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School budget vote stays on track
FEBRUARY 15, 2024
WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985
The Champlain Valley School Board Finance Committee isn’t interested in reworking its proposed 2024-2025 budget or pushing back the date for residents to vote on it, despite a bill being fast-tracked in the Legislature to encourage school districts to do so. The legislation, H. 850, is lawmakers’ attempt to amend last year’s Act 127, which redistributed the state’s education fund toward districts with more higher-needs students. Act 127 also protected districts with comparatively less student need, including the Champlain Valley School District, by limiting their annual tax rate increase to no more than 5 percent a year. But lawmakers have realized, as school districts prepared their budget proposals this
year, that the 5 percent cap was creating an incentive for school districts to increase spending without associated tax rate increases. The $106 million Champlain Valley School District (CVSD) proposal, for example, increases spending by about $10 million over the current fiscal year. H. 850 would eliminate the 5 percent cap and instead give districts negatively impacted by Act 127, including CVSD, a tax rate discount in line with the impact of Act 127. School board chair and state Rep. Angela Arsenault said the bill “is on a fast track” and is expected to become law. One intent of the bill is that school districts consider reducing their budget proposals and pushing back their budget votes into April, instead of at Town Meeting Day, March 5, as is currently planned. “Not taking anything out (of the budget) is definitely not in line with the spirit of H.850 and the wish of the Legislature at this point,” Arsenault said Tuesday during a meeting of the CVSD Finance Committee. But committee members stood
behind the district’s current proposal. “It’s the finance committee’s suggestion that we move forward with the budget as is,” finance committee chair Meghan Metzler said. The committee plans to recommend that course of action to the full board during the full board’s Feb. 20 meeting. District Facilities Director Chris Giard said a delay in budget voting from March to April would risk the district’s ability to complete school infrastructure projects that are planned for this summer. Chief Operations Officer Gary Marckres said voter turnout is more likely to be higher on Town Meeting Day, when local municipalities and the presidential party primaries are also being held, than at a standalone election in April. “I’m not concerned about the Legislature’s intent,” said finance committee member Brendan McMahon. “They shouldn’t be doing this at the last minute. I’m only concerned about what’s best for our students and teachers.”
The chemicals can be released from building materials used in older buildings and are linked to a number of negative health effects, according to the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). They have been illegal to manufacture in the U.S. since the late 1970s.
“It may be months before we receive the results because the contractors are so overloaded due to the state requirement for testing,” Williston Lead Principal Greg Marino said Tuesday. The DEC plans to have testing in schools completed statewide by 2027. Testing began last
spring. If PCBs are found above actionable levels — measured in nanograms per cubic meter — state health officials will work with school administrators to reduce exposure for teachers and students, while finding and see PCBs page 5
Finance committee members unswayed by legislative proposal BY JASON STARR Observer staff
Wild win Williston Central’s Jordyn Goodspeed gets free for a layup during the Wildcats’ win over Shelburne 25-16 in middle school hoop action on Tuesday afternoon in Williston. See more photos, page 10. OBSERVER PHOTO BY AL FREY
WWW.WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM
Williston Central School awaits air quality test results State searches for PCB contamination BY JASON STARR Observer staff Do not expect quick results from air quality tests conducted
earlier this month at Williston Central School. The tests were done to detect polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in accordance with Act 74. The 2021 law mandates remediation if PCBs are found to be above levels that indicate exposure to teachers and students.
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Williston Observer • February 15, 2024
Around Town The event takes place at Dorothy Alling Memorial Library on Saturday, March 9 from 2-4 p.m.
Students plan bottle drive benefit for Boston trip
Philomene Daniels
Explore steamboat captain history with WHS The Williston Historical Society is hosting a live portrayal of Captain Philomene Daniels, the first licensed female steamboat pilot, featuring Jane Vincent of Waltham, Vt. Philomene and her husband, Louis, began the Daniels’ Boat Line in 1877, which operated out of Vergennes and was the last commercial steamboat business on Otter Creek.
Williston Central School’s Swift House students are organizing a bottle drive to benefit their year-end trip to Boston. Residents are asked to leave bagged or boxed redeemable cans and bottles labeled “Swift House” at the end of their driveway for students to pick up between 9 a.m. and noon Saturday, Feb. 17. Collection neighborhoods include Brennan Woods, Southridge Road, Ledgewood Drive, Wildflower Circle, Lefebvre Lane, Katie Lane, Golf Links, Southfield Drive, Isham Circle, Pleasant Acres, Lamplite Acres and The Commons and Finney Crossing. If your neighborhood is not on the pick-up list and you have items to donate, drop them off in front of Williston Central School between 8-9 a.m. Feb. 17.
Considering an electric vehicle? What is it like to own, drive and charge an electric vehicle in Vermont? To help answer these questions, the South Burlington Energy Committee will host an electric vehicle workshop Tuesday, Feb. 20 at the Allard Square Community Room, 146 Market St, South Burlington (left of the South Burlington City Hall complex). Electric vehicle owners will share their experiences, and experts from the Vermont Energy Education Program and Drive Electric Vermont will discuss Vermont’s sustainable transportation future. The event takes place from 6:308:30 p.m. and is free and open to all.
Hear from Richmond’s town manager Curious about what is happening in Williston’s neighboring town of Richmond? Join the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club when it hosts guest speaker Josh Arneson, Richmond town manager. Arneson will present at the club’s breakfast meeting on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 a.m. If interested in attending in person or via Zoom, RSVP to RotaryClubof WillistonVT@gmail. com.
The top three finishers in the Bill Skiff Story Slam hosted by the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club on Saturday each shared a true personal story on the theme of hope. Pictured are first-place finisher Paula Cope (middle), second-place winner Chris Stewart (left) and thirdplace winner Charlie Magill (right).
Skiff Story Slam a success
PHOTO BY LESLEY MURRAY
The Williston-Richmond Rotary Club raised over $2,000 for home heating fuel assistance at the inaugural Bill Skiff Story Slam held Saturday. The Moth-style storytelling event attracted over 120 attendees and a dozen storytellers. Centered on the theme of hope, the open mic event featured moving and humorous personal stories, as well as fond recollections of, and tributes to, honoree Bill Skiff, founder and first president of the club. Skiff is also a well-known storyteller who published a children’s book and formerly wrote a column for the Williston Observer.
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Trudell acquired by national engineering firm
The staff at Trudell Consulting Engineers will have greater access to professional education and advancement opportunities with the recent acquisition by Bowman Consulting Group. OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO
BY JASON STARR Observer staff After nearly 50 years in business on Blair Park Road in Williston, Trudell Consulting Engineers has been acquired by Bowman Consulting Group, a publicly traded engineering firm with a national footprint. Owner Jeremy Matosky said Trudell will continue to offer the same multi-disciplinary engineering services to Vermont clients from its Blair Park offices, including civil engineering, landscape architecture, land surveying, utility locating and environmental services, but will now have access to Bowman’s expertise and resources. Founded in 1975, Trudell serves clients in Chittenden County and throughout Vermont, including land developers, municipalities, ski resorts and property managers. It employs 30 people. “This is the right time in our
journey for TCE to join forces with a larger strategic partner,” Matosky said. “After getting to know the Bowman culture and leadership, I am confident that Bowman is the right fit for me, our staff and our clients.” Bowman is headquartered in Reston, Va. It has 90 offices in 30 states and about 2,000 employees. The company went public with an initial public offering on the Nasdaq exchange in 2021. Trudell provides the company with its first presence in Vermont. “TCE is a dynamic engineering firm in a growing market with an extremely talented collection of professionals,” said Gary Bowman, chairman and CEO of Bowman. “I expect great things to come from this acquisition.” Trudell Consulting Engineers was founded by Dick Trudell in 1975. Its offices were the first building on Blair Park Road when it moved there in 1982. Matosky
joined the company in 1999 and bought it from Dick Trudell in 2004. He said the company has seen significant growth in revenue and staff since 2020. All Trudell employees have been retained through the transition and are already onboarded with Bowman. Matosky said Bowman is able to offer his employees improved benefits, such as lower health insurance costs, increased access to continuing education and professional development, the ability to work remotely on projects in other states and the potential to relocate and move into more senior positions with Bowman. “Having those resources is something I’m excited for my staff to be able to take advantage of,” Matosky said. “I was looking to create new opportunities for myself and my staff that I could not have provided otherwise.”
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Folino’s partners with UVM athlete
able, a marketing company that helps high school, college and professional athletes build their personal brands. A Maine native, Murray will return to the Catamounts this fall for his fifth season of eligibility. “I am proud to be a brand ambassador for Folino’s and look forward to spreading the word about the restaurant on campus and beyond,” he said. “They have the best pizza in Vermont.”
Prepping for the eclipse Max Murray
UVM soccer player Max Murray has signed a name, image and likeness (NIL) partnership with Folino’s Pizza — a restaurant with locations in Williston, Burlington and Shelburne. Murray, 21, will promote the restaurant on his social media accounts in a deal brokered by Pli-
The Lake Champlain Chamber is encouraging businesses in the region to plan ahead for the solar eclipse taking place Monday, April 8, when visitors are expected to flock to northern Vermont — in the path of totality. The hospitality sector should expect both overnight stays and daytrippers, the Chamber says, and restaurants that are normally closed on Sunday or Monday
should consider opening to take advantage of the opportunity. Any businesses near viewing events on Monday should let employees know to expect longer travel time to and from work, and businesses that normally have deliveries on Monday may want to reschedule, as the region could see more than double the amount of traffic, the Chamber advises.
Beta engineer keynotes Engineers Week Banquet The Vermont Engineers Week 2024 Banquet starts Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. at the Delta Hotel in South Burlington. Manon Belzile of Beta Technologies will be the keynote speaker of this celebration of the local engineering community. He will discuss how Beta’s electric aircraft are powered and the engineering considerations that go into optimizing for safety, weight, performance and reliability. For tickets, contact Aman-
da Clayton at AmandaRaeClayton83@gmail.com or call 802-881-4179.
KeyBank hires VT leader KeyBank has hired Gamal A. Alsalahi to lead sales and service at KeyBank’s 10 Vermont branches. Alsalahi Gamal A. joined KeyAlsalahi Bank in September from Citizen’s Bank, where he worked since 2016, serving first as a relationship banker and then branch manager in Montpelier. Most recently he managed Citizen’s branch in Burlington. A native of Yemen, Alsalahi immigrated to the U.S. in 2014 to attend Saint Michael’s College and is currently an adjunct professor at Norwich University.
Employee Ownership Conference returns in May Mark your calendars for the Vermont Employee Ownership Center’s 22nd Annual Vermont Employee Ownership Conference in Burlington on May 31. The conference is designed for business owners interested in learning more about employee ownership as an exit strategy; anyone interested in employee participation or sustainable business models; employees of established employee-owned companies; economic development professionals; bankers, accountants, attorneys and financial planners; academics, researchers and students. The event takes place from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the UVM Davis Center. Visit www.veoc. org for more information. see HAPPENINGS page 5
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PCBs
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eliminating the source of the chemicals. That may mean limiting use of certain areas of the school building. “In most cases, school administrators will have a variety of options to reduce PCB exposure for students and staff without closing the (school),” the DEC states on its website. The statewide testing program was spurred by the 2020 discovery of PCBs at Burlington High School. The Burlington School District shuttered the school and moved children to a retrofitted former department store. Voters later approved a $165 million bond to demolish the old school building and construct a new one. Worried that the state’s schools harbored Burlington-level PCB concentrations, lawmakers wrote the testing program into statute in 2021. The initiative, which aims to test for the chemicals in roughly 300 Vermont school buildings — those built or renovated before 1980 — has been touted as the first of its kind in the nation. But, for schools where high levels of PCBs have been detected, the program has proven a source of anxiety. A handful of schools have had to navigate closed facilities and costs into the tens of thousands of dollars, at a time when school budgets are already rising.
Happenings continued from page 4
Startups sought for Chamber Accelerator LaunchVT, a division of the Lake Champlain Chamber, is now accepting applications for its 2024 Accelerator program. Selected entrepreneurs will work with a business coach and strategic advisors to address their startup’s most pressing needs. They will also participate in peer sessions, office hours with business advisors, and workshops with content experts over the 10-week program. The program runs from April 3 to June
Last spring, Williston Rep. Erin Brady led an effort to pause the testing program so the state could empanel a task force to take a broader look at school construction needs and avoid near-term classroom closures. “Our students cannot afford another interruption to their learning, and the risk of closing classrooms or schools is untenable,” Brady said during deliberations last year in the House of Representatives. “Pausing PCB testing so that this task force can do its work would allow us to more thoughtfully integrate testing for PCBs — or other toxins — with longer-term plans for our aging school infrastructure.” A bill to pause the PCB testing program, H.486, passed the House but not the Senate last year. Senate Pro Tem Phil Baruth of Burlington wants the state to proceed with the testing program. “He believes it’s critical that there’s continuity in the program so the state can identify whether other schools have been impacted,” his chief of staff, Ashley Moore, told VTDigger last spring. Meanwhile, the Burlington School District filed a federal lawsuit in 2022 arguing that the corporation Monsanto should pay for the construction of a new high school for its role in manufacturing PCB-laden building materials. — Peter D’Auria of VTDigger contributed to this report 18. Applications close on Feb. 24. Visit launchvt.com to apply or email lauren@ launchVT.com with questions.
Community Bank promotes New England leader Community Bank has promoted David Schalk to commercial banking group manager for New England. Schalk will be responsible for managing the bank’s Vermont and Massachusetts commercial lending teams. Schalk joined Community Bank in 2021 as a relationship manager and previously worked at Chittenden Bank/People’s United Bank for 34 years as a vice president.
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Williston Observer • February 15, 2024
GUEST COLUMN
Addressing youth mental health in schools BY STEVEN BERBECO You can’t talk about education today without also talking about mental health. Our schools are on the frontlines of the youth mental health crisis. However, the emergency we can see is just the tip of the iceberg. There are a few things we know about youth mental health in schools. We know there are more than 80,000 students in Vermont and only 200 licensed school counselors. But there is a lot we don’t know, a lot submerged beneath that iceberg. For instance, we know that in 2021, about half of all the high school girls in Vermont reported poor mental health, and about 1 in 5 had made a suicide plan. We know that suicide is the second-leading cause of death among Vermonters aged 15 to 34. But what we don’t always know is what resources those kids had available to help keep them safe. Nationwide, 1 in 4 people with depression show signs before the age of 17, yet the median age of
depression diagnoses is 31. Last year, hundreds of schoolaged kids in Vermont visited an emergency department for suicidal ideation, poisoning or other self-harm. High school youth who identify as LGBTQ+ were more than three times as likely to attempt suicide compared to cisgender youth. But again, we don’t know who was there to identify symptoms and get help. A member of the leadership team at the Vermont Principals Association, who is also part of the United Way of Northwest Vermont’s Mental Health Initiative, puts it this way: “Schools are the one place kids have to be. And because of that, we sometimes expect schools to do everything.” Our schools are being forced to address the mental health crisis, but they’re not equipped to do that, and it’s not something schools can solve alone. It’s a systems problem that requires a systems-level solution. We need to think differently. That’s why, through our Men-
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“Schools are the one place kids have to be. And because of that, we sometimes expect schools to do everything.” Vermont Principals Association staffer
tal Health Initiative, we are bringing Vermonters from all sectors and walks of life to the table to find solutions. We have about 200 participants from K-12 schools, early childhood education and higher education, including principals and superintendents. We have participants from housing, transportation, the recovery community and law enforcement. We
also have participants from local government, state government, and a few legislators, too. We have mental health professionals, of course, and Vermonters with lived experience. Because the solutions that we need, the solutions that will work for all of us, need to come from all of us. Together, we are supporting several projects to strengthen access to mental health services and care for our youngest Vermonters. First, we are making space for kids to get help. Schools weren’t built for the pandemic, and they also weren’t built for coming out of a pandemic. Many schools have increased the number of school-based clinicians to meet the demand for mental health services. And that’s a good thing, because our kids need help. However, many schools don’t have dedicated therapeutic space
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for private and confidential conversations. Important conversations are happening wherever clinicians are able to find space: in a hallway, an auditorium, even a specially outfitted trailer. In response, the Mental Health Initiative is placing small, self-contained units that can be placed in a school or youth program. They resemble Mamava pods. These therapy pods are soundproof, they meet local fire regulations, and they can provide therapeutic space for these important private and confidential conversations. There is a pod right now in an elementary school in Chittenden County, and we are looking to expand to two or three more locations by this summer. Here is a small solution to a big problem that doesn’t require architects, HVAC design, or permitting, and see BERBECO page 7
February 15, 2024 •
Berbeco
continued from page 6
will help provide private and confidential space in schools. The second project is a policy push for universal screening for anxiety, depression and suicidality for school-aged youth through H.816. We are grateful to the more than dozen representatives who co-sponsored it. H.816 is in the House Committee on Health Care, and we are optimistic that it will be taken up for consideration. The third project is our Youth Mental Health Connections Call. This monthly Zoom call is where many of our participants get together to talk about youth mental health. We even have had a legislator or two drop in. Every call starts with a review of recent data, so we all are getting the same up-to-date information about what is happening in Vermont. Then we have a guest speaker to talk about an aspect of youth mental health, including what’s happening in schools today. There is time for networking, too. I think that this may be the only place in Vermont where such a diverse group of people come together to learn and share with each other about youth mental health. The youth mental health crisis affects us all. Poor mental health is associated with state disability costs and rates of homelessness and incarceration. Within the United States, people with poor mental health are less likely to be part of the labor force, and poor mental health can result in worse educational outcomes. Children with untreated depression are at a higher risk of more prolonged and severe depressive episodes in the future, risk of suicide and risk of criminal behavior. Addressing youth mental health now will help prevent these negative outcomes, benefiting both the Vermont of today and the Vermont of tomorrow. In schools, where our youngest Vermonters spend most of their waking hours, is the place to make the greatest difference. Thank you to everyone who is helping pull in the same direction to support our youth. They need our help, and they need it now. Steven Berbeco is the Mental Health Initiative director at United Way of Northwest Vermont
Williston Observer •
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Questionable coverage I have been following the comments and articles on the request by Verizon to install a cell tower in the Old Brick Church (“Preserve the Church” Feb. 1). One thing I have not seen discussed is, will those who have Verizon cell service really benefit from this cell tower? When T-Mobile installed a cell tower in the Williston Fed-
erated Church steeple, I decided to change carriers. I live two houses down from the church on Williston Road. I was, like many of you, only able to use my cell phone when connected through my phone’s wifi. I could not get any coverage otherwise. I went with T-Mobile and ended up with the same issue, even though the cell tower was so close to where I live. I switched back to my old carrier
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since they were cheaper and I would get the same results. So those of you who do have, or plan on switching to, Verizon, buyer beware. Not all of you will actually get improved coverage. This is why I oppose the installation of the Verizon cell phone tower in the Old Brick Church steeple. Carmyn Stanko Williston
LETTER POLICY: We ask that letters run no longer than 300 words. We edit only for length, clarity, style, spelling and grammar. Please include your name, town or city where you live and a daytime phone number (which we won’t print) so we can verify you wrote the letter. The deadline is Monday at noon for letters to be printed in Thursday’s paper. Send to: editor@willistonobserver.com
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Williston Observer • February 15, 2024
How do Burlington’s mayoral candidates differ? Focus of the election has been public safety BY PATRICK CROWLEY VTDigger
Emma Mulvaney-Stanak
Joan Shannon
As the first open race for Burlington mayor in 12 years enters its final phase, the two party-endorsed candidates — state Rep. Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, a Progressive, and City Councilor Joan Shannon, a Democrat — are each working hard to spread their message. They’ve appeared at back-to-back candidate forums and touted recent endorsements at press events, while campaign volunteers canvas Queen City neighborhoods. The message they’re spreading appears, on the surface at least, quite similar. Recent campaign materials from both candidates list public safety as a top priority with seemingly parallel talking points. Mulvaney-Stanak’s campaign wrote, “Everyone deserves to feel and be safe in our city. Right now, that standard is not being met.” A mailer from Shannon lists a plan to “Invest in public safety systems and rebuild community trust.” But in interviews and candidate forums, Mulvaney-Stanak and Shannon have shown that their plans for making Vermont’s largest city safer do diverge in several key areas — beginning with word choice. While Shannon
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has emphasized an “all hands on deck” approach to public safety with strong support for policing, Mulvaney-Stanak prefers the phrase “community safety” and said on her campaign website that Burlington’s problems show that people are “suffering across our community.” The Progressive and Democrat are joined on the ballot by two independents, Chris Haessly and Will Emmons, who both gathered the 150 required signatures to appear on the ballot. In terms of fundraising, Mulvaney-Stanak and Shannon have a sizable head start. The first campaign finance filing deadline passed last week, revealing that Shannon had raised the most — over $133,000 from 651 contributors. Mulvaney-Stanak brought in about $70,000 from 514 donors. Haessly and Emmons did not file reports, which are only required if a candidate raises more than $500. Public safety has been front and center of the mayoral campaign from the start. And from the beginning, Shannon has seemed to identify the advantages of emphasizing her vote in opposition to a 2020 City Council racial justice resolution that included a reduction in police officer staffing. At a candidate forum hosted by Seven Days last week, Shannon said the resolution was “led by the Progressive Party” and “led to some of the public safety challenges we have now — not all of them.” (Shannon has clinched the endorsement of all four unions covering city employees, including those in the police and fire departments.) Mulvaney-Stanak previously served on the council, but not when it voted to reduce the police force. She does, however, share a party affiliation with the majority of those who voted for the measure — and has found herself accounting for this fact on the campaign trail. In an interview last Friday, Mulvaney-Stanak danced around the question of how she would have voted on the controversial
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measure. She noted that 2020 was an “intense” period of reckoning over police violence and treatment of black people in America. But she also described herself as an “evidence-based” decision-maker and she would have wanted to see what could realistically be implemented in Burlington. “I don’t think all those questions were asked,” she said. Mulvaney-Stanak also pointed out that two Democrats voted for the 2020 resolution, and that it also called for “shifting resources to actually begin hiring social workers so we had a more comprehensive community safety response.” The Progressive, for her part, has tried to show her appeal to Democrats on the campaign trail. Last week, she held a “Dems for Emma” event that featured endorsements from former Democratic mayoral candidate CD Mattison, among others. Outside of policing, a common public safety topic in the lead-up to the March 5 Town Meeting Day election is substance use disorder. Shannon said in a different candidate forum last week that the city needs to set “boundaries” on open drug use and drug dealing by arresting more people. Mulvaney-Stanak struck a softer tone, saying those with substance use disorder are particularly vulnerable and need a safe place to go, such as an overdose prevention center. The Vermont House advanced a bill last month that would fund an overdose prevention center pilot program. Burlington is the most likely location for one of the two locations called for in the bill. Both Mulvaney-Stanak and Shannon have said they support overdose prevention centers. Mulvaney-Stanak voted in favor of the recent bill in the Vermont House and said in an interview on Friday that the centers would be an see MAYORAL page 15
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February 15, 2024 •
Williston Observer •
Page 9
Burlington City Council approves new CityPlace agreement Plan swaps 70 housing units for more hotel rooms BY HABIB SABET VTDigger The Burlington City Council approved an amended development agreement for the downtown CityPlace project on Monday, reducing the number of housing units at the site to make room for a second hotel. The council voted unanimously in favor of the new agreement, which cuts the total number of residential units from 420 to a minimum of 350 and allows for 350 hotel rooms, up from the 140 rooms included in the previous iteration of the agreement. Of the 350 housing units, 70 will be permanently affordable in keeping with Burlington’s zoning requirements. “I’m just really excited to see this move forward,” said Sarah Carpenter, D-Ward 4, who said that despite the decline in housing units, the updated agreement was still “pretty much a win-win” for the city. Speaking before the council at Monday night’s meeting, CityPlace developers said that the addition of hotel rooms were necessary to accommodate rising construction and operating costs. “We had to reshuffle the cards,” said Dave
Construction on CityPlace in Burlington.
Farrington, owner of Farrington Construction. “We’re doing the best we can, and this is what we had to do to keep this thing moving ahead.” During the public comment period of the meeting, a handful of Burlington residents spoke out against the amendment, denouncing the reduction in housing units. Though they ultimately voted in favor of the agreement, Progressive councilors said
FILE PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER]
they were disappointed by the lack of transparency surrounding the changes. Noting that the plan to amend the agreement had not been made public until late last week, Zoraya Hightower, P-Ward 1, said that her constituents felt “blindsided” by the sudden move. “I think it’s disappointing how quickly we put things in front of the public and then vote
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on them in ways that counselors can’t possibly reach out to constituents or get feedback,” she said. Hightower made a motion to postpone the vote until Feb. 26. No one seconded the motion, but other Progressive members echoed her concerns. “I am supportive of this tonight with the caveat that continuing to leave the public out of these conversations with such a short period of time for us to adequately engage folks is an ongoing problem, and I … would encourage us to remedy that going forward,” said Joe Magee, P-Ward 3. The project’s new plans include a hotel in the first five floors of the south building along Bank Street, with the rest of the 10-story building remaining residential. Additional hotel space is also now expected to be included in the north building, Farrington said last week. Giri Hotel Management, a Massachusetts-based company, is joining the project as a minority partner and is expected to operate the two hotels, according to a summary of the new agreement included in the council’s agenda. Construction on the project is already well underway. According to an updated timeline presented at Monday’s meeting, the south building should be completed by the end of 2025 with construction on the north building wrapping up in the summer of 2026.
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Williston Observer •
February 15, 2024
SPORTS
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SPORTS
Go Wildcats
Williston Central’s Harrison Whitmore, left, drives to the hoop during the Wildcats’ win over Shelburne 38-21 Tuesday afternoon in Williston. Malakai Edwards, right, runs the fast break.
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and Williston Central’s Francesca Nitelea puts up a shot from the paint during the Wildcats’ win over Shelburne 25-16 in middle school hoop action on Tuesday afternoon in Williston. Eliza Rice takes a short jump shot. OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY
Williston Observer •
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Williston Observer •
February 15, 2024
SPORTS
Grapplers’ Jamboree
CVU’s Matt Smardon and Randolph’s Drew Best battle in the 138 pound weight class at the CVU Redhawk Jamboree Feb. 7 in Hinesburg.
CVU’s Jackson Yeager wrestles St. Johnsbury’s Tyler Demas in the 132 pound weight class.
CVU’s Rian Carroll pins Vergennes’ Gabe Anderson in the 190 pound division. OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY
Fly away CVU’s Warner Babic, left, performs a split jump high above the beam during the gymnastics tri-meet with Burlington and Burr and Burton Feb. 9 at the Green Mountain Training Center in Williston. Chloe Crowder, center, leaps from low bar to high. CVU senior, Ruby Opton, right, completes her twisting vault. OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY
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February 15, 2024
Lawmakers consider ban on handheld devices in school BY HOLLY SULLIVAN Community News Service
Laura Derriendinger, a mother and nurse who serves as a town health officer in Middletown Springs in Rutland County, is leading a push to protect Vermont children from social media. She and other Rutland-area citizens recently approached Sen. Terry Williams, R-Rutland, asking for a bill limiting digital technology in schools. “They’re an amazing group of young women,” Williams said. “Basically, one of them homeschools her children … (She said), ‘I’d really like to get them back in the school, but I’m concerned about the presence of electronic devices in school.’” The result: Williams introduced S.284, which would dramatically limit the use of electronic devices, digital platforms and more in all Vermont schools. The bill has drawn testimony across several committee meetings in recent weeks, including from high-profile voices such as Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark, a Williston parent. If passed, the bill would require schools to create policies banning student use of personal smart devices and cellphones, prohibit teachers and school officials from using social media in lessons or for announcements and allow students to opt out of using electronic devices, the internet and more. The latter policies would be developed by districts and require schools to provide students alternative activities or instruction methods. The legislation would require all Vermont schools to create policies prohibiting students from accessing their electronic devices during the school day. Current policy at Williston Central School is already aligned with the legislation: “Electronic games, cell phones, Airpods, etc. are
not to be carried or used during the school day,” WCS policy states. “They are allowed on the bus to and from school. Students may keep them in their backpack at their own risk or put them in a locked location provided by their team.”
licate a YouTube video on paper — the school could be sued under the legislation. Speaking before the committee Feb. 2, Clark, the state attorney general, said she is “supportive of the work on this bill and this bill generally.”
A bill under discussion in the Legislature would ban internet-connected devices from schools statewide. Williston’s schools already don’t allow students to use smartphones during the school day. PHOTO COURTESY OF PEXELS.COM
S.284 has exemptions for students who use their smart devices for medical purposes. “One example of a medical exemption — a student may have a diabetes monitoring app on their phone,” said Sen. David Weeks, R-Rutland, another of the bill’s sponsors. S.284 also gives students the option to opt out of technology use in school entirely. The bill would require all classrooms to have non-digital learning options for their students. If a school failed to provide those accommodations — even if it would mean trying to rep-
Clark, who said she is well-informed on social media from her office’s investigative work, detailed components of social media that can distort young people’s mental health, such as the “infinite scroll” of app feeds, “excessive push notifications” and “like counts.” To illustrate her concerns regarding social media’s impact on wellness, Clark outlined a hypothetical: a child struggling with an eating disorder seeking out content that exacerbates their illness. “(The algorithm) doesn’t pass a moral
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judgment or a health judgment on (the question of), ‘This might not be good for you,’” she told committee members. “It just keeps showing that person the very thing that they probably shouldn’t be looking at because that’s the thing they keep obsessively looking at.” Jay Nichols, executive director of the Vermont Principals’ Association, says he understands the negative impact of social media on young minds. As he put it Feb. 2, the association is “on the front line of the negative impacts of digital addiction to social media.” However, he said it does not support S.284. “Already, most schools have social media and cell phone access completely or significantly restricted during the school day,” he said. “Providing the mental health resources that students need when they need them is probably a better approach to addressing mental health needs in students than banning cell phones and social media from schools from our perspective.” Nichols called the opt-out element of the bill unreasonable. He told committee members that providing paper copies of digital materials is “a huge burden to schools and is not necessary,” saying later that “it’s not appropriate to allow students to simply opt out of learning how to use technology in today’s world.” Though the principals’ association supports the protection of children’s data and privacy, Nichols does not believe that this is the bill to do it, he said. “To ban (online resources) would only hurt the progress of students who will be looking for jobs and pursuing higher education in our increasingly digital world,” he said.
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Mayoral
continued from page 8
important tool to save lives. She also said that with a rise in open drug use, particularly in downtown, the overdose prevention centers could help give people with substance use disorder a safer place to use rather than out in public. Shannon also said the centers would save lives and offer a path to treatment, but she wants the idea to be studied before a permanent location is opened. “We need to look carefully at how it works in our community,” Shannon said during one of the candidate forums. “The examples that we have are in communities very different from Burlington.” The two independent candidates’ responses showed they were split on overdose prevention centers. Haessly supports the idea, but added that more should be done for people who experience repeated overdoses by
“establishing a compulsory program for compassionate custodial care.” Emmons does not support overdose prevention centers, saying the model “invites more drug addiction to our neighborhoods.” City officials have attributed part of the rise in public drug use to the higher number of people experiencing homelessness in Burlington following the sunset of parts of the state’s emergency hotel housing program last summer. Both Mulvaney-Stanak and Shannon agreed that the Queen City is shouldering a significant portion of the problem. “Burlington cannot support or shelter all of the people becoming homeless throughout Chittenden County and the rest of the state of Vermont,” Shannon said in an interview on Feb. 7. Shannon said she understands that the state’s hotel program was expensive to run, but she criti-
cized the state for not doing more to prepare for the pandemic-era program’s phase-out. Mulvaney-Stanak, in turn, suggested that Burlington could do a better job making its case for resources. She said many people experiencing homelessness come to the city from smaller towns, seeking social services and public transportation The city “has to be better at making its case and telling its story,” she said. “Not in some way where we are more needy or more deserving than the rest of the state, but to tell an accurate story that, actually we are holding a lot of Vermonters who come from a lot of other smaller towns.” So far the exchanges between Mulvaney-Stanak and Shannon in candidate forums have been cordial. Out on the ground, however, there are signs of things turning more negative. Shannon has been the subject of a stickering campaign and has had her campaign
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signs defaced. Mulvaney-Stanak said some of her lawn signs have disappeared, and she faced sexist questions from a caller during a radio appearance early in the campaign. During a candidate forum on Feb. 6, the two women had an opportunity to ask each other a question near the end of the event. They both addressed the negativity. “We both have shared personal experience with personal attacks,” Shannon said. “I do not want my supporters to campaign in negative or harmful ways.” Mulvaney-Stanak offered similar thoughts. “It’s really unfortunate that we’re living in these political times where two women running for office for the first time in the history of Burlington — with the chance of winning this office — are experiencing any kind of negative behavior,” Mulvaney-Stanak said.
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in racks at these locations in Williston, Richmond and Essex Williston Island Homemade Ice Sonesta Mac’s Market Adams Farm Market Cream Sunoco Station Martone’s Deli Belle’s Café Korner Kwik Stop Town of Williston Offices Price Chopper Chef’s Corner Marriott Courtyard UPS Store Quality Bake Shop Dorothy Alling Memorial Men At Wok Vermont Meat & SeaRiver Road Beverage Library M&T Bank food Richmond Fairfield Inn Ramunto’s Williston Coffee Shop Cumberland Farms Gardener’s Supply Rehab Gym Essex Junction Richmond Free Library Green Mountain Bagel Shell Gas Station (Essex Essex Automotive Richmond Market Rd) Hannaford Five Corner Variety Richmond Mobil Mart Healthy Living Williston Simon’s Mobil Williston Hannaford If you would like copies Home2Suites Simply Divine Café Inn at Essex fo Williston
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Williston Observer •
February 15, 2024
Vermont’s Purrier St. Pierre sets U.S. mile record BY SHAUN ROBINSON VTDigger
Vermont runner Elle Purrier St. Pierre broke her own U.S. record in the women’s indoor mile Sunday at a race in New York City, finishing in a time of 4 minutes, 16.41 seconds.
Purrier St. Pierre, who was raised on a dairy farm in Montgomery, set the record as
she won the prestigious women’s Wanamaker Mile at this year’s Millrose Games. She set her previous national record, 4:16.85, at a track and field meet in 2020. Sunday marked one of her first track races since giving birth to her son, Ivan, less than a year ago. “For all the moms out there,” the 28-year-old wrote in an Instagram post that pictured her lifting the Wanamaker Mile trophy. Purrier St. Pierre previously represented the Green Mountains and the U.S. at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. She finished 10th in the women’s 1,500-meter sprint and was the top American across the line, drawing national eyes to her high school in Richford. The following year, she medaled at the world indoor track and field championships in Belgrade, Serbia — finishing second in the women’s 3,000 meters.
Vermont runner Elle Purrier St. Pierre, above, leads the women’s 1,500 meters during the USA Indoor Championships in Washington in 2022. On Sunday, she broke her own U.S. mile record at a race in New York City, finishing in a time of 4 minutes, 16.41 seconds. FILE PHOTO BY KIRBY LEE/ASSOCIATED PRESS In a social media post after setting a new record for the women’s indoor mile, Purrier St. Pierre, left, wrote: “For all the mom’s out there.” Purrier St. Pierre gave birth to her son last year. INSTAGRAM PHOTO: @ELLERUNS_4_HER_LIFE
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Dorothy Alling Memorial Library hours: • Monday and Wednesday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. • Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. • Saturday: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Visit www.damlvt.org to apply for a library card and to register for programs that require registration. Need help? Call 878-4918 or email daml@ damlvt.org. The library will be closed Monday, Feb. 19 in observance of President’s Day.
and fun. BABY TIME
Wednesday, Feb. 21, 10:30-11 a.m. Socialize and bond with gentle activities. AFTER SCHOOL MOVIE
Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2-4 p.m. PG. Being 13 is hard enough without turning adorably large and red. PRESCHOOL MUSIC AND PLAYTIME
Thursdays, Feb. 22 and 29, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Sing with Linda, then stay to play. LEGO TIME
YOUTH PROGRAMS Children in fourth grade and younger must be supervised by someone over 16 years of age. STUFFIE SLEEPOVER
Friday, Feb. 16, 5-6 p.m. Bring your stuffie to the library and sign them in at the front desk. We’ll make sure they have fun, and when you pick them up Saturday morning, you’ll get a chance to see pictures of everything they did. STORYTIME
Tuesdays, Feb. 20 and 27, 10:30-11 a.m. Drop in for stories
Thursday, Feb. 22, 3-4 p.m. Enjoy our LEGO collection. TEENS D&D
Friday, Feb. 23, 5-6 p.m. Ages 12-plus. Join our Dungeons & Dragons campaign. SATURDAY MUSIC
Saturday, Feb. 24, 10:30-11 a.m. Sing and dance with Linda. LITTLES D&D
Saturday, Feb. 24, 1-2 p.m. A mini session of D&D for ages 6-8. No experience required. Adults should stay to help their campaigner(s). Preregister.
TEEN TRIVIA NIGHT
chance to win a prize.
Monday, Feb. 26, 5-6 p.m. Ages 12-plus. Test your knowledge in this teen Jeopardy night for the chance to win prizes.
ADULT MEDITATION (ONLINE)
Fridays in February, 12-12:30 p.m. Join our online guided meditation.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
MAH JONGG
Wednesday, Feb. 28, 5-6 p.m. Ages 12-plus. Join our teen advisory board. You bring the thoughts, we bring the food.
MULTI-AGE PROGRAMS SLED DOGS
Saturday, Feb. 17, 10-11 a.m. Learn how sled dogs are trained, see how they get geared up, and meet a sled dog team. Dress in layers as this event may be indoors and outdoors depending on the weather. VERMONT READS: ‘LAST NIGHT AT THE TELEGRAPH CLUB’
Check out a copy of the Vermont Reads book at the library or read the eBook on Libby (Overdrive). Watch for related events coming soon. Vermont Reads is sponsored by Vermont Humanities.
Jan. 27 at 7:49 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. Female suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft and false information to a police officer. Jan. 27 at 8:52 p.m. — Report of trucks drag racing in the Walmart parking lot. Trucks were gone before officer’s arrival. Jan. 28 at 9:02 a.m. — Report of items being taken out of a garage on Holland Lane. Case is still under investigation.
Jan. 29 at 12:14 p.m. — Report of a female passed out in the middle of the road. Female refused all resources. Jan. 29 at 4:23 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. Warrant issued for male suspect. Jan. 30 at 6:53 a.m. — Following a traffic stop, a male was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI. Jan. 30 at 10:26 a.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. Warrant issued for male subject. Jan. 31 at 5:43 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Marshalls. Two female suspects were issued a
Tuesday Feb. 20, 12:30-1:30 p.m. “Go Set a Watchman” by Harper Lee. Available in print at the library or as an eBook in Libby (Overdrive). SPANISH CONVERSATION (ONLINE)
Wednesday, Feb. 21, 5-6 p.m. Brush up on your Spanish. All abilities welcome.
BROWN BAG BOOK CLUB
Tuesday, Feb. 27, 12:30-1:30 pm. Honor Black History Month by joining the discussion of “The Twelve Tribes of Hattie” by Ayana Mathis. CURRENT EVENTS
Wednesday, Feb. 28, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Drop in to discuss the latest news.
COOK THE BOOK: ‘THAT ’70’S DINNER PARTY’
Comprehensive Dentistry Quality Care for Your Entire Family
ADULT PROGRAMS For online programs, email daml@ damlvt.org for Zoom link.
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS
ADULT WINTER READING CHALLENGE
Through Feb. 29, fill out a reading bingo card, available at the library and on our website, and return the card to the library for a
Jan. 31 at 9:04 p.m. — Report of an intoxicated male at Walmart. Male was moved along. Jan. 28 at 3:18 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Staples. Case is still under investigation.
BOOK CLUB BUFFET (ONLINE)
Jan. 31 at 10:46 p.m. — Following a traffic stop, female operator had an active arrest warrant. Female was issued a citation to appear in court. Feb. 1 at 7:57 p.m. — Report of gunshots near River Cove Road. Officer drove through the area and did not find anything. Feb. 2 at 10:29 a.m. — Retail theft reported at Healthy Living. Case is still under investigation. Feb. 2 at 5:44 p.m. — Report of a suspicious male in the Taft Corners Shopping Center. Male was issued a citation for driving under the influence. Feb. 3 at 3:48 p.m. — Female standing in the roadway acting confused. Female was gone upon officer’s arrival.
Page 17
Wednesday, Feb. 21, 6 p.m. Welcome to our blast from the past to a time when fondues and fondon’ts reigned in the kitchen. We have cookbooks for ideas, but feel free to bring a recipe from your favorite memory. Break out your peasant blouse and leisure suit and explore the decade that changed food forever. Preregister.
Gentle, Expert Dental Care for your Beautiful Smile
citation to appear in court for retail theft.
Jan. 27 at 8:23 a.m. — Retail theft reported at Walmart. Female suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.
Friday, Feb. 16, 1-3 p.m. Drop in to play this fun tile game.
Williston Observer •
Emergencies seen promptly. We now contract with all major dental insurances.
165 Dorset Street South Burlington, VT
802-860-3368
www.dorsetstreetdental.com
Page 18release • Williston dates: Feb.Observer 17-23, 2024 • February 15, 2024
07 (24)
Next Week: Our states: Vermont
Issue 07, 2024
Founded by Betty Debnam
Take a Leap!
Mini Fact:
In the United States, it’s been estimated that 187,000 people have a Feb. 29 birthday. photo by iamsuperkane
At the end of this month, people all over the world will experience a special day, one that usually comes only every four years. This year, February will have 29 days, and 2024 will have 366 days. In most years, February has only 28 days. How did we get this extra day?
A calendar lesson
We define a year as the number of days it takes for the Earth to orbit the sun. (A day is one rotation of the Earth on its axis.) The problem is that the Earth doesn’t orbit the sun in a round number of days. In fact, it takes 365 1/4 days for our planet to circle the sun. If we didn’t have leap days and leap years, eventually our months would shift to different seasons. For example, July might be in the springtime. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar. This version of the calendar helped solve the problem of the shifting days and months. This is how it works: • Every year that can be evenly divided by 4 is a leap year, EXCEPT: • Years that can be evenly divided by 100
(centuries) are not leap years, BUT • Years that can be divided by 400 are leap years.
Leap birthdays
Do you know anyone with a leap birthday? You might think that someone born on Feb. 29, called a leapling or a leaper, would have a birthday only every four years. But most leap birthdays are celebrated on Feb. 28 or March 1 in nonleap years. According to Guinness World Records, the Keogh family from the United Kingdom holds the record for most generations ever born on leap day. Peter Anthony was born Feb. 29, 1940. His son, Peter Eric, was born Feb. 29, 1964. Bethany, Peter Anthony’s granddaughter, was born Feb. 29, 1996.
A remembering rhyme
You may already know this rhyme. There are many versions of it. The poem helps us remember the differences in the number of days in each month. Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November; All the rest have thirty-one, Excepting February alone. To which we twenty-eight assign, Till leap year gives it twenty-nine.
The Mini Page® © 2024 Andrews McMeel Syndication
Try ’n’ Find
• A year is actually 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds because that is how long it takes Earth to orbit the sun. • If the first day of the year and the last day of the year fall on different days of the week, it’s a leap year. • Cultures handle leap years in different ways. For example, the Chinese calendar adds a leap month every three years. • In Scotland, some consider it bad luck to be born on leap day. • In Greece, some people believe it’s bad luck to get married on leap days. • Summer Olympic Games and United States presidential elections occur during leap years. • The “Leap Capital of the World,” Anthony, Texas, has a Worldwide Leap Year Festival each leap year. The celebration features a parade, live music and food. It has been happening every leap year since 1988. • Rapper Ja Rule, Paralympic swimmer Jessica Long, and football players Chris Conley and Eric Kendricks are leaplings.
Resources On the Web:
• bit.ly/MPleapvideo
At the library:
• “Mommy, Where’s My Birthday?” by Lakisha Cornell • “Stink and the Freaky Frog Freakout” by Megan McDonald (Stink was born on Feb. 29.)
Mini Jokes
Words that remind us of leap year are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find: BIRTHDAY, CALENDAR, CELEBRATE, CULTURES, DAYS, EARTH, FEBRUARY, FESTIVAL, LEAPLING, MARCH, MONTH, ORBIT, RECORD, RHYME, ROTATION, SUN, YEAR.
Leap year facts
R Q U Q T G N I L G H O C E L E B R F F Y V W S E R U O E P M V S T R O R S R I E V U O A B T E F V U Q N P I I C F E B R U A T V O V N M A R C
P A E L G K A T E W J E T L U C W A D M B M L R T A X A E T E A Y O H H R Y T S T S H A A I N N
Lily: What do athletes wear on leap day? Levi: Jumpsuits!
Eco Note A recent study found that the climate-controlling Gulf Stream has warmed faster than the world’s
works: • Every year that can be evenly divided by 4 is a leap year, EXCEPT: • Years that can be evenly divided by 100
All the rest have thirty-one, Excepting February alone. To which we twenty-eight assign, Till leap year gives it twenty-nine.
Lakisha Cornell • “Stink and the Freaky Frog Freakout” by Megan McDonald (Stink was born 15, 2024 • Williston Observer • Page 19 on February Feb. 29.)
The Mini Page® © 2024 Andrews McMeel Syndication
Try ’n’ Find
Mini Jokes
Words that remind us of leap year are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find: BIRTHDAY, CALENDAR, CELEBRATE, CULTURES, DAYS, EARTH, FEBRUARY, FESTIVAL, LEAPLING, MARCH, MONTH, ORBIT, RECORD, RHYME, ROTATION, SUN, YEAR.
R Q U Q T G N I L G H O C E L E B R F F Y V W S E R U O E P M V S T R O R S R I E V U O A B T E F V U Q N P I I C F E B R U A T V O V N M A R C Q A R B I R T H D Q L D C A L E N D
Lily: What do athletes wear on leap day? Levi: Jumpsuits!
P A E L G K A T E W J E T L U C W A D M B M L R T A X A E T E A Y O H H R Y T S T S H A A I N N A Y M F O H A R E Y M N
Eco Note A recent study found that the climate-controlling Gulf Stream has warmed faster than the world’s oceans over the past 20 years, while it also shifted 3.1 miles closer to the U.S. continental shelf per decade. The Gulf Stream carries Caribbean tropical warmth to the North Atlantic and is part of a massive conveyor belt network of currents. Writing in the journal Nature Climate Change, researchers say the Gulf Stream warmed by about 2 degrees Fahrenheit during the period, becoming lighter than the colder water below.
Cook’s Corner
What to do: 1. Wash fruit and cut into chunks. 2. Place all ingredients in large blender. 3. Process until smooth and creamy. Serves 2.
adapted with permission from Earthweek.com The Mini Page® © 2024 Andrews McMeel Syndication
You’ll need: • 2 cups fresh peaches (with or without peel) • 1 cup strawberries • 8 ounces low-fat plain yogurt • 1 cup fruit juice (any flavor) • 1 cup ice cubes
* You’ll need an adult’s help with this recipe.
Peach Berry Smoothie
For later:
Look in the newspaper for articles about leap year.
Teachers: Follow and interact with The Mini Page on Facebook!
Page 20
• Williston Observer • February 15, 2024
SAVVY SENIOR
Does Medicare cover weight loss treatments?
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior, Does Medicare cover any weight loss treatments for overweight retirees? I just turned 65 and need to lose about 100 pounds and would like to know if Medicare can help. Overweight Owen
In loving memory of
Tobias “Toby” Andros Tomasi BORN FEBRUARY 3, 1973, IN DECCA, BANGLADESH. DIED DECEMBER 28, 1990, IN WILLISTON, VT. Meditation XVII “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main … Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind …” — John Donne For his family, from Alice Siegriest and Ruth Forman
We’re listening. From Green Burial to Pet Memorials, our goal is to provide the services and care you need. To learn more, contact us today. • Burial/Cremation Services • Green Burials • Traditional Funerals • Memorial Services • Pre-arranged Funeral Planning • Out-of-town & Foreign Services • Pet Memorials
ELMWOOD-MEUNIER FUNERAL & CREMATION CENTER Burlington - (802) 864-5682 | Elmwoodmeunier.net Serving all faiths & cultures since 1927
Dear Owen, Yes, traditional Medicare covers some weight-loss treatments, like counseling and certain types of surgery for overweight beneficiaries. Unfortunately it doesn’t cover weight loss programs or medications. Here’s what you should know. WHO’S ELIGIBLE
To receive available Medicare-covered weight loss treatments, one’s body mass index (BMI), an estimate of body fat based on height and weight, must be 30 or higher. A BMI of 30 or above is considered obese and increases your risk for many health conditions. The National Institutes of Health has a free calculator that you can access online at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmicalc.htm to find your BMI. WHAT’S COVERED
If your BMI is 30 or higher, Medicare Part B will cover up to 12 months of weight loss counseling conducted by a medical professional in a primary care setting. Counseling sessions usually entail an obesity screening, a dietary assessment and behavioral therapy designed to help weight lose. Medicare also covers certain types of bariatric and metabolic surgery for severely obese beneficiaries who have a BMI of 35 or above and
Jeffry Gene Jaques Jeffry Gene Jaques, 63, of Huntington, passed away Feb. 5 in Burlington at his home at the Atwood House. Jeffry was born in Williston to Nellie and Gene Jaques Dec. 15, 1960. He was a client at the Howard Center for many years. He enjoyed working with staff supporters and going out into the community. Jeffry was preceded in death by his dad Gene and mom Nellie Jaques and by his special brother-inlaw Eddie Weston. He is survived by his sisters Sandy Fish; husband Jim Fish; and Diane Barron and husband Steve Barron; nephew, Jesse Barron and wife Christel; several nieces, Heather Cross, Kathy Barron and Heidi Novoa; and his great nieces Sarah Barron, Morgan Cross,
have at least one underlying obesity-related health condition, such as diabetes or heart disease. You must also show that you’ve unsuccessfully tried to lose weight in the past.. Some common bariatric surgical procedures covered include gastric bypass surgery, which reduces the stomach to a small pouch that makes you feel full even following small meals, and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, which inserts an inflatable band that creates a gastric pouch encircling the top of the stomach. WHAT’S NOT COVERED
Original Medicare does not cover weight loss programs such as fitness or gym memberships, meal delivery services, or popular weight loss programs. Medicare also does not cover any weight loss drugs. It does cover FDA approved diabetes drugs that have unintentionally become popular for weight loss. Medicare Part D plans cover Ozempic and Mounjaro for diabetes only, not for weight loss. Medicare also does not cover Wegovy or Zepbound because they’re approved only for weight loss. The reason behind the weight loss drug omission is the Medicare Modernization Act, which specifically excluded them back when the law was written 20 years ago.
They also excluded drugs used for cosmetic purposes, fertility, hair growth and erectile dysfunction. Without insurance, weight loss medications are expensive, often costing $1,000-$1,300 a month. Try websites like www.GoodRX.com or www.SingleCare. com to find the best retail prices in your area. If your income is limited, try patient assistance programs through Eli Lilly (www.LillyCares. com), which makes Mounjaro and Zepbound, or Novo Nordisk (www. NovoCare.com) the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy. MEDICARE ADVANTAGE
If you happen to be enrolled in a private Medicare Advantage plan, you may have coverage for gym memberships and some weight loss and healthy food delivery programs. These are considered expanded supplemental benefits and have gradually been added to some plans to provide coverage for nutrition, health and wellness. Contact your plan to see what it provides. 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.
OBITUARIES
Emilee Barron (Emmy Lou Woo), Miya Cross and Aaliyah Williams. Also several cousins. The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the Howard Center, staff at Atwood House and a (special thank you to Tracy and Meg), Dave O’Brien, his loving sincere friend, and Patti Stock and John Hasenfus for welcoming him into their home with love and care. Patti and John shared many wonderful experiences and made lots of happy memories for Jeffry.
Funeral services were held Feb. 10 at the Huntington Community Church, with the Rev. Mike Mendes of First Congregational Church in Essex Junction officiating. There will be a private burial for the family later in 2024 at the Huntington Cemetery. Growing up, Jeffry spent a lot of time in the family store. He enjoyed seeing people coming in and talking to him. He liked making his own grocery order out and putting up groceries on the shelves with his sister Diane. He liked being around people and everybody knew him in the community when he went out with someone. He liked sitting in his recliner watching ‘Mash.’ He loved ‘People’ magazines, books and bags. You will be missed by many. We love you Jeff. Donations may be given to the Howard Center.
February 15, 2024 •
Williston Observer •
Page 21
CROSSWORD • SOLUTION ON PAGE 22
TODAY’S HISTORY:
• In 1898, the U.S. battleship Maine exploded and sank in Havana Harbor in Cuba, ultimately leading the United States to declare war on Spain. • In 1961, the U.S. figure skating team was killed in a plane crash in Belgium. • In 1972, sound recordings made on or after this date were granted U.S. federal copyright protection. • In 2001, the first draft of the complete human genome was published in the scientific journal Nature. • In 2013, a meteor exploded over Chelyabinsk Oblast in Russia, injuring 1,500 people and damaging 7,200 buildings in six cities.
TODAY’S FACT:
• “The Simpsons,” created by Matt Groening and currently in its 35th season, is the longest-running American sitcom.
SUDOKU • SOLUTION ON PAGE 22
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• Williston Observer • February 15, 2024
Puzzle found on page 21
OF WILL
ON IST
CROSSWORD SOLUTION
TOWN
1763
OFFICIAL TOWN WARNING TOWN OF WILLISTON MARCH 4 & 5, 2024
Please note the starting time Town Meeting Activities (March 4, 2024) 7:00 PM Official Town Meeting Following Official Meeting: - Town Australian Ballot Articles Public Information Hearing - School Budget Presentation
The legal voters of the Town of Williston are hereby warned and notified to meet at the Williston Central School Auditorium in Williston, Vermont at 7:00 PM on Monday, March 4, 2024, for the Annual Town Meeting. Following the meeting, the Articles to be voted by Australian ballot will be reviewed during a public information hearing and there will be an opportunity for questions and comments. Article 1:
To elect a Moderator
Article 2:
Shall the voters authorize that current taxes be paid to the Town Treasurer in three equal installments with due dates of August 15, November 15 and February 15 as authorized by 32 V.S.A. § 4871?
Article 3:
Shall the voters of the Town of Williston accept the reports of the Town Officials as presented in the Town Report?
Article 4:
To transact any other business to be brought before said meeting.
The legal voters of the Town of Williston are hereby warned and notified to meet on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Vermont Army National Guard Armory located at 7846 Williston Road beginning at 7:00 AM, at which time the polls will open, until 7:00 PM, at which time the polls will close, to vote by Australian ballot upon the following articles:
SUDOKU SOLUTION Puzzle found on page 21
Article 5:
Shall the voters authorize General Fund Expenditures of $15,353,518 of which $8,080,011 shall be raised by taxes, for the year beginning July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025?
Article 6:
Shall the voters authorize the construction of an expansion of the Town Hall parking lot by approximately 6,400 square feet and the issuance of general obligation bonds of the Town in an amount not to exceed Seven Hundred Thousand, and 00/100 Dollars ($700,000.00), subject to reduction by grants in aid and other state and federal funds then available to the Town, to pay the capital costs and related other costs of the project?
Article 7:
Shall the voters authorize the construction and installation of a fire suppression system within the Old Brick Church at an estimated total project cost of Four Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($400,000.00) and the issuance of general obligation bonds of the Town in an amount not to exceed Four Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($400,000.00), subject to reduction by grants in aid and other state and federal funds then available to the Town, to pay the capital costs and related other costs of the project?
Article 8:
Shall the voters elect to the Selectboard one member for a term of two years beginning March, 2024?
Article 9:
Shall the voters elect to the Selectboard one member for a term of three years beginning March, 2024?
Article 10:
Shall the voters elect to the Board of Listers one member for a term of three years beginning March, 2024?
Article 11:
Shall the voters elect to the Board of Listers one member to fill an unexpired term of three years that began March, 2022?
Article 12:
Shall the voters elect to the Library Board of Trustees two members for a term of five years beginning March, 2024?
Article 13:
Shall the voters elect to the Champlain Valley School District Board two directors for a term of three years beginning March, 2024?
HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE: There is no deadline to register to vote. You will be able to register to vote on the day of the election. You can register prior by visiting the town clerk’s office or going online to www.olvr.vermont.gov REQUEST EARLY or ABSENTEE BALLOTS: You or a family member can request early or absentee ballots at any time during the year of the election in person, in writing, by telephone, email, or online at www.mvp.vermont.gov Dated this 23rd day of January 2024 Williston Selectboard
S H O P • E AT
S P E N D • E N J OY
Williston
Page 22
February 15, 2024 •
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Williston Observer •
Page 23
INSURANCE
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Page 24 •
Williston Observer •
February 15, 2024
2024 TOWN MEETING DAY PREVIEW The Town Budget is the spending and funding plan to provide Williston’s municipal services.
What’s the story behind the FY 2025 Budget Proposal?
The proposed budget expenses total $15.35 million - about 9.8% higher than the previous year. This maintains the current level of services provided and targets specific areas to address limitations and improve service delivery.
Learn about the recommended budget, and what community services your taxes would support.
What This Means for a Homeowner
$10.00/mo.
The estimated property tax impact of the budget proposal for a median Williston homeowner ($300,000 assessment) is an increase of about $10 per month.
The majority of the budget increase is tied to wage and benefit costs to retain and attract staff in the current employment market. Additionally, the inclusion of two new staff positions and the effect of inflation factor into the spending plan.
Wages & Benefits
Staff
Inflation
Police Department Enhancements • A new Police Detective position to focus on investigations, including retail theft. Position identified as the top priority after 2023 department service analysis study. • Body cameras for the Police Department. • Addressing competition among the small pool of job candidates.
More Budget Proposal Details Local Options Tax
Total: $15,353,518 (9.84% change)
Property Taxes
Where the Money Would Come From FY 2025 PROPOSED GENERAL FUND OPERATING REVENUES
User Fees and Other Revenue
Maintenance
FY 2025 PROPOSED GENERAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
Contracted Services
Debt Service
Total: $15,353,518 (9.84% change)
Old Brick Church: A bond is requested to borrow up to $400,000 to install a fire suppression system in the building. Municipal Parking Lot: A bond is requested to borrow up to $700,000 to improve the parking lot behind Town Hall to expand parking, improve drainage, and build infrastructure for future town fleet electrification and public charging stations.
*Essex Town *Colchester Hinesburg
Wages
Capital Projects Equipment Programs, Insurance, Utilities, Vehicle Fuel, County Tax, Open Space, Cemetery
Want to know more?
Bond Articles:
*Winooski Essex Junction Huntington *Burlington
Benefits & Training
Where the Money Would Go
HR Director: This new position will help manage and foster a dynamic and resilient staff of 100+ employees.
For more information about Williston’s Town Meeting, the budget, and to read the Annual Report: Visit town.williston.vt.us/townmeeting or stop by the Town Hall
How Our Taxes Compare
Underhill Jericho Milton *Shelburne *South Burlington
2024 CHITTENDEN COUNTY MUNICIPAL PROPERTY TAX RATES BY COMPARISON Rate per $100 of assessed value
Richmond *Williston St. George Charlotte
* Communities that have local options sales tax
0
Town Meeting: Monday, March 4th 7 PM
0.2
Williston Central School Auditorium (in-person)
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
Voting at the Armory:
1.2
Tuesday, March 5th 7 AM - 7 PM Early and absentee voting available