The Other Paper - 7-13-23

the South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977

Play it forward

South Burlington council change debate continues

There likely won’t be a mayor in South Burlington anytime soon.

But that’s just about the only certainty so far as the wide-ranging conversation over how South Burlington governs itself, and how residents want to be represented, continues through its process.

Members of the city’s charter committee, tasked by the city council in late 2021 to investigate whether a ward system or more councilors would provide better geographical representation to the state’s second-largest city, will begin deliberating what recommendations they want to make to the council during their July meeting, which was held on Wednesday night after press deadline.

It marks the end of the committee’s public outreach campaign: The body held two public forums in May and circulated a survey that 177 people responded to.

“The survey results I think are fairly clear,” Peter Taylor, the chair of the committee, said. “(There

were) 177 responses. People tell me that’s very good — from my perspective it’s disappointing when you have over 16,000 residents.”

Survey respondents overwhelmingly approved of keeping the city manager system intact.

South Burlington is currently governed by a city manager and council chair form of government, with five councilors elected at-large to represent the city’s population and the city manager appointed by the council.

But beyond that, responses were split. Fifty-four percent preferred that the council keep five members, compared to 46 percent who preferred more than five.

Roughly 38 percent of respondents wanted to keep council members elected at-large, while 33 percent and 30 percent of respondents, respectively, wanted council members elected from the city’s five wards, or with members elected from a combination of wards and at-large.

See DEBATE on page 12

Local school districts join Monsanto lawsuit

One of four lawsuits against company in Vermont

the state.

The South Burlington and Champlain Valley school districts have both signed on to a lawsuit against Monsanto that argues the company is directly responsible for PCB contamination now present in many schools across

The two Chittenden County districts are among more than 90 in Vermont that have signed on to the litigation against the agrochemical manufacturer “to recover past, present, and future costs,

See LAWSUIT on page 16

COURTESY PHOTO

Emily Borrazzo, Gatorade Vermont Softball Player of the Year two years running, after she notched 500 strikeouts as a player for the South Burlington softball team. See our story on page 13.

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

Green

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

“This country really means a lot to me. I came with a dream and we’re really working toward that,” Klinton Zhegu said, reminiscing about what the Fourth of July means to him and his family, and even more so, what it means for their business, Green Valley Coconut Water.

The South Burlington couple, Kim Nguyen and Klinton Zhegu, are changing the way people think about coconut water while also paying homage to Nguyen’s home country of Vietnam in the process. Zhegu, an engineer by trade, is originally from Albania but came to the United States in 1996 to work for IBM. On business in Vietnam in 2004, he met his wife Nguyen, who would later introduce him to the magic of

coconut water.

“When she first introduced me to coconut water, I knew nothing, to be honest, about what it was,” Zhegu said. “But maybe 14 years ago she was like, ‘Hey, let’s have this because this is healthy.’ To be honest, I didn’t like it at all.”

Coconuts and coconut water are a year-round delicacy in Vietnam, Nguyen said. But when she came to the U.S. in 2004, the coconut water she found was strikingly different than the taste she grew up loving.

It wasn’t until the duo went on a routine trip to Vietnam to visit Nguyen’s family in 2014 that Zhegu was introduced to Vietnamese coconut water for the first time. The taste differed so drastically from what he had back in America — it’s much sweeter as opposed to the salty flavor that envelops many of the brands today

on store shelves.

“My husband brought me to the U.S., and he knew my family had a coconut business in Vietnam,” she said. “So, when I came here, we saw so many people drinking coconut water and my husband said, ‘Why don’t we bring that water to Vermont?’”

The couple spent the first year creating a business plan and contracting with family and other local farmers in the valley of Bén Tren in South Vietnam to source the freshest coconuts possible.

The region where the coconuts are harvested is surrounded by rivers and farmland, which Zhegu said is mostly why their product has sweeter undertones.

“Most coconut trees grow close to the sea or ocean in other places, even in Vietnam too. But this one is so inland that the soil is not saturated with salt water. It’s mostly the river, so that’s why it’s sweet,” explained Zhegu.

Most everything, including packaging, is done in Vietnam before the product takes the two-month haul to the States and its eventual arrival to a warehouse in South Burlington. But Nguyen and Zhegu oversee the entire process and visit Vietnam frequently throughout the year to ensure consistency, their biggest concern.

“Our vision is centered on these two things: First to be healthy, and

second to be affordable because we don’t need to be greedy,” Zhegu said. “There’s no need for pesticides. If we were to apply pesticides, it’s money wasted because there’s always flowing water; it’s a delta with so many rivers.”

The duo sold their first case to Healthy Living shortly after the business plan was developed — before the product was even in their hands — and interest from surrounding stores has never stopped.

“I was honest that we didn’t have the product yet,” explained Zhegu. “I just wanted to measure how much interest there was in coconut water. We met with Healthy Living in November, and they were like, ‘Yes, we’ll buy your coconut water.’ Then we went to another place, and they were like, ‘Yes, we’ll buy your coconut water.’ And then another place and another place.”

Zhegu said that the dream the couple started with continues to grow as the company grows larger and reaches more areas outside of Vermont and the Northeast.

“We are close now to actually signing a contract with a company in California that would like to bring our product to California, Arizona and Texas,” Zhegu said.

For Nguyen, the business has held a much deeper meaning, that of melding together two places she calls home.

“My husband made the name because Vermont has the Green Mountains and then Vietnam is like the Valley of Coconut, so that’s where the Green Valley comes from — combining two worlds together,” she said.

Valley Coconut Water brings two cultures together

COURTESY PHOTOS

Kim Nguyen and Klinton Zhegu and their family. The couple’s company, Green Valley Coconut Water, is thriving.

South Burlington sets tax rate lower than anticipated

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

South Burlington has set its tax rate lower than originally anticipated for the 2024 fiscal year.

Voters in March approved the $55.2 million budget that used a 5.75 percent tax rate increase, which officials said assumed a 1 percent growth in the non-TIF

grand list — properties outside of the City Center — and a 9.6 percent growth in the TIF grand list.

But the grand list increased by more than originally anticipated. The overall grand list, according to Martha Lyons, director of tax collection and assessment for the city, increased by 2.38 percent to just over $4.1 billion in value.

“With this increase to the grand list, the tax rate is increasing by 5.43 percent,” Lyons said. “This is better than the taxpayers anticipated when they approved the budget, and it will reduce their anticipated tax burden.”

The updated tax rate, added to the city’s TIF proceeds, means residents will see a total 20232024 municipal tax rate of 0.4916.

State treasurer talks new retirement plan with South Burlington Rotary

State treasurer Mike Pieciak provided an update of the 2023 legislative session at the South Burlington Rotary Club and introduced his office’s new retirement initiative, VT Saves.

“Tens of thousands of Vermont workers lack access to a workplace retirement plan, and many of these workers are not saving a penny for retirement,” he said.

“At no cost to employers and no ongoing cost to taxpayers, VT Saves establishes a retirement savings plan for Vermonters who are not currently offered a retirement plan through their employer. It’s designed to make saving for retirement easy and automatic.”

VT Saves will automatically enroll employees without a workplace retirement plan into a Roth IRA account. Contributions to the account will be deducted automatically from workers’ paychecks, and employees can set their own contribution rate or opt out of the program at any time, with no penalty.

All funds deposited into VT Saves accounts are owned by the employees themselves, and employees can roll over the

saved funds into other retirement accounts if they choose.

VT Saves will also position tens of thousands of Vermonters to receive a federal retirement saver’s credit. Starting in 2027,

LOCALS ONLY.

Hi, neighbor. Want to come over? Basin Harbor now has special Vermonters-only lodging deals starting at $189/night. Book your escape at BasinHarbor.com/VT or call 802-475-2311.

lower income earners enrolled in qualified retirement accounts can receive up to $2,000 annually in federal assistance.

VT Saves will take effect in July 2025.

Bear activity goes up in S. Burlington

Bear activity in South Burlington has jumped this year, highlighting the need to prevent bear conflicts in densely populated areas around the state, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.

“We have had 14 bear incident reports from South Burlington so far this year, compared to just three for all of 2022,” black bear project leader Jaclyn Comeau said. “At least two yearling bears and their mother are becoming used to easy meals of birdseed and

unsecured garbage in town. This is a dangerous situation for these bears and for people, especially in a densely populated community like South Burlington where many residents may not be used to coexisting safely with bears.”

As recently as the 1970s, black bears were uncommon outside remote parts of the Green Mountains and Northeast Kingdom. Today the species is found statewide except in the Champlain Islands. The population has been stable between 4,000 and 6,000

bears over most of the last decade.

Recent years have seen more bear conflicts statewide, and increasingly in densely populated communities like Rutland, Montpelier, Essex and South Burlington. According to state wildlife officials, the leading cause of bear conflicts is unsecured attractants that teach bears to associate people and easy access to food.

“Black bears in Vermont are

COURTESY PHOTO

State treasurer Mike Pieciak.

CRIME & COURTS

South Burlington Police Blotter: July 3-9

Directed patrol: 32

Welfare check: 23

Agency / public assists: 22

Traffic stop: 20

Field contact: 20

Disturbance: 18

Suspicious event: 14

Retail theft: 13

Alarm: 10

Suicidal person: 9

Animal problem: 8

Larceny from motor vehicle: 8

Accident: property damage: 8

Motor vehicle complaint: 7

Total incidents: 299

Arrests:

July 3 at 6:34 p.m., a 16-year-old was arrested for simple assault at Williston and Hinesburg roads.

July 5 at 9:43 p.m., Chad L. Paquette, 43, of Winooski, was arrested for operation without consent on Commerce Avenue.

July 5 at 12:44 a.m., Sergei Draper, 32, of Brandon, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Bacon Street.

July 5 at 10 a.m., Eric A. Smith, 39, of Fairfax, was arrested for violating conditions of release on Dorset Street.

July 5 at 9:49 p.m., Zackary T. Plante, 32, of Burlington, was arrested for operation without consent on Hannaford Drive.

July 6 at 12:02 a.m., Jasonna K. Breault, 20, of Winooski, was arrested for violating conditions of release on Shelburne Road.

July 6 at 12:31 p.m., David J. Poginy, 31, of Randolph, was arrested for retail theft on Dorset Street.

July 6 at 1:36 p.m., Arthur M. Butterfield Jr., 24, of Braintree, was arrested for cruelty to animals on Timber Lane.

July 6 at 2:10 p.m., Jamie R. Blake, 34, of Essex Junction, was arrested for retail theft on Dorset Street.

July 6 at 7:46 p.m., Zackary T. Plante, 32, of Burlington, was arrested for retail theft on Dorset Street.

July 7 at 9:45 a.m., Geoffrey A. Gamble, 23, of Burlington, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Community Drive.

July 7 at 6:53 p.m., Monique L. Lafountaine, 38, of Williston, was arrested for violating an abuse prevention order on Shelburne Road.

South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977 A publication of Vermont Community Newspaper Group LLC otherpapersbvt.com

Advertising Director Judy Kearns judy@otherpapersbvt.com (802) 864-6670 x21

Advertising Wendy Ewing wendy@shelburnenews.com (802) 985-3091 x12

News Editor Tommy Gardner

Staff Writers

Aaron Calvin Corey McDonald Liberty Darr

Production Manager Stephanie Manning stephanie@shelburnenews.com

Editor/Publisher Gregory Popa gpopa@stowereporter.com

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

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

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

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

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

Untimely deaths:

July 3 at 1:43 p.m., police responded to Shelburne Road for the death of Jean Boutin, 61, of Milton. The medical examiner’s office is determining cause and manner of death.

July 9 at 11:01 p.m., police responded to Aspen Drive for the death of Edward White, 88, of South Burlington. The medical examiner’s office is determining cause and manner of death.

Top incidents:

July 3 at 9:01 a.m., police investigated threats on Farrell Street.

July 3 at 1:23 p.m., police checked on a problem with an animal on Community Drive.

July 4 at 9:14 p.m., someone violated the fireworks ordinance on Gregory Drive.

July 4 at 8:35 a.m., an accident at Swift and Dorset streets resulted in injury.

July 5 at 2:42 p.m., someone reported a larceny from a motor vehicle on Central Avenue.

July 5 at 8:26 p.m., threats were investigated on Ethan

Man cited for animal cruelty after leaving dog in hot car

On July 6, South Burlington police received a report of a dog in a car with the windows barely open on Timber Lane.

Officers found a long-haired dog muzzled inside the vehicle and tied to the rear seat. The temperature outside at the time was 91 degrees and the car was parked in the direct sun.

Officer Emily Patterson determined the dog had been in the car for a minimum of 30 minutes.

One of the dog’s owners,

Allen Drive.

July 6 at 6:16 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen on Shelburne Road.

July 6 at 11:39 p.m., illegal dumping on White Street.

July 7 at 10:28 a.m., police performed a welfare check on Market Street.

July 7 at 7:55 p.m., police took a domestic report on Community Drive.

July 8 at 4:54 p.m., police were

Arthur Butterfield, 24, of Braintree, was cited at the scene for cruelty to animals.

A good Samaritan provided the officer with water to give to the dog.

Police remind the public that the temperature inside a vehicle can rise to fatal levels within minutes during hot weather. The best practice is to leave your animal at home or take them out of the vehicle when you reach your destination.

called to a Gregory Drive address for a report of custodial interference.

July 8 at 7:42 p.m., a larceny from a Hayes Avenue address was reported.

July 9 at 6:32 a.m., police are investigating threats made on Eastwood Drive.

July 9 at 2:21 p.m., an animal issue on Dorset Street, followed by a second animal problem just down street at 3:57 p.m.

Police raid Stonehedge condo for second time

MIKE DONOGHUE CORRESPONDENT

Responding to ongoing complaints about possible drug activity in the area and a declining quality of life, South Burlington Police raided a residence at Stonehedge South Condominiums off Spear Street early Monday.

Members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI and the Vermont Drug Task Force assisted in the raid that was executed about 6 a.m., police Lt. Chris Bataille said.

Police, dressed in tactical gear, including helmets, and carrying protective shields, seized narcotic drugs and suspected cutting agents used in the sale of narcotic drugs, officials and witnesses said. No guns were found at the residence, but some ammunition was located, they said.

The condo owner, Tristan Johnson, was not home, but five people were found inside, police said.

One of the occupants was identified as Kenny Whitehouse, 34, of Burlington. An investigation revealed Whitehouse was wanted on an active arrest warrant for failure to appear in criminal court for a charge of second offense driving while under the influence, police said.

Whitehouse was jailed at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans for lack of $200 bail.

The raid was witnessed by neighbors and others that were walking dogs in Stonehedge, which connects to the South Burlington Recreation Path. Some took pictures of the police raid, which included at least three marked city police cruisers and at least three unmarked law enforcement vehicles.

South Burlington officer Foster Rich developed enough evidence to secure a search warrant from a judge, police said.

“This investigation was initiated in response to complaints of a declining quality of life in this neighborhood as reported by residents, who advised of finding used, discarded hypodermic needles and observing heavy levels of traffic to and from the residence which were suspected to be involved in illegal drug activity,” Bataille said.

He urged neighbors or anybody with information about the case to call officer Rich at (802) 846-4111.

Public records show city police officers have fielded more than a dozen complaints at the residence in the past year. That is due to neighbors concerned about quality-of-life issues, police said.

Stonehedge South, which includes 109 condominiums, is normally a peaceful setting, according to police. Stonehedge North, which has about 78 residences, is connected, but a separate association.

The Other Paper reported another court-ordered search warrant was executed at the residence in January, when two people were arrested. One was arrested in connection with a retail theft of more than $1,000 of items stolen from Lowe’s on Jan. 12, police said. A second person was arrested on a charge of failure to appear for a DUI charge, police said.

Sketchy condo sale

The sale of the condo was part of an unusual federal fraud investigation in late 2020, according to records in U.S. District Court.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a civil lawsuit in an attempt to recover nearly $300,000 after a Vermont lawyer trying to buy the condominium with his son wired money to an unauthorized bank account based on what turned out to be a counterfeit email from a prominent Burlington law firm, according to court records and the FBI.

South Burlington lawyer Dennis J. Johnson, who lived in South Hero at the time, was in the process of making the purchase and had retained the law firm of Montroll, Backus & Oettinger in Burlington to assist with the closing in late 2020, records show. Johnson received an email that appeared to be from Montroll, Backus & Oettinger instructing him on Dec. 14, 2020, to wire $290,250 to a Wells Fargo account for the purchase of unit J-15 Stonehedge Drive, the federal court records show.

However, the email was not from

See STONEHEDGE on page 9

The much awaited and highly anticipated Pêche Medical, owned and operated by Kellie Malaney, PA and Sarah Dietschi, NP is now seeing patients.

Known for their ability to listen carefully and execute a natural-looking, “un-done” appearance, Kellie & Sarah are two of the most experienced, respected and appreciated clinicians in the Medical Aesthetic field in Vermont. Come see them for a consult or treatment and see the difference that experience, artistry and integrity makes!

Schedule online or by phone today!

SELFIE

City should offer update on rec director plan

To the Editor: South Burlington’s recreation director is leaving the job to become city clerk, but I have seen nothing happening regarding the interviewing and hiring of a new director.

This position must be filled for clarity and support to other recreation department employees and to continue to provide quality programs to our community.

I served on the Recreation Advisory Committee for over 20 years and am sad to see the apparent lack of a plan here for hiring a new director. We interviewed and provided input to the community.

I feel the citizens of South Burlington are owed an update on the process.

Liz Robitaille South

Burlington

Affirmative action axed for all right reasons

To the Editor:

What provoked the affirmative action ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court? It was the admission policy of some of our elite colleges that required Asian Americans to score 140 points higher on their SAT, 270 points higher than Hispanics and 450 points higher than Black students for acceptance.

Why are Asian Americans excelling? They comprise 4 percent of the population yet more over the age of 25 have bachelor and advanced degrees than any other race or ethnic group. Contrary to the no-homework practice in public schools today, the school bell does not end the school day for Asian American students.

Their parents assume the role of educator after school and oversee homework assignments. They focus on positive reinforcement for a job well done whereas other parents today are oblivious to schooling or concentrate on preserving students’ self-esteem. Asian American students perform better because their parents expect they will.

President Joe Biden believes the SCOTUS decision to end discrimination is wrong. Congressional Democrats are exhibiting hysteria calling the decision a roadblock toward social justice.

It was not. It should be a call for better education outcomes.

OPINION

Letters to the Editor

Any admissions in our culture should be based on merit as Martin Luther King Jr. preached, not the color of one’s skin. The sooner we abandon race and ethnic labels and treat everyone as Americans and equal the better our nation will be.

Frank Mazur South Burlington

TIF story helped distill a complicated topic

To the Editor:

Many thanks to Corey McDonald for the clear, easy to understand, excellent article on the South Burlington TIF district. (“South Burlington TIF district gets state auditor’s approval,” June 29, 2023, issue of The Other Paper.

Past explanations of TIF haven’t been as easy to follow and understand, and they haven’t as effectively communicated the broader context. So, thank you!

Marcy Murray South Burlington

Reader thanks Emery for Juneteenth event

To the Editor:

I’m writing to thank South Burlington city councilor Meaghan Emery for organizing the Juneteenth celebration that took place at South Burlington City Hall.

A group of my classmates and I who are part of the Students Organized Against Racism (SOAR) club at Tuttle Middle School read Frederick Douglass’s “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” speech. Douglass first delivered his speech on July 5, 1852, and gave it many times again in later years.

His speech dove deep into the horrors of slavery and gave details about the Fugitive Slave Act. Emery hopes to make reading Douglass’s famous speech an annual part of our city’s celebration of Juneteenth in the years to come.

Besides the students reading the speech, the event also included a video presentation by poet Major Jackson who read two poems inspired by Frederick Douglass and one poem Jackson wrote to commemorate Juneteenth.

The event also featured singer Rachel Ambaye, who is a music

major at University of Vermont. Rachel graduated from South Burlington High School in 2020.

Molly

Pels

South Burlington

Reporting on Kennedy missed the mark

To the Editor:

The piece on candidate Robert Kennedy was very disappointing as editorial coverage, starting with the first paragraph: “In the chandelier-adorned ballroom of the DoubleTree Hilton in South Burlington, several hundred folks from Vermont and elsewhere gathered Wednesday to hear from a member of one of America’s great political dynasties.” (“Think tank hosts candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,” June 29, 2023)

It read more like a final trip to the Oscars for a beloved actor or a press release from the Kennedy campaign advance team, rather than the honest local coverage I expect from The Other Paper.

In both the BBC and The New York Times, coverage of Kennedy the candidate puts his vaccine skepticism and conspiracy theories at the top of their coverage. This is with good reason. His unsubstantiated theories against vaccination are only supported by a small minority.

Reporting the news carries a huge responsibility. Misinformation from trusted sources repeated frequently affects public perception of the truth.

Doug Goodman

South Burlington

Attorney general explains Monsanto lawsuit

To the Editor:

Like many Vermonters, I have a deep connection to Vermont’s forests, clean water and green landscape. I grew up hiking and skiing in our beautiful Green Mountains, swimming in our rivers and ponds and watching sunsets over Lake Champlain. I believe that when bad actors poison our natural resources, they are harming the soul of Vermont and they must be held accountable.

Monsanto manufactured, marketed, distributed and sold toxic and dangerous chemical

continued from page 6

compounds called polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, from 1929 to 1977. PCB products were sold — including in Vermont — for use in household and business products like paints, caulks, inks, dyes, paper products, sealants, fireproofing and electrical equipment.

The result is that Vermont’s surface waters and aquatic wildlife have been contaminated with PCBs. Lake Champlain is severely contaminated with PCBs, and there are fish advisories for lake trout taken from Lake Champlain. Not only that, but our statewide PCB testing program has shown that many Vermont schools are also contaminated and will require remediation.

As Monsanto knew, PCBs inevitably volatize and leach, leak and escape from their intended applications and products, contaminating runoff during storm and rain events, and PCBs persist in the natural environment rather than break down over time.

This is why, as Vermont Attorney General, I have sued Monsanto on behalf of Vermont’s environment, schools, children and future generations. I am leveraging the full force of my office to hold Monsanto accountable for knowingly creating and distribut-

Get to know SB’s waterbodies

ing PCBs.

I’m proud that Vermont is the first state in the country to stand up a statewide school testing program. School testing will provide further insights into additional schools that will need to be remediated.

As Vermont’s school testing program continues, we expect the number of contaminated schools to grow. Vermonters should know that I intend to turn over every rock and search for every penny to get Vermont the most funding possible to help remediate. Vermont taxpayers should not have to bear the full cost of cleaning up someone else’s mess.

Of course, there are no guarantees in litigation, and this could be a long fight, but I am in this for the long haul. We know from past lawsuits against bad actors that the money we can recoup may not be enough. But we must hold Monsanto accountable for the harm that it has caused to this state we all love.

As a mother of a school-aged child, as a Vermonter and especially as your attorney general, I will always fight to protect Vermont’s environment.

Charity Clark Vermont Attorney General

Clean & Green

Katherine Boyk

Lake Champlain is certainly South Burlington’s aquatic gem, but how much do you know about our city’s other waterbodies — the streams and rivers that feed Lake Champlain?

Potash Brook is perhaps South Burlington’s flagship stream. Its watershed is almost exclusively within the city. Forty-three percent of South Burlington’s land area drains to Potash Brook, from the University Mall to the golf course and from the airport to the lakeshore. The main stem of Potash Brook flows along Kennedy Drive and I-189, with numerous tributaries from the north and south. It enters Lake Champlain in Queen City Park.

There are many places to see Potash Brook and its tributaries. Perhaps the most scenic is the hiking trail at University of Vermont’s East Woods Natural Area along Swift Street.

This is an urban stream, and its water quality reflects that. Potash Brook is most affected by stormwater runoff. It also has high levels of bacteria, specifically E. coli. The exact source of this is not

known, but leaking septic tanks and dog poop are suspects.

In addition, Potash Brook was recently found to have high levels of chloride from road salt. Even though road salt is only used in winter, chloride is now found in the water year-round. The city is using new technology to keep roads safe while reducing salt use. Residents and businesses are also encouraged to apply salt or ice melt carefully, using only as much per square foot as the packaging directs.

Muddy Brook forms South Burlington’s western border with Williston. It is 5.7 miles in length and drains into the Winooski River northeast of the airport. Muddy Brook provides important habitat for birds and is a suspected movement corridor for animals like bobcats, coyotes and otters.

Muddy Brook’s watershed is less developed than Potash Brook’s, but there is still concern about stormwater and chloride. In addition, it has high levels of nutrients and toxins, likely from agricultural runoff.

Take a walk along Muddy Brook at the Muddy Brook Wetland Reserve and the adjacent Goodrich Property off Van Sicklen Road.

Centennial Brook is another tributary to the Winooski River. The main stem of the brook is just on the other side of the border with Burlington, but much of its headwaters are in South Burlington’s Chamberlin neighborhood. As this is a rather densely developed area, Centennial Brook is impacted by stormwater runoff and chloride.

You can visit Centennial Brook in Centennial Woods Natural Area, which is owned by the University of Vermont and straddles the Burlington and South Burlington border.

The Winooski River itself forms the northern boundary of South Burlington. The river is approximately 90 miles long, from its headwaters east of Montpelier to its mouth at Lake Champlain.

South Burlington has a relatively small reach of the Winooski, only about 5.5 river miles. There are two publically accessible places to see the Winooski River in South Burlington: Muddy Brook Park and Winooski Gorge Natural Area, both owned by the Winooski Valley Park District.

The Winooski River is not considered to have water quality impairments, though this doesn’t

See CLEAN & GREEN on page 10

Climate Resilient. Prioritize goals that mitigate climate change impacts and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to keep the City safe.Emphasize sustainability by rapidly shifting our energy profile to renewable and carbon free sources and increasing energy efficiency. Promote clean air, clean water, historic conservation, environmental conservation, and recreational space for all residents.

South Burlington also holds high the following values, in every action we take as a community.

Inclusive, Fair, and Just. Be equity oriented, transparent, and fiscally responsible in governance. Support high quality of life, public safety, housing affordability, and education for people of varying incomes, lifestyles, and stages of life.

Thoughtful and Sustainable Built Environment. Invest in a welcoming and walkable built environment, thriving neighborhoods, and a vibrant, pedestrian oriented City Center. Build community through housing, parks, facilities, and infrastructure. Support a safe, resilient, and varied transportation system that promotes our built areas.

Collaborative and Engaged. Be a leader and collaborator in the regional and statewide community. Support the City’s role as an economic engine for Vermont by encouraging community businesses and local job creation. Make decisions considering future implications on tomorrow ’s South Burlington, Chittenden County, and Vermont.

Community Notes

Holocaust survivors’ families give museum talk

On Sunday, July 16 at 2 p.m., the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum’s free monthly lecture series presents “Holocaust History and Its Connections in Vermont” by Vermont Holocaust Memorial members Miriam Rosenbloom and Tom Glaser.

Vermont Holocaust Memorial vice president and daughter of Holocaust survivors, Rosenbloom will share the background and efforts of the nonprofit organization, including its goals, mission and vision.

Glaser, a son of Holocaust survivors and a Vermont Holocaust Memorial speaker bureau member from Shelburne, will share a presentation of his family’s harrowing story of survival through the Holocaust. By imparting the lessons to be learned from these legacies Rosenbloom and Glaser hope that current and future generations of Vermonters will become respectful of all.

At the conclusion of the presentation, participants will be invited to take part in the Leaf Project, a memorial to the 1.5 million children who perished in the Holocaust.

A question-and-answer will follow.

Camp Ta-Kum-Ta holds lobster bake, auction

Camp Ta-Kum-Ta holds its annual catered lobster and steak dinner on Saturday, Aug. 5, at 5 p.m. in South Hero. Guests will enjoy an evening of food and live music while supporting year-round programs for families impacted by childhood cancer.

Guests will have the option to bid on a curated collection of local and unique items in the silent auction. Items range from one of a kind works of art to gift cards for local restaurants and signed sports memorabilia.

This year participants also have the option to experience the lobster bake at home with the Bake in a Box. The box can be delivered anywhere and includes exclusive Camp Ta-Kum-Ta swag, a gift card for a lobster dinner or food of your choice, access to the virtual auction and other surprises.

To see auction ideas or to order a Bake in the Box, go to takumta. org/lobster-bake.

Circus returns for summer at Bread & Puppet

Bread & Puppet Circus returns for the summer with “The Heart of the Matter Circus & Pageant” every Sunday through Aug. 27 at 3 p.m.

In the tradition of the iconic Bread & Puppet circuses that began at Goddard College in Plainfield in 1970, the show will draw on traditional circus tropes and familiar Bread and Puppet iconography to draw attention to the urgent issues of the day. Stilt dancers, paper maché beasts of all sizes and a riotous brass band make a raucous, colorful spectacle of protest and celebration.

The circus is followed immediately by the pageant in the adjacent field. After both shows are finished, Bread & Puppet will serve its famous sourdough rye bread with aioli.

Bread & Puppet is located at 753 Heights Road in Glover. Tickets can be purchased in advance at breadandpuppet.org for $10, or by

B-Town headlines SB Nite Out

On Thursday, July 20, SB Nite Out offers B-Town, 5-8 p.m., at Veterans Memorial Park, South Burlington. Now in its seventh year, friends, family and neighbors spend evenings in the park listening to live music and enjoying different cuisines, on Thursdays through August. The Grippo Funk Band plays tonight, July 13. Upcoming concerts include July 27: Barbie-n-Bones; Aug. 3: Quadra; Aug. 10: Sticks & Stones; Aug. 17: Neon Ramblers; and Aug. 24: A House on Fire.

donation at the door on the day of the show. No one is turned away due to lack of funds.

Friends of the Hort Farm plant sale is Saturday

Empty spaces in your garden? Bring your list to the annual Friends of the University of Vermont Hort Farm plant sale on Saturday, July 15, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the UVM Horticulture Farm, 65 Green Mountain Drive, South Burlington.

The sale offers a wide variety

HAVE YOUR INSURANCE RATES SKY ROCKETED?

We have seen rates increase this year, substantially; maybe it’s time for a review! As an independent agent, I can shop your policies with several companies to make sure you are getting the best possible value!

Contact Jay at 802-497-2210 or jprovencher@tspeck.com.

COURTESY PHOTO

PHOTO BY GARRETT MACLEAN Protesters perform at the Bread and Puppet Circus in 2022. See COMMUNITY NOTES on page 9

COMMUNITY NOTES

continued from page 8

of ornamental trees, shrubs and perennials donated by over 40 Vermont nurseries. Members-only preview is from 9-10 a.m.

STONEHEDGE

continued from page 5

Montroll, Backus & Oettinger.

The bogus email was designed to deceive Johnson into sending the money to the wrong bank account, Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia A. P. Cowles said in court papers.

Johnson sent $266,500 to the Wells Fargo account, while his son also wired some money, to pay for a portion of the South Burlington condo, Cowles wrote. Montroll, Backus & Oettinger never got the $266,500 wire transfer from Johnson as expected, court papers show.

Johnson reported to People’s United Bank that he had received a fraudulent email that tricked him into sending the $266,500 wire to the wrong bank account, Cowles noted.

People’s United Bank was able to successfully recall $84,648.95 in funds from Wells Fargo and passed the money to Johnson, records show.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office

Members are able to view and purchase plants early. Become a member at friendsofthehortfarm. org or at the sale.

JOIN US AT THE 61ST ANNUAL LAMOILLE COUNTY FIELD DAYS!

filed a civil lawsuit to have two J.P. Morgan Chase Bank Accounts put on hold while efforts were made to properly recover through the court system the $100,000 from one account and $81,851.05 in the other account, records show.

Cowles said at the time the funds could be forfeited because of certain acts and omissions that happened in Vermont by the people committing the fraud.

The fraud was initially reported to South Burlington Police but, due to the interstate nature of the crime and the large amount of money, city police decided to refer the criminal complaint to the FBI in Vermont and the federal resources.

State Police Detective Walter Ribeiro, who was part of the FBI Cyber Task Force in Vermont, was part of the case. Ribeiro was responsible for investigating high-tech crimes, including major cyber fraud and computer intrusions.

ATTRACTIONS & ENTERTAINMENT

• Miller Amusements Carnival & Rides!

• Pirate Man Dan

• Aunt Jane’s Tea Party Tent

• Arm Wrestling - Friday Night

• No String Marionettes - Friday

• No. VT Underhand Skillet Toss - Sunday

• Wee Wee Wee Racing Pigs

• Al Getler Ventriloquist

• Adventure Family Circus

• Dragon Man - Saturday

• Sibling Reverie - Saturday Night

• Larry Lee Ebere

• Kippincoe

FRIDAY: $15 / SATURDAY: $15 / SUNDAY: $15 • 3-DAY PASS: $40

Admission includes all Midway Rides, Entertainment and Parking! ROUTE 100 C, JOHNSON, VT • 802-635-7113 • WWW.LAMOILLEFIELDDAYS.COM

PHOTO BY HAYLEY HORNUS Plants from Vermont nurseries will be on sale at the annual Friends of the University of Vermont Hort Farm plant sale.

CLEAN & GREEN

continued from page 7

mean it is in perfect shape. It is dammed in several places to generate electricity and several towns — including South Burlington — release treated water from wastewater facilities to the Winooski.

Bartlett Brook is in the southwest corner of the city and flows into Shelburne Bay. Though its watershed is only a tenth of the size of Potash Brook, a greater proportion of Bartlett Brook’s land area is developed. As a result, it suffers from stormwater impairments and flooding concerns.

Since stormwater is such a widespread problem in our city, South Burlington established Vermont’s first stormwater utility in 2005 to improve water quality through infrastructure and biomimicry projects across the city.

Residents can help by keeping grass 3 inches or taller; raise your lawnmower’s blade if necessary. Longer grass has deeper roots which soak in more water. Don’t mow in wetlands or along stream banks and consider planting trees or a raingarden instead of grass.

South Burlington also contains a few tributaries that flow to streams in other towns. East of Bartlett Brook is a tributary to Munroe Brook in Shelburne. East of that are two unnamed streams that flow south to Shelburne Pond, which is part of the Muddy Brook watershed. A small corner of South Burlington is in the Englesby Brook watershed, the rest of which is in Burlington.

Finally, we come to Lake Champlain. South Burlington has 2.3 miles of lakeshore, but the only place that is publically acces-

sible is at Red Rocks Park. You can swim at the beach or enjoy great views from the hiking trails.

Lake Champlain provides drinking water for most South Burlington residents. Champlain Water District pumps water from Shelburne Bay and provides treated drinking water to South Burlington and eight other nearby cities and towns.

There are several water quality concerns in Lake Champlain, including coliform bacteria, chloride and emerging contaminants such as PFAS. The most significant issue, though, is high levels of phosphorous which lead to cyanobacteria blooms in warm, shallow bays.

South Burlington is rather lucky that Shelburne Bay is cold and deep, so cyanobacteria blooms are less frequent here than other parts of Lake Champlain. Still, the beach and drinking water are monitored for cyanobacteria in the summer.

Take some time this summer to visit South Burlington’s waterbodies and appreciate the beauty, habitat, and ecosystem services they provide to the city.

Katherine Boyk is a member of South Burlington’s Natural Resources and Conservation Committee and works for the Vermont Rural Water Association. Clean & Green is a regular feature, initiated and managed by the South Burlington Energy Committee, and will feature a variety of perspectives from members of city committees and commissions, city staff and outside organizations on environmental issues facing the city.

A map that shows the various streams and brooks that traverse South Burlington.

News from South Burlington Public Library

180 Market St., South Burlington southburlingtonlibrary.org or 802-846-4140 for information about any programming, cancellations or in-person changes. Some events may change from in-person to virtual. Some events require preregistration.

Hours: Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Email sbplinfo@southburlingtonvt.gov.

ADULTS

Knit for your neighbor

Thursdays in July, noon-3 p.m. Yarn, needles and crochet hooks supplied. Knit or crochet hats and scarves to help keep your neighbors warm. All finished projects will be donated to the South Burlington Food Shelf.

Embroidery stitch-in

Thursday, July 13, 9 a.m.-noon

Make embroidered summer reading themed (“All Together Now”) bookmarks with informal instruction from members of The Embroidery Guild of America. All ages, no experience necessary.

Board game brunch

Saturday, July 15, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Join Friendly Tabletop Gamers of Essex and Beyond in the digital lab and play some awesome games while meeting new people. This event is best suited for teens and adults over 18.

Classical encounters: chamber music recital

Wednesday, July 19, 1:30-2:30 pm.

Students from the Green Moun-

tain Chamber Music Festival will perform as part of the classical encounters outreach series during the 2023 festival. The series brings students and their craft out of the concert hall and among the public, sometimes in spaces where classical music might not be expected. For audiences ages 10 and up, or for people of any age who can sit quietly and enjoy listening to music for 30-60 minutes. Chat with the performers over light refreshments in the South Burlington Public Art Gallery after the performance.

Tech help

Friday, July 21, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

The first and third Friday of every month in the digital lab for 1:1 assistance and to learn new skills.

English conversation circle

Mondays, July 24, noon-1 p.m.

English as a Second Language discussion group, facilitated by staff.

Poetry group

Tuesday, July 25, 11 a.m.-noon

Come share your poetry in a supportive, comfortable setting. Second and fourth Tuesday of the month.

KIDS & TEENS

Chess club

Saturdays in July, 11 a.m.-2:45 p.m.

The Chittenden County Chess Club hosts games in the Community Room. Pawn pushers strategize to better their games. New members always welcome. Children under 12 must be supervised by an adult.

Kids’ chess club

Saturdays in July, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

For kids ages 5 and up.

Library Council of Teens meeting

Thursday, July 13, 5-6 p.m. Want to have a say in what happens at the library? Join the Library Council of Teens and gather with other teens as they plan events and programs centered around making the library a teen friendly space in the community.

Classical encounters

mini concert

Thursday, July 13, 10:45 a.m-1 p.m.

A kid-sized chamber music concert with students from the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival. After play, the instrumentalists will talk briefly about their instruments, how they work and the pieces that they are playing.

Readers’ theater

Friday, July 14, 3-4:30 p.m.

Using scripts and simple props, able readers in grades two to five will perform a folktale in one afternoon. No pre-registration is necessary.

Family storytime

Tuesdays, July 18 and 25, 10-10:45 a.m.

Multi-age family storytime with familiar stories, songs, rhymes and fingerplays that will also include a stay and play activity or an age-appropriate craft. These storytimes will follow our “All Together Now” theme about friendship and community.

See LIBRARY on page 12

South Burlington starts hybrid ash borer plan

LILLY KELLER

The South Burlington City Council has tasked its administration with addressing the damaging effects of the emerald ash borer on the city’s remaining ash trees.

The council recently passed a motion authorizing the city to explore a new approach: administering emamectin benzoate injections every three years. This method aims to accelerate the previous strategy of removing healthy ash trees and replacing them with other species.

First detected in Vermont in 2018, the invasive ash tree-killing beetle has spread to 13 of the state’s 14 counties. South Burlington’s updated resolution marks an increase in the use of pesticides to save ash trees across the state.

The borer, native to the northeastern region of Asia, is drawn to the nutrient-rich trees to lay its eggs. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on the bark, depriving the trees of water and nutrients. Infected trees face a mortality rate of nearly 100 percent, typically dying within three to five years of infection.

“The number one issue is which trees, where and when, and also a bigger issue, perhaps, is wrestling with the use of insecticides and pesticides in the public right away,” director of public works Thomas DiPietro said at the town’s June 19 city council meeting.

Of South Burlington’s 6,000 street trees, 581 are ash trees, which reside primarily in residential areas, according to DiPietro. Through the hybrid plan,

as proposed by the city’s natural resource and conservation committee, emamectin benzoate is injected into the base of the tree, killing all emerald ash borers presently feeding on the tree, effectively saving the tree.

The insecticide needs to be applied by a professional arborist. Although it is generally safe for agricultural and veterinary use, it can harm non-target animals such as invertebrates, both on land and in water. This can lead to reduced survival, reproduction and growth in those animals, as stated on the current label.

While the updated plan provides the highest chance of protecting ash trees, it is far from cheap.

In the fiscal year that began July 1, the city council allocated $50,000 for ash tree replacement, in addition to a $10,000 maintenance budget. The city received a $12,000 grant for interplanting new trees between existing ash trees to maintain the tree canopy, which was matched by an equal amount from the American Rescue Plan Act. This brings the total funding available for ash tree management to $74,000.

According to a June 14 memo from the committee to the South Burlington City Council, treating one tree with emamectin benzoate will cost around $120 and last for three years before needing to be retreated.

“That’s every three years, so overall it’s probably a little more expensive (than replanting) but you preserve the tree canopy

See ASH BORER on page 16

DEBATE

continued from page 1

Meanwhile, 53 percent of respondents said they wanted to keep the current structure in the school board in place, compared to 48 percent who wanted either school board members elected from wards or through a combination of wards and at-large.

Comments from the survey seemed divided: “Please make the City Council representative of all sections of the city,” one respondent said.

Wet weather brings slime mold

With all the recent wet weather, conspicuous neon yellow masses have appeared on bark mulches and lawns. These brightly colored blobs, called plasmodia, are unique organisms called slime molds.

The harmless, yellow, foamy slime molds (Fuligo septica), often called the dog vomit slime mold, were originally classified as fungi. They are now in the Kingdom Protista since they more closely resemble amoeba.

The size of slime molds can

LIBRARY

continued from page 11

Summer reading: Craftytown

Wednesdays, July 19 and 26, 10-11:30 a.m.

Part of the summer reading program. Geared to kids ages 8 and up, or ages 6 and up with an adult helper. July 19: friendship bracelets. July 26: field guide, make a book.

Lego builders

Wednesdays, July 19 and 26, 3-4:30 p.m.

Projects geared to kids ages eight and up, or ages six and up with an adult helper. Each week, builders explore, create and participate in challenges.

Middle school pizza, movie

Wednesday, July 19, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Pizza and the movie “Onward.” For students in grades five to eight.

vary from a few inches to several feet in diameter. They are not pathogenic to plants although some can grow over plants and briefly decrease their access to sunlight. The plasmodium is the feeding stage of the organism, engulfing bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms as it grows.

The plasmodial stage can appear to creep and can move several feet in a day, alarming homeowners and gardeners. However, slime molds are beneficial since they contribute to the decomposition of dead vegetation.

As the bright yellow slime

Spanish playdate with

Lainie

Wednesdays, July 19 and 26, 10-10:30 a.m.

Sing and play in Spanish with Lanie and her son Wesley. Just right for Spanish speakers and learners. No experience necessary. For ages 6 months to 5 years with an adult caregiver. No pre-registration necessary.

Middle school makers

Tuesday, July 20 and 27, 4-5 p.m.

For students in grades five to eight. July 25: Dorie Greenspan’s World Peace Cookies.

Teen gaming

Thursday, July 20, 2-3 p.m.

Stop by the Teen Space to compete at board games and video games. Decimate your friends with Exploding Kittens, burn kitchens in Overcooked, or

molds age, they fade from bright yellow to a crusty dull tan and release spores that can stay dormant until the next round of rainy weather. No control is necessary for slime molds.

They will disappear as soon as the weather dries. To hasten their breakdown, you can break apart the blob with a rake.

For more information, visit go.uvm.edu/slime-mold.

“I believe we should keep things as they are,” another respondent wrote. “Our city government functions extremely well. I strongly disagree with the proposals to change the system. If people feel under-represented, the solution is to become involved by running for office or volunteering in some other capacity (committees, etc). Creating a system where each district has to be represented by a councilor, for example, is no guarantee that people from each district will run.”

Participants at the May 25 meeting were mostly in favor of switching to a ward-based system.

Chris Trombly, the chair of the city’s affordable housing committee who attended the meeting, said he favored moving away from an at-large system “so that we don’t dilute voices of underrepresented demographics in the city.

“There’s a different perspective for residents that live, for example, close to the airport versus right on Shelburne Road,” he said.

“We have a growing community. We have a diverse community. We have different neighborhoods with different characteristics, and we need city councilors who speak for those unique characteristics,” South Burlington resident Dan Albrecht said.

quadrant, a more rural and affluent area of town.

More than half of the campaign cash raised in the weeks leading up to the March election, meanwhile, came from residents living in one of the wealthiest census tracts in the county that encompasses less than 23 percent of the city’s population and includes the city’s southeast quadrant.

Andrew Chalnick and Tyler Barnes were in March elected to three- and two-year terms on the board, respectively, replacing Vermont Sen. Thomas Chittenden and Matt Cota.

Straw polls taken during charter committee meetings show that the group remains split over whether to recommend keeping the current governing structure or to recommend wards.

“If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it,” committee member Chuck Hafter said at their June meeting. He suggested the committee could look at the issue again in a few years, according to minutes from the meeting.

Committee member Paul Engels disagreed and said that the fact that four of the five councilors come from one ward is an indication that council representation system was “broken.”

“There’s still discussion to be had, so I don’t want to prejudge where we’re going to end up on this,” Taylor said. “We did a couple of straw polls, and you got a flavor for the committee. That doesn’t mean that, after they’ve had a chance to digest all the information, that those folks might change when we actually take a formal vote on whether to proceed with each of the other topics.”

Super Smash your friends. Teens age 13 to 18.

Kids’ Friday movie

Fridays, July 21 and 28, 3-4:30 p.m.

July 21: “Frozen.” July 28: “The Secret Garden.”

Community care kits

Monday, July 24, 2-3 p.m.

Help neighbors in need by putting together care kits with back-to-school items, soap, toothpaste, feminine products and other toiletries. All kits will be donated to Committee on Temporary Shelter. Teens age 13 to 18.

Baby social time

Friday, July 28, 9:30-10:15 a.m.

Playtime with other adults and infants. Board books, manipulatives and baby-appropriate toys will be available for exploration and play.

As the city continues to grow, debates over how city residents are represented have become more prevalent. Four of the five current city councilors — as well as two recent councilors who stepped down last year — live in one of the city’s five wards: the southeast

BEARS

continued from page 3

a conservation success, and our surveys show most Vermonters want a healthy bear population in our state,” Comeau said. “But that means that if you live in Vermont, you live in bear country and are responsible for taking proactive steps to prevent conflicts with bears. It also means Vermonters must grapple with tough questions like whether the Burlington suburbs are really a good place for bears.”

Fish and Wildlife urges Vermonters to take proactive steps

Any final decision, Taylor noted, would ultimately come down to the city council. The committee could recommend a charter change and the council could decline, or vice versa.

“I hope to have a pretty good sense of what we’re going to recommend to the Council at the end of the July meeting,” he said.

to prevent bears learning to look for food near people, especially in densely populated areas. Taking down birdfeeders until there is snow on the ground, securing garbage until collection day morning, protecting backyard flocks with electric fencing and composting properly can help prevent bear conflicts from developing.

A full list of steps for coexisting with bears is available at vtfishandwildlife.com.

Report sightings and bear incidents at bit.ly/439NRfu.

ANN HAZELRIGG UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT EXTENSION

Dr. Ann Hazelrigg is the University of Vermont Extension plant pathologist and director of the Plant Diagnostic Clinic.

PHOTO BY TODD CHRETIEN

As slime molds age, they fade from bright yellow to a crusty dull tan and release spores that can stay dormant until the next bout of rainy weather.

Vermont Softball Player of the Year, Borrazzo leaves behind lasting legacy

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

Recent South Burlington High School graduate Emily Borrazzo might be the 2023 Gatorade Vermont Softball Player of the Year, but to her friends, family and teammates it is her dedication and ultimate love of the sport that really gets the win.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one student athlete in each state for every sport. The selection process is administered by a selection committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine state winners in various high school sports.

The award recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the field.

Borrazzo came to love softball early on thanks to her sisters and family, who encouraged her to cultivate the passion when she was just 6 years old.

“My parents always wanted the three of us to play a sport year-round,” she explained. “Both of my sisters were pitchers, so I would go to their games, and on the sidelines, I’d be mimicking their pitching motion.”

Borrazzo also won Gatorade Softball Player of the Year last year.

Throughout the years, she dabbled in soccer, basketball and even golf, but softball has always been her first love, teaching her some of life’s greatest lessons: resiliency and learning how to overcome self-doubt.

“When I’m on the mound, if someone gets a good hit or something like that, when I was younger, I would usually just dwell on that and be like, ‘Oh, I should have pitched this and I should have focused harder,’ but I’ve learned you can focus on it for only 30 seconds and then just focus on the next batter and what you’re going to do differently next time,” she said. “You just have to bounce back. It’s also taught me

YARD SALE DORSET FARMS

NEIGHBORHOOD

YARD SALE: Fri.-Sun., July 14-16, rain or shine. Participating residents will set up in their driveways and garages.

to be really intentional with what you’re doing.”

This season the right-hander led the Wolves to the Division I state tournament, compiling a 10-5 record through 15 games in 97 innings. Her earned run average was 0.94, and she struck out 164 batters with just 16 walks.

At the plate, Borrazzo batted .571 with four home runs and 16 RBI, scored 26 runs, and struck out just once.

When she’s not on the mound, Borrazzo enjoys baking, biking, hanging out with her friends and playing board games.

“My family gets kind of sick of me playing board games. I’ll play a board game with anybody honestly,” she joked.

Although softball seems to be something that just runs in her blood, she said she owes much of her success to her team and coach Hailey Reilly, who Borrazzo says made team bonding a top priority this year.

“One of my big philosophies as a coach is yes, softball is really important, but also being a good human is really important,” Reilly said. “I think that (the team) really rose to that expectation of just how to treat each other and how to be a team in many ways.”

She explained the season as one of “ups and downs” and although there were periods of disappointment, there were also moments of “fantastic individual performance,” including Borrazzo’s performance on the pitcher’s mound.

“She was such a force as a player and as a leader and just cared so much about everybody else and their experience,” Reilly

said. “We struggled with that consistency in games, and she was able to keep the score really low. So even when it was tough to get runs on and people around, the score was so low because she pitched every single game for us. We really didn’t give her an option for any breaks, and she just took all of that in stride.”

Reilly described Borrazzo as the kind of player that’s the first to get to practice and the last to leave, a quality so ingrained in her that she named an award after her: Love of the Sport Award.

“This kid just loves to play softball and loves to have other people enjoy softball,” she said.

As Borrazzo steps off the pitcher’s mound as a South Burlington Wolf for the last time, she brings with her everything that the last four years has taught her onto a new adventure: She heads to Williams College in the fall.

She isn’t sure what she plans to study, but one thing is certain, she will be playing softball.

“I’m a little bit nervous but pretty excited,” Borrazzo said. “There’s a lot of people from all over so it’ll be cool to play with them and see how the game is a little bit different over there. They’re all very passionate people. I’m very excited to play with them.”

Reilly said there will be big shoes to fill next year with Borrazzo gone.

“She’s definitely leaving a legacy behind her,” Reilly said.

It’s a legacy Borrazzo hopes will inspire others to play softball. “I just really hope that it makes other little girls want to play softball,” she said.

PUBLIC HEARING

SOUTH BURLINGTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD

The South Burlington Development Review Board will hold a public hearing in the South Burlington City Hall auditorium, 180 Market Street, South Burlington, Vermont, or online or by phone, on Tuesday August 1, 2023 at 7:00 P.M. to consider the following:

Preliminary and final plat application #SD-23-11 of Casey Douglass to amend a previously approved 5.52 acre 6-unit planned unit development.

The amendment consists of subdividing lot 6, developed with a single family home and barn, into two lots of 0.69 acres (Lot 6A) and 0.60 acres (Lot 6B) for the purpose of demolishing the existing single family home and barn and constructing a new single family dwelling on each lot, 1200 Dorset Street

Board members will be participating in person. Applicants and members of the public may participate in person or remotely either by interactive online meeting or by telephone:

Interactive Online Meeting (audio & video): https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82437045408

By Telephone (audio only): (646) 931-3860, Meeting ID: 824 3704 5408

A copy of the application is available for public inspection by emailing Marla Keene, Development Review Planner, mkeene@southburlingtonvt.gov.

July 13, 2023

PHOTO BY BEN MAJORS

The Wolves’ Emily Borrazzo winds up.

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

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

www.pleasantvalleyvt.com servicedirectory

/ Cremation

Bob & Jessica Trautwine

Cell/Txt: 802-233-1451

Build / Remodel

PLEASANT VALLEY, INC.

Siding & Trim Work

Carpentry Repairs

Roofing Siding Renovations

Painting & Staining

Painting

Decks & Porches

Decks

Outdoor Structures

802-343-4820

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, there are tips and tricks to learn through observation of others, particularly if those people are doing something with style. Keep your eyes peeled for inspiration.

TAURUS

April 21 - May 21

Taurus, let other people know what you are feeling by wearing your heart on your sleeve a little more often. You don’t have to be stoic all of the time. It is alright to ask for help as well.

GEMINI

May 22 - June 21

It may seem like the days this week will trickle by at a snail’s pace, Gemini. It is perfectly ne to enjoy some slow-moving days for a change to help you recharge.

CANCER

June 22 - July 22

Cancer, kick up your irtatious nature, particularly if you have your eye on someone and are eager to start a relationship. Those who are attached can rekindle the passion.

LEO

July 23 - Aug. 23

Leo, share your optimism and level-headedness with someone who could use your support right now. You have an uncanny way of making others feel relaxed just by being in your company.

VIRGO

Aug. 24 - Sept. 22

An interesting travel opportunity comes your way, Virgo. However, at rst glance it might not seem like the type of trip you would normally take. Keep an open mind and be surprised.

LIBRA

Sept. 23 - Oct. 23

Libra, if you do not like the way things are going in one of your relationships, it is alright to speak up and encourage change. You are an equal partner and compromise is necessary.

SCORPIO

Oct. 24 - Nov. 22

Scorpio, you have to jump on every opportunity to get ahead that is presented to you, even if it may temporarily upset your schedule and life. The investment will be worth it.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov. 23 - Dec. 21

Get involved with helping others as much as possible, Sagittarius. This way you will be in the unique position to help someone close to you who needs it soon enough.

CAPRICORN

Dec. 22 - Jan. 20

Capricorn, there is nothing that you cannot accomplish when you lay on the charm. Others will ock to you this week and want to hear what you have to say.

AQUARIUS

Jan. 21 - Feb. 18

Enjoy every meeting of minds that you encounter, Aquarius. Each relationship and discussion can help broaden your horizons, and you can use that information wisely.

PISCES

Feb. 19 - March 20

Pisces, no matter how good a partnership looks on paper, if you are not meshing with this individual then it is not a partnership worth pursuing. Focus your attention elsewhere.

CLUES ACROSS

1. Database management system

5. Medical procedures

11. __ Clapton, musician

12. Defender

16. Exert oneself

17. Indicates position

18. Prevents river over ow

19. Atrocities

24. Mister

25. Ends

26. Slope or tilt

27. Taxi

28. The very ends

29. Actor Sean 30. Japanese persimmon

31. Sours 33. Bene ciary 34. Baseball of cial 38. Muddy, boggy ground

CROSSWORD SUDOKU

56. Local jurisdictions

58. It cools your home

59. Dismounted from a horse

60. Charge with a crime

63. Close in 64. Spoke

65. Famed garden

CLUES DOWN

1. Draw a scene

2. Its sultan is famous

3. Unlucky accident

4. A way to ski

5. Abba __, Israeli politician

6. Saw

7. “Westworld” actor Harris

8. Belonging to me

9. Shoelace tube

10. Takes to court

13. Early multimedia

14. In a way, produces

15. Bowlers

20. Of I

21. Equally

22. Gets some sun

23. A place to stay

27. Town in Galilee

29. Aronofsky lm

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!

30. Klingon character, “Star Trek”

ANSWERS

31. Equal to 100 square meters

32. Atomic #58

33. Arrived extinct

34. Loosen grip

35. A distinctive odor that is unpleasant 36. Membranes

37. Some is poisonous 38. Partner to Pa 40. Small brown gray rail 41. A salt or ester of acetic acid

42. Sodium 44. Military of cial (abbr.)

45. Lighted 46. Took off 47. All 48. Ohio city 50. More abject 51. A radio band 52. Controversial tech product (abbr.) 54. Monetary unit 55. Passed with ying colors

57. A way to win a boxing match

We understand the love you have for your

and the importance they hold in your life. Our compassionate staff is devoted to easing the difficulties at this challenging time.

LAWSUIT continued from page 1

losses, damages and other relief relating to the presence of toxic PCBs manufactured by Monsanto.”

As part of a state-mandated program, schools throughout the state — including the Charlotte Central School and Rick Marcotte School in South Burlington — had begun testing their facilities to find the chemicals, but many more will still need to conduct testing.

“We are certain that many districts are going to discover that there is PCB contamination in the air — there are action levels that will require remediation, and many communities will decide to remediate even if the PCB levels are below the state mandated amounts,” said Pietro Lynn, an attorney with Lynn, Lynn, Blackman and Manitsky that filed the lawsuit.

“That’s going to be a very expensive undertaking. The question that we think this lawsuit answers is who should bear responsibility? Should it be the communities in Vermont? Or should it be Monsanto?” he said. “We think it ought to be Monsanto.”

This lawsuit is one of several to be filed against Monsanto, now owned by Bayer, a German multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company.

Vermont’s attorney general, Charity Clark, filed a lawsuit against the company; the Burlington School District is in a suit of its own against Monsanto after PCB contamination forced it to build a new high school; and two former Burlington High School educators also filed suit, claiming they were harmed by exposure to the chemicals.

Polychlorinated biphenyls, Lynn’s lawsuit says, are “toxic and dangerous” chemicals that were almost exclusively manufactured, marketed, sold and distributed by Monsanto throughout the 20th century in construction materials such as caulk, sealants and adhesives. Children and adolescents are particularly sensitive to the neurodevelopment impacts of PCBs.

“Certain Plaintiffs’ districts will have no choice but to raze the buildings of the campus and replace them with an entirely new set of safe, PCB-free buildings,” the lawsuit reads.

Monsanto, the lawsuit alleges, “intentionally misled the public about the dangers posed by its PCB products” and knew the chemical compounds were toxic “as early as 1937.”

“Monsanto also knew well before 1970 that a number of studies, both internal and external, had demonstrated human and

ASH BORER

continued from page 11

longer, which I think is part of the goal here,” DiPietro said.

DiPietro said the estimated cost of removing and replanting an ash tree averages around $1,000. Once an ash tree is infected, it becomes brittle and hazardous to remove due to unpredictable breakage and risk of total trunk failure, increasing the chance of dangerous impacts to people and property, according to the natural resource and conservation committee.

Currently, there is no confirmed number of how many trees are infected by

animal toxicity,” the lawsuit reads. Bayer, in a statement, said that the case “has no merit.”

“Monsanto never manufactured, used or disposed of PCBs in Vermont and has not manufactured these products for more than 45 years,” the statement reads. “The PCB-containing products that likely are alleged to be the source of any impairment claims were produced by third party companies, not Monsanto.”

“We believe the evidence in this case will show that the school districts’ inaction combined with the state’s unprecedented and scientifically unsupported PCB screening levels has cost the state and its taxpayers millions of dollars that they are now trying to recoup by shifting blame to Monsanto,” the statement read.

Among the Champlain Valley and South Burlington district schools, only the Rick Marcotte Central School and the Charlotte Central School have taken part in testing since Vermont’s PCB testing began. The state is testing all schools built before 1980.

An indoor air sampling review by the Vermont Departments of Health and Department of Environmental Conservation found PCB levels under state limits at the Rick Marcotte Central School in South Burlington.

“No levels of PCBs at (Rick Marcotte Central School) are determined or considered to be harmful at this time,” Julia Maguire, a communications person for the South Burlington School District, said.

Testing had been done at the South Burlington High School in 2016 and at the Chamberlin School in 2018, Maguire said.

“PCBs were found after those tests and remediation took place,” she said.

The Charlotte Central School in February discovered PCBs above state action levels and was forced to shut down the school’s kitchen — moving the staff there out into the cafeteria to serve meals.

The district ordered and installed carbon filters in the Charlotte school kitchen, and later removed the source from the kitchen, according to Gary Marckres, the district’s chief operations officer. No PCB detection has been found in subsequent testing.

A second source of PCB was found in the boiler room of the school, Marckres said, but he noted that those are at low levels and kids are not exposed.

“We will end up mitigating that down the road, but it’s nothing that requires immediate action,” he said.

the emerald ash borer in South Burlington. Still, South Burlington residents appear to favor the hybrid plan despite the cost.

“If you have a problem with funding, I know at least on my tree, the neighbors are willing to pitch in to pay for this and I bet other neighborhoods would like to do that as well to keep their trees,” resident Rosie Greg said.

Residents are urged to report any suspected infestations of emerald ash borer through the official Vermont Invasives website at vtinvasives.org.

DianeVonFurstenberg,Shoshanna,Alice&Olivia,ShonaJoy,Trinaturk,Halston, Hutch,JulieVos,MoniqueL'huillier,Toccin,MacDuggal,TedBaker,Josephribkoff,soia&kyo...