Wastewater project draws objections
Project foes expected at tonight’s meeting
PATRICK BILOW STAFF WRITER
Shelburne resident Bob Clarke says he’s sick of spending more money each year.
“There’s always something new,” he said. “Another increase in property taxes, the cost of schooling, keeping up with the environmental wishes of the current assembly, you name it.”
Now Clarke is concerned about the cost of a new wastewater treatment facility in Shelburne, a proposed bond for which will be included on this year’s ballot for voters to decide.
The project, which would consolidate Shelburne’s two treatment facilities into one with a supporting pump station, is estimated at $38 million.
“That’s a big, honking bill coming down the pike,” Clarke, who is not the first Shelburne resident to express concern about the project’s price tag, said. “How is a town of 9,000 people going to pay for that?”
Wastewater customers have already seen rate increases of 9 percent over the last two years, but town manager Matt Lawless said they won’t see this type of increase again, should the project pass Nov. 5, General Election Day.
Customers would see a slight increase in
See WASTEWATER on page 15
Hotel voucher program concludes
PATRICK BILOW STAFF WRITER
At least 31 people enrolled in Vermont’s motel voucher program lost their place to stay in Shelburne last month and it’s unclear where they might have gone.
The state-run motel voucher program, which has existed for years in different forms, was intended to help homeless people find shelter at motels throughout the state. The program has expanded significantly since the pandemic as homelessness in Vermont continues to rise.
In April, the Legislature voted to change the program by adding an 80-day restriction to a tenant’s stay at a participating motel, citing the program’s cost and saturation.
This meant that a wave of people was forced to move out of their rooms throughout September as their 80 days ran out, including at least 23 adults and eight children in Shelburne, according to data from the Vermont Department of Children and Families shared with the town of Shelburne.
Shelburne plays a substantial role in the hotel voucher program, particularly in a county with the highest rate of homelessness in the state. That is largely due to the number of motels on Route 7, many of
PHOTO BY LEE KROHN
This local youngster drips syrup — Vermont maple, of course — onto his flapjacks at last week’s pancake breakfast put on by the Shelburne Fire Department.
Race develops for Shelburne’s Chittenden-6 House seat
PATRICK BILOW STAFF WRITER
The Democratic incumbent in this year’s Chittenden-6 House race, Kate Lalley, who ran unopposed in 2022, this year faces some opposition to win a second term.
Republican Deb Mayfield, a longtime business owner in Shelburne who ran a write-in campaign for the August primary, is running on a message of reduced spending in Montpelier and cracking down on crime and drug use around Shelburne.
Mayfield has lived in Vermont for two decades, most of it in Shelburne. She owned the Shelburne Country Store in the village with her husband, Steve, from 2007 to 2022 and now owns and operates the Country Christmas Loft.
Affordability is a major theme of Mayfield’s campaign. The candidate said she has watched friends and neighbors move — sometimes out of state — because they can no longer afford to live in Shelburne or Vermont. She blames a sharp increase in property taxes for home and business owners and “frivolous” costs associated with legislative
actions like the Global Warming Solutions Act — and the ensuing Affordable Heat Act — which Vermont passed in 2020 to force a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
That standard — final details regarding its costs will be presented to the Legislature in January — could cost Vermonters more than $10 billion, according to a Public Utility Commission study released in September.
“I think everyone in Vermont is committed to protecting our environment, but do we really need another thing to pay for right now when people already can’t afford to live in their homes,” Mayfield said. “I’d like to see more proactive planning and spending at the state level rather than reactive all the time.”
Mayfield believes that Vermont’s Republicans today were the Democrats of 30 years ago. Mayfield said she used to be a Democrat “until the party changed.” She also sees Vermont’s Democratic supermajority in Montpelier as a “broken system” as Gov. Phil Scott’s vetoes are often overturned.
Another theme in Mayfield’s campaign is an “increase in crime” around Shelburne, an issue she
said is bleeding over from Burlington. Mayfield believes drug use and underlying mental health issues are the root causes of what she called increased crime rates in Shelburne.
She is a proponent of state-sponsored programs that address the root cause of crime but does not support programs like safe injection sites, which she believes lead to more drug use.
Lalley has lived in Shelburne since 2003. Before becoming Shelburne’s House member, she served on Shelburne’s Selectboard from 2020 to 2022 and as planning commissioner for 15 years.
During her first term, Lalley said she earned a spot on the House Committee on Transportation through her involvement with local government in Shelburne, where she worked on traffic issues and enhancing the walkability in the village, including the sidewalk extension from Falls Road to the Riverside neighborhood.
She hopes to continue momentum on the transportation committee while bringing her background in community planning to the table on other issues, including the housing crisis.
Lalley said a major roadblock to housing development, which
could help solve Vermont’s housing crisis, is insufficient infrastructure, such as wastewater, in neighborhoods that are otherwise ideal for development.
One example is the Route 7 corridor between Burlington and Shelburne, which Lalley has been championing since her time on the selectboard. Not only could the area be a functional asset to the community, but also a better welcoming area to “worldclass institutions” in Shelburne, according to Lalley.
Better stormwater systems would also help communities near Lake Champlain, like Shelburne, meet environmental goals, another focus of Lalley’s campaign.
“I think communities throughout Vermont are feeling maxed out,” she said. “We want solutions to issues, but we also don’t want to spend top dollar for those solutions right now. There’s an expectation that the government should be able to address these issues in people’s lives. It shouldn’t be on homeowners’ associations and property owners to figure out federal EPA requirements, for example.”
as well as being designed for fun, fellowship, and
for residents, is unrivaled. Locally
Kate Lalley
Deb Mayfield
Candidates face off for three Chittenden Southeast Senate seats
LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
Two Republicans and one independent are looking to upset three incumbent Democrats in Chittenden County’s Southeast Senate district this November, hinging their campaigns on affordability in a year that saw a 14.5 percent average property tax hike across the state.
Bruce Roy, R-Williston, ran uncontested in the primary election and received 1,527 votes from the towns that make up the Chittenden Southeast Senate district. This is his second try at a Statehouse seat after an unsuccessful run for the House in 2022.
After a four-year tour in the U.S. Air Force, he returned to Vermont and joined IBM as an engineer, continuing his military service as a member of the Vermont Air National Guard. He had a 30-year career at both organizations, retiring as a colonel from the Green Mountain Boys in 2008. He also previously served his alma mater, Essex Westford School District, on its school board.
“One of the things that’s got me cranked up was when the property taxes jumped up, and I saw all the veto overrides that were happening of Gov. Scott,” he said. “I said, ‘I have to give myself back to Vermont for a few more years to see if I can’t fix this.’”
Republican Gov. Phil Scott, along with former Republican Gov. Jim Douglas, have both endorsed Roy, who said he will make it a priority to support Scott should he be elected.
Taylor Craven, I-Shelburne, a Vermont native who graduated from the University of Vermont with a civil engineering degree, took over his family’s property management business in the Deerfield Valley in 2019. He’s also worked for large engineering firms like DuBois & King, focusing on municipal infrastructure projects. He has previously served on the Colchester Planning Commission.
Craven did not participate in the August primary election but garnered enough signatures to enter the General Election race.
The self-proclaimed “socially liberal but fiscally conservative”
candidate says the Statehouse’s Democratic supermajority has gone unchecked for too long.
“I could bring good recommendations of where we could streamline processes to make it easier on property owners, homeowners and just small businesses in general,” he said. “One of the big catalysts that pushed me to run was the statewide property tax increase.”
Rohan St. Marthe, R-Jericho, also did not participate in the Republican Party primary election in August but was nominated as a General Election candidate by the Chittenden County Republican Committee. He ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in 2022.
St. Marthe did not respond to emails.
Together, incumbents Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, D-Shelburne, Sen. Thomas Chittenden, D-South Burlington, and Sen. Virginia Lyons, D-Williston, have served in the Statehouse for about 40 years combined. Lyons, chair of the House Committee on Health
Ginny Lyons
Kesha Ram Hinsdale
Thomas Chittenden
Bruce Roy Taylor Craven
Roman St. Marthe
Shelburne Police Blotter: Sept. 30 - Oct. 6
Total reported incidents: 69
Traffic stops: 19
Warnings: 15
Tickets: 4
Arrests: 2
Medical emergencies: 22
Mental health incidents: 2
Suspicious incidents: 6
Directed patrols: 72
Citizen assists: 9
Motor vehicle complaints: 1
Car crash: 6
Animal problem: 4
Noise disturbance: 2
Unlawful Mischief: 0
Theft: 6
Harassment: 0
Vandalism: 0
Property damage: 1
Fraud: 1
Alarms: 7
Pending investigations: 7 911 Hang-up calls: 0
Sept. 30 at 12:43 p.m., someone reported a stray dog running loose on Woodbine Road. The animal was reunited with its owner.
Oct.1 at 7:22 a.m., someone reported the theft of items their car on Palmer Court. The case is under investigation.
Oct. 1 at 7:42 a.m., an officer located another car on Palmer Court that had been entered. That case is also being investigated.
Oct. 1 at 8:18 a.m., items were stolen from a car on Longmeadow Drive. The matter is
under investigation.
Oct. 1 at 9:41 a.m., another person reported items being stolen from their car on Lakeview Drive.
Oct. 1 at 1:18 p.m., a trespass notice was sought against a former employee who was reportedly threatening coworkers at the Dunkin Donuts on Shelburne Road. The individual left the scene before the officers arrived. The case is under investigation.
Oct. 2 at 6:35 p.m., someone reported a physical altercation near Shelburne Bay Plaza. Officers checked the area but didn’t locate anyone.
Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m., police checked on a home on Acorn Lane that its owner left unsecured.
Oct. 2 at 8:57 p.m., someone on Spinnaker Lane reported a fraud. The case is under investigation.
Oct. 3 at 9:22 a.m., a resident on Route 116 was issued a warning for burning trash without a permit.
Oct. 4 at 3:48 p.m., a customer who refused to leave Splash Car Wash was issued a trespass notice.
Oct. 4 at 10:15, a woman at the Countryside Motel was taken to Colchester after police served her boyfriend with an
See BLOTTER on page 15
Shelburne News
Serving the community of Shelburne A publication of Vermont Community Newspaper Group LLC shelburnenews.com
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News Editor Tommy Gardner
Staff Writers
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Playwright performs play, ‘Groomed,’
about child sexual abuse at town hall
The play “Groomed” will be performed on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 7 p.m., at the Shelburne Town Hall theater, 5376 Shelburne Road, with a talk-back after the show. The performance is free and open to the public (PG-13).
Performed by playwright and male survivor Patrick Sandford, the one-hour, one-act play is set in an elementary school. The perfor-
mance evokes strong emotions but is not graphic. “Groomed” was per-formed at the Vatican in 2023 and is meant to educate, inform and be a catalyst for discussions about the reality of sexual abuse of minors. Sandford has been an artistic director for three British regional theaters. He is a survivor of sexual abuse at ages 9 and 10, by his state primary school teacher in
Kent, England. “I wrote ‘Groomed’ for one reason only, to tell the truth so that it might lose some of its power over my life. I had no idea it would become an award-winning stage performance, and later a film, watched by many survivors.” For information contact Michael Koplinka-Loehr, 607-592-8437 or mak11@cornell.edu.
Billing inquiries Leslie Lafountain leslie@stowereporter.com (802) 253-2101
Advertising submission deadline: Friday at 5 p.m. advertising@shelburnenews.com classifieds@shelburnenews.com
Editorial submission deadline: Friday at 5 p.m. news@shelburnenews.com
Calendar submission deadline: Friday at 12 p.m. news@shelburnenews.com
Contact: 1340 Williston Road South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 985-3091
OPINION
Vote no on wastewater plan for ‘all the right reasons’
Guest Perspective
Suzanne Fay
Please vote no for the wastewater treatment plant consolidation project so we can put this on pause, make some tweaks and do it right.
As a neighbor of the Crown Road Wastewater Treatment Facility, I have been aware of and involved in meetings about this consolidation project for several years. When building a new wastewater treatment facility, the state requires that towns explore three options and allows them to choose. The Shelburne Selectboard chose the option they thought was best at the time. They chose to stick with the same system we’ve been using since the 1970s because it’s “what the guys know how to operate,” it was the cheapest of the three considered and features an upgrade to cloth
media filtration.
However, in the past two years there have been three significant changes that dramatically impact this decision:
• Zoning reform and Vermont’s new HOME Act, which will bring much more development to Shelburne, specifically to the sewer service area of town.
• Two rainy springs and summers and two floods exactly a year apart are likely a sign of an escalation in climate change.
• Shelburne residents rated the environment as one of their top three priorities in the Shelburne Forward Together workshops and in the American Rescue Plan Act survey and other surveys.
The sequencing batch reactor (SBR) system we are currently using — and planning on using at the new facility — does not allow for reduction of phosphorus without affecting efficiency and operating cost. Phosphorus
Letters to the Editor
Lalley brings knowledge creativity to House role
To the Editor:
I want to share my whole-hearted support for Democratic Rep. Kate Lalley for the Chittenden-6 House district.
I have had the opportunity to talk with Lalley a lot in recent months on several local issues. We’ve discussed stormwater,
walking/biking connectivity, open space, affordable housing, school taxes, sewer systems, and the O’Brien Brothers development proposal.
I’m incredibly impressed with how knowledgeable she is on these topics. She wowed me with a host of creative ideas. In
is a major cause of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) in Shelburne Bay and Lake Champlain, which is becoming an increasing problem and health hazard.
The Lake Champlain Basin Report attributes phosphorus in the lake mostly to farms but that data is over 10 years old and outdated, and is based on the entire lake, not specifically Shelburne Bay.
The Crown Road Wastewater Treatment Facility, where the new facility will be built, discharges into Shelburne Bay. South Burlington’s Bartlett Bay treatment facility also discharges into Shelburne Bay, just a couple of miles north of us, and operators there are taking steps to mitigate the impact on the lake.
Shelburne should be doing the same.
The sequencing batch reactor system also limits our ability to add future capacity if the town continues to grow, which it will, due to Act 47, because permitting will likely get stricter in the future, requiring lower phosphorus levels. So, even though we have the space to add a fourth tank at the Crown Road site, getting a permit for that fourth tank may be challenging.
One solution to these problems
is membrane bioreactor technology (MBR). That is a hybrid of a conventional biological treatment system and physical liquid-solid separation using membrane filtration, as opposed to cloth media. Its benefits include operational efficiency, highly efficient treatment, cleaner effluent, space efficiency, flexibility and environmental sustainability.
Using membrane bioreactor technology would reduce phosphorus levels and enable us to add capacity as the town grows. It’s also much more capable of handling storm flows, which happen during heavy rains — something Shelburne’s system has a problem with, requiring manual supervision and control.
It is also better at processing septage, a side business Shelburne is planning to expand at the new facility. Septage, particularly commercial and industrial septage, can contain grease, grit, hair and debris, as well as forever chemicals such as PFAS; cloth is simply not adequate for filtering these substances.
Overall, membrane bioreactor technology would meet all of Shelburne’s current needs, streamline operations, allow for future expansion and provide a much higher quality effluent.
Ideally, developers such as the O’Brien Brothers, who seek to build hundreds of net zero homes in Shelburne, could be engaged in helping to pay for this upgrade.
Best of all, a sequencing batch reactor system can be converted relatively easily to membrane bioreactor technology, so this should not significantly delay the project or affect much of the preliminary engineering or design. All it would involve is a simple pause for engineers to explore this new option and a change order.
A new wastewater facility has a lifespan of 40 years. This will be the largest capital expense in Shelburne history. Let’s build a wastewater treatment facility that will be sustainable, have a much lower environmental impact and be easier on our dedicated operators — one that we can be proud of and that other towns will want to emulate.
Shelburne deserves a state-ofthe-art facility that will protect our greatest asset — Shelburne Bay — now and into the future. Vote no on Nov. 5, for all the right reasons. We can’t afford not to do this right.
Suzanne Fay is a Shelburne resident.
continued from page 5
addition, her experience in Montpelier allows her to access fellow representatives who can help make the decisions that will positively impact Shelburne.
We are lucky to have Kate Lalley represent us in Montpelier.
On Monday, Oct. 14, 6-7 p.m. at the Pierson Library Community Room, there will be an opportunity to hear from Lalley and Shawn Sweeney, the Democratic candidates for the House.
Alice Brown
Andy McClellan Shelburne
Vote on Shelburne wastewater plans
To the Editor:
The Oct. 3 article on the proposed wastewater treatment refurbishment project provided only half of the story. (“Shelburne wastewater treatment redo in voters’ hands,” Oct. 3, 2024)
Town manager Matt Lawless’ comments brushing aside resident concerns were disingenuous. There has been considerable concern raised in many selectboard meetings about the significant uncertainty of the proposed project costs.
Shelburne wastewater ratepayers, whose bills are already significantly higher than in neighboring towns, are on the hook for all project cost overruns. If the town is forced to borrow the full amount of the proposed bond authorization, ratepayers can expect much higher bills in the coming years.
Significant concerns have also been raised about the physical disruption the project will cause to Bay Road, making it a construction site for many months, and residents of Bay Road and Crown Road are to suffer significant increases in noise and air pollution due to heavy truck traffic for decades to come. Finally, the selectboard approved the project design over many residents’ concerns about the chosen technology. The town intends to utilize a more current version of the technology currently
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in use. While this strategy is relatively simple to install and will be familiar to the operating team, it does not provide significant additional capacity.
Over time if Shelburne adds a lot more homes — think O’Brien Brothers project — residents will have to pay millions of additional dollars for more wastewater capacity. A more even-handed discussion about this important decision is important for all of Shelburne.
I highly recommend that you vote no on the Nov. 5 bond issue.
Charles Kofman
Shelburne
Roy’s got just what Vermont Senate needs
To the Editor:
If you want to send a candidate to the Vermont Senate who will come with ideas, openness, fairness, critical thinking skills, a history of accountability, a willingness
to work hard and do the right thing and a sense of urgency to get those things done, I recommend that you cast a vote for Bruce Roy.
I’ve known Roy for almost 20 years and have worked with him on some of the most complex, thorny deals and issues and with some of the orneriest characters. He knows how to compromise, how to value and make reasonable concessions and how to win. He knows how to stand up firmly for good ideas while being able to shake hands at the end and get started on the next thing to be done, without having poisoned the work environment.
I will not agree with him on all the issues we face nationally, but I know that a vote to send him to the Senate is a vote for what we Vermonters need there: ideas, math, independent and critical thinking, leadership, work, acceptable and reasonable results, accountability and compromise.
Regina Darmoni Waitsfield
News from Pierson Library
Lecture series with poet Shanta Lee
The Second Thursday Lecture Series gets both gothic and reflective tonight, Thursday, Oct. 10, at 6:30 p.m., with poet, photographer and New Hampshire professor Shanta Lee. In a presentation entitled “Dazed, Seduced and Transfixed: The Monster Through Time in Literature and in our Minds,” Lee unpacks our cultural legacy of monsters from Mary Shelly’s “Frankenstein” and Pu Songling’s “The Painted Skin” to Jordan Peele’s “Us and beyond, figures spanning mythology, oral tradition and poetry.
Who is the monster? What does monstrousness mean within human interactions? This presentation is provided in partnership with Vermont Council on the Humanities.
Free movie screenings
On Friday, Oct. 11, at 2:45 p.m., the library is showing two films and providing freshly popped popcorn in the town hall.
The first is part of their Spooktacular Film Fest, an oh-so-eerie, black and white classic from 1963 based on a novel by Shirley Jackson. It’s not violent but it’s pretty scary and suitable for mature 12-year-olds and up as well as adult film fans. It is rated G.
The second film is part of multicultural movie night, and it is a contemporary animated family film from 2017 about a
bull who would rather sniff the roses than get in the ring. That shows at 5:30 p.m., and is rated PG. Why not make it a double feature?
Town hall haunted house
Town hall will transform into a youthlead haunted house this year. On Wednesday, Oct. 30, its creaky, ghost-begrimed doors will open to early trick-or-treaters and all who dare from 5-7 p.m.
If your kiddo would like to join in on the planning and devising of this haunted experience they can come to the library for an after-school planning meeting on Tuesdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Kids under 11 must be accompanied by a guardian or older sibling 14 years and up.
New tryables collection
Earlier this year, Pierson debuted its brand new tryables collection. Patrons who are 18 and up need only sign a small waiver and they can check out all manner of musical instruments, tools and gadgets.
The library also has a significant new vinyl collection with everyone from Nirvana to Miles Davis to T Swift to Kid Cudi. Here’s a partial list of the tryables currently available for checkout: portable record players, a ukulele, a Moog Synthesizer, colorblindness correcting glasses, binoculars, a radon detector, a moisture meter, walking sticks, a gold panning kit, cornhole and more. Get a library card or use your home card privileges and enjoy.
Memorial Pet Service
Fall Open House!
Saturday, 10/12, 10am-12pm
Prospective Families are invited to come check out Rice!
•Learn about our academic programs
•Tour our campus, meet our teachers
•Hear from parents and students about their experiences
99 Proctor Ave, S. Burlington
bessette@rmhsvt.org
www.rmhsvt.org
802-862-6521x2246
Bruce Roy
“Bruce Roy is committed to working with me to make Vermont a more affordable place to live, work, raise a family, do business and retire in.
Colonel Roy has already dedicated much of his life to serving our country in uniform, and I know he would continue to serve Vermonters well in the State Senate. I encourage the people of Chittenden County to send Bruce to the Senate to help build a stronger Vermont.”
Flipping good time
Scenes from Saturday’s pancake breakfast put on by Shelburne firefighters, from top left: Dwight Mazur cooks the sausage. Jerry Ouimet mans the griddle. One of the Soccer Sisters anticipates her pancake breakfast while another youngster gets some help deciding what to eat.
PHOTOS BY LEE KROHN
Knights of Columbus host community breakfast
Join the Knights of Columbus DeGosbriand Council #279 on Sunday, Oct. 13, for a community breakfast, 9-11:30 a.m., in the parish center of St. Joseph’s Cathedral, 29 Allen St., Burlington.
The feast will feature bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, blueberry pancakes, French toast and more. Coffee, juice, butter and real Vermont maple syrup are included.
The cost is $10 and $25 for a family of four. The breakfast benefits seminarians or religious aspirants for books, car insurance, maintenance, travel during vacations, clerical clothing, emergency expenditures and other living expenses.
Contact David Ely, davidely1986@gmail.com or 802-8625109, for more information.
Tropical Fish Club explores creeks of Gabon
Guest speaker Gary Elson will share his adventures in Gabon in “Creeks of Wonder, Gabon 2023” at the Thursday, Oct. 10, meeting of the Tropical Fish Club of Burlington.
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Essex Junction VFW, 73 Pearl St.
Elson will cover mostly Microctenopoma, Cichlids, Neolebias, Lampeyes and Aphyosemions, with more information on habitats. Anton Lamboj was the group leader and a Gabonese Barb researcher who went along for the adventure.
Meetings include door prizes and an auction. Also, learn more
about CatCon All-Aquarium
Catfish Convention 2024 coming Nov 1-3 (tfcb.org/catcon-2024).
Go to tfcb.org for more information.
Shelburne school hosts cornhole tourney
The Shelburne Community School’s PTO is hosting a cornhole tournament on Saturday, Oct. 19, 10 a.m., on the school’s soccer field.
The tournament is open to players of all skill levels, with divisions from kindergarten to adult, and promises to be a fun-filled day of friendly competition, prizes and camaraderie. Whether you’re a seasoned cornhole player or just looking for a fun way to spend time with friends and family, this event has something for everyone.
The registration fee is $20-$30. Contact cornhole@shelburnepto. org or shelburnepto.org/cornhole. The rain date is Oct. 19.
‘Play
Every Town’ pianist in Huntington
“Like so much of our everyday life, routine jet travel is unsustainable. I want to model a performance culture that doesn’t require hopping on a plane and flying all over the world.”
So, in May 2022, composer-pianist David Feurzeig embarked on “Play Every Town,” 252 free concerts in each of Vermont’s 252 towns to confront climate change through the power of community and music.
Concert No. 67 takes place on Sunday, Oct. 13, at 4 p.m., at the Sleepy Hollow Inn, 427 Ski Lodge Drive, in Huntington.
With this project Feurzeig will become the first musician to perform in every Vermont municipality. He is traveling in his solarcharged electric vehicle throughout the state, offering free concerts to bring attention to the interrelated issues of climate and community, and to call into question the normality of long-distance touring and travel, while bringing the joy of music to his audiences.
Feurzeig, a professor of music at University of Vermont, specializes in genre-defying recitals that bring together music of a variety of musical styles, from ancient and classical to jazz, avant-garde, and popular traditions.
Donations benefit Huntington Farm Aid for Flood Relief. More at playeverytown.com.
Shelburne church, Age well host July luncheon
Age Well is offering a luncheon on Tuesday, Oct. 15, in the St Catherine of Siena Parish Hall, 72 Church St. in Shelburne.
Entertainment will be provided by Gerry Ortego on guitar.
The menu is lasagna roll ups with sweet Italian sausage and marinara sauce, parmesan cheese, spinach salad with Italian dressing, dinner roll, applesauce, pumpkin cake and milk.
You must register by Wednesday, Oct. 9, to Kerry Batres, nutrition coordinator, 802-662-5283 or email kbatres@agewellvt.org. Tickets are also available at the Age Well Office, 875 Roosevelt Highway, Suite 210, Colchester.
Check-in time is 11:30 a.m. and the meal will be served at noon. There is a $5 suggested donation.
FALL FOLIAGE PHOTO CONTEST
Submit your best Vermont fall foliage shots by midnight on Wednesday, Oct. 30.
photos will be published in a November issue of the Stowe Reporter and online at StoweToday.com.
images to foliage@stowereporter.com
CANDIDATES continued from page 3
and Welfare, has served in Legislature for 12 terms. An experienced Senate is something she says will be important in the coming biennium.
“The Senate turnover has been huge,” she said. “We’ve got at least a third of the Senate that is going to be new within the past two sessions. You can’t do that and expect to have some appropriate results in legislation. It’s really important to have experienced leadership in the Senate and I do bring that, and I will continue to bring that.”
“My
need to combine some schools. We are so administrative heavy on the school districts. If you compare us with states like New York we’ve got so many superintendents. I think we would do ourselves some justice and certainly lighten a lot of taxpayers’ load if we did that.”
proposal would be to go ahead and give local taxpayers more control, a direct relationship between spending and the local homestead tax rate.”
Hinsdale, chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs has served six terms in the Legislature, four of those in the House and two in the Senate.
Chittenden, a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, has served two terms in the Senate after three terms on the South Burlington City Council.
Education
— Bruce Roy
Lyons, on the other hand, said she would consider school consolidation but it’s important not to pull the rug out from under schools all at once. She defended her vote for the yield bill that established the jump in property taxes across the state, saying that it’s important for the Legislature and the Scott administration to work together.
She said Scott has yet to put up a viable solution to address education funding reform, noting that his proposal during the last session to borrow money to cover immediate costs would have adversely devalued Vermont’s credit in the long-term.
does a good job at giving equal opportunity to every community. Where it could improve, he said, is by recalibrating the amount of educational opportunities Vermonters can actually afford. He believes Vermont will lead the country in spending per pupil this year.
“If we truly want to address this tax burden, we have to scrutinize and hold accountable where our dollars are going and if they are exactly where we should be spending them, or if we should pair back some of our initiatives,” he said.
For Roy, it’s simple: Bring control back to taxpayers.
“Local taxpayers in the district don’t have complete control of the tax rate that’s not directly associated to the school budgets they’re voting on,” he said. “My proposal would be to go ahead and give local taxpayers more control, a direct relationship between spending and the local homestead tax rate.”
Housing
The property tax increases came after a change in the state’s education funding mechanism that sought to better equalize education, but also created steep tax hikes for some towns across Chittenden County.
One answer to rising taxes, some candidates say, would be to combine schools and districts.
“I think that we really need to look at the writing on the wall with the education situation,” Craven said. “We’re going to
What comes with a
“One of the problems that we saw with putting money into the yield bill, was the administration really wasn’t present for most of the time. It was very difficult.”
Lyons said, “We did work with the administration, but the administration also has to work with us.”
Chittenden also said he would favor school consolidation and that while Vermont’s education funding formula is one of the most complex in the country, it
But legislators and candidates also recognize that the lack of housing plays a key role in property tax increases. For Hinsdale, increasing the grand list is one of the greatest levers the state can use to balance these increases.
“It’s a perfect storm where you have a really high value for your home because it’s a scarce commodity, and that drives up your individual property taxes, but you’re not sharing that among enough properties overall because we are losing housing stock,” she said.
Recent legislation like Act 47, introduced by Hinsdale’s committee, mandates that municipalities allow certain density requirements if the area is served by water and sewer infrastructure. In addition to making denser development more feasible, she said the legislation was designed to “take some of the heat off of local decision makers and let them point the finger at the state.”
But the Legislature this year will need to look at sustainable revenue sources for affordable housing and ways to reduce any discrimination against clustered manufactured housing, she said.
Another main problem, Hinsdale said, is the state’s prevalence of second homeowners.
“They should probably be paying more for that property as a luxury than residents are paying for their primary residence,” she said. “We don’t want to be unwelcoming to people, but if you can afford a second home, you can oftentimes afford to pay more
Photo by Lee Krohn
continued from page 10
than someone’s paying on their primary residence.”
With experience as an engineer, Craven said part of the solution would be to streamline and simplify development processes, noting that he supported recent housing legislation introduced by Hinsdale’s committee. Housing opportunities will bring more revenue to the state, which has relied largely on tourism revenues, he said.
“I’m not saying that you would necessarily loosen every regulation across the board,” he said. “But it’s risky to invest in Vermont. From a personal standpoint, there’s really no good argument why you couldn’t put something up to a four-unit building nearly anywhere in the state if you have the wastewater capacity.”
For Roy, he noted the state’s aging population and diminishing taxpayer base adds to the problem.
“As Gov. Scott says, we don’t need more taxes. We need more taxpayers, and we’re losing that,” he said. “We’re just eroding the tax base. I’m hearing some really heart-wrenching stories from people who feel they have to leave or sell their homes. People are angry, but they’re also scared.”
The housing problems in the state, Lyons added, stretches into a lot of other areas of concern for the state. While increasing housing is important, it’s equally as important to ensure homes are not being built in vulnerable areas, especially since the state experienced two catastrophic flooding events in two years.
“Housing is an overarching issue,” she said.
Heating up
Another contentious issue is the Affordable Heat Act, which Republican candidates have been saying could lead to an even greater increase in heating fuel costs and exacerbate already complex taxing problems.
The law, meant to lead Vermonters away from using fossil fuels to heat their homes and businesses, leaves too many uncertainties, its critics say.
For Roy, he said the problem from the start was a lack of balance without any Republicans sitting on the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy — which introduced the bill — to offer a different perspective.
“How in the heck can you, as a committee, in reviewing testimonies and asking questions, how can you do that reasonably if you don’t have a contrary voice sitting on the committee?” he questioned.
The act, he said, is a “sledgehammer to the side of the head”
for Vermonters who are already drowning in taxes, especially since the state produces some of the lowest carbon emissions in the country.
“Why would we put that on the back of Vermonters to the tune of maybe $3 to $4 in increase in fuel heat per gallon with propane or oil?” he said. “I believe in Vermonters, they always do the right thing, especially when it comes to the environment.”
Chittenden, who voted for the bill initially, said that while climate change is an existential crisis for the human species, he can also simultaneously recognize the limit of influence the state has overall.
He said he voted for the bill under an important provision called the ‘checkback,” which required the bill to come back to the Legislature in January 2025 with more information about what this program might cost Vermonters.
“With this checkback, we effectively came to this state where now we know, and we all agree, what the cost estimates are after spending a quarter of a million dollars on a comprehensive consulting study and those cost estimates are what I would argue as infeasible,” he said. “The complexity of standing up this solution, but also by many estimates, cost $40 million a year just for the administration of it.”
He said he now does not support the implementation of the Affordable Heat Act as contemplated in the bill passed 18 months ago.
“Vermont cannot bankrupt our rural citizens with this marketbased scheme to incentivize weatherization and electrification,” he wrote online. “That bankruptcy will either drive people to move to states that don’t have this heating cost fee, or it means they may freeze to death when they try saving money by not turning on the furnace in February.”
Hinsdale, who previously taught environmental justice policy and structural inequality at the Vermont Law and Graduate School, defended her position on the affordable heat act and pointed to a volatile fossil fuel industry that creates its own uncertainties.
“When we were debating the affordable heat standard, Vermonters had lost millions of dollars to the increased cost of fuel given global conflicts,” she said. “As we try and use our resources in the state and create jobs in the state to harness more of our own energy power and remove ourselves from fossil fuel dependency, we may not be able to quantify the unknown of the costs we’re saving people from a volatile fossil fuel industry.”
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PHOTO BY LEE KROHN
Fall color arrives in Shelburne.
Burlington, Vermont
OUTDOORS
Autumn means it’s time for the dragon migration
The Outside Story
Pamela Hunt
The great annual movements of fall include monarch butterflies winging toward Mexico, whales heading to the Caribbean to give birth and multitudes of birds in the autumn skies. There’s another migration this season that often goes unnoticed by casual observers: dragonflies.
Given that dragonflies (or something closely resembling them) have been on this planet for more than 300 million years, there’s even a chance they’re the original migratory animals.
We’ll never know, of course, but it’s likely that the ancient climate in which they evolved was warmer and seasonal movements weren’t as necessary. At some point, however, migration did evolve in dragonflies, and there are now a dozen or so species known to undertake seasonal movements in North America.
These are most obvious in fall, when large numbers of dragonflies are sometimes concentrated along coasts or ridgelines. Under the right conditions, thousands may pass by a location in a single day. The most familiar migratory dragonfly in our region is the common green darner (Anax junius), but this species is often joined by other migratory dragonflies such as the wandering glider (Pantala flavescens).
The common green darner is about 3 inches long and named for its lime-green thorax. More notable is the bright blue abdomen of the males (in females this is pinkish brown). These are usually the first dragonflies to appear in the Northeast in spring (often in April) and the last to leave in fall (typi-
cally by mid-October). And like monarch butterflies, the north- and south-bound individuals are from different generations.
One of the first attempts to study the fall movements of common green darners involved
attaching tiny radio transmitters to dragonflies in New Jersey in 2005 and attempting to track their movements from a small airplane (being high in the air makes it easier to pick up the radio signals).
Researchers found that most drag-
onflies stopped to rest for a couple of days (as migrating birds do), and the maximum single day flight was just under 100 miles — not
Robert Vitali
Robert Samuel Vitali died on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, at 90. Bob is survived by the love of his life, Kathy, his wife of 67 years. He was born on June 26, 1934, in Sayre, Pa., to Raffaele and Tomassa Vitali, Italian immigrants. His parents moved to Dushore, Pa., where Bob was raised. He quickly learned the importance of solid faith, community and its people. His parents owned a bar where they served the locals and were renowned for their homemade spaghetti and meatballs on Saturday nights. Bob would help his mother run the bar during the day
OUTSIDE STORY
continued from page 12
bad for an insect weighing a little over a gram.
The darners we see moving south in fall are heading to the Gulf of Mexico or beyond, where they will mate, lay eggs and die. A second generation emerges in these more southern climes in late fall and gives rise to a non-migratory cohort, which spends winter there.
It is the offspring of this sedentary group that move north in the spring, arriving in our region in April or May.
This third-generation mates and lays eggs, which will hatch and become adults in the Northeast and begin their southward migration as summer wanes again. Migratory green darners may travel up to 2,000 miles.
while his father worked at the coal mines.
Bob attended St. Basil High School and was a stand-out athlete who excelled in basketball. Following high school, Bob went to Mount St. Mary’s College, where he built many long-lasting friendships. On one trip home from college, he went to the local soda fountain shop and met his future wife and lifelong partner, Kathy.
In 1957, Bob and Kathy married, beginning the next chapter of his life, and started a family. Bob loved his country and, while at college, was accepted to the Marine Corps
Officer Candidates School, where he was stationed at Quantico Marine Base and then Camp Lejeune. Following his service, he left the Marines for civilian life joining IBM.
Bicycle Tours. He also enjoyed playing golf. In later years, he became a staff member of the Vermont National Golf Club, where he worked for many summers.
Bob was a people person, an avid storyteller and jokester. He was quick-witted and delivered well-timed wisecracks. His subtle smile revealed his ability to both give and receive banter. He loved getting to know people and was interested in their stories, families and where they came from. He was a great judge of character, his compass in life.
South Burlington, again making new friends and frequently spending time with his buddies Ron and Gene. He loved the support staff who cared for him, and they loved him.
He spent his final days at Miller McLure Respite House, making new friends and making lasting impressions on their lives. He could not have been happier with the extraordinary care of the nurses, staff and volunteers. He was grateful for their compassion and kindness in caring for him.
Only a handful of New England’s 120 dragonfly species migrate, while the others overwinter as nymphs.
The distances covered by another migratory species are even more impressive. The wandering glider (appropriately called the “globe skimmer” in other parts of the world) has been recorded on every continent except Antarctica, and even on isolated islands in the Pacific Ocean. Unlike the darner, this species has relatively broad wings that allow it to move more efficiently with wind, and it uses this to its advantage when migrating.
Wandering gliders are slightly smaller than common green darners, with golden bodies and red eyes. Most studies on this species’ migration
have been done in Africa and Asia, so we know little about its life cycle in North America. What we do know is that individual wandering gliders may travel up to 6,000 miles in their lifetimes, with some making non-stop flights of 3,000 miles from Africa to India. Only a handful of New England’s 120 dragonfly species migrate, while the others overwinter as nymphs. So, if you catch a glimpse of a dragonfly that seems like it’s on a mission this fall, take a closer look. Is it a common green darner headed south to launch the next generation? A wandering glider on an epic migratory journey to South America?
Or perhaps it’s another migrant — a black saddlebag, Carolina saddlebag or twelve-spotted skimmer. Whatever the species, wish them luck as they travel south into the next stage of their lives.
Pamela Hunt is the senior biologist for avian conservation for New Hampshire Audubon. Illustration by Adelaide Murphy Tyrol. The Outside Story is assigned and edited by Northern Woodlands magazine and sponsored by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, nhcf.org.
In 1964, Bob relocated to Vermont, where he enjoyed a long career at IBM, building his new community of great family friends.
During the 70s, Bob sailed, becoming a champion captain on his sailboat, the Windquest. He won several Lake Champlain Yacht Club Billado Cups and was a top three finisher in the Ladies Cup and Commodore McDonogh races.
Bob retired from IBM in 1992 but continued to try new pursuits. His main hobby was bike riding, often with his buddy, Lawlor. This passion led to working as a summer tour guide for Vermont
Bob and Kathy had five children. Bob was very involved in his children’s activities, sports and lives. His love for basketball continued, and he coached recreation league and Catholic Youth Organization basketball teams. He also learned to love other sports in which his children participated like basketball, hockey, football, field hockey, gymnastics, dance, lacrosse and skiing.
Bob, aka “Grampy,” adored his grandchildren, attending as many school and sporting events as possible. He was encouraging, curious and supportive of any interest they had, making them feel special. Bob was proud to tell stories of their adventures and accomplishments and recap the details of their lives.
During his last year, he lived at Quarry Hill Assisted Living in
Bob leaves behind his beautiful bride, Kathy; four kids, Vicki Vitali Porter (Troy), Timmy Vitali, Terry Vitali (Bridget) and Pam Vitali; 11 grandchildren, Yvette, Sam, Tyler, Jacob, Kathryn, Terrence, Riley, DJ, Evie, Christian, Cale and Lola; 11 great-grandchildren, Logan, Violet, Jillian, Gus, Bella, George, Penny, Kenny, Jack and Luke.
Bob was predeceased by his parents, Raffeale and Tomassa; sister, Lena; and son, Jeff. A mass in dedication to Bob will be held on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, at 11 a.m. at The Catholic Center at the University of Vermont.
In Bob’s memory, you may send donations to The McClure Miller Respite House at 3133 Roosevelt Highway, Colchester VT 05446, or The Catholic Center at UVM, 390 S. Prospect St., Burlington VT 05401 (uvmcatholic.com).
Robert Vitali
Last year, Vermonters threw away 71,113 tons of food scraps which ended up in our only landfill. Equal to 242 pounds of food scraps per person per year.
CSWD’s Organic Recycling Facility (ORF) and our six Drop-Off Centers accept food scraps from residents and businesses to keep them out of Vermont’s only landfill.
cswd.net/a-to-z/food-scraps
HOUSE SEAT
continued from page 2
Lalley echoed Mayfield’s concerns about affordability, acknowledging a steep increase in property taxes to fund services like education, and agreed to an extent that Vermont needs to focus its spending and prioritize certain issues over others. Should she be reelected, Lalley believes there could be cost-saving opportunities in education through regionalizing services and she hopes to dive deeper
Fall bloomers?
into the issue through the state’s public education taskforce.
Lalley voted with the majority on this year’s yield bill, which sets statewide property tax rates. Lawmakers then overrode Scott’s veto of the bill, which imposed a 13.8 percent increase in property taxes, on average, and which has led to consternation among many Vermont voters.
PHOTOS BY ALEX LAZAR
Experts say environmental stressors like drought or heat can cause spring bloomers like lilacs to put on a fall show of color.
WASTEWATER
continued from page 1
their rates, but nothing more than 4 percent throughout the 20-year bond, according to Lawless. The average rate increase for small households is estimated at $10 a year, with larger households at $32 per year.
The town is pursuing grants to fund one-third of the project, or around $15 million, according to Lawless, which could impact rates depending on the town’s success.
Chris Robinson, Shelburne’s wastewater superintendent and chief treatment plant operator, said the project is necessary. The plant’s equipment is old and failing, and the department stands to gain efficiencies by consolidating the two plants. There is also pressure from the state to meet tightening discharge requirements into local waterways, which can be improved with better equipment, Robinson said.
“I get that the equipment is old, but in my mind, Shelburne can’t have it all on this project — not right now,” Clarke said. “Any type of increase in rates, when you couple it with everything else that’s going on, is too much. I think people are at point where we don’t care if your hair is on fire, we aren’t going to approve more spending.”
The town hosted a public meeting about the project on Wednesday, Oct. 9 after the Shelburne News’ deadline. Expect coverage of the meeting in next week’s edition.
(See related guest perspective on page 6.)
BLOTTER
continued from page 4
abuse prevention order.
Oct. 5 at 12:49 a.m., a theft was reported at Harbor Place. Nicole LaPlante, 34, of Essex, was arrested on an outstanding warrant and released.
Oct. 5 at 6:53 a.m., a caller reported sick or strange acting racoon around Longmeadow Drive.
The animal was not found.
Oct. 5 at 4:27 p.m., Megan Weston, 41, of Shelburne, was arrested on multiple outstand-
ing warrants at Harbor Place and taken to jail.
Oct. 5 at 9:20 p.m., a cow in the road at Cheesefactory Road and Dorset Street was retrieved by its owner.
Oct. 5 at 9:35 p.m., gunshots were reported near Martindale Road.
Oct. 6 at 10:35 a.m., a stray dog running loose on Lakeview Drive was reunited with its owner.
Invest in community
PHOTO BY PATRICK BILOW Shelburne wastewater employee Jeff Pillsbury reviews proposed plans for a facilities upgrade.
VOUCHER continued from page 1
STAY CONNECTED Anywhere, Anytime
which became increasingly vacant as new hotels were built and tourist preferences shifted. Four motels in Shelburne participate in the program — Harbor Place, Countryside, North Star and T-Bird Motor Inn — and at least 69 households in Shelburne rely on it for shelter, according to the Vermont Department of Children and Families.
Given the number of Shelburne households relying on the voucher program, local organizations anticipated an increased need for social services in September as families began moving out of local motels.
could go ahead and pitch a tent. I know that campgrounds are filling up now, too.”
The Shelburne Police Department responds to reports of encampments at least once per week, according to a dispatch employee. The encampments are typically reported on private land but are almost always vacated before officers investigate.
Dispatch said that reports of encampments have been recurring throughout the summer but remained consistent throughout September.
DIGITAL EDITION is
For example, the Shelburne Food Shelf was stocking up on “to-go” food items for camping and preparing for an increase in emergency-assistance grant requests, which in the past have funded extra nights at a hotel and other expenses.
But the food shelf was surprised. Although the number of visits and requests for assistance this year are higher than ever, they didn’t increase in September as they have in similar housing emergencies, according to food shelf board chair Brandie Benoit.
“I don’t quite know if we know where everyone went. I do think principally that a lot of people end up in a location outside of Shelburne.”
— Michael Monte
It’s unclear where people went after they moved out of Shelburne motels, but local officials, including Benoit and town manager Matt Lawless, suggested that they are no longer in Shelburne, which would partially explain the lack of increased need.
“I don’t quite know if we know where everyone went,” said Micheal Monte, CEO of the Champlain Housing Trust, which owns Harbor Place in Shelburne, one of the motels participating in the voucher program. Around 20 people moved out of the motel in September as they hit their 80-day mark through the program, but the motel is nearing capacity again.
“I do think principally that a lot of people end up in a location outside of Shelburne,” he said. “Some people were placed with other agencies; some maybe found a family member or friend to stay with. But frankly, there are no shelters. The shelters are full. So many people were handed a tent, and if that was their last option, they
Most of the households currently enrolled in the motel voucher program in Shelburne are at the beginning of their 80 days, “so they’re set for a while,” said Monte, who added that Vermont’s cold weather extension will kick in Dec. 1. Last week, state legislators sent a letter to Gov. Phil Scott urging the governor to act on homelessness. The letter mentions the hotel voucher program once, stating that 1,000 people associated with the program throughout Vermont lost shelter last month. It also calls for “immediate” construction of emergency shelters in appropriate locations and an emergency declaration related to homelessness.
Dozens of state lawmakers signed the letter, including Rep. Jessica Brumsted, D-Shelburne, and Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, DShelburne.
“The administration has treated this motel program like an arm’s-distance obligation rather than a lifeline to house folks while we figure out a long-term solution,” Hinsdale said.
Hinsdale said long-term affordable housing development between Burlington and Shelburne is the goal, but efficient, short-term solutions to sheltering people should be the priority. She also called for better data on homelessness in Vermont to inform better solutions to the issue.
Monte told the Shelburne News that he is not confident that the letter will inspire any change. Meanwhile, winter is setting in and the 80-day clock continues to run.
Death café in Charlotte helps people embrace living
LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
“In death!” Polly Price cheerfully signs her email.
For most people, death can conjure a slew of difficult emotions, from grief to fear to uncertainty and panic. But for Price, a Shelburne resident and certified death doula, she holds more of a friendly reverence and curiosity for what’s beyond the final curtain.
Now, she’s encouraging people to explore the sometimes-taboo topic, too.
“I’ve always been interested in death,” she said. “That sounds like a morbid thing.”
She was a practical nurse in Ohio working the overnight shift when she experienced death for the first time.
“A lot of my coworkers didn’t want anything to do with it,” she said. “For whatever reason they just didn’t want to deal with death, so I was always the one who went in and prepared the body and talked to the family.”
Little did she know that several years later that scene would set the stage for a whole new path.
She had never heard about death doulas before a few years ago, but when a friend recommended that she take a course on the topic at the University of Vermont, she hopped on the idea.
The work is just as it sounds. Like a doula to a mother just giving birth, the process is separate from medical care but instead focuses on making those final moments as comfortable as possible. The last moments are sacred, she said, and the process varies from person to person. Sometimes it’s a conversation, and other times it is sitting in silence as the person plays through a musical playlist that mirrors important moments in their lives.
While Price doesn’t consider herself an expert in the business of dying — things like writing a will or funeral preplanning — she does have expertise in helping people and families go through it.
As she began to think about how to bring this help to more people, she heard about death cafes.
The movement began in London in 2011 with a simple premise: Eat cake, drink tea and discuss mortality with the hope of
encouraging people to make the most of their finite lives.
afraid of it?
Founder Jon Underwood adapted the idea from the “café mortel” movement that emerged in Switzerland by sociologist Bernard Crettaz. Since that time, more that 19,000 death cafes have sprung up in more than 92 countries.
Now, thanks to Price, there is one happening on the fourth Wednesday of every month at the Charlotte Senior Center, where she also serves as a member of the board.
“Society
is now allowing you to be able to talk about death more. It’s now offering all these different things and options for death.”
For Mary Donnelly, a friend of Price and frequent volunteer at the Charlotte Senior Center who joined for an afternoon discussion that turned into a two-hour meeting about death, she has found that talking openly about the topic frees her to live more, if not better.
Death, she said, is begging all of us to question: How are we living?
death cafes, Donnelly has learned to appreciate the sacredness of it all.
“How we can start to really express to those people that we love the most about how much we really care for them, or get more involved with them,” she said.
Holding firm to the foundations of the movement, it’s likely that Price will have both cake and tea.
The meeting is far from a grief support circle, but more a casual roundtable-style discussion for people to bounce around ideas about some of life’s greatest unknowns: What is on the other side? Is it painful? Why are we so
— Polly Price
“I think that talking about your fears around it, or what you perceive about it, kind of frees you to enjoy life a little bit,” she said. “Because I remember going into the death cafe, I really did not want to. I was very fearful.”
Price quietly asked, “Well, what sent you to the death cafe in the first place?”
Donnelly replied, “To see if I could work through that.”
Through going to neighboring
Price explained that society has become more embracing of the topic of death. She noted movements like medical aid in dying — which provides eligible patients with terminal diseases the option to be prescribed a dose of medication that, if taken, will hasten the end of their life — and natural and green burials.
“Society is now allowing you to be able to talk about death more,” she said. “It’s now offering all these different things and options for death.”
Funerals, she said, have often been replaced with celebrations of life, which brings people together to remember what death has been teaching us all along: Life is short, so celebrate it.
“I want to have my celebration of life soon,” she said, letting out a laugh. “I don’t want to be dead, but everyone just come and let’s have a party.”
PHOTO BY LIBERTY DARR
Polly Price and Mary Donnelly
PHOTO BY AL FREY
FINANCE AND TAXATION OFFICER
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WHAT YOU WILL DO: You will play a crucial role in ensuring compliance with taxation regulations, assisting with managing the City’s financial operations, and contributing to our community’s economic health. Your responsibilities will include overseeing tax assessments, property valuation, collections, and compliance activities and collaborating with the Finance Director to manage the City’s financial operations including developing budgets and forecasts.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, accounting or a related field, plus 5 years relevant work experience in property assessment, or tax collection, accounts payable/receivables, and reporting, required; equivalency considered. Municipal government accounting experience preferred.
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APPLY NOW: Review of on-line applications will begin November 4, 2024. To apply, learn more about the position and see a complete job description, please visit: governmentjobs.com/careers/ southburlington. The City of South Burlington is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
With win, CVU football remains unbeaten; golfers win qualifier
LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT
Football
Champlain Valley 41, Middlebury 7: Dylan Terricciano had two touchdowns — one on defense and one on offense — to help Champlain Valley beat Middlebury on Saturday.
Terricciano recovered a fumble in the end zone and rushed for another score for the Redhawks. Orion Yates threw four touchdown passes, hitting Jacob Armstrong for three of those touchdowns. Billy Bates added a 17-yard TD catch.
The Redhawks moved to 6-0 with the win.
Boys’ soccer
Champlain Valley 8, BFA-St. Albans 1: The boys won their
second game in a row, beating BFA-St. Albans 8-1 on Saturday.
Ethan Revoir and Will Wallace each had two goals and an assist for the Redhawks, who moved to 8-2. Kyle Krieger, Henry LcLean and Caleb Greenslit each added one goal and one assist.
Miles Bergeson tallied a goal for CVU, while Ziggy Babbott and Zev Barth combined to get the win in goal.
Cross country
The Champlain Valley girls’ cross-country team had three runners finish in the top 10 to win the Woods Trail Run in Thetford on Saturday, Oct. 5. Lydia Donahue came in second place, while Audrey Neilson finished in seventh place and Charlotte Crum was eighth for the Redhawks. Alice Kredell was 15th and Annalise Wood came
19th, while Isabella Gravina-Budis came in 22nd. On the boys’ side, Champlain Valley came in sixth. Cole Hart finished in 13th and Benjamin Holoch was 15th to pace the Redhawks.
Boys’ golf
The Champlain Valley boys’ golf team came in first place at the Division I qualifier at the Quechee Club to earn a spot in the state championship tournament. Cooper Guerriere led the way for the Redhawks with a 73, while Camden Ayer and Jack Bryan each had a 74 and Brendan Chevrier rounded out the scoring with an 83. Champlain Valley had a team score of 304 in its first-place finish. Evan Marchessault had a 74 to lead the Wolves. Jack McDougall and Teddy Maynard each had a 75 and Trey Smith finished with a 91.
CVU keeps Middlebury from gaining much ground in a lopsided win over the tigers Oct. 5. The Redhawks won 41-7 and remain undefeated.
Shelburne Halloween
Shelburne celebrates the holiday on Sunday, Oct. 27, presented by Shelburne Parks & Recreation. Here’s the schedule:
• Noon to 1:30 p.m.: Costume contest at Shelburne Town Center: Dress to impress the judges. Prizes awarded to winners in each category. Get your spooky picture taken by Studio 2N Photography with a free digital download.
• 2 p.m.: Shelburne Halloween Parade presented by Charlotte-Shelburne-Hinesburg Rotary. For questions about the parade or to register a float in the parade, contact Richard J. Fox at 802-448-0118 or rfox@ foxlawvt.com.
• 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.: Trick or Treat carnival games and haunted stage in the town gym with the Shelburne Recreation Committee; free treats at the fire station; and a fun Halloween activity at Pierson Library.
Hullcrest Park notice
The Hullcrest Park playground project will begin the week of Sept. 16. Please stay out of playground and immediate area during renovation and construction.
The park will remain open for use of the field and basketball court.
The project should be finished by early October. Direct questions about the project to Shelburne Parks & Recreation 802-985-9551.
Bolton after-school program
This popular after-school program offers kids in grades five to eight a fun evening of night skiing with friends at Bolton Valley Resort.
Two sessions will be offered: session A includes: Jan. 8, 15, 22 and 29; session B includes Feb. 12, and March 5, 12 and 19.
Registration for seventh and eighth graders will open on Nov. 1 at 8 a.m. Registration for fifth and sixth graders will open on Nov. 20 for any remaining spots.
Complete program details and pricing can be found at shelburnevt. org/183/Youth-Programs
Youth basketball registration is open
This popular recreational program emphasizes the basics of the sport, along with good teamwork and sportsmanship. The program is open to youth in grades one to six.
Practices start in early December and is open to Shelburne residents only.
Grades one and two are co-ed and will practice and scrimmage on Saturday mornings only. The goal of this
age group is to introduce and practice basic skills and team play concepts. The registration fee is $52.
Grades three to six have separate girls’ and boys’ teams. Organized practices will begin in December, and regular practices and games will start the first week of January and continue until the February break.
Practice will be held one night a week with games on Saturday against other town recreational teams from the Champlain Valley Recreation Association. Games will be played both in Shelburne and out of town. Travel is required. The fee is $63.
Volunteer coaches are needed. If interested, call the office at 802-9859551 or indicate at the time of registration.
The registration deadline for both groups is Friday, Nov. 8.
Crossfit kids
Kids can join us right after school to improve general conditioning, including a focus on core, strength, agility, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness. Based on the principle of movement mechanics, consistency, form and then intensity, this program pushes for quality movement throughout childhood.
Sign up for one or both sessions.
Session dates are Oct. 17 to Nov. 14; registration deadline is Friday, Oct. 11. The other session is Jan. 16 to Feb. 13; registration deadline is Friday, Jan. 10. Sessions are held on Thursdays, 3:15-4:15 p.m. Fee is $95 per session, for grades five to eight, led by Nick Mead and Shelburne Field House staff.
Yoga flow for strength, flexibility
Find some calm in your body and your mind and join Jane Taylor for an accessible, fun and energizing yoga flow that builds bone strength and brings students out of their daily grind and into their true nature of goodness.
Get the heart rate up with vigor, and then wind down and relax in a balanced class designed to make you feel better than when you came in the door. All levels welcome. Participants should be comfortable sitting on and getting up from the floor. Bring your own yoga mat and whatever props you need.
Taylor has been practicing for more than 20 years and has been assisting the University of Vermont yoga teacher training for 12 years. There are two sessions — Tuesdays, Nov. 5 to Dec. 10 and Tuesdays Jan. 14 to Feb. 18 — held in the Shelburne town gym. The fee is $90.
Learn more at shelburnevt.org/160/ parks-recreation.
PUBLIC MEETINGS
PATRICK LEAHY BURLINGTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2024, 6:30-8:00 P.M. CHAMBERLIN SCHOOL, SOUTH BURLINGTON
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2024, 6:30-8:30 P.M. WINOOSKI HIGH SCHOOL
Notice is hereby given that Public Meetings will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at 6:30-8:00 p.m. (South Burlington Public Meeting) at Chamberlin School, and Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at 6:30-8:30 p.m. (Winooski Public Meeting) at the Winooski High School.
These meetings will provide an overview of the DRAFT NOISE EXPOSURE MAP REPORT that has been prepared on behalf of Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport. The meetings will be workshop style with various stations for individuals to review the information and ask questions. There will be no formal presentation. Comment sheets will be available for the public to leave their comments.
The draft report can be found on the Airport’s noise program website: btvsound.com. Physical copies of the draft report are also available for review at the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport administrative offices located at 1200 Airport Rd, South Burlington, VT, Suite 1.
Public comments can be submitted at the meetings or via email to btvsound@jonespayne.com
The public comment period will close Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Additional comments and questions regarding the noise program can be submitted at any time.
come Join us.
The Linden Nursing Home is hosting an Open House for LNAs, Nurses, and individuals interested in becoming licensed nursing assistants.
Wake Robin wants to support you in your career growth working with older adults to include scholarships and loan forgiveness programs as well as great benefits, a pristine working environment, work/life balance, and an opportunity to build strong relationships with staff and residents in a dynamic community setting.
LNA / Nurse / LNA Trainee Open House Tuesday, October 15 - 7:30am - 9:00am and 1:00pm - 4:00pm Wake Robin Drive, Shelburne, Vermont / wakerobin.com
Shelburne Parks & Rec News
VETERANS
