Williston Observer 03/21/2024

CVSD superintendent resigns

Rene Sanchez will step down as Champlain Valley School District superintendent after this school year, the Champlain Valley School Board announced in a news release Wednesday morning.

Sanchez was hired in the spring of 2021.

The announcement comes as the board had been conducting an annual performance evaluation of Sanchez during a series of closed door meetings over the past several weeks. It also follows the first Town Meeting Day rejection of a school budget since the district was formed

in 2017 out of a merger of smaller districts.

Sanchez came to Vermont from South Bend, Ind., where he was an assistant school superintendent. He previously worked as a high school principal in his home state of Texas. His wife grew up in Brattleboro.

CVSD board chair Meghan Metzler credits Sanchez with “many meaningful and lasting leadership decisions,” she said in the news release. They include creating the district’s first long-term strategic plan and a district-wide hub for student data.

“The board greatly appreciates

Town budget revote expected mid-May

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

The Williston Selectboard will not be aligning the town’s budget revote with that of the Champlain Valley School District.

Both budgets were rejected by voters at Town Meeting Day elections March 5. The school board met a week later and promptly set a revote for April 16 on a reduced spending proposal for the upcoming fiscal year.

Selectboard members on Tuesday balked at trying to hold the town’s budget revote on the same day.

“I don’t want to do it on that date,” selectboard member Greta D’Agostino said. “That feels too rushed.”

The board is aiming for a midMay revote, and it gave town administrators some direction on Tuesday as to how much it’s looking to trim from the $15.3 million

proposal that failed on March 5. That budget carried a 10 percent ($1.37 million) increase over the current year.

Board members directed Town Manager Erik Wells to come to their April 2 meeting with three tiers of spending cuts: one would cut the entire $1.37 million spending increase — a level-funded budget. Another would cut the increase to 7.5 percent, and another would cut the increase to 5 percent. Wells said every percentage point cut amounts to a reduction of about $150,000.

If the increase is reduced by more than 2 percentage points, he said, staff cuts would be required.

“I can run scenarios on what these reductions mean and how cutting staff would affect service delivery,” said Wells.

The original budget would have increased property taxes by 11.5 percent.

“It’s an aging population in

Williston on fixed incomes,” resident Sue Powers said during Tuesday’s meeting. “I don’t think it’s fair for them to come up with these increases … People don’t know if they’ll be able to stay in their homes. They’re not going to be able to if this continues. Every year it goes up, and it adds up.”

The board plans to take more public input during its upcoming meetings — April 2 and April 16. In addition to setting a new budget proposal, the board will also be deciding whether to hold a revote on the two bond questions that voters rejected. One asked for up to $700,000 in borrowing approval for an expansion of the Town Hall parking lot. Another asked for up to $400,000 for the installation of a new fire suppression system at the Old Brick Church.

“It’s not critical to move forward with these right away,” Wells said of the bond projects.

the contributions he’s made to the district,” Metzler said. “In particular, Superintendent Sanchez’s work on the district equity audit, and subsequent effort to establish positions to support the implementation of the resulting recommendations, is critical. These changes will continue to serve our students, administrators and staff as we all seek to bring more equity and understanding into our schools.

“We wish him the very best in his next chapter.”

The board plans to appoint an interim superintendent for the 2024-

2025 school year.

“It has been a great honor to serve the Champlain Valley School District and to get established here in Vermont with my family,” Sanchez said in the news release. “The people here have been wonderful, and I have learned a great deal. I will look back on my time as CVSD superintendent knowing that together we made significant progress creating systems in service to our students and our community, and I greatly appreciate the board’s trust and support for our work.”

Jason Starr

‘Lettuce Cook’

WCS Junior Iron Chefs get a taste of competition

Above, Williston Central School’s Jr. Iron Chef team, “Lettuce Cook” is composed of, from left, Jackson Farr, Ryan Kelley, Ollie Charlton, Edward Whitcomb and Memphis Whitcomb. Ryan Kelley, right, checks in with teammates during the 16th annual Jr. Iron Chef competition at the Champlain Valley Exposition on March 9. See story on page 11.

Rene Sanchez

OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTOS

Williston Woods wins state, federal funding for stormwater project

The Williston Woods homeowners’ association was recently awarded $1.2 million in state and federal funding for stormwater infrastructure projects to improve water quality in the Lake Champlain basin.

Earlier this month, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources announced a $742,000 grant through its “Healthy Homes Initiative,” funded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. In total, the agency distributed $15.5 million to 46 mobile home neighborhoods throughout the state for water infrastructure projects through the initiative.

On Monday, Sen. Bernie Sanders announced an additional $490,000 in federal funds for Williston Woods. The funding will allow the neighborhood, located off of North Williston Road near the Winooski River, to design, permit and construct 10 drainage areas to limit stormwater runoff.

Volunteers needed at Age Well

Age Well is seeking 35 new volunteers to provide regular social interaction and assistance to seniors in their homes. Provide friendly visits, grocery shopping trips, errand running, assisting with medical appointments, organizing, bill paying, respite to caregivers, delivering Meals on Wheels, minor home repairs, and more.

The time commitment is based on your availability. It can vary from one day a week

to two days a month (weekdays 8 a.m.-4 p.m.).

For more information and to apply, visit www.agewellvt.org/giving-back/volunteer/. Call (802) 662-5249 or email volunteer@agewellvt.org with questions.

Discussion: social relationships in the age of screens

Curious how social relationships have changed in the age of digital technology?

Wondering how to help your child navigate friendships and connections while balancing their mental health?

Join the Champlain Valley School District chapter of ParentIN for a discussion with Annie Maheux, a University of North Carolina professor of psychology and neuroscience. Maheux researches the impacts of technology use on mental health among young people with a focus on gender and sexuality.

The event is set for March 21 at 7 p.m. and will take place online via Google Meet. Visit https://connectingyouth.cvsdvt.org/resources/upcoming-events for registration information or for a recording of the event.

Historical research grants available

The Chittenden County Historical Society is offering research grants to individuals and organizations interested in exploring an aspect of local history. Grants of up to $1,000 are available. Previous grantees have ranged from school children to college professors and have worked on projects ranging from organizing a local historian’s papers to exploring a woman’s mental illness in the 19th century and documenting the work of a major barn builder in Chittenden County. The deadline to apply is June 1, and grants will be awarded at the Chittenden County Historical Society’s Annual Meeting in July. Apply at www.cchsvt.org/research-grants.

Registration open for Mini Milers running program

Williston Central School students ages 5-10 are eligible for this spring’s MiniMilers running program organized by RunVermont. The weekend running program teaches fitness, nutrition, citizenship, helpfulness and goal-setting. The group meets on the track behind WCS from 9-10 a.m. on Saturdays (and one Sunday) from April 6-May 18.

Sign up at www.runsignup.com/Race/ Events/VT/Burlington/ReadySetRunMiniMilers. Email any questions to willistonminimilers@gmail.com.

see AROUND TOWN page 24

Spirits rising in Williston

Smugglers’ Notch Distillery to open tasting room

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

Drawn by the spate of business openings that have occurred in Taft Corners over the past several years and eager to cater to a more native Vermont crowd, Smugglers’ Notch Distillery will open a tasting room and retail store in Williston on March 28.

It will be the sixth tasting room for the 14-year-old business, which is headquartered at a 10-acre distillery in Jeffersonville. The company creates vodkas, gins, bourbons, rum, rye and cream liqueurs, as well as maple syrup and maple-infused spirits.

Other tasting rooms are located on Church Street in Burlington

and in downtown Stowe, Waterbury and Manchester, as well as at the Jeffersonville distillery.

Jeremy Elliott, who founded the company with his father in 2010, said he had been looking for a spot in Williston since before the pandemic. The roughly 1,500-square-foot store is locat-

ed near the 99 Restaurant in the Taft Corners Shopping Plaza, in

“Most of my other stores are in tourist locations.”

Jeremy Elliott Smugglers’ Notch Distillery

on our radar for a few years,” Elliott said. “We’ve seen other businesses going in there and saw how Williston is getting more popular for shopping, so we thought that would be a good spot for us … Most of my other stores are in tourist locations. This will be our first foray into bringing our experience to Vermonters, so they can experience us without having to travel to these real tourist destinations.”

Tastings cost between $5-$10 for four quarter-ounce samples. Part of the experience is an expert-led discussion about the distilling process as you sip.

“Every spirit is made differently, with the raw materials that go into it, the type of barrels that they are aged in, the length of time. There are profound nuances that a lot of folks don’t realize,” said Elliott. “It’s an educational experience when you come in to visit us.”

a former Edwards Jones financial advisor office next to Superb Cupcakes.

“A Williston location has been

The store will also sell the distillery’s wide variety of bottled products, some of which have been awarded by industry authorities like the Beverage Testing Institute and Wine Enthusiast.

Smugglers’ Notch Distillery’s newest tasting room and shop, above, will open March 28 in Taft Corners.

OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR

Tastings at Smugglers’ Notch Distillery, right, come with an educational discussion about the spirit distilling process.

OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO

The

Survey: How is your biz using AI?

Vermont State University business students and the Vermont Small Business Development Center are conducting a research study on the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) by Vermont businesses. Their survey (available at www.surveymonkey.com/r/TBPKVN2) explores current applications of AI in local businesses, challenges and opportunities associated with AI adoption and expectations of the future value of AI in different business functions. The survey closes March 22.

Keurig closes Williston location

Keurig Dr Pepper has announced the relocation of its manufacturing operations in Williston into its larger Essex plant. No jobs will be lost in the move, according to the company. The move is expected to be completed in April.

“By uniting our Vermont teams and capabilities in Essex, we will more effectively and efficiently meet the needs of our consumers and customers while supporting innovation efforts that contribute to continued growth,” said company Spokeswoman Katie Gilroy.

Bank of Burlington to be led by Victoria Bronner

Bank of Burlington has announced the appointment of Victoria Bronner as president and COO. In this role, Bronner will oversee all aspects of the bank’s operations and staff. Bronner, a resident of Shelburne, has been with the startup bank since its founding in 2023.

“l am excited and honored for the opportunity to lead this team and continue the growth of Bank of Burlington,” Bronner said. “Bank of Burlington is filling an important need in the Vermont business community, and I am proud to be a part of a team that can offer exceptional local service to our customers.”

Applications open for Leadership Champlain Class of 2025

Leadership Champlain, the Lake Champlain Chamber’s flagship workforce development program, is accepting applications for the Class of 2025.

Established in 1988, Leadership Champlain is a professional development and community engagement program with a mission to foster growth and leadership in professionals who will serve the community into the future. The application deadline is April 14.

Maple sugar makers’ open house on tap

Vermont’s syrup makers are hosting their annual Spring Maple Open House Weekend on March 23-24. Nearly 100 sugarhouses and maple businesses will open their doors for pancake breakfasts, sugar-on-snow, tours, syrup samples, and more.

A full map and list of participating sugar makers and businesses are available on the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association website (www.vermontmaple.org).

“Whether you aspire to a seat on the local planning commission or a more traditional climb up the corporate ladder, this program gives participants a backstage pass to how our state works and who the decision-makers are,” said Alex Bunten, director of workforce and education for the Chamber. “We are very proud of where our 1,200-plus alumni have landed and the impact they’ve made in our community.”

To find out more about the program or to apply, visit www.leadershipchamplain.org. Contact Bunten with questions at alex@vermont. org.

Jersey Mike’s, Flutie partner on ‘Month of Giving’

The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism is joining forces with 71 Jersey Mike’s Subs locations in Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island for their 14th Annual March “Month of Giving” campaign to support local charities. During the month of March, customers will have the option to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar, or donate $1, $3 or $5 when placing an order.

The Month of Giving campaign will culminate with Jersey Mike’s

Gov. Phil Scottw, left, taps a maple tree at Buck Family Maple in Washington, Vt., on Monday to mark the start of maple syrup season.

OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO

Happenings

continued from page 4

“Day of Giving” on Wednesday, March 27, when Jersey Mike’s restaurants will give 100 percent of the day’s gross sales to support the Flutie Foundation’s mission of helping families and individuals in the autism community live life to the fullest.

“Jersey Mike’s is deeply committed to giving back, and our partnership will directly improve the lives of people with autism in local communities throughout New England,” said Flutie Foundation co-founder Doug Flutie.

Sanders pushes for 32-hour workweek

Sen. Bernie Sanders, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, will introduce legislation this week to establish a standard 32-hour workweek in America with no loss

in pay — a step toward ensuring that workers share in the increase in productivity driven by artificial intelligence, automation and new technology.

Sanders is joined on the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act by Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) and in the House of Representatives by Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), who introduced companion legislation.

“The financial gains from the major advancements in artificial intelligence, automation and new technology must benefit the working class, not just corporate CEOs and wealthy stockholders on Wall Street,” Sanders said. “It is time to reduce the stress level in our country and allow Americans to enjoy a better quality of life.”

NuHarbor joins Champlain College in workforce development partnership

NuHarbor Security and Champlain College are launching a cy-

“KRISTIN MADE US FEEL LIKE WE WERE IMPORTANT AND ALWAYS LISTENED TO AND FOUND ANSWERS FOR ANY QUESTIONS WE HAD. SHE IS KIND AND HUMOROUS, TWO QUALITIES THAT HELP IMMENSELY WHEN GOING THROUGH THE STRESS OF FINDING AND PURCHASING A NEW HOUSE.”

-BARBARA BOUGHT WITH KRISTIN

bersecurity partnership that establishes a NuHarbor presence on Champlain’s campus for access to internships, mentorships, handson learning and scholarships. The Colchester-based company and Burlington college will create a collaborative workforce development model for the cybersecurity industry.

“Our partnership with NuHarbor is a leading example of how higher education and employers can come together to get students ready for in-demand careers,” said Champlain College President Alex Hernandez. “We are pushing the envelope on what it means to be a career-focused academic institution.”

NuHarbor Security will establish a co-located presence on the Champlain Lakeside Campus next to the college’s Leahy Center for Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity. The building renovation is on pace to be complete in January 2025.

GlobalFoundries, state officials celebrate CHIPS grant

BY AUDITI GUHA VTDigger

GlobalFoundries leaders and Vermont politicians on Friday celebrated nearly $130 million in planned federal and state funding for the semiconductor chip manufacturer’s Essex Junction facility.

Last month the U.S. Department of Commerce announced a whopping $1.5 billion grant to GlobalFoundries to boost domestic chip production.

Of that funding, $125 million is earmarked for expanding and improving the company’s Vermont plant, which manufactures chips that are used in cars, phones and gaming devices, among other uses. (The company has a larger campus in Malta, N.Y., that will also undergo an expansion with the federal funding.)

Paired with $4.5 million in state funding, the money positions Vermont’s largest employer to become the nation’s first mass manufacturer of next-generation gallium nitride semiconductors to be used in electric vehicles, data centers and power grids, officials said Friday.

But while they stressed the importance of the investment at a packed press conference at the Vermont plant’s auditorium, officials were vague about its impact on job creation in the state.

Speaking at the event, Gov. Phil Scott said “400 new hires are made possible” by the investment, calling that number “a big deal in Vermont.”

In response to a follow-up question, Thomas Caulfield, GlobalFoundries’ president and chief executive officer, clarified that the estimate includes jobs outside of the company and fur-

als, he said.

The Essex Junction facility employs about 1,800 people and manufactures chips in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense for some of the most sensitive aerospace and defense systems, officials said.

Calling the technology critical not just for Vermont but for the country’s economy and national security, Scott said, “I am very, very proud of our small state having a pretty big role on the global stage as a result.”

son, told the crowd, “This country faces challenges and one of the challenges we face is to make sure that we stay on the cutting edge of chip technology in order that our supply chains are maintained, that we have the domestic capacity to meet our needs.”

ther down the supply chain, such as positions making chemicals or equipment. It would include a range of jobs, from technicians to college-educated profession -

U.S. Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., spoke via video from Washington, D.C., to say the large grant, a result of the 2022 federal CHIPS and Science Act, will be “absolutely transformative” and will help the state “lead the nation in chips production.”

U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., who attended the event in per-

Improvements to the Essex Junction plant will include sustainability practices slated to “meet or surpass state and federal regulatory requirements” to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve wastewater treatment, said Caulfield.

“I think it’s totally fitting that we’re in the Green Mountain State, that we will lead in making this one of the greenest in the country,” Caulfield said to applause.

GlobalFoudries CEO Thomas Caulfield speaks during a ceremony to mark the hundreds of millions of CHIPS and Science Act dollars that will support modernization of GlobalFoundries’ longest continuously operated fab, in Essex Junction on March 1.

PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

GUEST COLUMN

More long-term care capacity urgently needed

BY CHRISTINE WERNEKE AND STEPHEN LEFFLER

Every day, too many Vermonters are suffering because they cannot get access to the right level of care they need after a hospitalization, after they’ve gotten too sick to be safely cared for at home, or because they’re waiting for a hospital bed that is not yet available.

This is because Vermont has a severe lack of capacity for patients who need long-term care outside of the hospital. The situation has become chronic and is causing constant overcrowding in our hospitals across the state, straining our health care staff, and negatively impacting our patients and all the communities we serve across our region.

As we write this, 65 patients at the University of Vermont Medical Center are ready to leave and head to their next level of care, such as a nursing home or rehabilitation center. Some will wait days, weeks, months, or, shockingly, more than an entire year for the right care setting with the right supports. In January, we saw a record high of 83 such patients waiting, representing more than a quarter of the beds in our hospital that we use for adult patients receiving medical treatment or recovering from surgery.

As the region’s Level 1 Trauma Center and academic medical center, the UVM Medical Center must be ready to care for our most acutely ill friends, family and neighbors from across our region. When dozens of patients

Vermont’s population is aging, and this challenge is only going to grow.

are waiting for a place to go, it has a devastating ripple effect. Patients arriving to the Emergency Department who require an inpatient room wait longer to be admitted. The Emergency Department becomes overcrowded and patients receive care in hallways.

Several of our Emergency Department colleagues recently shared their frustration and anger in an opinion piece on this pattern, which is repeating itself all over Vermont and Northern New

choice

York. The long-term care crisis impacts all other patients who need timely access to care. When hospitals are unable to appropriately transfer a patient to a nursing home bed, that hospital bed isn’t available for a patient with an acute healthcare need.

One way to come at this problem is to better support families caring for a loved one at home, by expanding and better funding home health care and pursuing initiatives like the UVM Health Network’s Dementia Family Caregivers Center. For many patients — especially those with conditions like dementia — the most appropriate place to receive care is in their own home. But families need help to be successful. UVM Health Network–Home Health & Hospice, and local home health and hospice agencies serving our neighbors statewide, excel at providing exceptional care in the home to both patients and their families, but only when they have the resources to hire talented caregivers.

Then, when families decide that their loved one’s care needs exceed what can be provided at home, they should not have to wait for a nursing home bed while their family member languishes. Vermonters deserve a system where patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. This requires additional investments from Medicaid to broaden skilled care in the home and bolster capacity in our nursing homes. At the federal level, Congress must not cut Medicare rates for home health services and should reverse course on burdensome staffing mandates for post-acute providers.

The need for action is also urgent because this crisis is continuing to drive up the cost of care. It is more expensive for patients to stay in the hospital than it is for them to receive care at a nursing home or in their own home. And eventually, hospitals stop getting paid when someone stays longer than they should.

Vermont’s population is ag-

that we can verify the letter’s author.

Guest Column

continued from page 7

ing, and this challenge is only going to grow. To be clear, the impacts will be felt most by those who have the least and live in our most rural communities.

Thankfully, it is solvable.

Recent efforts, like state contracts with iCare Health Network to provide additional nursing home beds for patients with complex care needs and the governor’s recommendation to increase reimbursement rates for nursing homes, are a good start. But with an estimated 500 fewer nursing home beds in our state than before the Covid-19 pandemic, we need a strategy to bring beds back online and ensure patients with non-hospital-level needs can access them.

By collaborating and investing in solutions like expanding nursing home care, increasing funding for home health services, and implementing policies that promote the long-term sustainability of our health care infrastructure, we can ensure that our friends, family members and neighbors can live their best lives here in Vermont without fear of not receiving the care and support they need from their trusted health care system.

Christine Werneke is president and chief operating officer of UVM Health Network–Home Health & Hospice in Colchester. Stephen Leffler is president and chief operating officer of the UVM Medical Center in Burlington.

Few using state’s last-minute temporary shelters

Scott administration set up shelters in anticipation of people exiting motel

Friday or Sunday night.

program

BY CARLY BERLIN VTDigger

Last week, Gov. Phil Scott’s administration scrambled to set up four mass shelters within a matter of days, anticipating hundreds of people would lose their eligibility for state-subsidized rooms through Vermont’s motel housing program on Friday. Yet over the weekend, a tiny fraction of the beds set up by the state were put to use. At one shelter, not a single person showed up.

The temporary shelter at 108 Cherry Street in Burlington saw the most use, according to emails from state officials to lawmakers and local leaders shared with VTDigger/Vermont Public. Ten people stayed there on Sunday night, seven on Saturday, and three on Friday. The shelter at the former Health Department office building had space for 100 individuals.

Other shelters across the state saw even less uptake. Three people stayed at the Asa Bloomer building in Rutland on Sunday night, which was set up for 42 people; two stayed there on Friday and Saturday evenings.

The Agency of Natural Resources Annex building in Berlin, set up to accommodate 100 people, hosted just one person on Saturday; no one showed up on either

And at the Vermont Yankee administrative building in Brattleboro — a site the state only announced it would use as temporary shelter on Friday morning — nobody came.

by helping them fill out new disability waivers that could merit them a longer stay. On Friday, people who received a voucher through the program’s winter-weather eligibility needed to prove they had a qualifying vulnerability in order

“The low usage of these emergency shelters is a reflection of how they are being operated, not of the need for shelter.”

Samantha Sheehan Communications director for Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger

According to a Friday press release from the Department for Children and Families, National Guard members, medical professionals, and security personnel were staffing each of the shelter sites, which are all in recently converted buildings owned by the state.

The Scott administration’s slapdash rollout of the temporary shelters was marked by last-minute notice to the municipalities hosting them and a lack of communication with unhoused Vermonters exiting the motel program.

“There was no systematic way of even informing people that there was such a shelter,” said Rick DeAngelis, co-executive director of Good Samaritan Haven, a shelter provider in Washington County.

DeAngelis and other service providers and advocates spent Friday attempting to keep vulnerable Vermonters in the motel program

Williston Federated Church

Holy Week Services

Palm Sunday March 24, 9:30

Maundy Thursday March 28, 7:30 p.m. in

Good Friday March 29, 7 p.m.

Easter Sonrise March 31, 6:30 a.m.

Easter Worship March 31, 9:30 a.m.

&

to hang onto their rooms for a few more months.

In Washington County, DeAngelis said his team’s efforts helped “at least half” of the roughly 60 individuals slated to leave the program on Friday to remain in their rooms, at least for now. That intervention likely contributed to the low turnout at the state-run Berlin shelter, he said.

Yet DeAngelis also pointed to other factors beyond just need, including the lack of transportation options for unhoused Vermonters to reach the remote location on Junction Road.

“There were no shuttle buses running out there, so they had to figure it out on their own,” DeAngelis said.

Others pointed to the lack of essential services provided at the temporary shelter locations.

“The fact that these hastily assembled shelters that do not meet

even basic needs, like showers, have not been heavily utilized does not surprise us,” said Samantha Sheehan, communications director for Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger. “The low usage of these emergency shelters is a reflection of how they are being operated, not of the need for shelter.”

It’s unclear exactly how much longer the temporary state shelters will remain open. On Friday, the Department for Children and Families said they’d be in operation “for up to seven days,” but officials didn’t respond to a request for an update on Monday.

The shelters are open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., although guests need to arrive before 11 p.m. “and should have minimal personal items,” according to the release. Weapons and substance use are prohibited, and service animals are welcome.

Anne Sosin, a public health researcher at Dartmouth College who studies homelessness, hesitated to even describe the state’s temporary locations as “shelters.”

“Shelter implies a minimum standard,” Sosin said, including essentials like showers and storage options. “The administration is putting up warehouses, not shelters.”

The low numbers at the staterun shelters could mean an unknown number of people are now sleeping outside. Roxanne Carelli, interim director of Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless, said one person in Bennington got on a bus bound for the Brattleboro shelter – but evidently never showed up. A street outreach team will be trying to connect with unsheltered people in town in the coming days.

“We’re just trying to find those that didn’t get on the bus,” Carelli said. “They’re obviously in Bennington somewhere.”

As of Friday afternoon, the Department for Children and Families said 372 households were scheduled to lose their rooms on Friday. Another 73 households were able to keep their rooms by submitting a disability variance form. The department did not provide updated numbers on Monday nor did it address emailed questions about the cost of the shelters.

This story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.

Unilever to spin off Ben & Jerry’s and other ice cream brands

BY ERIN PETENKO VTDigger

Unilever announced Tuesday that it will spin off all of its ice cream brands into a new company — including Ben & Jerry’s, the iconic Vermont ice cream maker.

The newly created ice cream division would include brands like Magnum and Wall’s along with Ben & Jerry’s, Unilever said in a statement. The company said it would most likely spin off the division through a demerger.

Sean Greenwood, a spokesperson for Ben & Jerry’s, said via email that the company has been a part of Unilever for 24 years and this represents “a significant change for us.”

He added that regardless of ownership structure, Ben & Jerry’s remains committed to its three-part mission: to make the best ice cream, to advance social causes and to be a successful for-profit business.

Unilever also announced on Tuesday a separate decision to slash 7,500 positions, mainly office-based jobs, to “enhance productivity.

VTDigger confirmed last week that Ben & Jerry’s was cutting seven positions in its South Burlington-based corporate headquarters, according to a spokesperson for the company. It is not immediately clear if those cuts were connected to

the recent layoff announcement.

The consumer goods conglomerate announced the changes a month after its latest quarterly report showed a 6 percent decline in volume for its ice cream division. The company blamed inflation affecting its ice cream production more than other sectors, which in turn increased prices and led consumers to seek lower-cost ice cream options.

Ben & Jerry’s has also made headlines for its social justice mission, at times coming into conflict with its parent company. Ben & Jerry’s raised objections to Unilever selling its ice cream in the West Bank in 2021, forcing Unilever to sell its business in the West Bank and Israel to another company.

Ben & Jerry’s on Church Street in Burlington.

PHOTO BY SHANNON MCGEE VIA FLICKR

No credit card? No problem

Vermont Senate bill would require businesses to accept cash

BY BROOKE BURNS Community News Service

The number of Vermonters without bank accounts has climbed in recent years, from 0.7 percent in 2019 to 2.5 percent in 2021, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. A Senate bill aims to protect the consumer power of those households by requiring businesses to accept cash for transactions under $1,000.

S.175 was introduced by Sen. Andrew Perchlik, D/P-Washington, in a Feb. 22 Senate economic development committee meeting. Perchlik said constituents approached him about such a bill after they were turned away from a business because they only had cash, and soon he realized many groups in the state could often be in the same situation.

“There was concern about refugee populations,” he said in an interview. “At first I was like, ‘How many people don’t have credit cards?’ It seems like it’s

pretty prevalent, electronic pay of some sort. And then I found out there really are people — getting out of prison or people that are immigrants or people that have had problems with credit cards that purposely don’t have them so that they don’t get into debt. It was more common

Jay Greene, a policy analyst from the Vermont Office of Racial Equity, testified in support of the bill and its potential for protecting the consumer power of marginalized people in Vermont.

than I thought.”

Perchlik said he also heard from an employee at a ski resort that went cashless who noticed customers were surprised they needed credit cards to purchase

not only lift tickets and equipment but also food and beverages.

“The person in the ski area thought it was something that businesses did on purpose, and it was becoming more common as a way to get people to spend more money because, according to this person, people are more likely to spend money when they don’t have to see the cash or hand it over,” Perchlik said in the interview. “Or if a parent is giving money to a kid for lunch, they can say, ‘Here’s $20 — you have to spend within $20.’ Now it’s, ‘Here’s a credit card.’”

Similar legislation requiring businesses to accept cash has been enacted in Connecticut, Colorado, New Jersey and Massachusetts, as well as by local governments in New York City and Philadelphia.

In a Feb. 28 committee meeting, one senator expressed concerns over the safety of businesses carrying large amounts of cash, especially those open late at night.

“If you have an employee in an isolated location, or alone at night in a convenience store and it’s held up, it’s difficult to get

employees after that,” said Sen. Ann Cummings, D-Washington, adding later, “It’s nice until we can’t get anybody to man the transfer station or the convenience store at night.”

At the same meeting, Sen. Randy Brock, R-Franklin, questioned the need for the bill at all.

“The merchant can decide,” Brock said. “And if you don’t like the merchant’s policy, you’ll go elsewhere. But you can always change the merchant. If the merchant is losing business, they’re not going to do business that way.”

Jay Greene, a policy analyst from the Vermont Office of Racial Equity, testified in support of the bill and its potential for protecting the consumer power of marginalized people in Vermont.

“Protecting the right to pay cash is one of the office’s top policy priorities for this legislative session,” Greene said in the Feb. 28 meeting.

“There are a significant number of Vermonters who are unbanked,” Greene added later. “There are likely racial disparities in who is unbanked in Vermont. It’s more likely to be a

person of the household of color who is unbanked, a black or Hispanic household. So our office is strongly in favor of making this legislation the most protective of unbanked and underbanked households that it can possibly be.”

In a letter to the committee, the Office of Racial Equity cited the importance of cash as a failsafe.

“(Cash) can survive natural disasters, electrical grid failures, outdoor and open-air market settings and cashless transaction system failure scenarios,” the letter reads. “Vermont is likely to experience more frequent and more severe natural disasters in the near future due to climate change. It is essential that retail businesses maintain the infrastructure needed to accept cash in case cashless payment systems fail.”

If passed, S.175 would go into effect July 1.

The Community News Service is a program in which University of Vermont students work with professional editors to provide material for local news outlets at no cost.

WCS chefs awarded at statewide competition

They call themselves team “Lettuce Cook,” but they could also be known as the sons of Williston’s food industry.

The offspring of local restauranteurs and farmers form the backbone of a team of chefs that comprise Williston Central School’s Jr. Iron Chef squad. The team competed against dozens of other middle school teams in the 16th annual Jr. Iron Chef VT competition March 9 at the Champlain Valley Exposition.

Jackson Farr is the son of Neil and Perry Farr, owners of the Scale Poke Bar in Williston and Onsen Ramen in Essex Junction. Ryan Kelley is the son of Williston Coffee Shop owner Eric Kelley. And the parents of the Whitcomb boys — Edward and Memphis — run North Williston Cattle Company, the dairy farm at the bottom of North Williston Road. Rounding out the WCS squad is Ollie Charlton, whose father is also experienced in the food industry.

The five-member team prepared a vegetarian street taco dish for the timed competition. Judges included Hen of the Wood pastry chef Laura Schantz, August First bakery executive chef Lahi Ibrahim and Little Miss Taco founder Clarina Cravens, among others. They were awarded the Mise En Place award recognizing teamwork, organization and cleanliness.

“It’s a lot harder than it looks,” Kelley

said. “You have to get to know the people that you’re working with.”

Williston Central School educator Lynn Brown revived the Jr. Iron Chef program last year after it had gone on hiatus. Three of the team members competed last year, and two are new to the program.

“It was less stressful and it felt a lot easier because I knew where everything was and I knew the setup,” said Ed Whitcomb, comparing last year’s competition to this year’s.

“I thought we all did really well and I was pretty happy,” Farr added.

The team will stay together — headquartered in the school’s family and consumer science classroom — and plans to cook a meal for the entire WCS student body this spring and travel to the Statehouse in Montpelier for a recognition of all the state’s middle school and high school Jr. Iron Chef award winners.

“I am very excited to get kids in the kitchen,” said Brown, who coaches the team. “They learn self-esteem, communication, about our local food system and nutrients … I think the power of food for both the mind and the body is just amazing.”

CVU also fields a team, which gives the WCS chefs the option to continue to compete at the high school level.

— Jason Starr

WCS student-chefs compete at the 16th annual Jr. Iron Chef competition at the Champlain Valley Exposition on March 9. OBSERVER COURTESYPHOTO

School employees’ healthcare plan extended

The Commission for Public School Employee Health Benefits has unanimously agreed to a two-year extension of the current school employees’ healthcare plan while pledging to work toward systemic changes that would lower costs and make healthcare more affordable.

The agreement will be in effect through 2027. Under its terms, premium co-shares, co-pays and deductibles will not change for the majority of covered employees, except for some support staff who will see a 1 percent increase in their premiums if they aren’t already contributing 20 percent.

The commission is comprised of equal numbers of educators and school board members. The extended agreement covers most school employees, including those belonging to the teachers union (Vermont NEA). Prior to 2017, school employee healthcare was bargained at the local level.

“Given the tumultuous state of school budgets, economic uncertainty and the absolute need to tackle systemic issues in healthcare, we believe this extension brings much needed stability for both school boards and public school employees alike,” said Mike Campbell, a social studies teacher in St. Albans who

is the co-chairman of the commission. “Big factors are driving unsustainable increases in healthcare costs, and the commission looks forward to working toward developing meaningful reforms.”

Everything will be on the table, including wellness and preventive care.

Mark Koenig, a member of the Addison Northwest School District board who is the other co-chairman of the commission, agreed.

“It quickly became clear that all of us on the commission are committed to building a better healthcare plan for educators that is affordable to Vermont taxpayers,” Koenig said. “At this moment, how we share medical payments is less important than getting a firm handle on overall costs. Let’s be clear; we are not kicking the can down the road. We’re picking it up and putting it in its proper place.”

Formal bargaining for the third statewide healthcare pact was set to begin next month. The previous two rounds of nego -

tiations took months and ended up being settled by arbitrators. Now, instead of bargaining over premiums, co-pays and deductibles, the commission will tackle healthcare reform on several fronts.

Earlier this month, the commission agreed to discuss changes in current health insurance plans with the Vermont Education Health Initiative (VEHI), the entity that offers health benefits to school districts and school employees. By doing so, the commission hopes to explore whether such changes in those plans might better serve public school employees and taxpayers. A first meeting with VEHI is scheduled for the end of March. The agenda includes a review of current plans and a discussion of possible revisions, replacements or changes to current benefit offerings. Everything will be on the table, including wellness and preventive care.

The commission will also hold fact-finding forums with other players in Vermont’s healthcare system. For example, the Green Mountain Care Board — the state’s healthcare regulator — can make vital contributions in the area of hospital and prescription cost containment, and the recent merger of Vermont Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) with

Michigan BCSC may offer the possibility of new resources and ideas.

The commission will also explore larger reforms such as reference-based pricing to lower hospital costs and the formation of a prescription drug affordability board. Reference-based pricing could offer significant savings in benefit plans covering public school employees. A prescription drug reform might provide the GMCB the authority to set maximum prices for certain high-cost prescription drugs.

“While our focus is on healthcare benefits for educators, our work may apply to other sectors of Vermont,” said Koenig. “In addition to our educators and school districts, we will keep all interested parties up to date on our findings, including the state Legislature and Gov. Scott. If we can pull this off, everybody wins — teachers, school boards, taxpayers and the residents of Vermont.”

Campbell agreed. “We know the cost of healthcare isn’t just a schools thing, it’s an all-Vermont thing,” he said. “We are excited to see where our efforts will go as the commission works together to tackle the ever-rising cost of healthcare that affects all Vermonters.”

lawmakers shows wealthy residents’ eagerness to pay more into state

A group of high-income and wealthy Vermont residents sent an open letter to the Vermont legislature on Tuesday, asking legislators to increase their taxes in response to pressing needs across the state.

The group, which includes Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield of Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream, Olympic cross-country skier Hannah Dreissigacker, Phoenix Books co-owner Renee Reiner, green energy entrepreneurs Duane Peterson and David Blittersdorf, and others, stressed the importance of public investment and their willingness to contribute more in taxes to fund public investments necessary to improve the quality of life for all Vermonters.

The Vermont Legislature is currently considering legislation to enact a 3 percent surcharge on personal annual income above $500,000, which would raise at least $74 million in state revenue each year. Tuesday’s letter offered explicit support for the proposal, as well as efforts to study legislation to tax unrealized gains of high-net-worth individuals.

Susanna Penfield of Strafford signed the letter, and emphasized the ability of the wealthiest Vermont residents to contribute more in state taxes. Said Penfield: “As someone inheriting generational wealth who was born, raised and currently lives in Vermont, I throw my full support and endorsement behind this proposal. When wealthy people maintain and accumulate wealth far beyond their own needs, it comes at the cost of those in our neighborhoods, schools, towns — as well as at the cost of a sustainable future that will benefit us all.”

The letter was sent during a key moment in the legislative session, as the Legislature faces significant budgetary needs that go far beyond current revenue projections.

“The time is now for this kind of bold action,” said Eliza Hale, a signer of the letter who resides in Washington, Vt. “I urge our legislators, with their democratic supermajority, to swiftly move on this staggering opportunity, with the urgency we all know is at hand. I am one of many wealthy inheritors, living here in Vermont, and I want nothing more than to find trusted public options for making this state a safer, more dignified, and equitable place for all

people to thrive.”

The proposed legislation to enact a 3 percent surcharge on income over $500,000 has received public support from state legislators and organizations.

The Fund Vermont’s Future coalition has been advocating throughout the 2024 legislative session for the Fair Share for Vermont Campaign’s proposals to increase taxes on Vermont’s wealthiest residents to raise state revenue. The Fund Vermont’s Future coalition includes the ACLU of Vermont, Public Assets Institute, Vermont Conservation Voters, the Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance, Vermont Natural Resources Council, the Vermont NEA and Voices for Vermont’s Children, as well as individual representatives Alex Hilliard, Hamdi Jafar, and Amanda Janoo.

Additional organizational support for the Fair Share for Vermont proposal includes Vermont Interfaith Action, Renewable Energy Vermont, Kunsi Keya Tamakoce, Building Fearless Futures, AFT Vermont, The Vermont Releaf Collective, Ezili’s Respite Farm and Sanctuary, Bottomless Well, and Rural Vermont.

The full letter and more information on the policy is available at www.fairsharevt.org.

CLOCKWISE (l to r): The Vermont Catamounts win the America East Conference men’s basketball championship game at Patrick Gym on Saturday, March

Vermont’s Aaron Deloney drives to the hoop against UMass Lowell’s Yuri Covingtons during the Catamounts’ 66-61 win over the River Hawks. Vermont Head Coach John Becker cuts down the net after the game.

Summer Camps

Registration is now open for summer camps. Detailed information is available at www.willistonrec.org.

Spring/Summer Programs

Our Spring/Summer Program Guide has been mailed to Williston homes with program listings for March through August. Registration is open at www.willistonrec. org. There are programs for adults, preschoolers, youths/teens and families.

FAMILY PROGRAMS

Cake Decorating

Ages 12-plus. Learn the basics of filling, stacking, crumb-coating and decorating cakes. Each person or pair will leave with a cake they have assembled and decorated, and a foundation and inspiration for future cake decorating. March 28, 6-8 p.m., $70. Instructor: Jamie Deutsch

Vocal Percussion and Improvisation Workshop

Ages 13-plus. Root7, Vermont’s contemporary A Cappella group for 17 years, will host a free workshop introducing participants to vocal percussion, vocal improvisation and creating collaborative songs. For beginner and intermediate vocalists.

Boater Safety

Age 12-plus. Boater safety education is required for any motorboat operator, 12 years or older, born after January 1, 1974. The Boat Vermont 8-hour classroom course will enable you to get the certification you need. Instructor: Jon Fick

ADULT PROGRAMS

Seed Starting Workshop

Are you excited to start planting before the ground outside is ready? Are some of your plants struggling to produce fruit before the leaves begin falling? Come learn how to successfully start seeds indoors in preparation for the growing season. All materials provided. Instructor:

Cedar

Schiewetz, Vermont Garden Network

Tai Chi Intro

Ages 50-plus. This class will present sequences of movements derived from the “Sun” style, which is slow, smooth and upright in posture. This style is especially accessible to those over 50 or with impaired mobility. Wednesdays, starting March 13, 12:15-1:15 p.m. R.E.C. Zone, 94 Harvest Lane. Free. Instructor: Adina Panitch

Senior Strength and Functional Mobility

Ages 50-plus. Grab your weights and a water bottle and join this fitness program just for seniors. The program will concentrate on developing upper and lower body strength as well as improving balance and strengthening your core. In this dementia-friendly class, participants are encouraged to work within their abilities while socializing and having fun.

The program meets Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:45-10:45 a.m. Cost is $5 per visit, payable when you attend class. The program is held at The R.E.C. Zone, 94 Harvest Lane. Optional equipment to bring with you: hand/ankle weights, bands/tubing, mat, ball. Chairs will be available to participants.

Jazzercise Cardio Sculpt

Jazzercise is for every body. Dance, sweat and say hello to your favorite workout with easy-to-follow dance aerobic moves, strength training and flexibility. Programs are low impact with different levels of intensity. Instructors will show you options to take it high or low with lots of energy. Use of a chair is optional. This program is geared toward adults 50-plus but open to everyone looking for a low-impact workout to start your physical wellness journey. There are two different programs offered:

— Cardio Sculpt Low, (low impact, low-to-moderate intensity): Classes offered year round, Mondays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

— Cardio Sculpt High, (low impact, moderate-to-high intensity): Classes offered year round, Tuesdays 4:45-5:45 p.m.

Purchase one of three class pass options and start any time: single class, good for one month; 5 class pass, good for two months; 10 class pass, good for three months. Bring clean indoor sneakers to change into, light hand-held weights and water.

YOUTH

PROGRAMS

Ninja Intro Programs

Ages 4-8, 7-11 and 9-15. Come in and try a four-week introduction to kids martial arts. Kids ninja classes help girls and boys realize their full potential in an environment that is playful, supportive and fun. Separate days are offered for each session. Sign up for the one that works for your child. Instructor: ONTA Studio Staff

Ninja Science Camp

Ages 8-13. This camp combines martial arts, tumbling and parkour with environmental science education. We’ll be doing lots of technique-oriented Karate, playing martial arts games, breaking boards and delving deeper into meditation and the moral and ethical precepts of the martial arts. April Break Camp, April 22-26, 9 a.m-3 p.m. Instructors: ONTA Studio staff

Dangerous Girls

Ages 12-plus. Dangerous Girls is a practical self-defense class designed for teens and young women. With a combination of kickboxing and grappling you’ll learn real fighting while bouncing to sweet tunes and laughing with your new friends. It’s fun, it’s social and before you know it, you’ll be able to kick butt. Instructor: ONTA Studio staff

Mixed Martial Arts Intro

Ages 13 plus. This program mixes training techniques from boxing, kickboxing and Jiu-Jitsu to create a fun, non-competitive environment where you will get a great workout and learn practical self-defense skills. Instructor: ONTA Studio staff

Youth Lacrosse

Registration is open for youth lacrosse — a fast-paced sport that combines the power of football and hockey and the endurance of soccer and basketball. The KinderRec program is coed and is a child/ parent program for ages 5-6. The Grade 1-8 program offers separate boys and girls teams. Volunteer coaches are needed in these programs.

March 4 at 1:51 p.m. — Report of an erratic female in the Petsmart parking lot, screaming at people. Female was transported to the hospital for evaluation.

March 5 at 7:11 a.m. — Assisted US Marshalls with taking male into custody with active arrest warrant.

March 5 at 12:26 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Marshalls. Female was issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

March 5 at 5:43 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. Male suspect was issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft. Female suspects were not cited.

March 5 at 6:30 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Ulta Beauty. Female suspect has not been located.

March 6 at 10:21 a.m. — Report of an intoxicated male at Walmart. Male was removed from the store and moved along.

March 6 at 2:17 p.m. — Male enters police department lobby to pick up property, had active arrest warrant, was taken into custody without incident.

March 7 at 5:29 p.m. — Report of a male inside LL Bean who had stolen merchandise in the past. Male was located and issued a notice of trespass.

March 7 at 9:52 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Home Depot. Male suspect issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

March 8 at 9:19 a.m. — Report of windows broken at vacant Christmas Tree Shop and Friendlys locations. Case is still under investiga-

tion.

March 8 at 10:50 a.m. — Report of a stolen vehicle from UHaul. Truck was later recovered in Colchester. Male located with the vehicle was issued a citation to appear in court for operating without owner’s consent.

March 9 at 10:48 a.m. — Male reporting his credit cards were stolen and used at Walmart, Shaw’s and Hannaford. Case is still under investigation.

March 9 at 3:12 p.m. — Report of a male in Home Depot who staff believed was going to steal. Male left all tools in the store and left.

March 10 at 8:42 a.m. — Assisted Williston Rescue with unresponsive male on St. George Road. Male became conscious and refused all services.

March 10 at 7:33 p.m. — Following a motor vehicle stop, a male was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.

March 11 at 8:22 a.m. — Chase Bank reported a suspicious male in the vestibule. Male was a private security guard that the bank hired for the day.

March 11 at 1:42 p.m. — Report of retail theft a Marshalls. Male was issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

Officers also conducted 32 traffic stops and responded to seven alarm activations and 10 motor vehicle crashes during this time frame.

Douglas Willoby Hoar

Douglas Willoby Hoar, affectionately known as Doug, passed away on March 17, 2024, leaving behind a cherished legacy that will be forever remembered.

Born Dec. 22, 1944, he spent his entire life in Vermont.

Doug is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Cheryl Ann Woodward. He will be deeply missed by his children, Brian Hoar, his wife Sandra and Shelley

Forrest and her husband Corey.

Doug found immense joy in being a grandfather and shared his hobbies, passions, and beliefs with Justin Prescott, Rachel Hoar, Taylor Hoar, Evan Forrest, and Tyler Forrest. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, his sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Elloine and Richard Hoar, his sister Nancy Wheeler, brother William Hoar, and his beloved dogs, Abbey and Zoe.

Doug’s upbringing on a small family farm in Newbury, VT, not only instilled in him the values of hard work and diligence but also nurtured his deep love and respect for all animals. He developed a love for machinery, tractors, and chainsaws early on and even fibbed about his age to secure a job in road construction, contributing to the construction of northern sections of Interstate 89.

Doug dedicated his life to his career, which was marked by dedication and success, culminating in his ownership of Goss Dodge. Starting as a salesman and as-

cending to managerial roles, he eventually purchased the business through his charm, work ethic, and meticulous attention to detail. Doug’s commitment to excellence was evident to all who knew him.

In addition to his professional achievements, Doug served his country honorably as a member of the Vermont Air National Guard.

Many people have worked as hard as Doug Hoar and many may have played as hard as Doug Hoar, but very few people have worked AND played as hard as Doug. He lived life to the fullest, balancing hard work with a passion for the outdoors.

An avid hunter, fisherman, snowmobiler, and four-wheeler enthusiast, he pursued these activities with unmatched vigor. All that knew him also recognized his lifelong need for speed, and he was competitive about having the fastest snowmobile or four wheeler. At 45, he ventured into stock car racing, igniting a lifelong passion that created lasting friendships and family traditions, still evident in his family’s racing.

He cherished hunting seasons spent with loved ones at the Log

Cabin, and his snowmobiling adventures in Canada near St-Michele-des-Saints and St. Zenon were legendary, creating treasured memories with family and friends.

Later in life, he dabbled in golfing with Cheryl and his family and developed a love for reading.

Services to celebrate Doug’s life will be held on March 23, 2024 at the Minor Funeral and Cremation Center in Milton, VT.

Calling hours will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Following the visitation hours, a short ceremony will take place to offer those who knew and loved him a chance to pay their respects. A reception will follow at the Eagle’s Club in Milton at 4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association in his honor or supporting a local dog rescue program.

In every facet of his life – as a dedicated businessman, loving family man, and nature enthusiast – Douglas Willoby Hoar touched the lives of many. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

SHOP DINE SPEND ENJOY

Founded by Betty Debnam Issue 12, 2024

Darkness During the Day

There’s a big event happening up in the sky in a few days. Are you ready for the 2024 solar eclipse? The Mini Page explores the science of the eclipse and safe ways to observe it.

What is an eclipse?

An eclipse happens when one body in space passes directly between two others. A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, blocking the sun’s light.

The solar eclipse expected on April 8 will cover a large path from Texas to Maine. In its direct path, experts say, the eclipse will make it appear as dark as dusk outside.

A partial eclipse will be visible in all U.S. states except Alaska.

The last time a total solar eclipse passed over the continental United States was in 2017.

How does it happen?

There are several stages of a total eclipse. In the first stage, the moon is partially blocking the sun. This stage can last more than an hour.

As the eclipse becomes total, the last bits of sunlight streaming through valleys on the moon cause a bright flash, known as

Mini Fact: The moon is too small to cover the entire sun’s disk, so a ring, or annulus, of bright sunlight surrounds the moon.

the diamond ring effect

The shadow causing the partial eclipse is called the penumbra (peh-NUM-bruh). The shadow of the total eclipse is the umbra (UMbruh).

When the diamond ring disappears and the moon completely covers the sun, it’s safe to look at the eclipse. But this will only last for a few seconds. When you begin to see a crescent on the other side of the moon, it’s time to protect your eyes again. Safety first!

Looking directly at the sun can cause serious damage to your eyes!

The only way to look directly at the eclipse is through special “eclipse glasses.” Even very dark sunglasses are not safe to watch through. Don’t look through a camera, telescope or binoculars, even with eclipse glasses.

You can also use a pinhole projector to watch the eclipse safely. Find directions and more information under Resources.

Words that remind us of the total solar eclipse are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:

ANNULUS, APRIL, CONTIGUOUS, DIAMOND, EARTH, ECLIPSE, EFFECT, GLASSES, MOON, ORBIT, PARTIAL, PATH, PENUMBRA, SAFETY, SOLAR, SPACE, STAGE, SUN, TOTAL, UMBRA.

Next Week: Our states: Kentucky

On Aug. 21, 2017, the International Space Station crossed the path of the eclipse three times as it orbited the Earth. Six astronauts aboard took photographs of the umbra from space.

Where and when

Over North America, the eclipse will first be seen around 11:07 a.m. Pacific time from the Pacific Coast of Mexico.

The path will continue through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Will your home be in the path of the total eclipse?

The next total eclipse that will be visible from the contiguous (touching) United States will be in 20 years, on Aug. 23, 2044.

On the Web:

• bit.ly/MPpinhole

• go.nasa.gov/3SzXKBg

At the library:

• exploratorium.edu/eclipse

• “Eclipse: How the 1919 Solar Eclipse Proved Einstein’s

Mini Jokes

Mikey: How does a man on the moon get his hair cut?

Miles: E-clipse it!

Analysis of satellite images revealed four previously unknown emperor penguin colonies, with one populated by more

The diamond ring effect during the 2017 total solar eclipse.

through valleys on the moon cause a bright flash, known as

binoculars, even with eclipse glasses. You can also use a pinhole projector to watch the eclipse safely. Find directions and more information under Resources.

Try ’n’ Find

Words that remind us of the total solar eclipse are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:

ANNULUS, APRIL, CONTIGUOUS, DIAMOND, EARTH, ECLIPSE, EFFECT, GLASSES, MOON, ORBIT, PARTIAL, PATH, PENUMBRA, SAFETY, SOLAR, SPACE, STAGE, SUN, TOTAL, UMBRA.

Cook’s Corner Spicy Baked Potato

You’ll need:

• 1 medium-size potato

• 2 teaspoons margarine or butter

• 1/2 teaspoon taco seasoning

• 2 tablespoons shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese

What to do:

• 1 tablespoon low-fat sour cream

• 1 tablespoon chunky salsa

At the library:

• “Eclipse: How the 1919 Solar Eclipse

Proved Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity” by Darcy Pattison

• 1/2 cup black beans, drained and rinsed

1. Wash, dry and poke holes in potato with a fork. Cook potato in microwave for 6 to 7 minutes on high.

2. Cut potato in half lengthwise; allow to cool slightly. Scoop out potato into a medium-size bowl. Mix and mash in butter, taco seasoning, cheese, sour cream and salsa.

3. Place mixture back in potato shell; microwave for 45 to 50 seconds. Top with black beans. Serves 1.

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

Analysis of satellite images revealed four previously unknown emperor penguin colonies, with one populated by more than 5,000 of the Antarctic birds. Scientists spotted the dark stains of guano that the penguins leave behind as they move over the otherwise icy-white landscape. While the discoveries bring the number of known colonies to 66, scientists say the recent arrival of bird flu to the Antarctic, along with climate change, are serious threats to the birds.

For later:

Look in your newspaper for articles about the coming total solar eclipse, and make a plan with your family or classmates to safely watch the eclipse on April 8.

Teachers: Follow and interact with The Mini Page

The diamond ring effect during the 2017 total solar eclipse.

Who should be

Dear Savvy Senior,

Who should be screened for lung cancer, and how is it covered by Medicare? I used to smoke but quit many years ago and am wondering if I need to be tested.

Just Turned 65

Dear Just Turned,

Even if you haven’t touched a cigarette in decades, you could still be due for an annual lung cancer screening, based on new recommendations from the American Cancer Society (ACS).

The new guidelines state that adults ages 50 to 80 who currently smoke or used to smoke the equivalent of one pack a day for 20 years should get an annual lowdose computed tomography scan (also called a CT scan), no matter how long ago you quit.

ACS guidelines previous-

ly said that those who quit 15 or more years ago were in the clear. But new studies have shown that expanding screening eligibility saves lives, even among people who quit smoking years earlier.

EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES

Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer in the United States. According to the ACS, an estimated 234,580 new cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2024, and about 125,070 Americans will die from the disease.

While lung cancer can occur in anyone at any age, cigarette smoking is the top risk factor and is linked to about 80-90 percent of lung cancer deaths. Most people diagnosed with the disease are age 65 or older.

What makes lung cancer especially tricky is that it’s often symptomless until it’s at an ad-

By Jim Miller

vanced stage, when it’s harder to treat. Early detection can lead to a 20-25 percent improvement in survival rates, resulting in fewer deaths from lung cancer.

But a 2022 report from the American Lung Association

found that only 5.8 percent of people eligible for lung cancer screening in the U.S. get screened, and the screening rate is as low as 1 percent in some states.

SCREENING AND COVERAGE

If you fall into the population eligible for a lung cancer screening, start by speaking with your doctor, even if it’s been a long time since you smoked.

Medicare Part B will cover lung cancer screenings with a low-dose CT scan once a year for people ages 50 to 77 who are current smokers or quit in the last 15 years and have a heavy smoking history. Patients must have an order from their doctor or health care provider and should not have symptoms of lung cancer.

A low-dose CT scan is a noninvasive test where you lie down and hold your breath while being

•

•

•

•

•

•

moved through a doughnut-shaped X-ray machine. The scan takes several X-ray images of the lungs and can help to identify possible abnormalities in the lung tissue.

There are some potential risks with this screening, including the possibility of false positives, which can lead to more scans or invasive procedures. According to the American Lung Association, about 12-14 percent of lung cancer screening scans will have a false positive, which is about the same rate as with mammograms.

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.

TODAY’S HISTORY:

• In 1788, a fire destroyed most of the city of New Orleans.

• In 1963, the federal penitentiary on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay was closed.

• In 1980, President Jimmy Carter announced that the United States would boycott the Moscow Olympic Games.

• In 2006, the social media site Twitter was founded.

• In 2011, a team of over 30 surgeons and other physicians at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston announced the completion of the first full face transplant in the United States.

TODAY’S FACT:

• Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones completed the first nonstop hot air balloon flight around the world on this day in 1999.

We’re proud of our smiles! We believe that our

skills;

with us will always leave you with a beautiful

GARAGE SALE

Indoor Garage Sale — Clover House of Williston Central School is bringing back its Annual Indoor Garage SaleSaturday, April 6th from 8:00am - 2:00pm.

It is a giant indoor yard sale - high quality household goods, clothing, accessories, sports equipment, toys, art, electronics and more! Taking place in the WCS Cafeteria, ALL ARE WELCOME! Please enter in the After School Hours entrance, back of the west entrance parking lot. All proceeds

Community Bankers

CLASSIFIEDS

go directly to Clover House Overnight Field Trip.

|If you wish to donate any items for sale, you can drop them off Friday evening, April 5, 6:30pm - 8:30pm at the After School Hours entrance. Contact Ted Milks at Tmilks@cvsdvt.org with questions.

LEGAL

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

virtual participation via Zoom. Further instructions for remote participation can be found below. A draft Planning Grant application will be available at the St. George Town Offices, and on the St. George website beginning March 28, 2024.

For any inquiries or additional information, please contact the St. George Town Office or Sarah Muskin at smuskin@ccrpcvt.org .

Additional Zoom Log-In Information:

7900 Williston Road, use rear entrance) or Zoom Meeting ID 846 5863 3532 on zoom.us/join or call 1-646-558-8656

DP 23-03 Michael and Cynthia Olson request discretionary permit review of the proposed 2-lot subdivision of a ±10.1-ac parcel to create (1) ±6.1-ac parcel for the existing dwelling and (1) 3.96-ac parcel for a proposed single-family home at 98 Snowdrift Ln in the ARZD.

Community Bankers BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

Town of St. George Selectboard

BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

Meeting ID: 825 0550 7589

Passcode: 472124

Community Bankers

Thursday, April 4th, 2024 7:00 PM

There is no better time to join our Team!

Community Bankers BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

DP 22-09.1 Nautilus Holdings, LLC requests discretionary permit review of the proposed site work to create two loading docks at 115 Wellness Dr in the IZDW.

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There is no better time to join our Team!

BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

There is no better time to join our Team!

There is no better time to join our Team!

Community Bankers BUILDERS | MAKERS | DOERS®

There is no better time to join our Team!

Location: St. George Town Offices (21 Barber Rd) and tinyurl.com/yfaj7dan

+13126266799,,82505507589#,,,,*472124# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location

North eld Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest LOCAL BANK in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all.

Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest LOCAL BANK in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all

Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest LOCAL BANK in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all.

Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest LOCAL BANK in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all

RABIES BAIT

Northfield Savings Bank, founded in 1867, is the largest LOCAL BANK in Vermont. We are committed to providing a welcoming work environment for all

continued from page 2

Consider joining our team as a Community Banker at our Taft Corners or Richmond location!

Consider joining our team as a Community Banker at our Taft Corners or Richmond location!

Consider joining our team as a Community Banker at our Taft Corners or Richmond location!

Notice is hereby given to the residents of the Town of St. George, Vermont that the St. George Selectboard will hold a public hearing Thursday, April 4th at 7:00 PM to discuss a VCDP Planning Grant Application. The grant application aims to address accessibility needs for two town buildings in St. George. This public hearing will be conducted in a hybrid format, allowing both in-person attendance at the Town Offices and

• +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82505507589

?pwd=cZSoLsmUJc96TnjLHALFEcc5y Ixt2o.1

LEGAL

TOWN OF WILLISTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA

DP 24-01 P&P Septic Service, Inc. requests discretionary permit review of the proposed development of a ±1.05-acre site with a 16,200 SF commercial building and associated site work at 581 Shunpike Rd in the IZDW.

Relevant Skills: Customer Service, Cash Handling (we’ll train you!) Even better… if you have prior banking experience, we encourage you to apply!

Consider joining our team as a Community Banker at our Taft Corners or Richmond location!

Relevant Skills: Customer Service, Cash Handling (we’ll train you!) Even better… if you have prior banking experience, we encourage you to apply!

Relevant Skills: Customer Service, Cash Handling (we’ll train you!)

Even better… if you have prior banking experience, we encourage you to apply!

Relevant Skills: Customer Service, Cash Handling (we’ll train you!) Even better… if you have prior banking experience, we encourage you to apply!

If you are 18 or older and have a high school diploma, general education (GED) degree, or equivalent, consider joining the NSB Team!

The week-long bait drop is a cooperative effort between Vermont and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to stop the spread of the potentially fatal disease.

If you are 18 or older and have a high school diploma, general education (GED) degree, or equivalent, consider joining the NSB Team!

Opportunity for Growth

If you are 18 or older and have a high school diploma, general education (GED) degree, or equivalent, consider joining the NSB Team!

Opportunity for Growth

If you are 18 or older and have a high school diploma, general education (GED) degree, or equivalent, consider joining the NSB Team!

Opportunity for Growth

Opportunity for Growth

NSB has training opportunities to engage employees and assist with professional development within our company. The average years of service for an NSB employee is 9! If you’re looking for a career in an environment that promotes growth, join our team!

NSB has training opportunities to engage employees and assist with professional development within our company. The average years of service for an NSB employee is 9! If you’re looking for a career in an environment that promotes growth, join our team!

What NSB Can Offer You

What NSB Can Offer You

NSB has training opportunities to engage employees and assist with professional development within our company. The average years of service for an NSB employee is 9! If you’re looking for a career in an environment that promotes growth, join our team!

What NSB Can Offer You

NSB has training opportunities to engage employees and assist with professional development within our company. The average years of service for an NSB employee is 9! If you’re looking for a career in an environment that promotes growth, join our team!

What NSB Can Offer You

Tuesday, April 9, 2024 – 7:00 PM Town Hall Meeting Room (Town Hall,

RABIES BAIT

DP 23-09 William & Joan Boardman request discretionary permit review of the proposed 4-Lot subdivision of a ±29.09-ac parcel to create (1) ±5.47-ac parcel for the existing home, (1) ±0.82-ac parcel for a proposed home, (1) ±0.79-ac parcel for a second proposed home, and (1) ±22-acre parcel to be protected as open space at 10 Ricky Vista in the ARZD.

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saliva. If left untreated, rabies is almost always fatal in humans and animals. However, treatment with the rabies vaccine is nearly 100 percent effective when given soon after a person is bitten by a rabid animal.

DP 24-17 Pre-App Scott Allaire requests pre-app review of the proposed triplex on an existing ±0.55-acre parcel at 3157 St. George Rd in the ARZD.

EMAILED ADVERTISEMENT

So far this year, 23 animals in Vermont have tested positive for rabies, and 14 of those have been raccoons.

(1557) Petroleum Parts Inventory

Rabies is a deadly viral disease of the brain that infects mammals. It is most often seen in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also get rabies. The virus is spread through the bite of an infected animal or contact with its

Competitive compensation based on experience. Wellrounded benefits package. Profit-Sharing opportunity. Excellent 401(k) matching retirement program. Commitment to professional development. Opportunities to volunteer and support our communities. Work -Life balance!

Competitive compensation based on experience. Wellrounded benefits package. Profit-Sharing opportunity. Excellent 401(k) matching retirement program. Commitment to professional development. Opportunities to volunteer and support our communities. Work -Life balance!

Please send an NSB Application & your resume in confidence to: Careers@nsbvt.com

Competitive compensation based on experience. Wellrounded benefits package. Profit-Sharing opportunity. Excellent 401(k) matching retirement program. Commitment to professional development. Opportunities to volunteer and support our communities. Work -Life balance!

Please send an NSB Application & your resume in confidence to: Careers@nsbvt.com

Competitive compensation based on experience. Wellrounded benefits package. Profit-Sharing opportunity. Excellent 401(k) matching retirement program. Commitment to professional development. Opportunities to volunteer and support our communities. Work -Life balance!

Please send an NSB Application & your resume in confidence to: Careers@nsbvt.com

Please send an NSB Application & your resume in confidence to: Careers@nsbvt.com

Equal Opportunity Employer / Member FDIC

SHELBURNE continued

saliva. ways treatment

Auction Closes: Tuesday, March 26 @ 10AM

654 Bristol Road, Bristol, VT 05443

The week-long bait drop is a cooperative effort between Vermont and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to stop the spread of the potentially fatal disease.

Preview Auction: Monday, March 25 from 11AM-1PM

(1553)

Project details and site plans are available on the website, town.williston.vt.us, under “Public Records and Documents”, then “Agendas & Minutes”, and “Development Review Board”. Contact Planning & Zoning Office for more information: 802-878-6704 or email planning@willistonvt.org

ADVERTISING INSERTION ORDER

Thomas Hirchak Company

FROM: Cathy Morneault

Phone: 802-888-4662

According to wildlife officials, rabid animals often show a change in their normal behavior, but you cannot tell whether an animal has rabies simply by looking at it. People should not touch or pick up wild animals or strays – even baby animals.

To: Rick & Susan Cote

Paper: Williston Observer

Max Length 12.5

Rabies is a deadly viral disease of the brain that infects mammals. It is most often seen in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also get rabies. The virus is spread through the bite of an infected animal or contact with its

Online Auction Closes: Tuesday, April 2 @ 10AM

Equal Opportunity Employer / Member FDIC

Equal Opportunity Employer / Member FDIC

Equal Opportunity Employer / Member FDIC

Preview Auction: Monday, March 25 from 11AM-1PM

TODAY’S DATE: 3/15/2024

NAME OF FILE: 03212024_WO

DATE(S) TO RUN: 3/21/2024

SIZE OF AD: 1/8 page (4” x 5”)

Publishes in Williston Observer

SECTION: Auctions PO# 1557/1553

100 a person So have those According animals mal an animal it. People animals

Email: Advertising2@THCAuction.com

Shelburne display lead dors from creemees. from

EMAILED TO: Rick@Willistonobserver.com

Walk-to-school ranks swell

Participation in Williston Central School’s monthly “Walk or Roll to School” days has grown throughout the school year. The latest event, on March 14, had about 60 students, seven parents and five dogs walking along nine different routes from neighborhoods to school.

Upcoming Walk or Roll to School days are April 16 and May 9. Students who walk or roll on those days can enter a drawing to win a Williston Safe Routes to School shirt with a logo designed by WCS sixth-grader Helen Carr. OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO

Around Town

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First Strides Vermont season upcoming

Registration is open for First Strides Vermont, a mentoring and peer support program for women who are beginning or returning to running and/or walking. The program runs May 1-July 17 with weekly gatherings on Wednesdays (5:45-6:45 p.m.) at Williston Village Community Park.

Email firststridesvermont@ gmail.com for registration information.

Step

up to be ‘Storm Smart’ for water quality improvement

The Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District (WNRCD) is offering free “Storm Smart” assessments to local property owners.

Learn about how you can slow down, spread out and absorb rainfall at home and mitigate erosion and pooling to improve local water quality. Trained staff from the WNRCD will visit and help you trace the path water takes through your property. After the visit, they will provide individualized recommendations for stormwater solutions.

Sign up for a visit at www. winooskinrcd.org/stormsmart.

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Puzzle