Williston Observer 04/11/2024

Costs balloon for new recycling center

Project scaled back to rein in spending

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

The cost of Chittenden County’s new recycling center will be nearly $5 million more than what was estimated when voters approved a $22 million bond for the project in 2022.

Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) administrators are scaling back the scope of the project in an attempt to mitigate the cost overrun. CSWD Executive Director Sarah Reeves pointed to the increased cost of steel, concrete, asphalt and excavating compared to when the project was first budgeted in 2021 as the reason for the overrun.

“We just happened to catch it at the peak of pricing,” Reeves said in a January meeting of the CSWD Board of Directors, referring to

construction cost inflation, which she noted has since leveled off.

The new recycling center is built to handle 150 times the amount of material that the current facility on Avenue C in Williston processes, CSWD Director of Compliance and Hazardous Waste Josh Estey said in a February hearing with the Williston Development Review Board. The new center is sited on a 36-acre parcel on Redmond Road, near CSWD’s Williston drop-off center and composting headquarters. It is being

built for a decades-long horizon of residential and commercial growth with flexibility to handle evolving product packaging, using an automated process that replaces the human sorters the current recycling center relies on.

“This project is needed, not just for Chittenden County but for the state,” Reeves said.

CSWD leadership has reduced the building size, changed the construction of the roof, narrowed the width of the access road and paused a planned community room to chip

away at the cost overrun. They are also continuing to search for government grants and loans to close the gap. But Reeves said the organization, which is funded primarily by the eighteen municipalities it serves, can cover the cost overrun with its own reserve funds. She also said doing so may lead to an increase in trash collection fees, which have remained flat for the past 12 years, to replenish reserves.

“Anything that makes it more expensive to live in Chittenden County and run a business in Chit-

tenden County I know I’m personally not for,” said Williston’s representative on the CSWD board, Kelton Bogasky. “I don’t take that lightly, raising any fees that we charge.”

The Development Review Board gave the project preliminary approval in February. A final hearing with the DRB is scheduled for April 23. In the February hearing, engineer Greg Dixson of Colchester-based Krebs & Lansing Consulting Engineers said the 68,000-square-foot facility would attract about 80 truck trips a day on Redmond Road between the operating hours of 6 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Architect AES Northeast of Plattsburgh, N.Y., has designed the building. The CSWD has issued a request for proposals from companies to bid on constructing the project. Bids are due by April 26.

The district hopes to have a construction company chosen by the end of May.

Housing committee readies funds for distribution

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

Williston’s Housing Trust Fund will soon have actionable money.

The town’s Housing Committee is anticipating an influx of nearly $50,000 this year that will bring the fund’s balance to over $100,000. It’s enough to get committee members thinking about the most impactful ways to distribute the money to alleviate the local affordable housing crunch.

The Housing Trust Fund was

established in 2017, but it wasn’t until last year’s enactment of inclusionary zoning regulations that a funding source was established. The new regulations mandate that housing developers who don’t build a certain percentage of affordable homes in new housing developments instead pay into the fund. The developer of a 10-acre subdivision off Mountain View Road recently chose to pay into the fund instead of including affordable units in their planned 15home neighborhood. The $49,000 payment will add to the fund’s ex-

“Small amounts of money sometimes can really help people retain their housing until they get on their financial footing.”

Debbie Ingram

Williston Housing Committee

isting balance of $60,000, which was the selectboard’s original seed funding.

The committee is charged with using the money to facilitate the creation or retention of homes affordable for people with incomes below 50 percent of the area’s median income, or at between 5080 percent of the median income.

While $100,000 doesn’t go very far toward construction, it can be distributed in targeted grants that make an impact for individuals and families in certain situations, committee members believe.

One-time grants to make rent or cover utility costs, for example, could help people retain housing and prevent a family or individual from falling into homelessness, committee member Debbie Ingram said during the committee’s April 3 meeting.

“We would save so much money as a society if we would help some people stay in their housing, because it costs so much more once they are out on the street or couch-surfing or living in cars,” Ingram said. “Small amounts of

An engineering rendering of the 68,000-square-foot recycling center planned to be constructed on Redmond Road in Williston. COURTESY OF WILLISTON PLANNING AND ZONING OFFICE

PROPERTY TRANSFERS

MARCH 2024

• Jean-Guy Belliveau bought a home on Zephyr Road from Pierre Hamel for $584,900.

• Pierre Hamel bought a home on Middlewood Road from Roberto Liberty for $220,000.

• Timothy Ross bought a condominium on Williston Road from Duffy Jamieson for $598,000.

• Alice Bowman bought a mobile home on Williston Road from the estate of Georgianna Adam for $61,123.33.

• Alice Bowman bought a mobile home on Williston Woods Road from the estate of Frances A. Routhier for $61,123.33.

• Donna Cacace bought a mo -

bile home on Williston Woods Road from Alice Bowman for $277,000.

• Michelle Leduc bought a mobile home on Williston Woods Road from Thomas Greci for $159,000.

• Isabella Steinley bought a condominium on Holland Lane from Sandra Croisetiere for $454,500.

• Stanley Carroll bought a condominium on Bittersweet Circle from Nancy Allen for $520,000.

• Sebastian Milano DiPalermo bought a mobile home on Porterwood Drive from Chelsea Layton for $222,000.

• Jade Cutler bought a home on 4 acres on South Brownell Road from Jon Thibault, Jr. for $987,000.

• Kathy Hill bought a condominium on Timothy Way from Julia Snapp for $325,000.

• Robert McGuinness bought a home on North Brownell Road from Ann L. McMann for $333,980.

• Lou 620 LLC bought 1 acre of commercial property on Lawrence Place from 620 Lawrence Place LLC for $1.02 million.

• Bryan Stickney bought a home on 1 acre on Williston Road from Tyler Armstrong for $576,000.

Around Town

Undefeated CVU Scholars’ Bowl team wins state title

A team from Champlain Valley Union High School secured the state high school academic championship on Saturday, April 6, winning the Vermont-NEA Scholars’ Bowl at Montpelier High School.

CVU capped a run of four blowout wins in the playoffs with a 505-245 victory over defending champion Burlington. The Redhawks also swept through the first set of playoffs in January, securing their third state championship overall and second in the last three years.

The result capped a dominant, undefeated season for the Redhawks. Competing members of

Natural Resources District now taking tree orders

The Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District’s annual tree sale fundraiser is taking orders through April 26 on its website — www.winooskinrcd. org/treesale. Orders can be picked up in Williston at 170 Boyer Circle.

The tree sale offers native tree and shrub species sourced from wholesale nurseries throughout New England and New York. This year’s selection includes fruit and nut trees, conifers and deciduous trees that are drought and/or flood resilient and pollinator-friendly to enhance any garden or landscape. Proceeds from the sale are used to support the district’s work developing and implementing projects that protect natural resources in the Winooski River watershed.

Food shelf, Junior League partner on fundraising event series

The Williston Community Food Shelf is joining with the Junior League of Champlain Valley for a

the CVU team were Elias Leventhal, Colin Ravlin, Jacob Graham, Frank Fidler, Nolan Sandage and Zoe Mui. The team is coached by John Bennett and Kiran MacCormick.

CVU’s junior varsity team won the B tournament, outlasting Burlington in the championship match.

Scholars’ Bowl is a quiz competition among teams of high school students with a focus on the state academic curriculum. The tournament has been held annually since 1983 and is sponsored by the state teachers union (the Vermont-National Education Association).

three-event “Little Black Flannel Initiative” fundraiser next week. The event series is focused on poverty awareness and supporting the two organizations’ efforts to alleviate poverty and food insecurity in the region.

Williston Community Food Shelf president Ginger Morton was one of the founding members of the Junior League of Champlain Valley — an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for community impact through volunteerism, collaboration and training.

The first of the three events is Tuesday, April 16, a mixer from 5-7 p.m. at The 126 Bar in Burlington; the second is an open house at the Williston Community Food Shelf on Cornerstone Drive, from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 17; the third is a Flannel Walk at Mt. Philo State Park in Charlotte set to start at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 20. There will be an online auction going on throughout the week.

Contact Olivia Taylor at (203) 247-9233 or by email at oitaylor19@gmail.com — or visit www. champlainvalley.jl.org — for more information.

The CVU state championship Scholars’ Bowl team, from left, Zoe Mui, Nolan Sundage, Frank Fidler, Jacob Graham, Colin Ravlin, Elias Leventhal and head coach John Bennett. OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO

Williston student art show opens at library

The Annual Williston Schools Art Show is on display at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library throughout the month of April. Check out the selection of 90 varied art pieces from students in grades K-8 who attend Williston schools.

From intricate two-dimensional drawings and paintings to three-dimensional food sculptures inspired by the artists’ culture or lifestyle, the show has something for everyone’s artistic taste.

Williston grade school student artwork is on display throughout April at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTOS

Bus fares to resume May 20

Bus fare collection will resume on Chittenden County buses on May 20, Green Mountain Transit announced Monday.

Fare collection was paused at the onset of the pandemic in 2020. Bus rides, which previously cost $1.50 per trip, have been free since then.

Fares will return with a 50-cent increase and new digital pay options, although cash will continue to be accepted. Monthly caps will make using the bus affordable for frequent riders.

The new fare system is called “Ride Ready by GMT.”

“When a decision was made to return to fares, we knew we had to give our riders an improved experience,” said Green Mountain Transit General Manager Clayton Clark. “Modernizing our fare operations increases convenience, improves timeliness and offers price protections for nearly all our riders.”

The Ride Ready system includes the Ride Ready mobile app, available on app stores this week. The app provides mobile ticketing and trip planning on smartphones. GMT will also offer reloadable fare cards that can be scanned on the bus.

More information on the new system is available at https://ridegmt.com/fare-resumption.

Call before you dig

Do you have spring planting or digging projects?

If you plan to do any type of digging on your property, you or your contractor must contact Dig Safe™ at 811at least 48 hours prior to digging.

Dig Safe will notify member utilities, who will locate of buried facilities they own and ensure they are clearly marked. If you plan to work within 18 inches of themarked lines, please make sure it is dug by hand.

How to Detect a Gas Leak

Smell: Natural gas is normally odorless. VGS adds an odorant similar to the smell of rotten eggs, so it can be easily recognized.

Sight: You may see a white cloud, mist, fog, bubbles in standing water, or blowing dust. You may also see vegetation that appears to be dead or dying.

Sound: It may result in an unusual noise that replicates the sound of roaring, hissing, or whistling.

Move immediately to a safe location. Call VGS at 800-6398081 or call 911 with the exact location. Do not smoke or operate electrical switches or appliances. These items may produce a spark that might result in a dangerous condition. Do not assume someone else will report the condition.

Be safe

Scan the QR Code or visit vgsvt.com/be-safe for more safety information.

The Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) is placing collection bins for solar eclipse glasses at its drop-off centers to prevent them from being thrown away and instead give them a chance to be reused.

In partnership with Astronomers Without Borders, the glasses collected will be distributed for reuse at future eclipses all over the world. In the past, Astronomers Without Borders has sent glasses to people in Africa, Asia, North America and South America who may not otherwise have a safe way to view solar eclipses.

Glasses may be dropped off at Williston Town Hall and Dorothy Alling Memorial Libraty until noon on April 15.

There are also collection bins at CSWD drop-off centers in Williston, Burlington, South Burlington, Essex, Hinesburg and Milton.

Housing

continued from page 1

money sometimes can really help people retain their housing until they get on their financial footing.”

Other avenues under consideration are to facilitate the creation of “accessory dwelling units” alongside existing homes by paying homeowners’ design, engineering and permitting costs, and to encourage homeowners to sell homes at below market rates to housing nonprofits like the Champlain Housing Trust or Habitat for Humanity. Those ideas align with findings in a Housing Needs Assessment completed last winter that identified a set of Williston residents — families with grown children who have left the house

life

“We are always looking for new and creative ways to help our community to properly manage and reduce waste,” CSWD Executive Director Sarah Reeves said. “By working together with Astronomers Without Borders, we can ensure that these glasses are available for reuse at another point in time, and that is truly exciting for us to be a part of.”

Several schools, nonprofits, libraries and other organizations distributed free eclipse-viewing glasses throughout Chittenden County leading up to Tuesday’s eclipse.

“(We) have worked hard to get glasses distributed to as many people as possible,” said Jeff Lawson of Hello Burlington. “It’s great to know that they won’t be spending a lifetime in a landfill, but will be reused and repurposed in the future.”

who are living in homes that are bigger than they need.

Perhaps the most promising idea is to work with housing developers to increase the affordability of homes they build — to cover the cost to a developer of selling homes at below-market rate, for example.

“That might be one of the places we can get the most leverage,” housing committee chair Charlie Magill said.

The committee tasked town planning staff with determining how far the $100,000 in the fund would go in each of the proposed uses for discussion at future meetings. Final decisions on spending the funds rest with the selectboard, taking committee recommendations under consideration.

Former state trooper pleads guilty to evidence theft

BY ALAN J. KEAYS VTDigger

A former Vermont State Police trooper received a probationary sentence and was ordered to take part in a restorative justice program Friday after pleading guilty to five criminal charges related to his stealing from an evidence room while still on the force.

Giancarlo DiGenova, 45, entered guilty pleas in Chittenden County Superior criminal court in Burlington to a felony grand larceny charge and misdemeanor counts of petty larceny, providing false information to police, neglect of duty and making a false statement.

More than a dozen other charges stemming from the investigation into thefts from the evidence room at the Williston state police barracks were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

DiGenova, speaking in court before Judge Navah C. Spero sentenced him, said that he was “fully aware of the gravity of my actions” in breaking not only the law but also the trust and respect people put in the Vermont State Police.

“I apologize to the court and the state police,” he said, adding, “Words cannot describe the regret and remorse I have in my heart.”

DiGenova was sentenced under the plea deal to six months to three years probation on the charges of providing false information to police, neglect of duty

and making a false statement.

On the petty larceny and grand larceny charges, DiGenova’s sentence was deferred for three years and he was placed on probation.

If DiGenova abides by the terms of his probation, which include completing 100 hours of community service and completing a community restorative justice program, the two larceny charges would be cleared from his record.

According to charging documents, the estimated total value of the items DiGenova allegedly stole was about $40,000. The stolen items consisted of a $14,000 gold Rolex men’s watch, stud earrings, Apple Airpod earbuds and case, keys and a wallet, according

to court filings.

Police affidavits stated that DiGenova accessed the storage room “numerous times” after the items were stored. He was suspended from the force in late 2022, after troopers discovered that evidence had gone missing.

DiGenova became a trooper in 2009, with assignments including the Williston, Middlesex and Bradford barracks, and the Narcotics Investigation Unit. He resigned on Feb. 7, 2023.

Charges are still pending against him in Washington County dealing with allegations of the theft of items from the Berlin state police barracks while he was a trooper.

Giancarlo DiGenova

Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

Updating Act 250 to meet changing times

BY REP. LARRY SATCOWITZ

Act 250, Vermont’s visionary land development statute, is over 50 years old. It is often credited as one of the primary reasons that our landscape looks the way it does.

The law has been changed here and there over the years but is long overdue for a more substantial update to meet changing times.

H.687, “An Act Relating to Community Resilience and Biodiversity Protection Through Land Use,” was recently passed by the House and would make several needed changes.

H.687 is a big bill, but the overriding consequence is that it will tighten the oversight of development in places where most of us agree we would rather not see more building, such as in the middle of blocks of intact forest, and loosen over-

sight in places where we mostly agree that more development is desirable, such as existing downtowns and the built environments that surround them. This revision is urgent now because development pressures have increased remarkably in recent years.

The bill will create three categories (tiers) of land. Tier 1 will consist of developed areas. These are places that include downtowns, village centers, and our more densely populated residential neighborhoods. These are the areas where it will become easier to build.

Tier 3 will consist of areas that “may include river corridors, headwaters streams, habitat connectors of statewide significance” and other areas that contain critical natural resources that will be identified through a public process. These areas will include plac -

es, such as those comprised of very steep slopes, for which there is broad agreement that development should be subject to increased review. H.687 will make it harder to build in these places.

We often hear criticism about Act 250 from developers but seldom hear about what the law has accomplished for us.

Tier 2 is the rest of the state, consisting of our farms, forests and residential rural areas. The main change to the status quo in this tier will concern the building of long roads and would apply when “the length of any single road is greater than 800 feet, and the length all roads and any associated driveways in combination is greater

than 2,000 feet.” Crucially, this provision would not mean that such roads could not be built, but that they would be subject to review under Act 250, and it would not apply at all to farm or logging roads.

The forests of Vermont are a great treasure. They provide habitat for a multitude of species, timber for many uses and beautiful spaces for us to hike, hunt and appreciate the natural world. They are also disappearing. The U.S. Forest Service reports that Vermont’s forests are being converted to non-forest use at the rate of over 12,000 acres a year. And this number doesn’t address the ongoing fragmentation of our forests due to the building of new roads, among other factors. While H.687 won’t come anywhere close to stopping the destruction of our forests, it will certainly help slow down the process.

The overwhelming majority of projects that submit Act 250 applications are approved quickly, and Act 250 only covers a small percentage of devel -

opment statewide. That will not change. Widespread development will still take place.

We often hear criticism about Act 250 from developers but seldom hear about what the law has accomplished for us. We don’t notice the bad development that never happened. It’s intangible, but nevertheless, Vermonters have benefited greatly from this law.

We love the fields, farms and forests that surround our cities, towns and villages. But this cherished landscape is going away. We are blotting it out bit by bit, and once those bits are gone, we can’t get them back.

If we allow current trends to continue, Vermont will be a very different place for our children and grandchildren. H.687 is an important and meaningful step in the right direction.

Larry Satcowitz represents Randolph in the Vermont House of Representatives. He serves on the House Environment and Energy Committee.

Belief in the work of the CVSD

BY MEGHAN METZLER Champlain Valley School Board

I am the new chair of the Champlain Valley School Board. I have two children in Champlain Valley School District schools — a sophomore at CVU and a sixth-grader at Charlotte Central School, and I am in the unenviable position of being a new board chair without a passed budget.

There are many reasons why our budget did not pass on Town Meeting Day, including changes in legislation and a statewide education funding system that needs significant attention.

Given these challenges, why would I choose now to rerun for election to the school board and become the chair?

The answer to that is easy: As a school board member and parent I have the honor and privilege of seeing the tireless dedication of our administrators, teachers and support staff and the work they do every single day to provide opportunities for growth and be -

longing to all of our students. I get to see how our schools meet our students where they are and the amazing things our students do when they are provided with the opportunities that a CVSD education provides them.

Put simply: I believe in CVSD schools and in the immense power of public education because I see it working every day.

When the community did not support the budget, I understood why, but I was devastated because I knew that the school district would have to make significant reductions in our proposed budget to lower the property tax rate. The board tasked the administration with identifying reductions that maintained our mission and vision and maintained the Vermont Agency of Education’s education quality standards.

I know that there are many people who are disappointed in the reductions that were identified. The administrators made very difficult decisions in a very short timeframe that

were guided by the request of the board. I understand the deep disappointment behind every single one of these reductions. I feel them as a board chair, CVSD parent and community member.

We could argue over whether or not they were the right reductions (and I assure you, we have done that), and we could argue whether or not we need additional change in our state funding system (we do), or if we cut enough (we did), but this latest proposed budget maintains as much of our programming that we can and continues to provide the opportunities for our students that will help them to achieve their fullest potential.

I am grateful that I live in a community that supports public education and our schools. I hope that you join me in voting yes on our school budget on or before April 16.

Meghan Metzler of Charlotte was voted in as chair of the Champlain Valley School Board in March.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Seeking taxpayer relief

I have lived in my home in Williston for 54 years and have seen a lot.

I didn’t realize the town has a $3.6 million surplus of money from previous years’ budgets. Why is that? Have we been taxed more than needed? Apparently so. So why are taxpayers being asked to fund a $940,641 (6.7 percent) increase in spending this year rather than use the surplus to cover the increase?

The surplus is taxpayer money not a windfall for the town. The question on the ballot should be “Do the taxpayers want to use the surplus to pay the spending increase.”

I am 77 years old and on

LETTER POLICY

a small, fixed income. These increases every year eat into my remaining quality of life. It’s time for some relief for all taxpayers. If the town chooses to try to increase taxes rather than use money that’s already been paid in, then I will have no choice but to vote “No,” and I hope my fellow taxpayers will feel the same way.

The school budget and spending from the constant increases for teachers and staff salaries and health insurance benefits is also over the top — a 14 percent increase after shaving. Better use a sharper razor. Enough is enough.

Larry Reed Williston

The Williston Observer welcomes your letters to the editor. A few ground rules: 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 or Williston Observer, P.O Box 1401, Williston, Vt. 05495.

Revised FY 25 Town Budget Draft Public Hearing –

The Williston Selectboard will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, April 16th at 7:30 PM in the Beckett/McGuire Meeting Room of Town Hall to receive comment on a draft revised fiscal year 2025 budget for a revote in May.

(DATE TBD)

DRAFT ONLINE:

The budget draft for discussion at the hearing will be posted on the Town website by Friday, April 12th following a Selectboard work session on April 10th.

Tuesday April 16

The Selectboard is targeting an over $300,000 (2 percent) expense reduction from the budget that was not supported on Town Meeting Day and cutting the estimated property tax increase in half to 2 cents per $100 of assessed value. For a median assessed home ($300,000) this would be a $60 increase for the tax year, or $5 per month.

ZOOM:

A remote option to participate using zoom is available at the following link: https://us02web.zoom. us/j/82821346899

Tax troubles? Vermont’s taxpayer advocate wants to help

BY WILL THORN Community News Service

Jeff Dooley of Waitsfield is an avid Buffalo Bills fan, enjoys video games and goes out with friends for pub trivia as often as he can — something he says he’s pretty good at. But beneath the guise of normalcy, Jeff is a Clark Kent–like figure. He can’t fly or shoot lasers out his eyes, but he can do what many dread and few understand: taxes.

Dooley, raised around Rochester, N.Y., is Vermont’s state taxpayer advocate, a relatively obscure gig within the state Department of Taxes but one with an outsize impact. Dooley’s role is “to be the voice of the taxpayer within the Department of Taxes,” fielding their calls for help, posing questions to lawmakers on their behalf and, he hopes, easing the headache of an

often-arcane process.

“We’re not there to browbeat people or scold people,” he said. “We’re really there to get people back on the right track.”

And that’s a whole lot easier when you know who he is and what he does.

He arrived in Vermont around 2010 after a few years with corporate law practices in western New York full of long, stressful hours. He started off as an auditor with the Department of Taxes, moved to a policy analyst and in 2016 came to his current post helping Vermonters with their taxes.

He comes from a family that has long dealt with forms and filings — his father and grandfather owned businesses, and he likes the idea that he could help people like them now.

He sits through director and leadership meetings and eyes

proposals from the perspective of the taxpayer. He asks questions like, “Is this going to create problems for taxpayers interacting with us?” and “Is there a way that we can do things in the department that makes it easier for taxpayers to meet their re -

quirements and applications?”

Dooley presents a report to legislators every January in which he proposes statutory changes he thinks would help taxpayers based on common problems he observed throughout the year.

On a smaller scale, if an interaction between the department and a taxpayer gets out of hand, Dooley is called upon to step in and help right the ship. He also reviews extraordinary relief claims — when taxpayers believe a rule applies unfairly to them and file an appeal. He then summarizes their situations in a report that goes to the department commissioner for a final decision. Dooley handled 50 claims last year — a typical number, he said.

Dooley and two others in the department work on the Offer-in-Compromise Program, which gives people who are hopelessly behind on payments an opportunity to pay the department what they can based on a detailed form. The form asks for monthly expenses, income, assets and bank accounts to

Jeff Dooley, Vermont’s taxpayer advocate, works at his office in Montpelier.

PHOTO BY SOPHIE ACKER

Taxes

continued from page 8

back up claims, although Dooley said other circumstances can be taken into account. If the offer is found reasonable, it gets approved in a scenario Dooley described as a “win-win.”

Running the program, along with handling extraordinary relief claims and day-to-day taxpayer questions, means Dooley assists between 100 and 120 taxpayers per year, he wrote in an email.

“The Tax Department’s Taxpayer Advocate office ensures taxpayer voices and perspectives about tax processes or laws are at the front of mind for the Tax Department and Legislature,” Craig Bolio, commissioner of the Department of Taxes, wrote via email.

“Without the work of the Taxpayer Advocate office, there could be many more Vermonters in challenging state tax situations without a clear path forward.”

Matt Harris, a program manager of the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, agreed. The office runs sites for a national tax program known as Volunteer Income Tax Assistance.

The free, nationwide program is designed to aid low- to moderate-income taxpayers in

filing their state and federal income tax returns and handling other financial matters. It is used by more than 4,000 Vermonters a year across 17 statewide locations, Harris said. The program typically helps people earning less than $64,000 a year, people with disabilities, older folks and taxpayers who have limited English skills, the state says, with a priority on people 60 years and older.

The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity operates three of the state’s 17 sites: one in Chittenden County (where about a quarter of tax

into the community — especially in the low-income or housing-insecure communities — that can be used to not only advance that single taxpayer but advance the community as a whole and the state of Vermont, so that there are less people struggling with poverty,” he said.

Dooley said that, because of his title, people think of him as the “nice guy in the Department of Taxes.” He recalled a phone call a few months ago: “Oh, my God, you’re being so kind,” the woman on the other end of the line told him. “I expected you to

“A lot of people get tripped up. Taxes are complicated.”

Jeff Dooley Vermont taxpayer advocate

returns filed via the program come from), another in Addison and one covering both Franklin and Grand Isle counties.

In Vermont, if your income is below a certain threshold, you aren’t required to file taxes. But people who opt against filing could be missing out on thousands of dollars in state or federal refunds and credits — money Harris and his team want to help get back to taxpayers who may need it most.

“That’s money going back

yell at me.”

Thinking back to the conversation he laughed. “No, I don’t yell at people,” he said before outlining: “You filed the wrong form or you missed the deadline. It happens. Let’s work on moving forward and getting you back to where you’re supposed to be.”

Oftentimes, Dooley said he acts as a surrogate therapist for taxpayers, listening to them whether they’re talking taxes or work woes.

“In my experience, if people feel they’re being listened to — rather than me just cutting them off and being like, ‘Well, let’s focus on this, let’s work on this’ — then they come away feeling like they’re dealing with a human being who’s actually trying to help them,” he said.

Still, he thinks many people are wary of calling the department. He mentioned undocumented workers and those who think that if they call they’re going to get flagged and put on a “list” as two groups the department is missing most often. (Dooley denied the existence of such a list.)

Dooley wishes that more people knew his position existed at all. Last year, he successfully lobbied for giving a taxpayer flexibility if they mistakenly filed a homestead declaration but not a property tax credit form — both of which are needed for property tax credit claims. They now have until March 15 to amend their form (with a $150 penalty, though).

Dooley said he works with 10 to 15 people per year who fall into that predicament. Over 100 people have benefited from the new flexibility so far this year, he estimates.

That’s a bittersweet victory because, he said, it means he could’ve helped a lot more taxpayers than he had been — if

they had known about his office. He called it “frustrating.”

Some go unhelped because of high call volumes. While the federal taxpayer advocate office in Burlington has five to six employees, Dooley is the only fulltime advocate for state taxes. The tax commissioner’s assistant helps Dooley by screening emails and voicemails for the most relevant issues, but even still it can be overwhelming to handle calls and other responsibilities during the busy season, he said. That season runs from early February to April 15.

During those more strained times, the department hires temps to take some of the pressure off Dooley’s shoulders by fielding messages. While they do a good job, he said, temps sometimes don’t send a taxpayer his way because they don’t realize they should or can.

Turns out navigating taxes is tough for helpers too. Dooley says he gets taxpayers’ gripes.

“I just try to listen,” he said. “I try to reassure them that this is not specific to them — that a lot of people get tripped up. Taxes are complicated.”

The Community News Service is a program in which University of Vermont students work with professional editors to provide material for local news outlets at no cost.

Wary of future floods, senators reimagine farm insurance

BY KATE KAMPNER Community News Service

Bruce Hennessey and Beth Whiting were used to fending off flooding at Maple Wind Farm in Richmond. The couple have been in business for 25 years, and for the past 10 they’ve dealt with floods that have put hayfields underwater and torn up their barn.

But all their preparation and experience didn’t seem to save them from the damage they endured last July, when historic floodwaters wracked Vermont. Maple Wind, which raises cattle, poultry and pigs, lost 400 turkeys and 700 broiler chickens in the flood, along with a tractor the couple tried using to save their animals.

“When we added it all up, it was about $100,000 in loss,” Hennessey said. That was the value of the livestock and tractor alone, he said — not even counting the expected revenue of the animals had the flooding not killed them.

In early December, Vermont’s two senators joined their counterparts from Massachusetts to introduce a federal bill that could help farmers like Hennessey and Whiting facing future floods and other disasters.

The Withstanding Extreme Agricultural Threats by Harvesting Economic Resilience (or WEATHER) Act calls for the development of an index-based insurance policy that would cover agricultural income losses from extreme weather events — faster and with fewer administrative fees than existing crop insurance, the bill’s sponsors say.

Hennessey has hesitations after dealing with other U.S. Department of Agriculture insurance. When he and his wife filed claims to the USDA’s livestock indemnification program after last July’s floods, he said, it took until November to finish extra paperwork, only to find out officials wanted “more or different” info.

“Any additional help will certainly be welcomed by us,” Hennessey said of the WEATHER Act. “Until that’s law and we know exactly what it means, I think our community won’t pay too much attention to it.”

That tracks with Ryan Patch, a policy manager at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets: “I don’t think this is really on farmers’ radar.”

But Patch and other officials think the bill could shore up the bulwark for farmers in the state facing fallout from extreme weather.

In a survey by the state agriculture agency after last summer’s flooding, 70 percent of farmers who responded said they didn’t have crop or livestock insurance. Another 10 percent said the insurance didn’t apply to their industry, meaning only around one in five farmers here had coverage for those losses, estimated by the state as over $16 million.

“I think (the WEATHER Act) would really help Vermont producers, as well as other smallholders or small-size farms throughout the United States, to be able to participate in a crop insurance program which is responsive to the rate and pace of climate disasters we’re seeing,” Patch said. “Current federal

programs aren’t really set up to work at that pace.”

The bill would direct the USDA to research creating an index-based insurance program. That kind of insurance pays out based on local measurements, such as rainfall, rather than on specific damages or losses.

“Unlike traditional crop insurance, the insurance company does not need to visit a farmer’s field to determine premiums or assess damages; if the rainfall amount is below a pre-specified threshold, then the insurance pays out,” according to Columbia University’s International Research Institute for Climate and Society.

A threshold would be set at the county level for a variety of weather events: high winds, flooding, freezes and more. If local weather indices for covered events go above those levels, and the events cause income losses, the envisioned

“Unfortunately, the current federal crop insurance options are simply not workable for many of the small and diversified farms we have in Vermont,” Sanders said. “In the face of more intense and unpredictable weather due to climate change, the federal government must step up to support farmers, food producers and small businesses.”

The month after the bill’s introduction, Welch visited Roots Farm Market in Middlesex to discuss the legislation and get an opinion from small Vermont farmers. What Welch found was lots of support and appreciation from the farmers, according to a spokesperson for the congressman.

system would automatically pay policyholders within 30 days.

“It deals with the responsiveness issues as far as how quickly crop insurance can make these payments,” said Patch, adding, “Anything that can provide additional coverage and support when economic times are so difficult in agriculture across the sectors right now, I think it would be welcome.”

When the bill was first introduced, lead sponsor Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., said in a statement that the legislation “works to reinvent crop insurance as a worthy investment for Vermont farmers by calling for the implementation of an index-based insurance policy that more adequately compensates farmers for extreme weather-related income losses.”

In the same statement, co-sponsor Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., cited last year’s frost during early growing season, July flooding and continuous rain across the summer and fall in describing the impetus for the

State Sen. Brian Collamore, R-Rutland, vice chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, applauded Welch and Sanders for their efforts on the bill.

“We’ve had a lot of serious impacts especially on our really small farmers and the state because of the July flooding,” Collamore said in a recent interview. “I think this would be a great idea.”

Jackie Folsom, retired dairy operator and president of the Vermont Farm Bureau, showed support for the bill and its potential benefit to small farmers in particular.

“Its purpose is to help the small farms that do retail, rather than wholesale products, get some assistance,” she said. “And with all these calamities that we’re having here, I think it’s a good idea.”

The Community News Service is a program in which University of Vermont students work with professional editors to provide material for local

Recovery efforts at Maple Wind Farm in Richmond in July 2023.

COURTESY PHOTO BY BETH WHITING

Spring bats are out

SPORTS

Disc-ology

The CVU girls Ultimate Frisbee team practices in the gym while waiting for the fields to become playable There were catching drills, left, and exercises to learn defensive and offensive maneuvers, below, as well as time to discuss strategies for the upcoming season - once the fields dry out!

OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY

The CVU softball team works on swing technique by hitting off the tee while waiting for the fields to become playable.

OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY

Spectators attempt to capture photos of the event with everything from using their camera phone and a pair of eclipse glasses, left, to specialized camera equipment like Richard Raska, right, of Paramus, New Jersey on Monday.

PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

Crowds gather in Middlebury hours before the solar eclipse on Monday.

PHOTO BY CALEB KENNA FOR VTDIGGER

Spectators in Burlington sought out viewing spaces open to the sky.

PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

Fade to black

Two of the stages of the eclipse were captured by Al Frey in Williston: totality, above, when the moon’s orbit causes it to exactly mask the surface of the sun and as the last traces of the sun is covered, a solitary bead of sunlight remains shining briefly, creating a spectacular “diamond-ring” effect, right.

Goddard College to close after 86 years

BY PETER D’AURIA VTDigger

Goddard College will close its doors later this year, the board of trustees of the Plainfield progressive higher education institution announced Tuesday.

The board voted unanimously to shutter the school, it said in a press release, citing “a significant and persistent decline in enrollment” that caused it to face “financial insolvency.” Goddard currently serves 220 students, the board said, down from 1,900 in the early 1970s.

Trustees made the decision late last week, after finalizing enrollment numbers for the college’s spring semester, Dan Hocoy, president of Goddard College, said in an interview.

“The board really had no choice,” he said. “It was the only responsible decision. We could not continue with just 200-some students.”

In Tuesday’s announcement,

the board said the school would establish a scholarship fund to help current students transfer to Prescott College in Prescott, Ariz., as well as other potential partner institutions. Students will be able to continue their studies at Prescott at their current tuition rate, according to the announcement.

The school’s closure will result in the elimination of roughly 90 jobs, according to Hocoy.

“The closure of Goddard College is a significant loss for students in search of an alternative, progressive higher education,” Mark Jones, the board’s chair, said in Tuesday’s press release. “The decision to close Goddard College was not made easily or quickly. With declining enrollment and financial insolvency looming, the Board was left with no other option. Our hearts are broken.”

Founded in 1938, Goddard carved out a reputation as a bastion of experimental, radical learning, where students could

pursue self-directed, interdisciplinary paths of study.

The college boasts a number of high-profile names among its alumni: playwright David Mamet, actor William H. Macy, novelist Walter Mosley, educator Jane O’Meara Sanders and several members of the rock band Phish.

“We could not continue with just 200-some students.”

Dan Hocoy Goddard College president

But the college struggled for decades to find a sustainable path forward amid a long slide in enrollment — a challenge with which small colleges and universities across the country are grappling.

In Vermont, four small colleges — Poultney’s Green Mountain College, Benning-

ton’s Southern Vermont College, The College of St. Joseph in Rutland, and Marlboro College in Marlboro — have shut their doors in the past five years. Another, Montpelier’s Vermont College of Fine Arts, has managed to survive, in a way, by ending on-campus programming, entering into partnerships with other colleges around the country and shedding real estate.

Over the past several years, Goddard made multiple attempts to find its financial footing. College leaders tried to broaden outreach and appeal to prospective students, Hocoy said. Administrators rented out space on its campus to Cabot Creamery, the radio station WGDR, the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, and the private Maplehill School, as well as for private events. The college converted the dining hall into a for-profit restaurant, the Goddard Cafe, and announced in January that it would

move to online-only education.

But, Hocoy said, those steps were simply not enough.

“The board and I have exhausted every option possible,” he said.

Hocoy said he informed the Plainfield Selectboard of the closure earlier Tuesday. Selectboard members could not immediately be reached for comment.

In a written statement, Gov. Phil Scott said the news was “concerning,” for the school community and the broader Plainfield community. “The Department of Labor will be reaching out to offer resources to impacted employees, and the state will engage with Goddard and potential partners to help figure out how to make the best use of the facilities and grounds in the future,” Scott said.

In its press release, the board said it was committed to helping faculty and staff find new jobs at Prescott, Cabot Creamery and elsewhere.

Goddard

continued from page 14

Patrick Burke, president of UAW 2322, which represents faculty and staff at Goddard and other schools and universities around the Northeast, said that college employees first learned about the closure when it was announced publicly.

“We’re all shocked,” he said. “People are very upset, very angry. There’s just been a complete lack of transparency and, really, a complete violation of what Goddard stands for by the current president and the board leadership.”

Tuesday’s press release said that Goddard will close after the spring semester. But Hocoy said that the college will still offer a final summer semester, which will end in mid-August.

The trustees are currently looking to sell the 117-acre campus, Hocoy said.

“They’re entertaining all proposals, ideas and conversations currently about property,” he said. “I think the general view is to find a solution that benefits our community.”

On social media and in interviews, Goddard alumni expressed shock and dismay at news of the closure.

“It’s terrible,” John Ollom, who received an MFA in interdisciplinary arts at Goddard in 2014, said in an interview. “I’ve

been talking to people all day. They’re crying, so upset.”

Ollom, a New York-based artist and dancer, said that God -

dard’s self-directed, interdisciplinary learning format fostered a haven for creative thinkers and artists.

“It’s not just, you’re going to study English, you’re going to study dance, you’re going to study the technique of something,” Ollom said. “They let you cross different disciplines and kind of apply those and make those your own.”

To lose that, he said, was “devastating.”

Elle Oille-Stanforth, who received a bachelor’s at Goddard in 2020 and a master’s in 2022, said the college was a place where students felt accepted and where mistakes were forgiven.

Oille-Stanforth said she realized that the end was near when Goddard announced in January that it was moving all-online. After that announcement, Oille-Stanforth said, she cried alongside other Goddard community members.

“I cried and said, ‘I am so angry,’” she said. “I am so angry because we didn’t have to be this way. We could have done this differently. This didn’t have to end the way it’s ending.”

Goddard College in Plainfield on June 22, 2023.

PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

Founded by Betty Debnam Issue 15, 2024

Meet the Orchestra

An orchestra is a group of musicians who play together. There are about 100 musicians in a symphony orchestra. A symphony orchestra usually plays classical music.

The instruments in an orchestra can be divided into four families: strings, brass, woodwinds and percussion.

This week, The Mini Page finds out more about these instruments.

Strings

These instruments are made of wood, with four strings of sheep gut, nylon or wire. They are tuned by turning pegs at the top and stroked by bows made of wood and strung with horsehair. Strings include:

Violin: Smallest of the strings … higher pitch than other strings … has a warm, singing sound … held under the chin.

Viola: Slightly larger than violin … has thicker strings and a lower, deeper pitch … held under the chin.

Cello: Has rich, mellow tones that are thought to be closest to the sound of the human voice … so large that the player sits with the instrument tucked between his or her knees.

Brass

These instruments are made of metal tubing curled in different shapes and lengths. The longer the tube, the lower the tone.

Trumpet: Has a bold, high-pitched tone … three valves can be pushed to change the

Next Week: Penguins

Mini Fact: Most adult Americans have learned to play a musical instrument at some time.

length of the tube and give a wider range of sounds.

Tuba: Has powerful, deep sounds that can be funny or scary … the largest of the brasses, it has the lowest tone … 18 to 35 feet of tubing ends in a flaring bell.

Trombone: Has a grand and lovely tone that can be soft or loud … is the loudest instrument in the orchestra … has no valves but a slide that is moved back and forth to give different pitches.

Percussion

Woodwinds

Woodwinds are hollow tubes played by blowing into them. The tone is changed by pressing keys over holes in the instrument. Originally made of wood, today woodwinds can be made of wood, metal or plastic .

Oboe: Two-foot-long wooden tube that widens into a bell … has a mouthpiece made of two pieces of cane fastened together (called a double reed) … has a smooth and beautiful tone.

Bassoon: Eight-foot-long tube that doubles back on itself … has a double reed attached to a long pipe … can make lyrical or comical sounds.

Flute: Two feet long … bright, birdlike tones … player blows across the tube, just like blowing over the top of a bottle.

Leading the orchestra

Percussion instruments are made of a variety of materials. They are played by tapping, striking, shaking or beating to keep rhythm and add tone color. These include: Bass drum: Like a huge toy drum … has calfskin stretched over both ends … makes a deep, booming sound.

Piano: Has 88 keys that are connected to tiny felt hammers that strike metal strings … both a percussion and a string instrument.

Xylophone: A double row of small wooden bars of different lengths that sound notes when struck … has a bright, sharp sound.

A conductor sets the music’s tempo (speed) for the musicians and signals people to play or change their volume by using hand and arm movements. The conductor usually uses a baton.

On the Web:

• bit.ly/MPorchestra

At the library:

• “The Stories of Musical Instruments” by Stepanka Sekaninova

• “Orchestra” by Tyler Gieseke

photo courtesy Kentucky Country Day

Franz Welser-Most conducts the New York Philharmonic.

photo by Steven Pisano

tubing curled in different shapes and lengths. The longer the tube, the lower the tone. Trumpet: Has a bold, high-pitched tone … three valves can be pushed to change the

Try ’n’ Find

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

BATON, BRASS, CELLO, CONDUCTOR, FLUTE, INSTRUMENT, LEARN, MUSIC, OBOE, ORCHESTRA, PERCUSSION, PIANO, PLAY, STRINGS, SYMPHONY, TROMBONE, TRUMPET, VIOLIN, WOODWINDS, XYLOPHONE.

O J H R O T C U D N O C X N O

K H S Y M P H O N Y M V Y O T

A T N E M U R T S N I I L I R

T Q S G N I R T S R P O O S O

E F S P O B A T O N L L P S M

P N S K O B O E W L A I H U B

M R A F L U T E E E Y N O C O

U A R T S E H C R O P V N R N

R E B S D N I W D O O W E E E

T L C I S U M J A O N A I P G

Cook’s Corner Green Eggs (No Ham)

You’ll need:

• 2 eggs, beaten

• 1 1/2 cups light sour cream

• 2 tablespoons flour

• 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

What to do:

• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, cooked and drained

• 6 hard-boiled eggs, chopped

1. Combine first five ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix well.

2. Stir in cooked spinach.

3. Stir in hard-boiled eggs. Mix well.

4. Pour mixture into a greased, microwave-safe casserole dish. Microwave on medium for 4 to 5 minutes or until done. Let stand for 2 minutes. Serves 4.

* You’ll

At the library:

• “The Stories of Musical Instruments” by Stepanka Sekaninova

• “Orchestra” by Tyler Gieseke

Mini Jokes

Ollie: What happens if a piano falls on you?

Olivia: You will B-flat!

Eco Note

The first attempt to document the damage cats inflict on biodiversity finds that the felines eat more than 2,000 species, including turtles and insects — possibly more. “There’s not much cats won’t eat,” says Christopher Lepczyk of Alabama’s Auburn University. While his work did not point out ways to protect wildlife from the feline assaults, measures found to help include keeping cats indoors or in fenced gardens. Recent research finds that the cats are also spreading to wildlife the brain-altering parasite that causes toxoplasmosis.

For later:

Look in your newspaper for articles about symphony orchestras.

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

By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior,

Can you help me identify some good senior living communities that offer all levels of housing and care, from independent living to nursing home care? I am in my late 70s and know I need to downsize from my current house, but I want my next move to be my last.

One Move Mary

Dear Mary,

If you want your next move to be your last, an all-inclusive retirement community — also known as a continuing-care retirement community (or CCRC) — is a great option to consider. Here’s what you should know, along with some tips to help you locate one.

WHAT ARE CCRCS?

CCRCs are different from oth-

SENIOR

Choosing a senior community that offers all levels of care

er types of senior housing because they provide all levels of housing, services and care in one convenient location.

While the appearance and services of CCRCs can vary greatly, most provide apartments or sometimes single-family homes for active, independent seniors. In addition, they also offer onsite assisted living for seniors who require help with basic living tasks like bathing, dressing or going to the bathroom, and nursing home care for residents when their health declines.

CCRCs also provide a variety of resort-style amenities and services that include community dining halls, exercise facilities, housekeeping and transportation, as well as many social and recreational activities.

But be aware that all these services come at a hefty price. Most communities have entry fees that range from close to $100,000 to more than $1 million, plus ongoing monthly fees that generally range from $2,000 to $5,000 for

Honor the memory of your beloved pet.

singles ($3,000 to $6,000 for couples) depending on the facility, services and the contract option you choose.

With more than 2,000 CCRCs in operation throughout the U.S, finding a facility that fits your lifestyle, needs and budget will require some legwork. Here are some steps that can help you proceed.

• Make a list: To find CCRCs in the area you want to live, you can find lists at www. MyLifeSite.net and www.Caring.com. Once you’ve located a few, call them to find out if they have any vacancies, what they charge and if they provide the types of services you want.

• Take a tour: Many CCRCs encourage potential residents to stay overnight and have a few meals in their dining hall. During your visit, notice the upkeep of the facility and talk to the current residents to see how they like living there. Also, check out the assisted living and nursing facilities

and find out how decisions are made to move residents from one level of care to another.

• Do some research: While on your tour, find out who owns the CCRC and get a copy of their most recently audited financial statement and review it. Also find out their occupancy rate. Unless it’s a newer community filling up, occupancy below 80 percent can be a red flag that the facility is having financial or management problems. To investigate the CCRC’s long-term care services, call your state long-term care ombudsman (see www.LTCombudsman. org) who can tell you if the assisted living and nursing care services had any complaints or problems. You can also use Medicare’s nursing home compare tool at www.Medicare. gov/care-compare.

• Understand the contract and fees: Most CCRCs offer three types of contracts — life-care, or Type A contracts, which

March 27 at 7:45 a.m. — Counterfeit money received at Walmart.

March 27 at 6:35 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Marshalls. Two female suspects were issued citations to appear in court for retail theft.

March 28 at 1:02 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Hannaford. Male ran but was caught. He was issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

March 28 at 3:00 p.m. — Report of a male and female in Walmart who were intoxicated. Male and female left the store before officers could arrive on scene.

March 28 at 5:30 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Home Depot. Male suspect was issued a citation to appear in court.

March 28 at 8:20 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Old Navy. Female and male suspect took off in a vehicle and led officers on a short pursuit. Pursuit was terminated due to unsafe driving conditions. Case is under investigation.

March 29 at 11:00 a.m. — Report of a male who stole from O’Briens Store. Male was located and had an active arrest warrant. He was transported to court for arraignment.

March 29 at 1:52 p.m. — Report of a female who assaulted workers at the Dept. of Children and Families. Female was transported to the hospital for evaluation and issued a citation to appear in court for simple assault and disorderly conduct.

March 30 at 2:17 a.m. — Report of a suspicious vehicle at Walmart. Male and female in vehicle both had active arrest warrants. Both were issued citations to appear in court.

March 30 at 10:53 a.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. Male suspect was issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

March 30 at 6:06 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. Female suspect had an active arrest warrant.

have the highest entry fee but cover all levels of long-term care as needed; Type B, or modified contracts that have lower entry fees but limit longterm care services in the initial fee; and Type C, or fee-for-service contracts, which offer the lowest entrance fees but require you to pay extra for longterm care if you need it.

You also need to find out what yearly price increases you can expect. How much of your entry fee is refundable if you move or die? What happens if you outlive your financial resources?

To help you sort through all this, consult with your financial advisor or lawyer before committing.

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.

She was issued a citation to appear in court. She was also issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

March 31 at 12:02 p.m. — Report of a male using a stolen handicap placard. Male was located and placard was turned over to officers.

March 31 at 5:41 p.m. — Report of a female causing a disturbance in Old Navy. Female left prior to officer’s arrival.

March 31 at 7:20 p.m. — Report of a female yelling and swearing in back of Bliss Bee. Female was located and was moved along.

April 1 at 11:50 a.m. — Report of vandalism at Williston Central School. Case is under investigation.

April 1 at 2:11 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Walmart. Male and female suspect were identified and an arrest warrant was issued for their arrest.

April 1 at 3:55 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Home Depot. Male suspect was issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

Officers also conducted 24 traffic stops and responded to seven alarm activations and six motor vehicle crashes during this time.

TODAY’S HISTORY:

• In 1814, French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte abdicated the throne and was banished to the island of Elba.

• In 1945, U.S. forces liberated the Buchenwald concentration camp.

• In 1951, President Harry Truman relieved Gen. Douglas MacArthur of his command in Korea.

• In 1979, Ugandan dictator Idi Amin was overthrown.

• In 2006, Iran announced that it had successfully enriched uranium.

TODAY’S FACT:

• The population of Uganda is the second-youngest in the world, with a median age of 16.1 years old. Only Niger’s population, with a median age of 15.1, is younger. SUDOKU

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The needs of our community have increased.

The Williston Community Food Shelf is now seeing 350 families every month.

Top needs this month include peanut butter and jelly.

Thanks for your support! When you shop for yourself,

FOOD SHELF

400 Cornerstone Drive, Suite 130, Williston Mail Donations: PO Box 1605, Williston, VT 05495

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.

Visit www.damlvt.org to apply for a library card and to register for programs that require registration. Need help? Call 878-4918 or email daml@ damlvt.org.

The library will open at 12:30 p.m. on Friday April 19 for staff to attend a safety training.

YOUTH PROGRAMS

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

FRENCH STORYTIME

Saturday, April 13, 10:15-10:45 a.m. Enjoy stories read in French.

LITTLES D&D

Saturday, April 13, 1-2 p.m. A mini session of D&D for ages 6-8. No experience required. Adults should stay to help their campaigner(s). Pre-register.

STORYTIME

BABY TIME

Wednesday, April 17, 10:3011 a.m. Socialize and bond with these gentle activities.

AFTER SCHOOL STEAM FUN ACTIVITY

Wednesday, April 17, 2-3 p.m. Have fun with hands-on experiments at the library.

MUSIC AND PLAYTIME

Thursdays, April 18 and 25, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Sing with Linda.

TEENS D&D

Friday, April 19, 5-6 p.m. Ages 12-plus. Join our Dungeons & Dragons campaign.

TEEN CRAFT: SEED PAPER

Wednesday, April 24, 5-6 p.m. Ages 12-plus. Make seed paper with recycled paper and wildflower seeds.

LEGO TIME

Thursday, April 25, 3-4 p.m. Enjoy our LEGO collection.

MULTI-AGE PROGRAMS

VERMONT READS: “LAST NIGHT AT THE TELEGRAPH CLUB”

VERMONT READS BOOK DISCUSSION

Monday, April 15, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Join us at the library or online for this moderated book discussion. Explore themes of Asian-American heritage, the Red Scare, LGBTQI+ and more. Light refreshments will be provided in person. Email daml@damlvt.org for a link to attend virtually.

SPACE CAFÉ

Wednesday, April 17, 5:306:30 p.m. Bring your space questions. Learn more about space with members of the Vermont Astronomical Society and enjoy light refreshments.

READ TO A DOG (LOLA)

Thursday, April 18, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Sign up for 10 minutes with a therapy dog.

CRAFT CIRCLE

Monday, April 22, 5-6 p.m. Bring a project and enjoy the company of others in our monthly, all-ages-welcome craft circle.

SOUTHERN VERMONT NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

WILDLIFE TALES

Friday, April 26, 1-2 p.m. Enjoy stories of animals and magic from around the world while meeting live animals to experience the natural history of the stories. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

NATIONAL POETRY MONTH

ADULT PROGRAMS

For online programs or to join a book club, email daml@damlvt.org.

ADULT MEDITATION (ONLINE)

Friday, April 12, 12-12:30 p.m. Get in touch with your peaceful body and breath.

MAH JONGG

Fridays, April 12 and 19, 1-3 p.m. Drop in to play this fun tile game.

FRENCH CONVERSATION

Saturday, April 13, 10:45-11:45 am. Brush up on your French.

BOOK CLUB BUFFET (ONLINE)

Tuesday, April 16, 12:30-1:30 p.m. “Snow” by John Banville.

COOK THE BOOK

Wednesday, April 17, 12-1 p.m. Quick prep cooking using ingredients from Trader Joe’s.

SPANISH (ONLINE)

Wednesday, April 17, 5-6 p.m. Brush up on your Spanish.

ADULT CRAFTERNOON: SPRING EARRINGS (MAKEUP DATE)

Thursday, April 18, 2-3:30 p.m. Design a pair of earrings.

MOCKTAILS AND GAME NIGHT

Thursday, April 18, 5:30-7 p.m. Join us for Elderberry Fizzes and play Catchphrase. Preregister.

BROWN BAG BOOK CLUB

Tuesday, April 23, 12:30-1:30 p.m. “The Lost City of Z” by David Grann.

CURRENT EVENTS

Wednesday, April 24, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Drop in to talk about events of the day. WILLISTON COMMUNITY

Tuesdays, April 16 and 23, 10:30-11 a.m. Drop in for stories and fun.

Hours: Tuesdays 5-6:30 p.m. Thursdays 9-11 a.m. | Saturdays 9-11 a.m.

Check out a copy at the library or read the eBook on Libby (Overdrive). Sponsored by Vermont Humanities.

All month long, illustrate a poem in the youth area or ask for a book page at the circulation desk to create your own blackout poem.

Sandra Jean Dwire Bourgeois

Sandra Jean Dwire Bourgeois, a native of Richmond and resident of Vergennes, passed away of fierce independence on April 2, 2024 at 79 years old.

It is with tremendous sadness we share the passing of our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She is at peace in the loving arms of our dear Lord and savior.

Born Feb. 17, 1945, Sandy was a multi-generational Vermonter through and through. Sandy’s parents were Frank Dwire and Marion Beane. She leaves her husband Claude Bourgeois, her brother Wendal Dwire, his wife Sharon Dwire, her sister Bonnie Humphrey, her husband Bruce Humphrey. Daughter Susanne Parent, her husband Mark Parent, Timothy Bourgeois, his wife Penny Bourgeois. Also, three granddaughters; Emma Parent, Lindsey Parent, Morghan Bourgeois, one great grand son, Rocco Gene Buffo and several niece’s and nephews.

Sandy was wed to Claude Bourgeois in the chapel at the Cathedral in Burlington, Vermont and reception at the historic Vergennes family farmhouse. On March 30th, they celebrated their loving 56th Wedding Anniversary.

Sandy graduated Richmond High School. No surprise, one year, she won the award for Miss Congeniality. She went on to graduate from the Jeanne Mance School of Nursing.

Sandy held many different positions over the years. She

OBITUARIES

worked at the DeGoesbriand hospital, Shaw’s supermarket, Vergennes Pharmacy, the Hercules plant (Simonds Precision/ BF Goodrich), Middlebury Family Health, and most recently at Middlebury Foot Care. In her early years, while raising her children, she took in boarders and was a fantastic domestic engineer.

Funeral services will be held Monday April 15, 11a.m., at St. Peters Catholic Church, 85 So. Maple St, Vergennes.

Donations can be made to: St. Anne’s Society CO/ Saint Peters Catholic Church PO Box 324, Vergennes, VT 05491.

Calling hours will be Sunday April 14, from 2-5 p.m. at the Brown McClay Funeral Home, 48 Maple St, Vergennes. Please join the family after the funeral service on Monday, April 15, at the Parish Hall for a celebratory luncheon.

Special thanks to Porter Medical Center and Dr. Marian Bouchard.

Loyal Haldon Downing

Loyal Haldon Downing (Hal) of Richmond, Vermont passed away peacefully on April 4, 2024, at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, Vermont.

Hal was born in Creston, Iowa to Loyal R. Downing & Helen A. Downing (Karns) on August 12, 1950. He graduated from Valley West High School in West Des Moines, Iowa in 1969 and attended Western Technical College until he enlisted in the Army. He was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma specializing in

Pershing Missiles.

He married his wife Rebecca (Becky) on May 15, 1971, and after he was discharged from the Army, they moved to Des Moines, Iowa. They were blessed with 3 children and in 1985, moved to Vermont.

He was a heavy equipment operator and worked for Sundown Corporation in Stowe where he designed and made beautiful natural looking ponds and landscapes. He took pride in all this work and instilled that in his children. Later he worked for S.D. Ireland until he retired in 2007.

He loved to scuba dive, and he became a certified Master Diver. He also loved riding motorcycles, woodworking, sailing, skiing, hunting and fishing. He took joy in sharing these activities with his family. In the summer they sailed Lake Champlain, in the winter they skied at Smugglers’ Notch.

He was a member of the Ski Patrol at Smugglers’ Notch and was the director of the Mountain Guilds for Vermont Special Olympics Winter Games. His trip to Alaska for the World Special Olympics was something he was very proud of.

He was preceded in death by his parents Loyal and Helen Downing. Hal is survived by his children Christian Loyal Downing and Hillary of Waitsfield, Vermont, Amanda June Downing of Richmond, Vermont and Mark Lloyd Downing and Dijana of Colchester, Vermont. He leaves his sister Sharon and her husband Lenard Gosslink of Otley, Iowa, sister Barbara and her husband Larry Strong of Ankeny, Iowa and brother Jim and his wife Etta of West Des Moines, Iowa. He also leaves his grandchildren, Jocelyn, Brooke, Parker and Zuri and great grandchildren Sheldon, Perth and June.

The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff of Baird 4, UVM Medical Center, McClure Miller Respite House and Joy Drive Dialysis. Visiting hours were April 10, 2024, at Gifford Funeral Home in Richmond with a memorial service following.

The burial with Military Honors will be at a later date in Sanderson Corner Cemetery in Fairfax, Vermont.

Community Bankers

Community Bankers

Community Bankers

BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

Community Bankers

There is no better time to join our Team!

BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

There is no better time to join our Team!

BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

There is no better time to join our Team!

Community Bankers

There is no better time to join our Team!

BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

There is no better time to join our Team!

Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest LOCAL BANK in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all

North eld Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest LOCAL BANK in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all.

Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest LOCAL BANK in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all

Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest LOCAL BANK in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all

Consider joining our team as a Community Banker at our Taft Corners or Richmond location!

Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest LOCAL BANK in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all

Consider joining our team as a Community Banker at our Taft Corners or Richmond location!

Consider joining our team as a Community Banker at our Taft Corners or Richmond location!

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

Consider joining our team as a Community Banker at our Taft Corners or Richmond location!

Relevant Skills: Customer Service, Cash Handling (we’ll train you!)

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

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!

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!

Opportunity for Growth

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

Opportunity for Growth

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

Opportunity for Growth

Opportunity for Growth

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

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

What NSB Can Offer You

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

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. Wellrounded 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!

Competitive compensation based on experience. Wellrounded 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!

Competitive compensation based on experience. Wellrounded 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!

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

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

Competitive compensation based on experience. Wellrounded 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!

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

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

Equal Opportunity Employer / Member FDIC

Equal Opportunity Employer / Member FDIC

Equal Opportunity Employer / Member FDIC

Equal Opportunity Employer / Member FDIC

The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VTDEC) invites you to attend a public information session to discuss upcoming field work at the Commerce Street Plume Superfund Site in Williston, Vermont. VTDEC and the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), as well as VTDEC’s contractors, will provide updates and answer questions regarding the upcoming Groundwater Remedial Action. More information can be found at www.epa.gov/superfund/ commercestreet.

The public meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 29, 2024 at 6:00pm at the Williston Town Hall, located at 7900 Williston Road. A virtual option will also be available, using this meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84071718141.

CLASSIFIEDS

LEGAL NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO BROWNFIELDS REUSE AND ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY LIMITATION ACT PROGRAM

Please take notice that City Properties Real Estate Group, LLC, whose mailing address is 355 Main St., Ste 500, Winooski, Vermont, is applying to the Vermont Brownfields Reuse and Environmental Liability Limitation Program (10 V.S.A. §6641 et seq.) in connection with the redevelopment of property known as 1336 Williston Road in the City of South Burlington. A copy of the application, which contains a preliminary environmental assessment and a description of the proposed redevelopment project is available for public review at the City Clerk’s Office and at the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation offices in Montpelier. Comments concerning the application and/ or the above referenced documents may be directed to Nathan Dagesse at 683-9967 or at ndagesse@eivtech.com. Comments may also be submitted by mail to the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Waste Management Division, 1 National Life Drive – Davis 1, Montpelier, VT 05620; attention: Nathan Dagesse.

LEGAL

Williston Democratic Caucus

On Wednesday April 17, the Williston Democratic Committee will hold a caucus to elect 10 delegates from Williston for the 2024 Vermont Democratic Convention.

Where: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library

When: 4/17 from 7:00-8:00pm

Zoom option available

To be eligible to be a town delegate:

- You must be a member of the town’s Democratic committee (we can vote in any non-member at the meeting)

RABIES BAIT

- You must have voted on a Democratic ballot in the March 5, 2024 Presidential Primary

continued from page 2

At the state convention, delegates will elect 11 District-level delegates to represent Vermont at the Democratic National Convention.

For more information or Zoom link, email ellie.beckettvt@gmail.com.

The week-long bait drop is a cooperative effort between Vermont and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to stop the spread of the potentially fatal disease.

EMAILED ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISING INSERTION ORDER

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

Thomas Hirchak Company

FROM: Cathy Morneault

Puzzle found on page 19

Phone: 802-888-4662

Email: Advertising2@THCAuction.com

Rabies is a deadly viral disease of the brain that infects mammals. It is most often seen in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also get rabies. The virus is spread through the bite of an infected animal or contact with its

To: Rick & Susan Cote

Paper: Williston Observer

Max Length 12.5

TODAY’S DATE: 4/05/2024

NAME OF FILE: 04112024_WO

DATE(S) TO RUN: 4/11/2024

SIZE

Build

RABIES BAIT

saliva. If left untreated, rabies is almost always fatal in humans and animals. However, treatment with the rabies vaccine is nearly 100 percent effective when given soon after a person is bitten by a rabid animal.

So far this year, 23 animals in Vermont have tested positive for rabies, and 14 of those have been raccoons.

SUDOKU SOLUTION

The week-long bait drop is a cooperative effort between Vermont and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to stop the spread of the potentially fatal disease.

Puzzle found on page 19

According to wildlife officials, rabid animals often show a change in their normal behavior, but you cannot tell whether an animal has rabies simply by looking at it. People should not touch or pick up wild animals or strays – even baby animals.

Rabies is a deadly viral disease of the brain that infects mammals. It is most often seen in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also get rabies. The virus is spread through the bite of an infected animal or contact with its

Shelburne display lead dors from creemees. from SHELBURNE continued Spring Cleanup & Mulch

Stonework

continued from page 2 saliva. ways treatment 100 a person So have those According animals mal an animal it. People animals Siding

So long, snow …

Most likely the last remaining snowman in Williston Village, below, awaits the solar eclipse after last week’s snowstorm gave way to sun. Snow piles up last Thursday, left, as a spring storm blanketed Williston with several inches of wet snow.

PHOTO BY AL FREY

PHOTO BY LYNN ATTWOOD