Migrant matchmaking
Latino subcontractors power local construction industry
BY JASON STARR Observer staff
Owning a Burlington-area construction company increasingly means relying on subcontractors who employ migrant workers. The local company makes the sale, then often outsources the job to another company, which brings their workers to the job site.
For the consumer, it can be hard to discern which company the workers on site are employed by.
When Vermont Construction Company was cited for violations by the Town of Colchester for unpermitted housing of migrant workers near its Fort Ethan Allen headquarters, as first reported by VTDigger in December, the employees were not on its payroll. But the company, like others in the local construction industry,
have taken it upon themselves to find housing for their subcontractors’ employees as a way to stabilize their workforce and keep the construction economy humming.
“We identified a problem — insufficient housing for working class tradespeople. We then focused on a solution — fixing up properties around the county
and leasing them to our subcontractors to house their workers,” Vermont Construction co-owners Dana Kamencik and David Richards wrote in an email to the Observer.
Kamencik is also owner of Williston’s Isham Family Farm.
Developing relationships with migrant-connected subcontractors has become an indispensable part of the business, according to Wyatt Edgerley of Alpine Roofing based in Shelburne. It’s a trend that predates the pandemic, but has accelerated since.
It was on a materials run to Massachusetts that Edgerley was approached by natives of Guatemala who had started a construction company and were looking for work in Vermont. That meeting has evolved into a years-long, mutually beneficial relationship, with Edgerley overseeing their training and ensuring they are housed while working in Vermont.
“I was putting them up in a hotel until they could get a see MIGRANTS page 3
NOW SERVING BREAKFAST
Inside one of Vermont Construction Company’s housing units for workers. VTDIGGER PHOTO
Vermont Construction Company is headquartered at Fort Ethan Allen in Colchester.
PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER
Inside Lansing Building Products in Williston is a sign for a matchmaking app for workers and contractors.
OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR
Shelburne Road (across from Toyota)
Around Town
Socks for Seniors receives bountiful donations
Thanks to our community, the Williston Observer’s annual Socks for Seniors drive netted a total of 1,045 donated pairs of socks, providing holiday warmth and cheer for the residents of seven nursing and rehabilitation facilities. Recipients also include several other senior and low-income communities in our area.
The Observer team would like to thank the many anonymous donors, as well as the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society and the St. Albans Knights of Columbus for their generous contributions.
Community members and organizations donated more than 1,000 pairs of socks for the elderly during the Observer’s annual Socks for Seniors drive.
season on Monday.
Rink ready
With the sub-freezing temperatures of late, the Williston Recreation and Parks Department was able to open the public ice rink at Village
Community Park on Monday. The rink is free to use and open to all. Hours are dawn to 9:30 p.m. Lights for nighttime use can be turned on using a button on a nearby pole.
PROPERTY TRANSFERS - DEC. 2024
• Jill Stockwell bought a home on 5 acres on Bradley Lane from David Simmons for $690,000.
• Kevin FitzGerald bought a home on 4 acres on Yantz Hill Road from Andrew Austin for $1.01 million.
• 204 Boyer Circle bought a commercial condominium on Boyer Circle from Christopher Washburn for $700,000.
• Michael Rosenberg bought a home on Oak Knoll Road from Theodore Heck for $627,000.
• Lu Wen Zhi bought a condominium on Zephyr Road from Zheng De Cong for $192,125.
• Susan Howe bought a home on 10 acres on Yantz Hill Road from Ronald Thompson for $620,000.
• Pamela Pelino bought a condominium on Northview Court from Jared Cayia for
$369,900.
• Linda Shackleton bought a condominium on Read Road from Justin Kunz for $370,900.
• Stewarts Shops Corp. bought a commercial property on Essex Road from Jolley Associates LLC for $1.01 million.
• Douglas Shipman bought a condominium on Eastview Circle from Roxana Del Rio-Guerra for $191,740.
• Mark McElroy bought 5 acres of open land on Old Stage Road from Jacob Glaser for $50,000.
• Joshua Platt bought a condominium on Foxwood Circle from Daniel Sisco for $350,000.
• Blake Willmarth bought a home on Eden Lane from Snyder Williston Properties LLC for $852,315.
The ice rink at Village Community Park is pictured Friday. The rink opened for skating for the
OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR
OBSERVER PHOTO BY SUSAN COTE
Smugglers’ Notch Distillery shutters Williston tasting room
Smugglers’ Notch Distillery’s tasting room in Taft Corners did not have the staying power of the company’s other retail locations throughout Vermont.
The Jeffersonville-based spirit-maker has closed the location about eight months after opening last spring. The tasting room was located a few doors down from the 99 Restaurant and next door to Superb Cupcakes. It offered samples of the vodkas, gins, bourbons and rum it distills in Jeffersonville, along with bottle sales and education about the distilling process.
Owner and co-founder Jeremy Elliott said the closure is due to “an absence of business activity.” The 15-year-old distillery runs retail locations in Burlington, Stowe, Waterbury, Manchester and Jeffersonville.
“The (Williston) site has faced a number of unique challenges over the past year and it was increasingly difficult to justify the cost of maintaining this retail store and tasting room,” Elliott said.
Elliott had eyed a location in Williston for years before last spring’s opening; a ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by a representative from the Small Business Administration and Vermont Secretary of Community Development Lindsay Kurrle. He theorized that it would introduce the brand to a more local crowd than the distillery’s more
tourist-centered locations.
Now the brand will continue its focus on the tourism economy.
“Continuing to grow our partnerships with Vermont’s lodging and hospitality businesses, and aligning efforts with the state’s tourism and economic development activities, will be mission critical to our long-term success,” Elliott said. “We realize that this closing will cause some hardships, but in the long run, Smugglers’ Notch Distillery will be a more efficient company.”
Jason Starr
Migrants
continued from page 1
place,” he said. “I remember sitting at the Richmond park-and-ride one night until 9 o’clock, just calling hotel after hotel trying to get these guys a place to stay for the night … And it’s paid off. They’re friends now. We have a relationship.”
For Spanish-speaking workers from out of state, it helps to have a local on your side.
“I’ve listened to them make calls, and people that answer the phones at these hotels don’t want to deal with them because there’s a language barrier, and I’m sure some level of racism with some people, and they don’t give them rooms. But the minute I call the same hotel, I can get them a room,” said Edgerley.
Hotels are, of course, not a long-term solution — the cost to the construction company being one reason. Edgerley said the workers he had been putting up in hotels are now in stable housing that they rent on their own in Fairfield.
Vermont Construction Company plans to continue to act as a landlord for their subcontractors’ workers.
“Despite the challenges involved in restoring and maintaining these properties, working with the towns’ regulations and managing the expectations of neighbors,
we remain committed to providing housing to people who could not afford to live and work here otherwise,” Kamencik and Richards wrote in an email to the Observer. “A lack of affordable housing is a huge problem for Vermont employers in multiple industries, and we will continue to look for safe and innovative solutions. We are currently exploring partnerships with groups that can help us achieve this goal.”
According to the December VTDigger report, Vermont Construction owns rental homes in Colchester, Williston and Essex.
This Friday, Migrant Justice is planning a news conference to announce the introduction in the Legislature of the “Housing Access for Immigrant Families” bill. The legislation aims to lower barriers to housing by adding “actual or perceived citizenship and immigration status” to the list of protected classes of the Vermont Fair Housing and Public Accommodations Act. The legislation would also preclude landlords from requiring people to provide a Social Security number to rent a home.
“Immigrant families are increasingly looking to make Vermont their home, contributing to the state and providing needed workforce to key economic sectors such as agriculture, hospitality and construction,” Migrant Justice explains in an outline of the bill. “Many undocumented, see MIGRANTS page 5
Smugglers’ Notch Distillery’s Williston location closed in December.
2024 was Vermont’s warmest year on record — again
BY ERIN PETENKO VTDigger
In 2023, Vermont made headlines for having the warmest year on record, mirroring a worldwide trend full of extreme weather and hotter temperatures.
The state has just blown past that record.
The average annual temperature in Burlington in 2024 was 50.9 degrees — a full degree warmer than the year before, according to National Weather Service data.
Last year’s data is part of a long-term trend of rising temperatures since the weather service began tracking the measure in the 1890s. Vermont was about 8 degrees warmer in 2024 than it was in 1924, the data shows. For context, that’s about the difference between Burlington and Philadelphia’s average temperatures this year.
“Looking at our top 10 warmest years on record,” all of them have come “from 1998 onward,” said Matthew Clay, a meteorologist for the weather service.
The warming trend in Vermont is consistent with international climate scientists’ predictions of human-caused global warming within this century.
Several other weather service monitoring stations in Vermont with more than 20 years of reporting either hit a record in 2024 or had higher-than-normal temperatures compared with previous years. St. Johnsbury had its warmest year since 1895. Montpelier tied for its second-warmest year since reporting began in 1949.
2024 was once again marked by extreme weather events, particularly the statewide flooding in mid-July and Northeast Kingdom flooding in late July. St. Johnsbury hit a record high in precipitation in 2024, in part because of that late July event.
“They ended up getting that 8 inches of rain overnight,” Clay said of the Caledonia County town. “That definitely drove their higher rainfall total. That was pretty crazy. It just sat over them all night.”
It’s too early to say whether this season’s snowfall total will be lower or higher than average, but Clay said that Vermont has received more snowfall overall as the state warms up — though the data for snowfall is more variable by year.
That could be the result of a lower number of extreme cold days. Clay said Burlington recently broke its record for the longest period of time between below-zero temperature maximums — almost two years. 2024 also had the second-lowest number of days where the minimum temperature dropped below 0.
Those colder days don’t typically produce much heavy snowfall, so fewer extremely cold days could translate to more snow, Clay said.
“When you’re 10 degrees below outside, if you’re getting any kind of snow, it’s the diamond dust — just like, tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny, little flakes,” he said. “It’s never going to accumulate to anything.”
Of course, snow falling doesn’t always translate to snow on the ground. Burlington received 16.5 inches of snow in December 2024, an inch above the 30-year average. But the city only had 5 inches of snow depth throughout the month, 3 inches below average, thanks to thawing-and-freezing cycles.
That thawing and freezing pattern has led to extreme weather concerns as well. The state had a major flood event in December 2023 and minor flooding in December 2024 thanks to rain and snowmelt. Just a week ago, Montpelier was forced to use wastewater to prevent an ice jam that was caused in part by thawed ice.
Clay said the lack of extreme cold could also mean more cloudy days. “We have a saying here in the office, ‘when it’s clear in the winter, it’s cold.’”
Data from over the past 25 years appears to show that the number of overcast hours per year in Burlington has risen. But changes to the way cloud cover has been tracked make it harder to establish a long-term trend.
VTDIGGER GRAPHIC
mixed-status and asylum-seeking families, however, face high barriers to finding housing due to discrimination based on immigration status and the common practice of landlords requesting social security numbers as part of the rental application process. These barriers result in many families being unable to find adequate housing, or being limited to jobs with employer-provided housing. This bill would remedy these barriers and promote access to housing for immigrant families.”
KNOW YOUR WORKERS?
Guatemalans make up much of the migrant labor in the Burlington-area construction industry, Edgerley said. Seven Days reported in December that Ecuadorian and Mexican workers also contribute to the workforce.
“They all come from Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire, initially, after leaving their country. That market is flooded though, so they have ventured this way,” Edgerley said.
Even though local construction companies provide housing in some cases, they leave it to the subcontracting company to pay workers’ wages, as well as unemployment and workers compensation
insurance. It’s also on the subcontractor to verify immigration status.
“A lot of companies don’t know who they are hiring,” said Edgerley.
“If you leave the Williston exit at five o’clock in the morning on any summer day, you’re going to see van after van after van with out-of-state plates, mostly from Massachusetts, with ladders on top of them and loaded with migrants heading up to the Burlington area to work.”
In this labor environment, ensuring quality control can be a challenge. Edgerley said he is present on every Alpine Roofing worksite. He also oversees his subcontractor’s employees’ training, which is provided by the manufacturer of the roof products he offers.
Vermont Construction owners Kamencik and Richards emailed: “We work with a number of subcontractors. We ensure that each entity is vetted and a properly registered and insured business. We expect our subcontractors to obey state and federal employment and immigration laws”
Despite this due diligence, Vermont Construction has been sued several times in the past three years by homeowners alleging poor workmanship, and has been issued multiple violation notices by the state for unsafe working conditions, according to a recent VTDigger report.
The company responded in a statement to VTDigger, saying: “While the
vast majority of our projects conclude with satisfied customers, occasional disagreements are a reality in the construction industry. When issues arise, we address them directly and professionally. We take all customer concerns seriously and remain committed to quality workmanship and workplace safety.”
Meanwhile, the company continues to grow. In 2023, it was named the “fastest-growing company in Vermont” by VermontBiz Magazine, and last year it became the “official roofing partner” of UVM athletics — its banner hanging at the entrance of Patrick Gymnasium in Burlington. Founded in 2016, the company offers home building, renovations and maintenance services including construction, construction management, remodeling, design, roofing, flooring, painting, new builds and carpentry, the announcement from UVM states.
Kamencik purchased the Isham Family Farm last year from his stepfather, Mike Isham.
APPS FOR THAT
For construction material manufacturers, their business also depends on ready labor, and some have come up with new ways to match workers with their wholesalers.
In the lobby of Lansing Building Products in Williston’s industrial zone, where construction companies can buy wholesale materials, a sign beckons them to download the “ToolBelt” app on their phones.
The app advertises a way to “hire quality labor quickly in all trades” by matching workers with jobs.
Similarly, IKO roofing products promotes an app called Labor Central to help roofers who use their products find workers. Based in Texas, Labor Central is “a subscription-based search and matching platform connecting contractors to crews where they need them when they need them,” their website states.
SATURDAY
Start your new year off with (a)…
BANG!
Expand your advertising to reach seven of northern Vermont’s most thriving, active communities!
with just one email or phone call to rick@willistonobserver. com or 802-373-2136
WILLISTON OBSERVER, SOUTH BURLINGTON OTHER PAPER SHELBURNE NEWS, THE CITIZEN, VALLEY REPORTER STOWE REPORTER AND NEWS & CITIZEN
Williston’s Community Newspaper Since 1985
www.willistonobserver.com P.O. Box 1401, Williston, VT 05495 | 802-489-5499
ADVERTISING
Rick Cote, Associate Publisher
rick@willistonobserver.com 802-373-2136
EDITOR
Jason Starr
editor@willistonobserver.com
PRODUCTION & DESIGN
Jan Kenney
jan@willistonobserver.com
PUBLISHER
Susan T. Cote
susan@willistonobserver.com
BILLING INQUIRIES
ADVERTISING SPACE DEADLINE
Friday at 5 p.m. for the next Thursday issue rick@willistonobserver.com, 802-373-2136
CLASSIFIED ADS
Deadline is Friday 5 p.m. There is a fee for business, real estate, help wanted and legal ads. Free classifieds must be 25 words or fewer and are printed on a space available basis.
SUBMISSIONS & LETTERS
Deadline is Monday noon for Thursday issue. News/ story tips are welcomed. Letters to the Editor should be 300 words or fewer and include your name, address and a daytime phone number so that we can verify the letter’s author.
The Williston Observer reserves the right to edit or refuse submissions or advertising. Opinions expressed in the paper are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the paper.
Michael McCaffrey office@willistonobserver.com A publication of Twin Ponds Publishing LLC
Member:
GUEST COLUMN
Decisive action needed for state’s housing crisis
BY MIRO WEINBERGER
Abundant housing is the cornerstone of an affordable, vibrant and inclusive Vermont. Yet today, that vision of our beloved state is at risk as we face an unprecedented housing shortage that threatens not only our economy but the very fabric of our communities.
The statistics are stark: Vermont has the second-highest homelessness rate in the country. The median home price has soared beyond the reach of working Vermonters. Half of all renters are cost-burdened, and one in four spend more than half of their income on housing. Yet despite these intense demand pressures, for the past 15 years, the state’s growth rate of new, permanent homes has only been about one-third the rate of the 1980s. These numbers point to a simple but painful truth: Too many Vermonters cannot afford a place to call home.
The housing crisis doesn’t exist in isolation — it ripples through every corner of our state’s social and economic systems. With Vermont’s population aging, the lack of housing exacerbates challenges in health care and education, making these systems increasingly unaffordable and unsustainable. Unless we change course, we face the closing of more rural hospitals and schools, further hollowing out many communities.
Instead, we must step up with impactful solutions that rebuild and reinvigorate our state. Addressing the housing crisis isn’t just about shelter — it’s about creating a larger tax base, bringing more families into our state and children into our schools, and fostering vibrancy and diversity in our towns.
A report by the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) last summer highlighted the scale of the challenge: Vermont needs 30,000 new homes by the end of 2029. To achieve this, we must double our housing production rate from the last decade, and sustain it. This is a tall order, but it is possible — if we commit to decisive, sustained action.
We’ve seen what’s achievable
when we make housing a priority. From 2012 to 2024, Burlington increased its housing production by 400 percent. This was no accident; it was the result of targeted regulatory changes, quadrupled investment in the local Housing Trust Fund, major infrastructure upgrades and public-private partnerships like those at CityPlace and Cambrian Rise.
What worked in Burlington can work across Vermont, but it requires a statewide effort. This crisis is not an accident; it is largely the result of decades of overly restrictive land use and development policies that have made it far
This crisis is largely the result of decades of overly restrictive land use and development policies that have made it far too difficult to build the homes we need.
too difficult to build the homes we need. The HOME ACT and Act 250 reforms of the last two years were important steps in the right direction, but that legislation is just a start. In the coming biennium, we need bold reforms and investments in three key areas.
— Infrastructure investment. Only a small percentage of Vermont is served by adequate water and sewer infrastructure, and even in those areas, new housing often requires significant upgrades. Expanding this infrastructure is essential, and revenues generated by new housing can fund this investment.
However, Vermont’s restrictive and convoluted tax increment financing (TIF) laws make it difficult to direct those revenues back into housing infrastructure. A new Housing Infrastructure Program could transform how Vermont funds the essential upgrades needed to support housing development.
— Appeals reform. Vermont’s current appeals system gives a single individual the power to delay, or even derail, housing projects our communities have planned for and need. This “vetocracy” drives up costs and kills projects before they can get off the ground.
Public engagement must happen early in the process, during discussions about growth areas and land use policies. Once those policies are set, property owners and housing developers need the ability to move forward “by right,” without the threat of years of costly delays.
— Act 250 tier maps that enable growth. Last year’s reforms to Act 250 represent a promising step, but the process of drawing tier maps is in the early stages, leaving considerable uncertainty about whether the reforms will ultimately significantly expand housing opportunities or simply lead to more of the same.
We need to finish the job and ensure that, in the future, Act 250 supports rather than hinders the housing development in established communities and targeted growth areas that Vermont desperately needs.
But policy changes alone won’t be enough. To truly solve this crisis, we must embrace a vision of Vermont’s future that balances our cherished natural beauty with the need for growth and diversity — a Vermont where everyone who wants to live, work and raise a family here can do so.
There is a movement building to achieve this vision: a Vermont that is bigger, more dynamic and more inclusive. It will take all of us to make it a reality.
To learn more and join the effort, visit www.letsbuildhomes. org. Together, we can create a future where everyone has a place to call home.
Miro Weinberger is the former mayor of Burlington (20122024) and a former affordable housing developer. He is currently a visiting fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Taubman Center for State and Local Government.
Bounce back
CLOCKWISE (L TO R): CVU’s Zoey McNabb looks to start a fast break during the Redhawks’ 63-23 win over the Plattsburgh Hornets on Saturday afternoon in Hinesburg. Teamwork on offense gives Sarah Skaflestad, Sophia Zada-Silva, Rose Bunting and Alex Montgomery opportunities to drive the ‘Hawks’ numbers on the scoreboard ever higher.
‘Hawks frozen in Crimson Tide
TOP to BOTTOM (l to r): CVU’s Zavier Barnes looks to make a pass during the Redhawks’ 4-2 loss to the Spaulding Crimson Tide Dec. 30 at Cairns Arena. Brady Jones gets off a wrist shot past Spaulding’s Cam Thayer. Tommy Barnes protects his net. Teigen Holmes reaches maximum extension in his bid for the puck. Ronald Csizmadia zips behind the net ahead of his pursuer. OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY
The 47th President
Next week, the United States will practice a “peaceful transfer of power” when Donald J. Trump is inaugurated as president for his second term.
Next Week: Remembering Dr. King
Mini Fact: Donald J. Trump was first elected president in 2016. He was elected again on Nov. 5, 2024.
Inauguration afternoon
When the inauguration is over, President Biden and his wife, Jill, will leave the Capitol and return to their private lives.
The Bidens will live in Wilmington, Delaware.
Until the late 1790s, there were no political parties in the U.S. But in the election of 1800, two parties, the Federalists and the DemocraticRepublicans, competed for the presidency. When Thomas Jefferson, a DemocraticRepublican, won the office, the Federalists accepted the outcome and did not act against him.
Peacefully transfering power between two different political belief systems became an important feature of our democracy.
A busy day
Jan. 20, 2025, will be a day full of ceremony and tradition.
• In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt began the tradition of attending church on the morning of the inauguration.
• Next, the president-elect and vice president-elect and their wives will go to the White House. Then Trump and President Joe Biden will go together to the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremonies.
• Vice President-elect JD Vance will take the oath of office first. The oaths are given by the chief justice of the United States, John Roberts.
Try ’n’ Find
• Trump will recite the president’s oath of office. It reads:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Melania Trump, his wife, will hold a Bible; some past presidents have used George Washington’s or Abraham Lincoln’s Bible.
• The new president will then address the nation. Modern presidents have presented their goals and vision for the United States during this speech.
After the oath
President Trump and the first lady, along with Vice President Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, will remain at the Capitol for an inaugural luncheon. Also at the lunch will be leaders of Congress and other guests.
Words that remind us of the presidential inauguration are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
The new president and vice president will then either walk or ride at the front of a parade from the Capitol to the White House. In the evening
On the evening of the inauguration, several balls, or formal parties, will be held in honor of the new president and vice president.
The first inaugural ball took place in 1809. Some presidents have canceled the parties because they thought the occasion should be more serious.
library: •
Mini Jokes
Archer: Which of George Washington’s generals had the best sense of humor? Preston: Laughayette!
Founded by Betty Debnam Issue 02, 2025
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Amanda Simmons
DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Suzanne M. Day
The events at the U.S. Capitol will take place on the west front terrace of the building.
Air Force Academy cadets march in the inaugural parade in 2017.
Donald J. Trump photo Shealah Craighead, White House photo courtesy Air Force Academy
President Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy, dance at an inaugural ball in 1985.
Try ’n’ Find
Words that remind us of the presidential inauguration are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
BALLS, BIDEN, CAPITOL, CHURCH, DEMOCRACY, INAUGURATION, JUSTICE, OATH, PARADE, PARTIES, PEACEFUL, POWER, PRESIDENT, SPEECH, TERRACE, TRANSFER, TRUMP, VANCE.
Cook’s Corner
Sweet Sopaipilla Chips
You’ll need:
• 2 small (5 1/2- to 6-inch) flour tortillas (wholewheat or regular)
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon sugar
What to do:
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons honey
Mini Jokes
Archer: Which of George Washington’s generals had the best sense of humor?
Preston: Laughayette!
Eco Note
1. Place tortillas on top of each other and cut into 8 triangles with a pizza cutter (16 triangles in all).
2. Melt butter in microwave for 15 seconds.
3. Combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
4. Brush triangles with butter on one side and place butter side up on a cookie sheet.
5. Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees until triangles are slightly crisp, like chips.
6. Remove from oven. Sprinkle chips evenly with sugar mixture, and then drizzle with honey. Serves 2.
You’ll need an adult’s help with this recipe.
Study the definition. When you know the missing word, fill in the letter boxes and the sentence blanks.
Tremors and the smell of rotten eggs around the West Texas community of Toyah were punctuated by the sudden eruption of a geyser from an abandoned wellhead, which sent water spewing 100 feet into the air. The well, drilled in 1961 to a depth of 11,331 feet, did not encounter any crude oil. Since last October, it has produced around eight blowouts of contaminated water, causing residents of the remote town to worry about the safety of their fresh water supply.
For later: Look in your newspaper for updates about the inauguration.
Teachers: Follow and interact with The Mini Page on Facebook!
®
1. A current president will _______ places with a new president.
2. A large ______ came to the inauguration in Washington, D.C.
3. There was a lot of _________ and smiling at the ceremony.
4. A large band played _____ that people liked at the party.
3. 1. To make or become become different; switch; substitute (6-letter verb)
4. Sounds with a melody, rhythm and often harmony (5-letter noun)
3. Hitting open palms together to show approval (8-letter gerund)
2. A large number of people in one place (5-letter noun)
R OO TO N Y M by Jan & Carey Orr Cook
©2024 Cassius One LLC www
Music.
by Dan Thompson
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
My dad has always been a pack rat, but since mom died a few years ago, he’s become more of a hoarder. The clutter in his house has gotten out of control and I don’t know what to do. Any suggestions?
Distraught in Centerville
Dear Distraught, Unfortunately, hoarding or clutter addiction is a problem that’s become increasingly common in the U.S. It effects approximately 6 percent of Americans age 65 or older. The problem can range anywhere from moderate messiness to hoarding so severe it may be related to a mental health disorder like obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Here’s what you should know, along with some tips and resources that can help you help your dad.
WHY PEOPLE HOARD
The reasons most people
SAVVY SENIOR
How to help a hoarding parent
hoard is because they have an extreme sentimental attachment to their possessions, or they believe they might need their items at a later date. Hoarding can also be a sign that an older person is depressed, anxious or showing early symptoms of dementia.
Common problems for seniors who live in excessive clutter are tripping, falling and breaking a bone; overlooking bills and missing medications that are hidden in the clutter; suffering from the environmental effects of mold, mildew and dust, and even living among insects and rodents.
WHAT TO DO
To help you gauge your dad’s problem, the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) offers a free “Clutter Hoarding Scale” that you can download at ChallengingDisorganization.org.
If you find that your dad has a moderate cluttering problem, there are a number of things you can do to help.
Start by having a talk with him, expressing your concern for his health and safety, and offering your assistance to help him declutter.
If he takes you up on it, most professional organizers recommend decluttering in small steps. Take one room at a time, or even a portion of a room at a time.
This will help prevent your dad from getting overwhelmed.
Before you start, designate three piles or boxes for your dad’s stuff — one pile is for items he wants to keep and put away, another is a donate pile, and the last is a throwaway pile.
You and your dad will need to determine which pile his things belong in as you work. If he struggles with sentimental items that he doesn’t use, suggest he keep only one item for memory sake and donate the rest to family members who will use them.
You will also need to help him set up a system for organizing the kept items and new possessions.
FIND HELP
If you need some help with decluttering and organizing, consider hiring a professional organizer who can come to your dad’s home to help you prioritize, organize and remove the clutter.
The National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO.net) and the ICD (ChallengingDisorganization. org) both offer directories on their websites to help you locate a professional in your area.
If your dad has a bigger, more serious hoarding problem (if his daily functioning is impaired, or if he is having financial difficulties, health problems or other
issues) you’ll need to seek professional help.
Talk therapy and/or antidepressants can help address control issues, anxiety, depression and other feelings that may underlie hoarding tendencies, and make it easier for him to confront his disorder.
To locate help, contact Helping Elders Live Productively (H.E.L.P.). This is a free education, counseling and referral resource that helps older adults and their families who are experiencing hoarding by connecting them with legal services, mental health assistance and support groups. Call (310) 533-1996 for a referral, or visit Help4srs.org/support-services-for-seniors-who-hoard.
You can also find professional help through the International OCD Foundation, online at Hoarding.iocdf.org.
And to get help with challenging cleanup jobs, the biggest provider is Steri-Clean, Inc. (see Hoarders.com or call 800-4627337), a hoarding cleanup company that has franchises located throughout the country.
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.
WILLISTON POLICE
Dec. 1 at 12:54 a.m. — Following a traffic stop, male operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.
Dec. 1 at 3:07 a.m. — Following a traffic stop, female operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.
Dec. 1 at 3:02 p.m. — Report of a male camping out on private property on Governor Chittenden Road. Male was issued a citation for unlawful trespass.
Dec. 2 at 6:45 a.m. — Same male back on property on Governor Chittenden Road. Male was issued a citation for unlawful trespass.
Dec. 2 at 3:26 p.m. — Report of a stolen trailer on Commerce Street. Trailer has not been located.
Dec. 2 at 5:45 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. Case is still under investigation.
Dec. 3 at 5:45 a.m. — Stolen UHaul recovered on Zephyr Road. Truck was returned.
Dec. 3 at 3:25 p.m. — Assisted Williston Rescue with unresponsive male. Male was transported to the hospital.
Dec. 4 at 3:30 p.m. — Suspicious male in Walmart. Male was moved along and issued a notice of trespass. Dec. 4 at 7:44 p.m. — Report of a truck playing Christmas music too loud on Holland Lane.
Dec. 5 at 1:46 p.m. — Report of a theft from Walmart. Female suspect was located. She did not steal but had an active arrest warrant. She was issued a citation to appear in court.
Dec. 5 at 2:39 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Shaw’s. Male suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court.
Dec. 5 at 9:24 p.m. — Following a traffic stop, male operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.
Dec. 6 at 10:06 a.m. — Suspicious male reported in Walmart. Male was escorted out and issued a notice of trespass.
Dec. 6 at 1:48 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. Male suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.
Dec. 7 at 10:42 a.m. — Stolen vehicle reported on James Brown Drive. Vehicle was recovered the next day and returned to owner.
Dec. 7 at 7:24 p.m. — Report of a male causing a disturbance in Starbucks. Male was moved along and issued a notice of trespass.
Officers also conducted seven traffic stops and responded to nine alarm activations and 20 motor vehicle crashes during this time frame.
TODAY’S HISTORY:
• In 1788, Connecticut ratified the U.S. Constitution and became the fifth U.S. state.
• In 1861, Confederates fired upon the steamship Star of the West at the garrison of Fort Sumter, South Carolina, an incident many historians consider the first shots of the American Civil War.
• In 2015, the two perpetrators of the shooting at the offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris two days earlier were killed by police after a hostage crisis.
TODAY’S FACT:
• The comic strip “Blondie,” launched by Chic Young in 1930, eventually appeared in more than 2,000 newspapers around the world and spawned 28 film adaptations between 1938 and 1950.
SOLUTION FOUND ON PAGE 14
Recreation & Parks WILLISTON
HOLIDAY DECORATING CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED
The winners of the Holiday Decorating Contest are: 343 Cedar Lane (first), 1964 Old Creamery Rd (second) and SD Ireland (Business Division winner). Thank you to everyone who registered their home or business in the contest. Thank you to everyone who went out, saw the decorations and voted. Also, thank you to the contest sponsors: the Williston
SUDOKU
Observer, Healthy Living Market, Adams Farm Market, VT Meat & Seafood, and the Williston Coffee Shop.
SENIOR COMMUNITY MEALS
Ages 60-plus. The Rec Department and Age Well will combine to host free meals from 12-1 p.m. on Tuesdays. Space is limited, and advanced registration is required. Registration for each meal closes one
SOLUTION Puzzle found on page 13
CROSSWORD SOLUTION
Puzzle found on page 13
zweek before the scheduled date. Following the meal, a program tailored to seniors will be offered from 1-2 p.m. The meal menu and program listings will be posted at www.willistonrec.org. To register, call (802) 8761160 or email recreation@willistonvt. org.
FAMILY PROGRAMS
STARGAZING: CURRENT NIGHT SKY
Ages 6-plus. View the current night sky inside a digitalized planetarium dome, where you’ll feel like you are outside at night looking at a clear sky. Friday, Jan. 17, various times. $30. Instructor: Carrie Cruz. This program will be held inside the REC Zone at 94 Harvest Lane.
STACKING RINGS WORKSHOP
Ages 14-plus. This two-hour workshop from Vermont Jewelry School guides you through creating silver, brass and copper rings. This is an engaging class for teens, adults and families. Participants solder, size and individualize their trio of rings before wearing them home. Friday, Jan. 24, 5-7 p.m. $27. Instructor: Silvio Mazzarese
DANGEROUS GIRLS
Ages 14-plus. A practical self-defense class designed for teens and young women, with a combination of kickboxing and grappling. It’s fun, it’s social, and before you know it, you’ll be able to kick butt. Wednesdays, Jan. 29-Feb. 19, 6:30-7:30 p.m., $95. Instructor: ONTA Studio staff.
YOUTH/TEEN PROGRAMS
NINJA KIDS INTRO
Ages 4-8, 7-11 and 9-15. This playbased curriculum increases strength and self-confidence, while moving meditation helps children manage their emotions and develop the connection between mental and physical well-being. Programs begin the week
LEGAL NOTICE
TOWN OF WILLISTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA
Tuesday, January 14, 2025 – 7:00 PM
Williston Central School Auditorium or Zoom Meeting ID 846 5863 3532 on zoom.us/join or call 1-646-558-8656
DP 24-06 Rivers Edge Development c/o O’Leary-Burke Civil Associates requests discretionary permit review of a 107-unit
residential subdivision in accordance with SP 23- 01 Glaser Specific Plan on a ±94.66ac undeveloped parcel at the southwest corner of Mountain View Rd and Old Stage Rd with ±48.42 ac of protected open space offered for Town ownership in the Residential Zoning District (RZD).
Project details and site plans are available on the website, town.williston.vt.us, under “Public Records and Documents,” then “Agendas & Minutes,” and “Development
of Jan. 7, various days and times. $95. Instructor: ONTA Studio staff.
ADULT PROGRAMS
BONE BUILDERS
Ages 50-plus. A program of the United Way of Northwest Vermont. This free, low-impact weight training program is designed to prevent and reverse osteoporosis in older adults. Classes are held twice per week. Instructors: Ann Naumann and Joyce Oughstun. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10-11 a.m. at the REC Zone, 94 Harvest Lane.
TAI CHI INTRODUCTION
Ages 50-plus. The ancient art of Tai Chi improves balance, increases mindfulness and relaxes the mind and body. This class will present sequences of movements derived from the Sun style, which is slow, smooth and upright in posture. Instructor: Adina Panitch. Mondays, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Free. The R.E.C. Zone, 94 Harvest Lane.
SENIOR STRENGTH & FUNCTIONAL MOBILITY
Ages 50-plus. This program will concentrate on developing upper and lower body strength, improving balance and strengthening your core. In this dementia-friendly class, participants are encouraged to work within their abilities. Instructor: Jazmine Averbuck. Wednesdays and Fridays, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. The R.E.C. Zone, 94 Harvest Lane.
JAZZERCISE CARDIO SCULPT PROGRAMS
Ages 16-plus. This program is geared to 50-plus but is open to all ages. Instructors will show you how to take it high or low. Cardio Sculpt Low/ Low, Tuesdays and Fridays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. and Mondays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Cardio Sculpt Low/ High, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 4:45-5:45 p.m. and Sundays, 8:30-9:30
CLASSIFIEDS
Review Board.” Contact Planning & Zoning Office for more information: 802-878- 6704 or email planning@willistonvt.org
LEGAL NOTICE
TOWN OF WILLISTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA
Tuesday, January 28, 2025 – 7:00 PM Town Hall Meeting Room (Town Hall, 7900 Williston Road, use rear entrance) or Zoom Meeting ID 846 5863 3532 on zoom.us/join or call 1-646-558-8656
DP 25-05 Williston Woods Cooperative Housing Corporation c/o Trudell Consulting Engineers requests discretionary permit review of stormwater treatment improvements with 0.8 acres of site work on a common land parcel surrounding 126 Williston Woods Rd in the Agricultural/ Rural Zoning District (ARZD).
DP 24-09 Gregory, Anna, and Laura Benedetto c/o Doug Goulette requests
a.m. Instructor: Kit Sayers. The R.E.C. Zone, 94 Harvest Lane. ACCESSIBLE YOGA
Ages 18-plus, geared towards 50plus. Join this Vinyasa Yoga Flow program appropriate for everyone. Each class begins with a brief meditation and then moves into an easy practice that can be done on a yoga mat, in a chair, or both. Instructor: Robin Zabiegalski. Starts Jan. 27, Mondays, 1-2 p.m., $5 per class. The REC Zone, 94 Harvest Lane.
YOGA FLOW
Ages 18-plus. Each class will start with a brief mindfulness meditation, then move into an easy Vinyasa Flow practice. You will practice a flow of yoga shapes both on the ground and standing, then you will settle on some longer stretches. Instructor: Robin Zabiegalski. Starts Jan. 31, Fridays, 6-7 p.m., $10 per class. The REC Zone, 94 Harvest Lane.
SELF DEFENSE INTRO
Ages 18-plus. This class mixes training techniques from multiple martial arts, including Filipino stick fighting, kickboxing and Jiu-Jitsu to create a fun, non-competitive environment where students can learn practical self-defense skills. Perfect for beginners and those with a prior martial arts background. Tuesdays, Jan. 1-Feb. 18, 6:30-7:30 p.m., $95. Instructor: ONTA Studio staff. TAI CHI
This program focuses on learning Yang Style Tai Chi, as well as a variety of Chi Kung sets and postures, primarily those from Grandmaster Mantak Chia’s Healing Tao system. Come strengthen your body, regulate and build physical energy, and cultivate your mental concentration. Thursdays, Jan. 30-March 20, 6-7 p.m. $140. Instructor: ONTA Studio staff.
discretionary permit review of a proposed open space 6-lot subdivision on an existing 10.76-acre parcel to create three (3) dwelling lots (1.53, 0.46, and 0.7 acres) and three (3) open space lots (4.39, 1.37, and 2.31) at 1318 Butternut Rd in the Agricultural/Rural Zoning District (ARZD).
Continued from November 26, 2024.
DP 25-06 Scott and Summer Batdorf request a discretionary permit for a boundary line adjustment to be reviewed as a subdivision for two parcels totaling 7.33 acres and create road frontage for the landlocked parcel at 1876 Mountain View Rd in the Residential Zoning District (RZD).
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
92 HOMES SOLD IN 2024
279 ISHAM CIRCLE, WILLISTON
35 BRICKYARD ROAD #17, ESSEX JCT
202 RAVEN CIRCLE, WILLISTON
185 ADAMS ROAD, BRANDON 51 HAWTHORNE CIRCLE, SO BURLINGTON
425 DORSET STREET #5, SO BURLINGTON
127 ARROW HEAD LAKE ROAD, GEORGIA
18 BEAVER POND ROAD, FAIRFAX
108 AIKEY LANE, COLCHESTER
164 HAYES AVENUE, SO BURLINGTON
75 OSGOOD HILL ROAD, ESSEX
815 PORTERWOOD DRIVE, WILLISTON
19 MURRAY ROAD, ESSEX JCT
43 SIMONE ROAD, FAIRFAX
78 SANDHILL ROAD #9, ESSEX JCT
LOT #1 MAPLE STREET, WALTHAM
61 KADENCE CIRCLE, WILLISTON
41 CUMBERLAND ROAD, BURLINGTON
67 PEARL STREET #9, ESSEX JCT
7 JONES COURT, SWANTON
682 FOREST ROAD, ST. GEORGE
16 CLOVER DRIVE 7C, ESSEX
361 EAST ROAD, RICHMOND
6 CHELSEA ROAD, ESSEX
233 DUNMORE LANE, WILLISTON
220 SPEAR STREET, SO BURLINGTON
36 MANSEAU STREET, WINOOSKI
7F BLAIR ROAD, ESSEX
425 LOCUST HILL ROAD, SHELBURNE
134 RABBIT'S RUN, WILLISTON
39NEW REVIEWS
#1INTHE OFHEARTS OUR CLIENTS
117 JOHN FAY ROAD APT 106, SO BURLINGTON
51 LEACH ROAD, FAIRFAX
6 VALLEY VIEW DRIVE, MILTON
32 BUTTERNUT COURT, ESSEX
18 JAKE'S WAY, WILLISTON
27 WOODBINE BY THE LAKE, BURLINGTON
114 PIKE FARM ESTATES, ST ALBANS
502 GALVIN HILL ROAD, COLCHESTER
18 MOHAWK AVENUE, ESSEX JUNCTION
86 SUMMIT CIRCLE, SHELBURNE
90 LAKEVIEW TERRACE, WATERBURY
OUR TEAM IS RANKED #6 OF 465 AGENTS IN OUR MARKET! #6
POLLI PROPERTIES
46 CHELSEA PLACE, WILLISTON 58 ALEXIS DRIVE, BURLINGTON
103 MEADOW DRIVE, COLCHESTER 42 RICHMOND ROAD, HINESBURG
90 ST ALBANS ROAD, SWANTON 17 BRICKYARD ROAD #18, ESSEX JCT
155 VT ROUTE 15, JERICHO
17 BRICKYARD ROAD #18, ESSEX JCT
30 DUNBAR DRIVE, ESSEX JCT 13 OAKWOOD LANE, ESSEX
399 OLD STAGE ROAD, ESSEX 44 MARION AVENUE, ESSEX
191 BROWNS TRACE, JERICHO
82 FINCH COURT, SO BURLINGTON
268 RAVEN CIRCLE, WILLISTON
25 ELMORE STREET, SHELBURNE
298 SO WINOOSKI AVE, BURLINGTON
227 N PROSPECT STREET, BURLINGTON
88 SPRUCE LANE, WILLISTON
4 OAK STREET, ESSEX JCT
51 MOORE DRIVE, BURLINGTON
7 PERRY DRIVE, ESSEX JCT 24 SAYBROOK ROAD, ESSEX JCT
603 BRAND FARM DRIVE, SO BURLINGTON
2 PINNACLE DRIVE, SO BURLINGTON
44 CHARITY STREET, BURLINGTON
31 ELSOM PARKWAY, SO BURLINGTON
682 FOREST ROAD, ST. GEORGE
284 STONYBROOK DRIVE, WILLISTON
95 CUMBERLAND ROAD, BURLINGTON
55 CASE PARKWAY, BURLINGTON
197 MIDDLE ROAD, COLCHESTER
954 BUTTERNUT HILL RD #D2, WAITSFIELD
57 OGLEWOOD ROAD, MILTON
178 LOCUST HILL ROAD, SHELBURNE
49 TWIN OAKS TERRACE, SO BURLINGTON
51 OVERLAKE DRIVE, MILTON
5 BEECHWOOD LANE, SO BURLINGTON
20 BOOTH STREET, BURLINGTON
254 LEDGEWOOD CIR #103, BURLINGTON
1381 NORTH AVENUE, BURLINGTON
22 TANGLEWOOD DRIVE, ST ALBANS
1162 NORTH AVENUE, UNIT 4, BURLINGTON
6 N GARDENS LANE, MILTON
90 HAWTHORNE CIRCLE, SO BURLINGTON
STREET #404, WINOOSKI