Williston Observer 11/19/2020

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NOVEMBER 19, 2020

WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985

A silent winter for Brick Church Music Series

WWW.WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM

In the bag

Welch introduces ‘Save our Stages’ bill

BY JASON STARR OBSERVER STAFF

The Brick Church Music Series is going dark for the 2020/2021 season.

The series, sponsored by the Town of Williston and produced by a group of volunteers, puts on about nine concerts each season in the Old Brick Church in Williston Village, often packing the house for its monthly performances.

Organizers had discussed the possibility of live-streaming concerts to keep the series going through the coronavirus pandemic, but ultimately decided to cancel the season and plan for a return in the fall of 2021. The last two shows of the 2019/2020 season were cancelled when the pandemic began last spring. The season typically begins in October and continues through April.

“We don’t think we can bring our patrons, who tend to be older, out. So the series is on hold until the fall of 2021, and we have every intention of coming back normally at that time,” said producer Dave Yandell.

The producer group has dwindled to three people, all retired men, Yandell noted. He hopes it will grow to about six people and be more diverse in age and gender by the time the series returns next year. He also hopes to re-establish the town’s support, which included ticket sales on the town web site.

Former Town Manager Rick McGuire had been a liaison between the town and the music series. While he continues to help with the series, he has retired from town government.

“We are committed and we are going to continue to do it, but we are going to try to reconfigure. We are actively looking for younger people who are committed to the performing arts,” Yandell said. “It can’t be just a bunch of old, gray-haired guys doing this.”

The pandemic has been particularly hard on the regionally touring acts that the series usually showcases. Yandell has talked in recent months with some of the artists who have played the Brick Church series in the past. Some are streaming performances online without pay, some are teaching music virtually, some are focusing on recording and others are “working at the bank and the supermarket,” Yandell said.

“When we contact them it’s kind of sad. Most of them are full-time professional musicians and they are dying to

get out and play,” he said. “The vocalists are really frantic because it seems like singing is going to come back last.”

Series organizers had a lengthy discussion about the possibility of inviting a performer to live-stream a virtual concert from the Brick Church this winter, but determined they didn’t have the expertise to pull it off.

“We just weren’t sure we could do it at the quality level that you would like to be able to do it,” said Yandell. “It’s not something you can easily do by Zoom or just with a phone. You need a little more equipment than that … And how do you monetize it? We are committed to paying performers. We don’t like the idea of having performers play just for exposure.”

Vermont’s live music industry is in dire straits as it faces the prospect of a silent winter, where large gatherings continue to be banned. Performing arts venues were the first businesses to close in March, and expect to be among the last to reopen once the pandemic wanes. But some worry they won’t be able to make it that long.

“Great shared experiences are an endangered species right now,” said Alex Crothers, co-owner of Higher Ground in South Burlington. “The entire performance arts sector is in an existential crisis.”

Crothers said that, in March, Higher Ground canceled 187 shows and many more have been canceled since. He expects it to be another full year before reopening is a realistic possibility.

“We’re completely shuttered,” he said. “There’s no takeout business, there’s no partial opening. Being partially open is not a business strategy; it’s just a way to lose more money.”

Other venues across the state agree.

Nearly all of the big names in Vermont performing arts spaces have closed their in-person operations indefinitely, with only a smattering of online or outdoor shows to try to fill the gaps.

And their owners are worried that the federal relief money they received from the CARES Act won’t last long enough for them to get by.

U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt, held a press conference last week to talk about a bill he introduced earlier this year as part of the HEROES Act, called Save our see BRICK CHURCH page 16

Helpers accept donations during the food drive at Williston Federated Church on Saturday.

Carol Pierce stocks a grocery bag to give to a family at the Williston Federated Church on Saturday.

OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY

Board delays Black Lives Matter decision

BY JASON STARR OBSERVER STAFF

A racial equity and social justice coalition has formed under the leadership of Williston Town Manager Erik Wells.

Wells convened the coalition this fall in response to simultaneous conversations among a number of local organizations and citizens about racial inclusivity and supporting social justice. The town has received a $3,000 grant from the Vermont Community Foundation for a stipend for a person to lead the coalition.

The announcement comes two months after a group of Williston residents requested that the selectboard approve flying a Black Lives Matter flag at Town Hall, or another prominent message such as a roadway Black Lives Matter painting. School district officials have already taken the step of flying Black Lives Matter flags at local schools.

“We feel our community needs a daily reminder that there are systemic and institutional realities that keep some of our citizens from experiencing the intent of Williston’s charter and values,” group leader Pat Brown wrote in the September request to the board.

The selectboard declined to approve the request at a meeting in October and again declined to act when it met this week.

“Our job is town governance, not necessarily to take a stand on this,” board member Joy Limoge said. “I’m worried about opening Pandora’s box.”

The citizens’ request asks town leaders to go beyond a prominent Black Lives Matter display to consider policing reforms, education about existing racism in Williston, systemic racism training and “restoration for the harm that racism has brought to our community.”

Board member Jeff Fehrs asked Wells to ensure that the coalition take up those goals in its work. The Community Coalition on Social Justice consists of the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club, the Williston Community Justice Center, the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston Federated Church, Vermont Interfaith Action, the Champlain Valley School District and the Town of Williston.

“We are going to wait on the decision until we get more feedback from the coalition,” selectboard chairman Terry Macaig said about the Black Lives Matter message request.

Page 2 • Williston Observer • November 19, 2020

Observer organizes sixth annual Socks for Seniors drive

The Williston Observer is participating in the Socks for Seniors project for the sixth consecutive year to help bring holiday cheer and winter warmth to local seniors.

Socks for Seniors is a nonprofit community service project that organizes, collects and distributes new socks for seniors in communities all over the country.

The holidays can be a difficult time of year for lonely and fi-

nancially challenged seniors who get lost in the shuffle, according to Jamie Coyne, Socks for Seniors founder.

Coyne said he started Socks for Seniors in Ohio 17 years ago after visiting a senior community and talking to a woman who told him that her feet were freezing.

“Her socks were in bad shape. They were worn out and had holes in them. The solution seemed simple and my wife then

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left only to return a few minutes later with a new pair of socks,” Coyne said. “Not only did it serve its purpose, but it made the lady’s day.”

Marianne Apfelbaum of the Williston Observer said it is an easy way for the company to pitch in around the holidays locally.

“We’ve worked with the senior population for more than 20 years, and we try to support seniors in any way we can,” she said. “We had a great response last year from Williston residents and businesses, and I hope history will repeat itself this year!”

ion tradit liston th year!

A Wil its 6 in w o n

Bring new, soft and comfortable socks to Socks for Seniors dropoff locations: Williston Coffee Shop at 400 Cornerstone We are trying to collect Drive, or Williston Op300 pairs of new, soft and comfortable socks to be distributed to local nursing homes. tometry at 33 Blair Park Rd. (by Dec. 14, 2020) The Observer’s goal WILLISTON OPTOME TRY 33 Blair Park Rd., Will is to collect 300 pairs of iston WILLISTON COFFEE SHOP soft, new socks by Dec. Tafts Farms Village Cen ter 400 Cornerstone Driv e, Williston 14, which will be donated to long-term residents of at least three area nursing Socks can be dropped off at Williston Coffee Shop and Williston homes. If more socks are donat- Optometry. ed, the Observer will be able to serve more local nursing homes. Marianne@willistonobserver.

For more information, email com.

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Town snowplowing may take longer than usual during or after storms this winter, according to Williston Public Works Director Bruce Hoar.

Already short-staffed, the department is girding for the possibility that a coronavirus infection — or COVID-like symptoms — and quarantine requirements could keep crew members out of work and slow plowing efforts during a storm.

“We do not have a lot flexibility when it comes to trained

One of eight of the town’s snowplowing trucks.

drivers for our plowing operations,” Hoar said. “Any time we cannot put all the equipment on the road for a storm it slows down that operation.”

The department has eight

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trucks for plowing roads and one sidewalk plow. It typically makes a first pass on all of Williston’s 72 miles of road within four hours of a snowstorm. Hoar, who spoke to the selectboard Tuesday about this winter’s plowing plans, is asking for residents’ understanding if the response is not up to that standard this winter.

“If we are unfortunate enough to have a case of COVID with the highway crew, we could lose a truck for an unknown duration,” he said. “We will do our best to let the residents know if we get to a point where our operations are going to take longer than usual. The crew takes pride in the work they do and hopes (residents) understand if things take a while longer during these trying times.”

Public works employees fall under the category of “essential workers,” he said. While no one will be allowed to work while showing COVID symptoms, staff members under quarantine for potential exposure to the virus will be allowed to plow if asymptomtic, Hoar said.

The department will ensure that drivers remain apart from each other if under precautionary quarantine, he said.

“We will stagger breaks as needed and they will only be allowed to take a break either in their truck or at the shop alone,” Hoar wrote in a memo to the board.

“Because of our modern facility and trained staff, they can deal with their own plow operations without a lot of supervision.”

November 19, 2020 • Williston Observer • Page 3

Critics cry foul over retroactive permitting at CSWD

BY AMANDA GOKEE VTDIGGER

Critics say a plan to retroactively approve the alleged improper disposal of glass by the Chittenden Solid Waste District makes a farce of environmental regulation.

In 2018, the Agency of Natural Resources found CSWD violated rules by disposing of crushed glass at its Williston site without state approval.

Because of the scope of the dumping and the potential fines involved, the Attorney General’s Office was called in to investigate.

Two and a half years after the alleged violations were found, the case remains unresolved.

Now, however, state officials are discussing issuing retroactive permits as a way to settle the case, a move that critics say would undermine enforcement and not hold the district accountable. Even some within the agency oppose the move.

The three permits being discussed would make Chittenden Solid Waste District’s disposal of glass on its Williston property legal, after the fact. Whether or not the glass already buried will have to be removed is still an open question.

In April 2018, ANR sent Chittenden Solid Waste District a notice of alleged violation for disposing of “thousands of cubic yards of discarded crushed

glass” at two sites by the closed town landfill and the district’s composting facility in Williston.

The alleged violations were for disposal outside a certified facility and for failing to accurately notify the state, officials reported last year. The waste district said the glass it took in from haulers had been sent to markets to be recycled and that leftover, unusable “aggregate” glass had been used in allowable local projects such as paving. A subsequent ANR investigation, however, found both claims to be untrue. The solid waste district had been disposing of glass for years and misrepresenting its records, according to the ANR investigation.

“It’s god-awful what is going on right now, what the ANR and the AG is also doing,” said John Brabant, who spent 20 years working as a regulator for the Agency of Natural Resources. Brabant is now the director of regulatory affairs for the nonprofit group, Vermonters for a Clean Environment.

“It is so scandalous on so many angles. They’re doing everything in their power to assist Chittenden Solid Waste District in limiting their liability and limiting public scrutiny,” Brabant said of ANR and the Attorney General’s Office.

Officials with CSWD deny all allegations they acted improperly. They say permits were

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CSWD has come under fire for allegedly dumping glass aggregate at its Williston location on Redmond Road. OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR

never necessary and the district acted in accordance with state regulations.

“We disagree with the determination and the allegations,” said Michele Morris, the solid waste district’s director of outreach and communications.

“We maintain that we didn’t need to get those permits. It wasn’t something that we felt was required in the first place, based on information that we were given.”

The waste district maintains the leftover glass was processed

according to standards called “processed glass aggregate” — ground down into fine enough pieces to be used legally in construction projects.

Finding a market to sell recycled bottles and other glass products has been difficult, according to the CSWD. CSWD Executive Director Sarah Reeves disputes the material had been “dumped” and noted the difficulty and expense involved in its disposal.

Brabant worries the lack of a market creates an incen-

tive for the district to dispose of the glass internally, while also keeping the fees haulers pay the district to take their product.

Three permits are under consideration for retroactive approval. Environmentalists like Brabant and other Vermont solid waste district managers want the Attorney General’s Office to complete its investigation first.

If the back-permits are granted, according to Brabant, the legal case against CSWD could be seriously weakened, and open the way for a settlement that could reduce or eliminate holding the district accountable.

Settlement in the works The Chittenden Solid Waste District has been receiving glass from around the state to recycle at its facilities since 1993. In 2003, it invested $2.1 million in a MRF — a material recovery facility — to allow single-stream, no-sort recycling.

Vermonters cleaned their bottles and put them into nosort blue bins, haulers paid the waste district to take the glass see CSWD page 20

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Page 4 • Williston Observer • November 19, 2020

Lenny’s helps homeless through cold months

Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel has joined the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity to support people experiencing homelessness by donating 145 pairs of winter boots.

When the pandemic began earlier this year, much of Chittenden County’s homeless population was moved from traditional homeless shelters, where social distancing is nearly impossible, to the Holiday Inn Emergency Shelter in South Burlington managed by CVOEO. The Holiday Inn in South Burlington is currently housing 145 individuals experiencing homelessness, making it the largest shelter in the

state.

CVOEO provides an array of services to help residents sustain housing and it turns to community partners like Lenny’s to prepare residents for the cold winter months ahead.

“Lenny’s has brought warmth and kindness to people experiencing homelessness during this winter season,” said Adam Hall, CVOEO Holiday Inn housing advocate and resource manager.

Lenny’s and its customers in its Williston, Barre, St. Albans and Plattsburgh, N.Y., locations also recently raised $22,000 for the Vermont Foodbank and Plattsburgh

Foodshelf. The funds were raised during Lenny’s 10th annual Charity Sale throughout October.

“During the pandemic, the Vermont Foodbank has nearly doubled the amount of food it is distributing to meet the need,” Vermont Foodbank CEO John Sayles said. “We are in the midst of a hunger crisis unlike anything we’ve seen in our lifetimes, and it is going to take all of us working together to ensure that everyone in Vermont has enough food. We are deeply grateful for the generosity of partners like Lenny’s in helping ensure that our neighbors have access to the food they need to thrive during these

challenging times.”

For the month of October, Lenny’s customers were encouraged to make a $10 donation to the Vermont Foodbank or Plattsburgh Foodshelf in exchange for a custom canvas tote bag and exclusive access to the storewide sale. All donations collected went directly to the non-profits.

“Our customers have astounded us once again with their generosity,” said Mark McCarthy, co-owner of Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel. “They are committed to making a difference in the lives of our neighbors. To date, we have donated over $161,000 to take action against food insecurity in our area.”

A Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel employee helps donate winter boots to the homeless shelter at the Holiday Inn in South Burlington. OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO

Toys for Kids navigates pandemic-related challenges

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poverty level during normal times, this year, the COVID-19 pandemic is stretching even more families thin.

Toys for Kids expects about a 25 percent increase in need for Christmas toys. At the same time, collection efforts have been hampered by the loss of about 35 toy collection locations due to the closure of businesses and offices.

Typically, the toy drive’s volunteers and sponsors monitor and empty Toys for Kids barrels placed inside businesses and offices throughout the state.

The website www.toysforkidsvt.com has a list of locations that are still able to host a barrel.

Unwrapped toys collected are turned over to agencies like the Salvation Army for distribution to needy families.

Because people may be worried about going to stores to shop for toys to fill toy barrels due to the pandemic, Toys for Kids has implemented a way to help online. Just ship online toy purchases to: Toys for Kids of Vermont, c/o Jerihill Ace Hardware, 249 Vt15, Jericho, Vermont 05465.

Toys for Kids volunteers will deliver gifts received directly to local agencies for distribution.

In addition to toys for children up to age 14, financial donations help the organization buy $35 Visa gift cards for 15-17-year-olds. Checks can be mailed to: Toys for Kids, PO Box 4092, Burlington, VT. 05406. Or donate via PayPal at www.toysforkidsvt.com.

For more information and ways to help, contact Toy for Kids Vermont coordinator John Welsh at (802) 872-0354.

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November 19, 2020 • Williston Observer • Page 5

Community Bank set to open in December The offices of Community Bank N.A. that are under construction at the Cottonwood Crossing development on Route 2 in Williston are scheduled for a December opening, the company announced this week.

The bank building will anchor the first phase of the development, which will also include about 45 apartments. Cottonwood Crossing has Develop-

ment Review Board approval for two phases of retail and residential buildings on a 16-acre parcel, located across from Talcott Drive and next to Maple Tree Place.

The Community Bank branch will replace the bank’s Kennedy Drive location in South Burlington. It will have tellers, an ATM and two drivethrough lanes. It will also offer government and commercial banking offices.

Community Bank will con-

tinue to operate locations in South Burlington on Williston Road and Shelburne Road. In all, the bank has about 235 locations in Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.

“Our team can’t wait to welcome customers into the new space,” Community Bank Chief Trust Investment Officer Charles Perrillo said. “The building is being constructed specifically for our customers, and for the most part by our cus-

tomers, so it will allow for an enhanced experience. We look forward to opening a physical

location in Williston, a community that our team has served and been involved with for years.”

Unsworth Properties and a group of investors have closed on the acquisition of roughly 277,000 square feet of industrial/manufacturing real estate in Williston and Essex from REM Development. The transaction took nearly a year to negotiate and was completed Oct. 30.

REM Development, rep-

resented by Brad Worthen of Pomerleau Real Estate, began a process of identifying a purchaser last November. The transaction encompasses nine separate properties in Williston and Essex.

REM Development founder Bobby Miller began work on the transactions with Unsworth

prior to his death in February.

Miller’s children, Stephanie and Tim, finalized the transaction.

Unsworth Properties is a third-generation family company headquartered in Burling-

ton that develops, acquires and manages commercial and residential rental properties.

OBSERVER STAFF REPORT

A rendering of the new Community Bank N.A. location at Cottonwood Crossing, expected to open in December. IMAGE COURTESY OF TRUEXCULLINS

Unsworth acquires industrial properties from REM

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Page 6 • Williston Observer • November 19, 2020

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Phone: (802) 872-9000

Mailing address: P.O. Box 1401, Williston, Vt. 05495

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GUEST COLUMN

Late better than never for more pandemic relief

BY JACK HOFFMAN

Now that Election Day is over, Congress needs to get back to work and approve another round of COVID relief to support the states. New national daily COVID cases are topping 130,000, and the first round of federal relief is running out.

So far, Vermont hasn’t taken the financial hit that was anticipated last March when COVID-19 became a pandemic. That is due in large part to swift action by Congress. The CARES Act directed more than $4.5 billion in federal aid to Vermont businesses, individuals and state government. That included $600 a week in federal supplemental unemployment benefits, which was a lifeline to workers who had to stop working but couldn’t support their families on regular state unemployment insurance payments.

According to a new report from the Legislature’s Joint Fiscal Office, the federal aid pumped into the Vermont economy helped to generate nearly $50 million in extra tax revenue for the first three months of this fiscal year.

General Fund tax receipts from July through September were expected to be $523 million. Instead, the state took in almost $573 million.

But while revenue collections appear strong now, the Joint Fiscal Office warns there could be trouble ahead: “Personal and corporate income taxpayers may have been overpaying in the first half of the year, which could lead to greater refunding during the April tax filing season,” it says. “In the absence of additional federal fiscal stimulus, the money from the CARES Act drains out of the economy at some point by the end of the year, which could cause consumers and businesses to restrain growth and spending in the second half of the year.

“The trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic will impact consumer behavior, which will impact consumption-based taxes.”

The CARES Act has propped up the economy through the pandemic. Businesses, individuals and states are going to need help again when that stimulus fades away. Congress dithered through the summer and fall,

SWITCH

but now time has run out.

And it’s time to control the pandemic if we want the economy to recover. Clearly, the spread of the virus is getting worse. President Trump pointed to the recent spikes in COVID cases as proof that Europe was managing the virus poorly. Most of Europe has responded to the new surge by tightly restricting people’s movements as they did last spring. Most states in the U.S. are experiencing new spikes almost daily. If lockdowns in Europe slow the spread of the virus as well as they did in the spring, perhaps the U.S. finally will make a national effort to curb the virus. That, too, will require more federal help: to pay some people to stay home again, to give the states money to step up testing and tracing and to help states balance their budgets when revenues fall again.

Winter is coming, and experts warn the worst is still ahead. We’re dying for some help.

Jack Hoffman is senior policy analyst at Public Assets Institute, online at www.publicassetts.org.

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November 19, 2020 • Williston Observer • Page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Renewing commitment to recycling Here at the Chittenden Solid Waste District, we geek out on recycling. As municipal solid waste managers, it’s literally our job to be the local experts on how our community can first reduce, then reuse and finally manage all the stuff we buy, use and toss out in the most environmentally and economically responsible manner.

We’ve steered through all kinds of waters in our 33 years fulfilling that mission — smooth, choppy and even downright stormy. Through recessions, global market contractions and now a worldwide pandemic, it’s amazing that recycling continues to happen at all.

But happen it does, and we’d like to take this opportunity to recognize that in this unprecedented time, when so many recycling programs are struggling, we remain steady at the helm. In large part that’s thanks to you, the passionate, dedicated Vermonters who make the effort to understand and care about what you buy and how all

that stuff should be recycled and responsibly managed at the end of its life.

Together, here’s some of what we’ve kept out of Vermont’s landfills since 1993: • More than 800,000 tons of everyday household “bluebin” recyclables. That’s the weight equivalent of more than 1 million dairy cows • Roughly 45,000 tons of “bluebin” recyclables every year • Nearly 6,000 tons of hazardous waste • Approaching 100,000 tons of food waste, leaves and yard debris we’ve turned into Green Mountain Compost soil amendments Together, we can do even better. Our staff, supported by our dedicated board of commissioners, is constantly looking for ways to improve and evolve our programs and processes to fulfill our mission.

We’re excited about our work on product stewardship for single-use packaging, improvements underway at our Organics Diversion Facility (where Green Mountain Compost is made) and planning for the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) of the

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future, which will be better equipped to sort and process the explosion of packaging that didn’t exist when our MRF was built, so even more tons of products and packaging can be recycled.

So on this America Recycles Day (Nov. 15), as we all struggle to keep our ships afloat and on course, we tip our caps to everyone we serve. We applaud our community’s efforts and invite everyone to find out more about what we do, and how you can help, at www. cswd.net.

Michele Morris Communications director Chittenden Solid Waste District

The bitter truth about many chocolates I believe it is a fair statement to say that our moral compass guides us through life when making choices. It gives us a distinctly human quality: ethics.

Halloween’s trick-or-treating may be a few weeks past, see LETTERS page 15

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten from Our Customers

P

By Gary Richter

erhaps dating myself… but everything old is not bad. This, I find timeless – the 1986 book by Robert Fulghum – All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. Haven’t read it? I highly recommend. Timeless wisdom, fast, easy read.

At footwear retail, many gems stand the test of time and truth as people assess, prioritize, and ponder this essential part of our life… that which bears our weight and is positioned as the foundation of our stature.

At our store, we take fitting, sizing, biomedical community referrals and appropriate model selection seriously. This approach is honed and refined by what we hear from our customers. Here are the most consistent and valuable guideposts, statements, and impressions we hear from our valued customers.

2 weeks after purchasing: “I resisted that larger size, but now, I tossed all my old shoes…. realizing I was torturing myself and possibly hurting myself in shoes too short!”

“My new larger size? Thought I would feel ‘trippy.’ My body adjusted in 2 days. Now they feel normal, comfy, relaxed! Did not know how ‘tense’ my squished tootsies were.”

Women really should rule the world. They have 2, or 3, or more appropriate styles of shoes, and upgraded footbeds (orthotics), and they rotate. Thus achieving: a) better, more well balanced muscles b) saving money, because their pairs get a 24-48 hour ‘rest’ to rebound and dry out.

Men, on the other hand, buy one pair, wear them, and wear them, and wear them till they’re dead… then wear them another six months… then start complaining about those crappy shoes. Newsflash: Not the shoes… they’re worn out. Refresh!!! And even better, rotate, like your partner.

Longer list can be found at: www. facebook.com/NewBalanceWilliston Gary Richter is a manager of the locally owned New Balance store in Maple Tree Place, Williston. Gary has a B.Sc. in Kinesiology. His colleague Sara LaBarre is a board certified pedorthist, practicing locally for 12 years. Between the two, they have 55 years of experience at all levels of the industry.

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Page 8 • Williston Observer • November 19, 2020

CVU championship games 2020

Left: Redhawk, Aiden Jaremczuk punts the ball away during CVU's D1 semi-final match vs. the Essex Hornets on Nov. 4 at So. Burlington's turf field.

Above: CVU’s Ethan Provost makes a nice reception during the Redhawk’s football final vs. the Colchester Lakers on Nov. 7 in Hinesburg.

Be great at grateful

Top right: CVU’s Isaac Bergeron leaps for the interception during the Redhawk’s football final vs. the Colchester Lakers on Nov. 7 in Hinesburg.

Bottom right: Redhawk Tyler Wuthrich battles for possession during CVU’s D1 semi-final match vs. the Essex Hornets on Nov. 4 at So. Burlington’s turf field.

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November 19, 2020 • Williston Observer • Page 9

CVU championship games 2020

Redhawk Olivia Morton sprints up field with the ball during CVU's D1 final match vs. the So. Burlington Wolves on Nov. 7 at Burlington's turf field.

Middle: Redhawk Catherine Gilwee passes the ball forward as her teammates watch during CVU’s D1 final match vs. the So. Burlington Wolves on Nov. 7 at Burlington’s turf field.

Above right: Redhawk Olivia Zubarik gets by her SBHS defender during CVU’s D1 final match vs. the So. Burlington Wolves on Nov. 7 at Burlington’s turf field.

OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY

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Page 10 • Williston Observer • November 19, 2020

Universal school meals will continue through school year

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and waivers granted at the federal level, for the first time ever, all Vermont schools are currently providing universal school meals to their students and will do so through the end of this school year.

Universal meals are a long-soughtafter goal of the organizations that make up the Vermont’s Farm to School Network. They are committed to moving the state to a permanent universal school meals platform incorporating the Farm to School model of healthy meals made with locally sourced ingredients.

The theme of this year’s National Farm to School month in October was “It takes a community to feed a community.”

“Our school nutrition professionals have been working non-stop since March,” said Secretary of Education Dan French. “I am incredibly grateful for their efforts to ensure that all Vermont children have access to nutritious food both at school and at home.”

The Vermont Agency of Education has ensured that all kids have access to nutritious meals whether they are remote learners or in a school building. These meals are available to all children age 18 and under regardless of their income or enrollment in school. To find out where to access meals, households can contact their lo-

cal school, call 211, or visit www.fns. usda.gov/meals4kids.

By providing meals to every student, principals can be talking to families about their students’ success, not

have fewer sick days, are able to focus in class and are more likely to develop healthy eating habits for benefits that last a lifetime. A UVM study also showed that many schools who moved

Meals for children will be free throughout the current school year. OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO

their lunch debt, creating a more equitable and inclusive school culture.

“We are committed to the vision of ensuring universal school meals statewide long after we move through the current COVID-19 crisis,” said Betsy Rosenbluth, Vermont FEED project director. “Well-nourished students

to universal meals have been able to purchase more local food.”

Eighty-eight percent of Vermont schools have at least some Farm to School integration and 87 percent purchase at least some local food from a Vermont producer. Farm to School is changing food purchasing and edu-

cation practices at schools and early childhood settings, which results in positive regional economic impacts through new and expanded market opportunities for farms.

As noted by Stephen Park of Full Belly Farm during his recent testimony in the Vermont State House at Farm to School Awareness Day, “We sell to schools in Chittenden and Addison counties. The income we make from selling to schools is an integral part of our business. It helps us extend our season.”

Vermont’s state and federal legislators have a longstanding reputation for championing these initiatives and helping to secure funding, support and infrastructure that make the programs a reality. As the former chairman and longest-serving member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Sen. Patrick Leahy has long been a leader of Farm to School initiatives by securing funding, as well as introducing legislation that created the federal Farm to School grants program.

Sen. Leahy is the lead sponsor of the Farm to School Act of 2019, a bipartisan bill that will increase funding for and expand the scope of the Farm to School program.

“We see how children who eat fresh, nutritious food learn better and live healthier lives,” Leahy said. “We see UNIVERSAL page 11

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November 19, 2020 • Williston Observer • Page 11

Burlington slavery reparations task force begins work

The first meeting of the City of Burlington’s Reparations Task Force took place last week following a city resolution to consider an apology and reparations for the institution of slavery.

Mayor Miro Weinberger opened the meeting with remarks.

“I am proud that Burlington is the first city in the country to examine and account for the role it has played in the foundational injustice of chattel slavery

Universal continued from page

and the responsibility of repairing its harm,” he said. “A shameful chapter of the long, terrible history of slavery and its aftermath is that for over 30 years, Congress has refused to even study the possibility of reparations, despite annual resolutions calling for that examination.

Members of the Task Force include Pablo Bose, professor of geography at the University of Vermont; Hal Colston, state representative, director

of Partnership for Change; Tyeastia Green, City of Burlington director of racial equity, inclusion and belonging; Christine Hughes, New Seasons Vermont and Racial Justice Alliance; and Rebecca Zietlow, professor of law and values at the University of Toledo College of Law. “My hope for this task force is that they will begin to reveal and bring to light inaccuracies in the way we have under-

stood Vermont’s relationship to slavery and this part of American history,” Weinberger said. “While I don’t know where this study will take us, because the city’s role in the institution of slavery and what is right for us to do in response is not yet clear, I do know that we will never fully realize the ideals of our country until the issue of reparations is fully addressed.

The formation of this task force is an important step toward that crucial goal.”

10

also see how our farmers thrive when they have access to local markets. It’s a smart investment that yields broad returns from healthier students to resilient farms, to stronger communities in Vermont and across the country.”

Vermont has been a leader in the Farm to School movement, which over the past decade, has grown significantly across the United States, reaching millions of students in all 50 states.

Last year, Sen. Bernie Sanders, together with Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), introduced the Universal School Meals Program Act to provide free breakfast, lunch and supper to every student in the nation.

“In the richest country in the history of the world, it is simply outrageous that one in five children will go hungry this year,” said Sen. Sanders. “We must enact universal meals to ensure that every child gets the nutrition they need to thrive, and no student has to worry about whether or not they can afford a meal when they go to school. I will also continue to support valuable farm to school programs that teach youth about healthy foods while supporting our local farmers.”

Visit www.willistonobserver.com

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Page 12 • Williston Observer • November 19, 2020

Schools asked to do contact-tracing work

BY LOLA DUFFORT VTDIGGER

State officials have said, over and over again, that when the Health Department calls, Vermonters need to pick up the phone. And from here on out, they had better not ignore calls from their local school, either.

Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, schools are being deputized to take on part of the contact-tracing effort.

Health Department-trained investigators will still be responsible for inter-

viewing anyone who tests positive for the virus, according to state guidance released Friday about the change, and will decide who is deemed a close contact.

But it will now be the school’s responsibility to call individual staff members and student families to tell them they need to quarantine and for how long.

In the Harwood Union school district, superintendent Brigid Nease said one positive case this week meant her staff had to call nearly 40 people to give them the bad news.

“This is generating great stress out in school communities, because, one, we’re not medically trained, and two, we do not have the staff and the capacity to do all of this calling when there is a case,” she said.

State officials say the change was made in part because districts have systems for communicating with families and because schools have in many instances wanted to be the first contact anyway.

And families, the state says, are also more likely to respond to a call from their school, rather than an unknown number belonging to a contact-tracer. A similar system is already in place at health care

It will now be the school’s responsibility to call individual staff members and student families to tell them they need to quarantine and for how long. facilities, they say.

But the chief reason for the change, according to an Agency of Education memo announcing the change in policy, is to free up capacity at the Health Department.

The state’s regular contact-tracing workforce was set up to handle up to about 90 new cases a day, Health Commissioner Mark Levine said Friday, during the governor’s twice-weekly press conference. Last week, the state began to see higher case numbers: 72 on Wednesday, 109 on Thursday and 84 Friday.

“We’ve activated sort of our reserve contact workforce at the health department, and have additional resources coming in from around the state,” Levine said.

But while the Department of Health

may be swamped, Nease says schools are, too. A critical shortage of staff and substitutes has hampered efforts to increase in-person instruction and left school leaders warning the public they are perennially on the brink of closure.

And a massive new surveillance testing program in the state’s K-12 schools, which is set to begin next week, will also take up significant administrative capacity for districts. About 25 percent of school teachers and staff will be tested for COVID each week. Officials anticipate testing all school personnel, or about 25,000 people, over the course of a month. The surveillance testing program is voluntary.

“Frankly, we’re hanging by a thread.

We don’t have any more bandwidth,” Nease said.

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November 19, 2020 • Williston Observer • Page 13

Damning report released on death of inmate

BY ALAN J. KEAYS VTDIGGER

A new report into the death of Kenneth Johnson, a 60-year-old black man, in the Newport prison delivers another scathing review of the actions, or lack of them, by the Vermont Department of Corrections and contracted medical staff.

The 38-page document outlines instances where Johnson, while stating that he couldn’t breathe in the infirmary of the Northern State Correctional Facility, was threatened with being placed in the “hole,” or disciplinary segregation in a holding cell, unless he didn’t “knock it off.”

Tristram Coffin, of the Burlington-based law firm of Downs Rachlin Martin and the former U.S. attorney for Vermont, conducted the latest investigation at the request of Mike Smith, Vermont’s health and human services secretary. Johnson died on Dec. 7, 2019.

“The conclusion is inescapable that more could have and should have been

done to care for Mr. Johnson,” Coffin said Monday during a press conference held over video conferencing.

“It just is not sufficient,” Coffin said, “that an inmate complains persistently and credibly of not being able to breathe for a period of some hours, consistently does not see a doctor, does not go to the hospital, and then later on dies.

“That is just not, as a policy matter, how Vermont should be conducting its business.”

Coffin said he couldn’t determine conclusively that Johnson’s race played a role in how he was treated.

“It’s hard to say whether that resulted in having differential treatment,” Coffin said, “but it’s also hard to say that that wasn’t the case.”

Coffin and Timothy Doherty, a former federal prosecutor now in private practice with Downs Rachlin Martin, were joined at the press conference by Smith and James Baker, interim corrections commissioner.

Baker, speaking about what role Johnson’s race played in how he was

cared for, repeated comments he had made when questioned in the past.

“Can’t say it did, can’t say it didn’t,” Baker said. “But for Jim Baker, the commissioner of corrections, that lingers in the back of my mind every time I talk about the Johnson case.”

The report also said it is impossible to determine whether racial bias was a factor.

“Nevertheless, the fact is that Mr. Johnson — a person of color — was under the supervision and care of an almost entirely white staff, a number of whom apparently disbelieved his persistent and credible claims that he could not breathe and failed to respond to those claims in a manner that ensured his safety,” the report says.

The report added that, given those circumstances, it is “reasonable to conclude that implicit bias likely played a role in shaping staff’s reaction to Mr. Johnson’s medical crisis.”

The report released Monday, though more detailed, provides the same blistering take as prior reports about how the

Vermont Department of Corrections and its contracted health care provider, Virginia-based Centurion Managed Care, acted at the time of Johnson’s death.

Other probes In July, the Vermont Defender General’s Prisoners’ Rights Office released a summary of its investigation into Johnson’s death. It found that Johnson died of an undiagnosed cancerous tumor in his throat, and his pleas that he couldn’t breathe went ignored by corrections and medical staff.

Also, according to the document, Johnson was at times threatened by those expected to care for him. In the hours before his death, the document stated, he told a corrections staffer that he couldn’t breathe and got a response telling him to “knock it off.”

The summary report from the Defender General’s Office also stated, “DOC is complicit in covering up its see INMATEpage 17

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Page 14 • Williston Observer • November 19, 2020

Gardening gifts that support new and experienced gardeners

BY MELINDA MYERS SPECIAL TO THE OBSERVER

The popularity of gardening is at an all-time high and people are discovering its many benefits. Some want to grow safe and nutritious food, others are boosting the beauty of their landscape and many are turning to gardening to relieve stress.

With the holidays right around the corner, it’s the perfect op-

portunity to support new and experienced gardeners with a thoughtful garden-related gift.

Help small space gardeners expand their growing space and reduce maintenance with self-watering elevated cedar planters. Elevated gardens add garden space to a balcony, deck or patio while raising the garden bed to a comfortable and easily accessible height. The self-watering system makes gardening

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We’re always here with local advice you can trust.

easy with proper, less frequent watering to ensure success.

Do the same for indoor plant enthusiasts with stylish terrariums, plant stands and lighting features. Terrariums create a decorative means for providing the moisture and humidity tropical plants need.

Copper and rot-resistant mango wood terrariums add a new and decorative twist to this traditional growing system.

Plant stands allow your favorite indoor gardener to maximize any available space.

Shelves filled with greenery help improve indoor air quality, reduce stress and can elevate one’s mood. New modern metal plant stand designs add a modern vibe to an indoor garden display.

When space is at a premium, give the gift of vertical gardening accessories. Birdcage planters provide a unique way to display tropical or seasonal flowers. Lower them to tabletop level to use as a centerpiece or decorative element in seasonal indoor displays.

Don’t overlook the cooks in your life who may be intrigued by moving their garden indoors.

Keep them stocked with fresh herbs and vegetables. Increase their growing space and needed light with a gift of energy efficient LED grow lights in an attractive stand. For those with

Bird cage planters add whimsy to outdoor or indoor décor while providing a unique place to display plants. OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO

very limited space, consider an organic kitchen caddy planter kit. A windowsill or countertop herb garden is a great way for anyone to add garden fresh fla-

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Make gardening a fun and accessible experience with the help of a deep seat kneeler that when flipped over, converts.

And don’t forget the stocking stuffers. Who doesn’t need extra plant tags, ties and gloves? Consider replacing the stocking with a colorful Tubtrug. These flexible lightweight tubs are perfect for harvesting garden produce, collecting weeds or transporting anything from one space to another.

The gift of gardening provides lifelong benefits. Supporting family and friends with useful tools and equipment can increase their gardening enjoyment and success. And don’t forget to add a few of your favorite garden-related items to your gift list. You’ll eliminate the stress and guesswork for the giver and you both will appreciate a gift that provides years of function, beauty and memories.

Melinda Myers is an author, columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her website is www.melindamyers.com.

November 19, 2020 • Williston Observer • Page 15

Gov. Scott addresses Vermonters on COVID resurgence Gov. Phil Scott on Tuesday called on Vermonters to prioritize “needs” over “wants” during the surge in COVID-19 cases the state is experiencing.

A total of 95 new cases were announced Tuesday.

“In my view, in-person education, protecting our healthcare system and keeping people working — as long as we can do it safely — are things we need,” he said.

We may want to have social

gatherings, which are now prohibited by the latest executive order, but they put a lot of people at risk, he said.

Scott also had a message for the “skeptics,” who may ignore the science or choose not to believe it.

“Please don’t call it patriotic or pretend it’s about freedom.

Because real patriots serve and sacrifice for all, whether they agree with them or not,” he said. “Patriots also stand up and

fight when our nation’s health and security is threatened. And right now, our country and way of life is being attacked by this virus — not the protections we put in place.”

Health Commissioner Mark Levine added that the most important thing we’ve learned about this virus is that it will take advantage of us, but only if we give it the chance.

“Asking Vermonters to give up spending time with friends

and family outside of their own household is not easy,” Levine said. “But based on what we’ve seen driving transmission — it is necessary. I know we can change our behaviors in time to make a difference.”

On Friday, Scott temporarily prohibited social gatherings with people from other households. People who live alone may get together with members of their immediate family living in a different household.

Letters

have greater significance than simple delight. I will spoil the myth that “cheaper is better” for any readers right now.

Cheapness comes at a hugely unethical price. The cheaper the chocolate, the more likely it is that chocolate came from child labor in West Africa.

West Africa supplies 60 percent of the world’s cocoa.

The roughly 2.12 million child laborers of the Ivory Coast

work on farms under deplorable conditions. Consumers are the drivers that feed this unethical business day after day.

Choosing chocolate’s labeled fair-trade is the antidote.

I put it to you, as a high school junior who is aware of her own moral compass, is it not ironic that we buy chocolate for our children that came from forced child laborers on the other side of the globe? I do

not ask that readers of this letter change their lives drastically, I simply ask you to think. Do not fall for the trick of handsomely wrapped candy, nor its sweetness, but unwrap that chocolate and see what’s really inside.

Before buying chocolate, consider this information in light of your own moral compass.

continued from page

7

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Page 16 • Williston Observer • November 19, 2020

Researcher receives grant for riparian buffer study

In the Champlain Valley, restoration of riparian forests, also known as forested floodplains, can be challenging, given the presence of heavy clay soils and stands of reed canary grass, an invasive species that can outcompete native tree species.

A new University of Vermont research project will evaluate different management practices to assess survival of native plants when establishing riparian buffer corridors in river floodplains. The results will help landowners who are considering riparian restoration for flood control, wildlife habitat or reduction of surface runoff to achieve greater success in establishing forested buffer plantings.

The project will be carried out by Stever Bartlett in collaboration with Alison Adams,

UVM Extension forestry coordinator, and Kate Forrer, UVM Extension community forestry specialist. Bartlett, a graduate student in the UVM Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, is advised

by Dr. Kris Stepenuck.

The study is funded by a Pollution Prevention and Habitat Conservation grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program. It is the first applied research project of the new Watershed Forestry Partnership, a collaboration of UVM Extension, Lake Champlain Sea Grant and various partnering organizations. The partnership was established in 2020 to coordinate research and outreach efforts among organizations that focus on riparian forest restoration and management practices to protect the Lake Champlain basin’s water resources.

The research will be conducted on eight Addison County test plots located along waterways with well-established stands of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea).

This cool-season perennial grass was originally planted throughout the country in the 1800s for erosion control and as a food source for grazing livestock.

Bartlett recently completed preparation of the trial sites where, with the help of volunteers, he will plant 1,200 trees native to Lake Champlain basin floodplains next spring. The sites are located in the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s Dead Creek, Lemon Fair, Little Otter Creek and Whitney/Hospital Creek Wildlife Management Areas.

The research, which will take place over the next two

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Riparian buffers in the Champlain Valley will be the sites of a UVM study on the survivability of native plants in river floodplains, like this one in Bridport.

OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO BY STEVER BARTLETT

years, will examine the survival success of the planted saplings on two adjacent plots at each site. The control plot will be managed using standard techniques with minimal management while an herbicide-free approach to weed control will be employed on the second plot.

Bartlett will share the results and recommendations through a peer-reviewed scientific paper

Brick Church continued from page

1

Stages, which would provide $15 billion in relief funds to performance spaces nationwide.

“At some point, we’re going to get to life that’s normal, where people are going to want to go back downtown,” Welch said. “But if we don’t provide an economic lifeline to places like Higher Ground, my fear is that we get to the other side of COVID, but we’ve left those institutions behind.”

The House passed the bill in early October, but it has stalled in the Senate.

Welch said that with a changing political landscape, he’s confident the measure

and a written guide and training for landowners.

The Watershed Forestry Partnership is funded by UVM Extension, Lake Champlain Sea Grant, American Forests, PUR Project, the U. S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service and UVM alumnus Bruce Lisman. To learn more, visit www. go.uvm.edu/watershedfp.

will eventually become law.

Grace Potter, the rock star from Waitsfield, said that during the pandemic, she’s tried everything under the sun to replicate a live performance. But she said drive-ins and Zoom concerts don’t really come close to the real deal.

She said helping concert venues stay open “feels more powerful than anything else” she’s done during the pandemic.

“Live music is such a powerful force; it’s something that can only be felt and understood in that moment,” she said. “And a stage is the only place it can happen.”

— Ellie French of VTDigger contributed to this report

November 19, 2020 • Williston Observer • Page 17

Inmate continued from page

13

contractor’s gross failure to provide lifesaving medical care.”

Coffin, speaking Monday, said he didn’t find any evidence that corrections staff members are complicit in a cover-up.

“We did not find anything like that,” he said.

Disability Rights Vermont also looked into Johnson’s death; its report has not yet been made public, but officials with the organization have said their report also had strong words about the care Johnson received in prison, using terms such as “abuse” and “neglect.”

The reports by Disability Rights Vermont and by the Defender General’s Office led the state to call on Coffin and the law firm to conduct the outside review.

A separate probe into Johnson’s death, conducted by Vermont State Police, has been forwarded to Orleans County State’s Attorney Jennifer Barrett, “though the state police will continue to follow up on any new information as needed to help further the investigation,” Adam Silverman, a state police spokesperson, said in an email Monday.

Johnson had been jailed at the Northern State Correctional Center in Newport since September 2017, awaiting trial on sex assault and human trafficking charges. He had pleaded not guilty.

In July, Baker announced that the state would not renew its contract with Centurion Managed Care of Virginia. Instead, the state contracted with Kansas-based VitalCore Health Strategies.

Baker has said Johnson’s death was not the reason for changing health care providers, though he added it did confirm that the move was the right one.

The report released Monday included information gathered by the investigators from video footage recorded inside the prison, interviews with corrections staff working the night of Johnson’s death and other records.

Notably, the investigation did not include interviews with Centurion medical staff work-

ing in the facility at the time.

“This is a disturbing report,” Smith said. “There’s plenty of blame to go around — from DOC, to the medical provider Centurion, to outside medical providers.”

Smith said he found it “unfortunate” and “disconcerting” that Centurion refused to cooperate with the investigation.

“I don’t control Centurion, but I do control DOC,” the secretary said, “and without question DOC could have and should have done more to prevent this tragedy.”

Centurion did not immediately provide a response to a request for comment by late Monday afternoon.

How independent?

While Smith and Baker have termed Monday’s report “independent,” conducted from outside state government, questions were raised during the press conference about how independent the investigation truly was, particularly when Baker referred to Coffin as “my old friend.”

Also, Coffin and Doherty provided a “draft” of the report to state officials before publicly releasing it and made some changes based on recommendations from those state officials, Coffin said during the press conference.

“There really were no substantive changes; they wanted some policies spelled out in different ways,” he said. “We thought about it and wrote our report.”

Baker said anyone who questions the objectively of the report should read the document. “It’s pretty critical of the Department of Corrections,” he said.

Among the report’s recommendations: The corrections department should implement implicit bias training, clarify policies on the use of holding cells and improve procedures involving medical observations of inmates.

Baker, who took his post after Johnson’s death, said work is underway to put those recommendations into effect, and pledged to continue to “change the culture” in the corrections

Send your story ideas and photos to editor@willistonobserver.com

department.

He said he couldn’t comment at this time whether any disciplinary action has been taken against any corrections staff members in the case, but did say, “There is an ongoing personnel investigation looking at the conduct of staff.”

Three 10-25s Monday’s report takes a deeper look than others into the final moments of Johnson’s life — from the evening of Dec. 6, 2019, to the early morning hours of Dec. 7, 2019.

During that time, according to the report, there were three “10-25s” regarding Johnson.

That term, Coffin said, is a code for an “urgent” response to an “urgent” situation.

The first one came in at about 10:30 p.m. on the night of Dec. 6. Numerous witnesses reported that Johnson complained about not being able to breathe, the report stated, and he was given a nebulizer, a device to help him.

“It appeared he continued to be in distress,” Coffin said, “perhaps feeling a little better, but they left him.”

Then, there was another 1025 at about 12:40 a.m. on Dec. 7, according to the report. At that point, Coffin said, a corrections officer found Johnson on the floor of the bathroom next to the infirmary.

“He was in significant distress at that point,” Coffin said.

Johnson continued to say he couldn’t breathe and wanted to go to the hospital. Instead, Johnson was escorted back to the prison’s infirmary.

After being put back in bed, at some point Johnson was alone with Robert Wright, a supervisor at the facility. In a video, Wright could be seen talking with Johnson and then gesturing toward Johnson and then down the hall.

“From Supervisor Wright’s

gestures and body language, as well as other evidence,” the report stated, “it is likely that Supervisor Wright is telling Mr. Johnson to remain in his bed or he will be placed in a holding cell.”

According to a report Wright filed about that second 10-25, “I informed inmate Johnson to knock it off or he would be moved to holding, per the provider, and I returned to normal duties.”

In an interview, Wright told investigators he didn’t know if Johnson’s claims about not being able to breathe were “legitimate” because Johnson talked fine.

Wright added that it was a nurse who first told Johnson he would be placed in a holding cell if he didn’t remain in bed.

Asked if Johnson should have been placed on a “higher, more stringent observation level” after the second 10-25, when Johnson was found on the

bathroom floor, Wright replied that he “lacked the authority” to change an inmate observation level for medical reasons.

The third 10-25 took place around 2:15 a.m. on Dec. 7, after another inmate in the infirmary reported he no longer heard the “raspy” sounds Johnson had been making while breathing.

“The nurse checks him; he appears to be unresponsive,” Coffin said, and an ambulance is called. “CPR is initiated, but there’s no further indication that Mr. Johnson is responsive, or has any pulse or respiration at that point in time.”

Coffin said Johnson was pronounced dead at North Country Hospital in Newport.

“Despite these interactions with Mr. Johnson, prior to his death, no doctor saw him,” Coffin said. “There was no evaluation in an emergency department despite access to one relatively nearby.”

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Page 18 • Williston Observer • November 19, 2020

SENIORS

Seniors can save money on prescription eyeglasses

Dear Savvy Senior, What tips can you recommend for finding affordable prescription eyeglasses? I used to have vision insurance through my work, but lost it when I turned 65 and signed up for Medicare.

Need Spectacles

Dear Need, Unfortunately, in 2020 it’s still true that original Medicare does not cover vision services, which includes routine eye exams and prescription eyeglasses — unless you’ve just had cataract surgery. While there’s no one solution to this common need, here are a few tips that can help you save.

Medicare Advantage While original Medicare doesn’t cover vision services, there are Medicare Advantage plans that do. Medicare Advantage plans, which are sold through private insurance companies, cover all the same medical and hospital services that original Medicare does, but many of them also provide vi-

sion, as well as dental, hearing and prescription drugs, too.

To locate Advantage plans in your area that provide vision coverage, go to www.Medicare. gov/plan-compare or call 800633-4227. But before enrolling in a plan, check the benefit details to ensure the plan’s vision coverage includes routine eye exams, eyeglass frames and lenses.

If you are currently enrolled in original Medicare, you can switch to a Medicare Advantage plan each year during the open enrollment period, which is between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7. Or, if you already have an Advantage plan that doesn’t provide adequate vision coverage, you can swap to another plan between Jan. 1 and March 31.

If, however, you don’t want to change your Medicare plan, you can still get coverage by purchasing a vision insurance policy — see www.eHealthInsurance.com. Vision policies typically start at around $11 to $13 per month for an individual. But before signing up, make sure your savings potential is

Savvy Senior

BY JIM MILLER

worth the cost of the monthly premiums and required copays.

Discount Stores Purchasing eyeglasses from discount retailers is another way to save. Costco Optical is one of the best discount stores for good eyewear and low prices.

Eyeglasses cost an average of around $184, but to shop there you have to pay a $60 annual

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membership fee. Some other good retail options for low prices include Sam’s Club Optical and Walmart Vision Centers.

You also need to find out if you are eligible for any discounts. Some retailers provide discounts to membership groups like AARP and AAA. AARP members, for example, can get 30 percent off a pair of glasses (frames and lenses) at LensCrafters and www.Glasses.com, and you save an additional $10 on a complete pair at Target Optical. AARP also offers $55 comprehensive eye exams (dilation included) at participating eye doctors.

See www.AARPVisionDiscounts.com for more information.

Buy Online Buying eyeglasses online can also offer huge savings.

Stores like www.ZenniOptical. com and www.EyeBuyDirect. com sell prescription eyeglasses for as little as $6 and $7. These sites let you upload a photo of your face, so you can see what you’d look like in different frames.

Or, for a snappier choice of frames, see www.WarbyParker. com, which offers single-vision glasses starting at $95. They

even offer a free program in which you can request up to five pairs to try on at home for five days.

To purchase glasses online, you’ll need a valid prescription from an eye doctor (typically no more than a year old), plus your pupillary distance number, which is the distance, measured in millimeters, between the centers of your pupils in each eye.

Low-Income Assistance If your income is low, depending on where you live, there may be some local clinics that provide free or discounted eye exams and eyeglasses. Put in a call to your local Lions Club to see what’s available in your area. See www.Directory.

LionsClubs.org for contact information.

You may also be able to get free eyeglasses through New Eyes (www.New-Eyes.org, 973376-4903), a nonprofit organization that provides free eyeglasses through a voucher program to people in financial need.

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.

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November 19, 2020 • Williston Observer • Page 19

OBITUARY Virginia Rita (Mongeon) Hempstead WILLISTON - Virginia Rita Mongeon Hempstead passed peacefully after a long fulfilling life on November 10, 2020. Virginia was born in Winooski on August 27, 1924. When Virginia was 18 she was offered the opportunity to move to Richmond Virginia, to work for the weather bureau. This was a life-changing decision. Not only did she get the chance to leave Vermont and to experience a big city, but it was here she met Marian Hempstead who introduced her to her brother, Elwood. They married about a year later. Elwood (Hempy) was a veteran of WWII having fought at Guadalcanal. After they married they moved to the Bronx in New York City where they lived for a year and their first son Douglas was born. She liked living there and once told us when she would take the subway into the city, she marveled at the Italian ladies crocheting lace on their trip. Hempy wanted to be a “Gentleman Farmer”

and enrolled at the University of Vermont to attend their Agricultural school. They moved to Vermont in 1949. Not knowing exactly where they would live, like many veterans, they took advantage of housing benefits and took up residence at Ft. Ethan Allan in Colchester. They moved often for the next few years while Elwood went to school. They purchased their property in Williston in 1951 where she lived until her death. They raised 7 children on the property in Williston and enjoyed their many grandchildren and great-grandchildren there as well. Virginia did what’s impossible to do in this day and age.

She worked full time and raised her seven children, maintaining a house as well. She sewed most of her children’s clothing, knit sweaters, mittens, and hats. She cooked their meals with many of the items coming from the garden they grew. She canned those vegetables and made jars and jars of pickles and jellies. When one of the kids would say they wanted a snack her response was always “go out to the garden and pick something.” Virginia had

several jobs outside the home over the years. Her final being working for Bell Telephone, which became AT&T. She retired from AT&T in 1989. Virginia enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting, and cooking. When she retired she began quilting.

Her goal was to make a quilt for each one of her sons and daughters then the grandchildren. She was able to accomplish making well over 15 full-size quilts and several baby quilts. She could catch her family off guard with funny things she would say: “She’s ugly as a fence post” or when questioning if a gentleman was truly a redhead: “Tell him to drop his pants!” One of her daughters-in-law asked her one day how she raised 7 children, she said “All I remember is that I was always angry.” Sometimes it was her antics: one morning she was bringing 3 of her children to high school and it had snowed. There were 6 inches of snow on the road. They were going through an “S” curve and did a complete 360 ending up in the direction they needed to continue. Our mother contin-

ued the drive and said, “Kind of slippery back there!” Another time she used a double-barrel shotgun to scare birds out of the garden.

Her greatest joy was to be with her family, sons, daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Each summer she hosted a “Garden Party” for the opportunity for the family (and extended) to see each other and see her. It was her favorite time of year. She liked to enjoy one beer during the party and then would go take a nap. She is proceeded in

death by her husband, Elwood (Hempy), her daughters, Joan Margaret and Marian Constance as well as her 6 brothers and sisters. She is survived by 5 remaining children, Doug, Tom, David, Paula, and Roberta, 16 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. Due to Covid-19, services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the care of LaVigne Funeral Home and Cremation Service.

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Page 20 • Williston Observer • November 19, 2020

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3

and the district sent quarterly reports to the state that said the glass was being sent to market for recycling or used in allowable projects.

Public records show that the attorney general, the Agency of Natural Resources and the waste district have been working toward a settlement.

In a letter, the Attorney General’s Office directed the solid waste district to obtain permits for three different practices. The first is placing material under a landfill cap. The second is disposing of material in a compost pad. And finally, it has been instructed to “obtain categorical disposal certification from ANR for the material disposed of … by the closed landfill.”

The Agency of Natural Resources is considering the back permits, according to communications between state officials.

“Question on CSWD glass: Have they said or we found that there is an issue with setbacks or something?” wrote Barb Schwendtner in an email on April 16 to Dennis Fekert, certi-

fication section chief — responsible for permitting oversight.

Schwendtner is the solid waste compliance chief at the Agency of Natural Resources. “This is coming up because they are balking at a settlement that requires removal if they don’t get all of the permits.”

The terms of a potential agreement remain unclear.

Other solid waste districts have written letters objecting to the process. They say that back-permitting sets a bad precedent — asking for forgiveness instead of permission when it comes to illegal dumping.

They contend that regulators treat the Chittenden Solid Waste District with more leniency.

“Members of our board were very upset to find out that our glass, as well as glass from many other Vermont towns, delivered for processing at the MRF (materials recovery facility), was in fact not recycled, but disposed of in a number of locations on CSWD property in Williston,” wrote Fred Thumm, chair of the Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District in a letter to the Agency of

Natural Resources on Nov. 5.

The Northeast Kingdom Waste Management District wrote a similar letter. Paul A. Tomasi, executive director of the district’s board, writes that the board is “particularly interested” in the permitting process because the state agency had denied its request to “landfill approximately 10 tons of glass in July of 2019.”

“By allowing CSWD to apply for, and receive, permits for projects undertaken and completed nearly seven years ago, the NEKWMD board feels the VT Agency of Natural Resources is setting a dangerous precedent that encourages solid waste entities to seek forgiveness rather than permission for activities requiring permits in advance of the activity,” Tomasi wrote.

The Northeast Kingdom district echoes the request made by the Central Vermont district that the state agency delay granting any back-permits until the attorney general has made a decision on the case.

While the boards refer to two permits, the general counsel for the Department of Environmental Conservation, John Bel-

ing, told VTDigger on Monday that an additional permit is also now being discussed to address what is referred to as “the big pile.” This would be the third permit recommended by the Attorney General’s Office for “material disposed of over the bank by the closed landfill,” according to a letter from the AG. According to the 2018 ANR investigation, “the big pile” contains an estimated 11,538 tons of glass, or 15,000 cubic yards.

The solid waste district maintains that the processed glass aggregate was used in an appropriate way to stabilize the embankment.

However, former employee Robert C. Magee Jr. told a state enforcement official an account that conflicted with the district’s. Magee was a maintenance supervisor for the solid waste district from 2014 until June 2020. He wrote, “In approximately 2015, I was directed by Brian Wright, facilities manager, CSWD, to prepare a location directly adjacent to the landfill at the end of Redmond Road in Williston, VT, for the dumping of processed glass ag-

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gregate (PGA).”

Magee said that “the slope was stable before that work began.”

Magee didn’t come forward with this information while he was employed at the district, worried he would lose his job.

“The PGA was visibly dirty. It had a putrid smell when it was being manipulated. I believe the poor condition of the PGA made it difficult to recycle it economically. The dumping stopped in 2018,” Magee said in his statement given to Sean J. McVeigh, the chief environmental enforcement officer, an investigator on the case for the ANR. “In my opinion, the preparation site work above and then of dumping of the PGA was not done to stabilize or protect the slope. It had been done to facilitate the dumping of a large volume of PGA at that location to facilitate the continued operation of the MRF,” Magee said.

“They pushed it over a bank at the landfill and they said they used it for bank stabilization. see CSWD page 21

November 19, 2020 • Williston Observer • Page 21

CSWD continued from page

20

You think about crushed glass; it’s sand. It’s probably the worst material you could use,” Patrick Austin told VTDigger. Austin runs his own hauling business and pays CSWD to take glass.

He also serves on the Charleston Selectboard.

Haulers paid the solid waste district a fee, understanding that the glass would then be brought to market, which never happened.

“A lot of energy goes into it,” Austin said. In 2012, Vermont passed the Universal Recycling Law, Act 148, prohibiting Vermonters from throwing away items that can be recycled or reused.

“They were reporting that the stuff was being recycled, putting it on their reports. When they talk about the success of Act 148, material that didn’t go to a landfill, this material is calculated into that. They obviously were not recycling it. They were not trying to reuse it,” said Austin.

For Austin, this is an issue with the integrity of the system.

“It’s not what people expected when they put that material in the blue bin, when they washed it out,” he said. People “lose trust in the process. It’s painful to watch.”

“If they get the permit, any civil suit, any action from the AG would be severely watered down,” he said. “I don’t believe that CSWD should be allowed to remain in the business of marketing recyclables.”

“I have very little faith that this district can be trusted in its current form to process Vermont’s material,” Austin said. “Even now, after all this has happened, I have questions about what they’re doing with their glass now. Is it piled up somewhere?”

The general counsel for the Department of Environmental Conservation, John Beling, told VTDigger that processed glass is now shipped to the Frank W. Whitcomb Construction Corp. in Colchester. Whitcomb is a major paving company, although Beling was unsure about how the company is using processed glass aggregate.

Tyler Whitcomb was not available for comment Tuesday.

What now?

The Attorney General’s Office is optimistic about reaching a resolution soon.

“We are talking to the other side and hopeful for resolution,” said Attorney General TJ Donovan, of the AG’s talks with CSWD. Donovan blamed the delay on the coronavirus. Asked about the holdup in the case pri-

or to the pandemic, Donovan said: “The legal process is painfully slow sometimes.”

“Hopefully we can resolve the case sooner rather than later,” he said. “This is the normal course.”

It is unclear whether a settlement would allow or prevent future similar dumping.

But having worked as a regulator for the ANR, John Brabant says it is “clear that the AGs office has no interest in prosecuting this seriously or as intended by the law.”

He points out that the attorney general has a dual role in this case — to represent the state government, and also to represent the public interest when expectations have been violated.

“In a perfect world, that would never be a conflict,” Brabant said, but he thinks that now, there is one.

“Chittenden District is doing everything in their power to tamp this down,” Brabant said.

He criticized the Attorney General’s Office for not building a stronger case against the waste district by collecting more samples.

Public records show there were also concerns within the Agency of Natural Resources about allowing back-permitting.

“Approval for after-action activities is not good regulation in my opinion,” wrote Dennis Fekert, in an email in November 2019.

The public comment period on the first two permits under discussion ended Tuesday. The third application was received on Oct. 30 and is still in its early stages. The Agency of Natural Resources has yet to decide whether it will grant the permits.

“It’s a pretty fluid situation because there is an ongoing enforcement case and they do kind of go together,” Beling said, adding “we’re still processing and trying to figure out the best approach.”

The three proposed permits cover three separate locations of glass. “We haven’t decided how to manage that just yet,” said Beling. “It’ll probably all end up being resolved together.”

CROSSWORD • SOLUTION ON PAGE 21

ACROSS 1. Glove compartment item 4. Well-chosen 7. It’s available in bars 11. Be indebted 12. To boot 13. Mooch 15. Kid’s illness 17. Explorer 18. Digs in 19. “Long ___ and Far Away” (James Taylor hit) 20. Galoshes 23. Adept at sports 28. Stud’s place 29. ___ is life!

31. President’s rejection 32. Word in Ali’s boast 35. Chicken piece 37. Bank offering 38. Sound of discomfort 39. Puts on 42. Intervening stretch 46. In this place 47. Stalk 48. Howl 49. Placed in an envelope 52. Stevie Wonder’s “___ Three Words” 54. It may be found in a cushion 55. Where Borneo is

57. Attaches securely 61. Disconcerted 65. Entreating 66. The whole shebang 67. “Diamonds _____ a girl’s ...”

68. Dilute 69. Worker in a hive 70. Peter with a pixie pal DOWN 1. Tattoo letters sometimes 2. Floor 3. Pod inhabitant 4. Trip planner’s aid 5. Yeats or Keats 6. Pregame flip 7. Junior, for one 8. Single 9. “The ___ of Reason” (Paine) 10. Miles __ gallon 13. Audible relief 14. Cooling-off place 16. Batch 17. Route 20. Request to Fido 21. Canoe equipment 22. It’s fine for a refinery 23. Might be a warm-up one 24. Incident 25. Coffee alternative 26. “__ now or never!”

27. Simple sack 29. Establishes 30. For some purpose 33. Dear 34. Podiatrist’s concern 35. Skiff 36. Competed in a race 38. “Of mice and ___” 39. Mademoiselle pronoun 40. Canvas count 41. Rainbow, e.g.

42. Damp ground 43. Glacier material 44. “___ Miniver” 45. Tropical cyclone center 47. Female turkeys 50. ____ door policy 51. Spill the beans 52. Book’s name 53. ___ in hand 55. Middle east dweller 56. Exchange for money 57. Portly plus 58. Dull shade 59. Runner on snow 60. Can 62. Where small dogs sit, often 63. Memorable period of time 64. Place for mounted antlers, maybe

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

D

r. Goslin and his dedicated, skilled dental team provide focused and personal care with your comfort and trust in mind through routine and complex treatments.

• Whitening, Veneers • Comprehensive Dental Care • Implant Placement and Restoration • Clear Braces • TMD, Sleep Apnea & 3D Imaging • Crowns, Partials, Dentures

Dr. Ryan Goslin

75 Talcott Rd., Ste 20, Williston • 662-5966 • DRGOOSEVT.COM

Page 22 • Williston Observer • November 19, 2020

LIBRARY The Dorothy Alling Memorial Library is currently open for browsing by appointment.

Given the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation, please check www.damlvt.org for the latest information about appointment availability.

Patrons may reserve materials for porch pickup Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

AFTERSCHOOL AND SCHOOL-AGE

HUBS ARE HIRING!

Do you love working with kids? Want to make a difference with youth in your community?

Afterschool and school-age child care hubs across Vermont are hiring. Staff at these programs are a critical part of Vermont’s COVID-19 relief response, giving elementary school students support in a safe space on remote learning days and during the out-ofschool time hours.

There are a variety of jobs available for people who have experience working with youth, and are a great opportunity those who might be home from college, high school grads taking a gap year, or anyone interested in positive youth development. Programs are especially keen to hire energetic, responsible, creative people who have diverse skills to share.

Positions are full-time or part-time, and you must pass a background check. Jobs are in-person, and employers carefully follow COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

Visit www.VermontAfterschool.org/Recruit to easily indicate your interest in applying for an open position near you.

Visit www.willistonobserver.com

To apply for a DAML card, reserve materials for pick up, sign up for a program or to learn more about library services, visit www.damlvt. org or call 878-4918.

The library will close at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25, and will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26-27, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

YOUTH PROGRAMS • November Storywalk at Williston Community Park “Thank you, Omu!” by Oge Mora. A heartwarming story about a woman whose generosity is repaid by her community.

• Preschool to-go craft kit: hibernating bears Pick up a seasonal craft kit from the library vestibule.

Available starting Dec. 1, while supplies last.

• Preschool storytime online Tuesday, Dec. 1, 9 a.m. Interactive songs, rhymes and stories about snow. Register at www.damlvt.org for a Zoom invitation.

• Kids meditation: Mindful Moments Wednesday, Dec. 2, 1:151:45 p.m. Join us via Zoom.

Open to ages 8-14, but parents may participate, too.

Email programs@damlvt.org to register.

MULTI-AGE PROGRAMS • November gratitude on the green Enjoy a walk on the Town Green next to the library and find out what community members are grateful for.

• Spanish conversation Wednesday, Dec. 2, 4-5 p.m.

Join us via Zoom for conversation en español. Led by an experienced Spanish teacher.

Beginners welcome. Open to teens and adults. Email programs@damlvt.org to register.

PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS Online programs are via Zoom. Email programs@ damlvt.org or call 878-4918 for an invitation.

• Guided meditation Friday, Nov. 20, 12-12:30 p.m. Maryellen Crangle leads a short meditation online.

• November brown bag book discussion Tuesday, Nov. 24, 12:30-1:30 p.m. “The Nickel Boys” by Colson Whitehead. Copies available at the library.

• Current events​ Wednesday, Nov. 25, 1011:30 a.m. Connect with others to discuss newsworthy topics.

• To-go craft kits: glass gem magnets Available starting Dec. 1.

Pick up a DIY project from the library to complete at home. See www.damlvt. org for details.

• New perspectives book discussion Tuesdays, Dec. 15, Jan. 5 and Jan. 19, 12-1 p.m. Join us for a discussion of “Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness” by Sharon Salzberg. Copies available at the library.

• December brown bag book discussion Tuesday, Dec. 22, 12:30-1:30 p.m. “Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand” by Helen Simonson. Copies available at the library.

CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL NOTICE

Hannaford Williston

Now Hiring OPEN POSITIONS INCLUDE:

FULL TIME • Inventory Lead • Deli Service Lead • Dairy/Frozen Food Lead

Competitive pay and benefits package!

PART TIME • Night Crew • Cashier • Bakery Associate • Hannaford To Go Shopper • Deli Associate • Pharmacy Tech

APPLY ONLINE: www.hannaford.com/careers

Or Email Hiring Manager Becky Ashton Reashton@hannaford.com or call 802-878-0032

TOWN OF WILLISTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA Tuesday, December 8, 2020 – 7:00 PM Zoom Webinar ID: 823-369-798 DP 19-18.1 Bag Riders requests a master sign plan amendment at 347 Shunpike Road a multi-tenant building in the Industrial Zoning District West (IZDW).

DP 21-08 Kelly Barland requests pre-application review to amend SUB 06-05 and subdivide Lot 2, a 10.67-acre parcel, into two (2) building lots and two (2) open space lots located at Shagbark Lane in the Agricultural Rural Zoning (ARZD).

SERVICES PAINTING - Since 1977, Lafayette Painting has provided top quality painting services. Our experts will complete your job quickly and the finished work is guaranteed to look great. Learn more about us at www. LafayettePaintingInc. com or call 863-5397.

FOR SALE FURNITURE - all items as priced, OBO. Dresser, great for kid’s room $25; Bar stools – 4 brand new, $25 for set; Recliner Sofa, 3-section, faux leather, good shape, $50; Director’s Chair, leather seat and back, $25; Sewing Machine, Singer (working) in cabinet, with original accessories, cabinet needs refinishing $25; Vacuum, Hoover upright, runs well, $25.

Assorted rugs: runners, and one 8 ft. x 11 ft.

- take ‘em away! Call 802-839-0294 to inquire leave a message regarding “furniture.”

TIRES: 4 Eldorado Tourmax GFT all season radials 195/65R15T. Used less than 5 months and have low mileage on them. We are selling these because we traded in the vehicle and they will not fit on our new one. $200. Call Tom at 802-318-3581.

DOG RAMP - 61” x 15”, sturdy, folds, carpeted, used inside only once- $50. Also 4 step dog stairs for smaller dog $15. Call 802-363-4611.

LOVESEAT - With reversible throw pillows in excellent condition. Tan, olive and burgundy flower pattern. $125 OBO. Call Eileen 878-9724.

MUZZLE LOADER - Traditions inline muzzle loader. .50 cal. stainless barrel and composite stock. Weaver over/under scope mounts and Simmons 3-9 X 32 scope. Perfect condition, $100. Call 802-735-4671.

TIRES - 4 Yokohama tubeless, studless, steelbelted radial Ice Guard winter tires 235/R19 101T/G1. Used two winters, $200. Call 878-0405.

SNOW BLOWER - Cub Cadet 3-stage 24-inch 277ccOHV electric start. $700. Call 878-0405.

FREE DRESSER/HEADBOARD - Vintage vanity dresser with mirror and bench, 7 drawers. Top surface fair, drawers good; Headboard, fits ¾ size bed. Solid wood, finial posts. Call 879-6206.

November 19, 2020 • Williston Observer • Page 23

Do you own a 401(k)???

Read this!

bagged

in vermont

Locally handcrafted handbags, shoulder bags, backpacks, totes, clutches, wallets and other accessories made with high quality batik fabrics

Many 401(k) owners will lose 50% or more of its value when it pays off. Will this happen to you?

It’s true. 401(k)s and IRAs can be double taxed. After the full weight of paying potential taxes, there can be as little as 30% of the value remaining. You can learn how to avoid the loss in the free Economic Advisory Opinion paper. The paper is free and shows how to get more benefits from your existing 401(k) and IRA.

Each handbag or accessory is a one-of-a-kind piece designed, constructed, and hand sewn by Sue Storey. Only the best and strongest fabrics, zippers, buttons, and interfacings are used to assure quality. Visit the Bagged in Vermont website to find a bag that fits your style.

• Keeping holiday plans small and local lowers the risk of getting or spreading COVID-19.

• The more new people you have at the table, the higher the risk.

• Travelers from other states should be prepared to quarantine.

Call 802-227-2727 or visit ckfinancialresources.com/offer to receive our Economic Advisory Opinion paper on how to reduce risk and assess whether common financial advice will serve you well.

Find Us in Local Stores The Blue Cottage 30 Kailey’s Way Hinesburg, VT (802) 799-2168

Reminders for Staying Safe this Holiday Season

ArtHound Gallery 21 Essex Way, Essex, VT (802) 662-4808

C.K. Financial Resources Shelburne, VT

Shop our website: www.baggedinvermont.com Contact us directly: 857-891-3600 sstorey@gmavt.net

More tips when making plans: HealthVermont.gov/SafeHoliday

SERVICE DIRECTORY Do you have jewelry you don’t

JEWELRY REPAIR PROPERTY MAINTENANCE wear because it’s broken or out of style?

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

BASEMENT SYSTEMS BASEMENT SYSTEMS

Is your Jewelry Broken or Out of Style?

MINI EXCAVATOR

• TRACTOR SERVICES

— Snow Plowing —

Hydraulic Thumb Site Work Stump Removal

Lawn Care Custom Carpentry Driveway Grading

Watch Repair, Battery Replacement Locally, Family Owned All Work Done On Site

233-6938

Free Estimates!

97 Pearl St. • Essex Jct Shopping Ctr. Shannonsofvermont.com • 802-878-3774

yardjacks.com

CARPENTRY

High 10/08/2019

We will repair or redesign it so you can start enjoying it again

BUSINESS SERVICES

Standards, LLC Carpentry

3.25 x 2 AD for Williston Observer

Remodeling, Rot Repair, Decks, Windows, Doors

Drywall, Siding, Finish Work, Pressure Washing

CREDIT CARD PROCESSING CAN BE CONFUSING

52 Consecutive Weeks $18.00/week WE$936 ARE LOCAL EXPERTS PROVIDING WORLD CLASS SERVICE

24/7 On Call – Free Estimates – Fully Insured

802-355-8193

Matt Levee • HighStandards802@gmail.com

To place a classified

802-288-0833 POS ★ ZERO COST CREDIT ★ QUICKBOOKS WEB ★ HIGH RISK

BUILDING SERVICES

BEAGLE BUILDERS, LLC

or service directory ad, email marianne@ willistonobserver.com

Remodeling & Additions

ALL TYPES OF SIDING Vinyl/Wood/Composite

Windows & Doors • Decks & Porches

ANTIQUE SHOP ANTIQUE SHOP

IVE CORNERS ORNERS FIVE CORNERS FFIVE C ANTIQUES NTIQUES ANTIQUES A A Multi Dealer Shop A Multi Dealer A Multi Dealer Shop Shop

802.878.6167 802.878.6167 802.878.6167

11 Maple Street, Street, Essex Junction, VT VT 11 Maple Essex Junction, 11Open Maple Street, Junction, VT Mon SatEssex 10-5 Sun 11-4 Open-Mon - Sat 10-5 Sun 11-4 Open Mon - Sat 10-5 Sun 11-4 5CornersAntiques.com 5CornersAntiques.com 5CornersAntiques.com

REAL ESTATE Michelle Desautels REALTOR®, PSA

(802) 846-9503 Michelle@DesautelsVT.com DesautelsVT.com

Kitchens & Bathrooms Sunrooms & Garages

Monkton, VT

beaglebuilders@gmavt.net

802-453-4340 CALL US!

Guiding You Home

Page 24 • Williston Observer • November 19, 2020

SUPPORT LOCAL

AS VERMONTERS WE KNOW HOW TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY. THIS HOLIDAY SEASON STAY LOCAL AND SHOP LOCAL. NOW IS THE TIME TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS, AND LOCAL BUSINESSES.

The Facts

BUYING AT LOCALLY-OWNED BUSINESSES KEEPS MONEY CLOSE TO HOME. For every

$1 SPENT at local business,

67¢

in reinvested locally

For every

$1 SPENT at an online retailer, only

6¢

in reinvested locally

SPENDING LOCALLY MORE THAN DOUBLES THE VALUE IN YOUR COMMUNITY FROM $200 TO $500!

IF 10% OF THE FOOD PURCHASED IN VERMONT WAS LOCALLY PRODUCED, IT WOULD MEAN

$300 MILLION

IN THE VERMONT ECONOMY CREATING JOBS, SUPPORTING FAMILY FARMS, AND MAKING LOCAL FOOD ACCESSIBLE TO MORE VERMONTERS.

SHOP LOCAL Sponsored by: