The South Burlington City Council Monday signed a letter of support for a conservation and affordable housing project located in the city’s southeast quadrant known as the Long View Project.
The city has been in active negotiations with owners of the Long Property, 1720 and 1730 Spear Street, since January. The project would conserve roughly 32.2 acres next to the Great Swamp, which city leaders have identified as a top conservation priority for years, and set aside 2.5 acres for 16 affordable homes in partnership with Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity.
The property’s owners, Northeast Agricultural Trust, a limited liability company owned by Tom and Janet Bellavance, bought the property from the Long family in November 2022 for nearly $1.4 million. The Long family previously sought to build nearly 50 new homes on the property but scrapped those plans in September 2022 as the city worked to craft
See LONG VIEW PROJECT on page 7
South Burlington explores all-resident voter expansion
LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
The South Burlington City Council last week directed its charter committee to explore the idea of allowing all legal residents of the city to vote in local elections.
The South Burlington Democratic Committee asked that the council place a question about voter expansion on the Town Meeting Day ballot next year to allow residents, even those who are non-U.S. citizens, to participate in local city elections and other supplementary school or city votes.
“This initiative is crucial to uphold the Vermont tradition
See VOTING on page 3
PHOTO BY AL FREY
Wolves’ fans cheer on the girls’ soccer team during an early season matchup against Rice. The Green Knights beat South Burlington 1-0.
Shelburne Road was briefly reduced to one lane during the early morning on Sept. 3 as South Burlington fire crews responded to a car fire in the Seaway car wash parking lot. The cause of the fire was undetermined, but is not considered suspicious, fire officials said. City rescue also responded to the scene; no injuries were reported.
City’s land trust is looking to grow
land trust to keep South Burlington residents informed about its work.
The South Burlington Land Trust works to preserve the open land, wildlife habitats, natural resources and farmland that make South Burlington unique.
The group believe that undeveloped land benefits the health and prosperity of all South Burlington residents and is an essential part of the fight against climate change. This and future SOS columns — Speaking for Open Space — are a way for the
South Burlington fire chief Steven Locke was recently sworn in as the second vice president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, a step on his path to serving as president and chair of the board in 2026.
The association, currently in its 150th year, represents approximately 12,000 leaders of firefighters and emergency responders worldwide.
2024 goals and activities for 2024 include:
• Growing membership.
• Continuing to advocate for making good use of the city’s open space funds.
• Promoting easements for the Wheeler and Hubbard natural areas.
• Sustaining partnerships with other local and state conservation groups.
• Building partnerships with the Vermont Housing and Conser-
The organization’s members are the world’s leading experts in firefighting and emergency medical services. The association advances the fire service profession and advocates at the federal level for legislative improvements and to increase fire safety requirements. Locke
vation Board and Habitat for Humanity to preserve the Long Property.
• Supporting land use organizations like the Common Roots Farm.
• Working closely with the city’s Natural Resource and Conservation Committee.
• Honoring land trust founder Sara Dopp with a memorial bench by the Wheeler House.
The South Burlington Land Trust’s next meeting is Wednesday, Sept. 25, 4 p.m. Find out more at sblt.org or by calling a board member.
ington Fire Department in 2022. He began his fire service career in 1992 and was first appointed as fire chief in 2008. He has served on the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ board of directors since 2016, representing New England from 2016 to 2019, and was elected treasurer in 2019.
“It is an honor of a lifetime to be elected as the IAFC second vice president while serving as the South Burlington fire chief, and I am grateful for the support shown by both the management of the city as well as the men and women
PHOTO BY AMBER SUE MILES
of town meeting and ensure that all residents, regardless of citizenship status, have the opportunity to contribute to our community’s decision-making process,”
Chris Shaw, chair of the South Burlington Democratic Committee, said at a city council meeting last month. “Expanding voter rights not only strengthens our democracy but also promotes inclusivity and civic engagement. It particularly benefits new Americans, unhoused individuals and other disenfranchised groups who contribute to the fabric of our community and deserve a voice in shaping its future.”
South Burlington’s charter committee was created in 2022 by the city’s previous council to explore different governance models and a possible expansion of the city council and the South Burlington School Board.
The committee remains on hiatus until it receives a specific charge from the council regarding potential changes to the city’s charter.
“In
The resolution passed by council last week also included expanding the compo sition of the charter committee to include two standing appointments, two by the school board and one by the city clerk. If all-resident voting eventually gets approved, South Burlington will become the fourth city in Vermont to allow it. Burlington, Winooski and Montpelier now allow non-resident voting and have survived court challenges against the measures.
According to Vermont Public, a lawsuit filed against the city of Winooski by the Vermont Republican Party, national GOP and two Winooski resi dents argued that only U.S. citizens should be allowed to vote on school issues. A Chit tenden County judge dismissed the case last December, making it the third lawsuit challeng ing noncitizen voting in Vermont cities to be thrown out.
my experience with charter changes, and I’ve been through a number of them, public engagement is critical.”
The charter committee will bring a recommendation back to the council, which could then put the question to voters at the next Town Meeting Day or in the future. If the voters approved, then it would go to the Legislature and Gov. Phil Scott for consideration and approval.
The school board had a similar discussion around all-resident voting at a board meeting in June. Members at the time were considering whether they would spearhead the effort or endorse the change should the council decide to take it up.
“In my experience with charter changes, and I’ve been through a number of them, public engagement is critical,” city manager Jessie Baker told the South Burlington School Board in June.
“I would just like to say that this past budget season, I received an email from a South Burlington resident who lives here and pays taxes here but is unable to vote,” board chair Chelsea Tillinghast said. “I think if you can pay taxes, you should be able to vote, so I’m very much in favor of this idea.”
FIRE CHIEF
continued from page 2
of the department,” Locke said.
Locke will represent the city around the world, wearing the patch of the South Burlington Fire Department and advocating for the men and women of the department on the national stage.
He hopes to develop solutions to challenges shared by many fire departments across the nation, which include recruit-
— Jessie Baker
Elizabeth Fitzgerald was the only South Burl ington council member to vote against the reso lution, saying that the council should on the organizational structure of the committee before charging it with a new task.
“I want to be clear, I’m not necessarily opposed to charging the charter committee with this task,” Fitzgerald said. “I felt like that particular charge was predicated primarily on a letter that was read in public session from Chris Shaw, and that the elements of that letter hadn’t really been warned or discussed by council. I thought we should maybe pull that from the resolution and talk about a broader scope of charges for not just the charter committee, but other committees as well.”
The resolution passed with four other councilors’ support.
“I think that, having a number of residents in our community who are not citizens but who are taxpaying contributors to our community, that we need to look at having them be able to have a voice in our politics,” councilor Laurie Smith said.
ment, retention and adequate funding.
“Chief Locke’s election by his worldwide fire and EMS leader peers is a strong acknowledgement of what we know locally,” city manager Jessie Baker said. “He represents the best of public servants who seek to ensure quality services for residents and provide expertise and guidance to colleagues and local elected leaders.
NOWOPEN!
Grand Opening Celebration
South Burlington Police Blotter: Sept. 3-9
Total incidents: 283
Agency / public assists: 23
Directed patrol: 34
Traffic stop: 36
Accident: property damage: 6
Suspicious event: 19
Retail theft: 9
Welfare check: 14
Unlawful mischief: 5
Trespass: 5
Disturbance: 7
Domestic: 2
Animal problem: 6
Leaving the scene: 5
Stolen vehicle: 2
Larceny from a vehicle: 15
Larceny from a structure: 3
Suicidal person: 3
Mental health: 8
Threats: 4
Arrests:
Jessica K. Gagnon, 44, of Burlington, was arrested for identity theft for an incident on Brewer Parkway on Aug. 26 at 8:57 a.m.
Shaun M. Adams, 46, of Burlington, was arrested for identity theft in an Aug. 26 incident on Brewer Parkway
state 189.
Sept. 4 at 6:45 p.m., Boniface W. Matata, 70, of South Burlington, was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident and driving under the influence, first offense, on Farrell Street.
Sept. 6 at 7:15 a.m., Denis Hodzic, 39, of Essex Junction, was arrested for burglary on Reel Road.
Sept. 8 at 4:43 p.m., Brendan L. Brooks, 39, of Milton, was arrested for aggravated operation without owner’s consent and unlawful trespass (motor vehicle) on Williston Road.
Sept. 8 at 4:43 p.m., Brittnie L. Blanchard, 33, of Milton, was arrested for unlawful trespass (motor vehicle) on Williston Road.
Sept. 8 at 4:43 p.m., Ryan H. Sturtevant-Hatch, 32, of Burlington, was arrested for unlawful trespass (motor vehicle) on Williston Road.
Untimely deaths:
Sept. 4 at 10:27 a.m., Christopher H. Pike, 63, of Burlington, was arrested for assaulting an officer of the law or emergency service provider on Shelburne Road.
Sept. 4 at 2:48 p.m., Samantha Murray, 34, of Essex Town, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Shelburne Road and Inter-
the
Sept. 4 at 3:43 p.m. police responded to Dubois Drive for the death of Robert O’Kelly, 76, of South Burlington.
Sept. 7 at 1:15 p.m., police responded to Williston Road for the death of Larry Longe, 54, of South Burlington.
The medical examiner’s office is determining cause and manner of each death.
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OPINION
A Long View
Story of conservation, community partnerships
Guest Perspective
Rosanne Greco
South Burlington has a long history of land conservation. In 2000, the residents voted to create a conservation fund, also called the open space fund, to purchase and preserve open land and natural areas in the city. During the latest interim zoning, the city commissioned three studies to inventory natural resource lands to identify the most valuable lands to conserve.
Out of the 189 parcels reviewed, the land owned by the Long family was the fifth highest valued natural resource parcel of land in the city. The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources rated it tier one, or the highest priority for conservation. Arrowwood Environmental ranked it No. 1 out of the 26 parcels it evaluated. Earth Economics assessed that the ecosystem services provided by the Long Property would, in effect, save the city an estimated $264,000$759,000 per year. Over a 20-year period, the property could save the city $11 million.
In September 2022, the Long family put their land at 1720 Spear St. up for sale. The South Burlington Land Trust knew this land had just been identified as one of the top priority parcels. We called every councilor to alert them, since we knew that this property would be quickly purchased for development. If we wanted to conserve it — as had been recommended in all the open space studies the city had commissioned — we needed to act fast. But a city cannot act fast. Some land trust board members met to discuss what to do. We invited Tom Bellavance to join us. Tom has a 40-year history of working with land acquisition, conservation and wildlife organizations through his businesses.
With the time pressure to get the Long Property under contract, Bellavance offered to purchase the land through a company he manages called North East Agricultural Trust. In Novem-
ber 2022, the agricultural trust purchased the Long Property with the sole intent to temporarily hold it while the land trust worked on ways to conserve the land.
The South Burlington Land Trust informed every city councilor and started working with city staff to learn the steps and processes needed to conserve the land. During those conversations, the topic of building houses came up. Regardless of the end use, city staff said the first thing needed was to get an appraisal of the land.
North East Agricultural Trust immediately ordered an appraisal. After the appraisal was done, the land trust met with city staff numerous times during the spring and summer of 2023. In December 2023, the project was put on the council agenda and discussed publicly. That December, the North East Agricultural Trust and South Burlington Land Trust met with the council in executive session. The feedback from the council was to get partners, and to secure funding from outside sources.
In February, the land trust applied for a grant from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board. Since the project both conserved land and produced affordable housing, it fit with the housing and conservation board’s dual mission. The Council put the now named Long View Project on the agenda. It was discussed publicly, and the council voted to submit a letter of support for the land trust application for grant funds.
At the same time, the agricultural trust developed a partnership and signed an option agreement with Habitat for Humanity to build up to 16 perpetually affordable units for home ownership on the western section of the land.
Current partners in the Long View Project include the South Burlington Land Trust, the North East Agricultural Trust, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, Habitat for Humanity and Champlain Housing Trust. The land trust is asking the city
CEDAR
of South Burlington to join that partnership to make this project successful and perhaps become a model for other places in Vermont.
The South Burlington Land Trust is asking the city to be a partner in this project by contributing $461,000 of open space funds to purchase 32.2 acres of land that already has a conservation easement in place. The easement will allow walking trails, a shared-use bike path connecting neighborhoods and community gardens.
The easement will also protect wildlife and maintain environmental connectivity with the Great Swamp to the southeast, and Hubbard Natural area to the north. If successful, the Long View Project will achieve 22 of the 86 goals the city listed in its City Plan 2024.
Key questions include:
• Does this project meet the city goals? Yes. It supports multiple city goals and responds to the recommendations of many city-commissioned studies.
• Does this project benefit the residents of South Burlington? Yes. Its ecosystem services benefit human health and reduce the tax burden for city services that nature provides for free.
• Does the city have the resources to support it? Yes. The city has sufficient money to do this. The city has dedicated money in the open space fund, which was created specifically to purchase land for conservation, and cannot be used for other city expenses.
The Long View Project is a story of community partners, all of whom are collaborating for the benefit of all residents — human and other. It is a story about taking action, using relevant data to inform decisions and developing relationships and partnerships to accomplish a greater good for everyone. It is a story of providing health and wealth benefits to city residents both now and well into the future. It is truly a long view project.
Rosanne Greco is president of the South Burlington Land Trust.
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IMPROVING AND ADDING VALUE TO HOMES Vermont • New York • New Hampshire
Join us for an evening to commemorate 50 Years of helping Vermonters age well. Fantastic fare by Backyard Bistro, libations, live music from folk artist Nick Carter,
To purchase tickets, please scan the code below or visit our website: https://www.agewellvt.org/home/50th-celebration/ and a fabulous silent auction. We will be recognizing the Honorable Madeleine Kunin, with shared excerpts from her book, Coming of Age: My Journey to the Eighties.
Burlington’s cathedral, its parkland should not be demolished
Guest Perspective
Sally Giddings Smith
I am not Catholic, nor am I a professional critic. However, I love great buildings and great parks, particularly when they go together, and especially in places which do not have many great buildings or much urban green space.
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, designed by Edward Larrabee Barnes, is a grand example of a modernist building. Barnes used simple shapes and local materials in this building, just as he did at the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building in Washington, D.C., the Indiana University Library and the NSU Art Museum of Fort Lauderdale, among others.
But most significant for all Vermonters is the parkland that surrounds the building. Dan Kiley of Charlotte was internationally famous for designing landscapes to balance the geometric harshness of modern structures.
The trees used here are honey locusts — the same trees that surround the Eiffel Tower in Paris. They smell lovely in the spring and turn yellow gold in the fall. They are plenty hardy here in Vermont and seem tolerant — so far — of the abuse they have been receiving in the last 20 years. I can’t overstate the significance of having a Dan
The Vermont Supreme Court will weigh in this month on whether to allow the
Kiley landscape right here in our own backyard. It should be impossible for this building and this parkland to be demolished. It is now eligible for historic preservation and must be preserved for future genera-
tions. Its demolition would be a black eye for Burlington and for Vermont, and an insult to the people who rebuilt Vermont after World War II.
The ruling of the Vermont Supreme Court on Sept. 25 will undoubtedly be on a strictly legal basis. But really, something must be done. A retreat? A place of rehabilitation? An ecumenical study center? A building for the historical preservation program at University of Vermont? A place of inspiration and a reminder of great creativity and beauty? Is this too much to ask of a church, a city and a state?
Sally Giddings Smith lives in Montpelier.
SIP & SAVOR
The business next door donates nearly twice as much as big-box stores and online retailers to local non-profits, events and teams.
PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL / VTDIGGER
demolition of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
LONG VIEW PROJECT
continued from page 1
new land development regulations for the area.
In an overview of the project, Rosanne Greco, president of the South Burlington Land Trust, explained that the agricultural trust purchased the land from the Long family with the sole intent to protect it from development through a permanent conservation easement.
Janet Bellavance is also a member of the South Burlington Land Trust board.
“The SBLT continued to meet with the city staff during the spring and summer of 2023 and on Dec. 4, 2023, the SBLT and NEAT met with the council in executive session,” Greco said. “Two weeks later, the Long Property project was put on a council agenda. The feedback from the council to the SBLT was for us to try to get outside partners and to seek outside funding.”
of transparency surrounding the project and questioned using open space funds to buy the property.
In 2000, city voters established an Open Space and Conservation Fund, levying one cent on the tax rate for the conservation and acquisition of open spaces. In the years that followed, voters approved widening and modifying the scope of the fund to include acquisition of lands for recreation and for maintenance and enhancement of the city’s parks.
“I don’t believe that if the city were to engage in a transaction of the kind discussed that it would have any impact on the value of surrounding properties, including mine.”
The land trust then applied for a grant with the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board since the project would meet both conservation and housing goals. The council at that time unanimously voted to send a letter of support for the grant.
— Andrew Chalnick
In the years since this fund was established, the city has acquired, conserved or participated in a partnership to purchase eight properties totaling over 635 acres. These include the Scott Property, Leduc Properties, Goodrich Parcel, Hubbard Nature Park and Auclair Properties, among others — six of which are located in the city’s southeast quadrant, a wealthy enclave in the southernmost portion of the city bordering Hinesburg and Williston, which constitutes the largest undeveloped part of South Burlington with some of the most expensive real estate in Vermont.
But other residents, like Norm Staunton, who owns the property directly across the street from the Long Property, had a differing view.
“We purchased our home specifically because of its location and the green space and agricultural nature of the neighborhood,” he said, adding that he and his family were adamantly opposed to the previous development proposals by the Long family. “This project provides a much better balance between our need for housing, particularly affordable, working-class housing, and green space conservation.”
Another resident, Meaghan Emery, a former city councilor who voted to support this project earlier this year, again voiced support for the current city councilors and the project.
“I want to remind everybody in the city that that is our city. I have not felt division at all,” she said. “And as a member and resident of the Chamberlain neighborhood, I very much value the contiguous land and the importance of contiguity for our wildlife and for the value of our ecosystems.”
The council’s longstanding former chair, Helen Riehle, who also supported the project earlier this year and who also lives in the southeast quadrant, echoed Emery’s sentiment.
that abuts the Long Property, gave an “enthusiastic yes.”
“I want to let the public know that, after giving a lot of thought, I’m very comfortable that it does not present a conflict of interest,” he said. “I don’t believe that if the city were to engage in a transaction of the kind discussed that it would have any impact on the value of surrounding properties, including mine.”
But some residents, including council member Fitzgerald, voiced some opposition to that.
“I also have some concerns because of your ownership of property that abuts both Hubbard and this property,” Fitzgerald said. “One key thing I learned in the proposal is that the VHCB (Vermont Housing & Conservation Board) requires an assessment of property and there could be an enhancement to neighboring properties. So, I do share that concern.”
According to the letter, should all contingencies be met, the city stands ready to “enter into future letters of intent, purchase and sale agreements and other related agreements for the Long View Project.”
In July, Northeast Agricultural Trust entered into an agreement with Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity to purchase 2.5 acres of the property for $600,000 to construct up to 16 perpetually affordable homes on the western side of the property.
The letter of support signed by councilors Monday night outlines that the city is prepared to commit roughly $397,000 in open space and conservation funds to purchase a permanent conservation easement held by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, and additionally, up to $64,000 to purchase the entire 32.3 acres.
The letter outlined seven contingencies, including that at least 16 affordable homes be built, and that the conservation easement allow passive recreation like running, biking and walking and a 10-foot-wide paved path. A third-party appraisal must also be conducted.
Support for the project was not unanimous as some city residents pointed to a lack
Critics of the Long View Project point out that zoning regulations already mandate and protect conservation in that area of the city, while proponents of the purchase say that it supports two of the city’s top goals: conservation and housing.
Others were blunter about the conservation trends in the southeast quadrant.
“It’s time to spread the wealth a little bit,” resident Linda Bailey said. “I do not see this as a good use of my tax dollars.
Baile said that the funds could be used for much needed other projects, like the future city green in City Center that officials have been studying.
“The city plan talks about inclusive, transparent, equitable, fiscally responsible governance,” resident Peter Taylor said. “My concern about this purchase is the process has not been transparent and welcoming of resident input and continues to focus on the southeast quadrant of the city, where the wealthiest residents live.”
South Burlington murder suspect held without bail
MIKE DONOGHUE
A South Burlington woman charged with fatally shooting a Stowe man outside a Burlington bar last month will remain in prison as her case goes through the court system.
Aaliyah D. Johnson, 22, of Farrell Street, pleaded not guilty in Vermont Superior Court to a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Teville “Bunny” Williams, 30, of Stowe, on Aug. 26.
A judge agreed late last week that Johnson needs to still be held without bail. Williams was shot outside Red Square, a Church Street Marketplace nightclub after an altercation with Johnson inside the bar. After they were ejected from the bar, Johnson walked down an alley to Church Street, where she found Williams in front of the bar, police said.
Police maintained Johnson pulled out
See JOHNSON on page 13
Mike Scanlan was the only councilor to vote against supporting the project, with Elizabeth Fitzgerald calling her vote of support a “cautious yes.” Andrew Chalnick, who spoke at a meeting last week about a perceived conflict of interest since he owns a property
“I’m going to tell you right off the bat that I think this is a good plan,” council chair Tim Barritt said. “When the Bellavances came to us in February, I don’t think it was quite ripe, but I think it’s really ripe now. This is an opportunity, for the first time, to put only affordable housing on this piece of property. That’s a great opportunity to have because I can’t think of a better place to have affordable housing next to open space on a beautiful piece of land.”
COMMUNITY
Community Notes
SB Land Trust holds bird walk at Wheeler
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.
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.
Ethan Allen talk explores upcoming election
The Ethan Allen Homestead Museum hosts the talk, “What’s Happening in the 2024 Election,” by Geoffrey Skelley on Sunday, Sept. 15, at 2 p.m.
Skelley will provide a detailed
overview of the electoral landscape in the upcoming election, including a look at polling of the presidential race in the key battleground states and the situation in the Electoral College. The talk will also include a review of the pivotal down-ballot elections for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.
The discussion will engage with current and past electoral developments to help provide a clearer understanding of what’s happening in the 2024 election.
Skelley is a senior elections analyst at 538, part of ABC News.
Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. For information, email ethanallenhomestead@ gmail.com or call 802-865-4556.
South Burlington police hold Red Cross blood drive
The South Burlington Police Department is hosting a blood drive from 12:30-5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20, 19 Gregory Drive.
Schedule an appointment at 800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org and enter “sbpolice” to book a slot.
If you are a type O, B-, or A- blood type, make a power red donation, which allows you to donate more red blood cells with just one donation.
Dancing with Burlington Stars kicks off Sept. 14
Dancing with the Burlington Stars is back on Saturday, Sept. 14, 7-9 p.m., at the Flynn Center in Burlington.
The signature annual fundraising event for the Vermont Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired, all proceeds from the
event support its mission to help Vermonters with impaired vision live more independently, cultivate adaptive skills and improve the quality of their lives.
Professional dance instructors are paired witha local celebrities to deliver family-friendly community fun. Teams include Iris Toedt-Pingel, Burlington, and Sophie Decker, South Burlington; Jayden Choquette, Williston, and Allee Pineault, Richmond; Elissa Borden, South Burlington, and Kimberly Volkari, Burlington; Ayeshah Raftery, Colchester, and Jon Bacon, Essex Junction; Trent Cooper, Westford, and Rose Bedard, Milton; and Shawn Mercy, Grand Isle, and Jessica Ashton, Milton.
‘Clips & Conversations’
‘Clips
Sunday, Sept. 15, 3 p.m.
60
Special guest performers include Dance in the Isle, Electric Youth Dance Company, and Just for Kicks.
Emceed by Darren Perron and Amanda Thibault, judging will be done by Elizabeth Seyler, aka Dr. Tango, DJ Craig Mitchell, Nicola Boutin and Rebecca Raskin. Tickets are $32 through the Flynn box office.
Garden club talk dives into plastics
The Burlington Garden Club presents “All About Plastics” at its next meeting, Tuesday, Sept. 24,
COURTESY PHOTOS
Elissa Borden and Kimberly Volkari and Iris Toedt-Pingel and Sophie Decker will participate in Dancing with the Burlington Stars.
PHOTOS BY TODD LOCKWOOD
& Conversations” features South Burlington artists Todd Lockwood and John Killacky,
in The Screening Room at Vermont International Film Festival,
Lake St. Burlington. Since the late 1960s, Lockwood has been shooting studio portraits of friends and acquaintances. In the last decade, he has experimented with a new kind of portraiture he calls “Cinema Portraits.” For this special event, Lockwood and collaborator Killacky will talk about his art and screen “Cinema Portraits.” Pay what you can. Above, Todd Lockwood and John Killacky
NOTES continued from page 8
1 p.m., at Faith United Methodist Church, 899 Dorset St., South Burlington.
“All About Plastics” from speak Eva Schaub’s 2023 memoir, “Year of No Garbage,” draws attention to recycling lies, plastic problems and one woman’s trashy journey to zero waste.
Plastic is everywhere: from the top of Mount Everest to the placenta of unborn babies. But what can we really do about it and why? Humorist author Schaub spent an entire year attempting the seemingly impossible: Living in the modern world without creating any trash at all, culminating in her recent memoir.
In the process she learned some startling things: Modern recycling is broken, and single stream recycling is a lie; flushable wipes aren’t flushable and compostables aren’t compostable; plastic drives climate change fosters racism; and that it is poisoning the environment and our bodies at alarming rates. Microplastics are found everywhere, including in the human bloodstream and brain, Schaub said.
Schaub is an internationally published author and humorist. She is the author of “Year of No Sugar” (2014) and “Year of No Clutter” (2017). She has been featured in The New Yorker, USA Today and The Huffington Post, and she has appeared on Fox and Friends.
Her books have been translated into Chinese, Hebrew and Spanish, and she holds degrees from Cornell University and Rochester Institute of Technology.
Event celebrates legacy of Lydia Clemmons
“Looking Forward: A Celebration of Legacy with Clemmons Family Farm” celebrates the legacy of Lydia M. Clemmons with collaborating artists and beloved community members., on Saturday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Come together to walk, talk, eat, plant a tree, enjoy art and look to the future.
The Clemmons Family Farm stands on a 60-year legacy of community-building by Jack and Lydia Clemmons that centers African American history, arts, culture and a deeply meaningful place —
the historic 138-acre Clemmons farm.
The mission of Clemmons Family Farm is to preserve and maintain the historic farm in Charlotte as an educational prototype, and a model for preserving African American-owned agricultural land, cultural and heritage assets in the U.S.; to empower a growing network of Vermont’s Black artists and culture bearers with opportunities for professional development, advocacy, visibility, networking, paid engagements, collective healing and a safe haven for creativity that helps them to thrive; and to build a loving multicultural community around African American and African diaspora of history, arts and culture.
Tickets are required through Eventbrite.
Elli Parr to open store in South Burlington
Elli Parr, a Vermont-based jewelry brand, is opening a new flagship store and headquarters in South Burlington in October.
This location, 41 IDX Drive, represents an expansion for the brand.
The new store will offer an extensive range of handcrafted jewelry pieces from Elli Parr, alongside a curated selection of complimentary products from small, independent makers and brands specializing in accessories, beauty, and body products. It will also offer a variety of experiential services designed to engage and inspire, including ear piercing, kids’ afterschool workshops, do-it-yourself jewelry making and beading classes, private events and parties, and more.
A grand opening will be held on the weekend of Oct. 12.
“We are beyond excited to open our doors in South Burlington,” Sara Nelson, owner of Elli Parr, said. “We look forward to becoming a destination where customers can shop, create and connect.”
The company’s two boutiques in Middlebury and Shelburne will combine into one space in South Burlington “to home in on our operations and offer a more robust customer experience,” Nelson said.
‘On the One Road’ features barbershop quartets
In its 77th year, the Green Mountain Chorus presents “On the One Road,” its annual show, on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2 and 7 p.m., at the First Congregational Church of Essex Junction, 39 Main St. In addition to the Green Mountain Chorus (the Burlington chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society), quartets Chordination and Daily Special will perform, as well as chapter quartets High Voltage and Low Maintenance. Daily Special is a 2024 Barbershop Harmony Society International competition finalist, and a rising star in the world of Barbershop harmony. Chordination is a 2024 Barbershop Harmony Society Northeast District finalist and features the popular and talented Cerutti brothers. Each show has an intermission with door prizes. Tickets can be purchased for $20 at bit.ly/3Mye9lA.
Birds of Vermont Museum hosts fall events
The Birds of Vermont Museum, 900 Sherman Hollow Road, Huntington, has several upcoming fall events.
• “The Power of Perspective” art show — Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Explore, examine and delight in art that speaks to both humans’ and birds’ perspectives and experiences. How might a change in perspective alter people’s understanding of the lives and needs of the birds who share our world?
• Meander for Mushrooms, Saturday, Sept. 14, 9-11 a.m. Meg Madden leads an exploration to learn about the essential roles that fungi play in forest ecology and to learn how to identify them.
• Celebration of Gale Lawrence, Sunday, Sept. 22 2-4 p.m. Take time to celebrate the life of Gale Lawrence, a naturalist, teacher and writer. Without her support, the Birds of Vermont Museum would not have become what it is today. Please bring a photo or memory to share. Read more about Lawrence
at birdsofvermont.org/gale-lawrence.
• Bird monitoring walk, Saturday, Sept. 28, 8 a.m. Monthly monitoring walk to record birds on the museum’s property. Bring your own binoculars and dress for the weather.
• Green Mountain Woodcarvers, Saturday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The Green Mountain Woodcarvers
will be carving. Stop in to watch a woodcarver at work, ask a question or learn about the carving club.
• The Big Sit, Sunday, Oct. 13, dawn to dusk. How many birds can be identified from a 17-foot diameter circle between sunrise and sunset? This is a great long-running community science project.
To register or to find out more, go to birdsofvermont.org/events.
Barre, Williston, St. Albans
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAILY SPECIAL
COURTESY PHOTO
Gale Lawrence
Wolves’ fall season preview
LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT
Boys’ cross country
Coach: Geoff Bennett
Senior Leaders: Isaac Margulius, Evan O’Keefe, Will Schaefer
Key newcomers: James Langan, first year; Jack Donovan, first year; Patrick Donoghue, junior; Orion Cooper, junior; Quinn Lambert, senior; Max Frostman, junior.
Outlook: South Burlington welcomes a large group of newcomers to the cross country team this season and is looking to some key seniors to help lead them. This new group will take some time to get the experience necessary so the early season will look to runners Odin Cloutier, Connor Perrin and Dan Jackson to set the tone in races.
“Our goal is to finish in the top six teams at states and earn a spot to represent Vermont at the New England Championship in November,” coach Bennett said.
Up next: Queensbury (N.Y) Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 14
Key newcomers: Emijoi Kukatla, first year; Yega Cummings, first year; Solenne Anderson, first year; Claire Cowan, sophomore; Aurelia Lockwood, sophomore.
Outlook: The girls’ team welcomes back a large contingent of runners and hopes to build off last year’s success. The Wolves will count on key runners like Sydney Rumsey and Marina Fisher to lead the way as they aim for a top six finish in the D-I state championship and a spot in the New England Championships.
SPORTS
Heading downfield
“We’ve had a great start to the season with a couple of early races under our belt and have seen some improvement on last year’s times already,” coach McLean said.
“These returning runners are leading the way with their dedication, hard work and positivity.”
Up next: Manchester (N.H.) Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 21
Outlook: The South Burlington-Burlington football team has a roster of returning juniors and
seniors and will look to take a big step for the program after struggling over the last few years. Quarterback Ahmed Diawara will be the key player on the offensive side for the SeaWolves and, based on the first two games of the season, the senior is up to the task. The team has started the season 2-0, including a comeback win against St. Johnsbury that saw the senior QB run for three TDs and throw for another in the fourth quarter.
“We have been working hard during the pre-season and the player’s effort has been excellent,” Wolfe said. “We are taking it one game at a time and focusing on improving week to week.”
Up next: Friday, Sept. 13, at Essex
Field hockey
Coach: Anjie Soucy
This season: 0-2
Key returnees: Kayla Kim, midfield, senior; Sawyer Bailey, forward, senior; Elise Knoth, forward, senior; Amber Rousseau, goalkeeper, senior; Oli Roy, defense, junior; Rosa DiGiulian, forward; sophomore; Grace Landerman, midfield, sophomore.
Key newcomers: Too early to tell
Outlook: After winning the state championship last season, South Burlington is set to defend their title with a strong core of returning players. With returning players on all areas of the field, the key for the Wolves will be bringing their “A” game every day with the defending champs title target on them, coach Soucy said.
“Other teams will bring their ‘A’ game when they play us,” the longtime varsity coach said. “The team has great speed, stickwork and chemistry.”
Expect senior leadership from Amber Rousseau, Sawyer Bailey, Elise Knoth and Kayla Kim to start the season off right.
Up next: Tuesday, Sept. 10, versus Mount Mansfield
Outlook: The team will be in a bit of a rebuild as it starts the 2024 season. After graduating seven
starters from last year, the Wolves will have to put together a new lineup as the season progresses.
South Burlington has an experienced backbone, with returning players at defense and midfield to provide stability as it works on finding its rhythm early on.
“We need to find ourselves as a team as we are pretty much a new team this year,” Austin-Hawley said. The Wolves will look to improve every game and be peaking at just the right moment of the season.
Up next: Friday, Sept. 13, versus Burlington
Boys’ soccer
Coach: Adolphe Lumumba
This season: 0-2
Key returnees: Connor Watson, midfield, senior; Henry Barnes, defense, senior; Will Goyette, goalie, senior; Marco Stazi, midfield, senior; Parker Daily, defense, junior; Ian Henderson, defense/midfield, sophomore; Momin Waqar, midfield, sophomore.
Key newcomers: Sam Harm, defense, sophomore; Bway Soe,
PHOTO BY AL FREY
South Burlington’s Julia Conway races down field as Rice’s Isa Garehime gives chase during the Wolves’ 1-0 loss to the Green Knights on Aug. 31 in South Burlington.
SeaWolves quarterback scores four touchdowns
LAUREN READ
CORRESPONDENT
Football
Burlington/South Burlington 33, St. Johnsbury 31: The Burlington-South Burlington co-op football trailed 24-7 before mounting a comeback to defeat St. Johnsbury on Friday, Sept. 6.
Ahmed Diawara helped the SeaWolves tally four times in the fourth quarter to come back for the 33-31 win.
Diawara ran for 41-, 70and 1-yard touchdowns and threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Jack Foster in the final frame. Diawara finished with four rushing TDs and 213 yards on the ground, as well as one passing TD and 129 passing yards.
Jack Foster had five catches for 125 yards and one touchdown, while Rashad Morgan ran for 44 yards.
The SeaWolves moved to 2-0.
Field hockey
Bellows Falls 3, South Burlington 2: Bellows Falls edged out South Burlington in high school field hockey on Saturday.
Bella Gordan and Oli Roy
each had a goal for the Wolves in the loss.
South Burlington fell to 0-2.
Cross country
The girls’ cross-country team placed three runners in the top 30 at the Burlington Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 7.
Sydney Rumsey came in 21st for South Burlington, while Marina Fisher was 23rd and Callie Beyor was 28th.
Cora Burkman finished in 33rd and Molly Leavey came in 45th place.
For the boys, Odin Cloutier was 20th and the top finisher for South Burlington. Dan Jackson came in 30th, Connor Perrin was 32nd and Jack Donovan finished in 36th place.
The Wolves finished fourth in the girls’ race and sixth on the boys’ side.
Girls’ volleyball
Colchester 3, South Burlington 0: The girls’ volleyball team fell to Colchester on Thursday, Sept. 5.
The Lakers won the first 25-10, the second 25-10 and wrapped up the win with a 25-18 score in the third set.
forward, sophomore; Kai Konefal, midfield, junior; Miles Daily, defense, freshman; Deng Aguek, defense, senior.
Outlook: One of the top teams in D-I the last two years — the boys won a state title in 2022 and were runners up in 2023 — South Burlington will take some work to get back to that level after turning over a large part of last year’s roster.
The Wolves will rely a lot on Connor Watson, the only starter returning from last season. The bulk of the experience on the team will come from the defensive side of the ball, which will help the Wolves find the right combinations on the field in early matchups. With two losses to start, South Burlington has some work to do as they work to rebuild their roster.
Outlook: The girls’ volleyball team is looking to take a step forward this season after adding some new players and bringing back some others who have worked hard in the offseason. The Wolves have Lumia Beeli, who spent most of last season out with an injury, Lucy Stadtmauer, who will be key as a blocker up front, and Victoria Bohlmann, who worked hard to improve her offense game, up front this season and hope that the three can provide strong leadership.
South Burlington also adds some new players to boost the team’s defense.
“We have a very well-rounded team, with depth on the bench, so we should be able to handle anyone in the conference,” coach Carpenter said. “We just need to keep looking ahead to winning three games every match.”
outside hitter, senior; Sayhan Masroor, middle blocker, senior; Govinda Pradhan, right side hitter, senior.
Outlook: After falling in last year’s Division I state final, the South Burlington boys’ volleyball team is looking to return to the championship and turn around the result. After graduating just three seniors and returning a large part of last year’s title game roster, the Wolves seem to have the tools in
They started off the season with some revenge, beating Burlington
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“The primary goals for the team cy and maintain high energy levels throughout matches,” first-year coach Park Sunhang said. “Also, to secure a top-three finish in their conference, setting the stage for a deep run in the playoffs.”
Up next: Monday, Sept. 9,
HONORING OUR VETERANS
Pedals for Progress
Former Green Mountain Peace Corps volunteers are holding their 26th bike and sewing machine collection for Pedals for Progress. Items gathering dust in your closet or garage will help struggling families in communities around the world build a more secure life. Bring your bike or sewing machine, plus $20 to help with shipping costs, to St. Michael’s College, Tarrant Center parking lot, Route 15, Colchester on Saturday, Sept. 21, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. For questions, to volunteer or to donate, email p4pvermont@gmail.com, visit Facebook or call Paul Demers at 802-793-0888. Learn more at facebook.com/p4pVermont.
JOHNSON
continued from page 7
a .45-caliber handgun and fired multiple shots at close range hitting Williams.
She fled south on Church Street and walked up to a Burlington Police officer, and admitted to the shooting, surrendered and handed over her purse with the handgun inside, Det. Cpl. Krystal A. Wrinn said in court papers.
Johnson was initially ordered held without bail during her arraignment, but the defense asked for a hearing on the issue.
Judge David Fenster, following a weight of the evidence hearing, ruled there were sufficient
legal reasons to keep Williams detained.
The defense had said Williams has no history of violence and could be released to her mother.
Deputy State’s Attorney Andrew McFarlin maintained Williams used extreme violence and noted that a second firearm has not been recovered.
The Stowe area community came together for a fundraiser at a local restaurant last Thursday night to help support Williams family and to assist with the cost of returning his body to Jamaica. Alfie’s Wild Ride on the Mountain
Road, which Williams frequented, hosted the event that included music and food.
Williams, who emigrated from Jamacia in October 2019 to Stowe, was part of the team at Piecasso, as well as an employee of additional Stowe businesses, according to his obituary.
It was unknown how much money was raised. Attempts to reach organizers early this week were unsuccessful.
Burlington police say the fight inside Red Square, the ejections and the shooting were all captured on the bar’s video security system.
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