Regionalization?
Towns start talks about sharing planning services
PATRICK BILOW & LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITERS
With Charlotte’s town planner set for retirement in less than a month, the town is exploring a potential agreement for shared planning services with the neighboring town of Shelburne.
Meanwhile, some leaders in Shelburne are beginning a conversation with neighbors about the concept of regionalizing services on a larger scale.
While the state — with the passage of S.159 in May — is beginning the long work of studying how to best strengthen county-level government in Vermont, which has long held the tradition of hyper-local control, some municipal leaders have taken measures into their own hands.
According to Shelburne and
Stick season settles in across the Champlain Valley and at Shelburne Farms.
Charlotte, the shared service concept for planning is in its very early stage, but there is an eager appetite in both towns to see how something like that could flesh out.
“I have seen shared service agreements work in other towns and other settings and thought to myself that this could be mutually beneficial for the town of Shelburne and town of Charlotte,”
Charlotte’s town administrator, Nate Bareham, said.
The Charlotte Selectboard discussed the matter during an executive session at last week’s meeting, but nothing has been finalized. Bareham said he hopes to bring a proposal to the selectboard prior to Dec. 1.
Matt Lawless, town manager of Shelburne, noted that such a collaboration is not only in the
spirit of neighbors helping neighbors but also regional efficiency. It could also go a long way to help Vermont towns save money.
“We have a great planning staff,” Lawless said. “I think that’s a good idea for a number of our skilled staff. We’ve got a diesel mechanic who could go over to another town and fix a truck, and I like the idea of setting up that kind of contract.”
BY
While every town has certain legal obligations to do a little bit of planning and zoning work, Lawless said, for many towns that work oftentimes doesn’t require 40 hours a week.
“You can’t hire a 17-hour professional planner, so maybe we can share,” he said.
BREAKFAST • LUNCH • DINNER
PHOTO
LEE KROHN
Valley vista
‘Coldy’: Kids name state’s snowplows
Blizzard of Oz. Slush Puppy. It’s Snow Problem. Gerald. Coldy. Ski Buddy.
Those are some of the 118 new names that the Vermont Agency of Transportation received for its big orange plow trucks through this year’s Name a Plow program for Vermont schools.
The agency also received 77 entries in the contest for schools to name a new plow truck that has a second plow spanning 21 feet and which will be used to clear Interstate 89. That truck is now named “The Vermonster” thanks to the winning entry from Townshend Elementary School.
“Vermont students have had a
lot of fun naming our plow trucks, and we love seeing what they come up with,” transportation secretary Joe Flynn said. “The names create a connection between the communities and our hard-working plow operators, and the program is also a great way for us to talk with young Vermonters about the importance of winter highway safety and the work our teams do to keep the roads well maintained and safe.”
The Name a Plow program began in 2021, when Vermont schools named 163 of the state’s 250 full-sized plow trucks.
The new 2024 plow names will replace the old names for all schools that participated in the
past and again this year. Plow trucks that were named previously by schools that did not send a new name this year will keep their current names.
Here are some local participants and their plow names:
• Gertrude Chamberlin School, South Burlington, Slush Puppy
• Rick Marcotte Central School, South Burlington, Gerald
• Shelburne Nursery School, Coldy
• Vermont Commons School, Shelburne, Shell Shocked
For a complete list of plow names, go to vtrans.vermont.gov/ name-a-plow.
Lee Krohn of Charlotte was honored as Planner Emeritus by the New England Chapter of the American Planning Association at its annual conference last week in Stowe.
The chapter’s new Planner Emeritus award recognizes professional planners who have dedicated 30 or more years of service to the planning profession and to the communities, organizations and people they have served.
Krohn began his service as a volunteer member and then chair of the Putney Planning Commission in the 1980s. He then began a 25-year run as planning director in Manchester, where at various times he also served as zoning administrator, tree warden, service officer, interim town manager and as construction manager for the town’s roundabout and Main Street reconstruction project.
He was a successful grant writer for many different projects, not least of which was the award-winning “un-development” of a former auto dealership in the heart of the downtown into a town green.
Krohn then worked from 2013-2018 as a senior planner for the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, where he helped with many local and regional initiatives, including a focus on emergency management planning and response.
More recently, he served as Shelburne town manager from 2018-2023, a position that included personnel, budgets, equipment and infrastructure upgrades and replacements, and overseeing the construction of the new Pierson Library, all the while maintaining focus on long-range planning projects like the Irish Hill bike and pedestrian path and bridge. He also served on the Manchester Volunteer Fire Department and when he moved north joined the Shelburne Fire Department, where he has continued to serve since 2014. He lives in Charlotte with his wife, Carol Talley, MD.
He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.
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“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve these communities in so many ways. While many may aspire to higher calling in state or federal agencies, I have always found both the challenge and the magic is really at the local level, where one can have a truly tangible impact and help to leave this world a better place than we found it,” Krohn said.
Correction
The celebration of the new pedestrian bridge to connects Falls and Irish Hill roads is Saturday, Nov. 16. The day of the week was incorrect last week.
Lee Krohn
PHOTO BY LEE KROHN
Devoid of leaves, a tree in the Champlain Valley makes a bold statement of the season — stick.
Lions Club holds Thanksgiving food drive
The Champlain Valley Lions Club will host a Thanksgiving food drive on Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Shelburne Market in Shelburne Shopping Park from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Volunteers aim to collect more than 500 pounds of non-perishable food, household and personal care items, all of which will be donated to the Shelburne Food Shelf in time for Thanksgiving.
Cash donations will also be accepted. Because one in seven
Vermonters is living with food insecurity, donations are especially appreciated as we enter the colder months.
Donors are reminded that all food donations should be non-perishable and of high-nutrition value, but also needed are household cleaners and personal care items, including diapers and feminine products. Foodstuffs that go along with the Thanksgiving meal are especially appreciated: gravy, canned veggies,
canned squash and pumpkin pie fillings or pie crust mix.
See a full list of acceptable and unacceptable donations at shelburnefoodshelf.org, or just ask a Lion to hand you a list of needs at the market, where there will be hot drinks for donors.
The Champlain Valley Lions will also be accepting used eyeglasses in good condition, which will be refurbished and donated to people in need.
Aurora Chamber Singers offer choral concert
Aurora Chamber Singers will present its fall concert, “Wake Every Breath,” On Saturday, Nov. 16, at 7:30 p.m., the at the College Street Congregational Church, 265 College St., in Burlington. The program features sacred choral music by three 18th century composers — Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and William Billings — who all had quite different world views.
Bach was a devout Lutheran, guided in everything by his fervent belief in the glory of God. The program features one of his cantatas, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, with a setting by Lutheran hymnist Erdmann Neumeister.
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Mozart was Austrian, steeped in the traditions of Catholicism, and was commissioned to write music “à la mode” to glorify the reputation of his various sponsors. The chamber singers will perform one of his many settings of the liturgical Mass, the Missa Brevis in F, K 192.
sitions. His piece, Wake Ev’ry Breath, inspired the title of the program.
American composer Billings was born in the last years of Bach’s life and outlived Mozart. He is regarded as the first American composer. Born in Boston, his life there pulled him into the center of revolutionary thought. His music was sung by heart around campfires and at political meetings up to and during the Revolutionary War. The spirit and vocabulary of the Revolution and spirit of the Age of Enlightenment will be evident in the program’s presentation of three of his great compo-
Aurora Chamber Singers is a group of experienced choral artists, many of whom have sung together for many years in the Oriana Singers. Under that name, they enjoyed a prestigious 36-year place in the musical life of the region under the direction of founding director William Metcalfe.
The current group sings under the direction of music director David Neiweem and presents two concerts each year.
Neiweem is a veteran conductor, having led many professional, community and academic choirs during his 40-plus years of work. He is professor emeritus of music at the University of Vermont, where he taught until 2023.
Learn more at aurorachambersingers.org.
David Neiweem
COURTESY PHOTO
Champlain Valley Lions Club hosts a food drive Saturday in Shelburne.
CRIME & COURTS
Bicyclist killed by Shelburne police cruiser in South Burlington
MIKE DONOGHUE
CORRESPONDENT
A bicyclist was killed when struck by a Shelburne police cruiser on a rainy, wet Shelburne Road in South Burlington early Monday, officials said.
Shelburne Police Sgt. Kyle Kapitanski was southbound and headed back toward Shelburne when his cruiser struck a bicyclist towing a trailer at Fayette Drive about 2:45 a.m.
Vermont State Police eventually identified the dead man shortly after 4 p.m. Monday as Sean P. Hayes, 38, of Burlington. Hayes was dead at the scene.
Police did not say if the bicycle or trailer had any operating lights or reflectors, nor if the bicyclist wore any reflective gear.
Police did not say why Kapitanski was in South Burlington or whether he was responding back to Shelburne for an emergency call.
Shelburne town employees, including off-duty police learned about the crash through the media.
It was unclear if Kapitanski, a 22-year police veteran, includ-
ing two years in Shelburne, was put on administrative leave by the town.
Shelburne police chief Mike Thomas did not respond to multiple inquiries in recent days.
Shelburne town manager Matt Lawless said Shelburne police chief Mike Thomas was handling the issue and he would leave it up to the chief to issue a statement on Monday. As of Tuesday there had been no response from Thomas.
It was unknown if the selectboard had been briefed. Chairman Mike Ashooh did not respond to messages by phone and text.
South Burlington police started the investigation, but soon asked the state police, which has a special crash reconstruction team, for assistance. Two investigators were assigned to the case.
Two detectives from outside the area also were assigned to the death of Hayes.
According to state police, the road was wet and it was raining at the time of the fatal accident.
The cyclist was also headed southbound toward Shelburne. A partially enclosed bus stop got
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shattered during the accident.
The fully marked Shelburne Police cruiser, a 2021 Ford Explorer SUV, sustained front passenger side damage.
State police impounded the cruiser, and a full data download is expected to be undertaken, police said.
Kapitanski, 41, joined Shelburne police during the summer 2022, after previously serving as police chief in Richmond for one year.
Kapitanski began as a parttime deputy for the Rutland County Sheriff’s Department in January 2002. He moved to Hartford police in May 2005 and attended the Vermont Police Academy to become certified as a fulltime officer.
Richmond hired him as a patrol sergeant, second in command, in August 2019. He was later named interim police chief and received the permanent post in June 2021.
State police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has other information to call 802-878-7111. Anonymous tips also may be submitted online at vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.
Total reported incidents: 67
Traffic stops:22
Warnings:19
Tickets:4
Arrests:2
Medical emergencies: 24
Mental health incidents: 6
Suspicious incidents:7
Directed patrols: 43
Citizen assists: 5
Motor vehicle complaints: 1
Car crash: 3
Animal problem:1
Noise disturbance: 0
Unlawful Mischief: 0
Theft: 3
Harassment: 1
Vandalism: 1
Property damage: 0
Fraud: 1
Alarms:10
Pending investigations:4 911 Hang-up calls:1
Nov. 4 at 9:33 a.m., someone reported a stray dog running loose on Woodbine Road. The animal was reunited with its owner.
Nov. 4 at 10:16 a.m., a caller reported an unwanted guest at Harbor Place was refusing to leave the property. Police escorted them from the property.
Nov. 4 at 1:23 p.m., officers mediated a domestic dispute on Shelburne Road.
Nov. 4 at 8:07 p.m., a caller reported an unwanted guest was creating
See BLOTTER on page 9
Man fires shots during Williston Road robbery, according to police
South Burlington police are looking for man they say fired a gun during a robbery at Interstate Shell at 1055 Williston Road on Nov. 5 at 6:04 p.m.
The store clerk handed over some cash during the robbery, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Sgt. Dave
MacDonough at 802-846-4111 or email dmacdonough@southburlingtonpolice.org.
The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, and police from the University of Vermont, Burlington, Williston and Essex, along with Vermont State Police, assisted at the scene.
OPINION
A rock, contractor, town build a bridge
Guest Perspective
Mary and Michael Donnelly
This rock was one of the most appealing features of our new home on Mill River Lane in Shelburne. It was different shades of red, had a nice shape and provided a perfect location to plant some flowers. It was a metamorphic rock, beautiful in a different way from the granite rocks we loved on the coast of Maine. Each year we have planted flowers at its base, sometimes sunflowers and sometimes tulips.
Our home is one of three newly constructed duplex homes on a site bordering the LaPlatte River and connected to preserved land with miles of walking trails. The private Mill River Lane is also a pedestrian access to a trailhead, but unfortunately there is no public parking for hikers.
One morning in early June we found a large backhoe sitting behind our home next to our beautiful rock, and the flowers were destroyed and buried. Construction on a town project had started by J. Hutchins Inc., contractors from Richmond, which made them practically our neighbor. An awkward start for a project, but the contractor’s superintendent apologized and promised to restore what had been damaged.
Work started at our rock, which is in a special location. It designates an edge of an overflow area for the LaPlatte River where Shelburne wisely mandated there
be no disruption of natural growth to prevent erosion of the riverbank. The rock is also a property marker to define the boundary of our land and the town’s land. This rock’s importance is significant not only to us, but also to the town, the public and the contractor.
The construction work is also very special for it is the culmination of over a 10-year plan to provide a pedestrian bridge to connect people of Irish Hill Road to the greater Shelburne community. Many people of all ages pass by our house — hikers, dog walkers and folks with baby carriages and strollers. This is not surprising because there is a trailhead on our road and a day care center up the road.
Walking across the highway bridge has been dangerous and outright frightening, so the construction will bring a sense of relief for all, and we want the contractor to be able to get the job done quickly and safely. However, the construction has been a challenge because the work had to be done in a tight area near traffic and in and around utility poles, crisscrossing electric lines, telephone and cables. Making deep holes for two abutment foundations also required installing creative sheeting to hold back the earth and protect the work crew.
An exciting highlight of the construction was the arrival of a prefabricated bridge and its placement on the new concrete abutments. That day Irish hill
Road and part of Falls Road were shut down to traffic, a huge crane arrived and filled up the road. Neighbors sat on their lawns to watch.
There was a bit of tension: Would the bridge fit? And there were two older people sitting by themselves, next to our rock, close enough to watch very carefully. The bridge was set down and fit perfectly on the new abutments, and the two older people looked relieved and happy. They were the very proud parents of the contractor!
Our rock will have new flowers from the contractor in the spring, and the pedestrian bridge will be open soon to provide safe passage to all passing between Falls and Irish Hill roads. All around, a successful project thanks to the town of Shelburne and the contractor, J. Hutchins Inc.
Grime and punishment
In Musing
I have a strained relationship with vacuums. And it sucks. Even so, with every new one, I’m hopeful. Maybe this vac will glide easily from room to room without scuffing walls? Perhaps it’ll weigh less than a Prius? Perchance it won’t need incessant emptying nor require schmancy bags, filters and belts, oh my? I even dared to imagine it might clean well. A person can dream.
Buying a new vacuum is akin to getting a haircut. If you’re like
me, you have grandiose ideas of looking fabulous, but end up looking about the same, but with less hair. Ditto with vacuums, you purchase and use the highest-rated one and your floors look about the same, but sometimes with more hair. Not sure who said high expectations are merely the seeds of disappointment, but whoever it was surely had dirty carpet and a mullet.
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My eldest sister cleverly created a game to get us to do chores and vacuuming scored the most points, 50! I’d literally fight to drag that metal Electrolux around and faux vacuum. We never changed the bag, so it picked up
My unease with vacuums began in childhood when my dad carpeted the kitchen and the bathroom. An unsanitary nightmare that got worse. As a kid, I longed to interrogate the big guy, “Does the toilet itself need carpeting? And, while we’re at it, why do you have a rug on your head?” You know by the fact I’m alive, I held back. The word toupee never exited my mouth and for years our toilet was better dressed than I was. Warmer too.
Carole Vasta Folley
MARY AND MICHAEL DONNELLY
‘Lug nuts come off,’ the nightmare begins
Guest Perspective
Walt Amses
Tuesday, anticipating a long, drawn out vote tabulation that would last well beyond the deadline, I wrote, “The one thing of which I’m absolutely certain at this point is that as you read this commentary you will know far more than I do about a presidential election that long time CBS anchor Dan Rather might describe “as tight as the rusted lug nuts on a ’55 Ford.”
Well, it’s now 6 a.m. Wednesday, Donald Trump is the president elect by a shockingly wide margin, and I’m no longer certain about anything.
and in short order it became clear that the wheels would soon follow as state after state repudiated the perceived status quo, opting instead for the former president’s dark vision of a nation on the brink of collapse.
While Trump has made his intentions clear repeatedly, it remains astounding voters have chosen to simply ignore his myriad threats and disrespect for the rule of law and all the norms and traditions underpinning democracy.
For Kamala Harris and the Democratic party, the lug nuts came off easily as the polls closed
Trump will return to the presidency four years after refusing to admit defeat, instigating the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, while dishonestly maintaining that the election had been stolen.
The country’s democracy will be under enormous pressure from Trump, according to the New York Times, since he has little regard for the “checks and balances that have defined American government since the dawn of the republic.” As the strength Republicans demonstrated “all over the map and up and down
Letters to the Editor
Senate candidate offers thanks
To the Editor:
My thanks to the citizens of Chittenden County Southeast Senate District for allowing me to campaign to be your representative in the Vermont Senate. Thank you for your consideration and your votes.
I am disappointed by the outcome, but I truly appreciate all the interactions I’ve had with the good people of Chittenden County over the last months. I hope the successful candidates have listened to you as well and will join Gov. Phil Scott in bringing Vermont to a new and bright future.
My intent in running was to offer change and a new voice for Chittenden County residents. The
most respectful, honorable and powerful voice is your vote. The district has spoken, and I accept and respect the results.
Special thanks to all the town clerks, town clerk staffs, and the many election day volunteers who made voting an efficient and friendly operation.
I am proud of the campaign we ran, and I am so grateful for my many supporters and volunteers that gave of their precious time and financial support.
I had a truly terrific team, and I was humbled by all their efforts on my behalf.
My congratulations to all who gave their time and energy to run for office and best of luck in Montpelier to all who won.
Bruce Roy Williston
the ballot cut across political and cultural lines,” the Times cited “momentous changes” in the offing, particularly if the GOP takes control of both Houses of Congress, which they appear poised to do, giving the president elect nearly unchecked legislative power.
Admitting that I would be glad the vicious campaign was over several days ago, I wondered how we would be able to put aside our differences and diffuse the animosity, forgetting momentarily that the strident bigotry, misogyny, unbridled hate and general nastiness were the core of Trump’s messaging and now, after a decisive victory, will likely remain factors in his administration for the foreseeable future.
Given the tenor of his campaign rhetoric over the past month, I wasn’t convinced winning was something the former president cared deeply about, especially considering his natural inclination toward the
IN MUSING
continued from page 5
zilch. Exactly what my points were worth.
Rainbow vacs were the next big thing. At the time, a marvel of technology based on trapping dirt in water. It was given its colorful name with this catchphrase, “Now your home can be fresh as a rainbow.” Pretty sunny language for an appliance that was revolting to empty. What does one do with sludge stew?
Over the years, I’ve hefted all kinds of vacuums, from uprights to canisters, Hoovers to Eurekas. So, the day Jeff, a Kirby salesperson, showed up at my door, I was ripe for vacuum redemption. “The holy grail of vacuums? Why, yes sir, get in here!”
grift, which worked like a charm in 2020 even though he didn’t overturn the election results.
He never even tried. Swindling supporters out of an estimated $300 million via the “Save America” fundraising vehicle through which he was able to personally retain 75 percent of the take, spending exactly zero of it on saving anything but himself.
Faced with the consternation-provoking possibilities of which party could/would/might win and what direction the nation would be taking, my solace of choice (as usual) was going for a walk, which I did twice earlier this week with distinctly different revelations.
Monday was the kind of November afternoon I’ve come to enjoy: chilly and overcast with gray stratus clouds layered above the withering landscape. With the foliage gone, the hillsides deepen, taking on a more mysterious tone, reminding me that autumn’s exuberance is winding down,
making way for a more serious reckoning as winter beckons. Quite a harbinger in retrospect. Early afternoon on Election Day I’m not feeling as insulated from what’s going on as I thought I would be, unable to put aside a kind of creepy premonition of what will transpire later in the day. Although I’m not among three billion Facebook users — I also don’t do Snapchat, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) or any social media and refuse to watch TV commercials — I’m nonetheless starkly cognizant of the price we pay regarding our collective well-being as the battle for political supremacy, money and power rages around us almost constantly.
Again, I’m out the door and a mile down the road before realizing it’s a much warmer day, coming out of the lengthening shadows to a long, sunny stretch,
See AMSES on page 7
“Does he think I’m going to buy that?” Why, yes, I did. Twelve hundred smackers. Do not judge. I had to. Jeff scared the crap out of me by vacuuming my mattress and emptying the contents on a white piece of paper. People, this is why I drink.
In my defense, we had just moved into a house that seriously needed deep cleaning. Besides, our Kenmore vac was on sick leave. When Jeff displayed that die-cast aluminum 1950s-looking behemoth, believe me, I was skeptical.
Turns out that Kirby was amazing. For a while. Because no matter how great something sucks, if I’m habitually balancing a mammoth hunk of aluminum on my hip halfway up the stairs while its hose once again is stuck at the bottom, the bloom has fallen off the rose. And me off the stairs. I heard Kirby has an attachment that sharpens knives. Now, I’m afraid of it. Our next home had a central vac. Insert choir of angels here. All my vacuum woes were gone. Then, my husband excitedly showed me a Roomba. Thanks, Costco flyer. He was smitten. Clearly, we did not need a robotic vacuum. That is, until he added, “If
we get it, I’ll do all the vacuuming.” To which I yelled, “Get in the car! We’re going to Costco!” I was snookered. He’s not vacuuming, the Roomba is. Truth is, long ago I had the epiphany that if we want more men to vacuum, there needs to be a riding one. I know, ahead of my time and sexist. Anyway, the robot vac took care of that in my household.
Hubert Cecil Booth was the man who may have coined the term “vacuum cleaner.” Granted, it was a big improvement over his previous model, a horse-drawn vacuum affectionately called “Puffing Billy.” I don’t know what that guy was smoking.
Well, nature may abhor a vacuum, but not as much as me. Thank goodness my husband loves his Roomba. He just bought a second. This one empties itself, while the older one just sits there. Reminds me of myself. After all, nothing happens in a vacuum.
Carole Vasta Folley is an award-winning columnist and playwright. Visit carolevf.com.
Carole Vasta Folley
Police arrest man in South Burlington bank robbery
MIKE DONOGHUE
CORRESPONDENT
A career criminal was arrested for robbing KeyBank on Shelburne Road in South Burlington on Sept. 25, authorities said.
Adam Champagne, 42, admitted to investigators that he has committed at least four bank robberies in the Burlington area since the summer, Gregory Waples, an assistant U.S. attorney, said.
Champagne pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court last week for the KeyBank robbery charge and was held pending trial.
After Waples outlined the evidence in the case, Champagne’s attorney, Barclay Johnson, asked for 90 days to complete an investigation and consider
AMSES
continued from page 6
I begin sweating. Though I’m out here for a little calming solitude, I find none.
I notice I’m walking faster than normal with my feet hitting the ground so hard they hurt. My knees too are sending distress calls. With arms pumping and hiking poles striking the road surface with such force that I feel the pinging in my head, I see what’s happening and call a halt.
Slowing my pace, I breathe deliberately, finally understanding that I’m not as removed from the looming catastrophe as I might think — more like a squirrel anticipating an earthquake hours before it happens. The walk mostly does its job, my heart is no longer racing, and my gut has stopped fluttering, but I’m not quite calm and, as I will learn the morning after, probably won’t be for a while.
Rummaging through the debris there will be endless speculation of what Harris could have or should have done differently as Democrats face a political landscape that only days ago would have been incomprehensible. Recriminations will abound but this crushing defeat was less about Harris and more about the party rejecting what voters had been telling them for a year: Joe Biden needed to announce he would not seek a second term,
pre-trial motions.
Federal judge Kevin J. Doyle set the deadline for Feb. 6.
South Burlington police said a man walked into the branch bank at 960 Shelburne Road shortly after 4 p.m. on Sept. 25, said he had a bomb inside his bag and demanded cash.
The robber made off with about $3,000 and fled north on a dark-colored mountain bike, police said.
A federal indictment for the robbery was obtained on Oct. 24, but it was filed under seal until Champagne could be arrested, according to court records.
Champagne, who has had multiple addresses in the Chittenden County region over the years, was hard to find, officials said.
South Burlington police,
which he had pledged to do in December 2019.
Instead, they circled the wagons, orchestrating Biden’s disastrous debate performance and setting the stage for a truncated campaign by a hastily chosen candidate who deserved better.
While Trump has made his intentions clear repeatedly, it remains astounding voters have chosen to simply ignore his myriad threats and disrespect for the rule of law and all the norms and traditions underpinning democracy. He will continue to self-aggrandize in pursuit of money and power; he will remain free of accountability; and change the future of the world as he sees fit, installing toadies like Elon Musk or Robert Kennedy Jr. in vital positions, while abandoning allies and alienating friends.
Clearly, we have underestimated the societal tolerance for white nationalism; sexual abuse and utter disdain for women; xenophobia; threats of violence; political retribution; and a host of other, thoroughly despicable attributes and attitudes Trump brings to the table.
Quite possibly, America will become a country we no longer recognize.
Walt Amses writes from Vermont.
along with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, arrested him Thursday in Burlington. He is the second suspect arrested on a federal bank robbery charge in recent days after a string of holdups.
James E. Plunkett, 39, of Burlington has been charged with robbing the M&T Bank on Pine Street on Oct. 26. He stole $683, and also claimed he had a bomb in his fanny pack.
Colchester police officer Kyle Sturgis watched the robbery video and recognized Plunkett from an interaction on Oct. 22 that he captured on his body camera, officials said. Several other witnesses came forward in subsequent days with incriminating information.
It was unclear if the two men were connected to the series of robberies.
South Burlington is being assisted by the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Gun Violence Task
Force in Chittenden County.
Waples said Champagne’s criminal history spans 25 years and includes dozens of convictions, including escape and numerous violations of probation.
“He uses force, violence and intimidation to obtain money to buy drugs,” Waples wrote in a motion seeking Champagne’s detention pending trial.
Champagne also matches the description of a robber at the EastRise Credit Union on Shelburne Road in South Burlington, investigators said. The same threat of a bomb was used in that robbery, which was captured on video.
That robber entered the credit union, said he was armed with an incendiary device and demanded money. The suspect never brandished a weapon or device, police said.
During the KeyBank robbery down the road, the suspect was described as a white man with a crew cut and was dressed in a light gray sweatshirt and dark pants, police said. He wore black boots, had a black face mask and a baseball cap with “Brooklyn” written across the front.
COURTESY PHOTO
Adam Champagne
COMMUNITY
Shelburne fifth grader exhibits at Pierson
Shelburne Community School fifth grader Danielle Seligman’s art is being featured as an installation at the Pierson Library. This collection of work and artist statements were part of a Genius Hour project facilitated by her art teacher, Julia Costes. Seligman’s work will be on display in the children’s collection until the end of December. Her abstract artwork is a collection that explores many mediums and techniques and represents a range of emotions as a way of expressing the artist’s feelings. Proceeds from the sale of her work have already resulted in donations of $100 to One Tree Planted.
DIRECT CREMATION SERVICES
New pedestrian bridge celebrated on Saturday
Community Notes
Editor’s note: The event will be held Saturday, not Sunday, as previously reported.
The Shelburne Bicycle and Pedestrian Paths Committee is holding an event on Saturday, Nov. 16, 10-11:30 a.m. to celebrate the new pedestrian bridge that connects Falls and Irish Hill roads and sidewalk to Thompson Road.
Gather at the community garden parking area on LaPlatte Circle at 10 and walk or bike from there to the Falls Overlook. There will be music and activities starting at 10:30 a.m. Rain or shine
There is no parking available at the bridge so you will need to get to the Overlook on foot or by bicycle.
For information, reach out to Nicole Carpenter at carpentercoker@yahoo.com or 802-338-0626.
EEE holds talks on climate, colleges
Education and Enrichment of Everyone offers a talk on “Climate and Health 101: Understanding and Addressing the Human Health Impacts of Climate Change in Vermont” with Dr. David Grass, environmental health program manager at the Vermont Department of Health on Friday, Nov. 15.
On Friday, Nov. 22, Dr. Richard Plumb, president of St. Michael’s College, will give a talk on “Opportunities and Challenges of Small Liberal Arts Colleges.”
Both programs are at 2-3 p.m. at Faith United Methodist Church, 899 Dorset St., South Burlington. Learn more at eeevermont.org.
Shelburne holds blood drive on Nov. 19
St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Shelburne is hosting a Red Cross blood drive on Tuesday, Nov. 19, noon-5 p.m., 72
Church St.
To give, call 800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org and enter Shelburne to schedule an appointment. Appointments are strongly recommended as walk-ins cannot always be accommodated.
Questions? Contact Laureen Mathon at lmathon104@gmail.com.
Agency of Education holds listening tour
The Vermont Agency of Education is holding three additional sessions in Chittenden and Windham counties through its Listen and Learn Tour.
The tour offers an opportunity for the public to share its thoughts and help the agency craft a strategic plan that reflects the priorities and needs of Vermont communities.
Upcoming sessions include:
• Dec. 3: King Street Center, Burlington
• Dec. 4: Champlain Valley Union High School, Hinesburg
• Dec. 10: virtual meeting
All the meetings will take place from 6-8 p.m. Each will begin with an introduction, followed by breakout sessions on topics related to student achievement and support, career and college readiness, school budgets, among other priorities. Pre-registration is encouraged using the online registration form at bit. ly/3UEGQ51.
Episcopal church hosts holiday bazaar in Shelburne
Trinity Episcopal Church will open its doors for its annual holiday Christmas bazaar on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
The sale will feature all manner of gifts and will fill the rooms with original and handmade crafts, food, and ornaments. A
See COMMUNITY NOTES on page 10
COURTESY PHOTO
Oct. 26, 2024. Lynda will be best remembered for the love and support of her family and many friends. Her ability to talk and carry the conversation indefinitely was only matched by the size of her heart.
Lynda was born on Feb. 11, 1947, and grew up on Bostwick Farms, where she moved as a child from Monkton. Her parents, Harold Bown and Eleanor (Orvis), worked on the farm most of their lives. Lynda enjoyed the time spent at the farm with her siblings Eric, Susan, Audrey and Mark. Like her siblings, she could not have dreamed of a better place to grow up.
Lynda graduated from Champlain Valley Union High School
BLOTTER
continued from page 4
a disturbance at Harbor Place. Officers escorted him from the property.
Nov. 5 at 3:46 p.m., more unwanted guests were refusing to leave North Star Motel. An officer escorted him from the property.
Nov. 5 at 9:08 p.m. a caller reported that a man and woman were fighting outside at the T-Bird Motel. Officers determined they were just waiting for an Uber.
Nov. 6 at 12:14 p.m., a woman reported that her boyfriend never came home from work. Police issued a statewide alert, but it was later canceled after the man returned home.
Nov. 7 at 2:20 p.m., an unwanted guest at Harbor Place who refused to leave was escorted from the property.
Nov. 7 at 2:58 p.m., Brittan Higgins, 23, of Burlington, was arrest-
ed for aggravated stalking and violating conditions of release on Shelburne Road.
Nov. 7 at 5:21 p.m., Tractor Supply reported a retail theft. The matter is under investigation.
Nov. 7 at 6:26 p.m., Juan Sanchez, 50, of Shelburne, was arrested on an outstanding warrant at Harbor Place.
Nov. 9 at 8:49 a.m., someone on Shelburne Road reported the theft of items from their motor vehicle.
Nov. 9 at 7:36 p.m., a theft was reported at Kinney Drugs.
Nov. 10 at 6:57 p.m., a medical alarm activated on Winter Haven Road. The police and EMS determined that James Ryan, 81, of Shelburne, had died.
Nov. 10 at 10:24, officers helped mediate a dispute at the T-Bird Motel.
REPAIRS
Obituaries
in 1965 and went to work at Harbour Industries soon after. She retired in 2013 after 41 years, creating many lasting memories and friendships during those years.
In 1983, she married John Jeffrey of Shelburne. They loved their home and neighborhood and the friends they made there. They enjoyed gardening and were proud of their home. They looked forward to their trips to Ogunquit, Maine. They loved their cats, especially Buddy, and enjoyed feeding the squirrels on their deck using an old grill.
Lynda loved her family, never missing a birthday. Family gatherings were very special to her. She adored her niece, Ellen and nephews, Thomas, Will, Alex, Eric and Todd. Her grandnieces, Aubrey and Haddie and grandnephews, Sterling, Leo and Eddie kept her entertained. You could always count on Lynda for a visit filled with extended conversations, laughter and local history. Lynda was a fiercely independent lady.
Lynda was predeceased by her husband, John; parents, Harold and Eleanor; and siblings, Eric and Audrey.
Calling hours will be Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at Corbin and Palmer Shelburne Chapel, Falls Road, Shelburne, from 4-6 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to McClure
Miller Respite House, 3113 Roosevelt Highway, Colchester VT 05446 or Humane Society of Chittenden County, 142 Kindness Court, South Burlington VT 05403.
Barbara A. Vigsnes
Barbara Andrews Vigsnes, 88, of Shelburne, died on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, with her husband of 67 years by her side.
Born to Grace LaMar and Charles Andrews on June 12, 1936, she grew up with her two younger sisters and best friends in Ballston Spa, N.Y. Barbara attended St. Lawrence University, majoring in psychology, and meeting her future husband, Birger. She was a Kappa. He was a Beta. They raised three children and lived in Bennington for 45 years.
Barbara was an elementary school teacher and involved in the community. She was proud of her time as a member of the Bennington Reparatory Board and had also been a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Barbara was honest, funny, thoughtful, curious, creative and always led with her heart. For the past 10 years, she and Birger have lived in Shelburne to be closer to their family.
Remembering Barbara are her husband, children and grandchildren: Susan (Briar Alpert) and
children, Sage and Carly, Elizabeth (Alan Bates, deceased) and children, Natalie (Drew Hayes), Lydia (Jonathan) and Audrey (Evan), and Erik (Kristen) and son. Ryder. Barbara was happy to have met her great-grandson, Ryder Hayes. She is also survived by her sister, Carrie Harlan and family; as well as nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. She was predeceased by her sister, Mary Jane Andrews. The family will gather later. We would like to acknowledge the tender care provided by The Arbors during the last few months of Barbara’s life.
In memory and honor of Barbara, consider a gift to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz. org. To send online condolences, visit maharandsonfuneralhome. net
Lynda Jeffery
Lynda Bown Jeffrey, 77, died after a short illness on Saturday,
Lynda Jeffery
Barbara A. Vigsnes
continued from page 8
special traditional item will be the pinecone wreaths fashioned by hand. They require no adjustment; just hang them on the door. Other holiday gifts will include knitted and crocheted items and wooden and glass tableware. There will be children’s activities, raffles and take-home baskets
Children’s author
Christian Pulcini
Celebrate the release of “The Family Squeeze” with local author Christian Pulcini.
Tuning into the season’s themes of thankfulness and family, Pulcini’s new picture book celebrates togetherness and support for all life’s ups and downs.
Hear this cozy page-turner read aloud by the author on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 11 a.m.
Sign up for tech help
Have a tech problem you just can’t figure out? Have an app that’s giving you trouble? Does your smartphone leave you flummoxed?
The Pierson Library can help. Make an appointment for a 30-minute session with one of
and holiday food set-ups. The church is on Shelburne Road in Shelburne.
Shelburne church, Age well host July luncheon
St. Catherine of Siena and Age Well are teaming up to offer
News from Pierson Library
the library’s tech-savvy librarians who can help you tame that tech problem. To register, call the library at 802-985-5124. This is a monthly program. Sign up now Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2 - 4 p.m.
Watch a new Pixar blockbuster
Also on Nov. 19, the library is screening a sequel to a Pixar animated favorite. Check in with Riley as she adapts to her teenage years with a whole new range of emotions. This 2024 hit is sure to be a pleaser for all ages. The program starts at 3:30pm.
Funding college
Have a college-bound teen, or saving for your child’s
a Thanksgiving meal on Wednesday, Nov. 20, for anyone 60 or older in the St Catherine of Siena Parish Hall, 72 Church St. in Shelburne.
Check-in time is 11:30 and the meal will be served at noon. There is a $5 suggested donation.
Entertainment will be provid-
education? Join the library for a free introduction to financial planning and aid presented by Lissarrague College Guidance, Client Vitals and Quantum Leap Capital Funding College.
November poetry salon
Local poets and scribes looking to share work and find inspiration will delight in this month’s poetry salon and open mic.
This month the library is featuring Burlington poet and fabulist Glenn Etter and award-winning Master of Fine
ed by Gerry Ortego on guitar.
The menu is roast turkey and gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, sliced carrots, wheat roll, pumpkin pie with cream and milk.
You must register by Wednesday, Nov. 13, 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.
Honor your pet at remembrance day
Join A.W. Rich Funeral Home for its annual holiday pet remembrance service on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 4 p.m., at the Elley-Long Music Center at Saint Michael’s College, 223 Ethan Allen Ave., in Colchester.
Honor your cherished pet that has crossed the rainbow bridge. FREE registration includes a personalized memorial ornament with your pet’s picture.
SCHIP raises funds by selling locally donated gently used clothing, household items, jewelry, and art. The funds raised are distributed in the form of grants twice a year to eligible organizations primarily serving the communities of Hinesburg, Shelburne and Charlotte, and has distributed over $950,000 in grants. For more information, go to theschip.org or email grants@theschip.org.
November programs at the Charlotte Senior Center
For more information about any of the programming, go to charlotteseniorcentervt.org. Register at 802-425-6345.
• November art exhibit, “The Power & Poetry of Water.” Fineart framed photographs of water and the results of water in natural settings by Jonathan Hart. There will be an artist reception on Saturday, Nov. 2, 3-4:15 p.m.
A reception will follow. Donations accepted to benefit Lucy’s House, a local nonprofit dedicated to the prevention of homeless pets, which provides pet food and medical assistance to keep pets in their homes.
To register, scan a picture of your pet with their first and last name and email to diana@awrfh. com
Registration ends Monday, Dec. 2.
SCHIP awards grants totaling $44,000
The Shelburne, Charlotte, Hinesburg Interfaith Project (SCHIP), the nonprofit resale store in Shelburne, has announced its fall 2024 grants totaling $44,000 to 15 local groups that met the grant eligibility criteria.
These nonprofits include Age Well, Burlington Dismas House, Camp Knock Knock, Champlain Housing Trust, Charlotte Congregational Church, Champlain Valley School District Community Skills, Farm Stand Together, Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity, Hinesburg Community Resource Center, Joint Urban Ministry Project, Merrymac Farm Sanctuary, ReSource’s Essential Goods Program, Shelburne Food Shelf, Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports and Vermont Catholic Charities.
• AARP Smart Driver course, Saturday, Nov. 16, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Designed especially for older drivers, this course will help you refresh your driving skills and may even help save on car insurance. AARP members get a discounted rate. Bring lunch. Registration required.
• Charlotte death café, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 4-5 p.m. Free. Registration required. Held monthly.
Celebrate life by voicing concerns, share questions, ideas and stories around death and dying.
• Walking and gentle hiking group, Thursday, Nov. 21. Free. Registration appreciated. Walk at a gentle pace with other seniors. Meet at 9 a.m. in the foyer at the senior center. To register, contact Penny Burman at 916-753-7279.
• Boxwood tabletop tree workshop, Thursday, Nov. 21, 1-3 p.m. Cost: $40. Registration required. Designer Diane Boucher lead a class in making traditional tabletop boxwood trees to enjoy or give as a festive gift for the holidays. Class size limited.
• Shape-note singing, Sunday, Nov. 24, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Free. Traditional a capella, four-part harmony sung for the joy of singing not as a practice for performance. The first hour will be sacred harp singing and the second from an alternate shape notebook. Books provided. For questions or to schedule your introduction to shape notes and scales, contact Kerry Cullinan at kclynxvt@gmail.com.
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from page 1
Bareham noted that like many other communities in the state, Charlotte is not getting as much traffic coming in and out of the planning and zoning office recently. While there is always the option to hire an outside consultant, they can often cost significantly more. Since the towns are close in proximity, there is room for shared problem solving, especially as planning issues may cross town boundaries.
“There’s also a benefit in the fact that we’re neighboring towns, and so we share a lot of the same interests and have a lot of the same concerns,” Bareham said. “The idea that we could have somebody come in who’s already relatively familiar with the area, knows a lot of the key players, that’s all of great benefit to us.”
He also noted that the shared service agreement would limit other time-consuming processes like training and bringing on a new staffer.
Matt Wormser, vice-chair of the Shelburne Selectboard, has long been a proponent of regionalizing services on the municipal level.
Over the last few monhts, he’s been meeting with neighboring towns to discuss possible relationships.
He noted last week that the same service gaps that drove the passage of Act 46 — the 2015 law that led to the consolidation of 206 school districts to the 50 seen today — exist on the municipal level.
Meanwhile, the cost of municipal services is rising due to increased health care costs and other factors. That expense is passed on to taxpayers through increased property tax rates, which outpace inflation yearly in some Vermont towns like Shelburne.
Wormser believes that regionalizing some services would fill those gaps, creating more efficient and reliable departments, while also bringing down costs and, therefore, property taxes.
“We bleed like stuck pigs in Vermont for local control,” said Wormser, “but I don’t think people actually care about local control for two-thirds of the services we provide. They might want to see ‘Shelburne’ on the side of a police car, and I get that, but there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes.”
Administration is one example of a behind-the-scenes service that could be made more efficient through regionalization.
Wormser said department heads are frequently bogged down
by administrative work, such as hiring or training. This is especially prevalent with law enforcement and fire and rescue services.
Regionalization, Wormser said, would create a bigger organization with more revenue, opening the opportunity to hire a dedicated administrative person who could support department heads.
He said it would be more cost-effective, for example, to train 20 firefighters for a region, rather than three or four for each town.
Wormser is also taking a close look at Shelburne’s dispatch service, and during a selectboard meeting last month, he asked his fellow board members to help create a more cost-effective department.
Shelburne already manages a regional dispatch service for 32 towns in northwest Vermont, which brings in substantial revenue for the town, but there are still inefficiencies to overcome with the model.
As it currently stands, Shelburne fronts most of the dispatch cost while only accounting for about 20 percent of dispatch calls. A major goal for Wormser is leveling the cost structure, an important factor to keep in mind as the discussion of regionalization continues.
“If we’re going to provide services for another community, then compensation needs to be proportionate to the service we’re providing,” Wormser said.
Wormser has also touted the need for better municipal technology for IT and finance departments since joining the selectboard. He said that Shelburne is exploring upgrades, but he’s regularly petitioned the state to lead that charge.
“We’re hamstrung in small communities to find better tech that can drive efficiency, but given the size of our state, there are some things that would just make more sense for the state to run,” Wormser said. “This stuff is expensive and there’s no real value in local control over a web server.”
While nothing is set in stone — Wormser is merely trying to “play ball with communities who want to play ball” — there are two models for regionalization, according to the selectboard member.
The quickest model involves a contract between municipalities for a specific service.
An example is the contract between Hinesburg and Richmond for Hinesburg to provide police services for its neighbor.
That contract is about two
years old and stems from a rocky period for Richmond when the town struggled to keep its police department fully staffed.
Another model would create a separate regional entity that oversees a service for multiple towns. Although this is like the model the state is exploring through S.159, Wormser said it’s an arduous path. He complemented S.159 but would prefer town-to-town relationships.
“I don’t think there’s a prescriptive solution to this and I don’t think we need to study it anymore,” said Wormser. “Throw some grant money out there and let the towns figure it out.”
Of the towns he’s approached about regionalization, Wormser said most have been receptive to the idea, with a few apprehensive about giving up local control.
However, the services that people care most about local control over are often the most expensive, like police and fire and rescue.
“People fall in love with our little ant hills,” said Wormser, “but everyone is struggling to pay the bills, so the receptivity is higher than it once was.
PHOTO BY LEE KROHN
Photo bomb
CVU football takes undefeated season into title game win
LAUREN READ
CORRESPONDENT
The mantra that the Champlain Valley football team has been repeating all season — Play 11 and win the last one — had the team focused on Saturday’s Division I state championship game.
In a season that saw the Redhawks steamroll over most of the competition, they still had one more game to win if they wanted to accomplish that ultimate goal — becoming the D-I state champs.
“This group of players and coaches has been together for the last two, three, four years,” CVU coach Rahn Fleming said.
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“We’ve been investing in ourselves as individuals and one another as a team over all that time.”
That investment paid off as Champlain Valley capped off an undefeated 11-0 season with a 41-14 win over Rutland on Saturday in St. Johnsbury to capture the program’s second title in three years.
“In that moment as the clock settled into zeroes, I felt pure and unmitigated joy for our squad,” Fleming said. “They earned that moment. They owned that moment.”
The game started off closer than most for the Redhawks, ahead just 14-7 in the first quarter. As it has done most of the season, CVU began to assert itself in the second half with the offense finding a rhythm.
that our success has been a balanced experience. Our offense has been determined and productive, our defense has been relentless and stubborn, and our special teams has taken winning every play very personally.”
Senior Chase Leonard forced a fumble and snagged an interception to pace the Redhawks’ defense.
With the defense shutting down Rutland in the second half — the Raiders scored just once more in the fourth quarter — CVU was able to cruise to the win and complete its undefeated season.
“In that moment as the clock settled at zeroes, I felt pure and unmitigated joy for our squad.”
— Coach Rahn Fleming
Running back Nolan Walpole finished with 141 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries to power the team, while quarterback Orion Yates passed for 172 yards and connected with Walpole, Jacob Armstrong and Dylan Frere.
“I breathed easier after the ‘bubble’ to Nolan Walpole. I definitely relaxed when Alex Jovell kicked his first field goal of the night — 24-7 is a decent cushion,” Fleming said.
With the lead set, the Redhawks’ defense took over. CVU did not give up more than 13 points in a game during the regular season and outscored opponents 462-62 this year.
“Our defense has been stubborn and stingy about giving up points this year,” Fleming said. “All season long, I’ve said
“This is a very special team. A very special bunch of guys,” Fleming said. “For the 2024 Redhawk football team, the whole was very definitely greater than the sum of its parts.”
The win also caps off the careers of 18 CVU seniors, who set the tone for their squad after a postseason loss last year and led the way in a dominant year.
“This is a very, very special bunch of young men. Not just as athletes — they are phenomenal — but as human beings,” Fleming said of his seniors. “They’ve brought a culture of both pursuit of excellence and of caring for one-another. They’ve expressed that culture by showing up in every way we’ve asked of them. They’ve given themselves to building a championship experience.”
It is the second D-I title for the CVU program and fourth championship game appearance.
PHOTO BY HILLARY BOARDMAN
The Champlain Valley Union High School Redhawks football team won the Division I championship Saturday.
Girls race to second straight NE title
LAUREN READ
CORRESPONDENT
Fresh off a three-peat at the Division I state championship last week, the girls on the Champlain Valley cross-country team had their hearts set on following it up with a two-peat.
Follow it up they did, racing to a second straight New England title on Saturday at Wickham Park in Manchester, Conn.
The Redhawks saw Lydia Donahue finish in 15th place, Audrey Neilson come in 25th, Charlotte Crum follow in 30th, Alice Kredell was 39th and Annalise Wood rounded out the top five finishers in 79th.
CVU finished with a score of 100, just ahead of runner-up Cumberland of Rhode Island (124). It is the eighth England win in the New England championships for CVU and fifth since 2016.
“We definitely had a rocky start to the year, but I think with some illnesses and just getting back on our feet after the summer,” Crum said of the team’s accomplishment. “We brought it together and really worked hard to get to where we are, and I think it was nice to see all our hard work pan out.”
pressure,” Donahue said. “I feel like it was a confidence booster from the sense that we were like, ‘let’s see what we can do when we really give it our all today’ and then we can try to carry that forward into the bigger races.”
“We brought it together and really worked hard to get where we are.”
— Charlotte Crum
The team will now move onto the Nike Cross Regionals on Saturday, Nov. 23, in Wappingers Fall, N.Y., where they will race for a spot in the national competition.
The top two teams at the regional competition advance to nationals. Last year, the Redhawks came in third place.
After an injury knocked Kredell out of the state meet, the Redhawks gained confidence from winning the D-I title despite the adversity and carried that into their quest for a repeat New England crown.
“It was just good practice competing under a little bit more
“I think one of the biggest things we got out of NXR last year is how much it hurts to get third and miss that by so close,” Neilson said of the team’s mindset going into regionals. “That gives us a lot of motivation. We really want to go this year, and I think a lot of that comes from knowing what it feels like not to be able to.”
With that motivation in mind and success in the team’s regular season races at places like Manchester, N.H., Queensbury, N.Y., and the Manhattan Invitational, the Redhawks are hoping for a different result this year.
“Our goals originally were New Englands, and NXR and going to nationals,” Neilson said. “I think every race that we were doing, especially the bigger ones like Manchester, Queensbury and Manhattan where we were racing against teams that we knew we’d be racing later in the season, those were the ones we really focused on and trained specifically for.”
Now, CVU will look to take all the preparation into one more race to extend its season just a little bit more.
“Our team has a really special bond, and I think we’ve gotten really close over the past couple of years and it’s a really special group of people,” Neilson said. “I think
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PHOTO BY DAVID BAIRD
The Champlain Valley girls’ cross-country team after winning its second straight title at the New England Cross Country Championship Nov. 9.
In Shelburne
LaPlatte River Nature Park workshop
In September, about 15 residents and town staff joined Lewis Creek Association for a part-day workshop in the Marsett Road neighborhood and the LaPlatte River Nature Park in Shelburne with herpetologist Jim Andrews and program manager Kate Kelly. Attendees were interested in learning more about the amphibians, reptiles and other animals that depend on clean water in the LaPlatte River Nature Park and how their actions at home can help reduce flood-
ing and impact water quality in the river and downstream Lake Champlain.
The rain held off just long enough for a walk through the neighborhood to discuss water quality and to follow stormwater runoff along roads, pipes and across lawns, and to find six species of amphibians (and other animals) in the LaPlatte River Nature Park that use this unique habitat.
Shelburne Parks & Rec News
Bolton Valley ski and ride program
Registration for seventh and eighth graders is open now. Registration for fifth and sixth graders will open on Nov. 20 for any remaining spots.
Space on the bus is limited. Chaperones are needed to run this program so consider volunteering if you sign up your child.
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.
Complete details and pricing can be found at shelburnevt.org/183/youth-programs.
Toddler open gym
Play and connect with others. No pre-registration necessary, just sign in at the door. A parent or caregiver must always be present.
Scooters, bikes and ride-on toys are not
permitted. There will be balls, hoops and tumbling mats. Wear indoor shoes or socks inside the gym. No food is allowed. In case of inclement weather, call 802-985-9551 to check for cancellations.
The free open gym for toddlers and preschoolers. Sessions are Sundays, Nov. 24 and Dec. 15, 9:30-11 a.m. More dates are scheduled for 2025 so check our website for more details.
The volunteer coordinator is Aisha Mueller, and the program is held at Shelburne town gym.
Tree lighting
Shelburne’s annual holiday tree lighting is Friday, Dec. 6
There will be caroling, tree lighting, refreshments, crafts, model train display, SD Ireland’s lighted cement mixer, Northern Bronze Handbells and a visit with Santa.
Miss the workshop? Watch it online at bit.ly/water-quality-amphibians.
Volunteers plant along Lewis Creek
Approximately 175 stems, a mixture of native trees and shrubs, were planted alongside association staff and from Verterra Tree & Shrub Nursery. This riparian buffer planting will help improve
water quality and provide wildlife habitat along Lewis Creek. Additional trees and shrubs will be planted later in November to complete the project, so stay tuned for another opportunity to help. If you have any questions or are interested in volunteering for tree planting, reach out to Kate Kelly at kate@lewiscreek.org or Sara Lovitz at sara@lewiscreek.org.
PHOTO BY KATE KELLY
Lewis Creek Association board president Andrea Morgante and David Berg of Verterra Nursery demonstrate the best method for planting a tree along Lewis Creek in Hinesburg.
COURTESY PHOTO
Workshop attendees walk down the LaPlatte River Nature Park trail to the LaPlatte River and nearby vernal pool.