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JUNE 30, 2022

WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985

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Williston Community Theatre premiers BY ERIN ZUBARIK Special to the Observer

From left to right: Abby Lord, Colleen Christman, Mary-Kate Clark, Justin Bouvier, Sean Reeks and Gloria Kamencik form the ensemble that performed “Tales and Things,” the first production of the Williston Community Theatre. The musical play was staged June 23-25 as part of the First: Earth series at Isham Family Farm. PHOTO BY LESLEY MURRAY

So long old Friend

Once a Taft Corners hotspot, Friendly’s finally picks up stakes BY JASON STARR Observer staff

Friendly’s Restaurant was a Taft Corners pioneer, among the first out-of-state businesses to invest in Williston with a location that opened in the mid-1980s. With its diner-style family fare and ice cream treats, it became a community gathering spot. “It was very popular when it first went in. The parking lot was packed all the time,” Town Clerk and native Willistonian Sarah Mason recalled. But this summer, the iconic cursive Friendly’s sign has vanished, the parking lot is barren and the restaurant building is empty. It appears the business has closed for good, leaving a void at the southeast corner of the central Taft Corners intersection, where Routes 2 and 2A come together. Representatives from the Friendly’s corporate office did not return calls seeking confirmation. Friendly’s filed for bankruptcy in 2020 and was acquired by a group of investors by the name of Amici Partners, which is affiliated with Brix Holdings out of Dallas, ac-

cording to news releases on the company’s website. Friendly’s leased the one-acre parcel and building from the Ronald D. and Louse C. Mussen Revocable Trust. The property was placed in the trust in 1993 by Ronald and Louise Mussen, an Essex couple. Ronald passed away in 2018, and Louise is in her 90s, according to Williston Assistant Assessor Dick Ransom, who knew the couple personally. The Mussen trust is based in Boca Raton, Fla., according to the most recent tax bill for the property, which the town values at $620,610. When asked about the redevelopment potential for the parcel, Williston Planning and Zoning Director Matt Boulanger said, “First, I feel a little nostalgia as I’m sure many Willistonians do, given the long tenure of Friendly’s in that location.” Williston native and nearby property owner Alex Judge agreed: “It’s such a great location, and I remember going there for ice cream as a little kid.” Town planners have recently written an entirely new set of land use regulations for Taft Corners, which would govern any redevelopment of the parcel. The new regulations are currently under consideration for adoption by the

The Williston Community Theatre has successfully completed its first season. After a year of organizing, and many months of rehearsing, a team of local thespians performed the show “Tales and Things” at Isham Family Farm last weekend. In the fall of 2021, Isham Farm co-owner Helen Weston decided that she wanted to start a community theater in Williston. Weston has always been involved with the arts, and she wanted to create a local theater group to bring the town closer together. “The thing about community theater is you reach out to people, and you hang out with them, but you are not discussing ‘are we going to put in a new traffic light, new sidewalks, or are we going to develop this land.’ We come to-

The recently vacated Friendly’s Restaurant in Taft Corners.

Williston Selectboard. The primary landowners in Taft Corners participated in the drafting of the new regulations, but planners have had no contact with the owners of the Friendly’s parcel. “I’d be very interested to see an application for redevelopment on that site,” said Boulanger. The new regulations would allow residential buildings or a mix of commercial, office and residen-

tial space on the site. The buildings would be allowed to be up to six stories tall. “Elements of (the new regulations) ensure a building that will become part of Taft Corners, with a strong relationship to the streets it is located on, where utilitarian functions like parking, trash-handling, driveways and loading are de-emphasized and kept behind the building, while it

gether from all walks of life and we do something fun.” Weston was determined to start the theater group, but she knew she needed help, so she reached out to Justin Bouvier, an assistant principal and theater director at Mt. Abraham Union Middle and High School. While Bouvier was keeping score for a field hockey game, Weston approached him and said: “I want to talk to you about starting a theater company in Williston … Well, I’m going to do it, but I want you on board.” After the field hockey game, Weston and Bouvier began to plan more seriously. They chose a show, scavenged for props and found a cast. After casual auditions, the cast began rehearsals in January. Last weekend, the group’s hard see THEATRE page 24

OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR

puts its best foot forward on the street,” Boulanger said. “While I haven’t made an in-depth analysis of what sorts of designs would fit this particular site, the most fun and rewarding aspect of working on the (new regulations) has been meeting with landowners, engineers and architects to look at developing or redeveloping small and interesting sites like this one.”

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June 30, 2022

In the market for fun

Market-goers, top left, contemplate their choices from the Coffee Car at the Isham Farm Market on the evening last Tuesday. Guitarist and singer Bob Cotton, above, fills the night with music. The tent of the Mediterranean Mix, below left, was just one of the many food vendors appealing to hungry visitors. A variety of products from the garden, bottom right, were brought by the namesake farmers of the farmers market.

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June 30, 2022 •

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CSWD plans new Williston recycling facility A touch of history for the Fourth

Voters to decide on $22 million bond for the project BY AUDITI GUHA VTDigger The Chittenden Solid Waste District plans to construct a $22 million recycling facility on Redmond Road in Williston that it says will bring its trash management operations into the 21st century. The district is also working to install a new water line to improve composting and add an administrative building for staff. The district’s current recycling facility — the first in Vermont — was built off Industrial Avenue 29 years ago. It is severely outdated and has exceeded its capacity, according to Michele Morris, the district’s director of communications. “The new facility that we’re planning will be more efficient and effective and just allow Vermonters to recycle more types of packaging,” she said. The Industrial Avenue site is where 53 percent of Vermont’s “blue bin recyclables” go to be sorted, separated and baled before they can be sent off to be turned

A loader pushing collected recyclables toward the pre-sort room at the CSWD’s materials recovery facility in Williston.

VTDIGGER COURTESY PHOTO

into new materials, according to a memo presented to the Chittenden district’s board of commissioners in March. The facility was designed to manage 25,000 tons a year, but it processed 49,000 tons in fiscal year 2021, the memo states.

The district’s expansion plan calls for a larger building and new technology that would automate the sorting of items currently separated by hand. These changes would allow the district to sort and recycle 70,000 tons, 40 percent

more than its current capacity. If all goes according to plan, the project could break ground in 2023 and open in 2024. On March 23, district commissioners approved a $22 mil-

As part of Williston’s July Fourth celebration, the Williston Historical Society will open the Stovepipe Corners Schoolhouse from 9-10 a.m. on July 4 and again following the parade from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. On exhibit will be “Then and Now” photos compiled by Williston Central School fourth-graders in 2019 with the assistance of parent Andy Duback. Photos from the Williston Historical Society archives of local landmarks will be shown in contrast with a current photo of the same location. Also on exhibit will be a history of one-room schoolhouses in Williston and photos of the moving and restoration of the Stovepipe Corners Schoolhouse by the Williston Historical Society in 1988. Also available will be copies of Richard Allen’s newest book “Images of America: Williston” — a photographic history of town.

see CSWD page 4

CORRECTION A story in last week’s Observer headlined “It’s easy to electrify” mistakenly said Green Mountain Power (GMP) and Vermont Electric Coop source electricity from 100 percent renewable and 75 percent carbon free resources, respectively. GMP, in fact, sources at 68 percent renewable and 100 percent carbon free resources while Vermont Electric Coop will source from 100 percent carbon free resources by 2023 and 100 percent renewables by 2030.

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CSWD continued from page

An aerial view of the paper outflow pile at the CSWD’s recycling facility in Williston. The conveyor in the background carries all the unsorted material that is dumped in a small room with green corrugated siding. Workers in that room pull out trash, plastic bags, filmy wrap, etc.

VTDIGGER COURTESY PHOTO

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lion bond to pay for the expansion, which will be presented to Chittenden County voters on the November ballot. District leaders made assurances, however, that taxpayers would not have to shoulder the costs. “This project is not going to affect their taxes,” Morris said. Chittenden district officials are also looking for ways to reduce the bond amount and are considering grants, federal funds and zero-interest municipal loans. Whatever the final total turns out to be, they expect revenues will foot the bill. In fiscal year 2021, the operating revenue for the facility was $7.2 million, and $3.3 million was generated from the sale of materials. District officials expect the bond debt will be repaid with revenues from the sale of materials and the tipping fees for disposal, which they can adjust as needed. The tipping fee — what haulers pay the district when they “tip out” material at the sorting facility — is currently $80 per ton. It increased from $65 to $80 per ton in March 2020. “Leaping forward 30 years is expensive and a little scary, but we’ve done the due diligence and are confident that the time is right to invest in the future of recycling in Chittenden County,” Sarah Reeves, the district’s executive director, wrote in the memo to the board. The Chittenden district has contracted with Casella Waste Systems to operate and manage the Industrial Avenue facility since 1999. Casella, a private company, gets a portion of the tip-

ping fees. Its recycling contract, set to expire June 30, has been extended through September. But the arrangement could change once the new facility is operational. Documents show the district is considering the possibility of taking over management of the new facility itself, or contracting with another vendor. The Chittenden Solid Waste District, a municipal district created in 1987 to oversee and manage solid waste in Chittenden County, is the only publicly owned option in Vermont for processing recycling. The district owns 60 acres on Redmond Road, and a new facility would be built on the undeveloped land on the same road between IBM Road and the VELCO access road intersections, a couple of miles away from the existing building. It is expected to have a footprint of about 62,000 to 64,000 square feet, nearly double the size of the existing one. And it will have ample storage and space to allow future growth. The new sorting and packaging facility will include optical scanners, ballistic separators and robotics, according to the memo. That will allow it to expand what Vermonters can recycle — including plastic snap-off beer pack covers and black plastic containers such as takeout boxes, plant pots and shampoo bottles, which it currently cannot process, Morris said. Williston has been a district member and the host town for the recycling facility for many years, and the solid waste district has been a good neighbor, Williston Town Manager Erik Wells said in an email. The “much-needed facility” will help “to continue to

reduce and manage waste in an environmentally conscious, effective and innovative way,” he said. The town’s Development Review Board has not yet received an application for a zoning permit, but the facility is an allowed use in the industrial zone, and town officials have been briefed on the project, Wells said. The district has separately received approval from Williston officials to build a 2,500-foot waterline extension from IBM Road to its composting facility. That project is expected to break ground in a month or two. The district currently trucks in the water needed to compost food scraps and yard debris, a far more expensive option than having a water line, according to Morris. The line will bring water to three of the Chittenden district’s facilities — the recycling facility, the compost facility and a new administrative building in the works. The administrative building would be in a vacant lot south of the compost center. The district has about 50 full-time workers, 20 of whom are office staff and work out of an old house on the Redmond Road property. “That’s not all that super-exciting for the public, but it’s very exciting for our staff (who have) been working out of an old repurposed split-level home for years,” Morris said. The proposed 10,000-squarefoot building and parking lot would provide a modern, well-ventilated workspace. That project is currently in the design phase. Both projects are in the Chittenden district’s capital budget and have been approved by the board and member towns.

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Advocacy groups rally to formally abolish slavery ought to be holden by law, to serve any person as a servant, slave or apprentice, after arriving to the age of twenty-one At the top of Church Street last Friday years, unless bound by the person’s own in Burlington, people of all ages gath- consent, after arriving to such age, or ered to kickoff the campaign to support bound by law for the payment of debts, Proposal 2 — a rephrasing of Vermont’s damages, fines, costs, or the like.” Come November, Vermonters will Constitution that would officially abolvote on whether this part of the text will ish slavery. be replaced. The new text would read: Vermont Interfaith Action Executive “Slavery and indentured servitude in any Director Debbie Ingram of Williston inform are prohibited.” troduced Proposal 2 when she was a state “We want to make sure that people Senator, and the Legislature passed it in understand that there are actually excep2019. The measure will be on this Notions in the Vermont Constitution, and vember’s ballot for a statewide vote. that actually, our constitution was used The campaign to pass Proposal 2 is as a model for other state constitutions to part of a nationwide effort to officially have exceptions,” Ingram said. abolish slavery. Vermont Interfaith AcAmendments to the state constitution tion partnered in the campaign with the must pass both the House and Senate in Abolish Slavery National Network, a natwo consecutive legislative bienniums tionwide organization that aims to close similar loopholes in the 13th amendment before a public vote in the November of the U.S. Constitution and in individu- general election. Vermont is one of twenty states that al state constitutions around the country. Currently, Article 1 of Vermont’s are working to update language in their Constitution states that, “No person born constitutions and one of five where votin this country, or brought from over sea, ers will consider amendments this year.

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BY JENNA PETERSON VTDigger

Omega Jade performs last Friday at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington. Vermont Interfaith Action and Vermont Racial Justice Alliance organized the cookout to launch a campaign in support of Proposal 2. PHOTO BY RILEY ROBINSON/VTDIGGER

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June 30, 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

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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.

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EVERY TUESDAY THRU SEPTEMBER Put ting the Farm bac k into the Farmer’s Market!

Market

Bringing recycling into the 21st century BY SARAH REEVES Nearly 30 years ago, the Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) built Vermont’s first recycling sorting facility, known as a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), where “blue-bin” recyclables are sorted. In this same year, 1993, “Jurassic Park” was the big movie hit, a gallon of gas cost $1.68 and Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey dominated the music charts. In other words, it was a long time ago. And just like people’s taste in music has changed, people’s recycling needs have evolved. The current MRF can no longer keep up with modern packaging and the recycling needs of Vermonters today. The facility is inefficient and outdated. Employees are still hand sorting some materials, and the facility is at capacity. To address these challenges, CSWD is proposing to build a new MRF that will be more efficient and effective, providing affordable, in-state processing for Vermonters’ recycling for years to come. It will be built with enough capacity and flexibility to adapt to

changes in volume and types of recyclables over the next 30 years. The new MRF will be better equipped to deal with the vastly diversified packaging formats that didn’t exist in the 20th century. CSWD functions much like a school or water district, only we manage solid waste. As a municipally owned district, we serve the public without profit as a driver. Because we’re a municipality, we need voter approval for long-term borrowing so that we can finance the new MRF project. CSWD will be seeking voter approval in this year’s general election to borrow no more than $22 million to build the new MRF. In 1993, it’s doubtful that anyone could have imagined the variety of packaging that exists in our modern world. Because packaging has changed significantly since then, we are not able to process all of the types of packaging that we would like to. The new MRF, however, will allow CSWD to have the flexibility to adapt to future packaging innovations. And where markets are available, we will also be able to add things like packaging and containers

made from black plastic to our list of recyclable items. The new MRF will allow us to grow for the next 30 years, with 40 percent more capacity. Vermonters know that recycling has immense benefits for the environment, the climate and the economy. CSWD’s new MRF will be able to process up to 70,000 tons (140 million pounds) of recyclables every year. Recycling these materials has significant greenhouse gas reduction benefits, the equivalent of removing 52,500 passenger vehicles from the road and conserving nearly 28 million gallons of gas annually. Recycling these materials saves 634,000 trees from being cut down, every year. Recycling reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills, conserves natural resources, reduces carbon emissions and creates jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries. For all of these reasons, Vermonters want to recycle, and they want to recycle more. Building a new MRF will allow our state to recycle more volume and types of packaging, which see RECYCLING page 11

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June 30, 2022 •

Roe reactions Statements from Vermont leaders about the Supreme Court’s decision last week that overturned federal abortion protections. SEN. PATRICK LEAHY

Today’s opinion from a narrow majority of the Court is not the end of abortion. It is the end of a woman’s right to safe reproductive health care. It is the end of women’s choice. It sets us back. It does not move us forward. What message does this send to women? That their choice — that their right to govern their bodies — doesn’t matter? That politicians know better? State legislatures cannot write their way through the myriad of circumstances that can arise for women in pregnancy. These states, though, say today that they know best. The Court, today, says that those state legislatures know best. No, not the 163 million women in this country. Not a woman about her own body. Government knows best. For years I have heard Republicans in the Senate talk about limited government, about their worries that government interferes too much with our daily lives. Today, I ask them, is there any more significant interference than that of getting between a woman, or any person, and their health care choices? This is hypocrisy of the highest order. Americans come to court to find justice, to find protection under the law. Today, the Supreme Court abandons that role. I fear for what it means for the progress we have fought hard to achieve. For our more perfect union. For generations to come. LT. GOV. MOLLY GRAY

Today will go down as a tragic day in the fight for human rights and women’s rights. Never in my lifetime has an established fundamental right been stripped away. SCOTUS has failed spectacularly in its duty to protect and uphold the constitutional precedent. Every Vermonter and American is owed the right to reproductive liberty, and here in Vermont, we will do everything in our power to protect it. I encourage Vermonters to channel their outrage and take action by passing Proposal 5 this fall to enshrine reproductive liberty in our Vermont Constitution. At the federal

level, we must codify Roe. With that precedent now officially upended, this must happen now. Vermonters will always step forward when our country steers off course. It’s time again for us to be a North star for the nation, to stand together and lead the way toward a safer and more just future for all. LUCY LERICHE, PLANNED PARENTHOOD VERMONT ACTION FUND

By overturning Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court has now officially given politicians permission to control what we do with our bodies, deciding that we can no longer be trusted to determine the course for our own lives. This dangerous and chilling decision will have devastating consequences across the country, forcing people to travel hundreds, sometimes thousands of miles for care or remain pregnant. In Vermont, you can still access an abortion today. Vermont is taking a bold step to protect reproductive rights here at home, where we are working to pass the Reproductive Liberty Amendment in November. The Reproductive Liberty Amendment would amend Vermont’s constitution to protect every person’s right to make their own reproductive decisions, like whether and when to become pregnant, use temporary or permanent birth control, or seek abortion care without interference from politicians. If passed, it will protect these rights long-term. It is a dark day for our country, but this is far from over. We will not compromise on our bodies, our dignity or our freedom. Vermonters should know that Planned Parenthood will always fight for you, and we will not back down. Together, we will protect our freedoms. GOV. PHIL SCOTT

I know many Vermonters like me are deeply disappointed following (the) decision by the Supreme Court, as this decision rolls back a federal right that women have had for decades. It’s important to note, a woman’s right to choose is a principle we will uphold in Vermont, and we, in fact, have prepared for this unfortunate outcome. In 2019, I signed a law that affirmed the fundamental rights of all

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

women and ensured reproductive health decisions remain between a woman and her health care provider. That does not change with this ruling. Additionally, in November, Vermonters will be able to further solidify this action with a constitutional amendment on the ballot. As I have said, I will be voting for that amendment, and I encourage Vermonters to stand up for the rights of women and do the same. To that end, in the coming days, I will formally provide public notice to Vermonters, as required by the Vermont Constitution and state statute, that Proposal 5, a proposed amendment to the Vermont Constitution passed by the General Assembly, will appear on the November general election ballot. Further, I call on Congress to immediately work to codify the right to choose for all Americans as we have done for Vermonters.

No ordinary Jim Like many of us, I am looking forward to celebrating the Fourth of July and returning to many wonderful Williston traditions, but there is one thing I will miss dearly: Representative Jim McCullough. With his red suspenders, giant smile and endless reservoir of positivity, Jim has been an extraordinarily important leader and public servant in our community. Jim has represented us in the Legislature for 20 years, serving in leadership positions on the House Committee on Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife. He has been a tireless advocate for land conservation, environmental protection, clean water and reduction of toxic chemicals. He speaks from the heart but one should never take that for simplicity: He knows the nuances and implications of complex policy issues.

On the snowiest days of this past session, I rode with Jim to Montpelier, putting my trust in his studded tires and experience driving the interstate when it is most dangerous. He has been a gracious mentor to me as I “learn the ropes’’ in Montpelier. He has been available to answer questions about the long history on a huge range of issues, while also letting me find my own way. From day one of our service together, he has offered only one direct piece of advice: at the end of the day, you have to vote your conscience. Jim has always led with his conscience, as well as his commitment to our community and the protection of our incredible natural resources. Please join me in extending our immense gratitude to retiring Rep. Jim McCullough for his service to Williston. Erin Brady Williston state representative

JOSHUA DIAMOND, ACTING VERMONT ATTORNEY GENERAL

Despite the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs, access to safe and legal abortion remains protected in Vermont and many states across the country. Abortion care is health care. The Attorney General’s Office will stand with Vermonters in doing everything it can to protect reproductive freedom. The Office will explore every opportunity to join multistate actions, amicus briefs and lawsuits while also supporting the passage of Vermont’s Reproductive Liberty Amendment, Article 22.

Williston Town Band

2022 Concert Schedule Sun., Jul. 3 (ice cream social!) Mon., Jul. 4 (parade, 10 AM) Tues., Jul. 12 at the VT Lake Monsters game! Wed., Jul. 13 Wed., Jul 27 Wed., Aug. 10 Wed., Aug. 24 Sat., Sept. 24 Underhill Harvest Market (time TBA)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS

Six Supreme Court justices, including some who in their nomination hearings called the case ‘important precedent,’ today did exactly what the American people did not want and overturned Roe v. Wade. In the year 2022 they have made the outrageous and reactionary assertion that women in our country should not be able to control their own bodies. This decision cannot be allowed to stand. If Republicans can end the filibuster to install right wing judges to overturn Roe v. Wade, Democrats can and must end the filibuster, codify Roe v. Wade and make abortion legal and safe. That is exactly what we must do now.

Join the Band!

Williston Town Band is always looking for musicians to join us! Our members come from all over Chittenden County with varying levels of experience, and range in age from teens to seniors. Our repertoire includes a variety of genres from marches to show tunes to pop songs and more. Join us! Low brass are especially needed. Rehearsals are Wednesdays from 7:00-8:30 PM on nonconcert weeks. For more information, send an email to Kathy at willistontownband@gmail.com.

Blood Drive Hosted by Williston Woods Cooperative Housing Corp. Main Room 126 Williston Woods Rd. Williston Thursday, July 7, 2022 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Maximize your blood donation. Help more patients. If you are an eligible type 0, B - or A - donor, consider making a Power Red donation. Red blood cells are the most commonly transfused blood component. Please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: WILLISTON to schedule an appointment.

1-800-RED CROSS I 1-800-733-2767 I redcrossblood.org I Download the Blood Donor App

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Send your letters and story ideas to email editor@ willistonobserver.com Williston

June 30, 2022

‘Moooving’ milk to where it’s wanted

BY ABBIE KOPELOWITZ Community News Service It was a problem just waiting to be solved and all it took was a few Harwood students asking “why?” to tackle it. The problem? Leftover cartons of milk in Harwood Union High School’s cafeteria every day. The solution: A project aptly named “Moooving Milk.” Miranda Rayfield, a 17-yearold junior, is a leader of Harwood’s Farm-to-School club dedicated to encouraging sustainability. Rayfield explained that the club’s efforts started at the beginning of the school year when it resumed meeting in person. Seeing the club back in action, one of the chefs in the Harwood kitchen, Stephanie Jenkerson, approached the student group about the excess milks. “Not all students want milk,” Jenkerson said, “but they have to take it for a complete meal in order for it to ‘count’ as a reimbursable meal for the school.” The rule is part of the complex regulations around school meals that are government funded. Since the Covid pandemic began in 2020, school meals have been free to all students with federal funding available. A “reimbursable meal” has to meet the nutrient content and portion size requirements of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program, allowing a school to receive benefits like funding and U.S. Department of Agriculture foods. Still, Jenkerson said it was disheartening to see students putting their milks that came with their breakfasts or lunches straight into the trash. Enter the Farm-to-School Club to tackle the problem. At the morning breakfast sta-

Gaylord Farm pigs enjoy leftover milk from the Harwood food program.

tion in the cafeteria, the team this school year has set up red milk crates designated for milk donations. While students are encouraged to drink their milk, cartons of unwanted milk can be set aside rather than thrown out. Jenkerson said they collect about 50 milks a day this way. The next step was finding a destination for the dozens of 8-ounce cartons of milk. Farm-to-School Club members looked to food shelves in the communities in the school dis-

trict: the Waterbury Area Food Shelf, the Mad River Valley Community Pantry and the Duxbury Elf Shelf to accept donations. Paul Kramer, the faculty advisor for the Farm to School Club, said the students worked closely with the kitchen staff and food service directors. “It always goes back to the magic of our food service staff in the kitchen — their ability to connect with the community and connect with students in the school,” he said. As it’s turned out, since

PHOTO BY MIRANDA RAYFIELD

mid-February the club has figured that the effort has diverted 2,841 cartons of milk from the trash. Most have gone to the food shelves in Duxbury and Waterbury, where staff report that patrons have been eager to take them home. Kramer said folks from the food shelves pick up on a regular schedule once weekly. Waterbury Food Shelf Director Sara Whitehair said the milk donations have been valuable to see MILK page 9

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Milk continued from page

her organization. Not only do shoppers enjoy the fresh milk, but the program also helps the food shelf save money as it can purchase less milk, she explained. “We have fresh milk available for folks when they come in to get food, so it’s been really helpful,” Whitehair said. Ruth Haskins at the Duxbury Elf Food Shelf had similar sentiments. Without

It was disheartening to see students putting their milks that came with their breakfasts or lunches straight into the trash. enough funding to always purchase milk, the donated cartons are appreciated. “If we get a crate, sometimes two crates, that’s more than sufficient. It works very well,” Haskins said. While the food shelves are a good way to get the excess school milks to people in the community, Rayfield noted that the club and school kitchen staff soon discovered another problem to tackle. They realized that some of the milk was either at the

Beautiful

expiration date or too close to the expiration date to send to the food shelves. There wasn’t enough time to collect and then deliver them to the food shelves for shoppers to take them home and drink them before they spoil. So they needed a different option for a portion of the unwanted milk. Fortunately, expired milk isn’t a problem for everyone. “Anything expired that couldn’t go to food shelves could go to pigs at our local farms,” Rayfield said. Living near Gaylord Farm in Waitsfield and knowing they had pigs, Rayfield contacted them about offering the expired milk. “We really don’t have much waste (a.k.a. expired milk),” Kramer said. “But when we do, Miranda drops it off at Gaylord’s. I’m not sure how it is distributed to the piggies.” Rayfield said the milk is a welcome addition to the menu at the farm. “Gaylord was very happy to take our donations,” she said, “and the pigs seem happy!” So what began as a source of concern and disappointment has turned into a successful effort to avoid wasting food. “It feels really good to know that people in the community are getting the unwanted milk,” Jenkerson said. The Moooving Milk project, with all of its moving parts, has benefitted multiple members of the community this school

year. “I’m totally thankful for seeing the milk not go to waste,” Rayfield said. “And

I know a bunch of teachers, and even students, have also come to me and said how thankful they are for that as well.”

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Student Miranda Rayfield from the Harwood Union Farm-to-School Club counts, sorts and packs up milk destined for food shelves and farms.

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Burlington approves sweeping short-term rental restrictions

Williston Observer

• June 30, 2022

BY JACK LYONS VTDigger

Two and a half years into debating how to regulate the type of lodging advertised on sites such as Airbnb and Vrbo, the City of Burlington is set to clamp down on its short-term rental industry. In an 8-2 vote, the Burlington City Council passed an ordinance Monday night disqualifying up to 80 percent of the city’s short-term rentals, since they occupy an entire house, apartment or condo. Of Burlington’s 250 to 300 short-term rentals, roughly 81 percent are entire units, according to city-provided data. Those units— unless they meet exceptions the council carved out to promote affordable housing — are soon set to violate the city’s housing codes. As a result, short-term rental hosts can only put rooms in their primary residence on the market, excepting those few conditions. The most significant exception allows for landlords who own a building with multiple units to lease one of them as a whole-unit shortterm rental, provided the building also contains a unit that houses a resident who meets the city’s “inclusionary zoning” standard, or someone receiving federal or state housing assistance.

Properties that are only outfitted for the warmer months and “accessory dwelling units” — residential units, such as in-law suites, that are built on the property of an existing home — are also exempt from the ban, according to the ordinance. In addition to restricting how many and what type of short-term rentals a host can operate, the ordinance places a 9 percent tax on such listings. That revenue will be directed to a city fund dedicated to the development of affordable housing. The ordinance still has to receive a signature from Democratic Mayor Miro Weinberger and get vetted by the Planning Commission before it is enacted. The ordinance was almost identical to a proposal that councilors struck down in March. But after Weinberger vetoed a Progressive-backed measure that would have cracked down even harder on short-term rentals, Councilor Joe Magee switched sides and voted “yes” on Monday. Councilor Gene Bergman, P-Ward 2, said he opposed the exemptions offered by the ordinance, but voted for it anyway, praising its establishment of a registry for shortterm rentals. Councilors Jack Hanson and Joan Shannon voted against the ordinance, saying it did not go far

enough in regulating the industry. (Councilors Ali House and Perri Freeman were absent). Shannon, who spearheaded the stricter ordinance that Weinberger vetoed, expressed support for the current framework of short-term rental regulation, which requires the properties to receive permits as owner-occupied “bed-and-breakfasts.” In addition to owner occupancy, bed-and-breakfasts must go through a public application process that involves the city’s development review board. Getting rid of that requirement, Shannon warned her colleagues, would prevent neighbors from weighing in on the potential for a short-term rental opening next to them. “Short-term rentals will be given an even higher status by this exemption and will join only two other high-priority uses that the city wants to encourage, which are day cares and urban agriculture,” Shannon said. But proponents said the ordinance would balance the demand for hotel alternatives with the city’s desperate need for affordable housing. Officials say Burlington has a less than 1 percent vacancy rate for long-term rentals. “There are significant benefits with the presence of short-term

rental units,” said Councilor Ben Traverse, who sponsored the ordinance. “On the other side of this issue, we do have a housing crisis. And I do think it’s important that this council take action to address that crisis and to increase the city’s housing stock.” Julie Marks, founder and director of the Vermont Short-Term Rental Alliance, applauded the ordinance’s affordable housing provisions. But in a statement to VTDigger after the meeting, she said her group did not support the 9 percent tax levied on short-term rentals, arguing that the percentage is unfair when compared to the 2 percent tax rate on hotel rooms. “The (Alliance) does not support the unbalanced tax burden on visitors who desire to stay in vacation rentals instead of hotels,” Marks said. “That doesn’t align with the sentiment of ‘leveling the playing field.’” Traverse and the ordinance’s supporters said the ordinance will not resolve Burlington’s housing crisis. But, they said, it is a step in the right direction. “The best thing we can do for the housing crisis is to take action on something tonight so that we can move to bigger issues that will have more impact,” Traverse said.

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Free Press names new editor BY AUDITI GUHA VTDigger Aki Soga has become the first Asian American journalist to lead the Burlington Free Press. He was named executive editor of the Gannett-owned daily “following an extensive search,” the Free Press reported Saturday. Formerly a reporter in Tokyo, Soga, 63, came to the Free Press

Last year, (the Free Press) moved its Burlington office to a Williston office park. in 1991 and was most recently the engagement editor. Due to his work in that position, Gannett regional editor Lisa Strattan was quoted as saying, Soga “is in the best position to remind greater Burlington, and all of Vermont, of the standing of the Free Press.” Once boasting the largest newsroom and highest circulation of any paper in the state, the Free Press has steadily lost staff and readership in recent years. Gannett, which has owned the paper since 1971, merged with GateHouse in 2019. The newsroom directory currently lists 13 people, including interns. Soga, a South Burlington resident, had been one of two editors working with Free Press reporters since former executive editor Emilie Stigliani left in March for the Sacramento Bee in California. Soga said he will work to fill his former position as soon as he can write and post the job description. He will report to Strattan, who was unavailable for comment. Asked about the significance of becoming the paper’s first Asian American executive editor, Soga said, “People seeing somesee FREE PRESS page 12

June 30, 2022 •

Williston Observer

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Page 11

Merged VPR, PBS become ‘Vermont Public’

Charges include sexual assault, domestic violence and unlawful restraint BY ALAN J. KEAYS VTDigger

Addison County Sheriff Peter Newton, who has been under investigation for months for a reported “domestic disturbance” at his home in February, was arrested Tuesday, according to Vermont State Police spokesperson Adam Silverman. He was charged with two counts of sexual assault, one count of domestic violence and one count of unlawful restraint, according to the state police. Newton was set to appear later Tuesday for an arraignment. VTDigger reported in April that the Vermont State Police was investigating Newton’s involvement in a reported “domestic disturbance” at his Middlebury home on the night of Feb. 26. State police at that time refused to provide additional details

Recycling continued from page

LLY O CA

NED W

Sarah Reeves is executive director of the Chittenden Solid Waste District.

from our family to yours

pe 1 rat ed Since

ers. This bond will not increase taxes and CSWD will pay back the loan over 25-30 years through our operational revenue. CSWD does our best with what we have, but the current facility has us stuck in the past. It is high time we move into the 21st century and help the next two generations of Vermonters recycle more. The benefits of a new MRF are clear. It is a win for Vermonters, our environment and our economy. I hope you will join CSWD in realizing our vision by supporting the new MRF and voting for the bond in the November general election.

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means removing more materials from the waste stream and sending less trash to Vermont’s one and only landfill. The benefits of a new MRF go beyond protecting the environment and extend to our economy. The new MRF will replace repetitive, hand-sorting jobs with more diverse, skilled jobs. It will also provide our hard-working team members with a cleaner facility and improved working conditions. While the new MRF is an exciting prospect, what is perhaps even more appealing is the fact that this new, high-tech facility will be built at no cost to taxpay-

about the nature of the reported domestic disturbance. Newton was elected sheriff in 2018. He finished first in a three-person race to succeed outgoing longtime Sheriff Don Keeler. Since becoming sheriff, Newton has been involved in several public controversies, including one in which he alleged fraudulent conduct by Vergennes Police Chief George Merkel regarding timesheet reports. Attorney General TJ Donovan later announced that he had not found evidence of fraud. Shortly after VTDigger reported on the criminal probe into Newton in April, the sheriff announced he would not be seeking reelection. Vermont State Police conducted the probe into the charges against Newton. The case was referred to Washington County State’s Attorney Rory Thibault to avoid a conflict with the Addison County state’s attorney’s office handling the matter.

Vermont Public’s new logo.

Addison County Sheriff Peter Newton arrested

PHOTO BY ALAN KEAYS/VTDIGGER

vermontpublic.org, as well as on broadcast channels, stations and digital platforms. “Our core audience will continue to see and hear all the things they love,” said Marguerite Dibble, the incoming board chair. “Their support and loyalty have shaped who we are today. And as the needs of our community evolve, and the media landscape shifts, we want to broaden access for all voices to participate, from every corner of our unique state.” The newly-recruited Vermont Public Community Forum will advise the organization about content and programming.

Addison County Sheriff Peter Newton speaks at a press conference at the department’s headquarters in Middlebury on Aug. 4, 2021.

Vermont Public Radio and Vermont PBS have changed their name and brand to Vermont Public. The two public media organizations merged last year. “Our new name pays homage to our past while signaling a new mission for the future,” said President and CEO Scott Finn. “Across TV, radio and digital platforms, we will engage a broader and more diverse audience, through stories that bring our community together.” Solidarity of Unbridled Labour, a Burlington-based creative agency, developed the new branding. The new name and visual identity are now live at www.

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Page 12 •

Williston Observer

•

June 30, 2022

Help needed to protect the VT loon population

Few birding experiences rival hearing the call of a loon or seeing loons glide by in protected coves on a lake. However, for the birds’ protection, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is asking boaters and anglers to enjoy loons from a safe distance this summer. “Loons were removed from Vermont’s endangered species list in 2005, but they face continued threats from human disturbance during the breeding season (through) ingestion of fishing gear,” said Doug Morin, wildlife biologist with Vermont Fish and Wildlife. “Many areas where loons nest on Vermont’s lakes are surrounded by signs reminding people to give loons the space they need, but not all nesting areas are marked. We’re asking people to enjoy loons from a distance rather than approaching them, whether you are in a boat or on shore.” Lead fishing tackle should be avoided. Every year, Vermont loons die from lead poisoning after swallowing fishing tackle. Lead sinkers weighing one-half ounce or less are prohibited in Vermont, but larger tacklestill has the capacity to slough off lead into the environment over time. Eric Hanson oversees the Loon Conservation Project for the Vermont Center for Ecostudies. He and his colleagues monitor Vermont’s loon population and have put out game cameras around loon nests to monitor the behavior of people around them. Hanson says most people are respectful of nest-

Loons nesting along lake shorelines are susceptible to human disturbance, and their nests can be flooded and destroyed by motorboat wakes. PHOTO BY TOM ROGERS/VERMONT FISH AND WILDLIFE

ing loons and give them space, but people sometimes inadvertently harm loons. “Loon chicks can be difficult to see, so we ask motorboaters to note where loon families are and to avoid those areas,” said Hanson. “We also ask that motorboaters obey ‘no wake’ laws within 200 feet of shorelines because boat wakes can flood and destroy shoreline loon nests.” As Vermont’s loon population continues to increase and canoeing and kayaking continues to become more popular, there is greater potential for people to come into conflict with loons. Hanson reminds boaters to avoid pursuing loons in a canoe or kayak, especially loons with young. “Occasionally a loon will be curious and approach people, and if that happens, just enjoy it,” said Hanson. “However, loons that are constantly swimming away from you are stressed and may abandon

their young if they feel they are in danger.” Hanson also urges shoreline property owners to maintain appropriate habitat for loons, including a forested area along shorelines where loons can nest. Having shrubs and trees instead of lawns along shorelines also improves water quality, which is essential for healthy lakes and loons. Volunteers interested in monitoring loons for the Loon Conservation Project should contact Hanson at loon@vtecostudies. org. Volunteers can monitor lakes all summer long with a focus on lakes with loon pairs and nesting. Volunteers can also survey one or two lakes on Loonwatch Day, being held on July 16 this year, between 8-9 a.m. The goal is to survey all lakes greater than 20 acres at the same time, which provides a population count and checks on small lakes that are surveyed less often during the rest of year.

Free Press continued from page

one like me as editor of a Vermont newsroom hopefully opens the way to a broader perspective of what our community looks like.” “Vermont — especially the Burlington area — is becoming more and more diverse in terms of race and ethnicity,” Soga observed. “It’s important that major institutions in the community reflect this diversity from top to bottom.” Mike Donoghue, a veteran Vermont journalist who worked with Soga at the Free Press for more than two decades, said his former colleague is well-equipped for the role. “He has worn several hats in the newsroom and has done a lot of outstanding work,” Donoghue said. “Aki has been a firm believer in the public’s right to know, both with open meetings, public records and government transparency.” In his years at the Free Press, Soga has worked in news, features and opinions. In 2012, he was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his editorials on open government. April McCullum, digital innovation editor at the Free Press, wrote in an email that, “Aki has tremendous historical knowledge of Vermont and is the go-to person in the newsroom for understanding the context of an issue or debate.” In January, the paper cut print publication to six days a week to avoid further cuts. Last year, it moved its Burlington office to a Williston office park. The paper has been printed out of Portsmouth, N.H., since May 2020.

Daily newspapers nationwide have for years grappled with declining advertising and circulation revenues, as well as increased printing and distribution costs — problems exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Gannett executives declined to comment on circulation and salary queries but emailed a statement on the new appointment. Hollis Towns, vice president of Local News Initiatives at Gannett, said Soga’s “deep commitment to representation of diverse voices and local interests will usher the Free Press into the future.” Soga said he believes that the Free Press print publication of 20 years ago is not what the community wants today. “Our challenge is to keep producing stories that are relevant to people’s lives that they’re going to want to read,” he said. The new executive editor noted that he grew up at a time when he “rarely saw an accurate or significant portrayal of Asian Americans on TV, in the movies or even textbooks. That kind of narrow representation of our world is a loss for all of us.” “I can’t escape the fact that I’m a person of color in one of the least racially diverse states in the country, and an immigrant in a place where people take great pride in being a native Vermonter,” Soga continued. “I’m often reminded that I’m different — in small ways and usually with no malicious intent.” “These experiences hopefully make me more aware of different perspectives, the possibility that people may see the situation or world from a different angle, which is key to being both a journalist and a newsroom leader.”

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June 30, 2022 •

Williston Observer

•

Page 13

New hunting, trapping restrictions take effect Three new hunting and trapping laws passed by the Vermont Legislature this year go into effect in July. Under the new laws, hunting coyotes with dogs and training dogs to hunt coyotes will be — at least temporarily — banned in Vermont; the retrieval and use of game and furbearing animals by hunters and trappers are now required, with some exceptions; and the Fish and Wildlife Department, along with the Wildlife Board and Legislature, will create new best management practices for trapping in the state. “These laws are the outcome of a collaborative approach by legislators and the Fish and Wildlife Department,” said Vermont Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Christopher Herrick. “Vermonters care deeply and sometimes disagree vehemently about topics like wanton waste, hunting with dogs and trapping. The three laws passed this session show that good public process backed by good science can guide us towards compromises that benefit wildlife and people.” Per S.281, hunters will only be able to pursue and take a coyote with dogs if they are on their own

Hunting in Vermont will be governed by new regulations starting this month.

property and acting in defense of a person or property, or if they have signed permission from a landowner who has a legitimate defense-of-persons-or-property concern. This moratorium on pursuing coyotes with dogs will

last from July 1, 2022, until the board is able to put rules in place requiring permits. The department will not be able to issue any permits until the rules are finalized after a lengthy process that requires

OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO

several approvals, public notice and public hearings. The board will begin the rule-making process later this year. Per H.411, the requirement for retrieval and use of certain wild animals when legally taken is

now in effect. The requirement includes moose, deer, bear, wild turkeys, gray squirrels, cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare, game birds, crows and furbearers. The animal must be processed as food, fur, hide or feathers, or used for taxidermy. This does not apply to a coyote that has been legally shot. A coyote or its parts, or parts of any of the other covered wild animals, may not be left along a public right-of-way or highway, on posted property without landowner permission, or where otherwise prohibited by law. Per S.201, the department has begun a process to identify new best management practices that modernize trapping and improve the welfare of wildlife taken with the use of traps. This will result in a recommendation from the commissioner to the Legislature, and a revision of existing trapping regulations based on that recommendation by the board. Updated trapping regulations are not expected until the 2023 hunting and trapping season; no changes to trapping regulations are in effect for the 2022 season. Links to the new laws are available at www.vtfishandwildlife.com.

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Page 14 •

Williston Observer

• June 30, 2022

SPORTS

SD Ireland knows ‘it’s all about the base!’ CLOCKWISE from top left: SD Ireland’s Kyle Tivnan dives safely back to first during their American Legion game vs. the South Burlington Wildcats on Tuesday afternoon at CVU. Kurt Wenner tries to stop a run with a throw from shortstop. Wenner pitches in relief of Josh Perkins. Chase Whitman has his eyes on the ball as the pitch comes in over the plate. Out in right field, Kyle Tivnan lines up to make the catch.

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The Williston Soccer Club’s Under 10 girls squad went undefeated over five games last weekend on its way to a win in the Essex United Tournament. The Williston team beat VT Fusion of Manchester 4-1, Central Vermont of Randolph 4-1 and Essex United 5-2 in tournament play, then beat VT Fusion 2-1 in a tournament semifinal that went to overtime and Addison United in the final 2-0. Pictured, back row left to right, are Tyler Savage, Ellie Savage, Ella Bayer-Pacht, Caroline Mulvey, Stella Devitt, Maeve Dyer, Piper Meservey and coach Tim Candon; front row left to right are Genevieve Henry, Katherine Vinci, Eliza Rice and Ellery Candon. OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO

June 30, 2022 •

June 12 at 12:03 a.m. — Police responded to a report of a noise disturbance on Williston Road. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the homeowner and they agreed to lower the volume. June 12 at 1:25 a.m. — Police responded to a report of a noise disturbance on Williston Road. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the homeowner and advised them to shut things down for the night. June 12 at 11:20 a.m. — Police responded to a vehicle collision on Boxwood Street. Upon arrival, there were no injuries reported on the scene. June 12 at 1:12 p.m. — Police responded to assist a citizen on Marshall Avenue. June 12 at 1:39 p.m. — Williston Police assisted South Burlington Police Department in attempting to locate an individual on Williston Road. The officer did not observe the vehicle in question. June 12 at 3:50 p.m. — Police provided a citizen with a case number and documented an incident at their request. June 12 at 5:13 p.m. — Police responded to a lockout on Retail Way. The officer was able to gain entry to the vehicle for the operator without issue. June 13 at 12:50 a.m. — Police responded to a 911 hang-up on Market Street. Upon investigation, there was no emergency. June 13 at 5:14 a.m. — Police assisted Williston Fire Department in responding to a fire alarm on Falcon Manor. Upon arrival, the alarm was confirmed to be false. June 13 at 3:05 p.m. — Police responded to assist Williston Fire Department with a medical call on South Road. June 13 at 4:00 p.m. —Police responded to a request for assistance on Market Street. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the operator and they did not require help. June 13 at 11:32 p.m. — Police responded to assist Williston Fire Department with a smoke alarm activation on Falcon Manor. Upon arrival, the alarm was confirmed to be false. June 14 at 2:34 a.m. — Police located an open door on Walnut Street. The officer cleared and then re-secured the scene. June 14 at 7:59 a.m. — Police responded to an alarm activation on Charles Road. Upon arrival, the alarm was observed to be false. June 14 at 11:58 a.m. — Police provided lost property back to its owner. June 14 at 12:06 p.m. — Police took custody of found property on North Williston Road. June 14 to 12:45 p.m. — Williston Police assisted Burlington Police Department in issuing a citation. June 14 at 2:07 p.m. — Police re-

sponded to a report of an animal problem on Harvest Lane. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the dog’s owner and explained the dangers of leaving a dog in a car unattended. June 14 at 4:02 p.m. — Police responded to a report of a suspicious circumstance on Redmond Road. June 14 at 4:13 p.m. — Police responded to a vehicle collision on St. George Road. Upon arrival, there were no injuries or hazards reported on the scene. June 14 at 5:48 p.m. — Police responded to a request for a welfare check on Harvest Lane. The officer could not locate the individual. June 14 at 6:16 p.m. — Police responded to the report of a suspicious circumstance on Talcott Road. June 14 at 9:51 p.m. — Police responded to a vehicle collision on St. George Road. The operators were transported by Williston Fire Department. June 15 at 12:08 a.m. — Police responded to a report of a suspicious event on Kristen Court. Upon arrival, the officer could not locate the individuals referenced. June 15 at 7:34 a.m. — Police responded to a 911 hang-up on Marshall Avenue. Upon investigation, it was confirmed that there was no emergency and the call was accidental. June 15 at 8:07 a.m. — Police responded to a report of vandalism on Lefebvre Lane. June 15 at 8:55 a.m. — Police responded to a 911 hang-up on St. George Road. Upon arrival, the call was confirmed to be accidental. June 15 at 2:15 p.m. — Police responded to a lockout on Connor Way. The officer was able to gain entry to the vehicle for the operator with no issue. June 15 at 7:49 p.m. — Police responded to a vehicle collision on Maple Tree Place. Upon arrival, there were no injuries reported on the scene. June 15 at 9:23 p.m. — Police responded to a report of suspicious behavior on Harvest Lane. Upon arrival, the officer took the individual into custody on an existing warrant. June 15 at 10:26 p.m. — Police responded to a request for assistance on Isham Circle. June 16 at 1:07 a.m. — Police responded to a report of a suspicious event on Creeks Edge Drive. Upon investigation, the officer did not locate anyone responsible. June 16 at 9:21 a.m. — Police provided a case number for property damage on Connor Way. June 16 at 11:32 a.m. — Police provided a case number for property damage on Harvest Lane. June 16 at 4:16 p.m. — Police pro-

cessed multiple sets of fingerprints at citizens’ request. June 16 at 4:31 p.m. — Police responded to a vehicle collision on Oak Hill Road. Upon arrival, there were no injuries reported on the scene. June 16 at 8:24 p.m. — Police responded to a report of a suspicious event on Hurricane Lane. Upon arrival, the officer did not observe anything suspicious and cleared the scene. June 16 at 10:09 p.m. — Police responded to a report of suspicious behavior on Harvest Lane. June 16 at 10:36 p.m. — Williston Police responded to assist Vermont State Police on River Road. June 16 at 11:27 p.m. — Police responded to an alarm activation on Leroy Road. Upon arrival, the

alarm was observed to be false. June 17 at 8:00 a.m. — Police processed multiple sets of fingerprints at a citizen’s request. June 17 at 9:56 a.m. — Police responded to a report of a suspicious circumstance on Wintersport Lane. Upon arrival, the officer notified the operator and made sure they needed no more assistance. June 17 at 12:38 p.m. — Police responded to a report of an animal problem in Taft Corners Shopping Center. Upon arrival, the officer spoke to the operator and notified them of the dangers of leaving a dog in a hot car in the summer. June 17 at 1:33 p.m. — Police responded to assist Williston Fire Department with a call on Boyer Circle.

Williston Observer

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June 17 at 3:25 p.m. — Police responded to assist a citizen on Harvest Lane. June 18 at 3:30 a.m. — Police conducted a traffic stop on Williston Road. The operator was taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence. June 18 at 9:36 a.m. — Police responded to a report of an animal problem on Porterwood Drive. 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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June 30, 2022

release dates: July 2-8, 2022

27 (22)

Next Week: Therapy horses

Founded by Betty Debnam

Diving With Deep-sea Creatures

Bioluminescence

Mini Fact: The dumbo octopus lives deeper in the ocean than any other known octopus. photo by NOAA Ocean Exploration, Exploration of the Gulf of Mexico 2014

that live so far beneath the surface and in such darkness have adapted to their environments to that they can survive there.

Sometimes when we think about the ocean, we might imagine sandy beaches, seagulls and the bright sun. But what lives really, really deep in the ocean? While much of the deep sea remains unexplored, scientists have made some discoveries. The Mini Page takes a look at deep-sea creatures this week.

Dumbo octopuses

If you’ve seen a movie about an elephant who flies, you likely can see the similarities between the dumbo octopus pictured above and the cartoon character. These octopuses live at least 13,000 feet below the surface of the ocean. They eat their food whole. Some things they eat include bristle worms and amphipods, which are small crustaceans (crust-AY-shins).

Exploration

The starfish pictured here was photographed during the Deep 2018 ocean exploration. It lives about 3,691 feet under the surface of the sea. The team exploring found the starfish offshore in North Carolina on an intercanyon ridge. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this area has long ridges along the outer edge of the continent between large, major canyons in the deep ocean floor. This shows that the seafloor isn’t just flat.

photo by NOAA Ocean Exploration, Windows to the Deep 2018

Exploration photo by NOAA Ocean Exploration, 2021 Technology Demonstration

The average ocean depth is 2.3 miles (about 12,100 feet). The deepest part of the ocean is called Challenger Ocean. It is about 6.8 miles (35,876 feet) deep. The ocean covers 71% of Earth, but only 5% of it has been explored! Devices that can go beneath Two engineers work on the surface, Orpheus, an underwater vehicle, during an explorasuch as special tion in 2021. underwater vehicles, help scientists explore the seafloor and depths that humans have trouble getting to themselves. Through video, we’re able to better understand what types of creatures live at these dark depths. We’re also able to see how they’re able to live this way. Creatures

In the summer, when the fireflies come out at night, you and your friends might have fun chasing their bright lights. Some deep-sea creatures make those lights, too! This chemical reaction inside a glowing creature is called bioluminescence (BYEoh-loom-in-ESS-ents). The glowing red jellyfish pictured here was photographed by a remotely operated vehicle in the Pacific Ocean. This jellyfish was found more than 4,920 feet below the ocean’s surface. Deep-sea creatures can use their bioluminescence to attract prey. For example, anglerfish use a glowing organ that droops from their foreheads to attract food. Sometimes creatures use their bioluminescence like a flashlight, helping them see in the dark. Another way animals use their bioluminscence below the water’s surface is to communicate. They flash their lights to “speak” to other creatures.

photo by NOAA Ocean Exploration

Issue 27, 2022

Resources On the Web:

• ocean.si.edu/ecosystems/ deep-sea/deep-sea

At the library:

• “The Fascinating Ocean Book for Kids: 500 Incredible Facts!” by Bethanie Hestermann and Josh Hestermann

Nancy

BY OLIVIA JAIMES

Try ’n’ Find

Mini Jokes

Words that remind us of deep-sea creatures are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find: BIOLUMINESCENCE, DARKNESS, DEVICES, DEEP, DIVE, EXPEDITION, EXPLORE, FISH, JELLYFISH, LIGHT, OCEAN, OCTOPUS, SURFACE, TECHNOLOGY, UNDERWATER, VEHICLES.

N A U N I E B I M S V E WW H T K E D Y

E D P O E H K E X G

C E N L R I P Q S O

O R O U O C D C O L

D W I M L L A J C O

E A T I P E R E T N

V T I N X S K L O H

I E D E E T N L P C

C R E S N T E Y U E

E I P C H H S F S T

Finn: Where does a fish keep its money? Freya: In a riverbank!

S E X E S G S I V Z

V V E N I I Z S V J

R I X C F L P H Y X

X D O E C A F R U S

better understand what types of creatures live at these dark depths. We’re also able to see how they’re able to live this way. Creatures

• “The Fascinating Ocean Book for Kids: 500 Incredible Facts!” by Bethanie Hestermann and Josh Hestermann June 30, 2022 • Williston Observer • Page 17

between large, major canyons in the deep ocean floor. This shows that the seafloor isn’t just flat.

Try ’n’ Find

Mini Jokes

N A U N I E B I M S V E WW H T K E D Y

E D P O E H K E X G

C E N L R I P Q S O

O R O U O C D C O L

D W I M L L A J C O

E A T I P E R E T N

V T I N X S K L O H

I E D E E T N L P C

C R E S N T E Y U E

E I P C H H S F S T

Finn: Where does a fish keep its money? Freya: In a riverbank!

S E X E S G S I V Z

V V E N I I Z S V J

R I X C F L P H Y X

X D O E C A F R U S

Eco Note Surveys of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef reveal that there is now so much new dead coral that scientists believe a serious coral bleaching event is developing. The worst bleaching has been observed north and south of Townsville. Mild or moderate bleaching has been seen in the far north of the reef. Rising ocean temperatures due to climate change are blamed for the more-frequent bleaching, which also occurred on a large scale in 1998, 2002, 2016, 2017 and 2020.

Mini Spy Classics

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

• ice cream cone • hippopotamus • bell

Brevity

• letter A

• squirrel

• heart

• number 3

• word MINI

• hamburger

• funny face

• letter D

• snake

• fish

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 enjoying a day at the beach. See if you can find the hidden pictures. Then color the picture.

adapted with permission from Earthweek.

For later: Look in your newspaper for articles about fish.

Teachers:

Follow and interact with The Mini Page on Facebook!

BY DAN THOMPSON

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June 30, 2022

We’re listening. From Green Burial to Pet Memorials, our goal is to provide the services and care you need. To learn more, contact us today. • Burial/Cremation Services • Green Burials • Traditional Funerals • Memorial Services • Pre-arranged Funeral Planning • Out-of-town & Foreign Services • Pet Memorials

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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

Essex Junction Essex Automotive Five Corner Variety Hannaford (Essex Shoppes) Inn at Essex Mac’s Market Martone’s Deli Price Chopper Quality Bake Shop River Road Beverage

SENIORS

How to hire an in-home helper

Dear Savvy Senior, I would like to hire an inhome helper for my 82-year-old mother to assist with household chores like housekeeping, grocery shopping and driving her to the doctor, etc. But mom doesn’t require any personal/physical caregiving, nor does she require any home medical care. Any tips to help us find someone? Searching Sarah

Dear Sarah, Getting your mother some help at home to handle some of her day-to-day chores is a smart idea that can make a big difference keeping her independent longer. Here’s are some tips to help you find someone reliable. IN-HOME HELP

For seniors who could use some help at home — but don’t need a caregiving aide for personal care — there are homemakers/home helpers you can hire that can help make life a little easier. Most in-home helpers can assist with any number of things, like shopping, running errands, transportation, light housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, arranging services (home maintenance, lawn care, etc.) and other household chores, along with providing companionship and support. And, if your mom gets to the point where she needs personal/physical care like bathing or dressing, many home helpers can assist with this too.

Savvy Senior By Jim Miller

Most home helpers are parttime workers who work a few hours a day or a few days per week. You also need to know that while Medicare does cover home health care services if a doctor orders it, they do not cover in-home homemaker/ helper services. There are two ways in which you can go about hiring someone for your mom; either through a home care agency, or you can hire someone directly on your own. HOME CARE AGENCY

Hiring a home helper through a non-medical home care, or non-medical companion care agency is the easiest but most expensive option of the

Richmond Cumberland Farms Richmond Free Library Richmond Market Richmond Mobil Mart If you would like copies for your location call Rick Cote at (802) 373-2136 or email Rick@WillistonObserver.com

SOLUTION FOUND ON PAGE 22

two. Costs typically run anywhere from $15 to $25 an hour, depending on where you live. How it works is you pay the company, and they handle everything, including assigning appropriately trained and prescreened staff to care for your mother, and finding a fill-in on days her helper cannot come. Some of the drawbacks, however, are that you may not have much input into the selection of the aide, and the helpers may change or alternate, which can cause a disruption. To find a home care agency in your area, use search engines like Google or Yahoo and type in “non-medical home care” followed by the city and state your mom lives in. Or you can use Medicare’s home health services search tool at www.Medicare.gov/care-compare; click on “home health services.” Most home health agencies offer some form of non-medical home care services too. You can also check your local yellow pages under “home health services.” HIRING DIRECTLY

Hiring a personal assistant/ home helper on your own is the other option, and it’s less expensive. Costs typically range between $12 and $20 per hour. Hiring directly also gives you more control over who you hire so you can choose someone who you feel is right for your mom. But be aware that if you do hire someone on your own, you become the employer, so there’s no agency support to fall back on if a problem occurs or if the assistant doesn’t show up. You’re also responsible for paying payroll taxes and any worker-related injuries that may happen. If you choose this option, make sure you check the person’s references thoroughly and do a criminal background check. To find someone, ask for referrals through friends, or you can search online at sites like www.Care.com or www. CareLinx.com. For more information on hiring in-home help for your mom, the Family Caregiver Alliance offers a helpful guide that you can access at www.Caregiver. org/resource/hiring-home-help. 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.

June 30, 2022 •

Williston Observer

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CROSSWORD • SOLUTION ON PAGE 22

Almanac ANDREWS

MCMEEL

TODAY’S HISTORY • In 1934, the “Night of the Long Knives,” a series of murders ordered by Adolf Hitler to eliminate his political rivals, began in Germany. • In 1936, Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone With the Wind” was published. • In 1966, the National Organization for Women was formed. • In 1982, the proposed Equal Rights Amendment, designed to guarantee equal rights for women, failed when its ratification deadline passed. • In 2007, an SUV loaded with propane canisters was driven into the terminal entrance and caught fire in a terrorist attack at Glasgow airport in Scotland. TODAY’S FACT • In 1953, the first Chevrolet Corvette was produced at the General Motors plant in Flint, Michigan.

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Page 20

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Williston Observer

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June 30, 2022

UPDATED INDEPENDENCE DAY 2022 SCHEDULE JULY 2

The Williston Recreation and Parks Department is located at the Annex Building at 7878 Williston Rd. For online program registration, visit www.willistonrec.org. For department information, email recreation@willistonvt.org or call 876-1160.

DAY CAMPS R.E.C. CAMP

Recreation Experiences for Children, entering 1-6 grade. A twist on the traditional day camp, packed with recreation, sports and arts & crafts. A blend of choice activities, group games, free play and the ever-popular field trip and swim day. Eight one-week sessions from June 20Aug. 12. L.I.T. CAMP

Leaders in Training is a special opportunity for teens entering Grades 7-8 to be leaders in R.E.C. Camp working in a pod alongside counselors. A small number of teens can register each session for a special position in camp where they work in the Pods and learn about leadership. This is great for those campers who love R.E.C. Camp and want to be part of it and give back by collaborating with counselors to

provide a special experience for the younger campers. Eight one-week sessions from June 20-Aug. 12. O.U.R. CAMPS

Outdoor Ultimate Recreation, one-week adventures for youth entering grades 6-8 in the fall. O.U.R. camps are for the teen who is looking to be active this summer. There are seven weeks of themed camps offered. Each one will have a variety of trips to keep teens moving. This camp is onthe-go and for the teen who likes the outdoors. Sign up your child for one week or more.

ENRICHMENT CAMPS There is still time to register for one of these enrichment camps this summer. Chess Wizards Camp — Age 6-12, 1-4:30 p.m., July 11-15. Director: Chess Wizard Staff

Deb Beckett Memorial 5K Run/Walk, sponsored by the Williston/Richmond Rotary 8:30 a.m. — Walkers 9 a.m. — Runners All levels are welcome. On-site registration available.

JULY 3

4-6 p.m. — Library Book Sale, Williston Central School. For more information, contact the library at 878-4918. 7 p.m. — Ice Cream Social, Village Green, sponsored by the Williston Federated Church 7 p.m. — Town Band Concert, Village Green

JULY 4 9 a.m.-2 p.m. — Library Book Disc Golf Camp — Age 8-14, 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m., July 18-22. Director: Chris Young LEGO Camp — Age 6-11, 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m., July 25-29. Director: Wicked Cool Staff Wicked Cool Science Camp — Age 6-11, 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m., Aug. 1-5. Director: Wicked Cool Staff

Sale, Williston Central School 10 a.m. — Independence Day Parade Parade Route: Route 2 along Williston Road west from Johnson’s Farm to Old Stage Rd. (The parade route will be closed to traffic from 9:30–11:30 a.m.). Grand Marshals: Lynn McClintock, Cathy Kohlasch, Sally Dattilio and Liz Demas Parade Judging: Judging will begin at 9:30 a.m. at lineup. Ribbons will be given out prior to the start of the parade. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. — Activities and non-profit vendors on the Village Green; Activities sponsored by Crosspoint Church 9-10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. — Stovepipe Corners Schoolhouse Open House, sponsored by the Historical Society 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. — Fire

INSTRUCTORS WANTED!

It is that time of year when work begins on the Fall Program offerings for Williston Recreation. An ad will be in the Williston Observer in mid-August for programs that start in September. The Recreation Department is looking for instructors

Department Open House, sponsored by the Williston Fire Department 6-9 p.m. — Food and activities at Village Community Park; Activities sponsored by Crosspoint Church; Food trucks: Penzo Pizza, Grazers, El Gato Cantina – sponsored by Adams Farm Market. 6-10 p.m. — Shuttle: Two SSTA buses will start at 6 p.m. and will continue until 9 p.m., just before the fireworks. Returns will begin after the fireworks until 10 p.m. Route is Allen Brook School, Finney Crossing, Healthy Living, Shaw’s, Village Community Park. One bus will start at Allen Brook School and the other will start at the parking lot to the right of Shaw’s. 9:20 p.m. — Fireworks Display at Village Community Park. Rain date July 5 to offer programming this fall to pre-school through seniors. If you have a program that you would like to offer, please email the Rec Department at recreation@willistonvt. org. We would love to collaborate with you to bring your program offering to the community of Williston. A Program Proposal Form can be found at www.WillistonRec.org.

OBITUARIES Oneida Twitchell

Oneida Twitchell, 92, a resident of Mansfield Place and lifelong resident of Williston, passed away on June 11, 2022 at the Respite House in Colchester. Oneida worked many years in the cafeteria at the Williston Central School and was known for baking delicious pies during the holiday season. Oneida was predeceased by her husband Richard on July 30, 2016. Oneida is survived by her three daughters Sharon (Hank) Boisselle, Gail Twitchell and Pamella (James) Poulos. Her grandchildren Laurie (Steve) LaForce, Denis (Elizabeth) Pelkey II, Janelle (Andrew) Ronark and Miranda (Cody) Laberge, as well as six great grandchildren, and three great great grandchildren. There will be no calling hours. A graveside service took place on Saturday June 18, 2022 at 12:00

noon at East Cemetery in Williston. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Ready Funeral Home South Chapel 261 Shelburne Rd in Burlington. Please visit www.readyfuneral. com to place on-line condolences.

www.WillistonObserver.com

Raymond A. Yandow passed away on February 24, 2022 at his home. Raymond (Ray) was born to parents Moses and Monique Yandow in Colchester, Vermont. He grew up in Essex Town and attended the local elementary school and graduated from Essex High School in 1971. After graduation Ray enlisted in the Army and served from 1971 to 1974 at Fort Bliss, Texas. He was stationed at Fort Bliss for his three years serving as an instructor for the Raytheon Hawk Air Defense Radar Acquisition System. He received an Honorable Discharge as a Specialist 5 and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal along with the National Defense Service Medal and Sharpshooter Rifle Award. Returning to Vermont Ray attended UVM for a semester before beginning work at B.F. Goodrich (Simonds Precision) in Vergennes. During his time at Goodrich, Ray attended Community College of Vermont graduating in May, 2006 with an Associate’s Degree in Applied Sciences with Honors Magna cum laude. He retired in 2010 and became an obsessive toy tractor collector establishing the Vermont Toy Tractor

Raymond A. Yandow

and exhibiting his collection at the Champlain Valley Fair every year. After a short retirement, Ray returned to work, this time for IBM in Essex, staying for a few years before moving to the Boston area to work as a subcontractor for MIT at the Hanscom Air Force Base. His knowledge of circuit board design and programming for retrofitting fighter jet fuel systems was a great asset to the military. Missing Vermont, Ray returned to his home in Vergennes after several years where he continued working, this time as Postmaster for the Town of Ferrisburgh. He loved the work and people he met in the U.S. Post Of-

fice and would encourage people to apply to work for the USPS. His health became an issue and he suffered a major stroke in 2021. He never fully recovered from the stroke and struggled with his health the last year. Raymond is survived by eight siblings, his sister Margaret Paquette of Essex, brother David and wife, Paula of Essex, brother Ernest and wife, Robin of Jesup, Iowa, sister Laura Thompson and husband, Ronald of Williston, sister Anne O’Grady of Essex, Monica Wimble and husband Pete of St. Albans, sister Diane Brault and husband, Mark of Fairfax, and brother Daniel of S. Burlington. Raymond was pre-deceased by his Parents, Moses and Monique Yandow and brother Norman. He is survived by many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly. He was also pre-deceased by brothers-inlaw Raymond Paquette and Michael O’Grady. There will be a Celebration of Life for Raymond on Saturday, July 2nd at the Pavilion at Button Bay State Park, 5 Button Bay State Park Rd, Ferrisburgh, VT 05491 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please join us to celebrate Raymond’s life.

June 30, 2022 •

OBITUARIES Robert Michael Gatta, 72, of Williston, VT, passed away on June 3 from Parkinson’s Disease. Bob was born April 27, 1950 in Cleveland, OH to Matteo and Vincenza (Lomonte) Gatta. Bob graduated from Miami University of Ohio in 1973 with a B.S. in Social Studies Education. In 1980 he completed a M.Ed from the University of Toledo, Ohio in Education Administration and Supervision. Bob was a teacher with Toledo Public Schools for 29 years. During that time he taught multiple subjects to 7th and 8th grade students. He also coached cross-country, track, and bas-

Robert (Bob) Gatta

ketball and chaired the English Department. In 2010, Bob moved to Wil-

liston, VT where he organized and facilitated a current events discussion group at the library. Bob loved history, art and architecture and was a long-distance runner, biker and hiker. He traveled extensively throughout North America and Europe. Bob is survived by his wife, Deborah Macdonald, in-laws, Wayne Macdonald and Jeanne Agner, Greg and Nancy Macdonald, niece Kristen Macdonald and brother Raymond Gatta and family. Bob’s intelligence, compassion, and humor will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Find workers right in your neighborhood. Advertise in the Observer! email Rick@ willistonobserver.com or 802-373-2136.

Page 21

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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Jean E. Smith

Jean E. Smith, 90, passed away peacefully at her home in Richmond, VT on June 21, 2022. Jean was born in Rochester, VT on September 9, 1931 to Paul and Florence (Cody) Curtis. She married Richard Smith on March 1, 1951. Jean was predeceased by Richard in 2015. She is survived by her children, Gregory Smith of Richmond, Susan Levesque (Steve) of Maryville, TN and Sheryl Badgio (Steve) of Fort Mill, SC. Also surviving are her grandchildren Jaime, Nikki and Alyssa, great-grandchildren Gabriel and Moriah, and one sister Linda Sprano of Maryville, TN. A graveside service was held at the Riverview Cemetery in Richmond, VT on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Chittenden County Humane Society, 133 Kindness Court, South Burlington, VT 05403.

Williston Observer

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

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

Community Bankers – Chittenden County There is no better time to join our Team! Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest banking institution headquartered in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all. Are you looking to start or continue a career in the finance industry? Consider joining our team as a Community Banker! Job Responsibilities & Requirements This frontline position is crucial in creating a positive, welcoming and inclusive experience for NSB customers. The successful candidate will have exceptional customer service and communication skills. The Community Banker will be responsible for receiving and processing customers’ financial transactions as well as opening and maintaining customer accounts and services. We are looking for someone who can develop and maintain relationships with our valued customers, protect bank and customer information, and uphold customer confidentiality. A high school diploma, general education degree (GED), or equivalent is required. Previous cash handling or banking experience is preferred! Opportunity for Growth NSB has training opportunities to engage employees and assist with professional development within our company. The average years of service for an NSB employee is 9! If you’re looking for a career in an environment that promotes growth, join our team! What NSB Can Offer You Competitive compensation based on experience. Well-rounded benefits package. Profit-Sharing opportunity. Excellent 401(k) matching retirement program. Commitment to professional development. Opportunities to volunteer and support our communities. Work-Life balance! We understand the importance of having evenings and weekends with our friends, families, and the communities we serve! Please send an NSB Application & your resume in confidence to: Careers@nsbvt.com or Northfield Savings Bank | Human Resources PO Box 7180, Barre, VT 05641 Equal Opportunity Employer Member FDIC

Williston Observer

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June 30, 2022

PUZZLE FOUND ON PAGE 18

PUZZLE FOUND ON PAGE 19

SUDUKO SOLUTION

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Page 22 •

CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE GOLDENDOODLE PUPPIES — Cream and brown. Low to no-shed. Loyal. Friendly. $1,500. Ready July 30. snokrest@gmail.com. Brenda 802728-5291. WOMEN’S BIKE —TREK Navigator 200 women’s bicycle with rear cargo rack and helmet included. $200. Call (802) 879-7250. KAYAKS AND GARDEN CART — 14-foot Excel plastic kayak with rudder and storage hatch; paddle and life jacket included, $200. 12-foot cedar strip canoe, as is $600. Large bicycle wheel garden cart, $100. Call 802-777-0887

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LOST CAT — Geno has been missing since Wednesday, June 1st from Talcott Road near the Williston Fire Department. He is a 13 lb orange cat with white on his nose, mouth and chest. He has been an indoor cat since he moved to Williston and does not know the area. Please check cameras and sheds and garages and reach out to Susie at susiesnowvt@gmail.com with any sightings.

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Williston Observer

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June 30, 2022

Theatre continued from page

The Isham Family Farm hosts the Williston Community Theatre in rehearsals of “Tales and Things,” a musical that encourages people to explore their identity and be comfortable with who they truly are. PHOTOS BY ERIN ZUBARIK

work paid off. Prior to the shows, there was a gala event with drinks, live jazz and a talk with the playwright Douglas Anderson. There was also a children’s gala featuring face-painting and balloons. The performances debuted in the Isham Farm’s 200-year-old barn, a setting that blends theater and Vermont perfectly. The building’s high ceilings and dynamic lighting accentuate the acting of the performers.

The show featured a monster named Thing that no longer wants to be a villain. Thing goes through short stories trying to find a place where they belong. The show was perfect for children — the characters and stories akin to fairytales. However, some of the dialogue was directed toward an older audience. Actor Sean Reeks reflected on his experience with the Williston Community Theatre. He recently moved to Vermont from Hawaii and said his involvement with the theater company felt like fate. “One of my goals, after we got settled, was to get back into

community theater, and then we just happened to move in next door to Helen Weston. And so for me, it felt like this was all meant to be.” Reeks’ story indicates that this theater company has already helped Williston residents form a community, which means that the initial mission — to create stronger ties between locals — has already been fulfilled. The company hopes to continue to grow, and Weston informed the audience that the Williston Community Theatre will return next year in the early summer.

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