The Other Paper - 9-14-23

Speed zone

Schools forced to rethink lower speed limits

Page 3

History lessons

Clemmons Family Farm offers teacher tutorials

Page 16

the South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977

SB school board faces new shakeup

Board member Bryan Companion resigns

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

Following a contentious few weeks for the South Burlington School Board, its newest member, Bryan Companion, resigned his seat effective Sept. 11 citing a “lack of respect and civility” at board meetings for his departure.

Companion was elected to the two-year seat on Town Meeting Day, beating former South Burlington board chair Travia Childs by just 26 votes.

Companion confirmed in a phone call that he dropped off a letter of resignation Monday morning at the district’s central office addressed to board chair Kate Bailey but declined to answer any further questions

See SCHOOL BOARD on page 13

Strong start

What’s in a name,

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

It was a quiet change. South Burlington’s monthly “night out” event, SoBu Nite Out, was last month advertised with a slightly more direct and slightly less nuanced name: SB Nite Out.

This reporter has made a similar change in practice. Headline writing is hard work — work I generally let my editor deal with and fitting South Burlington into a headline is generally impossible. So, SoBu was a nice little moniker to get the point across. Then the letters came in, with all the grace and cordiality of an artillery shelling.

South Burlington? Clearly not SoBu

SoBu is “childish, disrespectful, lazy, and more,” Loretta Marriott wrote. “It is time for The Other Paper to give up this ill-advised nickname.”

“It’s ridiculous sounding,” Heather Morse wrote.

SoBu “is neither hip nor cool” wrote Tony Basiliere, a 70-year-old second generation resident of the city, who said he found the term “to be an ill-advised attempt at relevance and branding.”

“Please do not attempt to promote the entire city as hip and cool,” he said.

The debate even bled into the ongoing work the charter committee is doing to evaluate and possibly change the city’s governing

structure. In a community-wide survey on its work, one reader added a postscript.

“SoBu is a stupid name!! We are south Burlington, not some midwestern honky tonk!!”

Noted, South Burlington. Or whatever you want to call yourself. The good news is that city officials have heard the message loud and clear.

“We have gotten away from using it,” said city manager Jessie Baker, who noted the nickname’s adoption came before she joined city government in 2021. “There’s not been any proclamation that we’re never going to use it. But we’re not using it was a communication tool or technique in our offi-

cial communication anymore.”

This certainly isn’t the first spate of letters. They go back to at least 2019, when Brenda Withey asked if there was “anyone else who winces a little every time they see the name ‘SoBu?’”

Once upon a time — in 2014, in fact — the city of South Burlington hired Arnett Muldrow & Associates to create a “consistent identity package” for South Burlington, following what city officials deemed a “community identity issue,” The Other Paper reported in 2019 after similar rain of hail fire

PHOTO BY AL FREY

South Burlington’s Sabina Brunet drives up the field away from Bellows Falls’ Eryn Ross during the Wolves’ 3-0 win over the Terriers on Friday afternoon in South Burlington. The Wolves are 2-0. More on page 11.

Rate increases coming for city water, sewer users

Study recommends fixed rate on top of usage fee

COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

The city of South Burlington is working on revamping how it charges customers of its water and sewer systems, as several multi-million-dollar capital projects are expected to put considerable strain on the city water system’s finances.

To take stock of the financial efficacy of its water and sewer systems, the city contracted with Aldrich + Elliot, a water resource engineering firm, to conduct what city public works head Tom DiPietro said was the “first independent review of the city’s rates in recent memory.”

With some of the lowest water and sewer rates in the area, city officials say rates need to be adjusted to finance upcoming water infrastructure projects while ensuring users aren’t impacted by large, one-time increases to their rates — like in 2012, when residents saw a more than 20 percent hike in water rates.

“We just want to make sure we’re in a good position to pay for those and spread those costs out so there are no really large rate increases,” DiPietro said.

City residents in March voted to spend up to $33.8 million to upgrade the aging Bartlett Bay

Wastewater Treatment Plant. They’ll have to vote again this coming March to approve bonds for a second water tower on Dorset Street that city officials say is needed to meet the increasing demand for water storage capacity.

The objective of the study, presented to the city council last week, is to make sure the city’s rates yield enough revenue yet still minimize the impact to customer bills, said Wayne Elliot of Aldrich + Elliot.

“The rates are going to go up regardless of whether you change the rate structure or not,” he said. “We want to make sure those things are thoughtful, and we don’t jump it up significantly in one year.”

Usage fees

Most municipal water and sewer rates have some combination of a base rate and a usage fee. South Burlington users, however — including residential, commercial and industrial customers — are only charged a usage fee, paying only for what they use, except for customers at the lower end.

Customers who use less than the 1,000 cubic feet per quarter minimum are billed a minimum rate. Elliot said that 41 percent

of customers pay this minimum charge or roughly $144 a year.

“Very few communities bill strictly on usage,” Elliot said. “It’s very difficult to get any kind of revenue stability.”

According to the study, South Burlington residents, on average, pay just under $300 annually in water costs. Customers in towns like Essex Junction, Williston and Shelburne pay $300 to $400. On the higher end, residents on Hinesburg’s water system pay close to $800 a year.

On the sewer side, the average residential customer pays about $386 annually, or $97 quarterly, toward their sewer bill.

The firm estimates that the customer’s average monthly bill for water and sewer is $24.20 and $32.21, respectively. Some residents pay as little as $28 for both water and sewer.

Rate increases, meanwhile, have generally been held to less than 3 percent to cover operating expenses, which Elliot said have not been sufficient to cover capital improvement costs.

These factors, Elliot said, “really hasn’t allowed the city to keep up with inflation, and to set aside adequate funds for future upgrades. That hasn’t allowed you to put money aside for capital, and that’s one of the changes

that really needs to be implemented moving forward with the rate increases and the debt retirement down the road.”

Several bill structures were proposed, but the study’s authors recommended the city institute fixed rates. Non-residential users, however, would pay a fixed rate double that of residential customers.

Rate increases would be phased in over the next five years. Fixed rates for residential customers would be set at $101 for the fiscal year 2025, and then $130 for fiscal years 2026, 2027 and 2028.

Non-residential customers would pay an annual fixed rate of about $202, and then $261 for the next three years. Usage fees, meanwhile, would remain as is — with both residential and non-residential customers paying on average $30.58 per 1,000 cubic feet.

All told, with usage fees and the new fixed rates factored in, the study predicts that the average residential customer would see an 11 percent increase in their water bill for 2025, and a 10 percent increase in 2026. Non-residential customers would see the biggest increases over the next two years — anywhere from a 13 percent to 23 percent increase, depending on the type of customer and the amount of water they use.

Both Elliot and DiPietro

noted that the projected increases were conservative and noted that growth projections for new housing currently under construction was not included.

‘It sounds unfair to me’

There was some debate among city councilors over how to balance both a fixed rate and a usage rate — particularly for those residents who use less than the 1,000 cubic feet per quarter and are paying the minimum charge.

City councilor Andrew Chalnick noted that “those customers are going to be moving to paying $260 by 2028, people who basically use no water.”

“That to me feels a little harsh. Forty percent of customers, they’re basically going to be doubling what they’re paying every year by 2028,” he said. “Someone who is using hardly any water is basically paying two fixed costs. A fixed rate for the minimum amount of water that they may not even be using, and then another fixed cost. It sounds unfair to me.”

Several councilors, including councilor Meaghan Emery, suggested the city could offer rebates to customers who use under the minimum amount of water.

Family size should be factored in, others argued.

Councilor Tyler Barnes said that “what it feels like we’re doing is if you’re a second homeowner and you’re only in your home part time, we’re going to shift a disproportionate amount of the increase onto full-time residents who might have larger families, who are going to have higher usage rates.”

Chalnick noted that “you still don’t want to set up something that’s unfair, to have folks who are not using water basically pay two fixed rates. It has to be an equitable system.”

Discussion also centered on base rates for multi-family apartment buildings, and whether a building with 20 units, for example, should have its fixed rate multiplied by 20.

“They would see a large increase in their water bill, but it would be fair compared to a single-family residential unit that has its own meter,” city councilor Tim Barritt said. “We’re trying to spread the cost fairly among all the customers.”

City manager Jessie Baker told the council that officials would further analyze the rate structure’s effect on customers using below the minimum.

“I think we can do that analysis and bring that back,” she said.

Burton hosts bike, sewing machine collection

Vermont Peace Corps volunteers will be collecting used bikes and sewing machines for developing countries on Saturday, Sept. 23, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at Burton corporate headquarters, 180 Queen City Road, in Burlington. A donation of $20 per item is requested with each item. Since 1999, Vermonters have shipped more than 4,000 bikes and 1,000 sewing machines to community projects in the developing world through this project. More at /bit.ly/3P7JtZz. Or contact Paul Demars at 802-793-0888 or demers.paul6@gmail.com.

City council revises school zone speed

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

A speed zone resolution recently passed by the South Burlington City Council was revised Monday night, raising the speed in school zones to 25 miles per hour to comply with state guidelines.

After multiple requests from the school board since February, the implementation of school zones, along with a four-waystop at Rick Marcotte Central School on Market Street, was approved by the city council earlier this month.

The South Burlington Speed Limit Resolution, part of the city’s motor vehicle and traffic ordinance, did not include a provision for the establishment of school zones until it was updated last October to address concerns about traffic speeds, specifically on White Street. There is presently one school zone — on White Street near the Chamberlin School— established under the resolution.

But for the city to implement more speed changes and school zones, the areas had to first undergo engineering studies and analyses.

Studies presented to the city council last month by the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission found that of the 4,414 cars observed per day on Market Street, most were traveling slightly higher than the 25 miles per hour posted speed limit.

“Based on all of those different things, the Chittenden County Regional Planning engineers have recommended a school zone be implemented on Market Street,”

Erica Quallen, South Burlington’s deputy director of capital projects, said, noting that the school zone would be marked at 20 miles per hour. “It would be time-restricted to be about an hour or so during drop off in the morning and pick up in the evening. That would be signified by the flashing lights and the radar speed feedback signs, and that goes to a few 100 feet in either direction.”

But city staff received an update from regional planners stating that, per state statute, municipalities cannot set speed limits lower than 25 miles per hour.

“It kind of confounds me how this state can upend what I think is a good speed limit,” city council member Meaghan Emery said.

No one from the Vermont Agency of Transportation could be reached to answer exactly why speed limits cannot be lower than 25 miles per hour, but in its guidance to municipalities, the agency says, “Towns sometimes tend to set speed limits too low. This merely creates more speeders, since the majority of motorists drive at speeds they perceive to be safe. Speeds set too low can also create more, and sometimes dangerous, passing.”

The school zones impacted are in the vicinity of the Gertrude Chamberlin and Rick Marcotte Central schools, but these locations will still be designated as school zones.

The $30,000 in signs and equipment necessary to establish the school zones was approved from the city’s surplus funds of over $2 million at the close of fiscal year 2023.

COURTESY PHOTO

CRIME & COURTS

Vermont State Police Blotter

Sept. 9 at 10:43 p.m., Louise Miles, 62, of South Burlington was arrested for driving under the influence, first offense, on Williston Road in front of the

Double Tree by Hilton. Police found Miles in her car, which they say was parked on the sidewalk in front of the hotel.

South Burlington Police Blotter: Sept. 4 - 10

Traffic stop: 29

Agency / public assists: 26

Welfare check: 23

Foot patrol: 18

Alarm: 16

Disturbance: 15

Field contact: 14

Suspicious event: 13

Retail theft: 9

Directed patrol: 8

Accident: property damage: 8

911 hangup: 8

Unlawful mischief: 8

Animal problem: 7

Juvenile problem: 7

Larceny from motor vehicle: 6

Accident with injury: 6

Trespass: 5

Threats: 4

Domestic: 4

DUI: 2

Total incidents: 294

Arrests:

Aug. 11 at 3:06 p.m., Pierre

Son to testify against mom next month in execution homicide

MIKE DONOGHUE CORRESPONDENT

Mujomba, 66, of Burlington, was arrested for lewd and lascivious conduct on Shelburne Road and Farrell Street.

Sept. 3 at 10:10 p.m., Wade K. Wood, 31, of South Burlington, was arrested for petit larceny from a structure on Shelburne Road.

Sept. 4 at 8:07 p.m., Jaden McKelvy, 19, of Williston, was arrested for false alarms to public safety on Shelburne Road.

Sept. 4 at 10:16 p.m., Gregory S. Stowe, 32, of Winooski, was arrested on an in-state warrant on National Guard Avenue.

Sept. 5 at 10:06 p.m., Sharon S. Brailsford, 55, no address provided, was arrested for driving with a criminally suspended license at Williston

See BLOTTER on page 5

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The planned joint trial of a former Williston woman and her son on murder charges for killing her husband during a nighttime ambush in Hinesburg four years ago has taken an unusual twist after Korey Lee George pleaded guilty and said his mother pulled the trigger.

George, 35, struck a plea deal that is expected to get him a prison term of 18 years to life for pleading guilty to conspiring with his mother, Angela M. Auclair, to kill her husband David Auclair, 45, of Williston at a rural parking area off Gilman Road in Hinesburg on July 11, 2019.

George is expected to be a key witness against his mother when she goes on trial in October. The guilty plea in court Tuesday means what was believed to be the first joint homicide trial in Vermont in more than 50 years will now have only one defendant.

Deputy state’s attorney Susan G. Hardin outlined in Vermont Superior Court Tuesday afternoon the basis for the charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder.

Hardin said George conspired with his mother, Angela Auclair, now 50, to kill her estranged husband by firing 11 gunshots into him as he tried to crawl under a truck to get away.

It marked the first time in either state court or federal court — where George also was prosecuted as a five-time felon in possession of a firearm — that Angela Auclair has been publicly identified as the trigger person. The investigation had pointed to George as the apparent shooter after he allegedly stole firearms from a Colchester home. There was some belief his

mother was home at the time of the shooting, records show.

David Auclair’s bullet-riddled body was part of an execution-styled homicide orchestrated by his estranged wife Angela — who also is George’s mother — Vermont State Police and prosecutors have said.

George bought a pre-paid burner cellphone in Milton that was used to make two phone calls, including a late-night call that lured Auclair to the LaPlatte Headwaters Town Forest trailhead parking lot in Hinesburg, state police said.

No shell casings were left behind from the shooting, police said.

Also, for the first time in public, Hardin said officials have been told three vehicles were at the shooting scene. David Auclair, who was found dead under his 2017 GMC pickup, George, who lured him there in a second vehicle, and a third vehicle that police believe belonged to Angela Auclair. A passing motorist is among those who reported three vehicles.

See GEORGE on page 5

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A nearby doorbell camera captured the sound of 14 shots.

George’s defense lawyer, Daniel M. Sedon, said after the hearing the evidence shows only one gun was at the scene.

Under questioning from Judge Kevin Griffin, George admitted the entire conspiracy scenario outlined by Hardin was true. It included him being at the scene, but he said his mother was the shooter.

Auclair’s defense lawyer, Rob Sussman, and the state plan to take George’s deposition within a week.

As part of George’s plea agreement, eight other criminal charges, including the Colchester home burglary, where handguns were stolen, two counts of obstruction of justice and first-degree murder, will be dismissed at sentencing, Griffin said.

Four other counts involving violation of conditions of release will be dropped.

If the deal falls through, including George not testifying honestly, all nine charges will proceed, the judge said.

Jury selection for Auclair and George had been set for Oct. 2 in Burlington. The court had reserved up to five weeks at the Edward J. Costello Courthouse.

George is currently serving more than eight years for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Federal judge Christina Reiss sentenced him in November 2021 to 89 months in federal prison. As part of the plea agreement, he is serving his federal sentence in a Vermont prison.

In an unusual move, Reiss agreed to a request by chief federal defender Michael Desautels to

BLOTTER

continued from page 4 Road and Dorset Street.

Sept. 6 at 11:11 p.m., Hassan I. Jafar, 20, of South Burlington, was arrested for violating conditions of release on Patchen Road.

Sept. 7 at 12:07 p.m., Abdihakim Dayo, 19, of Burlington, was arrested for driving under the influence, criminal refusal, on Dorset Street.

Sept. 7 at 3:36 a.m., Austin B. Robinson, 30, of Colchester, was arrested for driving with a criminally suspended license on Williston Road.

Sept. 7 at 12:23 p.m., Kevin F. Kennedy, 34, of Starksboro, was arrested for negligent operation, leaving the scene of an accident with bodily injury resulting and aggravated assault on Kennedy Drive.

Sept. 8 at 10:22 a.m., Nicole M. Smith, 44, of Woodstock, was

seal the sentencing memo because it outlined a troubling upbringing for George. The six-page memo and two exhibits outlined physical and mental health issues.

During the homicide investigation, Vermont State Police determined George was in illegal possession of two firearms — a stolen 9-mm Beretta used in the homicide and a stolen 12-gauge shotgun, records show.

George was subsequently charged in federal court in a two-count indictment. He pleaded guilty to possessing the stolen shotgun. His criminal record includes five felony convictions, which means he is prohibited from possessing any firearms.

Angela Auclair testifies

Auclair pleaded not guilty to aiding in first degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and obstruction of justice. The obstruction count maintains Auclair instructed at least one witness in the case to lie to investigators for her, police said.

After George changed his plea Tuesday, Auclair had a separate hearing and took the witness stand for about 15 minutes to attack the Vermont State Police investigation.

Auclair said security video from her former home in Williston would confirm statements that she made about her whereabouts, including the night of the homicide.

But on cross examination, Auclair was stumped when Hardin asked how she could be so sure that the uncollected video equipment owned by her former in-laws captured what she claimed when she maintains she knew nothing

about how the system worked.

State police Det. Sgt. Ashley Barnes testified that investigators conducting a court-ordered search at Auclair’s former residence in Williston decided not to seize certain electronics. He said the house was vacant and certain monitoring equipment did not have any wires and did not appear to be operable.

Hardin grilled Auclair on why she never told police that she believed there were videos that would have proven her whereabouts leading up to and including the night of the killing.

“It’s not my job to tell the cops their job,” Auclair told Hardin.

Police said the night before the killing Auclair and her estranged husband met a mutual friendat the Lighthouse restaurant for dinner. Meanwhile, Auclair’s boyfriend dropped off Korey Lee George near the dinner guest’s unattended home on Arbor Lane, state police said.

Also with them was George’s then girlfriend Kirstin Stillwell, who he later married, police said.

Police say George broke into the mutual friend’s home and was seen a few minutes later carrying a bag out of the residence. The homeowner returned home after dinner to discover the burglary and reported three guns missing, including the eventual homicide weapon, police said.

Many of the movements of George and Auclair’s boyfriend, as the driver, were captured on video going to and from the scene, while police also tracked their whereabouts through cellphone locations and text messages, records show.

Auclair remains held without bail at the South Burlington prison.

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arrested for disorderly conduct on Fayette Road.

Sept. 10 at 4:20 a.m., a 17-yearold juvenile was arrested for driving under the influence, second or subsequent offense, aggrieved operation without consent and driving with a criminally suspended license on Williston Road.

Sept. 10 at 8:41 p.m., Eric MacLean, 39, of South Burlington, was arrested for driving under the influence, first offense, on Allen Road.

Sept. 4 at 10:40 a.m., police investigated an animal bite on Winesap Lane.

Sept. 5 at 2:25 p.m., police are investigating a report of fraud from Williston Road.

Sept. 5 at 3:09 p.m., an accident at Dorset Street and Kennedy Drive resulted in injuries.

Sept. 6 at 7 p.m., police performed

a needle pickup on Hinesburg Road.

Sept. 7 at 12:48 a.m., police performed a welfare check on Patchen Road.

Sept. 7 at 8:11 and 8:21 a.m., police responded to back-toback calls for a problem with an underage person on Baldwin Avenue.

Sept. 7 at 8:40 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen on Quarry Hill Road.

Sept. 8 at 10:22 a.m., threats were reported from an address on Fayette Road.

Sept. 8 at 10:49 a.m., a report of stalking on Dorset Street is being investigated.

Sept. 9 at 9:30 p.m., a burglary was reported on Hannaford Drive.

Sept. 10 at 10:35 p.m., a vehicle was reportedly stolen on Bacon Street.

935 Shelburne Road, South Burlington, VT

Strong unions advance dignity, rights of workers, families

From the Senate

Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale

More than 34,000 Vermonters belong to a union. That’s 12 percent of our workforce.

Unions are shown to increase gender and racial parity, strengthen democracy in the workplace and enhance the compensation and well-being of workers. That is why supporting collective bargaining and union organizing is one of our best tools for building a strong workforce.

This past session, the Senate advanced the Vermont Protect the Right to Organize Act, which would give more Vermonters the

opportunity to join or form a union without fear of retaliation or overexposure. We also advanced sweeping access to affordable child care and took steps forward to implement paid family and medical leave.

Labor Day, celebrated last week, is about recommitting to giving workers the dignity and respect they deserve. Because when we do, we create a tide that lifts all boats. So today, alongside labor partners like the Vermont ALF-CIO, I am committed to ensuring the Protect the Right to Organize Act passes the House and is signed into law by the governor. I am committed to advancing paid family and medical leave. I am committed to a strong safety net for all workers.

Everyone, regardless of which indus-

try or sector they work in, deserves basic respect and dignity in the workplace, which includes freedom of conscience and respect of their right and choice to form a union with their colleagues.

This Labor Day, I thank unions and workers by recommitting to their strength, vitality, growth and well-being. For my family, for all our families.

Kesha Ram Hinsdale, a Democrat from Shelburne, serves the towns of South Burlington, Shelburne, Charlotte, Hinesburg, Milton, Burlington, St. George, Westford, Underhill, Jericho, Richmond, Winooski, Williston, Essex and Bolton in the Legislature. She is chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs.

State university reorganization will benefit students, Vermont

Guest Perspective

Michael Smith

There are certainly complex challenges in higher education and significant forces at play that Vermont State University doesn’t control — an aging demographic, uncertainty about the value of higher education and designing a model that reaches and encompasses the rural nature of the state.

In the face of these challenges, Vermont stepped up. Led by Gov. Phil Scott, lawmakers and the university system chancellor, Vermont has made more than a $200 million investment in the Vermont State College System, which paved the way for the unification and creation of Vermont State University.

This decision is about far more than money. It represents a commitment to equity, inclusion and opportunity for the students we serve. Many are first-generation college students, adult learners, single parents and those with low or moderate incomes.

Vermont State University just welcomed more than 1,500 new students. About 70 percent are Vermonters. Additionally, we will see more than 700 plumbers and electricians coming through our apprenticeship

program each year.

It’s clear we educate Vermont. Our graduates are in demand. If you’ve needed a teacher, a nurse, a social worker, a mental health counselor, a plumber, an electrician, a child care provider or a dental hygienist in the past several years, you know they are hard to come by. As demands in the workforce change, you will see us on the cutting edge, supplying graduates ready to work in the evolving disciplines of climate change science and sustainable engineering.

This fall we expanded nursing space at Lyndon and will do the same at other campus locations in fall 2024, with additional nurses joining Vermont’s workforce each year.

There’s no getting around the fact that we have much more work to do to realize the vision of transformation, but we are working hard to get it done. Faculty and staff are working on ways to reimagine how we do education in Vermont, and that means reaching into every corner of our rural state to make education accessible to all.

We are also re-envisioning how we will grow enrollment with a new enrollment

See SMITH on page 10

Locally First

Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale

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Eagle Scout builds picnic tables in the wilderness

Adam Kett, a 14-year-old Boy Scout from South Burlington, completed his Eagle Scout project at Floodwood Pond near Saranac Lake, N.Y., in August. His project was to build and deliver four picnic tables to remote campsites on the pond.

Kett, who belongs to Troop 611 and has a love of backcountry canoeing, met Dave Cilley of Floodwood Outpost in 2022 while canoeing in the area and came up with the idea of furnishing picnic tables to some of the remote sites in the area.

Cilley, also an Eagle Scout, was excited to hear of Kett’s idea and referred him to New York forest ranger Megan LaPierre, who subsequently referred him to New York State forester Steve Guglielmi.

Kett then developed a proposal for his project and obtained the necessary approvals from the state of New York.

Kett raised over $800 and coordinated with Lowe’s of South Burlington to obtain the wood

and other materials to complete his project. He recruited friends, Scouts and others to help.

Work included sanding and sealing the wood, as well as pre-drilling, building and de-constructing all the tables in advance to hasten their construction in the remote wilderness. He coordinated with his team of volunteers to transport the materials and tools to Floodwood Pond, loading them into a flotilla of five canoes and paddling out to four campsites.

Once at the campsites they assembled the tables.

The remaining funds leftover from his Eagle Scout project have been donated to the Adirondack Park Natural Heritage Trust that works to preserve New York’s public lands and enhance programs at state parks and historic sites such as those at Floodwood Pond.

If you are interested in learning more about Scouting, visit beascout.org and reach out to your nearest Scouting unit for more details.

COURTESY PHOTO

Adam Kett of South Burlington sits at one of the picnic tables he constructed for his Eagle Scout project at Floodwood Pond in the Adirondacks.

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‘Make Way’ author offers reading at library

Join South Burlington Public Library for a special storytime on Saturday, Oct. 21, 10 a.m., in the Marabella Kidspace with local author Angela Burke Kunkel, who will read the classic, “Make Way for Ducklings” and her own book, “Make Way: The Story of Robert McCloskey, Nancy Schön, and Some Very Famous Ducklings.”

Her picture book biography follows the lives of Robert McCloskey, creator of “Make Way for Ducklings,” and sculptor Nancy Schön, whose famous bronze ducks grace Boston Public Garden.

There will be a duckling craft following the reading. Books will

William L. Harwood

William L. Harwood, 77, of South Burlington, died peacefully on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, at the McClure Miller Respite House after a 16-month battle with cancer.

Bill was born in Burlington on May 18, 1946, to Theodore Harwood and Laura Jean Lathrop. The family moved to Grand Forks, N.D., when he was a young boy.

Bill completed his bachelor’s degree with honors in American history at the University of North Dakota in 1968. In 1970, the Journal of South Dakota History published his thesis on the Ku Klux Klan in Grand Forks.

He then served three years in the U.S. Army as a military intelligence non-commissioned officer and completed a year of Polish language training at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif. He applied his knowledge of Polish to earn a doctorate in Polish and East European history at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, conducting research at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland.

He passed the foreign service exam at the American Embassy in Warsaw and worked with the U.S. Information Agency as a foreign service information officer doing press and cultural work in U.S. embassies in Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Poland, Russia and Somalia.

While serving overseas, Bill married Marjorie Tomoe Yamamoto, a family nurse practitioner

Community Notes

bar, “Digging for Words, Jose Alberto Gutierrez and the Library He Built,” celebrates perseverance, community and the power of books. Her nonfiction picture book-in-verse, “Penguin Journey,” with Catherine Odell was released in 2021.

Her third picture book with illustrator Claire Keane, “Make Way,” was released in April.

South Burlington hosts energy festival Sept. 30

be available for purchase.

Kunkel is a school librarian by day and a writer in the very early mornings. Her debut picture book with illustrator Paola Esco-

Obituary

You can learn more about how you can do your part by moving away from fossil fuels at the South Burlington Energy Festival,

See COMMUNITY NOTES on page 9

and wrote his life story, particularly his life in the foreign service.

Bill lived a very full and productive life. Everyone who knew him will have their special memories, but three qualities stand out. First, he was devoted to family, including the group of 18 Harwood first cousins who stayed close throughout their lives, as well as maintaining life-long friendships with people from childhood in North Dakota to overseas postings to life in Washington and Vermont.

with the U.S. State Department, and they welcomed a daughter, Laura. The family returned to Washington where Marjorie fell ill and died in 1998.

In 2001, Bill married Elaine Hubert, who had worked at the World Bank, and in 2007 they moved to Vermont, living first in Burlington and then South Burlington.

Throughout his life Bill was devoted to music, both singing and playing the French horn. Starting in high school, continuing at overseas postings and in Washington and Vermont, he loved to perform in musicals, operas and Gilbert and Sullivan. He sang with the Burlington Choral Society, the Oriana and Aurora chamber singers and the choir of the College Street Congregational Church, which he attended as a boy.

He served on the boards of his church and music groups and was president of the Burlington Rotary Club. He studied creative writing

Second, he never gave up his passion for learning, and read everything he could get his hands on. His library, music and CD collections never stopped growing. Third, he had a faith in God that sustained him to the end. Bill was a good man who will be missed.

Bill is survived by his wife of 22 years, Elaine Hubert; his daughter, Laura Benise and son-in-law, Roni Benise, and grandchildren, Bodhi and Isabella Benise, all of Ojai, Calif; sister, Judy Harwood of Manchester Center; brother, Ted Harwood of Duluth, Minn.; and nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service will be held at the College Street Congregational Church, 265 College St., Burlington, on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, at 1 p.m. The service will be in person as well as on Zoom.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill’s memory may be made to College Street Church or a music group of your choosing. To send online condolences visit cremationsocietycc.com.

William L. Harwood

Angela Burke Kunkel

Walk, run some miles for migraines

Miles for Migraine will host its 6th annual 2-mile Walk and 5K Run event on Saturday, Sept. 23, at Veterans Memorial Park, 1000 Dorset St., in South Burlington, from 8:30-11 a.m. The event is a fundraiser for migraine and headache awareness, treatment and research. But organizers say it’s more than a walk and run: It’s an opportunity to connect with the local migraine and headache community, listen to speakers and visit sponsors in the festival area. All walk and run finishers receive a medal. The 5K is professionally timed. Dress up in your best purple flair for a chance at a fun prize. All funds raised will benefit the University of Vermont Medical Center Headache Clinic to support local migraine research and fellowship training programs. More at btv.milesformigraine.org. Above, Participants at the Miles for Migraine walk in 2022.

COMMUNITY NOTES

continued from page 8

Saturday, Sept. 30, at city hall from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

This free event includes more than 20 exhibitors, four food trucks, free Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, live music, kids’ activities, induction stove demo, smoothie bike and electric vehicle and electric bike demonstrations.

There will be a full schedule of short informative workshops and demos. There will be three raffles

with 65 prizes worth $3,000 worth of prizes.

For more details visit bit. ly/3YS4lIG.

Bird diva explores magic of fall migration

Bird diva Bridget Butler will explore fall migration during a presentation using snippets of

fall sounds and photographs from regional photographers in “Time to Fly: The Magical of Fall Bird Migration,” Tuesday, Sept. 26, 1 p.m., Faith United Methodist

Church, 899 Dorset St., South Burlington.

From the challenge of identifying fall warblers to laid-back days watching the aerial acrobatics of

migrating raptors, there will be plenty of inspiration to keep even

COURTESY PHOTO

All Souls hosts annual choral celebration

COMMUNITY NOTES

continued from page 9

the most ardent birder engaged through the change of seasons.

Homestead talk recounts Revolutionary rescue

Ethan Allen Homestead Museum offers “The Capture and Rescue of Remember Baker” on Sunday, Sept. 17, at 2 p.m.

Roger Tegart, the current president of the Bennington Historical Society, recounts the March 1772 capture of Ethan Allen’s cousin by the Yorkers and the ultimate rescue by the Green Mountain Boys.

Admission is free; donations are appreciated. More information at ethanallenhomestead@gmail.com or 802-865-4556.

fifth through eighth graders.

“While we don’t know exactly what she will be doing for each of the 90-minute sessions, we do know that she has a penchant for messy, exploding experiments,” according to a library release.

Some possibilities are water bottle rockets with baking soda and vinegar, elephant toothpaste with hydrogen peroxide, instant snow with sodium polyacrylate, chromatography with sharpies and alcohol or a super ball that demonstrates a polymerization reaction. Expect four to six experiments per session.

Rupp has a doctorate in cell biology and biochemistry from George Washington University and now works as a professional writer.

All Souls Interfaith Gathering will host the 23rd Choral Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m. in its sanctuary at 291 Bostwick Farm Road. Originally started by founding pastor Rev. Mary Abele, the celebration provides an evening of music and community connection. This year’s event will feature Vermont’s Freedom and Unity Chorus, joined by the All Souls Choir, with music designed to uplift and connect the community. Pastor Don Chatfield will provide a brief interfaith reflection and the celebration will end with fresh cider and apple cider donuts. Admission is by donation. Above, Vermont’s Freedom and Unity Chorus.

HONORING OUR VETERANS

On Nov. 9, The Other Paper will be honored to publish photos of the men and women who have unselfishly served our country.

If you have a veteran who you would like us to honor, please mail or email your photo and the following information by THURSDAY,

South Burlington library hosts Cool Chemistry program

Rebecca Rupp is returning with two more of her Cool Chemistry programs to the South Burlington Public Library on two consecutive Thursdays, Oct. 19 and 26.

The first program is for students in grades three and four; the second date if for

continued from page 6

strategic plan, which includes reaching the adult learner and those 45 percent of high school students who are not going on to any schooling after graduation. We are also working on the ongoing structural deficit and developing a 10-year master plan to right-size our campuses. This university must find ways to continually assist in meeting the needs of our Vermont workforce.

Very importantly, we must optimize class sizes to align with peer colleges and universities and help us maintain fiscal stability.

Vermont State University provides degrees, education, training and certification for these and many other high-demand and high-wage industries. Across Vermont, prospective students of all ages and walks of life need to know that Vermont State is where they can come to pursue these and other careers. We will connect them with the educational opportunities and the social and financial support they need to succeed.

My optimism about what Vermont State University can do to meet the future

She is the author of some 200 articles for national magazines, on topics ranging from the natural history of squirrels to the archaeology of privies, and nearly 20 books for both children and adults. She blogs on food science and history for National Geographic.

Registration (sbplkids@southburlingtonvt.gov) is required for materials and space is limited.

economic needs of Vermont is rooted in my meetings with faculty and staff when I hear about the incredible work they are doing to inspire students.

So, here is an invitation for all of you: Join us. This is your university, and what we are doing is pretty darn exciting. Help us build a university to be proud of and where you would like to see your child, grandchild or neighborhood child go. It’s affordable at $10,000 a year in-state tuition, for most courses, and scholarships on top of that. It’s accessible with campuses nearby, no matter where you live in Vermont, and online options for those who need and prefer them.

We are forging a new path, a new way, unified and stronger, offering programs to students on-campus and online that provide a clear and affordable path to a great job and a future here in Vermont.

Michael K. Smith is interim president of Vermont State University.

SMITH

COURTESY PHOTO

SPORTS

Field hockey wins two in a row, golfers win opener

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Football

Essex 28, South Burlington-Burlington 12: The South Burlington-Burlington coop football team lost to Essex on Sunday, Sept. 10.

After the weather pushed the game to Sunday afternoon, the SeaWolves surrendered an early first-quarter touchdown and then fell behind 21-6 before halftime.

Field hockey

South Burlington 3, Bellows Falls 0: South Burlington beat Bellows Falls 3-0 on Friday, Sept. 8, to move to 2-0 early in the season.

Sabrina Brunet had a goal and an assist to pace the Wolves offense, while Elise Knoth and Lily O’Brien each added a goal. Amber Rousseau made two stops in goal in the shutout.

Boys’ golf

The boys team got a win to open its season at Vermont National on Wednesday.

Sawyer Bond and Teddy Maynard each finished with a score of 40 to lead the Wolves, while Evan Marchessault came in with a 41. Jack McDougall scored a 42 and Trey Smith had a 48 to round out the South Burlington team.

Cross country

The South Burlington cross country teams headed to Hard’ack Recreation Area Saturday, Sept. 9, for the Burlington Invitational, with the girls coming in third place and the boys finishing in seventh.

Paige Poirier was the top finisher for the Wolves, coming in fifth place in the girls’ race. Maggie Clark came in 12th, while Marina Fihser was 17th for South

Burlington.

Regina Palmer was 21st and Callie Boyer was 23rd to round out the top finishers.

On the boys’ side, Austin Simone was the top finisher, coming in eighth place overall. Sky Valin came in 17th, while Odin Cloutier finished 22nd. Will Schaefer (42nd) and Dan Jackson (43rd) were the fourth and fifth place runners for the Wolves.

Boys’ soccer

South Burlington 1, Burr & Burton 0: South Burlington needed overtime to beat Burr and Burton in high school boys’ soccer on Wednesday, Sept. 6. Hammad Ali scored with three seconds left in the first OT period to lift the Wolves. Ian Henderson earned an assist on the game-winning goal.

Girls’ volleyball

Champlain Valley 3, South Burlington 0: The girls fell in straight sets to Champlain Valley on Saturday to take the loss.

CVU took the first set 25-9, the second 25-19 and the third 25-15.

Oliver Payson stopped six shots on goal to earn the shutout and the win.

PHOTO BY AL FREY

South Burlington’s Ella Maynard works to get by Bellows Falls’ Myleigh Illingworth during the Wolves’ 3-0 win over the Terriers on Friday afternoon in South Burlington

Green Mountain Transit plans higher fares, phone payments

SHAUN ROBINSON VTDIGGER

Green Mountain Transit riders can expect slightly higher fares — and new ways to pay them — starting early next year on many of the bus system’s busiest routes.

For the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the transportation agency plans to start charging for rides on its local and commuter routes in Chittenden County, and LINK Express routes to Montpelier and St. Albans, effective Jan. 2. The agency has operated all its bus routes statewide fare-free since March 2020.

While Green Mountain Transit leaders have publicly discussed the return of fares since January, the agency shared more details this month about what riders can expect.

A ride on the local, commuter and LINK Express routes is set to cost $2 next year. That’s a 50-cent increase over the pre-pandemic fare on local Chittenden County routes, but equal to the previous fare on commuter routes. It’s also a $2 decrease to the fare on LINK Express services versus March 2020.

Clayton Clark, the agency’s general manager, said bringing back fares — and for some routes, increasing them — will help the transit agency make up for the impending loss of federal COVID19 relief funding that has buoyed its coffers the agency throughout

the pandemic.

The transit agency’s roughly $25 million annual budget is funded largely with federal and state dollars, but also local assessments on the cities and towns its buses serve. Clark said that fare revenue — estimated to total about $1 million in its first year back — will help keep local taxpayers from picking up a larger share of the tab.

“Nothing is as good as free,” Clark said in an interview, but reinstating fares “will really mean that we won’t have to jack up the prices to the municipalities.”

While ridership on the agency’s local routes in Chittenden County has largely returned to pre-pandemic levels this summer, the system’s commuter and LINK Express buses still are seeing far fewer riders than they were before the pandemic, the agency said.

The local routes saw about 132,000 total rides in June, according to the agency’s most recent ridership data online, but commuter lines saw only about 6,200 trips that month.

A proposed fare plan states that the agency has seen fewer people taking its commuter routes and the LINK Express services to and from their jobs in recent years; instead, most riders are using them to get to medical and human services appointments.

When fares come back, the agency plans to charge a reduced rate of $1 to riders who are under age 17, over age 60 or who have a

disability. It also plans to continue operating its rural services — those in Washington, Lamoille, Franklin and Grand Isle counties — farefree, according to Clark.

New payment options

Green Mountain Transit had planned to reinstate fares on its Chittenden County routes in July, but the agency said it needed more time to get its fare collection system up and running.

Now, Clark said the agency has started installing new fareboxes that, for the first time, will allow riders to pay onboard with a credit card or a smartphone, instead of just cash and coins. Clark said that while 90 percent of bus riders likely have smartphones, it was important, from an equity perspective, to continue allowing onboard cash payments.

Under the new system, called Genfare Link, riders will be able

to download a mobile ticketing app and, when boarding a bus, open the app and wave their phone over the farebox to pay.

Riders who do not, or cannot, use the app will be able to get a physical bus pass at a Green Mountain Transit center, which works in much the same way. At first, the pass would need to be

PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER Bowie Bouchard is a frequent rider of the #6 bus, one of the routes on which Green Mountain Transit has reduced service. He prepared to board the bus at the transit center in Burlington in March.

SCHOOL BOARD

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regarding his decision.

“I will not participate in public criticism of others, nor do I wish to work in this type of environment,” he wrote in his letter. “I try to treat people in a respectful manner and believe my meeting conduct confirms this.”

Companion was also co-chair, alongside board member Laura Williams, of a fifth-grade transition committee whose charge is to evaluate whether the community should move fifth grade to the middle school or keep them where they are as a solution to overcrowding issues at the elementary schools. He noted in his letter that the “negative behavior” at meetings over the summer continued at a Sept. 6 meeting when Williams commented that’s its been difficult to reach Companion over the summer.

“This was the first time I was made aware of this issue despite attending meetings and exchanging emails, throughout the summer, with the individual that made the remark,” he wrote.

Bailey confirmed in an email Monday that she knew about the resignation but had not yet seen the letter and was working to prepare a statement.

A public records request for the letter submitted by The Other Paper was initially denied by communications director Julia Maguire, but was handily released to a different source just hours after The Other Paper’s request. A copy of the resignation letter was sent to the newspaper minutes before press deadline.

Superintendent Violet Nichols

BUS FARES

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refilled at a transit center, but Clark said plans are for riders to be able to add money to the card at local stores, such as CVS and Walmart, in the future.

Clark said riders who use the Genfare system would also be eligible for a new, planned fare structure that caps the amount riders spend in a given period of time.

The transit agency plans to introduce a daily cap of $4 (or $2 for reduced-price riders), meaning riders would not need to pay after taking two trips in a day. Riders would also be capped at paying $40 (or, for reduced fares, $20) in a month — the equivalent of 20 bus rides.

Clark said these caps were created so that, even with a higher fare in place, regular bus riders

could not be reached for comment after multiple attempts but did send a statement through Maguire.

“Superintendent Nichols would like to thank Mr. Companion for his work, particularly on the fifth-grade committee, and his knowledge of expertise surrounding the district’s facilities needs,” she said.

Companion wrote in the letter that he ran for the school board believing that he could contribute to the community that has served his family well through the years, but said the work has been neither productive nor enjoyable, especially at recent meetings.

The vacancy comes at a time when the board has already undergone a reshuffling. Just last month former board chair Alex McHenry resigned his seat after some board members voiced concerns about his leadership, both within the board and with the larger community.

Bailey, who spearheaded the move, said she saw a massive lack of communication and structure in how meetings were being facilitated and critiqued the way McHenry

communicated with the community, saying information was often incomplete, delayed or discussed in unnecessary executive sessions.

The issues boiled over at a heated meeting on Aug. 2 when board members announced they would take a vote of no confidence on McHenry at their next meeting. That vote was 3-2.

The only members who voted against the move were McHenry and Companion, who said throughout the meeting that he felt the reshuffling was “a very rushed process. I’m not in favor of this at all.”

In the statement from Maguire, she said that the current board members Bailey, Laura Williams, Alex McHenry and Chelsea Tillinghast will remain in their positions and will lead a process to fill the position by Oct. 11.

“With the community’s depth of knowledge of the district, the school board is optimistic they will find an exceptional candidate and look forward to welcoming a new member to the board.”

The superintendent’s office said that it would discuss the issue at a special school board meeting on Wednesday night after The Other Paper went to press.

SOUTH BURLINGTON

continued from page 1

in the opinion section. The branding exercise came after about 55 percent of respondents to a survey felt that South Burlington did not have a discerned identity.

The whole effort, which cost the city $17,567, was an attempt at creating community cohesiveness.

“At the time, there was a lot of awareness about where the city boundaries are and what was special about South Burlington, but we didn’t have a strong identity outside of the city to the rest of Vermont except for Williston Road and Shelburne Road — that was how we were viewed,” Ilona Blanchard, the city’s community development director, said.

At the time, Twitter — now rebranded as X — was very popular, and to the west, Burlington was using the hashtag BTV. So, the consultants recommended the city start using the short hashtag to draw attention to its restaurants, its shops and its burgeoning City Center — a now decades long effort to create a downtown in the historically suburban city.

“BTV has now really bled over, so I think some people saw the potential there,” Blanchard said. “I think for some people that was a cute way to refer to the city, and they embraced that. But I don’t think the city ever said, ‘And you will refer to yourself this way.’”

That hashtag stuck. SoBu, apparently, has not.

the city? They can take Williston Road. Or they can take Shelburne Road. Or they take Hinesburg Road.

So, what does South Burlington call itself? Rosanne Greco, the city’s former chair of the city council, wrote that “while we have much greater problems to address than our city name, words and names do matter, and they do carry power.”

“Perhaps someone, or a civic or school entity, can start a city re-naming challenge or contest,” she said. “It would be great to have a name that reflects what we aspire to be as a city. SoBu is not it.”

In June, Dick Boera offered a suggestion: “How about a referendum on a name change to Champlain?” he wrote to the newspaper.

Samuel de Champlain, the French explorer and namesake for that big body of water that we can sometimes swim in, Boera said, might be a good fit.

“Any buyers among our readers?” he asked.

In 2014, about 11 percent of respondents to a survey affirmed a name change and another 20 percent said they were open to that idea, according to previous reporting. But, according to city officials, there’s been no official discussion of an actual name change, and no “serious staff time” has been spent thinking about changing it, Baker said.

It’s a daunting task to think about.

would not pay more than the $40 cost of a monthly bus pass on the system’s local routes pre-pandemic. Monthly passes were more expensive for commuter lines.

Clark said the agency will be encouraging riders to take advantage of the new caps.

Sandy Thibault, executive director of the Chittenden Area Transportation Management Association, said her organization — which advocates for public transportation use in the county — was glad to see more modern payment options being put into place.

She said having the same fare across local and commuter routes will “provide, I think, more consistency for people traveling within the region,” adding that “we’ve got to make it easy” to take the bus for more people to consider a bus over

driving a car.

A January report found that Green Mountain Transit could expect to lose more than 15 percent of its riders if it started charging again. Clark said he hopes the new fare caps will help keep the bus affordable to more people and limit the impact on ridership.

Green Mountain Transit held a series of public meetings on the proposed new fare plan earlier this month. Clark said agency leaders did not hear any objections to the plan, though noted that attendance at the meetings was extremely low across the board.

Clark added that while Green Mountain Transit’s board of commissioners may make some tweaks to the plan, he expects few major changes before it goes into effect.

But clearly, there’s some anxiety that the city needs to work through. For starters, it’s not south of Burlington.

“I mean, there’s always kind of the joke — are we really south or Burlington? Or are we east of Burlington?” Baker said.

And how does one get into

“When you get into naming a city, oh my word, I just can’t even imagine that that would ever be 100 percent consensus,” city councilor Meaghan Emery said. “Choosing a name for your baby as a couple is hard enough. Think about 20,000 people coming to agreement over a name.”

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Bryan Companion

“Choosing a name for your baby as a couple is hard enough. Think about 20,000 people coming to agreement over a name.”

— Meaghan Emery

“With the community’s depth of knowledge of the district, the school board is optimistic they will find an exceptional candidate and look forward to welcoming a new member to the board.”

— Julia Maguire

SERVICE DIRECTORY

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ANSWERS FROM THIS ISSUE

Weekly Puzzles

September 14, 2023

Tutorials focus teachers on Black history, arts and culture

Clemmons Family Farm is releasing a free tutorial video series for teachers to help integrate an African American history, arts and culture program for students.

The videos feature Vermont grade school teachers and Clemmons Family Farm teaching artists explaining how they use “Joy in Motion,” a special edition of the farm’s curriculum for kids in kindergarten through grade 12.

The curriculum, “Windows to a Multicultural World,” includes an online digital curriculum with downloadable handouts for teachers and students, live and pre-recorded teaching artist engagements and field trips for grade school students to the historic Clemmons farm in Charlotte. The series of tutorial videos, which range from 10 to 20 minutes, are designed to give teachers an in-depth look at selected lesson plans, with tips on how to use the curriculum with their students.

“Clemmons Family Farm has produced a tremendous resource for teachers,” Steven Berbeco, Clemmons Family Farm board member, said. “The video tutorial series helps teachers, instructional coaches, curricu-

lum directors, and principals understand how ‘Windows to a Multicultural World’ fits into the important work that our grade schools are doing every day, prompting students to learn important and meaningful lessons about multiculturalism.”

Vermont grade school teachers Nari Penson, Sarah Kitchen and Carly Bennett star in the videos and speak about their experiences working with the curriculum. The videos also feature Clemmons Family Farm teaching artists Kya Jackson (visual artist), KeruBo Webster (singer-songwriter), Izzy Grae (theater and movement artist) and Alex Aya Sapphire (spoken word and hip-hop artist).

“Social and emotional learning through the arts is at the core of ‘Joy in Motion’,” Kia’Rae Hanron, the farm’s arts learning director, said. “We are excited that the tutorials can give teachers a sense of how African American history and culture can deliver empowering and engaging lessons for young learners.”

The videos are available for free at clemmonsfamilyfarm.org.

Book festival celebrates free expression, written word

The Green Mountain Book Festival takes place in Burlington on Friday through Sunday, Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, during Banned Books Week at The Fletcher Free Library in Burlington.

Cartoonist and graphic memoirist Alison Bechdel will headline the festival.

Two South Burlington residents will also appear at the festival in the Fletcher Free Library over the festival weekend. Poet, fiction writer and University of Vermont senior lecturer Holly Painter will read from her work on Saturday, Sept. 30, at 2:45 p.m. Jason Chin, author and illustrator of many acclaimed picture books and a 2022 Caldecott Medal recipient, will join two panel discussions on Sunday, Oct. 1: “Picture Book Magic: A Read-Aloud Book Tasting for Hungry Readers” (11 a.m.) and

“Hidden History and Secret Science: Nonfiction Authors Share the Surprising Research behind their Books” (2 p.m.)

“I’m excited to be a part of the Green Mountain Book Festival and to share poetry from my new book, “The pressure of all that light,’” a poetic exploration of growing up queer and genderqueer,” Painter said.

Last year’s inaugural event, drew an audience of more than 700 Vermont-based book lovers to celebrate literature and draw increased awareness to the increasing threat of book banning.

The free annual event celebrates the written word, inviting participants to honor free expression, embrace diverse voices and encourage a deeper understanding of self and community.

More at greenmountainbookfestival.org.

COURTESY PHOTO

From left, teaching artist KeruBo Webster and third grade teacher Sarah Kitchen star in the “Joy in Motion” tutorial video about the We Are Really Going Places module for teachers of students in grades 3 through 5.