Around Town

A take back day for plastic pots

On Saturday, June 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Gardener’s Supply will host a “Plastic Pot Take Back Day” at its Williston and other garden center locations.

Black plastic pots cannot currently be recycled through the Chittenden Solid Waste District. These and any other color pots labelled No. 2 and No. 5 can be dropped off for recycling at Gardener’s Supply.

Biologist demonstrates bird tracking at Catamount

Audubon Vermont, the Catamount Community Forest Management Committee and the Green Mountain Audubon Society collaborated on a bird banding demonstration and bird walk at the Catamount Community Forest on Saturday.

During the event, about 30 participants observed Audubon biologist Mark LaBarr retrieving birds from nets he had set up just after sunrise. LaBarr then weighed, took measurements and banded each bird, explaining how the data collected is used to track bird movements and to support efforts to preserve avian species and their habitats.

Participants then proceeded on a walk along Catamount trails, observing and listening to a diversity of bird species.

Another Catamount birding event is set for June 22, from 6-8 p.m.

Pots must be separated into groups: No. 2 plastics in one group and No. 5 plastics in another. Pots should be empty with any tags or staples removed.

Car seat study seeking participants

Do you have a child car seat in your car? Do you have a smartphone? Come be a part of a study sponsored by Safe Kids Vermont.

Safe Kids is looking for participants to see if virtual car seat technicians are as effective as in-person technicians. Sign up for a car seat check and fill out surveys to receive a $50 Amazon gift card. Participants will be asked to complete a short follow-up appointment four months later for another $50 Amazon Gift Card.

The event is Tuesday, June 13 from 9 a.m.-noon at Richmond Rescue, 216 Railroad St., in Richmond. Sign up at https://www. signupgenius.com/go/4090945ADAC2BA3F94-richmond1.

E-mail VTSafeKids@UVMHealth.org with any questions.

Firefighters respond to a camper fire on Fay Lane last Monday.

Firefighters injured in camper fire

Two Williston firefighters were injured while extinguishing a vehicle fire last Monday afternoon, May 29. The vehicle, located on Fay Lane, was a camper that was being used as a residence, according to Williston Fire Department spokesman Prescott Nadeau.

“The home experienced significant damage rendering it unlivable,” Nadeau wrote in a news release. “The American Red Cross is assisting the occupants as they deal with the loss of their home and belongings.”

The firefighters received non-life-threatening injuries and did not require transport to the hospital, according to the news release. When searching for potential victims, they were injured when they fell through the floor of the camper, temporarily becoming trapped. They were able to extricate themselves.

No other injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is under investigation but is not considered suspicious, according to Nadeau.

Williston elementary school students have a lesson on flowers last week presented by the volunteer-led Four Winds Nature Program.

Flower power with Four Winds

The volunteer-led Four Winds Nature Program at Williston’s public schools wrapped up its year last week with a lesson on flowers. The program is for children in kindergarten through fourth grade, with adult volunteers leading hands-on lessons about the natural world.

Adults looking to volunteer to be part of the program can email wsdfourwinds@cvsdvt.org or visit https://sites.google.com/cvsdvt. org/willistonfourwinds/home.

Students complete ‘Then and Now’ Williston history project

This spring, with the help of Williston parent and photographer Andy Duback, fourth-graders on Williston Central School’s Mosaic team took part in a project that explored Williston’s past and present.

First, students conducted and filmed interviews with eight longtime residents of Williston. Then, Duback and the students observed see AROUND TOWN page 5

Half-mile kids run added to Beckett Memorial 5K

Adding to the fun of the annual Deb Beckett Memorial 5K on Saturday, July 1, will be a Kids Run for children ages 4-12 on an approximately half-mile course.

“I have been one of the Williston Mini Milers coaches for the past two years, and that program has seen a large increase in the number of kids participating from one year to the next,” said organizer Lauren Miles. “We are hoping to continue the momentum the program has generated around health and fitness in our community by adding a kids run to the race lineup for this year. We are excited about the event and hope to have a good turnout of kids.”

Children should arrive for free registration at Williston Village Community Park by 7:30 a.m. for the 8 a.m. start time. An adult may, but is not required to, accompany a child in the race.

Around Town

continued from page 4 and re-photographed scenes from historic images and wrote about how Williston has changed.

The students will showcase their photos and video in a final presentation — “Williston Then and Now” — for family members on June 12 from 1-2:30 p.m. The presentation will include a photo gallery walk of the historic images and students’ written and photographic comparisons, as well as a viewing of the documentary showcasing the oral histories collected from the interviews.

Magician to perform at Isham Farm

Comedic magician Alyx Hilshey will perform at 2 p.m. on June 10 at the Isham Family Farm, part of the farm’s First: Earth summer series.

Hilshey has performed her one-woman show at theaters in Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and Boston. She will also present her “magic philosophy” lecture.

Tickets for the Saturday show are $12 available online at https:// tinyurl.com/Alyx-Isham-Show. For more information, email ishamfamilyfarm@yahoo.com or call (802) 872-1525.

continued from page 1 vote followed a unanimous recommendation of approval from the subcommittee that has worked for the past six months to revise the plan for the neighborhood.

“This is a decision to take another step forward. There are several of these yet to come if this is to go over the finish line,” Planning Director Matt Boulanger said.

The plan was revised over the course of several subcommittee meetings from the original submission the Glasers proposed last year. Current plans show two distinct neighborhoods connected by a rec path. One of the neighborhoods, with a cul-de-sac road, would be accessed through a new intersection with Mountain View Road and the other, with a semi-circular road, would have two new intersection points with Old Stage Road.

Eleven of the 109 homes are proposed to be deed restricted as affordable. Development would occur at a pace of no more than 18 homes per year.

“The way things actually buildout in real life, it tends not to be steady,” said Ken Belliveau, the former Williston planning director who is advising the Glasers on the application. “There is a certain amount of variability. It’s not 18 units per year, it’s no more than 18 units per year, understanding that the town has concerns about everything coming online at once.”

In addition to the 15 acres along Mountain View Road that would come under town ownership, the plan also proposes granting to the town about 38 acres off Old Stage Road. This is acreage the Glasers currently allow their neighbors, Windswept Farm, to use for equestrian activities. The subcommittee envisions a future lease between the farm and the town to allow for its continued operations.

“People value (Windswept Farm) as an important community asset,” Belliveau said.

Windswept Farm owners Mike and Tina Mauss have sent the town an operations plan and letter “that summarizes their ideal lease terms that can be used as a starting point for discussion,” the subcommittee states in a memo to the planning commission.

“The town has several leases on town owned conserved land, including simple agreements with farmers at the Mahon parcel and the Catamount fields. We anticipate the town would use a similar format for any lease with Windswept Farm,” Town Planner Simon Myles wrote in the memo.

Planning commission member Chapin Kaynor voted against the proposal Tuesday. He said his suggestion of a rec path connection from the parcel to Williston Village through the adjacent Northridge parcel was not sufficiently explored. Commission members Cate Lamar, Shayla Livingston and Jill Pardini said they had hoped for more affordable housing, including a suggestion the commission made encouraging the Glasers to reach out to nonprofits like the Chittenden County Housing Authority and Habitat for Humanity to consider the needs of adults with developmental disabilities.

“I’m just not sure if the view is enough of a substantial benefit for the town,” Lamar said.