The Other Paper - 9-5-24 by Vermont Community Newspaper Group

Page 2

the South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977

PHOTO

South Burlington’s elementary schools had a great showing at SB Nite Out in August. The theme was STEAM and back to school. There were five5 tables of activities, including making “Ghost Gloves” with three state of matter.

Consultants propose city green locations

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

As South Burlington eyes a green space for City Center, consultants spearheading the project have outlined a few locations.

During a workshop last month, Wagner Hodgson Landscape Architecture revealed six potential locations all surrounding Dorset and Market streets, the area most targeted for develop-

ment in South Burlington.

Ilona Blanchard, the city’s community development director, said that, while previous city plans recommended such a green space, this is the first time the city has looked at the idea as a standalone project and not in conjunction with other developmental plans.

See CITY GREEN on page 11

Airport makes progress on sound mitigation

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

A home improvement and insulation program aimed at reducing interior noise levels for homeowners living near the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport is beginning to make some headway.

The residential sound insulation program, which the airport launched officially in 2022, has completed work on roughly 15 homes, and with phase four beginning at the end of September, officials are preparing 65 more homes for soundproofing and completing

designs for an additional 30 homes next year.

“There are all sorts of different angles we’re trying to actively promote, and at the same time, aggressively try to get additional funding and to help with some of these eligible properties,” aviation director Nic Longo said. “I still would like to push to start a couple of houses this year, but most likely we’re going to be doing that in the spring.”

The blueprint for the project,

See AIRPORT NOISE on page 11

COURTESY

Kids at SB Nite Out

Fiber-focused exhibition shows at Public Art Gallery

The South Burlington Public Art Gallery hosts “Interwoven,” a fiber-focused exhibition that brings together four Vermont artists who are redefining fiber art through both experimental and meditative processes.

An opening reception will be held Wednesday, Sept. 11, 5:30-7 p.m. A free workshop, co-hosted by the South Burlington Public Library and led by artist Bradie Hansen, will be held on Friday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m.-noon.

Each of the artists blends contemporary art with traditional craft practices, creating work that reflects their connection to home and place, relationships and the materials they work with.

Karen Cygnarowicz’s pieces are based on listening and meditation. She works in conversation with natural fiber and non-fiber materials, playing with tension and form, and learning how the materials respond to one another. Her practice is informed by her walks and time outside and has been impacted by the recent flooding and climate change in her home of Montpelier.

ed doilies, drawings and other miscellaneous materials. In this process, she experiences playful exploration, as well as connection with the environment, her travels, and her ancestors.

Through Hansen’s knitted and woven work, she leans into the duality of these mediums being used for both functional and fine art to examine a feeling, a thought, a struggle or a hope. In her woven wool curtains, Hansen contemplates the realities of patterns, grief and death.

Each of the artists blends contemporary art with traditional craft practices, creating work that reflects their connection to home and place, relationships and the materials they work with.

In her knitted wall hangings, Hansen explores her feelings that deal with how hard it is to break patterns, evolve and remain resilient.

Janet Fredericks has been an artist, sketcher and traveler for over 40 years. After years of focusing on painting and drawing, Fredericks has been brought back to one of her childhood delights — playing with fabric.

Fascinated by her love of color and texture, Fredericks layers up and hand stitches old lace, discard-

Trista Ringer — a fourth-generation sewist and modern quilter — engages in dialogue between tradition and personal expression. Ringer draws inspiration for her work from living on a small farm in Fletcher, where her daily life is deeply intertwined with rhythms of the land and the changing seasons. Beyond the fabric and thread, quilting has also brought her a deep sense of community, which has become integral to her practice.

The Public Art Gallery, 180 Market St., is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

For more information, contact Sarah Jayne Kennelly, curator, South Burlington Gallery, at gallery@southburlingtonvt.gov.

SIP & SAVOR

Join us this fall at Basin Harbor for an unforgettable wine dinner series. Enjoy a carefully crafted menu paired with exceptional, older vintage wines that highlight the

and depth of each

will be held at 6pm in Ardelia’s Series dates: 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, & 10/2

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Seasonal Corn Maze - Carillon Boat Cruises - Museum Exhibits - Mt. Defiance Hands-on Family Activities - Weapons Demos

Picking

Mark Morello, © Fort Ticonderoga

COURTESY PHOTO

Right: “Safari” by Janet Fredericks

Students from Rick Marcotte Central School spent last year going through the process of naming the street their school is on. They presented the name they decided on, Dattilio Drive, to the South Burlington Planning Committee last week and the committee unanimously voted to approve it. The street is named after the school’s beloved longtime front office assistant, Sue Dattilio, pictured here with students. Principal Lissa McDonald is on the far right. Dattilio Drive

Mental Health Urgent Care to open in October

The public is invited to a virtual town hall on Tuesday, Sept. 10, on the Mental Health Urgent Care Center opening this October in Burlington.

With funding from the University of Vermont Medical Center and the Vermont Department of Mental Health, Howard Center, the medical center, community health centers and Pathways Vermont have come together to offer a mental health urgent care center where individuals can access supportive follow-up services, immediate peer support and medical care in a trauma-informed, suicide-safe setting. Scheduled to open on Oct. 28, Mental Health Urgent Care will serve adults 18 and over seeking immediate support or in self-defined crisis.

The virtual town hall will be held via Zoom from 1-3 p.m.

There will be a presentation by the project managers, Cathie Buscaglia and Charlotte McCorkel from the Howard Center, and Maureen Leahy and Karen Vastine of the University of Vermont Medical Center. Presenters will be joined by special guests Dr. Rob Althoff, chair of psychiatry, The University of Vermont Health Network; Sandra McGuire, CEO, Howard Center; Dr. Jeff McKee, CEO, Community Health Centers; and Hilary Melton, executive director, Pathways Vermont.

The event will be presented in a webinar format and registration is free but required. To register contact Paul Detzer at pdetzer@ howardcenter.org or 802-488-6911.

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LAND TRUST IS DEVOTED TO PRESERVING THE CITY’S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Former South Burlington school bus driver facing new sexual assault charges

DIANE DERBY VTDIGGER

A former Milton man who was employed as a South Burlington school bus driver until being charged in 2021 with sexually assaulting two boys now stands accused of assaulting a third young male while he was awaiting trial on the earlier charges.

Jerry Normandin, 65, is facing additional charges of aggravated sexual assault and lewd and lascivious conduct with a child, according to a press release issued Aug. 27 by the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations.

ous charge of sexual assault was dropped.

The new charges stem from a case that was first reported to the Milton Police Department and referred to CUSI last month. The victim was a juvenile when the alleged offenses began during the two-year span while Normandin awaited trial, the press release stated.

Normandin is currently serving a 5- to 15-year sentence at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield after he pleaded guilty to two counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child in August 2023. A more seri-

Normandin was initially arrested in July 2021 after Milton police referred a case for investigation to the special unit. Normandin was then charged with repeatedly sexually abusing a young male at Normandin’s home in Milton, and sexually abusing a developmentally disabled 15-year-old male while Normandin was employed as a bus driver in South Burlington. He was placed on leave by the school district following his arrest.

At his initial court appearance,

Normandin was released to await trial on conditions that he did not have contact with children under 18 years old.

“It is worth noting that the abuse in this case continued after Normandin was released back into the community on conditions by a judge” following his 2021 arrest, the special investigations unit wrote in its release. “The new victim in this current case was sexually abused throughout the duration of that two-year court process, up until Normandin was sentenced to incarceration in August of 2023.”

Investigators noted that Normandin is currently scheduled to be released in less than two years on the previous charges, after serving the minimum three years of the 5- to 15-year term. He faced the possibility of life in prison if convicted of the sexual assault charges he was initially charged with.

Normandin has been ordered to appear in court on Sept. 19 on the charges.

South Burlington Police Blotter: Aug. 26 – Sept. 1

Total incidents: 308

Agency / public assists: 24

Directed patrol: 32

Traffic stop: 19

Accident: property damage: 8

Alarm: 12

Foot patrol: 19

Suspicious event: 13

Retail theft: 12

Motor vehicle complaint: 7

Welfare check: 18

911 hangup: 7

Trespass: 7

Animal problem: 6

Disturbance: 12

Field contact: 12

Parking: 5

Threats: 5

Stolen vehicle: 4

Unlawful mischief: 4

Accident: insurance purposes: 6

Leaving the scene: 4

Juvenile problem: 3

Aggravated assault: 2

Larceny from a person: 2

Simple assault: 2

Fraud: 2

Embezzlement: 2

Overdose: 2

Larceny from a vehicle: 12

Found/lost property: 9

Larceny from a structure: 8

Arrests:

Aug. 29 at 9:32 a.m., Jennifer Mary Place, 37, of Grand Isle, was arrested on an in-state warrant on San Remo Drive. Aug. 29 at 10:50 a.m., Mercedes M. Provost, 32, of Richford, was arrested for driving with a criminally suspended license and for driving with an ignition interlock device at Dorset Street and Songbird Road.

Aug. 29 at 9:37 p.m., Felix Abwe, 25, of South Burlington, was arrested for resisting arrest and retail theft on Hinesburg Road. Aug. 31 at 11:53 a.m., Jacob W. Sleeper, 43, of South Burlington, was arrested for aggravated assault on Old Orchard Park.

Aug. 31 at 12:17 p.m., Jeffrey L. Boutin, 39, of Burlington, was arrested for criminal threatening and simple assault on Shelburne Road.

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

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

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

Jerry Normandin

OPINION

Open spaces drive South Burlington as a ‘best place

Guest Perspective

Rosanne Greco

For the second year in a row, South Burlington has won a spot on Fortune’s list of the 50 best places to live for families. According to Fortune, South Burlington made the list yet again for its outdoor access, green spaces, parks, sustainability initiatives and low crime rates.

Fortune cited these as key contributors to the city’s high score, writing, “The city has made a commitment to sustainability, establishing a conservation fund for open spaces as well as a climate action plan.”

The city’s conservation fund (aka open space fund) was created in 2000, when voters established it “for the purpose of funding the purchase of lands and rights in lands to preserve open land and natural areas in the City.”

Voters approved a permanent tax of one cent on the annual city tax rate to go into the fund.

This was a wise initiative both for environmental and economic reasons. Open lands allow nature to provide health benefits for humans — for free. They also save us money on unnecessary city services. Organizations who assess natural capital valuation of open lands calculate how much money a city saves by not destroying ecosystem services and then having to replace them with municipal services.

Some of the ecosystem services open spaces provide include purifying our air, cleaning water, maintaining soil quality, reducing risks of natural disasters, keeping disease organisms in check, and much more. Replicating what nature does for us is expensive. We install stormwater ponds and culverts, restore wetlands, clean up water pollution, remediate soils, install air conditioning, spray to control disease-ridden insects and more.

Nature does all of this for us for free. So, it makes both environmental and economic sense to preserve open lands.

Moreover, experts are now saying that preserving and restoring nature is the only real climate crisis solution. Humans look to technologies to solve the climate crisis, but they often add greenhouse gases in their construction and maintenance. Unlike technology, nature constantly repairs itself. It cleans up pollution, rather than spreading toxins. It creates resources rather than depleting them. Experts have shown that machines won’t save us, but nature can.

The article says that “natural beauty abounds in South Burlington” It does now, but it’s not guaranteed to remain. Preserving nature takes effort and money. Zoning is often used to protect land, but zoning regulations change all the time. Some of the land that South Burlington had zoned Natural Resource Protection to protect it from development was almost changed by

legislators in Montpelier last year. Fortunately, through advocacy by city officials and the South Burlington Land Trust, we were able to retain these protections — for now. Should new rules be passed in the future, Natural Resource Protection zoning won’t save the land. Using the open space fund to purchase land may be the only way to save our open lands.

Over the years, the city has purchased parcels of land. Some of these lands are now being used for active recreation, such as Jaycee and Farrell parks, while some are being used for passive recreation like Red Rocks and Wheeler. Some are being used for food production, such as at Bread & Butter Farm, and some are left untouched by humans, such as the Scott and Goodrich properties.

The open space fund was used for some of these purchases. The fund can also be used for maintaining these lands and enhancement projects.

Not all properties qualify for purchase using open space funds. The city commissioned multiple studies to identify lands that possess valuable natural resources and would be prime candidates to buy to conserve. The most recent studies were done during the interim zoning period in 2018-2020.

Most of the identified open lands with valuable natural resources are owned by private individuals, and it is their choice to sell the land to the city or not. If the landowners of these areas want to conserve them and sell them to the city, the open space fund is there to finance such a purchase.

Because of the foresight of voters 24 years ago in creating an open space fund, South Burlington has been able to protect hundreds of acres of open lands that are providing health and wealth benefits for all of us, as well as absorbing greenhouse gases.

The South Burlington Land Trust works to support and advocate for these and other conservation initiatives. We continue to do that, not to win awards, but because we know that open lands are essential to our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual survival. We happen to live in an area that is still blessed with naturally magnificent landscapes, some of which are untouched by human feet but are well traversed by our neighboring wildlife communities.

We preserve open lands for them and for us. Because if they survive and thrive, so will we.

If you support keeping some wild spaces and conserving open lands, consider becoming a member of the South Burlington Land Trust. Go to sblt.org or call Rosanne Greco at 802-497-0711 to learn more.

OCTOBER 5, 2024 LOST NATION BREWING, MORRISVILLE

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Fee includes: pre-ride baked goods/coffee, rider gift, post-ride tacos/drink

Scan this QR Code to register. Search for: Copley Moxie Gravel Grinder. Or, call Jill Baker at 802-888-8302.

Rosanne Greco is president of the South Burlington Land Trust.

Poor planning leads to spending more money

To the Editor:

Rick Marcotte Central School’s entrance and exit was there before city hall and the Market Street development was approved and started. Why wasn’t bus and car traffic considered in the preliminary planning? Why do taxpayers have to hire a consultant to fix an issue that should have been obvious from the beginning?

The newly formed Safe Routes to School Task Force to discuss a more pedestrian-friendly environment is a good idea, but school transportation will always include buses and personnel vehicles.

Our city intends to continue expanding along Market Street, acknowledging that traffic will increase each year as buildings are built. Construction of these buildings will add to the unsafe school traffic situation.

Letters to the Editor

Perhaps a Rick Marcotte Elementary School sign on Market Street will increase awareness of where the school is located and help with the problems at the four-way stop. Spending money on consultants, traffic monitors and security companies is infuriating.

When will the cover-ups and false fact-finding by South Burlington government officials finally end? I’m tired of spending money to correct unthought of “mistakes.”

Laura DeMaroney South Burlington

Roy will bring moderation to Senate to state

To the Editor:

I am pleased to provide my endorsement for Bruce Roy in his campaign for the Vermont Senate in Chittenden-Southeast.

Roy is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel with a professional background in finance. He knows how to get to the facts logically and rationally and look at both sides of the equation, which is not an easy task in the world of partisan politics.

We are in a true affordability crisis in Vermont, with an overpriced education system, collapsing health care and property taxes and health insurance premiums that have seen double-digit increases every year.

The policies of state senators Ginny Lyons and Kesha Ram-Hinsdale have certainly contributed to this affordability crisis.

It is time to elect someone like Roy, who can bring some moderation and Vermont common sense back into the equation.

Louis Meyers Shelburne

City Council and the Long Property: What’s happening?

Guest Perspective

Sandy Dooley

Is the South Burlington City Council about to give — or has it already given — the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board a legally binding commitment to purchase and permanently conserve 32.2 acres of the Long Property?

This commitment would be contingent on the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board acting affirmatively on the South Burlington Land Trust’s application for funding for this purpose. The land trust would transfer the conservation board funds received to the city so that it could use them— and open space and other city funds, if needed — to purchase this portion of the Long Property from Northeast Agricultural Trust, owned by Tom and Janet Bellavance, and then permanently conserve it.

Why am I asking this question and why now?

organization. Only 501(c)(3) organizations and municipalities are eligible for Vermont Housing and Conservation Board funding. Vermont Housing and Conservation Board funds cannot be used to reimburse the Northeast Agricultural Trust for its purchase of the Long Property because it is not a 501(c)(3) organization. The South Burlington Land Trust, which is eligible to receive housing and conservation board funds, is unlikely to have the additional financial resources needed to purchase the 32.2 acres from the trust.

Plus, the land trust has been in conversations with city councilors and staff for more than 18 months in its effort to have the city purchase and conserve this portion of the Long Property. Why ask this question now?

STAY CONNECTED Anywhere, Anytime

The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board’s next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 2.

The South Burlington Land Trust applied for $300,000 in housing and conservation board grant funding in February. The appraisal value of the land is $636,000. A requirement of the grant would be that the land be permanently conserved. Also in February, the formerly constituted city council approved a letter of support for the land trust’s grant application.

The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board may be requiring the city council to make a formal commitment to purchase and permanently preserve the Long Property before it acts on the South Burlington Land Trust’s application for funding at this meeting.

Here are my concerns:

So how does this involve the city?

The Northeast Agricultural Trust, the property owner, is a limited liability company. It is not a not-for-profit charitable

• Why are city residents not being kept up-to-date and given an opportunity to provide input regarding the city’s actions vis-àvis the Long Property and the land trust’s application for funding to purchase and conserve it?

See DOOLEY on page 7

Sad day? Decades of wood-fired winters end

Guest Perspective

Walt Amses

My first whiff of woodsmoke triggers a torrent of memories of an unlikely, 40-year infatuation with rural living, not necessarily off the grid but certainly off the school bus route.

For some reason this typically happens while I’m swimming as the shoreline maples offer the first whispers of what’s to come. For years it’s also served as one of the recurring signals that the several cords of wood languishing on the lawn all summer will need to be stacked sooner rather than later.

I’ve inadvertently experimented with both timetables and found sooner is the preferable option. Better late than never doesn’t apply where wood stacking is concerned, particularly when winter arrives early as almost always happened back in the day. December 1983 was a snowy one with 2 feet on the ground when we began our flight from civilization in a converted

DOOLEY continued from page 6

• Many residents have voiced opposition to using open space funds to purchase the Long Property, but the current city council has never held a public discussion on this subject.

• Why is any purchase of open space being pursued while the completion of the parks and open space master plan is pending?

• The conservation easement discussion relating to the Hubbard Recreation and Natural Area at the June 17 city council meeting demonstrates that placing city-owned land under permanent conservation easements is a controversial subject.

• To date, all parcels purchased with open space funds have been in the southeast quadrant; the Long Property is also located in the southeast quadrant.

• Residents and business owners throughout the city fund the open space fund but, to date, southeast quadrant residents have received a disproportionate benefit from these funds. That suggests we need a written policy establishing criteria to be applied when a land purchase is being considered. A written policy regarding conservation easements should also be adopted.

hunting camp with several acres of land and a pile of log-length patiently waiting in the yard.

All I needed to do was cut it up, split it, stack it, and hump it up the stairs and we’d be warm as toast the entire winter. A chainsaw-wielding friend showed me how to use the thing without severing any bodily appendages and we spent a freezing weekend cutting it up in almost constant, wind-blown snow. The next steps in the process — split, stack, hump — enlightened me on the adage about the different ways wood warms you well before you put a flame to it.

Splitting it required a maul that weighed 8 pounds, which, after a half hour, felt more like 80. Stacking wood that would remain ice encrusted until April provided an especially diabolical experience as each log got heavier and more slippery, gloves got soaked through and fingers became numb and nearly useless. The only thing left to do was to carry it into the house and put it in the stove — no small feat in a house especially unsuited for

• The city council’s process, vis-à-vis its goal of purchasing the Long Property, lacks transparency.

convenient wood storage.

Without a substantial redesign, the only logical place to have a woodpile was outside, under the deck, with easy access to the walk-out basement, with a staircase between you and the woodstove with no logical alternative to circumvent the climb. Although we eventually figured out that moving a cord of wood inside the basement would help us avoid going outdoors each time the stove needed to be fed, the stairs have remained unavoidable until this week.

While I’ve managed to throw my back out in a number of creative ways, thousands of journeys up and down the basement stairs, hefting wood on the ascent has never caused me even the slightest tweak, which is why in the waning weeks of winter, I decided to quit while I was ahead.

I know the decision was the right one. The older I get, the more likely a sprain, twist or rupture becomes, but I’m sad to see the Hearthstone Phoenix we’ve relied on for the past 25

years exit the stage.

As anyone who heats with wood knows, it’s special. One part of my winter morning routine I’ll sorely miss is putting on a pot of coffee and getting the stove going. In a satisfying daily ritual, I’ll slide open the damper and poke at the coals until that reassuring orange glow fills the fire box. If I played the previous evening’s cards right, there’s enough kindling along with a few logs remaining to sustain us through our hour or so of perusing our respective news sources as the living room warms.

The solace we find sitting around a fire is very real with a hint of the primitive. According to research at the University of Alabama conducted in 2014, relaxing in front of a crackling fire dates to prehistoric times and may be rooted in evolution. Led by anthropologist Christopher Lynn, researchers took blood pressure readings before and after they had adult subjects watch a video of a fireplace, asking participants to report on their experiences of the fire.

Humans enjoying sitting around fires may be attributed to fires’ historical importance as a means of fostering social cohesion, offering socialization as well as warmth and safety. Lynn explained that “especially in colder climates, keeping a fire going would have been an important job” requiring cooperation, especially in poor conditions. Groups that were more successful at maintaining a fire would have had a distinct advantage over those that didn’t.

Considering that I’ve kept fires going for as long as I have, I figured I could easily be an honorary member of this cohort of evolutionary heroes despite flipping the switch to gas and maintaining the flame with a handy remote. Just as I was starting to feel fairly good about myself over the tons of wood I’d already moved, especially at my age, Helene sensed a bubble and showed up with a pin, recommending I read a piece in Seven Days about Jules Rabin.

Is this an example of the tail (South Burlington Land trust) wagging the dog (South Burlington City Council)?

If you have views on this matter or want to know more, I suggest that you contact one or more of our city councilors: Tim Barritt, chair, tbarritt@ southburlingtonvt.gov; Andrew Chalnick, vice chair, achalnick@ southburlingtonvt.gov; Michael

Scanlan, clerk, mscanlan@southburlingtonvt.gov; Laurie Smith, lsmith@southburlingtonvt.gov; and Elizabeth Fitzgerald, efitzgerald@southburlingtonvt.gov.

Sandy Dooley is a 50-plus year resident of South Burlington and is a member of the city’s Affordable Housing Committee. These views are her own and do not represent the position of the Affordable Housing Committee.

They found the longer subjects watched the fire, the more relaxed they became; blood pressure decreased by an average of five points. Researchers hypothesized that sitting fireside, all our senses become absorbed in the experience and this calming focus of attention could help reduce anxiety.

In an interview with the Huffington Post, Lynn suggested that “multisensory” stimulation of fire, including visual, auditory, olfactory, as well as smoke and food taste, “would have made a great focus of attention, particularly in the dark.”

A former Goddard professor, Rabin famously established Upland Bakers in Marshfield in the late 1970s, coordinated bringing Bread and Puppet Theater to Vermont, and has been a social activist, political commentator and progressive stalwart for years. The article revealed that “just this year, after turning 100, he gave up splitting five to six cords of heating wood with a hydraulic splitter, though he will stack the same quantity neatly in the garage.”

He probably doesn’t do stairs, right?

Walt Amses is a Vermontbased writer.

LANGUAGE

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COMMUNITY

Community Notes

SB Land Trust holds bird walk at Wheeler

Linda Kallingers fiddling, “Ukulele” Clare Innes on the uke and banjo and Kathy Mulligan laying down the bassline. Enjoy new and old favorites that will have you humming all the way home.

Mid-September is the peak of fall bird migration in Vermont and the Wheeler Nature Park is a great place to see the wonderful diversity of birds that migrate through Vermont.

Suggested donation of $15 to benefit the upkeep of the Old Round Church and the projects of the Richmond Historical Society.

For more information rhs@ richmondvthistory.org.

Join Allan Strong of the South Burlington Land Trust on a leisurely bird walk through the park on Sunday, Sept. 15, at 9 a.m. at the park. Meet at the Wheeler House. He will talk about the basics of bird identification, the ecology of birds of the Wheeler Nature Park and some of the conservation challenges these birds face. Look for warblers, thrushes, tanagers and other avian gems on a walk through the varied habitats of the park. There will be some binoculars available for use but bring your own if you have them. The trails can be wet after a rain, so wear shoes that can take a little mud.

Old Round Church hosts concert series

The Old Round Church 2024 Concert Series continues Saturday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m., Round Church Road in Richmond.

Featured performers will be the band Mama Tried, an all-gal bluegrass, country folk and blues string band. This Vermont-based band features Rebecca Padula’s vocals,

Tropical Fish Club holds Burlington meeting

The Tropical Fish Club of Burlington presents “Freshwater Shrimp Keeping — What’s all the Fuss About?” on Thursday, Sept. 12, starting at 7 p.m. at the Essex Junction VFW Post, 73 Pearl St.

The talk will be led by Therese Neal, aka The Shrimp Princess, who has been a dedicated freshwater shrimp and planted aquarium enthusiast since her introduction to the hobby in 2009. Neal believes in the power of community, helping others in their journey with shrimp breeding, and connecting hobbyists to people who share the passion of these beauties.

The meeting includes door prizes and an auction, as well as details about CatCon, the all-aquarium catfish convention, coming Nov 1-3.

Questions? Contact David Banks at dbanks@together.net or 802-372-8716.

Burlington Airport hosts Green Mountain Aviation Field Days

Green Mountain Aviation Field Days is coming to the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 14-15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., to celebrate the “Past, Present and Future of Aviation.”

Presented by the Vermont Aviators Association, the weekend event will highlight the region’s rich aviation history and its contributions to the community, with a significant emphasis on education and STEM-related industries. Event festivities will focus on breaking down barriers for youth to get involved in aviation, learn about career opportunities and celebrate what aviation means to Burlington.

“Pride comes to mind when I think about GMA Field Days,” Vermont Aviators Association president Chris Chicoine said. “The Vermont Aviators Association has been diligently working since 2022 to support the Vermont aviation community through events around Vermont.”

Event festivities will include the largest hands-on aircraft display in Vermont history, including BETA Technologies ALIA

Vertical Takeoff and Landing aircraft, plus the new Pipistrel Velis Electro. Additional aircraft include a 1942 Douglas C-53-DO Skytrooper, a 1941 B-25 Mitchel, fighter jets from the past and present, and a host of general aviation aircraft including single, multi-engine and jet planes.

Attendees can experience flight simulators, discover flights for kids ages 7-17 through the local Experimental Aircraft Association chapter and have opportunities to learn about career opportunities in the aviation industry.

There will be drone exhibitions, live music, food trucks and more.

Additionally, the event will feature the Vermont Air National Guard. Operational missions permitting, the Vermont Air National Guard plans to highlight the F-35 Lightning, UH-60 Black Hawk and the UH-72 Lakota.

Additional event attractions include the Tuskegee Airmen Commemorative Air Force and Women Airforce Service pilots. For ticket information ($15), visit greenmountainaviationfielddays.org.

COURTESY PHOTO

A 1942 Douglas C-53-DO Skytrooper, a civilian DC-3 airliner drafted into service weeks after the U.S. entered World War II. It served in multiple theaters under multiple commands and worked under legends of the era and will be part of the upcoming Green Mountain Aviation Field Days at Burlington International Airport.

180 Market St., South Burlington, 802-846-4140, southburlington library.org for information about any programming, cancellations or in-person changes. Some events require preregistration.

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

KIDS & TEENS

Toddlertime

Tuesdays in September, 10:30-11 a.m.

Weekly storytime for toddlers and their caregivers.

Babytime

Wednesdays in September, 10:30-11:15 a.m.

For infants to 12 months and their caregivers. Board books, manipulatives and baby-appropriate toys will be available for exploration and play.

Game on!

Wednesdays in September, 5-6:30 p.m.

Gaming with Nintendo Switch on the big screen. Parents must be present to supervise children under 11.

Lego builders

Fridays in September, 3-4:30 p.m.

Projects geared to kids ages eight and

up, or ages six and up with an adult helper. Each week, builders explore, create and participate in challenges.

Music & movement

Thursday, Sept. 5, 10:30-11:15 a.m.

Join Miss Emma as she leads singing, movement and jam sessions for kids from birth to age 5.

Middle school makers: Cooking

Thursdays, September 5 and 19, 4-5:30 p.m.

Sept. 5: Students in grades five to eight will be making apple pie egg rolls. Sept. 9: Ramen bowls.

Craftytown

Tuesday, Sept. 10, 3-4 p.m.

Projects geared to kids ages 8 and up, or ages 6 and up with an adult helper. Sept. 10: Make a peg doll that will live in a toadstool house. Sept. 17: storybook craftytown with James Dean’s book, “Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons.”

Kids book club for K-2

Thursdays, Sept. 12 and 26, 4 p.m.

A book club for our young readers and their parents to read, share and explore the book of the month.

Projects vary each month but could include making art, reading together and writing letters.

Books provided and registration is required. Preregistration required.

Musical storytime with Ms. Liz

Friday, Sept. 13, 10:30-11 a.m.

For infants to age 4.

Friday movie

Fridays, Sept. 13 and 27, 3 p.m. Sept. 13: “Willy Wonka.” Sept. 27: “Sword in the Stone.”

Puzzle swap

Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2:30-5 p.m.

Bring a puzzle you’ve already completed and leave with a new puzzle to put together. Bring any 250-plus-piece general adult puzzle(s) that you would like to trade during the event. No puzzle to swap? Your first one’s on the library.

Free art play

Tuesday, Sept. 24, 3-4 p.m.

Painting with marbles, materials supplied. Projects geared to kids ages 8 and up, or ages 6 and up with an adult helper.

ADULTS

September art wall

Month of September

Danielle Weinberg displays her art on the library art wall in September while Peter Harrigan displays a portion of his extensive Barbie and doll collection in the library’s display case.

Knit for your neighbors

Thursdays in September, 2-5 p.m.

HONORING OUR VETERANS

On Nov. 7, The Other Paper will be honored to publish photos of the men and women who have unselfishly served

Please

Yarn, needles and crochet hooks supplied. Knit or crochet hats and scarves to help keep your neighbors warm. All finished projects will be donated to the South Burlington Food Shelf.

Chess club

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

Ready for a serious game of chess? Join the Chittenden County Chess Club and other pawn pushers every Saturday.

Melo Grant: Sampling and evolution of hip hop

Thursday, Sept. 5, 6-7:30 p.m.

DJ Melo Grant, host of The Cultural Bunker, and Burlington City Councilor, leads a musical journey through the evolution of hip hop, with side steps to other genres. Registration required.

Tech help by appointment

Fridays, Sept. 6 and 20, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Tuesdays, Sept. 10 and 24, 1-4 p.m.

2024 Pride Vermont

Sunday, Sept. 8, noon

The library will be carrying a banner at the Pride parade. Questions? Contact Jennifer at jmurray@southburlingtonvt.gov.

English conversation circle

Mondays, Sept. 10 and 24, noon-1 p.m.

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

Morning book group: ‘Ministry of the Future’

Thursday, Sept. 12, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Kim Stanley Robinson’s masterpiece of the imagination, using fictional eyewitness accounts to tell the story of how climate change will affect us all.

What is artificial intelligence?

Friday, Sept. 13, 1-2:30 p.m.

Learn about artificial intelligence and ChatGPT from Dick Mills, a retired engineer and software developer.

Quick pickles and more

Saturday, Sept. 14, 10 a.m.-noon

Learn about a variety of different methods of preserving veggies from your garden, the farmer’s market or even the grocery store.

The experienced staff from Vermont Garden Network will be here to show and tell you how to dry, freeze, ferment, pickle and more.

Book discussion: ‘All We Can Save’ Thursday, Sept. 19, 6:30-8 p.m.

Edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Katharine K. Wilkinson, this book explores the truth, courage and solutions to solve the climate crisis. Co-hosted by the South Burlington Energy Committee.

Peecycling: What, why and how

Monday, Sept. 23, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Join the Rich Earth Institute and the South Burlington Energy Committee to learn about the paradigm-shifting practice of peecycling: reclaiming human waste as a resource to protect the Lake Champlain Basin watershed.

Evening book group: ‘When I Was Puerto Rican’

Thursday, Sept. 26, 6-7 p.m.

Esmeralda Santiago’s story begins in rural Puerto Rico, where her childhood was full of tenderness and domestic strife, tropical sounds and sights, and poverty. In this first volume of her much-praised, bestselling trilogy, Santiago brilliantly recreates the idyllic landscape and tumultuous family life of her earliest years and her tremendous journey from the barrio to Brooklyn, from translating for her mother at the welfare office to high honors at Harvard. In-person and on Zoom. Fabric workshop

Friday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m.-noon Make a simple loom and weave a fabric creation.

Blood drive

Saturday, Sept. 28, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Register at redcrossblood.org.

the airport’s noise exposure map, reveals approximately 2,500 housing units, based on decibel noise, as being within the program’s reach. Most homes are in South Burlington and Winooski, with others scattered in Colchester and Williston. The project limits houses based on when they were built. For example, homes built after October 1998 are not eligible.

The map, which was last updated in 2019, is also set for an update this year and is expected to be released at the end of October. The airport has been completing noise exposure maps every five years since the early 1980s, said Longo, as new aircraft and different types of aircraft are introduced to the airport.

Take, for example, the Vermont Air National Guard’s F-35 fighter jets that were brought to the airport in 2019, which have been a massive point of contention for those in their flight path.

drop is due, partly, to the greater number of houses being put out to bid at the same time and the costs drop as the physical location of the properties moves farther away from the airport. Those homes require less sound mitigation.

But that per home cost is still much higher than what airport officials originally anticipated.

“When we’re going through very early analysis, pre-pandemic and early onset pandemic, we were hoping around $50,000,” he said.

Last fall, work on some homes stalled when the manufacturer hired to install new windows went out of business.

“Sometimes there’ll be four, five, six house being done at once ... the longer part of it is the wait.”

— Nic Longo

“So as soon as that occurred, it really put a damper on what our plans were for this year,” he said. “A positive part about this is we were able to figure this out over the last six or so months and get a new manufacturer in place.”

Setting sun

While the existing map, which uses data from 2018, did not include the fighter jets, the airport’s 2023 forecast map included F-35 noise along with several other aircraft.

The process is highly technical, he said, and includes real radar data, altitude information and extensive data from each individual aircraft carrier.

“All this data is collected into a computer model. The output, of course, is the map,” Longo said.

The new map, including a forecast for 2029, is expected to be ready in the next couple of weeks. After its release, there will be a 30-day public comment period.

Longo doesn’t anticipate the changes to the map to be too drastic. But homes that have been straddling eligibility may now be included or excluded based on new projections.

Most important, he said, is that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allows homes that are currently signed up to be completed even if the map changes.

“I think it’s generally going to look very, very similar to what the public sees today,” he said. “That is my understanding of the data collected over the last year.”

About 90 percent of the sound insulation program is funded by the FAA. Remaining funding, Longo said, comes from partnerships with organizations and businesses like Vermont Gas, Efficiency Vermont and Green Mountain Power.

The cost to retrofit each house, roughly $90,000, has dropped from the first two phases, when the cost totaled $110,000 per house. The

Each home typically requires new windows, added layers of drywall and attic insulation and, in some cases, new interior walls. Longo stressed that each home is unique and requires a large amount of collaboration with each homeowner. One home typically takes around 10 days to complete.

“It’s really fast,” he said. “Sometimes there’ll be four, five, six houses being done at once, but with different contract teams. It generally is a very, very fast process, but the longer part of it is the wait.”

New funding

To bolster the noise mitigation program, Longo said the airport is seeking a $17 million grant opportunity with the U.S. Department of Defense aimed at supporting airports with both active duty and Air National guard bases.

The Burlington International Airport, Longo said, is ahead of the curve in several ways when it comes to requirements for the grant. For one, he said, the airport was the first in the nation to house the F-35s and the jet’s noise projections are included in the noise exposure map. Second, he said, the airport has over 30 years of documentation on noise programs and mitigation.

“I’ve been at the airport 12 years. There’s not been one year in that time that we haven’t applied for a noise project, and that goes back again decades,” he said.

“While all these other National Guard units are getting the F-35s, generally, their documents are not up to date, so they have to complete

those documents and go through noise exposure maps and even write insulation program protocols before they can really go after additional funding.”

With potential new funding on

CITY GREEN continued from page 1

Consultants narrowed options to two prime locations: land directly across from city hall and a portion of the University Mall.

“They took the information from the public workshop and all the comments that people made, and then they distilled that down, looking at the various locations and weighing them against each other, and ended up with those two as their top recommendation,” Blanchard said.

The recommendations, she said, were relatively well received by the nearly two dozen residents who attended the project proposal’s unveiling last month with most showing support for the parcel across from city hall which currently houses a small complex of residential and commercial units.

“The conceptual idea that the consultant put forward was that the parking area in front would

the horizon, Longo said the airport is launching a campaign in September to encourage people to sign up for noise mitigation, ask questions and seek more information.

“My goal is to make sure that

everybody, every single person within today’s contour line and even the future contour line, knows that they may be in or near the noise exposure maps eligible or potentially eligible area,” he said.

become a park rather than parking,” Blanchard said.

The 51-acre area off Dorset Street known as the University Mall, which has long held the potential for revitalization, was sold to Massachusetts-based Eastern Real Estate and New Yorkbased Taconic Capital Advisors for $60 million in March 2022. At that time, the hope for redevelopment loomed, but no concrete plans have been put forward.

The space outlined by consultants includes a 1.7-acre parking area just across from the intersection of Garden and Dorset streets. But Blanchard described that as just a floater space that could technically be anywhere on the site.

“But it’s saying that it would be incorporated into future redevelopment,” she said. “I think that also envisions that more buildings would be built around it on that.”

Based on public feedback,

recommendations include an open lawn, flexible performance-ready space, seating area, play space and trees, benches and walkways with the potential for infrastructure like a splash pad and skating rink.

For the project to proceed, the city council will need to fund the purchase of the land. Blanchard estimates that a basic, no-frills park could be close to $4.5 million.

While recommendations are expected to come before the city council this fall, the council has already dedicated roughly $35,00 in American Rescue Plan Act pandemic funding to a consultant to move the project forward.

“We’ll see where (council members) want to go with it,” she said. “Anytime you’re talking about land acquisition, that’s a long process. It’s definitely not a next summer thing.”

PHOTO BY LEE KROHN

Another beautiful Burlington sunset.

SPORTS

South Burlington Wolves start fall athletic season

LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT

Boys’ soccer

Harwood 1, South Burlington 0: South Burlington surrendered a goal in the first half and could not find the equalizer in a loss to Harwood.

Will Goyette stopped six shots in goal for the Wolves, who gave up a goal with under 20 minutes remaining in the first half.

Girls’ soccer

Rice 1, South Burlington 0: South Burlington opened its girls’ soccer season with a loss to Rice on Friday, Aug. 30.

After the two teams battled to a score-

less tie in the first half, Rice scored early in the second frame to break the tie.

Lexi Paquette stopped nine shots in goal for South Burlington (0-1).

Football

South Burlington-Burlington 35, Mount Mansfield 14: The South Burlington-Burlington co-op football team opened the season with a win over Mount Mansfield on Saturday, Aug. 31.

Quarterback Ahmed Diawara scored all five touchdowns for the SeaWolves, three of which came in the second half. Diawara finished with 222 yards on 28 carries and five rushing TDs.

Henry Dodge added an interception on the defensive side of the ball to help clinch the win.

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.

Outside Chittenden, Lamoille, Franklin, Washington, Grand Isle,and Addison Counties, add $500

COURTESY PHOTO

Elsa Armstrong of South Burlington won the junior division at the Massachusetts Morgan Horse Show Youth of the Year contest in August with participants from all over New England. The contest consists of four parts: a ridden horsemanship pattern, a speech on a provided topic, a knowledge test and a judging contest. Armstrong won the speech, judging and knowledge and was third in the pattern contest, ending up the overall champion for her division. Above, Elsa Armstrong and Amberfield’s Golden Courage.

McNeil of Mendon is returning this year to participate in the Kelly Brush Ride. McNeil first received a Kelly Brush Foundation grant more than 15 years ago.

Annual Kelly Brush Ride returns

This year’s Kelly Brush Ride is Saturday, Sept. 7, and will be the largest in the ride’s 19 years, with more than 1,000 participants.

The Kelly Brush Foundation expects to raise more than $1 million to help people with spinal cord injuries participate in adaptive sports or purchase adaptive equipment.

The event is known for its fun atmosphere and attentive on-course support and safety. Riders can choose from four road distances from 11 to 102.5 miles. There’s also a gravel route for more adventurous riders.

This year, organizers are excited to have Paula McNeil of

Do you have photos you would like to share with the community?

Send them to us: news@otherpapersbvt.com

Mendon return to ride. Paula lives with a spinal cord injury and got her first piece of adaptive sports equipment, a handcycle, via a foundation grant more than 15 years ago. More recently, it helped her purchase an updated handcycle that lets her ride on gravel roads with friends.

“Biking is my favorite activity in the summer because I can ride with anyone. I ride with girlfriends and family,” McNeil said. In the winter, she skis using a sit ski but prefers riding because she can keep up with friends or ride independently. On the slopes, she needs more assistance.

McNeil has worked at Killing-

ton/Pico Resorts for the last 30 years. In addition to being a part of the Kelly Brush Foundation’s community, she is active with Green Mountain Adaptive Sports and Vermont Adaptive.

Of the Kelly Brush Ride and participating in sports with other people with disabilities, McNeil said, “It is just awesome to hang out with other disabled folks who are similarly physically challenged because I always learn something new, and I feel that I teach newbies something new to make their lives better in some way.”

Learn more at kellybrushfoundation.org.

We’re proud to be Community Bankers!

Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is honored to be one of the largest local banksin Vermont. We are committed to providing a work environment where all individuals feel welcomed and appreciated. You belong at NSB!

Join the Commercial Bankingteam in ourChittenden County Region as a Commercial Banking Administrator ! For the BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS® out there–make your final career move to NSB!

On average, NSB employees have over nine years of service!

When you join the NSB Team, you become part of an energetic andtalented groupthat strivesto strengthen the communities we serve every day.

Summary & Requirements

Support the lending teams by performing a variety of administrative functions. Build strong customer relationships and support the execution of commercialloans.

High School Diploma, General Education Degree (GED) or equivalent andone to two years’ related experience is required. Why NSB?

We provide a supportive and diverse work environment where employee contributions are recognized and valued. Compensation packages are competitive based on experience. We provide a well-rounded benefits package. Profit-Sharing! Excellent retirement 401(k) & ROTH employer match program. Volunteerism, Community Events, and Employee Engagement! Apply today!

NSB is actively seeking to create a more diversified workforce because we believe our team is stronger with different perspectives and experiences. We welcome and encourage applications from a wide range of candidates.