Students speak out against school district plan to go phone-free
BY JASON STARR Observer staff
A step backward in time. That’s how CVU students who spoke at the March meeting of the Champlain Valley School Board described the administration’s proposal to ban cell phone use at the high school starting this fall.
“The number one priority of the school is to prepare students for their futures rather than dragging us into the past,” sophomore Avery Siket said during the March 18 meeting.
“While I understand that phones can be abused,” she continued, “we as a school district need to work on teaching students how to appropriately coexist with their phones, instead of disregarding the importance they hold.”
“Prepare students for their futures rather than dragging us into the past.”
Avery Siket CVU sophomore
The meeting was the first chance students and parents had to publicly comment on the proposal. The district is seeking more feedback with a “phone-free schools community panel and forum” scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 16 at the CVU library. It also launched an online survey on the topic that can be found at cvsdvt. org.
The district convened a phone-free schools committee of students and administrators last September to research the
possibility. Other high schools in Vermont had already made the move, and lawmakers have since introduced a bill that would ban cellphone use in schools statewide.
The committee’s survey of CVU teachers showed 89 percent support for a ban. That result coupled with an October visit to newly phone-free Harwood Union High School and research about the negative effects of social media on teenage mental health, convinced the committee to recommend a cell phone ban at CVU.
The district’s K-8 schools already prohibit student use of phones during the school day. Current policy at CVU is that students refrain from phone use during class time, but phone use is permitted during free periods, in hallways and bathrooms, and in the
cafeteria.
The current policy has proven ineffective, according to school administrators.
“There is something very insidious with the way phones creep back into our learning spaces that is unlike other challenges in the past that we have dealt with,” Superintendent Adam Bunting said.
STUDENTS SEEK COMPROMISE
Since the committee recommendation, students have taken it upon themselves to conduct a survey on the subject. Junior Gracie Sanchez presented the findings to the board. She said 70 percent of student respondents strongly oppose the ban. Also, 85 percent of respondents said they use their phones for academic tasks, and 90 percent
Phone-free school public forum
WHEN: Wednesday, April 16, 6-7:30 p.m.
WHERE: CVU library
use them to contact family members during the school day.
The majority of student respondents said not having access to their phones during the school day would increase stress and anxiety.
“Why can’t we discreetly text our parents without disrupting class?” asked sophomore Willow Martin. “Times have changed and so have the tools available to us. Dismissing modern solutions just because that’s how it used to be … is a step backward.”
A draft of the new policy explains that students would have to turn off and store their phones in a secure location provided by administrators during the school day. That would also apply to internet-connected watches and wireless headphones.
“The display and/or use of personal electronic devices by students is prohibited during the school day, from the start of the day until dismissal,” the draft policy states. “… Personal electronic devices can create social, intellectual, and emotional barriers to being fully present during school and may disrupt the educational process.”
School teachers and staff would also have to abide by the ban, with limited exceptions based on the school’s operational needs, CVU Principal Katherine Riley said.
Sanchez proposed a compromise to an all-out ban: strict enforcement of the
CVU junior Gracie Sanchez speaks at the March 18 meeting of the Champlain Valley School Board in the high school library. OBSERVER PHOTO VIA MEDIAFACTORY.ORG
64 W Main St, Richmond https://holyrosary.vermontcatholic.org/
Palm Sunday – April 13, 8:30 a.m.
Easter Sunday – April 20, 8:30 a.m.
St. Timothy Anglican Church
30 Morgan Pkwy, Williston https://sttimothyburlington.org
Palm Sunday – April 13, 9 a.m.
Maundy Thursday – April 17, 7 p.m.
Good Friday – April 18, 6 p.m. at 901 North Ave., Burlington
Easter Vigil – April 19, 7 p.m.
Easter Sunday – April 20, 9 a.m.
Trinity Baptist Church
300 Trinity Dr, Williston www.tbcvt.org
Palm Sunday – April 13, 10 a.m.
Easter Sunday – April 20, 10 a.m.
Vibrant Church
2025 Williston Rd, So. Burlington www.vibrant.ch
Palm Sunday – April 13, 9:30 a.m.
Good Friday – April 18, 6:30 p.m.
Easter Sunday – April 20, 9:30 a.m.
Williston Federated Church
44 N Williston Rd, Williston www.steeple.org
Palm Sunday – April 13, 9:30 a.m.
Maundy Thursday – April 17, 6:30 p.m. at Richmond Congregational Church, 20 Church St., Richmond
Good Friday – April 18, 7 p.m.
Easter “Son-rise” Service – April 20, 6:30 a.m. at 24 Beebe Ln. by Lake Iroquois
Easter Sunday – April 20, 9:30 a.m.
Around Town
Williston high-schooler heads to international STEM competition
CVU junior Clay Nicholson of Williston received top honors at the 2025 Vermont Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Fair in March, earning a May trip to an international gathering of the brightest young scientific minds.
Nicholson developed a computer learning model to aid in the diagnosis of pancreatic tumors as part of the CVU’s self-directed Nexus learning program.
see AROUND TOWN page 4
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
EMAIL EVENT LISTINGS TO EDITOR@WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM
THURSDAY, APRIL 10
Catamount Forest Management Committee meeting ♦ 5:30 p.m. Town Hall. Agenda at town.williston.vt.us.
THURSDAY, APRIL 10
Sustainable Williston Social ♦
6:15-8 p.m. Goodwater Brewery. Catch up with others on all things sustainable.
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.
SATURDAY, APRIL 12
Can-Am Con 2025 Scale Model and Contest ♦ 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Williston National Guard Armory. $5, children free. More info at mountmansfieldmodelers. com.
SATURDAY, APRIL 12
Habitat 101 ♦ Informational session about Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity. 1-2:30 p.m. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library.
MONDAY, APRIL 14
Palm Sunday April 13th, 9:30 a.m. in-person & live streamed on Facebook/WillistonFederatedChurch
Maundy Thursday April 17th, 6:30 p.m. at the Richmond Congregational Church
Good Friday April 18th, 7 p.m. in-person & live streamed
Easter Sonrise April 20th, 6:30 a.m. at 24 Beebe Lane on Lake Iroquois with potluck breakfast to follow
Easter Worship April 20th, 9:30 a.m. in-person & live streamed
Legislative Update and Community Conversation ♦ 6:30 p.m. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. Join Rep. Angela Arsenault and Rep. Erin Brady to discuss the legislative session.
TUESDAY, APRIL 15
Champlain Valley School Board meeting ♦ 6 p.m. CVU High School. Agenda at cvsdvt.org.
TUESDAY, APRIL 15
Williston Selectboard meeting ♦ 7 p.m. Town Hall. Agenda at town.williston. vt.us.
TUESDAY, APRIL 15
Williston Planning Commission meeting ♦ 7 p.m. Town Hall. Agenda at town.williston.vt.us.
CVU junior Clay Nicholson
PROPERTY TRANSFERS MARCH 2025
• Dagnesse Farm LLC bought 12 acres of open land on Ricky Vista from the Boardman Family Trust for $449,999.
• 193 Overlake View LLC bought a home on Overlake View from Robert White for $1.5 million.
• Robert C. Hutchinson Jr. and Victoria He bought a condominium on Chloe Circle from Northridge-Williston LLC for $719,900.
• Barry Blakely bought a home on 1 acre on Ledgewood Drive from Ralph Gerlach for $1.3 million.
• Kristen Baggs bought a home on Brennan Woods Drive from the Margaret Marvin Trust for $890,000.
• Derek Burney bought a home on River Cove Road from 451 River Cove Road LLC for $861,350.
• Wende Elliott-Rose bought a home on South Brownell Road from Jordan Adair for $380,000.
• Mohammad Khodadad bought a condominium on Chelsea Place from the Scott J. Michaud Revocable Trust for $557,925.
• Richard Franz bought a home on Sadler Lane from Scott Davidson for $800,000.
• Linda Perrin bought a mobile home on Stonehill Road from the Estate of Rolland Hart for $76,620.
• Sally Wagner bought a condominium on Creeks Edge Drive from Davide Simcoe for $605,000.
• Alexander Baron bought a home on LeFebvre Lane from John Orlando for $499,000.
• Lorenzo Whitcomb bought a home on 2 acres on North Williston Road from the North Williston Cattle Company Inc. for $346,630.
• Fay Lane LLC bought a halfacre of open land on North Williston Road from the North Williston Cattle Company Inc. for $510.
• The Ettore J. Mancuso III Living Trust bought a home on Lamplite Lane from Gregory Bolger for $592,000.
• Julienne Lambre bought a condominium on Bittersweet Circle from the Andrew M. Tammaro Trust for $179,522.
Around
Town continued from page 2
“This represents an incredible amount of work and an example of students using personalized learning programs to pursue deep dives in proficiency and direction,” Nexus Program Director Troy Paradee said.
Nicholson’s project stemmed from his summertime work with Hack Club, a Shelburnebased non-profit for teens interested in coding.
“Hack Club has given me a whole lot of opportunities,” he said. “Every student there is super, super into computer science. It’s crazy that it just happens to be in Vermont.”
While developing a tutorial for machine learning with Hack Club last summer, Clay became interested in creating a model that could identify and classify tumors. After cold-calling numerous doctors to learn about the biomedical angle, he eventually connected with Dimitriy Akselrod, a radiology physician with University of Vermont Medical Center, who provided insights into professionally diagnosing and segmenting tumors.
“The computer science was the easy part for me,” said Nicholson, who describes his project as a neural network — or machine-learning model — that segments CT scans for pancreatic tumors.
At the Vermont STEM Fair last month, Nicholson received the Yale Science and Engineering Association certificate for most outstanding individual 11th-grade project and a silver medal award
in biomedical research. He earned Vermont’s sole nomination to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) — a gathering of about 1,800 students from 75 countries in Columbus, Ohio, for a week of competition, networking and learning.
Nicholson also plans to attend an international robotics competition in Houston this month as co-captain of the CVU’s state championship RoboHawks.
Riley chosen as CVU principal
The Champlain Valley School District has announced the selection of Katherine Riley as principal of Champlain Valley Union High School.
Riley has been serving as interim principal this school year after the promotion of her predecessor, Adam Bunting, to district superintendent.
Riley has been a teacher, curriculum director and house director at CVU. A hiring committee of school staff, students, school board members and community members recommended Riley for the position.
AOE backtracks on compliance with anti-DEI directive
BY ETHAN WEINSTEIN VTDigger
Following a federal directive that schools ban “illegal” diversity, equity and inclusion-related programs, the Vermont Agency of Education last Friday asked school districts to submit compliance certifications.
But just three days later, after initially defending and clarifying the decision in the face of public backlash, Education Secretary Zoie Saunders backtracked late Monday afternoon, informing superintendents the state would instead send a single statewide certification.
“To be clear, the Agency of Education and the Attorney General’s Office continue to support diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in our schools. Our communication on Friday was intended to make you aware of the directive from the U.S. Department of Education regarding Title VI,” Saunders wrote Monday afternoon, “and to reinforce that diversity, equity, and inclusion practices are lawful and supported in Vermont. In no way, did AOE direct schools to ban DEI.”
So why all the confusion?
On Friday, Saunders told school district leaders they had 10 days to submit their certification, but also said the agency believed certification required only that districts “reaffirm … compliance with existing law.”
That communication came
in response to President Donald Trump and his administration, who have threatened to withhold funding to public schools that fail to comply with the expansive directive.
In a letter dated April 3, the U.S. Department of Education said noncompliance with the diversity programming ban could result in schools losing a crucial stream of money meant to support economically disadvantaged students, known as Title I, among
“Our priority is to protect Vermont’s values, preserve essential federal funding, and support schools …”
Zoie Saunders Vermont Education Secretary
other sources of federal dollars. The letter cited Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in schools based on “race, color or national origin,” and also cited a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court Case against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina that restricted affirmative action.
Saunders, in the letter to district leaders, wrote that the federal
restriction includes “policies or programs under any name that treat students differently based on race, engage in racial stereotyping, or create hostile environments for students of particular races.” Programs highlighting specific cultures or heritages “would not in and of themselves” violate federal regulations, the letter said. “We do not view this Certification to be announcing any new interpretation of Title VI,” Saunders wrote, adding that the agency’s “initial legal review” determined the federal letter only required the state to “reaffirm our compliance with existing law.”
But guidance from the federal education department cited by Saunders seems to restrict a variety of practices, arguing that school districts have “veil(ed) discriminatory policies” under initiatives like diversity programming, “social-emotional learning” and “culturally responsive” teaching.
Following news of the agency’s letter to districts, Saunders released an initial public statement around 3 p.m. on Monday saying the federal demands would not require Vermont’s schools to change practices. And in that communication, Vermont’s top education official gave no indication the agency would alter its request for districts to confirm their compliance with Trump’s directive.
“The political rhetoric around this federal directive is designed
see AROUND TOWN page 5 see DEI page 5
Katherine Riley
DEI
continued from page 4
to create outrage in our communities, confusion in our schools, and self-censorship in our policy making. But we are not going to allow the chaos to control how we feel, or how we respond,” Saunders said in the statement. “Our priority is to protect Vermont’s values, preserve essential federal funding, and support schools in creating positive school environments free from the type of bullying and manipulation we see in our national politics today.”
In the same press release, Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark said Vermont was in compliance with federal law.
“We will continue to protect Vermonters against any unlawful actions by the federal government,” Clark said.
The Champlain Valley School District issued the following statement on Tuesday: “In collaboration with the Vermont Superintendents Association, Vermont School Boards Association, Vermont Principals Association and Vermont-NEA, CVSD has asked our state leaders to develop a unified, statewide response — one that supports our educators, our educational values, and most importantly, our students. The district therefore supports the Vermont Agency of Education’s statewide letter that certifies Vermont’s compliance and rejects conditions or assurances not supported by current law.”
Vermont and other states’ responses to the federal government are due April 14.
Around Town
continued from page 4
Local restaurant to host golf benefit for Camp Sunshine
Williston’s Texas Roadhouse is partnering with Back Nine Indoor Golf Lounge to host a night to benefit Camp Sunshine, an organization that provides experiences for terminally ill children and their families.
During the May 6 event, Texas Roadhouse will provide dinner for all in attendance, and participants will have the opportunity to golf, purchase t-shirts, participate in a 50/50 raffle, and enjoy Back Nine’s lounge bars. A tournament with cash prizes will take place with two tee times, 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
All attendees and tournament teams of four members are asked to register in advance at www. golfingforsunshine.org.
Water shutdown planned for April 16
The Champlain Water District is asking residents in Williston and the other municipalities it supplies with water to curtail all outdoor and non-essential indoor water use — such as laundry machine and dishwasher use — from the hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16.
The curtailment is necessary to accommodate a full plant shutdown due to ongoing construction at its treatment facility in South Burlington.
“This … will allow the CWD to maintain adequate storage
volumes and fire protection in its water storage tanks strategically located throughout Chittenden County,” the district said in a Tuesday news release. Visit champlainwater.org for more information.
Macaig appointed to Board of Listers
After stepping down this year from his longtime service on the Williston Selectboard, Terry Macaig was appointed last Tuesday to fill a vacant seat on the Board of Listers by the selectboard.
Macaig did not run for re-election this March after 23 years on the selectboard. The lister position was vacant after no candidate ran for the spot. Macaig was appointed through March 2026.
The three-person elected board is charged with determining property values that form the basis of property tax assessments. Town Manager Erik Wells informed the selectboard last week that he is considering a proposal to eliminate the elected office of lister for next Town Meeting.
Terry Macaig
GUEST COLUMN
How do you define a compromise?
BY ANGELA ARSENAULT
A couple of weeks ago, the Vermont House of Representatives voted on the so-called “Big Bill” — the fiscal year 2026 budget. There was a lot of buzz circulating through the Statehouse in advance of the vote because the House Appropriations Committee had worked through the weekend to arrive at a unanimous vote on the bill.
Eleven people — seven Democrats and four Republicans — spent hours and hours working through hundreds of millions of dollars worth of budget requests, and were able to land on a budget that each of them felt represented our best path forward. I’m told this had been a common occurrence in years past, but I found it to be quite impressive. Surely, their tireless work to arrive at this place of compromise would be supported on the floor.
Much to my surprise, however, several representatives stood up to voice their opposition to this masterful compromise. I sat there, incredulous, as 38 people voted against a bill that came out of committee
with unanimous support. The nays all happened to be Republicans, including party leadership, which is concerning because of what that implies about how our Republican governor might view the bill.
I’ve always understood the word compromise to mean that when people disagree, they work together to find a solution that everyone can ultimately agree upon. Baked into that understanding is the obvious fact that compromise also means everyone lets go of something in order to reach a conclusion; nobody gets exactly what they want.
The governor has dedicated a substantial amount of airtime and column inches to the notion that the Legislature, particularly the Democrats in the Legislature, refuse to work with him to reach a compromise. I’ve said many times that, in my experience, this is simply not true. H.493, the budget bill, is one example, as is H.141 — this year’s budget adjustment act.
As many people have probably heard or read by now, the budget adjustment act is an annual “truing up” of the current fiscal year’s budget based on input from numerous
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state departments and agencies, as well as our many community partners. It is usually a rather uneventful bill but provides necessary funding to a great many service providers.
This year, the Legislature agreed with 98 percent of the governor’s recommended budget adjustment. The major point of disagreement was over the extension (through June 30) of the current general assistance housing program — also known as the hotel/motel program. There is broad agreement that this program is not ideal and should be phased out, and accordingly has been shrinking for the past couple of years. As a result, the folks who are currently housed through this program are among the most vulnerable Vermonters. (At the same time, the Legislature has been asking the administration to provide a full-on plan for replacing what they deem a “failed” program. That plan has never materialized.)
The Legislature sought to keep folks housed through the winter, and through the unpredictable weather of spring in Vermont, all the way through the end of the school year for the hundreds of children who are currently sheltered as part of this program. The money needed for
this investment is already appropriated, however, the governor objected to the will of the Legislature and vetoed the bill.
Senate and House members again worked to find a compromise. They removed all of the appropriations that were outside of the governor’s recommended budget, save one: the continued housing of vulnerable Vermonters through the end of June.
Inexplicably, the governor vetoed the bill again. How anyone can say that the Legislature is not willing to compromise with the governor at this point is beyond me. The House and Senate let go of several positions and services that we had originally voted to include in order to make the bill more palatable to the governor. This is the definition of a compromise. Yet still, the governor failed to acknowledge the compromise and simply vetoed the bill.
To make matters worse, Gov. Scott issued a last-minute executive order to keep some folks in the motel program while still evicting many others, including victims fleeing domestic violence, pregnant women not in their third trimester, and some medically vulnerable
people. Chief Legislative Counsel Bryn Hare advised the Senate last week that the executive order is illegal, and part of a “disturbing trend of actions by the administration that flagrantly and unconstitutionally intrude on the authority of the General Assembly.”
The similarity between Gov. Scott’s executive order and the flurry of executive orders coming from the Trump administration is quite concerning. Such unilateral orders generally serve only to breed fear and cause chaos.
Which brings me all the way back to H.493, the budget bill, and that 11-0 committee vote. Policies are best constructed through deliberate, thoughtful, collaborative processes. I remain impressed by the work of the House Appropriations Committee, despite the fact that many of the services and programs that I advocated for were not fully funded. I respect the goal of compromise and the way it was achieved on this very important piece of legislation. I truly hope that our governor will, as well.
Angela Arsenault represents Williston in the Vermont House of Representatives.
EASTER BRUNCH WITH FAMILY, FLAVOR & MUSIC
Enjoy a heartwarming Easter brunch with live music, great food, and cherished moments with family and friends in our beautiful atrium.
SUNDAY, APRIL 20
TWO SEATINGS ( 10:30-11:00 AM & 1:30-2:00 PM ) ADULTS $65 | AGES 5-12 $28 | UNDER
GUEST COLUMN
Focusing on the future of St. George’s gem
BY CONNIE KENDALL St. George Planning Commission
St. George will be considering, once again, what to do with our valuable resource, town-owned land that makes up what we refer to as our Town Center property. This is the land primarily to the north and west of our town office building and historic schoolhouse (The Little Red Schoolhouse) and currently consists of several retail businesses, some housing, the historic schoolhouse, a park area with a pavilion, a community garden and a forest area.
This land was purchased by the town in 1974 and initially consisted of 80 acres, but portions have slowly been sold for various uses. At this point, about 22 acres remain open, and it is this remaining acreage the St. George Planning Commission is currently focused on.
The town initially figured that much of the town’s expected growth would take place in the Town Center, but after significant input from residents over the past year — as expressed through numerous surveys and at past meetings — the focus seems to be changing. Instead of filling these remaining 22 acres with more businesses and housing, the town has shifted more toward creating recreation areas and an extended park and playground, along with more civic buildings and civic infrastructure. There is also a strong interest in making the forested section of our Town Center a conservation area.
St. George residents have had the opportunity, at past annual town meetings, to vote to allocate some of the town-owned property for a park and an extended area around our schoolhouse. In both cases, the vote was unanimous, giving the planning commission further insight into the trend for civic uses. The town is aware of the need for more housing throughout Chittenden County, and the planning commission is currently studying how the land surrounding the Town Center can supply our share of the area’s housing requirements.
Another factor influencing some of the discussion is the awareness that buildings continue to be built for business and office
space use in the towns surrounding St. George. With the current oversupply of office space, and the demand at this point not increasing, and with the need for additional retail space also slowing down, St. George residents are less enthused about selling our town owned land for yet more available office and retail space. It really comes down to the fact that once these remaining acres are sold, they’re gone
— and the use they were sold for will guide how our Town Center functions.
The planning commission is holding a public meeting to discuss this on Wednesday, April 23, 6 p.m. at the St. George Town Hall, 21 Barber Road, St. George. If you want an individual on-site tour prior to the meeting on April 23, contact me, Connie Kendall, at PC@ stgeorgevt.com.
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St. George Town Center discussion
WHAT: Planning commission meeting
WHEN: April 23, 6 p.m.
WHERE: St. George Town Hall
The deadline is Monday at noon for letters to be printed in Thursday’s paper.
Email: editor@willistonobserver.com or mail to Williston Observer, P.O Box 1401, Williston, Vt. 05495
The Town of St. George owns its 22-acre Town Center and is seeking public input on the parcel’s future use. OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO
State considers removing beavers from state-owned dams
BY IZZY WAGNER VTDigger
Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources may trap and remove beavers from 21 stateowned dams impacted by beaver-induced debris.
The plan is an effort to comply with new dam safety rules that are a product of a state law passed in 2018. They require the state to remove beaver materials, modify the dam or trap and kill the beavers.
Some beavers build their own dams, abutting human-made dams, which can restrict the structure’s ability to safely pass flood flows, according to an agency news release. Additionally, the excess water stresses the dams, leaving them more susceptible to damage.
Restoring dams to comply with the new safety rules is expected to lower water levels because debris removal allows water to more effectively pass through dams. Some affected areas include popular recreation spots such as Bristol Pond, according to the release.
Ben Green, chief dam safety engineer for the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation, said people have grown accustomed to the higher water levels in
places like Bristol Pond caused by years of beaver activity. The lower water levels “may affect recreation” in these areas, he said.
The Agency of Natural Resources plans to hold two public meetings in April. During the meetings, engineers and wildlife biologists from the Departments of Environmental Conservation and Fish and Wildlife will inform the public of the new dam safety rules and discuss options for bringing state-owned dams impacted by beavers into compliance. While attendees can ask questions, state officials say the meetings are not public hearings and therefore do not affect the state’s plan.
Green said the state is considering multiple options, including some cases of beaver trapping and killing, to clear up the blocked dams.
In the longer term, the state could modify dams to accommodate beavers, “which has cost ramifications, but is possible,’” Green said. The state may also remove some of the dams that may not be useful, allowing beavers to continue living in these areas, he said.
“I do believe that there’s going to be cases of trapping, but that will be only shortterm,” Green said. “That’s going to be the
only short-term alternative to allow the debris to be cleared and the dam to function the way it was originally designed.”
In place of beaver trapping, organizations such as the Vermont Land Trust have
installed water flow devices called “beaver deceivers” in blocked dam areas. These devices are designed to keep water flowing through or around beaver constructions,
A juvenile beaver.
Vermont’s trout season opens Saturday
Vermont’s trout fishing season opens Saturday, April 12.
Despite lingering snow in some areas, there are strategies for anglers to be successful early in the season, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.
“Anglers fishing early in the spring should adjust their tactics based on conditions,” said State Fisheries Biologist Shawn Good. “Trout will become more active with warmer water temperatures. If you can find a good location and present your bait or lure without spooking the trout, you’ll have a good chance of catching a few fish — and enjoy a nice day outside.”
Finding a small to medium, low-elevation river or stream that is not too murky from spring runoff can be key. Trout are coldblooded and may be slow to bite, especially with cold water temperatures, so it is important that they can also see your bait, lure or fly, Good said.
The department offers these other tips for early season angling: Larger baits are often more effective for enticing early season trout into biting. Spin-anglers should try nightcrawlers, egg imitations or bright spoons and spinners. Fly anglers may find success in the early season by drifting large, more visible flies such as wooly buggers, streamers or San Juan worms along the bottom in slower pools and runs.
Trout will often hold close to the bottom in the deeper areas of streams during high flow conditions to conserve energy. Choose locations and tactics that allow you to fish using a slow retrieval right along the bottom. Focus on deep holes behind current breaks created by big boulders, downed trees or log-jams where trout may be resting. If possible, approach the hole from downstream as trout will often orient themselves facing the current.
While Vermont offers excellent
and diverse fishing opportunities for wild trout, stocking also occurs in many lakes, ponds, streams and rivers where wild trout populations are low or absent. This generally happens each year once the ice has melted, following spring runoff.
“Early in the season, like on opening weekend, you’ll probably have more success if you focus on waters known to hold wild trout,” said Good. “Despite unpredictable weather during early spring, each year anglers report catching impressive trout during opening weekend.”
Anglers who don’t intend to keep trout don’t need to wait for opening day to get on the water. Nearly all waterbodies are now open to catch-and-release fishing for trout in Vermont outside of the normal harvest season. It is illegal to use any kind of live bait during the catch-and-release season. Only artificial lures and flies are allowed.
the season Saturday. Learn about Vermont’s fishing regulations online at eregulations.com/ vermont/fishing.
Cold water trout fishing opens for
PHOTOS
Lawmakers mull compensating landowners for public trail use
BY SAM HARTNETT Community News Service
Should landowners who allow public trail networks on their property be compensated? That’s the question a study group would be tasked with answering under a bill in the Vermont Senate.
It’s too late to pass this year, but
the bill, S.79, has gained bipartisan support and excited trail network advocates.
In Vermont, around 70 percent of public recreation trails crisscross private land. Through agreements with trail organizations and under state law, landowners allow use of their land in exchange for liability protection — meaning
they can’t be sued for injuries that occur on trails. But if landowners charge a fee for people to use their land, that liability protection goes away.
The bill would set up a panel to explore different ways to compensate landowners for allowing public use of their trails. The committee would measure
Fun Summer Math Quest!
Our half-day summer Math Quest groups engage your child in learning activities and games to show them the fun of numbers in our everyday lives. Designed for rising 5th and 6th graders for one to three weeks.
the “costs and liabilities that private property owners incur” when they open up their land for public recreation, then report findings to the Legislature by the end of next year.
Included in the bill is $250,000 to hire a consultant to figure out the economic impact of the state’s outdoor recreation industry more broadly. The money would go to the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and also support the work done by the committee.
“We’re looking to have more tools in our toolbox for crediting landowners,” said Sen. Scott Beck, R-Caledonia.
Beck, one of a dozen co-sponsors on the bill, hopes the study will better identify the issues that landowners face and offer more ways to solve them. For now, the bill remains in the Senate natural resources committee.
Threats to outdoor recreation trails frequently involve the transfer of land ownership. When a landowner allowing trails on their property sells to someone who doesn’t want the trails, issues arise. When a landowner cuts off public access to their property, trail networks can become fragmented and more difficult to use.
“Not everyone, especially people from out of state, are familiar with the public-private cooperation that is essential to trail networks,”
Beavers
continued from page 8
preventing excess water blockages caused by beaver dams without disrupting the animals.
But beaver deceivers “do not provide enough benefit to be a permanent solution” in the case of these significantly undermanaged dams, according to Green.
Josh Morse, a spokesperson for Vermont Fish and Wildlife, echoed Green’s statement, saying nonlethal options such as beaver deceivers “won’t meet the engineering standards that DEC has.”
Brenna Galdenzi, president of Protect Our Wildlife, said the state’s history of trapping to manage human-beaver conflict will not serve as a long-term solution unless beavers are trapped and killed “close to extinction levels.”
After periods of trapping, she said new beavers will eventually inhabit these areas if the environment is suitable.
said Nick Bennette of the Vermont Trails and Greenways Council in Statehouse testimony March 18. Representatives of trail networks say their industry is crucial for Vermont’s economy as a whole. Kingdom Trails in Burke has brought in a $10 million boost annually to an economically challenged part of the state, the Northeast Kingdom, according to the trail network’s director.
“We value landowners so much, and we hope that the state can also recognize the public benefit that landowners contribute,” said Abby Long, the network’s executive director.
Some senators on the committee feel that now isn’t the time to explore programs that could muddy the waters inundating the property tax system. Sen. Ruth Hardy, D-Addison, thinks her colleagues should focus on finding ways to overhaul that system before exploring any program that may offer tax credits.
“It’s not a good time to introduce the potential of any kind of additional property tax credit or exemption into the system,” said Hardy. “Once you study something, and an exemption is recommended, it is harder to say no.”
Community News Service is a University of Vermont journalism internship.
“This constant trap, kill, repeat loop, it just, it doesn’t work,” she said.
The issue of poor dam infrastructure “is not all about beavers,” Green said. Rather, he said, beaver activity is one aspect that the Agency of Natural Resources will need to address in order to improve public safety and bring state-owned dams back into compliance with the DEC’s new safety rules.
“Many of our dams are over 50 years old. Many of them were designed and built under what would now be considered substandard specifications and requirements,” Green said. “Roughly one in five state-owned dams has some challenge with (maintenance), so that’s something we need to get control of.”
At the one remaining public meeting, scheduled for April 10 in Middlebury, the Agency of Natural Resources expects to take questions from attendees and publish a response by June 1.
Sarita Devi — Growing up in Uttar Pradesh, northern India, Sarita learned to cook family recipes throughout her childhood. Nine years after moving to Vermont with her husband, Yogi Singh, she realized her dream of opening Aromas of India to share the food she loves with others. Her flavorful vegetarian menu (Indian food is so much more than curry!) features complex flavors and textures. Everything she serves, she makes from scratch, with attention to detail that shines in every dish.
Francisco Guzman — Francisco, Carlos and Ricardo Guzman and Eduardo Fuentes have been friends since their grade school days in Jalisco, Mexico. With two other successful Tex-Mex restaurants up and running, the partners seized the opportunity to open their third, under Francisco’s leadership, when space came available in Williston. At Casa Grande, Francisco has created a colorful, lively atmosphere, where he eagerly welcomes guests to enjoy authentic dishes with the vibrant flavors of Mexico.
Scott Sorrell — joined Chef’s Corner in 2007 having returned to his native Vermont after living in Hawaii for ten years. Scott grew up in Jericho, attended MMU and graduated from New England Culinary Institute. Culinary internships took him to Key West, FL and later to the Big Island of Hawaii. Here he fell in love with the beauty of the islands and worked in numerous chef capacities
at several different 5 star resorts earning recognition and culinary awards. He eventually joined the Grand Wailea Resort in Maui as restaurant chef of their popular signature dining establishment, the Humuhumunukunukuapua (named after the state of Hawaii) and more easily referred to as the Humu Humu. Scott and his family reside in the village of Essex Junction.
Craig Anthony — Craig Anthony grew up in Tamworth, New Hampshire. His love for cooking was found as a child hunting and fishing, and grew during high school as a member of the Junior American Culinary Federation. In 2007, he relocated to Vermont, building a distinguished career with Mirabelles Bakery and Waterworks Food and Drink, before becoming Executive Chef at the Kitchen Table. Craig delights in creating a space for family and friends to gather and enjoy delicious home-cooked comfort.
Samantha La Croix — Pastry Chef, Samantha La Croix, was born and raised in Vermont where her passion for baking was sparked at an early age by her late grandmother. Classically trained in Pastry & Baking Arts at The New England Culinary Institute, Sam has delighted diners at Jupiter Island Club in Southern Florida, Hen of the Wood, The Inn at Shelburne Farms, and Mirabelles Bakery. Widely recognized as one of the best dessert bakers in Chittenden County, she loves feeding people food that brings them to a warm, familiar place.
Bobby Seaman — Bobby, Director of Operations at Folino’s Pizza, has worked at the
Meet your makers
restaurant for 7 years. Bobby was the leader behind opening their Williston location in 2021. Bobby comes from a rich culinary background but has found working with pizza is the most rewarding because of the flexibility of flavors and toppings. Bobby says, “Folino’s stands out because of our attention to high-quality ingredients and naturally rising dough.” His go-to order is the Margarita pizza. “It’s a classic pizza that lets our ingredients do the talking.” With multiple Folino’s locations, Bobby says, “The best thing about working in Vermont is getting to know the communities that we are a part of and bringing a smile to people’s faces.” Visit Bobby and the rest of the Folino’s family at our Williston location!
Marty Bonneau— A long-time resident of Williston with a passion for brewing, Marty earned a professional brewing degree from the American Brewers Guild and in 2016 opened Goodwater Brewery with a taproom on-site at their Marshall Avenue location. After four years of successful brewing and with a firm business in place, the time was right to expand and add a restaurant offering dishes that pair well with their twelve beers on tap. Marty has created a hot-spot for fun-loving beer enthusiasts, offering live music, karaoke and large screen televisions. They warmly welcome regulars, newcomers, beer-tourists and private parties.
they needed to bring the concept to Vermont. The Scale was born. Perry & Neil take pride in sourcing only the freshest ingredients - mostly local – and offering hungry patrons fast, healthy and delicious food with a Hawaiian flare.
Max Fath — Max Fath grew up in Williston, the son of Jon and Lucie Fath who owned and operated the original Toscano Café Bistro on Bridge Street in Richmond. With twenty years of experience in restaurant service and management, Max was eager to launch a new rendition of Toscano when the opportunity became available in Williston. Max built a team of some familiar faces from the original Toscano and some new faces he met along the way and is grateful for the opportunity to serve our community once again, blending nostalgia from the original Toscano with contemporary elegance in his newly renovated space.
Perry & Neil Farr — Perry & Neil Farr met as students at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY then settled in Williston (Neil grew up in Colchester) to raise their family, where they each pursued careers in food service while exploring business ideas. When they discovered Poké on a trip to San Francisco they knew
Eric Kelley — Originally from Massachusetts, Eric went to college in Colorado where he began his career in the food service business. After moving to Vermont in 2009, Eric saw an opportunity to create a gathering place in Williston where locals could connect to enjoy excellent coffee, espresso drinks, and fresh baked goods. He opened Williston Coffee Shop to serve the breakfast and lunch crowd. Over a decade later, Eric can be found in the early hours baking bread, croissants, scones and pastries to the delight of his regular customers. He takes pride in his products, the friendly atmosphere of the Shop, and the many employees who have learned from him through the years. Located on Cornerstone Drive, it’s no surprise that Williston Coffee Shop has become a cornerstone in the Williston community.
The Kismet Building
Suite 101
Williston
BY KATHERINE BIELAWA STAMPER
EDITOR’S NOTE: Katherine Bielawa Stamper’s regular column, “Little Details,” appeared in the Observer from 2008-2015. The following piece was published in the March 18, 2010 issue of the newspaper.
I like the dump. My visits are generally a pleasurable experience. It’s an opportunity to be outside. The staff is friendly. If you have a kid in tow, there’s usually a lollipop in the deal.
I frequently run into acquaintances — folks from around town — as I tip 30-gallon barrels into gaping receptacles or cram recyclables into enormous bins with seemingly small points of entry.
Revisiting pieces from the archives of our 40-year-old community paper
Folks chitchat while discarding the stuff of their lives.
The dump provides unique networking opportunities for job seekers. You can easily complement a LinkedIn profile by showing up at these Saturday morning “mixers.” Dress is casual. Fellow dumpers are down to earth — unpretentious in their jeans and mud boots. I’ve spied utility and banking executives giving their family’s trash the heave-ho at this community gathering place. I admire bigwigs unafraid to soil their hands.
Recycling makes me happy. There’s something freeing about exorcising my storage shed’s unnecessary clutter. Yellowed newspapers piled high, empty tins from stewed tomatoes and slender wine bottles from dinner parties past co-mingle, awaiting rebirth at the dump. Buying in bulk minimizes
unnecessary packaging but my small family still manages to generate mountains of debris.
A recent Stamper Family castoff qualified for specialized electronic waste services. Our older, 13-inch monitor — used for watching DVDs — died a slow death. (We ditched broadcast and cable television during the Clinton administration.) Images on screen slowly faded into darkness, “Dark Victory”-style. Any movie we watched appeared enveloped in night.
Online research and a reconnaissance trip to Best Buy yielded a sleek television with an expansive 23-inch screen and built-in DVD player. Brilliant daylight returned to our screenings. This was particularly helpful during a recent viewing of Jack Nicholson’s film, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” Capturing stark white
interior walls and Big Nurse’s impossibly bright, starched uniform reinforced the dreaded monotony of the insane asylum.
Given the age, primitive technology and “dark side” of our 13inch, it was destined for the electronic graveyard. I paid the $5 fee to recycle it in an environmentally responsible manner at the dump. Who wants lead, mercury or cadmium trickling into groundwater?
Southern Vermont already may have a problem with tritium leeks — I mean, tritium leaks. I don’t want cadmium turning up in my locally grown leafy greens.
The Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program gladly accepted our fully operational DVD player. Viewing television and movies can help new Americans with language acquisition.
Did I mention compost? That’s the most aromatic and rewarding
Donating to the Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity ReStores helps support a ordable housing construction. Our ReStores are locally run and bene t VT families! We accept furniture, hardware, appliances, electronics, and more. Donate at one of our three locations or schedule a FREE donation pick-up for large items or large quantities of goods. Donate your new or gently used items today!
part of going to the dump. I dislike stinky trash. Separating out food scraps and recyclables from bona fide trash keeps flies, maggots and four-legged critters away. Composting at the dump transforms fermenting food from my family’s table into fertilizer for somebody’s garden. It’s ecologically satisfying. Decomposing carrots, bread and peas reincarnate into a soil-stimulating elixir. The worms like it, too.
Visiting the dump reminds me that “throwing trash away” is a fallacy. There is no “away.” It’s buried, burned or otherwise aggregated somewhere in someone’s backyard. Minimizing personal trash generation, buying what we need versus what we’re socialized to want, and recycling make sense. When our family nest eventually empties, it’ll make moving to that condo in the city all the easier.
Phones
continued from page 1
that prohibits phone use during class.
“One of the problems with the (current policy) is that teachers weren’t enforcing it, so kids would get around it,” Sanchez said. “It became a teacher-by-teacher basis, and kids tended to have animosity toward the teachers who enforce it. So if every teacher did it, it would become the norm.”
But for Bunting, who was the CVU principal before his promotion last year to district superintendent, phone use in the hallways and cafeteria can be just as disruptive to the learning environment. Group chats, personal texts, taking and viewing photos — they can all create distractions that linger throughout the day, he said.
“There is something very insidious with the way phones creep back into our learning spaces.”
Adam Bunting CVSD Superintendent
“There are certainly some students who manage their phone use well, and there is a large population of students we need to help not become disregulated walking from class to class, knowing they’ve got something buzzing in their pockets.”
Bunting also noted that each CVU student has their own school-issued laptop on which e-mail communication with family members and academic functions that students may now default to a phone for can be accomplished.
“There are times when you have to
make a decision and you have to be the one to set the edges, to establish the boundaries,” Bunting said.
BOARD MEMBERS SPLIT
There is disagreement not only between students and school administrators on the proposal, but also among school board members. Several spoke during the March 18 meeting, with passionate opinions on both sides of the argument.
“I’ve been opposed to this from the beginning,” board member Keith Roberts said, arguing for strict enforcement of existing policy and calling a cellphone ban an “abdication of our responsibility to educate our students.”
“We have to teach them how to live in the world,” he said, “and help them learn how to use a device properly and integrate it into their learning.”
Board member Meghan Siket agreed.
“We are preparing our students for life after graduation, and technology is an essential piece of that,” she said. “Creating this artificial atmosphere where technology doesn’t exist is not helping them. It’s not teaching them self-regulation. It’s not giving them the permission to make mistakes and learn from them. And shouldn’t they do that in high school and not in college or where they’re working?”
Board member Lindsay Colf shared her experience as a teacher in a school with a full-day ban on cell phones.
“I’m grateful my students don’t have their phones all day,” she said. “I see how it can work and create more of a sacred time, more like a bubble for the school day — not like going back in time, but more like a place where you can kind of have the relief of not having your phone. It takes away a piece of distraction that is very easy to fall into, but it’s also really nice to not have access to.”
Board member Erika Lea said she sees the impact of phone use in high schools among the students she works with in her
career at Champlain College, some of whom “really don’t know how to have a conversation with each other.”
“I see the value added in removing the phones from the lunch room and having a meal with your peers and understanding how to have a conversation,” Lea said. “I worry about our students who disappear into their phones, and unless the phones are not there, that’s what they are going to do.”
In addition to the April 16 public forum and online survey, school administrators also plan to revisit Harwood Union to
check in on how their phone-free policy has held up through this school year. They also plan to dig deeper into the reasons CVU teachers are so overwhelmingly supportive of the proposal.
The board plans to vote on the proposal before the end of the school year.
Meanwhile, phone-free legislation under consideration in the Statehouse “has broad bipartisan support in both the House and Senate,” Williston Rep. Angela Arsenault said. “I am hopeful that it will move forward before we adjourn” this spring.
The entrance to CVU High School in Hinesburg.
Dorothy Alling Memorial Library hours:
• Monday and Wednesday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Visit www.damlvt.org to apply for a library card and to register for programs. Need help? Call 878-4918 or email daml@damlvt.org.
YOUTH PROGRAMS
Children in fourth grade and younger must be supervised by someone over 16 years of age.
TEEN NIGHT: DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
Friday, April 11, 4:30-5:55 p.m. Ages 12-18. Campaign is currently full.
FRENCH STORYTIME
Saturday, April 12, 10:1510:45 a.m. Drop in for stories read aloud by a native French speaker.
TEEN GRAPHIC NOVEL BOOK GROUP
Monday, April 14, 4:305:30 p.m. Ages 12-18. Teens who enjoy graphic novels are invited to drop in and discuss “Project Nought” by Chelsey Furedi.
Copies are available for checkout.
PRESCHOOL STORYTIME
Tuesdays, April 15 and 22, 10:30-11 a.m. Drop in for stories and fun.
BABY TIME
Wednesday, April 16, 10:3011 a.m. Ages 0-18 months. Enjoy gentle social and bonding activities with your little one.
AFTER SCHOOL CRAFT
Wednesday, April 16, 2-3 p.m. Get creative after school and design secret message envelopes.
MUSIC AND PLAYTIME
Thursdays, April 17 and 24, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Come for music with Linda Bassick, then stay to play.
TEEN NIGHT: FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Friday, April 18, 5-5:55 p.m. Ages 12-18. Join our teen advisory group. You bring the thoughts, we bring the food.
ELEMENTARY D&D
Saturday, April 19, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. Suggested ages, 7-10. Register each individual child who plans to participate in this mini session of Dungeons & Dragons. No prior experience is required.
March 2 at 1:20 a.m. — Assisted Williston Rescue with female experiencing a mental health crisis. She was transported to the hospital.
Marsh 2 at 2:46 p.m. — Suspicious vehicle at CVS. Male passenger had an active arrest warrant. He was transported to the correctional facility.
March 2 at 3:09 p.m. — Suspicious male in Walmart. Male was located and issued a notice of trespass and moved along.
March 3 at 9:39 a.m. — Retail theft reported at Walmart. Male and female were located and were issued citations to appear in court.
March 3 at 10:16 p.m. — Suspicious vehicle at Old Navy. No one with it. Advised property management they could tow it.
March 4 at 12:40 p.m. — Male called to
Adults should expect to stay and help their campaigner.
HOCUS POCUS MAGIC SHOW
Saturday, April 19, 1-2 p.m. Be amazed with this close-up magic show.
LEGO TIME
Thursday, April 24, 3-4 p.m. Build something exciting with the Library’s LEGO collection.
MULTI-AGE PROGRAMS
READ TO A DOG (LOLA)
Thursday, April 17, 3:304:30 p.m. Register for a 10-minute session to read to (or hang out with) Lola the Therapy Dog.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Saturday, April 12, 1-2:30 p.m. Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity is hosting a meeting for anyone interested in finding out if they qualify for assistance, along with anyone interested in volunteering to help this organization. From 1-2 p.m. A craft will be available for kids ages 6-plus whose adults are attending this program.
ADULT PROGRAMS
For online programs or to join a book club, email daml@damlvt.org.
APRIL SPICE CLUB – MAHLAB
Pick up this month’s sample with tasting notes, suggestions for use and a few recipes to try. While
March 7 at 12:17 p.m. — Assisted Williston Fire Department with fire alarm at Jean Garvin School.
March 7 at 6:30 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Plato’s Closet. Female suspect was located and issued a notice of trespass.
supplies last.
ADULT MEDITATION (ONLINE)
Fridays, April 11 and 18, 12-12:30 p.m. Join our guided meditation.
MAH JONGG
Friday, April 11 and 18, 1-3 p.m. All abilities welcome.
FRENCH CONVERSATION
Saturday, April 12, 10:4511:45 a.m. Drop in to brush up on your language skills. All abilities welcome.
BOOK CLUB BUFFET (ONLINE)
Tuesday, April 15, 12:301:30 p.m. Vermont Read’s title this year: “Gather” by Vermont author Kenneth Cadow.
COOK THE BOOK
Wednesday, April 16, 12-1 p.m. “Rose Water & Orange Blossom”
by Maureen Abood. Come join our potluck with these Lebanese recipes.
SPANISH CONVERSATION (ONLINE)
Wednesday, April 16, 5-6 p.m. Join us to brush up on your language skills.
ADULT RPG (RESCHEDULED FROM APRIL 3)
Thursday, April 17, 6-8:30 p.m. Join our fantasy role playing game for adults. Register online.
READER’S ROUNDTABLE
Tuesday, April 22, 12:301:30 p.m. “The Wishing Game” by Meg Shaffer.
CURRENT EVENTS
Wednesday, April 23, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Drop in to discuss timely topics with other community members.
report that a female threw a smoothie on his car. Parties were separated.
March 4 at 2:49 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Ulta Beauty. Suspects were gone before officer’s arrival. Case is still under investigation.
March 5 at 12:13 p.m. — Male in Xfinity causing a disturbance. Male was issued a notice of trespass and moved along.
March 5 at 3:58 p.m. — Report of a possibly stolen wallet at Goodwill. Wallet was not located.
March 6 at 7:56 a.m. — Fraud activity reported at Walmart. Male suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for false pretenses.
March 6 at 7:08 p.m. — Report of a male looking into car windows at Walmart. Officers circulated the parking lot but male was gone.
March 8 at 3:20 a.m. — Report of a white utility truck stopped in the middle of the road on North Williston Road. Male was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.
March 9 at 11:55 a.m. — Retail theft reported at Sandri. Male suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.
March 9 at 1:13 p.m. — Male called to report his car stolen. Upon further investigation, the male’s car broke down the night before and was towed. Male stated he did not remember that. An officer gave him a courtesy ride home.
Officers also conducted 15 traffic stops and responded to 10 alarm activations and seven motor vehicle crashes during this time frame.
Meet Will Shakespeare
Mini Fact: This painting from 1834 shows the house where Shakespeare was born (center house).
Growing up
Next Week: Hubble Telescope
William left school at around 15 years old and may have become a schoolmaster in a household in northern England, or he may have become an actor.
He returned to Stratford when he was 18 and married a neighborhood girl, Anne Hathaway. They had a daughter, Susanna, and twins, Hamnet and Judith. Hamnet died when he was 11.
Shakespeare’s plays
William Shakespeare was born in April 1564, and even now, more than 460 years later, his plays, including “Romeo and Juliet” and “Hamlet,” are among the most admired literature in the world. He is also known for his sonnets (SAHN-its), a special type of poem.
This week, The Mini Page learns more about the writer known as the Bard.
Will’s home
William was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. His father, John Shakespeare, was wealthy. He had gained much of his money from his wife, Mary Arden. A woman’s property went to her husband at that time.
William’s dad made leather goods such as gloves. He was also a top official in Stratford. He was chief alderman, or an elected official similar to a city councilman. At times, he served as deputy bailiff (BAY-lif), or sheriff.
William grew up with five siblings and many cousins. His mother and grandmother probably taught the kids to read at home.
When they were 4 or 5 years old, children learned to read with a hornbook, or a little wooden tablet with
Chef’s
a piece of paper or parchment glued to it. It was covered with a thin, protective piece of animal horn.
Children attending grammar school usually learned both reading and writing. There were no set rules for how to spell words at that time, so nobody had spelling tests.
Going to school
When he was 7, William began attending the Stratford Grammar School, an excellent school founded in 1295. It was in a large hall above a meeting room.
School was hard. The school day started at 6 a.m. in the summer and 7 a.m. in the winter. It lasted eight to 12 hours, six days a week. Kids had to bring their own candles to study in the dark.
The boys studied plays and literature by ancient Romans and Greeks. Students learned by reciting or writing things over and over. They had to memorize a lot. They also had to learn how to compose their own works.
Dramatic plays
About once a year, groups of traveling players, or actors, came to Stratford. From the time he was about 8, William was able to watch plays with the rest of the townspeople.
Players would perform in front of town officials, in the square or in an inn yard. People would watch from balconies around the inn. There were no women players. Young men acted the women’s parts. Traveling players may have performed in churches or on temporary stages built in the town.
We don’t know how Shakespeare got started in theater, but experts know he was in London acting and writing plays by the 1590s.
His playwriting career went very well. He bought a house in Stratford for his family. He became part owner of a successful playing , or acting, company called The King’s Men. It was probably sponsored, or supported, by King James. Shakespeare also owned property in London.
On the Web: • folger.edu/explore/shakespeare-forkids
At the library:
• “Shakespeare’s First Folio: All the Plays: A Children’s Edition” by The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Observer rack locations
Essex/Essex Jct.
Essex Automotive
Words that remind us of William Shakespeare are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
Home2Suites
Warren: If William were a reptile, what would he be called? Wendy: Snakespeare! Try ’n’ Find
Fairfield Inn
Marriott Courtyard
Men At Wok
M&T Bank
Mac’s Market
Martone’s Deli
Eco Note
Richmond Market
Founded by Betty Debnam Issue 15,
art by Phoebe Dightonrt, courtesy Folger Shakespeare Library
William Shakespeare Shakespeare’s acting company built the Globe Theatre in London, where they performed.
Try ’n’ Find
Words that remind us of William Shakespeare are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
Warren: If William were a reptile, what would he be called? Wendy: Snakespeare!
Eco Note
1. In a food processor or blender, combine mango, milk, orange juice, honey, 1 tablespoon of the lime juice and 1/2 teaspoon of lime zest. Puree until smooth.
2. Transfer the mixture to a bowl or airtight container and freeze until firm, about 1 hour. Serves 4.
A global seafood company is offering a $48 bounty per fish captured after around 27,000 of its farmed salmon escaped from a facility off Norway’s coast, sparking concerns for the area’s ecology. The escape occurred after a powerful winter storm damaged a fish pen in Troms. Norway’s government has ruled out banning open-net farms, where fish are raised in large floating cages in the ocean. Conservationists warn that escaped farmed salmon threaten wild populations by reducing genetic diversity and spreading disease.
For later:
Look in your newspaper for items about plays being staged in your area.
Teachers: Follow and interact with The Mini Page on Facebook!
by Dan Thompson
By Jim Miller
SAVVY SENIOR
How seniors can save on auto insurance
Dear
auto insurance? I recently turned 70 and got hit with a 25 percent premium increase on my car insurance, and am looking for ways to save.
Older Driver
Dear Driver,
As auto insurance rates across the country continue to rise for all drivers, seniors can face an even bigger price hike once they reach their 70s and their driving skills begin to decline. Fortunately, there are ways you can reduce your premiums. To find out what discounts may be available to you, contact your auto insurer and inquire about these options.
Increase your deductible: Paying a higher deductible could save you big on premiums. For example, raising your deductible from $500 to $1,000 can bring your annual premiums down by 15 to 20 percent, on average.
Adjust your coverage: If you’re driving an older vehicle, you may want to consider dropping collision and/or comprehensive coverage if your premium is more than 10 percent of the car’s
value. Collision insurance covers damage to your car if you’re involved in a crash (or if you’re the victim of a hit-and-run) and comprehensive covers damage caused by acts of nature (such as storm damage), vandalism, theft or fire. But if you’re scaling back to liability coverage, make sure you have enough to pay for damages out of pocket if you’re in an accident or your car sustains damage due to weather, theft or another non-collision event.
Take a defensive driving course: Some insurance companies offer defensive driving discounts — between 5 and 15 percent — to drivers who take a refresher course to brush up on their safety skills. Organizations such as AARP (aarpdriversafety. org), AAA (aaa.com/stop) and The National Safety Council (nsc. org) provide these classes for
around $20-$30, and they can be taken online.
Report your milage: Most insurers offer discounts to customers who drive limited miles each year, which is usually beneficial to retirees who drive less because they don’t commute to work every day. These discounts usually kick in when your annual milage drops below 7,500 or 10,000 depending on your provider.
Bundle policies: If your auto insurance policy is issued by a different company from the one insuring your home, call each insurer and ask if bundling the policies would be cheaper.
Sign up for driver monitoring: Some insurers offer discounts based on how and when you use your car. They will monitor things like your acceleration, braking habits, driving speeds and see SAVVY page 22
TTODAY’S HISTORY:
• In 1866, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was founded in New York City.
• In 1938, a referendum made Nazi Germany’s annexation of Austria official.
In 1972, famed comic actor and director Charlie Chaplin received an honorary Oscar at the 44th Annual Academy Awards, after a 12-minute standing ovation.
• In 2003, Congress approved the Amber Alert system, which alerts the public to child abductions.
TODAY’S FACT:
• According to estimates from the CIA, residents of the 0.76-square-mile principality of Monaco enjoy the longest life expectancy in the world, at an average of 89.6 years.
SOLUTION FOUND ON PAGE 22
RABIES BAIT
continued from page 2
bats, but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also get rabies. The virus is spread through the bite of an infected animal or contact with its
continued
phone use, via smartphone app or a device that plugs into your car’s diagnostic port. Drivers can be rewarded anywhere from 10-30 percent for safe driving.
In addition, many insurance providers also offer discounts to drivers who do not have any violations or accidents for three or more years.
Ask about membership discounts: Many insurers offer discounts through professional associations, workers’ unions, large employers or membership organizations such as AAA, NARFE, AARP, etc. You could even qualify for savings based on the college you attended or the fraternity or sorority you belonged to decades ago. Improve your credit: You may be able to lower your car
saliva. If left untreated, rabies is almost always fatal in humans and animals. However, treatment with the rabies vaccine is nearly 100 percent effective when given soon after a person is bitten by a rabid animal.
So far this year, 23 animals in Vermont have tested positive for rabies, and 14 of those have been raccoons.
According to wildlife officials, rabid animals often show a change in their normal behavior, but you cannot tell whether an animal has rabies simply by looking at it. People should not touch or pick up wild animals or strays – even baby animals.
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Savvy
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Insurers look at how their customers manage credit to get
risk and to price policies. Better rates are given to those with good credit scores, typically
or
Comparison shop: To find out if your current premium is competitive with other insurers, shop around through insurance marketplace websites like TheZebra.com, Insurify.com, Lemonade.com or Policygenius.com. Or use an independent agent (see trustedchoice. com/agent) to help you compare.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org.
