Campus costs
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House panel confronts ‘eye-popping school construction costs
Local skater wins gold at international event
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Volume 53 Number 4
shelburnenews.com
January 25, 2024
Open space fund ballot vote doubles
Tap dance
LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
The Shelburne Selectboard has approved a Town Meeting Day ballot asking to set aside $100,000 for the town’s open space fund — double the amount usually voted on by residents. The conversation has led to an even bigger question: how should the town fund the open space moving forward? The board originally mulled a $173,000 request — or a penny for every tax dollar paid by residents — which would have been triple the amount historically asked of voters. “How do we want to continue to fund it?” selectboard chair Mike Ashooh asked at a meeting last
week. “I recommended that maybe we just want to build in a permanent mechanism of a penny on the dollar. There’s a lot to discuss here and and a lot of this discussion needs to happen subsequent to this one. There is a really good question about how we want to go about funding our open space.” But the selectboard feared the sticker shock of such a large number would dissuade residents from voting in favor of it. Should the ballot item be voted down, the Natural Resources and Conservation Commission would be left with zero dollars going toward their fund this year. “I have always felt that putting See OPEN SPACE FUND on page 12
Dog park committee snoops for solutions LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
PHOTO BY DANA BISHOP
Rachel Kessler places the first tap of the year at Shelburne Farms, in preparation for maple sugaring season. Shelburne Farms has about 2,600 taps in its sugarbush. Vermont’s Spring Maple Open House weekend is March 23-24.
Life for Shelburne’s dog park committee has been anything but easy over the last decade, and a recent decline in pups frequenting the park has some committee members fearing what might be next. The committee is again considering whether to investigate a new location for the park, but the conversation re-opens old wounds from nearly a decade ago. With the property’s Class II wetland designation from the state, the committee has been limited on just how thoroughly it can maintain the space, making conditions less than agreeable for those visiting the area.
“People knew that, but they went ahead and created the park, put up the fence and it was a very active park,” said Karen Medsker, co-chair of the committee, noting that she tried bringing her pooch to the park after a big rain a few months ago and sank to her ankles in mud. “Volunteers went in there and mowed the park to keep the weeds down. Well, the state found out about us and said we can no longer mow or take down any of the undergrowth in the park. So every summer it grows chest high with weeds and underbrush.” As the park returns to its natural state, with little to no mainSee COMMITTEE on page 13
Page 2 • January 25, 2024 • Shelburne News
Vermont Huts Association connects people to outdoors ALISSA FRAME COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE
For RJ Thompson, the seed of outdoor recreation started sprouting early on. He grew up camping with family and learning to ski — a passion that only grew as he got older, when as a student at the University of Vermont he helped form the ski and snowboard club in 2003. The college club, he said, kindled a desire to bring people together from different backgrounds to experience the outdoors in an approachable manner. Years later, in 2016, Thompson found himself with the opportunity to make that happen on a broader scale. That year, alongside Devin Littlefield, Thompson co-founded the Vermont Huts Association. The group manages huts — which, in the outdoor recreation realm, resemble rustic cabins or yurts with basic amenities like bunks, mattress pads and propane cookPHOTO COURTESY VERMONT HUTS ASSOCIATION tops. Littlefield had worked on a Students on a retreat at Grout Pond in the Green Mountain National Forest. network of huts in Maine. The association’s mission, Thompson said, is to “foster a who otherwise might not have the ence to particular groups. Twitchell believes, some barriers deeper appreciation (for) the natu- chance to explore the backcountry “My big focus is … how are surrounding safety and inclusivity ral environment by creating an or feel comfortable doing so. they interacting with the outdoors are “probably even harder than an enriching experience for everyIn its first two full years, the as individuals and as a group?” economic restriction.” one.” program has offered more than half Fisher said. “Because the goal is to Vermont Huts is trying to better To do this, the group has been a dozen free retreats to students get them to enjoy it. So hopefully understand the needs and hesitaworking to build a statewide, ages 11 to 18, bringing students we can keep building our populace tions that some groups may have hut-supported trail network in to huts at Grout Pond and Chitten- of people who love to recreate in regarding backcountry treks — so partnership with the Catamount den Brook in the Green Mountain the outdoors.” the FOREST program is fluidly Trail Association and Vermont National Forest. Participants enjoy Early on, organization lead- evolving. The initial vision folks Department of Forests, Parks and nature walks, cook meals, bush- ers saw their focus on just young like Thompson had for retreats — Recreation, among other groups. craft lessons and more — activ- people was too simple. such as teaching skills like rope The idea is for folks to have a ities vary based on what people “We really quickly realized tying or fire-making — is not convenient, immersive place to want to do or learn. that there was a lot more than just always what participants want or stay while exploring Vermont’s So far, the retreats have taken underserved youths that were not need from the outdoors. trails and backcountry. place through partnerships with getting access to the outdoors,” Now, Vermont Huts is reach“I was thinking, we have this school districts and other orga- Maggie Twitchell, program and ing out to community organizaresource in the backcountry, and nizations like the Teen Center in communication coordinator for tions and saying, “Look, we have let’s make sure everyone can use Middlebury. Josh Fisher, one of Vermont Huts, said. “There were accommodation out there, and we it,” Thompson said. Vermont contracted Discover theHuts’ beauty of outdoor people of color. There was the have funding, and we can help you In 2020, Vermont Huts startedlooking a educators, led a at retreat with the LGBTQ community. There were achieve whatever your goals are to natural results Pêche! program called Fostering Outdoor latter. indigenous Americans.” access the space that is out there,” Recreation, Education, HeSEEdescribed how importIt became clear that some barri- said Twitchell. COME SustainSEE SARAH! COME JASMINE! COME it’s SEE KELLIE! ability and Teamwork (FOREST) ant to foster an accommodating ers to recreation went well beyond Vermont Huts would like to that aims to bring together people environment and tailor the experi- economic restrictions. In fact, expand beyond just youth retreats
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to serve a wider, more diverse demographic. A new partnership with Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports is one way to make this happen. Vermont Adaptive is an organization dedicated to empowering individuals of all abilities — including those with physical and cognitive disabilities — through sports and recreation opportunities. The group uses specialized equipment, alongside trained staff and volunteers, to fit the needs of participants doing everything from mountain biking to kayaking to skiing. Jeff Alexander, director of strategic partnerships with Vermont Adaptive, said the group plans to develop FOREST outings accessible to those with disabilities. For example, retreat participants who have visual or motor function disabilities could use equipment modified to be more comfortable. Vermont Adaptive staff would be on site to support participants’ recreation and learning. The two organizations are also working to develop a more extensive network of accessible trails in the state, including those that lead to the huts. The two organizations are collaborating with the U.S. Forest Service to outfit huts with all-terrain wheelchairs. This way, if someone comes to the hut on an adaptive bike, for example, they will have an onsite wheelchair to help them move around the hut. Alexander said Vermont Adaptive plans to organize retreats through Vermont Huts for its veterans’ program as well, offering participants a sense of camaraderie they may have been missing. As Twitchell put it, “A lot of adult groups get overlooked … You are kind of expected to be an adult and figure it out yourself.” The partnership with Vermont Adaptive could counter that trend. “We just want to make sure
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House panel confronts ‘eye popping’ costs of campus construction ETHAN WEINSTEIN VTDIGGER
On the first day of the 2024 legislative session, state education officials presented lawmakers with the latest estimates for Vermont’s school construction needs — a whopping $6.3 billion in the next 21 years. And that number, Agency of Education staff cautioned, is likely a significant underestimate. Rep. Peter Conlon, D-Cornwall, chair of the House Committee on Education, called the figure “eye popping.” He signaled that his committee would make addressing school construction needs a priority this session. The cost estimate came as
part of a school facilities assessment ordered by the Legislature in 2021, which gathered baseline data on 384 school buildings in Vermont and translated the findings into cost projections for every district statewide. The Agency of Education expects to create a public dashboard with that data later this year. From fiscal years 2000-2008, the state provided more than $280 million in construction aid to schools, but amid the Great Recession it suspended state assistance for such projects. This year, lawmakers will consider how the state could revive some funding, though Conlon made clear that footing the entire bill was out of the question. The discovery of toxic chem-
HUTS
continued from page 2 that everybody has the opportunity to recreate, and partnering with Vermont Huts is amazing because they believe the same thing,” Alexander said. Vermont Huts also wants to expand the team of educators who facilitate retreats. “We (found) that our educators don’t represent the communities that we want to help. That’s a barrier in itself,” Twitchell said. “Not having educators who are people of color or (who) are from the LGBTQ+ community means that we really aren’t serving those communities as well.” So, Vermont Huts wants to partner with groups like Pride Center of Vermont, Outright Vermont and Huntington Open Women’s Land to offer members outdoor educator training, Twitchell said. The hope is to nurture new educators for the huts system and to bring certification opportunities to more people. Twitchell emphasized how the organization is actively looking for participants and groups interested in outings through the FOREST program. Outside the FOREST program, interested folks can book a stay in any of their huts — many of which are available year-round. “We’re really looking to do something special here in Vermont, and it’s not just going to be our organization who does it. It’s going to be all the partners working together,” Thompson said. He praised the role of volunteers in recreation opportunities: “We’re building a lot of this onto the success that they’ve achieved years before us.”
Thompson is optimistic about what lies ahead. “It can grow into what I ultimately think it wants to be,” he said of the FOREST program, “which is creating this safe space for anyone to have that experience and to hopefully just feel comfortable in the outdoors.” The Community News Service is 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
Rep. Peter Conlon, D-Cornwall, seen at the Statehouse in Montpelier in January 2023.
icals called polychlorinated biphenyls in some of Vermont’s schools has further complicated the state’s education infrastructure needs. The Legislature previously set aside $32 million to reimburse school districts for PCB mitigation and remediation, a sum many local administrators expect will be insufficient. With Gov. Phil Scott’s administration predicting an 18.5 percent rise in property taxes driven by a projected 12 percent increase in education spending, the cost of school construction could further strain local budgets. Bill Donohue, the Agency of Education’s facilities program manager, told lawmakers on Wednesday that he could spend two hours qualifying his estimate with potential “unknown costs”
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that could increase the $6.3 billion figure, which amounts to about $300 million annually for 21 years. “It could very well be $500 million a year,” he said. “It could be more.” Yet the agency predicted the cost of inaction would prove even higher. If schools across the state spent an inflation-adjusted $33 million annually on construction, rather than $300 million, the cost of needed construction over the 21 years would increase by $7 billion, it estimated. “If we’re starting a construc-
tion program and we’re not funding it equal to the need out there, there’s going to be this snowball carryover effect,” Donohue said. A report from the school construction aid task force, a group responsible for examining Vermont’s school construction needs and possible funding structures, is expected to arrive by Feb. 1, laying out some recommendations on how to prioritize and pay for needed projects. “The taskforce report will provide guidance,” Conlon said, “but we’re going to have a lot of big decisions to make.”
Calling all 5-year-olds from Shelburne! Kindergarten Awaits! What an exciting time for your family, and SCS! Shelburne Community School will be opening our Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 school year starting February 1st, 2024. Champlain Valley School District (CVSD) is asking families to register their Kindergartners by February 24th, in an effort to get more accurate enrollment numbers for our schools. These enrollment numbers help us to plan our staffing and scheduling needs for the upcoming school year. Please contact Katie Schut at kschut@cvsdvt.org to preregister your child at Shelburne Community School for the 20242025 school year. Kindergarteners for next school year must turn 5 years old ON OR BEFORE September 1, 2024, per CVSD policy. We will need your child’s name, date of birth, guardian/caregiver name(s), address(es), phone number(s) and email address(es). Keep a lookout in your inbox (and SPAM folder) around February 1st, when we will be emailing the online instructions to all families that have pre-registered. We look forward to welcoming your new Kindergartener to SCS!
Page 4 • January 25, 2024 • Shelburne News
Man charged after stealing vehicle from car dealership COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER
An Upper Valley man was arrested and charged last week after stealing a car from a dealership and driving through Shelburne Road, striking multiple vehicles on the roadway before ditching the car in Charlotte. According to a report from the South Burlington police, employees at Goss Dodge on Shelburne Road were rearranging the vehicles in the lot when Shawn Carpenter, 46, Hartford, jumped into one of the vehicles and began to drive off. Carpenter struck multiple vehicles in the parking lot, police said, as he tried to elude employees of the dealership who were trying to stop him. He then started driving southbound on Shelburne Road, reportedly striking a slew of other vehicles in both South Burlington
and Shelburne. Officers from the Shelburne police department were called and located the vehicle on Lower Old Town Trail in Charlotte. The vehicle was later returned to its owner. Carpenter was found by Shelburne police and state troopers attempting to break into another vehicle. When confronted, Carpenter reportedly threatened the responding officers with a knife, police said in a press release. He is accused of aggravated operation of a motor vehicle without owner’s consent, grossly negligent operation, leaving the scene of an accident, and reckless endangerment, police said. While under custody, Carpenter was also found to have two active arrest warrants out of Washington and Windsor counties. This is not Carpenter’s first case of grand theft auto and, according to state police, he was also involved in a short police
chase with state troopers in early December. According to a Dec. 7 press release, Carpenter, who was listed as living in Braintree at the time, had been driving a stolen vehicle on Interstate 89, and when troopers attempted to stop him, but he continued southbound on the interstate at a high rate of speed. The state police had to use spike trips and other tire deflation devices around Exit 2 to stop Carpenter. Despite having flat tires, he continued driving before crashing into a guard rail. He was arrested at the scene, and at the time was accused of aggravated operation without consent of owner, gross negligent operation, eluding a police officer, and violation of conditions of release. Carpenter had been lodged at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield before being released.
Shelburne Police Blotter: Jan. 15-21 Total reported incidents: 70 Traffic stops: 2 Warnings: 2 Arrests: 1 Medical emergencies: 30 Mental health incidents: 2 Suspicious incidents: 6 Domestic incidents: 2 Agency assists: 2 Citizen assists: 4 Welfare check: 1 Automobile incidents: 2 Car crash: 6 Animal problem: 1 Noise Disturbance: 1 Theft: 5 Fraud: 1 Alarms: 8 False alarms: 2 Pending investigations: 4 911 Hang-up calls: 1 Jan. 16 at 11:34 a.m., a two-car crash was reported on Shelburne Road with no injuries. Jan. 16 at 6:43 p.m., a second two-car crash was reported on Shelburne Road with some injuries reported, although all patients refused transport to the hospital. Jan. 17 at 12:18 a.m., Shelburne police officers issued tickets for cars in violation of the winter parking ban on Shelburne Road. Jan. 17 at 11:23 a.m., Shelburne fire provided mutual aid to Charlotte Fire & Rescue for a motor vehicle collision on the Ethan Allen Highway.
Jan. 17 at 4:29 p.m., a retail theft was reported at Tractor Supply. Officers checked the area but could not find the individual. The case is pending further investigation. Jan. 18 at 9:28 a.m., a two-car crash from earlier in the day, on Shelburne Road, was reported to police. Jan. 19 at 3:04 a.m., more tickets were issued for cars in violation of the town’s winter parking ban on Martindale and Falls roads. Jan. 19 at 3:10 a.m., a stray dog running loose through town was located and reunited with its owner. Jan. 19 at 7:32 a.m., a car was reported stolen from Shelburne Farms on Harbor Road. A theft report was taken, and the vehicle was entered into National Crime Information Center as stolen. Jan. 19 at 9:26 a.m., a car that had been stolen out of Rutland was found at Shelburne Farms. Rutland town police were notified, and the vehicle was returned to its owner. Jan. 19 at 3:42 p.m., a two-car crash with no injuries was reported on Shelburne and Webster roads. Jan. 19 at 7:25 p.m., officers assisted in mediating a domesSee BLOTTER on page 13
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Shelburne News • January 25, 2024 • Page 5
OPINION Longtime conservative voices ends 30 years of columns Guest Perspective John McClaughry With this column I am concluding my biweekly commentaries that stretch back to 1993 for the Ethan Allen Institute. Years ago, I learned that I had some marketable abilities in understanding issues, analyzing implications and explaining things clearly and I hoped persuasively. Accordingly, I embarked on a career that I half-jokingly referred to as “brain rental.” In 1988, after a tour in the Reagan campaign and White House, I was elected to the Vermont Senate, and reelected with 82 percent of the vote. But after those often frustrating four years, I concluded that maybe I could make a more valuable contribution by launching a nonpartisan think tank to promote “Ideas for Vermont’s Future” built upon the liberal principles of Vermont’s brilliant 1777 Constitution. In 1993, Anne Haugsrud Webb, John M. Mitchell and I launched the Ethan Allen Institute. Its mission was to influence public policy in Vermont by helping its people to better understand and put into practice the fundamentals of a free society: individual liberty, private property, competitive free enterprise, limited and frugal government, strong local communities, personal responsibility and expanded opportunity for human endeavor. Soon to follow was the first of my more than 800 biweekly commentaries, almost all on timely Vermont-related public issues. We planned to offer “Ideas for Vermont’s Future” in Ethan Allen Institute’s reports, conferences and publications. But as the years went by and little Vermont grew bluer and bluer, it became clear that even well-thought out and timely proposals in fiscal, legal, education, energy, health care and other issues aroused little interest within the progressive juggernaut determined to use its growing legislative majorities to reshape Vermont into the Perfect Little Blue State, no matter what the cost. Looking back through those columns, here were some of my favorite themes: • Fidelity to our Constitution: It is the indispensable agreement among the people about how we shall be governed, and which rights of the people must remain inviolate. • Accountability: Our Constitution declares that government, with its power to confiscate and coerce, must always remain accountable. For 30 years I have exposed and denounced politicians working to get what they want through intricate schemes too complicated for their citizens to comprehend. A disgraceful example is the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2020, passed over Gov. Scott’s veto, that empowered unaccountable bureaucrats to enact rules
that no legislator would ever vote on. That’s why I labelled it “the worst democracy-shredding legislation in the past 50 years,” and, quite likely, ever. • I also, unsuccessfully, promoted a Regulatory Accountability Act, which allowed one fifth of the House or Senate to put a proposed bureaucratic rule on the calendar for an up or down approval vote. Earlier, when I introduced that bill in the Senate, my colleagues, unwilling to risk going on the record if they could avoid it, bolted for the exits. • Single member districts: The worst curse of our election structure is the multi-member district, where candidates can improve their chances by avoiding any controversy on issues. • Fiscal integrity: We must pay bills as pledged, including promises to retirees, and resist every temptation to embark on spending today that obligates our children and grandchildren to pay for our largesse decades later. • Property rights: Our Constitution is founded on cherished right of citizens to own, use and exchange property. Government can limit those rights and can take them away in the public interest but only by paying the owner just compensation. Otherwise, government becomes a regime of piracy and tyranny. • Freedom of political speech: Laws prohibiting libel, defamation, false labeling and rank pornography may be enforced, but not laws to circumscribe and silence political speech or punish “wrongthink.” • Subsidiarity: This means resisting centralization of power to actors increasingly remote from local communities, while recognizing that some public issues, such as criminal justice and air and water pollution, must be managed on larger scales. “The Vermont Papers: Recreating Democracy on a Local Scale,” the book Frank Bryan and I wrote in 1989 sought to show how decentralization of power to some 40 autonomous shires would reverse the anti-democratic domination of the centralized state and bring a new flowering of citizen responsibility and community essential to preserving a free society. Last but far from least, a full-throated defense of what should always be Vermont’s paramount guiding star, liberty. Now, with this last of my commentaries, I take leave of the Ethan Allen Institute, and of my 30 years of biweekly efforts to defend and advance the principles that over the years have made our little state strong, proud and free. I hope and trust that others will now step up to continue that mission. Former representative and senator John McClaughry of Kirby co-founded the Ethan Allen Institute, where he has labored for the past 30 years.
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With double-digit hike, it’s time to fix education funding property taxes. These are extraordinarily unpopular and dramatic ideas to Rep. Scott Beck consider. Of course, so is an 18.5 percent increase in property tax The annual discussion over rates. Vermont’s Education Fund and Some of what is occurring wringing of hands over educais not particular to the education property tax rates is an tion fund, but much of it is. The unprecedented mess this year, following changes would finally and that’s being kind. The annual fix Act 60/68 and cause the fund December tax letter projects that to perform as it was supposed to, unless school districts back down and in a way that from increasing Vermonters could their education Recent public understand while spending by $207 strengthening million — around comments indicate local control and $60 million is accountability. normal — the that the Legislature Those changes average property include: tax bill will go up will address property would • More closeby 18.5 percent. ly connecting a Voters will tax rates, but it district’s tax rate make the final to its spending as determination of is important to proposed by the how much school House in 2018. districts spend, understand that the • Making they always do. pension costs be Here is a Legislature has only paid by employlaundry list of ers, not as a four blunt tools why there is such line-item in the a large increase at its disposal. education fund, this year: univeralso proposed by sal school meals the House in 2018. added $28 million; health care • Eliminating the common level premiums went up by 16 percent; of appraisal and instead move to very high staffing ratios; inflathe Massachusetts schedule of tion; student weighting changes; determining property value. failure to fully implement special • Reforming the property tax education reform from 2018; bill to a property tax payment with an increase in pension costs of an income-based credit received $10 million; collective bargainat tax filing. This is how every ing agreements; the retention of New England state administers an school positions being funded by income-based property tax credit. one-time COVID-19 dollars; high capital construction costs; a cap on An estimated income-based credit could be applied for in advance. district rates that has encouraged • Modifying or eliminating spending; and consumption tax the Act 127 rate cap in fiscal year growth has returned to 2 percent. 2026. Then there is the confusion • Eliminating the excess spendof the common level of appraisal (CLA). Half of the districts benefit ing threshold and penalty. This year’s mess is unprecfrom the common level of appraisedented, but Vermont would be al, and half don’t. I’ve never foolish if it did not acknowlspoken to anyone that knows edge that much of our problem which bucket they are in or why, is systemic. The Legislature or how it impacts their tax rate. should act decisively and provide Recent public comments Vermonters with an education indicate that the Legislature will funding system that is understandaddress property tax rates. It able, more closely connects a is important to understand that district’s spending decision with its the Legislature has only four tax rate without the use of penalblunt tools at its disposal: in the middle of school budget season, it ties and divorces the local tax rate from unpredictable local property could change the rules; a reserve valuations changes. fund could be tapped to provide one-time relief; spending could Rep. Scott Beck, Republican be cut from a non-education from St. Johnsbury, is on the program and diverted to the state House Committee on Ways & education fund; and non-property taxes could be increased to reduce Means.
Winter wetland
Guest Perspective
PHOTO BY LISA KENT
Lisa Kent provided this photo of a cattail-filled field off Pond Road in Shelburne.
Letters to the Editor Three reasons not to pave Pond Road To the Editor: Here we go again... Less than 10 years ago by a resounding 75-to-25-percent vote, Shelburne residents rejected paving Pond Road. Since that emphatic declaration by Shelburne’s voters to preserve Pond Road, nothing has changed to undermine that sentiment. On the contrary, increasing urbanization of Chittenden County adds to the importance of preserving Pond Road. While I have great respect for Paul Goodrich, his view on this issue is most decidedly out of touch with the vast majority
of Shelburne residents. There are many reasons, including financial, to keep Pond Road a gravel road. First, and perhaps foremost. is historical. Pond Road remains a link to our agrarian past when life, while hard, was less complex and moved at a slower pace. Preserving that connection for future generations is in itself worthwhile. As Paul Harvey once wrote: “There’s not a problem in America today, crime, drugs, education, divorce, delinquency, that wouldn’t be remedied if we just had more dirt roads, because dirt roads give character.” OK, perhaps a tad hyperbolic but you get the point! And we all
know that once a gravel road is paved it will never revert. Second, Pond Road is an oasis for walkers, joggers, bikers, and wildlife. It is indisputable — as even the Federal Highway Administration acknowledges — that when a gravel road is paved, both volume and speed of traffic increases. This is especially true on Pond Road, given the number of commuters to and from Burlington who undoubtedly would use it if it was paved as a fast connector between Route 116 and Dorset and Spear streets. Simply put, paving Pond Road See LETTERS on page 7
Shelburne News • January 25, 2024 • Page 7
LETTERS continued from page 6 will destroy its bucolic nature and increase the danger to all trying to enjoy it. Third, by any account the cost of upgrading and paving Pond Road would be substantial, as would maintenance — after all pavement certainly doesn’t last forever. Shelburne has far better uses for its tax dollars, particularly when the taxpayers made it abundantly clear they don’t want their hard-earned dollars spent to pave Pond Road. I ask like-minded Shelburne residents to write to our town manager and selectboard asking them to respect the vote of 2014 and preserve Pond Road for present and future generations. Ritchie E. Berger Shelburne
Act 127 does not provide ‘equitable outcomes’ To the Editor: In 2004, the town of Killington overwhelmingly voted to pursue secession to New Hampshire. It was a time of great turmoil as Vermonters navigated the impact of Act 60. Although extreme, it was a reflection of the anger and frustration felt by residents pushed to the breaking point. Within two years, Act 60 was revised and new revenues were identified to ease the unsustainable tax burden felt by families. It appears that twenty years later, we may be at a similar political crossroads. Vermonters will soon face unprecedented economic pressure and it is clear that the root cause is Act 127, the latest version of Act 60 and one of the most detrimental and dangerous pieces of legislation in recent history. This bill, signed in the spring of 2022, was intended to increase transparency and produce more “equitable” outcomes for students across the state. Although the intent is the right one, the reality is that this law decreases transparency and raises property taxes for Vermont residents to levels that will require many to make very difficult financial decisions. As superintendent of the Lamoille South Supervisory Union, I hold a unique perspective regarding the impact of education finance policy. Our supervisory union is composed of three unique towns: Elmore, Morristown, and Stowe. These three towns have been operating in a fiscally responsible way for many years and we have always strived to maintain a spending increase below the state average. We present our
academic data on a regular basis and provide our taxpayers with a good return on their investment. What is our reward for this transparency and steadfast financial management? Based on current projections, Elmore residents can anticipate an average property tax increase of 29 percent for FY25. In Stowe, the average resident can plan for an increase of 24 percent and in Morrisville, residents can anticipate an 18 percent increase to their annual bill. Let there be no mistake that these increases are completely driven by Act 127, which has resulted in unprecedented statewide spending and a lower property yield. With a monumental upswing in state-negotiated health care costs and new state policy that removes even more local control, we have been put in a situation where property tax increases are untenable. This is not the Vermont way. Although we could offer many perspectives on how we got here, what is more prudent is a path forward. After countless conversations with colleagues, school boards, and legislators, I present these three strategies for reversing course: • Developing policies that prioritize Vermonters. The most pressing challenge we face is our lack of state revenue, decreasing enrollments, and rising costs. Short-term rentals and second homes owned by out-of-state residents need a separate tax rate. Why is the current (non-homestead) rate in the same category as local businesses? Why would local residents pay a higher tax increase than a second home owner? Legislators must create a new category for out-ofstate property owners and collect more revenue from those extracting money from our state. Short-term rentals have changed the game, and we need to change with it. If these tax increases result in owners selling their properties, so be it. It can only help our housing crisis. Imagine homes filled with teachers, firefighters, and little league coaches. These year-round residents not only contribute to their local communities; they also increase school enrollments. • Implement spending safeguards and increase transparency. Contrary to its claim, the new weighting model does not offer a transparent look at annual spending increases by town. Pupil weights, common level of appraisal, property yields and more all work to distance voters from their actual spending increase.
A lack of timely statewide academic data also leads to an erosion of trust. How many of your neighbors (or legislators for that matter) can explain how their tax increase was calculated or how investments are connected to learning outcomes? Instead of complicated formulas that seek to confuse voters, state officials should be establishing safeguards for annual spending and providing clear annual reports on school performance. Massachusetts requires a voter override when property tax exceeds 2.5 percent. They also publish school report cards each fall that display current academic and social / emotional data in an easy-toread format. These safeguards encourage efficiency and allow individual towns to have a strong say in what they are willing to pay in tax increases. The state also provides technical support, not just financial resources, to school systems that are underperforming. • Focus on health care. Everyone can agree on healthcare reform. The 16.4 percent increase in state-negotiated health care costs has imposed a significant hardship on local budgets. Instead of passing legislation that increases our tax rates, we must encourage our legislators to help us control costs. Health care is the perfect place to start. Vermont is a state with a long history of providing students with an excellent education. It is arguably our greatest asset and needs to be prioritized in the current legislative session. We need to stop claiming we are pursuing equity while simultaneously pushing our residents into poverty and losing our focus on student learning. The above are three realistic steps that can be taken this year. Do we really want to revisit a time in history when towns were asking to secede to New Hampshire? Please consider contacting your local legislators and advocating for our students and families. Ryan Heraty Superintendent, Lamoille South Supervisory Union
State treasurer makes case of baby bonds To the Editor: Despite the opportunities in our states, we know our economies do not work for everyone. According to 2019 American Community Survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the top 20 percent of Vermont households had an average income of
$200,816, while the bottom 20 percent averaged $15,054. These disparities are even more stark in Connecticut, one of the wealthiest states in the nation that also features one of the most significant wealth gaps. Currently in the United States, the top 10 percent of households hold about 69 percent of the nation’s wealth, while the bottom 50 percent own only about 2.5 percent. We recently proposed an idea in Vermont to address these challenges — baby bonds, an innovative policy to address intergenerational poverty, foster rural economic development and retain young people in Vermont. Under baby bonds, babies born into the most impoverished families in Vermont would have $3,200 set aside for them and invested by the Vermont Treasurer’s Office. These children could access their baby bond between ages 18 and 30, with the initial $3,200 investment projected to grow to $11,500 by age 18 and $24,500 by age 30. The funds could be used for four wealth-building activities: purchasing a home in Vermont; starting or investing in a business in Vermont; pursuing higher education or job training; or saving for retirement. Last year, Connecticut became the first state in the
nation to implement a baby bonds program, highlighting the importance of investing directly in people. Over the long-term, the policy will unlock economic opportunity for a generation of young adults and spark investment in local communities. Since the CT Baby Bonds program saw its first eligible babies born on July 1, 2023, we’ve also seen how baby bonds can serve as a powerful message of state government’s commitment to building a more equitable, prosperous future — one that includes economic participation for everyone. This session in the Vermont Legislature, baby bonds legislation is being led by Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale and Rep. Dan Noyes with over 80 co-sponsors, a broad coalition of support among Republicans, Progressives, Democrats and Independents. Baby bonds would support Vermonters’ economic resilience for generations to come and relieve pressure on our state budget over time. By investing in our state’s greatest resource — our children — we can support our communities and create a more resilient, fair, and productive Vermont economy for all. Mike Pieciak Vermont State Treasurer
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Page 8 • January 25, 2024 • Shelburne News
COMMUNITY Community Notes Supreme Court presents Sen. Leahy photo exhibit The Vermont Supreme Court Gallery opens its doors to the public for the first time since the July 2023 flood with an exhibition of photographs by former US Senator Patrick Leahy. “The Eye of Senator Patrick Leahy” is an extraordinary collection of photographs that showcases the unusual access and unique perspective enjoyed by Vermont’s beloved longtime senior senator, with images captured throughout his 48-year career at the center of the nation’s political spotlight. The exhibition will be on view from Feb. 1-March 29. Sen. Leahy and his wife Marcelle expect to attend an opening reception on Thursday, Feb. 1, from 4:30-7 p.m. The following evening there will be another reception as part of Montpelier’s Art Walk, also from 4:30-7 p.m. “As the son of a printer in Montpelier, I learned early about the power of the printed word and the printed image, and a lifelong interest in photography was born the first time I picked up a camera,” Leahy said. “Photographs can at once be both timely and timeless. They enhance our understanding beyond the ability INDOOR EVENT
ARTISANS & CRAFTS
of words alone.” With Sen. Leahy documenting nearly five decades of events and personal interactions, both great and small, this exhibition intimately celebrates politicians, human rights leaders and artists that have inspired and influenced people across borders and oceans. The exhibition also highlights everyday people from around the world who have inspired the senator. His work has been published in newspapers and magazines, including Time, US News and World Report and other national and international news publications. Leahy represented Vermont in Congress from 1975-2023, establishing a record as Vermont’s longest-serving United States senator.
Climate committee seeks input on home heating The Shelburne Climate and Energy Committee is collecting information about how Shelburne residents heat and cool their homes. One of its goals is to help residents understand and reduce the climate impact of heating and cooling. This short survey will help the committee tailor its efforts to best MUSIC & DANCING
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Former Sen. Patrick Leahy’s photography will be showcased in a new Supreme Court gallery exhibit.
serve the needs of the community. Completed surveys will be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate from Shelburne Farms – one entry per household. Answers will remain confidential. Reach out to the committee at ShelburnCEC@gmail.com with any questions. Access the survey at tinyurl. com/ShelburneSurvey, the Pierson library, or these Shelburne businesses: Village Wine & Coffee, Le Marche Cafe, Shelburne Market, and the Shelburne Athletic Club. The survey will be open until Feb. 12. The Climate and Energy Committee meets on the second Friday of the month at 4:30 p.m. at the town offices and on Zoom.
Girls on the Run Vermont seeks volunteer coaches 7th Annual
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Girls on the Run Vermont is a physical activity-based, positive youth development program that inspires students in grades 3-8 to be joyful, healthy, and confident. And it needs coaches. The ten-week program incorporates movement to empower participants to develop critical life skills, build confidence, cultivate positive connections with peers, manage their emotions, and stand up for themselves and others. Volunteer coaches utilize a curriculum to engage teams of girls in fun, interactive lessons. The spring season begins the week of March 18. Teams meet twice a week for 90 minutes and the program culminates with all teams participating in one of two noncompetitive, celebratory 5K
events in Essex and Manchester. Coaches do not need to be runners. Girls on the Run Vermont provides training so volunteers have all of the tools needed to facilitate the season and to have a positive coaching experience. All volunteer coaches must complete a background check and high school students are welcome to volunteer as junior coaches. Chittenden County locations still in need of coaches are: Brewster-Pierce Memorial School, Browns River Middle School, C.P. Smith Elementary School, Chamberlin School, Champlain Elementary School, Charlotte Central School, Christ the King, Burlington, Hiawatha School, Hinesburg Community School, Integrated Arts Academy at H.O. Wheeler, J.J. Flynn School, Jericho Elementary School, Malletts Bay School, Mater Christi School, Rick Marcotte Central School, Shelburne Community School, St. Francis Xavier, Summit Street School, Sustainability Academy at Lawrence Barnes, Thomas Fleming School, Westford Elementary School and Williston Central School. Visit www.gotrvt.org/coach for full details or email info@ girlsontherunvermont.org. Join us for a virtual Q&A session on Tuesday January 24th at 7 p.m.
Talk focuses on ‘blind merchant of Burlington’ “Anne Connelly: The Blind Merchant of Burlington,” a talk by John Thomas, development director of the Vermont Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired, will take place on
Sunday, Feb. 11, 2 p.m., at Burlington High School, 67 Cherry St., presented by the Chittenden County Historical Society. Thomas will tell the story of Anne Connelly (1889-1939), who came to Vermont as a blind adult and worked at the association and who introduced trained guide dogs and white canes, ran her own business and supported the blind community. Applications are also open for Chittenden County Historical Society annual research grants of up to $1,000. The deadline is June 1. Learn more at cchsvt.org. There is free parking at the city parking garage on Cherry Street. The program is free, and refreshments will be served.
Shelburne Age Well hosts February grab and go Age Well and St. Catherine’s of Siena Parish in Shelburne are teaming up to provide a meal to go for anyone 60 and older on Tuesday, Feb. 13 Meals 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 Swedish meatballs with sauce, rotini noodles, carrots, green beans, wheat roll, pineapple tidbits and milk. To order a meal contact Kathleen at agewellstcath@gmail. com or 802-503-1107. Deadline to order is Wednesday, Feb. 7. If this is a first-time order, provide your name, address, phone See COMMUNITY NOTES on page 9
Shelburne News • January 25, 2024 • Page 9
COMMUNITY NOTES continued from page 8
number and date of birth. If you haven’t yet filled out a congregate meal registration form, bring a completed registration form with you or send one to: Age Well; 875 Roosevelt Highway, Ste. 210, Colchester VT 05446. Forms will be available at meal pick up. Learn about restaurant tickets to dine at participating restaurants at agewellvt.org.
Time to nominate Vermont Tree Steward Awards The Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program is accepting nominations for its 2024 Vermont Tree Steward Awards. The deadline for nominations is March 29. The annual awards celebrate individuals and organizations that have demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting and nurturing Vermont’s trees and forests. Award recipients will be announced in April and recognized at a special ceremony at the
Vermont Arbor Day conference on May 23. To submit a nomination for one or more categories or to view the list of past award winners, go to go.uvm.edu/tsa. Categories are the Hamilton Award, given in honor of a former Charlotte tree warden, that recognizes a current or past tree warden who has significantly advanced the goals of urban and community forestry through effective conservation planning, sustainable forestry practices, public education and increased citizen engagement. The Leadership Award recognizes any individual who demonstrates strong leadership and dedication to organizing and carrying out an urban or community forestry project through his or her community or organization may be nominated for this award. The Unsung Hero Award recognizes an individual or group for their ongoing behind-thescenes efforts to make a difference in a local urban and community forest.
Nominees for the volunteer award, group or community, includes any organization, team, ad/hoc group or community that has shown outstanding dedication and commitment in introducing or sustaining an urban and community forestry project in their community. Learn more at vtcommunityforestry.org.
School mentoring program seeks adult mentors The Connecting Youth Mentoring Program in the Champlain Valley School District, middle level, is looking for more adult community members to join its team of volunteer mentors for students in grades five to eight. If you’re considering becoming a mentor or want to learn more, email Kate Rooney, krooney@cvsdvt.org, (802) 425-6682, Charlotte Central School; or Livy Bulger, lbulger@cvsdvt.org, (802) 482-6248, Hinesburg Community School.
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Winter carnival Shelburne Parks and Recreation presented its Winter Carnival on Saturday, with several local organizations participating. There were sheep from Shelburne Farms for families to visit and pet, the Shelburne PTO provided a bake sale and the Inn at Shelburne Farms Kitchen sold homemade tomato soup with cheddar rolls. It was a perfect afternoon for some warm indoor fun on a chilly day.
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Page 10 • January 25, 2024 • Shelburne News
SPORTS Redhawk hoopsters hold court with winning week LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT
Menard and Travis Stroh each tallied twice in the win, while Zavier Barnes added a goal and an assist.
Girls’ basketball
Boys’ basketball
Champlain Valley 70, Rice 32: The Champlain Valley girls’ basketball team outscored Rice 23-3 in the third quarter to pull away for a win on Friday. Zoey McNabb had 16 points to pace the Redhawks, who remain undefeated at 7-0. Samara Ashooh chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds, while Nev Parrish added nine points and four steals.
Champlain Valley 52, BFA-St. Albans 45: Champlain Valley held off a furious fourth quarter push from BFA-St. Albans to gain the win on Thursday in boys’ basketball. Tucker Tharpe led all scorers with 24 points and seven rebounds. Kyle Eaton (eight points) and Colby Morehouse (seven points) also scored for CVU. The Redhawks moved to 9-2 with the win.
Boys’ hockey Burr and Burton 3, Champlain Valley 2: Champlain Valley surrendered two third period goals to drop a game to Burr and Burton on Saturday. Nic Menard scored two goals for the Redhawks, who had a 2-1 lead in the third period. Tommy Barnes made 22 saves. With the loss, CVU fell to 3-5-3. The loss comes after the Redhawks earned a win earlier in the week, beating Essex 5-1 on Wednesday.
Girls’ hockey Burr and Burton 3, Champlain Valley/Mount Mansfield 1: The Champlain Valley-Mount Mansfield girls’ hockey team fell to Burr and Burton on Saturday in Manchester. Cadence Tessier had a goal for the CougarHawks (2-8-1), while Clark Clark and Evie Mae Buford added the assists on the score. CVU-MMU also lost on Wednesday, falling to Essex 2-0.
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Team USA beat the Czech Republic 5-1 Sunday in Zug, Switzerland to clinch the gold medal at the 2024 International Ice Hockey Federation U-18 women’s world championship. South Burlington native Megan Healy, wearing No. 3, is part of the team.
South Burlington skater wins gold with Team USA hockey South Burlington native Megan Healy was a part of a Team USA high-school team that struck international gold in Zug, Switzerland over the weekend. The team beat the Czech Republic 5-1 Sunday in the gold medal game of the International Ice Hockey Federation U-18 women’s world championship. Healy’s grandfather, Larry Godard of Shelburne said Healy, “wearing number No. 3, played and contributed a lot to the USA team throughout the tournament.” Godard said Healy had two assists during the tournament playing defense. Healy is a junior at Bishop Kearney Select High School in Rochester, NY, and has committed to attend Princeton University after high school. Godard said the USA under-18 team got a bronze medal last year, and Healy also played in that tournament. “This year’s team won all the games they played,” Godard said.
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Megan Healy
Shelburne News • January 25, 2024 • Page 11
Winter light: so enchanting, extraordinarily beautiful star’s sunlight as tiny prisms bejewel the land with violet starbursts. Emily Dickinson elegantly expressed Michael J. Caduto the way winter light transforms the In mid-winter 1988, I went nivean world in her poem A Certain Slant contra-dancing at the Congregational of Light: “When it comes, the Landscape Church in Lyme, N.H. During intermis- listens / Shadows–hold their breath –.” sion, I joined other dancers who stepped “Once the sun sets, a clear moonless out of the overheated hall into a star-stud- sky is so dark. Should the skies clear, ded night alive with shimmering waves of the ebony velvet of night is pierced with color, from blue to pinkish-red. We stood the diamond light of the distant stars,” in awe, while luminous curtains of light said Breen, noting that the angle of the performed a pas-de-deux across the arch moon and its reflection onto snow also of the sky dome. contribute to differences in winter light. Our home star was the director of this “A winter’s full moon bathes the snow-encelestial dance, and atmospheric gases crusted landscape with a surprising brilchoreographed the show. Northern lights, liance. Positioned as high, or even a little the aurora borealis — perhaps the most higher than the summer solstice sun, its spectacular display of winter light — are silver light, though bright, almost seems borne of light emitted when electrons in imbued with the deep, penetrating cold the gases of Earth’s upper of a clear, calm winter’s atmosphere (nitrogen and night.” The best way to oxygen) are energized Stillness reigns. Time by bursts from a solar stands still. Winter light experience winter geomagnetic storm. The enthralls with a face both northern lights are one ineffable and infinite. light is to “sally of many forms of radiThe best way to expeance that color our lives rience winter light is to forth,” as Thoreau throughout the shortest “sally forth,” as Thoreau days, influenced by the might say, as in his litermight say, as in his angle of the sun and moon, ary saunterings of A literary saunterings as well as other factors. Winter Walk: “At length “The sun angle certainwe awake to the still of “A Winter Walk.” ly affects the quality of reality of a winter mornthe light” during winter, ing. The snow lies warm said Mark Breen, senior meteorologist as cotton or down upon the window-sill; and planetarium director at the Fairbanks the broadened sash and frosted panes Museum and Planetarium in St. Johns- admit a dim and private light.” bury. “When the sun tracks low across the Breen encourages people to experiskies, it has to travel a longer path through ence the changes of winter light. “Take the atmosphere, filtering the brighter the time, even 15 minutes, and simply blues and greens, and allowing a greater observe and enjoy the ‘little beauties’ — mix of the reds, yellows, and oranges that how the sun shines on an icicle, how the favor a golden hint to the light.” alpenglow (the pink-amber color of the That affects the brilliance of sunris- sunlight from the setting sun) gives the es and sunsets, which often seem more mountains an almost surrealist painting colorful during winter days. In addition, a appearance. Bundle up and find a dark study conducted at the University of York location to let yourself almost ‘fall’ into revealed that human perception of color the stars that surround you. And maybe, in the range of yellow actually shifts with just maybe through the immersion, realize the seasons due to changes we see in the that every one of us can find some beauty, natural world. During the summer, our and some peace.” eyes are exposed to an abundance of green Perchance winter light touches us leaves, but winter months are dominated deeply because it reflects, in the grand by grays and browns. In response, our tapestry of sky, the existential dualisummer color perception is more sensi- ty of darkness and light with which we tive to greenish yellows, while in winter all struggle. Or maybe winter light is so enchanting simply because it is extraordiit highlights reddish yellows. The sun’s angle also means that narily beautiful. sunbows, which resemble a rainbow Michael J. Caduto is a writer, ecoloaround the sun, are more common during cold winter mornings and evenings. As the gist, and storyteller who lives in Reading. sun arches low, high altitude ice crystals He is coauthor of Keepers of the Night: become tiny prisms that refract sunlight Native American Stories and Nocturnal into an aura around the sun. Snow and Activities for Children. Illustration by ice also provide color and sparkle during Adelaide Murphy Tyrol. The Outside Story winter. Minute ice-crystal spectrums can is assigned and edited by Northern Woodbe seen when viewing the brightly lit lands magazine and sponsored by the surface of powdery snow through polar- Wellborn Ecology Fund of the New Hampized sunglasses, fragmenting each snow- shire Charitable Foundation, nhcf.org.
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OPEN SPACE FUND continued from page 1 aside even $50,000 once a year over time is improvement funds that continue to grow too slow and takes too long and is not the as their property grand lists increase. best mechanism,” Ashooh continued. “If Commission chair Don Rendell said we keep doing that, we’re not going to be that, since the early 2000s, the commission well-positioned to acquire has been working toward the kind of land we want or larger requests. He said “I think that, rather do the kinds of things we as development continues want.” to increase and interest in than just talking just Members of the town’s conservation grows, it is Natural Resources and a good time to go bigger. figures, we need to Conservation Commission During the town’s in November approved a months-long communitalk the value of request to the selectboard ty building exercise this that would ask residents to year known as Shelburne what we’re doing approve a penny on the tax Forward Together, resirate to be set aside for land dents narrowed down a with this money.” acquisition. The reason for few key problem areas in such a large ask, committown where they would — Jim White like to see improvement. tee members said, was to ensure the pot of reserved One of those items money is enough to acquire land that in —in addition to affordable housing and recent years has gotten exponentially more bike and pedestrian infrastructure — was expensive. the protection of open space. Commission The model would have followed the members also explained that voters overlead of neighboring cities like South whelmingly support its annual $50,000 Burlington and Burlington, which have appropriation with nearly 75 percent already established conservation and park support. Just last yast year, the $50,000
ballot item passed 1,077 to 351. “This is the time if the town really wants to make a statement,” Rendall said at the meeting last week, adding that new legislation known as Act 59 sets a goal 30 percent of all land in Vermont be conserved by 2030 and 50 percent by 2050. Jim White, a member of the commission’s subcommittee, said that as the town continues to fund capital improvements, the money put into acquiring land is only going to appreciate over time. “I think that, rather than just talking just figures, we need to talk the value of what we’re doing with this money,” he said. While buying a property outright is rare for the commission, the money in the fund is often used to leverage funding from third-party organizations like the Vermont Land Trust. But the funds out in the marketplace are dwindling and, before long, the town will need to be able to contribute more, Rendell said. The advantage is that once the board approves a purchase, the money is available almost immediately, as opposed to waiting for voters to approve a bond issue.
“If you want to buy a piece of land and the market is a very highly active market and you want to do a bond issue, a bond issue can take a fair amount of time and you may lose a piece of land because of that,” commission member Gail Albert said. The commission said its next step is attempting to get the name of the fund changed to the “Conservation Fund,” to better reflect that the funds set aside are solely used for conservation measures, not things like playgrounds or bike and pedestrian infrastructure. “The whole purpose of this is to take those lands that can’t be replaced if they’re gone, and not to build,” said Albert, noting that most of the conserved land in town already has public access paths. “Not that it isn’t important to build playgrounds or assets.” In addition to the general town budget, which sits just above $13 million, residents will be asked to approve funds for a new $1 million fire engine to replace the old 31-year-old tanker and an ambulance for $375,000.
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Shelburne News • January 25, 2024 • Page 13
COMMITTEE
continued from page 1 tenance, the committee faced be considered an allowed use that locations usability. another major problem last year. is specific to agriculture (growing “In the end, they came back Invasive species food or crop for after looking at each of those — buckthorn, profit), but not places and said, ‘Yeah, we’ll stay “If we’re going honeysuckle, for the purpos- where we are because nowhere burdock, and wild es of vegetation is better,’” explained Cieplicki. to have a new parsnip — harmm a n a g e m e n t “Either places are too small or ful to both dogs or to convert a they’re too remote or there’s no space, we’ll need and the fence wetland area,” parking or access.” used to maintain wetland ecoloBut with just about every to fundraise for the perimeter of gist Tina Heath option exhausted, the committhe park were wrote in an tee has again begun discussions the fence and the found overtaking email to the regarding the park’s relocation. much of the area committee. Since the committee receives maintenance and so surrounding the S e a r c h i n g one dollar for every dog license three-acre park. for a new space in town, the committee didn’t do forth. But for right The commithas been an any fundraising this year, mostly tee hired Habioption since the just because the future of the park now we feel bad tat Restoration park’s incep- remains slightly uncertain. Solutions, a tion but hasn’t “If we’re going to have a new asking people for Hinesburg-based been sought out space, we’ll need to fundraise for company that in earnest since the fence and the maintenance money because we specializes in former plan- and so forth,” said Medsker. “But invasive plant have enough to pay ning and zoning for right now we feel bad asking control, to do director Dean people for money because we for the trash and the the first round Pierce present- have enough to pay for the trash of treatment last ed a formalized and the poop bags.” poop bags.” year for $3,000. study in 2017. Another caveat in the debacle The process The propos- is that, should the dog park close, for the plant’s evaluated that land on Harbor Road where — Karen Medsker al removal involved ten poten- the dog park currently is would cutting it down and treating the tial sites using GIS tracking revert back to the previous owner, area with an herbicide with the and other data to evaluate each Cieplicki said. caveat that this be completed on a routine basis. But the frequency and funds needed to do the job are exactly what the committee is BLOTTER continued from page 4 worried about, said Medsker. “And we really didn’t even North Star Motel and assisted tic dispute at a home on Crown do the whole job. We just did the in mediating. Road. fence,” she said. “We didn’t do inside the park. Those invasives Jan. 19 at 7:32 p.m., a retail theft Jan. 21 at 8:18 p.m., police arrested and charged a man with was reported at Kinney Drugs. grow back. Despite your best, driving under the influence Officers could not find the indiyou may have to do it every year, after responding to a two-car vidual involved. over and over.” crash on Webster Road and Recreation director Betsy Jan. 20 at 11:13 a.m., a caller Spear Street. Police did not reported a theft of items from Cieplicki said the committee immediately release the name her car at Shelburne Bay Park. wasn’t aware just how extenof the driver. sive state regulations regarding Jan. 20 at 6:29 p.m., another retail theft was reported at Kinney wetlands are before turning the Note: Charges filed by police are Drugs. The case is pending property into the park in 2012. further investigation. subject to review by the Chittenden And almost every idea for maintenance has been shot down by Jan. 21 at 12:04 p.m., police County State’s Attorney Office and responded to a call about a can be amended or dropped. the state. domestic disturbance at the “It’s been frustrating,” she said, noting that the current location close to the village makes it TOWN OF SHELBURNE a prime suitor for a park that was once frequented by many resiDEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD dents and those outside of Shelburne. “It’s near parking, it has Notice of Public Hearings to be held February 21st, 2024, 7:00 PM water, it’s a large area. There are Town Center Meeting Room #1 and Remote Meeting via Zoom so many great things about this location that anytime we considSP24-01/CU24-01: Application by Gardeners Supply Company ered other locations, nothing (applicant) and Bruce Barry (property owner) for Site Plan and really matched up.” Conditional Use of a Seasonal Retail Nursery. Property located The committee has discussed at 2545 Shelburne Road is in the Mixed-Use District and the several outside-of-the-box ideas Stormwater Overlay District. to maintain the space, including a proposal this past summer to allow goats from the neighboring Zoom Information: farm to graze the area as a natural way to maintain the high-growing https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85832539839?pwd=ZjBJRGF1S1BBUV grass and brush. J6bHBZclVFT2oydz09 But when the committee requested feedback from the state Meeting ID: 858 3253 9839 about the viability of that option, Passcode: 6d6ZwE that, too, was shot down. January 25th, 2024 “Grazing in the wetland may
Champlain Valley School District Food Service Prep/Server Redhawk Café is seeking a full time, energetic individual to join the food service team. Work a school schedule, February and April School Break paid and paid personal time. Medical, Dental and Retirement plans!. Come work in a safe, structured environment where your efforts are appreciated. Detailed job description available upon request or at interview. Please request an application or apply at www.cvsdvt.org/jobs Questions, contact Leo LaForce, llaforce@cvsdvt.org or by calling 802-482-7172 CVSD is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to ensuring that all of our students achieve our mission - which means we are also committed to developing a faculty and staff that represents the inclusive, welcoming environment we seek to develop for students and families. We seek applicants with diverse experiences who share this commitment and strongly encourage Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), immigrants, women, and LGBTQ+ candidates to apply.
SHELBURNE Human Resources Assistant $23-$26/hr., DOQ This is a full-time administrative position responsible for providing comprehensive and efficient human resource support and services to the Town of Shelburne employees. The HR Assistant will be responsible for recruitment and onboarding, records management, benefits administration, HR reporting, training and development, and other HR related projects. We are looking for a self-motivated problem solver who is resourceful and organized with excellent interpersonal and customer service skills. We are excited to shape this position to the skills and interest of the right person who will be energized by working in the public sector. The Town of Shelburne offers competitive salaries and an excellent benefits package. Visit www.shelburnevt.org/jobs to see full job description and employment application. To apply, submit application and resume to Susan Cannizzaro at scannizzaro@shelburnevt.org. Review of applications begins immediately. The Town of Shelburne is an equal opportunity employer.
Page 14 • January 25, 2024 • Shelburne News
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Shelburne News • January 25, 2024 • Page 15
Horoscope January 25, 2024
ANSWERS FROM THIS ISSUE
Weekly Puzzles © 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.
Page 16 • January 25, 2024 • Shelburne News
Optimism, Opportunity and Urgency: It’s Time to Work Together for Our Future As we begin a new year, and as I embark on my second year as CEO of the University of Vermont Health Network, I feel a sense of both optimism and urgency. Optimism, because I think we have an opportunity to make progress on the challenges we share in this region— if we work together. And urgency, because we need to act now to ensure we are best serving our patients and communities, today and into the future. I’ve done a lot of listening and learning, and that has shaped four fundamental “pillars” we’re focusing on for our health system: • We want to create an exceptional UVM Health Network experience for our patients and everyone who works for the health system. • We’re prioritizing education and research. Our academic health system is making a real difference across Vermont and in the North Country of New York. • Stewardship of our communities is about community health and building public trust and confidence in our health system. • We also need to achieve operational excellence and financial sustainability to fulfill our mission. That’s where we’re headed, but we face the same challenges that many people are dealing with in their daily life and work— things like inflation, labor costs, workforce shortages and a lack of housing and childcare. The landscape of providing health care services in a rural setting has shifted. And these challenges have made it much harder for our not-for-profit health system to make needed investments in our people and in the quality of the health care we provide. In our fiscal year that ended September 30, we fell short of our financial goal by $47 million. In our current fiscal year, we’re working to close a $75 million gap that resulted from a number of factors, including the decision by our Vermont regulator to significantly cut our budget. The fact is, if we hadn’t received one-time relief funds, we would have lost hundreds of millions of dollars since 2020. This is not sustainable. So we’re engaged in a difficult balancing act: We’re working to improve patient access, while also operating more efficiently and creating new sources of revenue. For example, we’re prioritizing access to surgical services at several hospitals, which addresses patient wait times. We’re improving efficiency for providers and patients—things like expanding eConsult services between physicians; launching self-scheduling for patients in MyChart; and additional measures to reduce the amount of time patients stay in the hospital unnecessarily. We’re also cutting costs: For example, we’ve reduced expenses by $20 million, including eliminating 130 open positions, in shared administrative services that support organizations throughout our health system. And we’re continuing to closely scrutinize all new hiring. Unfortunately, these kinds of cuts have an impact on our people and on our patient-care and patient-experience initiatives. If we choose to act collectively we can make real strides in overcoming our shared challenges. Here are some key areas where we need partnership:
COURTESY PHOTO
Three to 4 inches of clear black ice, visible in this ice fishing drill hole below the top layer of snow, is the minimum recommended for safe ice fishing.
Ice fishing safety paramount with inconsistent conditions Ice conditions across Vermont are inconsistent due to warm and variable weather, and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is urging anglers to put safety first if they venture out ice fishing. “Check the ice as you go, avoid areas where currents can create weaker ice, and if you are not sure the ice is safe find a different waterbody,” fisheries biologist Shawn Good said. “With good judgment ice fishing is a safe and fun way to get outside in winter. But that means making cautious, smart decisions and changing plans if conditions are not what you hoped for.” Ice conditions are currently variable across Vermont. At higher elevations and in the Northeast Kingdom many lakes and ponds have frozen over completely and have fishable ice. But in southern Vermont and the Champlain Valley, many lakes and ponds are not yet safe for ice fishing. “Three to four inches of clear black ice is the minimum for safe ice fishing,” Good said. “For the kind of gray or opaque ice we get after repeated freezing, thawing,
• Economic development and growth — We need more residents, more people in the workforce, more businesses. This can happen only through a coordinated, all-out effort that involves government and the private sector. We are ready to be a partner in this charge. • Housing— We’ve started to invest in housing for our workforce, but it’s a drop in the bucket compared to what’s needed in our region. We need more, better and smarter housing solutions. • Finances — The health care affordability crisis affects everyone, and it’s going to take a collective effort to change it. But we need more voices calling for meaningful health care reform; realistic reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid; and a fair and consistent regulatory environment that helps us meet our mission. We all share a common interest in the vitality of our communities. We have everything to gain by working together, and we know what’s at stake: It’s the future of this region, and the quality of life for our children and grandchildren.
Sunil “Sunny” Eappen, MD, MBA, President and CEO, The University of Vermont Health Network
and re-freezing we recommend anglers look for at least 6 inches of ice where they plan to fish.” Even on a single waterbody it is important to know that ice thickness is not always uniform. Areas around pressure cracks or near stream or river inlets can be thinner and weaker than surrounding ice. The department says anglers should always carry a spud bar to test the ice as they go and should have a set of personal ice picks for self-rescue. Anglers should avoid fishing alone and should let someone know where they will be fishing and when they plan on returning home. But despite poor or nonexistent early season ice conditions in some areas of Vermont, eager anglers can still find safe ice fishing opportunities this month. “While we wait for colder weather to freeze up waterbodies statewide, I recommend anglers focus on planning and getting their gear in top shape — or that they hit the road and explore the higher elevation waters or northern waters where there is already good ice,” Good said.
Shelburne Parks & Rec News Check out these upcoming events sure to get the youth moving in the cold weather months.
Crossfit Kids Kids can join us right after school 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, our program pushes for quality movement throughout childhood. Consistent mechanics translates to higher sports performance 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. Sessions are every Thursday between Feb. 1- 22 at the Shelburne Field House, and run from 3:15-4:15 p.m. The fee is $80 for each 4-week session and are open to kids in grades 5-8.
Valentine Dance Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Don’t miss this special event held in the Town Center Gym, which is open to kids enrolled in graded K-5. All kids must be accompanied by an adult. Advanced purchase of tickets is highly encouraged and are $10 per child and $15 per adult. Purchase with check or cash in the Recreation Office. All 2024 Summer camp sates will be posted on the parks and recreation website the week of Feb. 5, at shelburnevt.org/160/ Parks-Recreation.