Williston Observer 08/08/2024

Town Hall parking lot back on the ballot?

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

When word came down in June that Williston’s grant application to the Vermont Downtown Development Board had been approved to the tune of $200,000 toward improvements to the Town Hall parking lot, it breathed new life into a project that failed to get voter support earlier this year. With the new funds in house,

the selectboard is set to decide on Aug. 20 whether to place a new question to borrow funds to complete the project on the General Election ballot in November. The Town Hall parking lot has been flagged for revamping for over a decade, Town Manager Erik Wells said, with pooling from poor drainage that ices over in the winter and a lack of lighting creating hazards.

Ransom’s rapport

Assessing an exemplary career

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

If you were doing a home renovation in Williston — perhaps refinishing a basement or adding a bathroom — you would likely get a knock on the front door from Dick Ransom.

The longtime assistant assessor would request to see the new space, and take notes so the town could recalculate the value at which it taxes your home. These visits could be fraught, with tax bills and privacy concerns as a backdrop, if not for Ransom’s affable, congenial nature.

“Even in today’s supersensitive society, people are still very open,” Ransom said. “I don’t know

if it’s because I was a friendly old man or what, but people were very accepting of me, and I was always very appreciative of that.”

For 20 years as the town’s assistant assessor, Ransom’s good humor has smoothed resident relations with Town Hall. His supervisor for the last five years, Shirley Goodell-Lackey, credits him with improving the town’s public rela-

Adams Farm Market celebrates its 31st year during Truckin’ Tuesday on the evening of July 30. See more photos from the event on Page 24.

Poor drainage and a lack of lighting cause safety hazards at the Town Hall parking lot, according to Town Manager Erik Wells.

OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR

Dick Ransom, longtime assistant assessor and community volunteer, retired in July.

OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR

see RANSOM page 9

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DAML’s Library of Things adds loanable event silverware

What do the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library and Sustainable Williston have in common?

They want to help you reduce purchasing items for one-time use and disposable items. It is no secret libraries can save people money by offering popular titles for one-time reads (“Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus has been checked out more than 150 times). But gone are the days of finding only books at your local library.

ing successfully, includes 100 silverware settings, serving ware and dishwasher baskets for easy cleaning. The goal of this “Silverware Share Collection” is to reduce waste and encourage peo -

Other “Library of Things” items available to check out at Dorothy Alling Memorial Library include a metal detector, knitting looms, games, sports equipment (including a laser tag set), a telescope, various technology items, and more.

Dorothy Alling Memorial Library has a growing collection of “things” that can be checked out by its patrons. This Library of Things includes items for all ages in interest areas such as crafts and hobbies, self-care, citizen science, games, technology, and more.

Sustainable Williston, a volunteer-run sustainability advocacy group, will be donating a silverware set to the library in September to loan out for events. This set, which Sustainable Williston has already been circulat-

BY JASON STARR

This August, the library is helping raise recycling awareness with a “Reduce Your Plastic Use” challenge and a presentation on recycling. Ever wonder if you are throwing the right things in your blue bin, or whether there is a way to streamline your waste? A program presented by the Chittenden Solid Waste District’s Kat Moody on Aug. 13 at the library will answer all your recycling questions. Stop by the library to look through the Library of Things menu in the lobby, or visit https://damlvt.org for more information.

Jane Kearns, Dorothy Alling Memorial Library director

ple to not buy single use plastic or even compostable cutlery (which is no longer compostable in our area).

PROPERTY TRANSFERS - JULY 2024

• Alen Kadic bought a home on 1 acre on Williston Road from Joseph Weaver for $149,099.

• Andrew Tammaro bought a condominium on Bittersweet Circle from Robert Vosburgh for $515,000.

• Jackie Tran bought a home on North Brownell Road from WG Properties LLC for $380,000.

• Kathleen Quesnel bought a condominium on Jakes Way from Ryan Warner for $360,000.

• Eddy Kyle bought a home on 20 acres on St. Hilaire Lane from WT LLC for $556,000.

• Michael Wardwell bought a home on Hanon Drive from Ian Campbell for $695,000.

• Carla Carten bought a home on 1.6 acres on Terrace Drive from Brant Gage for $1.23 million.

• Harangad Singh bought a condominium on Mountain View Road from Sara Hawgood for $531,000.

• Denise Leopoldino bought a condominium on Chloe Circle from Northridge-Williston LLC

for $735,000.

• P and S LLC bought 2 units of commercial property on South Brownell Road from Quintin Brothers Real Estate Holdings for a combined $1.4 million.

• Noori Nekouei bought a home on 1 acre on South Brownell Road from Wendelle Colbeth Jr. for $461,000.

• Kerri Salls bought a condominium on Holland Lane from Patrick Kennedy for $465,000.

• Mary Bibb bought a mobile home on Stonehill Road from June Tomasi for $275,000.

• Andrew Rothrusz bought a condominium on Kristen Court from Michael Wardwell for $375,000.

• Holly Matthews bought a condominium on Northview Court from Lesley Martin-Lewis for $383,000.

• Dianne Gile bought a condominium on Zephyr Road from William West for $590,000.

• Jordan Mayer bought a condominium on Westview Circle from Margot Schips for

$320,000.

• 900 Beebe Lane LLC bought a quarter-acre of vacant land on Beebe Lane from Mark Giroux for $5,500.

• Suzanne Klinefelter bought a condominium on Casey Lane from the John B. Mood and Eleanor O. Mood Joint Trust for $640,000.

• Kripesh Subedi bought a condominium on Zephyr Road from Stephen Wiedler for $626,000.

• Timothy Platoff bought a home on 1.3 acres on Ledgewood Drive from Michael Murray for $1.1 million.

• Bristol Park LLC bought office buildings on Bishop Avenue from Taft Corners Health Center, Inc., for $2.13 million.

• Halyard Holdings LLC bought 5 acres of commercial property on Avenue D Extension from The Miller Realty Group LLP for $4.25 million.

• Trevor Ehret bought a home on Sadler Lane from David Frehulfer for $925,000.

Library Director Jane Kearns is pictured with the library’s telescope, one of many loanable items in the ‘Library of Things.’

PHOTO

Around Town

Tuesday is primary (and cereal) day

Voting in Vermont’s primary elections for statewide and local offices takes place this coming Tuesday, Aug. 13. Williston voters may cast their ballots in person from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the National Guard Armory at 7846 Williston Rd.

When voting that day, residents are

invited to contribute to the Williston Community Food Shelf’s Cereal Drive by bringing a box of breakfast cereal to the polling location where collection boxes will be in place.

Vermont Psychic Expo returns to the Champlain Valley Exposition

The Second Annual Vermont Psychic Expo is coming to the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction this Saturday and Sunday. The event will feature readers, workshops, vendors, performers and more.

Meet psychic readers from across New England, including tarot cards, spirit mediumship, palmistry, crystals and a myr-

Fall educational lectures announced

Education & Enrichment for Everyone, a nonprofit lifelong learning organization, will be holding a series of 11 lectures on most Fridays from 2-3 p.m. Sept. 6 through Nov. 22 at Faith United Methodist Church in South Burlington and on Zoom. Lecture topics delve into state, national and international concerns, as well as history and the arts. September topics include:

• Sept. 6 — “The Ever-Changing Face of American Constitutional Law ” with Rodney Smolla, Vermont Law and Graduate School president.

• Sept. 13 — “The Railroad in

iad of other types. This interactive event includes multiple instructional workshops and panels throughout the weekend. Joining us both behind the scenes and

American Art” with Thomas Denenberg and John Wilmerding of Shelburne Museum.

• Sept. 20 — “Freedom and Unity: What Happens to K-12 Public Education When We Are Not Really in This Together?” with Rebecca Holcombe, Vermont State Representative; former Vermont Secretary of Education (2014-2018).

• Sept. 27 — “The Tip of the Iceberg: How Vermont Is Addressing the Opioid Crisis” with John Brooklyn, MD, associate clinical professor, UVM Medical Center and medical director at the Howard Center Chittenden Clinic. Memberships are available for $55. Individual lectures are $8. The full series calendar and more information is available at www.eeevermont.org.

on the floor at the Expo are Bruce & Red Hoskins of Lord Fafnir & Spawn Psychic Readers. Tickets are available at the door or online at www.vtgatherings.com.

Vermont psychic Red Hoskins

Voting takes place at the National Guard Armory next to Town Hall for the statewide primary election on Tuesday.

OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR

State eyes Essex for new women’s prison

BY ETHAN WEINSTEIN VTDigger

Vermont is pursuing two potential locations for a new women’s prison in Essex.

For years, state Department of Corrections officials have stressed the need to replace Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington, calling conditions at the aging women’s prison “an embarrassment.”

After evaluating both state and privately owned land for a new prison, the Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services and the corrections department have settled on two stateowned parcels in Essex.

The news was announced at a meeting with stakeholders last week and later confirmed by Haley Sommer, a spokesperson for the corrections department.

The sites would require a zoning change, Sommer noted, a process that BGS is “currently initiating” with the Town of Essex. State officials intend to present their plans to the Essex Planning Commission next week, she said.

One location is adjacent to Susie Wilson Bypass, Gardenside Lane and the Essex Town Park and Ride on Landfill Lane. The other is off River Road near its intersection with N. Williston Road.

The latest plans for a new prison recommend a 158-bed facility with a sep -

arate 30-bed reentry facility, Sommer said, acknowledging that those numbers could change. The project was estimated to cost upwards of $70 million in 2023, but that too remains fluid. The state has so far set aside $15 million in capital funds for a new facility.

Advocacy groups in Vermont including the ACLU have pushed back against plans for a new prison, calling them “out of line” with Vermont’s values, and a perpetuation of “mass incarceration.”

Investigations by Seven Days and VTDigger have documented unsafe conditions at the women’s prison. The condition of the 1970s-era facility with about 177 beds has been rated as “poor.”

Corrections leaders have said the state needs a new facility in order to provide healthy and rehabilitative accommodations for incarcerated women.

“As long as the sentencing structures that currently exist in Vermont continue to exist,” Sommer said, “it is our responsibility to make sure that (women) have a dignified living environment, and that they are prepared to transition back to their communities. Chittenden just really does not provide that space.”

Vermont officials have sought to model a new prison on the Southern Maine Women’s Reentry Center, a minimum security facility that boasts comfortable furniture, natural lighting and job train -

ing.

In an interview Thursday, Jayna Ahsaf, Vermont campaign director for the organization Free Her, said there’s no such thing as a “safe prison for women.”

She argued that at a lower price tag, Vermont could invest in bail reform, substance use disorder treatment and services for survivors of domestic violence, which could keep people out of prison and remediate the need for a new facility. Ahsaf also noted that some people remain incarcerated due to a lack of housing, and suggested that money for the prison could instead build apartments.

“Prison construction is a much longer and expensive Band-Aid solution,” she said.

Ahsaf criticized the disclosure of the Essex locations at Thursday’s stakeholder meeting as “a little shrouded in secrecy.”

Though the state intends to discuss the plans at an upcoming municipal meeting in Essex, she noted “a planning meeting isn’t accessible to everybody.”

As of Aug. 1, Chittenden Regional housed 107 people — 44 detainees, 59 sentenced, and four both sentenced and detained, according to corrections department data.

The Essex Planning Commission will hear from state staff regarding the new prison project on Thursday, Aug. 8, according to the department of corr ections.

Parking

continued from page 1

“This is a public safety issue,” board member Greta D’Agostino said during a July meeting. “I think we owe it to the (town) staff and anybody coming to our town to have a safe environment for them.”

The state grant was part of $1.8 million that the Downtown Development Board distributed to 11 different communities in the spring. The grants are meant to “support projects (that) improve safety, access and transportation,” an announcement from the Gov. Phil Scott Administration said.

“Revitalizing our downtowns is important

“This is a public safety issue. I think we owe it to the (town) staff and anybody coming to our town to have a safe environment for them.”

Greta D’Agostino Selectboard member

to strengthening communities across Vermont,” Gov. Scott said in the announcement. “These grants will support projects to improve pedestrian and bicycle access to public spaces, improve ADA access, and spruce up downtown areas for Vermonters and our visitors to enjoy.”

In addition to the drainage and lighting improvements, plans include about 30 new parking spaces. Also, the lighting infrastructure will enable future electric vehicle charging stations for town staff and public use. The town’s long-range plans include a changeover from gas to electric for its police cruisers and other vehicles.

The project cost is estimated at $900,000. The town has already used $200,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds on design and cost estimates. Without voter-approval to bridge the funding gap, the town would potentially have to return the state grant, Wells said.

Board member Jeanne Jensen pushed Wells to reduce the scope and cost of the project. Wells said he would seek reductions before brining it back to the board on the Aug. 20.

“Why do we need 35 more parking spots?” she asked. “I’ve never seen that lot full, except for when we vote, and that seems to be manageable.”

Wells noted that, with the state grant, the amount needing to be borrowed will be lower than the $700,000 question that voters rejected in March, but acknowledged “doing two bond votes in one year is a lot for the community to think about for something that failed.”

General election ballots are mailed by the state to every voter, likely increasing voter turnout compared to Town Meeting Day, board member Terry Macaig said.

All Aboard — Railroad exhibit debuts at Shelburne Museum

BY BUSY ANDERSON Community News Service

Shelburne Museum tells the American railroad story in a deep red room where over 40 paintings from around the country hang on the walls.

Landscapes show artists’ first impressions of rail in the 19th century, with unimposing steam engines crawling through the distance. Rising cities and men laboring along tracks depict increased industrialization. Later pieces offer reflections on the railroad as a marvel that transformed from a machine to a vehicle for human interaction.

“Short of the digital revolution in the last 20 years, I don’t think there’s been a moment of introduction of new technology in American history that rivals the railroad for what it did to the social topography, the cultural topography of the United States,” said Thomas Denenberg, the museum’s director.

The collection of paintings is part of “All Aboard: The Railroad in American Art, 1840-1955,” an exhibition that opened in Shelburne this summer as the first stop on a national tour and will run until Oct. 20. The show is a collaboration between Shelburne and two other museums set to display the collection: the Dixon Gallery and Gardens in Memphis, Tenn., and the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Neb.

“It’s a little bit of a march

through time,” said Julie Pierotti, curator at the Dixon.

The unveiling of “All Aboard” comes as Americans consider the sustainability of automobile culture — and how transportation infrastructure has reconfigured our landscape. Railroads defied physical and social distances in the 19th and 20th centuries, but similarly “they were a double-edged sword,” said Thomas Busciglio-Ritter, assistant curator at the Joslyn museum and a specialist in art from the American West.

“It reflected both the best and the worst of its times: mobility yet segregation, speed yet environmental damage, economic growth yet inequality,” he said.

Shelburne is first to see the exhibition before it arrives at the Dixon and later at the Joslyn. The partnership allowed the museums to split costs and draw from 37 artwork lenders. The museums even published a book featuring essays on paintings from the exhibition by curators from each. That wouldn’t have normally been possible without collaborating, Denenberg said.

Each of the host cities also carries a special history with its rail lines.

“Amtrak and the freight trains go right through Shelburne and literally split the museum in half,” Denenberg said.

Tracks winding along Lake Champlain first connected Montreal to New York City in the 19th century, replacing waterway travel.

“The reason the Town of Shelburne exists is it was the whistle stop” between the cities, Denenberg said.

The railroad also runs through the middle of Memphis, making it a part of everyday life there, Pierotti said. The Union Pacific Railroad ties Memphis to Omaha and is central to Omaha’s commercial economy.

“Omaha was chosen as the terminal of the First Transcontinental Railroad, which eventually connected the Great Plains to California when it was completed in 1869,” Busciglio-Ritter said. Union Pacific remains the most expansive railroad in North America, the company says, spanning 23 states.

“All Aboard” is the first exhibition on the East Coast to look at the relationship between the railroad and American art since the 1980s, Denenberg said. The time was right, the organizers said, as intense conversation about the risk and reward of new technology dominates the public sphere.

“There’s something for everybody, and something for everybody to learn,” Pierotti said.

“All Aboard” will open at the Dixon this November and at the Joslyn in February 2025.

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

Harry Gottlieb’s “Dixie Cups,” a 1936 oil on canvas painting, is part of Shelburne Museum’s new ‘Railroad in American Art’ exhibit. PHOTO COURTESY SHELBURNE MUSEUM

BY SUSAN EVANS MCCLURE

As the engines of the 2024 election cycle churn, and sometimes sputter, around us, Vermonters are thinking about our democracy. Strong, stable democracies don’t happen by accident, and over the past few years we have seen that our democratic institutions are more fragile than many of us ever imagined.

So how do we build and sustain the vibrant democracy that is the bedrock of our state and country? What the philosopher, educator and Vermonter John Dewey wrote in 1939 remains true today: our democracy can only be sustained by “inventive effort and creative activity.” Indeed, the arts are a critical component upon which we build the foundation of a healthy democracy.

The arts and creativity build the skills our communities need for democracy to thrive — skills like listening, imagination and communication. Access to arts and creative expression builds

Our democracy needs the arts

stronger communities in vital, and sometimes intangible, ways. Examples abound throughout Vermont. When Shidaa Projects presented traditional West African drumming in Berlin, it was the first time many participants had seen the art form. Through music and dance, Vermonters engaged in something new and left with an appreciation for and connection to experiences outside of their own. They learned to experience new viewpoints and new stories, and to value diversity, which we all need for a thriving democracy.

At the Civic Standard in Hardwick, community members are coming together to create their Civic Theater Project. Vermonters are performing the world around them for fellow community members, and in doing so, they are telling their own stories. They are communicating what is important to their community through performance, and making their community members visible through the process, a key skill of engag-

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We need strong arts organizations in our communities, vibrant arts education in our schools, thriving artists with career opportunities in our state and robust public art in our lives.

ing in democracy.

Democracy and art are both bold acts of creation. We need to be able to envision the future and create it together. When hundreds of students at Johnson Elementary School worked with Juniper Creative Arts to create a striking mural symbolizing bringing light into the darkness, they were working together to build their own vision

of the world. When students learn those skills of expression and collective creation, they feel empowered to create the future they want to see. Our democracy needs this vision and creative power.

All of these examples of arts experiences that strengthen our democracy, and many others in Vermont, were made possible, in part, with public funding.

The founding legislation that created the National Endowment for the Arts in 1965 stated that the United States’ role in the world “must be solidly founded upon worldwide respect and admiration for the Nation’s high qualities as a leader in the realm of ideas and of the spirit.”

Vermont is lucky to have vibrant cultural organizations and artists working in every corner of our state. We are a leader “in the realm of ideas and of the spirit.” But those artists and organizations need intentional support and cultivation to flourish.

In this year’s state budget,

there is vital funding appropriated to the Vermont Arts Council and other statewide arts and culture organizations. Overwhelmingly, Vermont leaders understand that when our tax dollars support the arts, it is an investment in our democracy.

Vermont has the skills and tools to lead the nation in democratic engagement, and we can do it through our commitment to the arts. We need strong arts organizations in our communities, vibrant arts education in our schools, thriving artists with career opportunities in our state and robust public art in our lives not only because of the intrinsic and human value of the arts, but because the systems and structure on which we rely need the skills of the arts too.

The future of our democracy depends on it.

Susan Evans McClure is executive director of the Vermont Arts Council. She lives in Hinesburg.

A good crowd, above, listens to JC Cole & Folsum ‘68, a Johnny Cash tribute band at the Maple Tree Place Thursday Night Concert Series on Aug. 1.

JC Cole, right, provided some Johnny Cash life history. JC Cole and Folsom ‘68 is the definitive Johnny Cash Tribute.

The band, below, has been described as being so realistic in both sound and look that they’ve been endorsed by the Cash family members and former members of Johnny’s own band.

OBEERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY

Assessing the mental toll of floods in the NEK

BY AUDITI GUHA VTDigger

In a region hit with multiple bouts of flooding last month, workers at Northern Counties Health Care have struggled to reach vulnerable residents — from those who were marooned at home to those who couldn’t get their prescriptions or had to reschedule surgeries.

As hard-hit communities continue to dig out after the latest round of devastating floods last week, a variety of health care workers met with state and federal leaders Monday in St. Johnsbury to outline their ongoing plight.

Home health professionals continue to triage every day to prioritize who they can help from among the 400 patients they serve in the Northeast Kingdom, said Treny Burgess, director of home health and hospice at Northern Counties Health Care. To do so, they have to navigate longer routes to get to patients who can’t go out, which takes time and leads to a backlog of folks not receiving care, as well as worker fatigue.

Burgess and others addressed Admiral Rachel Levine, assistant secretary for health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, who was visiting Vermont in the aftermath of the latest disaster.

On Monday evening, Levine joined U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., who requested

Levine’s visit, and local leaders at Northern Express Care, a walk-in primary care clinic in St. Johnsbury, to discuss the impact of successive flooding events on health and wellbeing,

“We come to listen, do a tour and to hear from the community and then take it back to Washington to see how we can help,” Levine said.

especially mental health.

Experiencing multiple 100-year storm events within a couple of years is the result of climate change, Levine emphasized, and such events take a heavy toll on both residents and health care workers.

Summer Still Blooms! at Vermont’s Finest Plant Nursery

As she travels throughout the country, Levine said, she meets with community leaders, organizations and residents to discuss steps her office is taking to address the effects of climate change and building resiliency within health systems.

Funding is available via the Inflation Reduction Act for hospitals and health systems to invest in infrastructure that supports resilience to the impacts of climate change, said Levine, a physician. She said she is hoping to leverage some help there for Vermont.

Northern Counties Health Care is one of the largest federally qualified health center systems in Vermont serving more than 20,000 people in Caledonia and Orleans Counties, as well as parts of Essex County. On Monday representatives from different medical centers outlined continued challenges to delivering care and the toll it takes on them.

Health care providers discussed the anxiety of patients before an impending storm, shared the story of a pregnant staff worker who lived in a house that was flooded with mold growing, talked about elderly residents marooned and unable to get their prescriptions, and a health system struggling to respond to it all while some facilities are tapped to act as a hub for emergency services during unforeseen storms that have devastated large swaths of Vermont.

Hardwick’s one pharmacy, for example, was cut off in both directions from any hospitals and closed for two months after last year’s flood, said Jeri Wohlberg, a nurse practitioner with Northern Counties Health Care

Vermont officials tour flood damage on Red Village and Severance Hill roads in Lyndonville on Monday.

PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

hiring committee for the position.

Toll

continued from page 8 tions.

“Dick is a really sweet man,” Goodell-Lackey said. “He’s got such a wealth of knowledge and he is just wonderful with residents, going above and beyond.”

Ransom retired in July, shortly before his 82nd birthday. Friends, family and colleagues celebrated with a party in the Town Hall meeting room on July 17. The night before, Williston Selectboard chairman Ted Kenney read a resolution of appreciation into the record.

“I want to thank Dick for all his hard work,” Town Manager Erik Wells said. “He’s served in this position with a true dedication to public service.”

You could say this is Ransom’s second retirement. In the early 1990s, he took a severance package from IBM after nearly 30 years with the company. He was 52 at the time, and ready for a second career.

“It wasn’t really a retirement,” said Ransom, a native of Essex who has lived in Williston nearly 50 years. “I knew I was going to be doing something different.”

He had already volunteered as a member of the town’s recreation committee and as a youth baseball coach. When an opening came up on the Board of Listers, a three-person group that decides assessment appeals from property owners, he ran and was elected. After serving three terms, a staff transition was underway in the assessor’s office. Assessor Bill Hinman was reducing hours to part time, and the town needed another part-timer to fill out the office.

At first, Ransom was on the

“We went through the interview process for that and no one really wanted it,” he recalled. “Then they looked to me and said, ‘how about you?’”

He figured he would do the job for about 10 years. He ended up doubling that.

“The assistant assessor is a key cog to our local government,” Wells said. “Updating and maintaining our grand list is critical to the town’s finances and economic position.”

In addition to home inspections, Ransom took a keen interest in educating people on their “homestead declaration,” ensuring property owners file the declaration with the state so that they are taxed at a lower rate than commercial properties. He also made sure residents eligible for the veteran’s tax exemption were aware of that.

“My goal was always to educate people and make sure they understood how things work,” he said. “There’s a lot of confusion out there and a misunderstanding about the process.”

Hinman still serves as a parttime assessor, and the town has already hired Mychaela Harton to fill out the department. She is serving both Ransom’s role and that of former administrative assistant Debbie Greer.

“I can’t say enough about the town staff,” Ransom said. “I’ve been very fortunate to have a good crew to work with. It’s been a great run.”

Toward the end of summer, he expects to start looking for his next role.

“There is plenty of volunteer work out there,” he said. “But I’m just going to take the summer off.”

who works at a clinic in Hardwick. To top it off, 20 houses in Hardwick were recently deemed unlivable, compounding the housing crisis and the anxiety communities are battling post disaster.

“A lot of people are disadvantaged — they don’t have vehicles, they don’t have gas money — so we were actually sending nurses to the next town over 20 minutes away to pick up their prescriptions because they had no way to get them,” Wohlberg said.

All of this adds to the mental health crisis flood-affected communities are facing at a time when there is a severe shortage of mental health providers and crisis responders in the state, health care representatives stressed.

The team of federal officials then traveled to Lyndonville — among the worst-hit areas this July — to meet with residents and local officials.

Lisa and John Berry were the

first to meet them outside their business, Berry Tire, in pouring rain.

Last week the overflowing Passumpsic River again swept in and around, carving out a 6-8 foot ditch in front, they told Jarrett Devine, regional deputy administrator at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), who is working on a preliminary storm damage estimate this week.

While the red barn buildings are still standing, the Berrys have lost much of their machinery and equipment.

Further up the road, Brian Nichols of Speedwell Farms said he had to pour out 35,000 pounds of milk because the delivery trucks couldn’t get there. He also lost about 20 acres of hay fields and some corn in the flood.

“It’s going to take a lot of work,” he said, for the community to recover.

Andre and Teresa Poginy said they lost their respective homebased businesses — Counters By Design and Teresa’s Touch Of Style.

Surveying a field of mud dotted by dumpsters carrying the debris of what used to be homes on Red Valley Road — what local officials are calling ground zero there, Levine said, “It’s really a crisis. This area has been devastated because of the rains and the floods.”

She said she wants to take back information from Vermont to Washington and Congress with the intention of supporting the mental and physical health outcomes of these disasters.

“It’s good to see people in their position come and support people here on Red Village Road and all around East Lyndon and Burke,” said Eric Berry, a resident related to the Berrys, whose driveway was washed away but whose house is safe as it is on higher ground.

“These people need the help and resources that hopefully Sen. Welch and Admiral Levine can provide.”

As rain continued to fall, Jeremy Greer pointed out a dumpster that carried the remnants of his house, a fixer-upper he bought about 10 years ago.

Planting native gardens to help pollinators prosper

Vermonters on a mission to reduce distance pollinators must go for nectar

BY KATE KAMPNER Community News Service

Julie Parker-Dickinson, a master gardener and a second-grade teacher, was encouraging kids about their futures back in 2017 when she realized something: She didn’t feel she was doing anything to ensure a bright future would still be there for them.

She decided to plant a garden at Quinlan’s Covered Bridge in Charlotte, where she lives, the first of many around town that she would fill with native species. The idea was to build a better food source for local pollinators, who play a vital role in helping plants reproduce. One day, she heard from Bethany Barry, who wanted to help pollinators in Addison County. She thought Parker-Dickinson could be a good partner.

Now both Parker-Dickinson and Barry are part of Pollinator Pathway, a network of volunteers across 18 states who plant, track and locate gardens of native, non-invasive plants and flowers. Their mission is to reduce the distance many pollinators like

bees and butterflies must go to get nectar and pollen. The gardens, in effect, form a highway for them. Parker-Dickinson runs the Charlotte effort, Barry the one in Addison County — two of six in Vermont.

The four principles of the pathways, said Barry, are to remove invasives, plant natives, abstain from pesticides and rethink your lawn.

More extreme heat caused by increasing climate change makes it more tiring for pollinators to travel around. At the same time, they must travel longer distances than they’re used to because of how many lawns and homes have replaced natural landscapes.

Monarch butterflies might be able to fly 2,500 miles when migrating, but Parker-Dickinson said the average butterfly is probably going no more than a mile to find food.

“The pathway is meant to be a connector,” she said, comparing it to a grocery store where there would normally be a food desert.

Parker-Dickinson has planted gardens by Monkton Central School, on a corner on the way into Charlotte from the south and at the Charlotte Library. One project she’s currently working on is at the school, where she teaches and is maintaining a strip filled with native plants, sunflowers and zinnias in the parking lot.

Some plants she uses include Culver’s root, butterfly weed, mountain mint and bee balm — all native to Vermont.

Parker-Dickinson said there are 45 million acres of lawn in the U.S.

selves and others,” she said.

Barry has given presentations and webinars across the state about pollinators and native plants. That’s on top of working on a pollinator garden next to Porter Medical Center in Middlebury and a garden in Weybridge near the Pulp Mill Covered Bridge.

“If I was inside … I would be missing out on what’s happening with nature,” Barry said.

about our planet, about what’s happening, but then I bring it back to what can I do right here, right now, and this is making a difference,” she said. “It may not show to anyone else, but I know that I’m creating a resting place and food and habitat and adding to the biodiversity.”

“If a portion was committed to pollinators, we could really do something about the climate crisis,” she said. “Nobody gets paid for this. It’s just something we can do to help. It’s been really rewarding in terms of the whole community to take pride in.”

Barry said bringing people in her community together has been an important part of the project.

“It’s all about educating our-

One thing she’s noticed in the wider world through getting out in the garden is a decline in monarch butterflies, something Parker-Dickinson and other Pathway members also described.

“I’ve heard a lot of despair

Debra Sprague, who helps maintain the Monkton Pathway, believes there are aesthetic benefits to growing native and wildflower-filled gardens instead of curating lawns or sowing gardens with invasive species.

“The thing with native plants is, you have to pay attention to what’s good for the pollinators, and that means not pulling everything out in the fall and making it really neat and tidy,” she said. “It should be messy, and some people don’t like messy.”

Similar to Barry, she has found that paying closer attention to pollinators has strengthened her success in the garden.

“The wildflowers in May, looking for those, watching for insects, the different butterflies and bees and all the different creatures out there,” she said, “really just being outside in the garden makes you see more of those things and appreciate them.”

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

Volunteers work on a pollinator garden in Charlotte in 2023.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JULIE PARKER-DICKINSON

Woman attempts turtle smuggling via kayak across Lake Wallace

BY CHLOE JAD VTDigger

A woman has been charged with a felony for allegedly attempting to smuggle 29 protected turtles from Vermont to Canada, according to a press release issued last week by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Wan Yee Ng, 41, a Chinese woman living in Canada, was charged with “attempting to export merchandise contrary to law” and could face up to 10 years if convicted, according to the release.

Border Patrol agents had arrested Ng, of Hong Kong, on the shores of Lake Wallace in Canaan in June. They found 29 eastern box turtles wrapped in socks and stuffed in a duffel bag, according to an affidavit by Border Patrol agent Blake Thilkey.

An international body of water between the U.S. and Canada, Lake Wallace is known as a northern conduit for human and narcotic smuggling, according to the affidavit.

The court document stated that agents took note of Ng because she had rented the same property through Airbnb on Jackson Lodge Road in Canaan — a site of human smuggling “and other illegal activities” — multiple times.

Agents also determined that Ng’s spouse, Sio Wai Izzy Fung, had rented a different proper-

ty also through Airbnb directly north on the Canadian shore of the lake, according to the affidavit.

“Based on this information and training and experience, agents believed that the rental of one property on United States side of Lake Wallace, an area known for smuggling activity, and another separate rental on the Canadian side of Lake Wallace by a husband and wife who were not staying with each other suggested possible smuggling activity,” Thilkey wrote.

On June 26, agents saw Ng prepare a kayak at the lakeshore and carry a duffle bag from her Airbnb rental to the kayak, according to the release.

Meanwhile, the release stated, police in Canada informed the agents that two people — “one of which was believed to be Ng’s spouse” — had started to paddle a watercraft from the Canadian side of the lake toward Vermont.

“Before she could leave the shore, agents intercepted Ng and detained her for suspected smuggling activity,” the release stated. “Agents then observed, through a partially opened zipper on the duffle bag, what appeared to be socks that were moving. Further inspection revealed the bag contained 29 turtles that were individually wrapped in socks to protect their shells and so they

could not move.”

Eastern box turtles sell for at least $1,000 each on the black market in China, according to the affidavit. “Turtles with colorful markings are especially prized in the domestic and foreign pet trade market, particularly in China and Hong Kong,” the release stated.

Although the species is not deemed endangered at the national level, the eastern box turtle is listed as a species of special concern in some states, and in Maine it is listed as endangered, according to the National Wildlife Federation.

“China is by far the, I would guess you’d have to say, the worst actor when it comes to wildlife trade,” said Patrick Parenteau, an emeritus professor at the Vermont Law and Graduate School. “I mean, they’re notorious.”

Parenteau said China is the primary market for illegal wildlife trade, but that the U.S. is by no means “blameless.”

Ng is being charged under a violation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, a multilateral treaty of nearly 200 countries, including the U.S. and Canada, which serves as a regulating mechanism against international trade of endangered species. Parenteau said that the Endangered Species Act of 1973 is the U.S. law that implements the trade agreement.

Species are categorized under three “appendices” corresponding to the level of required protection. Eastern box turtles are listed under Appendix II of the trade agreement, which indicates species that may be threatened with extinction without strictly regulated trade, according to the affidavit. Ng would

have needed a foreign export permit to legally transport the 29 turtles to Canada.

A phone call to Ng’s defense attorney, Mark Kaplan of Burlington, for comment was not returned as of Tuesday morning.

She is being detained in Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility. Her court date has not been set.

Seized box turtles, from a complaint in the case U.S. v. Wan Yee Ng.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE U.S. BORDER PATROL

How weather extremes can affect flowering and fruiting

BY MELINDA MYERS

Special to the Observer

Another summer of above-normal summer temperatures in much of the country may be taking its toll on your vegetable gardens. Temperature extremes can interfere with flowering and fruit set, resulting in poor flowering, blossom drop and a lack of (or misshapen) fruit on tomatoes, peppers, squash and more.

The impact of temperature on plants depends on the stage of the plant’s development. Plants ready to flower or developing fruit during times of optimum temperatures will be fine, but plants that are ready to flower or develop fruit during more extreme temperatures experience problems.

Tomatoes thrive in warm, sunny conditions, but when daytime temperatures rise above 90 degrees and night temperatures remain above 70 degrees, blossom drop and poor fruit development may occur. In hot and humid conditions, the pollen is too sticky and doesn’t move from the male to the female part of the flower. Without pollination, the flowers won’t be fertilized, and fruit will not develop.

On the other hand, when night temperatures are below the optimum of 59-68 degrees, less viable pollen is produced so fewer fruit will form. Cooler temperatures (below 55 degrees) can result in misshapen fruit and cat-facing. Fortunately, this malformed

fruit is still tasty and safe to eat.

Temperature extremes also impact pepper productivity. When temperatures climb to 95 degrees or higher, the pollen is sterile and flowers may drop. Small fruit may also fall from the plant during such hot spells. Pepper plants also experience poor fruit set when night temperatures drop below 60 degrees or rise above 75 degrees.

Flowering in squash and cucumber plants is also influenced by temperature and other environmental factors. These plants typically produce separate male and female flowers. The male flowers usually appear first, and it is not until both the male and female flowers are present that pollination, fertilization and fruit production can occur.

Cool temperatures, bright sunlight and shorter days encourage female flower production while male flowers are more prolific during warmer temperatures, less sunlight and close spacing. Flowering on squash and cucumbers is also impacted by nitrogen fertilization. Too much can prevent female flower formation while insufficient amounts can reduce the number of male flowers.

In addition, rainy weather or improperly applied pesticides that prevent bee activity and pollination can also result in malformed cucumbers.

These aren’t the only vegetables impacted by temperature extremes. Eggplants, a close relative of tomatoes and peppers, do not

set fruit until night temperatures are above 55 degrees. Beans stop flowering, or the flowers die, when temperatures rise above 85 degrees.

The simplest solution is to wait for optimum temperatures and proper humidity levels to return. Once this happens, the plants will begin producing fruit. Be sure to harvest regularly to keep the plants producing.

If poor productivity caused

by weather is a yearly problem, consider planting varieties better suited to these extremes, adjust the planting times and if needed, find a more suitable growing location.

When the harvest is delayed, extend the season with the help of row covers. These fabrics allow sunlight, air and water through while trapping heat around the plants. Loosely cover the plants and anchor the edges with stones, boards or landscape staples when

frost is forecasted. You can leave the fabric in place for the remainder of the year. Just lift it to harvest and secure the fabric when done. If this summer’s weather leaves you disappointed with the harvest, remember, there is always next year.

Melinda Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.

Cooler temperatures (below 55 degrees) can result in misshapen fruit and ‘cat-facing,’ as seen in this photo.

COURTESY PHOTO

adult striped

(RIC BESSEN/UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY)

Early beetle feeding, right, can defoliate plants, girdle stems and scar young fruit. Later in the growing season, adult striped cucumber beetles may attack mature fruit.

(PHOTO: WHITNEY CRANSHAW, COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY/BUGWOOD.ORG)

Beware the striped cucumber beetle

BY ANN HAZELRIGG Special to the Observer

Cucumber and squash production is in full swing in the garden, but there is a key pest that can affect the yield and quality of the fruit.

The striped cucumber beetle can be a destructive pest on all cucurbits (cucumbers, summer and winter squash, melons and pumpkins) from the moment you set your plants out in June through harvest. While feeding, the beetle also can introduce a disease called bacterial wilt that can cause rapid collapse, wilt and death in young rapidly growing cucurbits, especially before the five-leaf stage. This disease can be more damaging than direct-feeding injury.

Cucumbers and muskmelons are highly susceptible to wilt, whereas watermelons, squash and pumpkins are very tolerant or resistant to bacterial wilt. Infected plants should be removed from the garden as there is no rescue treatment once infected.

The adult striped cucumber beetle is about a quarter-inch long with a black head and yellow body with three black longitudinal stripes. The adult beetles overwinter in plant debris and move to new plants to feed, mate and lay eggs,

usually in mid-June.

Their small orange-yellow eggs are typically laid in groups near the base of cucurbit plants. These can be squished if you find them.

When the eggs hatch, the small, whitish larvae with black heads develop for a few weeks while feeding on roots, causing minimal damage, then pupate in the soil. The next generation of adults emerge in early- to mid-August, and populations are abundant through late September.

Early beetle feeding can defoliate plants, girdle stems and scar young fruit. The beetles often congregate in flowers where they can interrupt pollination and fruit set. Later in the season, the adults also can attack mature fruit.

Controlling the pest starts early in the season. Setting out larger transplants later will give the seedlings a better chance to withstand beetle attack. Using floating row covers as soon as transplants are in the ground or after direct seeding will help exclude the striped cucumber beetles, but these must be removed when the plants begin to flower.

Ann Hazelrigg is the University of Vermont Extension plant pathologist and director of the UVM Plant Diagnostic Clinic.

The

cucumber beetle, above, which can be present in vegetable gardens all summer, feeds on squash, cucumbers and other cucurbits.

Get Some Sleep!

If you haven’t already, you’ll probably be heading back to school soon. Most kids have to make a big adjustment in their schedules when classes begin in the fall. They may have been sleeping in later or staying up later all summer.

This week, as The Mini Page goes back to school, we’re exploring why sleep is so important.

What is sleep?

Sleep is a state, or condition, that mammals and other animals are in on a regular basis. Think of it this way: When we are awake, our brains are very aware of what is happening around us. You might smell dinner cooking, hear your mom talking, see the dog come inside or feel a rough spot on the sidewalk with your foot, and you probably notice each of these stimuli (STIM-yoo-lye).*

But when you are asleep, your brain doesn’t send you messages about those types of stimuli. Even if you are uncomfortable in your bed, your brain may signal you to turn over without waking you up.

Sleep forces

There are three forces that control our sleep:

• Sleep drive. Whether you’re young or old, your body signals you when it needs rest. You might get cranky or hyperactive. Others

* Stimuli are events that excite our senses. The

Next Week: Time for football!

Counting Zzz’s

Mini Fact: We dream during Rapid Eye Movement, or REM, sleep.

might find it hard to concentrate or get sleepy and find their eyes falling closed.

• Daylight. Before we had electric lights, people followed the sun’s cycle. They slept during the dark hours and were awake when it was light.

• Internal clock. Human beings have a type of clock in our brains that is aligned with daylight. Scientists call this the circadian (sir-KAY-dee-un) rhythm. This internal clock works even when there isn’t any daylight — for instance, when people live underground with no exposure to day and night. How much sleep do I need?

• Babies up to about 6 months old need to sleep 14 to 16 hours a day! About half of their sleep is REM. Scientists believe that this is because their brains are developing so quickly.

• By 3 years old, most toddlers are sleeping between 12 and 13 hours a night. Sleep patterns at this age are much more like older children’s and adults’.

• In elementary school, most children need between nine and 11 hours of sleep every night. Experts say the most common sleep disorder they see in kids is not getting enough sleep.

How many of these good sleep routines do you practice? Color in the Zzz’s for the ideas you use at home. Leave the balloons uncolored for the ones you need to work on.

• Go to sleep about the same time every night and get up at about the same time in the morning — even on weekends.

• Sleep in a dark room. Light is a signal to our brains that it’s time to get up.

• Train your brain to link your bed only with sleeping. Don’t use your bed for studying, watching TV or playing games.

• Be quiet and calm before bedtime. Turn off your electronic devices and relax with a book by yourself or with a parent.

“Go To Sleep, Anxiety!” by Luna Chi

“Naomi and the Secrets of Going To Sleep” by Dr. Jonathan Kushnir and Ram Kushnir

with one another by using unique rumbling

Founded by Betty Debnam

hours of sleep every night. Experts say the most common sleep disorder they see in kids is not getting enough sleep.

Try ’n’ Find

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

BABIES, BED, CALM, CIRCADIAN, DARK, DAYLIGHT, DEVICE, DRIVE, MESSAGES, NEED, PRACTICE, QUIET, RHYTHM, ROUTINE, SCHEDULE, SCHOOL, SLEEP, STATE, STIMULI, TODDLER.

Cook’s Corner Energy Snack Mix

You’ll need:

• 1 cup chopped dates

• 1 cup chopped dried apricots

• 1 cup dark chocolate yogurt raisins

• 1 cup sunflower seeds

• 1 cup chopped walnuts

What to do:

1. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.

2. Transfer to plastic bag or bowl for storage. Makes 5 cups.

7 Little Words for Kids

Use the letters in the boxes to make a word with the same meaning as the clue. The numbers in parentheses represent the number of letters in the solution. Each letter combination can be used only once, but all letter combinations will be necessary to complete the puzzle.

1. look quickly (6)

2. having great power (6)

3. “Girl Meets World” star (7)

4. soft place for your head (6)

5. wreck (7)

6. they chew your food (7)

7. very large being (5)

Mini Jokes

Sydney: What does an apatosaurus do while it sleeps? Sam: It dino-snores!

Eco Note

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

Researchers have discovered that African elephants can communicate with one another by using unique rumbling sounds (names) that are so low in frequency that humans cannot hear them. Biologists say that using a special microphone to monitor the pachyderms, they have been able to detect the matriarch of a large group calling on the group as a whole, as well as individual members of the group, which clearly respond.

For later:

Look in your newspaper for articles about how to better get to sleep at night.

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

By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior,

I recently received an email that I needed to update my online Social Security account. Is this legit or is it a scam?

Suspicious Susan

Dear Susan,

The Social Security Administration did indeed send out a legitimate email last month to notify recipients that it is making changes to the way you access Social Security’s online services, including your personal “my Social Security” account.

SAVVY SENIOR

Not a scam: Social Security needs you to update your online account

The changes will simplify your sign-in experience and align with federal authentication standards, while at the same time provide you safe and secure access to your account and other online services.

If you created an online my Social Security account before September 18, 2021, you’ll need to shift to a Login.gov account to be able to continue to access your account.

Online my Social Security accounts enable both beneficiaries and people who are not yet receiving benefits to access services, including requesting Social Security card replacements, estimating future benefits, checking on the status of benefit applications and managing current benefits.

The online services aim to save time for both current and future beneficiaries, as well as the

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

- (802) 864-5682 | Elmwoodmeunier.net

Social Security Administration, as the agency grapples with long wait times for its national 800 phone number. The average speed to answer those calls was about 36 minutes in the second quarter, according to the SSA. The agency is working to bring that average wait time down to 12 minutes by the end of September 2025.

UPDATE YOUR ACCOUNT

If you already have a Social Security account, go to ssa.gov/ myaccount and sign in with your Social Security username. You’ll then be guided through the process of creating a new account with Login.gov. Once you successfully link your personal my Social Security account with your new Login.gov account, you’ll get

a confirmation screen and have immediate access to online services. In the future, you’ll sign into your account with Login.gov and not your Social Security username.

If you already have either a Login.gov or ID.me account, you do not have to take any action.

BEWARE OF SCAMS

To be sure you’re taking the appropriate steps to update your account, it is important to verify any websites or links leading you to the Social Security website. Legitimate Social Security Administration website link is www.ssa. gov and the agency link to your Social Security account is www. ssa.gov/myaccount.

It’s very important to be mind-

ful of potential scam artists who may send you fraudulent websites pretending to direct you to Social Security. These sites will closely mimic the format of the agency’s links to try to lure you into entering your personal information. If you see a suspicious email or link, it is best not to respond or click on it. Instead, you can report it to the website of the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General or call the fraud hotline at 800-2690271.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

“MY HUSBAND AND I HAD THE BEST EXPERIENCE WITH KRISTIN AND POLLI PROPERTIES. WE COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER REALTOR. KRISTIN WAS SERIOUSLY THE HIGHLIGHT OF OUR JOURNEY. WE WERE FULLY SUPPORTED BY HER EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. EVERYONE IS LIKE A FAMILY THERE, READY TO HELP YOU WHENEVER YOU NEED IT. IT'S A TEAM YOU CAN RELY ON! GO WITH POLLI PROPERTIES AND KRISTIN!! I PROMISE YOU'LL THANK ME LATER!”

-CRISTINE & WILL BOUGHT IN BURLINGTON

TODAY’S HISTORY:

• In 1945, President Harry S. Truman signed the United Nations charter.

• In 1963, 15 thieves stole close to 2.6 million pounds sterling from a mail train in Britain’s “Great Train Robbery.”

• In 1974, President Richard Nixon announced on national television that he would resign the presidency the following day.

• In 1990, Iraq announced its “unification” with Kuwait, days after its military forces had invaded and taken over the country.

TODAY’S FACT:

• Thomas Edison received a patent for the mimeograph on this day in 1876.

FALL/WINTER PROGRAM GUIDE

The Fall/Winter Program Guide is at the printers and will be mailed to Williston homes the week of Aug. 19. Be sure to check out the website (www.willistonrec. org) for days, dates, times and fees for all programs listed in the guide.

R.E.C. DAY CAMP

There is one week left of R.E.C. Camp — Aug. 12-16. Spots are open for full days only, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. R.E.C. Camp is for children entering grades 1-6. The camp is packed with recreation, sports and arts & crafts — a perfect blend of choice activities, group games and free play.

ADULT PROGRAMS

SENIOR STRENGTH AND FUNCTIONAL MOBILITY

Ages 50-plus. Join this fitness program just for seniors. The program will concentrate on developing upper and lower body strength, improving balance and strengthening your core. In this dementia-friendly class, participants are encouraged to work within their abilities. Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:45-10:45 a.m., $5 per visit. The R.E.C. Zone, 94 Harvest Lane.

JAZZERCISE CARDIO

SCULPT PROGRAMS

Ages 50-plus. Programs are low impact with different levels of intensity. Instructors will show you how to take it high or low. Class passes of 1, 5 and 10 visits available to purchase. Cardio Sculpt Low is Tuesdays and Fridays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. and Mondays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Cardio Sculpt Low/High is Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 4:45-5:45 p.m. and Sundays, 8:30-9:30 a.m.

TAI CHI INTRODUCTION

Ages 50-plus. The ancient art of Tai Chi has become increasingly popular as people find that it improves balance, increases mindfulness and relaxes the mind and body. This class will present sequences of movements derived from the Sun style, which is slow,

smooth and upright in posture. Wednesdays, 12:15-1:15 p.m. Free. The R.E.C. Zone, 94 Harvest Lane.

FALL SOCCER

Registration is now open for youth soccer in the fall. The following programs are offered.

SOCCER SHORTS

Ages 3-4, Coed. This is a child/parent program. The program teaches the fundamentals of

soccer using a fun and energetic curriculum. Each session is held in a positive environment where children are encouraged to learn and play with a parent and each other. Instructors: Rec. Staff RECKIDS SOCCER

Ages 5-6, Coed. This program is designed to teach the fundamentals of the game. Youngsters will be provided with the opportunity to learn, practice and develop their skills. Saturday practices and scrimmages. Parents and volunteers are needed to coach teams.

GRADE 1-2 SOCCER

Separate boys and girls leagues

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

Puzzle found on page 19

are offered if numbers allow. This league provides the opportunity for youngsters to learn the game, improve their skills and enjoy playing. The program meets twice a week — one weekday practice and Saturday games. Parents and volunteers are needed to coach teams.

GRADE 3-5 SOCCER

Separate boys and girls leagues are offered if numbers allow. The program meets twice a week — one weekday practice and Saturday games. Teams will have the opportunity to play other rec department teams. Parents and volunteers are needed to coach teams.

SUDOKU SOLUTION

Puzzle found on page 19

Dean M. Batt

Dean M. Batt, 83, of Richmond, VT, passed away peacefully on July 19, 2024, at The Arbors memory care home in Shelburne where he had resided for several years. He’ll be remembered far and wide for his easygoing cheerfulness, quick wit, and ability to get along with just about anyone.

The son of Leo Batt and Marie Foehl Batt, Dean was born in Buffalo, New York, and grew up in nearby Tonawanda. After graduating from Tonawanda High School in 1959, he served three years in the U.S. Navy, then attended the State University of New York at Cortland, where he earned a B.A. in History and M.Ed. in Secondary Education. He continued his studies at Arizona State University, receiving a Doctor of Education degree in 1974.

Dean’s professional journey began at Austin College in Sherman, Texas, where he rose from Assistant Professor to Chair of the Education Department to Vice President of Student Affairs. Subsequent career moves took him to Cleveland OH (Case Western Reserve University), northern New Jersey (Fairleigh Dickinson University), northern California (San Jose State University), and finally Burlington VT, where he served as Vice President of Student Affairs at the University of Vermont from 1995 to 2001.

After retirement, Dean and his wife Martha began a long “second career” of community volunteerism in their adopted hometown of Richmond, Vermont. Dean served for several years on the town’s Conservation Commission, delivered Meals on Wheels, and became a stalwart volunteer guide at Richmond’s National Historic Landmark, the Old Round Church.

Dean enjoyed tent-camping trips with Martha throughout the United States and Western Europe, as well as visits to his kids and grandkids

in San Francisco, Lake Tahoe and Seattle. He loved UVM basketball, photography, Labrador Retrievers, shopping for Christmas presents, and impromptu picnics with Martha.

Survivors include his wife of 39 years, Martha Turner; his daughter Christina, son-in-law Darin and their children John, Ben and Lauren; his son Pete, daughter-in-law Lisa, and their children Danny and Lizzie; his brother and sister-in-law Jon and Mary Beth; and many nieces and nephews.

Gifts in memory of Dean Batt can be directed to the Richmond Historical Society, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and caretaker of the Old Round Church. To make a donation, please go to https://www.richmondvthistory.org/donate or send a check to the Richmond Historical Society at P.O. Box 453, Richmond VT 05477.

William L. (“Bill”) Fellinger

With deep sorrow, we announce the sudden passing of William L. (“Bill”) Fellinger, 81, of Burlington (VT), on the evening of Thursday, July 18, 2024.

A resident of Williston, VT, from 1977 through 2015, Bill was a native of Saint Louis and Kirkwood, MO. Bill received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois in 1963. He served in the US Air Force, stationed primarily at Vandenberg AFB, California, from 1966 through 1970, and completed a PhD in Computer Science at Oregon State University, Corvallis, in 1973. Bill and his family came to Vermont in 1975, where he held an assistant professorship in the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of Vermont for two years, then joined IBM Essex Junction, where he worked from 1977 through 1998. He subsequently worked at IDX, then participated in the founding of

OBITUARIES

CCS Technologies.

Much of Bill’s time was devoted to parenthood, then grandparenthood. When his two sons were young, he could be found outdoors with them most evenings and weekends, guiding them on one adventure or another, on hikes, bikes, skis, and on wind- and paddle-powered craft of all sorts. At the infamous “Williston Sunday Soccer” matches and Thanksgiving Turkey Bowls, his goalkeeping prowess - along with his tattered, orange, down parka - earned him the title “Stonewall”. During their sons’ High School and College years, Bill and his wife, Donna, attended nearly every concert or sports event, traveling to cities around the U.S. and even Europe. From 2005 onward, Bill and Donna made frequent trips to visit grandchildren, and this June he shared in the joy of his first grandchild’s graduation from high school and acceptance to college.

Throughout his life, Bill was involved in many community activities. He volunteered with Willison Little League; Troop 92 of the Boy Scouts of America; and the Williston Federated Church. Bill also wrote, for a few years, a column in the Williston Whistle called “Liberally Speaking.” During his last ten years in Burlington, he took long bicycle rides and kayaked often. In 2010, when Bill’s independent efforts to drink less beer had the opposite effect, Bill joined Alcoholics Anonymous, and was a devoted and active member of the AA program for the remainder of his life.

Bill was trained as a scientist and tried to explain the world he saw in a scientific way, with theories, questions and evidence. He did not accept anything as final but kept an open mind, like any good scientist. He also recognized the impetus behind all scientific inquiry as a cosmic mystery and this gave him a humility and spiritual bent that opened not only his mind, but his heart as well. He was a lifelong TM daily meditator and spiritual seeker. He had a deep compassion for people and was always available to listen to his fellow travelers along life’s journey. He was a loyal friend to so many. His spirit and wisdom actively live on in our daily lives.

His humor lives on, as well. Bill loved words. In communications with his family & friends there would often be word play, and puns. His typical greeting was “what’s canoe?”. And when asked how he’d slept, he’d answer “lying down”.

Bill was an ardent fan of folk music, supporting the Champlain Valley Folk Festival, Northern Harmony, Village Harmony, and many others. He would attend numerous festivals every year. From early in his life, Bill enjoyed singing. He participated in South County Chorus, the Noyana Hospice Choir, and the Burlington Sacred Harp Community. He was a devoted member of the choral ensemble, Social Band, from the time of its founding in 1998. We are grateful that he was with these longtime friends and fellow singers when beset by the sudden medical episode that took his life.

Bill is survived by: his wife of 58 years, Donna M. (Schmidt) Fellinger; their son Eric B. Fellinger and daughter-in-law Erika K. (Tapman) Fellinger and their three children Zachary Fellinger, Meredith Fellinger, and Austin Fellnger, of Somerville, MA; their son Jeffrey A. Fellinger and daughter-in-law Katherine Sims and their children Wyatt Sims and Hayden Sims of Craftsbury, VT; his step-mother, Erika H. Fellinger of Creve Coeur, MO, and first cousin Arthur Sievers of Monticello, IL.

Bill was predeceased by his father Lowell L. Fellinger, his mother, Elizabeth Maxine (Sievers) Fellinger, and sister Nancy A. Fellinger.

Two commemorative events are planned.

- Visitation/calling hours will be held on Sunday, August 11th, from 2pm - 4pm at the Ready Funeral Home, 261 Shelburne St, Burlington, hosted by Donna Fellinger and close friend Paul Rocheleau.

- A celebration of joys, memories and music, followed by potluck dinner, will be held on Saturday, August 17th, beginning at 2pm, at the Williston Federated Church, 44 North Williston Road, Williston VT.

All are welcome at both memorial events.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

- Vermont Natural Resources Council: https://vnrc.org/donate/

- Social Band: https://socialband.org/donate/

- The Lake Champlain Land trust: https://www.lclt.org/support-our-work/

Why do we then indulge our fears, suspicions and complaints?

Is He a God? And shall his grace grow weary of his Saints?

-William Billings

Russell John Murray, Sr.

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Russell John Murray, Sr. of Richmond, VT on Monday, July 29, 2024.

He was born Feb. 8, 1940 in Montpelier to Glenn Murray and Doris (Farr) Murray. On March 31, 1962 he married Jean (Ward) Murray in Richmond.

Russell was a farmer for a number of years, then became a heavy machinery mechanic at Farr’s in Richmond for around 59 years. He was awarded the “Community Citizens Award” on May 11, 2011 in Richmond. He loved to work outside around the house, and he loved his horses and helping train in his free time after retiring. He was a great husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, and mentor to many. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him.

Left to cherish Russell’s memory are his children Russell Jr., Glenn, Peggy, Laura, Sue, Amy, Karen, and Joyce; his brother Calvin Murray; sisters Shirley Ashley and Glenna Weiner; his 10 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his wife Jean, his parents, his sister Anne (Murray) White, and his grandson Adam John Murray.

Russell’s smile will live on forever in all that knew him. Not a day went by that he didn’t have a smile. “Every day is a good day. Just some days are better than others.” This is what he always said and lived by.

We would like to send a special thank you to all the hospice nurses and team that took great care of Russell.

There was a Celebration of Life Aug. 4 at the Richmond Congregational Church, Richmond.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to UVM Home Health & Hospice, 1110 Prim Road, Colchester, VT.

CLASSIFIEDS

Tuesday, August 13, 2024 – 7:00 PM

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

DP 21.19.2 GPA, LLC request amendment to Master Sign Plan at 4840 Williston Rd in the Industrial Zoning District West (IZDW).

SATURDAY, AUG. 17 @ 9AM 131 DORSET LANE, WILLISTON, VT

DP 24-02 Malcolm Willard requests discretionary permit review of proposed 3-lot subdivision to create 2 new dwellings on 2 ac lots at 699 Nob Hill Rd in the Agricultural/Rural Residential Zoning District (ARZD).

EMAILED ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISING INSERTION ORDER

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

Thomas Hirchak Company

FROM: Cathy Morneault

Phone: 802-888-4662

Clare Helene Jacobs

Email: Advertising2@THCAuction.com

OBITUARIES

In 1974, Clare and Bunny relocated from the city to Huntington Valley, PA. Their home was often bustling with family and friends celebrating holidays, special events, or just dropping by. Their door was always open for love, support, listening and a cold beer. Together, Clare and Bunny vacationed in Ormond by the Sea, FL as well as a few special trips to Alaska.

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EMAIL: FFL@THCAuction.com or Call: 802-888-4662

TOWN OF WILLISTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA

Tuesday, August 27, 2024 – 7:00 PM

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

DP 24-17 Scott Allaire requests discretionary permit review of proposed duplex on a 0.55-ac lot at 3157 St. George Rd in the Agricultural/Rural Residential Zoning District (ARZD).

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

To: Rick & Susan Cote

Paper: Williston Observer Max Length 12.5

TODAY’S DATE: 8/02/2024

NAME OF FILE: 08082024_WO

DATE(S) TO RUN: 8/08/2024

SIZE OF AD: 1/16 page (2” x 5”)

Publishes in Williston Observer

SECTION: Auctions PO# 1588

On July 24, 2024 Clare Helene Jacobs (nee Cliggett), age 95, passed away peacefully at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester. She was born Dec. 21, 1928 to Mary (Barnett) and John Cliggett in Oaklyn, NJ, growing up among a close and loving family in the Kensington section of Philadelphia, under the “L” (elevated train). During her late high school years, she was a switchboard operator for Bell Telephone. After graduation, she worked for the Jacobs Bros Chevrolet dealership, where she met the love of her life, Frank C. Jacobs Jr., (Bunny). They married in 1950, moving to West Oak Lane where they raised their daughters while Clare worked as a Medical Assistant for Dr. Paul C. Moock Jr.

Clare enjoyed a lifetime activity of collecting and researching antiques and vintage items, frequenting resale shops and flea markets. Among varied interests she enjoyed music, dancing, piano playing, socializing, cooking, sewing, knitting, reading, and investing. She took up playing the ukulele in her 80’s. Clare was inquisitive and made a practice of learning something new each day.

She relocated to Richmond in recent years and made many friends as she adjusted to “country life.”

EMAILED TO: Rick@Willistonobserver.com

Clare leaves her daughters Clare A. Jacobs of Perkasie, PA, Angie Jacobs (Alan Pierson Franchot) of Richmond, VT, Lisa Dwyer (Pete Dwyer) of Williston, VT; her sister Jane Trautwein of Flourtown, PA; her grandchildren Angelina and Erick Turk, Raymond and Nicole Monteleone, Charles Mangan, Brennan Mangan, Austin Graven Franchot, and Heather Pierson Nelson. She is also survived by her six loving great-grandchildren as well as many caring nieces and nephews.

Email:

July 15 at 10:36 a.m. — Retail theft reported at Home Depot. Male suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

To: Rick & Susan Cote Paper: Williston Observer

July 15 at 10:56 a.m. — Assisted Williston Fire Department with bus that was on fire. No injuries reported.

TODAY’S DATE: 8/02/2024

July 17 at 4:06 p.m. — Assisted Williston Rescue with a male who was laying down in the middle of a parking lot. Male was transported to the hospital for evaluation.

July 18 at 9:56 p.m. — Assisted with trespassing a homeless encampment off Harvest Lane.

Clare is reunited in heaven with her husband, Bunny, along with her brothers, sisters, and their spouses: Jack and EllaNora Cliggett, Dolores and Maurie Wolf, Dick and Edith Cliggett, Mary and Norman Hunter, Bob and Marie Cliggett, and Albert Trautwein. Clare also joins her close “Club” girlfriends and their spouses from high school days who remained forever friends through life, including Mary and Bill Ludwig, Dot and Moon Schmidt, Eva and Dutch Schlaich, Lorraine and Charlie Brown, and Helen and Sam Porter.

We are grateful for the wonderful care Clare has received over her years in VT from Dr. Hannah Rabin. Special thank you to Cathy Branon for her helpful efforts in keeping Clare at home, along with our compassionate support team from UVM Home Health and Hospice Program. Finally, immense gratitude for the thoughtful staff and volunteers at McClure Miller Respite House. Clare particularly enjoyed hearing the Noyana Singers each week.

A celebration of Clare’s life will be held at the Richmond Congregational Church, UCC Aug. 9, at 2 p.m.

To honor Clare’s kindness and generosity, please consider a gift to Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity (VermontHabitat.org) or a gift to the Richmond Food Shelf and Thrift Store (richmondfoodshelfvt. org) in her memory.

shots fired. Male suspect was taken into custody without issues.

July 19 at 2:22 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. Female suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

July 19 at 10:26 p.m. — Report of a stolen vehicle on Marshall Avenue. Vehicle was located the following day in South Burlington and returned to the owner.

July 20 at 2:14 a.m. — Following a traffic stop, female operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.

NAME OF FILE: 08082024_WO DATE(S) TO RUN: 8/08/2024

July 15 at 5:39 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Style Encore. Female suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

SIZE OF AD: 1/8 page (4” x 5”)

July 16 at 12:34 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Hannaford. Female suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

July 18 at 2:26 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Hannaford. Male suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

EMAILED TO: Rick@Willistonobserver.com

July 16 at 3:32 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Marshalls. Officers have not located suspects at this time.

July 17 at 5:25 a.m. — Male attempting to gain access to LaQuinta Hotel. Male was moved along.

July 18 at 2:53 p.m. — Report of a suspicious female in Walmart. Female was located and issued a noticed of trespass for the property.

July 18 at 9:06 p.m. — Following a traffic stop, male operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.

July 19 at 12:12 p.m. — Assisted Richmond Police with a report of

July 20 at 2:58 p.m. — Following a traffic stop, male operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.

July 21 at 1:32 a.m. — Report of a burglary at Simon’s. Case is still being investigated by officers.

July 21 at 7:59 p.m. — Report of two juveniles fighting in front of Walmart. Juveniles left prior to officer’s arrival.

Officers also conducted 38 traffic stops and responded to 10 alarm activations and 11 motor vehicle crashes during this time frame.

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

is a deadly viral disease of the

that infects mammals. It is most often seen in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, but unvaccinated

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.

display lead dors from creemees.

Public investment in child care is WORKING.

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: PAID FOR BY LET’S GROW KIDS

Adams anniversary

People gather on the Adams Farm Market lawn, above, to help celebrate the establishment’s 31st year in business on Tuesday.

The duo Auriant provided an eclectic mix of music with Kaomi Taylor, below, and Denis Thibouthot, right.

Every Tuesday throughout the summer, Adams hosts Truckin’ Tuesdays, evenings of live music, food trucks, games and ice cream from the scoop shop.

OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY