The Other Paper - 1-26-23

SB officials mull regulating rental housing stock

Rental registry, short-term rental law in discussion

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

Efforts to regulate South Burlington’s short- and long-term rental housing stock may gain some traction this year with city officials discussing the possibility of adopting a short-term rental ordinance and creating a rental registry — an effort that was implemented in Burlington but has failed to become law statewide.

City officials during a recent council meeting continued discussion around adopting legal language regulating short-term rentals, a conversation that has been ongoing since last spring when council member Meaghan Emery put forward language to put limits on housing used by companies like Airbnb and VRBO.

Since then, discussions have evolved into a broader look at the city’s rental housing stock, with talks of setting up both a rental registry and an enforcement arm within the planning and zoning department.

“A city our size, we need to get a handle on our rental stock, with all our aging inventory, for all of the safety reasons as well as the enforcement and collecting the appropriate taxes,” said city councilor Tom Chittenden.

With city council elections set for March, city manager Jessie Baker said the city would begin “putting together ideas to bring back after Town Meeting Day.”

“Anything we do here is going to require future elected officials to weigh in on ordinance changes

Classroom space shortages put pressure on school districts

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

Shelburne Community School’s “B-Wing” has been comprised of six temporary classroom spaces for at least a decade now — not as temporary as was envisioned when they were first installed.

The South Burlington School District hopes to avoid that fate. The district began using temporary classrooms at the Rich Marcotte Central School and Orchard

School in March, and the district will begin using education impact fees to cost out the district’s use of zero emission modular buildings, but the city will still have to develop a more permanent solution for a growing student population.

For the Champlain Valley School District, the problem of overcrowded schools may be coming to a head sooner rather than later. At Williston’s Allen Brook School, a shortage classroom space for the school’s K-2 population is forcing the district to

earmark more than $400,000 for two temporary classroom spaces.

“This is really urgent,” Jeanne Jensen, the district’s former chief operations manager, said at the Dec. 13 board meeting. “It is a major problem for Allen Brook; it has to be addressed.”

With K-12 populations expected to increase over the next five to 10 years, officials with Champlain Valley School District are beginning to formulate a plan to refurbish their schools to ensure they meet the space demands of their

member towns’ increasing populations.

It’s a district-wide and county-wide issue that, according to demographic reports, should continue to increase in intensity for both the Champlain Valley and South Burlington districts in the coming years.

Hinesburg is set to see a spike in K-12 populations in the next decade; the town already has the highest percentage of renter-occupied units among the Champlain Valley district’s member towns

but has hundreds of housing units that have yet to be permitted on the horizon that were not accounted for in the district’s demographic report that was released in May.

And increased student enrollment from new development in Williston will begin overwhelming capacity at the Allen Brook School, the report says.

However, potential renovations at Allen Brook come at a hefty price — to the tune of $47 million.

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Lili Diemer performs with the Youth Opera Company of Vermont. Read about her journey starting on page 12.

Youth opera

James Leas launches bid for city council seat

one of the necessary steps.

I am running for city council to serve you and our city. Key issues I will work on include the economy, jobs, affordable housing, a healthy and safe environment for our children and their learning, climate change, protecting remaining open space and racial and class justice.

These are hard problems. Many solutions are needed for each. But all of them are made far worse and the solutions are all sabotaged by the 115-decibel F-35 training flights in our city.

Fortunately, our city council has both federal and state authority to act. Passage of ordinances by city council can require National Guard commanders do what they were trained to do and what U.S. Department of Defense regulations require: keep dangerous military operations, like F-35 training, away from any city, town or village. That’s Military Regulations 101.

Even if not sufficient to fully solve each problem, halting F-35 training in South Burlington is

According to VTDigger, affordable housing in the Burlington area is so tight that some job applicants are turning down employment offers because they cannot find a place to live. That’s not good for local businesses, workers and the economy. But once the F-35 goes away Federal Aviation Administration agreements with the airport require housing to be restored on the 44 acres where military jet noise caused hundreds of affordable homes to be demolished.

What’s more, remaining housing stock near the airport is downright dangerous for habitation because of the F-35. The Air Force says nearly 3,000 affordable homes in South Burlington and neighboring cities and towns are unsuitable for residential use because military jets are so loud that repeated exposure can cause hearing loss and impair reading, attention, problem solving and memory of the 1,300 children who live in those homes.

The Air Force admits that the noise burden falls disproportionately on the working class and families of color.

By keeping 44 acres of central-city land bereft of housing and by rendering 3,000 homes dangerous for children, the F-35 forces sprawl — building houses away from the city center in open fields. One example is the 32-house development proposed in the grassland bird habitat within the Wheeler Nature Park. Neighbors, including me, are fighting that development in court right now.

The F-35 is also a climate catastrophe: Each F-35 burns 22 gallons of fuel a minute. The F-35 training emits as much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as all the regularly scheduled civilian airliner flights at the airport combined.

This all means that training flights with the F-35 in our city location is a house destroyer, job eradicator, child abuser, climate and environment wrecker and it discriminates based on race and class.

More solutions are certainly needed for each of these issues. But just one measure is essential to improve each of them: halting the F-35 training at the airport.

And there is no downside to the relocation of the F-35. Jobs may move but they won’t be lost.

Fortunately, city council has the power. The Constitution and federal law delegate to the states

Childs announces reelection to board

them from the bottom of my heart.

the authority to control the training of their own state national guards. Vermont law delegates to cities, towns and villages the power “to regulate the operation and use of vehicles of every kind” to promote “the public health, safety, welfare and conve-

nience” of the people, including by adopting and enforcing ordinances.

Our city can and must use that power. Doing so will ensure that the military’s own regulations are respected and enforced to protect our families and children.

City council candidate Paul Engels identifies four key issues in run

building affordable housing must be resolved.

There are many important issues facing this city in the next few years.

I believe the four critical areas are climate change and the implementation of our climate action plan; the need for additional affordable housing and where best to locate it; the need for preserving current and additional open space for climate mitigation and for our collective peace of mind; and urgent increased and improved access to governmental decisions by our neighbors.

Infinitely Pick-A-Project.

Two years ago, South Burlington voters responded to my offer to serve our community by electing me to the district’s board of school directors.

One year later, my colleagues elected me chair. It has been an honor to serve in both capacities, and I have appreciated the opportunity to contribute as both board director and chair.

My term is ending, and I have decided to seek a second term as a director. Nevertheless, should I be re-elected, I will not seek re-election as chair. A lot has happened in the past two years, and my conclusion is that the best way for me to balance my responsibilities and goals with my commitment to our school district is as a director only.

My closest advisors have supported me in this decision-making process and in drafting my statement, and I thank

These are the board accomplishments during my term that I am most proud of:

Recruiting and hiring the district’s first director of equity and a new superintendent of schools.

Initiating the review, which is close to completion, of the district’s safety plan, which includes researching new processes and procedures to ensure students are safe.

Collaborating with the superintendent, board colleagues and the city manager in developing the impact fee proposal to support the purchase of zero energy modulars for the Marcotte and Orchard schools.

Advocating for students of color and supporting them in advocating for themselves.

Meanwhile, I pursue non-board activities that contribute to student’s well-being and the community’s overall health.

I am a South Burlington High School Activity Club advisor for

I am the founder and director of the Infinite Youth Center, a safe space for youths 12-19, which includes meals and personal hygiene items.

This past summer, the school district did not provide summer meals. The Infinite Center, with only a kitchenette, small appliances, volunteers and donations, stepped in and prepared more than 300 summer meals each week.

I am a dedicated fan of South Burlington High School sports teams.

Students and parents of color have reached out to me with their concerns, and I do my best to help them.

I promise to carry out my responsibilities as school board director fully and faithfully while also being a person whose priority is to assess all questions through the lens of what path forward will best promote the health and capabilities of our students. I also pledge to work collaboratively with the new chair.

The opportunity to serve as your school director during the past two years has meant a lot to me, and I ask for your support to continue to do so.

As a city councilor, I hope to work to find solutions and improvements to these critical issues.

Climate change requires all of us to work together to rapidly reduce use of fossil fuels. We are fortunate that the city has a Climate Change Task Force report that has laid out what we need to do as a city to survive and flourish.

Among other things, I will work hard to transition our existing housing stock to renewable sources, as well as transition transportation systems to rely more on electric vehicles and non-automotive forms of transportation.

The changes will not be easy but these rainy winters and blistering summers in Vermont are only harbingers of what’s to come. My experience on the planning commission has provided a strong foundation of knowledge to address this.

South Burlington needs affordable housing, but with the cost of land, materials and labor, building affordable housing is nearly impossible. The conflict between preserving the environment and

Property along Shelburne Road and Williston Road can support housing that has access to stores and transportation without further destroying forests and meadows. I will focus on increasing density in the right places to address the need.

Open space, parks, view corridors, fields and meadows to provide needed carbon sequestration are also part of the challenge and solution. I am pleased that recent revisions to the land development regulations enhance protection for wetlands and wildlife habitat. I am committed to ensuring that these protections continue.

I will work toward identifying other areas in the city that deserve protection. In the past, I have supported city purchase of important natural resource land and will continue to advocate for that.

I have lived in the same house in the Eastwoods neighborhood for 35 years. We have a great neighborhood. We know each other and help each other. I am sure there are many neighborhoods like ours. We are a city of neighborhoods.

Residents in the Chamberlin neighborhood, which is near the airport, wrote a neighborhood report outlining the needs of their neighborhood. It’s a good report and deserves implementation.

I will support measures that give all neighborhoods the ability to follow Chamberlin’s lead and develop their own reports. This could provide the necessary impetus for greater public input and for the city’s increased knowledge of all our needs and wishes.

It’s for these reasons that I am running for the two-year term for city council. I respectfully ask for your support.

Political Notebook

James Leas

Political Notebook

Travia Childs

Political Notebook

Paul Engels

James Leas

Paul Engels

Travia Childs

Virtual conference features talks by several hemp experts

This year’s annual Vermont Industrial Hemp Conference will feature nationally recognized hemp experts and entrepreneurs speaking on a range of topics from production and regulatory updates to the future of the hemp foods industry.

The virtual conference is planned for Thursday, Feb. 23, from 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

The conference includes morning presentations on the future of hemp foods and growing hemp grain and fiber as well as talks on breeding new hemp grain and fiber cultivars. In addition, participants will learn about current U.S. Department of Agriculture Hemp Program hemp regulations.

Champlain Area Trails hires new operations manager

Christina Vaughn as the new operations manager for Champlain Area Trails.

Vaughn was recently at Mountain Lake Service in its fiscal intermediary department.

“Christina has a terrific set of experiences over many years in the nonprofit sector, and her interest and leadership in operations and office management are important strengths she brings to CATS,” said Champlain Area Trails executive director Chris Maron.

Vaughn is a North Country Community College graduate. She started work at Champlain Area Trails on Jan 17.

Information on future events and activities is available at champlainareatrails.com. Call 518-962-2287 or email info@ champlainareatrails.com for more information

Andrew Chalnick

For South Burlington City Council

FOR A SOUTH BURLINGTON THAT IS

INCLUSIVE AND KIND

A welcoming and affordable community where we treat each other with respect.

FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE

Focused on disciplined budgets and spending within our means.

The afternoon program includes two separate tracks. The fiber track will feature a presentation on developing a hemp fiber enterprise along with talks on community supported linen, University of Vermont fiber research and hemp fiber as an alternative to plastics, cotton, lumber and cement. A flower track will cover the challenges of scaling in the hemp cannabinoid market and how weed management measures affect resinous hemp yield, quality and cannabinoid production.

Registration runs to Tuesday, Feb. 21. Conference and registration details can be found at /bit.ly/3GU4r9X or register by phone at 802-656-5665, ext. 3.

SUSTAINABLE AND CLIMATE CHANGE FOCUSED Meeting our own needs without compromising the needs of future generations.

SMART GROWTH ORIENTED

Conserving our natural resources while promoting a vibrant City Center with diverse housing, civic space, restaurants and shops.

PHOTO BY MIKE IRELAND

Mike Ireland of Shelburne recently captured this photograph of two bobcats in his yard. Reader submitted photos are always welcome at news@shelburnenews.com.

Standing

Christina Vaughn

SB police cite two for retail theft, DUI

After executing a search warrant in connection with a retail theft at Lowes, police arrested Andre Martel, 38, of South Burlington, for retail theft, at a residence on Stonehenge Drive on Jan. 19.

Police say Martel stole items

valued at more than $1,000 at Lowe’s on Jan. 12.

During the search, Leah Martel, 37, also of South Burlington, was cited for failure to appear on an earlier charge of driving under the influence.

South Burlington police seek suspect in armed robbery

South Burlington police are looking for a suspect in a late-night armed robbery at the Jolly convenience store at 977 Shelburne Road around 11:28 p.m. on Jan. 17.

Cash and cigarettes were stolen as the suspect displayed a handgun to the clerk. The store clerk was unharmed.

The suspect was described as a white male, approximately 5 feet, 6 inches tall with a slim build, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants, black mask, black gloves and black shoes. Investigators are asking that anyone with information to contact Lt. Gregg Jager at gjager@southburningtonpolice.org.

the

Editor/Publisher Gregory Popa gpopa@stowereporter.com

Billing inquiries Leslie Lafountain leslie@stowereporter.com (802) 253-2101

Advertising submission deadline: Thursday at 5 p.m. advertising@otherpapersbvt.com classifieds@otherpapersbvt.com

Traffic stop: 22

Agency/public assists: 21

Retail theft: 11

Accident: property damage: 10 Suspicious event: 8

Alarm: 7

Motor vehicle complaint: 7 Disturbance: 6 Welfare check: 4 Noise violation: 4 Total incidents: 162

Arrests:

Jan. 12 at 2:48 p.m., Andre J. Martel Jr., 38, of South Burlington, was arrested for two instances of retail theft, one misdemeanor and one felony, on Hannaford Drive.

Jan. 19 at 12:35 p.m., Leah Ann Martel, 37, of South Burlington, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Stonehedge Drive.

Jan. 19 at 8:18 p.m., Kayla M. Palmer, 28, of Berlin, was arrested on an in-state warrant, felony possession of stolen property, aggravated operation of a vehicle without owner’s consent, leaving the scene of an accident with bodily injury resulting, grand larceny and leaving the scene of an accident at Hinesburg Road and Kennedy Drive.

Jan. 21 at 2:25 a.m., Kenny K. Whitehouse, 34, of Burlington, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Williston Road.

Top incidents: Jan. 17 at 1:41 a.m., police were called to a suspicious event on Hayes Avenue.

Jan. 17 at 7:01 a.m., police performed a welfare check on Shelburne Road.

Jan. 17 at 8:42 a.m., an accident at Hinesburg Road and Kennedy Drive resulted in property damage.

Jan. 17 at 1:51 p.m., two reports of retail theft on Hannaford Drive.

Jan. 17 at 7:16 p.m., police responded to a report of intoxication on Shelburne Road.

Jan. 17 at 11:28 p.m., a robbery took place on Shelburne Road.

Jan. 18 at 9:25 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen on Lime Kiln Road.

Jan. 18 at 11:55 a.m., police assisted a member of the public on Four Sisters Road Jan. 18 at 5:37 p.m., threats were reported from White Street.

Jan. 19 at 9:01 a.m., police are investigating a report of child abuse from Swift Street.

Jan. 19 at 10:07 a.m., police were called to Market Street for a juvenile problem.

Jan. 19 at 11:42 a.m., another accident that resulted in property damage, this time at Patchen Road and White Street.

Jan. 19 at 4:23 p.m., police served paperwork on Green

Tree Drive.

Jan. 20 at 12:26 a.m., people were making too much noise on Dorset Street.

Jan. 20 at 2:05 p.m., a suspicious event was reported from Delaware Street.

Jan. 20 at 7:15 p.m., police assisted youth services on a call on Battery Street.

Jan. 21 at 2:25 a.m., police made an arrest on an active warrant on Williston Road.

Jan. 21 at 11:44 a.m., police served a trespass order on Shelburne Road.

Jan. 21 at 9:48 p.m., police are investigating a report of domestic assault on Swift Street.

Jan. 22 at 11:53 a.m., back-toback disturbance reports, the first on Garden Street, and another following at 1:24 p.m. on Market Street.

Jan. 22 at 7:43 p.m., a report of a suicidal person on Market Street.

Jan. 22 at 9:57 p.m., a suspicious event was reported at White Street and Patchen Road.

Untimely deaths:

Jan. 20 at 12:03 p.m., police responded to Logwood Street for the death of Judith Niquette, 70, of South Burlington. The medical examiner’s office is determining cause and manner of death.

Gardner

Staff Writers

Aaron Calvin Corey McDonald Liberty Darr

Production Manager

Stephanie Manning stephanie@shelburnenews.com

Editorial submission deadline: Friday at 5 p.m. news@otherpapersbvt.com

Calendar submission deadline: Friday at 12 p.m. news@otherpapersbvt.com

Contact: 1340 Williston Road South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 864-6670

The Other Paper is published weekly and mailed free to South Burlington residents and businesses, and rack distributed in select high-traffic areas. The Vermont Community Newspaper Group LLC assumes no responsibility for typographical errors in advertisements and reserves the right to refuse advertising and editorial copy.

South Burlington Police Blotter

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2023 Rebates for Your Home

If you’re planning on improving the efficiency of your home or apartment this year, take a look at Efficiency Vermont’s residential offers, including:

Air Sealing and Insulation

• 75% off weatherization project costs, up to $5,000 (completed by an Efficiency Excellence Network contractor)

• DIY weatherization: $100 back on select do-it-yourself projects

Heating, Cooling, and Water Heating

• Air-source heat pumps: discounts starting at $350 + income bonus

• Ground source heat pump: up to $2,100/ton + $500 income bonus

• Smart thermostats: $100 rebate for select ENERGY STAR models

• Water heaters: $300-$600 for select heat pump water heaters + $200 income bonus

• Window air conditioners: $100 rebate for select ENERGY STAR models

• Wood pellet furnaces & boilers: $6,000 rebate

• Wood and pellet stoves: $400 discount at select retailers

Electric Vehicles

• Up to $6,500 in local incentives and up to a $7,500 federal tax credit

ENERGY STAR ® Appliances

• $200-$400 rebates on heat pump clothes dryers, $25-$40 for dehumidifiers

Lighting

• $100 rebate for qualifying LED fixtures for indoor growing, plus discounts on select ENERGY STAR ® LED fixtures at participating retailers

• Free Energy Savings Kit full of LEDs and water-saving devices while supplies last!

Income-based Assistance

• Free lighting, appliances, energy consultations, and more — visit efficiencyvermont.com/free-products to see if you are eligible.

Additional rebates may also be available from your electric or gas utility.

Not sure where to start?

Sign up for a FREE Virtual Home Energy Visit! Call 888-921-5990 to learn more

All rebates are subject to availability and eligibility. Visit www.efficiencyvermont.com/rebates for the most up-to-date information.

OPINION

Vermont needs to remove roadblocks for housing

Guest Perspective

Megan Sullivan, Tino Rutanhira

Kelly Stoddard Poor

In the past year, local news outlets have covered recurring instances of essential housing projects being delayed by one or a few people. Stories from Jericho, South Burlington, Middlebury, Williston, Castleton, Waterbury, Morristown, Burlington, Winooski, Hartford, Putney and others highlight how easy it is to obstruct housing progress in Vermont.

Legislators of all parties, businesses from all industries and communities across the state, agree that housing is the foundational challenge for Vermont right now. We can no longer allow state and local regulatory processes to be weaponized to derail housing opportunities.

This must stop.

Over 85 municipalities have adopted a declaration of inclusion, an initiative with the intent to attract people with myriad skills and traditions to Vermont to live, work and raise families in a state that values and encourages diversity in its population. But when it comes to building housing for new community members, Vermonters in these same cities and towns are discouraging development.

For an economically secure, sustainable and equitable future, Vermont needs more people of diverse backgrounds to move here to live and work. However, recent graduates and seasoned professionals alike are deterred from coming to Vermont due to the shortage of suitable housing.

Additionally, we must better meet the needs of older Vermonters, who are essential members of our workforce and communities. There is a significant misalignment between the housing that is available and the type of housing Vermonters need and want. For older adults who want to downsize to modestly sized alternatives, the housing supply isn’t meeting their needs. Instead, downsizing often requires leaving their community altogether and parting with the place they’ve called home for years.

Seven years ago, the Vermont Futures Project set a target of bringing 5,000 new or retrofitted units online per year to keep supply in line with demand. Since then, we have seen hundreds of millions of dollars invested in housing, but the crisis continues to worsen.

Since 2016, the annual average of new units permitted has been under 2,000. This means we are moving backward rather than forward. While statewide investments are still part of the equation, a singular focus on investing tax dollars into housing must be broadened to create longterm and

sustainable solutions for housing people of all ages and economic backgrounds.

The Vermont housing crisis requires bold leadership at both the state and local levels to reduce barriers to the creation of housing. Communities must take a stand against instances of individuals derailing projects that are in the public interest.

Where state tax dollars have funded roadways, water systems and public buildings and resources, the state has an obligation to maximize these investments, and allow more people to live near these resources paid for with taxpayer dollars.

If housing is the top priority in the Legislature, we need to see the issue receive immediate and aggressive attention this legislative session. Legislation that makes real change to address our housing crisis should be the first bill on the governor’s desk this session.

To address the housing shortage, we recommend the following solutions:

• Modernize Act 250 and remove its requirements for housing in areas with state designations and restrict local zoning practices that inhibit the creation of housing options in smart growth areas. Exclusionary zoning and outdated land use regulations are adding prohibitive and often duplicative costs and delays.

This hinders the ability of Vermont to welcome a new and diverse population to live and work here. It restricts the ability to build age-friendly homes for older Vermonters and to create more housing opportunities for Vermonters of color who want to remain here.

• Increase the workforce housing supply with a dedicated strategy for middle-income earners to access a progression of housing from tenancy to homeownership. Provide financial incentives to assist communities with the necessary infrastructure and planning resources to create housing opportunities for rural, aging and historically marginalized Vermonters.

• Bring employers, developers and government/non-government stakeholders together to find and finance housing opportunities in employment hubs. We need more voices with new ideas at the table to find new solutions.

• Create a statewide registry of shortterm rentals to understand how these operations are impacting the housing market for both rental and homeownership opportunities.

Megan Sullivan is vice president of government affairs for the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. Tino Rutanhira is co-founder and board chair for the Vermont Professionals of Color Network, and Kelly Stoddard Poor is director of advocacy and outreach for AARP Vermont.

Human services committee sees Jenna’s Promise firsthand

First and foremost, I would like to thank all the residents of South Burlington and Williston for electing Martin LaLonde, Brian Minier, Emile Krasnow, Kate Nugent and myself. It is an honor to serve you all. Working with the Legislature is a privilege.

From the moment of the inauguration several themes were present on the House floor, in committee, in the hallways and cafeteria. One of those themes is how much many Vermonters are struggling, whether with child care, housing, finding employees, taxes or education. This legisla-

tive session will be unique, for both South Burlington and the rest of Vermont, as we emerge from a global pandemic. We are in a time of high inflation, workforce shortages and fear of what the future holds as climate change, recession or war looms on the horizon.

I have been appointed to the House Committee on Human Services for which I am very thankful to have an opportunity to help so many in our state.

In these first weeks the committee received a presentation with testimony from RAND Corporation in which we talked about how to provide high-quality early education and how to pay for it. It was estimated to cost between $179 million

Letters to the Editor

Chalnick would be ‘first rate’ on city council

To the Editor:

I was happy to see the announcement in The Other Paper by Andrew Chalnick that he is running for city council. His training, experience and temperament make him a firstrate choice for the work of the council.

Chalnick has an impressive education — two engineering degrees, Master of Business Administration from Wharton and a law degree from Columbia — and a strong work ethic that formed the base for his long career in finance and global tax planning. He has the skills to quickly master complex public policy, budgets and scientific research, listen respectfully to others, work with them to arrive at thoughtful positions and clearly explain where he stands and why.

All these abilities have been apparent in his volunteer service for South Burlington on the energy committee, the interim zoning committee, the Climate Action Plan Task Force, and now the planning commission. I served with him on the climate task force, as the representative for the affordable housing committee.

While he is a strong advocate for protecting precious natural resources and reducing greenhouse gases, he also understands

to $279 million for education and increases in salary, wages and benefits to teachers and staff, The RAND study also estimated that if we do implement these changes, between 612 and 2,800 people will reenter the workforce, which could alleviate one of our largest obstacles.

Estimates ranged from $58 million to $218 million in increased gross state product and the addition of $18 million in tax revenue. Please bear in mind this is not proposed legislation. We could anticipate a bill in the next couple months. The study itself and a live recording of the committee’s work is on the legislative website if anyone would like more in-depth details.

When I met with Alzheimer’s Association, I learned that the number of people older than 65 with Alzheimer’s will increase 30 percent by 2025. We also heard from the Vermont Foodbank. I was disheartened to learn that two of every five Vermonters

are currently food insecure since the beginning of the pandemic. Unfortunately, this is forecasted to continue for a long time to come.

The foodbank has requested $3 million in funding for the 2024 budget to increase its purchasing and distribution efforts to alleviate the pain food insecurity is causing.

Last Wednesday the human services committee visited Jenna’s Promise in Johnson. Jenna’s provides what is called a whole-life approach to substance use. They provide sober housing, treatment services and innovative work programs that provide and teach job skills. This creative community received a small appropriation in this year’s budget. It was truly inspiring to see the work they do and to witness firsthand the success of this appropriation.

We also participated in Home-

lessness Awareness Day where I learned about the massive issues less fortunate Vermonters deal with. This community needs much more funding to be able to remain in safer places. The housing issues facing Vermont most acutely affects this group of people and we need to do more to help.

There are several important bills that will be out soon. Early childhood education, paid family leave, Act 250, and so much more.

With so much happening in the Legislature and the speed with which bills come out, I cannot be aware of every bill. Please reach out if any of these or future bills concern you, or if you have any expertise that would be helpful to your citizen legislature.

Noah Hyman (D) represents the Chittenden-8 House District.

the need for more housing for our growing workforce and the urgent need for affordable housing. Chalnick recognizes the opportunities in South Burlington for redevelopment of under-utilized commercial spaces and increasing density in mixed housing developments for families at various income levels.

He knows that South Burlington is striving to be a more welcoming, equitable and diverse community.

I encourage you to visit chalnickforcouncil.com to learn more about him.

Darrilyn Peters South

Burlington

McCarthy aims to fix a broken House

To the Editor:

The Republicans’ speaker balloting was a response to former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s top-down legislative control where bills bypassed the committee process and Republicans were rarely allowed input. The Republicans wanted to return to regular order as set up in the original House rules.

New Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy’s dissenters were upset about spiraling inflation, deficit spending and the left’s insanity. They proposed moving power from the speaker’s office back to committees

and members where it belongs. They wanted the appropriations committee to set budget parameters and timeline to pass 12 separate appropriation bills that fund government, set policy, expand oversight and develop a debt-ceiling strategy.

Also, they proposed a supermajority for tax increases and spending offsets for new programs from the current budget.

The recent passage of the $1.7 trillion omnibus bill was an example frequently referenced by the dissenters. The bill was 4,000 pages of inflationary spending, jammed through by Pelosi in the middle of the night. The bill had 7,000 earmarks, no committee review, amendments, debate or opportunity to be read. It was written behind closed doors and designed to fill the pockets of Democrats and their causes.

Congress’s approval rating has been dismal. Republican dissenters want to restore confidence and openness by stopping Pelosi’s complete control process. These reforms will allow debate and transparency in the House. Voters have had enough of out-of-control government.

McCarthy’s success will be measured by restoring credibility and more responsive legislative policies aided by these reforms.

Frank Mazur South Burlington

From the House Rep. Noah Hyman

I was disheartened to learn that two of every five Vermonters are currently food insecure since the beginning of the pandemic.

First Congregational Church hosts community concert series

On Sunday, Feb. 5 at 3 p.m., the First Congregational Church of Essex Junction will host the first concert of its 2023 concert season.

Blues guitarist Paul Asbell will share his fresh takes on blues and jazz standards, old-timey country tunes and original pieces from the American roots tradition. In his 50-year professional career, Asbell has played and recorded with Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, David Bromberg, Mary McCaslin, Bobby McFerrin and many others. He has taught guitar for more than 50 years.

Concert proceeds support Essex CHIPS and First Congregational Church of Essex Junction. There is a $20 suggested donation; those under 18 attend for free. Tickets are available at 802-878-5745 or bit. ly/3XxeQzO.

SCHIP hands out almost 30K to local nonprofits

The Shelburne, Charlotte, Hinesburg Interfaith Project (SCHIP) has awarded $27,500 to 11 non-profits in that met the criteria of serving the people of our communities in a variety of ways.

The recipients for the fall cycle included Age Well, Champlain Housing Trust, Feeding Chittenden, Hinesburg Community Resource Center, Joseph’s House, Kidpower, Prevent Child Abuse, Resource, Shelburne Rescue, St. Catherine of Sienna Church and Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

These awards are made possible because of SCHIP’s mission to raise funds through the sale of donated, gently used clothing, household items, accessories, art and collectibles at its resale shop in the yellow building on Route 7 next to the Shelburne town offices.

Since the first grants given in April 2005, more than $828,500 has been distributed.

SCHIP accepts grant applications twice a year. The deadlines are April 15 and Oct. 15 of each year. The maximum grant size is $3,000. Application forms are available at theschip.org.

For more information on how to donate or volunteer visit the website or the group’s Facebook page or call the shop at 802-985-

3595.

Participating faith communities are All Souls Interfaith Gathering, Shelburne; Charlotte Congregational Church; Hinesburg United Church; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, Charlotte; Shelburne United Methodist Church; St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Shelburne; St. Jude’s Catholic Church, Hinesburg; and Trinity Episcopal Church, Shelburne.

Girls on the Run Seeks Volunteer Coaches

Girls on the Run Vermont needs volunteer coaches for its physical activity-based, youth development program that inspires students in grades three to eight to be joyful, healthy and confident.

Volunteer coaches utilize a curriculum

to engage teams of girls in fun, interactive lessons. The spring season begins the week of March 27. Teams meet twice a week for 90 minutes and the program culminates with all teams participating in one of two 5K events in Essex and Manchester.

Locations in need of coaches include Chamberlin School, Charlotte Central School, Christ the King, C.P. Smith Elementary School, Edmunds Elementary, Hinesburg Community School, Rick Marcotte Central School and Shelburne Community School.

Further info is available at gotrvt.org.

BSA Troop 658 hosts spaghetti dinner fundraiser

On Saturday, Feb. 4 at The Bagel Cafe 1127 North Ave in Burlington, BSA Troop

658 will hold a spaghetti dinner fundraiser to benefit the troop’s 15-person Sea Base crew.

The Sea Base crew consists of 15 Scouts and leaders who will enjoy a week of sailing, fishing and snorkeling while studying astronomy, navigation, fish identification and coral reef ecology in August at the Sea Base High Adventure Camp in Florida.

Seating times are available at 5 p.m., 6:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. with take-out orders available between 5 and 7:30 p.m.

The meal includes one beverage of choice, green salad and freshly baked garlic bread, spaghetti with Bove’s tomato sauce and home-made meatballs, Italian dressing and parmesan cheese, fresh-pressed pizzelles and vanilla ice cream. The cost is

COURTESY PHOTO

Holocaust Education Week

$25.

The $15 kids meal includes one beverage of choice, garlic bread, spaghetti with Bove’s sauce and vanilla ice-cream with chocolate sauce.

Reserve before Saturday, Feb. 1, at bit. ly/3XH4AEG.

‘We’re ALZ in this Together’ held at Statehouse

Join Vermonters with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementias, family caregivers, and advocates for older Vermonters “We’re ALZ in this Together: Destigmatizing Dementia” at the Statehouse, 115 State St., Montpelier.

The meeting with legislators and others is Thursday, Feb. 2, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

For information, contact Meg Polyte at mmpolyte@alz.org or 802-316-3839. More at p2a.co/VH7gzMF.

Governor’s Institutes open for applications

The Governor’s Institutes of Vermont has just opened applications for the 2023 offerings of its residential summer programs.

Students in grades nine through 11 can apply.

Governor’s Institutes take place on Vermont college campuses and give their attendees the opportunity to dive into a topic for up to two weeks of intensive study.

Each institute is focused on a career-oriented topic including arts, engineering, entrepreneurship, environmental science and technology, global issues and youth action, health and medicine, mathematical sciences and technology and design.

Last summer’s session welcomed 487 students from 72 high schools. To learn more or to apply, visit giv.org or email hello@giv.org with any questions. The deadline is March 31.

League of Women Voters hosts talk on non-citizen voting

On Saturday, Feb. 18 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Fletcher Free Library in Burlington, Marguerite Adelman or League of Women Voters of Vermont will present a free educational program on non-citizen voting, historical facts about non-citizen voting and what is happening in other states and nationally with non-citizen voting.

Both Winooski and Montpelier allow non-citizen voting.

Burlington will consider a question to approve non-citizen voting at Town Meeting Day on Tuesday, March 7.

Co-sponsors include Immigration Justice Team of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, Chittenden Asylum Seekers Assistance Network, Fletcher Free Library and Town Meeting TV. Stream at bit.ly/3H4gEZI.

Contact league@lwvofvt.org for more information or call 802-225-6032.

Epic A.J. by Grayson Dailey

South Burlington gymnasts place third at meet

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Boys’ hockey

South Burlington 2, Champlain Valley 2: The boys hockey team battled to a 2-2 tie on Saturday.

Earlier in the week, South Burlington grabbed a win over Essex in overtime.

Nick Kelley scored the game winner in extra time to get the win for the Wolves, who moved to 5-4-1 with the tie and win.

Kelley had two goals over the Hornets, while Drew Dougherty added a goal and James Chagnon stopped 31 saves. Lucas Van Mullen had an assist.

Girls’ basketball

South Burlington 51, Brattleboro 22: South Burlington’s Aleah Staley scored 19 of her 27 points in the second half to lead South Burlington to a win over Brattleboro on Saturday, Jan. 21.

The Wolves, who led 14-9 at the half, went on a 37-13 run in the second half. The team moves to 4-8 with the win.

The victory helped the Wolves rebound from a 53-40 loss on Thursday, Jan. 19, to Essex.

Miranda Hayes had 13 points in the game for the Wolves, who

were outscored 20-11 in the fourth quarter.

Alece Staley chipped in 11 points.

Girls’ hockey

Champlain Valley-Mt. Mansfield 5, South Burlington 1: South Burlington was outscored

on Saturday in a loss to Champlain Valley-Mount Mansfield in girls’ ice hockey.

Sabrina Brunet had the lone

goal for the Wolves, while Ava Hershberg earned the assist on the play. Ali Roy stopped 25 shots in goal.

With the loss, South Burlington moves to 5-7.

Gymnastics

The South Burlington gymnastics team hosted St. Johnsbury and Burlington-Colchester on Saturday for a team meet.

Kelsey Adams was the top individual finisher for the Wolves, coming in second place in the floor exercise.

South Burlington came in third place behind St. Johnsbury (first) and Burlington-Colchester (second).

Boys’ basketball

South Burlington 64, BFA-St. Albans 50: South Burlington grabbed its third win in the last four games with a victory over BFA-St. Albans on Thursday.

The Wolves used a 35-17 run in the second half to pull away, paced by Tyler Bergman’s 17 points.

Deng Aguek (12 points) and Ethan Sandberg (10 points) also hit double digits for South Burlington, now 6-3 after the win.

PHOTO BY AL FREY

Penelope Harm of South Burlington finished 38th at the alpine skiing event at Cochran’s Ski Area on Jan. 23.

and budgetary decisions and what not, so involving them from the beginning of the conversation ... I think would be useful,” she said.

Emery’s proposal borrows from similar ordinances adopted throughout the country in allowing short-term rentals in owner-occupied housing only, while banning rentals from accessory units, income-restricted affordable housing, student housing and dormitories and in buildings with more than four units.

Owners of short-term rental properties would have to obtain a permit from the city and would have to sign affidavits to ensure their compliance with local regulations. Hosts would be required to collect the local option tax and meals and rooms tax.

The efforts in South Burlington would be one of many throughout the state as municipalities take a hard look at the effect these rentals have on Vermont’s tight housing market. At least 14 other municipalities have taken steps to regulate short-term rentals, according to a report from Seven Days.

“I continue to receive emails from residents ... talking about houses that are being bought from people out of state that would be turned into a short-term rental,” she said. “It is something that people see as an investment and when we are dealing with our housing shortage and with the

CLASSROOMS

“We’ve known this was coming. We’ve had an architect working on this for two years; he came up with a number that was jaw dropping,” Jensen said. “I thought the number was going to be in the single digits.”

For now, the modular classroom spaces at the Williston school are “intended to be a bridge between a future project and the space issues they have now,” said Gary Marckres, Champlain Valley School District’s newest chief operations officer.

With the 2024 budget approved, Marckres says he is starting a more comprehensive look at the district’s schools “and to build a capital plan that makes sense to address needs at multiple schools (or) to at least address the highest priority ones,” including schools in Williston, Hinesburg and Shelburne.

“A more comprehensive package will save taxpayers money in the long run,” he said.

South Burlington, meanwhile, has been facing overcrowding issues at both the Rick Marcotte Central and Orchard schools — both linked to population growth

lack of workers, I think that that is something that should be foremost on our mind.”

There are not as many shortterm rental listings in South Burlington as compared to Burlington or other towns in Lamoille County. However, the number of available listings has been increasing in recent years.

There were 68 available shortterm rentals in South Burlington in December 2022, according to data from AirDNA, an increase of nearly 25 percent from December 2019. Also, according to data from Airbnb, Chittenden County hosted the most guests in the state in 2018 at 72,300.

Questions about whether meals and rooms taxes are being collected from these properties remain unanswered, but concerns extend beyond short-term rentals: ensuring that all rental units follow local fire department regulations and land use regulations is a priority among town officials.

“I think we need to take some action,” council member Tim Barritt said. “We can get our hands around two things, which is shortand long-term rental. We don’t have a rental registry, so to me I’d like to see them both combined because then we have an opportunity to make sure that all rentals are safe, and fire inspected … the same situation appears obvious to me whether it’s a short-term or a

long-term rental unit owner.”

These efforts could be costly — in starting and maintaining a rental registry, while also keeping staff in the planning and zoning department to enforce the city’s land use regulations and other city codes.

“We clearly need to have a registry ... (but) it’s expensive,” Emery said. “It requires staffing, and for small towns, it can be really prohibitive — and even for us, it’s prohibitive. So, absent a statewide rental registry, we have to see what we can do.”

Gov. Phil Scott, in 2021, vetoed a bill that would have established a statewide registry of both longand short-term rentals.

The city does not have any cost analysis of these potential initiatives, Baker said, but city staff will put together proposals for the council to discuss toward the end of March or April.

“As our community shifts and changes to a more rental community, I think we’re going to see that tipping point ... where we’re going to see that shift into the majority of our residents living in multi-family rental homes,” she said. “It’s easy to go to the voices that we hear who are all homeowners and privilege that, (but) I think we need to think really broadly about privileging all of our residents regardless of their homeownership status.”

in the city — for some time now. Both schools exceed the state recommended 85 percent capacity by more than 100 students.

“This pressure has absolutely impacted the way that we’re able to deliver education to students in those schools,” South Burlington Superintendent Violet Nichols said.

But all five of the district’s schools will begin to see climbing enrollment, according to a demographic report released in 2021.

South Burlington is expected to remain one of the fastest growing communities in Vermont, according to a report and data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The 2020 Census data indicates the state population grew 2.8 percent between 2010 and 2020, while South Burlington grew 13.34 percent, from 17,904 to 20,292 residents, between the same time frames.

The expectation is that South Burlington is expected to add over 1,000 housing units (up to 1,400 if long-term trends continue) over the next 10 years.

To address the issue, the district plans on spending more than $6

million on temporary classrooms there — an immediate, albeit temporary, solution to a longerterm problem — as part of a $14.5 million bond for voters to consider on Town Meeting Day.

To recoup those funds, the city will use education impact fees — or fees levied on new housing development in the city — to pay for capital expenditures. The city council approved that use during its meeting on Monday night.

But more longer-term options to address classroom space remain undecided. South Burlington residents rejected a bond vote that would have raised taxes to renovate the middle and high schools in the city in March 2020.

Marckres gave no timeline for when the Champlain district’s capital plan would be completed but said a “district wide conversation will certainly be needed, probably to include reestablishing and reenergizing a committee to really look at each building strategically and see ... what kind of relationships we can build and have a comprehensive plan that addresses our needs and is most fiscally responsible.”

Rice sophomore sings with youth opera group

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

Although she has been singing for most of her life, Lili Diemer of Shelburne never realized how important classical music is to learning technique until she joined the Youth Opera Company of Vermont.

The Rice Memorial High School sophomore has always had a passion for singing and theater performances and, according to her mother Jill Diemer, “she could literally sing before she could speak.”

She recounted a time when Lili was in kindergarten and “they were doing stations, and she was lost in the Legos just singing and singing. So, this is really in her deeply.”

Lili’s family lineage has strong roots in singing and performances, her mother said. Her grandfather was in the Philadelphia boys’ choir and her grandmother was in a choir with a high school that traveled all over Europe.

“I think she gets some of it from them,” she said.

Although she has been involved with musical performances since a young age, Lili Diemer only began singing classical music with the Youth Opera Company of Vermont last March.

“I just had never really done classical music before and I feel like that’s like the fundamental (part) of everything,” said Diemer. “I wanted to step out of my comfort zone.”

Youth Opera Company was

founded in 2019 by Sarah Cullins with a mission to help young singers in the multidisciplinary art form with training in language, vocals, music and acting, Cullins said.

“Part of the mission is really helping in training and giving opportunities to our participants,” she said. “But the other half of our mission is really reaching out to the community and offering our talents, music and joy to members of the community.”

Diemer explained that opera differed from other forms of music and the practice has broadened a variety of new skill sets. From learning voice vibrato to utilizing the appropriate muscles while singing, Diemer explained that the company — specifically Cullins — has brought her performances to new heights.

“It goes hand-in-hand with strength training because we use a lot of muscles that a lot of singers don’t realize we use and Sarah really tries to focus on that while we’re singing,” said Diemer. “Sometimes when I wake up the next day certain muscles around my ribcage are sore. That’s how you know you’re singing properly.”

On top of training from classes with Youth Opera Company, she also has solo lessons with Cullins to perfect technique and learn Italian.

“There’s a lot of work that each singer needs to do on their own to prepare their voice to memorize Italian,” said Cullins. “We spend the first couple of weeks really

focused on learning what’s called lyric diction in Italian. We learn the symbols for the International Phonetic Alphabet, which is really helpful for learning a symbol that represents a sound to help us remember how everything is pronounced.”

Although Diemer’s first performance was in kindergarten as a dragon in her class’s production of “Mulan,” she still feels the pressure before she performs in front of a big audience. One of her biggest opera performances was this year at the Burlington City Arts New

Year’s Eve celebration, one of the only fully classical programs of the day.

“Our production was called ‘Opera 101: A Day in the Life’ and it was a collection of opera scenes in Italian and in English that we organized together in a story of a day in the life of a typical teenager,” Cullins said. “We told the story of a day at school and daydreaming in class, going to debate, going to the nail salon after school, helping a friend in need with some love advice.”

Diemer sang in the salon scene

with a youthful twist to ‘Una donna a quindici anni, Così fan tutte’ by Mozart.

“I think one of the most rewarding things is when you’re so scared to do something,” she said. “You just feel so accomplished after, like, ‘wow, I did that.’”

Although opera is all about voice technique, it also encompasses acting skills in order to fully engage the audience. Diemer explained that opera can be hard for people to relate to, and it’s the job of the singer to portray emotions that make the audience feel the essence of the performance, even in another language.

“If you have emotion, people are like, ‘Oh, I get this. This makes sense. I can relate to this,’” she said. “You want to make it relatable, because opera can seem pretty daunting to some people, but we wanted to make it different. So, we made the songs our own.”

The high school student has big aspirations for college and plans to make music a large part of her future. “I definitely want to do it in college, and maybe pursue it as a career. I will definitely continue using the techniques that Sarah taught me. They just really have helped and have continued to make me a better singer,” she said.

The next Youth Opera Company performance will be “An American in Paris” on April 15 and 16 and will showcase opera scenes and songs in French and English.

For information visit youthoperavt.org.

Lili Diemer

COURTESY PHOTO

Lili Diemer performs at Spectacular Spectacular 2022 talent show for kids at Higher Ground.

Man balks again on plea deal for five stolen Teslas

MIKE DONOGHUE CORRESPONDENT

A former South Burlington man, who is charged with illegal possession of five stolen Teslas, has balked a second time during a federal court hearing calling for him to withdraw his not guilty plea.

Michael A. Gonzalez, 33, fraudulently obtained the five Teslas valued at about $607,000 from car dealerships in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Florida and had them brought across state lines to Vermont in 2018 and 2019, a federal indictment claims.

One Tesla was destroyed during a suspicious fire in Shelburne Bay on Lake Champlain in February 2019, the U.S. Secret Service has said.

Gonzalez signed a 15-page plea agreement in September 2022 and a change of plea hearing was scheduled the following month. However, as the defendant arrived at court, he indicated he wanted to keep his not guilty plea on the record.

A second change of plea hearing was set for last Friday, but that time he said he now

wants a jury trial.

Chief federal judge Geoffrey W. Crawford agreed to accommodate the request and said the trial needs to be held by late March under the speedy trial act and the lawyers need to talk about a potential date.

Crawford ordered Gonzalez to serve six more months in prison on an unrelated case and said he would be on federally supervised release for two more years.

The additional prison time comes from Gonzalez admitting on Friday that he had tested positive for cocaine at least four times and that he failed to tell his federal probation officer about five interactions he had with law enforcement.

Gonzalez began three years of federally supervised release in May 2021 as part of his conviction for trying to buy a firearm in 2019 while he had a pending felony charge for aggravated domestic assault, records show.

Gonzalez, who was living in Hinesburg at the time, failed to disclose to a Williston gun dealer he had a pending felony charge of aggravated domestic assault involving the mother of his child, police said.

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ARIES

March 21 - April 20

Aries, make a concerted effort to focus your attention on something that interests you. This may require that you nd something new to stoke your passion.

TAURUS

April 21 - May 21

It’s a week for love and you have all of the resources available to take advantage and explore your feelings, Taurus. Work things out in your head before taking action.

GEMINI

May 22 - June 21

Gemini, currently you are playing a much smaller role at work than you would like. It is not that you aren’t capable, but it’s a matter of paying your dues before taking the next step.

CANCER

June 22 - July 22

Cancer, don’t box yourself in with a strict to-do list and schedule. You need a little more wiggle room to explore your creativity and what makes you happy.

LEO

July 23 - Aug. 23

Your open and outgoing nature may lead many people to think they know all about you, Leo. Instead, you can be quite a mysterious person. Show others only what you want.

VIRGO

Aug. 24 - Sept. 22

Believing someone is awless can set you up for disappointment when you realize no one can live up to that standard, Virgo. Be realistic when assessing partners or other people.

LIBRA

Sept. 23 - Oct. 23

Being available to other people is admirable, Libra. Make sure this is not at the expense of your own well-being. You may need to dial back and prioritize your own needs.

SCORPIO

Oct. 24 - Nov. 22

Living in your comfort zone may lead to missed opportunities, Scorpio. You may need to let your risktaking side show this week. Enjoy the ride.

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

You might start to notice you are losing some traction in your love life, Sagittarius. Figure out a way to talk and spend more time together in the days ahead.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22 - Jan. 20

You may believe you can think your way out of a situation this week, Capricorn. But sometimes logic just doesn’t cut it. You may have to use your heart to get to the root.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 21 - Feb. 18

Take a second look at your talents and your abilities, Aquarius. You may have been selling yourself short for some time. But you can accomplish anything with some effort.

PISCES

Feb. 19 - March 20

Don’t make assumptions about how others see you, Pisces. You have a lot to offer. It’s time to recognize all your strengths.

CROSSWORD

Food storage location

Accustom to something unpleasant

__ Kubrick, lmmaker

Having the shape of a cube

Unwind

Believed by some to be the supreme being

A politician’s of cial stances

It can catch sh

British thermal unit

Helps little rms

Where patients go for treatment

Large red deer

Pokes holes in

“Star Wars” hero Solo

One in a hospital

Scandinavian god of battle

Famous cat

__ Angeles: City of Angels

Part of your foot

It’s at the back of the eyeball

Where things stand

Boisterous gettogether

They’re in the sky

Canonized

Type of drug (abbr.) 30. City along the Rhine 31. Animal disease 32. Martini ingredients 33. Get away 34. Rare species of rodent 36. Suppress