🌱 Lakeview Cemetery Waterlogged + VT Homeless Hotel Program Changes

Happy Saturday, Burlington! Let's get you all caught up on what's happening locally to start today off on an informed note.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 47 Low: 32.

Here are the top three stories in Burlington today:

1. A Burlington cemetery continues to have drainage issues, and family members of loved ones buried there are asking the city to take action. According to city officials, the waterlogging in sections of Lakeview Cemetery is due to the presence of clay soils, which do not absorb water as quickly as other types of soil. Amela Lulic, whose father is buried at Lakeview, said her father's grave plot and others are developing sinkholes; she's reportedly offered to help fundraise to pay for potential fixes. (WCAX)
2. A Vermont program offering hotel rooms to the homeless will continue through the end of 2023 — albeit with some changes come July. While the GA Emergency Housing Program will revert back to its pre-pandemic rules, the Vermont Department for Children and Families will be starting a new transitional housing program that will continue to house eligible individuals in hotels for up to 18 months. The demand for shelter skyrocketed amid the pandemic, including here in Burlington, where the Sears Lane encampment quickly grew until it was formally dismantled in December 2021. (WCAX)
3. A fire broke out on the site of a home being built in South Burlington, resulting in damage to a contractor's truck and one room of the house. Fire crews reported the truck caught fire on Friday morning, potentially from foam insulation inside; the blaze quickly spread to the building. Thankfully, no injuries were reported; however, the fire caused an estimated $50,000 to $80,000 in damages. (WPTZ)

Today in Burlington:

• Physics Phun Day At Echo Leahy Center for Lake Champlain (10:00 AM)
• Dinosaur Discoveries: Ancient Fossils, New Ideas At Echo Leahy Center for Lake Champlain (10:00 AM)
• Animal Demo At Echo Leahy Center for Lake Champlain (11:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Since 2014, Pingala Café in the Chace Mill has served up vegan offerings like Mac and Cheeze and veggie rolls with peanut sauce. Now, owners Lisa Bergström and Trevor Sullivan are opening up a new location in the North End. (Seven Days)
• Add some spice to your household with Basil, Dill, Sage, and other adorable pets available for adoption in Burlington area shelters. (Burlington Patch)
• "Love, Kelly," a group of Burlington High School alumni, shines a light on hip-hop talent that has been overlooked in Vermont. Love, Kelly is welcoming SSG Kobe, North Ave Jax, and local students to perform at Higher Ground in South Burlington on Apr. 19 for a show to remember. (vtdigger.org)

Loving the Burlington Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe
• Get your local business listed in front of readers

Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you soon.

— Danielle Fallon

About me: Danielle Fallon is a writer who loves using her creativity to fuel her passion for communication. She is an employee of content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.