The Other Paper - 4-13-23

Let’s

the South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977

Bus driver shortage nears ‘catastrophic failure,’ drivers say District could see rolling route cancelations

LIBERTY DARR

STAFF WRITER

Benjamin Gould, a parent of a Rick Marcotte Central School second grader, decided to speak out during the public comment period at the March 8 school board meeting to express “significant frustration with the transportation services,” calling the South Burlington School District’s bus schedules this year sporadic and unpredictable.

“My daughter has been shunted between bus routes five different times this year, he said, “The bus

picks her up at our house at 7:55 in the morning, on a good day, she can just barely get to school in time for the beginning of class at 8:05. In the afternoon, it’s been very sporadic — some days she’ll get home at 3:15, some days she won’t be dropped off until 3:45.”

Transportation supervisor Kathy LaRock said she has never seen such a severe shortage of bus drivers in her nearly 26 years with the district. Like most of the state, South Burlington has been battling

See BUS DRIVERS on page 12

Beta’s 40-acre campus awaits final approval

limbo and prompted outcry from residents and politicos such as Gov. Phil Scott.

Beta Technologies’s proposed 40-acre technology and manufacturing campus could get final approval this month, two years after it was first submitted to the South Burlington’s development review board.

The campus created a stir this time last year, after an issue over a land use condition regarding parking lots left the project in

Now, after a land use amendment allowing for the proposed parking lot was approved by the city council last year, Beta’s master plan and site plan for the site south of the airport seems likely to wrap up with the city’s development review board this month, officials said, giving a green light to the sprawling campus that is critical to the company’s production goals.

“We’ve designed our manufacturing and final assembly facility, and the broader campus, to be a place that advances our business and promotes the values of this community,” a company spokesperson said. “We look forward to getting the facility finished and online, so we can begin manufacturing our electric aircraft and bring more jobs to the community.

“We are nearly there, and we’re really appreciative of the town’s flexibility to

convene a special meeting to work through a few final items and keep the project on track,” they said.

The development review board is set to have a meeting on the evening of Tuesday, April 11 — after press deadline for this paper — and on Tuesday, April 18, when the campus is expected to be approved, officials said, barring unforeseen circumstances.

See BETA on page 3

PHOTO BY COREY MCDONALD First Lady Jill Biden tours Beta Technologies on Wednesday, April 5. See story, page 2.

First Lady visits South Burlington

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

Spring Rolls • Crab Rangoon • Dumplings • Beef Teriyaki

Hawaiian or Chicken Fried Rice • Lo Meins

Jumbo Fried Shrimp • Crispy Scallops • Salmon

Korean Chicken Wings • Boneless Chicken

Salads • Burgers • Dogs • Fries

Bubble Milk • Fruity Teas • Smoothies

Jill Biden touches down in SoBu

First Lady Jill Biden made a stop last week at the soon to be renamed Patrick J. Leahy Airport in South Burlington to tour the headquarters of Beta Technologies, the electric aviation company, as part of the White House’s “Investing in America” tour.

Biden, along with U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, toured through the company’s aerospace hanger with a who’s who of top Vermont dignitaries such as U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, Gov. Phil Scott, Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger and Jane Sanders — whose husband, Sen. Bernie Sanders, could not attend — with a gang of reporters and media tagging along.

The group spoke with Beta employees, interns and technical students from the Northeast Kingdom working hands on with some of the company’s aircraft and electric prototypes. They were joined by Beta CEO Kyle Clark.

“Just look around us right now, the students who are with us today are learning what it takes to design airplanes and maintain electric vehicles. They’re exploring jobs that didn’t even exist when many of us were in high school,” Biden said.

“What you are doing in this community is the future of our workforce, and how to grow our economy from the bottom up, and the middle out,” she said. “These aren’t red ideas or blue ideas, they’re American ideas.”

Her visit to South Burlington was the second stop of the tour, an effort by the White House to

highlight President Joe Biden’s economic policies — including the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the American Rescue Plan — and the jobs and careers the White House says that legislation will help create.

“Thanks to President Biden’s leadership, we got the bipartisan infrastructure law, we have the CHIPS and Science Act, and we have historic investments to fight climate change,” Cardona said.

“There’s a tsunami of well-paying jobs coming, and we need to make sure this generation of students is prepared to ride that wave.”

It was the first day of the tour, a weekslong trip where members of the White House will travel the country, visiting dozens of states.

Biden and Cardona first visited the Southern Main Community College in South Portland, Maine, before flying to Vermont. The tour was timely — that same day, the U.S. Department of Labor announced an $80 million grant program to fund infrastructure-related career training nationwide.

“From new manufacturing jobs to high-speed internet, to airport safety, to clean water, these new investments are helping leaders in states, cities and rural areas improve people’s lives,” Biden said in a speech in the crowded hangar. “I’m excited to be here in Vermont, where to date, Joe’s administration has already announced more than a billion dollars for roads, bridges, roadway safety and other major projects.

Billions of dollars in building the green economy of the future right here.”

Both federal and state officials touted the benefits of bipartisanship — with both Biden and Cardona describing Vermont as a state that “shows investing in our communities is not a partisan priority. It’s something we can all get behind,” Cardona said.

“In my experience, pure down and dirty partisan politics has never contributed to real solutions,” Scott, a Republican, said. “Today is a reminder that we can, and we should, prioritize progress over politics, especially on issues where the majority of Americans agree, like the importance of investments in infrastructure and technical education, on equal economic opportunities from region to region. To me, that’s one of the most historic and underreported outcomes of the investments, the president and Congress found a way to come together to pass.”

Scott, speaking to the crowd, thanked Cardona and Biden “for highlighting this historic moment and helping us see it through” and said he felt “a sense of optimism, because it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to revitalize our once thriving rural economic centers and the small towns around them.”

Biden, a community college professor, highlighted Vermont’s technical education programs for high schools, as well as the state’s program to offer tuition-free community college to residents.

“For most people, a high school diploma alone isn’t enough to find a great career, but they don’t often need a four-year degree to pursue their passions either,” Biden said. “These kinds of learning paths are more important than ever.”

Asian Fusion TAKE OUT • DOOR DASH • GRUBHUB (802) 399-2570 • 155 Market Street - Across from City Hall www.doordash.com/store/hawaiian-grill-south-burlington-24055200/

VEGGIE LOMEIN & WHITE RICE with choice of one of the following: Egg roll • Spring Roll • Beef Teriyaki

2 Crab Rangoon • 2 Fried Shrimp

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

PHOTO BY COREY MCDONALD

First Lady Jill Biden speaks to a crowd at Beta Technologies, with Gov. Phil Scott, left.

SoBu principal to students: Stop getting food delivered

PETER D’AURIA VTDIGGER

In a still from a TikTok video, South Burlington High School principal Patrick Burke demonstrates what will happen to unclaimed food after he asked students to stop ordering DoorDash to the school. Screenshot

When it comes to food options, South Burlington High School is ideally situated.

Just off interstates 89 and 189, the Dorset Street school is fewer than 10 minutes from multiple Starbucks locations, fast food joints and pizza places — offering a range of options for a convenient lunch or snack.

Some, in fact, might call it too convenient.

South Burlington High School Principal Patrick Burke has informed parents and community members that students are no longer allowed to receive food deliveries, including through the popular food delivery app DoorDash, at school.

The intrusions, he said, had proven too distracting.

“Due to disruptions to teaching and learning, food deliveries during the school day are no longer possible,” the principal wrote in a March 15 mass text message to South Burlington community members. “All students have access to free breakfast and lunch.”

“It’s an actual disruption,” Burke said in a video posted to his TikTok account

BETA

continued from page 1

The governing body first took the amended application up in December before holding a meeting on it in February but was unable to form a quorum during its scheduled meetings on March 21 and April 4.

“They strive to be done as quickly as possible, but it’s a committee of seven volunteers and sometimes life gets in the way,” Marla Keene, the city’s development review planner, said.

If approved, more than 40 acres of brownfield property — known as “South 40” — at the southernmost end of the Burlington International Airport could be redeveloped into a manufacturing campus for final assembly of Beta’s electric aircraft. It would include a manufacturing facility, general aviation hangar, training and cultural center, a mixed office and retail building and a child care facility.

Beta, which was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in a hangar near the airport’s main terminal, first proposed the campus in May 2021. CEO Kyle Clark said at the time that the plant would be able to produce more than 250 aircraft annually and could bring in hundreds of new jobs.

Those plans hit a snag last March. The company’s master plan for the site was approved, but a condition over parking lot limits stalled the project.

Beta, according to development review board documents, was unable to secure approval for its proposed parking lot because the parking lot was proposed to be in front

that same day. “You can’t order DoorDash during the school day.”

The message came after students — a small number, Burke said in an interview — were ordering deliveries to the point that it became untenable, including from Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, Denny’s and iHOP. Delivery workers cannot come inside the school because of the building’s security measures. Instead, deliveries were left in the foyer, where students could then pick them up themselves. That meant students had to leave class to pick up their deliveries.

“We want to keep kids in class,” Burke said, adding, “You gotta go to the nurse? It’s fine. You gotta go to the bathroom? We got you. Gotta go see guidance? No problem. Gotta go get your DoorDash? Eh. Feels like you could wait.”

If one were inclined toward a deeper analysis, the school’s injunction could be viewed as the latest collision between traditional primary education and the modern smartphone.

Or it could simply be chalked up to hungry kids using the tools at their disposal to get a snack.

If students continue to order deliveries, Burke said in his TikTok, staff would collect the food and keep it in the office until the end of the day, at which point students could come pick it up.

“And if you don’t come get it,” he said, holding up a piece of pizza, “thanks!”

of an associated manufacturing and office facility, and city regulations required parking to be located to the rear or side of uses on the property.

The event prompted outcry from South Burlington residents, local developers and Gov. Phil Scott, who, at the time, called the project “too important for Vermont” and said he would ask state legislators to step in if the parking lot requirements were not waived.

“This is not just about jobs for Chittenden County; this will have a ripple effect across the state,” the governor said at the time, adding Beta could potentially move its facility to Plattsburgh.

Former councilor and state Sen. Thomas Chittenden introduced an amendment — eventually cut — that would have loosened local control of parking near the airport, which prompted intense infighting among the South Burlington City Council.

However, concerns have since been allayed. The South Burlington City Council, in May last year, passed an amendment providing an exemption to limits on placement of parking areas. Beta then resubmitted its original plans, including the more than 200 parking spaces, which are now with the development review board.

In July, the company signed a 75-year lease agreement with the airport.

“I expect it to be discussed (Tuesday). I expect the board to conclude their discussion, but to remain open for the limited purpose of public comment,” Keene said.

In a still from a TikTok video, South Burlington High School principal Patrick Burke demonstrates what will happen to unclaimed food after he asked students to stop ordering DoorDash to the school.

CRIME & COURTS

Guilty plea expected in Tesla case

A former South Burlington man who was due to go on trial in federal court next week for charges of illegal possession of five stolen Teslas, is withdrawing his plea and moving forward on admitting the crimes that drew international news coverage.

Michael A. Gonzalez, 33, fraudulently obtained the five Teslas

valued at about $607,000 from car dealerships in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Florida and had them brought across state lines to Vermont in 2018 and 2019, the federal indictment said.

One Tesla was destroyed during a suspicious fire in Shelburne Bay on Lake Champlain in February 2019, the U.S. Secret Service said. Officials said a hearing was set for Tuesday afternoon for Gonzalez to withdraw his earlier not

Spring Safety Tips from VGS

guilty pleas and admit his guilt in U.S. District Court.

There is no signed plea agreement filed in the latest chapter of the ongoing case. It would be considered an open plea, which leaves it up to Chief Federal Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford to determine the penalty after a presentence report is prepared by the U.S.

See TESLA on page 5

South Burlington Police Blotter

Agency / public assists: 24

Traffic stop: 18

Suspicious event: 16

Alarm: 16

Larceny from motor vehicle: 12

Motor vehicle complaint: 11

Welfare check: 11

Trespass: 10

Retail theft: 6

Accident: leaving the scene: 6

Noise violation: 6

Accident: property damage: 5

Disturbance: 5

Fraud: 5

Domestic: 5

Total incidents: 230

Arrests:

March 4 at 1:55 p.m., a 14-yearold juvenile, no residence provided, was arrested for extortion and threats, disorderly conduct by phone or electronic communication, electronically disseminating indecent material to another person and criminal threatening.

March 7 at 5:15 p.m., Jacie E. Herring, 23, of Burlington, was arrested for unlawful mischief on Shelburne Road.

March 8 at 10:01 a.m., a 17-year-

old, no residence provided, was arrested for credit card/ ATM fraud.

April 4 at 7:47 p.m., Julie L. Coolidge, 37, of Burlington, was arrested for retail theft on Garden Street.

April 5 at 11:29 a.m., Rene Marie Dalley, 44, of Berlin, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Dorset Street.

April 5 at 2:37 p.m., Matthew A. Picard, 39, of Shelburne, was arrested for domestic assault on Farrell Street.

April 5 at 5:47 p.m., Shane M. Morale, 36, of Colchester, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Dorset Street.

April 6 at 1:25 p.m., Crystal D. Cushion, 39, of Berlin, was arrested on an in-state warrant and for felony retail theft on Dorset Street.

April 7 at 1:33 a.m., Juan D. Fierro, 20, of Essex Junction, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Shelburne Road.

April 8 at 12:58 a.m., Larry M. Sweetser, 29, of Jericho, was arrested for violating conditions of release on Market Street.

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Before the work begins, Dig Safe will notify member utilities, who will then ensure the locations of buried facilities they own are clearly marked. Please insist that any work within 18 inches of the marked lines be done by hand.

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Smell: Natural gas is normally odorless. A distinctive, pungent odor, similar to rotten eggs, is added so that you will recognize it quickly.

Sight: You may see a white cloud, mist, fog, bubbles in standing water, or blowing dust. You may also see vegetation that appears to be dead or dying.

Sound: You may hear an unusual noise like a roaring, hissing, or whistling.

If you suspect a leak: Move immediately to a safe location. Call VGS at 800-639-8081 or call 911 with the exact location. Do not smoke or operate electrical switches or appliances. These items may produce a spark that might result in a dangerous condition. Do not assume someone else will report the condition.

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Erdmann gets three months in near-fatal overdose case

MIKE DONOGHUE CORRESPONDENT

A South Burlington multi-millionaire, whose home was the site of four serious drug overdoses over a few months in 2021 that resulted in two deaths, received a six-month sentence in U.S. District Court in Burlington.

Bruce Erdmann, 63, of Swift Street will serve three months in federal prison followed by three months of home confinement for providing cocaine to his cleaning woman, who also almost died at his home in March 2021.

Chief Federal Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford also assessed Erdmann $4,100 in fines and court costs. He imposed various conditions, including that Erdmann does not commit any new crimes or use or possess drugs.

Erdmann must surrender to the Federal Bureau of Prisons on April 21.

continued from page 4

Probation Office.

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

A second change of plea hearing was scheduled in January 2023, but that time he said he wanted a jury trial.

Crawford agreed to accommodate him and scheduled the trial to start in federal court in Rutland on Monday with jury selection.

Gonzalez, who has lived in several Chittenden County communities including South Burlington, Hinesburg and Colchester, is well known to police in Vermont for a wide range of cases.

Gonzalez made initial down payments of $2,500 for each of the five Teslas and then arranged for electronic transfer of funds to cover the balance of each vehicle, but the accounts lacked sufficient money or were from phony accounts, according to the 20-page indictment, which also details Gonzalez’s elaborate sequence of events to create the alleged fraud.

He took delivery of each of the five

“Bruce Erdmann has lived a life of privilege. He was raised in a stable home and was financially provided for. He was able to attend college and own a business. He has a net worth of several million dollars, including a primary residence likely worth more than a million dollars,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Nate Burris wrote.

The sentencing on April 7 began with Burris and Ian Carlton, Erdmann’s lawyer, telling the judge that they were not in favor of having any witnesses or victims testify. Because the sentencing did not involve the two deaths or near death, none of those witnesses should be heard, they said.

Among those who hoped to testify was Dr. Randy Miller, whose son, Brian, 29, died from an acute combination of fentanyl and alcohol intoxication at the Erdmann home on June 29, 2021. It came one day after the defendant’s wife, Ellen, 62, died from an acute fentanyl intoxication overdose at the

same location, records show.

Also hoping to speak was Erin McGinley, Ellen Erdmann’s best friend, who called South Burlington Police after learning the family’s house cleaner almost died in March 2021 when Bruce Erdmann put out a large line of cocaine for her in the bathroom, court records show.

The Shelburne housekeeper ingested the cocaine and a few minutes later passed out for five hours and neither Erdmann nor his wife called 911 for medical assistance, South Burlington Police said in court records.

The house cleaner eventually revived on her own and went home, but after a seizure was taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center. She was in the intensive care unit for a few months and was not expected to live, officials said.

Hospital lab tests showed the woman had cocaine, along with benzodiazepine and cannabinoids in her system, police said.

Plea deal

When he signed his “open plea,” meaning there was no promise on the length of any sentence, Crawford said the maximum penalty was 20 years in prison, between 3 years and life for federal supervised release and up to a $1 million fine.

Carlton argued that Erdmann should be placed on federal supervised release for three years and serve no time in jail. He said his client says he has been free of drugs for over a year and maintained he had to take care of his mother, Carol Erdmann, who he said is a 98-year-old widow.

Erdmann used cocaine for about three decades and was a daily opiate user for 15 years before his arrest, the government said in court papers.

“He also used substantial quantities of numerous other drugs,” Burris wrote. He added, even after his arrest Erdmann maintained his cocaine use was “not a problem.” Burris said the federal sentencing guidelines, which are advisory, recommended between 6 and 12 months.

cars before Tesla discovered his failure to complete the final payments. Gonzalez resold or attempted to resell four of the five vehicles, the indictment said.

Gonzalez never received the proper paperwork to resell the fifth car, which subsequently burned on a frozen portion of Shelburne Bay in 2019, records show. They note Gonzalez attempted to seek insurance funds for the value of the burned Tesla, but the claim was denied when he twice failed to appear to give his statement under oath.

While the stolen car case was pending, Gonzalez finished serving a 13-month federal sentence for making a false written statement about his criminal record when he unlawfully attempted to buy a firearm in September 2019.

Gonzalez, who was living in Hinesburg at the time, failed to disclose to the Williston gun dealer he had a pending felony charge of aggravated domestic assault involving the mother of his child, police said. Gonzalez threatened to kill the woman by trying to drive his truck over her and then ramming her van twice with her in it in Colchester in August 2019, records show.

They note he continued to threaten to kill her as she called 911.

Earlier Gonzalez was dubbed “Pizza

Man” after a mistaken identity case at a drug house in Stonehedge North in South Burlington in April 2018. When Gonzalez came outside to get his pizza, he mistook a uniformed South Burlington Police Officer in a fully marked blue and gray cruiser with a blue light bar as the late-night local pizza delivery person arriving at the condominium. He had a pending warrant from Franklin County and city police said he was in possession for a small amount of heroin and ecstasy, records show.

Tesla has been one of the best-selling electric passenger car manufacturers. In reserving a Tesla online or in a company store, the customer gets to choose the model, color and options while making a $2,500 deposit. Once the car is ready the customer can collect it from a Tesla store or have it delivered. Payments would be completed through a wire transfer, loan financing, or an automated clearing house (ACH) transfer, the indictment said.

He wrote: “The court’s sentence must always protect the public from future crimes by Erdmann and more generally should provide adequate deterrence to criminal conduct.”

Burris did raise questions in his sentencing memo about Erdmann’s honesty and noted that he took no action to prevent drug use in his home.

Burris also questioned why other members of the Erdmann family, including his brother, couldn’t take care of their mother while he was in prison.

Erdmann told the court that he took “complete responsibility for my actions,” noting that “two years ago my actions caused a lot of damage.”

Little was said in court Friday about what transpired at the Erdmann home through the years. South Burlington Police, in a 15-page court affidavit, said death and destruction became routine from rampant drug use as people living in the house refused to summon help when several people had serious overdoses.

TESLA

S.100: reasoned, fair action to address housing crisis

Guest Perspective

Sandy Dooley

Let’s discuss what the state’s housing bill, S.100, proposes to do and how its approach differs from that of the interim-zoning-generated land development regulations the South Burlington City Council adopted in February 2022.

S.100, if enacted, provides municipalities with tools that create opportunities for property owners to build more housing, at potentially lower cost, than they can under currently available municipal land use regulations. Note that I say “opportunities.”

S.100 would not require any property owner in the city of South Burlington to construct a single housing unit. In addition, S.100 would not require any property owner to construct housing on land protected by the city’s land development regulations in article 12, environmental protection standards.

than offset by the reduction in housing allowed in the southeast quadrant. How can regulations that reduce the amount of housing allowable meet S.100’s housing goals?

nently conserved. This mandate applies without regard to how much of the parcel comprises land protected under the land regulation’s environmental protection standards.

will need to contain at least 10 acres.

The city council appears not to have considered the impact of access to existing water and sewer infrastructure on the cost of developing housing.

S.100’s drafters assess the housing crisis as so important that some statewide standards are necessary to allow more housing to be built. This is not the first time the state has intervened to influence how municipalities regulate local development; witness Act 250, now 53 years old, among others.

Importantly, S.100 also states that when these new tools are applied, their effect must be inclusive and equitable.

The vice chair of the city council, Meaghan Emery, said that “South Burlington’s newly adopted land development regulations meet the bill’s housing goals in a much more thoughtful, site-specific way.” (Letter to the editor, April 6, 2023).

First, interim zoning did not put in place new land use regulations that increase the number of housing units allowable in the city. While the interim zoning regulations allow more housing on a parcel at the southwest corner of where I-89 crosses Hinesburg Road (a change opposed by the property owner), this additional housing is more

The interim zoning changes also paved the way for more high-priced, sprawl-like development to occur in the southeast quadrant. Prior to interim zoning and the regulations that emanated from it, parcels smaller than 4 acres in the southeast quadrant residential zoning districts could, after purchasing transferable development rights, construct four housing units per acre on the parcel. After interim zoning, parcels smaller than four acres in the quadrant’s residential zoning districts can, after purchasing transferable development rights, construct only 1.8 housing units per acre. This translates to one house per acre zoning. Given the high cost of land in the southeast quadrant, the price of such housing is sure to approach $1 million. Other effects will be that the southeast quadrant will remain an enclave of very high-income households and one-house-per-acre zoning generates sprawl-like development.

The city council appears not to have considered the impact of access to existing water and sewer infrastructure on the cost of developing housing. It is like money in the bank — lots of it. Removing land with access to water and sewer infrastructure from eligibility for housing development increases the barriers to building housing that can be constructed and sold at lower prices than would otherwise occur. Does the council’s approach to zoning reflect a commitment to addressing the city’s housing crisis?

Except for the southeast quadrant’s village residential zoning district, land development regulations require all residential development on quadrant parcels of 4 or more acres to comply with Conservation Planned Unit Development rules. Those rules require that no less than 70 percent of the parcel be perma-

The planning commission and city council went far beyond the findings of the Arrowwood Habitat Block Assessment and Ranking Report (2020) in adding land to natural resource protection zoning and imposing the conservation zone requirement on most southeast quadrant development. In my assessment, these policy changes are exclusionary and, as a result, indefensible from an equity stance.

City councilors point to the citywide inclusionary zoning requirement as evidence of their commitment to affordable housing throughout the city. However, creating so many barriers to housing development in the southeast quadrant makes the effect minimal. The inclusionary requirement comes into play only when 12 or more housing units are being built.

To be required to build 12 units in a Conservation Planned Unit Development, the parcel

How many parcels of this size are available in the southeast quadrant that would result in application of inclusionary zoning?

City councilors also remind folks that duplexes, triplexes and four-plexes are allowed throughout the city where residential development is permitted. But how much land is needed in some parts of the city to construct these housing types?

On a parcel in the southeast quadrant smaller than 4 acres, the size of the parcel required to construct a duplex is 1.7 acres; for a triplex, 2.5 acres; for a four-plex, 3.33 acres, which assumes no purchase of development rights. These density limitations do not address our housing crisis.

Finally, it troubles me that folks who live in housing on land that could not be developed as housing under today’s land use regulations so strongly oppose developing housing on similar land and, at the same time, protecting natural resources so that more people might enjoy

similar benefits. An example is the opposition of South Village residents to the Long family’s proposal to build a mini-SouthVillage-type development on adjacent property — all during a major housing crisis. Note that the South Village development includes 160 aces of conserved land.

None of the above comments should be interpreted to mean that I do not recognize and appreciate that a lot of housing has been built in South Burlington and American Rescue Plan Act funds have been directed toward affordable housing development. Still, considering the unprecedented housing crisis we face, South Burlington can and should do more.

Applying smart growth principles, we can allow more housing to be constructed citywide and, at the same time, protect natural resources from development thoughtfully and prudently, with a result in which we can all take pride.

Designed to a Tee: little shirts with even greater impacts

In Musing

Carole Vasta Folley

Have you ever noticed something that once you did, you couldn’t un-notice it? Forevermore? I felt bad that I hadn’t recognized it sooner as it’s astoundingly apparent and consequential.

I’m talking graphic tees here. You know, the ubiquitous garment sold everywhere from couture Prada to secondhand Goodwill? These T-shirts brandish messages from pop culture to politics and have become an everyday wardrobe staple and a classic tourist souvenir, as in, “all I got was this lousy T-shirt.”

Sorry, kids. Some graphic tees are iconic, like “Kiss Me I’m Irish” or “I’m With Stupid.” If

you get that last one, make sure it has an arrow.

It might seem that I’m about to rail on the subject of sweatshops. While a critical issue, my recent awareness focused instead on what’s actually emblazoned on these graphic T-shirts, especially those made and sold for children.

I came upon my revelation while shopping for my granddaughter online at the largest department store chain in the U.S. Inundated with pink hearts, flowers and an inordinate number of unicorns, it was the words on these graphic tees that caught my attention. “Be Cute Be Kind,” “Sprinkle Kindness” and “Keep Up the Kindness.” Wow, I thought, that’s a lot of the same messaging.

I went directly to the boy toddler T-shirts on the same site.

What I saw or, more importantly, read on these shirts, gave me pause: “Explore,” “Be Awesome,” “Made for Fun” and “Adventure Seeker.”

Is this how it is, I questioned?

So, I checked out a major purveyor of children’s apparel. The answer is yes. Their girl toddler tees read, “All Smiles All Day,” “So Happy,” “Just Rolls with It,” and “Always Sweet.” In blaring contrast, their boy toddler shirts read, “Coming Through,” “Mover Shaker,” “Ready to Win,” “Making Moves” and “Fearless.”

The same brand, an age group up, the theme continued. Boys’ shirts exclaimed, “Make Some Noise,” “Totally Crushing It” and “Top of My Game.” While shirts for girls, the identical age, read, “Smile,” “Choose Kindness” and “Be Kind and Shine.”

What is it with telling only

Carole Vasta Folley

Sandy Dooley has lived in South Burlington more than 50 years.

Let’s slow down this housing development freight train

Guest Perspective

John Bossange

With all the well-intended initiatives ongoing statewide and here in South Burlington to address housing needs, it’s time to hit the switch and slow this train down.

A blog on the website of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency in January stated that “to meet the expected demand and normalize extremely low vacancy rates, Vermont will need between 30,000 and 40,000 more yearround homes by 2030.”

This conclusion has been repeated over and over again during the debate this year over housing needs, beginning with the governor’s office, local, county and some state officials, along with real estate agents, developers and financial lending institutions.

I’ve looked everywhere, read dozens of reports, studied the research, met with the authors of some of these studies, and I can tell you that confusion reigns supreme. There is no quantified, firm research or logic that supports 40,000 new homes needed by 2030.

The confusion begins with various census figures used to chart population growth, the speculation on the number of new jobs coming to Vermont, existing job vacancies and the estimates on the numbers of additional new year-round renter and owner homes needed.

IN MUSING

continued from page 6

girls to be kind?

Baby graphic tees get similar treatment at a different, but also very well-known, baby products company. Their infant girl shirts said, “Little Princess” and “So Cute,” while their baby-boy counterparts shouted, “Roar” and “Born to Explore.”

The fourth place I checked, a world-famous multinational retailer, sold boy shirts that say, “Sharp Little Guy,” “I Can Move Mountains,” and my favorite, “Fearless, Fierce and Strong!”

Contrast that with their baby girl shirts that say, “Little and Happy.”

Once you notice it, it’s obvious the different messages we’re being sold to give to our children and grandchildren. If you’re a boy, get out there and make things happen and if you’re a girl,

With such confusion and lack of detail, it’s hard to understand why there would be advocates for 40,000 new homes to accommodate so many people actually looking for a home, a job or fleeing into Vermont in such a short period of time.

By all census counts, including the most recent figures released this week, there has been slow population growth in Vermont from 2010 until the present, including in the past two years. By the year 2025, one report forecasts that we will have grown only by 7,933 residents. That’s in 15 years, and we can assume most of them have some sort of housing by now or they would have left. So, how is it possible to grow our population to need 40,000 new homes in just five years beyond 2025?

more residents by 2030.

How is it possible to grow our population to need 40,000 new homes in just five years beyond 2025?

We know that there were 643,007 Vermonters in 2020, and today there are 648,373. That’s a three-year increase of 5,730 people. Using the state formula for 2.35 people in a house, that translates into 2,438 households new to Vermont.

Some reports suggest that we are anticipating up to 2,353 new households needed in the next two years, an 18 percent growth to meet the 2025 projections. Regardless of the population projections used, 40,000 new homes translate into over 90,000

According to yet another report completed by the Vermont Housing and Finance Agency in 2020, Vermont will need to increase the state’s total housing stock by about 5,800 primary homes before 2025 to meet expected demand among new households, housing the state’s homeless and replacing homes likely to be removed from the stock. Using the same state formula for 2.35 people in a household, that’s 13,630 new Vermonters in less than two years. Again, we have only grown by 7,933 Vermonters from 2010 to 2025, and the latest state demographer research published this month shows a definite plateau of population growth post pandemic, including climate refugees.

Everyone understands the need for economic vitality and stability, and the need to attract businesses, cottage industries and entrepreneurs to Vermont. And yes, we have an aging population and need more young families invested here.

We also have way too many Airbnb rentals, seasonal second homes, and close to 4,000 University of Vermont students

smile and be happy. Oh yeah, and don’t forget to be kind.

This gendered messaging is not only antiquated, but it is also limiting and damaging. Sure, it’s just a shirt, but it’s also part of a million little messages that build up over a lifetime. It’s great that anyone wears a shirt that endorses kindness, but it 100 percent should not be solely marketed and sold to girls. These socially accepted messages that girls should smile and be kind, while boys should explore and have adventures have far reaching impacts.

Yes, many of these companies also sell graphic tees that advocate growth and equality. For that I’m glad. But they sit alongside shirts that promote passivity for girls, while messaging boys to be all about action.

What a gift to all kids to not pre-identify not only who they are, but who they will be. Both boys’ and girls’ shirts could promote kindness. Both girls’ and boys’ shirts could promote adventure and exploration.

Even graphic tees marketed to me at a local well-known department store read “Create Kindness” and “Positivity Is Always Possible,” whereas the same company’s T-shirts for men extoll “Adventure” and quite a few about beer. Hmm, go figure.

After this, I’m the one who needs a beer. Please have one with me while we discuss the lack of pockets in clothing for girls and women.

Carole Vasta Folley is an award-winning playwright and columnist. More at carolevf.com.

Community Notes

Don’t miss the giant    book sale at library

The Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale will be held in the community room at the South Burlington Library, 180 Market St., Thursday, April 13, to Saturday, April 15.

Members of the Friends of the Library have first dibs at the preview, Thursday, April 13, 5-7 p.m. An annual membership may be purchased at the door for $10.

Fiction, nonfiction, cookbooks, memoirs, biographies, coffee table books, children’s and young adult books are available for $2 or less to the public on Friday, 2-5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

In addition to the book sale, a raffle will again feature a basket from Wine and Cheese Traders. New to be raffled this year will be a young adult basket donated by Dakin Farms and a selection of handmade placemats and napkins.

Learn all about ranked choice voting

The League of Women Voters of Vermont is sponsoring two free virtual programs on ranked choice voting on Monday, April 17 at 7 p.m. and Tuesday, April 18 at 3:30 p.m. Advance registration is required to receive a mock ballot.

Email lwvofvt@gmail.com for the link.

Ranked choice voting is once again in the news as the Legislature is considering a bill to establish ranked choice voting for federal elections in Vermont. If passed, S.32 will have Vermont citizens use ranked choice voting in the 2028 presidential primary elections. Burlington is the only city to implement ranked choice voting for city council elections.

What is ranked choice voting? Will Vermonters be better off using ranked choice voting in elections?

Dr. Betty Keller, member of league, will discuss ranked choice voting to familiarize Vermonters with this electoral system that allows people to vote for multiple candidates, in order of preference.

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Both presentations will cover how ranked voting works, whether it will work in presidential primaries and what’s in Vermont’s current bill.

Howard Center presents education series

The May Community Education Series event through the Howard Center takes place on Thursday, May 18, from 7-8 p.m.

Howard Center’s director of diversity, equity and inclusion Catarina Campbell will present “Racial Trauma and Generational Healing”, an analysis of racism from an historical perspective and provide strategies to achieve justice on a personal and communal level. Register for this virtual, free and open to the public event at howardcenter.org.

The center is also hosting its annual, all-day educational conference on Wednesday, April 19, which will feature a lineup of national experts in the field of mental health, including Nadine Burke Harris, Dacher Keltner, BJ Miller, Jeffrey Swanson and Anna Malaika Tubbs. The in-person conference, “Breaking Barriers: Finding Purpose & Possibilities Together,” will cover a range of topics related to mental health, such as adverse childhood experiences, compassion, end-of-life care and gun violence. The conference fee is $199 and includes

continuing education units. Register at howardcenter.org.

Knights of Columbus host pancake breakfast

Join the Knights of Columbus DeGosbriand Council # 279 on Sunday, April 16, for an all-youcare-to-eat pancake breakfast, from 9 to 11:30 a.m., in the parish center of St. Joseph’s cathedral, 29 Allen St., Burlington.

Meal includes bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, blueberry pancakes, French toast and more. Coffee, juice, butter and Vermont maple syrup included.

Admission is $10 and $25 for a family of four.

The next breakfast is May 14. Contact davidely1986@gmail. com or 802-862-5109, for more information.

Homestead Museum hosts archeology presentation

On Sunday, April 16, at 2 p.m., archeologist Niels Rinehart will review excavations at the Ethan Allen Homestead from 1979 to 1997, summarizing findings and directions for future research.

The talk, “The Archeology of the Ethan Allen Homestead: Thousands of Artifacts & Unanswered Questions,” will be in person and Zoom.

Register at ethanallenhomestead.org

Historical society hosts landscape history event

On Sunday, April 23, at 2 p.m. at the Charlotte Senior Center, the Chittenden County Historical Society hosts a presentation and nature walk on how to read old forested farmscapes featuring preservationist and landscape historian Samantha Ford.

The presentation will be augmented the following week on Sunday, April 19, with an interpretive field walk at Wheeler Nature Park in South Burlington from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Ford and naturalist Alicia Daniels will illustrate the concepts outlined in the talk and trace 300 years of land use.

Gardening with tried-andtrue perennials

Join Silvia Jope at the United First Methodist Church in South Burlington on Tuesday, April 25, at 1 p.m., for a discussion on her “close to nature” approach to creating ecologically inspired landscapes.

Participants will learn sustainable principles for landscape planning. Jope is the owner of Old World Garden Design, where she has worked to promote no-mow grass patches, mixing edibles with pollinator friendly plants, hand-woven garden gates and native hornbeam arches. Free and open to the public.

COURTESY PHOTO

Silvia Jope will present on gardening with perennials on Tuesday, April 25, at the United First Methodist Church in South Burlington.

Betty Keller

School honors principal Karsten Schlenter with memorial bench

In honor of the late Karsten Schlenter, a memorial bench has been erected on the grounds of Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School where he was principal for 10 years.

While on a trip to Alaska in August 2021, Schlenter became ill and died shortly afterward.

In September 2021, a committee of faculty and staff at Tuttle formed to help create a memorial at the middle school. A fundraiser was held, and money was donated by members of the community to build a bench in Schlenter’s honor.

The bench dedication will take place on Monday, May 1, at 4 p.m. at the middle school. All are invited to attend.

Originally from Germany, Schlenter came to the U.S. when he was 17 years old as a foreign exchange student and he spent a year living with a family in Michigan. While in the U.S., he traveled all around the country with his exchange family and met his future wife, Toni, who lived in Michigan.

Eventually, they had three daughters and moved to Vermont in 2010, where Schlenter started working at the Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School.

He loved to travel, and he and Toni spent many vacations together. He also led many world language trips aboard, including to Germany, China and a French trip with Tuttle Middle School students.

BOSSANGE

continued from page 7

forced to live off campus, crammed into multi-family homes, all of which have contributed to the need for more housing, especially in Chittenden County.

These factors take time to assess and create a commonsense strategic plan based on sound research over time and not quick speculation.

Who would want to see 40,000 new homes built here in the next six years? We know exactly who would benefit from that. It’s developers, contractors, real estate agents and lending institutions that will profit the most from this confusion and speculative data.

In their haste to build, they have lobbied to weaken Act 250, and overridden local control with misguided, top-down legislation like the proposed Senate bill S-100.

These groups have attended public forums and meetings,

He is remembered for his sense of humor and empathetic nature.

“Karsten was first and foremost, a genuinely kind and

caring human being. He understood people and put them above systems,” Tuttle language arts teacher Lori Centerbar said.

lobbied in Montpelier and instilled a sense of doom and fear of a dying state economy if we do not rush to build everywhere and anywhere, weaponizing the data to support their short term, financial gain.

I’ve attended dozens of these meetings, and not once have I heard an advocate for more housing mention smart growth, the impact of sprawl on a fragile environment or the emergency of addressing the apocalyptic climate crisis.

Sadly, it appears to be all about the short-term and quick money. Trying to get developers away from building more sprawling car-dependent subdivisions on open meadows and forested land, continues to be a challenge. Getting them to focus on creative, long-term goals by building in a denser city core and using infill areas and underutilized commercial buildings to build, renovate or retrofit into mixed housing of

all types remains an even bigger challenge. Understanding and accepting the devastating, longterm impact of irresponsible, sprawling development on the environment is off their radar. Indeed, it is time to stop the train and look at what we are doing. We need to slow down, clarify data on all fronts and begin some thoughtful long-term planning to address our economic needs and environmental imperatives. Nowhere is this truer than in the arenas of those who stand to profit the most from the rush to build 40,000 new homes by 2030. There should be no confusion here.

John Bossange is a board member on the South Burlington Land Trust, serves on the city’s natural resource and conservation committee, and represents South Burlington on the Champlain Valley Conservation Partnership.

COURTESY PHOTO

Karsten Schlenter

South Burlington spring sports teams look for title runs

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT Baseball

Coach: Luke Goyette

Last season: 10-8, lost in the Division I quarterfinals

Outlook: The South Burlington baseball team won six of its final eight games last season, ending the year on a high note, and will return with many players from that roster. The group looks to have good pitching and defense this season, as well as timely hitting to help the team improve on last year’s record. “I encourage anyone who is interested in baseball to come out and catch some games this spring as I believe they play the game with respect, energy and enthusiasm,” coach Goyette said. “We are returning many players this season and we are looking to stay healthy and get better every day.”

Opener: Tuesday, April 11, vs. Burr and Burton

Softball

Coach: Hailey Reilly

Last season: 13-3, Division I state champions

Outlook: The South Burlington softball team will look to defend its state title this season and with Gatorade Player of the Year Emily Borrazzo returning, the Wolves will certainly be in the hunt. South Burlington will have to replace some of the offense lost to graduation, but the Wolves will not fly under the radar this season. Coach Reilly will likely spend the first part of the season figuring out how to replace the departed players and work in some new athletes, with Borrazzo providing experience in the circle to set the tone.

Up next: Tuesday, April 11, vs. Rice

Boys’ lacrosse

Coach: Gar Smith

Last season: 10-4, lost in the Division I semifinals

This season: 1-0

Key returnees: Will Hershberg, senior, attack; Rex Jewell, senior, attack; Will Goyette, sophomore, attack; Ryan Sweet, senior, midfield; Brady Sweet, junior, midfield; Will Anderson, junior, midfield; Ollie Vogt, senior, midfield; Brookes Balkan, senior, midfield; Evan Knoth, senior, goalie; Zach Neumann, senior, defense; Finn McCarney, junior, defense; and Cam Gammon, junior, defense.

Key newcomers: Jack Kelly, first year, defense; Harry Poquette, sophomore, defense.

Outlook: The South Burlington boys return with a large portion of last year’s team intact and will look to build off the success from a 10-4 season. The strength of the Wolves will be the attack, and the team sees the returns of Hershberg, Jewell and Goyette who combined for nearly 200 points last season. Add in the Sweet brothers and Anderson in the midfield and South Burlington has one of the top offenses in the state.

South Burlington also welcomes two new players who coach Gar Smith expects to make an immediate impact. “Our team looks to score a lot of goals and allow few,” the coach said. “All while learning to love each other, our journey and to become men built for others.”

Up next: Wednesday, April 12, vs. Rice

Girls’ tennis

Coach: Jasmina Jusufagic

Last season: 10-3, lost in the Division I finals

Key returnees: Winnie Adamson, junior; Ella Maynard, junior; Grace Stein, junior; and Emma Xia, sophomore.

Key newcomers: Ella Stein, first year; Laney Lamphier, first year; Lila Boyd, first year; and Tenzin Choekyi, first year.

Outlook: For the first time in nearly 40 years, South Burlington will start the season without Jake Agna as the coach of girls’ tennis. Agna stepped down after last season and Jusufagic takes over as coach. Adamson and Maynard will be key to the team this season as they look to return to the finals.

“This season, we have a fresh line up and the girls will be forced to become familiar with match play quickly and I will have to determine what positions work best for them,” Jusufagic said. “They’re competitive, positive and excited to play which has been helping them improve quickly.” In addition to the returning players, South Burlington has five newcomers to work into the lineup.

Opener: Wednesday, April 12, vs. Rutland Track and field

Coaches: Geoff Bennett and Dennis Akey

Last season: Boys, fifth in Division I state meet; girls, eighth in the state meet

Snowboarders finish second at meet

South Burlington girls snowboarding followed up last season’s state title with a second-place finish in the Vermont state snowboarding championships.

The Wolves took first place in the slopestyle and rail jam

Key returnees: Boys: Parker Banas, senior, sprints; Ollie Cloutier, senior, distance; Carter Higgins, senior, hurdles; Vaughn Larkin, senior, hurdles/sprints/ jumps; Bennett Bridges, senior, distance; Evan Pidgeon, senior, distance; and Rogan Poquette, senior, distance.

Girls: Anna-Rose Barnes, senior. jumps/sprints; Meagan Boyer, senior, hurdles; Mia Carmolli, senior, hurdles; Gracie Lawrence, senior, throws; Lizzy Lawrence, senior, sprints; Betsua Reyes, senior, throws; Aurora Ross, senior, throws; Cassie Scarpa, senior, hurdles/jumps; Savannah Werner, senior, throws; and Armani Lee, senior, sprints/ jumps.

Key newcomers: Too early to tell Outlook: The track and field teams look to build off last year’s top 10 finishes in the DI state

events to clinch the second spot.

South Burlington, combined with Burlington High School this season, saw Sage Wyndorf (Burlington) finish with the individual state title.

Molly Cota (South Burling-

meet. With a large part of the team returning, the Wolves are hoping that the group’s experience will help the team take the next step this season.

“We believe our veteran leadership can help guide more qualifiers to the end of season meets than last year,” said coaches Akey and Bennett in an email. “We have a huge team and a lot of newcomers this year.”

Opener: Tuesday, April 11, at Burlington

Girls’ lacrosse

Coach: Anjie Soucy

Last season: 13-2, lost in the Division I semifinals

This season: 2-0

Key returnees: Ava Goyette, senior, attack; Sabrina Brunet, junior, midfield/attack; Miranda Hayes, senior, midfield; Mia Kaczmarek, senior, midfield/ attack; and Rachel Kelley, junior,

ton) came in third in the slopestyle, while teammate Emma DeGuise (South Burlington) came in fourth place.

Elsa Prah, Jordan Prahl and and Lila Hamme also competed for the Wolves in the state championship meet.

midfield.

Key newcomers: Victoria Bohlmann, first year, goalkeeper.

Outlook: After a slight upset in the semifinals knocked South Burlington out of the DI playoffs last season, the Wolves will look to rebuild this season after graduating nine players. South Burlington will look to spend the first part of the season working in new players and getting the team some game experience.

“Once we get the pieces in place, the expectations are high for the team” longtime coach Anjie Soucy said.

One of the key positions for the Wolves will be in goal, where first year Victoria Bohlmann looks to take over.

Up next: Tuesday, April 11, vs. Burr and Burton

COURTESY PHOTO

The 2022-23 South Burlington girls’ snowboarding team.

School spiritedness

Above: With support from the social studies department at Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School, student council and student government have been reinstated. Students interested in running needed 15 signatures to get on the ballot and then the campaign began. Posters were created and candidates gave a speech. Elections were held last week, and the new student council will start meeting weekly to discuss the issues that are important to the students.

Left: At Rick Marcotte Central School’s spring fair March 31, students duct-taped principal Lissa McDonald to the wall.

Below: The South Burlington High School unified basketball team in a huddle during its game against Mt. Mansfield Union High School. The Wolves won their home opener.

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COURTESY PHOTOS

BUS DRIVERS

continued from page 1

a bus driver shortage that has left employees tired, disgruntled and overworked. LaRock explained that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, she had a total of 27 bus drivers. Now, the bus garage is forced to find solutions with only 15 drivers and five bus monitors reporting for duty throughout the week.

With nearly half of her staff gone and no substitute fill-ins, LaRock said that much of her job now is spent splitting routes, finding coverage and figuring out how to get students to school should one of her drivers call in sick — which all needs to be done before 6:45 a.m. each morning. It’s a situation that sometimes forces her to jump behind the wheel in the worst of scenarios along with the district’s transportation coordinator, Sean Mackenzie, who is also covering a full route.

“The transportation department is currently severely understaffed and is likely to lose more drivers through both natural attrition and too often because of the stresses that the drivers are currently facing,” said South Burlington parent and bus driver Mark Gabel at the school board meeting on Wednesday.

Contract negotiations

The school board has been in negotiations with the district’s support staff union — which includes bus drivers— since April of last year. The three-year contract, which was ratified by the school board at Wendnesday night’s meeting, calls for a $2 increase current

to the current support staff wages. For bus drivers, this brings the starting wage up to $23.37, which will increase on a yearly basis. By the 15th year, drivers could make up to $31.26 per hour.

“The way that we defined market rate is by looking at Chittenden County median wages,” said board member and member of the support staff negotiating team, Kate Bailey. “So, not at the high end, not at the low end, not even the average but the median, trying to land somewhere in the middle and that was our guidepost as we went through the new salary schedule.”

“We really think this is at least a positive step forward to try to staff our schools,” said the union’s lead negotiator and special educator at South Burlington School District, Noah Everitt. “Part of the hope is, are we getting wages and benefits (for bus drivers) to a place where people see that as a career for them and their families?”

For comparison, Burlington has a 12-step salary model that starts at $16.79 an hour going up yearly and ending at $19.29. The Essex-Westford district is most comparable to the South Burlington district with a 28-step model beginning at $22.70 and ending at $33.50.

The outlier, Champlain Valley School District — which is currently fully staffed with bus drivers — has some of the highest pay in the county. Their three-step model has wages starting at $26.60, moving into step two at $30.33 and ending at step three at $32.75.

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However, Bailey emphasized that bus drivers for that district pay 20 percent for their health insurance premium, whereas South Burlington district drivers are paying 12 percent, “so they have a little bit more take home pay and a little less going to health insurance,” she said. “Most importantly, in my opinion, the Champlain Valley School District bus drivers have five to eight paid days off, our bus drivers have significantly more.”

Transportation staff hired before June 30, 2025 are entitled to 20 sick days per year and 15 sick days for employees hired after June 30, 2025.

However, some drivers said they struggled to even take a day off with no backup to cover their routes. At the meeting, Gabel recounted a time this year when he had to take a day off in order to renew his bus driver’s license, but ironically, the only time available to take a test was during one of his driving shifts.

“I applied for a day off weeks ago. I couldn’t get it,” he said. “Kathy (the transportation supervisor) said ‘You’ve got to go.’ I said, ‘Will you have anybody to cover my route?’ No.”

“I started on Monday letting

my parents, families and kids know that I would not be there. It even went so far as some of the families who said, ‘Oh my god, I can’t be there to pick up my kindergartener tomorrow, what am I going to do?’ Now I’m reaching out to the parent across the street, ‘Could you pick her up tomorrow?’ This really shouldn’t be my job, but that’s how bad it’s gotten at this point.”

Rolling cancellations

Tim Jarvis, the district’s senior director of operations and finance, has grappled with a slew of solutions that have all been relatively unsuccessful. From splitting runs to spending almost $40,000 year to date on private transportation services for extracurricular activities, the district is now contemplating rolling cancellations after spring break.

“What this means is we decide on a weekly basis or bi-weekly basis to say on (a certain day) there will be no bus. Parents, we’re very sorry for the inconvenience but you’re going to need to find alternative transportation on that day,” explained Jarvis.

Although no final decision has been made, superintendent Violet Nichols said that with the cancellations the district has been making

anyways, this will provide more notice for families and students.

“We are having to issue cancellations anyway,” she said. “I just want to be clear that this isn’t additional cancellations, it’s cancellations with notice and with thought. This would be a way for us to give families, students, parents and bus drivers some advance notice to avoid those last-minute scrambling pieces.”

But Gabel objected to the notion of rolling cancellations.

“I’m not doing it because my kids are getting to school by God, even if it means that I’ve got to bring other kids as well,” he said.

“Since the administration, the school board and the union have made a choice to enter a threeyear contract that will not allow for the transportation department to compete financially, it’s critical that South Burlington schools immediately explore options that color outside of the lines and come up with creative ways to both retain and attract new drivers beyond pay and negotiated benefits,” Gabel said. “I haven’t seen anything that might attract new drivers or retain existing staff. Now, I’m bringing it to the school before the department goes beyond repair and into catastrophic failure mode.”

PHOTO BY MIKE DEAN

Mike Dean of South Burlington captured this shot on April 7 of a great egret as it visited Butler Farms pond for a snack. Reader submitted photos are always welcome at news@otherpapersbvt.com.

One egret has no regrets

PREVIEW continued from page 10

Boys’ tennis

Coach: Drew Gordon

Last season: 9-5, lost in the Division I quarterfinals

Key returnees: Yuyang Zhang, Will Bradley, Mateo Duracak, Jay Eagle and James Bradley

Key newcomers: Too early to tell

Outlook: The team needs to replace five of its top players this season and will need some time to build up playing experience on the roster. The Wolves will likely have to move last season’s doubles players into the singles lineup.

“I have no idea what the lineup will look like at this point, so I’m excited to figure out some of those things in practice,” Gordon said. “The team will have to work really hard throughout the season to put us into a position where we can make a playoff push in June.”

South Burlington will look to use early season practices and games to improve as the season progresses.

Opener: Wednesday, April 12, vs Rutland, 3:30 p.m.

Boys’ Ultimate Frisbee

Coach: Sebastian Ventrone

Last season: Division I state champs

This season: 1-0

Key returnees: Max Fontana, senior; Saksham Bhardwaj, senior; Harrison Chamberlain, junior.

Kew newcomers: Austin Marcotte, senior; and Simon Cafiero, senior.

Outlook: With 11 players returning from last season’s squad, a title run is likely. In addition to an athletic incoming group, the Wolves also add two senior players to the team.

“Our team is looking to defend its state title and will be relying on its returning core players to carry us forward,” Ventrone said. “An athletic rookie class has come in to bolster the numbers and how fast they pick up the game will be the deciding factor in how we finish out the season.” With a lot of the DI teams making steps to improve this year, the Wolves will be looking to improve as the season progresses.

Up next: Wednesday, April 12, vs. Vermont Commons

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MONDAY-FRIDAY school year schedule, out by 2:30PM every day.

BENEFITS: Holiday pay, 5 paid personal days, February and April paid school breaks, $250 uniform reimbursement, $250 wellness reimbursement, state retirement program. Medical, dental, & 403b available.

CONTACT: Leo LaForce, Food Service Director by email: llaforce@cvsdvt.org or phone: (802) 482-7176. Or apply online: https://www.vermontjoblink.com/ jobs/1006970

Redhawk Cafe Website: https://cafe.cvuhs.org Champlain Valley Union Highschool, 369 CVU Road, Hinesburg, VT 05461

Community Bankers - Chittenden County BUILDERS I MAKERS I DOERS

There is no better time to join our team!

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!

Job Responsibilities & Requirements

This frontline position is crucial in creating a positive, welcoming and inclusive experience for NSB customers. The successful candidate 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!

City Clerk

City of South Burlington, Vermont

OUR MUNICIPALITY

The City of South Burlington has a unique opportunity available. With the retirement announcement from our current elected City Clerk, we are seeking applications from South Burlington residents to fill this role until our next election in March 2024. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn the duties and perform the work along side our current City Clerk. Learn the ropes from the expert and then make the decision about whether to run for office in 2024.

South Burlington is home to more than 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 $52.5M. South Burlington is a growing community with a commitment to building a vibrant downtown – City Center – and providing exceptional municipal services.

JOB SUMMARY

This position fulfills duties of City Clerk as set forth in Vermont statute, leads and supervises the day-to-day operations of the City Clerk’s Office and staff, maintains official municipal records, issues various licenses and official documents, and directs election activities and performs other related work as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Bachelor’s degree plus two years progressively responsible business experience in maintaining official records, dealing with the public, or in a municipal government setting desirable, or any equivalent combination of education and experience.

2. Incumbent must be a current resident of the City of South Burlington, Vermont.

3. Certification as a Notary Public required within first 2 months of hire required.

4. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite required.

TO APPLY

Review of applications will begin April 24, 2023.

FOR SALE

KELTY SUPER TIOGA

BACKPACK: Includes external frame. Olive color. 6 lb 8 oz. 4,500 cu in. capacity. Fits: 15-21in. torsos. Never used. Tags still on it. $125. Email Ldemaroney@gmail. com.

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

Please send an NSB Application & your resume in confidence to: Careers@nsbvt.com or mail to:

Northfield Savings Bank Human Resources PO Box 7180, Barre, VT 05641

To learn more detail about these positions, see a detailed job description and apply, please visit our job opportunities website: https://southburlingtonvt.gov/jobopportunities

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: sbcityjobs@southburlingtonvt.gov with “City Clerk” in the subject line

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

RABIES BAIT

continued from page 2

The week-long bait drop is a cooperative effort between Vermont and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to stop the spread of the potentially fatal disease.

Build / Remodel

Spring Cleanup & Mulch

Lawn Maintenance

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

Landscape Design

Stonework & Planting

Mini Excavation

802-343-4820

a have those animals mal an it.

Funeral / Cremation

Buying

www.pleasantvalleyvt.com servicedirectory

Relic Sports Cards HY P ER RE L IC HY P ER RE L IC

Bob & Jessica Trautwine

services available 209 Falls Road, Shelburne, VT (802) 985-3370

Build / Remodel

PLEASANT VALLEY, INC.

Roofing

Siding

Siding Renovations

Painting

Decks

802-343-4820

www.pleasantvalleyvt.com

www.pleasantvalleyvt.com

Funeral / Cremation

CORBIN & PALMER

FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES

SHELBURNE FUNERAL CHAPEL

Family owned and operated since 1921

Pre-planning services available 209 Falls Road, Shelburne, VT (802) 985-3370

ARIES

March 21 - April 20

Aries, your emotions may cloud your judgement in the days to come. It’s better to seek the advice of a third party who can guide you without the added drama.

TAURUS

April 21 - May 21

Messages from the universe could come across as confusing or vague, Taurus. You might need someone with cosmic intuition to help you sort out what is going on.

GEMINI

May 22 - June 21

A stagnant energy has been surrounding you lately, Gemini. Fortunately, you are able to brush that away soon enough and feel rejuvenated.

CANCER

June 22 - July 22

Cancer, if you haven’t devoted enough time lately to taking care of yourself you might awaken this week with a foggy head. Take care of yourself.

LEO

July 23 - Aug. 23

Responsibilities could have you feeling overburdened, Leo. The trick is to ask others to lighten your load. There are bound to be several volunteers willing to lend a hand.

VIRGO

Aug. 24 - Sept. 22

Virgo, try not to compare yourself to others this week. Everyone is unique, with his or her own strengths and weaknesses. An unfair comparison could dampen your spirits.

LIBRA

Sept. 23 - Oct. 23

You might nd it challenging to articulate your feelings to a romantic partner, Libra. If you stumble over saying the words, why not write them down, instead?

SCORPIO

Oct. 24 - Nov. 22

Sometimes your pragmatic side gets into a tussle with your optimism, Scorpio. Being a realist doesn’t have to mean you give up hope. There are many things that can go your way.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 23 - Dec. 21

Sagittarius, while you may feel like sleeping the week away, awaken to the possibilities before you. Numerous opportunities await, so answer the door when they knock.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22 - Jan. 20

It is alright to feel uncertain about what the heart wants, Capricorn. Not everyone has things all gured out. Ponder your likes and dislikes to determine your path.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 21 - Feb. 18

Aquarius, messy work and small mistakes can sabotage all of your hard work thus far. Buckle down and focus on the details. Have someone check that everything is perfect.

PISCES

Feb. 19 - March 20

People around you may be more temperamental than usual, Pisces. Avoid offering any unsolicited advice until things quiet down.

CLUES ACROSS

1. Atomic mass unit

4. Criticize mightily

7. Sino-Soviet block (abbr.)

10. Stand in for

11. Everyone has one

12. Brew

13. Rectify

15. Popular Dodge truck model

16. Beef or chicken intestine

19. Satisfy

21. Of a particular people or localized region

23. Movements in quick tempos

24. Able to pay one’s debts

25. Fleshy bird beak covering

26. Dueling sword

27. Helps

30. Court is in it

CROSSWORD SUDOKU

34. Touch lightly

35. Airborne (abbr.)

36. Of one

41. Baked good

45. Jai __, sport

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!

46. About aviation

47. Low oval mound

50. Rugged mountain ranges

54. Compel to do something

55. A way to carve

56. Sao __, city in Brazil

57. Mustachioed actor Elliott

59. American Idol runnerup Clay

60. A way to soak

61. Car mechanics group

62. Born of

63. Time zone

64. Sea eagle

65. Even’s opposite

CLUES DOWN

1. Sharp mountain ridge

2. Thin, brous cartilages

3. Provides new details

4. Muscular weaknesses

5. Ottoman military title

6. Banes

7. Horse-riding seats

8. Arms of a shirt

9. Narrow path along a road edge

13. Viper

14. Dis gure

ANSWERS

17. Variety of Chinese language

18. Portray in a show

20. Wrongful act

22. No (slang)

27. State of agitation

28. __ Diego

29. One point east of due south

31. 007’s creator

32. The NBA’s Toppin

33. Midway between north and northeast

37. Examples

38. __ Gould, actor

39. The habitat of wild animals

40. Artful subtlety

41. In elders

42. Keep under control 43. Herb

44. Distressed 47. A way to go down 48. Type of acid 49. Take by force

51. Collected fallen leaves 52. Shout of welcome or farewell

53. Monetary unit

58. Swiss river

CITY OF SOUTH BURLINGTON REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS/QUALIFICATIONS

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR DRINKING WATER ENGINEERING SERVICES

The City of South Burlington is in the process of obtaining Statements of Qualifications from qualified engineering firms. Required professi onal services will include: drinking water system engineering and design, preparation of bid and contract documents, and participation in the evaluation of bids received. The City of South Burlington needs to retain these services in order to increase the amount of water storage available in its high service area.

Proposals are due to Tom DiPietro, 104 Landfill Road, South Burlington, VT 05403 on April 28, 2023, before 2:00 p.m.

More information is available on the City of South Burlington’s web site at: https://cms6.revize.com/revize/southburlington/businesses/bid_and_rfp_ opportunities/index.php

PAVING PROGRAM - FY’24

The City of South Burlington is requesting bids for its FY’24 Paving Program. Proposals will be received at the Department of Public Works, 104 Landfill Road, South Burlington, VT 05403 until 11:00 a.m. on April 20, 2023. Bids may be sent electronically to acate@southburlingtonvt.gov or dropped off by hand or mailed to 104 Landfill Road, South Burlington, VT 05403.

More information is available on the City of South Burlington’s web site at: https://cms6.revize.com/revize/southburlington/businesses/bid_and_rfp_ opportunities/index.php

KENNEDY DRIVE POND 2 UPGRADE

The City of South Burlington is requesting bids for the South Burlington STP MM19(11)Kennedy Drive Pond 2 Gravel Wetland stormwater project. Work generally includes the upgrade of an existing stormwater pond to a gravel wetland, along with the installation of a new swirl separator.

Sealed bids will be received at the South Burlington Department of Public Works Office located at 104 Landfill Road, South Burlington, VT until 1:00 p.m. on April 21, 2023. Copies of the Contract Documents and Plans are available from Blueprints Etc.: 20 Farrell St, South Burlington, VT; (802) 865-4503.

More information is available on the City of South Burlington’s web site at: https://cms6.revize.com/revize/southburlington/businesses/bid_and_rfp_ opportunities/index.php

WILLISTON ROAD PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS

The City of South Burlington is requesting bids for the Williston Road Pedestrian Crossings Project (ST BP22(13)). Work generally includes the construction of two new pedestrian crossings with pedestrian refuge islands and rectangular rapid flashing beacons, new sidewalk, ADA compliant pedestrian curb ramps, and improved intersection curb geometry.

Sealed bids will be received at the South Burlington Department of Public Works Office located at 104 Landfill Road, South Burlington, VT until 2:00 p.m. on April 21, 2023. Copies of the Contract Documents and Plans are available from Blueprints Etc.: 20 Farrell St, South Burlington, VT; (802) 865-4503.

More information is available on the City of South Burlington’s web site at: https://cms6.revize.com/revize/southburlington/businesses/bid_and_rfp_ opportunities/index.php

SOUTH BURLINGTON SHELBURNE ROAD VALVE REPLACEMENT PROJECT

The City of South Burlington is accepting bids for the replacement of water valves on Shelburne Road. In order to be considered, bids must be submitted to Jay Nadeau at the South Burlington Water Department by 1:00 p.m. on April 28, 2023. Digital submittals can be sent to jay.nadeau@champlainwater.org.

More information is available on the City of South Burlington’s web site at: https://cms6.revize.com/revize/southburlington/businesses/bid_and_rfp_ opportunities/index.php