Wetlands dampen park plans
Allen Brook improvements hit a snag
The Town of Williston had big plans for Allen Brook Park.
It developed a master plan in 2022 for the 20 acres next to Allen Brook School that included tennis, pickleball and basketball courts; baseball diamonds; indoor and outdoor event spaces; and walking paths, among other amenities.
The town was ready to move toward a first phase of construction last spring when it hired DuBois and King Consulting Engineers. The South Burlington-based firm was given eight tasks, including applying for state and town construction permits, recommending a construction company and overseeing the buildout of phase 1 of the park. Construction was scheduled to start this upcoming spring.
But the project got tripped up on task No. 3: “resource constraints.” It was during DuBois and King’s investigation of that, in May, when it found a wetlands problem on the parcel. According to a map it provided to the town, wetlands surround the school and the existing two playing fields that comprise the current park.
“With that, we had to put a stop to further
work until we can figure out our options,” Recreation and Parks Director Todd Goodwin said.
These aren’t swamplands, he noted, but they do complicate the project and have the town now considering other locations to build the amenities in the plan.
“We are going to take this master plan and see if it can fit somewhere else,” Goodwin said. “But right now it may not be for the land at Allen Brook.”
Goodwin said he and the volunteer members of the town’s Recreation and Parks Committee were disappointed at the news, but hopeful that the plan can be salvaged. The town owns other acreage around Allen Brook School and the Williston Fire Department on Talcott Road.
“We are looking at options. We are not giving up,” said Goodwin.
Simultaneously, the town is looking for a place to site a community center. The two projects could be co-located, Goodwin said.
“Park amenities can enhance a rec center and the rec center enhances the park,” he said. “They go hand-in-hand.”
Jason Starr
Town hires recreation coordinator
Taylor Hayes started last week as the Williston Recreation and Parks Department’s program coordinator.
A native of Colchester currently living in St. Albans, she is the second program coordinator the department has had. The position was created in 2022 and filled for two years by Alex Mihavics, who recently relocated with his wife to Wisconsin.
Hayes is a graduate of Community College of Vermont, where she studied environmental science and early childhood education, graduating in 2020. Since then, she has worked as a teacher at Heartworks preschool on Blair Park Road in Williston and spent summers working
for Vermont State Parks. The program coordinator job is the first year-round job she’s had.
“It seemed like a great combination of everything I love to do,” she said.
The primary role of the coordinator is to organize and schedule programs for the department’s R.E.C. Zone space on Harvest Lane. One of her first moves was reaching out to instructors for potential new offerings at the space.
“We have access to this space year-round seven days a week and would love to begin offering more programs in this space for all ages,” she wrote in an email to instructors.
Hayes also plans to offer her own programming for the community, including a babysit-
ting certification class and bone builders and balance classes for seniors. She’d also like to develop programming for preschoolers, such as music, dance and painting.
Growing up by the bay in Colchester, Hayes said she enjoyed recreation on Lake Champlain, as well as hiking and camping. She played tennis and ran track & field as a student-athlete at Colchester High School, graduating in 2018.
You can find Hayes in the second floor offices at Town Hall on Williston Road. She can also be reached by phone at (802) 876-1160 or email at recreation@willistonvt.org.
Jason Starr
Cutest little punkin’
Tanner Grace, 3, sits among the pumpkins at Isham’s Fall Harvest Festival on Sunday. See more photos on pages 4 and 5.
Taylor Hayes
Do you mind?
Janet Smith, director of the Vermont Transcendental Meditation Center in Williston, leads the launch last Thursday of Meditate Vermont, a state chapter of Meditate America. The initiative is an effort “to reduce stress, increase resilience, and promote good mental and physical health,” Smith said. Through Nov. 12, the center is offering a reduced-price introduction to transcendental meditation. For more information, visit www. tm.org/vermont.
Around Town
‘Outstanding’ local teacher receives statewide recognition
Williston’s Elizabeth Ritchie was recently awarded the 2024/2025 UVM Outstanding Educator Award for her work as
a social studies teacher at Essex High School. She will be recognized at the 44th annual UVM Outstanding Educator Awards Nov. 7 at UVM’s Davis Center.
Gas leak interrupts business day in Taft Corners
Businesses were evacuated Thursday when a natural gas leak was detected at the Taft Corners Shopping Center, the Williston Fire Department reported in a
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news release.
Vermont Gas System personnel also responded to the scene about 11 a.m. It took about 20 minutes to control the leak, the department said, and businesses were allowed to reopen at about 11:45 a.m.
“The cause of the gas leak was determined to be a failure of a high voltage electrical conduit that broke free of the building, striking multiple gas meters,” Fire Chief Aaron Collette said in the release. “The incident is being investigated by the Vermont Division of Fire Safety and their electrical inspector.”
Richmond Art Crawl on Sunday features area artists
Radiate Art Space is holding its 5th annual Richmond Art Crawl on Sunday, Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Town Center lawn at 203 Bridge St. The event is free to the public and will feature the work of 65 local artists, food trucks, kids’ activities and more.
‘Just Getting By’ film screening upcoming at Majestic 10
A free screening of “Just Getting By” will take place at the Majestic 10 Movie Theater in Williston on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m.
The film follows the lives of Vermonters who are struggling with food and housing insecurity, exploring their day-to-day challenges and resiliency.
The movie is produced by Kingdom County Productions.
Following the showing, there will be Q&A with the film director. The event is hosted by the Williston Community Justice Center and Williston Housing Committee, with sponsorship from Union Bank, Community Bank and individual donations.
Reservations are recommended by visiting www.eventbrite.com and searching “Just Getting By.”
The Kismet Building • 373 Blair Park Road • Suite 101 • Williston
Elizabeth Ritchie
Making a voting plan for the General Election
BY SARAH MASON Williston Town Clerk
The Vermont Secretary of State’s Office will be mailing a ballot to all active registered voters for the Nov. 5 General Election. The ballots will start to arrive in mailboxes over the next week or so.
You do not have to request an absentee ballot from my office or come to Town Hall to vote or pick up a ballot.
The ballot coming by mail is yours. Please don’t throw it out or misplace it. We will have a very limited supply meant for Election Day voting and for new voters. You can still vote if you lose your ballot or choose not to bring it with you, but you will have to sign an affidavit before voting.
HOW TO VOTE
You can fill out your ballot and return it to the Town Clerk’s office in person before Election Day, or use the secure ballot return drop-box located behind the Town Hall (7900 Williston Rd.). Put your ballot in the “Voted Ballot Envelope,” seal it and sign the envelope where it asks you to. The drop-box provides an equal opportunity and experience for people of all abilities to cast their ballot. It is available 24-7.
You can vote at the polling place — the National Guard Armory at 7846 Williston Rd. — on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Bring your ballot with you. You can even fill it out at home and still go to the polls and put it in the tabulator yourself. Check out the online voters guide and
sample ballots at mvp.vermont.gov.
MAKE A VOTING PLAN
My goal during every election season is to provide a safe, fair and efficient election experience for everyone. This applies to both
I foresee total voter turnout being higher this November (than 2020).
early voting and at the polls.
We will have a massive turnout for this election, so please take this into consideration when making your plan for voting. Over 6,900 people voted in 2020, and I foresee total voter turnout being higher this November.
My office and the Secretary of State’s office are the sources for accurate information regarding elections in Vermont. Please note that every state in the U.S. does its elections a bit differently and the news you watch, hear or read may not pertain to Vermont.
If you receive a ballot to your address that is not for you or a family member who still uses your address, bring it to the Town Clerk’s office. This is an important tool we use in updating our voter checklist. Do not open someone else’s mail.
Please reach out if you have any questions by email at smason@willistonvt.org or phone at (802) 878-5121 ext. 6.
Student incident causes evacuation at WCS
OBSERVER STAFF REPORT
Williston Central School was evacuated mid-day on Thursday and closed Friday after a student threw a fire extinguisher on the floor and its contents emptied into a hallway, causing a haze, a strong smell and fire alarms to ring out.
The school called in a contractor to work over the weekend cleaning the heating and ventilation system, which had been contaminated by the extinguisher chemical. Students were welcomed in again on Monday morning.
School administrators sent students home early after Thursday’s evacuation, on the advice of first-responders from the Williston
Fire Department who insisted that the building remain empty. The administrators acknowledged in an email to parents later that day that the impromptu dismissal “took longer than anticipated.” With shared school buses, the early dismissal also affected dismissal time at Allen Brook School.
“In moments like these, we are reminded of the importance of flexibility, teamwork and community,” the schools’ principals wrote to parents.
Following the incident, parents and teachers were asked to complete surveys of their experiences of the event. The Champlain Valley School District Safety Committee is planning to conduct a review.
Williston Central School was evacuated Thursday and closed Friday after a student emptied a fire extinguisher in a hallway.
CLOCKWISE (l to r): The first Sunday of Isham Farm’s Fall Festival featured Jersey calves, which received a lot of love and pets from a crowd of children. A tractor loaded with visitors chugs by as other folks snap pictures and search for the perfect pumpkin. The day was enhanced by the musical accompaniment of One More Time. These three lucky pumpkins were among the many selected to go home with folks as fall decorations. The festival continues on the next three Sundays. OBSERVER
The lost time and soaring costs of the Clean Heat Standard
BY JULIE MOORE
We have all witnessed the impact of our changing environment. It is warmer, storms are stronger and repeated floods are testing the limits of our resilience. The need for climate action is urgent, but this doesn’t mean that the transformation won’t be complex and challenging — and come with real costs.
In the pursuit of solutions to the climate emergency, we cannot ignore household financial realities.
As many can attest, the gritty tasks of replacing boilers and furnaces with heat pumps, weatherizing older homes and upgrading electric panels is expensive. Vermonters — as dedicated as they are to climate action — will find these hard investments to prioritize when they are increasingly struggling to pay for housing or buy groceries.
When the Legislature was considering the Affordable Heat Act in 2023 — also referred to as the Clean Heat Standard — it seemed obvious it would require
Rather than taking the time to develop thoughtful policy that considered affordability and efficient use of resources in building a durable climate strategy, the Legislature directed state agencies to fully design a policy with no regard for the cost.
a significant, up-front investment by Vermonters to achieve both the greenhouse gas reductions and promised long-term savings. In contemplating this legislation, there were a lot of big numbers tossed around — billions of
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dollars in both costs and benefits — with some seeming to suggest this policy would effectively pay for itself. I felt it was critical to tease apart the household benefits — things like lower long-term energy bills — and the societal benefits — things like improved air quality and reduced carbon emissions — from household costs, including labor and materials for installation, which largely occur up front.
So, using the best available, but admittedly incomplete, information, I estimated the investment (the up-front costs) Vermonters would need to make to fulfill the obligation the Legislature made on Vermont’s behalf when it overrode the Governor’s veto of the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) in 2020. I was prepared for my attempt to put a rough price tag on the Clean Heat Standard to be unpopular but hoped that it would result in a more complete and honest conversation with Vermonters.
Unfortunately, that was not what happened.
My cost estimates were dismissed as political and “false information … pushed out irresponsibly” to scare Vermonters. There was no substantive discussion, and Vermonters were denied the
chance to be given a sense of the cost of this program before state agencies were directed to jump straight to program design.
Over the past 18 months, the Public Utilities Commission and the Department of Public Service have engaged consultants and worked extensively to more fully understand what would be required to establish a Clean Heat Standard, investing hundreds of thousands of dollars of state resources and many, many hours of staff time. An initial report from this work was published earlier this month.
While the report highlights that uncertainty remains around the exact cost of implementing the Clean Heat Standard, it affirms that it will require billions of dollars of up-front investment, a disproportionate amount of which will need to take place between now and the 2030 deadline imposed by the Global Warming Solutions Act. And the report notes that it will be particularly challenging to shield low-income Vermonters from bearing the economic brunt of its implementation.
I am left feeling disappointed, because making the transition away from fossil fuels is a goal I very much share.
Rather than taking the time
to develop thoughtful policy that considered affordability and efficient use of resources in building a durable climate strategy, the Legislature directed state agencies to fully design a policy with no regard for the cost. The result is a policy that is technically complex, will be hard or impossible to administer and, perhaps most important, will be so expensive it is unlikely to gain the broad public support needed to succeed.
As climate change continues to impact Vermont and Vermonters, I am asking our legislators to carefully consider and weigh the information being developed by the Public Utilities Commission and the Department of Public Service, and commit to open dialogue, collaboration, collegiality and math.
The successful creation of a far-reaching and consequential policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions must include real consideration of costs. Otherwise, we will continue to squander our most valuable resource in charting a path to climate safety — time.
Julie Moore is secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.
Roy is right for Vermont
It’s remarkable that Williston’s own Bruce Roy, who is running as a moderate, common sense Republican for the Chittenden County Southeast Senate District, has recently received an endorsement from Dr. Louis Meyers (“Roy for Senate” Sept. 12).
Dr. Meyers recently ran for the same Vermont Senate seat in the Democratic primary. He was unsuccessful in his campaign but is so concerned about the future of Vermont that he is placing his confidence and support behind Bruce Roy.
Meyers knows we must put Vermont’s best interests ahead of partisan politics, supporting fresh ideas in Montpelier and promoting common sense solutions with
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
a balanced approach to legislation.
Dr. Meyers and Mr. Roy obviously don’t agree on all topics, but they do agree that huge increases in property taxes, double digit increases in health insurance premiums, and the potential for skyrocketing heat fuel prices have taken Vermont to a new level of unaffordability.
I commend Dr. Meyers for independently reaching across the aisle, recognizing that change is drastically needed in Montpelier, and Bruce Roy offers the best chance of getting Vermont back on track.
Col. Roy has already provided 30 years of service to Vermont and is ready to serve our state again.
I urge all Chittenden County South -
Autumn’s Offerings
east District voters to elect Bruce Roy to the Vermont Senate.
Steve Casale Williston
CVSD superintendent search begins
Earlier this year, the Champlain Valley School Board announced the hiring of Adam Bunting as interim superintendent of our district for this school year. At the same time, we announced that we would conduct a thorough search for a permanent superintendent during the 2024-25 school year that included obtaining community input.
The board is pleased to announce that we have begun the process of iden -
tifying the next permanent superintendent of our district and extend an invitation to the community to get involved in the process. The search will be facilitated by Champlain Valley School District Director of Human Resources Laura Rice. Information about how to get involved is included on our website — www.cvsdvt.org (scroll down to the headline for the superintendent search.) Throughout the fall and early winter, we will provide the community with periodic updates on our progress. Thank you for your continued support of our schools.
Meghan Metzler, CVSD School Board chair
Keith Roberts, CVSD HR Committee chair
Your energy committee in motion
Progress and plans for Williston’s energy future
BY MARIA GINGRAS
Williston Energy Committee
The Williston Energy Committee is well into its third year, dividing its time serving as an advisory group to the town and performing energy-related public outreach for town residents.
The seven volunteer members of the Williston Energy Committee include Kevin Thorley (chair), Maria Gingras, Matthew Wood, Kevin Batson, Eric Hillmuth, Michael Lazorchak and Reed Parker (vice chair). Energy and Community Development Planner Melinda Scott
provides invaluable staff support and guidance to our committee.
The energy committee spent a significant amount of time in the past year providing input and recommendations on how to prioritize grant funding. This included $1.8 million in federal “ARPA” funding, a climate pollution reduction grant application and $75,000 from the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant.
These grants are designated for different purposes, and the energy committee’s role is to explore ways they could be used to both meet the goals outlined in the town’s Energy Plan and provide the greatest benefits to our residents.
As the result of a petition initiated by the citizens group Sustainable Williston, the selectboard has charged the energy committee with investigating a “clean heat standard” for our town.
WILLISTON ENERGY FAIR
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28 1-4 P.M.
WILLISTON CENTRAL SCHOOL, CENTRAL SCHOOL DRIVE
With a goal of increasing clean, non-fossil fuel energy, the committee provided guidance on a large-scale solar project proposed by Global Foundries, provided input on the energy related elements of the community center scoping study, and reviewed and updated the town’s Energy Plan for 2025.
Over many months, the committee spent a significant amount of time revising the Energy Plan, evaluating whether each goal was appropriate for the town. Where needed, we made significant changes to better align the plan with the town’s long-term energy goals and to ensure compliance with the State of Vermont Comprehensive Energy Plan.
As authors of this plan, we recognize that progress will only be achieved through the leadership, innovation and actions of residents, businesses, partners and government entities. The role of local government is not only to educate and inform, but also to lead through example and bring the many stakeholders together. The major areas addressed in this plan are: building energy usage; building energy education; land use; recycling and consumption; renewable energy generation; agriculture; and transportation. In each of the areas, we have outlined objectives and pathways that will help lead Williston to a cleaner climate future. With the amended
To Vermont faith groups, ‘climate crisis is a spiritual crisis’
BY KATE KAMPNER Community News Service
Sam Swanson understands that people can feel hopeless in preventing climate change.
As a member of Vermont Interfaith Power and Light, he and colleagues are taking an approach to environmental advocacy they hope can provide a bit more hope — by looking at climate solutions through a religious and spiritual lens.
The group is a faith-based organization that educates religious communities on the environmental movement. Members held an event last fall at Burlington’s Rock Point, where they reflected on recent flooding through workshops and meditations for spiritual guidance. There, organization board president Ron McGarvey said, people could share in their pain — and their hope.
Faith leaders see that sense of resolve as a way to rally people to action.
“What drew me to this job is that climate change as an individual can feel overwhelming and abstract,” said Chelsea Steinauer-Scudder, the organization’s coordinator. “This group is well equipped to look at climate change as a community.”
“Faith communities have a real power,” she said. “The climate crisis is a spiritual crisis.”
The group works with close to 90 congregations and religious organizations in Vermont and funds climate change adaption and education for many of them. It can help churches pay for weatherization, heat pumps and other equipment, and in 2023 the organization gave more than 200 free energy assessments statewide.
“Faith communities in Vermont are respected voices,” McGarvey said. “They do their best to enact moral responsibility.”
In 2018, the group supported the Rev. Nancy Wright, former pastor at Ascension Lutheran Church in South Burlington, and Richard Butz, a congregant there, to co-author a pair of watershed care manuals with a religious and spiritual lens.
A grant from the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church allowed the Care for Creation Committee of the church to roll out environmental education programs, like sending children in Sunday school to the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain or working with the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum to take boat trips.
Butz showed church families how to test water near their homes. He would then look at the water and share his findings.
“All of us working with the environmental crisis are trying to phrase it as a moral and a spiritual issue,” Wright said. “We say we’re being refreshed all the time and renewed by nature and by deep spiritual practices.”
Why does Wright emphasize watershed education? “You can really see the influences of pollution, you can really talk about justice and it’s clear to people — it’s clearer than climate change,” she said.
Randy Kritkausky is the president of Ecologia, an international nonprofit based in Middlebury that provides environmental education, spaces for discussion and initiatives for businesses, organizations and grassroot groups. He is also a member of the Potawatomi tribe. One of his biggest focuses is using Indigenous spiritual teachings to change people’s mindsets about environmentalism.
“How many times does Mother Earth need to send us a message of, ‘You can’t build right next to the creek or river and not expect Mother Nature to do what Mother Nature does,’ which is, assert her right to
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Ascension Lutheran Church, surrounded by trees in South Burlington, has had a focus on faithguided environmentalism.
PHOTO BY LIV MILLER
Faith Groups
continued from page 9
flow freely,” said Kritkausky. “It has driven home the message of Indigenous people that we need to look at Mother Nature as our coequal and not something that we can dominate. It just doesn’t work.”
Kritkausky said he often holds a lecture called “After the Floods,” which looks at the Potawatomi cre-
ation story to inspire people to be more reciprocal with nature. In the story, which takes place after the Earth has been flooded, a muskrat sacrifices himself to bring a clump of dirt back to the surface for his compatriots to rebuild the planet.
“Those who’ve come before us, other than human kin, have prepared a path, and the way we can respectfully engage is with reciprocity,” Kritkausky said, explain-
Fall Safety Tips
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ing that people need to act selflessly to let those other species thrive.
“We all need to listen more intimately with what the natural world is telling us about how it works, not imposing our own constructs and our own assumptions,” he said. “It’s about listening, it’s about being respectful and about being humble before nature, which is our co-equal.”
Kritkausky points to urban wil-
Finishing up digging projects before the snow flies?
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Scan the QR Code or visit vgsvt.com/ be-safe for more safety information.
How to Detect a Gas Leak
Smell: Natural gas is normally odorless. A distinctive, pungent odor, similar to rotten eggs, is added so that you will recognize it quickly.
Sight: You may see a white cloud, mist, fog, bubbles in standing water, or blowing dust. You may also see vegetation that appears to be dead or dying.
Sound: You may hear an unusual noise like a roaring, hissing, or whistling.
If you suspect a leak:
Move immediately to a safe location. Call VGS at 800-639-8081 or call 911 with the exact location. Do not smoke or operate electrical switches or appliances. These items may produce a spark that might result in a dangerous condition.
Do not assume someone else will report the condition.
derness interfaces, a term used by the government and scientists to describe where land populated by humans and unoccupied wilderness meet. People in those zones tend to see wildfire burnings or crossovers from bears into their backyard. Kritkausky said that as humans are encroaching on the natural world, the natural world is reoccupying it back.
“They were here before we were, and they finally figured out how to cohabit that space,” he said. “We have not, as humans, and that is what Indigenous people have learned and lived with for millennia.”
“We have just, for so long, felt that we dominate everything that when we’re reminded that we don’t, it’s a shock,” he said.
Some Vermonters may want to get politically active or go to lectures to engage with the environment, but others might just want to go outside. Spirit in Nature, an interfaith sanctuary in Ripton, offers an array of paths to do just that by connecting nature with religion.
President Rob Slabaugh said Spirit in Nature looks at Christian, Quaker, Jewish, Indigenous and other spiritual beliefs and asks what they say about nature.
The volunteer group takes quotes from religious texts, prints them on plywood boards and mounts those onto trees scattered across the paths. But the signs merely serve to guide, Slabaugh
said, because it’s nature that does the teaching.
“Humans are a part of nature. We need to start acting like that,” Slabaugh said. “(The path) touches people, reminds people that we are a part of nature.”
He’s felt that, since the pan-
“We have, for so long, felt that we dominate everything … When we’re reminded that we don’t, it’s a shock.”
Randy Kritkausky President of Ecologia
demic, more people have used the paths. They come out for events in the forested area, too, such as forest bathing — a type of therapy or meditation — yoga and poetry walks.
“It’s clear that public awareness has increased over time,” Slabaugh said of climate change and the movement to combat it. “I think Spirit in Nature has helped with being a supportive connection.”
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.
GREEN
Committee
draft of the Energy Plan complete, the next step will be a review by the Planning Commission and ultimately the Selectboard. The document will be made available to everyone in Williston, and we encourage resident input on the plan.
The energy committee has also been very active in its public outreach role.
The committee had a regular presence at the Isham Farmers’ Market and participated in Green Up Day and Independence Day festivities. These events provided opportunities for the committee to disseminate information on a range of energy topics, including energy efficiency, electric vehicles and energy related rebates, as well as distribute energy efficiency kits to residents.
The energy committee also expanded its original EV Fest into an Energy Fair last fall. That will return this year on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Williston Central School.
As the result of a petition initiated by the citizens group Sustainable Williston, the selectboard has charged the energy committee
with investigating a “clean heat standard” for our town. This effort will request input from residents, town organizations and business owners. Please look for informational articles about the proposed standard in the coming months.
Our committee always welcomes public input. We listened to public comment and brought in community organizations and businesses to many of our public meetings during the year. We would welcome more participation, and we invite any member of our community to join our meetings in person at the Annex or via Zoom. This is your energy committee, and we are always looking forward for the benefit of all residents.
To participate in Williston’s energy future, reach out to your Williston Energy Committee at energy@willistonvt. org or attend a public meeting held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. The agenda for upcoming meetings is posted on the Town of Williston website (www.town.williston. vt.us). For more information, visit: https:// www.willistonvtenergycommittee.org.
State seeks comment on Champlain Basin clean water plans
The Vermont agencies of Natural Resources and Transportation are hosting two virtual public meetings on a “cap-and-invest” strategy to reduce climate pollution. The meetings will be held on Oct. 3 at 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. via Zoom.
Visit www.climatechange.vermont.gov/calendar to register and receive the Zoom link.
The agencies are studying cap-and-invest as a strategy that could support meeting the state’s requirements for cutting climate pollution. A cap-and-invest program would place a declining cap on greenhouse gas emissions and reinvest proceeds into energy efficiency and clean energy.
Attendees will learn about how cap-and-invest programs work and the benefits and impacts such a program could have on Vermont residents. Members of the public will have the chance to ask questions and provide comments.
For more information about efforts the state is making to reduce climate pollution, visit www.climatechange.vermont.gov.
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) invites the public to comment on two tactical basin plans for the Otter Creek watershed and Northern Lake Champlain direct drainages. The department developed draft plans in collaboration with local nonprofits, regional planners, town officials and scientists. The plans outline over 100 ways to restore and protect rivers, lakes and wetlands.
“Public participation is key to the success of these plans, so we’re asking Vermonters to join us in reviewing the draft plans,” said DEC Commissioner Jason Batchelder. “Their ideas and feedback will help guide our work over the next five years and, ultimately, help us to reach our clean water goals.”
The plans describe how DEC
Clean water public meetings
Oct. 1, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
CCRPC offices
110 West Canal Street, Suite 202 Winooski
Oct. 17, 6-7:30 p.m.
ANR offices
111 West Street, Essex Junction
will work alongside nonprofits, farmers, towns, landowners, regional commissions, clean water service providers and conservation districts to continue to improve water quality, restore aquatic habitats and prevent future pollution within
the basin.
Members of the public can submit comments on the draft plans through Oct. 25, 2024. DEC will hold hybrid meetings with virtual and in-person options in each watershed, including:
• Oct. 1, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., at the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, 110 West Canal Street, Suite 202, Winooski.
• Oct. 17, 6-7:30 p.m., at the Agency of National Resources Fish and Wildlife Conference Room, 111 West Street, Essex Junction.
Contact Karen Bates for more information by email at Karen. Bates@Vermont.gov and by phone at (802) 490-6144.
GMT riders, drivers pan proposed service cuts
BY SHAUN ROBINSON VTDigger
Carly Sehr said she bought her condo in South Burlington because it sits right on Green Mountain Transit’s No. 11 bus line. She doesn’t own a car and uses the service to commute to and from her job at a grocery store in Burlington.
So Sehr was dismayed to learn that the bus she relies on could stop running next year, she told transit agency leaders and about three dozen other riders at a public hearing in Burlington earlier this month. The hearing was one of four held in September centered on proposed service reductions across the region.
“It’s an unfortunate fact that not everyone who works in Burlington can afford to live in Burlington,” Sehr said. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
The No. 11, which runs between downtown Burlington and Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport, is one of three local bus routes in Chittenden County that Green Mountain Transit says it may eliminate next summer in order to save up to $3 million that would fill a projected gap in its operating budget.
The other local routes are the No. 10, which runs between Williston and Essex, and the No. 8, which runs in a loop around Burlington’s downtown and Old North End.
Ending those routes amounts to what Clayton Clark, the agency’s general manager, has called a “worst case scenario.” Before taking that step, the agency would make service reductions on other bus routes in and around Burlington — including reducing the frequency that some buses arrive and limiting some service on weekends.
Green Mountain Transit’s board of commissioners still needs to approve the changes before they take effect. Plans are for an initial slate of reductions to take effect starting in November of this year, before another starting in February 2025 and a final phase, if necessary, in June 2025.
The cuts could impact at least 165,000 total rides per year, according to estimates provided by the union that represents Green Mountain Transit’s bus drivers. The transit agency has said it proposed reductions, where possible, on bus trips that had both relatively low ridership and relatively high operating costs.
But a reduction in weekend bus service in Burlington would especially be a challenge for riders whose jobs don’t align with a typical
weekday work schedule, said Lillian Smith, a musician who lives in the city.
“It already is hard enough for me, as a musician who works on the weekend, to be able to travel at that time,” said Smith, who, like Sehr, does not have a car.
Several riders at the hearing, including Smith, also voiced support for the agency’s No. 86 Montpelier LINK Express route, a commuter-oriented line that connects Burlington and the capital city. Green Mountain Transit is considering nixing the route next spring, though Clark has said it’s possible the agency could keep the route viable by restructuring how the agency pays for it.
Among the regular Montpelier LINK riders is Helena Kehne of Calais. Kehne, who said she cannot drive because of a disability, often gets to her job in Burlington by first getting a ride to Montpelier before catching the LINK Express to the Queen City.
Kehne is a social services provider for people with disabilities and said there are many people she works with who are concerned
about the possible reduction in Green Mountain Transit’s services across the board.
“As someone who also has always relied heavily on public transit for a long time, I would really appre-
Nate Bergeron, a longtime Green Mountain Transit bus driver, speaks at a public hearing in Burlington about proposed bus service reductions earlier this month.
PHOTO BY SHAUN ROBINSON/VTDIGGER
ciate it if we could come together, work together, to try to prevent the routes being cut,” Kehne said at the public hearing.
The proposed service reductions
would also have an impact on drivers, said Curtis Clough, president of the bus drivers’ union, in an interview. As many as 30 drivers based at the agency’s Burlington office — up to a third of its operators there — could be laid off if all of the proposed cuts take effect, he estimated.
Green Mountain Transit has said its budget woes come as pandemic-era federal funding that helped sustain its service in recent years is set to run dry sometime in 2025. But the union, Teamsters Local 597, has also levied blame with state leaders.
Clough made the case that the state needs to put up more money than it has in recent years to support its largest transit agency.
Green Mountain Transit relies on a mix of local, state and federal funding to support its service. That includes assessments on many of the communities it serves, though the agency is facing growing pressure from some municipalities where local leaders have questioned whether those fees are unduly high.
“They’re a logistics company. They’re a company that helps people with social services get to their appointments. What they are not is
a money printing company,” Clough said of the agency, at the hearing. “They don’t decide how much the state gives them.”
Lawmakers have tacked additional funding onto the state’s annual transportation budget in recent years to buoy Green Mountain Transit’s finances, but this year, it was likely not enough to fend off cuts, Clark has said. He told the crowd at Wednesday’s hearing that the agency has been met at the Statehouse with calls to “live within your budget.”
Some legislators and officials from the Vermont Agency of Transportation, meanwhile, have pointed to data showing Vermont outspends all other similarly rural states, on a per capita basis, when it comes to public transportation. Clark said at the hearing this suggests the state has done a good job supporting transit in the past — noting “credit where credit is due” — but emphasized that officials’ support has to continue.
Several of the Burlington-based drivers were at the Burlington hear-
What matters most to you matters to us
ing and passed out flyers urging attendees to contact state lawmakers about the proposed cuts. Among them was Nate Bergeron, who has been a Green Mountain Transit driver for 17 years and serves as a union steward.
Bergeron said in an interview that, on top of his concerns about drivers’ jobs, he was particularly worried about the impact of eliminating the No. 8 route, which loops around downtown Burlington and serves a number of
housing communities for older adults.
It’s possible to serve some of those residents with individualized, on-demand transit services, he said, but pointed to state data showing those services have a higher cost per rider than the buses serving the area now. The state is obligated to provide public transit to certain people who are on Medicaid and don’t have access to a car.
“For a lot of them, having the bus is like a lifeline, getting them to their doctors or their pharmacies, to their grocery stores,” Bergeron said. “It’s their lifeline — and we’re cutting service on that end. How is that fair?”
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 requiring 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.
TEEN NIGHT: FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Friday, Sept. 27, 5-6 p.m. Ages 12-plus. Join our teen advisory board. You bring the thoughts, we bring the food.
SATURDAY MUSIC
Saturday, Sept. 28, 10:30-11 a.m. Start your weekend off with Linda’s music.
STORYTIME
Tuesdays, Oct. 1 and 8, 10:3011 a.m. Drop in for stories and fun on the Town Green.
BABY TIME
Wednesday, Oct. 2, 10:30-11 a.m. Come together for gentle bonding and social activities with your baby.
AFTER SCHOOL GAMES
Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2-3 p.m. Have fun after school with an assortment of games.
MUSIC AND PLAYTIME
Thursdays, Oct. 3 & 10, 10:3011:30 a.m. Sing with Linda then stay to play on the Town Green, weather permitting.
TEENS DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
Friday, Oct. 4, 4:30-6 p.m. Ages 12-plus. Join our campaign. All experience levels welcome. New players can stop in at an earlier date to get character help.
SATURDAY STORYTIME
Saturday, Oct. 5, 10:30-11 a.m. Get your weekend off to a good start with Cindy’s storytime.
AFTER SCHOOL MOVIE
Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2-3:35 p.m. PG. This family’s road trip may
be a little creepy and kooky, plus a little spooky.
LEGO TIME
Thursday, Oct. 10, 3-4 p.m.
Create something fun with the library’s LEGO collection.
MULTI-AGE PROGRAMS
READ TO A DOG (LOLA)
Thursday, Oct. 3, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Sign up for a 10-minute session to read to (or hang out with) Lola the Therapy Dog.
CRAFT CIRCLE
Monday, Oct. 7, 5-6 p.m. All ages. Bring a current project and come craft in the company of others.
VINS: OWLS & THEIR CALLS
Friday, Oct. 11, 1-2 p.m. All ages. Learn about different Vermont owls and their calls. Plus, meet two live owls during the program.
ADULT PROGRAMS
For online programs or to join a book club, email daml@damlvt.org.
MYSTERY DATE WITH A BOOK
Let us choose a book for you from your choice of category: Cozy Mystery, Monsters Real or Imagined, or Dark Academia. See www.damlvt.org for details and to register. Your wrapped mystery book will be ready to pick up on Oct. 15.
MONTHLY SPICE CLUB: CUBEB PEPPER
Stop by to pick up this month’s featured spice, information about tasting notes, and a few recipes to try. Send us a picture of your culinary creation.
ADULT MEDITATION (ONLINE)
Fridays, Sept. 27 and Oct. 4, 12-12:30 p.m. Get in touch with your peaceful body and breath.
TECH TUTOR
Tuesday, Oct. 1, 1-4 p.m. Call to book a one-hour appointment for help with your tech.
SPANISH (ONLINE)
Wednesday, Oct. 2, 5-6 p.m. All levels are welcome.
ADULT RPG: WHITE BOX
Thursday, Oct. 3, 5:30-8 p.m. Join our two-hour fantasy role-playing game for adults. Register at www.damlvt.org for details.
MAH JONGG
Friday, Oct. 4, 1-3 p.m. All levels are welcome.
CURRENT EVENTS
Wednesday, Oct. 9, 10:30
a.m.-12 p.m. Drop in to discuss timely topics with other community members.
LIFE STORIES (ONLINE)
Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2 p.m. Tune in online to hear and share stories from our lives.
BOARD AT THE LIBRARY (NEW)
Wednesday, Oct. 9, 6-7:30 p.m. Come play board games with us. This month’s game is Scrabble
ADULT CRAFTERNOON: BLACK CAT HANGERS
Thursday, Oct. 10, 2-3 p.m. Bring a little good luck into your home with an adorable greeneyed ornament. Hand sewing required. Register at www. damlvt.org.
Land of Lincoln
Our 21st state is Illinois (ill-uh-NOY), a Midwestern state that joined the Union in 1818. With almost 13 million people, Illinois is ranked sixth in population.
Illinois history
Some of the earliest known Native American settlements in North America were in the area. French explorers Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette first claimed the land for the French in 1673. The British and the state of Virginia also claimed it at times.
Illinois is named for the Illinois Indians, a group of Algonquin tribes. They called their group Illiniwek, or “superior men.” The French changed the pronunciation to Illinois.
Chicago
Chicago, a city in the northeast that lies on the shores of Lake Michigan, is the thirdlargest city in the United States, with about 2.7 million people.
The city is a center for culture, finance, industry and transportation. For example, the Field Museum is known for its dinosaur exhibits, including Sue, the largest T-rex fossil ever found.
The Art Institute of Chicago is not only a museum but also a school. Chicago is one of the country’s main railroad hubs.
Mini Fact: The Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, Illinois, was the only home he owned during his life.
Around Illinois
Springfield is the capital. Abraham Lincoln and his wife, Mary, lived there with their children before moving to Washington, D.C.
Corn, soybeans, hogs, cattle, dairy products and wheat are the top farm products in Illinois. Food companies such as Quaker Oats and McDonald’s are there. Manufacturers also make machinery, transportation equipment and computer and electronic equipment.
The Lincoln-Douglas Debate Museum in Charleston, Illinois, highlights the famous 1858 debates between two Senate candidates, Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas. Lincoln lost that election, but two years later he became president.
Architect Frank Lloyd Wright lived in and designed many of his famous buildings in Oak Park, Illinois. More of his buildings are there than anywhere else in the world.
Sports
Famous Illinoisans
• Ronald Reagan served as president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He was born in Tampico, Illinois. He went to high school in Dixon and to college in Eureka.
After graduation, he became a radio sports announcer in Iowa. He then became a movie actor. He appeared in more than 50 films. In 1966, Reagan was elected governor of California. He served two terms.
In 1980, he was elected to his first term as president. His presidency was known for his economic policies and for his contribution to ending the Cold War with the Soviet Union.
• Ulysses S. Grant led the Union armies to victory in the Civil War. He was elected president in 1868. Grant grew up in Georgetown, Ohio, and later moved to Galena, Illinois. When the Civil War began, he led troops from Illinois.
• Walt Disney, who created Mickey Mouse and went on to build Disneyland and Disney World, was born in Chicago in 1901. At McKinley High School, he was the school newspaper’s cartoonist.
Illinois has two MLB teams, the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox. Fans cheer for the Chicago Bears (NFL) and the Chicago Bulls (NBA), along with the Chicago Blackhawks (NHL) and Chicago Fire FC (MLS).
Women’s teams include the Chicago Red Stars (soccer) and Chicago Sky (WNBA).
Try ’n’ Find
Words that remind us of Illinois are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
Charlie: How do sailors greet each other?
Cherise: “Long time no sea!”
Founded by Betty Debnam Issue 39, 2024
photo by artistmac
photo by Sue Ronald Reagan
Walt Disney
Wright’s Robie House in Chicago.
Ulysses S.Grant
(NBA), along with the Chicago Blackhawks (NHL) and Chicago Fire FC (MLS). Women’s teams include the Chicago Red Stars (soccer) and Chicago Sky (WNBA).
Try ’n’ Find
Words that remind us of Illinois are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
ART, BEARS, BULLS, CHICAGO, CUBS, CULTURE, DISNEY, FARM, FINANCE, FOSSIL, GRANT, ILLINOIS, LINCOLN, MIDWEST, REAGAN, SOX, SPRINGFIELD, SUE, WRIGHT.
Cook’s Corner
Sweet Corn Pudding
You’ll need:
•1/3 cup sugar
•2 teaspoons baking powder
•2 teaspoons salt
•3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
What to do:
1.Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
•2 cups half-and-half
•1/2 cup butter, melted
•6 eggs
• 6 cups canned or frozen corn kernels
Mini Jokes
Charlie: How do sailors greet each other?
Cherise: “Long time no sea!”
2.Combine sugar, baking powder, salt and flour in a small bowl.
3. In a large bowl, mix together half-and-half, butter and eggs. Add sugar mixture gradually. Stir in corn.
4.Pour mixture into baking dish.
5.Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 45 minutes or until golden-brown. Let cool. Serves 8.
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.sunshine, wind and rain (7)
2.what soda comes in (6)
3.dangerous animal (5)
4.change in position (8)
5.use your ears (6)
6.last (5)
7.say or think the same thing (5)
*You’ll need an adult’s help with this recipe.
Answers: weather, bottle, beast, movement, listen, final, agree.
Staff at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute are proposing that a genetic backup of endangered life on Earth be placed in a permanently dark location on the moon, where no power would be needed to store it for millions of years. The scheme could allow scientists to restore the organisms should they die out for whatever reason. The subzero Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway’s Arctic was designed as a similar backup, but melting permafrost due to global heating is threatening its long-term security.
For later:
Look in your newspaper for articles about things happening in Illinois.
Teachers: Follow and interact with The Mini Page on Facebook!
by Dan Thompson
By Jim Miller
Green Burials SAVVY SENIOR
How to assess what you need in a walker
Dear Savvy Senior,
Can you give me some tips on choosing an appropriate walker for my elderly father? He has some balance issues along with arthritis in his hips and could use a little more help than a cane provides.
Wobbly in Wisconsin
The practice of natural or “green” burials dates back thousands of years. The principle behind this practice is to follow the natural cycle of life. Green burials provide a reduced environmental impact, as well as the benefits of land preservation and affordability. To learn more, contact us today.
E LMWOOD -M EUNIER
FUNERAL & CREMATION CENTER
Burlington - (802) 864-5682 | Elmwoodmeunier.net
Se r ving all faiths & cult ures since 1927
Dear Wobbly,
When it comes to choosing a walker, there are several styles and options to consider, but selecting the best one for your father will depend on his needs, as well as where he’ll be using it. Here are some tips that can help you choose.
TYPES OF WALKERS
There are three basic types of walkers on the market today. To help your dad choose, consider how much support he’ll need. Then, pay a visit to a medical equipment store or pharmacy that sells walkers so he can test-walk a few (see Medicare.gov/medical-equipment-suppliers).
Here are the different types he’ll have to choose from.
Standard walker: This is the most basic style of walker that has four legs with rubber-based feet (no wheels), is very lightweight (5 to 6 pounds) and typically costs between $30 and $100. This type of walker must be picked up and moved forward as you walk, so it’s best suited for people who need significant weight bearing support, or who are walking very short distances.
Two-wheeled walker: This has the same four-leg style as
the standard walker except it has wheels on the two front legs that allow you to easily push the walker forward without lifting, while the back legs glide across the floor providing support while you step forward. These are best for people with balance issues and are priced at around $50 to $150.
Rollator: This is a rolling walker that has wheels on all (three or four) legs. Four-wheel rollators typically come with a built-in seat, basket and hand-breaks and are best suited for people who need assistance with balance or endurance inside or outside the home. Some rollators even come with pushdown brakes that engage with downward pressure and will lock if you sit on the seat. Or, if your dad needs to navigate tight spaces at home, three-wheel rollators, which don’t have a seat, are a nice option. Rollators typically run between $60 and $250.
OTHER TIPS
After deciding on the type of walker, there a few additional things you need to know to ensure it meets your dad’s needs. First, be sure the walker’s height is adjusted appropriately. To do this, have your dad stand with his arms relaxed at his sides. The handgrips of the walker
should line up with the crease on the inside of his wrist.
If your dad is a large person, verify that the walker’s weight capacity will support him, and if he chooses a four-wheel rollator, that his body can fit between the handgrips when sitting. Heavy duty (bariatric) rollators with higher weight capacities, bigger wheels and wider seats are also an option.
Your dad also needs to test the handgrips to make sure they’re comfortable. Be sure to purchase a walker that folds up (most do) for easier storage and transport.
There are also walker accessories that can be added for convenience, such as food tray attachments, tote bags for carrying personal items, oxygen tank holders, and tennis ball walker glides that go over the feet of a standard walker to help it slide more easily across the floor.
It’s also a smart idea to work with your dad’s doctor or a physical therapist, and be sure to get a written prescription, as Medicare will cover 80 percent of the cost.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
TODAY’S HISTORY:
• In 1789, Thomas Jefferson was named the first U.S. secretary of state, and John Jay was named the first chief justice of the United States.
• In 1960, Vice President Richard Nixon and Democratic Sen. John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts met in the first televised presidential debate.
• In 1983, Soviet military officer Stanislav Petrov correctly dismissed an early warning system report of an American nuclear missile launch as a computer error.
• In 1990, the Motion Picture Association introduced the NC-17 rating, replacing the stigmatized X rating for films intended for viewers aged 17 and
TODAY’S FACT:
• “Abbey Road,” the last album for which all four members of The Beatles participated in the recording sessions, was released on this day in 1969.
Joan “Jody” Crown Martin
Joan “Jody” Crown Martin, 89, a former resident of Williston and Swanton, VT passed away Sept. 12, 2024, at Our Lady of the Meadows, Richford, Vermont, with loving family by her side.
She was born in East Barnet, Aug. 12, 1935, the daughter of the late John E. Crown and Dorothy (Metcalfe) Crown. Joan was raised in North Monroe, NH on the family farm. Here is where she developed her
OBITUARIES
musical talents and seamstress abilities. She spent her teenage years travelling with the McClure’s Student Band, under the late George McClure’s direction. It was during this time Jody met her future husband, George Martin. Jody was a shy trumpeter, and George was a smooth talking, dark hair, brown eyed, flirty drummer.
After graduating from McIndoes Academy in 1953, Jody continued her education at Vermont Junior College in Montpelier, studying to be a medical secretary, where she graduated in May 1955 with an associates degree. On June 11, 1955 she and George married at the North Monroe Church in New Hampshire.
They began their lives in Nashville, TN and eventually made their way back to Vermont, where they raised their family in Williston and Swanton.
Jody was employed in the medical field for over 30 years. Besides being a career woman and raising a family, she engaged in various organizations, such as the Williston, St. Albans, Enosburgh, and Westford town bands. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Swanton Chapter #11 OES, and served the Grand Chapter of VT as past Worthy Grand Organist. Jody was a parishioner and pump organist of the West Swanton United Methodist Church. In the
early 1970s Jody and George lived in Williston and were members of the Williston Federated Church.
When Joan wasn’t working or raising her family, she could be found tending to her beautiful flower beds or creating elaborate birthday and celebratory cakes. She was an amazing seamstress creating both her daughters’ and granddaughter’s wedding dresses, as well as countless other attire.
Jody leaves a son, Curtis Martin of Berkshire, VT, two daughters, Cyndi Listenik (Hank) of Jericho, VT and Carrie LaRocque (Dan) of Cambridge, VT. Six grandchildren, Jenna Martin, (David Peron), Trevor Martin, Heather (Listenik) Viani, (Kevin), Tyler Listenik, (Amy Schoon), Miranda LaRocque,(Joe Dorman), and Zachary LaRocque. Four great granddaughters, Olivia Viani, Willow and Evie Listenik and Harmony Martin. She is also survived by a foster sister Ann Malik, Hudson, NH (Rob). As well as a niece, Jennifer (Crown) Mikulski and husband Mike, and a nephew John Crown and wife Jennifer all from Connecticut, as well as their children Makayla Mikulski and Nathan Crown.
Friends will be received at Goss Funeral Services, 89 Grand Avenue, Swanton on Friday, Oct. 4 from 5-7 p.m. with a funeral service following. Jody will be laid to rest in the Martin family plot in the North Monroe, NH cemetery Oct. 5 at 11 a.m., 1854 Littleton Road, Monroe, NH 03771.
We ask, in our mother’s honor and love for life, you support your favorite organization and open your heart and arms to the ones you cherish.
Condolences, photos and favorite memories may be shared through www.gossfs.com.
John Martin Truax
John Martin Truax age 84 passed away peacefully outdoors at the McClure Miller Respite House surrounded by family. He was born in Huntington, Vermont on April 12, 1940 to Raymond and Charlene (Goodrich) Truax.
He graduated from Richmond High School in 1958. He was a member of the choir. Following high school, he enlisted in
the United States Air Force. He completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, Morse Code Radio School in Biloxi, Mississippi and was a Morse Code Radio Transcriber for 18 months in Turkey. His last assignment was in Michigan before he received an Honorable Discharge as Airman 2nd Class in 1963.
John was employed at IBM for 25 years. He was a manager at the time of retirement. He went on to work at the New England Federal Credit Union for 14 years.
John was so kind. He had the unique ability to build long-lasting friendships with colleagues. John was a dedicated member of the Essex Catholic Community. He was also a member of the Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus, Bishop Rice Counsel 2946 of Essex. John was passionate about his role with The Knights of Columbus and he shared this deep connection with his family.
John is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, M. Pauline (Dutil) Truax. He is also survived by his daughter Tina Truax McCuin and her husband, Shaun McCuin and their daughters Morgan Mary McCuin and Madison Marie McCuin; his daughter Mary Truax Rup and her husband Sean Rup and their daughters Skylar Erin Rup and Anastasia Nicole Rup.
His grandchildren adored their papa and will miss the incredible love for and unconditional pride in each of them. You could always find papa dressed head to toe in Essex Hornet’s gear on the sidelines of a field hockey or softball game.
He is survived by his sister Anna Taft of Montana and his sister Valerie Bent and husband Joe of Vermont. He is also survived by his brothers-in-law John Dutil, Brent Bushey and sisters-in-law Lucille Brigham Noel, Sherry Bearden, Nancy Dutil, Vivian Dutil and Kathy Dutil. He had numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
John’s greatest joy was his family and he delighted in being with them to celebrate occasions big and small. He loved traveling with his family on Caribbean cruises and spending time at the Beach house in Biddeford, Maine. We are grateful for the many joys he brought to our lives.
John was an avid Boston Red Sox fan. He often watched the games with his granddaughter Madison McCuin. He was so proud to watch his oldest granddaughter, Morgan McCuin graduate from UVM in May, 2024. He watched his youngest granddaughter, Skylar Rup play travel softball and he was always the girls’ biggest cheerleader.
Friends and family are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00 pm on Friday, September 27th at Holy Family Catholic Church, 30 Lincoln Street, Essex Junction with reception to follow at the Holy Family Parish Center. A Christian Burial will be celebrated at 4:00 pm at Holy Rosary Cemetery, 232 Tilden Avenue, Richmond.
Sandra “Sandy” Chaplin
Sandra “Sandy” Chaplin, born Nov. 23, 1942, passed away at her home on Sept. 9, 2024 at the age of 81 from a brief illness.
Sandy was born in Burlington, VT the daughter of Wilfred Joseph Birchmore and Dorthy Fortune Birchmore.
She was a life long resident of Richmond. She enjoyed her trips to Walmart, eating Rocky’s Pizza, and riding in her car. She will be greatly
missed by all the knew her.
In 1959 she married Roger Roy Chaplin. They were married for 39 years having 3 beautiful daughters.
Sandy leaves behind her daughter Laurie & her husband Bill Rublee of Richmond, her daughter Vickie & her husband Mike Trombly of Hinesburg, her 9 grandchildren Peter, Bill Jr., Amanda, Jamie Bird, Michael, Chelsea, Leo, Ashley, Josh, and 21 great grandchildren.
Sandy is predeceased by her husband Roger Chaplin, her daughter
Sherry Martin, her beloved brother David Birchmore, brother-in-law
Richard Beane, her mother Dorothy Birchmore, and father Winfred “Joe” Birchmore. Left to cherish her memory are her sisters Joyce Moody of Huntington, Sharon (Brent) Hosking of Elmore, Shirley (Michael) Sweetser of Milton, Judy Wright of South Burlington, her brother Paul (Carol) Birchmore Sr. of Brookfield, and sister-in-law Dorothy Birchmore of Wildwood, FL. Celebration of Sandy’s life was held Sept. 22, at the Fraternal Order of Eagles at 1233 Shelburne Rd. South Burlington, VT 05403.
OBITUARIES
Janet A. Gilbert
Janet A. Gilbert, 84, of Williston, VT, died peacefully Sept. 11, 2024, after a long journey with Alzheimer’s. Janet was a beloved mother, sister, friend, and Mimi to her grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Janet was born Aug. 3, 1940, in Burlington, VT, to Paul and Anita (LaCharite) Lavallee, the second of their seven children. She was in the first graduating class of Rice High School in 1959 and married John O. Casey at St. Anthony’s Church in
Burlington on May 19, 1962. They raised their three children in the Burlington, Montpelier, and Barre areas prior to their divorce. She was very active in the community and was part owner of First in Fitness while married to Townsend Gilbert. She worked at Citizen’s Bank in Barre until her retirement.
She is survived by her children, Daniel J. Casey, Laura J. (Casey) Reynolds and her husband William, and Kathryn A. (Casey) Gerrish; her grandchildren, Max and Luna Casey, Abigail, Casey, and Kaleigh Reynolds, and Lindsay and Amanda Gerrish; great-grandson, Irving Adam Bisson; her sisters, Patty and Bill Bohlen of CO, Judith and Edward Verock of MA, and Cathy and Leo Khoshabjian of MA; sister-inlaw, Carol Lawrence Lavallee; and her many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents and her siblings, Pauline Lavallee Sicard, Paul “Pete” Lavallee, and Michael Lavallee.
Janet’s family and friends were an important part of her life, along with celebrating holidays and enjoying fresh vegetables from her brother’s garden. Running, playing tennis, listening to Johnny Cash,
and watching Tom Cruise movies were a must; and her chocolate chip cookies were a favorite!
Our heartfelt thanks to Mindy Kilburn and the entire Cathedral Square/Allen Brook and Hospice team. You became an extension of our family and took care of our mom each and every day with care, dignity, compassion, and lots of fun! We are forever grateful to you for helping us along the way.
Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Ready Funeral Home - South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Road, Burlington, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. with a memorial service at 12 p.m. Following the service, a Celebration of Life for Janet’s friends and family will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Palmer’s Sugarhouse, 332 Shelburne Hinesburg Road, Shelburne.
For those who wish, memorial contributions in Janet’s name can be made to Cathedral Square/Allen Brook Memory Care by visiting www.cathedralsquare.org/give-tomemory-care.
Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services. To share a message of condolence, please visit www.readyfuneral.com.
Aug. 11 at 6 p.m. — Report of a male and female fighting in the Shaw’s parking lot. Parties were gone before officer’s arrival.
Aug. 11 at 10:52 p.m. — Stolen vehicle reported from Zephyr Road. Car was located three days later and returned to the owner.
Aug. 12 at 7:26 a.m. — Retail theft reported at Walmart. Officer retrieved all property. Parties were issued a notice of trespass.
Aug. 12 at 1:21 p.m. — Report of a male walking around Petsmart looking into vehicles. Male was gone before officer’s arrival.
Aug. 13 at 11:47 a.m. — Report of an altercation at the DCF office on Industrial Avenue. Both parties were gone before officer’s arrival. Victim later showed up at the Police Department to file a complaint.
Aug. 13 at 4:13 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Marshalls. Male suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.
Aug. 13 at 8:01 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Marshalls. Male suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.
Aug. 14 at 2:34 p.m. — Assisted individual on Day Lane with identity theft.
Aug. 14 at 3:16 p.m. — Stolen vehicle reported from James Brown Drive. Vehicle was located two days later and returned to the owner.
Aug. 15 at 3:31 p.m. — Suspicious male in Walmart. Male left before officers arrived on scene, but officers were able to locate the male a short time later. He was issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.
Aug. 15 at 7:47 p.m. — Following a traffic stop, male operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.
Aug. 16 at 9:22 a.m. — Report of copper wire taken from Avenue C. Case is still under investigation.
Aug. 16 at 4:58 p.m. — Report of an electric scooter being stolen
from CVS. Cart was located and returned.
Aug. 17 at 2:02 a.m. — Following a traffic stop, male operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.
Aug. 17 at 2:16 p.m. — Report of a male causing a disturbance at Sonesta. Male was issued a notice of trespass.
Aug. 18 at 1:50 p.m. — Report of a suspicious female in Best Buy. Female was moved along.
Aug. 18 at 9:43 p.m. — Juveniles doing burn outs in a parking lot on Cypress Street. Parents were made aware and they were asked to leave the area.
Officers also responded to six alarm activations, nine motor vehicle crashes and conducted 42 traffic stops during this time frame.
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fatal in humans and animals. However, treatment with the rabies vaccine is nearly 100percent effectivewhengivensoonafter a person is bitten by a rabid animal.
So far this year, 23 animals in Vermont have tested positive for rabies, and 14 of those have been raccoons.
According to wildlife officials, rabid animals often show a change in their normal behavior, but you cannot tell whether an animal has rabies simply by looking at it. People should not touch or pick up wild animals or strays – even baby animals.
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A special day
On Saturday Sept. 14, 300 athletes from across Vermont came together at Essex High School to compete in Special Olympics Vermont’s 2024 Fall Games track & field and soccer competitions. In addition to the athletes, the event was made possible by the support of coaches, volunteers, law enforcement officers, staff members and presenting sponsor Casella Waste Systems. Jersey Mike’s Subs provided lunch.
The Special Olympics Fall Games continue on Sept. 29 with a golf tournament at Basin Harbor Club in Vergennes.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS VERMONT