It’s a Tuesday morning in July, with mid-summer heat and humidity just starting to ramp up.
Theogene Mahoro is breaking into bags of chicken feed for a flock of hundreds of chickens on the 5-acre Mountain View Road farm he and his wife bought in 2022. In the distance to the north, his wife, Hyacinthe Mahoro Ayingeneye, is working in the vegetable garden.
Soon a Nepalese American and his son pull their car into the gravel driveway behind the couple’s home. There are no signs marking their arrival at Mama’s Farm, but the farm’s base of customers, primarily from Vermont’s New American community, are already in the know. They call ahead with their goat, vegetable and chicken orders, and Mahoro temporarily stops tending to the farm to run to the house and fulfill them.
Mama’s Farm is sandwiched between a U.S. Department of En-
ergy solar panel research center and Trinity Baptist Church. The Maharos purchased it two years ago with the help of multi-orga-
in Vermont in 2005, the couple got their start in Vermont agriculture at the Pine Island Community Farm in Colchester. That farm, a former dairy operation, was purchased and conserved by the Vermont Land Trust in 2013 and, partnering with the Association of Africans Living in Vermont (AALV), became a goat farm serving mostly the New American community.
The Mahoros’ exit from Pine Island coincided with the Vermont Land Trust selling the farm to its original goat farmers, a Nepalese family that now operates it as Dhaurali Goats.
“I worked there seven years,” Mahoro said. “It was good, but we wanted to separate out.”
nizational grants, including funds from the Vermont Land Trust. Rwandan refugees who arrived
But navigating the tax liability associated with taking a business grant from multiple nonprofit organizations — most likely confusing even for U.S.-born citizens — created an unexpected stumbling block for the Mahoros. They learned after filing their income
DAML adjusts to new library law
Privacy enhanced for 12-16-year-old patrons
BY INDIRA BUSH Special to the Observer
Vermont’s public and school libraries are under a variety of new requirements with the June passage of Act 150, which enhances privacy for teenage library patrons and creates more rigorous standards around free
speech, anti-discrimination and civil rights issues.
The policies enforced by Act 150 came out of ideas formulated by the “Working Group on the Status of Libraries in Vermont,” which was created in 2021 through Act 66. The group talked to librarians, trustees and experts around the state and country, and put forward its findings in a report to the Vermont House and Senate committees on education, leading to the
tomato
Seasoned JSF
“Librarians were really sort of pleading for a little more support around loitering and harassment.”
Sen. Martine Gulick Burlington
crafting and passage of Act 150.
One change Williston residents may already have noticed is the age up to which parents or guardians have access to their child’s library records has been changed from 16 to 12 years of age. With this change, librarians have been talking to younger teenage patrons about their preferences for their parents’ access to their accounts.
For Williston’s Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, im -
plementing the change was made simple because the library keeps age information on young patrons. Librarians added a popup message on their computers to remind them to check in with teenagers about how they want to handle the change. When patrons aged 12-16 check out material, they are asked if they would like their parents removed from their account to no longer be notified about materials they check
Shelburne Road, S. Burlington Maple Tree Place, Williston
Theogene Mahoro tends to his chicken flock Tuesday at his farm on Mountain View Road.
OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR
One of the chickens in the flock at Mama’s Farm.
OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR
related Letters and Guest Column policy
The Williston Observer welcomes election-related Guest Columns and Letters to the Editor submissions leading up to local, state and national elections. We refrain from publishing election-related material in the issue immediately preceding an election.
Around Town
CVU girls basketball team seeks sponsors, participants for
golf tournament
The CVU Redhawks girls basketball team will host its fourth annual golf scramble fundraiser on Sunday, Sept. 22 at Cedar Knoll Country Club in Hinesburg. Money raised will support players attending team camp and summer tournaments, purchase practice and warm-up gear and fund scholarships for children attending the CVU Girls Basketball Camp.
Various tournament sponsorship opportunities are available for those wanting to support the team. Early registration is $100 per person/$400 per foursome; after Sept.
10, the cost is $125 per person/$500 per foursome. To learn more or to register, contact Amy Vaughan at amy114@comcast.net.
Kids’ RehabGYM to host fundraiser, community meet-up
Kids’ RehabGYM in Williston is having its first fundraiser as a nonprofit to create an endowment for sustainability to continue to provide rehabilitation services to children with all abilities. The event, called the End of Summer Bash Fundraiser, is scheduled for Aug. 23, 12-4 p.m. at Bolton Valley Resort’s Timberline Lodge.
The event will not only raise money, but also provide a gathering space for patients to meet one anoth-
er and see what types of programs the community has to offer. There will be representatives from the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Hands and Voices, adaptive kayaking and skiing volunteers and the Addi Carroll Pediatric Equipment Closet.
Community garden space available in St. George
The St. George Community Garden has garden space available for St. George residents in the Town Center on Barber Road. The garden is also seeking additional members and volunteers. Contact Lisa Hodgkins at lhodgkins60@ gmail.com with any interest.
Rotary grants address hunger and other community needs
The Williston-Richmond Rotary Club closed out its fiscal year in June by making six $1,000 grants to area non-profit organizations that are helping address
food insecurity and other basic needs in the community. Each of the grantees was chosen in part for their ability to put donated funds to work immediately in the community. (See photos next page.)
Recipients included:
• The Jean Garvin School’s Little Free Pantry: a grant to fund the purchase of food and hygiene supplies
• Richmond Food Shelf: a grant to fund the Got Milk program that provides vouchers for the purchase of milk and cheese from Richmond Market.
• Williston Community Food Shelf: three grants to purchase personal hygiene products, pet food and durable rolling carts to help with food transport by clients without cars.
• Williston Community Justice Center: a grant to purchase emergency shelter supplies, including bivy bags, sleeping bags and tents for people experiencing homelessness.
CLOCKWISE (l to r): Cristalee McSweeney (center), executive director of the Williston Community Justice Center, accepts a donation from WillistonRichmond Rotarians Lesley Murray (left) and Armand Fournier (right).
Mary Joy Patchett (right), executive director of the Richmond Food Shelf and Thrift Store, receives a donation check from Vince Conte of the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club.
Volunteers Jennifer Selah and Betsy Johnson (center in red), from the Williston Community Food Shelf, accept three grant checks from Williston-Richmond Rotarians (left to right) Charlie Magill, Sherry Pidgeon and Vince Conte. Lisa Bilowith (left), director of the Jean Garvin School, and Rotary member Chris Burns-DiBiasio stand beside the “Little Free Pantry,” which was the beneficiary of a $1,000 grant recently awarded by the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club.
OBSERVER CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
A locally owned ~ Artisan gift shop
Unique hand-crafted items, jewelry, fabulous gifts, home decor and vintage finds!
THANK YOU LAWMAKERS FOR IMPROVING SCHOOL READINESS, GETTING PARENTS BACK TO WORK, AND MAKING OUR COMMUNITIES STRONGER! LEARN MORE ABOUT ACT 76 AND PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN CHILD CARE:
Families looking for extra fun for kids can find it at a new Richmond Farmers Market special event.
The Richmond Farmers Market’s inaugural Kids Day is set for Friday, Aug. 16 with children’s musician Emma Cook, kids crafts and special games. The market is held every Friday from 3-6:30 p.m. at the Volunteers Green with an alternate location at the town center.
“Our market has always been a family focused market,” Market Manager Marissa Green said. “This year, we wanted to try
out a special day that celebrates the youngest market-goers.
“There is so much fun planned,” she added. “I hope families come out to enjoy everything we have to offer.”
Kids Day will feature live music, crafting, a ball run by The Fun Factor, a Lego printing press, face-painting, a mini golf course, a grain mill demo, a scavenger hunt with prizes, produce-themed temporary
Kids can find plenty of fun activities at the Richmond Farmers Market Kids Day on Aug. 16.
A New Voice for Vermont
Health care in Vermont is in crisis. Our failing system is costing Vermonters hundreds of millions of dollars each yearand sometimes their lives.
There are changes we can make right now to improve the situation, and with 30 years of experience as a physician, I would like to help.
I’m running against three incumbents, but I feel strongly that if we keep electing the same people year after year, we’re going to get the same failed policies. We need new voices, new energy, and new ideas in the State Senate.
I ask for your support and your vote in the August 13 primary.
Listening, learning and leading for Vermont’s students
BY ZOIE SAUNDERS
Interim Secretary of Education
When I arrived in Vermont, I shared my intent to spend my first 100 days learning as much as possible about the state, our schools and Vermonters’ education priorities. What I have learned gives me great hope about the work underway in our state. There is a real and shared desire to build consensus on how we can strengthen and sustain our education system for the benefit of all our state’s students and communities. We owe it to our students, Vermont’s future, to do this work together.
I have traveled across the state visiting schools and speaking with community members from Southern Vermont to the Northeast Kingdom. The level of engagement and focus on schools demonstrates Vermont’s deep commitment to student success.
Through my travels, I have met farmers providing nutritious ingredients for school meals; multilingual liaisons supporting refugee students and their families; technical education leaders training the next gener-
ation of workforce innovators; artists nurturing students’ creativity; mental health providers promoting student and family well-being; and countless volunteers who serve on boards, committees and schoolbased programs.
Teachers, staff and education leaders who go above and beyond are at the core of our education system. I have been amazed to see the innovative ways educators enrich learning through international experiences, project-based activities, outdoor learning, leadership development and much more.
Having also met and engaged with many students already, it is abundantly clear that we should all be proud of our young people. I have been impressed with their understanding of complex issues from geopolitics to our own state education system. What’s more, their commitment to giving back to their communities is deep and broadly shared.
All of this shows Vermont can truly offer a unique and special learning experience. But we must ensure that all students are given the same opportunities and that we can
Despite the tremendous strains on our state education system, I have witnessed firsthand that education is what unites us.
responsibly sustain and protect what we value most.
Despite the tremendous strains on our state education system, I have witnessed firsthand that education is what unites us. Our education system is where the needs and interests of children, parents, workers, businesses and communities converge. I intend to continue putting students and schools at the heart of planning
for Vermont’s future. By strengthening our public school system, we will have stronger communities.
My planning for the “Listen and Learn Tour” has evolved as I’ve made my initial visits around the state. This initiative goes beyond orienting me as a new leader. I see the tour as an opportunity for state-level leadership to support strategic planning and a time for the Agency of Education to engage with education leaders, ensuring our work aligns with communities’ needs and priorities.
We will engage communities through surveys, regional meetings with education leaders, and listening sessions with educators, families, students and community members. I plan to support these conversations with relevant data to focus discussions on how decisions can improve educational outcomes for all students.
I also recognize that some issues
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impact the whole education system and need to be discussed on a larger scale. The Commission on the Future of Public Education is charged with creating a transformative vision. The group met on July 15 to begin its work to look at the needs of the system. I am proud to participate on the commission and steering committee and commit to bringing a data-driven, results-oriented, collaborative approach.
The agency’s tour will not only help us to understand the needs of local schools and how we can help guide their work, but we will also bring this perspective to the commission’s conversations. I invite you to participate in any way you can. I look forward to listening, learning and leading to advance Vermont’s education goals and build stronger futures for all learners.
Zoie Saunders is Vermont’s interim secretary of education.
Join herbalist for local plant walks
The Richmond Farmers Market is offering a new event series for those who want to expand their knowledge of local plants.
Local herbalist and farmers market assistant manager Sophie Cassel will be leading plant walks on Aug. 23 and Sept. 20 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Cassel, who runs Patchwork Plant Medicine, will help locals learn more about the medicinal plants growing right in their backyards.
“There are so many interesting and medicinally useful plants in our backyards and neighborhoods that get overlooked,” Cassel said. “I love introducing people to plants that they might see every day but don’t recognize. Folks always finish the plant walk knowing more about common plants that they can use in their everyday lives.”
continued from page 4
tattoos and more. The first 70 kids who fill in their scavenger hunt card will win a $5 token to use at the market on kid favorites like cotton candy, ice cream, veggies and more.
Shoppers can also find the weekly bounty of local produce, meat, fish, dairy, prepared food, baked goods and artisanal crafts.
Green hopes shoppers will come out to support the market more than usual after the market
had to move to the town center after floodwaters in July made the park temporarily unusable. The location change put pressure on vendors, the leadership team, the market and food systems in general.
“This is the second year in a row that our area has been affected by catastrophic flooding,” Green said. “The extreme weather has taken a toll on our local farmers and food producers. The more folks remember the farmers market for their grocery shopping needs, the more likely it will be that these farms can stay afloat through rough times. A strong lo-
cal food system needs community support.”
The market team hopes it will be back at its regular home at the Volunteers Green by Kids Day as the town works to repair the park. The alternate location is at the town center.
The market offers free live music every week with upcoming performances by Hard Scrabble, George Murtie, Ukulele Clare and Rebecca Padula, Rowan and more.
Learn more about the market’s offerings at https://richmond-farmers-market.square.site.
Supporting farmers like Dig Dig Farm’s Jennica Stetler has become even more important after July’s floods.
Farm
taxes that the grants are considered taxable income and that they owed a substantial sum of state and federal taxes. That’s when they approached the Vermont Community Loan Fund (VCLF), a Montpelier-based al -
ternative lender that is part of the U.S. Treasury’s nationwide Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFA) network.
“It was either taken for granted they would understand it, or it was not explained to them well,” VCLF Director of Business Lending Dan Winslow said
about the Maharos’ tax liability.
The VCLF used its SPROUT loan fund for working lands to offer capital to the Mahoros at a 1-2 percent interest rate and a payback period of 2-6 years. The loan fund steps in where traditional banks may see too much risk with a borrower who may lack credit history, ade -
quate collateral or a loan-ready business plan, said Vermont Community Loan Fund Communications Manager Anne Loecher.
“They came to us with this very specific need, and we wanted to support them,” Loecher said. “Their tax situation had become an obstacle to expanding their business, and they needed some capital to cover that.”
The loan will also go toward farm operations, primarily animal feed, which Mahoro said has significantly increased in cost in recent years. Mama’s Farm expects to sell 3,000 chickens this year as well as goat products and vegetables. Customers come from Vermont, New York, New Hampshire and Canada, Mahoro said. The farm also has a contract to provide food to local food banks.
“My business is growing up,” he said. “I’m so happy here.”
Winslow sees a bright future for goat farmers in Vermont.
“Goats and goat-related agriculture are an interesting way for smaller scale farms to operate successfully and move up the value chain,” Winslow said. “I think it’s a promising line of agricultural business.”
RACK LOCATIONS
continued from page 1
out. Once kids make their decision, they are not asked again unless they request a change. For the most part, the change has gone well and the response has been positive, Dorothy Alling Memorial Library Director Jane Kearns said. The change allows teenagers to explore things like sexuality and mental and physical health privately.
“I think it’s been good to open conversation about privacy with this age group,” Kearns said.
In addition to the change in the age of consent, Act 150 encompasses a variety of other requirements and policies for public libraries to follow. For example, the law requires libraries to create a policy statement that explains that their policies comply with First Amendment, anti-discrimination and civil rights standards. Act 150 also outlines a process for what libraries must consider when adding new materials and prescribes how leadership and authority should be structured.
Additionally, the law amends a section of Vermont’s criminal threatening statute (Title 13), allowing for new safety precautions. Sen. Martine Gulick of Burlington — vice chair of the Senate Education Committee — said that this part of Act 150 is especially important in bigger towns where the public nature of a library has led to incidents that made librarians feel unsafe.
“Librarians were really sort of pleading for a little more support around loitering and harassment,” Gulick said.
The Dorothy Alling Memorial Library’s existing policies already comply with most of Act 150’s requirements, Kearns said. The library’s policies can be found online at www.damlvt. org, including a “well-articulated process on challenging materials,” Kearns said, which allows patrons to make sure they feel their library’s collection complies with the new state law.
“We were in a good position compared to a lot of other libraries in Vermont,” said Kearns
continued from page 1
Theogene Mahoro tosses grain to his goats on Mama’s Farm Tuesday. OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR
Vermont in top 10 for most federal disaster declarations
BY JUAN VEGA DE SOTO VTDigger
Do natural calamities strike Vermont more often than other states?
Many Vermonters might say yes, recalling the storm just a few weeks ago, or casting their memory back to last summer’s floods, or to Tropical Storm Irene, among others.
A new report from a nonprofit research group indicates that they have good reason to believe that. It places Vermont in seventh place — tied with Kentucky and South Dakota — for most federal disaster declarations in the country due to extreme weather.
The report, from disaster prevention-focused group Rebuild by Design, looked at the number of major disaster declarations issued for each state due to natural catastrophes from 2011 to 2023. Such declarations free up federal funds for disaster recovery, and are usually requested by the state’s governor, assessed by Federal Emergency Management Agency officials, and then granted by the U.S. president.
FEMA’s database lists 20 major disaster declarations for Vermont during the study’s timeframe, the vast majority from severe storms leading to floods. That means that despite Vermont’s modest size — it ranks 45th in land area for states — only Arkansas, Iowa, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and California were issued more fed -
eral disaster declarations.
The report then spliced the data by county, because not all counties in a state are necessarily designated for assistance by a major disaster declaration. This further analysis found that Washington County was the second-most disaster-affected county in the country, tied with Floyd, Lawrence and Magoffin counties in Kentucky with 14 major disasters from 2011 to 2023.
Five more Vermont counties — Orange, Orleans, Chittenden, Essex and Lamoille — tied with several other counties for the fourth position, each having
been impacted by 12 federal disaster declarations in that time. Addison and Franklin counties came in sixth, with 10 major disasters.
The study did not take into account any 2024 federal disaster declarations — even if they concerned events from 2023 — which includes the March 2 declaration for last December’s flooding, and the April 19 declaration for a winter storm in January.
Vermont has yet to submit a major disaster declaration request for the floods that struck the state in July. According to Eric Forand, the director of Ver-
mont Emergency Management, that’s because FEMA officials only finished assessing the damage last Saturday.
“Last summer we got it really quickly because FEMA was able to fly over. This year they brought boots on the ground, to see if we met the threshold. It’s not abnormal, it’s still within two weeks,” said Forand.
Now that FEMA’s preliminary assessments are over, Forand expects that the state will be ready to apply for a major disaster declaration.
“We’re looking at the data now, wrapping that application,” said Forand.
If the president issues the declaration, it would mean more federal disaster aid flowing to the state. From 2011 to 2023, Vermont received just over $400 million from FEMA, according to the study, and an additional $39.5 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. That pencils out to about $684 for every Vermonter.
Still, natural calamities are expensive. Tropical Storm Irene alone caused nearly $750 million in damage, nearly double the sum-total of federal money Vermont received for all 20 of its major disaster declarations from 2011 to 2023.
Statewide gravel cycling route tells Vermont’s story
BY CHARLOTTE OLIVER Community News Service
From the top of the Northeast Kingdom down toward the Berkshires of Massachusetts, the VTXL carves a path across Vermont. The biking route takes cyclists along the chatter of dirt and gravel roads in a ride that stitches together the state’s character. Breathtaking views come after hard climbs, and tunnels of trees spit out riders into small towns.
“The whole route was insane,” said Jake Bleggi, a cyclist from Utah who rode the VTXL in 2022 as an ode to Vermont, the last state he visited in the continental U.S. He called the roads “incredible” and the people “super nice.”
The trail demands much of
the rider and offers rewards. Its 301 miles are peppered with 30,300 feet in total climb.
Loosely defined as cycling on unpaved roads, gravel biking has been on the rise in Vermont.
“From just about any point in the state, you can get on a pretty terrific gravel ride,” said Dan Hock, owner of Winooski Wheels bike shop in the city of the same name.
The VTXL both represents the trend and reflects the state it spans.
Still charmed, Bleggi recounted stopping by a farmstand with homemade goods where “you could just grab whatever and then just leave cash,” he said. “We were at a point where we needed a mo -
Joe Cruz mapped out a gravel road route from north to south through Vermont called the VTXL.
PHOTO BY CHARLOTTE OLIVER
rale boost, and that was the best morale boost we could have asked for.”
Joe Cruz, a self-described “adventure cyclist” who lives in Pownal, designed the route in 2020 for retired World Tour road racer Ted King. King, a Vermonter by way of New Hampshire, had been set to ride in a Kansas gravel race that year, but it got postponed — and later canceled — due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
King was itching for a gravel ride back home like the delayed event in Kansas. So the pro reached out to Cruz, asking if he knew any that went the whole length of Vermont. Cruz replied no.
“I think that got his wheels turning,” said King.
Cruz remembers the following days: “It stuck with me, and two days later I wrote back to him and was like, ‘You know, I think we could probably make one of these,’” he said.
Cruz then spent six weeks drafting. He started with digital maps, then drove with his bike to sections he wanted to see to make sure it had “the right kind of texture,” he said.
To him, putting routes together is about creating a “rhythm” and a “story,” he said, “a story about your own effort and a story about the landscape and a story about the history of Vermont.”
When the route was finally mapped out, King set off May 30, 2020, with the goal of finishing it in under 24 hours. He left the border with Canada at about 11 p.m. and reached the Massachusetts border at about 9 p.m. the next day.
“It’s just a constant flow, and a constant, really challenging flow,” said King.
Although King is a pro cyclist, Cruz encourages others to get out and try it.
“I want to make sure that anything that I create in the outdoors is not some secret thing for the experts,” he said.
Gravel biking started as a “combination of riding mountain bikes but trying to achieve the aesthetic of hiking and backpacking,” said Cruz, who started biking around Vermont in the late ’80s when he was a student at Williams College in
Massachusetts. Living close to southern Vermont “meant riding on Vermont dirt roads, because that’s where the interesting terrain was,” said Cruz.
Hock, the bike shop owner in Winooski, said one of the main draws for gravel riding is experiencing the roads themselves. He estimates 30-35 percent of his bike sales are gravel or bikepacking bikes.
King understands the hype.
“I mean, it’s tremendously fun. I think people like skid -
ding around on dirt,” he said.
He rode the VTXL a second time in October 2023 over three days, and it still proved a challenge, he said.
Bleggi, the Utah cyclist, loves biking because it gives him “this freedom to explore an area human powered, while still getting to cover so much distance,” he said. “You can hear or see things that you wouldn’t hear or see traveling in other ways.”
On the VTXL, he encoun -
tered “insane roads and cool bridges,” along with many friendly locals, he said. People gave him helpful directions, and one woman at a campground let him and his pal sleep “in the game room underneath the pool tables” to stay warm and dry during bad weather.
Since Cruz posted the route online during the winter of 2020, he estimates hundreds of people have traveled it every year, and he gets around 50 messages a year from strangers
online about it.
For those who aren’t pros like King, Cruz guesses it usually takes four to five days, though people can take it at whatever pace they want. He figures most people find it on bikepacking.com, a site with biking routes on every continent for which he’s a contributing editor. Past riders can share their experiences on the site and post useful information for prospective riders of the route.
July 7 at 2:40 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. Female suspects were referred to the Community Justice Center.
July 7 at 6:09 p.m. — Report of an intoxicated male at Zephyr Place who was causing a disturbance. Another male then assaulted the intoxicated male. The intoxicated male was transported to the hospital for evaluation.
July 8 at 6:48 a.m. — Report of a different intoxicated male at
Zephyr Place causing a disturbance. Male was transported to the hospital for evaluation.
July 8 at 10:57 p.m. — Following a traffic stop, male operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.
July 9 at 8:15 a.m. — Report of a male passed out in a vehicle. Male woke and took off on officers. Officers were unable to locate the male.
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• Full Line of Pet Loss Products
July 9 at 10:48 a.m. — Assisted Vermont State Police with a male not breathing on the interstate. Male was transported to the hospital.
July 9 at 10:56 a.m. — Report of retail theft at Style Encore. Female was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.
July 10 at 11:38 a.m. — Assisted Essex Police with locating a suspect vehicle at Maple Tree Place.
July 10 at 8:39 p.m. — Reports of a male threatening store employees at Petsmart. Male left the area before officers arrived on scene.
July 11 at 11:00 a.m. — Retail theft reported at Hannaford. Suspects did not steal anything. They were issued a notice of trespass.
July 11 at 3:46 p.m. — Report of a stolen bike from Shaw’s. Bike was later located and returned to the owner.
July 12 at 11:42 a.m. — Report of catalytic converters stolen out of vehicles on Krupp Drive.
July 12 at 8:34 p.m. — Report of a car being rifled through on Twitchell Court.
July 13 at 2:47 a.m. — Following a traffic stop, male operator was issued a citation to appear in
court for suspicion of DUI.
July 13 at 8:26 p.m. — Report of fireworks on Stirrup Circle. Report unfounded.
July 14 at 2:13 p.m. — Report of a suspicious male on Wright Avenue. Male declined all services and moved along.
July 14 at 11:04 p.m. — Assisted Williston Rescue with an out-ofcontrol juvenile. Juvenile was transported to the hospital for evaluation.
Officers also responded to seven alarm activations, ten motor vehicle crashes and conducted 22 traffic stops during this time frame.
afrey202@gmail.com
Dorothy Alling Memorial Library hours:
• Monday and Wednesday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Visit www.damlvt.org to apply for a library card and to register for programs that require registration. Need help? Call 878-4918 or email daml@ damlvt.org.
YOUTH PROGRAMS
Children in fourth grade and younger must be supervised by someone over 16 years of age.
KINDERGARTEN STORYTIME
Monday, Aug. 5, 5-6 p.m. Incoming kindergarteners and their families are invited to drop in for themed stories and activities to prepare for kindergarten.
STORYTIME
Tuesdays, Aug. 6 and 13, 10:30-11 a.m. Drop in for stories and fun on the Town Green.
BABY TIME
Wednesday, Aug. 7, 10:30-11 a.m. Come together for gentle social and bonding activities with your baby.
TEEN NIGHT: FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Wednesday, Aug. 7, 5-6 p.m. Ages 12-plus. Join our teen advisory group. You bring the thoughts, we bring the food.
MUSIC AND PLAYTIME
Thursdays, Aug. 8 and 15, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Sing with Linda then stay to play on the Town Green.
LEGO TIME
Thursday, Aug. 8, 3-4 p.m. Create something fun with the library’s LEGO collection.
CHARACTER PARTY
Friday, Aug. 9, 4-5 p.m. Dress up as your favorite character and celebrate all the reading you did this summer. Play games, enjoy snacks and get your face painted.
FRENCH STORYTIME
Saturday, Aug. 10, 10:15-10:45 a.m. Drop in for stories read aloud in French.
TEEN NIGHT: CAKE DECORATING
Wednesday, Aug. 14, 5-6 p.m. Ages 12-plus. Register and decorate your own cake with the help of a local baker from Adventures of Cake. Limited seats. Pre-registration required.
MULTI-AGE PROGRAMS
CRAFT CIRCLE
Monday, Aug. 12, 5-6 p.m. All ages are invited to bring a current craft or project to work on in the company of other crafters.
SUMMER READING: ADVENTURE BEGINS AT YOUR LIBRARY
Williston and St. George residents can participate in the Summer Reading Challenge. It’s not too late to join. All hours need to
FABRICS • DECOR • CUSTOM FABRIC WORK
be entered and all raffle tickets need to be spent by end-of-day on Sunday, Aug. 11. Visit www. damlvt.org for more information.
ADULT PROGRAMS
For online programs or to join a book club, email daml@damlvt.org.
TAKE THE “REDUCE YOUR PLASTIC USE” CHALLENGE
Pick up a challenge form at the library or download one from www.damlvt.org. Each activity you do to reduce your plastic use gives you points. At the end of the month, submit your sheet for fun prizes.
SPICE CLUB: LEMON PEEL (NEW)
While supplies last, stop in for a sample of the month’s highlighted spice along with information about the spice’s profile, uses and a few recipes to try. Email us a picture of your creation or a review of your recipe.
ADULT MEDITATION (ONLINE)
Friday, Aug. 2, (no meditation on Aug. 9), 12-12:30 p.m. Get in touch with your peaceful body and breath.
MAH JONGG
Fridays, Aug. 2 and 9, 1-3 p.m. Drop in to play this fun tile game with community members. All levels welcome.
TECH TUTOR
Tuesday, Aug. 6, 1-3 p.m. Welcome to our new tutor Clif, who has many years of experience helping people with their technology. Call 878-4918 for an appointment.
FRENCH CONVERSATION
Saturday, Aug. 10, 10:45-11:45 a.m. All ability levels welcome to drop in.
CHITTENDEN SOLID WASTE DISTRICT WORKSHOP: RECYCLING AWARENESS
Tuesday, Aug. 13, 5-6 p.m. Kat Moody, a CSWD representative, talks about more than just what goes in your blue bin.
CURRENT EVENTS
Wednesday, Aug. 14, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Drop in and join community members to discuss timely topics.
LIFE STORIES (ONLINE)
Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2-3:30 p.m. Tune in online to hear and share stories from our lives.
Vermont Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame class announced
The who’s who of Vermont’s ski and snowboarding world will gather at Killington’s K1 Lodge on Saturday, Oct. 19 to celebrate the induction of the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame Class of 2024. The event, hosted by the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum in Stowe, will also honor the recipients of the Paul Robbins Journalism Award, First Tracks Award, and the Bill McCollom Community Award. One of the highlights of the event will be the premier of short biographical films created for each inductee shown before their acceptance speeches.
This year’s Hall of Fame inductees include Kelly Clark, the
winningest athlete in snowboard history; Carl Ettlinger, a ski safety crusader; Peter Graves, the voice of skiing in America; and Henry Lunde, a pioneering contributor to the Vermont ski industry. The Paul Robbins Journalism Award will go to Lisa Gosselin Lynn. The First Tracks Award will go to Abby Crisostomo and Hana Saydek of Unlikely Riders. The Bill McCollom Community Award will go to Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports.
Since 2002, the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame has recognized more than 80 people who have made snowsports history in the state. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to honor athletes,
special contributors and pioneers of Vermont skiing and riding who promoted and/or contributed to their sports in Vermont; to document the histories of inductees in the museum’s collection, and to recognize their accomplishments through the induction ceremony. The Hall of Fame committee looks at candidates in three categories: athletes, pioneers and special contributors.
The Oct. 19 induction ceremony starts at 5 p.m. with food and cocktails. Tickets are available at www.vtssm.org. Read below for detailed information on the inductees.
more kids out on the hill competing. In 2022, she established Kelly Clark Snowboarding with a goal to make snowboarding easier for people. Being on the Burton Snowboards team for the last 25 years, she still enjoys contributing to the sport through their partnership.
Kelly Clark
Kelly Clark, a five-time Olympian and three-time Olympic medalist who grew up snowboarding at Mt. Snow, needs little introduction. With over 200 starts in international professional competition (of 137 podiums, 78 were wins) she’s the winningest athlete in snowboarding history. As a trailblazer and dominant force in the sport of halfpipe snowboarding, she continually innovated and “raised her own bar” in every competition. But to her, success is more than medals on a shelf.
Clark’s pursuit of greatness inspires others to push the envelope of innovation. She wants her life to be the message.
It is no secret that she is a woman of faith and purpose. She consistently makes her life about more than just herself and strives to inspire people everywhere to live their dreams. She wants the height of her success to be the foundation from which others are launched.
“The greatest legacy I could leave would be to see my ceiling be the floor for the next generation,” she said. “It is bigger than me, but it can start with me.”
She founded the Kelly Clark Foundation in 2010 to help get
As a distinguished researcher, Carl Ettlinger discovered methods to reduce ski injuries that led to the production of testing devices, training workshops and videos to make skiing a safer sport. His collaborative research and resulting innovations have saved the skiing public from tibial fractures costing, conservatively, an estimated $600 million dollars annually.
After serving as a decorated second lieutenant in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, he returned to the University of Vermont in 1969 to complete a Masters in Mechanical Engineering. He wrote his master’s thesis, “On the Prevention of Ski Injuries,” which laid out the case for the cause of, and solution to, tibia fractures in alpine skiing.
This resulted in the development of the first commercially successful anti-friction device (AFD). At his shop in Underhill, he established Vermont Ski Safety Equipment (VSSE) and created the world’s leading laboratory for testing, designing and analyzing snowsports equipment.
Along with Drs. Jasper Shealy and Robert Johnson, he established America’s first formalized snowsports injury research program, called the Sugarbush Study. The study became a world leader in the field, and researchers from around the world consistently recognize the study as the gold standard of ski injury data. It has been used consistently by scientists studying injury prevention, mitigation, trends and other analyses.
In 2006, he and colleague David Dodge combined their decades of knowledge and research to form Vermont Safety Developments. Their understanding of ski binding engineering principles and the mechanism of injury for ACL injuries helped them innovate traditional bindings. Together, they created several patented binding designs that could more accurately measure and respond to injury producing loads.
Carl co-authored more than 70 peer-reviewed journal articles and abstracts, most of them in collaboration with his longtime friends and colleagues Dr. Johnson and Dr. Shealy. Many of these papers served to guide and inform the International Society for Skiing Safety (ISSS). He was also the technical editor for Skiing Magazine, from 1972 until 1993.
Peter Graves
A Bennington native, Peter Graves began his cross country ski racing career at Mount Anthony Union High School and was named to the Eastern Junior National team in 1970. He raced four years as a member of the varsity cross country team at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo., under Olympic coach Dolph Kuss, graduating in 1975. Graves later went on to serve four years as an assistant U.S. Ski Team coach under legendary coach Mike Gallagher.
Today, he is known as the voice of skiing in America. For over 40 years, he has made a name for himself as a television sportscaster and race announcer for alpine, cross-country, snowboarding and freestyle skiing. He has also covered skiing as a writer, reporter and broadcaster, contributing to publications such as Ski Racing, Ski Trax, and Cross Country Skier Magazine, and commentating for ABC and ESPN, where he was one
Carl Ettlinger
Hall of Fame
continued from page 14
of the network’s first skiing commentators. Since 1977, Graves has illuminated countless iconic moments on skiing’s grandest stages, from Olympic showdowns to World Cup triumphs, with his insightful commentary and vibrant storytelling.
Spanning decades and hundreds of Olympic, World Cup and World Championship events, Graves’s unmistakable voice has become synonymous with the world of skiing. From narrating the closest cross-country ski race in Olympic history at the 1980 Lake Placid Games, anchoring the poignant post-9/11 Olympic opening ceremonies in Salt Lake City, to his expert commentary at the Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Games, Graves has provided the sonic backdrop to some of the sport’s most monumental occasions.
His versatility extends beyond skiing, as he has also lent his voice to cycling events at multiple Summer Games and numerous World Cups and championships. Graves’ multifaceted career extends beyond broadcasting. He has served as a U.S. Cross-Country Ski Team coach, led the Harvard Nordic ski team for six seasons, owned a ski touring company, and directed cross-country events for Special Olympics International.
Despite his global reach, Graves remains rooted in his Vermont community, always promoting Vermont athletes and skiing and snowboarding in the state. His enduring legacy as a pioneering voice in sports broadcasting, coupled with his unwavering dedication to the skiing community, solidifies his status as an icon in the world of winter sports.
Hank Lunde has been a pioneering contributor to the Vermont ski industry and the sport of skiing throughout his career at Killington Ski Area (1969 – 1996) and Stowe Mountain Resort (1997-2008) until his retirement in 2009.
Born in Barre, Hank started skiing at Barre Skyline and Mt. Mansfield ski areas in 1950. He graduated from Spaulding High School and Norwich University with a BS in Civil Engineering. After spending time with the U.S. Army and later working for Penn Central Railroad constructing and maintaining railroad bridges, tunnels and track right-of-way, Hank and his wife San-
dra decided Vermont was home and accepted a position as Construction Manager at Killington Ski Area.
He learned early on that the sooner a beginner skier gets to the top of the mountain, the sooner they become a lover of the sport. Through his contacts with various lift manufacturers, he was instrumental in developing lifts designed for higher speeds, capacity and customer comfort while also creating efficiencies in snowmaking. With industry partners, he also improved daily snow grooming procedures.
Hank rose through the ranks, eventually becoming president at Killington and then of SKI Ltd. In 1997, he became the president of Mt. Mansfield Company to defend Stowe Mountain Resort’s title of “Ski Capital of the East.”
Today, skiers of all abilities enjoy the industry standard in resort infrastructure that Hank helped develop in his nearly 40 years in the ski resort business.
Lisa Gosselin Lynn (Paul Robbins Journalism Award)
As the executive editor of SKI Magazine in the 1990s, Lisa wrote about ski areas around the globe. She also had the chance to work with writers such as Annie Proulx, Amy Tan, Pam Houston and David Goodman on stories about the ski towns they loved.
While places like Tahoe or Telluride were tempting, Vermont — with its ski history and its strong sense of community— was where Lisa knew she wanted to make her home one day. It took a decade. Lisa went on to be editor-in-chief of award-winning national publications Bicycling, Audubon and Islands before the opportunity to lead EatingWell‘s editorial division brought her back to Vermont in 2006.
In Vermont, she met her husband, Angelo Lynn, publisher of The Addison Independent, The Mountain Times, Vermont Sports and what was, at the time, a small newspaper called Vermont Ski and Ride. In 2015, Lisa joined Lynn’s Addison Press and turned Vermont Ski + Ride into a glossy quarterly magazine with a 25,000 print distribution in seven states and a vibrant digital presence. It is now the largest outdoors publication in the Northeast.
In recent years, Vermont Ski + Ride has twice been recognized by the New England Newspaper and Press Association with its
highest honor, General Excellence. Lisa’s articles have also won top honors for Features, Profiles and Reporting on Racial, Ethnic or Gender Issues. Her articles have appeared in Yankee, Men’s Journal, Town & Country, Newsweek and other publications.
Abby Crisostomo and Hana Saydek (First Tracks Award)
In 2020, the Vermont non-profit Unlikely Riders was established to promote diversity and inclusivity in alpine, backcountry and Nordic skiing, snowboarding, and other mountain sports. Founders Abby Crisostomo, Hana Saydek, Amanda Moran and Bettina Guevara were motivated by a desire to create a welcoming community for underrepresented groups, regardless of their background, to get outside and enjoy winter sports in Vermont.
Today Abby and Hana manage the organization, and, together, bring extensive experience in social justice and community organizing to the forefront. They work tirelessly to build a supportive and diverse community of riders while introducing people to the joys of winter outdoor recreation.
Together, Abby and Hana have established Unlikely Riders as a transformative organization, promoting inclusivity, environmental stewardship and the joy of outdoor adventure for all. Through community ski and ride days, skiing and riding instruction, gear and clothing distribution, wilderness medicine, avalanche education, and ski and snowboard instructor courses, Unlikely Riders is breaking down barriers to entry in skiing and riding.
Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports (The Bill McCollom Community Award)
Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports is a nationally recognized organization and a place where youth and adults with disabilities gain a measure of self-confidence and independence by participating in adaptive sports programs and activities.
By offering the largest variety of program opportunities and unique, specialized equipment, Vermont Adaptive promotes independence and furthers equality through access and instruction to sports and recreational opportunities, including alpine skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports; kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddle boarding, sailing, cycling, hiking, rock climbing, tennis, horseback riding, environmental programs, CORE Connections wellness retreats and more.
With nearly 400 active volunteers, plus generous partners and sponsors and an amazing base of clients and friends, Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports has been at the forefront of sports and recreation for those with disabilities for more than 30 years.
SHOP
Henry Lunde
Wolfpack splits with Bandits
CLOCKWISE (l to r): Hayden Roberge barrels up a pitch in the second game of Sunday’s double header. The Williston Wolfpack split the twin bill with the Franklin County Bandits in Green Mountain Baseball League action with Kam Lovelette on the mound for game two. Eli Oliver makes a catch in short center. Connor Fane-Cushing makes the play at second. Kayden Burke gets a piece of the ball.
The men of summer
CLOCKWISE (l to r): Armadillos’ Brent Tremblay makes the play at second during Williston’s 13-2 win over the Champlain Whales in the first game of the July 21 double-header at CVU. Todd Johnson catches an infield pop up off first. Jason LeFebvre snags the pitch from his postion behind home plate.
OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY
Welcome to Chicago
The Democratic National Convention is scheduled for Aug. 19-22 in Chicago at the United Center.
Like the Republican meeting in July, the convention will be a chance for delegates from each state to nominate a candidate for president. After President Joe Biden ended his campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to be the Democratic nominee. Chicago conventions
Chicago has hosted 11 Democratic conventions. Famously, the 1968 meeting was marked by protests that sometimes turned violent.
President Lyndon Johnson announced in March 1968 that he would not run for reelection. Also that year, two popular leaders were assassinated, or killed: Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, who was running for president.
Finally, the war in Vietnam continued, with many Americans unhappy about our country’s involvement and the Democratic Party divided about how to end the war.
Johnson’s vice president, Hubert Humphrey, was nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate. The following November, the Republican candidate, Richard Nixon, won the presidency.
The Windy City
Chicago is situated in Illinois on the shores of Lake Michigan. It’s known as the Windy
Mini Fact: The Willis Tower, also known as the Sears Tower, is the tallest building in Chicago at 1,451 feet.
City because of the strong winds that come off the lake. With about 2.8 million people, the city has the highest population after New York City and Los Angeles.
Next Week: Get to sleep!
Democratic Delegates
Groups of delegates from the same state or territory are called a delegation
state’s number of delegates is based on
When the first settlers arrived, Indigenous people of the Potawatomi tribe lived in the area. The Town of Chicago was established in 1833. In 1893, the World’s Fair attracted more than 27 million visitors.
A famous fire
The Great Chicago Fire burned a large portion of the city in 1871; when the city rebuilt, steel and stone were used because they were less flammable. During that time, the first skyscraper was built using a steel skeleton. It was 10 stories tall.
Chicago today
Chicago is an important banking center in the United States. Many large companies have their headquarters there, including McDonald’s, Claire’s and Quaker Oats.
The Field Museum of Natural History, the Shedd Aquarium and the Art Institute of Chicago are popular spots for tourists.
Chicagoans follow the MLB’s Cubs and White Sox; the NFL’s Bears; and the NBA’s Bulls, along with the NHL’s Blackhawks.
CUBS, DELEGATES, DEMOCRATIC, FIRE, HARRIS, JOHNSON, KENNEDY, KING, LAKE, MICHIGAN, MUSEUM, RIVER, SKYSCRAPER, SOX, WILLIS, WINDY.
Try ’n’ Find
Words that remind us of the Democratic National Convention are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
Mini Spy Classics
Mini Spy and her friends are campaigning. See if you can find the hidden pictures. Then color the picture.
BEARS, BIDEN, CHICAGO, CONVENTION, CUBS, DELEGATES, DEMOCRATIC, FIRE, HARRIS, JOHNSON, KENNEDY, KING, LAKE, MICHIGAN, MUSEUM, RIVER, SKYSCRAPER, SOX, WILLIS, WINDY.
Mini Spy Classics
Mini Spy and her friends are campaigning. See if you can find the hidden pictures. Then color the picture.
man in the moon
two mushrooms
word MINI
letter C
bell
letter C
bell
snake
flyswatter
teapot
lima bean
dragon
olive
bird
funny face
frog
fish
bread loaf
number 2
key
On the Web:
• bit.ly/MPDemocrats
At the library:
Resources
• “Understanding Your Role in Elections” by Jessica Gunderson
• “Election Campaigns: A Kid’s Guide” by Emma Carlson Berne
For later:
On the Web: • bit.ly/MPDemocrats At the library:
• “Understanding Your Role in Elections” by Jessica Gunderson
Check your newspaper for articles about the upcoming Democratic National Convention.
• “Election Campaigns: A Kid’s Guide” by Emma Carlson Berne
Teachers: Follow and interact with The Mini Page on Facebook!
For later:
Check your newspaper for articles about the upcoming Democratic National Convention.
DAN THOMPSON
How extreme heat affects seniors: tips to stay safe
Dear Savvy Senior, I work for a county health department and every summer we’re seeing more and more seniors get sick and even die from heat-related illness. Can you write an awareness piece on the affects extreme heat has on older adults, and what they can do
to guard against this summertime risk. Thanks for helping keep seniors safe!
Health Advocate
Dear Advocate, Happy to oblige! Most people don’t realize that each year, extreme summertime heat kills more
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people in the U.S. than hurricanes, floods and tornadoes combined. While extreme heat can be deadly for anyone, older adults are uniquely vulnerable because of three key factors: biological changes that occur with age; higher rates of age-related diseases; and greater use of medications that can alter the body’s response to heat.
Here’s how to gauge the risk for a heat-related illness for you or an older loved one, and how to stay safe.
HOW HEAT AFFECTS SENIORS
The human body has two main mechanisms to cool itself: sweating and increasing blood flow to the skin. In older adults, both of those processes are compromised. Seniors sweat less and they have poor circulation compared with younger people.
Chronic health conditions that are more common in old age, most notably cardiovascular disease and diabetes, can also exacerbate these issues. A diseased heart isn’t able to pump as much blood, further reducing blood flow to the skin. And if the nerves become affected in people with diabetes, the body might not receive the message that it needs to start sweating.
ture changes as well. As a result, they won’t respond appropriately
By Jim Miller
to heat, both biologically (through sweating) and behaviorally (by moving to someplace cool).
Finally, certain medications many seniors take, like diuretics and other high blood pressure drugs, can affect people’s hydration, blood flow and even the sweat response, so be sure to ask your doctor about any medications you’re taking.
HOW TO STAY SAFE
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• Burial/Cremation Services
• Green Burials
• Traditional Funerals
• Memorial Services
• Pre-arranged Funeral Planning
• Out-of-town & Foreign Services
• Pet Memorials
As people age, they also stop feeling as thirsty, so they tend to drink less. In hot conditions, that can cause them to become dehydrated faster.
In addition, some older adults, particularly if they have some form of dementia or cognitive decline, may not perceive tempera-
On hot days, older adults and people with serious health conditions should limit outdoor activities like walking and gardening to the cooler mornings and evenings, take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water even if you aren’t thirsty. Listen to your body. If the activity starts to feel harder than
normal, that’s a signal to stop and find a place to cool down.
Signs of dehydration or heat exhaustion include dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, flushed face, a racing heart or feeling lethargic. Low energy is especially important to watch out for in people with cognitive impairment, who may not realize how hot they are or be able to express it.
If heat exhaustion worsens to a heatstroke, it becomes a life-threatening emergency.
While older adults face unique challenges when it comes to heat, the ways to cool down are the same for any age. If you or a loved one start to experience any of the above symptoms, the best thing you can do is to go somewhere that has air-conditioning. If AC isn’t available in the home, check if there’s a local cooling center.
In the absence of air-conditioning, water is extremely helpful in reducing the risk for heat-related injury. Rubbing an ice cube or cold compress over your skin, spraying yourself with cool water or taking a cool shower or bath can also help.
For more heat related safety tips, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.CDC.gov/extreme-heat.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443,
Each letter combination can be used only once, but all letter combinations will be necessary to complete the puzzle.
1 New England prep school (6)
2 decorate with gemstones (7)
3 embroidered opening (6)
4 archenemies (7)
5 fifth prime number (6)
6 former talk show host Ellen (9)
7 ebbs, like the tide (7)
ANDREWS MCMEEL
TODAY’S HISTORY:
• In 1834, Britain abolished slavery in all of its colonies.
• In 1876, Colorado was admitted as the 38th U.S. state.
• In 1957, the United States and Canada announced the formation of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
• In 1966, ex-Marine Charles Whitman, who had murdered his wife and mother earlier in the day, opened fire from a tower at the University of Texas at Austin, killing 14 people and wounding 31.
• In 2007, an interstate highway bridge in Minneapolis collapsed over the Mississippi River, killing 13 and injuring 145.
TODAY’S FACT:
• “Video Killed the Radio Star” by the Buggles was the first music video aired on MTV when the network launched on this day in 1981.
Scott Alan Marshall
Scott Alan Marshall, born in Burlington, Vermont on February 26, 1961, peacefully passed away in Grand Isle on July 20, 2024.
Throughout his life, Scott dedicated himself to hard work and service. He spent most of his days behind the wheel as a truck driver. Not only did he excel in this field, but he also lent his skills to the food division at the University of Vermont, where his commitment and warmth touched the lives of many.
Described as a kind, loving, and caring father, Scott’s nurturing spirit extended beyond his immediate family. He not only raised his son Corey with love and guidance but also dedicated time to coaching Co-
rey’s athletic teams — instilling values of teamwork and sportsmanship in young hearts.
In his moments of leisure, Scott found joy in NASCAR racing, with a special admiration for legends like Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. His passion for the sport reflected his own resilience and determination on life’s own racetrack. He enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting, horse shoes, and spending time with his beloved pets. He was a fan of the Dallas Cowboys.
Scott Marshall was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Betty and John Marshall. He is survived by a legacy of love carried on by his life partner, Sharon Ratta; his son Corey Marshall and daughter-in-law Rachel; two cherished grandchildren, Lily and Mason; as well as his sister Shelley Marshall.
Scott’s presence will be deeply missed by those who had the privilege of knowing him — a man whose generosity knew no bounds and whose laughter could light up any room. As we reflect on the memories shared together with Scott, let us celebrate a life well-lived and a soul that will forever hold a place in our hearts. May he rest in peace knowing that he was truly loved.
A Celebration of Life is to be held on Aug. 24, from 1 p.m.- 3 p.m. at the South Hero Congregational Church.
OBITUARIES
Carol Feierabend
Carol Feierabend passed away on July 7, 2024. She passed peacefully at her apartment in White River Junction, VT, surrounded by her two children, Bruce and Amy Chiriatti, their spouses Rana
Glasgal and George White, and her sister Joan Feierabend and Joan’s son Evan Dybvig.
Carol was born on April 21, 1940, in Poughkeepsie, New York to William (Bill) and Margaret (Peggy) Feierabend. Carol graduated from Vassar College with a bachelor’s degree in Botany and worked several years for Bell Labs in Ohio. Carol and her husband, Louis Chiriatti, moved with IBM to Richmond, Vermont, a few years after their marriage. There, she raised Bruce and Amy and after her divorce from Lou, remarried and was a muchloved stepmother to Robin and Jasmine Appleberry. Although their father and Carol later divorced, Carol remained a vibrant and important
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part of Robin and Jasmine’s lives.
In Vermont, Carol taught music to preschoolers and established FireRobin Puppets, where she designed and produced a wide array of creative, high-quality, and entertaining hand and finger puppets. Her store and workshop were located in the heart of Richmond for many years. After her children were grown, she sold her successful puppet business and her Vermont home and moved to Taiwan where she taught English as a Second Language (ESL) for six years. After returning to the United States, she lived in Colorado and then Kansas with her sister Dale and Dale’s family (Dale’s husband Mike Schrader and her son Glen McIntyre). While there, she established, supported and taught ESL to non- or limited-English speaking students and professionals. She also participated in local writing groups.
In the fall of 2010, Carol moved once again with her sister Dale and her family to the historic town of Cambridge, MD. There she became an active member of the Dorchester Center for the Arts (DCA). Carol volunteered at the DCA, designing window displays, teaching memoir writing classes and offering workshops on paper art.
During her time in Maryland, Carol designed and produced pop-up greeting cards. These cards were fun, creative and lively, covering all holidays, seasons, and sentiments. Family members knew that when they got a colorful envelope from Carol in the mail, they were in for a treat!
Her special joy was joining
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the newly formed writing group, Choptank Writers. With this group she found an outlet for her writing, helped to expand the organization’s membership, and found opportunities to meet other writers. She was a member of the Eastern Shore Writers Association and attended their Bay to Ocean Writers conferences. Carol volunteered at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science at the Horn Point Laboratory.
While living in Cambridge, Carol again moved from her home to teach ESL in the beautiful mountain city of Cuenca, Ecuador for two years. When she returned to Cambridge she established a local community ESL program.
Closer to home, Carol loved to garden and her surroundings were always graced with harmony and blooming beauty.
Carol is survived by her son Bruce Chiriatti and spouse Rana Glasgal; daughter Amy Chiriatti and spouse George White; sister Dale Schrader and spouse Mike Schrader; sister Joan Feierabend; nieces, nephews and extended family: Jim McIntyre and spouse Leila Rao; Michael McIntyre and partner Beth Kirkpatrick, Glen McIntyre, Evan Dybvig, Dana Dybvig, Robin Appleberry and spouse Ken Forsberg, Jasmine Appleberry and wife Amber Guillet, and step-nieces Teagan White and Iris White. Memorial service plans are not available at this time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to National Public Radio, the Harriet Tubman Museum in Cambridge, MD, or your local writers’ group.
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
Friends in Maple Tree places
Williston’s Maple Tree Place and Star 92.9 presented Kevin White and his Garth Brooks tribute band for the Thursday Night Concert Series on July 25. Armand Fournier and Lesley Murray feel the pull of the music and leave their lawn chairs to dance. Kevin White abandons the stage to sing amidst the crowd.