the South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977
Pedestrians suffer critical injuries
was heading east onto the highway from Route 7.
Two pedestrians were critically injured after a pickup truck hit them on Shelburne Road in South Burlington last Wednesday late afternoon.
April McMahon, 54, of St. Albans and Todd Brissette, 61, of Burlington, were walking across the crosswalk on the on ramp to Interstate 189 when they were struck by the pickup driven by Jeffrey Fay, 61, of Richmond, who
Both McMahon and Brissette were transported to the University of Vermont Medical Center with serious injuries, and a press release from the Vermont State Police described McMahon’s injuries as life-threatening.
The crash investigation by the Vermont State Police is ongoing.
The crosswalk, painted across
Planners ponder different vision for City Center
STAFF WRITER
After almost a decade since South Burlington adopted the zoning that would govern development in City Center, the planning commission is beginning the long process of retooling that code.
While South Burlington was
one of the largest suppliers of housing in the entire county last year — plenty of which occurred in the 300-acre City Center boundaries — there is often a perception that the city lacks aesthetic appeal or a real defining character
See CODE REVISION on page 12
COURTESY PHOTOS
South Burlingtonians enjoyed a holiday meal with their neighbors Dec. 13 at the senior center, followed by a concert from Maiden Vermont.
Holiday dinner party
LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
LIBERTY DARR
Good Times Café, bakery expand to South Burlington
LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
Good Times Café has been a staple in the Hinesburg community for decades and now its owners, Travis and Maryam Counter, plan to open a satellite of their beloved restaurant in South Burlington.
The couple officially took over the business — which has been a central place to grab a bite in Hinesburg for over two decades — in 2019 and has been serving pizzas, salads and Creole-style grub ever since. Around the same time the couple purchased their restaurant just off Route 116, Maryam launched her bakery, Matryoshka’s Bakery, which specializes in French macarons sold to several select restaurants across Chittenden County, including Chef’s Corner in Williston and Leunig’s in Burlington.
She has been operating her business out of their home in St. George, so the new location will offer space to expand the bakery operation while also creating more offerings for the restaurant.
“It’ll be an extension of the café as well as Maryam’s bakery, but we will actually be adding
a little more to it, giving a little more diversity to our menu,” Travis said. “We are so limited based on our kitchen here, size-wise. We’ll be able to offer more options and elaborate on the Cajun menu and provide a few new dishes.”
“I’m ready to also be in a professional kitchen,” Maryam added later, letting out a laugh.
The couple will be renting a rear portion of the property — shared with a bank in the front — at 1330 Shelburne Road, which at one point was home to Uno Pizzeria & Grill before the pandemic. They hope to extend offerings to include breakfast, coffee and other pastry goods once they open after the start of the new year.
“We’ve always wanted to grow, but Hinesburg has been slow to grow,” Travis said, adding that’s what led them to the search in South Burlington.
“Maryam wanted to do a bakery or some sort of coffee shop. Then we just happened to stumble across the Uno space, and it was a little bigger than she wanted. We thought, why don’t we just kind of merge and create one big building and business out of it, we can
both cross-brand it and utilize that space.”
While Travis has nearly 30 years of experience working in the restaurant and hospitality world, Maryam said she got into baking naturally as a mother of three. The duo’s oldest is now a lead cook in the kitchen at Good Times Café.
“After becoming a mom of three — my degree was in early childhood education in Russia — I started teaching myself how to make macaroons, and I got obsessed with it. I couldn’t stop,” she said.
Matryoshka, she said, means, “like a mother,” in Russian, which pays homage to the things she loves most: her family, the motherland and being a mother.
“This is like my dream,” she said. “I feel like because it’s become harder to go back home and I haven’t seen my family in eight years, I kind of wanted to bring home here.”
The duo has raised nearly $20,925 in crowdfunding to fund the venture, most of which needed
PHOTO BY LIBERTY DARR
Maryam and Travis Counter, owners of Good Times Cafe, sit next to a sign from the old Uno Pizza and Grille, where they plan to expand.
continued from page 2
to be raised due to the devastation of their business during the second round of historic flooding in Hinesburg last summer.
Although Hinesburg experienced some minor damage during the July 2023 flood, this year’s flooding — almost exactly to the day — brought the town some of the highest rain totals in Chittenden County with about 6.5 inches of rain happening overnight. Floodwater damaged nine roads and even more private roads and driveways.
For Good Times Café, locat
ed on a low point in town with proximity to a storm-drain runoff, the team experienced a substantial loss of products stored in the basement. Travis said water reached at least waist level during the storm’s worst points.
“The whole backyard turned into a lake, and it went in through the entrance, and we lost a lot. We had to pull from our reserves, so that’s where the crowdfunding came into play,” he said, adding that businesses don’t qualify for Federal Emergency Management Agency relief funds.
Through their crowdsourcing fundraiser the team has committed to giving contributors nearly 120 percent back in credits to spend on Good Times Cafe favorites, Matryoshka’s Bakery macarons, and more.
“It was definitely one of those things where we always wanted to give back to the communities,” Travis said. “I always look at nothing in this world is free, and I don’t expect to have something for free, so I would like to give back as well. The support helps us go a little further.”
PARKING DOWNTOWN
CAFÉ
COURTESY PHOTOS
Diners enjoyed Misty Knoll turkey with all the fixings, catered by Sugarsnap, at the city’s holiday dinner Dec. 13.
‘Family’ gathering
Candlelight Service
& FAMILY HOLIDAY SERVICE
AT THE ASCENSION
CHRISTMAS EVE, TUESDAY, DEC. 24
The 4 P.M. service is geared toward young families, and the 7 P.M. service will feature candlelight worship!
Get all the details and plan your visit: alcvt.org/christmas2024
TWO services to fit the needs of families!
CRIME & COURTS
Total incidents: 207
South Burlington Police Blotter: Dec. 9-16
Agency / public assists: 21
Directed patrol: 13
Traffic stop: 7
Accident: property damage: 14
Alarm: 7
Foot patrol: 10
Suspicious event: 18
Retail theft: 18
Motor vehicle complaint: 5
Welfare check: 11
911 hangup: 3
Trespass: 7
Domestic: 4
VIN verification: 4
Threats: 3
Disturbance: 7
Field contact: 6
Lost/found property: 6
Fraud: 3
Dead body: 2
Stolen vehicle: 3
Accident:
insurance purposes: 6
the
Leaving the scene of an accident: 7
Larceny from a vehicle: 2
Larceny from a structure: 2
Mental health: 5
Arrests:
Police arrested Hailey M. Rheaume-Fox, 28, of Williston, for unlawful trespass stemming from an Oct. 24 incident on Hinesburg Road.
Police arrested Sean M. Marra, 40, of Colchester, for retail theft in a Dec. 5 incident on Shelburne Road.
Dec. 9 at 4:04 p.m., a 15-yearold was arrested for simple assault on Market Street.
Dec. 9 at 11:06 p.m., Robert C. Zoretich, 36, of Hampton, N.J., was arrested for unlawful trespass on Shelburne Road.
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Dec. 10 at 5:17 p.m., Adam W. Zurier, 45, of South Burlington, was arrested for disorderly conduct and aggravated assault on Williston Road.
Dec. 12 at 8:42 a.m., Jasonna K. Breault, 21, of Winooski, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Farrell Street.
Dec. 121 at 8:42 a.m., Robert M. Loyer, 36, of Burlington, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Farrell Street.
Dec. 15 at 7:43 a.m., Abdi A. Dhere, 58, of Winooski, was arrested on an in-state warrant on Barrett Street.
Untimely deaths: Dec. 9 at 11:36 a.m., police responded to Williston Road for the death of Joseph Neal, 63, of South Burlington. Dec. 14 at 10:24 a.m., police responded to Hinesburg Road for the death of Judith Devino, 84, of South Burlington.
The medical examiner’s office is determining cause and manner of each death.
Note: Charges filed by police are subject to review by the Chittenden County State’s Attorney Office and can be amended or dropped.
Vermont State Police Blotter: Dec. 11
Dec. 11 at 4:36 p.m., two pedestrians were injured when they were struck by a car driven by Jeffrey Fay, 61, of Richmond, while walking across the crosswalk on Interstate 189 and Route 7 in South Burlington. When troopers arrived, South Burlington Rescue were providing medical treatment to the pedestrians. Both April McMahon, 54, of St. Albans, and Todd Brissette, 61, of Burlington, were seriously injured and taken to University of Vermont Medical Center. Both remain in critical condition, police said. An investigation is ongoing.
OPINION
From affordability to housing, Vermont faces difficult challenges
From the House Rep. Emilie Krasnow
The Vermont legislative biennium begins Jan. 8, and I am ready to get to work. We face monumental challenges ahead — challenges that demand bold action, honest conversations and a commitment to the values that make Vermont the great state it is. Whether it is reducing the property tax burden, reforming education finance, improving access to affordable housing and health care or addressing the rising cost of living, the time to act is now.
Affordability is the number one concern for families across Vermont, and South Burlington is no exception. Working families, young people and seniors are all being pushed out of the communities they love. As the cost of living continues to rise, many find it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. The situation is unsustainable, especially when it comes to property taxes, which continue to climb, further burdening our community.
As a member of the House Committee on General and Housing, I’m proud of the progress we’ve made in addressing the diverse needs of Vermonters, from those experiencing homelessness to first-time homeowners and older residents. However, we must continue to invest in long-term solutions, including increasing the availability of affordable housing and expanding access to mental health and substance use recovery services. Housing is more than just a roof over one’s head; it is a cornerstone of the well-being of our communities.
To address the housing crisis, we must also remove the barriers that hinder both public and private efforts. This includes streamlining development processes, eliminating zoning and regulatory obstacles, and incentivizing investment in affordable housing. Housing is not just an economic issue, it is a fundamental human right, essential for the health and vitality of every Vermonter. Already-high property taxes are going up even higher, making it a struggle for families to support both their schools and their homes. The current system of funding
education is broken. It’s outdated, unfair and places an unbearable burden on property taxpayers. We need a bold new approach to funding education in Vermont, one that is equitable, transparent and sustainable. This may involve consolidating school districts, streamlining administrative costs and finding innovative ways to deliver services. We cannot continue to rely on an inequitable property tax system that disproportionately affects working Vermonters.
The rising cost of living, stagnating wages and the struggle to make ends meet are daily realities for too many Vermonters. As co-chair of the Working Vermonters Caucus, I am committed to ensuring that all workers receive fair wages, benefits and working conditions. In the upcoming legislative session, I will continue to push for policies that empower workers and elevate their voices in the decisions that affect them.
Each month, the South Burlington legislative delegation will share updates on activities
How many more pedestrians will be killed?
To the Editor: Vermont has a road safety problem. Wednesday’s tragic crash involving a pickup truck running down two pedestrians in the crosswalk of the Interstate 189 on-ramp is yet another example in a long list of examples.
This crosswalk is deadly, overgrown with brush, unlit and crosses an on-ramp with two lanes of traffic jockeying into a single lane. Many of the entering vehicles are not local and have been crawling along Shelburne Road anticipating a right turn. The crash was at 4:30 p.m. in winter night light, and a time locals avoid the road if possible because traffic at this hour often far exceeds the capacity of the road. The last thing on a driver’s mind is a hidden crosswalk.
In December 2020 and again in September 2023, pedestrians
happening in the Statehouse. Once the session starts on Jan. 8, you can call and leave us a message at 802-828-2228. We encourage you to let us know your thoughts on upcoming votes, pending legislation and policy discussions. The daily calendar, committee meeting schedules, and House and Senate bills can be found at legislature. vermont.gov.
Your legislative delegation is committed to our promise to bring your voices and concerns to Montpelier. We invite you to attend our monthly forums to discuss what’s on the legislative agenda. This will be held on the fourth Monday of every month at 6 p.m. in the community room on the second floor of the South Burlington Public Library, with our next meeting on Monday, Jan. 27. To attend the meeting on Zoom, find the link on the library’s event page. I look forward to continued conversations over these next two years. Reach out anytime with ideas, questions or concerns at ekrasnow@leg.state.vt.us.
Emilie Krasnow, a Democrat from South Burlington, serves the Chittenden-9 House district.
were killed crossing Shelburne Road near Fayette Drive, Jamee Slaughter and Chriss Zuckerman, respectively.
The Vermont Agency of Transportation has a crossing study planned this section of Shelburne Road. That is a good thing, but it will not help the dead and injured pedestrians.
I continue to think of Gerard Malavenda, the cyclist who was killed on Hinesburg Road in October 2022. He was standing about three feet to the right of the white fog line when he was struck from behind by a pickup truck. This happened shortly after the agency refused South Burlington’s request to lower the speed limit on Hinesburg Road. The current speed limit is above the allowed limit for a crosswalk installed at Dubois Drive and does even consider the actual speed of
Rep. Emilie Krasnow
PORTRAITS
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People make South Burlington go ’round
Guest Perspective
Meaghan Emery
Every day since Nov. 9, I’ve been writing a daily reflection of gratitude. This one, written on a Friday morning, goes wide and far, and so I share it with you.
Day 35 of my intentional reflections of gratitude:
I am grateful for the workers who get up and show up on time, and then do the job we need them to do no matter their shift, 24/7.
This morning, I had some early morning errands, including a library and milk run, and I’m sure that Friday doesn’t mean much either for the cashier at Price Chopper (which opens an hour earlier than Hannaford). Not only does she — along with the delivery drivers and stock clerks — wake up at 4:30 a.m. so that the store is open at 6 and stocked soon after, but she also likely works weekends. The same goes for the two South Burlington Police Department officers who safely and quietly sped past me on Market Street with lights flashing. What does TGIF mean to them when they work 12-hour shifts, weekends and holidays? My guess is, given the hour (6:30 a.m.) and the fact that their shift was likely ending at 7, they would be going into overtime.
When their time off comes, they so deserve it.
What also matters to us all are peace, social justice, a fair livable wage and feeling valued. So, this morning I thanked them aloud as I bought the milk, butter, pasta, dog food and bones my family needed. Then, parked in front of the public library book drop, I saw the second squad car drive by while neighbors walked their dogs safely in the dark. On this below freezing day, I felt warm listening to the day’s forecast for sunshine — except over the northern mountains. Thank you, every day, “Eye on the Sky.”
The father and son speaking on StoryCorps, a program on NPR Friday mornings, were also filling my heart, making me tear up and smile at the same time, as did the local report on the arrival of Soul Santa, who’s come to town. On my way back home, just after 7 a.m., I saw all the yellow school buses stopped at the light at Williston and Patchen — thanks to more people who are working hard every day to make sure that our most precious gifts arrive safely at our public schools.
It just felt so good to feel at home in my city — No. 1 safest city in the country (check out WalletHub’s analysis). Community is a lived value here. As WalletHub’s Chip Lupo wrote, “When people think about safety in a city, their minds probably immediately go to things like the crime rate, auto fatality rate or risk of natural disasters. The safest cities in America protect residents from these threats of bodily harm and property damage, but on top of that, they also help secure people’s financial safety. Financial safety includes
things like minimizing the risk of fraud and identity theft, keeping the population employed and insured, and combating homelessness.”
Those are the nuts and bolts, public and private, that keep a lot of moving parts working and coalescing together to make for a good life for city residents. “Protect from (physical) threats” and “secure financial safety” through employment, insurance and housing are the words Lupo used. My old city councilor self has been glowing inside ever since this report was published back in October. And, hey, Burlington friends, you’re No. 4! You have lots to be grateful for, too.
The reasons why we’re at the top of this list are no mystery to me. We care about how the government works here. We value transparency. We attend meetings and speak up, and our elected representatives listen and make the needed effort, when needed, to shift those gears and recalibrate, with the real experts (planning and zoning directors, public works, fire/EMT/police), under the fantastic direction of our city manager, doing the work of and by and for the people.
When that happens, public policy serves the people’s needs. When that happens, more people want to live here and work here. When democracy works, it is truly that simple, and it takes willing, committed and capable people to do that work.
And so, on that Friday morning when the sun rose and with several tasks at hand, I was grateful for all the smoothly running parts of our society and our one small corner of it. I celebrate all our workers and police officers as hometown heroes and ask you to celebrate our city, too, by approving city and school budgets, knowing that employees and emergency crews come in to work for us every day to make the city feel welcoming and safe. The words peace and justice are not cliché or hollow. They mean people who are hard at work, including teachers, school administrators, radio and print journalists, and many others who deserve a shout out, even before the sun rises.
Meaghan Emery lives in South Burlington.
LETTERS continued from page 5
a typical driver on Hinesburg Road. Regardless of the obvious risk to life, it seems nothing changes without expensive and glacial traffic studies. Even loss of life does not seem to motivate obvious common sense safety changes.
Doug Goodman
South Burlington
Goodman is on the South Burlington Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee. These options are his own.
COURTESY PHOTOS
COMMUNITY
Community Notes
Get your gifts wrapped at University Mall
The gift wrap booth in the food court at University Mall in South Burlington is back this season, with all proceeds from the service benefitting the homeless services agency at ANEW Place.
Bring your gifts to be wrapped by volunteers in quality papers and gift boxes, decorated with bows and ribbons. Drop off any item of any size and chill out in the food court or pick them up later.
The gift wrap booth is open from Friday, Dec. 6, through Christmas Eve during mall hours.
ANEW Place’s mission is to help create lasting change in the lives of the homeless. Learn more at anewplacevt.org.
Orchard neighborhood food drive supports others
South Burlington residents in the Orchard neighborhood and local friends again will be collecting items supporting their Champlain Valley neighbors through Food Drive Plus.
To date Food Drive Plus has raised over 12,000 pounds in donations.
“We will be helping our neigh-
bors in Chittenden County,” Louis Godin, South Burlington resident and event organizer, said. “We once again will be supporting Feeding Champlain Valley, Community Health Center of Burlington and Humane Society of Chittenden County.”
Visit the Food Drive Plus website for more information on donation drop off dates, times and items needed at fooddriveplus. org.
The collection will run through Dec. 31, ending with the Orchard neighborhood’s annual New Year’s Eve Glow Parade (orchardglowparade.org).
The event is organized by Orchard Neighbors Helping Neighbors Project, which has raised over 63,000 pounds of donations with various organized neighborhood projects and events.
Hockey helps collect for SB Food Shelf
Calling all South Burlington residents: Unite the community to fight hunger this holiday season by participating in a food drive for the South Burlington Food Shelf at Cairns Arena, 600 Swift St.
There are drop boxes in the front lobby of Cairns through
Ben Sachs-Hamilton will call to the sounds of Tea for Three — Abi Sandy, Hadley Stockwell and Crystal Zhu — at a contra dance in Shelburne’s town hall, 5374 Shelburne Road, on Friday, Dec. 27, 6:45-10 p.m. All are welcome, all dances are taught, and no partner or experience is necessary. Bring a pair of clean, soft-soled shoes to dance in and a water bottle to keep you hydrated. Masks welcome but optional. Please stay home if you have symptoms. The cost is $12 for adults. Find out more at queencitycontras.com.
Saturday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m.
Here are few items on the
wish list: canned chicken and tuna, pasta sauces, canned tomato products, hearty soups, chilis and chowders, broths, canned beans, dried beans, all types of rice, macaroni and cheese, ramen noodles, canned fruit and applesauce (low sugar and no pumpkin or cranberry), canned vegetables,
cereals and oatmeal, condiments (ketchup, yellow mustard, salad dressings and vegetable oil), flour and other baking mixes, peanut butter, jams and jellies, pasta noodles (no lasagna), menstrual products, toilet paper, paper towels, toothpaste, diapers and baby wipes.
This season, let’s celebrate the heart of Burlington - our incredible local businesses. From beloved treasures to inspiring new shops, they’re here, open, and ready to make your holidays special.
Enjoy 99¢/hr meter parking in the downtown core (Zone 5803) every day now through JAN 4! Plus, park for 2 hours FREE at the Downtown Garage when you start a ParkMobile session.
PHOTO BY JONATHAN BLAKE
Rebecca R. Benes
Dear wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend, Rebecca Randall Beneš, 34, of Jericho, died on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, after a two-and-a-half-year battle with cancer, with her husband and mother by her side.
Rebecca will forever be known for her strong will, unwavering faith, perseverance, radiant smile, dedication to family and true love for life.
She leaves behind her husband, Joshua; her young sons, Luke and Zachary; parents, Jim and Ginger Calder of Shelburne; fatherin-law, Peter; siblings, Daniel and Amanda; grandmother, Peg Randall; several cousins, aunts, and uncles; and her best friend, Alice Hasen.
Rebecca was born on Jan. 30, 1990, during a winter blizzard. True to her biblical name, she grew to become a peacemaker, bringing her family closer together. She embraced her family’s love of gardening and developed a passion for animals.
At the age of 5, she held a calf’s halter for the first time and fell in love with cows. Her family enrolled her in 4-H at Shelburne Farms, where she trained and showed Brown Swiss heifers at local fairs. She cherished her days out at the dairy barn, her friendships with other 4-H members, and the competition in the ring. She also volunteered and later worked in the Shelburne Farms’ children’s farmyard, where she delighted in educating visitors about livestock.
Rebecca and her best friend, Alice, were co-valedictorians of their high school class. Rebecca received a Green and Gold Scholarship at the University of Vermont and majored in animal science with a pre-veterinary focus. At UVM, she became deeply involved in the Cooperative for Real Education in Agricultural Management program, managing a 34-cow herd with her peers and later serving as a student herd advisor. She also worked in a research lab, contributing to several dairy science projects.
During her senior year, she met Josh, her
future husband and soulmate. He was captivated by her compassion for animals, love of nature, beautiful smile and commitment to making the world a better place. The two quickly fell in love and persevered through a four-year, long-distance relationship when Rebecca started veterinary school at Cornell University.
At Cornell, Rebecca immersed herself in the food animal curriculum, made lifelong friends and earned a reputation for her ambition and can-do attitude. She was active in the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, the student chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Pet Loss Support Hotline. She participated in vaccine clinics to give back to the community while getting more practice with exams and vaccines. She also worked part-time milking cows at the vet school dairy barn.
Their first son, Luke, was born in December 2019. In 2021, longing to be closer to family, they moved back to Vermont, where their second son, Zachary, was born. That same year, Rebecca began work as a veterinarian at Malletts Bay Veterinary Hospital in Colchester. She appreciated the balance this new position provided her between her professional and family life, and she loved caring for people’s pets while demonstrating compassion for their owners. She also loved working with the incredible team of veterinarians and support staff at the clinic.
Rebecca found immense joy in spending time with Josh and their sons. Together, the family went camping, explored nature and frequently visited Rebecca’s favorite place, Shelburne Farms. She delighted in teaching her boys about the world, gardening and watching them grow.
building their forever home on a subdivided parcel next to Josh’s parents’ house in Jericho.
Together, they moved into their new home in September 2023. When she wasn’t at medical appointments, Rebecca spent her energy planning out an ambitious and extensive network of gardens and fruit trees. In 2024, she worked with her family to complete a full gardening season, which brought her immense joy. Unfortunately, by November, the cancer became uncontrollable.
Rebecca passionately loved being a wife and mother. She also inspired her friends and family to utilize life’s tragedies and challenges as an opportunity to grow, enjoy life more fully and identify ways to serve others. We know that she would encourage us to reframe our grief as a force to nourish our faith and help make the world a better place.
Rebecca’s celebration of life will mark the beginning of a new chapter for us all. It will be held on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Burlington. A reception will immediately follow at the same location.
During her third year, Rebecca was inducted into the veterinary honor society Phi Zeta. Her dedication to gaining diverse experiences led her to riding alongside veterinarians across the U.S. and even in Colombia, South America.
Upon graduation, Rebecca accepted a position as a mixed animal practitioner in Central Wisconsin. She predominantly cared for cattle, but also treated cats, dogs, sheep, goats and pigs. She was known for supporting farmers in aligning care for their animals while improving their businesses.
Rebecca and Josh married shortly after she began her job, returning to Vermont for a fall wedding at the First Baptist Church in Burlington, followed by a reception at the West Monitor Barn in Richmond. Afterward, Josh joined Rebecca in Wisconsin, where they spent several years kayaking, hiking, skiing and enjoying the outdoors.
In June 2022, Rebecca’s life took a devastating turn when she suffered a seizure at work and was diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma. After a series of surgeries and medical treatments, her disease became stable, and the cancer started to shrink. She and Josh decided to move forward with
For those who are interested, the family will go for a walk/snowshoe at Shelburne Farms to visit the Brown Swiss cows after the celebration and reception. In lieu of flowers, information about donations in her memory to organizations she cared about will be shared at the celebration and on social media in January.
Rebecca R. Benes
SPORTS
South Burlington winter sports season gets underway
LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT
Boys’ basketball
Coach: Solomon Bayer-Pacht
Last season: 12-9, lost in the Division I playdowns
This season: 0-1
Key returnees: Deng Aguek, guard, senior; Oli Avdibegovic, forward, junior; Lambert Byamungu, guard, senior; Paul Comba, guard, junior; Kai Davidson, guard, senior; Markus Flanders, forward, junior; Will Goyette, guard, senior; Evan O’Keefe, guard, senior.
Key newcomers: Connor Perrin, guard, junior; Hunter Johnson, forward, senior.
Outlook: The boys will return with a very experienced group this season and hope to hit the ground running. Coach Sol Bayer-Pacht is excited about the team’s defensive skills. Some quick hands and size underneath the basket are two of the team’s strengths.
“We are very quick and disruptive on that end of the floor, bringing an appropriate amount of physicality to the game as well,” the coach said. The plan is that the team’s defensive energy will feed into the team’s offense.
“The ball movement and offensive activity has been great to watch,” Bayer-Pacht said. “There is a real understanding of how to attack good defenses by getting the ball moving and the defense rotating from side to
side.” The team is hoping to translate the experience and strong defense into a postseason run.
Up next: Tuesday, Dec. 17, against Rutland at 7 p.m.
Girls’ basketball
Coach: Ryan Navin
Last season: 2-19, lost in the playdowns
Key returnees: Tori Griffin, guard, senior; Gwyn Hood, guard, senior; Naysa Bush, guard, sophomore.
Key newcomers: Lanae Buford, forward, first year; Lexi Paquette, guard, first year.
Outlook: The South Burlington girls’ team is likely the youngest team in the Metro Division this year, according to coach Ryan Navin. The Wolves will lean on their four returning players, especially early in the season.
“I think we will be a very competitive group and will lean on our seniors for leadership, on the court and off,” Navin said.
“We want to grow and develop as a program and support the underclassmen as they transition from lower levels to high school competition.”
Opener: Thursday, Dec. 19, at Spaulding at 7 p.m.
Boys’ ice hockey
Coach: Sean Jones
Last season: 20-3, lost in the state championship
This season: 1-0
Key returnees: Lucas Van Mullen, senior, defense; Drew Dougherty, senior, defense; Harry Poquette, senior, forward; Christian Butler, junior, forward; Jack Kelly, junior, forward.
Key newcomers: Trey Smith, junior, forward; Ryan Audibert, junior, defense.
Outlook: The boys ice hockey team was oh-so-close to capturing the DI state title last season, falling to Rice 2-1 in the final. Now, with a large group of returning players, including Mr. Hockey, Lucas Van Mullen, the Wolves have their sights set on a return to Gutterson Fieldhouse and the final.
“We return a number of guys who saw a bunch of ice time last year and a younger group that is hungry and eager,” South Burlington coach Sean Jones said. “We are cautious with big goals this early but are always committed to getting better each day. The early energy has been great.”
Up next: Wednesday, Dec. 18, against Middlebury at 7:40 p.m.
Alpine skiing
Coach: Scott Rothman
Last season: Boys: 4th place in the state championship. Girls: 13th place in the championship.
Key returnees: Jackson Rothman, senior; Jesse Poor, senior; Rusell Rothman, senior; Dylan Karpinski, junior; Lelia Macias-Aunave, sophomore;
Katie McNeill, sophomore; Mira Epstein, sophomore; Sam Harm, sophomore.
Key newcomers: Too soon to say
Outlook: The boys will be led by a trio of seniors as they look to improve on the team’s fourthplace appearance in last year’s state championship. Russell and Jackson Rothman and Jesse Poor, along with junior Dylan Karpinski, will look to set the tone for the Wolves this season.
For the girls, the team is younger and is looking to gain experience. Sophomore Leila Macias-Aunave will look to lead the way as one of the fastest skiers in the state.
“A few years ago, our B team was almost exclusively underclassmen but still achieved some
impressive results. I can’t wait to see what they can accomplish this season as experienced juniors and seniors,” South Burlington coach Scott Rothman said. “I’m also looking forward to the girls continuing their growth. They’re on an exciting trajectory.”
Opener: Tuesday, Jan. 7, at Smugglers’ Notch
Girl’s ice hockey
Due to low numbers, the South Burlington girls’ hockey team will not compete this season. Those players who did return will play with the Burlington-Colchester team.
The second part of our winter sports preview will appear in January.
LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT
Boys’ hockey
South Burlington 6, Harwood 4: Three players had two-goal nights as South Burlington beat Harwood Saturday, Dec. 14, to open the season.
Harry Poquette (one assist), Christian Butler (one assist) and Lucas VanMullen (one
assist) each tallied twice for the Wolves (1-0).
Jack Kelly had three assists and Alex Chagnon stopped 30 shots in goal for the win.
Boys’ basketball Montpelier 64, South Burlington 49: The South Burlington boys basketball team fell in its season opener on Friday, Dec. 13.
South Burlington approves GMT special assessment
LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
The South Burlington City Council approved a one-time special assessment for Green Mountain Transit Authority on Monday that could help balance the service’s projected $2 million funding gap in its operating budget in 2026.
Officials with the transit authority began raising the alarm over the impending “financial cliff” earlier this year, citing skyrocketing operating and labor costs and plummeting revenue, mostly related to
the pandemic-era decision to stop collecting fares, and other funding shortfalls.
While the early $3 million projected shortfall has since dropped to around $2 million, the bus service began phasing in a slew of sweeping service cuts, the earliest of which took place earlier this month.
There are three major routes that service South Burlington. The No. 11 begins as the College Street shuttle in Burlington and moves through the University of Vermont Medical Center campus before looping onto Dorset Street, Kenne-
dy Drive and Hinesburg Road to the Burlington International Airport. No. 6 primarily services Shelburne Road, and the No. 1 travels Williston Road.
Reductions that took effect earlier this month affect Saturday service of the No. 11 and eliminate the 6:45 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m., 9:15 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. runs. Additionally, the No. 6 will no longer operate the 6:30 p.m., 9:15 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. runs on Saturdays.
The authority’s board of commissioners approved a request for a special assessment from its
eight member towns — Burlington, South Burlington, Shelburne, Williston, Essex, Winooski, Milton and parts of Colchester — totaling just over $300,000, which would finance driver retirement buyouts, support lobbying costs and fund a consultant to develop an updated assessment process.
Green Mountain Transit general manager Clayton Clark
explained that this is the first time in the authority’s 20-year history that a special assessment has been requested.
This assessment was spread among all members and South Burlington’s share approved by the council Monday night — the
FILE PHOTO
A Green Mountain Transit bus waits for passengers at its hub in Burlington.
CODE REVISION
continued from page 1
as strip malls and vast parking lots distinguish much of the downtown streetscape.
“The thing I hear from most people is that there’s a bit of a sameness to everything that’s been built,” Greg Rabideau, a consultant working on the land use regulation updates, said at a planning commission meeting in December. “That the designs have a relative flatness to their facades, and there’s a sort of disappointment with how the whole thing meets the sky. It’s kind of all one size fits all and not enumerated here.”
The zoning code utilized in City Center is known as formbased code, an approach that places much more emphasis on the form of a building over its function. The code was first implemented in 2016 as the vision for City Center began taking shape.
“What happens inside the building is much more secondary than traditional zoning,” director of planning and zoning Paul Conner said. “I like to think of it as we think about a place like Church Street, those buildings have been used, reused, and reimagined 10 times over during their lives. As we think the next round of buildings that can be here for 50 or 100 years, having buildings that have strong forms to them creates the patterns and the usability to meet those needs for decades to come.”
But the code, he said, is meant to be revisited frequently as the city and its living environments change and shift. While the planning commission has made tweaks to the form-based code in the past, this is the first time it will begin a much more holistic approach.
Paul Engels, a current planning commission member and member of the committee that initially studied the form-based code nearly 10 years ago, said that early visions for the city’s downtown resembled that of a 19th-century New England village, but what it’s turned into now has left many residents disappointed in recent years.
“City Center, to me, doesn’t have any vision, it doesn’t have heart, it doesn’t have soul,” he said. “It’s just not someplace that people from around the world want to come to and say, ‘Wow this is really incredible.’”
City staff, along with Rabideau, has spent the early half of this year doing a slew of background research and engaging in conversations with both design experts and development teams to discuss where the code could go that could help shape the city for the next decade.
Part of the work now, Conner said, is asking hard questions like how can the code foster a variety of design features in both architecture and form of buildings, and
how does the city adapt to an environment that has drastically shifted?
When the form-based code was originally introduced, many of the buildings were set to be built in areas of the city that were either previously unbuilt or on sites where buildings were removed. Looking forward to the next 10 years, most of the building sites will be much smaller and bound by roads on multiple sides. Part of that equation will be exploring increased height allowances.
“So, making sure that the formbased code is well positioned to support the investment in those more site-specific circumstances, rather than having large squares and rectangles that have often been the case,” he said.
A memo from Rabideau outlines that the city could look at building up to 14 stories in height, on track with those being built in certain areas of Burlington.
“It’s intended to start a conversation, and may not land on those numbers exactly,” Conner said. “As we think about our local and regional and statewide goals for compact development, for activated spaces, for creating the kinds of downtowns where people want to be, and looking where we are in both our incredible need that exists with our housing crisis across this region and country, and we look
at our climate change goals, then the answers to some of that may be more compact, more vertical development and housing.”
The work will focus on three groups of attributes: street interaction, facades and building articulation and building heights and roof details. Since the code is just a chapter within the city’s overarching land use regulations, any
CRASH
continued from page 1
the busy on ramp, features two pedestrian crossing signs on either side but without any flashing lights to notify busy drivers of those waiting to cross.
While bike and pedestrian advocates have for years been sounding the alarm about the safety hazards posed by certain intersections of the busy stretch of road, the outcry intensified just last month after an on-duty Shelburne police officer struck and killed a bicyclist on Nov. 11.
The officer, Kyle Kapitanski, was southbound and headed toward Shelburne when he struck and killed, Sean Hayes, 38, of Burlington, at Fayette Drive in the early morning hours of Nov. 11.
While that investigation is still ongoing, days after that incident, Local Motion — Vermont’s state-
changes will first need to be adopted by the planning commission and then sent to the city council for approval.
Conner said it’s likely the commission may decide to do the work in more than one phase, but the most substantial phase is anticipated to be completed in late winter with initial public hearings sometime in late spring.
wide advocate for active transportation and safe streets — launched a petition calling on the Vermont Agency of Transportation, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission and community leaders in South Burlington, Shelburne and Burlington to find a solution.
The group noted Hayes’s death marks the fourth fatal crash that has involved a pedestrian at, or very close to, the Fayette intersection in five years. In December 2020, Jermee Slaughter was killed while walking when a driver hit them and fled the scene, leaving Slaughter in the roadway where they were hit by another motorist.
In September 2023, Chriss Zuckerman was killed by a driver while crossing at Fayette Drive.
Last March, Joseph Byrd Allen, also known to the Burlington community as “Byrdman,” was hit and killed while biking on Shelburne Road in front of Pauline’s Cafe and Restaurant by a driver who fled the scene.
The group argues that while human behavior like intoxication and negligent driving are often to blame for these incidents, there are still certain changes to the road — like design reconstruction and other infrastructure improvements — that could increase safety.
While the major connector crosses three municipal boundaries, most sections of the road in South Burlington and Shelburne are owned by the state with the Vermont Agency of Transportation having the primary jurisdiction for the design and construction of all infrastructure on the road.
The last major Shelburne Road corridor study was completed by Chittenden County Regional Planning in 2012.
Agency of Transportation safe systems manager, Jesse Devlin, in an email, said that the agency does not currently have any active projects focused on the current Interstate 189 ramps and chooses projects by working to “review fatal and serious injury crashes to understand statewide trends within regions, districts, and counties, and compare these trends across roadway types and ownership.”
Shelburne Farms made its last cheddar of 2024 on Dec. 12, and it was a beer cheddar in partnership with Fiddlehead Brewing Company, also in Shelburne. Fiddlehead IPA is added to the curds. Cheesemaking will resume in mid-January, after some time for regularly scheduled facility maintenance.
continued from page 11
first member to approve the special assessment — totals just under $46,000.
Clark explained that for the special assessment to take effect, all the member municipalities must approve it. He noted that it’s possible those funds will not be needed depending on the services’ actual financial outcomes and what happens in the Legislature this year.
“So, on the one hand, I’m telling you that the special assessment is something that requires unanimous approval, if anyone votes it down, you wouldn’t have to pay for it, but you might also not have to pay for it, because we might not need to use these funds,” he said. “Similarly, if we have a positive legislative session and we get additional funding, then there wouldn’t necessarily be the need for a driver buyout.”
If GMT enters the fiscal year with the projected funding gap, officials estimate the need to layoff 10 full-time drivers and all 12 part-time drivers, for a total of 22 employees. The buyout option would allow drivers with higher seniority to depart GMT voluntarily.
With the special assessment, South Burlington would be paying nearly 15 percent more than it did last year. The city can anticipate paying nearly 4 percent more for the fixed-route service, along with nearly 13.6 percent more for the paratransit service, which provides services for persons unable to use GMT’s fixed-route bus system because of a disability.
“South Burlington is definite-
ly one of our heavy users, and it’s why you all are the second highest assessment with only Burlington providing a larger assessment because you all have more service than all of the other municipalities,” Clark said.
The city council voted in October to send a request to GMT that would reconfigure the No. 11 route to increase ridership numbers while also expanding connectivity
throughout the city. In a memo to the city council earlier this month, Clark explained that some recommended configurations could meet the goals of connecting Market Street to the University of Vermont and the University of Vermont Medical Center while improving access to the Howard Center Chittenden Clinic on San Remo Drive, although the board of commissioners has made no final decisions.
SOUTH BURLINGTON EAST TANK - SOUTH CONTRACT NO. 1
ALDRICH + ELLIOTT, PC PROJECT NO. 23022 BID INFORMATION
Project Name: City of South Burlington, South Burlington East Tank - South, Contract No. 1
Bid Advertisement: Wednesday, December 11th, 2024, Vermont Bid System
View Rooms: Aldrich + Elliott, PC, Online only aeengineers.com/current-bid-documents
City of South Burlington, Department of Public Works, 104 Landfill Road, South Burlington, VT
Pre-Bid Meeting: Friday, December 20th, at 9:00 a.m.at the Department of Public Works, 104 Landfill Road, South Burlington, VT. Attendance at the pre-bid conference is highly encouraged but is not mandatory.
Bid Opening: Wednesday, January 8th, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.
Remotely, with bids sent electronically to all of the following: jbooth@aeengineers.com tdipietro@southburlingtonvt.gov
Plan Purchase: Purchase: $225.00 per hard copy set (non-refundable) and $100.00 per PDF set (non-refundable) from Blueprints Etc., of South Burlington, VT. Check must be payable to Blueprints Etc. (Shipping/tax is not included.) Phone: (802) 865-4503
Project Summary: Work to be performed under this project includes: Contract 1 includes the Municipal water system to have a new 2.1-million-gallon water storage tank constructed adjacent to an existing tank. Project to include construction of a new 53 ft diameter welded steel standpipe tank with a height of 127 ft. Project includes related site-work to connect to the existing fill/draw piping and tank appurtenances and tank drainage swale. Project includes tank accessories and coating.
Engineers Estimate: $4,540,000
A+E Construction Project Manager: Jason Booth, P.E.
kemer49@yahoo.com
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
617-283-6010
