The Other Paper - 4-4-24

the South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977

challenge headed to trial

A years-long court case opposing a housing development in South Burlington’s Wheeler Nature Park is headed to trial but appears destined to be appealed to the state’s highest court.

The project would see 32 mixed-housing units built in the Wheeler Nature Park in South Burlington, part of a larger parcel

that itself was once the subject of a lengthy court case. But the project was appealed by a group of nearby homeowners and has since been moving through the courts.

A motion for summary judgement by appellants opposing BlackRock Construction’s development at 550 Park Road, on the corner of Dorset Street and Park

See WHEELER PARK on page 10

SB School District picks new director of learning

LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER

Jody Vaillancourt will take over as the South Burlington School District’s new executive director of learning on July 1, following the exit of Alysia Backman, who holds the title now.

Vaillancourt is no stranger to the district and has been spearheading new curriculum initiatives since last year when she first joined the team as the curriculum coordinator for literacy, working

alongside Backman to implement a new K-5 structured literacy program, a major priority in this year’s school budget.

“It’s an instructional approach that systematically and sequentially teaches oral language, phonics, vocabulary, spelling and fluency, syntax, reading comprehension and writing,” she said.

In her time as curriculum coordinator, Vaillancourt has facilitat-

See VAILLANCOURT on page 12

Local kids meet governor to talk about flavored tobacco bill

This week, Vermont youth met with Gov. Phil Scott to urge him to sign S.18 into law a bill to end the sale of flavored tobacco.

Juniper Galvani, 17, of South Burlington, Matt Meunier, student counselor at Champlain Valley Union High School, and Marcus Aloisi, 21, of Burlington, met with Scott March 27 to discuss the impact flavored tobacco has on youth in Vermont schools.

“It was great that we got to speak to the governor, and we want to thank him for hearing our perspective,” Aloisi and Galvani said. “For people who aren’t in the schools or spending time with kids, it can be hard to fully understand the huge impact that flavored tobacco and vapes are having. They are everywhere and most people our age are seriously addicted.”

Aloisi penned an opinion piece earlier this year, which read, in part: “I was in high school at South Burlington when I first used a vape. It was fruit-flavored and filled my lungs with toxic chemicals that I had no

idea about because, after all, we were told vapes were ‘safe’ ... The one thing that kept me coming back more than anything is that it tastes like candy. This was not the disgusting, makes-you-smell-bad substance that I was warned about.”

Galvani, in an earlier interview with Vermont Moms, said that the flavors of the tobacco products were what got her to try it, but the pervasive use of the products by most people her age in school is what kept her using the products, and keeps others using them.

S.18 would end the retail sale of all flavored e-cigarettes, e-liquids and oral nicotine pouches. The bill would also end the sale of all menthol-flavored tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco and smokeless tobacco.

The governor has raised concerns over the impact of the bill on small businesses.

The bill has passed the House and the Senate and was sent to the governor.

Total reported incidents: 261

Foot patrols: 13

Directed patrols: 8

Public assists: 8

Field contact: 5

Animal problem: 1

Noise ordinance violation: 2

Needle pickups: 2

Overdoses: 2

Agency assists: 17

Traffic stop: 33

Motor vehicle complaint: 2

Intoxication: 1

Stolen vehicle: 5

Larceny from a vehicle: 2

Suspicious events: 16

Juvenile problem: 4

Mental health issue: 2

Disturbances: 7

Domestic incidents: 2

Welfare check: 17

Property damage: 10

Trespass notice: 12

Larceny: 1

Unlawful mischief: 6

Retail theft: 11

Burglary: 1

Threats: 3

Sex crime: 1

Simple assault: 4

Illegal dumping: 1

Alarm: 23

911 hang up: 2

Selected incidents:

March 28 at 9:55 a.m., a sex crime was reported to police from Farrell Street.

March 29 at 11:23 a.m., police responded to a reported kidnapping and unlawful restraint on Williston Road.

March 30 at 9:19 a.m., a burglary was reported at an Oak Hill Drive residence.

Arrests:

March 26 at 5:58 p.m., Crystie L. Harrington, 40, no address given, was arrested on an in-state warrant and for misdemeanor retail theft on Dorset Street.

March 27 at 7:29 a.m., Michael R. Dougherty, 30, no address given, was arrested on an in-state warrant.

March 27 at 11:48 p.m., Jamie T. Jennings, 46, of Middlebury, was arrested on Dorset Street for See

Vermont’s Trophy Trout stocking program for 2024 includes nine river sections and 37 lakes and ponds receiving the 2-year-old trout, some over 18 inches long.

“The Trophy Trout program provides exciting fishing opportunities for anglers of all ages and skill levels,” Vermont’s director of fisheries Eric Palmer said.

“Trophy rainbow and brown trout will be stocked in several rivers as well as East and Otter creeks while trophy brook trout will be stocked into the Deerfield River. Large 2-year-old brookies and rainbows will also be stocked in many lakes and ponds.”

Lake and pond stocking will

begin in April as ice clears, while river stocking will begin in May and continue through the month.

Anglers can check Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website (vtfishandwildlife.com) to see the stocking that has occurred and see the lakes and ponds that are being stocked with trophy trout.

Trout harvest season opens Saturday, April 13 and will

As spring unfolds, so, too, do the intricacies of legislative agendas, presenting both challenges and opportunities for progress. We’re now more than halfway through the 2024 legislative session, and education finance continues to be a top priority, along with housing, flood and climate resiliency and Act 250 reform.

I ran for the Legislature because I wanted to help solve the housing crisis in our community and throughout Vermont. I’m proud of the work our committee (general and housing) has done to think about the needs of a variety of the state’s residents, whether they are unhoused or first-time homeowners or an older Vermonter. My committee moved several bills to the House floor. One of the most significant is H.829, a long-term housing vision for Vermont.

OPINION

affordable housing, whether it is in a short-term affordable program like the Vermont Housing Improvement Program or for perpetually affordable units. These one-time federal pandemic funds are now gone, and to continue the momentum, we must use state dollars derived from tax revenue. This transition requires thought and consideration of what it means to invest state funds into housing, and what return we should expect.

H.829 proposes to implement a plan to build and provide new housing and services aimed at low- and moderate-income Vermonters. It is not the be-all and the end-all, and it does not deal with land use decisions.

The Housing and Homelessness Alliance of Vermont, which contributed to the framework of the bill, showed what it would take to not only build ourselves out of this housing crisis, but how to do it with the appropriate services and real costs. This is a 10-year plan, and H.829 represents the beginning of that process.

For several years, we have been strategically using American Rescue Plan Act funding to greatly increase the pace of building

Key among the policies in H.829 is the retention of the Vermont Housing Improvement Program, which has so far funded the rehabilitation of over 500 units. We added language that allows for an enhanced forgivable loan if the rehabilitation includes deeper accessibility renovations. As proposed, funding may be used for units intended for those with developmental disabilities. This is the first year that the program will solely use general fund dollars.

H.829 also made recommended changes to the middle-income homeownership development program, which was created two years ago as the “missing middle” program. This program provides a subsidy to a developer if a newly constructed home costs more than the appraised value upon completion and can provide a purchase subsidy for buyers who qualify based on income. Run by the Vermont Housing and Finance Agency, this program has created over 130 projects.

H.829 also proposed the continuation of a first-generation homebuyer program, where eligible Vermonters could apply and receive a grant toward the purchase of a new home.

Other recommendations could include an upstream eviction protection program, which could prevent approximately 350 evictions, and continued funding for a mobile home technical assistance program and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, which is instrumental in distributing funds to nonprofit housing organizations.

These programs, taken together, represent a cohesive plan that, if implemented, will give us a path that will provide deep investments in low- and moderate-income homes. These investments will continue the already solid foundation in building affordable homes and will provide the needed services to make this plan sustainable and successful.

In January, I introduced H.686, a government accountability bill to establish procedures for annually measuring and evaluating progress toward our goals. Last week I reported the bill on the House floor. It would create measurable standards and a reporting mechanism so that the Legislature and public may track our housing progress. The bill now heads to the Senate.

April marks a significant occasion in Vermont and across the United States: It’s Fair Housing Month, a time dedicated to reflecting on the progress made in ensuring equal access to housing and reaffirming a commitment to combating housing discrimination in all its forms.

In Vermont, Fair Housing Month serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to create inclusive communities where everyone can live in dignity and without fear of discrimination.

I’m grateful for the Vermont Human Rights Commission,

Emotions should dictate wildlife management

To the Editor: S.258 in Vermont goes against the North American model of wildlife. This framework states that wildlife resources must be managed on a scientific, not emotional, basis. That’s been successful in managing wildlife for over 100 years.

Special interests and emotional-sentimental arguments are not grounds for consideration. Policy and practices must serve the best interests of the ecosystem, while considering the needs of various stakeholders. Whether through misinformed people, media corruption or the greed of industry, conservation’s roots and principles are being corrupted and it is a dangerous slope.

We see this all the time in legislation that’s driven by public outcry instead of hard science and balanced management.

S.258’s coyote regulations go against this wildlife model. With few predators, most wildlife in Vermont has populations higher See

Hot topics

Wildlife management, flavored tobacco, new education secretary

From the Senate

Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale

As we are about two thirds of the way through the 2024 legislative session, I wanted to highlight and speak to the three topics I’ve been contacted about the most this year.

First, and most recently, I have received many concerns about the newly named Vermont education secretary, Zoie Saunders. I share the concern that she has not had any significant classroom or publicschool experience and would be at the helm through momentous times for the future of our public education system. Though I am already inclined toward voting no on her confirmation — a unique power of the Senate — I am still trying to answer two questions.

level of tobacco sales.

Those in favor are generally schoolchildren, school administrators and pediatricians worried that harmful e-cigarettes, especially when laced, are becoming prevalent in schools.

I voted in favor of the bill, especially as it adds a position for online sales enforcement. The bill passed 18-12 and is on its way to the governor, who may or may not veto the bill.

Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale

Finally, S.258, which would add more voices to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board, led to likely the most polarized feedback we received. People were very strongly for or against this proposal, and that was originally mirrored in the Senate.

What powers would the secretary of education and the governor have to implement policy or budgetary changes without legislative approval? And what is the impact of a no vote on the secretary’s confirmation, besides the principled stance of a majority of the Senate?

S.258, which would add more voices to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board, led to likely the most polarized feedback we received.

The last time it is believed the Senate blocked a confirmation was during the Dean administration, so we will have to look at history, ensure a fair process and make a sound judgment based on the evidence.

That said, the bill was significantly amended and makes incremental change to diversify the Fish & Wildlife Board by two members, added to a current 14 and appointed by the House and Senate, as well as to vest rulemaking authority with the commissioner of the Department of Fish & Wildlife. The language on trapping was removed and the status quo remains.

This felt reasonable enough that the bill passed 21-8, and I voted yes on behalf of many constituents who would like to widen the circle of discussion beyond game fish and animals to all wildlife.

As always, I am happy to discuss any of these items further and it is a privilege to serve.

Second, we have been receiving statewide communication on S.18, which bans the sale of menthol cigarettes and e-cigarette flavored cartridges. It does not ban pipes, shisha, pouches and other forms of flavored tobacco. Those opposed generally focused on lost revenue to local businesses, though other states have seen a dip in sales and then a return to the same

Kesha Ram Hinsdale, a Democrat from Shelburne, serves the towns of South Burlington, Shelburne, Charlotte, Hinesburg, Milton, Burlington, St. George, Westford, Underhill, Jericho, Richmond, Winooski, Williston, Essex and Bolton in the Legislature.

Safety Team: a life-changing and lifesaving course

In Musing

Carole Vasta Folley

I recently completed an empowerment self-defense course, one specifically designed for women like me who have experienced physical or sexual assault. Initially, I felt skeptical. So much harm had been done to the core of who I am and to my sense of safety in this world, I figured it was too late for me. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Turns out I’d been waiting my whole life for this course. There isn’t a part of me that wasn’t profoundly changed by the experience and the women who made it happen. Was it easy? No. Was it worth it? The biggest yes.

use my voice to defuse a potential attack. At first, I couldn’t shout the word “no.” A lifetime of unsaid “nos” felt stuck deep inside. This is not uncommon for many women, trauma survivors or not.

Unexpectedly, my greatest challenge was learning how to

LETTERS continued from page 5

than any time in the last 150 or more years.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is doing an incredible job of managing wildlife and fish; it is because of their dedication and heart that we have what we have now and disregarding them, hunters, trappers and the North American model of wildlife is a very dangerous slope to go down.

We need to stop these lies about fish and wildlife as they do more for all wildlife than anyone else in Vermont. Consumptive users, hunters, trappers, boaters, shooting sports, firearms sales and fisherman pay into managing wildlife in a big way through the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act. Anti-groups waste money and time that should be put into managing wildlife and habitats. Just what do they do for it all when it wasn’t broken?

Parents deserve to know thinking behind dismissals

To the Editor:

This year two principals have been pushed out. Months later, we find the Orchard principal was likely pushed out over the lawsuit from the Vermont Human Rights Commission. Based on the superintendent’s message to parents about the middle school

It was as if “no” had been erased from my vocabulary, not only because of the assaults, but through decades of conditioning. Women in our society, especially how I was raised, are instructed to be polite, kind and accommodating. We’re taught not to offend the offender, especially men, and, for many, this could mean our partners, bosses and co-workers. It’s either make nice or fear repercussions. This is not an exaggeration; there are real aggressions happening to women every day in what should be safe spaces.

Consider the facts. One in five women in the U.S. are raped over the course of their lifetime. Fifty percent of women experience sexual assault other than rape. (These figures are considered under-representations.)

Look at the women in your lives — mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, friends, colleagues — and know at least half, and likely more, have been assaulted.

There’s more. Nearly 99 percent of the perpetrators are male. And 85 percent of these men were known to their victims.

These statistics are shocking, even though I know it for myself. I’m sorry we are in a world where women must learn how to fight off an attacker. But that is where we are. Before, I had no idea how to do it. I didn’t even know it was possible. After all, how could I defend myself from a man who is larger than me?

The amazing news is that this course taught me how to be less

vulnerable to attack, proactively recognize aggressive behavior and deliver powerful strikes if necessary.

I learned that “no” is a complete sentence. I learned how to stop unwanted hugs or touching. I learned what to do if a man grabs me unaware. I learned personal space boundaries. I learned how to use my voice to possibly prevent an attack as most perpetrators fear getting caught or hurt. All this takes practice, just like everything else I want in my life.

to appease. This gut feeling is my autonomic nervous system telling me something I want to hear.

It was a gift to learn these many protective strategies. A boon of agency. The capability, authority and right to take care of myself. Where I had none, now I have a choice and options. This awareness and sense of self serves me in all areas of my life.

I learned how to stop unwanted hugs or touching. I learned what to do if a man grabs me unaware.

I learned personal space boundaries.

principal, I suspect there is a similar reason.

There are two explanations. One is that the superintendent is unfairly dismissing staff before allowing them to defend themselves. The other is that there is serious racism at all levels of this school district. Either way, the superintendent needs to give parents more information on and justification for her decisions. If she is unable to do that, she should step down.

Lawmakers thanked for environmentalism

To the Editor:

I am writing to express my gratitude for the Vermont Congressional delegation’s high scores on the recently released League of Conservation Voters’ 2023 National Environmental Scorecard. The full Vermont federal delegation’s scores for 2023 are: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I), 94 percent (91 percent lifetime); Sen. Peter Welch (D), 100 percent (95 percent lifetime); and Rep. Becca Balint (D), 97 percent (97 percent lifetime).

As the youth member of the board of directors for Vermont Conservation Voters, I’m proud to have leaders that are committed to safeguarding democracy and protecting our environment both for my generation and those that will come after.

Despite a tumultuous national political landscape, Vermont’s delegation stands firm against proposals that would roll back environmental and democratic protections. As we saw with the catastrophic flooding that affected so many of our neighbors over the last year, the climate crisis is real, and it is here. Our delegation’s hard work to bring relief to our friends and neighbors last summer set an admirable example for all of Congress, especially as partisan gridlock and discord continue to hamper progress on climate action.

I am proud to be represented by leaders who are dedicated to prioritizing environmental stewardship over partisan interests. By continuing to invest in renewable energy initiatives, promoting smart growth housing, safeguarding natural resources, and strengthening our resilience to climate change, we can create a sustainable future for generations to come.

As Vermonters, we’re good at coming together to solve problems that affect our communities. I have every confidence that we’ll do so now as the climate crisis continues to impact our brave little state. We can pave the way for a brighter, more sustainable, and more equitable future for all of us, and we’ll continue to have strong partners in that mission in Washington.

I learned that my freeze response to danger is the same that many people experience. Moreover, it’s science. When our amygdala perceives an attack, the brainstem is signaled to inhibit movement, instantaneously, beyond conscious control. True for our voice as well. The brain’s Broca area, which is responsible for motor functions involved with speech and language, shuts down in a traumatic event. Now, although freeze may be my first response, I’ve learned it won’t be my last.

to listen to my gut. You know the one. We all have it, though we’re often trained to ignore it in order

The Safety Team (thesafetyteam.org), a nonprofit organization right here in Vermont, delivered the innovative program I took. They also offer a variety of violence prevention and empowerment self-defense courses made for women by women.

My instructors provided powerfully supportive guidance and called us brave to take the class. For them, there are not enough thank yous. Moreover, they and the entire Safety Team are brave. As in courageous and intrepid. Great-hearted and heroic. Not just for heralding the right for us to be safe but teaching us how.

COMMUNITY

Rotary Club pins fundraising hopes on Eritrean dinner

James Beard-nominated chef shares her international cuisine

The South Burlington Rotary Club is hoping some award-winning cooking can get it to its fundraising goal.

The club will host an Eritrean dinner fundraiser on Saturday, April 13, where Rotary Club member and local chef Alganesh Michael, a 2023 semifinalist for the James Beard Award for “Best Chef in the Northeast,” will cook an Eritrean dinner to support the club’s international work.

Michael’s catering business, A Taste of Abyssinia, has become well known around the Burlington area. Born out of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, Michael has since been honored as a semifinalist for the prestigious award.

The annual fundraising dinner event is hosted by the club’s foundation committee to support Rotary International and charities worldwide. Beneficiary organizations for the club have included Doctors Without Borders, Red Cross, ShelterBox, Guatemala Literacy Project, and an Eritrean mother’s refugee camp in Ethiopia.

“Alganesh’s food is homemade, delicious, and a filling dinner — it’s a great way to share international cuisine with our local residents, while raising money for worthy causes around the world,” said Elise Brunelle, who co-chairs the club’s Foundation Committee with Michael.

The dinner will offer spiced beef, curried chicken and mildly spiced vegetarian mushroom entrées with vegetables, accompanied by rice or injera — a spongy, sourdough flatbread common in Ethiopian and Eritrean cooking. The meals are avail-

able at $25 per person.

“As Rotarians, we’re trying to make a difference, reaching out and helping others as much as we can,” Michael said.

The Rotary Club hopes to raise $3,000, and that would mean selling 120 meals.

The money would go toward the club’s yearly international relief efforts. “I know South Burlington can reach this goal,” Brunelle said.

Community Notes

Abenake Artist Association gives talk on colonialism, whiteness

When colonizers arrived in Sheet’ka (Sitka, Alaska), the homeland of the Tlingit people, they imported devastating infectious diseases. Russian and Euro-American colonizers’ writings describe these diseases as a marker of colonizers’ self-assumed superiority.

Colonizers saw vaccines as introducing a material part of European technology that would ultimately lead to Tlingit people’s acceptance of Russian and American colonial rule. In other words, they saw vaccines as inoculating Tlingit people with whiteness.

Dr. Adam Kersch presents the talk, “Inoculating Whiteness: Settler Colonialism, Whiteness and Infectious Diseases in Sheet’ka,” Thursday, April 11, 6:30-8 p.m. on Zoom.

This Vermont Abenaki Artist Association project involved archival analysis, interviews and participant observation, and this talk will discuss over 200 years of colo-

Adam Kersch

nial history and how colonizers used ideas about infectious diseases and vaccinations to justify attempted ethnocide. Register in advance at bit.ly/3TFWQST.

Big Picture grad showcases knitwear business at Illuminate

Cyrus Brooks, a Big Picture South Burlington graduate, is returning to the city to showcase his slow fashion knitwear brand at this weekend’s Illuminate Vermont festival at City Center.

The Big Picture program supports independent learning and fosters the kind of creative expression and entrepreneurial skills that Brooks, Class of 2016, needed to launch his brand in 2019.

Muriel’s of Vermont is named for his grandmother and was co-founded by Brooks and his

mother to support local farmers, who were losing money on their wool and alpaca for lack of a viable fiber market in Vermont. The company secured financing to purchase an industrial digital knitting machine.

Since then, Muriel’s of Vermont has acquired a second knitting machine to accommodate growth and helps a dozen different farmers across the state generate revenue with fiber sales. It has also diversified its yarns; garments are also knit using recycled cotton and hemp.

The wool and alpaca fiber is processed into yarn locally, helping to rebuild the once robust local knitwear production supply chains that had moved offshore.

The company operates out of Brooks’ Grand Isle home. He designs garments on compatible software then programs his two machines to knit wool roll-neck sweaters, cotton tank tops and hemp sweatshirts.

The knitwear is sold online and at farmers markets and pop-ups around Vermont.

Student Milestones

Tenzin Geygong of South Burlington was named to the dean’s list at Rochester Institute of Technology for the fall semester. Geygong is in the physician assistant program.

Nadia La and Clara Margulius, both of South Burlington, were named to the fall dean’s list at Tufts University.

Baxter Lowell of South Burlington, a first-year student

list at St. Lawrence University was named to the dean’s list the fall 2023 semester.

Lilly Truchon of South Burlington was recently named to the 2024 New England Small College Athletic Conference winter all-academic team for women’s hockey. Truchon, a sophomore majoring in neuroscience at Hamilton College, is a graduate of Saint Paul’s School.

vermont gatherings present:

Explore over 65 artisans and vendors selling handmade gifts, clothing, woodcrafts, jewelry, mead, wine, and more.

April 6-7, 2024 | 10 am to 5 pm

Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Junction, Vermont

Tickets are $10 for adults at the door and kids under 12 are FREE VTGatherings.com

WHEELER PARK

continued from page 1

Road, was denied last month, setting up a seven-day trial scheduled for May 6.

The case has lagged through environmental court since 2022, with 26 competing motions entered and decided upon by the court.

A group of 125 nearby homeowners — from the Inverness Homeowners’ Association, Glen Eagles Homeowners’ Association, Villas at Water Tower Hill Homeowners’ Association and the Neighbors Committee to Stop Neighborhood Blasting — have worked since early 2022 to block the development from acquiring Act 250 approval.

The appellants contend that city plans and reports have called for this land to be preserved in perpetuity. There are several issues for residents’ — one being that the scenic view of the Green Mountains over the Wheeler Nature Park would be interrupted for local homeowners.

“That is going to be disrupted and taken away — not just for

(nearby residents) but for everyone,” James Leas, a patent attorney and one of the opposing neighbors, said.

The view of the mountains, Leas said, is discussed in city reports and the land is supposed to be preserved according to South Burlington’s city plan. Meanwhile, the project would disrupt residents’ quality of life through the blasting of rock ledges, while natural wildlife would be disrupted.

“It’s a designated natural area that is to be preserved in perpetuity, and the only development allowed is unpaved walking trails,” Leas said. “That’s directly from the city plan.”

BlackRock, in court documents opposing the appellants motion for summary judgement, said that the residents have “failed to show that the undisputed facts demonstrate they are entitled to judgment as a matter of law.”

City zoning maps, BlackRock said in court documents, show that

CONNECTED

the city “expressly authorizes the residential development proposed by BlackRock that the city has already approved.”

An official with BlackRock did not respond to a request for comment.

In denying the appellant’s motion for summary judgement, Superior Court Judge Thomas G. Walsh said that “there are disputes of fact that warrant denial of the motion in favor of trial on the merits.”

While the case will be heard in court, residents challenging

BLOTTER

continued from page 4

violating conditions of release and driving with a criminally suspended license.

March 29 at 3:07 a.m., Jeremy D. Bushey, 33, of Sheldon, was arrested on an in-state warrant.

March 29 at 4:12 a.m., Vincent Edwin Shwab, 41, of Colchester, was arrested on an in-state warrant.

March 29 at 10:41 p.m., San M.

the development say they plan on appealing the case. Last week, they filed a motion for interlocutory appeal, which would allow the appellants the right to appeal before the case goes to trial.

The 110-acre Wheeler Nature Park was first acquired by the city in 1993 and has years of legal history. The parcel in court was first created in 2017, the result of a settlement agreement that included the swapping of the 7 acres for 22 that have been conserved into perpetuity with Wheeler Nature Park.

The land swap was eventually approved by a Town Meeting Day vote in 2011, although the vote was not legally binding and only considered a “good faith” gesture on the part of the city, former city attorney Jim Barlow said at a council meeting in 2015, according to previous reporting.

That settlement agreement created specific zoning for the parcel, laying out specific development guidelines.

BlackRock first applied for Act 250 permitting for the project in September 2021.

Pradhan, 38, of South Burlington, was arrested on Farrell Street for first-degree domestic assault.

March 30 at 4:54 a.m., Derek G. Stone, 29, no address given, was arrested on Shelburne Road for criminal threatening.

Previous incidents:

Feb. 12 at 11:49 a.m., Raymond K.

Parker, 42, no address given, was arrested for burglary.

March 5 at 4:06 p.m., Jamie T. Jennings, 46, of Middlebury, was arrested on Williston Road for false pretenses.

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

OBITUARIES

Carolyn A. Gray

Carolyn Akin Gray, 93, of South Burlington, died on Saturday, March 23, 2024, with her daughter Jill holding her hand. She had shared the previous day with grandchildren, great-grandchildren, her minister and friends.

She told Jill it had felt like her birthday rather than a normal day. Family, faith and friends were her life. Despite many years of pain, she had an infectious smile and beautiful positive spirit, always wanting to be helpful to others.

Carolyn is survived by her children, Jill Gray Wilkens and her husband, Ed, Dan Gray and his fiancé, Lisa Martin and her deceased son Jim’s widow, Elizabeth Gray; six grandchildren, Michael Gray and his wife, Robyn, Marissa Strayer-Benton and her husband, Jackson, Brian Gray and his wife, Melissa, Lindsay Zeitler and her husband, Joe, Jacqueline Kahr and her husband, Derek and Justin Gray; nine great grandchildren, Elijah and Crosby Gray, Avery and Grady Zeitler, Keagan, Parker and Natalie Gray and Roman and Lola Strayer-Benton; and many nieces and nephews and extended family.

They were the joy of her life. All who knew her felt her love.

Carolyn was born on Nov. 2, 1930, to Laura Isabelle Cobleigh Akin and Aubrey Walter Akin in Newport. She attended Newport schools until her father was called into active duty during World War II when she became a self-proclaimed Army brat as the family followed her father’s assignments across the U.S. and eventually to Europe.

She graduated from the Heidelberg Dependents High School in Heidelberg, Germany, in 1948, attended the University of Vermont for one year and then entered nurses’ training at Massachusetts General Hospital

in Boston.

She left training after one year to marry the love of her life, Jim Gray, on June 14, 1951. They had 68 amazing years together.

Carolyn found great joy as a wife and mother, managing the household and especially enjoyed baking, sewing and crafts. When the family left Newport in 1966 and moved to South Burlington, she chose to operate a private child care service in their home. Later she worked at Magram’s department store in Burlington.

Jim and Carolyn moved to Delray Beach, Fla., in 1983 and then to Boca Raton in 1986 in anticipation of Jim’s retirement from IBM.

In Florida, Carolyn enjoyed working at Mercer Wenzel’s department store for several years. She was very engaged with projects and committees at the First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach and loved working on crafts and Christmas decorations. She made mink teddy bears from donated coats to help raise money for various groups.

During their years in Florida, Carolyn and Jim would often return to Vermont for Christmas, as well as a month each summer. They returned full-time to South Burlington in 2011, living first at The Pines and then moving to Harbor Village in 2017. Fellow residents and the staff became extended family.

They relished being closer to children, grandchildren and later their great-grandchildren in Vermont and Massachusetts.

Carolyn and Jim joined the North Ferrisburgh United Methodist, where she became a dedicated and cherished member of the congregation, always ready to share her weekly joys.

During COVID-19, she took up painting and had real talent. Carolyn loved to write beautiful letters and combined her art and writing to create countless cards and notes for family and friends.

Carolyn was predeceased by her parents, her wonderful husband Jim, her beloved son “Jimmie” and her two brothers John and Walter.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate Carolyn’s life on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at 11 a.m. at the North Ferrisburgh United Methodist Church in North Ferrisburgh. In lieu of calling hours the night before, there will be fellowship time and a light meal following the service in the church hall.

Donations may be made in memory of Carolyn to The Jimmy Fund or the North Ferrisburgh United Methodist Church.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Service. To send online condolences to the family please visit readyfuneral. com.

Marilyn J. VanGraber

Marilyn Janet VanGraber, 83, died peacefully and unexpectedly on Sept. 8, 2023, at Converse Home in Burlington.

Marilyn was born in Burlington on May 4, 1940, to Lila (Manchester) and Robert VanGraber. Marilyn was raised by her mom Lila, a single working mom who supported Marilyn and her older siblings, John and Sandy.

Marilyn often talked about growing up in an apartment above Montgomery Ward’s on Church Street in downtown Burlington. She recalled her sledding activities and how she often wandered the city streets.

Marilyn went through Burlington’s public school system, excelling in several subjects and found her love for debating as part of the debate club. Teamed up with George Siager, they won six out of seven tournaments held in Maine and were highlighted in a Burlington Free Press article on Feb. 19, 1958.

Marilyn found her way to the Salvation Army, which was instrumental (pun intended) in forming the Marilyn that we all love. There she learned how to play the baritone horn, played in the Salvation Army Band and learned about Jesus.

Marilyn earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont in 1962, being awarded the Edward Page Butler and Robert Ashton Lawrence debating awards and taking second in the Robert Ashton Lawrence and George Edin Lawrence debating awards. Marilyn continued her education and earned a doctorate at the University of Iowa in speech (rhetoric and communications psychology), specializing in rhetoric.

Marilyn taught at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, Indiana University in Bloomington and in New Jersey. While she published articles on rhetoric, her true passion was teaching. She often told stories of classroom interactions she had with her students.

Marilyn is known for her caring heart, and when her mom Lila needed help, Marilyn gave up academic teaching and came back to Vermont to live with her. This next life chapter included working in risk management for Fanny Allen and Fletcher Allen Hospitals, now University of Vermont Medical Center.

Marilyn teamed up with her brother-in-law, Dr. John W. “Jack” Heisse, Sandy’s husband, to teach law enforcement professionals and others how to use the voice-based psychological stress evaluator, a truth detection device, an alternative to the polygraph. Marilyn taught how to both design the interviews and to analyze the instrument’s results. She worked with Jack for years in the professional association for using the evaluator, the International Society of Stress Analysts, and helped conduct research into the instrument’s effectiveness with the inventors. She developed long and good friendships with several local law enforcement officers and attorneys through this work.

Marilyn was a member of Essex Alliance Church. She gave freely of her time and talents. She had a puppet ministry for kids, wrote and performed in church dramas, sang in the choir, served on the church’s governing board and was instrumental in starting the Stephens Ministry as part of the church’s care department. Ask anybody from Essex Alliance and most likely they will have a Marilyn story.

Marilyn was always volunteering her time and teaching others. She would help the students at the Rick Marcotte School write and publish their school newspaper. She also volunteered at Mountain Lake PBS.

Marilyn and Lila lived together in Williston. After Lila’s death, she moved to Iby Street in South Burlington. After her first lower leg amputation, members of her church added an extensive, multi-section wheelchair ramp that included several turns to accommodate the inclines from ground to front door.

Intrepid learner and refusing to be daunted, she learned to walk with a prosthesis and to drive a car modified for hands-only operation. Marilyn’s diabetes forced a second leg amputation. This made living independently very difficult, and she moved to Converse Home on lower Church Street in Burlington. Marilyn thrived at Converse Home and was loved by

staff and residents.

Over decades, several dogs and cats were lucky to have adopted her and become her companions, including German Shepherds Chrissy and Meg, corgi Morgan, and at least three orange cats, two of whom were brothers.

Marilyn succeeded in life, but she had to work very hard to overcome many barriers. She often took the barriers head on, which created her feisty personality. It has been said that Marilyn had a sharp mind, a sharp wit and a sharp tongue. While her feisty personality did create some challenges, many whom Marilyn touched say they were better off after the experience of knowing her.

Marilyn was predeceased by her beloved mother, Lila Marion Manchester VanGraber Denham; cherished brother, John A. “Dutch” VanGraber and sisterin-law, Gloria VanGraber; adored sister, Sandra “Sandy” Arlene VanGraber Heisse and brother-inlaw, John W. “Jack” Heisse; and beloved step-nephew, John Jay Heisse.

She is survived by John and Gloria’s two children, Michael VanGraber of South Burlington, and Kimberly VanGraber Theriault and her husband, Steve of Burlington; Kim and Steve’s children, Kassie Theriault and Kyle (Leah) Theriault; Kim’s grandson, Maddox Theriault; step-niece Karen Meg Heisse of Baltimore, Md.; and many other relatives, friends, mentors and colleagues.

At Marilyn’s request, on Nov. 11, 2023, she was interred at Druid Ridge Cemetery in Baltimore next to her sister, Sandy and near other Heisse loved ones.

An informal celebration of life will be held at Essex Alliance Church in the video cafe at 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 11. 2024. Please come and share your Marilyn stories.

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ed the process of reviewing, evaluating and piloting comprehensive literacy programs for the district’s elementary schools. She has selected a common assessment to monitor student progress in foundational literacy skills and trained all kindergarten through 5th grade teachers to administer and score it.

Vaillancourt has also provided professional development resources for all teach-

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continue through October. There is no length limit, and the daily creel limit is two trout for the Trophy Trout stream sections listed here:

• East Creek in Rutland City from the confluence with Otter Creek upstream, approximately 2.7 miles, to the top of the Patch Dam in Rutland City.

• Lamoille River from the downstream edge of the bridge on Route 104 in Fairfax, upstream approximately 1.6 miles, to the top of the Fairfax Falls Dam in Fairfax.

• Otter Creek in Danby and Mt. Tabor from the Vermont Railway Bridge north of the fishing access, upstream approximately 2 miles to the Danby-Mt. Tabor Forest Road Bridge (Forest Road #10).

• Missisquoi River in Enosburg and Sheldon, from the downstream edge of

ers for practices aligned with structured literacy and worked with middle and high school teachers to coordinate curriculum.

“When Jody joined the district, we knew she would excel,” superintendent Violet Nichols said. “Stepping into this new position is a reflection of the work she has done as well as what she is aiming to achieve.”

Aside from doing the work outside of

the classroom setting, she began her education career 35 years ago and has taught all levels from pre-K to graduate students. She was in the classroom for 21 years in Franklin County in various roles and served as district K-12 literacy coach in Franklin Northeast Supervisory Union for two years before becoming the director of instruction and learning for 11 years.

focus: curriculum, instruction, assessment and the professional learning of all teachers in the district.

Kane Road bridge, upstream approximately 5.7 miles to the top of the Enosburg Falls Dam in Enosburg Falls.

• Passumpsic River in St. Johnsbury from the top of the Gage Dam upstream to the top of the Arnold Falls Dam. This section includes the Moose River from its confluence with the Passumpsic River upstream to the Concord Avenue bridge.

• Walloomsac River: From the VermontNew York border in Bennington upstream to the top of the former Vermont Tissue Plant Dam in Bennington.

• Winooski River in Duxbury and Waterbury from the top of Bolton Dam upstream to the Route 2 Bridge east of Waterbury Village. This section includes the Little River from its confluence with the Winooski River upstream to the Route 2 bridge.

“I started my education career in 1989, so it’s been quite a while,” she said. “I have actually taught every level from early childhood, all the way up through teachers who are graduate students getting their master’s degrees. I have a varied background, which I think does give me a unique perspective in terms of seeing a whole organization but also a unique perspective on what the actual roles and responsibilities are for teachers at those different levels and in those different roles.”

She said she has four main areas of

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which plays a crucial role in enforcing fair housing laws and investigating complaints of discrimination. The commission provides education and outreach to landlords, tenants and housing providers to raise awareness about fair housing rights and responsibilities. Other key groups in the ongoing efforts for fair housing are the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity and Vermont Legal Aid, which offers legal assistance and support services to individuals facing housing discrimination or eviction.

Finally, on the topic of education finance, I want to assure my constituents that I hear you. Now is the time to look at long-term strategies to tackle the cost of education and our complex funding formula. Current property tax increases cannot — and must not — be sustained. I am committed to equitable access to a high-quality education for Vermont students and working together toward tangible solutions around education policy and funding.

“Right now, everyone in Vermont is working to ensure that we have a coordinated curriculum,” she said. “But another major piece of the role is making sure that all of our teachers are engaging in effective, research-based instructional practices, and then making sure that we are assessing student learning, monitoring their progress toward proficiency and then coming up with plans to improve our student learning outcomes.”

While most of her work happens outside of the classroom, most of her day-to-day is spent on the ground in each of the district’s five schools observing the new reading programs the district has put in place, while also helping to facilitate meetings with school staff.

I want to share my appreciation for South Burlington Rep. Brian Minier, who serves on the House Committee on Education. He has played an integral role in our delegation’s seat at the table, ensuring your voice is heard as this conversation develops.

Thank you to all the South Burlington community members who join us for legislative forums every fourth Monday of the month at 6 p.m. at the public library. This month I will also be hosting an event for South Burlington seniors at Allard Square in partnership with Cathedral Square, AARP, The Alzheimer’s Association of Vermont, HomeShare Vermont and Age Well. Please stay tuned for date and time.

Please reach out anytime with ideas, questions and concerns at ekrasnow@leg. state.vt.us.

Emilie Krasnow, a Democrat from South Burlington, serves the Chittenden-9 House district.

Sanders holds roundtable with State of the Union essay winners

Student finalists of the State of Union Essay Contest, now in its 14th year, joined Sen. Bernie Sanders at a roundtable discussion at the Vermont Statehouse March 9.

The contest gives Vermont high school students the opportunity to describe a major issue facing that country and propose how to solve it.

“The reason we do this contest each year is to have young people around the state imagine being the president of the United States,” Sanders said. “It is a chance for them to think critically about the problems that face our country but also about solutions.

This year, 454 students from 27 Vermont high schools submitted essays. A panel of seven Vermont educators served as volunteer judges, ranking the essays and selecting 12 finalists and three winners. Students wrote on a variety of critically important issues, including climate change, racial justice, access to mental health care, political polarization, gun safety, disability rights, racial justice and more.

The winner was Leah Frisbie, a junior at Essex High School, who wrote about book bans.

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“I actually sit on some of the school leadership teams,” she said. “Recently, I’ve been observing these reading programs that we are piloting in action, so seeing how that looks in practice.”

Backman is relocating to Florida at the end of this school year and said in a statement, “Being able to work this closely with Jody this year in her role as curriculum coordinator has allowed our team to develop multi-year plans to support the district as we move forward with our curriculum, instruction and assessment work. Jody’s experience and her knowledge of the South Burlington School District have demonstrated she is extremely capable and ready to dive into her new role.”

Vaillancourt said she hopes to bring continuity, and since she has been with the district for a year, she’s able to “hit the ground running” on the projects she has already started with Backman, while continuing to cultivate the relationships she formed over the past year.

“I do have more than a decade of experience in the role, so I don’t need to learn it,” she said. “Because I’ve been here in the district this year, I also don’t have to learn the district. So, that will give me sort of a quick start.”

Second Place went to Mount Mansfield Union High School junior Abigail Curry writing about Indigenous water rights. Homelessness was the topic of third place essayist, Leah Fitzgerald, a senior at Bellows Free Academy in Saint Albans.

Finalists included junior Patterson Frazier of Champlain Valley Union High School, senior Talia Gibbs of Vermont Commons School, and freshman Olivia Gray of South Burlington High School.

As each student presented their essay and proposed solutions, Sanders posed questions to the larger group and opened up debate on each topic. Sanders encouraged the students to make connections between the various topics and to feel comfortable disagreeing with each other. The overall theme of the discussion highlighted the many similarities between how the U.S. government decides to address these issues and who has the power to make change.

Olivia Gray’s student essay

Has the government ever decided your future? 1970 is when Roe v Wade was brought to the Supreme Court, and 1973 was when it became legal to have an abortion. 2022 is when the law was overturned, and 2024 is now when women are again having to fight for rights to their bodies. Our nation has just undergone such a big setback in our history. The leaders of our “free” country shouldn’t be able to determine what we do with our bodies; they need to make abortions safe and legal for every woman.

Fourteen states have a full

The government of your state shouldn’t decide your future.

Some people’s argument for why abortions should be illegal is “You can’t kill a living fetus.” Well, pregnancies aren’t always safe, what if the mother’s life is at risk? Forcing a woman to choose a fetus’s life over her own isn’t fair. Making a mother give birth even if the baby is stillborn and forcing the mother to go through that traumatizing event isn’t right.

The government shouldn’t dictate what women do with their bodies; we should have freedom with what we want to do. Women are capable of making decisions for themselves even if someone doesn’t agree with them because at the end of the day, it’s their choice and it affects them the most. If a woman gets pregnant and chooses to get an abortion it doesn’t change the life of a politician, it will change the life of the mother, if they are choosing an abortion, they should have that right and they know the consequences and that is their choice.

Abortions will happen no matter what, whether safe and legal, or dangerous and illegal.

ban on abortions, two states have a ban after 6 weeks, two states have a ban after 12 weeks, and three states have a ban after 15-18 weeks. The average woman, according to WPTV, finds out they are pregnant between six to eight weeks, and the majority of states have bans before the six to eight weeks. Say a young woman

finds out they are pregnant at five weeks, and they are considering an abortion, is one week enough time to make that life-altering decision? Or in states where it is completely banned, is no time at all enough to decide if they are ready to become a mother or go through the physical and mental changes of just being pregnant?

Abortions will happen and the government needs to make it safe and legal to protect women. Being able to get an abortion legally was a freedom for women for decades and now that is being taken away, if our country wants to progress there have to be easily accessible abortion clinics throughout the nation, and easily accessible birth control to prevent women from getting pregnant if they choose to take birth control. Women in our country deserve to have control of their lives and to be given choices about their bodies, not have them be taken away.

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