Williston Observer 06/06/2024

KIDS HAVE TAKEN OVER THE WILLISTON OBSERVER!

How we see our teachers — Grade 2

My experience as a Legislative Page

BY AVERY HOWE Grade 8

This past January, I had the amazing opportunity to work in the Vermont Statehouse as a Legislative Page.

To become a page, you have to apply to the Vermont State Sergeant at Arms, who, at the time, was Janet Miller. For the application, you need about a page-long essay explaining who you are, what you like to do and why you want to be a page. I wanted to do this because it seemed like a great way to get experience in a job, to become more ma-

My knowledge of how state government works increased significantly, as did my knowledge of the State of Vermont.

ture, to meet new people and to add a staple to my resume.

When I arrived on Jan. 2, my first feeling was intimidation. It is a massive building,

with 180 legislators, and everyone is dressed up looking all fancy.

On a normal day at the Statehouse, my first job is to hand out the Senate calendars and the Senate journals. The calendar is what will be going on that day in the Senate, and the journal is what has happened so far that session.

I would then go to the cafeteria to meet up with the other pages and figure out what is happening for the day, and to just chat. We are typically there about an hour or an hour and a half before the masses of legis-

BY LAINEY AVERYT Grade 4

We all woke up excited. Today was the big day. After we ate and got dressed, me, my mom, my sister, dad and dog went outside and found a good spot in the front yard and set up some chairs to see the solar eclipse. Glass-

Masthead art by Shannon Fahy

Miss Ashford

BY DANIEL KERNOFF, GRADE 2

Mr Chris BY CG, GRADE 2

Mr Ketcham BY FINN MURPHY, GRADE 2

Mrs Blaine BY LYDIA SCHULTZ, GRADE 2

Creating Safe, Beautiful Spaces

IN JUNE, 10% OF OUR DECOR SALES WILL BE DONATED TO OUTRIGHT VERMONT!

continued from page 1

es up. We were all bubbling with excitement — we couldn’t wait!

Then, we all put on our glasses and looked up at the sun. Each time we looked, it got smaller and smaller! It was magical. It started getting windier and darker, and the sun was getting so small. We all sat down. We were all so excited and couldn’t wait to see what would happen next!

Then it looked like dusk, but it was only 3:20 p.m. And before I knew it, it went into totality! It was really cool. My dog even tried to walk away. The birds started flying back to their nests. They thought it was nighttime. “Wow,” I said, “I can’t believe this is happening!”

We all said we were all too stunned to say anything else. The moon totally covered the sun! I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Lastly, my mom, me and the dog went over to our neighbor’s house. My mom talked to the neighbors about the eclipse. We walked back home and started cleaning up. And I knew I would always remember the solar eclipse.

That magical day

On Monday April 8 2024, I experienced a total solar eclipse. The first thing I did on that day was ride my bike with my sister. We wanted to see how sunny it was.

Then, when we finished riding our bikes, we had to go shopping for last second food for the eclipse. When we finished, we decided to watch the eclipse with our neighbors.

We started to set up a table and we put some food on it, and when my mom started to cook the meat, the eclipse started. To be honest, it went super slow. It looked like the moon turned yellow. It was super duper amazing.

being finished. After a few more minutes, the total eclipse happened. It looked cooler than when I got my favorite video game, it looked cooler than when I scored my first goal in hockey. It was even cooler than when it looked like the moon turned yellow. That is why many people like to see the total eclipse. There were fireworks going off and people cheering. It was a magical experience. I have heard a lot of facts about the eclipse, but it looked and felt like it was one big fact.

Sadly, I couldn’t see the eclipse end because I did not feel well, but I was satisfied with what I saw that magical day.

-Ben

Eclipse day

When I woke up, I was so excited. At lunch, my mom made a sandwich with a hole in it to look like the solar eclipse.

First, my friend came over and we all walked down to the park to find a good area. I was playing on the playground and I was waiting for the eclipse to start. I asked my dad when the eclipse would start and he told me: “60 seconds.”

Then my dad told me it’s starting. We watched as the sun was slowly shrinking. When the sun was still getting smaller, the radio my dad brought to tell us when to put our glasses on said: “3, 2, 1, total solar eclipse!

Next it was like it was becoming dawn. It was not as dark as I expected it to be, but it was still dark. As I turned, I saw a sunset not in the sky but as far as I could see to the north, south, east and west. The moon looked like a ring of light in the dark sky. On either side of the eclipse. I saw Venus on the right and Jupiter to the left.

Lastly, when the sun poked out, it looked like the moon was going to blast us. I yelled loudly, “Good morning,” as a joke.

I suggest not missing a solar eclipse. I know you will like it.

-Connor L. Lewis

Thoughtfully Sourced Products Focused on Sustainability 1140 WILLISTON ROAD, SOUTH BURLINGTON • 802-488-9037 • XX

TUESDAY-FRIDAY, 10AM-5:30PM • SATURDAY, 10AM-4PM JOYOFHOMEVT.COM

When my mom finished cooking, the eclipse was halfway done. Then my sister and I grabbed food and ate on the trampoline and watched the sky. After I finished eating, the eclipse was so close to

continued from page 1

Grade 4

all. After lunch we would have our secondary jobs, which is usually checking for mail and getting our school work done.

lators appear. When we are done with that, on Tuesdays and Thursdays the House meets at 9 a.m., so some of us will go to the House to fill up the water jug and to wait for the reps to start the session.

The other pages not assigned to the House for that day will be in the Senate when the Senate is in session. Most of the time the sessions will take between 5-45 minutes. The longest House session I was in lasted two hours.

While in session, pages usually need to get paper messages from one legislator to another, without breaking any of the many rules. For example, in the House you can’t break the line of contact between the Speaker and the member(s) talking to the Speaker. If the Speaker says “are you ready for the question?” you must freeze no matter where you are. You have to keep an eye out for any messages at all times so you don’t miss one.

A big highlight of my time was the lunches. The food wasn’t really comparable to school lunch at

One of my most memorable moments was when I met Gov. Phil Scott. He was in the building for a recognition of the best child artists in Vermont (or something like that), so I walked up and introduced myself to him. I even got a selfie.

The main challenge of the job is remembering who everyone is and what they do. For example, I know that Sen. Phil Baruth is in the Judiciary Committee and he sits in seat 12. He is the Pro-Tem of the Senate.

My knowledge of how state government works increased significantly, as did my knowledge of the State of Vermont.

Overall, I think the Page Program was a great experience for me. If I did it again, I would want to start out with more confidence, and have a plan to document my time there better. I would definitely recommend looking into the program and trying to apply. It is crucial that you can be outgoing, confident and respectful.

FABRICS • DECOR • CUSTOM FABRIC WORK

Foote Grade 4

Capturing, celestial, wondrous

First, my Nana came over and we made so many delicious foods. I was confused when my Nana came over because I didn’t know there would be an eclipse. Some of the scrumptious foods we had were pinwheels, taquitos, mozzarella sticks and a brownie sundae. I also had a popsicle because it was hot at first. We ate almost all of the pinwheels and mozzarella sticks.

Then, we gathered all of our solar eclipse glasses from upstairs and kept looking out the window. We had about the exact amount of glasses for everyone. We put the glasses on our dog, and he looked hilarious.

At different moments we would look out the window and see the sun. One time when my sister looked, she saw a little bit of the sun covered.

We all went outside on our deck, sat in the chairs and waited, looking up with our glasses on. After what seemed like forever, my Nana called out, “There’s a sliver left!” And she was right, there was only a tiny bit of the sun showing.

That’s when I took my glasses off. When I took them off, it was still sunny, and then it was dark. I said, “It happened, it happened!” I can’t even describe it. Here are some of the words I thought of: miraculous, eye-popping, mind-blowing, capturing, celestial, wondrous …

-Maddox A. Antonioli Grade 4

Total eclipse in my yard

Yesterday, I went in my front yard at 2:15 p.m. to see the total solar eclipse. At first when I looked through the solar eclipse glasses, I saw a round yellow circle. My mom, dad and sister were there with me. They also put on their solar eclipse glasses.

About ten minutes later, I put on the glasses again and the sun looked like a yellow half-moon. It was kind of weird to see the sun shrink, but I remembered what I knew about the solar eclipse, that the moon was passing by the sun, going over the it and making it dark. Every few minutes I would put on my solar

eclipse glasses to see the sun get smaller and smaller. Soon my mom got out of her chair and went into the house.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“You’ll see,” she replied.

er,” she said. I follow what she says. When I look at the paper, it’s in the shape of the sun when I look through the eclipse glasses, like a half-moon.

cause they thought it was night time. I was glad I had a sweatshirt on, it was cold. I looked behind me. My mom was trying to take as many photos and videos as she could.

“Wow,” I said, amazed. “This is how people look at the eclipse without eclipse glasses,” she explained.

“This won’t happen in Vermont for a long time,” my dad said.

A few minutes later, she came out of the house with a strainer. What’s that for, I wondered.

“Come” she said.

I followed her to the driveway. I realized she had a white piece of paper in her other hand.

“Hold this.” she said, handing me the piece of paper. She held up the strainer.

“Hold the piece of paper under the strain-

Finally, after waiting for so long, it got dark.

“You don’t need your glasses right now,” dad said. I looked up, it’s amazing! I couldn’t believe this was happening. When the sun was covered by the moon, it made it dark.

I wondered what the animals were thinking. There were a lot of mosquitoes out be-

I felt happy that this was happening. I could see some flare on the sun when I looked at mom’s pictures. I looked at the eclipse again, and all of a sudden it started to get bright. I looked through my eclipse glasses again and see just a slit of the sun.

Wow, I didn’t know the sun could be so powerful. Just a slit of the sun, and it’s as bright as day!

I was sad that the full eclipse was over but happy that it happened.

My neighbor, Lucy, came down the hill with her mom and little sister, Ruby.

“Hi!” they called. I immediately saw they had a tray with cookies with frosting in the shape of the eclipse! They invited us to their house to watch the rest of the eclipse. We spent the rest of the eclipse at their house. When we left, I thought about how amazing and fun the eclipse was. I had an awesome time.

-Olivia M. Wilson Grade 4

Once in a lifetime

The 2024 Vermont eclipse was a really awesome experience for us kids because it’s not like the Fourth of July, which happens every year. The eclipse is different because, if you don’t travel to see it, then you have to wait 80 years!

I was in my house playing Legos, then my brother and my mom went outside to wait and see the eclipse. I was still playing Legos, then my dad told me to come outside. When I got outside, my mom had her eclipse glasses on, and that’s when she told me to put my glasses on. Then it started, the moon sliding in front of the sun.

I was getting bored so I played basketball with my brother and walked around my house for a long time. And when it got close and dark, I put my glasses on and just waited for it to happen. At that point, the sun was like a really thin banana.

Next, when it happened, it was one of coolest things ever. It was just so pretty and amazing. And I wish I could see it every day, but I can’t, which was sad. But that just makes it better. It is more special because it only happens once in a lifetime.

-Shea W. Brooks Grade 4

Eclipse timeline

BY DEVANTE BRASSORD, GRADE 4

Second grade Q&A

What is the best advice you have ever gotten and how did it help you?

Farmers Market Pizza and more.

FUN ACTIVITIES: Vermont Close Up Magic Show, Face Painting and others.

• I was going to quit gymnastics but my mom said not to. That was the best advice I have ever gotten.

-Alexis Lepage

• To always tell the truth because if you don’t tell the truth people will not be friends with you.

-Olivia Provost

• Your actions affect other people. You will learn so much more. When I know that, I can listen and focus.

-Cora LaPlante

• If someone is being annoying and will not stop, do not give them attention, just walk away.

-Amara Graziano

• Don’t let people tell you that you don’t belong. This helps me persevere.

-Emme Goldfried

What is the best part of living in Williston? What can we do to make it a better place?

• We should add a zoo in Williston so animals who don’t have homes can live somewhere. The best part of Williston is that we have great schools, great teachers and great classrooms. -Augie Adams

• The library is the best part of Williston because it has so many books and I love books.

-Nora Piotrowski

What does it mean to be a good friend?

• To be a good friend be nice to each other. Don’t yell super loud.

–Tatum Seeholzer

• A good friend doesn’t give up on you. When you are feeling down, they come and comfort you. You care about them. -Lydia Schultz

• To never put someone down is what it means to be a good friend. Also, treat them the way you want to be treated. -Daniel Kernoff

What are you most excited about and why?

• I am excited about swimming this summer. -Alexis Lepage

BY ERZA DICKIN, GRADE 2

• I am most excited about the sports season because I love sports. I play two sports right now, so I am really busy. Sports are a really good way to exercise. -Daniel Kernoff

• I am most excited about being in the Observer because it’s the newspaper! -Wiley Whritenour

• I am most excited about vacations because they are very fun and you can go in pools, waterslides and hot tubs.

-Landon Waterman

What famous person would you most like to meet and why?

• I would like to meet Jackie Robinson because when they said he couldn’t play because of his skin color, he still persevered. -Finn Murphy

• I want to meet Tracey West because I love the Dragon Master books. My favorite is “Guarding the Invisible Dragon.” - CG

• I would want to meet Martin Luther King, Jr., even though he died. If he was alive, I would like to meet him because he is special.

-Landon

Miss Brynna BY ZS, GRADE 2

Ms. Porter BY LANDON WATERMAN, GRADE 2

Waterman

Mrs. Bliss

BY WILL CINADR, GRADE 2

Mr. Lang

Forget the bus… walk to school with us!

Let’s all walk to school more often

Psst! Do you want to hear a secret? Walk to School Day is important for many reasons. Walking or biking to school makes us healthier, and it’s a fun experience to enjoy with friends. Believe it or not, some people, like me, actually prefer crisp, cold air to stuffy, hot bus air. Fresh air for our lungs is good for you, and you enjoy it. Even on frigid days, company distracts from the cold.

When we walk or bike, even if we don’t notice it, we’re exercising. Talking to friends and telling jokes or stories usually prevents us from feeling tired, even if we’re running. Or, if you choose to bike, you’ll be having too much fun to be tired. Who needs treadmills? Just walk or bike to school!

On Walk to School Day, plenty of people walk, and plenty bike too. You might find yourself making new friends

or trying new things. Sometimes parents come, and you get to hear the teacher who’s walking with you describing how awesome you are to Mom or Dad the whole time.

I walked to school on the second Walk to School Day, and from then on, I always walked. It’s really fun, and you get to just joke around with friends, which you can’t always do at school that much. On the bus, you can’t always sit with friends, but when you’re walking or biking, you choose who you bike or walk with. Using our feet instead of the bus to get to school is necessary for various reasons. If you join a Walk to School group, you’ll not only be healthier, but also happier. So forget the bus, and walk to school with us!

-Annie

L. Kernoff

Grade 4

A locally owned gift shop

Walk to School Day participants in December.

PHOTO BY MAEVE PHELAN

BY SAOIRSE WEPPLER, GRADE 5

Chicken Thursdays

In my opinion, Williston Central School and Allen Brook School should stop serving pizza every Thursday.

I’m in seventh grade and now I have had pizza Thursdays for almost eight years. All of my friends who have also had pizza for several years are sick of the pizza. It’s gotten so out of control that half the kids at the school just throw out their pizza, resulting in a huge waste of food.

That’s why I think it’s time for a change.

The school pizza is sort of dry and gross, but the school’s chicken nuggets taste good and all kids are connoisseurs of chicken nuggets. I think this would be a great change because whenever there are chicken nuggets no one throws them out. This would lower the schools’ wasted food, and chicken nuggets aren’t that expensive either.

Also, if students eat the chicken nuggets, then the students will be less hungry and could pay more attention to classes. I know when I don’t eat the school lunch, I have a hard time paying attention in class, running on an empty stomach. I’m also not as productive.

ADVERTISING

Rick Cote, Associate Publisher rick@willistonobserver.com 802-373-2136

EDITOR

Jason Starr editor@willistonobserver.com

PRODUCTION &

Jan Kenney

jan@willistonobserver.com

PUBLISHER

Susan T. Cote susan@willistonobserver.com

BILLING

Michael McCaffrey office@willistonobserver.com

MEMBER:

…whenever there are chicken nuggets no one throws them out. This would lower the schools’ wasted food, and chicken nuggets aren’t that expensive either.

On the other hand, when the school lunch is good and edible, I’m not hungry after and I see myself getting more work done. My attention span is also a lot better. I’m sure this is the same for a lot of people and would help kids focus.

In conclusion, chicken Thursdays is a good idea that would help people pay attention and stop wasting as much food.

-Memphis Whitcomb Grade 7

OPINIONS

Undecided on uniforms

School uniforms — some like them and some don’t. I’m in the middle.

I think it’s important for people to wear what they want to wear and express themselves if they want to. Also, sometimes uniforms aren’t that comfortable, but if you wear your own clothes, you can stay comfy throughout the day.

Sometimes uniforms can be a little sexist. Some schools have people wear skirts. Lots of people don’t like wearing skirts and it doesn’t express them.

Uniforms can also be a good thing though. If you’re stuck on what to wear, you don’t have to worry because you can just wear your uniform. Also, some people judge people based on what they wear, which is not right. People can get

judged on how expensive their clothes are or what kind of style they are. This can make kids feel like they don’t fit in, and that’s not what we want.

If we have uniforms, it won’t really matter since everyone is wearing the same thing. If the school pays for the uniforms, parents will save lots of money.

So I think uniforms can be bad but they can also be good. I’m in the middle. What do you think about uniforms? Do you think we should have them or not? Or are you in the middle?

-Aunnesha Chowdhury Grade 6

TikTok’s time is up

TikTok getting banned, huh? Well, I personally think TikTok is not needed, nor is any social media.

TikTok and social media generally are not good for your mind or body. On CNN the other day, Coy Wire was saying how the Chinese owners and founders of TikTok are getting data and knowledge, such as facial recognition, and home locations from people who are posting.

I don’t have TikTok for two reasons: number one, my parents don’t let me. Number two, even if they did let me, I wouldn’t want it. TikTok and all social media really are addictive. It’s gotten so bad, I’ve heard kids have committed sui -

cide because they felt bad for not being invited to parties and hangouts. Once you have TikTok, it’s hard to stop being on it. Like I said, it’s addictive.

Having TikTok can destroy your mental health and your physical health. I think we all know it could destroy your mental health, but physical and mental health go hand in hand.

These are the reasons I think TikTok should be banned. I hope you agree with me.

-Ella Smart Grade 5

POETRY CORNER

Drawing

Drawing, my favorite way to express

You can make things become reality that have been contained

Forever in your brain.

You can animate, draw, or paint

Each one I give no complaint They cannot be daunted, unless for water So make sure they’re not sad, Or else it will be no longer.

Sketch to your very best, Knowing that this is not a contest, Practice makes perfect, Or so they say, yet art is perfect in every way.

With the image flashing in your brain, You start to make shapes, then the shapes become bodies, And the bodies become things

You can keep drawing, until you’re in a sling And that’s just the beginning, Because your drawing can be anything.

-Teak Antonucci Grade

Peace

6

Peace on Earth is all we need Peace on Earth will help us breath

Peace on Earth will help us stand Keep peace on Earth in your hand

- Seraphina Weppler

Grade 3

Who I Am

I am an honest and trustworthy woman I wonder what people automatically think about me I hear people whispering wildly I see those faces of disgust I want people to understand me

I am an honest and trustworthy woman I pretend to be someone I’m not I feel like I need to be someone, that makes me feel good I touch some people in the heart I worry that I will never be good enough I cry when people don’t see what’s inside me I am an honest and trustworthy woman

I understand that I have people on my side I say that one of these days, I will be enough I dream that someday, I will want to be myself I try to show who I really am I hope that some people will see me as myself someday I am an honest and trustworthy woman

-Kaylee Whitney Grade 8

A Winter Morning

I look out the window at the fresh white snow.

The frozen raindrops from yesterday are stuck to the window like hundreds of tiny crystals.

I wish I could just stay inside all day long, admiring the winter wonderland instead of actually going out in the cold.

But I have to go to school so I open the door and immediately shiver from the cold.

I walk out onto the driveway and look down as my feet sink into the snow. I look up and stick my tongue out, trying to catch the little falling crystals.

I walk to my dad’s car and kick the icicles off the bottom, watching as they shatter on the ground like millions of tiny crystals. I finally get in the car and say a sweet goodbye to the harsh cold. My dad turns on the window wipers so they can wipe away the snow.

My dad pulls the car away and I watch as we whip past the cold crystal snow on the ground.

–Dani D’Agostino Grade 6

TRADITIONAL FINANCING ELECTRIC/HYBRID LOAN

Whether you are buying

or

Features low-interest

PRE-APPROVED CHECK

Increase

Dear spring

It feels like winter has been going on forever

I miss the warm breaths you give and the fresh new leaves that will grow on the trees

You are the sign for a new life, a new beginning

And even though you get gloomy, cloudy and rainy, I know after that is a rainbow of hope

Every day I wait, wait, and wait for your arrival, for you to come back once again

I just hope that you will get this letter and notice how much I have waited for you to come again. Could you possibly do that for me?

-Rita Hayward Grade 6

A Dark Snowy Winter

The cold winter moon rising in the sleepy sky

A wolf howls in the gloomy and crisp night Smoke from a warm cabin wafts into view Icicles hanging from the thin and tall trees

Everything is still and cold

But even if you see nothing but white and the only sound is the crunching of snow underneath your feet

The world is still beautiful and always will be

-Thatcher Lawrence Grade 6

KANYA, GRADE 4

Why move to Vermont?

Suppose someone you know is thinking of moving, but they don’t know where to go. How would you convince them to move to Vermont?

First of all, Vermont is one of the USA’s safest states. It is the state with the third-lowest crime rate.

There are many safe and cozy towns that make the state an appealing place, such as Williston, Shellburne and Hinesburg. The mountains are great places to hike, such as Mount Mansfield, Camel’s Hump, Jay Peak, Killington Peak and Bolton Valley.

The people are friendly and welcoming and quite affable. There are plenty of parks, restaurants and other tourist attractions.

Vermont is also known for its amazing maple syrup. Vermont is the country’s biggest producer of maple syrup.

Vermont is also home to Lake Champlain, which is home to the oldest known fossil reef in the world.

I think these reasons should be enough to get someone to consider moving to Vermont. Overall Vermont is a safe, comfortable and very desirable place to live.

-Brian Somda Grade 7

Maverick and the dragon

It is winter in the Cobalt Peaks, and Maverick was unhappy.

Maverick is 13 years old, and he has just barely started to learn how to become a warrior like his father. But he is mad because his father told him that he couldn’t go to the mountains until he got water from the well down in the valley.

So he went down to the valley, and on his way he found a cave with an abnormally large egg surrounded by mountains of gold, rubies and other precious gems. Maverick was stunned by the sheer amount of riches. He tried to take all of it but suddenly, the big egg cracked. Maverick jumped back, dropping everything on the floor. Then a little dragon popped out of the egg.

The dragon’s scales looked as if they were made of ice and its wings looked like jagged blue crystals. Maverick had seen a full-grown dragon fly over his house before, but he had never seen a baby dragon before. The dragon, despite being just born, was half Maverick’s size and could probably still eat him if it wanted to. But Maverick had a strange feeling that it wouldn’t.

To be continued …

Dreams

Dreams are amazing You can create your own. Dreams are amazing even when you’re alone Dreams dreams dreams.

Dreaming is amazing dreaming is cool. Dreaming is for everyone Even you.

3

-Lauren Batdorf Grade

Learning to stay present

If I could return to the first day of school, I would tell myself to live in the moment.

As the year has gone on, it felt like I was just counting the months left until the end of the year. But, as we only have a little bit left, I wish that I just enjoyed those moments instead of worrying about the end of the year. Worrying about the future only takes away from what you’re doing now. I feel like just focusing on the present and enjoying yourself is the best thing you can do. Because, before you know it, the school year will be over and you won’t have any time left to enjoy those moments.

-Maddie Deyo Grade 8

-Connor Kanya Grade 6

Pencil drawing BY AVA O’GRADY AND ELEANOR

Terry

“Morning Ella, happy birthday, are you excited to go to the pet store and pick out a pet?”

“That’s today?” Well I guess I have to get dressed.

What animal will I get? Maybe a cat or dog, or maybe a bird. Oh never mind, mom hates birds and little animals. Oh, I could get a turtle and name it Terry turtle. We would be best friends. I would feed him lettuce and he could live in the guest room. I will make lots of comfy places for Terry. Maybe once I get Terry set up in the guest room, I can get him a friend so he is not alone.

“Ella, do you want to go to the pet store?”

I gotta go get Terry first before I can build the room.

“Coming mom.”

“So, what are you thinking of getting? It’s not a bird is it?”

“No, a turtle. I am going to name it Terry and I am going to set Terry up in the guest room. Then once I get Terry settled, maybe I can get him a friend.

and me

“The guest room! Oh never mind, the guest room it is. And no, Terry can’t get a friend for a little while ‘till he’s trained a little, OK?”

“OK, mom”

“We’re here!”

Now I have to find the turtle section. Where is the turtle section? This place is huge.

“Attention all customers, Al’s Pet Store will be closing in 10 minutes.”

I have to go find mom, where is she? Well, I’m going to find a turtle first.

“Al’s Pet Store is now closing.”

Ok, now I have to go find mom so she can meet terry. Where is she? I hope she didn’t forget me. Well, I’m going to go up front and look. I have to hurry before Al’s closes.

Oh no, she left without me and Al’s is closed. Guess I have to stay here.

- Piper Meservey Grade 5

to Green

The cats and the dogs

Oh, how I want a cat, Could you believe that? One that would be mildly fat. But definitely not a dog.

Oh, how special it would be, To have a cat just for me Maybe, their name Jessie But not a dog.

Oh, if my cat had a color, Bright gray would make him fuller, And some orange would be less duller But probably not a dog.

Oh, my cat would eat the finest food, He would have a good mood, He would never be booed. But maybe not a dog.

Oh, my cat would be the perfect one, He would be very fun, Like Japan, my rising sun. But a dog would work.

-Josh Hunt, Grade 6

The Flopper by Grace Taylor and Ryan Pellon, Grade 6

Speaking for the trees

I wish there was a law that said there was a limit to how many trees you can cut down per year. There are so many reasons why this should be a law. One is it would be better for the environment.

For example, there would be more trees so then the air would be cleaner. If there were more trees, then the whole world would be cleaner. We would be healthier too because we breathe in that air every day of our lives.

The more trees that are in the world the better for everyone — animals, humans and the earth. Some animals rely on the trees. Monkeys swing on the branches and giraffes eat the leaves.

If people cut down fewer trees then the world would be so much healthier. My advice for you is, don’t cut down too many trees.

-Clara J. Downing Grade 4

What fall means to me

I see fall as a time of beauty, change and hope.

Fall has an incredible amount of beauty, almost as much as winter to me. Nothing can beat the sparkly, pristine and perfect look of winter. But for sure, I think that fall is a close second.

Fall is always changing. Just as I have gotten used to the beauty of the green leaves, there are vibrant shades of yellow, orange and red. Then, in what feels like the blink of an eye, there are snowflakes starting to fall, the leaves are gone and I just notice the most stunning and complicated maze of intertwined branches and twigs.

I do not see stick season as a boring time that is just an unpleasant transition. I see stick season as its own form of beautiful, nature-made artwork. With the brown and gray sticks of the bare trees, it feels like the entire forest is a handmade basket so intricately made, with layers of weaving and complicated artwork.

Most of us who live in Vermont would more or less agree that the vibrant colors of Vermont’s leaves would have to be right at the top of character builders. Having lived in Vermont for over eight years, I have always been amazed by these flaming pieces of fiery beauty. These vibrant colors simply light up the Vermont landscape. They fill every little nook and cranny of every forest, hill and mountainside of this beautiful state.

These harmless fires still manage to

burn and bring brightness to the world, even on the rainy, dark days that autumn usually has. These lively colors pervade all throughout Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, New York and Canada.

While fall has many visual and physical changes, I also notice a lot of emotional changes too. I find summer to be long, sad and boring. I see fall to be quite a turning point in that regard. I find it to be an incredible metamorphosis for my feelings and what I do when I am not at school.

All summer long, I sit in the basement waiting for the cold weather to come. So, fall really evokes lots of good feelings. I have also always seen fall as the best season to just be outside with my family. Spring is just always so wet, summer is always too hot and sunny, and all of my free time in the winter is spent skiing with my ski team at Smugglers Notch.

So fall is just the sweet spot for spending time with family outdoors.

Fall also means adventure to me. It is the best season to go on hikes, because it is not hot like summer, not slippery and snowy like winter, and not slippery and rainy like spring. In addition to all of this, for me, more than anything else, fall means nature. Fall is just the best time of all to explore, admire and enjoy nature.

From the fiery leaves to the perfect hiking weather, fall is nature at its best.

-Noah Westman Grade 7

Grandfatherly advice

The best advice someone ever gave me came from my grandfather. He said, “If you perform a task or action 10 times, it will be a part of who you are as a person.”

This advice has helped me reach my goals and build routines. For instance, one of my goals this school year was to read all the Golden Dome books. Every night I read 30 minutes. After 10 days, it became part of my routine. Now I only have two more books left.

Another example is, I read to the kids on my bus. I have definitely done it more than ten times, and it has become a routine.

I think everyone should follow this advice. If we did not have goals, we would never accomplish anything and we could never be the best version of ourselves.

-Marian McDonald Grade 5

Pencil sketch artwork BY OLIVER DYHRMAN, GRADE 4

Thoughts from the Fourth Grade

Describe the craziest dream you’ve ever had. Well, this is a true dream I had long ago. I crept into my sheets and drifted off, and I woke up in a colorful room with a mini room inside, and my Grammy yells: “Papa’s grumpy! Find his phone!” — and it was in the mini room. Papa was also chasing me very slowly, holding a chalkboard. Here’s what happens if he gets you: He slams you with the chalkboard and you suddenly wake up. When you give him his phone safely, a door opens quickly, and you have to run in as quick as you can. If you’re too slow, Grammy slams the door on you and Papa gets you.

I haven’t made it sadly.

-Georgia Withum Grade 4

The craziest dream I’ve had was when I was 5. I dreamt that I went to my local grocery store and picked up Cheezits and I turned into a Cheezit. Then my mom picked up a soup can and then she turned into a soup can, and everybody was turning into random things

-Chase Barron Grade 4

If I had a superpower, it would be …

5.40

Anna Glosser Financial Advisor

401 Watertower Cir Ste 204 Colchester, VT 05446 802-655-5512

Aaron Glosser, CFP® Financial Advisor

401 Watertower Cir Ste 204 Colchester, VT 05446 802-655-5512

If I had a superpower, it would be the ability to teleport so I can visit family members whenever I want and I could go to places I have never been to.

-Archer Seeholzer Grade 4

Who is your favorite book author, and why?

My favorite book author is Bill Watterson. I like him as an author because he writes such descriptive sentences, and his pictures are some of the funniest things I’ve ever seen!

-Rowan Ashley Grade 4

I wish there was a law that said … I wish there was a law that said kids should not have to get up so early to go to school.

-Cole Greenwood Grade 4

Places I’d like to visit.

BY LANGDON BROOKS, GRADE 6

CHARLIE BOUCHARD, GRADE 3

Inner beauty

The best advice I have ever gotten was to be myself. I had gone through a low point in my life, and I felt alone. I thought bottling up my feelings and keeping a smile would fix me.

It didn’t.

I had no clue what to do, where to go, or who to talk to. I finally opened up, and expressed my feelings. I was told to be myself.

“If people do not like you, that is their problem. You are amazing.” Those words are in my mind all day, everyday.

Please, remember to be yourself. You are beautiful inside and out. Nothing will change that.

-Leo Sicard Grade 7

To measure a man

The world, or humans at least, are imperfect. We do good things because it makes us feel good and we back it up by saying “it’s the right thing to do.”

Every single human being in existence has also done something that we consider “bad” or “immoral.” But does that really make us bad human beings? The general consensus is, just because you do something bad doesn’t mean you’re bad, and I tend to agree.

If we threw everyone who has done something bad in jail, everyone would be locked up by now. But what defines right and wrong?

Maybe you eat a little more candy than you are supposed to, does that mean you should be prosecuted or languished? How do you measure a man?

Say there are two people who have to de-

cide whether a murderer should be sentenced to prison. They both say yes. Now, it’s revealed that the murderer did it to defend their family. The first person still firmly believes that “murder is murder.” But the other says that sometimes it isn’t so simple.

This is an unsolvable question because there is no “right” answer. Math problems have right answers, but beliefs cannot be solved. Humans aren’t numbers.

In conclusion, you cannot weigh the value of an action against another and be “right.” The best we as a society can do is try to make the right decision in the face of uncertainty.

-Xander Barton Grade 8

Time and time again

Time, does it exist? Or is it just something we humans have created, just a label for things that happened once, are happening now, or will happen later?

Do we understand time? No, and why would we? Society has dulled our brain and our senses. Now what we understand is the stuff we see online. Maybe what a friend said once. But time is just a name, a placeholder for something we can’t comprehend.

Other animals, other organisms, have no perception of time, or at least the version of time that we have chosen to believe we understand. These creatures view time as events, instead of a constant flow as we choose to perceive it. For example, a hawk will know when the fish climb the rivers. Predators will know when their food will emerge, and prey will know when their predators will come looking for them. Bears know when to wake from their long slumbers.

This is how time passes for them. It’s simpler version of time, in our opinion at least. Most of us choose to stay in our comfort zone, what we call the present. But some of us choose to attempt and understand the past, or maybe even the future.

Maybe one day you will walk out in the woods and try to imagine all the things that have happened there before our time.

Maybe there was a stone age village, or a dinosaur hunting prey. And maybe, if you choose to think this way, you can imagine what will happen here in the future.

Choose how you wish to perceive time, but always remember that time isn’t necessarily meant to be understood, and maybe it’s better that way. To wonder and marvel at what has happened in time is part of the

Time is just a name, a placeholder for something we can’t comprehend.

joy of it. Maybe we don’t need to understand, but to respect and acknowledge what happened here years ago and what will happen here years later. Because time is not spontaneous.

In the grand scheme of things, our lifespan is fleeting and time doesn’t change for any reason. You have to initiate a change in it, and I believe if you try, you can make time change. Yes you. So go out there and change the world.

-Milo

Hayes Grade 8

I were a superhero I would be …

I would be a superhero of peace, ending most of the world’s hunger and bringing happiness to the poorest families. I would end the wars going all over the world, and find and make cures for the most incurable

Most of all, I would clean up Williston and Vermont to try and make our world a better place.

–Colton Fielder Grade 7

BROCHURES FLYERS

The egg Wrestling leaves

A dark harden shell

A small crack of light She dreamt of flight

So dark it seemed like night

As the egg started to crack She saw the world then she twirled.

The royal bird and the flight

Royal blue wings sore through the air

Red belly below

As birds tweet “hello”

Golden back, so pure, so lovely

She will soar through the sky

As she tweets back “goodbye”

Back to the nest

From her dream

She builds a nest Brown sticks and mud Green leaves and moss

As she spreads her blue wings off on another adventure

As she flies by swans down below She returns to her nest and the days begin again

-Caera Crosby Grade 4

Birdhouse Closeup BY CONNOR GUSTIE, GRADE 4

Mercedes Haskins

Teagan Plant

Sebastian Heintz

Reese Baker

Agustin Cardenas

Sam Henderson

The Great One

My favorite athlete is Wayne Gretzky because he plays hockey and I love hockey. He inspires me to play hockey.

I’ve always made an effort to never give up and always try playing like the best hockey player ever. Gretzky is the only NHL player to total over 200 points in one season. His number is the only number in the NHL that is retired league-wide.

Gretzky was a player and head coach. He played 20 seasons for four teams from 1979 to 1999, retiring at the age of 38. He also played on one of my favorite hockey teams, the Oilers. But it was very sad when he got traded to the LA kings.

Gretzky is part owner of the Phoenix Coyotes. He is among 10 players to have the standard waiting period waived for immediate induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was good at hockey from the start.

-Kora Pellon Grade 5

Baseball is the best sport because of how fun it is and how much you can learn from it.

I have played baseball almost my whole life, and it has been such a big part of my life. I have always enjoyed it, even through the ups and downs. Baseball is a sport with a lot of ups and downs, and that is why a lot of people quit.

Bungeeball?

If I could combine two sports to make a new one, I would combine bungee jumping and football. I love football and I really want to go bungee jumping one day.

The name would be bungeeball. The team that has the ball would have bungee cords. The quarterback would jump and throw it to the person that is open to catch the ball. If the ball went too high, the person would jump and catch it. You would score by throwing it through the field goal posts, but somebody would be guarding it and they would be the only one on the bungee cords on their team. They would switch after fourth down or if one team scores, then it would go to the opposite side and they would get on bungee cords.

They would play on a tinier football field and there would be a roof so bungee cords could hang down from the roof. The uniforms would have hooks so players could hang on the bungee cords. Players would have gloves that are really grippy, grippier than regular football gloves. The uniforms wouldn’t have knee pads though because the sport is not as aggressive. Players would still wear shoulder pads.

It will be a really fun game, played in almost all weather. Hopefully I can get strong players for the teams.

-Elijah Addison Grade 5

Baseball is the best

Baseball teaches you that you’re not always going to succeed. A cool thing about baseball is that you can’t really win the game by yourself. It takes the whole team to win a game, because the whole team bats and fields, so a lot is not in your control.

A lot of people think that baseball is boring. I will admit it is a slower-paced game, but you have to be so smart and focused

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

to succeed in baseball. One of my favorite parts about baseball is playing All-Stars in Little League. It is a great opportunity to play on a competitive team throughout most of the summer, and to try to make it onto national television by winning the State Championship.

Throughout my Little League career, especially in All-Stars, I have learned about

having a short memory. So when you strike out, you don’t dwell on it and let it get in your head because you failed. In baseball, you always have to move on to the next play. I think that baseball is the best sport and I think that it’s crucial for everyone to play it.

-Quinn D’Amato Grade 7

Wayne Gretzky PHOTO COURTESY OF PEXELS.COM

SPORTS

The benefits of soccer — team, coaches and all

Soccer is the most amazing sport ever. It can bring so much joy and reward.

Yes, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine, but soccer isn’t gloom and doom either. The feeling when you win a tough game, when you win the championship, or when you execute the perfect undefeated season, it just makes you happy and makes you feel joy.

Losing isn’t the greatest feeling, but with the right team you can cheer up quickly.

One time the team I’m playing for lost, but then 10-15 minutes later, we were singing, dancing and having a pretty fun team dinner. The best part is, I don’t even remember the score of the game. We were in Italy at the time, and I won’t remember the scores of the games we played there but the ex-

Ode

periences I was fortunate to share with my amazing team.

I know there are people who have bad experiences with soccer, whether it’s the team, the coach, or maybe you just didn’t like the sport. Trust me, it is a really amazing sport to participate in with the right team and the right coach. I have had many different experiences with many different teams and coaches, some better than others, but I was able to learn and grow from each of those teams.

Every single time it was different. I have yet to have two coaches who coach the same or two teams that play the same. All these different experiences have shaped me into the player I am today and not just skill-wise but also personality-wise. Soccer

to Clark

Caitlin Clark is probably the best shooter ever.

She inspires the world showing that anyone can do anything. She can shoot from close, far and everywhere in between. She doesn’t pass much though, which is fine when you can shoot the lights out. But sometimes you gotta pass. I haven’t seen that from her. She is still an amazing player but that would make her better.

I’m excited to see her in the WNBA. As well as an extraordinary basketball player, she also leads her team to numerous victories and builds her team’s confidence.

She also is not just a good player offensively but has improved her defense. Good defense makes an amazing player.

-Ethan Juiffre Grade 6

makes you excited for the future but can also make you scared for what is to come.

I definitely was worried when switching teams and moving to a new club that I had never played for before. You know what happened? Every single one of my worries and fears were completely demolished when I met the greatest teammates and coaches ever. I couldn’t ask for a better team or better coaches. Not only are these people great soccer players but are awesome people as well.

I would hope everyone who plays soccer can get as lucky as me. If you try playing soccer you can hopefully gain some great memories, friendships and experiences.

-Avery Antonioli Grade 8

My three favorite athletes

One of my favorite athletes is Kiley Naomi. She is a softball player. One of the reasons I like her is because she plays the same position I play, shortstop. Another reason I like her is because she helps coach my travel softball team. A fact about her is she played Division 1 softball for Oklahoma. That means she is really, really good. I also like her because she is really nice and helped me get better at softball.

My other favorite athlete is Tom Brady. One of the reasons I like him so much is because he was on my favorite football team, the Patriots. I don’t play football but I like watching it with my dad. I think it is interesting how Brady was not the starting quarterback and now he is the greatest of all time in football. I wish he stayed with the Patriots until he retired. Another favorite athlete I have is Rob Gronkowski. He is my fa-

vorite tight end ever in the history of the NFL. A reason I like him is because he is very, very good and he is one of Tom Brady’s good friends. I personally think without Tom and Rob, the Patriots definitely would have not won as many Super Bowls. There are a lot more reasons I like him. I could go on and on …

-Caroline Mulvey

Grade 5

Caitlin Clark WNBA PHOTO

SPORTS

Getting better at baseball

I have been playing baseball since I was a little girl. I could catch the ball, hit the ball, and throw the ball.

As I got older, I was more worried about striking out and making a mistake. But my dad told me, “It’s not about how you play, it’s about your character.”

It doesn’t matter if you make an error, we are all learning. It’s what you do after that. Do you pout or cry? No, you stand tall and get better, learning from your faults. Always keep cheering for your team. Always keep trying your best. Always keep believing in yourself.

Think about how you can improve yourself next time. Don’t get down on yourself, that’s not going to make you better. If you want to improve your skills at whatever sport, my coach told me that you need to be coachable, be a good teammate and most

importantly HAVE FUN!

If you like the sport you’re playing, you will try to get better and excel at your goals.

-Mia Zimakas

Grade 5

‘The Greek Freak’

My favorite athlete is Giannis Antetokounmpo. He is an NBA player on the Milwaukee Bucks.

Giannis is the starting power forward for the Bucks. His country of origin and athleticism have earned him the nickname Greek Freak.

Giannis is one of the most decorated NBA players of all time, with 21 different awards and honors. He is my favorite Athlete for an abundance of reasons, like his backstory. His parents immigrated to Greece from Nigeria. His father played soccer and his mother was a high jumper. His parents had trouble finding work,

leading him and his brother, Thanasis, to sell watches, sunglasses and handbags in the street.

A second reason I like him is his athleticism. He is 6-foot-11 and has a 33-inch vertical jump. These stats make dunking and finishing at the basket over others an easier task.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is a freak athlete and an amazing basketball player. This is why he is my favorite athlete.

-Nolan Anand

Grade 8

The mind of a champion

Lining up at the start line with my cross country team I was in the zone. This course was a little long, about 2 miles, which is .2 miles longer than the usual 1.8 or 3K — truly a bizarre race.

We were at Shelburne Farms and our team was running against Shelburne, Charlotte, Lake Champlain Waldorf and others I probably am forgetting about. When we walked the course, I wasn’t feeling the best, but now that we were at the start line, I was feeling good.

My friend introduced me to a runner I had seen at the Charlotte meet. He is an amazing runner and we all expected him to win.

As I sat there in our team’s box waiting for the starting gun, I had a sudden wave of nausea. My legs felt like jelly, and I felt like I was about to vomit. Suddenly the starter gun fired and I rushed forward through the tangle of legs and arms.

Just to give you some context, we had a hill at the start and a gradual uphill that gave way to grass hills. The ending was a gradual downhill then a final giant downhill through the throngs of fans cheering you on — perfect for sprinting.

As I made it up the uphill, my breathing felt normal, and nervousness gave way to focus. As we rounded the corner to the grassy section, I was in the top 10 and climbed through to top five in the wooded section. My teammate from sixth grade caught up to me for a bit and then fell back to seventh or eighth.

Meanwhile I was flying. I was on top of the world during that race. Then, like a gut punch to the stomach, I lost my breath during the final uphill grass section. My breath grew ragged and I was losing distance on the first

and second runners. I stayed like that for a while.

I boosted up to third for the last half mile. As we flew down the gradual downhill, I made a tactical decision. I would start sprinting now, then try to last to the end. Luckily for me, the first- and second-place runners were doing about as good as I was. As we ran through the 300-meter mark, the pain in my chest was excruciating.

I took the second-place runner by surprise and, as the kid yelled out to the firstplace runner (my friend), I flew past him carrying my speed down the decline. I was barreling down the hill like a locomotive, past the fans and … As I stood on the podium, my dreams had come true. I won the race and got the first-place ribbon so I can remember it forever.

Looking back, I realize this experience has made me a lot more confident in my abilities, and as a person who is socially awkward with people I don’t know, it is a great confidence booster. During that race, I felt like I was in a league of my own. I’ve also realized that I can’t judge myself by what other people have done but what I have done for myself. I also realize how much of an inspiration my dad has been in my running journey.

Not everyone in life has had an experience like this, being the best at something or seeing all their hard work pay off. I think more people should have access to what they are the best at. I put a lot of work into being conscientious about my health, and all of that paid off because now I’m a Cross Country Champion.

-Charles Meisenzahl Grade 8

PHOTO COURTESY OF PEXELS.COM

TODAY’S HISTORY:

• In 1844, the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) was founded in London.

• In 1889, a fire destroyed all of downtown Seattle, Washington.

• In 1944, 155,000 Allied troops landed at Normandy, France, on D-Day as Operation Overlord, the invasion of Europe, began.

• In 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon.

• In 2002, President George W. Bush proposed consolidating 22 federal agencies under a single, Cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security.

TODAY’S FACT:

• The first patented drive-in movie theater opened in Camden, New Jersey, on this day in 1933.

•

SUDOKU • SOLUTION ON PAGE 22

A Day in June

On June 19, many Americans will celebrate Juneteenth. The holiday honors the end of slavery in the United States. This week, The Mini Page learns more about this special day and the historical events surrounding it.

Delayed freedom

President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all enslaved people, took effect on Jan. 1, 1863. But until the Civil War ended in April 1865, more than two years later, there weren’t enough Union, or northern, soldiers to enforce the order.

Juneteenth celebrates the day that Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that the 250,000 enslaved people in Texas were free.

As part of the announcement, Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger said:

“... all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves.” This meant that if enslaved people stayed to work, they would be employees and would have to be paid a wage.

Some former slaves remained in Texas, but others headed north or into neighboring

Kindergarten super

Mini Fact:

In 2020, kids helped color art posters for a Juneteenth event in Washington, D.C .

states to find family members.

June 19 became a day to gather with family and celebrate freedom.

Celebration

Next Week:

Lincoln’s proclamation

President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was signed in Washington, D.C. In part, his order read:

Most early Juneteenth holidays took place at parks or churches. Some white employers allowed their workers the day off and even donated food and money. But during the Depression of the 1920s and ‘30s, many people were forced to move to cities to find work, and employers there were not as generous in recognizing Juneteenth.

As the civil rights movement grew stronger in the mid-20th century, the idea of freedom re-energized Juneteenth celebrations. Younger generations brought the holiday to cities that hadn’t observed it before.

In 1980, Texas made Juneteenth a state holiday. Today, most states recognize Juneteenth as a holiday, along with it being an official federal holiday.

“I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.

And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defence; and I recommend to them that, in all cases when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages. ...

And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God.”

Is” by Natasha Tripplett

Agostini

Seashells

Founded by Betty Debnam Issue 23,

photo by Carol M. Highsmith

photo courtesy Austin History Center

photo by 2C2K Photography

Abraham Lincoln

People celebrate in Austin, Texas, on June 19, 1900.

A boy takes part in Juneteenth festivities in Galveston in 2019.

By Betty King

By Chip Devitt

By Finn Scott

Try ’n’ Find

Words that remind us of Juneteenth are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:

CHURCH, CIVIL WAR, ENSLAVED, FAMILY, FEDERAL, GALVESTON, GRANGER, HOLIDAY, JUNETEENTH, JUSTICE, LINCOLN, MILITARY, PARK, STATES, TEXAS, WAGE, WASHINGTON.

Cook’s Corner

Barbecue Baked Potato Chips

You’ll need:

• cooking spray

• 4 medium Yukon gold potatoes, sliced 1/4-inch thick

• 2 teaspoons mesquite seasoning

What to do:

1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat large baking sheet with cooking spray.

Mini Jokes

Michael: What’s the best

2.Arrange potato slices on baking sheet. Spray potato slices with cooking spray.

3.Sprinkle potatoes with mesquite seasoning.

4.Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until potatoes are golden brown and crisp. Serves 4.

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

with human-made objects. “Up to a billion birds die each year in the United States when they crash into windows and other structures made with reflective or transparent material,” said Andrew Farnsworth at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. He recommends homeowners turn off nonessential lighting from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., or draw curtains.

For later:

Look in your newspaper for notices about Juneteenth events in your community.

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

By Kit McDonald

By Louie Devries By Macy Wilson

By Ruby McCoy

By Stella Amato

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

Puzzle found on page 19

YARD SALES

OLD STAGE ESTATES

NEIGHBORHOOD YARD SALE

The Southfield Drive/Paddock Lane Neighborhood located off Old Stage Road in Williston (across the street from Windswept Farm) is hosting its annual yard sale on Saturday, June 8, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Items include kids/baby toys, kids clothes, books, garden items, furniture, exercise equipment, artwork, kitchenware, and lots more.

WILLISTON WOODS

COMMUNITY YARD SALES

Friday and Saturday, June 7 - 8 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Grilled hot dogs lunch on Friday. Williston Woods Road is off North Williston Rd.

LEGAL

TOWN OF WILLISTON

Selectboard

Notice of Public Hearing

Tuesday, July 2, 2024, 7:05 p.m.

The Williston Selectboard will hold a public hearing to receive comments on proposed changes to the Williston Motor Vehicle and Traffic Ordinance. The public hearing will take place on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at 7:05 p.m. in the Beckett/McGuire Meeting Room at Williston Town Hall located at 7900 Williston Road with remote participation available using the online platform zoom with access information listed at the bottom

SUDOKU SOLUTION

Puzzle found on page 19

CLASSIFIEDS

of this hearing notice.

The purpose of this public hearing is to receive public comment on proposed changes to the Williston Motor Vehicle and Traffic Ordinance and related Appendices

A and B. The proposed changes include the following:

Article IV: Exempt emergency vehicles from parking and standing provisions during their duties, regardless of emergency lighting use.

Article VI: Remove redundant language already included in Article XI, Section 11.04.

Article X, Section 10.01: Allow for a designee to be authorized to have vehicles removed when parking contrary to ordinance or law so Police Chief does not need to be contacted each time.

Article XI, Section 11.02: The Vermont Legislature is considering setting towing amounts in statute, which would invalidate this section if enacted. Edit anticipates the potential change and remains accurate whether or not the changes are enacted.

Article XII, Section 12.01: Legal update to reflect current statutes.

Article XIII, Section 13.01: Delete references to outdated notices.

Article XIII, Section 13.02: Align language with state statutes and adjust penalty amounts to match proposed updates in Article XIII, Section 13.03.

Article XIII, Section 13.03 and 13.04: Establish a minimum civil penalty, set current penalties as the maximum, and organize waiver amounts in a clear chart.

Appendix A – Speed Limits: Correction of a typo.

Appendix B – Stop/Yield Intersections: Addition of a new intersection.

If adopted, the amendments may become effective 60 days after the public hearing and vote by the Selectboard.

Notice is hereby given that any ordinance or amendment thereto adopted by the Town of Williston may be disapproved by a vote of a majority of the qualified voters at an annual or special meeting as provided in 24 V.S.A. §1973.

The above is a summary. Copies of the text of the proposed amendment are available at the Town Manager’s Office in the Williston Town Hall, 7900 Williston Road, Williston, VT. The text of the proposed amendment is also available on the Town’s Website https://town.williston.vt.us (Public Records & Documents – Legal Notices). If you have any questions, please contact Town Manager Erik Wells at ewells@willistonvt. org or (802) 876-1168.

Dated at the Town of Williston, Vermont, this 5th day of June, 2024.

Erik Wells, Town Manager Zoom Participation: https://us02web.zoom. us/j/85808962404 (web link)

Phone: 1-646-558-8656; Meeting ID: 858 0896 2404

In print & online: We’re your neighbors, committed to keeping you informed on what’s going on in Williston.

Contact hartmeadllc@gmail.com or 802-482-6666

So

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Shelburne display lead dors from creemees. from SHELBURNE continued