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Town budget squeaks by
Peter Sloan, owner of Turner Toys, is preparing to pack all the merchandise at his Essex location for a re-opening in Williston in April. OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR
Toys for Taft Corners Longtime Essex retailer plans relocation to Finney Crossing BY JASON STARR Observer staff
For the first time since Toys ‘R’ Us went under four years ago, Williston has its own toy store. Turner Toys will fill the last remaining retail spot in the Healthy Living plaza at Finney Crossing. The long-time Essex business, which started as an online-only toy and hobby retailer operating out of the back of a strip mall near the Champlain Valley Fairgrounds, plans to open at Finney Crossing in April. Owner Peter Sloan has begun planning for the boxing, labeling, moving and unpacking of hundreds of items of all shapes and sizes. “It’s daunting,” he said. The store has about 10 different categories of toys for babies through tweens — and even some grown-up kids at heart — from Legos to dolls and stuffed animals, to arts & crafts, model airplanes, trains and educational items. Sloan bought Turner Toys in 2011 when it was in its online-only phase. He started opening up the doors for walkins two years later. The store has moved three times since then, all in Essex, Sloan’s hometown. The current location is at the Essex Shoppes and Cinema (now known as the Essex Experience), where it moved after a stint at Five Corners. “We took this space, and it was wildly more successful than we expected,” Sloan said. “There seemed to be a lack of toy stores around and everyone was like ‘Wow, thank gosh we finally have a toy store.’” The closure of the Taft Corners Toys ‘R’ Us in 2018 changed the local toy retail landscape and provided a boost for Turner Toys, Sloan said. “We’ve been growing year over year tremendously,” he said. “We need more see TOYS page 24
Williston firefighters ask for voter support for the town budget on Tuesday.
OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY
Opposition shows up, but ‘yes’ vote carries BY JASON STARR AND KARSON PETTY Not since 2008 has there been a Williston town budget vote as close as Tuesday’s. After three weeks of early voting, a full day at the polls and a half-hour of vote-tallying, town officials announced the 971to-788 passage of the town’s $13.1 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The budget’s $1.6 million (14 percent) increase over the current year — with funding for nine new firefighters and a new energy coordinator — stirred up a level of opposition among residents not seen in 14 years. The budget is estimated to create a tax increase of 15 percent, amounting to an increase of roughly $115 on the annual property tax bill for the median-priced home ($300,000) in Williston.
meet our mission and protect our public.” The hiring process for the new positions is already underway.
Voting Results YES
NO
Williston Budget 971
788
School Budget
3395 2204
School Bond
4040 1530
Voters maintain social distancing at the Williston Armory on Tuesday.
“On behalf of the members of the Williston Fire Department — thank you, Williston,” Fire Chief Aaron Collette said. “The addition of the firefighter/emergency medical technician positions included in the budget will have a direct impact on fire and life safety for the Town of Williston. They will enhance the fire department’s ability to
“We look forward to welcoming them to our emergency services team,” Collette said. In total, 1,774 ballots were cast, 23 percent of the total number of registered Williston voters. John Shook, a retired UPS driver and Williston resident of 32 years, couldn’t
bring himself to say yes to the town budget. “For the first time, I voted it down,” he said. But it wasn’t so much the budget increase that swayed Shook’s opinion. He is more unhappy with the current direction of land development in town. Most benefits of recent development projects go to landowners, he said, instead of the greater Williston community. “Everybody else is sort of getting the shaft,” said Shook. “It’s just not equitable at all.” He feels his responsibility as a Williston resident to give input on town development, but admitted to not attending many planning meetings. “I need to go to those meetings,” he said. Shook did vote yes on the school budget, joining with the 3,395-to-2,204 majority across the Champlain Valley School District’s five towns in supporting the $89 million spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year. The school budget increases spending by $4.1 million (4.8 percent) over the current year, enough new funding for 11 new educators and administrators, including four full-timers in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion. The tax impact of the school budget for Williston residents is estimated to be an increase of 2 percent — roughly $93 on a median-priced home. In a statement Wednesday morning, the Champlain Valley School Board thanked voters for the financial support. “Our community, once again, came together in support of public education,” it said. “As the CVSD board moves out of the planning and development phase of the budget cycle and into the implementation, your voice remains an important part of the process.” David Howell, a Williston parent, voted yes on both town and school budgets. “I support the energy coordinator role and I want to make sure we’re adequately covered for our fire safety staff,” he said. “All the expenses requested seemed reasonable to me.” see VOTE page 24
Page 2 •
Williston Observer
•
March 3, 2022
A biweekly trip down memory lane with members of the Williston Historical Society
Diana Taylor (1799-1856)
The Williston woman with the dazzling hat BY ELIZABETH ALLEN Special to the Observer According to the American Repertory and Advertiser of Oct. 5, 1821, women of the fledgling United States would save the country — and Diana Taylor of Williston would lead the way. The paper reported on the third annual Chittenden County Agricultural Society (CCAS) exhibition, held Sept. 25-26, 1821, in Burlington. The report covered the exhibition’s livestock contests, won by men, as well as contests of “domestic manufactures,” won by
women for the best woolen cloth, linen cloth, carpeting and other items. The women’s accomplishments received grandiose praise from the paper: “… The skill and industry of our ladies … will save us from the mortification, as well as the evil, of transporting our wealth to the shore of Europe, and avert an impending national, as well as an individual, bankruptcy.” In this interpretation, the homespun items produced by “our ladies” was superior to European products. In fact, the U.S. would
soon rely on its own cloth production instead of foreign imports. Then “transporting our wealth to the shore of Europe” — that is, paying money for goods from across the Atlantic — would no longer be necessary. The country would be proud, self-reliant, and rich, thanks to the women. The anxieties expressed by the American Repertory were those of a country just starting to industrialize cloth production. The U.S. was expanding; its population nearly doubled from 5.3 million in 1800 to 9.6 million in 1820. Invasion of indigenous territory also increased the country’s land claims westward, resulting in cheap land for white farmers. The U.S. wanted to establish itself as a significant international player, independent from Old World imports. Textiles seemed like the perfect way for the U.S. to prove itself. In 1800, most people in the country farmed, and most women produced cloth for their individual households. Nevertheless, textile imports were rising. Between 1793 and 1815, however, various wars interrupted cloth imports from England. U.S.
CORRECTION: The Observer published incorrect hours for the walk-in Covid vaccination clinic at 300 Interstate Corp. Center in Williston in last week’s edition. The correct hours for walk-in vaccinations for all eligible age groups are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 1-6:30 p.m. Also, walk-in Covid testing is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The clinic is located next to TD Bank near the intersection of Route 2 and Route 2A.
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This illustration, showing a woman shaping a straw bonnet, is from Charles Squire’s ‘Book of Trades, or Library of the Useful Arts,’ published in 1806 by Richard Taylor and Company in England.
industrialists then stole information about British textile technology and established their own factories. In this context, the American Repertory’s praise of the winning women of the Chittenden County Agricultural Society touted both the country’s handmade agricultural traditions and its automated textile possibilities. But let’s go back to Diana Taylor (1799-1856). The CCAS exhibition recognized her for “a bonnet … manufactured from a species of grass, in imitation of Leghorn.” A talented haberdasher at the age of 22, Taylor was exactly the sort of industrious, talented woman that the U.S. needed to achieve greatness in the realm of textiles. The CCAS judges were so amazed by Diana’s hat that a second American Repertory article (Oct. 12, 1821) covered it in more detail. “American Grass Bonnet,” the headline proclaimed, emphasizing the homegrown nature of her work. Thought to be made from “common Fox Tail,” the bonnet “was extremely difficult, on close inspection, to detect (i.e., distinguish) ... from the finest real Leghorn. “No provision had been made by the committee for a premium on such items,” continued the article. But several men collected “a handsome sum” for Diana “as a token of their approbation.”
That must have been an exciting early birthday present for Diana, who was born on Oct. 1. Diana was following the fashion of the day. In the early 1820s, Leghorn bonnets were popular for women of western Europe and the U.S. They derived their name from Leghorn, the English translation of Livorno, Italy, where many such bonnets were manufactured. Woven of straw bleached white with sulfur, these bonnets fit closely around the wearer’s head, with the brim facing forward and opening around the face. They were secured beneath the chin with ribbon. Women made straw bonnets largely by hand, even as Europe and the U.S. were automating production. By 1820, bonnet-making companies subcontracted each stage of construction to different people in what was then known as the putting out system. The steps of bonnet manufacture — picking grass, splitting it, platting (that is, braiding or weaving) it, and sewing it into shaped bonnets — offered some of the few lucrative opportunities for women to earn money in their own homes. Diana’s bonnet, however, differed from these Leghorn bonnets that were made by piecework. For one thing, because she was making only a single bonnet for exhibition, presumably she constructsee PAST TIMES page 3
March 3, 2022 •
Past Times continued from page
2
ed it by herself from start to finish. For another thing, Diana used local materials. She chose foxtail — that is, a member of the genus Alopecurus. These grasses are commonly called foxtails because the clusters of narrow spines at the ends of the stems resemble the shape of a fox’s tail. Diana found that foxtail can be difficult to work with. She surely sliced herself on the grass blades when gathering them, coming back with several small, stinging wounds. Even though she was suffering the 1820s equivalent of paper cuts, she continued the tedious process of splitting and platting. Occasionally the slippery grass escaped from her fingers, frustrating her. Diana persisted, though, because she believed that the public notice alone of her bonnet was worth the effort. We know this because she entered her bonnet into the exhibition, even though there was no category in which it could win a prize. This suggests that she was a careful, meticulous craftsperson primarily seeking recognition. What sort of attention might a bonnet such as Diana’s attract? The CCAS exhibition gave young, unmarried women a socially acceptable venue to show off their skills. By submitting her work to the CCAS exhibition, Diana advertised herself to a countywide audience as a desirable match: a patriotic perfectionist who could
make textiles equal to those of British imports. She and the other unmarried contestants may have used the CCAS exhibition as a means to find a spouse. Much of Diana’s life remains
Diana (Tayler) Sanford’s headstone stands in Thomas Chittenden Cemetery in Williston.
a mystery to me. I haven’t been able to determine her family of origin among the many Taylors in Chittenden County in the 1820 U.S. census. Nor do I know if her advertisement via bonnet worked. There is little in the public record about her. Here is what I do know, though. On Feb. 9, 1843, at the age of 43, Diana married fellow Willistonian Esbon Sanford (17931876), becoming his second of
three wives. She and Esbon had no children. A deacon and local temperance activist, Esbon was prosperous, popular and devoted to his church. An obituary by his son-inlaw in the Nov. 11, 1876, Vermont Chronicle described him as equally faithful to his partners: “To each of his wives he was a devoted husband. It was his delight to do everything in his power to diminish the toil and lighten the burdens which are the lot of most married women … A wife to him was a person of inestimable worth, and he was never happy without her presence.” Evidently Diana shared some of her husband’s religious devotion. When she died in 1856, her obituary in the Nov. 11, 1856, Vermont Chronicle noted that “The fervency … of her piety, … visiting the sick, comforting the afflicted and sorrowful, and ministering to Christ in his members” was an example to those around her. Despite the American Repertory’s optimistic predictions, Diana never did singlehandedly save the national economy. She still left her mark on the world, though. During a period when white women usually appeared in newspapers only because they were born, married or dead, Diana received regional acclaim in print for her haberdashery. Artistic and religiously active, Diana excelled at the textile production and Christian charity expected of her race, class and gender at the time.
Williston Observer
• Page 3
Unification underway at NEFCU and VSECU
New England Federal Credit a tr ue testament of how the Union (NEFCU), headquartered partnership embodies our local in Williston, and Vermont State values.” The combined credit union will Employees Credit Union (VSECU), headquartered in Montpe- have nearly 160,000 members, 500 employees and $3 billion lier, have agreed to merge. Both organizations’ boards in assets, with branch services throughout of directors Vermont and unanimous‘Together (we) can beyond. ly approved “This strat he m e r ge r achieve more for our tegic partnerin February. members and make a ship has been It is congreater positive impact tingent on very purposefully formed reg ulator y in our communities.’ with a coopapproval by John Dwyer the National erative mindNEFCU chief executive officer set,” said Rob Credit Union Miller, CEO Administration and an o f V S E C U. affirmative majority vote by the “We recognized early on that we members of VSECU. Pending could accomplish more together both approvals, the newly uni- than alone.” fied credit union could begin opDwyer and Miller will lead erating in early 2023, according the unified credit union together. Dwyer will serve as CEO to a news release. “Together (we) can achieve and Miller will be president and more for our members and make chief operating officer. “This alliance will create an a greater positive impact in our communities,” said NEFCU exceptional option for people Chief Executive Officer John looking for financial services Dwyer. “Being able to accom- with a locally-owned, commuplish this merger, which keeps nity-minded, and values-based ownership, management and approach to ban k i ng,” said resources here in Vermont, is Dwyer.
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Page 4 •
Williston Observer
•
March 3, 2022
Rotary looks to expand town’s War Memorial
Brick sponsorship available to honor veterans
A program to create a lasting tribute to veterans has been announced by the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club. People are invited to honor family members and friends who have served with custom-inscribed bricks featuring the veteran’s name and dates
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and branch of service. The bricks will be installed by the Town of Williston Public Works Department in the patio at the town’s War Memorial, which sits between Town Hall and the Annex on Williston Road in the village. The memorial will be the site of public observances on Memorial Day and Veterans Day to recognize veterans who have served the country. Two brick sizes are offered for purchase: 4-by-8 inches and 8-by-8 inches. A typical inscription includes the name, branch of service and dates for each veteran. Larger bricks may feature the names of multiple veterans. Bricks may also include an optional emblem of the branch of service.
Lesley Murray, president of the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club, speaks at a Veterans Day observance on Nov. 11, 2021, at Williston’s War Memorial. OBSERVER FILE PHOTO
A portion of the proceeds will support the community service programs of the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club, such as youth mentoring and literacy, home heating fuel assistance, park beautification and community holiday celebrations. “This is a wonderful way to
show gratitude to a veteran and at the same time support valuable programs in our community,” said Rotary Club president Lesley Murray. The Rotary asks that brick orders be made by March 18 so that the bricks can be installed at the War Memorial prior to Memorial
Day on May 30. An observance will be held that morning to dedicate the bricks and recognize veterans. For more information and to receive order forms, call or email Phil Stevens at (802) 734-7477 or philipsstevens@gmail.com. — Susan Cote
Renovated veteran memorials installed along interstate
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The southbound and northbound Williston rest stops along Interstate 89 have been adorned with renovated displays honoring Vermont soldiers who died fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The “Vermont Fallen Heroes” project is a collaboration between the Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs and the Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services. Rest areas in Fair Haven and Sharon also received new displays. Observer courtesy photo
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March 3, 2022 •
Williston Observer
• Page 5
Retail cannabis Hinesburg police budget expands after election rekindles debates BY FRED THYS VTDigger
In Town Meeting Day votes on Tuesday, Vermonters greatly expanded the number of towns where retail sales of cannabis will be permitted to anyone 21 and older. “It’s a very important moment for Vermont,” said James Pepper, chair of the Vermont Cannabis Control Board. “We want Vermonters to be able to access this product close to their home as opposed to having these cannabis deserts around Vermont.” While several smaller towns said no, Tuesday’s vote greatly reduced the distances between towns that have decided to allow cannabis retail in their future. Essex, the second-largest community in Vermont and the biggest to hold a cannabis-related vote Tuesday, approved the sale of recreational cannabis by a wide margin, 3,589-2,473. Among more than 40 communities that considered retail cannabis on Tuesday, at least 25 said yes, according to a tally by VTDigger. Among the other larger communities that said yes were Barre (767-463), Bristol (513-264), Hartford (1,152-748), Manchester (591-355), Milton (1,060-895) and Springfield (715-632).
Smaller towns that voted to pass the proposals included: Bolton, Derby, Fair Haven, Fayston, Ferrisburgh, Grand Isle and Waitsfield. “What this means really is that the board has a lot of work to do with these towns whose citizens have asked for this because there are a lot of questions out there,” Pepper said. “Towns don’t know where their authority is, where the board’s authority is.” Meanwhile, several towns decided they want no part of retail cannabis. Communities that rejected the measure included Castleton (351-301), Eden (27-19), Leicester (56-53), Mount Holly (250-147) and Swanton Village (125-119). Across about 30 municipalities that reported results Tuesday night, some 36,200 voters favored retail cannabis, while 18,600 disapproved. Prior to Tuesday, 33 Vermont communities had already approved retail cannabis establishments, according to the Vermont League of Cities and Towns. Under Vermont law, consumption of recreational cannabis is already legal, but communities must opt in before anyone can set up shop to sell the product for non-medical use.
GABRIEL SENNOTT Community News Service
The Hinesburg Police Department’s modest (1.3 percent) budget increase for the coming fiscal year has revived a simmering debate about police spending in the town. Voters narrowly rejected the budget (484 to 431) while approving the overall town budget at Town Meeting Day on Tuesday. The proposed police budget increase was about $11,000 over the current year. Although it is a small increase, caused by insurance and vehicle fuel increases — with no increase in police salary — it roused debate about the size and purpose of the department. According to recently released research from UVM’s Center for Research on Vermont, Hinesburg’s police budget is in the top 30 of the highest in the state, spending roughly $180 per capita on policing. Williston’s per capita police
spending ranked 14th in the study at $290. Montpelier had the highest per capita police spending at about $450 per person. The Hinesburg Racial Equity Working Group called on voters to vote down the budget in the weeks before Town Meeting Day. “As a small town with a low crime rate, this budget is out of proportion to our needs,” group member Beth Danon said. “The town has the equivalent of seven armed officers to respond to community needs that largely do not require an armed response.” The group advocates for policing centered around mental health, unarmed de-escalation, licensed social workers and basic community needs. The Hinesburg Police Department joined the Howard Center’s Community Outreach Program last spring as part of an emphasis on restorative justice and addressing the root problems of crime, like being unhoused, mental illness and substance abuse issues.
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Page 6 •
Williston Observer
•
March 3, 2022
GUEST COLUMN Williston’s Community Newspaper Since 1985
www.willistonobserver.com P.O. Box 1401, Williston, VT 05495 | 802-489-5499 PUBLISHER Susan T. Cote susan@willistonobserver.com 802-489-5499
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SUBMISSIONS & LETTERS Send to editor@willistonobserver.com • Deadline is Monday at noon • News/story tips welcomed • Letters must be 300 words or fewer • Include your name, address and a daytime phone number so that we can verify the letter’s author. Phone numbers and street addresses will be kept confidential • Letters may be edited for clarity and brevity • Letters that have been submitted to multiple media outlets may not be printed CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Send to editor@willistonobserver.com Must include • Name of event and organization • Date, time and place of event • Contact information We print submissions for nonprofit groups and organizations only.
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Seeking compromise on hospital gun ban BY JEFF TIEMAN
I met my friend Mark Glaze when I was a senior in high school and he was a senior in college. He hosted me on a visit to my prospective campus in Colorado Springs. Right away I knew Mark was wicked smart. He was charming. He was student body president and his charisma told me he would be so much more. And he was. Mark went on to do amazing things. As an attorney and advocate, he led work on campaign finance reform and same-sex marriage, among other important issues. But it was his pioneering and brave work in the space of gun safety that made him a hero to so many. A frequent guest on MSNBC and Fox News, Mark took his story to the people. He was always quick to point out that he didn’t want to prevent people from owning or using guns — he just wanted them to do so safely and without threatening or harming innocent people. His own father was a gun store owner.
Late last yea r, Ma rk succumbed to long-time personal demons when he took his own life. The world lost a giant that day. Upon learning of his death, I quickly pledged to do what Mark taught me so early and often — to be a fierce advocate. To stand up for what is right and sensible. To be strategic and careful and not afraid of my own message. Recently at the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, we worked hard to pass a bill that would ban firearms in hospitals. Caregivers can unfortunately be the victims of violence at work, and we wanted to add a measure of protection for them. The bill we supported, S. 30, passed both chambers of the Legislature but was vetoed last week by Gov. Phil Scott, who did not object to the hospital gun ban but another provision of the bill. S.30 requires someone to pass a background check before they can purchase a firearm. This is a change from current law, which allows Vermonters to buy a gun if the background check is not
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complete in three days (referred to as the “Charleston loophole”). Most background checks come through in minutes, and nearly all within the three-day time frame. Occasionally they do not, however, and if the background check isn’t complete within 30 days, the application expires and the buyer must start over. The good news is that Gov. Scott identified a compromise at seven days. I think our lawmakers should take Gov. Scott up on his offer so we can do right by our health care heroes. Compromise automatically means we don’t all get all we want. In this case, there is an opportunity to protect hospital personnel and address the Charleston loophole in a reasonable way. Let’s not let the perfect be the enemy of the very good on this one. My friend Mark would have wanted me to say so. Jeff Tieman is the president and chief executive officer of the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems.
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March 3, 2022 •
Williston Observer
• Page 7
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR No representation without telecommunication As our current legislative session proceeds to debate bill after bill that impacts every citizen’s life, an unreported threat to democracy has clearly emerged that nobody seems willing to acknowledge: that only the privileged few are consistently heard in matters of state government. In this day and age of remote telecommunications, affluent urbanites enjoy stable broadband access with reliable connections that allow them to fully participate in civic discourse — the bedrock of our society and democracy. Their opinions are easily heard by legislators, and they enjoy the privilege of representation in the state Senate and House, as well as, if not more importantly, in committee meetings prior to any call for votes. Rural Vermonters, however, do not enjoy that same privilege. The lack of broadband infrastructure across the state prohibits many from participating in the most basic of public discussions when it comes to matters of policy, which is the very foundation of our republic. In parts of the countryside where access is available, it’s often unreliable or lacks the necessary bandwidth to adequately run live-conferencing applications such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams or other means of telecommunications.
The impact of this geo-economic disparity is that rural citizens of Vermont are left unrepresented when it comes to legislation directly impacting their income, property, day-to-day life and culture. Senate bills 316, 201, 281 and 129 are just the most recent examples of privileged urban dwellers enjoying an outsized voice in state politics. The kicker here is that these bills have nothing to do with zoning laws, mass transit, industrial sprawl, education or healthcare, but with wildlife management. The very people these policies will impact every day are underrepresented or left out of the policymaking process altogether, while the affluent voice their opinions without any skin in the game. If the policies are poorly designed, they do not suffer the consequences that the silenced majority will struggle under. In effect, the state will victimize rural residents twice by failing to provide the infrastructure that allows them to participate in the full civic life of our communities and state. Regardless of where you stand on the aforementioned bills, equal opportunity to participate in our government is something we can all agree on. It’s about time someone recognized that rural voices are being left out of policy discussions precisely when we need them most. Gone are the days of no taxation without
representation; today’s equivalent is no representation without telecommunication. Mike Covey Executive director Vermont Traditions Coalition
End the inhumanity of coyote hounding Coyotes in Vermont may be hunted 365 days a year, at any time of day, any way the hunter wants, and any amount they want to kill. Coyote pups are left orphaned when their mothers or fathers are killed (both coyote parents tend to the young). The activity is unregulated, and coyote hunters aren’t even required to report their kills. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has allowed this to continue and, despite pleas from the public, they have no interest in changing the status quo. Coyote hounding is a method of hunting coyotes that’s been getting a lot of attention in the media lately, and not in a good way. Mainly in the winter, hunters, often referred to as hounders, use packs of powerful hounds to run down and maul coyotes. This activity is referred to as coyote hounding and is done for recreation.
Coyotes are chased for hours over large tracts of land, including private posted property, until they collapse from exhaustion and are left to defend themselves. They can’t run up a tree to flee, so the lone coyote is left to fight off a pack of hounds. The hounds are trained to attack, maul, bite and kill their prey; this is legalized dog-fighting. The hounders are nowhere in sight, and when they do show up, they photograph and videotape the fight, just like dogfighting. The coyote is ultimately shot and killed by the hounder. Their bodies are often left to rot where they were killed. Coyote fur isn’t selling anymore, thanks to the general public shunning fur, so there’s little incentive to retrieve the coyote and utilize it. These so-called hunters are not required to register their hounds, there are no special permits, and they aren’t required to report their kills. The state is sanctioning this abusive, dangerous and cruel activity. Please support — and write to your state representatives about — bill S. 281, banning the inhumane, unethical and horrendous sport of coyote hounding in Vermont. Sophie Bowater Founder Peace of Mind Animal Wellness
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Page 8 •
Williston Observer
•
March 3, 2022
SPORTS
Cougars upset Redhawks in state semis
BY LAUREN READ Observer correspondent
After Covid derailed the last two postseasons, the CVU girls basketball team was hoping for a return to the Division I state championship game this year. It took some heroics from the Redhawks’ opponent to deny them the chance. Mount Mansfield’s Jada Diamond hit two key three-pointers — the first sent the game to overtime and the second led MMU to the 28-25 win on Monday night in the Division I semifinals at
UVM”s Patrick Gym. This will be the first appearance in the D-I title game for Mount Mansfield. Champlain Valley struggled with the Cougar defense all game, missing shots from the floor and turning the ball over. It looked like the Redhawks might overcome their mistakes when they took their first lead of the game with under four minutes to play. The two teams traded turnovers in the final minutes and CVU held a 22-19 lead with just 17 seconds to play.
Enter Diamond. The MMU guard hit a three-pointer from the wing to tie the game and send it to overtime. In the extra frame, both teams traded baskets and were tied 25-25 as time ticked down. Enter Diamond, again. She hit a three-pointer with under five seconds to play to give MMU the 28-25 lead and the win. The Cougars now move on to face No. 1 Rice in the final game, which will be played on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at UVM. Champlain Valley finished the season with a 16-4 record.
Strong showing for skiers at states BY LAUREN READ Observer correspondent
CVU’s Shelby Companion, top, launches a 3-point attempt during the Redhawks’ semifinal playoff game vs. the MMU Cougars on Monday night at UVM’s Patrick Gym. Bottom, the CVU Redhawks huddle to talk it over. OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY
In second place after the first day of competition, the CVU boys Nordic ski team could not catch Mount Anthony in the Division I state championships, coming in second place overall. Matthew Servin was the top finisher on Day 2 for CVU, coming
in fourth place in the freestyle race. Geo DeBrosse came in fifth in the freestyle on the second day and sixth in the classic race on Day 1. The CVU relay team came in second place in both the relays. Emma Crum paced the CVU girls Nordic ski team to a thirdplace finish at states. Crum finished fourth in the freestyle race on Monday and came in third place in the classic race at Craftsbury Outdoor Center on Thursday. The relay team came in third place in the classic race on Thursday and in third place in the freestyle relay on Monday. GIRLS HOCKEY
The Champlain Valley-Mount Mansfield girls hockey team struggled in the final weeks of the regular season but the team’s strong start helped it earn the No. 5 seed in the Division I playoffs. The CougarHawks were set to take on No. 4 Rutland in the quarterfinals on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The winner of the matchup will take on the winner of No. 2 Spauld-
ing vs. No. 7 South Burlington. BOYS HOCKEY
The Champlain Valley boys hockey team traveled to No. 2 BFA-St. Albans on Tuesday to face off in the Division I quarterfinals. The winner will take on the winner of No. 6 Spaulding and No. 3 Essex in the D-I semifinals. BOYS BASKETBALL
A successful regular season has led to a first-round bye for the Champlain Valley boys basketball team as the Division I playoffs get underway. The Redhawks finished with a 13-3 record and the No. 2 seed and will await a winner in the D-I quarterfinals on Friday. CVU will take on the winner of No. 7 South Burlington vs. No. 10 Colchester. The Redhawks beat South Burlington in both matchups during the regular season — 57-50 and 49-45. They also beat Colchester 52-38 and 51-38 in both games they played this season.
UVM ice queens
UVM goalie Jessie McPherson makes a save during the Catamounts’ Hockey East quarterfinal game vs. the Friars on Saturday afternoon at Gutterson Fieldhouse.
March 3, 2022 •
Williston Observer
• Page 9
ACADEMIC HONORS The following Williston and St. George students, listed alphabetically, were recently honored for academic achievements at the collegiate level.
Casey Ammon was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Purdue University. Chiara Antonioli was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at the University of New Hampshire. Taylor Antonioli was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Champlain College. Kirsten Atkins was named to the Honor’s List for the fall semester at the Community College of Vermont. Mateo Barreno Smith was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Vermont Technical College. Kyra Becker was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Vermont Technical College. Minela Beric graduated from Champlain College in the fall. Nina Bitca was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Champlain College. Gregory Thomas Bolger was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Norwich University. Jeffrey Boliba was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at the University of Utah. Liza Cahill was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Bob Jones University. Logan Chalmers was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Champlain College. B e n n e t t Ch e e r e a r n e d L i b e r t y League All-Academic Honors for the fall season as a linebacker on the St. Lawrence University football team. Cheer was also named to the Dean’s List. John Colt was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Lily Cote was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at St. Michael’s College. Neva Cote is serving as a peer mentor for first-year students at University of Vermont College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Natalie Curtis was named to the President’s List for the fall semester at Castleton University. Nathan Cuttitta was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Endicott College. Nikolas Delphia was named to the Honor’s List for the summer session at the Community College of Vermont.
Reagan Dufresne was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at St. Michael’s College. Taylor Fontaine was named to the Honor’s List for the summer session at the Community College of Vermont. Olivia Francisco was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at St. Michael’s College. Anna Frazee was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at the University of New Hampshire. Cassandra Frink was named to the President’s List for the fall semester at Vermont Technical College. Margaret Gannon was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Nazareth College. Sean Garey was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Vermont Technical College. Jonathan Godaire was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Champlain College. Elena Godbout was named to the President’s List for the fall semester at the University of Alabama. Nathan Godbout was named to the President’s List for the fall semester at Saint Francis University. Caroline Hill was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Madi Hubbard was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Jimmy Jiang was named to the President’s List for the fall semester at Champlain College. Bernice Kabengele was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Champlain College. Jessie Kennedy was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at the University of Maine. Emily Kollar was named to the President’s List and Honor’s List for the fall semester at the Community College of Vermont. Cameron Labounty was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Champlain College. Megan Laforce was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Champlain College. Sarah Lancaster was named to the Trustees’ List for the fall semester at Champlain College. Mark Lang was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Clark University. Katlyn Lapell wa s na med to t he Dean’s List for the summer session at the
Community College of Vermont. Shayla Lawrence was named to the President’s List for the fall semester at Castleton University. Stephanie Lemieux was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Vermont Technical College. Carly Laudenslager was named to the President’s List for the fall semester at Champlain College. Margaret Martell was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at St. Michael’s College. Patrick Mellmann was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Vermont Technical College. Ryan Mer ton wa s n a me d t o t he Dean’s List for the summer session at the Community College of Vermont. Lily Michalak wa s na med t o t he Dean’s List for the fall semester at Bradley University. Elsa Miller was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Castleton University. Betsy Mitchell was named to the President’s List for the fall semester at the Community College of Vermont. Martina Monroe was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Champlain College. Julia Neeld was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Holy Cross. Elizabeth Niekrewicz was named to the President’s List for the fall semester at Norwich University. Anna Norcross was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Vermont Technical College. Ian Parent was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Endicott College.
University of Vermont The following Williston and St. George students, listed alphabetically, were named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at the University of Vermont. Kristin Arles Nicole Belisle Hannah Bohmann Kayleigh Bushweller Samuel Clear Grace Colbeth Celia Cote Isabella Curtis Naomi Diamond Natalie Durieux Victoria Fisher Jessica Gagne Jeffrey Goldman Shane Gorman Logan Griswold Annaliese Holden Ella Kenney Kai Sedic Lawton Jacob Murphy Paige Niarchos Mia O’Farrell Mykala O’Farrell Kylie Pierce Bella Rieley Kevin Veronneau Joseph Warren Alexandra Zouck Adam Zuchowski Gavin Schaaf wa s n a me d t o t he Dean’s List for the fall semester at the University of Utah. Hugo Serinese was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Morgan Skaggs g r a du at ed f rom Champlain College in the fall.
Cullen Parkhurst Swett was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Norwich University.
Parker Soares was named to the Trustees’ List for the fall semester at Champlain College.
Madison Patrick was named to the President’s List for the fall semester at the Community College of Vermont.
Saode Somda wa s na med to t he Dean’s List for the fall semester at Castleton University.
Katelyn Peck wa s n a me d t o t he Dean’s List for the fall semester at Providence College.
Jacob Spector was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Southern New Hampshire University.
Samantha Polley was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at the University of New Hampshire.
Jack Tenda was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Champlain College.
Jonathan Raymond was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at Castleton University.
Alicia Veronneau was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at the University of New Hampshire.
Maddie Reagan was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at the University of Rhode Island.
Katherine Veronneau was named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester at the University of New Hampshire.
Alexander Ruwet was named to the President’s List for the fall semester at Plymouth State University.
Reid Zuwallack was named to the President’s List for the fall semester at Plymouth State University.
Page 10 •
Williston Observer
• March 3, 2022
Vermont Sports Hall of Fame announces its Class of 2022 Eight new members to be inducted April 30
National champions, legendary coaches, All-Americans, an Olympian, a Stanley Cup puck stopper and an award-winning member of the media are among the eight newest inductees of the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame. The Hall’s Board of Directors announced the inductees in February. The Class of 2022 will be formally inducted at the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and Celebration at the Delta Marriott Burlington Hotel in South Burlington on April 30. Honored that night also will be the 10 inductees from the Class of 2020-21, whose original induction was held virtually due to the pandemic. Ticket information for the ceremony will be posted at www. vermontsportshall.com. Proceeds from the event will go to Prevent Child Abuse Vermont (PCAV). Past dinners and other fundraisers have raised over $21,000 to support PCAV’s work statewide. Myers Container Service Corp is the presenting sponsor for the annual event. This year’s class represents five of the state’s 14 counties and brings the membership in the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame to 106 since its first class was inducted in 2012. The Class of 2022 was selected
by three groups: the 15-member VSHOF Board of Directors, a statewide sports advisory panel and the previous inductees. The inductees are: — Jayne Barber of Bellows Falls, basketball-athlete/coach: A legendary student-athlete and coach, Barber was the first girl’s basketball player at Bellows Falls to score 1,000 career points, tallying a school-record 1,114 — a mark that stood for close to 30 years. After graduating from Springfield College in 1980, she returned in 1981 to lead her alma mater to five state championships in 28 years as the Terriers coach, winning 369 games. Four of the state titles came in Division II, and in 2003, her school became the smallest to win the Division I crown, going unbeaten at 23-0. — Taylor Coppenrath of West Barnet, basketball: The Vermont state high school player of the year at St. Johnsbury Academy in 1999, Coppenrath went on to a standout career at the University of Vermont where he helped the Catamounts to its first four 20-win seasons and its first three trips to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. He was a three-time America East Player of the Year, a three-time Associated Press All-American and finished his career second at UVM in scoring with 2,442 points. He went on to play professionally in Europe for
close to a decade. — Stan Dunklee of Brattleboro, Nordic skiing: Dunklee is considered, along with VSHOF inductee Bill Koch, one of America’s top Nordic skiers of the late 1970s. A Vermont high school champion, NCAA champion and an eighttime U.S. national champ, Dunklee competed for the U.S. in two Olympic games. He raced in the 1976 and 1980 Winter Olympics, finishing 36th in the 50K at Innsbruck in 1976, and skied in four events at the 1980 Lake Placid games. At UVM he won the 1976 NCAA 15K title, and at Brattleboro High, he was unbeaten in Nordic skiing and cross country running. — Cathy Inglese, University of Vermont basketball coach: In seven seasons as the head coach at UVM, Inglese was the architect of the remarkable turnaround and growth of the Catamounts women’s basketball program. The team’s success spurred a state-wide boom in female basketball in Vermont. Inglese was the UVM head coach from 1986 to 1993 leading the program to its first two conference titles, in 1992 and 1993, and its first two trips to the NCAA women’s basketball tourney. Both of those seasons her Catamounts went unbeaten in the regular season, the winningest team in the nation each year. She continued to have success at Boston College in the Big
East, and also was the head coach at Rhode Island over her 28 seasons as a Division I head coach. — Bill O’Neil of Essex, multisport coach: In more than four decades on the sidelines and behind the bench at Essex High, O’Neil led three Hornets programs to a combined 24 state championships and a combined record of 1,293-592-85, arguably the winningest high school coach in Vermont sports history. In his 44 seasons as the school’s boys hockey coach, O’Neil’s teams captured 14 state championships. In girls soccer, his teams had six titles over 37 seasons, and as the coach of the softball team, he won four state crowns. O’Neil, who now resides in Georgia, Vt., was the national high school boys hockey coach of the year in 2006, and became only the second Vermonter tabbed to join the National High School Hall of Fame in 2018. — Erin Sullivan (Lane) of Jericho, distance running/track and field: Sullivan piled up Vermont, New England and national championships in distance running as a high-schooler on her way to earning NCAA All-America honors at Stanford. Running for Mt. Mansfield Union High in 1997 and 1998, she was the state cross country champ and the New England champ and won the Northeast Regionals and the National Foot Locker Cross Country title both years. On the track, Sullivan captured several state titles and won the national scholastic outdoor 3,000-meters title twice. She was a two-time All-American in cross country at Stanford in 1999 and 2000, and an All-American and Pac-10 champ in outdoor track for the Cardinal.
— Tim Thomas, University of Vermont, ice hockey: A Stanley Cup and Olympic medal winner, Thomas was the goaltender for the University of Vermont men’s hockey team, the backbone of a Catamounts team that reached unprecedented heights. Thomas backstopped UVM to the 1996 ECAC regular season title and a trip to the NCAA Frozen Four that year. He was a two-time first team All-American; two-time ECAC first-team All-Star; and the 1996 Ken Dryden Award as the ECAC goalie of the year. Reaching the NHL in 2005, he helped Boston win the Stanley Cup in 2011, its first in 39 years, and received the coveted Conn Smythe Award as the Stanley Cup Playoff MVP. A fourtime NHL All-Star, he also won two Vezina Trophies as the NHL’s top goalie and earned a silver medal for the U.S. in the 2010 Olympics. — Ted Ryan, Shelburne, David Hakins Inductee: Ryan was an award-winning sports writer and sports editor at the Rutland Herald and Burlington Free Press who covered all types of sports for 55 years, from Little League to the Stanley Cup playoffs, before filing his last story in 2019. The VSHOF board is honoring Ryan as its 2022 David Hakins Inductee. It’s named after the late Hakins, who like Ryan was a founding member of the VSHOF, and is for exceptional promotion of sports, athletics and recreation in the Green Mountain State. Ryan is a five-time Vermont Sportswriter of the Year named by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, and has been honored by the VPA, the ECAC sports information directors and Hockey East.
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March 3, 2022 •
Williston Observer
• Page 11
Burlington’s racial equity director bolts for Minneapolis BY JACK LYONS VTDigger Following a departure that sparked anger toward Mayor Miro Weinberger, Burlington’s first director of racial equity, inclusion and belonging announced Monday she has taken a similar position working for the city of Minneapolis. Tyeastia Green was hired to form and lead Burlington’s equity department in February 2020, months before the national racial reckoning sparked by a Minneapolis police officer killing black Minnesotan George Floyd in summer 2020. Green announced the move Monday, thanking members of her department in Burlington. “I left it all on the floor and gave my all every single day to set the framework of belonging … I will miss you, and you have a special place in my heart,” she said. Activists and city leaders — including Ali Dieng, I-Ward 7, and Progressive city councilors — blamed the mayor for Green’s departure, saying Weinberger did not support Green in her role. At a City Council meeting last week, Council President Max Tracy, P-Ward 2, accused Weinberger of obstructing Green from carrying out her duties. Dieng suggested the mayor used Green as a political prop. While Weinberger did not directly address those allegations at the meeting, his spokesperson Jordan Redell issued a statement dismissing them. The city’s “effort (to create the racial equity, inclusion and belonging department) far surpasses the steps taken by any other Vermont municipality or even the State of Vermont itself,” Redell said. “The Mayor is currently very focused on supporting the department through this critical transition to ensure the momentum of the last two years is not lost.” Weinberger previously faced criticism for removing Green, a
black woman, as the leader of an effort to analyze how the city could reform policing and replacing her with Darren Springer, the manager of the city’s electric utility and a white man. The mayor later called that move a mistake and reinstated Green. During her roughly two years working for the city, Green oversaw the racial equity office as it grew from a staff of one to 15 full-time employees, according to a press release from Weinberger’s office. She also helped organize grants for businesses in the city owned by people of color and helped lead racial equity workshops for city employees. The published poet and writer came to Vermont from Minnesota, where she worked for the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington as a racial equity and inclusion analyst. Prior to that, she earned a master of public affairs degree from the University
of Minnesota and worked in information technology. Green’s new position leads Minneapolis’s race and equity division, which is part of its city coordinator’s office, according to its website. The role’s duties include educating and advising city staff on matters of race. According to a posting for the job, candidates who applied before Dec. 10 received priority. The posting also asked for candidates with 10 years of experience and listed a salary range of $122,460 to $145,165. A spokesperson for the city of Minneapolis did not respond to questions by publication time. “I am grateful for Tyeastia’s service to Burlington through two incredibly challenging and important years and wish her success and happiness in her home City of Minneapolis,” Weinberger said in a statement.
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Page 12 •
Middlebury suspends Russia program, urges students to return to U.S.
Williston Observer
•
March 3, 2022
BY TALIA HEISEY VTDigger
As Western nations choke Russian air travel and the number of flights departing the country dwindles, Middlebury College students studying abroad in Russia are being told to leave the country as soon as possible — before they are unable to. Twelve students are currently studying in Russia through the program known as the Middlebury School in Russia — three from Middlebury and nine from other colleges — according to college spokesperson Sarah Ray. The program is located in two cities — Moscow, the nation’s capital, and Irkutsk, one of the largest cities in Siberia. “Given the very limited availability of international flights out of Russia, and the U.S. Department of State’s authorization for family members and nonessential embassy staff to return to the U.S., we feel that it is time for students to leave the country,” Nana Tsikhelashvili, associate professor and director of Middlebury School in Russia, said Monday in a press release. The scramble comes as several European nations and Canada over the weekend escalated their sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine by closing their airspace to Russian planes. The United States urged Americans to consider leaving. Dartmouth College’s Russian language study abroad program in St. Petersburg has not been running this spring, according to spokesperson Diana Law-
The Middlebury College campus in Vermont’s Addison County. Middlebury is recalling students studying in Russia mid-semester amid increasing international sanctions against the country over its invasion of Ukraine. PHOTO COURTESY OF MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE
rence. University of Vermont spokesperson Enrique Corredera did not respond to a request for comment about whether any UVM students were studying in Russia. At the Middlebury School in Russia, participating students have been in Russia since late January or early February, according to a program description. They must take at least two years of Russian
language and can study at the Irkutsk State University or at several institutions in Moscow. The college has encouraged students to leave the country by any possible route, particularly through flying to nearby countries such as Turkey, Armenia, Serbia, India or the United Arab Emirates. The school will also lend students
money to cover the costs of travel and airfare as needed, though they will be expected to pay it back. In addition to travel, students will have to coordinate if there will be extra housing costs for leaving midsemester. “It is very unfortunate that your time in Russia has been cut short, and so abruptly,” Tsikhelashvili said in the release. “The staff and I remain available to assist you, and we will continue our communication throughout the semester, even once you’ve left the country.” Upon arriving back in the United States, students can take remote online classes to finish the semester or withdraw from the program, though they will not be refunded, Tsikhelashvili said. The school’s president, Laurie Patton, sent an email to the Middlebury community condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Russia’s aggression against its democratic neighbor is a violation of international law, made only more egregious by its escalation in the face of international condemnation,” Patton wrote. “I join that condemnation in solidarity with our Middlebury community.” The school has been working with students “from “Ukraine, Russia, and surrounding states to support them and their families,” Patton said. Throughout this week, Middlebury will also be running five virtual and in-person events focusing on helping students respond to and understand the invasion and its context, in addition to other events being planned for the near future.
Russian alcohol pulled from Vermont shelves Donate Your Stuff to Help Build Homes!
BY FRED THYS VTDigger
If you have clothing, furniture, or appliances you no longer need, donate them to the Habitat ReStore! Proceeds from the sale of your donation will help build affordable homes in Chittenden County.
Gov. Phil Scott ordered the state liquor and lottery commissioner on Monday to remove all Russian-owned products from the shelves of state agent stores. Scott issued the order, announced in a press release, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. New Hampshire has also suspended all sales of Russian liquor from its state-run stores, and the invasion has sparked numerous sanctions against Russia, from closing airspace to Russian flights to blocking the country’s ability to move money through the international banking system. President Biden also aimed financial sanctions directly at Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, who ordered the invasion. “There are few things individual states
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can do alone, but I am heartened by the overwhelming and united response from the Free World in support of the people of Ukraine,” Scott said. “Vermonters are inspired by the bravery, courage and sacrifice of those who seek nothing more than the freedom to determine their own futures. The Ukrainian people are fighting for the same values we believe in, and we must come together to support them.” Scott also ordered the suspension of purchases from Russian-owned distilleries. Russia is Vermont’s 11th biggest importer, an amount that has increased by 23 percent from 2019-20, according to federal data. The governor said he will issue an executive order later this week detailing further action and state sanctions Vermont will pursue to respond to what in a statement he called “the illegal and heinous Putin invasion of Ukraine.”
March 3, 2022 •
Williston Observer
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Page 13
VT towns approve big water infrastructure projects BY EMMA COTTON VTDigger
Federal funding is likely behind a flurry of approvals for big upgrades to municipal water and infrastructure systems around the state. Dozens of municipalities in Vermont are working to upgrade their water infrastructure using federal funds that can be delivered to towns in a variety of ways. To use that money, towns need approval from those living locally, and several cities and towns asked voters to authorize their plans this Town Meeting Day. In Colchester, voters approved an $11.5 million bond to build a municipal sewer system for 289 residents in Malletts Bay by a 2,027-839 vote. The project, which is estimated to cost $16.7 million, is designed to stop pollution from failed septic systems that leak into the bay, which is part of Lake Champlain. The measure has been controversial for years; voters declined to approve a bond in 2019. Those who oppose have cited concerns about the effectiveness of a sewer system and potential development that the upgraded system could encourage. This time, town residents outside of the project area won’t be on the hook for costs of the project — it would be funded solely by “grants and user fees from the 289 properties within the service area,” a letter
Pipes carrying clean water out of the Champlain Water District’s Peter L. Jacob Water Treatment Facility in South Burlington are seen in this 2020 file photo. VTDIGGER FILE PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL
from the Colchester Selectboard to residents says. Town officials have been grappling with wastewater in the area since the 1960s. While levels of e. coli bacteria often exceed the state standard in rivers and streams, it’s rarer for high levels to appear in lakes because of dilution and exposure to ultraviolet light, according to a 2015 de-
termination from Vermont’s Department of Environmental Conservation, outlined in a Colchester town report. But levels of e.coli in Malletts Bay have occasionally exceeded the standard. In Vergennes, residents voted 384-60 to approve a $25.5 million bond for a massive overhaul of the town’s outdated sewer collection system and wastewater treatment
plant. The project won’t immediately move forward — the voters’ blessing will spur town officials to pursue more grant funding. The project is designed to stop untreated sewage overflows into the Otter Creek, which eventually reaches Lake Champlain. An explainer about the project on the city’s website urged voters to consider its urgency, especially due to the sources of funding from grants. “To be eligible for additional grants and loans, the City needs to be able to demonstrate the availability of matching funds,” the site says. “Passing a bond will demonstrate that commitment.” Montpelier voters approved $7.2 million for the reconstruction of East State Street. It will include both a new water and sewer distribution system, which will cost $3.2 million, and another $4 million for improvements to the roadway, sidewalk and bicycle infrastructure. Town officials plan to use state infrastructure financing and grants as they’re available to help reduce those costs for residents. Manchester voted overwhelmingly in favor of three ballot items that will allow the town to expand the its public sewer and water systems, including a $1.9 million bond to expand the public sewer system and a $1.27 million bond to expand public water.
Burlington voters back infrastructure projects, reject tax increase BY JACK LYONS VTDigger Burlington voters gave mixed support to Democratic Mayor Miro Weinberger’s agenda Tuesday and signed off on two other ballot items in the city’s annual election. Voters rejected a 5.5 percent hike in the municipal tax rate, but approved a $23.8 million capital bond and $25.9 million “TIF” bond to upgrade Main Street, as well as the Burlington School District’s $98.2 million budget and a measure that would bar the City Council from regulating sex work. While Weinberger said he was heartened by the success of the two infrastructure bonds, the results of the election will require a shift in strategy if the city hopes to weather historically high inflation without dropping services or laying off employees, the mayor warned. “It won’t be easy,” Weinberger told reporters during a post-election gathering at Halvorson’s Upstreet Cafe. “This may be, in some ways, the toughest operating budget of any that I’ve been in charge of for the last 10 years.” Weinberger said he couldn’t commit to avoiding layoffs for city employees as a tool to balance the budget. “It’s too early to make blanket statements about where we’re going to land exactly with services and personnel,” the mayor said. “It’ll certainly be my goal to retain both as much as possible.” The 5.5 percent municipal tax rate increase was rejected by 52 percent of voters, despite assurances by city officials that it would not raise the rate of their property taxes due to a surplus in the state’s Education Fund.
Yet, because many homeowners saw the values of their home skyrocket during the city’s reappraisal last year, a property tax rate decrease doesn’t necessarily mean a property tax decrease. Still, 70 percent of voters approved a measure that is set to raise their property taxes for the next decade: the $23.8 million capital bond. The 70 percent support gave the measure more than the two-thirds threshold it needed to pass. The success of that measure was a significant win for the mayor after a $40 million version of the ballot item failed in a December special election. Weinberger credited the slimmer version’s victory to a 90 percent decrease in the amount slated for the upkeep of Memorial Auditorium, as well as a more focused allocation of the cash dedicated to drawing down federal funds. Voters showed 62 percent support for a separate bond that would renovate Main Street from Battery to South Union streets. That bond — unlike the capital one — is not projected to raise the property tax rate, because it is paid for with the added tax revenue brought in by new development in the area. Weinberger said the two infrastructure bonds were his administration’s priority, because they had longer-term impacts on the city than the budget squeeze presented by the failure of the tax rate increase. “We were hoping to get all three. If we had to choose (one ballot item to not pass), this is the one that I think we’re most able to manage and still stay true to our priorities,” Weinberger said. Also on the ballot, the Burlington School District’s budget of $98.2 million passed with 76 percent of the vote, while a proposed char-
ter change removing the City Council’s power to regulate sex work won 63 percent of the vote. That measure now heads to Montpelier for final approval by the Legislature and the governor. Burlington’s indebtedness is slated to grow this November, when school officials ask voters to approve a bond financing the construction of a new high school. Officials expect the price tag on the new facility to range from $161 million to $207 million, they announced late Tuesday afternoon, but Weinberger stressed that the city won’t borrow money for the building’s entire cost.
While Weinberger maintained that the election’s outcomes were overall a strong win for his party, he acknowledged that the failure of the municipal tax rate increase — which he said was necessary to account for record inflation — left his administration with some soul-searching to do between now and the start of the new fiscal year in July. “Many Burlington residents have had to sit down at the dinner table and get out calculators and work on their household budgets, and they want us doing the same thing with next year’s city budget,” Weinberger said. “I respect that, and we’re going to work hard at that.”
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Williston Observer
• March 3, 2022
Maple Open House Weekend returns, expands
After a two-year hiatus, the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association will expand the annual Vermont Maple Open House over two weekends this year. The event is planned March 19-20 and March 26-27, giving people a chance to learn about maple surgaring, taste maple syrup and tour sugaring operations. Other traditional open house activities include pancake breakfasts, horse-drawn sleigh rides, sugar-on-snow parties and samples of treats like maple donuts, maple cotton candy and maple creemees. In the past, over 135 maple producers and partnering businesses welcomed visitors for the event; about 40,000 visitors toured the state during 2019’s event. The Vermont Maple Sugar
Makers’ Association, founded in 1893, is one of the oldest agricultural organizations in the United States and represents over 1,000
NEARBY Sugartree Maple Farm 787 Bradley Lane, • Williston 802-872-2664 Mountainview Mapleworks at the Giroux Family Farm 1324 Kenyon Rd • Richmond 802-434-5198
Sugartree Maple Farm in Williston will be taking part in this year’s Maple Open House. OBSERVER CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
members in the state, promoting and protecting the branding of pure Vermont maple products. More information about Ver-
Purinton Maple 190 Pond Road • Huntington 802-434-4385 Mountainside Maple 7926 Main Road • Huntington 802-434-7415 mont Maple Open House Weekend can be found at www.vermontmaple.org.
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Guard members deploy to D.C. Approximately 100 Vermont Army National Guard soldiers have deployed to Washington D.C. to support security operations at the U.S. Capitol building and surrounding area. The soldiers join about 600 other guard service members from around the country deployed to conduct traffic control, including restricting truck traffic at points of entry to the Capitol Complex. “Their sense of service is admirable, and I know they will represent Vermont well, just as they did last year when they helped ensure the peaceful transfer of power during the presidential inauguration,” Gov. Phil Scott said. Back home, Vermont National Guard leaders and Vermont Emergency Management personnel will welcome a delegation from North Macedonia in
early March. The groups will discuss plans and practices for disaster and incident response. “Our goal for the week is to share what we have learned with this team from North Macedonia as they continue to build capacity in their preparation for disaster response,” said Lt. Col. Jason Galipeau, director of domestic operations for the Vermont National Guard. The group will visit disaster response training sites and various agencies across the state. The Vermont National Guard has partnered with North Macedonia since 1993 and conducts about 20 military trainings and deployments together each year. The country is the newest member of NATO, having formally joined in 2020, and is working to modernize civil and defense institutions.
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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 Shaw’s Shell Gas Station (Essex Rd) Simon’s Mobil Williston Simply Divine Café Sonesta Sunoco Station Town of Williston Offices UPS Store Williston Coffee Shop If you would like copies for your location call Rick Cote at (802) 373-2136 or email Rick@WillistonObserver.com
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March 3, 2022 •
The Dorothy Alling Memorial Library is open for in-person service during the following hours: • Monday/Wednesday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. • Tuesday/Thursday/ Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. • Saturday, • 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Visit www.damlvt.org to place holds, apply for a card, renew materials, get programming updates and access digital offerings. Public wifi is available 24/7 from the patio. Ages 2 and up must wear a mask inside the building.
YOUTH PROGRAMS
Children in fourth grade and younger must be supervised by a person over 16 years of age. Register for programs online at www. damlvt.org or by calling 878-4918. GOLDEN DOME BOOK DISCUSSION Monday, March 7, 3-4 p.m. Grades 3 and up. Chat about your favorite Golden Dome nominees. STORY TIME ON THE GREEN Tuesdays, March 8 and 15, 10:30-11 a.m. Join Danielle for outdoor stories, rhymes and songs. AFTER-SCHOOL MOVIE Wednesday, March 9, 2 p.m. Grades 3 and up. Watch a live action/computer-animated musical comedy starring three adorable chipmunks. (Rated PG, 1 hour 32 minutes.) PRESCHOOL MUSIC Thursdays, March 10 and 17, 10:30-11 a.m. Ages birth to 5. Sing and dance with musician Linda Bassick. LEGO TIME Thursday, March 10, 3-4 p.m. Grades K-4. Build with the library’s LEGOs. PAJAMA STORY TIME ONLINE Friday, March 11, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Join Bonnie on Zoom for
nighttime stories, songs and rhymes. Pre-K to early elementary. Pajamas encouraged! PRESCHOOL STORY TIME Monday, March 14, 10:3011:30 a.m. Come to the library for stories, songs and crafts with Bonnie. TEEN NIGHT: JACKBOX. TV GAMES Monday, March 14, 5-6 p.m. Grades 7 and up. Bring your phone or other device and join us at the library for a gaming tournament. AFTER SCHOOL STEAM FUN Wednesday, March 16, 2-3 p.m. Grades 3 and up. Enjoy hands-on science activities. KIDS IN THE KITCHEN (ONLINE) Thursday, March 17, 4-5 p.m. Make something yummy with a Hannaford Dietitian. Grades 1-5 and caregivers. Register to receive the recipe and a Zoom invitation.
MULTI-AGE PROGRAMS VERMONT READS Pick up a copy of this year’s Vermont Reads selection, “We Contain Multitudes” by Sarah Henstra, and join us for special programs being held this spring. FRENCH CONVERSATION Saturday, March 12, 10:3011:30 a.m. Join native speaker Roman Feuillette at the library for an informal discussion group. All ages and abilities welcome.
PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS
Online programs are held via Zoom. Email programs@damlvt. org or call 878-4918 to receive an invitation, unless online registration is specified. ADULT CRAFT KIT Butterfly Wreaths. Pick up a kit to brighten your room with butterflies. ONLINE MEDITATION Fridays, March 4 and 11, 12-
Williston Observer
• Page 15
12:30 p.m. Maryellen Crangle leads a short Zoom meditation. MAH-JONGG Friday, March 4, 1-3 p.m. Play at the library with other community members. All skill levels welcome. ONLINE CURRENT EVENTS DISCUSSION Wednesday, March 9, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Meet to discuss newsworthy topics. COOKING MATTERS: UNIVERSAL CLASS SPANISH COOKING Wednesday, March 9, 12-1 p.m. Step through any of 12 online classes to learn the basics of Spanish cooking. Meet at the library to discuss. Register at www. damlvt.org. SPANISH CONVERSATION ONLINE Wednesday, March 9, 4-5 p.m. Join our online guided conversation. All levels welcome. Register at www.damlvt.org. AFTER-HOURS BOOK CLUB: GRAPHIC NOVEL NIGHT Wednesday, March 9, 6:307:30 p.m. Discover our graphic novel collection. Join us at the library to discuss “Maus: A Survivor’s Tale” by Art Spiegelman. Print copies available. Register at www.damlvt.org. NEW PERSPECTIVES BOOK DISCUSSION ONLINE Tuesday, March 15, 12-1 p.m. Join us to discuss “The Beauty in Breaking” by Michele Harper. Available as an eBook in LUV/Overdrive or in print from the library. WOLF PEACHES, POISONED PEAS AND MADAME POMPADOUR’S UNDERWEAR Wednesday, March 16, 6-7 p.m. In-person event. Rebecca Rupp shares stories behind some favorite garden vegetables. A Vermont Humanities Council series hosted by the library. Register at www.damlvt.org.
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Page 16 •
Williston Observer
•
March 3, 2022
release dates: March 5-11, 2022
10 (22)
Next Week:
U.S. territories
Issue 10, 2022
Founded by Betty Debnam
Mini Fact:
Luck o’ the Irish to You!
Leprechauns are said to be trickster fairies who hide their treasures at the ends of rainbows.
St. Patrick’s Day is March 17. From leprechauns to rainbows and gold, many things come to mind when we think of this national holiday in Ireland, including the color green. The Mini Page takes a look at St. Patrick’s Day and leprechauns.
St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick was a missionary in Ireland during the 5th century. He was taken there to work in the country when he was a teenager. After he returned to his home in Britain, he believed he was called to go back to Ireland and spread Christianity. People began celebrating St. Patrick by having religious feasts on March 17 many centuries ago.
Leprechauns
Ireland is famous for its folklore, or traditional stories that are passed down from generation to generation. A favorite symbol of Ireland is the leprechaun (pronounced LEP-ruhcon), and it is often associated with St. Patrick’s Day. Leprechauns are said to be mysterious and magical beings. According to Irish legend, leprechauns live in the countryside and are rarely seen by people.
Most pictures of leprechauns show jolly little elves with pink cheeks and smiles. Folklore experts say leprechauns are believed to be small. Their clothing is usually untidy and shabby. They might wear an old blue or green coat, short pants, woolen stockings and a wide-brimmed hat or stocking cap. Leprechauns are thought to be mischievous, and they like to play tricks on humans. Some people say leprechauns try to teach valuable lessons with their tricks. It was once a tradition for Irish people to leave milk, cheese, bread or other foods on their doorsteps at night to keep the local leprechaun from making mischief, or trouble, at the home. Leprechauns make their homes in abandoned barns or churches, or in the woods or in caves.
Humans and leprechauns
Legend says that when the Vikings left Ireland, they left some of their buried treasure behind in the countryside. Some say the leprechauns decided to keep it so humans wouldn’t fight over it.
Magical coins
It’s said a leprechaun will promise great wealth to a person who catches him if he’s allowed to go free. He carries two leather pouches. One contains a silver shilling. This coin reappears in his pouch each time it is paid out. The other pouch holds a gold coin, which the leprechaun uses to try and bribe his way out of difficult situations. This coin may turn to leaves or ashes as soon as he gives it away.
Pot of gold
Some say leprechauns are experts at hiding their treasure. But to their dismay, rainbows sometimes give away their hiding places. Humans can tell where a leprechaun’s treasure is hidden by following a rainbow to its end.
Music
Some folklore tells tales of leprechauns loving music. People say leprechauns can remember tunes that have been forgotten by humans. Some of the instruments leprechauns are said to like to play are the harp, fiddle and Irish pipes.
Resources On the Web:
• bit.ly/MPStPatrick
At the library:
• “Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day: History, Traditions, and Activities” by John O’Brien Jr. • “St. Patrick’s Day” by Gail Gibbons
The Mini Page® © 2022 Andrews McMeel Syndication
Nancy
BY OLIVIA JAIMES
Try ’n’ Find
Mini Jokes
Words that remind us of St. Patrick’s Day are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find: COINS, FOLKLORE, GOLD, HARP, IRELAND, IRISH, LEGEND, LEPRECHAUN, LESSONS, MAGICAL, MISCHIEF, MISSIONARY, PATRICK, PIPES, RAINBOW, SAINT, SYMBOL.
E F M H A R P N E Y
S C I S T W Y B G C
E F S N N O J W W O
P O C O I B Y D N I
I L H S A N R N U N
P K I S S I A A A S
P L E E Y A N L H K
A O F L C R O E C W
T R J M U K I R E K
R E L V A H S I R I
I L O P P G S C P M
Tim: How is a good friend like a four-leaf clover? Tara: They’re hard to find!
C N B F G D I K E S
K F M J Q L M C L X
I W Y B C O Z M A Y
Z S S L E G E N D L
Eco Note Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service says the past seven years have been the hottest on record, with 2021 coming in as the world’s fifth-hottest year. A new report says the trend is obvious “by a clear margin” and that the average
behind in the countryside. Some say the leprechauns decided to keep it so humans wouldn’t fight over it.
beings. According to Irish legend, leprechauns live in the countryside and are rarely seen by people.
Traditions, and Activities” by John O’Brien Jr. • “St. Patrick’s Day”• by Gail Observer Gibbons • Page 17 March 3, 2022 Williston
The Mini Page® © 2022 Andrews McMeel Syndication
Try ’n’ Find
Mini Jokes
Words that remind us of St. Patrick’s Day are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find: COINS, FOLKLORE, GOLD, HARP, IRELAND, IRISH, LEGEND, LEPRECHAUN, LESSONS, MAGICAL, MISCHIEF, MISSIONARY, PATRICK, PIPES, RAINBOW, SAINT, SYMBOL.
E F M H A R P N E Y
S C I S T W Y B G C
E F S N N O J W W O
P O C O I B Y D N I
I L H S A N R N U N
P K I S S I A A A S
P L E E Y A N L H K
A O F L C R O E C W
T R J M U K I R E K
R E L V A H S I R I
I L O P P G S C P M
Tim: How is a good friend like a four-leaf clover? Tara: They’re hard to find!
C N B F G D I K E S
K F M J Q L M C L X
I W Y B C O Z M A Y
Z S S L E G E N D L
Eco Note Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service says the past seven years have been the hottest on record, with 2021 coming in as the world’s fifth-hottest year. A new report says the trend is obvious “by a clear margin” and that the average global temperature last year was 1.1 to 1.2 degrees Celsius above 1850-1900 levels. Researchers say the top 6,600 feet of the oceans were the hottest on record during 2021.
Mini Spy Classics
Mini Spy Classics appear in the first issue of each month.
• • • • •
kite pencil snake number 3 net
• • • • •
alligator letter D word MINI letter O ruler
• • • • •
ladder bell heart tooth letter A
On Feb. 12, Demarre was charged in federal court in Oregon for interfering with a flight crew in an incident that happened on a Delta flight. During that trip, KSL-TV reported, Demarre allegedly “removed the plastic covering of the emergency exit handle and pulled on the handle with his full body weight,” witnesses said. Demarre was moved to the back of the plane and restrained until the flight landed and police took him into custody. Demarre said he grabbed the handle “so other pas-
sengers would video him, thereby giving him the opportunity to share his thoughts on COVID-19 vaccines.” He will remain in custody until his court hearing.
Oops A French dad in the town of Messanges was desperate to limit his kids’ internet time, so he employed the use of a scrambler, which blocks connection to the web, the New York Post reported on Feb. 17. Unfortunately, the powerful tool also blocked the
adapted with permission from Earthweek.com
For later: Look in your newspaper for articles about St. Patrick’s Day.
Teachers:
Follow and interact with The Mini Page on Facebook!
• exclamation point
News of the Weird Unruly Passenger
The Mini Page® © 2022 Andrews McMeel Syndication
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 and her friends are playing baseball. See if you can find the hidden pictures. Then color the picture.
connections of the rest of the town and beyond — and now he faces up to six months in prison and a fine of up to $34,000. Authorities said the unnamed man just wanted to block the internet between midnight and 3 a.m., but when neighbors started reporting their outages, the local service providers investigated.
Inexplicable On Feb. 10, as a 38-year-old man walked with a friend and his two children in Frauenfeld,
Switzerland, he felt an unexplained sharp pain in his lower body. Later, at the emergency room, doctors discovered he had been shot, Oddity Central reported. But the man and his companions heard no gunshot and saw no one with a firearm: “An accident, a crime, a shot fired from afar — we’re not ruling anything out at the moment,” said Matthias Graf, a police spokesman. Investigators are hoping the public can help; for now, they believe an air gun or a small-caliber weapon was used from a great distance, as a larger bullet would have caused more damage. The man is recovering.
Great Art? The Associated Press reported on Feb. 10 that a bored security guard at an art gallery in Ekaterinburg, Russia, lent his own artistic hand to an avant-garde painting by Anna Leporskaya, adding “eyes” to two of the three faces in the painting “Three Figures.” The Yeltsin Center revealed that the vandalism occurred on Dec. 7, and the painting was returned to the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, which owns it, for restoration. The guard, who worked for a private company providing security, used a ballpoint pen to make the small circles. The unnamed guard could face up to three months in prison.
Page 18 •
Williston Observer
•
March 3, 2022
SENIORS
Cheap smartphone plans for scrimping seniors Savvy Senior By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior, Can you direct me to some really cheap wireless smartphone plans for seniors who don’t use much data? I use my smartphone primarily for texting and talking but need some data for checking my email and a few other things when I’m away from Wifi. Right now, I pay $30 per month but am looking for a better deal. Senior Scrimper
Green Burials
creases in talk time or data can be added in $1 increments. Tello uses the T-Mobile network and gives you the option to bring your existing phone or purchase a new device, while keeping your same phone number if you wish. If you want to keep your phone, it must be unlocked. Just enter your phone’s ID (press *#06# on your keypad to get it) on Tello’s website to make sure that it’s compatible with the network. Another super cheap plan to consider is the annual prepaid plan offered through Boost Mobile (www.BoostMobile.com). For only $100 per year (or $8.33 per month) this plan provides unlimited talk, text and 1 gigabyte of 5G or 4G data each month. If you need more data, their $150 annual plan ($12.50/month) gets
Dear Scrimper, There are several super cheap wireless providers I can recommend for older smartphone users who are looking to save money by paring down their cell phone plan. Here are three of the cheapest options available that you can switch to without sacrificing the quality of your service. CHEAPEST WIRELESS PLANS
For extremely light smartphone data users, the very cheapest wireless plan available today is through Tello (www.Tello.com), which lets you build your own plan based on your needs or budget. For as little as $6 per month you can get unlimited texting, 100 minutes of talk time and 500 megabytes of high-speed data. In-
The practice of natural or “green” burials dates back thousands of years. The principle behind this practice is to follow the natural cycle of life. Green burials provide a reduced environmental impact, as well as the benefits of land preservation and affordability. To learn more, contact us today.
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you 5 GB. Boost Mobile uses the T-Mobile and AT&T networks and lets you use your existing phone (if compatible) or buy a new one. A third option to look into is Mint Mobile (www.MintMobile. com), which is recommended by Consumer Reports and has one of the best values for a cheap plan. Mint offers a $15-per-month plan (plus taxes & fees) that provides unlimited talk and text, and 4 GB of 5G/4G data each month. It too uses the T-Mobile network and will let you use your existing phone (if compatible) or buy a new one. LIFELINE PROGRAM
If your income is low enough, another option you should check into is the Lifeline Assistance Program. This is a federal program that provides a $9.25 monthly subsidy that could go toward your phone or internet service. To qualify, you’ll need to show that you’re receiving certain types of government benefits such as Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps), Social Security, public housing assistance, veterans’ pension and survivors’ benefit, or that you live on federally recognized tribal lands. Or, if your annual household income is at or below 135 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines — $17,388 for one person, or $23,517 for two — you’re also eligible. To check your eligibility or apply, visit www.LifelineSupport. org. If you do qualify, contact a wireless provider in your area that participates in the Lifeline program and sign up for service with them. You can also ask your current company to apply your Lifeline benefit to a service you are already getting, if it offers the benefit.
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Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit S a v v yS e nior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
March 3, 2022 •
Williston Observer
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Page 19
CROSSWORD • SOLUTION ON PAGE 22
Almanac ANDREWS
MCMEEL
TODAY’S HISTORY: • In 1845, Florida was admitted as the 27th U.S. state. • In 1931, President Herbert Hoover signed a congressional resolution adopting “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the U.S. national anthem. • In 1991, an amateur videographer captured the beating and arrest of construction worker Rodney King by Los Angeles police officers after a high-speed car chase. • In 2005, American millionaire Steve Fossett made the first solo, nonstop, unrefueled flight around the world in a fixed-wing aircraft. TODAY’S FACT: • “The Star-Spangled Banner” is set to the tune of “To Anacreon in Heaven,” a piece originally composed around 1775 as the official song of the Anacreontic Society, an English musicians’ club.
Yum! We love these hand held frittatas made in a cupcake tin! Perfect for a crew, or a great nutritious, protein-packed breakfast at the ready. Just pop in the microwave and you’re good to go. Make this recipe your own by picking your favorite veggies; like spinach and red pepper, or kale and sweet potatoes. Grated Shelburne Farms aged cheddar adds rich cheesy goodness.
Breakfast Frittata Cupcakes Ingredients:
Directions:
10 eggs
In a large bowl, combine the eggs, milk, salt and pepper and whisk until totally combined.
1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup grated Shelburne Farms cheddar cheese 2 cups cooked veggies (you can use leftovers from dinner or frozen veggies here!) 2 cups cubed whole wheat bread 1 tsp salt Fresh cracked pepper
In a greased muffin tin, place a few cubes of bread and a small amount of veggies into each cup. Pour in the egg mixture so the cups are a little more than 3/4 of the way full. Top each cup with cheddar cheese. Place in a 350 degree oven for 15-25 minutes. The frittatas should puff up slightly and be golden brown on the top. Let cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pan. Makes 12 cupcakes. Keep them in your fridge and reheat them in the microwave!
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Page 20
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Williston Observer
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March 3, 2022
Forcing spring bulbs to bloom
BY BONNIE KIRN DONAHUE Special to the Observer
Watching the first flowering bulbs appear from the thawing ground is one of my favorite things to do in spring. Luckily we don’t have to wait all winter to have spring blooms. A great way to do this at home is by forcing bulbs. Forcing bulbs means tricking plants into thinking it is time to bloom. Some bulbs, such as tulips, daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths, require a lengthy simulated experience of a cold, dark winter followed by simulating a warm spring, to bloom. However, paperwhites and amaryllis can be forced faster without the weeks of artificial winter. Paperwhites will bloom within four to six weeks after potting, while amaryllis can take up to eight weeks. Select a container with a hole at the bottom for draining excess water. Fill the container with moistened potting soil, and plant the bulbs (pointed tip side up), making sure that the roots have 2-3 inches of room below to spread out. Amaryllis bulbs are large and only one may fit in a 6-8inch pot. Multiple amaryllis bulbs can be planted in larger diameter containers. Paperwhites are smaller bulbs and can be planted closely together. For amaryllis, select a container that will allow 2-3 inches of soil under the bulb, while leaving the top third of the bulb
Amaryllis bulbs produce large, showy blooms, above, a great way to brighten up a home in late winter or spring. When placed in a bright, warm location and watered as needed, paperwhites, right, will bloom in 4-6 weeks. OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTOS
Bonnie Kirn Donahue is a UVM Extension Master Gardener and landscape designer from central Vermont.
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exposed. Paperwhites only need their tips exposed. To make the soil easier to work with, moisten it prior to planting. Instead of soil, these bulbs also can be grown in clear glass jars or vases over decorative glass marbles or stones. Place 2-3 inches of stones at the bottom of the container. Place the bulbs on top, and add water until it just touches the roots. The bulbs should not be submerged. Place the potted bulbs in a bright, warm location, making sure to water as needed. After the bulbs have flowered, it is very important to cut back the flowering stem as soon as the bloom wilts. Cut the stem a few inches above the bulb, leaving the leaves. Doing this will allow the bulb to pull energy gathered in the leaves back into the bulb to put toward larger flowers the following year. Amaryllis can rebloom indoors year after year with proper care. After the leaves have dried and the bulb has gone dormant, store your bulbs in a cool, dry place with plenty of airflow. It may be late in the season to order bulbs for growing indoors, so try your local garden center, farm supply or grocery store. For more information, check out www.go.uvm.edu/paperwhite-narcissus for paperwhites and www.go.uvm.edu/growing-amaryllis for amaryllis.
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Williston
March 3, 2022 •
Edwin Elijah Alexander Edwin Elijah Alexander (born Aug. 18, 1953) died at home on Wednesday February 23, 2022, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer over 2 ½ years ago. Many loved ones were present to sit with him in peace, tenderness and warmth at his time of death. One of 11 children born to Wayne and Martha Alexander, Ed grew up in Jericho, graduating from Mt. Mansfield Union High School in 1971. He had a wonderful childhood on Steeplebush Hill, hunting and playing pond hockey with his siblings and friends. Ed briefly attended the US Air Force Academy, and graduated from UVM in 1976 with a degree in Secondary Education, Mathematics. He began a 35-year teaching career, first at Colchester Jr. High School and then at Mt. Mansfield Union HS, also serving as MMU’s Athletic Director from 1986-1991. Ed worked hard at his career — he was a rigorous teacher who imparted much humor into his classes, often commenting that his work was “part teacher, part entertainer.” After happily retiring from teaching in 2012, Ed enjoyed his retirement years at his log cabin in Fairfax, VT with his wife Sandy and their son Elijah (age 14). Ed married Susan Turcotte in 1979 and together they raised two sons, Tyler (1984) and Matthew (1987) in Richmond. He was remarried to Sandy Borrelli in 2005 and was blessed with a third son, Elijah (2007). Ed was an incredible father — Tyler, Matt and Elijah were his favorite people on Earth. He was very close to each of his boys and collectively they built many cherished memories. Ed’s spirit will live on in these three wonderful men. One of Ed’s great passions was baseball, and he spent many years playing and coaching the sport. He proudly coached his younger brothers in Jericho Little League and served as the JV baseball coach at MMU for
5 years. Later, he coached his older sons from T-ball through Babe Ruth in Richmond, and finally did it all over again 20 years later for Elijah in Fairfax. He had many fond memories of all the players he was fortunate to coach over this 46-year span, and they will remember him for his enthusiastic coaching style and baseball Ed-isms such as “golden nugget,” “bunting wins ball games,” and a crowd favorite, “Get back, Jojo!” Ed was an avid outdoorsman, passionate about hunting and fishing. He cherished the time spent with his father, uncles, brothers, sons, nephews and friends at their family hunting camp in Wheelock, VT. Ed relished being able to cut all his own firewood to heat his home, and would often comment about the “happy little woodpile” basking in the warmth of a sunny day. He loved tapping trees and making maple syrup out of the little sugarhouse attached to the barn, and was pleased to share these hobbies with all three of his sons. Summers were precious — if Ed wasn’t cutting wood or building yet another woodshed, Ed, Sandy and Elijah could be found spending time swimming with family at Shadow Lake in Glover or hiking and biking with friends at Acadia National Park in Maine. Ed also enjoyed tending his vegetable garden, reading non-fiction books and completing crossword puzzles. Ed was predeceased by his
OBITUARIES
parents Wayne and Martha. He is survived by his wife Sandy and son Elijah of Fairfax, his sons Tyler (Aimee) of Derby and Matthew (Christie) of Hartford, and 3 grandchildren, Caroline, Grant and Owen. Ed leaves behind his 10 siblings: Joan of Glover; Lisa (Dan) of New Boston, NH; Cedric (Susan) of Cabot; Laura (Paul) of West Wareham, MA; Mary (Danny) of Richmond; Martha (Chris) of Richmond, Peter (Jeanne) of Derby; Paul (Lesley) of Waterbury; Wesley (Darlene) of Glover and Julie (Thomas) of Nice, France. He is also survived by Sandy’s parents Barbara (Frank) Gullison and Skip Borrelli, her sisters and their families, several aunts, uncles and cousins, and many (many!) nieces and nephews. Finally, Ed leaves behind some very dear friends, most notably Dave Adams (Gene) of Jericho and Nate Muehl (Kathi) of Fairfax. The family was supported and lifted up by more people than we could possibly acknowledge. The family appreciates every kindness that has been extended over the years. A final extra special thank you to Janet Ely, N.P., who went above and beyond her call of duty to support Ed over the last few months. All are welcome to join a celebration of Ed’s life on March 19, 2022 at 2 P.M. at the Jericho Congregational Church in Jericho Center, where masking is respectfully requested. Please bring a written memory of Ed that you can share or drop into the Memory Box. Those who prefer may instead join a livestream of the celebration on the Jericho Congregational Church YouTube page. A private family graveside service will be held in the spring at Westlook Cemetery in Glover, VT. Donations in Ed’s honor can be made to the Glover Cemetery Commission, c/o Glover Town Clerk, 51 Bean Hill Rd Glover, VT 05839 “Now he belongs to the ages.” -E.M. Stanton, 1865
Carmella Martellaro Carmella Martellaro 95, of Williston passed away peacefully at the McLure-Miller Respite House in Colchester, Vt. on February 21, 2022. Carmella was born in Macanaqau, Pa. February 17, 1927. Carmella grew up in New York and loved the city, especially Times Square. She lived in Brooklyn until 1961 when she and Albert moved with their two sons, Matthew and Stephen to the San Fernando Valley area of Los An-
geles. They lived there until 2008 when at the age of 82, they moved to Williston, Vt to be by their sons. Carmella is preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, Albert Martellaro, daughter in-law Loretta Martellaro, six sisters and one brother. A memorial mass was held Monday February 28th at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church - 7415 Williston Road-Williston.
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Christy Jean Carswell Christy Jean Carswell, 37, passed away unexpectedly Friday, February 18, 2022 at her home in Middlebury. Christy was born in Winter Garden, FL on August 26, 1984. She was the daughter of Jim and Cindy (Adams) Carswell. She grew up in Leicester where she received her early education and graduated from Otter Valley Union High School, class of 2002. She furthered her education at the University of Vermont. She began her working career as a server at T.G.I. Friday’s in Burlington and for the past 15 years was employed at LongHorn Steakhouse in Williston as a bartender and server. She loved animals, especially her big dog “Benny”. Christy was a very warm and outgoing person who had a giant heart. She was always willing to help others any way she could, and always sought the best in people. She is survived by her mother; Cindy Carswell of Middlebury, 2 brothers; Justin Carswell of Burlington and Jesse Carswell & his wife Marissa of Fairfax, her maternal grandfather; Harold Adams of Brandon, her nephew; Jonah Carswell; whom she adored, 4 uncles; Ken Adams & his wife Barb of Plattsburgh, NY, Dan Adams & his wife Kristie of Pittsford, Steve Adams & Mary of Manchester, and Dave Carswell of Manchester, NH; an aunt; Linda Adams &
her partner Stephen of Goshen. Many cousins and close friends also survive her. She will be remembered by her former partner of 11 years; Kyle Lacroix of Hyde Park. She was predeceased by her father, her maternal grandmother; Becky Adams of Brandon, and her paternal grandparents Jim and Marian Carswell of Groveland, FL. The memorial service was held on Sunday, February 27, 2022, at the Miller & Ketcham Funeral Home in Brandon. Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers may be made in her memory to Jenna’s Promise at “jennaspromise.org” or to Addison County’s Humane Society at “homewardboundanimals.org”. Arrangements are under the direction of the Miller & Ketcham Funeral Home in Brandon.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Shared Living Provider Open your home to someone with an intellectual disability or autism and open a whole world to them, and to you. Working with our team of professionals, you’ll help someone live a safe and fulfilling life at home and in the community. There are a variety of opportunities available that could be the perfect match for you and your household. A $500 sign on bonus, generous stipend, paid time off, comprehensive training & supports are provided. Plus, CCS has been voted one of the Best Places to Work in Vermont for the fourth year in a row. Join us! Contact Jennifer Wolcott, jwolcott@ccs-vt.org or 655-0511 ext. 118 ccs-vt.org EOE
Page 22 •
Williston Observer
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March 3, 2022
CLASSIFIEDS
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
LEGAL TOWN OF WILLISTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA
Looking for…
Elder Care/Companion (Caregiver) Five days a week/5 hours per day in Williston. Salary is $20 per hour. Clean record, good recommendations, mobile, with many skills. For more details about the position, email: (rogerpell0147@gmail.com)
DELI
positions available in Williston Join this friendly and fun and Essex! Deli team and earn OVER…
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Champlain Community Services just raised their salaries. Significantly.
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And that’s on top of being a “Best Place to Work In Vermont” for four years running.
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Great positions in Residential Program Management ($43K) and Direct Support Professionals ($18 per hour) at an award-winning agency serving Vermonters with intellectual disabilities. Plus a $500 sign-on bonus and an incredible benefits package. Make a career making a difference. Apply today at https://ccs-vt.org/current-openings/ ccs-vt.org EOE
Zoom Meeting ID 864 8114 4825 on zoom.us/join or call 1-646-558-8656 DP 22-06 Green State Realty LLC c/o Anastasia Gaina requests pre-application review of a proposed building, storage lot, parking area and access to Route 2 including regrading of the rear (southern) bank located at 4626 Williston Road in the IZDW. Project details and site plans are available online, go to bit.ly/DRBagendas. Contact Planning & Zoning Office for more information: 802-878-6704 or email planning@willistonvt.org.legal
LEGAL TOWN OF WILLISTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA Tuesday March 22, 2022 – 7:00 PM Zoom Meeting ID 864 8114 4825 on zoom.us/join or call 1-646-558-8656 No physical location All projects that successfully completed pre-application review in calendar year 2021 are eligible for allocation per Williston Development Bylaw Chapter 11 Growth Management. The following projects have submitted a questionnaire and are eligible for consideration: Projects within the Growth Center: DP 21-12 Grey Birch LLC, 141-149 Knight Lane, 1 unit of allocation DP 21-18 Snyder Group Inc., 133 Beaudry Lane, 243 units of allocation Projects Outside of the Growth Center but Inside of the Sewer Service Area: DP 20-18 Catamount Golf, 1400 Mountain View Road, 63 units of allocation DP 22-01 Trinity Baptist Church, 300 Trinity Drive, 57 units of allocation Projects Outside of the Sewer Service Area: DP 22-01 Trinity Baptist Church, 425 Mountain View Road, 2 units of allocation Project details and site plans are available online, go to bit.ly/DRBagendas. Contact Planning & Zoning Office for more information: 802-878-6704 or email planning@willistonvt.org legal
LEGAL TOWN OF RICHMOND, VERMONT On February 22, 2022 the Town of Richmond Selectboard adopted the following Rule RULE REQUIRING WEARING FACE COVERINGS INDOORS IN PUBLIC SPACES Section 1. Authority Section 2. Purpose Section 3. Requirement to Wear Face Coverings Section 4. Exceptions Section 5. Other Laws Section 6. Severability Section 7. Effective Period The full text of the rule may be viewed at the Richmond Town Clerks Office located at 203 Bridge St. Richmond, VT 05477 and online at richmondvt.gov
PUZZLE FOUND ON PAGE 16
PUZZLE FOUND ON PAGE 17
Call Rick at 802- 373-2136 or email Rick@willistonobserver.com
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Tuesday, March 8, 2022 – 7:00 PM
Questions and comments may be directed to Town Manager Josh Arneson at 802434-5170, 203 Bridge St. (PO Box 285 mailing) Richmond, VT 05477.
To place a classified or service directory ad, email rick@williston observer.com or call (802) 373-2136
March 3, 2022 •
Williston Observer
• Page 23
SERVICE DIRECTORY CARPET CLEANER
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Talk to more potential clients! Place a service directory ad. Email rick@willistonobserver.com or call 802-373-2136
Page 24 •
Williston Observer
•
March 3, 2022
Alpine Shop to move to Shelburne Road
Ski store to vacate Williston Rd. location after nearly 60 years
The owners of Alpine Shop on Williston Road in South Burlington announced Tuesday plans to move the store to Shelburne Road. The ski shop, with its classic Swiss chalet-style building, has been a South Burlington landmark for 59 years. The new building is currently under construction near a new
Hannaford grocery store at 947 Shelburne Rd. in South Burlington. The move will take place this spring. The new store will have more space for an improved gear rental and service operation as well as more product offerings in snowsports, tennis, paddling and apparel. The shop will also add golf equipment and club fitting to its offerings. Alpine Shop was founded in 1963 and purchased 11 years ago by Andy and Becky Kingston.
“We are looking to create even more of an ‘experience’ for our customers, including providing local beverages, food and entertainment in the upcoming year,” Becky Kingston said in a news release. “Needless to say, Andy and I are both super excited and optimistic about the next chapter of Alpine Shop. Alpine Shop has been an important part of the local community and we intend to see it continue that way for many more years to come.”
Toys continued from page
1
space, so we decided to move to Williston.” The new location is spacious enough to bring back toy demos and hands-on displays, something Turner Toys used to do before the pandemic. But it was always a tight squeeze in the current store.
Voters enter the Williston Armory to cast their ballots on Tuesday morning. OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY
Vote continued from page
1
It makes sense that town and school budgets are increasing since the cost of everything else seems to be rising, he said. As a father, Howell wants the best possible education for his child. “I want to see the school thrive and be able to educate all our children there,” he said. School district voters approved a $7.5 million bond (4,040 to 1,530) to pay for a variety of upgrades across five of the district’s six school buildings. In Williston, that means a cafeteria floor upgrade, sidewalk repair, a card access system and fire alarm upgrades at Williston Central School. Voters also approved $210,000 in borrowing for two new school buses. Williston’s Tony O’Rourke supported the school’s budget. “I thought it was a reasonable budget considering the constraints and the obstacles that the school district is faced with,” he said. But he voted against the town budget, saying he supports the fire department staffing expansion, but wants other expenses to be reconsidered.
Williston resident and retired fire chief Ken Morton gets checked off on the voter registration list.
“My vote is not a complete ‘no’,” O’Rourke said. “There are some aspects that I support. It’s just a ‘no’ as (the budget) stands.” In other results, Ted Kenney won a new three-year seat on the selectboard and Greta D’Agostino won a new two-year seat in uncontested elections. Angela Arsenault won a new three-year seat on the Champlain Valley School Board. Town voters also approved — 1,311 to 454 — up to $280,000 in borrowing for a new ambulance.
The Alpine Shop, which has been a South Burlington landmark for 59 years, is moving from its Williston Road location to Shelburne Road. A new building is under construction with more space.
“We’re really excited about moving. We are looking forward to having about 30 percent more space,” Sloan said. He is also looking forward to introducing Turner Toys to a new base of potential customers. “We’re hoping to keep our existing customers but also to pick up some new ones,” he said. “We’ll be in Williston and easi-
ly accessible to Burlington and South Burlington, more so than we are here in Essex,” said Sloan. Turner Toys will occupy the unit between Healthy Living and H&R Block. With Folino’s pizza and XFinity down the way, the plaza will be fully occupied. Across the street, L.L. Bean’s store is under construction with a summer opening planned.