Williston Observer 9/1/2022

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Selectboard revises Taft Corners plan

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

Workers from PC Construction smooth the concrete at the hydro dam between Williston and Essex Junction.

OBSERVER PHOTO BY AL FREY

Hydro dam gets summer makeover

The hydro-power dam on the Winooski River that separates Williston and Essex Junction is receiving what Green Mountain Power calls routine late-summer maintenance, with workers from PC Construction suspended on a temporary bridge on the near-vertical embankment of the dam, smoothing the concrete surface over which water flows to create renewable power.

The dam is responsible for 40,000 megawatt hours a year, Green Mountain Power Spokesperson Kristin Carlson said, enough to power 6,000 homes.

“We make quite a bit of pow-

er in the fall, winter and spring. In the summer, the power production is diminished so we focus on maintenance,” Jason Lisai of Green Mountain Power operations said.

Green Mountain Power runs 41 hydropower dams in Vermont. The Essex Hydro Station, as it’s known by the company, has been producing power for more than 100 years.

Compared to other renewable sources — wind and solar — hydro-power is the most productive resource for the company.

“These hydro stations have been a part of how we provide power to our customers since the start of the company,” Carlson said. “They are

a very cost-effective renewable resource that we can count on as part of our diverse energy supply.”

Including Hydro-Quebec, where GMP gets the majority of its hydro-power, the company’s portfolio includes about 1.5 million megawatt hours of hydro-power.

That is roughly triple what it sources from other renewables — solar and wind — combined. Starting next year, GMP will add another 600 megawatt hours of hydro-power annually with a new power purchase agreement with Great River Hydro on the Connecticut River, Carlson said.

— Jason Starr

Traditional car-centric retail centers, where a large parking lot in front is an indispensable element, will continue to have a place in Taft Corners, even as Williston leaders work to create a more walkable downtown in the 1,000acre area south of Interstate 89.

That was the decision of the Williston Selectboard last week as it made a few key changes to a planning commission-recommended draft of new zoning regulations. The changes were prompted by feedback from Taft Corners landowners and residents who reviewed the draft.

The planning commission spent the better part of the past two years working with a consultant and soliciting resident input to create the new “form-based code” — a style of zoning that prescribes the look and aesthetics of structures, as well as their relationship to streets, parks and sidewalks, rather than regulating building use. The goal of the new regulations is to help Taft Corners evolve into the pedestrian-friendly downtown center envisioned in Williston’s Comprehensive Town Plan.

THE FATE OF SINGLESTORY RETAIL

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developed what is commonly called the “big box store” area of Taft Corners — home to WalMart, Home Depot and REI Coop, among other national chains — asked the selectboard to overrule the planning commission’s recommendation to restrict that type of development from the area. The new regulations would preclude traditional retail by disallowing single-story, single-tenant buildings and moving parking lots to the side or behind buildings. Taft Corners Associates co-owners Jeff Nick and Jeff Davis asked the board to keep some of their land under existing zoning rules by moving the boundary of the new form-based district north to Marshall Avenue.

“There are retailers that would like to be in buildings in Williston that, having the parking behind the building, or having a front and rear entrance just doesn’t match what they do,” Planning Director Matt Boulanger said during last week’s selectboard meeting.

“They may really like the advertising that comes from having the parking in front of the building.

The customer driving by sees that it would be easy to park there. It is seen as an amenity.

“That’s the tension with the town’s desire to gain that walkable downtown feel,” he continued.

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September 1, 2022

A biweekly trip down memory lane with members of the Williston Historical Society

The murderers’ daughter: Kate Potter (1856-1879), child of Adelia and Charley

BY ELIZABETH A. ALLEN Special to the Observer If you’ve been following my coverage

of Williston’s criminal duo, Adelia and Charley Potter, you might have forgotten that they had children. A baby girl (commemorated on Adelia’s headstone in El-

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dredge Cemetery, South Burlington) and a dashed when Sally was murdered on the son Charles Jr. (1851-1859) did not survive night of Aug. 27, 1865. Shock, fear, worchildhood. Only Willis (1864-1935) lived ry and grief overtook the 9-year-old. Her close to a normal lifespan. Daughter Kath- grandmother’s funeral, held in the Griswold erine “Kate” (1856-1879), who barely made mansion literally drove home for Kate that it out of her teens, is the focus of this article. her grandmother’s death would change evKate was born on Jan. 14, 1856, in Wil- erything for the worse. liston. The Potter family was already unThen Kate’s own dad was arrested, stable. Her parents fled mounting debts by along with John Ward, and charged with moving to Dunham, Quebec, near the end killing her grandmother. Kate had taken on of 1857. Kate spent her childhood in a state from her parents a belief that they were perthat we would today call “housing inse- secuted by an unfair world. But her grandcure.” mother’s death and Charley’s arrest forced Charles Jr. and Kate were probably Kate to consider that maybe her parents not closely supervised. Adelia’s petition were the bad guys. for divorce discussed her monetary assets Compelled to testify at the murder trial at more length than custody of her kids, in April, 1866, Kate, who was only 10, must suggesting that Charles Jr. and Kate were have felt intense pressure. Her dad’s freenot her primary focus. Charley, accused dom and life were at stake. She didn’t want

by Adelia of adultery and “unfitness” for to lose another family member. fatherhood, was absent for significant porKate presented testimony that helped tions of Charles Jr. and Kate’s childhood. her dad out. First, Kate said that she did Adelia and Charley were mediocre parents not recognize John Ward, weakening the at best, more preoccupied with themselves prosecution’s argument that John’s frequent than with their dependents. presence around the Griswold house before When Kate was 3, her older brother the murder pointed to him as the killer. SecCharles Jr. died, ond, she denied that on May 26, 1859, her dad once offered at the age of 8. She $500 to have her Compelled to testify at the probably struggled grandma killed. Her murder trial in April, 1866, to understand his testimony weakened death, while also the prosecution’s Kate, who was only 10, feeling sad and contention that must have felt intense presmaybe wondering if Charley’s dislike of she was going to die Sally motivated him sure. Her dad’s freedom soon as well. to murder Sally. and life were at stake. She Kate, whose As the lawyer brother Willis was for the prosecution didn’t want to lose another born in 1864 when said, Kate’s “story family member. she was 7, saw contained inherent the effects of her evidence that it was parents’ dangerthe device of someous lives the same year. The family was one shrewder than she” (Burlington Times, in Cook’s Corner, Quebec, for a moment. April 14, 1866). In other words, someone, A brawl started one night at the hotel that probably Adelia, coached Kate to present Adelia and Charley ran. Kate’s parents were testimony favorable to her dad. both injured, and one man was murdered.

Kate likely felt relieved when her dad Kate’s parents gave statements in the mur- was acquitted of murder, but that relief dered man’s inquest, but they were never didn’t endure. Everyone in town disliked charged, according to the Montreal Gazette and condemned Adelia and Charley. Some (Sept. 17, 1864). of this opprobrium may have extended to Kate must have witnessed her mom and the Potter kids as well. dad’s injuries and possibly asked questions; In June, 1868, Kate’s parents gave Wilshe may also have heard the violent alter- listonians more reason to dislike them when cations or her parents discussing the after- they robbed the general store of respected math. Scared and worried for her parents, businessman Smith Wright. Adelia and she certainly never wanted anything like Charley were both arrested and jailed. With that to happen again. her parents out of the picture, Kate presumThe next year, 1865, gave Kate, now 9, ably lived with Ephraim, who still resided some cause for joy and relief. She and the in the same house where his wife had been rest of the Potters moved in with her mater- found dead. nal grandparents Ephraim and Sally GrisKate, now 12, was again made to testiwold. Her parents were going to help her fy in her dad’s trial. Here Kate’s worries grandparents run their Williston farm. and sense of responsibility for her parents’ Kate found her grandparents’ house en- fate must have returned. With her mom also joyable. Her grandmother doted on her. Ac- jailed, Kate lacked someone to coach and cording to Ephraim, “Mrs. Griswold always support her. Even though she still had her thought the world of Delia and the children granddad, she must have felt alone and aban(Charles Jr. and Kate)” (Burlington Daily doned.

Times, April 11, 1866). Furthermore, the Awful things continued to happen. In Griswold house was peaceful compared to 1869, when Kate was 13, John Ward’s conthe Cook’s Corner hotel. fession appeared in the local paper. He Unfortunately, Kate’s hopes were see PAST TIMES page 3

September 1, 2022 •

Past Times

haps Charles Jr.’s), Kate was probably overwhelmed with emotions, ranging from shock to sadness and perhaps anger and relief.

When she was 21, Kate made a fresh start. On April 7, 1877, she married John Johnston in his hometown of Northfield.

ment as a firefighter when they married. continued from page 2 Information is sparse about Kate’s husband and his family, but claimed that Kate’s father had we do know that they differed from orchestrated her grandmother’s the volatile Potters in one important murder and that her mother had way. John’s parents were born in known about the plans.

Washington County, Vermont, and The confession must lived in Northfield until their deaths. have brought back The Johnstons Kate’s grief over her were much less mograndmother’s murder, bile than the Potters, fear for her parents, and they also had and a renewed belief no criminal backthat there was no place ground. John must in the world safe from have represented an violence and misery. appealing stability to Kate’s parents Kate. were found guilty Now Kate Johnand sentenced to ston, Kate probably the state prison hoped that her new in Windsor. Kate name inaugurated a most likely connew, happier life. Kate’s tinued to live in dad’s pardon and release Williston with from prison shortly after Part of Ka te Ephraim.

She reprinted Potter’s testimo her marriage might have ny in used to re the Burlington Fre at her father Charl probably had few added to her confidence. ey’s trial, e Press, A fute the p pri ro murdere chances to see Kate gave birth to d her gra secution’s argum l 12, 1866. It was ndmothe e her parents, and r because nt that Charley Katherine Jr. in April, he hated her. then, in 1872, Adelia 1879. Perhaps Kate Sr. died suddenly in prison at the age Born to considered her daughter’s of 45. Kate was 16. Remembering a birth, which occurred in the railroad-working family, her grandmother’s death (and per- John was 26 and holding employsee PAST TIMES page 24

Williston Observer

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September 1, 2022

State: Walgreens put Vermonters at risk during pandemic Company questions validity of regulations

BY PETER D’AURIA VTDigger Walgreens is defending itself against allegations that the company threatened Vermonters’ health and safety during the Covid-19 pandemic, writing in a legal filing last week that the pharmacy giant had “provided reasonable care to its patients while grappling with contingencies that impacted pharmacists nationwide.”

The dispute stems from charges filed in June by the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation that the company put customers at risk with staffing shortages, unplanned closures and dangerous and unprofessional conduct at its 32 Vermont locations.

Jericho resident Bob Devost said the Williston Wallgreens had been limited to filling prescriptions only on certain weekdays, and has transferred pickups to stores in Essex.

“This could easily confuse customers and be a concern if prescription refills are needed more sooner than later,” Devost wrote in an email to the Observer.

In a 40-page document of charges, state regulators alleged that Walgreens locations closed unexpectedly on more than 325 days, “leaving thousands of patients without access to prescription medications.”

In addition to unexpected store closures, the allegations include

The Vermont Office of Professional Regulation has filed charges against Walgreens alleging that the company put customers at risk with staffing shortages, unplanned closures and dangerous and unprofessional conduct.

OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR

stores losing track of controlled substances as well as medication and vaccination errors. In October 2021, according to the charging document, a patient at the Pearl Street Walgreens in Essex Junction was given a Pfizer Covid booster instead of the flu shot they requested.

Some locations also gave customers the wrong medication or administered it incorrectly, state regulators alleged. State officials also alleged that the company did not respond appropriately to complaints about staffing shortages

and unsafe conditions at stores.

The office asked the Vermont Board of Pharmacy to “revoke, suspend, reprimand, condition or otherwise discipline the licenses” of Walgreens.

But Walgreens argued in an Aug. 18 filing that the chain was being held to an unfair standard and asked a judge to dismiss the claims.

The pharmacy had no intention to close the locations, attorneys for the company argued, but was forced to due to the pandemic, as well as other factors — such as a computer malfunction and fire

— that were outside its control.

Some customers who were unable to receive their medication at Walgreens simply went to another pharmacy, the company noted.

Regulators had also overcounted how many days the chain’s stores were shut, Walgreens argued, noting that internal data showed that some alleged closures had not taken place.

The company also alleged that state regulators were violating its right to due process, and argued that a Vermont statute stating that “discipline against any one drug

outlet in a chain may be imposed against all drug outlets in a chain” violated the Constitution’s equal protection clause.

“This statute is discriminatory against chain pharmacies, giving (the Office of Professional Regulation) latitude to disproportionately impose discipline against individual locations in a chain whose conduct does not meet the thresholds” for discipline, Walgreens attorneys argued.

Walgreens, “like the rest of the nation, could not fully anticipate the impact of the extremely contagious pandemic, and thus, while its operations were admittedly not perfect, they were not in violation of the Vermont statutes,” attorneys said in the filing. “Indeed, (the company) continued to resiliently operate during the pandemic to help, not harm, the community’s health.”

S. Lauren Hibbert, director of the Office of Professional Regulation, previously told VTDigger that the charges stem from 70 complaints filed by Walgreens employees and customers, as well as employees of other Vermont pharmacies.

Hibbert declined to comment on Walgreens’ response, saying officials were waiting for a ruling on the filings.

George Belcher, a retired Washington County probate judge, has been assigned as the presiding officer for the Pharmacy Board in the case.

— Jason Starr contributed reporting

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Williston Observer

Battery fire quelled at Beta Technologies

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Page 5

BY AUDITI GUHA VTDigger

The Vermont Air National Guard and the South Burlington fire departments responded to a battery storage container fire at Beta Technologies after midnight on Friday.

The exterior of the container that caught fire, left.

in isolated containers, limiting the quantity in each climate-controlled container and much more,” Goldman said.

Asked if there was any spill or emissions that could have adverse effects, he said, “Based on our understanding of the incident, the concentrations of HF (hydrogen fluoride) emitted would not pose a danger to the community.”

Officials have not yet determined the cause of the blaze.

Goldman said the response plans

and safety precautions Beta has in place “worked effectively” and the company is “working with local authorities to investigate the root cause of the incident.”

“The safety and health of the community is paramount and we have employees who live and work in South Burlington alongside other local residents. We are always concerned about safety and actively work to take every possible precaution to minimize impacts and mitigate risks,” he said.

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Beta Technologies and area fire departments are investigating the cause of a lithium battery fire that set a container ablaze early Friday at the plant in South Burlington.

No injuries were reported and the amount of gas possibly emitted is not deemed dangerous to the community, according to a Beta spokesperson.

One of several white shipping containers at the electric aircraft maker’s plant reportedly caught fire early Friday, according to the spokesperson, Jake Goldman. Local fire departments responded to douse it and Beta continued cleanup operations.

“We had a fire reported in a single shipping container situated across the parking lot from our headquarters in South Burlington,” Goldman said in an email Monday.

“The fire was quickly extinguished with no injuries and no damage to our facilities or aircraft and the situation was contained in under 30 minutes.”

Arriving units found “an active fire in one of the containers used to store the batteries,” according to South Burlington Fire Chief Steven Locke.

The Vermont Air National Guard, which has its own fire department and often assists surrounding communities, also responded.

According to the Guard’s report, fire officials responded to the Beta Technologies headquarters at 1150 Airport Drive at about 12:24 a.m. for an activated fire alarm. They “observed a heavy fire condition” and “determined a facility containing their batteries was fully engulfed.”

Firefighters from the South Burlington department provided additional support and the fire was doused within 30 minutes. Williston Fire provided station coverage for South Burlington during that time.

“Due to the nature of lithium battery fires, extensive cooling was performed to ensure hazards were mitigated and (to) stop thermal runaway,” the Guard stated in its report.

Responding fire units left by 3:30 a.m. and Beta employees took over to “set up an irrigation system to continually cool contents” and proceeded with cleanup procedures, according to the Guard.

No injuries, other damage or equipment failure were reported.

“We have set up our business to take the appropriate precautions not only for ourselves but the community. This includes storing batteries

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September 1, 2022

GUEST COLUMN

Farming at the intersection of economic and climate crises

BY GRACE OEDEL I belong to a local CSA that supplies my weekly milk from a small herd of 15 or so cows.

Across Charlotte’s gentle hills the small herd grazes, (one of the farming practices known for sequestering carbon out of the air and growing healthy soil, while creating wildlife corridors, pollinator habitat and filtering water).

Truly exemplary people tend this land. They regularly host pasture walks to share with other farmers how they have restored so much ecosystem health to their land and soil. They also offer incredible generosity and build community within their pricing model, offering milk at a sliding scale range so that all Vermonters have equal access to this nourishing product.

They exemplify the best of the best in small-scale farming.

Then, two weeks ago, an accident: tractor flipped, broken leg.

It was a harsh moment of reality.

The family had a brief debate, and quickly made the call that, after being in dairy for almost 20 years,

they would sell the cows. This accident wasn’t the main reason, but it was the last straw; dairy farming has become simply too taxing, too costly and, despite caring deeply and being the best managers and community members — dairy simply isn’t tenable.

Why is this? Why are Vermont’s postcard-perfect farmers one broken leg away from having to sell their cows? Factors surely vary farm to farm, but the big picture remains the same at present: economic crisis (inflation, fuel, feed all up enormously, while the price of milk is not) and climate crisis (ever drier and hotter years, making hay more costly and scarce, cows harder to keep cool and healthy, new infrastructure demands to beat the heat) — both layered onto a federal policy background that values giant corporate profit above all else.

And dairy isn’t unique. Farms of all types are having a rough season — wells running dry, transport costs up to get to market, consumers who themselves have less in their wallets to spend

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

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on food.

Corporate consolidation — that is, a few major companies gobbling up all they can of food production and distribution — is a pattern that repeats across the whole food system.

I’ve painted this picture to some non-farmer friends who have replied with some form of, ‘yeah, true. But it’s hard for all small businesses.’ Which is absolutely correct, and we should investigate why being small in any sector is impossible right now.

(You don’t have to dig too deep — corporate consolidation is ubiquitous.) But also, for two major reasons farming is different, and we all need to care.

First: farmers aren’t just business owners. Farmers — particularly organic farmers — are ecosystem stewards. Organic dairy farms keep land open (organic regulations require cows to be on pasture), sequestering carbon, protecting biodiversity and filtering water.

What happens if an un-conserved farm goes out of business?

Look no further than the mini storage units recently plunked down in what had previously been a farm field up in Fairfax. Then think about that pattern repeated across the state: the ripples of box stores slapped onto any field that a farmer can’t afford to keep in production. Consider what this does to Vermont’s identity as a pastoral, beautiful place people wish to come visit and live in, what it does

We must not quickly forget the lessons we learned at the start of the pandemic about how utterly brittle massive food supply chains are, how it doesn’t take much to disrupt that food showing up stocked on our shelf. What will we eat when the next disruption happens if there is no local farmer who has been able to keep producing? to the rural community that the farm helped to sustain.

Think also of the environmental difference of a store versus a farm field. What happens to the rain that falls on that impermeable concrete parking pad and the soil underneath it. Consider the pollinators that used to find food for their journey in the hedgerows and the wildlife that came to the pond to drink.

While on the surface this looks

like an outcome of an economic crisis, it morphs into yet another small piece of kindling tossed onto the climate fire that grows hotter by the year. Or in the hopeful alternative: Each small, organic farm that can remain viable protects a bucket of water for dousing climate chaos.

Second: farmers grow food, which, at the risk of stating the obvious, we all need to stay alive. Currently, you can go to a box store and buy food brought in from away. But we must not quickly forget the lessons we learned at the start of the pandemic about how utterly brittle massive food supply chains are, how it doesn’t take much to disrupt that food showing up stocked on our shelf. What will we eat when the next disruption happens if there is no local farmer who has been able to keep producing?

We cannot let short-term economic crises exacerbate longer-term climate chaos and food insecurity. Vermont’s small and organic farmers feed us, help Vermont thrive and feed our chances of a habitable planet. Every way we as individuals (if we are in the fortunate economic group who can) or we as a collective (through state policy and investment) can support organic, small farms in thriving is a step toward a livable future for us all.

Grace Oedel is executive director of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont.

Help take recycling to the next level

BY PAUL RUESS Special to the Observer We are a state full of committed citizens who care about the future of our planet and the preservation of our natural world. Every day, we make individual decisions that, when taken collectively, really make a difference, especially when it comes to recycling.

While recycling is second nature to many of us, there is a lot more that happens once your blue bin is picked up or taken to a dropoff center. All that material — upwards of 50,000 tons per year — is taken to the Materials Recovery Facility, or MRF (pronounced

“murf”) in Williston, where your blue bin materials are sorted and prepared for market. Vermonters make individual decisions to recycle, and the MRF captures these recycled items to create a collective system that diverts tons of materials from the landfill.

As I enter my second year as chair of the CSWD Board of Commissioners representing Underhill, I’ve been able to peek behind the curtain and learn a lot about how recycling works in Vermont, and how impactful it really is. I’ve also been well acquainted with the issues that our current MRF is facing.

This facility is nearly 30 years

old and suffers many of the inefficiencies that come with something that age. Believe it or not, much of the material is sorted by hand — hardly necessary in today’s world where much more efficient technology exists. Plus, the MRF is at maximum capacity, bursting at the seams with materials you so carefully divert from the landfill.

Bales that should be stored under cover are left outside in all kinds of weather, degrading their value while waiting to be sold to companies that turn the material into new products. And the lack of innovation at the current MRF limits the type of materials that see RUESS page 7

September 1, 2022 •

Williston Observer

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Page 7

To our readers: You may have noticed the Williston Observer looks a little different this week.

We’ve changed a few design elements and re-sized the paper to more closely match the dimensions of the BANG (Burlington Area Newspaper Group) papers. What hasn’t changed is our commitment to delivering local news our readers want and need to know. Thank you for your readership!

Squashing the competition

Produce judges at the Champlain Valley Fair made the weighty decision to award Williston gardener Terry Keim’s gigantic pumpkin, weighing in at 517 pounds, third place. Despite his pride in the porky pumpkin, in the past he has grown ones that weigh over 1,000 pounds.

OBSERVER PHOTO BY SUSAN COTE

Goodwater hosts fundraiser for Camp Ta-Kum-Ta Goodwater Brewery will hold its fourth annual fundraiser golf tournament to benefit Camp TaKum-Ta on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at Williston Golf Club.

Founded in 1984, Camp TaKum-Ta provides challenging, ex-

traordinary experiences in a safe and loving environment for children who have or have had cancer and their families. The South Hero camp serves children from Vermont and Northern New York, including out-of-state children

who are treated in Vermont, at no cost to their families.

Registration deadline is Sept.

9 or until filled. For more information contact Marty Bonneau at marty@goodwaterbreweryvt. com.

Ruess

for recycling. And it will also pave the way for better, highly skilled jobs for CSWD’s employees.

The current lack of space that leaves bales piling up outside will not only be solved with a 40 percent increase in capacity, the new MRF will allow for growth over the next 30 years. The state-of-

The new MRF will allow us to recycle more efficiently, conserving natural resources and helping reduce Vermonters’ carbon footprint.

The new MRF will be able to process up to 70,000 tons (140 million pounds) of recyclables every year.

That’s huge. It is equivalent to removing 52,500 passenger vehicles from the road. Recycling all these materials saves 634,000 trees from being cut down every year.

Every day we’re faced with choices that impact our state and our world. Vermont is community minded. We think carefully about how our actions affect the greater good. Now is the time to build a new MRF that can process more and more recyclable materials and keep them out of the rapidly-filling landfill in Coventry. You can make a real, tangible difference in our state and for our planet. This November, please vote Yes on the bond issue for the new MRF.

continued from page

6

CSWD can accept. Vermonters want to recycle, and they want to recycle as much as possible. They would be able to do more with a new facility.

This November, the voters of Chittenden County can solve the capacity issues and the lack of innovation at the MRF. CSWD is requesting a bond of no more than $22 million to build a new, innovative MRF that will have the technology and space to handle our recyclables for decades to come.

And while CSWD is a municipality and the MRF is publicly owned, the cost of the new MRF will be paid back through CSWD operational revenue — with no charge to taxpayers. Let me repeat: There will be no property tax increase to build the new MRF. A new and improved MRF will be more efficient and equipped with the kind of modern technology that not only separates recyclables more effectively but expands the list of materials we can accept

There will be no property tax increase to build the new MRF. the-art technology will not only do a better job with the materials and packaging that are recycled now, but it will also allow Vermonters to recycle more and allow the MRF to adapt and recycle new materials and types of packaging that don’t even exist yet. This is truly forward thinking and necessary if we are to keep up with what Vermonters expect when they put recyclables in their blue bins.

Efficiency, innovation and flexibility are all critical components in the fight against climate change.

Paul Ruess is the chair of the Chittenden Solid Waste District Board of Commissioners.

VOLUNTEER Williston Needs You!

The Town of Williston has a number of volunteer positions available.

Volunteers from all backgrounds, identities and experiences are encouraged to apply.

Ø Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission Alternate Member Ø Community Center Scoping/Library Assessment Steering Committee Member - New committee w/4 open positions Ø Conservation Commission Member Ø Development Review Board Member Ø Energy Committee Member

Learn more:

Ø Historic & Architectural Advisory Committee Member Visit town.williston.vt.us/ Ø Lake Iroquois Recreation District Representative Ø Old Brick Church Trustee Ø Town Health Officer

volunteers

Contact Erin Dickinson at edickinson@williston.vt.org or call her at 802-876-1176

Make a positive impact in your community. Apply today!

Page 8 •

Williston Observer

•

September 1, 2022

Celebrating faith, resilience and creativity throughout the country, Vermont’s amendment is consequential.

“We must say to the country that there should be no exception to slavery because

BY AUDITI GUHA it is immoral,” said Savannah Eldridge of VTDigger Texas, an organizer for the Abolish Slavery The resilience and contributions of the National Network.

Rhode Island was the only state to have descendants of enslaved people who first fully abolished slavery prior to the adopsailed to North America more than 400 tion of the 13th Amendment in 1865. In the years ago were celebrated with music, polast four years, three states have abolished etry, prayer and community at Burlington’s slavery from their state constitutions: Utah, Intervale Center on Saturday.

Colorado and Nebraska.

Initiated by the Vermont Racial Justice This year, Vermont is a part of “the Alliance, the fourth annual Vermont First Freedom Five,” along with Alabama, LouiAfrican Landing Day drew a couple hunsiana, Oregon and Tennessee. All have addred people to a grassy field flanked by a vanced ballot initiatives to abolish slavery traveling exhibit, music, speeches and cafrom their state constitutions, promoting tered barbecue. It also featured discussion them with the hashtag #endtheexception, of and information about Proposal 2 — a constitutional amendment that would re- according to Max Parthas of South Caromove references to slavery from the Ver- lina, co-director of state operations for the Abolish Slavery National Network. mont Constitution.

The network’s goal is to remove the exThe Legislature has twice passed the ception clause and repeal and replace the measure. It would take effect if voters approve it this November during Vermont’s 13th Amendment, which outlawed slavery and involuntary servitude “except as a pungeneral election. ishment for crime where “The most important of the party shall have thing that you have to been duly convicted.” A remember is that it’s not “Faith is an art form, joint resolution to that symbolic. This is not a it doesn’t come easy effect (H.J.Res.53) has gesture,” said Rev. Mark been submitted to the Hughes, executive direcand that’s what U.S. House. tor of Vermont Racial makes it precious.”

“I believe that we Justice Alliance, referwill see in this generaXusana Davis ring to the constitutional tion the final legal end of amendment.

Vermont director of racial slavery,” Parthas said. equity While the Vermont In 2019, a year after Constitution was the first the U.S. Congress esin the country to genertablished the 400 Years ally prohibit slavery, its Article 1 included language carving out an exception: that no of African-American History Commission person serve any other “as a servant, slave Act, Gov. Phil Scott took a step towards or apprentice” unless “bound by the per- reconciliation by proclaiming the fourth son’s own consent, after arriving to such Saturday of August to be “recognized and age, or bound by law for the payment of Commemorated as First African Landing Day in Vermont.” debts, damages, fines, costs or the like.”

This year’s celebration was themed The amendment would remove that lan“We’ve come this far by faith.” It led to disguage and replace it with: “therefore slavcussions of faith in religion, in resilience, ery and indentured servitude in any form in community and harbored the hope for a are prohibited.” better, more just future for black people in Said Hughes, “You have to wonder, if it the country. only takes 20 seconds to find in the Consti“There are many well-known events in tution because it’s the first Article, why is it the summer and throughout the year that we that our elected officials that take an oath to as Americans look forward to celebrating,” it didn’t notice it for 245 years.”

Christine Hughes, director of the Richard The Vermont Constitution, adopted in Kemp Center, wrote ahead of the event.

1777, became the first to include exclusion“Most of them have historical roots that ary provisions, which other states and the quite often are lost on us.

Instead, Vermont U.S. Constitution’s 13th Amendment later has taken the unique approach of unearthemulated. ing something that was previously lost.”

“There was no other constitution that As the afternoon sun pierced clouds ever contained any language that permitted over Burlington, visitors to the free event slavery in any manner before the Vermont relaxed to the music of Adrian B. King, state constitution,” Hughes said.

According to national advocates who Baptist Gospel Choice and Rajnii Eddins. have been organizing to delete slavery and Friends and neighbors picnicked while othindentured servitude exceptional clauses ers examined the 1619 Traveling Exhibit, see LANDING page 9

People gather in Burlington for First African Landing Day

People cheer for gospel performer Essential Praise at the Vermont First African Landing Day commemoration in Burlington on Saturday.

Below, Raphaella Brice, right, chats with Kathleen Kemp at the Vermont First African Landing Day commemoration in Burlington on Saturday.

PHOTOS BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

September 1, 2022 •

Landing continued from page

8

which tells the story of Africans from Angola to Virginia.

First-time attendee Cortney Smith of Burlington said she came to see black people come together, to be with her community and to meet new people.

Lanae Buford, 12, of Georgia, who also attended the past three annual events, said she came to see her people and was enjoying this year’s event. Her father, Joe Buford, was among the panelists.

Her mother, Wynea Buford, who heard about the event through her church, said she came to spread the message of the First African Landing Day and to hear Adrian B. King.

The speaking program included faith and justice leaders outlining history, the perils of systemic racism to the momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement with messages of hope.

Panelist Emiliano Void, founder of the nuwave Equity Corporation, quoted George Orwell in saying, “Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.”

“So I think we have to have ownership of what we’re doing today, informed by what we came from or what we’ve been doing to ultimately have clear direction on how we move forward,” he said.

Vermont’s executive director of racial equity, Xusana Davis, gave a shoutout to black artists

and their capacity for creativity despite decades of subjugation, bigotry and genocide.

“Faith is an art form, it doesn’t come easy and that’s what makes it precious,” she said. “With all the time and the waiting and the faith we have had and the creativity that we possess, the only option we have is to demand that place where we bring our fallen chair to the table and say, ‘Look, the solutions you have we have seen before and we remain unimpressed.’ But we come with faith and creativity to create something amazing.”

Keynote speaker Bishop Dwayne Royster, senior pastor of Faith United Church of Christ, from Washington, D.C., outlined the struggles of black people in America from the first Africans who against their will arrived in Jamestown, Va., some 403 years ago to the generational trauma of enslavement. He called for a new day and a new country following the killings of George Floyd and Trayvon Martin.

“Perhaps in this moment, if we are faithful enough to believe, what we see falling down around us is not falling down in a bad way but is collapsing so that we can build something new,” he said. “We can create something far more beautiful than we have ever seen.”

Though doing the work while looking to the future takes courage and tenacity, sometimes it takes something more, some-

Williston Observer

•

Page 9

Young people attend the Vermont First African Landing Day commemoration in Burlington on Saturday.

PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

thing bigger than ourselves, said Hughes in his closing statement.

“In order to be able to walk in that consistently, we have got to

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believe stuff that we don’t see sometimes.”

Page 10 •

Williston Observer

• September 1, 2022

SPORTS

The running Redhawks

The CVU Cross Country team gets ready for the CVU Relays (2 mile x 2 person) that were held on Saturday in Hinesburg. Both the CVU girls and boys finished first in team scoring. CLOCKWISE from top right: Estella Laird; Audrey Neilson; Jack Crum; Anders Johnson; Anders Erikson; Matthew Servin; Alice Kredelle; and Annalise Wood.

OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY

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September 1, 2022 •

Green tees

Williston Observer

•

Page 11

SPORTS

CLOCKWISE from top left: CVU’s Jack Bryan hits the practice green on the last day of boys golf tryouts last Wednesday at Rocky Ridge; Travis Stroh hits his tee shot on the first hole; Emerson Ayer hits his tee shot on the second hole; Ari Diamond hits a short iron to the second green; Luke Mencar putts on the first green; and Jake Strobeck hits his approach shot to the first green.

OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY

Redhawk becomes a Catamount

UVM’s Natalie Durieux, a Williston native, challenges a South Carolina player for possession during the Catamounts’ game vs. the Gamecocks on Sunday afternoon at Virtue Field.

OBSERVER PHOTO BY AL FREY

Beautiful Designer Dresses from Monique Lhuillier Halston Mac Duggal Shoshana Alice&Olivia Shona Joy DVF and more...

Page 12 •

Williston Observer

•

September 1, 2022

Police car sideswiped on I-89 Aug. 18 at 3:22 a.m. — Police responded to assist Williston Fire Department with a fire alarm activation on Harvest Lane.

Aug. 18 at 10:05 a.m. — Police served court documents on Porterwood Drive.

Aug. 18 at 10:15 a.m. — Police responded to assist Williston Fire Department with a medical call on South Brownell Road.

Aug. 18 at 1:05 p.m. — Police responded to a report of suspicious activity on St. George Road. The officer offered outreach services to the individual upon arrival, which they denied.

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Aug. 18 at 2:04 p.m. — Police responded to a report of suspicious behavior on St. George Road.

Upon arrival, the officer issued a trespass notice at the request of the business.

Aug. 18 at 2:13 p.m. — Police provided a case number for property damage on Maple Tree Place.

Aug. 18 at 3:44 p.m. — Police assisted a motorist that had a disabled vehicle on Essex Road.

Aug. 18 at 6:04 p.m. — Police responded to a report of a disturbance on Fiddlehead Lane. Upon arrival, the officer did not observe or hear any disturbances in the area.

Aug. 18 at 6:10 p.m. — Police took an individual into custody for violating their conditions of release on Porterwood Drive.

Aug. 18 at 11:57 p.m. — Police conducted a motor vehicle stop for not appropriately driving vehicles in the marked lanes. Upon investigation, the officers took the operator into custody on suspicion of driving while under the influence.

Aug. 19 at 8:20 a.m. — Police responded to a report of suspicious behavior on Blair Park Road.

Upon arrival, the officer did not observe an emergency.

Aug. 19 at 9:09 a.m. — K9 Duke assisted a citizen on Hurricane Lane.

Aug. 19 at 9:31 a.m. — Police provided an escort to employees on

Aug. 19 at 1:51 p.m. — Police assisted Williston Fire Department with a medical call at Falcon Manor.

A pickup truck sideswiped a Williston Police officer’s vehicle on Interstate 89 about 2 a.m. Saturday, and the driver was later charged with driving under the influence.

The officer was on a traffic stop on the side of the road, working up paperwork in her vehicle when the truck hit the side of her car. The truck continued southbound until it was stopped by another officer.

No one was injured in the collision.

The driver was cited with DUI, leaving the scene of an accident and negligent operation.

Aug. 19 at 2:02 p.m. — Police assisted Williston Fire Department with a medical call at Eagle Crest.

assisted a motorist on Interstate 89.

Market Street.

Aug. 19 at 1:12 p.m. — Police provided a case number for property damage on Cypress Street.

Aug. 19 at 1:34 p.m. — Police provided a case number for property damage on Marshall Avenue.

Aug. 19 at 1:43 p.m. — Police responded to Cottonwood Drive to assist Williston Fire Department with a medical call.

Aug. 19 at 4:14 p.m. — Police responded to a report of retail theft on Harvest Lane. The individual was cited accordingly.

Aug. 20 at 6:26 a.m. — Police responded to an alarm activation on Central School Drive. Upon arrival, the alarm was confirmed to be false.

Aug. 19 at 4:36 p.m. — Police responded to a vehicle collision on Marshall Avenue. Upon arrival, there were no injuries reported on the scene.

Aug. 20 at 9:08 a.m. — K9 Duke attended a community event on Trinity Drive.

Aug. 19 at 5:01 p.m. — Police assisted a motorist on Merchants Row.

Aug. 20 at 1:48 p.m. — Police responded to a vehicle collision on Boxwood Street. Williston Fire Department responded to provide medical care to the citizens.

Aug. 19 at 5:23 p.m. — Police responded to a report of suspicious behavior on Trader Lane. Upon arrival, the officer contacted Williston Fire Department for medical services.

Aug. 20 at 4:04 p.m. — Police responded to a report of suspicious behavior on Essex Road. The officer was unable to locate the referenced individual in the area.

Aug. 19 at 5:39 p.m. — Police provided a case number for property damage on Boxwood Street.

Aug. 20 at 4:27 p.m. — Police took a report of lost property on Forest Run Road.

Aug. 19 at 7:34 p.m. — Police completed a requested welfare check on Porterwood Drive.

Aug. 20 at 2:00 a.m. — Police conducted a motor vehicle stop on Stillwater Lane for multiple driving violations. Upon investigation, the operator was issued a citation under suspicion of driving while under the influence.

Aug. 20 at 3:05 p.m. — Police assisted Vermont State Police on Interstate 89 with an arrest.

Aug. 20 at 3:09 a.m. — Police

Aug. 20 at 8:14 p.m. — Police conducted a motor vehicle stop for driving violations on Interstate 89. Upon investigation, the operator was cited for suspicion of driving while under the influence and being under civil suspension.

The incidents above are not a full recount of police activity, rather a highlight of some of the events that occurred. Charges filed by police are subject to review by the Chittenden County State’s Attorney Office and can be amended or dropped.

September 1, 2022 •

Taft Corners continued from page

1

have buildings fronting on their streets, not parking lots.”

The board, in a 3-1 vote with member Gordon St. Hilaire absent, agreed to move the boundary of the new code to the north, but not as far as Nick and Davis had asked. The new boundary would stop just south of Marshall Avenue, leaving both sides of Marshall Avenue (home to Bed, Bath & Beyond, Town Faire Tire and Gardener’s Supply) under formbased regulations, while leaving Retail Way (the REI building and PetSmart) developable under the existing rules.

“There is a reason for (traditional retail development),” said board member Jeff Fehrs. “There is a need. There is a function being met. It would still be well-managed to a certain part of Taft Corners.”

Arguing in favor of keeping the planning commission’s recommendation of including Retail Way in the new code, board member Greta D’Agostino said: “I would love to see this (section of town) become a source of pride for our town and a place where we don’t just say ‘That’s where Wal-Mart is.’”

HOW HIGH IS TOO HIGH?

When the draft of the new regulations first appeared on a selectboard agenda in the spring, several residents were alarmed at the building heights that would be allowed. In the heart of Taft Corners, the area around the intersection of Routes 2 and 2A, buildings of up to 110 feet (six stories with sloped roofs) would be permitted. Planners prioritized vertical development to increase density, walkability and affordability. The heights are about double what is currently allowed.

“Consolidated growth is what most folks in Williston we’ve heard from are advocating for,” D’Agostino said, refer-

Page 13

SNYDER DEVELOPMENT EXEMPTED

Snyder Homes has submitted a subdivision application for the first phase of a 341-home neighborhood on the north end of Taft Corners, along Route 2A, on the former Essex Alliance Church property.

The submission — which encompasses about 75 percent of the total development plan — is under review under existing zoning regulations. Snyder asked the board to exempt the entire 55-acre property from the form-based code so that future phases of the neighborhood can be reviewed under the same rules.

Earlier this year, the planning commission denied Snyder’s request to exempt the property.

“I’m inclined to trust the planning commission’s decision,” D’Agostino said, “and keep the property in the formbased code.”

The majority of the board, however — Macaig, Fehrs and Kenney — voted to take the property out, noting that, otherwise, only 25 percent of the development would be subject to the new regulations.

The selectboard plans to hold a new public hearing on the form-based code in October.

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encing the public input that underpinned the original crafting of the new regulations.

The board was hung last week on whether to reduce the maximum allowed height. D’Agostino and Fehrs voted to keep heights maxing out over 100 feet; Ted Kenney and Terry Macaig voted to cap heights at 81 feet. With the 2-2 tie, a new vote that includes St. Hilaire is planned for an upcoming meeting.

Fehrs noted the difficulty of envisioning how a 100-foot-plus building would look in Taft Corners.

“It sounds like a lot, but I don’t know if it is a lot if it’s done in the right way — if the buildings fit together,” he said.

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Williston Observer

An old-fashioned barn dance The Great Vermont Barn Dance Show came to the Isham Family Farm last Saturday. With a format similar to the dance radio shows of the 1940’s, Rik Palieri, shown at the mic, was the host for the evening. Other performers included Jon Gailmor, Clare Innes, Bill Schubart, Donna Thunder and more.

OBSERVER PHOTO BY FRED KENNEY

Page 14 •

Williston Observer

• September 1, 2022

YOUTH PROGRAMS

Children in 4th grade and younger must be supervised by someone over 16 years of age.

The Dorothy Alling Memorial Library is open: • Monday/Wednesday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

• Tuesday/Thursday/Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

• Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Visit www.damlvt.org to apply for a library card, renew materials, access digital offerings and register online for programs. For help accessing materials or services, call 878-4918 or email daml@ damlvt.org.

STORYWALK

On the Town Green: “King of Kindergarten” by Derrick Barnes.

TEEN NIGHT: FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Friday, Sept. 2, 5-6 p.m. Ages 12-plus. Meet with teens at the library to plan for library opportunities during the school year.

Register online.

Warehouse Sale!

STORYTIME ON THE GREEN

Tuesdays, Sept. 6 and 13, 10:30-11 a.m. Join Danielle for outdoor stories and fun.

AFTER SCHOOL MOVIE

MOVIE GRAB BAGS

Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2-4 p.m.

Cheer on bumbling circus insects and daring ants in this rated-G movie.

Through Sept. 3, surprise your family with a grab bag to enjoy over the long weekend. Includes movies relating to a theme, popcorn and treats.

PRESCHOOL MUSIC AND PLAYTIME ON THE GREEN

READ TO A ROBOT

Thursdays, Sept. 8 and 15, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Up to age 5. Enjoy music with Linda Bassick, then stay to play. Indoors in case of rain.

TEEN NIGHT: DUNGEONS & DRAGONS CHARACTERIZATION

Monday, Sept. 12, 5-6 p.m.

Ages 12-plus. Build your D&D character at the library and get ready for our first campaign this October. Online or in-person.

ROBOT ACTIVITIES

Tuesday, Sept. 13, 4-5:30 p.m.

Call to register for a time slot to help Roswell the Dash Robot escape tricky mazes and complete obstacle courses. Suggested ages 7-plus.

TWO DAYS ONLY !

MULTI-AGE PROGRAMS

AFTER SCHOOL BOARD STEAM FUN ACTIVITY

Thursday, Sept. 8, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Call to register to read to Roswell the Dash Robot.

MOVIE ON THE GREEN

Friday Sept. 9, 7:15-9:15 p.m.

A novelist and a hapless hero look for buried treasure. PG13.

FRENCH CONVERSATION FOR ALL

Saturday, Sept. 10, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Join an informal conversation group. All abilities welcome.

SKYPE A SCIENTIST: JACK HESTER

Monday, Sept. 12, 6-7 p.m.

Meet at the library to connect virtually with Jack Hester — ask questions about robots and health.

All ages.

PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS

Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2-3 p.m.

Stop by after school to try an exciting science experiment.

To join a program or for Zoom link, email programs@damlvt. org.

TEEN GENRE BOOK CLUB

AUTUMN SELF-CARE BINGO CHALLENGE

Wednesday, Sept. 14, 5-6 p.m.

Ages 12-plus. Read any dystopian novel and come discuss it.

LEGO TIME

Thursday, Sept. 15, 3-4 p.m.

Enjoy the library’s LEGO collection.

Sept. 1 – Oct. 15. Pick up a Bingo card filled with self-care ideas. Complete a row, then return the card to the library to be entered into a gift basket drawing. see LIBRARY page 15

FRIDAY

Sept. 9 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

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September 1, 2022 •

Library continued from page

MEDICARE MADE CLEAR

14

ADULT CRAFTERNOON: CINNAMON PUFFY TREES

Thursday, Sept. 1, 2-3 p.m. Make a fragrant hanging ornament.

GUIDED MEDITATION ONLINE

Fridays in Sept., 12-12:30 p.m. Reconnect to your peaceful body and breathe.

Friday, Sept. 9, 2-4 p.m. Join Susan More for a seminar to help you pick the best Medicare plan for your needs.

Tuesday, Sept. 13, 6-7 p.m. at South Burlington Public Library. Anne Averyt talks about her book, “Vermont Perspectives: Sense of Place, State of Mind.”

CURRENT EVENTS DISCUSSION

Friday, Sept. 2, 1-3 p.m. Drop in on your own or bring a friend. All experience levels.

SPANISH CONVERSATION (ONLINE)

AFTER HOURS BOOK CLUB

Wednesday, Sept. 7, 5-6 p.m. Join teacher Elliot Lafferty to practice Spanish conversation.

•

Page 15

V E R M O N T

Meat & Seafood M

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AUTHOR EVENT: ANNE AVERYT

Wednesday, Sept. 14, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Drop by for a discussion of newsworthy topics.

MAH JONGG

Williston Observer

Order Online!

Wednesday, Sept. 14, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

“The Improbability of Love” by Hannah Rothschild.

Williston Observer rack distribution

at these locations in Williston, Richmond and Essex Williston Belle’s Café Dorothy Alling Memorial Library Fairfield Inn Gardener’s Supply Green Mountain Bagel Hannaford Healthy Living Williston Home2Suites Korner Kwik Stop Marriott Courtyard Men At Wok People’s United Bank Ramunto’s Rehab Gym Shell Gas Station (Essex Rd) Simon’s Mobil Williston

Simply Divine Café Sonesta Sunoco Station Town of Williston Offices UPS Store Williston Coffee Shop Essex Junction Essex Automotive Five Corner Variety Hannaford Inn at Essex Mac’s Market Martone’s Deli Price Chopper

Quality Bake Shop River Road Beverage Richmond Cumberland Farms Richmond Free Library Richmond Market Richmond Mobil Mart

Williston

We're Turning Ten! September marks the 10th anniversary of our Habitat ReStore in Williston, and since 2012, the funds generated have helped build 39 homes in Northwest Vermont!

Stop in on September 10th and 11th to enjoy 10% off your purchase, birthday treats, and giveaways!

Much to celebrate.

More to build.

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Vermont Meat and Seafood Market is now offering seamless online ordering for select meats, seafood, sides and sandwiches. Simply order from home and come pick up your prepaid items!

While you’re at it, be sure to order your Labor Day essentials like steak, burgers, salmon and more!

104 Cornerstone Drive • Williston 878-2020 • vtmeatandseafood.com Mon.-Sat. 9am-7pm • Sun. 11am-6pm

Page 16 •

Williston Observer

release dates: Sept. 3-9, 2022

•

September 1, 2022

36 (22)

Next Week: Our Charters of Freedom

Issue 36, 2022

Founded by Betty Debnam

Back to Work

The Senate meets in the chamber on the left side of this photo of the Capitol’s West Front. photo by Bryon & Olivia

The U.S. Congress returns to the Capitol on Sept. 6 after a summer break. This week, The Mini Page learns more about our legislative branch of government and the building they work in.

Elections to Congress

Our Constitution calls for three branches, or parts, of the government: the legislative, the executive and the judicial. The legislative branch is explained in Article I. • The legislative (LEJ-uhs-LAY-tiv) branch makes the laws. This branch comprises the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

• The executive (ex-ZEK-yuh-tiv) branch, headed by the president, carries out the laws.

• The judicial (ju-DISH-uhl) branch, headed by the Supreme Court, decides if the laws are lawful according to the Constitution.

Who’s in the Congress?

The U.S. Constitution gives the power of making national laws to the U.S. Congress.

Congress is made up of two houses, or groups, of lawmakers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Who can run?

A representative must be 25 years old and must have been a U.S. citizen for seven years.

The number of respresentatives is based on the number of people in each state.

A senator must be 30 years old and must have been a U.S. citizen for nine years. There are two senators from each state.

The Senate and the House have programs for high school students to serve as pages, delivering materials to members, helping with roll call votes and doing other tasks for members.

photo courtesy U.S. Senate Page Program

Branches of government

The 435 members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms. They are chosen from 435 different districts across the country.

Every two years, they all must run for reelection if they want to stay in office.

The 100 senators serve six-year terms. They do not all run for reelection at the same time.

One-third of the members run every two years.

This year, there are elections for senators in 34 states. Senators from the same state do not run at the same time.

The general election will take place on Nov. 8, 2022. We call it a midterm election because it happens midway between presidential elections.

photo courtesy NATO

Mini Fact:

When the House and Senate need to meet together, they join in the House chamber.

At the Capitol

The House of Representatives meets in the chamber on the south side of the Capitol. This is the largest room in the building. The representatives sit on benches and do not have assigned seats.

The Senate meets in a chamber on the north side of the Capitol. Each of the 100 senators has a special assigned seat. The Republicans sit on one side of the aisle and the Democrats on the other.

John Adams, our second president, spoke at the first meeting of both houses of Congress in the new Capitol on Nov. 22, 1800. At that time, only one of the wings had been built. By the time of Abraham Lincoln’s presidency in the 1860s, the Capitol looked much as it does today.

Resources On the Web:

• bit.ly/MPpages • bensguide.gpo.gov/j-history

At the library:

• “Exploring the Legislative Branch” by Danielle Smith-Llera • “The Congress: A Look at the Legislative Branch” by Robin Nelson and Sandy Donovan

The Mini Page® © 2022 Andrews McMeel Syndication

Try ’n’ Find

Mini Jokes

Words that remind us of the legislative branch are hidden Nancy in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward, and some used twice. See if you can find: BYletters OLIVIA are JAIMES ARTICLE, BRANCH, CHAMBER, CITIZEN, CONGRESS, CONSTITUTION, ELECTION, EXECUTIVE,

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Luis: What do you call a dinosaur who is elected to Congress?

Lara: Rep. Tile!

Eco Note

materials to members, helping with roll call votes and doing other tasks for members.

• “The Congress: A Look at the Legislative Branch” by Robin Nelson and Sandy Donovan September 1, 2022 • Williston Observer • Page 17

photo co Page Pro

Congress is made up of two houses, or groups, of lawmakers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Mini Page® © 2022 Andrews McMeel Syndication

Try ’n’ Find

Mini Jokes

Words that remind us of the legislative branch are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find: ARTICLE, BRANCH, CHAMBER, CITIZEN, CONGRESS, CONSTITUTION, ELECTION, EXECUTIVE, HOUSE, JUDICIAL, LAWS, LEGISLATIVE, MEMBER, MIDTERM, PAGE, RUN, SENATE, SESSION, STATE.

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Luis: What do you call a dinosaur who is elected to Congress?

Lara: Rep. Tile!

S M E M B E R S I N

Eco Note Cheetahs will soon roam the forests of central India for the first time in 70 years. The country’s indigenous cats were declared extinct in 1952 after decades of hunting, habitat loss and food shortages led to their disappearance. But a long-awaited agreement with Namibia will see the world’s fastest land animals transported from Africa to “cheetah-friendly” areas of Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh state. adapted with permission from Earthweek.com The Mini Page® © 2022 Andrews McMeel Syndication

Mini Spy Classics appear in the first issue of each month.

Mini Spy and her friends are visiting the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. See if you can find the hidden pictures.

Then color the picture.

Hey Mini Spy Fans! Order your Mini Spy Booklets (Volumes 1, 2 and 3) with 48 of your favorite puzzles! Visit MiniPageBooks.com, or call 844-426-1256 to order. Just $4 plus $1 shipping.

Mini Spy Classics

For later: Look in your newspaper for articles about the two houses of Congress and what they’re working on.

Teachers: Follow and interact with The Mini Page on Facebook!

Based on materials originally produced and/or created by Betty Debnam.

• • • • •

caterpillar sailboat man’s head dog’s head number 3

• man in the moon • muffin • letter A • umbrella

• • • • •

book word MINI question mark letter W ear of corn

• • • •

ladder toothbrush canoe banana

Brevity

BY DAN THOMPSON

Page 18 •

Williston Observer

•

September 1, 2022

Savvy Senior

Daily check-in services for seniors living alone Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend any services that check in on elderly seniors who live alone? I live about 200 miles from my 82-year-old mother and worry about her falling or getting ill and not being able to call for help.

Worrywart Daughter Dear Worrywart, There are actually several different types of check-in services, along with some simple technology devices, that can help keep your mom safe at home while providing you some peace of mind. Here are some top options to look into.

Check-in app: If your mom uses a smartphone, a great solution to help ensure her safety is Snug (www.SnugSafe.com), a free app that can check in on her every day to confirm she’s OK. This app is used by thousands of elderly seniors who live alone and want to make sure that, if something happens to them, their loved ones will be notified quickly so they can receive help in minutes, rather

than days.

Here’s how it works. After downloading the app, your mom will choose what time(s) throughout the day she’d like for Snug to check in. Snug will send a push notification at those times asking your mom to check in by tapping the big green check button on her smartphone screen. If she doesn’t check in within 10 minutes or respond after multiple pings, Snug will notify her emergency contacts and share her last known location so that she can receive fast help.

For extra peace of mind, your mom can purchase Snug’s premium plan ($10/month) where, in addition to notifying her emergency contacts, Snug will request an in-person wellness check by a police officer who will visit her house to confirm she’s OK and provide assistance as needed. The app works with iPhone and Android smartphones.

Check-in calls: If your mom doesn’t use a smartphone, another option to help ensure her safety is a daily check-in

By Jim Miller call service program. These are telephone reassurance programs usually run by police or sheriff’s departments in hundreds of counties across the country and are usually provided free of charge.

Here’s how they work. A computer automated phone system would call your mom at a designated time each day to check in. If she answers, the system will assume everything is OK. But if she doesn’t pick

up or if the call goes to voice mail after repeated tries, you (or whoever her designee is) would get a notification call.

If you are not reachable, calls are then made to backup people who’ve also agreed to check on your mom if necessary.

The fallback is, if no one can be reached, the police or other emergency services personnel will be dispatched to her home.

To find out if this service is available in your mom’s community, call her local police department’s nonemergency number. You should also check with the Area Agency on Aging in your mom’s area — call 800-677-1116 for contact information.

If her community doesn’t have a call check-in program, there are businesses like CARE (www.Call-Reassurance.com) and IAmFine (www.Iamfine. com) that offer similar services for under $15 per month.

Technology devices: You may also want to invest in some simple technology aids to keep your mom safe. One of the most commonly used devices for this

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is a medical alert system that costs about $1 per day. These systems come with a wearable “help button” that would allow her to call for help 24/7.

Another option that’s becoming increasingly popular is smart speakers, like Amazon Alexa or Google Home. These devices work with third-party applications — www.AskMyBuddy.net and www.MySOSFamily.com — that would let your mom to call multiple emergency contacts with a simple verbal command.

And be sure to check out Amazon’s Alexa Together (www.Amazon.com /AlexaTogether), a new $20 monthly subscription service that helps families support and keep tabs on their older loved ones who live alone through an Alexa-enabled device.

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September 1, 2022 •

Williston Observer

•

Page 19

CROSSWORD • SOLUTION ON PAGE 22

Almanac ANDREWS

MCMEEL

TODAY’S HISTORY: • In 1897, the first section of Boston’s subway system -- the first underground public transportation in the United States -- opened.

• In 1939, Germany invaded Poland, marking the beginning of World War II. • In 1985, American and French researchers discovered the wreckage of the luxury liner Titanic on the ocean floor near Newfoundland.

• In 2004, Chechen militants took more than 1,100 people hostage at a school in Beslan, Russia.

TODAY’S FACT: • “A Trip to the Moon,” widely considered the first science-fiction film, was released in France on this day in 1902.

Find the 7 words to match the 7 clues. The numbers in parentheses represent the number of letters in each solution. Each letter combination can be used only once, but all letter combinations will be necessary to complete the puzzle.

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Today’s Answers: 1. SIDEBURNS 2. SIDELINING 3. SIDESADDLE 4. SIDESHOW 5. SIDESTEPS 6. SIDETRACKED 7. SIDEWALK

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Williston Observer

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September 1, 2022

OBITUARIES Estate Planning, Elder Law & Medicaid Planning Peace of mind for families and loved ones What we do: • Protection of assets without spending all down to qualify for Medicaid • Wills & Living Trusts • Assistance with Medicaid Applications

Ellen B. LaPlante, Esq. Stephen A. Unsworth, Esq. Wendy S Hillmuth, Esq. Members of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys & National Association of Elder Law Attorneys.

William S. Burnett, 92, of Albany, NY and Williston, VT passed away peacefully July 19th 2022 after a short illness.

Dr. Burnett led a long and full life though the events of his early childhood forged a path far from what he might have imagined. Born in Burlington, VT, Bill moved with his parents and sister to Liverpool, U.K. where his father was starting an Osteopathic Practice. He spent his youngest years in Liverpool happily living above his Father’s practice where his thirst for knowledge and love of research was fostered at home and at the Merchant Taylors’ Boys’ School.

In 1940, with Germany advancing on England, he sailed home to the United States with his mother and sister, leaving his father behind. The span of time between the decision to leave and departure was less than 36 hours.

From 1940 through 1946 he lived in West Dennis, MA though his vision was always to return to England. In 1946, they did return for a brief time, but too much had changed, and the decision was made that his parents would divorce and his mother return to Vermont. Given the choice to stay and continue his education in England, or return with his mother and sister, he chose the role he felt

William S. Burnett

obliged to, and returned as well to work on the family farm in Williston and enrolled at the University of Vermont.

Bill graduated from UVM with a B.A. in German in 1952 and with an M.D. (Public Health) from the Larner College of Medicine at UVM in 1956. After graduation he served as a Doctor in the Air Force, stationed in Saudi Arabia. This furthered his love of travel and wanderlust. Always wanting to absorb as much knowledge as possible, he applied to and was accepted into a residency program at what was one of the busiest hospitals at the time, in Los Angeles. It was there that he realized that research and public health were where he could make the greatest impact.

He went on to Ann Arbor, MI where he graduated first in 1961 with an M.P.H (Epidemiology) and in 1963 with a Dr. P.H. (Epidemiology) from the University of Michigan. Dr. Burnett spent the rest of his career working for the State of New York Department of Health, retiring as the Assistant Director, Cancer Control Bureau.

He later shared that one of the many reasons he loved his work was the opportunity to travel the world to learn, explore and to increase visibility into patterns of disease to identify public epidemics by sharing research at interna-

tional conferences.

In retirement he traveled frequently, often with his father and his father’s wife throughout Europe. Other times he would travel solo … to see a certain type of architecture, to purchase a certain type of cookware, to listen to a certain orchestra or to simply see someplace new.

In his later years he traveled with wonderful friends on guided trips to countries such as Russia, Poland, Turkey, Morocco, Greece, Tunisia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, and others. As much as he loved the adventure of travel and found solace in exploration, when a fellow traveler needed assistance, he quietly stepped in to assist, whether it be to act as interpreter in a faraway hospital, or once to go as far as escorting a friend and fellow traveler back to the U.S. to seek medical attention and then turning right around to return to the rest of the group to continue with the tour.

In Vermont, Bill’s focus was on the family farm. Much had changed since he had first moved to Chery Hill Farm in the 1940’s when the farm was used in part to test to see what might grow in Vermont soil. Bill expanded into cattle, maintaining a small herd of Black Angus in the 70’s and 80’s.

Even as the neighboring farms

were being developed, and he was approached about selling the land, his interest was in working to maintain the land for its intended purpose, farming, and conservation. Ultimately, he made the decision to place the farmland into conservation, in perpetuity, with the Vermont Land Trust. Through the craftsmanship of a skilled contractor, who became a trusted friend, Bill took great pride in the renovation of the barns on the property.

Bill was preceded in death by his mother, Harriet S. Burnett; his father, Delbert M. Burnett; and his sister, Elizabeth B. Carroll. Uncle Bill is survived by his nephew Ian M. Carroll of Hartford, CT and his niece and grandnephew and grandniece, Gweneth C., Alex and Acadia Farrell of Uxbridge, MA. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am on Friday September 16th at the Williston Federated Church followed by a private burial in Williston, VT. In his memory, donations may be made to the Vermont Land Trust. Donations may be made online at www. vlt.org. Checks should be payable to “Vermont Land Trust” and in the memo portion of the check note “Memory of William S. Burnett,” and mail to: Vermont Land Trust; 8 Bailey Avenue; Montpelier, VT 06602.

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Williston Observer

•

Page 21

OBITUARIES Doreen Plantier

Doreen Plantier of Richmond, VT, passed away on August 21, 2022 at the age of 91. She leaves behind her seven children Steven and Rosie Plantier, David and Karen Plantier, Julie Plantier, Josephine Dalton and Tom Lajoy, Thomas (Beep) Plantier, Patricia Germain and Louie Ducharme, and Sue and Joe Charonneau; her sister Betty McDevitt; 20 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded by her husband Thomas Plantier, brother Sonny Anoe and grandson Jay Dalton.

A graveside service was held on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022, at at Holy Rosary Cemetery, Tilden Avenue, Richmond, VT. Arrangements are in care of Gifford Funeral Home, 22 Depot Street, Richmond, VT.

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Page 22 •

Williston Observer

•

September 1, 2022

CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL PUBLIC NOTICE PROPOSED GROUNDWATER RECLASSIFICATION AT COMMERCE STREET PLUME SUPERFUND SITE Please take notice that a Class IV Groundwater Reclassification petition and draft decision document have been prepared by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VTDEC) for the Commerce Street Plume Superfund Site in Williston, Vermont.

This petition proposes that groundwater be reclassified from Class III (potable) to Class IV (non-potable) in areas where trichloroethylene (TCE) is present above Vermont Groundwater Enforcement Standards and at properties within a 200 ft buffer of contaminated areas. Class IV groundwater is not suitable as a source

of drinking water. To view the draft Class IV Groundwater Reclassification petition and draft decision documents, please visit the Environmental Notice Bulletin (ENB) at ENB.VERMONT. GOV, and enter the site number: 770120 in the “Permit #” space. A copy of the petition and draft decision documents can also be viewed at the Town Clerk’s Office located at 7900 Williston Rd, Williston, Vermont. A public meeting is scheduled as part of the Selectboard meeting on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at 7:00pm at the Williston Town Hall.

Comments may be submitted in writing

by October 3, 2022 on ENB or directly to Kimberly Caldwell, VTDEC Project Manager, at kimberly.caldwell@vermont. gov. Comments may also be submitted by mail to the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Waste Management Division, 1 National Life Drive – Davis 1, Montpelier, VT 05620; attention: Kimberly Caldwell.

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The Williston Observer is hiring a sales professional to help local businesses succeed with print and online newspaper advertising and to support our local journalism.

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If you would like to be part of our growing, mission-driven business, please send your resume and cover letter to: Rick Cote, Associate Publisher – Sales & Marketing, Williston Observer, PO Box 1401, Williston, VT 05495.

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The Alzheimer’s Association Vermont Chapter is inviting Champlain Valley residents to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s by participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s at the Shelburne Museum on Sunday, Sept. 18.

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.

Last year, more than 500 participants joined the Champlain Valley Walk to End Alzheimer’s, raising over $183,000 towards the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association.

This year, the Champlain Valley Walk aims to raise $225,000.

To register and receive the latest updates on this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, visit act.alz. org/Vermont.

Voters reminded to expect ballots in the mail

Job Description: • Steward existing accounts • Generate sales from qualified leads • Work with clients and graphic design to craft effective ads and strategies • Contribute ideas and energy to our dedicated team Qualifications: • Professional experience in sales and marketing • Exceptional customer service skills • Ability to tailor solutions to customer needs • Personal drive to deliver results • Demonstrated collaboration and communication skills • Fluency with Microsoft Office applications • Familiarity with print and digital advertising, including methods and measurement, is a plus.

• Preference for candidates with knowledge of the local towns, businesses and communities served by the Williston Observer.

Walk to end Alzheimer’s planned for Sept. 18

Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos has issued a reminder that all Vermont voters will be mailed a ballot for the Nov. 8 General Election, and encouraged voters to update or confirm their voter registration information online (www.mvp.vermont. gov) or by contacting their town clerk.

“Here in Vermont, and in states across the country, universal ballot mailing has proven to be a secure and effective way of increasing options for Vermont voters,” said Condos.

The 2022 General Election will mark the first universal general election ballot mailing under Act 60, which received tri-partisan support by the Legislature.

“I want to thank the Vermont legislators who worked with us to create a universal ballot mailing process that works for Vermont,” said Condos, who oversaw the mailing of ballots to all Vermont voters for the 2020 General Election in response to Covid-19. “Vermont is proof that when you remove barriers to voting for eligible voters, they do.”

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Page 24 •

Williston Observer

Past Times continued from page

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September 1, 2022

3

same month as her two-year wedding anniversary, as an extra special present. She must have promised Kate Jr. a peaceful childhood, the kind that she never got.

Kate Sr. had very little time with her daughter. Only 21, she died on April 23, 1879.

She succumbed to puerperal fever — a fever lasting more than 24 hours within 10 days after giving birth, usually caused by an infection from unsanitary instruments. She died quick-

As difficult as it has been to cover the relentless misery that Kate suffered, I write about her to give her the memorial and dignity that she deserves. ly and in pain.

Historians know the Potters’ most famous victims: Sally Griswold and Smith Wright.

But Adelia and Charley also ruined the lives of three others: their children Charles Sr., Kate and Willis. Kate in particular suffered a violent, insecure childhood.

Kate recovered from her horrific early years with a marriage and a child of her own, but she died young. Her parents neglected her; history has forgotten about her; and she had very little life on her own terms.

As difficult as it has been to cover the relentless misery that Kate suffered, I write about her to give her the memorial and dignity that she deserves.

Blow down

A strong thunderstorm that rolled through Williston with lightning and hail on Friday afternoon split a large oak tree at the home at the corner of Route 2A and Mountain View Road. A portion of Mountain View Road was closed as public works crews cleared debris from the road. “The tree was presenting some problems as it was very big so it took longer then expected to get it cleared up,” said police dispatcher Ashley Lizotte.

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