Kevin Unrath has taken the helm at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library at an inflection point in its history.
The library is on the cusp of an expansion that would roughly double its size and set it up to accommodate the Town of Williston’s anticipated population growth for decades. It’s a familiar position for Unrath, who started as the library’s new director last week.
In 2017, he took over leadership at Shelburne’s Pierson Library just as that town was embarking on a similarly extensive library construction project. Shelburne voters passed a multi-million-dollar bond during Unrath’s first year on the job, and, two years later, the new Pierson Library opened its doors.
Plans for Williston’s library expansion have been developed with public input and architectural design work over the past two years. The library’s board of trustees approved the plans earlier this year, and the selectboard is currently considering them. A bond vote would be needed to fund the estimated $13.4 million project.
“I think this is a very similar project,” said Unrath. “When I was interviewing, it was one of the things I was excited to see. The plan is really well thought out.”
A native of Sarasota, Fla., Unrath had come to Shelburne from a director role at Middlebury’s Ilsley Public Library, and prior to that had worked in Albuquerque, N.M. It was in college in Florida when he first considered a librarian career path, nudged
for the past two years as a consultant to libraries across the state. Mostly small and serving rural communities with volunteers and part-time staff, Vermont’s libraries rely on the department’s support and expertise.
“I could provide guidance from a place of having done it before,” Unrath said. “I really enjoyed it.”
But Unrath began to miss being part of the daily operations and programming of a local library, and interacting with patrons. He’d had his eye on DAML as one of the most dynamic and well-supported libraries in Vermont — and he knew about the expansion plans. So when Jane Kearns retired as director last year, Unrath jumped at the opportunity to apply for the job.
2 CVU students face expulsion from U.S. in immigration crackdown
by a suggestion from his step-mother, who was a school librarian.
“I was always going to the library growing up as a kid, which I didn’t realize was somewhat weird,” he recalled during an interview Tuesday. “I took a job at the local library and never looked back.”
Unrath earned a master’s degree at the University of Illinois, and later married a native of Vermont. The couple has settled in Jericho with their two children.
Unrath left his job in Shelburne in 2023, having seen the library construction project through to completion, navigated the challenges of the pandemic and served a stint as president of the Vermont Library Association.
“I felt like there was a lot that was packed into those six years,” he said. “I felt like we were at a good point to hand that position off.”
Unrath has worked for the Vermont Department of Libraries
“I was more interested in it when I finished the interviews than when I started, so when I got the call, it was hard to say no to,” he said. “I’m really excited to be here.”
The library will be hosting an open house on Thursday, May 8 from 6-8 p.m. as a chance for residents to meet and talk with Unrath and learn about the library’s expansion plans. Joining Unrath at the event will be Town Manager Erik Wells, library architect John Hemmelgarn and members of the library’s board of trustees.
Meet-and-greet
Meet new Library Director Kevin Unrath and learn about library expansion plans.
WHEN: Thursday, May 8 6-8 p.m.
WHERE: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library
NOW SERVING BREAKFAST
Federal judge intends to thwart deportation attempt
BY OLIVIA GIEGER VTDigger
Two CVU students may be forced to leave the United States after an order in March from the Department of Homeland Security suspended a legal parole program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans.
However, last Thursday, a federal judge said she intends to block the department’s move.
The two CVU students are originally from Nicaragua and have been in the U.S. for less than a year under the program. The Department of Homeland Security prematurely ended the program on March 25, giving people 30 days to leave the U.S. The program is set up to allow for two years of legal residence in the U.S.
Boston-based U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani said in a hearing last Thursday she plans to prevent the premature end of the program for individuals already here, though she said she would not require the program to accept new applicants.
“My interpretation is that the goal here, really, was to scare a lot of people into self-deporting.”
Brett Stokes Vermont Law School
The students’ family plans to comply with the order and exit the country by the end of the month, according to Christina Daudelin, a student and
258 Market Street & Shelburne Road, S. Burlington Maple Tree Place, Williston GetBlissBee.com @getblissbee
The sign welcoming people to CVU High School.
VTDIGGER
Kevin Unrath started as director of the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library last week.
OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR
Around Town
Egg hunt set for Saturday
The Williston-Richmond Rotary club will hold its 25th annual Bill Mikell Easter Parade and Egg Hunt at Williston Central School on Saturday, April 19 for children 12 years old and under. The parade begins promptly at 9 a.m. Arrive early and meet the Easter Bunny!
Prizes will be awarded to children who find specially marked Easter eggs. Other prizes will be awarded to children wearing full Easter costumes. Children are encouraged to bring their own Easter baskets but if you forget yours, we’ve got you covered.
CVU Empty Bowls event raises $8K for food shelf
Roughly 300 people attended CVU’s second-annual Empty Bowls Dinner last week at the high school’s café in a fundraiser for the Hinesburg Community Resource Center and Food Shelf. Attendees ate from and took home bowls made at the CVU ceramics studio. The meal was donated by local restaurants, including Red Hen, August First and Sisters of Anarchy Ice Cream. About $8,000 was raised to support food security.
CVU senior Teryn Hytten brought the Empty Bowls concept to CVU last year.
“I went to the UVM Empty Bowls dinner beginning when I was young; we were always the first in line, and it was like a holiday every year,” she said. “They shut those down a few years ago, and it was such an important part of my childhood that I wanted to have it at CVU — both to bring it back and also for the students and the community.”
Richmond Land Trust presentation planned at historical society meeting
The Richmond Historical Society will hold its annual meeting Sunday, April. 27 at the Richmond Free Library. A discussion by Richmond Land Trust board members will follow regarding the effort to rebuild the Gillett Pond dam.
Easter Week Church Services
Christ Memorial Church 1033 Essex Rd, Williston | www.cmcvermont.org
Maundy Thursday – April 17, 6:15 p.m.
Good Friday – April 18, 6:15 p.m.
Easter Sunday – April 20, 10 a.m.
Community Lutheran Church 1560 Williston Rd, So. Burlington https://communitylutheranvt.wpcomstaging.com
Maundy Thursday – April 17, 6 p.m.
Good Friday – April 18, 6 p.m.
Easter – April 20, 9:30 a.m.
Crosspoint Church
237 Commerce St, Williston www.crosspointvt.org
Sunday Services – April 13 & April 20, 10 a.m.
Essex Alliance Church
37 Old Stage Rd, Essex Junction www.essexalliance.org
Easter – Saturday, April 19, 4:30 p.m., Sunday, April 20, 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m.
Williston
The event is scheduled from 3:30-5 p.m. Contact RHS@richmondvthistory.org for more information. Maundy Thursday April 17th, 6:30 p.m. at the Richmond Congregational Church
Ignite Church
1037 S Brownell Road, Williston https://ignitechurchvt.com/
64 W Main St, Richmond https://holyrosary.vermontcatholic.org/
Easter Sunday – April 20, 8:30 a.m.
St. Timothy Anglican Church
30 Morgan Pkwy, Williston https://sttimothyburlington.org
Maundy Thursday – April 17, 7 p.m.
Good Friday – April 18, 6 p.m. at 901 North Ave., Burlington
Good Friday April 18th, 7 p.m. in-person & live streamed Hadyn’s “Seven Last Words of Christ” performed by the Octet 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
Easter Vigil – April 19, 7 p.m.
Easter Sunday – April 20, 9 a.m.
Trinity Baptist Church
300 Trinity Dr, Williston | www.tbcvt.org
Easter Sunday – April 20, 10 a.m.
Vibrant Church
2025 Williston Rd, So. Burlington www.vibrant.ch
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
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.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
EMAIL EVENT LISTINGS TO EDITOR@ WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM
THURSDAY, APRIL 17
Transcendental Meditation presentation ♦ Learn how TM affects stress and focus. 7 p.m. at the TM Center of Vermont on Mountain View Road. Call or email to register, (802) 923-6782 or vermont@tm.org.
“Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age” ♦ CVSD presents virtual community viewing and panel discussion. 7 p.m. online. Register for link at https://forms. gle/di4b24pfaj7s7Q3C9.
SATURDAY, APRIL 19
Bill Mikell Easter Parade and Egg Hunt ♦ For children 12 and up. 9 a.m. Williston Central School. Email andrewdmikell@gmail.com for more information.
Backyard Composting
Workshop ♦ Celebrate Earth Month with a composting workshop and Green Mountain Compost facility tour. 9:30 a.m. tour; 10:30 a.m. workshop. Chittenden Solid Waste District, 860 Redmond Rd., Williston. More information at cswd.net.
MONDAY, APRIL 21
Dorothy Alling Memorial Library Board of Trustees meeting ♦ 7 p.m. Library community room. Agenda at damlvt. org.
SUNDAY, APRIL 27
Richmond Historical Society Annual Meeting ♦ Featuring Richmond Land Trust presentation. 3:30 p.m. Richmond Free Library. Email RHS@richmondvthistory.org for more information.
SATURDAY, MAY 3
Green Up Day and Town Fair ♦ Town Band concert, ice cream, e-bike demos, town staff meet-and-greet, and pick up trash bags for Green Up Day. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Town Green. More information at https:// www.bit.ly/greenup05495.
CVSD satisfied with PowerSchool data breach response
BY JASON STARR Observer staff
About four years ago, Champlain Valley School District administrators asked parents to create an account with a national software provider, PowerSchool, and upload their children’s health and residency information.
This process remains standard for all new enrollees in the district.
Despite a cyberattack that resulted in stolen data of millions of students nationwide, and subsequent breach-of-contract lawsuits filed by multiple U.S. school districts against the company, CVSD plans to stick with the California-based company for its student database needs.
Information Technology Director Matt Vile said the
district is satisfied with the company’s remedy to the exposure that led to the breach. According to PowerSchool, the data was taken through a customer-sup -
“(PowerSchool) has not identified any evidence of information exfiltrated in this incident being made available for sale or download.”
PowerSchool cybersecurity incident report
port portal in December and potentially included dates of birth, Social Security numbers and medical information. Vile,
who noted that CVSD does not store Social Security numbers on PowerSchool, said the company previously had unfettered access through the customer-support portal to CVSD information. Following the breach, the company can now only access the information if the district reaches out for customer support.
“They can only access our database by us initiating it,” Vile said. “It’s not an open login anymore … We believe that they’ve taken the necessary steps to keep our data secure.”
PowerSchool did not comment on reports that it paid a ransom to have the stolen data destroyed. The company’s own investigation report states it “has not identified any evidence of information exfiltrated in this incident being made available for sale or download.”
A year before the breach, PowerSchool CEO Hardeep Gulati spoke at a White House summit on K-12 cybersecurity convened by then-First Lady Jill Biden. He said the company has contracts with 80 percent of U.S. public school districts, representing about 45 million students in all 50 states. Gulati explained the enormity of the challenge in keeping that much data secure.
“We, in the last year, successfully defended against 1 billion cyber attack events, that’s the magnitude we’re dealing with,” Gulati said at the 2023 White House event. “We take security as one of our top priorities … We do that with relentless investment and focus on
every element of security with dedicated teams.”
CVSD has developed its own cybersecurity requirements for any new digital tool or platform, including PowerSchool, that administrators or teachers plan to use. Former IT Director Mike Kanfer first created a CVSDspecific data privacy agreement, but the district now uses The Education Cooperative, a Massachusetts nonprofit, to secure data privacy agreements with digital vendors on its behalf.
“It’s important to make sure that we have all of the data privacy agreements in place before any applications are used within our district,” Vile said.
Restorative justice in limbo amid statewide expansion
PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER
BY COREY MCDONALD VTDigger
Josef Lavanway began working with South Burlington’s Community Justice Center in 2016, volunteering for several years before becoming a paid employee and, eventually, the center’s director.
There, he saw firsthand the benefits of pre-charge diversion, a type of restorative justice practice that has a rich history in Chittenden County, but is lacking or nonexistent elsewhere in the state.
Restorative justice work is widespread throughout Vermont, and many organizations provide post-charge or post-conviction restorative work while a person is proceeding through the court system or after a person has been convicted of a crime.
Pre-charge diversion, however, takes low-level crimes — retail theft or vandalism, for example — and instead of sending them to the court system, refers the cases to restorative justice panels that are moderated by local volunteers and employees like Lavanway.
There, victims of these crimes meet the person who committed them, and are given the opportunity to speak directly to the perpetrator about how the crime affected them.
“For somebody who has caused harm to
be able to hear how they’ve harmed somebody directly, and the closure for affected parties and responsible parties, is just something that is incredibly powerful,” Lavanway said, speaking about restorative justice practices generally.
Pre-charge diversion has worked for many years in Chittenden County, where every year law enforcement officers send hundreds of low-level crimes to one of the county’s four community justice centers in Burlington, South Burlington, Essex and Williston — cases that would otherwise exacerbate a backlogged judicial system.
Moderators of pre-charge diversion have lauded its benefits to both those involved and their communities at-large. Although pre-charge diversion is open to all offenders, research has shown that for first-time offenders especially it can make a big difference. The recidivism rate of first-time offenders who go through precharge diversion is significantly lower than first-time offenders who go through the court system.
Act 180, a law passed last year, moved to expand pre-charge diversion work statewide. It codified pre-charge diversion into law, setting guidelines for police departments and state’s attorneys to rely on, and moved the administration of funding from the Department of Corrections to the Attorney General’s Office.
But to streamline costs and regionalize the system, the Attorney General’s Office has indicated it will fund pre-charge diversion for only one entity per county beginning in July 2026.
The Attorney General’s Office will exclusively fund Burlington’s Community Justice Center, which will be responsible for handling referrals for the entire county.
That directive has left Lavanway and others in uncertainty. While some counties would be receiving funding for pre-charge diversion for the first time, town officials in Williston, Essex and South Burlington have in correspondence expressed hesitation over the move to consolidate the practice to Burlington.
In South Burlington, City Manager Jessie Baker said in an interview the directive would potentially “eliminate” the city’s local Community Justice Center.
Town officials in Burlington and the three municipalities have this month jumpstarted conversations about what the practice will look like in the coming year.
“One of the challenges locally is that these are South Burlington employees who do exceptional work and are being told that their positions won’t exist,” Baker said. “There’s a possibility that Burlington will likely need additional staff to provide services in our communities. These folks are already experts in the service provision. There may be opportunities for them to find employment with the City of Burlington in the future.”
HYPER-LOCAL
Before taking office in 2021, Rep. Karen Dolan, D-Essex, worked in Essex’s Community Justice Center and witnessed up close the impact of pre-charge diversion work.
“If you’re able to address crimes, poor decisions — whatever you want to call the acts — in the moment or close to the moment, have folks take accountability, reflect on the harm they caused and come up with plans to make sure it doesn’t happen again, you could see some real change,” she said in an interview.
But when she was elected, she quickly learned how different access to precharge diversion work is across county lines. A criminal case in Franklin County’s Fairfax could have a very differ-
“In Richmond, we have seen bold new initiatives that are supposed to help the whole county wind up being mostly about Burlington.”
Jay Furr Richmond Selectboard
ent trajectory through the state’s criminal justice system than a crime committed in Chittenden County’s Milton, for example.
“It was just not consistent around the state. There also wasn’t a consistent definition of what pre-charge referrals were, and so it was hard to even evaluate data on it,” she said in an interview. “So, part of what Act 180 does is just make that consistent: This is what a pre-charge referral is, these are the data sets that we’re looking for, so we really have a kind of road map to look at and also compare data going forward.”
The new law will expand pre-charge work in areas like Lamoille County, which provides other types of restorative justice work but has had no funding for precharge work.
Heather Hobart, the executive director of Lamoille Restorative Center, said in an interview that she’s had to turn down requests made by police chiefs and Lamoille County State’s Attorney Aliena Gerhard to divert crimes away from the court system and to restorative justice panels.
“What’s keeping us from doing that is only money, which is in staffing resources, really,” she said. “And that’s been a hard thing to talk about. When I have police that see the benefit of the court diversion program and they want a solution … I’d like to be able to offer that, and it’s just a matter of funding. It is a parity issue.”
Josef Lavanway, director of South Burlington’s Community Justice Center, seen on Wednesday, April 2.
Justice
Dolan and other lawmakers like South Burlington Democratic Rep. Martin Lalonde spearheaded Act 180 during last year’s legislative session to create regional equity.
The law established baseline standards for county prosecutors to follow when deciding whether someone who commits a relatively minor crime should be referred to a pre-charge restorative justice program in their community, instead of being charged in court.
But the legislation did not include funding to support the attorney general’s work. Citing the lack of funding, Gov. Phil Scott vetoed the law, but lawmakers in June voted to override the governor’s veto.
How much funding the Attorney General’s Office will get for the pre-charge diversion remains to be seen. The fiscal year 2026 budget the House passed last month allocates $1.1 million to the Attorney General’s Office. But that will still need approval from the Senate and, eventually, the governor’s signature.
Still, the transition is already in full swing. Willa Farrell, the court diversion and pretrial services director with the Attorney General’s Office, has been in communication with county officials to begin the process of administering the service statewide.
That includes creating a regional structure in counties where more than one entity is doing pre-charge work, she said, with an emphasis on keeping the service delivery local.
“Service delivery and how people use services is what should be happening locally in communities,” Farrell said in an interview. “But, who’s paying the health insurance bill, or where the staff person gets their supervision — to me, that can happen in a centrally located part of a county.”
That conversation has proved “challenging” in Chittenden County, which has long had a “robust” availability of pre-charge services in multiple towns, Farrell wrote in an April 1 update to the Legislature.
Law enforcement refers more than 400 pre-charge cases annually to Chittenden County’s four community justice centers, compared to less than 50 in areas like Washington or Windham
county, according to data from the Attorney General’s Office.
What’s made the services so successful is the hyper-local connections the centers and their volunteers have with the communities, town officials say.
“The volunteers are coming from our communities that we’re working directly with. … I think that is a big part of the success, in just having those relationships that have been built up over time,” said Greg Duggan, Essex’s town manager.
In Richmond, which is serviced by Williston’s Community Justice Center, residents and officials there have expressed concern about the shift toward a regional model.
Jay Furr, a selectboard member in Richmond, has said in public meetings and in an interview he is worried the hyper-local element that community justice centers provide would get lost in a regionally administered structure out of Burlington.
“In Richmond, we have seen bold new initiatives that are supposed to help the whole county wind up being mostly about Burlington,” he said. “When you consider that the volunteers who handled cases, and the staff handle cases, know the community, and in many cases, know the people, know what solutions were appropriate for our area, and you take that knowledge away and you turn it over to a staff based out of Burlington — some people don’t even know where Richmond is.”
‘RICH HISTORY’
In January, town managers and law enforcement officials
in South Burlington, Essex, Colchester, Shelburne, Williston and Richmond signed an open letter to the Attorney General’s Office calling into question the decision to shift funding to Burlington.
South Burlington, Essex and Williston’s centers provided a plethora of successful practices, they wrote, and spearheaded the historical development of precharge restorative justice work now being expanded statewide.
“To now take these impactful services away from our local communities for the sake of administrative efficiency feels like we are being punished for our success,” the letter reads. “How can we continue to modernize and advance how we provide public safety services, if critical tools are taken away from us?”
The officials requested that the Attorney General’s Office fund all four centers — or at least two. But the Attorney General’s Office maintained its commitment to fund one entity.
Eventually, the town officials ceded. Baker, South Burlington’s town manager, said the city was “not necessarily interested in fighting against that team.”
The Attorney General’s Office, to give towns time to coordinate the shift, said funding for the four centers will remain in place through the end of fiscal year 2026. The funding shift to Burlington will begin in July 2026, Farrell said.
The initial hesitation, however, has since been allayed by commitments to keep the service local to communities while administering it out to communities.
Erin Jacobsen, Burlington Mayor Emma MulvaneyStanak’s chief of staff, in an email to town officials said the city was “confident that we can come up with paths forward that work for all of our localities.”
“Whatever comes next, we very much want this to be a true partnership, where, rather than removing any services your towns have so successfully offered for so many years, we can build on the successes we’ve experienced and leverage some of our resources for the benefit of the county as a whole,” she wrote.
Rachel Jolly, the assistant director with the city’s Community and Economic Development Office, which houses the Queen City’s Community Justice Center, said that the county’s “rich history” of pre-charge work gives them an advantage in crafting a regional system.
“There’s a large body of police support for restorative justice and for the work, and so we just want to build on that,” she said.
Town managers, in interviews with VTDigger, have noted that maintaining a local presence in communities and committing to a regionalized structure can go hand in hand.
“I don’t think those two things are necessarily in conflict with one another,” Baker said. “I think you can administer something centrally and still have embedded service delivery in the community.”
Erik Wells, Williston’s town manager, said in an interview, “That’s going to be achieved by having staff available in police departments, and it’s going to really continue to rely on a good, strong volunteer base.”
Jacobsen said it’s too early in the process to say what the administrative structure will look like in Burlington. But she and Jolly in an interview said they remain committed to keeping volunteers embedded in local communities.
“That’s not something that we want to see diminished in any way, shape or form,” she said.
Jacobsen and Jolly hope to schedule a meeting with other stakeholders later this month. Meanwhile, Lavanway and other staff and volunteers continue to work their cases.
“We’re just going to continue to do what we do and we’ll see where things land,” Lavanway said.
Erik Wells
Public safety and substance use — a comprehensive approach
BY JENNEY SAMUELSON
Vermont has long been a leader in treatment for addiction and substance use, particularly through its “hub-and-spoke” model, which was launched nearly a decade ago to address the opioid epidemic. This approach brought treatment into the mainstream, integrating it into doctors’ offices and expanding access to services through regional hubs. It made Vermont one of the top states for accessing care and significantly reduced the stigma around seeking help.
However, the landscape of the substances in use has evolved over the past 10 years. What we are seeing now is an increasingly complex drug supply in Vermont that mixes the potent opioid fentanyl with stimulants like methamphetamines and cocaine and adulterants like xylazine, leading to complex addictions and complex treatment. The tools and
treatment systems we developed to address opioid addiction are no longer enough to tackle this emerging crisis. The medication-assisted treatment model that once worked for opioids does not translate effectively to stimulant use. Not surprisingly, that creates significant gaps in care. This shifting landscape presents new challenges in reducing addiction, improving public safety, and ensuring long-term recovery.
To break the cycle, we must adapt. In addition to supporting recovery efforts, we need to address the broader public safety implications tied to addiction and drug trafficking. The criminal activity associated with drug distribution, as well as the violence and disorder it breeds, impacts the health and safety of our communities. These are not isolated issues; they are inextricably linked to the lack of comprehensive care and support for those struggling with
substance use disorder and the need for further treatment options that our judicial system can offer.
Stable housing is a fundamental pillar of recovery, yet the shortage of affordable housing makes it incredibly difficult for individuals in recovery to maintain long-term sobriety.
One of the most pressing gaps in our system is the treatment of complex substance use, particularly in light of the rising prevalence
of stimulants. Traditional medication-based treatments used for opioid addiction do not work in the same way for stimulant use. That means that people suffering from addiction to multiple substances often face longer recovery times and higher relapse rates. There are also significant gaps in how we provide treatment for people entering residential care, making it difficult to get into care at the moment when someone is ready to take that step, and difficult to get back into treatment when they are relapsing.
Vermont’s housing crisis is another critical issue that exacerbates these challenges. Stable housing is a fundamental pillar of recovery, yet the shortage of affordable housing makes it incredibly difficult for individuals in recovery to maintain long-term sobriety. The lack of housing units also makes it nearly impossible for recovery housing programs to expand.
The lack of stability and continuity in treatment further compounds the challenges and can play out publicly in communities across the state. Too many transitions in the residential treatment and recovery system create risks for disruption, particularly early in recovery when individuals are most vulnerable. Each time a person moves from one level of care to another, the chances of relapse increase, threatening their progress and, by extension, their potential to reintegrate into society. Vermont’s residential treatment programs need to offer a full range of treatment options, allow for longer residential treatment stays, and provide better support for individuals during transitions from residential treatment programs back to home or to recovery housing options.
ADVERTISING
Rick Cote, Associate Publisher
rick@willistonobserver.com 802-373-2136
EDITOR
Jason Starr
editor@willistonobserver.com
PRODUCTION & DESIGN
Jan Kenney
jan@willistonobserver.com
PUBLISHER
Susan T. Cote
susan@willistonobserver.com
BILLING INQUIRIES
Michael McCaffrey office@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.
SUBMISSIONS & LETTERS
Deadline is Monday noon for Thursday issue. News/ story tips are welcomed. Letters to the Editor should be 300 words or fewer and include your name, address and a daytime phone number so that we can verify the letter’s author.
reserves
The specter of leaving rural schools behind
BY CHERYL CHARLES
The Rural School Community Alliance appreciates the effort lawmakers have made in recent weeks to respond to the many concerns raised by Vermonters about proposed changes to our public education system. Unfortunately, despite some improvements, the bill passed out of the House (H. 454) falls short of addressing the most critical issues facing our rural communities, and it remains deeply concerning in its implications for educational equity, local democracy and the well-being of our children.
H. 454 proposes a dramatic shift away from Vermont’s functioning system of local democratic engagement in school governance. It moves toward centralizing decision-making into fewer school boards with reduced
Samuelson
continued from page 6
Substance use is also a major factor in our justice system in Vermont. More than 70 percent of individuals in corrections are being treated for substance use disorder. This presents a key opportunity to address the issue, but we must go beyond offering medication-assisted treatment during incarceration. The real challenge lies in equipping individuals with the tools they need to stay sober once they are released. Without comprehensive residential treatment during incarceration and continued support through the transition back into the community, many individuals will find themselves trapped in a cycle of reoffending, which perpetuates the broader public safety issues
local representation, which would separate communities from decisions that directly impact their children and their schools.
Many school districts in Vermont currently have merger agreements that give towns a say in decisions about school closures. These provisions are essential. When a school faces closure, it is the local community — families, students and taxpayers — who are most affected. They deserve a voice to ensure that children’s needs are considered, including reasonable bus rides for young learners, thoughtful planning for the reuse of school buildings, and manageable financial impacts for the town. H454 eliminates closure articles of agreement in the formation of the new larger districts and does not establish a clear process for school closures, creating uncertainty for rural communities.
we face.
The Scott administration’s recent proposal takes significant steps to address these gaps in care. It aims to ensure that residential treatment providers offer a full spectrum of services, equipping them to treat the evolving drug landscape effectively. Additionally, the proposal calls for stays of adequate and meaningful duration in additional high-intensity recovery housing — integrating housing, treatment and critical skills-building programs for individuals in recovery and struggling with the most complex challenges. Finally, offering residential recovery services in corrections and enhancing pre-trial supervision, this plan will help bridge the gap between incarceration and successful reintegration into communities.
Ultimately, by filling the gaps
Vermonters asked for tax relief, not the dismantling of a public education system that generations have worked to build.
The combination of larger districts, less representation and goals for minimum class and district size, without the protection of a vote of the town impacted, will drive rural school closures statewide.
H. 454 does not acknowledge the well-documented negative impacts of school closures on children. National research
in our current system and smoothing out the transitions in care, we can improve care for those struggling with addiction and address the behaviors that disrupt the safety and health of our communities. We will see a reduction in substance-use-related crime, improved public safety, and a stronger, more resilient state overall.
Healthy individuals are the foundation of healthy communities, and with investments in comprehensive, integrated care, Vermonters can break free from the cycle of addiction and rebuild their lives. The time to act is now, and with the right tools and policies in place, Vermont can continue to lead the way.
Jenney Samuelson is secretary of the Vermont Agency of Human Services.
consistently shows that closing local elementary schools harms students, disrupts social connections, increases mental health challenges, lowers academic performance in the short term, and reduces family and community engagement.
The bill ignores the consequences for rural communities in Vermont, a state that is predominantly rural. School closures lead to population decline, reduced property values, loss of social capital and difficulties attracting and retaining families. These are not abstract concerns — they are lived realities in towns where schools have already closed.
Vermonters asked for tax relief, not the dismantling of a public education system that generations have worked to build, centered around strong, local community schools. We believe there is a path forward to address education funding in Vermont, and we urge lawmakers to focus on funding reform. Governance reform must be thoughtful, inclusive and grounded in a commitment to educational equity and community voice. Our children and communities deserve nothing less.
of the Rural School Community Alliance.
Cheryl Charles is chair
Students
community engagement facilitator for the Champlain Valley School District. Because the students are minors and the specter of returning to Nicaragua poses additional safety concerns, the school has not shared the students’ names or identifying details.
Otherwise school has been “operating as normal” to preserve a sense of balance, Daudelin said. The school is planning an early graduation ceremony so the students will have their diplomas before they have to leave.
“This is really personal for a lot of us. We have personal relationships with the students, and we are feeling helpless and caught up in
something we can’t change,” she said.
Adam Bunting, the superintendent of the school district, shared the news with community members in an email last Wednesday.
“These students are not political operatives. They are not criminals. They are not threats,” Bunting wrote. “They are young people who have found safety and meaning in our community. They’ve made friends, joined clubs, and played in the snow here for the first time. They’ve done what all teenagers do: tried to figure out who they are, where they belong, what they care about.”
“Now, because of a shift in federal policy, their lives are being upended — again,” Bunting went on. “When we talk about immigration,
we must remember that there are people behind every policy — in this case young people who dream of going to college.”
due process — it flies in the face of existing statute, Stokes said.
“I know that is illegal,” he said.
The school’s decision to broadcast the news of the students’ terminated parole and decision to leave was a fraught one, as the school hoped to protect the students’ safety and privacy, but administrators decided it was best to get the word out.
“We wanted to give families an ability to make meaning of this situation,” Bunting said in an interview. “We think every family deserves a chance to have that discussion.”
He also stressed the importance of realizing that the impacts of federal action are being felt locally.
hard decisions to make about what we will do when our values are being compromised and challenged.”
He sees this as a moment for the community to rearticulate and commit to its values of supporting one another. How exactly that will look is still being worked out.
“We’re still trying to find a meaningful way to respond that isn’t reactionary,” said Becky Gamble, the founder and co-leader of Champlain Valley Indivisible. “These moments do call for recognition of what really are our values and as a community, what we are willing to stand up for. We’re having a reckoning with what really matters to us.”
Girls Flag Football!
Girls Flag Football!
Time to
Time to shine: Spring ’25
Spring ’25
WHO: Girls grades 3-9
WHERE: BHS & St. Mike’s
WHEN: Saturdays May 3-June 7
Register now at chittendencountyflagfootball.com
3, 9:30
The humanitarian parole designation that allows the students to be here is not a legal status, rather a permission to enter the country, according to Brett Stokes, the director of the Center for Justice Reform Clinic at Vermont Law School. Essentially it’s a way for people to live in the U.S. while they are looking for more permanent routes for residency and work eligibility.
“It doesn’t replace the need or eligibility for asylum or other programs,” Stokes said. Many people simultaneously apply for asylum while they are in the U.S. under humanitarian parole. Though he is not familiar with the specifics of the two students’ cases, those routes could be open to them in the future.
“Do I think this termination of parole is legal? No, probably not,” Stokes said. “My interpretation is that the goal here, really, was to scare a lot of people into self-deporting.”
Though President Donald Trump’s administration has tried to expand expedited removals that is deportations without
“I think when people are thinking of federal policy, they’re thinking of headlines in universities and big cities, that this isn’t something that happens here. There are impacts in our community, to our kids and to the values of Vermont,” he said. “I was upset with myself and my own ignorance of what our colleagues are dealing with across the state and country.”
Bunting said CVU is coordinating with other districts in the state and working with the Vermont Superintendents Association as part of its response. He also planned to meet with Education Secretary Zoie Saunders.
It’s not lost on Bunting that this news comes in the middle of an ongoing dispute over whether the state should certify its schools as complying with a federal nondiscrimination requirement, Title VI, following an April 3 letter from the U.S. Department of Education claiming noncompliance could result in the loss of some federal funding.
“It’s hard to separate this from the ongoing stuff surrounding Title VI,” Bunting said. “We have some
Since the school district made the information public, it has received an outpouring of support and desire from community members to help. Daudelin has been sharing resources for people to call state and federal legislators to advocate for state-level deportation defense funding and to ask that Vermont’s delegation oppose the new deportation process.
She has also invited people to drop off cards at the school and said that she would soon have more information about a potential in-person show of support.
“It’s a human rights issue. Even if you can take politics out, we decide who the community is,” she said. “These students are our community, and they are us.”
Bunting said he wished people in decision-making positions could sit with the students, as he has. They’d see two highly motivated students who care deeply about their education and the state that they now call home, Bunting said.
They are “nothing short of inspirational,” he added, but, like any teenager would be, they are scared of not knowing what’s awaiting them.
Adam Bunting
Olympian returns to Cochran’s
BY SAYLOR FLANNERY Community News Service
Olympian Ryan CochranSiegle returns to Vermont every year to race with young skiers on the slopes of his family’s Richmond ski area. On March 29, just days from competing in an alpine skiing World Cup race, he was there at Cochran’s Ski Area for the annual Thank God for Snowmaking competition.
Usually the race is hosted under a blue sky and beaming sun, but this year attendees were treated to a fresh 5 inches of heavy snow the night before.
“Springtime in Vermont, you never know what the weather’s gonna give you,” said CochranSiegle, a 2022 Olympic silver medalist, adding, “Almost feel like the powder days kind of bring more of a spirit.”
Cochran’s Ski Area, about 10 minutes off Interstate 89, has been bringing young people out on the snow for decades. The small mountain features seven trails, accessed by a T-bar and rope tow, and since 1998 has been home to one of the few nonprofit ski areas in New England.
For all but one of the last 16 years, the hill has hosted Thank God For Snowmaking, a spirited end-of-season race that brings out skiers from across New England, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey — and World Cup athletes from the Cochran family like Cochran-Siegel and Robby Kelly.
The race shows off the ski area’s snowmaking infrastructure and capacity to extend the ski season. On top of that, “It’s just one of those fun races that brings everyone out,” said Cochran-Siegle.
The snowfall this year made the conditions trickier than usual. Still, attendees seemed to carry a positive mood and excitement for the extra push of winter.
Volunteering at the pancake grill that Saturday was Christina Young, a Cochran’s Ski Area alumna who has been involved for close to 40 years. She said her kids were too little to be racing that day — instead, they were helping build a jump on the hill’s largest trail named “I-89.”
Why volunteer when her kids aren’t even racing? “It’s just like our atmosphere here,” Young said. “Yeah, it’s family friendly. My kids can play in the mountains. My kids can ski in the mountains
and race, get all their training in, right? Why not? Where else can you get pancakes?”
And as one Vermont racer, Ian MacKenzie, said at one point that day, “These are the best pancakes I think I have ever had.”
Young had worked the pancake grill the weekend before for the ski area’s annual three-day Rope-a-Thon. In that event, people take as many laps on the ropetow as possible, she said, some people going up it 300 times over the three days.
The event helped Cochran’s Ski Area raise around $160,000, said Cochran-Siegle.
That money helps the ski area keep the T-bar running — and keep locals on the mountain.
“As a Vermonter too, you recognize the resources we have with the outdoors and the connection to the mountains,” CochranSiegle said. “I think for a lot of families like that, the financial barrier limits them so much … We want to take that down and, you know, make it so that if you grow up here, you’re able to experience what other people come here for.”
Multi-time national champion Steve Lathrop, director of the junior alpine program at
race
West Mountain Racing in the Adirondacks, raced on the U.S. World Cup team with Barbara and Bobby Cochran, two children of the ski area founders, Mickey and Ginny.
He said the race has a special charm that keeps him coming back — as does the ski area itself.
“It’s a fun race, and everybody has a good time,” he said. “It’s very unique. As you can tell the experience here, it’s like a mini museum.”
Community News Service is a University of Vermont journalism internship.
Skiers prepare to race at Cochran’s Ski Area on March 29.
PHOTO BY SAYLOR FLANNERY
SPORTS
Batter up
CLOCKWISE (L TO R): CVU’s Quinn Vincent makes the long throw from third during the Redhawks’ 10-7 win over the Rice Green Knights in a pre-season scrimmage on Thursday at Rice. Ryan Woods stretches for the pick-off throw from pitcher Noah Musgrave as the runner nears the base. Musgrave winds up to deliver a pitch. Tommy Barnes scoops a grounder to protect second base. John Deyo sends the ball toward the outfield.
Spring flings
CLOCKWISE (l to r): CVU’s Bennett Hanson gets by South Burlington’s Sam Harm during the Redhawks’ 7-2 loss to the Wolves on Friday in South Burlington. Trevor Stumpff looks to make a pass downfield. Dylan Terricciano tries to get past South Burlington’s Colby Reagan for possession of the ball. Luke Buehler plays through the check of South Burlington’s Harry Poquette. Ethan Whitcomb and South Burlington’s Jack Kelly mix it up as they travel across the field.
It’s said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. So it’s no surprise that kitchen upgrades are among the most common renovation projects homeowners tackle.
Even so, it’s a big project for a first-time renovation, and the final results are sure to be stronger with some detailed planning from the start.
Take into account these five tips for first-time kitchen remodelers to achieve the kitchens of your dreams.
1. MAKE A BUDGET
guide to kitchen remodeling
First things first — establish a clear and realistic budget. Factor in costs for materials, labor and some extra for unexpected expenses. If you are not a do-it-your-selfer a contractor my help you strike a balance between the vision and the possibilities given your financial resources.
You may want to consult with a real estate professional who can ensure that your plans are in line with the overall value
of your home and neighborhood.
2. BALANCE FUNCTIONALITY AND AESTHETICS
Of course you want your kitchen to be beautiful but it’s important that you design with practicality in mind. Ensure there’s enough counter space and storage to create an efficient workflow. Consider the travel patterns of the area. This includes the kitchen work triangle of the sink, stove and refrigerator but also through-traffic and congregation points like a kitchen island or an outside doorway. Additionally, look for opportunities to incorporate functional storage in unexpected places such as the exposed end
PHOTO COURTESY OF FAMILY FEATURES
Honor Arbor Day with tree planting
BY MELINDA MYERS
Trees provide many benefits to the environment, our health and our well-being. These long-living members of our landscapes and communities provide shade, help reduce energy costs, clean the air we breathe, prevent soil erosion and stormwater runoff, and attract and provide homes for birds and pollinators.
National Arbor Day, celebrated on the last Friday of April, recognizes the important role trees play in our environment.
Spending time among trees also helps boost our immune system. Studies reveal that treefilled landscapes help decrease domestic conflict, as well as aggression and violence at schools. A mindful walk through the woods, known as “forest bathing,” helps reduce blood pressure and stress. It increases focus and energy levels, improves sleep, and much more.
When planting a new tree, make sure to select one that will fit in the space when mature, and thrive in the growing conditions. Select a planting location away from overhead and underground utilities to avoid future conflicts. Avoid plantings that could eventually grow into wires or structures, or interfere with utilities and power transmission lines, creating a real hazard.
Always call 811 or file a request online at https://call811. com/811-In-Your-State at least three business days before putting a shovel in the ground. When your request is received, this non-profit group contacts all the appropriate underground utilities. The utilities’ locators will then mark the location of any underground utilities in your work area. Contacting them first reduces the risk of injury, the inconvenience of accidentally knocking out power, cable or other utilities, and the potential cost incurred to repair a utility you damage if you skip
National Arbor Day, celebrated on the last Friday of April, recognizes the important role trees play in our environment.
this step.
Grill cleaning 101: a how-to guide
A clean grill can enhance the flavor of your food. That’s why regular grill maintenance is an essential part of any outdoor cooking routine.
Grills, especially those exposed to the elements, can accumulate dirt, rust and food residue that can affect performance and safety. Plus, residual char and grease can impart unwanted flavors and even lead to flare-ups.
Once you’ve gathered the right tools—a sturdy grill brush with stainless steel bristles, a scraper, a bucket of soapy water, microfiber cloths and grill cleaner or degreaser—follow these steps to keep your grill in pristine condition.
Preheat the grill for 15 minutes to loosen any stuck-on resi due, then turn it off and let it cool slightly.
Ensure the gas supply is turned off before cleaning.
Remove the grates and scrub them thoroughly with a grill brush and warm, soapy water. Rinse and let dry.
Clean burners by wiping them with a damp cloth.
Scrape the inside of the grill to remove any debris, and use a vacuum to collect loose dirt and ash.
Wipe down the exterior of the grill with a microfiber cloth and grill cleaner.
Reassemble the grill once all parts are dry, and give it a final wipe down.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MELINDAMYERS.COM see ARBOR DAY page 15
Once your location is cleared, you’re ready to start planting. Locate the tree’s root
In between deep cleanings, remember to clean your grill grates immediately after cooking while they are still warm to remove food particles and grease. Find more tips for the grill and beyond at eLivingtoday.com.
— Family Features
and grease.
Remember to clean your grill grates immediately after cooking while they are still warm to remove food particles
PHOTO COURTESY OF CLIPART. COM
of a cabinet run or side of the refrigerator. For example you might want to include: a shallow cleaning utility cabinet that fits a broom, dustpan and cleaning supplies; incorporating a builtin spice rack; an over-fridge cabinet with drop-down shelves; sheet pan/cutting board storage; or a trash can-cutting board combination.
3. CHOOSE QUALITY MATERIALS
Consider factors such as durability, maintenance requirements and compatibility with your design aesthetic when selecting materials for your kitchen. You may be tempted to cut corners to stretch your budget. However, durable countertops, solid cabinetry and reliable appliances typically save money in the long run, and they’ll enhance the overall look and value of your kitchen so prioritize high-quality materials that stand the test of time when possible.
4.
HIRE PROFESSIONALS
For complex renovations, work with experienced contractors and designers. Their expertise can help you avoid common pitfalls and ensure your remodel meets all safety and building codes. What’s more,
these professionals have likely encountered and overcome all kinds of challenges, which means they’ll be well-prepared to help you navigate unexpected obstacles and provide a wealth of knowledge from previous clients to help make recommendations for the perfect finished space.
Do your homework beforehand. Take the time to check references and ask for pictures of their past jobs. Kitchen renovations can be complicated and expensive so some effort on your part at this step can have a huge payoff in the your final satisfaction with the project.
5.
STAY FLEXIBLE
Be prepared for unexpected challenges and delays. Stay adaptable and open to changes, and remember, patience is key to achieving the kitchen of your dreams. Materials go on backorder and paperwork gets misplaced all the time. Set a realistic timeline for your project that allows for some hiccups, and try to avoid becoming too rigidly attached to any single element of the design, so if you have to make a modification, it doesn’t feel like a monumental sacrifice.
— Family Features
In the world of kitchen design, there
are many islands to explore
Adding an island to your kitchen offers many functional and aesthetic benefits, and there are styles to suit every type of kitchen
Galley Kitchen Island: This type of island is more functional than design-forward, conveniently adding extra storage and counter space. This conventional configuration works well in most kitchen layouts, both large and small, and can be constructed to fit almost any kitchen.
Table-Style Kitchen Island:
If you want a unique addition, an island table is the way to go, whether you opt for a custom-made piece or upcycle an antique. The beauty of a table-style island is that it serves a functional and decorative purpose, warming up a modern kitchen and adding personality.
Double Island Kitchen:
Incorporating multiple islands — often called a double island kitchen — can improve traffic flow, increase storage space and seating, and create additional space for meal prep, cooking, washing and eating. Plus, islands are ideal for implementing
design elements such as complementing materials and finishes, pops of color and unique cabinetry components including door styles and hardware.
Rolling Kitchen Island: This convenient solution adds flexibility with extra storage and counter space. You can easily tuck it away to open up more floor space when done, and this portable island can easily roam around the kitchen so you can place it where you need it.
Two-Tier Kitchen Island:
While you can cook and eat on any island, the two-tier creates a clear boundary where you can cook on one side and eat on the other. This all-encompassing island is perfect for larger families and homeowners who like to entertain.
Chef’s Kitchen Island: If you want to showcase your cooking skills or have a private chef cooking for friends and family, a chef’s island is a unique solution. Installation requires the
appropriate ventilation and electrical, which may be well worth it if you frequently cook for family or friends.
Round Kitchen Island:
Compared to a typical rectangular island, a rounded option is an eye-catching way to add more seating in your kitchen for entertaining family and friends.
L-Shaped Kitchen Island: If you have a lot of space in your kitchen, an L-shaped island can fill the area. The design provides extra cooking space, allowing you to accommodate multiple chefs in the kitchen. You can also add seating for family and friends.
U-Shaped Kitchen Island:
Best suited for large, open-concept kitchens, a U-shaped island creates storage space and room to install appliances such as a bar fridge, sink or range with prep space left to prepare meals.
A kitchen island is a gathering spot, storage area, work space and often the visual focal point of the room. As such, it can often be the pivotal design element of the kitchen. PHOTO COURTESY OF CLIPART.COM
Arbor Day
continued from page 13
flare (where the roots curve away from the trunk) by gently pulling the soil away from the trunk as needed. Dig a hole two to five times wider and the same depth as the distance from the root flare to the bottom of the root ball. Set the tree in the hole, carefully remove it from the container, and loosen or prune off any circling roots. Cut back burlap and wire baskets when planting balled and burlapped trees.
Plant the tree so the root flare is even with or slightly above the soil surface. Roughen the sides of the hole and backfill with the existing soil. Water thoroughly and spread a 2-3-inch layer of mulch over the soil surface, keeping the mulch away from the tree trunk.
Continue watering
throughout the growing season, the following year, and as needed once established. Check the soil moisture and thoroughly water the root ball and surrounding soil when the top few inches of soil are crumbly and slightly moist. As a rule, apply 10 gallons of water for every inch of the trunk’s diameter at 4.5 feet high.
If you don’t have room for your own tree, contact a nearby municipality, park or nature center. Many organizations are looking for volunteers to help plant and care for trees, which will benefit more people in your community.
Melinda Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her website, www.MelindaMyers. com, has gardening videos, audio tips, webinars and other gardening information.
Gardening questions? Call the UVM helpline
Gardening enthusiasts and homeowners can now receive gardening and backyard composting information and guidance with the spring re-opening of the UVM Extension Master Gardener Helpline.
Operated by trained and knowledgeable Extension Master Gardener volunteers, the helpline provides free, reliable, research-based answers to questions about home gardening, lawn care, composting, integrated pest management and more.
“We’re thrilled to offer this valuable service to Vermonters,” says Deb Heleba, program coordinator. “Our trained volunteers are passionate about home and community horticulture and eager to help gardeners at all experience levels.”
Interested Vermonters can submit questions with photos of plants, insects and diseases, or upload soil test reports, to the online portal at
https://go.uvm.edu/gardenhelpline.
Helpline volunteers also are available to answer calls at (802) 656-5421 on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon through Oct. 30.
Questions about plant identification, insect and disease man-
“Our trained volunteers are passionate about home and community horticulture and eager to help gardeners at all experience levels.”
Deb Heleba UVM gardening helpline coordinator
agement, soil health and other sustainable gardening practices are all welcome.
Commercial growers of
vegetables, berries, tree fruit and related crops who need assistance with identifying an insect pest or plant disease should contact the UVM Plant Diagnostic Clinic (www.uvm.edu/extension/pdc). For other crop-related questions, contact the UVM Extension Commercial Horticulture Team (https://go.uvm. edu/hort).
The helpline is part of UVM Extension’s Community Horticulture Program, which is committed to supporting local communities through science-based horticulture education and outreach. The program’s Extension Master Gardener Program trains volunteers in horticultural best practices, empowering them to share knowledge and promote environmentally responsible gardening throughout the state.
For more information, visit the program website at www.uvm. edu/extension/mastergardener.
Statehouse talks center on landowner concerns with stormwater regs
BY SAM HARTNETT Community News Service
Paige Kaleita found a surprise in her mail last August: a letter from the Department of Environmental Conservation saying her Richmond neighborhood was out of compliance with stormwater regulations.
“We all scrambled, started talking and had a big meeting,” she said.
Kaleita and some of her neighbors in the Southview development live on land regulated by what’s called the 3-acre rule. Put into effect after the passage of the state’s 2016 Clean Water Act, the rule requires any site with at least 3 acres of impervious surface to obtain a stormwater permit.
The letters sent to the Richmond residents stated that failure to comply may result in a title encumbrance being placed on the property, impacting the homeowners’ ability to sell.
Only some residents of the development live on land that’s out of compliance. Neighbors just up the hill from Kaleita’s home, or even a few doors down, didn’t receive such letters from the department.
“We’re expecting it to be around $20,000 per household,” said Kaleita. She’s frustrated that only the few homeowners who live
on 3-acre sites need to foot the bill for upgrades when “we all contribute” to stormwater pollution.
At a Richmond Selectboard meeting last September, Terry Purcell of the Department
Purcell said.
Around 100 of the 700 3-acre sites in Vermont are subdivisions, Purcell told Community News Service. The state doesn’t know exactly how many people live
of Environmental Conservation said the state is obligated to make sure regulatory requirements are met.
“Unless the town does agree to take over the permit, there is this responsibility of the homeowners to play a certain role here,”
on those parcels.
Legislators in the House Committee on Environment and Energy put together a bill this year aimed at addressing concerns like those in Richmond. It recently passed the House and moved into the Senate.
The bill, H.481, includes multiple provisions to quell people’s issues with the current stormwater permitting system, such as allowing more time to comply with the 3-acre rule. In addition, it would set up a study to explore creating regional utility districts to take over responsibility for stormwater compliance.
Discussion on the bill earlier this session drew ire from legislators concerned for their constituents impacted by the 3-acre rule.
“We lost something when we came to
this 3-acre thing, because we are harming people in this state to achieve that,” said Rep. Chris Pritchard, R-Pawlet in the House committee. “It’s broken, and it’s broken badly.”
The rule is the product of a long history of regulations attempting to reduce the amount of phosphorus in Lake Champlain. The federal government placed total daily load limits for phosphorus entering the lake in 2016, and the state’s Clean Water Act of the same year tasked the Department of Environmental Conservation with addressing stormwater pollution.
Some members of the House committee feel the rule was not fully thought out and is an inefficient method of addressing stormwater pollution.
Rep. Rob North, R-Ferrisburgh, hopes H.481 will address both the concerns of inequity and inefficiency with the 3-acre rule.
“There are 10 times more efficient ways financially … Some utility districts could have a huge impact on decreasing phosphorus,” said North in a phone call.
He believes the cost of complying with the rule is too high for the amount of phosphorus pollution it can prevent.
As senators discussed the bill, conversation continued on improving the 3-acre rule’s efficiency.
Catherine Dimitruk of the Northwest Regional Planning Commission suggested legislators consider prioritizing 3-acre sites that are “hydrologically connected” — or directly near a waterway.
“Should we be prioritizing those that are actually (closer) to direct drainage that is going to actually impact phosphorus, rather than simply prioritizing all of them equally?” Dimitruk asked.
Community News Service is a University of Vermont journalism internship.
The so-called ‘3-acre rule’ was enacted to reduce phosphorous runoff into Lake Champlain. OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR
State tells feds Vermont schools will continue DEI
BY ETHAN WEINSTEIN VTDigger
State Education Secretary Zoie Saunders told the Trump administration Monday that Vermont’s schools will continue diversity, equity and inclusion programs and reaffirmed the state’s compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws.
“In Vermont, diversity, equity and inclusion practices are supportive of all students, and aim to create and sustain positive, welcoming learning environments,” Saunders wrote in the Monday letter to the U.S. Department of Education.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump’s administration wrote to states requesting they certify their compliance with Title VI, a federal civil rights law outlawing racial discrimination. But the feds’ request also referenced “illegal DEI” and seemed 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.
Initially, Saunders requested each superintendent submit compliance certifications. The Vermont Agency of Education argued the federal directive only required districts to affirm their compliance with existing law, something they’re already required to do.
But that decision angered the associations representing school leaders, who told Saunders and Attorney General Charity Clark that Vermont’s approach to
the federal directive was “not workable.”
Initially, Saunders and Clark doubled down on the request to districts. But later the same day, the state walked back its position, instead informing superintendents that the Agency of Education would submit a single certification to the federal government.
Monday’s letter from Saunders was Vermont’s single certification, and in it, she told the U.S. Department of Education that the state and districts were in compliance with federal law.
But Saunders also used the missive to signal opposition to the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict or ban diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
“Vermont is proud of its efforts to foster positive, welcoming learning environments for all its students,” Saunders wrote. “And because of — not despite — those efforts, Vermont can confidently certify — as it has in the past — that it complies with current Title VI statutory, regulatory, and decisional law.”
The letter also offered a legal perspective on the federal request, noting that no law “prohibits diversity, equity, or inclusion” and that the certification did not force compliance with “Executive Orders, memoranda, or guidance materials or the undefined language regarding ‘certain DEI practices’ or ‘illegal DEI’ in the Request for Certification.”
Other states have resisted the Trump administration’s diversity, equity and inclusion-related demands. According to Education Week, 11 states have said they will not sign certifications.
Vermont Education Secretary Zoie Saunders.
PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER
An Eye on the Sky
On April 24, 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was launched into orbit. It has transformed what we know about outer space, from our own solar system to the edges of the universe.
It has shown us some of the first galaxies ever formed and helped us learn the age of the universe.
Hubble is able to take awesome images because it orbits above the Earth’s atmosphere. The atmosphere can blur images taken from Earth and block the light from space.
Hubble’s origins
In 1925, astronomer Edwin Hubble observed that most galaxies appear to be moving away from all the other galaxies. This is because the universe is stretching out, or expanding
Astronomers discovered, with Hubble and other telescopes, that this expansion is actually speeding up. The entire universe is expanding faster now than in the past.
No one knows what is pushing the universe out like this. Scientists call the mysterious force dark energy.
Knowing how fast the universe is expanding helps astronomers figure out its
Next Week: Our states: Texas
Mini Fact:
In 2017, Hubble captured SBW1, a nebula* with a giant star that is predicted to explode.
age. Information from Hubble and other telescopes offers strong evidence that the universe formed about 13.8 billion years ago.
Hubble was developed by the U.S. space program and the European Space Agency. It orbits our planet 320 miles above the surface and travels at about 17,000 mph. Over the years, 32 astronauts have flown to Hubble to service the telescope.
Hubble’s accomplishments
Since its launch in 1990, Hubble has made more than 1.6 million observations about more than 100 million astronomical objects. It sends about 150 gigabits of scientific data to Earth every week.
The telescope is able to do this because it gathers wavelengths of light from the ultraviolet through the near-infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum. With 35 years of images, scientists can study objects in space that are changing over time.
For example, Hubble has proven that supermassive black holes are at the cores of most galaxies. It was the first to gather images of the surface of a star other than our sun.
Our solar system
When Hubble launched, there were not yet any confirmed planets outside our solar system. Since then, scientists have found more than 5,000 exoplanets, or planets outside our solar system.
Hubble has also captured images of comet fragments and asteroids slamming into Jupiter and leaving huge scars on the planet.
Our galaxy
Hubble has made many discoveries in our own Milky Way galaxy. For example, it has detected flattened disks of stardust orbiting newborn stars. It found evidence that planets form in these dusty disks.
Having confirmed the existence of many exoplanets, it is analyzing their atmospheres and has detected water vapor and other substances within some of them. These findings help scientists explore the possibilities of life on other planets.
Our universe
Some of Hubble’s images show the oldest galaxies soon after they were born, when they were still taking shape. They look like links in a chain or like toothpicks. The closer galaxies have had more time to form the familiar spiral shapes. Words that remind us of the Hubble telescope are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward, and some
Founded by Betty Debnam
NGC1448, a “Frisbee” galaxy about 50 million
The Hubble telescope was named for astronomer Edwin Hubble.
Try ’n’ Find
Words that remind us of the Hubble telescope are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
1. In a large bowl, combine ice cream and 1 cup of peanut brittle. Mix well. Refreeze until firm.
2. Warm fudge sauce in microwave according to directions. Spoon ice cream mixture into bowls and top with warm sauce, whipped topping and remaining peanut brittle. Serves 4.
7 Little Words for Kids
Use the letters in the boxes to make a word with the same meaning as the clue. The numbers in parentheses represent the number of letters in the solution. Each letter combination can be used only once, but all letter combinations will be necessary to complete the puzzle.
Pesticide use is causing widespread harm to wildlife: stunting growth, reducing reproductive success and altering animal behavior, according to a new largescale study. Researchers analyzed 1,700 studies covering 471 pesticide types and found detrimental effects on more than 800 species, threatening ecosystems worldwide. While pesticides are considered essential for global food production, scientists say alternative farming practices, such as adjusting planting times and promoting natural pest control, could reduce reliance on the chemicals.
For later:
Look in your newspaper for items about new developments in space.
Teachers: Follow and interact with The Mini Page on Facebook!
by Dan Thompson
SAVVY SENIOR
Where solo agers can find help
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
I’m a divorced 68-year-old childless cat lady and have been thinking a lot lately about who will look after me when I get older and my health falters. What resources are available to solo seniors like me, and where can I turn to find a reliable person to be my emergency contact, as well as look out for my health, financial matters and living arrangements in my elder years?
Solo Ager
Dear Solo,
This is a very common concern for the 22 million solo agers across the United States who don’t have adult children or other family they can depend on to watch out for their well-being. Here are some tips and resources that can help you plan ahead.
CHOOSING HELPERS AND DECISION-MAKERS
While older adults who have children or are married usually name offspring or spouses as proxies/decision-makers, solo agers most often choose a sibling, niece or nephew, or rely on a trusted friend or neighbor. Whomever you choose, talk to them first to make sure they’re up for the task.
If, however, you don’t have anyone you feel comfortable with, or who is willing to take on that responsibility, you can hire someone.
One of the best resources for this is an aging life care manager. These are trained professionals in the area of geriatric care who often have backgrounds in nursing or social work and can serve as your emergency contact, oversee your care and even act as your executor. They can also connect you with professional legal and financial services in your area that can help you manage your affairs.
Aging life care managers typically charge anywhere from $100 to $300 an hour, depending on their location and experience. To search for an expert near you, visit aginglifecare.org.
If you haven’t already done so, you need to prepare a basic estate plan (including a power of attorney, advance directive and a will) to ensure your wishes are carried out if you become incapacitated, and when you die.
To help you prepare these documents, your best option is to hire an experienced estate planning attorney, which can cost anywhere between $500 and $2,000. He or she may also be able to act as your power of attorney or executor, or help you locate a professional in your area who can.
To locate someone, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (naela. org) and National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (naepc.org) have online directories to help you search.
If you need help with bill-paying, there are services like SilverBills (silverbills. com), or you can work with a daily money manager (aadmm.com) who, in addition to paying bills, can handle tasks like balancing your checkbook and organizing tax information. And to help you navigate care and senior housing options, there are certified senior advisors (csa.us).
It’s also a good idea to meet with a financial adviser to help figure out what services and living arrangements you can afford and what steps you can take to ensure that your financial resources last your lifetime. If you don’t have an adviser, you can find a fee-only, fiduciary financial planner through the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors at napfa.org. Some other helpful resources you can turn to include Aging Alone Together (dorotusa.org/agingalonetogether), a program offered by DOROT, which is a nonprofit social services organization that provides practical ways to help solo agers prepare for the future. They are offering a free, six-session virtual workshop (offered weekly) via Zoom starting April 2.
Also see Navigating Solo (navigatingsolo.com), a national clearinghouse of resources for solo agers and information about solo ager groups in the U.S.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
TODAY’S HISTORY:
• In 1861, Virginia became the eighth state to secede from the Union.
• In 1941, Yugoslavia surrendered to Nazi Germany.
• In 1961, a group of CIA-trained Cuban exiles launched an unsuccessful invasion of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs.
• In 1964, the Ford Mustang debuted at the World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows, New York.
• In 1970, the crippled Apollo 13 spacecraft landed in the Pacific Ocean.
• In 2014, NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope announced the first discovery of an Earth-size planet in the habitable zone of another star, about 490 light-years from Earth.
TODAY’S FACT:
• In February 2017, NASA announced the discovery of seven Earth-size planets -- three in the habitable zone -- orbiting a single star 40 lightyears away in the constellation Aquarius.
SOLUTION FOUND ON PAGE 24
Jeremiah Joseph Hayes, Jr.
Jeremiah Joseph Hayes, Jr., died on April 7, 2025 after a brief illness. He was 96. He was born in Lunenburg, VT, to Jeremiah and Marion (Carney) Hayes, and grew
up in St. Johnsbury. He lived in Burlington and Williston for most of his adult life.
Rabies
After graduating from the St. Johnsbury Academy (’46), he served as a Private First Class, 90th Field Artillery Battalion of the 25th Infantry Division, U.S. Army, in Osaka, Japan.
After graduating from the University of Vermont (‘52) and the Chicago College of Chiropody and Pedic Surgery (’57), Jerry established a podiatry practice in Burlington. He married Nancy Gurney in 1960. They had three children and bought a house on North Willard Street, where Jerry set up his office.
OBITUARIES
after he closed his office, Jerry continued making nursing home and house calls well into his eighties.
If left untreated, rabies is
ways 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.
continued
raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also get rabies. The virus is spread through the bite of an infected animal or contact with its
His practice extended beyond his office to nursing home visits, house calls, and monthly office hours in Newport, St. Johnsbury, St. Albans, Middlebury, Montpelier, and Rutland. Even
Jerry had an interest in other people. He particularly enjoyed the conversations he had with his recurring patients as he tended to their feet. Anyone who spent much time with him knew of his great interest in World War II.
Jerry enjoyed music, singing at many funerals as a youth and in a church choir as an adult — until choir practice conflicted with chess club.
He learned to play chess as a child. However, it became a passion after he joined the Burlington Chess Club. He not only played regularly but served as the BCC’s publicity officer. In the last decade of his life, he played with the South Burlington Chess Club. He was proud of being the oldest
ranked chess player in the U.S. Although chess was Jerry’s favorite game, he was always happy to play Sequence or cribbage. He was a fan of old movies and a voracious reader, surrounded by stacks of books. He liked to bird-watch from the comfort of his screened-in porch. For many years, he enjoyed spending a week each summer with family at Eagle Camp in the Champlain Islands. Despite his initial resistance to the idea of a dog, no one was more devoted to the family dogs than he was.
Jennifer Mignano (Andrew); his nephews, Jonathan Day (Mary Jo Llewellyn) and Thomas Day (Lisbeth); and his cousins, Susan (Carney) Haas (Brian) and Patrick Carney (Anna).
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.
Jerry was predeceased by his parents, his wife, his brother Cornelius “Neil” Hayes, and five beloved dogs. He is survived by his children, Laurel Hayes, Michael Hayes, and Kathleen Hayes; his grandson, Gavin Barrett-Hayes; his sisterin-law, Suzanne Day; his niece,
There will be a private commemoration in the summer. Please visit awrfh.com to share your memories and condolences.
the brain that infects mammals. It is most often seen in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also get rabies. The virus is spread through the bite of an infected animal or contact with its
Shelburne display lead dors from creemees. from
Recreation & Parks WILLISTON
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.
FAMILY PROGRAMS
ROOT7 VOCAL PERCUSSION & 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, April 17, 7-9 p.m. BOATERS SAFETY
Ages 12-plus. This course is required for any motorboat operator born after Jan. 1, 1974. The eighthour course is offered over four days. Instructor: Jon Fick. Monday and Wednesday, May 5-14, 6-8:30 p.m.
STACKING RINGS
Ages 14-plus. This two-hour workshop from Vermont Jewelry School guides you through the creation of rings of silver, brass and copper. Participants solder, size and individualize their trio of rings before wearing them home. Instructor: Silvio Mazzarese. Thursday, May 8, 5-7 p.m.
ADULT PROGRAMS
DRIVER TRAINING
Ages 18-plus. This program focuses on driving skills, road rules, hazardous conditions, defensive driving and preparation for the Vermont DMV road test. You must possess a Vermont Learner’s Permit or Driver’s License to participate. There are six hours of virtual classroom and six hours of behindthe-wheel instruction. Instructor: Brandon Gordon, Epic Driving, LLC. Thursdays, April 24-May 8, 6-8 p.m.
AI WORKSHOP
Ages 18-plus. Meet two GenAIpowered tools — ChatGPT and Copilot. Learn how to construct effective prompts, check out a few useful applications, and have some hands-on practice. Instructor: Deb Helfrich. Sunday, May 4,
2:30-4:30 p.m.
PICKLEBALL
Ages 18-plus. Pickleball Intro and Pickleball 101 are for beginner and intermediate players. Instructor: Corey Gottfried. Pickleball Intro, Saturday, May 3, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Pickleball 101, Tuesday-Wednesday, May 6-8, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
FITNESS PROGRAMS AT THE R.E.C. ZONE
ACCESSIBLE YOGA
Ages 18-plus. Mondays, 1-2 p.m., $5 per. Instructor: Robin Zabiegalski.
Ages 18-plus. Fridays, 1-2 p.m., $10 per class. Instructor: Robin
Zabiegalski.
JAZZERCISE CARDIO SCULPT PROGRAMS
Ages 16-plus. 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. Sundays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. Instructors: Kit Sayers.
YOUTH/TEEN PROGRAMS
SAFE@HOME
Grades 4-6. This after-school program teaches children about being alone for a short time when parents are away. In this one-day program, children will learn how to stay safe, prevent unsafe situations and a whole lot more. Instructor: Rec Staff. Tuesday, April 29, 2:50-4:25 p.m.
NINJA SCIENCE
Ages 5-13. This camp combines all the martial arts, tumbling and parkour kids love with environmental science education. We’ll be doing lots of technique-oriented Karate along with talking about ants, space and animal tracking. We’ll also delve into ONTA’s very own (kid-friendly) kung-fu movie library. Instructors: ONTA Studio Staff. Monday-Friday, April 21-25, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
AFTER SCHOOL YOGA
Grades 6-8. This fun after school yoga program will build both physical and emotional strength.
Through poses, breathing exercises and relaxation, teens will develop strong bodies and kind hearts, learning to be more confident, focused and balanced. Instructor: Kim Jennings. Thursdays, May 1-June 6, 2:50-4:15 p.m.
RECKIDS LACROSSE
Ages 5-6. Coed, Child/Parent. This program teaches the fundamentals of the game using a fun 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. Saturdays, May 3-June 14, 8-9 a.m.
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, consisting of skill-learning and scrimmages. Volunteer coaches are needed. Early bird registration deadline is April 20. Saturdays, May 3-June 14, 9-10 a.m.
HORSEBACK RIDING
Ages 8-14. The Livery Horse Farm in Hinesburg is offering an Intro to Horseback Riding for beginners through advanced riders. The focus is on English riding. Children learn about horses, to ride, groom, and work in the barn. Instructor: Kim Johansen, owner. Fridays, May 9-30, 3-5 p.m. or Saturdays, May 10-31, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Class teaches Holocaust lessons
BY SUSAN DAVIS
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article appeared in the Feb. 9, 1995 issue of the Williston Whistle — now known as the Williston Observer — as part of the “What’s New at CVU” section of the paper.
Friday, Jan. 27, marked the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz. The horrors that the camp held — pieces of the history of man’s inhumanity to man — are forever to be remembered by those who were there. But what about the rest of us? What about this new generation that is living through another time in history when atrocities are glossed over by the fancy words ethnic cleansing?
Champlain Valley Union High School initiated a new course last semester called “The Holocaust and Human Behavior.” It was taught by two relatively new but enthusiastic faculty members, Sam Intrator and Robert Bernheim. From the day that the class was announced, the number of students who wanted to take it was so overwhelming that it was eventually limited to seniors only. The class consisted primarily of
reading (lots of it) and writing (lots of that, too). Toward the close of the semester, the class of 50 students, two teachers, and several chaperones, headed out on a “field trip” that would take them to Boston, Washington, D.C., and New York. The students would meet authors who wrote about the Holocaust, survivors, families of survivors, and visit the Holocaust Museum. On their return home, they would stop and visit a high school in New York City.
The students would keep journals where they were asked to reflect upon what they had seen, who they had met, and what it all meant to them. Their final project for the course was a representation of the sum total of the class. They presented their projects to one another, their parents, friends and future students of the class at a symposium and dinner held at the Old Lantern in Charlotte.
Intrator and Bernheim opened the evening’s presentations saying, “We have seen wonders, horrors, beauty, and grime. We have immersed ourselves in the literature of the unthinkable. And at the core of our experience, we have learned about ourselves through our examination of the single most horrific event recorded by history: The Holocaust.”
Students then began their presentations, which were comprised of original student readings, museum-type exhibits of Holocaust Memorials, exhibitions of art work, and student-composed performances.
A quilt, with the center square entitled “The Quilt of Ideas,” hung displayed. It has child-like drawings of a face with tears, a swastika, the outline of a hand, and a square that says, “Why Not Ask Why?”
A young woman wrote a book about a little girl’s encounter with racism as she entered kindergarten. The story was based upon her own little sister’s experiences right here in Vermont.
Yet another student held up a “green sheet”— permission to drop the class. “I had a hard time keeping up with the reading; I was always behind.” She didn’t drop the class. “I did it,” she said as the audience gave her a rousing ovation.
By the end of the evening, it was clear that the students of this class had achieved its mission: to promote teaching and learning about the moral, political, and social implications of the Holocaust and human behavior while providing a framework to further a student’s ability to be a participant and vigilant defender of the ideals of a democratic society.
