Williston Observer 07/27/23

Seeing the community in Community Park

BLM flag debate renewed

Jensen: ‘Flags don’t help, action helps’

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

What to do about the black lives matter flag flying at Town Hall? It’s a question that has lingered since 2021, when the Williston Selectboard originally approved the display with the support of some residents and over the objections of others.

Raising the flag was the town’s first acknowledgment of systemic racism and came in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by police that set off a national reckoning. The selectboard initially approved a three-month stint for flag, then extended that in June of 2021 for nine more months. Last spring, the board put off a decision on whether to keep or take down the flag in favor of embarking on a months-long effort — led by the Williston Community Justice Center and a volunteer group called the Williston Racial Equity Partnership — to write a “values statement” committing the town to address systemic racism. When it approved the statement last October, the board also gave the two groups

more time to determine how best the values should be visually displayed in town — and whether the black lives matter flag will be part of that.

“Flags don’t help, action helps, and leadership action helps,” said Jeanne Jensen, who was elected to the board this year. “Things need to change in this country, and we’re taking a

see BLM page 20

Town leans toward acknowledging Abenaki rights, colonial history

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

The Williston Selectboard is considering adopting a “land acknowledgement” that would honor the presence of the original people on the land that is now the Town of Williston — the Abenaki Nation — and acknowledge the oppressive colonialism of European settlers who arrived in the 18th Century.

The statement was presented

to the board earlier this month by the Williston Racial Equity Partnership, which researched similar municipal statements around the country as well as the history of the Abenaki Nation in Vermont.

“This is long overdue,” selectboard member Greta D’Agostino said. “This is something our town very much needs to have done and to actively continue to openly acknowledge, that this is land that we have taken. This is very important for our town.”

The discussion mirrors one the board and the racial equity partnership had in adopting a values statement focusing on systemic racism last fall. The board is still considering how best to display and act on that statement (see related story, Page 1).

The land acknowledgement, which remains in draft form, reads, in part: “The Town of Williston respectfully acknowledges the history of the land within our boundaries, noting legal town

boundaries are a creation of European colonizers … Williston recognizes that colonialism and the oppression of Native peoples are a current and ongoing process, and we commit to building our collective awareness of ongoing participation and take necessary actions to address the complex issues.

“The Abenaki people tended to live along waterways in Williston, such as the Winooski River, Allen Brook, and Muddy Brook,”

it continues. “Higher elavations such as Five Tree Hill and The Lookout in the Catamount Community Forest, were used as lookouts to site herds of caribou or deer.”

If adopted, the board will also need to determine how to promote it, said Pat Brown of the racial equity partnership. In some communities, he said, the statement is read before governmental meetings or displayed in town buildings.

Two

OBSERVER PHOTO BY AL FREY

Pat Brown raises the black lives matter flag at Town Hall in April of 2021. OBSERVER FILE PHOTO

The following Williston and St. George students, listed alphabetically, were recently honored for academic achievements at the collegiate level.

Riley Boucher was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at the University of Maine at Farmington.

Maegan Bruneau was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Champlain College.

Devyn Cabral was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Castleton University.

Natalie Curtis was named to the President’s List for the spring semester at Castleton University.

Gregory Desiato was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Champlain College.

ACADEMIC HONORS

Emma Dionne was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at the University of Maine.

Brandon Duffy was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Champlain College.

Zachary Gamelin graduated Summa Cum Laude from Bridgewater State University.

Margret Gannon was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Nazareth College.

Nathan Godbout was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at St. Francis University.

Courtney Himes was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at the University of New England.

Victoria Jadus was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

OVER THE

Danny Kabengele was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Southern New Hampshire University.

Katrina H. Kajenski was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Fairfield University.

Jared Kartschoke was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at the University of Pittsburgh-Swanson.

Jessie Kennedy was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at the University of Maine.

Leigh Kerbaugh was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at the College of the Holy Cross.

Holly King was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Community College of Vermont.

Brianna Kolibas was named to the Dean’s List for the spring

semester at the University of Alabama.

Cameron LaBounty was named to the President’s List for the spring semester at Champlain College.

Megan LaForce was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Champlain College.

Benton Lane was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Champlain College.

Jami Lashua was named to the President’s List for the spring semester at Norwich University.

Shayla Lawrence graduated summa cum laude from Castleton University.

Jared Leonard was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Carmella R. Martone was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Clark University.

Conor McDevitt was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Champlain College.

Martina Monroe was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Champlain College.

Ian Parent was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Endicott College.

Lindsey Peryea was named to the President’s List for the spring semester at Husson University.

Phoebe Racicot was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Lincoln Memorial University.

Jonathan Raymond was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Castleton University.

Reilly Roth was named to the President’s List for the spring semester at Champlain College.

Hugo Serinese was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Chloe Snipes was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at the University of Utah.

Parker Soares was named to the President’s List for the spring semester at Champlain College. Saode Somda was named to the President’s List for the spring semester at Castleton University.

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Parker Urie was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester at Roger Williams University.

Reid Zuwallack was named to the President’s List for the spring semester at Plymouth State University.

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A new outlet for Vermont musicians

BY TAYLOR ANTONIOLI Special to the Observer

Big Heavy World has launched a new initiative to help Vermont artists license their music.

The organization, which is dedicated to preserving and promoting Vermont-made music with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, has published an online platform at https://bigheavyworld.com/licensing. The website describes it as a place “where Vermont-made music can be purchased easily to use in media projects with the state’s artists benefiting directly.”

“Big Heavy World has operated as the state’s independent (nonprofit) music development office for 27 years, and this project is a natural expression of its mission,” said Big Heavy World

Tom Pearo

Big Heavy World

Executive Director James Lockridge.

Tom Pearo serves as music licensing director at Big Heavy World and is leading the project.

“If you’re advertising a Vermont product … wouldn’t it be appropriate to use Vermont music?,” he asked rhetorically. “But you don’t see a lot of that.”

To his knowledge, the new platform is the first and only way to search for Vermont-specific music, making it easier for those who want to use local music in their marketing. Pearo expects the new platform will facilitate artists and businesses working together.

Regarding pricing, Pearo said that Lockridge had initially asked him to go with the industry standard. But, according to Pearo, there isn’t one.

“A large part of these deals is usually negotiation,” he said. “Some projects cost $5,000, others as little as $50.”

He explained that this is why they settled on a specific price,

making budgeting easier for those purchasing the music and a better deal for the artists producing it.

He said submissions would ideally be 3-5 minute tracks. Still, any length can be submit-

ted. He’s accepted anything from 30 seconds to eight minutes. He suggested that artists re-mix old works or remove the vocals and focus on adapting the instrumental aspects, which work well for ads.

The site has about 40 artists with tracks posted, and Pearo said traffic to the site is increasing.

His proudest moment of the project so far has been reaching the first-year goal of 500 tracks,

something he didn’t expect to hit this soon. He hopes to triple that number within the next year.

“I’m looking forward to being able to just help the music community get their music out there,” he said.

Marcie Hernandez of Burlington performs in the Big Heavy World broadcast studio.

COURTESY PHOTO BY LUKE AWTRY

“If you’re advertising a Vermont product … wouldn’t it be appropriate to use Vermont music?”

VT GOP holds annual barbecue

Party’s frustrations, hopes discussed

BY AUBREY WEAVER Community News Service

Earlier this month, in a backyard overlooking Spear Street in South Burlington, dozens of Vermont Republicans watched a four-part performed history of patriotic songs and munched on barbecue beneath an American flag the width of a twocar garage in the leadup to Independence Day.

It was the state GOP’s third-annual summer cookout, an evening featuring speakers such as New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu and former Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas.

Notably absent was Gov. Phil Scott — something that lined up with the uncertainty and frustrations of a party with one of the country’s most popular chief executives but practically no power in its statehouse.

Coming off the back of particularly upsetting legislative and veto override sessions for Republican-sponsored policy, some attendees were heated about the direction of state politics.

“We’re angry for a reason, and that’s because we’re completely left out of every conversation,” said Samuel Douglass, chairman and founder of Vermont’s Young Republicans branch and a state Senate candidate in Orleans County for 2022. “Republicans do make up a percentage of the voters. So you know, if you completely ignore how we feel or our opinions on things then of course we’re going to be a little demoralized.”

Brianna Morgan, a member of the Young Republicans national committee who lives in Vermont, sounded disenchanted about the GOP’s representation in the Statehouse. “It’s hard to watch our legislators go down there and how defeated they are when they get home,” she said.

Said Douglass: “I don’t understand why our Legislature is so intent and so eager to overturn the vetoes of the most popular governor. My guess would be that there’s no consequence for them.”

Eli Chevalier, a 32-year-old from St. Albans at the barbeque, shifted some of the blame for Republican policy failure in Montpelier away

from legislators: “This also goes to Phil Scott to some degree because he could be out there way more than he is trying to bring awareness to the terrible laws being passed.”

Attendees said Scott had not made an appearance at the barbeque in the three years it has gathered.

“He’s not a good leader. That’s where I’ll stop myself,” said Chevalier, joking that if he continued the interview would become a Scott “bashing fest.”

Community News Service reached out to Scott’s office repeatedly by phone and email seeking comment for this story but received no reply.

Sentiment against Scott was shared by some other barbeque attendees. Kathleen Dwinell said the governor “does not have enough of a backbone.”

“He doesn’t have Vermont at heart, he isn’t strong,” she said, pointing to policies supported by state Democrats that Scott has signed.

Dwinell said she wants state lawmakers “to wake up and pay attention to what’s happening, especially with our children, with transgenderism and (diversity, equity and inclusion) being taught in schools, which is a Biden thing. I just get more aggravated every day, and we need to have some backbone here.”

Some attendees indicated they would rather see legislators do less than more these days.

“With where we’re at numbers-wise, really the best thing that we can hope for is a whole lot of nothing,” said Morgan, the Young Republicans committee member, “which is not what we’re going to see.”

Douglass is hoping for “nothing,” too. “(Democrats) don’t give Republicans the time of day,” he said. “They don’t care about Republicans and don’t care about Republican voters. They want what they want, and they’re going to get what they want.”

Paul Dame, chair of the state GOP and a former Vermont House representative, had more optimism for Republican lawmakers and the governor, as he explained in an interview with Community News Service before the event.

“As we move into the 2024 legislative session, we are still looking to

The Vermont GOP’s barbecue in South Burlington on July 1.

PHOTO BY AUBREY WEAVER/COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE

continued from page 4

address the housing crisis by making it easier to build housing that is affordable,” Dame said. “We think that it was unfortunate that the housing bill that got passed removed important reforms to Act 250.”

Dame stressed the GOP’s goal to advance policy for tax relief, in particular for veterans, and a broader paid leave program.

“The governor has already kind of taken the lead on that. He’s already put into place a voluntary paid leave program that is already going to be in effect with Vermont state employees,” said Dame.

But Dame leveled about the challenges GOP lawmakers face in Vermont.

“Unfortunately, we just don’t have enough Republicans serving in the Legislature to help the governor’s vetoes be successful. And that’s certainly something we’re looking at improving on as we get ready for the 2024 election.”

In the ever-expanding GOP primary at the presidential level, former President Donald Trump continues to lead national polling among Republicans, but at the cookout in Vermont, people were open to alternatives.

There was strong hesitancy about voting for former President Trump again in 2024 among barbeque attendees interviewed.

Dwinell described “giving consider-

ation” to a lot of the new primary candidates. “I like DeSantis. I thought about Nikki Haley, but I just don’t think she has what it takes.”

Though like many, if the former president wins the primary, she’ll support him. “I know Trump is a mouth, but he sure did a good job running this country,” she said. “I wouldn’t mind seeing him again.”

Chevalier agreed that Trump comes with baggage as a candidate. “His numbers are only going up, and it’s unfortunate because a lot of people would prefer not him because his mouth’s out of control,” he said.

“But part of me,” he added, “says, ‘You know, maybe we should put him in because he’s going to flip over some tables.’ And I think everybody is pretty much anti-establishment at this point.”

Dame, the state chair, suggested the Vermont party is keeping an open mind about primary options.

“We are definitely not universally backing the former president,” said Dame.

He added: “I think one of the things that more and more people are considering is that one of the downsides to electing Trump this time is going to be that he’s only going to be able to serve one term. Republicans have to evaluate whether or not they want to nominate a president who will be a lame duck as soon as he gets elected, or look at a new face who has the potential to serve for eight years.”

An opportunity for Vermont builders

BY GUY PAYNE

Vermont’s Energy Code is the law, yet many builders and homeowners are unaware, or choose to ignore it.

Vermont’s housing crisis has highlighted not only the lack of adequate housing in the state, but also the lack of an adequate workforce to build new homes. We will need thousands of new builders to join our existing contractor community.

Along with the challenges of doing that comes the opportunity to help builders, new and old, learn new techniques, get better training and build the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly homes possible.

Vermont’s Energy Code is a key piece of this effort. We need builders to know it and adhere to it. Consumers need to know it so they can demand compliance and get the best home they can. And

Conforming to code

Vermont needs it as we work toward reducing greenhouse gases and battle climate change.

As a buyer of a service, homeowners have a significant say in ensuring that their home is safe, comfortable, healthy, durable, energy-efficient, and one that uses products that absorb carbon — all of which are hallmarks of a high-performance building. That should be the new standard for home building, and we need to help builders achieve that standard.

To guarantee that a home building or retrofitting project can stand the test of time, it is essential to hire a “high-performance certified” builder to prevent potential disasters. Although referrals can be helpful, they may not be adequate to ensure longterm durability and performance. Poor work performance, such as inadequate water, air and thermal control layers; insufficient flashing around windows and doors; and lack of attention to exterior water drainage, can lead to severe

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consequences.

Continuous learning is non-negotiable when it comes to high-performance building. For Vermont builders, there are many

ties and nonprofits with a wealth of knowledge to help guide builders and carpenters.

Despite Vermont’s Energy Code being excellent, many builders are unaware of the code, do not build to conform to the code, do not have the skills to build to the code, or do not provide documentation of their work. Which brings us to the question: “Do you hire a company knowledgeable of the code, capable of understanding the code, believing in its relevance and purpose, and capable of building according to the code?” Remember, poor evidence of compliance with the code compromises any sale of your property.

our heavily-carbon-footprinted world:

• Are the architects/builders/ carpenters (not just the owner) up-to-date with high-performance certifications or in the process of learning best practices?

• When did they take the training (training should be updated every three years) and who conducts the training (is it given by a reputable organization)?

• What percentage of the work crew, from top to bottom, is engaged in continuous learning?

organizations that offer information and training on basic carpentry skills, high-performance building strategies, energy code updates and high-performance certifications. Additionally, there are nationally recognized conferences, online learning opportuni-

But you, as a homeowner or future homeowner, can be proactive and smart. You can start by asking these questions to make sure your project is up to code so your home will be comfortable and safe for you for years to come – and one of the homes that help make a big change on a local level in

• Is your builder aligned with state or nationally recognized authorities on Energy Star/ high-performance building?

• Is your builder registered with the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation?

Research the record of Energy Code compliance of the builder’s last few projects. You can go to your town clerk’s office for evidence of compliance.

Inquire as to the registration of the builder’s crew in ongoing learning. Ask for certificates of attendance/completion. The knowledge base of high-performance building must be deployed throughout the crew and not just with the builder.

Finally, to read an article about interviewing your building professional, written by one of Vermont’s most highly recognized high-performance builders, Peter Yost, go to www.buildingscience. org/interviewing-your-building-professional.

Guy Payne is the executive director of the Sustainable Energy Outreach Network, a Brattleboro nonprofit whose mission is to educate builders.

Many builders are unaware of the code, do not build to conform to the code, do not have the skills to build to the code, or do not provide documentation of their work.

In fairness to Finney

In response to the letter to the editor written by Leslie Allen (“Wrongs by Association” July 13), I feel compelled to respond.

Both the Finney Crossing Master Residential HOA and the Condo HOA operate within Vermont statute per corporate counsel. Homeowners have allotted time to speak at every board meeting, and members of the board are available to hear homeowner issues via email or phone between board meetings.

I personally went to Mr. Allen’s home to try to understand his issues better. Unfortunately, Mr. Allen interprets disagreement as dismissal and uses it as a basis of accusing the board of withholding from him his right to have a voice.

What is most important for me to convey is that Finney Crossing is one of the nicest communities I have ever lived in, and I am blessed to have as colleagues some of my neighbors with whom I work on the master board alongside those on the condo board who are dedicated to preserve the great nature of our community and who diligently carry out the business of the community within the law and to the benefit of all homeowners.

Williston

I’m sorry Mr. Allen’s intransigent position does not allow him to see this truth.

Pamela Cowan President of the Board of Finney

Crossing Master Residential Homeowner’s Association

Williston

Keep Verizon off the Old Brick Church

I am writing to express my strong disapproval of any installation of cell equipment in the belfry of the Old Brick Church (“Verizon seeks space in Old Brick Church” July 20).

For 60 years we have fought to preserve and protect this landmark, arguably the town’s most historic landmark. To let a mega-corporation come in with cash to defile the old structure is abominable.

There are many other more creative alternatives. The most obvious is to require Verizon to install a mast on the hill behind the village near the tree line, or even a mast on the fire station would be higher in elevation than the Brick Church.

The town has not yet seen fit to install fire suppression in the church and now proposes to cram one of the belfry tiers with electronic equipment and snarl new cables down through the interior?

The Williston Observer is mailed to every home and business in Williston and St. George every Thursday. In addition, we provide rack distribution to locations in Williston, Richmond and Essex.

Williston

Adams Farm Market

Belle’s Café

Dorothy Alling Memorial

Library

Fairfield Inn

Gardener’s Supply

Green Mountain Bagel

Hannaford

Healthy Living Williston

Home2Suites

Korner Kwik Stop

Marriott Courtyard

Men At Wok

People’s United Bank

Ramunto’s

Rehab Gym

Shell Gas Station (Essex Rd)

Simon’s Mobil Williston

Simply Divine Café

Sonesta

Sunoco Station

Town of Williston Offices

UPS Store

Williston Coffee Shop

Essex Junction

Essex Automotive

Five Corner Variety

Hannaford (at Essex Shoppes) Inn at Essex

Mac’s Market

Martone’s Deli

Price Chopper

Quality Bake Shop

River Road Beverage

If you would like copies for your location, call Rick Cote at (802) 373-2136 or email Rick@WillistonObserver.com

Richmond

Cumberland Farms

Richmond Free Library

Richmond Market

Richmond Mobil Mart

A lightning strike nearly caused the destruction of this irreplaceable landmark several years ago. Only fortune and the quick response of the fire department saved it. Even then, the belfry was totally destroyed. If fire ever finds its way into the attic, with its nearly 299-year-old timbering, the result would be catastrophic.

Please use common sense and leave this building alone. Let your town board know your feelings.

Mark Hutchins Williston

Radiation risks

I am very concerned about Verizon wanting to place cell phone antennas on the Old Brick Church steeple in Williston, and that the Williston Selectboard is not looking into the health dangers of these radiations (“Verizon seeks space in Old Brick Church” July 20).

Also, exactly what is Verizon planning to keep in its “storage shed?”

We must examine the research, since no amount of convenience of having cell phone

service is worth people getting cancer and other brain and physical disorders. There is lots of research demonstrating the dangers, but it’s ignored by the governing agencies that are run/supported by the cell phone industry. (Check out www.radiationhealthrisks.com).

In addition, a new federal bill that threatens to eliminate all state and local control in cell tower and small cell placements is making its way through Congress. Proposed bill H.R. 3557 aims to expedite the deployment of wireless and other communications facilities through a massive federal power grab that strips away state and local control in permitting and regulatory review processes — the very mechanisms designed to protect citizens from the threats posed by wireless facilities.

If H.R. 3557 passes, it will result in a truly unrestricted proliferation of cell towers and small cell installations near schools, playgrounds and homes without any local or community input.

Janet Smith Williston

Williston pregnancy center sues state

BY SARAH MEARHOFF VTDigger

National anti-abortion advocates and two Vermont-based crisis pregnancy centers are suing the state over Act 15, a law overwhelmingly passed by the state Legislature this year which, in part, makes crisis pregnancy centers subject to Vermont’s preexisting false and misleading advertising statutes.

The lawsuit’s plaintiffs are Aspire Now, a pregnancy center located in Williston; Branches Pregnancy Resource Center, another located in Brattleboro; and National Institute for Family and Life Advocates, the nationwide anti-abortion advocacy nonprofit affiliated with the two Vermont facilities.

They are represented by attorneys from Alliance Defending Freedom, a national conservative legal advocacy group, which recently garnered national headlines for spearheading the legal case against the Food and Drug Administration’s authorization of the widely used abortion medication mifepristone.

The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont, alleges that the crisis pregnancy center section of Act 15 violates the First

and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The lawsuit requests that the court grant a permanent injunction, barring the state from enforcing the section of the law.

Act 15, previously known as S.37, was one of two so-called reproductive shield laws passed

tests and ultrasounds — but actively seek to dissuade patients from obtaining abortions. In testimony leading up to the passage of Act 15, abortion advocates and lawmakers alleged that such centers’ advertising strategies are misleading or, sometimes, outright false.

for that state’s law that attempted to restrict crisis pregnancy centers. The California law was ultimately ruled unconstitutional, and the lawsuit was cited by abortion advocates in Vermont this year as a cautionary tale to consider when legislating crisis pregnancy centers.

California’s since overturned FACT Act mandated that pregnancy centers disclose their full services and anti-abortion stances upfront — a requirement that the U.S. Supreme Court found to violate the facilities’ First Amendment rights to free speech. That’s why Vermont’s Act 15 instead went after pregnancy centers using the state’s false advertising statute.

by Vermont legislators this year and signed into law by Republican Gov. Phil Scott. The two laws sought to further protect access to abortion, as well as gender-affirming care and other reproductive health care, in Vermont in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade case precedent last summer.

Crisis pregnancy centers are nonmedical facilities that advertise themselves for pregnant patients, offering some basic obstetrics — such as pregnancy

In a press release announcing the lawsuit’s filing on Tuesday, Thomas Glessner, president of the National Institute for Family and Life Advocates, argued that the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 affirmed crisis pregnancy centers’ rights to operate “without unjust government punishment or government interference with their message.”

The case Glessner was referring to — National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra — was filed by his organization against California

Still, Glessner said in Tuesday’s press release, Vermont is “trampling First Amendment rights of people whose only goal is to help women in their time of need” through Act 15.

“Vermont is wasting precious time seeking to hinder the constitutional right of women to choose life for their baby and by going after centers who help women rather than working with these pregnancy centers on what they can do together to meet the needs of women facing unplanned pregnancies,” Glessner said.

“Vermont is wasting precious time … going after centers who help women rather than working with these pregnancy centers on what they can do together to meet the needs of women facing unplanned pregnancies.”

Thomas Glessner President, National Institute for Family and Life Advocates

Energy resilience — what does it take?

BY REED PARKER Williston Energy Committee

Resilience is the ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. We can think of community resilience as our ability to dig out of major snowstorms or rebuild our roads following river flooding.

Currently, energy resilience is dependent on the proactive planning and tireless efforts of local electric utility companies, and the overall reliability of the New England power grid. With heartbreaking climate impacts happening across the country, and record-breaking damaging storms experienced in Vermont recently, how can Williston plan to become energy resilient, and ensure that the lights stay on?

One viable solution is a microgrid, which operates as part of the greater electric grid during typical situations but can disconnect and run independently in time of electrical

disruption. Using proven technology, such as energy stored in batteries and solar panels to extend the battery life through recharging, the microgrid creates a protective power envelope for a community, enabling electrical generation, storage and distribution during a time when the greater grid is damaged and inoperable.

Let’s review two real life cases developed cooperatively with communities and our electric utility, Green Mountain Power (GMP).

PANTON’S MICROGRID

Faced with the potential of becoming disconnected from its main source of electricity during a major storm, the Addison County town of Panton (population under 1,000) partnered with GMP to rethink how electricity is generated and distributed by creating a microgrid attached to a solar power plant. Engineering teams from GMP spent two

years creating the first-in-thenation, fossil fuel-free microgrid for a distribution circuit in Panton.

A 50 MW photovoltaic (PV) solar field feeds power to a 4.9-megawatt storage battery, which becomes the main source of power if the greater grid is

damaged in a storm or other emergency. Currently serving about 55 GMP customers, the Panton microgrid has the capability to expand to service 900 customers. Proving this scalability is key to GMP’s concept of a “Resiliency Zone.”

According to GMP, “a Resil -

iency Zone is a community hub which can stay connected, even when the larger grid is damaged. Projects are customized to a town’s needs with technologies that can include energy storage, renewable power generation, power line undergrounding and

see RESILIENCE page 12

Folks attend a groundbreaking in June for South Burlington’s Hillside East, the first neighborhood in Vermont to be built fossil fuel-free. COURTESY PHOTO BY ANDY DUBACK

Backyard composting

WHAT: Online course

WHEN: Starting Sept. 1

REGISTER AT: https://go.uvm. edu/mastercomposter

The Dog Days of

Course teaches basics of backyard composting

Registration is now open for UVM Extension’s Vermont Master Composter course, designed to teach the basics of backyard composting.

The online course opens on Sept. 1 and runs for eight weeks. Course materials will be available to participants until Nov. 16.

Topics to be covered include the biology of composting, the decomposition process, site and bin selection considerations, composting in community settings, compost “recipes” and uses, troubleshooting (including how to keep critters out of your compost) and Vermont’s Universal Recycling Law (Act 148).

Two tracks are offered. The at-your-pace track allows participants to move through the course at their own leisure. The volunteer track is for anyone interested in becoming a certified Vermont Master Composter to help teach people in their community to become better composters. The course includes an in-person workshop as well as live discussion sessions with instructors offered via Zoom on Thursdays from 6-7:30 p.m. beginning Sept. 7.

The cost is $50 for Vermonters and $150 for out-of-state residents and covers all materials. To register or learn more, visit https:// go.uvm.edu/mastercomposter. To request a disability-related accommodation to participate, contact Deb Heleba at debra.heleba@ uvm.edu or (802) 656-1777 by Aug. 15.

A 2022 course participant said, “This course exposed me to the world of solid waste management in Vermont that I was previously ignorant to. In just two months, my appreciation increased for the waste

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management ecosystem and impact that composting can have on the environment. It was great having such a diverse set of classmates from all different professions that brought a unique perspective to the composting conversation.”

Another said, “I feel this course has something for everybody. Whether you’re interested in soil ecology, community orga-

Topics to be covered include the biology of composting, the decomposition process, site and bin selection considerations, composting in community settings, compost “recipes” and uses, troubleshooting and Vermont’s Universal Recycling Law (Act 148).

nizing or learning to troubleshoot your home compost system, the course provides a great base level of knowledge that can be applied to numerous projects and situations.”

The course is sponsored by the UVM Extension Community Horticulture Program with financial support from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.

Green tips

Cutting your car-related emissions

According to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, motor vehicles are the largest source of a number of air pollutants in the state.

The agency offers these tips to reduce your personal contribution to air pollution and carbon emissions:

• Use public transportation, or carpool; and opt to bike or walk when possible.

• Eliminate unnecessary idling; It harms human health, pollutes the air, wastes fuel, causes excess engine wear and costs money. And it’s against the law. If every car and truck in Vermont reduced unnecessary idling by just one minute per day, over the course of a year, Vermonters would save over 1 million gallons of fuel, over $2.5 million in fuel costs and reduce CO2 emissions by more than 10,000 metric tons.

• Prevent gas spillage; don’t attempt to

Federal program lowers barriers to rooftop solar

top off fuel tanks.

• Plan ahead; combine errands or activities and avoid extra driving.

• Inflate tires properly; cars with soft tires can take up to 5 percent more energy to operate.

• Purchase an electric or a more fuel-efficient vehicle; Compare electric vehicle models available in Vermont, at Drive Electric Vermont’s website: https://www.driveelectricvt.com.

• Keep vehicles in good repair: Repairing a vehicle before extensive problems occur can save money, increase performance and help to protect the environment. Vehicle emissions warranties exist to help protect health and the environment. Vermont law requires more extensive emissions system warranty coverage than what is required under federal law.

At a late-June event in Waterbury, Vermont’s Congressional delegation joined U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan to announce a $7 billion grant competition for rooftop and residential solar that will increase access to affordable, resilient and clean solar energy for low-income households in Vermont and across the country.

Established by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the “Solar for All” program will award up to 60 grants to states, territories, Tribal governments, municipalities and nonprofits to expand existing low-income solar programs and develop and implement new solar programs nationwide.

“At a time when people are struggling to make ends meet, all while dealing with the existential threat of climate change, we must make residential rooftop solar a reality for

low-income and working families that need it most,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders. “I look forward to working with the EPA on this program to make it more affordable for low-income and working-class families to install solar on their homes and save money on their electricity bills, as well as help create millions of good jobs in Vermont and across the country.”

Residential solar cuts home energy bills and provides families with resilient and secure power. Solar for All will help low-income and disadvantaged communities experience these benefits, including guaranteeing a minimum 20 percent total electricity bill savings for households participating in the program.

The deadline to apply is Sept. 26. Application materials are at https://www.grants. gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=348957.

Women Build 2023

State makes energy assessments available to municipalities

Vermont’s Municipal Energy Resilience Program (MERP) is offering free energy assessments of municipal buildings.

The assessments will document current conditions and make recommendations for improvements to building envelopes, heating and cooling systems, and other projects to make towns more efficient and resilient, including recommendations to incorporate renewable energy sources. Once the

Resilience

continued from page 9

storm-hardened line construction techniques.”

We recently spoke with Kristin Kelly, GMP director of communications, who indicated that the key to this project is that the microgrid must work seamlessly with the big grid and be able to disconnect during a crisis to keep the community powered up. Currently GMP is building Resiliency Zones in partnership with the towns of Brattleboro, Grafton and Rochester, with more on the way.

ALL-ELECTRIC NEIGHBORHOOD

Closer to Williston, the South Burlington Hillside East neighborhood is designed to be Vermont’s first all-electric, fully storm resilient neighborhood. The utility infrastructure and homes are designed with climate and storm resiliency in mind with the added benefit of being free of the use of fossil fuels for all homes.

GMP partnered with Vermont-based property company O’Brien Brothers, which opted to go fossil fuel free as it expands its popular Hillside at O’Brien Farm community. GMP says this project will show how an entire neighborhood can be all-electric and benefit the grid.

assessments are completed, municipalities can apply for up to $500,000 in implementation grants to make the recommended improvements.

MERP is modeled on the State Energy Management Program (SEMP) that has been improving the efficiency of stateowned buildings for close to a decade.

“This is the next step in a program that will help towns across the state improve the

GMP’s energy storage programs include energy sharing during peak demand times on the grid, which helps to reduce power costs for all GMP customers, while also reducing carbon emissions.

The neighborhood will be modeled on GMPs Resiliency Zones, as homes will come equipped with Tesla Powerwall

performance of their municipal buildings,” said Buildings and General Services Commissioner Jennifer Fitch. “Improving performance lowers greenhouse gas emissions supporting the state’s climate goals while reducing utility bills and saving money on utility bills, a win-win for Vermont’s communities.”

Application information is available at https://bgs.vermont. gov/municipal-energy-resilience-program.

community conversations, generating many questions dealing with cost, risk, reward, scope, location and time to deliver a workable solution.

Do we target new development, as they did in South Burlington? Or is the historic village with our town offices, police and close-by schools and fire department the best choice?

Any consideration for a microgrid needs to include the utility companies that serve Williston. GMP is ready to work with communities and businesses looking to create resiliency and reduce fossil fuel use.

batteries and rooftop solar panels to recharge them. There is also a community microgrid with utility scale batteries to keep the whole neighborhood powered up. Combined, the batteries in the homes and neighborhood will create a virtual power plant.

Each dwelling will include ducted heat pump systems for heating and cooling, all electric appliances and a level 2 EV charger in the garage. Kelly indicated that this is the first community of its type in Vermont and may be the first in the entire nation.

For Williston to move in this direction, it would start with

We hope that these real-world examples will excite community members to ask more questions about the possibility of energy resiliency for Williston. We invite you to comment on this article through the Observer or by writing to us at energy@willistonvt.org to provide your input.

To participate in Williston’s energy future, reach out to the Williston Energy Committee at energy@willistonvt.org or attend a public meeting held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. The agenda for upcoming meetings is posted on the Town of Williston website (www.town.williston.vt.us). For more information, visit www. willistonvtenergycommittee.org.

microgrid creates a protective power envelope for a community.

State offers electric vehicle charging incentives

The Vermont Community Electric Vehicle Chargers Incentive Program launched July 6, a $7 million program of the Department of Housing and Community Development that aims to increase access to electric charging opportunities for Vermonters at locations such as workplaces, apartment buildings and public areas.

Green Mountain Power (GMP) will administer the statewide grant program. Application materials are available at www.vermontevchargers.com.

“To meet our carbon emissions goals, we have to make it easier for Vermonters and

visitors to convert to cleaner energy,” Gov. Phil Scott said.

“That’s why EV infrastructure has been an area of focus for my administration and partners throughout the state … This program will help us increase equity in our electrification efforts, particularly in locations where charging solutions are not as straightforward as in single-family, owner-occupied homes.”

The new program builds off last year’s “Multiunit EV Charging Pilot Program.” It will help fund the installation of 84 new charging ports at 37 different locations across eight coun -

ties in Vermont then focus on charger installation at more than 6,000 multi-family homes.

“GMP is proud to partner with the state to deploy these resources as quickly as we can to speed the transition to electric vehicles for more Vermonters all across the state,” said Mari McClure, GMP President and CEO. “A robust and widespread charging network is essential infrastructure to help us reach our carbon emissions reduction goals. By working together, we can continue to lead the nation in clean energy by continuing to reduce carbon emissions from transportation.”

Incentives will be issued

first-come, first-served to eligible applicants. Pre-approved electrical contractors and local

electric utilities will also offer technical assistance to help applicants who may have limited experience with EV charging.

VT’s image as climate haven takes a hit

BY PETER D’AURIA VTDigger

In 2018, Zack Porter moved from Missoula, Montana, to Vermont.

Porter, the executive director of a small regional forest conservation nonprofit, grew up in New England but had lived in the West for about 15 years. As Western states endure hotter, dryer summers, however, Missoula has been increasingly smothered with smoke from nearby wildfires, and Porter and his wife grew worried about the health of their young daughter.

After “two back-to-back horrific

smoke seasons,” he said, the family decided to pack up and move to Montpelier.

As the world warms, Vermont has been touted as a climate refuge, a place that has drawn people — like Porter and his family — who are seeking escape from the worst effects of climate change.

But this summer has forced Vermonters to reexamine that reputation. Unrelenting rainfall — a phenomenon exacerbated by climate change, experts say — earlier this month left Vermont’s capital and other towns underwater.

Before that, in late June, some

parts of the state were in fact experiencing a moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Meanwhile, smoke from Quebec wildfires has periodically poured into the state, triggering air quality alerts. And blooms of cyanobacteria, which are linked to warmer water temperatures, have repeatedly closed beaches along Lake Champlain and been detected in other bodies of water, according to Vermont Department of Health data.

Porter’s house was spared from the flooding. But the destruction in downtown Montpelier reminded him of that wrought in the coast-

al South by Hurricane Katrina, he said. And the appearance of wildfire smoke — a factor that had driven his family away from Montana — was “heartbreaking,” he said.

In the 12 years since Tropical Storm Irene struck the state, “This image of Vermont being this quiet, happy refuge really kind of took over again,” Porter said. “Vermont has a lot of things going for it. But we aren’t immune to natural disasters.”

‘VERMONT WAS THE BEST CONTENDER’

Vermont regularly appears at the top of lists of states best poised to weather global warming. The relatively cool climate makes the state more resistant to extreme heat waves, and with no coastline, residents need not worry about rising sea levels. Abundant, year-round precipitation insulates Vermonters from drought and water shortages.

Many recent arrivals, like Porter, have cited climate change as a reason for their move, according to Cheryl Morse, a professor of environmental studies, geography and geosciences at the University of Vermont.

“There’s a belief that Vermont will have enough water most of the time, that it will have a more temperate climate in terms of weather, in terms of temperature,” said Morse, who has studied migration into the state. “In their imagination, Vermont presented a safer climate with plenty of water, access to land and small community settlement.”

One such new arrival was Cymone Bedford. In 2020, Bedford moved to Vermont from Atlanta, Georgia, with the goal of building an eco-friendly home: She lives in Johnson, in an off-grid “Earthship,” a house designed for self-sufficiency and sustainability.

A vehicle drives through smoky air on Browns Trace Road in Jericho on June 25.

PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER see CLIMATE page

continued from page 14

“I was thinking, like, where would I want to retire? Like, where would I want to live long-term, that I know if I plant roots and build community, I can comfortably stay there during climate change?” she said. “And based on my research, I felt like Vermont was the best contender.”

Bedford, a municipal planning director, did not suffer any damage personally in the recent flooding. Johnson as a whole, though, was hit hard by the rising Lamoille River: The grocery store was gutted, as were the Johnson Health Center and the town’s wastewater facility.

“Maybe some of the branding that Vermont is, you know, just like blanketly the best place for climate change will need to have some caveats,” Bedford said.

‘THIS SUMMER HAS MAYBE BURST THE BUBBLE’

Despite its reputation, Vermont is expected to face — or is already

facing — a slew of unpleasant or dangerous phenomena linked to rising temperatures: flooding, heat waves, wildfire smoke, algae blooms, tick-borne diseases, according to Jared Ulmer, the climate and health program manager at the Vermont Department of Health.

“This summer has maybe burst the bubble a little bit in what probably was more of just a myth, of Vermont being an ideal climate refuge,”

Ulmer said.

This week, Morse, the UVM professor, sent a survey to about 25 recent arrivals in Vermont who have previously participated in her research, asking if the flooding or wildfire smoke had caused them to reconsider their move.

As of Monday morning, Morse had received responses from 17 people. Of those, six said that their homes or property had been person-

ally affected by the flooding.

But only one respondent said the recent weather had caused her to question her relocation to Vermont.

“We’ve had a few days of really smoky weather, reminding us of living out West,” said the woman, who lives in northern Vermont, according to an anonymous response shared by Morse. “It’s been disappointing, we put a lot of time, effort and money into our move to Vermont with the hopes of getting away from some of these recent weather events.”

Every other person who responded to Morse’s survey said that they were happy to be living in Vermont.

“It is disappointing to have such a strange summer of rain and smoky air, but we also recognize how terrible it is in many other places,” said one Chittenden County man. “Vermont remains beautiful through it all and we will recover better than some areas.”

‘YOU CAN’T BUY THAT’

Most people interviewed by VTDigger, including Bedford and Porter, the relatively recent arriv-

als, agreed that Vermont is still in a better position than most other states.

“In the largest sense, we’re probably safer than some other places: We’re wet, which on the whole is probably better than dry, and we’re far enough north that our worst heat waves will likely be mild compared with some,” Bill McKibben, an activist and Middlebury environmental studies professor, said in an email earlier this month.

When it comes to weathering natural disasters, many argue that Vermont’s best feature is more cultural than meteorological: the state’s social cohesion. The value placed on community and cooperation, some said, helped residents weather Covid-19 and is apparent in the outpouring of support after the flooding.

“I feel like there is a localism culture in Vermont that is mutually supportive and group-oriented,” said Bedford, the Johnson resident. “And you can’t buy that. You can’t even legislate that. It’s there or it’s not.”

Zack Porter at the intersection of Main Street and State Street in Montpelier on July 18.

PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

Next Week: Owls

Marvelous Maryland

Maryland is sometimes called the Old Line State. The nickname comes from 400 members of the 1st Maryland Regiment during the Revolutionary War, who fought bravely against the British in the Battle of Long Island. This week, The Mini Page finds out more about our seventh state.

The Chesapeake Bay State

Maryland is the ninth-smallest state in area and the 18th-largest in population, with more than 6 million people.

Native Americans, mostly Algonquian peoples, lived in the area for about 10,000 years. The Italian Giovanni da Verrazzano was the first European to explore the area in the 1500s. It was later claimed by the British.

When King Charles I gave George Calvert, Lord Baltimore, a charter to create the colony, Calvert named it Terra Maria, or Maryland, after the king’s wife, Henrietta Maria.

Today, Baltimore, a top world port, is the biggest city, with about 600,000 people. The National Aquarium in Baltimore has more than 17,000 sea and freshwater animals, including sharks and dolphins.

Annapolis, the capital, is also known as the “Sailing Capital of America.” It served as the U.S. capital from 1783 to 1784.

Try ’n’ Find

Mini Fact: Feral, or wild, ponies live on Assateague Island off the southeast coast of Maryland.

Annapolis is also the site of the U.S. Naval Academy. The city was named for England’s Princess Anne in 1695.

Living in Maryland

Because Maryland borders Washington, D.C., the federal government is a top employer. Some government agencies there include: the National Institutes of Health, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Bureau of the Census.

Food processing and the manufacture of computer and communication equipment are top industries. Fishing is also important to the local economy.

The Allegheny Mountains stretch through the western part of the state. The central portion is a region of plateaus called the Piedmont. Chesapeake Bay is along the eastern side.

Sports

The NFL’s Baltimore Ravens and Washington Commanders play football in Maryland. Major League Baseball’s Orioles have been in Baltimore since 1954.

Education

Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, along with the Maryland Institute College of Art, attract scientists, scholars and creative types to Maryland.

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

ACADEMY, ALGONQUIAN, ANNAPOLIS, AQUARIUM, BAY, CAMP DAVID, CHESAPEAKE, CRAB, FISHING, FOOD, GOVERNMENT, KEY, KING, MARYLAND, ORIOLES, PHELPS, PREAKNESS,

More Maryland facts

• Camp David is the official presidential retreat, named for President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s grandson.

• Francis Scott Key wrote the words for “The Star-Spangled Banner” after witnessing Fort McHenry being bombed during the War of 1812. Key watched from a boat in Baltimore Harbor, not knowing who had won until he saw the U.S. flag still flying “by the dawn’s early light.”

• Every year the Preakness Stakes, the second of three big horse races making up the Triple Crown, is held at Pimlico. Who’s from Maryland?

• Baseball players Cal Ripken Jr. and Babe Ruth were both born in Maryland. Ruth played for the New York Yankees for 14 seasons. He still holds the record for longest home run: 575 feet.

Shortstop Ripken played 21 seasons with the Orioles and holds the record for consecutive (in a row) games played: 2,632. He retired in 2001.

• Swimmer Michael Phelps was born in Baltimore in 1985. He holds the record for Olympic gold medals: 23.

Resources

On the Web:

• bit.ly/MPMaryland

At the library:

• “Maryland” by Julie Murray

• “What’s Great About Maryland?” by Anita Yasuda

Mini Jokes

Why did the crab keep all the seaweed for itself? Because it was shellfish!

Three orcas recently launched a coordinated attack on a yacht in the Strait of Gibraltar off the coast of

Eco Note

Founded by Betty Debnam Issue

photo by Natalie Maynor

photo by Ron Zanoni

photo by Chesapeake Bay Program

The Baltimore Harbor Light was first lighted in 1908.

The blue crab has sweet, tender meat.

Babe Ruth 1895-1948

Cal Ripken Jr. 1960-

the “Sailing Capital of America.” It served as the U.S. capital from 1783 to 1784.

scientists, scholars and creative types to Maryland.

Try ’n’ Find

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

ACADEMY, ALGONQUIAN, ANNAPOLIS, AQUARIUM, BAY, CAMP DAVID, CHESAPEAKE, CRAB, FISHING, FOOD, GOVERNMENT, KEY, KING, MARYLAND, ORIOLES, PHELPS, PREAKNESS, RIPKEN, RUTH.

Cook’s Corner

Apple Raisin Salad

You’ll need:

• 4 cups red apples, peeled and chopped

• 3/4 cup lemon juice

• 1 cup celery, diced

What to do:

Maryland produces 40 million pounds of apples per year.

• 1 cup raisins

• 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

• 1 cup mayonnaise

1. Combine chopped apples and lemon juice in a large bowl. Stir several times to cover apples well.

2. Soak apples for 15 minutes. Drain lemon juice.

3. Add other ingredients and mix together well.

4. Refrigerate for 2 hours or more before serving. Makes 6 servings.

Mini Jokes

Mona: Why did the crab keep all the seaweed for itself? Mark: Because it was shellfish!

Eco Note

Three orcas recently launched a coordinated attack on a yacht in the Strait of Gibraltar off the coast of Spain, prompting assistance by a Spanish coastal rescue vessel. “The little ones shook the rudder at the back, while the big one repeatedly backed up and rammed the ship with full force from the side,” skipper Werner Schaufelberger told a German magazine. He added that the smaller orcas appeared to be imitating the larger one. There have been up to 500 attacks off the Iberian Peninsula, many not causing damage, since May 2020.

For later: Look in your newspaper for items that mention Maryland.

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

BY DAN THOMPSON

The Mini Page® © 2023 Andrews McMeel Syndication

1. The large _______ in Baltimore is a well-known port.

2. Fishermen caught ______, rockfish, clams and oysters.

3. Many _______ live on Assateague Island, Maryland.

4. Annapolis, Maryland, is the “________ Capital of the U.S.”

the letter

the

3.

1. A protected body of water for ships (6-letter noun)

4. Traveling on a boat moved by wind (7-letter verb)

3. Small horses that can be tame or wild (6-letter plural noun)

2. Sea animals with claws related to lobsters (5-letter plural noun)

by Jan & Carey Orr Cook

Cassius One LLC

myvocabulary com

Green Burials

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Dear Savvy Senior, Are there any services that you recommend that can help families resolve elder parent caregiving conflicts? My 86-year-old father was recently diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, and to make matters worse, my sister and brother and I have been perpetually arguing about how to handle his future caregiving and financial needs.

Conflicted Siblings

Dear Conflicted,

It’s not unusual for adult children to disagree with each other regarding the care of an elder parent. If you and your siblings are willing, a good possible solution is to hire an “eldercare mediator” who can help you work through your disagreements peacefully.

HOW IT WORKS

While mediators have been used for years to help divorcing couples sort out legal and financial disagreements and avoid court battles, eldercare mediation is a relatively new and specialized service designed to help families resolve disputes that are related to aging parents or other elderly relatives.

Family disagreements over an

By Jim Miller

ill or elderly parent’s caregiving needs, medical care, living arrangements, driving issues or legal and financial decisions are just some of the many issues that an elder care mediator can help with. But don’t confuse this with family or group therapy. Mediation is only about decision-making, not feelings and emotions.

The job of an elder mediator is to step in as a neutral third party to help ease family tensions, listen to everyone’s concerns, hash out disagreements and misunderstandings, and help your family make decisions that are acceptable to everyone.

Good mediators can also assist your family in identifying experts such as estate-planners, geriatric

care managers, or health care or financial professionals who can supply important information for family decision making.

Your family also needs to know that the mediation process is completely confidential and can take anywhere from a few hours to several meetings depending on the complexity of your issues. And if some family members live far away, a conference or video call can be used to bring everyone together.

If you’re interested in hiring a private eldercare mediator, you can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to more than $500 per hour depending on where you live and who you choose. Or, if available in your area, you may be able to get help through a community-based nonprofit program that offers free or low-cost services by volunteer mediators.

FINDING A MEDIATOR

To locate an elder mediator in your area, start by asking for referrals from health professionals or hospital social workers, or search online at The Academy of Professional Family Mediators website (www.apfmnet.org) or www.Mediate.com. Both sites have searchable directories.

Or, to search for free/low-cost, community-based mediation programs in your state, see the National Association for Community Mediation website (www.nafcm. org). Unfortunately, not all states offer them.

There is currently no universally accepted credential or professional standard for eldercare mediators, so make sure the person you choose has extensive experience with elder issues that are similar to what your family is dealing with. Also, be sure you ask for references and check them. Most elder mediators are attorneys, social workers, counselors or other professionals who are trained in mediation and conflict resolution.

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 FOUND ON PAGE 22

SOLUTION ON PAGE 22

Almanac

TODAY’S HISTORY:

ANDREWS MCMEEL

• In 1789, Congress established the Department of Foreign Affairs, later renamed the Department of State.

• In 1953, a Korean War armistice was signed after three years of fighting.

• In 1974, the House of Representatives voted to recommend the first article of impeachment against President Nixon.

• In 1996, a bomb exploded in Centennial Olympic Park during the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, killing two people.

TODAY’S FACT:

• The Republic of Korea (South Korea) refused to sign the armistice agreement that ended the Korean War. It has never made a peace treaty with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea).

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continued from page 1

long time to do it.”

Community Justice Center

Executive Director Cristalee

McSweeney and Racial Equity

Partnership member Pat Brown presented their findings to the board on July 11 about how to display the values statement, which reads, in part: “Williston acknowledges that racism exists. Williston is committed to identifying, addressing and eliminating policies and procedures that have contributed to institutional and structural racism.”

Among the options are framing the statement on a wall of all town-owned buildings, reading the statement at the beginning of all town board meetings and publishing it on the home page of the town website. McSweeney also suggests relocating the black lives matter flag and flying an “end racism” flag at Town Hall; putting black lives matter lawn signs in front of Town Hall; and

installing artwork that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion along Williston Road.

“We need to revisit the flag (and) bring in what people have learned over the last bunch of months,” McSweeney said.

the board’s decision, she said.

“Every community in this country has been asking these questions for three years now,” Jensen said, continuing to press for more concrete measures. “Time’s a-wasting. I’d hate to do one more study. There has got to be ways we can start actually making change instead of studying this more.”

McSweeney said the listening circle process would be complete by early fall.

“I don’t think it’s a quick fix,” she said. “I think if we act quickly, we’re going to miss critical pieces. I really think we do need to hear more from the community around how we visualize these values.”

“Have people accepted it? Is that something that we can keep up?”

But before the board makes a decision about the visual display of town values, McSweeney suggested inviting members of the community to “listening circles.” These discussions will help narrow down the options and guide

In a related discussion on July 11, the selectboard also tabled a vote on whether to adopt a “land acknowledgement” statement that would reflect the history of European colonization of what is now the Town of Williston, originally the home of the Abenaki people (see related story, page 1).

“We need to revisit the flag. Have people accepted it? Is that something that we can keep up?”

Cristalee McSweeney

Williston Community Justice Center

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DAY CAMPS

You can still register for summer 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: Voltage Soccer Camp, Drawing in Nature Camp, Wicked Cool STEAM Camp, Chess Wizards Camp, Horse Camp and Ninja Science Camps.

SOCCER REGISTRATION

SOCCER SHORTS

Ages 3-4. Child/parent program. This program teaches the fundamentals of soccer using a fun and energetic curriculum. Each class is held in a fun and positive environment where children are encouraged to

learn and play with a parent and each other.

Instructors: Rec. Staff

KINDERREC SOCCER

Ages 5-6, Coed. This program is designed to teach the fundamentals of the game. Youngsters will be provided with the opportunity to learn, practice and develop their skills. Saturday practices and scrimmages. Parents and volunteers are needed to coach teams.

GRADE 1-2 SOCCER (COED)

This league provides the opportunity for youngsters to learn the game, improve their skills, and enjoy playing. The program meets twice a week — a weekday practice and Saturday games. Parents and volunteers are needed to coach teams.

GRADE 3-5 SOCCER

Separate boys’ and girls’ leagues are offered if numbers allow. The program meets twice a week — a weekday practice and Saturday games. Teams will have the opportunity to play other rec department teams. Parents and volunteers are needed to coach teams.

Hey Woodski!

What is optimal nutrition for pre- and post-workout for recovery and strength gains?

Gainer Gabe age 14 (male, hockey)

If you’re doing all of these good things, only then think about optimizing your nutrition around your workouts. This includes:

1. Focus on a balance of protein and carbohydrates (fats are less helpful pre- and post-workout).

Dear Gainer Gabe,

Wayne Gretzky, one of the greatest hockey players ever, said: “You can’t get anywhere without the basics. You can’t go on to do great things, unless you master the fundamentals.”

So with that in mind, write down the last three meals that you’ve eaten.

Are they balanced with carbohydrates, proteins and healthy fats? Are you eating a wide variety of vegetables and fruits over the course of a day? Are you avoiding a lot of prepackaged meals and snacks?

If the answer to any one of these questions is no (or if you’re not sure), then focus here before worrying about pre-and post-workout nutrition. Sure, this may sound boring or hard. But it doesn’t have to be.

Gamify the fundamentals by celebrating every small nutrition win. Give yourself a high-five every time! Share your healthy habits with your coaches, friends and family. Embrace every bit of positive encouragement you receive.

2. Stay hydrated. Drink water throughout the day, sip water in the hour leading up to exercise. And after exercise, drink water to replace fluids lost through sweat.

3. Refuel within 30-60 minutes after a workout when possible. This is when your body absorbs the most nutrients.

4. Most importantly, skip the supplements and powders. Stick to whole foods.

The best players in the world will tell you that focusing on the fundamentals day in and day out helped them become better athletes. You can do the same!

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.

SHELBURNE

Assistant to the Town Manager

Join a dedicated team and contribute to the great quality of life in Shelburne!

Shelburne has an outstanding culture of volunteerism and a full suite of public services, from parks and police to sewage and streets. The Town Manager’s team implements the vision of the Selectboard and leads the Town government. This position requires interpersonal, administrative, and project management skills. They support everything from the Town’s Annual Report to committee meetings, grant reports, procurement, and community events. This is local government at its best!

The Assistant to the Town Manager must be a versatile administrator with both technical and people skills. We are looking for a mix of education and experience showing strong communication and organizing skills, multitasking, and understanding of local government context and ethics. Government experience is a plus, but skills from the business, nonprofit, and education sectors transfer well.

Our pay range for this position is $22 to $27 hourly, depending on qualifications. The Town’s strong benefits include excellent healthcare and pension, leave and holidays, and more.

A complete job description is available at www.ShelburneVT. org/Jobs To apply, send a Town application and/or resume to SCannizzaro@shelburnevt.org. Our review begins immediately. Equal Opportunity Employer.

To

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

PUZZLE FOUND ON PAGE 19

LEGAL NOTICE

Public Auction

Under Self-Storage And Operators Lien

U-Haul of Williston 5010 Williston Rd Williston, Vt . 05495

On August 8, 2023 at 9:00 am on www.storageauctions.com

The contents of the following units consisting of furniture, household goods and miscellaneous personal property will be SOLD to satisfy the lien of U-HAUL as selfstorage operators.

This sale is held under The Uniform Commercial Code Section 16a, Paragraph 7-210 Enforcement of Vermont SelfStorage Lien.

CLASSIFIED

LEGAL

Notice of Public Hearing TOWN OF WILLISTON

Tuesday, August 15, 2023 at 7:00pm

In-person: Town Hall Annex Conference Room, 7878 Williston Road

Online: Zoom Meeting ID 873 0175 0819 on zoom.us/join or call (646) 558-8656

The Williston Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider amendments to the Williston Unified Development Bylaw (WDB) to reconfigure Trader Lane and relocate the public green on the Town-Wide Official Map, Form-Based Code Regulating Plan map, and Form-Based Code Street Specifications Map. The amendments will allow for the construction of Trader Lane

as a two-way street per the Public Works Specifications. The public green will shift northward, fronting Trader Lane directly across from its intersection with Wright Avenue.

The proposed amendments are available for viewing at the Planning Office, 7878 Williston Road, and online. Go to www. town.williston.vt.us then select “Public Records and Documents,” “Agendas and Minutes” and navigate to the Planning Commission meeting of August 15, 2023. Public comment is welcomed and encouraged. Comment letters can be emailed to Matt Boulanger (mboulanger@ willistonvt.org) or mailed: Williston Planning Commission, 7900 Williston Road, Williston VT 05495. Questions or requests for accessibility accommodations can be directed to Matt Boulanger at the Williston Planning Office at (802) 878-6704.

Martin 2573

Anthony LaBounty 2703

Jennifer Geudeman 2707

Johnathan Whalley AA2794F

Tiffany Thomas AA4087E

James Raab AA4709E

July 14 at 11:17 a.m. — Retail theft reported at Walmart. A male, age 29, was issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

July 14 at 12:07 p.m. — Suspicious male and female at the bus stop near Petsmart. Officer recovered stolen property. Parties were moved along.

July 14 at 5:18 p.m. — Assisted Williston Rescue with possible overdose at Walmart. Male refused assistance was moved along.

July 15 at 11:25 a.m. — Retail theft reported at Walmart. A male, age 38, was issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

July 15 at 11:37 a.m. — Suspicious males in Walmart, both parties were trespassed.

July 15 at 6:02 p.m. — Retail theft at Marshalls. A male, age 42, and a female, age 47, were both issued citations to appear in court for retail theft.

SUDUKO

PUZZLE FOUND ON PAGE 19

July 16 at 4:45 p.m. — Report of a male acting suspicious behind River Cove Animal Hospital. Male was moved along.

July 17 at 5:50 p.m. — Retail theft reported at REI. Arrest warrant was issued for the suspect.

July 18 at 2:58 p.m. — Retail theft from Boho Baby. Female was issued paperwork to appear at the Community Justice Center.

July 19 at 10:44 a.m. — Retail theft reported at Walmart. A male, age 45, had an active arrest warrant. He was transported to court. The male was also issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

July 19 at 12:08 p.m. — Traffic stop conducted. A female, age 35, was issued a citation to appear in court for driving with a criminally suspended license.

July 19 at 12:51 p.m. — Retail theft at Home Depot. A male, age 34, was issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

July 19 at 12:57 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Home Depot. Vehicle was located in Burlington and was seized by police.

July 19 at 3:14 p.m. — Retail theft reported at REI. A female, age 36, was issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

July 19 at 5:22 p.m. — Suspicious male in Best Buy. Male was trespassed and moved along.

July 20 at 8:21 p.m. — Retail theft at Walmart. Case is still under investigation.

Officers of the Williston Police Department also responded to 17 alarm activations, 11 motor vehicle crashes and conducted 10 traffic stops during this time period.