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The Charlotte News June 30, 2022 3TownRestaurant planned for East CharlotteScooter MacMillanEditorAfter more than two centuries theweathered white building at the corner ofSpear Street and Hinesburg Road in EastCharlotte will finally become a tavern.Built in 1810 as a tavern, the house inthe center of the village has been a homefor almost all of its existence, said DanCole, president of the Charlotte HistoricalSociety.The house sits on just over 15 acresJonathan Maguire bought from ClarkHinsdale at the end of May for 625,000.Hinsdale had planned to build seniorhousing on the property, but lostenthusiasm for that project after the defeatof two articles intended to spur economicdevelopment in East Charlotte in thespring 2021. He said articles 6 and 7would have helped but were not necessaryto his development plans.“The whole East Charlotte zoningbrouhaha and some of the personal attacks— I just simply decided that I just wasn’tgoing to put up with that anymore,”Hinsdale said.Twenty years ago, Hinsdale wouldn’t“have shied away” from the fight but nowfeels like he’s too old for that kind ofbattle, he said.Although the property wasn’t for sale,Hinsdale decided to sell it to Maguire: “Iwas very satisfied that there was a newowner coming along that kind of shared myvalues and shared my point of view aboutwhat that property on the corner couldcontribute to making East Charlotte better.”Maguire is just concentrating on theproperty where the 1810 house sits forthe time being and will decide what todo with the rest of the property later. Heis renovating the house into a restaurantwhich he will lease to someone else. Thekind of restaurant and what sort of foodit will serve will be determined by theeventual tenant.Maguire said he plans for the restaurantto occupy both the first and second floorof the house, but what sort of food will beserved will be decided by the tenant. Heexpects it will seat 50.The design of the old house is consistentwith old taverns with a large first floorroom for dining and drinking and a secondfloor with four rooms off a central hall,Mission StatementThe mission of The Charlotte News is: to publish rigorous, in-depth, fair reporting on townaffairs, and, to source stories of interest from our neighbors andfriends.The Charlotte News is a forum for the free exchangeof the views of Charlotte residents and communityvolunteers on matters related to the town and the peoplewho live here.Editorial independenceThe editor makes final decisions on stories that arepublished in The Charlotte News. While we are fundedby advertising revenue and donor contributions, our newsjudgments are made in accordance with our mission andare independent of all sources of financial support.Photo by Scooter MacMillanIt doesn’t appear the house built in 1810 as a tavern actually was a tavern for manyof its more than 210 years.Hinsdale said.Maguire had hoped to renovate an oldbarn near the house and put an accessorydwelling there, but found the structure toodilapidated to be restored and tore it down.He plans to rebuild on the barn’s footprinta building designed to look like an old barnbut with a living space.Maguire was motivated to purchase andrenovate the house by the lack of a bar andrestaurant in Charlotte.The reaction he’s received from residentsof East Charlotte has been positive,Maguire said, “There’s an appetite for it.”Alex Bunten lives next door, just southon Spear Street in a home renovated fromthe Baptist church that was built in 1807which gives the intersection one of itsnames — Baptist Corners.He was part of the opposition to thearticles proposed last year. Bunten saidhe wasn’t opposed but was waiting to seehow he felt about the project until after hetalked to Maguire.Later, after they had talked, Maguiresaid he agreed to put in a buffer of treesbetween their properties.“I’ve talked with all the neighbors andthey’re all cool,” Maguire said, adding hisplan for the property is 100 percent in lineNot so recreationalPhoto by Elizabeth BassettAn RV, or recreational vehicle, found its recreating shut down for more than twohours Monday afternoon on Thompson’s Point while it waited for a tow truck.And workers couldn’t leave to go home until the vehicle was unstuck.“I’ve talked with allthe neighbors andthey’re all cool.”― Jonathan Maguirewith Charlotte’s town plan.He’s already gotten a permit to raise thehouse and put in a new foundation whichhe expects to start in a few weeks.Maguire is the husband of AndreaRegan of the Charlotte Health Center.Her practice’s plan to build a new facilityin West Charlotte ran into a good bit ofopposition, but that doesn’t discourageMaguire. Every project is unique, he said.Although the house, that many referto as the Sheehan house after the familythat lived there for years, was intended asa tavern, it wasn’t used for that purposeimmediately after it was built.Here is William Wallace Higbee in1897 talking about the house in one of hishistorical essays collected in “Around theMountains”: “Mr. Martin built the housenow owned by Mrs. Henry Claxton andthis also was destined for a tavern. WilliamO. Barker bought it in an unfinishedcondition and after completion ran a publichouse here.”It appears Mr. Martin’s plans for a tavernwere thwarted through the machinations ofHezekiah Barnes.Mr. Martin built the planned tavern“on spec” as we say today. A north-southstagecoach route was being planned tocome through East Charlotte on what isnow Spear Street. But, Cole said, Barneshad other plans for the route.Barnes, a U.S. militia captain turned roadsurveyor and an early settler in Charlotte,was a state legislator at the time the stagecoach route was being planned. Becauseof his clout in the legislature, Barnes wasable to stop the proposal for the route torun down Spear Street. Instead, Barnes gotthe stagecoach route moved more than 2miles to the west where Church Hill Roadcomes south from Route 7 and intersectsHinesburg Road at the Charlotte Museum.Barnes owned a tavern on the northwestside of that intersection. That building wassold to the Shelburne Museum and movedthere in 1949. It’s the building there that’snow named the Stagecoach Inn.So, the planned tavern in East Charlottesat unfinished for 10 years or more untilBarker bought it and finished it in the1820s. And it appears it didn’t function as atavern for too many years.For most of its existence, the house hasbeen a home, but now it looks like it willbe a tavern — or at least a restaurant with abar.Letters, Opinions and ObituariesConsistent with our mission The Charlotte Newspublishes letters to the editor, opinion pieces andobituaries submitted by our readers. All such materials aresubject to review and approval by the editor in accordancewith the following standards and requirements: The views expressed in letters or opinion pieces arethose of the author, and are not endorsed by eitherthe board or the editorial staff of the paper. Opinionpieces and letters to the editor will be clearlylabelled as such. The News strives to stay clear of conflicts ofinterest. If an actual or perceived conflict arisesor becomes known at a later date, it will be fullydisclosed. 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Before publishing any obituary, we will needproper verification of death.Editorial StaffEditor: Scotter MacMillan(scooter@thecharlottenews.org)Production Manager: Anna Cyr(anna@thecharlottenews.org)Copy editors: Beth Merritt, Katherine ArthaudProofreaders: Mike & Janet YantachkaBusiness StaffAd manager: Christy Hagios(ads@thecharlottenews.org)Bookkeeper: Susan Jones(billing@thecharlottenews.org)Board MembersPresident & Publisher: John Quinney(john@thecharlottenews.org)Treasurer: Margery : Susanne DavisBoard members: Claudia Marshall, Ben Miller, GayRegan, Bill Regan, John Hammer (emeritus),Vince Crockenberg (emeritus)Technical advisor: Melissa Mendelsohn, OrchardRoad ComputersWebsite: charlottenewsvt.orgSubscription InformationThe Charlotte News is delivered at no cost to allCharlotte residences. Subscriptions are available forfirst-class delivery at 60 per calendar year.Want a subscription? 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4 June 30, 2022 The Charlotte NewsSupreme Court decision setswomen’s rights back 50 yearsTo the Editor:The anti-abortion majority SupremeCourt’s Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’sHealth decision overturning Roe v. Wadetoday sets women’s right to make theirown reproductive decisions back 50 years.Vermont established that right in 2019 andmust continue to do so. Vermonters will havethe opportunity to ratify Proposition 5 andguarantee that right in November.The wrong direction taken by this court isfurther demonstrated by its decision to strikedown New York’s gun permit law whichwill put thousands of New York residentsat a higher risk of gun violence. It is states’responsibility to stand up for the rights andsafety of their citizens now being denied bythe Supreme Court of the U.S.Mike YantachkaCharlotteTime for a womanto represent CharlotteTo the Editor:I’m sitting here at my desk on thisbeautiful sunny day with tears in my eyesand a sick feeling in my heart. Roe v. Wadewas overturned today, and just like that,women across this country are in danger.I’m running as a Democrat forthe House of Representatives seat inChittenden-5, which covers Charlotte andpart of Hinesburg. I’m running because theincumbent, 12 years into his stint as ourRepresentative, decided to pull a bait-andswitch and change his vote on Prop 5, whichguarantees in the Vermont Constitution aperson’s right to reproductive freedom.If you’re an elected official, your job isto stand up for the people who chose you,in good faith, to represent them. I guaranteeyou that the majority of voters around herearen’t OK with my opponent’s vote against awoman’s right to choose, and I’m pretty surehe didn’t check with any of them before heswitched his vote to a no.This election isn’t just about Prop5, although that’s important. It’s aboutchoosing someone who understands howeven a seemingly innocuous “protest” voteagainst an important issue contributes to theerosion of our rights. It’s time for a womanto represent Charlotte and Hinesburg inMontpelier. I’m willing to stand up forfamilies, for women, for diversity in all itsforms, for affordable housing, for farmers,for everyone who needs a little help beingheard.I’m happy to talk any time to anyone withquestions or concerns, and I respectfullyrequest your vote in this important election.Primary Election Day is Aug. 9, but you canvote early right now or get an absentee ballotby calling your town clerk.Chea Waters EvansCharlotteSupport for Becca Balintfor U.S. HouseTo the Editor:In politics, there are two types ofcandidates: those who run to win and thosewho run to work.Over the last 16 years, Vermonters havebeen lucky to have a representative in theU.S. House who knows the real goal ofrunning isn’t winning but working every dayon behalf of Vermonters. If we want that tocontinue, the clear choice for the U.S. Housein 2022 is Becca Balint.Balint’s record in the Vermont Senatemakes it clear that she understands herconstituents and — equally importantly— her constituents understand her. Theyknow she is honest and that she will keepher word. They know that even whenthey might disagree, they can trust herdecisions are always on the side of makinglife better for Vermonters — not advancingher own career.  And that is precisely whatall Vermonters deserve to see in our loneU.S. House member. None of us are going toagree with our representative on every singleissue or every single vote. But we can electLetters to the Editorsomeone who is clear about what they standfor, what drives them and how they willrepresent us.Vermonters also deserve a representativewho understands that their work inWashington is just half of the job. Just asimportant as the votes she casts, hearingsshe attends, meetings she takes or donationsshe accepts will be the work she does acrossVermont.I have spent over a decade and a halfworking for Vermont’s congressionaldelegation, with more than half of thoseyears spent here in Vermont. I know thata good member puts time and resourcesinto their state offices. They hire staff whowork hard each and every day on behalf ofVermonters. They prioritize going out intocommunities to listen to what people needand find ways to help; carefully recordingcallers’ opinions on policy issues and helpingthem navigate complicated federal programsand bureaucracy; and highlighting stories ofVermonters doing good in their communities,spreading hope in challenging times.I know firsthand that “Not me. Us.”is what being a member of Vermont’scongressional delegation is really all about.And in this race, I am confident that Beccaisn’t running for Becca. She is running forus.Kathryn Becker Van HasteShelburneThanks for Mt. Philopeople-power rescueTo the Editor:I am so thankful for the rescue teams fromCharlotte, Shelburne and Ferrisburgh and theMt. Philo Park ranger for getting me safelyoff Devil’s Chair Trail on Mt. Philo afterinjuring my ankle June 13.The responders were very professional butalso sensitive, and from the moment theyarrived I had extreme confidence in theirassessment and management of the situation.We are very lucky to have such dedicatedand skilled rescue personnel in our towns.I do want to make one correction tothe article in reference to “mutual aidmanpower;” make that “mutual aid man andwomen power.” Two of the 18 rescuers werewomen!Francine CohenBurlingtonThe term ‘NIMBY’ isinaccurate and pejorativeTo the Editor:I’m writing to you in response to PeterJoslin’s recent piece about balancing “NIMBY-ism” with the greater good.I have now read a handful of pieces onNIMBY-ism just in the past few weeks — inthe New York Times, the Atlantic, as well asFront Porch Forum and now The CharlotteNews. It might be trendy, but all of themmisuse the term NIMBY, which does notrefer to the protest of development in general, but in protest of something perceived tobe unpleasant or having a negative impacton property values — e.g. a garbage dump, adrug clinic, a shelter for the unhoused.What is happening in Charlotte is something else entirely. Not only is it inaccurateto call our local kind of resistance “NIMBY,”it is pejorative. If we want to have a realdiscussion in town about development andthe future, it will help if we don’t toss aroundinsults, intended or not, and it will also helpif we say what we mean.Peter writes that what is occurring in ourtown is tension between NIMBYism andthe greater good. But projects that are to the“greater good” are public. In the year andbit that I’ve been privileged to sit on theplanning commission, the projects that havecome before us have by and large been houses for upper middle-class homeowners andprivate businesses. But those things alonedo not impact the greater good; to thinkthat they do is to indulge in 80s-style trickle-down thinking, which has been debunked.If the health center (which, full disclosure,I voted for) had been a genuine walk-in clinic(and not a private doctor’s office) that mighthave been to the greater good. If the athleticfields on Spear Street (approved, by the way)were intended for use by the whole town andnot by the attendees of a private school, thatmight have been to the greater good. If anyof the housing projects proposed in my yearof sitting on the planning commission wereaffordable, or even work-force housing, thatalso might have been to the greater goodbecause it would mean that, for example,teachers or farm workers could actually livewhere they work. But zero projects gearedtowards affordable housing have appeared onour docket (nor arts organizations, nor publicfacilities of any kind, beyond researching apool so expensive it would have had to havebeen paid for by membership fees).If we collectively are going to steer Charlotte into a future where we acknowledgethat dairy farming is no longer the center ofthe economy that it once was, if we wantour kids to stay here when they grow up, weneed to make it thrive for more folks thanjust the ones with money. Building endlesshouses, building yet another unspecificAmerican suburb, is not the same as buildinga community where young people can stayand thrive.In any case, NIMBY is a bad descriptor,because we can see that developers don’tbuild in their own actual backyards: it isalways in someone else’s. Developers alsodon’t want to live next door to a parking lot,or a garbage dumpster, or a new pig farm,or a wastewater treatment center (these areall hypothetical examples). Or a housing development, for that matter. So, it’s a bit richfor the rest of us to have to absorb the termNIMBY. I can think of one notable recent exception, on Lake Road, where the developerwas an abutter — but since that developmentof lots for decidedly not-affordable houseswas going in the middle of everyone’s publicviewshed, that brings up another questionabout the public good.Really what it is, is that no one wants tobe told that something is for the greater goodwhen a developer stands to turn a profit. Thisis America, profit is what people do, but let’sat least speak plainly to one another. The restof us know when something is for profit andwhen it’s for the general good of the public.Like a garage.Meanwhile, perhaps if developers builtthings for the actual public good (and maybethey need incentives), they’d encounter lessresistance. People would trust them more.Building goodwill is part of building.Kyra WegmanCharlotteLook who’sbeen married50 yearson June 24th!TheCharlotteNewsJOIN OUREMAIL LISTAND GETTHE LATEST TOWN NEWSWHEN IT HAPPENS!Here’s to 50 moreCraig & Sharon Armell!SIGN UP ONOUR WEBSITEwww.CharlotteNewsVT.orgLove you, mom & dad

The Charlotte News June 30, 2022 5TownRoe v. Wade protestSelectboard approvesAugust ballot for financing 3 million town garageScooter MacMillanEditorCourtesy photoAround 20 people gathered on the Charlotte Town Green on Friday evening, July24, to protest the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade earlier thatday. In the center are Chea Walker Evans, candidate for the Chittenden-5 Housedistrict, and Lewis Mudge, Charlotte Selectboard member and candidate for theChittenden Southeast Senate District.Advertise with usand reach over4,000potential customers!WE CAN DESIGN YOUR AD!Email ads@TheCharlotteNews.orgFREEFIRSTFRIDAY EVEXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXSince almost immediately after the privategarage where road commissioner JuniorLewis housed his road clearing trucks andequipment burned just before Christmas, theCharlotte Selectboard has been working toget a new — town-owned this time — garagebuilt.That effort took a big step forward onMonday night, June 20, when the boardvoted unanimously to approve voting fora 9,000 square foot garage to be on theAug. 9 ballot. If the town voters approve, itshould be full steam ahead on building a newgarage.Except for winter.At the outset the selectboard memberswere cautiously optimistic that the garagecould be built before the weather turned toocold for construction. Now, it looks likelythat won’t happen.Board member Frank Tenney said evenif the town found a builder who could buildthe garage before winter, there is almost nochance construction materials could be foundthat soon.If approved, the proposed garage willbe built on the west side of Route 7, southof Charlotte Crossings, on town-ownedproperty where the old flea market used tobe.Voters will be asked to approve a newgarage that will cost about 3 million, butthe cost to property owners will only be 1.5million.The other 1.5 million of the constructioncost will come from 1 million in townAmerican Rescue Plan Act or ARPA funds,plus 500,000 from highway reserve fundsroad commissioner Junior Lewis has savedfrom his annual budget over the years.“We are building a 3 million project,but we’re asking for just 1.5 million,”selectboard chair Jim Faulkner said. “I wantto make sure that’s clear to everybody.”In spite of the misfortune of the fire,the town has the fortunate coincidence ofhaving available COVID-relief money anda sizeable highway reserve fund. Faulknersaid he was sure the town could build thegarage for 3 million, but was pretty certainit couldn’t be built for less.The design is the same basic footprint asthe garages in Hinesburg and Ferrisburgh, hesaid.The cost was a shock to most when theestimate came in for Charlotte’s garage.Those two towns’ garages cost much lessbut were built before the pandemic pushedconstruction costs beyond exorbitant.Town administrator Dean Bloch said afew months ago, when interest rates were 3percent, the 1.5 million would have raisedproperty taxes on a 500,000 home by about 85 the first year. Over the 20 years of thefinancing, the increase would have gonedown to about 45, but he didn’t have theamount of taxes at today’s rates for a bond orloan.Right now, the interest rates are 5.34percent, board member Louise McCarrensaid.It’s “an odd market” Faulkner said, so theboard doesn’t know if the rate will be higheror lower when

school. For example, a school of business student can take classes at the Milken School of Public Health or the Elliott School of International Affairs. This prepares students for a range of career options. Crossing over the Key Bridge in Washington, D.C., toward Richmond, Virginia, begins the almost two-hour drive to University of Richmond.