Williston Observer 10/20/2022

Cyclist killed in collision with car

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

Williston cyclist Gerard Mala venda was killed Saturday when he was hit by a vehicle while bik ing on Hinesburg Road.

A native of Essex Junction who had lived in Williston for the past eight years, Malavenda, 65, was an avid cyclist, according to his sister, Maureen Locker of Wil liston, and a member of the Green Mountain Bicycling Club.

“It was his passion. That’s what he did,” Locker said. “That’s where he found his passion and his peace.”

Locker said her brother was known for his sense of humor, irreverence, generosity and kind ness.

“Everyone who met him would say what a wonderful guy he was, always trying to bring a smile to people’s faces — just a real downto-earth kind of guy,” she said.

A South Burlington Police in vestigation into the collision is on going. Police did not return calls this week seeking more informa tion. A WCAX report identified the driver of the vehicle as Rich

Choose two

A Q&A with the four candidates vying for Williston’s two House seats

Ballots have been mailed to all registered voters ahead of the Nov. 8 General Election, when votes will be tallied for a number of statewide and local offices.

In Williston, the Chittenden 2 Legislative District has two open seats for representation in the Vermont House of Representa tives. There are two Republicans and two Democrats seeking elec tion. Erin Brady, a Democrat who has served one term, is the only incumbent seeking re-election.

With the retirement this year of longtime Rep. Jim Mc Cullough, three candidates are hoping for a first term in the Legislature: Democrat Ange la Arsenault, Republican Tony O’Rourke and Republican Bruce Roy. Ballots can be mailed to the Town Clerk or dropped off ahead of Election Day — or filled out on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the National Guard Ar

mory on Williston Road.

The Observer asked each of the candidates to respond to the following five questions.

Describe your personal connection to the Town of Williston.

ARSENAULT: Williston is where my family sprouted roots and continues to bloom. It will always be the place my kids call their hometown, and it’s where my parents chose to retire. That carries incredible weight for me. It drives me to find ways that I can help strengthen the fabric of our community and ensure that Williston is a place people will want to call home for a long time to come.

I grew up in Vermont and must admit that my understand ing of Williston was limited to Taft Corners and Blair Park.

But with a 2-year-old and a new born when we first moved here in 2010, it took less than a week for me to see that the true char acter of this town encompassed the berry picking at Isham Farm, the hike at Five Tree Hill, the beach at Lake Iroquois, and in credible access to the rest of Ver mont afforded us by I-89, of all things (we joked that Williston was somehow only 12 minutes to all of Chittenden County, which isn’t altogether inaccurate!). In a few short weeks that summer, our little family fell in love with this magical village.

BRADY: My husband and I chose to make Williston our family home because we value the quality of life here and the strong sense of community. We appreciate the excellent schools,

A townwide vote on zoning regs?

Petitioner seeks to overturn selectboard’s approval

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

David Martel is working fe verishly this week to collect enough signatures to force a townwide vote on recently ad opted zoning regulations for Taft Corners.

The selectboard replaced the zoning regulations on a 4-1 vote Oct. 4 with a new “form-based code” aimed at creating a more pedestrian-friendly, urban cen

David Martel Williston

ter in the area around the inter section of Routes 2 and 2A and near the Exit 12 interchange of Interstate 89.

The new regulations, which prescribe the aesthetics and context of buildings and the placement of streets and parks, came on recommendation from the planning commission and after a series of public hearings. Martel, a native of Williston, was one of the lead critics of the

Gerry Malavenda

Next week — Find our Q&A with Noah Hyman, the South Burlington Democrat running unopposed to represent a portion of both Williston and South Burlington in the newly created Chittenden 8 Legislative District.

Bruce Roy Tony O’Rourke

Erin Brady Angela Arsenault

see CANDIDATE Q&A page 3

“Nobody likes going door to door, but if you want to get the signatures, that’s what you have to do to.”

Cyclist

ard Lewis, 69, of Hinesburg. Malavenda was treated by first-responders at the site of the collision before being transported to the hospital, where he died.

The death sparked discussion among Green Mountain Bi cycle Club members, who remembered Malavenda’s contri butions to the club as a photographer and social media manager.

“Gerry was a longtime club member,” club president Kevin Bessett wrote in a club-wide email Satur day. “My thoughts go out to his family and friends. This is a very, very sad day.”

In his obituary (see page 21), donations are suggested in Malavenda’s name to the Richard Tom Foundation, an organization that promotes cycling and road safety, named after a Hinesburg cyclist killed after being hit by a car in 2015.

Kevin Batson, a Williston member of the Green Mountain Cycling Club, said his

trepidation about road riding has been on the rise in recent years as cars have gotten larger, pickup trucks have gotten more pop ular and courteousness has seemingly been on the decline.

“There are a lot more aggravated driv ers,” Batson said. “There are still a lot of courteous people out there, but you really can’t count on it as much.”

Batson leads rides for the Green Mountain Bicycling Club. Routes are chosen for safety with a preference toward less-trafficked, more rural roads.

“Really the biggest problem is the size of the cars that’s really making it dangerous,” he said. “Cars have gotten so big in the last decade, and there are so many more pickup trucks. That’s really why I’m more afraid now than I used to be.”

The distraction of driving with cell phones is another detrimental factor.

“Yes we are taking a risk, but we just love to bike so much that we have to take that risk,” Batson said.

Petition

regulations during public hearings this fall, expressing concern about the taller building heights allowed under the code and the potential for dense development and population growth.

He was one of a handful of residents that asked the selectboard to put the zoning change to a townwide before the board approved it Oct. 4. Now he is tak ing advantage of a 21-day grace period to gather the signatures of at least 5 per cent of the town’s registered voters on a petition asking for a special election on whether to overrule the board.

“Saturday and Sunday I’ll be going door to door and looking to collect signa tures from folks,” said Martel. “I’m try ing to rally some people with me to help out. Nobody likes going door to door, but if you want to get the signatures, that’s what you have to do to.”

Five percent of registered voters amounts to 435 people, according to Town Clerk Sarah Mason. Martel had originally hoped to create an online pe tition, but that would not be accepted by the Town Clerk’s office.

“It has to be a handwritten signa ture,” he said. “It’s a lot of work and very time-consuming.”

If a successful petition is received at Town Hall by the end of the day Monday, Oct. 24, according to state statute, the selectboard will set a special election on the question. If not, the new regulations will take effect the next day, Oct. 25.

Although Martel is clear about his opposition to the zoning change, the pe tition doesn’t ask people’s opinion. Rath er it’s a way to have all voters weigh in. Martel notes that much of the original community engagement that the plan ning commission undertook to help draft the regulations took place during a time when the pandemic was on the top of most people’s minds.

“During Covid, people were occupied with trying to stay alive, trying to stay healthy and how they were going to work and (handle) kids and school,” Martel said. “Nobody knew this was going on. This petition is saying, let the voters of Williston vote. Let the people decide.”

Those interested in signing the pe tition can email Martel at davidmar tel1965@gmail.com.

Bruce Roy, a candidate for state rep resentative, backed Martel’s calls for a special election during the Oct. 4 public hearing.

“Because it has far reaching conse quences, I suggest you put it to a vote of the people,” he told the selectboard. “The best solution is to let the people decide this.”

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“Yes we are taking a risk, but we just love to bike so much that we have to take that risk.”

Kevin Batson Williston cyclist

Candidate Q&A

beautiful green spaces and convenience that Williston has to offer.

Every time I’m on a (slow!) run on the recreation path at WCS, or run into friendly faces at the library, or my sons are out fish ing on Lake Iroquois, I’m reminded of how lucky we are to live here.

I have been an elected member of the CVSD school board for seven years, I volunteer in the schools through the Four Winds program and am committed to being active in our collective conversation about a potential community center/public recre ation facility.

I am so grateful for the friends, neigh bors and teachers who make this such a caring place to be raising our sons. Those networks are incredibly important and help give me an important perspective on the op portunities and gaps that exist in our sup port for children and families.

O’ROURKE: Our family has proudly called Williston our home since 2002. In this time, we have been fortunate to raise our five children to become young adults in a town that has many wonderful attributes.

Over these 20 years, we have seen numer ous changes, many of which have resulted in challenges for those who live, work and serve our town. I have enjoyed the opportu nity to serve my neighbors through involve ment as a parent, a small business owner, an elected member of our Board of Civil Authority, and as a supporter and volunteer for various local causes and organizations.

I see my candidacy as a means to serve our community, not to engage in polarizing po litical practices focused on gaining unchal lenged control at the town or state level.

ROY: I feel a strong personal connection not only to Williston but to Vermont as well. Except for a four-year break to go on active military duty in the USAF, I have been a Chittenden County resident since 1968 and Williston resident for over 20 years.

This is the only home my daughter has known, and the only school system. Her day care, academics, sports and after school activities have kept my family engaged in many levels of community life — volun teering to help coaches and teachers on an assortment of tasks and projects over 14 years.

But particularly, 24 years of service in the Vermont Air National Guard binds one to community, much in the same way as our tremendous police and firefighters. Wheth er being called to active duty on the morn ing of Sept. 11 or the countless other times I put on my uniform, one cannot help but feel an overwhelming responsibility to the safe guarding of community, state and country.

I am proud that I could use my train ing and skills to represent Williston with a presence in our national defense during much of the 9/11 response and for the last

years of my military career.

Why are you seeking a seat in the Vermont House of Representatives?

ARSENAULT: I’m running for State Rep resentative because I care about every per son’s ability to be — or to become — who they truly are. Laws and policies have a sig nificant impact on that ability.

I will serve from a place of love and cu riosity, which is an entirely different frame work than what we commonly see being utilized in policy formation. From housing to health care to education and everything in-between, we need laws that center the folks who will be most directly impacted by them.

I’m also running because I believe we need more women and other marginalized people in decision-making positions. We will be a better government with more equitable representation.

BRADY: I have been honored to represent Williston residents in Montpelier these past two years. I’ve focused on supporting fam ilies, working Vermonters and our commu nities as we recover from the pandemic.

I led efforts to ensure Vermont’s schools continue offering universal free school meals to all children and supported historic investments in workforce, housing, broad band and climate action.

We passed significant legislation to make Vermont an easier place to live and raise a family, including the creation of a new Vermont Child Tax Credit, increas ing the Child and Dependent Care Credit, decreasing the amount of Social Security benefits subject to taxes, and excluding por tions of military retirement income from Vermont income taxation.

Our largest challenges are complex and interrelated and will require sustained fo cus and investment. I am anxious to con tinue our work to address the shortage of affordable housing, take important action on climate change and resilience and create an affordable, high-quality child care sys tem that serves all Vermonters. I will con tinue to support tax policies that value work over wealth in order to fund the priorities important for the health and wellbeing of Vermonters.

O’ROURKE: As in past campaigns, my goal is to work toward a safer, cleaner and more affordable Vermont achieved through a collaborative approach to politics. As a registered Republican with an unapologet ically moderate view on most issues, I tend to not be aligned with extreme policies but focused on a common sense approach to is sues.

Like many of you, I rarely have an allor-nothing view of politics and tire of the finger-pointing and blame game so many engage in. In conversations with many neighbors, I find that our views are formed from our unique life experiences and we

seek a government that can craft solutions that are widely embraced rather than large ly divisive.

Simply put, I want to work on policies that are centered on people rather than pol itics. To help achieve this, I kindly ask that voters take the time to vet the candidates beyond just their party affiliation. Hopeful ly this will result in being an informed vot er and may help avoid voter remorse after Election Day.

ROY: I love my town, my state, my coun try. No excuses, no apologies, just truth.

After a few years of retirement and be ing concerned with the direction of Willis ton and Vermont, I decided to get up, get active and do something about it.

With the cost of living in Vermont out of control, and discovering that Vermont has the fourth-highest tax burden and the 47th lowest economic outlook in the USA, I was shocked. Then seeing that the imbalanced Legislature tried to override Gov. Scott’s veto of the Clean Heat Standard/carbon tax, only failing by one vote, I knew then there was a lack of common sense and reasonable debate in the Vermont House.

Our Legislature had lost touch with the most critical, pressing needs of Vermont ers. Trying to pass laws to tax more on gasoline and heating fuels while inflation is pushing 9 percent and Vermont already has the lowest carbon dioxide emissions of the 50 states just seemed nuts! It’s ob vious that our Legislature, as a result of partisan imbalance, is pursuing an agenda not in line with the pressing needs of Ver monters. Balance and common sense are essential to good government and sound decisions.

What qualifies you to represent Williston residents in the Legislature?

ARSENAULT: I would argue that we are all — every Willistonian — “qualified” in different ways to serve in the Legislature, simply by virtue of living in this communi ty and caring about what happens here. I’m fortunate to be in a position to seek office and have the ability (financial and other wise) to accept a part-time job for relatively little pay with no benefits. Many who are “qualified” do not have access to this op portunity.

Setting that aside, I believe that my ex perience as a Williston representative on the CVSD school board has been incredibly valuable in terms of training. It’s provided me with almost four years of practice in the art of representation and policy-making. I’ve also learned, through my 20-plus-year career as a journalist, the skill of deep lis tening in an effort to understand another person’s perspective well enough to then share it with an audience of readers.

I’ve asked questions for a living, which is a huge part of the legislative process and of representative democracy.

BRADY: I’m a working parent who un

derstands how hard it is to balance work, family, social and economic pressures

Vermonters face on a daily basis. I’m not a political ideologue aligned with national political figures. I worked hard throughout my first session to be accessible and trans parent.

I published monthly updates in the Observer about the myriad work in the Legislature and those updates are always available on my website (www.erinbrady forwilliston.com).

Through email and phone calls, I have corresponded with well over 500 Willisto nians since I took office. I loved walking with family and friends in the July Fourth parade and handing out chocolate milk to young parade-goers, and it has been great to meet fellow Willistonians this fall as Ange la Arsenault and I campaign door-to-door.

I believe it’s important that we have more voices from working families like mine in Montpelier. In the classroom, I strive to share my optimism about the role of government and public service in the betterment of our communities. I firm ly believe what my political hero, the late Senator Paul Wellstone, is well known for saying: “We all do better when we ALL do better.”

O’ROURKE: To qualify to serve as a can didate, I feel you have to be both willing and able to step into the political arena. This is not a decision that I take lightly as it comes with a great deal of responsibility and some degree of sacrifice.

My background is varied, including working as a union member, laboring in numerous restaurants in the grueling hos pitality industry, and as a small business owner. More importantly, my role as a par ent, along with my wife, of our five children ranging in age from 18 to 33, has given me the opportunity to face numerous challeng es and obstacles as we navigated our em ployment responsibilities with the needs of our family. A lot has changed over those past decades, as many of you know!

ROY: I had accomplished 30-year careers at the Vermont Air National Guard and IBM. Retiring as a Colonel from the Green Mountain Boys in 2008, I had Group Com mand responsibility for six diverse squad rons comprising over 400 men and woman. I retired from IBM in 2013 as a successful senior business leader responsible for major portions of the Burlington Site’s total busi ness. I served on the Essex Junction School Board and was a 10-year computer science instructor at the Community College of Vermont.

I have hands-on experience managing a large government organization; knowledge and skills around the successful balancing of revenue, profit and cost in a major hitech business; and familiarity with educa tion as a school board member and teacher. These qualifications, merged with a hard work ethic and a knack for active listening,

Helping to warm homes this winter

BY SUSAN COTE Observer Staff

Sally Stockwell Metro remembers the day at the Williston Community Food Shelf when a client began to cry. The woman explained that she had complete ly run out of fuel to heat her home and had no money to purchase more. Fortu nately, Stockwell Metro, a member of the Williston-Richmond Rotary club, knew a way to help.

“I told her that I would give Matt Cota of the Split the Ticket Fund a call,” she said. “Within two days, he had contact ed the propane people, they’d gotten out there and filled her tank for free. The propane burner also had to be restarted. It was complicated but was able to be re solved quickly.”

The Split the Ticket Fund is a non profit whose mission is to assist Ver monters who cannot afford the fuel they need to keep their homes heated through the winter. Launched in 2007 by Matt Cota, who currently serves as managing

director of the Vermont Fuel Dealers As sociation (VFDA), the program matches contributions from organizations and in dividuals with donations of heating fuel from local energy providers. Each deliv ery ticket is split 50/50 between donated funds and the fuel company so that every dollar contributed enables the delivery of two dollars’ worth of fuel.

Today, half of VFDA member fuel dealers participate in the program, most of them small, family-owned business es that also help ensure that recipients’ fuel tanks are in compliance with current safety regulations.

Cota, whose grandparents owned a fuel distribution business in Bellows Falls when he was a boy, became aware at a young age of how some families struggled to afford to heat their homes in winter. His grandfather told him of a neighbor who had had a good year and gave him money so that he could gift heating fuel to someone in need.

When Cota first began working with

Free heating fuel deliveries arranged by the nonprofit Split the Ticket Fund help Vermont residents nominated by distributors or others who know of their need.

OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO

Heating

the VFDA, there was a small existing program to help some of those families, but he yearned to do more. In 2007, a call from Howard Novak of the Rotary Club, with an offer of a significant donation for fuel assistance, provided the catalyst to launch the Split the Ticket program. The Rotary has raised and contributed funds for the program every year since.

Stockwell Met ro, now the presi dent of the Rotary Club, is especially concerned about raising awareness and supporting the program this winter given the increase in fuel prices.

“Rotary is a ser vice organization. We have regular meetings and enjoy each other’s compa ny, but the main purpose is to do service, to help our community with whatever needs we can help with,” she said. “Heat ing assistance is but one of the things we do, but it’s an important thing we do.”

Cota, who manages the program on a volunteer basis, said the goal this year is to make 50 deliveries, giving away about

10,000 gallons of fuel. While there are other heating assistance programs that people can apply for in the state, Split the Ticket differs in that recipients do not ap ply, but are nominated by someone who knows of their need.

Sometimes asking for help is the last thing on the mind of someone who is struggling, said Cota.

WAYS TO HELP SPLIT THE TICKET

To nominate someone to receive the gift of heating fuel, go to https://www. ticketsplit.org/ nominate.html and complete a nomi nation form, or call (802) 277-1104. To donate mon ey, funds can be sent to the program directly or through the Rotary: Mail a check — made out to Williston-Rich mond Rotary Club Charities and indi cate “Split the Ticket” fund in the check memo — to PO Box 114, Williston, VT 05495. The entire donation will be di rected to the program. Or visit www.tick etsplit.org for a donation form and mail your check or credit card information to Split the Ticket Fund, PO Box 1370, Montpelier, VT 05601.

Additional home heating assistance programs

Here are two additional ways to help neighbors stay warm this winter: WHEELS FOR WARMTH

This program raises funds for home heating assistance. Donate or recycle your used tires on Thursday or Friday, Oct. 2728 from 2-6 p.m. at All Cycle and Casel la, 28 Ave. B, Williston. Usable tires are donated free. Unusable tires will be recy cled for a $5 donation, $10 for truck/trac tor tires. Tires with usable life will be sold on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 8 a.m.–noon at two locations: Vermont Granite Museum, 7 Jones Brothers Way, Barre and Casella Construction, 25 Industrial Lane, Mendon.

For more information visit: wheelsfor warmth.org.

WOOD4GOOD

This Chittenden County wood bank is committed to reducing heat insecurity. Donations of money and wood may be contributed. Volunteers are needed at the woodlot, to make deliveries and to help with administrative and fundraising tasks.

To learn how to help or to request help, go to www.wood4goodvt.org.

Photos from the Williston Observer are available for purchase!

Visit

We Can Take It!

From air conditioners to x-rays, check our A-Z list and learn how to dispose of, recycle, or reuse items and materials you no longer want.

Now serving you with eight Drop-Off locations in Chittenden County.

Visit cswd.net for locations and materials accepted.

SCAN

FOR

“Heating assistance is but one of the things we do, but it’s an important thing we do.”

Sally Stockwell Metro President, Williston-Richmond Rotary Club

GUEST COLUMN

No slavery; no exceptions

BY DEBBIE INGRAM

Ballot initiatives are rare for our state, and this year Vermonters have the chance to vote for two of them. The one proposal many vot ers are not familiar with, and in fact are often surprised by, is Prop 2, to amend Article 1 of the Con stitution to abolish slavery without exception.

Vermont Interfaith Action and the Vermont Racial Justice Alli ance have been collaborating on a campaign to pass Prop 2 for over a year now. The partnership is a nat ural one for both parties. People of faith and goodwill who comprise Vermont Interfaith Action are en ergetic about taking a moral stand against the most reprehensible of our historic institutions — slavery. The African-Americans, especial ly American descendants of slav ery, who comprise Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, have a personal interest in unambiguously ending a system that directly affected their forebears and has brought adverse effects to succeeding generations

— including the one today. It makes sense for these two groups to lead the campaign, and it makes sense, too, for every Vermonter to vote in favor of this amendment. To say that “slavery and indentured servitude in all forms are prohibited” asserts a val ue that all Vermonters hold dear, wherever they may be on the politi cal spectrum. If we are all in agree ment that it is simply wrong for one person to own another person, then there is no reason not to vote “yes” on Prop 2.

Despite various efforts over the 246-year history of our state and our country, there has never been a time when slavery has been un equivocally abolished in American life. The Vermont Constitution, the first example of a state constitution to address slavery, serving as a template followed by some 25 oth er states, details three exceptions to prohibiting slavery: for those under age 21, for those who consent to being enslaved, and as punishment for debts, damages and fines. These exceptions will be stricken from

our Constitution when Prop 2 pass es, removing archaic, confusing language in favor of plain, modern and infinitely clearer wording to ensure that all persons are free and

independent.

Although we fought the Civ il War to end slavery, neither the Emancipation Proclamation, which applied only to freeing slaves in the states in rebellion against the Union, nor the Thirteenth Amend ment to the U.S. Constitution, which to this day still allows an exception for “punishment of a crime,” truly made abolition of slavery the law of the land.

What does it matter that the language has not been clear? Some ask this question, adding that chat tel slavery, the kind that we saw on Southern plantations, no longer exists. To say that slavery is an his toric anomaly, some kind of moot point, is to be willfully unaware of what our country has inherited from being the center of slavery in the modern world. Hate crimes,

violence, backlash against protests, fear of teaching historical truths in our schools, and systemic rac ism in jobs, business development, housing, policing, criminal justice, health care and education — all of these are attributable to the legacy of slavery in our country.

I ask instead, why would we not take a moral stand against the most reprehensible of human practices in the document that exists to de clare what Vermont is and what its people value? Let us join together, Vermonters, as the good, decent people that we are, to make a com mon-sense vote in favor of abolish ing slavery, without exception.

Debbie Ingram is the executive director of Vermont Interfaith Action and a former State Senator from Williston.

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To say that slavery is an historic anomaly, some kind of moot point, is to be willfully unaware of what our country has inherited from being the center of slavery in the modern world.

Support Gov. Scott by voting for Roy, O’Rourke

If you support Gov. Phil Scott, please help build a coali tion of common sense legislators to support him in Montpelier.

Last spring, the Legislature attempted to pass a tax that would have further increased fuel prices to Vermont families. Gov. Scott thankfully vetoed this new carbon tax. Fortunate ly, the Democrat/Progressive at tempt to override the veto failed, but only by one single vote.

When one party is over whelmingly in control, we lose ideas from all sides and every thing goes out of balance.

Legislation needs conversa

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

tion representing all stakehold ers. Look at the crime wave Bur lington is suffering thanks to a one-sided city council.

We are all struggling with inflation and skyrocketing heat ing fuel prices, yet the Vermont legislative majority wants to keep pushing that new carbon tax past Gov. Scott’s veto. It’s already teed up for another try early in the 2023 legislative session. If you think gasoline and heating fuel prices are high now, just wait.

Please join me in voting for Bruce Roy and Tony O’Rourke for the Williston, Chittenden-2, House of Representatives seats. Bruce and Tony will always keep the good of Williston residents and Vermonters in mind and

guide us forward in a thoughtful and reasonable manner.

Sharon Rae Quinn Williston

Praising Brady’s skill set

As one of our state repre sentatives, Erin McGuire Brady brings to her role a valuable set of experiences and skills. She’s a working mom, with two school-aged sons. She’s been a high school teacher for the past 16 years. Earlier in her career, she had the opportunity to learn and apply all aspects of the leg islative process as a staffer for then-U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton of Minnesota.

During the past two years in

Halloween Happenings

Halloween Spoketacular Youth Event

Sunday, Oct. 23, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Catamount Outdoor Family Center in Williston

Families are invited to a day of cy cling and activities, including pumpkin carving and face-painting, a costume pa rade, a family ride, a self-guided trick-ortreat ride and more. Halloween costumes are encouraged. Hosted by the Catamount Center and Fellowship of the Wheel. For more information and to register for the event go to https://catamountoutdoor.org/ events/halloween-spoketacular/

Tales & Tombstones Cemetery Tour

Thursday, Oct. 27, 3:15-4:30 p.m.

Meet in the parking lot on N. Williston Rd., behind the Korner Kwik Stop

Join a walking tour of historic Thomas Chittenden Cemetery, where a group of Williston Central School stu dents will present skits about the lives of some of our most famous residents. Cider and donuts will be provided. Rain or shine. No registration required.

Trunk or Treat Event

Sunday, Oct. 30, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Williston Central School parking lot

Bring your kids and grandkids for a fun, safe time at this free, can dy-filled event hosted by the Willis ton-Richmond Rotary Club and Wil liston Federated Church. Costumes are encouraged and the event will take place rain or shine.

our Statehouse, her background has given her the insight and drive to accomplish much more than most freshman legislators typically are able to. She has led in the work that made uni versal school lunches a reali ty in our schools. She was an important part of the team that provided every family with mi nor children a new $1,000 tax credit.

Among the areas in which Erin worked closely with others to see Vermonters’ needs met were investments in Vermont’s workplaces, affordable housing opportunities, expanded broad band and concrete policy changes toward mitigating and reversing the impacts of climate change, with an emphasis on Vermont’s

particular vulnerabilities.

As a representative, she brings at least three capacities that are especially noteworthy: team-building, highly focused leadership abilities and active openness to tripartisan initia tives. To this, I’d add a fourth: her energetic constituent ser vices and conversations, both one-to-one and in group set tings, with Williston residents of all beliefs and perspectives. Her experiences on the CVSD school board and her teaching responsi bilities have made her a strong, persuasive voice on the House Education Committee.

I’m enthusiastically support ing Erin’s re-election.

Eldon Carvey Williston

Dress for Fall at Jess Boutique

HOUSE

Vermont Life is About

BALANCE & COMMON SENSE Let’s bring it to the Legislature!

Chittenden County Resident Over 50 Years Proven Leadership & Lifetime of Service Focus on Cost of Living Responsible Taxation Endorsed by Governor Jim Douglas Ready to Serve Full Time

Diane Von Furstenberg

The Williston Recreation and Parks Department is located at the Annex Building at 7878 Wil liston Road. For online program registration visit www.williston rec.org. For department informa tion email recreation@williston vt.org or call 876-1160.

PARK CLOSURES

The week of Oct. 24-28 is used for closing fields, courts and ame nities for the winter. All nets on fields and courts will be taken down by Oct. 28. The tennis/pickleball Courts at Rossignol Community Park will be closed for the Hallow

een weekend from Friday, Oct. 28 at 4 p.m. until Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 8:30 a.m. The courts will remain open af ter that, until Nov. 27, or first snow, whichever comes first.

PROGRAMS

DOG TRAINING

Basics Beyond and Therapy Dog training programs start in Novem ber and January. Instructor: Deb Helfrich, Gold Star Dog Training

PICKUP BASKETBALL/ VOLLEYBALL PROGRAMS

Pickup programs are by registra tion and pre-payment only. They are

not free drop-in programs. There are programs for men’s 20-plus and 30plus basketball; and women’s 19-plus basketball, and 18-plus volleyball. Register at www.willistonrec.org.

HORSEBACK RIDING INTRO

Age 8-14. The Livery Horse Farm in Hinesburg is offering in troductory riding programs. The focus is on English riding. The farm provides a variety of skill levels for children to learn on. Saturdays. In structor: Kim Johansen, owner Liv ery Farm.

KNITTING

Grade 3-8. Does your child love to knit or do they want to learn? This program will teach them how, or improve their skills. The program offers the basics for first-timers and provides early and intermediate knitters with specifics and help with projects. All materials are provided. Instructor: Christine Heavner, own er Knitting Circle.

NINJA KIDS

Ages 4-8 and 7-11. This playbased curriculum increases strength and self-confidence, while moving meditation helps children manage their emotions and develop the con nection between mental and phys ical well-being. Instructor: ONTA Studio staff

NINJA TEENS

Ages 9-15. This play-based curriculum increases strength and self-confidence, while moving med itation helps children manage their emotions and develop the connec tion between mental and physical well-being. Instructor: ONTA Stu dio staff

DANGEROUS GIRLS CLASS

Age 14-plus. This is a wom en-only cardio-kickboxing class that combines strength and conditioning with practical combat skills. Learn trips and throws, bounce to Beyon cé, hit hard, laugh a lot. Instructor:

ONTA Studio staff

SAFE SITTERS BABYSITTERS COURSE, GRADES 6-8

Safe Sitter prepares teens to be safe when they’re home alone, watching younger siblings or babysitting. The course offers four main content areas: safety skills, child care skills, first aid and rescue skills, and life and business skills. Instructor: rec. staff. Programs are offered in Hinesburg, Shelburne, Williston and Charlotte.

REC. BASKETBALL

Registration is open for K-8th grade basketball programs.

LEARN TO SKI/RIDE

Registration opens Wednesday, Nov. 2 for the Learn to Ski/Ride Program. This program is for grades K-8. Early-bird registration deadline is Dec. 18. Equipment fitting nights will be offered at the end of Novem ber and middle of December. Regis tration is required for fitting times.

works out

goals are our goals!

make fitness fun!

our community today!

Industrial Ave. • Suite 180, Williston • 881-0553

Get more for your BUCK!

Feds funnel $30 million to GlobalFoundries

Advanced microchips to be developed at local plant

BY FRED THYS VTDigger

Semiconductor manufactur er GlobalFoundries has secured $30 million in federal funding to accelerate development of chips that will allow devices to con nect more quickly to the internet and power electric vehicles.

The chips will be developed and manufactured at the compa ny’s local plant, which straddles the Williston-Essex Junction line on both sides of the Win ooski River.

GlobalFoundries executives announced the funding Monday morning at a press conference in a tent in front of the mas sive plant, also known as Fab 9, alongside U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who secured the funding in the Consolidated Ap propriations Act for Fiscal Year 2022.

The plant has already been making the gallium-ni tride-on-silicon chips on a small scale for weapons platforms for the U.S. Department of Defense. Gallium nitride is a material that can resist higher tempera tures than silicon and operate at very high voltages.

“These chips have a unique ability to handle very high heat and power levels,” said Thomas Caulfield, president and chief executive of GlobalFoundries.

The funding will be used to scale up production of gallium ni tride chips for both the U.S. gov ernment and commercial uses.

According to company offi cials, the chips would increase performance and efficiency in 5G and 6G smartphones, radio fre quency wireless infrastructure, electric vehicles, industrial mo tors, power grids and solar energy.

Caulfield and Ken McAvey, the general manager of the Es sex Junction facility, joined Leahy for the announcement, which was also a celebration

of the senator’s long-standing support for the plant. Caulfield revealed Monday that the main entrance to the plant has been

renamed for Leahy.

“The leadership and dedi cation of Sen. Leahy has been instrumental to the growth and success of semiconductor in novation and manufacturing in Vermont,” Caulfield said.

Leahy worked to make the Essex Junction plant — or fab, as they are called in the semi conductor industry — the first

to be accepted by the U.S. gov ernment as a “trusted foundry,” a group of semiconductor plants run by commercial companies using procedures to ensure that the chips manufactured there are secure.

The federal government cre ated the Trusted Foundry pro

U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, left, reacts as GlobalFoundries President and CEO Thomas Caulfield announces a welcoming arch at the company’s plant in Essex Junction will be named for Leahy on Monday, Oct. 17. Caulfield and Leahy were at an announcement of federal funding to produce state-of-the-art microchips at the plant.

PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

Hannaford donates $100K to supplement Meals on Wheels

Tech Jam set for Saturday at Hula

Meet job recruiters, tech professionals and network with like-minded professionals at the Vermont Tech Jam on Sat urday at the Hula campus on Lakeside Avenue in Burlington. Since 2008, each Tech Jam event has attracted hundreds of job seekers, career-changers, tech professionals, college stu dents and anyone eager to learn from and connect with local tech and bioscience companies.

field. It was the one-year anni versary of the lactation space solutions company acquiring its manufacturing operations.

“Owning the manufacturing side is so critical to our busi ness,” CEO Tom Witschi said. “It’s made us smarter, it’s made us better.”

Mamava designs, engineers and assembles lactation pods and has installed thousands around the United States.

Bunk bed build

Hannaford Supermarkets and the Hannaford Charitable Foun dation has donated $100,000 to Age Well in Colchester in sup port of its Meals on Wheels pro gram for homebound adults with chronic health conditions.

The donation will support the introduction of a new com ponent of Meals on Wheels.

Program participants will now receive a snack as part of their daily delivery. Individu als will be monitored for results over the course of a one-year pe riod to assess the impact of the nutritious snack on their overall health and wellness.

“At Hannaford, we have long believed that wholesome, fresh food is a critical ingredient to ensuring the vitality of our communities,” said Hannaford Charitable Foundation Board Chair Peter Forester, who also serves as senior vice president of merchandising for the gro cery retailer.

Keynote speakers (4-6 p.m.) are CoreMap CEO Sarah Kalil and investor and philanthropist John Abele of Boston Scientific discuss ing collaboration in innovation.

Hula is a technology-driven co working campus, business accelera tor and venture capital fund focused on elevating Vermont-based startups and entrepreneurs.

Mamava celebrates manufacturing

Chamber makes board appointments

The Lake Champlain Chamber has appointed Ashley Wain er, Dave Lane, Patricia Shirk and Karen Wisehart to its board of di rectors. Wain er, a senior executive at Vermont Gas Systems, will serve as board chair.

Shayla Polli, left, and Jamie Polli of Polli Properties in Williston help build a bed last month for the Sleep in Heavenly Peace organization. A team of Polli employees helped build a total of 20 beds for local children in need through the organization.

On National Manufacturing Day earlier this month, Sascha Mayer, Williston resident and co-founder of Mamava, offered tours of the company’s new man ufacturing facility in Spring

Lane is a senior vice president at Farm Cred it East, Shirk is a program manager at 89 North and Wisehart is director of op erations at the Windjammer Hospitality

Group.

“Our work benefits from the knowledge and experience of our business community in a myriad of ways, especially with respect to our talented and engaged Board of Directors,” said Cham ber President Cathy Davis.

Dairy industry task force starts its work

A Task Force to Revitalize the Vermont Dairy Industry will hold its first meeting Oct. 24 at the Statehouse. The meet ing is open to the public and will be live-streamed on You Tube.

Topics include pricing milk for state milk market regula tion and environmental require ments and costs for Vermont dairy farmers. Email Dairy

TaskForce@leg.state.vt.us for more information.

Gov. Scott recruits construction workers

Proclaiming October as “Ca reers in Construction Month,” Gov. Phil Scott touted career op portunities within the construc tion industry in Vermont during a press conference last week.

“As we make historic invest ments in housing, broadband and traditional infrastructure, there are many opportunities for Vermonters to find lucrative ca reers in the trades,” he said.

Construction accounts for 5.2 percent of statewide total employment, with more than 15,000 individuals working within the industry, according to the Department of Labor.

OBSERVER COURTESY

PHOTO

Ashley Wainer

Patricia Shirk

Karen Wisehart

GlobalFoundries

gram when it realized that it was cost-prohibitive to produce sensi tive chips on a small scale at its own fab.

The manufacturers are then able to sell their technology to commercial clients at a premium because they can guarantee that the chips are not compromised.

“This facility is the nation’s first trusted foundry thanks to Senator Leahy’s foresight and leadership and to this day makes the most extremely sen sitive and classified chips that are critical to our government and our national defense and se curity systems,” Caulfield said.

GlobalFoundries officials said the company will use the money to set up a clean room — a manufacturing space with a minimum concentration of airborne particulates — and buy tools to extend the devel opment and manufacturing of 200-millimeter gallium nitride wafers that integrated circuits

are imprinted upon. Caulfield said the company would become the only major manufacturer to make the large wafers, which are more cost-effective than smaller wafers.

“The resulting chips will enable batteries that are small

The funding will be used to scale up production of gallium nitride chips for both the U.S. government and commercial uses.

er, charge faster and lose less power that will be used in au tomobiles, phones, cell towers and industrial robots around the world,” Caulfield said.

More than 2,000 Global Foundries employees and 800 contractors work at the Essex Junction plant making chips

used in smartphones, auto mobiles and communications equipment, making it Ver mont’s largest private employer, McAvey said.

Leahy directed another $2.6 million to train students at Vermont State University to become techni cians at semiconductor plants.

Caulfield indicated that the workforce in Essex Junction would grow.

“On (GlobalFoundries’) part, we’ll continue to train, develop and grow the world-class work force that keeps this facility run ning 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” Caulfield said.

Most smartphones in the world contain chips made at the Essex Junction plant, McAvey and Caulfield said.

“Go find a smartphone built anywhere in the world by any manufacturer and see if you can find one that doesn’t have chips made in Vermont,” Caulfield said.

Caulfied said GlobalFound ries has invested $750 million in the plant since 2015, when the company acquired IBM’s micro electronics division.

Hospital warns of ER over-crowding

BY ERIN PETENKO

VTDigger

On Friday, the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington issued a warn ing to Vermonters: Don’t visit our emergen cy department if you can avoid it.

Instead, it advised people with relative ly minor issues to seek treatment at doctor’s offices or urgent care centers rather than visit the hospital’s overcrowded emergency room.

Stephen Leffler, president of the medical center, said the overcrowding was caused by a “perfect storm” of several health care trends condensed into a single day: More than 100 patients sought care on Friday, but the facility had only 53 staffed beds.

“It’s back to nor mal-busy now and we’re managing OK, but Friday was par ticularly stressful and difficult,” he said on Tuesday.

The challenges are not over. Leffler and other hospital officials across the state said they’ve faced a longer trend of overcrowding in emergency depart ments — and even in patient care generally — in recent months, on top of the strain hospitals have experi enced since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020.

but they can’t be sent home, and we are hav ing difficulty placing those patients,” she said.

Like hospitals, long-term care facilities have struggled to hire and retain nursing staff during the pandemic. For example, last week, UVM Home Health and Hospice end ed 24/7 medical care for its residents due to staffing problems.

Leffler said UVM Medical Center, a “tertiary care” hospital that accepts more complicated medical cases, has been taking patients from outside its normal area be cause so many other tertiary care hospitals are filling up.

“We are doing our very best to accept everyone we possibly can…We still always take people with acute emergencies, like traumas or heart attacks or strokes, but it may make us delay taking someone with a less urgent problem.”

Stephen Leffler Vermont Medical Center

“We are doing our very best to accept everyone we possibly can,” he said. “But when our ER is com pletely full, that also is more difficult. We still always take peo ple with acute emer gencies, like traumas or heart attacks or strokes, but it may make us delay taking someone with a less urgent problem.”

He said that people with serious medical issues should still go to the emergency de partment, but those with minor medical issues should start by calling their primary care doctor or a local urgent care center. The medical center has a checklist to help people decide where to start.

State statistics back that up. Data from the Agency of Human Services shows that the total number of open intensive care and medical/surgical beds statewide has declined in the past week, down to only 45 beds for the week of Oct. 10, compared to between 60 and 70 through most of the summer.

The agency data also illustrates one of the reasons for the squeeze: The number of patients in hospitals who are waiting to be discharged to subacute beds, such as longterm care or rehab centers, has increased, meaning that there are fewer beds for new patients coming in.

There are also about 32 patients each week seeking mental health treatment that can’t get into an inpatient psychiatric facili ty, according to the agency data.

Anywhere from 20 percent to 35 percent of inpatient beds statewide are occupied by patients who need a lower level of care, said Devon Green, vice president of government relations at the Vermont Association of Hos pitals and Health Systems, a trade organiza tion for hospitals.

“They no longer need to be hospitalized,

The Vermont Department of Health has also reported a rise in Covid hospitaliza tions in the past few weeks.

Leffler said the hospital has noticed an uptick in Covid patients, but he doesn’t be lieve it’s driving the current issue. About half of the medical center’s patients with Covid are visiting the hospital for different reasons and test positive while they’re there.

UVM Medical Center is working with other facilities to try to improve mental health access and long-term care availabil ity, Leffler said. “We have to make sure we have an adequate workforce,” he said.

Green said the hospital association was hoping for legislators to work on therapeutic alternatives to mental health facilities and to support mobile mental health crisis teams. It also opposed a federal government proposal to cut reimbursement for home health ser vices, which Green said would “compound” the problem.

Legislators are aware of the issue, she said. “It’s just, it’s a very large and intrac table problem in a variety of sectors of the health care system.”

•

won passage of Universal School Meals in her first term and proudly voted to protect reproductive liberty in the Vermont Constitution

of the House Education Committee

recognized high school social studies teacher

CVSD School Board,

elected in

the CVSD School Board,

elected in

•

with the Education Justice Coalition of Vermont, the Williston Community Justice Center, and CY Mentoring at Williston Central School

member of the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club

•

journalist with 20 years of experience

Re-elect Rep. Erin Brady

Angela Arsenault

for by Erin Brady for Williston, 48 Brookside Dr. and Angela Arsenault for State Representative, PO Box 1102, Williston, VT 05495

Erin Brady (D)

Angela Arsenault (D)

State Representative

two PROVEN Williston community leaders to the Vermont State House

Enjoying gourd season

BY ANDREA KNEPPER Special to the Observer

It’s the time of year when strangely shaped, multi-colored, warty gourds begin to appear in gardens, markets, CSA boxes and on front porches. If you planted any type of gourds in your garden this year, enjoy peeking under leaves now to see what varia tions have developed.

Decorative gourds belong to the cucur bit family and can be classified into two

types. Miniature pumpkins, warty varieties, winged and others with soft shells belong to the genus Cucurbita. Those with hard shells, such as bottle, birdhouse and Calabash gourds, are members of the genus Lagenaria.

Both types are easy to grow at home and share some basic harvesting and cur ing strategies to extend their decorative life. Lagenaria gourds, however, require an addi tional step to fully utilize their unique char acteristics.

Baby-Tested Baby-Approved

KID-FRIENDLY CARPETS, RUGS AND OTHER FLOORING

Gourds come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, making them an ideal choice for both autumnal displays and crafts.

OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO

Gourds

Gourds can be harvested when the stem begins to turn brown. Clip the stem a few inches from the gourd. Gourds can be left on the vine to dry completely but should be harvested before a frost.

Fully ripe gourds will have a tough skin that cannot be pierced with your fingernail. Underripe gourds can still be used but will begin to rot sooner.

To extend the life of your ma ture gourds, they also need to be dried to prevent decay. Wash the surface of harvested gourds and dry thoroughly.

Place gourds somewhere out of direct sunlight to continue drying. They can be set on a screen to in crease air circulation or hung with string tied around their stems. Be sure to check regularly for mois ture and prevent mold growth if you are drying the gourds on a sol

id surface. The skin of Cucurbita gourds will be dry and hard in a couple of weeks.

Now that your gourd is dry, it will last on display throughout the season. Gourds can be polished with vegetable oil for an attrac tive shine. You may also choose to

to use for displays or crafts when you can hear the seeds rattle inside. Historically, fully dried gourds of this type have been used for art or as musical instruments, utensils and containers.

Gourds can be polished with vegetable oil for an attractive shine.

wax, shellac or paint your gourd. If you do, remember that some dec orative treatments should not be composted.

Lagenaria gourds require additional drying time to dry out the interior flesh as well as the outer skin. This drying process can take several months.

These varieties will be ready

DON’T HIBERNATE. BUTTON UP.

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Compost your gourds when they begin to show signs of de terioration or when you are done with them. You may find a sur prise in your compost pile next spring. Gourds love the warm, nutrient-rich environment of the compost.

Join us virtually for Weatherization Wednesdays throughout October to learn more!

ButtonUpVermont.org

*subject to eligibility and availability

sponsored by Efficiency Vermont

Andrea Knepper is a UVM Extension Master Gardener from Bolton.

Next Week: Midterm elections

Jack-o’Lanterns Light the Way

What would Halloween be without pumpkins? Farmers in the United States produce more than 1 billion pounds of pumpkins each year — most of those for sale at Halloween and Thanksgiving. They come in all shapes and sizes, and most weigh between 5 and 30 pounds.

This week, The Mini Page explores the traditions leading to jack-o’-lanterns for use at Halloween.

A natural light

We love to use pumpkins as jack-o’lanterns at Halloween! The custom of carving jack-o’-lanterns can be traced back to Ireland.

Years ago, the Irish carved spooky faces on turnips and gourds. They would hollow out the insides. Then they would place a candle inside. The light was supposed to keep away evil spirits.

In the U.S., Irish immigrants found pumpkins were bigger and easier to carve. That’s how pumpkins became jack-o’-lanterns.

A ghostly lantern

The name for the Halloween pumpkin comes from an old story that the Irish brought with them to the States.

The story is about an old man named Jack. He was so stingy, or ungenerous, that when he died, he couldn’t get into heaven and was left in darkness.

BY OLIVIA JAIMES

Mini Fact: Pumpkins belong to the same family as squash, watermelons, cucumbers, cantaloupes and honeydews.

So Jack put a glowing piece of coal in a hollowed-out turnip. As he traveled with his lantern looking for a resting place, he became known as Jack of the Lantern, or jack-o’-lantern.

Halloween traditions

Halloween is also called Allhallows Eve. It takes place on the day before All Saints’ Day, Nov. 1.

Ancient Celtic people believed that ghosts visited Earth on the night before All Saints’ Day. The Celts would dress in costumes and light large, sacred bonfires to protect themselves from the ghosts.

Carving a jack-o’-lantern

The Mini Page offers some tips for successful gourd gouging.

Don’t forget to get help from an adult when using sharp, dangerous tools!

• Choose your pumpkin carefully. A round pumpkin is a good choice for a smiling, friendly face. A tall pumpkin would work for making a ghost or a ghoulish face.

• Decide whether you’re carving or drawing. Instead of carving, you can draw a face or other decoration with markers, glue and glitter, stickers or other art supplies.

• Gather your tools for carving: a long, thin-bladed knife; a pencil; a large spoon; a small cutting saw; an ice pick or nail to poke holes; and drawings or stencils of your design.

• Cut around the stem. Clear out the seeds and scrape the insides clean.

• Use your tools to make your design.

• Put a flashlight or candle inside to light up your creation.

A useful plant

Pumpkins were first found in Central America. Seeds from some pumpkin-type plants found in Mexico date back to 7000 B.C.

Native Americans made mats out of the shells of pumpkins. They would flatten strips of pumpkin shell, dry them, and use them to sit and walk on. They used pumpkin seeds as both food and medicine.

People in Europe did not know about pumpkins until French and Spanish explorers learned about them while exploring the New World.

Today, the most common use of pumpkins in food is for pumpkin pie. They also are used to make bread, muffins, soup and pudding.

Resources

On the Web:

kids.kiddle.co/Stingy_Jack

At the library:

“The Legend of Stingy Jack” by Jeremiah Witting

“Stingy Jack: The Tale of the Jack-o’Lantern” by Linda Crowley

Founded by Betty DebnamIssue 43, 2022

CANDLE, CARVE, CELTIC, COSTUMES, DESIGN, GOURD, HALLOWEEN, IRISH, JACK-O’LANTERN,

N R E T N A L O K C A J E R T M N O I T I D A R T X H L I S E R I F N O B W H G Z O T S

photo by Sven Graeme

A turnip jack-o’lantern.

Stingy Jack

He was so stingy, or ungenerous, that when he died, he couldn’t get into heaven and was left in darkness.

Try ’n’ Find

drawing.

face or other decoration with markers, glue and glitter, stickers or other art supplies.

Witting

Mini Jokes

Words that remind us of jack-o’-lanterns are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:

BONFIRES, CANDLE, CARVE, CELTIC, COSTUMES, DESIGN, GOURD, HALLOWEEN, IRISH, JACK-O’LANTERN, PLANT, PUMPKIN, SPIRITS, STINGY, TOOLS, TRADITION, TURNIP.

Cook’s Corner

Pumped-Up Pumpkin

You’ll need:

• 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin

• 1 (12-ounce) can fat-free evaporated milk

• 1/2 cup sugar or granulated sugar substitute

• 1/2 cup liquid egg substitute

• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

• 1 tablespoon honey

• whipped topping

NT FOG REP ISE

RO ME GH TH

BE ADV MO NE

AIR LAU GY TU

Jack: What are jack-o’lanterns afraid of?

Jane: Things that go pumpkin in the night!

Eco Note

Insects have for the first time been observed maintaining perfectly straight flight paths as they migrate long distances, even in unfavorable and windy conditions. Using tiny radio tags attached to hawk moths, researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior tracked their migration for up to 50 miles, the longest distance that any insect has been continuously monitored in the wild. The insects were said to use “sophisticated strategies” to maintain their straight migration paths.

For later:

Look in your newspaper for articles or recipes about pumpkins.

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

Brevity

BY DAN THOMPSON

• “Stingy Jack: The Tale of the Jack-o’Lantern” by Linda Crowley

Y S T I R I P S N G I S E D K G S P T N A L P E L D N A C X N H S J W W P I N R U T F C I I N R E T N A L O K C A J E R T M N O I T I D A R T X H L I S E R I F N O B W H G Z O T S Q Z C O S T U M E S F L C I H L N I K P M U P O E V R A C B D R U O G U P T O O L S K S Y B P B H A L L O W E E N M U F

Redhawks rule over Cougars

Hornets get stung by Redhawks

to bottom: The CVU Redhawks get a goal late in the game to defeat the Essex Hornets 1-0 on Monday afternoon in Hinesburg. CVU’s Miranda Oppenheimer battles with Essex’s Gilliam Bruyns. CVU’s Carly Strobeck pokes the ball away from Essex’s Ava Spooner.

OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY

smiles!

TODAY’S HISTORY:

• In 1944, U.S. forces landed on the island of Leyte, beginning a monthslong campaign to free the Philippines from Japanese control.

• In 1947, the House Un-American Activities Committee opened its first hearings on communist influence in the film industry.

• In 1977, three members of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd were killed (along with an assistant road manager and the two pilots) when their chartered plane crashed in Mississippi.

• In 2011, ousted Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi was captured and killed by rebel forces in Sirte, Libya.

TODAY’S FACT:

Only four nations in the world currently self-identify as communist states: China, Cuba, Laos and Vietnam.

By Jim Miller

Savvy Senior Home-sharing: a growing trend

Dear Savvy Senior,

I saw a news segment on tele vision a few months ago about home-sharing programs for se niors and would like to learn more. I’m 68, divorced and am interested in renting out a room in my house to help make ends meet. What can you tell me?

Interested Boomer

Dear Boomer,

Because of inflation and rising housing costs, a growing number of Baby Boomers are opting to rent out a spare room in their house as a way to generate some extra income, and for some, increase companion ship. To find a good fit, older home owners often turn to home-sharing programs that will match an emp ty-nester with someone needing af fordable housing.

But be aware that home-shar ing isn’t for everyone. You need to carefully consider the pros and cons of renting out a spare room in your house and make a list of what you want and don’t want in a housemate/ renter.

To help you figure all this out, a good resource is www.Sharing Housing.com, a website dedicated to understanding the home-sharing concept. It offers various articles, online lessons and resource books that can help you determine if this is a good option for you, and if so, how to find and choose a good house mate.

If you decide to proceed in find ing a housemate/renter, a good first step is to seek out a home-sharing program in your area.

Home-sharing programs, usu

Green Burials

The practice of natural or “green” burials dates back thousands of years. The principle behind this practice is to follow the natural cycle of life. Green burials provide a reduced environmental impact, as well as the benefits of land preservation and affordability. To learn more, contact us today.

Eric J. Provost, 34, passed away on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 from natural causes.

Eric was born on February 15, 1988, in Burlington, Vermont to proud parents, Lisa and John Provost. Eric grew up in Williston, Vermont with his beloved brothers, Shaun, and Tim Provost, graduating from CVU in 2006. After graduating high school, Eric’s natural curiosity for the world and passion for the culinary arts lead him to San Francisco, where his son, Montgomery J. Provost, was born on January 25, 2011.

Shortly after Monty’s birth, Eric returned home with Monty to be closer to family and to follow his en trepreneurial spirit buying and fixing up a food truck. When Eric was not pursuing his dreams, he spent every moment with Monty. They both en joyed the simple things like cooking dinner together, harvesting their own vegetables, planning adventures, sci ence experiments, and taking care of

ally nonprofits, screen both home owners and renters. They check ref erences, handle background checks and consider lifestyle criteria when making matches. They can also help you with the leasing agreement that the renter would sign, which covers detailed issues like smoking, pets, chores, overnight guests, use of common rooms, quiet hours, etc.

Most home-sharing programs are free to use, or request a small do nation. Others, however, may charge the homeowner and potential renter a fee for this service. To look for a home-sharing program in your area, visit the National Shared Housing Resource Center website at www. NationalSharedHousing.org.

If you don’t find a program that serves your area, you can also search for housemates through an online home-sharing service like www.Sil vernest.com. Or, if you’d rather have a younger housemate who can help out with some household chores, consider www.Nesterly.com. This is an online home-sharing agency available in a few select communi ties that matches young renters with older adults looking to supplement their incomes and share their space.

If you don’t have any luck with any of these home-sharing sites, put

OBITUARIES

Eric J. Provost

a call in to your Area Aging Agency (call 800-677-1116 for contact infor mation) who may be able to offer assistance or refer you to local agen cies or nonprofits that offer shared housing help.

You can also check with your local senior, community center or church to see if you can post an ad on their bulletin board or in their newsletter. Or you can advertise in your local newspaper or online at sites like www.CraigsList.org or www.RoomMates.com.

If you find someone on your own that you’re interested in renting to, ask the prospective renter to fill out a rental application (see www.Rent alLeaseAgreement.org to download and print one for free) and run a tenant screening and background check, and then call their referenc es. Tenant screening/background checks can be done at sites like ww w.E-renter.com or www.MySmart Move.com.

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.

to New Hampshire to Santa’s Village. Eric and Shaun, along with Eric’s sis ter-in-law, Kristin Provost, enjoyed recreating the special moments from Eric’s, Shaun’s, and Tim’s childhood, from huge family dinners to birthday parties for Monty and Eric’s niece and nephew, Olivia, and Logan Provost.

Eric was seen by his family as a gentle giant with a huge heart. Eric cared deeply about his friends and family and had a profound impact on their lives. We hope you feel our love forevermore no matter how high you fly with your new wings.

Monty’s many pets.

Eric also had an unbreakable bond with his mother, Lisa. They both en joyed deep conversations about the world and dreaming about the future. You could also find Eric spending time with his father, John, and brother, Tim, working on special house proj ects for his family or with his brother, Shaun, planning family camping trips

Family and friends were invited to a funeral service in celebration of Er ic’s life Oct. 14. at the Ready Funeral Home South Chapel in Burlington.A short burial service followed at Res urrection Park Cemetery, 200 Hines burg Road, South Burlington.

To send online condolences to his family please visit www.readyfuner al.com.

OBITUARIES EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Gerard Malavenda

Gerard Malavenda, 65, tragically passed away on Oct. 15, 2022. An accomplished and seasoned bicyclist, Gerry had set out on a glo rious Vermont day for a ride that would unfor tunately be his last.

Gerry had many lifelong friendships, stemming from high school, college and his career. Those who knew him well would tell you that you could always count on Gerry to be irreverent! A devout Catholic, Gerry found peace in attending Mass.

Gerry was predeceased by his parents, Russell and Catherine Malavenda, and his brother, Russell Malavenda, Jr. Left to cher ish his memory are his many friends, notably Beth, with whom he spoke daily. Survivors include Maureen and Harry Locker of Wil liston, Jack Locker of Burlington and many

Why not have a job you love?

Positions include a sign on bonus, strong benefits package and the opportunity to work at one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont”.

cousins and extended family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Family Parish in Essex Junction at 11 a.m. Tuesday Oct. 25. In lieu of flowers, donations in Gerry’s name may be made to the Richard Tom Foundation, an organiza tion which promotes safe cycling and driving. www.richardtomfoundation.com/donate.

Arrangements are in care of Corbin and Palmer Funeral Home, Essex Junction, VT.

Service Coordinator: Continue your career in human services in a supportive environment by providing case management for individuals either for our Adult Family Care program or our Developmental Services program. The ideal candidate will have strong clinical, organizational & leadership skills and enjoy working in a team-oriented position. $47,000 annual salary, $1,500 sign on bonus.

Residential Program Manager: Coordinate staffed residential and community supports for an individual in their home. The ideal candidate will enjoy working in a team-oriented position, have strong clinical skills, and demonstrated leadership. $45,900 annual salary, $1,500 sign on bonus.

Direct Support Professional: Provide 1:1 supports to help individuals reach their goals in a variety of settings. This is a great position to start or continue your career in human services. Full and part time positions available starting at $19/hr, $1,000 sign on bonus.

Residential Direct Support Professional: Provide supports to an individual in their home and in the community in 24h shifts including asleep overnights in a private, furnished bedroom. You can work two days, receive full benefits and have five days off each week! Other flexible schedules available, starting wage is $20/hr, $1,000 sign on bonus.

Shared Living Provider: Move into someone’s home or have someone live with you to provide residential supports. There are a variety of opportunities available that could be the perfect match for you and your household. Salary varies dependent on individual care requirements. $1,000 sign on bonus.

Join our dedicated team and together we’ll build a community where everyone participates and belongs https://ccs-vt.org/current-openings/

Make a career making a difference and join our team today!

https://ccs-vt.org/current-openings/

LEGAL

WILLISTON PLANNING COMMISSION GLASER SPECIFIC PLAN COMMUNITY MEETING

7:00 pm | November 15, 2022

The Planning Commission is considering a Specific Plan application for the Glaser Property, 97± acres at 1095 Old Stage Road, for a 100± unit residential subdivision with the provision of 53± acres open space as the substantial benefit. As required by

WDB 9.3.3, the Commission is holding community meeting.

Police Station Meeting Room, 7928 Williston Road

Or online with Zoom Meeting ID 158 006 871 www.zoom.us/join or call (646) 5588656

Learn more or submit a comment at www.bit.ly/GlaserSP

Town Contact Person: Emily Heymann, Senior Planner, 802-878-6704 ext. 3 or eheymann@willistonvt.org

LEGAL

TOWN OF WILLISTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA

Tuesday, October 25, 2022 – 7:00 PM

Hybrid Meeting: Town Hall Meeting Room, (7900 Williston Road) or Zoom Meeting ID 846 5863 3532 on zoom.us/join or call 1-646-558-8656

DP 22-01 Pre-App Trinity Baptist Church (c/o Randy Boardman) requests

pre-application review to participate in Growth Management in March 2023 for their proposed residential subdivision located on a 19.6acre parcel (forms part of a larger subdivision that includes development at the school and alterations to the site plan on a 27.9acre parcel). Located at 300 Trinity Drive in RZD.

DP 23-02 Pre-App Trinity Baptist Church (c/o Randy Boardman) requests pre-application review for their proposed 2-lot residential subdivision on an 8.7acre parcel to create 1 new dwelling unit located at 425 Mountain View Road in the ARZD.

Project details and site plans are available online, go to bit.ly/ DRBagendas. Contact Planning & Zoning Office for more information: 802-878-6704 or email planning@ willistonvt.org

LEGAL

TOWN OF WILLISTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA

Tuesday, November 8, 2022 – 7 p.m.

Hybrid Meeting: Town Hall Meeting Room, (7900 Williston Road) or Zoom Meeting ID 846 5863 3532 on zoom.us/join or call 1-646-558-8656

DP 21-18 Pre-App The Annex: The Snyder Group Inc requests preapplication review to participate in Growth Management in March, 2023 for their proposed residential subdivision located on a 54.2± acre site at the Essex Alliance Church property on Beaudry Ln. and Alpine Dr., north of Knight Ln/ Chelsea Pl./Dunmore Rd. in TCZD.

DP 23-03 Pre-App Michael and Cindy Olson (c/o O’Leary-Burke) request preapplication review for a 2-lot residential subdivision on a 10.1 acre parcel to create 1 new dwelling unit located at 98 Snowdrift Ln. in ARZD.

DP 23-04 Pre-App George and Patricia Shortsleeves (c/o O’Leary-Burke) request pre-application review for a 2-lot subdivision to create 1 new dwelling unit at 607 North Williston Rd. and a

boundary line adjustment between 607 North Williston Rd. and 55 Keystone Dr. in RZD.

DP 23-05 Pre-App Shenk Enterprises LLC (c/o O’Leary-Burke) requests pre-application review to develop two (2) 25,000sf commercial/industrial buildings and associated parking, loading, private drive and stormwater treatment on Lot 5 of the Robear Subdivision, a vacant 6.98acre parcel located at 269 Shunpike Rd. in IZDW.

AP 23-0062 – Zoning Administrator referral for discretionary review. Dawna Pederzani requests an administrative permit for continued operation of a non-profit dog rescue kennel contained within the garage with outdoor kennel space in the back yard located at 170 Lamplite Ln. in RZD.

Project details and site plans are available online, go to bit.ly/ DRBagendas. Contact Planning & Zoning Office for more information: 802-878-6704 or email planning@ willistonvt.org

Serving our community since 1985

MARKETING & ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER

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

Job Description:

• Steward existing accounts

• Generate sales from qualified leads

• Work with clients and graphic design to craft effective ads and strategies

• Contribute ideas and energy to our dedicated team

Qualifications:

• Professional experience in sales and marketing

• Exceptional customer service skills

• Ability to tailor solutions to customer needs

• Personal drive to deliver results

• Demonstrated collaboration and communication skills

• Fluency with Microsoft Office applications

• Familiarity with print and digital advertising, including methods and measurement, is a plus.

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

We offer:

• Training and mentorship for success

• The opportunity to play a big role on a small team

• A generous base salary plus commission with great earning potential

• Flexible hours - Both part-time and full-time candidates will be considered.

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

Williston

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continued

Candidate

are readily applicable to solving the problems inherent in today’s complex legislative issues.

As a senior military officer, business leader, father, grandfa ther, husband and long-time Ver mont resident, I bring a unique mix of skills, knowledge, expe riences and proven leadership to my candidacy. It’s a combination that I believe Williston has not seen in a political candidate in a long while.

If elected, what would be your primary areas of focus?

ARSENAULT: I would first fo cus on learning the job — paying attention to how things get done in an effort to be the most effec tive rep I can be. A few of my primary legislative goals would be gun violence prevention (in cluding safe storage laws and an assault weapons ban), a child care system that works for all Vermonters (caregivers and fami lies alike), innovation and laws to support the Vermont Climate Ac tion Plan and Environmental Jus tice Bill, and state-level review or regulation of big tech (including social media platforms) as a pub lic and mental health concern.

BRADY: As a high school teacher for 16 years and a member of the CVSD school board, I was thrilled to be assigned to the House Edu cation Committee.

One of the most pronounced lessons I’ve learned as a teacher is the cumulative effect of inequita ble opportunities and experiences on young people and their fami lies. I am committed to using my experience and the relationships I have developed in the Legisla ture to be a tireless advocate for our most vulnerable students and to strengthen the sometimes over looked “bookends” of our educa tional system: early childhood and post-secondary opportunities.

Research shows that every

dollar invested in birth to 5-yearolds yields a $3 return. There’s a severe shortage of high-qual ity child care in Vermont and yet early childhood profession als are underpaid and underval ued. These shortcomings impact working families, as well as our entire state economy.

On the other bookend of our educational system, I know all too well how difficult it is for graduating high school seniors to access and afford post-secondary education and training. I strongly supported an historic investment in higher education, particularly for the Vermont State College (VSC) system. The VSC offers an important level of access and af fordability to Vermont students, a third of whom are first-generation students. I will continue to advo cate for support for the VSC as it becomes a truly hybrid statewide university system and continues to play an important role in our state’s workforce development challenges.

O’ROURKE: I will continue to focus on affordability, public safety and a sustainable environ ment. Our government needs to be more fiscally responsible and stop treating the taxpayers like a personal ATM.

We need to demand a return on our investment, whether it per tains to our infrastructure, our ed ucation system, our healthcare or the retirement security of our se niors. To make Vermont safer, we need to focus on personal respon sibility, combined with respect, training and accountability of our women and men of law enforce ment, and a judicial system that protects victims while providing consequences that are consistent with convictions, and rehabilita tion programs where appropriate and proven to be effective.

In relation to our environ ment, we need to be good stew ards of our land, air and water through responsible personal practices and to support measur able regulations that reward im proved efficiency while holding those in violation accountable.

ROY: Economic security will be my prime focus as it has a direct effect on other significant issues around health care, crime, mental health, housing, education, etc.

Voters tell me the major is sues affecting them daily revolve around the economy! Skyrocket ing prices for housing, food, util ities, health care, gas and other life basics have many Vermonters seriously worried about how to provide the necessities for their families, especially with winter coming. Compound that with a high tax burden and poor eco nomic outlooks, and we are faced with not just an economic crisis but a personal health and safety crisis that comes with the inabil ity to satisfy the basic human needs.

Some suggested areas to ad dress urgently:

• No new or increased taxes.

• Maximize consumer buying power.

• Lower existing taxes, benefit ting those who need it most.

• Investigate new sources of revenue from outside the state.

• Tighten government spend ing. Cut where possible, hold flat at a minimum. Families are doing this today.

• Retire dated or ineffective programs.

• Stimulate growth. Ease re strictions on small business and update Act 250.

We need balance, common sense, fresh ideas and open dis cussion to resolve these challeng es. The old playbook isn’t work ing!

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about your candidacy?

ARSENAULT: Over and over again, while interviewing care givers for various stories I’ve written, I found that people from all backgrounds and life experi ences were running into the same policy roadblocks in their quest to simply live their lives. I real ized I could keep writing about these issues or try to put myself in a place to effect change. In be

coming a state rep, I hope to ac complish the latter.

I also want Willistonians to know that I understand the inter connectedness of the issues we all face. We can’t talk about housing without talking about health care, or workforce issues without child care. We need to legislate around these concerns with a holistic perspective and approach. It may be complex, but I know it’s pos sible. We have so many strengths to build on here in Vermont. I’d be incredibly honored to represent you.

BRADY: I’m running again be cause the issues matter. I was honored to vote to send a state constitutional amendment to protect reproductive liberty to all Williston voters for final ap proval. I will continue to be a strong advocate for children and families, particularly the most vulnerable. I am committed to the complex work we must do on workforce challenges, affordable housing and childcare. I am pre pared to advance common sense gun safety measures to keep all Vermonters safe.

Governance is often reduced to a cynical caricature that is far from the largely bipartisan pro cess I have witnessed this year. From veteran legislators to state employees to advocates to stu dents to policy experts, the people that are a part of the legislative process give me sincere hope for our future. Government is us. It is the people we elect (at all levels) to make decisions on our behalf as best they can.

O’ROURKE: My approach to politics is similar to my approach to business in that I believe in strong relationship building and a collaborative approach to solving problems. During campaign sea son, there is often more talking than listening in an attempt to “make the sale.” I have learned that listening to voters is much more important than rushing to state my positions.

Additionally, being an elected official carries a responsibility to

represent your entire community, not simply to forward your per sonal ideologies or the political agenda of your party. To build strong communities we must offer a seat at the table to all if we are truly focused on a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

I sincerely appreciate your consideration and efforts to wards making our part of the world a place we can all be proud of! Please feel free to visit my website at http://www.tony4vt house.org and email me your questions, suggestions and con cerns at tony4vthouse@gmail. com.

ROY: I am truly humbled to have the endorsement of Gov. Jim Douglas, whom I have known from the earliest days of his ad ministration. I greatly respect him as both a leader, public ser vant and a person. I am honored by his public statement support ing my candidacy and his confi dence in me.

I am not afraid to voice my opinions. I will not hesitate to vote against the herd if legislation is not in the best interest of Wil liston. By not accepting endorse ments or donations from Political Action Committees (PACs), I have positioned myself for com plete accountability to my con stituents, without pressure from self interest groups.

I am running for the Ver mont House of Representatives to offer Williston voters a dis tinct choice in whom you send to Montpelier.

I am fortunate to be able to dedicate myself as a full-time representative. My background, qualifications, experience, skills and perspective are unique from the other candidates.

Democracy is about choices, and I offer a clear one. If you be lieve Vermont and Williston need change and fresh ideas, then fill in that oval next to BRUCE ROY on your ballot. For more infor mation, visit my website at www. Roy4VT.org, or email Roy4VT@ gmail.com.

2022 Community Giving Guide!