Williston Observer 03/20/2025

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Clark reassures alarmed constituents ‘Our system is working’

BY JASON STARR Observer staff Williston’s top library trustee is also one of the best-positioned lawyers in the country to provide a check on executive power under President Donald Trump.

Reacting to growing concern among her constituents about executive actions the Trump administration has attempted in the first two months of his second term, Attorney General (and Dorothy Alling Memorial Library Board of Trustees chair) Charity Clark spoke Tuesday in Montpelier about a series of lawsuits she has filed since Trump’s inauguration, and took questions from dozens of constituents in a live-streamed event.

Her over-arching message was one of reassurance: “Our

Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark of Williston speaks to constituents in Montpelier on Tuesday about lawsuits her office has filed against the Trump administration.

OBSERVER PHOTO

system is working.”

“Vermont has a lot of power,” she said. “We have a sovereign state here, and we have our rights that I am lucky enough to be representing.”

Clark and a group of Democratic attorneys general from about 20 other states have

sued the administration about once a week since Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration. Her office’s website keeps a running tab of the legislation (at www. ago.ver mont.gov/ago-actions) with updates posted on judges’ decisions. On Tuesday, she shared up-to-date information

on all seven pending lawsuits with constituents gathered at the Pavillion auditorium in Montpelier.

In each of the suits, federal judges have so far sided with the states with injunctions to block the executive actions.

That doesn’t mean the cases are

decided, as enforcement of the injunctions is another question and appeals of the decisions are either filed or expected. But it does mean that the judicial branch of government is doing its job, Clark assured.

She pointed to comments Tuesday from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts defending the independence of the judiciary.

“Having Justice Roberts on the side of the rule of law is good news,” Clark said.

The first lawsuit came the day after the inauguration, defending the citizenship rights of people born in the U.S., regardless of the immigration status of their parents. A federal judge ruled in favor of the states; the administration is appealing.

The second lawsuit was filed at the end of January. It uses the Administrative Procedure Act see CLARK page 10

Route 2A, Industrial Ave. project to commence Road-widening and intersection improvements to be complete by fall 2026

BY JASON STARR Observer staff Construction is set to begin in April on a two-year road widening and intersection improvement project on Route 2A and Industrial Avenue.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation is working with Massachusetts-based engineering firm Green International Affiliates on the project, which is designed to handle a 20-year horizon of increased traffic, while also

taking the opportunity to improve cycling and pedestrian safety along the corridor.

The project will begin at the intersection of River Cove Road and stretch to the intersection of Industrial Avenue. Construction will begin with tree clearing.

Project completion is anticipated in the fall of 2026.

“We’re looking to enhance safety for all users and address existing and future congestion,” Alex Tsoukalas of Green International said Monday during

a public hearing on the project at Williston Central School.

The road widening will accommodate a center turning lane that links up with similar work completed in 2022 further north toward the Essex Junction city line.

“Adding these turning lanes will make it easier to get vehicles where they need to go,” Tsoukalas said.

But the focal point of the project is improvements to the intersection at Industrial Avenue and

Mountain View Road. There, new pedestrian crosswalks and bike lanes, improved lighting, new traffic lights and new turning lanes will improve flow for all users.

Construction will impede travel on all three roads for the next two years. Work will be ongoing during weekday daytime hours.

Two-way traffic will be maintained on Route 2A, engineers said, but a short-term closure of Industrial Avenue is planned for this spring, and Mountain View Road is expected to be reduced

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to alternating one-way travel at times.

The Williston Public Works Department is also planning to close Industrial Avenue this summer to reconstruct the pedestrian bridge over the Allen Brook that was closed last year due to bridge integrity concerns.

Questions and concerns about the Route 2A project can be directed to public information consultant Elaine Ezerins at (603) 782-2460 or by email at elaine. ezerins@wsp.com.

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Williston Observer • March 20, 2025

Around Town Library director hired Kevin Unrath has been hired as the new director of the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. He will begin in early April.

Unrath most recently worked for the Vermont Department of Kevin Unrath Libraries as a consultant to municipal libraries, and prior to that was the director of the Pierson Library in Shelburne and the Ilsey Library in Middlebury. He succeeds Jane Kearns, who stepped down from the role in December.

Town Manager Erik Wells said a community event to welcome Unrath is being planned for April.

A beaver tale — film documents new Allen Brook neighbors The Williston Historical Society and the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library will present local filmmaker Jim Heltz’s new documentary “New Neighbors — The Beavers of Allen Brook” at the library on April 5 at 12 p.m. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Heltz.

The film follows the progress of a family of beavers who took up residence on the Allen Brook in 2023 near Hetlz’s home on Wildflower Circle.

Lion King Jr.” — based on the Broadway production and the 1994 Disney film.

The grade 6-8 cast and crew has about 60 students under the direction of Angela Pollock.

The Thursday, April 10 and Friday, April 11 showings are scheduled for 7 p.m. at the school’s Al Meyers Theater. On Saturday April 12, showtime is 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door or online at https://willistoncentral.seatyourself.biz.

Maple Open House weekend on tap The Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association hosts its annual Maple Open House Weekend this Saturday and Sunday, March 22-23 at sugarhouses across the state.

Maple producers will welcome visitors for tastings, demonstrations and a celebration of the start of sugaring season. Williston’s Sugartree Maple Farm on 787 Bradley Lane is among the participating producers. Visit vermontmaple.org/mohw for a full list of participating farms and sugarhouses across the state.

Students in Williston Central School’s Drama Department are in rehearsals for their April 10-12 presentation of “The

Local high school students and parents are invited to learn about higher education opportunities north of the border at an event Monday, March 24 from 6:30-8 p.m. at Mount Mansfield Union High School in Jericho.

Representatives from 16 Canadian universities will be present to talk about admissions, academic programming and financial aid. For more information, contact Michelle Rath at mrath@mmsca.org.

Hockey all stars take to the ice in Rotary benefit The 39th Rotary All-Star Hockey Classic is scheduled for Saturday, March 22 at the Essex Skating Facility next to Essex High School. High school all star players from CVU will be participating, joining seniors from around the state.

The girls game starts at 4 p.m. and the boys at 6 p.m. Admission is $10 and includes both games. The event is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Essex with proceeds going to support food shelves, winter clothing for children in need, scholarships and health and environmental initiatives. For more information, call (802) 318-0030.

Dog registration required by April 1 The Williston Town Clerk reminds local dog owners that state law requires all dogs in town to be registered with the Town Clerk

by April 1. Dog licenses cost $15 for fixed dogs and $19 for unfixed. A rabies certificate is required.

The fee is an increase of $2 over last year with funds supporting state rabies, spay/ neutering and animal welfare programs.

Contact Town Clerk Sarah Mason for more information at (802) 878-5121 ext. 6 or by email at smason@willistonvt.org.

Williston wins $20K tree planting grant

WCS students present “The Lion King Jr.”

Consider Canada for college

The Town of Williston won a $20,000 tree planting grant from the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program for the planting of 39 trees in the Village. The funds will assist with the continued replacement of trees lost to the invasive Emerald Ash Borer, according to Town Manager Erik Wells.

The town was one of 11 in Vermont to be awarded funds for tree-planting, out of 21 that applied.

State: bring birdfeeders down as bears emerge The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has begun to receive reports of bears coming out of their dens and is urging Vermonters to remove birdfeeders and to bear-proof garbage to prevent conflicts with bears over the spring and summer.

Even with a steady increase in the number of bears harvested by hunters in recent years — including a record harvest in 2024 — the department says Vermont’s bear population has shown signs of growth over the past five years.

“Most Vermonters live in bear country,” Vermont Fish and Wildlife Bear Biologist Jaclyn Comeau said. “If bears are finding food on your property, it is your responsibility to remove that attractant and report a problem before the situation gets worse.”

Bear encounters can be reported online at vtfishandwildlife.com.

CORRECTIONS An article in last week’s Observer headlined “White Cap expansion plan worries neighbors” mistakenly said that the White Cap Business Park is home to offices of the Burlington Free Press. In fact, the Free Press offices are at 305 St. Paul St. in Burlington.

Another article in last week’s Observer, headlined “Local sales tax revenues soar,” omitted the fact that Williston Rep. Erin Brady is a co-sponsor of H.164 — legislation that aims to increase the share of sales tax revenue that municipalities receive.

COMMUNITY

CALENDAR EMAIL EVENT LISTINGS TO EDITOR@WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM THURSDAY, MARCH 20

Development Review Board— Annual Growth Management meeting, 3 p.m. Town Hall. Agenda at town.williston. vt.us SATURDAY & SUNDAY, MARCH 22-23

Vermont Maple Open House Weekend— Statewide tastings and demonstrations. Full participant producer list at vermontmaple.org/mohw SATURDAY, MARCH 22

“Dangerous Characters: The Life and Crime of Delia and Charlie Potter”—Williston Historical Society presentation 2-3 p.m., Dorothy Alling Memorial Library.

FRIDAY, MARCH 28

Rummage Sale—9 a.m.-12 p.m., Williston Federated Church. Shop gently worn clothing for all ages.

TUESDAY, APRIL 1

Village Bylaw and Be Home Act public hearing—7:45 p.m., Town Hall.

Agenda at town.williston.v t.us SATURDAY, APRIL 5

“New Neighbors— The Beavers of Allen Brook”—Screening and filmmaker Q&A: 12 p.m. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library.

THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, APRIL 10-12

“The Lion King Jr.”—Presented by the Williston Central School drama department, 7 p.m. April 10-11; 2 p.m. April 12. Al Meyers Theater at WCS. Tickets at the door and online at willistoncentral. seatyourself.biz

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Williston Observer • Page 3

WILLISTON: BUSINESS HUB OF VERMONT

Williston business bristles as research grants threatened

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

Next to UVM, the second largest recipient of National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants in Vermont is a Williston business on Allen Brook Lane called MBF Bioscience.

The company was awarded a nearly $1 million grant this fiscal year and has two applications pending. So co-founder Jack Glaser (readers may recognize Glaser from his pending subdivision application of the “Glaser parcel” on Mountain View Road) is closely watching the Trump administration’s push to reduce grant allowances by capping administrative costs — a policy that has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge.

MBF Bioscience develops products for use in biomedical research.

Not only does it receive NIH grants for research and development, it also sells products to researchers whose work is funded by the NIH. “It’s a huge part of our business,” Glaser said of NIH grant funding.

About three weeks after Donald Trump was inaugurated as president, the NIH released a memo justifying the change, arguing that too much of the organization’s grant awards are used on “indirect costs“ such as building operations, equipment and administrative functions like accounting. It announced a cap on those costs at 15 percent of any new or existing grant award, effective as of the Feb. 7 memo date.

“NIH spent more than $35

billion in Fiscal Year 2023 on almost 50,000 competitive grants to more than 300,000 researchers at more than 2,500 universities, medical schools and other research institutions across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Of this funding, approximately $26 billion went to direct costs for research, while $9 billion was allocated to overhead through NIH’s indirect cost rate,” the memo states.

The agency reports an average indirect cost rate on its grants of about 27 percent, while noting that some private non-profit foundation grants for scientific research don’t fund indirect costs, and others cap indirect costs between 10-15 percent.

Due to the court-ordered see MBF page 4

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Jack Glaser with a picture of his father and MBF Bioscience co-founder Edmund Glaser.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MBFBIOSCIENCE.COM

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MBF

HUB Happenings State economic development commissioner departs for VEDA Ve r m o n t Economic Development Commissioner Joan Goldstein will leave her role at the end of April, Gov. Joan Goldstein Phil Scott recently announced. Goldstein will move on to be the next chief executive officer of the Vermont Economic Development Authority.

Goldstein has served as commissioner for 10 years, initially appointed by former Gov. Peter Shumlin.

“Joan has been a valued member of my team and has demonstrated strong leadership and creativity in her role as commissioner,” Scott said. “She was instrumental during the pandemic and floods to create programs that filled gaps and met the needs of Vermont employers.

I’m grateful for her service and wish her all the best in her new role.”

Goldstein succeeds Cassie Polhemus at VEDA. “It was an honor to serve Vermonters as part of Gov. Phil Scott’s administration, and I now look forward to leading VEDA,” Goldstein said. “As a board member I have been fortunate to see

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the breadth of work done to help advance business in Vermont and I thank the Authority for entrusting me with this responsibility.”

Polhemus, who took the lead at VEDA in 2019, joined the Authority in 2013 as a commercial lender. In 2014 she became director of operations and then chief operating officer in 2017. She brought to the organization more than 20 years of experience in commercial lending and risk management with financial institutions in Vermont and Connecticut.

“I am incredibly proud of our work at VEDA and the ways in which the Authority and I have grown together,” Polhemus said.

“It has been a pleasure working with Joan on our board, and I look forward to following VEDA’s journey with her at the helm.”

Switchback Brewing Co. of Burlington has launched Switchback N.A., a non-alcoholic version of its flagship Switchback Ale. “There’s been a growing demand for non-alcoholic options, but we weren’t willing to put our name on something that didn’t meet our standards,” said founder and brewmaster Bill Cherry. “We wanted to create a non-alcoholic beer that truly captures the same quality and authenticity people expect from Switchback.”

Switchback partnered on the project with BrewVo NA, pioneers in the “nested fermentation” process that fully brews the beer, then removes the alcohol while preserving flavor and aroma.

State unemployment rate ticks up

Davis & Hodgdon CPAs name new partner

Vermont’s unemployment rate rose a tenth of a percent in January, settling at 2.6 percent, according to the Vermont Department of Labor.

“Despite this increase, the rate remains low for the state and below the national average,” Labor Commissioner Michael Harrington said. “The average duration of unemployment remains near historic lows, indicating that most individuals are securing new employment relatively quickly after job loss.”

Switchback introduces non-alcoholic brew

The Davis & Hodgdon advisory group has named Ryan BlackDeegan a partner at the Willistonbased accounting firm.

Black-Deegan joined Davis & Hodgdon CPAs in 2016. He is a graduate of Plymouth State College and Skidmore College and a member of the American Institute of CPAs, a board member of the Vermont Society of CPAs, and treasurer and member of the Executive Committee for Generator Makerspace.

injunction blocking the policy change, Glaser expects to receive the full $1 million recently approved, but two pending applications are stalled. That’s because the NIH has managed to implement a de facto funding freeze by postponing public meetings to review new grant awards, Glaser said.

“Their response (to the judge’s

“There is … a backdoor block that the Trump administration did by prohibiting the NIH from using a system for announcing public meetings.”

Jack Glaser MBF Bioscience

order) was, ‘oh, we’ll just not let the NIH meet to decide who’s going to get funding,’” said Glaser. “So there is essentially a block right now. It’s a backdoor block that the Trump administration did by prohibiting the NIH from using a system for announcing public meetings.”

MBF Bioscience employs about 35 people out of its Williston office, and also has offices in Virginia, San

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Glaser hopes its international business and sales into private pharmaceutical and biotech companies will be unaffected by what happens with the NIH. But if the courts ultimately allow the grant reductions that the Trump administration is seeking, it would be a significant hit to the way the company has done business over the course of its nearly 40-year history.

“It’s not like everything is contingent on NIH funding, but the way we’ve been operating and doing business for years is definitely highly dependent on getting NIH funding to do new product development,” Glaser said.

While he called this the most challenging time in his business career, he said he’s more concerned about the ecosystem of U.S. scientific research. A blog post on the company website (mbfbioscience.com) explains: “Scientific progress does not happen overnight. It is the result of sustained funding, collaboration, and commitment. Drastic budget reductions will stall projects, disrupt labs, and drive talented researchers — especially early-career scientists — out of the field. The ripple effect will be devastating, slowing the development of new treatments, vaccines, and technologies that millions rely on.”

Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark echoed that sentiment when she announced the lawsuit, filed with fellow Democrat attorneys general in 21 other states.

“Medical research funding by NIH grants has led to innumerable scientific breakthroughs, including the discovery of treatment for cancers of all types, the first sequencing of DNA and the development of the MRI. Additionally, dozens of NIHsupported scientists have earned Nobel Prizes for their groundbreaking scientific work,” a news release from her office announcing the lawsuit states.

A decline in NIH funding jeopardizes about $120 million in Vermont, her office estimates.

The NIH argues that the new policy is aimed at streamlining the country’s bioscientific research.

“The United States should have the best medical research in the world,” its Feb. 7 memo states. “It is accordingly vital to ensure that as many funds as possible go towards direct scientific research costs rather than administrative overhead.”

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Williston Observer • Page 5

OAK

Amazon seeks to build distribution facility in Essex

BY COREY MCDONALD VTDigger

Amazon, the online retail behemoth, is proposing to build a more-than-100,000-square-foot distribution facility in Essex, according to town officials.

The town’s Development Review Board is set to review the proposal, titled “Project Moose,” during a public hearing Thursday evening, according to Town Manager Greg Duggan.

Steve Kelly, a spokesperson with Amazon, said the company was “exploring the possibility of opening a small operations facility in Essex, which would support providing fast delivery and great service to local customers.”

“This process is in the early planning stages and additional steps remain,” Kelly said. “We’ll share more when we can.”

Full details of the project are

unclear. A representative with Scannell Properties, the real estate company spearheading the site plan proposal, declined to comment when reached by email.

Scannell Properties is an Indianapolis-based company that has spearheaded warehouse and distribution facilities for Amazon in a number of states.

The facility would be the first Amazon facility in Vermont.

The proposal, if approved, would build out a 107,000-squarefoot distribution facility on 23 acres of land in Essex’s Saxon Hill Industrial Park off of Thompson Drive, according to Essex Development Review Board documents.

The project was reviewed last week by the town’s Conservation and Trails Committee, which reviews all development applications in town and offers non-binding recommendations on projects.

The facility is being proposed in the town’s Resource Preservation-Industrial zoning district. Regulations for the district require that properties maintain a 50-foot buffer between the property and the street.

The buffer is meant to help with noise and light pollution, and maintain natural environments while preserving animal habitats, according to Shannon Jackson, the vice chair of the trails committee.

But Ken Signorello and other trails committee members said they were concerned about a request by Scannell Properties to waive the 50-foot buffer zone

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and instead build water retention ponds.

“Obviously a lot of developers would like the ease of not having to keep this buffer and just clear-cutting everything,” Jackson said in an interview. “I was a big proponent that we demand or recommend that they do keep this buffer, that it is a standard of our town, and especially in this industrial zone, it’s a requirement that such a buffer be kept for the beauty of our town.”

While the trails committee made recommendations to enforce the 50-foot buffer, ultimately the authority for final approval of the proposal lies with the Development Review Board.

Nonetheless, Signorello said he has concerns with the proposal.

One of the requirements of the zoning district, he said, “is that development should be kept

in harmony with nature.”

“And this does not,” he said.

“I think there’s no effort being made to satisfy that requirement.”

The facility, if built out, would be the first Amazon facility in Vermont.

Amazon has a growing presence in New England, with the company’s largest facility in the region opening in 2023 in Windsor, Conn.

In January, the company announced it would be closing all of its warehouses in Quebec, affecting 1,700 full-time employees and 250 temporary workers.

The closure came less than a year after several hundred employees in Laval, Quebec moved to unionize their workplace.

Amazon’s decision to close its Quebec-based facilities drew the ire of local labor representatives, who suggested the company was flouting labor laws.

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Page 6 •

Williston Observer • March 20, 2025

GUEST COLUMN

Don’t discount students, teachers in education transformation

BY BOB LAIRD I appreciate the heartfelt discussion of our educational system that Gov. Phil Scott’s Education Transformation Proposal has initiated.

Based on the policy brief and comments from Education Secretary Zoie Saunders and Gov. Scott, the proposal has two major goals: reducing the amount of money we spend on education and improving learning for all students.

Comments from Scott and Saunders have primarily focused on the fiscal aspect of the proposal. I have seen no

discussion about how this proposal plans to improve student learning.

We have known for years, maybe decades, that too many students are not learning reading, mathematics and science to the depth we all want for all our children (note that we do not have learning measures for the other equally important subjects). In addition, there is a significant discrepancy in learning among students of different levels of wealth, race and languages spoken, among other categories. This is not unique to Vermont, as all states face the same student learning issues, and to date, no state has solved this

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Kudos for conservation Congratulations to the Town of Williston for passing a bill to preserve and protect open and public land to be operated by

the Environment Reserve Fund.

This bill has been a long time coming and will help preserve more open land in Vermont.

Barbara White Burlington

Williston’s Community Newspaper Since 1985

www.willistonobserver.com P.O. Box 1401, Williston, VT 05495 | 802-489-5499 ADVERTISING Rick Cote, Associate Publisher rick@willistonobserver.com 802-373-2136 EDITOR Jason Starr editor@willistonobserver.com PRODUCTION AND DESIGN Jan Kenney jan@willistonobserver.com

ADVERTISING SPACE DEADLINE Friday at 5 p.m. for the next Thursday issue rick@willistonobserver.com, 802-373-2136 CLASSIFIED ADS Deadline is Friday 5 p.m. There is a fee for business, real estate, help wanted and legal ads. Free classifieds must be 25 words or fewer and are printed on a space available basis.

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The Williston Observer reserves the right to edit or refuse submissions or advertising. Opinions expressed in the paper are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the paper.

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A strong proposal must include a detailed blueprint for how to build the highly trained teacher force that is needed to deliver the student learning that we all want. problem. This is the reality of where we are, not an excuse.

So, I was heartened when I read Gov. Scott’s recent comments. In part, he wrote: “Let’s be honest: Just putting a new coat of paint on this crumbling foundation won’t raise

scores or reduce costs. It’s time to do what we should have done a while ago and build a system that prioritizes our kids more than our nostalgia.”

Please excuse my confusion, but if Gov. Scott is truly serious about addressing learning issues that have dogged us for years, why are there no details in his plan for tackling this problem? The proposal, as it now stands, suggests a misunderstanding of what it will take to fulfill these promises.

So, what will it take?

For the past 20 years I have worked on student learning at all levels of our education system. All findings point to high quality instruction as the key to strong student learning. The good news is that building a highly trained educator force is something we can control, and doing so is our best bet to ensure that every child learns important,

motivating and interesting things. A strong proposal then, must include a detailed blueprint for how to build the highly trained teacher force that is needed to deliver the student learning that we all want.

Across the past 25 years, we have seen opportunities and promises come and go with little impact on student learning. The late 1990s introduced the educational standards movement that brought with it standards-based textbooks, programs and materials. This was also an exciting time for many teachers and schools, due to the visionary and inspiring leadership of Commissioner of Education Marc Hull, who reminded us that education was for “all students” and that the work of teachers and students was at the core of our educational mission.

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March 20, 2025 •

Williston Observer • Page 7

GUEST COLUMN

Sunshine Week — safeguarding the public’s right to know

BY TANYA MARSHALL As the days get longer and the snow melts, it is fitting that this is Sunshine Week — an annual celebration of government records and information as the cornerstone of government accountability and transparency.

A government “of the people, by the people, and for the people,” as President Abraham Lincoln famously stated in his Gettysburg address, means people must have access to authentic and reliable records and information. Without this, we’re in the dark. As we face an increasingly complex landscape of disinformation and misinformation, access to authentic, reliable and trustworthy government records and information is more important than ever.

Sunshine Week coincides with a poignant time in our history. It is alarming that our fundamental rights as Americans are currently under threat from an unprecedented dismantling of federal agencies and unauthorized destruction of federal records and information. Both are critical for ensuring government accountability and transparency, fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers, and the public’s right to know. The effectiveness of all government programs and services relies on authentic and reliable information. Further, the public’s trust in these programs and services relies on transparency, accountability and civic engagement.

Yet, authentic and reliable records and

Laird

continued from page 6

Commissioner Marge Petit, Commissioner Hull’s tenure inspired the creation of Vermont educational institutions such as Vermont Reads, The Vermont Science Initiative, Vermont Mathematics Partnership and The Vermont Mathematics Initiatives. All of these were designed to build instructional capacity across disciplines by creating teacher leaders who would lead instructional excellence in their schools and districts.

Unfortunately, Commissioner Hull’s tenure was short and subsequent commissioners/secretaries drifted further away from his dream of building instructional capacity in Vermont schools. Thus, the potential of his vision was not fully realized.

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was passed by congress in 2002, which has had a lasting effect on education. NCLB left our education system with two lasting legacies. The first was providing schools and districts disaggregated learning data that showed learning differences across sub-groups of

information are being removed from federal websites, despite being an efficient and cost-effective way to provide publicly available information and actively engage Americans in the federal programs and services they rely on. Federal civil servants responsible for the management, technologies and use of federal

records and information are being fired or have “voluntarily” resigned or retired. Those recently affected include employees at the National Archives and Records Administration, United States Digital Service, 18F (a digital services team within the General Services Administration), and key federal agencies dedicated to data collection and research. All told, the recent and ongoing loss of institutional and expert knowledge is staggering.

For Sunshine Week 2025, it is crucial to shed light on Vermont’s laws for a transparent and open government. The State of Vermont’s commitment to manage and safeguard its local and state government records and information, especially from unauthorized destruction, was established by state law in 1937. Following the Watergate scandal of 1972 and subsequent

Congressional action to further ensure government accountability and transparency, while also balancing individual rights to personal privacy, state legislatures — including the Vermont General Assembly — shored up state laws to require the same.

Today, government accountability and transparency are governed by what is called the Vermont Public Records Act, and its importance cannot be overstated: Access to authentic and reliable government records and information is a fundamental right.

The Vermont Secretary of State’s Office, through the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA), fulfills a relatively simple, yet essential, role in the Vermont Public Records Act. VSARA is charged with supporting Vermont government in systematically managing its records and information “to provide ready access to vital information, to promote the efficient and economical operation of government, and to preserve their legal, administrative, and informational value.” The archives, records and information professionals at VSARA rise to this challenge without fanfare.

The baseline VSARA sets for Vermont public agencies is compliance with all six parts of the Vermont Public Records Act (policy, access, exemptions, management, procedure and enforcement) and with the specific laws and rules that govern each individual agency’s records and information.

This work is done in collaboration with

managers, technologists, legal counsel, and other agency stakeholders. The outcomes are effective policies and procedures for managing and safeguarding Vermont records and information and publicly available documentation of what types of records and information are created or received by each public agency.

Full transparency. Full accountability.

Why is this important? Full transparency and accountability of what records and information are created or received and the requirements relating to their management are critically important, especially for legal certainty of their authenticity, reliability and trustworthiness. Government programs and services depend on them, and the public does too. We, as a nation, stand to suffer profoundly if our nation’s “freedom of information,” “public records,” and “right to know” laws falter for any American.

The Secretary of State’s Office is doing, and will continue to do, everything in its power to ensure that the public’s access to authentic, reliable and trustworthy government records and information is neither disrupted nor prevented. This includes preserving Vermont’s rights to a transparent and open federal government as well.

students.

Although many of us had known of these learning discrepancies for years, NCLB thrust this issue into the public sphere.

The second vestige of NCLB was far less noble. It introduced the downright awful term “failing school.” This ushered in the tradition of schools, teachers, administers and parents waiting with bated breath to see if their local school made the “failing school” list, which was often front page news in the local paper.

It is important to note that during this time, our schools and districts received little, if any, help, and again, we did not invest in developing the highly trained educator force needed to address the real issues facing schools.

Apparently, the system did not care much about science, social studies, languages, art, music and physical education since only math and language arts test scores were used to label schools. It is not a surprise that NCLB had little impact on student learning.

In 2010 the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts and Mathematics were introduced, promising improved learning for all students (Again, other important subjects were excluded from the

initiative). Unfortunately, the promises were unfulfilled for the same reasons prior initiatives failed: The system refused to invest in the training that was needed for teachers to understand the new standards and to provide the instruction it demanded. As with the standards movement in late 1990s, textbook companies made out well as each textbook published in the years following the rollout of the CCSS came with a sticker on the cover stating “CCSS Aligned”. One more time, this educational initiative hardly budged student learning.

The lesson I take away from this look back is that the success of any educational initiative depends on the degree to which we highly train all our teachers and schools to make the initiative work as designed. An educational initiative, even those that are well designed and potentially effective, will fail without a dogged attention to implementation. This will not be solved teacher by teacher or school by school. This is a systemic issue that demands expertise and commitment at the state level, and a carefully detailed implementation plan.

I invite Secretary Saunders and Gov. Scott to provide us a comprehensive and detailed

plan that includes a timeline for improved student learning and the amount of money budgeted for this challenging endeavor. We know the details of the fiscal and governance component of the proposal, and we need the same level of detail for the student learning part.

Despite the failure of past initiatives to drive learning for all students, I remain hopeful that this time we can get it right. I believe that with courage and determination, Vermont can build the most highly trained educator force in the nation.

I am not naïve. I accept the fact that mandates, state directives, policies and bills are part of our educational system. Yet please know that our districts, schools and teachers are yearning for leaders who motivate and inspire them, who lead them with confidence, humility and passion, and who provide them with the high-quality training they need to deliver the student learning we all want for Vermont students.

The recent and ongoing loss of institutional and expert knowledge is staggering.

Tanya Marshall is the Vermont State Archivist and Chief Records Officer and director of the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration, a division of the Vermont Secretary of State.

Bob Laird lives in Williston. He is recently retired from the Vermont Mathematics Initiative that trains public school math teachers.

Page 8 •

Williston Observer • March 20, 2025

SPORTS

A hill too high

CLOCKWISE (l to r): CVU’s Rose Bunting drives to the hoop during the Redhawks’ 34-23 semifinals loss to the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers on March 12 at UVM’s Patrick Gym. Zoe McNabb launches from 3-point range. Kaitlyn Jovell looks to pass down court. Sarah Skaflestad adds to the Redhawks’ score from the free throw line. Alex Montgomery puts up a short jumpshot.

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W I L L I S T O N

Recreation & Parks CAMP COUNSELORS WANTED

The Williston Recreation and Parks Department is looking for creative, fun, dedicated, self-motivated people to work in its summer day camps for children entering grades 1-8. The goal of each camp is to provide children the opportunity to learn and grow in a fun and safe environment.

Become part of the dedicated team of staff members that shares a love of working with children and providing memories that last a lifetime. Apply by emailing a cover letter and resume to recreation@willistonvt.org.

REC DEPARTMENT GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE

Give the gift of play. The Rec Department is now selling $10, $25 and $50 gift certificates online at willistonrec.org. Click on the “Register” tab under the “Store” menu item.

FAMILY PROGRAMS DANGEROUS GIRLS

Ages 14-plus. Dangerous Girls is a practical self-defense class designed for teens and young women. The program offers a combination of kickboxing and grappling. You’ll learn real fighting while bouncing to sweet tunes.

It’s fun, it’s social, and before you know it, you’ll be able to kick butt.

Instructor: ONTA Studio Staff.

ROOT7 VOCAL PERCUSSION AND IMPROVISATION WORKSHOP

Ages 13-plus. Root7, Vermont’s contemporary a cappella group, will host sing-alongs for beginner, intermediate and experienced vocalists who want to learn and work in groups. Thursday, March 27, 7-9 p.m.

BACKYARD BEEKEEPING INTRO

Ages 16-plus. Learn more about bees, the vital and fascinating creatures providing so much of our food. Three sessions will enlighten and maybe inspire you to start a few hives of your own.

There will be plenty of question-and-answer time and all the info needed to start your operation. Instructors: Deborah Rubin and Rick Stoner

ADULT PROGRAMS DOG TRAINING PROGRAMS

Ages 18-plus. A variety of dog

training programs are offered, beginning in late March. Instructor: Deb Helfrich.

ZUMBA GOLD

Ages 18-plus. This is a modified version of Zumba that is geared toward active older adults seeking lower-impact workouts.

Each class introduces easy-tofollow choreography that focuses on balance, range of motion and coordination. Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m., $10 per class at the R.E.C. Zone- 94 Harvest Lane.

Instructor: Ciara Gregory ACCESSIBLE YOGA

Ages 18-plus, geared toward folks ages 50-plus. Vinyasa Yoga Flow. Each class begins with a brief meditation and then moves into an easy practice that can be done on a yoga mat, in a chair or both. Instructor: Robin Zabiegalski. Mondays, 1-2 p.m., $5 per class at the REC Zone, 94 Harvest Lane.

YOGA FLOW

Ages 18-plus. Each class will start with a brief mindfulness meditation, then move into an easy Vinyasa Flow practice. You will practice a flow of yoga shapes both on the ground and standing, then you will settle on some longer stretches. Instructor: Robin Zabiegalski. Fridays, 6-7 p.m., $10 per class at the REC Zone, 94 Harvest Lane.

SELF-DEFENSE KICKBOXING INTRO

Ages 18-plus. This class mixes training techniques from multiple martial arts, including Filipino stick fighting, kickboxing and Jiu-Jitsu, to create a fun, non-competitive environment where participants can learn practical self-defense skills. Perfect for both beginners and those with a prior martial arts background.

Instructors: ONTA Studio staff JAZZERCISE CARDIO SCULPT PROGRAMS

Ages 16-plus. This program is geared to 50-plus but is open to all ages. Instructors will show you how to take it high or low.

Cardio Sculpt Low/Low, Tuesdays and Fridays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. and Mondays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Cardio Sculpt Low/ High, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 4:45-5:45 p.m. and Sundays, 8:309:30 a.m. Instructor: Kit Sayers.

The R.E.C. Zone, 94 Harvest Lane.

SENIOR COMMUNITY MEALS

Ages 60-plus. On Tuesdays, the Rec Dept. and Age Well will host free community meals. Space is limited, and advanced registration is required. Registration closes one week before the scheduled meal date. Following the meal, a program tailored to seniors will be offered. To register, call (802) 876-1160 or email recreation@ willistonvt.org.

BONE BUILDERS

Ages 50-plus. A program of the United Way of Northwest Vermont. This free, low-impact weight training program is designed to prevent and reverse osteoporosis in older adults.

Classes are held twice per week.

Instructors: Ann Naumann and Joyce Oughstun. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10-11 a.m. at the REC Zone, 94 Harvest Lane.

TAI CHI INTRODUCTION

Ages 50-plus. The ancient art of Tai Chi improves balance, increases mindfulness and relaxes the mind and body. This class will present sequences of movements derived from the Sun style, which is slow, smooth and upright in posture. Instructor: Adina Panitch.

Mondays, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Free.

The R.E.C. Zone, 94 Harvest Lane.

SENIOR STRENGTH AND FUNCTIONAL MOBILITY

Ages 50-plus. This program will concentrate on developing upper and lower body strength, improving balance and strengthening your core. In this dementia-friendly class, participants are encouraged to work within their abilities. Instructor: Jazmine Averbuck.

Wednesdays and Fridays, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. The R.E.C. Zone, 94 Harvest Lane.

YOUTH/TEEN PROGRAMS

and energetic curriculum that has been tailored to this age group.

Players are encouraged to learn and play with a parent and each other. Instructors: Rec Staff ROOKIES LACROSSE

Grades 1-2. Separate programs for boys and girls. Rookie Lacrosse is geared toward those who want to learn, play and experience the game of lacrosse in a fun atmosphere. The program is on Saturdays starting May 3 and consists of skill learning and scrimmages. Volunteer coaches

Williston Observer • Page 9

are needed. Early bird registration deadline is April 20.

SUMMER CAMPS Camps offered: Kids Kitchen, Ninja Science, Girls Ninja Science, Baking Fun, Advanced Baking, Culinary Advanced, All About Clay, Woodworking and Tech, Kids Kitchen, Tennis, Farm to Table, Slimescapades, Safe Sitter, Fun with Food, Art Camp, Bookmaking, Painting and Drawing, Electricity and Coding and OUR Camps.

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KNITTING

Grades 3-8. Does your child love to knit, or do they want to learn? If so, this program will teach them how to improve their knitting skills. The program offers the basics for first-timers, as well as provides early and intermediate knitters with specific how-tos and help with projects. All materials are provided.

Instructor: Christine Heavner, owner of Knitting Circle.

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RECKIDS LACROSSE

Ages 5-6, coed, child and parent. This program teaches the fundamentals of lacrosse using a fun

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March Observer 22-28, 2025 • Pagerelease 10 •dates: Williston

March 20, 2025

12 (25)

Next Week: Our states: Florida

Founded by Betty Debnam

Fun for April Fools’ Day If you hear weird stories or see strange things on Tuesday, April 1, be suspicious. It’s April Fools’ Day! Lots of people get into the spirit of fun on this holiday. Your family and friends might play silly tricks. Even serious groups such as NASA and the news media play tricks that day.

The important thing to remember is that April Fools’ Day tricks should all be friendly.

If someone could be embarrassed or hurt, it’s not funny, and it’s not in the spirit of April Fools’ Day.

How did it start?

Many cultures have a day for fun and jokes, and often those days come in the early spring. Experts believe April Fools’ Day may have started in France in the 1500s.

At that time in France, many people celebrated the new year around April 1. In 1564, the king moved the new year to Jan. 1.

A new calendar was developed in 1582.

When the calendar changed, people got confused. There were no daily newspapers, internet or TV back then. It took a while for news to get around.

People who hadn’t heard the news showed up on April 1 for New Year’s celebrations. Those in the know called them fools and played tricks on them. For example, tricksters would send them to New Year’s parties that didn’t exist.

Mini Fact:

In 2017, on April 1, Burger King announced a new Whopperflavored toothpaste.

April Fish

The French call April Fools’ Day Le Poisson d’Avril (PWAW-sown dah-VRIL), or April Fish. Experts are not sure why fish became part of April Fools’ Day. Some believe it’s because young, inexperienced fish are easily caught.

On April 1, French kids stick pictures of fish on people’s backs.

An antique French postcard for April Fish.

Joking around

In the 1800s, students in many parts of the United States played April Fools’ jokes on their teachers. Sometimes all the students would run into the woods before school started and stay out until lunchtime. In other places, all the students would rush into the school, locking the teacher out.

The media of the times got into the act too. In 1878, a year after Thomas Edison invented the phonograph, a New York newspaper printed an April Fools’ story about him. They reported that Edison had invented a “food creator” that could turn dirt into cereal.

Thomas Edison Many newspapers reprinted the story, thinking it was true.

Famous pranks

The British Broadcasting Corp., or BBC, produces many serious news shows, nature shows and dramas. It is also known for its April Fools’ jokes.

In 1957, the BBC played one of the most famous April Fools’ jokes of all time. The BBC news carried a story about the great spaghetti crop in Switzerland that year. It showed farmers pulling spaghetti noodles from trees. Reporters said farmers had developed plants that would produce noodles that were all the same length.

In 1980, the BBC announced that London’s famous Big Ben clock would be updated to a digital format and would be known as Digital Dave. The bongs of the famous bells would be replaced with digital beeps. Many people called the BBC in anger about the proposed “update.”

photo by malavoda

Issue 12, 2025

Resources On the Web:

• bit.ly/MPpranks

At the library:

• “Pranklopedia: The Funniest, Grossest, Craziest, Not-Mean Pranks on the Planet!” by Julie Winterbottom

The Mini Page® © 2025 Andrews McMeel Syndication

Efficiency (DOGE) ille- judge blocked the administra- protecting federal workers from they’ve come into line.” gal access to the Treasury tion’s policy (see related story, arbitrary layoffs and protecting She urged Vermonters to continued from page 1 Department’s payment system. Page 3). the Department of Education contact her office if they’ve Again, a federal judge grantOn Feb. 13, the states chal- from being dismantled. A judge been negatively affected by to oppose the administration’s ed April a preliminary delegation of execu- last week ordered the reinstate- administration policies that a Words that remind us of Fools’ Day injunction, are hidden lenged in this the puzzle. attemptedSome temporary freeze blocking the or department’s power to Elon Musk, head ment of firedAnna: federalHow employees. judge has ruled to halt. That words are hidden backward diagonally,acandtive some letters do lions like and review of federal grants cess to the system while the suit of DOGE. A judge declined to The Department of Education can provide legal basis to file their meat cooked? are used twice. See if you can find: and loans. A judge granted an proceeds. issue an immediate order block- case has yet to go before a judge.

Aaron: Medium roar!motions to force enforcement of injunctionAPRIL, in the BIG case,BEN, but it is Next, the states sued to halt ing Musk’s power, but the states Clark said the adminis- judge’s orders.

J D T O O T H P A S T E P L Z being appealed, Clark said. a proposed rule change at the plan to file a new injunction mo- tration is complying with the “This is the power we have,” CALENDAR, DAY, DIGITAL, S U O of I Health C I tion P as S part U of S evidence A M collecF E Finjunctions.

The third is a suit alleging National Institutes Clark said. “I believe the system EDISON, FOOL, P N grant F Nfunding B I tion G in B theEcase.

N G D O D R “Maybe they are foot-drag- is going to work.” the administration granted FRANCE, its that would reduce FRIENDLY, FUN, HOLIDAY, Department of Government for scientific Again, R research.

U L W R aA E The Y most D recent L Ocases O involve F I I ging,” she said, “but ultimately,

Clark

Try ’n’ Find

Mini Jokes

Eco Note

JOKE, PRANK, SPAGHETTI, SUSPICIOUS, TEACHERS, TOOTHPASTE, TRICK,

A F A T Z A P R I L P R I S E N D T S P A G H E T T I E O N K C I R T F R A N C E Q J N D

Cases of tularemia, also known as “rabbit fever,” have recently

celebrations. Those in the know called them fools and played tricks on them. For example, tricksters would send them to New Year’s parties that didn’t exist.

could turn dirt into cereal.

Many newspapers reprinted the story, thinking it was true.

• “Pranklopedia: The Funniest, Grossest, Craziest, Not-Mean Pranks on the Planet!” by Julie Winterbottom

Thomas Edison

March 20, 2025 •

The Mini Page® © 2025 Andrews McMeel Syndication

Try ’n’ Find

Page 11

Mini Jokes

Words that remind us of April Fools’ Day are hidden in this puzzle.

Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find: APRIL, BIG BEN, CALENDAR, DAY, DIGITAL, EDISON, FOOL, FRANCE, FRIENDLY, FUN, HOLIDAY, JOKE, PRANK, SPAGHETTI, SUSPICIOUS, TEACHERS, TOOTHPASTE, TRICK, YEAR.

Williston Observer •

J D T O O T H S U O I C I P P N F N B I G R U L W R A E A F A T Z A P N D T S P A G K C I R T F R P B G E K O J Y S I V L T E Y A D Y D C A

Anna: How do lions like their meat cooked?

Aaron: Medium roar!

P A S T E P L Z S U S A M F E F B E N G D O D R Y D L O O F I I R I L P R I S E H E T T I E O N A N C E Q J N D H O L I D A Y L A C H E R S A Y L E N D A R Z A

Eco Note Cases of tularemia, also known as “rabbit fever,” have recently increased in humans across the United States and Canada. Symptoms include fever, headaches, muscle aches, joint pain and a dry cough. Tularemia can be transmitted to humans through bites from infected ticks and deer flies, as well as through skin contact with infected rabbits, hares and rodents. Running over the nests of infected animals while mowing lawns can aerosolize the bacteria, leading to local infections. Rising tick populations and habitat changes may be behind the recent uptick.

Cook’s Corner

What to do: 1. Combine peanut butter and apricot jam until well-mixed.

2. Spread mixture on 4 slices of raisin bread.

3. Place apple slices on top of 2 of the pieces of bread.

4. Top with remaining raisin bread to make 2 sandwiches.

adapted with permission from Earthweek.com

The Mini Page® © 2025 Andrews McMeel Syndication

You’ll need: • 1/4 cup chunky peanut butter • 2 tablespoons apricot jam • 4 slices raisin bread • 6 to 8 apple slices

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

Fruit and Nutty Sandwich

For later:

Watch your newspaper for April Fool’s pranks on Tuesday, April 1.

Teachers: Follow and

interact with The Mini Page on Facebook!

Brevity

by Dan Thompson

Page 12

•

Williston Observer •

March 20, 2025

SAVVY SENIOR

OBITUARIES

How to replace important lost documents

Dear Savvy Senior, How do I go about replacing some important documents that were lost when our home of 50 years burned down? We lost everything, including our house deed, car titles, old tax returns, Social Security and Medicare cards, birth certificates, marriage license and passports.

Suffering in SoCal

Dear Suffering, I’m very sorry to hear about the loss of your home, but you’ll be pleased to know that replacing most of the lost documents you mentioned is pretty easy once you know where to turn.

Here are the resources to help you get started.

Birth certificates: If you were born in the United States, contact the vital records office in the state where you were born (see CDC.gov/nchs/w2w/index. htm for contact information).

This office will give you specific instructions on what you need to do to order a certified copy and what it will cost you — usually between $10 and $30.

Car titles: Most states offer replacements through a local department of motor vehicles office. You’ll need to complete a replacement title application form and pay the application fee, which varies by state. You’ll also need to show ID and proof that you own the car, such as your vehicle registration or your license-plate number and VIN (vehicle identification number).

Property deed: To access your house deed, contact your county clerk’s office, where deeds are usually recorded. You

may be charged a small fee to get a copy.

Marriage certificate: Contact the vital records office of the state you were married in to order a copy (see CDC.gov/ nchs/w2w/index.htm).

You’ll

By Jim Miller need to provide full names for you and your spouse, the date of your wedding, and the city or town where the wedding was performed. Fees range from $10 to $30.

Social Security cards: In most states, you can request a replacement Social Security card online for free at SSA.gov/ myaccount. When you get there, click on “Replace your Social Security Card” and answer a few questions to verify your identity.

Medicare cards: If you’re enrolled in original Medicare, you can replace a lost or damaged Medicare card by calling Medicare at 800-633-4227, or by logging into your MyMedicare. gov account, where you can print or request a new card to be mailed to you for free. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare

Photos from the Williston Observer are available for purchase!

Place your order online or email afrey202@gmail.com AlFreyPhotography.com

Advantage Plan, such as an HMO, PPO or PDP, you’ll need to call your plan to get your card replaced. And, if you get Railroad Retirement Board benefits, you can get a replacement card by calling 877-772-5772.

Tax returns: To get copies of old tax returns start with your tax preparer, who usually keeps copies of your returns on file. You can also get copies of federal returns directly from the Internal Revenue Service.

You’ll need to fill out and mail in IRS form 4506. To download this form, go to IRS.gov/pub/ irs-pdf/f4506.pdf or call 800829-3676 and ask them to mail you a copy. The cost is $30 for each return requested.

And to get copies of your state tax returns, contact your state’s department of revenue who will also require a request form. See TaxAdmin.org/fta-members for state contact information.

Passports: If your U.S. passports were valid, you’ll need to first report them as lost or stolen so they can be canceled. You can do this online at PPTform.state. gov or in person when you apply for a new passport at a Passport Application Acceptance Facility, which are located in many U.S. post offices. See iafdb.travel.state. gov to locate one near you. You’ll also need to submit Form DS-64 and Form DS-11. The replacement fee is $130 per passport.

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.

AL

Mark E. Sikora II It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Mark E. Sikora II March 8, 2025.

Mark was born in Burlington, VT, Oct. 5, 1946, to Mark E. Sikora and Elizabeth (Guyette) Sikora. He attended Rice Memorial High School, graduating in 1964 and attended Champlain College, graduating in 1969. He was a member of the Vermont Air National Guard for almost 20 years.

Mark met Kathleen (Kathy) Oak in Plattsburgh in 1966 and they were married in 1968. Their first son was born while living in an apartment in Burlington above Sikora’s Shoe Repair where he had worked through high school and college with his grandfather and uncle. Mark and his family moved to Long Island for two years where he worked for an auto parts company. Mark returned with his family to his beloved Vermont in 1971 where they welcomed their second son while living in South Hero. They moved to Richmond in 1973.

In 1971 Mark and Kathy started Sikora Auto Parts, which was a successful business. In the early years Mark would sell auto parts out of his truck, and in 1987 they opened a retail store in Richmond. They sold the business to Maynard Auto Supply in 1994. Mark continued seeing his customers, many of whom became friends, until May 2024 when he finally had to retire from Fisher Auto Parts due to health complications. He always considered himself a “wagon peddler” rather than a salesman. He loved working.

As their children grew, they

took up golf, and were long-time members at the West Bolton Golf Club and played courses throughout Vermont, the U.S., and Canada. Golf was often the reason for, or part of, their vacations.

Mark wouldn’t have said he loved to travel, but he did enjoy the destinations and experiences shared with family and friends.

Major trips included Bermuda, Costa Rica, Margarita Island, and a river cruise through the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland. Their last road trip was in Sept. last year to visit their grandson in Colorado and to see parts of the U.S. and Canada they had never seen before.

Mark was a lifelong fisherman and hunter. He looked forward to annual hunting trips to New York and Pennsylvania with his son, grandson, and best friend Jimmy Dattilio.

Mark often greeted you with a smile or a joke and usually with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. He was a friend to many.

Mark is survived by his wife Kathy; sons Mark and Matthew (Heather Gibbs); grandsons Johnathin (Liza Sikora) and Tyler; great grandchildren Lukas Ladieu, Mackenzie Ladieu, Ace Sikora, and Sophia Sikora; siblings Netti (Jerome Rand), Jeffrey (Kathleen Malaney), and Jill (Robert Cain); nieces and nephews Nolan Cain, Sikora Cain, Molly Dedes (Alex), Kristen Winningham (Nico), and Jay Rand (Charlotte); aunt Patricia Sikora; and many cousins, friends, neighbors, and customers.

He was predeceased by his parents Mark and Elizabeth Sikora, his mother- and fatherin-law Molly and Jack Oak, and niece Chelsea Sikora.

Visiting hours were held March 15 at Ready’s Funeral Home. A gathering for his friends and family will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Green Mountain Conservation Camp Endowment Fund, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Dept., 1 National Life Drive, Davis 2, Montpelier, VT 05620-3702, or Machia Wilderness Camp, 703 Dorset Street, South Burlington, VT 05403. Please visit their websites for donation information.

March 20, 2025 •

Williston Observer •

Page 13

CROSSWORD • SOLUTION ON PAGE 14

TODAY’S HISTORY:

• In 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s antislavery novel, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” was published.

• In 1952, the U.S. Senate ratified a peace treaty returning sovereignty to Japan.

• In 1995, members of the Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo released sarin gas into the Tokyo Metro subway system, killing 12 and injuring more than 5,000.

• In 2003, the United States and a coalition of allied states began military operations in Iraq.

TODAY’S FACT:

• The constitution of Japan, adopted in 1947, forbids the country from participating in wars.

SOLUTION FOUND ON PAGE 14

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Page 14

•

Williston Observer •

March 20, 2025

CLASSIFIEDS

AVAILABLE HOMESHARES Spacious rural home to share with vibrant woman in her 70s who enjoys yoga, book groups, and hiking. Seeking a housemate who might enjoy walks or occasional meals together! $650 plus utilities. Private bath. Must be catfriendly! 6 miles to Vergennes.

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Feb. 9 at 12:24 p.m. — Report of a possible break in at an abandoned residence on Commerce Street. Building was cleared and no one was located inside.

Feb. 9 at 8:34 p.m. — Report of a door that had been shattered on Avenue D. After checking video cameras, it was determined that a plow truck broke the door.

Feb. 10 at 1:16 p.m. — Retail theft reported from small business on Knight Lane. Female suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

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Feb. 10 at 2:25 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Ulta Beauty. Male suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

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Feb. 10 at 6:53 p.m. — Report that two trailers had been stolen from Home Depot. Trailers have not been located.

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Feb. 11 at 11:50 a.m. — Male making threatening comments on Industrial Ave. Male was located and talked to.

Feb. 11 at 11:59 a.m. — Female looking to report fraudulent activity in Underhill. She was referred to Vermont State Police for further investigation.

Feb. 12 at 7:40 a.m. — Several vehicles gone through on Memorial Drive.

Several things taken.

Feb. 12 at 12:16 p.m. — Female in Ulta Beauty who has previously been trespassed. Female was located and issued a citation for unlawful trespass.

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Feb. 12 at 2:06 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Walmart. Male suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

Feb. 12 at 2:42 p.m. — Traffic stop conducted. Male operator was issued a citation to appear in court for driving with a criminally suspended license. Female

passenger had an active arrest warrant.

She was transported to the correctional facility.

Feb. 12 at 7:07 p.m. — Traffic stop conducted. Female operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI and cruelty to a child.

Feb. 13 at 2:44 p.m. — Retail theft reported at CVS. Female suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

Feb. 13 at 5:50 p.m. — Retail theft reported at LL Bean. Male suspect was issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

Feb. 14 at 12:15 p.m. — Report of a female at Sandri making threats toward others. Female was issued a notice of trespass and moved along.

Feb. 14 at 4:06 p.m. — Assisted with a car that was stuck in a snowbank.

Vehicle was removed.

Feb. 15 at 11:32 a.m. — Stolen vehicle recovered in the Walmart parking lot.

Male operator in vehicle had an active arrest warrant. He was transported to the correctional facility.

Feb. 15 at 6:25 p.m. — Following a traffic stop, male operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI and driving with a criminally suspended license.

Feb. 15 at 9:45 p.m. — Report of a suspicious male on Fawn Place. Male was referred to the Community Justice Center.

Officers also conducted 51 traffic stops and responded to nine alarm activations and 12 motor vehicle crashes during this time frame.

Town Hall Meeting Room (Town Hall, 7900 Williston Road, use rear entrance) or Zoom Meeting ID 846 5863 3532 on zoom.us/join or call 1-646-558-8656 DP 24-12.1 Duane Merrill & Company and Brickliners Custom Masonry & Chimney Services c/o O’Leary-Burke Civil Associates requests discretionary permit review of a 9,900 SF building and associated 10-space parking lot on proposed lot #3 at 137 James Brown Dr. Continued from February 11, 2025.

DP 25-06 Scott and Summer Batdorf c/o Civil Engineering Associates request a discretionary permit for a proposed two-lot subdivision of a 7.33-ac parcel to create one new dwelling at 1876 Mountain View Rd in the Residential Zoning District (RZD).

DP 25-08 Williston Woods Homeowners Association c/o Watershed Consulting requests discretionary permit review of stormwater treatment improvements with construction of two infiltrating sand filters on a common land parcel at the intersection of Middlewood Rd and Williston Woods Rd in the Agricultural/ Rural Residential Zoning District (ARZD).

DP 24-06 Rivers Edge Development c/o O’Leary-Burke Civil Associates requests discretionary permit review of a 107-unit residential subdivision in accordance with SP 23- 01 Glaser Specific Plan on a ±94.66-ac undeveloped parcel at the southwest corner of Mountain View Rd and Old Stage Rd with ±48.42 ac of protected open space offered for Town ownership in the Residential Zoning District (RZD). Continued from January 14, 2025. Continued to April 8, 2025.

Project details and site plans are available on the website, town.williston.vt.us, under “Public Records and Documents”, then “Agendas & Minutes”, and “Development Review Board”. Contact Planning & Zoning Office for more information: 802-878-6704 or email planning@willistonvt.org

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Contact Rick Cote at rick@willistonobserver.com 802-373-2136

March 20, 2025 •

Williston Observer •

Page 15

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Page 16 •

Williston Observer •

March 20, 2025

The sweet and sappy foreshadowing of spring

CLOCKWISE (l to r): The maple syrup at Amy and Mark Yandow’s Sugar Tree Maple Farm on Bradley Lane in Williston has a golden hue. Aaron Juaire stokes the fire as Ken Pidgeon watches at Sherry and Ken Pidgeon’s Pumpkin Hill sugarhouse. Ken Pidgeon checks the sugar content of the hot maple syrup with a special hydrometer. Pumpkin Hill maple syrup boils in the finishing pan and “sheets” off the dipper, employing an old method of checking the level of doneness of the syrup.

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