The Other Paper - 12-15-22

Reindeer lichen

Food for Santa’s sled team

Page 16

Winter sports

Coaches provide outlook for upcoming Wolves’ season

Page 18

the South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977

Tesla car dealership wins zoning change from SB city council

The South Burlington City Council last week paved the way for a proposed Tesla dealership off Shelburne Road by approving zoning changes requested by the company.

City councilors unanimously voted for the zoning change during their Dec. 5 meeting.

Council member Matt Cota recused himself because of his

Homeless crisis looms

work as the government affairs director for the Vermont Vehicle and Automotive Distributors Association.

“I’ve gotten a ton of emails and almost every single one of them was supportive of this,” said council chair Helen Riehle.

The approval allows Tesla to move forward with its plan to use the old Hannaford building near Lowe’s for its dealership. The

See TESLA on page 12

Chittenden County braces for end of hotel housing

LIBERTY DARR & COREY MCDONALD

STAFF WRITERS

On a tiny, wooded strip of cityowned land called Garvey Woods, a campsite was visible just north of the Community Lutheran Church on South Burlington’s Williston Road.

A couple had been there for weeks, making campfires and using the church dumpster, accord-

ing to Bill Barber, a trustee of the Lutheran Church, speaking to the city council during its Nov. 7 meeting.

He turned to the council for help as the church did not have the resources “to try to handle this,” he said, adding that their “concern is that there’s one group of people there now — if something’s not

See HOUSING on page 14

HOT DOG DECEMBER

Say it ain't so!

Our delicious hot dogs are back for a limited time. Chicago, Vermont, Kansas City and more.

COURTESY PHOTO Chittenden County Sen. Thomas Chittenden, center, went all out for the South Burlington Rotary Club’s Ugly Sweater Fun Run Dec. 11, seen here with a couple friends from Star Wars. Funds raised go to the club’s charitable initiatives and the South Burlington Academic Boosters Fund.

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

Credit union makes holiday gift to Feeding Chittenden

Company offers new model for home waste generation

Curb Resource Collection, a recently launched residential waste hauling company, says it can offer a better option for homeowners looking to cut down on their waste generation.

Curb offers a selection of full-service and compost-only plans, all of which are currently available to residents in South Burlington and some neighborhoods in Shelburne, and other areas in Chittenden County.

Curb charges full-service customers for landfill-bound waste by the bag. Curb customers prepay for yellow “Curb landfill” stickers that go on each bag of landfill-bound waste. The fewer stickers a customer uses, the less they pay.

By including compost service, Curb hopes to reduce landfill waste and comply

with the state’s ban on throwing food scraps in the trash. Backyard composters also benefit from curbside composting service, which allows them to also compost meat, bones, fish and oils.

“Curb is a local collection service with a big purpose: reduce landfill-bound waste,” said co-founder Brian Somers. “We built this business to encourage our neighbors and community members to repurpose, recycle and reimagine their household discards not as waste, but as the resources that they are.”

Curb’s founders are four close friends — Brian Somers, Anna Stuart, Tommy Lyga and Kristen Lyga — who are all longtime Vermont residents. All four came to Vermont for college and decided to make it their permanent home.

COURTESY PHOTO

SeaComm recently donated $1,000 in support of Feeding Chittenden. The funds will assist the organization’s mission to alleviate hunger by providing nutritious meals and cultivating opportunities locally during the holiday season. Feeding Chittenden operates Monday through Friday with help from dedicated volunteers and supporters. From left, SeaComm South Burlington branch manager Larry Bridglal and Feeding Chittenden major gifts and communications manager Anna McMahon.

COURTESY PHOTO

Curb Resource Collection co-founder Tommy Lyga waves from the truck.

Hickok & Boardman picks Miller and Ward

Hickok & HR Intelligence has announced the appointment of client managers Jessica Miller and Rachel Ward. Miller joined Hickok & Boardman HR Intelligence as a client manager in November and is working to support large-organization clients alongside leadership, account leads and senior client managers to assist with client benefit needs. Previously, Miller came from the talent acquisition and recruitment strategies department at the University of Vermont Health Network. Miller, a graduate of William James College and the

Big give on Tuesday

COURTESY PHOTO

Vermont Federal Credit Union in South Burlington donated over $20,000 to a variety of local charities and non-profit organizations, including Spectrum Youth Services in St. Albans, Enosburg Food Shelf, HOPE Holiday Shop, Addison County Parent Child Center, Pride Centers VT, Jenna’s Promise, Franklin County Humane Society, Vermont Children’s Museum, Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports and Lamoille Community House. The credit union also partnered with several radio stations for the 13th Feed Your Neighbor food drive to benefit Feeding Chittenden and the Joint Council for Economic Opportunity. This year the food drive collected more than 7,000 pounds of food.

Business Notes

University of Vermont, will use her abilities and skills to support clients, carriers and vendors in her day-to-day work.

Ward now works within Hickok & Boardman HR Intelligence’s small-group division, where she works closely with members of her team of executives, senior client managers and account leaders by providing direct support to our clients. She currently works remotely from upstate New York. A mother of two, she enjoys spending time with her family, hiking with her dog, taking trips to the ocean, watercolor painting and volunteering with the Best Buddies program.

South Burlington spa welcomes new manager

Aleksey Jordick has joined GlowAesthetics Medical Spa + Beauty Boutique in South Burlington as assistant business manager. A lifelong Vermonter, Jordick grew up in Williston, graduating with a degree in nutrition and food science from the University of Vermont.

“Aleksey’s extensive business management background, can-do attitude and passion for efficiency and organization will allow us to manage our rapid growth trajectory,” said the company’s Christine Keelan.

Aleksey Jordick

Jessica Miller Rachel Ward

Compassionate, expert Dental Care

Agency/public assists: 24

Traffic stop: 23

Larceny from motor vehicle: 13

Alarm: 12

Trespass: 12

Motor vehicle complaint: 12

Retail theft: 11

Noise violation: 10

Suspicious event: 10

Welfare check: 10

Accident: property damage: 9

Fraud: 8

Larcency from structure: 6

Disturbance: 5

Total incidents: 244

Arrests:

Oct. 31 at 2:53 p.m., Mark Badie, 36, of South Burlington, was arrested for second degree aggravated domestic assault on Dorset Street.

Nov. 17 at 10:16 a.m., Mark Badie, 36, of South Burlington, was arrested for making a false statement as to financial ability, uttering a forged instrument, false pretenses and writing bad checks on Swift Street.

Dec. 6 at 3:38 p.m., Christopher Atnip, 33, of South Burlington, was arrested for violating conditions of release on Garden Street.

Dec. 8 at 7:23 a.m., Mekhi RasonJay Murphy, 24, of Loganville, Ga., was arrested for negligent

South Burlington Police Blotter

operation, accessory after the fact and felony possession of stolen property on Hannaford Drive.

Nov. 8 at 7:23 a.m., Lovell Ambrister, 21, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was arrested for resisting arrest, felony retail theft and felony possession of stolen property on Hannaford Drive.

Top incidents:

Dec. 5 at 12:14 a.m., police checked out a report of too much noise on Farrell Street.

Dec. 5 at 9:39 a.m., a fraud is under investigation from a report on Park Street.

Dec. 5 at 1:27 p.m., an accident on Hidden Meadow Lane and Hinesburg Road resulted in property damage. Another accident an hour later, at 2:37 p.m. on Dorset Street, also resulted in property damage. The latter accident is under investigation.

Dec. 5 at 4:23 p.m., police closed a report of fraud on Eastwood Drive.

Dec. 5 at 8:55 p.m., police were called to deal with a “juvenile problem.”

Dec. 5 at 11:05 p.m., police are looking into a report of a disturbance on Sherry Road.

Dec. 6 at 6:56 a.m., police

performed a sex offender registry compliance check on Shelburne Road.

Dec. 6 at 10 a.m., someone left the scene of an accident on Williston Road. Police are investigating.

Dec. 6 at 1:24 p.m., an animal was causing trouble on Central Avenue.

Dec. 6 at 2:05 p.m., an embezzlement on Williston Road is being investigated.

Dec. 6 at 9:53 p.m., police were called to a domestic dispute on Lime Kiln Road.

Dec. 7 at 11 a.m., threats were reported on Dorset Street.

Dec. 7 at 4:19 p.m., a simple assault on Williston Road is being looking into.

Dec. 7 at 9:16 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen on Shelburne Road, and police closed the matter.

Dec. 8 at 12:04 p.m., someone left the scene of an accident on Patchen Road.

Dec. 8 at 6:46 a.m., police are investigating someone for driving will intoxicated on Shelburne Road.

Dec. 8 at 9:38 a.m., a missing person report was closed on Shelburne Road.

Dec. 8 at 10 11 a.m., on Dorset Street, someone reported they had been the victim of a larceny.

Dec. 8 at 1:47 p.m., another driver left the scene of an accident, this time on Shelburne Road.

Dec. 8 at 4:35 p.m., an accident at Lindenwood Drive and Shelburne Road resulted in damage to property.

Dec. 9 at 12:56 a.m., noise ordinance violation on Dorset Street.

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Dec. 9 at 8:53 a.m., someone stole items from a vehicle on Kennedy Drive. A second report came in minutes later, at 9:07 a.m.

Dec. 9 at 10:12 a.m., a fraud was reported on Birch Lane.

Dec. 9 at 5:32 and 5:55 p.m., back-to-back suspicious events were reported on Williston Road.

Dec. 10 at 9:06 a.m., a report of some type of domestic assault came into police.

Dec. 10 at 4 p.m., welfare check on Dorset Street.

Dec. 10 at 11:18 p.m., noisy folks resulted in a visit from the police on Farrell Street.

Dec. 11 at 3:21 p.m., another problem animal, this time on Moss Glen Lane.

Dec. 11 at 5:13 p.m., a domestic situation arose on Larkin Way.

Dec. 11 at 5:40 p.m., illegal dumping on Hannaford Drive.

Dec. 11 at 11:20 p.m., police dealt with a traffic hazard on Brewer Parkway and Shelburne Road.

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16-17

December 2022

4pm-8pm

A Winter Artisan Festival

On a dark, December night, Illuminate Vermont shines bright with the power of artistic expression and celebration.

Grab a cocktail or some culinary treats. Enjoy the live music from the main stage. Stroll the artists’ market, featuring great holiday gifts from Vermont artisans. Best of all, admission is free.

EXPERIENCE VERMONT’S NEWEST ARTISTIC FESTIVAL. 180 Market Street, South Burlington, Vermont www.illuminatevermont.com

Presenting Sponsor

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City council: Rules on encampments need force of law

Guest Perspective

Sandy Dooley

First, I write to commend city attorney Colin McNeil and police chief Shawn Burke on the content of the eight-page “Enforcement and Removal Policies and Procedures Relating to Unauthorized Campsites on city Properties,” which they presented to the city council Nov. 21.

The procedures proposed are sensible, compassionate and comprehensive. The need for the procedures flows from changing circumstances, as stated: “Like other communities throughout Vermont and the United States, the city of South Burlington is experiencing an increase in the levels of individuals experiencing homelessness, including a growing number of unauthorized campsites on public property.”

The agenda item describing attorney McNeil and Burke’s presentation reads as follows: “Receive a proposed Encampment Ordinance (emphasis added) and provide direction to staff.” However, at the beginning of the presentation, McNeil said that the term ordinance no longer applied as they wanted the council to adopt the policies and procedures, not an ordinance. He added that, as the city already has an ordinance giving it the authority to remove homeless encampments, it is not necessary to adopt the proposed policies and procedures as an ordinance.

My research suggests there is a strong rationale for adopting the proposed policies and procedures as an ordinance. As some may recall, the city of Burlington removed an encampment of individuals off Sears Lane in November 2021. Prior to Burlington’s action, two residents of the encampment filed a lawsuit against the city stating its proposal to remove the encampment was a violation of the city’s policy on encampment removal.

One of the city’s counter arguments was that the residents had no standing to initiate a lawsuit because the encampment policy was a policy and not an ordinance, and therefore, did not have the force of law. Quoting Burlington city Attorney Dan Richardson, “Since a policy does not give people rights in the same way that an ordinance or law does, campers cannot get relief from their removal based on whether or not the city adhered to its policy.”

In his decision dated Nov. 1, 2021, Chittenden Superior Court Judge Samuel Hoar Jr. wrote, “Plaintiffs claim that the city has violated its ‘sheltering on public lands policy.’ They have not shown, however, that the policy creates any legally enforceable rights.”

According to Hoar, the campers could be awarded damages if they prove the city’s policy:

• Was an ordinance holding “the force of law.”

• Served as a contract between campers and the city.

• Mandated that the city act in a certain way.

Since the policy did not meet any of these standards, the city was not under any obligation to follow it, meaning that the campers likely won’t win their lawsuit.”

Burlington went forward and removed the Sears Lane encampment. To address the lack of enforcement or accountability apparently inherent in a policy vis-à-vis an ordinance, on Feb. 7, 2022, the Burlington City Council approved an encampment ordinance, whose content is in many respects similar to the content of the policy put forth by McNeil and Burke.

It is difficult to read Hoar’s decision and be confident that the policy McNeil and Burke have proposed has the force of law or meets either of the other two criteria cited in Hoar’s decision.

Individuals who live in encampments are among the most vulnerable residents of our community. Any procedures the city council adopts relative to removal of encampments should have the force of law. This should not be read as any lack of confidence in our police officers’ intent or capacity to follow the procedures as defined. However, as we all know, from time to time, mistakes happen. Should they happen, the residents of the encampment should have the right to seek redress in a court of law.

The city council is expected to act on the proposed policy at its Dec. 19 meeting. I encourage anyone interested in this matter to communicate their views to one or more city councilors. Find their contact information at the city’s website, southburlingtonvt. gov.

Sandy Dooley is a 50-year resident of South Burlington.

Should they happen, the residents of the encampment should have the right to seek redress

Retiring rep looks back on 10 years in Legislature

Rep. Maida Townsend

Come January, the new biennium will convene in Montpelier. I will not be there to take my seat on the House Floor, No. 3. I will not be there to take the oath of office. It is an oath that always filled me with such emotion that I could barely speak the words. It is an oath, the weight of the responsibility and honor, which I felt deeply.

That responsibility and honor entailed much challenging work. The journey was hard, and I did not always like it. Nonetheless, I did always love it.

I served six years on House Committee on Government Operations, two as chair. I then served four years on appropriations, two of those years as clerk.

Here are just a few of the issues of which I was very proud while on government operations:

• Establishing responder protocols for search and rescue.

• Establishing oversight, transparency and accountability relating to law enforcement training and licensing.

• Modernizing and clarifying public meeting and public records laws.

• Establishing voter registration to coincide with the application for, or renewal of, a motor vehicle driver’s license or non-driver identification card.

• Establishing same-day voter registration.

• Establishing lobbyist protocols relating to fundraising.

• Establishing the Vermont Ethics Commission and financial disclosure requirements for candidates and office holders.

• Establishing the Office of Racial Equity and the Racial Equity Advisory Panel to address systemic racism across state government.

I knew that I had worked hard on these and other House Committee on Government Operations issues. I discovered what hard work really was, however, when I moved to appropriations. That is when I came to understand every esoteric bit of the state budget. I helped to craft

the entire document while also internalizing granular knowledge of the eight sections of the budget for which I was personally responsible.

That said, it was the 2020 session that provided the greatest challenge on the committee. On March 13, the date of the COVID-19 lockdown, the committee was literally one day away from wrapping up its proposed fiscal year 2021 budget. We learned in short order that this draft document was meaningless.

We needed to re-do the previously completed budget adjustment for the prior fiscal year. We needed to craft, from scratch, a partial budget for 2021, to “cover” into August, at which point we needed to complete the budget for adjournment by the end of September.

Throughout, we were assessing the ravages of the pandemic on individuals, families and communities, small businesses and the state’s overall economy, while managing the influx of federal relief dollars. Throughout, we functioned via Zoom. Although breathtaking, the experience was fulfilling in its accomplishment.

Constituent support

request resulted in H.551 (Act 111, 2018), an act relating to flags and flag-flying protocol. Ethan Allen’s Green Mountain Boys battle flag now flies at the Statehouse every Jan. 15. This commemorates the Jan. 15, 1777, vote of independence for the territory we know as Vermont. The first raising of the flag in 2019 was carried out by re-enactors organized through the Ethan Allen Homestead. The constituent and his family were in attendance.

Drafting resolutions was also a way to support constituents. H.R.14 (2016) was a statement relating to the cultural, religious and political status of Tibet and Tibetans. On March 10, 50 Tibetans living in South Burlington and Burlington were at the Statehouse.

I could recount so much more, but this must be the end, with profound thanks for entrusting me with the work of these past 10 years.

Blue Christmas Service

Longest Night/Winter Solstice

Wednesday, Dec. 21, 7:00 p.m.

This special service is designed for those who find the holidays to be a difficult time. We gather together to light candles, sing songs, and recite prayers to remind ourselves that the darkness will not win. All are welcome! Handicapped accessible.

Ten years as a legislator allowed me to help hundreds of constituents who reached out with a vast array of personal situations. Initially, numerous constituents needed similar assistance, navigating Vermont Health Connect. Years later, when COVID-19 arrived, numerous constituents again had a shared need: Access to unemployment benefits.

Every legislator, myself included, helped masses of constituents get through often maddening processes and obtain benefits.

Helping constituents also included introducing new legislation. For instance, one constituent request resulted in H.356 (Act 117, 2014), an act relating to prohibiting littering in or on the waters of the state. The constituent who brought that issue to me was invited to the bill signing and was congratulated by the governor as personifying participatory government.

A very different constituent

They saw the entire House rise as one in support and they met with the governor. This all began with one constituent communicating with me about the significance of March 10: The date in 1959 of the peaceful Tibetan street uprising against the invasion and occupation by China. Ten years is a long time. Not everything worked out. Most disappointing, I could not find legislative traction for two bills that also resulted from constituent reach-out, and about which I felt strongly.

One was H.49 (2021), an act relating to including psychological abuse as the basis for obtaining a civil abuse protection order. The other was H.506 (2022), an act relating to preserving the rights of a parent with a disability. I must believe that the constituents and the advocates will persist, will reach out to ensure that these issues remain on the radar screen.

I could recount so much more, but this must be the end, with profound thanks for entrusting me with the work of these past 10 years.

Legislative questions and concerns moving forward? Kate Nugent is the Chittenden-10 representative-elect. She will take the oath on Jan. 4. She can be reached at knugent@leg.state. vt.us.

Maida Townsend Vermont House of Representatives District 7-4

899 Dorset St. (South of I-89 Overpass), S. Burlington,

Path to ruin paved with good intentions

To the Editor:

to the Editor Homelessness is a crisis of housing, not the un-housable

Responding to South Burlington City Council voting down charter change for heating, in my opinion Matt Cota is the smartest person in the room. (“South Burlington City Council votes down charter change for heating,” Dec. 8, 2022)

He understands the technical problems and hardship that this charter change would bring to our community. Is there no one on the Climate Action Task Force that understands how a heat pump works and what it takes to maintain and service one?

I have been in this industry as a technician, wholesaler and heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration instructor for nearly 50 years in this state. The industry is not ready or prepared in equipment or technicians to become the only source of heating in Vermont.

Gary Ducharme South Burlington

City council needs to slow down on climate policy

To the Editor:

I am writing to express my astonishment that less than two weeks after the city council passed a law to regulate new

construction in South Burlington as it pertains to fossil fuels, they are now pushing regulation on existing homes. While many of us expressed concern with the previous new law, and almost every city council member assured us that it is only for new construction, including councilor Meaghan Emery. Here comes the bait and switch — with the headwinds behind them they now want to regulate existing homes.

Councilor Tim Barritt said, “Residents should know what policy the town wants to craft before approving a charter change.” Does this make sense? There is no real plan that I can see, there are no limitations, no guidelines, no exemptions, no process it’s pretty much “let’s change the charter and figure out the details later.”

Per usual, we are presented with these doomsday scenarios. Andrew Chalnick has tens of thousands of folks migrating to Vermont and apparently hundreds of thousands from around the world, and Emery states “if we do nothing, we will have all kinds of blackouts.” Do you believe that putting a carbon tax on long standing South Burlington residents, senior citizens, renters and those that can least afford it is going to solve this?

Clearly this was a well-

Guest Perspective

Anne N. Sosin

A recent Vermont Public story profiled a home health worker who, after nearly 30 years of steady service, now earns $18 per hour. That is $5.40 per hour short of the estimated $23.40 she needs to earn to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment in most parts of the state.

This worker is on the frontlines of health care for many Vermonters. She is also one of many faces of the state’s growing crisis of housing and homelessness.

As this crisis reaches further into the middle class, it leaves low-income workers and people whose needs cannot be met with conventional housing in an uphill battle to stay housed. It is turning middle-class Vermonters into working-class Vermonters and working-class Vermonters into unhoused or doubled-up Vermonters.

It is forcing many people to turn down jobs in the state and others to leave the state entirely. It affects the ability of businesses, health care institutions, schools and others to recruit and retain workers, threatening services essential to all Vermonters.

Amid this growing emergency, Vermont is drawing down much of the assistance that kept Vermonters experiencing homelessness sheltered. These programs kept many others in their homes, including many low-income Vermonters in the workforce. The abrupt and impending end of emergency rental assistance, transitional motel housing and other supports threatens to toss scores of Vermonters into homelessness and untenable housing situations during the coldest months.

Ending housing support in absence of adequate housing supply or a plan to develop it will make Vermont’s most vulnerable residents pay the price for a longstanding policy failure to develop sufficient affordable housing.

Vermont’s housing shortage is a crisis of affordable housing, not of un-housable Vermonters. University of Washington housing researcher Gregg Colburn and data journalist Clayton Aldern found that housing supply and affordability — not drug use, mental illness, climate, poverty, local political context or availability of services — best accounts for regional variation in homelessness. Homelessness, they write, is a housing problem.

Vermont does not have enough housing to meet the needs of its population. The state currently has the lowest rental vacancy rate in the U.S. at 2.5 percent, with Chittenden County at a meager 0.4 percent.

The 2020-2025 Housing Needs Assessment highlighted vast shortages of affordable housing across this state, especially for low-income families. In the Upper Valley region alone, the Keys to the Valley study estimated that the region would need 10,000 units by 2030.

Adequate housing is particularly short for disabled Vermonters, aging Vermonters and those

requiring permanent supportive housing. In addition, an estimated 18,000 primary homes are of substandard quality.

Housing is increasingly unaffordable as well: Vermont ranks in the upper half of rental wages in the country and has the ninth-highest rental wage for rural states. With a state rental wage of $23.40 — almost double the minimum wage of $13.18 as of Jan. 1. Vermonters seeking a modest two-bedroom apartment — a group that includes families with children — must work 75 hours, or 1.9 minimum-wage jobs.

Homes are also increasingly out of reach — the Zillow Home Index climbed from $265,000 to $374,000, a more than 40 percent increase since the onset of the pandemic.

This is a solvable crisis. Extensive evidence tells us that most people can be successfully housed — when there is housing available.

Several randomized control trials provide robust evidence that even chronically unhoused people — including those with significant health care use, severe mental illness and encounters with the criminal justice system — can be housed using a housing-first model, an approach that combines housing with supportive services.

Policymakers that have acted on this evidence have made dramatic progress in reducing homelessness. Milwaukee has reduced its unsheltered homeless population by 92 percent since 2015 and was recognized in June 2022 as having the lowest per-capita unsheltered homeless population in the U.S. despite overall increases in homelessness in Wisconsin.

Houston has rehoused 25,000 people in the last decade, cutting homelessness by more than half and outperforming much of the country.

In Rockford, Illinois, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated efforts underway to eliminate unsheltered homelessness.

The Veterans Administration has reduced homelessness by 11 percent since January 2020 and 55 percent since 2010 using a housing-first model.

It’s time for Vermont to stop debating solutions that set the state further back from other parts of the country. Gov. Scott and the Legislature must offer a

This is a solvable crisis. Extensive evidence tells us that most people can be successfully housed — when there is housing available.

LETTERS

continued from page 8

thought-out plan by Ethan Goldman and the Climate Action Plan Task Force: Convince the public that South Burlington is taking proper steps to combat climate change and get it passed. Then, wham! Hit them when they least expect it.

In a further state of astonishment, Chalnick says, “If we can do exactly what Burlington did, I think we’ll be in good shape.”

Nothing against our neighbor, but Burlington isn’t exactly the town I would be copying for policy. Things aren’t so good there if you haven’t noticed.

I get the intent and agree steps need to be taken, even at some costs to residents — I put up solar panels and generate 75 percent of my electricity. However, I am not sure I’m saving money. Throwing this proposal at residents without proper vetting and pushing for a March vote is irresponsible. Let South Burlington residents catch up with all the changes, the impacts on the day-to-day folks and slow down.

Many might disregard councilor Matt Cota’s position, but when supported by the CEO of the largest electric utility in New England, maybe, just maybe we ought to listen.

Michael Rozzi South Burlington

City council should look at other solutions for climate change

To the Editor:

The South Burlington City Council consideration of a charter change that would give them the power to regulate energy systems in existing building was an unnecessary attempt at excessive and unwarranted regulation of residents and businesses. We do not need a carbon tax or other intrusive ordinances that determine how residents heat their homes and hot water. (“South Burlington City Council votes down charter change for heating,” Dec. 8, 2022)

The transition to electrification by using cold-climate heat pumps is useful,

SOSIN

continued from page 9

plan and leadership commensurate with the scale of the challenge. We need to focus on housing first.

Motel housing and short-term programs are not the long-term solution to Vermont’s critical shortage of stable housing and supportive housing. Housing is the solution. But the next step is to provide a bridge to permanent housing rather than a cliff to homelessness.

Vermont policymakers must pair emergency solutions for those most at risk with an aggressive, comprehensive, evidencebased plan backed by adequate resources to expand the supply of housing and to end homelessness.

This plan should address not only the need for physical infrastructure but also for wraparound services for Housing First

but there are important considerations that are frequently glossed over. Adding heat pumps is very expensive and will be a major expense for most homeowners. Luckily, starting in 2023 there are new federal tax credits that could make an installation a viable option for more people. Heat pumps may not be suitable in some homes or won’t cover the whole space; therefore, a hybrid approach may be needed, which would include the heat pump and a boiler or furnace. Heat pumps are very efficient, but the efficiency is directly proportional to outside air temperature, so that when you need the most heat, the unit can provide it efficiently.

The other issue is the promotion of wood for building heat. Wood is a renewable resource. Yet, it is polluting and certainly emits carbon when it is burned. Large-scale wood extraction for wood pellets is not benign and can have significant environmental impacts. Burning wood is inconsistent with carbon sequestration. I am not suggesting that wood should be prohibited as a building heat source, but neither should it be elevated as a preferred heat source of climate change mitigation since it is neither carbon free nor clean.

There is an excellent article in Inside Climate News on this topic called “Vermont Doubles Down on Wood Burning, with Consequences for Climate and Health.” It explains in depth the issues involved with wood heat.

I understand that people want to do something about climate change. The great thing is that you can easily do that without regulation of other people’s homes and businesses. You can drive less, you can stop flying and you can stop eating red meat and lobster. The city council can work on buying more electric school buses and electrify city owned infrastructure. But please, let’s not try to solve the climate change problem by mandating that people buy more stuff, in this case, heat pumps and woodstoves.

Steve Comeau South Burlington

approaches. The Legislature and leaders from other sectors must set aside the business-as-usual mentality and address the varied policy, regulatory, structural and political barriers to developing affordable housing at scale.

This includes both allocating significant additional resources for affordable housing construction and undertaking difficult but overdue reforms.

We know that housing first works. We need political leadership to invest first in housing to address Vermont’s crisis of housing and homelessness.

Anne N. Sosin is a policy fellow at the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy and the Social Sciences at Dartmouth College.

Once again, Vibrant Church lit up Williston Road with the 11th Jay’s Christmas Party for Kids-Drive Thru. The church and the Pomerleau Family Foundation sponsor this event in memory of their late housekeeper and nanny, Jay (Jeannette) Lefebvre, who is mother of Vibrant event director Robin Danaher. This year more than 800 cars with 2,500 people and 1,500 kids saw the lights, live nativity scene, favorite cartoon characters, and received a gift from Santa’s elves. S.D. Ireland, VTrans, Vermont Air National Guard, TDI Towing and Troy came with light-decorated vehicles — always a huge hit. Seen above, from left, Leslie Jones and Ada, Marchessault.

GIFT

Community Notes

Illuminate Vermont Artisan Fair is fast approaching

Enjoy a magical evening in the heart of South Burlington’s downtown as the community shines brightly with the power of artistic expression and celebration, both Friday and Saturday, Dec. 16-17, 4-8 p.m.

See the winter lights on Market Street. Stroll through the open-air market and find unique handmade products, hot beverages, food trucks, live music and other performances. Free.

There will also be local artisan food and drinks and live music.

Parking is available in the University Mall parking garage, with a shuttle service to Market Street. Parking is also available at the Rick Marcotte Central School with ADA parking/drop in the lot directly behind 180 Market Street (along with 12 EV chargers). Bring an ID if you plan to buy alcoholic beverages.

For more information, visit illuminatevermont.com.

Schedule of events

Friday, Dec. 16, gates open at 4 p.m.

Main stage

4-5:45 p.m. — Grippo Funk Band

6:15-8 p.m. — Devon McGarry Band

Library

The South Burlington Public Library hosts a book sale with local entertainment.

4:30-5:30 p.m. — Jazzou Jones

6:30-7:30 p.m. Clare Innes

Claire”

Library auditorium

4-6 p.m. — Green Mountain Brass Band

6- 8 p.m. — Beecharmer

Saturday, Dec. 17

Main stage

4-5:45 p.m. — Jenni Johnson and the Jazz Junketeers

6:1 -8 p.m. — The Judi Emanuel Family Band

Library Book sale

4:30-5:30 p.m. — A Pair of Pauls Playing Piano

6:30-7:30 p.m. Katrina Van Tyne and Joe Cribari

Auditorium

4-6 p.m. — Greenbush

6-8 p.m. — Root 7

Santa is coming to St. George Sunday

Santa is coming to Simon’s in St. George, 2 Barber Road, on Sunday, Dec.18, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Bring the kids down, enjoy some cookies and milk and they can sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what they want for Christmas.

Solaris Vocal ensemble performs two traditional holiday shows

Embrace the season with “Shout for Joy,” Robert De Cormier’s set of five Christmas spirituals on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Waterbury Congregational Church, 8 North Main

St. in Waterbury, and on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 4 p.m. at the College Street Congregational Church located, 265 College St., Burlington.

Solaris Vocal Ensemble will also feature compositions of the British Isles ranging from Henry Purcell’s 17th-centaury “Magnificat” to the 20th-century “Wassail” by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Solaris’ featured guest artist is Tim Cummings, a bagpipe performer and educator, and Vermont-based composer whose repertoire spans from the contemporary and sacred to the traditional melodies of the British Isles, Appalachia, Cape Breton and Brittany.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students at bit.ly/3uDg6o3.

COURTESY PHOTO

Illuminate Vermont offers two nights of winter fun in South Burlington.

TESLA

continued from page 1

building was left vacant in March 2018 after the company relocated north on Shelburne Road to the former location of K-Mart.

MSK Attorneys, a Burlington-based law firm representing Tesla, sent a formal request to city planner Paul Conner in August asking if the city could zone the Hannaford building for auto dealerships, saying that the site “matches Tesla’s corporate goal of minimizing environmental impacts by the re-use of an existing facility.”

“This came out of a request we received, and we felt like there was an opportunity here to reuse an existing building that’s been mostly vacant and has not been

redeveloped for housing or other uses,” said Jessica Louisos, chair of the planning commission.

Tesla, in its letter to the city, said that there are “no suitable properties” within the existing auto zone that “are not already owned or controlled by an automobile dealership.”

The dealership, once built, will be Tesla’s first in Vermont and would join several other dealerships in the vicinity along Shelburne Road. Headed by Elon Musk, the company has pioneered the mass manufacture of electric vehicles and generates billions in revenue.

The area was previously zoned

C1-R15 — a partially commercial and residential designation. Adjacent to the district, along Shelburne Road through Fayette Drive to Holmes Road, is zoned C1-Auto for dealership sales.

Planners with the city shifted that C1-Auto designation to accommodate Tesla’s request, stripping the C-1 Auto designation from most of the area south of the Freedom Nissan dealership on Saturn Way and retooling the district to maintain “a similar total amount of area that would allow for auto sales,” Conner said. The zoning converted out of auto will still allow for further mixed-use development.

News from South Burlington Public Library

180 Market St., southburlingtonlibrary.org

For information about any programming, cancellations or in-person changes, call 802-8464140 or email southburlingtonlibrary.org. Some events may change from in-person to virtual. Some events require preregistration. Masks are encouraged.

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.

KIDS & TEENS

Middle school makers

Thursday, Dec. 29, 4-5:30 p.m.

For students in grades five to eight. Dec. 8: orange and clove pomanders. Dec. 29: jalapeño wonton cups.

Friday movie

Friday, Dec. 23, 1-3 p.m. Family movies in the auditorium or activity room. Dec. 23: “Polar Express.”

Craftytown

Tuesday, Dec. 20, 3-4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 27 and Wednesday, Dec. 28, 10:30 a.m.-noon

Projects geared to kids 8 and up, or 6 and up with an adult. Dec. 13: burlap stitching project; Dec. 20: winter solstice lanterns. Dec. 27: Make bells to ring in the new

year. Dec. 28: Perler bead star garland.

Lego builders

Wednesdays, Dec. 21 and 28, 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. None meeting on Nov. 23.

ADULTS

Knit for your neighbors

Mondays and Thursdays in December, 3-6 p.m.

Yarn, needles and crochet hooks supplied. Knit or crochet hats and scarves to help keep your neighbors warm. All finished projects will be donated to the South Burlington Food Shelf.

Chess club

Every Saturday through Dec. 17, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Join the Chittenden County Chess Club for a game or just to watch. New members, all ages welcome.

English conversation circle

Tuesday, Dec. 27, noon-1 p.m.

Practice your English in this English-as-a-second-language discussion group, facilitated Louis Giancola.

Tech help in other languages

Tuesday, Dec. 27, 4-5 p.m. Tech assistance is now offered in French, Swahili and Lingala. Virtual group.

Poetry group

Tuesday, Dec. 27, 11 a.m.-noon

Come share your poetry in a supportive, comfortable setting.

Tech help

Friday, Dec. 16, 10 a.m.-noon

Join the experts every other Friday morning in the digital lab for 1:1 assistance and to learn new skills. Register, space is limited.

Puzzle swap

Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2:30-5 p.m.

Bring a puzzle you’ve already completed and leave with a new puzzle to put together.

Bring any 250-plus-piece general adult puzzle(s) that you would like to trade during the event.

Evening book club

Thursday, Dec. 22, 6-7 p.m. Fourth Thursday of the month. Enjoy conversation about books and exchange perspectives about characters and plot while getting to know your neighbors.

PHOTO BY THOMAS CHITTENDEN

People mill about in anticipation of the Rotary Club of South Burlington’s Ugly Sweater Fun Run on Dec. 11 at the Fredrick H. Tuttle Middle School. Funds raised go to the club’s charitable initiatives and the South Burlington Academic Boosters Fund.

HOUSING

continued from page 1

done in the near future ... there’s going to be another tent encampment, and another one and another one.”

“I think everybody’s frustrated,” he said. “The bigger issue is — I know there’s a dog ordinance in South Burlington, you have to clean up after your dogs. But at this tent encampment, I don’t think anybody’s cleaning up. The sanitary conditions are deplorable. They’re taking all their garbage and dumping it in our dumpster on

our private property.”

South Burlington police and the Howard Center, the department’s community outreach partner, were working with the individuals to “try to get them access to services,” town manager Jessie Baker said.

But the issue has accelerated a policy two years in the making: an encampment policy, modeled after one in Portland, Maine, to address homelessness and homeless encampments — an issue that

has no clear solutions on the state level that officials fear will only get worse in the coming months.

Approaching crisis

Nearly 81 households currently housed in six hotels along Route 7 in Shelburne and South Burlington will soon find themselves at heightened risk of limited access to emergency housing as the Vermont Emergency Rental Assistance Program, or VERAP, winds down just months into the new year.

With the funding surrounding this critical pandemic-era housing assistance drying up on Mar. 31, 2023, it takes with it the transitional housing program that houses nearly 1,500 Vermonters in emergency hotel housing across the state.

There are “anywhere from eight to 12 encampments” in South Burlington currently, South Burlington police chief Shawn Burke said, adding that a true count of homeless individuals will be done when the state conducts its yearly point-in-time count in January.

“Although there’s been a number of community partners, whether it’s (the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity) or (Champlain Housing Trust) that are trying to stand up transitional housing options, I don’t know if the number of beds is going to equal the number of beds that were available prepandemic in congregate housing,” said Burke. “I don’t know how those two metrics are going to align, and that is the concern.”

The transitional housing program, created in July 2022, uses federal funding from the COVID-19 pandemic that “covers a whole host of programs, one of which is the transitional housing program,” said Nicole Tousignant, the economic benefits director at the Department for Children and Families. “So, it’s really a shortterm program to house homeless individuals in hotels.”

In July 2022, the department shifted most people in hotel housing under Vermont’s long-standing general assistance housing program to the transitional housing program, as eligibility requirements for the general assistance program reverted to pre-pandem-

ic guidelines. Only those who can prove they aren’t homeless “by choice” — meaning they must provide proof they lost housing in a fire or were forcibly evicted — will be provided housing.

“Sometimes people want to live in camps, they make those choices. That’s fine,” Burke said. “But oftentimes, we see people that have no other alternatives. It’s tough.”

The general assistance emergency housing program “is a long-standing, long-running program that provides assistance in the form of a hotel room when shelter capacity is not available to individuals who are homeless,” Tousignant said.

Although funding surrounding this program is expected to remain — for now — past March 2023, many of the households in the transitional housing program may not meet the eligibility requirements to enter the program.

As cold weather poses an additional threat to homeless individuals in the coming months, the State’s Adverse Weather Condition policy, which is in effect from Dec. 15 until March 15, allows temporary shelter in motels to be available to low-income Vermonters experiencing homelessness no matter the forecast.

Burke said the couple behind the Lutheran church were able to go into transitional housing because of this eligibility.

But availability in the hotels remains unclear. According to a capacity list updated daily by the Department for Children and Families, hotels in Chittenden County are ranked limited — from 0 to 10 rooms — to no availability.

See HOUSING on page 15

HOUSING

continued from page 14

Data gathered by the state paints a picture of homelessness on the rise across Vermont. The total number of homeless people statewide jumped from 1,110 in 2020 to 2,780 in 2022.

Among those accessing emergency shelters in 2022, the state found that 13 percent were between the ages of 18 and 24, 5 percent were over the age of 62, 37 percent had a mental disorder, 22 percent had substance abuse issues and 34 percent were disabled.

The rising numbers can be blamed, partly, on the relaxation of restrictions on who qualified for emergency housing during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is also indicative of a growing population without access to a stable place to live even as the state races to increase funding for affordable and market rate housing.

Hotel living

As of Dec.1, 71 households in total were housed throughout each of the five Shelburne motels under the transitional housing program — the Countryside Motel, the former Days Inn, North Star Motel, Quality Inn and T- Bird Motel.

Only one hotel in South Burlington, the Travel Lodge, is currently serving more than 10 households, and additional households are housed at Travel Lodge under the transitional housing program. There are a few other hotels who have accepted one or two households as an exception, Tousignant said, but are not participating with the program.

“(The hotels) have to agree to take our voucher,” said Tousignant. “When we have someone who calls and is found eligible for housing, we will call all the hotels in the area that household was looking for housing in to see who has availability.”

Unlike many of the hotel’s operating in Shelburne, the former Days Inn, which is owned by Champlain Housing Trust, is an exception to this case-by-case rule. Instead, the Department for Children and Families has a contract for a set block of rooms dedicated to those utilizing the emergency housing programs.

“Because of the contract we have with (the Champlain Hous-

ing Trust), they’re able to offer us a significantly discounted rate for a hotel so it’s typically less expensive for us to utilize those rooms than it would be at a traditional hotel,” said Tousignant.

“We watched as the state was basically buying rooms and spending quite a bit of money with very few results for the individuals living there,” explained Michael Monte, chief executive officer for the Champlain Housing Trust, the community land trust serving northwest Vermont. “So, what we said is, we will serve organizations and agencies — the University of Vermont Medical Center, state of Vermont, Howard Center and other organizations — who need shortterm motel stays. Instead of them buying from regular motels, they can come here, and we’ll be more sensitive and clearer about our services and to the individuals who are in the hotel.”

Prior to the purchase of the Days Inn, the motel voucher program was running out of Harbor Place, which the trust says is currently being prepared for the next phase of redevelopment for affordable housing.

Although the land trust’s motel voucher program will continue after March, the continued hope is to convert the Days Inn also to affordable housing.

“The motel program is really something we did initially, and we’ll continue to do it because it’s serving a purpose, but I think that is not what we really always want to do,” said Monte. “Most of the other motels we have purchased with the intent of converting to affordable housing.”

What’s next?

South Burlington’s encampment policy, first introduced during the council’s Nov. 21 meeting, is “a way for the city to move forward in really enforcing our policy in really a progressive way,” city attorney Colin McNeil said.

The policy, which specifically addresses encampments on cityowned property, would require notice before an encampment is removed, would require the storage of individual’s belongings and relies on service providers to inform the city of whether there are areas where people can go.

“In a way it prohibits the

removal of an encampment if there is not a place in the area where a person can go,” McNeil said about efforts to create a policy. “This is very sensitive to people who are camping out, it’s sensitive to their belongings, to the reasons why they’re there and it tries to hook them up with services, and I think this is the best that we can do.”

With the legislative session beginning in January, and the ending of VERAP programs already announced, finding solutions to these problems remains at the top of the list for legislators and representatives.

Rep. Jessica Brumsted of the Chittenden-5-2 district, which includes Shelburne, explained that since Oct. 1, the transitional housing program, specific to the town’s hotels, has seen a decline of 12 households moving to more stable affordable housing.

“So, the idea is, slowly, we would get that number down lower and lower to the point where the state is hoping that there would only be 200 to 250 households

throughout the whole state that would still be displaced at the end of March,” Brumsted said.

She said legislators are looking at options for additional funding to advance the program past March when weather is warmer and more habitable for people without a home.

“Is there a way for us to find some funds that may be ARPA dollars that haven’t been spent or other funds that can be helpful to at least get us through to summer where it would be easier?” she said.

According to Tousignant, the Department for Children and Families has intensive support in place right now to help households exit to safe housing after March in conjunction with community partners that specialize in housing.

“The state is going around to all of the transitional housing sites and working with the social workers who work in that environment,” said Brumsted. “In our places, it’s the Howard Center that has some-

looking at everything that’s possibly available and trying to move as many people as they can on to more stable housing by the end of March.”

Although, moving individuals to more stable housing is the number one priority, Brumsted explained that it is equally important to offer continued support to these individuals even after they have found housing to ensure “we don’t lose a few of those back into the program.”

She also floated the ideas of looking further into recovery housing, mental health support and trying to reconnect homeless individuals with family members or other important familial relationships throughout the state.

“I think it’s really important that come January, the Legislature look closely at this and be sure that the people who really need help aren’t being left out in the cold,” she said.

Staff writer Aaron Calvin

“I think it’s really important that come January, the Legislature look closely at this and be sure that the people who really need help aren’t being left out in the cold.”

— Rep. Jessica Brumsted

Reindeer lichen: food of Santa’s reindeer

Guest Perspective

Susan Shea

Santa’s reindeer need fuel to pull that sleigh full of toys and one of their primary winter foods is reindeer lichen, also known as reindeer moss. These are puffy, many-branched, pale green or grayish-white lichens up to 4-1/2 inches tall, spongy to the touch when damp. Multiple species of reindeer lichen cover extensive areas of ground in the Arctic tundra and Canadian boreal forest and also grow on mountain summits and at other sites throughout the Northeast.

Like other lichens, reindeer lichens are composed of a fungus and algae living together in a mutually beneficial relationship. The fungus provides a protective substrate and absorbs water and minerals from the air, while the algae produce energy through photosynthesis. Reindeer lichens contain spore-producing fungal bodies in their branch tips, but their predominant means of reproduction is vegetative. Fragments from the lichen’s body break off and are dispersed by wind, water, or animals to other locations, where they grow into new lichens.

Unlike some lichens, reindeer lichens cannot colonize bare rock. They need at least a thin layer of soil, raised peat or woody material to grow. These lichens prefer dry or well-drained, sunny sites and are intolerant of deep shade. Reindeer lichens grow very slowly, only 0.2 to 0.4 inch per year, but tend to live more than 100 years on average. Because of their slow growth rate, they may take decades to recover when damaged.

In the Northeast, reindeer lichens are abundant in alpine areas where they grow amidst dwarf shrubs, sedges, rushes and heath plants such as black crowberry. They are well-adapted to the alpine environment, absorbing water vapor from the clouds that often persist in the high peaks and photosynthesizing at very low temperatures. These lichens also grow on open rock outcrops in cool inland forests and along the Maine coast where they benefit from frequent fog.

Reindeer lichens and other lichens and mosses growing close together form mats that sequester carbon, help regulate water tables, maintain cool soils and prevent soil erosion. In places such as the boreal forest, where lichens dominate the ground surface, they are important in carbon and nutrient storage.

Lichen mats inhibit surrounding competitive plants from growing into their habitat by secreting acids and other chemicals and are good indicators of air quality due to their sensitivity to air pollution.

Getting back to Santa’s reindeer, these lichens provide critical winter forage for European reindeer, including the semi-domesticated herds of Scandinavia’s Sami people and for most North American caribou herds. Reindeer and caribou are the same species, but different subspecies. These animals’ stomachs contain microorganisms that help them digest lichens. Unfortunately for caribou, researchers have documented declines in the lichen ground cover of Arctic ecosystems in recent decades, attributed to climate warming, wildfires, logging and heavy grazing.

The benefits to wildlife of these lichens extend beyond reindeer. Insects and small mammals such as voles consume these lichens and birds use them in nest-building. Humans have used reindeer lichen for a variety of purposes over the centuries, ranging from

use in food, liquor and medicine to dye and wreath decoration. For example, Alaska’s inland Dena’ina Athabaskan people crush and boil the lichen until soft and eat it plain or mixed with berries, fish eggs, or lard. Reindeer lichen has also been used to make brandy and broth.

Lichen has been used to treat sickness and eye infections by the Inuit in Nunavet, Canada.

Susan Shea is a naturalist, writer and conservationist based in Vermont. Illustration by Adelaide Murphy Tyrol.

ILLUSTRATION BY ADELAIDE MURPHY TYROL

Humans have used reindeer lichen for many purposes over the centuries, ranging from use in food, liquor, medicine, dye and wreath decoration.

Buying and shopping locally helps independent businesses, which in turn helps all of us shape our community’s distinct flavor, personality and character.

Orchids offer years of blooms with a bit of attention, care, time

DEBORAH J. BENOIT UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT EXTENSION

Do you admire orchids from afar but haven’t considered growing them or gifting them to a plant lover you know? Sure, they’re pretty, but orchids have a reputation as being difficult to grow.

When you think of orchids, do you picture a climate-controlled greenhouse devoted to a collection of beautiful but fussy plants? The truth is orchids can be grown as easily as any other houseplant. All it takes is a little know-how and some TLC.

Most orchids require similar care, but there’s one orchid you’re likely to see more than the rest. Moth orchids are so common you can find them not only at your local nursery or florist, but also in department and grocery stores.

Orchids come in many shapes, sizes and colors that are hard to resist when in bloom. If you’ve given in to temptation and brought home an orchid in full bloom only to give up on the plant and its plain looking foliage when the flowers have faded, you aren’t alone.

Moth orchids aren’t particularly expensive, so many people consider them as temporary houseplants, to be replaced once

the flowers are gone. After all, that’s what we do with cut flowers. However, if you give them a chance, you can enjoy their flowers for years to come.

While your first inclination may be to select the plant with the most flowers, think again. Choose an orchid with many buds. Even small buds will develop into flowers, giving you an extended bloom time with flowering lasting weeks, sometimes months.

When the last of the flowers have finally faded, you may be tempted to cut the stem back, but wait. If the stem of a moth orchid is green, it may produce additional buds.

Once the stem begins to turn brown and die, cut it back to where it meets the leaves so that the plant can grow and rebloom. During this time, continue to care for the orchid as usual.

Like any houseplant, an orchid will thrive in conditions it favors.

Moth orchids prefer temperatures between 65–75 degrees Fahrenheit along with bright, indirect sunlight. A grow light also can be used. Orchids are potted in moss or bark rather than potting soil.

Water as needed. Depending on growing conditions, that may be weekly or less frequently. Some moth orchids come with

instructions to water using ice cubes. While convenient, if the ice contacts the roots or foliage, damage may occur.

A better method is to use room temperature water when the moss is dry. Give the orchid a good watering, letting excess water drain from the pot. Allowing the moss to remain too wet can result in damage to the roots.

Fertilizer can be beneficial, but over-fertilizing can burn leaves and roots. Orchid fertilizer may be used according to directions on the package, or urea-free houseplant fertilizer can be used either at half strength once a month when watering or at one-quarter strength each watering.

When your moth orchid is ready to rebloom, it will send up a green stalk that points upward and has a more pointed tip than the paler, rounded end roots. Soon you’ll see buds develop and then the main event — flowers.

The next time you’re tempted by the fancy floral display of an orchid, give it a chance. Bring it home. With a little TLC it will bloom repeatedly for years to come.

Deborah Benoit is a University of Vermont Extension master gardener.

PHOTO BY DEBORAH J. BENOIT

Moth orchids do best when placed in a location with bright, indirect sunlight and temperatures between 65–75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Wolves look to post strong winter seasons

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Girls’ basketball

Coach: Ryan Navin

Last season: 10-10, lost in the Division I playdowns

This season: 1-0

Key returnees: Sophia Bouffard, guard, senior; Aleah Staley, guard, senior; Miranda Hayes, forward, senior; Alece Staley, forward, junior; Sana Alnamee, forward, senior; Sydnee Ambrosino, guard, senior; Clara Margulius, forward, senior.

Key newcomers: Elaina Ross, guard, senior; Abby Duffy, forward, junior; Jayna Kett, forward, junior; Bridget Simone, forward, junior; Tori Griffin, guard, sophomore.

Outlook: The girls are looking to build off some of the positive trends from the last two seasons, according to coach Nevin. “We are an undersized but athletic bunch and will look to push tempo at both ends of the floor,” he said.

The Wolves have seven returning players, giving them an experienced group who will look to move past the first round of the postseason.

Up next: Tuesday, Dec. 13, at Spaulding, 7 p.m.

Boys’ ice hockey

Coach: Sean Jones

Last season: 8-11-2, lost in the DI quarterfinals

This season: 1-0

Key returnees: Will Hershberg, senior, forward; Andrew Chandler, senior, defense; Nick Kelly, junior, forward; James Bradley, junior, goalie; James Chagnon, junior, goalie.

Key newcomers: Lucas Van Mullen, sophomore, forward; Jules Butler, junior, forward.

Outlook: South Burlington will rely on a solid returning group of defenders and two

goaltenders as it looks to take steps forward this season.

“Early, our team has shown a commitment to each other and a willingness to push each other,” said Jones. “We hope that this chemistry will be the foundation of a season where we can leave a mark.”

In addition, the Wolves are a deep team this season with a group that the coach is comfortable putting on the ice in every situation.

Up next: Wednesday, Dec. 14, vs Champlain Valley (Colchester Beech Tournament)

Girls’ ice hockey

Coach: Courtney Barrett

Last season: 6-14, lost in the quarterfinals

This season: 1-0

Key returnees: Sabrina Brunet, forward, junior; Jordan Larose, forward, junior; Ava Hershberg, forward, junior; Kiley Burke, defense, junior; Cait Bartlett, defense, junior; Annika Erickson, defense, sophomore.

Key newcomers: Hadia Ahmed, forward, freshman; Reese Gordon, defense, freshman; Rosa DiGiulian, forward, eighth grade; Oli Roy, goalie, freshman.

Outlook: The team will take the early part of the season to find its rhythm as it adds new goalies and a young group to an experienced junior class.

“They are a really enthusiastic group who are willing to work hard and buy in to what we’re trying to create as a culture,” said coach Barrett. “The junior class has a lot of experience and talent, and they are looking to take control this year.”

The group faces a tough test on Wednesday, Dec. 14, against Rutland, 4 p.m.

Alpine skiing

Coach: Scott Rothman

Last season: Second place in confer-

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PHOTO BY AL FREY

South Burlington’s Ryan Sweet drives to the hoop against Rice’s Sharif Sharif during the Wolves’ game against the Green Knights on Dec. 10 at Rice’s home court. Rice won 72-40 and Sharif had 28 points.

continued

ence, fifth place in the state championships.

Key returnees: Rex Jewell, senior; Penelope Harm, junior. Jay Eagle, junior: Jackson Rothman, sophomore; Russell Rothman, sophomore.

Key newcomers: Too early to tell

Outlook: On the boys’ side, two-time state champion Rex Jewell returns after a dominant year and will serve as a role model for a young, but hungry, team as they look to replace two skiers who departed after helping the Wolves to a fifth-place finish at the state championship.

The girls’ team will have to rebuild after losing half of last year’s team but will look to Penelope Harm to lead the rebuilding effort.

“We have a large group of sophomores and juniors that have been improving each year. If they continue to improve and can make the jump to the next level of performance South Burlington will continue to be a force to be reckoned with at the state level,” Rothman said.

Nordic skiing

Coach: Matt Powers

Last season: Boys, ninth place at championships; Girls placed eighth.

Key returnees: Paige Poirier, junior; Will Schaefer, freshman.

Key newcomers: Odin Cloutier, freshman.

Outlook: While ski team waits for snow, the program is looking to add several new skiers to a group of returning athletes. This year’s squad is the largest for Wolves in its history.

“We look forward to a year of

continued competitive success for our returning skiers and a year of growth for everyone on the team,” said coach Powers.

Up next: Tuesday, Dec. 20, at Craftsbury

Gymnastics

Coach: Hope Watson

Last season: Sixth at the state championships

Key returnees: Lily Dulin, sophomore.

Key newcomers: Ashley Jones, freshman; Kelsey Adams, freshman.

Outlook: The team will rely on sophomore Dulin to lead the way in the all-around competitions this season while the team adds two talented newcomers to high school competition.

“Everyone on the team will play an important role,” said Watson. “We are focused on developing throughout the season.”

The small group will look to set the tone for the upcoming middle school gymnasts on the way.

Up next: Saturday, Dec. 17, at Green Mountain Training Center

Cheerleading

Coach: Lynn Kynoch

Last season: Second place at the Division II state championships

Key returnees: Hannah White, back base, senior; Neerusha Phuyal, flyer, senior; Zachary Marek, flyer, junior; Emma Huntley, base, sophomore.

Key newcomers: Too early to tell

Outlook: The squad looks to build from last year’s secondplace finish at the championships and finish top two in each compe-

tition this season and qualify for a spot in the New England championships, said coach Kynoch.

“This team loves cheerleading so having that passion and drive will make them very successful,” Kynoch said. “Our strengths are having freshman who have cheerleading experience, this will help with skill levels.”

Up next: Jan. 28 at the CVCC Invitational

Dance

Coach: Ali Gingras

Last season: State champions in pom division, third place in jazz division

Key returnees: Aurora Ross, senior; Bella Olinger, senior; Daisha Montgomery, senior; Jenaya Flander, senior; Kylie Pollack, senior; Lily Hankes, senior; Rosalie Kosnitsky, senior; Katie Ford, junior; Alexis Kinney, sophomore; Izzy DiStefano, sophomore; Sophie Warren, sophomore.

Key newcomers: Gretchen Wertlieb, freshman.

Outlook: The South Burlington dance team is eyeing its eighth consecutive state championships this season, with an experienced group taking the reins.

“With a rigorous competition schedule beginning in January 2023, the team is excited to keep building their technique and start learning their routines,” said coach Gingras.

The Wolves are also looking forward to hosting the Winter Heat competition on Jan. 28, a performance that will hopefully set the tone for state championships in February.

Up next: Saturday, Jan. 7, at Middlebury

Local student, stars in ‘Nutcracker’

Holiday tradition returns to Flynn stage Dec. 17-18

LIBERTY DARR  STAFF WRITER

Shelburne residents may recognize a familiar face starring in “Vermont’s Own Nutcracker” this year as Champlain Valley Union student Marina Dunbar takes the stage in the lead role, Clara.

“Vermont’s Own Nutcracker,” a magical holiday tradition for Vermont families since 2005, performed exclusively at The Flynn in Burlington by dancers of Vermont Ballet Theater, returns this year with Dunbar’s debut in a starring role.

No stranger to the limelight, Dunbar has performed on stage to Tchaikovsky’s beloved score in several supporting roles over the years.

Dunbar, a Champlain Valley Union freshman, has been dancing for more than 10 years at Vermont Ballet Theater School. Beginning at 3 years old, her passion for dance never waned.

“Dance is a huge part of my life,” she said. “Really, it’s just home, school and dance, which is not a bad thing because it’s one of my favorite things to do — it makes me so happy.”

As a young girl, she aspired to land the lead role in the ballet, but knew competition was steep.

“That was definitely something I was looking forward to, to be able to even audition for Clara,” she said. “I was very nervous because there was a lot of back

and forth of who we actually thought was going to get it, but it was so exciting and cool to be a part of.”

Preparing for the performance has required deep dedication for the 14-yearold ballet dancer, especially during the acting sections of rehearsals. “It’s definitely a lot more hours than if I was going to do a supporting role, instead of three hours, sometimes I’m (at the studio) for six hours.”

While she feels nervous about the performances, she explained that being on stage transports her to a “different world.”

“I usually don’t get stage fright; the worst part is leading up to the performance,” she said. “When I’m on the stage I’m in the zone, but when I get off the stage, I’m like, ‘what even happened there?’”

For Christine Dunbar, Marina’s mother, this has been a family tradition since Marina was a baby sitting on her mother’s lap.

“I’m getting a little emotional just talking about it — to think of her being up there as Clara, as the lead, is almost surreal. We are so proud of her.” she said.

Choreographed by Vermont Ballet Theatre’s director Alexander Nagiba, the

ballet follows the adventures of Clara and the Nutcracker Prince as they conquer the evil Mouse King and journey to the Land of Sweets. Along the way, they witness “mice filching Christmas gifts, snowflakes swirling in dreamy tutus, dolls spinning like tops, a fantasy world of dancers,” according to a press release for the show.

Performances are Saturday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 18, at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, 153 Main St., in Burlington. For ticket information, go to flynnvt.org.

PHOTO BY KIRSTEN NAGIBA

Marina Dunbar of Shelburne starts in the role of Clara in “Vermont’s Own Nutcracker” at the Flynn Theatre this weekend.

COURTESY PHOTO

Marina Dunbar.

ARIES

March 21 - April 20

Aries, no matter how much you try to tip the odds in your favor, this week is much more about the luck of the draw. Keep a positive outlook and things may turn out in your favor.

TAURUS

April 21 - May 21

Taurus, if winter’s chill is getting you down, you may want to plan a getaway to somewhere warmer. That may be just what you need to recharge.

GEMINI

May 22 - June 21

The two sides of your personality are lately at odds with one another, Gemini. You have to make an important decision, so seek out a friend for advice.

CANCER

June 22 - July 22

Cancer, you lean toward an optimistic view on most things, but it is alright to be realistic at some points along the way, or even slightly skeptical. Balance is key.

LEO

July 23 - Aug. 23

Leo, if you are feeling under the weather this week, you will have to put on a smile and push through. It is the holidays, after all. Seek as much help as others can muster.

VIRGO

Aug. 24 - Sept. 22

Virgo, you are on borrowed time regarding your nances. Take a careful look at your budget this week and make the tweaks necessary to stay a oat if income wanes.

LIBRA

Sept. 23 - Oct. 23

A companion animal in your life needs some attention, Libra. There may be some vet bills to contend with, but luckily you can handle that without much issue.

SCORPIO

Oct. 24 - Nov. 22

The activity you have been turning to provide mental stimulation just may not be cutting it any longer. Start to explore some other options and see if there may be a better t, Scorpio.

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 ll each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can gure 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

A health issue that has been getting the better of you for some time will be resolved for in the days to come, Sagittarius. It’ll be birthday good news. Start celebrating.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22 - Jan. 20

Capricorn, after a tumultuous few weeks, things in your life nally settle down. Embrace the opportunity to rest and do not take on any new projects until next year.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 21 - Feb. 18

Aquarius, things may not be going completely according to plan on the professional front. But at home you have gotten into a solid groove. Use this win to boost your mood.

PISCES

Feb. 19 - March 20

There is much more to a situation than meets the eye, Pisces. Delve deeper to learn about a person’s true motivation.

CLUES ACROSS

1. A people of Eastern Afghanistan

5. Supervises interstate commerce

8. Touch lightly

11. Relating to bees

13. Mauna __, Hawaiian volcano

14. Mosuo culture religion

15. Italian village

16. Stiff bristle

17. Wealthy enclave in Rio

18. Cause to lose courage

20. Examines animals

21. Ethnic group of Laos and Thailand

22. Gets rid of

25. Having easily perceived thoughts

30. Removed surgically

31. Principle underlying the universe

32. Popular airline

33. Antelopes

38. Peacock network

41. Utter repeatedly

43. One from the Golden State 45. Photographers

48. Father

49. Popular BBQ dish

50. Cavalry sword

55. Ancient Greek sophist

56. Atomic mass unit

57. Af icted in mind or body

59. Indian mythological gure

60. Mild expression of surprise

61. Jewish spiritual leader

62. Brew

63. Doctor of Education

64. Impudence

CLUES DOWN

1. State attorneys

2. Imitated

3. Latvian capital

4. Irish goddess

5. Taste

6. Dried

7. Spanish saloon

8. Mother of Perseus

9. Evergreen coniferous trees

10. Refuse to comply

12. Negative

14. Hyphen

19. A way to record

23. Not good

ANSWERS

24. One who tends the furnace

25. Small amount

26. Relative biological effectiveness (abbr.)

27. The whole quantity

28. __ King Cole, musician

29. One’s opinion

34. Holds ashes 35. Stablecoin cryptocurrency 36. Side-blotched lizards genus

Legislator (abbr.) 39. Concentrated bombardment

Secret clique

Expression

Dough made from corn our

to stop the spread of the potentially fatal disease.

Rabies is a deadly viral disease of the brain that infects mammals. It is most often seen in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also get rabies.The virus is spread through the bite of an infected animal or contact with its

have tested positive for rabies, and 14 of those have been raccoons.

According to wildlife officials, rabid animals often show a change in their nor mal behavior, but you cannot tell whether an animal has rabies simply by looking at it. People should not touch or pick up wild animals or strays – even baby animals.

Shelburne Historical Society will have a display and president Dorothea Penar will lead a cemetery tour at 1 p.m. Food vendors round out the event with everything from coffee and lemonade to burgers and creemees. Kids will enjoy meeting animals from Shelburne Farms, craft projects, and

TRANSITION POINTS Evidence-Based Strategies to Navigate Life Changes

Why not have a job you love?

Positions include a sign on bonus, strong benefits package and the opportunity to work at one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont”.

Service Coordinator: Continue your career in human services in a supportive environment by providing case management for individuals either for our Adult Family Care program or our Developmental Services program. The ideal candidate will have strong clinical, organizational & leadership skills and enjoy working in a team-oriented position. $47,000 annual salary, $1,500 sign on bonus.

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Champlain Community Services, Inc.