The Citizen - 12-26-25

Sharing stories

Bright idea

Vermonters from all over the state tell stories from their lives

Winter Lights brightens Shelburne Museaum at darkest time of the year

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December 26, 2025

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Weekly news coverage for Charlotte and Hinesburg

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Hinesburg selectboard mulls a difficult budget

Goodies for good

BRIANA BRADY STAFF WRITER

PHOTO BY BRIANA BRADY

United Church of Hinesburg held its annual cookie walk on Sunday, Dec. 21 with proceeds benefiting the Hinesburg Food Shelf.

Facing rising costs and budget pressures, Hinesburg Selectboard members recently waded into difficult conversations about what services the town could afford and what level of tax burden residents might be able to bear — and what they might not. The draft budget town manager Todd Odit presented to the board Wednesday, Dec. 17 was a $750,000 increase of the amount to be raised through taxes from the current fiscal year and a total budget of $6.1 million. “I didn’t do any trimming of this budget before it got to the selectboard, because I wanted the selectboard to see what (department heads) thought the departments’ needs were,” Odit said. “You don’t have to agree with that, but I think the message to the board is, this is what they’re seeing as being needed in the future.” The board grappled with those choices: detailing what the town needs to maintain, what could be cut and what may need to increase.

The grand list Hinesburg is expecting to grow soon — ground has already been broken on the Haystack Crossing development, which is slated to add 176 housing units, and the development review board recently approved plans for two large developments that together will add 158 more. However, some selectboard members focused on the timing of that growth and how the town will pay for increased services associated with a larger population. “I disagree with just taxing and taxing. We need to fix the problem, not just keep taxing our way out of stuff. We need to wait for these other developments come in. We need to wait. We cannot be spending this money until those developments come in,” selectboard member Dennis Place said. Place’s position, which was shared by others on the board, stood in contrast to the suggestion from Odit that the town bolster services incrementally — adding See BUDGET on page 3

CVU and SB girls’ hockey form a co-op D1 team, Chittenden Charge 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.

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“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 its season last year, right before practices were set to begin, due to low numbers. See HOCKEY on page 12

Page 2 • December 26, 2025 • The Citizen

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

Hinesburg resident and storyteller, Bill Torrey, shares a favorite book of his after telling a gripping story about what hunting means to him.

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 3

The Citizen • December 26, 2025 • Page 3

BUDGET continued from page 1 positions requested by department heads to things like policing, fire or the town clerk’s office, both in response to stated current needs and to absorb the level of service that might be required in the future.

School versus town Odit noted that while property taxes are paid in lump sums to municipalities, those taxes represent two different funding streams: the town and the school district. According to his calculations of the projected budget he laid out and the school budget, the town’s portion of tax for a home valued at $600,000 would be $2,500. In contrast, that same homeowner, he said, would pay about $6,500 in school tax. “The town cannot, in my opinion, try to make up for any increases in the school tax, because what will eventually happen, and it’s already started to happen, is there’ll be nothing left,” he said. Odit is not the only local municipal employee to express this sentiment. In nearby Shelburne, the town’s planner Aaron DeNamur also implored the town’s selectboard not to try to balance out school funding, telling the board to “let the people vote down the school budget,” rather than trying to mitigate from the town side. While members of the board and public might still feel that more restraint needs to be shown with the budget, residents and selectboard members echoed sentiments that school spending is “getting out of hand.”

Police and fire Largely at issue within the town budget were the police and fire budgets, which the departments are seeking to increase. Both interim police chief Frank Bryan and fire chief Prescott Nadeau made presentations to the

public in October, laying out what kind of coverage they would like to provide and what they’re able to accomplish with current staffing levels. The police department is currently budgeted for five positions, but only has three full-time officers, including the chief, and maintains coverage from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Friday. The drafted budget would bump that number up to six full-time positions. According to Odit, this would bring the department back to the staffing levels it had in 2022. “Yes, it would be awesome if we had 24/7 coverage, we just can’t afford it. I’m not against the police department. I’m against that — we can’t add this many officers until we have the money to do it,” Place said. The board debated putting the sixth officer as a separate item on the ballot for Town Meeting Day as a way of asking residents what kind of coverage they’d be willing to pay for. While the police and fire departments have been seeking to fill out round-the-clock coverage, Place called into question whether, with mutual aid from other communities, that was something that needed to happen now. In reference to the fire department especially, Place questioned the structure being put in place — the department is seeking to bring on two full-time firefighter EMT’s in addition to the chief and two other full-time employees. “I never signed up for our fire department going career-fire department, and that’s where I see it going. I want to see them working more at getting more volunteers,” Place said. However, fellow selectboard member Paul Lamberson noted that volunteerism around the country has fallen, potentially adding roadblocks to a thriving volunteer force.

Other services

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.

Services beyond fire and police came under scrutiny. While the town clerk’s office initially proposed adding an employee that would be shared with wastewater, in order to reduce that cost, Odit put forward a plan to increase hours for the current part-time employee in the planning and zoning office to support the clerks. Lamberson, on the other hand, has been advocating for simply reducing the hours that the town clerk is available to the public. Other towns’ offices, he said, are often closed to the public on Fridays or one afternoon a week. “I’m trying to plant the seed that the public is used to not having five-day-a-week access to town clerks. And I think it could happen during this fiscal year, testing some sort of public facing hours, and getting the community used to it,” he said. Odit’s concern, overall, is that stretching the budget will put pressure on employees and their workloads. “People will need to take on more and more and more responsibilities to the point where they’ll go somewhere else,” he said.

Local option tax One of the solutions Odit and others have supported is putting a local option tax to a public vote on Town Meeting Day. The tax would add 1% onto meals and alcohol, rooms or sales (voted on separately), three-quarters of which would come back to the town. Odit said that this could offset property taxes and diversify revenue for the town — rather than paying lump sums of property tax, residents and other consumers would pay slowly throughout the year, and on items that are largeSee BUDGET on page 11

Wildlife corridor map up for revamp LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

The Charlotte Conservation Commission is hoping to secure some big bucks to do what they say is a much-needed revamp of the town’s wildlife corridor map. They are anticipating that the work could cost roughly $25,000 to complete. According to Claudia Mucklow, chair of the commission, the last time the town had significant wildlife mapping completed was in 2008. She noted that several different state agencies, including Vermont Fish and Wildlife, biologists and ecologists from the University of Vermont and the Lewis Creek association, were involved in the final product. “This was a pretty extensive plan, and at the time, I think it was probably one of the best maps that any town had,” she said. “Some of the work dates even back further, close to 20 years. So, it’s time that we update the map to see how accurate it still is.” Mucklow noted that the mapping coincides — and is technically mandated — with a 2016 legislation known as Act 171, which say that towns and municipalities must identify significant forest blocks and habitat connectors in town plans in order to receive approval from a regional planning commission. While a

town plan doesn’t inherently craft new zoning regulations or policies, it is a document that town leaders look to for guidance. Forest blocks are areas of contiguous forest and other natural communities and habitats, such as wetlands and ponds that are unfragmented by roads, development or agriculture. But just as important as maintaining these pieces of habitats are, preserving connections between them is just as paramount. “These forest blocks that we have in town, they support wildlife, all kinds of cats, deer, whatever, and they need to be connected,” Mucklow said. “And if there is no connection, these forest blocks become islands, and they’re not really viable to support a lot of wildlife. Wildlife moves for a variety of reasons.” Mucklow noted that although the town’s current map is severely out of date, it is not entirely obsolete. For example, she said, many of the forest blocks still exist, but there is no real comprehensive idea of where the corridors are in the old map. Pete Demick, another member of the conservation commission, has been documenting some of the creatures, big and small, wandering through Charlotte’s natural See CONSERVATION on page 11

A Community Celebration for All Art | Music | Joy

STORIES continued from page 2 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,”

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CRIME & COURTS Police investigate thefts in Shelburne and Charlotte

Hinesburg Police Blotter: Dec. 15-19 Total incidents: 23 Traffic stop: 5 Family fight/domestic: 3 VIN inspection: 2 Crash-property only: 2 Agency assist: 2 Motor-vehicle complaint: 2 Traffic hazard: 1 Animal problem: 1 Burglary alarm: 1 Directed patrol: 1 School threat assessment: 1 Theft: 1 Breathing problems: 1 Arrests/citations: Dec. 18 at 10:52 a.m. Katelynn Cannon, 29, of Hinesburg, for aggravated domestic assault. Selected incidents: Dec. 15 at 9:00 a.m., police investigated a reported two-car crash at Kelley’s Field. Dec. 15 at 10:15 a.m., police assisted first responders with a medical emergency on Birchwood Drive. Dec. 16 at 12:06 p.m., police investigated a juvenile problem reported at CVU. Dec. 16 at 3:30 p.m., police investigated property theft at

Kelley’s Field. Dec. 16 at 6:51 p.m., police investigated a two-car crash on Route 116. Dec. 17 at 11:09 a.m., officers responded to Hillview Terrace for a domestic dispute. Dec. 17 at 12:47 p.m., an officer investigated a motor vehicle complaint on Route 116. Dec. 17 at 1:56 p.m., officers assisted someone with a disabled vehicle on Silver Street. Dec. 17 at 2:42 p.m., officers assisted another agency with attempting to serve paperwork. Dec. 18 at 8:52 a.m., police investigated an alarm activation on Cattail Lane. Dec. 19 at 9:00 a.m., police investigated a two-car crash on Route 116. Dec. 19 at 3:14 p.m., police investigated an animal problem on Hayden Hill West. 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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A series of thefts were carried out across Shelburne and Charlotte overnight between Dec. 18 and Dec. 19 and police said they appear 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 mailboxes 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

PHOTO COURTESY OF VERMONT STATE POLICE

Footage of a series of car thefts in Shelburne and Charlotte.

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.

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The Citizen • December 26, 2025 • Page 5

OPINION Preparing for what’s next in the Trump administration in our describing our work battling for our Constitution and our country, you were reassured. It wasn’t hope, but faith Charity Clark you felt. I will continue to deliver this Having sued the Trump Administration faith, because I truly believe that, with the 36 times in 11 months, I am reflecting on hard work of attorneys general and many the wild ride of 2025 — and preparing others, our country will withstand these for what’s next. President Trump began repeated affronts to our Constitution and his second term with a flurry of execuour system of federalism. tive orders. The first executive I have been overwhelmed by orders — some of which were thank you notes and words of almost laughably shocking, such support and gratitude. “Thank as attempts to rename the Gulf you,” I hear at the grocery store, of Mexico — established on at summer camp drop-off, at Inauguration Day that Project coffee shops. For the millionth 2025 and the president’s “to do” time, I am so proud to be a list were one in the same. Vermonter where people care Since that day, we have about their communities, their endured attempts to usurp the neighbors and their country. It is authority of governors, defy you who deserves thanks for your Charity Clark federal judges and — repeatcare and for your patriotism. edly — ignore the wishes Although I believe we are of Congress. Among the 36 experiencing a test we will pass, lawsuits we filed in collaboration with two the most trying phase of President Trump’s dozen other state attorneys general, the second term is on the horizon: the congresTrump Administration repeatedly violated sional mid-term elections. Every single the United States Constitution, which I member of the House is up for re-election swore an oath to support, and federal law. next year, and currently President Trump’s Through this chaotic, disruptive year, party governs with a razor-thin majoriI committed to visiting communities to ty. Based on history, this narrow margin explain our work battling federal overof majority, and the very low approval reach and constitutional violations and rating of President Trump, odds are good answer your questions. As we close out for Democrats to take back control in the year, I have appeared at over 20 town the House in 2026, just like they did in hall forums. On a personal level, these 2018. This would activate the body whose forums served as the most gratifying and job is, in part, to check the power of the rewarding highlights of my work this President. It would prevent harmful and year. I heard from so many of you that, destructive laws, like the One Big Beau-

Guest Perspective

tiful Bill, from passing in the first place. cans. It is time to recommit our focus on The importance of Democrats taking back working people and freedom, and it is Congress can’t be overstated. time to be problem solvers. Donald Trump Of all that I have battled this year, has presented a tremendous challenge to the thing that keeps me up at night is my political, social and legal norms. We are worry over the President undermining the the only ones who can save us. integrity of the 2026 elections. From his Each one of us has a role to play. At executive orders, requests our town hall forums, I for election data, history encourage each VermontAt our town hall as an election denier and er to stand up for our shocking social media democracy. Exercise forums, I encourage statements, President your fundamental rights Trump clearly does not and freedoms. Attend a each Vermonter to believe our free and fair protest. Write op-eds to democratic elections are your local paper, support stand up for our sacred. the free press and buy a It will be up to the banned book. Organize democracy. rest of us to ensure the a carload of friends to 2026 elections are fair. We are fortunate in go volunteer for a congressional race in Vermont to have a dedicated and experia purple district. Donate to a local orgaenced Secretary of State, Sarah Copeland nization doing work that matters in your Hanzas, overseeing our elections. I am community. proud to support Secretary Copeland This year, as I reviewed each case, I Hanzas — and she is laser focused on had an opportunity to revisit and reflect this issue. And our system of town clerks, on our Constitution. I found in myself the justices of the peace and election volunpatriotism and love of our country that teers protects our elections. burns brighter than the threat of tyranny As a Democrat, I have looked on with we are facing. I want you to know that I chagrin at the national Democratic Party’s am going to keep fighting for our country. struggle to inspire and mobilize AmeriI am putting my faith in it.

Letters to the Editor Report imperative in Vermont 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 evidence-based 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.

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Page 6 • December 26, 2025 • The Citizen

Standing with Afghan allies, 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 system — their contributions far outweigh the short-term support provided during resettlement. A damaging narrative suggesting Afghan allies are “unvetted” or pose a security risk to this country is circulating from Washington. In reality, those fleeing the Taliban are among the most thoroughly vetted individuals in this country — they were screened during employment with the U.S. government, during immigration processing and again with every status adjustment. Afghan allies are our neighbors, friends and colleagues. At the Alliance, the majority of staff and board members are Afghan allies themselves — thoughtful, courageous, emerging leaders raised in an Afghanistan backed by the U.S. They understand, as deeply as we do, the hope and possibility that come with a free and democratic society. I’ve See GRAY on page 7

A balanced Legislature will keep the government honest, focused 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 republicans, democrats and independents work together, real collaboration is not only possible, it’s productive. We saw thoughtful negotiation, responsible decision-making and a willingness to put Vermonters ahead of party

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politics. That balance brought moderation back into state government, and it kept extreme policies in check. Unfortunately, that spirit of collaboration has taken a hit. The Vermont Redistricting Task Force has failed to follow through on its obligations under Act 73. Rather than presenting Vermonters with the new district maps required by law, the Task Force is now suggesting voluntary mergers; an approach that sidesteps their responsibility and creates even See BARTLEY on page 7

The Citizen • December 26, 2025 • Page 7

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 unqualified 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 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 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. On the first Sunday of each month after ten o’clock Mass at Holy Family Church in Morris-

GRAY

ville, 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 iron-

stone 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.

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. Molly Gray has served as the executive director of the Vermont Afghan Alliance since April 2023. Previously, she served as Lt. Gov. of Vermont from 2021-2023.

BARTLEY continued from page 6 more uncertainty for towns, school districts and taxpayers caught in the middle. Vermonters deserve better. We deserve a transparent, accountable process; not one that shifts responsibility or tries to paper over problems with half-measures. The path forward for Vermont requires a balanced Legislature, one where no single party can push through an agenda without listening to the rest of the state. A balanced Montpelier fosters negotiation, moderation, accountability and collaboration. It ensures that policies are shaped not by ideology, but by what actually works for the communities we call home. As we confront the reality

of rising property taxes again, workforce shortages, a housing crisis, and the strain on our education system, Vermonters should remember this: a balanced government isn’t a talking point. It’s the key to restoring affordability and common sense. Montpelier works best when it reflects all of Vermont, not just one political persuasion. If we want a state that protects working families, seniors and young people trying to build their lives here, then we must protect balance. Because balance is what keeps government honest, responsive and focused on solutions — not partisan agendas. Vermont’s future depends on it.

Bill Schubart grew up in Lamoille County and now lives in Hinesburg. He writes about Vermont in fiction, humor and opinion pieces.

Education transformation about more than just property taxes

continued from page 6 been inspired daily by what these young leaders have achieved for Vermont and the talents they’ve already contributed to our state. I’ll soon step back from the Alliance to make space for new leadership and a new chapter for the organization. What began as an interim role became far more meaningful than I ever expected. 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,

“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.

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 margin-

alized 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 maintain 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 See SAUNDERS on page 11

Page 8 • December 26, 2025 • The Citizen

COMMUNITY Community Notes Celebrate New Year’s with Beethoven

STAY CONNECTED Anywhere, Anytime

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. 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.

All Brains Belong hosts a virtual NYE

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Stephen Kellogg is playing at Spruce Peak Jan. 9.

Our DIGITAL EDITION is Available Thursday at Noon • View a complete online copy of the print edition • Read the latest news • Find out about sales and events

Music and more on the mountain Join Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, 122 Hourglass Dr., Stowe, for “Spruce Peak Unplugged: Stephen Kellogg.” Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. Kellogg has received the Armed Forces Entertainer of the Year award and has had his work nominated for a Grammy. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll go home with a full heart.

The beat goes on at Lost Nation Theater Celebrate Shidaa Projects and Lost Nation Theater’s third annual New Year’s Eve celebration — a full day of festive drumming, dancing, music and theater that’s fun for the whole family on Dec. 31 at Montpelier City Arts Center. Free (or by donation). Sponsored in part by Montpelier Alive. • 1 p.m.: Youth Drumming Workshop led by Samuel Maama Marquaye. Limited to 20 participants. Register ahead. Drop-ins are welcome but will likely only be able to watch/listen. • 3 p.m.: Musical Showcase with Christopher McWilliams, Denise Ricker and Lotta Sutter. Reservations recommended. • 6 p.m.: “THE BEAT GOES ON!” by Shidaa Projects and Lost Nation Theater. Dancer/drummer and choreographer Samuel Maama Marquaye (from Ghana) and Shidaa Artistic Director Jordan Mensah lead community drum and dance enthusiasts with Lost Nation Theater’s Kathleen Keenan, Susan Reid and Kim Bent. Suggested donation of $15. Masks encouraged.

Celebrate NYE with Dave Keller

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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. Tickets are by donation.

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.

VTCNG.com

Observe the artistic Hot off the heels of his five-week, complexities of wall sculpture

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.

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 large-scale 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. See COMMUNITY NOTES on page 11

The Citizen • December 26, 2025 • Page 9

Shelburne Museum Winter Lights is in full swing for the holiday season MARIE SPAETH COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE

Now in its fifth year, Shelburne Museum’s Winter Lights runs from Nov. 21 through Jan. 4, drawing crowds for its illuminated displays, interactive exhibits and two dedicated sensory-friendly nights that offer a calmer, more accessible experience of the event. Winter Lights becomes the heart of Shelburne Museum’s 40-acre campus during the holiday season, when the museum is otherwise closed. Internal teams such as the visitor experience, design and logistics committees collaborate closely with outside vendors and partners to ensure the five-week event runs smoothly. The museum estimates ticket sales for Winter Lights generate between $800,000 and $1 million, making up 40% of its annual admissions revenue. Beyond the glowing first impression, the event invites community members inside to explore, discover and learn more about the wide-ranging collection at the museum. “What I really love is that they incorporate elements of what the museum is about: the arts, history and culture. Pieces of these quintessential things from the museum, (are woven) into the display,” Kat Redniss, public programs director at Shelburne Museum, said. The majority of the attractions at Winter Lights decorate the museum’s most popular exhibits. Highlights include the Steamboat Ticonderoga, the last walking-beam side-wheel passenger steamer in existence; Locomotive 220 and the Grand Isle private rail car; and the Diamond Barn, home to a model train installation. “It’s nice for people to explore

PHOTO BY MARIE SPAETH

Returning for its fifth season, Winter Lights is once again drawing crowds to the Shelburne Museum.

if it wasn’t on their radar, or if they’re not museum-goers regularly. This is a way for them to experience the grounds,” Redniss said. On a typical Winter Lights night, Shelburne Museum welcomes between 2,000 and 3,000 visitors. For those who prefer a calmer, less overwhelming environment, the museum also offers Sensory Friendly Winter Lights during the five-week run. Attendance for these evenings is limited to just 200 to 300 tickets, creating a quieter, more spacious experience. The first senso-

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ry-friendly night took place Dec. 1 and the next will be held Dec. 15 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. These evenings are designed with accessibility and comfort in mind. Sensory Friendly Winter Lights evenings include know-before-you-go materials and on-site support from the education team to help guests feel prepared and supported. Visitors are encouraged to bring headphones or any personal support materials they may need. While the visual experience remains just as magical as regular admission, the environment

is intentionally gentle, with no strobe effects or overwhelming attractions. “We have people who come for a variety of reasons, and we just want folks to feel welcome, like they can have this experience in a way that isn’t going to cause them stress or harm,” Redniss said. “It allows them to be present in a way that feels comfortable for them.” Guests are free to guide themselves through the museum’s illuminated campus using a digital map available through a QR code upon entry. Through Winter Lights, Shelburne Museum

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continues its mission of building community through art, history and education. “It’s something that is really joyful and brings people together,” Redniss said. “It’s busy, but there’s also a lovely quietness to being in nature.” Events similar to Winter Lights are held throughout the year at Shelburne Museum. Visit shelburnemuseum.org/ for more information. Via Community News Service, in partnership with the University of Vermont for Shelburne News

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Page 10 • December 26, 2025 • The Citizen

OUTDOORS

Native hollies offer more than holiday cheer The Outside Story Colby Galliher Few plants evoke winter holidays in the north more dependably than the Christmas holly (Ilex aquifolium). The plant’s handsome evergreen leaves and red berries have enjoyed a sacred place in European cultures, from the British Isles to the Mediterranean, since classical antiquity. Today, it remains the member of the holly family (Aquifoliaceae) most likely to festoon mantels and doorways in celebration of the season. But while Christmas holly originates across the Atlantic, our region has two native holly species of which to boast — and they do much more on the landscape than brighten homes and spirits at yuletide. You can find northern New England’s hollies in their preferred habitat in bogs, swamps and other waterlogged areas. The two shrubs — mountain holly (Ilex mucronata, formerly Nemopanthus mucronatus before genetic testing prompted a reclassification) and common winterberry (I. verticillata) — are common in wetland complexes or their edges, where they can reach 15 feet tall. The species tend to intermingle in these settings, which can make distinguishing them a challenge. Luckily, there are several differences between the two that can help aspiring holly honchos tell them apart, even in the cold months. One is the specific locations in which they grow. Though both are wetland plants, mountain holly can tolerate drier conditions than its counterpart; in wetlands hosting both species, you might find mountain holly along the periphery, rather than in standing water like winterberry. You may also come across mountain holly, as its name suggests, growing at higher elevations than winterberry. Another key distinction lies in the fruit of the two species. Both plants are dioecious, meaning that every individual is either male or female. When fertilized by the pollen of a nearby male, females of both species produce the attractive red berries — technically drupes, or fruits consisting of skin and

ILLUSTRATION BY ADELAIDE MURPHY TYROL

flesh that surround a pit containing the seeds — for which the holly family is widely known. But mountain holly berries are about 1/3-inch wide, hang from thin stalks like cherries, and according to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, are usually snapped up by wildlife before winter rolls around. Winterberries, meanwhile, grow in clusters tight to the shrub’s branches and rarely exceed 1/4-inch in width. They almost always persist far beyond fall, firing winter’s drab palette with spellbinding pageants of red. That is, until non-human eyes discover them. It is a delightful annual ritual to behold the bedlam of a hungry flock of robins dropping out of the sky into the humble grove of winterberries in a swampy area of my yard. Males and females dangle from the waist-

high shrubs like top-heavy ornaments, their wings flapping for balance, and gobble up the berries in their immediate vicinity before contorting themselves to pluck those on neighboring branches. Berries go down the robins’ speckled gullets in one gulp — first pinched in their beaks, and then, with a toss of their heads, sliding into their bellies. What remains after these raiding parties will feed a suite of wildlife. In addition to robins, 47 species of birds eat winterberries, among them northern mockingbirds, cedar and bohemian waxwings and eastern bluebirds, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The little morsels are comparatively spartan pickings compared to seeds and insects, but when winter deepens and those calorie-dense

foods diminish, winterberries offer a critical nutritional backup. (Hungry hikers tromping through a snow-covered bog should look but not eat; winterberries are mildly poisonous to humans.) Sated winged and four-legged diners, which include mammals from bears to squirrels, propagate the species by spreading the seeds over the landscape in their droppings. Twigs of both shrubs are also fodder for deer and rabbits. Alas, this impressive wildlife value cannot neutralize our two native hollies’ aesthetic Achilles heel. Christmas holly’s leaves persist through the winter alongside the berries, creating the eye-pleasing combination associated with year-end holidays. Mountain holly and winterberry, on the other hand, are deciduous; they drop their leaves in the fall.

Though leaf-drop accentuates the spectacular display of berries, it puts our native Ilex species at a disadvantage when competing for decorating prominence with the red-and-green allure of Christmas holly. Still, winterberry and mountain holly crack on, outside, as stalwarts of northern New England’s winter ecology. More native berries for the birds! Colby Galliher writes about conservation, ecology, and environmental policy. To learn more about his work, visit colbygalliher.com. Illustration by Adelaide Murphy Tyrol. The Outside Story is assigned and edited by Northern Woodlands magazine and sponsored by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of New Hampshire Charitable Foundation: nhcf.org.

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The Citizen • December 26, 2025 • Page 11

CONSERVATION continued from page 3 areas. He’s set up trail cameras along different portions of the town, including in the property of willing private property owners. Roughly 22 cameras over a roughly five-month period last year — and a few months in 2023 — picked up bobcats, bears, deer, among other species of animals. “It’s been an incredible success,” Demick said. “The amount of wildlife that’s in Charlotte would stun people because they don’t see it.” But for scientists at the Agency of Natural Resources, it’s not that surprising. According to the Shelburne News, which has been reporting on the issues of forest blocks in the neighboring town and interviewed Jens Hilke, a planning biologist at the agency, the Champlain Valley is actually more biologically diverse than forested areas at the peak of the Green Mountains. Mucklow said the mapping

Cookies for change

BUDGET continued from page 3

Members of the United Church of Hinesburg solicit cookie donations every year for the annual cookie walk, which took place Dec. 21. At the beginning, the tables were overflowing with peanut butter blossoms and decadent brownies, with an entire table dedicated to gluten-free goodies. After each person filled their box with cookies, they paid by the pound — $10 per pound of sweets. The proceeds are going to the Hinesburg Food Shelf. According to Barbara Forauer, who helps organize the event, community members recognized that this year in particular, hunger is a pressing issue. There have been federal rollbacks and restrictions on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and cuts to other social support programs such as heating assistance and impending restrictions on Medicaid. In response, local food shelves have been seeing growing need. Forauer said that the church doesn’t plan on ending with the cookie walk, they also have regular free dinners in the works.

ly discretionary. Necessities like food and clothing are exempt from the local option tax as they are already not subject to sales tax. However, for some selectboard members and residents, this still represents too much of a tax burden because without a large commercial draw bringing non-residents in town to shop, there position is that Hinesburg would still be taxing its own residents. One selectboard meeting attendee argued that a local option was also “regressive” in that it represents a flat tax in compari-

COMMUNITY NOTES

SAUNDERS continued from page 7 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

son to the way property taxes are based on assessed value. Maggie Gordon, the vice chair, put forward a different vision. “Just to point out, over 10,000 cars drive through Hinesburg every single day, and a good number of them stop. They stop at our hardware stores and our restaurants and our gas stations,” she said. While it’s unclear whether the board will put the local option tax to voters come March, Odit promised the board to return with a pared down budget to discuss in January.

continued from page 8

PHOTOS BY BRIANA BRADY

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

work, completed by an outside consulting firm, could take roughly a year to complete, depending on the contractor, and would likely utilize GIS mapping to identify the corridors. The commission, for a second year in a row, has asked the selectboard to include the $25,000 in their budget allocation for the work, but the board has made no promises up until this point. Mucklow said the commission has launched its own fundraising effort, with the hopes of potentially being able to reduce that monetary request, which might be more palpable to voters. “If you talk to people in Ferrisburgh, they’re like, ‘Come on, Charlotte, stay the Greenbelt,’” Demick said, noting the development pressures that have mounted in recent years. “Just wow, has it changed over the last 15 years. You know, and it’s just forcing all the wildlife to move.”

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.

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.

Contra dance in Shelburne Contra Dance presented by Queen City Contras at Shelburne Town Hall, 5374 Shelburne Road on Dec. 26 at 6:45 p.m. Tea for Three (Abigail Sandy, Hadley Stockwell, Crystal Zhou) will play. Our caller will be Ben Sachs-Hamilton. All are welcome; all dances are taught; no partner or experience necessary. $12 adults over 18, $5 kids 12-18/low-income, under 12 free. Please bring a pair of clean, soft-soled shoes to dance in and a water bottle to keep you hydrated. Masks welcome but optional. Please stay home if you have symptoms.

Page 12 • December 26, 2025 • The Citizen

SPORTS

Wolves dominate in basketball barnburner LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Girls’ basketball South Burlington 52, Enosburg 32: Kayla Cisse scored 22 points — all in the second half —and led the South Burlington girls’ basketball to a win on Friday night. Lexi Paquette scored 14 points for the Wolves, who move to 2-1 with the win.

Boys’ ice hockey PHOTO BY AL FREY

While South Burlington and CVU’s girls now play for the same hockey team, the boys’ rivalry remains.

North Country 3, South Burlington 1: South Burlington fell to North Country on Saturday in high school boys’ ice hockey, their third loss in a row.

Trey Smith had a goal for the Wolves, while Alex Chagnon made 14 saves in goal.

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.

HOCKEY

continued from page 1 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. 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 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

PHOTO BY AL FREY

Three area high schools have formed a cooperative girls’ hockey team called Chittenden Charge.

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.

The Citizen • December 26, 2025 • Page 13

Horoscope

December 26, 2025

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Page 14 • December 26, 2025 • The Citizen

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