Williston Observer 3/30/2023

Hotel headaches

Glaser subdivision plan morphs

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

More than halfway through its work and with an early June deadline on the horizon, the advisory committee formulating a plan for a residential neighborhood on the 100-acre Glaser property at the corner of Mountain View and Old Stage roads last week shared its progress with the Williston Planning Commission.

The resulting plan shows reconfigured streets, more homes, increased open space and a longer construction timetable than what the Glasers first proposed last year to the planning commission.

Post office disrupted; workers living illegally on site

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

The four-story hotel that has been under construction on Blair Park Road for more than three years still has an unbranded, incomplete façade, but a recent application to the Town of Williston shows that it will be a La Quinta franchise of Wyndham Hotels and Resorts.

La Quinta is one of several hotel brands under the Wyndham banner, a corporation headquartered in New Jersey.

“They are expecting to finish it up this spring and summer,” said Abigail Dery, the Williston-based engineer working with landowner Dave Zhang on the permitting of the hotel.

The drawn-out construction — plans were originally approved by the town in 2019 — has caused numerous headaches for the businesses that share the property and parking lot with the hotel, including

the beleaguered Williston Post Office.

“It’s just been a nightmare,” said

Williston Fire Department Deputy Chief Timothy Gerry along with Assistant State Fire Marshal Jesse Dobeicki inspected the property last October and found that about a dozen hotel construction workers were living illegally on the second floor of the adjacent building — the one shared by Boho Baby, the Post Office and three other businesses.

In an inspection report filed with the Town of Williston’s zoning office, Gerry noted mattresses and personal belongings on the floor of empty offices and in a hallway, and a bathroom sink that was modified into a shower.

The subdivision is in the midst of a “specific plan” process that would create site-specific regulations that may not conform with the town’s current land use rules. It would also allow the property to develop at its own pace rather than be constricted by the town’s strict growth management caps. In exchange, the Glasers propose to give the town more than half of the acreage in open space, which would allow for the continued operation of Windswept Farm, an established and beloved equestrian facility next door that currently uses the property for horse pasture and hay harvesting.

The neighborhood is planned with two cul-de-sac streets separated by wetlands. Through the committee’s work, the plan has changed from both streets intersecting with Old Stage Road to one of the streets intersecting with Mountain View Road. The number

Lisa Golding, owner of Boho Baby, a kids consignment store that opened in early 2020, shortly before the hotel broke ground. “All around the building is a mess. There are wires and construction scraps everywhere.”

Zoning Administrator Matt Boulanger issued a notice of zoning violation in October to Zhang, the landowner, for creating unpermitted living units. Zhang was given a week to resolve the violation, but the situation has persisted.

“The matter was resolved for a time

see HOTEL page 24

“It’s just been a nightmare … All around the building is a mess. There are wires and construction scraps everywhere.”

Lisa Golding Boho Baby owner

Construction of a hotel at Blair Park Road has disrupted operations at the nearby Williston Post Office and resulted in a zoning violation for workers illegally living on site.

OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR

The map shows the latest iteration of a planned subdivision on the 100-acre Glaser parcel at the corner of Mountain View and Old Stage roads.

COURTESY OF WILLISTON PLANNING AND ZONING

The following Williston and St. George students, listed alphabetically, were recognized for academic achievement in higher education for the fall 2022 semester.

Carmen Alvarez was named to the St. Michael’s College Dean’s List.

Jared Anderson was named to the Coastal Carolina University Dean’s List.

Kristin Arles was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Mateo Barreno Smith was named to the Vermont Technical College Dean’s List.

Allison Bates was named to the St. Lawrence University Dean’s List.

Chandra Becker was named to the Vermont Technical College Dean’s List.

Nicole Belisle was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Eva Benway was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Jake Bialowoz was named to the Roger Williams University Dean’s List.

Hannah Bohmann was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Kyle Byrne was named to the Community College of Vermont Honors List.

Jack Clark was named to the Champlain College Dean’s List.

Riley Clos was named to the High Point University Dean’s List.

Geneva Cote was named to the

Academic Honors

University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Sophia Marie Cross was named to the Clarkson University Dean’s List.

Natalie Curtis was named to the Castleton University President’s List.

Nathan Cuttitta was named to the Endicott College Dean’s List.

Gregory Desiato was named to the Champlain College Dean’s List.

Naomi Diamond was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Mateo Doris was named to the Vermont Technical College Dean’s List.

Taylor Duffy was named to the Southern New Hampshire University President’s List.

Brandon Duffy was named to the Champlain College Dean’s List.

Reagan Dufresne was named to the St. Michael’s College Dean’s List.

Natalie Durieux was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Nicolas Durieux was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Connor East was named to the Community College of Vermont Honors List.

Olivia Francisco was named to the St. Michael’s College Dean’s List.

Anna Frazee was named to the University of New Hampshire’s Dean’s List.

Amanda Gagne was named to the St. Lawrence University Dean’s List.

Jessica Gagne was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Margaret Gannon was named to the Nazareth College Dean’s List.

Sean Garey was named to the Vermont Technical College

President’s List.

Nathan Godbout was named to the Saint Francis University President’s List.

Shane Gorman was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

McKenna Griswold was named to the Northern Vermont University President’s List.

Ryan Hill was named to the Vermont Technical College Dean’s List.

Annaliese Holden was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Jimmy Jiang was named to the Champlain College Dean’s List.

Braedon Jones was named to the University of MassachusettsDartmouth Chancellor’s List.

Lawton Jones was named to the St. Michael’s College Dean’s List.

Peyton Jones was named to the Villanova University Dean’s List.

Jonas Keim was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Ella Kenney was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Brianna Kolibas was awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Alabama.

Margaret Krause was named to the St. Michael’s College Dean’s List.

Cameron LaBounty was named to the Champlain College Dean’s List.

Benjamin Ladue was named to the Champlain College Dean’s List.

Megan LaForce was named to the Champlain College Dean’s List.

Benton Lane was named to the Champlain College President’s List.

Jack Locker was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Iza Logan was named to the Community College of Vermont

Easter Sunday — April 9,2023

Dean’s List.

Lindsay Lozell was named to the Community College of Vermont Honors List.

Alexandra Maklad was named to the Quinnipiac University Dean’s List.

Emily Margi was named to the Community College of Vermont Honors List.

Erin Marino was named to the Merrimack College Dean’s List.

Margaret Martell was named to the St. Michael’s College Dean’s List.

Carmella Martone was named to the Clark University Dean’s List.

Riley Masson was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Margaret Mathon was named to the Elms College Dean’s List.

Conor Mcdevitt was named to the Champlain College President’s List.

Lily Michalak was named to the Bradley University Dean’s List.

Betsy Mitchell was named to the Community College of Vermont Honors List.

Martina Monroe was named to the Champlain College Dean’s List.

Jacob Murphy was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Mykala O’Farrell was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Lauren Palmer was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Nicolas Petrunich was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Lindsey Peryea was named to the Husson University President’s List.

Kylie Pierce was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Samantha Polley was named to the University of New Hampshire

December 1944, the war rages on in Europe. Leaving his new bride behind, Calvin Dillard is shipped to Belgium and thrown into what will become known as the Battle of the Bulge. He now faces a riveting adventure on a path that will test his integrity.

HYDE PARK OPERA HOUSE

Saturday, March 25th, 6:30PM

Sunday, March 26th, 2:00PM

Advance tickets: lcplayers.getmytix.net/events

HARDWICK TOWN HOUSE

Friday, March 31st, 6:30PM

WATERBURY BROOKSIDE SCHOOL

Saturday, April 1st, 6:30PM

Sunday, April 2nd, 2:00PM

ESSEX CINEMAS

Saturday, April 15th, 2:00PM & 6:30PM

Advance tickets: essexcinemas.com

Special Q&A with the director and producer after the film.

TICKETS: $10 at the door (cash or check only) Doors open one hour before showtime.

Lenny’s Limited Edition

Dean’s List.

James Prytherch was named to the Champlain College President’s List.

Maddie Reagan was named to the University of Rhode Island Dean’s List.

Jagr Rinehart was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Sophie Roy was named to the Hofstra University Dean’s List.

Aidan Ruggles was named to the Northeastern University Dean’s List

John Rushford was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Alexander Ruwet was named to the Plymouth State University President’s List.

Parker Soares was named to the Champlain College Dean’s List.

Saode Somda was named to the Castleton University Dean’s List.

Sadie Sumner was named to the Simmons University Dean’s List.

Anna Van Buren was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Alicia Veronneau was named to the University of New Hampshire Dean’s List.

Katherine Veronneau was named to the University of New Hampshire Dean’s List.

Matthew Yakubik was named to the Vermont Technical College Dean’s List.

Alexandra Zouck was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Kaitlyn Zoller was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Adam Zuchowski was named to the University of Vermont Dean’s List.

Directed by GEORGE WOODARD

Presented by HANGING MUDFLAP PRODUCTIONS

For additional dates: hangingmudflapproductions.com

Around Town

Community garden seeks members

The Williston Community Park Garden, located behind the Williston Central School cafeteria, is seeking new members to join the group of local, organic gardeners.

Members are provided with a 4x8-foot raised bed to grow vegetables, fruits or flowers. Two raised beds are dedicated every year to growing vegetables for donation and another for pollinators.

No gardening experience is necessary. If you are interested in growing your own food this summer and supporting those in need around the community, send an email to willistoncommparkgarden@gmail.com.

Free tax preparation assistance available

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offers free tax preparation assistance with a special focus on taxpayers who are over 50 and have low-to-moderate incomes. Trained and IRS-certified Tax-

Annual Easter parade and egg hunt upcoming

Aide volunteers provide secure and confidential federal and Vermont tax preparation at the South Burlington Senior Center in City Hall at 180 Market St. This service takes place every Tuesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through April 7.

To schedule an appointment, call Rebecca Isham at (802) 923-5545.

Rethink rain barrel workshop

The Rethink Runoff Stream Team has cancelled a Rain Barrell-making workshop that was originally scheduled for April 14 at the Williston Public Works building (“Build a rain barrel to save water and help Lake Champlain” March 23, Page 10). Adelaide Dumm of the Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District said a supply chain disruption made it so organizers could not source enough rain barrels before the event. The event will be rescheduled, likely for midMay, Dumm said.

The Williston-Richmond Rotary club will hold its 23rd annual Bill Mikell Easter Parade and Egg Hunt at Williston Central School on Saturday, April 8 for children 12 years old and younger. The parade begins promptly at 9 a.m. The event will take place regardless of the weather, so children should be dressed appropriately. Easter baskets with prizes will be awarded to children who find specially marked Easter eggs. Other prizes will be awarded to children wearing costumes or bonnets. Children are encouraged to bring their own Easter baskets. For more information, contact Andy Mikell at (802) 343-2704 or email AndrewDMikell@gmail.com.

THREE

Chef Carved Maple Glazed Ham

Roast Leg of Lamb

Chef Made Egg and Omelet Station

Muffins, Pastries and Croissants

Fresh Cut Fruit

Yogurt and Granola

Traditional Eggs Benedict

Breakfast Potatoes

Scrambled Eggs

Bacon and Sausage

French Toast with VT Maple Syrup

Vermont Cheese Display

Cold Poached Salmon

Shrimp Cocktail

Mixed Green Salad Bar

Pesto Pasta Salad

Roasted Haricot Verts

Cellentani Pasta with Garlic Olive

Oil and Fresh Julienne Vegetables

Tuscan Chicken —

Chef’s Dessert Display Easter Candy

Hinesburg confronts destruction of beaver dams

BY ELLA WEIGEL AND CAROLYN SHAPIRO Community News Service

Gregg Lyman enjoys watching the ducks and blue heron flock to the water where beavers build their dams in the LaPlatte River behind his house in Hinesburg. But when the water starts rising and creeping onto his land, he has to knock the dams down.

Lyman, who lives on Gilman Road adjacent to the LaPlatte Headwaters Town Forest, said he has done this for years when the beaver dams threaten to flood his property. He doesn’t destroy the habitat but pushes over the beavers’ wood construction to let water flow over it.

“All I do out back is knock it down and prevent the water from flooding everybody’s property,” Lyman said.

Earlier this year, the Hinesburg Town Forest Committee learned that Lyman had gone into the town forest with heavy machinery and destroyed three beaver dams. The committee considered the incident a “violation of the conservation easement” on the land and voted to refer it to the Hinesburg Selectboard to take “further action,” according to the minutes from a committee meeting on Jan. 26.

Committee members didn’t know why Lyman damaged the beavers’ work, said Pat Mainer, who chairs the forest committee. The dams were “upstream from the landowner in question, so it wasn’t in any way threatening his

property,” she said. Although the details of the Hinesburg matter remain murky, it illustrates a common conflict in Vermont between beavers that live in protected areas and the humans nearby.

Beaver dams create and expand wetland habitat, which supports an array of wildlife species. They also filter and slow down moving water, helping reduce nutrient loads in Lake Champlain, according to state environmental experts. Those beaver dwellings, though, can aggravate nearby property owners when wetland water levels rise and cause flooding.

“(Beaver) habitat is really important here in Vermont,” said Tyler Brown, a wildlife specialist with the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and the state’s point person for handling beaver-human conflicts. “It’s really beneficial for a lot of fish and wildlife species. That wetland habitat is also important for people as well, for improving water quality and just being able to absorb a tremendous amount of water.”

In an interview this month, Lyman said his land was at risk from the beaver dams he razed in January.

“We become more and more under water,” he said, noting that his septic system is behind his home, where he has lived with his wife since 1993. “It’s not just a matter of a little trickle or a stream.”

Lyman is a contractor who owns Lyman Excavating in Hinesburg. He said he doesn’t usually

use his equipment to knock down beaver dams but happened to have a small excavator at his home at the time.

Todd Odit, Hinesburg’s town manager, told the town forest committee that he would speak with Lyman to try to resolve the issue. In a recent interview, Odit said he told Mainer, “Before elevating this encroachment to a selectboard meeting, I would try to reach out with the person suspected of making that encroachment and try to have a conversation.”

Odit told Lyman he could no longer dismantle the dams himself but had to alert the town when he had concerns about flooding, Lyman said. He agreed he would do that in the future.

During the town forest committee’s March 9 meeting, Mainer said she and some other committee members were skeptical that the light-handed approach would prevent Lyman from continuing his dam-destroying practice.

“I taught middle school for 37 years, and I wasn’t into punishment, but any infraction … had a consequence,” Mainer said.

In 2007, Hinesburg acquired the 301 acres of the LaPlatte Headwaters, an area along the LaPlatte River between Gilman Road and Silver Street, to make available for public use. The Vermont Land Trust and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, which granted the land to the town, jointly hold the conservation easement on the property.

“Part of the reason for conserv-

ing (the forest) was that a lot of the agricultural land at the north end (of town) was originally wetlands,”

Andrea Morgante, a local conservationist and founding member of the Hinesburg Land Trust, said.

Those wetlands were disturbed by the building of ditches and dredging for agriculture use in the 1930s and 1940s.

“Really the most efficient and economical and ecologically suit-

able way to restore a wetland is if you can let the beavers do the work for you,” Morgante said.

The easement was created to protect the diverse wildlife habitat, soil, water quality and natural landscape — which includes forests, fields, wetlands and areas along the river and streams. The easement prohibits “change of the topography of the land in any manner” and the town’s management plan specifies that only non-motorized and non-commercial recreational activities are permitted in LaPlatte Headwaters.

The LaPlatte Headwaters Town Forest Management Plan, which governs maintenance of and access to the property, cites the need to protect unique species of plants and animals there, including the endangered Indiana bat, described as the size of a human thumb.

The plan offers guidance on beavers: “Allow beavers and other native wetland species to recolonize and influence the areas along and around the LaPlatte. If beaver activity comes in conflict with other purposes of the conservation easement, town roads or culverts, or neighbors, consult with Vermont Fish and Wildlife biologists and the Chittenden County forester.”

For violations of the easement

Beaver dams improve water quality by trapping sediment, but also can cause flooding of private property.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PEXELS.COM

Hinesburg highway foreman abruptly resigns

BY COREY MCDONALD VTDigger

Hinesburg’s highway foreman of more than 30 years abruptly resigned this month, just days before a winter storm walloped much of Vermont and left roads in disarray.

Michael Anthony, the town’s highway foreman since 1992, submitted his resignation to the town the night of March 9. He had been with the town’s highway department for 40 years; the town garage was named after him when it opened in 2018.

“Mike did a great job on our roads for over 40 years, and our roads are in very good shape thanks to all of the work that Mike did,” Merrily Lovell, chair of the town’s selectboard, said. “He was a real perfectionist, and he did a really good job — nobody disputes that.”

The town garage was named after him when it opened in 2018.

In a 1,700-word email to town selectboard members, Anthony said he “could no longer work under the current management team” and had “had enough of the badgering and harassment, changes (to) how and when the highway department works, and now, on-call pay cut.”

He made several claims, including that he was confronted by town manager Todd Odit about his treatment of a former employee; that the town violated a labor agreement between the town and highway employees; and that highway employees were not informed of the drinking water contamination at the town garage.

He also pointed to a conflict with town management over overtime work.

Anthony’s resignation email “contains many allegations, accusations, inaccuracies and incomplete stories that I dispute,” Odit said in an email to The Citizen newspaper.

Beavers

continued from page 4

or management rules, the decision to pursue any action lies with the town, as owner of the land, said Abby White, spokesperson for the Vermont Land Trust.

The state would oversee issues involving beavers and dams, she added.

“There’s multiple jurisdictions at play,” said White. “It’s on town land, and there’s a conservation easement that we hold that allows for management of land. The state has regulations related to human-wildlife interactions.”

The Fish and Wildlife Department offers a beaver baffle program to help land-

“Had Mike brought these to the selectboard prior to resigning I would have gladly addressed them all with the selectboard. I still will if the selectboard wants me to,” he said. “However, it would be inappropriate for me to do so in a newspaper article.”

His departure came days before a major snowstorm dumped more than 12 inches throughout the Champlain Valley, causing power outages and major traffic disruptions.

Joy Dubin Grossman, Hinesburg’s assistant town manager, reached out to several neighboring towns for assistance in the days leading up to the storm.

“We had the help of Monkton, Starksboro, Shelburne and Richmond — basically each of those towns took a road that leads into Hinesburg and continued on to Route 116 instead of stopping at the town line and turning around,” Odit said. “That was a huge help.”

Anthony’s resignation leaves the highway department with two people — Dominic Musumeci and Nicholas Race. John Alexander, an assistant foreman in the wastewater department, has helped with plowing efforts when the town needs them and helped with the last week’s storm.

The town has advertisements out for both a highway foreman and an additional highway worker and has been looking for a public works manager who would oversee both the water and highway departments.

As part of its fiscal year 2024 budget, the town transitioned the director of buildings and facilities position, which oversaw infrastructure and water and sewer, into a director of public works, who will now also oversee the highway and road operations.

“Obviously, when the budget was put together, it wasn’t known or expected that there’d be this change,” Odit said.

Anthony, in his email, thanked the town “for allowing me the opportunity of four decades of serving them. I have loved doing what I have done for the town. Thank you to everyone that has supported me and encouraged me to continue doing all I have ever known to do.”

owners, road crews and municipalities that have problems with beaver activity. Baffles are tubes installed in dams to allow water to flow through, controlling river levels while maintaining the beaver construction.

Brown said he gets about 400 calls and emails a year from residents mostly concerned about flooding from nearby dams. Of those, he visits about 50 sites in person and installs baffles or exclusion fences in about 15 locations.

State wildlife department representatives visited Lyman’s home in the past to talk about his handling of beaver dams and never challenged his methods.

“It’s the same spot I’ve been working with for the 30 years I’ve been here,” Lyman said.

BY REP. ERIN BRADY

Last Friday marked the “crossover” deadline in Montpelier, when bills have to pass out of at least one committee in order to have a chance at becoming law before we adjourn in May. This confluence of the calendar and circumstances led to a marathon week that advanced several bills I support, including many that Willistonians weighed in on with me and my colleagues in Montpelier.

Paid Family and Medical Leave: I was pleased to support H. 66, a bill that would provide wage replacement for Vermonters that need to take off from work for family and medical reasons, such as illness, the birth or adoption of a child, or to care for a family member with a serious health condition.

The U.S. is the only wealthy country without a national paid leave program, and the benefits of these programs are well established. The bill would provide Vermonters with up to 12 weeks of paid leave at 90 percent pay and job protections in place to ensure employees can re-

GUEST COLUMN

Notes from the Legislature

turn to work.

Employers and employees would share the insurance premium costs to provide paid leave benefits equally through small payroll contributions, ensuring a valuable benefit at a low, predictable cost to employers.

I was most struck by a statement by Rep. Jubilee McGill (D-Bridport) given during debate of the bill. She shared her own struggle with dangerous postpartum depression, delivering a powerful statement, late at night, all while holding her infant daughter.

“I will be voting yes on this bill because I know deeply the indisputable effect it has on the health and outcomes of infants and their parents,” she said.

Universal School Meals: I have been a passionate advocate for universal school meals since I took office in 2021, and authored the bill passed by the House last week that makes the program permanent.

The pandemic put extraordinary strain on our schools that continues to this day. One unexpected “bright spot” has been that free breakfast and lunch has been available to all

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students for three years now. This has been critical for reducing hunger, and it accelerated a much-needed culture change — away from one that stigmatized students who participated in the program before the pandemic.

benefits, including more predictability for schools in meal planning and purchasing, reducing stigma and distinctions among students and increased opportunities for partnerships with local farms.

When I met with Williston Central School students last fall, I surveyed them as to whether universal meals should continue and was proud to share some of their positive feedback in my floor speech.

Suicide Prevention: While there is a lot of policy work in Montpelier, some of it is truly life and death.

firearm. H.230 would require gun owners to securely store firearms locked and separate from ammunition and would also allow family or household members — who are most likely to see the first signs that a loved one is in crisis — to petition a court directly for an Extreme Risk Protection Order.

Students may come to school hungry for many reasons beyond economic need, including family stress, parents working multiple jobs and high school students often starting very early in the morning. Universal school meals offer many

Before we started debate on a significant suicide prevention bill, H. 230, I introduced the incredibly courageous Emily Hackett-Fiske of Williston to the entire House of Representatives. Having lost her son, Ryan, at just 12 years old, she provided important testimony to the Health Care Committee as they developed the bill.

In 2021, 142 Vermonters died by suicide and 83 of those were by

It would also create a 72-hour waiting period on firearm transfers before a person can take possession of a firearm. One of the most effective ways to save the life of a person in crisis is to put time and space between that person and a firearm; safe storage ensures that critical life-saving time and space, particularly for children.

Update from my committee: As vice chair of the House Committee on Education, I’ve been able to help craft some legislation this year around teacher recruitment, school construction funding and the complexities of public education dollars

see BRADY page 7

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One of the most effective ways to save the life of a person in crisis is to put time and space between that person and a firearm.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Grateful board

On behalf of the entire Champlain Valley School District, we would like to express our sincere gratitude for the community’s support in passing the budget for our students and our schools. Your decision to

Brady

continued from page 6

to fund private schools.

A bill I helped craft to create incentives for future teachers and support for our existing teacher workforce is now part of a larger workforce bill that will come before the full House soon. I am committed to the incremental work we must do for many years to come to support, grow and diversify our teacher workforce.

Two other major education bills from our committee will be considered by the House this week. Our school construction bill (H. 486) will finally move our state forward in creating a coherent, statewide school facilities plan and funding mechanism in conjunction with the State Treasurer. Currently, the state has a moratorium on providing state funding to school construction. This bill would create a new funding mechanism that would help schools

invest in education will have a positive impact on the lives of our students and the future of our community.

Your vote demonstrates a commitment to providing our students with the best possible educational experience, and we are grateful for your trust and

like the Allen Brook School make improvements based on strategic statewide priorities.

The committee also has spent a great deal of time responding to a Supreme Court case that requires Vermont to re-evaluate our town tuitioning system that sends public education dollars to approved independent schools. This bill addresses discrimination in enrollment, limits enrollment to out-of-state schools to within 25 miles of the Vermont border, says that public tuition dollars cannot be used to offset private-pay tuitioning students, and puts a moratorium on new independent schools receiving public education dollars. We have taken extensive testimony and I expect this complex issue will remain a central part of our committee’s work this biennium. I will continue to be an unwavering advocate for public schools that serve all students and are critical to our democracy.

Last month, Rep. Angela Arsenault and I thoroughly enjoyed

confidence in us. We will continue to work hard to provide a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment for all of our students, and to help them reach their full potential. Thank you again.

Champlain Valley School District Board of Directors

meeting with over 20 Williston voters at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. We could have talked for hours about all the issues raised (ARPA funding, preventative healthcare, restorative justice, universal meals in schools, anti-tobacco measures, mentoring, climate change, youth mental health, childcare, housing, affordability, and the complex challenges for families supporting adults with developmental disabilities … and more). We look forward to hosting another community conversation in mid-April and will announce details when the date and location is confirmed.

I am honored to represent Williston and I strive to be accessible and responsive. Please email me at ebrady@leg.state.vt.us with your questions, concerns or ideas anytime.

Erin Brady represents Williston’s Chittenden-2 district in the Vermont House of Representatives.

Heven’s Ges & Hell’s Flmes

Three

Sunday-Tuesday, April 2-4, 7 p.m.

His Only Son Friday, April 7 6:45 p.m. [PG-13]

Tickets: $10 Free Popcorn

2025 Williston Road, South Burlington, VT 802-863-1396 • www.vibrant.ch

Facebook & Instagram: @vibrantchurchvt Twitter: @Vibrant_Church

Burlington, Vermont

Open House on Campus

Friday, April 7th at 4pm

•

•

9–12,

•

in. Stand out.

CVU spring sports preview - Boys

CVU spring sports

- Girls

Fingerprint delays prevent child cares from staffing up

BY ETHAN WEINSTEIN VTDigger

Amidst an already dire staffing shortage, child care professionals say background-check delays are preventing new staff members from fully entering the field.

Fingerprint processing, which once took a month or two, is now taking upwards of three or four months, childcare professionals say. That delay adds to the shortage of child care staff, which in turn forces parents who can’t find child care to stay home with their kids, according to Amy Brooks, executive director of the Early Care & Education Association.

“Families would be able to stay employed,” Brooks said, “if we could just get these criminal background checks sped up.”

While new educators wait for their fingerprints to be processed, they’re able to work in the classroom, Brooks explained, but they’re not allowed to be left alone with children.

That “helps for a week or two, but somebody will need to use the restroom sooner or later,” Brooks said of the partial approval status.

Brooks is acquainted with both Vermont and New Hampshire’s child care

systems. Once upon a time, Vermont’s background check process outpaced New Hampshire’s, Brooks said. But after New Hampshire invested in improving its system, that’s no longer the case, she said.

Vermonters typically get fingerprints taken at a local law enforcement agency, and those prints are then sent to the Ver-

for nursing applicants and individuals getting nursing licenses,” Wallin said. “That significantly strained our system, so we’ve seen our processing times increase more than we’d like.

“We are certainly aware of the strain that puts on folks out in the field,” he said. According to Wallin, the center has since brought on additional resources in an attempt to bring processing times down to 30 days. Still, he said the center is hearing about processing times “in the ballpark” of 12 weeks.

According to S. Lauren Hibbert, Vermont’s deputy secretary of state, fingerprinting of licensed nursing assistants, registered nurses and other types of nurses is a recent change.

mont Crime Information Center (VCIC) for further processing. VCIC handles fingerprints for state licensing processes such as education and health care, according to Jeffrey Wallin, the center’s director.

“At the end of last year, we did have a significant increase with the onboarding of doing fingerprint-supported record checks

Donation hotline: 802-857-5296

“They had not needed to get background checks before,” Hibbert said. State government asked for that change in 2019, she said, and the process began at the beginning of this year. The nurse background checks, coupled with staffing shortages at VCIC, have both contributed to the fingerprint processing delays, according to Hibbert.

At the Orange County Parent Child Center in Tunbridge, executive director Lindsey Trombley is dealing with the delays.

“We have an employee who started in December, and she is yet to get her fingerprints back,” Trombley said. “It’s a significant struggle right now because we have three new hires waiting to get fingerprints back, and they can’t be left alone with children.”

The result: Staff members whose fingerprints have been checked are forced to work extra long hours. “Not only are we just short-staffed, period. But that’s just exacerbating the situation with my existing staff who are having to work open ’til close,” she said.

In South Royalton, Magic Mountain Children’s Center had hoped new hires

would allow it to expand its hours. Fingerprinting delays have blocked those plans.

“We currently have one staff member who was fingerprinted 14 weeks ago,” said Heather Cushman, director at Magic Mountain. “When we hired her, it was in anticipation that we’d be able to expand our hours to better serve our families, but the long delay has prevented us from doing that.”

According to Cushman, she’s been told that 14 weeks is within “the normal timeframe for background checks being processed” and that the fingerprints are causing the delay.

The delay, Cushman said, is straining Magic Mountain’s families. The business, before Covid-19, was open 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Now, it’s open only from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“It’s not so much about our business,” Cushman said of the delay’s effects. “It’s about our families and what they do for their work. It’s about how we can better serve the community, and the impact it’s having on a much larger scale.”

Monique Braman helps Elliot Hall, 2, put on snowboots in January at the Orange County Parent Child Center in Tunbridge.

PHOTO BY RILEY ROBINSON/VTDIGGER

“It’s a significant struggle right now because we have three new hires waiting to get fingerprints back, and they can’t be left alone with children.”

Lindsey Trombley Executive director Orange County Parent Child Center

New tax credit in place for families with young children

BY OLIVIA Q. PINTAIR VTDigger

As the end of the 2023 tax season approaches, state officials are calling attention to a new tax credit that offers financial support to families with children under the age of 6.

In May 2022, Gov. Phil Scott signed the child tax credit, H.510, into law. Since then, the $40 million package — $32 million of which funds the tax credit directly — has been set aside to offer tax cuts to qualifying parents and

Glaser

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of homes to be built has increased from 93 in the old plan to 106, with more duplexes and triplexes than the original plan. Twelve of the homes would be deed-restricted as perpetually affordable.

The Glasers have slowed their construction timeline from roughly 25 homes per year over four years to roughly 18 homes over six years.

One portion of the open space to be deeded to the town — the corridor fronting Mountain View that offers an unobstructed view

guardians with young children.

Vermonters who have young children and make less than $125,000 of annual income are eligible to receive $1,000 per child in a refundable tax credit for the 2022 filing year. Filers who make up to $175,000 are eligible for partial credit.

More than 34,000 children are expected to benefit from the tax credit this year, according to the state’s Legislative Joint Fiscal Office.

However, even as Vermont Tax Department officials promote the new credit, it faces a threat in the

of Camel’s Hump — has been increased from 11 acres to 15 acres. The other portion of proposed open space remains at 42 acres. This is the acreage Windswept Farm relies on.

“We have heard from (Windswept Farm owners) Mike and Tina Mauss that this configuration would work for their continued operations,” Williston Senior Planner Emily Heymann said.

The advisory committee next meets on March 30 at 5 p.m. at Town Hall with a site visit planned for April. It is charged with delivering a final plan back to the planning commission in

Legislature. The state Senate is already considering doing away with the credit to help pay for an expansion of child care subsidies. A proposal to cut the benefit, still needs approval by the full chamber, after which it would likely face an uphill battle in the House.

Regardless of the outcome of that legislative debate, the credit remains available to families this filing season.

The U.S. Census Bureau in 2021 found that Vermont families with children under the age of 17

June. The planning commission will then hold a public hearing and vote on whether to advance the plan for selectboard approval and Development Review Board consideration.

Underpinning the specific plan approval is consideration of whether the plan results in a “substantial benefit” to the community.

“The substantial benefit here is the preservation of the viewshed and the preservation of the working landscape,” said planning commission member Alex Daley, who chairs the specific plan advisory committee.

New Home Without the long

are more likely to experience poverty than families without children or with adult children. Advocates of the child tax credit say they hope the state assistance will provide needed relief to families facing economic hardship.

A brief issued by the Public Assets Institute calls refundable tax credits “an important tool for reducing child poverty and advancing racial, social and economic justice.”

Many families with low earnings are not required to file tax re-

turns and risk missing out on the credit. State Tax Commissioner Craig Bolio is encouraging those who are eligible to file, regardless of income, in order to receive the credit.

“There are folks that may traditionally not have filed or needed to file that should consider it this year,” Bolio said. The credits “are all refundable, so that means that if the credit exceeds your liability, you get that money back,” he said.

The 2023 deadline for filing taxes is April 18.

Using wood ashes for your home garden

BY BONNIE KIRN DONAHUE Special to the Observer

Wood ashes are a surprisingly useful byproduct of winter heating. In addition to household uses such as making soap or adding traction to driveways, wood ashes can be used to amend your garden and lawn soils.

Wood ash, like limestone, is high in calcium and can raise soil pH to provide optimal plant growth.

The pH of soil is important because it helps make certain nutrients more available for plants to use in the soil. For example, when soil pH falls outside of optimal ranges, critical nutrients for plant growth — like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, calcium and magnesium — may be less available for plants to take up.

PH is measured on a scale of 0 (acidic) to 14 (alkaline). An optimal soil pH for most vegetable and berry crops is 6.5 to 6.8. Generally, a 6.0 to 7.5 pH should

support most crops. Different species have their own pH preferences, however, so be sure to look up the preferred pH of your plants prior to amending the soil.

Blueberries like acidic soil with a pH of 4.5 to 5.2, so they probably won’t appreciate wood ash. Azaleas also prefer acidic soils with a pH between 4.5 and

6.0. Vegetables such as asparagus, kale and beans need basic soils with a pH between 6.0 and 8.0, while many landscape shrubs and trees, such as dogwood, do best in alkaline soil (5.5 to 6.0).

Before adding amendments, first get a soil test to measure the existing pH of your soils. The

test will tell you the pH and offer amendment options.

The University of Vermont Extension Agricultural and Environmental Testing Lab offers soil testing. For information, go to https://go.uvm.edu/ae-testing.

Following your soil test results, you can apply a thin layer of wood ash (remove any large charcoal pieces) on top of your soil. Use an application rate of 15-20 pounds of wood ash (one five-gallon bucket) per 1,000 square feet. One cord of wood will produce approximately 20 pounds of wood ash. For more information, check out: https:// go.uvm.edu/wood-ash.

Moisten the soil prior to applying the wood ash to help it adhere to the soil and become less airborne. Ash can be irritating, so protect your skin and lungs when spreading it. Lightly water the area to help the ash adhere to the soil.

Make sure that the wood ash you are using contains only untreated, naturally grown wood.

Using wood ash that is contaminated by oil, chemicals or plastic can transfer the contamination to your soils. Wood ash from pellet stoves and bonfires also should be avoided.

Wood ash can be added in very small quantities to compost piles, keeping an eye on the pH. Optimal compost pH for microorganism activity is between 5.5 and 8.0. The key is knowing the pH of your compost pile before you add wood ash and spreading a thin layer of ash across the pile (versus dumping it in).

This year, after getting your soil tested, try using leftover wood ashes in your garden and on your lawn. This low-cost soil amendment just might be something you add to your garden todo list from now on.

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

Wood ashes can be used to amend garden and lawn soils for optimal plant growth.

COURTESY PHOTO BY BONNIE KIRN DONAHUE

Voices of veterans’ family members lifted

First-ever Family Vets Town Hall event set for St. Mike’s

The first-ever Family Vets Town Hall is scheduled for Sunday, April 2 at 1 p.m. at the McCarthy Arts Center on Saint Michael’s College campus in Colchester. Immediate family members of veterans are invited to stand before their community and speak for up to 10 minutes about their experiences. Everyone is encouraged to attend and listen. The event is free. Snacks will be provided.

The event is organized by Vets Town Hall, a Vermont-based national nonprofit that facilitates annual events where veterans are invited to speak about what their service means to them. This is the first event where family members are invited to speak.

“Military families have a different relationship with service, and I have often felt they absorb a majority of the burden from our being away, deployments, recoveries and transitions,” said Jon Turner, who will emcee the event. “If we serve, they serve; that should not be neglected. Families have their own thoughts and perspectives which are invaluable. Their stories should be shared and

listened to.”

Turner served with the U.S. Marines from 2003-2007, deploying to Haiti and twice to Iraq. He has worked with communities throughout the U.S. to assist the veteran reintegration process and recently launched 22 Peaks Challenge, a fundraiser to support organizations actively working to prevent veteran suicide. He operates Wild Roots Community Farm in Bristol, has been hosting Vets Town Halls in Vermont since 2018, and is on the Vets Town Hall Board of Directors.

Vets Town Halls were originated by author Sebastian Junger (“War, Tribe”) with the aim of increasing communication and understanding between veterans and civilians in their communities. Vets Town Hall was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation in March of 2022. The organization provides resources to local Vets Town Hall organizers nationwide, and directly organizes events in Vermont.

Other local partners include Saint Michael’s College Military Community Services and Stu-

dent Veterans Association, and the Vermont Veterans Outreach Program, which will be available to offer peer support. This event is supported in part by the Vermont Humanities and the VEC Community Fund.

Those who would like to speak can indicate that when registering. Time permitting, family members of veterans are also welcome to sign up to speak at the time of the event. RSVPs are optional but encouraged at www.vtvetstownhall. org. Questions may be directed to Kristen Eaton at vermont@vetstownhall.org.

Family Vets Town Hall

WHAT: A community forum aiming to increase communication and understanding between family members of veterans and the community at large.

WHEN: Sunday, April 2 at 1 p.m.

WHERE: McCarthy Arts Center, Saint Michael’s College campus, Colchester

More info at www. vtvetstownhall.org or email vermont@vetstownhall.org

Veteran Larry Stoneking speaks at a Vets Town Hall in Colchester in 2022.

COURTESY PHOTO BY MEGAN HUMPHREY

Timothy Potvin

Timothy Orin Potvin, 66, passed away suddenly on March 15, 2023, after having fought a courageous battle with chronic kidney disease.

Timothy was born on March 6, 1957, in Burlington, VT to Norman and Barbara (Peltier) Potvin. He spent his childhood in Milton, VT and graduated from Milton High School — a three-sport athlete excelling in soccer which earned him a soccer scholarship to Husson College.

Tim enjoyed being outside. Hunting and fishing were passions for Tim. He especially enjoyed spending time at deer camp with his friends and family. Tim also spent several years as a volunteer fireman

for the Milton Fire Department. Timothy worked in shipping and receiving at Ben & Jerrys for 17 years before retiring in 2020.

In 2003 he reconnected with the love of his life and high school sweetheart Terry (Ford) Francis, and they were married December 27, 2003 at Williston Federated Church. They enjoyed their trips to Maine, camping, working in the gardens at their home in Williston and spending their evenings together playing cards on their deck. His fondest memories are those spent with his kids and grandkids.

Tim is survived by his wife Terry Potvin. He is also survived by his children, Keith and Alexis Francis, and their children Sophia, Isla and Lilliana; Heather and Scott Sawyer,

and their children Mackenzie and Jack. Tim is also survived by his best friend and twin brother Tom and sister-in-law Michelle Potvin; his sisters and their spouses Peggy and Donald LaCroix, Patty Moorby

and Jim Duquette, Pam and David Bushey and sister-in-law Lynn Potvin. He also leaves his mother-in-law Caroline Ford, sister-in-law Penny Kehaya, and numerous nieces and nephews. Timothy was predeceased by his parents Norman and Barbara Potvin, brother Michael Potvin and father-in-law Clifford Ford.

Our hearts are broken as we process the unexpected loss of our “Papa”. To say he was one of the good ones is a vast understatement. To know him, was to love him.

It is hard to convey how much of a loss this is for our family. We would give anything to hear his voice on the other end of the phone one more time, to play one more game of cards, to have another giggle-fest around the kitchen island

telling stories on hot summer nights, one more camping trip, one more deep talk in the favorite red barn, one more papa bear hug, or to see his girls and little guy crawl on his lap one more time for a papa snuggle in his comfy recliner. We didn’t get enough time with you but the time we had was so wonderful. Thank you for loving us all so well. Rest easy, Papa-paya.

A celebration of life will be held later in the spring.

Memorial donations can be made in Tim’s name to the Williston Community Food Shelf by visiting their website at https://www.willistonfoodshelf.com/donate-foodor-funds.html or mail to: Williston Community Food Shelf, P.O. Box 1605, Williston, VT 05495.

Richmond man dies after falling through Lake Champlain ice

BY JERALYN DARLING VTDigger

A Richmond man who was pulled from Lake Champlain Monday afternoon after he fell through the ice on an ATV several hundred feet from shore has died, according to police.

Donald P. “Jonesy” Jones, 82, died Monday evening at Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans, police said in a press release Monday night.

Authorities responded to a report of a man falling through the ice around 2:15 p.m. near the intersection

of Church and Hance roads in Swanton, Vermont State Police said Monday afternoon.

Jones was brought to shore about 30 minutes after the emergency call was made. He was taken to Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans with life-threatening injuries, police said earlier.

Jones’ death is not considered suspicious, according to police, but a state trooper is investigating his death, as is typical in such cases. The Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington is set to perform an autopsy to determine the cause and manner

Williston

of death.

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has warned of unsafe ice conditions since early February, when three fishermen died after falling through the ice in the span of a few days. Among them were two brothers, who died on Feb. 11 after their side-by-side utility task vehicle fell through thin ice.

Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Christopher Herrick instructed recreators to “stay off Lake Champlain” in a February press release, warning that warm weather meant unsafe ice conditions.

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

Dorothy Alling Memorial Library hours:

• Monday and Wednesday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

• Saturday: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The library will be closed Monday, April 3 for a staff training.

Visit www.damlvt.org to apply for a library card, renew materials, access digital offerings and register for programs. Need help? Call 878-4918 or email daml@damlvt.org.

YOUTH PROGRAMS

Children in fourth grade and younger must be supervised by someone over 16 years of age.

STORYTIME

Tuesdays, April 4 and 11, 10:30-11 a.m.

Join Danielle for stories and fun.

BABY TIME

Wednesday, April 5, 10:30-11 a.m.

AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY

Wednesday, April 5 and 12, 2-3 p.m.

PRESCHOOL MUSIC AND PLAYTIME

Thursdays, April 6 and 13, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Enjoy music, then stay to play.

POKEMON CLUB

Monday, April 10, 4-5 p.m. Share your favorite cards and enjoy themed activities.

TEEN D&D

Monday, April 10, 5-6 p.m. Join our after-school campaign. Registration required.

ROBOT MAZE

Tuesday, April 11, 3-4 p.m. Try your hand at getting Roswell the Dash Robot through a maze and obstacle course.

TEEN NIGHT: FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Thursday, April 12, 5-6 p.m. Ages 12plus. Join our teen advisory group — you bring the thoughts, we bring the food.

LEGO TIME

Thursday, April 13, 3-4 p.m. All ages.

MULTI-AGE PROGRAMS

READ TO A DOG

Tuesday, April 4, 4-5 p.m. Call to register for a 10-minute time-slot to read to our therapy dog.

READ TO A CAT

Thursday, April 6, 4-5 p.m. Call to register for a 10-minute time-slot to read to our cat.

FRENCH STORYTIME

Saturday, April 8, 10:15-10:45 a.m. Drop

in for stories read aloud in French.

PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS

To join a book club or for Zoom link, email programs@damlvt.org.

ADULT MEDITATION (ONLINE)

Friday, March 31 and April 7, 12-12:30 p.m. Join Maryellen Crangle and reconnect with your peaceful body and breath.

WRITE TIME WITH MARY

ANN FULLER YOUNG

Saturdays, April 1 and 8, 12-2 p.m. Everyone has a unique voice and is born with a creative genius. Drop by to explore the craft of writing in a supportive environment with the guidance of a trained associate of Amherst Writers and Artists.

SPANISH CONVERSATION

Wednesday, April 5, 5-6 p.m. Meet online with this mixed-ability group to practice Spanish.

APRIL SPECIAL EVENT: FAIR HOUSING MONTH DISCUSSION

Wednesday, April 5, 6:30-7:30 p.m. In preparation for this upcoming discussion, the library has several copies of “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City” by Matthew Desmond available to borrow (eBook, also available in Libby/Overdrive). This is a collaboration with the Williston Community Justice Center. Join us for the discussion even if you didn’t get a chance to read the book.

ADULT CRAFTERNOON: TEACUP NESTS

Thursday, April 6, 2-3 p.m. Birds nest everywhere — even in teacups! Bring your own teacup and saucer (we have few available if you don’t have one). Registration required.

MAH JONGG

Friday, April 7, 1-3 p.m. Drop in for this popular tile game.

FRENCH CONVERSATION FOR ALL

Saturday, April 8, 10:45-11:45 a.m. All abilities welcome.

CURRENT EVENTS DISCUSSION

Wednesday, April 12, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Drop in to discuss newsworthy topics.

LIFE STORIES WE LOVE TO TELL (ONLINE)

Wednesday, April 12, 2-3:30 p.m. Maryellen Crangle will provide a prompt to guide the group in choosing a story to share.

AFTER HOURS

Wednesday, April 12, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

“Born a Crime: Tales from a South African Childhood” by Trevor Noah is an eye-opening memoir from a comedian who wasn’t supposed to exist. Available as an eBook in Libby (Overdrive) or in print from the library.

Next Week: An “unsinkable” ship

Read a Winner

Doug Salati

Doug Salati, illustrator and author of “Hot Dog,” won the 2023 Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children.

“Hot Dog” takes place on a steamy summer day in the big city, where a dachshund is along for errands with his owner. But the sidewalks are sweltering and full of people, and the little dog finally has enough: He lies down in the middle of a crosswalk and won’t go a step farther.

When his owner sees this, she picks him and whisks him away to the beach, where he can run and play in the sand and surf.

Doug Salati lives in New York City after growing up in central New York. He has illustrated other awardwinning children’s books. Salati told Book Jam that as a child, reading helped him develop a love for storytelling. Some of his favorite books were “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and “Charlotte’s Web.” About his work, he said, “The incredible thing is you can try and try again, and each time you learn more about yourself and about the messages you want to bring to others.”

Mini Fact: Visit the American Library Association’s Youth Media Award Winners Page, bit.ly/ MPbookawards

Amina Luqman-Dawson

The 2023 John Newbery Medal winner for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature is “Freewater,” written by Amina LuqmanDawson.

“Freewater” tells the story of a 12-year-old enslaved boy, Homer, and his daring escape with his sister, Ada, from the plantation where they live to a community called Freewater. As they run for freedom, they have to leave behind their mother. But Homer and his new friends make a plan to go back and rescue his mom and his friend, Anna.

Amina Luqman-Dawson was raised in California, where she lived with her parents and one sister. She said her sister influenced her to start reading, but she always loved words.

When she and her husband moved to Virginia, she became interested in the African American history of the area, and she wrote a book. “The experience was my first inkling that I could do things that I’d never dared to even envision,” she said, adding that writing for kids makes her happiest.

She, her husband and her 13-year-old son live in Arlington, Virginia.

Honor Books

There were three 2023 Newbery Honor Books and four Caldecott Honor Books:

• “Iveliz Explains It All” by Andrea Beatriz Arango

• “The Last Mapmaker” by Christina Soontornvat

• “Maizy Chen’s Last Chance” by Lisa Yee

• “Ain’t Burned All the Bright,” illustrated by Jason Griffin and written by Jason Reynolds

• “Berry Song,” illustrated and written by Michaela Goade

• “Choosing Brave: How Mamie TillMobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement,” illustrated by Janelle Washington and written by Angela Joy

• “Knight Owl,” illustrated and written by Christopher Denise

Coretta Scott King

“Freewater” also won the Coretta Scott King Author Book Award.

The King Illustrator Book Award went to “Standing in the Need of Prayer: A Modern Retelling of the Classic Spiritual,” illustrated by Frank Morrison and written by Carole Boston Weatherford.

King Author Honor Books:

• “Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler” by Ibi Zoboi

• “The Talk” by Alicia D. Williams

• “Victory. Stand! Raising My Fist for Justice” by Tommie Smith and Derek Barnes

King Illustrator Honor Books:

• “Me and the Boss: A Story About Mending and Love,” illustrated by April Harrison and written by Michelle Edwards

• “Swim Team,” illustrated and written by Johnnie Christmas

• “Victory. Stand! Raising My Fist for Justice,” illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile

Mini Jokes

What do planets like to read? Comet books!

Eco Note

Words that remind us of good books are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward, and some letters are used

The Mini Page® © 2023 Andrews McMeel Syndication

Founded by Betty Debnam

Doug Salati

Amina LuqmanDawson

image courtesy Knopf Books for Young Readers image courtesy Little, Brown and Co.

image courtesy Little, Brown and Co.

photo by Erin V. Carr

again, and each time you learn more about yourself and about the messages you want to bring to others.”

for kids makes her happiest. She, her husband and her 13-year-old son live in Arlington, Virginia.

written by Johnnie Christmas • “Victory. Stand! Raising My Fist for Justice,” illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile

Try ’n’ Find

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

AUTHOR, AWARD, BOOK, CALDECOTT, CHILDREN. DISTINGUISHED, HONOR, ILLUSTRATOR, KING, LITERATURE, LUQMANDAWSON, MEDAL, NEWBERY, READING, SALATI, STORY, WINNER, WORDS.

Mini Spy Classics

Mini Spy and her friends are enjoying some new books. See if you can find the hidden pictures. Then color the picture.

Mini Jokes

What do planets like

A giant toad discovered deep in an Australian rainforest is believed to be the largest in the world. Dubbed by forest rangers “Toadzilla,” the gargantuan amphibian weighed 6 pounds, which is 0.11 pound heavier than a Swedish pet toad listed in 1991 as the heaviest by Guinness. But all did not end well for Toadzilla. Because it is an invasive species in Australia, it was humanely put down due to what rangers called its “ecological impact.” Most toads typically meet the same fate when found across Australia.

For later:

Look in your newspaper for reviews of children’s books.

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

BY DAN THOMPSON

By Jim Miller

Savvy

How to choose an assisted living facility

Dear Savvy Senior, What’s the best way to go about choosing an assisted living facility for my 86-year-old father? Since mom died last year, his health has declined to the point that he can’t live at home anymore but isn’t ready for a nursing home either.

Searching Susan

Dear Susan,

If your dad needs help with things like bathing, dressing, preparing meals, managing his medications or just getting around, an assisted living facility is definitely a good option to consider.

Assisted living facilities are residential communities that offer different levels of health or personal care services for seniors who want or need help with daily living.

There are nearly 29,000 assisted living communities (also called board-and-care, supportive-care or residential-care facilities) in the U.S. today, some of which are part of a retirement community or nursing home. Most facilities have anywhere between 10 and 100 suites, varying in size from a single room to a full apartment. And some even offer special memory care units for residents with dementia.

To help you choose a good assisted living facility for your dad, here are some steps to follow.

Make a list: There are several sources you can turn to for referrals to top assisted living communities in your area, including your dad’s doctor or nearby hospital discharge planner; friends or neighbors who’ve had a loved one in assisted living; or you can do an

online search at www.Caring.com.

Do some research: To research the communities on your list, put a call into your long-term care ombudsman. This is a government official who investigates long-term care facility complaints and advocates for residents and their families. This person can help you find the latest health inspection reports on specific assisted living facilities and can tell you which ones have had complaints or other problems in the past. To find your local ombudsman visit www.LTCombudsman.org.

Call the facilities: Once you’ve identified a few good assisted living facilities, call them to see if they have any vacancies, what they charge and if they provide the types of services your father needs.

Tour your top choices: During your visit, notice the cleanliness and smell of the facility. Is it homey and inviting? Does the staff seem responsive and kind to its residents? Also, be sure to taste the food and talk to residents and their family members, if available. It’s also a good idea to visit several times at different times of the day and different days of the week to get a broader perspective.

On your facility visit, get a

– Chittenden County

BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

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

copy of the admissions contract and the residence rules that outline the fees (and any extra charges), services and residents’ rights, and explanations for when a resident might be asked to leave because their condition has worsened, and they require more care than the facility can provide.

Also, find out their staff turnover rate, Covid infection-control procedures and if and when medical professionals are on site. To help you rate your visit, Caring. com offers a checklist of questions that you can download and print at www.Caring.com/static/checklistAL-tour.pdf.

How to pay: Monthly costs for assisted living ranges anywhere from $2,500 to $6,000 or more. Since Medicare does not cover assisted living, most residents pay out-of-pocket from their own personal funds. Some have long-term care insurance policies.

If your dad has limited financial resources and can’t afford this, most states now have Medicaid waiver programs that help pay for assisted living. Or, if he’s a veteran, he may be able to get funds through the VA’s Aid and Attendance benefit.

To find out about these programs, ask the assisted living facility director, or contact your dad’s local Medicaid office (see www. Medicaid.gov) or the regional VA benefit office (800–827–1000).

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.

•

Relevant Skills:

• Customer Service

Cash Handling (we’ll train you!)

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

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

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

TODAY’S HISTORY:

• In 1855, “Border Ruffians” from Missouri invaded Kansas during the territory’s election, forcing the election of a pro-slavery legislature.

• In 1867, U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward completed the purchase of Alaska for $7.2 million.

• In 1870, the U.S. Congress readmitted Texas to the Union.

• In 1964, the TV quiz show “Jeopardy!” premiered on NBC with host Art Fleming.

• In 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot in the chest in an assassination attempt by John Hinckley Jr.

TODAY’S FACT:

• The purchase of Alaska added over 586,000 square miles to the United States for less than two cents per acre.

SOLUTION FOUND ON PAGE 22

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.

1 endless foolish talk (7)

2 Amazon’s talking AI (5)

3 educational talk (7)

4 give a talking-to (9)

5 small talk (8)

6 idle talk (11)

7 shoe to talk about, maybe (8)

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

Auditor reports on universal broadband risks

State Auditor Doug Hoffer released a report last week highlighting potential risks to Vermont’s strategy to achieve universal broadband internet access.

The Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) is overseeing the distribution of approximately $350 million to extend high speed internet to every unserved address in

the state. Ten communications union districts (CUDs) have been formed by groups of Vermont towns — including the Chittenden County CUD, of which Williston is a founding member — to receive the funds and partner with private telecommunications companies to extend fiber to residential and business addresses, and to provide service.

Hoffer’s report identifies ten risks for the Vermont Community Broadband Board to mitigate while helping the CUD’s build high-speed infrastructure.

The ten risks are:

• Some CUDs face a potential construction funding gap in 2024 that could halt construction mid-stride.

• CUDs may struggle to access construction materials.

• Construction may be slowed by a lack of qualified construction workers.

• The tension between the VCBB supporting the CUDs and ensuring they are viable risks allowing any weaknesses in CUD business plans to persist.

• Reliance upon CUDs with varying levels of expertise and capacity may establish inequitable policies and access.

• With the exception of an early VCBB fiber purchase, CUDs have not been partnering for procurement of goods and services, risking higher costs and inferior outcomes.

• Statutory confidentiality provisions shield some CUD decision-making from the VCBB, policymakers and residents of the member municipalities despite receiving tens of millions in public funds.

• Lack of affordability definitions and requirements threaten to reduce service connections, undermine CUD business plans, and

THECITY OFBURLINGTON

Job & Internship Fair

Wednesday, April 12th 12-4PM City Hall, 149 Church Street

Contois Auditorium (2nd oor)

INAUGURAL EVENT! This is your opportunity to meet with our City department representatives and apply for any of our open positions. Explore career opportunities for full-time and part-time, temporary, seasonal roles and internships.

We offer a competitive and comprehensive benet package, including health, dental, life insurance, retirement plan, FSA and much more!

We believe in promoting a culture that reveres diversity and equity. The City of Burlington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we are strongly committed to creating a dynamic and equitable work force.

No advanced registration required; register upon arrival.

www.burlingtonvt.gov/HR/jobfair

create regional inequities.

• The firm the VCBB employs to evaluate CUD business plans has also consulted for a CUD and does not appear to be prohibited from consulting for others, raising conflict of interest risks.

• A major federal funding program’s irrevocable letter of credit requirement is not designed for new and small telecommunications entities like CUDs.

“I know that many people, including hundreds of unpaid local volunteers, have been working extremely hard to fill in the broadband gaps left by the large corporate telecom companies,” said Hoffer. “They’ve had to create new organizations, develop business plans and hire contractors in short order. Our report is meant to support their work by flagging for them and state officials the things that could impede success. Far better to address these concerns before the next $250 million is spent than to regret unforced errors after the fact.”

Community Bankers – Chittenden County

BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

There is no better time to join our Team!

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

Relevant Skills:

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

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

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

What NSB Can Offer You

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

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

March 17 at 12:15 p.m. — Suspicious vehicle located at Dick’s Sporting Goods. A male, age 48, had an active arrest warrant. He was transported to court arraignment.

March 17 at 4:54 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Hannaford. A female, age 44, was issued a citation to appear in court.

March 17 at 11:06 p.m. — Assisted with a report of a citizen dispute in Richmond. A male, age 49, was charged with aggravated disorderly conduct and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. He was transported to the correctional facility and held on bail.

March 18 at 5:09 p.m. — Suspicious vehicle located at Korner Kwik Stop. A male, age 40, was issued a citation to appear in court

for suspicion of DUI, criminal threatening and resisting arrest.

March 19 at 1:35 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Wal-Mart. A male, age 32, was issued a citation to appear in court.

March 20 at 11:48 a.m. — Retail theft reported at Bed Bath and Beyond. Case is still under investigation.

March 20 at 4:59 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Case is still under investigation.

March 21 at 11:10 a.m. — Retail theft reported at Bed Bath and Beyond. Case is still under investigation.

March 21 at 1:00 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. Case is still under investigation.

March 21 at 7:55 p.m. — Retail

theft reported at Best Buy. Case is still under investigation.

March 22 at 1:17 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Staples. Male walked out with a printer; printer was located at Best Buy and returned to Staples. Case is still under investigation.

March 22 at 1:34 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. Case is still under investigation.

March 22 at 8:39 p.m. — Report of a male causing a disturbance at Ignite Church. Male was moved along.

March 23 at 12:07 p.m. — Report of a male running in traffic on Marshall Avenue. A male, age 34, had an active arrest warrant. He was transported to court.

March 23 at 1:11 p.m. — Welfare check conducted on a female at Sonesta. Female was intoxicated and transported to the hospital.

Bandanas for Benefts

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Community Bankers - Chittenden County BUILDERS I MAKERS I DOERS

There is no better time to join our team!

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

Job Responsibilities & Requirements

This frontline position is crucial in creating a positive, welcoming and inclusive experience for NSB customers. The successful candidate for NSB customers. The successful candidate will have exceptional customer service and communication skills.

The Community Banker will be responsible for receiving and processing customers’ financial transactions as well as opening and maintaining customer accounts and services. We are looking for someone who can develop and maintain relationships with our valued customers, protect bank and customer information, and uphold customer confidentiality. A high school diploma, general education degree (GED), or equivalent is required. If you have customer service, previous cash handling, or banking experience we encourage you to apply!

Opportunity for Growth

and part-time positions available. Must be 18 years of age. Apply online at kwiniaska.com/employment or send your resume to Charli at ckail@kwiniaska.com.

Do you want a customized bandana for your pet?

If so, Bandanas for Benefits has just what you’re looking for. It’s a micro business started by four students in the CVU Principles of Business class. Our goal is to create customizable dog bandanas and dog boxes for your pet(s). All of our profits will be donated to the Chittenden County Humane Society!

If you are interested in supporting our small business and the Humane Society, scan the QR code above to place your order!

If you have any questions please contact us at catherinesaladino@cvsdvt.org, or on Instagram: @bandanas_for_benefits.

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

What NSB Can Offer You

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

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

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

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

Equal Opportunity Employer / Member FDIC

A stunning 18-hole golf course nestled in Shelburne, Vermont!

CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL

TOWN OF WILLISTON

Selectboard NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

7:15 PM

Pursuant to 24 V.S.A., Chapter 59, and Section 4 of the Town of Williston Sewer Allocation Ordinance, the Williston Selectboard is considering the adoption of amendments to the Sewer Allocation Ordinance referred to as “Attachment A” - an existing ordinance pertaining to the allocation of public sewerage. Upon adoption, this attachment will designate the portion of the uncommitted reserve capacity that will be available for use during the next fiscal year which starts July 1, 2023.

The public hearing on this matter is scheduled for Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 7:15 P.M in the Beckett/McGuire Meeting Room in the Williston Town Hall located at 7900 Williston Road. A remote participation option using the online platform zoom is also available using the following link: https://us02web.zoom. us/j/81703519039

Below is the proposed Attachment A.

Attachment A are available for review on the Town’s web page at http://town. williston.vt.us.

Dated at the Town of Williston, Vermont this 23rd day of March 2023.

LEGAL

TOWN OF RICHMOND NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Areas of the Village that generally surround the Village Downtown District and the Village Commercial District, and that are served by the Richmond Water and Wastewater Department; and, in addition, the area known as the “Gateway,” along West Main St between the Crate Escape and the “Welcome to Richmond” sign.

PROPOSED ZONING AMENDMENT ARE

AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE RICHMOND TOWN CENTER OFFICES PURSUANT TO 24 VSA §4441 AND THE TOWN WEBSITE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE RICHMOND PLANNING/ZONING OFFICE AT 802434-2430 or jarneson@richmondvt.gov

Attachment A may become effective 60 days, after the public hearing by vote of the Selectboard. If you have any questions, please contact Planning Director Matt Boulanger at mboulanger@willistonvt. org.

Notice is hereby given that any ordinance or amendment thereto adopted by the Town of Williston may be disapproved by a vote of a majority of the qualified voters at an annual or special meeting as provided in 24 V.S.A. §1973.

Copies of the entire text of the proposed

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

PUZZLE FOUND ON PAGE 19

PURSUANT TO 24 V.S.A. §§4441 (d) AND §4444, THE TOWN OF RICHMOND SELECTBOARD WILL BE HOLDING A PUBLIC HEARING ON APRIL 18TH, 2023 AT 7:00 PM, AT THE RICHMOND FREE LIBRARY AT 201 BRIDGE ST, RICHMOND VT 05477 AND ONLINE VIA ZOOM TO RECEIVE COMMENT REGARDING THE PROPOSED ZONING

AMENDMENT:

PURPOSE: To amend the zoning regulations relating to the Residential/ Commercial and the Gateway Commercial Zoning Districts, and the associated amendments needed to enable the proposed district changes. The Planning Commission recommends that these two areas are suitable for “Mixed-Use Districts.”

GEOGRAPHIC AREA AFFECTED:

6.1.3, 7, and the Official Zoning Map and its Legend. Minor references related to the district name changes have been amended in the following additional sections: Table of Contents, 2.1, 5.7.3, 5.7.4, 5.12.2, and Index.

THIS MEETING IS ALSO ACCESSIBLE

ONLINE VIA ZOOM: Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web. zoom.us/j/84826219235?pwd=Si9JdDFsQ

mk1WDJZcU4rRVN4Z2t1UT09

Meeting ID: 848 2621 9235

Passcode: 908387

Call in (Calling rates apply): 1 (929) 2056099

THE FULL TEXT AND MAPS OF THE

Human Resources

Benefits & Payroll Administrator

There is no better time to join our team! Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest banking institution headquartered in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all.

Our Human Resources team is GROWING,and we are looking for a professional to joinour exceptional HR team in our Berlin Operations Center.

Job Responsibilities & Requirements

The Benefits & Payroll Administrator will be responsible for processing bi-weekly payroll, handing employee benefits information updates, maintaining employee files and reports, and will act as the primary contact for internal questions and requests related to benefits and payroll.

The successful candidate will have excellent verbal and written communication skills, be highly organized, and have a high attention to detail. This position will support the HR team in many capacities, while supporting the organization and maintaining confidentiality. A high school diploma, general education degree (GED) or equivalent is required.

Prior Human Resources, Office Management, or Accounting experience is welcomed.

Opportunity for Growth

Our team will encourage and help you develop within Human Resources, providing guidance on how to obtain appropriate HR certifications. The average years of service for an NSB employee is 9! If you’re looking to start or continue your HR career, join us!

What NSB Can Offer You

Competitive compensation based on experience. Well-rounded benefits package. Profit-Sharing opportunity. 401(k) matching retirement program. Professional development. Positive work environment supported by a team culture. Work/Life Balance!

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

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

POSTING DATE: MARCH 30, 2023

LEGAL

OFFICIAL WARNING

TOWN OF RICHMOND SPECIAL MEETING

APRIL 29, 2023

The legal voters of the Town of Richmond are hereby warned and notified to meet at Richmond Free Library Community Room, 201 Bridge Steet in said town on April 29, 2023 at 9:00 AM to transact the following business from the floor: Article 1. Shall the Town of Richmond hold its annual Town Meeting on the 1st Tuesday in the month of March?

Dated this 20th day of March 2023 by the Selectboard of the Town of Richmond. Richmond Selectboard

Consign

Palm Sunday & Easter week church services

Christ Memorial Church

1033 Essex Rd., Williston –www.cmcvermont.org

• Palm Sunday – April 2, 10 a.m.

• Good Friday – April 7, 6:15 p.m.

• Easter Sunday – April 9, 10 a.m.

Community Lutheran Church

1560 Williston Rd., South Burlington - https://communitylutheranvt. wpcomstaging.com

• Palm Sunday – April 2, 9:30 a.m.

• Maundy Thursday – April 6, 6 p.m.

• Good Friday – April 7, 6 p.m.

• Easter – April 9, 9:30 a.m.

Crosspoint Church

237 Commerce St., Williston - www.crosspointvt.org

• Sunday Service – April 2 and April 9, 10 a.m.

Essex Alliance Church

37 Old Stage Rd., Essex Junction - www.essexalliance.org

• Good Friday – April 7, 6 p.m. at 901 North Ave., Burlington

• Easter – Saturday, April 8, 4:30 p.m., Sunday, April 9, 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m.

Ignite Church

1037 S Brownell Rd., Willistonhttps://ignitechurchvt.com/

• Palm Sunday – April 2, 10 a.m.

• Good Friday – April 7, 6 p.m.

• Resurrection Sunday – April 9, 10 a.m.

Immaculate Heart of Mary

Roman Catholic Church

7415 Williston Rd., Williston - https:// immaculateheart.vermontcatholic.org

• Palm Sunday – April 2, 10:30 a.m.

• Easter Sunday – April 9, 10:30 a.m.

St. Timothy Anglican Church

30 Morgan Parkway, Willistonhttps://sttimothyburlington.org

• Palm Sunday – April 2, 9 a.m.

• Maundy Thursday – April 6, 7 p.m.

• Good Friday – April 7, 6 p.m. at 901 North Ave., Burlington

• Easter Vigil – April 8, 6 p.m.

• Easter Sunday – April 9, 9 a.m.

Trinity Baptist Church

300 Trinity Dr., Williston - www.tbcvt.org

• Palm Sunday – April 2, 10 a.m.

• Easter Sunday – April 9, 10 a.m.

Vibrant Church

2025 Williston Rd., South Burlington – www.vibrant.ch

• Palm Sunday – April 2, 9:30 a.m.

• Easter Sunday – April 9, 9:30 a.m.

Williston Federated Church

44 N Williston Rd., Williston - www.steeple.org

• Palm Sunday – April 2, 9:30 a.m.

• Maundy Thursday – April 6, 7 p.m. at Richmond Congregational Church, 20 Church St., Richmond

• Good Friday – April 7, 7 p.m.

• Easter “Sonrise” Service – April 9, 6:30 a.m. at 24 Beebe Lane by Lake Iroquois

• Easter Sunday – April 9, 9:30 a.m.

Hotel continued from page 1

and has cropped up again as of the week before last,” Boulanger said Tuesday. “We are working on continued enforcement at the site and coordinating with our own fire department as well as the state fire marshal.”

The fire inspection also called out “storage violations in electrical areas.”

Meanwhile, a drainage project related to the construction has caused intermittent flooding where U.S. Postal Service vehicles typically park, according to Post Office spokesperson Stephen Doherty. That has led to all of Williston residents’ mail being rerouted to the post office facility in Essex. Williston carriers have started their routes from there, Doherty said.

“This is expected to be a temporary problem while the project is underway that will be eliminated when it’s complete,” Doherty said.

Interference from the hotel project is layered on staffing shortages that have made the Williston Post Office a prime example of the dysfunction that has plagued the U.S. Postal Service statewide and nationally. In a February letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, Vermont Sens. Peter Welch and Bernie Sanders and Rep. Becca Balint pinpointed Williston and Hinesburg as two of the towns most affected by substandard postal service.

“We are at our wits’ end trying to get the Postal Service to do its job,” Welch said.

The Congressional delegation received a response to its letter from postal leadership on March 15, with Vice President of Government Relations and Public Policy Peter Pastre pointing to ongoing staffing shortages as the main culprit.

“We appreciate our customers’ patience as we work to fill vacancies and bring our staffing levels up to where they need to be,” Doherty said. “In the interim, we will continue to use all of the resources at our disposal to facilitate regular delivery of the mail.”

Doherty said the completion of the

Blair Park hotel project will help “get operations back to normal” in Williston. The post office plans to remain in its current location after the hotel is finished, he said.

Golding is skeptical of the summer 2023 anticipated hotel opening date. She said previous estimates were for summer 2022 and, before that, summer 2021.

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” she said.

While she welcomes the potential business that could come with the hotel, she’s concerned that the parking situation will become untenable. Already, the parking lot gets full, and the underground parking at the hotel only has room for 39 spots, while the hotel has about 100 rooms. Golding has an option to get out of her lease next February, when she hopes to have a better understanding of how the hotel’s operation impacts her business. She said she has no direct line of communication to the building owner. The property is managed by Venture Property Services out of Albany.

“The communication has been abysmal,” she said. “It almost feels like the owners of the building aren’t even aware of our lease terms.”

Zhang came before the Development Review Board last August requesting a change to some of the materials being used on the hotel façade, which the board approved. Earlier this year, Zhang withdrew the hotel’s master sign permit application — which showed LaQuinta branding because it didn’t conform to the town’s new form-based code for the Taft Corners area, according to town planner Emily Heymann.

No new sign plan has been submitted. Calls to Wyndham headquarters seeking confirmation of their plans to open the La Quinta this year were not returned.

SHOP•EAT•SPEND•ENJOY

Wi iston

Williston

LOCAL

Lisa Golding