Williston Observer 11/30/2023 by Williston Observer

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NOVEMBER 30, 2023

Time for ‘a pause’

WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985

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Should schools move beyond Black Lives Matter flag? BY JASON STARR Observer staff

Not throwin’ away my shot The CVU girls begin tryouts on Monday for a spot on the basketball team for the upcoming season. OBSERVER PHOTO BY AL FREY

The lone person of color on the Champlain Valley School Board said Tuesday it’s time to bring down the Black Lives Matter flags that have been flying outside local schools for more than three years. The flags were raised in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd — a school board decision made in summer 2020 to signify support for black members of the school community. “I’d ask that it come down at this point,” board member Babra Marden said. “The issues going on right now are not just about black community members. It is impacting everyone whether it’s color, race or religion. I am a person of color. I supported the flag going up, but at this time, we need to take a pause. That is my ask.” Marden’s remarks came during a board discussion about displaying a more inclusive symbol of support on school grounds. Shelburne parent Ni-

The Champlain Valley School Board is discussing whether it is time to take down the Black Lives Matter flags that were raised at local schools in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

cole Koopman brought the idea to the board in October, ques-

tioning how the Black Lives Matter group has responded to hostilities in Israel and Palestine. One Black Lives Matter

chapter posted, then deleted, an image promoting Hamas fighters in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, according to national news reports. Several chapters have since been unequivocal in their support for Hamas, according to the Anti-Defamation League. Koopman said this support for Hamas “has prompted questions and apprehensions among both Jewish and non-Jewish community members … Some see FLAG page 3

of a $300,000 home, for example, an additional $106 on their annual property tax bill. The tax increase reflects a spending increase of $1.2 million, resulting in a $14 million municipal budget proposal. The increase is needed to maintain the town’s current level of operations, Wells said. Possible staff additions under consideration — such as a police detective, police lieutenant, human resources director and parks staff — would amount to an additional $60 annually in property tax on a $300,000 home. Wells plans to present the bud-

get draft to the selectboard at its Dec. 5 meeting. The board plans two public hearings on the proposal in early January and plans to finalize a budget for voter consideration at Town Meeting Day by the end of January. “The overall theme of this budget proposal is continuing to address the intersection of increased cost to provide municipal services at the same time as focusing on expanding capacity to delivered services based on community and operational needs,” Wells wrote a budget transmittal letter to the board.

“I’d ask that it come down at this point.” Babra Marden Champlain Valley School Board

Spending spikes 6-8% in town, school budget drafts BY JASON STARR Observer staff

First drafts of the town and school budgets that will be up for voter approval in March carry spending increases of 8.7 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively. Champlain Valley School District Chief Operation Officer Gary Marckres presented the school budget draft to the school board Tuesday. The board plans bi-weekly public budget meetings through mid-January before finalizing a proposal for the March 5 Town Meeting Day vote.

The school proposal would increase spending over the current fiscal year by $6.2 million, taking the CVSD budget over $100 million for the first time ($102.3 million). The primary driver of the increase is an increase in teacher salaries that the board previously negotiated with the teachers union, as well as an increase in the cost of teacher health benefits, according to Marckres. The district is also increasing pay by $2 per hour and offering dental care benefits for support staff. The cost for two new administrative positions is offset in the proposal by reductions elsewhere,

including the elimination of four para-professional positions. The increased spending will result in a property tax of $1.37 for every $100 of assessed property value, Marckres estimates — a 5 percent increase over the current fiscal year. The Town of Williston’s budget increase would also result in a property tax increase, according to preliminary estimates from Town Manager Erik Wells. The proposed property tax for town services is 37 cents for every $100 of assessed property value, a roughly 10 percent increase over the current fiscal year. The increase would cost the owner

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Williston Observer • November 30, 2023

Around Town Eagle attainment

Target practice Williston Central School students (from left to right) Myles Penny, Miles Walford and Masyn Wilcox aim a catapult they designed, built and tested at a target in a middle school engineering competition earlier this month. Other students built a ramp as part of the challenge. The students then competed with their creations, launching an object a specified distance. PHOTO COURTESY OF AMY DURANT/WCS SCIENCE TEACHER

Thomas Mathon from Williston BSA Troop 692 earned the rank of Eagle Scout on Nov. 21. Mathon is pictured after his Eagle Scout board review with Scoutmaster Mo Denis.

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The Vermont Air National Guard will conduct night flying this week, with afternoon and evening takeoffs lasting until about 7

p.m. Daytime flying operations will resume Saturday, Dec. 2. “We are required to train at night to ensure our pilots and the supporting airmen on the ground remain proficient in various weather conditions and scenarios,” Air Force Col. Laura Caputo said. Col. Brian Lepine added: “Night flying is a crucial component of training.”

Old Brick Church trustees to meet The Williston Old Brick Church Trustees will meet Monday, Dec. 4 from 4-5 p.m. in the basement of the Old Brick Church at 100 Library Lane. The agenda includes an update on a proposed Verizon cell phone repeater project, as well as discussion of suggested grounds improvements and

the potential for restarting the Old Brick Church music series. To provide public comment, attend the meeting or send an email/ letter to: edickinson@willistonvt.org or Erin Dickinson c/o Old Brick Church Trustees, 7900 Williston Road, Williston VT 05495.

‘Wild About Williston’ event to focus on conservation The Williston Conservation Commission and Sustainable Williston will hold an event to celebrate the town’s conservation successes and ongoing efforts on Thursday, Dec. 7 from 7-8:15 p.m. in the Beckett/McGuire meeting room at Williston’s Town Hall. The event will offer an interactive exploration of Williston’s wildlife habitat as the town continues to see expanded commercial and residential development, along with light refreshments. For more event details, visit the Wild About Williston page on the town website (https://www.town.williston.vt.us/).

Industrial intersection upgrade complete The reconstruction of the intersection of Industrial Avenue and Route 2 in Williston was declared complete last week by the Vermont Agency of Transportation. The two-year project included installation of drainage improvements, new turn lanes, road widening and a sidewalk. “We would like to thank everyone for your patience and understanding during the intersection reconstruction project. We hope you enjoy the improvements,” said Stephanie Barrett, Vtrans Public Information Consultant.

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Voter approval sought for bond repurposing, rate increase Voters within the Champlain Water District (CWD) — which provides drinking water in eight municipalities, including Williston — passed a bond for $8.7 million last year, allowing the district to take on debt for a new water tank and transmission line. Water district administrators promised before the vote that the debt would be served mostly by grants and would not require water rate increases for residents.

Flag

continued from page 1

have questioned whether we should endorse a group that might be seen as offending and suppressing another minority within our community.” Koopman urged the board to replace the Black Lives Matter f lag with a symbol of support for a broader swath of the school community. “It’s our collective responsibility to ensure that our educational environment remains inclusive and respectful of the views and concerns of all our community members, not just one group, and that we elimi-

But in a press release this week, the CWD announced that neither project received grant funding. The district plans to move forward with the water tank replacement. That project would eat up about $5.5 million of the bond money. It plans to repurpose the remaining bond funds, about $3.2 million, away from the transmission line and instead toward new computer hardware and software to monitor the water system. The computer project will result in a rate increase, the district said in a Nov. 22 news re-

lease. “This improvement will allow the district to continually be in a position to supply safe, affordable drinking water 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, as well as maintaining compliance with all state and federal regulations and requirements,” the news release states. But in order to repurpose the bond money, a new vote will be required at Town Meeting Day in March. CWD administrators plan to hold two public meetings leading up to Town Meeting Day to explain their proposal to voters.

nate the political ties to a specific independent organization,” she said. School board chair Angela Arsenault of Williston said school leaders began discussing replacing the Black Lives Matter f lag last year, while acknowledging that racial inequities that prompted the f lag-raising persist. When the board decided to raise the f lag in 2020, it did so indefinitely. It later enacted a policy that allows groups to request f lags be displayed at schools for a maximum of one month at a time. On Tuesday, the board tasked school administrators with convening a committee

to recommend alternatives to the Black Lives Matter f lag display. Koopman suggested having students design a f lag unique to the school district. “This f lag should genuinely represent inclusivity and diversity, ref lecting the perspectives and experiences of all our students in CVU and Vermont,” Koopman said. “With our community designing it, I believe there will be a more meaningful connection with the student body and parents in the community.” “It’s a big issue,” Arsenault added, “and something that needs to be addressed with great care and through an inclusive process.”

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Williston Observer • November 30, 2023

Winooski bridge replacement process begins project for the Vermont Agency of Transportation and provided an overview of the project. “There’s two focal points out there: We have the bridge itself … and we have the intersection to the south of it,” said Josh Olund, the Structures Department Manager for HNTB, who is based in South Portland, Maine.

BY CAMRYN WOODS Community News Service

The engineering firm that’s overseeing the upcoming replacement of the 95-year-old bridge connecting Burlington and Winooski held its first public meeting in September, inciting questions and feedback from anxious residents. Nearly 50 people came to the O’Brien Community Center in Winooski on Sept. 19 to hear representatives of HNTB Corp., an infrastructure design company based in Kansas City, Mo., describe details of the project. Another 45 participants joined the meeting via Microsoft Teams. Construction of the new bridge over the Winooski River isn’t slated to begin until 2027, but anticipation of the disruption to traffic and the potential improvements for the primary link between the two cities drew widespread attention. Roughly 25,000 vehicles and 300 people on foot cross the bridge each day. HNTB representatives are handling public outreach about the

Roughly 25,000 vehicles and 300 people on foot cross the bridge each day. The work will include a fourway intersection on the Burlington side to replace the current A-shaped juncture, which Olund characterized as problematic. It’s confusing for drivers and unsafe for bikers and pedestrians, contributing to a history of crashes, he said during the presentation. The update will widen each of the bridge’s four lanes by 4 inches, to 11 feet across, and the width of

the pedestrian and bike path will double to 12 feet on both sides of the bridge. The new bridge will incorporate modern materials and building standards that will strengthen it against flooding and other weather events. The eventual disruption to traffic is likely to create headaches. While the bridge is under construction, Olund said, the most efficient alternative route will take drivers to Interstate 89. Once construction starts, vehicles will have to detour for four to six weeks, according to the team, while pedestrian traffic is maintained. Engineers plan to build a separate pedestrian-only bridge to the right of the current one while construction is ongoing. “Once that’s built and in place, we can move people over,” so they can continue to cross the bridge on foot, Olund said. The project is estimated to cost $50-60 million. About $25 million of that total has come from a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant, part of a U.S. Department of

The 95-year-old bridge over the Winooski River connecting the cities of Burlington and Winooski is slated for replacement. COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE PHOTO

Transportation program to support infrastructure projects. Following their presentation, Olund and Jennifer Zorn, HTNB’s public information consultant based in Concord, N.H., opened the

floor for questions. Zorn walked down each row to hand speakers a microphone and gave online viewers a chance to ask questions in between those in person. see BRIDGE page 16

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The rec department is looking for basketball referees in January and February for Youth Rec Basketball programs. Referees are needed for grades 1-8 programs. If interested, contact the rec department at recreation@willistonvt.org. INSTRUCTORS WANTED

Do you have a talent or skill that you would like to share with others? The rec department is accepting proposals for new programs and/or camps from people who have a talent to share or want to give to the community by being an instructor. Consider becoming an instructor and offering an ongoing program at

The R.E.C. Zone or a program with 6-8 week sessions. We are always looking for people with a talent to share. We are currently looking for a senior fitness instructor, a yoga instructor and people who can teach art, dance, fly-tying, crafts, jewelry, writing, flower arranging and educational programs.

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Williston Observer • November 30, 2023

GUEST COLUMN

Confronting the housing crisis head on BY LINDSAY KURRLE AND JENNEY SAMUELSON Vermont faces a housing crisis. So, like we did during the pandemic and the flood, the Gov. Phil Scott Administration has worked to tackle this issue with a collaborative, cross-agency approach, bringing together the agencies of Commerce and Community Development, Human Services, Natural Resources and Digital Services, and the departments of Housing, Children & Families and Public Safety. This collaboration gives us a comprehensive view of this complicated problem. And we’ve been successful in transitioning an unprecedented number of Vermonters out of homelessness and creating more new homes than Vermont has seen in decades. But the fact remains, it has not been enough. Over the summer, we spent time analyzing homelessness data, including hearing directly from impacted households; current and previous housing studies; past and current hous-

ing trends; census data; unit creation projections; and more. This work has led us to three important conclusions. First, we have an acute deficit in the number of homes we need across the state and for families of all sizes, income levels and service needs. This is not a new conclusion, but we are gaining new insights into the scope, and working to understand the data on a county-by-county basis. The analysis shows a current statewide deficit of roughly 6,800 housing units — this is the number of additional homes needed to meet demand today. It doesn’t account for population growth or the 2,500-3,000 units we lose annually that fall into disrepair. And despite building faster in recent years than in decades prior, the data also shows we need to do more than three times as much to fill this gap. Second, we cannot buy our way out of this housing deficit. From March 2020 to October 2023, the state invested nearly $400 million in historic federal funds to support new construc-

Williston’s Community Newspaper Since 1985

www.willistonobserver.com P.O. Box 1401, Williston, VT 05495 | 802-489-5499 ADVERTISING Rick Cote, Associate Publisher rick@willistonobserver.com 802-373-2136 EDITOR Jason Starr editor@willistonobserver.com PRODUCTION & DESIGN Jan Kenney jan@willistonobserver.com

ADVERTISING SPACE DEADLINE Friday at 5 p.m. for the next Thursday issue rick@willistonobserver.com, 802-373-2136 CLASSIFIED ADS Deadline is Friday 5 p.m. There is a fee for business, real estate, help wanted and legal ads. Free classifieds must be 25 words or fewer and are printed on a space available basis.

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tion, fix up vacant units and expand shelter capacity. Yet we still face a significant shortage in every county. Notably, the type of affordable housing construction this money supports costs $450,000 per unit on average. At that rate, it would cost

We know big change can create frustration and fear, but we also know the status quo will not get Vermonters the housing they need. Vermonters an astounding $1 billion of public funding to create just over 2,000 units. Even if private investment was to match public sources to invest a total of $2 billion, it would only produce just over 4,000 units — which does not come close to filling the 6,800 unit gap.

Third, healthy local housing markets are essential to revitalizing communities. To have healthy, safe, vibrant communities across the state, retain and attract more workers, and reverse declining school enrollment numbers, we need more housing. Without more housing, we can’t fully address homelessness because the root of the problem lies in the shortage of units. We can no longer rely on temporary and costly motel rooms that provide no services for these Vermonters. They need permanent housing. So, what do we do? As we told legislators, the time for nibbling around the edges has passed. We must confront this challenge head on. The governor will soon propose rapid action in three areas: modernize land use regulations; adjust tax policy that makes it unaffordable to invest in housing revitalization; and create more incentives for small and mid-size investors and builders to quickly create more housing opportunities in communities, and for families, who need them most. While there is a lot of agree-

ment on historic housing investments, these policy changes are often met with hesitation. We know big change can create frustration and fear, but we also know the status quo will not get Vermonters the housing they need. We can’t keep kicking the can down the road. If we want to truly address homelessness and our workforce shortage, it will take state and local officials, the Legislature, residents, environmental groups and advocacy groups all coming together to remove obstacles to homebuilding, including entrenched NIMBYism and a system whose design — despite good intentions — has limited housing for decades. We owe it to Vermonters to act now to ensure our state’s future is bright. Lindsay Kurrle is secretary of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, which includes the Department of Housing and Community Development. Jenney Samuelson is the secretary of the Agency of Human Services.

November 30, 2023 •

Williston Observer •

Page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Gratitude multiplied Thanks to everyone who made the Williston Community Food Shelf’s Annual Turkey Drive a success. Community members donated 160 turkeys to share with neighbors in need. The turkey and gift card donations helped the food shelf provide a healthy Thanksgiving dinner for 163 families. That’s right, we served 163 families in ONE week. That is about 40 more families than we served during the same week last year. The donations of turkeys, gift cards, money and food help provide for our many food insecure neighbors. As you think about Giving Tuesday and your holiday gift giving, please keep the Williston Community Food Shelf on your list. We currently have a very generous, long-time food shelf donor willing to match the first $15,000 in monetary contributions that are donated to the food shelf by the end of December. The Williston Community Food Shelf is a 100 percent volunteer-run nonprof-

it organization. We have no guaranteed source of funding, and depend exclusively on the generosity of citizens and businesses for funding. We spend $7,500 per month on rent and utilities, and about $10,000 a month on food. Your generosity helps us to feed our neighbors in need. Thank you again, and blessings for a wonderful holiday season. Ginger Morton Williston Community Food Shelf president

LETTER POLICY: We ask that letters run no longer than 300 words. We edit only for length, clarity, style, spelling and grammar. Please include your name, town or city where you live and a daytime phone number (which we won’t print) so we can verify you wrote the letter. The deadline is Monday at noon for letters to be printed in Thursday’s paper. Send to: editor@willistonobserver.com

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Nov. 16 at 10:54 a.m. — Death Investigation conducted on South Brownell Road. Nothing suspicious reported. Nov. 16 at 1:21 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. A female, age 35, was issued a citation to appear in court. Nov. 16 at 5:46 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. A male, age 35, was issued a citation to appear in court. Female suspect has not been located. Nov. 17 at 9:19 a.m. — Officer came upon a vehicle with a male who appeared to be passed out at the intersection of Essex Road and Industrial Avenue. The male, age 35, was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI. Nov. 18 at 9:39 a.m. — Retail theft reported at Hannaford. Vehicle took off. A small pursuit took place and was terminated due to unsafe conditions. Vehicle was stolen out of Rutland. Case is still under investigation. Nov. 18 at 11:49 a.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. Suspect vehicle hit Best Buy employee and took off. No injuries reported by employee. Case is still under investigation. Nov. 18 at 3:22 p.m. — Retail theft reported at REI. A male, age 37, was issued a citation to

appear in court. Nov. 18 at 9:24 p.m. — Death investigation conducted on Oak Hill Road. Nothing suspicious reported. Nov. 19 at 5:41 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Dicks Sporting Goods. Case is still under investigation. Nov. 20 at 2:16 p.m. — Field contact made with a male, age 43. He had an active arrest warrant and was issued a citation to appear in court. Nov. 20 at 3:08 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Shaws. A female, age 32, was issued a citation to appear in court. Nov. 21 at 3:55 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Marshalls. Case is still under investigation. Nov. 22 at 4:19 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. Case is still under investigation. Nov. 22 at 5:30 p.m. — Female at Tire Warehouse causing a disturbance and refusing to leave. Female was spoken to and advised not to go back to the business. Officers also responded to 11 alarm activations, eight motor vehicle crashes and conducted 40 traffic stops during this time frame.

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Williston Observer • November 30, 2023

OBITUARIES Florence “Fluff” Lois Yates Storey F l o r e n c e “Fluff ” Lois Yates Storey, 90, formerly of Brattleboro, and currently of Mansfield Place in Essex Junction, VT., died on Nov..20, 2023, in Essex Junction, VT, after a linger-

ing illness. Fluff was born on July 13, 1933, in Winthrop, MA, to Margaret (Bordeaux) and Donald Earl Yates. She attended el-

ementary school in Bellows Falls, VT, and graduated from Bellows Falls High School in 1951. She graduated from Castleton State Teacher’s College in 1955. Fluff married Rodney Lee Storey, whom she met at Castleton, in her senior year of college in 1954. Their daughter Sue Carol Storey was born in Portsmouth, VA in 1956, where they were spending Rodney’s last year in the Navy. After living in Virginia and Williamstown, VT in the late 50s, Fluff and Rod moved to Brattleboro in 1960, where they both had teaching careers. She achieved her master’s degree in teaching from the University of Massachusetts, and a second master’s degree with combined graduate studies from the University of Vermont, Keene State, and Norwich Uni-

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versity. Fluff taught for 35 of her 38 years at the Academy School in West Brattleboro, retiring in 1995. Fluff was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Eastern Star, the American Association of University Women, the Legion Auxiliary, a charter member of the Emblem Club (ELKS), the VFW, the Eagles, the Women’s Evening Club, the “West Bees” Home Dem Club, the Shriners, the Hospital Auxiliary, various teachers’ organizations, and the Floral Arts and Garden Club all of Brattleboro, VT. She volunteered in Church at various events, knitted many prayer shawls, as well as other community needs. She has been surrounded with great friends and has felt very fortunate to have them. She enjoyed crafts, travel (USA, Asia, Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean), theater, painting, music, plants, cats, and literature. She even organized an Opera appreciation group and was the keeper of the Opera DVDs and videos, of which there were hundreds. Fluff and her husband Rod once won the husband/wife golf club championship at the Brattleboro Country Club where they were members of for many years.

Fluff’s daughter Sue, Sue’s husband Tom Broido, and her beloved granddaughters Halle Broido and Galen Broido and Galen’s partner Giacomo Zilli survive her. She is also survived by two brothers, Fred Yates and Ross Yates. She was predeceased by her husband Rod in 1988, and her siblings, Pauline Yates Brillant, and Donald Yates. Also, her special friend and companion Kasper Fulghum, whom she met on a seniors trip to Spain in 1996, sharing the best of the north and the south together, predeceased her in 2017. Fluff wanted her lifelong friends, as well as her new friends from Williston Place in Williston to know how much they meant to her, and how much they all enriched her life. Her new friends were a pleasant surprise to her after her move from Brattleboro, they all helped each other navigate their new lives in a new community. There will be no visiting hours at Fluff’s request, and no formal service. There will be an informal gathering of friends at a date to be determined. Please visit www.awrf h.com to share your memories and condolences.

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November 30, 2023 •

Williston Observer •

Page 9

OBITUARIES Michael Longstreet Michael Conrad Longstreet, 80, passed away peacefully on Nov. 1, 2023, at the McClure Respite House in Colchester. Michael was born in Brooklyn, NY, on Nov. 17, 1942, the son of the late Lieutenant Colonel Maurice Christopher Longstreet and Dorothy Gosse Longstreet. Mike attended Burlington Schools and proudly served in the US Army as part of the 82nd Airborne Division, earning a Combat Infantry Badge during the Dominican Civil War in the early 1960s. Aug. 12, 1967, he married Linda Lathrop at Saint Anthony’s Church in Burlington, and together they raised two sons. Mike was a proud husband and father and especially loved spending time with his family. Mike was a dedicated worker throughout his life and worked for Rice Lumber Co. for over 23 years before retiring in 2008. A master carpenter and talented craftsman, he was generous with his time and talent. Mike could often be found in his workshop building or repairing beautiful, handcrafted items for his family and friends. Mike also frequently donated his work to various charities and events. An avid hunter and fisherman, one of Mikes’ passions was to be at his camp in Orwell, NY, which he built alongside his closest friends. There, he would spend many years in the spring and fall fishing the Lake Ontario

Tributaries for Steelhead, Salmon, and “river mix.” He also hunted deer in the Tug Hill Plateau area with his sons, friends, and family. Mike’s greatest joy and biggest pride in life was being a grandfather to Samuel who he lovingly referred to as “Bubba”. Mike loved any opportunity to teach about his passions, which included not only how to hunt and fish but also how to respect the law, the land, and the animals. He also gave back through various conservation associations such as Ducks Unlimited and the Walleye Association. Mike had a green thumb and enjoyed working in his gardens. He enjoyed growing vegetables, garlic, and flowers that he and Linda would share with all. Mike had a terrific sense of humor and was a great storyteller. He enjoyed a good cup of coffee while watching birds and wildlife from his back sun porch. He was a generous man who welcomed anyone with a shared interest into his circle and will be deeply missed by so many. Mike is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 56 years Linda and their dog, Mollie, his son Michael Conrad II and his wife Sandra of South Burlington, his son Todd James and his wife Robyn of North Hero, his grandson Samuel James, granddaughters Rachel Balch, Rebekah Johnston, and great grandson Theodore. He was predeceased by his parents as well as his in-laws, James and Rita Lathrop. Burial will be at the convenience of the family.In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to McClure Respite House in Michael’s name. You can also honor Mike by simply taking a kid fishing, sharing a hobby or interest, or enjoying a walk in the woods. To send online condolences please visit www.cremationsocietycc.com.

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November 30, 2023

48 (23)

Next Week:

Evergreen trees Founded by Betty Debnam

Bah! Humbug!

‘A Christmas Carol’

Mini Fact:

Writer Charles Dickens was born at this residence in Portsmouth, England, on Feb. 7, 1812. photo by Austriantraveler

Early life

By George Herbert Watkins

Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England, in February 1812. He had four brothers and three sisters. Charles was the second-oldest child in his family, and being the oldest boy, he left school as a child to work at a factory to help his family because his father didn’t often pay bills. For 10 hours a day, Charles Dickens at his Charles attached labels writing desk in 1858. to pots. The working conditions at the factory were harsh, and his time there later served as inspiration when he became a writer. Dickens’ father spent years in a debtors’ prison, which was a jail for people who could not pay what they owed other people. Providing for the family became even more important to Charles during that time. Eventually, his father was released from prison after he inherited money, and Charles left the factory. Charles enjoyed spending time outside as a child, and he especially loved to read. This

love of reading would eventually grow into a love of writing, making him the most famous novelist of his time in England.

Career

By the age of 20, Charles knew he didn’t want to work at a factory, but he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do for a living. He joined a local theater and became an actor for a while. In 1833, at the age of 21, Charles submitted his first story to a magazine for publishing. He then became a political journalist for a newspaper, which made him popular with readers.

Publishing

By Smallbones

As we settle into December, you might see or hear about a popular story that’s often performed as a play: “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. The Mini Page takes a look at “A Christmas Carol” as well as Dickens’ life this week.

The Dickens and Little Nell

statue is in Philadelphia, During his career, Pennsylvania. It was Charles ended up completed in 1890. writing 19 novels and novellas. (A novella is longer than a short story but shorter than a novel.) In the 1800s, it was common to serialize stories, or write stories and publish them a small piece at a time in newspapers and magazines. The pieces were later gathered and published as a book. A few of his most popular novels are “A Tale of Two Cities” “Great Expectations,” “Oliver Twist,” and “David Copperfield.” Some have been adapted, or turned into plays, TV specials and movies.

One of Charles Dickens’ most wellknown stories is “A Christmas Carol,” which tells the tale of an ill-tempered man named Ebenezer Scrooge who goes from being grumpy to being kind and thoughtful. This story took Charles only a few weeks to write! He felt it was important to share with people because “A Christmas Carol” shows how anyone can change and become kind and An actor portraying generous. Ebenezer Scrooge in Dickens’ “A You might even Charles Christmas Carol.” recognize a famous saying from the story, “Bah! Humbug!”

By John-Daggett

Issue 48, 2023

Legacy

Although Dickens died in 1870 at age 58, his legend lives on today through adaptations, retellings, images on postage stamps, statues and even a museum featuring his life and works. Fun fact: Charles Dickens didn’t want any statues of himself to be put up, but three statues are known to exist today.

Resources On the Web:

• bit.ly/MPdickens

At the library:

• “Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens and Phillip Gooden • “Rags and Riches: Kids in the Time of Charles Dickens” by Mary Pope Osborne

The many faces of Ebenezer Scrooge Try ’n’ Find

Mini Jokes

Words that remind us of Charles Dickens are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find: ACTOR, CAREER, DEBTOR, DICKENS, ENGLAND, FACTORY, FAMILY, MAGAZINE, MOVIE, NEWSPAPER, PLAY, PRISON, PUBLISH, READ, SCROOGE,

D W R I E E K F B I H F T D P T O I K J R C W A L K P N

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

Cleo: When is Scrooge like a lamb? Carter: When he says, “Baaaaaah! Humbug!”

Eco Note

prison after he inherited money, and Charles left the factory. Charles enjoyed spending time outside as a child, and he especially loved to read. This

Tale of Two Cities” “Great Expectations,” “Oliver Twist,” and “David Copperfield.” Some have been adapted, or turned into plays, TV specials and movies.

Gooden • “Rags and Riches: Kids in the Time of Charles Dickens” by Mary Pope November 30, 2023 • Williston Observer • Page 11 Osborne

Try ’n’ Find

Mini Jokes

D W R I E E K F B I H F T D P T O I K J R C W A L K P N X E C J R N N I C S K Z

Cleo: When is Scrooge like a lamb? Carter: When he says, “Baaaaaah! Humbug!”

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

Eco Note The sea ice surrounding Antarctica has shrunk by a wide margin to its lowest annual maximum on record, adding to fears that the impacts of climate change are rapidly increasing around the South Pole. The sea ice there on Sept. 10 covered 6.55 million miles, the lowest Southern Hemisphere winter maximum since satellite records began in 1979, according to the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center.

Mini Spy Classics

Mini Spy Classics appear in the first issue of each month. Based on materials originally produced and/or created by Betty Debnam.

• exclamation mark • carrot • letter E • ruler

• lima bean • lips • ladder • snake

• word MINI • letter A • sailboat • olive

• number 8 • pencil • peapod • Easter egg

adapted with permission from Earthweek.com

Hey Mini Spy Fans! Order your Mini Spy Booklets (Volumes 1, 2 and 3) with 48 of your favorite puzzles! Visit MiniPageBooks.com, or call 844-426-1256 to order. Just $4 plus $1 shipping.

Mini Spy is reading to her brother on a cold winter’s night. See if you can find the hidden pictures. Then color the picture.

For later:

Look in the newspaper for stories about “A Christmas Carol” performances near you.

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

Page 12

•

Williston Observer •

November 30, 2023

SAVVY SENIOR

Health savings accounts can boost retirement savings Dear Savvy Senior, I’m interested in contributing to a health savings account to help boost my retirement savings but would like to better understand how they work. What can you tell me? Almost 60 Dear Almost, A health savings account, or HSA, is a good financial tool that can help you build up a tax-free stash of money for medical expenses now and after you retire. To qualify, you must be enrolled in a high-deductible health insurance plan.. HSA RULES

HSAs have become popular as the cost of health care continues to skyrocket, and more and more Americans have high-deductible health plans.

The great benefit of an HSA is the triple tax advantage that it offers: Your HSA contributions can be deducted pretax from your paycheck, lowering your taxable income; the money in the account grows tax-free; and if you use the money for eligible medical expenses, withdrawals are tax-free. And if you change jobs, the HSA moves with you. To qualify, you must have a health insurance policy with a deductible of at least $1,500 for an individual or $3,000 for a family in 2023. In 2024, the deductible rises to $1,600 per individual or $3,200 per family. This year, you can contribute up to $3,850 if you have single health insurance coverage, or up to $7,750 for family coverage. Next year (2024), you can con-

Do you have a problem?

By Jim Miller tribute significantly more – up to $4,150 for single coverage or up to $8,300 for family coverage. And people age 55 and older can put away an extra $1,000 each year. But you can’t make contributions after you sign up for Medicare. The money can be used for out-

of-pocket medical expenses, including deductibles, co-payments, Medicare premiums, prescription drugs, vision and dental care and other expenses (see www.IRS. gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf, page 5, for a complete list) — either now or when you retire, for yourself and your spouse, as well as your tax dependents. Unlike a flexible spending account, an HSA doesn’t require you to use the money by the end of the year. Rather, HSA funds roll over year to year and continue to grow tax-free in your HSA account. In fact, you’ll get a bigger tax benefit if you use other cash for current medical expenses and keep the HSA money growing for the long term. Be sure to hold on to your receipts for medical expenses after you open your HSA, even if you pay those bills with cash, so you can claim the expenses later. There’s no time limit for

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withdrawing the money tax-free for eligible medical expenses you incurred any time after you opened the account. But be aware that if you do use your HSA funds for non-medical expenses, you’ll be required to pay taxes on the withdrawal, plus a 20 percent penalty. The penalty is waived for those 65 and older, but you’ll still pay ordinary income tax on withdrawals not used for eligible expenses. HOW TO OPEN AN HSA

You should first check with your employer to see if they offer an HSA, and if they will contribute to it. If not, you can open an HSA through many banks, brokerage firms and other financial institutions, as long as you have a qualified high-deductible health insurance policy. If you plan to keep the money growing for the future, look for an see SAVVY page 14

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November 30, 2023 •

Williston Observer •

Page 13

CROSSWORD • SOLUTION ON PAGE 15

TODAY’S HISTORY:

• In 1782, provisional articles of peace were signed in Paris between Britain and the United States, under which Britain recognized U.S. independence. • In 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Finland. • In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed the Brady Bill, a major gun-control measure. • In 1999, Exxon Corp. and Mobil Corp. completed their merger, creating the largest publicly held oil company in the world at that time.

TODAY’S FACT:

• Mark Twain published a number of pieces in newspapers and periodicals under a variety of pen names, including Thomas Jefferson Snodgrass, W. Epaminondas Adrastus Blab, John Snooks and Josh.

Find the 7 words to match the 7 clues. The numbers in parentheses represent the number of letters in each solution. Each letter combination can be used only once, but all letter combinations will be necessary to complete the puzzle.

CLUES

SOLUTIONS

1 comedic actress Getty (7) 2 1980s comedian Murphy (5) 3 comedic actor Levy (6) 4 “Burn” singer Goulding (5) 5 singer Iglesias (7) 6 tennis star Bouchard (7) 7 Canadian actress Lilly (10)

___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________

DIE

ENR

EST

ANG

INE

ELL

NIE

SUDOKU • SOLUTION ON PAGE 15

11/26

Today’s Answers: 1. ESTELLE 2. EDDIE 3. EUGENE 4. ELLIE 5. ENRIQUE 6. EUGENIE 7. EVANGELINE

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Page 14

•

Williston Observer •

November 30, 2023

Savvy

continued from page 12

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The resident and non-resident owners, lienholders, mortgagees and all persons interested in the purchase of land in the Town of Williston, County of Chittenden and State of Vermont, are hereby notified that the taxes assessed by such Town for the 2022-2023 and prior fiscal years remain, either in whole or in part, unpaid on the following described lands and/or premises situated in the Town of Williston: Property commonly known and numbered as 0 Old Creamery Road, Parcel #19098-063000, being 5.0 acres, more or less, owned by Richard W. Glenn and Ann S. Glenn, and being part of the lands and premises conveyed to them by Warranty Deed of Roy J. Lunderville and Ida Mae Lunderville, dated May 8, 1969, and of record in Volume 36 at Pages 280-282 of the Town of Williston Land Records. Said lands and/or premises will be sold at a public auction at the Williston Town Office, 7900 Williston Road, Williston, Vermont, on Tuesday the 12th day of December 2023, at One o’clock in the afternoon (1:00 p.m.), to discharge such taxes with costs, unless the same are previously paid. Information regarding the amount of taxes due may be obtained at the offices of Stitzel, Page & Fletcher, P.C., P.O. Box 1507, Burlington, Vermont 054021507, (802) 6602555. DATED at Williston, in the County of Chittenden and State of Vermont, this 12th day of October 2023. Erik Wells Delinquent Tax Collector Town of Williston, Vermont

November 30, 2023 •

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

SUDOKU SOLUTION

Puzzle found on page 12

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Williston Observer •

Page 15

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Puzzle found on page 12

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Page 16 •

Williston Observer •

November 30, 2023

Bridge

continued from page 4

“We do want as many voices and as many opinions involved, and it’s a great way for people to meet their neighbors,” Zorn said. “We want these meetings to be enjoyable.” A common concern that arose from those in attendance was the amount of protection between vehicles on the bridge and people walking and biking. “It’s something that I do often with my 3-year-old daughter on the front of my bike,” said Micheal Bisogno, who works from his home in Winooski but said he uses the bridge nearly every day. A proposed curb to separate the pedestrian path from vehicle lanes was the “bare minimum” the new bridge should have, he said, urging the state to make sure that contractors who will ultimately build the new bridge incorporate that element. A few residents suggested a double-decker bridge, where pedestrians and bicyclists would have access to an upper platform, with a lower section exclusively for cars. While acknowledging the idea would make pedestrians feel safer, Olund said it would require funding and planning that would far exceed the current budget. Other speakers suggested a raised sidewalk, a marsupial bridge — which has a

walkway for pedestrians that is suspended off the side of the auto crossing — and a roundabout to replace the four-way intersection on the Burlington side. Tom Derenthal, a Burlington resident and a member of the Green Mountain Transit board of commissioners, warned about potential long delays for buses using the detours during construction and suggested the transit company might need more funding to manage the additional time and travel. “The sooner that you start talking to GMT, the better,” Derenthal said. For Burlington resident Cindy Cook, a replacement of the almost century-old river passage is long overdue, and she wondered if the current bridge will hold up as long as the project will take. Olund assured her that the bridge had passed its two-year inspections and showed no indications of being unsafe. Still, Cook said, she considers crossing it a risky venture. “I have a moment of gratitude after crossing the bridge,” she said. For more information, visit burlingtonwinooskibridge.vtransprojects.vermont.gov. Camryn Woods reported this story on assignment from the Winooski News. The Community News Service is a program in which University of Vermont students work with professional editors to provide content for local news outlets at no cost.

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