Fixer-uppers
Get the scoop
Shelburne moves forward with plans to repair buildings
Ben & Jerry’s hosts ‘university’ and gives the scoop
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Volume 55 Number 46
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November 12, 2026
Shelburne, state see record voter turnout
Hanging on
MARI HUGLIN STAFF WRITER
“It directly taxes everything we sell in the shop,” Clayton said. “We’re just getting taxed to death.” In an economy that already feels uncertain for him, Clayton said a potential local options tax increase would only make
Voter turnout in Shelburne hit a record high of 72% in last week’s midterm elections, compared to recent midterm elections.. Town clerk Diana Vachon reported there was 56% participation before election day with voters sending in mail-in ballots and voting early and 25% participation on the day. In the general elections of 2018 and 2022, Shelburne only had around 67% participation. “Shelburne loves to vote,” Vachon said. “There’s sort of a community feeling about you know seeing your neighbor and voting.” Across Vermont, voter turnout was also high, especially in-person, according to the Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas. She reported, unofficially, that voter turnout across the state clocked in over 60% for midterms with the previous high being around 58%. She said this was probably due to the national political climate where people showed up to vote to show their dissatisfaction with the current government. “It looks like record turnout for a midterm election, and I think that’s a great story to tell because it’s really my goal that every eligible voter is able to cast a ballot,” Copeland Hanzas said. Copeland Hanzas said there was a lot
See TAX on page 15
See VOTER TURNOUT on page 15
PHOTO BY SOPHIA BALUNEK
Trees hang onto the last of their rouge on a street off Shelburne Road last week.
Town considers proposed increase in local option tax CLAUDIA CACACE COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE
The selectboard is weighing a proposal to increase Shelburne’s local option tax from 1% to 2%. The increased tax, which would require voter and legislative approval, could be levied on local sales, rooms, meals and
alcohol in order to support the fiscal year 2027 budget. The town finance committee last month recommended that the selectboard pursue the increase but some local business owners are already opposed. Kevin Clayton, the owner of Village Wine and Coffee, would be directly impacted by the potential increase.
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Page 2 • November 12, 2026 • Shelburne News
FILE PHOTOS
Above, the windows in the Shelburne Town Offices. Below, the front of Historic Town Hall.
Shelburne moves forward with plans to repair buildings MARI HUGLIN STAFF WRITER
Shelburne continues to move forward with plans to repair three of its historical buildings including the town offices, Historic Town Hall and Pierson Building. The town hosted a public engagement event Nov. 7 reviewing plans for the proposed construction which was presented by Kelley DesRoches, architect and vice president of Wiemann Lamphere Architects alongside other members of her team and ReArch Construction. “There’s been a lot of deferred maintenance, and it’s kind of at that point where something has to happen and be done,” DesRoches said. Damages, mainly due to water and aging over the past 20 years, have led the town to focus on repairs that are scheduled to begin next summer and take 18 months to complete, at an estimated cost of around $20 to $25 million dollars. Town officials are applying to various grants to pare down the cost and the selectboard intends to present a bond vote at town meeting. Other revenue sources include donations and a possible increase in the local option tax. The full renovation cost estimation will be presented to voters on Town Meeting Day. Design priorities include accessibility, energy efficiency, improved indoor air quality and preserving historic features to
maintain eligibility for state and federal grants. According to DesRoches, there are cost and time saving benefits to repairing all three buildings at once. Repairs would include replacing all three roofs and updating structure elements. The masonry, windows and building systems would be repaired alongside acoustic improvements in town hall. The Pierson Building may include updates that make it a central, public gathering space and visitor center. Construction plans allow continued access to parking, fire department operations, library, gym and the baseball field. Some departments may temporarily be moved out of buildings during construction. “We’re looking at 100-yearold buildings, and then how can we make them be successful for
the next 100 years?” DesRoches said. Dorthea Penar and David Boucher, members of the Shelburne Historical Society, said they support renovating the buildings. Penar was part of the design review team for the project and said the buildings are long overdue for renovations. The historical society’s archives are in town hall and have faced issues with water leakage and humidity. The pair said they hope the society will be given a new space to preserve and share Shelburne’s history. A new space may also allow for the society to host more events especially with new people moving to Shelburne. “We have a lot of new people in this community, a lot of the See HISTORIC BUILDINGS on page 4
Shelburne News • November 12, 2026 • Page 3
Ben & Jerry’s ‘university’ gives the scoop BRIANA BRADY STAFF WRITER
Several people wearing visors and rainbow tie dye aprons stood behind the counter at Ben & Jerry’s corporate offices in South Burlington last week, listening carefully as Vivian Evans, the ice cream behemoth’s retail project manager, took them through the steps to create the perfect hot fudge sundae. “Whenever you’re taking an order from a customer or a fan, remember we get all of our information up front. Make sure they feel at home. Find out if they want hot fudge or hot caramel, whipped cream and what dry toppings they might do,” Evans said. One by one, a row of sundaes started to pile up at the counter at the end of the ice cream station. While Ben & Jerry’s founder Ben Cohen has made headlines over the past year demanding more autonomy from new parent company, Magnum, when it comes to political action, on an operational level, things have chugged along at the company. The apron-clad class in front of Evans was at the offices for Scoop University, an occasional days-long training event that draws managers and franchise owners from across the country. Over four days, Evans said, attendees learned everything from how to make a three-ounce mini scoop to understanding business operations. There is also a dash of politics mixed in. “You don’t just assume someone knows how to make a sundae or a milkshake. Also, when you think of Ben & Jerry’s, there’s values tied into everything, right? So, if we take a stance on the environment and we say we’re going to use wooden spoons in the scoop
PHOTO BY BRIANA BRADY
Scoop University attendees came from franchises across the country to learn about running a Ben and Jerry’s scoop shop.
shop, and this is what we believe in, there’s a lot of information that’s helpful (here),” vice president of public relations Sean Greenwood said. Greenwood said part of attracting and choosing franchisees involves a willingness on their part to take on some of the political
messaging, whether that’s using wooden spoons for ecological reasons or scooping a flavor named after former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, the proceeds of which supported children’s summer camps focused on racial justice. “We don’t want it to catch them
off guard,” he said. “We’re very clear about that as we go through the vetting process, so, by the time they get here for this, there shouldn’t be any surprises.” Greenwood said he has been employed at Ben & Jerry’s since 1988. Like many employees, he started as a tour guide.
While the scoop students downstairs made shakes, upstairs, in the research and development kitchen, Anita Campos worked on mixing a chocolate coating for ice cream testing. She moonlights as an honorSee BEN & JERRY’S on page 15
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Page 4 • November 12, 2026 • Shelburne News
Shelburne Police Blotter: Nov. 1-7 Total reported incidents: 59 Arrests/citations: 1 Traffic stops: 7 Warnings: 8 Medical emergency: 22 Alarms: 6 Agency assistance: 6 Crash: 4 Mutual aid: 4 Animal problem: 3 Citizen dispute: 2 Domestic dispute: 2 Suspicious activity: 2 Motor vehicle assist: 2 Traffic hazard: 2 Elevator emergency: 1 Death investigation: 1 Vehicle fire: 1 911 hang up calls: 1 Untimely deaths: Nov. 5 at 7:27 p.m., Joseph Obuchowski, 79, of Shelburne, on Longmeadow Drive. Selected incidents: Nov. 1 at 12:25 a.m., a caller reported individuals from Juniper Ridge threw eggs at his vehicle. Nov. 1 at 9:23 a.m., a caller reported a dispute at the T-Bird Motel on Shelburne Road and officers cited a man for an outstanding warrant and released him.
Nov. 1 at 4:49 p.m., one person was taken to the hospital after a two-car crash with injuries at Shelburne Road and Webster Road. Nov. 2 at 7 p.m., a caller reported an elevator emergency at Margaret’s Way and crews determined it was accidental. Nov. 4 at 5:12 p.m., there was a one-car crash with injuries at Shelburne Road and South Park Drive. Nov. 6 at 12:53 p.m., a caller reported someone moved her bike ramp on Lilly Creek Lane and police determined no crime occurred. Nov. 6 at 1:51 p.m., a caller reported a fire from a riding lawnmower on Gardenside Lane. The fire was extinguished before crews arrived. Nov. 6 at 6:18 p.m., a caller reported an injured owl in the roadway at Bostwick Road and Wake Robin, but officers could not locate the animal. 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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Ahead of budget season, town ponders what to do with surplus MARI HUGLIN STAFF WRITER
Shelburne had a $202,285 surplus in its most recent fiscal year, but might not be on a similar track this year. Even though the town brought in $482,265 less in revenue than it expected in the fiscal year that ended June 30, it also underspent by $684,549. Board members did not specify yet where the excess funds will go, but deputy town manager and finance director Patty Carpenter recommended they be used for capital expenses and placed in the town’s general reserve fund. Selectboard chair Matt Wormser said he wanted to put less in the reserve funds but was open to the idea because of looming capital expenses. He said it would not make much difference if they put the excess funds into the capital or reserve funds, but he hopes the board can establish some best practices moving forward to help with these kinds of decisions. Some departments were under budget, including the highway, police and rescue departments, as well as the assessor’s office. Other departments exceeded spending budgets including the technology, town overhead and finance department budget. Some revenues, like the local option tax, garnered more revenue that initially projected.
Moving forward, Carpenter said the board should monitor dispatch and police as overtime tends to set the department over budget along with high utility costs for repairs. Carpenter expects utility costs to fall as the new water plant is implemented.
Looking toward next year Shelburne is currently facing a budget deficit only one quarter into this year’s municipal fiscal season. A gap is starting to form between the predicted yearly budget and what the town is spending. Town manager Matt Lawless previously said there are faster growing expenses and slower growing revenues. He attributed increases in personnel and health insurance costs as contributing factors. Since last January, when the selectboard adopted the currentyear budget, prices for gas, labor and other expenses have increased significantly. “We’re monitoring things very closely with the deficit we have projected,” Carpenter said. For this quarter, water and stormwater costs are slightly over budget, with general funds, wastewater and local option tax on or below target. Town overhead, the parks and recreation department, human resources and police have been overbudget so far. Going forward, Carpenter said
the town needs to closely monitor the water, stormwater, enterprise funds and police overtime and staffing. She said the budget needs to specify one-time costs and seasonal yearly costs like contracts. Carpenter said the first quarter cannot predict the rest of the year in its entirety and is used as a monitoring reference. “I just want to make sure that you realize you can’t take this and multiply it by four and think it’s what you’re going to end with,” Carpenter said. For future monitoring, Carpenter wants to identify surprise costs, making sure the board includes them in next year’s budget or identifies them under an already existing budget. The board expects data will improve as a new accounting software system is implemented. The new program, called Oracle, is not fully implemented, but is on track to be fully functional soon. The program will allow the town to compare the current year with past years’ financial data.
HISTORIC BUILDINGS
continued from page 2
old guard are phasing out, but we have a lot of new people who have no idea of the significance of this community,” Penar said. Shelburne business partners Marc Vincent and Donia Black went to the town presentation because they were interested in the history of the buildings and how the new updates could benefit the community. “It’s really great to see that the potential is there to use (the buildings) as a public space that’s going to benefit the community,” Black said. Both said the updated buildings and public spaces could bring more people and business to town. Even though the restorations may negatively impact the area through increased traffic and a parking shortage during construction, Black said, it will be worth it. She also appreciated how the town chose a more sustainable option to update the buildings, instead of knocking them down entirely. “I think continuing to educate about why it’s so important to create sustainability by not just knocking things down to create something new, and I think it’s just really helpful for all of us and also kind of makes Vermont what it is too,” Black said.
Shelburne News • November 12, 2026 • Page 5
OPINION
EARLY DEADLINES
The turnaround: Growing a community in the cul-de-sac In Musing Carole Vasta Folley Our cul-de-sac experienced a transformation this year, all thanks to our industrious neighbors Jenn and Cass, who decided to spruce it up. It was an act of generosity and vision that turned a sad circle of grass into something unexpected. The term cul-de-sac is, of course, Carole Vasta Folley borrowed from the French. Who else could express the term’s original anatomical meaning, “a diverticulum ending blindly,” with such flair? After all, doesn’t cul-de-sac have a certain je ne sais quoi, especially when its literal meaning is “bottom of a sack”? Can you imagine telling visitors, “We’re the house at the bottom of the sack”? Or not to park in the sack? Face it, realtors nationwide must have sighed with relief when cul-de-sac came into use. Our cul-de-sac used to sport one tree, another trying hard to be a tree, and a large rock besieged by dying Juniper. A shrub commonly used by developers galore as low-maintenance groundcover, these had given up their evergreen and looked more like hellscaping than landscaping, as if fungal blight and root rot were ornamental. We’d often meet our neighbors on this island of grass surrounded by pavement where we’d talk about our dogs and our lives, generally in that order. And yes, sometimes we’d even discuss the dreary condition of the ground beneath our feet. That is, until one day this past summer, when out my front window I spied change. The kind that happens when one or two people decide to make a difference. Apparently, that’s all it takes to evoke transformation because possibility engenders passion and, before you know it, your husband gets involved too. Jenn and Cass began by digging out the dead Juniper and
the abundance of weeds that had had their day. Jenn bought and planted gorgeous hydrangeas, rose colored, coincidentally matching the optimism of their task. Cass planted lavender to bookend the large rock. My guy planted irises, daisies and mint until his aspirations grew into bushes and trees. Suddenly, there were two crab apples, a lilac and a Diabolo Ninebark promising burgundy and purple hues for years to come. Together, the three mulched around the new growth and talked about the kids who’d likely want to jump off the rock. It was decided that pavers were necessary, stepping stones to make easy access for little gymnasts. My husband painted the slabs in vivid colors, one a rainbow, the other a rainbow heart. Both messages of inclusion and unity. But by far, the most impactful part of the transformation was an old-fashioned hunter-green metal A-frame double swing that Sean helped Cass carry from our neighbors’ backyard to place inside the circle. The swing belonged to Jenn’s parents in years past and harkened to a time when sitting on one evoked iced tea and sunsets. A moment to sit a spell, together. In an echo of “build it, and they will come,” sure as Kevin Costner’s baseball diamond brought players out of the cornfield, people came. The now welcoming
cul-de-sac drew people from our street, nearby streets, and even other neighborhoods. Better still, it brought out families. Parents would swing while watching little ones cavort around and atop the rock. Soon, an extra chair was added. Then older kids came too. Our favorite: a pack of neighborhood boys would congregate regularly, enough so we grew to know them by name and often hung out with them too. Look out our front window at any hour, light or dark, and the cul-de-sac is alive. It’s a theater of small, human moments. People connecting with nature, with each other, and sometimes, with the quiet space inside themselves. The trio responsible for this transformation teasingly call it a park. A joke due to the small size of our cul-de-sac circle. But that’s the thing about circles — they widen. As more and more people spent time in this circle, you couldn’t help but see community forming right before our eyes. Cul-de-sacs are often called dead-ends. But not this one. It is alive and flourishing, cultivating the very connections that bridge the gap from isolation to belonging, all the while turning me into we. Carole Vasta Folley is an award-winning columnist, essayist and playwright. Visit carolevf.com.
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Page 6 • November 12, 2026 • Shelburne News
Letters to the Editor Let’s get ahead of data center industry To the Editor: Vermont has a long tradition of protecting our natural resources and ensuring economic development serves the public good. As data centers expand across the country, we should build on that tradition, not assume our existing laws can address every challenge the industry presents. In a recent commentary (Vermont has the tools to keep data centers in check, Oct. 15), the author argues that Vermont’s existing laws are enough. Vermont does have strong environmental and utility regulations, but large-scale data centers are a new and rapidly evolving industry, raising challenges our laws were not designed to address. State agencies have authority to regulate these projects, but authority alone is not enough. Policymakers must provide clear direction about how that authority should be used. The impacts of data centers are still emerging. Their demands on electricity systems, water resources, land use and local communities continue to evolve as the technology changes and development grows. Utilities argue that data centers could lower electricity bills by spreading infrastructure costs across more customers. Maybe. But experience elsewhere shows that the industry’s enormous appetite for electricity and water can push electricity bills higher. Strong regulations can help ensure Vermont families are not left paying the price. The investment behind these projects is unprecedented. Companies are spending billions of dollars to build facilities that consume extraordinary amounts of power and water. Vermont should ask whether our regulatory framework is prepared not just for today’s projects, but for the larger projects that may arrive tomorrow.
This is not an argument against innovation or economic development. It is an argument for getting the rules right before problems arise. Vermont has always been at its best when it plans ahead, sets clear expectations and ensures growth benefits local communities. We have an opportunity to get ahead of this industry rather than react to its consequences later. Vermont doesn’t need to wait for Washington. We can do what Vermont has long done well: take a careful look at emerging risks and ensure our laws are strong enough to protect our communities, our wallets and the natural resources that define this state. Adam Aguirre Montpelier Adam Aguirre is a staff attorney at Conservation Law Foundation.
The food shelf needs a new space To the Editor: Shelburne’s plans to renovate three historic buildings include no space for the Shelburne Food Shelf — an essential service that an average of 185 households, or 538 people, rely on each month. As a former Food Shelf chair, I am deeply concerned about what that omission means for our neighbors. The renovation plans identify the Pierson Building (Jamie Two Coats) as a potential visitor center rather than additional town offices. Using it for town offices might have allowed the Food Shelf to remain in town space after renovations — a possibility that deserves serious consideration. Yet at the Saturday, Nov. 7 town meeting, the Food Shelf was absent from both the existing town office layout and the town manager’s description of the building’s current use. The Food Shelf must move See LETTERS on page 7
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Shelburne News • November 12, 2026 • Page 7
LETTERS
continued from page 6 within about a year, but finding affordable, accessible space will be difficult. It needs a town-center location that accommodates truck deliveries, is on the bus route, and is within walking distance of some residents. Given current real estate costs, relocation will likely require substantially more donations from Shelburne residents, significant service cuts or both. Let’s work together to keep this essential service accessible to our neighbors. I urge town officials to make space for the Food Shelf one of its priorities in planning these renovations. Residents who share this concern can contact town manager Matt Lawless at 802-9855111 or mlawless@shelburnevt. org. Anyone who knows of a suitable space can contact the Food Shelf board at 802-622-3313 or shelburnefoodshelf@gmail.com. Susan Stock Shelburne
Thank you; now, let’s get to work To the Editor: What a week! I’m feeling incredibly grateful, a little exhausted and more hopeful than ever about what we can accomplish together. Thank you for the vote of confidence in the re-election of your local legislators. We’re deeply honored to continue representing our communities and grateful to everyone who showed up at the polls. As Senate majority leader, I’m also thrilled that Vermonters have returned a working Democratic majority to the state Senate. That comes with both an opportunity and a responsibility: to deliver meaningful results for the people
who have placed their trust in us. We heard you loud and clear. Vermonters need to feel positive change in their everyday lives, or our work is not done. That means making it easier to afford a home, raise a family, access health care, and provide our children with an excellent education. It means moving beyond the political noise and focusing on practical solutions that make life better, more affordable and more hopeful. As a mom of two toddlers, I feel both the urgency and the promise of this work every day. And after a long campaign season, I’m taking a little downtime with my family, enjoying the small moments that remind me why this work matters so much. But January will be here before we know it, and when we return to the State House, we need to be ready to turn the trust Vermonters have placed in us into progress they can see and feel. Between now and then, we want to hear from you. Share your vision for Vermont. Send us your ideas, your stories and your concerns. Tell us what’s working, what’s not, and what would make the biggest difference for you and your family. Whether you voted for us or not, your voice matters, and we want it to help shape the work ahead. Elections are important, but what we do between them matters even more. Thank you for believing in me, in our communities, and in what’s possible for Vermont. I’m excited for the work ahead, and deeply grateful that we get to do it together.
Community groups and state help people keep and access their benefits Guest Perspective Alison Lamagna, Connie Beal and Tawnya Kristen Recent news coverage has explained the scope and potential impact of new Medicaid rules affecting 50,000 Vermonters, including the added strain they could place on the state’s already stressed health care system. But one important part of the story needs more attention: Vermonters can dial 211 for free, community-based assistance. New Medicaid rules come on top of changes to 3SquaresVT that went into effect earlier this year and have affected Vermonters’ access to food assistance. According to the Public Assets Institute, since H.R. 1 — also known as OBBBA — became law in July 2025, nearly 10,000
Vermonters have lost Medicaid coverage. More than 5,000 have lost food assistance, including almost 2,000 children. Behind these numbers are Vermonters facing complicated notices, paperwork and eligibility rules. A trained benefit assister can help people understand what has changed, identify possible exemptions and take the next step toward maintaining or applying for benefits. Support is available by dialing 211. Some rules affecting immigrants in Vermont took effect Oct. 1. Beginning Jan. 1, additional eligibility rules — including work requirements and twice-yearly reviews—will apply to new applicants and gradually expand to an estimated 49,000 low-income adult Vermonters as they renew their coverage. Grant funding from the Agency of Human Services is supporting a statewide coalition providing benefit assistance.
Vermont 211 serves as the front door, connecting Vermonters with the organization best suited to their needs. Assistance is free, available in multiple languages and offered in trusted community settings where Vermonters already receive other services. The coalition brings together organizations with statewide reach and deep community connections: Vermont Care Partners, Vermont Community Action agencies, Vermont Parent Child Centers, the Vermont Aging Network Consortium, Vermont Network, Connecting Cultures, SASH (Support and Services at Home), Hunger Free Vermont, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, United Ways of Vermont - Vermont 211 and Working Bridges. The Working Bridges program See LAMAGNA on page 9
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Page 8 • November 12, 2026 • Shelburne News
COMMUNITY Community Notes Hinesburg Recreation Department at hinesburgvt.myrec.com.
Memorial honors those killed while walking Local Motion will host a gathering Friday, Nov. 13, at 3 p.m., Pine Street bike path adjacent to 645 Pine St., Burlington, at the ghost bike memorial for Shiloh Skalka, in recognition of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, honoring the seven people killed while walking, biking and rolling on Vermont roads this year. Families of crash victims, advocates and local leaders will gather at Skalka’s memorial, where six additional ghost shoes, painted white, will be displayed in memory of those killed while walking. Signs bearing victims’ names, candles and flowers or other tributes brought by community members will accompany the memorial. Confirmed speakers include Local Motion Executive Director Christina Erickson; Amy Cohen, founder and president of Families for Safe Streets and mother of Sammy Cohen; Jonathan Farrell, executive director of COTS; and Christian Skalka, Shiloh’s father. For information, visit localmotion.org/world_day_of_remembrance_2026.
Vermont job fair connects employers and job seekers Saturday, Nov. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Delta Marriott, Williston Road, South Burlington. The Vermontjobs.com Job Fair will feature hundreds of local job opportunities with employers in health care, education, manufacturing, finance, nonprofit organizations and other industries. Admission is free for job seekers. For information about attending or reserving an employer booth, visit VtJobfair.com or email Paul@VermontJobs.com.
Harvest festival supports area food shelves Shelburne Vineyard will host its 14th annual Harvest Festival, Saturday, Nov. 14, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Shelburne Vineyard, 6308 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, benefiting Feeding Champlain Valley and the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf. Admission is free with a donation of nonperishable food or a cash contribution to support neighbors experiencing food insecurity.
5th annual Northern Nosh Jewish food festival
COURTESY PHOTO
Waterbury’s Zenbarn, with the friendly staff and owners above, will celebrate its 10th anniversary this weekend.
The festival will feature local artisans, makers and vendors selling handmade goods, along with raffles, seasonal treats, mulled wine, estate wines and cider. Activities will extend into a heated tent, providing space for visitors to gather, shop and enjoy the afternoon. For information, visit shelburnevineyard.com/events-list/ harvest-festivall.
Thanksgiving hymn-along returns to opera house The fourth annual Thanksgiving Community Hymn Sing returns Sunday, Nov. 22, at 3 p.m., to the Vergennes Opera House. Choir members and instrumentalists from more than a dozen area churches have been rehearsing since September to lead the audience in traditional hymns and contemporary worship songs. The Champlain Brass Ensemble will open with four Thanksgiving hymns, followed by a trio performance by Julie Cousino, Ashley Loven and Aarin Malzac. The 40-voice Addison County Gospel Choir will perform three selections before inviting the audience to sing along, accompanied by a worship team of piano, guitars, bass and drums. Songbooks will be provided. Admission is free, with donations accepted to support the opera house. Reservations are strongly encouraged because previous events have filled the theater.
For tickets and information, visit VergennesOperaHouse.org/events.
Williston Christmas Bazaar supports local charities Saturday, Nov. 21, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Williston Federated Church, 44 North Williston Road, Williston. The church’s Christmas Bazaar will feature crafts, original artwork by Nancy Stone, baked goods, granola from Partners in Adventure, pickles and relishes from Williston Village Farm, plants, attic treasures and soups to go. Proceeds will support local charities.
Red Cross seeks blood, platelet donors The American Red Cross is urging donors of all blood types, especially those with type O blood, to make appointments to give blood or platelets in November. The final two months of the year can be challenging for donors trying to balance regular donation appointments with busy schedules and holiday planning. Those who give blood or platelets between Nov. 23 and Dec. 6 will receive an exclusive Red Cross and “Wheel of Fortune” oversized mug, while supplies last. Donors during that period will a lso be automatically entered for a chance to win a three-night
trip for two to Los Angeles, including admission to a “Wheel of Fortune” taping. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/ WheelofFortune. Upcoming blood donation opportunities, Nov. 16-Dec. 6: • South Burlington: Monday, Nov. 16, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Vermont Commons School, 55 Green Mountain Drive; Tuesday, Dec. 1, noon-4:30 p.m., South Burlington Police Department, 19 Gregory Drive. • Williston: Monday, Nov. 23, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Williston Fire Station, 645 Talcott Road. • Shelburne: Tuesday, Nov. 24, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m., St. Catherine of Siena, 72 Church St. • Burlington: Wednesday, Nov. 25, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Greater Burlington YMCA, 298 College St.; Tuesday, Dec. 1, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Dealer.com, 1 Howard St.
CVU Turkey Trot gallops back into town The CVU Student Council invites the community to participate in the sixth annual Turkey Trot, Saturday, Nov. 21, at 10 a.m., Champlain Valley Union High School, 369 CVU Road, Hinesburg. Participants can enter raffles for prizes donated by local businesses. Bringing canned food for the food shelf earns additional raffle tickets, with two cans equal to one ticket. Registration is through the
The fifth annual Northern Nosh Jewish Food Festival will return Sunday, Nov. 15, inviting Vermonters of all backgrounds to enjoy an afternoon of food, entertainment and Jewish cultural traditions. Hosted by Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, 188 North Prospect St., Burlington in partnership with Jewish Communities of Vermont and Jewish organizations from across the state, the festival brings people together to celebrate Jewish food, culture and community. Food offerings will include potato latkes, knishes, matzo ball soup, falafel, babka, rugelach and freshly baked challah. Glutenfree and vegan options will also be available. All food served is kosher. Entertainment will include live klezmer music featuring accordionist Ariel Shapiro and fiddler Rachel Leader, interactive Yiddish dancing, a children’s performance by Evan Haller of Music at the Blissful and PJ Library Story Time. Families can also enjoy children’s crafts and activities. Local bakeries will take part in a Bagel Taste Challenge. The festival is open to everyone, regardless of religious or cultural background. Advance tickets are $12 for adults and include three food vouchers. Youth tickets are $6 and include one food voucher. Children are admitted free. Adult tickets purchased at the door include two food vouchers. For information and tickets, visit ohavizedek.org/event/northernnosh.
Police drummer says ‘Too Much’ Spruce Peak Arts, 122 Hourglass Drive, Stowe, presents Stewart Copeland, “Have I Said Too Much?” Sunday, Nov. 15. Copeland, drummer and founding member of The Police, will bring his first American spokenword tour to the stage. The Grammy-winning musician and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member has also composed film scores, video game music and operas, and worked as a writer and filmmaker. The performance will cover his career and experiences in his characteristic humorous and sharp style.
Shelburne News • November 12, 2026 • Page 9
Shelburne Parks & Rec News Shelburne Parks and Recreation offers the following events and activities: • Shelburne’s annual tree lighting and caroling event is Friday, Dec. 4 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. This event is part of Village Nights in Shelburne this winter holiday season. Visit our website shelburnevt.org/327/Special-Events for complete details and a calendar listing of all holiday events. • Youth basketball registration deadline is Nov. 13. This program is open to kids in grades 1-6. Players will practice and scrimmage on Saturday mornings beginning in early December and ending in mid-February. Registration fee: $55. Grades 3-6 will have separate girls’ and boys’ teams. Organized practices will begin in early Decem-
ber, and games will start Jan. 9 and continue through mid-February. These grades will compete against other towns’ recreational teams from the Champlain Valley Recreation Association. Travel is required on Saturdays. Registration fee: $65. • Bolton Valley after school ski program for grades 5-8: Participants ride a Premier Bus from SCS after school leaving at approx. 2:15 p.m. and return from Bolton at 8 p.m. We offer two different sessions of which kids can register for only one. Each session consists of four Wednesday nights. See our website for complete program details and important date information. shelburnevt.org/184/ Bolton-Ski-Ride-Program Registration is now open for seventh and eighth graders. Registration opens for fifth and sixth graders at 8 a.m. on Monday, Nov.
16 (if open spots remain). • We are partnering with Edge Sports & Fitness to offer preschool and learn to swim lessons. The pool is located at 75 Eastwood Dr. in South Burlington. December session dates: 6, 13, 20 — session cost: (three lessons): $77 resident/$87 non-resident. Registration Deadline is Nov. 30. See our website for complete program details including class description, age and program requirements. Register through Shelburne Parks and Recreation. • Open gym basketball for grades 4-8. Develop skills and socialize with other players in the town gym. Program will continue throughout the winter, with further dates announced as season progresses. Sundays, 3-5 p.m., Nov. 15 and 22.
shows how this assistance bility, or need help applying for reaches people where they are. benefits, dial 211 to connect with Its resource coordinators support trained local support. more than 30 workplaces across This is not simply a state northern Vermont, meeting government concern or a probone-on-one with lem only for employees to the Vermonters It is a critical explain Medicaid directly affectand 3SquaresVT ed by benefit moment for our changes, respond changes; it to notices and is a critical communities. connect with moment for our other resources. They also help communities. The decisions and employers understand the changchanges unfolding now will have es and communicate clearly with far-reaching implications for both employees. Together, we are help- economic stability and individual ing Vermonters maintain health health and well-being. coverage, access food assistance No single organization or and connect to other essential sector can address these chalresources. If you receive a notice, lenges alone. Strong partnerships have questions about your eligiamong health care providers,
community-based organizations, employers, human service agencies and other local partners are essential to ensuring individuals and families can access the resources and support they need. By working together, we can identify gaps, reduce barriers, and strengthen the systems that support the health and economic vitality of our communities.
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Alison Lamagna is executive director of United Ways of Vermont/Vermont 211. Connie Beal (United Way of Northwest Vermont) and Tawnya Kristen (Green Mountain United Way) oversee Working Bridges, a joint program of their two respective United Ways.
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Page 10 • November 12, 2026 • Shelburne News
OUTDOORS
A decomposers’ haunt is a rotting pumpkin The Outside Story Maggie Weng Halloween is over, but the spookiest part of the year is yet to come. Soon, the jack-o-lantern on your doorstep will begin to droop and wither. Although you may recoil from the unwanted visitors that swarm, crawl and ooze through its oncetoothy grin, a rotting pumpkin highlights the most important players in autumn’s drama. Decomposers shepherd our forests and gardens from summer lushness to winter austerity, returning nutrients to the soil and readying it for the rebirth of spring. Decay begins as soon as the knife pierces the pumpkin’s gooey flesh. While you’re standing in the kitchen scooping out seeds to clean and roast later, air rushes in carrying a microscopic cargo of bacteria, yeasts and fungal spores. As oxygen flows over the exposed interior, oxidation reactions begin to occur, causing its bright color to fade as sensitive pigments break down, along with cell walls and other structures. Combined with evaporation, this leads to a general sagging and puckering of the pumpkin’s once-sturdy shape. Meanwhile, the end of a pumpkin’s life is the beginning of a whole new ecosystem. Lush carpets of growth unfurl their textures across the pumpkin’s interior. Each of these biological cities is composed of a different organism, from bacteria to molds or slime molds, which are technically neither plants, animals, nor fungi. Although it is hard to distinguish between species even with a trained eye, they harbor diverse functions that contribute to each colony’s particular microenvironment, the way New York City is known for pizza while Baltimore specializes in crab. Actinomycetes, a class of bacteria found primarily in soil, which help break down tough, woody compounds — like pumpkin stems — produce the compound geosmin associated with fresh earth after rain. Molds, meanwhile, are delicate spore-producing structures created by fungi, cous-
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ins to the mushrooms you might see on a walk. Unlike bacteria, their colonies represent a single multicellular organism that grows outward along its boundaries, guided by the tips of lacy hyphae that feel out new terrain. In addition to this microscopic wonderland, insects and animals arrive seeking a nutritional windfall. As they consume the pumpkin, they help break it into smaller components, providing more surface area for decomposition. Some creatures,
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like earthworms, millipedes and woodlice the world’s global greenhouse gas emis(also known as pill bugs or roly-polies) sions and results in sludge. Instead of feed directly on decaying plant material. nourishing the next generation of crops In contrast, flies visit to lay eggs, whose and spring growth, it is a highly toxic larvae hatch in an edible orange nursery. brew that must be managed and contained. Our culture has instilled a fear of decay But even there, danger lurks: Spiders spin their shimmery webs, lying in wait. in most of us, using sanitization and artiAlthough they may seem superfluous, ficial preservation to prevent the foretold end: rot, collapse, ruin. the presence of these Yet no such story exists predators shows us that in nature. The process of decomposition is not just Insects and animals decomposition is a floura simple process, a factoarrive seeking a ishing of its own that ry conveyor belt of organkeeps the wheel of the ic matter breakdown, but nutritional windfall. seasons smoothly turnis instead a complex food ing. Without decomposweb in its own right. Left to its own devices, the pumpkin ers, we would soon become buried under as we know it will disappear entirely, its the staggering weight of our own waste: matter having been recycled back into there would be no room or nutrients for the soil. Unless it is thrown in a land- new growth to appear. Decomposers close fill. There, unlike in a compost heap, the the loop, keep the cycle from stagnating, breakdown of organic matter happens and in their own way look to the future, in the absence of oxygen. Instead of showing us the possibilities that arise earthworms, flies and fungi, special- from letting go. ized bacteria called methanogens take Maggie Weng is a writer and scientist over the process, producing both methane and carbon dioxide. This process of currently working as a NASA postdoctordecomposition is much slower, occurring al fellow. Illustration by Adelaide Murphy naturally in places like peat bogs, where Tyrol. The Outside Story is assigned and food and even human remains have been edited by Northern Woodlands magazine discovered, largely intact, after hundreds and sponsored by the Wellborn Ecoloof years. The decay of organic matter in gy Fund of New Hampshire Charitable landfills produces between 8 and 10% of Foundation: nhcf.org.
Shelburne News • November 12, 2026 • Page 11
It’s not too late to grow leafy greens indoors growing for cut-and-come-again harvesting. Leafy greens do best at temperaThe gardening season is over, tures between 60 and 70 degrees but that doesn’t mean an end to Fahrenheit. Avoid cold drafts from garden-fresh edibles. With a little windows or doors, and hot, drying investment in space, time, and drafts from radiators, stoves or equipment, you can grow an indoor heating vents. You can also grow vine-ripgarden throughout the cold weather ened tomatoes (Solanum lycopermonths. You’ll need containers with sicum) indoors this winter if you drainage holes and a drip tray, ster- select compact dwarf varieties like ile potting soil (not garden soil), Red Robin (6 to 12 inches high), seeds and, in most cases, a grow Yellow Bush Cherry (12 to 24 light to replace or supplement natu- inches high) or Dwarf Arctic Rose (36 inches high). The mature size ral light. If you’re a salad lover, consider of the plant will determine the size growing loose leaf lettuce (Lactu- of the container needed. A microca sativa), arugula (Eruca sativa), dwarf variety can be grown in a gallon container, spinach (Spinacia while a larger oleracea), endive Provide 16 to 18 variety will need (Cichorium endia five-or-morevia) or a combihours of light, gallon container nation of your to accommodate favorites. Select a keeping grow lights its roots. shallow container The article 2 to 6 inches deep, 2 to 4 inches above “Seed Starting the depth dependBasics” (go. ing on wheththe plants. uvm.edu/seeder you intend to harvest baby greens or grow them startingbasic) provides information on starting tomato seeds and to maturity. Fill the container with moist- others. Once seedlings are ready ened potting mix. Scatter seeds to transplant, you’ll need the about an inch apart. Cover with appropriate-sized container, stera thin layer of soil and mist with ile potting mix, a support to keep water. If the container comes with vines upright when heavy with a humidity dome, put it in place. If fruit and a grow light. Select a location with temperanot, cover the planter with plastic wrap or enclose smaller contain- tures of 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit ers in a clear plastic bag. Sprouts (above 60 degrees at night) away should be visible within a week. from cold or hot drafts. Provide Remove the humidity cover and 16 to 18 hours of light, keeping move the container to a well-lit grow lights 2 to 4 inches above the location. For a continuous crop of plants. Water when the top inch of soil greens, stagger planting by beginning a new tray at two-week inter- dries out. Fertilize every two weeks according to package directions. vals. Since you’ll be growing tomaLeafy greens can be grown on a south-facing windowsill that gets toes indoors without the benefit of bright light, but since most greens pollinators, shake the stem or tap grow best with 12 to 14 hours of flowers gently or use a cotton swab light daily, a grow light to supple- or small paintbrush to transfer ment or replace natural light will pollen. Depending on the variety, produce better results. Place grow in as little as 45 days from translights 2 to 4 inches from the top planting you could be harvesting of the plants to ensure sufficient tiny tomatoes. For answers to your home light. If you can’t adjust the height of your grow light, place books or gardening questions, contact the some other stable support beneath University of Vermont Extension the container to bring it closer to the Master Gardener Helpline online light source, removing the height (go.uvm.edu/gardeninghelpline) throughout the winter months. boosters as plants grow taller. Water as needed to keep soil Deborah Benoit is a UVM moist but not wet, and don’t allow Extension Master Gardener who the tray to sit in standing water. Baby greens should be ready volunteers as a garden columnist to eat in about a month. Cut outer and participates in Bennington leaves when they’re 3 to 4 inches County Extension Master Gardentall, leaving the center to continue er Chapter activities. DEBORAH J. BENOIT UVM EXTENSION
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This pie tin came with a container, a perfect vessel for starting indoor greens. Be sure to poke holes in the pin tin for drainage. The cover acts like a humidity dome needed to sprout the seeds.
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Page 12 • November 12, 2026 • Shelburne News
Run for fun
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Hullcrest Park held its first annual Halloween Fun Run on Saturday, Oct. 31. The 3K course wound through the Hullcrest neighborhood, starting and finishing at the park. The race drew an incredible turnout, with families coming from the neighborhood and beyond. Organizers said parents seemed eager to get their kids out of the house and burn off some energy before the evening’s trick-or-treating. The morning didn’t end at the finish line. Runners stayed at the park for a kids-versus-parents soccer game. “By the end of the day, the young runners had a clear verdict: the race has to happen again next year,” organizers wrote.
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Horoscope November 12, 2026
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BEN & JERRY’S
Not your average housecat
continued from page 3 ary flavor guru but also started as a tour guide. Her mom worked at the factory around the same time as Greenwood in the 1990s. Another research and development worker nearby piped up that she, too, had started as a tour guide. Whatever is happening at the ownership level, the employees at Ben & Jerry’s might be used to not only giving tours but taking a stance. For those who worked there for a long time or before the company was bought by Unilever in 2000 and then spun off as part of Magnum in 2025, it could become part of their everyday understanding of their jobs. In the offices upstairs — Ben & Jerry’s only moved into the new building last January — Greenwood pointed to posters of different flavors from over the years with messaging focused on issues from
criminal justice reform to supporting Black communities. Most recently, the company put out a flavor called Razz Up! in support of voting rights — partnering with the ACLU, Black Votes Matter and other community organizing groups — and took employees to Washington D.C. where they held a large sign that reads “Fudge Fascism.” In a photo in front of the reflecting pool, Greenwood is visible, just under the “G” he’s holding above his head. “For us, while we can be a good partner of the Magnum company, and I think be a good brand for them, we’re still a business — we’re not just a brand that that you’re using to sell stuff. We still have feelings here and are passionate about trying to do these things that we care about,” Greenwood said.
VOTER TURNOUT
continued from page 1
PHOTO BY JASON CHIN
Jason Chin spotted a bobcat hunting rodents at Shelburne Farms.
TAX
continued from page 1 things more challenging for him and his customers. “Overall, you’re doing everything you can do to retain your customers,” Clayton said. “Do we really need to chuck another 1% on top of what we already have? When is enough enough?” Shelburne voters approved the current 1% local option tax back in 2023. Shelburne Town Manager Matt Lawless said that raising the local option tax could help prevent the potential for property tax increases. “[The local option tax] is roughly $1 million a year of additional local revenue,” Lawless said. “If the revenue were not there, the property tax rate would have to be significantly higher to earn the same revenue back.” Some business owners have expressed concerns that increasing the tax could reduce shopping in Shelburne. Lawless said while he understands these worries, there has been no evidence of this occurring in Shelburne since the 1% local option tax was approved three years ago. Under Vermont law, municipalities can pass local option taxes
of 1% with local voter approval. But increasing the amount to 2% currently requires legislative approval as well, although the Vermont League of Cities and Towns is seeking to eliminate that requirement. Several dozen Vermont towns have 1% local option taxes, according to the Vermont Tax Department. More are considering establishing them, with proposals bringing mixed results. Hinesburg and Bennington voted against the idea Nov. 3. Voters in Essex approved a 1% local option tax on rooms but said no to the tax on retail sales and meals. Stowe residents voted to increase the town’s local option tax from 1% to 2% in March. However, the Legislature has not approved the increase and some lawmakers oppose the idea. If the increase is approved in Shelburne, town officials say it could help raise revenue to renovate and repair the Shelburne town office, town hall and the Pierson Building. It’s important for local people including business owners to have a chance to air their views
about the proposal, observers say. “The business community is an important voice in this discussion,” said Josh Hanford, the director of intergovernmental relations at the Vermont League of Cities and Towns in Montpelier. “All across the board, it’s a perfect way for democracy to work at the local level. It’s the process working as it should work.” Lawless expressed a similar sentiment. “The public input on this idea is very important,” he said. “We want to hear from folks and what they have to say.” The Shelburne Finance Committee discussed its recommendation on the increase at an Oct. 13 selectboard meeting, minutes show. The item was on the agenda for the Oct. 27 selectboard meeting but no action was taken. If the selectboard approves the proposal, it could potentially go to voters on the Town Meeting Day ballot in March 2027. Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship
of anxiety leading up to the elec- looked to make was to host tion about interference because of more voter registration drives. In narratives pushed by the federal Vermont, residents can register to government attacking the legit- vote on the same day as the elecimacy and process of elections. tion. This year, new condos and an Copeland Hanzas said there was apartment building were built on no interference on the day and Margaret’s Way in Shelburne, and worked hard to make sure this around 70 of those residents regisnarrative took hold in Vermont. tered at the polls on Election Day. “Vermonters find voting day Registration takes time and can to be just a really inspiring day,” slow down the polls, so Vachon Copeland Hanzas said. “It’s a day hopes the League of Women’s when we all get a chance to do our Voters can host a registration drive civic duty and to cast our ballot for the next time a new development the person or people that we think is built. will take us in the right direction.” “We love democracy. We want Vachon said people to be able this year went to share their “It’s just great how smoothly and voices and their a new voting ideas and their so many people system, that Shelconcerns, and come together” burne had already we’re just here used for a few to help them do elections before — Diana Vachon that,” Vachon now, worked well said. and sped up many of the town’s In 2028, Copeland Hanzas processes. hopes the state can send offiHaving early voting and mail- cial voter guides in the mail. The in ballot voting helped the polls guides, which were available be a little quieter on the day and online this year, would share avoided the clerk’s office being information about candidates and slammed with work on election the offices they are running for. day. Vachon said she had around 66 An issue with the print vendor poll workers and multiple justices prevented the state from successof the peace helping throughout fully mailing the guides this year. the day. Overall, Copeland Hanzas said “It’s just great how so many she was proud that even though people come together to make there was a tremendous amount of democracy happen,” Vachon said. anxiety surrounding this election, Leading up to the midterm Vermonters came out in higher elections, there was discourse numbers than they ever had before around the security and legitimacy not bowing to the rhetoric. of elections, but Vachon said the “That’s just a testament to how town did not do anything unique much Vermonters value democrato prepare for this unease this time cy and value being able to use their but have always had extensive vote as their voice to say what safety measures and procedures they want their state and federprotecting the democratic process. al government to do,” Copeland One improvement Vachon Hanzas said.
Page 16 • November 12, 2026 • Shelburne News
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