The Other Paper - 6-6-24

the South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977

City receives federal funds for wastewater upgrades

HABIB SABET STAFF WRITER

The city of South Burlington has received $700,000 in federal funding to upgrade the Bartlett Bay Wastewater Treatment Facility.

The grant, which was allocated to the city in Congress’ 2024 Minibus Appropriations Bill, is earmarked for energy efficiency improvements that the city expects to incorporate into its broader plan to renovate the facility in the coming years, according to city officials.

“I’m thrilled to have secured nearly $11 million to invest in communities across Vermont, including over $700,000 to support to modernize the wastewater systems in South Burlington,” said U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, who visited the Bartlett Bay facility last week and presented the grant money to city officials. “Direct federal investment like this project means keeping wastewater rates low, reducing its carbon footprint, and ultimately supporting

See WASTEWATER FACILITY on page 13

Williston father, son bring pickleball to South Burlington

HABIB SABET STAFF WRITER

In the summer of 2020, at the height of the pandemic lockdowns, the Schaaf family began playing pickleball on the public courts in Williston.

The sport — a kind of miniature version of tennis played with hard paddles and a whiffle ball — was rapidly gaining popularity across the country, and the Schaafs wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

“We started playing as something to do during Covid because we were staying together as a family during the lockdown,” Ric Schaaf said. “It was just something fun to do outside.”

Now, four years later, the Schaafs have

opened their own pickleball courts, located in a renovated warehouse in South Burlington just off Community Drive. Catamount Pickleball has seven indoor courts and offers a variety of programming, including private lessons, corporate team-building events and social mixers.

“Our goal and intention in opening this place was to have a space for the pickleball community to come together and gather and be able to play year ‘round indoors,” Ric said.

The family’s decision to start the business, Ric said, was largely driven by his oldest son Justin’s abiding love for the

See PICKLEBALL on page 12

Louise Hammond of South Burlington recently captured this shot of a young bluebird out for a flying lesson.

Bluebird kind of day

Great Gifts For Dad!

Creating

Safe, Beautiful Spaces

IN JUNE, 10% OF OUR DECOR SALES WILL BE DONATED TO OUTRIGHT VERMONT!

Students induced into Japanese Honor Society

In May, three South Burlington High School seniors from the Japanese program, Micah Allen, Jayan Greeff and Jahiem Tonge celebrated their induction into the Japanese National Honor Society pre-college chapter.

School News

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This organization “recognizes and encourages scholastic achievement and excellence in Japanese study by working with teachers and administrators to develop and maintain high standards of Japanese language education and promoting cultural activities,” according to the American Association of Teachers of Japanese.

Since 2017, the Japanese program has inducted a total of 21 students into the honor society and Sinyoung Ra Evans, Japanese language instructor, hopes the program’s legacy will continue to grow and keep on helping students to become global citizens in the 21st century.

Matchcounts

This spring, Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School students

Chase Gurtman and Mohid

Correction

On the cover of the May 23 edition of The Other Paper, the

Ali represented the school and Vermont at the Matchcounts National Competition in Washington D.C.

Other honorees

Drew Gordon, social studies teacher, was honored as a National History Day 2024 Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year nominee in the high school category.

The 102 teachers selected as nominees represent 50 of National History Day’s 58 affiliates, which include all 50 states and the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam and international schools in Europe and Asia.

Each nominee is a teacher who demonstrates a commitment to engaging students in historical learning through the innovative use of primary sources, implementation of active learning strategies to foster historical thinking skills, and participation in the National History Day contest. Winners will be announced on Thursday, June 13.

State’s attorney, senator address HERstory club

On May 31, Chittenden County state’s attorney Sarah

COURTESY PHOTO

South Burlington High School student Auishma Pradhan, Sen. Martine Gulick, state’s attorney Sarah George, and student Jamphel Yangostang at a HERstory club talk.

COURTESY PHOTO

At the recent Burlington Rotary’s rapid-fire spelling bee, the high school spelling club took home the top prize. Junior Owen Seremeth, second from the left, started the club in the fall.

SCHOOL NEWS

continued from page 2

George and Sen. Martine Gulick visited South Burlington High School to speak to students during activity block, a time designated for students to participate in clubs and activities during school hours.

George and Gulick were invited by HERstory, a club started by students Auishma Pradhan, Triya Mukherjee and

Jamphel Yangostang to have a space to discuss female empowerment. While the club is centered on women’s issues, all are welcome to join.

George and Gulick took questions from the students and spoke about the successes and challenges they face in their demanding roles.

Celebrate National Garden Week in your community

DORIS VAN MULLEN CONTRIBUTOR

Garden Clubs across Vermont and the country will celebrate National Garden Week, June 2-8.

The celebration is more than just a celebration of plants and flowers, it is an ode to nature’s resiliency, beauty and the way gardening enriches lives.

“We delight in the joy of gardening and the crucial role it plays in our ecosystems” Doris Van Mullen, president of the Federated Garden Clubs of Vermont, said. “This is a wonderful time to remember why we love gardening in the breathtaking beautiful landscapes of nature and our Vermont canvas. It is a shared passion connecting communities.”

The 16 garden clubs of the Federated Garden Clubs of Vermont take this opportunity to raise awareness of gardening, horticulture and to encourage people to take part in healthy and productive outdoor activities to preserve the environment and nourish nature.

Diverse garden club activities include giving back to the community. Clubs around Vermont maintain town gardens, plan and implement plant sales, raise money for scholarships for students studying horticulture, arrange fresh flowers for Meals on Wheels, provide community educational programs, promote cultivation of seeds, donate vegetables to those in need

and promote sustainable practices.

Some of the gardens across the state maintained by garden club members include:

• 19th century display garden at the Old Stone House in Newport, Four Seasons Garden Club.

• Hope Lodge, Ronald McDonald House and Vermont Garden Park, Burlington Garden Club.

• Planting and maintaining city-wise flower beds, Granite Center Garden Club.

• Sheldon Museum gardens, Middlebury Garden Club.

• Gifford Medical Center and maintaining Blue Star Marker flower beds, Randolph Garden Club.

• Planting flower boxes and hanging baskets at the Rutland Police Department, Chaffee Art Center, Rutland Free Library and Main Street Park Veterans Memorial Park, Rutland Garden Club.

• Downtown fountain, Iron Bridge memorial walkway and Plant It Pink Garden, Springfield Garden Club.

• 1879 schoolhouse in Perkinsville, Weathersfield Garden Club.

• Arlington’s Community Gardens and town hall, Arlington Garden Club.

• Cold Spring Park in Weston, Green Mountain Garden Club.

Many club-hosted garden tours offer opportunities to exchange gardening tips and build a network of like-minded individuals.

AnnuAl Meeting And MeMORiAl

Jahiem Tonge, pictured, along with Micah Allen and Jayan Greeff, were inducted into the Japanese National Honor Society pre-college chapter.

Total incidents: 211

Agency / public assists: 27

Directed patrol: 7

Traffic stop: 21

Accident: property damage: 6

Alarm: 12

Operations: foot patrol: 21

Suspicious event: 10

Retail theft: 6

Paperwork: 6

South Burlington Police Blotter: May 27 – June 2

Motor vehicle complaint: 5

Welfare check: 14

Noise violation: 9

Fraud: 2

Weapons offense: 2

Trespass: 10

Domestic: 5

Disturbance: 7

Field contact: 6

Animal problem: 3

Accident: insurance purposes: 4

Threats: 4

Leaving the scene: 2

Larceny: other: 2

Sex crime: 2

Mental health: 3

Arrests:

Craig A. Yandow, 54, of Essex, was arrested for retail theft on Dorset Street in a May 4 incident

Kerstan D. Martin, 24, of Winooski, was arrested for assault and robbery and as a fugitive from justice on Hadley Road in a May 21 incident.

A 15-year-old juvenile, no address provided, was arrested on Dorset Street for aggravated assault and criminal threatening in a May 26 incident.

May 27 at 4:47 p.m., Michael A. Coughlin, 25, of Colchester, was arrested for domestic assault and domestic assault in the presence of a child on Garden Street.

May 29 at 1:57 a.m., Virginia L. Deuso, 58, of Vergennes, was arrested on an in-state warrant on the Williston Road overpass.

May 30 at 12:50 a.m., Jacob S. Robbins, 27, of Vergennes, was arrested on an in-state warrant, as a person prohibited from possessing a firearm and receiving stolen property on Dorset Street.

May 30 7:13 a.m., John S. Judge, 35, of South Burlington, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Dorset Street.

May 30 at 9:41 a.m., Marco S. Corsetti, 39, of Duxbury, was arrested as a fugitive from justice on Community Drive.

May 31 at 11:18 a.m., Ryan James Letourneau, 36, of Winooski, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Barrett Street.

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

Police Brief

Gunshots bring police to Farrell Street

South Burlington Police were called to Farrell Street for a report of gunshots on May 28 around 6:30 p.m.

Officers interviewed witnesses and searched the area and found

theballistic evidence on Farrell Street and Eastwood Drive.

Police do not believe there is any “heightened risk” to the public.

Anyone with information should contact Det. Martin Maloney at 802-846-4192 or mmaloney@southburlingtonpolice.org.

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

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OPINION

Different neighborhoods, different priorities, shared desire for compromise

Councilor Corner

Michael Scanlan

interface, especially for mobile devices, currently 40 percent of website traffic.

Quality Plants Grown Here

Hanging Baskets

Perennials

Vegetables

Herbs

Trees

In my door-to-door campaign this spring, I was struck by how our various neighborhoods have different priorities. I guess I should not be surprised: The city of South Burlington, like the rest of America, is diverse, including socio-economically. Everyone values living in South Burlington and its services and amenities. Despite differences, people told me they want solutions that work for everyone. No one, I believe, should feel forced out because of affordability or rising taxes.

Lower voter turnout, given busy and hectic modern lives, has disrupted the link that ensured city council had a reliable sense of what our diverse communities want. For example, the approximate average voter turnout in the March 2024 city elections was 29.2 percent, with turnout by district as follows: Chittenden-8, 36.8 percent; Chittenden-9, 28.5 percent; Chittenden-10, 27.9 percent; Chittenden-11, 19.9 percent; and Chittenden-12, 32.9 percent. The struggle to get by and raise families also has limited the time for volunteering on city committees.

To counter this, we need to strengthen the link between all residents and city government. Consequently, the city and city council are exploring ways to understand better the needs of neighborhoods and to better serve them. Here are some examples:

• Council agenda: Communicate in clear language council agendas and distribute via website, city news and social media. Start in-person meetings with residents. For example, city councilor Elizabeth Fitzgerald and I will hold alternating Saturday Coffee with Councilors at neighborhood schools to hear your concerns. The first is on Saturday, June 8, from 9-10:30 a.m. at Chamberlin.

• Equity in planning outreach: Funded by a state grant, the city aims to identify how best to reach everybody living here, figure out what motivates resident engagement, and find ways to improve interaction with the city, including telling local government what they need and want. The project’s findings should be available in October.

• A new city website in January will feature a much more user-friendly

Residents will also be able to get notifications on topics of interest whenever the website is updated.

• Volunteer members of city committees, such as the affordable housing and the recreation committees, provide policy guidance on specific topics to the city council. About 120 people volunteer on monthly committees.

Over the next six months, the council, staff committee liaisons and committee chairs will evaluate the best way to align committees to the City Plan 2024. I believe that we must also strive to ensure diverse representation on committees, be it by neighborhoods, age groups, ethnicity and race, gender, homeowner or renter and skill sets.

• A paving condition inventory ensures a needs-based assessment for paving roads, primarily that the roads in worst condition should be paved first. (bit. ly/4bXzdww)

Shrubs

Mulch

Compost

Seeds

Proven Winners

Gift Certificates

• The city council will select a consultant to assist in the outreach, data collection and document drafting for the park and open space master plans. They will define how the city approaches the acquisition, development and management of recreation and open space for all neighborhoods in a balanced way. Public outreach runs through the fall.

• To ensure equitable access for all, the South Burlington Recreation Department is now offering a complimentary shuttle service to Summer SB Nite Out at Veterans Memorial Park, as well as to multiple events each month. More information on this will be posted on the city’s social media, website and by email.

All these efforts, we hope, will ensure that all South Burlington residents share equitably in the benefits of life here and that costs remain affordable.

Charter committee

Voting is the best way to tell our elected officials what we want and how they should spend tax dollars. Perhaps a system that ensures that the councilor lives in the district they represent and knows neighborhood issues from the inside out may increase voter turnout?

In 2022, the city council charged the charter committee to explore changes to the city’s governance structures that would help “ensure that voices are equitably represented at policy making tables.” This included polling residents. Accordingly, “37 percent favored

Michael Scanlan

Island Memorial Pet Service

Letters to the Editor

On June 1, bobcats, bears, other wildlife in danger

To the Editor:

Every year, beginning on June 1, bears, bobcats, foxes and other wildlife are pursued by packs of hounds, potentially over miles of land, during Vermont’s hound “training” season. Since this is also the time of year when wildlife is tending to their young, this training may lead to orphaned animals, as well as vulnerable wildlife suffering serious injuries or even death during these pursuits.

According to Jennifer Lovett, a Protect Our Wildlife board member and conservation biologist, bobcat kits are born in early June, which makes the timing of this abusive activity even more egregious.

According to Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s regulations, a person with a hunting license may train a dog to hunt and pursue animals during these times:

• Bear: June 1 to Sept. 15, sunrise to sunset.

• Raccoon: June 1 through the day before the opening day of raccoon hunting season, any time of day or night.

• Fox and bobcat: June 1 to March 15, except during regular deer season.

• Coyotes: June 1 to Sept. 15.

continued from page 5

continuing to vote at-large, 33 percent favored electing members from the five legislative districts, and 30 percent favored a combination of at-large and district voting.”

We see that over 60 percent want to change to the existing system, with almost half also favoring an increase in the number of councilors.

That said, less than 200 people took part in the survey, so the recommendation of the charter committee for further study, I believe, is warranted.

This activity is allowed on both private and public lands, and while posting your property does not necessarily keep uncontrolled hounds off, it may offer you legal protection.

It is a disgrace that these animals aren’t even allowed time to raise their young without being harassed and put in harm’s way. When the wild animal cannot escape the attacking hounds, fights often ensue, placing both the hounds and the wild animals in danger.

Hounding has been referred to as a form of legalized animal fighting. For some species that are hunted, there are no limits on the number of hounds that may be used, placing the wild animal at an even greater disadvantage. Dogs that are used by hounders include large, tenacious breeds like foxhounds, Plott hounds and coonhounds.

There have been recent legislative efforts to ban certain forms of hounding arising from animal welfare and public safety concerns, and violations of landowner rights. For more information on hounding and what your rights are visit protectourwildlifevt.org.

Brenna Galdenzi

Protect Our Wildlife Stowe

South Burlington is a great city, and we are all lucky to call it home. To keep life here affordable, we need policies that promote the greatest good for all. To do that, we need to hear from everybody. The city council and city staff are here to serve you, but we need and seek your input to be most effective. We hope to see you on Saturday, June 8, from at Chamberlin School.

Michael Scanlan is a South Burlington city councilor.

Business group talks economic drivers

On May 23, the South Burlington Business Association held its annual meeting at the newly inaugurated OnLogic building in Technology Park. The event featured presentations from Kevin Chu of the Vermont Futures Project and Doug Merrill of the Tech Hub, highlighting significant initiatives driving economic and technological advancement in the region.

Chu discussed the Vermont Futures Project’s initiative to develop a data-informed economic action plan. This initiative aims to use data-driven insights to create strategic plans that foster sustainable economic growth and resilience in Vermont.

Merrill provided an update on the Vermont Tech Hub, emphasizing its role in advancing the

state’s technology sector. In 2023, the University of Vermont, Global Foundries and several local business groups successfully applied for Vermont to be designated a national tech hub for a new generation of energy-efficient chips. This designation, granted to only 13 locations nationwide, enables Vermont to compete for innovation, research and workforce funding to enhance the state’s capacity to produce power-efficient chips.

In February, the Vermont Tech Hub submitted a $36 million request as phase one of its comprehensive project. This phase will establish two new laboratories in South Burlington for the design and testing of power-efficient chips. It will also expand staff and

resources at the Vermont Advanced Computing Center in Tech Park.

Additionally, the request includes funding for extensive workforce upskilling activities, crucial for supporting increased chip production at Global Foundries.

“The annual meeting underscored the collaborative efforts and visionary planning that are propelling South Burlington toward a prosperous future. The discussions highlighted the community’s commitment to innovation, economic growth and workforce development,” according to Julie Beatty, coordinator of the South Burlington Business Association, in a press release. For information, go to sbbabiz. com.

PHOTO BY ANTHONY ALICHWER

Members of the South Burlington Business Association listen to guest speakers at their annual meeting on May 23.

EMILY HAMILTON

South Burlington expands Juneteenth celebrations

Enjoy an evening celebration of Black culture and remembrance as South Burlington offers education, poetry and music in honor of Juneteenth, Wednesday, June 19, 6-8 p.m., at Veterans Memorial Park.

The event is hosted by local poet Rajnii Eddins, who will talk about the history of this bittersweet holiday and share some of his work.

A variety of musicians, Abizo (Ayamrd Math) and Rachel Ambaye and the Ambaye Quartet and Edwin Owusu, will perform. Juneteenth, also called Emancipation Day, Freedom Day or the country’s second Independence Day, is the anniversary of the 1865 announcement in Galveston, Texas, that the Civil War was finally over. This announcement, two months after the war ended and two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, intended to free remaining slaves.

The city’s celebration of freedom will feature music from a variety of musicians and food and arts vendors.

Kids six years and up can visit the library on Wednesday, June 19, at 10 a.m. to make Joe Frogger cookies and learn why they are linked to Juneteenth.

Community member Lydia Diamond was the catalyst for the first Juneteenth event in the city in 2023.

Run, walk or jiggety-fog for McClure Miller

Join the University of Vermont Health Network Home Health & Hospice for its annual fundraiser on Saturday, June 8, 9 a.m., at Malletts Bay School in Colchester.

The Jiggety Jog is a 5K for all ages and abilities, supporting hospice care at McClure Miller Respite House. Day-of registration is at 8 a.m.

Sign up at uvmhomehealth. org/run.

Start the week of celebration on Monday, June 17, at 6 p.m. with Will Kasso Condry, co-founder of Juniper Creative Arts. Condry speaks in depth about resilience, authenticity and the importance of keeping art and creativity at the center of one’s life.

The topic of his talk is “The Art of Creating Community Thru Hip-Hop,” and it will be held at the South Burlington Public Library.

On Tuesday, June 18, Hair Equity project, sponsored by University of Vermont Health Network, hosts a panel discussion, at the library at 6 p.m. The goal of the project is to understand the impact of oppression and inequities felt by Black Americans through hair discrimination.

Rick Marcotte student to attend leadership forum

This summer, Patrick Goodwin of South Burlington, will join students from across the nation to take part in a unique academic and career-oriented development experience, National Youth Lead-

COURTESY PHOTO

Poet Rajnii Eddins headlines South Burlington’s Juneteenth celebration at Veterans Memorial Park.

Patrick Goodwin

South Burlington resident John Killacky’s videos have been screened worldwide at festivals, galleries, museums, hospitals and universities, and broadcast on Vermont Public and nationally on PBS. On Thursday, June 13, as part of “PechaKucha Night” of visual storytelling in Flynn Space in Burlington, he shares 20 stills taken from his AIDS-related videos and reads diary entries. On Saturday, June 15, he presents a video salon, “Eulogizing the Body,” at Bryan Memorial Gallery in Jeffersonville featuring works dealing with AIDS, disability, loss and chronic pain. Another of his videos is included in the Montgomery Center for the Arts’ exhibition, “Bloom: The Nature of Art,” opening Sunday, June 16 in Montgomery.

COMMUNITY NOTES

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ership Forum: Pathways to STEM forum at Bentley University near Boston.

The forum is one of the Envision by WorldStrides family of programs that enable students to explore their interests and experience learning beyond the classroom.

Goodwin was nominated to

Virginia Giroux

Virginia Giroux, 92, of South Burlington, died on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at the University of Vermont Medical Center.

She was born on Sept. 7, 1931, in Montague Mass., the daughter of Gordon Young and Mildred Whalley Tanner, and was later adopted by Dorson Tanner. She was a graduate of Burlington High School, Class of 1950.

She was the president of Gero Bros. Movers, the company that was founded by her husband’s family in 1929. She was a devout member of St. John Vianney Catholic Church. She loved to play bingo, cards with friends and the slots at the casinos. She loved to travel and adored the color purple — especially that fuzzy hat— and always had an angel brooch on her shoulder.

She was a devoted fan of Paul Newman and Elvis Presley and loved country music. She also volunteered at Fanny Allen Hospital

attend the forum by his fourthgrade teacher, Matt Currier, at Rick Marcotte Central School. In addition to being an outstanding student and leader in the classroom, Goodwin is a passionate soccer fan, and plays for the Queen City Football Club U10 program. With aspirations to become a firefighter and first responder, he is

Obituary

in Colchester for many years. She was an avid duck pin and 10-pin bowler for many years.

She is survived by her daughters, Sherry Giroux of Essex Junction, Deborah and husband, Gregory Lewis of South Burlington, and Robin and husband, Joseph Robitaille of Milton; son, Henry J. Giroux III of Piney Point, Md.; grandchildren, Aimee Cardinal,

looking forward to gaining the hands-on STEM experience that the forum provides.

For over 35 years, the program has empowered students to become their best selves through programs that enable them to discover their passion, explore a career and positively impact their world.

Jessica Deforge, Devin Lewis, Amanda Phillips, Megan Robitaille, Tyler Robitaille, Michelle Giroux, Ashley Rush and Henry J. Giroux IV; six great-grandchildren and soon to be seven; niece, Audrey Kolar of Tucson, Ariz.; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, Henry A.J. Giroux, on July 15, 1981; daughter, Danielle B. Giroux, on May 2, 2002; sisters, Shirley Brack and Betty Decker; and brothers Robert Tanner and Malcolm Tanner.

Family and friends are invited to call at the Ready Funeral Home, 261 Shelburne Road, on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, from 4-6 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at 11 a.m. at St. John Vianney’s Church, Hinesburg Road, South Burlington. Burial will immediately follow at New Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Plattsburg Avenue, Burlington.

Virginia Giroux

COURTESY PHOTO

SPORTS

Playoff games set for Wolves

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Baseball

Division I quarterfinals

Friday, June 7, 4:30 p.m.

No. 1 South Burlington (13-3) versus TBA

South Burlington wrapped up the regular season with three wins in a row to clinch the top seed in the Division I postseason. The Wolves will face the winner of No. 8 North Country and No. 9 Rutland, who will face off in the playdowns on Tuesday after press time.

South Burlington pitched two shutouts in its last three wins — two of their six shutouts in the regular season — with pitcher Nick Kelley throwing a one-hitter in the final game of the season.

The Wolves did not face North Country or Rutland in the regular season.

Softball

Tuesday, June 4 at 4:30 p.m.

No. 11 South Burlington (2-14) at No. 6 Essex (8-7)

South Burlington finished the regular season with a win for the No. 11 seed in the postseason, setting up a matchup with No. 6 Essex in the playdowns on Tuesday, after press time.

The Wolves faced the Hornets twice in the regular season, losing 25-1 and 13-1 in the two matchups. South Burlington will look to improve its efforts both in the circle and defensively to pull off the upset.

Boys’

lacrosse Division I quarterfinals

Friday, June 7 at 4:30 p.m.

No. 5 Woodstock (10-5) at No. 4 South Burlington (11-5)

South Burlington will take on No. 5 Woodstock in the quarterfinals on Friday, a team it faced off with once during the regular season.

The Wolves beat the Wasps 18-4 in their only meeting so far season, part of 5-1 run to end the regular season.

South Burlington has been powered by its offense so far, scoring in double digits in eight games this season, and using its shutdown defense in the final two regular season wins.

If the Wolves win in the quarterfinals, they could face a possible matchup with top-seed Champlain Valley in the semifinals.

Girls’ lacrosse Division I quarterfinals

Friday, June 7 at 4:30 p.m.

No. 4 South Burlington (11-4) versus TBA

The girls start their hunt for an eighth D-I state championship with a bye in the first round of the playoffs.

The Wolves, who have been powered by their offense and top goal scorer Rachel

Kelley, won seven of their first eight games but then lost three of their last seven.

South Burlington will take on the winner of No. 5 Burlington and No. 12 Mount Mansfield in the quarterfinals. The Wolves beat MMU twice during the regular season and won its only matchup against Burlington.

Boys’ tennis Division I playdowns

Tuesday, June 4, at 4:30 p.m. No. 10 Mount Mansfield (3-9) at. No. 7 South Burlington (7-8)

After starting the season 0-4, South Burlington rebounded for a 7-8 record and the No. 7 seed in the postseason.

The Wolves will take on Mount Mansfield in the playdowns Tuesday, a team they beat 7-0 in their only matchup of the season.

If South Burlington beats Mt. Mansfield, it will face No. 2 Middlebury on Thursday, June 6, in the quarterfinals. The two teams faced off in the first week of the season, with the Tigers getting the win in both matchups.

Girls’

tennis

Division I quarterfinals

Friday, June 7, at 3:30 p.m. No. 6 North Country (7-6) at No. 3 South Burlington (10-4)

South Burlington will play host to No. 6 North Country on Friday in the quarterfinals, looking to advance to the finals for the first time since 2022.

The Wolves have not seen the Falcons this season so there will be some question marks heading into the postseason matchup.

South Burlington, which lost two of its last three matches, will look to book a trip to the semifinals against the winner of No. 2 Stowe and No. 7 Colchester.

Boys’ Ultimate Division I playdowns

Wednesday, June 5, at 4 p.m. No. 12 Colchester (3-6) at No. 5 South Burlington (6-3)

The boys’ Ultimate team will look to return to the finals after winning the program’s first title in 2022.

The Wolves started the season at 5-0 but lost three of their last four games. They will need to rediscover their early season form to make a postseason run.

South Burlington will start with Colchester, which they did not face in the regular season. If the Wolves win, they will take on the winner of No. 4 Montpelier and No. 13 Rice.

Girls’ Ultimate Division I quarterfinals

Monday, June 10, at 4 p.m. No. 5 Montpelier (5-7) at No. 4 South Burlington (7-6)

After advancing all the way to the finals

South Burlington sports’ teams finish regular season

LAUREN READ

CORRESPONDENT

Boys’ Ultimate

South Burlington 15, Colchester 8: The South Burlington boys Ultimate frisee team wrapped up the regular season with a win over Colchester Saturday, June 1.

The Wolves got six goals and one assist from Gabe Gelfenbein and Harrison Chamberlain added one goal and six assists.

South Burlington finished the regular season with a 7-3 record.

Boys’ lacrosse

South Burlington 8, Rice 4:

South Burlington pulled away in the second half to beat Rice 8-4 on Friday, May 31.

Will Goyette paced the team with five goals and one assist, while Brady Sweet added two goals and one assist.

Caden Clayton stopped five shots for the Wolves, who finished the regular season 11-5.

Girls’ lacrosse

South Burlington 10, Burr and Burton 7: South Burlington won its third game in a row and finished the season at 11-4 after beating Burr and Burton Thursday, May 30.

Sabrina Brunet and Rachel Kelley each had a hat trick for the

PHOTO BY AL FREY

Wolves, while Elise Smith tallied twice. Sawyer Bailey and Peyton Borick each added a goal.

Victoria Bohlmann made four saves for South Burlington.

Baseball

South Burlington 2, Mount Mansfield 0: Nick Kelley allowed just one hit over seven innings of work to beat Mount Mansfield Thursday.

Kelly struck out eight batters and went 2-for-2 at the plate for the Wolves, who finished the regular season at 13-3.

Kiefer McGrath and Cedric LaMothe each drove in a run for South Burlington.

Boys’ track and field

The South Burlington boys’ track and field finished in fifth place in the Division I track and field state championships on Saturday, June 1.

Aidan Lybarger led the way for the Wolves with a first-place finish in the javelin, second place in the discus and third in shot put.

Johnson Jackson was second overall in the triple jump, while Austin Simone came in second place in the 800-meter race.

Tucker Hall was third in the 300-meter hurdles and fifth overall in the 110-meter hurdles.

St. Johnsbury finished as D-I state champions, Essex was second and Burlington followed in third.

Girls’ track and field

The girls ran to a sixth-place finish at the state championships.

Regina O’Leary was the top finisher for the Wolves, coming in second place in the 100-meter hurdles, while Izzy Laramee was

PLAYOFFS continued from page 10

last season only to lose to Burlington, the South Burlington girls are looking for a return trip to the championship.

sixth in the same race.

O’Leary came in third in the triple for South Burlington, while Kelsey Adams was fifth in the triple jump and fifth in the high jump.

Laramee also came in sixth place in the 300-meter hurdles.

Emilia Chittenden was sixth in the high jump.

Alisa McLean was third place in pole vault. Gracie Morrie was fourth in the 400-meter race and fifth in the 200 meters for the Wolves.

Champlain Valley are D-I state champions, while Essex was second and Burlington third.

The Wolves will take on No. 5 Montpelier in the quarterfinals to start, a team that they beat twice in the regular season, 10-7 and 13-3. If they get a quarterfinal win, the Wolves will take on top-seeded Burlington in the semifinals and look to get some revenge for last year’s loss in the final game of the season.

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South Burlington’s Samantha Chittenden jumps for the sand during the Division l track and field state championships at the D.G. Weaver Athletic Complex on Saturday, June 1. The girls’ team finished sixth.

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Invest in community

PICKLEBALL continued from page 1

game, which dates back to those early pandemic sessions.

“We played by ourselves quite a bit,” Justin said. “We slowly

learned that there were other people in Vermont who were holding play groups, and I began to join them as I got more and more interested in the sport.”

At the time, the younger Schaaf was a student at University of Michigan, and when he returned for his junior year, he joined the school’s pickleball club and competed in collegiate pickleball tournaments across the country.

After graduating, he came back to Vermont, eager to continue playing with his family, and the idea for Catamount Pickleball was born.

younger brother, Gavin, designed the business’s logo — a wiffleball sunset rising over green mountains.

And Catamount has hit the ground running. According to the Schaafs and plenty of others, pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country, and the Green Mountain State has served as especially fertile ground for the game’s expansion.

“It’s a great way to socialize and get out and stay active, and it’s easy to learn. It’s just become huge, and there’s no end in sight to the growth.”

— Ric Schaaf

“We saw how crowded the outdoor courts were in the summer and how limited the indoor space was in the winter,” said Ric. “We just thought, well, Vermont could use some more courts.”

The Schaafs opened Catamount in February and have continued to run and operate the business as a family, with Ric largely handling the business side of things while Justin serves as one of Catamount’s five certified instructors. Meanwhile, Justin’s

“The pickleball scene in Vermont is very robust, very active, and it’s growing,” Ric said. “We’ve had hundreds of people take intro to pickleball and other beginner programming here just in the very short time we’ve been open.”

The elder Schaaf attributed the game’s appeal to its accessibility and inherently social nature.

“It checks a lot of the boxes of what we need right now in our community and in our society,” he said. “It’s a great way to socialize and get out and stay active, and it’s easy to learn. It’s just become huge, and there’s no end in sight to the growth.”

PHOTO BY HABIB SABET

Catamount Pickleball co-founder Justin Schaaf prepares to serve.

WASTEWATER FACILITY

continued from page 1

a clean energy future.”

One of two wastewater treatment facilities in the city, the Bartlett Bay plant first began operations 1949 and last received a major upgrade in 1999, according to Tom DiPietro, South Burlington’s director of public works.

“After 25 years of wear and tear we have to go through and replace pumps and other internal workings of a wastewater plant,” DiPietro said. “As a part of that process we’re also looking for opportunities to be more energy efficiency.”

For South Burlington, the upgrades represent a significant step toward achieving the goals laid out in its Climate Action Plan, which the city adopted in October 2022 with an eye toward reducing

its carbon footprint.

In that document, the city highlighted the need to reduce emissions in the public works department, which “contributes most of the emissions in the government operations sector.”

“If you look at where are we using all of this energy, the wastewater plants kind of jump out at you — they use quite a bit of power,” DiPietro said.

According to DiPietro, the city hopes to invest the federal funds in a variety of sustainable technologies, including new heat pumps that can capture the heat from the treated water and use it to heat the facility’s buildings, substantially reducing its reliance on fossil fuels.

DiPietro said that the city is also looking to upgrading the facility’s computer systems to help streamline operations.

“The wastewater plant does an exemplary job in treating wastewater,” DiPietro said. “Our expectation is that it will operate with the same quality, but it will do so using a lot less energy and fossil fuels after the upgrades.”

According to DiPietro, his office is currently working with engineers to finalize plans for the facility upgrades, a process that could take another year. Once it does so, the city will seek bidders for the construction project, and DiPietro said he expects the construction work to take an additional year.

NOTICE

CHANGE

IN

ASSESSED

VALUE

OF REAL ESTATE TO TAXPAYERS AS OF JUNE 3, 2024

Title 32, Vermont Statutes Annotated, section 4111(g) reads as follows:

“A person who feels aggrieved by the action of the listers and desires to be heard by them, shall, on or before the day of the grievance meeting, file with them their objections in writing and may appear at such grievance meeting, in person or by their agents or attorneys. Upon the hearing of such grievance the parties thereto may submit such documentary or sworn evidence as shall be pertinent thereto.”

Not all properties will have had a change in value.

Properties with changes in value will be mailed separate notices.

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Grievance hearings for the year 2024 will be held by appointment, email, or telephone at City Hall – Office of the Assessor, 180 Market Street, S. Burlington, VT 05403.

Property valuation appeal hearings will close on June 18, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.

To ensure a quick process, please submit your re-evaluation request before the deadline. Appeals must be in writing. You can email Emily at enorway@southburlingtonvt.gov to request a hearing.

Please include your name, property address, reason for appeal, and your estimation of the fair market value of your property.

All official valuation appeals must be received in the Assessor’s Office in writing by 4:00 p.m. on June 18, 2024.

www.southburlingtonvt.gov/departments/tax_assessor_office/

COURTESY PHOTO

U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vermont, visits the Bartlett Wastewater Treatment Facility in South Burlington to present a grant to the city for wastewater facility upgrades.