Court case
All about saffron
South Burlington residents named judges
The world’s most expensive spice
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the DECEMBER 5, 2024
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South Burlington begins budget talks
VOLUME 48, NO. 49
Race for a cause
Restorative justice, community policing lose funding LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
With fresh snow on the ground and the holiday season just around the corner, that can only mean one thing: Budget season is here. This week’s South Burlington City Council meeting begins what should be a six-week process to deliberate and decide on a budget for the coming year with a final vote by the voters on Town Meeting Day in March. While city manager Jessie Baker originally projected a 7
percent increase in municipal tax rates to the council in September, city staffers were able to minimize increases well below that initial projection. Three budget scenarios were presented to the council with the highest tax increase at 5.19 percent and the lowest at 3.39 percent, the recommended scenario. This initial pass at a budget would see a 2 percent increase in the city’s proposed general fund, See BUDGET on page 11
Growing grains
Nitty Gritty finds its niche in locally grown food market LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
Getting down to the nitty-gritty is about getting down to the root of it all and for the Nitty Gritty Grain Co. team, that’s exactly what they’ve been doing for the last 16 years: growing grain. Grains are arguably the basis for it all — from flour to cornmeal — and without them, it’s likely the
things we love to eat most would not — or could not — exist at all. Golden strands tossing freely against a Green Mountain backdrop fill the expansive farm property on Lake Road in Charlotte. For the Kenyon family, the dancing wheat signifies home. But for Vermont, it signifies something
PHOTO BY LEE KROHN
Erika Stecklare of South Burlington, Clodagh Coghlan of Bolton and Elisabeth Wells of Burlington at the 48th Green Mountain Athletic Association Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving at the Gutterson Fieldhouse. The annual event is a fundraiser for Feeding Chittenden.
See NITTY GRITTY on page 2
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