Beatrix Farrand
Overlook, no more?
Pioneer in American landscape design
City council to consider renaming park
Page 12
Page 15
POSTAL CUSTOMER
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #217 CONCORD, NH ECRWSSEDDM
South Burlington’s Community Newspaper Since 1977
the APRIL 18, 2024
otherpapersbvt.com
VOLUME 48, NO. 16
Common Roots seeks ARPA money
On the ball
COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER
Common Roots, the South Burlington-based nonprofit farmstead, is asking the city for an allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds to help the organization purchase land for a new facility. A $400,000 allocation of ARPA funds would go toward the purchase of a 1.3-acre lot on Spear Street and Allen Road that the organization says would help them reach financial sustainability and decrease its reliance on philanthropic contributions. Robin Jeffers, the former facilities director with Nordic Farms who is working on behalf of Common Roots, said the plan is to develop a new building and market on the parcel to offer a year-round farm market with nutrition education, aculinary kitchen and child education space. Currently the organization operates as a seasonal farm stand. “With this opportunity, we believe that we can expand our sales engine and that PHOTO BY AL FREY
South Burlington’s Oakley Machanic outmaneuvers her Champlain Valley opponent Saturday in a 9-5 win.
See COMMON ROOTS on page 20
Ethics panel: no violation against Sen. Ram Hinsdale COREY MCDONALD STAFF WRITER
An ethics complaint filed in February against Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale citing her husband’s work in real estate was dismissed
by a five-member committee last week. The committee, the Senate Panel on Ethics, operates in near secrecy, and members of the committee were unable to discuss the complaint. They found there was no conflict between Ram Hinsdale’s work on legisla-
tion and her husband’s work. Jacob Hinsdale operates Hinsdale Properties, which has a sizable portfolio of rental properties in Burlington and elsewhere. Because the committee did not find probable cause that an ethical violation occurred,
the chair of the panel, Sen. Brian Campion, wrote, the “report is closed and shall remain confidential.” See HINSDALE on page 16
Hercules Chicken Sammie, Anyone?
Shelburne Road, S. Burlington Maple Tree Place, Williston
Tzatziki Sauce, Lettuce, Tomato & Roasted Peppers
GetBlissBee.com
DINE-IN / TAKE OUT / ONLINE ORDERING
@getblissbee