues in the house have become an issue,” she said.

Lakeview House opened in 1998 and this year marks its 25th anniversary.

The new, single-story Lakeview House will include a private bedroom for each resident along with a library space, exercise

Say you saw it in the Shelburne News!

room, common dining room and a commercial kitchen and laundry. Locating it on Shelburne Road means residents will have easy access to public bus service.

Another benefit of the new home will be lower operating costs. Because it is new construction, Howard Center expects it to need less maintenance, and energy efficiency has been incorporated into the design.

Lakeview House is being built by David Shenk and Jon Pizzagalli

of DSLJ Ventures.

Other speakers at the event included Michael Ashooh, chair of the Shelburne Selectboard; representatives from the offices of senators Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch and Rep. Becca Balint; Daniel Costello from Lakeview; and Kelly Deforge, vice president of Howard Center’s Board of Trustees.

Construction is nearly complete and should be ready for its new residents early next year.

COURTESY PHOTO

Former Sen. Patrick Leahy and Marcelle Leahy help celebrate the construction of Lakeview House, which will house 16 Vermonters who benefit from a structured and supportive environment, in Shelburne. Leahy secured funding for the project during his last year in office. From left, builder David Shenk of DSLJ Ventures, Cathie Buscaglia, Howard Center director of innovation and special projects, Leahy, Marcelle Leahy and Howard Center CEO Bob Bick.

Shelburne Police Blotter: Sept. 25 - Oct. 1

Total reported incidents: 67

Traffic stops: 17

Warnings: 14

Tickets: 3

Medical emergencies: 17

Mental health incidents: 3

Suspicious incidents: 14

Domestic incidents: 1

Agency assists: 4

Citizen assists: 6

Welfare check: 1

Motor vehicle complaints: 1

Automobile incidents: 3

Animal problem: 1

Fire: 1

Theft: 7

Vandalism: 1

Burglary: 1

Alarms: 5

Pending investigations: 9

Sept. 25 at 3:34 a.m., a caller on Longmeadow Drive told police they saw an individual breaking into vehicles in the area. Officers could not find the individual and the matter is being investigated.

Sept. 25 at 10:03 a.m., police say an intoxicated woman was causing a disruption at Kinney Drugs and was taken to detox.

Sept. 25 at 10:57 a.m., a Spear Street resident told police his home had been vandalized. The matter is under investigation.

Sept. 26 at 10:53 a.m., a Cheesefactory Road resident told police they had items stolen

from their residence.

Sept. 29 at 8:56 a.m., an unattended controlled burn was spotted near Governors Lane. Police told the property owner to get a permit next time.

Sept. 28 at 6:30 p.m., a retail theft was reported at Walgreens in the Shelburne Shopping Park. The case is under investigation.

Sept. 30 at 3:49 a.m., a LaPlatte Circle home was reportedly burglarized, police said. The case is under investigation.

Sept. 30 at 10:58 p.m., a caller from Green Hills Drive told police their vehicle had been stolen.

Oct. 1 at 3:22 a.m., a Caspian Lane resident reported a theft of items from their car. The case is under investigation.

Oct. 1 at 10:48 a.m., police received numerous reports from several locations, including Farmstead Drive, Aspen Circle, and Callamer Circle of a suspicious individual trying to get into vehicles. Officers could not find anyone matching the description.

Oct. 1 at 12:47 p.m., a Sycamore Street resident reported a theft of items from their car, and the case is now under investigation.

Oct. 1 at 1:29 p.m., two Kimball

See BLOTTER on page 6

Shelburne News

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Poet governor Letter to the Editor

Support trans people on their journeys

To the Editor:

I don’t doubt some of the biological facts Susan Bowen states in her letter, and not surprised at a few of the questions. Many have been asked before and there are not a lot of answers.

Sadly, I found that the tone of her piece had a certain air of negativity and the shock value of being so graphic in her descriptions was appalling. (“Champlain Valley School District transgender policy raises concern,” Sept. 28, 2023)

There is no accounting of the emotional side — the humanity — of the journey that trans families take, and then to face this type of non-acceptance. Isn’t life hard enough for these youths? They want nothing more than a little kindness and understanding, and this mentality does nothing but alienate them further, which can often end in suicide.

Walk in their shoes a bit, learn their struggles and the monumental decision to take that step of affirming who they really are. I have worked with many trans people, and their courage is astounding.

Sean Moran Shelburne

PHOTO BY ROB BRODER

Three-term Vermont governor, ambassador, author and Shelburne resident Madeleine May Kunin reads from her new book of poems, “Walk with Me” in the Shelburne Town Hall Sept. 27.

Connor S. Garrison

Connor Scott Garrison of Cabot died on Thursday Sept. 21, 2023, peacefully at home, due to medical complications, with his family by his side. He was 16 years old.

Connor was born May 31, 2007, in Burlington. From the moment of his birth at 23 weeks, he was a courageous fighter. He surpassed all expectations, beating the odds and graduating home

Obituary

from the University of Vermont Medical Center neonatal intensive care unit, formerly Fletcher Allen, after 133 days.

Life was not easy for Connor. He experienced countless hospitalizations, surgeries, procedures and tests, all related to complications of his prematurity. Despite all he had gone through, Connor held all the strength. He persevered and bounced back with a smile that only Connor could give.

Connor was lucky enough to receive a wish granted through Make-A-Wish Vermont. Connor went to the ocean in the Outer Banks so he could experience all its glory and splendor. The experience not only infused Connor with a sense of inclusion and vitality for life but gave his family memories to cherish for a lifetime.

Connor spent most of his years living in Shelburne, where he attended Shelburne Community School through sixth grade. After moving to Cabot in June 2019, he attended Twinfield Union. If you ask his friends, they might say Connor was the class clown, always interrupting his teachers during lessons, perhaps trying to get kicked out of class.

His love of music was known to all and was a great comfort to him.

Special thank you to Debbie LaFlam, Jacki Franks, and Alice Day for being shining lights in his life.

Connor spent the last 11 years playing with the TOPSoccer program at the Essex Tree Farm. The adaptive soccer program

continued from page 4

Terrace residents also reported a theft of items from their cars. Those cases are pending further investigation.

Previous incidents: Sept. 23 at 3:05 a.m., Anish

paired athletes with buddies, high school soccer players, and they would practice drills. The season would end with a ceremony where participants got awarded certificates and trophies.

Connor was predeceased by his favorite partner in crime, his “MeMe,” Carol Martin, formerly of Hinesburg, and her husband, Robert “Slugger” Martin Sr. He was also predeceased by his paternal uncle and namesake, Scott Garrison, and grammy, Lynne Garrison of Claremont, N.H.

Connor is survived by his mother, Victoria Garrison and her partner Rodney Simpson of Cabot; his father Alexander Garrison Jr. and his partner, Jena Chandler of St. Albans; siblings, Devin Garrison of Manchester, N.H., Aysha Russell, and Ethan Garrison, Calleigh Garrison and Acadia Simpson, all of Cabot; maternal grammy, Robin Kirby of Essex; paternal papa, Alexander Garrison Sr of Claremont, N.H.; and countless aunts, uncles and cousins.

Connor leaves behind a legacy of love. He taught all who knew

him the true meaning of life, and that is love. His contagious laugh gave strength to all who heard it. “A heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.” (L. Frank Baum, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”)

Fly high dragonfly! Please join us for a celebration of life potluck and gathering at the Community Alliance Church, 190 Pond Road, Hinesburg, on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, 2-4 p.m.

Gurung, 23, of Williston, was stopped on Shelburne Road near Harrington Avenue and was issued a citation for driving under the influence, police said.

Note: Charges filed by police are subject to review by the Chittenden County State’s Attorney Office and can be amended or dropped.

Connor S. Garrison

BLOTTER

Middlebury honors Twilight, portrait of Bright in the works

From the Senate Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale

This past month marks the 200th anniversary since Alexander Twilight became the first Black man to graduate from a college in the United States, and his alma mater was Middlebury College.

I was honored to have Middlebury ask me to speak at its symposium to mark this auspicious occasion. He is finally getting his recognition with the recent unveiling of his portrait in the Statehouse and more people learning about his incredible legacy as an educator and legislator. It should not have taken 200 years, however.

We have recently learned of the death of Louvenia Dorsey Bright, the first Black woman and woman of color to serve in the Legislature about 170 years after Twilight. She represented South Burlington 30 years ago.

I stand on her shoulders as the second woman of color to serve in the Legislature and the first in the Senate. I am working on commissioning a portrait of Bright to hang

as a place of convening and honor, so that we may all feel welcome in the Statehouse.

When I think of the portraits of Twilight and other barrier-breaking leaders like Gov. Madeleine Kunin, it strikes me that they are looking at the viewer. Many portraits look to the side or down. It is as though they are inviting you to be there and reminding you that you belong.

We can all take something from the life of Twilight, who worked hard, gave back and loved teaching his students. As one of his students reflected in the late 1800s: “In that old academy, many young men (and women) were filled with lofty ambitions and stimulated to noble attainments, and in them Twilight still lives a mighty and an abiding power for good in the world.”

Kesha Ram Hinsdale, a Democrat from Shelburne, serves the towns of South Burlington, Shelburne, Charlotte, Hinesburg, Milton, Burlington, St. George, Westford, Underhill, Jericho, Richmond, Winooski, Williston, Essex and Bolton in the Legislature.

Stowe, Vermont, is the place to experience the classic New England Autumn, and the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival is the perfect destination. Enjoy exquisite Art and fine Crafts from over 150 juried Fine Artists and Artisans, live music and other entertainment, great food, draft beer, wine, and demonstrations of traditional craftwork. Make time to enjoy the great outdoors this Autumn, and visit the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival. At Topnotch Field, 3420 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT. Fri, Sat & Sun 10am - 5pm.

they hold in your life. Our compassionate staff is devoted to easing the difficulties at this challenging time.

Louvenia Dorsey Bright

Community Notes

Pierson hosts talk on history of bicycles

Join the Pierson Library in Shelburne on Thursday, Oct. 12, at 6:30 for a talk by University of Vermont professor Luis Vivanco, “Oh Wheelmen: The New Woman; and Good Roads: Bicycling in Vermont, 1880-1920.”

The visual lecture offers a fascinating history of bicycles in Vermont. This event is free, and all are welcome.

Knights of Columbus host community breakfast

Join the Knights of Columbus DeGosbriand Council # 279 on Sunday, Oct. 8, for a community breakfast, 9-11:30 a.m., in the parish center of St. Joseph’s Cathedral, 29 Allen St., Burlington.

The feast will feature bacon,

bicycle history.

sausage, scrambled eggs, blueberry pancakes, French toast and more. Coffee, juice, butter and real Vermont maple syrup are included.

The cost is $10, and the breakfast benefits seminarians or religious aspirants for books, car insurance, maintenance, travel during vacations, clerical clothing, emergency expenditures and other living expenses.

Contact David Ely, davidely1986@gmail.com or 802-8625109, for more information.

Library, equity committee team up for movie night

The Pierson Library and the equity and diversity committee present “Coco,” a family friendly multicultural movie on Friday, Oct.

See COMMUNITY NOTES on page 9

Champlain Valley Lions formally form new club

The Champlain Valley Lions Club received its official charter at a luncheon at the Delta Hotel in South Burlington on Sept. 17.

The luncheon, hosted by the Middlebury and Essex Lions clubs, featured a charter sign-

continued from page 8

13, at 5:30 p.m. in Shelburne Town Hall.

Pizza and snacks will be provided at this free event.

‘From China to Vermont,’ the Guy Cheng story

Vermont has long attracted artists, but few perhaps whose background is as eclectic as Guy Cheng’s.

Born in China in 1918, Cheng first came to the U.S. to represent China in the Davis Cup in 1936. The story of his life, from receiving a Master of Business Administration from Tulane University to becoming a much-collected silversmith and artist, whose works were sold at Tiffany’s, will be told by David Sisco, his stepson, co-owner of Designers’ Circle Jewelers in Burlington.

“From China to Vermont: The Story of Longtime Resident Guy Cheng,” is Sunday, Oct. 15, 2 p.m. at the Pierson Library in Shelburne.

Perhaps you remember Cheng’s store on Route 7 in Charlotte with

ing by members, a new member induction ceremony, and a Lions Roar contest.

“It was a joyful event with Lions coming from across the state to offer congratulations and encouragement to our new club,”

Champlain Valley Lions Club president Mark Hanna said. “The Champlain Valley Lions is off to a roaring start, with 32 members who are all lively, engaged and caring people. We’re having fun, making plans and looking

forward to planning service projects to help this community.”

To join the club, ask questions or offer suggestions for service projects, contact Hanna at 978-764-0694 or lionmark2000@ outlook.com.

One of 32 Lion clubs in Vermont, the new club serves Burlington (south of Pearl Street) and University of Vermont (05401 & 05405), South Burlington (05403) Shelburne (05482).

its unusual door? Or maybe you’re a collector? If so, wear your jewelry and share your memories of this artist who made Vermont his home.

Sponsored by the Chittenden County Historical Society. Refreshments will be served.

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, Oct. 10

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 cacciatore, wheat rotini pasta, peas and carrots, wheat bread, pumpkin cookie and milk.

To order a meal contact Kathleen at agewellstcath@gmail.com or 802-503-1107. Deadline to order is Wednesday, Oct 4. Learn about at agewellvt.org.

COURTESY PHOTO

A pride of Lions: Charter members of the Champlain Valley Lions Club gathered to celebrate their club’s launch in South Burlington.

Field hockey

Champlain Valley 7, Middlebury 0: Champlain Valley had an offensive outburst to beat Middlebury on Saturday, Sept.

Cordelia Thomas, Carly Strobeck and Bibi Frechette each had an assist and Sophie Comeau got the shutout in goal. With the win, CVU moved to 5-2.

Champlain Valley 1, Burlington 0: Champlain Valley posted the lone goal in the first half to beat Burlington in high

PHOTO BY AL FREY

in South Burlington.

ROUNDUP

continued from page 10

school girls’ soccer on Saturday.

Chloe Pecor scored for the Redhawks, who remain undefeated at 6-0.

Rieanna Murray had the assist on the game winner and Anya Johnson stopped two shots.

Boys’ soccer

Champlain Valley 3, Burlington 0: Three different players found the back of the net as the Champlain Valley boys’ soccer team downed Burlington on Saturday.

Nicholas Menard (two assists), Julian Sicotte and Caleb Greenslit each tallied for the Redhawks, who moved to 7-1.

Jacob Lepple added an assist and Ziggy Babbott made three saves.

Football

Champlain Valley 28, Essex 0: Champlain Valley jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first half and did not look back in win over Essex on Saturday afternoon.

Jacob Bose paced the offense with two touchdowns, while quarterback Ollie Cheer added a passing TD and a rushing TD. Brian

Rutherford also had a 25-yard touchdown catch.

The Redhawks moved to 4-1.

Girls’ volleyball

Champlain Valley 3, Mount Mansfield 1: After dropping the first set, the Champlain Valley girls’ volleyball team came back to beat Mount Mansfield on Saturday.

The Redhawks won the second set 25-18, then the third set 25-8 and wrapped up the win with a 25-19 win in the fourth set.

Boys’ golf

The Champlain Valley boys golf team came in second place in the NVAC Metro championships on Thursday, Sept. 28, at the Champlain Country Club.

Cooper Guerriere was the championship medalist with a score of 73. Jake Strobeck had a 79, Camden Ayer finished with an 82 and Kaiden McClure scored a 85. Jack Bryan rounded it out with an 86.

CVU came in second with a score of 319, just behind firstplace finisher South Burlington (316).

Shelburne Parks & Rec News

Bolton after-school program

This popular after-school program offers kids in grades five to eight a fun evening of night skiing with friends at Bolton Valley Resort.

Registration dates and information can be found at shelburnevt.org/184/bolton-skiride-program. Registration for seventh and eighth graders will open on Nov. 1 at 8:30 a.m.

Crossfit kids

Kids can join right after school (grades five to eight) to improve general conditioning, including a focus on core, strength, agility, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness. Based on the principle of movement mechanics, consistency, form and then intensity, the program pushes for quality movement throughout childhood.

Consistent mechanics translates to higher sports perfor-

mance and fewer sports injuries for kids. Research also indicates that exercise is beneficial to cognitive function, which means a consistent training program will have a positive impact on a child’s academic achievement. Participants of any fitness ability are welcome to join as workouts are adjusted to the individual fitness level in a non-competitive environment.

For kids in grades five to eight. The dates are Thursdays, Oct. 19 to Nov. 16, 3:15-4:15 p.m. Deadline to register is Friday, October 13.

The fee is $95, and the classes are led by Nick Mead and Field House staff.

Brazilian jiu jitsu

New session added! Brazilian jiu jitsu introduces the fundamentals of self-defense and grappling techniques. Training sessions will consist of warmup exercises, hands-on self-defense, grappling scenarios, both

standing and on the ground, along with an anti-bullying philosophy.

In addition, jiu jitsu helps practitioners develop personal responsibility, discipline, self-awareness, respect and confidence, along with both physical and mental strength. This is a beginner’s program so no prior martial arts experience is required. A mouthguard is highly recommended.

For grades six to eight. Registration deadline is Wednesday, Oct. 11. Session dates are Oct. 16 to Nov. 22; Mondays, 3:15-4:30 p.m. and Wednesdays 2:15-3:30 p.m. Fee is $140.

The instructor is Shayne Fenton. (Gi is required; students may provide their own, or purchase through instructor for $100.

See the complete list of programs and events at shelburnevt.org/160/parks-recreation.

LEAF PEOPLE

continued from page 1

and Shelburne Farm and around Marsett Road.

She said they have become more careful about where they place them in the more densely populated — with real people — village, and she has run afoul of the state on more than one occasion.

“They’ve taken them down. It hasn’t been pretty,” she said. “I actually attached them to speed limit signs and said, ‘What a perfect thing, because sometimes people don’t look at speed limit signs.’”

Other no-nos learned through nearly two decades of trial and error: attaching the figures to any signs or too near crosswalks, bus stops, fire hydrants or public buildings like the police station. One year, Pinney said, state workers plucked 20 or so of them from their spots and threw them all in a pile in Colchester.

She said she called up Marselis Parsons,

the longtime anchorman and news director at WCAX, and the TV station ran a story about the ordeal. The population was back to normal post haste.

Pinney may be the current curator of Shelburne’s roadside whimsy, but the Leaf People predate her tenure.

Former Shelburne resident Sherry Cooley first brought the figures to town in 1997, after seeing a similar population in Brandon. Cooley got the town’s blessing and kicked off the tradition with a population that first year of about 30.

After Cooley moved, the figures ended up moldering in storage in a barn at Shelburne Farms, fully clothed, for a couple of years, which is where Pinney found them, after she decided to pick up the mantle and continue Cooley’s tradition.

“They were filthy. They were just so gross,” she said. “I got them home and I just said, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’”

Trunk Show

What she got herself into was population expansion mode, fixing up the frames and outfitting them in clean duds, and placing 75 Leaf People around town — there has been a loss of 11, whether due to breaking or shenanigans.

Pinney’s been going steadily since, save for one season about five or six years ago when she just had too much going on in her life.

“You would have thought the world had

ended,” she said.

Pinney is the creative force behind the figures, but Cocuzza has been there playing chauffeur since the beginning, when Automaster founder Jack DuBrul approached the then-part-time worker.

“He said, ‘You’re gonna go out in the field today,’ and I was like, ‘OK,’” Cocuzza said. “So, from then on, Gracie and I have ruled the roads when it comes to this time of the year.”

PHOTOS BY TOMMY GARDNER

Above: Leaf People creator Gracie Pinney and her driver, Carl Cocuzza, pose with some of this year’s models, which they placed all over Shelburne.

Right: A nattily attired Leaf Person stands sentry on Shelburne Road.

Pinney said they have become more careful about where they place the leaf people as she has run afoul of the state on more than one occasion.

will increase incentives to retain career-level employees.

“One of the things that we’ve noticed is that this is a retention item for our personnel,” Leopold said, noting that it’s often the norm for departments to be anchored by career staff, but that’s not the case in Shelburne. “Over the past few years, we’ve had a number of employees not stay with us because they want to progress their level of expertise. They want to be able to practice at the paramedic level, and we haven’t been able to allow them to offer their full scope of care.”

He said that the squad already has one full-time employee who would be able to practice at a paramedic level once the license transition has been finalized and two more members who are in paramedic classes right now. In total, this would give the department in-house capacity for sevenday coverage of paramedic-level services.

“We had someone come by to work with us in June who was a medic who had gone out of state to get his paramedic license and his bachelor’s and was pursuing a master’s who wanted to move home to Vermont and was interested in running with us as an advanced EMT with the understanding we’d be transitioning. That helped us to sort of get a lot of the legwork moving forward,” Leopold said.

The department currently runs with 20 volunteers and 11 employees, two full-time and the others as

part-time occasional employees, and with the switch, the hope is that most of those volunteers will consider pursuing a career.

“We will sponsor their licensure, they will gain full-time employment in the area helping other services and having that sense of ownership of our squad and contribute back to the town so that they don’t have to move away,” Leopold said.

The cost to the department for the transition would be roughly $18,000 and since the town doesn’t support the ambulance service with general funding, most of the cost will be supported through insurance billings and donations.

“Shelburne Rescue usually gets anywhere from $30,000 to $35,000 in donations throughout the year,” Leopold said.

But as services increase, expenses also increase. Aside from this transition, Leopold said that the department has seen expenses more than double in recent years while revenue remains relatively steady.

“Our revenue is only up into the mid $300,000 and our expenses are over $400,000,” he said.

Leopold said that this year’s budget is going to be built to support the paramedic service with billable rates reflecting the adjustments, and although rates haven’t increased in recent years, he may be forced to adjust those to match.

“It makes sense if you’ve ever been transported by ambulance. The bill you receive is astronomical and that’s going to fund a lot of salaries and it’s going to fund a lot of repairs,” board member Matt Wormser said at a recent meeting. “That’s triple the reason to move up a level of certification, from my standpoint. It expands the services we can deliver and the associated revenues.”

Following a required public comment portion of the application with Shelburne residents, Leopold said the department would start buying the equipment and setting up the medication purchasing agreements with the University of Vermont Medical Center.

Public comment regarding the transition should be directed to Jacob Leopold at rescuechief@ shelburnevt.org. The comment period will conclude on Nov. 10.

HELBURN S E

Human Resources Coordinator

Full-time with flexible scheduling available and excellent local government benefits

The Town of Shelburne team has grown to require a dedicated human resources professional. Help all our staff achieve their best, and cultivate the spirit of public service in our town. This coordinator will support all of our departments in the full suite of HR routines and special projects. The ideal candidate has related education and experience in human resources work, including recruiting, benefits administration, training, and problem solving. We have opportunities to grow, and to shape this postion to the skills and interests of the right candidate.

Visit www.shelburnevt.org/jobs to see the full job descrition and application. To apply, email scannizzaro@shelburnevt.org. Review of applications begins immediately.

The Town of Shelburne is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

“It makes sense if you’ve ever been transported by ambulance. The bill you receive is astronomical and that’s going to fund a lot of salaries.”

— Matt Wormser

RABIES BAIT

continued from page 2

get rabies.The virus is spread through the bite of an infected animal or contact with its

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

People should not touch or pick up wild animals or strays – even baby animals.

saliva. If left untreated, rabies is almost always fatal in humans and animals. However, 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.

creemees. Kids will enjoy meeting animals from

SHELBURNE DAY

continued from page 4

face

Shelburne Historical Society will have a display and president Dorothea Penar will lead a cemetery tour at 1 p.m. Food ven dors round out the event with everything from coffee and lemonade to burgers and creemees. Kids will enjoy meeting animals from Shelburne Farms, craft projects, and

call

burne-Hinesburg head the Golf depending land. Rotary’s

or email advertising@shelburnenews.com

ANSWERS FROM THIS ISSUE

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