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OCTOBER 18, 2018
WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985
WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM
DEC: Keep herbicide out of lake State rejects homeowners’ plan for chemical control of milfoil By Jason Starr Observer staff
Placing an herbicide into Lake Iroquois to control invasive Eurasian milfoil would be excessive and environmentally harmful, according to a Department of Environmental Conservation permit denial issued last week. The Town of Williston had joined with an association of Lake Iroquois shoreline homeowners to seek state approval to use the chemical, Sonar, to control the plant, which has become a perennial nuisance for lake users. DEC Permit Analyst Misha Cetner alerted the town and the Lake Iroquois Association last February of the department’s intent to deny the permit. Last week’s issuance explains the state’s reasons for the denial. It will be a topic of conversation at the association’s meeting Thursday as homeowners look at all options to clear the lake of the unwanted plant. “While EWM (Eurasian watermilfoil) is a stressor on the ecological integrity of Lake Iroquois, the potential lake-wide impacts on the non-target environments as a result of a whole-lake treatment is greater than the impact from the existence of EWM in Lake Iroquois,” the denial states. The decision was hailed as “groundbreaking” by the Vermont and New Hampshire director of the Toxics Action Center as well as the “Concerned Citizens of Lake Iroquois” — a Hinesburg-based group of citizens that banded
OBSERVER FILE PHOTO BY POGO SENIOR
Lake Iroquois is seen in this 2017 photo.
together to oppose the permit application and flooded the DEC with comments urging denial. “Adding plant herbicide to a well-loved water body as a quick fix has never been the right thing to do,” Hinesburg’s Roger Donegan said in a press release from Concerned Citizens of Lake Iroquois. “My family has been enjoying the lake for generations, and I am proud that we are protecting this place for generations to come.” The decision is precedent-setting for Vermont, said Shaina Kasper, the Vermont and New Hampshire director of the Toxics Action Center. The state has approved the application of Sonar in several other water bodies. “This decision is a groundbreaking, long-
term victory for the lake, surrounding towns and a toxic-free future in Vermont,” Kasper said. “Across Vermont, residents are standing up for safe, pesticide-free ways to take care of our environment. This decision is the first of its kind, but it won’t be the last.” In its denial, the DEC found that applying the chemical to the lake would kill other aquatic plants in the lake and in surrounding wetlands. It would also prevent the safe use of the lake’s water for irrigation. According to the Toxics Action Center, swimming would be prohibited in the first 24 hours after Sonar was applied, and residents see DEC page 24
Essex man found dead in Lake Iroquois Rescuers found the body of an Essex man Monday in shallow water on the Hinesburg side of Lake Iroquois. Williston Police and Williston Fire and Rescue responded to a call from an acquaintance who reported the man missing about 7:45 p.m. Williston Police are awaiting an autopsy to determine the cause of death. They identified the man Wednesday as 45-year-old Kyle Ebbett. “There are a lot of unknowns because he was out there by himself,” Williston Police Chief Patrick Foley said. “We hope the (autopsy) will show what happened. If not, we will treat it as an accident.” The man’s boat, an aluminum, motor-powered fishing boat, was found capsized on the south side of the lake. Williston Fire and Rescue called in Hinesburg Fire to search the south end of the lake while Williston crews searched the Williston side to the north, where the main boat access is located. Fire Departments in Shelburne and Charlotte arrived at the scene with search boats. — Jason Starr
Food shelf celebrates 10 years of community service By Jason Starr Observer staff
The Williston Community Food Shelf is celebrating 10 years of service this weekend with a unique “food sculpting” event. Nine businesses and organizations have signed on to produce sculptures out of non-perishable boxes and cans of food. They will work through the day Friday at the Green Mountain Masonic Lodge
(115 Merchants Row), then invite the public to view the sculptures this weekend, help award prizes in four categories and mark the food shelf’s anniversary. The non-profit, volunteer-run food shelf — which opens Tuesdays afternoons and Thursday and Saturday mornings at 400 Cornerstone Drive — has served roughly 25,000 families since opening in 2008, according to president Gin-
ger Morton. It averages 250 family visits each month. “We really wanted to do something that would create interest with the public for our 10th birthday,” Morton said. “It’s a big deal. It’s something we should celebrate.” The event will open to the public from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. The food shelf’s annual volunteer recogni-
tion is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday. Boxes and cans of food used in the sculptures will be moved to the food shelf with the help of Williston’s Boy Scout troop. “The biggest hope is to draw attention to what we’ve accomplished and maybe get new people involved,” Morton said. “It’s an extra benefit to be able to bring some food back to the food shelf.” Participating businesses include
Ramunto’s Pizza, the Williston locations of TD Bank and Hannaford Supermarket, DXC Technology and the Shaw’s Supermarkets in Williston, South Burlington and Colchester. Also participating are teams from Allen Brook School and the Town of Williston. Allen Brook School kindergarteners have used yellow boxes and cans to create a sculpture of a school bus, said Enrichment see FOOD SHELF page 2
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