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Williston Observer 5/12/2022

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WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985

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Kenney to seek state’s attorney spot OBSERVER AND VTDIGGER REPORT

OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO BY LESLEY MURRAY

Ted Kenney

held before trial unless they post a cash bail — “all it does is hold poor people in jail and let rich people out,” she said. She has also been an advocate for safe heroin injection sites, a policy recently adopted in New York City as first in the nation. Detractors contend see KENNEY page 2

Williston woman ‘seriously considering’ run for attorney general

OBSERVER PHOTO BY MICHAEL MCCAFFREY

Fair weather

Williston Selectboard vice chair Ted Kenney confirmed his candidacy for Chittenden County State’s Attorney this week. In a news release Monday, Kenney said he will oppose incumbent Sarah George in the Democratic primary in August. The state’s attorney role is the lead criminal prosecutor for the county. The contest is sure to spark debate about the criminal justice system in Vermont’s most populous region. George has attracted national attention for setting progressive policies aimed at reforming the system. She has done away with some conventional tools used by prosecutors, such as asking for defendants to be

OBSERVER AND VTDIGGER REPORT OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO BY LESLEY MURRAY

CLOCKWISE from top left: Kids show off treats from the Williston Town Fair, a first-year event held Saturday in conjuction with Green Up Day on the Village Green. Members of the Observer staff check out something in the latest issue. Williston-Richmond Rotary Club members show their Green Up Day colors. Simon Myles of the Williston Town Planning Dept. speaks with Green Up Vermont organizers. See more on page 3. OBSERVER PHOTO BY AL FREY

Charity Clark, a Williston resident and chair of the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library Board of Trustees, stepped down Monday as Attorney General T.J. Donovan’s chief of staff — a few days after Donovan announced he will not seek re-election. Clark now says she may run to replace him. “I am very seriously considering running for attorney general and will announce my decision in the coming days,” she said Wednesday. “I have had a front row seat at the Attorney General’s

Charity Clark

Office these past seven and a half years. Every day, I wake up motivated to fight for Vermont and for see CLARK page 2


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May 12, 2022 for repeat offenders,” Kenney said. “They’ve also expressed a degree of frustration with the lack of conditions of release on people who are charged with violent crimes. They’ve raised other issues as well, but those are the two that really stick out to me.” Ahead of the party primary in August, the candidates are likely to spar over how they would respond to a reported rise in retail theft around Chittenden County. Store owners have spoken out against George for not taking up misdemeanor shoplifting cases in court. By diverting them to restorative justice programs, they say, she does not deter people who repeatedly steal items of less than $1,000 — the level at which retail theft becomes a felony. In laying out his platform, Kenney seized on those complaints. “(Restorative justice programs) simply are not suitable for every single instance of retail theft and burglary,” Kenney said. “Repeat offenders should face the criminal justice system.” George welcomed Kenney’s entry into the race and said she looks “forward to a campaign that focuses on facts over fear, and one that high-

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her reform-minded approach has spared culpable people from punishment. Kenney describes himself as a fellow champion of social equity and restorative justice, but questions George’s decisions with some of the violent crimes that have occurred in the county during her five-year tenure. “The criminal justice system needs reform to remove disparities based on race and poverty, but we don’t have to choose between safe streets and reform, or between compassion and fairness,” Kenney said. “We can have all of those things, but we can’t have any one of them without the others.” George’s prosecutorial discretion has also garnered criticism from Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger and Gov. Phil Scott, who appointed her as state’s attorney in 2017. Kenny said he has also heard concerns about George’s approach from local police. “The police officers I’ve spoken to have expressed a degree of frustration about the lack of prosecution

lights the important issues facing our community.” “I have implemented bold policies that promote safe, healthy and strong communities, and we’re just getting started,” George said in announcing her run for re-election. “We have so much more work to do … to build a fair and equitable system for all.” Kenney’s law career began in 1991 and has included a focus on defending suspects in criminal court; he once led the state’s criminal defense lawyers association. He’s never worked in a criminal prosecutorial position, however, he notes that he has worked as a plaintiff in civil cases where the burden of proof is on him. Kenney said his candidacy would have no impact on his continued willingness to serve on the Williston Selectboard, where he has had a seat for 12 years. “I’ve had a fulltime job the entire time I’ve been on the selectboard and managed my responsibilities for the selectboard, and I don’t expect it to be any different either while I’m campaigning or if I’m successful and get the job,” he said.

Clark continued from page

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Vermonters. I have done the work and I understand the needs of the office.” Clark also posted a Tweet noting that she would be “Vermont’s first woman attorney general.” Clark was hired as an assistant attorney general by former Attorney General Bill Sorrell in 2014. She has served as chief of staff under Donovan since 2018. “Every day I have been inspired by the people of our state to bring about change for a better Vermont,” she said, “whether it be at the Consumer Assistance Program, our expungement clinics, advocating for reforms to consumer laws and data privacy policy at the Legislature, or providing strategic legal counsel to the office.” A native of Vermont, Clark began her legal career in 2005 and, prior to entering law school, spent over four years working as a policy analyst in the Vermont Governor’s Office. “Charity has served in the at-

torney general’s office with dedication and integrity,” Donovan said. “Her hard work has helped shape our office’s policy and legislative agenda. Her leadership of the Consumer Assistance Program has helped countless Vermonters facing hardships. I want to thank Charity for her service and commitment to Vermonters and the Office of Attorney General.” After Donovan announced his resignation, Clark told VTDigger that she is “very motivated by the fact that there has never been a woman attorney general of Vermont.” As of Monday, the only contender to officially jump into the race is Washington County State’s Attorney Rory Thibault. “The important thing, in my view, is that, of the names that have been mentioned, I am clearly the most qualified,” Clark said. “I’ve worked in the attorney general’s office, this is my eighth year … To me, that’s the most important thing. And I do, of course, recognize that we have never had a woman attorney general.”

PROPERTY TRANSFERS - APRIL 2022 • Nathan Horsfall bought a home on Christmas Lane from Philip Funkhouser for $410,000. • Connie C. Simendinger Trustee bought a home on Kadence Circle from Northridge-Williston LLC for $573,459.

• William Landis bought a condominium on Seth Circle from Westland Homes Inc. for $300,000. • Joshua Steinlage bought a condominium on Zephyr Road from Scott Miller for $485,000. • John R. Eisenmann Jr. and

Debra A. Berett bought a condominium on Michael Lane from Zoe Erdman for $593,000. • Emily K. Brewer bought a home on O’Brien Court from Michael Cioffi for $545,000. • Khristopher Poulin bought a home on Ledgewood Drive

from William $860,000.

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• John Woodland bought a condominium on Madison Drive from Jennifer Ryan for $350,000. • Thomas Poon bought a home on Essex Road from Norman

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Inaugural town fair full of smiles, sunshine and service May 12, 2022

BY KARSON PETTY Community News Service

Over 200 residents stopped by the Williston village green on Saturday to take part in the first-ever town fair. Town planners hoped to usher in a new springtime tradition for Williston with the fair, one to go along with Vermont’s 50-yearstrong tradition of greening up roadsides across the state. Willistonians upheld the established tradition well, nearly exhausting the town’s supply of green-up bags by 2 p.m. on Saturday. “I think we might have four bags left out of 700,” Senior Town Planner Emily Heymann said after the fair. “I think for a first-year event it was very successful,” she added. Heymann was very pleased with the fair’s turnout and felt that her colleagues on the town staff were also. A large tent in the center of the green acted as a hub where several town departments and volunteer organizations were stationed. Those included the town manager’s office, Planning Commission, Recreation and Parks Department, Energy Committee, Catamount Community Forest Committee, the Vermont Chapter of the Red Cross and the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. Snacks and beverages were also provided inside the tent. Heymann was thankful for donations from Healthy Living Market & Café, Garuka Bars, OWL Energy Bars, Shaws and Starbucks. A smaller, adjoining tent housed the Williston Observer and the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club. Residents could sign up for giveaways, win prizes and get artsand-crafts ideas in both tents. Heymann organized some family activities outside the main tent, including lawn jenga, a tug-of-war duel, and a game of cornhole. “(The activities) were really popular this morning with a bunch of kids running around,” she said. Primetime for the fair was between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. when activities like library storytime and a meet-and-greet with Rep. Erin Brady were scheduled. Library storytime began at 10:30 a.m., when Youth Services Librarian Bonnie Lord started to read three environmentally themed stories to a crowd of about 20 children and parents. “It’s been a wonderful outreach event,” said Library Director Jane Kearns. Kearns took over the position in November 2019. Since then she’s been occupied with overseeing pandemic operations. It was refreshing for Kearns to connect with people in person and see the enjoyment on the children’s faces during library storytime.

“It’s been a picture-perfect day,” she said. Rep. Brady was joined in her visit to the fair by Lt. Gov. Molly Gray. They both met with town staff and residents alike, but Gray also got the opportunity to learn about the new zoning regulations for Taft Corners (Form-Based Code) from Planning and Zoning Director Matt Boulanger. Boulanger saw the fair as a great opportunity to interact with residents and talk to staff in other departments he wouldn’t normally work with. “It’s been really awesome to do things in a different form than we usually do,” he said. The fair also allowed Boulanger to reflect on the community he serves. “(Williston) is a vibrant community with a lot of heavily involved citizens,” he said, “and that’s what it’s all about.” Kate Alberghini, executive director of Green Up Vermont, also made an appearance at the fair to meet with Green Up volunteers and drop off a couple extra rolls of bags for the town. Heymann was grateful for the official donation. “We got lucky when (she) stopped by in the morning,” she said. She also felt lucky that the Williston Fire Department participated in the fair. Firefighter Dan Sisco thought the fair was an ideal way to interact with residents and get children acquainted with the fire department. “It’s great being able to get people to see the fire trucks,” he said. “Getting kids to interact with the vehicles and see what we have for equipment is always really helpful.” Senior Firefighter and Paramedic Anthony Simanskas thought the fair was a great way to encourage residents to participate in Green Up Day. Firefighters pitched in by filling three bags around the fire station before coming to the fair, he said. Lt. Keith Baker also felt that the fair was successful. “We’ve been here meeting and greeting people, and it seems like a pretty heavily attended event,” he said. Another activity offered at the fair were tours of the historic Stovepipe School House. Around 100 residents entered the one-room building for a look around. Williston Historical Society Membership Chair Peter Callas said that most people entered the schoolhouse in the morning, when his colleague Richard Allen led the tours. A few families came through for tours when Callas volunteered as guide in the afternoon. He appreciated the children’s interest in the old desks and noticed them practicing fractions on a chalkboard.

“Everybody’s been very friendly and enjoyed being here,” he said, “It’s nice to be (around) when people are doing what they want and seeing what’s going on.” Callas thought that the fair was a good addition to Williston’s schedule of events and felt it was nice to have another excuse for people to get together. Newly-appointed Energy Coordinator Melinda Scott thought that the fair was an evolutionary step compared to past Green Up days. She said she was glad to be a part of an event that showed how much the community cares about their environment. “It brings people together in a really positive way and gives them something to feel good about,” she said. Reed Parker, who represented the town Energy Committee and Catamount Community Forest Management Committee at the fair, thought the town did a great job of organizing the event and that it should be repeated for years to

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The Williston town office’s booth at the fair had hands-on exhibits and handouts for visitors. OBSERVER PHOTO BY KARSON PETTY

come. Parker also thought that the fair was just the right size to encourage community interaction. “It’s not too big, but I don’t think it needs to be,” he said. “It’s a good event for a town to sponsor and show their faces to people.” Heymann is optimistic for future versions of the fair.

“Feedback has been great and folks were happy to green up and interact with the town in a new way,” she said. “Next year, with more lead time and the experience we’ve learned this year, we should be able to include more groups and organizations from around Williston.”

CORRECTION An article in last week’s Observer headlined “Allen Brook Park gets master plan” mistakenly said a multi-use building planned for the park will have food service capability. The building will have restrooms but no food service capacity. The article also mistakenly stated that one of the park’s two existing athletic fields will be converted to artificial turf. In fact, one of the park’s existing fields will be converted to a parking lot and the other will remain grass. A new field with artificial turf is planned for a portion of the park that is currently undeveloped.

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Williston Observer

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May 12, 2022

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

The acetylene chandeliers of Williston’s churches BY MARK HUTCHINS Special to the Observer

Hanging today in the Old Brick Church is a strange chandelier that came from the attic of the Williston Federated Church. In the 1970’s, when the Old Brick Church was reopened for regular use, this lantern was fitted for electricity by Dick Bell, a Williston resident. He also added glass chimneys, which made the fixture resemble a kerosene-style Victorian lighting fixture. However, a closer examination reveals it to be a late 19th century acetylene gas light. The original Old Brick chandelier was a lovely gilt kerosene fixture with six elegant arms and draped in gilt chains. Unfortunately, this original fixture, which hung in the church from 1860 to 1963, has disappeared. I can remember many times

seeing this chandelier laying on its side in the attic of the Federated Church when I would accompany Bill Mercia up the tower to wind the clock in the early 1960’s. There were some glass globes nearby, which apparently disappeared over the years. At the time, this forgotten lighting fixture did not interest me too much, but I happened to mention it one time to Sylvia Warren who told me it was originally hung in the center of the Federated Church sanctuary, and was lit by gas. She said it was removed when the building was electrified in the early 20th century. She also mentioned that a small fire had occurred but I did not link it to lighting. At the time, I was somewhat puzzled because I did not think Williston Village ever had a central gas plant and no one had ever mentioned using it. Where

The original Williston Federated Church acetylene gas chandelier, left, is now hanging in the Old Brick Church, above.

did the church obtain gas? In fact, later research revealed that this fixture had to be an acetylene gas fixture. These small “generators” were self-contained devices that provided light to many stores, shops, small commercial operations and farming operations all around Vermont and the United States. In the 1860s, the process of creating acetylene gas was discovered. The gas was created by either dropping pellets of

calcium carbide into water or dripping water onto the calcium carbide. The gas that was created was then captured in a “bell” that would rise and fall with the volume of gas. The gas was then slightly pressurized and piped into the lighting fixture. One pound of calcium carbide could produce about 4.5 cubic feet of acetylene, which was far less expensive than oil or kerosene and created a much brighter light. Somewhere in the church was a small acetylene generator,

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probably located either in the attic or next to the building. There is no record to indicate where it was located exactly. Using these acetylene generators meant there was danger for either a fire or an explosion. It was also rather smelly if a leak developed in the system. It was probably not a good idea to refill the generator at night, holding a candle or open flame lantern. Acetylene has been described as having a nauseating odor, similar to rotten garlic. The congregation of the then Methodist church — which is what the federated church started out as — must have reconciled the odor and danger to the advantages of brilliant white light that acetylene produced as compared to the Congregationalists, Universalists and others worshipping in other buildings with much dimmer kerosene lighting. Some of these electrified acetylene fixtures remain today. In my grandparents’ Universalist church in Morrisville there is a fine example of one of these fixtures. Although the federated church chandelier is late Victorian, the Morrisville example is several decades more modern and utilizes a large shade lined with small mirrors to reflect the gas burners. As electrification took hold, these amazing lighting fixtures all but disappeared. Few examples remain today. I hope someday that the Old Brick Church will regain its original kerosene chandelier, but when that day comes, the acetylene chandelier hanging there today should always be preserved as a rare and fine example of this lighting technology.


May 12, 2022

Red Cross offers free smoke detector installation Residents of Williston, Hinesburg and St. George are invited to sign up for a free smoke alarm installation as part of the American Red Cross “Sound the Alarm” event on May 14. Red Cross volunteers and members of the Williston Fire Department fan out in the community to install smoke detectors and educate residents about the most common causes of house fires, how to prevent them, what to do if there is a fire and how to develop an escape plan. Schedule an appointment at www.redcross.org/endhomefiresnne.

Church seeks food and hygiene item donations for needy The Williston Federated Church invites the community to participate in a food and personal hygiene product drive Saturday, May 14 from 9-11 a.m. Food will be donated to the Williston Community Food Shelf, which is seeking: laundry detergent, juice, cereal, granola bars, fruit snacks, microwave popcorn, individual

applesauce/fruit cups, cake/brownie/cookie mixes, canned pasta sauce, canned soup, canned fruit. Pasta is NOT needed. In addition to food, donations are sought of personal hygiene items for the Joint Urban Ministry Project of Burlington, which primarily serves the homeless population. Items needed include: bar soap, deodorant, razors, shaving cream, shampoo/conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper and all-purpose surface cleaners. Those wishing to donate are asked to drive into the parking lot of the church at the corner of North Williston Road and Williston Road, and someone will help unload the items. All who donate will receive a pansy, while supplies last.

Community Bank to host grand opening of Cottonwood Crossing branch Community Bank will host a grand opening event for its new Williston branch at 28 Cottonwood Drive on Thursday, May 19, starting at 9 a.m. The Williston Police Department’s com-

fort dog Duke will be on hand. The event will feature food trucks, a gardening demonstration from the Vermont Community Foundation and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. A bicycle helmet giveaway will begin at 3 p.m. while supplies last, and a drawing for a mountain bike from Earl’s Cyclery will be held at 4 p.m. Contact sarah_doud@dixonschwabl.com for more information.

Williston Police welcomes veteran officers

Williston Police Chief Patrick Foley swore in two new officers Friday at Town Hall. Brian Fox joins the department after serving in Hinesburg. Bradley Miller comes over from the Shelburne Police De-

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partment. Fox was part of a wave of officers leaving the Hinesburg Police Department after voters rejected the department’s annual budget in March, according to a report Local 22/Local 44 News. A revote on a scaled-down Hinesburg police budget is set for May 24 in Hinesburg.

Eagle Scouts honored at Statehouse

Vermont legislators last week recognized and congratulated the 2020 and 2021 Vermont Eagle Scouts on the steps of the Statehouse in Montpelier. Four Eagle Scouts from Williston’s troop 692 were part of the ceremony. They are pictured with Williston Rep. Erin Brady (left), from left to right, Jared Kartschoke, Dylan LeBlanc, Jacob Medici and Matt Yandow.

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Williston Observer

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May 12, 2022

GUEST COLUMN

Williston

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

TO ADVERTISE Submission deadline is Friday at 5 p.m. for next Thursday issue. rick@willistonobserver.com

ADVERTISING Rick Cote Associate Publisher Sales & Marketing rick@willistonobserver.com 802-373-2136

CLASSIFIED ADS Paid Classifieds: There is a fee for business, real estate and help wanted ads. Free Classifieds: Must be 25 words or fewer. Printed on a space-available basis. Submission deadline is Friday at 5 p.m. for next Thursday issue. susan@willistonobserver.com

EDITOR Jason Starr editor@willistonobserver.com PRODUCTION & DESIGN Jan Kenney jan@willistonobserver.com BILLING INQUIRIES Michael McCaffrey office@willistonobserver.com MEMBER:

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Burlington Area Newspaper Group

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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.

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

A publication of Twin Ponds Publishing LLC

The increasing abandonment of the customer BY PAT SCHEIDEL Is excellence in customer service a lost value for employees and corporations alike, or does it just feel that way? If excellent service to a customer is a company value, then disservice to a patron is an anti-value. Serving another human may not hold the luster it once did, but the need to do so has risen substantially during the recent past, in part, because of the pandemic. Medical, retail, governmental and food service demands have been poorly met. Even before the Covid lockdown, service to customers seemed literally and figuratively distant. Orders for goods and services are increasingly made online or by phone to remote operators. Communication can be difficult, statements made misunderstood and orders not able to be met in a timely manner. Staff reductions to save money, limit specific positions like sworn police officers, or relocate jobs elsewhere contribute to the weakening of customer service. The overworking of remaining staff results in lower output. Ripple effects like premature employee retirements reduce the skilled labor force and therefore the quality of service delivery. Irrespective of reasoning by the distant corporation or local employer, the customer feels abandoned. Poor service to customers who are loyal to a brand is more deeply

felt. Examples include employees failing to keep promises, displaying insulting verbal and non-verbal behavior and being oblivious to a waiting customer. To ensure an increased level of shopping, the customer must feel valued and recognized as the central part of the business transaction. It bears repeating that promises

Honor must return to sales personnel. made to customers must be kept, whether written or not. Honor must return to sales personnel. When fielding a customer complaint, the employee should own the concern. Assigning blame only lessens the customer’s level of satisfaction. The first employee that a customer meets must not exude an attitude that we should feel grateful that they even showed up to work. That attitude, along with all the previously mentioned service flaws, turns customer service, the highly touted core value by many companies, into an anti-value; that is to say, an unhappy experience. Opinions of an organization are formed by the front-line personnel not the company manager nor corporate executive. Most business entities post their vision, mission, core values and strategic goals. Why not have the value of customer service stated in each

Williston

The Williston Observer is mailed to every home and business in Williston and St. George every Thursday. In addition, we provide rack distribution to locations in Williston, Richmond and Essex. Williston Belle’s Café Dorothy Alling Memorial Library Fairfield Inn Gardener’s Supply Green Mountain Bagel Hannaford Healthy Living Williston Home2Suites Korner Kwik Stop Marriott Courtyard Men At Wok People’s United Bank Ramunto’s Rehab Gym 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

Essex Junction Essex Automotive Five Corner Variety Hannaford (at Essex Shoppes) Inn at Essex Mac’s Market Martone’s Deli Price Chopper Quality Bake Shop River Road Beverage Richmond Cumberland Farms Richmond Free Library Richmond Market Richmond Mobil Mart

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level of this company hierarchy? Value words like integrity, excellence and commitment are easy to promote as central to the company. In the absence of implementation of value statements, Shakespeare has long ago defined such marketing for us: “Words, words, mere words, no matter from the heart.” Customer service is more than a cost center, it is the lifeblood of business. Training budgets must be increased and interpersonal skills must be a critical recruitment trait aggressively sought. Shifts must be properly staffed. Holding companies that own majority stock positions in companies value one thing: quarterly returns. Perhaps they might be included in the needed revival of the once revered mission that excellent service to the customer is the premiere business value. But all is not lost. Some businesses get it. A local automotive service provider welcomes customers by presenting a spotless waiting area with furniture and decorations commonly found in a living room. A successful business in an abutting city has expanded to another neighboring municipality with the promise to serve hospitality with every purchase. Imagine that, the feeling of hospitableness with your morning bagel. Pat Scheidel is the former town manager of Essex. He lives in Williston.

Get more

for your BUCK! YOUR AD IN 7 PAPERS. 1 EMAIL - 1 CONTACT. Reach readers in northern Vermont’s most thriving communities — in print and online! Contact Rick Cote at rick@willistonobserver.com 802-373-2136


May 12, 2022

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Strike Out Hunger with Williston Little League Williston Little League, which is comprised of T-ball, softball and baseball teams with players aging from 5-16 years old, has always been an active part of the Williston community. This year, the league wants to give back in a new way. During the annual Williston

Little League Hit-a-thon, held Saturday, June 4, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (rain date June 5), the focus won’t just be on trying to hit homeruns. This year, the league will be partnering with The Williston Food Shelf to Strike Out Hunger. Community members are encouraged to stop by the event with non-perishable food items, cheer on the players, grab a treat from Mr. Ding-a-ling ice cream and

our other food vendors, get your face painted and take a shot at the dunk tank. There will also be music from Moonlight Entertainment and an amazing raffle with prizes such as Red Sox and New England Patriot’s tickets, a $500 gift card from Healthy Living and so much more. Sara Campbell Williston Little League

Williston’s spring pick-me-up CLOCKWISE from top left: Pam Allen from the Windswept Farm holds up one of two laptops she found in the ditch along Old Stage Road on Green Up Day Saturday in Williston. Blythe Leonard braves the steep bank along Mountain View Road to snag some trash. Families gather for library story time on the green. Some of Williston’s finest were on hand. John Butterfield cleans up along North Williston Road. OBSERVER

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Letter Policy The Williston Observer welcomes your letters to the editor. A few ground rules: We ask that letters run no longer than 300 words. We edit only for length, clarity, style, spelling and grammar. Please include your name, town or city where you live and a daytime phone number (which we won’t print) so we can verify you wrote the letter. The deadline is Monday at noon for letters to be printed in Thursday’s paper.

Send to: editor@willistonobserver.com or Williston Observer, P.O Box 1401, Williston, VT 05495.

tulatio a r g n ns o C Gr eg P op a

PHOTOS BY AL FREY

The Williston Observer staff congratulates Greg Popa, publisher of the Shelburne News, South Burlington’s the Other Paper, Charlotte/Hinesburg’s The Citizen, the Stowe Reporter and the Lamoille County News & Citizen on being named to the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame by the New England Newspaper & Press Association in April 2022. We thank you for your collegiality and your many years of dedication to quality local journalism. Williston

Serving our community since 1985

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Williston Observer

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May 12, 2022

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May 12, 2022

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Williston Observer

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Page 9

SPORTS

UVM fights to become America East lacrosse champs

CLOCKWISE from top left: The UVM Catamounts win the America East Championship game vs. the UMBC Retrievers on Saturday afternoon at UVM’s Virtue FIeld. UMBC’s Mason Edwards checks UVM’s Charlie Pope. The UVM Catamounts celebrate their America East Lacrosse win. UVM’s David Closterman checks the ball away from opponent Mason Edwards.

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Williston Observer

• May 12, 2022

Vermont needs to reduce emissions by 2025 — can it stick the landing?

BY EMMA COTTON VTDigger

The people most familiar with Vermont’s climate plan are not confident that the state will meet its 2025 emission reduction requirement. In 2020, state lawmakers passed the Global Warming Solutions Act, which legally requires Vermont to reduce its emissions by set amounts in the coming decades. The first of those deadlines, 2025, is coming up fast, and as lawmakers work through climate legislation this session, gaps in the emission reduction plan are crystallizing. Members of Vermont’s Climate Council crafted a statewide Climate Action Plan, published in December, calculated to decrease emissions by the necessary amounts. But key pieces of the

plan have fallen apart or are not on track to be implemented in time to meet the 2025 deadline. State officials do not know how much Vermont is currently emitting, which adds a layer of complexity to the task at hand. The most recent data, from 2018, precedes major changes in transportation and commerce that took place during the pandemic. Some of those changes, such as a shift to remote work, could be long-lasting. While policies and programs are likely needed to help Vermont meet its 2025 deadline, there is some indication that Vermonters are making headway despite the hiccups. Julie Moore, secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources, said the charted emission reductions that need to take place by 2025 are “a heck of a lot gentler

than the slope from 2025 to 2030.” Much of the accountability falls to her agency if Vermont does not achieve the required reductions by

‘I don’t think there’s reason for us to have a high degree of confidence that we will meet the 2025 or certainly not the 2030 targets, given where we stand right now.’ Jared Duval Energy Action Network

other means. Vehicles are becoming more fuel-efficient, and Vermonters are

increasingly installing efficient heating systems, for example, and some modeling “suggests we’re going to make progress even absent any other construct or efforts,” Moore said. “Whether or not it’ll be sufficient is a great question.” The Global Warming Solutions Act required the Climate Council to put together a plan that “gives us a high degree of confidence that we will meet the emissions reduction requirements,” said Jared Duval, speaking as a member of the Climate Council. Separately, Duval is also executive director of the Energy Action Network, a group that closely tracks and analyzes emissions data in Vermont. Asked about the progress Moore raised, Duval said it’s “possible that we could meet the 2025 emissions reduction requirements.”

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“I don’t have a high degree of confidence that we will,” he said. THE POLICIES AT PLAY

Vermont needs to reduce its emissions by 26 percent below 2005 levels by 2025 — a decline equivalent to about 1.26 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. That would be the equivalent of 141 million gallons of gasoline, according to a calculator from the federal Environmental Protection Agency. By 2030, the state must reduce emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels. That’s 3.46 million metric tons lower than 2018 levels. Two types of policies often yield reliable results for reducing emissions, Duval said. One is an emissions cap. Another is a performance standard, where polluters make investments toward sustainability. “Unless we are using emissions-capping policies or performance standard policies, it’s not clear to me that we can have a high degree of confidence that we’re going to meet our legal requirements,” Duval said. In the weeks leading up to release of the Climate Action Plan, a regional initiative to reduce transportation emissions crumbled when multiple states backed out. Vermont itself had not yet committed to joining the initiative but was moving in that direction. Transportation accounts for the biggest single share of the state’s emissions, and councilors had expected the Transportation Climate Initiative Program, often called TCI-P, to reduce emissions in participating states by 26 percent throughout the next decade. It was one of the most impactful recommendations in the Climate Action Plan — and then it fell apart. The Climate Council plans to propose new recommendations for the transportation sector by November. Another impactful measure, the clean heat standard, which is expected to reduce emissions in the state’s thermal sector, was passed out of the Legislature but vetoed last week by Gov. Phil Scott. On Tuesday the House failed to override Scott’s veto by one vote. Duval testified before the Senate Natural Resources Committee urging lawmakers to pass the bill. “I want to say that the most important thing — whether from the perspective of legal compliance with the Global Warming Solutions Act, whether given the moral urgency of global climate justice or whether from the perspective of reducing costs and maximizing see EMISSIONS page 11


May 12, 2022

Emissions continued from page

10

savings in the needed energy transition — is to not delay passage and implementation of this bill beyond this year,” he told lawmakers. Otherwise, Duval said during his testimony, “the Climate Action Plan will almost certainly not add up for 2025, let alone 2030.” Lawmakers are balancing the need to reduce emissions with the complexity of putting forward a regulatory system that does not hurt Vermonters who use fossil fuels to heat their homes — particularly those already struggling to pay the surging costs for fuels such as propane and heating oil. Proponents of the measure say a transition away from the volatile fossil fuel market will reduce costs for Vermonters. “I think there’s a practical reality of trying to make sure we’re making good choices for the long term, even if it may not be a perfect fit with some of the short-term requirements, frankly, of the Global Warming Solutions Act,” said Moore, head of the Agency of Natural Resources. Moore said crafting good policy takes priority in her mind. She places “extra weight” on whether “these are the right programs and policies for the 2030 goal, but even to a greater extent, to reach our 2050 goals.” WHAT HAPPENS IF VERMONT DOESN’T MEET THE DEADLINE?

Failing to reach the emission requirements would open the state to potential lawsuits, in which a judge could order Vermont’s Agency of Natural Resources to take corrective action. While Vermont’s current climate plans are largely incentive-based — helping Vermonters buy electric vehicles, for example, or install heat pumps — the agency only has regulatory power. “I would argue the council’s made it pretty clear that voluntary or incentive-based programs are really the preferred approach, particularly when it comes to the thermal and transportation sectors, as opposed to a regulatory or command-and-control approach, which is pretty much the only tool we have in our toolbox,” Moore said. Moore said if the state is making good-faith efforts to create the types of policies needed to achieve the long-term goals, she hopes “that the judge would be inclined to find that we just need to continue, as opposed to abandon what we’re doing and change direction.” “A lot of that relies on us being able to make a credible case that we’re doing the hard work that’s needed to achieve the requirements established by the Global Warming Solutions Act,” she said. Both Moore and Duval agree that missing the 2025 targets could

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lead to broader issues down the road. Duval said it will be harder to meet deadlines in 2030 and 2050 if the state does not hit 2025 first. A delay in implementing the clean heat standard, for example, would give the state less time to pull off the same amount of emission reductions. “And then it’s possible that the percentage of reduction that you have to get in each year is higher,” he said. Asked whether Vermont is definitively off track from meeting its 2025 requirements, Duval said it comes down to degrees of confidence. “It’s difficult to say that we’re not on track because there’s delays in data gathering — part of our vision is blocked,” Duval said. “But what I’m very comfortable saying is that I don’t think there’s reason for us to have a high degree of confidence that we will meet the 2025 or certainly not the 2030 targets, given where we stand right now.” Traffic travels along Main Street in Burlington on Nov. 24, 2021. VTDIGGER FILE PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

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Williston Observer

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May 12, 2022

CDC: Less than a third of Vermonters have ever gotten Covid

BY ERIN PETENKO VTDigger

Vermont has had one of the highest Covid-19 case rates in the nation for nearly two months, according to The New York Times, as the highly infectious BA.2 variant swept through the state beginning in midMarch. So why would Vermont, with at least two-thirds of its population fully vaccinated and famous for low infection rates at the pandemic’s start, be the center of the nation’s latest

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surge? At a recent press conference, Health Commissioner Mark Levine said the reasons are “multifactorial.” But he pinpointed a seemingly paradoxical factor: the fact that so few Vermonters have gotten sick over the past two years of the pandemic. “Because we continue to be a state with perhaps still the lowest rate of immunity from having had Covid, we do expect the virus to continue to spread,” he said. Between a quarter and a third of

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makes it hard to say exactly where Vermont ranks nationwide, but it is clearly in the minority. Only eight other states also reported that less than half of their population had been infected with Covid since the pandemic began. On a national level, the Omicron variant caused a sweeping rise in the likelihood of people being infected, raising the number of Americans with antibodies from about 43 percent to 58 percent in the course of a single month. Vermont, too, reported a rise, but starting from a lower baseline: It jumped from about 18 percent pre-Omicron to 29 percent by late February. Laura Ann Nicolai, deputy epidemiologist at the Vermont Department of Health, said the rise in immunity during Omicron “matches up well” with what state officials had observed. “We were seeing exponentially higher daily case counts during that timeframe,” she said. The CDC study also estimated how many infections Vermont has had over the course of the pandemic based on its blood samples. Antibody samples showed the state totaled an estimated 180,000 infections — nearly double the 98,000 the health department had reported based on test results when the study was conducted. “It doesn’t really surprise me,” Nicolai said of the disparity. “We think that there were probably a lot of kids who had mild illnesses and who may never have been tested.” The state also increased access to “home-based testing opportunities” like antigen and LAMP tests, she said, and “people aren’t necessarily taking the extra step to report that” to the health department website. The CDC didn’t release detailed age data for Vermont, but national data shows that people 17 and younger were the most likely to have gotten Covid during the pandemic, while people 65 and older were least likely. Benjamin Lee, a pediatric disease physician at the University of Vermont Medical Center, researched the rate of Covid antibodies in children in early 2021. His research found that, as of December 2020, less than 5 percent of children in the Colchester School District had gotten Covid. During Delta and Omicron, Lee said last week, state data shows “the proportion of children who represent the total caseload has gone up a lot.” That’s partly because the Omicron variant was so infectious, and children have the lowest vaccination rate in the state. “We had lots of kids who still unfortunately hadn’t been vaccinat-

ed, even though there were many who are age eligible,” he said. “And many kids that hadn’t been infected before now (were) meeting the most infectious variants of the virus that we’ve encountered at a time when a lot of restrictions were being sort of scaled back.” He said the low rate of Covid among Vermonters overall could likely be traced to two causes: the high vaccination rate statewide, and Vermonters’ willingness to follow public health guidance on masking, quarantining and social distancing. About 88 percent of Vermonters 5 and older have had at least one dose of the Covid vaccine, and 59 percent are up to date on all vaccinations, including any necessary booster doses, according to the health department. According to Lee, although vaccine-related protection against contracting the virus wanes over time, and the vaccine has gotten less effective against different variants, the vaccine may have played a role in Covid rates remaining low in Vermont in 2021. Vermonters also mostly followed pre-vaccination guidance to prevent illness, according to a survey from UVM researchers conducted from January to April 2021. The majority of respondents said they always followed guidance about wearing a mask, staying at home and quarantining. “Our results indicate that Vermonters had a high level of trust in and compliance with public health recommendations from the beginning of the pandemic,” Christine Vatovec, one of the authors of the study, said via email. Are the 70 percent of Vermonters who have never gotten infected still destined to get Covid? Levine has often quoted Anthony Fauci, chief medical advisor to President Biden, that the question was “not if, but when.” Nicolai said Vermonters couldn’t expect to “interact in society and never get exposed,” but said they shouldn’t be disheartened by that news. “The vaccine is still protecting you from a serious illness,” she said. “It’s shortening your duration of illness and most likely shortening the timeframe that you are infectious to others as well.” Asked if he would have traded Vermont’s low infection rates early in the pandemic and let more Vermonters get infected to prevent the current surge, Levine said he would “never take that away.” “We had that early success before there was even a hint of a vaccine that would ever be available,” he said. “We were really focused on saving lives and keeping people as well as possible during that time.”


May 12, 2022 April 27 at 12:25 a.m. — Police assisted St. Albans Police in attempting to locate a vehicle. April 27 at 7:05 a.m. — Police completed a VIN verification on Krupp Drive at a business’ request. April 24 at 12:44 p.m. — Police documented an incident on South Brownell Road. April 24 at 2:28 p.m. — Police responded to a report of a possible retail theft at Maple Tree Place. April 24 at 2:36 p.m. — Police responded to a vehicle collision on Oak Hill Road. Upon arrival, there were no injuries at the scene. April 24 at 3:11 p.m. — Police responded to take custody of a found regulated substance on Krupp Drive.

April 25 at 5:09 p.m. — Police responded to Casey Lane to assist Vermont State Police in locating a vehicle. Upon arrival, the vehicle was not on the scene. April 25 at 6:43 p.m. — Police responded to River Road to provide traffic control for Essex Police. April 25 at 8:00 p.m. — Police responded to a report of a disturbance on Williston Road. Williston Fire Department arrived on the scene to transport a patient. April 25 at 9:10 p.m. — Police provided requested information to citizens on Northview Court.

April 24 at 6:35 p.m. — Police provided a case number and documented property damage on Gail Terrace.

April 26 at 5:56 a.m. — Police responded to assist Williston Fire Department with a medical call on Read Road.

April 25 at 7:01 a.m. — Police documented and took the report of a stolen vehicle on Avenue C.

April 26 at 10:42 a.m. — Police responded to a report of a suspicious circumstance on Eagle Crest Road. Upon arrival, the officer found that there was no emergency.

April 25 at 7:26 a.m. — Police completed multiple VIN verifications on Mountain View Road at a business’ request. April 25 at 11:51 a.m. — Police responded to a report of suspicious behavior on Harvest Lane. April 25 at 12:05 p.m. — Police completed a background investigation for local employment.

April 26 at 10:50 a.m. — Police responded to a vehicle collision on Eagle Crest Road. April 26 at 2:32 p.m. — Police responded to a vehicle collision on Williston Road. Upon arrival, the officers found that there were no injuries on the scene.

April 27 at 7:31 a.m. — Police responded to a report of an animal problem on Porterwood Drive. April 27 at 9:52 a.m. — Police responded to a report of a vehicle complaint on Marshall Avenue. Upon arrival, the vehicle had left the area. April 27 at 10:44 a.m. — Police responded to a report of a possible retail theft on Trader Lane. The individual was trespassed from the property at the business’ request and cited accordingly.

there were no reported injuries.

viduals had left the area.

April 29 at 8:27 p.m. — Police provided a case number for property damage on South Brownell Road.

April 28 at 9:00 p.m. — Police responded to a report of suspicious behavior on Walnut Street.

April 30 at 2:38 a.m. — Police placed an individual into custody on suspicion of driving while under the influence on Oak Hill Road.

April 29 at 8:13 a.m. — Police responded to the report of suspicious vehicles on Helena Drive. Upon arrival, the vehicles had left the area. April 29 at 8:37 a.m. — Police responded to a vehicle complaint on St. George Road. The officer provided blue lights until the wrecker arrived to tow a vehicle.

April 29 at 2:01 p.m. — Police responded to a vehicle collision on Essex Road. Upon arrival, there were no reported injuries on the scene.

April 28 at 11:19 a.m. — Police responded to a vehicle collision at Maple Tree Place. Upon arrival,

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April 28 at 7:31 p.m. — Police responded to a report of a possible retail theft on Cypress Street.

April 27 at 5:15 p.m. — Police contacted Community Outreach on a citizen’s behalf.

April 28 at 10:33 a.m. — Police completed a background investigation for local employment.

•

April 29 at 7:32 p.m. — Police took a report from a citizen on Butternut Road.

April 27 at 2:00 p.m. — Police completed a background investigation for local employment.

April 28 at 7:23 a.m. — Williston Police responded to assist Vermont State Police with a vehicle complaint on Interstate 89.

Williston Observer

April 28 at 3:17 a.m. — Police responded to a request for assistance on Hurricane Lane.

April 29 at 8:57 a.m. — Police responded to a report of a vehicle complaint on Avenue C.

April 27 at 7:49 p.m. — Police responded to a request for assistance on Marshall Avenue.

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April 29 at 2:34 p.m. — Police responded to a lockout on Essex Road. Upon arrival, the officer was able to gain access to the vehicle for the operator. April 29 at 3:50 p.m. — Police responded to a report of suspicious behavior on Harvest Lane. April 29 at 6:40 p.m. — Police responded to a report of suspicious behavior at Interstate Corporate Center. Upon arrival, the indi-

April 30 at 9:21 a.m. — Police responded to a report of a suspicious circumstance on Leroy Road. April 30 at 9:49 a.m. — Police removed glass from the roadway on Old Stage Road. April 30 at 2:03 p.m. — Police assisted citizens on Shunpike Road. April 30 at 4:46 p.m. — Police responded to the report of a suspicious vehicle on Cypress Street. Upon arrival, the vehicle had left the area. April 30 at 7:01 p.m. — Police responded to a report of suspicious behavior on Boxwood Street. The officers assisted medical personnel in transporting the citizen. The incidents above are not a full recount of police activity, rather a highlight of some of the events that occurred. Charges filed by police are subject to review by the Chittenden County State’s Attorneys Office and can be amended or dropped.

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Williston Observer

• May 12, 2022 Read a Golden Dome Book Award winner and share your thoughts with the group. TEEN NIGHT: JACKBOX. TV GAMES

available 24/7 from the patio. The library is now a mask-optional space. If you need help accessing materials or services, please call 878-4918 or email daml@damlvt.org.

YOUTH PROGRAMS Children in fourth grade and younger must be supervised by someone over 16 years of age. Register for programs online at www.damlvt.org or by calling 878-4918.

STORYWALK

On the green: “Busy Tree” by Jennifer Ward. In the park: “Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt” by Kate Messner. INDOOR PRESCHOOL STORYTIME Mondays, May 16 and 23, 10:30-11 a.m. Join Bonnie for stories, activities and a craft. TWEEN BOOK CLUB

Monday, May 16, 3-4 p.m.

Wednesday, May 18, 2-3 p.m. Grades 3 and up. Try out a new experiment and learn how it works. PRESCHOOL MUSIC AND PLAYTIME Thursday, May 19 and 26, 10:30-11 a.m. Birth to age 5. Sing and dance with local musician Linda Bassick, then stay to play on the library patio. PARACHUTE FUN Thursday, May 26, 3-4 p.m. Join us on the Town Green to have fun outdoors with our giant parachute, and more.

MULTI-AGE PROGRAMS READ TO A DOG Thursday, May 19, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Read a snippet of your favorite story or just hang out with Lola the therapy dog. Call 878-4918 to register for a time slot. WILLISTON WEAVES PROJECT Through the month of May, add to the woven wonderland in the library’s walkway. Weaving strips are available in the library foyer during open hours.

PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS To join a program, email programs@damlvt.org or call 878-4918. For programs with online registration, register at www.damlvt.org . ONLINE MEDITATION Fridays in May, 12-12:30 p.m. Maryellen Crangle leads a Zoom meditation.

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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

Monday, May 16, 5-6 p.m. Bring a device to connect and have fun with this gaming tournament. STORY TIME ON THE GREEN Tuesdays, May 17 and 24, 10:30-11 a.m. Join Danielle for outdoor stories, rhymes and songs. AFTER-SCHOOL STEAM FUN ACTIVITY

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Saturday, May 14, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Join Romain Feuillette for informal conversation. All abilities and ages. Youths must be accompanied by an adult. Register online once for all sessions. BOOK CLUB BUFFET ONLINE (*NEW*) Tuesday, May 17, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Join Maryellen Crangle online to discuss “River of Consciousness” by Oliver Sacks. Available at the library or in Libby (Overdrive). SPANISH CONVERSATION ONLINE Wednesday, May 18, 4-5 p.m. Join our guided conversation. All levels welcome. Register online once for all sessions. TECH TUTOR Wednesday, May 18, 4-6 p.m. Sign up for a half-hour appointment to receive one-on-one help with your technology questions. Call 878-4918 to schedule. MAH-JONGG Friday, May 20, 1-3 p.m. Drop by the library to play the classic tile-based game. BROWN BAG BOOK CLUB Tuesday, May 24, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Join us to discuss “84, Charing Cross Road” by Helene Hanff, based on the actual letters between a New York City writer and a British bookstore owner. Available as an audiobook in Libby (Overdrive) and Hoopla or in print from the library. ONLINE CURRENT EVENTS DISCUSSION Wednesday, May 25, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Meet with others to discuss the topics of the day. On the library patio. COOK THE BOOK Our highlighted cookbook for our June 8 gathering is “The Iraqi Cookbook” by Lamees Ibrahim. Stop by the library to copy a recipe and sign up.

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May 12, 2022

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Williston Observer

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OBITUARIES Philip J. Dutil

Philip J. Dutil, 77, left this world peacefully at the University of Vermont Medical Center with his children by his side on April 13, 2022, after a long struggle with health issues. Philip was the son of Almanzor and Alice (Theoret) Dutil and grew up with a large, loving family of brothers and sisters in Richmond, Vermont. He attended the Richmond schools and graduated from Richmond High School in 1964. His family was well known in the Richmond area through his father’s fuel business, in which Philip and his siblings helped deliver wood and coal to many families during their early working years. After high school, Philip started working at IBM, retiring from the company after 25 years of service as a manufacturing manager. Pursuing a passion for the car industry, Philip went on to start his own business, Foreign Parts Plus, in Colchester, Vermont, which he owned for ten years. In his later years, Philip enjoyed working part-time for Enterprise Rent-A-Car company, delivering rental cars all over the Northeast. Philip loved a good drive in a beautiful car, and taking long walks on the beaches in Maine and the beaches of Florida, where he owned condos at various points in his life. Clearly Philip lived by the motto of “work hard, play hard”, and was a frequent visitor to casinos all over the Eastern seaboard, as well as the occasional trip to Las Vegas. He enjoyed exploring new places and meeting people, and shared this adventurous side with family on trips to Ireland and Italy, and numerous trips to Canada where his fluency in Quebecois always impressed his children. He was also a life-long fan of the New York Yankees, leading to a loving- but intense-rivalry with his Boston Red Socks supporting sister, Lucille. Philip lived in Colchester for many years with his wife Maria Bourdeau. He was known as “Papiere’’ by his grandchildren, Isabel Ellen and Iain Andrew, and was very proud of them both. He and Maria spent a great deal of time with them throughout their childhood. Maria passed away in 2019, at which time Philip moved to Essex Junction, where he remained until his passing. Philip is survived by his children, Aaron Philip Dutil, Tamara Dutil-Pless, son-in-law

David Worthley

Bryant Pless, grandchildren Isabel Ellen Pless and Iain Andrew Pless, the mother of his children Sherry (Howard) Bearden, siblings Lucille Noel, John Dutil and his wife Vivian, and Pauline Truax and her husband John, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. Philip was preceded in death by his infant son, Christopher Anthony, parents Almanzor & Alice, brothers Louis, Roger, George, Raymond, Paul and Claude, and sisters Suzanne Dutil and Madeline Noel, and brother-in-law Philip Noel. Philip’s family would like to thank the nurses, doctors and staff at the University of Vermont Medical Center Miller 6th floor for their amazing and kind care of Phil and us. They allowed us to stay with him for several days before his passing, and provided us with nourishment and kindness throughout his time on their floor. We would also like to thank Colchester Family Health and his healthcare provider, Joanne Hunt (retired), for their many years of medical care. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, May 13, 2022, at 11 a.m. in Holy Rosary Church in Richmond. Interment following the funeral at Holy Rosary Cemetery. Please join us for a luncheon at the Holy Rosary church hall following the burial. In lieu of flowers please consider a memorial donation to the UVM Health NetworkHome Health & Hospice: Development Office, UVM Health Network-Home Health & Hospice, 1110 Prim Road, Colchester, VT 05446 or https://www.uvmhomehealth. org/donations/make-an-online-donation/ May peace be with you dad.

David Worthley died peacefully on April 22, 2022 following a sudden illness and hospitalization. He spent his final days at the McClure Miller Respite House surrounded by his loving family and under the care of the compassionate staff, in the same room ‘Moose’ where his beloved wife Debbie spent her final days in 2020. David’s life was devoted to his family, his community and his profession. David was predeceased by his parents, Glenn and Madeline (Forgue) of Daytona Beach, Florida, and by Debbie, his wife of 53-plus years. He is survived by: his brother Greg of San Antonio Texas; his son Aaron, wife Dori Barton, and daughter Meadow of Huntington; his son Justin, wife Cara of South Burlington, their daughter Hannah, her husband Adam and children Ivy and Jane of Richmond, and their son Asa of Williston. In addition David leaves many cousins, in-laws, nephews, nieces, professional colleagues, golfing partners, and a good many friends. A service to remember David will be held in summer 2022. For a complete obit-

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William C. Wallace

William C. Wallace “Bill” 61 of South Burlington died May 5, 2022 after a short illness. He was born November 4, 1960 in Montreal, Quebec, the son of W. Keith and Marjorie Wallace. He was a graduate of Pine Ridge School in Williston, VT. He lived most of his life with his parents and moved with them, settling in Vermont in 1994. He worked for Barnes and Noble book store for over 20 years. He is survived by his sisters Kim White (Mark) and Kathy Wallace, his niece Samantha Larochelle(Andrew), nephew Ryan White, and grand nephews, and niece Dominic, Isa-

iah, and Siena Larochelle. He was predeceased by his parents. Special thanks to Maple Ridge Memory Care and UVM Medical Center for their wonderful care. There are no calling hours. A Mass of Christian Burial took place on Monday May 9, 2022 at St. John Vianney on Hinesburg Rd in South Burlington. Burial followed at Resurrection Park. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Ready Funeral Home South Chapel 261 Shelburne Rd in Burlington. Please visit www. readyfuneral.com to place online condolences.

Daniel Novembrino

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Daniel Novembrino, on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church, 7415 Williston Rd, Williston. The Rite of Committal will follow at St.

Thomas Church Cemetery, Range Rd, Underhill Center. A light lunch will be provided afterward at St Thomas Church hall. The Novembrino family requests that attendees wear a mask at the service.

uary, and to be notified of service details once available, please visit https://davidworthley.com. Arrangements are in care of Corbin and Palmer Funeral Home, 9 Pleasant Street, Essex Junction, VT 05452.

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May 12, 2022

release dates: May 14-20, 2022

20 (22)

Next Week: The queen’s platinum jubilee

Issue 20, 2022

Founded by Betty Debnam

Mini Fact:

Totally Turtle!

Turtles are quite adaptive and can be found on each continent except Antarctica. photo by Andy

World Turtle Day is May 23. This special day for our shelled friends is sponsored by the American Tortoise Rescue, a nonprofit organization. World Turtle Day is a time for people to celebrate and learn about turtles and tortoises. This week, The Mini Page takes a look at these fascinating animals.

Fast facts

World Turtle Day celebrates both turtles and tortoises. They belong to a specific scientific order of reptiles — Testudines (tessTOO-duh-neez). It’s reported that 61% of turtles around the globe are threatened or extinct. According to experts, turtles are the most threatened of the major groups of vertebrates, including mammals, birds and fish.

Turtles

Turtles are omnivores, so they eat both plants and meat. A terrestrial turtle, one that lives on land, might fill up on grubs, mushrooms, earthworms, grass, berries and beetles. Hawksbill and photo by Christopher Irwin leatherback sea turtles are specialists, so they find a specific food to eat most of the time. Hawksbills often eat sea

Nancy

sponges because their habitats are coral reefs, which is also where sea sponges are found. Leatherback sea turtles eat jellyfish because they live far out in the open ocean and can dive deep for food. They’re able to find jellyfish in the water column, or the space between the ocean floor and the surface in the part of the sea where they live.

Tortoises

Tortoises spend all of their lives on land. They don’t spend much time around water unless they are drinking it or taking a bath. Tortoises are typically vegetarians, which means they don’t eat meat. They dine on fungi, leaves from plants, photo by Neil Turner grass, and fruits like melons, pears and apples. The Turtle Conservation Society says the lifespan of a regular-sized turtle can be up to 80 years. But a large turtle can live more than 100 years! A giant tortoise named Jonathan lives on a remote island in the south Atlantic Ocean called Saint Helena. He is 190 years old! He spends most of his time eating and sleeping.

Ways to help

The people organizing World Turtle Day share some tips on how you can help turtles. Never remove turtles or tortoises from the wild unless they are sick or injured. If that’s the case, talk to a grown-up first so they can help seek proper medical care for it. If a turtle is crossing a busy street, ask for an adult’s help. The adult can check to make sure the road is clear, pick up the turtle and place it on the side of the road the turtle is traveling toward. Make sure it’s placed down in the same direction it was going. If the grown-up puts it on the side of the road the turtle was coming from, it will walk into the street again. Keeping rivers, streams, deserts, forests and beaches clean is a big help to turtles since they can get trapped by litter. You can also support a turtle conservation or rescue project in your area.

Resources On the Web:

• worldturtleday.org

At the library:

• “National Geographic Kids Mission: Sea Turtle Rescue” by Karen Young • “Chase the Moon, Tiny Turtle: A Hatchling’s Daring Race to the Sea” by Kelly Jordan

The Mini Page® © 2022 Andrews McMeel Syndication

BY OLIVIA JAIMES

Try ’n’ Find

Mini Jokes

Words that remind us of turtles are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward and diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find: AGE, CELEBRATE, COLUMN, DAY, EXTINCT, FOOD, FUNGI, GRASS, LEARN, OMNIVORES, SEA, SHELL, TERRESTRIAL, TESTUDINES, TORTOISES, TURTLES, VEGETARIANS, WATER, YEARS.

V Q C U A E S E E X

S V E S N W S A V F

E E L E R S E F G W

S G E L A E R C C E

I E B T E N O S T C

O T R R L I V S E U

T A A U R D I A R T

R R T T C U N R R C

O I E D O T M G E N

T A H J L S O C S I

R N I B U E J Y T T

E S U G M T D E R X

T D A Y N F O A I E

A L P V E U O R A E

W L L E H S F S L X

Trinni: What do turtles do when one of them has a birthday? Tim: They have a shell-a-bration!!

Eco Note A new solar power technique being launched in Kenya shows how the sun’s energy can be harvested twice by placing solar panels above rows of crops. Known as agrivoltaics, the arrangement generates electricity while providing the partial


and photo by Christopher Irwin leatherback sea turtles are specialists, so they find a specific food to eat most of the time. Hawksbills often eat sea

He spends most of his time eating and sleeping.

• “Chase the Moon, Tiny Turtle: A Hatchling’s Daring Race to the Sea” by Kelly Jordan May 12, 2022

The Mini Page® © 2022 Andrews McMeel Syndication

Try ’n’ Find

V Q C U A E S E E X

S V E S N W S A V F

E E L E R S E F G W

S G E L A E R C C E

I E B T E N O S T C

O T R R L I V S E U

T A A U R D I A R T

R R T T C U N R R C

O I E D O T M G E N

T A H J L S O C S I

R N I B U E J Y T T

E S U G M T D E R X

T D A Y N F O A I E

A L P V E U O R A E

W L L E H S F S L X

Page 17

Eco Note

What to do: 1. Place cherry tomato halves on a plate; blot the tops with paper towels. 2. Spread cheese evenly on tops of tomatoes. 3. Spoon chopped olives on tops. Makes 3 to 4 servings.

7 Little Words for Kids Use the letters in the boxes to make a word with the same meaning as the clue. The numbers in parentheses represent the number of letters in the solution. Each letter combination can be used only once, but all letter combinations will be necessary to complete the puzzle.

1. soup scooper (5) 2. touch that makes you laugh (6) 3. early part of the day (7) 4. very thin (6) 5. flying machine (8) 6. firecracker sound (4) 7. 12:00, when it’s dark (8)

NG

NIGHT PLANE

CK

LE

MO

MID

AIR

RN

SKIN

TI

LE

LAD

ING

NY

BA

Answers: ladle, tickle, morning, skinny, airplane, bang, midnight.

News of the Weird scene, saying she had run out of gas. Police started to inventory the truck and found 229 pounds of marijuana and $17,800 in cash. Mardesich was charged with possession. Nearest gas station? 0.9 mile.

Decimal points Henry DeHart of Chattanooga, Tennessee, stopped to fill up his gas tank on April 14 and noticed that his 12 gallons of premium fuel only cost him $5.64. He figured out that while the

price of gas was averaging more than $4 a gallon, the pump was set to $0.449. DeHart politely reported this to the owner, who was “on the verge of tears,” since he had been undercharging for several hours. “There’s no telling how much money he lost today,” DeHart told KRCGTV. DeHart paid the owner what he would have been charged had the pump been set correctly. Good on him.

A new solar power technique being launched in Kenya shows how the sun’s energy can be harvested twice by placing solar panels above rows of crops. Known as agrivoltaics, the arrangement generates electricity while providing the partial shade some types of crops need. It also helps the soil to retain moisture. Cabbages grown under the well-placed solar panels were a third larger and appeared healthier than those in control plots with the same amount of fertilizer and water. adapted with permission from Earthweek.

For later: Look in your newspaper for articles about World Turtle Day.

Teachers:

Follow and interact with The Mini Page on Facebook!

©2022 Blue Ox Technologies Ltd. Download the app on Apple and Amazon devices.

You’ll need: • 10 to 12 cherry tomatoes, halved • 1/3 cup spreadable cheese (any flavor) • 1/4 cup chopped olives

The Mini Page® © 2022 Andrews McMeel Syndication

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

Cherry Tomato Snacks

The moral of this story: Always keep an eye on that gas gauge. Police in Memphis, Tennessee, were called about an abandoned Chevy Suburban on the I-55 bridge between Tennessee and Arkansas on April 17, WREG-TV reported. The truck, left in a southbound lane of traffic, had been struck by another car, and while police were preparing to tow it away, the Chevy’s owner, Catherine Mardesich, 54, returned to the

•

Trinni: What do turtles do when one of them has a birthday? Tim: They have a shell-a-bration!!

Cook’s Corner

Filler-up

Williston Observer

Mini Jokes

Words that remind us of turtles are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward and diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find: AGE, CELEBRATE, COLUMN, DAY, EXTINCT, FOOD, FUNGI, GRASS, LEARN, OMNIVORES, SEA, SHELL, TERRESTRIAL, TESTUDINES, TORTOISES, TURTLES, VEGETARIANS, WATER, YEARS.

•

Take a Deep Breath

Tom Jozsi, a 60-year-old in Kenosha, Wisconsin, was in the dentist’s chair when his visit turned anything but routine, WISN-TV reported on April 18. Jozsi was getting a cavity filled when he inhaled an inch-long dental drill bit. “I didn’t really even feel it going down,” he said, but the bit was deep in his right lung, a CT scan showed. Pulmonary expert Dr. Abdul Alraiyes and his team at the Aurora Medical Center-Kenosha decided to try a catheter that’s used for the early detection of cancer, allowing them to reach the small bit and pull it out without any harm to Jozsi’s

lung. Today, the bit is displayed on a shelf in Jozsi’s home.

Weird, not weird Alligators walking anywhere in Florida — on a golf course, down a street, through a parking lot, wherever ­are apparently no longer news, let alone weird news. In Venice, Florida, a large alligator walked through a neighborhood on Easter morning on its way to Harrington Lake. The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office took a video — slow crime day. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was notified, but did not respond BECAUSE THIS IS NOT NEWS.


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May 12, 2022

SENIORS

How to start a walking program and stay motivated

Honor the memory of your beloved pet.

Dear Savvy Senior, My doctor recently suggested I start a walking program to help get my weight and blood pressure under control, but I’ve never exercised much and am 66. Can you recommend some tips? Hate to Exercise

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GETTING STARTED

Start out slow if you need to. For many

people this means head out the door, walk for 10 minutes, and walk back. Do it every day for a week. If that seems easy, add five minutes to your walks the next week and keep adding five minutes until you are walking as long as you desire. It’s also a smart idea to start and finish your walk

Savvy Senior By Jim Miller

with a few simple warm up and cool down stretches. Stretching will make you feel better and help prevent injury. Most fitness professionals recommend walking about 30 minutes, five or more days a week. Or, for optimal health benefits, aim for 10,000 steps per day, which is the equivalent of about 5 miles. Your walking pace is also important. While strolling around the park or neighborhood at an easy pace is good for you, a brisker pace that has you breathing heavily, but still able to carry on a conversation, provides better

health, fitness and weight loss benefits. STAYING MOTIVATED

Find a walking buddy: Having a friend to walk with can provide motivation and support along with companionship. Wear a fitness tracker or pedometer: These devices measure how far you’ve walked in steps and miles, spurring you to meet a goal. If you use a smartphone, there are free apps you can download, like www. MyPacer.com, www.Google.com/fit or www.Accupedo.com. Join a walking club: Call your nearby medical center, mall, health club, senior center, running shoe stores or Area Agency on Aging to see if they sponsor or know of any clubs or groups. Or try www.MeetUp.com or the American Volkssport Association (www.AVA.org) to search for non-competitive walking clubs — or start one. Keep a journal: Keep track of your walking minutes, steps or mileage and total it up at the end of each week to see you’re progress. Free apps like www.MapMyWalk.com and www.Walkmeter.com use GPS to map your walk and measure your distance and time. Have a backup plan: If bad weather, allergies or other factors limit your outdoor walking, have a backup plan, like walking at your local mall, buying a home treadmill or joining a health club. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

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May 12, 2022

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CROSSWORD • SOLUTION ON PAGE 22

Almanac ANDREWS

MCMEEL

TODAY’S HISTORY: • In 1780, British forces took Charleston, South Carolina, during the Revolutionary War. • In 1937, King George VI of the United Kingdom and Elizabeth, the future queen mother, were crowned at a ceremony in Westminster Abbey. • In 1949, the Soviet Union lifted its blockade of Berlin. • In 2008, a magnitude-8.0 earthquake struck in Sichuan province, China, leaving more than 69,000 people dead, 18,000 missing and 4.8 million homeless. TODAY’S FACT: • South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union, in 1860, and was readmitted in 1868.

Weekend breakfast or for dinner this Big Apple Pancake will be one of your favorites in your cooking repertoire. Substitute other fruits like pears, berries, or plums. Add a dollop of ice cream for a real tasty treat!

Katy’s Big Apple Pancake Ingredients:

Directions:

3 eggs

Preheat your oven to 450°F. Beat together the eggs, milk, flour and salt.

3/4 cup milk 3/4 cup flour 1/2 tsp salt 1 1/2 Tbsp butter 1 lb apples, peeled, cored and sliced into 1/4 inch thick pieces 1/4 cup butter maple syrup 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp nutmeg

In a large oven proof skillet (cast iron is best) melt 1 1/2 Tbsp butter. When the butter is bubbling pour in the batter. Place the skillet into the oven. Bake for 15 minutes, periodically pricking the pancake to reduce major puffing. After 15 minutes reduce oven heat to 350°F and bake 10 minutes more. While the pancake is baking you can prepare your apple filling. In a large frying pan melt 1/4 cup butter. When the butter foams add the apples and sauté for about 5 minutes or until the apples soften. Add the cinnamon and nutmeg and as much maple syrup as you like (some like it sweet!!). Cook one minute more and serve over the warm pancake.

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Williston Observer

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May 12, 2022

CAMP

Books that bring summer camp fun and friendships alive BY SUSAN COTE Observer Staff

Whether your children are experienced summer campers or about to have their first taste of camp this year, there are a host of books that can help them get excited about what’s to come. Maybe they’ll even be inspired to write and illustrate a camp story of their own. Bonnie Lord, youth services librarian at Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, suggests a range of summer camp-themed titles that are available on the library shelves or through the library’s online systems. PICTURE BOOKS

Lord recommends these stories as a great way to introduce children to the idea of summer camp. “Froggy Goes to Camp” by Jonathan London — School Library Journal says, “This is a great book for youngsters who may be worried about attending overnight camp for the first time.” “The Jellybeans and the Big Camp Kickoff” by Laura Numeroff and Nate Evans — Kirkus Reviews notes, “The tale unfolds with warmth and reassuring humor making this latest Jellybeans

adventure a good primer for young would-be campers.” “Away” by Emil Sher — “This endearing picture book with an empowering message of bravery will surely resonate with little ones nervous about their own burgeoning independence,” states a Booklist review.

The additional books below, says Lord, explore different summer camps and friendships and include titles ranging from easy readers to more advanced books. GRAPHIC NOVELS

• “Roller Girl” by Victoria Jamieson • “Camp” by Kayla Miller • “Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown” by Jarrett Krosoczka (No. 4 in Lunch Lady series) • “Absolutely Nat” by Maria Scrivan (No. 3 in Nat Enough series)

BOOKS

• “Here In the Real World” by Sara Pennypacker • “Cara the Camp Fairy” by Daisy Meadows • “Danny and the Dinosaur Go to Camp” by Syd Hoff • “Be Prepared” by Vera Brosgol

• “Drum Roll, Please” by Lisa Jenn Bigelow

EBOOKS

• “Summer Camp Queen” by Marci Peschke • Summer Camp Science Mysteries by Lynda Beauregard (series) • “Ask Arizona: Summer Camp Stories” by Lissa Rovetch

One of a series of Summer Camp Science Mysteries by Lynda Beauregard, “The Hunt for Hidden Treasure” is suitable for readers 8-12 years old. “Away” by Emil Sher is an “endearing picture book with an empowering message of bravery (that) will surely resonate with little ones nervous about their own burgeoning independence,” according to Booklist. “Here In the Real World” by Sara Pennypacker is “a compulsively readable tale, fit for middle-graders in the process of discovering themselves,” Booklist states.


May 12, 2022

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

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SOLUTION FOUND ON PAGE 22

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Williston Observer

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May 12, 2022

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL TOWN OF WILLISTON Notice of Adoption Sewer Allocation Ordinance (Attachment A) Amendment

Why not have a job you love ? Join our dedicated team and together we’ll build a community where everyone participates and belongs. Positions include a $500 sign on bonus, a strong benefits package and the opportunity to work at one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” System Administrator: Provide I.T. support, oversee the electronic health records system and ensure all systems are up to date and working smoothly. Experience and/or certifications in a variety of information technology systems required. Direct Support Professional: Provide 1:1 supports to help individuals reach their goals. Full and part time positions available starting at $18/hr. Service Coordinator: Continue your career in human services in a compassionate & fun environment by providing case management and help individuals create and realize goals. Compensation package is $45k annually plus mileage and on call stipend.

OPEN YOUR HOME! MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR A PERSON!

Shared Living Provider LCMHS is currently seeking a home provider for an 18-year-old female with an Intellectual Disability. This is an in-home position and the individual would need their own bedroom in the home. We are looking for a quiet home with no children, other consumers, or males of any age. Preferably located in Lamoille County. Tax-Free Stipend plus Room & Board. To learn more about this opportunity, contact Ross King at (802) 888-5026. Join our team of amazing individuals making a difference every day! More information and all job opportunities: www.lamoille.org/careers LCMHS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Shared Living Provider: Open your home to someone with an intellectual disability or autism and open a whole world to them, and to you. There are a variety of opportunities available that could be the perfect match for you and your household.

NOW HIRING

Residential Direct Support Professional: Work just two days, receive full benefits and have five days off each week! Provide supports to an individual in their home and in the community in 24h shifts including asleep overnights in a private, furnished bedroom. Starting wage is $18/hr. Employment Specialist: Be a part Vermont’s leading supported employment program and help individuals discover their career path. The successful candidate will demonstrate reliability, strong communication skills, and the ability to solve problems effectively and professionally. Starting wage $19.50/hr.

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Make a career making a difference and join our team today! EOE https://ccs-vt.org/current-openings/

CROSSWORD SOLUTION PUZZLE FOUND ON PAGE 19

On May 3, 2022, following a public hearing, the Williston Selectboard adopted an amendment to the Sewer Allocation Ordinance referred to as “Attachment A” - an existing ordinance pertaining to the allocation of sewer system capacity. This attachment will designate the portion of the uncommitted reserve capacity that will be available for use during the next fiscal year which starts July 1, 2022. The approved amendment is as follows: Allocation Category New commercial/industrial New Residential Residential Additions Affordable Housing Planned Public Facilities Pollution Abatement Specific Development Reserve Total Allocated *Gallons per day

Amount (gpd)* 13,000 11,650 1,500 4,750 0 1,500 10,000 75,600 118,000

The amendment to this ordinance will take effect on July 2, 2022 unless a petition signed by at least five percent of the voters of Williston is filed with the Town Clerk by June 16, 2022, asking for a vote to disapprove the adoption. If a petition is received, the Selectboard will warn a special meeting and the voters may vote on that question pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 1973. Copies of the text of the complete ordinance are available on the Town’s website at http://town.williston.vt.us. (Public Records - Legal Notices). Any questions about this ordinance amendment should be directed to Matt Boulanger, Planning Director by mail at 7900 Williston Road, Williston, VT 05495; email mboulanger@willistonvt. org; or phone (802) 878-6704. Dated at Williston, Vermont this 9th day of May 2022.

GARAGE/YARD SALES YARD SALE — Selling home

furnishings, jewelry, clothing and more! 1906 Old Creamery Rd, Williston. 9 am - 3 pm Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14.

Apply online at the website below or follow the QR Code. Contact your local Hannaford store for more details.

PUZZLE FOUND ON PAGE 21

SUDUKO SOLUTION

https://hannaford.careerswithus.com

Having a Garage Sale? Place a free classified. 50 word maximum. Deadline for submission:

MONDAY.

There is no guarantee of placement.


00/week $936 May 12, 2022

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Williston Observer

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Page 23

SERVICE DIRECTORY CAT RESCUE

BUILDING SERVICES

BEAGLE BUILDERS, LLC Remodeling & Additions

ALL TYPES OF SIDING Vinyl/Wood/Composite

Windows & Doors • Decks & Porches

Kitchens & Bathrooms Sunrooms & Garages

Monkton, VT

beaglebuilders@gmavt.net

802-453-4340 CALL US!

POWER WASHING

REAL ESTATE Your Williston Neighbor

Spring House Washing

Specializing in Low-Pressure Vinyl Siding Washes

Michelle Desautels

Washing Decks, Gutters, Patios, Walkways & More

REALTOR®, PSA (802) 846-9503

Owner operated - Call Greg Mack

802-238-3386

LANDSCAPING

ANTIQUE SHOP ANTIQUE SHOP

IVE CORNERS ORNERS FIVE CORNERS FFIVE C ANTIQUES NTIQUES ANTIQUES A A Multi Dealer Shop A Multi Dealer A Multi Dealer Shop Shop

802.878.6167 802.878.6167 802.878.6167 11 Maple Street, Street, Essex Junction, VT VT 11 Maple Essex Junction,

11Open Maple Street, Junction, VT Mon SatEssex 10-5 Sun 11-4 Open-Mon - Sat 10-5 Sun 11-4 Open Mon - Sat 10-5 Sun 11-4 5CornersAntiques.com 5CornersAntiques.com 5CornersAntiques.com

LAND MAINTENANCE Forestry Mulching Services for private and commercial projects Driveways, Ponds, Land Clearing, Trails, Farms, Ski Areas, Natural Disaster Recovery, Logging Cleanup, Invasive Vegetation, Excavation Visit our website for more information www.vtlandmaintenance@gmail.com Brian Washburn 802-434-4533 • 802-373-1755 (cell)

BASEMENT SYSTEMS

Complete Landscape Overhauls • Design and Installations Mini-Excavator Work, Driveway Culvert Replacements, Paver Driveways, Walls, Walkways, Patios, Edging and Mulching Fully Insured-30+ years experience

www.kingfishvt.com/1-802-345-4280

EXCAVATION

HOME MORTGAGE LOANS

www.northernbasements.com

ANTIQUES

ANTIQUES WANTED Our experience will get you home. Jeff Teplitz Loan Officer NMLS #184421 P: (802) 448-7935

We specialize in service, customer education, and experience in the industry. We are proud to serve you and your family with a phenomenal home loan experience.

Contact me today for your home loan needs!

jeff.teplitz@academymortgage.com Corp NMLS #3113 | Equal Housing Lender

MAC322-1474155

CARPET CLEANER

Decluttering? Downsizing? Settling an Estate? We can help you discover, learn about and sell:

Residential & Commercial

Driveways | Septic Systems | Utility Lines | Drainage Foundations | Earth Moving | Hydro Seeding | Snow Plowing

“OUR REPUTATION IS BUILT ON SOLID GROUND.”

802-279-0895

“The Carpet Cleaner”

(800)286-1441•(802)372-8444 www.ussteamer.com

We can field questions, review photos and coordinate estate work. Contact Brian Bittner 802-272-7527 802-489-5210 bittnerantiques@gmail.com info@bittnerantiques.com

www.bittnerantiques.com

OBSERVER PHOTOS

Photos from the Williston Observer are available for purchase.

United States Steamer

REFERENCES AVAILABLE

WATCHES • JEWELRY • COINS • SILVER • ARTWORK

Place your order online or email afrey202@gmail.com

AlFreyPhotography.com

AL

To place a classified or service directory ad, email rick@williston observer.com or call 802-373-2136


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Williston Observer

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May 12, 2022

to these local businesses for supporting our Town Fair! Isham Family Farm apple orchard & farm market

OAK HILL ROAD • WILLISTON • 872-1525 WWW.ISHAMFAMILYFARM.COM

ADAMSFARMMARKET.COM

Village Hardware

Williston Coffee Shop Williston

Serving our community since 1985


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