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Charlotte Selectboard approves budget
Rising mist
Voters will decide firerescue, library spending SCOOTER MACMILLAN STAFF WRITER
president of the department’s board. The increase is due to salaried employee benefits. (See letter to the editor, page 5) Currently, the fire and rescue department has four full-time employees. It is seeking to add three more with this year’s budget. The department is seeking to switch from a volunteer-run department to an almost all-paid department, Faulkner said. He would like the selectboard to have
On Monday night, Charlotte was minutes past the eleventh hour for the selectboard to send its proposed budget to voters. Prior to the selectboard meeting chair Jim Faulkner talked about the necessity of agreeing on the budget to meet the printer’s Tuesday morning deadline. It took more than four and half hours, but the board finally agreed a $2.6 million spending plan that will mean a tax rate of almost 25 cents ($0.2475) or $247.50 per $100,000 in property value — if both the main budget and three separate town meeting articles are approved by voters. This means that a property owner with a home valued at $500,000 would pay $1,237.50 in town taxes. Without the separate articles, the town property tax rate would be just under 12 cents. “There is change in the format of the budget this year in that the allocation to Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services was put into a separate article, and the budget for the library was also put into its own article,” town administrator Dean Bloch said. The selectboard also approved a third article to let voters decide whether to allocate $50,000 for a study into the feasibility of building a Charlotte community center. The total increase in the tax rate, if the proposed budget and articles pass is almost 3 cents ($0.0277) or
See FIRE DEPARTMENT on page 6
See BUDGET on page 16
PHOTO BY SCOOTER MACMILLAN
Single digit temperatures created mist on Lake Champlain at the Charlotte Town Beach Saturday.
Charlotte selectboard, fire department iron out budget ask SCOOTER MACMILLAN STAFF WRITER
After a few weeks of contentious exchanges between the Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department and the town’s selectboard, a recent budget meeting started on a more conciliatory note with selectboard chair Jim Faulkner attempting to correct some of his earlier comments about the department. “I made some comments that the Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department was not complying with what we call
the memorandum of agreement,” Faulkner said. “I probably was premature in doing that.” Faulkner said after looking over the agreement, he realized there might have been “some missteps, but that wasn’t the way to handle it.” Faulker had objected to the fire and rescue making the switch from a volunteer fire department to a primarily paid department without consulting the selectboard. He also alleged at that time this was a breach of town’s agreement with the department. “That was my responsibili-
ty and I take full responsibility. That was my mistake. I really should have never said anything like that,” Faulkner said, adding that anyone who misconstrued his comments to be a reflection upon the quality of service the department delivers is wrong and the department has always delivered good service. The fire and rescue budget request has gone up this year because it is adding more salaried positions. The cost of the salaries is not so much more than the per diem paid now to fire and rescue volunteers, said Fritz Tegatz,
Page 2 • January 20, 2022 • The Citizen
Deadline to run for town offices looms SCOOTER MACMILLAN STAFF WRITER
It’s the time — right now — to declare if you want to run for elected town office. The urgency is because the deadline to turn in a signed petition to be placed on the town meeting ballot is 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 24. The only issue, at least at press time Wednesay morning, is whether that petition would need candidates to collect the signatures of registered voters. In both Hinesburg and Charlotte, two selectboard seats are up and all four incumbents say they will seek reelection. Longtime Hinesburg Selectboard member Phil Pouech will run again for his two-year seat, and Mike Loner, who stepped in to fill the final two years of Aaron Kimball’s term after he resigned in January 2020, seeks his first full three-year term. In Charlotte, selectboard chair Jim Faulkner and Louise McCarren will both seek reelection for a three-year seat and two-year seat, respectively. Both chambers of the Legislature have passed — but the governor hasn’t signed — a bill that would suspend the requirement for candidates to collect signatures to be placed on the ballot. Some officials are encouraging candidates to still get the signatures, even though it
appears the governor will sign the exemption, because there are so few days until the deadline. Even if the governor does not sign the bill, Loner said collecting signatures didn’t bother him as it is an opportunity to connect with voters. Loner hadn’t heard if anyone planned to run against him but would be surprised due to the limited number of people interested in serving in town positions. “I would welcome competition because that’s also a good thing I believe,” Loner said. Town clerk Missy Ross confirmed Tuesday that no other candidates had filed petitions for either seat. Other elected positions in Hinesburg with terms ending include three seats on the library board of trustees (three-year terms — Brian Dunlop, Marianna Holzer and James Jarvis have all filed to run for reelection to those seats); Peck Estate trustee (three-year term — Heather Roberts is running); Champlain Valley School District board (three-year term – Keith Roberts currently holds Hinesburg’s position on the board and is running for reelection); town moderator (one-year term — Frank Twarog is running for reelection). Cemetery trustee Jeri Helen Belisle moved out of Hinesburg so there is no incumbent for this three-year position.
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Charlotte candidates Faulkner said he’s heard of no one planning to run against him or McCarren. “Louise and I talked this morning and she’s hoping that she can’t get 30 people to sign a petition,” Faulkner joked last Friday. On Monday, McCarren laughed about Faulkner’s quip, but confirmed she would run and felt confident she could get the signatures — if they are needed. She did jest that her husband might not sign her petition to run. Town clerk Mary Mead said as of Tuesday that no one had filed to run against the incumbent selecboard members. Other Charlotte positions up for election include two auditors, both a one- and three-year term (Richard Mintzer seeks the three-year term); two cemetery commissioners, one- and three-year terms (Dan Cole is running for reelection to the three-year term); library trustee, five-year term (Janice Heilmann is running); delinquent tax collector, one-year term (Mary Mead is running for reelection); moderator, one-year term (Charlie Russell is running for reelection); road commissioner, one-year term (Hugh Lewis Jr. is running for reelection); and two trustees of public funds, one- and three-year terms.
PHOTO BY SHAWN GOOD
Vermont’s free ice fishing day is Saturday, Jan. 29, and residents and nonresident anglers may ice fish on any Vermont water body that is open to ice fishing without a fishing license that day.
State urges Vermonters to ‘give ice fishing a try’ As winter sets in, many Vermonters are preparing for one of the most popular cold weather pastimes in the state — ice fishing. Anglers spend more than 400,000 days each winter ice fishing in Vermont, and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is encouraging more people to give it a try. “Ice fishing is generally more accessible than open water fishing,” fisheries biologist Shawn Good said. “Almost anyone can walk out on a frozen lake or pond and fish through the ice. Once you’re out there, there’s lots of room to spread out.”
Ice fishing can also be more sociable than open water fishing, with friends and family gathering on the ice for cookouts and winter fun along with the fishing. With an uptick in anglers trying the sport last year to get outside with friends during the pandemic, Good expects to see a lot of action on the ice this winter. “For many, it’s not just about the fish. Kids love ice fishing because they can run around and slide on the ice or play in the snow. I’ve seen families with grills, food and hot drinks having a great time. They set their tip-ups, build snowmen, play football and even skate in between bouts of fishing.” Ice fishing is inexpensive and simple to get started. “An auger used for cutting holes in the ice is the most expensive piece of equipment you’ll need,” Good said. When you’ve had a successful outing, bringing home a meal of healthy, locally caught fresh fish is a delicious benefit. Videos from the department’s Vermont Wild Kitchen partnership are a great place to find fun recipes for fresh caught fish, like lake trout or crappie. “I think fish taste better in the winter,” Good said. “There’s See ICE FISHING on page 6
Correction
There will be no Champlain Valley School District hearing on Jan. 23 as reported last week. The meeting will be held Wednesday, Feb. 23, at the Charlotte-Shelburne-Hinesburg Rotary.
The Citizen • January 20, 2022 • Page 3
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Page 4 • January 20, 2022 • The Citizen
Richmond Rescue compiles statistics Editor’s note: Michael Chiarella, director of operations at Richmond Rescue compiled these fourth quarter statistics. In the fourth quarter of 2021 Richmond Rescue went on 310 calls and transported 166 patients for a transport rate of 53 percent. The average for this period in the last three years was 167 calls and 100 transports and a transport rate of 60 percent. This quarter was much busier than past years because Richmond Rescue is temporarily providing ambulance service to the towns of Hinesburg and St. George while the fire department gets its new ambulance in service. Thirty-six volunteers actively participated in operations, contributing a total of 6,071 hours on duty. On average the rescue service left the station in 1 minute and 43 seconds and arrived on scene in 13 minutes. Richmond Rescue went on 93 calls in Richmond, 79 in Hinesburg, 24 in Huntington, 20 in St. George, 13 in Bolton — one at
Bolton Valley Resort — 10 in Jericho, one in Starksboro and 21 on I-89, and assisted agencies in Essex, Underhill and Williston. The busiest day of the week was Monday (49) and the quietest day was Sunday (40). Daytime (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.) accounted for 183 calls while nights totaled 127. In the fourth quarter the squad was able to respond to 11 calls with the second truck while the primary truck was on another call. This means that instead of waiting for an ambulance from Williston or University of Vermont, the team was able to respond with no delay. Of 166 transports, we transported 16 patients with lights and sirens activated, reserving their use for the most critical patients. The difference in transport time with lights and sirens is only about three minutes faster. Since Richmond Rescue began its E911 sign program it has made 940 reflective address signs, which help to quickly locate addresses. Order one richmondrescue.org/ E911sign.html.
Hinesburg Police Blotter Traffic stops: 12 Incidents: Jan. 5 at 5:30 p.m., a deer struck by a car on Route 116 scampered away before it could be helped. Jan. 5 at 8:50 p.m., someone reported a car on Route 116 driving erratically, but the car had left by the time officers arrived. Jan. 6 at 10:48 a.m., the owner of a car parked on Shelburne Falls Road reported it had been damaged, but not via vandalism. Jan. 6 at 2:30 p.m., an elderly resident of Kelley’s Field Road was doing just fine when officers checked the residence. Jan. 6 at 9:10 p.m., officers helped unlock someone’s car for them on Hawk Lane after they left the keys inside. Jan. 6 at 10:15 p.m., the traffic light at the Route 116 and Charlotte Road intersection had a disco identity crisis, causing some traffic issues. When officers checked on it the light had already resumed its duties managing traffic. Jan. 7 at 9:45 a.m., a single car crashed while driving on Route 116 and Tyler Bridge Road,
causing damage to the vehicle but no injuries, due to the snowy weather. It’s winter now so prepare yourself for a lot of these. Jan. 7 at 10:31 a.m., no one was injured but the car in another single vehicle crash on Shelburne Falls Road. Jan. 7 at 10:37 a.m., no one was injured in a single car crash on Silver Street. Jan. 8 at 12:27 p.m., again, no one injured in a single car crash except for the vehicle, this time on Richmond Road. Jan. 8 at 7:35 p.m., officers issued a trespass notice to an individual from the Mobil on Commerce Street. Jan. 9 at 8:39 a.m., the first in a series of crashes that Sunday, a single car crashed on Shelburne Falls Road, causing some frame damage but no injuries. Police described the roads as barely walkable the glare ice was so severe. Jan. 9 at 8:44 a.m., as the Hinesburg firetruck left to respond to the earlier car crash, the crew hit a stretch of glare ice on Place Road West, causing the truck to careen and collide with the guardrail. As reported last week, the firetruck slid 500 feet before it stopped, only a half mile from the earlier crash where they had been headed. Miraculously, no one was injured. Read the full story in
last week’s edition or online. Jan. 9 at 9:21 a.m., roads seemed to flash freeze around the same time, causing a single car to crash driving on Route 116 and roll over onto its side. No one was injured. Jan. 9 at 9:31 a.m. two cars crashed driving on Charlotte Road, leading to extensive frame damage but no injuries to the passengers. Jan. 9 at 9:58 a.m., a single car driving on CVU Road off Route 116 crashed into a light pole and guard rail, damaging the car but the driver walked away uninjured. Jan. 9 at 10:10 a.m., another crash was reported on CVU Road but the car had left by the time officers arrived. Jan. 11 at 11:30 a.m., the driver of a car that crashed on Route 116 was cited for operating with a suspended license. Jan. 11 at 2:07 p.m., a resident on Route 116 called to report a possible phone scam. Jan. 11 at 8:46 p.m., a resident on Route 116 accidentally set off their own alarm. Note: Charges filed by police are subject to review by the State’s Attorney’s Office and can be amended or dropped. The incidents above are not a full recount of police activity, rather a highlight of some of the events that occurred.
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The Citizen • January 20, 2022 • Page 5
OPINION
Prop 5 isn’t about abortion, it’s about equality of its citizens, Prop 5, again based on the common benefits clause. Prop 5 adds a 22nd amendment to the Bill Schubart Vermont Constitution: “That an individual’s right to personal reproductive autonoThe Vermont State Constitution, dating my is central to the liberty and dignity to from 1793, has been the basis of several determine one’s own life course and shall pioneering events in Vermont history, not be denied or infringed unless justified the Marriage Equality Act and the Equal by a compelling State interest achieved by Educational Opportunity Act. the least restrictive means.” The common benefits clause When fully approved by the of the Constitution reads: “That Legislature, it will go to Vermontgovernment is, or ought to ers for a vote, and if supported be, instituted for the common by a plurality, will become part benefit, protection, and security of the Constitution and law of the of the people, nation, or commuland. It will also make Vermont nity, and not for the particular the first state in the union to emolument or advantage of any embed such a right in law. single person, family, or set of It’s noteworthy that the law persons, who are a part only of nowhere mentions family planthat community; and that the ning, birth control, sex education Bill Schubart community hath an indubitable, or abortion. The law is not about unalienable, and indefeasible sexual and medical practice, right, to reform or alter governit’s about the equality of its citizens — a ment, in such manner as shall be, by that majority of its citizens, one might add, as community, judged most conducive to the Vermont women outnumber Vermont men. public weal.” Sadly, Prop 5 has been dragged into the Vermonters are now considering anothanti-abortion battle roiling the country all er landmark decision about the equality
Guest Perspective
Letters to the Editor Staffing needs increase Charlotte fire, rescue budget To the Editor: Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services is required, through its agreement with the town, to provide basic and paramedic level rescue services, and to do so with reasonable and appropriate expenditures. For the last two years, the service has not used its entire budget appropriation — $62,101 last year and $25,000 the year before. It also pursued a $30,000 grant last year on behalf of the town. This is a clear indication that the organization spends only what it needs and believes in fiscal discipline. This year, Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services is asking for an 18 percent increase of $148,415 in the organization’s appropriation request to support its operating budget. The entire increase is devoted to personnel expenses, wages and benefits. In order to provide full time ambulance coverage over the past 10 to 15 years, the group has been transitioning from a volunteer rescue service to a paid rescue service. Currently, rescue is staffed by three permanent full-time employees and per diem employees, or 43 percent full-time employees and 57 percent per diem employees. This increase is to cover the added cost of benefits and payroll for replacing per diem employees with fulltime one. Competition for part-time health care workers from a shrinking labor pool is
increasing exponentially as a result of COVID-19, and changes to the overall health care system. This trend necessitates the change to full-time employees to guarantee continued staffing coverage. The net result of this increase per $100,000 of property value for Charlotte homeowners will be an increase of $15.80 per year, or a dollar per month. The budget request also includes $50,000 for the addition of a full-time administrative position. Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services is currently managed solely by a single, part-time business operation manager, and the rest of the management structure is volunteer based. As with the ambulance staff, the number of volunteer managers for the level of work the board of directors currently requires is also shrinking, while the administrative demands of the organization increase yearly as the health care system and government regulations get more complicated. There are many moving parts, and I am sure many people have lots of questions. In the weeks to follow, Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services will offer a more detailed explanation showing cost payroll information and other items. In the meantime, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have at f.tegatz@cvfrs. org. Fritz Tegatz Board president Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services
the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which will this year consider whether to limit the reproductive rights of over half the country and seriously compromise all our privacy rights. The amendment effectively protects every Vermonter’s right to become pregnant, carry a pregnancy to term, choose or refuse sterilization, contraception or abortion care. Another deeply troubling element in this debate is the focus on women, as if they alone were responsible for sex education, birth control, family planning, conception and birth itself. As a friend often reminds me, “conception begins with an erection.” When mankind needs to invent a word like complementarianism to provide cover for his belief in the inequality of the sexes,
every thinking person of any gender should pay attention. Complementarianism is a male-serving religious and tribal belief that, although all of us may be equal in the eyes of God, God created men and women for different purposes and that men must retain leadership in church and home. It is how many religions deny religious leadership to women and justify male dominance within the family and the economy. In fact, the religious right praised Roe v. Wade when it first appeared in 1973. When Roe was first decided, Southern Evangelicals generally felt that abortion was a personal issue in which government had no role, seeing it as a “Catholic issue.” Throughout history men have interSee SCHUBART on page 6
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Page 6 • January 20, 2022 • The Citizen
SCHUBART
continued from page 5 preted religion to favor their own women and our own embedded power and authority. In Catholsexism. icism, for example, it has meant What if the federal governthat only men can be priests. But ment were to mandate vasecat its most harmful it has justified tomies, sterilization, chemical involuntary sterilization, denial of castration or limit family size as education, male-favored compen- China did so disastrously for 35 sation, property rights, denial of years, leading to the killing of family planning tools, enforced newborn female babies, as the hiding of women’s bodies, sexual preference was to bear male chiland physical abuse, domestic dren who would be wage earners subservience and care for and eugentheir parents in Men need to ics. Vermont’s their old age? eugenics frenzy, While understand and between 1931 preserving the and 1941, led to principle of support Prop 5 to 253 mandatory free exercise sterilizations, two of religion, advance the equality we must also thirds of which were performed maintain the of all Vermonters. on women clear constitudeemed “mentaltional separation ly deficient.” of church and state and reaffirm Complementarianism is to the equality of all our citizens. gender as racism is to race. Religious practice must remain We can’t have it both ways. accountable to legal principles as All human beings are either expressed in law. equal or some are less so than This is not a women’s issue. others. Prop 5 addresses equality, We either believe in equality or not medical practice. It states we don’t. We are partners in famisimply that people of all genders, lies, our children’s education, our including cisgender and gender health care system and we initiate non-specific, have the right to the conception of children. determine their own reproductive This is not a feminist moment, choices. it’s a human one. And we men As a civilization, we’re either need to understand and support going to have to embrace the Prop 5 to advance the equality of concept of gender and racial all Vermonters. equality in everything we do, from civics and governance to Bill Schubart grew up in economic opportunity, housing, Lamoille County, and now lives religious practice and reproducin Hinesburg. He writes about tive rights, or we must acknowlVermont in fiction, humor and edge openly a diminished role for opinion pieces.
FIRE DEPARTMENT continued from page 1
had more input on that switch. “It’s a scary tax increase. So, the taxpayer is going to be shocked, I think,” Faulkner said. That tone of reconciliation did not last throughout the meeting. In its original budget request, the fire and rescue department had asked for more than $1 million. The separate article the selectboard approved to send to voters seeks almost $900,000. As town clerk and treasurer Mary Mead went through the budget line by line with the selectboard looking for cuts, she objected to several things in the fire and rescue budget, including bunker gear, thermal imaging cameras and things she characterized as unneeded “wishes and desires that change year to year.” “Back in the olden days,”
she said, the department did a good job of getting grants and contributing to its capital reserve fund. “We shouldn’t be having to pay for all these extra things.” “As usual, the yearly presentation of the clerk/ treasurer is not based on any information,” Tegatz said. “The Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department uses quite a bit of its special funds to buy capital items. That’s a patently false statement.” Tegatz said Mead skipped over other departments’ budgets as she went down the budget line items. “Year after year she decides to badger the fire department,” he said. Catherine Hughes, a Charlotte resident, said she wanted to know why the Charlotte fire and rescue budget was so much more than those in Shelburne and Hinesburg. She
ICE FISHING
continued from page 2 something different about pulling a tasty perch, bluegill or bass from ice cold water. They tend to be firmer and have a milder taste than in the summer.” Good said with a few basic precautions and common sense, ice fishing is safe.
“A minimum of three to four inches of clear black ice is safe to walk on,” he said. “If you’re unsure about ice thickness in your area call your local bait and tackle shop. Experienced anglers know how to read the ice, so if you’re unsure, go where others are or
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said the department’s budget is almost twice as much as Hinesburg’s. Faulkner said the selectboard would not address comparisons with other towns at the meeting, noting that the board plans to meet with the fire and rescue department board later. Hughes said she wished these issues could be resolved before the budget was set. “There’s a lot to be decided tonight, unfortunately,” board member Frank Tenney said. “We don’t know if their services are equal to the Charlotte’s. To do any kind of comparison, we’d have to do the whole process of looking at everything that’s happening with Charlotte and everything that’s happening with Hinesburg and everything that’s happening with Shelburne. That’s going to be a very long process.”
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have been.” Good said that with the mild winter so far this year, most anglers are finding that ice fishing opportunities have been restricted primarily to Vermont’s smaller ponds or higher elevation areas that have formed good ice. “Many large lakes still have not developed thick, solid black ice,” he said, noting that ice is not always uniform in thickness. Areas around pressure cracks or near stream or river inlets can be thinner and weaker than surrounding ice. Good advises anglers to carry a set of ice picks, head out with a partner, and let someone know where you will be fishing, your access point and when you plan on returning home. Photo by Shawn Good
Free ice fishing Vermont’s free ice fishing day is Saturday, Jan. 29. “Ice fishing can be a great way to introduce people to how much fun fishing can be,” Vermont Fish and Wildlife commissioner Christopher Herrick said. “Showing youngsters or new adult anglers how to jig for perch or how to use tip-ups is rewarding, and it can provide an excellent meal of fresh fish.” Residents and nonresident anglers may ice fish on any Vermont waterbody that is open to ice fishing without a fishing license on Jan. 29.
The Citizen • January 20, 2022 • Page 7
COMMUNITY Community Notes New Storywalk featured at Charlotte Library A new StoryWalk®, with the support of the Vermont Department of Libraries, has been installed on the Charlotte Library green. So, bundle up your family for a snowy walk and enjoy the warmth of a sunny garden in “Memoirs of a Tortoise” by Devon Scillian and illustrated by Tim Bowers. The StoryWalk project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.
Learn about Vermont’s architectural styles
COURTESY PHOTO
Local girls enjoy their first year as Girl Scout Daisies with the troop in Charlotte.
New Girl Scout troop in Charlotte stays active Girl Scout Troop 62802 in Charlotte has been active since forming at the end of summer. “We’ve been getting to know our Girl Scout heritage with the Girl Scout Way badge and a patch-based study of Girl Scout law where each girl plans an activity around one component of it to lead for her troop sisters,” Troop leader Jasmine Darland
said. “We enjoyed learning some sign language in honor of Juliette Gordon Low’s years as a deaf person and are planning a service project around disability rights. We’ve also done our hiker, first aid and eco friend badges, and are working on the “It’s Your World — Change It! Journey.” The troop has also made appreciation posters for public
servants in Charlotte like firefighters, postal workers and librarians, and delivered them along with some cookies and a song. “We can’t wait to do some cookie booths and participate in World Thinking Day with the service unit,” Darland said. “We’re also looking forward to planning a cabin campout once
all our Scouts are fully vaccinated and the community transmission rate is a little lower.” The multi-level troop includes Daisies in kindergarten and first grade, Brownies in second and third grades, and Juniors in fourth grade. New members are always welcome. Find out more at girlscoutsgwm.org.
The next Charlotte Senior Center Wednesday lecture is “What Style is that Old Building” with Frances Foster on Jan. 26 Join architectural historian Foster for a presentation of Vermont’s most prevalent architectural styles of the 19th century. Learn about why Vermonters built quasi-Greek temples, why there is no such thing as Victorian architecture and other tidbits about the state’s built environment. Foster, a graduate of the University of Vermont program in historic preservation, will show slides of buildings ranging from the Federal style through the late 1900s Colonial Revival. The lecture will take about 80 minutes. See COMMUNITY NOTES on page 11
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Page 8 • January 20, 2022 • The Citizen
2022
LEGISLATIVE
Q&A
SEN. PHILIP BARUTH Democrat/Progressive Chittenden District
SEN. THOMAS CHITTENDEN Democrat Chittenden District
What are your highest priorities for the Legislature this session?
Our highest priorities are still COVID-19 related, although that’s hard to believe. It feels like a decade since we went into the 2020 lockdown. But the federal government came through with historic funding, much of which is still unspent, so we’ll continue to get that out the door to those having trouble paying rent, to school districts facing unprecedented costs and to towns and cities who are incurring unexpected staffing costs and shortages. Those staffing shortages, of course, are leading to strains in mental health and criminal justice, not to mention basic industries like hospitality. We spent time in appropriations just this week, moving money into recruitment and retention programs for corrections officers and nurses. So that’s job No. 1 — again.
Addressing the unfunded pension liability, the climate crisis through translating the Global Warming Solutions Act and the Vermont Climate Council Climate Action plan into legislative action, addressing the housing and affordability crisis in Vermont, and strengthening and supporting our workforce.
What do you foresee as hot topics within your committee(s)?
I sit currently on the House committees on appropriations and judiciary. For appropriations, we are dealing with the underfunding crisis in the teachers’ pension system. Fortunately, a working group seems to have brought all the major stakeholders together on an agreement to use one-time money to pre-fund teacher health care and deal with the historical underfunding. In judiciary, we are attempting to reform what’s known as qualified immunity, a federal doctrine that protects public officials from being sued, including police officers. Many advocates say qualified immunity makes it all but impossible to pursue civil cases against police officers who use excessive force, as one example. That will be a hot topic, to say the least.
For the House Committee on Education, the pupil weighting task force recommendations demand our attention as well as other funding topics related to the Espinoza Supreme Court ruling related to public dollars going to private schools. COVID-19 and the learning loss related to these two years of modified and remote learning is also a high priority for the committee to evaluate and address. The Senate transportation committee is going to be looking at how to expand electric vehicle charging stations and related implications for a declining gas tax revenue over the 10-year horizon.
What are some sleeper issues that you think haven’t been given enough attention?
The sleeper issue is still the underfunding of Vermont’s state college system. Several years back, a select committee restructured the system and kept all the campuses open. But unless we find a defined funding source to increase what we give the system per year, that effort will be wasted. So, I’ve put in a bill to direct 60 percent of the tax realized from recreational cannabis to Vermont state colleges. That money, plus what we’ve traditionally provided, would be just about enough to make our state’s contribution equal to the average in the New England states. Taxand-regulate adult-use cannabis is due to open for business in Vermont this coming year, so it’s high time we defined a purpose for the tax receipts we’ll begin to see soon.
An important issue for the region and the state is governance over the Burlington International Airport. I’m optimistic that there will be some gradual and thoughtful discussions on this related to bills H.454 and H.52. Another topic is a less common state statute that allows school districts to set their kindergarten entrance age to be any day between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31. This has the effect of putting more demand on child care centers when school districts choose the earlier dates — and there isn’t enough child care in Vermont for kiddos under the age of 5. Standardizing this and picking a later date would give parents more agency in enrollment decisions while also reducing maximum demand for under 5-year-old child care service by 7 percent.
What are your thoughts on having to legislate remotely again, and do you think it’s important to get back to an in-person setting soon?
I do miss the Statehouse, and all the folks there, but Zoom has been a godsend during the pandemic, and now with the Omicron wave rolling over us, I give thanks for it again. I think our witnesses, staff and the journalists who cover us are probably thankful as well. After all, every committee hearing is now open via YouTube, and archived for later watching. Just a couple of years ago, you might have been able to get an audio recording of a hearing, and you might not. So, I think on balance, remote legislating hasn’t been a bad thing for our Vermont form of democracy.
Legislating remotely is all I’ve known so I can’t directly compare it to the “before times.” I do feel out of the loop being a new legislator connecting to Zoom meetings from my home and not able to catch people in the hallway, share a commute or grab lunch in the cafeteria. But with vaccinations still rolling out for our youth and with how accessible these Zoom sessions are to the public, it seems prudent to be remote for the start of the session.
What brought you at least a little bit of joy this week as you got the band back together again?
During a meeting of the Senate Democrats, people started spontaneously holding up pets: fat cats, tiny dogs, dogs too big to lift more than their front paws. You’ve probably all experienced something like this in your remote/pandemic lives, a minute when the curtains pull back on the lives of your coworkers, in a nice, human way. It helps you go on, and on, and on.
It is hard to answer this question, but I’ll say that legislating from home does allow me to spend more time with my kids. And that always brings me joy.
The Citizen • January 20, 2022 • Page 9
SEN. CHRISTOPHER A. PEARSON Progressive/Democrat Chittenden district
In addition to our ongoing COVID-19 response I hope we can make smart long-term investments with our federal dollars. We have the opportunity to accomplish multiple goals at once. For instance, putting infrastructure money to stormwater systems will make developing housing in our downtowns more affordable, reduce sprawl and reduce the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
In the Senate Committee on Agriculture, we are always concerned about the dairy economy and the interplay with Vermont’s open lands. I continue to push strategies that prepare for the coming generational shift on farms and look to create a strong, diverse rural economy. In Senate finance we touch many issues including education funding, the pupil weighting formula, broadband, energy policy and taxes. Each area will likely bring proposed changes. My priorities will be for the long-term benefit of our communities. We should not set tax policy, for example, based on inflated revenue brought on by billions in federal stimulus spending.
ILLUSTRATION BY ADELAIDE MURPHY TYROL
Fungi may kill winter ticks, help moose survive The Outside Story Rachel Sargent Mirus
For a long time, I have promoted the idea of paying our school tax based on income. This better reflects a family’s ability to pay and stops penalizing seniors, as an example, who have lived in the same home for decades. I see more and more traction for this issue and hope we might be able to advance a serious proposal in 2022.
Legislating remotely is no fun. But we are reasonably successful with it and, given the number of retired people serving in Montpelier and the fact that we come from every corner of the state to work in small rooms, there is logic to us staying remote for at least January. I hope the Senate will be able to return to working in person soon.
The first few weeks of session are always full of promise about what we can accomplish, which is fun. And there’s always a few giggles when someone testifying by Zoom is interrupted by a child or a colleague answers their phone but forgets to go on mute.
Legend says a stake through the heart will kill a vampire. But it’s a bit more complicated if you’re plagued — as moose can be — by tens of thousands of tiny bloodsuckers. In the case of moose, the vampires are winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus), and finding a way to stake them has been tricky. However, recent research has found a potential — and microscopic — vampire hunter. Winter ticks are a one-host parasite, meaning all three active stages — larvae, nymphs and adults — feed on a single host animal. This species prefers to feast on ungulates and is often called the moose tick because unlike deer moose are unable to remove the ticks through grooming, leaving them particularly vulnerable to large tick loads. Average tick counts on a single moose can hover around 47,000, with high counts toping 96,000. That many ticks can drain the blood of a calf in two to three weeks. From 2017 to 2019, researchers with the Vermont Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Vermont noted a 91 percent mortality of moose calves in Vermont. And from
2014 through 2016, researchers from the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of New Hampshire saw 70 percent mortality in northern New Hampshire and western Maine due to winter ticks. Such alarming mortality rates have raised concern among wildlife management officials about the health of the New England moose population. Due to the ticks’ life history, however, finding a management strategy for winter ticks has been challenging. Winter tick larvae seek hosts from late summer through fall. After attaching to a host, the ticks feed, molt and mate on the same animal through the winter. When adult female ticks are maximally engorged — generally between March and May — they drop to the ground. Over the course of summer and early fall, the females lay eggs and die, then the larvae emerge and hang out at soil level and — again — begin questing. Because of their one-host nature and the timing of their life cycle, the winter tick population depends on plentiful hosts and a window of time in the fall to find one. Limited hosts, cold fall temperatures and early snows will inhibit ticks, but these are all conditions that are impractical to
manage in favor of moose. Enter Cheryl Sullivan, an entomologist with the Entomology Research Laboratory at University of Vermont. She is spearheading a project investigating entomopathogenic fungi as potential allies against the winter tick. These fungi consume arthropods like insects, spiders — and, yes, ticks. Entomopathogenic fungi are found naturally in soils worldwide and infect hosts through aerial spores. When a spore lands on a tick, it germinates, puncturing the tick’s outer shell, then spreads its hyphae — the threads that comprise the fungi’s mycelium network — through the tick’s body. Like something out of a horror movie, the growing fungus tears apart its host’s internal organs and produces toxins, eventually killing the host. Fruiting bodies sprout from the host, releasing more spores. Sullivan and the team tested fungal strains of Metarhizium anisopliae and M. brunneum against winter ticks. Some strains are already available commercially to control insects and mites in residential settings, and some were isolated from forest soils in See OUTSIDE STORY on page 16
Page 10 • January 20, 2022 • The Citizen
Obituary
Thomas E. Hart
Thomas E. Hart Thomas E. Hart died in his sleep at his home in South Burlington on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021. He was born June 18, 1942, in Hinesburg, the son of Hugh and Eleanor Hart. Tom graduated from Springfield College and began his teaching career at Champlain Valley Union High School. He created and directed the Life Program, which is now in its 50th year at CVU. After retiring from teach-
ing, Tom pursued an interest in competitive weightlifting. He set numerous state, national and world records in bench press and strict curl. He was also featured on two episodes of WCAX’s Super Seniors. Tom was a beloved husband and father. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, siblings and their families. He also leaves behind cousins, a host of friends, neighbors and colleagues whom he deeply valued. Tom was the epitome of quiet strength and deep kindness. He will be greatly missed. There will be a celebration of Tom’s life later in the year. We invite you to send an email to celebratingtomhart@gmail. com if you wish for notifications of the celebration when details are formalized. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Cremation Society of Chittenden County a division of the Ready Funeral Home. Visit cremationsocietycc.com to place online condolences.
Scholars headline historical society series This winter’s virtual speaker series at the Vermont Historical Society will feature scholars from around North America who will cover various social issues relevant to Vermont’s history and beyond. The inaugural lecture on Jan. 19, “Firsting and Lasting: Writing Indians Out of Existence in New England,” featured Jean M. O’Brien, a distinguished McKnight University professor of history at the University of Minnesota and author of several books about Indigenous people. Following O’Brien’s program is “Black Politics in the Yankee Republic, 1775-1860” with Van Gosse on Wednesday, Feb. 16. Gosse is a Franklin and Marshall College history professor and
author of “The First Reconstruction: Black Politics in America, From the Revolution to the Civil War.” His talk will explore that political world, particularly notable Black Vermonters like Lemuel Haynes and Alexander Twilight. On Wednesday, March 23, Rachel Hope Cleves presents “Charity and Sylvia: A Same-Sex Marriage in Early America.” The program draws from an extensive archive of Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake’s personal papers at the Henry Sheldon Museum in Middlebury and archival sources discovered throughout the U.S. Bryant and Drake were commonly recognized as a married couple by their kin and community in Weybridge, where they lived together in the early 1800s. This
talk explores the roles of family, work, religion, love and sexuality in women’s lives at this time. The final lecture on Wednesday, April 27, is “Room for Improvement: Landscape, Social Uplift, and the Changing Nature of Vermont,” by Sara M. Gregg, an associate professor of history who has written several books focusing on environmental change, agricultural history and land policy. Gregg’s talk weaves together the threads of landscape change and state planning that oriented her 2010 book, “Managing the Mountains,” and examines the developments that shaped Vermont’s evolving economy and political culture during a pivotal century in its transformation. More at vermonthistory.org.
News from Charlotte Library All programs will take place via Zoom unless noted until further notice. Links can be found on the library website. 115 Ferry Road, Charlotte. 802-425-3864. Register at charlottepubliclibrary.org or info@ charlottepubliclibrary.org.
Regeneration Book Discussion Tuesdays, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, Feb. 8, Feb. 15 and Feb. 22, and Monday, Feb. 28, 7-8 p.m. Sustainable Charlotte and the library host a discussion of Paul Hawken’s “Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation.”
Short story selections Thursday, Jan. 20 and Jan. 27, 1-2 p.m. Join library director Margaret Woodruff for a three-part discussion series featuring short stories old and new. The reading list will include a variety of authors, and one story will be featured each session.
‘Splendid and the Vile’ Wednesday, Jan. 26, 7:30-9 p.m. In “The Splendid and the
Vile,” Erik Larson shows how Winston Churchill taught the British people “the art of being fearless.” It is a story of political brinkmanship, but it’s also an intimate domestic drama, set against the backdrop of Churchill’s prime-ministerial country home, Chequers, his wartime retreat, Ditchley, where he and his entourage go when the moon is brightest and the bombing threat is highest and, of course, 10 Downing Street in London. Register in advance.
iPhone tips and tricks Wednesday, Feb. 23, 11 a.m.-noon Bring your iPhone for some hands-on learning with tech librarian Susanna Kahn. Get tips on searching, organizing your apps, the share menu, helpful apps and more. Time for questions. Registration is required at the senior center, 802-425-6345.
News from Carpenter-Carse Library To register, reserve books or for more information, contact Meg Malone at meg@carpentercarse. org. Masks required indoors.
Zoom trivia Thursday, Jan. 20, 7-8 p.m. Test your trivia skills at this virtual gathering. Questions come from the mind of self-appointed
trivia maven Meg Malone. Three rounds of trivia on an array of topics .
Evening book discussion: ‘Homegoing’ Tuesday, Jan. 25, 7-8 p.m. The pick for January is Yaa Gyasi’s novel “Homegoing.”
Visit us online at TheCitizenVT.com
The Citizen • January 20, 2022 • Page 11
COMMUNITY NOTES continued from page 7
The free, in-person lectures start at 1 p.m. Questions? Visit charlotteseniorcentervt.org. The next lecture is “On Being a Vermonter” with David Holmes on Feb. 2.
Shelburne Little League registration is open Registration is now open for the 2022 spring Little League baseball and softball season in Shelburne, Charlotte and Hinesburg. All baseball and softball divisions will be back, including the Pee Wee division which will be offered free this season. Here are the 2022 spring divisions: Pee Wee — age 4 (free) Tee ball — age 5 ($35) A baseball — ages 6-7 ($60) AA/AAA baseball — ages 8-10 ($75) Majors baseball — ages 11-12 ($75) Minis softball — ages 5-7 ($60) Minors softball — ages 8-9 ($60) Majors softball — ages 10-12 ($75) To determine your child’s Little League age, go to bit.ly/3KhgJu7. For scholarship information, email shelburnell@gmail.com. Donations to the scholarship fund can be made during online registration or reach out via email. The league will continue the health and safety precautions and protocols put in place last year, Safety plans will be modified as updates from both the state and Little League International come in. As a volunteer-driven league, email if you’re willing to help out. To log in and register, visit shelburnelittleleague.com.
pickup that day includes stuffed chicken with ham and cheese, mashed potatoes, beets, dinner roll, applesauce birthday cake and milk. Register by Tuesday, Feb. 1. Check the website for last-minute cancellations at charlotteseniorcentervt.org.
Special Olympics Penguin Plunge returns The Special Olympics Vermont Penguin Plunge will be held Saturday, March 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Burlington Waterfront Park boat launch. The plunge is a unique winter event where participants raise funds to take a dip in Lake Champlain’s icy waters. Now in its 27th year, the Penguin Plunge event supports the Special Olympics Vermont, which serves over 3,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities by using the power of sport to showcase their gifts and abilities. Register at bit.ly/3zXM1RU.
Two contests inspire young engineers Vermont 4-H invites students in grades 3-12 to explore their
creativity, ingenuity and engineering skills through two contests, the Rube Goldberg Challenge and Create Your Own Invention Contest. For the Rube Goldberg Challenge, students are asked to build their own Rube Goldberg machine, named for the late American cartoonist who designed crazy
contraptions with several unrelated devices and steps to perform a simple task in a complicated, inefficient way. The Create Your Own Invention contest encourages students to test their problem-solving, critical thinking and engineering skills by identifying a problem and then brainstorming, planning and
designing an invention. To enter, students are required to produce a short video, three minutes or less, describing their invention and showing diagrams to demonstrate how it works. The deadline for both contests is Saturday, Feb. 19. For details, go to uvm.edu/extension/youth/ announcements.
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Senior center meals, gent’s breakfast The Charlotte Senior Center Monday munches for both Jan. 24 and Jan. 31 have been canceled. The Age Well meal pickup for Thursday, Jan. 27 is from 11 a.m. to noon, and features chicken cordon bleu with white sauce, yams, green beans, dinner roll with butter, fruit crisp and milk. Register by Tuesday, Jan. 25 with Lori York, 802-425-6371 or lyork@charlotteseniorcentervt. org The Thursday, Feb. 3 meal pick-up features sliced pot roast au jus, ranch mashed potatoes, carrots and cabbage, dinner roll, apple pie and milk. Register by Tuesday, Feb. 1. There is a gent’s breakfast scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 10, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. The Age Well meal
FILE PHOTO
Last year’s Special Olympics Penguin Plunge. This year’s event will be held March 12 on the Burlington Waterfront.
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Page 12 • January 20, 2022 • The Citizen
SPORTS CVU grad hopes to fly high at Beijing Olympics LAUREN READ SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
COURTESY PHOTO
Megan Nick at Utah Olympic Park during her first-place finish at last year’s Nor-Am Cup.
An experience that started as a way to try something new for the Champlain Valley Grad Challenge has Shelburne native Megan Nick getting ready for another adventure. Nick is headed for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. “I was definitely excited, but I think it just put more pressure on and I was just more motivated to have productive training this next month and get ready,” said Nick about the news she had made the team. “So, I’m still pretty stressed about it all but it’s definitely exciting.” Nick, who met the criteria to automatically qualify for the U.S. aerials team, will officially be named to the Olympic team Jan. 21. The Champlain Valley Union High School graduate qualified for the team based on her World Cup performances last year. Nick won two events in January Megan Nick 2021. “I really haven’t taken a moment yet because I didn’t have the start to the season I wanted,” Nick said. “Right now, I’m just so focused on getting ready and having productive training so I can perform the way I want to there.” Nick picked up aerial skiing as a senior at Champlain Valley when she went to a camp in Lake Placid as part of the senior grad challenge. She was hooked and quickly took to the sport. Seven years later, she is preparing to represent her country and state in the Olympics. “I always wanted to go (to the Olympics) and it was a huge goal of mine but I don’t think I really ever believed it,” Nick said. “I just kept taking my training day by day and focusing on the little things. I’m very lucky that it has worked out the way it has.” Soon after the team’s final World Cup event in Utah, Nick and the rest of the aerial ski team were whisked into quarantine to avoid any COVID-19 issues affecting the team.
It is there that Nick and her teammates are preparing for Beijing. “Just trying to perfect what we have and tweak little things, but also just work on our consistency,” Nick said. “I think for me that’s the most important part is just being consistent so I can perform the way I train.” The training isn’t the only thing that COVID-19 has affected for Nick. The U.S. team will head to Los Angeles on Jan. 25 to get tests and then fly to China two days later. Once there, Nick is not sure what to expect. Even the team’s participation in opening ceremonies is up in the air as both competitors and the hosts reckon with COVID-19 concerns before the games begin on Monday, Feb. 3. “I was very excited for opening ceremonies but I’m not sure if we’ll be able to participate,” Nick said. “I’m just trying to take it day-byday at this point and try not to get too excited and look too far ahead because when it comes down to it, I just want to perform as I have in training. That’s what I’m focused on right now.” While Nick focuses on her skiing, her family in Shelburne is excited to cheer her on when she hits the slopes. “Behind every athlete is a support system that a lot of people don’t get to see. I am super grateful for my family, my friends, my past coaches, my past teammates, all who have helped me get here,” Nick said. “I want to give them the credit that they deserve because I would not be here without all of them.” Besides firsts at World Cup aerial events in January 2021 — Yaroslavl, Russia on Jan. 17 and Raubichi, Belarus on Jan. 30 — Nick placed first last year in the Nor-Am Cup at the Utah Olympic Park. She has four career wins in Nor-Ams, and two other World Cup podiums. She placed second at Deer Valley and Almaty in 2020.
The Citizen • January 20, 2022 • Page 13
Girls’ basketball continues its roll LAUREN READ CORRESPONDENT
Girls’ basketball Champlain Valley 46, South Burlington 24: Alison Bates scored nine of her 16 points in the second quarter to help Champlain Valley to a win over South Burlington on Saturday, Jan. 15. Bates led all scorers with 16, while Elise Berger added eight points and five rebounds. Ellie Mjaanes chipped in with eight points and four blocks. With the win, the Redhawks move to 6-1.
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Girls’ hockey South Burlington 2, Champlain Valley-Mount Mansfield 1 (OT): The Champlain ValleyMount Mansfield co-op team fell in overtime to South Burlington on Saturday. Sasha Miller scored for the CougarHawks, while Sabrina Brochu had the assist. Grace Ferguson stopped 18 shots. With the loss, CVU-MMU falls to 5-2.
Contact Jennifer Wolcott at: jwolcott@ccs-vt.org or 802-655-0511 x 118 for more information ccs-vt.org EOE
Boys’ hockey Champlain Valley 4, Rutland 3: The Champlain Valley boys’ hockey moved to 3-4-1 with a win over Rutland on Saturday. Travis Stroh tallied twice for the Redhawks, while Devon Fay and Nic Menard each added a goal.
Gymnastics St. Johnsbury 131.65, Champlain Valley 128.4: Champlain Valley fell to St. Johnsbury in a meet on Thursday. Ruby Opton earned a first place in the beam and second in the overall competition, while Warner Barbic was second in bars.
If it’s important to you or your community look for it in The Citizen.
PHOTO BY AL FREY
CVU’s Ellie Mjaanes had eight points and four blocks in a recent win over South Burlington.
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CROSSWORD
ARIES
LEO
March 21 - April 20 Aries, you may be tempted to overspend this week, as you have a mind to remodel or redecorate your home in a major way. Try not to get carried away.
TAURUS April 21 - May 21 You are ready to pour a huge investment of time and resources into a creative project that is dear to your heart, Taurus. Let the ideas flow organically instead of pushing too hard.
GEMINI May 22 - June 21 Phone calls and emails keep coming in, to the point where you may want to turn off your devices for the rest of the week. Find opportunities for peace and quiet.
CANCER
July 23 - Aug. 23 Leo, you have high hopes for a productive week, but you may not check off everything on your to-do list. It’s fine to let one or two things slide.
VIRGO Aug. 24 - Sept. 22 Virgo, why make things difficult for yourself when others are willing to lend a helping hand? You don’t have to chart the course alone, so accept any offers of help that come along.
LIBRA Sept. 23 - Oct. 23 Libra, if you are feeling immense pressure to make an important decision, take all the time you need to work through every scenario. This way you’re confident in your choice.
SCORPIO
June 22 - July 22 Cancer, you may feel like you have all of the answers. But you can still heed advice from those who came before you especially in the work setting.
Oct. 24 - Nov. 22 Scorpio, this week will feel like a lot of hurrying up and waiting. For a go-getter like you, this can be very frustrating. Use the down time you have productively.
SUDOKU Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
SAGITTARIUS Nov. 23 - Dec. 21 This is a good week to pursue dreams that have been put on the back burner, Sagittarius. Don’t tell yourself things are impossible. Find ways to make things happen.
CAPRICORN Dec. 22 - Jan. 20 It’s fine to be goofy and playful once in a while, Capricorn. This is the week to let loose and have fun for a while. Others may join in on your antics.
AQUARIUS Jan. 21 - Feb. 18 Intense dreams may crop up in the evenings this week, Aquarius. Jot down things as you remember the details so you can better reflect on their meaning.
PISCES Feb. 19 - March 20 Consider giving yourself a little rest from work, Pisces. You’ve been working hard and now you need to restore your energy levels.
CLUES ACROSS 1. Breathe noisily 5. __ Nui, Easter Island 9. Reddish browns 11. Simple shoes 13. Produce alcohol illegally 15. Home to famed golf tournament 16. Tax collector 17. Famous people 19. Urban area 21. Units of syllable weight 22. Pituitary hormone (abbr.) 23. Dismounted 25. Actor Damon 26. Vietnamese offensive 27. Retail term 29. Netted 31. Partner to carrots 33. Witnesses 34. Caulked 36. Satisfy 38. R&B performer __ Lo 39. Monetary units of Macao 41. Give advice, explain 43. Possesses
44. Turn back 46. Gentlemen 48. One who fertilizes 52. Italian monk title (prefix) 53. Parties 54. Type of horse 56. Cuts in half 57. Raises 58. Expresses contempt or disgust 59. Ancient Italian-Greek colony CLUES DOWN 1. Illinois city 2. One of the original disciples chosen by Christ 3. Young form of a louse 4. Type of powder 5. Finger millet 6. Share a common boundary 7. Assumed as a fact 8. Provide clear evidence of 9. Invests in little enterprises 10. A way to be
ANSWERS
11. Monies given in support 12. Fashion accessory 14. Steal 15. Becomes less intense 18. Geological times 20. Hooray! 24. Monetary unit 26. Male reproductive organs 28. Earnings 30. Close by 32. Small integers 34. Fixed in place 35. Used to treat Parkinson’s disease 37. Large, imposing building 38. A rooflike shelter 40. Stiff, hairlike structure 42. Print errors 43. To show disapproval 45. Body of traditions 47. Without 49. __ Clapton, musician 50. Dangerous illegal drug 51. Infrequent 55. Sound unit
Page 16 • January 20, 2022 • The Citizen
OUTSIDE STORY continued from page 9
northern Vermont. While commercial strains were most effective, Sullivan found that in laboratory experiments a local strain killed 89 percent of tick larvae within three weeks. The researchers are specifically interested in exposing ticks to fungal spores at the larval stage before they’ve found a host. This is the phase when the winter tick is most vulnerable: the larvae are living in the fungi’s natural home — soil and leaf litter — and both need similarly damp conditions to thrive. Deliberately exposing ticks to specific fungal pathogens in their environment is a more sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides, although it’s not without challenges. As Sullivan explains, “Entomopathogenic fungi require specific environmental conditions, including temperature and humidity, ample spore contact with a host and applications timed appropri-
BUDGET ately to a susceptible life stage for their use to be effective.” Spreading fungal spores everywhere moose live is impractical, so moose conservationists would need to target places Sullivan describes as “localized areas of optimal habitat where moose are known to congregate and be prone to winter tick recruitment.” While researchers are still evaluating the practicality of using entomopathogenic fungi to attack winter ticks, it is nice to know that when moose are faced with swarms of miniature vampires, they might be helped in the battle by microscopic vampire hunters. Rachel Sargent Mirus lives in Duxbury. Illustration by Adelaide Murphy Tyrol. The Outside Story is assigned and edited by Northern Woodlands magazine and sponsored by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, nhcf.org.
continued from page 1 12.6 percent more than the rate from this year. Although it’s still an increase, it’s much lower than the 30 percent jump predicted in social media posts in recent weeks. “It’s a unique year,” chair Jim Faulkner said. “We need a town garage. The guys that work there are laying out in the snow trying to change hydraulic lines on the plows.” The private garage that formerly housed the plows that clean Charlotte roads — four snowplows and other equipment owned by road commissioner Junior Lewis — burned just before Christmas. The selectboard chose to have the fire and rescue department and the library budgets broken out of the budget and voted separately to give resi-
dents input on that spending. The board plans to let voters make similar spending decisions this way in the future. Fritz Tegatz, president of the fire and rescue board, said after all the budget debate he supported the final decision. “I’m in agreement,” Tegatz said. “I might get my ass handed to me when I go to our board meeting.” “Well, it’s either you or me,” replied Faulkner. Faulkner is not only the selectboard’s liaison with the fire and rescue department, but he was also a member of the rescue department before being elected to the selectboard. Nan Mason, treasurer of the library board of trustees, questioned why the library’s budget was broken out from the overall
budget and made a separate article. The only increase in the library budget was the salary increase the board initiated and approved, Mason said. Article 5 — the library budget — asks for an allocation of just over $283,000. The increase due to salaries is just over $65,000. Article 3 will ask voters to approve the selectboard’s budget for expenses, minus the three articles, of more than $2.6 million. The three articles bring total spending to more than $3.8 million for a more than $350,000 increase over the total budget for this fiscal year. Article 4 seeks a fire and rescue department budget of just over $890,000, an increase of more than $108,000 over its $782,000 budget for this year.
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