Williston Observer 12/1/2022

Selectboard member faces stalking charge

BY PATRICK CROWLEY VTDigger

Williston Selectboard member Gordon St. Hilaire is facing charges of stalking and unlawful mis chief, according to court docu ments.

St. Hilaire, 49, is alleged to have vandalized his ex-girl friend’s vehicle numerous times at her workplace. Williston police cited St. Hilaire, who was sched uled to be arraigned this Thurs day, according to Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George.

Additionally, Sgt. Rick Gree nough of the Williston Police Department stated in an affida vit that St. Hilaire sent him a

text message asking him to look up the license plate of a man St. Hilaire believed was seeing his ex-girlfriend. Greenough, who knew St. Hilaire personally as

Dog rescue seeks salvation

Neighbor concerns prompt zoning violation

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

A group of Lamplite Lane res idents unleashed years of pent-up frustration with a neighborhood dog rescue in November, lead ing to a denial of the organiza tion’s town permit application and foisting it into an uncertain future.

Vermont English Bulldog Res cue has operated out of a home near the corner of Lamplite Lane and Pine Lane since 2010. The organization, which has evolved from its namesake single-breed focus to rehome multiple breeds of dogs, was originally found ed in 1998. It has operated over the years at the various homes of founder Dawna Pederzani — in

Graniteville, Hinesburg and Wil liston.

Pederzani uses a garage with four large dog kennels and 10 small dog crates in addition to backyard space to facilitate the adoption of abandoned dogs that she receives by the van-load (mostly from Texas) every month. Most dogs spend less than 48 hours at the house, instead being united with prescreened adopting families with set appointments to meet their dogs.

“It is not, and never has been, my goal to have dogs remain here,” Pederzani said Tuesday, about two weeks after the Willis ton Development Review Board denied her permit to continue the rescue operation in the neighbor hood.

The board received about 70 written comments on the appli cation, and about 20 people at

tended a Nov. 8 hearing. Support for the continued operation of the rescue came from its crew of volunteers as well as people who have adopted dogs. Opposition came from Lamplite Lane neigh bors and some non-residents of Williston. The board denied the permit after closed-door deliber ations on Nov. 22.

Pederzani said, since expand ing the rescue beyond just En glish bulldogs in 2015, the non profit organization has increased its annual adoption numbers from about 250 to 400 dogs. Neighbors have noticed the increase.

“I love the work they are do ing. I love dogs. I’m a dog owner, and it’s great to see these dogs go ing to good homes” said neighbor Elvis Beric. “But it’s just become detrimental to this neighborhood … It is no longer a small dog res

well as through his role on the se lectboard, denied the request and notified his supervisor, according to the affidavit.

St. Hilaire was first elected to the selectboard in 2019. His current term expires in 2024. He could not be reached for com ment.

Selectboard chair Terry Ma caig said Town Manager Erik Wells informed him of the cita tion. Macaig said he sees no rea

son why St. Hilaire cannot con tinue to serve on the selectboard, noting there is no provision in the town charter or state law re quiring that members be removed based on criminal charges.

“He’s innocent until proven guilty,” Macaig said. “So at this point, I have to presume that he is innocent and there’d be no reason for him not to be able to serve.”

Asked about the license plate

A 1-year-old dachshund mix awaits adoption in a kennel in the garage of a home on Lamplite Lane that serves as the headquarters of Vermont English Bulldog Rescue.

OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR

Gordon St. Hilaire

“He’s innocent until proven guilty.”

Terry Macaig Selectboard chair

Dogs

cue operation out of a garage. It spills out into the backyard, the front yard and the streets of the neighborhood.”

Mike Kanfer, who lives across the street from the rescue and has adopted one of its dogs, said: “The volume has increased. There are more dogs and more traffic.”

Pederzani felt blindsided by her neighbors’ comments. No one has approached her directly about their concerns, she said.

The board cited traffic and onstreet parking from daily volun teer shifts, as well as noise from barking dogs, as reasons for its permit denial. Pederzani said she is unlikely to appeal the ruling.

“It was a huge disappoint ment. I thought they would come back and give us conditions, and we would work with them,” she said. “I’m willing to negotiate.”

According to Zoning Admin

istrator Matt Boulanger, Pederza ni has the opportunity to address traffic and noise concerns and submit a new permit application.

“The DRB’s denial of the ap plication does not preclude the applicant from proposing a modi fied or scaled-back operation that can comply with Williston’s zon ing at a future date,” Boulanger wrote in an email to interested parties Tuesday.

Boulanger sent a zoning vi olation notice to Pederzani in September, prompting her to ap ply for the permit. If a modified permit is not approved, “the re maining option for resolution of the violation is that the use must cease,” Boulanger wrote.

Pederzani, 70, who in addition to rescuing dogs is also a foster parent for the Howard Center and State of Vermont, has already im plemented changes at the rescue. After receiving the violation no tice, she stopped taking dog de liveries at the home, and instead has secured space at the Masonic Lodge in Taft Corners to process incoming dogs. That building has recently changed hands, however, and is due to be demolished for new development in the coming years.

“We are going to start looking at commercial spaces in Willis ton and see if we can afford it,” Pederzani said. “We are hoping there is a solution. I don’t know if there is.”

Time to take a stab at ice-out on Iroquois

The Lake Iroquois Association is now accepting entries in its third annual Ice-Out Challenge. Guesses

on when the ice will melt on the lake will be taken through March 1.

The cost to enter is $1 per guess, with discounts for multiple tickets.

Entrants guess the date and time that a concrete block mount ed on a pallet will break through the ice in the spring.

A line attached to the pallet and cinder block loops around a power cord that disconnects and stops a clock mounted on shore when the entire assembly sinks. Historic ice out dates going back to 1987 are listed at www.lakeiroquois.org/ enjoying/ice-out-dates. Ice out en tries are accepted at www.lakeiro quois.org/news/ice-out-challenge.

The Lake Iroquois Association — a group of homeowners along the lake — uses Ice Out Challenge proceeds to improve water quality in Lake Iroquois through its sum mer lake greeter program and boat wash station.

The third annual Lake Iroquois Ice-Out Challenge is open for entries at www.lakeiroquois.org.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

“It is no longer a small dog rescue operation out of a garage. It spills out into the backyard, the front yard and the streets of the neighborhood.”

Elvis Beric Lamplite Lane resident

St. Hilaire

to make such a request, the docu ment stated.

request, Macaig said it was his understanding that St. Hilaire “asked a friend to do that, not the Williston Police Department it self.”

George said her office is “still looking into whether that conduct violated any criminal statutes.”

According to an affidavit writ ten by Sgt. Eric Shepard of the Williston Police Department, the woman allegedly targeted by St. Hilaire found a flat tire on her ve hicle outside her workplace on six occasions beginning in October.

The woman brought her ve hicle to a repair shop to fix the issue multiple times, according to the affidavit. She ultimately approached a manager to seek video of the parking lot, but the manager said police would have

Police said the woman even tually filed a police report when she reportedly began to fear for her safety.

On Nov. 16, police waited outside the woman’s workplace and observed St. Hilaire walking toward a parking lot wearing a motorcycle helmet with the visor down, though he had apparently arrived in a truck. He was carry ing three cartons of eggs, accord ing to the affidavit. When an offi cer confronted him, he allegedly stated that he had previously been in a relationship with the woman and was there to “do some not good things.”

St. Hilaire later told police that he had let the air out of the woman’s tires in an apparent ef fort to get the woman to reach out to him for assistance, according to the affidavit.

Troy trucks

Turner Toys was host to Troy Austin’s tricked out Toy Drive Truck and SD Ireland’s lighted truck on Tuesday evening. The drive collects 2000+ toys annually for Toys for Kids. OBSERVER PHOTOS BY RICK COTE

Glaser property hearing continued to Dec. 6

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

Should the town loosen its annual cap on residential development in exchange for roughly 50 acres of public open space on Mountain View Road?

That’s the bargain Jack and Caitlin Glaser are offering on their 100-acre par cel at the corner of Mountain View and Old Stage roads. The Williston Planning Commission convened a community meeting on the subject in mid-November and extended the meeting to Dec. 6, when it will continue to take public comment on the Glaser’s “specific plan” applica tion for the parcel.

Their plan calls for 100 new homes on

two new cul-de-sac streets off Old Stage Road, preserving the 40-plus acres they have allowed their neighbor, the Wind swept Farm, to use for its equestrian business and preserving 11 acres fronting Mountain View Road for views and pub lic use. Under “specific plan” rules, the planning commission is tasked with de termining whether the preserved acreage amounts to a “substantial benefit” to the public, which would allow the application to proceed. The commission may also elect to set up a special advisory commit tee to help design the development.

The Dec. 6 meeting is set for 7 p.m. in the community room of the Williston Police station next to Town Hall.

A traditional application to build

homes on the parcel would be stunted by the town’s unique growth management rules, which limit new home permits to

20 per year in the area that encompasses the parcel (the area served by town sew ers but outside the Taft Corners growth center). Much of the building allowances for the next decade have already been al located to other developments on Moun tain View Road.

“Every residential subdivision that’s looking to move forward and build units competes in the growth management process for (a) limited number of slots,” explained Planning and Zoning Director Matt Boulanger. “We’re getting to the point in this part of town where there is not a lot of room left. A path forward for the Glasers, who would like to develop, may not exist under this system.”

“There seems to be more comments about slowing down growth with the mechanisms we have in place than there is about preserving the viewshed.”

Chapin Kaynor Planning commission

The 100-acre Glaser property is located at the southwest corner of Mountain View and Old Stage roads, indicated by the red marker. The Glasers are proposing a 100-home subdivision.

Glaser

on the proposal through an online survey on the town website. Commission mem ber Chapin Kaynor noted that the major ity of commenters are against speeding up the pace of new home construction.

“There seems to be more comments about slowing down growth with the mechanisms we have in place than there is about preserving the viewshed,” he said.

GUEST COLUMN

Why Vermont should legalize ‘magic’ mushrooms

BY MELINDA MOULTON

When I was 12 years old, I lost my mother suddenly and my de fault was to stop eating. They say that one of the things that a child has total decision-making power over is eating. This provides them with a sense of “control.”

Certainly, I was trying to con trol my circumstances, which were out in left field during that time. For eight years, I weighed a mere 90 pounds and refused to eat ex cept for low-calorie items: orang es, apples, pineapples and pears — I called myself a “fruitarian” to avoid judgment. I never ate lunch with my friends at school and I was considered a bit of a weirdo.

Because of a lack of food, I de veloped amenorrhea, which meant that I no longer had my period. My father frantically tried to find specialists to help me with what he considered a “rebellious and stubborn phase,” but at the time — during the early 1960s — anorex ia was not a known mental health issue. With no diagnosis, they re

ported to him that I would probably never have children.

Fast forward to my college years and being introduced to a psi locybin experience. That night, un der the influence of these naturally grown mushrooms, I had a period. The journey to heal my mind and body and return to a more normal life began in earnest. I was reborn with a sense of purpose and a lust for living. Two years later, I was pregnant with my first child, Eli.

Why am I sharing all of this? Because I have firsthand knowl edge that psilocybin mushrooms are a medical and mental health remedy.

Did you know that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently assigned psilocybin mush rooms with a breakthrough therapy designation? According to COM PASS Pathways (a mental health care company that is dedicated to supporting wide patient exposure, providing evidence-based inno vation in mental health), “early studies have shown that psilocybin therapy can provide an immediate

and sustained reduction in depres sion following a single treatment — the effect has been described as psilocybin shaking the brain up like a snow globe, or rebooting the brain, providing new connections and deactivating connections that might have caused depression.”

Reported experiences have in cluded personal feelings of peace fulness, discovery of self, un conditional love, heightened joy, openness and a newfound ability to relate to the surrounding world.

The earliest known written record about psilocybin is in the Florentine Codex compiled be tween 1529 and 1579. Since then, there has been much written about “magic” mushrooms. Here are a few of the findings: Emotions and brain function are positively al tered up to one month after a sin gle dose of psilocybin. Anxiety and depression are reduced for as long as six months. Long-lasting

beneficial effects help people with life-threatening illness. Psycholog ical flexibility is increased, along with feelings of personal meaning fulness, resulting in an improved mental outlook.

I have been reading scientific research papers that clearly show that psilocybin mushrooms are effective in treating a plethora of mental and physical conditions in a safe way without lingering side effects. It is just a matter of time before we see mushroom treat ment part of an accepted regimen for those who suffer from cancer, impending death, depression, eat ing disorders, addiction, PTSD, migraines, anxiety, bipolar disor der, suicide, schizophrenia, phan tom-limb pain and many other mental and physical conditions.

And yet, psilocybin is illegal under federal law and is classified as a schedule 1 controlled drug, which means jail time. Full legal

ization of magic mushrooms is available only in the state of Ore gon and in Washington, D.C.

Here in Vermont, they are still illegal.

That said, the times they are a-changing, and our Vermont Leg islature is beginning to take notice. Legislator Brian Cina stated, “In some cultures, peyote is used to cure mental and physical illness, and the same can be said for psilo cybin mushrooms.” Brian believes that plants are a gift from nature, and they are part of the web of life that humans are connected to.

Today, hundreds of clinical studies are confirming the poten tial of psilocybin-assisted therapy as “a promising adjunct to psy chotherapy.” Gary Fisher, inven tor of the modern mountain bike, believes that “with psychedelics, if you’re fortunate and you have

so that we can verify the letter’s author.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

A new community opportunity

I am writing in celebration, ex citement and with an invitation to all to join me in promoting our sense of community. According to Google, the authoritative guide to oh-so-ma ny things, community is defined as “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common atti tudes, interests and goals.”

Although I’m a relative newcom er to this community, I have seen this sense of community play out in times of need, such as supporting our local food shelf, and in times of celebration, such as the holiday tree lighting and the Fourth of July cele brations. I can’t count the number of conversations I’ve had with people about community events where we expressed pride and gratitude for such a community.

We now have another opportuni ty, and I hope you will join me. Our community has been gifted the Wil liston Community Theatre, which is filled with talented, energetic, love ly, community-loving individuals.

On Dec. 2, we have the oppor tunity to celebrate the winter sea

son with our Williston Community Theatre as it presents The First An nual Winter Pageant. We will enjoy a variety of musical talent, including the Champlain Consort, a group of six musicians led by former Ver mont Symphony Orchestra member Chapin Kaynor; holiday song and dance numbers choreographed by Kyla Paul and featuring vocal solo ists Sean Reeks and Sarah Connor; an enchanting performance by Bal let Vermont; magic; and more.

I am so confidant in the talent of the Williston Community Theatre and so thoroughly enjoyed the sum mer performance (multiple times) that I look forward to experiencing the Winter Pageant. I hope you will join me and many of your neighbors as we gather together to celebrate the beginning of the winter and the holiday season. Tickets are available at: https://www.willistoncommuni tytheatre.com.

I look forward to seeing you all there and eagerly sharing this super fun experience and beginning to look forward to next year’s perfor mance.

Christmas program and potluck planned

The Immaculate Heart of Mary Church at 7415 Williston Rd. invites community members to join in for a nativity program and potluck dinner starting at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10. The pro gram will include scripture, music and a display of Christmas art work through the centuries and around the world, led by father Fidelis Agughara.

The potluck will begin at 6:30 p.m. All ages are welcome. Con tact Joann Frymire at jafrymire@comcast.net for more informa tion.

Moulton

a breakthrough, you understand what is truly of value in life. Mate rial, power, dominance and territo ry have no value. People wouldn’t fight wars, and the whole system we have currently would fall apart. People would become peaceful, loving citizens, not robots march ing around in the dark with all their lights off.”

I will be grateful for that day when humans can freely use psilo cybin to understand and embrace true consciousness and expand their psyche toward enlightenment, where love transcends all else.

Melinda Moulton is the former longtime chief executive officer of Main Street Landing in Burlington. She is an environmentalist and social activist living in Huntington.

Water bills due by year’s end

The Town of Williston water/sewer/stormwater bills have been mailed and are due to the town offices by Dec. 31. Payments can be mailed, dropped off in-person, put in the drop box behind the clerk’s office or paid on-line at: www.town.williston.vt.us.

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Home-sharing grows amid runaway housing costs

BY JULIET SCHULMAN-HALL VTDigger

Hidden among the trees of For est Road in St. George, two strang ers, 40 years apart in age, began sharing a home.

Carol Blakely, a retired teacher in her 70s and mother of four, once had a house full of people. But her children grew up and moved out, and her husband died, leaving only her 11-year-old French-Canadian cat named Poppy.

That was until last August, when Katie Bailey, 32, moved in. Blakely and Bailey became housemates through an increasing

ly popular program run by the non profit HomeShare Vermont, which screens and pairs Vermonters who have stable housing but need as sistance — financial or otherwise — (also known as “hosts”) with “guests” who are searching for af fordable housing.

As housing prices skyrocket and living options remain scarce, HomeShare Vermont can’t find enough hosts to meet the demand of guest applications.

“We typically have three to four times as many people looking for housing as we have people willing to share their homes,” said Kirby Dunn, the organization’s executive

director.

HomeShare Vermont current ly serves Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange and Washington counties. The organization matches hosts and guests based on the lifestyle of the applicants, personal preferenc es and needs.

In an attempt to incentivize Burlington homeowners to be come hosts, the Burlington City Council last month unanimously approved a yearlong pilot program. The program allocates $1,000 to 30 hosts over the course of 12 months.

HomeShare Vermont is seek ing $30,000 from the Burlington Housing Trust Fund to pay for the program. The trust is expected to decide on the request by early De cember.

Dunn said she’s recently no ticed an increase in the number of younger individuals applying to become hosts.

At the same time, however, she said HomeShare is competing with the short-term rental market, which has the potential to offer more lu crative returns to those opening up their houses.

Blakely said she decided to ap ply to host not because she needed help or extra cash but because she thought it was “silly” to have her house vacant when so many people need affordable housing.

“I mean, if Katie were my daughter, I wouldn’t want her go ing and living with somebody on Craigslist,” Blakely said.

Carol Blakely, left, hosts Katie Bailey, a UVM lecturer, at Blakely’s home in St. George, seen here on Oct. 25.

PHOTO BY RILEY ROBINSON/VTDIGGER

Bailey struggled to line up housing when moving from Chica go for a nine-month lecturer posi tion at the University of Vermont. The most affordable option that she could find online for a studio apartment that “didn’t look like it would have bedbugs” would cost more than half her income after taxes, she said.

She learned about HomeShare Vermont through Teresa Mares, then-interim chair of UVM’s an thropology department.

Mares said she has seen grad uate students and faculty strug gling to secure housing, especially if they have a limited time period to do so. Several years ago, before she was married and had children, Mares looked into the home share program for herself because of how expensive it is to live in Chittenden County.

HomeShare Vermont allows hosts to charge up to $650 in monthly rent in Chittenden County and $550 elsewhere in the state.

In practice, however, many hosts charge far less. The average

rent, which has increased 18 per cent since 2018, was $340 in fiscal year 2022, according to the organi zation.

In contrast, the median monthly rent in Vermont in 2021 was $1,115, according to Census data.

There’s no cost to apply to HomeShare Vermont. However, if a pair is successfully matched, both parties are charged a one-time fee between $60 and $500 depending on income.

On paper, Blakely and Bailey’s HomeShare agreement is a pure ly financial exchange, with Bailey paying the maximum rent of $650. Blakely lives on the first floor while Bailey occupies the second, allow ing both to have their own space without feeling like they have to socialize constantly, something the two brought up to each other when they first matched and met up.

Nevertheless, Bailey said she takes care of Poppy, sometimes with the help of a neighbor, when Blakely leaves to visit her children.

In the few months Blakely and Bailey have shared a home, they have visited an orchard together and shared meals. Blakely has even introduced Bailey to the world of Vermont creemees.

“It’s great to have a presence in the house,” said Blakely, who has lived alone for the past 15 years. “There’s no expectations, but I know if something came up or whatever, or I was, I don’t know, sick for some reason, or broke my foot … there’s somebody around.”

In two-thirds of HomeShare Vermont arrangements, the guest provides some amount of assis tance to the host — which could in clude grocery shopping or bringing the host’s pet to the veterinarian, for example.

These pairings often involve ag ing hosts who need help with daily tasks. Vermont has the second high est median age — about 43 years — in the nation, according to Census data, and home health care staffing shortages continue to be a problem.

Although HomeShare Vermont receives a lot of calls from people in need of a nursing home or 24/7 care, Dunn said the organization’s program isn’t intended to meet those kinds of intensive needs.

In Stowe, 63-year-old Home Share guest Gretchen Mills pays no rent in exchange for providing com panionship and cooking meals for 89-year-old Hesterly Black.

The pair have lived together

since September and plan to con tinue doing so throughout Black’s life, depending on her health.

Mills, who moved to Vermont earlier this year from Northern California, said she needed to min imize her housing costs to be able to launch a leadership development agency.

Black, meanwhile, had been thinking about applying to Home Share “for quite a long time,” after one of her children brought her a brochure for the program several years ago.

“I’ve been living alone for quite a long time and at my age I was concerned if something actually happened to me, nobody would know about it for quite a while,” Black said.

HomeShare’s process of back ground checks and interviews gave her the assurance she needed that she wasn’t letting a total stranger into her house.

So far, she and Mills have been living together seamlessly, with Mills making most meals, includ ing her favorite dish of pork with a chutney sauce.

Although there are some geo graphical divides, including Black raising an eyebrow to Mills’ morn

ing avocado toast — which Black concluded was a California inven tion — the two have enjoyed cook ing and eating meals.

“Often we make it together, and we always eat together. So it’s just lovely to have that kind of cadence to a day,” Mills said.

In three months of living togeth er, they have introduced each other to their families, taken a day trip to Burlington and made outings to a craft fair and Smuggler’s Notch.

Black’s three-bedroom home is filled with animals, including an African grey parrot, two dogs, a Gloster canary named Donald for the tuft of hair on his head and a beta fish named Liberace due to his flowing fins.

“I have animals — I’ve always had animals — so Gretchen has had to deal with it,” Black said with a mischievous smile.

Mills doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, she said the moment that she realized it was a perfect fit was when she was sitting in Black’s liv ing room with the dogs sprawled out across her lap, listening to Black and her daughter name the species of birds flying to the feeders.

Living with Black, she said, has “felt like home.”

We Can Take It!

From an armoire to a zucchini, check our A-Z list and learn how to reuse, recycle, or dispose of items and materials you no longer want.

Now serving you with eight Drop-Off locations in Chittenden County.

Visit cswd.net for locations and materials accepted.

How (and why) to manage forests for bats

BY ETHAN TAPPER Special to the Observer

Scientists from the University of Il linois recently studied the effects of re moving bats from a forest, finding that a forest without bats had three times as many insects and five times as much de foliation as a forest with bats.

The researchers postulated that this increased defoliation would increase for est vulnerability, making trees more sus ceptible to other stressors at a time when forests are already stressed from climate change, invasive species, deforestation, forest fragmentation and more. This re search made me consider the many piec es and parts that make forests work, and, more specifically, the role that bats play in forests.

There are over 1,400 species of bats, accounting for about 20 percent of the mammalian species on Earth. Besides be ing diverse, bats are extremely numerous: About 25 percent of all the mammals on Earth are bats. Vermont’s bat species can live 20-30 years or more (the little brown bat has been documented living as long as 34 years). Most spe cies have only one pup (young) per year, making their populations especially vul nerable to decline. The United States is home to 50 species of bats, nine of which live in Vermont. Five of Vermont’s bat species are state and/or federally threat ened or endangered.

hibernacula — caves and abandoned mines — for the winter, while the oth er three migrate to southern climes. All nine species spend much of the summer in our forests, foraging, mating and rais ing their young. Besides protecting hi bernacula and water sources, managing forests for bats largely consists of en couraging two types of habitat: roosting habitat (where bats sleep during the day and raise their young) and foraging hab itat.

In the forest, bats roost under shag gy tree bark, in crevices and cavities in trees, in the foliage of large trees and on sunny cliffs and talus slopes. Active roost trees can be absolutely full of bats: some harbor hundreds of females with their flightless young. You can improve roosting habitat by leaving or creating dead-standing trees (“snags”) in a vari ety of sizes and at dif ferent stages of decay.

About 25 percent of all the mammals on Earth are bats.

If snags aren’t natu rally abundant in your forest, you can create some by “girdling” a few unhealthy trees per acre. Additional ly, retain legacy trees – large and old trees that are allowed to decline and die naturally – and all shag bark hickory, which are a particularly important roosting species for the feder ally-endangered Indiana bat. If you are planning on cutting any potential roost trees, avoid doing so from April through October, when bats are active in the for est.

All of Vermont’s bats are insectivores, eating about half their body-weight — as many as 1,000 insects — per hour. Though there are many predators of in sects, bats are the primary predator of nocturnal insects, including many moth and beetle species. In forests, insect defo liation is normal and natural, but insects exist in a dynamic balance with ecosys tems and with their predators. Too many insects and too much defoliation — such as could be caused by the loss of bats — can create a major imbalance in our for ests, with ecosystem-wide implications.

Bat populations in Vermont have been declining for a variety of reasons, but most dramatically from “White-nose Syndrome,” a disease caused by the fun gus Pseudogymnoascus destructans. White-nose Syndrome, first discovered in Albany, N.Y., in 2007, has killed mil lions of bats.

Of Vermont’s nine bat species, six (five of which are threatened or endan gered), congregate in large numbers in

In general, great foraging habitat for bats consists of diverse, complex and multi-generational forests. You can en courage habitat like this by cutting small groups of unhealthy trees, which will both create canopy gaps (an important foraging feature for both bats and insec tivorous birds) and encourage the devel opment of new generations of trees. Be tween canopy gaps, you can improve bat habitat by thinning the forest — cutting unhealthy trees that are in competition with healthier trees. As you manage your forest, make sure to leave plenty of lega cy trees, snags and cavity trees.

While it’s easy to forget about them, bats are an important piece of the com plex community that is a forested eco system. Managing for bats is another way to help safeguard the health and the future of our forests.

Ethan Tapper is the Chittenden County Forester for the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.

The United States is home to 50 species of bats, nine of which live in Vermont.

COURTESY PHOTO BY ALYSSA BENNETT

Beating the rain, Killington World Cup reigns

BY KEVIN O’CONNOR VTDigger

Vermont-schooled Olympic gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin nabbed an NBC microphone over the weekend to give a shout-out to a record-setting World Cup ski-racing crowd.

“You can hear a roar, you can feel this rumbling,” she said amid 21,000 spectators at Killington ski area. “Here they always bring the energy.”

The international circuit’s lone U.S. stop for women also came with a nail-biting story of wild weather and, as a result, disap pointment for Shiffrin, who lost her bid to win a sixth consecutive local slalom title.

Giant banners on packed Kil lington grandstands promised “More winter” and “More snow.” Even so, a Sunday morning rise in temperature and afternoon rain affirmed the last words of the re sort’s three-pronged plug: “More adventure.”

Shiffrin was the fastest in the first round of the Cup-capping sla lom. But as she waited to be the last skier in the second run, the course softened enough to slow her down by 0.59 of a second and land her in fifth place.

“I fought,” she told a live tele vision audience of 2 million view ers in 60 countries. “Some spots I got a little bit off my timing, but I was pushing.”

Despite it all, Killington snowgunned and groomed enough trail to successfully host its sixth World Cup — all while opening

a towering new three-story K-1 lodge at the finish line.

Killington is the biggest ski area in eastern North America, but it has faced many similarly sized challenges since first wel coming the event in 2016.

Daily attendance snowballed from an inaugural-year 16,000 to a high of 19,500 in 2019 — near ly 14 times the slope-side town’s population of 1,407. Then the Covid-19 pandemic canceled the 2020 race and compelled Killing ton to limit 2021 daily ticket sales to 10,000.

The resort lifted attendance restrictions this year, only to see Mother Nature threaten to keep everyone home.

Warm weather canceled seven of the international circuit’s first eight European races earlier this fall, spurring the Washington Post to report, “In this World Cup ski season, climate change is win ning.”

Killington feared it might join the list when temperatures spiked to 72 degrees on Nov. 12. Hit with a freeze the next day, the resort powered 120 snow guns around the clock, allowing the Interna tional Ski and Snowboard Feder ation to green-light the event just 10 days before its scheduled start.

“Every year seems to be a challenge,” Killington President Mike Solimano said. “Weather is always the biggest in this busi ness, but there’s always a lot of ups and downs for different reasons.”

Shiffrin relates. The 2013 grad uate of the Northeast Kingdom’s Burke Mountain Academy won

last year’s Killington slalom, only to be hit by Covid-19 and a wipe out of a 2022 Olympics. She then came back this fall with a double victory in the first two races of the 2022-23 World Cup season.

The 27-year-old finished 13th in Saturday’s giant slalom, ahead of former University of Vermont skier Paula Moltzan in 18th and 2015 Burke Moun tain Academy graduate Nina O’Brien in 23rd.

“I can make much better turns

than that,” Shiffrin told Vermont writer Peggy Shinn, who covered the event for Ski magazine. “But it’s also like we haven’t had a lot of practice doing it the last couple of weeks.”

Shiffrin had higher hopes for Sunday’s slalom. She was the fast est in the morning’s first run.

“I don’t care if I ski out today. I don’t care if I don’t finish,” she told NBC after. “I have to push my hardest.”

But the melting course fought

back in the afternoon’s second round. Finishing off the podium, Shiffrin nonetheless hugged the two skiers who tied for the top spot, Wendy Holdener of Switzer land and Anna Swenn-Larsson of Sweden.

“It’s just such a pleasure to race in front of this crowd,” Shif frin said. “They deserve to see all of us put our best skiing on the line. Every race is a different sto ry, so you just have to keep driv ing forward.”

Stay Safe This Holiday Season and Throughout the Winter Smell

Know How to Detect a Gas Leak

Natural gas is normally odorless. A distinctive, pungent odor, similar to rotten eggs, is added so that you will recognize it quickly.

See

Hear

You may see a white cloud, mist, fog, bubbles in standing water, or blowing dust. You may also see vegetation that appears to be dead or dying for no apparent reason.

You may hear an unusual noise like a roaring, hissing, or whistling.

If You Suspect a Leak:

Protect Meters and Vents from Ice and Snow

Winter sports on the way

Players work on their stick-handling and shooting during Monday afternoon’s first day of practice at the CVU-MMU girls 2022-23 hockey try-outs (above and below right). As in past years, Champlain Valley and Mount Mansfield form a combined “Cougarhawks” girls team lead by Scott Bushweller, left.

OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY

The boys of the CVU boys 2022-23 basketball team, above, get in some warm-up exercises before working on their shooting and defense, left, during Monday evening’s first practice.

The Williston Recreation and Parks Department is lo cated at the Annex Building at 7878 Williston Rd. For on line program registration, visit www.willistonrec.org. For de partment information, email recreation@willistonvt.org or call 876-1160.

HOLIDAY DECORATING CONTEST

Show your holiday spirit and join this friendly competi tion while infusing some cheer around the community. Whether you do it to win a fun prize, for the bragging rights or you just

enjoy sharing your festive dec orations, the rec department is looking for participants. Judging will be the week of Dec. 17-22. Register your home or business prior to Dec. 11. Prizes from the Williston Observer, Healthy Liv ing Market, Adams Farm Market, Vermont Meat & Seafood, Wil liston Coffee Shop and Shaw’s will be awarded.

NEW ONLINE PROGRAMS

There is a series of new pro grams now on the recreation de partment website under “Home Programs to Enjoy.” Programs include national park tours, Ver mont State Parks videos, Green Mountain Club videos, CSWD videos and fun things to do vid eos. Under each of these catego ries you will find links to videos that you can enjoy from the com fort of your home.

BASKETBALL REFEREES WANTED

The rec department is looking for basketball referees in January and February for Youth Rec Bas ketball programs. Referees are needed for grades 1-8. If interested, please contact the rec department

at recreation@willistonvt.org.

YOUTH PROGRAMS

KINDERREC BASKETBALL

This is a parent/child program designed to teach the funda mentals of the game. Each week youngsters will be introduced to a new skill and fun activities that will enhance their learning. This program meets on Saturdays in January and February.

GRADE 1-2 BASKETBALL

This program provides the op portunity for youngsters to learn the game, improve their skills and enjoy playing. This program meets on Saturdays in January and February. The hour session will consist of a practice and scrimmage time. Parent volun teers are needed to coach teams. Sign up to coach when register ing your child.

LEARN TO SKI/RIDE

Registration is now open for the Learn to Ski/Ride Program. Be sure to register before the ear ly bird discount deadine (Dec. 18) to save. There will be two fitting dates for equipment in late November and early December. You must register your family for a fitting time.

CHESS WIZARDS

Ages 6-12. Join these pro

grams for tons of challenging chess lessons, exciting games and cool prizes. You’ll improve your chess skills, meet new friends and work out your most powerful muscle — your brain. Instructors: Chess Wizards staff. December 27-29 or Feb. 27-March 3.

ADULT PROGRAMS

DOG TRAINING PROGRAMS

The Basic and Therapy Dog training programs for January have had a date change. New dates are Jan. 9-Feb. 20. There are still spots in each.

YOGA FLOW

Flow classes are designed to cultivate heat by moving through grounded and standing postures while focusing on the power of breath awareness. Everyone is welcome in this class. Some yoga experience encouraged. Instruc tor: Claire Pascal, Sangha Studio

SANGHA STUDIO YOGA

PASS

The five-class pass allows you to donate to the studio and re ceive five classes for $50 or $10 per class. At Sangha Studio, one of the core values is accessibility. This includes financial accessi bility. We want everyone to prac tice yoga no matter what. Visit the Recreation website for link to purchase the pass.

How to buy over-the-counter hearing aids

Over-the-counter hearing aids are specifically designed for adults (18 and older) who have mild to moderate hearing loss. You don’t need a hearing exam or prescription to buy them, and they are designed so you can fit and tune them yourself.

(www.mimi.health) or Sonic Cloud (www.soniccloud.com).

If you find that your hearing loss is significant, you’ll need to work with an audiologist or hear ing instrument specialist to find a hearing aid that works for you.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

battery the device uses. Some of the older versions of hearing aids have replaceable batteries, but many of the newer ones have rechargeable batteries that come in a charging case, where you charge them up every night.

cluding product reviews, see the National Council on Aging’s over-the-counter hearing aids buyer’s guide at www.NCOA. org/adviser/hearing-aids/overthe-counter-hearing-aids.

By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior, I’m interested in getting some of the new over-thecounter hearing aids that just became available a few months ago. Can you offer any tips to help me with this?

Straining to Hear Dear Straining,

The new FDA approved overthe-counter hearing aids that started rolling out this fall are a real game-changer for the rough ly 48 million Americans with hearing loss. Adults with im paired hearing can now walk in and buy hearing aids at a phar macy, big box retailer, consumer electronics store or online, with out a prescription and without consulting an audiologist.

The U.S. Food and Drug Ad ministration approved this new class of hearing aids to lower prices and improve their avail ability.

About a third of people ages 65 to 74 and half of those over age 75 have hearing loss severe enough to affect their daily life. Yet about 80 percent of people who would benefit from hearing aids don’t wear them, accord ing to the National Institutes of Health, primarily because of the hefty price tag.

Traditional hearing aids or dered through an audiologist cost anywhere from $1,000 to $7,000 a pair and are not covered by most private insurers and traditional Medicare. The new over-the-counter hearing aids range from $200 up to $3,000.

WHO SHOULD GET THEM?

Do you have mild to moder ate hearing loss? The specific signs are having trouble hearing or understanding conversations, especially in noisier environ ments, over the phone or if you can’t see who’s talking. Or, if you need a higher volume of TV, radio or music than other people, or have to ask others to speak more slowly, louder or repeat what they said.

If, however, your hearing problem is more severe than that — for example, if you also have trouble hearing loud sounds such as power tools or motor vehicles, or if you struggle to hear conver sations in quiet settings — then your hearing loss is considered more significant than over-thecounter aids are intended to ad dress.

To help you get a basic sense of your hearing problem, you can take an app-based test like Mimi

To help you choose a good over-the-counter hearing aid that meets your needs and prefer ences, here are some important points to keep in mind.

Return policy: It can take weeks for your brain to adjust to hearing louder sounds through a hearing aid, so be sure to choose a brand that offers at least a 30day free trial period, or money back return policy. The FDA re quires manufactures to print their return policy on the package.

Set up: Many over-thecounter hearing aids require a smartphone or computer to ad just and operate the devices to your specific needs, while others have the controls on the device. This will also be labeled on the box. Choose one that fits your preference and comfort level.

Battery: The package also should tell you what kind of

Customer support: Some companies offer unlimited cus tomer support to help you adjust or fine-tune your hearing aids, while others might limit support or charge extra. Be sure you check.

For more information, in

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

A Taste of Winter

As the days grow colder and the holiday season approaches, many people like to settle in with a mug of hot chocolate. While some enjoy a simple cup of cocoa, flavored versions like peppermint have become popular in the winter months.

The Mini Page takes a look at both peppermint and cocoa this week.

Peppermint

Peppermint is an herb that’s been used for thousands of years as a remedy, or treatment, for upset stomachs and other ailments.

Peppermint plants are leafy and green. They are fairly simple to care for and grow, which makes them a popular choice for gardens and pots during warmer months.

How did peppermint become associated with winter? There are a few theories on that.

Some people believe the cool, tingly flavor of peppermint brings to mind the snow and icy weather of winter.

Others think that peppermint has become popular during winter because the holiday season tends to be a time when people eat a lot, which can lead to indigestion, or

photo by Aya Padron

Mini Fact:

In a study, about 33% of Americans said cocoa was their favorite holiday drink.

stomachaches. The cool, refreshing taste of peppermint helps calm upset stomachs.

Cocoa

Sometimes also called hot chocolate, cocoa is a warm drink made of milk, water, sugar and chocolate.

Cacao trees grow in South and Central America. These trees grow fruits, or pods, that contain cacao seeds, which go through a special process before they are ground up and become chocolate. Eventually that processed chocolate makes its way into stores.

Cacao seeds were so valuable long ago that they were used as a form of currency, or money.

Over time, cocoa has seen lots of variations of flavor add-ins and enhancements. In ancient times, it wasn’t sweet, and some people added chili peppers to it. It was often bitter and strong. Thousands of years ago, the Mayas drank a version of hot chocolate.

Through the 1800s, hot chocolate was used as a regular treatment for upset stomachs. This could be why the cocoa-andpeppermint combination make the ultimate refreshing winter drink for many people.

Next Week: Reindeer Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Here’s a recipe you can make if you’d like to try peppermint hot chocolate. Make sure to ask an adult for help.

You’ll need:

• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

• 1/4 cup sugar

• 1 cup water

• 4 cups low-fat milk

• 1 teaspoon peppermint extract

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

What to do:

1. In a small saucepan, combine cocoa and sugar and stir well.

2. Stir in water and bring to a boil.

3. Add the milk and cook on medium heat. Stir continually until heated, about 5 minutes.

4. Remove from heat and stir in the peppermint and vanilla extracts. Makes 5 (1-cup) servings.

Note: Feel free to top with whipped cream, marshmallows or a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Resources

On the Web: • kids.kiddle.co/ Peppermint

At the library:

• “Smart About Chocolate: A Sweet History” by Sandra Markle

BY OLIVIA JAIMESWords that remind us of peppermint and cocoa are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:

British wildlife experts say they are “over the

Founded by Betty Debnam Issue 49, 2022

photo by Scott

photo by Oatsy40

photo by Anna Gregory

Nancy

popular during winter because the holiday season tends to be a time when people eat a lot, which can lead to indigestion, or

Try ’n’ Find

stomachs. This could be why the cocoa-andpeppermint combination make the ultimate refreshing winter drink for many people.

Words that remind us of peppermint and cocoa are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:

COCOA, CURRENCY, DRINK, FLAVOR, FOOD, GREEN, HERB, HOLIDAY, HOT CHOCOLATE, INDIGESTION, MAYAS, PEPPERMINT, PLANT, PODS, REMEDIES, SEED, TASTE, TREE, WINTER.

Mini Spy Classics

Mini Spy and Rookie are making a holiday wreath with evergreens. See if you can find the hidden pictures. Then color the picture.

Wales and Scotland. Chicks recently hatched in England for the first time in two centuries at Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire.

For later: Look in your newspaper for articles on seasonal drinks.

Teachers: Follow and interact with The Mini Page on Facebook!

BY DAN THOMPSON

History” by Sandra Markle

“The Story of Chocolate” by C.J. Polin

T V N Q P R T A S T E D G N P G R E N O I T S E G I D N I L Y B E X T N I M R E P P E P A A R J E W M Y C N E R R U C N D E D O A M F O O D X P X N T I H A Y R O V A L F G R E E N L P A D B R E T N I W B H J G O S E I D E M E R K N I R D C

H W S D O P D E E S C O C O A S H O T C H O C O L A T E O L

TODAY’S HISTORY:

• In 1913, the Ford Motor Company began operation of its first assembly line.

• In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, sparking a new era in the civil rights movement.

• In 1969, the United States instituted its first draft lottery since World War II.

• In 2008, the National Bureau of Economic Research declared that the United States had been in an official recession since December 2007.

• In 2013, China launched Yutu, its first lunar rover.

TODAY’S FACT:

• At the time of the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955, over 70% of bus riders in the city were African American.

OBITUARIES

Jeannette Mary Woods Byington

Jeannette Mary Woods By ington, 81, passed away Nov. 20, 2022 in the presence of her lov ing family.

She was born in Carthage, MO Feb.1941, the first daughter of George and Emily Woods.

Jan graduated PS duPont High School in 1958 with a home economics award. She then went on to attend and grad uate from the University of Ver mont in 1962 with a BS in Nurs ing (BSN). While she was there, she was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi (ADPi) sorority.

She was married right after graduation to Alan “Big Daddy”

Byington in 1962.

Her nursing career led her to the University of VT Medical Center working with the new borns.

When she “retired” she went on to continue her work at Pills bury manor. She would often jokingly say she went from di apers to Depends in her career.

After retirement, Al and Jan traveled to all 48 lower states in their 17-foot Roadtrek camp er. They also became members of the 251 Club. Her love of traveling continued to the very end.

She was always open to

learning and attended some University courses on natural Chinese medicine. Jan enjoyed learning to play Mahjong and continued playing a weekly game with her Mahjong group. She was a charter member of the Green Mountain Chapter of Embroidery Guild as well as a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

She was predeceased by her husband Alan Byington.

She was survived by her 2 brothers Charles Woods of PA, Kim Woods of CA, her 3 loving daughters Kay Byington of MA, Ann Byington of NY and Beth

Byington of NH, and 3 grand children Isabella, Julia and Weston Alemany of NY.

She was always thinking of her family and was so kind and compassionate. She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her.

Private graveside services will be held in the spring.

Should you want to remem ber Jan, donations may be made to the Hospice Foundation of America, 1707 L Street NW, Suite 220, Washington, DC 20036 or email donate@hos picefoundation.org or your char ity of choice.

Jennifer A Murphy Financial Advisor

Craig E. Ladd

Craig E. Ladd, 68, of Williston died on Nov. 18, 2022 at the Mc Clure Miller Respite House.

He was born in Plattsburgh, NY on May 25, 1954, the son of the late George Earl Ladd and Georgiana Jones. He married Linda Goodrich Oct. 18, 1986.

Craig was a lifelong broadcast er, starting in 1971 serving in New York and Vermont. He could be heard calling high school basketball games, and even had the opportuni ty to call an inning for the Montre al Expos while still in high school. That experience confirmed his de sire to pursue a lifelong career in broadcasting until he retired in Sept. from WLVB-FM in Morrisville.

Craig will be inducted into the Vermont Association of Broadcast ers Hall of Fame on Dec. 3.

Craig is survived by his wife Linda Ladd of Williston; their two daughters Erica Robinson and hus band Keith of Concord, NH and Elizabeth Ladd of Springfield, VT; his grandson Patrick Robinson; brother, Bruce Ladd and wife Shir ley of Punta Gorda, FL; sisters, Jacqueline Pavese and husband Al fonso of Cazenovia, NY and Chris tie Hoban of Pen Yan, NY, and by several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother J. Terry Ladd.

Visiting hours will be held on Dec. 2, from 6 pm to 7 pm with a service to follow at 7pm at the Ready Funeral & Cremation Ser vice Mountain View Chapel, 68 Pinecrest Dr., Essex Junction. Buri al will be held in the spring at East Cemetery in Williston.

OBITUARIES

Herbert Clifford Clark

Herbert Clifford Clark, 91, of Essex Junction passed away at UVM Medical Center on Thurs day, Nov.17, 2022. He was born December 25, 1930 the son of the late Erwin R. Clark and Nellie P. Lewis.

Herbert served with the US Army in Germany in 1948. He worked for several years at Mal tex, then went on to work for Flan ders Lumber as an electrician. He married the love of his life Bever ly A. Foote on Aug. 4, 1986.

Herbert loved spending time with his family. He enjoyed fish ing, hunting, and just riding around. He loved his Red Sox and Boston Celtics, putting puzzles to gether, and most of all seeing his grandchildren grow up.

He is survived by his six chil

dren; Patricia Wright of Middle bury, Pamula Gierloff of So. Bur lington, Penny Clark and partner Rick Tyler of Richmond, David Clark and wife Thanh Vo of Es

sex Junction, Peggyanne Gilmore and husband Terry of Jefferson ville, June Badger and husband Charles of Florida; his brother Kenneth Clark and wife Bonnie of Hinesburg; and by several grand children, great grandchildren, a great-great granddaughter, niec es, nephews, and friends. He was predeceased by his wife Beverly Foote Clark, and his brothers, Er win, Jr., Eugene, and Gary.

Visiting hours were held Nov. 22 with a memorial service fol lowing at the Ready Funeral & Cremation Service South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Rd., Burlington. Burial was held privately for fam ily immediately after the service.

To send online condolences to the family, please visit www.rea dyfuneral.com.

Beverly Ann (Goodine) LeBeau

Nov.19, 2022, Beverly Ann (Goodine) LeBeau passed away peacefully with her family around her at McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, VT.

Bev was 83 years old, born on Aug. 8, 1939 in Marshfield, Vermont.

She is survived by her chil dren, Linda LeBeau Krieger (Tom) of Fort Collins, CO, Pa mela LeBeau of Hinesburg, VT; Timothy LeBeau (Rachel) of Es sex, VT; and Eloy “Jay” LeBeau, Jr. (Alvaro) of Cape Coral, FL; and sister-in-law Alberta Goo dine of Huntington, IN.

Bev has 13 grandchildren: Sam, Anna, Jammie, Dan ielle, Justin, Jenna, Britta ny, Nick, Lauren, Jessi, Josh, Chris and Connor; and several great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years of marriage, Eloy J. LeBeau, Sr.; her parents, Albert and Gladys Budrow Goodine; and her broth ers, Robert, Dean, Clarence and Donald Goodine.

Bev grew up in Marshfield and started working at the gran ite quarry in Barre at 18 where she met Eloy. They were married in 1958, starting their life to gether in Barre, then a few years later moving to Montpelier. In 1973, the family of six moved to Burlington where Bev began her 30-year career as a CNA at

Birchwood Nursing Home.

Whether it was her family or her job, Bev was a caregiv er. She was there for her dad during his battle with cancer and for her brother Dean with ALS. Bev had a strong bond with her mother, Gladys, and would make sure there were lots of visits to Grammie’s over the years. She was a beloved staff member at Birchwood Nursing Home, always a favorite of the patients and their families, of ten forming long-term relation ships. But her favorite caregiver role was being a mother, grand mother and great-grandmother. Bev loved Thanksgiving and Christmas when she could have everyone at the house, cooking up a feast, and, at Christmas, there was always the seemingly endless pile of presents.

Once Bev retired, she loved taking care of her grandchil dren and even friends’ grand children. She and Eloy enjoyed their road trips to visit family and friends, and loved their va cations in Maine. While living in Williston, they went to Trin ity Baptist Church, getting in volved and making new friends. Bev loved her Danielle Steele novels, Hallmark movies and westerns. For the past 8 years Bev attended the UVM Adult Day Program where she would go Monday through Friday, 9 to 3, to be with her friends and the attentive, friendly staff. Over the last ten years Bev experi enced many health setbacks but she had an optimistic attitude that kept her moving on, getting up early and catching the bus to the day program.

Dogs and cats were always part of the household but she especially loved her little dogs Brandy and, most recently her sweet miniature schnauzer, Daisy, who was always getting spoiled with too many treats.

Visiting hours will be held Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022 from 5 p.m.until the hour of service at 6 p.m. at A.W. Rich Funeral Home, 57 Main Street, Essex Junction, VT.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to UVM Adult Day Program, 1110 Prim Road, Suite 1, Colchester, VT 05446.

Want to Join an Award-Winning Best Places to Work? Apply Today!

Rhino Foods is an open hire employer, meaning that we don’t conduct lengthy drug screens, background checks* and recognize your future, not dwell on your past!

We have immediate needs for:

3rd Shift Production is Hiring--Shift Premium Pay

Make delicious dough, work with cool people! This shift takes place from 10:40PM-7AM and you’ll learn the various steps to make delicious products, including mixing, depositing, baking, assembling, and packaging. Join us today and start your career at one of the fastest growing companies in Vermont.

Sanitation Team

This important team helps Rhino to shine! This is a 2nd shift position; shift hours are 2:30PM-10:30PM. In this role, you’ll be trained on following established sanitation standards and procedures including use of chemicals, hot water, heavy equipment and equipment assembly.

Rhino offers weekly pay, bonuses, and benefits to support you and your family. Please see more on these openings on our career page at rhinofoods.com/about-rhino-foods/jobs-and-careers

*Rhino Foods does run sex offender checks on all employees

SUDUKO SOLUTION

LEGAL

Sara Daly is seeking a divorce from Christopher Daly, including a Decree of Divorce, Division of Property, and Name Change.

Per this publication, Mr. Daly should reply to Ms. Daly’s complaint within 21 days, responding to each claim. If Mr. Daly does not file an answer or file an appearance, the Court is not required to notify him of hearings.

If Mr. Daly does not attend the court hearings, the Plaintiff may receive everything requested in the Complaint. Mr. Daly must give or send a copy of his answer to Ms. Daly as well as the Court located at Chittenden Family Division, 32 Cherry St., Stuie 200, Burlington, VT 05401. Mr. Daly can wish to get help from a lawyer and even if he cannot get legal help, he must still give the Court a written Answer to protect his rights.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Why not have a job you love?

Positions include a sign on bonus, strong benefits package and the opportunity to work at one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont”.

Service Coordinator: Continue your career in human services in a supportive environment by providing case management for individuals either for our Adult Family Care program or our Developmental Services program. The ideal candidate will have strong clinical, organizational & leadership skills and enjoy working in a team-oriented position. $47,000 annual salary, $1,500 sign on bonus.

Residential Program Manager: Coordinate staffed residential and community supports for an individual in their home. The ideal candidate will enjoy working in a team-oriented position, have strong clinical skills, and demonstrated leadership. $45,900 annual salary, $1,500 sign on bonus.

Direct Support Professional: Provide 1:1 supports to help individuals reach their goals in a variety of settings. This is a great position to start or continue your career in human services. Full and part time positions available starting at $19/hr, $1,000 sign on bonus.

Residential Direct Support Professional: Provide supports to an individual in their home and in the community in 24h shifts including asleep overnights in a private, furnished bedroom. You can work two days, receive full benefits and have five days off each week! Other flexible schedules available, starting wage is $20/hr, $1,000 sign on bonus.

Shared Living Provider: Move into someone’s home or have someone live with you to provide residential supports. There are a variety of opportunities available that could be the perfect match for you and your household. Salary varies dependent on individual care requirements. $1,000 sign on bonus.

Join our dedicated team and together we’ll build a community where everyone participates and belongs https://ccs-vt.org/current-openings/

https://ccs-vt.org/current-openings/

Champlain

Make a career making a difference and join our team today!

ways fatal in humans and animals. However, treatment with the rabies vaccine is nearly 100percent effectivewhengivensoonafter a person is bitten by a rabid animal.

So far this year, 23 animals in Vermont have tested positive for rabies, and 14 of those have been raccoons.

According to wildlife officials, rabid animals often show a change in their nor mal behavior, but you cannot tell whether an animal has rabies simply by looking at it. People should not touch or pick up wild animals or strays – even baby animals.

Shelburne display lead dors from creemees. from

State announces $40 million in recovery grants

BY SARAH MEARHOFF VTDigger

Beginning this week, for-prof it, nonprofit and municipal entities can apply for a bite out of the State of Vermont’s $40 million fund known as the Community Recov ery and Revitalization Program. On a first-come, first-served basis, the state will help fund projects “that make capital improvements or capital expansions that spur economic recovery and revital ization in communities across the state,” according to the Gov. Phil Scott administration.

“The economic development initiatives we’re talking about to day, we believe will make a big difference,” Scott said during a news conference Tuesday in St. Johnsbury. “Because in order to have a strong, healthy community in every part of the state, we need good jobs, housing and thriving downtowns.

“But we also need access to basic needs, services and health care,” he continued. “And to im prove quality of life, we need

outdoor recreation, arts and en tertainment — all things that help keep and attract the working fam ilies we desperately need.”

The program is funded thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act, which delivered a historic sum of money to Vermont to help the state recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

During the 2022 legislative session, lawmakers vowed to use the once-in-a-lifetime infusion to solve Vermont’s most press ing issues and make generational change. Scott said economic revi talization is one of those top pri orities.

Joan Goldstein, commission er of the Vermont Department of Economic Development, said the program is “meant for businesses that are still suffering from the pandemic” — namely those in the hospitality, arts, entertainment, agriculture and education indus tries.

“When you think about it, they were closed for such a long peri od of time, and then had restric tions on the amount of people that

could attend. And then, people’s behavior changed, and they’re not going out as often. And then they couldn’t find the workforce,” Goldstein said. “So I think there’s still a continuing tale of pain.”

In the face of statewide child care and housing crises, the ad ministration will also consider funding projects that support child care and housing for low- to mod erate-income households. The

WillistonDecoratingHolidayContest

money can also be used to upgrade municipal water and wastewater systems in order to accommodate new housing or businesses.

Each individual project grant ed funding will receive either $1 million or 20 percent of the project cost, whichever number is less er, according to Goldstein. That means the $40 million pot will fund at least 40 projects, but Gold stein said she hopes to fund more.

“Not everyone is going to be asking for the maximum amount, and we’re going to do our best to make sure that we distribute as much as we can around the state,” she said.

Applications are now open and will be considered on a rolling basis. For the first 30 days, the agency will prioritize applications for projects that would primarily serve communities of color. The agency will also prioritize proj ects located in the state’s more rural areas outside of Chittenden County.

The program is a reformed and expanded version of the state’s previous $10 million Cap

ital Investment Program, though the final product passed by the Legislature this year was scaled back from Scott’s initial $80 mil lion proposal.

The 2023 legislative session begins in January, and Scott’s office has begun crafting its ini tial budget proposal for the Leg islature. Asked on Tuesday if he plans to propose another round of Community Recovery and Re vitalization Program funding, he said, “It’s going to take a while to get through this, so it’ll take us through the next year or so, I would say, by the time these proj ects are completed.”

But once they are, he said he’ll be looking for funding sources “to invest in the rural parts of the state, the ones that are most disad vantaged.”

“We’ll look for opportunities, but … we’re not going to have the windfall we’ve had in the past,” Scott said. “And so we’ll be back to somewhat normal and we’ll look for any opportunity we can to increase the amount of money that we can leverage.”

Gov. Phil Scott