Shelburne News - 6-13-24

In Shelburne

Town clerk awarded international scholarship

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

When Diana Vachon isn’t spending time at a yoga class or outdoors, you can probably find her at the Shelburne town offices, or in this case, just stepping off a plane from Alberta, Canada, after attending a trip with the International Institute of Municipal Clerks — one of three clerks in New England and New York chosen to attend last month’s networking and career building conference.

The conference is an inspiring cultural event for municipal clerks to learn from one other and other experts in the field. For Vachon, it was her second conference go-round and the second time she was awarded a scholarship to attend.

In total, about 800 clerks from all around the globe attended the conference, she said.

“I met people from Uganda, Belgium, Australia, India and, of course, Canada and the United States,” she said. “It was just so cool to hear so many differ-

See VACHON on page 2

Bear ‘doctor’ brings magic to Vermont Teddy Bear Company

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

But who among them is responsible for fixing a broken bear and ensuring Vermont Teddy Bear’s lifetime warranty?

That would be Pamela Fay,

Behind the plush toys and forever cuddle friends found at Vermont Teddy Bear Factory are hours of hand stitching and stuffing from a dedicated production department.

NOW SERVING BREAKFAST

better known as “Dr. Pam,” the factory’s resident “M.D. of bearology,” as the official certificate that sits over her desk at the “bear hospital” reads. Fay has been an employee of the Vermont Teddy Bear production team for

28 years, moving up to the rank of doctor within the last three years. The move was a natural fit. She has nearly mastered how

See DOCTOR on page 12

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

A colorful hay rake seen along Spear Street in Shelburne.

Pinwheels

Historical Society celebrates ten years

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

The Shelburne Historical Society is hosting an eventfilled weekend Saturday and Sunday, June 20 and 21, in celebration of the group’s 10th anniversary and the beginning of a new endowment fund that will help keep the group doing what it does best: preserving Shelburne’s history.

Although iterations of the society have come and gone in the past, member David Boucher said that this is the 10th year since the society was officially incorporated.

Festivities begin Friday, June 21, 6:30-9 p.m. at Shelburne’s town hall and will include a short presentation of how the Shelburne Historical Society came to be, and how in the last year the crew has modernized and made Shelburne history more accessible.

There will be a cake cutting, refreshments, displays, and an opportunity to mingle and share your own Shelburne stories.

Activities continue Saturday, June 22, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the town hall and Shelburne Farmers Market.

The endowment fund was started from an initial donation from resident Rod Durrell, who attended school in Shelburne from the third grade through high school, graduating from Shelburne High School in 1962

During this time, he

received, “a fine education and a solid preparation for life,” he told the society, which he attributes to the “excellent and dedicated teachers who taught at the elementary, junior high and high school levels.”

In addition to the academic rigor, he also credits the close community of teachers, coaches, and students, to teaching life lessons that have extended far beyond graduation.

Durrell named specifically named faculty members John McGee, Mareli McGee, Dorothy Franklin Cole, Bernard Couture, Paul F. Gonzalves, Robert C. Jones, Thomas Lovett, Imelda McDonald, Hazel Vantine Smith, Douglas Tudhope, Howard Vuley, and Peter Yankowski to acknowledge with his donation.

The fund will serve as a vehicle for memorial, tribute, estate or general donation and will be used as a long-term financial resource for the society’s mission and programs.

One of the society’s biggest undertakings last year was archiving and digitizing nearly all their records.

“The intention now and using the anniversary to launch this endowment fund is that over time, we hopefully won’t have to worry about if we are we going to have enough cash to support what we need to do with the expenses that we have,” said Boucher, who added that most endeavors are paid for now just by membership dues.

VACHON continued from page 1

ent languages. Everything’s in English, but there’s French on the signs too.”

Each day was centered around workshops on public speaking, leadership, goal setting and how to connect with the public that each clerk serves — all important aspects to the job she does every single day.

But one of the newest and biggest focuses this year, Vachon said, was learning new ways to use artificial intelligence to simplify her everyday tasks.

“The one thing that really struck me that I didn’t know a lot about is the artificial intelligence piece where clerks are using AI to record meetings, getting a summary and then compiling their minutes,” she said. “Using AI to do their presentations and just a whole other level of technology, it was wild.”

Apart from handling marriage and dog licenses, one of the most important aspects of the job she said is maintaining all the land records for the town, which is important for the buying and selling of land and supporting local budgets.

“I am responsible for those being accurate,” she said.

A major focus for the town clerk’s office over the past several decades has been digitizing all land records and making transcripts of all the handwritten records.

“My predecessor had all of the records in the land records digitized back to the beginning, and she started putting together a transcription of the handwritten records, so I have been continuing that,” she said. “They started back in the Depression to give people jobs. They came in and typed up the handwritten records. So, several volumes were done then,

one through 10. And then Colleen did 11 through 17. I’m working on finishing the rest.” She said that it adds to the fun to go back and see the first women who registered to vote in Shelburne.

Speaking of voting, one of the most difficult tasks of the job, she said, is handling elections. Most of the work involves recruiting poll workers, effectively communicating to the public and counting each vote after the day has

SHAWN SWEENEY

ended, which often keeps her at the polls until midnight.

“A lot of people are concerned about how to instill trust in elections, and Shelburne has always been so supportive of me and the election process, and I’m really grateful for that. A lot of people get death threats and some of the stories they tell are really scary. We’re really lucky in Vermont.”

Vachon said she turned to the job as town clerk eight years ago, knowing she had big shoes to fill when Haag stepped down. But after raising her family in Shelburne, she knew that there was more to be done in a town she had grown to love so much.

“I just thought it would be a great way to give back to my community if I could serve them as their town clerk,” she said. “I remember when they hired me, they said, ‘You’re the face of Shelburne.’”

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

COURTESY PHOTO

Diana Vachon

Michael Ashooh announces bid for Shelburne House seat

Political Notebook

I would like to announce that I am running for Chittenden-7 House seat as a Democrat. I am running for this seat on the strength of my public service to the town of Shelburne and my accomplishments as chair of its selectboard.

Vermont faces several major challenges that need to be addressed in a forward-looking and comprehensive way. Vermont faces an affordability crisis, fueled by a housing crisis. Our approach to funding public education is unsustainable and unpredictable.

We face a host of long-term challenges related to climate change that we must continue to prepare for. I have demonstrated the ability to lead, to get things done and to build and maintain a positive and collegial selectboard team that has many successes to its credit. I am proud of my accomplishments and believe they demonstrate the skills and assets that I can bring to the Statehouse to help solve the challenges currently facing our state.

I moved to Shelburne in 2007 with my family — my wife, Sarah Nilsen, is a film historian at The University of Vermont, our three children, Joshua, Lena and Samara, and a house full of dogs and cats. I teach philosophy at UVM and specialize in the philosophy of science and ethics (environmental and medical).

I have coached youth sports, organized a community trail-building project for a trail between Shelburne Heights and Boulder Hill, and participated in innumerable community events with my three children at Shelburne Community School and Champlain Valley High School.

My service to the town began with the ethics committee in 2013, where I served until joining the selectboard in 2019. During a period of turmoil in town, the ethics committee wrote a new conflict of interest ordinance for Shelburne that was guided by a UVM study I helped commission on municipal ethics.

My early work on the selectboard on economic and community development, and a study of Shelburne’s local economy, made me appreciate the economic potential that Shelburne has as a visitor destination. We carefully studied whether a local option tax would make the best use of this potential, and this was approved by the voters.

Shelburne’s local option tax has proven to be a very successful way to diversify revenue sources and will help keep Shelburne on solid financial grounds for some time. I am happy to have taken a lead on this initiative.

Another major accomplishment was working with the selectboard to authorize a complete rewrite of our zoning regulations, which is currently underway with extensive community input. This will be a transformative change to the community and will also

set us up well for the housing and growth pressures that we will continue to face in the coming years. I worked to commission a human resource audit that advised the town to build out an understaffed town operation. We realized that we needed to start from the top and I helped lead a successful national search for an excellent new town manager. We have also created and updated several positions in town to rightsize its operations, and the town is much better prepared to face the future together.

I fact, I feel ready to take this next step in my career of public service because we now have an excellent team in place in Shelburne. They are smart, community-focused, capable and a fun crew to work with. Shelburne is well positioned to confront the challenges and opportunities to come.

I would like to try to take the success I have helped to achieve in Shelburne to the next level. I would like to help the state solve its affordability problems, create affordable housing, develop a reasonably financed public education and preserve our natural environment.

I am an educator by profession and a teacher of philosophy. These skills of teaching, of mindful and clear explanation, critical thinking and careful and reflective deliberation have helped me to build a great team and this team has accomplished a lot for our town.

I am proud of what I have accomplished for the town of Shelburne, and I would like to continue to work for the residents at the state level. It is on the strength of my resume as a public servant that I am running as a Democrat for the House of Representatives for Chittenden-7. I hope you will consider voting for me in the primary on Aug. 13.

Michael Ashooh

Michael Ashooh

Police to step up checkpoints, safety enforcement over holiday

Shelburne police and the Chittenden County Sheriff’s Department will be increasing traffic safety and DUI enforcement over the upcoming Independence Day holiday.

Shelburne

Police will have an increased presence from Saturday, June 29, to Sunday, July 7. Enforcement efforts may include sobriety checkpoints in western Chittenden County.

Police Blotter: June 3 - 7

Total reported incidents: 77

Traffic stops: 4

Warnings: 2

Tickets: 2

Arrests: 0

Medical emergencies: 25

Mental health incidents: 2

Suspicious incidents: 12

Directed patrols: 4

Citizen assists: 7

Motor vehicle complaints: 3

Car crash: 5

Animal problem: 4

Noise disturbance: 1

Unlawful Mischief: 0

Theft: 2

Harassment: 1

Vandalism: 0

Fraud: 1

Alarms: 10

Pending investigations: 5

911 Hang-up calls: 1

June 3 at 10:25 a.m., a caller reported a stray dog running loose near Wake Robin Drive.

The animal was located and reunited with its owner.

June 4 at 9:31 a.m., a caller

reported a tractor-trailer unit creating a traffic hazard at the railroad underpass. Officers assisted with traffic control while the truck got turned around.

June 4 at 9:50 a.m., a caller reported hearing someone screaming near the hiking trail on Harbor Road. Officers located the individual and determined there was no emergency. The man was told to stop screaming.

June 5 at 3:59 p.m., a caller reported a dead deer in in the road near the Dutchmill. The deer was removed, and Vermont Fish and Wildlife notified.

June 5 at 11:15 p.m., officers mediated a familial dispute on Brentwood Drive.

June 6 at 9:25 a.m., another loose dog on Shelburne Road was reunited with its owner.

June 6 at 3:00 p.m., a retail theft

See BLOTTER on page 7

Shelburne News

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Top chef

One of the worlds’ top chefs, Daniel Humm of Eleven Madison Park,a plant-based fine dining restaurant in New York City, visited Shelburne Farms last week and joined fifth grade students from Burlington’s Sustainability Academy as they explored the importance of healthy soils, food and people with farm educators.

Humm was part of a visit to the Champlain-Adirondack Biosphere Region recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). While at Shelburne Farms, he and Eliot Minchenberg, director of the UNESCO liaison office in New York and UNESCO representative to the United Nations in New York, also met up with Jim Brangan, the cultural heritage and recreation coordinator at the Lake Champlain Basin Program and co-chair of the Champlain-Adirondack Biosphere. They visited Shelburne Farms cheesemakers, farmers and executive chef John Patterson to learn more about sustainable food systems at the farm.

Right: Humm with fifth grade students from Burlington’s Sustainability Academy at Shelburne Farms.

COURTESY PHOTO

OPINION

Historian studies awkward truth about state’s Abenaki

Guest Perspective

David Massell

Two years ago, I welcomed a delegation of Abenaki citizens from Odanak First Nation in Quebec to a conference at the University of Vermont. For doing so, I was accused of engaging in a conspiracy with Hydro-Québec. That lie may be more exciting than the truth. But the truth should be more troubling to Vermonters.

Peer review is the process by which scholars assess and validate each other’s work prior to publication. It is a standard obligation of university faculty. In 2021, I was asked to review a manuscript titled “State Recognition and the Dangers of Race-Shifting: The Case of Vermont.” Later I learned that the author was a Canadian sociologist named Darryl Leroux.

Tapping Quebec’s vast, genealogical database of baptisms, burials and marriages, Leroux demonstrated that Vermonters of the four state-recognized “tribes,” who claim to be Abenaki, are in fact of French-Canadian and/or other European descent. Almost none have Abenaki ancestry.

How could this be? Vermont governors, legislators, conservationists and educators have long proclaimed their support for Vermont’s “Abenaki.” Vermont’s Legislature has granted hunting and fishing licenses and property tax relief. It even created a truth and reconciliation commission to study compensating for the alleged harms done. Like my colleagues, I had invited members of the “Abenaki” leadership to share their experience with students as Vermont’s First People.

Could I have made a mistake?

Joining with other scholars at and beyond The University of Vermont, we began a deep dive into the historical record,

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which led to the organization of three public forums. We invited the Abenaki of Odanak, who were excluded from Vermont’s state-recognition process, to speak their piece. We brought top Indigenous scholars to teach about “race-shifting” in which growing numbers of white people have claimed Indigenous identity on little or no basis since the 1970s.

Then last month, Leroux presented his research at a UVM forum alongside Mi’kmaq scholar and lawyer Pamela Palmater and Anishinaabe scholar and writer Gordon Henry.

Any “truth and reconciliation” process begins with truth, and the evidence is unmistakable and overwhelming. All but a few of Vermont’s state-recognized “Abenaki,” including the leadership, have no Abenaki ancestry and no continuous link to any historic North American Indian tribe. Leroux’s findings align with those of Vermont Attorney General’s study of 2003 and that of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 2005-07. Multiple recent investigations concur, including by Vermont Public, New Hampshire Public Radio and VTDigger. Vermont’s self-identified “Abenaki” have their own creation story (of “hiding in plain sight”) but that too is groundless. No scholar has seen or shared credible evidence that Vermont’s early-20th-century eugenics campaign ever targeted Abenaki people, nor that Abenaki in Vermont were ever in hiding from persecution. In fact, the opposite is true. News reports and photographs of the late 19th and early 20th centuries show Abenaki families from Odanak First Nation making summer visits to tourist towns like Highgate Springs to sell ash baskets. The Abenaki did not hide who they were.

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continued from page 5

In embracing invented tribes, we have nearly erased from memory the state’s actual Indigenous people and their all-too-real experience of colonization. For the Abenaki, that meant waves of pandemic disease, multiple colonial wars, forced assimilation, and then coerced removal from and vast reduction of homeland. The broad swath of historic Abenaki territory has been reduced to reservations (“reserves” in Canada) totaling less than three square miles.

Allowing non-Natives to speak on behalf of Indigenous People is also to be complicit in what Indigenous scholars like Kim Tallbear describe as the most recent and insidious phase of colonization by which Euro-Americans claim the very bodies and identities of the vanquished as one “final Indian bounty.”

The Vermont legislative process to award that bounty was deeply problematic. The self-proclaimed “tribes” were not required to demonstrate Native ancestry and were placed in charge of key decisions, producing glaring conflicts of interest. Excluding the historic Abenaki nation (Odanak) from the process — in fact, failing to center the Abenaki — was a denial of the sovereign right of Indigenous people to determine their citizenship.

Vermont’s state recognition process is now cited by Indigenous scholars as the worst in the United States, in which the

Legislature created a special legal status for what amount to “clubs.” Odanak First Nation has now brought their case of Indigenous identity fraud in Vermont to the United Nations.

What about the fair use of public funds? When citizens harvest benefits based on fictitious Native claims, including hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent federal grants, they take those benefits away from Indigenous people.

This is a lot to digest for Vermont citizens, including the fact that so many well-meaning Vermonters, myself included, have been misled while trying to do good. Misled as well are the members of the four “tribes” whose leaders have led them to believe that they have a right to claim Abenaki citizenship.

As a professor at the state’s flagship university, it is my job to explore the historical record with colleagues and students, regardless of what facts are revealed or how disconcerting those truths may be. Vermonters who favor Indigenous justice will take these findings seriously.

David Massell has been a member of The University of Vermont’s history department since 1997. He is director of UVM’s Canadian Studies Program and member of the environmental program. His research and courses explore Canadian American history, environmental history and Native-newcomer relations.

Brumsted leaves legacy of civility, accomplishment

To the Editor:

Deepest thanks to Rep. Jessica Brumsted for her four terms in the Vermont House of Representatives representing Shelburne and St. George.

Brumsted has done an exemplary job of listening, caring and creating lasting change. I experienced first-hand how carefully she listened to her constituents, and it was quickly apparent that if something meant a great deal to someone, it would in turn mean a great deal to her. Her genuine concern to get the facts straight and to look at all issues in a holistic way made her an extraordinary representative.

She will be leaving a legacy of thoughtfulness, civility and accomplishment. She truly gave of herself to enrich our community, and for that I extend sincere gratitude to a remarkable person.

Ashley Prout McAvey Shelburne

Sweeney listens, will represent all voters

To the Editor:

Shawn Sweeney of Shelburne announced his candidacy in this paper a few weeks ago to replace Jessica Brumsted as Vermont House of Representative for the Shelburne and St. George Chittenden-7 District.

Letters to the Editor

Sweeney built our house when we moved to Vermont in 2015 and we have stayed in touch, occasionally catching up a few times a year.

He is always upbeat with a positive outlook on life. He greets you with a smile as he genuinely enjoys meeting people and getting to know them. As you talk with him, he is present and, unlike most people today, he sets his phone down and pays attention. He listens well, works to understand your concerns, and aims to do what he can to resolve any issues. He manages conflict well and rarely shows any anger. He is quite patient.

An active member of our community, he has a genuine desire to work on behalf of the voters in our House district. He is at a point in his life where he has the time to bring his life experience to bear on the complex problems facing all of us. Because he is not a career politician and sits at the center of most issues, I think you will find him open to listening to your concerns and doing his best to represent all of us.

I encourage you to vote for Shawn Sweeney in the Aug. 13 Democratic primary.

Tom VanDoren Shelburne

O’Brien development net positive for Shelburne

This will bring increased affordable housing, conservation and open space and bike and pedestrian infrastructure; exactly what we need.

The theory (and committee) of Shelburne Forward Together appears to be moving in the right direction, thanks to our elected officials and volunteers listening and understanding the future of this great town includes change. Having followed the proposed O’Brien development since its inception, this is a positive change that the future of Shelburne will benefit from.

Thomas Murphy Shelburne

VT Traditions Coalition supports bear legislation

To the Editor:

Keeping and improving responsible regulations is as important to hunters, trappers and anglers as the wildlife we enjoy and the opportunities to pursue outdoor recreation that are so essential to us. Therefore, the Vermont Traditions Coalition was happy to support a ban on the sale of black bear gall bladders and paws.

To the Editor:

As a Shelburne resident, I am grateful for the work done by our Selectboard and planning commission to focus on smart growth and sustainable development. Thanks for listening and keeping an open mind with respect to the latest proposed housing development.

Young families need homes with yards, while seniors prefer smaller, more manageable living spaces. The high cost of new construction means that prices will remain out of reach for many without building at scale. Expanding our housing stock can provide affordable options and create a more inclusive community.

There are many opportunities to expand housing options with access to utilities and within walking distance of shops and restaurants. This enhances our quality of life in Shelburne and can reduce our reliance on cars. We should encourage and welcome this type of development that will help build a more vibrant, walkable community.

Although the intent was good, the bill as initially presented may well have prevented the sale of many taxidermy mounts. We worked with legislators and others to address this unintended consequence and are gratified that lawmakers took our concerns and recommendations so seriously.

The Warden Service Division made it clear that traffic in these parts taken from Vermont bears is more common than originally believed, and although the total number of bears taken primarily for gall bladders or paws is likely small when compared to the total harvest in the state, bear hunting in Vermont is truly about time with friends, the thrill of being in wild places and providing food for Vermonters families, friends and neighbors. As revised, this language supports hunting and bears alike.

If you are interested in more information about black bears in Vermont, the Vermont Bearhound Association and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department have great resources to help Vermonters understand how to live sideby-side with our wildlife while being bear aware.

Mike Covey Executive director

Vermont Traditions Coalition

Montpelier needs to fix its oversight, ethics problem

Guest Perspective

John Bossange

It was Supreme Court Justice William Brandeis who gave us the now classic statement: “Sunshine is said to be the best of disinfectants.”

That quote appeared in Harper’s Magazine in 1913, and it still has great merit today. Then, as now, people tend to perform to a better standard when they know their behavior is being observed. Brandeis was, of course, referring to the natural tendency of individuals and organizations to avoid too much transparency and protect themselves from unwanted scrutiny and criticism, especially in the public sector.

In the political arena, the lack of transparency remains a serious issue and can easily prevent fair and honest governmental operations. Make no mistake about it: Montpelier is not immune from this lack of sunshine and transparency.

and expansive documentation.

Unfortunately, we discovered that the ethics commission is not allowed to investigate citizen complaints filed against members who are serving in the Legislature. Today there are no outside, impartial ethical guidelines overseeing “core legislative functions.”

For Vermonters like us, we were never informed why there was no investigation of our complaint or what standards were used to dismiss our concerns. Worse, when we asked for an explanation, we were met with total silence from Senate leadership, relevant committee chairs and their members.

Sadly and inexcusably, in Vermont’s House and Senate, the foxes will continue to watch over the hen house and allow only as much sunshine and transparency as they feel necessary.

We are not yet a Washington, D.C., or an Albany, N.Y., swamp, but we have become a wetland, where required transparency explicitly spelled out in strong legislative ethics regulations is severely lacking in both Vermont’s House of Representatives and Senate.

I discovered this firsthand when I joined a diverse group of Vermonters who filed an ethics complaint focused on a potential conflict of interest. We used the form from the Vermont Ethics Commission, which clearly spelled out the definition of a conflict of interest or the appearance of one. It was a comprehensive form that required detailed

BLOTTER

continued from page 4

at Kinney Drugs is under investigation.

June 6 at 3:56 p.m., a caller on Hawley Road reported receiving threatening calls and text messages. The matter is under investigation.

June 6 at 5:37 p.m., Shelburne Police assisted the sex offender registry with compliance checks.

June 8 at 10:04 p.m., a stray dog on Hullcrest Lane was reunit-

We also discovered that an in-house Senate Ethics Committee, composed of their own colleagues, controls that critical component of oversight and no action has been taken in years. Consequently, House and Senate members can more easily craft legislation and develop policies without concern for an independent agency watching for potential conflicts of interests from personal or private connections, and they can operate under the influence of campaign donations and lobbyists.

This continues to be a recipe for disaster. When the public begins to wonder why bills are created and who benefits from them, that lack of required transparency leads directly to a loss of trust and confidence that elected officials represent all Vermonters. The failure of the Senate Ethics Committee to enforce transparent standards so Vermonters can understand what and who should oversee “core legislative func-

tions” has been a long-standing concern. That concern is a real threat to the state’s proud tradition of local representative democracy. Fortunately, this is not the case with the hundreds of municipal workers who serve in Vermont communities. These hard-working Vermonters are governed by the larger Vermont State Ethics Commission, which recently expanded its municipal code of ethics and powers of oversight. Selectboard members and quasi-judicial bodies, clerks, treasurers, assessors, mayors, department heads, chief administrative officers, planning commissioners, city and town managers, road, cemetery and water commissioners, advisory budget committee members, auditors, building inspectors, tax collectors and village or town trustees are subject to this code of ethics.

Sadly and inexcusably, in Vermont’s House and Senate, the foxes will continue to watch over the hen house and allow only as much sunshine and transparency as they feel necessary. Like

the rest of us, legislators would perform to a better standard if they knew those who elected them were able to observe their behavior and actions.

The failure of the Senate Ethics Committee to create an outside agency composed of both elected representatives and other qualified officials appointed by the governor will continue to erode the public’s trust in government. For someone looking for a reason not to vote or to be cynical about representative democracy and effective government, this committee has provided a perfect pathway.

Our democracy survives only when the sun shines and transparency become the norm. Doubt breeds a lack of trust and confidence that we are being truly represented. That’s not in the best interest of Vermonters and, in the long run, in the ability to govern ourselves. We can’t afford to have legislators operate under the cover of darkness and become a legislative swamp of unknown special favors and hidden motives.

Given that we have a part time legislature, it is understandably filled with retired workers and those with more flexible schedules. But that does not make senators and House members immune from adhering to strict, transparent ethical standards for their core legislative functions.

The solution is clear and is staring us in the face. The Vermont Ethics Commission operates independently from the municipal employees it oversees and has the structure of guidelines and experience for the Senate Ethics Committee to create a similar approach to addressing potentially unethical behaviors during core legislative functions.

What’s stopping them from moving forward? There are no more excuses. Vermonters like us deserved better. Immediate and decisive action by leadership is needed to address this urgent matter.

John Bossange lives in South Burlington.

ed with its owner.

June 9 at 11:18 a.m., a caller reported someone yelling and banging on the walls at the T-Bird Motel. Officers talked to several individuals who agreed to keep the noise down.

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

COMMUNITY

The Valley Players present “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” opening on Thursday, June 27, in Waitsfield with a cast that comes from all over the state. The show runs weekends through July 14, 4254 Main St., Route 100. Lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” “Spamalot” retells the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, and features a bevy of beautiful show girls, not to mention cows, killer rabbits and French people. Follow along as they search for the Holy Grail and “always look on the bright side of life.” Tickets are available in advance at valleyplayers.com. Above, The Lady of the Lake (Hilary Delisle of Hinesburg) and Sir Galahad (Lonny Edwards of Lincoln) journey to Camelot in “Spamalot” in Waitsfield.

Community Notes

Shelburne church, Age well host March luncheon

Age Well is offering a luncheon on Tuesday, June 18, in the St. Catherine of Siena Parish Hall, 72 Church St. in Shelburne.

The menu is roast beef au jus, cheddar mashed potatoes, broccoli florets, dinner roll with margarine cup, strawberry short cake with cream 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 Wednesday, June 12, to Kerry Batres, nutrition coordinator, 802-662-5283 or email kbatres@ agewellvt.org. Tickets are also

grounds. The labyrinth has been restored and upgraded by parishioner and engineer Craig Wielenga. The site includes sculpture by Vermont artist Kate Pond.

The Labyrinth Movement in the United States started at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco in 1991 and was initiated at All Saints Church by Rev. Hal Woods, when he served as rector.

The All Saints community labyrinth has had a long history as a peaceful, prayerful walking path for our community. All are welcome.

St. Mike’s professor lectures on civil war

rededicates labyrinth

All Saints Church, 1250 Spear St., South Burlington, is celebrating a rededication of its community labyrinth on Sunday, June 23, immediately following the 10 a.m. service.

The ceremony will take place at the labyrinth on the church

Doug Slaybaugh, emeritus professor of history St. Michael’s College, offers “When a Presidential Election Led to Civil War (and Three Times it Almost Did)” at the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum on Sunday, June 16, at 2 p.m.

Americans have been hearing threats of civil war if the current presidential election doesn’t go a certain way. The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 led to the Civil War, which resulted in over 700,000 casualties.

Lest we think this was unique, Slaybaugh will analyze the elections of 1800, 1824 and 1876, which threatened similar results.

Will Patton Quartet headlines Grange concert

Grange on the Green is back!

The Will Patton Quartet kicks off the series of summer concerts on the Charlotte Town Green on Thursday, June 27, 5:30 p.m., with music ranging from Manouche jazz and Brazilian styles to straight-up bebop and original compositions.

Bring a picnic and enjoy local music in good company. The series is co-sponsored by the Charlotte Library, and the rain location is the Charlotte Senior Center.

Author talk celebrates Mt. Philo’s 100th birthday

Celebrate Mount Philo’s 100th birthday and learn the story of the amazing act of generosity that created Mount Philo State Park and started the entire Vermont State Park system at a presentation by Judy Chaves, author of “Secrets of Mount Philo: A Guide

PHOTO BY SHOTS BY ELLS

‘Monty Python’s Spamalot’

Obituaries

Edward J. Monniere

Edward J Monniere, 75, of Charlotte, died on Friday, May 31, 2024, at home due to health problems.

He was born April 1, 1949, in Burlington to Leo and Margorie (Bellows) Monniere. He graduated from Burlington High School in the Class of 1968.

He was a U.S. Navy and Naval Reserve veteran serving from 1968 to 1974. He was employed by several local commercial printing companies in Vermont, Connecticut and New York from 1975 to 2011.

He was predeceased by his mother and father, and brother, Allan.

Ed is survived by his wife Jacinta (Racine) of 40 years; daughter, Shannon; grandson, Riley; sons, Jason and Tracy; and sister, Sue Delorme of Vergennes.

There will be no visiting hours or service.

Timothy A. Thomas

Timothy Anthony Thomas, lifelong resident of Shelburne, died at the age of 79 on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, surrounded by his family.

Tim grew up on the family farm on Thomas Road in Shelburne. This is where he developed his love of farm animals, tractors, nature and a strong work ethic. He was always surrounded by a large extended family that included aunts, uncles and numerous cousins.

He graduated from Shelburne High School and then continued his education at Vermont Technical College and received a degree in agriculture. He followed his passion for farming and went

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to the History of Vermont’s First State Park,” on Tuesday, June 18, 7 p.m., at the Charlotte Library.

Discover the mountain’s past and its secrets —hidden in plain sight — through historic photos and maps, chill-inducing then-and-now comparisons, turn-of-thelast-century writings and a cast of admirable characters. Whether you’re a Mount Philo regular or new to the park, surprises

on to work at Southern Acres Farm. His second career landed him at Blodgett Ovens where he became an electrician and worked in maintenance.

Retirement was not in his vocabulary, so he started his own handyman business and went back to his farming roots to work at Nordic Farm. He was a jack of all trades and had many talents.

Tim gave back to the community he loved by being a volunteer firefighter for the town of Shelburne. He held the position of assistant chief for many years. He was a great mentor to many of the members, always showing incredible patience and leadership. He loved to give fire truck driving lessons to new recruits.

Another joy of Tim’s was teaching the younger kids how to drive farm tractors. Tim had many friends, all of whom he thoroughly enjoyed helping. He would always lend a hand, whether on their building projects or fixing their equipment. And he was always willing to help others in their hayfields.

Timothy is survived by his wife, Ann; son, James Thomas; daughter, Teri (Thomas) Sheehan; and many nieces, nephews and cousins, and numerous close friends.

He was predeceased by his parents, Mary (Thompson) and James Thomas; sisters, Margaret Culver and Priscilla Hill; niece, Katherine (Culver) Rich; and son-in-law, Michael Sheehan.

A funeral Mass will be offered at St. Catherine of Sienna Church in Shelburne on Friday, July 12, 2024, at noon with a reception following in the church hall from 3-5 p.m. A donation in Tim’s memory can be made to the Shelburne Volunteer Fire Department.

50% OFF Vegetable Packs and 4” Pots of Tomatoes, Kale Peppers, Cabbage, Cauliflower and More $10 Pansy Flats

(8-Pack Tray • Reg. $37)

$5 OFF Hanging Baskets Join the Flower Club for Fresh Weekly Bouquets (Call for Details)

Beautiful Patio Planters, Perennials, Flowering and Fruit Shrubs/Trees

lie in store.

“Secrets of Mount Philo,” published through the Vermont Historical Society, is an indispensable guide to Vermont’s first — and oldest — state park. It is one of Vermont’s most popular destinations, and its history stretches back hundreds of years, which Chaves documents. Prior to it becoming a state park, it was the home to a popular inn.

Edward J. Monniere

Timothy A. Thomas

Boys’ tennis earns Division I berth

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Boys’ tennis

(5) Champlain Valley 5, (1) Brattleboro 2: The Champlain Valley boys’ tennis team pulled off an upset in the Division I semifinals on Monday, June 10.

Champlain Valley will now face No. 2 Middlebury in the state championship on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. at Middlebury after press time.

It will be the first appearance in the finals for CVU since 2021, when it won the program’s fifth state title.

The two teams split their regular season matches, with the higher-seeded Tigers winning in the first matchup 6-1 and CVU getting the 4-3 win in the second meeting.

Girls’ lacrosse

(2) Champlain Valley 19, (7) BFA-St. Albans 8: Champlain Valley jumped out to a 12-3 lead at halftime and cruised to a win over BFA-St. Albans on Saturday, June 8, in the quarterfinals.

Kate Boehmcke and Stella Dooley led the way for the Redhawks, each scoring four goals and each with an assist. Sophie Madden added four, while Emerson Rice and Carly Strobeck each had a hat trick.

Morgan Keach and Clare Stackpole-McGrath combined to make five saves in goal for CVU. No. 2 Champlain Valley advanced to face No. 6 Burr and Burton in the D-I semifinals on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m., after press deadline.

CVU fell to the Bulldogs in last year’s final, losing in overtime, so this will be an opportunity to get some payback. The Redhawks faced off against Burr and Burton twice in the regular season, with CVU winning both times.

Baseball

(3) Champlain Valley 10, (11) Brattleboro 0: The Champlain Valley baseball team cruised to a

PHOTO BY AL FREY

Safe! Redhawk Stephen Rickert slides into the base during the team’s quarterfinal shutout of Brattleboro on June 7.

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quarterfinal win over Brattleboro on Friday, June 7, booking a spot in the semifinals.

Russell Willoughby went 2-for-2 and drove in three RBIs for the Redhawks, while Travis Stroh had two doubles and two RBIs. Declan Cummings drove in four runs for CVU.

Aaron LaRose won on the mound, allowing no runs on three hits, and striking out nine in four innings.

Champlain Valley moved on to face No. 7 Mount Mansfield in the D-I semifinals on Tuesday, June 11, after press time.

CVU faced the Cougars twice this year, beating them twice, but MMU has won seven of its last eight games.

Boys’ lacrosse

(1) Champlain Valley 15, (8) Mount Mansfield 11: A six-goal effort from Peter Gilliam led Champlain Valley to a win over Mount Mansfield on Friday in the D-I boys’ lacrosse quarterfinals.

Matias Williams added four goals and one assist for the Redhawks, while Connor Malaney tallied twice. Trevor Stumpff, Jacob Bose and Jacob Whitcomb each chipped in one.

Will Kearney stopped eight shots in goal for CVU.

The top-seed Redhawks faced No. 5 Woodstock on Tuesday in the semifinals, with CVU looking to return to the state championship game.

The only time the two teams met in the regular season was in the first two weeks, with the Redhawks winning 11-5.

Girls’ tennis

(1) Champlain Valley 7, (9) Essex 0: Champlain Valley won all seven matches in straight sets and swept to a 7-0 victory over Essex on Friday in the tennis quarterfinals.

Tabitha Bastress, Anna Dauerman, Cassie Bastress, Sage Peterson and Addie Maurer all won in singles for CVU, while Ariel Toohey and Leonie Schwetlick teamed up for one doubles win and Ella Lisle and Millie Boardman got the other doubles victory.

The Redhawks advanced to face No. 5 Burlington in the semifinals on Tuesday. CVU, which lost once so far this season, beat the Seahorses in both matchups this year, 7-0 and 5-2.

Boys’ Ultimate

(1) Champlain Valley 15, (8) Milton 5: Champlain Valley remains undefeated and is looking for its first D-I finals berth after defeating No. 8 Milton on Friday in the boys’ Ultimate quarterfinals.

Colby Morehouse had five goals to pace the Redhawks, while Ander Linseisen added four. DJ Steinman chipped in four assists, while Daniel Goldsmith dished out three helpers.

Champlain Valley moved on to the semifinals where it faces No. 5 Montpelier on Tuesday.

The two teams met just once in the regular season, with CVU beating the Solons 15-8 in the first week of the regular season. Softball

(8) North Country 9, (9) Champlain Valley 7: Champlain Valley’s comeback effort fell just short as it lost to North Country in the softball playdowns on Tuesday, June 4.

North Country had a 5-1 lead after the first inning and held off CVU’s comeback attempt to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals. Champlain Valley finished the season at 5-12.

Shelburne Parks & Rec News

Fall youth soccer deadline

The deadline is Friday, June 14, to get the early bird price and uniform guarantee.

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

The registration fee by June 14 is $40. After the deadline, it jumps to $55. The uniform fee $25; it’s the same reversible jersey as past years. Please order your uniform shirt when registering if your child does not already have one. Uniform orders must be placed by June 14 to guarantee preferred size.

Pickleball skills clinic

Tune up your top spin, dinks and drives. This program is for experienced pickle-

ball players who want to improve specific techniques through multiple drills. Come warmed up and ready to play. One-hour sessions with possible games after. The clinic is Saturday, June 22, 9-10 a.m. Rain date is Sunday, June 23, 9-10 a.m. The location is the Davis Park courts, and the fee is $25.

Beach House ribbon cutting

Shelburne residents are invited to the beach for the official opening of the new beach house. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will start at 5:30 p.m. The community potluck will take place 6-8 p.m. Hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers, chips and dessert, water and lemonade will be provided. Please bring a side dish such as fruit, veggies or a salad if you are able. Parking is limited, so carpooling is encouraged. A shuttle will be available from town center.

News from Pierson Library

Summer reading pick-off party

This Saturday, June 15, the library is having a kick-off party for its summer reading program. Read three books between June 15 and Aug. 17 and enter to win a raffle for grand prize get-away. Join the library at 1 p.m. on the 15th for a kick-off party with author Jason Chin and free ice cream courtesy of Scoop.

Summer reading book club

The Pierson Library’s summer reading program theme this year is Adventure Awaits and to celebrate it has started a new short-term book club to meet four times and discuss classic works of adventure fiction and new literature utilizing themes or reimagining those classics.

The club is open to all who love to read. The titles and dates are as follows: Monday, June 17, Robert

Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island”; Monday, July 1, Sara Levine’s “Treasure Island”; Monday, July 15, Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”; and Monday, Aug. 5, Percival Everett’s” James.” Copies of Stevenson’s “Treasure Island” are now free to be borrowed.

Life coach Jim Koehneke

Author, soul coach and teacher Jim Koehneke will be at the Pierson at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, to offer advice and inspiration to help you jump back into the game of life.

Slime Factory at the Pierson

Come to the library on Thursday, June 20, at 1 p.m. for a slime-making bonanza young ones are sure to delight in. Galactic slime, cloud slime, even metallic slime. To register call 801-985-5124

SHELBURNE

QUARTERLY WATER & SEWER PAYMENT

Due Monday, June 17, 2024

Payments must be RECEIVED or POSTMARKED by MIDNIGHT, June 17, 2024.

Late payments are subject to penalty and interest. Payments can be left in lock box at Police Department Dispatch until Midnight, June 17, 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

Roadside Tree Removal Work – Spring 2024

Removal of roadside ash trees will next occur along the following roads: Athletic Drive, Chesapeake Drive, Cynosure Drive, Farmstead Drive, Fletcher Lane, Gardenside Lane, Harvest Lane, LaPlatte Circle, Lower Webster Road, Maplewood Drive, Tracy Lane, and a portion of Harbor Road between Athletic Drive and School Street -- date has not yet been confirmed but it will likely occur June 17, 18, or 19.

Once date is confirmed, notice will be posted on Front Porch Forum and the Shelburne News so that everyone can plan accordingly.

The ash trees have been marked for removal - you may have noticed red paint marks — so you should be able to determine if there is a tree or trees along your property line.

The terms of the contract include the removal of wood and chips and the contractor is set up to dispose of this material safely and responsibly.

If any affected landowners would like to keep the wood +/or chips generated by the trees along their property line, please follow the instructions below. The material will only be available while the contractor is doing the removal work.

Email kluster@shelburnevt.org directly with all of the following information— if something is omitted, the request will not be considered: 1) your name; 2) your specific address along the removal route (feel free to include any details that will clarify location); 3) specific instructions about where to best dump the material on your property (for obvious reasons, this needs to be a reasonable request and the location should be convenient to the roadside); 4) best phone number to reach you during a weekday; and 5) do you want wood? or chips? or both? — the size of the trees along your property line dictate which will be produced and how much of each.

If you want more information about this project or about any aspect of the Shelburne Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Management Plan, please visit the Shelburne Tree Committee webpage on the Town website.

The plan is to open up ash wood availability to local artisans & craftspersons with the next cut -- please respond to this email with your interest if you would like to be put on a list for that contact.

DOCTOR

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every bear is built and manufactured, so learning how to fix and patch them was an obvious next step and one that seems to run in her blood.

“She is one of our most skilled colleagues and one of the few people who can do every step of making a bear, so it makes her the perfect bear doctor,” Cassandra Clayton, the company’s brand director, said.

Her office, located a short walk behind the doors of the retail area, quite literally replicates a small hospital set-up, with patients filling the cubbies on the wall with all different ailments: kidney stones, broken bones, bee stings, dog bites — you name it, and Fay can

likely fix it.

From 9 a.m. until noon, Monday through Friday, she works on roughly 10 patients a day, moving the joint press, stitching busted back seams, adding extra filling and replacing weathered paw pads — but not without a few Smarties from her secret candy stash under her desk to satisfy her sweet tooth.

Some around the factory argue she has a magic touch, but she would say that this is just something that makes her really happy. And it shows. Staff refer to her only as “Dr. Pam” and the moment her white doctor’s coat goes on every morning, that identity becomes a certain part of who she really is.

The process is simple. Loved

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the Champlain Valley School District (formerly Chittenden South Supervisory Union) including the towns of Charlotte, Hinesburg, St. George, Shelburne, and Williston intends to destroy the special education records of all students who exited from any special education program during the 20182019 school year.

A permanent record of the student’s name, address, phone number, grades, attendance record, and year completed is maintained without time limitation.

Any former student, who has reached 18 years of age, may review and/or receive these records upon request. Also, any parent of a student who is 18 years of age or older, who has retained parental rights, may obtain these records.

Please contact the Champlain Valley Union High School Special Services Office at (802) 482-7115 by July 31, 2024. If no student, parent, or guardian responds to this public notice prior to or by July 31, 2024, the school district will assume consent to destroy the entire record specific to the student.

teddy bears are sent from their family with a hospital admittance form that explains where exactly the injuries lie. Dr. Pam receives the packages sent to the hospital and gives each bear its own patient wristband.

“They have their names and everything on the paperwork, so we all know them. It’s just like a real hospital that you or I go to … except a lot less hollering, and a lot less expensive,” she joked.

From there Dr. Pam works to fix the stitching or replace the broken limb — something that’s almost second nature to her since she’s spent decades manufacturing the toys from their early beginnings — with miscellaneous pieces of furred fabric and stuffing.

On any given day, observing Fay is like watching a real doctor at work. Apart from her own expert seamstress skills, she remains careful and dedicated, knowing that each bear that comes to her is loved deeply by someone from around the globe.

“For some, it’s not just a bear, it’s a person, more or less. Even humans break sometimes,” Fay said, letting out a jovial laugh as

See DOCTOR on page 13

YARD SALE NEIGHBORHOOD” YARD SALE: 20 homes. Friday, June 21. 9 a.m.1 p.m. Enter at Meadow Lane, opposite the Museum. Almost everything free.

PHOTO

DOCTOR

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she fixed the back seam on one bear who had suffered a particularly rough attack from the family dog.

In line with the company’s lifetime guarantee policy, if there is something that Fay can’t fix — which happens rarely — the company sends a bear of the same make and model back to the family. But Fay said she keeps the older bears for a while, just in case the family requests them back, and partially because she said it’s difficult to just throw them away.

The Bear Hospital has been an important part of Vermont Teddy Bear’s operation since its beginnings in the 1980s. Before Fay there was Dr. Nancy, who worked for the business for 37 years, before passing the doctor baton off to Fay three years ago.

More than anything, this job helps maintain a certain childlike spirit and imagination in Fay — and those around her — as she reads the personalized notes attached to each form and the many personalized letters she receives daily, all of which are tacked up on different walls in her office and remind her just what makes the job of a teddy bear doctor so special.

“It makes me happy. It’s a happy place because you’re making other people happy, you know? I sometimes can’t believe how important these bears are to people, but they certainly are,” she said, holding tightly to a bear that was undergoing surgery.

shelburne news

tive effort between Vermont and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to stop the spread of the potentially fatal disease.

ways fatal in humans and animals. However, treatment with the rabies vaccine is nearly 100 percent effective when given soon after a person is bitten by a rabid animal.

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

continued

service directory

Rabies is a deadly viral disease of the brain that infects mammals. It is most often seen in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also get rabies.The virus is spread through the bite of an infected animal or contact with its

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

Shelburne display lead a cemetery dors round from coffee creemees. from Shelburne

SHELBURNE

PHOTO BY LIBERTY DARR

Dr. Pam in her trusty white lab coat ready to start a day of surgeries. On the docket was fixing a broken leg, stitching a dog bite and remedying a nasty bee sting.

HIGH TEA

International Harpist, Margie Bekoff

Join us for a High Tea affair as we bask in the courtyard and promenade along the walking path, if one wishes. Enjoy tea sandwiches, scones and small delectable plates. Renowned harpist, Margie Bekoff will be playing as we enjoy all of Vermont’s summer splendor.