Williston Observer 07/13/23

Winooski floods north Williston

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

The storm bore no name, lacking the cohesion of its 2011 predecessor Irene. But it packed an equal punch.

After flooding Montpelier on Monday (See story, Page 4), the deluge flowed down the Winooski River into Williston on Tuesday. Like it did during Tropical Storm Irene and does during occasional heavy spring runoff, the river overflowed its banks near the intersection of North Williston Road and Route 117.

On Monday evening, Williston Fire Department Deputy Chief Tim Gerry went door to door encouraging residents of the low-lying areas around North Williston Road — including Fay Lane and Chapman Lane — to evacuate. Meanwhile, firefighters at Williston Central School were setting up a temporary shelter.

This “voluntary evacuation” was not exactly heeded, and no Williston residents took shelter at the school.

“It was a little confusing,” Williston Fire Department Capt. Prescott Nadeau acknowledged.

see FLOODING page 24

Free meals offered in flood relief; donations needed

Free meals will be distributed this Thursday and Friday at the Richmond Congregational Church, 20 Church St., to help those affected by flooding.

Meals will be available from 4-6 p.m.

Donations of grab-and-go food items and bottled water are needed. Donations can be dropped off at the church between 12-3 p.m. Thursday and Friday, at Palmer Lane Maple on Route 15 in Jericho and at Trinity Baptist Church of Mountain View Road in Williston.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: North Williston Road is flooded Tuesday morning near the Essex town line. Route 2 has water on it near the WillistonRichmond town line. A sign marks the closure of North Williston Road. The hydro-dam at the town line with Essex Junction rages.

Around Town

Fund in 2007 and since then has raised money every year to support area residents in need of help staying warm.

Richmond under boil water notice

The Richmond Water Resources Department issued a boil water notice for Richmond residents Tuesday after floodwaters entered a water pump station.

“There is a strong possibility that your drinking water supply may become contaminated on the way to the tap,” the notice states.

Residents are advised not to drink tap water without first boiling it and letting it cool. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.

PROPERTY TRANSFERS JUNE 2023

• Christine Sears bought a condominium on Rita Road from Kelley Scannell for $162,500.

• Seon Wha Sung bought a condominium on Maidstone Lane from the Cynthia L. Coy Revocable Living Trust for $699,000.

• Atwood Holdings LLC bought a .3-acre lot on Caroline Court from Adams Real Properties LLC for $140,000.

• John Morse bought a condominium on Zephry Road from Joanna Cole for $361,000.

• Lynn Coody bought a home on Churchview Drive from Martha Shoemaker for $580,000.

Rotary awards grant for heating fuel assistance

At its annual leadership changeover gathering in late June, the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club awarded a grant of $2,500 to the Split the Ticket Fund, a program that matches financial

contributions with donations of heating oil, kerosene and propane from local energy providers.

Matt Cota of the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association accepted the donation from outgoing Rotary president Sally Stockwell Metro. The club was instrumental in the founding of the Split the Ticket

“This boil water notice will remain in effect until damage from flooding can be assessed and the system is able to demonstrate that the quality and quantity of the drinking water meets state and federal drinking water standards,” the notice states.

For more information, contact Richmond Town Manager Josh Arneson at (802) 316-7563.

• Rita Rivers bought a condominium on Eastview Circle from Lois McGuire for $353,000.

• Scott Batdorf bought a home on 7 acres on Mountain View Road from the Peggy W. Larson Trust for $538,500.

• Kelly Kimball bought a condominium on Bittersweet Circle from Kenneth Morton Jr., for $434,500.

• John Adams bought 6 acres of open land on Old Stage Road from Elizabeth Ezerman for $120,000.

• Pema Lama bought a home on Chloe Circle from Northridge-Williston LLC for $869,518.

• Matthew Dufresne bought a condominium on Eastview Circle from Tashina Williams for $346,000.

• Frank Guadagnini bought a home on Kirby Lane from Prati Gurung for $480,000.

• Stuart Kowarsky bought a home on 2 acres on Terrace Drive from Orlando Bru for $930,000.

• Evan Harrison bought a home on Katie Lane from Larry Parah for $739,900.

Property Transfers sponsored by

Matt Cota, founder and volunteer director of the Split the Ticket Fund, accepts a Rotary Club donation check from Sally Stockwell Metro.

OBSERVER PHOTO BY RICK COTE

Selectboard sets new tax rate

Celebrating First Strides

BY TAYLOR ANTONIOLI Special to the Observer

Despite pouring rain, thunder and the threat of lightning, First Strides Vermont met in the Village Community Park on a recent Wednesday evening.

First Strides Vermont is a summertime beginner running and/or walking program that is in its 20th season. Michele Morris started the Vermont chapter in 2004, basing it on the original First Strides founded by Jane Serues in Pennsylvania.

About 100 participants joined this year, with each of them in one of eight groups led by two mentors.

June 14 was supposed to be one of the days they met for their 12-week training, but the weather prevented any running from occurring. Mentors Kim Luebbers and Eileen McCoy said the group still meets to take attendance on rainy evenings, then makes the call on if it’s safe to run.

There are purely walking groups and purely running groups, which are broken up by pace. While some in their first year might simply walk or hope to show up each week, often, if they return for a second year, their goals will

evolve to be timed.

“I think it’s about making movement a sustainable goal in a supportive way — to be able to reach as many women as possible to come together to meet that goal and to meet everybody where we’re at,” McCoy said.

Mentors aim to support everyone in the group no matter what level they’re at and to support whatever their goals are, Luebbers said.

Luebbers said joining First Strides has taught her how to run and do it safely — and to enjoy it. She even started doing half marathons and became a mentor to “give back to this group who catalyzed my running,” despite her originally hating to run.

McCoy also hated to run before she joined. She was originally just a participant, but became a mentor three years in.

In reflection of First Strides Vermont’s motto, “It doesn’t matter where you start, only that you start,” she said: “Well, it’s pouring rain tonight and we’re going to show up for each other, check in with each other and make an action plan no matter what.”

While this season of First Strides ends July 19, the participants are excited with the progress they’ve made and can’t wait for next year.

Williston’s tax rate for the new fiscal year was set at the end of June at 0.3362 That means property owners will be assessed 33.6 cents for every $100 of assessed property value to support the $13.9 million annual town budget that voters approved at Town Meeting Day in March.

The new tax rate is a slight decrease from the rate town administrators estimated in the leadup to Town Meeting Day. At that time, the estimate was 0.3391 — or 33.9 cents per $100 of assessed value. Last year’s tax rate was 0.3068.

The new tax rate is an increase of roughly 3 cents per $100 of assessed value over last year, costing the owner of a $300,000 home, for example, an additional $90 on their annual property tax bill.

The selectboard approved the new tax rate at its June 28 meeting. The town plans to send out tax bills in mid-July with an Aug. 15 due date on the first payment.

The lower-than-anticipated rate can be attributed to larger-than-anticipated growth in the town’s Grand List — the total taxable value of property in town — according to Williston Finance Director Shirley Goodell-Lackey. During budget formation, town administrators used a conservative estimate of Grand List growth of $5 million, or .25 percent.

According to Assessor Bill Hinman, the actual Grand List growth over the past fiscal year was $24 million, or 1.1 percent. Williston enters the new fiscal year with a Grand List of $2.147 billion.

— Jason Starr

The Dog Days of Summer

The women of First Strides Vermont gather on a rainy evening in June at Village Community Park. OBSERVER PHOTO BY TAYLOR ANTONIOLI

Flooding from around Vermont

In Montpelier, stranded motorists, worried shop owners

BY ERIN PETENKO AND FRED THYS

VTDigger

As the floodwaters slowly receded from State Street on Tuesday, the roof of a car parked in the middle of an intersection was just barely visible. The car’s owners stood on higher ground nearby. They had hatched a plan to walk to Stowe, a roughly 15-mile hike through the mountains.

Melissa Marcoux, one part of the pair, said they were coming back from New Hampshire on Monday when detour signs started popping up along their route. When they reached State Street, the floodwater “just kind of came out of nowhere,” she said.

They had to crawl out of their car window in order to escape.

“Don’t worry, I locked it,” she noted wryly.

Countless other people stuck in Vermont’s capital, home to some

8,000 people, had their own tales to tell on Tuesday about navigating the storm, from braving torrential rains on Monday to traversing its deluged streets the morning after, when much of the downtown’s firstfloor homes and businesses were submerged.

An emergency order closed the area for much of the day and amid surreal scenes of so-called “kayak fairies” paddling the city’s streets to assist strangers in need. Thousands worried about the Wrightsville Dam on the North Branch of the Winooski River, where floodwaters threatened to breach the dam for the first time in its nearly 90-year history. Small business owners suffered devastating damage to their storefronts. And at least a half-dozen households, including one made up of two adults and an infant, needed emergency rescue.

In the case of Marcoux and her

CLOCKWISE (from top left): People run through heavy rain as they cross Route 100 in Rochester on Monday.

PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

Flooding destroyed the bridge at Lawrence Hill Road in Weston’s village center on Monday.

PHOTO BY PATRICK CROWLEY/VTDIGGER

A torrent of water crosses Route 103 in Ludlow on Monday.

PHOTO BY ETHAN WEINSTEIN/VTDIGGER

An antique truck parked in a field is nearly covered by water from the Williams River in Ludlow along Route 103 on Monday.

PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

A damaged section of Route 100 between Ludlow and Weston on Monday.

PHOTO BY ETHAN WEINSTEIN/VTDIGGER

Kayakers paddle through the flooded intersection of State and Main streets in Montpelier on Tuesday. PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

see MONTPELIER page 21

Richmond evacuates homes, closes town offices

BY AUDITI GUHA VTDigger

As the Winooski River invaded downtown Richmond, homes were evacuated and town offices were closed.

“The water was rising fairly rapidly,” said Town Manager Josh Arneson on Tuesday. “We just wanted to be cautious and keep staff and people away from those buildings.”

Residents walked by during the day to survey the flooded Bridge Street, which closed Monday evening when the Winooski River engulfed the banks of Volunteers Green by the bridge.

Some homes along Bridge Street remained flooded Tuesday afternoon, and water was being pumped out of a window in the Town Hall basement. The post office, behind the hall, was also closed, and the parking lot inundated with water.

At a nearby house, George Gifford waited in a green canoe to give Julie Eschholz a ride to dry ground around 2:30 p.m.

The water was within inches of the hatchway but the basement was still dry, said Bill Eschholtz, who was waiting for his wife across a submerged backyard. “It was a little bit worse during Irene,” he said.

Julie Eschholz said she grew up

in the house, and her elderly parents still live there. They were evacuated by Richmond Rescue and the fire department early Tuesday. “They were incredible in the pouring rain,” she said, referring to the rescue crew.

After disembarking from the canoe by the red brick Town Hall, Es-

abundance of caution,” according to Arneson. “We’re going to be testing as soon as we can to see where we’re at and hopefully take that off soon.”

Stone’s Throw Pizza across the river remained closed Tuesday. Owner Tyler Stratton, who was worried about the restaurant flooding the day before, said the garden, biergarten, and picnic table area outside were washed out, but water had not entered the building. His restaurants in Fairfax, Charlotte and Waterbury had also fared all right. Speaking by phone at his Waterbury restaurant, Stratton said he was feeling hopeful and firing up the oven to bake cheese pies for whoever wanted one.

chholz said that during the flood of 1927, water reached the second floor windows. When Tropical Storm Irene hit, the basement flooded up to the rafters. In comparison, Eschholz concluded, this isn’t so bad.

Noting that the water level had receded since the morning, Gifford said he was planning to help residents pump out their basements. “It’s hard to tell what the damage is until you get the cellars pumped out,” he said.

A boil water notice went out on Tuesday morning for Richmond residents. It was posted out of “an

“There will be cleanup but I’m happy the dam held in Montpelier and hope it will continue to hold through the week,” he said.

The flooding led to multiple road closures in Richmond. But beyond the submerged parking lots and yards around Bridge Street, town officials said they do not yet know of any other major property damage or emergencies in town.

If the water level continues to drop, Arneson hopes the town offices can open this week.

He advised residents to stay in place as much as possible.

“It’s hard to tell what the damage is until you get the cellars pumped out.”

George Gifford Richmond

Flooding in Richmond on Tuesday.

PHOTO BY AUDITI GUHA/VTDIGGER

GUEST COLUMN

Why I’m suing Monsanto on behalf of our state and schools

CHARITY CLARK

Vermont Attorney General

Like many Vermonters, I have a deep connection to Vermont’s forests, clean water and green landscape. I grew up hiking and skiing in our beautiful Green Mountains, swimming in our rivers and ponds, and watching sunsets over Lake Champlain. I believe that when bad actors poison our natural resources, they are harming the soul of Vermont and they must be held accountable.

Monsanto manufactured, marketed, distributed and sold toxic and dangerous chemical compounds called polychlori-

nated biphenyls, or PCBs, from 1929 to 1977. PCB products were sold, including in Vermont, for use in household and business products like paints, caulks, inks, dyes, paper products, sealants, fi reproofi ng and electrical equipment. The result is that Vermont’s surface waters and aquatic wildlife have been contaminated with PCBs.

Lake Champlain is severely contaminated with PCBs, and there are fi sh advisories for lake trout taken from Lake Champlain. Not only that, but our statewide PCB testing program has shown that many Vermont schools are also contaminated and will require remediation. As

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Monsanto knew, PCBs inevitably volatilize and leach, leak and escape from their intended applications and products, contaminating runoff during storm and rain events. And PCBs persist in the natural environment rather than break down over time.

This is why I have sued Monsanto on behalf of Vermont’s environment, schools, our children and future generations. I am leveraging the full force of my office to hold Monsanto accountable for knowingly creating and distributing PCBs.

I’m proud that Vermont is the fi rst state in the country to stand up a statewide school testing program. School testing will

provide further insights into additional schools that will need to be remediated.

As Vermont’s school testing program continues, we expect the number of contaminated schools to grow. Vermonters should know that I intend to turn over every rock and search for every penny to get Vermont the most funding possible to help remediate. Vermont taxpayers should not have to bear the full cost of cleaning up someone else’s mess.

Of course, there are no guarantees in litigation, and this could be a long fight, but, as your Attorney General, I am in this for the long haul. We know from

past lawsuits against bad actors that the money we are able to recoup may not be enough. But we must hold Monsanto accountable for the harm that it has caused to this state we all love.

As Attorney General, I take very seriously my role of protecting Vermont and Vermonters, and I will work as hard as I can to achieve the best result possible for our state. As a mother of a school-aged child, as a Vermonter, and especially as your Attorney General, I will always fight to protect Vermont’s environment.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

No fun on the Fourth

Why was the Fourth of July parade so lame? I find it really sad that a handful of people make up the rules for everyone else.

So you can’t squirt water, you can’t blow horns and no music is allowed in our parade? Who said that is OK? Who wants boring parades? What happened to having fun on the Fourth with the parade?

Whoever created these rules needs to rethink what they have done to our Fourth of July parade.

Melissa LaFrance Williston

Book sale gratitude

A very big thank you to all the community volunteers, including Boy Scout troop 692, for their help with the Friends of the Library book sale. Volunteers helped sort books in June, set up tables for the sale, hauled 467 boxes of books from the library to the school and set the books out on the tables for display. They also worked and helped at the actual book sale and broke it down on the afternoon of July Fourth.

Perhaps the biggest thank you goes to all the people who donated books for the sale. It wouldn’t happen without you.

The book sale made $7,595, which the Friends of the Library will use to support library programs throughout the year.

Ann Park Secretary/Treasurer

Charity Clark lives in Williston.

Friends of the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library

Armadillos advance over Warthogs SPORTS

CLOCKWISE (l to r): Williston’s Eli Roque makes the play at short during the Armadillos’ win over the Waterbury Warthogs on Sunday, June 18 at Williston Central School. Todd Johnson fields a ground ball to first. Reid Crosby barrels up a pitch.

The sleepy town of Popcorn Falls has been forced into bankruptcy and their last chance is a large grant that can only be used if the town opens a theater and produces a play in a week. One big problem: no playhouse. Another problem: no play. Two actors play over twenty roles in a world of farce, love, and desperation, proving once and for all that art can save the world.

GREATER BURLINGTON’S PROFESSIONAL SUMMER THEATER

OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY

Birdies and eagles sighted at Senior Golf Championship

CLOCKWISE (l to r) : Elaine Percy from Lakeside Golf Club celebrates a birdie at the 11th hole in the 2023 Vermont State Womens’ Golf Association Senior Championship at the Williston Golf Club on Wednesday. Nancy Sanborn from the Williston Golf Club hits her second shot at the 10th. An official goes over a few details with the first group to tee off. Sanborn makes a short putt. Jane Grayson of Vermont National Country Club chips onto the green.

When you shop for yourself, Remember the Shelf!

A recipe for success in youth sports

Hey Woodski!

Adults keep telling me I should play multiple sports, but I just want to concentrate on one. Is that bad?

All-In To Hoops, age 15 (male, basketball)

Dear All-In To Hoops,

If you like food the way that Woodski likes food, you’re going to love this: Quick, name one of your favorite foods that has five or more ingredients. Got it? Now, imagine that one ingredient is missing and suddenly you hate the taste. Blah! Yuck!

Concentrating on one sport is like that. You need ALL the ingredients to focus on one sport

successfully.

The single most important ingredient in this recipe is passion and love for your sport. If anything else motivates you the most, then you’re asking for trouble. For example, if your primary reason to focus on one sport is to maybe get a future scholarship, check yourself. It’s OK to dream for a scholarship, but it shouldn’t be the main reason for playing.

Second ingredient: skills and fundamentals training in your favorite sport.

Third ingredient: age-appropriate strength and conditioning exercises for all muscle groups.

Fourth ingredient: full recovery (sleep, restful downtime, frequent stretching, breaks from

your sport, etc).

Fifth ingredient: an abundance of healthy lifestyle habits (such as emotional control, self-love, being able to ask for help, good nutrition, keeping it fun — don’t obsess over random mistakes, etc).

Do you have all five ingredients?

If not (or you’re not sure), work with your support team to make plans to get each one. Your support team could include parents, coaches, healthcare professionals, experienced athletes, friends, athletic trainers, mentors, etc.

If you’re not able to commit to working on all these ingredients consistently with the help of your support team, then playing multiple sports is probably better for you. Why? Because if you don’t have all the ingredients, you risk burnout or injury when you concentrate only on one sport. Yuck!

However, if you can commit to working on all these ingredients consistently with the help of your support team, you’ll be happier and a better athlete no matter if you play one or multiple sports.

Enjoy creating your recipe and keep Woodski posted.

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 Williston Community Food Shelf is seeing a large and increasing number of clients (over 300 families per month!)

RFK Jr. visits South Burlington for think tank speech

AUBREY WEAVER Community News Service

In the chandelier-adorned ballroom of South Burlington’s DoubleTree Hilton, several hundred folks from Vermont and elsewhere gathered in late June to hear from a longtime household name.

Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke that night as part of the Gen. John Stark lecture series hosted by the Ethan Allen Institute, the small-government conservative think tank named for one of Vermont’s founding fathers.

Kennedy, the nephew of President John F. Kennedy and son of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, is one of two challengers to President Joe Biden in the 2024 Democratic primary, joining author Marianne Williamson.

“He’s a familiar name — my parents loved his family, and I think Vermonters should listen, just listen and hear what he’s trying to say,” said attendee Judith McLaughlin, 65, of Franklin, who lost bids for the Vermont Senate in 2010 and 2012, first as a Republican, then as an independent.

Recent polling has Kennedy’s Democratic support against Biden between 15-20 percent. Many of the attendees who spoke to Community News Service said they had come because they plan to vote for Kennedy or are considering his candidacy as an option.

Amid a sea of cocktails and business attire stood one attendee sporting a Kennedy 2024 campaign t-shirt and button. If you looked

closely, you might’ve noticed her “RFK Jr.” necklace and matching bracelet, custom made by a close friend, she said. When it comes to Kennedy, Joanne Clemens is all in.

“Absolutely, I’ll be voting for him. There are no questions about it. I’m an early supporter. I actually designed my own yard sign,” said Clemens, 63.

Clemens lives in Newburyport, Mass. She said she attended Kennedy’s campaign announcement in Boston Park Plaza in April and drove the 200 miles to see him speak in South Burlington.

Clemens said she voted for Biden in 2020. These days, she said, “I would vote the other party before I vote for Biden again.”

Why? It came down to Covid, she said. During the height of the pandemic, she spent winters in Florida for its comparatively lax rules, finding out along the way that she liked how Gov. Ron DeSantis approached policy. She hopes DeSantis doesn’t succeed in his own push for the presidency, as a Republican, “because I actually like the fact that he’s governor of Florida because that’s where I spend my winters.”

Kennedy has been criticized by media commentators and even had his campaign announcement video removed from YouTube, due to his support for the widely discredited claim that vaccines cause autism.

The candidate didn’t mention that stance during the speech, but even if he had, some attendees didn’t seem to care about his views on vaccines.

“I know that some people say

he’s a conspiracy theorist, but I sort of buy into (the mantra that) ‘everything that you disagree with sometimes ends up being a conspiracy,’” said McLaughlin, the Franklin resident.

When asked about the YouTube video takedown, Chittenden County attorney Peter Schubart, 56, said he found the move somewhat suspect.

“It seemed like he was positing a valid theory that warranted more examination that, for whatever reason, was taken down,” he said.

In an email to Community News Service, Kennedy’s campaign press team said that “his stance has not changed, although vaccines are not a major emphasis of the campaign.”

Williamson, the other Democratic candidate, has slammed the administration in the press for so far not agreeing to hold primary debates; Kennedy earlier this year

described the situation as “unfortunate.” No incumbent since President Gerald Ford has participated in primary debates.

Some attendees interviewed at the South Burlington event agreed with the two challengers: They would like to see open primary debates for the 2024 election, despite it being unusual for incumbent elections.

“Are you kidding? It’s unconstitutional — it’s undemocratic — not to have a debate,” said Clemens. “But the whole question is whether the (Democratic National Committee) will allow him to be in the primary. That will be the biggest test of our democracy that we will see in years.”

Before Kennedy’s turn at the podium, Ethan Allen Institute board chair Jack McMullen spoke about the controversial clean heat bill that became law last month with a legislative override of Gov. Phil Scott’s veto.

“We are eager to hear Mr. Kennedy’s views on appropriate free market and fair solutions for carbon emissions reduction,” McMullen said. “Perhaps his advice will eventually have an influence on our representatives in Montpelier.”

Kennedy, who in a moment of humor told the audience he had lost a tooth implant he’s had for 60 years right before his presentation, spoke at length about the dangers of lost natural resources and how his solution — focused on revoking subsidies from polluters and forcing them to pay for environmental damages — would make fossil fuel corpora-

tions take accountability for the economic burdens they cause.

“I’m a free marketeer,” he said. “I’m going out into the market, and I’m catching the cheaters. And I’m telling them, ‘I’m going to force you to internalize your costs the same way you internalize your profits.’”

Apart from a few mentions of how he could achieve some of his environmental goals as president, Kennedy steered clear from campaign specifics.

Though he is broadly considered a longshot against Biden, excitement surrounding Kennedy’s candidacy could be indicative of some voters’ disenchantment with their options for 2024.

Schubart, the Chittenden County–based lawyer, said he voted for Green Party candidate Jill Stein in 2020 and would vote for Kennedy in 2024.

Jeffersonville resident Ferron Wambold, 35, who ran as the Republican candidate for a Lamoille House district seat in 2020, said she didn’t vote for president that year. She wasn’t much enthused about next year’s field either.

“I don’t like any of the potential candidates for president,” she said.

But something about Kennedy’s polarizing nature made her curious enough to his South Burlington appearance.

“You have some Republicans enjoying Mr. Kennedy, and then you have Democrats who are enjoying him, and then others on both sides are like, ‘He’s crazy,’” she said. “So I feel like it’s the opportune time to hear what he’s about.”

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., son of onetime presidential nominee Robert Kennedy, poses for a photo in South Burlington after a speech on June 21. RFK Jr., is running for president in 2024 as a Democrat.

PHOTO BY AUBREY WEAVER, COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE

State to pay up to $16.5 million in Jay Peak settlement

Deal would resolve any claims for state’s role in EB-5 fraud

BY ALAN J. KEAYS VTDigger

The State of Vermont has agreed to pay up to $16.5 million in a global settlement to resolve legal claims made by defrauded investors in a series of Northeast Kingdom development projects centered around Jay Peak Resort and funded through the federal EB-5 program.

The settlement involves the state, a federal court-appointed receiver and 64 people who sued Vermont, according to Attorney General Charity Clark. The agreement, according to a statement issued by her office last Wednesday afternoon, was reached to settle all “pending and potential” lawsuits against the state by the roughly 850 investors in the Northeast Kingdom projects.

The deal is conditioned on obtaining a bar order, which still must be approved by the federal court in Florida overseeing the Jay Peak re-

ceivership.

The $16.5 million settlement would be structured over three years and paid into the Jay Peak receivership, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

The state agreed to a separate settlement last month with eight defrauded Jay Peak investors. That agreement resolved a case that had gone to trial but came to a close after two days when the settlement was reached. The amount of that settlement was not disclosed at the time, but Clark’s office said in last week’s statement that it amounted to $750,000.

Russell Barr, an attorney for the investors in that case, had alleged that the state and several of its employees and officials were at best negligent in the oversight of the state-run EB-5 regional center overseeing the Northeast Kingdom projects and at worst active participants.

The state’s Agency of Commerce and Community Development operated a regional center charged with promoting the projects. Some investors have said that this led them to believe that the de-

velopments had the state’s seal of approval and full oversight.

Former Gov. Peter Shumlin, a Democrat, and his predecessor, Gov. Jim Douglas, a Republican, as well as former U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., all traveled abroad to promote Vermont’s EB-5 projects.

The proposed settlement agreement, if approved, would prevent additional trials and keep any current and former officials from having to testify about what they may have known and when about wrongdoing with the EB-5 projects.

The Vermont Attorney General’s Office argued that state agencies, officials and employees had acted in “good faith.”

The global settlement also calls on the state to continue supporting investors’ attempts to secure permanent U.S. residency, or green cards. If successful, the state could pay out up to $4 million less.

Each EB-5 investor put at least $500,000 into one of the eight Northeast Kingdom projects with the expectation that, if their investment created a certain number of

jobs, they would become eligible for green cards. Due to the fraud associated with the projects, many investors’ efforts to obtain permanent residency were imperiled.

The projects were led by former Jay Peak owner Ariel Quiros, former resort president and CEO Bill Stenger and attorney William Kelly, a close adviser to Quiros. All three were indicted on federal criminal charges and sentenced to prison for their roles in the EB-5 cases.

“As I’ve said before, Vermonters, investors, and the State of Vermont were all deceived by the fraud of Ariel Quiros, Bill Stenger and William Kelly,” Clark said in the statement issued last Wednesday.

“This civil settlement will bring a global resolution to the State’s involvement in this matter, which will protect the State from additional EB-5 lawsuits, preventing further financial harm to Vermont,” Clark said. “This settlement removes the State’s exposure to financial risk and gives Vermont the opportunity to move forward from this chapter.”

Clark, in an interview last Wednesday, said the $16.5 million

settlement figure was arrived at through a mediation process between the parties.

A four-page settlement “term” sheet, which Clark provided to VTDigger outlines the terms of the agreement and spells out that government officials deny wrongdoing.

“As the claims in the Barr Actions are based on alleged negligence and alleged breach of contractual duties, the Parties agree that neither the State of Vermont nor its current and former officials and employees engaged in fraud, self-dealing, or other intentional misconduct,” the document states.

“The Parties understand and agree that the State of Vermont and its current and former officials and employees deny liability for all claims made in the Barr Actions,” it continues.

Barr could not be reached for comment.

In total, Stenger and Quiros solicited more than $450 million in EB-5 money from more than 800 foreign investors over the eight-year span of the Northeast Kingdom projects.

July 8-16

The much awaited and highly anticipated Pêche Medical, owned and operated by Kellie Malaney, PA and Sarah Dietschi, NP is now seeing patients.

Known for their ability to listen carefully and execute a natural-looking, “un-done” appearance, Kellie & Sarah are two of the most experienced, respected and appreciated clinicians in the Medical Aesthetic field in Vermont. Come see them for a consult or treatment and see the difference that experience, artistry and integrity makes!

Schedule online or by phone today!

Feeding Chittenden eats away at food insecurity

BY MAX SCHEINBLUM VTDigger

That eclectic mix is just a sample of Jon Brandom’s early morning grocery haul on a recent Wednesday. He was picking up for Feeding Chittenden, a hunger relief organization based in Burlington that provides

Beautiful Dresses for all your Special Events from

meals, a market, cooking classes and more to Chittenden County residents experiencing food insecurity.

UVM researchers estimate that 40 percent of Vermonters experienced food insecurity in 2022. Meanwhile, Feeding Chittenden helps feed more than 12,000 people a year.

“I feel like this is an answer,” Brandom said, as he criss-crossed the Burlington area in a boxy white van.

Brandom, Feeding Chittenden’s food rescue coordinator, makes trips like these five days a week to grocery stores such as Hannaford, Trader Joe’s and City Market. The stores designate items up for donation with a “Food Shelf” label, and Brandom is left to search fridges and freezers to snatch as much as he can. He begins his day at 8 a.m., and he hopes to bring back fresh produce before the Feeding Chittenden doors open at 9.

Once he scours the shelves, Brandom returns to the organization’s headquarters at 228 N. Winooski Avenue in Burlington to help put away the bounty and set up Feeding Chittenden’s food market — a self-service setup where people who don’t have enough food can get sustenance, no questions asked.

“You get what you want and that’s all that counts,” said a Burlington resident who declined to give her name as she left with a bag of pork, beans and other items. She has been going to Feeding Chittenden since 2004, she said. “It’s a good place to be.”

Brandom’s job is a sliver of the pie at Feeding Chittenden, where the vast array of offerings separate it from other food relief operations in the area. As one of nine organizations that are part of the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, it is able to offer a wealth of diverse programs to underserved Vermonters.

Its headquarters also house CVOEO’s Community Resource Center, which helps connect people experiencing homelessness to medical, transportation or housing resources, among others.

“What sets us apart is just the variety of programs that we provide. It isn’t just about giving people food there,” said Anna Mc-

Mahon, associate director of Feeding Chittenden.

“We’re truly trying to change the way that we’re interacting with marginalized populations so that we can better serve them, and trying to continually evolve our programming to better meet the needs of economically disadvantaged Vermonters,” she said. “I think we’re definitely at the forefront of this in Vermont.”

‘HELPING PEOPLE OUT’

Brandom’s collections are part of the over 2 million pounds of food the organization procures every year, most of it donated. They are items that have not yet expired and are always safe, but not quite up to snuff to be sold in stores.

For example, many bags of oranges and apples contain only one or two bad ones. The rest of the fruit is usable, but supermarkets ditch the entire bag.

If food does spoil, Feeding Chittenden has an array of trash and compost bins onsite, something Brandom admits didn’t sit right with him when he joined the organization in January.

“I used to feel squeamish about it at first,” he said. “But we’re literally the last possible stop before it gets thrown out.”

A 2016 graduate of the University of Vermont, Brandom said he enjoyed studying sociology because “it felt nice knowing I had answers.” He also majored in environmental science and analyzed food waste systems and poverty, inspiring him to return to the area in 2020 to pick up where he left off.

He arrived at Feeding Chittenden over five months ago after working for City Market Co-op in Burlington, a major supporter of Feeding Chittenden’s work. He enjoys the physical aspects of the job, carrying boxes of food in and out of trucks and always being on his feet, but admits that it’s “put a dent in my running.”

“And I obviously enjoy the aspect of helping people out. That definitely helps me sleep at night,” said Brandom, accelerating through a yellow light — something the self-proclaimed “defensive driver” said he rarely does — to make it back to headquar-

Diane Von Furstenberg Shoshanna Alice & Olivia Shona Joy Trina turk Halston Hutch Julie Vos Monique L huillier Toccin Mac Duggal Ted Baker Joseph ribkoff soia & kyo

Raspberries. Brie. Spinach. Ground turkey. Orange juice.

Volunteer Linda Cooper organizes food donations at Feeding Chittenden.

PHOTO BY MAX SCHEINBLUM/VTDIGGER

Feeding

continued from page 12

ters before the doors open.

Brandom finishes his day by hitting the road again, this time on the delivery side, handling both emergency and scheduled dropoffs for Chittenden County residents in need — another arm of its work. People in need who leave voicemails and send emails to the organization help him plan out his day. He leads a team of about 10 other delivery drivers who help with smaller food pickups in the latter half of the day.

A MULTIPRONGED APPROACH

Feeding Chittenden’s flagship program is the market that Brandom stocks, a pick-and-choose setup open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. People can come in once a week and take anything they need, with options ranging from pork to fresh produce to canned applesauce.

More than 160 volunteers help the 18-person staff with stocking shelves, delivering and picking up food, prepping the kitchen, and filling any other gaps that crop up.

That is where most of the donated food Brandom picks up comes into play. McMahon said the organization also purchases items that are less frequently donated, such as milk and eggs, to ensure people have a lot of good choices.

“It’s very important to us that it’s a dignified experience,” said Ansley Laev, volunteer and receiving coordinator. Feeding Chittenden prides itself on being organized, well stocked and an overall welcoming space for people dealing with food insecurity.

A mural painted by artist Tara Goreau coats the walls around the shelves, with the goal of erasing stigma around seeking food-related help.

Hot breakfast is served every weekday from 9 to 11 a.m. and grab-and-go lunches are offered through the early afternoon. Many people will come in for coffee, eggs, bacon and other early morning staples and, after eating, leave with items from the food shelf, too. An average day sees between 140 and 200 people come into the facilities.

Linda Cooper of Burlington has volunteered with Feeding Chittenden for over 15 years, and has seen the evolution from food shelf to food network firsthand. Before the pandemic hit in March 2020, she was mostly doing cler-

ical work — checking people in and handling other computer-based tasks — but switched to stocking after Feeding Chittenden fully reopened in October 2022.

“It’s always been fun,” she said. “The people are my favorite part. I’ve gotten to know some really great people.”

These days she works closely with fellow volunteer Kevin Newman of Essex Junction, a wheelchair user who has been volunteering with Feeding Chittenden for six years. Cooper puts food items within his reach so he has no difficulties placing them on a shelf. This “accommodating environment” is part of the reason he hopes to go back to two shifts a week — his pre-Covid schedule — instead of the one he works now.

prep and, of course, food-based training.

The meals they prepare are made exclusively with donated food, giving the chefs a chance to showcase their creativity and make recipes on the fly. Their creations are served to residents both on-site and, historically, out of Feeding Chittenden’s food truck — a Covid-19 casualty that McMahon said will be back on the road soon.

Nearly 300 people have graduated from the Community Kitchen Academy since 2009, and Feeding Chittenden says 91 percent of them found jobs in the food industry.

Feeding Chittenden has also grown to help people who are experiencing food insecurity, but face access barriers to food pantries or other meal sites. The Food Access Network, launched in 2020, partners Feeding Chittenden with various health care institutions, nonprofits and farms in an online marketplace that helps bridge that gap.

People select what they want using a software program called PantrySoft, personalizing their orders and making sure they get clean, quality food. The network served more than 3,000 people in 2022, mainly migrant farm workers, Head Start families and medical patients, among other disadvantaged groups, the organization says.

munity partners, but Cheray MacFarland, City Market’s director of community and marketing, said Feeding Chittenden is one of the most popular for volunteering and other forms of support.

Over the past three years, City Market has also donated over $85,000 to Feeding Chittenden as

part of its roundup initiative called Rally4Change, as well as about $125,000 worth of food products.

“They are top-of-mind in terms of leading the charge in food in Chittenden County,” MacFarland said. “It’s super important for us to be involved with them, and we’re very proud of it.”

WILLISTON COMMUNITY FOOD SHELF

HUNGER DOESN’T

“I want to be here more,” he said. “It’s something to do, and more fun than anything.”

GOING TO SCHOOL

Feeding Chittenden was launched in 1974 as the Chittenden County Emergency Food Shelf but rebranded to its current name in 2019, to indicate it was offering broader services. It has relocated twice over the years, most recently in 1994, expanding all facets of the operation in response to a growing need for food relief.

“It’s all exciting, you know. We’ve continued to innovate and we’re not stagnant,” McMahon said. “We’re not just doing the same-old-same-old over the last nine years that I’ve been with the organization.”

Part of that development has been its Community Kitchen Academy, where chefs train aspiring culinary artists, helping both in and out of the kitchen with reading over resumes, interview

“We’re really trying to reduce those reasons why people aren’t coming in to get food,” McMahon said, “whether that’s transportation or stigma or a language barrier.”

The work of providing for a diverse range of people, many of them among Vermont’s most marginalized, is “tough but definitely worthwhile,” McMahon said. But the fact there is a need for that work at all is disappointing for many at the hunger relief institution.

“It’s sad when organizations like this have to exist,” she said. “We used to say, ‘Oh, we hope to work ourselves out of a job.’ But that just doesn’t really seem feasible at this point.”

Feeding Chittenden works closely with City Market Co-op in Burlington to help with fundraising initiatives and community outreach. Co-op members can earn up to 12 percent off their grocery bill by volunteering four hours per month at Feeding Chittenden. The market has the same arrangement with two dozen com-

Jon Brandom is Feeding Chittenden’s food rescue coordinator. He stands for a portrait outside of Trader Joe’s in South Burington.

PHOTO BY MAX SCHEINBLUM/VTDIGGER

Suburban bear activity spikes

Bear-human conflicts are on the rise in urban and suburban areas of Vermont, including the greater Burlington area, according to the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife.

In a news release last week, the department said it has received 14 bear incident reports in South Burlington so far this year, compared to just three for all of 2022.

Jaclyn Comeau, the department’s black bear project leader, notes that the leading cause of bear conflicts is unsecured food sources like birdfeeders and trash that teach bears to associate people and easy access to food.

“At least two yearling bears and their mother are becoming used to easy meals of birdseed and unsecured garbage in (South Burlington),” Comeau said. “This is a dangerous situation for these bears and for people, especially in a densely populated community … where many residents may not be used to coexisting safely with

bears.”

As recently as the 1970s, black bears were uncommon outside remote parts of the Green Mountains and Northeast Kingdom. Today the species is found statewide except in the Champlain Islands. The population has been stable between 4,000 and 6,000 bears over most of the last decade.

But recent years have seen more bear conflicts statewide.

“Black bears in Vermont are a conservation success, and our surveys show most Vermonters want a healthy bear population in our state,” Comeau said. “But that means that if you live in Vermont, you live in bear country and are responsible for taking proactive steps to prevent conflicts with bears. It also means Vermonters have to grapple with tough questions like whether the Burlington suburbs are really a good place for bears.”

The Fish and Wildlife Department urges Vermonters to take

down birdfeeders until there is snow on the ground, secure garbage until collection day morning, protect backyard flocks with electric fencing and compost properly. A full list of steps for coexisting with bears is available on the department’s website at www.vtfishandwildlife.com.

Vermonters who notice bears seeking food in their yards or in public places like campgrounds should report the incident at www. anrweb.vt.gov/FWD/FW/WildlifeBearReport.aspx.

Birdfeeders and unsecured trash are major attractors for black bears in urban and suburban areas of Vermont.

DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE PHOTOS

Sour cherries — that’s my jam

BY BONNIE KIRN DONAHUE Special to the Observer

The beginning of July means sour cherry season is almost here.

Sour cherries are bright red, jeweled fruits that are exceptionally tart and acidic, yet delicious when made into jams, jellies, syrups, ice creams and baked goods.

When ripe, the juicy fruit practically falls off the tree into your hand, making it easy to fill many pints without making a dent in the tree’s crop. The most difficult part is finding a stable raised surface to reach these stone fruits.

Sour cherries are self-fruitful, so if you are interested in growing them, you only need one tree to start. Pick a site with sun for six to eight hours a day that is welldrained and has good airflow. The best time to plant is in the spring before budbreak.

Varieties that grow well in

Vermont include Montmorency, North Star and Meteor. If planting more than one tree, space them 15 to 25 feet apart, depending on the variety size.

As the cherry trees get older, they should be pruned in early spring while they are still dormant. Pruning helps the tree maintain a healthy branching structure and helps allow light to reach the fruit.

Pruning can be tricky to learn at first. The Cornell Guide to Growing Fruit at Home (https://go.uvm.edu/ growing-fruit) is a great place to learn more about pruning fruit trees and includes diagrams that illustrate pruning concepts.

Sour cherries make spectacular pies and jams. The tartness of the cherries is tamed with sugar and fat. The most difficult part is removing the pits from the cherries.

The cherries are acidic, so I

like to wear disposable gloves while pitting them to protect my hands. Using a paring knife or a cherry pitter tool, carefully remove the pit from each cherry.

This task will take the bulk of your time working with sour cherries, but it is worth it in the end. The cherries can be used immediately or frozen for up to a year.

Many orchards in Vermont offer u-pick sour cherries. This is a great way to get to know the fruit and see how you like it. Farmers markets may have pints of sour cherries for sale as well.

Interested in growing your own sour cherry tree? Check out local fruit nurseries for these and other unique fruiting trees and shrubs, many of them native.

Bonnie Kirn Donahue is a UVM Extension Master Gardener and landscape architect from central Vermont.

It’s easy to fill pints of pick-yourown cherries — a good way to become familiar with these versatile, bright red, jeweled fruits.

Sour cherries, while tart and acidic when picked off the tree, make a delicious pie as the sugar and fat used for baking tames their tartness.

COURTESY PHOTOS BY BONNIE KIRN DONAHUE

Next Week: California Gold Rush

Women on the Pitch

From July 20 to Aug. 20, Australia and New Zealand will host the FIFA Women’s World Cup™. This is the first time in its 32year history that the tournament has been hosted in the Southern Hemisphere and by two countries.

The Mini Page kicks off this big event with a look inside the competition.

Soccer or football?

What Americans call “soccer” is called “football” in other parts of the world. American football is a much different sport. What is FIFA?

FIFA (FEE-fah) is a French acronym for the International Federation of Association Football. It is the organization in charge of the World Cup and other international soccer tournaments. There are 211 “associations” that make up FIFA, each representing a different country’s national soccer team. FIFA was founded in 1904, and its headquarters is in Zurich, Switzerland.

Teams and play

Thirty-two nations will vie for the ninth Women’s World Cup title. The field has expanded from 24 teams in 2019.

The World Cup has two stages, or parts: group play and knockout play.

In group play, each team plays the other three teams in its assigned group. If a team wins, it receives three points; a draw, or a tie,

Mini Fact: In this 2019 Women’s World Cup game, New Zealand beat England 1-0.

is awarded one point. The two teams with the most points in each group then advance to the knockout stage, where a loss means elimination. USA is the reigning champion.

World Cup groups

There are eight groups that start the group stage of play.

World Cup venues

There are 10 different venues, or settings, for the Women’s World Cup matches: six in Australia and four in New Zealand. This is the first time that two nations have hosted the games together.

The host cities are using their native names alongside their English names (for example, Brisbane/Meaanjin) to “reconcile and respect the original owners of the land.”

Meet Tazuni™

The official mascot of the 2023 Women’s World Cup is a penguin named Tazuni™. Her name is a combination of the Tasman Sea and “unity.” She’s a 15-year-old midfield player who learned to love soccer after playing with friends on the beach.

Keeping track

As the tournament goes on, use the bracket above to keep track of which teams win in the round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and final.

Quarterfinals take place on Aug. 11 and 12; semifinals are scheduled for Aug. 15 and 16. The final will be played Aug. 20.

Resources

On

• fifa.fans/3N3tqfU

At the library:

• “What Is the Women’s World Cup?” by Gina Shaw

The Mini Page® © 2023 Andrews McMeel Syndication

Founded by Betty Debnam Issue 28, 2023

SOCCER, STAGE, TAZUNI, UNITY, VENUE, WOMEN, WORLD.

photo by James Boyes

on

Quarterfinals take place

The Mini Page® © 2023 Andrews McMeel Syndication

Try ’n’ Find

Mini Jokes

Wendy: What is a ghost’s favorite soccer position? Warren: Ghoul keeper!

Cook’s Corner

Pepperoni Roll-ups

You’ll need:

• 1 (8-ounce) package crescent-shaped rolls

• 24 small round slices of pepperoni

• 4 slices of provolone cheese

What to do:

1. Position 2 crescent rolls on an ungreased cookie sheet. Press seams together to form a rectangle with the dough.

2. Place 6 round slices of pepperoni on rectangle of dough. Top with a slice of provolone.

3. Roll up end-to-end to form a tube. (Cheese slice may be hanging over the edges.)

4. Repeat process, ending up with four tubes.

The Mini Page® © 2023 Andrews McMeel Syndication

A new study finds that the ocean surface is now warmer than at any other time since accurate satellite records began, with the record heat energy threatening to supercharge storms around the world. Earlier studies revealed that the oceans are heating more quickly now than at any other point in at least the past 2,000 years. “Warmer ocean temperatures mean more moisture in the atmosphere … that leads to more energy available for tropical storms,” atmospheric scientist Andrew Watson at Britain’s University of Exeter said.

For later: Look in your newspaper for articles about the FIFA Women’s World Cup™.

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

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

BY DAN THOMPSON

adapted with permission from Earthweek.com * You’ll need an adult’s help with this recipe. At the library: • “What Is the Women’s World Cup?” by Gina Shaw

By Jim Miller

How to handle Social Security benefits when a loved one dies

Dear Savvy Senior, How are Social Security benefits handled when someone dies? After a long illness, my 68-year-old father has only weeks left to live. I am helping

my mom figure out her financial situation going forward, including what to do about my dad’s Social Security after he passes away, but could use some help.

Only Son

Dear Only,

I’m very sorry about the impending loss of your father. To help you and your mom understand what Social Security provides and what needs to be done when a family member dies, here are some key points you should know.

Your first order of business will be to make sure the Social Security Administration is notified when your father dies, so his monthly benefits will be stopped. In most cases, the funeral home providing his burial or cremation services will do it. You’ll need to provide your dad’s Social Security number to the funeral director so they can make the report. But, if they don’t offer that service or you’re not using a funeral home, you’ll need to do it yourself by calling Social Security at 800-772-1213.

WHEN BENEFITS STOP

There are a couple of things to be aware of regarding your dad’s Social Security benefits.

For starters, you need to know that a person is due no Social Security benefits in the month of their death.

With Social Security, each payment received represents the previous month’s benefits. So, if your dad were to pass away in August, the check for that month – which would be paid in September – would need to be returned if received. If the payment is made by direct deposit, you would need to contact the bank or other financial institution and ask them to return any benefits sent after your dad’s death.

Survivor Benefits

When your father passes away, your mother may be eligible for survivor benefits on his record if she’s at least age 60 (50 if disabled). Here’s how that works depending on her situation.

If your mom is currently receiving Social Security benefits based on your father’s work record, her spousal benefit will automatically convert to survivor benefits when the government gets notice of your dad’s death. She cannot receive both spousal and survivor benefits at the same time.

Widows are due between 71

percent (at age 60) and 100 percent (at full retirement age) of what the husband was getting before he died.

If, however, your mom is eligible for retirement benefits (but hasn’t applied yet), she can apply for retirement or survivor benefits when her husband passes away and switch to the other (higher) benefit later. Or, if your mom is already receiving her retirement benefits on her own work record, she could switch to survivor benefits if it offers a higher payment. She cannot, however, receive both benefits.

To apply for survivor benefits, your mom will need to call Social Security at 800-772-1213 and schedule an appointment. She can’t do it online.

You should also know that survivor benefits are available to former spouses and dependents who meet SSA qualifications – see www.SSA.gov/benefits/survivors.

Also note that if your mom collects a survivor benefit while working, and she’s under full retirement age, her benefits may be reduced depending on her earnings. See www.SSA.gov/ pubs/EN-05-10069.pdf for details.

DEATH BENEFIT

In addition to survivor benefits, Social Security will also pay a one-time payment of $255 to your mom (the surviving spouse) if she was living with your dad at the time of his death.

If they were living apart, she may still receive this onetime payment if she’s collecting spousal benefits on his work record.

In the absence of a surviving spouse, the lump-sum payment can go to a son or daughter who is eligible for benefits on the deceased’s work record.

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.

SOLUTION ON PAGE 22

TODAY’S HISTORY:

ANDREWS MCMEEL

• In 1863, draft riots began in New York City. An estimated 119 people were killed, with thousands of African American residents relocating due to the destruction.

• In 1973, Alexander Butterfield, deputy assistant to President Richard Nixon, revealed the existence of the “Nixon Tapes” to a senatorial committee investigating the Watergate scandal.

• In 1977, a 25-hour blackout hit the New York City area, leaving some 9 million people in darkness and resulting in looting and disorder.

TODAY’S FACT:

• Presidents Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison all proposed that Congress pass some form of mandatory military conscription or registration, but none of the proposals succeeded.

SOLUTION FOUND ON PAGE 22

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.

June 30 at 9:49 a.m. — Report of a male in Home Depot who was trespassed. The male, age 33, was issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft, unlawful trespass and violating conditions of release.

June 30 at 4:23 p.m. — Suspicious female on Hawthorne Street. The female, age 31, had an active arrest warrant. She was issued a citation to appear in court.

July 1 at 12:53 a.m. — Following a traffic stop it was discovered that a male, age 25, had active arrest warrants. He was transported to the correctional facility. The male was also issued a citation to appear in court for driving with a criminally suspended license.

July 1 at 2:52 a.m. — Report of a suspicious vehicle on Porterwood Drive. A female, age 30, was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.

July 1 at 1:33 p.m. — Retail theft

reported at Best Buy. A male, age 32, was issued a citation to appear in court.

July 1 at 3:37 p.m. — Male on the property of Walmart that was not supposed to be there. The male, age 32, was issued a citation to appear in court for violating conditions of release.

July 2 at 11:06 a.m. — Report of a retail theft at Home Depot. A male, age 45, was issued a citation to appear in court.

July 2 at 11:45 a.m. — Report of a retail theft at Home Depot. A male, age 38, was issued a citation to appear in court.

July 2 at 6:46 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Walmart. Suspects have not been located. Case is still under investigation.

July 3 at 10:52 a.m. — Stolen bicycle recovered at Walmart. Bike was returned to the owner.

July 4 at 5:17 a.m. — Following a motor vehicle stop, a juvenile male was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.

July 4 at 7:39 a.m. — 11 storage units broken into on Avenue A. Case is still under investigation.

July 4 at 11:17 p.m. — Following a motor vehicle stop, a female, age 44, was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.

July 5 at 3:51 p.m. — Report of embezzlement at Walmart. A juvenile male was issued a citation to appear in court.

July 5 at 4:50 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. A male, age 40, had an active arrest warrant. He was transported to the correctional facility.

July 6 at 3:17 a.m. — Report of an out of control male on Zephyr Road. Male was transported to the correctional facility for detox.

Williston Police officers also responded to 12 alarms, 11 motor vehicle crashes and made 16 traffic stops during this time frame.

THE R.E.C. ZONE

GET FIT W/JAZZY

18-plus. Wednesdays, 6-6:45 p.m., $10 per class. Instructor: JazminAverbuck

RETRO DANCE CARDIO & CORE

Age 50-plus. Mondays, 4:305:30 p.m., $5 per class. Instruc -

tor: Jazmin Averbuck

JAZZERCISE CARDIO SCULPT

Age 50-plus. Mondays and/ or Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

$25; Class Passes: five for $99, 10- $180. Instructor; Kit Sayers

SENIOR FITNESS

Age 50-plus. Tuesdays, 10:3011:30 a.m., $5 per class. Instruc -

tor: Toni Kunker

TAI CHI- BEGINNER SUN STYLE

Age 50-plus. Thursdays, 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Free. Instructor: Chris Curtis

HEALTHY LIVING FOR YOUR BRAIN & BODY

Ages 50-plus. Last Monday of each month, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free.

Instructor: The Alzheimer’s Association-VT Chapter

VOCAL PERCUSSION & IMPROVISATION WORKSHOP

Ages 13-plus. Saturday, Aug. 12, 1-3 p.m. Instructors, Root 7

DAY CAMPS

You can still register for Summer day camps

• R.E.C. Camp, for kids entering grades 1-6. Mondays-Fridays, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. or half days 7:30 a.m.-12 p.m. or 12-5:30 p.m.

• L.I.T. Camp, for kids entering grades 7-8. Mondays-Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

• O.U.R. Camps, for kids entering grades 6-8. Mondays-Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

ENRICHMENT CAMPS

There are still spots available in the following enrichment camps this summer.

Art with Letters Camp, Abstract Art Camp, Creative Engineering Camp, Voltage Soccer Camp, Drawing in Nature Camp, Lego BricQ Camp, Wicked Cool STEAM Camp, Chess Wizards Camp, Safe Sitters Camp, Horse Camp and Ninja Science Camp.

Williston

Adams Farm Market

Belle’s Café

Dorothy Alling

Montpelier

continued from page 4

partner, locals gave them coffee, along with some dry clothes, and allowed them to sleep in one of the Court Street offices for the night. But she was eager to get home to Bakersfield. “At this point, I just miss my cat,” she said.

Two bikers offered to accompany the couple part of the way up their planned route through Middlesex. They shouldered their packs and started walking.

Elsewhere on Tuesday morning, Steve Melamed watched the floodwaters from the corner of Cedar and School Streets. Describing himself as a “flood refugee” from nearby Middlesex, Melamed had been working on a property he owns in that town until about 6 p.m. Monday, when he tried to get home to South Middlesex.

“I tried to drive five or six different routes,” he said. “All got washed out. Each way I got stuck.”

He was able to get to Montpelier, where he plans to stay with friends. He said his wife and child were home, without power, but doing fine.

Mike Doyle said he was concerned about the dam as he stood in front of the School Street guest house his family has owned for 70 years. The water was up to the front steps of the guest house, where six people are renting, all traveling nurses, he said.

He said he knew from photos he has seen that the floodwaters reached roughly the same spot now as they did in the 1927 flood, which was worse than after Tropical Storm Irene in 2011.

“All of Saint Paul Street, as far as I can see, is a lake, and all the way down School Street,” he observed, “a good one or two or three feet of water.”

It was enough for a kayak and a canoe to navigate — which they did.

As of mid-morning, Doyle said he had two to three feet of water in his basement, and he was worried about his furnace, which he replaced just two years ago. He did not buy flood insurance, because he never thought the waters would rival the 1927 flood.

Business owners, too, were surveying the damage, which in many cases was significant.

Among them was Robert Kasow, co-owner of Bear Pond Books on flooded Main Street. In a parking lot behind the Montpelier Fire Department, he got as close to the bookstore as he could on dry land. He said there was probably water in the store, but he did not know how high the water got inside.

He said he cleared out anything valuable from the basement, but did not have time to get anything more than two feet off the ground.

Patty Joslyn was keeping tabs on the flooding in her store, AWE, on State Street, via a security camera. She said she had time Monday to roll up the wool carpets on the floor. The water came in not from State Street, she said, but through the back end. She thought there may be 6 inches of water in her store, but it was hard to tell by the camera.

Other business owners told the same story Tuesday of having to wait until they can access their businesses to assess the damage.

“It’s just kind of a waiting game to see when they will let us go downtown and have a look at things,” said Shannon Bates, who owns Enna, a restaurant on State Street.

Sarah DeFelice, who owns Bailey Road, a home furnishings, clothing and gift store on Main Street, said she was in a similar situation.

“We can’t even reach the back door because there is so much water,” she said Tuesday afternoon. “We can only hope that we moved enough things high enough.”

Among those rescued in at least a half-dozen emergency efforts in the city were two adults and an infant, who were boated to safety from a dwelling next to Capitol Copy shortly before noon. Afterward, crew members from Colchester Technical Rescue loaded their swift response boat onto a trailer and headed back to their base at the Berlin Fire Department.

One of the rescuers said many people were left on upper floors along Main Street, but he said they were high enough to be safe.

By 3 p.m., the flood waters had begun to recede, leaving the dry spots in the city with a coat of brown sludge. A handful of people waded through the water and one white pickup truck, sporting a dog, drove by.

Cecil L. Royea, Sr.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Cecil L. Royea, Sr., 96, at his home in Williston, on Jan. 26, 2023, with his wife Christine was by his side.

He was born on July 21, 1926 in Quebec, Canada, to Lester A. and Doris B. (Killlen) Royea. He was a United States Army Corporal during World War II. He worked at General Electric for many years in Burlington at Lakeside and then at Home Avenue where he was a group leader in sheet metal fabrication retiring in 1989. After retirement Cecil worked for his son driving a truck for Lilly Trucking and Leasing and for Truck Depot shuttling trucks.

In 1951 Cecil and his brother Basil used to race cars at Enosburg Speedway in Enosburg

Falls, VT. He enjoyed working on cars, making swings with his father-in-law, and telling stories of his antics as a youth.

Left to cherish Cecil’s memory are his wife, Christine of Williston; his children Nancy (Tom) Milne of Preston, CT, Cecil L. Royea, Jr. of Williston, VT, Doris (Charles) Martin of Barre, Ellen (Jim) Ryan of Berlin, Mary (Tim) Perry of Valdosta, GA, Tamara (John) Alarie of Hartland, VT; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; his brothers Stewart Royea of Wales, MA, Cedric Royea of Orange, VT; his cousin Carolyn (Brian) Bowan of Quebec; many nieces and nephews, and his loyal furry companion, Peanut. Cecil loved to take walks with Peanut and talk to neighbors.

He was predeceased by his brothers Alvin L. Royea of Clinton, CT and Basil Royea of Richford.

The family would like to thank UVM Home Health and Hospice for the exceptional care given to Cecil. They would also like to thank the compassionate staff at Gifford Funeral Home for their help during this difficult time.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to The American Kidney Fund, 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20852 or The American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75231.

A graveside service, with military honors, will be held on Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. at Lakeview Cemetery, 455 North Avenue, Burlington, VT.

Arrangements are in care of Gifford Funeral Home, 22 Depot Street, Richmond, VT.

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.

United Way welcomes new board members

United Way of Northwest Vermont welcomes three new members to its Board of Directors this month:

Seth Bowden, president and CEO of the Vermont Business Roundtable; John St. Hilaire, chief financial officer for Green Mountain Credit Union; and Adrina Walker, associate vice president of Human Resources for the University of Vermont Medical Center and University of Vermont Health Network.

NOW HIRING

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

PUZZLE FOUND ON PAGE 19

DO YOU HAVE A LOVE FOR ALL THINGS FELINE?

Do you want to turn your passion into a career? Then you want to be at Affectionately Cats, Vermont’s ONLY feline exclusive hospital! We are looking for great people that want to work with a dedicated team where they are well trained, appreciated, and passionate about their work. We are seeking a full-time Veterinary Receptionist to join our growing team who can step into the essential role as the first point of contact for the hospital. As a Veterinary Receptionist you will be responsible for, but not limited to; triage of patients over the phone, processing transactions, managing patient admittance, updating records, and helping us maintain a flourishing workplace culture where everyone can thrive. We truly believe our reception team is a critical part of helping our clients and their cats get the care they need.

Communication is a key part of what makes us a great place to work. You can talk with your manager or the owner anytime you need, and they will reach out to see how they can help you. We take a lot of pride in our communication and training everyone on staff to develop their unique individual skills. Our veteran staff members will take an active role in your training and continuing education is highly encouraged.

We offer market competitive pay and benefits commensurate upon experience. There are no evenings or long weekend shifts, but your schedule will include some Saturdays. If this sounds like the place for you, please email your resume to caylin@cb-strategies or call us at 802-860-2287!

The United Way of Northwest Vermont serves people in Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle counties.

Bowden lives in South Burlington and was elected the Vermont Business Roundtable’s third president in May 2021 when he joined the organization. Prior to joining VBR, he was the executive vice president of the Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation. He received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Vermont, with minors in economics and English.

St. Hilaire, also of South Burlington, has served on the United Way of Northwest Vermont’s Finance Committee for the past four years. He is a strong supporter of credit unions in providing financial opportunities to members who cannot find, or do not qualify for, solutions at other financial institutions. He holds a master’s degree in administration from St. Michael’s College as well as undergraduate degrees in accounting, business management, computer programming, and mechanical engineering technology. He is also an adjunct professor at Champlain College where he has taught managerial accounting.

Walker, a resident of Burlington and New Jersey brings a wealth of human resources, education, and diversity, equity, and inclusion expertise and experience to the United Way.

“We are 100 percent local and 100 percent community-driven,” said United Way of Northwest Vermont CEO Jesse Bridges. “We are incredibly grateful to be guided by passionate, talented and committed volunteer board members who are representative of and invested in the communities we serve.”

Adrina Walker Seth Bowden John St. Hilaire

Flooding

continued from page 1

“People were asking, ‘what is the fire department asking me to do?’ The big question was ‘do we have to evacuate?’ and my answer was ‘absolutely not.’ If you feel safe … then you do not need to evacuate.”

By Tuesday morning, the Winooski River had spilled onto North Williston Road, and the road remained closed to traffic on Wednesday. But Fay and Chapman lanes were dry.

“I never felt like we needed to evacuate,” said Fay Lane resident Steve Mease. “It would have to be much higher water levels for us to take that step.”

The shelter at WCS did serve four residents of Richmond, however, who were under mandatory evacuation orders and arrived in the early morning hours Tuesday, Nadeau said.

Farming on the Winooski River floodplain, the Whitcomb family is familiar with intermittent flooding. Their corn and pumpkin fields were under water Tuesday morning, just like they were after Irene.

It was too early to assess damage to their crops in the immediate aftermath Tuesday. Their 500-cow dairy operation, which the corn helps sustain, was otherwise

unscathed.

“The main issue is the silt in the water gets in the corn and makes it real dirty, but it’s early enough in the season now that, after the water drops down, the normal rains will clean it off,” said farm owner Lorenzo Whitcomb. “I don’t think we’ll have too big of an issue.”

He wouldn’t be surprised, however, come harvest time, to find a stray log in the fields that was deposited in the flood.

“Other than that, I think we’ll be OK,” he said Tuesday. “We’re just waiting and watching now.”

Williston received about 2 inches of rain on Sunday and Monday, but upriver, about 6 inches fell, according to the National Weather Service. And while the Winooski River crested Tuesday afternoon, the National Weather Service forecast on Wednesday called for another inch of rain later in the week.

“Any additional rain that we get in the next few days will have nowhere to go,” said Nadeau. “We are not out of the woods yet … If you cannot see the road, do not attempt to cross it as the condition under the water is unknown. Please heed all warnings regarding road closures for your own safety.”

The Williston Fire Department closed the WCS shelter Tuesday afternoon.

COUNTERCLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: A lawn floods near North Williston Road. The Winooski River rages below the hydro-dam near the Williston-Essex Junction town line. North Williston Road is under water near the Essex town line. The Winooski River overflows North Williston Road. Cornfields are under water in north Williston. The Allen Brook flows past Old Stage Road.

OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY