Williston Observer 4/20/2023

Hinesburg driver pleads not guilty in biker death

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

Richard Lewis was not speeding, he wasn’t drunk and he wasn’t using his phone, according to police, when he allegedly swerved into the shoulder of Hinesburg Road in South Burlington on a Saturday afternoon last October,

striking and killing Williston cyclist Gerard Malavenda.

A South Burlington Police and Vermont State Police investigation into the crash revealed no reason Lewis’ GMC truck reportedly drifted about 3 feet to the right into where Malavenda was standing with his bike on a straightaway with unobstructed

sightlines. But police are charging Lewis, 69, with grossly negligent operation of the vehicle resulting in death, a crime that carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.

Lewis appeared in Chittenden County Criminal Court on April 5 and pleaded not guilty. He was released on the condition that he not

drive any car, truck or motorcycle. A status conference in the case is set for May 15.

First-responders did not find any witnesses to the crash when they arrived that afternoon, according to a South Burlington Police affidavit. While Malavenda, 65, was treated and transported to the hospital, where he later died,

police questioned Lewis. Lewis, who was driving alone, said he saw Malavenda standing on the side of the road with his bike, according to the affidavit. Police found only the rear tire of the bike to be damaged. A sobriety test showed no signs of impairment, according

Reduced hours, increased fees planned for drop-off center

Hours at the Chittenden Solid Waste District’s drop-off center in Williston will be reduced and trash fees increased under the district’s new budget set to go into effect July 1.

CSWD leaders are planning to sync hours across the majority of the district’s drop-off centers, which take food scraps, recycling and trash. Under the plan, centers in Essex, Milton, South Burlington and Williston will all go to a Tuesday-through-Saturday schedule.

That will increase hours in Milton, shift hours in South Burlington and retain existing hours in Essex. The Williston center on Redmond Road, which currently operates six days a week, will drop to five days, eliminating Mondays. All four centers will be closed Sundays and Mondays.

“It’s been really confusing to the public to have all our facilities have different hours,” said CSWD Communications Manager Alise Certa.

Certa noted that the new schedule will be better for staff, which will have two consistent days off each week. Staff districtwide will receive a 7 percent cost-of-living raise in the new budget. The district employs about 50 people.

Fees for trash drop-off will be increasing from $8 to $11 for large bags, $6 to $8 for medium bags and from $2 to $3 for small bags. The increases will help fill an operating deficit for the drop-off centers that would total about $420,000 without an increase, according to

all our facilities have different hours.”

CSWD Executive Director Sarah Reeves.

Overall, the district’s $14.4 million budget is up $1.1 million (8.7 percent) over the current fiscal year. The district is seeking approval this month from the 18 municipalities that it serves. It needs a majority of the municipalities to approve it in order for it to take effect.

The Williston Selectboard approved the budget in a unanimous vote April 4.

Writer Karen Sturtevant fulfilled a childhood dream of riding along in a police cruiser, joining Williston Police Officer Matt Cohen on a recent shift. And to top it off, police K9 Duke was a key character. See her story on Page 24.

OBSERVER PHOTO BY KAREN STURTEVANT

Jason Starr

“It’s been really confusing to the public to have

Alise Certa

CSWD

Communications Manager

A day with Duke

Around Town

their coaches/parents spend a few hours helping in the orchard and around the market.”

Redhawk power

Players on the CVU football team came out to prepare Adams Apple Orchard and Farm Market for the spring and summer seasons by picking up sticks, moving soil and moving pallets where needed. In return, the market donated money to help the team replace football equipment. Market owner Kim Antonioli said “(We were) grateful to have this amazing group of young people and

Williston artist’s work on display at South Burlington gallery

The paintings of Williston artist Phil Laughlin are part of an exhibit called “Vermont Vernacular” taking place at the South Burling-

ton Public Art Gallery until May 30. Laughlin recently returned to painting after a career in graphic design. He is one of four artists whose works are exhibited.

Visit the gallery at 180 Market St., in South Burlington from 8 a.m. to 5 pm. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Pictured is Laughlin’s oil painting, “Covered Bridge.”

CVU theater to present one-act plays

The Champlain Valley Union High School Theater Program will be presenting its Spring OneActs on May 5-7. The plays are entirely produced by CVU students: directing, acting, set design and construction, lighting and sound, costuming, hair and make-up, and publicity

This year’s productions are “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare and “The Actor’s Nightmare” by Christopher Durang.

Francesca Krol and Rory McDermott are directing “Hamlet”

and Ian Story, Gabbie LindenMayr and Eric Carroll are directing “The Actor’s Nightmare.” Stage managers are Addie Nevitt and Izora Hart; assistant stage manager is Will Richardson.

Performances are at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 5 and Saturday, May 6, and 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 7 at the CVU theater. Purchase tickets online at www.ticketsource.us/ cvutheater or at the door.

Legislative listening session at library

Williston state representatives Erin Brady and Angela Arsenault will hold a community conversation starting at 11:15 a.m. Saturday, April 22 at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. Constituent questions, concerns and ideas are welcome. Email Brady at ebrady@leg.state.vt.us and Arsenault at aarsenault@leg.state. vt.us for more information.

Town fair returns for second year

The Town of Williston will host its second annual Town Fair on Saturday, May 6 to coincide with Green Up Day. The event will take place at the Town Green. Town staff and volunteers will be on hand to connect with residents and hand out Green Up bags for the annual town clean up.

Also on the schedule is outdoor yoga, library story time and

a concert by the town band.

Grant received for remediation at Lake Iroquois

The Lake Iroquois Association and the Lake Iroquois Recreation District have received a $320,000 federal grant for remediation of Beebe Lane, a road at the northern end (the Williston side) of Lake Iroquois that has been a contributor of polluted runoff into the lake.

The grant will cover installation of stormwater management infrastructure to prevent flooding and road washouts, reduce pollutants and improve water quality. The project will also enhance public access to recreational opportunities off Beebe Lane, including a public boat launch, public beach and walking trails.

The Lake Iroquois Recreation District is comprised of the towns of Williston, Hinesburg, Richmond and St. George. The Lake Iroquois Association is comprised of a group of lakefront homeowners.

Buccaneers youth football registration opens

Students living in Champlain Valley School District towns and entering grades 2-8 in fall of 2023 are invited to register for the Buccaneers youth football program at https://www.buccaneersfootballvt.org.

Two days of maximum effort tests months of training

The story of the U.S. Edelweiss Raid Team — Part 2

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is Part 2 of an article written by Major Brad Patnaude, a full-time member of the Vermont Army National Guard and incoming chief operations officer for the Army Mountain Warfare School in Jericho. He and his family live in Williston. Part 1 of this story was published in last week’s Observer.

BY BRAD PATNAUDE Special to the Observer

After months of strenuous training in preparation for the Edelweiss Raid, we finally arrived at the Austrian mountain base, Lizum-Walchen Training Area, in late February.

After about 20 minutes of driving, the road leveled out. Through cracks in the canvas cover, we could see lights glowing.

“Welcome to Camp Lizum,” someone said out of the darkness in the back of the truck. The vehicles slowed and stopped, then the tailgate dropped with a clang. We stepped out into about a foot of fresh snow and the cold air of high altitude.

Around us were the two-story stone buildings of Camp Lizum, a cluster of structures nestled at the bottom of a glacial cirque of towering stone and snow. Though tired, the team popped into action, unloading bags, dragging them into our quarters and drawing additional gear from the Austrian quartermaster. After about an hour, we had managed to shove ourselves and all of our gear into two rooms that were probably designed for half of what we had in it.

The next day, the U.S. team pulled together gear for our final uninterrupted day of training prior to the competition start. The Polish, Bulgarians and Romanians were all there, along with three teams from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China. The PLA regarded us cooly, not saying much, nodding occasionally in the hallway. It was the first time they had contact this closely with American soldiers, as this was also the first occurrence any of us could find about American military training this close to the PLA.

Outside, there was about 16 inches of new snow in the parade field. We set first tracks up toward the end of the valley where the race would start in a couple of days, intent on using the new snow for avalanche beacon searches. Austrian rescue helicopters and a large UH-1 “Huey” buzzed in and out, ferrying mountain guides to the high peaks to throw explosive charges out into loaded avalanche paths. The race was ramping up, and we could all feel the excitement building.

At 8 a.m. the next morning, our two teams were standing outside the barracks, ready to head up to the start line. The leading mountain warfare teams from throughout Europe were assembled in Lizum, ready to showcase their capabilities on the international stage. As we filtered up to the starting line, teams from Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Romania, the Czech Republic, Poland and China all mixed, laughed and snapped selfies with each other.

The sky was still clear and the sunlight bright, with high pressure sitting over the re-

gion for at least the next few days. Ahead of us, the first climb of the race loomed up from the valley floor – a 2,600-foot climb to the peak of Lizumer Reckner.

At 9 a.m. sharp, the start gun popped and the starting lines erupted. We surged forward toward the initial avalanche beacon search area, pulling yards ahead of the competitors. Both U.S. teams quickly found our two avalanche beacons, stowed shovels and then joined the line of teams jockeying for position on the skin track up to Lizumer Reckner.

We settled into a moderate uphill pace and within minutes, the order settled out with our lead team in the top five. We worked uphill to a stunning ridgeline vista, descended to a rappel, and then roped up for the terrifying roped skiing event. As we worked deliberately downhill with the eight of us attached to a 40-meter rope, we called speed commands from the back and kept the pace deliberate and slow. Our method soon showed its wisdom, as we watched a mem-

ber of the Czech team somersault into the snow and emerge with a broken arm.

Even before the end of the first day, one team was already out. We learned later that a Chinese team had also dropped due to a broken leg.

The remainder of the day passed uneventfully. After the roped skiing event, we finished several other skills events and made a sunset descent through evergreen glades before linking up with our supply sled near dark.

We dragged our heavy sled several kilometers uphill to our bivouac site and immediately started reconsolidation efforts in preparation for another grueling day of competition. We pulled up our tents and piled in for the night. Soon, stoves were hissing as we boiled water for drinks and dehydrated meals. After only a few hours of low-quality sleep in a cold tent, we slipped out of our bags, pulled down the tents, repacked and threw our supply bags into the back of Austrian utility trucks.

The start gun for day two popped as the sun’s first rays peaked over an eastern ridgeline and painted the valley in orange and red. The second day of the race was longer, with more horizontal movement and more challenging technical tasks. With everyone tired from the previous day, the start was more muted — teams trickled rather than surged forward and settled into a similar order as the day prior.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, we summitted our first peak, then loaded a team member into a rescue sled and “evacuated” him down the slope as part of our first technical skill test for the day. This brought us to the rifle range, where teams were required to fire at inflated balloons from a 200-yard range.

Our teams showcased our marksmanship skills by shooting all the balloons one-byone in quick succession. After packing up, we prepared for our last long ascent and a technical ridgeline traverse on boots — the last significant challenge before the end of the race.

A bright overhead sun slowly dropped into the western horizon as the team traversed the ridgeline with skis strapped to our

see EDELWEISS page 7

The Edelweiss Raid competition tested ski mountaineering and marksmanship, among other Alpine military skills. The two U.S. mountain troop teams placed 10th and 18th.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

‘It’s been rocky’ - schools struggle with new standardized test

BY PETER D’AURIA VTDigger

At Montpelier Roxbury Public Schools, standardized testing this month — never an enjoyable or soothing experience — was even worse than usual.

The test, a new system called Cognia, appeared rife with technical issues, and some classes struggled to sit for the test at all, according to Superintendent Libby Bonesteel. The district’s sixth-graders were simply unable to log in to the computer-based testing program last week, forcing administrators to find new testing dates. And multiple fifth-grade students were repeatedly and inexplicably ejected from the program, she said, to the point where some began to cry.

“They got incredibly frustrated, and some were in tears around it,” Bonesteel said.

Frustrations over the rollout of the Cognia standardized test are not limited to Montpelier Roxbury. Last week, the state’s organizations of superintendents, principals, teachers and school boards expressed

concerns that the test rollout was becoming a mess.

The organizations were “seriously concerned with the administration of the test, which begins this week, and the affirmative harm to students and staff that is likely to occur,” leaders wrote in an April 11 letter to the state’s top education official.

“The bottom line is students and schools should not be penalized for results of a test with questionable validity that has been hastily implemented,” the groups wrote.

Schools across the U.S. are required to administer a series of annual standardized tests to students in elementary, middle and high schools.

Students must take annual standardized tests in language arts and mathematics in grades three through eight, as well as once in grades 10 to 12. Schools must also administer science tests three times between grades three and 12.

Vermont previously contracted with the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), an organization of public education en-

tities, to administer tests. In October, Vermont announced that it was contracting with Cognia, a Georgia-based accreditation and testing nonprofit, to provide standardized testing after the expiration of the Smarter Balanced contract.

In an Oct. 5 press release announcing the switch, state education officials touted Cognia’s focus on equity.

“Cognia’s approach to diversity, equity and inclusion in the development and implementation of assessments aligns with Vermont’s values, and the accessibility and user experience of their testing resources will make working with the assessments easier for students, families and educators,” then-Secretary of Education Dan French said in the release.

But the rollout of the test has left school administrators concerned that Cognia is not living up to those promises.

Delays in the state contracting process meant that the test rollout did not start until March, education groups said in their letter — meaning administrators had to scramble to learn a new testing program just

weeks before administering it.

Doug Kussius, the principal at White River School in White River Junction, said he had not expected the Agency of Education to administer the tests on such a short timeframe.

“I would expect, like, if we were going to get the test next year, we’d be thinking about it now,” he said. Even through December, Kussius said, he had told staff that the assessment would likely be put on hold.

“I’m like, ‘No, don’t worry about it, there’s no information on it, nothing’s coming out, there’s no way they’re going to try to pull this off. Just don’t worry about it, it’s not going to happen,’” he said. “And then in January, they were like, ‘No, this is definitely going to happen.’”

That fueled concerns that there was not enough technical or administrative support to effectively conduct the exams.

Administrators struggled to implement accommodations, like text-to-speech, for students with disabilities. Students were faced with repeated error messages, some

of which would end test sessions abruptly. And one technical problem briefly allowed school officials to see confidential student information from other districts around the state.

Lindsey Hedges, a spokesperson for the Agency of Education, said in an email last week that the problem was “swiftly corrected by the contractor” and that student information was never released to the public.

Gwen Carmolli, the director of curriculum and instruction at the Colchester School District and president of the Vermont Curriculum Leaders Association, attributed the technical problems to the state’s short rollout timeline.

“It’s been rocky,” she said.

At Colchester High School, the testing began with just two classes totaling 40 students, Carmolli said. Even so, the school needed to pull six extra staffers away from their normal duties to successfully administer the assessments.

“It’s taking a village to get it rolling,” she said. “And I’ve been lucky enough to be able to get it see TESTING page 4

Driver

continued from page 1

to police. Lewis agreed to have his cell phone searched at the scene as well as a few weeks later at the South Burlington Police Department. While the search at the scene raised police suspicions because Lewis had deleted his call history, according to the affidavit, a more thorough search at the police station turned up “nothing of interest around the time of the crash,” the affidavit states.

Police continued to investigate Lewis’ phone, subpoenaing records from AT&T about the phone’s usage at the time of the

Testing

continued from page 4

rolling.”

Chris Hennessey, superintendent of the Barre Unified Union School District, said he feared the hasty implementation of the test would put school administrators in a tricky position.

On one hand, Hennessey said, district officials could be forced to defend the use of standardized testing to parents who watched their kids struggle with the haphazard rollout of the assessments.

“You’ve got families who just don’t believe in standardized testing, and don’t feel comfortable with their kids taking them, for the very reasons that we’re seeing right now,” he said.

But on the other hand, he said, administrators might have to explain low test scores to school board members and the general public, who could see them as a sign of academic shortcomings.

“It’s a really tough situation,” he said.

In their April 11 letter, the educational organizations asked the state to “indicate to the public and the entire education community that this year should be regarded as an implementation pilot.”

In a memo the following day, interim Secretary of Education Heather Bouchey acknowledged frustrations with the testing rollout.

The state’s contracting process “was significantly held up in an extended, and unanticipated, process,” Bouchey wrote. “The Agency of Education (AOE) takes full responsibility for the associated delay in the Cognia rollout and its impact on the training timeline for the field.”

crash, but those records were inconclusive.

Crash reconstruction experts from the Vermont State Police determined Lewis was traveling at the 45 mph speed limit. Tire marks show that he drifted about 3 feet into the bike lane, failing to exercise “due care” while passing Malavenda, according to the affidavit.

Vermont law requires that a motor vehicle passing a bicycle “shall exercise due care, which includes increasing clearance to a recommended distance of at least four feet, to pass the vulnerable user safely …”

Lewis has no prior criminal

history.

In the last five years, there have been 32 fatal crashes involving pedestrians or bicyclists in Vermont, according to data from the Vermont Agency of Transportation.

A bill introduced in the Vermont Senate in February (S.64) would require the agency to create or widen bike shoulders on state highways.

An Essex native, Malavenda had lived in Williston for about eight years. He was an avid cyclist and member of the Green Mountain Bicycling Club. The Community News Service contributed to this report

Gerard Malavenda’s bike was damaged only in the rear wheel. SOUTH BURLINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT PHOTO

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Regulated trapping is key to wildlife conservation

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BY BREHAN FURFEY

Wildlife conservation is complicated.

In Vermont, that complexity is front and center in recent conversations around regulated trapping. Although this topic deserves Vermonters’ careful consideration, I worry that some are losing sight of the conservation benefits that regulated trapping provides.

I am Vermont’s new state furbearer biologist. I earned my master’s degree in biology at Arkansas State University, and I have worked on complex conservation issues across the country, most recently with wolves in Oregon. In each case, I have seen knee-jerk reactions overshadow the nuances of effective conservation, often to the detriment of wildlife. I see the same trend playing out here, as Vermonters argue about trapping without seeing the full picture.

Even if it seems counterintuitive, regulated trapping is a critical wildlife management tool that benefits furbearer populations.

Vermont is at the cutting edge of furbearer conservation. Species like bobcat, mink and Eastern coyote thrive on this landscape, and populations of every species that is trapped in our state are healthy and abundant. Vermont owes much of that conservation success to data collected during our regulated trapping seasons.

Vermont’s trappers are part of a community science system. Samples from our regulated trapping seasons contribute to one of the country’s longest running datasets on furbearers, helping state biologists identify potential threats to both wildlife and humans. We analyze tissue from fishers and bobcats for potential exposure to rodenticides. We track rabies distribution to measure spread on the landscape and evaluate the success of ongoing control efforts with our partners at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And our collaborators at the University of Vermont use genetic samples from fisher, bobcat, coyote and fox to map furbearer movements across the landscape and to look at the spread of Covid in wildlife populations.

As we consider the role of regu-

lated trapping in Vermont, it is important to understand that there is no alternative way to gather these valuable samples for research and monitoring.

Wildlife cameras cannot collect tissue. And furbearers trapped by professionals for damage or nuisance reasons would not provide a

highway departments faced bills from $4,000 to $21,000 per year from 1998-2002 to deal with human/beaver conflicts. Individual landowners paid upwards of $300 per beaver to have them trapped by nuisance animal control contractors. In many cases, animals trapped as nuisances were not used for fur or food.

Of course, Vermonters need to weigh the scientific and social benefits of regulated trapping against understandable concerns about the safety of pets and the suffering of trapped animals.

large or diverse sample compared to that generated during our regulated trapping seasons. Without regulated trapping, state biologists and our conservation partners would lose our ability to gather sex, age and distribution data that are essential for monitoring species like bobcats and otters. We would also lose the ability to detect and respond to emerging wildlife diseases, environmental toxins and habitat loss.

Regulated trapping provides social benefits, too. Many of Vermont’s wildlife conflicts are addressed during our regulated trapping seasons. The animals taken are utilized for food and fur. The costs, labor and rewards of coexisting on a landscape with furbearers are shared by our neighbors.

So, what could it look like for Vermont communities if regulated trapping was outlawed, and nuisance control trapping was outsourced to businesses?

When regulated trapping was banned in Massachusetts in 1996, the beaver population doubled. Public support for beaver and the valuable wetlands they create declined. The cost for dealing with human/beaver conflicts increased dramatically. Towns and

Recognizing this, the Fish and Wildlife Department is developing new trapping regulations at the direction of the Legislature. In 2022, we worked with a diverse group of stakeholders and drew from peer-reviewed research to identify ways to make trapping safer and more humane. This spring, we will invite public comment on proposed regulations to limit legal trap types in Vermont to the most humane standards based on peer-reviewed research; protect birds of prey and pets from being attracted to baited traps; and create a 25-50 foot safety buffer between public roads, trails on most state lands, and the places where most traps can be set.

Once finalized, these regulations should go into effect in 2024.

We believe that stronger regulations to reduce risks are in line with public opinion. Sixty percent of Vermonters supported regulated trapping in a statistically representative statewide survey last fall. And although Vermonters’ opinions vary regarding different reasons people may trap, 60 percent also supported the right of others to trap regardless of their personal approval of trapping.

As Vermonters consider regulated trapping’s role on our landscape, it is crucial to understand the complexity of the conservation challenges at hand, and the practical solutions the Fish and Wildlife Department is working toward.

Brehan Furfey is a wildlife biologist and the furbearer project leader for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.

Vermonters need to weigh the scientific and social benefits of regulated trapping against understandable concerns about the safety of pets and the suffering of trapped animals.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Tears for trees

I am wondering where all the protesters, environmentalists, climate activists and opposition from our community is to the taking down of so many of our community’s trees — specifically along Interstate 89 and Williston Road in Williston. It is a tragedy and an outrage, in my opinion.

It was raining.

The trees were crying. They tore you, hacked you with machetes and axes and saws, stripped you, degraded you, broke you, destroyed you. Could you feel fear and pain as they took you down?

The roads were so much prettier before they killed you. And the birds were so much happier.

Why would they take a natural, wonderful, pure and glorious landscape and make it ugly. Who did this?

And why did we let them. Trees, you were too beautiful for this earth. You were too beautiful for this hell on earth. It was raining.

The trees were crying.

Kimberly Madura Williston

Girl Scout gratitude

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, and Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains wants every person who volunteers for us to know that we appreciate them.

We have more than 4,000 volunteers across New Hampshire and Vermont who give generously of their time and talent to ensure that Girl Scouts are encouraged to become young women of courage, confidence and character who work to make the world a better place. They are troop leaders, troop help -

Edelweiss

continued from page 3

ers and drivers, and Girl Scout Cookie program coordinators and accountants.

We are grateful to the new troop leaders who stepped up in the last year to form new troops and create amazing opportunities for their Girl Scouts to make new friends, try new things and explore a world of possibilities.

We could not provide the world’s best leadership program for girls without the many people who run our activities, take Girl Scouts new places and share their skills in fields like engineering, computers, the outdoors, entrepreneurship and more.

We know that volunteers wear many hats when they give of themselves to Girl Scouts. No matter which hat you’re rocking, volunteers, we thank you for stepping in and stepping up for Girl Scouts everywhere.

Patricia K. Mellor CEO, Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains

back, snapped into our bindings and then navigated along a downhill ski-orienteering course to the hand grenade throwing event.

As we ascended the final hill up toward Camp Lizum, the ski track leveled off and transitioned onto a snow-covered road. The stone buildings of Camp Lizum peeked out above a rise ahead of us and begged the competitors to dig deep for the final push toward the finish line.

The last 600 meters of the race course had a 10X multiplier on the time, which forced the teams to sprint through the finish with all their reserves. VIPs and Austrian leadership were formed up at the finish line and began clapping for us as we appeared on the road leading into the camp. Our team of eight mountain soldiers crossed the

Teams from the U.S., Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Romania, the Czech Republic, Poland and China, among others, participated in the Edelweiss Raid.

finish line exhausted and delirious from two days of maximal output.

The 2023 Edelweiss Raid was closed out with an award ceremony where the participants were awarded the coveted Edelweiss device, signifying accession into a small group of the world’s most elite mountain soldiers. Out of 22 international teams, Team USA’s competition team placed 10th and the development team placed 18th.

Pumping up sales at Mamava

Passage of federal workplace protection bodes well for lactation pod inventor

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

Mamava has always existed at the intersection of business and public policy.

Its founding in 2013 followed the passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 2010, which established a federal requirement for employers to provide lactation accommodations for breastfeeding employees at work.

By the end of 2013, the company had launched its first freestanding lactation pod designed as a private breastfeeding oasis in public spaces — inventing an entirely new product category and offering a way for businesses to comply with the law.

“We had the idea for a while, but it wasn’t until 2010 that we said, ‘I think we should spend some time and actually develop the business,’” said Mamava co-founder Sascha

Mayer, who lives in Williston Village with her husband, Williston Central School humanities teacher Aaron Merrill. “I don’t know if (Mamava) would be here without that kind of progressive legislation.”

The company has seen exponential growth over its decade-long run. Headquartered in Burlington, it acquired its own manufacturing facility in Springfield, Vt., in 2021 and has a secondary facility in Wisconsin. It’s sold units in all 50 states to a diverse client base, including airports, shopping centers, hospitals, museums, stadiums, government buildings and military bases. And it’s expanded its line to four different sizes of pods, which start at just under $10,000 apiece.

Now, with the passage in December of the federal PUMP Act (Providing Urgent Maternal Protections) for Nursing Mothers, the company is anticipating a new spike in demand. The law becomes enforceable at the end of April, plugging a gap in employee protection that was left by the original Fair Labor Standards Act. That law created workplace

Spring cleaning?

breastfeeding accommodation requirements only for hourly employees. The PUMP Act expands that protection to salaried employees.

Mamava estimates that the law will extend breastfeeding rights to about 9 million workers, giving them standing to sue employers who don’t comply. Mayer describes it as a tipping point for the lactation pod market.

“We think it is a big development for the company,” she said.

The PUMP Act applies to all U.S. businesses, with a potential exemption for businesses with fewer than 50 employees if the business can demonstrate that compliance would impose an “undue hardship,” according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Non-exempt business are required to provide break time and a private space (not a bathroom) where an employee can express milk for a nursing child up to one year after birth.

Businesses can build or create their own space, but Mamava provides a turn-key option that is quicker and likely less expensive.

“As a business, we have planned wisely to meet public policy with the infrastructure

that will allow businesses to affordably comply with the law,” Mayer said. “The momentum of the PUMP Act passage enables us to accomplish our mission to support, celebrate and normalize breastfeeding for parents in the U.S.”

Mamava is seeing interest from around the country from businesses and organizations that will be affected by the new federal requirements. Earlier this month, about 400 people attended a webinar the company hosted called “Unpacking the PUMP Act: What Employers Need to Know.”

“We’ve been working in anticipation of this passing for a while,” Mayer said. “We are poised to be able to meet the (demand).”

The law doesn’t affect Vermont employers because Vermont is one of several states with workplace breastfeeding protections that go further than federal law. For example, Vermont law provides workplace breastfeeding rights for up to three years after the birth of a child.

Above, an employee unlocks a Mamava lactation pod. Williston’s Sascha Mayer, right, co-founded Mamava in 2013.

OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTOS

WILLISTON: BUSINESS HUB OF VERMONT

First Lady visits Beta Technologies

BY SARAH MEARHOFF VTDigger

Beta’s 40-acre campus awaits final approval

BY COREY MCDONALD VTDigger

Beta Technologies’ proposed 40-acre technology and manufacturing campus could get final approval this month, two years after it was first submitted to the South Burlington’s development review board.

The campus created a stir this time last year, after an issue over a land use condition regarding parking lots left the project in limbo and prompted outcry from residents and politicos such as Gov. Phil Scott.

Now, after a land use amendment allowing for the proposed parking lot was approved by the city council last year, Beta’s master plan and site plan for the site south of the airport seems likely to wrap up with the city’s development review board this month, officials said, giving a green light to the sprawling campus that is critical to the company’s production goals.

“We’ve designed our manufacturing and final assembly facility, and the broader campus, to be a place that advances our business and promotes the values of this community,” a company spokesperson said. “We look forward to getting the facility finished and online, so we can begin manufacturing our electric aircraft and bring more jobs to the community.

“We are nearly there, and we’re really appreciative of the town’s flexibility to convene a special meeting to work through a few final items and keep the project on track,” they said.

If approved, more than 40 acres of brownfield property — known as “South 40” — at the southernmost

end of the Burlington International Airport could be redeveloped into a manufacturing campus for final assembly of Beta’s electric aircraft. It would include a manufacturing facility, general aviation hangar, training and cultural center, a mixed office and retail building and a child care facility.

Beta, which was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in a hangar near the airport’s main terminal, first proposed the campus in May 2021. CEO Kyle Clark said at the time that the plant would be able to produce more than 250 aircraft annually and could bring in hundreds of new jobs.

The initial hangup over parking prompted outcry from South Burlington residents, local developers and Gov. Phil Scott, who, at the time, called the project “too important for Vermont” and said he would ask state legislators to step in if the parking lot requirements were not waived.

“This is not just about jobs for Chittenden County; this will have a ripple effect across the state,” the governor said at the time, adding Beta could potentially move its facility to Plattsburgh.

The South Burlington City Council, in May last year, passed an amendment providing an exemption to limits on placement of parking areas. Beta then resubmitted its original plans, including the more than 200 parking spaces.

In July, the company signed a 75-year lease agreement with the airport.

This article originally appeared in South Burlington’s The Other Paper.

In her first trip to Vermont since her husband assumed the presidency, first lady Jill Biden visited Beta Technologies in Burlington on Wednesday, April 5, where she and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona touted the White House’s efforts to fund workforce development and technical education.

As she walked into the aerospace developer’s hangar, located next to Burlington International Airport, Biden shouted a cheery “hello!” to the Beta employees and interns, students, Vermont lawmakers and press awaiting her inside. When she realized that dozens of Beta employees were eagerly watching from the other side of a window separating their offices from the hangar, she beamed up at them, waving with two hands.

Flanked by Republican Gov. Phil Scott, U.S. Sen. Peter Welch,

D-Vt., U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., Jane Sanders (whose husband, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., was unable to attend) and Democratic mayor of Burlington Miro Weinberger, Biden and Cardona listened as Beta interns and technical students from the Northeast Kingdom described their hands-on work, as well as the technical training and dual enrollment courses they have tak-

en along the way.

As one Beta intern, Colton Poulin, described his work on Beta’s aircrafts to Biden, the first lady peered inside the plane beside her.

“For most people, a high school diploma alone isn’t enough to find a great career, but they don’t often need a four-year degree to pursue their passions either,” Biden said in a speech at the hangar. “And as this technology brings changes to so many industries, these kinds of learning paths are more important than ever.”

Biden and Cardona also met North Country Career Center students who are learning how to repair electric vehicles and traveled to Burlington for the event.

Burlington was the pair’s second stop of the day, having visited Portland, Maine earlier as part of a White House tour touting the Biden administration’s workforce development efforts.

First lady Jill Biden arrives at the Burlington International Airport in South Burlington on Wednesday, April 5.

PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

A Beta Technologies aircraft undergoes testing at the Burlington International Airport in South Burlington in 2021.

VTDIGGER FILE PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL

Bandanas for Benefits

SilverLake shares the wealth

As a part of SilverLake Wealth Management’s “Share the Wealth” campaign, the Williston company is partnering with Pet Food Warehouse to match donations to the Humane Society of Chittenden County throughout the month of April.

Visit www.sharethewealthhumanesociety.itemorder.com/ shop/home to make a donation that will be matched up to $1,000. The Humane Society is currently in need of durable dog toys, chew treats, wet kitten food, kitty litter, Adaptil diffuser refills and small collars.

For more about SilverLake’s “Share the Wealth” campaign, contact Nate Cloutier at ncloutier@silverlakewealth.com or (802) 448-4768.

Ben and Jerry’s scoopers look to unionize

Workers at the Burlington Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop have formed a union organizing committee and petitioned the National Labor Relations Board for an election. The workers have named their organization Scoopers United.

“I think of this union as a sign of respect for Ben & Jerry’s,” said Rebeka Mendelsohn, a shift leader at the Burlington store. “We’re a company that stands for social justice rights and equity, and I want to ensure that this message is translated to all levels of employment. A union will allow scoopers to enact agency over their work environments and make room for cooperative collaboration between all.”

Ben & Jerry’s is a wholly-owned autonomous subsidiary of the Unilever corporation.

Winery, cidery combine forces

Shelburne Vineyard and Eden Specialty Ciders of Newport have announced plans to merge into one wine and cider company.

The companies share similar values and a history of producing Vermont-grown wines and ciders

Eden founder Eleanor Léger will be the CEO of the combined company. Ken and Gail Albert, the founders of Shelburne Vine -

yard, will ease into retirement but continue as brand ambassadors while retaining a portion of ownership in the business.

“We are not creating a new company name. This merger combines our forces behind the scenes, allowing us to sell each other’s products, reach new markets and leverage the strengths of all of our team members,” said Léger.

Registration open for child labor regulation webinars

The U.S. Department of Labor is offering webinars for employers, parents and young workers to help with understanding and complying with federal child labor regulations.

For employers, the webinar is set for May 9, from 10 a.m. to noon; for workers and parents, the webinar is set for May 11, from 4-5 p.m. Registration is required for these free programs.

Contact Joanna Hawkins at (215) 861-5101 or hawkins.joanna@dol.gov for registration information.

The webinars will cover hour and occupational standards for minor employees established by the Fair Labor Standards Act.

KeyBank’s South Burlington branch. He is a member of the Vermont Bankers Association’s Commercial Lending Committee and is a former board member of the Burlington Rotary Club. He and his family reside in Colchester.

VT Cannabis trade association comes together

The Cannabis Retailers Association of Vermont has formed its first board of directors and hired an interim executive director. The organization was formed to represent the cannabis industry’s interests with the Legislature and the Cannabis Control Board.

“We formed the Cannabis Retail Association to … ensure we get the specific needs of our businesses met as the adult use cannabis market grows,” said board chair Colleen McQuade. “Our goals this session focused on advertising reform, the removal of product caps and removal of the vape tax on cannabis cartridges which will strengthen the best cannabis marketplace with the best cannabis in the country.”

The organization has hired a lobbyist.

Joining McQuade on the board are cannabis retailers Dusty Kenney, Miriam Wood, Tiffany Johnson, Mike Sims, Lauren Andrews and Ana McDuff. The newly hired interim executive director is Todd Bailey.

LaunchVT startups announced

LaunchVT, a division of the Lake Champlain Chamber, has selected eight Vermont startups to participate in its 2023 Accelerator program.

KeyBank names Vermont leader

KeyBank has promoted Joseph McGowan from business banking senior vice president to market president for Vermont. McGowan will continue to serve business clients in Vermont and now take on responsibility for overseeing and coordinating KeyBank’s overall market strategy.

McGowan joined KeyBank in 2011 as a branch manager for

Entrepreneurs selected will work with a business coach and strategic advisors over the 12week program, culminating with a demo night on June 20 from 5-8 p.m. at Hula, where the founders will pitch their businesses to investors and the public. Tom Messner will serve as the evening’s emcee.

The chosen startups are: DairyDirt, DandyLion, LOGIC Building Systems, Plink!, PurplCouch, Sleep Well Recycling, QOR360 and Tacitly.

Joseph McGowan

The Williston Recreation and Parks Department is located at the Annex Building at 7878 Williston Rd. For online program registration, visit www. willistonrec.org. For department information, email recreation@ willistonvt.org or call 876-1160.

Job Postings

Day camp counselors are wanted for REC camp and OUR camp. For job details and to apply, visit www.willistonrec.org.

“THE R.E.C. ZONE”

RETRO DANCE CARDIO & CORE

Get up and move to some of your favorite hits from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. All fitness levels welcome as there will be modifications for low impact and high energy. Geared toward adults 55-plus but open to everyone.

Instructor: Jazmin Averbuck

JAZZERCISE CARDIO SCULPT

Age 18-plus. Low-impact classes incorporate dance cardio with strength training to sculpt and tone your muscles — whether you’re looking for physical results or a way to relieve stress and feel your best. Single, 5- and 10-class passes available. Instructor: Kit Sayers

SENIOR STRENGTH

Age 50-plus. Senior Strength will work your upper and lower body strength as well as your balance and core. Modifications are shown and participants are encouraged to work within their abilities while socializing and having fun.

Instructor: Toni Kunker

TAI CHI — BEGINNER

Age 50-plus. Learn a series of basic Tai Chi movements. Each will be broken down and practiced in a slow and gentle manner. Instructor: Chris Curtis

TAI CHI — SEATED

Age 50-plus. Incorporate many principles of traditional Tai Chi: continuous flowing movements, awareness of body alignment and position in space, sense of moving against resistance. Instructor: Adina Panitch

HEALTHY LIVING FOR YOUR BRAIN & BODY

Age 50-plus. Learn about important information and research in the areas of diet and nutrition, exercise, cognitive activity and social engagement. Use hands-on tools to develop a plan for healthy aging.

Instructor: The Alzheimer’s Association-Vermont Chapter

JUBO

Age 50-plus. Learn to play the four-hole Ocarina the easy way. Jubo is a new music methodology for all who want to learn an instrument quickly. Jubo is a lightweight pendant whistle with four holes that allows one to master music quickly.

Instructor: Wayne Hankin

GET FIT W/JAZZY

Age 18-plus. This high-energy dance and core sculpting class combines aerobic dance and core stability along with a curated playlist of Latin, house and rock style tunes. Everyone welcome. Impact levels can be modified. Instructor:

Jazmin Averbuck

FULL BODY BANDS

Age 18-plus. For both new and

experienced athletes exploring what resistance training can do for them. You can expect a full-body, strength-focused workout with some brief cardio intervals. No experience necessary. Instructor: Mary-Ellen

Longworth

FELDENKRAIS

Age 18-plus. Most people haven’t heard of the Feldenkrais Method, but when they experience it, people tend to say it’s like magic. They feel more grounded, lighter and more connected. Instructor: Gillian Franks

FAMILY PROGRAMS

REHABGYM 1ST ANNUAL WILLISTON COMMUNITY 5K

Age 12-plus. Saturday, May 13, 9:30 a.m. The goal for this event is to bring the community together, support local businesses and organizations and enjoy the spring weather. The course is accessible, and adaptive athletes are encouraged to participate. Registration is open at www.willistonrec.org.

BOATERS SAFETY

Age 12-plus. Boating safety education is required for any operator, 12 years of age or older, born after Jan. 1, 1974. The course is eight hours and is offered over four days. Participants must be present at all classes to be eligible for certification. Instructor: Jon Fick

ADULT PROGRAMS

PICKLEBALL INTRO

Age 18-plus. Learn the rules, a variety of drills, some basic game strategy and how to play this unique sport in this two-hour introductory clinic. Bring your own paddle or borrow a loaner. Instructor: Corey Gottfried

PICKLEBALL 101

Age 18-plus. Similar to the “Pickleball Intro” program but

more time spent on each part of the game. Drills will include serving, return of serve, third shot drop, the soft game, volleying, basic strategies and actual playing time. Instructor: Corey Gottfried

JIU-JITSU INTRO

Age 18-plus. Learn the skills of Jiu-Jitsu and incorporate self-defense techniques, takedowns and boxing in a friendly, safe and positive environment. Instructor: Julio Fernandez

PRE-SCHOOL/YOUTH/ TEEN PROGRAMS

KINDERMUSIK

Age 0-5. Classes provide a playful, supportive environment for children and their caregivers to play together with music, dancing, singing, exploring instruments and more. Different levels are offered for age groups. Instructor: Rachel Smith

JIU-JITSU INTRO

Age 4-15. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a dynamic martial arts style. It helps kids with realistic bully-proofing and gives them self-defense skills that they can use for the rest of their lives. Instructor: Julio Fernandez

YOUTH LACROSSE

Grades K-8. Registration is now open. Lacrosse is a fast-paced sport that combines the power of football and hockey and the endurance of soccer and basketball. The kindergarten and grades 1-2 programs are coed, and the grades 3-8 programs offer separate boys and girls teams. Volunteer coaches are needed.

TRACK & FIELD

Age 6-14. Participants will learn the basics of running, jumping, throwing and relays. There will be meets with other area rec departments and a state meet.

JUBO

Grades 3-8. Learn to play the

four-hole Ocarina the easy way. Jubo is a new music methodology for all who want to learn an instrument quickly. Jubo is a lightweight pendant whistle with four holes that allows one to master music quickly. Instructor: Wayne Hankin

NINJA KIDS INTRO

Age 4-8 or 7-11. This playbased curriculum increases strength and self-confidence, while moving meditation helps children manage their emotions and develop the connection between mental and physical well-being. Instructor: ONTA Studio

NINJA TEENS INTRO

Age 9-15. This play-based curriculum increases strength and self-confidence, while moving meditation helps children manage their emotions and develop the connection between mental and physical well-being. Instructor:

ONTA Studio

HORSEBACK RIDING INTRO

Age 8-14. The Livery Horse Farm, Hinesburg, is offering introductory riding programs. The focus is on English riding. Horses provide a variety of skill levels for children to learn on. Programs are offered after school or Saturdays. Instructor: Kim Johansen

SUMMER CAMPS

Registration is now open for all summer camps. Be sure to check out the rec website (www. willistonrec.org) for offerings and to register. Early registration is encouraged as some camps fill fast. A camp grid is available to help plan your children’s summer fun. New camps added this year include Culinary Mashup Camp (Age 10-14, 1-4:30 p.m., June 26-30); Creative Engineering Camp (Age 6-11, 1-4:30 p.m. July 24-28); and Kids Kitchen Camp (Age 6-12, 1-4:30 p.m., Aug. 7-11).

LOCAL SHOP•EAT•SPEND•ENJOY Williston

Who’s dining in my garden?

BY MELINDA MYERS Special to the Observer

You take a walk through the garden and find branches trimmed, flowers missing or bark damaged. Of course, the culprit is nowhere to be seen. You may have suspects in mind, but a close look at the damage and surroundings can help you identify who is dining on your plants. Knowing this can help you reduce the risk in the future.

Rabbits can be found year-round in the landscape. They have sharp teeth, making a 45-degree clean cut, much like your bypass pruners. Their damage usually occurs within their 3-foot-high reach.

They eat a variety of flowers and vegetables throughout the spring and summer. As these plants fade in fall, they begin dining on trees and shrubs. You may find bark gnawed and branches, stems and buds

clipped off the plants.

Deer tear at vegetation, leaving a ragged tip on browsed plants. You may find damage on a variety of flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs and plants pulled out of the ground with the distasteful ones left behind. In fall, the bucks rub trunks of young trees, damaging the tender tissue below that transports water and nutrients between the roots and leaves. Deer usually feed at dusk, but, as they become comfortable around people, they can often be seen dining during the day.

Voles are brown rodents that look similar to field mice with small ears and short tails. Their trails of disturbed grass found as the snow melts may be your first clue that they are present. These rodents are active year-round, unlike moles that hibernate in winter. They eat seeds, plant roots and bulbs, not insects like moles. As the snow recedes,

you may also notice bark damage on trees and shrubs. They leave quarter-inch, side-by-side grooves in the wood at the base of the plants.

Squirrels are fun to watch, that is until they eat all the birdseed and damage your plants. They dig bulbs and uproot other plants, eat and bury nuts in the lawn and garden, and take a bite out of tomatoes, strawberries and more. They damage trees by ripping off the bark and clipping off branches. If that wasn’t enough, they may gnaw on structures and furnishings. Treating the damaged area and a 12-inch radius around it with a repellent can help discourage more damage.

Chipmunks are active from spring through fall. They don’t hibernate but are inactive in winter, depending upon their food stash to survive. You will find them digging in potted plants, hanging baskets and rock walls. They eat grains,

nuts, berries, seeds, insects, mushrooms, carrion, young birds and bird eggs.

Their tunnels can be 20 to 30 feet long and are well hidden. The openings are only 2 inches in diameter with no surrounding mounds of soil.

Commercial and homemade scare tactics are an option. Unfor-

tunately, most of these critters have become accustomed to people and are not deterred. Motion-activated ones are a bit more effective, but make sure they are not annoying to you and your neighbors.

Fencing tight to the ground with a secure gate and at least 3 feet —

see GARDEN page 21

Damage to a tomato plant after being visited by a hungry critter.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MELINDAMYERS.COM

The mighty miniclover makes a comeback

There’s a high price to pay for that lush, green lawn many strive for. Outdoor water usage increases, synthetic chemical use is ever-present and fuel-guzzling lawn blowers and mowers sing all summer. Traditional lawn maintenance is expensive, unnatural, untenable. It increases greenhouse gasses, wastes water, pollutes ecosystems and reduces biodiversity.

Average American families use 320 gallons of water daily, about 30 percent outdoors, with more than half devoted to watering lawns and gardens, according to the federal EPA. Nationwide, landscape irrigation totals nearly 9 billion gallons of water daily.

Gas-powered lawn mowers spew pollutants that can cause planet-warming gases, contributing to climate crisis and drought.

According to the EPA, gas-powered lawn equipment releases more than 22 million tons of CO2 emissions, and over 17 million gallons of gasoline are spilled refueling lawn equipment. That’s more than all of the oil spilled by the Exxon Valdez.

It’s time to take a page from the past: Sowing clover seed can create a great-looking, water-efficient, sustainable lawn. Decades ago, clover was standard in lawn seed mixes. Then agricultural chemical companies created herbicides to rid lawns of broadleaf plants, killing everything but grass, clovers included, branding them weeds.

“Today, clover is making a comeback,” said Troy Hake, president and owner of Outsidepride.com, offering drought-tolerant

A miniclover lawn — drought-tolerant, simple, stunning and sustainable with low-to-no maintenance. PHOTO COURTESY OF OUTSIDEPRIDE.COM

Disc go

CVU’s Ruby Opton, left, makes a pass by Burlington’s Greta Larsen during the Redhawks’ loss to the Seahorses last Wednesday afternoon in Burlington. Below CVU’s Ella Polli makes a scoring grab during the Redhawks’ loss.

Diamond girls

Sports

Playing the field

CLOCKWISE (l to r): CVU’s Trevor Stumpff blocks out BFA’s Aaron Browning during the Redhawks’ 12-2 win over the Bobwhites on Friday afternoon in Hinesburg. Ronan Evans gets off a shot on goal. CVU’s Max Destito gets by BFA’s Keegan O’Bryan for a clear shot to

Don’t stress over breakfast

Hey Woodski!

I’m so tired of everyone telling me how important breakfast is when I just can’t eat in the morning. Whether it’s a school or game day, what are some good alternatives to snack on when I’m not ready for a full meal?

Breaky Achy, age 17 (female, hockey)

Dear Breaky Achy,

Let’s start with the elephant in the room that everyone seems to say: “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.”

There’s good research to back this up. The general recommendation is to put some food in your belly within two hours of getting up for the day. When I coached early morning fitness classes, I saw better results when people ate something small in advance.

But what you eat over the whole day is more important than

stressing over breakfast.

Listen to your hunger cues to know how important it is for you. Be proactive about knowing when you typically get hungry. And be prepared with healthy foods so you stay consistent.

In your specific situation, if eating light “to break the fast” feels right, start by thinking and speaking about it as a mini-meal. Even if it’s just a handful of nuts and half a banana, that’s a minimeal. It’s got carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats. A whole banana is not a mini-meal because it’s only carbohydrates. Other good alternatives are: hummus dip and veggies; Greek yogurt + fruit, nuts and cinnamon; even an on-the-go “brown-bag burrito” (Google it and keep it in a cold pack until you’re ready to eat). Adjust these ideas to your tastes and situation and find what works for you. Enjoy!

Steve Fuchs is a health coach at Steve Fuchs Health Coaching. Go to www.vermonthealthcoach.com to anonymously ask a question about things that affect your athletic performance, such as performance anxiety, workload balance, nutrition, willpower and procrastination.

The advice offered in this column is not intended to replace professional medical advice. It is advised that you talk to your doctor before making any changes in your diet, exercise or lifestyle choices.

the net. OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY

Next Week: Our states: Georgia

Crowning the King

Over the weekend of May 6-8, an important and historic event will take place in London, England. Charles, who became king when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away in September, will be crowned King Charles III in a ceremony that goes back more than 1,000 years.

This week, The Mini Page learns more about King Charles and the big events coming up in the United Kingdom. Isn’t

he already king?

Charles became king the moment his mother passed away. The ceremonies and celebrations taking place in May follow a time of mourning, or sorrow, after the queen’s death.

The coronation ceremony

The main event will take place on Saturday, May 6, at Westminster Abbey in London. The archbishop of Canterbury leads the service.

During the ceremony, the new sovereign (SAH-ver-un) (in this instance, the king) takes an oath. The wording can change; for instance, Queen Elizabeth swore to rule according to law and exercise justice with mercy.

The archbishop blesses the sovereign, and he is seated in King Edward’s chair, which

Try ’n’ Find

Mini Fact: King Charles III is 74 years old. His mother was 25 years old when she became queen.

has been used since 1626 for the ceremony. At that point, the king will receive St. Edward’s Crown on his head.

After the coronation ceremony, another, shorter, ceremony will be held to crown the queen consort, King Charles’ wife, Camilla.

The king and queen consort will return to Buckingham Palace in London in a parade with other members of the royal family.

Sunday, May 7, will include The Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle, one of the royal homes west of London. In addition, people all across the United Kingdom are encouraged to take part in the Coronation Big Lunch, getting together to support local charities and enjoy their communities.

On Monday, the Big Help Out will ask people to volunteer in their own communities. Organizers hope the charitable activities will carry on past the coronation weekend.

Words that remind us of the king’s coronation are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:

The emblem

The emblem shows the flora, or plants, of the four nations of the United Kingdom: the rose for England, the thistle for Scotland, the daffodil for Wales and the shamrock for Northern Ireland.

The natural forms combine within St. Edward’s Crown, which is used for the coronation of British monarchs.

Who’s next?

Who will be the king or queen when King Charles III dies or can no longer serve?

The heir apparent, or next in line to the throne, is William, Prince of Wales. He is King Charles’ oldest son.

Prince George, 9, is third in line to the British throne. George is the son of Prince William and his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales.

Resources

On the Web:

• royal.uk/about-coronation

At the library:

• “50 Facts About King Charles III” from Sovereign Island Publishing

• “Judy Moody and the Right Royal Tea Party” by Megan McDonald

Mini Jokes

Chuck: When is a king like a piece of wood?

Chauncey: When he’s a ruler!

Eco Note

Syndication

Founded by Betty Debnam Issue 16, 2023

CAMILLA, CEREMONY, CHAIR, CHARLES, CONSORT, CORONATION, CROWN, ENGLAND, FLORA, GEORGE, HEIR, KING, LONDON, LUNCH, MOURNING,

Queen Elizabeth II at her coronation in 1953.

King Charles III and his wife, Camilla, the queen consort.

King Edward’s Chair

William, Prince of Wales

image © 2023

The Coronation of King Charles III

image courtesy the Royal Household

image

GCIS

image Darkmaterial

and exercise justice with mercy. The archbishop blesses the sovereign, and he is seated in King Edward’s chair, which

Try ’n’ Find

communities. Organizers hope the charitable activities will carry on past the coronation weekend.

Words that remind us of the king’s coronation are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:

CAMILLA, CEREMONY, CHAIR, CHARLES, CONSORT, CORONATION, CROWN, ENGLAND, FLORA, GEORGE, HEIR, KING, LONDON, LUNCH, MOURNING, PARADE, QUEEN, SERVICE, SOVEREIGN, WILLIAM, WINDSOR.

Cook’s Corner

Tuna a la King

You’ll need:

• 1 (6.4-ounce) pouch tuna, drained

• 1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup

• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed

• 1/4 cup mushrooms, chopped

• salt and pepper to taste

What to do:

1. In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix well.

2. Cover and microwave on HIGH 4 minutes or until heated. Stir halfway through cooking.

3. Serve over rice, pasta or toast. Serves 4.

7 Little Words for Kids

Use the letters in the boxes to make a word with the same meaning as the clue. The numbers in parentheses represent the number of letters in the solution. Each letter combination can be used only once, but all letter combinations will be necessary to complete the puzzle.

1. where planes land (7)

2. you clean your mouth with it (10)

3. scratchy like sandpaper (5)

4. there are 12 in a foot (6)

5. sobbed (5)

6. room for cooking (7)

7. table and chairs (9)

Mini Jokes

Chuck: When is a king like a piece of wood?

Chauncey: When he’s a ruler!

Eco Note

A new Australian study finds that expanding seaweed farming around the world could help feed our growing human population and livestock, while also being a sustainable source of fuel. “Seaweed has great ... potential as a nutritious food and a building block for commercial products” like animal feed, plastics, fibers, diesel and ethanol, said researcher Scott Spillias from the University of Queensland. Millions of acres of ocean territory have already been identified around the world where at least 22 commercially viable species of seaweed could be harvested.

For later:

Look in your newspaper for articles about the coronation of King Charles III.

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

Answers: airport, toothbrush, rough, inches, cried, kitchen, furniture.

Peace of mind for families

What we do:

Stephen A. Unsworth, Esq.

Wendy

S Hillmuth, Esq.

Members of

Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys & National Association of Elder Law Attorneys.

Tips and tours for traveling with grandchildren

Dear Savvy Senior, My husband and I are interested in taking our two grandkids on a big trip this summer and are looking for some good ideas. Can you recommend some travel companies that offer special travel packages for grandparents and grandkids?

Doting Grandmother

Dear Doting, Grandparents traveling with just their grandchildren has become a growing segment of the multigenerational travel industry. Not only is this type of travel fun, it’s also a terrific way to strengthen generational bonds and create some lasting memories.

To help you with your traveling aspirations, there are a number of travel companies today that offer specialized grandparent/grandchildren and multigenerational trip packages. This is a nice way to go because they plan everything for you with most activities together, but some just for adults so you can get an occasional breather.

Available in various trip lengths and price ranges, these tours are designed for children,

By Jim Miller

typically between the ages of 6 and 18, and are usually scheduled in the summer, or sometimes during winter breaks when the kids are out of school. Here are some top tour companies to check into that will take you and your grandkids on a fun, well-planned vacation.

TRIP PACKAGES

Road Scholar (www.RoadScholar.org): This well-established not-for-profit organization has offered educational travel to older adults since 1975. It current-

ly offers 83 different programs geared to grandparents and grandchildren. About 75 percent of the grandparent trips are domestic; 25 percent are international.

Some of the many popular trip destinations include the U.S. National Parks, Washington D.C., Canada, France, Italy, Iceland, Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands. The average cost per person per night is around $265 for domestic trips, $365 for international.

Intrepid (www.IntrepidTravel.com): This is an adventure travel tour operator that offers “grandparent holiday” tours that bring together the young and the young at heart. They offer 35 one- and two-week tours in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, as well as in Alaska and Wyoming. To find these trips, go to www.Intrepidtravel.com/us/theme/family/ grandparents.

Tauck (www.Tauck.com):

This is a large tour operator that offers 19 foreign and domestic multigenerational trips called Tauck Bridges Family Tours. Some of the most popular trips are to Costa Rica, European riverboat cruises and to “Cowboy Country,” which tours you through Wyoming and South Dakota.

Smithsonian Journeys (www. SmithsonianJourneys.org): This offers 10 different family journey trips to Iceland, New Zealand, Italy, Greece, Japan, Ireland, Costa Rica, South Africa, Yellowstone and a Rhine River cruise.

Journeys International (www. JourneysInternational.com): fers customized multigenerational trips primarily to Africa, Asia,

Latin America and the Pacific. GRANDKIDS TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

Depending on where you go and your mode of transportation, you’ll need to gather some documents for your grandchildren to make sure everything goes smoothly. In general, most travel experts recommend you bring a notarized travel consent form (letter of permission from the parents), and a medical consent form in case any emergencies or problems arise. Also bring copies of insurance cards.

If you’re traveling domestically, you should know that airlines and trains don’t require any form of ID for children under 18. But if you’re traveling to Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, or other areas of the Caribbean by land or sea, grandchildren 15 and under will need certified copies of their birth certificates. And if your grandkids are 16 or older, or you’re traveling to these locations via air, passports will be required.

If you’re traveling overseas, all children, even infants, must have a passport. Some countries also require a visa for entry, and vaccinations may be required in some cases. Before booking a trip, check the U.S. Department of State’s website at www.Travel. State.gov for country-specific information.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit

CROSSWORD • SOLUTION ON PAGE 22

Almanac

TODAY’S HISTORY:

ANDREWS MCMEEL

• In 1902, Marie and Pierre Curie isolated the radioactive element radium for the first time.

• In 1946, the League of Nations officially dissolved.

• In 1999, two gun-wielding students killed 12 fellow students and a teacher at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.

• In 2010, a gas explosion and fire killed 11 people on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, beginning an oil spill that would not be capped for several months.

TODAY’S FACT:

• England sent criminals to Australia for forced labor and isolation from society well into the 19th century.

We’re proud of our smiles!

We believe that our state-of-the-art, impeccable skills; cheerful, approachable attitudes and ability to handle all your dental needs under one roof means a visit with us will always leave you with a beautiful smile.

Laurie Scribner — Celebration of Life

Please join Lucas and Danielle Scribner in a celebration of life for their mother Laurie Scribner on Saturday April 29 at the Old Brick Church in Williston from 1-4 p.m.

Please bring your favorite memory to share.

In lieu of flowers, please bring a contribution for the Williston Food Shelf or donate to your favorite charity.

Laurie leaves behind her children Lucas and Danielle Scribner; her mother Arlene Degree; brother Lawrence Degree; Marllene Bryant and his children; and grandchildren Steve, Liz, Emily, Michelle and Josie. She was predeceased by her husband Mark Scribner and Father Paul Degree. She passed Away on Oct. 9.

John Kenneth Marshall

On Thursday, April 13, 2023, John Kenneth Marshall, loving husband, father of three, grandfather of six passed away at age 73 at Niagara Hospice House, Lockport, NY with family by his side.

John was born on March 24, 1950 to Kenneth and Betty (Burchill) Marshall in North Tonawanda, NY. He married Deborah Gallagher in 1972 and together they raised their two daughters, Tanya Lynn and Shannon Faye and son Justin Gallagher.

John was an avid music lover and a collector of sports memorabilia. He was known for his dry humor, his rare smile, and his kind and compassionate spirit. John had a passion for radio contests and among his winnings was a meet and greet with George Strait in West Virginia and enjoying a Tom Petty concert at Fenway Park in Boston. He also won an ATV and after almost going through the garage wall and then racing into the street to oncoming traffic, Deb rapidly took the keys away.

Everyone knew that if The Twist was playing by Chubby Checker he couldn’t resist dancing. John would often tell those who would listen that he was cheap, but he also would easily say to his wife “whatever you want to do, Honeybunch.”

John was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife,

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JOB FAIR howardcenter.org

Deborah, his children Tanya Marshall (Randal ZuWallack) of Williston, VT, Shannon Lanz (James) of Irondequoit, NY and Justin (Jacqueline Porchia) of Williston, VT and grandchildren, Jack, Reid and Cole ZuWallack, Juliana Lanz and Blake and Brody Marshall. John is also survived by his siblings Marlene Bly (Michael), Howard (late Cheryl) Marshall and Jennie (Steve) Sliwinski.

A celebration of the life of this fine man will be held in the future; he will certainly be missed.

John generously donated his body to the University at Buffalo for anatomical education and medical research.

Community Bankers – Chittenden County

Temporary Positions Available

BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

There is no better time to join our Team!

Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest banking institution headquartered in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all. Consider joining our team as a Temporary Community Banker!

Relevant Skills:

• Customer Service • Cash Handling (we’ll train you!)

Even better… if you have prior banking experience, we encourage you to apply!

If you are 18 or older and have a high school diploma, general education (GED) degree, or equivalent, consider joining the NSB Team!

Please send an NSB Application & your resume in confidence to: Careers@nsbvt.com

Equal Opportunity Employer / Member FDIC

April 7 at 1:31 a.m.— Recovered a stolen vehicle. Vehicle was turned over to Burlington Police Department.

April 7 at 10:41 a.m.— Retail theft at Home Depot involving a stolen vehicle. Officers were unable to locate vehicle upon arrival.

April 8 at 10:30 p.m.— Suspicious vehicle on Williston Road. Upon investigation, it was discovered that a female, age 35, had an outstanding arrest warrant. She was

Garden

continued from page 12

preferably 4 feet — high is effective for preventing rabbit damage. Deer, on the other hand, need a much taller fence. Although they can jump 7 feet or higher, a 5-foot-6-inch fence is often enough to keep them out of smaller gardens. Sink fencing 4 to 6 inches into the ground to protect plants from voles.

Repellents labeled for controlling the critter that is causing the damage are another option. Organic Plantskydd (www.plantskydd.com) is labeled for repelling, not harming, all of these critters, so you only need one product. Since it is rain and snow resistant, you won’t need to apply it as often. Always read and

Clover

continued from page 13

grasses, clovers, wildflower seeds and more. “Tik Tok’s #cloverlawn has over 65 million views, evidencing it’s time for sustainable options, like adding ‘miniclover’ or replacing lawns with it.

“Miniclover (trifolium repens), is one-third to half the size of white Dutch clover, only grows 4-6 inches and produces a thick, carpet-like look that blends well with turf. Less expensive than grass seed, it’s a natural solution for self-sustaining, low-maintenance lawns that look beautiful and help eliminate the need for fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and weekly mowing. It’s healthier for people, pets, soil and waterways. You can’t go wrong with it.”

Anyone with a lawn can addin miniclover and redefine what sustainable lawns and responsi-

transported to the correctional facility.

April 9 at 2:00 a.m.— Following a motor vehicle stop, a male, age 34, was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.

April 9 at 12:58 p.m.— Assisted with locating a missing juvenile on Williston Road. Juvenile was returned home.

April 10 at 7:37 a.m.— Report of an out-of-control male on Porter-

wood Drive. Male was transported to the hospital for evaluation.

April 10 at 4:13 p.m.— Report of someone stealing packages from Maple Tree Place.

April 10 at 8:33 p.m.— Male trespassing in Marshalls was asked to move along.

April 11 at 2:15 p.m.— Report of a truck that was driving erratically. Officer found the vehicle and issued the male driver a ticket for driving with a suspended license.

April 11 at 3:19 p.m.— Retail theft reported at LL Bean. Case is still under investigation.

April 12 at 8:40 a.m.— Report of a female causing a disturbance in Walmart. Female was gone upon arrival.

April 12 at 4:31 p.m.— Retail theft at REI. Officer unable to locate individual. Case is still under investigation.

April 13 at 11:39 a.m.— Female acting strange in Best Buy. Employees stated she has stolen from them in the past. Upon arrival, it was discovered that a female, age 36, had an outstanding arrest warrant. She was issued a citation to appear in court.

April 13 at 2:18 p.m.— Assisted Marshalls with trespassing a fe -

male from the store.

April 13 at 4:15 p.m.— Retail theft reported at Walmart. A male, age 33, was issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

Officers from the Williston Police Department also conducted 24 traffic stops and responded to 6 alarm activations and 6 motor vehicle crashes during this time frame.

SALES EXECUTIVE

Award-winning group of community weeklies with offices in Stowe, Morrisville and South Burlington seeks a sales person. Ideal candidate should have a basic knowledge of the local towns, business and communities we serve. A proven track record in sales and an ability to offer topnotch customer service is a required. In addition to servicing established accounts, candidate must be able to generate sales from qualified leads as well as establish new ones. Our company offers health benefits, vacation time, and provides on the job training in newspapers sales. Generous base salary during training and ideal hours (few nights or weekends). If you possess these qualifications and would like to be considered, please send your resume and cover letter to: Bryan Meszkat at bryan@newsandcitizen.com.

follow label directions for the most effective control.

A bit of defensive action goes a long way in protecting your gardens and landscape from hungry critters.

ble lawn care looks like. Sales of miniclover rose dramatically last season, surely an indicator that this lawn renovation trend was well-received and continues to grow.

BENEFITS OF MINICLOVER

• Nitrogen fixer. Miniclover takes nitrogen from the air and “fixes” it in soil, eliminating the need to apply nitrogen, keeping lawns green and growing while adding natural nitrogen to surrounding soil.

• Drought tolerant. Miniclover is drought-tolerant and can stay green all summer with minimal watering.

• Deters bugs. Grubs that feed on grass roots will not eat miniclover, and adult beetles and bugs are deterred from laying eggs in it.

• Crowds out weeds. Miniclover is evenly dispersed via stolons (stems grow horizontally along the ground), crowding out

Melinda Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Tree World Plant Care to write this article. Her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.

weeds, preventing new weeds and controlling erosion.

• Low-to-no maintenance. You can mow miniclover – the more it’s cut, the smaller the leaf size – or let it grow. Miniclover only blooms once in summer, providing bees with nectar.

• Thrives in sun to partial shade. Miniclover does well in partial shade that receives some direct sunshine daily.

• Stands up to soil and subsoil compaction.

• Immune to “dog patches.” Dog urine discolors lawns, but miniclover stays green and lush.

• Feels soft and springy on bare feet and looks like ordered whimsy.

So ... what’s not to like? For other drought-tolerant options, visit Outsidepride.com.

— Family Features

Community Bankers – Chittenden County

BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

There is no better time to join our Team!

Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest banking institution headquartered in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all. Consider joining our team as a Part Time Community Banker!

Relevant Skills:

• Customer Service • Cash Handling (we’ll train you!) Even better… if you have prior banking experience, we encourage you to apply!

If you are 18 or older and have a high school diploma, general education (GED) degree, or equivalent, consider joining the NSB Team!

What NSB Can Offer You

Competitive compensation based on experience. Profit-Sharing opportunity. Excellent 401(k) matching retirement program. Positive work environment supported by a team culture. Opportunity for professional development.

Please send an NSB Application & your resume in confidence to: Careers@nsbvt.com

Although Peter Rabbit may look adorable in your garden, if you’re not interested in sharing your harvest, a 5-foot-6-inch fence might be your best defense. CONTIBUTED PHOTO

Sales Associate

Richmond Mobil Mart

If your friendly, dependable, and enjoy doing a variety of tasks

F/T, P/T, Flexible hours, days, nights, wk/ends. Hourly pay based on experience

Benefits and training

Apply in person: 1436 w Main St , Exit 11 Call: 802.434.3818 or

Email: rmm@gmavt.net

FOR SALE

HARLEY 2004 ROAD KING CLASSIC — $6,500. Dusty gold and black paint. In excellent condition. LED headlights and tail light. DynoJet ECM programmer. Has user manual and shop manual. Contact pete@digitalfool.com, 802-343-7605.

LEGAL

TOWN OF WILLISTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA

Tuesday, May 9, 2023 – 7 PM

Town Hall Meeting Room (Town Hall, 7900 Williston Road, use rear entrance) or Zoom Meeting ID 846 5863 3532 on zoom.us/join or call 1-646-558-8656

DP 23-14 Dar Gibson requests a

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

PUZZLE FOUND ON PAGE 19

SUDUKO SOLUTION

PUZZLE FOUND ON PAGE 19

discretionary permit to modify access at 16 Old Stage Rd in the VZD.

DP 20-03.2 U-Haul c/o Jeffery Vaine request a Master Sign Plan amendment to create a combined MSP for their existing store located at 4964 Williston Rd and their proposed adjacent 17,780 SF facility at Robear Lot 2 in the IZDW.

Project details and site plans are available on the website, town.williston.

vt.us, under “Public Records and Documents”, then “Agendas & Minutes”, and “Development Review Board”. Contact Planning & Zoning Office for more information: 802-878-6704 or email planning@willistonvt.org

LEGAL

TOWN OF WILLISTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA

Tuesday, April 25, 2023 – 7:00 PM

Town Hall Meeting Room (Town Hall,

7900 Williston Road, use rear entrance) or Zoom Meeting ID 846 5863 3532 on zoom. us/join or call 1-646-558-8656

DP 23-12 U-Haul Moving & Storage c/o Jeffery Vaine request a discretionary permit for their proposed 17,780 SF warehouse facility and associated parking at 5038 Williston Road facility in the Industrial Zoning District West (IZDW).

DP 17-01.5 Northridge Williston, LLC request a discretionary permit for their proposed community elements including a pool, pool house, playground, and sports field at Kadence Circle in the Northridge Subdivision in the Residential Zoning District (RZD).

Project details and site plans are available on the website, town.williston.vt.us, under “Public Records and Documents”, then “Agendas & Minutes”, and “Development Review Board”. Contact Planning & Zoning Office for more information: 802878-6704 or email planning@willistonvt. org

To place a classified or service directory ad, email rick@willistonobserver.com or call 802-373-2136

Community Bankers - Chittenden County BUILDERS I MAKERS I DOERS

There is no better time to join our team!

Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest banking institution headquartered in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all. Are you looking to start or continue a career in the finance industry? Consider joining our team as a Community Banker!

Job Responsibilities & Requirements

This frontline position is crucial in creating a positive, welcoming and inclusive experience for NSB customers. The successful candidate for NSB customers. The successful candidate will have exceptional customer service and communication skills. The Community Banker will be responsible for receiving and processing customers’ financial transactions as well as opening and maintaining customer accounts and services. We are looking for someone who can develop and maintain relationships with our valued customers, protect bank and customer information, and uphold customer confidentiality. A high school diploma, general education degree (GED), or equivalent is required.

If you have customer service, previous cash handling, or banking experience we encourage you to apply!

Opportunity for Growth

NSB has training opportunities to engage employees and assist with professional development within our company. The average years of service for an NSB employee is 9! If you’re looking for a career in an environment that promotes growth, join our team!

What NSB Can Offer You

Competitive compensation based on experience. Well-rounded benefits package. Profit-Sharing opportunity. Excellent 401(k) matching retirement program. Commitment to professional development. Opportunities to volunteer and support our communities. Work-Life balance!

We understand the importance of having evenings and weekends with our friends, families, and the communities we serve!

Please send an NSB Application & your resume in confidence to: Careers@nsbvt.com or mail to:

Northfield Savings Bank Human Resources PO Box 7180, Barre, VT 05641

SUPPORT FOR CHANGE LAWN CARE

Mowing, Lawn & Garden Clean-Up, Redesign, Plantings, Mulching, Aeration, Dethatching, Debris Haul Away, Tree & Shrub Trim...

Whatever else your yard needs!

Call Anthony Burds

802-777-9131

TRANSITION

Life, Career, Retirement, Moving, or End-of-Life Support

Judy F. Carr, Ed.D. 802.487.8077 - jcarrvt@gmail.com

Winooski, Vermont & Virtually www.TransitionDoula.org

Conversation – Education - Advocacy

ANTIQUES WANTED

Brian Bittner • 802-489-5210 • info@bittnerantiques.com Showroom at 2997 Shelburne Rd • Shelburne

Wed-Sat, with walk-ins to sell every Thursday. www.bittnerantiques.com

POOLS

Now Scheduling Spring 2023

Pool Openings & Closings, Liner Changes, Leak Detection and more www.deltapoolcompany.com email: info@deltapoolcompany.com phone: (802) 448-2640

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Specializing in Low-Pressure Vinyl Siding Washes Washing Decks, Gutters, Patios, Walkways & More

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Owner operated - Call Greg Mack

802-238-3386

Toggling on the flashing lights

Fulfilling childhood dreams on a ride-along with K9 Duke and Officer Cohen

BY KAREN STURTEVANT Special to the Observer

When I was a kid, our television entertainment selection was pretty limited. If three channels were available (with the aid of “rabbit ears” and tin foil added), we were lucky. One show that imprinted on my adolescent brain was “Adam-12,” a police drama. How my excitement grew when I heard that wailing siren and saw the flashing lights. Catching the bad guys with Officers Pete Mallow and Jim Reed while listening to coded police speak was excitement for an impressionable girl in the 1970s.

Policing in 2023, compared to 50 years ago, may be different in procedures, tools available and technology, but the core goal has remained the same: to protect and serve. Having been a Williston resident for the past 20-plus years, I have come to appreciate our local law enforcement — so much so that Officer Matt Cohen and I teamed up to write a children’s story book, “K9 Duke The Comfort Dog,” showcasing the good work of K9 Duke, the most adorable Labrador, and his handler, Officer Cohen.

When the opportunity arose to accompany Officer Cohen and K9 Duke on a ridealong, my 8-year old self rejoiced. I arrived with donuts (pardon the cliché’) at morning roll call, and we were soon on the road. If the

“Adam-12” officers could see the technology in today’s police cruisers, wouldn’t they Matt be impressed — a laptop connected to the world, toggles, buttons and switches.

Our morning began with a school meeting regarding a juvenile issue. After that, we wandered the hallways while students and staff greeted K9 Duke with pats and praise.

Next, we decided to try to make progress on one of the active, open cases that filled the computer screen. Officer Cohen made an unexpected visit to a possible suspect. I nervously watched from the car as he engaged the person in conversation, gathering information. K9 Duke quietly napped in the back. I was especially impressed with Officer Cohen’s professionalism as he fished for missing pieces needed for resolution.

A certified Drug Recognition Expert, Officer Cohen spoke at length of how the narcotics scene in Vermont has changed. The little kid in me asked about probable cause, suspicion and warrants –– all vocabulary learned from “Adam-12.” He answered, both formally, quoting doctrine, and informally, as if in casual conversation that a child could understand and an adult could appreciate.

The morning was in full motion with a constant, annoying request from a certain rider (hello, self) to “push the button for the lights”–– an activity my younger self has yearned to do ever since I saw my first episode of that long-ago TV police show. At last, my time had arrived. As we waited, Officer Cohen spotted an outdated inspection sticker. It was my time to shine!

“This one?” I asked, pointing to a toggle. “Yes, that one!” Officer Cohen replied. “All the way over? … Karen, do it!” And I did. Just like that, in a moment frozen in time, grinning like a crazy person, I was a little kid again.

I learned that, at times, outcomes can be altered based on the discretion of an officer. Numerous factors, based on the offense, can determine the difference between a ticket or a warning. In this incident, the cooperative driver smiled as she waved goodbye, happy with a warning in lieu of an expensive fine. One more trip back to the school, a stop at a local car dealership, another pull-over and an assist on a vehicle disabled on a busy road filled the morning. Visiting Home Depot for a real-time training session with K9 Duke was the pinnacle. Officer Cohen and Duke will visit local businesses, offering new sounds, smells and distractions for Duke to process during obedience training. He did not disappoint.

And, just like that, my time was over — probably to a quietly relieved Officer Cohen. With sincere appreciation, I would like to thank the Williston Police Department for its hard work in keeping our little part of the world safe. Choosing a career in law enforcement isn’t for the weak in heart or mind. The next time you see a law enforcement official, shake their hand and thank them for their service.

Every once in a while I’ll search for “Adam-12” online and watch through the eyes of a young girl who wanted, once upon a time, to push the button for the flashing lights.

A bark in the park — Willison police officer Cohen and K9 Duke. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO