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Town budget, other ballot items pass

ceasefire in Gaza, which overwhelmingly passed after some debate.

At Shelburne’s 236th annual Town Meeting Day, residents passed the town’s $13 million municipal budget, approved three additional ballot items, and voted in two uncontested selectboard candidates.

While most of the voting happened at the polls Tuesday, the town opted this year to keep some of the unique Town Meeting Day traditions alive, including a soldout lasagna dinner on Monday night in the Shelburne Community School cafeteria and a floor vote that saw 150 people approve selectboard salaries.

However, the biggest surprise of the night was a last-minute motion made by resident Adam Franz to pass a resolution that Shelburne call for an immediate

“Why am I bringing this motion tonight? Is this not a conflict on the other side of the world? Isn’t Town Meeting Day for local issues only?” he said.

“Unfortunately, this is not just a conflict all the way over there. It’s an issue that touches each and every one of us every day. Vermont has a proud history of standing up for justice around the world.”

Town budget

In a 1,531 to 989 vote, residents approved a town budget of $13 million, a roughly 21 percent increase over last year. With a 2 percent increase in the grand list,

See TOWN MEETING DAY on page 10

Voters reject school budget, $3.6 million bond passes

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

The Champlain Valley School District’s budget was voted down Tuesday night, throwing the financial future of the state’s largest school district into question.

Just over 5,000 votes were

cast against the district’s $105.8 million budget, with 3,391 votes in favor. The vote will almost certainly force the district to consider measurable cuts to programs and faculty to reshape next year’s school finances.

It’s a gut punch to a district that has been severely disadvantaged

by recent changes to the state’s education finance system.

Board members and administration officials will likely first look to cut support positions in the district that, in previous years, were funded through federal COVID-19 relief funds, called ESSER funds.

District officials, when finalizing the budget in recent weeks, made a point to fund 17 of the 24 federally funded positions that they deemed critical — special education support staff, para-educators, English language specialists, academic and behavioral interventionists, school counselors

and socials workers among them. Those may now be at risk.

Voters did approve a $3.6 million bond Tuesday night, meant to complete infrastructure projects that were already bonded in

See SCHOOL BUDGET on page 11

LIBERTY

PHOTO BY LIBERTY DARR

Pam Brangan, right, a member of the town’s housing committee and food shelf volunteer, seated next to other volunteers during the town dinner. Brangan took home the Colleen Haag Award for public service at this year’s Town Meeting Day.

UVM lecturer speaks about how birding can change the world

LUCIE LEHMANN CONTRIBUTOR

Trish O’Kane is the first to admit that for a long time, she didn’t care about birds. It wasn’t that she didn’t like them; she was too focused on human problems to even notice them.

Now a senior lecturer at the University of Vermont’s Rubenstein School for the Environment and Natural Resources, the Burlington resident was a longtime journalist in war-torn Central America, human rights activist and writing instructor before she began her mid-life journey to earning a doctorate in environmental studies at the University of Wisconsin.

O’Kane will read from and talk about her new book, “Birding to Change the World: A Memoir” (Ecco, 2024) on Wednesday, March 20, 6:30 p.m., at the Pierson Library in Shelburne.

In her book, she chronicles how her life and worldview changed completely when she first noticed birds in the post-Hurricane Katrina devastation outside her ruined New Orleans home. Suddenly, the bright red male cardinal she began watching

becomes “the most precious being on Earth,” a symbol of hope, a consciousness-raiser about environmental destruction but also resilience, and the first signpost on her path to a new career.

While working on her doctorate in Madison, O’Kane lived across the street from Warner Park, a 214-acre community oasis, home to over 150 species of birds and many animals. The park, situated in a working-class neighborhood, its wildlife and the coalition O’Kane and others form to save

the park from further development become the emotional and scientific heart of her journey from accidental birder to obsessive one, shaping her dissertation and life’s trajectory.

Eventually, Warner Park turns into a de facto outdoor classroom where O’Kane takes middle schoolers on birding outings and teaches them to care about the natural world around them, especially the birds. Those afternoons become the nucleus for the wildly popular course O’Kane creates there and now teaches at UVM, “Birding to Change the World.”

It mixes elements of outdoor environmental education, exercise, mentorship, activism and ornithology. O’Kane trains her college students to become mentors to children at Flynn Elementary School in Burlington, and every week during the semester, regardless of weather conditions, they spend the afternoon outdoors with their mentees. They explore around Derway Island in the Winooski River, learn about birds and the environment and build relationships that empower and inspire mentors and mentees alike.

O’Kane writes eloquently and

lyrically about her transformation, mixing science and pedagogy with wonderful storytelling, all in the hopes of enlisting others in her causes. She is upfront and unapologetic about doing so.

“First of all, there are 48 million birders in the U.S. If even half a million people heard about the book and would do something on behalf of the birds” it would be incredible, she says. “We’ve got to act now, or we’re going to lose

them. Birds remind me of what is possible, and at this moment when so many feel disempowered, birds need us to act out of love and in whatever ways we can and feel appropriate to help them.”

She is even more passionate about her second hope for the book: Highlighting the urgent need to get kids outside in nature, and to bring back recess periods so that children can benefit from fresh air and physical exercise.

“We are making them sick, keeping them inside,” she argues. “The solution is simple. Many schools have lovely yards, but the kids are sitting at desks, and they’re on meds. Studies show that this is absolutely wrong. We can resolve many of their behavioral problems just by getting those kids outside.”

Just as O’Kane herself can’t be contained by the walls of a traditional classroom, her book refuses to be neatly categorized, either. It is part memoir, part love letter to birding, part clarion call to action but always wholly engaging.

Lucie Lehmann serves on the board of The Green Mountain Audubon Society, which is co-sponsoring O’Kane’s talk and book signing on March 20 at 6:30 p.m. at The Pierson Library. The Flying Pig Bookstore will sell books at the event, which is free and open to the public.

PHOTO BY JIM CARRIER

Trish O’Kane

Soloists, cellist join Hinesburg Artist Series

As a celebration of bringing joy and music to the community, the Hinesburg Artist Series will present its 25th anniversary St. Patrick’s Day concert featuring the “Requiem for the Living” by Dan Forrest on Sunday, March 17.

The South County Chorus and Hinesburg Artist Series Orchestra will perform with guest soprano Cristina Escobedo and tenor Cameron Brownell, and soloists Gary Moreau, baritone, and Jiwon Lee, cellist, with musical director Rufus Patrick.

Performances will be held 2 p.m. and again at 4:30 p.m. at St. Jude Catholic Church in Hinesburg.

“This concert promises to be one of our most inspiring performances,” Patrick said. “The ‘Requiem’ is incredibly moving, and we are very excited to share the joy of this spectacular music.”

The chorus and orchestra will also present “A Song of Peace,” “May the Road Rise to Meet You,” and “Spirit Suite II,” arranged by Mark Hayes. The orchestra will play “Irish Suite, Part 2,” and the ensembles will perform a group of Irish music, including “Kesh Jig,” “Star of the County Down” and Coleraine jigs.

“We are so fortunate to have this opportunity to come together to make music like this in Hinesburg,” soprano Karen Farnsworth, who has been singing with the Hinesburg Artist Series since it began, said. “We really feel a special connection with so many loyal audience members and are always excited to see others discover the high quality we bring to a local performance.”

Escobedo will sing with the chorus and perform “Te quiero digiste” by Maria Grever and “The Silver Aria” from “The Ballad of Baby Doe” by Douglas Moore. Escobedo, born in Lima, Peru, is getting ready to sing the role of Anina in “La Traviata” by Giuseppe Verdi with the Vienna Opera Academy in July.

Brownell will also sing with the chorus and perform “Simple Song” from the Mass by Leonard Bernstein. Brownell is the vocal music teacher at Champlain Valley Union High School and the music director at Charlotte Congregational Church. He is also the assistant conductor of Solaris Vocal Ensemble.

Lee is a returning guest soloist and she will perform an arrangement of “Be Thou My Vision”

Farm inspiration

arranged by Gary Lanier.

PHOTO BY ANDREA ESTEY

A moment from the ABCs of Farm-Based Education workshop offered by Shelburne Farms last weekend. Twenty-three educators from the U.S. and Canada gathered to share ideas for inspiring visitors to their own farms.

Cameron Brownell

Cristina Escobedo

Shelburne Police Blotter: Feb. 26-March 3

Total reported incidents: 66

Traffic stops: 22

Warnings: 22

Medical emergencies: 13

Suspicious incidents: 7

Citizen, citizen assists: 8

Welfare check: 3

Car crash: 2

Theft: 6

Alarms: 7

False alarms: 6

Feb. 27 at 10:28 a.m., Shelburne firefighters assisted Charlotte at an uncontrolled bush fire.

Feb. 28 at 6:21 p.m., a one-car crash with no injuries was reported on Bay Road.

Feb. 28 at 7:34 p.m., Shelburne fire helped remove a tree from the roadway near Harbor and South Gate roads.

Feb. 29 at 5:58 a.m., a 911 caller reported a fallen tree on Graham Way. Shelburne fire and police helped remove it.

Feb. 29 at 9:02 p.m., a man and woman reportedly fighting at the Quality Inn refused further assistance.

March 1 at 12:59 p.m., a caller told police a license plate had

been stolen from Automaster on Shelburne Road. Police are investigating.

March 1 at 2:34 p.m., a caller from Penny Lane reported receiving threatening messages. A harassment report was taken, and police are investigating.

March 1 at 2:56 p.m., police were called to a residence on Pine Haven Shores Road, where residents reported being trapped in an elevator. Shelburne fire and police helped the folks out.

March 2 at 8:14 a.m., a retail theft reported at Tractor Supply is under investigation.

March 2 at 9:57 p.m., a caller from Shelburne Road reported being sexually assaulted. Police took an initial report and forwarded the case to Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations.

March 2 at 10:50 p.m., a one-car crash that had occurred earlier in the day was reported to police.

March 2 at 11:33 p.m., Shelburne police assisted South Burlington police at a fatal motor vehicle crash. (See related story,

page 7.)

March 3 at 11:19 a.m., a retail theft was reported from Danform Shoes and is under investigation.

March 3 at 12:24 p.m., another retail theft was reported from the Route 7 Deli and is under investigation.

March 3 at 12:26 p.m., a third retail theft was reported, this time from Kinney Drugs, but officers located the individual and issued them a trespass notice.

March 3 at 4:37 p.m., a second retail theft from Kinney Drugs — the fourth of the day — was reported. Officers found the individual and issued them a trespass notice.

March 3 at 7:58 p.m., police responded to a domestic dispute between a man and a woman at the Quality Inn. EMS arrived on scene but the patient refused transport to the hospital.

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

Shelburne Parks & Rec News

Kindergarten youth lacrosse

Second grade Shelburne

Youth Lacrosse registration closes March 29. Don’t miss out on these popular spring coed programs for kindergarten and first and second graders in Shelburne.

Parent volunteer helpers are needed. Sign up at time of registration.

Registration for grades three to eight is now closed.

Yoga flow for mobility

Find some calm in your body and your mind. Join Jane Taylor for an accessible, fun, energizing yoga flow that brings students out of their daily grind and into their true nature of goodness. Get the heart rate up with vigor, and then wind down and relax in a balanced class designed to make you feel better than when you came in the door.

All levels welcome. Bring your own yoga mat and whatever props you need. Taylor has been practicing for more than 20 years and has been assisting the University of Vermont yoga teacher training for 12 years. She teaches with alignment, humor and ease.

Sessions are on Tuesdays, March 26 to April 30, 9-10 a.m.,

Shelburne town gym. Cost is $90. Deadline is March 18.

Toddler open gym

Come play and connect with others. No pre-registration necessary, just sign in at the door. A parent or caregiver must be present at all times.

Scooters, bikes and rideon toys are not permitted. There will be balls, hoops and tumbling mats. Wear indoor shoes or socks inside the gym. No food is allowed.

In case of inclement weather, call 802-985-9551 to check for cancellations.

The open gym is held the second and last Sunday of the month through May. 9:30-11 a.m. Dates are March 10, April 14 and 28, May 12 and 26. There is no program on March 31.

A $5 suggested donation per family would be appreciated. Volunteer coordinator is Aisha Mueller at Shelburne town gym.

Spring, summer registration

Visit our website at shelburnevt.org/160/parks-recreation for online registration and complete details on summer camps, programs and special events.

OPINION

Vermont’s drug problems: addiction, prescription costs

From the Senate

Sen. Ginny Lyons

Has anyone not heard about drug addiction problems in Vermont? About substance use in municipalities and neighborhoods?

Residents have found used needles near local schools and friends and families are severely affected by the loss of loved ones from addiction or death. Some people are so intimidated by drug dealers that they are leaving their apartments or made to live with drugs being sold in their homes.

Overdose deaths in Vermont in 2021 totaled 217. In 2022 the final count of deaths from overdose is predicted to be over 243. These are preventable deaths, and this is an unacceptable trajectory. As long as there is demand for addictive substances, these problems will persist. There is not one solution to bending the curve on addiction or the demand for opioids and other addictive substances. As reported in earlier op-eds, my legislative activity includes work on short-term and long-term intervention, prevention and treatment programs for the chronic diseases of addiction.

We will complete legislative work on S.186 and H.72 in the next few weeks. H.72 will allow for the establishment of a safe haven for those with addiction at overdose protection centers. They have been called safe injection sites or harm reduction centers and they can help save lives.

Among other services, these centers provide testing of street drugs that addicted people intend to use, immunity from prosecution when users are at the centers and ongoing counseling or referrals. The benefits of these centers are lifesaving and provide improved outcomes for those with substance use disorder.

Local communities also benefit from a reduction in needles or related drug paraphernalia left behind in streets or buildings. Using money from Vermont’s opioid settlement to establish these centers makes sense. Hopefully H.72 can provide critical intervention for people addicted to opioids and other drugs and help those sick with addiction move toward recovery. As we know, recovery is a lifelong process requiring long-term attention to the disease

of addiction.

S.186 would establish a system of recovery. The bill helps coordinate recovery residences of different levels for patients in recovery. Different services are required for those in early stages of with drawal, those living in recovery homes and or for those in larger community recovery centers.

Ultimately, the goal is to provide an opportunity for those in recovery to seek employment and re-enter the community. When passed the bill will suggest appro priate licensing or certification criteria for types and levels of recovery programs and housing. The National Association of Recovery Residences and consultants are working with legislators, the administra tion and recovery professionals to finalize S.186.

The goal is to clarify what is needed and when and how to move people into recovery, employment and an environment or community different from the one that caused their addiction. Money and resourc es are needed to build recovery support services in Vermont. Opioid settlement funds should help.

Prescription drug costs

Vermonters also face increased prescription drug costs, out of pocket costs, increased insurance premiums and limited access to care. One of the cost drivers for increased school funding is health insurance premium increases for school teachers and staff. Insurers and medical providers alike identify high prescription drug costs as a reason for double digit increases in hospital or premium costs.

One expert provided the following context to my Senate Committee on Health and Welfare:

“As biopharmaceuti cal science and technol ogy rapidly evolve to produce meaningful products, society’s inability to manage the very high costs of innovation has grown commensurately. Increasingly, pharma ceutical market pricing requires significant societal and individual trade-offs to finance access to important medicines. Those trade-offs occur inside and outside of health care and become harder and harder to accept.”

Tradeoffs might be a decision to buy needed prescription drugs for chronic illness or pay rent or buy food. Cost for the introduction of a new cancer drug grew 53 percent between 2017 and 2022 to $218,000. The cost of one arthritis drug

Sen. Ginny Lyons

Game for the future? Perhaps consider Go Fish

In Musing

Carole Vasta Folley

When I first played Old Maid as a child, I thought the old maid in question was an elderly housekeeper. That’s understandable, though it didn’t make the title of the card game any less offensive.

Obviously, I eventually learned, to my future dismay, that the Old Maid is an unmarried woman of advanced years. A pejorative term used for fun. Moreover, I got the message that to end up an old maid was shameful and to be avoided at all costs.

but in the game of life.

After all, there’s an entire industry about a woman’s “one special day” to walk down the aisle. But couldn’t her happily-ever-after be earning a master’s degree? Running a business? Retiring early? Or paying off her mortgage?

My childhood was laden with excessive and unrealistic messaging about love and marriage. I can’t count the number of different Cinderellas I’ve heard sing, “Some Day My Prince Will Come.” Even today’s television shows like “The Bachelor” and “Love is Blind” continue to show that the dominant cultural warning for women is still the same. Don’t be an old maid.

Getting married isn’t just the expectation, it’s somehow become an unseen, yet imposing, yardstick to measure the viability and worth of a woman. It’s an unspoken judgment that says if you’re caught being the old maid, you lose. Not just in cards,

A moment for a station break, please. I have nothing against marriage. In fact, I love it. I’m married to someone I’d marry again. What I am against is the marginalization of any woman for any reason. Besides, isn’t one’s relationship status nobody else’s concern or right to judge?

Of course, I didn’t always think this way. I, too, was indoctrinated, unknowingly waiting to be married because, unconsciously, wedlock was presumed. It’s probably why I got it wrong the first time. That and all the hardscrabble years sitting on an unyielding pew absorbing a limited view of matrimony, especially one that has to fulfill its procreative purpose “until death do us part.”

Admittedly, I also used to believe that everybody should have children. OK, I had to get off the floor after even typing that. How ridiculous! What can I say? I was young, immature and too busy playing Milton Bradley’s Mystery Date.

All this brings me to the word spinster and how it’s used to describe an older

THECITY OFBURLINGTON

Job & Internship Fair

Friday, March 22nd 12-4PM

City Hall, 149 Church Street

Contois Auditorium (2nd oor)

This is your opportunity to meet with our City department representatives and apply for any of our open positions. Explore career opportunities for full-time and part-time, temporary, seasonal roles and internships.

We offer a competitive and comprehensive benet package, including health, dental, life insurance, retirement plan, FSA and much more!

We believe in promoting a culture that reveres diversity and equity. The City of Burlington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we are strongly committed to creating a dynamic and equitable work force.

No advanced registration required; register upon arrival.

www.burlingtonvt.gov/HR/jobfair

unmarried woman. One of its synonyms is old maid. But is she?

From the late 14th century, spinster originally meant “a woman who spins, female spinner of thread.” By 1719, it was being used to describe a single woman regarded as too old for marriage.

It’s great that we live during a time where calling women spinsters is understood to be both dated and derogatory. And that’s not counting the additional aspersions the word spinster has accumulated over the years: unmarriable, prudish, unattractive and undesirable.

Just sit with that a moment while contemplating that their male counterparts are called bachelors. A word that implies eligibility, bon vivant vibes and desirability.

neur, a contributor. Likewise, let’s once and for all agree that a woman’s value is not defined by her marital status. At any age.

Now, as far as Old Maid, it can be a fun game. One which can be called whatever you like and played with any regular card deck.

That’s not counting the additional aspersions the word spinster has accumulated over the years: unmarriable, prudish, unattractive and undesirable.

Meanwhile, I’m sorry to say Old Maid cards with representations of elderly women are still being produced, sold and purchased with the same name. Online reviews assure the stigma will continue: “My grandsons love this game.” “It was easy to play with my daughters.” “We play it with our five-year-old and the younger kids love to watch and learn.” I’m sure they do. But what exactly are they learning?

What if we go further and don’t cast aside the word spinster and instead hold it with respect to how it was first used? “A woman who spins.” A crafter, an entrepre-

LYONS continued from page 5

increased 60 percent over five years and provided significant corporate profits.

Prescription drugs represent 23 percent of health care premiums. This exceeds the proportion spent on hospital inpatient services. No wonder insurance companies stress that premium increases reflect increases in prescription drug costs. And no wonder prescription drug pricing drives difficult personal choices. The dysfunction in today’s pharmaceutical market places pressure on all of us. We are held hostage to a pricing system that is a black box. The pharmaceutical industry sells drugs in the U.S. at much higher prices than other countries. U.S. residents pay 33 percent more for prescription drugs than those in the United Kingdom and 25 percent more than those in Canada.

Reasons for higher drug costs include lack of transparency, complex pricing and lack of regulation at federal and state levels. My committee is working on S.98,

Do you have photos you would like to share with the community?

Carole Vasta Folley is an award-winning columnist and playwright. Visit carolevf.com for more info.

which will begin to address regulation of prescription drug costs in Vermont. The bill gives the Green Mountain Care Board authority to establish upper price limits. Regulatory work in Maryland, Oregon and Colorado has paved the way to demonstrate that savings can be realized by lowering cost of drugs that patients in those states need.

We have heard concerns from patients with chronic illnesses like diabetes, cystic fibrosis or arthritis about restricted access to the high-cost drugs they need to survive. They fear that a pharmaceutical company might limit sales of prescription drugs. That fear has not been realized in other states.

Ginny Lyons, a Democrat from Williston, represents South Burlington, Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne and several other towns in the Chittenden-Southeast Senate district.

Carole Vasta Folley

Man killed in hit-and-run on Shelburne Road

Police cruiser destroyed in subsequent crash

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

A 73-year-old man well known to the downtown Burlington community was killed on Shelburne Road Sunday night after a South Burlington resident reportedly struck him with his car and fled the scene.

According to eyewitness accounts, Joseph Byrd Allen was riding his bike around 11 p.m. near 1834 Shelburne Road, in front of Pauline’s Cafe and Restaurant, when Steven Olango, 38, of South Burlington, struck him while driving a yellow Mini Cooper. He then fled the crash scene.

Allen sustained major injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Investigators were able to track Olango’s car to the Travel Lodge, about a mile away from the scene in South Burlington and took him into custody shortly after. He was ordered held on a $5,000 bail and was charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and negligent operation.

Olango’s license to operate a motor vehicle was suspended at the time of the crash and his vehicle registration was expired, police said, adding that he has 16 previous arrests and 11 convictions.

He was last arrested by Burlington police in July and charged with driving under the influence. He was expected to be arraigned on Wednesday after press deadline.

Later, while police were on the

scene at around 1 a.m., an unoccupied police cruiser at the scene was struck by a car driving southbound, police said.

The driver, Bamidele Ladipo, 51, of Shelburne, was found by police to be under the influence of alcohol and was subsequently charged.

Additional charges are pending a toxicology report — Lapido was admitted to University of Vermont Medical Center shortly after the crash — and the case is currently under investigation by the University of Vermont Police Department.

Allen is more commonly known as “Byrdman” among the downtown Burlington community and could be seen pushing decorated carts and bikes about town. A memorial has since been set up in Burlington’s Old North End in his honor, and a GoFundMe started by Allen’s daughter, Mattie Allen, has since generated more than $11,500 from nearly 300 donations for Allen’s

funeral expenses.

“While I cannot find the words that I want to say in this moment I would ask that if your heart speaks to you to consider donating towards his final expenses,” Mattie said. “We wish to hold a remembrance for him this summer but right now we are trying to process this profound loss for us and the Greater Burlington community.”

“It is amazing to see how much he positively impacted so many in Burlington and all over VT,” she added.

Radio Bean, a live music venue in Burlington, posted on Instagram that they would have a memorial for Allen at the bar on Wednesday, March 6 at 9 p.m.

“So many memories, epic recycling wagons and songs of his swirling around my mind right now,” reads a social media post on Radio Bean’s Instagram account. “A true eccentric.”

Joseph “Byrdman” Allen

SOUTH BURLINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT PHOTO

A South Burlington police cruiser was totaled after being struck by a drunk driver.

COMMUNITY

Community Notes

Vermont pays tribute to submarine hero

A tribute to torpedoman Henry Breault is planned for Friday, March 15 at 9:30 a.m. to honor the 100th anniversary of his receiving the Medal of Honor.

Rep. Michael Morgan, R-Milton, is initiating a legislative resolution to honor Breault, the first submariner and only enlisted submariner to receive the Medal of Honor.

The event will take place in the House Chamber at the Statehouse.

March 15 was chosen as the Legislature will be in recess March 8, the actual date in 1924 when the Medal of Honor was presented to Breault by President Calvin Coolidge.

All veterans are encouraged to attend the resolution reading. A group of active-duty submariners from the Naval Submarine Base in Groton, Conn., and Vermont Green Mountain Base members of the U.S. Submarine Veterans plan to attend.

For more information, contact C. William Mattoon, commander, Green Mountain Submarine Veterans, Inc., at cmattoon@vermontel.net.

Shelburne church, Age well host March luncheon

Age Well is offering a luncheon on Wednesday, March 20, in the St Catherine of Siena Parish Hall, 72 Church St. in Shelburne.

The menu is beef burgundy with mushrooms and onions, wide egg noodles, sliced carrots, green beans, wheat dinner roll with butter, Larry’s homemade oatmeal date Craisin cookie and milk.

Check-in time is 11:30 a.m. and the meal will be served at noon. There is a $5 suggested donation.

Diners must register by March 14 to Kerry Batres, nutrition coordinator, 802-662-5283 or email kbatres@agewellvt.org. Tickets are also available at the Age Well Office, 875 Roosevelt Highway, Suite 210, Colchester.

Burlington Civic Symphony holds spring concert

The Burlington Civic Symphony presents its spring concert on Saturday, March 9, at 7 p.m., in the Elley-Long Music Center in Colchester.

The program features Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man,” Igor Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite” and Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5 (“The Reformation”).

The orchestra’s music director, Daniel Bruce, conducts.

For information and tickets, go to bcsovt. org. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for children and students.

Library hosts election talk on mis- and disinformation

The League of Women Voters of Vermont, in partnership with Kellogg-Hubbard Library, presents the last in its series on elections and democracy, on Wednesday, March 13, at 7 p.m., in-person at the library, 135 Main St., Montpelier.

This season looks at both structural and cultural issues that affect voter attitudes and election results with journalist Dave Gram and M.E. Kabay, emeritus professor of computer information systems at Norwich University. They will discuss the issues of misinformation and disinformation and its potential impact on political campaigns.

Sky Barsch, CEO of VTDigger, will moderate the discussion.

Grab and go meal in Shelburne, March 12

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, March 12.

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

See COMMUNITY NOTES on page 9

Shelburne students wins annual essay contest

and selecting 12 finalists and three winners. Gibbs’ essay focused on steps government could take to mitigate public health and economic impacts of long Covid, and it earned her a place at the senator’s roundtable discussion, to be held on March 9 at the Vermont Statehouse. Gibbs maintains top grades while also pursuing a passion for dance, which she has studied since she was 7. She is a past Gold Key winner in the Vermont Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and is interested in studying neuroscience when she attends college in the fall. She lives in Shelburne with her parents and sister.

COURTESY PHOTO

The winners of the 14th annual State of the Union Essay Contest, which gives Vermont high school students the opportunity to propose a solution to a major issue facing the country, includes Talia Gibbs, a senior at Vermont Commons School in South Burlington. Sponsored by Sen. Bernie Sanders, 454 students from 27 Vermont high schools this year submitted essays. A panel of seven Vermont educators served as volunteer judges, ranking the essays

continued from page 8

or older. Suggested donation is $5.

The menu is beef round, boiled potatoes, cabbage and carrots in beef stock, wheat roll and butter, leprechaun cake with frosting and milk.

To order a meal contact Kathleen at agewellstcath@gmail.com or 802-503-1107. Deadline to order is Wednesday, March 6. If this is a first-time order, provide your name, address, phone number and date of birth.

More at agewellvt.org.

Pie for Breakfast: It’s that time of year again

The Charlotte-ShelburneHinesburg Rotary club will host Pie for Breakfast on Saturday, March 16, 8 a.m.-noon.

The annual all you can eat event will once again be held at Shelburne Community School.

Shelburne church hosts blood drive in March

Make a “paws-itive impact” and give the lifesaving gift of blood at the Shelburne community blood drive sponsored by St. Catherine of Siena Parish.

Much like pets provide comfort and support, so does the Red Cross in our community.

Get a $10 e-gift card to a pet supply merchant of choice when you come to give blood in March. Plus, donors will be automatically entered for a chance to win a $3,000 gift card to use as a treat for themselves or a trusted companion. There will be five lucky winners nationally.

The drive will be held Tuesday, March 19, from noon-5 p.m. in the church parish hall, 72 Church St., Shelburne.

recommended as walk-ins cannot always be accommodated. To give, call 800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org.

Contact Laureen Mathon with questions at lmathon104@gmail. com.

Garden club talk on Asian jumping worm, threats

Burlington Garden Club will host the talk, “The Asian Jumping Worm and other Emerging Diseases and Pests,” on Tuesday, March 26, 1 p.m., 899 Dorset St., South Burlington.

Speaker Ann Hazelrigg is a plant pathologist with University of Vermont Extension and is the director of the Plant Diagnostic Clinic.

The Asian jumping worm is a relatively new invasive earthworm in Vermont that is spreading rapidly throughout the U.S. It presents a threat to gardeners, farmers, nurseries and forest managers. Hazelrigg will talk about the jumping worm and other emerging diseases and pests that challenge us as gardeners, homeowners and forest stewards.

More at bgcvt.org.

Knights of Columbus hosts community breakfast

Join the Knights of Columbus DeGosbriand Council # 279 on Sunday, March 10, for a community breakfast, 9-11:30 a.m., in the parish center of St. Joseph’s Cathedral, 29 Allen St., Burlington.

The meal includes bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, home fires, blueberry pancakes, French toast and more. Coffee, juice, butter and real Vermont maple

Sentinels

fast benefits seminarians or religious aspirants for books, car insurance, maintenance, travel during vacations, clerical clothing, emergency expenditures and other living expenses.

Be a pest detector; free training offered

Early detection of the emerald ash borer, hemlock woolly adelgid and other invasive forest pests will help minimize economic and ecological damage to Vermont’s forests.

The Vermont Urban and

Community Forestry program is offering a free, self-paced, fourweek online course for outdoor enthusiasts, trail managers and others who spend time in the woods who are interested in becoming a Vermont forest pest first detector. The course runs from March 16 to April 13, although participants will have access to class materials until year’s end. The deadline to register is March 13. Course details and a link to registration can be found at vtcommunityforestry.org/pests.

Participants will learn how to identify and report invasive forest

pests, determine management strategies and explore actions in their communities and on local trails. The course will cover several different pests including hemlock wooly adelgid, Asian long-horned beetle, emerald ash borer, spotted lanternfly, jumping worms and oak wilt.

In addition to the eight selfstudy modules, three live Zoom sessions with forestry professionals will delve into some topics in depth including beech leaf disease and forest health and methods to treat ash trees on trails for the emerald ash borer.

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

A lovely stand of trees at Meach Cove in Shelburne.

TOWN MEETING DAY

continued from page 1

for through a variety of other revenue streams like the projected $1 million the town is set to receive through the 1 percent local option tax approved by voters last Town Meeting Day. Without it, the tax rate would have been nearly 6 cents higher.

Shelburne’s budget this year sees an increased focus on two areas: investment in town employees and funding the town’s capital plan. Additionally, as the town continues to grow and increase services, public safety — police, fire and rescue — made up a large percentage of spending this year.

Of the $13 million, $5 million has been allocated to employee compensation as most departments saw a 10 percent increase to bring wages in line with the current employee marketplace. With a total health care benefit increase of 12 percent, an additional $1 million is allocated for employee benefits.

Selectboard, school board race

Incumbent Matt Wormser and new member Chunka Mui won their uncontested selectboard races for two and three-year seats, respectively.

Wormser, who got 2,160 votes, has been a familiar face on the board for the last two years.

Chunka Mui, who had 2,015 votes, will take over the seat

PHOTOS BY LEE KROHN

Above Left: Colleen Haag presents Pam Brangan, left, a member of the town’s housing committee and food shelf volunteer, with the Colleen Haag Award for public service at this year’s Shelburne Town Meeting Day. Haag was the first recipient of the award that bears her name and which recognizes people in town who exemplify the spirit of community service.

Above Right: Shelburne fire chief Jacob Leopold.

SCHOOL BUDGET

continued from page 1

2022 but, because of inflation and supply chain issues, have grown well past previous estimates.

But with Tuesday night’s budget results, more than $1.5 million in one-time expenditures for capital projects in schools for the coming year may now on the cutting floor. School infrastructure needs across the state are becoming problematic, and without state aid, the cost is borne by districts and local taxpayers.

The question is whether district officials will trim anywhere beyond that. District officials have previously noted that cutting only the 17 support positions and eliminating the one-time infrastructure spending would still leave taxpayers with a double-digit tax rate increase under the state education system.

decreases, even after conducting town- or city-wide reappraisals.

Administration officials and board members had seen a financial cliff coming since 2022, when the Legislature passed Act 127, a new layer to the state’s education formula that tried to correct what researchers showed was an insufficient pupil weighting system for low-income students or non-English speaking students.

“It’s a disappointing outcome but certainly not altogether unexpected.”

The budget that was voted down had already eliminated five teaching positions in the district, Meghan Metzler, the board’s vice chair, noted earlier.

— Board chair

To soften the blow, the law allowed for a 5 percent tax rate “cap” through fiscal year 2030, as well as a 10 percent per-pupil spending limit. The often-perplexing formula meant that whether the Champlain Valley School District, for example, approved an $88.5 million budget or a $105.8 million budget would have no difference in its $1.37 tax rate increase.

Angela Arsenault

“It’s a disappointing outcome but certainly not altogether unexpected,” board chair Angela Arsenault said.

The district, she said, has been planning for this outcome and will meet Tuesday, March 12, to look at an amended budget that administrators and board members have been working on.

The second budget, Arsenault said, will be an attempt to responsibly trim the budget as much as they can “before we start seriously impacting our ability to maintain the high-quality education and class sizes that our voters and community have always said they wanted.”

Champlain Valley’s budget is among a handful that have been voted down across the state — South Burlington’s included. State officials have said property taxes were set to rise by an average of 19 percent across the district, and the Champlain Valley’s estimated rates were no different.

The district faced an average of a 19 to 26 percent tax rate increase. But those estimates ranged from town to town based on the common level of appraisal figures, or the calculation that compares the assessed value of properties on the grand list to the actual property sale prices considered to represent fair market value.

Because the housing market has skyrocketed in years since the pandemic, with home sale data continuing to rise by high single or low double digit percentage points amid a low-supply market, towns’ CLA figures have seen dramatic

District officials had estimated a roughly 18 percent increase for member towns under that formula.

But lawmakers, in the 11th hour, decided to eliminate that cap on property tax hikes, arguing that districts across the state were taking advantage of the law and were making a huge draw on the state’s education fund.

H.850, passed two weeks ago, changed the already complex formula, but allowed for districts to postpone their budgets to April to make cuts.

District officials opted not to make any changes and move forward with the budget they had warned prior to the law change.

Any changes to the budget would start to “take away some of those really important supports for our students,” Metzler said. “We

TOWN MEETING DAY

continued from page 10

vacated by board co-chair Cate Cross. The decision to now run for selectboard, he said, is because he believes the town is at a crucial point in shaping its future.

In another uncontested race, Shelburne resident Kate Webb garnered 2,247 votes for a threeyear seat on the Champlain Valley School Board.

After spending 14 years as the state representative for the Chittenden-5-1 legislative district, Webb says she’s running for the school board to address some of the consequences that have come from the adoption of a new education funding formula known as Act 127.

would have to cast a wide net to look at operations, finance, what happens in buildings, etc., but we would have to start making cuts to things that support our students in many different ways.”

Metzler added they chose not to postpone their budget — which was crafted under previous Act 127 rules — because “it reflected what we felt were the needs of our students in the environment that we’re in.”

But under the budget, member towns would have been walloped by double digit tax rate hikes. Hinesburg would have been hit the hardest, with anywhere from a 23 to 30 percent hike, officials said, while Charlotte would have faced a 21 to 28 percent hike and Shelburne a 19 to 27 percent hike.

Residents in the district’s five member towns — Williston, Hinesburg, Charlotte, Shelburne and St. George — balked.

Bill Baker, a Hinesburg resident and former member of the Champlain Valley School District, told the board he would not be supporting the budget but not because of the district’s actions: “We got to tell the state we can’t take it anymore,” he said.

Carl Fowler, of Williston, calling the potential tax rate hikes “titanic,” said the implications of spending statewide this year are “potentially devastating on taxpayers.”

“It would normally be my inclination to vote for that tax, but this time it strikes me that if we vote now for the proposed school budget,” Fowler said, “we are in effect saying that irrespective of what the Legislature does, we will live with what we say we will vote

for, and that sends a message to the Legislature not to proceed to try to revise the tax situation, or fix the problems with the law.”

The district will now have to rework its budget and a revote will have to be scheduled sometime after April 6. Where cuts would be made are unclear.

During the board’s Feb. 20 meeting, when members opted not to postpone the budget, officials questioned what affects any changes would have on the district’s educational standards.

“What I’m struggling with is I just don’t know if we can make an impact to the tax rate without completely redoing how we deliver education to our children,” board member Brendan McMahon said.

Thomas Little received 2,305 votes for a one-year term as town moderator and Diana Vachon got 3,330 votes for re-election to a three-year seat as town clerk.

Other articles

Residents also approved the $375,000 request for a new ambulance for Shelburne Rescue 2,114425. Additionally, a $1 million bond for a new fire tanker to replace the fire department’s 30-year-old truck also passed, 1,886 to 551.

Voters also approved $100,000 for the town’s open space fund — double the amount usually voted on by residents — 1,686 to 729.

PHOTO BY LIBERTY DARR

Nearly 150 residents packed into the Shelburne Community School to cast two votes on the Town Meeting Day floor this year following a sold-out town dinner.

SPORTS

Young CVU Nordic team wins state title

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

With a young roster and uncooperative weather, the Champlain Valley girls’ Nordic ski team spent most of the season focused on rebuilding a title-winning program.

All that team building, get-togethers and training helped the Redhawks go from rebuilding to a state championship in one season.

Champlain Valley earned the Division I state championship, capping off a week where they led from Tuesday’s classic race start all the way through Friday’s freestyle finish.

“We knew it was going to be a battle,” CVU coach Sarah Strack said. “I just tried not to focus on that this year and to just focus on building up our strengths and building back the program and making sure they were enjoying what they were doing because I think once you have that, then the rest of it comes.”

All the work paid off for the Redhawk skiers. They placed four skiers in the top 15 in the classic race and six players in the top 20 in freestyle.

That helped CVU earn 95 points to beat Mount Mansfield (111 points) to win the program’s first title in three years.

“We just emphasized doing our best every time we went out,” Strack said. “It was always just about doing the best we can each

day and being there for your teammates, then the results just came.”

Estella Laird was the top finisher for the Redhawks, coming in fourth in the classic race and then fifth place in freestyle.

Charlotte Crum was 10th in the classic, followed by Annalise Wood in 11th place and Lilyanna Mittelstadt in 14th. Maeve Parker-Clark (22nd), Annika Johnson (27th), Senja Erickson (28th) and Kate Silverman (34th) rounded out the top CVU finishers.

In the freestyle race, Crum followed Laird’s fifth place with a spot in eighth place and Wood came in 9th. Mittelstadt was 17th, Johnson was 18th and Silverman was 19th. Erickson finished in 25th place and Parker-Clarke was 28th.

“We knew that we had to capitalize where we could and that was mainly the classic race,” Strack said. “Tuesday was a pretty important day for us and then the kids just went out and they really put together amazing races.”

The Redhawks also got a key win in the classic relay, as Laird, Crum, Mittelstadt and Wood teamed up for a win to put the team up after the Tuesday’s first day of competition.

Strong individual efforts in Friday’s freestyle race and a second-place showing in the relay helped clinch the title.

Strack credits the work of the team’s captains — Betty Buehler and Julia Shrier — with creating

SHELBURNE

3RD FY 23-24 PROPERTY TAX INSTALLMENT

Due Wednesday, March 15, 2024

Payments must be POSTMARKED or RECEIVED in the TOWN OFFICES by MIDNIGHT, March 15, 2024.

Late payments are subject to penalty and interest.

Payments can be left in lock box at Police Department Dispatch until Midnight, March 15, 2024.

PLEASE NOTE: The Police Department cannot provide any information regarding your tax account or receipts for payments.

If any questions please call 985-5120 Office hours for payment in person are

Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

a culture of togetherness and team building that helped the skiers peak as a team in the final races of the regular season.

“It was a great group of girls,” Strack said. “They worked really hard all season, so it was really nice to see all their hard work come together at the end of the season.

CVU boys come in third

Owen Deale’s two top five finishes helped propel the Champlain Valley boys’ Nordic ski team to a third-place finish at the state championships.

It was the third top three finish for the CVU boys in the last three years.

“The boys, they kind of just kept rising to the challenge and it was really cool to see,” Strack

said. “I’m really proud of that third place, really proud of it.”

Deale came in third in the freestyle race on Friday at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center. Anders Johnson finished in 10th place for the Redhawks.

Deale led the way on the first day of competition as well. The senior came in fourth in the classic race the Rikert Outdoor Center. Johnson placed 10th again to round the out the top 10 finishers for CVU.

CVU had to compete without top skier Will Wallace in the final races, causing younger members of the team to step up and perform.

The Redhawks came in third place behind Mount Mansfield (72 points) and Mount Anthony (98 points).

SHELBURNE

QUARTERLY WATER & SEWER PAYMENT

Due Friday, March 15, 2024

Payments must be RECEIVED or POSTMARKED by MIDNIGHT, March 15, 2024.

Late payments are subject to penalty and interest.

Payments can be left in lock box at Police Department Dispatch until Midnight, March 15, 2024.

PLEASE NOTE: The Police Department cannot provide any information regarding accounts or receipts for payments.

If any questions please call 985-5120 Office hours for payment in person are

Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Police Department is open 24/7

Nordic skiing

State championships freestyle Craftsbury Outdoor Center

D-I girls team scores (final):

1. Champlain Valley 95; 2. Mount Mansfield 111; 3. St. Johnsbury 155; 4. Burlington 172; 5. Brattleboro 311; 6. South Burlington 327; 7. BFA-St. Albans 434; 8. Essex 493.

D-I girls top 10 (individual):

1. Seven Bowen, MMU 14:58.3; 2. Tillie Lange, SJ 14:59.2; 3. Kate Carlson, MMU 15:03.2; 4. Paige Poirier, SB 15:20.4; 5. Estella Laird, CVU 15:31.7; 6. Elsa Sanborn, BHS 15:33.2; 7. Eden White, MAU 15:43.9; 8. Charlotte Crum, CVU 15:56.3; 9. Annalise Wood, CVU 16:09.2; 10. Anya Moriarty, SJ 16:15.0.

D-I girls relay: 1. Mount Mansfield 30:42.3; 2. Champlain Valley 31:42.1; 3. St. Johnsbury 32:48.1; 4. Burlington 34:39.1; 5. Brattleboro 37:38.3; 6. South Burlington 38:03.0; 7. Essex 39:56.6; BFA-St. Albans 40:25.9.

State championships classic Rikert Nordic Center

Division I girls team scores (after Day 1): 1. Champlain Valley 42; 2. Burlington 64; 3. Mount Mansfield 75; 4. St. Johnsbury 81; 5. Brattleboro 160; 6. South Burlington 194; 7. BFA-St. Albans 210; 8. Essex 225.

Division I girls top 10 (individual): 1. Gillian Fairfax, BHS 20:56.3; 2. Elsa Sanborn, BHS 21:11.3; 3. Kate Carlson, MMU 22:35.1; 4. Estella Laird, CVU 22:40.4; 5. Paige Poirier, SB 22:55.4; 6. Tillie Lange, SJ 23:18.6; 7. Seven Bowen, MMU 23:24.3; 8. Aurora Rella-Neill, MAU 23:54.9; 9. Tanis

COURTESY PHOTO

The boys’ and girls’ Nordic teams at CVU. The girls took the state title while the boys came in third.

Girls’ basketball shoots for return as state champs Wednesday

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Standing in the way of No. 1 Champlain Valley’s return to the Division I girls’ basketball title game was No. 4 Rutland and its stars Anna Moser and Jasmine Evans.

For the first half of Sunday’s D-I semifinal at Patrick Gym, the Redhawks threw every defense they had at the Raiders’ stars.

“I felt like we were experimenting in the first half,” CVU coach Ute Otley said. “Second half we came in with a clear plan. Let’s do this and this and see if they can break it.”

In the second half the girls knew exactly what would work to shut down Rutland and allowed just six points in the entire half.

CVU won 46-20 and took its spot in the championship game.

Champlain Valley will face No. 2 St. Johnsbury on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Patrick Gym after press time. The Hilltoppers handed CVU its only loss of the regular season.

“It’s super exciting. It’s great to be back,” CVU guard Elise Berger said. “It’s great to be back and just an awesome feeling, getting ready for Wednesday night now. That’s our big goal now.”

The two teams traded baskets

NORDIC TEAM

continued from page 12

White, MAU 24:02.5; 10. Charlotte Crum, CVU 24:03.5.

Division I girls top 10 (relay):

1. Champlain Valley (Laird, Crum, Mittelstadt, Wood) 49:12.7; 2. Burlington (Brown, Connolly, Sanborn, Fairfax) 49:20.4; 3. Mount Mansfield (Bowen, Barker, McEntee, Carlson) 50:07.1; 4. St. Johnsbury (Moriarty, Reed, Purdy, Lange) 50:17.2; 5. South Burlington (Zuchman, Stoll-Pietilla, Leavey, Poirier) 56:20.8; 6. Brattleboro (Normandeau, Bald, Coleman, Kitzmiller) 56:34.4; 7. BFA-St. Albans (Hughes, Desorgher, Lumbra, Malboeuf) 1:00.48.4); 8. Essex (Sckolnick, Know, Gaa, Stubbs) 1:04.57.0.

through the first and second quarters, but a quick 3-0 run in the final minute put CVU ahead 21-14 at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Redhawks picked up the defensive pressure, holding Rutland to two points in the third quarter.

“We’ve been working pretty hard on it this week, lots of different looks,” Otley said. “We knew Rutland brought a special set of challenges with Moser and her range and Evans just being so strong in the paint.

“We really spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to make

the other kids score the basketball and try to take those two out of it as much as possible.”

CVU held Moser to seven points and Evans to six points in the game.

Meanwhile, on offense, Nina Zimakis was busy taking over for CVU, scoring three points on a lay-up and a foul and then hitting a three-pointer near the end of the third.

“Nina did fantastic job defending her person, with her teammates helping anytime she got a step on her,” Otley said. “I was really pleased with the way that kid

HELBURN S E

Zoning Bylaw Rewrite Q&A

7 pm on Tuesday, March 19th Town Offices, Meeting Room 2 Sign-up Required

Purpose: To provide Shelburne residents and property owners an opportunity to have an in-depth conversation with planning staff and members of the planning commission around any questions they may have regarding the ongoing rewrite of the Shelburne Zoning Bylaw.

In order to provide the best environment to address questions these meetings will be limited to 5 people. To sign up, please email Director of Planning and Zoning, Aaron DeNamur, at: adenamur@shelburnevt.org

If the meeting is already full you will be added to a waitlist and be informed when the next Q&A is scheduled. If you are not on the list for the meeting please do not plan to attend. This is to keep the group size small to allow the best opportunity for people’s questions to be answered.

Everyone who wants to will have an opportunity to attend one of these sessions. The level of interest received will determine how many of these Q&A sessions will be held.

This is not a public meeting of the planning commission. No quorum will be present so no public business will be conducted or discussed. The sole purpose of this meeting is to provide an opportunity for Q&A on the bylaw rewrite.

played. She played like a senior tonight. That was awesome.”

In the fourth quarter, CVU’s defensive dominance continued as it held the Raiders to just four points and pulled away with five points from Merrill Jacobs.

Berger finished with 10 points and five rebounds to lead CVU,

while Samara Ashooh had five points and six rebounds. Grace Thompson and Zimakis each chipped in with six.

“We’re trying to play balanced team basketball,” Otley said. “I don’t want the other team to say, if we stop this guard and we stop this forward, that’s the end of it.”

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