The Other Paper - 2-9-23

Candidate forum

School board, city council hopefuls face off

Page 3

Road rage Man eludes police in weeks-long pursuit

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the South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977

South Burlington’s longtime town clerk to retire

Kinville has served since 2001

Cheer champs

In her 20 plus years as the city’s clerk, Donna Kinville has ushered much of the city into the internet age.

Since 2008, she’s led the admittedly long and tedious process of digitizing the city’s entire catalogue of land records, dating back to 1865. She has some 20 or 30 years left to go and hopes to be done by August — around the time when, she says, she’ll hand the job duties off to someone new.

“It’s an entirely different job than anything I ever expected,” she said in an interview with The Other Paper. She announced her retirement last week after serving as the city’s clerk since 2001.

“But it takes a certain amount of energy

See KINVILLE on page 18

School rental to church sparks concerns on inclusivity

The South Burlington School District is renting out space in one of its public schools for a church — whose beliefs say homosexuality is “sinful” — to hold weekly religious services, raising concerns that the church’s views on homosexuality and marriage come in conflict with the district’s policies on inclusion.

The New Life Baptist Church will be holding a grand opening service on March 26 at the Rick Marcotte Central School, “which will include uplifting music, a practical Bible message, and encouraging fellowship.”

“This will be the start of weekly services for New Life,” the event invitation reads.

The congregation, founded by Brandon and Esther Gaskill, has rented out the middle school to conduct weekly prayer services.

“We’re not going to be able to purchase anything so we’re going to be renting probably for at least the foreseeable future,” Gaskill said. “If we have people and if the Lord allows us to have the funds to be able to purchase something, we would but at this point, but the prices of things, we’re not going to be able to do that for a little while.”

School districts renting out their facilities for use by the community is common practice. The South Burlington district charges

anywhere from $20 to $150 an hour to rent out indoor or outdoor spaces, depending on whether the group is a non-profit or for-profit entity.

But questions have been raised about the church’s views on homosexuality and marriage, which seem to come in conflict with the school district’s policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

See SCHOOL on page 17

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

COURTESY PHOTO

South Burlington’s youth cheerleaders took second in the NVAC Metro Division cheerleading championships Saturday in the youth division for grades two to four. More results and photos on page 20.

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

TYLER BARNES FOR SOUTH BURLINGTON CITY COUNCIL

“A 29 year South Burlington resident, I’m running because I want to help ensure our city will provide our children with the same opportunities I had as a child and an aspiring entrepreneur with a young family. I’m excited to bring my perspective as a local small-business owner, a parent with children enrolled in our fabulous schools, and a passionate outdoor recreation enthusiast to the key issues facing our City.”

“I believe we’re at our best when we’re all represented, and would like to hear what’s important to you. I invite you to visit my facebook page to learn more about me, and to share what’s important to you.”

“I look forward to hearing from you!”

-Tyler facebook.com/tbforsb or tbforsb@gmail.com

Paid for by: TB for SB/21 Wildflower Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403/561-301-8206

Candidate promises to serve all stakeholders in school board bid

Political Notebook

Bryan Companion

I am Bryan Companion and I am announcing my candidacy for the two-year term on the South Burlington School Board.

My wife Vivian and I moved to South Burlington over 40 years ago and it was one of the best decisions we ever made. At the time we had no children, but knew we wanted to live in a growing community with excellent schools. We knew of South Burlington’s excellent reputation, and I had many friends who worked in the district.

I knew from conversations they were committed to their students and wanted the best for each of them. One of these friends was Rick Marcotte, the distinguished South Burlington educator Central School is named for.

We saw the same level of commitment and caring given to our two daughters. We are deeply indebted for the role the schools and individuals played in our daughter’s development. I continue to see the same commitment and care for our grandchildren, their friends and all the neighborhood’s children.

Most of my professional career was with the Pizzagalli and PC Construction Company. I served as risk manager for 30 years.

Success in construction

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21ST • 7:30 AM South Burlington City Hall - 180 Market St. Meet with City Manager Jessie Baker and the City’s leadership team to discuss:

• FY24 Budget

• Final TIF Vote

• The Comprehensive Plan

• Community Outreach

• 2023 Ballot Items

• Public Safety Trends

• Road and Municipal Construction

• Coordination of City and School Financial Needs

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requires teamwork and a collaborative process. This process begins with listening to everyone’s ideas and issues. It concludes with implementing and continually monitoring agreed upon solutions. I bring this approach to everything I do.

I have the experience to evaluate programs and projects, ask questions and help determine if we are receiving maximum value. I have been asking these types of questions about the proposed zero energy modular classroom project. My construction experience would be beneficial as we decide how to address our overcrowded and aging schools.

In 2020 I volunteered to serve on a citizens’ budget advisory committee. This group of 15 citizens offered ideas and opinions on budget priorities, cuts and the final proposed budget.

I was very impressed with everyone’s level of engagement, the variety of opinions and their work on behalf of the schools. I found this work rewarding and had a feeling of accomplishment when the budget passed. It was at this time that I began thinking about running for the school board.

I have attended most school

meetings in the past four months. I believed it was important to become informed on immediate and emerging issues and how the board functions. Many of the agenda items were business or finance related. These included labor negotiations, budget preparation, the modular classrooms and impact fees. I have asked questions to educate myself on these and other issues. It has been my experience that the most effective groups are those that have different perspectives. I believe that my business experience would bring a viewpoint that would be beneficial.

As a board member I would be committed to:

• Attaining the best outcome for all students by maintaining and raising standards.

• Maintaining an environment where everyone is respected and included.

• Providing quality education at a cost the community will support and acting as a responsible steward of public funds.

• Addressing school overcrowding and developing a long-range strategic plan to address aging infrastructure.

• Ensuring transparency and open communication with the community.

Our schools reflect the community and serve as a source of pride. I believe the attraction to and growth in South Burlington is directly tied to excellence in our schools. We are all stakeholders and play an important role in the success of the school system.

I am committed to representing all community groups.

The decision to run was not a quick one. Rick Marcotte encouraged me to run 35 years ago. I had declined based on family and professional career commitments. Also, I enjoyed refereeing high school basketball four or five nights a week from November to March. I told him I would consider it in the future, so here I am 35 years later.

I believe I have the experience and skill set to benefit the school community. I would be honored to serve and give back to a community that has given so much to us. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Learn more at companionforschoolboard.com.

Bryan Companion

It has been my experience that the most effective groups are those that have different perspectives.

Local business owner launches city council bid

aims, there’s still lot of exciting work to be done.

I’m Tyler Barnes and I’m proud to be a South Burlington resident. I grew up here, went through its schools, and after college, returned home with my spouse to start a family, raise children, and realize a dream of starting a family business.

I’m proud to call South Burlington my home, and hope that future generations will have the same opportunity to belong to the community we all cherish.

That’s why I’m running for city council.

I have lived in South Burlington for 29 of my 44 years. I’m running because I want to help ensure that the city will provide our children with the same opportunities it did when I was a child and an aspiring entrepreneur with a young family. While we’ve made great strides toward such

Longtime firefighter retires

We need to be accessible and inclusive to families across the socio-economic spectrum. Tax burdens are increasing, and housing is becoming scarce, making it difficult for current employers to attract prospective employees, and for prospective employers to commit to South Burlington. Unchecked, our diverse, inclusive and accessible community of young families and aspiring professionals could lose the diverse character that we all know and love, and that’s an integral part of the South Burlington experience.

I’m excited to address these opportunities. I bring the perspective of a resident and South Burlington business owner to this campaign and council seat, a perspective that affords tremendous insights into people’s wants and needs for the city.

I bring the perspective of a

parent with kids in the schools. I bring the perspective of a passionate outdoor enthusiast who relentlessly enjoys the community’s

rich recreational opportunities. And I bring the perspective of relatable empathy to the large tax burden in South Burlington.

If I’ve learned anything over the course of my career, it’s that

See BARNES on page 17

SoBu hosts forum for city council, school board candidates

Ahead of Town Meeting Day, when voters will go to the polls to vote on several issues and to elect two people for South Burlington City Council and three for the school board, the city is giving voters a chance to hear from the candidates themselves.

The two people running for the three-year seat on the city council are Andrew Chalnick and James Leas. Tyler Barnes, Lydia C. Diamond and Paul Engels are vying for the two-year term.

On the school board, Lisa

Hickey and Alex McHenry are vying for the three-year seat and Travia Childs and Brian Companion are running for the two-year position.

Laura Williams is running unopposed for the third seat, the remaining two years of a threeyear seat.

The South Burlington High School debate team is hosting the public forum in City Hall Auditorium on Thursday, Feb. 16. The city council forum will go from 5 to 7 p.m. and the school board

forum from 7 to 9 p.m. The link for the hybrid event will be posted on the city’s website, southburlingtonvt.gov.

The forum starts with candidate introductions followed by answers to questions written by the debate team, and finally ends

with students selecting questions from members of the virtual or in-person audience.

If you have any questions, email Vince Bolduc at vbolduc@ smcvt.edu or Monica Ostby at monicaostby@yahoo.com.

Debate team members

involved in this project include Izzy Laramie, Makenna Cannon, Kenyon Smith, Richard Jiang, Memphis Everest, Brooks Balkan, Kate Becker, Rylan Williams and Madison Dewees. Debate team advisor is faculty member Carly Bennett.

COURTESY PHOTO

At South Burlington firefighter Josh Laird’s retirement party at the department on Feb. 1. Laird was an original member of the “Ambulance Eight,” the eight members hired with the first ambulance in the summer of 2004. The senior firefighter worked for the city for more than 18 years.

Valentine’s Day! Great Gift Ideas Winter SALE 20-40% OFF Gear & Clothing

CRIME & COURTS

Man sought in thefts of two cars, woman arrested on multiple charges

MIKE DONOGHUE CORRESPONDENT

South Burlington Police are looking for the public’s help in locating a man who fled two traffic stops at high rates of speed and that has also led to the arrest on multiple charges of a woman found in the stolen car, two damaged cruisers and a second stolen vehicle.

Police said Eric Loyer, 31,

Agency/public assists: 17 Motor vehicle complaint: 6 Accident, property damage: 5

formerly of Bristol, stole a gold Lexus in Bristol on Jan. 25.

South Burlington Police first spotted the Lexus on Jan. 27 at 2:57 a.m. on Williston Road in South Burlington. An officer tried to stop the car, but the driver fled at a high rate of speed.

Police spotted the Lexus again later that morning near Patchen Road in South Burlington. Det. Martin Maloney, who recognized

South Burlington Police Blotter

Domestic: 3

Total incidents: 185

Arrests

Jan. 18 at 6:51 p.m., Richard A. West, 52, of Colchester, was arrested for felony retail theft on Hannaford Drive.

Jan. 19 at 8:02 p.m., Jacob D. McKenna, 37, of South Burlington, was arrested for retail theft on Hannaford Drive.

Jan. 30 at 9:56 p.m., Jamie A. Bunnell, 39, of South Burl-

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Loyer, followed the Lexus in an unmarked police vehicle. With help from Burlington police, they attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver again fled in the car.

On Feb. 3 around 11:20 p.m. University of Vermont police attempted to stop the car in Burlington, but the driver sped away

See POLICE on page 6

ington, was arrested for resisting arrest, unlawful restraint, second degree, and domestic assault on Lime Kiln Road.

Jan. 31 at 5:09 a.m., Lance A. Bartlett, 40, of Burlington, was arrested for petty larceny from a motor vehicle and possession of stolen property on Butler Drive.

Jan. 31 at 11:20 p.m., Weston M. Lunnie, 25, of Concord, was arrested for driving under the influence, criminal refusal, on Dorset Street.

Feb. 1 at 9:14 a.m., Marie A. Higley, 38, of South Burlington, was arrested for petty larceny from a building, residence or structure on Market Street.

Feb. 2 at 4:58 p.m., Lacey L. Partlow, 30, of Swanton, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Dorset Street.

Feb. 3 at 2:48 a.m., Richard A. Gonyea, 29, of Burlington, was arrested for driving with a criminally suspended license on East Ave.

Feb. 4 at 11:34 p.m., Keisha A. Willard, 27, of Bristol, was arrested for assault on a law enforcement officer, leaving the scene of an accident with bodily injury resulting, grossly negligent operation, violating conditions of release and leaving the scene of an accident on Quarry Hill Road.

Untimely deaths:

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

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

Jan. 31 at 4:27 p.m., police responded to Patchen Road for the death of David Burns, 86, of South Burlington.

Feb. 2 at 12:51 p.m., police responded to Shelburne Road for the death of Candis Perrault-Kjelleren, 65, of South Burlington. The medical examiner’s office is determining cause and manner of death.

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SB man pleads guilty to threatening court officials

MIKE DONOGHUE CORRESPONDENT

A South Burlington man, who authorities say made threats to kill a state judge and defense lawyer and to rape a prosecutor, has pleaded guilty in federal court to three felony charges for making the intimidating phone calls.

Joshua P. Puma, 36, of Williston Road, called a Vermont Corrections Department reporting line on Sept. 30, 2021, to say he would kill a state judge and a defense attorney, U.S. District Court records show.

The indictment also charges him with making a similar call nearly a month later threatening to kill a state judge and to sexually assault a prosecutor. The third charge stems from a phone call in November 2021 where Puma said he planned to kill a state judge.

Puma, formerly of Shelburne, admitted to the three felony charges during a hearing in federal court in Rutland last week. Puma, who once punched his state public defender in the face, will be sentenced May 31 in Rutland.

He could receive up to five years in feder-

al prison on each of the three death threat charges, placed on supervised release, and face up to a $250,000 fine on each case.

Chief Federal Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford kept Puma in federal custody pending sentencing. He is at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield.

Puma has been in custody since about September 2020 when arrested on state charges, according to assistant federal defender Sarah Puls.

It is believed the threats mentioned in the indictment stem from Puma’s detention last fall at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield after his arrest by South Burlington Police on a stalking case, records show.

Puls maintained the reported threats came into a complaint phone line maintained by the Corrections Department and Puma would never have been able to carry them out while jailed. None of the recorded threats was made directly to the intended targets, she said.

It remains unclear which Vermont judge or judges Puma threatened to kill.

Sarah Reed, his state public defender, was the intended target of the other death threat,

officials have said. During Puma’s arraignment, Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George was identified as the target for the rape threat.

Puma punched Reed in the face while she was representing him in state court in September 2019, assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy Fuller has said. The punch caused Reed to fall to the ground and it took five security officers to restrain Puma, Fuller told the court.

He later pleaded guilty to assaulting his attorney and was sentenced to 4-12 months to serve, Fuller said.

Puma was later found incompetent in to stand trial in March 2022 on state charges for two criminal cases in Chittenden County. In May 2022, Vermont Superior Court Judge A. Gregory Rainville issued a pair of orders of hospitalization for 90 days to further check Puma’s mental status.

Puma was never sent to the state mental hospital in Berlin due to the federal detainer filed against him. The detainer came when a federal grand jury in Burlington in April

2022 indicted Puma on the three felony charges for threatening the public officials during the fall of 2021.

The biggest difference between federal and state incompetency procedures is how the defendant gets returned to society. The state has a secret process that eventually allows the mental health commissioner to privately make the release call. There is no notification requirement for the public.

The federal system normally provides the defendant’s case remains in a public court setting and the community is informed about any planned release. The conditions the defendant must follow are public record.

South Burlington Police said officers have spent considerable time dealing with Puma, including an arrest for stalking that involved a complaint from a neighbor on Williston Road near Heath Street.

Among cases in nearby Shelburne police found Puma at his parent’s house with a rifle and a knife in his hands inside the residence.

Joshua P. Puma

Headley sentenced in the killing of his wife five years ago

MIKE DONOGHUE CORRESPONDENT

Leroy Headley, 41, of South Burlington, has been sentenced to serve 20 years to life for killing his longtime partner almost five years ago.

Headey fatally shot Anako “Annette” Lumumba, 33, in the forehead in the home they shared on Southview Drive off Hinesburg Road on May 3, 2018.

She was the mother to their children, according to South Burlington police.

Headley fled to Jamaica after the killing and was eventually captured in Feb. 2020 with help from the U.S. Marshals Service in Vermont.

He was due to go on trial in Vermont Superior Court in Burlington this winter, but a plea deal was hammered out between the defense and prosecution. Judge Alison Arms agreed recently to accept the plea agreement after hearing from all parties.

Once Headley completes his prison term, he will on probation for the rest of his life.

The plea deal did not resolve an unrelated case of sexual assault on two female minors in a hotel room, officials said.

South Burlington police put together the murder case that included two incriminating phone calls. One was from Headley confessing to a 911 operator in Vermont, officials said.

It was shortly after the killing that South Burlington police said it first received a phone call about the shooting. Headley’s brother, Onel, had gone into Falmouth, Mass., police to report his brother had told him about the shooting back home, Falmouth police South Burlington.

City police said they responded to the duplex to find Lumumba dead in a pool of blood about 6:30 p.m. Lumumba, a licensed practical nurse, died from the single gunshot wound to the head, Police Lt. Chris Bataille reported.

Headley made a $5,000 cash withdrawal from the nearby Vermont Federal Credit Union next to Midas Muffler off Williston Road just before the shooting. Authorities said Headley first fled

ELLA 2022 Top Cat

to Albany, N.Y., where his 2017 blue Nissan Pathfinder was found abandoned.

Headley was placed on the U.S. Marshals Service Top 15 Most Wanted in 2019. The U.S Marshals said he was a dangerous man who had a history of assault and domestic violence.

Headley will get credit for time served since his arrest. He is serv-

POLICE

continued from page 4

toward South Burlington, where police searched the neighborhoods off Spear Street.

Officer Cody Wilson found the Lexus in the Quarry Hill area of the city where he watched a man putting gas into the car from a portable container. The man fled on foot, and after an unsuccessful foot chase Wilson came back to the car where he found a woman behind the wheel.

To limit her attempt to flee, he blocked the Lexus with his cruiser, but she rammed the police car, also striking the officer, and escaped.

Sgt. Sean Pope, responding to a call for backup, was driving down Spear Street toward Quarry

ing his sentence at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans Town.

Several Lumumba family members read statements to the judge.

One daughter, who said she viewed Headley like a father, addressed him directly, according to WPTZ-TV.

“Do you ever think about the

ZOE 2022 Top Dog

trauma I’ve had to go through because my own father decided to be the cause of my mother’s last breath?” Lumumba’s daughter said.

In his statement to the court, Headley offered an apology to the family.

“I wish I could take her place, I would in a heartbeat,” Headley said.

Hill when his cruiser was struck by the fleeing car.

Keisha A. Willard, 27, of Bristol, was later taken into custody by Winooski and university police after the Lexus went off the road and hit a tree near Spear Street and East Terrace.

Willard suffered a leg injury and is in the hospital pending surgery, police said. She is being held on $5,000 bail.

Police believe Loyer was the man who fled from Quarry Hill.

Loyer, who currently has active warrants on charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and aggravated operation without the owner’s consent, habitually runs from

the police, placing the public in danger, police said.

Police are also implicating Loyer in the theft of a 2012 Subaru Impreza Sedan that was reported stolen from East Terrace on Feb. 5 just after 7 a.m. That car was found later that evening abandoned in Williston.

Police ask that if anyone sees the vehicle or Loyer to call their local police department.

Willard was subsequently arrested for assault on a law enforcement officer, leaving the scene of an accident with bodily injury resulting, grossly negligent operation, violating conditions of release and leaving the scene of an accident.

All dogs and cats, ages 6 months or older, must be registered. Why? To ensure that the necessary vaccinations are current for the protection of South Burlington citizens — complying with state law.

REGISTER YOUR DOG OR CAT ONE OF THREE WAYS:

— In person at the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall. We are open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

— Return form below and payment via mail or after hours in the City Hall dropbox.

— Online at www.southburlingtonvt.gov. Look for Zoe and Ella on our homepage to register.

Checks should be made payable to City of South Burlington. Mail to City Clerk, 180 Market Street, South Burlington, VT 05403. Registration fees increase after April 1, 2023.

Pet Name

Please send a current rabies certificate.

� Dog � Renewal

� Cat � New Animal

FEES UNTIL APRIL 1, 2023

Dog � Spayed/Neutured $25 � Not Spayed/Not Neutured $29

Cat � Spayed/Neutured $12 � Not Spayed/Not Neutured $16

Owner Information Name

Address

Email Phone

10th Annual “Top Dog” and “First Feline” Drawing Register by April 1,

and your furry

will

entered into the 10th Annual “Top Dog” and “First Feline” drawing. “Top Dog” receives tag #1 and “First Feline” receives tag #2 — along with goodie baskets. Sponsors have included: Pet Food Warehouse, Guys Farm & Yard, Brown’s Animal Hospital, Green Mountain Animal Hospital, Hannafords, Target, Walmart, and Price Chopper.

Leroy Headley

OPINION

House makes budget adjustments, to hold hearing on housing shortage

From

the House

Last week the Vermont House of Representatives finalized and passed the House Budget Adjustment bill, H. 145. The annual budget adjustment is the “true up” of the current year’s budget that occurs at midyear. It provides the opportunity to address urgent needs by assessing program allocations, how they are being used and adjusting expenditures as needed.

It passed with broad agreement on most of the base and one-time adjustments proposed by the governor with the House inserting additional one-time investments to address urgent needs of Vermonters across the state resulting from the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The additional funds will allow us to address areas of critical need for housing, human services, rural infrastructure and agriculture to highlight a few critical areas of investment. The House allocated a portion of the unprecedented federal funding that Vermont received due to the pandemic.

The bill is now before the Vermont Senate. This bill is an important step toward delivering on our promises to Vermonters. Of local interest, $2 million will provide coordinated care teams to continue wrap-around services to clients in the General Temporary Housing Assistance Program that will continue through the end of the fiscal year in June. Along with additional funding for temporary housing assistance is a requirement for Department of Children and Families to submit a sustainable housing plan for these populations as they transition out of this temporary and emergency housing.

While the budget adjustment reallocated existing monies in the budget, House committees have been very busy working on new ideas and bigger policy discussions. This important work includes a review of the universal school meals program; how to conserve 30 percent of Vermont’s landscape by 2030 and 50 percent by 2050 as called for in Vermont’s Climate Action Plan; addressing gaps in mental health services;

substance use disorder treatment; protections for Vermonters and Vermont-based entities like health insurance companies that assists with the provision of legally protected health care; how to modernize the reappraisal process; among many other topics.

I am assigned to House Committee on Transportation. We have been digging into the administration’s proposed fiscal year 2024 $887 million transportation budget, hearing budget presentations from the various divisions within the Agency of Transportation, which includes aviation, highway, rail, pedestrian and bicycle, and public transportation.

We took a close look at the bill and relevant areas of statute and heard from House members on bills they have introduced that were referred to our committee. In Vermont the transportation sector creates nearly 40 percent of our carbon emissions, so the committee is focused on ensuring policy and investments align with Vermont’s statutory requirements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as set forth in the Global Warming Solutions Act and outlined in Vermont’s Climate Action Plan.

The plan calls for transportation alternatives to single occupancy vehicle miles and programs

Supports Dr. Childs’ reelection to school board

To the Editor:

I am delighted that Dr. Travia Childs has announced her candidacy for reelection to the South Burlington School Board.

Under her leadership the board has appointed a new superintendent, recruited its first director of equity and addressed school overcrowding. It has initiated a review of the district’s safety plans to ensure students are learning in a safe environment. One need only follow the daily news to see the wisdom of this effort.

Childs is a particularly active

to encourage electrification of the transportation network. To that end we reviewed the incomebased rebate programs — including for e-bikes — that are helping many Vermonters transition to more fuel efficient and affordable transportation options. You can check the available rebates at driveelectricvt.com/incentives.

Many are increasingly aware that Vermont has a significant housing shortage. It’s estimated that 45,000 units of additional housing are needed. Lack of housing, especially affordable types, is at the root of many or our challenges in Vermont and manifests as acute workforce shortages and higher costs for many essential services like medical care, child care, if they are available at all.

The Legislature is committed to addressing the pressing need for housing in Vermont. I am pleased to announce that the House and Senate will hold a joint public hearing on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 5 p.m. The committees will hear testimony concerning the state of housing in Vermont in Room 267 of the Pavilion Building, 109 State St., Montpelier. Participants may attend in person or by video conference on the Senate Committee’s YouTube stream: bit.ly/3RyYJPQ.

Kate Lalley, a Democrat from Shelburne, represents Shelburne and a portion of South Burlington in the Chittenden-6 House district.

member of the board. She is a school activity advisor, and you will find her at sports events cheering for the students and talking to parents. She understands the pulse of the schools.

As a woman of color, Childs brings an important perspective to the board’s deliberations. Parents of color are comfortable in expressing their thoughts to her. Her dedication to South Burlington’s younger residents is demonstrated in her work with the Infinite Youth Center located in the University Mall. As founder of the center, she is a hands-on leader. What the center has accomplished in such a short

Rep. Kate Lalley

Rep. Kate Lalley

Krasnow’s committee tackles family leave bill

From the House Rep. Emilie Krasnow

The energy in the Legislature this year is incredible with a record number of new faces. It’s exciting to have more parents, more young people and more diverse members serving this biennium.

I am excited to have been appointed to the House Committee on General and Housing. This committee considers various matters of importance to all Vermonters, including housing issues, labor relations, and all matters relating to subjects for which there is no other appro-

priate committee. In addition to my committee assignment, I have joined several legislative caucuses including The Working Vermonters Caucus, Climate Solutions Caucus, Women’s Caucus, Social Equity Caucus and the Older Vermonters Caucus.

The House General and Housing Committee has heard from the stakeholders in the community, in addition to reviewing the bills that are assigned to our committee.

H.66, a bill to create a statewide family and medical leave insurance program, was introduced and referred to the general and housing committee with 103 sponsors. The

bill will be review in our committee over the next several weeks for policy work and then referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means for further analysis of costs.

This bill is one of the highest priorities for our committee this biennium, and an issue close to my heart. I’m honored to be a part of considering this important piece of legislation as it works its way through the Statehouse.

As is customary during the first few weeks of the biennium, we heard from the leaders of the organizations and agencies that are affected by our purview and potential legislation. We heard from the executive director of the Champlain Housing Trust, the senior vice president of Real Estate Development from Ever

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north, the executive director of Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, the executive director of the Vermont State Housing Authority, the interim director of the Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition testified to the committee, the director of development, Downstreet Housing and Community Development, and the director of community development, Rural Edge. Additionally, we had an introduction to the leadership of the Department of Housing and Community Development. For more information on any of these agencies or their

through the fiscal year, that rebalances accounts and ensures that the state always maintains a balanced budget. This year’s adjustment also contains significant one-time investments to meet the urgent needs of Vermonters across our state. Highlights include:

• $50 million to the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board to continue creating affordable housing in communities across the state.

• $22 million to the general assistance emergency housing program, so we can continue to

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See KRASNOW on page 11

LETTERS

continued from page 7

period of time is remarkable. I encourage all to visit the youth center.

We are fortunate to have a leader of Childs’ caliber in our community. Please reelect Dr. Travia Childs when you vote on March 7.

plan and worked with staff to propose a funding plan for modular structures to address our shortage of space in the Marcotte and Orchard elementary schools.

sive community that balances the demand for growth with fiscal responsibility and common-sense strategies to reduce waste and meet Vermont’s climate change goals.

Please vote Chalnick, Engels for city council

To the Editor:

L. Walsh South Burlington

Robert

Vote Andrew Chalnick for city council

To the Editor:

Andrew Chalnick has already made a profound commitment to the South Burlington community through his service on the energy committee, interim zoning committee for transferable development rights, the climate task force and the planning commission. Now he is willing to put his experience and his energy to work on the South Burlington City Council.

If you are not familiar with Andrew’s views, please consider a visit to his website at chalnickforcouncil.com. There you will find a detailed narrative touching on his core goals: Access for all residents to affordable, quality housing; an inclusive and vibrant city that is not defined by vehicular traffic or sprawl; protection of natural resources; attention to climate change realities; and the fiscal responsibility to undergird success in attaining and sustaining these goals.

At his core is the belief that South Burlington thrives to the extent that all South Burlington residents are able to live with dignity and respect.

I plan to vote for Andrew Chalnick. I hope that you will too.

Maida F. Townsend South Burlington

Reelect Childs for School Board

To the Editor:

When Dr. Travia Childs ran for South Burlington School Board two years ago, my vote for her was based primarily on her education and experience and the skills inherent in these qualifications. Now, I ask what I have learned about her as a person and what contributions she has made during her service on the school board.

This has been a challenging two years for our school board. Two board members resigned unexpectedly. Other long-serving members chose not to run for reelection. The long-term prior superintendent retired. We now have a school board in which only one member has served more than two years. Add COVID-19, difficulty filling positions, rising costs and the challenges have gotten bigger, not smaller.

These circumstances make me especially thankful that Childs decided to seek reelection. The commitment she expressed two years ago to working to help keep our school system strong and supportive of all students was real and continues. She is not a quitter.

On the board, she has worked with her colleagues to hire the district’s first director of equity and a new superintendent of schools. Under her leadership as chair, the board is strengthening the district’s safety

In her non-board life, Childs is still as director of the Infinite Youth Center and became an active member of the South Burlington Rotary Club. I salute her leadership in providing a welcoming place for at-risk youth that promotes healthy behavioral choices. Her service on the school board and as director of the youth center contribute to the wellbeing of our larger community.

Childs’ overall life experience and her record of service since moving here make her a one-of-a kind candidate for the school board. Don’t miss your chance to vote for her on the Town Meeting Day ballot. I certainly won’t.

Sandy Dooley South Burlington

Chalnick’s possesses right vision for city

To the Editor:

I am writing in support of Andrew Chalnick’s candidacy for South Burlington City Council. Chalnick offers an inclusive and values-driven vision for the future of the community. He also brings a proven record of civic engagement, and a core focus on the city’s most pressing issues — including climate change, resource conservation and affordable housing.

Chalnick is extremely well qualified to help us meet these challenges. In addition to his experience serving South Burlington on the planning commission and the Climate Action Planning Task Force, he has an extensive background in management, leadership and finance. His leadership style is collaborative and constructive, and he has the ability to align disparate stakeholders toward a common goal.

Chalnick has already compiled several endorsements for his candidacy. I invite the community to visit his website (chalnickforcouncil.com) to view these and learn more about his vision for helping South Burlington realize its potential as a model of community engagement, climate action, fiscal responsibility and smart growth.

Al Moore South Burlington

Dream team: Vote Chalnick and Englels

To the Editor:

South Burlington is lucky to have two highly qualified candidates running for city council this year. Andrew Chalnick and Paul Engels have impeccable credentials, complementary skill sets, and an unwavering commitment to serving the city.

Chalnick has served on numerous city committees during his time here, including the planning commission, the energy committee and the Climate Action Planning Task Force. His vision for South Burlington is that of a vibrant and inclu-

He is well informed on all the issues related to city government. He does his research and actively seeks out and engages in discussion with people from diverse backgrounds. He will make an excellent city councilor.

Engels was elected to the city council in 2011, where he was one of the first to take a stand against the basing of the F-35 in the Chamberlin neighborhood. He has continued to serve on numerous city committees, including the form-based code committee and the airport subcommittee.

He currently is a member of the planning commission and the charter committee. Engels has a background in communication and television, which he has used to champion disability rights and environmental justice among other causes. He understands the role of city councilor, the responsibility, and the issues that South Burlington faces. He has proven successful in the past and his experience will serve us well.

We cannot ask for a better pair of candidates. Chalnick and Engels are committed, knowledgeable and impeccably well-qualified. Please vote for Chalnick and Engels on March 7.

Kayla Moore South Burlington

I am supporting and voting for Andrew Chalnick and Paul Engels for city council. I know both personally, have worked with them and have watched them actively demonstrate their commitment to South Burlington by volunteering on numerous city committees and projects.

Engels and I were elected to the council at the same time, and he was a close ally on the council in efforts to save the city’s open lands and to oppose the basing of the F-35 at the airport. Chalnick and I worked together in grassroots citizen groups to save South Burlington’s natural resource lands and address the climate crisis.

I make voting decisions, in large part, based on the candidate’s commitment to stop the destruction of the natural world and take bold and prompt action to confront the climate crisis. There are no more pressing problems facing our city, state, nation and world than these.

I am confident that Chalnick and Engels will promote responsible stewardship of our precious lands, wildlife, birds, meadows and trees. I also know they will work their hardest to ensure that we, our children, and our children’s children will live in a South Burlington which is safe, healthy, inclusive, affordable and kind.

See LETTERS on page 10

I’m asking you to join me in voting for Andrew Chalnick and Paul Engels. Please vote by absentee ballot or in person on Tuesday, March 7.

Rosanne Greco South Burlington

Support South Burlington public safety

To the Editor:

I have been a resident and taxpayer of the City of South Burlington since 2005 and as such, have witnessed significant growth of our city in both residential and commercial development, increasingly more so in recent years.

That growth and its management comes with a multitude of competing priorities and constrained budgets. The number one function and priority of government is to ensure the adequate staffing and resourcing of public safety. South Burlington needs a focused “whole of government” approach to ensure that end and focus on what we need to have

rather than what is nice to have.

I attended the South Burlington City Council meeting on Jan. 3, 2023, and listened to police chief Shawn Burke and fire department chief Steven Locke present their budgets to the council. Both chiefs did outstanding jobs clearly outlining their ever-increasing workload, while at the same time managing a static and, in some cases, decreasing capacity to perform their critical missions of public safety.

An alarming statistic briefed by Locke highlighted emergency medical responses within South Burlington. Chief Locke noted that 22 percent of 911 emergency calls for medical assistance involved the response by a mutual aid ambulance. South Burlington’s one fire and rescue ambulance is so busy that almost a quarter of these calls are answered by an ambulance outside of the city, by neighboring municipalities if they are available or University of Vermont and St. Michael’s College rescue. The chart depicting these numbers shows an increase in the response of mutual aid resources every year.

Be Someone's Valentine in Shoshanna Lace

One major hurdle in getting these departments the needed staffing are the new dynamics of the current labor market, and how to we compete with all the other agencies in the same situation.

South Burlington needs to invest in a robust recruitment and retention initiative to attract, hire and retain a public safety workforce that doesn’t need to rely on hundreds of hours of overtime that were noted on the briefs to maintain coverage for our safety.

The current dedicated workforce deserves better than to serve a 12-hour shift just to be mandated to stay on for no other reason than a lack of staffing; they do it anyway despite the toll on them and their families.

I appreciate all the dedicated efforts of the city council looking at these many complex issues and encourage further discussions on how we can best support our public safety workforce.

John C. Pfeifer South Burlington

Censorship won’t protect children from the truth

To the Editor:

My fifth-grade teacher Mrs. Weir was stern, but she changed my life. Every afternoon she took the final minutes of class to read aloud. One selection was the first Holocaust book I’d ever encountered, “Escape from Warsaw,” a story loosely based on true events. It was a gripping tale about three siblings who got separated from their parents after Germany invaded Poland and had to cross the Swiss Alps alone to reach safety. I was riveted, and still own a copy of that book.

In this era of censorship, that story was pivotal for me at 11 years of age. I put myself in the character’s shoes, identified with their fears, observed their courage, pondered the hard choices they made and questioned the circumstances that made their flight necessary in the first place. I grew up in the American South, and by 1966, had watched protests of the Vietnam War and seen a president assassinated, while southern towns burned nightly on the news. My father received death threats after he integrated our town’s Little League, and our home was attacked: Bricks were thrown through our windows and our mailbox was even bombed.

I needed to know I could live through such times. I needed to understand the hate animating those callers. I needed to know I was safe, and that adults in my life were trustworthy. Yes, there’s cruelty in the world. Of course, parents and teachers should consider age-appropriateness of materials we select for children. However, censorship robs children of the opportunity to grapple honestly with hard history. Children are hardier than we know. Through literature they develop empathy as they imaginatively come alongside characters in stories and understand their experiences. The truth equips kids to face life’s realities.

The poem “The History Teacher,” by Billy Collins illustrates this beautifully. (Read it here: bit.ly/3DLmmim) The

kids in this poem already know forms of cruelty, even perpetuate it. But they lack tools to navigate it. Falsified pictures of the world deny children the means to gain those tools. They must have truth if they are to effectively contend with the roots of cruelty and oppression.

Proponents of censorship deceive kids with a manicured reality, but by doing so they maintain an even more brutal fiction. Innocence is never protected by ignorance or lies.

I’m forever grateful to Mrs. Weir for seeing us as capable.

Kate Maynard

South Burlington

State employees

hopping mad at governor

The following letter was sent to Jason Maulucci, Gov. Phil Scott’s press secretary.

Dear Jason:

Here’s my question: does the governor understand how badly he’s hurt his credibility with many, many of his state employee retirees by choosing Cigna to replace BlueCross BlueShield? Doesn’t he know Cigna is being sued by the U.S Department of Justice for Medicare Advantage payment fraud in the millions? And that Cigna was sanctioned in 2016 by CMS for 16 months for “major systems failure” in regard to excessive out of pocket costs, denials and delays in Medicare Part C and D for its enrollees?

How does he justify putting us into the hands of a company that has obvious problems in the very product line he wants to force upon us?

Our health insurance is very, very important to us. And personal.

Doesn’t he know we read, research and can see, thanks to leaders like Trump, a grift coming a mile away. Trump, who on April 24, 2020, suggested we ingest disinfectant to treat COVID-19?

Scott gained our trust during COVID19. He was clearly protecting our well-being. Now he and his staff are trying to tell us that Cigna will give us the same benefits that we get with BlueCross BlueShield. While the benefits can be the same, they can’t tell us that the preauthorization, denial and appeal criterion are the same. They can’t guarantee the provider pay rate will be the same. These variables have to do with access to benefits. Even if they could, choosing Cigna is like choosing a doctor who is currently being sued for malpractice with a history of suspension. Really?

Please pass this directly on to the governor. Please don’t refer me to Beth Fastiggi (commissioner of the Vermont Department of Human Resources) because she’s the one who chose Cigna as the final bid. She has no credibility with any of us.

Remember, Jason, there are 6,000 of us who have spouses, children, friends, networks and will be sure to let them know how this governor, who we voted for, and once trusted, has lost our confidence.

Please tell me you hear me.

Joe Patrissi South Burlington

SoBu schools must address facility needs now

From the School Board

Kate Bailey

Vermont Public ran a story a few weeks ago titled “Vermont towns that can’t afford school construction projects look to Montpelier for help.” Vermont is currently the only state in New England without a designated fund for school construction. A previous state funding stream stopped in 2007, but the needs continue to grow.

According to the 2021 Agency of Education Facilities Inventory and Assessment, the statewide average age for a school building is 61 years old and has gone 22 years since its last major renovations.

How do South Burlington’s school buildings compare? Our high school was built in 1960 with the last major renovations completed around 1978. Likewise, our middle school looks much like it did on its opening day back in 1967.

The report assessed school facilities on safety, security, technology and system adequacy. It found that out of 54 districts, South Burlington ranks 43rd lowest for facilities quality. In other words, we have the 11th

continued from page 8

Vermonters — until June.

• A requirement that Department of Children and Families work with a broad group of stakeholders to deliver a concrete plan to the Legislature by April 15 for developing a long-term, sustainable plan for emergency housing, and that this plan be in place by the end of June.

• $9.2 million to help organic dairy farmers whose businesses are in crisis.

From here, the bill moves to the Senate before reaching the governor’s desk for signature.

Of note: The Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs and the House Committee on General and Housing will hold a public hearing on Thursday, Feb. 16, starting at 5 p.m.

The committees will hear testimony concerning the state of housing in Vermont. The hearing will be held in Room 267 of the Pavilion Building, located at 109 State St., Montpelier. Participation may be in-person or by Zoom.

Anyone interested in testifying should sign up in advance of the hearing through the following

greatest needs in the state.

This is not a new problem for South Burlington. In 2020, voters rejected the proposed $209 million bond vote intended for major renovations to the middle and high schools. It’s understandable — that’s a major price tag. However, the needs remain.

Last month, the South Burlington School Board approved a much smaller bond to address the most critical, urgent needs: A $14.55 million bond to fund deferred maintenance to keep facilities safe and healthy and to relieve classroom enrollment capacity pressures at Rick Marcotte Central and Orchard Elementary Schools.

The major takeaways from the district’s feasibility study and building assessments were that the 60-plus-year-old buildings served the community well but were in need of major renovations and additions or a full replacement.

In 2018 projected costs for repairs, not including any work for expansion, were around $30 million. Much of those repairs are now five years older and a heck of a lot more expensive. Most of the plumbing, electrical and windows in our middle and high schools are original to the 1960s. Fifty percent

of the middle school lacks natural light and doorways and walkways do not meet mandated ADA-accessibility standards.

We approved $8.55 million of the $14.55 million bond for the following facility needs: Roofing, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning, plumbing, air handling, window replacement, bathrooms and kitchen repairs, and new parking lot/sidewalk accessibility.

A more detailed breakdown can be found in the district’s budget presentation and facility stewardship program. Additionally, two of our three elementary schools have more than 100 students over state-recommended capacity limits and projected enrollment numbers are increasing. This is a good problem as the community is growing and people want to live here. Our schools are one of the top reasons to be proud of our community. Enrollment concerns are helped thanks to city council’s recent approval of education impact fees on new construction that will directly pay back 91 percent of the remaining $6 million portion of the bond for the eight zero energy modular classrooms, or ZEMs, which can move and adapt with the district’s needs. The board’s 2022 enrollment committee recommended the modular classroom project, coupled with a recommendation

to move fifth grade to the middle school to ease enrollment for an estimated decade or so.

The board’s next task is to plan out that transition. With high construction costs, long waits and enrollment already over capacity, there is no feasible way to meet our students’ needs faster or more affordably than modular classrooms.

One goal of mine during my tenure as school board director is to marry school district facility needs with city and state climate action plans. The energy-efficient, low-impact modular classrooms and improvements to our windows and HVAC systems are one of the easiest ways to conserve energy, meet climate goals and save money on heating and cooling costs.

Help Us

South Burlington can’t address its enrollment issues without addressing facility needs, and we can’t address facility needs unless you vote to approve the bond on March 7. We have discussed the modular classrooms, impact fees and projected enrollment demography data at nearly every school board meeting for the last year, so I encourage you to check out our meeting minutes and recordings.

Details of the bond amortization schedule, interest rates and more can be found at the district’s website (sbschools.net/masterplanningandvisioning). Please support our students and vote yes to the budget and bond on Town Meeting Day.

Kate Bailey is a member of the South Burlington School Board.

online form not later than noon on Feb. 15 at legislature.vermont.gov/ links/public-hearing-on-housing

If you need assistance or want to discuss your priorities or needs, please reach out anytime. I look

forward to connecting with you at ekrasnow@leg.state.vt.us.

Emilie Krasnow, a Democrat from South Burlington, represents serves in the Chittenden-9 House district.

KRASNOW

Kate Bailey

FISCAL YEAR 2024 MUNICIPAL BUDGET

On Tuesday, March 7, 2023, voters will be asked to consider the proposed FY 2024 City of South Burlington budget, which achieves the following important goals for the City:

• Supports our ability to appropriately respond to the public safety needs of the community by restoring a Police Officer, Deputy Police Chief, and Firefighter/EMT position. Starting January 1, 2024, a second ambulance would be put into service.

• Improves our ability to maintain our parks and open spaces.

• Restores a GIS/Data Analyst position to ensure data-driven decision making.

• Incrementally invests in our Capital Improvement Plan.

• Invests American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars into one-time capital projects to ease the burden on local property taxpayers.

The total budget is $55,286,721.89 with $19,388,298.92 to be raised from property taxes.

GENERAL FUND

The General Fund receives revenue from a variety of sources including grants, fees, and property taxes. Approximately 38% of the revenue comes from sources other than property taxes. As approved by the City Council, the proposed budget includes an increase of 5.75% in the tax rate over last year.

What is the average annual cost increase for a property owner?

Condominium $78.49 (average value of $293,152)

Detached primary residence $117.11 (average value of $437,383)

The General Fund pays for services including police, fire, emergency medical services, public works, planning and zoning, recreation and parks, library, city clerk, and administration.

UTILITIES

Stormwater Fund // Budget: $4,195,947.10

Rate Increase: 1.64% or $1.44 average annually

Water Fund // Budget: $3,726,515.99

Rate Increase: 8.51% or $22.78 average annually

Wastewater Fund // Budget: $5,974,084.79

Rate Increase: 8.34% or $29.76 average annually

EARLY VOTING IS AVAILABLE

Vote or pick up a ballot at City Hall or call (802) 846-4105 to request one by mail. Ballots must be received by noon on March 6 or brought with you to the polls on March 7.

BARTLETT BAY WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY BOND VOTE

On Tuesday March 7, 2023, voters will be asked to consider a $33,833,000 bond vote to support the upgrade of the Bartlett Bay Wastewater Treatment Facility (BBWWTF) and related wastewater infrastructure. This bond includes funding for the following projects:

• Reconstruction of the Bartlett Bay Wastewater Treatment Facility.

• Improvement of the infrastructure needed to handle the solids generated through the wastewater treatment process.

• Refurbishment of four pump stations that collect wastewater and convey it to the Bartlett Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

Wastewater treatment plants have a design life of ~50 years and upgrades are necessary every 20-30 years. The BBWWTF was constructed in 1970 and last upgraded in 1999. The aging wastewater facility must be upgraded to ensure we can safely convey and treat wastewater generated in South Burlington. Maintaining this infrastructure is critical to protecting our water quality in local streams and Lake Champlain.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

South Burlington currently has the lowest wastewater rates in Vermont. The work required to upgrade our system, covered by this bond vote, would result in a 6.75% annual rate increase for the next four years. For the average homeowner, this means your annual wastewater bill would be $71.00 higher in four years than it is today.

LEARN MORE!

JOIN US AT A TOWN MEETING DAY INFORMATIONAL MEETING:

Tuesday, February 14 • 6–7 PM | #LoveyourCity | Room 301

Wednesday, February 22 • 12–1 PM | Facebook Q&A | Online only

Tuesday, February 28 • 6–7 PM | Town Meeting Day Info Session | Room 301

Monday, March 6 • 6:30 PM

Annual Pre-Town Meeting Day Info Session/Public Hearing | Auditorium

TOWN MEETING DAY

TUESDAY, MARCH 7 • POLLS OPEN 7 AM–7 PM

CHI-8: Kevin Dorn Senior Center in City Hall at 180 Market Street

CHI-9: Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School at 500 Dorset Street

CHI-10: Chamberlin School at 262 White Street

CHI-11: Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School at 500 Dorset Street

CHI-12: Orchard School at 2 Baldwin Avenue

All meetings will be held at City Hall, 180 Market Street ; see www.southburlingtonvt.gov for virtual options. For more information, including Budget Books, visit www.southburlingtonvt.gov or call (802) 846-4107.

CITY CENTER TIF DISTRICT BOND VOTE

On Tuesday, March 7, 2023, voters will be asked to consider authorizing the Council to issue up to $15,086,430 in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) debt. This debt would be used to build the last four TIF District projects. TIF Bond debt payments for Article IV on the ballot will be funded with Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District revenues and will not raise property owners’ tax rates.

WHY THESE PROJECTS?

The three Williston Road projects improve east-west vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian access to City Center. The fourth project, the City Center Park recreation path, links our growing downtown to park resources and provides a walk-bike route to the middle and high schools.

WILL THIS BOND FUND ALL COSTS?

No. The public is only being asked to consider the TIF funded portion of project costs. These projects have over $10.5 million dollars in secured federal grants, and the City is contributing (from other funds) $0.72 million.

WHAT IS A TIF DISTRICT?

A tax increment financing district is an economic development area that uses 75% of new property tax revenues generated by the growth in property value. Revenues are held aside annually until tax year 2036-2037 to finance TIF public projects that benefit the district.

EAST-WEST CROSSING – WALK-BIKE BRIDGE OVER I-89

A new walk-bike bridge over the interstate will be connected by recreation paths to Staples Plaza and Williston Road at the CVS. A spur recreation path will link the University Mall.

GARDEN STREET (WILLISTON RD INTERSECTIONS)

A roadway realignment at Al’s French Frys on Williston Road will make a four-corner intersection with crosswalks. Improvements for walking and biking will extend along Williston Road to the corner by Gracy’s (Hinesburg Road/Patchen Road) for a continuously improved bike path and sidewalks.

WILLISTON ROAD STREETSCAPE

A walk-bike shared use path will replace the south-side sidewalk from Dorset Street to Al’s French Frys. This project will expand the green buffer between the path and the street curb for snow storage and path lighting. No changes will be made to the roadway.

CITY CENTER PARK PHASE II

A recreation path will connect Market Street, Garden Street, and City Center Park and include paving, lighting, and benches. The current path through City Center Park to Barrett Street will be improved. The path will be on a boardwalk over the Potash Brook’s Tributary 3 wetlands.

Artist’s illustration of the project in the evening and approaching the bridge from the east path.

Proposed walk-bike path highlighted.

Before diagram on left, proposed after diagram on right.

Proposed recreation path route on left, visualization of boardwalk on right.

EAST WEST CROSSING ESTIMATED TIF BOND $4.3M

CITY CENTER PARK II ESTIMATED TIF BOND $1.1M

GARDEN STREET ESTIMATED TIF BOND $8.3M

WILLISTON ROAD STREETSCAPE ESTIMATED TIF BOND $1.3M

Community Notes

U.S. Attorney hosts school hate crime presentations

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has launched a series of presentations in Vermont high schools aimed at educating students on identifying, reporting and preventing hate crimes and other civil rights violations.

“Civil rights enforcement is a priority of the United States Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest. “We are reaching out to Vermont youth – tomorrow’s adults – to give them the tools to recognize hate crimes or discrimination when it happens.”

“Hate crimes have a devastating impact not just on the victims, but their families and communities as well,” said Janeen DiGuiseppi, special Agent in charge of the FBI’s Albany field office.

Schools interested in hosting a United Against Hate presentation should go to bit.ly/3HnSI3Q.

Documentary chronicles plight of wild horses

Katherine Boucher, a Shelburne native and an 8th-generation Vermonter, is part of a team working on a documentary called

“Women in the Wilderness: The Great Mustang Divide.”

The filmmakers will be hosting a fundraising event to raise money for post-production expenses at Windswept Farm, 581 Old Stage Road, Williston, on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m. Boucher and two other women — Caroline Heer and Louisa Behnke — went on a 26-day horse packing trip across Wyoming while interviewing various stakeholders in the wild horse issue. Their hope is to provide an unbiased perspective on the wild horse crisis while inspiring women to pursue their dreams.

For more information contact Boucher at womeninthewilderness1@gmail.com or go to the website, womeninthewildernessfilm.com.

Free tax help clinics at SB senior center

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offers free tax preparation assistance with a special focus on taxpayers who are over 50 and have low-to-moderate income.

The help is open to both AARP members and non-members.

Trained and IRS-certified

tax-aide volunteers will provide secure and confidential federal and Vermont tax preparation at the South Burlington Senior Center, City Hall, 180 Market St., every Tuesday and Friday until April 7 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. To take advantage of this

service, call Rebecca Isham at 802-923-5545 to schedule an appointment. Plan on arriving 15 minutes early to fill out the paperwork needed. Bring a photo ID for taxpayer and spouse; Social Security or ITIN numbers for all persons on the tax return; last year’s tax return; all forms W2, 1099 R, SSA1099, other 1099 forms, self-employment records; brokerage and bank statements; mortgage interest, medical expenses, charitable donations; educational expenses; form 1098 T; current property tax bill or a

copy; voided check for direct deposit of refund or debit of balance due; and any correspondence from the IRS.

Energy network hosts ‘Basics of High Performance’

On March 8 and 15 at the Center for Technology Essex from 3:45-7:45 p.m. the Sustainable Energy Outreach Network

COMMUNITY NOTES

continued from page 14

will deliver its course, “Basics of High Performance,” by Chris West, one of Vermont’s thought leaders on high-performance building.

For years, builders have done their best to follow the best practices in new construction and renovation but were rarely exposed to the science of how a building performs.

To register go to bit.ly/3jkq77K. For further information contact Guy Payne at 802-376-9262 or guy@buildingscience. org. Space is limited..

Farmers Night concert series presents Barn Opera

This year’s Farmers Night Concert Series, Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 7:30 p.m. features Barn Opera.

Showcasing some of Vermont’s finest operatic artists, Brandon’s celebrated Barn Opera will perform a pastiche concert of favorite solos, duets and ensembles of the operatic and musical theatre genres.

The Farmers Night Concert Series is a longstanding Statehouse tradition that goes back more than a century to a time when lawmakers entertained themselves in the House Chamber mid-week while away from home. Artists from around the state, in genres ranging from classical music to bluegrass to barbershop, perform in the well of the House Chamber each Wednesday night during the legislative session —

and the concerts are free and open to the public.

This year’s offerings include 12 weekly Wednesday performances, except for a break for Town Meeting in early March. For information on the entire series, visit bit.ly/3JKHAkh.

Knights of Columbus host pancake breakfast

Join the Knights of Columbus DeGosbriand Council # 279 on Sunday, Feb. 12, for an old-fashioned all-you-care-to-eat pancake breakfast, 9–11:30 a.m., in the parish center of St. Joseph’s cathedral, 29 Allen St. in Burlington.

The feast will feature bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, blueberry pancakes, French toast, coffee, juice, butter and maple syrup. Admission is $10 and $25 for a family of four. Breakfast benefits seminarians or religious aspirants. Contact David Ely, davidely1986@gmail.com or 802-862-5109, for more information

SoBu student council hosts community blood drive

The South Burlington High School Student Council is holding a blood drive Tuesday, Feb. 14.

Eligible donors, age 16 and up, may sign up throughout the week prior to the

event. Sign-ups are available at school and online. Simply visit rcblood.org/3XK9hxI and enter “Wolves” to find an appointment. Any former or new blood donors from the community may also schedule a walkin appointment from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The event will take place in the high school gym, 550 Dorset St.

Pick-A-Project Club hosts community luncheon

On Saturday, Feb. 18, from noon to 2 p.m., the Infinitely Pick-A-Project Club will host a South Burlington Community luncheon at the University Mall. The menu includes spaghetti or corndogs with corn, vegetable, rolls, fruit, desserts, snacks, hot chocolate, popcorn, juice or milk. There will also be foosball, bumper pool and painting. Put your order in by Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 5 p.m. Contact Dr. Travia Childs at dr.travia.c@gmail.com or 802-777-8080 or visit bit.ly/3JpTqAn to register.

Rotary sponsors youth speech contest

The South Burlington Rotary Club is holding its annual speech contest at South Burlington High School on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m. Contestants will prepare and deliver a

five-minute speech relating to the contest topic, “Why is diversity, equity and inclusion important?”

Students must register for the contest by Friday, Feb. 10. All contestants must be high school students living in South Burlington. This district-wide contest has four events. The winner of the first round in South Burlington will receive $200. The contestant who wins each of the four rounds will win a total of $1,750.

Registration and information can be found at bit.ly/409I1dD.

Garden Club presents Tapper talk on forests, environment

On Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the Faith United Methodist Church, 899 Dorset St., South Burlington, Ethan Tapper will speak on how forests play a crucial role in preserving the environment. How do we become stewards to protect our forests on our land and elsewhere?

Tapper is the Chittenden County forester for the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. After graduating with a forestry degree from the University of Vermont Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, Tapper worked as a consulting forester with Fountains Forestry of Montpelier.

In June 2016, he became the county forester in Vermont’s most populous county.

Water boatmen: Foraging beneath the frozen ice

The Outside Story

Declan McCabe

If you get a chance this winter, take a peek through the icy window of a pond surface. You may see water boatmen clinging to the pond floor. Long oar-like hind legs propel these insects, inspiring their common name. Shorter, scoop-like front legs are used for feeding and singing.

This largest aquatic family of true bugs includes 128 North American species. Unlike their cousins the backswimmers, which swim upside down, water boatmen swim with their winged dorsal surfaces facing up. When not swimming, they cling to submerged objects with their clawed middle legs.

bubbles, which act like tiny scuba tanks.

Fresh bubbles from the water’s surface contain 21 percent oxygen, the same as the air you and I breath. Over time, the insect uses up the oxygen, and the concentration drops. But oxygen from surrounding water continues to diffuse into the bubble, which functions like a gill. Absent ice, the insects surface for fresh bubbles.

Many water boatmen in small ponds and shallow wetlands, however, spread their wings and migrate before ice entombs them.

They cling, because otherwise they bob up like corks, and it takes precious energy to swim back down. Buoyancy is a side effect of breathing: beneath their wings and abdomens, water boatmen carry

In winter, they can remain submerged for extended periods, as colder water holds more oxygen than warm water. Surprisingly, one North American species can survive encased within solid ice.

Many water boatmen in small ponds and shallow wetlands, however, spread their wings and migrate before ice entombs them. Stephen Srayko from the University of Saskatchewan and colleagues have documented enormous corixid migrations from wetlands to larger rivers. After migration, researchers

Summer Camps

2023 GUIDE

Promote your program in our Summer Camps guide for targeted exposure to a local audience of kids and parents as they make plans for the upcoming summer season. This advertising section is a go-to guide for summer camp and recreation researchers, making it the ideal place to outline your offerings and secure more early enrollments.

Publication Dates: February 9, March 9 and April 6

Deadlines: Thursdays before each issue

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found more than 200 water boatmen per square foot in slow-water locations. The scientists estimated that throughout the Prairie Pothole Region, spanning three Canadian provinces and five U.S. states, 13,000 tons of water boatman biomass moves from wetlands to rivers. Srayko and his collaborators found that most fish sampled in these rivers dined on corixids, which accounted for up to 97 percent of food consumed.

After overwintering in rivers, water boatmen returned to wetlands to feed and reproduce. Most water boatmen consume aquatic vegetation, but as many as a quarter of the North American species prey on invertebrates,

including other water boatmen. Some corixids generate sound announcing their presence to potential mates and rivals by rubbing file-like foreleg structures against a ridge called a plectrum on their cheeks. The sounds resonate through their air bubbles, and the size of the insect and its corresponding breathing bubble affects pitch — bigger bubbles produce deeper songs. The sound of one European corixid has attracted the attention of the folks at Guinness World Records. The species measures 1/10 of an inch long and generates a 99-decibel sound that’s as loud as a passing freight train. Curiously, this species generates sound by rubbing a ridge on its

The Secret to Your Summer Camp’s Success

penis against its abdomen, earning it the record for the loudest penis on the planet. Nature is stranger than fiction.

I was curious if corixid migrations to rivers happen in Vermont, so in January I grabbed a net and headed to the Winooski River. If vast swarms of water boatmen exist in the Winooski, they certainly eluded me. Despite several net sweeps from the bank, not a single water boatman revealed itself. I contacted Aaron Moore, who monitors river macroinvertebrate each fall for the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. He told me that they occasionally get water boatmen in samples, but not in numbers to suggest mass migration.

I had more luck locating corixids in a nearby wetland. After breaking through ice, my first net dip captured a water boatman. With or without a net, the best way to see water boatmen in winter is to approach a pond or wetland edge and look for movement as these insects go about the business of foraging beneath the ice. I find that tapping the ice surface encourages a bit of swimming.

Whether you knock on the icy door or not, I hope that you are lucky enough to see water boatmen in a pond near you. If you do, give a listen; they might even sing for you.

To learn more or reserve your space, talk to us today!

Declan McCabe teaches biology at Saint Michael’s College. His courses include aquatic biology, and a new course taught in the Dingle Peninsula called Coastal Biology of Ireland. Illustration by Adelaide Murphy Tyrol. The Outside Story is assigned and edited by Northern Woodlands magazine and sponsored by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, nhcf.org.

ILLUSTRATION BY ADELAIDE MURPHY TYROL

continued from page 1

The church, under its “Our Beliefs” page on its website, says that “God created only male and female,” that “God instituted marriage to be between one man and one woman for one lifetime,” and that “any perversions of God’s design and gift of sex including … homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality ... are sinful and need the blood of Jesus to pay for their sin just like everyone else.”

The district, on its website, also lists several local and national LGBTQ resource guides for students, including links to the Pride Center — as well as resource guides for educators.

Under the district’s diversity, equity and inclusion terms, the school district says it stands against all forms and systems of oppression, including homophobia and transphobia.

In response to questions from The Other Paper, Julie Maguire, the district’s communication director said that “as a public institution, we must make our facilities available for use by the community.”

“They are able to rent space for a fee and we cannot discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, sex or familial status,” said Maguire. “Neither the district nor the school is affiliated with this organization and, while we do not condone their beliefs, we have made the space available for public use when school is not in session.”

Gaskill, in an interview with The Other Paper, said that his congregation is “clear on the website that we’re not just talking about homosexuality, we’re talking about sin in general.”

“We don’t make homosexuality out to be anything different than any other thing like stealing or adultery with a man and a woman out of marriage,” he said. “So,

BARNES

continued from page 3

life isn’t a zero-sum game. Seemingly divergent ideas like economic growth and environmental conservation aren’t mutually exclusive aims. To quote another city councilor I admire, I believe “we make better decisions when we have competing ideas at the table.”

If elected, I would collaborate with my peers to:

• Preserve the things we love about the community — its natural resources, open spaces, exceptional schools and warm, welcoming people — while ensuring that everyone can share in such offerings rather than a privileged few.

• Attract growing businesses capable of offering sustainable, long-term career opportunities.

• Actively promote the development of quality, affordable homes that will both ease the tax burden on existing residents and increase accessibility for those interested in moving here.

• Continue to provide exceptional educational and recreational experiences

to just pick on homosexuality I feel like, unfortunately, is kind of misconstruing.”

Gaskill, with his wife and kids, moved to the area about a year ago, and are starting their congregation “from scratch.”

In conjunction with their weekly church services set to start in March, the congregation will also hold a children’s choir that meets on Sundays.

“It’s not spiritual in any form, it’s just a way to get kids to come and learn how to sing and get out there and do something for free,” he said. “Because I noticed a lot of things that we tried to get our kids in, it’s just super expensive.”

The New Life Baptist Church holds that the bible “should be interpreted in the literal or ‘normal’ way of interpretation,” and that the Bible has revealed “God to be holy, righteous, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Immutable, and eternal among others.”

“From the day that Adam and Eve sinned all men have inherited that sin nature,” reads the church’s beliefs on sin and salvation. “Because humankind is now sinners and God is holy, they cannot live in the presence of God.”

Their views hold that God “created the world,” and that the Bible “gives clear indication of how God created everything and thus there is no need to add the ‘gap’ theory or any evolutionistic (sic) theories.”

“Salvation from our sin is not achieved through anything we can do but only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ,” the church website reads. “At the moment a sinner believes that they need to be saved from their sin and their only hope is to believe on the death of Jesus to pay for their sin they will be saved and start a relationship with God.”

for all South Burlington children.

• Further encourage economic and cultural diversity among the city’s constituents.

This isn’t easy work. To realize such ambitions will be, to quote my wife, a heavy lift. It will require coordinating efforts with regional planners and neighboring cities to ensure that we’re considering the implications of policies on not only South Burlington, but also those neighboring us. It will require greater civic engagement.

It will require an open mind, an open ear, patience, grace and a willingness to listen to those with different ideas, to respect different perspectives and embrace different points of view. But it can be done. If elected to the council, I will endeavor to do exactly that.

I believe in South Burlington. I believe in what we can accomplish together. I am excited to rise to these challenges as a candidate for South Burlington City Council.

Seemingly divergent ideas like economic growth and environmental conservation aren’t mutually exclusive aims.

to do this job, especially elections, and I’m finding the energy is heading down. I want to go out while I still have good energy,” she said. “I’ve been grateful for it, I’ve loved it. It wasn’t an easy decision for me, but it got to the point where, I think, South Burlington deserves a clerk who has some fresh ideas.”

She says she’ll remain on until August but will be as fluid as she can and give the city time to appoint an interim clerk so she can train them and show them the ropes “before the busy, busy 2024 election year,” she said.

That appointee will have to be elected next March.

Kinville first started in 2001, before the internet thoroughly changed almost every aspect of life.

“I loved meeting people. I loved helping people,” she said. “Every day is different. You never know who’s going to walk in those front doors and what they’re going to ask for.”

It wasn’t until 2008, though, that she first began computerizing the city’s land records and other documents.

The city contracted with a company to help with the transition, but through her work, has preserved all the city’s land records, preserving the books in plastic sleeves, all the way “back to book one,” she said, while backing up each file onto the city’s

website.

Now, city residents can access all the municipalities land records online. Ironically, most of them still want to see the hard copy.

“It is kind of funny because there are still people who still want to come in and they want to look at the books — they want to see the paper. And by law, I have to have a hard copy of every document that comes into this office for land records,” she said. “So, we still have to keep the old system, which has value. But we’re now finding an assortment of people now like to do it one way or the other.”

Her most important role, however, has been safeguarding the integrity of the city’s elections — a task with growing urgency and importance in the country’s current political climate.

“I truly believe that the clerk’s office has to be that neutral area to have a completely neutral and fair and open election,” she said.

She estimates that she’s overseen some 60 town elections.

Through her tenure, Kinville has earned prestigious accolades among her peers. She earned the highest classification of Master Municipal Clerk from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks and earned the advanced classification of Clerk Magna Cum Laude from the Vermont Municipal Clerk and Treasurers’ Association.

South Burlington worman wins ‘Young Engineer of the Year’

Stephanie Wyman, who works at VHB in South Burlington, has been named Vermont’s 2023 Young Engineer of the Year.

She received her bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from the University of Vermont in 2011 and is a licensed civil engineer in Vermont and Maine.

Since joining VHB in 2017, Wyman’s primary focus has been working in the energy market, specializing in the design and permitting of commercial ground-mounted solar arrays.

Among her more notable solar design projects notable are two ground-mounted solar installations at Shelburne Museum, a 3.3 MW project for the Vermont Public Power Supply Authority in Morrisville that was awarded the Editor’s Choice Award for best re-use of land by Solar Builder Magazine and a 5 MW solar project currently under construction for Middlebury College.

Wyman served as the pres-

She also had the privilege to serve as the president of the Vermont Clerk and Treasurers’ Association from 2017-2019 and was recognized as their Vermont Clerk of the Year in 2021.

“I would like to thank all my staff members over the years and most recently Laura, Deb, Pam, and Alyssa. I couldn’t have done any of this without them,” she

ident of the Vermont Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2021-2022.

In 2022, Wyman received the Vermont chapter’s Young Engi-

said. “Thank you to Peter Taylor who was such a mentor to me, especially in the early years. And thank you for the trust that you have shown me by allowing me to serve as your clerk over the past 21 years. I am truly grateful and humbled by your support over the years.”

She plans to stick around — she’s got plenty of family —

neer of the Year award. Wyman will be presented with her award on Feb. 24 at the Delta Hotel in South Burlington.

including grandchildren — in South Burlington that she plans to spend more time with. And if the new clerk needs help, she says, she’ll be on hand.

“I’ll probably be a snowbird for about a month next year just to get out of the cold, because I hear that’s the thing to do,” she said. “But I’m not planning on going far.”

COURTESY PHOTO

Stephanie Wyman

Donna Kinville

Early morning fire on Spear Street totals new housing development

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

An early morning fire on Monday destroyed a new single-family housing development called Spears Meadows in South Burlington.

The fire department received a call around 6:45 a.m. on Monday after a passerby noticed the fire and called 911, fire chief Steve Locke said. The building is part of a block of housing near Swift and Spear streets.

The building had not been occupied and was still under construction with much of the

structural work complete and only minor interior improvements needed before completion, he said..

By the time firefighters arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames.

“It’s a complete loss,” Locke said. “When the units arrived, fire was already through the roof, so it was well involved before we even received the call. It will have to be completely torn down and rebuilt.”

A message sent to the developer, Snyder Homes, was not returned by press deadline.

Burlington firefight-

ers arrived on the scene and had the fire under control within the hour, Locke said. The roof had collapsed, which added difficulty getting the fire fully extinguished.

No firefighters were injured, Locke said.

The South Burlington department received assistance from the Burlington and Winooski departments.

After the fire was extinguished, the city had an excavator to begin pulling the walls of the structure down.

No cause had been determined, and the incident is under investigation.

South

PHOTO BY MAXWELL MURRAY

An early morning fire Monday destroyed this home off Spear Street in South Burlington.

SPORTS

Cheerleaders named Metro champs

The Wolves were named the NVAC Metro Division champions and took first place in the large varsity division.

Cheerleading

South Burlington hosted the NVAC cheerleading competition Saturday, Feb. 4, and danced away with a title.

Alpine skiing

In addition, the Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School cheerleaders also placed first in the large middle school division and the South Burlington Youth Cheerleaders were second in the youth division.

South Burlington hit the slopes Monday, Jan. 30, at Cochran’s Ski Area, looking to bring home more hardware.

Rex Jewell was the top finish for the boys and led the Wolves

See ROUNDUP on page 23

Assistant City Cler k

City of South Burlington Vermont

OUR MUNICIPALITY

South Burlington is home to over 20,000 residents and lies at the heart of Chittenden County, Vermont. The second largest city in the state, South Burlington is comprised of five districts rich with residential, economic, and recreation vitality. Annually, more than 170 employees of the municipality serve the community to make it one of the best places to live, work, and visit. Governed by a City Council of five citizens and operated under the direction of a City Manager, the FY23 operating budget is $52.5 M. South Burlington is a growing community with a commitment to building a vibrant downtown – City Center – and providing exceptional municipal services.

JOB SUMMARY

As an Assistant City Clerk, you will assist in the maintenance of official municipal records, issuance of various licenses and official documents, and administration of election activities and performs other related work as required.

TO APPLY

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. To learn more detail about these positions, see a detailed job description and to apply, please visit our job opportunities website at https://southburlingtonvt.gov/jobopportunities

Apply Today – To apply today, please send a City employment application form, confidential cover letter, resume, and three references to:

US MAIL: Daisy Brayton, HR Director, 180 Market St., South Burlington, VT 05403

EMAIL: sbcity@southburlingtonvt.gov with “Assistant City Clerk” in the subject line

COURTESY PHOTOS

South Burlington High School varsity cheerleaders, above, took first place in the large varsity division and the NVAC Metro Division champions on Saturday. Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School cheerleaders, right, also took first place in the Large Middle School Division.

ARIES

March 21 - April 20

Excessive spending in recent days may have you feeling nervous about your nances, Aries. In addition to bills, you could be waiting to be reimbursed. Be patient.

TAURUS

April 21 - May 21

Taurus, you may have been working so hard you haven’t had time to spend with family and friends lately. Clear your calendar and make some time for recreation.

GEMINI

May 22 - June 21

This week you may lock yourself behind closed doors and enjoy some alone time for a change, Gemini. Relax with a good book or binge watch some television.

CANCER

June 22 - July 22

A friendship could be tested when you get into a quarrel over money, Cancer. You each have different philosophies on spending. Try to see both sides.

LEO

July 23 - Aug. 23

Philosophy and religious principles are of interest to you lately, Leo. Explore the metaphysical and dive into these subjects with all of your energy.

VIRGO

Aug. 24 - Sept. 22

Virgo, you could be longing for a vacation, so why not make it happen? If you’ve socked away some cash, put it towards a trip to recharge and relax.

LIBRA

Sept. 23 - Oct. 23

Make an effort to reconnect with someone you have known a long time who has become absent from your life. Resolve to maintain this connection in the years ahead.

SCORPIO

Oct. 24 - Nov. 22

Honest communication can take you through a rough patch you might be having with your romantic partner, Scorpio. Speak openly and honestly to resolve the issue.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 23 - Dec. 21

Keep your eyes focused on the future, Sagittarius. It’s easy to dwell on what happened in the past, but that won’t matter much in the grand scheme of things.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22 - Jan. 20

A miscommunication could nd you spending money you just don’t have right now, Capricorn. This may be an instance when you need to seek a professional to sort it all out.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 21 - Feb. 18

Aquarius, a project that has been on the calendar for some time nally gets completed. It has been a long time coming, but the results are better than you expected.

PISCES

Feb. 19 - March 20

Go through some old photos and reminisce, Pisces. It can be a quiet way to spend a day or two and enjoy the memories.

CLUES ACROSS

1. Functions

5. Records electric currents associated with contractions of the heart

8. Trigonometric function (abbr.)

11. Secret political clique

13. Type of gibbon

14. Nocturnal S. American rodent

15. Famed American playwright

16. Mesopotamian goddess

17. Abba __, Israeli politician

18. Long ridge of gravel and sediment

20. A place to stay

21. Actor Idris

22. One who behaves in a rebellious way

25. A way to measure movement

30. Distinguish oneself

31. Type of drug (abbr.)

CROSSWORD SUDOKU

32. Basketball great Baylor

33. Masses of salivary matter

38. Calls balls and strikes

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!

41. Plant that grows along the ground

43. A recreational activity in the air

45. Consumes too much

47. Island nation

49. Pistol

50. Mixtures of soul and calypso

55. Ancient Greek City

56. Similar

57. Roughly trimmed tree trunk used in a Scottish game

59. Semitic fertility god

60. Born of

61. Frogs, toads, tree toads

62. School in the northeast (abbr.)

63. Soviet Socialist Republic

64. “__ the Man” Musical, baseball player

CLUES DOWN

1. Fiddler crabs

2. Discount

3. Partner to “ ows”

4. Ethnic group of Laos

5. Beloved “Seinfeld” character

6 .Book of tickets

7. The last name of “Hermione”

8. Type of TV package

9. Helps to heal a cut

ANSWERS

10. Town in Galilee

12. Actor Horsley

14. “Hocus Pocus 2” actor Ed

19. Bird-loving group (abbr.)

23. They respond when someone is sick

24. Emerged

25. Midway between south and southeast

26. Monetary unit of Afghanistan

27. Unit of work or energy

28. Indicates near

29. Famed river

34. For each

35. News organization

36. CNN’s founder

37. They __

39. Areas off to the side

40. Satis es

41. A spare bed

Legendary singer Diana

Frothy mass of bubbles

A kind of sorcery

River in South Africa

Philippine Island

County in China 51. S. American plant

Beverage containers

Edge

Protein-rich liquids

Moved quickly on foot

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 normal 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

ROUNDUP

to a third-place team finish. Jay Eagle, Russell Rothman, Jackson Rothman and Dylan Karpinski each came in the top 25 to help South Burlington,

On the girls’ side, Penelope Harm came in the top 25. .

Girls’ hockey

Burlington-Colchester 3, South Burlington 2: South Burlington surrendered two goals in the third period to fall to Burlington-Colchester Saturday.

The Wolves, who led 2-1 heading into the third period, got goals from Sabrina Brunet and Rosa Digullian.

Reese Gordon, Cait Bartlett and Izzy Redzic each had an assist, while Oli Roy stopped 21 shots on

goal for South Burlington (5-9). The Wolves also fell last Wednesday, Feb. 1, losing to Essex 6-0. Roy had 21 saves.

Boys’ basketball

South Burlington 61, Burr and Burton 55: South Burlington scored 22 points in the fourth quarter to beat back Burr and Burton Saturday.

Deng Aguek led all scorers with 18 points for South Burlington, which moves to 8-4. Tyler Bergmans netted 17 points and Ethan Sandberg added 11 points.

Gymnastics

South Burlington hosted Burlington-Colchester and Essex in

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”.

gymnastics Saturday at the Green Mountain Training Center.

Kelsey Adamas took third place in the uneven bars, third place in the beam and third place in the floor exercise to pace the Wolves.

Essex came out with the top team score to get the win.

Boys’ hockey

South Burlington 3, Colchester 3 (OT): South Burlington and Colchester traded goals as both teams settled for a 3-3 tie in hockey action Saturday.

Christian Butler had two goals for the Wolves, while Nick Kelly added a score and Drew Dougherty had an assist.

With the tie, South Burlington moved to 8-5-2

FOR SALE:

WOMAN’S SHINOLA WATCH: Excellent condition, retailed $800. Silver with gold lettering. Asking $450. Contact Rich 802-497-7437.

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.

Residential Program Manager: Coordinate staffed residential and community supports for an individual in their home. The ideal candidate will enjoy working in a team-oriented position, have strong clinical skills, and demonstrated leadership. $45,900 annual salary, $1,500 sign on bonus.

Direct Support Professional: Provide 1:1 supports to help individuals reach their goals in a variety of settings. This is a great position to start or continue your career in human services. Full and part time positions available starting at $19/hr, $1,000 sign on bonus.

Residential Direct Support Professional: Provide supports to an individual in their home and in the community in 24h shifts including asleep overnights in a private, furnished bedroom. You can work two days, receive full benefits and have five days off each week! Other flexible schedules available, starting wage is $20/hr, $1,000 sign on bonus.

Shared Living Provider: Move into someone’s home or have someone live with you to provide residential supports. There are a variety of opportunities available that could be the perfect match for you and your household. Salary varies dependent on individual care requirements. $1,000 sign on bonus.

Join our dedicated team and together we’ll build a community where everyone participates and belongs https://ccs-vt.org/current-openings/

Make a career making a difference and join our team today!

https://ccs-vt.org/current-openings/

A busy newspaper office producing award winning weekly newspapers is hiring.

PART-TIME

Community

Bankers

Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest banking institution headquartered in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all. Are you looking to start or continue a career in the finance industry? Consider joining our team as a Community Banker! To see all our available positions, please visit www.NSBVT.com/careers/open-positions.

Job Responsibilities & Requirements

This frontline position is crucial in creating a positive, welcoming and inclusive experience for NSB customers. The successful candidate will have exceptional customer service and communication skills. The Community Banker will be responsible for receiving and processing customers’ financial transactions as well as opening and maintaining customer accounts and services. We are looking for someone who can develop and maintain relationships with our valued customers, protect bank and customer information, and uphold customer confidentiality. A high school diploma, general education degree (GED), or equivalent is required.

If you have customer service, previous cash handling, or banking experience we encourage you to apply!

Opportunity for Growth

NSB has training opportunities to engage employees and assist with professional development within our company. The average years of service for an NSB employee is 9! If you’re looking for a career in an environment that promotes growth, join our team!

What NSB Can Offer You

Competitive compensation based on experience. Well-rounded benefits package. Profit-Sharing opportunity. Excellent 401(k) matching retirement program. Commitment to professional development. Opportunities to volunteer and support our communities. Work-Life balance!

We understand the importance of having evenings and weekends with our friends, families, and the communities we serve!