The Other Paper - 5-9-24

House bid

LaLonde seeks sixth term in Legislature

Page 3

the South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977

School budget passes

LIBERTY

DARR STAFF WRITER

The South Burlington School District budget passed Tuesday, 2,242-1,706, with a 24 percent turnout of registered voters. It was the third attempt by the district to enact a spending plan.

The budget represents an 8.8 percent increase over last year and will result in a single-digit homestead property tax rate increase of 9.55 percent. That property tax increase is down from 14.5 percent from an

See BUDGET on page 12

Charges dropped against driver who struck cyclist

HABIB SABET STAFF WRITER

A state prosecutor has dismissed charges against a Hinesburg man who killed a cyclist with his car, ending a years-long case stemming from the October 2022 accident.

In a notice of dismissal filed to the Chittenden Superior Criminal Court on March

8, Kelly Olney, a deputy state’s attorney for Chittenden County, wrote that she was dropping the state’s charge against Richard K. Lewis “without prejudice,” meaning the charges could theoretically be refiled in the future.

Lewis, 70, of Hinesburg, had been accused of operating his vehicle in a grossly negligent manner and causing the death of

Gerard Malavenda of Williston.

In a written statement to The Other Paper, Sarah George, Vermont’s top prosecutor in Chittenden County, said that her office decided to drop the charge against Lewis after new evidence emerged during the trial that undermined the state’s case.

Specifically, George said that the testimony of one unexpected witness appeared

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to have “devastated our ability to prove the case,” though she did not further elaborate on the nature of that testimony.

“I want to be clear that there is no question at all that Mr. Lewis struck Gerard and caused his death,” she said. “That, howev-

See LEWIS on page 13

Shelburne Road, S. Burlington Maple Tree Place, Williston

PHOTO BY LIBERTY DARR

Hundreds of South Burlington students walked out of school Monday to show their support for passage of Tuesday’s school budget.

cyclist

Canada geese introduce their six goslings to paddling on a South Burlington pond in the southeast quadrant of the city.

BY

Eyeing consumer prices, fuel dealers push for timeline on clean heat standard

EMMA COTTON VTDIGGER

Fuel dealers in Vermont have asked the Public Utility Commission to specify the date at which they would be required to comply with a potential clean heat standard if the measure clears the Legislature next year.

At issue, they say, is the pricing for pre-buy fuel deliveries for the upcoming winter, which dealers typically offer from May until September.

Lawmakers passed what’s often described as a blueprint for a clean heat standard during the 2023 legislative session. They directed the state’s Public Utility Commission to fully design the system, with a deadline to present a plan to the Legislature by Jan. 15, 2025. At that point, lawmakers would vote to implement it — or not.

In an April 25 filing to the commission, the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association said that dealers who sell heating oil, propane and kerosene must soon decide whether they’ll offer customers the option to pre-buy fixed price heating plans for the 2024-2025 winter. To make their decision, they said they want to know when the clean heat standard would begin to apply to them, if it’s implemented.

“Most local heating fuel dealers provide customers the opportunity to pre-buy their winter heating fuel or enter into fixed-price contracts,” the filing, written by attorney Joshua Diamond, states. “These

popular price protection plans provide price stability, and in most years, they lower costs compared to fuel purchased only during the colder, winter months.”

The goal of the proposed clean heat standard is to require businesses that bring heating-related fossil fuels into the state to help fund the transition to new heating systems that pollute less, thereby reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.

It would operate through a credit market: Fossil fuel dealers would owe a certain number of credits to offset the emissions footprint associated with the fossil fuels they brought into the state. The requirements are expected to apply to a large percentage of fuel dealers in the state.

into the market and used to subsidize installation of clean heat measures. Other Vermont businesses and individuals could earn credits by installing clean heat measures, too.

“We understand (the commission) can’t answer what the Legislature will do. That’s a crystal ball game.”

—

Fuel industry spokesperson

Fuel dealers could fulfill their credit obligation by paying a fee or installing clean heat measures. Those measures would include improving a home’s energy efficiency by adding insulation or sealing windows, installing cold-climate electric heat pumps, advanced wood heat or solar hot water systems and using some biofuels.

Money collected from fuel dealers would be funneled back

Fuel dealers have often expressed frustration about the uncertainty baked into the process. Until the commission’s process is farther along, fuel dealers won’t know how much the clean heat standard will change the cost of bringing their product into the state. Matt Cota, a lobbyist for the fuel industry and owner of Meadow Hill Consulting, serves on the Technical Advisory Group, a collection of stakeholders who are helping to advise the commission. Some of the advisory group members have interpreted Act 18 — the Affordable Heat Act, which put the clean heat standard in motion — to mean that fuel dealers would need to pay into the system beginning in January 2025, Cota said.

Others believe the fuel dealers would begin owing credits in January 2026, at the earliest, because the Legislature likely wouldn’t

PHOTO

MIKE DEAN

LaLonde announces bid for sixth term in Legislature

Political Notebook

Rep. Martin LaLonde

I first announced my candidacy for the Vermont House of Representatives a decade ago. It has been an honor to represent my district for those 10 years, and I hope to return to the Statehouse in January to continue the important work of the Legislature. Today I am asking for your support in my bid for reelection in South Burlington’s Chittenden-12 district.

I have had the pleasure of getting to know many of my constituents. We have discussed issues at my Saturday morning listening sessions, engaged in dialogue at the city’s legislative forums, chatted as I’ve gone door to door handing out my end of session reports and talked as I’ve stood at the polls. I have learned — and will continue to learn — how you feel about issues that are important to South Burlington and the whole of Vermont, and I hope to continue to represent you in working toward solutions.

This past biennium has been extremely busy and extremely productive. It was my first term as chair of the House Committee on Judiciary, the committee on which I have served since I entered the Legislature. I also

FUEL

continued from page 2

finalize the clean heat standard until the end of the 2025 legislative session.

What’s more, on April 18, the Technical Advisory Group unanimously recommended Jan. 1, 2026, as the earliest start date.

Rep. Laura Sibilia, I-Dover, said May 1 that her understanding of the law, which she worked on throughout the 2023 session, is that fuel dealers would not be obligated until after the legislature approved the clean heat standard in 2025.

“I think the earliest I could start is 2026,” she said.

As of May 1, the Public Utility Commission had not replied to the association’s request.

“We understand (the commission) can’t answer what the Legislature will do. That’s a crystal ball game,” Cota said. “We understand that they can’t tell us what the fee is now — they will tell us later, but not now. What they can tell us is whether, January 1, gallons delivered in the calendar year 2025 could become obligated, should this become law.”

served this session as chair of the Special Committee on Impeachment Inquiry, which investigated accusations of misconduct by two elected officials in Franklin County, and chair of the House Ethics Panel.

I am proud of my hard work on the judiciary committee during the past decade and am eager to continue to make progress on several important issues. I have focused on criminal justice reform, including juvenile justice, bail reform, reducing collateral consequences of criminal convictions, restorative justice, drug treatment courts and access to justice for all Vermonters. Much of my attention has been on bills that protect the most vulnerable

in Vermont, such as victims of sexual assault, sexual exploitation and domestic abuse.

I have also focused on public safety, clarifying police use of force, facilitating traffic safety, reducing the substantial court backlog so that criminal offenders can be held accountable, creating reasonable restrictions on firearms to reduce gun violence and to prevent suicides and enabling medical monitoring for Vermonters exposed to toxic substances. I was proud to report a bill to protect access in Vermont to reproductive and gender-affirming health care, shielding Vermont doctors, nurses, therapists and others who are providing such health care that is legal here in Vermont.

Over my years in the House, I have also been involved with many issues beyond the judiciary committee’s jurisdiction. Environmental issues, including addressing global warming and cleaning up Lake Champlain, have been important to me, as have issues like education funding, collective bargaining and school construction funding.

Thank you to the voters who have put their trust in me to represent their interests and the interests of Vermont. I ask for your continued support in November.

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CRIME & COURTS

South Burlington Police Blotter: April 29 - May 5

Total incidents: 239

Agency, K9, public assists: 32

Directed patrol: 23

Traffic stop: 11

Accident: property damage: 12

Alarm: 7

Foot patrol: 9

Suspicious event: 10

Retail theft: 8

Motor vehicle complaint: 17

Welfare check: 16

911 hangup: 3

Trespass: 17

Animal problem: 5

Domestic: 4

Disturbance: 7

Field contact: 10

Sex crimes: 2

Noise violation: 5

Leaving the scene: 5

Stolen vehicle: 3

Larceny from a structure: 4

Mental health: 4

Unlawful mischief: 3

Arrests:

April 30 at 10:59 a.m., Abdi A. Dhere, 58, no address provided, was arrested for felony unlawful trespass on White Street.

May 1 at 1:30 p.m., Thomas A. Burke, 41, of Colchester, was

arrested for violating conditions of release on Hinesburg Road.

May 1 at 1:30 p.m., Kaylee Elizabeth Sevene, 24, no address provided, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Hinesburg Road.

May 1 at 3:08 p.m., Chapman Y. Smith, 41, no address provided, was arrested on Dorset Street for violating conditions of release.

May 1 at 9:32 p.m., James J. Blinstrub, 37, of Burlington, was arrested for possession of cocaine on Hinesburg Road.

May 2 at 8:56 a.m., Amanda L. Brunelle, 36, no address provided, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Farrell Street and I-189 overpass.

May 2 at 11:35 p.m., Sarah T. Dunbar, 35, no address provided, was arrested for possession of stolen property on Williston Road.

Note: Charges filed by police are subject to review by the Chittenden County State’s Attorney Office and can be amended or dropped.

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Man sentenced in SB hotel gun case

Second person awaits sentencing in federal court

MIKE DONOGHUE CORRESPONDENT

A Chittenden County man, who was found with a loaded handgun after ignoring demands by a woman to leave her hotel room in South Burlington, has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in federal prison.

Roy-Anthony Erno, 35, of Burlington, has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to being a felon in possession of a firearm during an incident at the Travel Lodge on Shelburne Road near Laurel Hill Drive on May 3, 2022.

Judge Christina Reiss put Erno under federal supervised conditions for three years upon his release from prison and gave him credit for about 20 months already served since his arrest, saying his jail time would run concurrently to any sentences for state charges. Erno must also undergo substance abuse counseling and mental health counseling while in prison. Federal guidelines, which are advisory, recommended a penalty between 51 and 63 months. The two sides agreed that a 30-month sentence was appropriate for Erno, and defense lawyer Natasha

Sen said it would allow him time to get treatment and maintain a relationship with his two children.

The assistant U.S. attorney, Zachary Stendig, called Erno’s lengthy criminal history “troubling,” but said he believes the defendant has a game plan to move forward.

South Burlington Police said officers seized a backpack containing the firearm during the motel incident in May 2022.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives later obtained a federal search warrant for the backpack and recovered a Smith & Wesson 9-mm pistol and suspected controlled substances, according to court records.

The initial investigation revealed the handgun had been reported stolen from Burlington, and had been loaned to Erno by Tamira McKenna, the buyer of the gun, Stendig said in court records.

McKenna, who suggested she gave the gun voluntarily, had a later email exchange with Erno about returning the gun, but he was arrested, the records noted.

The gun was later reported stolen.

McKenna, 38, of Jefferson-

ville, is awaiting sentencing in federal court for lying while buying a Smith & Wesson 9-mm pistol at the Powderhorn Outdoor Sports Center in Williston in March 2022. It was unclear if it was the same gun she provided to Erno.

McKenna lied on her federal gun purchase form that she was not involved with drugs, Stendig said.

During the South Burlington incident, a woman went to motel staff to report that Erno would not leave her room despite repeated requests, records showed. South Burlington Police were eventually summoned.

The woman appeared scared, anxious, and reported Erno had a firearm, Schwartz said. Erno was spotted leaving the room and during a pat down an officer found a knife, and while talking with police he said he had a gun in his backpack, court records showed. Erno consented to a search of the backpack and police seized the bag after spotting the gun inside. Erno’s criminal record includes multiple felony convictions, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

OPINION

Building accessible, affordable, quality health care for Vermonters is an overdue work in progress. Regardless of mixed results of past major reform efforts, Vermont’s goals to improve population health, advance health equity by reducing disparities in health outcomes and curb health care cost growth are possible.

It is possible to build a system available to all Vermonters regardless of where they work. In fact, Vermont is recognized nationally for being well ahead of other states because of continued efforts at reform and innovation. The future of the state’s health care landscape is one of system alignment — building continuity within the system of care — integration of social and medical services, improved payment systems, alignment of public and private insurance clinical data and reduction of administrative burden on medical professionals and patients.

Wholistic patient centered care demands coordination between medical and social services such as Vermont’s Blueprint for Health. The blueprint is one of the state’s longest running health care reform initiatives. It is focused on increasing high quality primary care, preventive care and care coordination, particularly for patients with chronic health conditions, including substance use and mental health disorders. Prevention is the bottom line to improve population health.

A January 2024 report indicates that Blueprint primary care patients “had an average of $2,600 less in annual medical and pharmacy costs per person compared with patients” in non-Blueprint practices and “a higher percentage of Blueprint patients visited their primary care practitioners each year.”

Primary care has driven much of Vermont’s health reform and must continue with payment models and relief from administrative burden. The challenge is that primary care doctors are disappearing and a workforce gap over the next 12-15 years offers little reassurance.

Equitable reimbursement for primary care practices as well as community service providers can ensure gaps do not grow larger. Integrating a payment system that reflects Medicare can add accessibility and affordability to our system of care.

Health care is not a commodity to be treated as a consumer product. It is a public good. Unfortunately, our centuries-old fee-for-service payment model is a disin-

centive to prevention and care coordination. Fee for service implies competition for health care services, resulting in inequitable reimbursement for providers and limited access to care.

In the past, fee for service has led to overutilization of services. As we move forward with payment reform it will be important to balance access and cost. It is also important to consider alignment of public and private insurance requirements within the system of care.

Recently passed legislation will reduce administrative burden on primary care providers. When placed into law, it will align private insurer codes and claims edits with public Medicare and Medicaid programs. This offers greater predictability for clinical treatment.

Provisions also improve timely access to care. Going from a primary care visit to a community mental health counsellor, hospital or specialist shouldn’t require hours of phone calls either by the primary care provider or by the patient. Before providers are paid for patient treatment or before patients can be treated, insurance payers approve treatments or payments. The burden comes when insurers are inaccessible, or it takes months for treatment or payment approval.

Current prior authorization policies have resulted in physician burnout, loss of primary care providers and overwhelming loss of care for patients. It has meant that providers have had to hire staff to wait on the phone for hours and submit requests for patient care. It has meant needless emergency room visits by patients.

This and previous legislation to lower prescription drug costs are just two ways that we are improving patient access and affordability.

Regulation can make or break the health care system. Hospitals, primary care, mental health, substance use, long-term care and other providers need a holistic, predictable, coordinated and inclusive regulatory structure. Having clear, sensible, collaboratively developed benchmarks and standards in place enhances efficiency and can reduce confusion or frustration.

The Green Mountain Care Board is doing its job effectively and needs to keep the system moving forward. The board is responsible for hospital budget review, reduction of excess hospital spending, rate setting for private insurers and hospitals and other activities. It is analyzing a hospital pricing structure for a report during the next legislative session. The board is also working with the Agency of Human Services to assess possible next steps for our current payment model.

Act 167, passed in 2022, directs the Green Mountain Care Board for continued development of hospital global budgets, and

Sen. Ginny Lyons

From the Senate

Sen. Ginny Lyons

GunSafeVT doubles distribution of gunlocks across Vermont

MIKE DONOGHUE CORRESPONDENT

A multi-agency effort plans to double its distribution of cable gunlocks to Vermonters to reduce gun violence and to keep residents safe.

Nikolas Kerest, the U.S. Attorney for Vermont, announced that more than 4,000 gunlocks have been distributed thus far by GunSafeVT — a special gun safety initiative started 14 months ago.

The program started with 5,000 locks that have been made available through local libraries and law enforcement offices across all 14 counties.

Lamoille County Sheriff Roger Marcoux recently secured another 5,000 cable gunlocks to allow GunSafeVT to further serve Vermonters, Kerest said.

Marcoux said the National Shooting Sports Foundation in Washington, D.C., recently sent half of the shipment to Vermont with the second half due later.

Marcoux said the locks tend to be used in homes to keep people safe and not by the violent offenders involved in high-profile shootings.

Kerest and Marcoux discussed the new cable locks as part of a news conference in Burlington and in a follow-up interview last week.

Vermont State Police Blotter

May 5 at 6:05 p.m., police arrested Mark Litchfield, 65, of St. Albans, for driving under the influence after they responded to a one-car crash on Interstate 89 near the 1-89 exit.

Letters to the Editor

Affordable housing? How about affordable schools?

To the Editor:

There has been a great deal of discussion about affordable housing in South Burlington. When can we have a discussion about affordable schools?

Bruce MacPherson South Burlington

Alex Schmidt, the head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Vermont, said the trajectory of violent crime in the state — especially those with firearms — has changed dramati-

LYONS continued from page 5

to carry out a statewide hospital transformation community engagement process this summer. Identifying and coordinating community health needs with hospital services and hospital financial capacity is a critical step for Vermont.

Identifying service gaps across the state will suggest changes for hospital, primary or long-term care services. What are the predominant social determinants of health in local communities? Where are primary care providers needed, what hospital services are available for which acute care needs? Are mental health, long-term

cally in the last several years.

“Every area of Vermont has been infected in some way, even in the more remote parts of the state,” Schmidt said. “I can tell you that many of our investigations over the last five years have involved illegal possession of a firearm that was stolen from someone otherwise legally allowed to purchase it and possess it.”

Schmidt said many of the thefts of unsecured firearms are from homes and motor vehicles.

“Those stolen firearms are ending up in the hands of violent individuals who are using them for a variety of nefarious activities to include retaliatory shootings and to settle drug debts,” Schmidt said. “In short they are often being used locally in crimes that have signifi-

See GUNLOCKS on page 7

care and substance use treatments available? The stress of working with regulators to determine global budgeting and a transformation of services is concerning to hospitals. Nevertheless, it makes sense for hospitals to change and to respond to community health needs. And while digital access and telemedicine can reduce stress, it will not always provide a substitute for in-person visits.

So much of what happens to patients in the system today feels disorganized and inaccessible. Improvements won’t happen without collaboration. Hospitals, federally qualified health clinics, social services, recovery centers, primary care, independent clinics, long-term care, home visit organizations, patients, public and private insurance programs, regulators (especially the care board), executive and legislative branches of government each have a legitimate role to improve Vermont’s population health outcomes.

If Vermonters are to have access to quality, affordable health insurance, primary or long-term care, hospitals, mental health counseling or access to substance use treatment and recovery services, we must align these foundational structures into a coherent system.

Senate district.

Ginny Lyons, a Democrat from Williston, represents South Burlington, Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne and several other towns in the Chittenden-Southeast

GUNLOCKS

continued from page 6

cant detrimental impacts on our communities in Vermont,” he said.

The lock program is designed to try to also reduce shootings, including suicides and accidents.

Among others offering comments at the news conference were Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark, Dr. Rebecca Bell of the University of Vermont Medical Center and Mark Margolis of the Howard Center.

Kerest said the program over the past year has used two public service announcements on radio and TV over 2,000 times to stress the importance of having secure gun storage.

He noted the promotion of a Vermont State Police program to have federal firearms licensees serve as secure gun storage locations has been an effective alternative to in-home retention.

Clark mentioned Vermont’s secure gun storage statute, relief from abuse orders,

extreme risk protection orders, and the importance of secure gun storage in preventing domestic violence.

“Safe gun storage has proven to save lives and is one of the best tools we have to counter domestic violence,” she said.

Clark said since 1994 in Vermont more than half of the domestic homicides have involved firearms.

Bell, who also the president of the Vermont Medical Society, and Margolis both explained how secure gun storage helps reduce the likelihood of suicide involving firearms. Bell said Vermont has a higher suicide rate than the national average for both adults and children and it has been a long-time concern for the medical community.

Kerest and Clark noted libraries across Vermont are making locks available for residents.

McNabb

PHOTO BY MIKE DONOGHUE

Alex Schmidt, the resident agent in charge of ATF for Vermont, talks about safe storage of firearms during the news conference at the federal courthouse in Burlington. Dr. Rebecca Bell, U.S. Attorney Nikolas Kerest and Attorney General Charity Clark listen to his safety message.

Driven By Technology. Rooted In Safety.

Honor students

The Burlington Garden Club recently presented two $1,000 awards to two seniors — Jake Darling and Ryland Wilde — studying at the University of Vermont for horticulture. The students were selected by a university review panel with coordination from Dr. Mark Starrett, associate professor in the Plant and Soil Science Department. Margaret Bartholomew, program award coordinator, said, “These awards are cohesive with the Burlington Garden Club mission of stimulating knowledge, appreciation of horticulture and the protection of our national environment.” The awards recognize the student’s academic achievement, school and volunteer work in the community. Darling is studying agroecology and community entrepreneurship and Wilde is majoring in agroecology and landscape design. Pictured, from left, Darling, Bartholomew and Wilde.

Community Notes

Bike Rodeo:

fun,

safety for all ages

Join South Burlington’s parks and rec department and public library for a free bike rodeo and safety check on Saturday, May 18, 1-3 p.m., for fun and educational activities for kids and bike and helmet fitting and safety checks for adults and kids.

The bike rodeo is geared toward kids ages 5 and up to learn about biking safely. Several educational stations are planned, including bike inspection, bike and helmet fitting, start/stop/go, snail race, scanning for cars and more. Each station is tailored to a skill that cyclists must have: Stopping at stop signs, balance, safely looking behind for cars, and others. The first hundred kids will receive an event giveaway.

For bike safety checks, a mechanic from Eastern Mountain Sports will perform free safety checks. This is primarily for adults, but kids and their bikes are welcome if accompanied by an adult. Find out what needs adjusting or replacing and get a few tips on keeping your bike in good working order. Appointments are 15 minutes long. Registration for bike safety check time slots is required. Sign up online at the South Burlington Parks and Recreation calendar.

The bike rodeo will take place behind the library in the Rick Marcotte Central School parking lot.

Tour Tranquility at Sail Beyond Cancer event

The nonprofit Sail Beyond Cancer Vermont kicks off the season with a SPLASH! for Tranquility fund raiser on Saturday, May 18, 3-6 p.m., at the ECHO Center in Burlington Sail Beyond Cancer brings those being challenged by cancer, their family, friends and caregivers on a sail to experience the tranquility and transformative powers of wind, water and sail on Lake Champlain. Tranquility is the name of the newly purchased boat for the organization.

At SPLASH! for Tranquility, tour the docked vessel (Tranquility), enjoy a champagne toast, hors d’oeuvres and cash bar and connect with other supporters who are making a difference in the lives of people facing cancer. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or simply interested in supporting a worthy cause, all are welcome at the event. RSVP to reserve a spot at this

COURTESY PHOTO

Green day

SOUTH BURLINGTON PARKS AND RECREATION

Volunteers helped to keep South Burlington clean Saturday during the annual statewide Green Up Day, where throngs of Vermonters pick up litter and debris discarded along roadsides.

COMMUNITY NOTES continued from page 8

free event and to find out more at sailbeyondcancer.org.

Learn how to plant a raised garden bed

The Vermont Garden Network is offering a free workshop on garden planning for raised beds on Thursday, May 16, 5 p.m., at the Davis Park raised garden in Shelburne. Learn about best practices for planting vegetables, herbs and flowers in raised

beds. Designing a garden layout when there is limited space requires an understanding of planting calendars, mature crop sizes, companion planting and succession sowing.

Participants will learn about all these practices through hands-on activities while collectively planting the demonstration bed at the Davis Park community garden. The workshop will be presented by Carolina Lucak, co-executive director of the Vermont Garden Network. For information about the group, go to vtgardens.org.

SPORTS

Wolfpack Wrestling welcomes South Burlington to the mats

WYATT OBERING COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE

First came the sound of shoes slapping against mats, then the smack of sweaty skin hitting the ground. On the wall in front of the half-dozen training wrestlers, a whiteboard reads: “No one is born a champion. You must pay the price.”

The athletes, all high school students, were in a gym on Dorset Street in South Burlington as part of Wolfpack Wrestling Club, a new nonprofit trying to bring the sport to more young people across Chittenden County and the state.

Two coaches, Jack Carney and Alex Zuchman, head up the program, which provides wrestling education to anyone willing to make it to their classes at High Hat Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym.

“There hasn’t been wrestling here, outside of Colchester and Essex, really in a long time,” said Carney, a former three-time wrestling champion for Essex High School whose name is on the wall of the school’s wrestling gym. “Even now, compared to when I was a kid, the population of people in Vermont that are interested in it has grown significantly, and I’m not sure what the exact cause of it is, but it’s just exciting to see.”

The club started its inaugural session in March, and it goes until May. Classes are every Monday and Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. for sixth to 12th graders. It costs $200 for South Burlington residents or $225 for anyone else. All genders are welcome, and sign-ups are open until May 3. Students range from athletes to rookies.

Some seasoned wrestlers are looking to take advantage of available mat time. The club aims to organize monthly competitions with other clubs or teams and to make wrestling more available for people across the state, regardless of financial status. Equipment costs for wrestling tend to be lower compared to other sports, but having access to training and regular competition can be challenging for wrestlers, especially in areas like South Burlington.

Most of the club’s regulars attend South Burlington High School, a short walk away. Carney stands as a familiar face to them — he worked with the school team earlier this year.

Ryan Bailey, a 17-year-old first-year wrestler at the school, called the club’s setup on Dorset Street convenient.

“I drive, a lot of my teammates walk, it’s really nice … I’m grateful for it,” he said. “It’s a jiu jitsu gym, and they allow us to use it. There’s not really a reason why, just because, and I’m really thankful for that.”

The Dorset Street gym is owned by Charlotte resident Shayne Fenton, who opened shop there earlier this year after running a training center in Shelburne. Fenton coached one of the Wolfpack’s wrestling coaches while in Shelburne, and he wants to let the crew use his space as the club develops. He’s listed a director for the group in its nonprofit paperwork.

Cahota Lafond was the only partici-

PHOTOS BY CATHERINE MORRISSEY

Ryan Bailey, left, weathers a leg grapple from coach Jack Carney at Wolfpack Wrestling Club in South Burlington.

Little League banner honors memory of Paul Farrar

Fastsigns of South Burlington has donated all sponsorship banners for South Burlington Little League in memory of Paul A. Farrar Jr., a baseball enthusiast and graduate of South Burlington High School.

Farrar, who helped lead his 1972 teams to championship victories in football and baseball, unexpectedly died in January 2023.

“This family’s contribution not only demonstrates its commitment to our league’s initiatives but also highlights the invaluable role businesses can play in nurturing community youth sports,” Michele O’Day, South Burlington Youth Baseball and Softball league sponsorship director, said.

“We are proud to support South Burlington Youth Baseball and Softball and the important

role it plays in the lives of young athletes,” Fastsigns co-owner Dan Emmons added.

South Burlington Youth Baseball and Softball provides players with the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of baseball and softball, while building a love for the game, and lifelong friendships. Like many local youth sport organizations, it relies on the support of sponsors and donors to keep its operations running smoothly.

The banner donations will allow the league to alocate resources toward enhancing the overall experiences for young athletes.

“The donation allowed our league to use sponsorship dollars to support overdue field maintenance, team uniforms and provide registration scholarships to families,” O’Day said.

Fastsign’s banner hangs at

Veteran’s Memorial Park on both Little League fields.

“Paul Farrar’s passion for baseball was infectious. We’re proud to be able to keep his memory alive by supporting the league’s sponsorship banners for seasons to come,” company co-owner Geoff Poulin said.

May 4 was opening day for the league where the sponsorship banners were unveiled. Those present included Amy Poulin, Farrar’s daughter, who had no idea her father would be remembered for years to come.

“This is truly incredible. I’m trying not to cry,” said Poulin, as she held back tears. “He would have been so proud.”

Catch a little league game Monday-Saturday at Jaycee, Farrell or Dorset parks. If you’d like to help, email sblittleleaguevt@gmail.com.

Boys’ tennis team sweeps U-32 in recent matchup

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Boys’ tennis

South Burlington 6, U-32 0: The boys swept U-32 to claim Friday.

Yuyang Zhang, Mateo Duracek, Will Bradley, Jules Butler and Nicolas Charlebois each won in singles, while Spence and Evan Xia won in doubles.

South Burlington moved to 1-2.

Boys’ lacrosse

South Burlington 12, BFA-St. Albans 8: The boys team moved to 4-3 this season with a win over BFA-St. Albans on Saturday, May 4.

Brady Sweet paced the Wolves with four goals and three assists, while Will Goyette chipped in two and had two assists.

Caden Clayton stopped 14 shots in goal in the win.

Baseball

Burr and Burton 2, South Burlington 1: Burr and Burton scored in the bottom of the seventh inning to walk off with a win over South Burlington Saturday.

James Chagnon drove in the Wolves’ lone run on a 1-for-3 day at the plate.

South Burlington moved to 4-2 with the loss.

The Wolves won Thursday, May 2, beating Essex 11-3.

Sam Mazza-Bergeron went

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3-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs, while relief pitcher Cedric LaMothe got the win. Andre Bouffard, Brady Havers and Isaac Hungerford each had doubles.

Girls’ lacrosse

South Burlington 13, BFA-St. Albans 4: A six-goal outing from Rachel Kelley helped the South Burlington girls’ lacrosse beat BFA-St. Albans on Friday, May 3.

Elise Smith added a hat trick for the Wolves, who moved to 6-1. Elise Knoth, Lucie McCarney, Lily O’Brien and Sabrina Brunet each added a goal.

Victoria Bohlmann made seven saves in goal.

Girls’ tennis

South Burlington 4, Burlington 3: Two three-set wins were the difference as the South Burlington girls beat Burlington Friday.

Wynne Adamson won No. 1 singles, 3-6, 6-3, 10-3, for the Wolves (4-0), while Ella Stein also won in three sets, 2-6, 6-4, 10-7, at No. 5 singles.

Ella Maynard also won her singles match, 6-1, 6-2, while the doubles pair of Grace Stein and Evangeline Clifford claimed a 6-0, 6-1 win.

Softball

Essex 25, South Burlington 1 (5): South Burlington softball fell to Essex in five innings on Thursday to drop to 0-4.

COURTESY PHOTO

A sponsorship banner honors the memory of Paul Farrar Jr., a baseball enthusiast and graduate of South Burlington High School.

April budget vote and 23 percent for the budget brought to voters on Town Meeting Day.

“This has been a truly unprecedented year for school budgets and the passage of this revised budget demonstrates that our community is invested in the success of our students and our schools, which ultimately strengthens our community as a whole,” superintendent Violet Nichols said in a statement to families and staff Tuesday night.

Since the second budget of $69.5 million was shot down April 4, the district managed to trim off nearly $1.4 million to lower the tax rate increase below double digits. Of that, nearly $359,000 accounted for cuts in staffing and programming with a net reduction of nearly seven full-time equivalent positions.

The board also allocated its $3 million budget surpluses from fiscal years 2022 and 2023 as revenue, and $1.1 million sought for the district’s capital reserve fund was eliminated. Board members also opted to forego their small stipends and reduce the spending request by an additional $3,750.

The reduction to the capital reserve fund remains a temporary solution. The long-term impact for the district might mean even larger bond requests for future school renovations or new infrastructure.

“We also are awaiting the results of PCB testing and we have an insufficient reserve to address

relocation or major remediation,” according to the school district’s website. “We will need to put off the kitchen project and windows project at the high school. We had hoped to use fiscal year 2024 bond money for these, but costs have gone way up.”

While this budget vote sends a wave of relief to district officials and the 47 staff who received notices that their jobs may be eliminated, fears about what will come next year are already beginning to percolate, especially since the district opted to use all its surplus money to offset this year’s budget.

“I want to be really clear with the community that we are not going to have the $2.27 million surplus from fiscal year 2022 or the three-quarters of a million-dollar surplus from fiscal year 2023,” Nichols said at a public hearing last week. “To support a reduced tax rate for next year, and because about 80 percent of the district’s expenses are staffing, we will be forced to look in that direction.

It pains me to say that but that is something that I want the community to understand now, and I feel I need to be really transparent about with you even in thinking about the development of next year’s budget.”

Those driving around South Burlington in the week leading up to the vote were most likely greeted by sign-waving community members as residents and staff pushed for a yes vote. Students

even staged a walk-out Monday afternoon in support of the budget.

Hundreds of students gathered outside of the school to garner support and hear from student speakers about the impacts should a budget not have passed.

“I think I can speak for all of us when I say that these programs and the educators that make them happen are what makes our school one worth fighting for,” Molly Leavey, a student at the high school, said. “To any community members out there, this is us fighting. This is us asking you to do what you have always done

so well and support us and our schools.”

The South Burlington School District is not unique in its budgetary struggles this year. The neighboring Champlain Valley School District also was forced to make cuts to its schools this year as voters turned down the initial Town Meeting Day budget. A second vote, associated with an 18 percent tax rate increase for some towns, overwhelmingly passed last month.

Noah Everitt, co-president of the South Burlington Educators Association, explained that although notices of job and programming cuts are typically just a part of the job as an educator, this year was drastically different from other budget years as the Legislature implemented a new, complex education funding formula known as Act 127, and

then altered it just weeks before Town Meeting Day. The South Burlington School District was considered one of the districts most negatively affected by the new law.

“It really changes from, ‘This is a local South Burlington issue’ to, ‘Wait, what are we doing as a state and as a profession,’” he said. “If this was a normal cycle, and the district was saying, ‘Look, we just don’t think we can afford these services,’ I think we would have a very different local debate. But that’s not what has happened. “What’s happened is that the money for education funding has been redistributed by the state and local taxpayers have been asked to vote on whether they are willing to pay for the system they have. I don’t think that has really been well communicated by the Legislature,” he said.

PHOTO BY LIBERTY DARR

South Burlington High School student Molley Leavey gives opening remarks at a student-led walkout Monday.

er, isn’t always the same as the conduct being a crime, or the same as our office being able to prove a criminal offense beyond a reasonable doubt.”

At the time, police said there were no witnesses to the crash.

Lewis did not respond to requests for comment. Lewis’s lawyer, Brooks McArthur, also did not respond to email and phone messages seeking comment.

The case against Lewis developed from an Oct. 15, 2022, incident in which South Burlington police responded to an accident on Hinesburg Road and found Malavenda “breathing but not speaking,” according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Malavenda had been bicycling on the side of the road when Lewis allegedly swerved “at least 2.84

WRESTLING

continued from page 10

pant in the gym on a recent day not from South Burlington High. He’s a two-time state champion sophomore from Colchester who was training for the National High School Coaches Association’s national wrestling tournament held in early April in Virginia Beach. Having a place to spend more time on the mats was beneficial, he said.

Lafond was brought into wrestling by his father, who grew up with one of the current high school wrestling coaches at Colchester High School.

Family ties seemed a common theme among those involved with Wolfpack Wrestling. Carney’s father, Jake, was in the gym that day watching his son joke around with the students about losing

feet over the white fog line” and struck Malavenda, according to court documents based on a police investigation into the crash. Malavenda was given medical care at the scene and eventually taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center, where he later died.

Lewis was subsequently cited for grossly negligent operation of a motor vehicle with death resulting and pleaded not guilty the charge at his arraignment in April 2023.

Lewis was driving alone in his GMC truck and told police that he had been going to visit his son, who lives off Hinesburg Road in South Burlington. He “denied looking at his cellphone, being distracted by the interior of his vehicle or looking around directly before the crash occurred,” South LEWIS continued from page 1

Burlington officer Hazen Powell wrote in her report.

He stopped his car, asked a nearby resident to call 911 and then called his son, she said.

Prior to dropping its case, the state sought to have Lewis “imprisoned not more than 15 years or fined not more than $15,000 or both,” according to court documents.

George said that, although Lewis would not ultimately be penalized for the incident, he has nevertheless been adequately “held accountable” for his alleged actions because of his lengthy experience with the justice system and the resulting public scrutiny he has endured.

“By all accounts it appears as though he feels immense remorse for what happened and that this has drastically impacted his life,” George said.

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equilibrium as they all warmed up by doing front and back rolls on the electric blue mat.

Carney still keeps in touch with his coaches from when he was younger and learning. They want to make connections like that with their students and teach them lessons and values they can carry on for life. The kids know the gym’s not just their space, and they have to respect and take care of it.

Wyatt Obering reported this story on assignment from The Other Paper. The Community News Service is a program in which University of Vermont students work with professional editors to provide content for local news outlets at no cost.

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Outpatient Surgery Center: a big piece of the access puzzle

By: Dr. Stephen Le er, President and COO, University of Vermont Medical Center

“This isn’t a facility that would be nice to have — for the people of our region, it’s a must-have.”

Every week I get calls and letters from patients who say they are waiting too long for care, especially surgical care. Often, they are right — no question. There are several reasons behind the wait times and it’s going to take work to make a dent in our access challenges, but serving our patients and ensuring they get great care is why I became a physician, so I’m deeply committed to that e ort.

We know one of the solutions to improve timely access to care is construction of the outpatient surgery center in South Burlington that we have asked the Green Mountain Care Board to approve.

This isn’t a facility that would be nice to have — for the people of our region, it’s a must-have.

First, the proposed outpatient surgery center replaces our five ORs at the Fanny Allen campus with eight larger, modern ORs where — unlike the Fanny Allen — we can do more complex surgeries such as joint replacements.

Second, our population is growing and aging, which drives an increasing demand for surgeries — particularly surgeries that can be done in an outpatient surgery setting. We’re seeing this in the less-than-desirable waits that some of our patients experience today.

If current population trends continue as projected — aging throughout the region, a growing population in Chittenden and surrounding counties — by 2030, our current surgical case backlog is going to be more than 4,000 surgeries annually.

That’s 4,000 people who need care who will wait longer than they should for surgery, leave the state for care, or even worse, go completely without the care they need — with potential serious impacts to their health as a result.

While that’s the five-year projection, we feel the urgency now. Today, UVM Medical Center’s operating rooms are running at full capacity, and we are still not keeping up with our patients’ needs for surgery as quickly as we should. Every time a patient is waiting, I assure you there’s a doctor or nurse at UVM Medical Center who is concerned about them and feels it is absolutely imperative to get them in sooner.

Not only would the new center help us keep up with both highly complex and more routine needs, but it would let us do so in a way that responds to how people prefer to receive health care. Studies across the country show that the number of outpatient surgeries are increasing. Advancements in surgical fields allow more procedures to be performed outpatient, and it is more convenient for patients compared to hospital stays for the same procedures. We also know patients prefer an outpatient setting because they can return home quickly to recover in a familiar environment.

Beyond simply having enough space, construction of this facility will help us recruit, retain and train medical professionals our community sorely needs. Our learners need to train at a place that o ers them time to hone their professional skills alongside our exceptional physician teachers, with access to time in modern ORs with robotic surgical resources — this is an experience that we cannot deliver to all of these learners with our current facilities.

I’m a frugal Vermonter, so I get it. As a state we want to make sure this $130 million project is justified and in the best interest of patients. Please know that we are focused on making sure the outpatient surgery center won’t drive up costs for our patients — in fact, studies show that outpatient procedures keep costs down compared to the inpatient setting, which requires a hospital stay.

We already provide advanced, high-quality care in our region. What’s clear is that our community needs more of it, and that need is growing. I say both as president of UVM Medical Center, and as someone who will someday need the excellent care provided by UVM Medical Center for myself or my family, I hope we are able to move forward with this crucial project so that all who need care will be able to access it easily and without delay.

Scan the QR to watch our clinicians talk about the need.