Williston Observer 05/16/2024

Church trustees vote to quash Verizon plan

Recommendation heads to selectboard

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

Old Brick Church Trustees have unanimously recommended against allowing Verizon to install cell service antennas in the historic Williston Village landmark.

The majority of public feedback has been negative toward the idea, despite Verizon’s promise that the project would improve the company’s nearly nonexistent cell reception in the Village. Trustee chair John Butterfield plans to present the recommendation to the selectboard this summer. The selectboard previously signaled an openness to the idea, which would have brought in about $25,000 in annual lease revenue to the town.

“Our recommendation to the selectboard

is that Verizon choose another location,” Butterfield said Monday during a meeting of the trustees.

A flurry of public comments came into the town offices after Verizon representatives shared their plans for the project during a trustees meeting in January. Opponents presented research about negative health effects of cellular infrastructure and noted the church’s proximity to Williston Central School.

“From my estimation, these proposed antennas would be fewer than 500 feet from the front of the school,” Sarah Showalter, a Williston parent and member of the Champlain Valley School Board, wrote to town leaders in February. She pointed to research suggesting cell towers be at least three times that far from population centers.

Commerce St. groundwater cleanup to commence

State receives $15 million EPA grant for Superfund site

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation has received $15 million in funding through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 to complete cleanup of contaminated groundwater at a former industrial manufacturing site on Commerce Street in Williston. The contamination resulted from the 20th century operations of Mitec Systems Corporation, which manufactured electronic and microwave components on a 1-acre

property behind the current New England Chimney Supply headquarters. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Mitec used trichloroethylene to wash components, and sent the rinsewater and sludge into an unlined lagoon on the property. The discharge was found to contain heavy metals such as chromium, cadmium, cyanide and nickel as well as various industrial solvents. The Department of Environmental Conservation completed a soil remediation project on the site in 2018.

Groundwater contamination is estimated to have spread over 70 acres, affecting residential and commercial areas on Kirby Lane, South Brownell Road and Commerce Street. The site falls under

the EPA’s Superfund program designated for abandoned hazardous waste site cleanup.

The groundwater project involves the installation of an underground cleansing barrier for the

“Superfund cleanups can be a long road for communities.”

David Cash Environmental Protection Agency

contaminated groundwater to pass through. Construction is expected to start this month with the drill-

NOW SERVING BREAKFAST

ing of a sample well. The majority of construction is planned for July through October. The contaminated water sits between 26-40 feet below the surface, according the EPA.

The goal of the remediation is to restore the groundwater to state drinking water standards. Residents nearby have been advised not to drill any groundwater wells until the cleanup is complete. The area is served by municipal water.

“Superfund cleanups can be a long road for communities,” said EPA New England Regional Administrator David Cash. “Fortunately, the influx of funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is propelling these cleanups forward … When partners can come together and do necessary work,

local communities are the ones who reap the benefits.”

Using monitoring wells, the groundwater will be tested continually in the coming years to verify the system’s performance.

“Investments like these not only clean up contaminated sites but also protect the health and wellbeing of our communities,” Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Jason Batchelder said. “I commend the collaborative efforts between our federal and state partners for their commitment to environmental stewardship for the betterment of Vermonters.”

More information about the project can be found at www.epa. gov/superfund/commercestreet.

Members of the Old Brick Church Trustees meet Monday in the church basement and discuss their opposition to a proposal from Verizon to install cell antennas in the church steeple.

OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR

24

Around Town

Kids Fest set for Saturday

Williston’s Village Community Park will be the site of a first-time family event this Saturday from noon-2 p.m. The free event, organized by the Williston Recreation and Parks Department, will have family friendly activities, giveaways, food and fun. The first 50 families who arrive at the park will receive a free kite to decorate and fly.

Isham Farm to host benefit concert

The FaMa Quartet will perform a concert to benefit the Williston Community Food Shelf on Saturday, May 18 at 7 p.m. at Isham Family Farm. The concert kicks off a celebration of the 20th anniversary season of the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival. Tickets are not required. Attendees are asked to bring a monetary or non-perishable food donation.

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More information can be found at: https://gmcmf.org/music-food-may-18.

Celebrate opening day at Lake Iroquois beach

The Lake Iroquois Association and the Lake Iroquois Recreation District welcome the community to Lake Iroquois Beach off Beebe Lane in Williston for a season opening celebration from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May 25. Sales of summer beach passes, hats, t-shirts, hot dogs and chips will be offered. Ice cream and kids activities will be free.

Visit www.lakeiroquois.org or e-mail to lakeiroquoisassociation@gmail.com for more information.

be from 4-6 p.m. on July 3 and from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on July 4. Book donations for the sale will be accepted at the library starting June 1 on weekdays 12-2 p.m. and on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5-7 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Donations are limited to three boxes per person per day.

Needed are hardcover and paperback books, children/ young adult books, reference or travel books that are less than 5 years old, and foreign language books.

Green Up Day’s 5K

Williston’s Green Up Day on Saturday resulted in nearly 5,000 pounds of trash cleaned up by residents, according to a tally by town administrators. That bested last year’s tally of 3,580 pounds of trash collected. Also collected Saturday were 51 tires, including six with rims still attached.

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Gather for Memorial Day observance May 27

The Williston-Richmond Rotary Club will host a Memorial Day observance for the public at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 27 in the War Memorial Park located between Williston’s Town Hall and Town Hall Annex. The federal holiday honors the men and women who have died serving in the U.S. military.

Library friends prepare for annual book sale

The Friends of the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library will hold their annual book sale fundraiser July 3-4 at Williston Central School. The sale will

Also starting June 1, people can sign up to volunteer at the sale on a signup sheet at the library, or by emailing daml@ damlvt.org or calling (802) 8784718. Volunteers get early access to shop the sale on July 3. Volunteers are needed to set up tables, transport books, checkout patrons and break down the sale.

Beckett Memorial 5K, kids races to take place July 6

The Deb Beckett Memorial 5K Run and Walk will be held Saturday, July 6 at Village Community Park. Runners and walkers of all levels are welcome. In addition to the 5-kilometer race, there will also be a half-mile and a 1 mile Kids Run for children ages 4-12.

Check-in begins at 7:15 a.m. for the kids runs and 7:45 a.m. for the 5K.

Preregister for the 5K by the June 16 deadline at www.willistonvt.myrec.com/info/activities/

default.aspx. Same day registration is also available. No preregistration is required for the Kids Run.

The event is sponsored by the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club and Williston Recreation and Parks Department.

‘Screenagers’ film viewing and discussion planned

The Champlain Valley School District chapter of ParentIn is hosting an online viewing and discussion of the film “Screenagers — Under the Influence, addressing vaping, drugs and alcohol in the digital age” at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 22. Following the film, there will be an online discussion with CVSD school counselor Amy Sayre and others. Email parentincvsd@gmail. com for details and a link to the event. The group will also offer a link to view the film through June 5.

Annual Cancer Canknot fundraiser returns to Williston

The Williston Country Club will host the Cancer Canknot Golf Classic on June 1, a fundraising golf tournament benefitting the Dana Farber Cancer Research Center. The Cancer Canknot organization was founded by South Burlington survivor Eric Gilcris. For participation and sponsorship information, visit www.cancercanknot.org.

Pouncing on pickleball

Williston family fuels sport’s growth with indoor center

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

It was right around quitting time on Tuesday, the workday ending and the spring air peaking into the mid-70s. It sure seemed like a prime time to get outside.

But inside a converted South Burlington warehouse, a steady stream of players was filing indoors to enjoy the nearly new courts of Catamount Pickleball.

A Williston family that picked up the sport during the isolating early years of Covid opened the facility in February as the area’s first dedicated, year-round pickleball center, with seven courts. Across town at Twin Oaks Terrace, the Edge Sports and Fitness is planning a similar facility with eight outdoor courts opening in July and nine indoor courts opening in September.

Even with both facilities up and running, it won’t be enough to meet the growing demand for court time, believes Ric Schaaf, the Williston father who founded Catamount with his wife and two sons. He is buoyed by the multitudes going through pickleball introductory clinics at Catamount, the Edge and through municipal recreation programs.

“The sport is growing tremendously,” Schaaf said of the tennis/ ping pong hybrid that was invented in the 1960s.

As he spoke, an introductory clinic was wrapping up, and South Burlington beginner Wendy Hatoum was buzzing about her future in the sport.

“I’m starting basically from scratch,” she said, “and I feel like I progressed really fast. It’s really fun.”

The ease of entry is one of the key aspects of the sport’s appeal, said Schaaf, a former U.S.

WHAT’S NEXT? CONGRATS GRADS!

Catamount Pickleball founders, father-and-son duo Justin and Ric Schaaf. OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR

Williston couple pairs literacy with laundromat

BY JORDAN BARBOUR Community News Service

Between whirling linens and rumbling machinery, stories can come to life.

That’s the hope at King Street Laundry. The small laundromat just south of Church Street Marketplace has teamed up with the Fletcher Free Library to entertain Burlington’s youngest residents with a series of read-alongs.

The “Literacy at the Laundromat” events aim to enthrall kids up to age 5 with snacks, bubbles and read-aloud stories such as “Pete the Cat” or “Allen and His Scary Teeth,” all under a plethora of colorful ceiling tiles. While the children listen, their parents can run a load of laundry for free.

Organizers’ good intentions haven’t seen success yet — no

“Part of our vision for the laundromat is that an empty laundromat is an unsafe laundromat. And so, we want to have as many things going on here as possible.”

Andrew Christiansen

one showed up to the first two events in March and April. But they hope the next outing, set for May 30, will be different.

King Street Laundry has transformed into a community hub since its owners, Williston

residents Hannah and Andrew Christiansen, purchased the abandoned laundromat in 2022.

The space, once a site for open drug use, has become family friendly with monthly group events such as financial literacy presentations for new Americans, ceiling painting parties and CarShare Vermont info sessions.

Rebecca Thompson, the early literacy outreach coordinator at the Fletcher Free Library, approached the Christiansens with the idea after she and Library Director Mary Danko saw similar events at other libraries, like the “Wash and Learn Initiative” offered by the New York Public Library.

“It’s really this idea that not everyone can come to the library, and there’s a lot of different barriers in place that prevent

Laundry

that from being an option for people,” said Thompson. “We really want to do the most we can to reach people where they are, and the laundromat is a place where people go. If you have young kids, you have to bring them with you and you have to spend time.”

That presented an opportunity to help kids learn reading skills while their parents handle a chore, she said.

The Christiansens loved the idea and were excited to add another program to their business’ busy schedule.

“Part of our vision for the laundromat is that an empty laundromat is an unsafe laundromat,” said Andrew Christiansen. “And so, we want to have as many things going on here as possible so that it doesn’t invite the less-safe kind of activity that can sometimes happen in open buildings.”

Each storytime so far, he has pulled a big rug to the front of the laundromat,

thinking kids could sit on it with their parents as they listened to stories. But the rug has yet to welcome any guests.

The lack of participants may have been due to bad timing, the organizers figure. The first two sessions on March 21 and April 18 were at 3 p.m., which Christiansen and Thompson think might have been too early for families. They pushed back the start time an hour for their third try on May 30, and Thompson hopes it will better align with the end of the school day and boost participation.

In the meantime, Thompson has donated coloring pages and children’s books to the “King Street Laundry’s Community Library,” a small shelf in the leftmost corner of the laundromat.

The small collection of literature, the creation of which Christiansen attributes to a “few good Samaritans,” serves to create more foot traffic in a corner where, as he puts it, “bad decisions were made.”

“Our North Star guiding vision is creating a community around equal access to the dignity of clean clothes,” he said. Christiansen and Thompson plan

to continue the series into the summer. Thompson hopes that once kids are out of school they and their parents will have time and energy to attend. She said she’s also exploring options for transportation so families can travel without needing to drive.

Even if the program doesn’t end up drawing crowds, Thompson said she feels grateful to have a relationship with the Christiansens and will continue to promote books there.

“We still have made a valuable relationship and are getting more books out there into kids’ hands as much as we can,” she said.

To Thompson, that’s the most important part.

For more information on upcoming events, visit www.72kingstreetlaundry. com.

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.

A book nook adorns the far corner of King Street Laundry in Burlington.

PHOTO BY JORDAN BARBOUR

HUB HAPPENINGS

Community Bank donates to VT SBDC

Community Bank recently presented $1,000 to the Vermont Small Business Development Center to further the center’s mission of providing professional expertise and guidance to business owners statewide.

“Small businesses form the foundation of our communities, and Community Bank takes pride in bolstering their progress and triumph,” said Jamison Flora of Community Bank.

Hotel Champlain hires GM

The Hilton Burlington has appointed Justin Chapman as its new general manager as the hotel transforms into Hotel Champlain. Chapman was previously general manager of the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Syracuse, N.Y. Chapman will lead the rebranding of the hotel, café and restaurant. “Burlington is a cherished desti-

nation, and I’m honored to showcase the new Hotel Champlain to both travelers and locals,” he said. Visit www.HotelChamplainVermont.com for more information.

Matt Harrington chosen to lead Chamber association

The Vermont Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives

(VACCE) has elected Matt Harrington as its new chairman.

Harrington will succeed Betsy Bishop, who will be stepping down from her role as president of the Vermont Chamber and chair of the VACCE organization.

VACCE represents 30 chambers across Vermont. Harrington is currently the executive director of the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce and has been part of VACCE since 2016.

“I am honored to be elected as the incoming chair of VACCE,” said Harrington. “I look forward to working closely with the board, members, and stakeholders to further the organization’s mission of supporting and empowering chamber professionals across Vermont.”

Antique, vintage store expands

Vintage Inspired Marketplace, a South Burlington vintage and antique store, is expanding into the recently vacated Total Fitness Equipment space at 10 Dorset St. Vintage Inspired first moved to South Burlington last year after a 12-year run on Flynn Avenue in Burlington after Rebecca Wallace purchased the business. The expansion will bring the store’s footprint to 4,500 square feet. The store showcases dozens of unique vendors and is open seven days a week.

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Vermont Cannabis Convention returns to Expo

The Vermont Cannabis Convention returns to the Champlain Valley Expo on June 14-15 with exhibitors, presentations, panel discussions and interactive demonstrations.

The sixth annual event will run from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Weekend passes are available at the door or can be purchased in advance at www. necann.com/Vermont.

“The cannabis industry definitely has some specific quirks because of federal restrictions, but it’s also very competitive and very innovative because it’s so fast-moving,” said Vermont Cannabis Convention president Eli Harrington, who owns a Northeast Kingdom cannabis farm. “By getting everyone in one place, our cannabis businesses can shop for services and see new products, just like the consumers.”

From left to right, Community Bank Senior District Manager Matt Villemaire, Vermont Small Business Development Center Marketing and Communications Specialist Phyllis Ershowsky and Community Bank Branch Manager Colleen Page celebrate Community Bank’s donation to the Vermont Small Business Development Center.

Matt Harrington

Justin Chapman

Pickleball

continued from page 3

national Nordic ski team member. Add to that the social element of a four-person doubles game and continuous but non-strenuous movement and you have a multi-generational, lifetime activity.

“I have a couple good friends who love it, so I thought I should at least try it,” Hatoum said, “and I can see how it can be addictive quickly.”

For Schaaf and family, Catamount Pickleball went from idea to opening in about one year. He describes a bit of a gold rush sense of urgency about the project, as he was aware of other entrepreneurs considering opening a pickleball center in Chittenden County last year. Schaaf’s wife, Leigh Samuels, has a background in marketing, and their son, Justin, became a competitive college pickleball player during his recent time at the University of Michigan. He is now the business’ lead instructor.

“We sat around the kitchen table and said ‘we have all the bases covered’ … We felt like we could do a great job as a family with the skills and experience we had,” Schaaf said.

HUB

Catamount offers two tiers of annual memberships as well as court times and instruction for non-members. Visit www.catamountpickleball.com for details. With memberships exceeding expectations three months after opening and the limitations of a seven court capacity, Schaaf is already thinking about opening a satellite facility.

“We have big plans to be a major community hub for the sport and expand beyond these walls,” he said.

Krista Allaire takes an intro to pickleball course Tuesday at Catamount Pickleball in South Burlington.

OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR

The legal voters of the Town of Williston are hereby warned and notified to meet at the Williston Central School Auditorium in Williston, Vermont at 7:00 PM on Monday, May 20, 2024 for a public information hearing on the revised fiscal year 2025 budget proposal for consideration at a Special Town Meeting on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, and there will be an opportunity for questions and comments.

The legal voters of the Town of Williston are hereby warned and notified to meet on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 for a Special Town Meeting, at Vermont Army National Guard Armory located at 7846 Williston Road beginning at 7:00 AM, at which time the polls will open, until 7:00 PM, at which time the polls will close, to vote by Australian ballot upon the following article:

Article 1: Shall the voters authorize General Fund Expenditures of $15,042,710 of which $7,654,710 shall be raised by taxes, for the year beginning July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025?

HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE: There is no deadline to register to vote. You will be able to register to vote on the day of the election. You can register prior by visiting the town clerk’s office or going online to www.olvr.vermont.gov

REQUEST EARLY or ABSENTEE BALLOTS: You or a family member can request early or absentee ballots at any time during the year of the election in person, in writing, by telephone, email, or online at www.mvp.vermont.gov

GUEST COLUMN Consolidated school districts not delivering on promise

BY MARGARET MACLEAN

Over the past 14 years, Vermont has enacted three sweeping school district consolidation laws: Act 153, Act 156 and Act 46. Are consolidated districts delivering on their promise? A big picture look says ‘no.’ Consolidation has not saved taxpayer dollars and has eroded Vermonters’ support for public education.

An examination of state per pupil spending data from 2018, compared to 2024, shows that Act 46 consolidated districts have not delivered in terms of cost savings. In this time, the percentage of consolidated districts doubled,

and costs continued to increase. Today, consolidated districts cost more per pupil than single-town school districts.

Consolidation also has eroded public confidence and engagement. At Town Meeting this March, school budgets in town school districts passed at more than twice the rate of those in consolidated districts — 83 percent vs. 38 percent.

No evaluation of consolidation has taken place. The Agency of Education was required to develop reports on Act 46, but the 2020 and 2021 reports have yet to materialize. We cannot afford to compound mistakes or overlook successes by moving

forward without a comprehensive analysis. A moratorium on additional consolidation should be in place until a full independent evaluation is completed.

Education spending in Vermont needs to be addressed. But solutions in Montpelier are scarce, apart from calls to double down and “right size” the education system with additional consolidation. Higher per pupil spending and failed budgets in consolidated districts raise legitimate questions about this strategy. We need to take stock.

The Legislature has now developed a commission to focus on the future of public education see MACLEAN page 9

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MEMBER:

Help us meet our goal of raising $100,000 for the McClure Miller Respite House to provide over 110 days of highquality hospice care for our community.

Saturday, June 8, 2024

Run/Walk: 9:00 am Malletts Bay School

Register today: uvmhomehealth.org/run

GUEST COLUMN

in Vermont. The last time Vermont did this well was in 1968 with the “Vermont Design for Education.” This document was developed from the bottom up, engaging schools and communities throughout the state.

The new commission should also put the public front and center, emphasize engagement and incorporate elements that are crucial to the success of public education, including:

A focus on equity. Equity benefits our society as a whole. Rather than pitting rural schools against their larger neighbors in a zero-sum battle, we will benefit from a vision that includes Vermonters from all backgrounds. An outcome that honors the Brigham decision with an equity focus will be better for all.

Democracy matters. When he testified to the Vermont Senate during the creation of what became Act 46, Marty Strange, the policy director of the Rural School and Community Trust, proved prescient. Strange warned about a loss of public support for education as an outcome of consolidation. Based on experiences across the U.S., Strange testified, “shrinking the public role in school decision-making means more failed budgets, more internecine arguing over where the money goes and whose school gets closed by which voters, and reduced public support for public education.”

Voters’ ability to take part in community scale school budget deliberations at town meetings may be a key element to local budgets receiving stronger voter support than vast multi-school consolidated budgets. Rural voices. Any vi-

sion for a thriving Vermont education system must work in rural communities as well as in more densely populated areas. It should be shaped and supported by communities, not imposed upon them. Schools are the beating heart of rural communities and an essential foundation for our youngest children. The legislative commission must fully understand the

links between schools and community development and examine what happens in a town when its school closes.

Best educational practices at a cost Vermonters can afford. A vision for the future of Vermont education needs to keep children front and center while striving for affordability. Dollars spent with a direct impact on learning should be prioritized over increasingly centralized bureaucracy.

Community schools for our earliest learners are a key part of the vision; few Vermonters would say that our younger children should be traveling two hours a day on a school bus. Also, the time might be right to revamp secondary and technical education.

Additionally, the commission can identify the worthy but non-education-related services provided within our education system and find funding for them

outside of the property tax.

Vermont can do better. The commission will have an opportunity to study education systems internationally. Faced with many of our same issues, Scandinavia, New Zealand and other places have been decentralizing educational governance to the school/ community level since the 1990s. How can these school systems inform our vision?

The commission needs to develop a vision that is grounded in what works for our children, that builds on our communities’ strengths, and brings Vermonters together — vision we collectively develop, at a cost that hardworking Vermonters can afford.

Margaret MacLean has been a teacher and school principal in Vermont, in other states and internationally. She lives in Peacham.

Starting steps for home-grown produce

Growing your own produce is an all-around smart practice, from the money you’ll save at the grocery store to the contributions you can make toward a cleaner planet.

Maintaining a garden takes some effort, but it’s a project even a beginner can tackle. Consider these tips to start growing your at-home garden.

1. Select a perfect spot. You’ll want to place your garden in an area where you see it often so you’re reminded to weed and care for it regularly. Find a flat area you can access easily, where erosion and other pitfalls (including hungry wildlife) won’t be a problem.

2. Choose between ground and containers. There are pros and cons to gardening in

containers vs. the ground, and there’s no universal right choice. Rather, the best garden depends on your goals and preferences.

A ground garden usually offers more space and may provide a better growth environment for roots. However, a container garden is often easier to maintain and may be all you need if you wish to grow just a few plants.

3. Understand the importance of quality soil. You may think any dirt will do, but keep in mind the soil you plant in will be the primary source of nutrients for your produce. Not only that, but quality soil provides stability so plants can root firmly and grow healthy and sturdy to support their bounty. Quality soil also allows for ample drainage. Organic matter like compost, leaf mold or aged manure

water when the soil is dry about an inch below the surface.

5. Plan for plenty of sun.

A bright, sunny spot is a must, since most vegetables, herbs and fruits depend on six or more hours of sun every day. Remember the sun’s path changes throughout the year, and as trees and foliage grow, they may produce more shade with each growing season.

what you can grow to maturity within your area’s growing season. If necessary, you might want to start transplants you can nurture indoors before moving them outside when the temperatures allow.

all help improve soil quality.

4. Keep water close. Lugging water can quickly eliminate the pleasure of tending your garden, so be sure you’re situated near a hose. You’ll know it’s time to

6. Consider what you’ll grow. Veggies you know you like is a smart starting point since you’ll be pouring sweat equity into making them grow. Over time, you might add new varieties, but early on, keep your focus on foods you know you like so you can see a meaningful return and avoid waste. You’ll also need to consider

7. Plant according to a calendar. Knowing how long it takes different foods to mature will help you create a planting calendar. You don’t want to harvest everything at once, and if you stagger planting and replant what you can, you’ll have a garden that produces food for your family for a longer period of time.

Find more helpful tips for managing your home and garden at www.eLivingtoday.com. Family Features

Starting a vegetable garden is a smart way to save on your grocery bill and contribute to a healthier planet.

Moving away from the all-white kitchen

With the all-white kitchen design trend on the decline, you may be wondering how to make updates that appeal to today’s sensibilities. The key is infusing color and depth into your space. Here’s how.

CONSIDER EARTHY WOOD TONES

Earthy wood tones easily transform a predominantly white space, and there are many ways to incorporate this look in your kitchen. Options can be as involved as refinishing your kitchen island with a wooden countertop or swapping in wood cabinet finishes, to as simple as introducing a rolling bar cart into the space.

Displaying a few wooden kitchen elements, such as cooking utensils, cutting boards and a napkin holder, can round out the look.

EMBRACE MATTE BLACK

Matte black appliances are gaining in popularity for good reason — they can elevate your kitchen into a glamorous foodie oasis, and a place where cooking, eating and gathering with loved ones brings you joy.

It’s helpful if those appliances pair form with functionality.

When it comes to cooking ranges, check out Verona, which offers professional-style Italian-made appliances that combine artistry with the latest cooking technology innovations. The brand’s Ultima Midnight 36-inch Range is fully matte black from cooktop to legs for a sleek look and is avail-

able in dual fuel or induction.

Alternatively, the Maestro collection from another Italian brand, Lofra, boasts strong versatile design and the highest technical performance. Both brands are exclusively imported by EuroChef USA. For more information, visit www.eurochefusa. com.

INCORPORATE BRASS ACCENTS

Brass accents can provide dynamism and depth. Consider adding brass hardware to your fridge and updating your faucet and sink basin in a gold or bronze tone.

For your cooking range, get inspired by the models available in Lofra’s Dolcevita Collection, which can be customized with brass trim and gold knobs, providing pops of color in unexpected places, and with 3060-inch models available, they can accommodate kitchens of all sizes.

Beyond the trim of your appliances, you can mix these metals into your space by swapping in new cabinetry hardware and by adding in an eye-catching brass pendant above your dining area or prep space. Displaying your brass cookware on hooks or a rack can offer a rustic and homey feel to an otherwise austere space.

If you spend a lot of time in your kitchen, as many individuals and families do, consider updates that add color, depth and comfort to the space.

Brass hardware adds eye-catching accents to the kitchen.

COURTESY PHOTO BY STATEPOINT

Home

Home updates with your security in mind

EXTERIOR

AND AS A DETERRENT

Landscape lighting can aid in security while also boosting curb appeal for your home. Well planned exterior lights make it

easier to move around in your yard safely as well as deter people and animals that don’t belong.

Check that fixtures on your porch, patio and garage are in good working order. Consider motion-sensor or lights set on a timer.

PROTECT YOUR HOME WITH SECURE DOORS AND LOCKS

Upgrading your front door can do much more than just improve the look of your home — it’s also an important part of providing enhanced security. Don’t forget to secure other entryways as well.

CONTROL HOME SYSTEMS ON THE GO

Updating security systems,

doorbells, lighting and other electronic-based systems that can be controlled from a smartphone app can simplify and consolidate things around the house. These allow you to use your phone to remotely turn lights on and off, unlock doors, change the temperature, open or close garage doors and check camera feeds and more.

REDUCE FIRE HAZARDS

Many home systems, like furnaces, chimneys, hot water heaters and other appliances, do their jobs without requiring much thought but can pose risks without proper maintenance. Hiring professionals to check these items annually can help

you avoid more costly repairs SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS

Check smoke detectors regularly and replace the batteries every six months - using Day Light Savings as the date to do this chore helps ensure you don’t forget. Also, check the date of manufacture (on the back of the smoke detectors) and replace it if it is more than 10 years ago.

To detect the invisible, odorless gas carbon monoxide include checking or installing carbon monoxide alarms when you do your smoke detectors.

Family Features

Dandelions: foe or friend?

BY DEBORAH J. BENOIT Special to the Observer

It’s that time of year again.

Sunny yellow blossoms pop up all over the landscape, bringing smiles to children’s faces, and frowns to those who favor manicured lawns. Love ’em, hate ’em or don’t pay them much attention, there’s a lot to be said about dandelions.

Its common name comes from the French “dent de lion,” meaning lion’s teeth, a reference to the appearance of its leaves. Native to Eurasia, dandelions were introduced to North America in the 1600s by colonists who grew them for medicine and food.

Dandelions return year after year, producing the familiar yellow flowers from spring into summer. Popular advice says to let them continue to grow in spring as an early nectar source. Indeed, if there’s little else in bloom in the area, dandelions will provide a welcome food source for bees and other insects, and their seeds will provide food as well as nesting material for birds.

Historically, people have consumed dandelions as both food and drink. The tender young leaves or a sprinkling of petals make a tasty addition to salads. More mature leaves can be eaten like spinach, boiled or

steamed.

You’ve probably heard of dandelion wine, but did you know roasted dandelion root can be steeped and served as a coffee substitute? The roots, leaves and flowers are edible and can be used to brew an herbal tea. You can find more information athttps://go.uvm.edu/dandelions.

A word of caution: If you do decide to nibble on a dandelion flower, make a salad with dandelion leaves or brew a cup of dandelion tea, harvest only from areas that are free of contaminants, such as road salts, pesticides or lawn treatments. Be sure to rinse them well and be certain you’ve positively identified the plant.

Dandelions contain Vitamin C and beta carotene (an antioxidant that the body converts to Vitamin A), as well as other important vitamins and minerals. They’ve historically played a part in folk medicine, and some people have used dandelions as health remedies. However, you should always consult with your doctor before trying any such remedy.

Once their flowers pass, dandelions produce a round head of seeds adorned with white fluff that flies easily on the breeze or a puff of breath. Those seedheads have amused children of all ages, but if you’re concerned about a dandeli-

on invasion, be sure to remove the flowers before they go to seed, or you may find a field of dandelions in bloom next spring.

There are a number of ways to deal with unwanted dandelions in your garden. They have a long taproot, so trying to pull them by hand can be a chore. If you don’t remove the entire root, the plant can grow back.

Fortunately, there are a variety of tools that work well to remove dandelions. They include specialty hand weeders and long-handled, clawed weeders, which remove dandelions with a simple twist.

If you opt to use an herbicide for removal, be sure to select one intended for dandelions and apply according to the label’s directions.

If you don’t see the need for a pristine, monoculture carpet of green for your lawn, let dandelions grow and simply mow them with the grass. Why? Because those long taproots that make them so difficult to remove benefit your lawn by aerating compacted soil.

The next time you see a dandelion’s yellow flower, remember, it’s so much more than just a weed.

Deborah J. Benoit is a UVM Extension Master Gardener from North Adams, Mass., who is part of the Bennington County Chapter.

Dandelions have many benefits, including as an early nectar source for bees and other insects, as well as a good source of Vitamin C, beta carotene and other important vitamins and minerals when consumed in salads, tea or other foods and drink. PHOTO COURTESY OF UNSPLASH.COM

51 years and still running

CVU’s Anders Johnson, left, sails over the pole vault bar at the 51st Annual Burlington High School Track and Field Invitational on Saturday. Annalisa Fry, above right, finishes second in her heat of the 400 meter run.

CLOCKWISE BELOW (l to r): Anderson McEnaney finishes second in the boys 100 meter sprint. McKena Lesage finishes fifth in the ninth grade 100 meter sprint. Dan Knight wins the boys 1500 meter run with a time of 4.01.03. Lydia Donahue finishes fourth in the girls 1500 meter run.

CLOCKWISE (l to r): In spite of CVU’s Travis Stroh solo home run in the Redhawks’ first at-bat, the ‘Hawks ended up losing 7-1 to the South Burlington Wolves on May 7 in South Burlington. First on the mound was Aaron LaRose followed by Elise Berger. Russell Willoughby makes sure not to get caught out with a dive back to first. John Deyo fouls off a pitch. Out in right field, Andrew Nunziata makes a catch.

The bare facts…

Safe in the Sun

Are you going to be exploring outside, swimming or playing sports this summer? If you’ll be out in the hot summer sun, it’s important to protect your skin from sunburn. This week, The Mini Page learns more about being safe in the sun.

What is UV light?

Ultraviolet, or UV, radiation comes from the sun. Our eyes can’t see this light, but these are the rays that can burn our skin when we’re in the sun too long.

There are several types of UV radiation, but only UVA and UVB rays reach the surface of the Earth.

You may have heard someone announce the UV Index on the news or weather report. The index is a prediction of the intensity level of UV light in a certain region.

For example, if it’s cloudy in your city today, the UV Index will be lower than in another town where the sun is shining.

The UV Index is a scale from 1 to 11+, where 1 represents a slight risk of too much exposure to the sun and 11+ tells us that the risk is very high.

Earth’s protection

The Earth has a protective layer of gas called ozone surrounding it. It acts like a screen to help shield us from the sun’s damaging rays by absorbing and filtering

Next Week: Our states: Ohio

Mini Fact: Try to apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before you go outside.

them before they reach the surface of the planet.

But the ozone layer has been damaged by some chemicals that have been released into the air over many years. In some parts of the world, the ozone layer has become thinner.

Beginning in the 1980s, many of the world’s governments agreed to limit the use of chemicals that hurt the ozone layer. The Environmental Protection Agency predicts that the ozone layer will be completely recovered by 2065.

But remember, the sun’s damaging rays still reach us on Earth.

Staying safe

People who need to be extra-careful about sun exposure are those who have:

• pale skin

• blond, red or light brown hair

• a family member who has had skin cancer.

But skin protection is important for everyone. The EPA advises people to:

• Limit time in the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

• Wear clothing that covers the skin — long-sleeved shirts, pants and broadbrimmed hats.

• Reapply sunscreen at least every two hours.

What is SPF?

Most sunscreens are labeled with an SPF number. This stands for Sun Protection Factor. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that people use sunscreens with SPF 15 or higher. (SPF 15 means that you can stay out in the sun without burning 15 times longer than you could without protection. A higher SPF number means the sunscreen has a higher level of protection.)

Experts also recommend a sunscreen that protects against “broad-spectrum” radiation (both UVA and UVB rays).

Inside fun

When the sun is strongest, don’t forget about all the fun you can have indoors. Here are some ideas for keeping your cool during the sunniest part of the day:

• Visit the library. Most libraries have summer programs for kids. Or just browse for a good book and find a cool place to read.

• Take a trip to a museum. Explore the exhibits, go on a tour, or take a class for kids.

• Contact your fire department and arrange a tour for you and your friends.

• Make cookies and a big jug of lemonade and play a board game.

• See a movie.

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

Jokes

Founded by Betty Debnam

Try ’n’ Find

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

COOL, EARTH, INDEX, INSIDE, LAYER, LIBRARY, MOVIE, MUSEUM, OUTSIDE, OZONE, PLAY, POOL, RAYS, SAFETY, SPF, SUNBURN, SUNSCREEN, SWIM, ULTRAVIOLET.

Cook’s Corner

Cinnamon Graham Treats

You’ll need:

• 10 to 12 whole cinnamon graham crackers (1 sleeve from box)

• 1/2 cup butter

• 1/4 cup brown sugar

What to do:

• 1/4 cup white sugar

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1 cup pecans, chopped

Mini Jokes

Sunny: What would we call Frosty the Snowman if he had a sunburn?

Sherman: A puddle!

Eco Note

1. Break graham crackers in half; arrange with edges touching in 10-by-15-inch baking sheet.

2. Melt butter in separate pan over medium heat. Stir in sugars, cinnamon and pecans.

3. Cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

4. Pour sticky mixture evenly over graham crackers.

5. Bake in a 375-degree oven for 12 minutes.

6. Cool before serving. Serves 8.

You’ll need an adult’s help with this recipe.

Intense winter storms this year have caused hundreds of starving guillemot seabirds to fall dead onto France’s Atlantic beaches. Environmental advocates say the rough conditions prevented about 500 of the birds from feeding, leaving them exhausted before falling to the beaches and dying. A member of Sea Shepherd France says such deaths happen each winter, but not on the scale of recent weeks. “Climate change is an indirect cause as it increases the frequency and intensity of storms,” said French National Center for Scientific Research scientist Jerome Fort.

For later:

Look in your newspaper for ads for sunscreen and other summer necessities.

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

By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior,

Can you recommend some good resources to help me locate some quality doctors in my area?

I’m looking for an orthopedic doctor for my 77-year-old mother and a new internist for me, since my doctor retired last year.

Searching Susan

Dear Susan,

Finding and researching doctors is a lot easier than it used to be. Today, there are variety of websites you can turn to that provide databases of U.S. doctors, their professional medical histo -

ries, and ratings and reviews from past patients on a number of criteria. Here are some good sites to help you get started, along with a few additional tips that can help you find the right doctors.

Searching Tips

To help you locate some good doctors in your area, a good first step is to get referrals from trusted friends, along with any doctors, nurses or other healthcare professionals you know.

You also need to check your insurance provider. Call your insurer for a list of approved doctors or ask whether the doctor you’re considering is in-network.

If your mother is enrolled in original Medicare, you can use the care compare tool at www.Medicare.gov/care-compare — click on “Doctors & Clinicians.” This will let you find doctors by name, medical specialty or by geograph-

SAVVY SENIOR

ic location that accept original Medicare. If she’s enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, call or visit the plan website to get a list of approved candidates.

Once you find a few doctors, you need to call their offices to verify that they still accept your insurance, and if they are accepting new patients.

You should also consider hospital affiliation. Your choice of doctor can determine which hospital you go to, if needed, so find out where the doctor has admitting privileges. Then use some hospital ratings services like www.Medicare.gov/care-compare (click on “Hospitals”) to see how it compares with other hospitals in the area.

Researching Doctors

After you find a few doctors you’re interested in, there are various websites you can consult, to

help you evaluate them. For example, the Federation of State Medical Boards offers a tool at www. DocInfo.org that will let you find out a doctor’s board certifications, education, states with active licenses, and whether or not a physician has been disciplined by a state medical board.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS Data) is also a good source for researching doctors. For example, it will help you find out how many times a doctor did a particular procedure and what they charge for it — go to www.Data.CMS.gov/tools and click on “Medicare Physician & Other Practitioner Look-up Tool.” To learn about the financial relationship that doctors have with drug and medical device companies, visit www.OpenPaymentsData.CMS.gov.

Some other good sites for finding and researching healthcare professionals include Health-

grades (www.healthgrades.com) and Vitals (www.vitals.com).

Both sites provide substantial doctor information on education and training, hospital affiliations, board certification, awards and recognitions, professional misconduct, disciplinary action, office locations and accepted insurance plans.

They also offer five-star ratings scales from past patients on issues such as communication and listening skills, wait time, time spent with the patient, office friendliness and more. But be aware that while physician rating websites can be helpful, they can also be misleading and unreliable.

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.

TODAY’S HISTORY:

• In 1868, President Andrew Johnson was acquitted in his Senate impeachment trial by one vote.

• In 1929, the first Academy Awards were presented.

• In 1943, the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising officially ended as German forces destroyed the Great Synagogue of Warsaw.

• In 1966, the Beach Boys released their seminal record, “Pet Sounds.”

• In 1997, President Mobutu Sese Seko relinquished power after 32 years of dictatorial rule in Zaire.

TODAY’S FACT:

• The Beach Boys’ “Pet Sounds” ranked No. 2 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, released in 2003 and last revised in 2020. The album peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 chart the year of its release.

SUDOKU • SOLUTION ON PAGE 22

Does Vermont need a new prison for women?

BY OWEN CARPENTER-ZEHE Community News Service

On a recent morning in March, Tanya Gagne talked about the building where she’s lived on and off for 20 years.

“It needs to be condemned,” she said. “We get flies that come out of the drain. We get worms that come out of the drain.”

Gagne is currently awaiting trial at Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington, Vermont’s only prison for women. It’s a 50-year-old fortress built on a swamp, and has at least $5 million worth of deferred maintenance.

She was talking to state Sen. Wendy Harrison during a tour arranged by the Vermont Department of Corrections.

Harrison, a Democrat from Windham County, sits on the legislative committee that deals with prisons.

“There’s often an assumption that we do prisons well, the way we do other things well, and that is not an accurate assumption,” Harrison said during a phone interview. “We do not do prison well, and we can do much better.”

In recent years, the Department of Corrections has adopted an ideology of rehabilitation — to humanely treat and train people to be successful citizens when they’re released, according to the agency.

That’s meant new paint on the walls, murals of the Vermont landscape and inspirational quotes. Services like domestic violence support have moved directly into the prison. There’s also a new “honors unit,” where some low-security prisoners on good behavior can live together unsupervised.

But agency leaders say they can’t make more substantial changes because they’re trapped in the 1970s prison.

“I don’t think anybody has any security issue with them having access to their own light, or having access to water that doesn’t shut off after 15 seconds,” said Jordan Pasha, the South Burlington prison’s security operations supervisor. “It’s just because of our infrastructure.”

He and other agency staff say they need an entirely new building.

The Department of Corrections is working with a global prison design firm on a proposal of a 158-bed facility that would cost around $70 million. So far, about $15 million has already been set aside.

They’re drawing inspiration from a new prison not too far away — the Southern Maine Women’s Reentry Center.

Sen. Harrison has visited facilities in Maine, and said they were designed with rehabilitation in mind.

“People who are incarcerated are encouraged to talk to each other and to settle potential disputes with each other and to do it directly using restorative justice processes,” she said.

In Vermont, the proposed facility would look more like a college dorm. It would have additional honors units, more natural light, and less restrictions on movement and interactions between prisoners.

There is also a proposed reentry unit, where prisoners would move to prepare for outside life.

However, there is still a lot left to figure out, like potential locations for the new facility and a timeline for construction.

Those loose plans have advocates like Falko Schilling, with the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont, wanting concrete details before he can support the proposal — especially its size. He thinks 158 beds is too large.

“We need to make sure that we are not overbuilding or expanding the prison footprint in the state,” Schilling said.

The current prison can hold up to 170 people, but the women’s prison population has decreased over the past decade and about half of the roughly 100 women held there today are awaiting trial. That has some people questioning whether Vermont needs a new facility at all.

Earlier this spring, around 25 people gathered in front of the women’s prison to protest plans for the new facility, organized by the prison abolition group FreeHer Vermont.

Jayna Ahsaf, the campaign field organizer, said funding community-level alternatives to prison is a better use of state resources.

“We could spend that $15

Lawmakers pass flood disclosure requirements for home sellers, landlords

BY CARLY BERLIN VTDigger

A few years ago, when Corinne Cooper was considering leasing a lot at a manufactured home park in Berlin, she had some sense that the park had experienced minor flooding in the past. But, she said, she didn’t receive much information from the property owner when she asked if he had done anything to mitigate the risk.

“I was naive enough to think, ‘Well, you know, I’m only planning on being there two or three years,’” she said. Within that window, floodwaters destroyed her home, when the Stevens Branch of the Winooski River inundated the park last July.

In response to last year’s widespread flooding, Vermont lawmakers have passed new measures intended to give prospective homebuyers, renters and manufactured home purchasers more information about flood risk when looking for their next home.

Vermont now joins a growing list of states that mandate flood risk disclosure for real estate transactions, as climate change fuels more extreme weather.

The new requirements have not yet been signed into law by Gov. Phil Scott, and are part of a sweeping land use and housing reform bill that the Republican governor has suggested he may veto. Yet the flood disclosure measures proved relatively uncontroversial throughout this year’s leg-

islative session.

Rep. Tom Stevens, D-Waterbury, one of the authors of the legislation, represents a town that is no stranger to floods. In the intervening years between Tropical Storm Irene’s destruction in 2011 and the historic floods of 2023, “there were a number of people who bought homes that had no idea that they were in a flood zone,” Stevens said.

“Those communities who were affected felt like this was something that was missing from statute,” he added.

The new measures require the seller of a property to tell a buyer whether the building is in a high or moderate-risk flood zone mapped by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The seller must also disclose whether the property flooded while they owned it — and if it faced damage from flood-related erosion or a landslide, issues that arose after last summer’s floods. Sellers will also need to reveal whether or not they maintain flood insurance on the property. And if a seller fails to tell the buyer any of this information, the legislation lays out a clear path for recourse.

Prospective buyers already have some avenues to learn about flood risk. When seeking to buy a home within FEMA’s so-called 100-year floodplain, purchasers pursuing a federally-backed mortgage will already learn from their lender that federal law requires them to take out a flood insurance policy. And the new flood disclo -

sure requirements augment existing rules realtors follow to relay potential hazards to buyers.

Peter Tucker, a lobbyist for the Vermont Association of Realtors, previously told VTDigger/ Vermont Public that he supported the proposed disclosure measures but found them somewhat redundant, given existing realtors’ rules. Now, though, he recognizes that for buyers paying for property in cash — or the estimated 30-40 percent of the market not working with a realtor — the disclosure law will provide information they may not get elsewhere.

“I think it becomes more important when you consider the entire marketplace,” he said.

That information may help homeowners better prepare for future flooding. A 2022 FEMA analysis found that states with stronger flood disclosure requirements often have higher rates of residents with flood insurance policies. Without flood insurance, Vermonters are left relying on federal disaster aid to recoup their losses, which rarely pays out as much money.

The bill also requires that landlords disclose whether a rental sits in FEMA’s high-risk flood zone before a tenant signs a lease, and tasks the state Department of Housing and Community Development with creating a model form for property owners to use to convey this risk. The state would need to create a similar notice for

An excavator digs out access to a manufactured home that was flooded in Berlin on July 13, 2023.

Village Community Park Kids Fest

Come out to Village Community Park on May 18 for Kids Fest — a family friendly day at the park for all ages. There will be children’s activities, games, giveaways, food and fun from noon to 2 p.m.

FAMILY PROGRAMS

LINE DANCING

Ages 6-plus. This program consists of line dance instruction for the first hour and open dance time for the second hour. All experience levels, including beginner, are welcome. Instructors: Country’s Best VT. Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m. $10 per person at The R.E.C. Zone, 94 Harvest Lane.

DANGEROUS GIRLS

Ages 12-plus. A practical self-defense class designed for teens and young women with a combination of kickboxing and grappling. It’s fun, it’s social, and before you know it, you’ll be able to kick butt. Instructor: ONTA Studio staff

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS INTRO

Ages 13-plus. This program mixes training techniques from

boxing, kickboxing and Jiu-Jitsu to create a fun, non-competitive environment where your child will get a great workout and learn practical self-defense skills. Instructor: ONTA Studio staff

ADULT

PROGRAMS

SENIOR STRENGTH AND FUNCTIONAL MOBILITY

Ages 50-plus. This fitness program for seniors concentrates on developing upper and lower body strength as well as improving balance and strengthening your core. In this dementia-friendly class, participants are encouraged to work within their abilities. Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:45-10:45 a.m., $5 per visit, at the R.E.C. Zone, 94 Harvest Lane.

JAZZERCISE CARDIO SCULPT PROGRAMS

Ages 50-plus. These programs are low impact, with different levels of intensity. Classes are offered year-round. Passes of one, five and 10 visits are available to purchase. Cardio Sculpt Low, Tuesdays and Fridays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. and Mondays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Cardio Sculpt High, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 4:45-5:45 p.m. and Sundays, 8:30-9:30 a.m.

TAI CHI INTRO

Ages 50-plus. This class will present sequences of movements derived from the “Sun” style, which is slow, smooth and upright in posture. This style is especially accessible to those over 50 or with impaired mobility. Wednesdays 12:15-1:15 p.m. R.E.C. Zone, 94 Harvest Lane. Free. Instructor: Adina Panitch

BEGINNER FENCING

Ages 50-plus. Fencing is an Olympic sport that develops strength, agility, fitness and mental focus. It is also a fun recreational sport enjoyed by a growing number of Vermont adults. If you are looking to try something new, or your inner swashbuckler has a bucket list, come try it out. Mondays, June 13-July 25, 10:30 a.m.12 p.m. Instructor: Karen Cutler

YOUTH PROGRAMS

SUMMER CAMPS

Registration is open for summer camps at www.willistonrec. org. New camps recently added include Art Camp, Disc Golf Camp and Ultimate Frisbee Camp.

NINJA INTRO PROGRAMS

Ages 4-8, 7-11 and 9-15. Come try a four-week introduction to martial arts. Ninja classes help girls and boys realize their full potential in an environment that is playful, supportive and fun. Instructor: ONTA Studio staff

April 23 at 3:42 a.m. — Following a traffic stop, a male was issued a citation to appear in court for excessive speed and negligent operation.

April 23 at 12:21 p.m. — Report of a female at Zephyr Place refusing to leave. Female was issued a notice of trespass and moved along.

April 23 at 8:40 p.m. — Suspicious vehicle reported on Sharon Drive. Male operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.

April 24 at 1:20 p.m. — Report of a suspicious vehicle in Maple Tree Place. Male was trespassed and moved along.

April 24 at 3:54 p.m. — Field contact made with male who had an active arrest warrant. Male was issued a citation to appear in court.

April 25 at 12:26 p.m. — Report of a stolen vehicle at UHaul. Male suspect returned the vehicle.

April 25 at 6:19 p.m. — During an attempted traffic stop, a male took off in his vehicle and then fled on foot. Officers caught the suspect, who refused to identify himself. He was issued a citation to appear in court for negligent operation and false information to a police officer.

April 26 at 1:01 p.m. — Report of an employee embezzling money from Walmart. Male was issued a citation to appear in court.

April 26 at 2:37 p.m. — Report of a male screaming at Lenny’s employees. Male was gone upon arrival.

April 26 at 5:47 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Hannaford. Female suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court.

April 26 at 9:11 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Walmart. Two female suspects have been referred to the Community Justice program.

April 26 at 10:11 p.m. — Stolen vehicle reported from Texas Roadhouse. Vehicle was located later that night in Colchester.

April 27 at 8:19 a.m. — Stolen vehicle reported at UHaul. Van was located later that day by Berlin Police Department.

April 27 at 10:07 p.m. — Report of a male shouting on Retail Way. Male was gone upon arrival.

April 28 at 1:23 p.m. — Report of an intoxicated female at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Female left before officers arrival.

April 29 at 9:58 a.m. — Retail theft reported at Jiffy Mart. Female suspect was issued a citation to appear in court. She was also issued a notice of trespass from the building.

April 29 at 11:05 p.m. — Report of a male sleeping in the stairwell of Zephyr Place. Male had an active warrant from another state. He was lodged at the correctional facility.

Officers also responded to nine alarm activations and eight motor vehicle crashes, and conducted 21 traffic stops during this time frame.

Williston

Adams Farm Market

Belle’s Café

Chef’s Corner

Dorothy Alling Memorial Library

Fairfield Inn

Gardener’s Supply

Green Mountain Bagel Hannaford

Healthy Living Williston Home2Suites Island Homemade Ice Cream

Korner Kwik Stop

Marriott Courtyard

Men At Wok M&T 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

Vermont Meat & Seafood

Williston Coffee Shop

Essex Junction

Essex Automotive

Five Corner Variety Hannaford Inn at Essex Mac’s Market

Martone’s Deli

Price Chopper

Quality Bake Shop

River Road Beverage Richmond

Cumberland Farms

Richmond Free Library

Richmond Market

Richmond Mobil Mart

Flood

continued from page 20

lot leases in manufactured home parks. Flood damage to a manufactured home itself would need to be communicated to a buyer, too.

Cooper sees flood risk disclosure as a step in the right direction. And she hopes people will grasp the gravity of the information when they get it — even if their choices are constrained by Vermont’s acute housing shortage and skyrocketing prices.

“Just because something hasn’t flooded or flooded to a certain degree in the past doesn’t mean that it won’t in the future,” Cooper said. “I’m certainly not wanting anybody else to take those risks.”

This story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.

Prison

continued from page 20

million really investing in those tracking outcomes,” she said. “So in a year from now, we can show people we don’t need a prison for the 50 or so people who are sentenced — we can build smaller facilities or even homes across the state that meet needs way better.”

Vermont already has some of these programs, like Dismas House and Pathways Vermont. Part of their funding comes from the state, but they have limited beds.

Sen. Harrison hears these concerns, but she says the state isn’t ready to not have a prison for women.

“I think that there are and will be a small number of people who do need to be kept separate for their protection and for the public’s protection,” she said. “It is a much smaller number than we have incarcerated now.”

CLASSIFIEDS

FOR SALE

FURNITURE — Q Murphy bed - like new condition; $500. Beautiful piece of furniture open or closed. Will text pictures. Glider Rocker with matching ottoman and matching upholstered back,

Another concern for advocates is staffing the new facility. In Vermont, vacancies at the Department of Corrections are currently around 15 percent. That’s down from 30 percent a few years ago, when Vermont implemented a temporary 60-hour work week for correctional officers.

But staff shortages are still impacting services in the prison — like the availability of library books. They’re supposed to be switched from unit to unit, Gagne explained on the tour in March.

“We got two bookcases over here but they’re all the same books — we never get them exchanged,” she said. “So yeah, it’s bad.”

Owen Carpenter-Zehe is a reporter with Community News Service, part of the University of Vermont’s Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program. He wrote this story on assignment for Vermont Public.

cushion and attached padded arm rests; $75. Loveseat: beige with some green and pink - like new condition; $75 . Must pick up in Essex Jct. 802-305-9433

Hart & Mead Energy and All Star Fuels in Hinesburg/Bristol area is looking for an individual with a clean CDL-B / Hazmat endorsement. Able to pass federally mandated drug screening. DOT physical required. Competitive wage, paid holidays and sick time.

Contact hartmeadllc@gmail.com or 802-482-6666

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.

Rabies is a deadly

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

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.

Shelburne display lead dors from creemees.

continued from page 1

“I think we, as a town, would do well to keep any future (cellular) antenna proposals at a minimum of 500 meters, and preferably even further, from the school, which houses a large number of people day-in and day-out, some of the most vulnerable of the population, our children, among them,” she wrote.

Other opposition focused on the historic nature of the church, which is on the National Register of Historic Places worthy of preservation. The church was built in 1832 and is owned by the town.

Former state Rep. Jim McCullough emailed town leaders to “join my voice with the many others saying the beautiful, historic

“…the beautiful, historic church, a landmark in our historic village center, deserves better than to serve as a money maker for Verizon …”

Jim McCullough

church, a landmark in our historic village center, deserves better than to serve as a money maker for Verizon while it denigrates the historic nature of the building.”

For supporters, the prospect of

reliable cell service is the primary concern.

“It is absurd that in 2024 the 11th largest town in Vermont does not have adequate cell service by one of the largest cellular providers,” wrote Jamie Polli in feedback to the town. “Williston residents deserve improved Verizon cell service.”

Others submitting supporting emails include Jerry Greenfield of Ben & Jerry’s fame and Williston Conservation Commission member Reed Carr.

The selectboard is not bound by the trustees’ recommendation. Butterfield plans to deliver the recommendation during the selectboard’s July 2 meeting.

“It is absurd that in 2024 the 11th largest town in Vermont does not have adequate cell service by one of the largest cellular providers.”

Jamie Polli

In other business Monday, the trustees discussed plans to make the Old Brick Church compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act and to finalize the design a fire suppression system that voters rejected bond funding for during Town Meeting Day in March.

KID’S FEST

“The plan (is) to get the design together and go back to bond at some future date,” Public Works Director Bruce Hoar said. “Unless this gets bumped years and years down the road, you are going to have a design that is ready to be implemented to build this system.”

Trustees also discussed renewed interest in resuming the Old Brick Church Music Series that has been on hiatus since the pandemic. Organizer Rick McGuire, the former town manager, staffed a table at the May 4 Town Fair event to recruit volunteers to help revive the series. According to trustee Lauren Koumjian, McGuire collected a list of about a dozen interested residents.

“Rick walked away with the list very much inspired,” she said.