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DECEMBER 19, 2019
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Expansion on the horizon at Vermont Tech By Jason Starr Observer staff
The Vermont Technical College campus in Williston can be viewed as a concentric circle near where routes 2 and 2A intersect. Its main road, Lawrence Place, encircles the majority of the classroom and administrative buildings. As you widen the circle, you start to incorporate land that Vermont Tech administrators see as the college’s eventual footprint. College President Patricia Moulton explained in a Dec. 2 meeting of the Vermont State Colleges Board of Trustees that Vermont Tech has eyes on tearing down the former Vermont Sandwich Company building and an adjacent house to build a mixed-use building fronting Route 2. It also is seeking a “right of first offer” to buy the buildings that currently house the Rack Warehouse and Creative Sound businesses. In both cases, the college owns the land. The Williston campus is currently over capacity in terms of dorm space with 60 students living on or near
campus. Ideal residential capacity is about 50 students, college spokeswoman Amanda Chaulk said. Most Vermont Tech students commute to class. Of the 60 residential students, a dozen are housed in overflow apartments across Route 2A. The college is also at capacity in terms of classroom space, Chaulk said, and lacks larger meeting rooms. The launch this year of a radiologic science program and next year of a dental therapy program will put even more strain on classroom space. “We lack space flexibility, so class scheduling has to be precise,” said Chaulk. “We don’t have wiggle room.” The demolition of the former sandwich shop and adjacent house is scheduled for this winter. In the short term, the land will be used for parking, Chaulk said. The college is seeking a private developer to partner on a mixed-use building for the land. Administrators envision a scenario where the developer owns the building and leases space back to the college. see VT TECH page 3
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Holiday mixer Williston’s annual Holiday Tree Lighting was held at the village green gazebo Sunday. ABOVE: SD Ireland’s famous lit mixer wowed the crowd. LEFT: Members of the Williston Federated Church provided refreshments at the event. Observer photos by Al Frey
Now that was a snow squall By Jason Starr Observer staff
Winter’s version of a thunderstorm — that’s how National Weather Service meteorologist Scott Whittier describes a snow squall. They are brief, blustery, localized and dangerous. But until last year, the weather service had no official way to warn citizens of approaching squalls. Most people are familiar with the weather service’s winter storm warnings, flash flood warnings or thunderstorm warnings. They are broadcast on local radio and TV stations and shared on social media. Because a snow squall can be as dangerous as any other severe weather event, the weather service installed a new category of advisory in 2018: a Snow Squall Warning. The Burlington office was among the first nationally to be authorized
‘They don’t quite get the airplay that a severe thunderstorm warning does.’ –Scott Whittier NWS meteorologist
to issue the warning. When a narrow band of snow is approaching, where whiteout conditions are expected, even if snowfall is forecast to be less than an inch, the NWS will issue a snow squall warning. Last week it put out two, on Wednesday and Sunday.
NOW OPEN
“It really impacts only people on the road,” Whittier said. “You can sit at home, and it’s not a big deal, but if you’re on the road, it’s a nightmare.” Sunday’s squall was particularly intense and impactful. On Interstate 89 through Williston and Richmond, a total of 31 slide-offs and minor crashes were reported by the Vermont State Police, including a jackknifed 18-wheeler on the southbound side. Northbound and southbound traffic was at a standstill for at least two hours between exits 11 and 14. State police put out a statement about 6 p.m. asking people stopped or involved in minor accidents on the highway to refrain from calling 911 due to the volume of calls coming into the Williston barracks. “The roads were just treacherous,” Williston Fire Chief Ken Morton said. “It was a bad night.” see SQUALL page 3
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