Shelburne News - 5-9-24

Town manager reflects on first year in Shelburne

Selectboard outlines long-term strategic plan

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

When Matt Lawless isn’t wrangling a town of roughly 8,000 residents and overseeing a staff of nearly 70 people, you can probably find him riding his bike around the greater Shelburne area as he treks almost daily to and from his Winooski home to Shelburne town offices.

“It’s got a little motor on it, so I do about 20 miles per hour on Spear Street,” he said.

As he wracks up almost 2,000 miles on his bike this year, he’s also added a few other accomplishments as he reminisced

on almost a full year as Shelburne’s town manager after moving from Virginia last June.

Although he has pushed some of Shelburne’s biggest and long-awaited capital projects over the finish line this year, the work, he said, has really been a team effort and wouldn’t have been possible without those who came before him.

“It’s a team effort,” he said. “You start work on one thing, and then a new team takes over and carries it forward. It’s like a

See LAWLESS on page 12

CVU principal Adam Bunting named interim superintendent

Union School District. I love our community and our students and our team of educators,” Bunting said in an interview.

Adam Bunting, principal of Champlain Valley Union High School, will take over as interim superintendent of the school district for the coming school year.

The Champlain Valley Union School District announced Bunting’s appointment May 1 in a press release. According to the release, Bunting will start his new job July 1, taking over for outgoing superintendent Rene Sanchez, who announced this March that he would be stepping down after three years on the job.

“I really love the Champlain Valley

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“I think in my years as being an administrator in the past two decades there’s nothing more exciting to me than collaborating with other people to do work that’s worthy.”

Bunting has been principal of CVU since 2015. Prior to that, he was the principal of Montpelier High School, and was formerly an English teacher and house director at CVU, according to a biog-

See BUNTING on page 13

PHOTOS BY BARNEY HAMBY

Wake Robin residents did their part on Saturday, the state’s annual Green Up Day, where Vermonters collect the litter and debris discarded along the roadways. See more on page 3.

Greening the Greens

HABIB SADET STAFFWRITER

New state rule regulates wakeboats on lakes

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

For those looking to hang loose this boating season, a new state rule adopted in February, dubbed the first of its kind in the nation, regulates wakesports and wakeboats on certain lakes across the state.

Under the new rule, wake sports are now confined to a “wakesport zone” of 50 contingous acres defined by a 500-foot shore buffer from all sides, a depth of more than 20 feet, and at least 200-feet wide. The rule allows wake sports to occur on 30 lakes throughout the state, like Lake Iroquois in Hinesburg, Lake Caspian in Greensboro and the Waterbury Reservoir.

A wake boat is designed to create large, powerful wakes, making it ideal for wakesurfing and boarding. The wakes created by the motorized boats serve as a prime launching point for riders where waves wouldn’t usually occur.

Because ballast tank systems used in the boats help with water displacement, additional state rules implement a decontamination requirement for wake boats travelling between lakes as studies have also shown that these tanks can spread invasive species when moved between water bodies.

While other states have adopted similar policies, “this is the first and most stringent statewide rule in the nation,” Pat Suozzi, president of the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds, said at a special meeting on March 26. “I think that’s a great accomplishment.”

The adopted rule comes after a nearly two-year-long process that was initiated by a group known as Responsible Wakes for Vermont Lakes, which petitioned the Agency of Natural Resources in March 2022 to implement rules for the sport, which is exploding in popularity. According to the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association, in recent years wake boats constituted the fastest-growing segment of

new powerboat sales.

The authority under which this new rule was made comes from the Vermont Use of Public Waters Rules adopted in 1994 and originally administered by the former Vermont Water Resources Board. In 2012, the authority was given to the Agency of Natural Resources and then handed down to the Lakes and Ponds Program.

“These rules regulate recreational activities, basically how people interact on the water, and they were developed especially to resolve conflict between different uses,”

Laura Dlugolecki, lakes and ponds permitting and Vermont Project WET coordinator with the Agency of Natural Resources, said. “Use of public waters rules can restrict the types of watercrafts on certain waterbodies, they can be used to restrict speed, boat size and motor size in addition to a few other things.”

Before the new wakeboat rule, the most notable public waters decision happened in the 1990s, which prohibited jet skis or personal watercrafts in lakes under 300 acres in size.

“A lot of times it can be made for big statewide decisions that affect all water bodies, but it can also be used to make specific rules for specific water bodies,” Dlugolecki said. “We haven’t really had a big statewide rule since this jet ski rule.”

There are essentially two different ways a rule can be made, she said. They can either be generated internally from a state department or agency or the public can petition for the rule, which, in this case, officially came to the agency in 2022.

“We have received a lot of complaints over the years about the impact that these boats have on shorelines and other recreational activities,” she said, citing that most complaints stemmed from nuisances for kayaks, canoes and swimmers. Homeown-

See WAKE BOATS on page 9

Over 30 residents at Wake Robin gathered Saturday morning to help in various ways in Green Up Day activities. About 20 worked to clean up the trash along Bostwick and Beach roads. Other duties included assigning route segments, handing out bags and directions, driving workers to and from their assignments, picking up filled bags and hauling the results to the Chittenden County Solid Waste drop-off center.

Despite two non-Wake Robin residents being spotted collecting returnable cans and bottles on Bostwick Road, east of Wake Robin Drive, the Thursday before, the crews were still able to fill 19 green bags. The residents will be back next year doing their bit to keep Shelburne as pristine as possible.

Friends of the Library book, pie sale

It’s the ultimate book-lover’s paradise at the Friends of the Library used book sale on Saturday, May 11, and Sunday, May 12. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday. Stock up on rare and surprising titles and indulge in sweet homemade pies, all to support the local library.

Traffic calming on Falls Road presentation

On Thursday, May 16, join the Pierson for an informative presentation focused on traffic calming, pedestrian safety and place-making initiatives along Falls Road.

The Falls Road Working Group is gearing up for a temporary traffic calming demonstration project, incorporating pedestrian improvements and street art, to create a vibrant and inviting space

News from Pierson Library

between Route 7 and Church Street. Be a part of shaping the future of Falls Road. No registration is necessary.

Acoustic jam sessions

Be ye a fiddle player? A banjo strummer? A guitar twanger or zither enthusiast?

Whatever your acoustic instrument of choice, join other local musicians in an epic jam session —bluegrass, country, folk music, perhaps even Zydeco. What could be better than a free evening of singing and playing? It happens at the library on the third Thursday of every month, 6-8 p.m., which is the 16th in May.

Appropriate for all ages, participants and listeners alike. No advanced registration is necessary.

Monthly poetry salon, open mic night

Calling all poets! On Thursday, May 16, at 6 p.m., gather in

historic town hall for the second ongoing poetry salon.

This month two poets who now live in Vermont but who were, respectively, parts of the Jamaica Plain Carpenter Poet scene in Boston and the Great Early Aughts Weirdo Art scene in Long Beach, Calif., will speak before the floor is opened up for anyone to share the mic.

SecurShred recycling event

Protect your sensitive documents after tax season and recycle your old computers at a document shredding and computer recycling event on Saturday, May 18, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Ensure that your confidential information stays secure. Each vehicle can bring up to five shred boxes for document shredding; and for computer recycling, up to five hard drives and up to five desktops or laptops. No registration required.

— Jane Sheldon

Green Up Day crew

PHOTOS BY BARNEY HAMBY

Shelburne Police Blotter: April 29 - May 4

Total reported incidents: 58

Traffic stops: 3

Warnings: 3

Tickets: 0

Arrests: 0

Medical emergencies: 19

Mental health incidents: 2

Suspicious incidents: 13

Domestic incidents: 3

Directed patrols: 14

Citizen assists: 5

Motor vehicle complaints: 2

Car crash: 1

Animal problem: 2

Noise disturbance: 0

Unlawful Mischief: 0

Theft: 5

Harassment: 0

Vandalism: 0

Fraud: 1

Alarms: 3

Pending investigations: 5

911 Hang-up calls: 1

April 29 at 3:25 p.m., an injured woman came into the station and told police she assaulted by her boyfriend. She was taken to the hospital. Police are seeking an arrest warrant for the man for aggravated domestic assault.

April 29 at 5:03 p.m., police mediated a verbal dispute at North Star Motel.

April 29 at 9:20 p.m., police mediated a verbal dispute at Shelburne Campground.

Open house

The Shelburne Fire Department hosts a recruitment open house on Saturday, May 11, 9

p.m. at its firehouse, 5380

Road, along with several other departments across the state. For more information, visit shelburnefire.org.

the person.

April 30 at 7:33 a.m., a horse running loose on Irish Hill Road was returned to its owner.

April 30 at 1:54 a.m., a theft was reported at Barkeaters. Police issued a trespass notice against

April 30 at 2:29 p.m., a 911 caller on Nashville Road reported that his sister was intoxicated and out of control. EMS evaluated her and took her to the hospital.

Shelburne News

Serving the community of Shelburne A publication of Vermont Community Newspaper Group LLC shelburnenews.com

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May 1 at 10:33 a.m., a retail theft was reported at the Route 7 Deli. The case is under investigation. May 1 at 9:10 p.m., police responded to Harrington Avenue for the death of Robert Essman, 87, of Shelburne. The medical examiner’s office is determining cause and manner of death. His

death is not considered suspicious.

May 2 at, 7:33 p.m. a retail theft at Tractor Supply is under investigation.

May 2 at 8:45 p.m. a retail theft at Kinney Drugs is under investigation.

May 3 at 7:57 a.m., police assisted Burlington police with the

recovery of a stolen vehicle on Shelburne and Winter Haven roads. The vehicle was returned to the owner.

May 4 at 12:34 p.m., a loose dog on Shelburne and Ridgefield roads was reunited with its owner.

May 4 at 5:25 p.m., a theft from Village Mobil is under investigation.

COURTESY PHOTO

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Shelburne

OPINION

Vermont is taking steps to align, coordinate health care system

From the Senate

Sen. Ginny Lyons

Building accessible, affordable, quality health care for Vermonters is an overdue work in progress. Regardless of mixed results of past major reform efforts, Vermont’s goals to improve population health, advance health equity by reducing disparities in health outcomes and curb health care cost growth are possible.

It is possible to build a system available to all Vermonters regardless of where they work.

private insurance clinical data and reduction of administrative burden on medical professionals and patients.

Wholistic patient centered care demands coordination between medical and social services such as Vermont’s Blueprint for Health.

In fact, Vermont is recognized nationally for being well ahead of other states because of continued efforts at reform and innovation. The future of the state’s health care landscape is one of system alignment — building continuity within the system of care — integration of social and medical services, improved payment systems, alignment of public and

The blueprint is one of the state’s longest running health care reform initiatives. It is focused on increasing high quality primary care, preventive care and care coordination, particularly for patients with chronic health conditions, including substance use and mental health disorders.

Prevention is the bottom line to improve population health.

A January 2024 report indicates that Blueprint primary care patients “had an average of $2,600 less in annual medical and pharmacy costs per person compared with patients” in non-Blueprint practices and “a higher percentage of Blueprint patients visited their primary care

practitioners each year.”

Primary care has driven much of Vermont’s health reform and must continue with payment models and relief from administrative burden. The challenge is that primary care doctors are disappearing and a workforce gap over the next 12-15 years offers little reassurance.

Equitable reimbursement for primary care practices as well as community service providers can ensure gaps do not grow larger. Integrating a payment system that reflects Medicare can add accessibility and affordability to our system of care.

Health care is not a commodity to be treated as a consumer product. It is a public good. Unfortunately, our centuries-old fee-for-service payment model is a disincentive to prevention and care coordination. Fee for service implies competition for health care services, resulting in inequitable reimbursement for providers and limited access to care.

In the past, fee for service has

Sen. Ginny Lyons

LYONS

continued from page 6

led to overutilization of services. As we move forward with payment reform it will be important to balance access and cost. It is also important to consider alignment of public and private insurance requirements within the system of care.

Recently passed legislation will reduce administrative burden on primary care providers. When placed into law, it will align private insurer codes and claims edits with public Medicare and Medicaid programs. This offers greater predictability for clinical treatment.

Provisions also improve timely access to care. Going from a primary care visit to a community mental health counsellor, hospital or specialist shouldn’t require hours of phone calls either by the primary care provider or by the patient. Before providers are paid for patient treatment or before patients can be treated, insurance payers approve treatments or payments. The burden comes when insurers are inaccessible, or it takes months for treatment or payment approval.

Current prior authorization policies have resulted in physician burnout, loss of primary care providers and overwhelming

loss of care for patients. It has meant that providers have had to hire staff to wait on the phone for hours and submit requests for patient care. It has meant needless emergency room visits by patients.

This and previous legislation to lower prescription drug costs are just two ways that we are improving patient access and affordability.

Regulation can make or break the health care system. Hospitals, primary care, mental health, substance use, long-term care and other providers need a holistic, predictable, coordinated and inclusive regulatory structure. Having clear, sensible, collaboratively developed benchmarks and standards in place enhances efficiency and can reduce confusion or frustration.

The Green Mountain Care Board is doing its job effectively and needs to keep the system moving forward. The board is responsible for hospital budget review, reduction of excess hospital spending, rate setting for private insurers and hospitals and other activities. It is analyzing a hospital pricing structure for a report during the next legislative session. The board is also working with the Agency of Human

Services to assess possible next steps for our current payment model.

Act 167, passed in 2022, directs the Green Mountain Care Board for continued development of hospital global budgets, and to carry out a statewide hospital transformation community engagement process this summer. Identifying and coordinating community health needs with hospital services and hospital financial capacity is a critical step for Vermont.

Identifying service gaps across the state will suggest changes for hospital, primary or long-term care services. What are the predominant social determinants of health in local communities? Where are primary care providers needed, what hospital services are available for which acute care needs? Are mental health, long-term care and substance use treatments available? The stress of working with regulators to determine global budgeting and a transformation of services is concerning to hospitals. Nevertheless, it makes sense for hospitals to change and to respond to community health needs. And while digital access and telemedicine can reduce stress, it will not always provide

GREEN MOUNTAIN SWING BAND & BBQ

a substitute for in-person visits. So much of what happens to patients in the system today feels disorganized and inaccessible. Improvements won’t happen without collaboration. Hospitals, federally qualified health clinics, social services, recovery centers, primary care, independent clinics, long-term care, home visit organizations, patients, public and private insurance programs, regulators (especially the care board), executive and legislative branches of government each have a legitimate role to improve Vermont’s population

health outcomes.

If Vermonters are to have access to quality, affordable health insurance, primary or long-term care, hospitals, mental health counseling or access to substance use treatment and recovery services, we must align these foundational structures into a coherent system.

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

Letters to the Editor

Shelburne: Say no to 10-acre zoning

To the Editor: I strongly urge the planning and zoning commission, and Shelburne in general, to turn their back on the proposed 10-acre zoning. Those of us in Jericho have seen how that works. Only the wealthy can afford to build new homes and pay property taxes, developers won’t even attempt to build communities of affordable housing, and the landscape gets divided up into chunks of vast lawns with vast houses and three-car garages.

There are many better ways to encourage growth in residential areas: tax breaks, encouraging accessory dwelling units, and more. Please listen to the few remaining farmers in your area and say no to 10-acre lots.

Maeve Kim Jericho

Evening of Food & Fun

Swing

OBITUARIES

Irving J. Beams

Irving (Jim) James Beams, 87, of Richmond, died peacefully after a very brief illness on Friday, March 26, 2024, just a few weeks shy of his 88th birthday.

He was a Renaissance man, and one of those people who was good at most everything he did. Jim grew up in a military family, moving around from state to state during childhood. His family eventually settled in the South Burlington and Shelburne area, and he graduated from Burlington High School in 1955.

He attended New England Conservatory for a year, and then transferred and graduated from the University of Vermont, with a degree in music education.

He was a U.S. Navy pilot, stationed on the USS Essex

CV-9 Carrier.

He was music teacher, able to play many instruments, but his primary instrument was the trumpet. While studying music at New England Conservatory, his professors discovered his strong voice, and convinced him to forgo the trumpet and focus on singing. He became an accomplished opera singer, performing with the Metropolitan Opera, and later founded the Vermont Opera Company with friends. He had one of the most beautiful tenor voices you’d ever hear. After getting his teaching degree from the University of Vermont, Jim was a music educator for over 20 years, teaching from small-town, one-room schoolhouses to colleges from the 1960-1980s.

Jim married Katherine King of Bennington in 1980; they met while serving in the Army Guard. He earned his most cherished title, “Dad,” when Stephen arrived in 1982, followed by Robynn in 1983.

The Beams’ family home was in Richmond, where he lived for over 40 years. He was an exceptionally supportive, strict and doting father. His favorite thing to do was brag about his children. The ultimate sports dad, there was no mistaking when he was on the sidelines cheering on the kids and critiquing the refs.

When his wife Katherine unexpectedly died in 2002, Jim became the sole and steadfast supporter of Stephen and Robynn as they navi-

gated their college years and young adulthood.

He was an avid outdoorsman, expert marksman, Vermont deputy game warden and artist. His last career was his own business, JB Aero & Son, as an aircraft mechanic, where he specialized in the full restoration of antique and classic, fabric covered airplanes. He loved working alongside his son for many years, leading Stephen to a successful career in aviation, which was one of Jim’s proudest legacies.

He’d been fully retired for about 10 years and found himself sharing his voice with his rousing rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” to kick off Green Mountain Roller Derby bouts, local high school hockey, and both UVM hockey and basketball games.

He had a gruff side but was always big hearted and loved to talk to anyone willing to lend an ear. When he became “Papa,” there’s no doubt he cherished his three grandchildren.

Jim leaves behind his children, Stephen Beams and his wife, Marikje Shelmandine and their children, Katherine and Arthur of Jericho, and Robynn Beams Conley and her husband, Bob Conley and their son, August of Vergennes; and nephew, Alan Beams and wife, Kelley Beams of Colchester.

Larger than life, he had the loudest whistle, yell and singing

voice you’d ever hear, and most important, he lived and loved, booming and big. His over-thetop presence and souring beautiful voice will always be with us.

A public burial will be held on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at Fort Ethan Allen Cemetery in Colchester at 1:30 p.m., followed by a celebration of life at Beta Technologies’ maintenance and training hangar, 430 DaVinci Drive, South Burlington. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Meals on Wheels Vermont (agewellvt.org/ giving-back/donate).

Sarah

Francisco

Sarah Olivia Francisco, an incredible wife, loving mother, sister, daughter, friend, teacher and so much more, died unexpectedly and all too soon, Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at her family’s home in Williston. She was 49.

Born on Oct. 3, 1974, in West Allis, Wis., Sarah was raised in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., where she made many of her closest, lifelong friends and fell in love with her high school sweetheart, Steve, who later became her husband. They both attended The College of Saint Rose, and following graduation moved to Vermont to begin their professional careers. After brief stints in Massachusetts and California, they returned to Vermont where they established themselves as fixtures in the community.

Sarah’s tireless dedication to speech therapy yielded two degrees and over the last two decades allowed her to touch the lives of countless students and families at the schools where she worked. When she started working at Champlain Valley Union, she

became much more than a speech therapist. She befriended students and teachers alike, regardless of their role or whether they were one of her own students.

It’s through that work and her inclination to be everyone’s friend that she became so well-known and liked in the community. It’s also where she selflessly shared the ideals she held most dear —perseverance, taking care of anyone and everyone, being kind, encouraging and accepting, and most of all, spreading joy — with so many others. Even though she excelled in her role, her curiosity and unwavering desire to keep learning always shined through; she had recently passed the Praxis exam to become certified as an art teacher.

Yet as proud as Sarah was of all that she and Steve accomplished in their professional lives, she took the most joy from the incredible family that they created together, and the values and qualities that make Olivia and George who they are. “Hold on. Let me get my

Sarah Francisco

Irving J. Beams

Community Notes

Shelburne church, Age

well host March luncheon

Age Well is offering a luncheon on Wednesday, May 22, in the St Catherine of Siena Parish Hall, 72 Church St. in Shelburne.

The menu is stuffed chicken breast, mashed potatoes, sliced carrots, dinner roll, pumpkin cookie with raisins 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 May 16 to Kerry Batres, nutrition coordinator, 802-662-5283 or email kbatres@agewellvt.org.

Sign up now for Shelburne grab and go meal

Age Well and St. Catherine’s of Siena Parish in Shelburne are teaming up to provide a meal to go for anyone age 60 and older on Tuesday, May 14.

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 chicken breast with sweet and sour sauce, brown rice pilaf with veggies and cannellini beans, brussels sprouts, wheat roll, cookie and milk.

To order a meal contact Kathleen at agewellstcath@gmail.com or 802-503-1107. Deadline to order is Wednesday, May 8. If this is a first-time order, provide your name, address, phone number and date of birth.

Learn how to plant a raised garden bed

The Vermont Garden Network is offering a free workshop on garden planning for raised beds on Thursday, May 16, 5 p.m., at the Davis Park raised garden in Shelburne.

Learn about best practices for

planting vegetables, herbs and flowers in raised beds. Designing a garden layout when there is limited space requires an understanding of planting calendars, mature crop sizes, companion planting and succession sowing.

Participants will learn about all these practices through handson activities while collectively planting the demonstration bed at the Davis Park community garden.

The workshop will be presented by Carolina Lucak, co-executive director of the Vermont Garden Network. For information about the group, go to vtgardens. org.

Enjoy Age Well meals at Charlotte Senior Center

The Age Well meal pickup for Thursday, May 9, is from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Charlotte Senior Center features lasagna roll-up with tomato marinara meat sauce, vegetable blend, wheat bread, strawberry cake with icing and milk.

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

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

The meal for Thursday, May 16, features chicken breast with vegetable sweet and sour sauce, brown rice pilaf with veggies, cannellini beans, Brussels sprouts, wheat roll, cookie and milk.

The meal for Thursday, May 23, features roast beef with sauce, diced potatoes with parsley, green beans, wheat bread, oatmeal cookie and milk.

Tour Tranquility at Sail Beyond Cancer event

The nonprofit Sail Beyond Cancer Vermont kicks off the season with a SPLASH! for Tran-

WAKE BOATS

continued from page 2

ers also voiced concern over increased erosion and the spread of invasive species.

To start the rule-making process, the agency gathered scientific information and met with individual affected user groups — water ski enthusiasts, loon biologists and summer camp owners — to hear firsthand how a rule might impact their operations.

The proposed rule went through an administrative process before a public comment period kicked off last June.

From June to August, the agency received over 750 comments from the public with over 90 percent of the comments in favor of some type of regulation for wake sports.

“It was pretty overwhelming,” she said.

The Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules formerly adopted the rule in a 7

quility fund raiser on Saturday, May 18, 3-6 p.m., at the ECHO Center in Burlington

Sail Beyond Cancer brings those being challenged by cancer, their family, friends and caregivers on a sail to experience the tranquility and transformative powers of wind, water and sail on Lake Champlain. Tranquility is the name of the newly purchased boat for the organization.

At SPLASH! for Tranquility, tour the docked vessel (Tranquility), enjoy a champagne toast, hors d’oeuvres and cash bar and connect with other supporters who are making a difference in the lives of people facing cancer. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or simply interested in supporting a worthy cause, all are welcome at the event.

RSVP to reserve a spot at this free event and to find out more at sailbeyondcancer.org.

to 1 vote on Feb. 15.

The new rule is less restrictive than the 1,000 feet shore-buffer proposed by the petitioning group, mostly because after further research “the scientific literature didn’t support the 1,000-foot offset,” Dlugolecki said. That rule would have only allowed wake sports on 15 lakes across the state.

While the Hinesburg Selectboard and the town’s conservation committee sent a letter of support for some regulations, the Lake Iroquois Association said that it did not take a stance on the petition or rule, but greeters at the boat launch will have information to give out to wakeboaters this summer.

But other groups, like the Friends of the Waterbury Reservoir, are petitioning for even stricter regulations.

Celebrate the exciting new season!

“The adoption of this lake-specific rule would ensure the safety of the thousands of canoeists, anglers, campers, boaters, kayakers, and others who enjoy many forms of normal and traditional outdoor recreation enabled by the Reservoir,” they wrote in their petition, which garnered more than a dozen letters of support from surrounding neighbors.

The Stowe Selectboard agreed to table supporting the petition until the Waterbury Selectboard has taken action on it.

Eric Chittenden, President of Friends of Waterbury Reservoir, presented a petition to the Stowe Selectboard last week requesting endorsement to ban wakesports on the Waterbury Reservoir altogether. Justifications for a ban, he said, include harm to the environment and negative impacts to other users of the reservoir.

Experience inspiring new exhibitions and visit the beloved galleries, buildings, and gardens that make Shelburne Museum a place like no other.

Saturday. May 11, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Free admission, live music, art making activities, garden and gallery tours, and more.

CVU baseball team remains undefeated with win over Essex

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Girls’ Ultimate

Champlain Valley 15, Milton 8: Grace Thompson scored six goals and added five assists to pace Champlain Valley in a win over Milton on Saturday in Ultimate.

Zoey McNabb added four scores, while Abby Bunting chipped in two and Ruby Opton dished out five helpers.

CVU moved to 2-0.

Baseball

Champlain Valley 4, Essex 0: Stephen Rickert threw a complete-game shutout over Essex as CVU beat the Hornets on Saturday, May 4.

Riley McDade went 2-for-3 at the plate, while Russell Willoughby drove in three runs. Rickert allowed just four hits and struck out eight in seven innings of work.

With the win, CVU moved to 6-0.

The Redhawks also won Thursday, May 2, beating Mount Mansfield 8-1 after scoring five runs in the top of the seventh.

Travis Stroh had a double and an RBI for CVU, while pitcher Aaron LaRose got the win.

Boys’ Ultimate

Champlain Valley 15, Rice 5: The Champlain Valley boys’ Ultimate team beat Rice on Friday, and moved to 4-0.

Boys’ lacrosse

Champlain Valley 8, Rice 5: Matias Williams’ four goals helped lead Champlain Valley to a win over Rice on Friday, May 3.

Jacob Bose tallied twice for CVU, while Peter Gilliam added one goal and one assist.

The Redhawks moved to 7-0.

Girls’ lacrosse

Champlain Valley 11, Burr and Burton 8: Stella Dooley netted four goals and added an assist to help Champlain Valley win over Burr and Burton Thursday.

Bibi Frechette, Kate Boehmcke and Carly Strobeck each tallied twice for CVU, who moved to 3-1.

Marlie Cartwright chipped in a goal and an assist, while Clare Stackpole-McGrath made five saves in goal for the Redhawks.

Softball

Champlain Valley 20, Mount Mansfield 9: The softball team captured its first win of the season on Thursday, beating Mount Mansfield 20-9.

The Redhawks followed up the win with a 17-0 loss to Essex on Saturday. Baylee Yandow went 2-for-2 for the Redhawks at the plate in the loss.

The Redhawks are now 1-5.

Boys’ tennis

Girls’ tennis

Stowe 5, Champlain Valley 2: The girls’ team dropped its first match of the season, falling to Stowe 5-2 Friday.

Addie Mauer got the lone singles win for the Redhawks, while Millie Boardman and Leonie Schwetlick won in doubles.

CVU moved to 2-1.

Champlain Valley 5, Stowe 2: The boys earned a convincing win over Stowe on Friday to move to 4-1 this season.

Oscar Andersson, Ziggy Babbott, and Kyle Krieger each got wins in singles for the Redhawks.

The teams of Dash Tota and Silas Cohen and Nik Blasius and Henry Frost combined to sweep both doubles matches.

continued from page 8

‘Proud Mama’ T-shirt,” she would often say, as each of her kids passed yet another milestone in sports, academics, volunteering or even just being great kids.

When thinking of Sarah, there are few things that people remember more than her kindness, encouragement, acceptance and, most important, her limitless joy. Her smile was a beacon of joy and kindness, and she was a vibrant and constant presence in the lives of all she knew and loved. She reveled in sharing her quick wit and sense of humor, and never hesitated to help support, care for and encourage everyone she knew.

As a virtuoso hostess and entertainer known far and wide for throwing unforgettable parties and holiday celebrations, she set a bar so impossibly high that anyone who ever attended one will certainly think of her every time they plan even the smallest of events.

Sarah was in constant motion, living and thriving in the present, while also planning for a future that included even more travel adventures with the family, running her 14th marathon in November, welcoming the two special people that Olivia and George care about into the family as if they were her own, starting a new chapter with Steve as empty nesters and watching her children transition into and through college. She was quietly excited about the prospect of becoming a grandmother one day.

Sarah is survived by her two children, Olivia and George Francisco; husband, Steve Francisco; brother, Nick Neilio; and father, Bill Neilio.

She was predeceased by her mother, Margaret “Peg” Neilio. Her passing is truly devastating, and one that feels insuperable at times. If you feel like losing

Sarah leaves a tremendous hole in a world that will now be without her energy, joy and love, know that you are not alone. It is OK to feel the weight of this loss, just as it’s also OK to realize that Sarah would want us all to be brave.

Though she is no longer with us, she lives on in more than just memories. Her love of travel will undoubtedly carry on through the adventures her family and friends will continue undertaking in her honor. Her joyfulness and warmth will be ever-present in everyone with whom she’s met, worked and laughed, as we all strive to see and touch the world the way she did. Most important, her legacy will live on in Olivia and George, who learned enough from her in their 21 and 17 years to last their lifetimes.

A celebration of Sarah’s life will be held on Sunday, June 2, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Champlain Valley Union High School, 369 CVU Road, in Hinesburg. All family, friends, students and families are welcome.

The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider donating to one of Sarah’s favorite school programs, CVU-Unified, in Sarah name. Donations can be made by mail to the Champlain Valley Union High School. 369 CVU Road, Hinesburg VT 05461

Frederick A. Senftleber

Frederick A. Senftleber, 95, died peacefully at his home in Shelburne on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023.

Fred was born Dec. 7, 1927, in Astoria, N.Y., to Frederick and Frieda Senftleber.

Fred was an avid sailor, skier, traveler and craftsman. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as a meteorologist. He was stationed throughout the Far East.

Fred graduated from Rhode Island School of Design, where he met his wife, Dawn, in 1953. He worked for Harold Sleeper in New York City before joining Freeman French Freeman in 1955. He became a partner in 1967 and president in 1989, retiring in 1997.

Fred was a member and chairman of both the Shelburne Planning Commission and zoning board, a member and president of the Vermont Chapter of American Institute of Architects, and a member of the Vermont Access Board.

Fred leaves his wife of 71 years, Dawn; son, Fritz (Maria); daughter, Gretchen (David); brother-in-law, Burton Reynolds; grandchildren, Max, Hannah, Norah and Mayve; and niece, Amanda.

The family would like to thank Emily, Matthew, Justin as well as the entire team from Bayada and Shelburne Rescue.

Memorial contributions in Fred’s memory may be made to Shelburne Rescue. There will be a private memorial service. In Fred’s words, “health, happiness and safe travels.”

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Frederick A. Senftleber

continued from page 1

tag team.”

Speaking of those that came before him, it’s almost impossible for that to not be a foremost thought as he walks into his office every day. Directly in front of his desk is a healthy, towering hibiscus, nurtured continuously by the nearly five town managers who came before him. While not intentional, its symbolism reminds him often of the role a town manager plays in the community they serve.

He motioned to his copy of the town’s 235th annual report next to his computer and flipped open to a section titled “Town Manager’s Report.”

“It teaches me modesty,” he wrote about the tree in March. “A town manager works for the good health of something larger and longer lasting than themselves.”

Pointing to the page, he said, “I mean that.”

While managing the town this year hasn’t all been a bed of roses — in this case, hibiscus flowers — the accomplishments outweighed the disappointment as Lawless ticked the boxes on a long to-do list waiting for him when he took over

the role in June.

Around that same time, the town was in almost complete civil disarray as a proposal to revamp the Parade Ground sent residents preparing for battle. But for Lawless, this was an important initiation into just how dedicated Shelburne residents are to their town.

“There’s a lot contained in that anecdote,” he said. “What Shelburne means to people, how we do our work, what kind of investments we want to make and how we make decisions.”

The first order of business from the selectboard — and also what remains as one of Shelburne’s greatest challenges — is maintaining and recruiting staff.

“We have filled all of the core vacant positions that were here when I started, except for a couple of police cadets,” he said, adding that filled positions include a stormwater coordinator, road crew positions, a human resources person and, most recently, a new staff position focused on grants, project management and community engagement.

In addition to seeing some big capital project wins, like the Falls Road Bridge — which is currently under contract — and a new beach house, the town also did some much-needed vehicle and fleet replacement. But looking ahead to November, the town can expect to see the largest project Shel-

burne has ever undertaken go out to bid. The new wastewater plant is projected to cost roughly $30 million.

economic development to offset the town’s growing budget.

“The experience also had a stronger focus on economic development. They’re coming out of a difficult budget year. The town budget passed, but partly with the windfall of local option tax, so we don’t get that boost again and the board is conscious of that,” he said.

Lawless said the firm working on the project is still tinkering with its final design, which will ultimately go before the selectboard, but the project will also be heavily funded by state and local grants. These large projects, he noted, are only possible due to the cohesion of the selectboard, which made the job appealing in the first place.

This year, Lawless also navigated his first Town Meeting Day and simultaneously a difficult budget year, mostly associated with school budgets and the unprecedented changes in the Legislature around education funding in Vermont.

“There’s a lot contained in that anecdote,” he said. “What Shelburne means to people,

how we do our work, what kind of investments we want to make and how we make decisions.”

“We can’t just increase taxes every year, the tax base has to grow, too.”

Aside from town-related work, Lawless has a few goals of his own, which include earning Hungarian dual citizenship and starting a University of Vermont doctoral program in sustainable development policy, economics and governance.

— Matt Lawless

While the town’s budget this year saw a roughly 20 percent increase in spending, residents can only expect to pay roughly 3.4 percent more in municipal taxes this year, mostly due to the $1 million in local option tax money that’s funneling into the town’s coffers.

While the town is expected to reap similar benefits next year, Lawless recognized that the effects of the brand-new revenue source won’t balance expenditures the same way next year.

During a six-hour strategic planning meeting the selectboard held earlier this month, the board outlined a few priorities as it looks ahead to the next fiscal year. In addition to a few other presentations presented to board members, a major focus was on business and

“It’s part of my contract and was a goal when I moved here,” he said. “I expect to study and apply the best practices of sustainable community and governance. Stronger University of Vermont partnerships will also help the town with internships, ideas and grants. It might take me five to seven years to finish the doctorate part-time, but I’m excited to have such a goal.”

As he looks ahead to the big projects in the pipeline, Lawless said he is most thankful for the warm welcome he had received from residents during his first months on the job.

“Folks have been so welcoming. I feel like I’ve settled down pretty well, met a lot of neighbors here, and a lot of good work done already,” he said. “It’s quite the adventure.”

PHOTO BY LIBERTY DARR

Town manager Matt Lawless in his office prepping this month’s town manager’s report for the Shelburne Selectboard.

continued from page 1

raphy posted on the district’s website. Bunting holds a master’s degree in school leadership from Harvard University and was named Vermont Principal of the Year in 2018.

Meghan Metzler, chair of the district’s school board, said that the school board selected Bunting from a pool of four potential candidates who interviewed for the job. Noting Bunting’s long history with the district, Metzler said his “deep understanding of the community” made him a standout choice.

“I’m positive that Adam has the ability to do a really great job as our interim superintendent,” Metzler said. “Obviously he has strong relationships with people around the district and strong relationships with people across the state.”

After taking the helm for the district in July, Bunting will have to shepherd the Champlain Valley schools through a daunting transition period. Last month, the district passed a revised budget after voters struck down a first proposal on Town Meeting Day.

The approved budget, which represents about $5 million in

Adam Bunting

spending cuts from the initial version, requires the district to scrap 42 full-time equivalent positions for next school year. That includes reductions in teaching staff, paraprofessionals, math and literacy interventionists, and central administration positions, among other cuts.

Still, Bunting said that he was eager to take on the challenges ahead and is hopeful that the district and the communities it serves can move forward and address student needs as efficient-

ly as possible.

“I’m interested in being a learner and then seeing how I can translate some of that learning for our educators and our community so we can make as thoughtful decisions as possible,” Bunting said.

For now, Bunting is expected to lead the school district in an interim capacity for fiscal year 2025, but he suggested that he might be interested in applying for the role for the longer term.

“The nice part about this transition is that the district gets the chance to see whether I’m a good fit and I get to understand whether the position is a good fit for me,” Bunting said. “At the end of the day, I just want to serve the district as best I can.

According to Metzler, the school district will likely begin its broader search for a long-term superintendent in the fall, and said she hopes the district will have a selection by early next spring.

Metzler also said that the district is beginning the process of finding an interim principal to fill Bunting’s role at the high school and will hopefully do so by the end of this school year.

The Town of Shelburne Rescue Department

has identified the need to change its license level from Advanced EMT to Paramedic to operate in the Town of Shelburne. This agency proposes to begin operation at the new license level on May 22, 2024 within the geographic boundaries of the Town of Shelburne. In accordance with 24 V.S.A. Emergency Medical Services Statute, public comments are invited to be received by the department by May 17, 2024.

Address comments to:

Vermont Department of Health Office of Public Health Preparedness and EMS 280 State Drive Waterbury, VT 05671-8330

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Outpatient Surgery Center: a big piece of the access puzzle

By: Dr. Stephen Le er, President and COO, University of Vermont Medical Center

“This isn’t a facility that would be nice to have — for the people of our region, it’s a must-have.”

Every week I get calls and letters from patients who say they are waiting too long for care, especially surgical care. Often, they are right — no question. There are several reasons behind the wait times and it’s going to take work to make a dent in our access challenges, but serving our patients and ensuring they get great care is why I became a physician, so I’m deeply committed to that e ort.

We know one of the solutions to improve timely access to care is construction of the outpatient surgery center in South Burlington that we have asked the Green Mountain Care Board to approve.

This isn’t a facility that would be nice to have — for the people of our region, it’s a must-have.

First, the proposed outpatient surgery center replaces our five ORs at the Fanny Allen campus with eight larger, modern ORs where — unlike the Fanny Allen — we can do more complex surgeries such as joint replacements.

Second, our population is growing and aging, which drives an increasing demand for surgeries — particularly surgeries that can be done in an outpatient surgery setting. We’re seeing this in the less-than-desirable waits that some of our patients experience today.

If current population trends continue as projected — aging throughout the region, a growing population in Chittenden and surrounding counties — by 2030, our current surgical case backlog is going to be more than 4,000 surgeries annually.

That’s 4,000 people who need care who will wait longer than they should for surgery, leave the state for care, or even worse, go completely without the care they need — with potential serious impacts to their health as a result.

While that’s the five-year projection, we feel the urgency now. Today, UVM Medical Center’s operating rooms are running at full capacity, and we are still not keeping up with our patients’ needs for surgery as quickly as we should. Every time a patient is waiting, I assure you there’s a doctor or nurse at UVM Medical Center who is concerned about them and feels it is absolutely imperative to get them in sooner.

Not only would the new center help us keep up with both highly complex and more routine needs, but it would let us do so in a way that responds to how people prefer to receive health care. Studies across the country show that the number of outpatient surgeries are increasing. Advancements in surgical fields allow more procedures to be performed outpatient, and it is more convenient for patients compared to hospital stays for the same procedures. We also know patients prefer an outpatient setting because they can return home quickly to recover in a familiar environment.

Beyond simply having enough space, construction of this facility will help us recruit, retain and train medical professionals our community sorely needs. Our learners need to train at a place that o ers them time to hone their professional skills alongside our exceptional physician teachers, with access to time in modern ORs with robotic surgical resources — this is an experience that we cannot deliver to all of these learners with our current facilities.

I’m a frugal Vermonter, so I get it. As a state we want to make sure this $130 million project is justified and in the best interest of patients. Please know that we are focused on making sure the outpatient surgery center won’t drive up costs for our patients — in fact, studies show that outpatient procedures keep costs down compared to the inpatient setting, which requires a hospital stay.

We already provide advanced, high-quality care in our region. What’s clear is that our community needs more of it, and that need is growing. I say both as president of UVM Medical Center, and as someone who will someday need the excellent care provided by UVM Medical Center for myself or my family, I hope we are able to move forward with this crucial project so that all who need care will be able to access it easily and without delay.

Scan the QR to watch our clinicians talk about the need.