Gift goers
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Shelburnites shop local, and last-minute, at Adventure-ous craft fair
Vermonters from all over the state tell stories from their lives
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Volume 54 Number 52
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December 26, 2025
Questions still remain for town pedestrian and bike upgrades BRIANA BRADY STAFF WRITER
While Shelburne might move forward with pedestrian and bike upgrades to the entrance to lower Webster Road in a bid to increase safety, those updates may not extend all the way to the intersection with Harbor Road as initially planned. The sticking point is the price: $4.6 million for a bike and pedestrian bridge over the LaPlatte River and shared use paths on both sides of Route 7 up to the village. The town originally engaged the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission to do a scoping study of the lower Webster intersection up to Harbor Road last September. Over the course of the year, the commission partnered with consultant VHB to connect with residents about what they’d like to see for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and build a series of recommendations around three focus areas on the road: the Webster intersection, the bridge where Route 7 crosses the LaPlatte River and the stretch of road between the bridge and the village. Jason Charest from the CCRPC and Drew Gringas from VHB initially presented just the study’s recommendation for the intersection at lower Webster and Route 7 at the end of October with a mostly positive response from the selectboard concerning the increased turning radius and widened sidewalk. However, when it came to the rest See WEBSTER ROAD on page 9
PHOTO BY AL FREY
Three area high schools have formed a cooperative girls’ hockey team called the Chittenden Charge.
CVU, SB girls’ hockey form co-op D1 team LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT
For many years, players from Champlain Valley and South Burlington have faced off against each other on the ice. This season, the two schools will team up — along with Mount Mansfield — to form a high school Division I girls ice hockey team, the Chittenden Charge. “It was a real tragedy that South Burlington didn’t have a season last year,” Charge
coach Matt Bunting said. “The ambition was not to be reactive in the moment, but to be proactive and take a look at how we can get as many kids out there skating, playing hockey. “Administrators at the highest levels, community members, coaches, players, have been sort of in this conversation for months about how we can make this whole thing work, and the Chittenden Charge was born in that way.” South Burlington had to abruptly cancel
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its season last year, right before practices were set to begin, due to low numbers. Facing similar issues this year, the school started exploring other options to get its players on the ice. Enter the Champlain Valley and Mount Mansfield co-op hockey team. The two schools have been playing as a co-op team for years, under the CougarHawks umbrella. See HOCKEY on page 12
Page 2 • December 26, 2025 • Shelburne News
COURTESY PHOTOS
Shelburnites sought out holiday activities (and some last-minute shopping) at Sisters of Anarchy ice cream and Adventure Dinner’s annual craft fair, held Saturday at Meach Cove Farms. The craft fair drew a crowd seeking out homespun yarn, handmade jewelry, and, for some, long sought after sheepskins from a local farm.
Shelburne News • December 26, 2025 • Page 3
Shelburne Parks & Rec News Holiday Hours: The Recreation Office will be closed on Dec. 24th, 25th and Jan. 1st, 2026. Office hours on Friday, Dec. 26th will be from 9am-3pm. Plan ahead and make your facility reservations during open office hours before the Holiday weekend. We wish everyone a happy and healthy Holiday Season New Year!
Yoga flow for strength Energizing Yoga flow for strength, flexibility and stress relief. This all-levels yoga class is for anyone looking to boost energy, build strength (yes, bones too!), and increase flexibility. Join experienced instructor C. Jane Taylor for a supportive, uplifting flow that blends mindful movement, breath, yoga philosophy, and deep relaxation. Expect a moderate-paced class with options for all bodies. We’ll get the heart rate up, release tension, and wind down into stillness. Bring: Your yoga mat and any props you like. You should be comfortable sitting on and rising from the floor. About the Instructor: C. Jane Taylor has more than 20 years of practice and more than a decade of experience co-leading the Yoga Teacher Training program at UVM. She teaches with humor and a focus on safe alignment, inner strength, and joy. Registration Deadline is Jan. 2, 2026 Classes are Tuesdays, Jan. 13Feb. 17, 2026, at 9 a.m. Fee: $90. Located in the Library Community Room
Group swim lessons 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. Please note the pool temperature is 81 degrees. A parent or guardian accompanies the child for the in-water lessons. January session dates: Sundays, Jan. 11, 18, 25 Cost (3 lessons): $77 resident/ $87 non-resident See our website for complete program details including class description, age and program requirements. Register through Shelburne Parks and Recreation.
Fall prevention Tai Chi Join us as we develop grace and mindfulness in our beginner Sun Style Tai Chi class. As we learn movements like waving hands in the clouds and playing the lute, we can create a greater connection to our body and improve our mental clarity and focus. We will learn sequences that are designed to be low-impact and to improve balance. Registration is required through Shelburne Parks and Recreation. If you would like more information, please contact the instructor, Kim
Rainbolt, at knrainbolt66@gmail. com Registration deadline is Jan. 7, 2026 Classes are Mondays and Wednesdays, Jan. 12-May 27, 2026, at 11 a.m. It is free and in the Shelburne Gym.
Hullcrest outdoor skating rink The public outdoor ice rink at Hullcrest Park has been flooded thanks to our Water and Buildings and Grounds Depts.! PLEASE STAY OFF the rink until the signs are down! Call the office for updates at 802-985-9551.
Sun 73 Tai Chi This class will begin with a practice session of the entire Sun 73 form without instruction from 12:15-12:45 p.m.. Following the practice session, the instructed Sun 73 class will build on movements learned in the fall prevention Tai Chi class. Each movement is broken down and done in a slow and gentle manner while emphasizing balance, and the health and well-being aspects of Tai chi. You will practice in a relaxed, non-competitive manner while learning new movements and increasing your understanding and depth of Tai Chi. The class is sponsored by Age Well and registration is required through Shelburne Parks and Recreation. Classes are Mondays and Wednesdays, Jan. 12-May 27, 2026, at 1 p.m. with practice session from 12:15-12:45 p.m. It is free and located in the Shelburne Gym. See All Programs and Special Events on our website. Visit shelburnevt.org/160/Parks-Recreation. Questions? Please contact our office at 802-985-9551.
Pedestrian is killed by car while trying to cross Shelburne Road BRIANA BRADY STAFF WRITER
A pedestrian was killed last week in a car crash on Shelburne Road near the intersection with Lakeview Drive. Jesse Roberts, a 19-year-old Charlotte resident, was driving southbound on Route 7 just before 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 16, when he struck pedestrian Mauricio M. Martinez, 52, of Schenectady, New York. Shelburne police have possession of the vehicle and are investigating the incident but have not provided information about any findings, and State Police are still
working on a crash reconstruction. Roberts was not charged with a crime, and it may take some time before either the local or state police can offer any answers. “We’ve had the reconstructionist take months to get us stuff, depending on their workload,” acting Shelburne police chief Josh Flore said, noting Vermont State Police is also investigating a deadly crash that occurred on I-89 on Wednesday, Dec. 17, in which the driver has been cited with gross negligence resulting in a death. The incident on Shelburne Road came just over a year after a Shelburne police officer struck and killed a bicyclist further north on
Route 7 in South Burlington. He has since been convicted of negligence and removed from his job. “I don’t know how many accidents we’ve had with pedestrians on Route 7, but it’s too many. I’ve been to too many,” Flore, who has served on the Shelburne force for over 30 years, said. Flore said his immediate takeaways from this most recent crash involve broader concerns about safety improvements needed on Route 7 and making sure drivers stay vigilant. In last week’s incident, MartiSee CRASH on page 4
Town closes Shelburnewood planning grant BRIANA BRADY STAFF WRITER
Shelburnewood, a local cooperatively owned neighborhood, has closed the books on a state community development grant, leaving most of it unused. The $60,000 of funding provided for engineering and design work to explore the possibility of additional affordable housing on eight unused acres of their property. However, Shelburnewood has decided not to move forward with the project — neighbors want to keep things as they are. The residents of the mobile home community off Falls Road have owned their land since 2015, after a transfer from previous owner Tony Pomerleau, and have since governed with a cooperative board. They applied for the grant — with a 25% match from co-op
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and 20 hours of grant administration from the town — in 2019. The state deadline for spending the money was initially the end of 2023. “Because of Covid and, I believe, some changes in administration with the town of Shelburne, the grant wasn’t accessed and no work was done,” town manager Matt Lawless said in 2023 before the selectboard voted to ask the state for an extension. Since then, Lawless said at the selectboard meeting on Dec. 16, in light of a focus on affordable housing, the town staff “sharpened our attention on this grant project and made sure to wrap it up.” According to a report written by Lawless to close out the grant with the state, last May, South Burlington’s Civil Engineering Associates presented residents with options for adding up to 35
lots on what they refer to as “the back 40” — the additional acreage on the property. At its annual meeting, the co-op voted the project down 19-1. The reasons for this refusal, per the report, are multi-fold. For one, it states, residents involved were “fatigued” with the years-long process. “A history of poor landlord management, inconsistent action from the Town, and a revolving door of potential developers did not allow for genuine community support to be fostered,” the report reads. Additionally, Lawless cites the difficulty presented by the scope of the project. Current estimates place the cost just shy of $3 million, and while the infrastructure is there — See GRANT on page 9
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Page 4 • December 26, 2025 • Shelburne News
Shelburne Police Blotter: Dec. 7 - Dec. 20 Total reported incidents: 146 Traffic stops: 11 Tickets: 2 Warnings: 9 Medical emergencies: 55 Mental health incidents: 7 Suspicious incidents: 7 Directed patrols: 89 Citizen assists: 13 Motor vehicle complaints: 2 Car crash: 6 Animal problem: 2 Noise disturbance: 2 Theft: 14 Vandalism: 1 Property damage: 1 Fraud: 3 Alarms: 14 Pending investigations: 20 911 Hang-up calls: 3 Untimely deaths: Dec. 16 at 7:19 p.m., Mauricio Martinez, 52, of Schenectady, NY, died after getting hit by a car near Shelburne Road and Tamarack Shores (see related story, page 3). Arrests/citations: Dec. 14 at 3:51 p.m., Kaleb Hayes, 26, of Burlington, for driving under the influence on Route 116. Selected incidents: Dec. 7 at 11:10 p.m., police assisted in mediating a verbal dispute on Shelburne Road. Dec. 8 at 5:55 p.m., police assisted in mediating a domestic dispute
at the T-Bird Motel. Dec. 9 at 12:01 p.m., a caller reported that their vehicle was vandalized on Harrington Avenue. Dec. 10 at 7:51 a.m., someone reported a person passed out in a vehicle on Harbor Road. Officers were unable to locate the vehicle. Dec. 10 at 2:53 p.m., Tractor Supply reported a theft. Dec. 12 at 9:17 a.m., a cow was spotted in the road near Pond Road and Finney Ridge. The animal was removed by its owner. Dec. 12 at 9:54 a.m., a caller on Maplewood Drive reported being defrauded. Dec. 13 at 12:52 a.m., a caller reported loud banging noises coming from a neighboring apartment on Henry Street. Dec. 13 at 10:33 a.m., a caller reported loud whistling coming from a neighboring apartment on Margarets Way. Officers asked the person in the adjacent apartment to stop blowing the whistle. Dec. 13 at 1:49 p.m., a caller reported a fraud on Shelburne Road. Dec. 13 at 10:04 p.m., police mediated a dispute at the T-Bird Motel and Emergency Medical Services took a man to the hospital after determining he was intoxicated. Dec. 15 at 5:29 p.m., police located the driver of a vehicle parked at the entrance to the Shelburne
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Police investigate thefts in Shelburne and Charlotte BRIANA BRADY STAFF WRITER
A series of thefts were carried out across Shelburne and Charlotte overnight between Dec. 18 and Dec. 19 and police said they appears to have been carried out by the same people. In Shelburne, two people in hats and backpacks were caught on video from a driveway camera breaking the windows of a truck on Ridgefield Road and reaching in to take items. According to a press release from Shelburne Police Department, nearby mail-
boxes and other cars were also broken into, and one car was stolen — totaling six reported thefts from Ridgefield Road. The police later recovered the car in Charlotte. In Charlotte, state police reported that there were two stolen vehicles and more cars that had been broken into along Greenbush Road. A photo taken from a driveway camera shows two people in what appear to be the same outfits and backpacks as the people in the video caught in Shelburne. One of the cars reported stolen
in Charlotte was also recovered later. No one from the video or photographs has been identified yet, and the investigations are ongoing. Both state and Shelburne police put out notices reminding residents to keep valuables out of their cars, doors locked, outside lights on and to check any cameras they might have. Information about thefts in Charlotte should go to the state police, at 802-878-7111. For information about the thefts in Shelburne, the local police number is 802-985-8051.
an-driver interactions, specifically along the portion of road where the incident occurred, may be more likely following an increasing number of residential developments over the years. Bay Ridge, a new housing development south of Lakeview Drive with nearly 100 units just opened in October, and one of Shelburne’s largest and most dense housing developments, lies between Martindale Road and Hedgerow Drive. Because Route 7 is a state highway, however, lighting and upgrades fall under the jurisdiction of the Vermont Agency of Transportation. On top of the lighting issues, Flore voiced concerns not neces-
sarily about distracted driving, but what many think of as “autopilot” — when drivers are on roads deeply familiar to them, or during a frequent commute, they may not be as alert to their surroundings. “Drivers need to be thinking about this all the time,” Flore said. “I think drivers get themselves into a place of autopilot, and it’s almost like they’re not driving the car.” So far this year, according to data from Vermont State Police there have been 57 traffic crash fatalities in Vermont. The 10-year annual average is 63. While pedestrian deaths are rarer in general, this will be at least the fifth death of a pedestrian or cyclist on Shelburne Road in the last five years.
CRASH continued from page 3 nez — who, according to police, appeared to be visiting the area — was crossing the road without using the pedestrian crosswalk beneath the stoplight at Lakeview Drive and Shelburne Road, calling into question his visibility after dark. “We all know Route 7 is not well lit. The streetlights are lacking, especially on that stretch of road,” Flore said. Driving along Route 7, the streetlights become more sparse traveling south from Burlington to Shelburne. While there are still lights, after the Shelburne town line, they don’t dot the roadside at the same rate as in the commercial district in South Burlington. Flore said the risk of pedestri-
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Shelburne News • December 26, 2025 • Page 5
OPINION Vermont needs more balance, not more one-party rule Guest Perspective Ashley Bartley On Dec. 1, the Vermont Department of Taxes released its annual report outlining what Vermonters can expect for the education portion of their property tax bills in the coming year. Unfortunately, the news is not good. Once again, the data shows that without meaningful action from Montpelier, families, seniors and
working Vermonters will face substantial property tax increases. This trend should not surprise anyone who has followed the last few years of state budgeting. However, it should concern all of us, because behind every percentage increase is a household already stretched thin and a community struggling to stay affordable. During the 2025 legislative biennium, lawmakers proved something important: When Montpelier is balanced, when
Standing with Afghan allies and Vermont’s future Guest Perspective Molly Gray I was a senior in high school when 9/11 happened. I will never forget where I was or how the day unfolded. I wasn’t yet 18, but my entire adult life would be shaped by that event. Soon after, the U.S. invaded Afghanistan, and then Iraq. U.S. involvement in Afghanistan would last 21 years, and at one point Vermont would have the highest per-capita population of servicemembers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq in the nation. Over the last three years as the executive director of the Vermont Afghan Alliance, I’ve met countless veterans, former aid workers, lawyers, contractors and others who worked in Afghanistan. U.S. efforts focused on everything from counterterrorism and the rule of law to education and agriculture. During the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, the U.S. evacuated an estimated 125,000 Afghan allies. That was only a fraction of those who had worked with the U.S. government over two decades. An estimated 145,000 Afghans eligible for Special Immigrant Visas were left behind, along with countless wives and children. Many men evacuated in 2021 were told to leave their families behind with the promise of reunification within a year, yet separation continues. The Vermont Afghan Alliance began in 2022 as a scrappy, GoFundMe-funded, volunteer-led effort to help newly arriving Afghans learn to drive and obtain a license. In Vermont, we all know that without a car, employment options shrink quickly. Today, Afghan allies live in more than a dozen towns — from St. Albans to Bennington and Rutland to Hartford — well beyond traditional resettlement hubs like Burlington. In 2023, I joined the Alliance as an “interim” executive director to help grow and professionalize the organization.
While I never worked in Afghanistan, I spent much of my twenties with the International Committee of the Red Cross, promoting U.S. compliance with the Geneva Conventions in Afghanistan, Iraq and at Guantánamo. My brother served in Iraq, and like so many of my generation, my adult life has been shaped by the so-called “Global War on Terror.” I felt a deep responsibility to a community that had risked so much in support of U.S. missions abroad. I also felt a strong sense of Vermont’s hospitality — that if you welcome someone into your home, at a minimum you provide food, shelter and safety. Finally, as someone long concerned about our demographics, the truth is simple: we are not going to birth our way out of our workforce crisis. The solution lies in welcoming people — and their talents — from across the country and the world. Since 2023, the Alliance, together with community partners, has welcomed and served an estimated 650 Afghan allies statewide with employment, driving lessons, housing assistance, immigration legal services, civic education, health programming and more. We’ve partnered with dozens of employers across northern Vermont eager to hire Afghan allies and willing to make small workplace adjustments. Through our driving program alone, more than 60 individuals have passed the Vermont road test. From manufacturing to healthcare, education to commercial truck driving, Afghan allies are filling high-demand jobs, strengthening our rural economy and enriching our communities. A recent USCRI policy report found that Afghan allies nationwide have contributed an estimated $1.79 billion in local, state and federal taxes, including contributions to Medicare and Social Security. Contrary to harmful rhetoric, Afghan allies are not a “drain” on the See GRAY on page 11
republicans, democrats and indepena balanced Legislature, one where no dents work together, real collaboration single party can push through an agenda is not only possible, it’s productive. We without listening to the rest of the state. A saw thoughtful negotiation, responsible balanced Montpelier fosters negotiation, decision-making and a willingness to put moderation, accountability and collabVermonters ahead of party oration. It ensures that politics. That balance policies are shaped not Vermonters deserve brought moderation back by ideology, but by what into state government, and actually works for the better. We deserve it kept extreme policies in communities we call a transparent, check. home. Unfortunately, that As we confront the accountable process. reality of rising property spirit of collaboration has taken a hit. The Vermont taxes again, workforce Redistricting Task Force has failed to shortages, a housing crisis, and the strain follow through on its obligations under on our education system, Vermonters Act 73. Rather than presenting Vermontshould remember this: a balanced governers with the new district maps required ment isn’t a talking point. It’s the key to by law, the Task Force is now suggestrestoring affordability and common sense. ing voluntary mergers; an approach that Montpelier works best when it reflects sidesteps their responsibility and creates all of Vermont, not just one political even more uncertainty for towns, school persuasion. If we want a state that protects districts and taxpayers caught in the working families, seniors and young middle. people trying to build their lives here, Vermonters deserve better. We deserve then we must protect balance. Because a transparent, accountable process; not balance is what keeps government honest, one that shifts responsibility or tries to responsive and focused on solutions — paper over problems with half-measures. not partisan agendas. The path forward for Vermont requires Vermont’s future depends on it.
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Page 6 • December 26, 2025 • Shelburne News
Letters to the Editor Observations on forest block restrictions To the Editor: I appreciated the good and thorough Dec.11 article, “Selectboard considers pushback on forest block restrictions.” It’s a complicated, often emotional issue. Let me offer just two of many possible points: When we moved to Shelburne, two realtors and two parties who made offers told us the patch of woodland on our property, plus the extensive forest across the street, increased the value of our property. The worn-out trope about “stealing,” once largely the rant of far-right property rights groups, has fallen by the wayside as the concept of “the commons” has taken hold. It’s the notion that we are not islands unto ourselves, free of obligation to anyone or anything else, but members of not one but several communities, whether they be forests, wetlands, habitats and so on, including our human communities. Neal Burdick Shelburne
Report imperative in education conversations To the Editor: In his recent letter to the Shelburne News (“CVSD has reason to celebrate their students’ successes,” Dec. 11, 2025), Champlain Valley School District Superintendent Adam Bunting countered National Assessment of Educational Progress data showing Vermont’s educational decline with data that show CVSD’s student performance on certain metrics is exceptional when compared to statewide averages. However, he doesn’t address
concerns about Vermont’s “highest staffing ratio in the country, 3.4 to 1.” Also, while believing that “education should transcend politics,” he attributes some of the decline in statewide student performance to the change from “a commissioner to a secretary of education.” Notable by its absence in his letter is mention of the Picus Odden report and its evidencebased findings. Commissioned by the Legislature in June 2024, this report was released by the Joint Fiscal Office four months later. Its executive summary states that Vermont spends around $400 million more than necessary, and that, if staffing ratios and school district scale were based on its model, student performance could be improved. It is this report and its recommendations that inform the narratives of Gov. Scott and the well-intentioned legislators disparaged in his letter. Until we transcend the self-interested politics and special interests that have stymied efforts to transform the delivery of education in Vermont, we will continue to see inefficient spending and school budget defeats, all to the detriment of too many Vermont students. While we can applaud CVSD for being better than average, we must strive to give all Vermont students optimal educational opportunities. It is time we support our legislators and the administration in transforming Vermont education with Act 73. Robert Finn Shelburne Robert Finn served on the Shelburne and Chittenden South Supervisory school boards from 2010-2017.
Hommage à Grand-mère Elise et sa salade verte Guest Perspective Bill Schubart Born in 1901, Grammie Couture lived over 101 years. She was the family matriarch, the friend we all turned to when our lives tipped over. Although deeply religious, Grammie bore no judgments. We could count on her unqual-
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ified love and understanding. She forbore any comment about my departure from the Catholic Church at 18, my three marriages and she was always there for my children and former wives. For much of her life, our mother battled depression and would retire to her bedroom for days at a time. Grammie would “drop by” with a casserole and spend a bit of time tidying up in
Mom’s absence. Her signature dish and our childhood favorite we called “Cheez-Whiz Broccoli.” It could be prepared in a flash by stirring together a box of Minute Rice, a jar of Cheez-Whiz and a bag of frozen broccoli florets. (Combine all ingredients in a casserole dish, stir gently and bake for 20 minutes at 350.) The ‘50s and ‘60s began the market decline of fresh food and
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the birth of the industrial food age. TV advertising convinced us that frozen and canned vegetables were superior to the fresh produce available locally. Spam, Velveeta, Junket, Cap’n Crunch cereal and Tang became staples as did “Bunny Bread” and oleomargarine, the white bars of which came with a small bladder of reddish dye to be blended in to make it look like butter, even though it never
61
tasted like butter. I remember going into Patch’s Market with a grocery list from Dad. “Half a pound of cheese, sir,” I intoned to Mr. Patch. “White or yellow?” he answered, even as a large wheel of Vermont cheddar sat atop the meat case under a glass cloche.
Buying locally helps grow other businesses.
See SCHUBART on page 7
Shelburne News • December 26, 2025 • Page 7
Education transformation about more than just taxes Guest Perspective Zoie Saunders Education Transformation in Vermont is not just about property taxes. It is about building and sustaining the best education system in America. At a moment when nearly every other state is diverting dollars away from public education, Vermont has chosen a different path. Earlier this year, a bipartisan coalition passed Act 73 — a bill that doubles down on public education as the great equalizer, the pathway out of poverty, and the engine that fuels our economy. Having the best education system in America is not just about test scores. It is about giving every student the opportunity to succeed, regardless of economic disadvantage, language status, or the town they call home. Giving every student in Vermont the opportunity to succeed requires us to ask why these opportunities remain so uneven. Why do some students not have access to the same course offerings as their peers in other districts? Why do some students
attend districts with nearly half the per pupil spending as others? Why do rural and economically disadvantaged areas struggle to offer competitive teacher salaries on par with wealthier pockets of the state? Why are there persistent achievement gaps between students from historically marginalized backgrounds and their peers? The root cause of our inequities is a simple but hard truth: we are not organizing or operating our statewide education system well. Because of that, we are not directing resources to the places where they can make the greatest difference — supporting students and paying teachers competitively. The good news is that we have a plan. During the 2025 legislative session, the Governor, the Agency of Education, and the General Assembly worked together to develop a roadmap that positions Vermont as a national leader in education. Given the magnitude of the change proposed, Vermonters have questions, as they should. Will this plan save money? Will this plan actually give kids more opportunities? Will this plan better
support teachers? Will this plan result in a more predictable and equitable approach to funding our education system? We did our homework, and the answer is yes. Extensive cost modeling was conducted throughout the legislative process. We built budgets, we adapted the plan based on educator input, and we engaged independent school finance experts. Their review, based on research, data and best practices, confirmed that the plan does what Vermonters expect: It puts teaching and learning first, it aligns with education and management best practices, it directs more resources to students and staff, and it strengthens Vermont’s statewide commitment to equity. The resulting bipartisan bill, Act 73, represents one of the largest education investments in the country. Vermont is on the cusp of something special. A generational investment combined with generational change means that we can main-
tain smaller elementary schools through thoughtful staffing while shifting resources to create more robust middle and high schools. We can expand mental health and behavior supports, we can enhance electives and special programs, and we can even create new, innovative pathways for high school students. It all sounds good, right? Yes, and it is possible — but only if we are willing to change. That change requires moving to larger districts for Vermont to ensure the generational investment of Act 73 reaches all students. Let’s be clear: larger districts create economies of scale that can determine whether a school can offer advanced courses, hire a reading coach, or afford a strong continuum of supports. Ultimately, education transformation is about Vermonters coming together to acknowledge our challenges and tackle them collectively. Right now, local communities are fending for themselves. The status quo has put local school
boards and districts in a difficult position where staffing and programming cuts are being made and schools are being closed, all while property taxes continue to rise and families continue to be priced out of local communities. We cannot ask local communities to fend for themselves. We cannot ask local communities — on their own — to boost educational outcomes while bending the cost curve of funding education. We cannot ask a fragmented structure to deliver world-class results. We have to do this together. Change is hard, but Vermonters have shown we can do hard things by coming together. Let’s come together to follow through on the bipartisan plan to build the best education system in America — a plan that puts students before politics, raises teacher pay, and creates opportunities and programs that rival every other state in the country. Our kids deserve nothing less. Zoie Saunders is the Vermont Secretary of Education.
SCHUBART
continued from page 6 On the first Sunday of each month after ten o’clock Mass at Holy Family Church in Morrisville, we’d gather around Grammie’s dining room table for Sunday dinner. It was an enduring ritual until one Sunday, sporting a blue-black bruise around her left eye, Grammie announced she could no longer live alone and charged dad with finding her a retirement home. For a decade leading up to her moving out of her apartment, we’d parade into her house dressed in our church finery and encounter the smell of her signature pork roast sizzling in her new electric oven. Her large farm table displayed her best porcelain china and starched linens. The protocols of serving and consuming Sunday dinner matched those that my brother Mike and I, both altar boys, were familiar with serving mass, all very formal. Dad would process in from the kitchen, bearing the large ironstone platter of charred pork and mint jelly. Grammie had grown up with a fear of trichinosis, so pork was routinely charred to ensure the elimination of any parasites. Grammie would bring in a smaller platter of roast potatoes and one of us kids would bring the bowl of canned green beans and another the saucer of bread and the butter dish.
Dad would slice the pork and Grammie would serve the potatoes and beans, passing to each of us a full plate. Still a toddler, our sister Claire would sneak a small slab of butter and slip it in her mouth like fudge. This Sunday dinner tradition continued for almost two decades. One year, when Mike and I were in our teens, Mike asked Grammie if she ever made green salad. “No,” she answered abruptly. “I ’ave a ’iatal ’ernia and dem leaves gets caught in my t’roat.” That ended the salad conversation. The following month, the family trouped in for Sunday dinner expecting the regular menu. But then to our surprise, Grammie returned to the kitchen and came out bearing a dinner plate featuring a quivering dome of green Jell-O in which were suspended canned mandarin orange sections, miniature marshmallows, walnuts and multi-colored M&M’s. “You like da green salad, so I made one. Mangez-bien!” We all just stared at the green quivering mass. Bill Schubart grew up in Lamoille County and now lives in Hinesburg. He writes about Vermont in fiction, humor and opinion pieces.
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Page 8 • December 26, 2025 • Shelburne News
COMMUNITY Community Notes All Brains Belong hosts a virtual NYE All Brains Belong, a nonprofit dedicated to building neuroinclusive communities, is hosting its 4th annual virtual New Year’s Eve: You’re Not Alone, which is an interactive online event that provides a welcoming, sensory-friendly alternative to traditional New Year’s festivities, offering music, activities and community connection for people of all ages. It takes place Dec. 31 from 5-8 p.m. There is no expectation for anyone to outwardly participate. Attendees are welcome to keep cameras off, sit back and observe, or join in as much or as little as feels right. The focus is on connection without pressure, ensuring that everyone knows they are not alone. “So many of us are living with needs that aren’t being met — in healthcare, in community, in daily life. Especially if you’re neurodivergent, or living with chronic
illness, it can feel like you’re carrying it all alone,” Dr. Mel Houser, family physician and executive director of All Brains Belong, said. For tickets, more information and/or to register for the raffle, allbrainsbelong.org/new-years.
Celebrate NYE with Dave Keller Hot off the heels of his fiveweek, coast-to-coast U.S. tour, soul/ blues musician Dave Keller brings his brand new, all-original “La Brea” album to life, for a special early evening New Year’s Eve concert at the Unitarian Church of Montpelier at 130 Main St. For this intimate, solo performance, singer/ guitarist Keller will be performing all the songs from “La Brea,” many for the very first time in Vermont. Soul/Roots torchbearer Dave Keller, who is based in Montpelier, has made his reputation through near-constant touring, at top venues and festivals, since the late 1990s.
“La Brea” (Tastee Tone Records) lives at the perfect intersection of soul, country and roots. Doors open at 5 p.m. Concert begins at 5:30 p.m. All ages are welcome. Accessible to all abilities. Free on-street parking. No food or beverages allowed. Tickets are $20 if purchased by Christmas; $25 if purchased after Christmas. Ticket info at eventbrite. com or davekeller.com/shows.
Celebrate New Year’s with Beethoven The Green Mountain Mahler Festival presents Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony for their New Year’s concerts. Conducted by Danial Bruce with Mary Jane Austin as the chorusmaster. Concerts are Jan. 1, 2026, at 3 p.m. and Jan. 2 at 7 p.m., both at the Elley-Long Music Center at 223 Ethan Allen Ave., Colchester. Vocal soloists include Stefanie Weigand, Nessa Rabin, Kartik Ayysola and Erik Kroncke.
Obituary Margaret Pasley Rosenberg Margaret (Megs) Pasley Rosenberg, née Akey, 78, of Shelburne, died peacefully Dec. 13, 2025, at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Her passing brought an end to a life filled with service to others and a love of family and friends. Born in 1947 in Burlington, she was the first of six children born to John and Peggy Akey. When her siblings came along, she quickly took on a matriarchal role that never really left her, though some might describe it as more “bossy” than maternal. As a child of the 60s, she looked upon authority with more than a healthy skepticism that never left her. This was made evident to her parents and siblings throughout her adolescence. Her summers were spent at Sand Dunes Beach on Lake Champlain, where she developed deep and abiding friendships with cousins too numerous to mention and the children of Raymond and Ruth McKenzie. Those connections, and the many others she developed over her lifetime, lasted throughout her life and brought her great joy and comfort. She graduated from Marymount Manhattan College in 1969 with a degree in political science.
Margaret Pasley Rosenberg
And while her passion for political change never left her, she decided to effect change one person at a time by becoming a nurse. In 1974, after completing her registered nurse course of study at Columbia University School of Nursing, she began her career in New York. She later moved to Cincinnati, where she met, fell in love with and married the love of her life, Paul Rosenberg, who pre-deceased her in 2020. They had two children, Eliza and Nell, and raised them in New York, Maryland, North Carolina and Florida as Paul’s career as a medical school lawyer grew. Upon Paul’s retirement, he asked Megs where they should settle, and she told him it would be to return to the people and the
place she loved most in the world, Vermont. They moved there in 2011 and never left. Megs summed up her life by saying to her brother, Kevin, “I cared for the people I knew and loved. That’s all there is.” There is a lot of truth there. And in her memory, as we grieve over our loss, we can follow the advice of her good friend, Charles O’Rouke, who advised, “Grieve as we do in Ireland — cry, take a glass of good whiskey and play Megs’ favorite music.” A small local memorial was held Thursday, Dec. 18, from 4-6 p.m. at the Ready Funeral Home South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Road, Burlington, VT. A large memorial will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Breakthrough T1D (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation) and Planned Parenthood. And in lieu of attendance at the funeral, Megs would be pleased if you, like her mother’s wish before her, would fix yourself an old fashioned and call someone you haven’t spoken to in a long time. Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To share online condolences, please visit readyfuneral. com.
PHOTO BY DAVE SNYDER
Blue musuician Dave Keller has released a new album.
Proceeds will benefit the Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity. Tickets $30 adult, $25 senior, $20 student or child. For more information and to purchase tickets visit vtmahler.org.
Observe complexities of wall sculpture The Vermont State Curator’s Office presents its first exhibition of 2026 at the Vermont Supreme Court Gallery with Montpelier artist Rob Hitzig, titled “Planting Confusion, Sowing Doubt.” Hitzig creates two-dimensional largescale wall sculptures which have taken a fresh direction from the artist’s previous work even though Hitzig’s love of geometry continues to ring throughout this exhibition. The integration of his brilliant paint colors, new shapes and materials, shines perfectly with each work of art. The opening reception is Friday, Jan. 9 from 4:30-7 p.m. at the Vermont Supreme Court Gallery, 111 State St., Montpelier, with Artist Remarks at 6 p.m. The exhibition will be up until March 27. A native of New York City, Rob Hitzig is a self-taught artist whose work evolved out of a furniture-making practice he developed while working for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, DC. With his love for the natural beauty of wood, Hitzig’s artistic practice includes paintings as well as painted sculpture, all of which explore color and movement through linear patterns. He has lived in Vermont for over 20 years. All artist receptions at the
Vermont Supreme Court Gallery are free and open to the public. Food and drink will be served. For additional information, please contact Assistant Vermont State Curator Jack Zeilenga at 802-595-4381 or jack.zeilenga@vermont.gov.
View images of the often-overlooked The Current, 90 Pond St., Stowe, announced “Symbiosis,” a solo exhibition by Italian documentary photographer Giacomo d’Orlando, on view Jan. 15-April 10, 2026. The exhibition is an urgent and visually arresting exploration of the profound relationship between humans and the sea. Drawing on years of research across coastal regions in Thailand, Indonesia, Australia and the Philippines, d’Orlando reveals how the climate crisis is reshaping both ecosystems and the communities whose survival depends on them. D’Orlando’s combines traditional techniques of documentary photography with a full-frame camera and prime lenses, along with aerial and underwater photography. The series juxtaposes the breathtaking natural beauty of marine environments with the resilience and vulnerability of the communities that depend on them. Through environmental portraiture, documentary imagery and landscape studies, Symbiosis gives voice to those navigating rising sea levels, eroding shores and vanishing biodiversity.
Shelburne News • December 26, 2025 • Page 9
COURTESY OF CHITTENDEN COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION
The proposed Shelburne pedestrian bridge as seen above would connect to a shared use path on the eastern side of Route 7. Opting out of the bridge and the shared use paths would not preclude the town from upgrading the intersection.
WEBSTER ROAD continued from page 1 of the recommendations — the bridge and shared use paths — presented on Dec. 16, board members were more skeptical. “I think in a more normal federal environment, where we could predict more availability of funds, it’d be a lot easier to, you know, really go aggressively on that,” selectboard vice chair Matt Wormser said. “If there’s no grant funding available, it becomes a lot harder, given our other financial things going on.” The proposed bridge would span the LaPlatte along the route created by the Vermont Department of Transportation to divert traffic when it last made improvement to the nearby motor-vehicle bridge. While the paving down to the river is still easy to spot, according to Gringas, the
abutments — structures providing support at either end of a bridge — were removed when the work was finished, taking away what might have been a cost savings for the town. The shared use paths would be eight feet across each and extend from the bridge on the east side of the street and the Harrington Avenue cross walk on the east. According to Gringas, with existing right of way, there would be no issue with impinging on adjacent properties. The proposal for the bridge is the most expensive of the three. The projects break down to $3.7 million for the bridge and $950,000 for the two eight foots paths — in contrast, the updates to the sidewalk and curb around the corner of lower Webster
GRANT continued from page 3 Pomerleau updated the utilities to accommodate for expansion — residents would need significant support from the town and continued grant funding. “While the Town has a vested interest in the success of this development due to the growing need for affordable workforce housing, it does not have the capacity to dedicate additional staff time to a long-term project of this scale,” Lawless writes. Since the community applied for the grant, other affordable housing projects in town have gone forward — notably, nearly 100 units developed along Route 7 by Champlain Housing Trust, which opened in October. The Champlain Valley School District has also begun studying the possibility of putting in workforce housing on land it owns, also off Route 7. However, the Shelburnewood property is
within the village growth area, a desirable place to increase housing infill, per recent state regulation and guidance, which allows for greater density within village and town centers. Should Shelburnewood residents decide to move forward with a project in the future, Lawless indicated that there might be a number of community organizations willing to partner with them, including Champlain Housing Trust. For now, Lawless lauded the decision as a kind of democracy in action. “I don’t see this as a failure of affordable housing policy in any kind of way,” he said at the meeting on Dec. 16, “but rather an important success for residents, being empowered, making the right choice for their neighborhood, and being able to say no to something that didn’t fit.”
Road are $250,000. The town and the regional commission are also in the process of applying for a state grant to cover the majority of the cost. If they get it, Shelburne would only be on the hook for a $50,000
match. The resistance to the recommendations See WEBSTER ROAD on page 11
News from Pierson Library Visit the Pierson Library for the following events, at 5376 Shelburne Road. • Read to a Dog, Saturday, Dec. 27: 10:30 a.m.-noon. Emerging readers practice with Taffy, a therapy dog. Call 802-985-5124 to register. • Teen Cozy Crochet and Knitting Club, Saturday, Dec. 27, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Teens gather to work on crochet or knitting projects; materials and donuts provided. • Noon Year’s Eve Party, Wednesday, Dec. 31: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
A family-friendly early New Year celebration with minigolf, crafts, a scavenger hunt and a noon balloon drop. Noon Year’s Eve Party 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Why stay up until midnight to celebrate New Year’s Eve? Join us for an early celebration of the 2026 with our Noon Year’s Even party. Families can play minigolf in Town Hall, go on a scavenger hunt, make a craft, make a wish, and countdown with us at noon with a balloon drop!
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Page 10 • December 26, 2025 • Shelburne News
Libraries hold stories both inside and outside of books SOPHIA BALUNEK STAFF WRITER
Samara Anderson has an oft-repeated mantra: “Everyone has a story and everyone has an interesting life.” Emotions shifted from laughter to wonder to sympathy as Vermonters from nine towns across the state took to the stage of the South Burlington Public Library last Thursday for a Best of Storytellers event. Presenters were tasked with telling true stories, without notes, between five and eight and a half minutes. The audience was instructed to give “thunderous applause” as each storyteller made their way to the stage and to be present, active listeners. And that they were. The crowd giggled, guffawed, fell silent or even sang as needed. Anderson, a Monkton resident and lawyer, is on a quest to host storytelling events at every library in the state. This year, there were 10, and one storyteller from each was chosen by the respective librarian and invited to last week’s event, a Best of 2025 Library Storytellers reunion of sorts. Brattleboro lawyer Raven Rae was called back after telling a career story at a law-themed event earlier this year. However, the story she told last week was personal, more vulnerable. “This one’s about me, so the stakes are a little different,” she said. Rae went in cold, but when she got to the heart of her story, her comfort on stage increased and the emotions of her memory came through sharp and clear. She told the story of the first time, at the age of six, she felt extreme heartbreak and betrayal. Her mother sent her to ballet class, much to her chagrin — that is, until she met the teacher. She was bubbly, graceful and encouraging — everything little Rae needed. Then, she found out she had to perform at a recital for other people. “I was dancing to get out of the house. I was dancing for love. I was dancing for fun. I was dancing for this teacher who I adored. I was dancing for me. I was not dancing for an audience. I was certainly not dancing for my mother,” Rae said. Rae is not a storyteller by trade and the invitation was unexpected, but she pushed herself to do it for personal growth. Since the first event, she’s sought opportunities for sharing and hearing stories and wants to create more spaces for storytelling. “You pass people on the street, and you meet them in your work life,” Rae said, “And it’s these tiny
PHOTO BY SOPHIA BALUNEK
Samara Anderson hosted the Best of Vermont Storytelling 2025 event in the South Burlington Public Library’s auditorium on Dec. 18.
little stories, these little vignettes. You really start to see, kind of, who people are and what they’ve gone through, and how they got to be who they are.” Anderson also attributes much of her own storytelling skill to being a lawyer. She said being in front of a jury requires telling a story. “They want to connect to the story, and they want to feel something,” she said.
Regular people, regular stories The people who participate in these events are regular people, community members, neighbors. Some may be professional storytellers, but many had never done something like this. “I think being able to get up in front of an audience and share anything is very empowering to people,” Anderson said. “It brings a whole different intimacy to it,” audience member Carol Talley said. She said she found the stories rich and made her wonder what stories everyone is carrying. “They are regular people all the time and there’s these little bubbles floating around over them (with) their stories.” One narrative was about a woman, a rabbit and a dream of a new life. Kim Lipinski, of Hardwick, took a deep breath before speaking and continually surprised the audience, her tale
touching on being a 20-something Jeremiah got to the part when he yearning to be an artist, divorcing was driving 35 mph on the interan un-ambitious men, and throw- state and someone rolled down ing her pet crocodile in the L.A. their window and asked, “Are you river and rabbits on planes — ok?” and he just erupted into an making one wonder how many emotional breakdown. other stories her life has to tell. Devout audience members “I took my bunny out, put him and Hinesburg residents Ruth on my lap and dreamed of my new Ann Rhodes and John Pendris life,” was Lipinski’s closing line. have traveled to seven of the 10 Between speakers, Anderson events so far. Rhodes enjoys them provided poetic quips, asked the for the “variety of stories” where audience questions like “Who “some are very touching and was raised on a some make you farm?” or “How laugh.” They “We’re all humans, many of you are are both lovers crying?” and of storytelling right? We’re all read from slips and supporters of paper filled of libraries, and meant to experience out by audience they even met members with each other at a all the emotions.” vignettes of their library-hosted own, often in the — Samara Anderson event. form of suspenseWith his ful one-liners. right hand The evening included a new outstretched for emphasis, Bill storyteller arrangement, a father Torrey of Hinesburg told a gripand two-son trio called The Three ping tale of deer hunting with Dudes, or alternatively, the Cour- old-school Vermonter phrasing gettes. Jeremiah, Abraham and such as, “I’m starting to shake like Manny Breer, of Cabot, told the a dog passing a pinecone.” But story of a hiking trip gone bad. with a cadence that hung on every The father led, re-living the story word, he spoke of his passion for of one son breaking his arm on the hunting, something that mesmerway down Mount Pisgah and the izes him and connects him to the treacherous walk down, requir- land, all while breaking his heart ing assistance from anyone who — making it all the more sacred. passed by. Each son chimed in Other stories had a humorwith critical detail. ous lightness to them, like Peter The story was told with humor, Burns, who was chosen from the way a kid would, but it shift- the Waterville event and talked ed to a relatable seriousness when in a deadpan funny way with
strict enunciation. He spoke about buying a bespoke suit with bike spokes on the inside for his daughter’s wedding that included the line, “There was a major decision to be made, pocket square or no pocket square. Naturally, I consulted my therapist.” Megan Price, of the Vergennes event, was very relaxed behind the mic, and the room giggled as she told a sarcastic tale about knowing more about a rat than a boyfriend she had in her 20s.
Storytellers’ favorite stories After telling their tales, storytellers, whether because of relief or adrenaline, often needed to be reminded that they weren’t quite done. This being a library event, they needed to display their favorite book and share why they love it or why it resonated with them tonight. “We’re trying to include all the voices that are available in South Burlington and beyond,” Bree Drapa, South Burlington Public Library director, said of hosting the event. “This is a diverse group of people coming from other places, and we’re welcoming them here in South Burlington.” Burn’s book of choice — his daughter’s childhood favorite — was “The Runaway Bunny” by Margaret Wise Brown. He said See STORIES on page 11
Shelburne News • December 26, 2025 • Page 11
STORIES continued from page 10
WEBSTER ROAD continued from page 9
books brought him closer to his daughter and “libraries and books are still close to my heart.” Lee Krohn of Charlotte, after telling a story of the way cameras write stories both in front of and behind the viewfinder, remarked on his background in public service and local government helping him realize the importance of storytelling when convincing people of ideas. “You have to get beyond the law or the technicalities of things to reach people more emotionally. Why you feel something is important, and why you’d like others to share that belief,”
he said. One story brought the room tears. Teacher Steve Holmes of Vergennes told a moving tale of how a 7th grade boy in his class instead taught this teacher to cherish life. “It’s the range of emotions,” Anderson said. “We’re all humans, right? We’re all meant to experience all the emotions.” Anderson has gained a following of speakers and listeners. “When I host these events and go to all these little towns, what I see is just amazing connection and support,” she said. “We listen to understand. We don’t listen to
change people.” The night closed out with a cyclical, multi-decade story about fatherhood and masculinity and the quest to be better. Paul Yoon from Essex spoke with a narrator’s voice, held a Bic razor in his hand, and bookended his story by singing a line from a “Hamilton” song with a little help from the audience: “Someday, someday, yeah you’ll blow us all away.” As Anderson’s two-decade tour of Vermont’s 187 libraries continues, she will be visiting Georgia, East Corinth, Hyde Park, Randolph and Killington in the first half of the new year.
system — their contributions far and board members are Afghan outweigh the short-term support allies themselves — thoughtful, provided during resettlement. courageous, emerging leaders A damaging narrative raised in an Afghanistan backed suggesting Afghan allies are by the U.S. They understand, “unvetted” or as deeply as we pose a secudo, the hope and “What began as rity risk to possibility that this country come with a free an interim role is circulating and democratic became far more from Washingsociety. I’ve been ton. In reality, inspired daily meaningful than I those fleeing by what these the Taliban are young leaders ever expected.” among the most have achieved for thoroughly Vermont and the vetted indi— Molly Gray talents they’ve viduals in this already contributcountry — they were screened ed to our state. during employment with the U.S. I’ll soon step back from the government, during immigration Alliance to make space for new processing and again with every leadership and a new chapter for status adjustment. the organization. What began as Afghan allies are our neighan interim role became far more bors, friends and colleagues. At meaningful than I ever expectthe Alliance, the majority of staff ed. As for what’s next, I hope
to bring what I’ve learned back into state government, where I can have a broader impact as we continue to address our demographic crisis and the policies coming from Washington. To the state and local leaders, community partners and volunteers I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside over the last few years: thank you. I’m inspired and amazed by what we can accomplish when we pool our resources and talents around a common purpose. I’m excited for the Alliance’s next chapter and for all we can continue to achieve for our newest neighbors and Vermont.
doesn’t necessarily come from CCRPC Charlie Baker gave a dislike of the ideas. an update to the selectboard “The consensus from the along with Shelburne reprecommunity and from the sentative Jeff Carr. project team was there was a In response to a question strong desire, not only from about engagement with the members of the community, regional commission, Carr but it seemed like members stepped into the conversation. from the town as well, to “I’m going to be less really build a gateway, a diplomatic than Charlie was,” walking and biking active he said. “We have an issue transportation gateway into as a town that we have to the village deal with, center,” Grin“We have an issue as and that is gas said. when we However, commisa town that we have the selects i o n e d board has work like to deal with.” found itself the scoping in a difficult — Jeff Carr study on financial posiBay Road, tion — the some of town has a list of capital proj- the other studies that we’ve ects that would require $33 done, we should be thoughtmillion in general funds over ful about whether or not we five years and has been look- as a community and you as ing for ways to cut back on a legislative body are going its spending as town officials to be able to follow through. prepare budget estimates for Because the worst thing in the the coming year. world for them, for us, is to Funding the bike and have them go do a study, and pedestrian upgrades would then we not do the what the have to rely heavily on recommendation was.” receiving grants, which Shelburne, he told the both Charest and Gringas selectboard, should be wary were hopeful for. The board, of building a reputation of however, remained skeptical. commission work it won’t The presentation also end up utilizing. came at a time when ShelWhile the selectboard burne has warned about eventually endorsed the commissioning scoping stud- Webster Road study, that’s ies from the regional plan- not a guarantee that the projning commission that the ects will break ground. The town doesn’t follow through sidewalk around the interon. Immediately preceding section may get improved, the first presentation on Oct. but it’s likely the bridge will 28, Executive Director of remain a distant possibility.
GRAY continued from page 5
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Page 12 • December 26, 2025 • Shelburne News
SPORTS CVU hoops teams split success against southern VT team LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT
Girls’ basketball Champlain Valley 43, Burr and Burton 35: The Champlain Valley girls’ basketball pulled out a win in the North-South Tournament on Saturday, beating Burr and Burton in Rutland. Zoey McNabb led all scorers with 24 points for the Redhawks, who move to 2-1 with the win. CVU also beat Hazen on Tuesday, 48-35. Deidre Higgins and McNabb each had 12 points in the win.
Boys’ basketball Burr and Burton 53, Champlain Valley 45: Champlain Valley dropped its first game of the season, losing to Burr and Burton on Saturday at Rutland in the North-South Tournament. Brady Gangl scored 11 points to lead the Redhawks, while Tyler Simons chipped in with 10 points. CVU moved to 2-1 with the loss.
Girls’ ice hockey Chittenden Charge 7, Harwood 2: Six players found the back of the net for the Chittenden Charge as the new cooperative team beat Harwood on Saturday. Leah Schut had two goals and one assist for the Charge, while
Hadia Ahmed, Lilly Poquette, Devin Taylor, Sydney Bernier and Mae Arnoldy all added a goal. Maddie Roy made nine stops in goal. The Charge fell, 2-1, to Hartford on Friday, giving up two goals in the third period. Leah Schut had the lone goal for the Charge, who are 2-1.
Boys’ ice hockey Champlain Valley 7, St. Johnsbury 1: Brady Jones scored four goals for Champlain Valley in a win over St. Johnsbury on Saturday. Shamus Phelan had one goal and two assists, while Henry Bruneau and Zyler Yandow each had a goal. Jack Bryan dished out three assists, and Tommy Barnes made 14 saves for CVU.
Gymnastics Champlain Valley 114.8, Montpelier 21.9: Leah Fortin won the all-around competition, and Champlain Valley beat Montpelier on Saturday in a dual meet at Centrial Vermont Gymnastics Academy. Fortin was first in the all-around, in the vault and floor exercise, and second in the bars. Gabriella Sarafini came in first in the bars and second in the beam for CVU, while McKena Lesage was second in vault, floor and all-around.
While South Burlington and CVU’s girls now play for the same hockey team, the boys’ rivalry remains.
easy, but there’ve been just so many committed parties working together to make it work,” Bunting said. “It’s been an honor to be a part of it.” While a team up between these three teams is new, co-op teams are not new to girls’ hockey in Vermont. The Burlington-Colchester team won a Division I state title two years ago and the Kingdom Blades (which is a co-op between Lyndon, St. Johnsbury and North Country) have been in the mix since 2018. Helping the team transition to this new format has been the addition of coaches from South Burlington. Courtney Barrett and Julia Hudson have joined Bunting’s staff to give the former Wolves players some familiarity. Adding to the familiarity is the team’s home rink — Cairns Arena. The longtime home of both CVU
and South Burlington hockey, all the players are familiar with their home base and for many South Burlington players it marks a return home after a year away. “We all lived together at Cairns Arena, and so there’s a lot of bumping into one another and connecting with one another,” Bunting said. “And when the whistle blows and the puck drops, we all want to win. Everyone is just excited to be there and wants to get better.” With the logistics out of the way — including a new name, new logo and new uniforms — and with the puck dropped on the 2025-26 season, the Charge are excited to hit the ice and see what they can do. “I think that everyone is excited to see what’s possible here and what we can all do together,” Bunting said.
PHOTO BY AL FREY
HOCKEY continued from page 1 The three teams will now form a single entity — the Chittenden Charge — with a new look and new logo. And things are off to a good start for the Charge. They beat Woodstock, 8-0, in their season opener. “I think everyone is fired up to be on the ice, and there is a really great energy with the team,” Bunting said. “We have, as coaches, been trying to do a lot of team building and getting everyone together and trying to create as much trust as possible on and off the ice. I’m really fired up by the energy on this team.” With 11 players from South Burlington, 12 players from Champlain Valley and four players from Mount Mansfield, it is a true collaborative effort this season on the ice. “None of it has been super
PHOTO BY AL FREY
Chittenden Charge’s Cadence Tessier makes a pass from behind the Harwood net during the team’s 8-2 win over the Highlanders on Dec. 20 at Cairns Arena.
Shelburne News • December 26, 2025 • Page 13
Horoscope
December 26, 2025
ANSWERS FROM THIS ISSUE
Weekly Puzzles
Page 14 • December 26, 2025 • Shelburne News
advertise your service here! call 802-238-4980 for rates
shelburne news
service directory Antiques
A local CPA for local people Tax Return Preparation
S-CORPORATION PARTNERSHIPS INDIVIDUAL
Decluttering? Downsizing?
We can help you discover, learn about and sell: WATCHES • JEWELRY • COINS • SILVER • ARTWORK
Now accepting new clients 802.204.2661 arogers@rgcvt.com rgcvt.com
Brian Bittner • 802-489-5210 • info@bittnerantiques.com Wednesday-Friday, with walk-ins to sell Thursdays
YPE
R
ANTIQUES WANTED
Collectibles
H
Accounting
or email advertising@shelburnenews.com
Buying & Consigning
Sports Cards R E L I C and Memorabilia Hyper Relic Bob & Jessica Trautwine
bittnerantiques.com • 2997 Shelburne Road • Shelburne
Cell/Txt: 802-233-1451 • Office: 802-497-1681 Hyperreliccards@gmail.com • hyperrelic.com
Excavating
Hair Salon
Construction • Basement Waterproofing • Crawl Space Repair • Sump Pump Systems • Foundation Repair • Egress Windows
ANADOO
W W AT A C N H T E ED S
Hair Salon
Timothy Melow
Cosmetologist / MakeUp Artist
Excavation • Property Services • Construction Concrete • Plowing & Sanding • Septic
Home Improvement
Bear Ridge Home Improvement
802-777-1274
145 Pine Haven Shores Rd • Ste 2014 • Shelburne 802-528-9141 • 802-999-9726 Melow67@hotmail.com • xanadoohairsalon.com
Insurance
Metal
oll ec wa tor/ tch De vin es. aler g, W Se itl and ith eki S in g, Oth pec ng V , H Lon er S ial I inta ow gin po nte ge Pi ar es, rt/ res an dA ec d, P W t a i a nd tek or n 1 nt I N es, k W 9 iq G an M P 4 u d h J 0 o K EW t a re. ilip tc s-1 e P o & oc h 9 p O EL ols In e 80 ke e, TH RY s A A . ny Ha Ro s M t a l ER , C s o O ili nd AN IN D Co mil lex , t t
1111-855-DRY-TIME • www.northernbasements.com
SCRAP METAL
• Remodeling • Bath renovations • General handy man services • Exterior siding • Painting • Rot replacement • Decking • Construction services • Remodeling • Interior painting services • Tile and hardwood flooring
Covering Your Life’s Journey
Home • Auto • Motorcycle • Watercraft Business • Contractor
29 years experience 802-343-2708 tfortin1007@gmail.com
802-862-1600 • info@turnbaughinsurance.com 188 Allen Brook Lane • Suite 1 • Williston, VT 05495
TRANSFER STATION ROLL OFF BOXES DEMOLITION
CAR PICK UP
Land Maintenance
Landscape / Lawncare
Vermont Land Maintenance
• Forestry Mulching Services • Slope Mowing • Small Land Clearing Projects • Invasive Vegetation • Orchards • Airports •Forestry Mulching • Solar Fields • Farms • Logging Cleanup • Natural Disaster Cleanup M
Vermont Land Maintenance
O NT L
A
VE
ND
R
Adam Dantzscher, Proprietor
M
VLM
A
IN
TENA
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Brushhogging by Adam
Brushhogging • Brush Clearing / Mulching Chain Sawing • Delivery / Haul Away Driveway Repair • Excavating • Roadside Mowing 802-578-8347 / adamdantzscher@aol.com
Get 50% off your first cut
N
Visit our website for more information Brian Washburn Owner
(802) 434-4533 • (802) 373-1755 cell vtlandmaintenance@gmail.com PO Box 899 • Richmond, VT www.vtlandmaintenance.com
(802) 434-4533 Phone (802) 373-1755 Cell vtlandmaintenance@gmail.com PO Box 899, Richmond, VT www.vtlandmaintenance.com
All Metals Recycling Hardwick
802-793-5363
Shelburne News • December 26, 2025 • Page 15
service directory Call 802-238-4980 or email advertising@shelburnenews.com to advertise. Metal
Full Line Steel Service Center
Cutting, Punching, Drilling and Bending Services
802-864-0326 800-540-4692 35 Intervale Rd, Burlington
www.qcsteel.com
INTERIOR PAINTING
Huge inventory of steel, aluminum and stainless in many shapes and sizes from sheets to tubing to angle iron
Serving all your metal needs for over two generations
Painting
Painting
PAINTING
We’ll even recycle your ferrous and non-ferrous metal Delivery available
WALLS•CEILINGS•TRIM•CABINETS•DRYWALL REPAIR Professional•Reliable•Free Estimates•Since 2005 WWW.VTPAINTERS.COM (802) 825-1578
Painting
Renovations
Insured/References
3.5 x 2 AD forExperience Shelburne News & The Citizen Since 1977 ~ Kitchen ~ Home Renovations Tom Tavares 24 Consecutive Weeks $18.00/week forBath both papers $432.00
Sheds
802.355.7148
jeff@aatileandcarpentry.com Serving the Shelburne area for 20+ years
Siding/Remodeling
BEAGLE BUILDERS, LLC
Check out our large inventory in Wolcott.
Remodeling & Additions
ALL TYPES OF SIDING
We will custom build, too!
STORAGE SHEDS - GAZEBOS GARAGES - WOODSHEDS HORSE BARNS - RUN INS CHICKEN COOPS 2083 N Wolcott Rd., Wolcott, VT
802-888-7012
Vinyl/Wood/Composite
Windows & Doors • Decks & Porches
Kitchens & Bathrooms Sunrooms & Garages
Monkton, VT
Vermont Community Newspaper Group
beaglebuilders@gmavt.net
802-453-4340 CALL US! 802-355-0807
Drive the economy LOCAL? WHY GO
SCHEDULE WINTER 2025/26 INTERIOR OR SPRING 2026 EXTERIOR PAINTING! QUALITY • EFFICIENT • TRUSTWORTHY “FOR THE RIGHT PRICE, CALL TONY BRICE!” FREE ESTIMATES
802.777.8771
FULLY INSURED
Septic System Service
RESIDENTIAL SEPTIC PUMP STATION REPAIR SERVICE James Raab, Sr.
RESIDENTIAL PAINTING 4/29/2019 South Burlington, VT 802-864-9082 tavares.tom56@gmail.com
TONY BRICE PAINTING, LLC
Floats • Fittings • Pumps Quality Work and Parts at a Fair Price
802.658.5564
Shelburne News Service Directory It does a BIG job for your business for a little price.
Call 802-238-4980 for details.
Local businesses employ people who are customers of other local shops, restaurants, printers, accountants, farms, attorneys, etc. ... Maybe even yours.
Page 16 • December 26, 2025 • Shelburne News
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