BURLINGTON – Shabir Ayoubi and his wife were approved to resettle in the United States more than a year ago, but navigating bureaucracy stalled the process for months and required expensive visits to U.S. embassies in Pakistan. They eventually arrived in Vermont one snowy evening two months ago.

One of the state’s newest residents, Ayoubi, who now lives in Burlington, was among the people celebrating World Refugee Day Saturday at Leddy Park.

“I came here by chance today,” said Ayoubi, 34. He heard about the event and got a ride from a case worker. He didn’t know it was a party and left his wife behind, he said. They don’t have a vehicle.

They are among the more than 600 Afghans resettled across Vermont after fleeing a country taken over by the Taliban, an extremist group, after what became the longest war in U.S. military history.

The U.S.-led invasion began in 2001 in the aftermath of the 9/11 attack and ended in 2021 after U.S. troops withdrew and the Taliban took control of Kabul, the capital city.

Designated by the United Nations, World Refugee Day is celebrated worldwide on June 20 to honor the strength and resilience of people forced to flee their home countries and to shine a light on their rights and needs.

On a sunny summer afternoon, more than 100 refugees enjoyed food, games and camaraderie with their families, resettlement groups, volunteers and allies in a celebration organized by the local chapter of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, a nonprofit international organization that addresses and fights for the needs and rights of refugees and immigrants. 

Since 1980, USCRI has helped resettle more than 8,500 refugees in Vermont, many of whom were forced to flee their homes because of war, genocide, torture and repressive regimes. These include survivors of the Rwandan massacre, Congolese fleeing war, Afghans persecuted by the Taliban and Ukrainians whose villages were destroyed, according to a Friday press release from USCRI.

Sonali Samarasinghe, field office director of USCRI in Colchester, said the annual picnic aims to celebrate the contributions of new residents in Vermont, many of who showed up Saturday in colorful clothes and traditional attire.

“You enrich us with your culture, your religion, your skills, your food and your commitment to hard work,” she said in a brief speech Saturday. “In this beautiful diversity that we see here today, we are all unified.”

Between games, chatter, plates of heaped food — donated by community partners such as People’s Kitchen, American Flatbread, Grand Buffet, Lake Champlain Chocolate and Hannaford — families enjoyed a picnic in the sun on the shores of Lake Champlain.

Children laughed while rolling off a large ball representing the earth, kicked around soccer balls, spun hula hoops around their bodies, ducked under a large parachute and lined up for fast-melting ice cream on a warm afternoon.

Under a tent, FaReid Munarsyah of The People’s Kitchen served up generous portions of barbecued meats.

“It’s good,” said Aline Kwizera, who came from Burundi and is a multilingual instructor in the Burlington schools. “I love that people can come, talk and share their experiences like this.”

Ellen Skapski, 76, hugged another woman and said she was her star pupil.

Relocated from Afghanistan in 2024, “best student” Hamida Panjshiri was among former members of the Afghan judiciary who were relocated to the U.S. She lives in Brattleboro, is learning to drive through the Afghan Alliance’s driving program and continues to take weekly English lessons.

“I’m good. I’m happy,” she said. “Because people in Vermont are very kind.”

A French and Spanish interpreter and English tutor with USCRI for more than two decades, Skapski said, “I just love seeing my students, their progress and how much they give to the community.”

While some of the refugees were reluctant to speak about the Trump administration’s roll back of refugee aid, travel and rights, some advocates did not hold back.

“Refugees make Vermont great,” said Tracy Dolan, director of the state refugee office in a brief speech. “We need refugees in Vermont. We need immigrants in Vermont. And we are happy to share our home with you. And no matter what is happening outside of Vermont, no matter what is happening in the country or with the government, we can be together and we can focus on the positive. And we will keep fighting. We will keep fighting for you.”

State Treasurer Mike Pieciak said generations of refugees and immigrants have helped build a stronger nation, from the first Pilgrims fleeing religious persecution in England to his own ancestors to the new refugees who call Vermont home.

“As state treasurer, I spend a lot of time thinking about the future of the Vermont economy,” he said. “As I stand here today with you and enjoy the music, the food and the culture, I can tell you that it’s so clear that refugees do so much more than simply grow our economy. You strengthen our communities all across the state.”

“Refugees so often represent the best of what America means at its core,” he said, thanking the community for leaving behind their hardships and suffering and bringing their strength and resilience to build a life, find community, adjust to a new language and culture – and then having “the strength and the grace” to give back to Vermont with their labor, culture and presence.

Though he is happy to finally be here, to have housing and a job, Ayoubi acknowledged it has been a rough few years for his family, between fleeing Afghanistan and managing the paperwork and delays that stalled their relocation. “It was frustrating,” he said.

Before the Taliban takeover, Ayoubi said he worked in quality control and security for organizations that supported U.S. troops. Barely settled in, Ayoubi is eager to get back to work. 

“I am happy to do anything,” he said.

Ayoubi resettled in Burlington in May as part of a partnership between the Vermont Afghan Alliance, USCRI, Central Vermont Refugee Action Network, and No One Left Behind to continue to welcome Afghans fleeing their homes. He has secured a job with a security services company in Burlington, the Alliance confirmed.

In the face of escalating Trump administration cuts to refugee programs and funding, the theme of this year’s celebration – solidarity with refugees – rings hollow for many refugees across the nation and in Vermont. It’s particularly egregious for the Afghans who served the U.S. but now “face significant challenges and unmet promises,” Molly Gray, executive director of the Vermont Afghan Alliance, noted in a Friday press release.

“These Afghan allies risked their lives and the safety of their families to support U.S. missions. In return for their invaluable service, the U.S. Government promised them relocation to the United States and the opportunity to reunite with their families here in Vermont. Unfortunately, almost three years later, many of these promises remain unfulfilled,” the release stated.

The Make-A-Wish All-Star Hockey Classic returns for another year at University of Vermont’s Gutterson Fieldhouse on Saturday, June 28.

The Vermont and New Hampshire boys will square off for the 32nd time, while the girls game reaches is set for its 27th meeting. The showcase features the top graduated high school seniors of Vermont and Hampshire.

The girls contest is slated to start at 3:30 p.m., the boys game at approximately 6. Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for students (ages 7-17). Children 6 and under are free.

The Vermont girls have won the four games vs. New Hampshire and lead the all-time series 13-10-3. The Vermont boys claimed victory last summer and close its deficit vs New Hampshire to 20-10-1 edge.

2024 recap: How Vermont fared vs. New Hampshire in annual Twin State showdowns

The event benefits the Make-A-Wish Vermont and northern New York branch as well as Make-A-Wish New Hampshire. All proceeds go to fulfill special wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. The Hockey Classic has raised more than $360,000 toward those wishes, according to Classic co-chair Cathy Foutz.

Further information is available on the Hockey Classic website, allstarhockeyclassicvtnh.org.

The rosters:

VERMONT GIRLS

BFA-St. Albans: Erin Jackson, Jillian Mathieu, Kate Storms. Burlington/Colchester: Holley MacLellan, Fiona McHugh. Burr and Burton: Zoe Duncan, Mai-Liis Edwards. Champlain Valley: KB Aldrich, Ella Gilbert. Essex: Emma Airoldi. Missisquoi: Rory Schreindorfer, Abigail Wilcox. Rice: Cassidy Skoda, Finley Strong. Spaulding: Ellie Parker, Lanie Thayer. U-32: Grace Lagerstadt.

Coaches: Molly Burke (Stowe), Kristi Lewicki (Burr and Burton), Kristina Bellomo (Rutland).

VERMONT BOYS

BFA-St. Albans: Gavin Clark, Oliver Horton, Phoenix Wells. Brattleboro: Rowan Lonergan, Evan Wright. Burr and Burton: Owen McGunnigle. Essex: Shyam Meyette. Hartford: Cavan Benjamin, Nolan Morlock. North Country: Alex Giroux. Rice: John Fernandez, Brendan Patterson, Tyler Russo. Rutland: Noah Bruttomesso, Ethan Wideawake. South Burlington: Drew Dougherty, Lucas Van Mullen. Spaulding: Carel Paquin. U-32: Maddox Heise, Colton Warren.

Coaches: Ben Roberts, Evan Collins (BFA-St. Albans), J.P. Benoit (CVU).

NEW HAMPSHIRE GIRLS

Bedford: Gwen Gukelberger. Berlin: Emma Guilbeault. Hanover: Nora Bradley, Eleanor Edson, Hannah Gardner, Julia Lawe, Faith Lindsey, Rachel Rockmore. Keene-Fall Mountain: Sephra Parrelli. Kingswood/Prospect Mountain: Jennifer Baldwin. Lebanon/Stevens/Kearsarge: Mackenzie Ray. Merrimack/Hollis/Derryfield: Natalie Duncan. Oyster River/Portsmouth: Emma Sahr. St. Thomas/Winnacunnet/Dover: Annabel Prochilo. Salem: Grace Hoover.

Coaches: Dan McGee, Alexandra Zagaria, Rachel Barr-Daulaire (Lebanon/Stevens/Kearsarge)

NEW HAMPSHIRE BOYS

Bow: Patrik Jurcins, Owen Webber. Concord: Rowan Arndt, Tyler Fennelly. Dover: Kyle Behan. Exeter: West Vaillant. Hanover: Henry Cotter, Ryder Wilson. Keene: Evan Ahnert, Trenton Hill. Oyster River: Colin Harwood, Sawyer Levesque. Pinkerton: Zach Baker, Preston Libby. St. Thomas Aquinas: Garrett Aceto. Salem: Max Condon, Owen Doherty. Spaulding: Ryan Dube. Winnacunnet: Brayden Emery.

Coaches: Chris McIntosh, Derek Delaney, Ron Clace, Kyle Macie (Keene), Peter Harwood (Oyster River).

Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter:@aabrami5.

Contact Judith Altneu at jaltneu@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @Judith_Altneu.

Vermont’s adult loon population is at an all-time high, but scientists have noticed a recent decrease in the number of chicks surviving.

In 2024, Vermont saw a record-breaking 123 nesting pairs, 11 of which landed at first-time nesting sites. Out of the 125 loon chicks that hatched in 2024, 65% survived through the end of August, slightly below the 2004-23 average of 76%, according to the Vermont Center for EcoStudies. 

Eric Hanson, a biologist for the Vermont Loon Conservation Project, said the three main reasons for less chick survival are competition, habitat loss, and predation from eagles and other wildlife.

Flooding in Vermont in recent years has contributed to habitat loss and affected nesting success. Twenty-one nests were flooded in the summers of 2023 and 2024, a stark contrast to the one flooded nest reported during the drier summers from 2020 to 2022, according to the center’s 2024 loon season summary.

Nesting loons make their homes in smaller lakes when larger lakes are taken by other pairs of loons with established breeding grounds there. These sites tend to have more marginal habitat, often lacking protective features like marshes or islands. Nests built there are more exposed to predators, such as eagles and snapping turtles. Adults must also leave small lakes to feed in bigger areas where fish are plentiful, and the additional time spent away from their young can lead to their neglect, according to the season summary.

A higher presence of adult loons also creates territorial conflict, resulting in “turf battles” between loons that could prevent a pair from nesting, Hanson said. Chick casualties can also occur during these encounters.

However, lower nesting success rates are part of a natural process as the loon population begins to level out, he said.

“Loons overall are doing really well, and we don’t need to see success all the time,” Hanson said. 

Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department Biologist Jillian Killborn said this new phase is a balancing act on the landscape. After years of great success in increasing the loon population, slower growth and productivity is to be expected.

“With any wildlife population, there’s natural checks and balances that are built into populations when they start to get too high or exceed carrying capacity on the landscape,” Killborn said. Now, scientists are figuring out how many loons will remain in Vermont long term and where, she said.

Despite the drop in chick survival rates, Vermont loon chicks do better than those in eastern Maine, New Hampshire and the Adirondack region, according to preliminary data from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies.

Since 1983, volunteers and biologists have been gathering on the third Saturday of July for LoonCount Day, a survey of adult and nesting loons in water bodies statewide. On July 19, Hanson said he expects more than 200 participants to visit 175 lakes in Vermont to tally the number of birds. These efforts are important for tracking loon health, nesting success and the identification of emerging threats, he said.

“We’re just trying to hit everything,” he said. “We’ve expanded that out as loons start to land on smaller ponds compared to what they used to do.” 

In tandem with LoonCount Day, the Vermont Loon Conservation Project at the Vermont Center for Ecostudies organizes an annual loon monitoring program, during which volunteers take regular trips to lakes throughout the summer season to post signs in nesting areas and keep tabs on new and known nesting pairs. 

The nesting signs respectfully ask boaters to give the loons a little space since they are highly territorial, especially during breeding season. If humans get within 10 feet of their nest and the birds feel it’s threatened, they’re more likely to abandon it, Hanson said. 

In attempts to curb disruptions along ecologically sensitive shorelines, Vermont passed one of the most protective statewide wake sport regulations in the country in April 2024. However, Hanson said kayakers and people fishing in boats close to the shore create more harm for loons than far-off wake boats. 

“If we can give them that little bit of space, they’re more likely to hunker down and watch you go by,” he said. 

In addition to shoreline disturbances, recreational fishing poses another serious threat to loon survival. After a period of decline, loon deaths due to lead poisoning from ingesting tackle have risen again over the past six years, Hanson said. Ingestion of lead tackle, monofilament fishing line and fishing hooks remains the cause of more than half of loon deaths in Vermont.

Vermont banned the use and sale of small lead sinkers in 2007, but despite the ban’s initial success, loons are still ingesting poisonous tackle, according to Hanson and Killborn. To address the issue, the Vermont Loon Conservation Project partnered with lake associations and the Fish & Wildlife Department last summer to install lead tackle and fishing line collection sites at around 30 public boat access sites, which they plan to add to this year.

Responsible fishing, boating and recreation are vital to loon health and survival, Killborn and Hanson said. As Vermont’s loon population stabilizes, they emphasized that the next phase of conservation will depend on how well humans learn to share the landscape.

Either way, Killborn said loon numbers are increasing at a sustainable rate, and overpopulation is not yet an issue. “I’m not sure if we’ll ever get there, depending on conditions,” she said.