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the South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977
Wheeler Park developers win court case
LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
After a years-long court battle, a Vermont Superior Court last week ruled in favor of a housing development located in a 7-acre slice of land bordering South Burlington’s Wheeler Nature Park.
The project calls for 32 mixed-housing units built in a parcel adjacent to the park, at the intersection of Dorset Street and Park Road in South Burlington, part of a larger parcel that itself was once the subject of a lengthy court case.
Although the project’s developers, BlackRock Construction, had garnered development review board approval in 2021 and Act 250 approval in 2022, the project was quickly appealed by a group of 125 nearby neighbors — from the Inverness Homeowners’ Association, Glen Eagles Homeowners’ Association, Villas at Water Tower Hill Homeowners’ Association and the Neighbors Committee to Stop Neighborhood Blasting — and has been moving through the courts since.
But following a six-day trial in May, June and July, the court affirmed the issuance of
the development’s Act 250 permit in a decision last week.
“The decision last Friday was adverse, definitely a big disappointment,” James Leas, one of the opposing neighbors and patent attorney representing himself in the case, said. “This is very serious because it’s the nature park. That’s a big disappointment. I don’t think it’s just for the appellants. We had over 20 fact witnesses testify, and all of them testified that they enjoyed walking on
See WHEELER NATURE PARK on page 12
NOW SERVING BREAKFAST
Schools to offer more money to bus drivers, in face of short staff
LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
It’s likely that the South Burlington school district will start this school year the same way it ended last year: short on bus drivers.
When Jean-Marie Clark started her job as the director of operations for the district in June, she was told most of her day would be dedicated to addressing the bus driver shortage that has remained one of the top pressing concerns for parents and district officials.
But now, she says the feat of filling the driver seats dominates roughly 90 percent of her daily tasks since the district is in worse shape than last year, with only a dozen drivers currently on hand. That’s down at least three employees from the previous year, she said.
As a last-ditch effort, the school board last week approved significant pay increas-
Shelburne Road, S. Burlington Maple Tree Place, Williston
@getblissbee
PHOTO BY TIM KEOGH
The remnants of Tropical Storm Debby, which passed through Aug. 9, didn’t add much in the way of water to an already sodden state, but Debby’s fierce winds knocked down tree branches all over the state, like this one on Fairway Drive in South Burlington. Read about the storm on page 2.
Debby downer
End-of-Summer SALE
PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER
Thousands lose power after Debby blows through Vermont
ERIN PETENKO AND ETHAN WEINSTEIN VTDIGGER
More than 600 Vermont electric customers were still without power as of 2:30 p.m. Monday, three days after the remnants of Hurricane Debby hit the state, according to VT Outages, which tracks utility data in the state.
Nearly all the remaining outages were customers of Vermont Electric Cooperative, which serves a broad swath of northern Vermont. The longest outages were concentrated in Chittenden and Franklin counties, with more than 150 customers apiece out of power in Essex and Underhill. VEC representatives did not respond to requests for comment Monday afternoon.
At its peak, the storm caused nearly 1,000 outages that led more than 50,000 customers to lose power as high wind and rain hit Vermont. That number dropped gradually, with about 28,000 outages as of 6 a.m. Saturday; 8,500 as of 6 a.m. Sunday; and 1,400 as of 6 a.m. Monday.
Leah Korce of Richford was one of the latest customers to have power restored. On Friday night, she was walking around her 27-acre property when she heard a loud crack and saw “a
white light go from one end of the property to the other,” she told VTDigger. Poles had fallen down and wires were hanging loose in several locations.
She immediately called Vermont Electric Cooperative, but when workers showed up the next morning, they said it would need special equipment to be fixed. It wasn’t until 8:30 a.m. Monday that a crew came and fully fixed the outage.
Korce said she was frustrated by the lack of clarity around when her power would be restored and by the cooperative’s customer service, but she praised those out in the field restoring power.
“It’s not the crews,” she said. “Those guys are great.”
Thousands lose power
Friday evening
As the brunt of Tropical Depression Debby hit Vermont on Friday evening, more than 48,000 customers had lost power around 8:30 p.m.
VT Outages reported the highest number of blackouts in Hinesburg, Colchester and Williston. The National Weather Service in Burlington detected gusts in excess of 60 miles per hour.
Heavy rain first arrived in
Vermont overnight Thursday, as remnants of Debby, originally a hurricane, moved in from the south and west, dropping up to 2 inches of rain in some northern and central parts of the state.
The storm prompted tornado and flood warnings across Vermont. It also led President Joe Biden to issue a federal disaster declaration for Vermont on Friday morning, promising relief and reimbursement to certain counties.
While much of the state stayed dry earlier in the day, heavy rain picked up in the afternoon.
The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for much of the western half of the state, with a high wind warning in northwestern Vermont active until 10 p.m.
Conor Lahiff, a meteorologist with the weather service’s Burlington office, said “the threat of flooding had decreased,” with rain already starting to leave Vermont as of 8 p.m. “But unfortunately, as the rain moved out, we still had some strong winds.”
The northern Champlain Valley was experiencing the highest winds at “just over 60 miles per hour,” he said, but much of the state had seen winds of 40 or 50 miles per hour.
The Winooski River in Richmond is well below flood stage as rain falls on Friday, August 9.
treats.
Look online for primary results
Vermont towns held primary elections for statewide, legislative and county offices on Tuesday. The results were not available as of press deadline, but they are available online at otherpapersbvt.com.
There was not a lot of action in this first round of elections to determine what major party candidates will appear on the November election. However, there was one contested local race, in Democratic primary for state senator.
Vying for three seats in the Chittenden Southeast Senate district representing South Burlington were Democratic incumbents Thomas Chittenden of South Burlington, Kesha Ram Hinsdale of Shelburne and
Virginia “Ginny” Lyons of Williston. Louis Meyers of South Burlington was running as a challenger.
Running as the lone Republican candidate is Bruce Roy of Williston.
None of the local House races were contested, so it’s on the November with the slate of them.
Newcomer Bridget Burkhardt is running for the seat in Chittenden-8 being vacated by Noah Hyman. In Chittenden-9, Emilie Krasnow is running for reelection, as is Kate Nugent in Chittenden-10.
In Chittenden-11, Brian Minier is running again as is Martin LaLonde in Chittenden-12. All the candidates are Democrats.
Invest in community
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PHOTO BY SOUTH BURLINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
South Burlington Police Department Cpl. Brianne Williamson hangs out with some kids at last Thursday’s SB Nite Out, proving that a little rain can’t dampen everyone’s appetite for fun and frozen
CRIME & COURTS
South Burlington Police Blotter: Aug. 5-12
Total incidents: 242
911 hangup: 4
Accident with injury: 1
Accident, insurance purposes: 6
Accident, leaving the scene: 2
Accident, property damage: 10
Alarm: 19
Animal problem: 2
Agency / public assists: 29
Directed patrol: 17
Disturbance: 6
Domestic: 5
Field contact: 2
Foot patrol: 15
Found property: 2
Fraud: 4
Identity theft: 1
Intoxication: 4
Juvenile problem: 2
Larceny from a vehicle: 5
Larceny from a structure: 1
Larceny, other: 3
Mental health issue: 9
Missing person: 1
Motor vehicle complaint: 6
Property damage: 4
Restraining order violation: 3
Retail theft: 8
Sex crime: 1
Stolen vehicle: 1
Suspicious event: 10
Threat: 2
Traffic hazard: 7
Traffic stop: 10
the
Trespass: 10 Welfare check: 13
Arrests:
Loralie Elisa Fuller, 34, of South Burlington, was arrested for uttering a forged instrument, following July 23 incident on Gregory Lane.
Chapman Y. Smith, 42, of Burlington, was arrested for larceny from a person, following an Aug. 1 incident on Shelburne Road.
Aug. 5 at 10:43 a.m., Roy O. Sicily, 45, of South Burlington, was arrested for domestic assault on Williston Road.
Aug. 6 at 1:34 p.m., Derrick M. Cusson-St. George, 38, of Charlotte, was arrested on an in-state warrant, on Hinesburg Road.
Aug. 6 at 6:47 p.m., Daniel M. O’Hare, 41, of South Burlington, was arrested for violating an abuse prevention order on Shelburne Road. O’Hare was arrested again for the same offense the next morning.
Aug 7 at 11:36 a.m., Donald P. Morrill, 48, of Burlington, was arrested for retail theft on Dorset Street.
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Man accused of purposely running over family member
MIKE DONOGHUE
CORRESPONDENT
A Shelburne man, who state police say drove over a family member, has pleaded not guilty in Vermont Superior Court to criminal charges of aggravated domestic assault and reckless endangerment.
Peter “Tad” Hoehl, 46, had an alcohol level of 0.142 percent after the incident in Ferrisburgh on Aug. 6, Vermont State Police said in court papers.
The victim, 46, was rushed to the UVM Medical Center, where she was admitted with broken ribs, a collapsed lung and fluid in her abdomen, court records note. She also received abrasions with imbedded gravel, police said.
“The injuries correlate to being ran over by a vehicle and the tires spinning on her,” state trooper Kelsey Dobson wrote in a court affidavit.
“While at the hospital, (the victim) provided a brief statement to Trooper (Nicole) Twamley in which she stated she believed Peter’s actions to be intentional
and had heard Peter put the vehicle in gear just before getting ran over,” Dobson wrote.
Defense lawyer Brooks McArthur said after the arraignment there was no intent on behalf of his client.
He also said there was no driving while under the influence charge filed because the incident did not happen on a public highway. Police had said in court papers that DUI was among the charges when he was taken into custody.
Dobson said Hoehl initially refused to say how much he had to drink and wanted to talk to another trooper. Hoehl eventually said he had five Blue Light beers, Dobson wrote. Hoehl refused to provide a preliminary breath sample or conduct standardized field sobriety exercises at the scene, Dobson’s affidavit noted. He later provided a test at the state police barracks in New Haven.
The Vermont State Police emergency dispatch center got a call from Peter Hoehl about 10:18 p.m. and a woman could be heard in the background saying that he had purposely run her over, Dobson said in a court affidavit.
The initial police response was to Grosse Point Road, but nobody was found there and troopers later located the caller near a place on Driftwood Lane, police said. A police press release listed the incident as near Sand Road.
Police said Peter Hoehl indicated he did not realize that he hit her after the first of the two bumps.
See HOEHL on page 7
Peter “Tad” Hoehl,
OPINION
Amtrak’s Vermonter never runs on time
To the Editor:
I was one of the ones that pushed for the return of Amtrack’s Vermonter. I now regret that, as it has never been on time. It runs between 1-5 hours late or it suspended a lot of the time.
Montpelier should think about cutting its state-supported funding for that train and keep the Ethan Allen Express in Burlington. If they want to continue the Vermonter, cut stops and have that train end at White River.
Miller, South Burlington
Presidential race should focus on national security
To the Editor:
The media is trying to define the presidential candidates by focusing on JD Vance’s weirdness, Kamala Harris’ Black or Indian race and Trump’s motives. They need to focus on real issues. There are plenty.
For instance, the bipartisan Commission on National Defense Strategy says a vast majority of Americans have no idea of their vulnerability. We are unprepared to fight major adversaries and could not sustain a two-front war. This should be in large print on the front pages of our newspapers.
The commission reports our ammunition supply would only last three to four weeks. China has a larger Navy and Europe’s major adversary, Russia, has stronger industrial infrastructure for munitions and supplies. European countries lack military resources, armies, munitions and
commitment to defend themselves.
The press should be focusing on our military, which is struggling to recruit soldiers because of obesity, incompetency and lack of patriotism. What are Trump’s and Harris’s strategies to preserve our national security? We should be challenging Biden/Harris and House and Senate members who are spending billions on programs no longer or never relevant to enhance national defense, not climate change and creating more debt.
Fixing this mess requires good leadership and a press exposing these vulnerabilities. If the press were objective and focused on real issues, voters would be informed to elect people who are committed to preserving national security, rebuilding the industrial base, and revamping the military to only focus on winning. We have no time to waste.
Frank Mazur South Burlington
Project 25 wreaks havoc on women’s health care
To the Editor:
Donald Trump and J.D. Vance are supporters of Project 2025. If allowed to become the law of the land, Project 2025 will certainly and catastrophically affect women’s and children’s health care in the U.S. The GOP is inextricably entwined with Project 2025, a right-wing manifesto produced by the billionaire-funded Heritage Foundation. (bit.ly/46hhiPK)
It is authored by over 140 Trump loyal ists. Project 2025 is the plan for presidential transition if Donald Trump wins the
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Hope and opportunity, not hate and fear define America
Guest Perspective
John Bossange
There’s been a lot of talk lately about the Republican ticket featuring a presidential and vice-presidential candidate who are being accused of making “weird” comments during their campaign stops and interview sessions. Voters who are interested in their candidacies are now wondering if their recent remarks are weird or simply represent who they really are.
I think they are both.
Trump has a long history of lying, and most recently making some very weird and politically unwise responses to questions that will alienate potential swing voters. But that is who he is. He speaks to his base and not to the larger contingent of American voters.
That has not served him well, as evidenced by his inability to capture most of the popular vote in the 2016 and 2020 elections.
But it has been Trump’s most recent derogatory comments on race and religion, combined with his sexist and disrespectful actions with women, that will most certainly limit his appeal to a broader base of supporters. Being a convicted felon and found liable of sexual abuse in a civil trial will haunt his reputation forever, and now challenging another candidate’s “blackness,” and then telling an audience of Christians that he will make our country the “United Christian States of America,” will cause millions of potential voters to move even further away from his candidacy, ignoring his divisive rhetoric and weird, uncomforting opinions.
Unfortunately, there is nothing new here. Race, religion and sex have always been central to Trump’s political agenda.
Challenging President Obama’s nationality, making disrespectful and inaccurate accusations about immigrants and Americans who are people of color, supporting white supremacists who chanted “Jews will not replace us,” bragging about fondling women, hiring a prostitute to service him while his third wife nursed their newborn son are all examples of who Trump really is.
Weird and creepy yes, but at least we know what we are getting.
The same cannot be said for Trump’s vice-presidential candidate, JD Vance. He has made weird comments as well.
Questioning a woman’s right to an abortion and supporting a federal abortion ban even in the case of rape or incest, and mocking women’s choice to not have children are two distasteful, unappealing and weird political positions coming from a candidate who is supposed to help expand the MAGA party base of voters. His demonization of women is strange and, like Trump, deeply hostile to women.
One must wonder why he is making these statements? Just two weeks ago he said married couples should have their votes count more than single Americans. He seems to be getting weirder.
Yet, unlike Trump, we really do not know who Mr. Vance is. He has a history of saying that Trump is unfit for office. His comments from just a year ago would have let us to believe he’d never be a vice-presidential choice. But now, as Trump’s selection, he has done
a complete 180 and is praising the “patriots” of Jan. 6, supporting the long history of lies made by Trump, and has entered race, religion, and sex into his platform of issues as well.
All of this is weird, strange and worrisome. But equally troubling is the fact that millions of voters are now wondering what Vance really believed before his abrupt pivot to gain the favor of Trump. Maybe Trump is wondering that too, and if he might need to throw Vance under the bus just as he did to Vice President Mike Pence.
Will Trump and Vance continue to use race, religion and gender as campaign issues? If they do, only the loyal MAGA base, along with racists, religious extremists and misogynists will drink that
LETTERS
continued from page 5
upcoming presidential election. It has been inferred that Trump does not know what Project 2025 is. It is naive to believe this.
As a long-time maternal child nurse, I have helped thousands of women of childbearing years, both here in Vermont, and worldwide, as I had the privilege of being an online medical resource for new mothers for 15 years. I support all families — nuclear, single-parent, LGBTQ.
Women should be able to expect equity, workplace protections and safe health care. With Project 2025, these rights stand to be severely impacted. Basic health care for women and children such as Medicaid is a target to be cut. Also, it seeks to reduce the avail-
Kool Aid, and the base will not grow large enough to win either the popular or electoral college vote.
Instead, their bubble of fear, hate and darkness and their offensive language will insult the intelligence of most voters and rub against the moral fabric that has made America the “shining city on the hill.”
America and democracy are ideas that have evolved slowly and often imperfectly over 248 years. Neither has been static nor permanently defined. Most Americans do not want to halt our evolution and stop progress toward becoming that “shining city on the hill.”
If the MAGA Party believes it can defy America’s history, they
have not studied America’s history. Political demagogues have come and gone. I believe that will occur again. Like others who have used the same playbook, their bubble will shrink and eventually burst.
America deserves better than Trump and Vance. Their brand of weirdness is not who we are. America’s history has proven repeatedly that voters will reject hate and fear and see through the message of demagogues.
Hope and opportunity, not hate and fear, make up our nation’s DNA.
John Bossange is a retired middle school principal who now volunteers on several nonprofit boards in the Champlain Valley.
ability of medication abortion, Mifepristone, a safe and effective medication.
Trump and Vance, his vice-presidential nominee, want to catapult us firmly back into the 1950s. Vance has publicly stated that he supports a ban on all abortion, including in cases of rape or incest. Trump himself was found liable in a civil trial for sexual abuse, and states that women who have abortions should be “punished.”
The implementation of Project 2025’s draconian limitations on women’s health care choices, including a federal ban on abortion procedures and abortion medication, will cause devastation, illness and death for many
American women and children of child-bearing years. Banning safe abortion will not stop abortion, it will cause increased unsafe abortion. Before Roe v. Wade became the law of the land, people with means flew their wives, girlfriends to other places to get abortions. Women of means will always be fine, but not so for women in poverty and women of color, who suffer disproportionately.
I urge you to become aware of the points of Project 2025 and vote according to your conscience. Please stand up for safe reproductive health care for all women.
Kathleen Bruce Hinesburg
HOEHL
continued from page 4
Police said he estimated his speed at two miles per hour.
Dobson said a review of the tire marks at the scene showed “sudden acceleration of the vehicle. These marks contradict Peter’s statements about traveling only two miles per hour,” Dobson said.
Judge David Fenster released Peter Hoehl on strict conditions, including that he stay at least 300 feet away from the victim and have no contact with her by phone, electronic communication, includ-
ing social media. He also is not to drink alcohol beverages, Fenster said.
Peter Hoehl said he and the victim were having a fight over upcoming surgery and unwanted guests visiting the property, police said.
Police said he reported nobody threatened anybody and he decided to leave for the night, but she did not want him to depart. Peter Hoehl said she dumped gravel on his 2021 Genesis to stop him from
leaving, according to police, who said they found evidence on the hood and roof.
Hoehl petitioned the court to appoint a defense lawyer at taxpayer expense, but it was denied. Hoehl is the son of philanthropists Cynthia and Robert Hoehl, the co-founder of IDX, an international medical software firm in South Burlington. He is a trustee of the Hoehl Family Foundation.
The court has set the next hearing for Sept. 23.
PHOTO BY TOM WADSWORTH
A juvenile barred owl stops by the backyard of Tom Wadsworth on Deer Run Drive in Shelburne.
Energy committee joins SB Nite Out Aug. 22
Visit the South Burlington Energy Committee tables on Thursday, Aug. 22, at SB Nite Out, Veterans Memorial Park. The theme will be STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) and back to school. Come share your ideas and get a chance to win prizes.
There will be demos about energy efficiency, rebate information and giveaways and activities for kids.
Grippo does funk
Grippo Funk Bank is the musical act on Thursday, Aug. 22 at SB Nite Out stage at 5 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park in South Burlington.
Energy committee joins SB Nite Out Aug. 22
Visit the South Burlington Energy Committee tables on Thursday, Aug. 22, at SB Nite Out, Veterans Memorial Park. The theme will be STEAM and back to school.
Come share your ideas and get a chance to win prizes.
There will be demos about energy efficiency, rebate information and giveaways and activities for kids.
St. Catherine hosts
September blood drive
St. Catherine of Siena Parish is holding a blood drive on Tuesday, Sept. 17, from noon-5 p.m., in its parish hall, 72 Church, St., Shelburne.
There’s currently an emergency blood and platelet shortage. Come give blood and receive a $15 e-gift card from the Red Cross
for donating.
To give, call 1-800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org and enter Shelburne to schedule an appointment. Appointments are strongly recommended as walk-ins cannot
DIRECT CREMATION SERVICES
always be accommodated.
If you are an eligible type O, B - or Adonor, consider making a Power Red donation. Red blood cells are the most transfused blood component.
St. Catherine is committed to strengthening the community and helping meet hospital and patient needs through blood donations.
Please contact Laureen Mathon with any questions at lmathon104@gmail.com.
Volunteer drivers needed for the blind
The Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired has an immediate need for volunteer drivers to help get blind and visually impaired people where they need to go.
COURTESY PHOTO
The South Burlington Land Trust recently placed this bench on the east side of the Wheeler Natural Area in memory of Sarah Dopp, the land trust’s founder and former president. A plaque on the bench calls , who died in March, “a visionary leader who worked to preserve hundreds of acres of lands all might enjoy the blessings of nature
Back outdoors!
480 Thomas Rd Shelburne
480 Thomas Road Shelburne
480 Thomas Rd Shelburne
480 Thomas Rd Shelburne
480 Thomas Rd Shelburne
Nancy Jenkins Real Estate has announced the recipients of the 2024 Nancy Jenkins Scholarship. This marks the 27th year of awarding scholarships to outstanding local high school seniors, providing $1,000 in tuition support to each recipient to aid in their college education.
This year’s winners are:
• Giovanni Stazi from South Burlington High School, who will be attending The University of Vermont, where he plans to study public health sciences in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
• Henry Tornwini from Burlington High School, who will also be attending
COMMUNITY NOTES
continued from page 8
Volunteer drivers fill the void when family or friends are unavailable to help, or when public transportation is simply not a viable option.
The University of Vermont, with a focus on Political Science.
“We were delighted to receive a number of applications, all from teens showing a terrific determination to succeed in their life goals,” Nancy Jenkins, founder of Nancy Jenkins Real Estate, said. “It is our honor to help our young people learn and grow, and we wish Giovanni and Henry much success in their studies and their future endeavors.”
Over the past 27 years, the scholarship program has helped numerous students achieve their dreams and make significant strides towards their career goals.
Back
The association provides free, personalized transportation services to individuals with vision loss when no one else is available to help. If you like to drive and help others while doing so, be a part of a team of inspirational volunteers. Volunteer drivers work as needed and are free to accept or reject any trip to suit their own schedules.
Drivers receive mileage reimbursement for the trips. If you can help or would like more information, call Vicki Vest at 800-6395861, ext. 243, or email vvest@vabvi.org.
Saturday, August 20
Saturday, August 20
Saturday, August 20
Saturday, August 20
www.vermontzen.org 9:00-3:00
9:00-3:00
9:00-3:00
9:00-3:00
www.vermontzen.org
www.vermontzen.org
Back outdoors!
480 Thomas Rd Shelburne
480 Thomas Rd Shelburne
www.vermontzen.org
480 Thomas Road Shelburne
480 Thomas Rd Shelburne
480 Thomas Rd Shelburne
480 Thomas Rd Shelburne
480 Thomas Rd Shelburne
Saturday, August 20
The sale will be held indoors. Cash or check only, please.
Saturday, August 20 www.vermontzen.org
9:00-3:00
Saturday, August 20
9:00-3:00
Saturday, August 20
Saturday, August 20
Saturday, August 20
www.vermontzen.org
9:00-3:00
9:00-3:00
9:00-3:00 480 Thomas Rd Shelburne
9:00-3:00
9:00-3:00
www.vermontzen.org
www.vermontzen.org
Saturday, August 20 www.vermontzen.org
9:00-3:00
Saturday, August 20 www.vermontzen.org
www.vermontzen.org
www.vermontzen.org
Shelburne
COURTESY PHOTOS
Giovanni Stazi, left, and Henry Tornwini
WE ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE REHEARSALS FOR OUR WINTER CONCERT!
Rehearsals begin August 27th, 7-9 p.m.
The first two are free...Come give it a try!
Information/Registration: sbchorusvt.org • 802.846.4108
Goat snuggling
New Village Farm in Shelburne connects people with nature
LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
A farm in Shelburne is exploring on a deeper level what connection to the natural world can and should look like, and in this case, it means a whole lot of goat snuggles.
From birth and new beginnings to death and grief, the team at New Village Farm envisions a world in which farming is a community activity that restores connections to the land, food and, most importantly, to each other.
And this mission is now taking on a completely new meaning for the staff as they enter their second-year hosting goat snuggle sessions for those who wish to break free from the digital world of screens and texts and tap into a new community.
What began as a creative way for the farm to generate more financial resources in the middle of what New Village Farm calls “whacky weather,” has turned into a fan-favorite among camp kiddos and families who frequent the farm’s other annual programs. The sessions have also grown in popularity as gifts for holidays like Moth-
er’s Day or Valentine’s Day.
While Shelburne emerged relatively unscathed from historic flooding last year and the most recent floods this month, the farm team is assessing new and creative ways to generate revenue at a time when growing crops seems more complicated and unreliable than ever.
As the designated program director at the farm, these creative initiatives are partially the role of Maggie Joseph, a local farmer who has had her hands in the dirt for most of her adult life.
“Animals have been such a core part of our programming,” she said. “They can teach lessons better than we ever, ever could. This was an opportunity that came about, actually, just by helping financially after last year’s weather year that we’re kind of getting creative. Yes, it can make some more income, but it’s so much.”
She explained that during the pandemic, around the same time she hopped on board at New Village Farm, she noticed
PHOTOS BY AARON HURWITZ
The crew at New Village Farm is focused on bringing people as close to natural connections as possible and goat snuggle sessions are just one way to make that happen.
Conductor Erik Kroncke
GOATS
continued from page 10
how people, more than ever, craved time with animals.
She joked, “People were just like, ‘Can I just lean against your cow for 10 minutes?’”
During the cruelest months of the pandemic, she said, the farm was using unique techniques to bring farm animals to people who didn’t feel comfortable being out in public.
The therapeutic benefits of farm work are something that owner Michaela Ryan has sought to tie together as she straddles two roles of farmer and grief recovery specialist, and the goat snuggling sessions are just a new way for the farm to bring humans back to the natural world.
It was her own relationship with life and death on the farm that led her to ultimately purchase in 2011 the 99 acres where the farm sits today. She leased the property three years prior before officially making it her own.
“It actually came out of my becoming a grief recovery specialist, working with people around loss and death, and I think resolving my own relationship to loss and death on the farm as a kid,” she said. “It kind of brought me back to what’s important to me.”
The small raw milk cow and goat dairies, poultry operations, gardens and
wilderness areas of the property create an immersive educational experience for people of all ages.
Both Ryan and Joseph reiterated that the educational aspects remain a primary focus of the farm. For example, the farm hosts a farm school, after-school programming, summer camps, family workshops and other year-round programming, including the goat snuggle sessions, which happen all year, but taper off in popularity in the winter months.
“I think that as we move further and further away from nature and how we live, we lose a little bit of our connection to ourselves in that,” Ryan said. “I think it just helps our nervous systems connect to that part of ourselves that knows how to be fun and alive and vibrant and meet the day in that way.”
For children, who may find themselves connecting with the kids a bit easier, the snuggle sessions are an instant hit. But for adults, whose layers of stress take longer to peel off, that’s where the real magic happens, Ryan said.
Goat snuggle sessions are available on the farm’s website for most Saturdays throughout the summer. The babies’ names follow a musical theme this year: Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, Phil Collins and soon, Billie Goat Eilish.
Last year, Vermonters threw away 71,113 tons of food scraps which ended up in our only landfill. Equal to 242 pounds of food scraps per person per year.
CSWD’s Organic Recycling Facility (ORF) and our six Drop-Off Centers accept food scraps from residents and businesses to keep them out of Vermont’s only landfill. For
Frances Smith snuggles up to one of the new baby kids during a snuggle session.
Superior Roofing Solutions
WHEELER NATURE PARK continued from page 1 the bike path or riding their bikes on the bike path, or taking their kids on the bike path, and this is going to be a real loss.”
When the neighbors’ motion for summary judgment was also denied in May, they filed for an interlocutory appeal to the Supreme Court prior to the trial. That appeal was also denied.
There are several issues upon which residents have been hinging their battle. Their major issues include a contention that the scenic view of the Green Mountains over the nature park would be disturbed; a claim that the adverse noise associated with the blasting of rock needed to build the homes, overall aesthetic and wildlife impacts, and undue traffic burdens. The appellants contend also that city plans and reports have called for this land to be preserved in perpetuity.
future project could comply with Criterion 1 relative to noise if it required blasting or drilling. This is because, in most portions of Vermont, someone could conceivably hear this construction noise and may be annoyed or disturbed by it.”
The court also found that the project is a comparably sized residential development, consistent with many adjacent existing developments that also impact views of the mountains.
ered a “good faith” gesture on the part of the city, former city attorney Jim Barlow said at a council meeting in 2015, according to previous reporting.
That settlement agreement created specific zoning for the parcel, laying out specific development guidelines.
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But in a 40-page written decision by Judge Thomas G. Welsh, the court found that the project complies with Act 250 criteria for aesthetics, noise and traffic, further concluding that the application should not be denied on the grounds of BlackRock having “unclean hands” by providing materially misleading information.
“Act 250 Criterion 1 provides that noise impacts may not have an undue and adverse impact on air pollution. It does not provide that there may be no noise impacts,” reads the decision. “If the Court were to adopt the standard proffered by neighbors, it would be highly unlikely that any proposed
“Neighbors ignore the existing residential development in the area. This significant residential development, however, is a defining characteristic of this area,” reads the document. “While the project will impact the view in this portion of the recreational path and Dorset Street, the impact is consistent with the uses in the area, and therefore consistent with the character of the project’s surroundings and the scenic qualities of the area.”
While this court case may be settled for now, the 110-acre Wheeler Nature Park has had years of legal history since it was first acquired by the city in 1993. The parcel at the heart of last week’s court decision was first created in 2017, the result of a settlement agreement that included the swapping of the 7 acres for 22 acres that have been conserved in perpetuity with Wheeler Nature Park.
The land swap was approved by a Town Meeting Day vote in 2011, although the vote was not legally binding and only consid-
Leas said that the group is still deciding whether to appeal the decision to the state’s highest court, saying that in addition to being disappointed with the outcome and process, it felt more like the judge was an advocate for BlackRock than a proponent for the judicial system.
“We’re thinking, should we file an appeal or not? But we haven’t made up our mind whether there’s any hope,” he said.
Benjamin Avery, vice president of development with Blackrock, said in a written statement that what has transpired over the last 18 months is “a textbook example of a frivolous, slanderous and meritless appeal by a very small group of neighbors intent on slowing down the development process.”
“Hampering infill projects like these (high density, mid-market) continues to slow one component of the solution to our housing problem (additional units) and directly adds to rising housing costs,” he wrote.
He said the company will begin planning for the project once the 30-day appeal period has been cleared, but he did say that they see this as a 2024 project at this point.
from page 1
es for drivers.
“The board and our committee have identified bus drivers and the shortage and our — quite frankly — inability to get students to and from school consistently as our greatest operational need,” superintendent Violet Nichols said at last week’s school board meeting. “This is also, again speaking to the figures here, our greatest area of shortage, from a staffing perspective, the category with the highest number of open requisitions. Again, we know that this is a trend that is consistent in our county, in our state, and the country.”
Now, a driver who is actively seeking a commercial driver’s license will be making roughly $33 per hour. For a driver with up to a year of experience in the district, that is bumped up to roughly $35 per hour. For those with up to 20 years of experience, it’s $39 per hour, and $42 per hour for those with over 20 years of experience. The district has also implemented a referral bonus of $1,000.
This new agreement eliminates the yearly 15-step salary model that the district had outlined for fiscal year 2025. Starting wages are now equivalent to what drivers would have been making at the highest step in the previous salary model.
CLASSIFIEDS
“We’ve tried all the things, and really increasing the pay felt like the very last lever we had to use,” Clark said. “We just were not in the same market as our neighbors. How can you blame a bus driver who can do a route in South Burlington, versus some of the neighboring school district and make a significant amount more?”
The school district’s senior director of operations and finance, Tim Jarvis, explained that he designed the new model by comparing neighboring district’s salary schedules. For example, he said, a driver at South Burlington School District would have to reach the seventh year in the previous model to hit the lowest base pay at Champlain Valley School District.
“We’re competing against Champlain Valley Union,” he said. “CVU has a unique approach to how they compensate bus drivers. We feel very confident that our full compensation package, including benefits, is extremely competitive, but our base salaries are not.”
In addition to working to boost morale in the bus garage among the district’s current staff, Clark said she has spent a massive amount of time doing outreach for any potential new applicants. In some of her first weeks on the job,
she went through all of the driver applications the district received in years past and reached out to each of them.
“I just started calling them all like, ‘Hey we’re hiring for drivers. You were interested in 2021. Are you interested now?’” she said. Still, that effort didn’t garner much traction.
As a short-term cost-saving solution, Clark is also exploring partnerships with outside companies like First Student that the district may be able to temporarily contract with to provide drivers until the employee roster is up to capacity.
But that remains uncertain and, until then, the rolling route cancellations the district has been implementing since last year will likely continue.
Last lever
This problem is just one piece of the puzzle for the district as the city expands to a more urban environment. As driver shortages are expected to continue, the district has been working closely with the city to provide safe alternative ways for kids to walk or bike to school.
Since most of the city’s schools are in the heart of City Center on busy roads like Dorset Street and
The Town of Hinesburg, Vermont seeks qualified applicants for the following positions:
Highway Foreperson
This is a supervisory position that is responsible for overseeing and participating in the maintenance of the town’s highway infrastructure. A valid VT issued CDL Class B license is required. Required skills include proficient operation of a road grader, excavator, front-end loader, backhoe, and tandem plow truck. Starting pay is $34.00 - $40.00 an hour depending upon qualifications.
Highway Maintainer
This is a semi-skilled position of moderate complexity in highway maintenance and equipment operation. A Highway Maintainer performs a wide variety of manual and automotive equipment operation tasks involved in municipal road maintenance. Work extends to responsibility for maintenance and servicing of assigned automotive equipment, requiring strong mechanical and trouble shooting skills. A valid Vermont issued Class B CDL is required. Starting pay is $25.00 - $28.00 an hour depending upon qualifications.
Both positions provide health, dental, vision and disability insurance; paid time off; pension plan; and 13 paid holidays. Detailed information and an application form can be found at www.hinesburg.org under the employment tab. Applications can be mailed or delivered to Todd Odit, Town Manager, 10632 Route 116 or emailed to todit@hinesburg.org.
The Town of Hinesburg offers a comprehensive benefits package and very competitive pay. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Applications will be reviewed as received and accepted until the position is filled.
Market Street, the superintendent and school board have collaborated over the last year with the city to establish school zones and other traffic mediation efforts in front of all its schools.
Clark is also a member of a newly established Safe Routes to School task force charged with finding and implementing some of these solutions.
An initial pilot project approved by the city council in June outlines a new “neighborhood greenway” that would lead from the intersection of U.S. Route 2 and Elsom Parkway through the Proudy Parkway and O’Brien Drive neighbor-
hoods to the school grounds.
The path would include several provisional infrastructural changes including signs, temporary chalk paint, bump-outs and other items to create more awareness for people driving vehicles.
“We have really tried to alleviate transportation from all the levers possible, through our partnership with the city through Safe Routes to School, through partnership with the city with the implementation of school zones, and really trying to increase alternate ways of getting to and from school,” superintendent Nichols said.
Specialist
This position is responsible for maintenance of city fountains, and assisting in the maintenance and care of public heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems within the public buildings and public park system. In addition, this position performs skilled and general maintenance in the repair, replacement, and installation of facility mechanical systems, including plumbing, and other mechanical equipment and assists in plan facility related maintenance and execution of daily, monthly, bi-annual, annual work order requests.
Our ideal candidate will have a high school diploma or equivalent required. Three (3) years trade experience in HVAC equipment and controls installation, repair and maintenance required, or equivalent combination of education and experience or currently enrolled in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC) program.
This position pays hourly between $27.82 - $30.99 and comes with a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, life insurance, retirement plan, FSA, and much more!
To learn more about this role and to apply: governmentjobs.com/careers/burlingtonvt/ jobs/4531760/hvac-specialist? keywords=hvac&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: SOUTH BURLINGTON ADELPHIA CABLE POND RETROFIT SCOPING STUDY
General Information: The City of South Burlington Stormwater Utility is requesting proposals for a scoping study for the Adelphia Cable Pond Retrofit project located at 43 Comcast Way in South Burlington, VT, funded in part by the Federal Highway Administration and the City of South Burlington, through the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) Municipal Assistance Section (MAS).
The Request for Proposal (RFP) states the overall scope of work desired to be covered under this study.
All proposals shall be accepted by email by the City Stormwater Project Manager prior to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, August 23, 2024. The email submission shall be titled “Adelphia Cable Pond Retrofit Scoping Study.” Failure to submit on time may be cause for rejection of the proposal.
The full RFP document can be found on the City of South Burlington’s website under Bid & RFP Opportunities, or at: southburlingtonvt.gov/ businesses/bid_and_rfp_opportunities/index.php
Before submitting a proposal, the consultant shall carefully review the scope of work outlined in the RFP, as well as the submission requirements.
All questions are due to the Stormwater Project Manager no later than 5 days before the submission deadline.
Contact: Monika Ingalls, Stormwater Project Manager, 802-658-7961, ext. 6108, or moingalls@southburlingtonvt.gov
The City of Burlington’s Park, Recreation & Waterfront team is searching for an HVAC
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557-7492
