I would like to call the Shelburne community's attention to The Working Lands Enterprise Investment Bill which is currently in the Vermont legislature. Basically this bill supports the working landscape in Vermont.

I read the sports section of the Williston Observer and Shelburne Community News every week and keep hoping that I will see some mention of the outstanding job being done by the Champlain Valley Union boys freshman basketball team. My son plays for the lively and talented freshman boy's team which has gone undefeated 15-0.

I am writing in support of the Social Services Ballot item directing a donation of $12,000 to 19 separate non-profit organizations. These organizations assist our Shelburne citizens, young and old, in many ways - giving needed counseling, food, support to families, and even shelter.

The loss of 16-year old Zeke Kassel is a terrible tragedy. I continue to be upset and disturbed even though I did not have the privilege of knowing this fine young man. Safe to say that a number of things conspired to create the events surrounding Zeke's loss.

One winter morning last year my high school daughter was traveling to CVU from Shelburne in a snowstorm, and at less than 25 miles an hour, she did a 360 and went off the road at a difficult curve to navigate and hit a road sign.

It's the 50th anniversary of the movie "Lawrence of Arabia" this year, and Sony is planning a re-release of the film on Blu-Ray; meanwhile events in the Middle East continue to stimulatediscussions about the real T.E. Lawrence - his motives, his actions, and his influence on the recent history of Iraq, Jordan, and Palestine. There's a website about the real T.E. produced by three companies right here in Essex, Shelburne, and Huntington. Keystone Productions, Huntington, collaborated with historian Lola van Wagenen

You may have noticed in last Thursday's Shelburne News, an invitation to participate in a survey Shelburne Farms is currently doing. This letter is a reminder of the invitation and a further explanation of why we are seeking the opinions of our Shelburne neighbors.

I want to thank everyone who is encouraging me to run for the House of Representatives in 2012. I am excited that there are so many in the community that think I can make a difference with what is going on.

I am a registered family child care provider who is very concerned about H. 97, a bill that would force me and my colleagues to be represented by a union against our will. The bill is currently in the Vermont Senate, and is being spearheaded by the American Federation of Teachers.

This week, every business in Shelburne has received an invitation in the mail to join the Shelburne Business and Professional Association (SBPA).

The doctors and staff at Ark Veterinary Hospital would like to thank all of our wonderful clients and friends for helping make our first "Holiday Pet Food Drive" a great success. With your purchases of pet food to donate, and Ark's matching of all donations we were able to deliver over 1,000 pounds of food for pets to the food shelves in Shelburne, Charlotte, and Hinesburg.

Winter can be a difficult time for everyone to get around, but for some it can be harder than for others. Imagine trying to get to the doctor, or the grocery store, or even your own mailbox when you can no longer shovel the snow off the stairs to your front door.

Ten years ago I submitted an opinion editorial discussing the need to confront a serious paradox: the need for jobs but the lack of encouragement for job creators. I can't believe what I said then remains relevant today.

I wanted to let you know that I have decided not to run for another term as a Shelburne School Board Director. This was not an easy decision to make, particularly because of my love for the Shelburne Community School and the high esteem in which I hold the other members of the board.

We want to thank everyone who supported the The Lake Champlain Waldorf School Holiday Fair. Scores and scores of volunteers cared for every detail - from the magical treasures found in the silver-walled Angel Room, to the wacky Carnival games - creating an experience rich with beauty and wonder.

The winter season is fast approaching. I would like to take this opportunity to remind all Shelburne residents of the Winter Parking Ban. As defined in our Motor Vehicle and Traffic Regulation Ordinance, the ban is effective from Dec. 1 to April 1.

On 11/11/11 the CVU Student Council hosted a Rave at the school. Raves in general have a bad reputation, not this one; this one had heart and soul. It was in honor of Joe Shook, a student who passed away over the summer.

I would like to take a moment to publicly acknowledge and thank this year's departing Board members of Shelburne Little League. The League serves 300 kids ranging from ages 4 to 15 and each season is run by a cadre of dedicated volunteers.

Thanks Tara for writing your informative and excellent article, "Exercise - the new prescription for cancer," in last week's Shelburne News. My husband Charlie and I are both members of the cancer survivor club.

Every day I drive past the Shelburne Cemetery and appreciate the way Ernie Goodrich, Tom Walker, and Roger Lewis take such great care of it.

We want to express our great thanks to every member of the Shelburne Volunteer Fire Department for their prompt, professional, and careful response to the fire at the Inn at Shelburne Farms on Thursday, Oct. 20.

While towns deserve to retain as much authority over themselves without state intervention, Brake screeches do sound an awful lot like... brake screeches. Exactly the most fearful time and place in the whole world you'd ever hear this god awful sound is when your child is getting off the school bus.

It's strange that the Shelburne News neglected to give artistic credit to Ann Beha Architects for their amazing design and rendering of the new educational building proposed by the Shelburne Museum.

You know everyone is always saying "buy local," usually referring to our farmers. Well, it should also include any business in Shelburne or Vermont. The wonderful news from Shelburne Museum about their new center was exciting and filled us all with hope for the future.

It is two years since Shelburne Parks & Recreation Department conducted a survey of residents to gauge the level of interest in a dog park for Shelburne.

On a weekend far too nice to be indoors, The Friends of the Pierson Library still managed to have a successful book sale. We want to thank everyone who generously donated books as well as time and energy to make this year's sale so worthwhile.

On Friday, Sept. 23, 2011 I had a serious car accident on Spear Street. I would like to thank the Shelburne Police, Shelburne Rescue, and the numerous fire personnel that responded to my accident and provided me with the leadership, expertise, and careful medical attention I received during my unfortunate accident.

Thank you to everyone in the community who came out and supported Lake Champlain Waldorf School's Rummage Sale on Saturday. We would like to give a warm thank you to all the volunteers who helped plan the event, set up, work, and clean up after the event.

We have been granted more time until the end of the month to input "ECOS GOALS" comments that you read about in the Sept. 1 Shelburne News.

Each year, the Lake Champlain Waldorf High School campus remains open on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in efforts to recognize, and live the day, as a 'day on' with the whole high school community partaking in community service. Over the years, this work has grown to become more solid and fruitful.

Shelburnites should be alert while on the Ti trail, as I saw extensive coyote scat on my run this Saturday morning. How do I know that it was coyote scat and not dog poop, you might ask?

I am always taken aback and usually slightly amazed when I read a letter such as was in last week's Shelburne News pertaining to animal control. In the first instance, I know that none of us are infallible and so I take seriously any complaints regarding any service that the Town provides.

Citizens of Shelburne, I would like to bring to your attention an act of, what multiple citizens viewed as, inhumane wildlife management by the Shelburne Police and Animal Control departments.

At the beginning of our monthly meetings at the fire department, we pause for a moment of silence. As we silently stand there, this is a time of reflection for the individual. They can choose to stand silently; they can think about loved ones, they can think about someone special, wherever their heart leads them.

Thanks to the Shelburne Business and Professional Association and the Town of Shelburne for another wonderful Shelburne Day celebration!

The Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (RPC) is the recipient of an approximate $1 million federal grant that supports community development initiatives toward more livable and sustainable communities and builds on existing town and regional planning work.

I was absolutely amazed (and gratified) that at least one other person in Shelburne thinks as I do about the "Fogel fiasco." (John Blanchard's letter to the editor in the Aug. 18 issue of Shelburne News). However, this mess we as taxpayers find ourselves in is nothing new. Nor will it ever change until we, as voters, perhaps, have the guts to do something about it.

In response to John Blanchard's recent letter (Shelburne News' Letter to the Editor entitled "UVM Trustees overcompensate Fogel" which ran in the Aug. 18 issue of the paper), let me first share a portion of UVM Board Chair Robert Cioffi's recent statement:

Joan Lenes (D-Shelburne) owes us an explanation for her vote allowing Dan Fogel's (UVM president) incredible goodbye gift. As a member of the Board of Trustees at UVM, I would have hoped she would have been attuned to the financial situation not only at UVM, but throughout the state.

Your coverage was outstanding of the recent Burlington Ensemble "Summer Serenade" series of two concerts at All Souls Interfaith Gathering on July 29 and 30.