Encore
Good sports
Outdoor concerts of summer wind down at the Shelburne Museum
Redhawk have neighboring teams seeing red this week
Page 10
Page 12
Volume 55 Number 41
Town moves to pave part of Bay Road path
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MARI HUGLIN STAFF WRITER
Part of a Bay Road shared-use path is moving forward after the Shelburne Selectboard agreed paving is the most efficient and cost-effective option. At a Sept. 22 meeting, board member Chunka Mui presented results of a public survey scoping study for a proposed pedestrian and bike path. He recommended the board move forward with making a temporary paved path between the pump station and Crown Road while construction continues on a water main. The majority of Shelburne residents want a path, according to the survey put out by the selectboard and Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, but many residents who live on the road are opposed to it. Around 440 people responded to the survey, and 415 of those who responded live in Shelburne, with 94 living within a quarter mile of the road. Around 30 of that latter group live on Bay Road. According to the survey, Bay Road residents preferred that the trench created by the See BAY ROAD on page 15
PHOTO BY SOPHIA BALUNEK
Shelburne Orchards was packed on Saturday as sunny skies and mild temperatures drew in droves of leaf peepers and apple pickers.
Revolutionary War vets receive a virtual cemetery MARI HUGLIN STAFF WRITER
Shelburne is home to the graves of 32 Revolutionary War veterans with locations, biographies and ancestry made accessible online by two Shelburne residents. Deborah Belcher has spent the past 10 years gathering information on Revolution-
ary War veterans and creating an online graveyard on the Find a Grave website. She has worked alongside David Boucher of the Shelburne Historical Society who researches ancestry and continues to write biographies for each of the veterans. On Saturday, Oct. 3, Belcher and Boucher hosted tours of the West Cemetery located on Shelburne Farms, which has 17 of the
32 Revolutionary War veterans’ graves. Shelburne was chartered in 1763, but these veterans and other people fully settled in town around 1790 after moving between Shelburne and their home states during the war. During this time, there was a populaSee CEMETERY on page 16
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Page 2 • October 8, 2026 • Shelburne News
Senate candidates tackle issues during town hall talk BRIANA BRADY STAFF WRITER
As Vermont’s mail-in ballots hit kitchen tables around the state, voters are already weighing who they want to support in this year’s general election. After a heated Democratic primary, the general
Chittenden Southeast Senate race — which accounts for three seats in the state’s smaller legislative body — has a full slate of candidates. Familiar Republican candidate Bruce Roy of Williston and newcomers Javen Sears of South Burlington and Rohan St. Marthe
of Jericho, are running against Democratic incumbents Virginia “Ginny” Lyons, of Williston, Thomas Chittenden, of South Burlington, and Kesha Ram Hinsdale, of Shelburne. On Oct.1 three of those candidates — Chittenden, Lyons and Roy — gathered in Williston’s
Leaf reaper?
PHOTO BY SOPHIA BALUNEK
Halloween decor is already emerging on the yards and porches of Shelburne homes.
town hall to discuss with voters how they think the Legislature could address some of the state’s greatest challenges. Ram Hinsdale, Sears and St. Marthe were not present.
Education Fresh off another year of education reform, how the state may continue to rework the education system remains hotly debated. Education-related expenses make up the bulk of local property taxes and the Legislature recently reallocated $100 million from the state’s general fund to the education fund to buy down the tax rate. In 2025, the Legislature voted to implement a foundation formula, which, while still in development, will give the state the power to set a base per-pupil spending amount. Supporters say this will allow the state to better control education spending, bringing down costs. All three candidates at Thursday’s forum supported the move. The current system sets a state-wide education tax rate based on individual budgets set by school districts. “What is happening is higher spending districts are spreading their decisions at the local level
across the entire grand list of the state, and that creates a bit of a tragedy of the commons, where everybody wants to spend more so they’re not spending less than the average,” Chittenden said, adding that the state’s excess spending rules have helped curb this effect. Roy said his vision for the foundation formula would remove homestead property taxes from the state education fund — which is also funded through a mix of consumer taxes, including sales — and reallocate homestead taxes to education at the local level. It is unclear how that configuration might abide by the 1997 Equal Education Opportunity Act, also known at Act 60. Lyons reminded voters of the health care reform bill she championed through the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, which aimed to bring down education costs by targeting the cost of health care premiums for teachers and school staff. “We would have lowered premiums by between $40 and $60 million, and that would See FORUM on page 15
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continuity for readers, advertisers, employees and vendors. William (Bill) Stille, a news industry veteran who served in key roles at publications including The Detroit News, The Columbus Dispatch and The Buffalo News, steps into the role of publisher and will lead the VTCNG team through the transition and transformation.
“We believe in the strong potential of these community publications and the talented team behind them,” Stille said. “This acquisition will strengthen local journalism in Northern Vermont and preserve the integral role these vital civic assets play in connecting and strengthening the communities they serve.” — Staff report
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The Vermont Community Newspaper Group has officially transitioned to nonprofit ownership following its acquisition Monday by the National Trust for Local News. The National Trust, a nonprofit media company that acquires, stabilizes and revitalizes local news organizations across the country, purchased the five weekly publications under the VTCNG banner, as well as the biannual Stowe Guide & Magazine. Facing increased financial stress on their business, former VTCNG majority owner Bob Miller and minority owners Judy Kearns and Duke Biddle wanted to ensure the newspapers could continue operations well into the future and identified the National Trust as the preferred nonprofit owner. The acquisition marks the Trust’s expansion into its fourth state. The company owns and operates more than 50 news organizations in Maine, Georgia and Colorado. The nonprofit designation will open new revenue opportunities for the local newspapers, which will benefit from investment by the National Trust in news operations, audience growth and community engagement. The Stowe-based publications will maintain local editorial leadership, providing
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Page 4 • October 8, 2026 • Shelburne News
CRIME & COURTS Shelburne Police Blotter: Sept. 20-Oct. 3
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Total reported incidents: 159 Arrests/citations: 2 Traffic stops: 29 Traffic tickets: 19 Warnings: 13 Medical emergency: 57 Alarm: 19 Suspicious activity: 14 Citizen dispute: 6 Animal noise: 3 Motor vehicle complaint: 6 Fire alarm: 4 Mutual aid: 3 Elevator emergency: 1 Traffic hazard: 1 Animal problem: 2 Intoxicated person: 1 Brush/grass fire: 2 Medical alarm: 1 Carbon monoxide alarm: 1 Noise disturbance: 1 Property damage, non-vandalism: 2 Welfare check: 1 Burglary: 1 Crash: 3 Abuse prevention order service: 1 Motorist assist: 1 Special overtime: 1 Service call – public assist: 1
Background investigation: 3 Odor investigation: 4 Agency assistance: 1 Simple assault: 1 Vehicle fire: 1 Noise disturbance: 1 Theft: 1 Traffic hazard: 1 Fire hazard: 1 Death investigation: 1 Fraud: 1 Welfare check: 1 Motorist assist: 1 Domestic dispute: 2 911 Hang up calls: 6 Untimely deaths: Oct. 2 at 8:27 p.m., Mercedes Himes, 30, of Burlington, died at Harbor Place. Selected incidents: Sept. 21 at 11:06 a.m., people were fighting at the T-Bird Motel on Shelburne Road, but officers could not locate anyone involved. Sept. 22 at 4:20 p.m., someone was taken to the hospital after a dispute between residents at Lakeview House caused minor injury.
Shelburne News Serving the community of Shelburne A publication of Vermont Community Newspaper Group LLC shelburnenews.com Advertising Wendy Ewing wendy@shelburnenews.com (802) 238-4980 Advertising Director Judy Kearns judy@otherpapersbvt.com (802) 734-2928 Editor Tommy Gardner tommy@stowereporter.com (802) 253-2101 x25
General Manager Katerina Werth katerina@stowereporter.com Billing inquiries Leslie Lafountain leslie@stowereporter.com (802) 253-2101 Advertising submission deadline: Friday at 5 p.m. advertising@shelburnenews.com classifieds@shelburnenews.com
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Production/Design Stephanie Manning stephanie@shelburnenews.com Kristen Braley kristen@stowereporter.com
Contact: PO Box 489 Stowe, VT 05672 (802) 253-2101
The Shelburne News is published weekly and mailed free to residents and businesses in Shelburne and rack distributed at select high traffic locations. The Vermont Community Newspaper Group LLC assumes no responsibility for typographical errors in advertisements and reserves the right to refuse advertising and editorial copy.
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Sept. 23 at 5:54 a.m., someone was transported to the hospital after a one-car crash with injuries on Shelburne Road. Sept. 23 at 2:45 p.m., a caller reported items stolen from a storage unit on Northside Drive. Sept. 25 at 10:40 p.m., a caller reported someone banging on her windows on Shelburne Road. An officer checked the area but could not locate anyone. Sept. 26 at 12:35 a.m., a caller reported hearing screaming near the Shelburne Bay Access, and officers checked the area but could not find anyone. Sept. 26 at 11:50 a.m., the fire department located and extinguished an unattended, smoldering campfire at Shelburne Bay Park. Sept. 26 at 7:03 p.m., a vehicle was stuck in Splash Car Wash on Shelburne Road with an apparently intoxicated driver behind the wheel. Police cited the driver for driving under the influence. Sept. 27 at 6:38 p.m., a caller reported being assaulted by another guest at a Shelburne Road motel. Sept. 28 at 7:32 a.m., police took a suspicious person at the train station into custody on an in-state warrant and transported him to court. Sept. 28 at 11:10 a.m., a caller reported an attempted theft of items from their vehicle at a Shelburne Road motel. Sept. 28 at 2:51 p.m., an unattended fire at the train station was extinguished by Shelburne Fire, Rescue and Police. Sept. 30 at 9:33 a.m., a caller reported an animal bite near Falls Road and LaPlatte Circle. The animal control officer was notified. Sept. 30 at 3:47 p.m., a caller reported a terminated employee returned to Bluelinx located at Pine Haven Shores Road. The man had left by the time an officer arrived, who instructed the business on how to pursue a trespass notice. Oct. 2 at 4:15 p.m., a caller reported a two-car crash with injuries at Barstow Road and Dorset Street, and all patients refused transport to the hospital. Note: Charges filed by police are subject to review by the Chittenden County State’s Attorney office and can be amended or dropped.
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More Vermonters are struggling to afford healthcare costs. Talking with your doctor can help you save. You trust your doctor to give you the best advice for important health care decisions. But as healthcare costs keep rising, how can you access quality care within your budget? Many people don’t know how to discuss the cost of their care and that can be an expensive, missed opportunity. Costs for the same test or procedure often vary dramatically. For example, a hip replacement costs $51,432 at one Vermont hospital but just $23,558 at another hospital. An MRI of the spine at one facility is $4,438 but only $1,410 at another nearby. Making more informed choices can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. By sparking more conversations across Vermont about health care affordability and price transparency, our organizations continue working together to help address this issue. We invite you to join us, speak up, and be your best advocate.
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Page 6 • October 8, 2026 • Shelburne News
OPINION Can Vermont afford to pass Proposal 3? Guest Perspective Elizabeth Brown Vermont workers already have the right to bargain. Prop 3 would lock in a system that costs us jobs, investment and taxes. Last year, Vermont’s population fell by a larger share than any other states. From 2015 to 2025, private-sector jobs grew 12.6% nationally. In Vermont, they fell 0.6%. Our cost of living runs 13.5% above average and after adjusting for it we rank 42nd in disposable income per person. What does that have to do with Proposal 3? A lot. Unions fight for better benefits and higher wages, but a bigger paycheck only helps if it goes further. In states without Right to Work laws, living costs run 16.6% above the national average. In Right to Work states, they run 4.3% below. Once you account for what things cost, people in Right to Work states take home about $3,500 more per person. Prop 3 is being sold as a way to protect workers right to bargain collectively. That right is already protected by state law. Prop 3 does not create collective bargaining. It moves our labor laws out of the Legislature’s hands and into the Constitution. But it goes beyond that. First, it bars any law that stops unions and employers from making union membership a condition of employment. That takes away employee choice and permanently rules out a Right to Work law. The Vermont AFL-CIO says as
much in its own testimony. Second, it sets a new test for every labor law on the books. No law may “interfere with, negate, or diminish” the right to bargain. Even Illinois, the only state to pass a similar amendment, let lawmakers make reasonable exemptions. Vermont’s version does not. That puts existing laws in question, including limits on public-employee strikes and could leave judges, rather than the people we elect, to decide which survive. Supporters say permanence is the point. That is a fair argument. But no one in Montpelier is threatening collective bargaining. What permanence really protects is one side of a policy debate. Labor law is not the only thing shaping our economy. Housing, taxes and an aging population all play a part. But it is one tool a state can use to compete, and Prop 3 takes it off the table for good. Over the past decade, private-sector jobs grew 17.2% in Right to Work states, nearly twice the rate of the rest. States that adopt Right to Work see venture capital investment rise 68% to 82%, according to a study in the Journal of Banking and Finance. That is the money that starts new companies. Look at dairy. From 2018 to 2025, milk output grew about 15.7% in Right to Work dairy states and about 0.1% in the rest. Vermont’s fell 6%. Then there are taxes. State and local taxes already take 13.6% of Vermonters' income. Only New York, Connecticut
and Hawaii take more. States with the most unionized public workforces carry tax burdens about 32% higher than the least unionized, and Vermont is one
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Illinois offers a warning. Since its amendment passed, See BROWN on page 9
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Page 8 • October 8, 2026 • Shelburne News
Community Notes Halloween Hugs workshop hosted at Teddy Bear Vermont Teddy Bear will host its Halloween Hugs workshop Oct. 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31 at 6655 Shelburne Road in Shelburne. Participants can make a stuffed ghost, tiger or Champ and take part in a sticker craft and storytime. Cider and snacks will be provided, and attendees will receive a discount on in-store purchases that day. Workshop times are Oct. 17, 11 a.m.-noon and 2-3 p.m.; Oct. 18, 11 a.m.-noon; Oct. 24, 11 a.m.noon and 2-3 p.m.; Oct. 25, 11 a.m.-noon; and Oct. 31, 11 a.m.noon and 2-3 p.m. Cost is $60. For more information, visit vermontteddybear.com.
Burlington center hosts Halloween fundraiser The Burlington History & Culture Center will hold a fundraiser, “The ‘Grave’ Side of Halloween,” Sunday, Oct. 18. The event begins with a tour of Elmwood Cemetery from 10:3011:30 a.m., led by BHCC’s Elise Guyette in collaboration with Preservation Burlington. A light luncheon with music by Woody
Woodhead will follow from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at ONE Community Center, 20 Allen St., Burlington. At 12:30 p.m., historian Miles McCallum will present “Iron Grave Markers in Vermont.” A skill and item raffle will run from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m., featuring donated services, talents and items including juggling lessons, a singing telegram, knitting lessons, a Myti gift certificate, a sunset cruise, a children’s birthday scavenger hunt, a tour of Intervale Community Farm, four hours of house painting and metal detecting in an Old North End yard. The event is free, with donations to BHCC and raffle ticket purchases encouraged. To donate a talent or item to the raffle, contact Megan Humphrey at meganjhumphrey@gmail.com. To donate food for the luncheon or volunteer, contact Miles McCallum at miles.mccallum@uvm.edu. More information and financial donations are available at burlingtonhistoryandculturecenter.org.
Docu traces farmers’ move away from insecticides As Vermont phases out neonicotinoid-treated seeds by 2029 under the Pollinator Protection
DON’T HIBERNATE. BUTTON UP. Sign up for Weatherization Wednesdays! This October, we’re hosting free webinars from 12:00 - 1:00 pm: • 10/7: Home Weatherization Made Simple • 10/14: How to Get the Most out of Your Heat Pump • 10/21: Small Fixes, Big Impact
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Circus Kalabanté will present “WOW — World of Words,” at Spruce Peak Arts, 122 Hourglass Drive, Stowe. Oct. 17, 7 p.m.
Act, a new documentary, “Seeding Change: Farming Beyond Neonics,” follows farmers and researchers in Vermont, New York and Quebec as they transition away from the insecticide treatment. The film, produced by the One Hive Foundation, will be screened Oct. 13 at the Marquis Theatre in Middlebury and Oct. 22 at Shel-
burne Farms. For details, visit seedingchangefarmingfilm.com.
October events at Birds of Vermont Museum
Huntington, will host the following October event: The Big Sit! 2026 — Sunday, Oct. 11, 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Participants will help identify as many bird species as possible from a 17-foot circle between
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See COMMUNITY NOTES on page 11
Shelburne News • October 8, 2026 • Page 9
Prop 3 would give up flexibility Guest Perspective Clara Morrison This November, Vermonters will vote on Proposal 3, or “Prop 3,” a constitutional amendment advertised as protecting the right to collectively bargain. But Vermont workers already have that right. The First Amendment protects workers’ ability to assemble, associate and join a labor union if they choose. What Prop 3 would actually do is far more consequential. It would permanently prohibit Vermont from adopting a rightto-work law for private-sector employees and bar future laws that “interfere with, negate, or diminish” collective bargaining rights. That language could limit lawmakers’ ability to adopt policies such as allowing workers to cancel dues deductions at any time or ending the practice of requiring public employers to collect union dues. More importantly, Prop 3 could shift power from elected lawmakers to union contracts. If a future law conflicts with a collectively bargained provision, courts could be asked whether the law improperly interferes with constitutionally protected bargaining rights, and union contracts could end up superseding state law, giving unions more power than the Legislature itself. To understand why unions support Prop 3, it is important to understand what changed after the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 decision in Janus v. AFSCME. For more than four decades, public-sector unions in non-rightto-work states could charge “agency fees” to workers who declined union membership but were covered by union contracts. Then, the court ruled that forcing public employees to subsidize a union’s negotiations with the government amounted to compelled political speech and violated their First Amendment rights. By 2023, roughly 22% of public employees had opted out,
representing about 1.2 million fewer dues-paying employees than would have been expected without the decision. Prop 3 is largely the private sector unions’ response to that loss of guaranteed revenue. The amendment would permanently prevent Vermont lawmakers from considering policies that give workers more choice, stripping them of the freedom to decide whether a union continues to earn their support. Besides the compelled-speech argument, there are also economic reasons to preserve flexibility. In 2021, a Harvard study examined counties on opposite sides of right-to-work borders and found that right-to-work status was associated with higher population growth, stronger employment outcomes, a larger manufacturing presence, lower unemployment, lower poverty and greater upward mobility. For a state facing population decline, an aging workforce and the loss of younger workers, permanently removing a policy option associated with economic growth is a significant risk. Vermont already has one of the highest tax burdens in the nation and faces growing costs for health care, pensions and public employee compensation. When government unions negotiate wages and benefits, taxpayers ultimately pay the bill. Prop 3 could make it harder for future legislators to respond when those obligations become unaffordable, giving union leadership greater power to preserve costly contract terms than elected officials have to change them. Health care is one example. Vermont is already facing rising public employee health care costs. Arizona recently explored replacing its traditional public employee health plan with Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements, which provide workers with a fixed benefit they can use to purchase coverage that best fits their needs. Whether or not that approach is right for Vermont, lawmak-
ers should retain the ability to consider new solutions as health care costs continue to rise. The same applies to pensions. Even after several years of reform, the Vermont State Teachers’ Retirement System is only 63% funded, while the State Employees’ Retirement System is about 73% funded, leaving billions in unfunded liabilities. With a large share of state employees approaching retirement eligibility, Vermont will need every available tool to address long-term obligations. Illinois, the only other state to constitutionalize collective bargaining rights this broadly, offers a cautionary example. Its constitutional protections have made pension reform extremely difficult, leaving taxpayers responsible for roughly $143 billion in unfunded pension liabilities, the worst in the nation. Prop 3’s broad language could also create years of uncertainty as courts determine how its new constitutional protections interact with state and federal labor law, a question Illinois is also facing. Small employers could face litigation over whether workplace policies interfere with bargaining rights, and the state could be forced to defend the amendment against legal challenges. Taxpayers would ultimately bear those costs. Constitutional amendments are difficult to undo. The law can be changed when circumstances change, but a constitutional provision cannot. Vermont workers already have the right to organize. What Prop 3 would take away is the ability of future voters and legislators to decide how Vermont’s labor laws should evolve. Before permanently giving up that flexibility, Vermonters should ask whether they are comfortable putting these decisions beyond the reach of future lawmakers.
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BROWN continued from page 6 lawmakers added $11 billion in new liabilities to Chicago's police and fire pensions, already the worst funded in the nation, with no new revenue to pay for them. The Illinois Policy Institute counts more than 350 state laws that could eventually be overridden by union contracts. Supporters predicted a dozen states would follow Illinois.
None has. Even California let its version die in committee. Without Proposal 3, Vermont workers keep every protection they have today. Vermont also keeps the ability to change course if it becomes necessary. Vermonters can look at the evidence and disagree. That is the point. Today we can have that debate. Prop 3 would put it
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Page 10 • October 8, 2026 • Shelburne News
Obituary
Janelle Leduc
Janelle Leduc Janelle “Nellie” Mary Leduc, 62, of Colchester, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. Janelle was born in Burlington
to Emmanuel and Val Leduc on Sept. 24, 1963. She grew up on Cheesefactory Road in Shelburne, surrounded by a large and loving extended family. Her Leduc and Fay cousins were more like siblings, sharing a closeness that remained strong throughout her life. Janelle also shared a special connection with her Kilburn family, including her many aunts, uncles and cousins. Her family circle was wide, close-knit and incredibly important to her. There are so many who loved Janelle deeply and are devastated by this tremendous loss. Janelle graduated from Champlain Valley Union High School in 1981 — and remained an active member of their alumni network. See OBITUARY on page 11
Shelburne Parks & Rec News Shelburne Parks and Recreation offers the following upcoming events: • Save the date for the Shelburne Halloween Events on Sunday, Oct. 25, complete with a costume contest, Halloween parade and trick or treat games and prizes. Join the Rotary at the Shelburne Fire Station after the parade for music and free food. See our website for complete details. For questions or to register a float contact: Richard J. Fox, Esq./802448-0118/rfox@foxlawvt.com. • Shelburne Walks. These walks are designed for everyone to be able to participate. Date: Sunday, Oct. 11, 9 a.m. Location: Mt. Pease, Charlotte (A UVM Natural Area). Meet behind the Charlotte Central School, (408 Hinesburg Road) at the west end of the parking lot. This walk will be about 3 miles, has some elevation gain (less than 500’), on a dirt trail, with a variety of forest types. The trail is listed as “easy to moderate.” There are some views. The walk should last 1.5-2 hours. Leashed dogs are welcome. No need to RSVP. Questions? Contact Alice Brown at aliceandy93@gmail.com • Youth basketball registration is open! Kids in grades 1-2 will be placed in groups, either co-ed or by gender depending on the number of participants. Players will practice and scrimmage on Saturday mornings only beginning in early December and ending in mid-Feb. The goal of this age group is to introduce and practice basic skills and team play concepts. Registration Fee: $55 Kids in grades 3-6 will have separate girls’ and boys’ teams.
Organized practices will begin in early December, and games will start Jan. 9 and continue through mid-February. In December they will practice one weeknight and on Saturday morning. Starting in January, they will practice one night a week and play games on Saturdays. Games at this level will be played both in Shelburne and out of town. Registration fee: $65. Volunteer coaches are needed. If interested, please call the recreation office at 802-985-9551 or indicate at time of registration. • We are excited to partner with the Edge Sports & Fitness to offer Preschool and Learn to Swim lessons. The pool is located at 75 Eastwood Dr. in South Burlington. Be sure to read each program description for program details and requirements. November session dates: 1, 8, 15, 22 — session cost: $104 resident/$114 non-resident. December session Dates: 6, 13, 20. Session cost: $77 resident/$87 non-resident. • Free toddler open gym. No pre-registration is necessary. Just sign in at the door. A parent or caregiver must be present at all times. No scooters, bikes and rideon toys permitted. There will be balls, hoops and other toys to play with. Wear indoor shoes or socks, and no food is allowed in the gym. Call 802-985-9551 to check for cancellations. Time: 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sundays: Nov. 8 and 22, Dec. 6 and 20, and Jan. 10 and 24. Volunteer coordinator: Aisha Mueller. Shelburne Town Gymnasium, 5420 Shelburne Rd (Ground floor of Town Office Complex).
Outdoor concerts of summer wind down at the Shelburne Museum ABIGAIL STRING COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE
The weather was dreary but that didn’t stop a large crowd of concertgoers from across New England and beyond from enjoying the final show of the 2026 Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green series at Shelburne Museum. The concerts, sponsored by Higher Ground, wrapped up Sept. 20 and notched another season of outdoor music. The series began in 2002 and is fast approaching its 25th anniversary, according to Leslie Wright, Shelburne Museum director of marketing and communications. Over the years, the series has brought many music lovers to the museum and created a spillover benefit. “[The concerts] give people a very good feeling about the Shelburne Museum,” Wright said. “If they come on a really beautiful night, there is nothing more spectacular than the sun setting over the Adirondacks, and your favorite music act playing. It’s a really magical environment.” Wright estimated that a typical concert at the museum brings anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 people, a statistic which likely contributed to the venue winning the 2026 Seven Daysies Award for best large live music venue in Vermont. The 2026 season featured 14 concerts put on by Higher Ground
as a part of the Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green. In addition to those shows, the Shelburne Museum hosted the Vermont Symphony Orchestra for a concert on the Fourth of July to celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday. The venue’s popularity extends to acts as well as fans. Icelandic indie folk/rock band Of Monsters and Men, accompanied by Texas native August Ponthier, marked the last outdoor concert of 2026 at the Shelburne Museum. It was the only New England stop on the band’s tour. They were not alone. Grammy nominated musician Gregory Alan Isakov had only two 2026 New England concerts, both at the Shelburne Museum. One enthusiastic concertgoer, former English teacher Kristen Biancuzzo, drove three hours from Western Massachusetts to attend the Of Monsters and Men show. Biancuzzo learned of the concert through Spotify and decided it was worth a trip, despite never having been to Shelburne. “I love the venue because it’s outside and it’s such a beautiful area,” Biancuzzo said. “It’s very well organized. Everybody is super nice. It’s been a really positive experience.” The Shelburne Museum is not your typical concert venue. The stage sits just south of the many relocated historical structures from across New England on the grounds. While waiting
to see their favorite music artist, it is possible for the audience to see a 220-foot steamboat or a 19th century schoolhouse just over the hill. It’s a great place to see a show and support more than just the music, Biancuzzo said. “It is really important for people to be able to come together at a venue or at a concert like this,” Biancuzzo said. “The arts are getting attacked from all sides — literature, music, art. We have to do whatever we can to keep it going.” Despite an increasingly broad audience, the museum remains dedicated to serving the Shelburne community. In 2026, the museum offered concert ticket holders half-price admission. Many of the people who took advantage of the deal were Shelburne residents. Wright declined to comment on the amount of money the museum makes from the concert series, other than to say that the revenue represents a small percentage of the museum’s overall operating budget. Future concert dates won’t be blocked out for another couple of months. All Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on the Green at the Shelburne Museum are planned and organized through Higher Ground. Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont internship, for the Shelburne News.
PHOTO BY ABIGAIL STRING
Icelandic indie folk/rock band performing their hit song “Ordinary Creature” at Shelburne Museum.
Shelburne News • October 8, 2026 • Page 11
OBITUARY
continued from page 10 Nellie built a long and fulfilling career in the construction industry, getting her start at Pizzagalli and Engelberth before finding her true professional home at DEW Construction. For the past 28 years, she served as DEW’s “Office Manager Extraordinaire.” One of her coworkers said it best, “She brightens up everyone’s day when they enter the building, goes out of her way to make everyone feel appreciated, and is always willing to help out in any way.” Janelle’s coworkers all mentioned her over the top, “Happy Birthdays,” Crazy Christmas Countdowns, DEW CREW football pools, and always having the best Halloween costumes. Nellie proudly wore her DEW swag everywhere she went. “There was no one else we would rather see at the beginning and end of our day.” Her friendship with Don and Karen Wells and their children was truly indescribable. What began as coworkers and babysitting, grew into a lifelong friendship and a bond that went far beyond that. Over the years, she became a cherished part of their lives, sharing in the joys, milestones and everyday moments that make a family, a family. Outside of work, Janelle lived life as an adventurer (always calling shotgun). She loved cruising, vacationing with family, live concerts and the movies. Anyone who knew Nellie knew she was a passionate fan of Kenny Chesney. “My Kenny,” she would say. She was a member of the “No Shoes Nation,” saw Kenny over 27 times live, and proudly displayed her fandom with her “NO SHOES” license plate. Her unmatched knowledge of music, movies and pop culture made her the best member of your trivia team. Janelle never missed her “day of beauty” with Sandy. She had a knack for making everything feel extra! Like keeping her Christmas tree up yearround and redecorating it to match the appropriate season. Nellie never showed up empty handed. She brought her famous Mac and Cheese to any party, a six pack of Ultra to share, and — of course — a few
diet cokes in her bag. Though Janelle didn’t have children of her own, she had so many “kids” in her life she loved and supported. She was the ultimate Aunt — and now Great Aunt — to so many!! She spoiled her “kids” with presents, candy, flowers, balloon bouquets, dinners out, first concert tickets and more movies than anyone could imagine. She’d go see or watch anything with her “kids,” always splurging for the good treats. At the hockey rink, she had a whole group she proudly called “her boys.” She never forgot a birthday or special occasion, always finding the perfect hilarious card — with a special note written in her most perfect handwriting. As her “kids” grew up, they got to know the “Naughty Nellie” side of her, including learning a few of those four-letter words their parents definitely weren’t teaching them. She was the loudest cheerleader, would always pick up the phone if you needed her, and was just full of unconditional love. To so many, she simply became “Aunt Nellie.” If you were lucky enough to know Aunt Nellie, you know she had a way of making you feel like you were the most important person. Janelle was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Emmanuel and Val Leduc, and her brother and sister-in-law, Todd and Marilyn Leduc. She is survived by her brother, Patrick Leduc, and his wife, Wendy; her cherished nieces and nephews, Jodi (Craig), Kyle (Beth), Kaylynn (John), Garrison, Shanyn, and Corinne (Stuart); and her adored great-nephews and great-nieces, Ezra, Carter, Nolan, Christian, Emmy, Ava, Greadyn, Theo, Isla, Flynn, and Sawyer. She will be greatly missed by surviving extended family and friends — the St. Hilaire and the DuBois just to mention but a few of so many. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 10 a.m. at the Double E Performance Center at the Essex Cinemas — 21 Essex Way, #300, Essex Junction, VT 05452.
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dawn and dusk as part of this long-running community science project. Possible sightings range from kinglets and great blue herons to barred owls and turkey vultures. Pledges and donations are welcome. The observation runs from dawn to dusk; the museum is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. For information, call 802-434-2167.
Library hosts talk on gap years The transition after high school involves big decisions. Research shows that students who take an intentional gap year can emerge with real-world skills, greater self-confidence and a clearer sense of purpose. Julia Rogers, a local gap year counselor and nationally recognized expert on experiential education, will discuss how gap years can help students prepare for what’s ahead. She’ll outline how families can make a gap year possible, highlight opportunities
students are pursuing and explain why more colleges and employers are recognizing the benefits of gap years. The event is Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. at South Burlington Public Library, 180 Market St., South Burlington.
Group walk raises awareness about suicide prevention The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Vermont Chapter invites the community to the Burlington Out of the Darkness Walk on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Veterans Memorial Park in South Burlington. Check-in begins at 9 a.m. and the program begins at 10 a.m. To register, donate, volunteer or learn more, visit afspwalks.donordrive.com/Burlington. For sponsorship or volunteer questions, contact Sally Hespe, Vermont area director, at shespe@afsp.org or 802-4179385.
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Page 12 • October 8, 2026 • Shelburne News
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CVU’s Maya Lewis sets the ball for an outside hitter during the Redhawks’ straight loss to the Essex Hornets on the Oct. in Hinesburg.
‘Hawks have neighbors seeing red LAUREN READ CONTRIBUTOR
Girls’ soccer Champlain Valley 2, South Burlington 2: Allie Barrett and Flynn Sexton had goals for the Redhawks, who have not lost in five games. CVU moves to 6-2-2 with the draw. They played Burr and Burton at home Tuesday after press deadline, then travel to Colchester on Thursday.
school boys’ soccer for their fifth win in the last six games. Creston Lea-Simons, Stef Arsovski and Boden Russell each had a goal for the Redhawks, who move to 7-2-1. Mahmood Rezaie, Ezra Ziter and Waydon Cherington each chipped in with an assist. Theo Skapof and Dylan Lutters combined to earn the shutout in goal. CVU took on Essex Wednesday after press deadline.
Boys’ volleyball
South Burlington 2, Champlain Valley 0: The Champlain Valley field hockey team dropped its second game in a row, falling to South Burlington on Saturday. Cici Kenney stopped 13 shots in goal for the Redhawks, who fall to 5-6 with the loss. CVU took on Essex on Tuesday after press deadline, before traveling to Colchester next Wednesday.
Champlain Valley 3, South Burlington 0: Champlain Valley won its third game in a row, beating South Burlington in straight sets on Saturday. CVU won the first set 25-9, the second set 25-22 and the third set 25-18 to clinch the win. The Redhawks move to 8-2 and faced Burlington on the road Tuesday, after press deadline, and then will welcome Essex on Thursday.
Cross country
Football
The Champlain Valley cross country team competed in the Woods Trail Run at Thetford on Saturday, placing first in the boys’ race and third in the girls’ race. CVU was paced by a first-place finish from Benjamin Holoch, who crossed the finish line in 16 minutes, 32.1 seconds. Cole Hart then came in seventh and Treson McEnaney was eighth to round out three top 10 runners. Jack Snyder followed in 18th place and Royal Ricklefs was right behind in 19th place. On the girls’ side, CVU came in third place behind first-place Essex and secondplace Lebanon, N.H. Eden Leckey was the top finisher in 9th place and Madeline Deyo was 13th.
Essex 20, Champlain Valley 17: The Champlain Valley football team held a 17-6 lead in the third quarter but could not close out the win, falling to Essex on Friday night. Alex Jovell caught 10 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown for the Redhawks, while Harrison Whitmore nabbed a 35-yard touchdown pass. Luca D’Agostino threw two touchdown passes to help pace the offense. CVU had a chance to take a late lead with the ball on the 10-yard line in the final seconds but could not punch it in. The Redhawks drop to 2-3 with the loss.
Field hockey
Boys’ soccer Champlain Valley 3, Colchester 0: Champlain Valley continued its winning ways on Friday, beating Colchester in high
Girls’ volleyball Champlain Valley 3, South Burlington 0: CVU won the first set 25-13, the second set 25-14 and the third set 25-17 to earn the straight set win. The Redhawks move to 7-2 and looked to get revenge for one their two losses when they took on Essex Monday.
Shelburne News • October 8, 2026 • Page 13
Horoscope October 8, 2026
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BAY ROAD continued from page 1 water main work be replaced with grass and requested traffic calming strategies to slow speeds down. The majority of other town residents prefer the trench be paved and said they would be more likely to walk or bike with a separate path or sidewalk. Mui acknowledged the survey found half of respondents do not want a paved path as a temporary solution to current construction work. Many preferred the original grass be returned on the road. “We recognize that half of the residents do not prefer this, so this would be entirely in the town right-of-way,” Mui said. This means the town has the power to use private land for public purposes like a sidewalk or path. Most of the survey responders said they are most concerned about the narrow railroad underpass or LaPlatte Bridge. A majority are concerned with the lack of a shoulder and crossings. The board brainstormed different ways to calm traffic, including narrowing roadways or adding bollards — vertical posts meant
to prevent crashes. Selectboard member Andrew Evertt reiterated residents’ desire for slower traffic. “The way you change behavior is changing the context of the road,” Everett said. The cost of paving the path now will be around $30,000 to $50,000, which Mui said is more cost efficient since the paving equipment is already on the road for the water main construction. “The cost is not negligible, but it is relatively small,” Mui said. Shelburne resident Doug Merrill wondered if the costs are effective and worth it, noting if there would be more surprise costs along the way including painting and the possibility of a gas line being moved. “I don’t currently believe that the $30,000 to $50,000 range for paving is sufficient,” Merrill said. Bike and Pedestrian Committee Chair Nicole Carpenter supported the move and said there would be more room and space for bikes and pedestrians with the path. The pavement would also last longer than a gravel path and be better in the winter for cyclists.
PHOTOS BY SOPHIA BALUNEK
Pickin’ Above, a duo plays fiddle and guitar at Shelburne Orchards on Saturday while visitors apple pick and enjoy the sunshine.
FORUM continued from page 2 have lowered property taxes by would align insurance reimbursebetween $40 and $60 million. It ment rates with the rates set by was unfortunate, but the governor the federal government through vetoed that,” Lyons said. Medicare. In addition to the funding, all “That does not mean cutting the candidates voiced support services, and that does not mean for further consolidation or cost cutting staff, but it does mean sharing across districts. Chitten- becoming more efficient and den outlined a future that would looking at the very high adminleave local elementary schools istrative costs that we have in in place, while working to build hospitals,” Lyons said at the consolidated middle and high forum. schools in straShe also tegic geographic p r o m o t e d “Get back to some locations. streamlining Lyons said care in the state real strong basics she sees opporby coordinating that you and I all tunity in the care for patients development of between emergrew up with.” the service coopgency departeratives the state ments, primary recently formed — Bruce Roy care providers to encourage and commudistricts to share nity-based resources regionally. services such as those for mental Roy said that he wanted to health or substance use. Less see the number of school districts confusion, she said, would also consolidate down to around 30. save on costs along with better For curriculum, he would like to care. see the state “get back to some “I’m of the mind that we just real strong basics that you and I need more competition, and I all grew up with: reading, writ- think this competition will drive ing, arithmetic and science.” more availability, more accessibility and, certainly, affordability Health care and lower premiums,” Roy said, Vermont has the most expen- adding that he also supports reference-based pricing and is in favor sive health care in the country. Lyons, who has chaired the of the governor’s recent execuhealth and welfare commit- tive order to move to age-based tee in the senate, is in favor of premiums. Chittenden, too, said he favors reference-based pricing, which
reference-based pricing, along with “global budgeting,” which sets revenue caps at hospitals with the goal of containing the cost of care.
State demographics In response to how Vermont might solve its demographic conundrum, the candidates varied. Along with a population aging out of the workforce, Vermont also sees more deaths each year than births and more people are moving away from the state than
taking up residence. Lyons focused on those who are reaching an older age and struggling to maintain their homes or lifestyle. “We don’t have the facilities and the connections that people need within the health care system for an aging population,” she said, adding that the state needs more support services to help those who may want to age at home. Roy sees a path for retaining more young people and workers by decreasing property taxes and
“living within our means.” Chittenden, with a focus on bolstering an influx of younger residents, promoted permit reform as a way to encourage business and job growth. “We need to tackle permit reform and have wetland delineations that follow the science and not the politics. We need to address party status and appeals. We need on-the-record review to be expanded,” he said. “There are things that we can do to reduce the uncertainty that is keeping investment from the state.”
Page 16 • October 8, 2026 • Shelburne News
PHOTO BY MARI HUGLIN
Veterans’ graves are marked with an American flag, but Revolutionary War vets receive a Betsy Ross style flag.
CEMETERY
continued from page 1 tion of around 360 people and at least 30 of ested in Belcher’s virtual graveyard project them were soldiers. and helped digitize and update veterans’ “They actually helped to start the whole pension records, probate records and family United States,” Boucher said. trees. Belcher began researching veterans The pair’s goal is to make all this inforbecause her father studied their family’s mation available on Find a Grave and the genealogy. She ended up researching her Shelburne Historical Society’s website. Find own ancestry, too. a Grave gives a more succinct summary of Belcher said this work makes people feel someone’s life with some connected records more connected to their history. Research- where the town’s website would have full ing her own ancestry connected her further biographies, primary sources and informato her family, which she said was an tion. “eye-opening” experience. Boucher said graves are often the last “All of a sudden, it’s like, ‘Oh, OK, this physical connection people have with their is really a person that was here as opposed relatives and also connect them to those to someone who you just who lived in Shelburne read about in a book — it’s throughout history. “It’s just such a great a physical thing,” Belcher “I think it’s just such a said. great physical connection physical connection She eventually got between the history of the involved with the cemetery town and gives it even between the history commission and started more sense of place,” keeping burial records for Boucher said. of the town” everyone buried in town. The pair even made She began updating the unreadable graves legible — David Boucher online using old photoFind a Grave website — which anyone can update graphs and records to — with graves, photos and information on transcribe the headstones. Boucher only the deceased. needs help writing the final five biographies The cemetery commission also restores for the Revolutionary War heroes. broken or deteriorating graves and cleans The veterans who are buried in Shelthem to make them readable. Belcher burne were not born in town, but joined noticed some veterans’ graves were missing family members who had already moved headstones or grave markers, so she ordered to Vermont. Many veterans moved from gravestones through the U.S. Department of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island Veterans Affairs. and New Hampshire after the war. The other Each year, every veteran’s grave is Revolutionary veterans are buried in four marked with an American flag on Memorial public and private gravesites across town. Day and taken down on Veterans Day. This The Find a Grave website can be locatyear, the graves of Revolutionary War veter- ed at findagrave.com and the specific Shelans are marked with a Betsy Ross American burne virtual graveyard can be found on the flag with 13 red and white stripes and 13 Shelburne Historical Society’s website as stars in a circle. These veterans also have a well. small metal icon next to the graves to desig“That’s why we did that, to automate it nate their service in the Revolutionary War. for people to be able to touch history and Boucher met Belcher around four years to physically be there because, you know, ago when he started volunteering at the reading a book gets pretty boring,” Boucher Shelburne Historical Society. He was inter- said.