The Other Paper - 6-8-23

the South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977

Fine art photographer releases first film

Documentary stands as call to preserve rural history

COREY MCDONALD

STAFF WRITER

Jim Westphalen is up on a wintry Saturday morning, driving through Sheldon, Vermont to photograph an old 19th-century cow barn — all that’s left of a once-thriving farmland built along the old Missisquoi rail-

road line that was destroyed by a fire.

The camera pans over him as he sets his tripod up in the middle of a snowy expanse to capture a still image of the weather-worn building. In the freezing cold, he takes as much time gazing at the structure as he does staring through his camera lens.

This is what Westphalen has been doing

for the past four years: driving endlessly to find the old prairie churches, the paintpeeled barns, the old ranch homes with sagging porches and concaving, weather-battered roofs, and the one-room schoolhouses.

See FILM on page 12

KATE O’FARRELL VTDIGGER

A Vermont state representative’s home was vandalized with paint soon after hundreds of people were required to move out of motels on Thursday.

“Isn’t it nice to have a home” was written in red capital letters on the garage door of Democrat Martin LaLonde’s house in South Burlington, according to Police Chief Shawn Burke.

LaLonde reported the graffiti around 9 a.m. on Friday, Burke said, and police are investigating. The letters could be seen through an apparent fresh coat of white paint later in the morning.

Republican Gov. Phil Scott and Democratic leaders in the House and Senate declined to extend a pandemic-era program that used federal cash, which has since run dry, to expand the number of unhoused people who could stay in the state’s hotels and motels.

The program’s end — and the waves of

See LALONDE on page 13

South Burlington students graduate from Rice

Growing Strong: Student volunteers support nonprofit Common Roots

MARY ANN LICKTEIG CONTRIBUTOR

By the time they finish fifth grade, students who have been in the South Burlington School District since kindergarten will have received 54 lessons about eating local, healthy foods. The curriculum, developed and presented by South Burlington nonprofit Common Roots, often includes food samples.

Some South Burlington High School students who fondly remember their Farm to School lessons — the one where they got to try salsa was an especially big hit — are now Common Roots volunteers.

Now in its 15th year, Common Roots’ mission is to provide food education and food access and to practice and promote land stewardship. Its efforts include growing organic vegetables to donate, sending educators to teach and run cooking classes in South Burlington schools, providing internships for local college students and hosting festivals, camps and field trips.

High school senior Avery Adamson and sophomores Gracie Morris and Sam Jones each show up about once a week to help wherever needed — they plant, weed, harvest, clean vegetables, and box

and sell the meals that Common Roots offers to the public on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Avery volunteers during his free periods at school. Common Roots executive director Carol McQuillen said that he will contact her and say, “I have an hour and a half on Monday; do you need any help?” Then, when it’s almost time to get back to school, he’ll say, “I have 10 more minutes. Is there anything else you need?”

Avery, like Sam, often bikes or walks from school, which is nearly a mile away. “It’s not very far,” Sam said. “But it is all uphill.”

Sam started volunteering at Common Roots when he was 12 or 13, tagging along with his dad, Anthony, when he came as a volunteer chef to help prepare meals for Farm to Fork, the Tuesday night program that sells house-made dinners. Anthony has since become Common Roots’ certified executive chef, and Sam has (voluntarily) increased his volunteer hours, working every Tuesday and Friday after school and during summers.

“I do dishes, lots of dishes,” he said. He also pitches in with housecleaning and helps new college interns find their way around the kitchen. Last summer, he learned how to operate the outdoor woodfired clay oven.

His photographs of lush Vermont landscapes and luscious Common Roots-made meals adorn the Wheeler House dining room walls and are for sale. Sam and Common Roots share the profits.

McQuillen credits Sam with the idea of giving away meal vouchers at the South Burlington Food Shelf.

Common Roots goes to the Food Shelf to give away vegetables and recipes, Sam reasoned; wouldn’t it be nice if Food Shelf patrons could come to Common Roots?

One day this past winter, the first 20 food shelf visitors got a $50 voucher to spend at Common Roots.

Sam’s favorite thing about volunteering? Meeting new people and feeling a sense of community, he said.

Gracie contacted McQuillen last spring to ask about volunteering.

“I was 14, so I wasn’t really old enough to get a job,” she said, adding she still wanted to learn new skills and gain experience interacting with the public. McQuillen invited her to Common Roots and the two spent an hour and a half talking while planting sunflowers, Ukraine’s national flower, in

See COMMON ROOTS on page 3

SPACE IS STILL AVAILABLE: Come join Basin Harbor on Saturday, June 17th , for a great 5K race along the shores of Lake Champlain. The race begins at 9:00 am.

COURTESY PHOTO

Rice Memorial High School’s annual graduation ceremony took place on Saturday, June 3, in South Burlington. This year’s graduating class is comprised of 83 students from 26 Vermont towns, five foreign countries, and two different states. Seven of Rice’s graduates are from South Burlington including Rice’s Valedictorian, Claire Vincent. According to the school, “The determination, remarkable work ethic, creativity, and strong character in these students will give them a launchpad for success in today’s world.”

From Left: Anna Marsella, Samara Plunkett, Peyton Donovan, Anouk Von Bernewitz, Mohammed Kanneh, Claire Vincent, Mary Grace Murphy. Event photos and additional information about the graduation can be found on the Rice’s website at rmhsvt.org.

COMMON ROOTS

continued from page 2

a garden designed to symbolize solidarity with the country.

McQuillen was impressed that Gracie was already planning her summer, wanting to use her time well and talking about giving back to Common Roots.

“That’s so adult!” McQuillen said. “That’s not a teenage mindset, right?”

Since that day, Gracie has logged more than 120 hours weeding and mulching that sunflower patch, cleaning silverware, teaching kids how to cut vegetables, stretching pizza dough, topping flatbreads, taking customer orders and processing payments.

Gracie records her volunteer hours and tasks on her phone. For example, on Aug. 10 last year, in addition to trimming parsley, deadheading flowers and teaching kids how to make salad dressing, she wove scarlet runner beans through the wooden archway near the pizza oven, “and that was pretty cool because … it was kind of like a piece of art afterwards,” she said.

Avery had done a little gardening at Common Roots as part of a school project when he was a sophomore. Last year, as a junior, he was looking for a service thesis project, “and I wanted to do something outside, something involving farming,” he said.

Starting last spring, he helped organize the workshop, start seeds in the greenhouse and till and fertilize fields. He parlayed

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the project into an AmeriCorps job for the summer and stayed on, planting, weeding, harvesting and cleaning vegetables. He also made signs to label farm structures, including greenhouses, hoop houses, Haygroves and the propagation house. The job ended last August, but, Avery said, “I just keep coming back.” He shows up during his free time at school and after school on Fridays. Why? “It’s more fun than having a free period,” he said, “and I like having something to do.”

Farm manager Colin O’Brien said Avery is motivated and self-directed. “It’s really great on a farm to have people who just can kind of see a problem and take care of it and don’t need to be told to,” O’Brien said.

The work, Avery said, has taught him lots about farming and introduced him to new vegetables, such as tiny pickling cucumbers. “My favorite thing that we grew is a Chioggia beet,” he said. Sometimes called a candy-stripe beet or a bull’s eye beet, its interior has alternating red and white concentric circles. Avery put it on his salad every day. “It was so good, and I just never heard of it before.”

His work at Common Roots provided another, unexpected lesson. “I guess I was surprised by how much I like manual labor,” Avery said. When he looks to the future, he sees himself doing similar work, he said. “I can’t imagine having a job inside.”

Get

COURTESY PHOTO

Avery Adamson assisting in the kitchen at Common Roots’ Farm to Fork night.

CRIME & COURTS

Man faces federal charge for gas station robbery

MIKE DONOGHUE CORRESPONDENT

A Colchester man with a lengthy criminal record, whom South Burlington Police say used a handgun to rob a Shelburne Road convenience store in January, is now facing a federal indictment in the case, court records show.

Joshua Wells, 34, was visiting his grandmother on Lindenwood Drive on the night of Jan. 17 when he robbed the Jolley Store about a quarter mile away, according to Detective Cpl. Kevin Grealis.

Wells has eight felony arrests, including four convictions, and 28 misdemeanor charges with 21 convictions, Grealis said in court papers. He said Wells also had 11 active criminal cases pending in Chittenden County at the time of the armed robbery.

The defendant’s criminal history goes back to 2007 and includes convictions for assault and robbery, escape from custody, and larceny, records show.

Last week, Wells pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court to a Hobbs Act violation — committing a robbery that interferes with

interstate commerce. If convicted, Wells faces up to 20 years in prison.

Federal Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle agreed to a request by defense lawyer Evan Barquist to delay for one week a hearing on the government’s request to detain Wells as both a danger to the community and a risk to flee. Barquist said he was working on getting Wells into Serenity House, a drug rehabilitation center in Wallingford.

Wells, who told the court he has been treated multiple times for narcotic addiction, will remain at the Northwest State Correctional Facility pending the detention hearing, Doyle said.

Police said that, in mid-January, they received tips from concerned citizens after a news release that included photographs of the robber was issued about the robbery. A person claiming to be a family member told police the robber appeared to be Wells and reported he had a significant drug problem and is “very desperate” lately, police said.

A South Burlington Community Justice Center volunteer, who sat

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on a case involving Wells earlier that month, also said she believed he was the robber, police said.

The night clerk at the Shelburne Road Jolley reported that, on 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 17, a man entered the store brandishing what appeared to be either a 9-mm or .45-mm automatic pistol and demanded money be placed in a bag, according to police, who said the clerk put the cash drawer on the counter and the robber grabbed the money. Police said he made off with $180 in cash and a carton of Marlboro Red cigarettes valued at $90.

“What scared me was, after he took the money, he leveled (the gun) a little bit and said I want a carton of cigarettes,” the clerk told Patrol Cpl. Ken Soffen, the first responding office, who recorded the interaction on his body camera.

The clerk reported when he came to work just before 11 p.m. he spotted the robber by a light post on Shelburne Road near the southern entrance for the store and he was pacing around.

South Burlington Police Department Sgt. Sean Pope and Detective Martin Maloney both independently advised they believed the robber was Wells, who was well-known to police because of his many contacts, Grealis wrote.

As the investigation unfolded, Grealis did a check of recent police involvements with Wells and determined he had been arrested by Colchester Police the morning of the robbery for a charge of possession of methamphetamines and that he had a weapon, which turned out to be a BB gun, records show.

The New England State Police Intelligence Network was able to enhance the store video showing the gun during the robbery so a visual comparison from different angles could be undertaken with the seized BB gun, Grealis said.

Wells was subsequently located at the Motel 6 and told police he and his wife had been at his grandmother’s house in South Burlington until midnight on Jan. 17,

Grealis said.

The grandmother told police her grandson and his wife “were struggling recently, specifically with housing and substance abuse.”

Management at the Colchester motel told police the couple was being asked to leave due to multiple police interactions and suspected drug use.

State Judge Elizabeth Novotny approved a search warrant for the cellphone used by Wells and police said they used a cellphone tracking system to show when and from where Wells made three calls shortly after the time of the robbery and he was able to pinpoint the location of where each was made. They were in a path that Wells would have made on his way back to the motel starting at 11:34 p.m., about 6 minutes after the report of the robbery, police said.

Assisting South Burlington Police were the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Colchester and University of Vermont Police.

Tentative trial date set in cyclist death case

Court discovery proceeds as court sets September deadline

A tentative trial date has been set for September in the case of Richard K. Lewis, who was arrested by South Burlington police in February after he allegedly hit a cyclist with his car.

Lewis, 69, of Hinesburg, pleaded not guilty in April to a charge of grossly negligent operation with death resulting. He was released following his arraignment on April 6 under the condition that he does not operate a motor vehicle.

Last October, South Burlington police officers responded to the scene near 1410 Hinesburg Rd., where they found Gerard Malavenda, a cyclist from Williston, “breathing, but not speaking,” according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Malavenda had been on his bicycle on the side of the road when, according to court documents, Lewis allegedly struck him with his car.

Neither Lewis nor his attorney, Brooks MacArthur, have responded to messages seeking comment.

Lewis’s case is expected to be trial-ready by Sept. 15, according to court documents signed

by Superior Court Judge Alison Sheppard Arms. However, the case could be postponed if lawyers for either side file motions to extend the discovery phase.

The state’s and the defense’s witness lists are scheduled to be provided to the court later this month, and depositions are to be completed by the end of July.

According to the affidavit, Lewis, at the time of the incident, had been driving his GMC truck southbound on Hinesburg Road in South Burlington to visit his son. He later told police in an interview that he recalled slowing down after seeing Malavenda straddling his bike, which was perpendicular to the roadway on the west side of the road.

Malavenda’s bike was found with damage to its rear tire, but no damage to the frame or handlebars. There were no witnesses to the crash.

Police say that, after the crash, Lewis stopped his car and asked a nearby resident to call 911. Malavenda was taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center’s emergency department, where he later died.

The Vermont State Police investigation of the crash showed

Lewis’ car had veered nearly three feet over the white fog line into the southbound shoulder where Malavenda was with his bike.

Speed was not a contributing factor in the crash “but rather a lane deviation possibly due to an inattentive operator,” the state police crash report reads.

Police, in their affidavit, said Lewis “failed to exercise ordinary care by not only failing to avoid a bicyclist on the shoulder of a public highway ... but in fact driving more than two feet to the right of the fog line and striking the bicyclist.”

Malavenda had been wearing a neon shirt and neon shoe covers when he was hit, just after noon on Oct. 15, 2022, police said.

Officers who spoke with Lewis at the scene noted that his call and missed call history folders were both empty; police later seized his phone and determined his cellphone had been connected to the vehicle’s Bluetooth system minutes before the crash occurred, according to court documents.

Police later sent a subpoena to AT&T, but the company told him that there were no records of phone calls or text messages available made between 11:51 a.m. and 1 p.m. that day.

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

Welfare check: 20

Suicidal person: 15

Public and agency assists: 21

Accident: property damage: 12

Suspicious event: 12

Retail theft: 11

Motor vehicle complaint: 10

Alarm: 9

Traffic stop: 8

Trespass: 8

Disturbance: 8

Fraud: 6

Total incidents: 257

Arrests:

May 22 at 8 a.m., Eric M. Loyer, 31, of Burlington, was arrested for grand larceny and false pretenses on Dorset Street.

May 22 at 1 p.m., Mercedes Abaire, 28, of St. Albans City, was arrested for retail theft on Dorset Street.

May 23 at 3:23 p.m., a 14-year-old juve-

nile was arrested for marijuana possession on Dorset Street.

May 25 at 12:44 p.m., Joshua A. Tripp, no address provided, was arrested for felony possession of stolen property on Shelburne Road.

May 25 at 4:02 p.m., Ashley R. Skidmore, 36, no address given, was arrested for violating conditions of release on Hinesburg Road.

May 26 at 6:30 p.m., Kasandra J. Clark, 38, of Starksboro, was arrested for possession of cocaine on Williston Road.

May 26 at 11:53 p.m., Dana W. Cota, 38, of Williston, was cited for excessive speed on Williston Road.

May 27 at 11:40 a.m., Eli Jahanovich, 82, of South Burlington, was arrested for theft of services on Shelburne Road.

May 27 at 2:30 p.m., Brett Felter, 52, of South Burlington, was arrested for felony unlawful trespass on Cottage Grove Avenue.

May 31 at midnight: William Smith, 53, of Hinesburg, was arrested after police pulled Smith over on I-89 in South Burlington for speeding and determined Smith had active warrants for

his arrest related to a prior drunk driving charge. Smith was also cited for driving after criminal license suspension and giving false information to police.

Impeachment committee, don’t act behind closed doors

Guest Perspective

Matthew B. Byrne

Editor’s note: Matthew Byrne, a lawyer from the firm of Gravel & Shea representing the Vermont Press Association, wrote a letter to the lawmakers heading up the Legislature’s Special Committee on Impeachment Inquiry, Rep. Martin LaLonde, D-Montpelier, and Rep. Michael McCarthy, D-St. Albans. The committee was was established last month to determine whether or not to impeach two of Franklin County’s top elected law enforcement officials — state’s attorney John Lavoie and sheriff John Grinsmore. Here is Byrne’s letter, in full.

Dear Rep. Lalonde and Rep. McCarthy:

One of the most important Constitutional issues that the General Assembly can decide is whether to impeach an independently elected official. Because of the nature of this responsibility, every step of the process should be open and transparent.

On behalf of the Vermont Press Association and its statewide membership, I am writing you today to please reconsider your decision to provide possible sweeping secrecy as your committee investigates if an impeachment proceeding should be undertaken. The Committee adopted its proposed secrecy rules without a chance for public comment at a hearing as requested by the VPA before your first meeting. Most of your adopted rules would never pass muster in Vermont courts. Witnesses, even child victims in sex crimes, testify in open court.

In a democracy, the public are the ultimate authority. The Vermont Constitution recognizes both the people’s central role and the need of the General Assembly to conduct its business in the open. Our Constitution recognizes that the people are the ultimate holders of governmental power.

Chapter I, Article 6 says: “That all power being originally inherent in and (consequently) derived from the people, therefore, all officers of government, whether legislative or executive, are their trustees and servants; and at all times, in a legal way, accountable to them.”

The General Assembly can only be accountable to the people if the General Assembly’s actions are public. There is not only a long tradition of requiring the General Assembly to conduct its business in the open, but the Constitution explicitly requires it. Chapter II, Section 8 says, “The doors of the House in which the General Assembly of this Commonwealth shall sit, shall be open for the admission of all persons who behave decently, except only when the welfare of the State may require them to be shut.”

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution also provides strong protection for open proceedings in criminal and civil court. In Richmond Newspapers, Inc. v. Virginia, the United States Supreme Court held that: “Plainly it would be difficult to single out any aspect of govern-

ment of higher concern and importance to the people than the manner in which criminal trials are conducted; as we have shown, recognition of this pervades the centuries-old history of open trials and the opinions of this Court.” 448 U.S. 555, 575 (1980).

The Court recognized that “in guaranteeing freedoms such as those of speech and press, the First Amendment can be read as protecting the right of everyone to attend trials so as to give meaning to those explicit guarantees.” Id. Criminal trials are not private: “A trial is a public event. What transpires in the court room is public property…Those who see and hear what transpired can report it with impunity.” Cox Broadcasting Corp. v. Cohn, 420 U.S. 469, 492-93 (1975) quoting Craig v. Harney, 331 U.S. 367, 374 (1947).

The United States Supreme Court extended the holding of Richmond Newspapers to criminal pretrial proceedings in Press-Enterprise Co. v. Superior Court, 478 U.S. 1, 13 (1986).

The Court held that these proceedings could only be closed in narrow circumstances. Id. “Since a qualified First Amendment right of access attaches to preliminary hearings in California, the proceedings cannot be closed unless specific, on the record findings are made demonstrating that ‘closure is essential to preserve higher values and is narrowly tailored to serve that interest.’” Id. at 13-14 (citations omitted) The interests of witnesses was one of the arguments in favor of closing the hearings that the Court rejected.

The First Amendment also extends that openness to civil judicial proceedings. “It is well established that the public and the press have a ‘qualified First Amendment right to attend judicial proceedings and to access certain judicial documents.’”

Lugosch v. Pyramid Co. of Onondaga, 435 F.3d 110, 120 (2d Cir. 2006) (citation omitted); see also Hartford Courant Co. v. Pellegrino, 380 F.3d 83, 91 (2d Cir. 2004) (qualified First Amendment right to docket sheets). “Judicial documents” include not just the opinion of the court, but documents that the court considers in reaching its decision. In Lugosch, the issue involved summary judgment briefing. 435 F.3d at 120-21. The Second Circuit held that the First Amendment right of access attached to those documents. “Our precedents indicate that documents submitted to a court for its consideration in a summary judgment motion are—as a matter of law—judicial documents to which a strong presumption of access attaches, under both the common law and the First Amendment.” Id. at 121.

That reasons that the Committee has given to close its proceedings do not hold up to scrutiny. In our judicial system, witnesses are asked to testify routinely in criminal trials, civil trials, and various pre-trial proceedings. Rather than conceal testimony, the courts have long supported the use of cross examination to promote truthful testimony. Indeed, the Sixth Amendment of the United States Consti-

tution guarantees the rights of a criminal defendant to confront his or her accuser(s).

Likewise, the concern for retaliation against witnesses is unfounded. Significant protections already exist under the law to protect witnesses from intimidation or retaliation. See, e.g., 13 V.S.A. § 3015. If the General Assembly felt that these protections were insufficient, it could have and should have enacted stronger protections like a whistleblower protection law.

What is equally concerning is that the “Special Committee on Impeachment” is attempting to give itself limitless power to exclude the public and press based on vague and unreviewable bases. For example, the Committee is apparently giving itself the authority to make things secret when it is “otherwise necessary to enable the Special Committee to conduct its inquiries.”

With respect, this savings clause grants the Committee an excessive amount of discretion to close its proceedings for little or no reason. Moreover, the Committee has no requirement to record the reasons for

Running for city council harder than running for Legislature

To the Editor:

Louis Bresee had a great letter in the May 25 Other Paper (“Campaign participation key to democracy”). I just want to add some thoughts from my own experience.

I moved to South Burlington six years ago. The other 70 years of my life were spent in rural southern Vermont. I have served in elected office for one-third of my life, sometimes in more than one office at a time.

I think money matters, but so does campaign philosophy. I was in the legislature for 10 years from a district measuring roughly 40 by 20 miles.

I never tried to raise money. I had all my materials made locally. My signs were drab, but had my picture on them, and stood out. My car top sign was unique. Even with that area, I knocked on a big percentage of the doors.

I do not like asking for money, but I do believe in personal connection. I see so many signs here, but they are all just a name. It seems that here, name recognition is the only goal — the person does not really matter.

In this type of campaign, I do think the Southeast Quadrant has a large advantage. Statistically, the candidates have more money and can raise more money from a wealthy area.

Before the last election, I wrote this to a city councilor, “When I moved here about six years ago, it did not take me long to realize that South Burlington was ‘strange.’ You are used to it, so maybe you never thought about it, but in South Burlington,

concealing witness testimony or its deliberations, effectively insulating itself from any sort of accountability for its investigatory conduct. Prosecutors in the judicial system are accountable to the Judiciary for their conduct even in the investigatory stage of a case.

We appreciate the Committee’s commitment that it “will conduct our work in open session whenever possible.” In addition, the press appreciates your commitment that “The Final Report of the Special Committee on Impeachment Inquiry will be available to the public. Any evidence presented to the House, in the event that Articles of Impeachment are recommended by the Special Committee, would also be public, as well as the testimony and evidence in any trial in the Senate.”

However, that disclosure comes too late to ensure that the General Assembly is doing its job. The deliberations of the Committee and all evidence given to the Committee should be available for public review immediately.

it is easier to run for the Legislature than it is for the City Council or school board!”

The reply: “I am not sure why you feel it is harder to run for city council or school board. Tell me more and how you arrived at that conclusion.”

Huh?! It’s a smaller area to campaign in with one-fifth as many constituents.

Wendell Coleman South Burlington

The Other Paper: Please stop using SoBu

To the Editor:

The nickname SoBu is no longer being used in South Burlington City postings. It was childish, disrespectful, lazy and more. It is time for The Other Paper to give up this ill-advised nick name.

Loretta Marriott South Burlington

Editor’s note: We didn’t get the memo from officials that the city had officially abandoned the SoBu identifier.

Test scores down, education costs up

To the Editor:

The hallmark of any nation is its education. Our public education costs are the highest in the industrialized world and outcomes are marginal at best. Time is of

LGBTQ+ youth deserve pride, not debate over rights

From the School Board

Kate Bailey

We are only halfway into 2023, and more anti-LGBTQ+ were introduced in state houses this year than in each of the previous five years, according to the Human Rights Campaign. More than 125 bills would block access to age-appropriate, medically necessary, best-practice health care for trans youth; more than 45 bills ban trans students from playing school sports; and many more bills erase queer and trans representation in curriculum.

I joined the South Burlington School Board in 2022 because I believe deeply in public education as the foundation of freedom and democracy. I wanted to serve my community, and I feel that the perspective of a relatively young, queer person deserves representation at this moment in education politics.

In just one year on the South Burlington School Board, I’ve seen the national moral panic around the rights of LGBTQ+ youth reach our local community. I’ve been asked my opinion on what type of stories should be read in classrooms, how we teach health class and sex-ed, and who has access to

locker rooms and sports teams. Our queer and trans students are the latest targets in a culture war where there are no winners — only more isolation and pain.

I know how it feels to have your identity under debate in the classroom. When I was a high school student, marriage equality was the political topic discussed nightly on cable news and around the kitchen table.

In debate class around 2005, I was assigned to argue against gay marriage. I can still feel the wave of shame and the pit in my stomach that took over as I prepared for the debate by reading headlines and listening to speeches opposing LGBTQ+ rights.

The debate wasn’t simply an academic exercise for me. As someone trying to figure out my own sexuality, the debate became about my self-worth. The debate put into question whether or not I was worthy of love.

Senior year of high school, I started dating my best friend. We were both girls. We kept the relationship secret from friends and family, which meant that I missed out on sharing the joys that come with first love and the support needed navigating a new relationship. It wasn’t until many years later that I finally felt safe to joyfully embrace

being queer and bisexual. My own personal acceptance was aided by growing normalization and LGBTQ+ visibility nationwide. My mental health suffered from the stress and shame I felt as a closeted young person, and my story is not unique. Anxiety, depression, and poor mental health is now a crisis among Vermont youth, and students with historically oppressed identities are at higher risk. Most recent Vermont Department of Health data found that students of color were almost twice as likely to have attempted suicide in the last twelve months than white students, while LGBTQ+ students were more than three times as likely as other kids.

Youth are paying attention. What messages do we want our young people to hear? The more we debate and place judgment, the more youth fear for their rights to love, to learn, and to simply live. Trans and queer people have always and will continue to exist, love, learn, and celebrate each other.

I know the powerful impact of exploring one’s identity in a safe, affirming community. We all know that accepting and loving

families, schools, and communities make all the difference for our kids. LGBTQ+ youth who feel high levels of support from their family and school attempt suicide at less than half the rate of those who felt low or moderate social support. Queer and gender-affirming education, health care, and community support are literally lifesaving.

How do we build a healthy community where everyone belongs? Listen to young people without fear or judgment. Practice new pronouns. Read queer books and remember that you don’t have to understand every nuance of gender and sexuality before offering respect and compassion. When your neighbors or your elected officials propose discriminatory bills, speak out to stop them. Celebrate trans kids when they bloom into the people they are.

To the trans and queer students in my South Burlington community: I see you. I’m proud of you. You are loved, and your existence is beautiful. This is not up for debate.

Kate Bailey lives in South Burlington and is in her first term as one of five elected School Board Directors in South Burlington.

During the pandemic, the Statehouse stepped up more than usual to help those without housing put a roof over their heads. Vermont’s Motel Program has been pushing for more transitional housing for the purpose of getting our neighbors off the streets and on their feet.

For those working to end homelessness in our state, lodging is the important first step to help folks find job stability and eventually a home of their own. But none of that work can even begin until we help folks find a room.

As a faith leader, I believe that helping those who struggle with homelessness is a moral imperative. It is one of the clearest ways we can love our neighbors and put those who are last first. Also, as a person who grew up in the state, I have come to appreciate Vermont’s neighborly values and hospitality.

Still, Vermont has an age-old problem with poverty and homelessness. We had this problem before the pandemic, during the pandemic, and it is still a problem today. It would be a moral failing on our part to forget our neighbors who are struggling just because we are no longer struggling ourselves.

Our State’s Motel Program was funded on government aid, and the reason for ending the program is that there simply is

no money left for it in the state’s budget. However, this does not mean that we should simply abandon a program that has helped to give stability to so many struggling Vermonters, many of whom have families and children. The second the Motel Program was implemented, our state should have been working to help find more permanent funding for this program and expand upon the transitional housing we desperately lack. The Motel Program was meant to be a bandage to help get us through tough times, but the unseen reality is that times have always been tough for those we refuse to see.

It baffles me that our Legislature will work to keep gas prices low for struggling families but will not work to put a roof over their heads. It saddens me that the stability of so many of our neighbors’ lives has been reduced to the bottom line of a budget.

When Vermonters care enough about the good of others, we work together to make positive change. I feel that the 800 people evicted from their lodging this past week should wake us up to the difficulty of not having a place to rest. How many of us, like Mary and Joseph, have traveled to another place, only to find there is no room at any inn, having to suffer the conditions of a stable or, worse, a park bench or cold, damp ground?

Homelessness is a reality that can

Guest Perspective

Rev. Devon Thomas

Kate Bailey

Gifts For

Nite Out

June 22 - The Devon McGarry Band

June 29 - The Hitmen

July 6 - The Grift

July 13 - Grippo Funk Band

Fires, swimming prohibited at fishing access areas

With the beginning of summer and anglers fishing from shore, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department reminds people that open fires and swimming are prohibited at all Vermont state fishing access areas.

Open fires and their remnants create unsafe areas for other anglers and boaters to use and enjoy and are unhealthy for the animals and fish that live in the adjacent waters. Fish and Wildlife cleans up the toxic waste left by open fires on state lands annually at considerable expense.

Swimming at fishing access areas is prohibited because the primary uses of the fishing access areas are for launching

Dates & Bands

July 20 - B-Town

July 27 - Barbie-n-Bones

August 3 - Quadra

August 10 - Sticks & Stones

Community Notes

and retrieving motorboats and for shore fishing.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department maintains 203 developed fishing access areas on lakes and rivers throughout the state. The access areas were purchased and are maintained with funds derived from the sale of fishing licenses and motorboat registrations, as well as a federal excise tax on fishing equipment, fishing tackle and gasoline for motorboats.

Other prohibited uses of fishing access areas include littering, camping, picnicking, parking of vehicles not related to priority uses, and commercial activity.

“Vermont State Game Wardens will be strictly enforcing the rules at state fishing access areas this summer,” said Col. Justin Stedman, Vermont’s

August 17 - Neon Ramblers

August 24 - A House on Fire See less

Chief Game Warden. “Please help keep our lands clean and open for others to enjoy, and report violations to your local warden or use the anonymous Operation Game Thief online report form on the Vermont Fish and Wildlife website at tinyurl.com/yxv8x7tk.

Female-founded Safety Team awarded grant

The Safety Team of South Burlington was awarded $15,000 from the Vermont Women’s Fund, a component fund of the Vermont Community Foundation dedicated to women and girls, which last week announced the recipients of its 2023 annual grant round. The Safety Team is an orga-

COURTESY PHOTO

SB Nite Out has become one of our most anticipated community events. In its 7th year, friends, family, and neighbors spend evenings in the park - listening to live music, enjoying different cuisines. Held on Thursday evenings, in late-June, July & August, you will find some of the best food trucks and local bands. This year’s lineup is sure to be a fun one. Don’t miss it! Above, The Devon McGarry Band.

SB

‘At

On May 27, the South Burlington High School Infinite Youth Club hosted a car wash at the high school to raise money for the Trinity Educational Center located in the University Mall. Club members Emaan, Jayden, Fajar, Jayan, Nashita, Mateo and Madison, club advisor Dr. Travia Childs and student volunteers Marie, Sam, Tye and Keenan participated. Volunteers and club members washed 30 cars and, coupled with several donations from Conley Construction and the Redducs Chartered Foundation, raised more than $500.

COMMUNITY NOTES

continued from page 8

nization dedicated to the safety, empowerment, resiliency, healing, and well-being of women, founded by a group of women who share a background in martial arts and others with diverse professional expertise related to violence against women.

The Vermont Women’s Fund awarded a total of $412,135 this year, which it says is the largest amount ever distributed by the fund.

“The Vermont Women’s Fund Council applauds the work of these individual nonprofit organizations, with the intent that the cumulative impact of these grants creates opportunities for Vermont’s women and girls so they can rise and thrive,” Meg Smith, director of the fund, said.

Gailmor headlines community concert at Essex church

On Sunday July 9 at 3pm, Community Concerts @ First will present singer/songwriter Jon Gailmor. Gailmor is passionately committed to the power of music, emotions and laughter, and boy do we need all of them, now! This family-friendly show is appropriate for folks of all ages.

Concert proceeds will support EDD Adaptive Sports and First Congregational Church of Essex Junction. Tickets are available online with the link below or by phone (please call the First Congregational Church of Essex Junction office 802-8785745)

$20 suggested donation, free for 18 and under — sevendaystickets.com

Community Concerts at First Main Street

Essex Junction

Abenaki Heritage Weekend at Champlain Maritime Museum

Join Vermont’s Native American community for Abenaki Heritage Weekend and Arts Marketplace on June 17-18 at Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, located at 4472 Basin Harbor Road, to explore Abenaki perspectives on life in the Champlain Valley. Activities include storytelling, craft demonstrations, drumming, singing, and more. Bring a picnic basket and lunch while you listen. Presented by Vermont Abenaki Artists Association, this event brings together citizens of the Elnu, Nulhegan, Koasek, and Missisquoi Abenaki Tribes. For access questions, contact Elisa programassociate@ abenakiart.org or 802-265-0092.

Craftsbury Antiques & Uniques celebreates 50th Anniversary

Craftsbury’s Antiques and Uniques Festival is back! After a brief global intermission, the festival is celebrating its 50th anniversary year. Join us on beautiful Craftsbury

Common Saturday, July 8 from 9 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. for a great day of shopping, choosing from a variety of antiques, collectibles, art, jewelry, quilts, pottery, artisan crafts, woodworking, local and specialty foods. The festival attracts thousands of shoppers from all corners of Vermont and out-of-state. There will be live music, fun activities, demonstrations, and performances throughout the day. Fun for all ages, rain or shine.

Admission is free (donations accepted). A $5 parking fee (cash only) goes directly to the Craftsbury Fire Department.

For more information: https://www. craftsburyantiquesanduniques.com or antiquesanduniquesvt@gmail.com.

THOMAS

continued from page 7

affect us all when we least expect it. It can come after a sudden loss of a job or an unforeseen financial crisis that renders us destitute. It serves everyone’s best interest for us to be a state that can efficiently and effectively lift people up from homelessness. It better equips Vermonters to stay in Vermont. It keeps our workforce stable, and it allows folks with vital life experiences to find a voice in our state. It’s also just the right thing to do.

And so, as the state puts the brakes on its Motel Program, I would encourage our Vermont neighbors to reach out to local housing advocates, such as the Champlain Housing Trust or the Lamoille Housing

Partnership. These are the organizations that have been constantly working to expand housing in our state, and they will find more work placed on their shoulders as this program comes to an end.

Housing and homelessness will always be problems to which our communities should pay close attention. If the state will not take up the problem, it falls to us in our local communities to do the right thing and provide a place to sleep for a neighbor in need.

Rev. Devon Thomas serves as Pastor to the Ascension Lutheran Church in South Burlington.

COURTESY PHOTO

the car wash …’

Lake trout breed successfully, officials scale back fish stocking

KIRA CORASANTI COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE

Officials are cutting back how many lake trout are released annually into Lake Champlain after finding, for the first time in decades, sustained successful reproduction in the species — exciting news for biologists and anglers alike.

In response to rising wild reproduction, officials plan to stock about 42,000 lake trout this fall, a down 50 percent from previous years, according to the Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative, a working group of fisheries professionals from the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The announcement followed a lake trout stock reduction in 2021 by a third.

“This is a good news story,” said Margeret Murphy, the lead fisheries program manager of the state fish and wildlife department. “For years we weren’t seeing any recruitment of natural populations. Now we are.”

Officials first established a stocking program in the lake in the 1950s to restore wild lake trout that had been lost because of poor water quality and habitat changes.

Batches of trout would be raised in hatcheries and then released into the lake to boost the species’ numbers. After almost 70 years, researchers have found natural reproduction happening within the trout populations.

Researchers from the University of Vermont have been the lead on assessing wild populations for a couple years now. At first, scientists wanted to determine whether the hatchery trout were finding areas to spawn, if they were spawning and if their eggs were hatching successfully.

“After a few years, the answer was yes,” said Ellen Marsden, researcher and fish biologist at the University of Vermont. “But many (trout) did not have any recruitment, meaning they hatched in April and May and didn’t live through the first winter. If they live through the first winter, they will live for the rest of their life.”

In 2012, the researchers noticed that about a quarter of the trout population was wild, rather than stocked. “We knew we hadn’t missed something because all of the adult fish were unclipped,” Marsden said, referring to fin-clipping, the practice of making a small cut in a trout’s pectoral fin before it leaves the hatchery as a method of tracking.

Since then, the wild trout population

has increased every year. In 2020, Vermont and New York officials started to implement additional summer sampling, along with fall assessments, to look for unclipped juveniles in the spawning population.

“In 2020, we implemented indicators for stocking: If we saw a 25 percent wild population, we would reduce one-third. If we saw a 50 percent wild population, we would reduce it more,” Murphy said. “As of 2023, we have hit both of those targets.”

For fishers, this is exciting news. “Of the trout and salmon species in the lake, lake trout make up 70 percent of the catch,” said Matthew Trombley, a boat captain with 3rd Alarm Charters and Guide Service in Vergennes. “Sustained natural productions are always better.”

In a wild trout population, the fish respond to changes in their environment. “Stocked populations don’t have the feedback, they’ll all just starve,” said Marsden. Stocked trout are released into streams, rivers, ponds and lakes, but they are not expected to last more than a single spawning season outside of the hatchery.

Wild lake trout can live for 25 to 30 years, and they are sensitive to physical and chemical changes in their ecosystems. For researchers, they can play the role of canary in the coal mine. As indicators of lake health, the health of lake trout is usually an early warning sign of how people are treating streams, rivers and lakes.

Officials said they’re also reducing their efforts in part to avoid over-stocking. “We want to make sure we don’t add too many trout to the lake,” said Murphy. “It could cause a reduction in the forage base.”

Asked if one day Lake Champlain won’t need to be stocked at all, she said that would be the hope.

“But until then we will continue monitoring and assessing the state of the population.”

Kira Corasanti is a reporter with the Community News Service, a program in which University of Vermont students work with professional editors to provide content for local news outlets at no cost.

PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

Boaters enjoy Lake Champlain seen from Waterfront Park in Burlington.

Since 2012, the wild trout population has increased every year. As of 2023, the state has hit all of its targets.

SPORTS

Hurdlers pace Wolves during state track championships

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

South Burlington’s Vaughn Larkin was the top finisher in the 110-meter hurdles event in the Vermont high school track and field championships on Saturday, helping to lead the Wolves to a secondplace finish.

Larkin’s teammates Tucker Hall and Carter Higgins placed fourth and sixth, respectively.

Larkin came in second place in the pole vault and then captured a fourth-place finish in the 400-meter race.

Hall was third in the 300-meter

hurdles and Higgins finished in fifth in the same event.

Armani Lee was second in the 200-meter race, then came in fifth in the 100-meter dash. Aidan Lybarger was second in the discus and fourth in the shot put. Austin Simone was third in the 800-meter race to round the top finishers for the Wolves.

St. Johnsbury won the state team title with 135 points and South Burlington followed in second with 80 points. Essex was third with 78 points.

Girls’ track and field

Regina O’Leary was the top finisher for South Burlington in the

girls’ competition, coming in third place in the 100-meter hurdles.

Savannah Werner was fourth in the shot put for the Wolves, while Kelsey Adams was fifth in triple jump and Gracie Lawrence came in sixth in discus.

Izzy Laramee finished in fifth place in both the 100-meter hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles for the Wolves. Gracie Morris also finished in the top six, coming in fifth in the 100-meter dash.

South Burlington was seventh overall in the team standings. The Essex girls claimed the top team spot, nearly doubling Champlain Valley’s score.

Trio of Wolves teams make deep playoff runs

Baseball

No. 2 South Burlington 13, No. 7 Rice 3: The South Burlington baseball team advanced to the Division I semifinals with a win over Rice on Friday, beating the Green Knights 13-3.

The Wolves had six doubles in the bottom of the fifth inning to blow the game open and finish the game in five innings.

Nick Kelly got the win for South Burlington, pitching a complete game and striking out 10. James Chagnon had two doubles, Brady Havers added a double and two RBIs and Andrew Chandler drove in three runs.

The Wolves faced No. 3 Mount Anthony (15-3) on Tuesday after press deadline.

South Burlington and Mount Anthony met twice in the regular season, with the two teams splitting the games. The Wolves won the first matchup 6-3, them the Patriots handed the South Burlington one of its three losses of the season in the second meeting.

The Wolves were looking to advance to their first D-I title game

since 2018 by beating Mount Anthony. The winner of Tuesday’s game will face the winner of No. 5 Mount Mansfield vs. No. 1 Champlain Valley in the final.

Boys’ lacrosse

No. 1 South Burlington 16, No. 9 Mount Mansfield 3: A six-point game from Will Goyette helped South Burlington to a win over Mount Mansfield in the Division I quarterfinals on Friday.

Goyette had three goals and three assists for the Wolves, while Will Hershberg scored four goals. Brady Sweet added four goals two assists, while Ryan Sweet handed out six assists.

Evan Knoth stopped five shots for South Burlington to get the win in goal.

The Wolves welcomed No. 4 Burr and Burton on Tuesday in the D-I semifinals in a game played after press deadline. Top-seeded South Burlington beat the Bulldogs, 17-10, in their only meeting the regular season. However, Burr and Burton knocked the Wolves out of the postseason last year, beating them 21-9 in the semifinals.

If South Burlington can get some revenge this year, they will

advance to the finals for the first time since 2017 where they will await the winner of No. 3 Middlebury vs. No. 2 Champlain Valley.

Girls’ lacrosse

No. 3 South Burlington 20, No. 6 Rutland 5: South Burlington earned a convincing win over Rutland on Saturday in the Division I quarterfinals.

Sabrina Brunet chipped in five goals to pace the Wolves, while Miranda Hayes added four goals and three assists. MIa Kaczmarek netted four goals, Elise Smith added a hat trick and Rachel Kelley tallied twice.

Victoria Bohlmann earned the win in goal with seven saves.

With the win, South Burlington (14-3) took on No. 2 Champlain Valley (14-2) in the semifinals on Tuesday in a game played after press deadline.

The Redhawks beat the Wolves in both matchups this season, with CVU winning 16-10 and 16-15.

South Burlington looked to advance to the D-I finals and regain the state title that they last won in 2021.

The winner of Tuesday’s game will face the winner of No. 1 Burr and Burton vs. No. 5 Essex.

Wolves teams end seasons after playoff losses

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Softball

No. 5 Missisquoi 10, No. 4 South Burlington 1: South Burlington’s title defense came to an end on Saturday in the Division I high school softball quarterfinals,

falling to Missisquoi 10-1 at home.

Emily Borrazzo took the loss for the Wolves, throwing a complete game, striking out eight but giving up 13 hits. Kiley Burke had a triple to pace the South Burlington offense.

Missisquoi jumped out to the lead with a bases-clearing double in the fourth inning, putting the

Thunderbirds up 8-0 and making it difficult for the Wolves to mount a comeback.

Girls’ tennis

No. 4 Champlain Valley 7, No. 5 South Burlington 0: The South

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

PHOTO BY AL FREY

South Burlington High School track and field athletes competed in the Division I state championships Saturday.

FILM

continued from page 1

“It’s impossible not to see the beauty in decay,” he said.

Now, in his first foray into filmmaking, Westphalen, a Shelburne resident since 1996, has taken what began as a curiosity — photographing those old rural structures just off in the distance — and turned it into a call to action.

His film — “Vanish: Disappearing Icons of a Rural America” — chronicles his journey of discovery and reportage on the slow decay of America’s history. Part wistful tribute, part sobering reflection of the country’s rural past, it features beautiful, wide-angle shots of rolling clouds over expansive landscapes, of wintery landscapes and thunderstorms off in the distance.

A former commercial photographer by trade, Westphalen began seeing “a disturbing trend” as his curiosity grew — the long-forgotten structures of time gone by. So, he set out to document these places, first through the still images of his camera, and then, as the vision for his self-funded documentary evolved, through stories of the families who once lived on these properties.

He hopes it serves as a call to identify and preserve these places, and to preserve local history.

“I loosely started documenting them not really intentionally knowing that, okay, this is a body of work that I’m going to make into an entity in and of itself,” he said. “But as the body of work grew, I realized that there was a mission statement here, and there was a mission in general.”

‘That’s our rural heritage’

There were a handful of run-ins with the police during the making of the film, Westphalen says —

At a glance

Jim Westphalen’s documentary, “Vanish: Disappearing Icons of a Rural America,” will screen June 17 at 7 p.m. at the Middlebury Town Hall Theatre. It is also scheduled to screen during the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival, Wednesday, Aug. 23 through Sunday Aug. 27.

with at least one caught on camera. It was something he had to prepare for, since what he often found himself doing was technically trespassing.

Whatever it took to get him a great shot — or, he said, one step closer to interviewing the people who could give him a glimpse into the history behind an old structure.

Westphalen’s documentary was originally supposed to be short — 20 minutes to a half an hour.

“But I kept on gathering more and more stories and things that I felt like I’ve got to include,” he said.

It features several interviews with current and former property owners throughout the state — the Glendale Farm in Cornwall; the Mansfield Valley Poultry Farm in Stowe; and the Myrick Farm in Bridport, for example — each sharing stories of the life and spirit that surrounded and filled the properties.

The documentary “reminds us that we’re living in a dynamic landscape and there are buildings that are here for a generation or generations which are no longer here and provide a sense of the bones

in the landscape,” Thomas Denenberg, the director of the Shelburne Museum, said in the film. “This idea has a kind of ghost-like quality — we know there was a building there and know it’s gone. We know there’s a building that has the potential to be gone. It reminds me of the small town I grew up in (where) people always used to say, ‘Oh, you make a right turn where the barn used to be.’”

It’s hard not to feel dispirited through the film. Westphalen admits there’s “this sadness I feel, not only for yet another piece of American history that gave way to time, but for the people themselves, the people and families that built their lives around these structures, for their hopes and for their dreams.”

“I’d shake my head and wonder — am I the only one who cares about this?” he says in the film.

The film, in part, shows the

decimation of the economic viability of local farming in the state and country. In 1969, there were more than 4,000 dairy farms in Vermont. Now there are fewer than 600.

“These small family farms are sadly becoming a thing of the past,” Westphalen says in the documentary. “The simple fact is either they have to figure out innovative ways to compete with the big guys or abandon what might have been generations of farming.”

But it also features hopeful efforts to preserve this history, including the rehabilitation work of the Hathorne School in Bridport, part of the land purchased by Erin Connor and her family, who worked thousands of hours to restore the historical site that was first built in the 1860s, as well as relocate New Haven’s historic train depot.

In April, the Middlebury Town Hall Theater and Edgewa-

ter Gallery hosted the Vermont premier of the film, playing to a sold-out house.

A second showing has since been added for June 17, and the film was selected for the Middlebury New Filmmakers Film Festival set for Aug. 23-27. Westphalen plans to continue submitting his documentary to film festivals. His film “is not only a call to action to preserve (these buildings), but for people to kind of sit up and take notice of what we have right now. Because it’s not going to be here long.”

“That’s our history, and that’s our rural heritage as Americans, in Vermont and across the country,” he said. “Some of that is recorded, but it’s the local stuff that you lose, and the local stuff that nobody will know was ever there.”

He paused, adding, “You’ll just see an empty field and not even wonder what was there.”

COURTESY / JIM WESTPHALEN PHOTOS

Above: Jim Westphalen

Right: A photo, taken by Jim Westphalen, of a barn in Orwll, Vermont.

Below: A photo, taken by Jim Westphalen, of an older structure in Bakersfield, Vermont.

LALONDE

continued from page 1

evictions anticipated this summer, starting with some 800 people on Thursday — has divided Democrats, with some in the party’s left wing calling for more funding to stave off a predicted surge in homelessness. Advocates and service

PLAYOFF LOSSES

continued from page 11

Burlington girls’ tennis team was swept by Champlain Valley Friday in the Division I quarterfinals.

Wynne Adamson, Ella Maynard, Grace Stein, Ella Stein and Evie Clifford all lost in straight sets in singles for the Wolves.

Stella O’Brien and Ayowunmi Adewuyi took a loss in the first doubles match, while Taylor LaRose and Bridget Somine lost the second one.

South Burlington finished the season with a 10-6 record.

providers have also decried the decision, noting that shelters are already full, leaving those exiting the motels with limited options. A total of about 2,800 are expected to leave motels in the coming months.

South Burlington police officers

Boys’ tennis

No. 6 Harwood 5, No. 11

South Burlington 2: The South Burlington boys’ tennis team swept the doubles matches but it was not enough, in a loss to Harwood in the Division I playdowns on Tuesday.

Jules Butler and Robin Hoke-

conducted a canvass of the neighborhood searching for “ambient video,” Burke said, which would be reviewed for further leads.

LaLonde did not respond to messages sent by phone and email on Friday.

LETTERS continued from page 6

the essence to change.

Vermont Business Roundtable, decades ago, suggested outcomes be identified, educators held accountable and outcomes be achieved. Today, test results in Vermont and nationally have not improved yet costs have increased significantly. Where public education focused on math, English and science years ago, now it is supplanted by diversity, inclusion, equity, climate change and pronouns. Advanced placement courses have been canceled, grades and homework eliminated. The infusion of illegal migrant children further strains public education.

Alternatives to public schools are charter and private schools and homeschooling. The Vermont teachers’ union opposed charter schools to preserve union jobs and state funding. The Democratic governor of North Carolina vetoed a charter school bill this year because it would decrease public school enrollment but, ironically, he sends his kids to private schools. Enrollment in private schools and home schooling are at record levels today.

Republican states like Florida are passing school choice, allowing parents to send children’s tax dollars to private or charter schools. This takes education control from teachers’ unions and gives it to parents. Back to basics curriculum and tougher stan-

dards with consequences are the parents’ focus.

Harry Truman once said, “Without a strong education system, free of government control, democracy is crippled.” The world has changed, and education outcomes need to catch up with the industrialized world.

Frank Mazur

South Burlington

Glad to no longer pay SoBu taxes

To the Editor:

I just read the “South Burlington Hires New Director” story (“South Burlington hires new diversity, equity, inclusion director,” June 1). All I can say is “What a colossal waste of taxpayer money!” It’s stupidity like this that caused me to leave screaming from both South Burlington and Vermont. I was especially happy that, as a consultant, I took my job with me and thus was able to deprive SoBu (a minor stupidity and waste of cash to come up with that name) and Vermont of the taxes I used to pay.

Have a great day. My days are always great in the free state of Florida.

Allen Roberts Saint Johns, Florida

maiser teamed up for a 6-4, 6-0 win in the first doubles match, while Nicolas Charlebois and James Bradley got a 6-2, 6-4 win. All five Wolves singles players lost in straight sets to give Harwood the win.

South Burlington finished the season with a 6-11 record.

SALES EXECUTIVE

Award-winning group of community weeklies with offices in Stowe, Morrisville and South Burlington seeks a sales person. Ideal candidate should have a basic knowledge of the local towns, business and communities we serve. A proven track record in sales and an ability to offer topnotch customer service is a required. In addition to servicing established accounts, candidate must be able to generate sales from qualified leads as well as establish new ones. Our company offers health benefits, vacation time, and provides on the job training in newspapers sales. Generous base salary during training and ideal hours (few nights or weekends). If you possess these qualifications and would like to be considered, please send your resume and cover letter to:

Bryan Meszkat at bryan@newsandcitizen.com.

Highway Positions Available

Highway Foreperson

This is a supervisory position that is responsible for overseeing the maintenance of the town’s highway infrastructure. A valid VT issued CDL Class A license is required. Required skills include proficient operation of a road grader, excavator, front-end loader, backhoe, and tandem plow truck. Starting pay is $32.00 - $38.00 an hour depending upon qualifications.

Highway Maintainer

This is a semi-skilled position of moderate complexity in highway maintenance and equipment operation. The Highway Maintainer II performs a wide variety of manual and automotive equipment operation tasks involved in municipal road maintenance. Work extends to responsibility for maintenance and servicing of assigned automotive equipment, requiring strong mechanical and trouble shooting skills. A valid Vermont issued Class B CDL is required. Starting pay is $22.00 - $25.00 an hour depending upon qualifications.

Both positions provide health, dental, vision and disability insurance; paid time off; pension plan; and 13 paid holidays.

A highway application can be found on the town’s website www. hinesburg.org under “employement.” Applications can be emailed to Todd Odit, Town Manager at todit@hinesburg.org.

PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

Graffiti is seen on the garage door at the home of Rep. Martin LaLonde, D-South Burlington, on Friday, June 2.

If it’s important to you or your community look for it in The Other Paper.

Piano Lessons

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.

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

www.pleasantvalleyvt.com

/ Cremation

saliva. ways treatment 100 a have those animals mal an it. animals

Bob & Jessica Trautwine

Cell/Txt: 802-233-1451

Build / Remodel

PLEASANT VALLEY, INC.

Siding & Trim Work

Carpentry Repairs

Painting & Staining

Decks & Porches

Outdoor Structures

802-343-4820

802-343-4820

www.pleasantvalleyvt.com

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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, things may not progress the way you want them to unless you become a little more persistent. Figure out how to walk the line to achieve your goals.

TAURUS

April 21 - May 21

Taurus, many things are going right with your life. But now it’s time to get a handle on your love life. You may have to put in some extra effort, especially this week.

GEMINI

May 22 - June 21

Gemini, keep things on the lighter side when conversing with coworkers this week. Now is not the time to delve into controversial discussions in the workplace.

CANCER

June 22 - July 22

Cancer, as you try to become more organized, try not to get too overwhelmed by the scope of the task at hand. Tackle one thing at a time and keep making progress.

LEO

July 23 - Aug. 23

Leo, situations may seem like they are a matter of life or death this week, but there’s a good chance you’re just being overly dramatic. Try to go with the ow.

VIRGO

Aug. 24 - Sept. 22

Emotions are running wild and you’re worried about what others think of you, Virgo. Embrace a point of view that relies more on the rational than the emotional.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 23 - Dec. 21

Be careful about speaking before thinking through your words, Sagittarius. Kneejerk responses can have unexpected consequences. Take time to form your opinion.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22 - Jan. 20

This week is bound to be pretty intense, Capricorn. But you’ll nd a way to skirt through it relatively unscathed. Rely on a few friends as sounding boards.

LIBRA

Sept. 23 - Oct. 23

Libra, after a few stops and starts, you and your romantic partner are on quite a roll. Enjoy that you both are in tune and aspiring toward shared goals.

SCORPIO

Oct. 24 - Nov. 22

Scorpio, it’s possible you feel blocked on all sides regarding your employment. While you can’t get ahead right now, there are some opportunities coming.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 21 - Feb. 18

Aquarius, try not to cut off channels of communication with loved ones as you deal with a few dif cult issues. Others are willing to step up and help as needed.

PISCES

Feb. 19 - March 20

Pisces, others will not always see the world the way you do. Interactions this week can be a little stilted or even frustrating.

CLUES ACROSS

1. Flat tableland with steep edges

5. Where there’s __, there’s re

10. Talked incessantly

12. Skill

14. Without shame

16. Where teens spend their days (abbr.)

18. Boxing’s GOAT

19. Used to anoint

20. Cluster cups

22. Footballer Newton

23. They make up a forest 25. Split pulses

26. Self

27. Post-of ce box

28. Test for high schoolers 30. Large, ightless bird 31. Expectorated 33. Falsehood

35. Prickly, scrambling shrub

37. French river 38. Told on 40. Hillside

CROSSWORD SUDOKU

50. Yellowish-brown

52. Arctic explorers, abbr.

53. Mexican agave

55. A type of “cast”

56. Encourage

57. Atomic #52

58. Relating to position north of south of equator

63. Gadget whose name you forget

65. Another recording

66. Small blisters

67. Dark brown or black

CLUES DOWN

1. Licensed for Wall Street

2. “__ and ow”

3. A very large body of water

4. Accumulate on the surface of

5. Central cores of the stem

6. Angry

7. Ceramic jar

8. Scraped a car

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. Peyton’s little brother

42. Soviet Socialist Republic

44. Cathedral city in Cambridgeshire

45. Witness 48. Brews

9. __ route

10. Soviet labor camp system

11. Strong hostilities

13. Vitamin of the B complex

15. Go quickly

ANSWERS

17. Toast

18. A team’s best pitcher

21. A Philly culinary specialty

23. Small child

24. Unhappy

27. Trims away

29. Characterized by crying eyes

32. Soft touch

34. American spy organization

35. A person’s chest

36. Came from behind to win

39. Fall back

40. Nellie __, journalist

43. Great places to kayak

44. Suffer patiently

46. Majestic bird

47. Electroencephalograph

49. Organic compound used as an antiseptic

51. Objects connected to the web (abbr.) 54. Ship as cargo 59. The bill in a restaurant 60. Upper-class young woman (abbr.)

61. Judge in OJ Simpson trial

62. One’s grandmother 64. Siberian river