the South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977
Rick Marcotte Central School in South Burlington held a small parade, ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony on Oct. 29. City hall and school staff, police and fire personnel, the school’s mascot, Marky the Moose, and nearly 400 students and others watched as the currently unnamed street that goes past South Burlington Public Library was renamed Dattilio Drive, in honor of Sue Dattilio, a longtime Rick Marcotte front office assistant. The city gave students at the school the chance to name their school’s street. After forming a naming committee and voting on several options, the kids picked Dattilio Drive. Principal Lissa MacDonald, fifth grader Camilla Pineda and city councilor Tim Barritt gave speeches. See more photos, page 5. It’s official!
Democrats lose supermajority Rodgers ousts Zuckerman
overriding Republican Gov. Phil Scott’s vetoes.
The Democratic supermajority in the Vermont House is no more. Republicans picked up 18 seats in the 150-member chamber on Tuesday, dramatically reshaping power dynamics in the House. They’re set to hold 55 seats in the next biennium — enough to prevent Democrats and Progressives, who will hold 92 seats together, from
Three independents won races Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office.
The chairs of two House committees were among several Democratic incumbents unseat-
See VT ELECTION on page 19
Incumbents hold seats in Chittenden Southeast
LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
The three Democratic incumbents for Chittenden’s Southeast Senate District are holding onto their Statehouse seats after beating out two Republicans and one independent challenger Tuesday night.
Virginia “Ginny” Lyons, D-Williston, garnered 24,922 votes in the towns that make up the Senate district. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, D-Shelburne, received 21,498 votes, while Thomas Chit-
tenden, D-South Burlington, saw the highest number of votes at 28,729.
Bruce Roy, R- Williston, trailed with a vote tally of 16,080. Rohan St. Marthe, R-Jericho, got 8,619 votes and Taylor Craven, I-Shelburne, garnered 7,017 votes.
Together, the incumbents have served in the Statehouse for roughly 40 years. Lyons, chair of the House Committee on Health
See SENATE RACE on page 18
PHOTO BY ANDY BRUMBAUGH
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Ugly Sweater fun run returns this December
Don’t own an ugly sweater with a holiday theme? Well, there’s still time to buy one.
And, you’ll need one for the South Burlington Recreation and Parks Ugly Sweater Fun Run/Walk on Sunday, Dec. 8. Check-in starts at 10:15 a.m. at city hall, 180 Market St.
The 3-mile walking and running course traverses the city center area of South Burlington.
Beneficiaries of this annual fundraiser, inherited from its the Rotary Club of South Burlington, will be the community programs put on by the parks and rec department, including free shuttles to events, community dinners and barbecues, the scholarship fund, among others. There will also be a donation drive to benefit
South Burlington Food Shelf.
So come on out for a day filled with fun and exercise while proudly wearing your tackiest, craziest and ugliest sweaters. Oh, and bring the whole family.
Participants enjoy ugly sweater judging, of course, food, a silent auction, arts and crafts (cooking decorating, ornament making and holiday painting) face painting, and more. All indoor race events will take place at city hall.
Each runner will receive a 24-ounce aluminum water bottle.
The cost to register is $20 before Nov. 15, which then goes up to $30. Race day registration is $35. Kids pay $10, with those 12 and under able to participate for free.
To register, visit bit.ly/3YtecVE.
A scene from an earlier Ugly Sweater Run/Walk.
Newspaper publisher, editor passes baton to next generation
BOB MILLER AND GREG POPA
GROUP
After nearly 40 years at the Vermont Community Newspaper Group, Greg Popa is retiring from the newspapers at the end of the year.
For the past 12 years, Greg has served as publisher and editor of the newspaper company, which includes five newspapers — The Stowe Reporter, News and Citizen, Shelburne News, The Citizen and The Other Paper of South Burlington — and their associated websites, Stowe Weddings, and Stowe magazine.
Prior to that Greg served as a photographer, reporter, editor and sales manager for the Stowe Reporter for more than two decades. Under his leadership, the newspaper company and its team of journalists and graphic artists have won several hundred awards through the New England Newspaper and Press Association Better Newspaper Contest, and Stowe magazine, which Greg has edited since 1991, has been recognized as the best in its class in New England just about every year since 2010.
During his tenure as publisher, he oversaw the acquisition of the News & Citizen and the three weeklies in Chittenden County. He was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association Hall of Fame in 2022.
Fortunately for us, Greg has agreed to stay on and continue to edit and publish Stowe magazine. He will be missed but his passion and professionalism will remain embedded in the journalistic culture of everything that we do.
Tommy Gardner, the current news editor, will replace Greg as editor of Vermont Community Newspaper Group’s five community weeklies. Tommy is well known throughout the Lamoille County area as he grew up in Morristown and Hyde Park and attended Johnson State College and is starting his 12th year as lead reporter and mentor to the other journalists at the company. Previously, he worked at the Hardwick Gazette.
We are incredibly fortunate to have someone as talented and experienced as Tommy to lead us forward. Known for his elegant
and accessible writing, his work has also been regularly recognized by his peers in the regional newspaper awards contest.
In 2016, Gardner won the Mavis Doyle Award from the Vermont Press Association, which historically had been presented annually to one reporter in the state. The award is named for the former dean of the Statehouse press corps, and selection is based on “the reporter’s aggressiveness, determination, compassion, commitment to journalism, dedication to social justice and unwavering belief that journalism should be the watchdog of the government and the voice of the people.”
The role of publisher is going to be replaced by a management committee that will oversee all the operations of the newspaper
Author reads at SB library
group. Serving on the committee will be Bob Miller, who has been the majority owner of the newspapers for 12 years, sales manager Bryan Meszkat, production manager Katerina Werth, who will become general manager, and Tommy Gardner, editor.
This structure ensures that the company will be overseen by local employees and managers of the business and not by some out-of-state owner.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my 12-year ownership of these papers and working closely with Greg but it’s time to transfer the leadership and decision making to a younger and talented team of local managers who I’m excited to work with,” says Bob, who currently lives in Los Angeles.
All these moves will take place directly after the New Year.
On Saturday, Nov. 9, librarian and author Angela Kunkel will present her new book, “World More Beautiful,” in the South Burlington Public Library Marabella Kidspace. The picture book biography details the life and art of celebrated children’s book creator, Barbara Cooney, author and illustrator of “Miss Rumphius,” “Hattie and the Waves” and “Island Boy,” and the illustrator for “Ox Cart Man.” Kunkle’s book brings Cooney’s work to life and highlights the inspirational message spoken by one of Cooney’s beloved characters, Miss Rumphius — “You must do something to make the world more beautiful” — a message sure to inspire young readers and creators today. Kunkle will read from her new book and share a painting exercise inspired by the work of Cooney. Kunkle’s books will be available for purchase and signing. Learn more at southburlingtonlibrary.org.
COURTESY PHOTO
Total incidents: 253
Agency / public assists: 24
Directed patrol: 22
Traffic stop: 17
Accident: property damage: 10
Juvenile problem: 10
Alarm: 13
Foot patrol: 5
CRIME & COURTS
South
Burlington Police Blotter: Oct. 28 Nov. 3
Domestic: 6
Suspicious event: 13
Retail theft: 14
Motor vehicle complaint: 9
Welfare check: 9 911 hangup: 6
Trespass: 6
EARLY DEADLINES
THANKSGIVING
ISSUE
DATE: Wednesday, Nov. 27
BANG and Combo Ads
DEADLINE: Thursday, Nov. 21, 5 p.m.
Display and Classified Ads
DEADLINE: Friday, Nov. 22, Noon
Editorial Submissions
DEADLINE: Friday, Nov. 22, Noon
South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977 A publication of Vermont Community Newspaper Group LLC otherpapersbvt.com
Advertising Director
Judy Kearns judy@otherpapersbvt.com (802) 864-6670 x21
Advertising Wendy Ewing wendy@shelburnenews.com (802) 985-3091 x12
News Editor
Tommy Gardner
Staff Writers
Aaron Calvin Liberty Darr Patrick Bilow
Production Manager
Stephanie Manning stephanie@shelburnenews.com
Editor/Publisher Gregory Popa gpopa@stowereporter.com
Billing inquiries Leslie Lafountain leslie@stowereporter.com (802) 253-2101
Advertising submission deadline: Thursday at 5 p.m. advertising@otherpapersbvt.com classifieds@otherpapersbvt.com
Editorial submission deadline: Friday at 5 p.m. news@otherpapersbvt.com
Calendar submission deadline: Friday at 12 p.m. news@otherpapersbvt.com
Contact: 1340 Williston Road
South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 864-6670
Disturbance: 7
Field contact: 7
Found/lost property: 5
Fraud: 4
Threats: 2
Accident: insurance purposes: 2
Leaving the scene: 4
Larceny: other: 4
Larceny from a vehicle: 7
Stolen vehicle: 3
Unlawful mischief: 3
Mental health: 8
Arrests:
Oct. 29 at 10:22 a.m., Travis P. Heath, 52, of Colchester, was arrested for petty larceny on Dorset Street.
Oct. 30 at 2:03 p.m., a 19-year-old juvenile was arrested for violating conditions of release on Cottage Grove Avenue.
Oct. 30 at 8:45 p.m., Bradley M. St. Onge, 29, of Colchester, was arrested for driving under the influence, first offense, at Shelburne Road and Penny Lane.
Oct. 31 at 9:43 a.m., Jack A. Hurlbut, 28, no address provided, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Shelburne Road.
Oct. 31 at 11:02 a.m., Sean M. Brosnan, 38, of South Burlington, was arrested for unlawful trespass on Dorset Street.
Nov. 1 at 7:33 p.m., Daniel R.
Reynolds, 36, of St. Albans, was arrested on Interstate 89 at mile-marker 89 for driving a vehicle with an ignition interlock device.
Nov. 3 at 10:59 a.m., David A. Morrison, 32, no address provided, was arrested on an in-state warrant and unlawful trespass at Shelburne Road and Hannaford Drive.
Nov. 3 at 10:59 a.m., Milka Brkovic, 32, no address provided, was arrested on an in-state warrant and for operation without the owner’s consent at Shelburne Road and Hannaford Drive.
Note: Charges filed by police are subject to review by the Chittenden County State’s Attorney Office and can be amended or dropped.
Police arrest suspect in bank robberies
Burlington police on Friday arrested a man they say robbed three banks in Burlington and one in Winooski over the past week, according to Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad.
James Plunkett, 39, of Burlington, was arrested Friday on Riverside Avenue, Murad said. He was the primary suspect in a string of bank robberies in Burlington and Winooski.
According to Burlington police, Plunkett walked into three
Burlington banks — Opportunities Credit Union, KeyBank and M&T Bank — and told employees he had a bomb before making off with an undisclosed amount of cash.
He was also cited in previous news reports as the main suspect in the robbery of TD Bank on East Allen Street in Winooski.
In each of the incidents, Plunkett could be seen in security footage and, in one video, was seen fleeing the bank on his bike.
See PLUNKETT on page 7
COREY MCDONALD VTDIGGER
THANKSGIVING DINNER
in the Beautiful Four-Story Atrium Restaurant and Veranda at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Burlington THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28
SEATINGS AVAILABLE FROM 12:00-4:00 PM
MENU SELECTIONS
Raw Bar and Seafood Display
Cold Poached Salmon
Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce and Lemons
Smoked Oysters and Mussels Starters
Vermont Cheese Display
Salad Bar with Mixed Green and Toppings
Caesar Salad with Parmesan and Croutons
Garden Pasta Salad with Pesto Entrees
Cellentani Pasta in Garlic, Olive Oil, and Julienne Vegetables
Beef Tips in a Mushroom Balsamic Demi
Chef-Carved Roasted Turkey with Gravy Sides
Green Beans • Rice Pilaf • Mashed Potatoes • Sweet Potatoes
Roasted Butternut Squash • Stuffing • Cranberry Sauce
Rolls and Butter
Dessert Display
Cakes • Pies • Dessert Bars
DoubleTree Chocolate Chip Cookies and More
Above: Sue Dattilio poses with her family in front of the new street sign bearing their name.
Below: The Street Naming Committee displays their banner.
Dattilio Drive
PHOTOS BY ANDY BRUMBAUGH
South Burlington man arrested on child pornography charges
MIKE DONOGHUE CORRESPONDENT
A South Burlington man is facing a life sentence in prison after he was arrested for reportedly enticing minors to produce child sexual abuse material, federal officials said.
Jason McGrath, 44, appeared in U.S. District Court in Burlington last Friday after his arrest by U.S. Homeland Security Investigations. He is charged with coercion and enticement and attempted coercion and enticement of minors between March 2023 and September 2024.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection initially detained McGrath in Highgate Springs as he was on his way back to Vermont after spending his honeymoon in Montreal on Oct. 28, officials said.
Federal officials said the investigation showed McGrath, formerly of Essex Junction, had used “prolific efforts” to exploit children.
The payment history of McGrath’s PayPal account showed a large quantity of outgoing trans-
actions between February 2021 and June 2024, all going to a Southeast Asian country known to livestream child sexual abuse in exchange for money, Homeland Security investigator Josh Otey said.
The investigation found there was money being paid “for the production of child pornography and the ability to view livestreamed child pornography; requesting others to commit sexual acts on children as young as 9 years-old and document the abuse with photographs,” Jonathan Ophardt, an assistant U.S. attorney, said in court papers.
He said McGrath had convinced an individual self-identified as 16 years old to send naked photographs of herself.
While McGrath was detained at the international border at Highgate Springs, his home on Eldridge Street off Kennedy Drive was searched with help of South Burlington police, records showed
Ophardt said the search uncovered substantial computer equipment and investigators seized a high-performance gaming computer and an enterprise-level server
rack indicating McGrath had an above average knowledge of electronic storage and computer use.
An on-scene digital forensic specialist from the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force said he had never seen that level of equipment in a residential setting for private use in the execution of over 200 search warrants, Ophardt said.
McGrath faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.
The Chittenden County Sheriff’s Department also assisted in the criminal investigation.
During McGrath’s detention hearing, Federal Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle agreed to release the defendant on strict conditions. Doyle said McGrath would be under house arrest with electronic monitoring by the U.S. Probation Office.
McGrath’s defense attorney said he would likely need to move into a hotel because his South Burlington home would not be available.
More than a half dozen family and friends were at the court hearing.
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PLUNKETT
continued from page 4
Police said he robbed Opportunities Credit Union on North Avenue on Oct. 31, KeyBank on Bank Street on Oct. 28, and M&T Bank on Pine Street on Oct. 26. At M&T and Opportunities Credit Union, he told employees he had a bomb before making off with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Plunkett has a lengthy criminal history, with three assault charges, seven felony charges, 20 misdemeanor charges and 76 incidents going back to 2011, according to a Burlington police press release. He was separately spotted on video attempting to break into a home in Burlington’s New North End this month, police said.
“I am, once again, deeply appreciative of and impressed by the caliber of our city’s investigatory team,” Murad said in a press release. “I also offer sincere thanks to the South Burlington Police Department, the Winooski Police Department, and the Vermont State Police Northern Drug Task Force, personnel from each of which have contributed to this investigation and apprehension.”
South Burlington has also been hit with two bank robberies in recent weeks. On Oct. 29, a man entered the EastRise Credit Union on Shelburne Road in South Burlington demanding money, according to a police press release. The man told the bank teller he was armed “with an incendiary device,” police said.
South Burlington Police Chief Shawn Burke said his department is working closely with Burlington’s department, but said they don’t believe Plunkett to be a
Police seek man who robbed credit union
South Burlington police are investigating a robbery at the EastRise Credit Union on Shelburne Road on Tuesday, Oct. 29, around 4:52 p.m.
Police say the robber fled with an undisclosed amount of money.
The man entered the credit union, said he was armed with an incendiary device and demanded money, police said. The suspect never brandished a weapon or device.
Investigators are asking for the public’s help in identifying the man, shown here from video stills. Contact Det. Connor Lamay at clamay@ southburlingtonpolice.org or 802-846-4197. Anonymous tips are welcome.
South Burlington is being assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms’ Chittenden County Gun Violence Task Force.
suspect in the Oct. 29 robbery.
“We believe that our robbery was perpetrated by another person, and we are trying to discern whether or not Plunkett is working in concert with others or if ours is simply a standalone,” he said.
The robbery came a little more than a month after a robbery of KeyBank on Shelburne Road in South Burlington on Sept. 25, Burke said. Police are investigating whether there is a connection between that case and the incident at EastRise Credit Union.
Burke said the robberies in
the area are unusual, but also noted that it is common to see a repeat occurrence from lone individuals.
“It’s a trend we haven’t seen for a number of years, that’s for sure,” Burke said. “Generally, once you have one it’s pretty predictable, you’ll have two or three before you actually catch up with the person.”
Sarah Ruane, a spokesperson with the FBI’s Albany division, said the federal agency is aware of the incidents in both cities and is “assisting our law enforcement partners as needed.”
COURTESY PHOTO Police say this man is a suspect in an Oct. 29 robbery at a credit union on Shelburne Road.
School News
Japan Fest
South Burlington High School and Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School world language teachers, Sinyoung Ra Evans and Fiona Conners, in collaboration with students from the Japanese programs at the University of Vermont and Champlain College, made the third Japan Fest possible.
• The Island Memorial Difference:
•
•
•
• Immediate & Witness Cremation
Students learned Japanese expressions and signed their names in Japanese. Japan Fest is inspired by artwork and pictures of rice balls from students in high school Japanese program. Middle school participants created origami rice balls and donated them to the annual charity event Onigiri Action, which celebrates its 10th year of contributing to children in
around the world.
Puppets in Education
Puppets in Education visited Rick Marcotte Central School this week to teach children how to keep themselves safe and healthy and to appreciate each other’s differences through puppetry. The group talks with students about bullying, abuse, autism, health and cultural and physical differences.
‘We are still here’
COURTESY PHOTO
COURTESY PHOTO
Artist Tim Brookes, founder of Endangered Alphabets, travels with his team all over the world to document and carve signs in languages of cultures that are being threatened. He visited Gertrude Chamberlin School in South Burlington for a demonstration of how he works for students and gifted a sign he carved in Abenaki that reads, “We are still here” that will hang in the school lobby.
HONORING
The Veterans Among Us
LEONARD ROBERGE United States Navy; WW II Yeoman First Class 1942–1945
WILLIAM AGNEW USMC Corporal 1980-1983
BRUCE BOOZAN United States Army SP/4 Vietnam/Korea 1968–1969
CPL. HENRY V. ATHERTON US Air Force, 448th Bomb Group Aircraft Armorer B-24’s Station 146, Seething, Norfolk, England November 1943 - July 1945
ARTHUR J. BLAINE United States Air Force (Ret.) Master Sergeant 1954-1976: France, Germany, Vietnam, Thailand and Guam
RUSSELL D. CHASE Army Air Corp 2nd Lieutenant (Ret.) 1942–1946, 1950–1967
DANE C. BACON United States Air Force Sergeant October 1976 - October 1980
BRIAN N. BLANCHETTE USNR 1965-1971 active duty 1967-1969
ALBERT “SKIP” BALTZ United States Air Force (Ret.) Ch (Col) 1978-2010
CHESTER L. BODETTE WWII Germany/Japan USAAF/USAF/VTANG 1944-1987 CMSGT
ROBERT D. BRUECKNER United States Army
BETTY BANDEL Woment’s Army Corps Air WAC Division Lieutenant Colonel, 1942-1945
A. RICHARD BOERA United States Navy Lieutenant (J.G.) World War II July 1943–September 1946
DONALD JOHNSTONE United States Army WWII Sargent Tech/ 30th Infantry Div. 1943-1945
MORTON A. LORD United States Air Force Captain Feb. 1962–Jan. 1969
ROBERT A. MILLETTE United States Navy; WW II Seaman 1st Class 1944-1946
ROSANNE M. GRECO United States Air Force (Ret.) Colonel | 1973 - 2003 Strategic Intelligence Officer & Nuclear Arms Control Negotiator Postings across the US, Europe and Far East
WALTER J. LUCHINI United States Army, SP 4 Years of service: 1963 - 1966 United States and South Korea
GEORGE
InMemoriam
MSGR. JOHN R. MCSWEENEY United States Air Force 1st Lieutenant 4750th Air Defense Wing Yuma, Ariz. 1953 - 1956
RICHARD ARVID JACOBSON United States Navy Yeoman 2nd Class October 1943–June 1946
ELEANOR ALEXANDER Jacobson (In Memoriam) United States Navy, WAVE Yeoman Third Class September 1944–June 1946
DEBBIE OAKES United States Army Sergeant 1977-1980
LAURIE JACQUES USCG and ARNG 1994-2005 DENNIS JOHNSON A2C USAF 1959 -1963
ROGER
FLORENCE M. MACALISTER United States Marine Corps Sergeant | WWI 1918-19 HQS, US Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.
FELIX F. COWEY, JR.
Col. Ret. United States Army Korea 1949, 1951-52 West Point 1946
EDWARD GARVEY United States Air Force
S/Sgt, Communications Specialist 764th Radar Squadron, St. Albans Headquarters, 31st Air Division, MN
ROBERT ERNEST KAIGLE
United States Navy World War II, 1943-1945 Korean War, 1950-1951
DEAN KIRBY United States Air Force A1C Viet Nam 1970
JUDITH A. COHEN Captain, Nurse Corps, USNR-R Reserve service 1973-2004 Active duty 1975-1978 National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD
WM DAVID GERNS, JR ICC(SW) United States Navy (Ret.) 1st Class Petty Officer
GORDON KEARNS United States Army WWII
DAVID R. LECLAIR United States Marine Corps Corporal 1976-1980
InMemoriam
W. DONALD DALTON, SR. United States Navy 1942–1946
CHRISTOPHER GIRARD United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel 1965-1985
DAVID W. GARVEY USMC, Sargent EOD Specialist 1985-1993
PIERRE LEMIEUX United States Marine Corps 4th Marine Infantry Regiment Sergeant, Vietnam Veteran July 23, 1963–October 14, 1966
InMemoriam
C. LOUIS “LOU” DEFORGE United States Army Captain 1967 - 1971
HENRY JOSEPH GIROUX III United States Navy Chief Petty Officer
J KEEFE United States Marine Corps Corporal May 1976 - May 1980
GARROW United States Navy Torpedo Man
JAMES M. KEHOE VT Air National Guard Chief Master Sergeant 158th FW DET 1 at Langley AFB
LOU LERTOLA US Army, US Army Reserve & VTANG 1960–1994 Command Sergeant Major 40 years military service
J. KEHOE VT Air National Guard Technical Sergeant
LEWBER (w/daughter Leanne) VTANT/US Marine Corps Sargeant, Flight Medic Served in Iraq
TIMOTHY
TRAVIS
CHAD
RICHARD
JESSE W. ROBERTS United States Army, WW II 1st Lieutenant 2nd Armored Div. 1942–1945
MICHAEL G SMITH United States Army Command Sergeant Major
JOHN WILLIAM STOCKS United States Army Intelligence Chief Warrant Officer 4 [P] Afghanistan
JOHN CHARLES ROBERTS United States Navy Chief Petty Officer, 1930–1960 Pearl Harbor Survivor President Vermont Chapter
BERNHARDT SMYLE VT National Guard/ United States Army 43rd Infantry Division, Retired Captain 1969
ALBERT V. STONE United States Army PFC World War II Purple Heart
FLOYD SHEPARD USN Nov 1944 - July 1946 ANG Jan 1951 - October 1952
JIM SORRELL United States Air Force Strategic Air Command 1968–1972
RAYMOND R. UNSWORTH U.S. Coast Guard Lieutenant j.g. July 1942–December 1945 Atlantic & Pacific
ROBERT VOGEL United States Army Corporal T5 1943-1945
EDWARD SCHIRMER United States Air Force 50 combat missions; Korea 1951–1955
MICHAEL N. SPARGO US Marine Corps 1994-2002 US Air Force Reserve 2002 to Present Lieutenant Colonel USAF, Staff Judge Advocate Kuwait and United Arab Emirates Veteran
SSGT. JOHN HERNANDEZ U.S. Navy 1979-1984 U.S. Army National Guard 2001-2016 Iraq & Afghanistan Deployments
MARTIN SMITH United States Army Sergeant
EDWARD “ED” W. STEELE United States Army, SP5 3 years active duty, Germany, 1 year Vermont Army National Guard, SB.
WALSH United States Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) 1955–1976, Vietnam Veteran
JEANETTE
ROBERT
THEODORE
DENNIS E. LUTZ Retired Colonel, Army 1967-2004 Vietnam 1969-1970 VT National Guard Brigadier General 1999-2004
PAUL G. MAYER United States Marine Corps Corporal 3rd Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, Lima Company March 1967- April 1968 Vietnam
FRANK F. PARIS US Army - CE SGT First Class Feb. 1951–Feb. 1954
United States Army Vermont National Guard Lieutenant Colonel
DAVID L. MAGNAN United States Navy Seabee Vietnam 1968-1969
DANIEL L MEUNIER Vermont Army Nat’l Guard Sergeant | 1975-1995 Operation Desert Storm, 1990-1991
GARTH L. PETERSON United States Air Force Captain February 1964–July 1969 Vietnam Veteran
DAVID J. ROBERTS United States Army Ordnance 2nd Lieutenant 1971-1973
ED MARCEAU Army Dentist 1942-1945
JEFFREY PHILBIN United States Army 1st Lieutenant Current station: Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, GA
MICHAEL PAPARIELLO LTC - United States Army Deployed as MAJOR Afghanistan 2010
W.
United States Army Intelligence Captain 1966-1973
MICHELLE MARCEAU Navy Aerospace Physiologist 1992-1997 KEITH MARSTON Staff Sargent Air Force Strategic Air Command 1952-1965
RALPH PAQUETTE United States Air Force Captain, B-52 pilot/aircraft commander; 1969–1976
CLAYTON H. PORTER United States Navy RMSN Korean Conflict Oct. 1950 - Feb. 1952
RYAN D. POIRIER United States Marines Corporal 1st Marine Division 2004-2008
TERENCE PAQUETTE (with son Gavin) United States Army Staff Sergeant
1964-1965
CHRISTOPHER T. RUGGERIO
JESSE
ROBERTS, JR.
JIM RUBLEE Lt. United States Navy, Ret. US Navy 1962 - 1981 Vietnam
GEORGE J. ELLWOOD Lt. Col. U.S. Army Vermont National Guard Vermont State Guard 1943-1999
DONALD BOYLE U.S. Marines, 8 years Sergeant World War II & Korea Battle of Iwo Jima, Age 18
ARTHUR R. ZIENER U.S. Army, PFC World War II, 1941-1945
SHIRLEY BOYLE U.S. Navy-Wave Petty Officer 2nd Class 8 years World War II & Korea
ROBERT A. CHRISTOFFEL U.S. Army, E5 Sergeant 1968-1974, Vietnam
RICHARD G. CARTER U.S. Navy WWII 1943 (left) U.S. Army Korean War 1951 (right)
FRANCIS BOYLE U.S. Navy, 30 years Chief Petty Officer World War II & Korea
PAUL BOYLE U.S. Air Force, 21 years Master Sergeant Hospital Administrator Operation Iraqi Freedom
VINCENT N. MERCADANTE U.S. Army Air Corp Corporal WWII (1942-1946)
JERRY MERCADANTE U.S. Navy Seaman 3rd Class WWII (1942-1945)
WILLIAM BLANCHETTE United States Army North Africa, European Theatre EX POW
PAUL MERCADANTE U.S. Army Private WWII (1943-1945)
JOSEPH BOYLE U.S. Marines, 30 years Gunnery Sergeant 3 Tours Vietnam Died: Agent Orange
United States Air Force Master Sergeant February 1957 – April 1979
KARL R. GABBEITT U.S. Army, PFC World War II 13th Airborne Division 676th Glider Field Artillery 1943-1946
T. NOWAK U.S. Navy Commander USNA
CRAIG H. SUTHERLAND United States Army Sergeant 1985-2020 Afghanistan, 5 years
FRED EUGENE AUSTIN U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer E7 20 years of service Top recruiter, Montpelier recruiting station Served with distinction during Korean conflict
RICHARD
CHARLES F. BOUDREAU U.S. Navy Second Class Petty Officer Fire Controlman 4 Years Vietnam War
JOSEPH GONYAW United States Navy Petty Officer 3rd class
THEODORE GONYAW United States Navy Petty Officer 1st class
DOUGLAS (DOUG) BOYLE
ROBERT E. KAIGLE Gunners Mate Third Class Navy WWII - April 1943 - Nov. 1945 Korean WarAug. 1950 - Dec. 1951
JEFF DESLAURIERS VT Army National Guard 186th VTANG Brigade Specialist
KURT P. EIFLING, M.D. US Navy Afghanistan Lieutenant, Surgeon 3rd Battalion 8th Marines 2010-2013
ORWELL C. TOUSLEY U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class 1942-1946 Orwell went through two of McArthur’s South Pacific campaigns as a corpman
GEORGE H. AGNEW PFC Army 1958-1960
KACIE ANN DURHAM United States Army Specialist Combat Medic Joint Base-Lewis McChord, WA
LEONARD S. MERCIA United States Air Force Crew Chief, T/Sgt. World War II Jan. 13, 1942 - Jan. 11, 1946
SEL YARGICI Sergeant First Class (Ret.) United States Army 1999-2022 Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Afghanistan
PAUL DEGRECHIE United States Air Force Staff Sergeant Thunderbird F-16 aircraft mechanic
MAUREEN L. DWYER U.S. Army Nurse Corps Captain 67th EVAC Hospital, Vietnam 1967-1970
DAN DESLAURIERS VT Army National Guard 186th VTANG Brigade Sergeant
MURRAY EDELSTEIN United States Navy Submarine Service EN3 June 1948 – December 1953
DAVID DESLAURIERS SR. United States Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class USS Grand Canyon, AR-28 1974-1978
PAUL A. EDWARDS Vermont Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major Afghanistan & Iraq Veteran
CHARLES KOWALEWITZ United States Army Corporal World War II PAUL GODARD Staff Sergeant Vietnam 1967-1971
P. MENARD US Navy EM3 Sept. 1973 - Oct. 1977
ALDEN “DUKE” EHLER United States Air Force Master Sergeant Korean War
JOHN C. BOYD United States Army (Retired) Major General 36 years of service
R. BOYD Vermont Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel 29 years of service
DANIEL
JASEN
BRIAN BARROWS United States Army, Iraq and Afghanistan Captain 2004-2014
HORACE BRONSON US Air Force
PAUL LEO COUTURE U.S. Army Specialist 3 1955-1958
WAYNE BRONSON U.S. Army Afghanistan
JOSEPH W. LANE SR. United States Navy Airman Technical Second Class Petty Officer 1950-1954 InMemoriam
A. DATTILIO Vermont Army National Guard Sergeant 1st Class 1970-1995 25 Years
ROBIN WING VT Army National Guard Staff Sergeant 1997 to present
DR. TRAVIA CHILDS United States Navy Lieutenant 2010 - 2011
R. HARRY ORTH U.S. Army Corporal 1951-1953
JOSEPH W. LANE JR. United States Navy Radioman Second Class 1971-1975
FABIAN ANDERSON HERBERT US Army (Retired) Sergeant First Class 2008-2022
RYAN COLBY BURT United States Air Force Captain 158 Fighter Wing F-35 Lightning II Fighter Pilot 2014-present
R. YOUNG United States Coast Guard Radioman 3rd Class Petty Officer 5 years of service
H. MUNSON United States Navy CT2 Vietnam 1960-1966
ARTHUR S. KUNIN US Army Private First Class 1943-1944 Purple Heart and Bronze Star
GEORGE THOMAS DI FERDINANDO United States Army Private First Class 1943-1946
R. ZIENER JR. United States Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer 1970-1996 InMemoriam
VAL PREDA Captain 8th AF POW 1944-1945 PH B24 Purple Heart Air Medal
CAPORLINGUA United States Navy - WAVES Apprentice Seaman 1943 - 1945 InMemoriam
C IRISH U.S Army Sargent First Class 23 years of service
CHARLES
PETER
KENNETH
BARRY
JAMES
SARINA
ARTHUR
Holiday bazaar
At Faith United Methodist Faith United Method Church of South Burlington will host its annual holiday bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 9, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., 899 Dorset St. Featured this year are a large variety of adult and children’s new and like new winter coats for $10-$20 each, a huge cookie walk, fudge, pies, to-go soup, and lots of holiday and home decor. All proceeds will go directly to the South Burlington Food Shelf.
Contact Diane at events@faithsbvt.org with any questions.
Christian Scientist talks about God’s healing
Nikki O’Hagan, a Christian Scientist and international speaker, will present a free one-hour talk, “The Science of God and It’s Power to Heal Us,” on Saturday, Nov. 16, at The University of Vermont, Dudley H. Davis Center, Jost Room.
The talk will focus on universal healing precepts found in the Bible, especially in Jesus’ life and teachings, and show how they are available for anyone to understand and experience through the lens of Christian Science. The talk is and sponsored by First Church of Christ, Scientist, Burlington.
Sharing examples of healing
from her own life and professional practice of Christian Science, O’Hagan will explain why Christian Science is both Christian and scientific, meaning that people can prove its effectiveness for themselves. The practice is fully described in the book, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” written by the founder of the Christian Science movement, Mary Baker Eddy.
O’Hagan travels from her home in County Kildare, Ireland, to speak to audiences as a member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship.
Learn more at christianscienceburlington.org.
Burlington Civic Symphony holds fall concert
The Burlington Civic Symphony presents its fall concert on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m., at the ElleyLong Music Center in Colchester with guest conductor Cole Marino.
The program will feature Gioachino Rossini’s Semiramide Overture, the Karelia Suite by Jean Sibelius and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A major. Marino, a classically trained conductor, baritone and keyboardist, graduated from the Manhattan School of Music in 2020.
Information and tickets can be found at bcsovt.org.
Schoolgirl samplers
The Vermont Sampler Initiative will hold Sampler and Embroidery ID Days on Friday, Nov. 15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 16, 10 a.m.2:30 p.m., at the Holy Family St. Lawrence Church Hall in Essex Junction to register samplers and other embroideries made by schoolgirls before 1900. At this event, samplers will be photographed, a detailed description will be recorded, and owners will be asked to share the history of the sampler and its maker. The Sampler Initiative has registered nearly 800 samplers from 157 individuals and organizations. The Vermont initiative is part of the National Sampler Archive Project, a national effort to document schoolgirl samplers made in this country. The images and information are online at samplerarchive.org. To schedule an appointment, email samplersvt@gmail.com.
HONORING
The Veterans Among Us
DOUGLAS
JOSEPH
COURTESY PHOTO
SB House reps step into a new biennium
LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
While national and statewide races heated up on Tuesday’s General Election night, the polls in South Burlington remained steadily busy despite a local election which saw five uncontested House races.
But that was about as sleepy
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and Welfare, has served in the Legislature for 12 terms. Hinsdale, chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs has served six terms in the Legislature, four of those in the House — where she sat on the House General, Housing and Military Affairs, and Ways and Means Committees, and served as vice chair of the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee — and two in the Senate. And Chittenden, a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, has served two terms in the Senate after three terms on the South Burlington City Council.
While Democrats won big in Chittenden-Southeast, the Senate overall lost its Democratic supermajority as Republicans flipped six seats, unseating four incum-
as the next two months are going to get for the four incumbents and one newcomer as they head to the Statehouse in January to tackle some difficult issues.
South Burlington saw a nearly 73 percent voter turnout on General Election Day. Bridget Burkhardt, Democratic candidate for Chittenden-8, garnered roughly 2,182 votes. Emilie Krasnow,
Democratic incumbent for Chittenden-9, brought in 1,924 votes. Kate Nugent, Democratic incumbent for Chittenden-10, had 1,971 votes. Brian Minier, Democratic incumbent for Chittenden-11, 1,693 votes, and Martin LaLonde, Democratic incumbent for Chittenden-12, received 2,402 votes.
An interactive map designed and updated by University of
Vermont students in the school’s Community News Service journalism internship shows that, as of Thursday, more than 47 percent of mail-in ballots in the entire state had been returned and accepted. Nearly 48 percent of South Burlington voters had also submitted early ballots.
um: affordability. He anticipates that his committee will be looking primarily at how to fund education in the state.
bents and dominating races for open seats, according to VTDigger, nearly doubling its representation from seven seats to 13.
The Senate chair of the natural resources and energy committee, Sen. Chris Bray, an Addison County Democrat, lost to a political newcomer, Steven Heffernan, while Katherine Sims, who mounted an aggressive campaign for the Orleans County Senate district lost handily to her GOP opponent, Sam Douglass.
Other Senate Democrats in Orange, Grand Isle, Caledonia and Chittenden counties were also defeated.
The Republican strategy of blaming the Democratic supermajority for steep tax increases this year seems to have paid off statewide, if not in Chittenden-Southeast.
Lyons told The Other Paper in October that an experienced Senate is something that will be crucial in the next biennium as hot topics loom. From housing and combating climate change to property taxes and education funding reform, the legislature is facing a monumental year with each incumbent candidate outlining these issues as top priorities.
“It’s really important to have experienced leadership in the Senate and I do bring that, and I will continue to bring that,” Lyons said.
Roy, who garnered 11.8 percent of South Burlington’s votes Tuesday night, brought in $21,500 to finance his campaign in total. Hinsdale raised just over $26,000 for her campaign. Chittenden brought in $11,833 and Lyons $3,370.
Spirits were high at polling locations in South Burlington Tuesday night as election hours waned. Voters were still lining Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School to cast last-minute ballots while attendance at City Hall’s polling location was slowly dwindling as 6 p.m. neared.
Jason Kirchick, justice of the peace in South Burlington since 2016, said that elections always offer a unique sense of community, regardless of what’s happening on a national and statewide level. Most people, he said, offered a passing “thank you” to poll workers and those volunteering for the night.
“You hear what’s on the national media, but I think when you get down to the local, it’s just a different vibe,” he said.
While Burkhardt may be new to the Statehouse, she served three terms on the South Burlington School Board from 20162022. With her nearly six years of experience on the other side of the table crafting and shaping school budgets, education reform has remained a top priority for the candidate this year.
Minier, a member of the House Committee on Education and former South Burlington school board member, told The Other Paper in October that there’s one big prevailing theme taking shape for this next bienni-
LaLonde is currently the longest reigning South Burlington House representative with 10 years at the Statehouse, and over 10 years on the South Burlington School Board. Now as chair of the House Committee on Judiciary, he said this year the committee will continue focusing on the court’s backlog, addressing domestic violence and firearm legislation and restorative justice programs.
For Krasnow, the pull to political work just seemingly runs in her blood. Just like her late father, Gerald, a representative from Charlotte from 1994-1998, Krasnow spent this campaign season actively knocking on doors in her Chittenden-9 district, despite running uncontested. As a member of the House Committee on General and Housing, she said she launched her first campaign two years ago with the housing affordability crisis in mind. But this year, she says the answer to some of the state’s pressing issues is a combination of regulatory reform and multipronged investments — both in the short term and the long term.
South Burlington overwhelmingly voted for presidential candidate Kamala Harris over Donald Trump, the expection national winner, 9,974-2,207.
Republican Gov. Phil Scott received the highest votes in South Burlington with 8,596. Former Democratic lieutenant governor David Zuckerman received 7,035 votes while Republican John Rodgers garnered 4,255
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ed Tuesday — as was an assistant majority leader of the party — ensuring major changes to the chamber when lawmakers return to Montpelier in January.
The outcome mirrored that of the Vermont Senate, where Republicans toppled four incumbents and picked up two additional seats in the 30-member body.
Vermont Republican Party Chair Paul Dame said the Republican successes in legislative races will force Democrats to work with Republican Gov. Phil Scott, who cruised to reelection Tuesday.
“I don’t think we’ve had a night this good in 10 years,” Dame said. “Tonight, voters have weighed in on how to solve that stalemate. They said, ‘You should have been listening to the governor in (the) last two years.’”
Speaking at an election party in South Burlington on Tuesday night, House Speaker Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington, bemoaned the outcomes of that day’s elections.
“Our stomachs are in knots tonight about what’s happening with the national election and elections here at home,” said Krowinski, flanked by about a dozen House colleagues. “We are still waiting to get final results from across the state. We’ve picked up some seats. We’ve lost some seats. It’s difficult, but what I want Vermonters to know is that we still have your back.”
Democratic incumbents ousted Tuesday:
• Rep. Diane Lanpher in the Addison-3 district
• Rep. Mike McCarthy in Franklin-3
• Rep. William Notte in the Rutland-7 House district.
• Rep. Josie Leavitt in the Grand Isle-Chittenden district
• Rep. Dennis Labounty in the Caledonia-3 district
• Rep. Robin Chestnut-Tangerman in the Bennington-Rutland district
• Rep. Jim Carroll in the Bennington-5 district
Jim Dandeneau, executive director of the Vermont Democratic Party, said in an interview around 11:15 p.m. at the party’s election night gathering in South Burlington that the state GOP’s — and particularly Scott’s — messaging over property taxes proved to be more effective on the campaign trail than what he called Democrats’ “herculean work” knocking on doors and engaging with voters on the ground.
Scott and the GOP, Dandeneau said, “overwhelmed people’s concerns about the future of our democracy with concerns about the future of their own pocketbooks.”
Zuckerman loses
John Rodgers, a Republican from Glover, was elected lieutenant governor Tuesday, unseating Progressive/Democrat Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman in a rare ouster of a state-
wide incumbent.
The dramatic conclusion came at the end of a highly competitive — and at times highly personal — contest for the state’s second highest-ranking office.
The outcome became clear around 1:20 a.m. Wednesday, when the last of Vermont’s 247 towns and cities reported results. At that time, Rodgers led Zuckerman 46.2 percent to 44.6 percent, according to the Secretary of State’s Office — with just 5,959 votes separating them.
“We feel like we’ve got it,” Rodgers said earlier Wednesday morning, in a phone call around 12:30 a.m. “We couldn’t be happier with the results.”
About an hour before that, Zuckerman addressed reporters at the Vermont Democratic Party’s election night party in South Burlington, saying “there’s certainly a decent chance I’m going to lose” but declining to formally concede the race.
The result means that Republican Gov. Phil Scott — who cruised to reelection on Tuesday — will have a close ally serving in the lieutenant governor’s office for the first time in the eight years he’s served as chief executive.
The race saw both Rodgers and Zuckerman, who work as farmers and previously served alongside each other as state legislators, pitch themselves as a stronger voice for working class people and the better candidate to help tackle concerns over affordability and property tax increases in many communities necessary to fund public education.
Zuckerman was seeking his fourth term in the lieutenant governor’s office.
Speaking at the Democratic party event, he acknowledged that Rodgers’ campaign messaging was effective, though the incumbent characterized it as “a lot of promises, and really, capitalizing on people’s frustration.”
Strong turnout
Throughout Vermont on Tuesday, voters streamed into polling places to cast their ballots in an election that has been marked by extraordinary anticipation and division at the national level and a more muted debate closer to home.
More than 220,000 Vermonters — roughly two-fifths of the state’s registered voters — had already voted before Tuesday, Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas said at a press conference that afternoon. She said she expected overall voter turnout to be high, though she said it was too soon to say whether it would exceed the high-water mark set four years earlier, when nearly 371,000 Vermonters — or roughly 73 percent of registered voters — took part in the election.
According to the Community News Service, 47.12 percent of mail-in ballots
were returned and accepted as of Nov 5. Charlotte and Shelburne had the highest percentage of mail-in ballots at 65 percent and 62 percent, respectively.
Though many voted early, some said they preferred to wait until Election Day to part with their ballot.
Though few statewide candidates in Vermont face serious challenges this cycle, Gov. Phil Scott and his fellow Republicans have sought to make the election a referendum on the Democratic supermajority that controls the Statehouse.
That message resonated for Joan Forbes, a 73-year-old Middlebury resident who owns a concrete company. Outside the Middlebury Recreation Center on Tuesday morning, she said that she was hoping to give Scott “the help that he needs to do things to make Vermont livable right now.”
But like Vermonters traditionally do, Forbes said she was splitting her ticket — voting for Republicans in statewide races and for Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, for president. “That’s new for me!” she exclaimed.
Explaining her vote for Harris over former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee and Tuesday’s winner, Forbes said, “I just don’t like the negativity. He has to badmouth everyone. People shouldn’t do that.”
While Harris won Vermont’s three electoral votes, the country has a whole will send Trump back to the White House in January.
Norman Boyden, 80, a retired clockmaker from Williston, stood outside the armory in his town with a sign and a hat emblazoned with the name of his friend, Bruce Roy, a Republican candidate for state Senate in the Chittenden-South district. He noted that he also had a Trump hat waiting for him in his Jeep, which featured a Trump bumper sticker.
“Trump is not a perfect person. None of us are. Has he made mistakes? Absolutely,” Boyden said. “But the other side has made far more mistakes.”
Referring to two foiled assassination attempts on the Republican presidential nominee, Boyden said, “He’s risking his life to bring balance back.”
Donna Mae Peck, 78, sounded a similar note when voting at Lake Region Union High School in Barton Tuesday morning.
“The country is going to hell, and we need a big change in administration,” the retired chef said of the presidency.
Peck said she believes Scott is an “excellent” governor. As for legislative Democrats? “Everything he tries to do, they override his veto,” she said. “There are too many out-of-staters, transplants, running the state now. They don’t seem to care what the real Vermonters want.”
Other statewide races
Vermonters reelected the state’s attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer and auditor of accounts by comfortable margins Tuesday, sending a slate of incumbent Democrats (and one Democrat/Progressive) back to office.
Unofficial results from the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office just after 12:30 a.m. Wednesday morning showed victories for attorney general Charity Clark, secretary of state Sarah Copeland Hanzas, treasurer Mike Pieciak and auditor Doug Hoffer.
None of the incumbents faced competitive challenges.
Reporting by VTDigger journalists Neal Goswami, Ethan Weinstein, Shaun Robinson, Sarah Mearhoff, Emma Cotton, Kevin O’Connor, Neal Goswami, Paul Heintz, Klara Bauters, Peter D’Auria and Auditi Guha.
Barre, Williston, St. Albans
PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER
People follow election results during a Democratic Party election night gathering in South Burlington on Tuesday.
In girls’ soccer After spirited title run, Wolves lose to CVU
When the South Burlington girls’ soccer team stepped on the field on Saturday in the Division I state championship team, they had nothing to lose.
As the No. 10 seed in the tournament, the Wolves upset No. 7 Mount Anthony, No. 2 Essex and No. 6 St. Johnsbury to book their spot in the title game.
Unfortunately, the Wolves could not pull off one final upset in their final game. They fell to top-seed Champlain Valley, 2-0, in the D-I title game at the University of Vermont’s Virtue Field.
“Once playoffs started, we knew that the 10 seed didn’t tell the whole story of this team, and we had more to show. Whether it’s cheesy or not, we believed we could do it,” South Burlington coach Lindsay Austin-Hawley said. “They accomplished a lot this season, whether we’re 10th seed or not, but they showed that anything’s possible and we got to the championship.”
South Burlington was in its third title game in the last five years and the Wolves were never the No. 1 seed, testament to a program that battles to the end every season.
“Just because you’re seeded first doesn’t mean that you’re
going to win it,” Austin-Hawley said. “That gave us a little bit of confidence. And again, the reality was we didn’t have anything to lose.”
Champlain Valley put to bed the hopes of another comeback late in the first half. Rieanna Murray scored in the 31st minute to put the team up 1-0. Kate Roberts doubled the score early in the second half to carry the Redhawks to the program’s 21st state title.
In goal, Gillian Bachand made three saves for the Wolves.
“Unfortunately, we definitely didn’t play our best. I’ve seen us have better games,” Austin-Hawley said. “We’re a young team so when you get into championship games, the nerves come. Unfortunately, it’ part of the gig, but their perseverance and dedication to play to the last whistle was amazing.”
A championship game appearance did not seem in the cards midway through the season for the Wolves, who had just two wins in mid-October. But some late-building team chemistry and strong senior leadership came through as the regular season wrapped up and South Burlington peaked at just the right time.
“A team that finished in 10th place and to have these five seniors still have trust in us
Cross country title
The Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School boys’ cross-country
besting Essex
and
Other finishers in the top 100 included James Conway IV
and Sam Robinson (69th).
going into the playoffs is what we needed,” Austin-Hawley said.
“They said, ‘We have a lot more to show so let’s get this done,’ and it really helped us push through.”
Now the Wolves have something to build on for next year, with a young roster that will
enter next season with some key lessons and championship game experience. Now, they can look at taking steps forward next season after a rewarding postseason run.
“It really was a great ride for these kids, and it was an amazing experience for the young ladies,”
Austin-Hawley said. “They’re determined and they have perseverance, and they overcame a lot of obstacles together.
“They never stopped working and they always wanted to compete. I’m very proud of them for that.”
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team recently won its second state title in a row with a score of 102,
(118)
Montpelier (141). Jack Henry was the school’s top finisher. He came in second with a time of 10:22.50.
(18th), Briar Parlante (33rd), Max Gurtman (42nd), James Channon (53rd)
Boys’ volleyball wins South Burlington its first-ever program title
LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT
Last season, the South Burlington boys’ volleyball team had to watch as another team celebrated a Division I championship win across from them.
The experience stuck with them and, this season, the Wolves refused to walk away with less than the D-I trophy.
“We remembered the loss last year and we came back stronger,” South Burlington senior Yi Chen said. “We played our hearts out.”
After Sunday’s volleyball state championship at Saint Michael’s College, South Burlington came away with the trophy and an undefeated record after beating Essex 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-21).
“These boys have been working off-season, in season, they have been facing mental and physical barriers but at the end of the day, these boys really pulled through,” South Burlington coach Jake Dougherty said. “Their passion is unbelievable. It’s groundbreaking for the entire program.”
After last year’s final, the Wolves saw their championship dreams come to an end in a 16-14 fifth set tiebreaker loss to Burlington. The program’s eight seniors immediately began planning for a return to the final.
“I have been thinking about this for the past year,” South Burl-
ington’s Brendan McGinley said. “This was the goal since the end of last year, this has been the goal the entire time, this is what we have been working toward. It’s super
In championship game
rewarding.”
South Burlington was not going to let its second opportunity slip through its fingers. After trading points early in the first set, the
Field hockey team falls to top-seed Rice
LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT
For most of Friday’s Division I field hockey state championship game, South Burlington went toe-to-toe with the undefeated top seed Rice.
As the team’s continued to trade shots, saves and penalty corners, it became increasingly clear that the title game was a staring contest between two top teams that would come down to who blinked first.
“Right from the initial two or three minutes, we got some shots off on net, had some corners, and then obviously the game kept going and we were able to keep them off the board,” South Burlington coach Anjie Soucy said. “The longer it went, the more we really felt we had a chance.”
Unfortunately for the Wolves, they blinked first.
The Green Knights struck to break a scoreless tie with nine minutes, 17 seconds to play to capture the program’s first D-I state title since 2019.
“Just a well-executed corner,”
Soucy said of the game-winning goal. “I mean, everyone knows that she’s their go-to on corners, and she just hit a really clean shot.”
Heading into the game, defending champs South Burlington were, in many ways, considered the underdog. Rice had a 15-0-1 record heading into the game and had beat the Wolves 4-0 and 6-2 in two regular season meetings.
South Burlington faced the Green Knights in the title game last season and, in Friday’s game, their championship pedigree emerged as the two teams battled for the trophy.
“It was a great game,” Soucy said. “I feel like it could have gone either way. It wasn’t one of those where you’re just hanging on the whole time, just hoping that they don’t score. It was definitely a back-and-forth contest, and I’m super proud of my kids for that.”
The Wolves could not contain the Green Knights forever, though, and the top seed finally converted.
“Our two regular season games with them didn’t go as we wanted,” Soucy said. “So, when we got the opportunity to play them a third
time, the kids were very focused on making the adjustments that we needed to make.”
Goalkeeper Amber Rousseau finished with six saves for the Wolves, one of the team’s seven seniors who were key in helping the team rebound from an 0-2 start.
“They’ve just been a great group of not just great players, but they’re great kids,” Soucy said of her senior leaders. “They have just helped carry on the traditions of our program and show the younger kids what the expectations are.”
A few of these seniors, Sawyer Bailey, Elisa Knoth and Kayla Kim, have been with Soucy all four years and have appeared in four D-I state title games, winning two championships in their careers.
“There are not many kids who can say they’ve been in the state championship all four years of high school for a sport, so that’s pretty impressive,” Soucy said. It was the fourth year in a row that the Wolves appeared in the D-I title game and 12th time for the program overall.
“Last year, we were up 2-1, we had a great lead and then we got really excited and ended up losing,” McGinley said. “This year, we didn’t get excited. We kept our foot on the gas the entire game.”
South Burlington secured the title in a tight, back-and-forth third set. The Hornets would not give up, but a quick 4-0 run while Adhitia Budathoki was serving gave the Wolves enough breathing room for the 25-21 third-set win.
“We were looking at the empty spot on our gym wall for our banner,” Chen said. “We are going to be happy when it gets hung up.”
It is the first state championship for the South Burlington program, which finished with a 17-0 record.
“These boys made history,” Dougherty said. “I think these were the right boys to make history and I am glad they were the ones to do it.”
There was also some history for Dougherty, who stepped in mid-season after the team’s coach had to step down for personal reasons. The 18-year-old is likely the youngest coach to win a title in the state and did so against his former team, Essex, which he played for just last season.
Wolves went on a 10-0 run with Chen serving to open a lead. Essex could not find a run to respond, and South Burlington closed out the first set, 25-16.
The Wolves followed suit in the second set, using a 6-0 run early on and another 10-point run midway through win the second set.
“Taking such a responsible role was difficult at first, but I knew it was something I could easily commit to because these boys mean a lot to me,” Dougherty said. “Being able to lead them wasn’t any trouble because I love these guys.
“This title means a lot to me and the players.”
HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR
JOIN OUR TEAM: The City of South Burlington seeks a strategic and visionary Human Resources Director to lead our HR initiatives and foster a vibrant workplace culture. This dedicated HR professional will champion our workforce, support our leaders, and further our mission of community servant leadership. Come help us make a difference and shape the future!
WHAT YOU WILL DO: As the Human Resources Director, you will be the driving force behind our HR policies, procedures and strategies. You will: (1) Develop/implement policies that promote equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging. (2) Oversee recruitment, retention, and professional development programs. (3) Partner with city leadership to align HR practices with strategic goals. (4) Foster a culture of continuous improvement and employee engagement.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field required, plus a minimum of five years of experience in human resources leadership and administration, preferably in a municipal setting. Certification as a Human Resources Professional (SHRM, HRI or similar) preferred.
SALARY RANGE: $100,000-$110,000 (annually)
APPLY NOW: Please submit your on-line application, resume and cover letter by November 25, 2024. Learn more: governmentjobs .com/careers/southburlington. The City of South Burlington is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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The Division I boys’ volleyball state champions.
Reliable and Timely Bookkeeping Support
Piano and Composition Lessons
Piano Lessons
Give the gift of music-making
Basic, intermediate - children, teens, adults National Keyboard Arts Curriculum References, scholarships available Edward Darling, So. Burlington edwardjohndarling@gmail.com • 802-318-7030 Remote and In-Person Lessons
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