The Other Paper - 03-31-22

Fish on

Sentenced

Vermont’s popular trout season opens April 9

Driver who killed South Burlington woman gets two years

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the MARCH 31, 2022

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VOLUME 46, NO. 13

Staffing shortage creates disparity in nursing pay

Top honors

AARON CALVIN AND AVALON STYLES-ASHLEY STAFF WRITERS

COURTESY PHOTO

Holly Rouelle, who has led Gertrude Chamberlin Elementary School in South Burlington for 11 years, was recently named the Vermont Principal of the Year by the Vermont Principals’ Association. See story on page 12.

Petition against airport rezoning reveals widespread opposition City’s airport task force may ask planning commission to deny rezoning AVALON STYLES-ASHLEY STAFF WRITER

At least 255 people have signed a petition calling on the city of South Burlington to stop the Burlington International Airport from encroaching on the Chamberlin neighborhood. The petition, organized by an informal coalition of Vermonters,

asks the city’s airport rezoning task force, the city council and the planning commission to deny the airport’s request to rezone an approximately 11-acre plot of land from residential to airport use. Although the task force seems to be mostly in agreement, having voted to advance a draft resolution recommending the planning commission deny rezoning,

the request has shed light on old wounds in the neighborhood and on the fraught relationship between the city and the airport, which is on South Burlington soil but owned and managed by Burlington. The land at the heart of the request near Kirby Road Extension used to be dotted with See AIRPORT on page 2

Last December, as Vermonters chopped down Christmas trees, breathed life into inflatable reindeer and placed glowing menorahs in their windows, COVID-19-related hospitalizations surged. State health officials warned that a new Omicron variant had likely been in local communities for a while, becoming the state’s most dominant strain in just one week. Hospitals, understaffed and reeling from one long shift that seems to have lasted years, began to fill again. As they reached out for help from agencies to fill holes in staffing, the cost to hire a traveling nurse skyrocketed, increasing 100 percent. The high rates were directly tied to demand, sometimes changing week to week as the need grew, said Mary Broadworth, vice president of human resources for the University of Vermont Medical Center. Nurse staffing agencies, which existed long before the pandemic, recruit nurses from across the country to fill temporary positions at health care facilities, generally positions hospitals have no other way of filling and need to staff to adequately care for patients. Agencies make money by taking a portion of the payment they secure for their nurses and charging other fees. Prices for traveling nurses have risen precipitously multiple times in the now years-long pandemic, pushing some Vermont hospitals millions into debt and making

some wonder if nurse staffing agencies took advantage of health care facilities with no other choice by charging them exorbitant amounts and pocketing the difference. Now the state’s lone member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Democrat Peter Welch, has called for an intervention, believing that the staffing agencies providing hospitals with traveling nurses are exploitative and need reform. In late January, as the Omicron-fueled surge waned, Welch led a congressional charge for reform in the traveling nurse industry, sparking pushback at a perceived attempt to limit nurse’s pay and from staffing agencies who argue they’re hurting as much as anyone else, illuminating the tension in an industry where two employees doing the exact same work take home very different paychecks.

Welch letter On Jan. 24, Welch, along with Virginia Rep. Rep. Morgan Griffith, addressed a letter to Jeffrey Zients, the White House’s COVID-19 response team coordinator, in the wake of the Omicron surge with “concerns that certain nurse-staffing agencies are taking advantage of these difficult circumstances to increase their profits at the expense of patients and the hospitals that treat them.” The letter urged the team to enlist federal agencies with competition and consumer protection authority to investigate the alleged price gouging of hospiSee NURSE on page 8

Page 2 • March 31, 2022 • The Other Paper

AIRPORT

Fish on

continued from page 1 houses before a home-acquisition program for noise mitigation in the mid-2000s swallowed close to 200 homes. As one of the oldest neighborhoods in South Burlington, Chamberlin is home to people with deep roots, Meaghan Emery, a city councilor and member of the task force, told The Other Paper in January. Many residents she’s heard from who participated in the home acquisition program mourned the loss of their community as it was slowly erased. “We in South Burlington have been sort of the stepchildren to the airport for years now. So, I hope this is a start in defending South Burlington,” Paul Engels, a member of the airport rezoning task force who also serves on the planning commission, said at its meeting March 17, as he argued they deny the request. Aside from a planned maintenance building, the future of those 11 acres, should the land be rezoned, is vague. That is a point of concern raised in task force discussions. The conceptual plan is to use the empty land “to promote business and support facilities for the airport,” according to acting aviation director Nic Longo in a Dec. 14 letter to city officials. The airport says it does not intend “to expand into any neighborhood.” Other development could help reduce noise in the area, Longo added, a benefit to Chamberlin residents who bear the brunt of noise from F-35s. Plus, more commercial buildings would boost

South Burlington’s grand list, providing jobs and a bigger tax base. Emery argued that some of the airport’s current commercial tenants are not all airport related, making her wonder if they truly need more space. “If the airport is claiming a lack of land for airport uses, let’s take a look at their existing properties and speak about it. I think it deserves more thought and careful thought. If we are to give up, that’s what they’re asking us, that careful balance between the residential and the airport,” Emery said at the meeting. “They haven’t made a case that I’m convinced of.” One task force member with a slightly different perspective doesn’t support a flat-out denial like some of his peers. John Burton, who also serves on the city’s economic development committee, understands the hurt many residents feel, but he wants more dialogue on the issue and to bolster the city’s relationship with the airport. “I just want to keep the doors open and see if we can make little steps forward rather than shutting it down. We have to learn to work with the airport, make it part of our community,” Burton said in an interview Monday, arguing he needs more detailed plans from the airport regarding all its acquired parcels, not just this small fraction off Kirby Road. “I get why they’re angry and I get why they’d like to say no, but no doesn’t cause a solution to happen,” he said.

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Anglers can improve their chances of success by fishing their fly, lure or bait slowly along the bottom when Vermont’s trout season opens April 9. “Anglers fishing early in the spring should adjust their tactics based on conditions,” state fisheries biologist Shawn Good said. “If you can find a good location and present your bait or lure without spooking the trout, you’ll have a good chance of catching a few fish, and enjoy a nice day outside.” Anglers who like to fish and release their catch don’t need to wait for opening day. Nearly all waterbodies are now open year-round to catch-and-release fishing for trout in Vermont. Find out more at eregulations.com/vermont/fishing.

Ashley Adams, who owns some apartments on Kirby Road, is one of those angry residents. She canvassed last weekend, walking around the Chamberlin neighborhood asking for petition signatures and seeing how residents feel about the rezoning request. Most people had no idea, she said. “I just see the injustice of this, and I don’t expect my tenants to

get involved and go to meetings. They’re raising their families, they’re working hard and I feel like someone needs to step up and do something about this important moral issue,” Adams said. The petition, she hopes, will give a voice to people who don’t have the time or capacity to attend city meetings, who work long days, live paycheck to paycheck, or whose first language isn’t

English. Chamberlin is one of the more affordable neighborhoods in South Burlington. Many of Adams’ tenants are people with lower incomes, New Americans and people of color, she said. Yet, they bear the full force of the F-35 noise, which some residents have described as house-rattling and anxiety inducing. That’s something James Marc Leas, another member of the informal coalition, describes as “environmental racism and classism.” He’s passionately against the F-35 jets, having grown up in the flight path of the John F. Kennedy International Airport in a working-class neighborhood of New York, similar to Chamberlin. “I think that this is really a way of bringing everyone together — if we can stop this rezoning and keep it residential, we accomplish vastly positive things for the children, for the elderly, for the community,” he said, describing the issue as a matter of public health. For both Adams and Leas, the end goal should be supporting housing and regrowing the community, especially in the wake of the pandemic. “It’s heartbreaking. Community is organic, you don’t just erect it like you would a house, and once it’s gone, it’s gone. Now, let’s do something to support this community,” Adams said. The airport rezoning task force’s recommendation to the planning commission is due next month after a public comment session planned for April 7.

The Other Paper • March 31, 2022 • Page 3

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CRIME & COURTS Former medical center ER doc sentenced to 100 months in child pornography case Eike Blohm, 39, a former University of Vermont Medical Center emergency room doctor was sentenced last week to 100 months in jail. The South Burlington man pleaded guilty last July to a felony charge of possession of child pornography as part of a wide-ranging investigation. “I’m guilty of it,” Blohm said at the time of his guilty plea. Federal Judge Christina Reiss last week also placed Blohm on 12 years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution to his victims. The federal sentence runs concurrently with an 80-to-82month state sentence on one felony charge of lewd and lascivious conduct and 20 misdemeanor counts of voyeurism. Blohm also pleaded guilty to those charges. The criminal case began to unravel when an employee at

Eike Blohm

the medical center discovered a “KnowYourNanny” camera hidden in a unisex employee bathroom in the emergency department in April 2020. The camera was concealed inside an inconspicuous item and placed in the bathroom, police said. The Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations seized the camera and uncovered about 1,300 videos

with about 900 videos depicting Blohm’s co-workers in at least two bathrooms at the Burlington hospital. Investigators seized numerous digital devices from Blohm’s South Burlington home, and a review of the devices showed child pornography, some depicting children under the age of 12 years old, officials said. The hospital website at the time noted Blohm also was an assistant professor in the College of Medicine. Blohm also reported he was hired as the EMS medical director in Essex in 2017 working on continuing education and emergency medical technicians. The UVM Medical Center initially placed Blohm on leave when the case became public in April 2020. A month later when he was charged in federal court, Blohm was fired. Michael Donoghue contributed to this report.

South Burlington Police Blotter Total incidents: 159 Public assists: 13 Retail theft: 11 Alarms: 10 Welfare checks: 8 Traffic stops: 8 Suspicious events: 7 Larceny: 5 Crashes (property damage only): 5 Drugs: 4 Mental health issues: 4 March 21 at 12:34 p.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop at the corner of Market and Dorset Street. March 21 at 1:58 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from Williston Road. March 22 at 11:05 a.m., police responded to a disturbance on Farrell Street. March 22 at 3:54 p.m., police responded to a domestic incident on Dorset Street. March 23 at 10:40 a.m., someone reported unlawful mischief and vandalism at the McDonald’s on Shelburne Road. March 23 at 12:20 p.m., police assisted with a mental health issue on Colchester Avenue. March 24 at 4:33 p.m., police

responded to city hall for a report of drugs. March 24 at 5:30 p.m., an officer assisted a member of the public on Lime Kiln Road. March 25 at 10:30 a.m., police investigated a fraud case at Northfield Savings Bank on Williston Road. March 25 at 3:47 p.m., a person was reported missing from Cascade Way. March 26 at 4:37 a.m., someone reportedly left the scene of an accident near the intersection of Mountain View Boulevard and National Guard Avenue. March 26 at 6:46 p.m., police investigated a report of threats and harassment on Shelburne Road. March 27 at 9:17 a.m., police assisted with a citizen dispute on Swift Street. March 27 at 8:04 p.m., a car crash caused property damage, but no injuries occurred on Williston Road. Arrests: Nathalie C. Trottier, 30, of Burlington was arrested March 27 for retail theft (misdemeanor).

the South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977 A publication of Vermont Community Newspaper Group LLC otherpapersbvt.com Advertising Director Judy Kearns judy@otherpapersbvt.com (802) 864-6670 x21 Advertising Wendy Ewing wendy@shelburnenews.com (802) 985-3091 x12 News Editor Tommy Gardner Staff Writers Avalon Styles-Ashley Aaron Calvin Corey McDonald Production Manager Stephanie Manning stephanie@shelburnenews.com Publisher Gregory Popa gpopa@stowereporter.com

National Sales Director, Insert Program Irene Nuzzo irene@stowereporter.com (802) 760-9673 Billing inquiries Leslie Lafountain leslie@stowereporter.com (802) 253-2101 Advertising submission deadline: Thursday at 5 p.m. for next Thursday issue advertising@otherpapersbvt.com classifieds@otherpapersbvt.com Editorial submission deadline: Friday at 5 p.m. for next Thursday issue news@otherpapersbvt.com Calendar submission deadline: Friday at 12 p.m. for next Thursday issue news@otherpapersbvt.com Contact: 1340 Williston Road South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 864-6670

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The Other Paper • March 31, 2022 • Page 5

CRIME & COURTS Driver who killed South Burlington woman gets two years MIKE DONOGHUE CORRESPONDENT

A Ticonderoga, N.Y. man, who police say was impaired with multiple drugs when he killed a South Burlington woman in a head-on car crash in Addison, has been sentenced to two years in prison. Ian Labounty, 31, was sentenced to three to five years, split to serve two years for gross negligent operation with death resulting from the 2019 crash. Vermont Superior Court Judge Thomas Carlson told Labounty Tuesday that he will be placed on state probation for 10 years after his release from jail. Carlson Cecile C. Druzba said Labounty will have to follow strict conditions, including not using drugs without a prescription. The sentencing came exactly three years after Cecile C. Druzba, 57, of South Burlington was killed on Route 22A after Labounty crossed the center line and hit her head-on. Carlson declined to follow a request from the victim’s family that community service be part of Labounty’s probation, including requiring him to provide school presentations about the dangers of driving while having drugs in your system. The victim’s husband, Matthew F. Druzba, provided an emotional statement outlining the devastation that the crash had on him, the couple’s three children, friends and the community. His wife had been active in various causes and groups, including the South Burlington High School Booster Club. “She was the glue for our family,” said Druzba, who had to stop a few times to regain his composure. “Offender accountability matters.” Druzba, however, said he has learned that his family’s rights take a backseat to criminal defendants’ rights. “Victim’s rights are almost non-existent,” he said, adding that no matter what sentence was imposed, he will work to advocate for improving victim’s rights. Deputy State’s Attorney Stacey Graczyk argued three years in prison for Labounty was an appropriate sentence and cited similar penalties imposed for other fatal crashes. “Three years is not a lot,” the veteran prosecutor said. Graczyk noted the black box in Labounty’s car showed he did not brake or take evasive action. His car only slowed from 60 to 53 miles per hour as he crossed the double yellow line. He was in a 40-mph zone in the town of Addison, state police said.

Graczyk compared that to the horrifying final seconds when Cecile Druzba tried to take evasive action. Seeing an oncoming car in her lane, she slowed from 51 mph to 17 mph and pulled to the right but was still slammed as she uttered, “Oh shit.” The victim’s brother, Jacques Marton, 62, also of South Burlington, was also in the car and received minor injuries, police said. He and his sister were headed with their mother’s ashes for a memorial in New Jersey. Labounty’s defense lawyer, Jason Sawyer of Burlington, said it was odd for him to ask for prison time, but he thought two years was appropriate for the circumstances. Sawyer said Labounty has been working with a counselor since the crash, and volunteers with the Knights of Columbus. In his sentence, Carlson said he had to balance rehabilitation, punishment and deterrence for both Labounty and the general public, ultimately settling on two years in prison instead of three. Sawyer asked that his client be provided one day to say goodbye to his family and friends and get his affairs in order. Graczyk, the prosecutor, argued against the extra day of freedom. She said sentencing had been set almost two months earlier. Carlson ordered Labounty to begin his sentence immediately after the nearly three-hour hearing. The Addison County Sheriff’s Department transported him to the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility in Rutland. Labounty initially pleaded not guilty to two felony charges: driving while under the influence of drugs with death resulting and gross negligent operation with death resulting. He eventually pleaded guilty to the gross negligent operation but disputed a police lab analysis that found drugs in his system, records show. Matthew Druzba proposed early in the case that Labounty do no time in prison if he pleaded guilty to the two felony charges and agreed to significant community service and to talk about the case with high school and college classes. Druzba said he believed that would be the sentence his wife would want. Labounty and his lawyer rejected the offer. Druzba also wanted an apology, but it came too late — in a letter a couple weeks ago. He asked prosecutors not to forward it to him. He said based on Labounty’s behavior over the past three years he now believed a minimum of a three-year sentence was completely appropriate. Vermont State Police reported Laboun-

ty was northbound in a blue 2013 Subaru said he cranked up the music to try to stay Impreza on Route 22A when he apparently awake. Labounty was headed to work at fell asleep, crossed the double yellow line, UTC Aerospace in Vergennes when he and crashed into a car driven by Druzba crashed, state police said. shortly before 7 a.m. on March 22, 2019. Two state police drug recognition She was trapped in her red 2013 Honda experts both checked Labounty at the Accord, unresponsive and possibly not hospital and confirmed he was impaired, breathing. Vergennes Rescue rushed to court records show. One of them, Gurwicz, the medical center in Burlington where secured a search warrant from a judge to she was declared dead about 75 minutes allow hospital workers to draw blood from later due to blunt force trauma to the torso, Labounty to be tested. Trooper Josh Gurwicz said. Matthew Druzba, as executor of his Labounty’s car overturned and landed wife’s estate, has filed a wrongful death on its roof partially in the lawsuit in U.S. District southbound lane north Court in Vermont against “Victim’s rights are of Route 17. Druzba’s Labounty citing his reckcar went off the road and almost non-existent.” less driving, drug impairlanded on a lawn, police ment and falling asleep said. of partying on — Matthew Druzba because Investigators said in that Thursday, the night court papers Labounty before the crash. admitted he had less than five hours sleep Druzba also has sued the Honda Motor the night before the crash and had taken Company and America Honda Motor Co. Oxycodone, Klonopin and Benadryl as Inc. in a separate lawsuit. part of his celebration for a promotion at Burlington lawyer Robert Luce of work. Downs, Rachlin Martin said in the lawsuit Police said he reported he had coffee that the driver’s side frame rail and door before he left home and stopped at a store were poorly designed and unable to absorb for a second cup before leaving Ticond- the impact properly from Labounty’s car, eroga to try to keep him awake. He also court documents indicate.

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PUBLIC MEETING Wednesday, April 13, 2022 | 5:30 - 6:30 pm

Potash Brook Crossing Feasibility Study During the Bike/Pedestrian Committee Meeting Virtual Meeting Link: https://meet.goto.com/892389989 You are invited to join the Committee in a discussion of proposed alternatives to connect the Kimball Avenue shared use path over the Potash Brook stream crossing. The project considers options for an approximately 1,200-foot-long shared use path, that completes a gap in the City’s network and provides some regional connectivity to Williston. This is a feasibility study funded by the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission. The project team is seeking public input before finalizing the study. If you have questions about this meeting, please contact Ashley Parker, City Project Manager at aparker@southburlingtonvt.gov.

Left: Current conditions of the crossing. Right: Location of the crossing.

Page 6 • March 31, 2022 • The Other Paper

Community Notes places, and she makes that the keystone of her work. She studied botany and ecology at the University of Maine, the University of Michigan Biological Station, and the University of Vermont. The tour is free and all are invited to attend.

Conservationist leads walk of spring wildflowers Liz Thompson, director of conservation at the Vermont Land Trust, will give a tour of spring woodland wildflowers on Tuesday, April 26, 1 p.m., Faith United Methodist Church 899 Dorset St., South Burlington. Many Vermont wildflowers bloom before the trees have leafed out as the sunlight reaches the forest floor. Thompson is an ecologist and botanist with a deep passion for nature and an abiding, lifelong interest in patterns of plant

Vermont housing groups win $325K in grants Liz Thompson

distribution. She is devoted to the conservation of special and wild

Three Vermont non-profit housing organizations — Champlain Housing Trust, Downstreet Housing & Community Development and Twin Pines Housing —

have been awarded $325,000 in Housing for Everyone grants from the TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank. Downstreet and Twin Pines will collaborate to use their $175,000 grant to grow Twin Pines’ existing resident services program and pilot a resident services program at Downstreet. Funds will be used to support one new staff position at each organization, and Twin Pines will support Downstreet as it develops the program over the next 18 months. Champlain Housing Trust will use its award for similar activities, as the organization has tripled its resident services staffing during

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SB high school hosts night of one-act plays On Friday and Saturday, April 1 and 2, 7 p.m., the South Burlington High School drama program hosts “One Acts 2022.” “For the last month, a team of directors has been working with cast members and technical and creative teams to give students at the high school the space to learn and grow through the art of theater,” Gianna Morin, student council executive presiden, said. The one-act plays include “The Unknown Part of the Ocean,” directed by Hanlan Paquin and Vivienne Fogarty; “13 Ways to Screw Up Your College Interview” directed by Morin and Marc-Andre Bethin; “Off Road” by Madeleine Magnant and Bella Guizler-Bonnilla; “All I really need to know I learned being in a Bad Play,” directed by Matthew Vigneau. Admission is by donation.

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Vermont Gas Systems has been 2022 Business of the Year by the Lake Champlain Chamber in recognition of its work to reduce emissions for its customers. The announcement was made at chamber’s 111th annual dinner held March 16. “Vermont Gas Systems is honored to be recognized,” Neale Lunderville, company CEO and president, said. “On behalf of all of us, I want to thank the Lake Champlain Chamber, and our customers, for this honor and for the continued opportunity to serve Northwest Vermont.” The company serves more than 55,000 families and businesses in Franklin, Chittenden and Addison See COMMUNITY NOTES on page 7

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The Other Paper • March 31, 2022 • Page 7

COMMUNITY NOTES continued from page 6

Quilt Guild holds three-day festival The Champlain Valley Quilt Show is holding a three-day event featuring quilts, eight vendors and a special exhibit by Catherine Symchych on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 22-24, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Lawrence Holy Family Parish Hall, 30 Lincoln St., Essex

Junction. This competition show will inspire artists and crafters and is sponsored by the Champlain Valley Quilt Guild. More at cvqgvt.org

All-star lineup headlines Howard Center conference Howard Center presents its fifth annual conference, Vision, Visionaries and Voices, virtually on Thursday, April 7, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., featuring international speakers Mary Bassett, Anita Hill, Byron Katie, Ethan Nadelmann and Tara Westover. Bassett is acting commissioner of health for the state of New York. Her conference discussion, “Pulling Back the Curtain: COVID-19 and Historic Health Inequities,” tackles the factors underlying structural racism, how they negatively impact communities of color and actions that health care providers, public health officials and others must take to make meaningful change toward health equity and justice. Hill’s talk, “Our Critical Need to Eliminate Gender Violence and Inequality,” draws from personal experience to discuss the prevalence of gender violence and racial inequality in society and the toll these ills take on the mental health of victims. Katie will explore whether relief from suffering, depression and discontent is as simple as questioning one’s thoughts?

Nadelmann will explore the evolution of drug policies in the U.S., while Westover’s topic is “Reconciling with a Traumatic Childhood.” She is the author of the popular memoir, “Educated.” The full-day conference will be hosted by Howard Center’s Catherine Simonson and moderated by Dr. Jude Smith Rachele of Howard Center and Abundant Sun. Registration is required and continuing education credits are available for a variety of professions. Visit howardcenter.org.

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Page 8 • March 31, 2022 • The Other Paper

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continued from page 1 tals at the hands of nurse staffing agencies, and determine if the high rates were the result of anticompetitive activity or violated consumer protection laws. “We have received reports that the nurse staffing agencies are vastly inflating price [sic], by two, three or more times pre-pandemic rates, and then taking 40 percent or more of the amount being charged to the hospitals for themselves in profits. We have heard the amounts charged to hospitals rose precipitously as the newest wave of the COVID-19 crisis swept the nation and the agencies seemingly seized the opportunity to increase their bottom line,” the letter said. This was not a lone bipartisan communique authored by two outlier representatives. Welch and Griffith were joined by 200 other members of the 435-member House. The letter employs language like that found in another letter the American Health Care Association sent the Federal Trade Commission last October asking the commission to investigate price gouging by traveling nurse

staffing agencies. Welch’s press secretary Emily Becker said the representative was moved to spearhead the letter after seeing the quadrupling of rates demanded by staffing agencies and the “devastating consequences for Vermont’s rural non-profit hospitals and providers, many of which were already struggling financially and depend on additional help from travel nurses.” Becker also pointed out that several staffing agencies, including some that operate in Vermont, had recently been purchased by private equity groups looking to cash in on hospitals’ COVID-19 desperation, specifically pointing to the purchase of Medical Solutions, one of the country’s largest staffing agencies, last August by Centerbridge Partners. Despite the letter’s careful wording directing congressional ire toward the alleged pocket lining by middleman agencies and no direct reference to traveling nurses or the amount hospitals pay them, the letter was immediately met by a storm of public outcry

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from those convinced the government was advocating for limits on how much nurses could make as travelers.

Five days after the letter was publicized, it began to circulate on social media accompanied by the false statement that the letter

itself called for a cap on nurse salary, according to Becker. Like a See NURSE on page 10

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The Other Paper • March 31, 2022 • Page 9

Letters to the Editor Redistricting map creates host of problems To the Editor: For the past several months I have been talking about the problems with the once-adecade redistricting process. A tri-partisan board took a bold step to create a map where every Vermonter got one senator and one house rep. Unfortunately, the Legislature has rejected this approach and stuck with the status quo. There’s just something fundamentally unfair that voters in Burke get one House member and one senator, while someone in Burlington gets two House reps and three senators. Some people literally get three more votes than others. While Essex has been hurt by cutting the community into two unequal districts, South Burlington is still part of a larger district that also includes Shelburne, Charlotte, Hinesburg, St. George, Williston, Richmond, Bolton, Jericho, Underhill and some of Burlington. South Burlington’s 20,000 residents are less than a third of the 69,000 in this massive district. While it’s possible for the two incumbents to remain and represent this massive district, it’s also equally possible for three senators from Burlington to shut them out in a future election. This last point gives us a clue as to why South Burlington — and others — have been defrauded out of a Senate seat that is rightfully theirs: incumbent protection. As long as we have a process that gives final say to the Legislature, we’re going to have the same problems 10 years from now. We will get a weird map that can only be explained by the addresses of the people

in power. Legislators may be the most knowledgeable people in the state regarding the nature or character of different communities they represent. But that valuable knowledge may not outweigh the problems that come with the desire to protect the power they currently have. While it is always difficult to get anyone to give up their power this year, I was hopeful that we might have been able to plant the seeds for a more equitable outcome in 2030. It is fundamentally unfair that some people get more senators or reps based on the politicians who drew the lines. It ought to be that everyone gets the same number of votes no matter where they live. It might take a constitutional amendment to make that happen. That’s a long process that will have to be started well before 2030 if we want to fix the problem next time. Paul Dame South Burlington

Jackson. She will continue to support and defend our Constitution through a neutral posture, as she says, if — when — confirmed. “Without fear or favor,” Jackson understands the role of a judge, one that is limited and comes from humble beginnings. While she will not consider public opinion, Jackson believes in transparency, noting her infamously long opinions. These opinions, as well as her time as a federal public defender, underscore her commitment to having each litigant know that the “judge in their case has heard them, whether or not their argument has prevailed.” Contrary to senators who have criticized her as being soft on crime, especially in cases regarding child pornography, Jackson has acted pursuant to the Supreme Court’s precedents and justified her sentencing below the guidelines in these cases based on outdated statutes promulgated by Congress. Peer review by the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary and other outside testimony further belie these claims. Moreover,

Congress has found that 70 percent of Jackson’s counterparts repeatedly sentenced below these guidelines, showing the extreme hypocrisy of the GOP. If confirmed, she will fight for the civil liberties our Founding Fathers created and view scrupulously the facts of the cases that come before her, strictly following the law and her judicial limits. Her judicial methodology, as she calls it, ensures that she is an impartial jurist and echoes certain sentiments of an originalist view, one in which the Constitution and its amendments are viewed as they meant at the time of ratification. Due to all these reasons, I have complete confidence that she will faithfully carry out the law as our next associate justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. I urge every citizen to support this historic nomination and hope to see justice Jackson on the bench in the upcoming October term. Carter Higgins Junior South Burlington High School

Support Brown Jackson for Supreme Court To the Editor: After watching 20-plus hours of questioning, the strength, temperament and poise of Judge Kentanji Brown Jackson have clearly been displayed. Throughout multiple attacks and out-of-context quotes by Republican senators, she has demonstrated her true intellect and been able to hold her own. Experience, genius and graciousness are some of the many things that can describe

Obituary Karen Lee Plante Karen Lee Plante, 49, of South Burlington, died on Thursday, March 24, 2022, of pancreatic cancer. She was born on Sept. 26, 1972, in Burlington, to Ronald R. Plante and Dawn C. Plante. She graduated from Burlington High School in 1990. Karen prided herself in giving exceptional customer service through her employment at the Cheese Outlet on Pine Street, Champlain Deli on Church Street, and as a receptionist at the University of Vermont Medical Center Birthing Center. She had several hobbies and interests, Karen Lee Plante including listening to and cataloging music, watching movies, completing challenging jigsaw puzzles, collecting coins and playing cards. While Karen bravely lived with many health issues during her childhood and adult life, she will be remembered fondly for her infectious smile, ability to build immediate connections with others and unwavering support of family and friends.

Karen is survived by her parents, Ron and Dawn Plante; sister and brother-in-law, Kathryn Plante Anastassopoulos and Andreas Anastassopoulos; aunts, Delia Clark, Diann Clark and spouse Jackie Boucher, and Lynne Furneaux Clark; niece and nephews, Nicole, Nikolas and Alexander Anastassopoulos; 10 cousins; special friend, Mike Devino; and cat, Pumpkin. She was predeceased by her uncles, Capt. David Clark, USN, and Ernest Plante; three cousins; and her dog, Julius. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 1, 2022, at the First Congregational Church, 38 South Winooski Avenue, Burlington. A family graveside service will be held later this spring at Mountain View Cemetery in Morristown Corners. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Humane Society of Chittenden County, Feeding Chittenden, or Vermont Foodbank. Arrangements are in the care of Corbin and Palmer Funeral Home, Essex Junction.

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Page 10 • March 31, 2022 • The Other Paper

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continued from page 8 game of telephone, this false statement ballooned as it spread across the internet, with some claiming Welch had sponsored a bill to cap nurses pay. This false claim was surprisingly pervasive. A Facebook post by a Texas-based traveling nurse named Kendra Howes posted on Feb. 7 and flagged by the Poynter Institute’s PolitiFact fact checkers claimed that “according to Congress travel nurses need a pay cap [sic].” The post had over 30,000 shares before it was taken down. This misinformed meme even worked its way into more traditional news outlets. Two weeks ago, the Washington Post published an opinion piece from nursing historian Sarah DiGregorio arguing that nurses have been historically undervalued and efforts to cap their pay would exacerbate staffing issues. The article initially claimed that Welch’s letter called for regulating the pay of travel nurses and the paper had to issue a correction clarifying that he only sought to investigate the amount staffing agencies can charge, a distinction he has maintained. “This letter takes aim at the exploitative, rapid rate increases implemented by agencies and private equity firms. It takes no issue with nurses getting paid more or being compensated for the additional challenges they face providing care during the pandemic,” Becker said.

While it is technically inaccurate to claim that Welch or the other letter signees were advocating for a cap on the amount travel nurses can be paid by hospitals, it’s easy to see why so many came to believe this was the truth. Staffing agencies make money by taking a portion of the payment they secure for their nurses. By putting limits on how much an agency can charge a hospital, it only makes sense that this would also mean limiting the amount an agency can require a hospital to pay nurses. Welch, however, is adamant his letter sought to regulate agencies without affecting nurse pay. “My letter took issue with the additional fees staffing agencies charge hospitals on top of nurses’ pay,” Welch said in an email. “Agencies claim 40 percent or more of what they charge hospitals — that means 40 percent or more of what hospitals pay staffing agencies bypasses nurses and goes straight to the pockets of agency executives.” Though there is no legislation currently being considered, Welch argued that along with ensuring a greater percentage of staffing agencies’ profits go directly to nurses, Congress could pass bills that expand bargaining rights for nurses, forgive student loan debt for frontline workers, improve staffing ratios for nurses at hospitals and make it easier for nurses to join a union. “I think travelers are a vital part

GORDON MILLER

Registered nurses and other staff at a 2021 vaccine clinic at Copley Hospital.

of our health care system, who do hard work and sacrifice time with their families to care for ours,” Welch said. “At the same time, we can’t have a health care system that is entirely dependent on temporary travel workers to treat its patients. We need to cultivate the workforce in-state and make it easier to stay here.”

Traveling tension At Copley Hospital in Morristown, Jess Cullity has worked long hours throughout the pandemic as

Vermont Parents have questions s k is r h lt a e h e h t n Lear na a u ij r a m C H T h ig h of

a local nurse and acts as the head of the nurse’s union. “We always put our best face forward. We’re always there for our community members, and it’s mostly our neighbors and friends and family that we’re taking care of at Copley. It’s a small hospital, so we take that seriously,” she said. “We feel like it’s a privilege to be able to care for people. But you know, it’s been tough. The past few years have been really, really tough. Nurses work extremely long hours, sometimes overtime hours, whether they like to or not, and we’re in masks 24/7. So, there’s been a lot of different challenges.” Though it’s been a challenging time, Cullity described the union’s relationship with hospital administration as a strong one. Monthly

meetings are held where important matters are discussed, including the needs of the nursing staff and strategies for retaining its senior members. She recognizes that traveling nurses are a necessary part of the hospital ecosystem, needed to fill the spots that can’t be filled and to maintain a safe ratio of nurses and patients. “It would be great if all the local staff that we needed was available and trained and we were fully staffed, but that’s just not the reality of the situation here or really anywhere across the country. Most hospitals rely on some travelers, and we try to keep those numbers limited,” Cullity said. One problem from a local nursSee NURSE on page 11

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The Other Paper • March 31, 2022 • Page 11

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continued from page 10 ing standpoint is that traveling nurses aren’t part of the union, the essential organization they use to ensure fair treatment and wages. If every nurse working at the hospital was in the union, they would have the maximum amount of leverage, but traveling nurses contract directly with the hospital. The other source of tension stems from the fact that a traveling nurse is likely being paid a far greater hourly wage than the local nurse working beside them. “Everyone’s kind of contributing to the team and working as hard as they can for the best patient outcomes. You’re working beside the one who might be getting paid three times what you are, even though they have the same experience or they’re putting forth the same effort. That’s tricky,” Cullity said. Reconciling this tension with the recognition that nursing is difficult, necessary work regardless of whether a nurse is traveling or local is a balancing act. “Although we don’t like the tension that is inevitably created between local nurses and travel nurses, we also recognize, support, love and welcome travelers — and local travelers, especially, who are committed to this community, but might not live right in the Lamoille County — to come in and help us out because we need the extra support,” Cullity said. She also noted that the union has worked with Copley to incentivize local nurses by offering them the extra shifts and keeping those profits in their bargaining unit before immediately turning to traveling nurses. Like Copley, the University of Vermont Medical Center wants to keep its relationship with staffing agencies as a tool in their toolbox. Traveling nurses have almost always been part of the hospital’s labor force, jumping in to cover leaves of absences or to offer skills in specialties like dialysis or respiratory therapy, according to Broadworth, the center’s human resources executive. But during the pandemic, she said so many people left the workforce that the medical center’s dependence on traveling nurses shifted to a critical position, often forcing them to pay two or three times more to fill understaffed shifts with outsourced labor. “When we had COVID surges, the pay rates just exploded and so people were being enticed to go travel because the rates were at such a high premium,” Broadworth said. As the state’s largest hospital and its only level one trauma center, the medical center usually employs around 2,000 full-time nurses across Vermont. Right

now, Broadworth said around 400 traveling nurses are working at the medical center — more than they’d like, though she didn’t specify an ideal number. The amount the University of Vermont Health Network was forced to pay the traveling nurses in December 2021 rose from $80 an hour to $160 an hour, a 100 percent increase, according to a March 18 letter sent to the Green Mountain Care board by network president John Brumsted. To balance staffing, Broadworth said she’s hopeful the medical center hires new graduates, hires back health care workers who left during the pandemic and converts some traveling nurses to full-time employees. “I think anyone in health care will tell you they’re tired. I mean, it’s been two years. It’s been difficult,” she said. “I think the more we can fill those full-time spots, and they’ve got consistent teammates and they’ve got a strength that they can rely on to be there if they need to take time off — all of those things are important for their well-being so we’re working on all of those things.” A 20 percent wage increase in nursing salaries could also help attract permanent workers. In February, the Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, the union representing many of the medical center’s employees, procured a three-part raise for nurses, with a 10 percent increase effective within the pay period, another 5 percent increase in October and another 5 percent increase next year. According to a statement from the medical center, both entities had “a desire to accelerate the timeline for increased nurse pay in light of their exemplary front-

line work during the pandemic and loyalty to their patients and community. The increased wages are also intended to spur recruitment and retention efforts within the hospital through an increased salary.” Last year, the nurse’s union

at Copley Hospital secured a 12 percent wage hike across three years.

Agency perspective On the other end of the spectrum is Mohamed Basha, head of TLC Homecare, a nurse staffing

agency based in South Burlington, which he says has helped staff nearly every health care facility in the state since the pandemic began. Before founding TLC, Basha drove taxis to support his way See NURSE on page 13

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Page 12 • March 31, 2022 • The Other Paper

PUBLIC NOTICE Seeking Community Input on Airport Rezoning Task Force Draft Recommendation Public Meeting: April 7, 2022 at 7 pm

Elementary head named Vermont Principal of the Year AVALON STYLES-ASHLEY STAFF WRITER

Holly Rouelle has wanted to be a teacher since she was in third grade. Over the years, she’s

worn different hats as a preschool and kindergarten teacher, political science student, school board member, assistant principal and principal — or “Queencipal” per her Twitter handle — of Gertrude

The South Burlington’s Planning Commission has set up a volunteer Airport Rezoning Task Force to consider a possible zoning change to allow aviation-related uses and buildings on land east of Airport Parkway, in the vicinity of Kirby Road Extension. The request was made by the landowner, the Burlington International Airport. The Airport Rezoning Task Force has drafted its recommendation to the Planning Board to not allow rezoning of the requested area and is seeking public input. The draft recommendation will be available at the project website linked below. Join us for the public comment session: Thursday, April 7, 2022, 7:00 pm Online: https://meet.goto.com/SBCity/airport-rezoning -task-force-2022-04-07 By Phone: 1 (408) 650-3123 Access Code: 786-462-821 In person: City Hall, 180 Market Street Or email us at planning@sburl.com with your thoughts on or before April 7 To learn more about the request, the area, and what the Airport Rezoning Task Force has reviewed in their first two meetings, visit the project website: https://www. southburlingtonvt.gov/government/city_committees_ boards/airport_rezoning_task_force.php.

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Chamberlin Elementary School. Now, she’s added another hat: Distinguished Vermont Principal of the Year. “This honor is a Chamberlain school honor. I think it speaks to not my leadership so much as everyone’s leadership. I think that’s what we do at Chamberlain, we all come together,” Rouelle said, creditingd her “incredible staff” as the backbone of the South Burlington elementary school. “It’s just a stellar team and definitely my second family.” Rouelle, a St. Johnsbury native, has helmed Chamberlin for 11 years, during which she’s grown the school’s positive behavior intervention support system, a foundation of student and staff social emotional health, and championed racial equity education, according to nomination letters penned by her staff. “I am thankful every day for Holly’s courage and willingness to be vulnerable during a time when change only happens when leaders and dedicated educators shine a light on what is good and what is right,” wrote Dean Melen, a counselor at Chamberlin, in his nomination. Rouelle’s favorite part of her job is connecting with the Chamberlin families, she said. “They’re hard-working people. They are people who love their children and are doing the best that they can. It’s just a really magical place,” she said. “Once you become a teacher in South Burlington, you don’t leave because it’s such a great community.” The Vermont Principals’ Association announced honorees in late March.

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continued from page 11 through nursing school then went rooms around the state. much higher — sometimes double to work in home health care, Pandemic strains on manufac- — than for local full-time nurses. correctional facilities, hospitals turing and the supply chain led to Not to mention, premiums fluctuand other settings. He knows how other unforeseen costs for trans- ated during the pandemic, often it feels to be a nurse taking care portation. bringing extra dollars to travelers of 100 patients when you’re only Having to buy plane tickets at peak need. supposed to be taking care of 25, on short notice to accommodate According to Basha, before Basha said, and he understands the the need for health care workers the pandemic, a traveling nurse pressure many health care facili- factored into higher rates, Basha in New England could expect to ties are under. said, and renting cars for travelers make around $50 an hour, give or But the idea that staffing agen- became a huge cost, as the demand take, but during the early stages cies like his took advantage of the for rentals jumped while the vehi- of the pandemic, rates shot up to pandemic to charge exorbitant cle stock dwindled. $100 an hour or more. A quick prices and pocketed the difference Pre-pandemic, renting a car, glance at a traveling nurse job doesn’t make any sense to him. which must then be outfitted in board now shows offers that range “We didn’t become rich over winter tires depending on the from $55 an hour to $112 an hour, this because we’re season (another for positions all over the country. not making any expense), could By comparison, in May 2020, “We didn’t become more money than cost around registered nurses in Vermont made we were making $800 a month; a mean of $34.68 an hour, or a little rich over this before. It’s just now the mini- over $72,000 annually, according what we have to mum is between to the U.S. Bureau of Labor. As because we’re not pay the talent to $1,500 and of this year at the UVM Medical get them here and $1,800 a month, Center, the average hourly rate for making any more keep them here,” Basha said. a staff nurse II is $42 per hour and Basha said. M i d p a n d e m - entry-level nurses start at $33 per money than we were The rates TLC ic, they ended hour, according to Annie Mackin, charges are purely up purchasing chief media relations officer. making before.” market driven and new vehicles As the state continues to something he has to let traveling recover from COVID-19 and the — Mohamed Basha nurses use when virus transitions from pandemno control over, he said. They they arrived in ic to endemic, Basha said he has contract with nurses to staff hospi- Vermont. already seen the market trend tals, nursing homes, correctional None of these costs could have toward the old days. Rates are still facilities and more across New been absorbed without affecting higher than pre-pandemic, partialEngland, and provide home care the company’s ability to attract ly due to inflation, but he expects services to Vermont and the New nurses to Vermont, Basha added, the industry to recover along with Hampshire Upper Valley. which would’ve likely further everything else. But they’re competing against strained understaffed health care Searching for solutions hundreds of other staffing agencies facilities. across the country, many of whom “You cannot have somebody Vermont hospitals are feeling raised rates as demand increased coming here and say, ‘Hey, we’ll the effects of their reliance on and the cost of other things like pay you $10 more than what traveling nurses to bear the weight housing and transportation rose. you’re making at home, but by the of the pandemic. “During the pandemic, the way, you will be spending all that In Brumsted’s March letter to needs were so acute; we needed money and more on housing and a the Green Mountain Care board, people yesterday. It made it so that car,” Basha said. which oversees the state’s health you had to pay a higher premiWhile he argued that most care system, he asked the board to um to accommodate that,” Basha nurses get into the field for the care- allow Vermont hospitals to raise said. “If you’re asked to leave the giving element, not the paycheck, the amount they are allowed to comfort of your home, your family wages for a traveling nurse are still charge commercial insurers by 10 and travel some place strange and live in a hotel for three months and work at a facility short term, you have to get paid a premium to do that.” And getting traveling nurses to want to come to Vermont, over the beaches of Florida or the peaches of Georgia, bears its own unique challenges. OPEN YOUR HOME! Local housing prices shot up MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR A PERSON! during the pandemic while stock has dwindled, turning a shortage into a desert. Hotels raised prices, closed or became transitional LCMHS is currently seeking a home provider for an 18-year-old girl housing for people who are homewith an Intellectual Disability. This is an in-home position and the less, and Basha said those added individual would need their own bedroom in the home. We are costs were a major factor in TLC’s looking for a quiet home with no teenage males but will consider higher rates. homes with younger children. Preferably located in Lamoille County. “We’re able to bring the people Tax-Free Stipend plus Room & Board. here but then there’s no place for To learn more about this opportunity, them to stay,” he said. contact Ross King at (802) 888-5026. During the summer months, he Join our team of amazing individuals making a difference every day! recalled paying $1,000 to $1,500 a night at an Airbnb to house a More information and all job opportunities: www.lamoille.org/careers traveling nurse and paying nearly LCMHS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. double the usual rates for hotel

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percent to tackle the massive debt incurred by inflation and the cost of traveling nurses The University of Vermont Medical Center projects a loss of $39 million by the end of the fiscal year, according to Brumsted, even though they already secured permission to charge insurers 6 percent more this year than they did last year. Democratic Rep. Bill Lippert of Hinesburg, chair of the Vermont House Committee on Health Care, said an additional $15 million was included in the budget adjustment to help hospitals cover the costs of both local and traveling labor. Lippert also pointed to H.703, a broad workforce bill that has begun to make its way through the House, that in part targets reforms in nursing and education infrastructure. Nursing education is one structural weakness in Vermont.

According to Lippert, Vermont’s nursing education programs have been forced to turn away qualified applicants due to limited capacity. As written, H.703 calls for the allocation of $6 million to double the capacity of the state’s nursing program capacity, from about 600 nurses graduating each year to 1,200, and for $3 million to grow the University of Vermont’s nursing program by 50 percent. Another million would be spent on mental health nursing program funding. Lippert also said the money will fund nurse educators and nurses overseeing hospital trainees to make such work more attractive. “We need traveling care workers to fill the gaps, but our job is to increase the number of local nurses and decrease their reliance on traveling workers,” Lippert said.

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Page 14 • March 31, 2022 • The Other Paper

SERVICE DIRECTORY To advertise in the service directory email judy@otherpapersbvt.com or call 802-864-6670

Edie Brodsky REALTOR® (802) 846-9532

All You Need is Home

802-999-4433

I Make House Calls!

ON SITE Tune-ups, Oil Change, Blade Sharpening, Repair

Give the gift of music-making Remote and In-Person Lessons Basic, intermediate - children, teens, adults National Keyboard Arts Curriculum References, scholarships available

Edward Darling South Burlington

edwardjohndarling@gmail.com • 802-318-7030

• Basement Waterproofing • Crawl Space Repair • Sump Pump Systems • Foundation Repair • Concrete Leveling & Sealing 100% Financi n Availab g le

Tractors & Hand Mowers Post Season Snowblower Maintenance

Call Brad 338-1287

Piano Lessons

Edward802-318-7030 Darling, So. Burlington

Homes / Decks / Fences Commercial Buildings / Window Cleaning Graffiti Removal / Heavy Equipment

Sick Lawn Mower?

Piano Lessons

1-855-DRY-TIME • www.northernnebasements.com

MOWING | MULCH/SOIL DELIVERY WEEDING | PRUNING SPRING/FALL CLEANUP | HAUL A-WAY

Lawns by Adam 802.578.8347

Adam Dantzscher | adamdantzscher@aol.com

Spring House Washing

Specializing in Low-Pressure Vinyl Siding Washes Washing Decks, Gutters, Patios, Walkways & More

Owner operated - Call Greg Mack

802-238-3386

ANTIQUES WANTED

Residential • Commercial • Industrial

Decluttering? Downsizing? Settling an Estate?

GEORGE GARDNER

We can help you discover, learn about and sell:

CPL, RST, CPS, CHI

WATCHES • JEWELRY • COINS • SILVER • ARTWORK We can field questions, review photos and coordinate estate work.

884 Old Hollow Road North Ferrisburg, VT 05473 (802) 425-3060

Contact Brian Bittner • 802-272-7527 • bittnerantiques@gmail.com

Certified Locksmith & Safe Technician Professional Security Consultant E-mail: lockman1@comcast.net or georgessafes@gmavt.net www.georgeslocks.com www.georges-safes.com

www.bittnerantiques.com

Bear Ridge Home Improvement

• Remodeling • Bath renovations • General handy man services • Exterior siding • Painting • Rot replacement • Decking • Construction services • Remodeling • Interior painting services • Tile and hardwood flooring

26 years experience 802-343-2708 tfortin1007@gmail.com

The Other Paper Service Directory

It does a big job for your business vermont

Rug cleaning vermontrugcleaning.com | 802.985.1178

for a little price.

Call 985-3091 for details.

The Other Paper • March 31, 2022 • Page 15

CROSSWORD

ARIES

LEO

March 21 - April 20 Heavy or sensitive issues could weigh on you, Aries. However, things are likely better than you think, so find a silver lining or someone with whom you can share your struggles.

TAURUS

July 23 - Aug. 23 Get yourself noticed for all the right reasons, Leo. Try your best in the workplace to have higher-ups see what you’re made of this week and next. A promotion could be near.

VIRGO

April 21 - May 21 Don’t underestimate the power of positivity, Taurus. You can evoke more change than you may expect if you channel all of your confidence. Others will feed off your energy.

GEMINI May 22 - June 21 A mysterious energy is affecting your decisions, Gemini. Don’t be scared or suspicious. Just go with the flow for a little while and things will sort themselves out.

CANCER June 22 - July 22 Cancer, you will never be short on ideas, but you may need to figure out what is worthy of your energy. You can’t focus your attention on a million projects without help.

Aug. 24 - Sept. 22 Apply a reality check to assess which projects you should keep going and what ones are better left to the side. It just may free up a lot of extra time, Virgo.

LIBRA Sept. 23 - Oct. 23 Start looking at which desires or needs you have been ignoring, Libra. It might be time to reassess what you hold dear and rearrange your priorities.

SCORPIO Oct. 24 - Nov. 22 One-on-one interactions may have been a little rare lately, Scorpio. You should find the time to spend with a close friend or even a romantic partner. Make a plan today.

SUDOKU Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

SAGITTARIUS Nov. 23 - Dec. 21 An adrenaline boost comes your way this week, Sagittarius. You can plow through that to-do list that has been waiting for you for some time.

CAPRICORN Dec. 22 - Jan. 20 Your comfort zone gets a shake-up this week, Capricorn. Even if things may be a little awkward, it doesn’t necessarily make them bad. Explore any possibility that comes your way.

AQUARIUS Jan. 21 - Feb. 18 The stars are affecting your creativity and skills of perception. With these senses amplified, you may find solutions to problems that have evaded you.

PISCES Feb. 19 - March 20 Love is on the brain, Pisces. You will have plenty of opportunities to spend time together over the course of the next few days.

CLUES ACROSS 1. Hillsides 6. A way to ingest 9. Large number 13. Southeastern Minnesota city 14. Cronies 15. Having sufficient skill, knowledge 16. Supplements with difficulty 17. Former VP nominee Palin 18. Cambodian monetary unit 19. Where coaches work 21. Secret political clique 22. A type of lute 23. Tan 24. Empire State 25. Where golfers begin 28. For each 29. Muslim inhabitants of the Philippines 31. Bird genus 33. Popular Dave Matthews Band song 36. Domesticates 38. “Boardwalk Empire” actress Gretchen 39. Asian antelope 41. One who takes apart 44. Kin 45. Dresses 46. Says something about you (abbr.)

48. Doctor of Education 49. One quintillion bytes (abbr.) 51. Overcharge 52. Sailboats 54. Indian musical patterns 56. Predisposition to a condition 60. Share a common boundary with 61. Wide 62. Skin disease 63. Monetary unit of Samoa 64. Source of the Blue Nile 65. Instrument 66. Red deer 67. Unidentified flying object 68. Bar or preclude CLUES DOWN 1. Flying insects 2. Strong alcoholic spirit 3. Old 4. Moves in slowly 5. Symbol for tin 6. Having certain appendages 7. Expression of sorrow or pity 8. Type of hormone (abbr.) 9. One with an unjustified mistrust 10. Hebrew calendar month 11. Pure 12. LSU football coach

ANSWERS

14. Unbroken views 17. Fathers 20. Part of a race 21. Hairstyle 23. Fifth note of a major scale 25. Body art 26. Amounts of time 27. Designed chairs 29. Sensational dramatic piece 30. Arrangement of steps 32. Classifies 34. Young child 35. Oh, no! 37. Astronomical period of about 18 years 40. Not or 42. Poke fun at 43. Consisting of roots 47. “__ Humbug!” 49. A way to remove 50. A confusion of voices and other sounds 52. Keyed instrument 53. Varnishes 55. Unpleasantly sticky substance 56. Unable to hear 57. A short erect tail 58. Indicates interest 59. Flow or leak through 61. British thermal unit 65. Iron

Page 16 • March 31, 2022 • The Other Paper

News from South Burlington Public Library 180 Market St., South Burlington, 802-846-4140. Go to southburlingtonlibrary. org for information about any programming, cancellations or in-person changes. Some events may change from in-person to virtual. Some events require preregistration. Hours: Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Email sbplinfo@southburlingtonvt.gov.

is “Half Magic” by Edward Eager. April title: TBD. Preregister.

KIDS & TEENS EVENTS

Tuesdays, April 5, 12, 19 and 26, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Join Miss Kelly and her puppets for storytimes geared to ages 1 to 3 with an adult caregiver.

Kids’ Book Club Thursdays, March 31, and April 7 and 28, 4-5 p.m. Kids in kindergarten through second grade and their parents are welcome to join Ms. Natacha for a book club for kids. March title

Dungeons & Dragons Saturday, April 2, 16 and 30, 10:15 a.m.-2 p.m. Join experienced dungeon master, Miss Jo, Saturdays at the library and get started on the Shadows of the Moonsea journey. Experience not required to play.

Toddlertime

Draw together Tuesday, April 5, 3-4:30 p.m. Use Wendy Mac’s magically

inspiring drawing program virtually in the Katie O’Brien Activity Room. Mmaterials and watercolor paints supplied.

Lego builders Wednesdays, April 6, 13, 20 and 27, 3-4:30 p.m. Projects geared to kids ages eight and up, or ages six and up with an adult helper. Each week, builders explore, create and participate in challenges.

ADULTS EVENTS Tech help by phone Fridays, April 1 and 15, 10 a.m.-noon Do you have a new computer or device that you don’t know how to use? Call during dial-in tech help hours for help.

Friends of the Library used book sale Friday, April 1, 2-5 p.m. and Saturday, April 2, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Adult fiction and nonfiction, young adult, children’s books, author signed books, antiquarian book, audiobooks and DVDs.

Author Jason Chin Saturday, April 2, 10:30 a.m.-noon Meet author and illustrator Jason Chin, this year’s Caldecott winner. Chin will offer a reading and sign books.

Cookbook club Tuesdays, April 5 and May 3, 5:30-7 p.m. Choose a recipe to prepare, get a free photocopy and sign up to

Jason Chin

share your cooking with the rest of the group. The cookbook for April is “That Sounds So Good” by Carla Lalli Music. In May, the cookbook is “Treasures of the Mexican Table: Classic Recipes, Local Secrets” by Pati Jinich.

Being a Full Time Caregiver Can Be a Heavy Lift. It’s a Good Thing We’ve Been Working Out. At Gazebo Senior Living, we’ve been providing quality assisted care to Vermont seniors Since 1985. Let us care for the ones you love so you can care for yourself.

Vermont Owned and Managed

1510/1530 Williston Road South Burlington, VT

Call Erin Knox today at 802-861-4003 to schedule a personal tour and learn more about our Move-In Special or visit our website: gazeboseniorliving.com GSL_BANG_10.25x7.75_Caregiver.indd 1

12/7/21 9:58 AM