With Joe Biden’s term as president coming to an end, it’s perhaps fitting that the Town of Williston is spending down the remaining funds from one of his signature pieces of legislation.
The town was granted $3 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), passed in 2021 as a pandemic relief package. But the windfall has long shed the guise of pandemic recovery. The town has divvied the funds among unexpect-
“The
revised scope we’re looking at is to just focus on the immediate safety needs.”
Erik Wells Town Manager
ed repairs, like rebuilding a structurally unsound pedestrian bridge on Industrial Avenue, long-range strategic planning and softening annual budget increases.
The selectboard came into its meeting Tuesday with about $700,000 left in the fund and unanimously agreed on $250,000 in new allocations. The board decided to hold the rest as an asset in upcoming budget discussions for the new fiscal year.
The largest allocation Tuesday was a $180,000 contribution to see ARPA page 7
Six new e-buses coming to Allen Brook School district
BY JASON STARR Observer staff
The Champlain Valley School Board approved the lease of six new electric school buses on Tuesday to be stationed at Allen Brook School in Williston.
The buses will join two existing electric buses at the K-2 school, representing a small but growing fraction of the Champlain Valley School District’s 60bus fleet.
“We eventually would like to get to a 50-50 mix,” School District Chief Operations Officer Gary Marckres said.
While electrics are more expensive to purchase or lease than gas-powered buses, they are less expensive to operate and maintain, Marckres said. They are also quieter and emission-free. The six new e-buses are manufactured by
wins EPA grant to bolster electric fleet
Thomas Built Buses, a subsidiary of the German company Daimler Truck. They are due to arrive next year for at least a 12-year lease, with an option to extend or buy out.
“They are more environmentally friendly than a diesel bus,” Marckres said. “We think it’s a responsible decision to integrate them into our fleet.”
Included with the lease will be a row of new charging stations in the Allen Brook parking lot that are able to push electricity back into the Green Mountain Power grid when the buses are not in use. Allen Brook has been home to the district’s electric bus fleet because of its charging infrastructure. Like the existing two electrics, the new buses will continue to serve mostly Williston students. But as the fleet grows, the use of electric buses will be
NOW SERVING BREAKFAST
spread throughout the five-town school district, said Marckres.
The district’s existing two electric buses, manufactured by the Canadian company Lion Electric, have been on the road for three years. There have been kinks with their heating system and charging stations, Marckres said, but those have been ironed out.
“The buses have been pretty reliable,” he said. “The drivers like them.”
The school district was awarded a $1.2 million Clean School Bus Program grant from the Environmental Protection Agency for the buses and partnered with a Massachusetts company called Highland to procure the buses and install the charging stations. Per the contract, Highland will cover charging costs and any repairs outside of routine maintenance.
OBSERVER STAFF REPORT
GlobalFoundries’ microchip manufacturing facility situated on the border between Essex and Williston will reap part of a multi-billion-dollar investment over the next 10 years, bolstered by funding through the federal CHIPS and Science Act.
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced a $1.5 billion CHIPS and Science Act award on Tuesday after signing a preliminary agreement with GlobalFoundries earlier this year. The company plans to add the award to $13 billion of investments in Vermont and at its operations in Malta, N.Y.
While the bulk of the money will be spent in New York, the Vermont facility will be modernized and upgraded to “expand production capacity and create one of the world’s leading facilities capable of high-volume manufacturing of next-generation gallium nitride semiconductors for use in electric vehicles, data centers, smartphones and other critical applications,” the company said in a news release.
In New York, the company plans to build a new manufacturing facility for automotive, aerospace and defense applications, tripling its manufacturing capacity there. The company expects the Vermont and New York upgrades will create 9,000 construction jobs over the next 10 years and 1,000 manufacturing jobs.
The funding will also help GlobalFoundries develop internships, apprenticeships and gradeschool outreach, among other workforce development initiatives.
Shelburne Road, S. Burlington Maple Tree Place, Williston GetBlissBee.com @getblissbee
Six new electric school buses are set for delivery to Allen Brook School by next fall under a contract approved Tuesday by the Champlain Valley School Board. PHOTO COURTESY OF HIGHLAND FLEETS
Around Town
An educational component has been added to the Williston Safe Routes to School initiative launched last year. Safe Routes to School encourages students to use non-motorized ways to get to school, with adult-led walking-rolling routes one morning each month during the school year.
Last Thursday, walk organizers shared a lesson about civil rights icon Ruby Bridges. The lesson was prepared by Williston Schools Equity Coach Ainaka Luna and Williston Schools Safe Routes to School organizer Amy Brewer. It was part of a weeklong unit on activism, anti-racism and anti-bullying.
Dubbed Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, last Thursday’s event was the result of a grant from the Ruby Bridges Foundation, which honors the legacy of Bridges, who helped integrate her school in 1960.
There are nine adult-led walking routes leading to Williston Central and Allen Brook schools, and groups get underway around 7:15 a.m. Families who don’t live along designated routes are encouraged to drive to the beginning of a route and either drop their students
off with walk leaders or join the walk.
Punch cards are available at the schools for students to earn raffle tickets for participating in multiple Walk to School days, with prizes raffled off at the end of the school year.
For information on future Walk to School days, contact Brewer by email at abrewer@ nmcinc.org.
Students participating in Ruby Bridges Walk to School day last Thursday received stickers honoring the civil rights icon, who helped integrate her elementary school in 1960. OBSERVER
ECI transitions to employee ownership
OBSERVER STAFF REPORT
Engineers Construction, Inc., headquartered in Williston near the South Burlington city line, has transitioned to full employee ownership.
Known regionally as ECI, the company specializes in large scale civil engineering projects, including concrete construction, paving, railroad construction and directional drilling. It was founded in 1965 by Alan Pidgeon and passed to his sons, Ken and Scott, in 2004.
Ken and Scott consulted with the Vermont Employee Ownership Center on an “Employee Stock Ownership Plan” to transfer the company to its employees. The plan allows each ECI employee’s ownership to vest over time through an existing
“Rather than selling to the highest bidder, we wanted to do this for the employees because they helped bring us to this point.”
Ken Pidgeon ECI owner
401(k) retirement plan. The company employs roughly 200 people.
“Selling to the employees was something we wanted to do to let the company culture we’ve built live on and continue to improve,” Ken Pid-
geon said in a news release. “Rather than selling to the highest bidder, we wanted to do this for the employees because they helped bring us to this point.”
As part of the transition, Ben Dow will step into the role of president and chief executive officer.
An engineer and long-time leader at ECI, Dow has been with the company since 1988. He has “played a crucial role in evolving ECI’s culture from a centralized, ‘old school’ management style to a more collaborative, team-based approach,” the news release states. “Dow was also instrumental in developing the company’s code of conduct, which serves as the foundation of ECI’s culture today.”
$27.95 Adults • $11.95 Children Age 6-10 (Free for Children Age 3-5)
to become a company that operates for the benefit of the employees be-
cause the company has already been run that way up to this point. The most important people in the company are not its executives but the people that are out there more than
we are every day creating success for the company.”
ECI’s list of projects spans a wide range and includes bridges, tunnels, ski resort work and Burlington’s Downtown Transit Center.
ECI had been exploring employee ownership since 2019, when it became involved with the Vermont Employee Ownership Center and its leaders began attending the center’s educational conferences.
“It feels like joining a club that is very supportive across the board in sharing strategies on what works well and what doesn’t,” said Dow.
Richmond Italian eatery to be revived in Williston
OBSERVER STAFF REPORT
The son of the founders of Toscano Café Bistro, a Richmond restaurant that closed in 2017, plans to revive the business in his native Williston by the end of the year.
Max Fath received liquor licenses earlier this month for the Cottonwood Crossing location that used to house Jr’s Italian restaurant, saying he looks forward to “reopening the family brand” in his hometown. Jr’s closed abruptly in July.
Toscano will have a 100-seat main dining room and a 50-seat space for banquets and special events, Fath said. He also plans to build a 30-seat outdoor patio.
Seven Days reported earlier this month that the restaurant will bring back much of the same menu from its Richmond days, which spanned 14 years, including Caesar salad, fried calamari and wild mushroom ravioli.
ECI employs roughly 200 people, whose ownership in the company will vest over
retirement plan.
HUB Happenings
Vermont Construction Company recognized for philanthropic contributions
Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity presented its inaugural Raise the Roof award to Vermont Construction Company, recognizing the company’s generosity toward the nonprofit’s mission of building homes for families in need throughout Northwest Vermont.
Based in Colchester, Vermont Construction has committed to donating a new roof to every new Habitat for Humanity home since the start of 2023, reducing the cost of construction for the homes, which are sold to families at cost.
NuHarbor, Champlain College partner on dual enrollment program
In an effort to grow the cybersecurity workforce, Champlain
College and NuHarbor Security have launched Vermont Cyber Start, a statewide dual-enrollment program that gives Vermont high school students a head start in the industry.
The program offers up to 12 college credits and hands-on experience in cybersecurity to high school juniors and seniors.
Learn more at champlain.edu/ explore/vermont-cybersecurity-dual-enrollment/
Financial firm promotes new partner
Kylie Richards of South Burlington has been promoted to co-owner and partner at the Williston-based financial planning company Professional Financial Associates. She joins Timothy Monty of Richmond as co-owner.
Vermont receives 590K in Marriott data settlement
A coalition of 50 attorneys general has reached a settlement with Marriott International, Inc. after an investigation into a multiyear data breach of one of Marriott’s guest reservation databases. Under the settlement, Marriott has agreed to pay $52 million to states and to strengthen and continually improve its cybersecurity practices.
Vermont will receive $590,292 from the settlement.
“This case is a $52 million reminder that good data hygiene, such as data minimization, can protect not only consumers but also businesses that suffer a data breach,” Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark said. “Sloppy data security practices will not be tolerated.”
Unemployment taxable base wage increases
Effective Jan. 1, the Vermont unemployment
taxable wage base will increase from its current level of $14,300 to $14,800. Employers will pay unemployment insurance contributions on the first $14,800 an employee earns in calendar year 2025.
All unemployment insurance tax contributions are deposited into the State’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, which is used to pay benefits to unemployed Vermonters. The taxable wage base is adjusted annually in accordance with Vermont law.
Minimum wage set to surpass $14
The minimum wage in Vermont will jump from $13.67 to $14.01 per hour on Jan. 1. For tipped employees, the minimum wage will increase from $6.84 to $7.01 per hour.
The minimum wage and tipped minimum wage are adjusted annually in accordance with Vermont law and take effect at the start of each new year.
& Apparel
Lenny’s
raises $26K in hunger relief
Customers at Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel raised $26,705 for the Vermont Foodbank and Plattsburgh Foodshelf during October.
The business sought donations in exchange for exclusive access to a storewide sale.
“The Vermont Foodbank is grateful to the Lenny’s team and customers for their commitment to a strong community where we all thrive together,” said Vermont Foodbank CEO John Sayles. “Enough nourishing food on the table allows Vermont families to enjoy our great outdoors. Lenny’s is a part of keeping us all active and healthy, together.”
Kylie Richards
Lenny’s Shoe
employees celebrate the store’s contribution to the Vermont Foodbank.
Déjà vu — aquatic invasive species spread again
BY PAT SUOZZI
With the recent announcement of the discovery of golden clams in Lake Champlain, the total number of known invasives in that lake rises to 52.
This follows the announcement this summer that Eurasian watermilfoil, also an aquatic invasive, has now been found in Joes Pond — the second inland lake in the last three years to be added to the infested waterbodies list. These were certainly disappointing announcements.
Aquatic invasive species are biological pollutants. They harm native wildlife, plants and ecosystems and impact recreation and infrastructure.
The most widespread aquatic invasive in Vermont is Eurasian watermilfoil. This milfoil can seriously damage native aquatic habitats by outcompeting native species. Milfoil does not provide the food that native fish and amphibians need to survive and thrive.
The good news is that we have the tools to slow, if not stop the spread of Eurasian watermilfoil and to reduce or even eradicate existing infestations. The most important and cost-effective tool available to stop the spread of aquatic invasives is prevention, but there are barri -
managed by volunteer lake associations. Greeters inspect and clean boats entering and leaving waterbodies to ensure invasives are not transported.
However, there are fewer than 40 such programs at public accesses, many of them only staffed part-time. Yet there are several hundred public accesses in the state and over 800 lakes and ponds.
Once it crowds out native plants, the natural food web is broken, and the aquatic ecosystem begins to deteriorate. In addition, milfoil grows so vigorously and thickly that it can form mats on the surface of the water, leading to surface rot and encouraging algae growth.
Calendars are a visible and functional way to
That’s the bad news.
It takes all of us working together to protect and preserve Vermont’s precious public waters.
ers to effective prevention.
The main aquatic invasive species prevention effort at the state’s inland lakes and ponds is carried out by greeter programs
Why so few programs? And why are too many only parttime? In a word: money. The state provides very little funding (well under $1 million) for aquatic invasive species prevention and control programs. Although invasives are biological pollutants, these programs are not eligible for Clean Water Act funds.
As a result, it falls to volunteers to not only manage preven -
Suozzi
continued from page 6
tion and control programs, but also to raise the funds to make that work possible.
The hundreds of accesses to lakes and ponds spread around the state are nearly all open 247, 365 days a year. It would be impossible to staff every access all the time.
Despite these barriers, we believe that prevention is still the best option, but it will take every citizen and every visitor who uses Vermont’s public waters to be part of the solution.
Aquatic invasive spread is caused by human actions, therefore changing our actions can help to solve the problem.
The first step is to be aware that every single piece of gear that touches the water — not just motorboats but also canoes, kayaks, fishing tackle, life vests, even children’s toys — has the potential to harbor invasives and carry them from one waterbody to another.
The second step is to always clean, fully drain and fully dry all aquatic gear before entering any waterbody.
We are incredibly lucky here in Vermont to have abundant freshwater resources, with many clean, invasive-free, pristine lakes. However, human activities and climate change are putting more and more pressure on these fragile ecosystems.
We need more funding, we need greater user education and commitment to lake and pond protection, and we need state officials to place a high priority on protecting our lakes from aquatic invasives and on reducing existing infestations.
Our volunteer lake associations remain determined and dedicated to this work, but it takes all of us working together to protect and preserve Vermont’s precious public waters.
ARPA
continued from page 1
drainage and lighting in the parking lot behind Town Hall. The board already allocated $200,000 to the project and received a $200,000 state grant. However, voters twice denied a bond question to close the project’s funding gap — most recently in the Nov. 5 General Election.
Town administrators have scaled back the project to exclude an expansion of parking spaces, retaining only drainage and lighting improvements. As a result, the cost has come down to $580,000 and is now fully funded. The board held off on adding about $10,000 for electric vehicle charging stations.
“The revised scope we’re looking at is to just focus on the immediate safety need,” Town Manager
Erik Wells said. “Things don’t drain well, there’s puddles, there’s ice, and it’s really hard to see out there, especially at this time of year.”
Also Tuesday, the board earmarked $45,000 to repair the pedestrian bridge connecting the Allen Brook Nature Trail with Village Community Park and Williston Central School. The bridge failed during flooding last December.
Additional allocations were
Pat Suozzi of Hinesburg is the president of the Federation of Vermont Lakes and Ponds, online at vermontlakes.org.
made to the Williston Community Food Shelf ($10,000) and for strategic planning at the fire department ($20,000). The board passed on funding other projects that were under consideration, such as a pavilion for Village Community Park, a fire suppression system at the Old Brick Church and trail improvements at the Catamount Community Forest.
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.
The library will close at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27 and will be closed Nov. 28-29 for Thanksgiving.
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.
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY ANNUAL MEETING
The Friends of the Library will be holding their annual meeting to elect officers on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 1 p.m. Anyone can become a Friend of the Library by attending any of the monthly meetings or by volunteering at a Friends-sponsored event. Learn more about the group at www.damlvt.org.
RETIREMENT OPEN HOUSE
Celebrate Jane Kearns’ amazing tenure as library director on Thursday, Dec. 19 from 5-7 p.m. Jane has been director since 2019 and she will be greatly missed! In the weeks leading
up to her retirement, write a fond memory or message on a square (squares available in the library lobby) to be included in a scrapbook that will be gifted to her upon her retirement.
YOUTH PROGRAMS
Children in fourth grade and younger must be supervised by someone over 16 years of age.
TEEN NIGHT: FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Friday, Nov. 22, 5-6 p.m. Ages 12-plus. Join our teen advisory board and help plan events and volunteer opportunities. You bring the thoughts, we bring the food.
LITTLES D&D
Saturday, Nov. 23, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Ages 6-8. Register for a mini session of Dungeons & Dragons. No experience necessary. Register each child individually.
STORYTIME
Tuesdays, Nov. 26 and Dec. 3, 10:30-11 a.m. Drop in for stories and fun.
SATURDAY MUSIC
Saturday, Nov. 30, 10:30-11 a.m. Start your weekend off with music at the library.
POKÉMON CHALLENGE
for a timeslot to decorate a gingerbread house at this annual event sponsored by the Friends of the Library.
ADULT PROGRAMS
For online programs or to join a book club, email daml@damlvt.org.
PUZZLE SWAP
Bring in your gently used 300-plus piece puzzles during November and take home something new to you.
SPICE CLUB
Stop by to pick up the month’s spice sample with suggestions for use and a few recipes to try. November’s spice is clove and December’s is whole nutmeg,
ADULT MEDITATION (ONLINE)
Friday, Nov. 22, 12-12:30 p.m. Get in touch with your peaceful body and breath.
BROWN BAG
Tuesday, Nov. 26, 12:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Paul Theroux’s “Deep South.” Available in print at the library and in Libby (Overdrive). CURRENT EVENTS (IN PERSON AND ZOOM)
Dec. 2-9. Guess how many Pokémon cards are in the jar for a chance to win the whole jar.
BABY TIME
Wednesday, Dec. 4, 10:30-11 a.m. Suggested 0-18 months. Enjoy gentle activities with your baby.
AFTER SCHOOL GAMES
Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2-3 p.m. Play board games at the library.
MUSIC AND PLAYTIME
Thursday, Dec. 5, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Sing with Linda then stay to play.
MULTI-AGE PROGRAMS
GINGERBREAD HOUSE DECORATING Saturday, Dec. 7, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Register
Wednesday, Nov. 27, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Discuss topics of the day with community members.
TECH TUTOR
Tuesday, Dec. 3, 1-4 p.m. Call to book an hour for help with your tech.
SPANISH CONVERSATION (ONLINE)
Wednesday, Dec. 4, 5-6 p.m. Brush up on your Spanish language skills.
ADULT CRAFTERNOON: PAINTBRUSH SANTAS
Thursday, Dec. 5, 2-3 p.m. A bristly beard and a pointy hat make this item into a jolly old elf.
ADULT RPG
Thursday, Dec. 5, 6-8:30 p.m. Join our fantasy role-playing game for adults.
Burlington police chief to step down
BY COREY MCDONALD VTDigger
Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad announced Tuesday that he plans to step down from the post next year.
Murad, who was first made acting chief of the department in June 2020, informed Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak of his decision in a Nov. 4 letter, which the mayor’s office shared in a press release on Tuesday.
“It has been my great honor to be the chief of police,” Murad said in the letter. “The people of the Burlington Police Department are some of the best coworkers I have ever had, and serving the citizens of the city in which I was born has been
one of the greatest privileges of my life.”
Murad plans to continue to lead the department into the new year, but said he expects to step down from the role in April 2025.
Muvlaney-Stanak, in the press release, thanked Murad for his “years of service to our community.”
“First-responders, especially those who are called to lead public safety departments, face increasingly difficult workloads and complex dynamics. As such, I appreciate his willingness to continue leading the police department over the next several months and supporting a successful leadership transition” said Mulvaney-Stanak. “I look forward to honoring the chief and his many contributions at a community celebration this spring.”
In the coming weeks, the city plans to begin a national search for the next chief of police, according to the Mulvaney-Stanak.
Oct. 9 at 9:12 a.m. — Burglary reported at Moe’s Southwest Grill. Case is still under investigation.
Oct. 9 at 2:50 p.m. — Assisted with a low-hanging wire. Xfinity was contacted and fixed the line.
Oct. 10 at 8:22 a.m. — Vehicle reported stolen. Vehicle was later located after a misunderstanding.
Oct. 10 at 2:33 p.m. — Report of an assault at Zephyr Place. Male suspect was issued a citation to appear in court for simple assault.
Oct. 10 at 10:51 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Walmart. Suspect left before officers’ arrival.
Oct. 11 at 3:35 p.m. — Assisted Williston Fire with oven fire on Kettle Pond Lane.
Oct. 11 at 7:23 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Shaws. Three juveniles were referred to the Williston Community Justice Center.
Oct. 12 at 1:16 a.m. — Following a traffic stop, male operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.
Oct. 12 at 2:48 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. Male suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.
Oct. 12 at 3:22 p.m. — Same male who stole from Best Buy took items from Staples. He was issued a notice of trespass.
Oct. 12 at 5:19 p.m. — Male spotted in Best Buy who was previously trespassed. Male was located and issued a citation to appear in court for unlawful trespass.
Oct. 12 at 5:46 p.m. — Same male who was trespassed from Best Buy stole items from Walmart. Male was issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.
Oct. 13 at 4:46 a.m. — Following a traffic stop, male operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.
Oct. 13 at 2:46 p.m. — Report of an intoxicated male at Walmart. Male taken into custody and charged with criminal threatening. Male transported to correctional facility for detox.
Oct. 13 at 6:05 p.m. — Report of a
male stealing maple syrup from a farm stand. Male was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.
Oct. 14 at 4:48 a.m. — Report of a male causing a disturbance at Dunkin Donuts. Male was issued a notice of trespass.
Oct. 14 at 8:22 a.m. — Male who was causing a disturbance at Dunkin Donuts causing a disturbance at Orange Theory. Male was issued a notice of trespass and moved along.
Oct. 14 at 9:43 a.m. — Male from Dunkin Donuts and Orange Theory attempted to steal headphones from Best Buy. Male was issued a notice of trespass and moved along.
Oct. 14 at 6:10 p.m. — Report of a retail theft at Old Navy. Female suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft
Oct. 15 at 2:34 p.m. — Report of a male passed out in vehicle on Market Street. Male was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI. Oct. 15 at 6:08 p.m. — Assisted with a broken down vehicle on Marshall Avenue.
Officers also responded to three alarm activations and eight motor vehicle crashes and conducted 46 traffic stops during this time frame.
Jon Murad
The Color of Light
Stained glass artists have been creating beautiful windows for many hundreds of years. This week, The Mini Page celebrates the season by learning more about the art you may enjoy as you attend holiday church services.
An ancient art
The earliest examples that scientists have found of glass and lead cut into specific shapes date back 1,200 to 1,400 years.
Since that time, many styles of art have been seen in windows. But the process of creating stained glass has not changed much over the centuries.
The first windows with patterns of glass were set into wooden or plaster frames, but these frames limited the shapes the artist could use.
Later artists began to use a metal called lead (led) to hold the glass. It is malleable (MAL-eeuh-bul), or workable into different shapes.
Telling a story
As Christianity spread and became more powerful between the fifth and 15th centuries, stained glass became a popular way to tell stories and honor important figures from the Bible and the church.
For religious leaders, stained glass images were more than just illustrations. They were symbols of faith. For example, the white light of the sun shining through colored glass was seen as God revealing himself to people.
The first words in the Old Testament of the Bible describe the heavens and the Earth.
Try ’n’ Find
Next Week: Our states: Maine
Mini Fact:
This stained glass window at Evreux Cathedral in Evreux, France, was made in the 16th century.
The third and fourth verses read: “And God said, Let there be light; and there was light. And God saw the light, and it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.”
People in the Middle Ages thought of light as being good and darkness as being bad or evil, so they wanted to bring light into their churches.
Words that remind us of stained glass windows are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
It’s all about chemistry
Glass is made when sand, soda ash and a mineral called lime are heated to high temperatures. The mixture becomes a liquid, and as it cools, it becomes more and more stiff. Finally, it becomes a transparent solid: glass.
Colored glass is usually made by adding powdered metals to the glass while it is still liquid. Different metals result in different colors:
Yellow = Cadmium sulfide
Red = Gold chloride
Blue = Cobalt oxide
Purple = Manganese dioxide
Green = Chromic oxide
The artist may also paint details on the glass with brown or black paint. Thicker paint will make more solid lines; thinner paint can be brushed after drying to give a shading effect.
A small panel of stained
from York
in England is believed to date back to about 1150. It is one of the oldest surviving pieces of stained glass in England.
“Stained Glass” by Aidan McRae
Willy: Why shouldn’t you tell a joke to a window? Wendy: It might crack up!
Founded by Betty Debnam
photo by Walwyn
photo courtesy The Stained Glass Museum
glass
Minster
Try ’n’ Find
Words that remind us of stained glass windows are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
Willy: Why shouldn’t you tell a joke to a window? Wendy: It might crack up!
Eco Note
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
1. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.
2. Use an electric mixer to blend coconut oil with the white and brown sugars.
3. Add egg whites, one at a time, beating mixture well after each addition. Add vanilla and mix well.
4. Gradually add flour mixture to wet mixture; stir to combine. Stir in chocolate chips, then walnuts.
5. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Press dough into dish.
6. Bake in a 375-degree oven for 15 minutes. Allow to cool; cut into bars. Makes 48 small bars.
7 Little Words for Kids
1. smartphone programs (4)
2. metal made from iron (5)
3. path for people walking (8)
4. a place to work (6)
5. covered with grime (5)
6. keep safe (5)
7. book of things to buy (7)
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. Answers: apps, steel, sidewalk, office, dirty, guard, catalog.
* You’ll need an adult’s help with this recipe.
New research suggests that air pollution may contribute to more severe lightning storms, particularly in some urban areas. Scientists from James Madison University found that when polluted air is drawn into a cloud through updrafts, the particles become separated, creating a difference in electrical charges, which increases the potential for lightning. The researchers found that more lightning occurred downwind from cities, with urban pollution intensifying lightning that often triggered ground fires.
For later:
Look in your newspaper for items about holiday church services.
Teachers: Follow and interact with The Mini Page on Facebook!
by Dan Thompson
By Jim Miller
How to know if you’re getting osteoporosis
Dear Savvy Senior, Can a person in their early 50s have osteoporosis? When I fell and broke my wrist last winter, the doctor who treated me told me I might have osteoporosis.
Surprised Susan
Dear Susan,
While osteoporosis is much more common in adults over age 60, it can strike younger people too. In fact, according to the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation, half of women and up to 25 percent of men in the U.S. over age 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis. Here’s what you should know.
Osteoporosis, a disease that weakens your bones, is also called a “silent” disease because there are no warning signs until a fracture occurs. Around 10 million Americans over age 50 currently have osteoporosis, and an additional 44 million have osteopenia (lower than normal bone density) — 80 percent of whom are women.
Most people, by the time they reach their late 30’s, gradually start losing some of their bone mass, but for women, the biggest decline happens in the five
to seven years following menopause, when levels of estrogen, which helps to keep bone strong, plummet. Bone loss for men occurs much more gradually. However, by age 75, osteoporosis is as common in men as it is in women.
To help you determine your risk of osteoporosis, the International Osteoporosis Foundation has a quick, online test you can take at RiskCheck.Osteoporosis. Foundation.
BONE CHECKUP
According to the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation, all women over 65 and men over 70 should have a baseline dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan, which is a painless measurement of the calcium in your bones. But those at high risk should start around age 50. Factors that make a good case for early screening include
having a family history of osteoporosis, a broken bone after age 50, vitamin D deficiency, a smoking habit, medical conditions such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis or previous or current use of medications that can weaken bones, like steroid prednisone and certain antidepressants.
Most bone density tests are covered by health insurance companies including Medicare, and are done in hospital radiology departments, private radiology practices and stand-alone clinics.
BONE-BUILDERS
If your bone scan finds that you have osteopenia but have a low to moderate 10-year fracture risk, lifestyle measures are usually the best course of action. Three important things you see SAVVY SR page 15
TODAY’S HISTORY:
• In 1789, North Carolina was admitted as the 12th U.S. state.
• In 1877, Thomas Edison announced his invention of the phonograph.
• In 1922, Rebecca Felton of Georgia was sworn in as the first female U.S. senator.
• In 1995, leaders representing warring factions in the former Yugoslavia initialed a peace agreement in Dayton, Ohio.
TODAY’S FACT:
• In 1783, Jean-Francois Pilatre de Rozier and Marquis Francois Laurent d’Arlandes made the first untethered manned hot air balloon flight in Paris.
LEGAL
TOWN OF WILLISTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA
Tuesday, November 26, 2024 – 7PM
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
Pre-App 25-04 Charlotte Isham Marcotte Revocable Trust c/o John Marcotte requests
pre-application review of proposed 9-lot open space subdivision (8 dwelling lots, 1 open space lot) on a 200.5-ac property on Caboose Ln in the Agricultural Rural Residential Zoning District (ARZD).
DP 24-09 Gregory, Anna, and Laura Benedetto c/o Doug Goulette request discretionary permit review of a proposed open space 6-lot subdivision on an existing 10.76-ac parcel to create three (3) dwelling lots (1.53, 0.46, and 0.7 ac) and three (3) open space lots (4.39, 1.37, and 2.31) at 1318 Butternut Rd in the Agricultural/Rural
SUDOKU SOLUTION
CLASSIFIEDS
Zoning District (ARZD).
DP 25-03 LNP Inc c/o O’Leary-Burke Civil Associates requests discretionary permit review to amend final plans SP-07-12 with an outdoor storage area at 378 Commerce St in the Industrial West Zoning District (IZDW).
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
LEGAL
Town of St. George,Vermont Winter Plowing Contract RFP 1-yearContract(2024-2025)
Publication Date:November12,2024.
Deadline:ASAP–open until filled
Summary: The Town of St.George will be accepting bids for a 1-year Winter Plowing Contract for the 2024/2025 winter for all municipal plowing and winter maintenance needs, including plowing, sanding, salting, and/or shoveling Town Highways, Parking Lots, and Walkways.
The Town of St. George has round-trip totals of .74 miles of Class 2 roads and 1.74 miles of Class 3 roads, equaling a total of2.48 miles of Town Highway to be maintained year-round, and an additional 1.44 miles of Class 4 roads, to be maintained as described in the full RFP.
The Town of St. George is environmentally conscious and prefers minimal use of salt and chloride, while also prioritizing the safety of the Town.
Bid Process and Deadline:
Bids can be mailed or delivered in person to 21 Barber Road, St. George, Vermont, 05495 or emailed to boards@ stgeorgevt.com. Bids will be opened at a selectboard meeting once received. Proof of insurance must accompany the bid.
Please write “Attn: Winter Plowing Contract Bid”on the front of the envelope
or in the email subject line.
Contact Information:
For more information, please contact Justin Mason,Assistant to the Town Boards, at (802) 673 6669 or boards@ stgeorgevt.com. The full RFP can be found at www.stgeorgevt.com
Disclaimer:
The Town of St. George reserves the right to acceptorrejectallbids. Dated: November 12, 2024.
LEGAL
Town of St. George,Vermont Town Property Lawn Care & Field Brush Hogging RFP 3-year Contract (2025 – 2027)
Publication Date:November 12, 2024. Deadline: January 3, 2025.
The Town of St. George will be accepting bids for a 3-year Town Property Lawn Care contract for 2025 - 2027 for seasonal, weekly lawn care. The properties include the Town Hall at 21 Barber Road (approximately 2 acres), the Schoolhouse at 35 Barber Road (approximately .90 – 1.56 acres), the Cemetery on VT Route 2A (approximately 1.23 acres and 240 headstones), and brush hogging an area in the Town Center Field (approximately 4.00 acres). Entrances to the Town Hall and the Schoolhouse, including the Schoolhouse ramps, as well as paved walkways and parking areas around the Town Hall and the Schoolhouse, shall be kept free of clippings and debris following mowings.
The brush hogging is requested to be submitted as a separate line item in the bid submission and the Town of St. George may award the brush-hogging individually from the weekly property mowing.
Other Requirements:
The Contractor shall be liable for any personal property damage which the Contractor causes.
The Contractor must file a certificate of insurance with The Town within ten (10) days of being awarded the contract.
Equipment breakdown experienced by The Contractor is the sole responsibility of The Contractor, and in no way shall reflect a cost overrun.
In the event this contract is not adhered to, The Town will have the option to terminate said contract with a fifteen (15) day notice to The Contractor.
The Roadway will be free of any clippings and debris upon the completion mowing the Town Property.
Payment:
Assuming timely and successful completion of work tasks as specified above, all payments will be made within thirty (30) days of submission of the applicable invoice.
Bid Process and Deadline:
Bids must be sealed and received at the Town Office by January 3, 2025, at 4 p.m. The bids can be mailed or delivered in person to 21 Barber Road, St. George, Vermont, 05495. Bids will be opened at the following Selectboard Meeting. Proof of insurance must accompany the bid. Please write “Attn: Roadside Mowing Bids” on the front of the envelope.
Contact Information:
For more information, please contact Justin Mason,Assistant to the Town Boards, at (802) 673 6669 or boards@ stgeorgevt.com. The full RFP can be found at www.stgeorgevt.com
Disclaimer:
The Town of St. George reserves the right to accept or reject all bids. Dated: November 12, 2024.
FOR SALE
BURIAL LOTS — Six burial lots for sale in the East, Old, Morse Cemetery in Williston. They are located in Section 5, Lot F, Row 8. If you are interested please contact me at plarrow.pl@gmail.com or 813-431-5650 for information.
Saavy Sr.
can do to boost your bone health include:
— Get enough calcium and vitamin D: Calcium helps keep bones strong, and vitamin D helps us absorb calcium. Women older than 50 and men over 70 need at least 1,200 mg of calcium per day ideally from foods like
dairy, canned sardines, kale and fortified orange juice. Adults over 50 need 870 to 1,000 IU (international units) of vitamin D each day, but that’s hard to get from food. Have your levels checked to see if you need a supplement.
— Exercise: Low-impact weight-bearing exercises like walking, and strength training with light weights or resistant bands several times a week
can actually help build bone strength, as well as improve balance and muscle strength.
— Don’t smoke: Women who smoke a pack of cigarettes per day as adults have less dense bones at menopause.
OSTEOPOROSIS MEDS
continued from page 2
If your bone density test finds that you have osteoporosis, your doctor will probably recommend medications. The
first line of treatment is usually bisphosphonates such as alendronate (Binosto and Fosamax), risedronate (Actonel and Atelvia), and ibandronate (Boniva). These oral or injectable drugs slow the breakdown of bone but won’t build it back.
For severe osteoporosis, your doctor may instead prescribe an anabolic: teriparatide (Forteo), abaloparatide (Tymlos), or romosozumab (Evenity). These
are typically given as daily or monthly injections and they increase the amount and strength of bones.
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.
saliva. If left untreated, rabies is almost always 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.
Shelburne
animals often show a change in their nor mal 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.
from
display lead dors
creemees. from SHELBURNE continued
CLOCKWISE (L TO R): Ariel (Molly Silvia on the right) and Ren (Keiran Coolidge) perform ‘Almost Paradise’ during CVU’s production of ‘Footloose’ on Saturday. Rusty (Stephanie Miskavage, kneeling center) and company perform ‘Let’s Hear It For the Boy.’ The opening number of CVU’s production of ‘Footloose.’ The Town Council votes down a repeal of the prohibition on dancing.
