Dear Members of the CVSD Board,

The Charlotte Conservation Commission is writing to express concern regarding the proposed installation of a synthetic athletic field manufactured by FieldTurf at Champlain Valley Union High School.

We recognize the important role that athletic facilities play in supporting student wellness, recreation, and community activities. However, we believe the environmental and public health implications associated with artificial turf fields, particularly large-scale plastic-based systems, deserve careful scrutiny before any final approval is granted.

In recent years, increasing attention has been directed toward the environmental impacts of artificial turf systems, including products manufactured by FieldTurf and similar companies.

While manufacturers have promoted newer systems as safer and more sustainable, substantial concerns remain regarding long-term impacts, material transparency, and lifecycle management.

Our concerns include the following:

PFAS and Synthetic Chemical Concerns

Artificial turf systems may contain or be associated with PFAS (“forever chemicals”), microplastics, heavy metals, and other synthetic compounds in backing materials, fibers, coatings, adhesives, or infill products. Although FieldTurf may state that their products are PFAS-free, independent verification and long-term environmental testing are often limited. Given the persistence and mobility of PFAS compounds in the environment, the precautionary principle should apply.

Microplastic, Stormwater, and Wildlife Impacts

Synthetic turf fields shed plastic fibers and infill over time. These materials may migrate into surrounding soils, drainage systems, wetlands, and waterways through runoff, snow removal, wind, and regular wear.

The ecological impacts of this pollution on wildlife are of particular concern. Microplastics and infill such as crumb rubber can be ingested by birds, amphibians, fish, and aquatic invertebrates, potentially affecting feeding, reproduction, growth, and survival. Small plastic particles and chemical additives may also accumulate within food webs over time.

Amphibians and aquatic organisms are especially vulnerable to changes in water quality and chemical contamination, making watershed protection an important consideration for Hinesburg and nearby communities within the Lake Champlain Basin.

In addition, replacing living vegetation with synthetic plastic surfaces creates ecological dead zones diminishing the ecological functions naturally provided by soil and vegetation.

Surface Heat and Climate Resilience

Artificial turf fields can reach temperatures significantly higher than natural grass during warm weather conditions. Elevated surface temperatures may create safety concerns for students and athletes and contribute to localized heat island effects. Increased heat can also negatively affect nearby vegetation and habitat conditions for wildlife species sensitive to temperature changes.

Lifecycle and Disposal Impacts

FieldTurf systems generally require replacement within approximately 8-12 years. Disposal of worn synthetic turf materials presents an ongoing environmental challenge, as these systems are difficult to recycle and frequently end up in landfills. While FieldTurf claims to have a recycling program for both carpet and infill, it may not be available everywhere. We encourage the school board to demand full disclosure of anticipated replacement schedules, disposal plans, and total lifecycle costs to taxpayers before proceeding.

Loss of Ecological Function

Natural grass fields provide ecological benefits that synthetic systems cannot replicate, including groundwater infiltration, carbon sequestration, temperature moderation, and living soil function. Natural landscapes also contribute to habitat connectivity and ecological resilience across developed areas. Improved natural turf management practices may offer a more sustainable long-term alternative while still meeting athletic needs.

Maintenance and Hidden Costs

Synthetic athletic fields are not maintenance-free. They require regular cleaning, brushing, fluffing and leveling of infill materials, as well as periodic disinfection and repairs. Watering may also be necessary during hot weather to reduce surface temperatures. We encourage the school board to request a full and transparent breakdown of anticipated maintenance, operational, and long-term replacement costs associated with the proposed field system.

Accordingly, the Charlotte Conservation Commission respectfully requests that the district:

• Conduct a comprehensive and transparent environmental review of the proposed FieldTurf installation;

• require independent testing and full disclosure of all field materials and chemical components;

• evaluate impacts related to PFAS, microplastics, runoff, wildlife, and heat;

• reconsider enhanced natural grass alternatives and lower-impact field management strategies; and

• ensure meaningful public engagement before any final decisions are made.

We appreciate the district’s commitment to students and community recreation and urge decision-makers to carefully weigh the long-term environmental, wildlife and health implications associated with artificial turf installations.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Charlotte Conservation Commission

Over the last two months, Hinesburg police have been paying closer attention to the driving on the town’s roads.

This April, the Hinesburg Police Department participated in National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. In addition to usual traffic control, Chief of Police Chris Romance said, the department paid special attention to individuals using their phones while driving, texting while driving, and generally behaving aggressively.

The department conducted 144 traffic stops in April, a significant increase compared to 43 in April 2025.

Romance said that the Hinesburg police have conducted National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in the past, but this year the department participated for additional days and cracked down more aggressively on violations.

May was National Seatbelt Awareness Month, and the department saw 150 traffic stops as opposed to 52 last May.

The significant escalation of traffic stops, Romance said, was made possible to the increased number of officers on the force and hours of operation. Both allowed the department to observe more violations.

The addition of Romance to the staff in February brought the number of officers from three to four. For part of last year, the department had only two officers.

“Adding a fourth officer to the department allowed us to change the schedules around and provide more coverage,” he said.

Additionally, as of May 20, the department changed their coverage hours to 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Prior, the hours of operation were 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

“The increased amount of hours throughout the day gives us more time to answer calls here in Hinesburg, to patrol the roadways in Hinesburg, and also to enforce traffic violations,” Romance explained.

Additional grant funding, he added, allowed the officers to work more hours in addition to their normal schedule.

“We get the funding from the county, so it doesn’t affect the taxes here in Hinesburg at all for any of the residents,” he said.

The next time the department will concentrate on specific types of violations will be in September. They will be focusing on impaired driving.

Despite the substantial increase in the number of traffic stops this year, Romance said he doesn’t see traffic violations as an issue in Hinesburg.

“I think Hinesburg is a very safe community,” he said. “We patrol our roadways on a daily basis, and we strive to have people obey the traffic laws. And when they’re not, we want to be there to enforce them.”

By Nate Methot
For The Record

“I never thought I’d write a book.” That’s the first sentence of the preface of my memoir. Because I thought I didn’t have a story to tell, but also because I didn’t write. I never wrote or read much for pleasure. I’ve changed even more than a quick glance at my body would imply. Somehow.

It’s hard to know who I am; hard to know what I’d be doing if so many doors weren’t so solidly slammed shut. It took a long time for me to find something new, to choose to let go. It’s hard to watch your sense of self die.

I spent my childhood outside: riding bikes, building snow forts, exploring every patch of woods within reach, and playing a dizzying variety of sports and games with my brother and the boys in the neighborhood. (None of which required our parents to drive us anywhere, nor would they have. Yes, I’m an elder millennial.) By the time I’d finished college, I was spending my weekends running and skiing and hiking and golfing. Never indoors with a book.

That’s still who I am; who I’d like to be. If only. Instead, I spend most of my time in one of a handful of chairs, looking at words on paper or an entire connected yet disconnected universe on a screen. And typing with one finger on a mouse.

I’m still not sure I’ve reached full acceptance (which is to say that I haven’t), but I’ve accepted today. And each day, with varying degrees of reluctance, I accept another. I’ve stopped looking backwards. Mostly. It’s painful and useless. Instead, I’ve tried to expand my little world.

I’ve said “Yes” to things I never would have. New things. Scary things. From volunteering and mentoring to sharing my innermost thoughts, stories and feelings with the reading public near and far. To writing poetry. Poetry!

Dating apps is at the top of the list. In my twenties – with every advantage so clear it’s blinding in hindsight – dating – meeting someone new, trying to connect, sitting in moments of inevitable awkwardness – terrified me. It’s much harder now, but also much easier: I don’t care about all the petty stuff. Here I am; trying is better than not trying.

These changes were not forced upon me; I choose each of them, every day, week, and hour. I’d have much less without them, the head of my pin that much smaller.

It would be a mistake to pretend people only have value in what they can do. Our productive capacity is not all that we are. We have value in simply existing, but for most of us, changes – losses – are hard to work through.

But if I woke up tomorrow, health fully restored, thirty pounds of muscle piled back onto my frame, I’d have quite a story to tell. A best-selling memoir in my mind. But I don’t know how I’d sit still to write it. Like asking schoolchildren to remain at their desks after the bell, prisoners to stay put in their concrete block cells with no bars, I could never volunteer to live in this box.

I’d be out in the world doing all that I could: Old, new, everything. Fearlessly. Without regrets. My life would be big, and full, every moment cataloged and appreciated. I’d be back to myself, only more so. Until that day, outside that dream, I adapt.

You are what you do, not what you did. It’s not entirely true, of course; there are many versions inside each of us. But it’s a mindset: Do what you can; forget what you can’t. It’s a lesson I was taught much too soon.

Nate Methot’s memoir, “A Life Derailed: My Journey with ALS,” was published by Onion River Press. It’s available at Carpenter-Carse Library or for purchase through Flying Pig Bookstore in Shelburne. To find out more about Nate go to natemethot.com.

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Dear CVSD Board Members,

You have all heard the outpouring of concern about the proposal for plastic “turf” fields. Demonstrated issues about athletic injuries, social concerns about the over-use of plastics, lack of transparency about the composition of the materials of the field, etc. But to me, first among these here in Hinesburg is an abundance of caution regarding protection of the aquifer that supplies our water.

Please let me share an episode of recent history that shows how easily persistent pollutants can wreak havoc on the aquifer in Hinesburg, and how vulnerable it is to surface pollutants.

Up to the 1990s, gasoline was sold in front of Lantman’s store. Also in the 1990s, Saputo Cheese was in business in the village, processing, at one time, a quarter of all the fluid milk produced in the state of Vermont. They used a huge amount of water for cleaning and had their own well for much supply. The drawdown of water in the aquifer, closely monitored, drew hydrocarbons from leakage at the underground storage tanks at the intersection of Charlotte Road and Route 116, enough to become detectable in 1999. The town well behind the town hall was also affected. The town well had to be closed and replaced at significant cost to the system and its users. Monitoring and removal of hydrocarbons and MBTE underground has only concluded recently after 15 years.

Replacement wells for a municipal system are difficult to site. They have to be placed to have a proscribed protection area around them. And of course, they have to produce water in ample quantities. As an example, one extremely promising well was drilled at Geprag Park with ample protection area, lots of flow. But it was determined to be influenced by surface water. The rock formation in this part of the Champlain Valley has cracks in it all the way down to the aquifer, and if you encounter this near your well, the effort to site is a no-go. To remove pollutants after the fact is a massive expense, and an ongoing one.

My point is that it can happen here. It has happened here. The chemistry used to create artificial turf is brilliant in its way. But the surface does break down over time. The surface has a life span. So, its broken down particles go somewhere. When the particles are ‘forever’ chemicals, or even persistent ones and ‘somewhere’ is the aquifer contribution area of the town water supply (the case here), it is evident what will happen, and where responsibility sits.

Please make the correct decision regarding the proposal on the table and say “No, thank you, we’ll happily and gratefully take up a proposal that does not have this possible outcome. But as it stands, this isn’t it.”

Thank you so much for stepping up to serve the communities of the district. I served on the Hinesburg selectboard for 19 years and was intimately involved in the creation of the water system that serves the town, the community school and CVU. Protecting and maintaining the infrastructure that serves the lives of our citizens, students and families is a primary responsibility of elected officials.

Robert Bast is a Hinesburg resident and architect/developer of environmentally sound housing.

By The Hinesburg Town Common Committee

The Hinesburg Town Common Committee, with support from town staff, has been working for several years to get the necessary permits and permissions, secure grants funding, and raise money from Hinesburg citizens and businesses.

The pavilion was crafted with Vermont lumber by TimberHomes Vermont in Vershire. They will supervise the “raising” on Saturday, June 6.

Townsfolk are encouraged to come and cheer on the work crew. Volunteers will offer food and drink. An information table will provide details on further plans for the 2.6-acre Town Common behind the Hinesburg police station, including play structures, an entrance way, pathways, benches, and the like.

A time-lapse camera will record the day-long activities. It will be an exciting day in Hinesburg. If rain is forecast, the “raising” will move to the following day.

For further information, contact Bill Schubart schubart@gmail.com or Will Patten willpattenvt@gmail.com.

Kindergarten and first-grade students saw their artwork displayed in a professional gallery setting as Shelburne Museum hosted a special exhibition celebrating participants in the Olivia & Leslie Foundation Art + Math Program – an initiative designed to foster creativity, confidence, and social-emotional development at an early age.

The exhibition, held May 15-17, drew families, educators, and community members to the museum, culminating in a student reception on Saturday, May 16. During the event, young artists received certificates and experienced their work presented as part of a fully curated exhibition – an opportunity rarely available to students so early in their education.

Now in its third year, the program reached a significant milestone with its expansion beyond Hinesburg Community School into Burlington through new partnerships with King Street Center and the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington – two organizations serving historically underserved students. In the 2025-2026 school year, 124 children in the area participated in the program.

A true gallery experience, Shelburne Museum transformed its space with installed partitions and professionally hung artwork, giving students the opportunity to view their artwork, as they would in a formal exhibition.

“We believe that when young artists see their work displayed in a professional exhibition, it not only honors their achievements but inspires them to continue creating, take pride in their ideas, and expand their creativity,” said Tom Denenberg, the John Wilmerding Director of Shelburne Museum. “We applaud the Olivia & Leslie Foundation for nurturing this spirit and for connecting science, technology, art, and math in ways that align with the museum’s educational mission.”

The Olivia & Leslie Art + Math Program is a six-session curriculum that integrates visual arts with foundational math concepts such as geometry, symmetry, and spatial reasoning. Through studio-style lessons led by trained teaching artists, the program strengthens early academic skills while also nurturing curiosity, problem-solving, and emotional development during a critical stage of childhood.

“At a moment when so much attention is focused on AI and the relationship between technology and what it means to be human, it is more important than ever to help children connect with their creativity and imagination early in life,” said Chris Kuenne, founder of the Olivia & Leslie Foundation and a long-time resident of Vermont. “Art provides that opportunity through the tactile experience of making, discovering, and learning. For young children, having parents, teachers, and communities encourage their imagination and celebrate their creativity can have a lasting impact on their confidence, curiosity, and sense of possibility.”

The foundation was founded by Kuenne, a successful entrepreneur, and his sons, Peter, William, and Matthew. It is dedicated to the artistic legacy of Kuenne’s daughter and the boys’ sister, Olivia Kuenne, who died tragically at the age of six in 1997, and his wife and the boys’ mother, Leslie Keunne, who died in 2019.

This Saturday, June 6, volunteers from Hinesburg will erect a timber frame pavilion on the Town Common… in one day! You’re invited to come watch the work, and cheer on the crew. More details here.

Memorial Day Service Well-Attended Despite Sprinkles

In spite of overcast skies and a few raindrops, the Memorial Day Service on May 25 was well-attended. Read the full article and see more photos here.

Celebrate National Trails Day by Helping the Trails Committee Spruce Up Our Trails on June 6

Hinesburg has a great network of trails, called The Hinesburg Area Recreational Trails, also known as H.A.R.T. The Hinesburg Trails Committee is inviting everyone to help make these trails ever better. On Saturday, June 6, at 9 a.m. they’ll be gathering at Town Hall to head out and work on some projects, followed by a pizza party. They ask that you email hinesburgtrailsvt@gmail.com if you are interested in joining or want more information. There are a few more details on our In Brief page.

Shelburne Museum Showcases Student Artwork

Kindergarteners and first grade students from Hinesburg Community School, the King Street Center, and the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington displayed artwork at the Shelburne Museum as part of the Olivia & Leslie Foundation Art + Math Program – an initiative designed to foster creativity, confidence, and social-emotional development at an early age. Read the full article here.

HCS Runners Brave Rain, Crush Goals at Vermont City Marathon

Members of the Hinesburg Community School XC and Track & Field teams turned Memorial Day weekend into a showcase of grit, teamwork, and impressive racing at the Vermont City Marathon. Read the full article and see more photos here.

How to hike in the rain … and enjoy it.

Our outdoors columnist offers some tips on how to cope with the rain and fog and cold when hiking in, well, typical Vermont spring weather. Read Philip Werner’s monthly column here.

In case you missed it…

An Invitation: Come meet us!

We’d like to invite you to The Hinesburg Record Community Forum on Tuesday, June 9, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Carpenter-Carse Library Community Room. Come meet the people behind our local digital newspaper, learn more about what we do and what we’re hoping to do, and connect with neighbors in conversation. We would love to meet you and hear from you. The gathering will be an open, constructive space to share ideas, ask questions and strengthen our sense of community. We will also be introducing this year’s Hinesburg Record Summer Fellowship reporter.

A Crankie Fest at Hinesburg Community School

For weeks, third graders at Hinesburg Community School have been hard at work, learning songs, writing lyrics and creating art as part of a ‘cranky’ project. Crankies are an old storytelling art form in which a long, illustrated scroll is wound onto two spools which are loaded into a box with a viewing window and, yes, cranks at the top to move the scroll forward as a song is played or story told. Read more, and see videos of the students narrating their crankies here.

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Word of the Week – Overweening

By Cathy Ryan

Don’t you love learning a new word you can use to describe someone you’re not fond of? Learn about overweening, and a book by Winnie-the-Pooh author A. A. Milne that you’ve probably never heard of – yet he at one point described it as his best book. Read the full article here.

Upcoming

Tuesday, June 2

• Development Review Board Meeting, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Hinesburg Town Hall, lower-level conference room and via Zoom. Details, agenda, and zoom info here.

Wednesday, June 3

• Selectboard Meeting, 6 -8 p.m. Town Hall, lower-level conference room and via Zoom.

Thursday, June 4

• Comedy Open Mic Summer Part II, 7:30-9ish p.m. at Frost Beer Works, Commerce Street. Details here.

Saturday, June 6

• Trail Work with the Trails Committee, 9 a.m. See details above or on the In Brief page.

• Pavilion Raising on the Town Common, see details above or in this article.

• CVSD’s Annual Youth Pride Rally, 10 a.m.-noon at Shelburne Community School. Details here.

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By Cathy Ryan

This week’s Word of the Week is overweening. It is an adjective meaning excessively arrogant, or overconfident. I read this word in a book by A. A. Milne. No, not Winnie-the-Pooh. I read it in Once on a Time, which was published in 1917, before he wrote the Winnie-the-Pooh books. Milne was a prolific and diverse writer, writing plays and screenplays, novels, poems, and nonfiction, in addition to his famous children’s books.

Overweening appears in the following description of a character:

The Countess Belvane! What can I say which will bring home to you that wonderful, terrible, fascinating woman? Mastered as she was by overweening ambition, utterly unscrupulous in her methods of achieving her purpose, none the less her adorable humanity betrayed itself in a passion for diary-keeping and a devotion to the simpler forms of lyrical verse.

As the title suggests, Once on a Time is a fairytale. But Milne said he wrote it for adults – specifically as amusement for his wife and himself, “at a time when life was not very amusing.” He wrote it in 1915 during World War I. In the preface to the 1922 edition, Milne tried to explain further:

For whom, then, is the book intended? That is the trouble. Unless I can say, “For those, young or old, who like the things which I like,” I find it difficult to answer. Is it a children's book? Well, what do we mean by that? Is The Wind in the Willows a children's book? Is Alice in Wonderland? Is Treasure Island? These are masterpieces which we read with pleasure as children, but with how much more pleasure when we are grown-up.

I read a description of Once on a Time as “a fairytale sendup.” So then I had to go look up sendup to make sure I understood. A sendup is “a humorous imitation or parody of a specific person, style, genre, or work. It exaggerates familiar traits or mannerisms for comic effect, often making the subject appear foolish.” So it’s basically a fairytale that makes fun of fairytales, such as having pompous, self-absorbed kings who go to war for an absurd reason. It could also be described as a satirical fairytale.

In the preface to the 1922 edition, Milne said that whenever someone praised his books, he would say, “But you have not read the best one!” and most of the time, this was true – they hadn’t read Once on a Time.

There were so many amazing authors living in England at the same time: Milne had H. G. Wells as a math teacher; and was on a cricket team with fellow authors J. M. Barrie (Peter Pan), Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Homes), and P. G. Wodehouse (Jeeves and Wooster). You can read about this (apparently terrible) team in this BBC article.

The fame of the Winnie-the-Pooh books was a source of frustration for Milne; he preferred to be able to write whatever he wanted, but people were constantly asking him to write more Pooh books. He also didn’t anticipate the issues his son Christopher Robin would face, sharing the same name as the boy in the books. His son was teased in school and had to deal with his name being famous for the rest of his life. Christopher Robin became estranged from his father, because he resented the fame his father unwittingly forced upon him. What may have been different if Milne had simply not used his son’s real name in the stories?

Once on a Time is in the public domain and you can read it online at Project Gutenberg. I enjoyed it, but as Milne explained, sometimes you just don’t know if someone will like a certain book:

But, as you see, I am still finding it difficult to explain just what sort of book it is. Perhaps no explanation is necessary. Read in it what you like; read it to whomever you like; be of what age you like; it can only fall into one of two classes. Either you will enjoy it, or you won’t. It is that sort of book.

In gray, threatening skies Sunday the Amdez Polo Club held a match in their new all-weather boxed field (the large field was too wet to play). The field is owned and operated by the extended family of Marcos and Alex Hernandez of Shelburne.

The field is located just over the Hinesburg-Shelburne line on the Shelburne Falls Road diagonally across from where the Buccaneers Football club practices.

The polo club plans weekly matches at 3 p.m. every Sunday with practices often held on the weekdays.

By Philip Werner
Hinesburg Record columnist

I like to tell people that if you don’t hike in the rain in Vermont, you’re not going to do much hiking! As an avid hiker and backpacker, I’ve learned to embrace hiking in the rain and picked up a few tricks to make the experience more comfortable. I first learned them while hiking Vermont’s 272-mile Long Trail in 2008 and continue to use them to this day, both here and abroad.

Tips for Hiking in the Rain

1. Rain jackets and rain pants won’t keep you perfectly dry all day. They’ll help keep you warm if you keep moving, but expect to get damp at times.

2. Wear warm layers underneath your rain jacket. A light fleece or wool sweater helps keep you warm, even if it gets a little damp from perspiration or condensation inside your jacket. This is probably the most important tip on this list.

3. Pick shoes that drain quickly. There is a pretty good chance that your feet will get wet even if you wear waterproof boots. especially when you step into a big puddle, and the water comes in over the top. In warmer weather, you’ll be more comfortable in running or hiking shoes designed to drain quickly.

4. Line your backpack with a plastic garbage bag. This keeps your lunch, clothes, and electronics dry even if everything else gets wet.

5. Pack a dry set of clothes or at least dry socks. Changing into dry clothes after your hike will help you feel much better.

6. Take breaks in sheltered spots if you can. Use these moments to let your gear air out or to warm up.

7. Apply Vaseline or lotion on your feet before the hike. This protects your skin from blisters and chafing caused by wet shoes and socks.

8. Eat and drink regularly during your hike. Staying fueled and hydrated helps maintain your body heat.

9. Adjust your pace if the weather is tough. It’s okay to slow down or shorten your hike rather than pushing through discomfort.

Final Thoughts

Getting wet on a rainy day hike isn’t fun, but it’s part of the outdoor experience. Learning to manage the rain can open up many more enjoyable hiking days than you might think. Remember, a little rain doesn’t have to ruin a great hike; sometimes, it just makes it more memorable.

Philip Werner is the founder of SectionHiker.com, a website about hiking and backpacking, now in its 19th year. He’s hiked and backpacked over 10,000 miles in the U.S. and U.K. and is on the board of directors of the Green Mountain Club. He recently moved to Hinesburg and can’t believe his good fortune to be so close to so many great outdoor recreational opportunities. His column appears monthly (and sometimes more often) in The Hinesburg Record.

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Record staff report

While the details are still in the works, it is likely that in the coming year Hinesburg’s wastewater customers will see rates stay the same and base water fees will be on the rise.

In a long discussion at the board’s May 20 meeting, Town Manager Todd Odit explained that he is attempting to reconcile the rates for both departments to make them more equitable based on use. For instance, currently the annual base fee is the same regardless of how much water is used, though most users do pay based on actual use.

Hinesburg’s wastewater and sewer rates are among the highest in the region in large part because of a small user base and higher costs. For instance, the state required that Hinesburg build a new wastewater treatment plant that ended up costing more than $17 million. The big increase in cost is for the cost of borrowing the money needed for construction.

There will be more discussion of the rates in coming meetings as well as a public hearing, probably in June, about the finalized proposed rates. Below are current projections and explanations from Odit for the board.

8)water&sewer

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In other action …

Fire Chief Prescott Nadeau outlined the town’s emergency preparedness plan, an annual requirement of the state and a detailed plan for staffing, vehicles and types of responses.

Town Manager Todd Odit added his desire to have a single person appointed as emergency response director nothing that while Nadeau and Police Chief Chris Romance are both trained and experienced in emergency response, any emergency would likely involve both their departments and their attention will be on managing their departments not necessarily the overall emergency.

He also pointed out that given the floods of July 2024, it would make sense to have a pre-approved list of contractors with rates and availability to speed up any process for FEMA approvals to do repair work.

Hinesburg Emergency Management Plan

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Nadeau also told the board he attended the services for Linda Palmer, a longtime auxiliary fire department member. He praised her long and dedicated service to the fire department.

And Nadeau also noted that two new EMT firefighters will be hired and in place by July 6 and after a four-week training session will be “on the floor” so that the town will be covered 24/7 six days a week. One of the hires will replace Connor Contois, a full-time EMT firefighter who moved to South Carolina and the other is the new position approved by voters last fall.

Nadeau was joined by Reginald (Reggie) Beliveau, the state’s fire safety education officer, who will be working with Nadeau to hold public fire safety meetings with one scheduled for Lyman Meadows last week.

The board also approved:

• A proposal for use of town roads and trails for the July 18 road race sponsored by the Richmond Trail Running Club. Click here for more information on the race and map of the race is below:

11)trailrun

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• A $400,000 bid for repaving of North Road and Richmond Road by Pike Industries was accepted.

• Rick McCraw reappointed as Hinesburg’s representative on the Chittenden Solid Waste District Board of Commissioners.

• The board approved a sealed bid process for the well #6 project because connecting this well is considered an emergency and so the normal public bidding process – which takes much longer – will be skipped.

• Town Manager Report:

  • Work on the Beecher Hill culverts is moving along. We are in good shape in terms of FEMA funding.

  • The Lantman’s sidewalk project should be finished up in the next two weeks.

  • The bid for the repair of the Hollow Road Bridge has gone out. Bids close on June 19.

  • There will be a new section of the town website to inform residents about road closures and road work.

By Peg Cioffi

In spite of overcast skies and a few raindrops, the Memorial Day Service on May 25 was well attended. Approximately sixty-five people gathered at the Veterans’ Monuments to honor men and women living and dead and to show gratitude for the dedication of members of the police force, fire department and First Response Unit.

Boy Scout Troop 692 opened the ceremony with the presentation of the colors and then led the Pledge of Allegiance. All present joined in singing The Star-Spangled Banner accompanied on guitars by Michelle Keller, Joe Cribari and John Penoyar. A red, white, and blue wreath was front and center to honor the service men and women of the various wars.

Troop 692 Scoutmaster Norman Smith began and oversaw the ceremony. He gave a brief explanation of the origin and meaning of Memorial Day. He noted that we remember the men and women who have sacrificed their lives that we might live in freedom and we also honor their families who mourn their loss. He continued by acknowledging all those who have served in the military, the police and fire departments, and as first responders.

Bouquets of Remembrance were then laid at the base of each of the monuments. John Mead laid a bouquet at the base of the WWI and WWII monument. John is the son of World War II veteran Leonard (Johnny) Mead and nephew of Dwight Eddy, recipient of a Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

Michael Gately laid a bouquet at the Korean and Vietnam Wars and Desert Storm conflict monument. Michael spent forty years in the United States Army and National Guard. He was Brigadier General in the Army National Guard and retired as the Assistant Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard in 2008.

Scout Jackson Telstone did an excellent reading of “In Flanders Field” by John McCrae. This was followed by all joining in to sing America the Beautiful. Rev. James Zucarro of St. Jude’s Church then offered a Memorial Day prayer.

In the Spirit of 76, Scoutmaster Smith mentioned that the World War I and World War II monument was dedicated on Memorial Day 1950 and is 76 years old this year. The monument was given to the town by Roy L. Patrick, a Burlington businessman and native of Hinesburg.

Since we are celebrating the 250^th anniversary of our country, we remembered the eight Hinesburg soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War and are buried in various Hinesburg cemeteries. The Revolutionary War took place from 1775 to 1783. Hinesburg was already a town during these years, having been incorporated June 24, 1762.

Scout Samuel Desilva presented information about these eight Revolutionary War soldiers.

In the O’Neil Road Cemetery is Zachariah Curtis, born in 1757. He would have been 19 in 1776 and in his 20s during the war. An inscription on his stone reads, “He served his country faithfully and died in hope of a glorious resurrection.” He died in 1839 at the age of 82.

Captain John Norton is buried in the Silver Street Cemetery which is “Sacred to the memory of Captain Mead.” Norton was born in 1735 and would have been 41 in 1776. It is interesting that a middle-aged man took up the cause to fight during the War for Independence. He died in 1805 at the age of 70.

In the Gilman Road Cemetery is Captain Isaac Bostwick, who was born in 1740 and would have been 36 in 1776. He died in 1807 at age 67.

Nathaniel Chaffee is buried in the Calkins-Mcdonough Cemetery on Route 116. He was born in 1757 and would have been 19 in 1776. He died in 1826 at age 69.

General N. Leavenworth is buried in the Village Cemetery West Hill. He was born in 1761 and would have been 15 in 1776. He died in 1849 at the age of 88.

Dea. Oliver Post is buried in the Village Cemetery East Hill. He was born in 1746 and during the Revolutionary was stationed at a fort on the Susquehanna River near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He was 30 years old in 1776 and died in 1816.

George Palmer is buried in the Barker Cemetery South Side and noted as “A soldier of ‘76.” He was born in 1741 and would have been 35 in 1776. He died in 1836 at the age of 95.

Levi Benedict served in the Revolutionary War. He was with the Connecticut Militia with Gillette Company. He died in 1803.

Scoutmaster Smith continued the program by remembering with gratitude our veterans living and dead from all wars fought during our country’s history. He noted that we also salute all branches of our armed services who have protected us and kept us safe. Scoutmaster Smith concluded with a hope for peace and an end to all wars.

Daniel Silverman then played Taps followed by the singing of The Battle Hymn of the Republic. The service concluded with the Retiring of the Colors by the Scouts.

All veterans present at the service were acknowledged and asked to gather in front of the monuments for a photo.

We would like to thank our community participants, Troop 692 Boy Scouts, our musicians and all who participated in the Memorial Day Service. Also, a special thank you goes out to Norman Smith for leading the Memorial Day service.

It is hoped that the Memorial Day commemoration will continue to be an annual event which goes all out to honor our veterans and community service organizations.

By Paul Lasher
For The Record

Members of the Hinesburg Community School XC and Track & Field teams turned Memorial Day weekend into a showcase of grit, teamwork, and impressive racing at the Vermont City Marathon.

While runners were greeted with cool temperatures ideal for racing, the day also began with pouring rain that tested everyone’s determination before the starting gun even fired. Despite the soggy conditions, HCS athletes powered through with outstanding performances across multiple events.

In the 3-5-person relay division, Eli Leckey, Gage Geeslin, Iris Tallman, and Sylvia Cluver teamed up to deliver a strong and spirited performance, representing HCS with determination and teamwork throughout the scenic course.

Teammates Teddy Cluver and Theo Tallman took on an even bigger challenge in the half-marathon relay division. Each runner completed 13.1 miles — one full loop of the marathon’s beautiful two-loop course — showing remarkable endurance and mental toughness.

The day’s headline performance belonged to Royal Ricklefs, who tackled the entire 26.2-mile marathon in his very first attempt. Ricklefs crossed the finish line in an extraordinary time of 2 hours, 50 minutes, smashing the coveted three-hour barrier — an achievement many runners spend years chasing.

To put that accomplishment into perspective, only about four percent of marathon runners ever complete a marathon in under three hours. Achieving that milestone in a debut marathon makes Royal’s performance even more remarkable.

From relay teamwork to marathon milestones, the HCS runners proved that determination, preparation, and perseverance can overcome even the rainiest of race-day conditions. It was an unforgettable weekend and an amazing effort by the entire group of HCS athletes.

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We’d like to invite you to The Hinesburg Record Community Forum on Tuesday, June 9, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Carpenter-Carse Library Community Room. Come meet the people behind our local digital newspaper, learn more about what we do and what we’re hoping to do, and connect with neighbors in conversation. We would love to meet you and hear from you. The gathering will be an open, constructive space to share ideas, ask questions and strengthen our sense of community. We will also be introducing this year’s Hinesburg Record Summer Fellowship reporter.

A Crankie Fest at Hinesburg Community School

For weeks, third graders at Hinesburg Community School have been hard at work, learning songs, writing lyrics and creating art as part of a ‘cranky’ project. Crankies are an old storytelling art form in which a long illustrated scroll is wound onto two spools which are loaded into a box with a viewing window and, yes, cranks at the top to move the scroll forward as a song is played or story told. Read more, and see videos of the students narrating their crankies here.

HCRC’s Twice is Nice is Seeking Volunteers

Hinesburg’s own Twice is Nice thrift store offers a thoughtfully curated selection of women’s clothing, shoes, accessories, and small home goods and décor. Beyond providing affordable and sustainable shopping, the store plays an important role in supporting the broader community. The store is part of the Hinesburg Community Resource Center (HCRC), and proceeds from the store benefit HCRC. To read more about the store and learn about volunteer opportunities, read the full article here.

Band Night at Hinesburg Community School

Hundreds of residents crowded into the Hinesburg Community School gym Thursday night to hear all of the school bands perform. The concert began with some samples from the HCS Jazz Band repertoire. We’ve highlighted their opening number in a digital story (photos and audio in video format) which you can view here.

CVSD Board Inches to Turf Field Decision

The Champlain Valley School District (CVSD) has hired an area independent consultant to study hydrogeological runoff patterns from CVU’s athletic Field B and to study the potential for contamination of Hinesburg’s water supply.

The contractor, whose identity was not revealed, is expected to report to the board by mid-June. Board chair Meghan Metzler said the board would not take action until it had received and discussed the report. Click here for full story.

Letters to the Editor Regarding Turf Field

As we did with the print paper, we accept Letters to the Editor. Two Hinesburg residents wrote to us this week, expressing their opinions about the CVU turf field. Read their letters here.

In addition, the Hinesburg Conservation Commission submitted a letter to the CVSD school board expressing their concerns. You can read that letter here.

Obituary: Robert E. Martell

Robert Eugene Martell lived a life of selfless love and kindness, intellectual curiosity and a deep commitment to making a difference by helping others. He passed away at home in Hinesburg on Sunday, May 10, 2026, with his wife Carol at his side. Read the full obituary here.

In case you missed it…

Twenty-five Years of Service with the Library

Katherine Kjelleren is stepping down from the Carpenter-Carse Library board after several decades of guidance, work, and help as a library director. Read about how she became a board member, and her fond recollections of being on the board in the full article here.

John Kingston Running for Vermont State Representative

John Kingston is an Independent seeking the seat being vacated by Phil Pouech’s retirement. He states, “I am running because I believe we can do better. We need to make progress on affordability and growth, and we need to do that in a fiscally responsible way. Vermont and our local communities are wonderful places to live, but they are at risk if we don’t take the necessary actions to protect them.” Read his full statement here.

If you support our advertisers, you are supporting The Record.

Word of the Week - Sublimate

By Cathy Ryan

Do you ever wonder why your ice cubes shrink in the freezer, or a dusting of snow vanishes even though the temperature has stayed well below freezing? Do you sometimes redirect socially-unacceptable impulses into something more productive? Are you curious what the heck the connection is between these scenarios? If so, check out our Word of the Week here.

Upcoming

Monday, May 25

• Memorial Day Observance, 9 a.m. at the Veterans Monuments at the corner of Route 116 and Silver Street, next to the former Good Times Café. More info on our In Brief page.

Tuesday, May 26

• Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Committee Meeting, 6 p.m. Held remotely via Zoom. Agenda and details here.

• Energy and Climate Action Committee Meeting, 7:30- 9 p.m. Hinesburg Town Hall, lower level conference room and via Zoom.

Thursday, May 28

• CVU Restorative Practice Board community discussion and presentation. Two sessions available at 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. More info here.

Saturday, May 30

• Plant Sale at UVM Horticulture Farm, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Perennials, veggies, and house plants. Children’s sunflower planting table and garden advice. 65 Green Mountain Dr., So. Burlington.

• Welcome Baby Picnic, Hinesburg families with babies born in the past 12 months are invited to join us for this wonderful annual tradition. Enjoy a free picnic outside the Carpenter Carse Library from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Please RSVP to Alex at koncewicz@hinesburgresource.org. More info here.

The Hinesburg Conservation Commission submitted this letter to the CVSD board on May 18.

Dear Members of the School District Board:

The Hinesburg Conservation Commission has closely followed the presentations and discussions about the Community Field Project. Like so many residents of Hinesburg we remain deeply concerned about the risks of contamination of our drinking water but are also troubled by the possibility that excessive restrictions placed on donations might distort your decision-making process, limit your authority to effectively plan and manage the project, and polarize public opinion.

How the risks of drinking water contamination will be eliminated, how polarization of our communities can be avoided, and how a large public project on the CVU campus can most effectively be planned and managed in an extremely volatile construction environment and a time of changing regulatory standards are fundamental, first order questions. The commission believes they should be very carefully explored before voting on whether to accept this donation.

Our primary areas of concern are as follows:

Contamination of Public and Private Drinking Water

The risk of contamination of drinking water resulting from the CVU campus’s location within Hinesburg’s Source Water Protection Area has been cited many times by residents of the school district, by the Hinesburg selectboard, and by this commission. We believe it may be helpful at this time to provide some specific information on the Source Water Protection Area:

• A Source Water Protection area is a state-designated zone from which a contaminant released to the land surface or subsurface will move toward, and most likely reach, the drinking well source. In Hinesburg this is our town public wells as well as many private wells located within the area.

• Town Map 8 (attached) shows the location of the Source Water Protection Areas with arrows pointing to the CVU campus and public town wells #4 and #6.

• A second map (attached) shows the surface water flow from the athletic fields downhill to the location of the town wells.

• We have also attached a copy of Hinesburg’s Source Protection Plan to show the importance of this state designation and the degree of special monitoring and regulation by the state and town to protect the quality of our drinking water.

Townmap8

1.02MB ∙ PDF file

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Surfacewaterflowtotownwells

7.33MB ∙ PDF file

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Proponents of artificial turf often cite its use in other Vermont school districts but, to our knowledge, none of these are in a Source Water Protection Area with the very high degree of risk faced by Hinesburg.

PFAS Contamination

The consequences of PFAS contamination of our drinking water for public health and the financial future of our town, our school system and our residents, including their property values, are potentially catastrophic. The Conservation Commission believes that no risk of PFAS contamination is acceptable and accordingly, along with many residents of the school district, we prefer a natural turf solution.

If, however, the school district board elects to consider moving forward with artificial turf, we believe that a clear protocol for testing must be established based on the following:

• A recognition that this is a water protection issue in addition to a consumer products protection issue, and that a turf product with zero PFAS content from all the approximately 15,000 different PFAS compounds is required. If it’s present, it makes no difference whether the PFAS has been intentionally added or not.

• Fundamental due diligence and the need to establish public confidence require that the school district conduct independent testing by a laboratory recommended by experts in testing for PFAS. Test results submitted by manufacturers or donor-related groups do not satisfy either of these objectives.

• Vermont Act 131 is a consumer protection law and bans artificial turf containing any intentionally added PFAS. However, §2494(e) of that law currently allows a maximum of 100 parts per million from non-intentional sources, with a reduction to 50 parts per million effective July 1, 2027. While this may be considered by some to be adequate for consumer products, it falls far short of the protection required to protect drinking water from PFAS, a “forever chemical” that does not degrade and concentrates over time in the environment and the human body. The EPA measures maximum allowable PFAS concentrations in drinking water in a few parts per trillion, with the level for some compounds set at zero. In January 2026 Vermont tightened standards for maximum levels of some common PFAS compounds found in drinking water. The Preventive Action Level for four of these compounds has been lowered to two parts per trillion. The Conservation Commission believes that the maximum allowable combined concentration level from intentionally added and non-intentionally added PFAS necessary to protect our drinking water is zero and asks the school district board to confirm that any artificial turf field must meet this standard.

• Since at least one potential turf manufacturer, Field Turf, claims to have zero intentionally added PFAS, we believe that all turf manufacturers considered for this project should be required to meet this standard and to eliminate any non-intentional PFAS as well. Testing of samples taken in the factory, as recommended by the Synthetic Turf Council, the industry lobby group, should eliminate the risk of contamination from outside sources.

Microplastics

While most of the discussion about contamination of drinking water has focused on PFAS, some residents and experts in water quality have also expressed serious concern about microplastic contamination from the artificial turf. The commission notes that on April 2, 2026, the EPA announced an initiative to include microplastics on its Contaminant Candidate List for drinking water protections. The announcement cited microplastic contamination as “one of the most urgent and growing public health challenges facing Americans.” We urge the school district board to conduct a review of issues surrounding potential microplastic contamination from artificial turf before agreeing to proceed with an artificial turf option.

Liability

The commission suggests that the school district board very seriously consider its potential liability for any project related PFAS and microplastic contamination before a decision to move forward with an artificial turf field.

Donor Gift Restrictions and Acceptance of Donations

The Conservation Commission is concerned that Community Field Project donors may intend to impose unusual restrictions on gifts, which if accepted, would significantly limit the school district board’s authority to plan, design and manage this project and would curtail important public participation in the planning and decision-making processes.

• While donors may reasonably wish to place restrictions on the uses of their gifts, this is a public, not a private project, and restrictions that go beyond those typically placed on the permissible uses gift funding and encroach directly into areas normally within the purview of the publicly elected school district board should be rejected.

• To have a fully informed public discussion, the commission urges you to make public all gift restrictions proposed by the Community Field Project or other donors prior to beginning your review of whether to accept their donations. The public needs to understand the full ramification of accepting these donations.

Project Control and Management

We believe that the school district is ultimately responsible for this project and that the elected board should retain full and direct authority over planning, design, budget and project management. Development projects, particularly public ones, are complex undertakings and proceed carefully in phases from initial concepts and scopes of work through final designs and specifications, budgets, schedules and construction, purchasing contracts and bidding. Important changes typically occur throughout this process, and the final terms of contracts and agreements cannot be fully determined upfront. The project development process is far too complex and fluid to be prematurely incorporated into a gift agreement. The commission also recognizes that we are in a very difficult business environment, with extreme price volatility and unprecedented supply chain disruptions. Successful projects require flexibility by owners and a responsive and expert project management and design team. We ask that the school district board, in consultation with state agencies as required by law, put such teams into place and that the board does opt to not assign authority and responsibility to donor-related organizations.

School districts, as you well know, are subject to state regulation, including requirements for public bidding and additional state oversight in the management of large projects, which this is. The project is also subject to local zoning and development review for issues such as stormwater, lighting, and traffic and may also be subject to Act 250 review. Clearly gift terms must comply with applicable laws and regulations. We suggest that you carefully review all applicable state, local and federal regulations, identify what approvals are required, and reject any gift terms that may violate these requirements.

Natural Turf Field

The commission agrees with those many residents who prefer a natural turf field designed to the higher performance standards now technically achievable with expert design. We suggest that the school district consider funding a feasibility study to determine the performance improvements that are achievable and the estimated costs of the field and associated improvements in drainage. Cost proposals for the study should be solicited from design firms experienced in advanced natural turf field design possible and sources of funding for the study investigated.

The commission submits these thoughts out of mutual concern for the future of our community and we hope you will give them careful consideration.

Hundreds of residents crowded into the Hinesburg Community School gym Thursday night to hear all of the school bands perform.

The concert began with some samples from the HCS Jazz Band repertoire. We’ve highlighted their opening number in the above digital story.

The HCS Jazz Band will be performing live at the Discover Jazz Fest at 12:20 p.m. on June 3 at the Top of the Block Stage on Church Street, Burlington.

(Note: Soloist photos don’t necessarily coincide with the audio.)

By Cathy Ryan

I really like the word sublimate because it has two definitions that at first glance seem very different. One definition is scientific, and the other is a psychosocial definition.

to pass directly from the solid to the vapor state

Have you ever wondered why your ice cubes shrink in the freezer, or a dusting of snow vanishes even though the temperature has stayed well below freezing? Are you ever fascinated by dry ice, and how it just evaporates without becoming a puddle in between? These scenarios are all due to sublimation. Solids sublimate when they go from a solid to a gas without becoming a liquid in between. Water usually becomes a liquid before becoming a gas (water vapor) but in some situations, like in your freezer where the air is very cold and dry, the ice can go straight to water vapor, causing your ice cubes to shrink.

This process is also responsible for freezer burn. You can read more about that in this article from the BBC.

Similarly, if the air is very cold and dry, snow can turn into water vapor in the air without ever melting.

to divert the expression of an instinctual desire or impulse from its unacceptable form to one that is more socially acceptable

Have you ever wanted to punch someone, but instead wrote a strongly-worded letter to the editor? If so, congratulations – you sublimated! Another definition of sublimate is to redirect socially unacceptable desires into something more acceptable. Another example would be if someone was really tempted to stalk their ex and try to win them back, but instead redirected their emotions into artwork.

So what’s the connection?

These two definitions seem so different; what’s the connection? One clue is the definition of sublime, which clearly seems similar to sublimate. Sublime as an adjective means “lofty, grand, or exalted in thought, expression, or manner.” As a verb, it means to make something sublime: “to elevate or exalt especially in dignity or honor.” The connection between this and a solid becoming a gas, or a person redirecting their impulses? Up. The solid is rising up into the air as a gas, and the person is “raising up” their negative impulse to something better. “Sub” generally means below or under. But these words come from the Latin sublimis, which means high or elevated. This article from MIT Press discusses the Latin origin, if you’d like to dive further into these sublime words.

You can read about the previous week’s Word of the Week here.

By Geoffrey Gevalt
Hinesburg Record staff

The Champlain Valley School District (CVSD) has hired an area independent consultant to study hydrogeological runoff patterns from CVU’s athletic Field B and to study the potential for contamination of Hinesburg’s water supply.

The contractor, whose identity was not revealed, is expected to report to the board by mid-June. Board chair Meghan Metzler said the board would not take action until it had received and discussed the report.

This news came as CVSD Superintendent Adam Bunting and District Chief Operating Officer Gary Marckres reported to the board answers to some of the questions the board members raised during discussion in May. Among the pair’s findings regarding:

• Infill, or the material underneath the field’s surface, Bunting said the manufacturer had several options – some more environmentally friendly than others – and “the district would have final say on the infill material that is used.”

• ‘Cool play,’ or the fact that the field can be 30 degrees warmer than the air; Bunting said that other schools have rescheduled practices and games for cooler times in the day or evening.

• Lights: Bunting said modern LCD lights are very different than 1970s halogen ‘flood’ lights and have a narrow footprint. At Burr & Burton, he said, the school had to install auxiliary lights in the parking lot next to the field because the lot was so dark.

• Maintenance: Marckres said that the best estimate on the cost of maintaining the current fields, including lining, and the cost of rental of and transportation to other locations when the field was unusable cost about $13,500 annually.

• Potential income: Marckres said the Community Field Project had provided a ‘pro-forma’ estimating annual income at $60,000 to $80,0000 a year but Marckres said a good conservative estimate would be $50,000.

  • As the project’s lead organizer Eli Lesser-Goldsmith put it, “Hopefully we’re showing the district that we’re taking an expense and turning it into a revenue generator.”

• Turf field use: Bunting said that Athletic Director Renee Breault had summarized potential additional use of the field if it is artificial turf:

  • “One of the reasons that institutions and organizations go with turf is because of durability,” Bunting said. “You can have multiple events during a given day whether it’s raining or not and clearly it extends seasons. Renee Breault said during the fall the field could support six soccer teams, two field hockey teams and two football teams with use generally extending from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and the potential to host evening games up to twice a week.

  • During the winter the field could be used for dry land training and winter track activities when conditions allow.

  • In the spring it could support four lacrosse teams, three ultimate teams and flag football.

  • During the school day, the field could provide additional outdoor space for wellness classes. … On weekends, in the summers, the field could be available for soccer clubs, lacrosse clubs, football, Hinesburg Recreation, community leagues, field hockey and other school or community rentals.

• Warranties or guarantees: With some back and forth with board members, Marckres said the contractor and manufacturer would be fully responsible for the field and any adverse outcome and, further, FieldTurf had agreed to indemnify the district from responsibility.

  • Lesser-Goldsmith praised his partner – manufacturer FieldTurf – and said he was glad the company “came through with that indemnification … They clearly stand behind their product, and it meets the letter of the law.”

  • Later, board member Sarah Showalter-Feuillette of Williston commented “that I have a hard time hearing the onus of responsibility for this is on the manufacturer and that we’re not going to concern ourselves with the responsibility piece.”

There was some confusion regarding the exact role the state will have in ensuring that the field complies with new laws restricting PFAS – chemicals involved in plastics manufacture that never degrade. Bunting contended the Attorney General’s office would be the ones to test the materials being used and Marckres later said, “I don’t know who tests what.”

The Record spoke with the Attorney General Charity Clark, who emphasized that her office’s role is only “prosecutorial,” meaning if there is a problem and there are damages, they would be the ones leading legal action under consumer protection laws. Her office does not test the product under the new anti-PFAS law and relies on the manufacturer’s “certificate of compliance.” She did not know who would regulate the actual product.

The logical agency would be the Vermont Agency of Natural Recourses, but a spokesperson told The Record the agency has no role in testing or regulating products under Act 131 or Act 54 which control use of chemical compounds in consumer products. So it appears that no state agency actually tests materials in an artificial turf field to confirm that they meet the requirements of law and that the certificate of compliance issued by a manufacturer is accurate.

There also was a back-and-forth between board member Erika Lea of Shelburne and Lesser-Goldsmith regarding a grass field versus an artificial field.

“At the end of the day we don’t want to contaminate wells,” Lea said. “We need a healthy community. All of our citizens deserve to live and clean water should be a right. And we really want good fields for our kids. Yeah. So it just feels like if it could be grass, we’d all be happy and everybody would go home.”

Lesser-Goldsmith’s response: “We have looked at grass … We considered it many months ago. We looked at the positives and the negatives of both grass and turf and in the end, after talking to many, many stakeholders across the district, from the district, to teams and coaches and players, turf remains the more beneficial surface for this project.”

He has said numerous times that the proposed $5.5 million donation – including handicapped access, parking lot, concession stand, viewing stands – would be tied to the field being artificial turf.

Before the board took up the discussion, several local residents spoke, several in favor of the artificial turf and several opposed. The people watching on Zoom couldn’t speak because the Zoom audio and CVU speakers were not working. (Unless noted, speakers live in Hinesburg.)

Jennifer Decker said that 572 Hinesburg residents have signed a petition opposing the artificial turf field. “As I’ve been door-knocking, I run into students who are opposed to the artificial turf, and they report feeling intimidated by the social environment about speaking up.”

Owen McCuin said his support boils down to these main factors: “health, both ecologically and for our students;” sustainability – annual revenue derived from rentals; the fact that’s a private donation and the potential economic growth for the town of Hinesburg.

Chris McCuin followed saying, “this turf field will bring people together on Friday nights for football games, soccer games, lacrosse games. … I appreciate it.”

Mary Beth Bowman, referring to CVSD staff who spoke earlier about the need for higher wages, said, “After listening to all these people here and hearing their situation, … does anyone else see there’s something wrong here? … People can’t even pay their bills, and we’re thinking about a $5.5 million turf field.”

John Penoyer said, “This community has twice rejected proposals for artificial turf. Some may imagine those rejections were driven by financial concerns but … the opposition to artificial turf on our playing fields has always been rooted in environmental concern.

“It’s difficult for me to imagine in this day and age – when we understand what happens to plastics as they off-gas and ultimately degrade, that we would consider covering living soil with [it] much less let our children play on [it].”

For more on this ongoing story, click here. Subscribe to stay up to date.

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By James Bruce
Hinesburg resident

I am opposed to the installation of an artificial turf field at CVUHS.

My concerns come as a tax-paying resident of Hinesburg, as a grandparent of five children in the elementary and middle school in Hinesburg, and as a PhD chemist.

I am concerned about:

• the potential for PFAS / microplastic / heavy metal contamination of Hinesburg water supply

• The potential cost for remediation of town water systems should they become contaminated (and fear that this cost will be borne by Hinesburg alone)

• The cost and environmental impact for removal and replacement of the turf field in as few as eight years

• The appearance of this as a “freebie” when it locks in future costs for replacement

• The refusal of the turf company to submit samples for independent testing

• the potential for harm to students: either from physical injury (NFL players have opposed the use of artificial turf) or from ingestion / inhalation of the various materials present in artificial turf

• The limitations of testing and “safe” limits. Testing does not look at all PFAS compounds. Do we really have enough data to set a “safe” limit? Does testing include all potential heavy metal or other suspect carcinogens?

• The use of highly polished sales brochures (and distribution of said in CVUHS) to position their products as safe using questionable science (referenced safety studies by authors with conflict of interest declarations, cherry picking studies, testing by a lab that I don’t consider to be actually independent)

I ask the school board to protect Hinesburg’s water supply and the safety of students by rejecting the proposal for artificial turf.

Opposition to artificial turf installation; concerns about Zoom meeting

By Joe Iadanza
Hinesburg resident

This is a copy of the email sent to the CVSD school board after their May 19 meeting:

Dear members of the CVSD school board,

After listening to your May 19 meeting on Zoom and being unable to provide feedback due an issue the board recognized with the Zoom meeting, I am writing you with my comments.

As a resident of Hinesburg on a private well and within easy earshot of the CVU campus, I want to express my opposition to artificial turf installation at CVU for the following reasons:

• I have serious concerns about the materials used. Being on a private well, I am concerned about PFAS and microplastics entering my water supply. With the lack of clarity on materials, lifetimes, etc. and the growing knowledge on plastics decomposition, why would you willingly risk the health of Hinesburg residents? What will you do to ensure that there is no issue over time and what will you do (and who will pay) if there is an issue? Artificial turf is a choice, not a necessity. We should not be making choices that could endanger health or property

• As the father of a former CVU soccer player, I have serious concerns about the history of athletic injuries associated with artificial turf. Why would we knowingly contribute to youth injuries?

• Only a small minority of CVU students will ever use these fields, so why does the board continuously revisit this issue after we have voted against artificial turf several times? As noted earlier in your meeting, CVSD is facing significant challenges that affect the entire school population, from special education to funding and consolidation. Please focus your efforts on issues that affect the vast majority of the school-age population you serve.

• Much has been said about private funding for installation. Little has been provided about the long-term costs for maintenance and eventually disposal and replacement. I can only believe that, sooner or later, CVSD taxpayers will be on the hook for these costs. At a time when school funding becomes more tenuous every year, we should not be booking future expenses that aren’t absolutely necessary.

• What the state does in terms of school consolidation also needs to be considered. It was pointed out in the HCS / CCS re-configuration discussion that it might be better to hold off and see what direction the state takes. If this advice is good for determining where we educate our students, shouldn’t it also be heeded on where the minority of student athletes practice and play?

• Hinesburg already plays host to CVU. We deal with the traffic and traffic safety issues associated with CVU along with responsibility as a first-responder community. Enough is enough.

In closing, I would like to say how disappointed I was not to be given the opportunity to speak at the meeting due to technical issues. Had I known about this earlier and the comment period been longer, I would have changed plans and come in person. Please ensure these issues are fixed at all upcoming meetings so as not to deny those on Zoom a voice.

Do you have an opinion on the proposed gift of a $5.5 million artificial turf field? We want to hear from you regardless of your position on the issue. Send a letter to editor@hinesburgrecord.org and include your name and, for verification (not for publication) your address and phone number.

By Geoffrey Gevalt
Hinesburg Record Staff

For weeks, third graders at Hinesburg Community School have been hard at work, learning songs, writing lyrics and creating art as part of a ‘cranky’ project led by retired 5/6 HCS teacher Paul Rocheleau and musician Matt Witten of Starksboro.

Crankies are an old storytelling art form in which a long illustrated scroll is wound onto two spools which are loaded into a box with a viewing window and, yes, cranks at the top to move the scroll forward as a song is played or story told. Think of it as a 19th century moving picture.

Rocheleau has been creating crankies with classes at HCS for years – even after retirement several years ago. Working this year with three classrooms, Rocheleau and Witten introduced the students to the concept, presented several different songs for them to consider and then put them to work creating additional lyrics and assigning students or a student pair to create a frame to draw representing a line or stanza of the song.

On Thursday, May 21, the students presented their songs and cranks to the rest of the school in a series of four performances in the school’s common space.

Afterwards, Rocheleau told The Record how much fun the project was for him and for Witten and, he hoped, for the kids. “They were tired out,” he said, noting that each of the groups of kids sang their song four times in a row for different school audiences.

He also expressed appreciation to the school and teachers for participating, to the students for working so hard at it and for two HCS staffers in particular – Carrie Justice and Donna Shepherdson – for helping with setting up the common room.

Click below to hear and see what the students did.

Kerri Wallis’ grade 3 class:

Denise Farmer’s grade 3 class:

Kathy Kjelleren’s grade 3 class: