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Lawmakers implore Scott to declare Covid-19 emergency BY SARAH MEARHOFF VT Digger Vermont state lawmakers joined health care workers, teachers and others during a Monday afternoon press conference to increase pressure on Gov. Phil Scott to reinstate an emergency declaration amid rising coronavirus case counts in the state. The calls for a mask mandate and other mitigation measures come as Vermont continues to see

Rep. Tanya Vyhovsky, P/D Essex Town, listens as Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, D-Chittenden speaks by video conference in favor of stronger Covid-19 mitigation measures on Monday, Oct. 25. PHOTO BY MIKE DOUGHERTY/VTDIGGER

record case growth, fueled largely by the highly contagious Delta variant of Covid-19. With a seven-day average of 218 cases per day and 35 cases per 100,000 people, Vermont now has the 17th-highest case rate in the country, higher than New York and Massachusetts. As cases have trended up, Scott has resisted calls to reinstate a statewide emergency declaration, cease in-person business or mandate mask-wearing in public. Instead, he has reiterated his call for Vermonters to get the Covid-19 vaccine and boosters, and implored residents to take “personal responsibility” to curb the spread.

At Monday’s press conference, Rep. Erin Brady, D-Williston, said that Scott’s message of “personal responsibility … is tremendously hurtful to my family and so many others.” Brady is a high school teacher and has two school-aged children — both of whom recently tested positive for the virus after months of caution. Both Brady and her husband are vaccinated, but her kids are too young. This marks her third-grader’s third Covid-related class-wide quarantine of the school year, Brady said. Brady said she now has to quarantine at home with her children, causing what she called a “ripple effect” from her children’s diagnosis that now impacts her own students. She said she’s been trying to help her children do their schoolwork from opposite sides of a door, wearing masks. “We know vaccines for kids are coming and it will be monumental, but we have many difficult weeks and months ahead before kids are fully vaccinated,” Brady said. “It is long past time for a mask mandate and to treat our schools with the resources and dignity commensurate with the crisis they’re in.” Rep. Tanya Vyhovsky, D-Essex, who works with school children as a social worker, said students “need to know they’re going to be safe at school,” but under current conditions, she said, they don’t. She pointed to rising reports of misbehavior at school as evidence of widespread anxiety among kids as the pandemic drags on. “This is not indicative of bad children; it’s indicative of children who are in crisis, children who do not have the tools or skills to navigate the unpredictability and anxiety that this pandemic has brought them,” she said. “It’s up to the adults to make it better.” To make it better, she said, the governor’s office should be reinstating broad mitigation requirements to get case counts down because “what we are doing is see COVID page 5

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Chris Stewart reads with CY mentee Braedon Minehart at WCS in a photo from a few years ago.

WCS Connecting Youth Mentoring Program thrives with community support

OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO

BY SUSAN COTE Observer Staff This November, a program first launched at Williston Central School in 1999 will kick off another year. The Connecting Youth Mentoring Program (CYMP) enters its 22nd year of matching adult volunteers from the Williston community with students in grades 5-8 for one-on-one relationships. Not about academics or tutoring, these pairings are better described as special friendships between students and adults, who each commit to spending one hour per week together. How that time is spent is up to each pair, but often includes conversation, game-playing, reading and engaging in crafts or cooking projects. Students can ask to be included in the program and may also be referred by parents or school personnel who think a child will benefit. In addition to weekly meetings among pairs, in a typical year, i.e., pre-Covid, the program has in-

cluded a fall barbecue and a reading challenge that culminates with a celebratory ice cream social in the spring – events that include the students’ family members. Nancy Carlson, Connecting Mentoring Youth coordinator, has stewarded the program since 2002. During a recent presentation, Carlson shared that children who are engaged with a mentor are more likely to go to college, volunteer and be positive influences within their communities. They are also more likely to step up to mentor others and to achieve positions of leadership within their chosen fields. They even tend to enjoy more positive relationships with their parents. She notes that a key to the program is reciprocity. “The mentors are amplifying their mentees’ strengths and their interests and their best qualities. These relationships are also transformative for the adults. They’re about two people growing and learning and becoming their best selves together.”

MENTOR PORTRAITS

Chris Stewart first became a mentor several years ago at his mother’s urging, after she herself began as a mentor 12 years ago. His wife Diane also serves as a mentor. “As a man that doesn’t have children, and whose nieces and nephews are grown, I like the connection with the young people ... learning what they know about and are interested in.” After being involved in the program for a few years, Stewart, a general contractor who also builds furniture, was asked by Carlson to take on a special project with a student. Stewart readily agreed and together he and the girl built a solid maple table that today sits outside Carlson’s office. “I like being part of the school and maybe giving something back. It feels good,” he said. “When I was a fifth or sixth grade boy, I would have given anything to have somebody other than a parent or teacher to talk to .... It’s a wonderful way to connect with a see MENTORING page 5

Page 2 • Williston Observer • October 28, 2021

A biweekly trip down memory lane with members of the Williston Historical Society

Williston’s very own royalty: Barbara (Sutton) Arms, the 1954 Vermont State Poultry Queen BY ELIZABETH A. ALLEN Special to the Observer When I was flipping through old Chittenden County newspapers, looking for some historical tidbit to catch my interest, several photos from the early 1950s jumped out at me. They showed a smiling young woman standing with official-looking men in suits. Captions identified the woman as “Barbara Sutton of Williston, the state’s Poultry Queen.” Eager to find out more, I went directly to the source: the 1954 Vermont Poultry Queen

herself. Barbara (Sutton) Arms, now approaching 90, lives in assisted living in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. But she was born and raised in Williston, where this tale starts. The Suttons were an agricultural family. Barbara and her siblings grew up on her father Harry’s dairy farm on Sunset Hill Road. Barbara’s mother Vera raised poultry. “She had an egg business, and I used to help her all the time, collecting the eggs and delivering them,” explained Barbara. Little did she know that her youthful knowledge

of chickens would lift her to queendom when she was older. After graduating from high school and studying at the University of Vermont (UVM), Barbara worked as a secretary for the UVM Extension office in Essex Junction. The UVM Extension program, which began in 1913, embeds faculty and staff in see PAST TIMES page 4

LEAVES

President Dwight D. Eisenhower, above, enjoys a meal of local food, including barbecue chicken served to him by Barbara Sutton (Arms) at the first Vermont State Dairy Festival. PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, MONTPELIER, VT. PHOTO SOURCE: ELMER TOWNE PAPERS, BOX 11, JACK AND SHIRLEY SILVER SPECIAL COLLECTIONS LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT, BURLINGTON, VT.

Barbara Sutton, right, pictured in her photo in the 1950 Edmunds High School (Burlington, VT) Yearbook.

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October 28, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 3

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Page 4 • Williston Observer • October 28, 2021

Past Times continued from page

offices around the state, helping Vermonters with research-based educational programming and practical information. Its offerings address farming, forestry, gardening, watershed outreach and more. There is no longer an Essex Junction Extension office, but there was in the 1950s. Barbara’s fellow employees at the Extension all belonged to the Vermont Farm Bureau, and they drew her into Farm Bureau and related activities as well. The one who put her on the road to royalty was Bob Carlson, the Chittenden County Extension agent and Barbara’s superior. Gregarious and persuasive, Bob was a local star. He wrote a farming column for the weekly Suburban List and hosted the Extension’s noon-hour TV show “Across the Fence” on WCAX. In summer 1954, the Vermont Poultry Association planned its annual meeting in Randolph at Vermont Technical College. A contest would be held to select a Vermont Poultry Queen. Bob encouraged Barbara to enter. “I said that I didn’t want to

do anything like that,” Barbara told me with a laugh. “He said, ‘Oh, come on. You can do it.’” She added, “He could convince anyone of anything.” Barbara, 24, competed for the title against several other contestants. “One girl said that what she knew about poultry could be put under a little fingernail,” Barbara said. “Well, that didn’t help her out.” Barbara’s childhood experience with her mother’s egg business gave her the expertise she

‘I got to talk to Eisenhower. He was a very nice man — quite a gentleman. I liked him as a man and as a president too. We haven’t had too many good ones since then.’ Barbara (Sutton) Arms needed to take the throne. The judges were impressed, and that summer she was crowned Vermont Poultry Queen.

The Sutton family home on Sunset Hill Road, today. The property is now owned by Judge Linda Levitt. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

As part of her queenly duties, Barbara mingled with governmental officials and posed for newspaper photos. She even met the president of the United States. June, 1955 was declared Dairy Month in Vermont. Festivities culminated with the Vermont State Dairy Festival in Rutland, with U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower as the guest of honor. He admired Vermont cows, received one as a gift, viewed a parade including square-dancing students, and addressed enthusiastic crowds. “He was the main attraction,” Barbara said, “and he was a big hit.” The Vermont Poultry Queen and her sister royals gave Eisenhower a literal taste of Vermont.

“The dairy, poultry, maple and apple industries were involved,” Barbara recalled. “They had myself as the Poultry Queen to serve a barbecue chicken. The Dairy Queen served him his milk and ice cream.” (The Maple and Apple queens also presented him with signature foods, but Barbara didn’t remember what they were.) “I got to talk to Eisenhower,” continued Barbara. “He was a very nice man — quite a gentleman. I liked him as a man and as a president too.” After a pause, she remarked, “We haven’t had too many good ones since then.” Though she continued working for both the Extension and the Farm Bureau for a few years,

“

Barbara never experienced anything on the job as thrilling as her conversation with Ike. She handed the Poultry Queen crown to her successor shortly after Dairy Month and moved on. Barbara’s interest in agricultural activities endured. At 27, she married Chadwick “Chad” Arms, who had UVM degrees in dairy production. They ended up in Maine, where Chad worked for the University of Maine Extension. There they cultivated, among other things, a thriving 26-member 4-H club in Vassalboro. Sadly, Chad died in 2018, after he and Barbara had been married for 59 years. When I first asked Barbara about her activities in her 20s, she warned me that her memory was not as good as it used to be. As soon as I mentioned her reign as Poultry Queen, however, details returned to her. She reminisced with enthusiasm. Vermont farm life endures in people’s hearts and minds, even if they no longer live in Vermont. Special thanks to Barbara, for letting me interview her, and her son Todd for connecting us.

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”

Learn more about the COVID vaccine and how easy it is to get vaccinated. Call our Helpline at 1-800-642-5119 or visit Vaccine4Vermont.com

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October 28, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 5

Mentoring continued from page

person with whom they can form a trusting relationship.” “If I were to sum up the program in one word, it’s ‘fun,’” said Stewart. Ruth Magill began as a mentor in 2011 and has had three mentees, a girl and two boys. She got along well with all three and says they each had a good sense of humor and liked playing games. The girl wrote fictional stories that she shared with Magill. With both boys, she baked cookies once or twice a month in the mentoring program kitchen. “They felt I was a friend, and I felt the same way toward them,” said Magill. “I would encourage adults to do this, if you have time to give one hour a week. Nancy [Carlson] is so helpful in scheduling the time and she’s very good at matching up interests. The matches for me have been perfect.” Angela Arsenault is excited to meet her first student mentee match this fall. “It’s like a gift that’s coming to me,” she said. Arsenault, who has two schoolaged children of her own, currently serves as chair of the CVSD school board. She first heard about CYMP from fellow school board member, Josilyn Adams, who is a mentor. Her daughter also relayed positive comments from a fellow WCS student who participates in the program. The way she thinks about her mentor role is that, “I’m not there to tell a child what or who or how they should be, but to be there to support their own self-discovery.” “As a member of the school board, I’m so happy and grateful to see a program like this thriving in our schools.... It’s about social-emotional health, engagement, sense of belonging. These are things every student needs...before they can be available for learning.” “It’s a relatively small time commitment, but the impact can be large and long term.” “OWNED BY THIS COMMUNITY”

While volunteer mentors form the backbone of the program, Carlson also noted the importance of other supports from the community.

Covid continued from page

A bulletin board at WCS displays mentor pairs’ thoughts about last year’s theme of Friendship. OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO

“Rotary has provided the magic sauce,” said Carlson. “The Williston-Richmond Club provides program funding, helps spread the word throughout the community and is the source of many stellar mentors.” Rotary member Barbara LeWinter notes that investing in the mentoring program furthers one of the goals of the organization, “to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy.” LeWinter has been an active supporter for 16 years. After Carlson decided the program should have its own reading materials, LeWinter, a former school psychologist, began researching book recommendations to fit the social/emotional theme identified by Carlson each year, ensuring a selection of titles to match different reading levels and interests. The Rotary club also supplies funds to purchase books for the program’s annual reading challenge and to provide gift certificates for students to purchase books of their choosing at the Scholastic Book Fair. Carlson also described “tremendous” support from the staff and faculty of the school and teachers’ spouses, as well as local businesses who have sponsored events over the years. Until last year’s pandemic restrictions, the Edge Williston gave a day each year for mentors and mentees to enjoy the pool and fieldhouse facilities together. “The beauty of this program is

that it is owned by this community,” said Carlson. PERSEVERING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC

The lack of in-person school last year challenged program activities. Nevertheless, “last spring ... 17 eighth graders stayed the course through this pandemic. They did

whatever they needed to do to connect with their mentor,” said Carlson. Magill and her mentee were one of those pairs. “We were meeting outdoors when the weather was still good,” Magill said. “Eventually when the weather got really bad Nancy had set up a space for us inside where we could be by ourselves

and wear masks and we continued to do [many of] the things we’ve always done.” They helped each other cope. “At times it was sharing the difficulties ... students missing their friends, we adults sharing similar situations and having that hour to talk about it,” said Magill. Through LeWinter’s efforts, Rotary funded a virtual Scholastic Book Fair with books being delivered to mentees’ homes. Carlson describes this year as a rebuilding year. There are 45 returning pairs and she expects to make many new matches with new mentors and returning mentors who are stepping up. Her efforts will include ensuring that parents, students and mentors are comfortable with the ways the pairs will stay connected, whether that is in person, outdoors or indoors, or virtually over Google Meet. While it may not be predictable, “I think we have a wonderful year ahead,” said Carlson.

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clearly not working.” “The administration continues to do nothing but throw their hands up in defeat,” she said. “Giving up is not acceptable. Vermonters need leadership.” In response to lawmakers’ and stakeholders’ calls, Scott’s spokesperson Jason Maulucci again pointed to vaccines as the best tool Vermont has to control the virus. “If the governor believed state mandates were needed, he would implement them,” Maulucci said. “But the fact is, declaring a

state of emergency after nearly 20 months of experience with this virus and reimposing broad restrictions and closures is not something Vermonters would accept nor follow,” he said. Rather than implementing mandates, Maulucci said Scott will continue to urge Vermonters to get vaccinated and get vaccine boosters when they’re eligible, as well as “make smart, informed choices” to protect themselves and others — “but he is not going to force them backwards.”

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Page 6 • Williston Observer • October 28, 2021

GUEST COLUMN Williston’s Community Newspaper Since 1985

www.willistonobserver.com P.O. Box 1401, Williston, VT 05495 | 802-489-5499 PUBLISHER Susan T. Cote susan@willistonobserver.com 802-489-5499

TO ADVERTISE Submission deadline is Friday at 5 p.m. for next Thursday issue. rick@willistonobserver.com

ADVERTISING Rick Cote Associate Publisher Sales & Marketing rick@willistonobserver.com 802-373-2136

CLASSIFIED ADS Paid Classifieds: There is a fee for business, real estate and help wanted ads. Free Classifieds: Must be 25 words or fewer. Printed on a space-available basis. Submission deadline is Friday at 5 p.m. for next Thursday issue. susan@willistonobserver.com

EDITOR Jason Starr editor@willistonobserver.com PRODUCTION & DESIGN Jan Kenney jan@willistonobserver.com BILLING INQUIRIES Michael McCaffrey office@willistonobserver.com MEMBER:

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SUBMISSIONS & LETTERS Send to editor@willistonobserver.com • Deadline is Monday at noon • News/story tips welcomed • Letters must be 300 words or fewer • Include your name, address and a daytime phone number so that we can verify the letter’s author. Phone numbers and street addresses will be kept confidential • Letters may be edited for clarity and brevity • Letters that have been submitted to multiple media outlets may not be printed CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Send to editor@willistonobserver.com Must include • Name of event and organization • Date, time and place of event • Contact information We print submissions for nonprofit groups and organizations only.

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.

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This is not the school year educators had hoped for BY BRIAN RICCA It seems that we have already reached peak foliage season in the Green Mountain State. Our home is surrounded by trees in the backyard, and most have already begun shedding their leaves. I first noticed some of the changing colors in late August-early September in our yard, and shortly after that, some began falling. The grass is starting to show signs of the impending autumn ritual of leaves falling. Typically, I welcome the fall with the crisp air because it means cider doughnuts, apple picking, and post-season baseball. While my beloved Yankees bowed to the Red Sox and are no longer playing, the Fall Classic began this week. It is a trade-off as the days get shorter, and I know the winter is not far behind. This year though feels different. It’s our second year of experiencing COVID in the fall, but it is so substantially harder. The Delta variant has wreaked havoc on the opening of our school year, once viewed with so much hope of normalcy. Our students, especially those not eligible for vaccines, are struggling with community spread, and that is impacting everything we are trying to do. Our focus this year is Relationships and Learning. It’s tough to build relationships consistently when there are so many disruptions. Schools are the only places where mitigation strategies exist in

our state. Despite medical experts, politicians, parents and educators pleading with our state leadership, we continue to hear only the good news about adult vaccinations. Schools are being offered many testing strategies that we do not have the human capacity to fully accept. It is backbreaking work, and we are being told to just make the best of it. And that is exactly what our employees are doing. Our employees are showing up every day. In some cases, they are not doing the same job more than once a week. Our Co-Principals are reassigning people regularly trying to staff all positions due to absences, whether those absences are the result of COVID in our building or the result of COVID in other school buildings throughout the NEK. Our employees are being told to make the best of it, and that’s what they are doing. How? I’m honestly not sure. My best guess is that our adults are letting go of everything that is not mission-critical when it comes to their work. Some are letting go of the predictability of our students showing up every day. Some are letting go of a regular work assignment. Some are letting go of classroom visits. Some are letting go of instructional leadership. There is a lot of letting go. No, this is not the year we had hoped for yet. Vaccines are on the horizon but are not in the arms of our five to eleven-year-olds yet. We

don’t quite know what the future holds. Our employees can’t look there yet, since their focus must be the unpredictable nature of day-today. So if you see, know, or love someone who works in a school building, please say thank you. Maybe even give them a hug if they’re open to it. They’ve let go of so much to make these first ten weeks. There is so much they cannot change, and every day there are bright eyes behind those masks, yearning for connection and stability. While this year has been nothing like we wanted, it’s demonstrated something that I’ve come to know as a certainty in twenty-five years of serving in education. To serve in education takes courage, regardless of the role. It involves a vulnerability that I cannot explain unless you’ve stood in front of a classroom and tried to teach a lesson. Or unless you’ve sat one on one with a child who needed a moment. Or unless you’ve sat in a classroom as an instructional leader, observing the lesson from the perspective of the teacher and the students. Or unless you’ve needed to call a parent whose child needed to go home. To serve in education takes courage, regardless of the role. Never more so than in a pandemic. Dr. Brian G. Ricca is a Williston resident and Superintendent of Schools in St. Johnsbury.

October 28, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Why I dedicated my life to ending wildlife trapping When I first witnessed images of terrified bobcats, foxes, and other wildlife with metal jaws crushing their limbs while humans stood smugly smiling over them, I didn’t know what I was looking at. I thought that it was illegal activity or maybe something from another country. I soon found out that not only was this cruel activity — trapping — legal, but it’s endorsed by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department (VFWD). Tradition runs deep in Vermont and some of those traditions run contrary to modern science and ethics. When I started researching trapping in Vermont back in 2010, I quickly learned that it was worse than I ever imagined. It set me on a course that has changed my life. Much of what I come across is too horrific to describe in words, but photos and videos shared by Vermont trappers tell the story. The images share a common theme: terrified animals, clearly in pain, fearing for their lives, and instead of trappers swiftly ending their suffering, they appear to enjoy intimidating

and inflicting fear upon the defenseless animals. In addition to leghold traps, Vermont also allows the use of body gripping kill traps that slam shut on otters, beavers, and other animals with 90 pounds of pressure per square inch, and also drowning traps that are used mainly for muskrats. Animals are trapped for recreation and bragging rights. Fodder for Facebook. Furs are not selling, so trappers can’t claim it’s for income. There is no legitimate reason to trap. Trapping is not only inherently cruel, as animals suffer in steeljawed leghold traps for long periods of time, but traps are indiscriminate. Protected species like hawks and owls, as well as dogs and cats, are trapped each year in Vermont. We only know about this through public records requests that we submit annually to VFWD. They know that trapping is only able to continue when it’s kept in the shadows. Trapping season started on Saturday Oct 23rd and runs through March 31st. It’s allowed on private lands, with permission, and on most of our public lands. The plain truth

is, we cannot protect wildlife until we pass a ban on trapping. Ten other states in the U.S. have either banned or severely restricted trapping. If you don’t speak for Vermont’s wildlife, who will? Brenna Galdenzi, President Protect Our Wildlife Stowe, VT

LETTER POLICY

The Williston Observer welcomes your letters to the editor. We ask that letters run no longer than 300 words. We edit only for length, clarity, style, spelling and grammar. Please include your name, town or city where you live and a daytime phone number (which we won’t print) so we can verify you wrote the letter. The deadline is Monday at noon. Send to: editor@willistonobserver.com or Williston Observer, P.O Box 1401, Williston, Vt. 05495.

Turcot receives VBSR Lifetime Achievement award Cindy Turcot, CEO and president of Gardener’s Supply, received the Terry Ehrich Award for Lifetime Achievement given at the Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) awards ceremony on Oct. 20 at Basin Harbor Club in Vergennes. Turcot started at Gardener’s Supply in 1983 and has held many roles, including Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer. She was a central player in the company’s transition from the founder to becoming 100% employee owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Nationally, she is well known for her commitment to employee ownership, empowerment and wealth equality. She is a sought-after speaker on ownership culture, corporate governance and open book and participatory management practices. The VBSR Terry Ehrich Award for Lifetime Achievement honors an outstanding individual of a member company. Terry Ehrich was the late own-

er of Hemmings Motor News, founder of the First Day Foundation and a founding member of VBSR. The Cindy Turcot award was first given posthumously to Terry Ehrich in 2002. Since then it has been given annually to a person exemplifying Terry’s commitment to community, the environment, progressive public policy, and the workplace. Past honorees have included Will Raap, founder of Gardener’s Supply, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield of Ben & Jerry’s, Jeffrey Hollender, founder of Seventh Generation, and Melinda Moulton, co-founder of Main St. Landing. Gardener’s Supply, with locations in Williston, Burlington, Lebanon, NH and Hadley, MA, is a founding member of VBSR.

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Page 8 • Williston Observer • October 28, 2021

Red Cross offers Halloween safety steps as pandemic continues

Trick-or-treating is back this Halloween, however the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic means there are extra factors to consider when planning your activities. The American Red Cross offers these tips to help keep you and your loved ones safe. “Halloween is one of the most popular holidays in the U.S. and with most communities returning to normal activities this school year, people should expect a higher volume of visitors in search of tricks and treats,” said Stephanie Couturier, Regional CEO, American Red Cross of Northern New England. “Whether you’re handing out goodies or going door-to-door, with just

a few simple considerations you can make sure your family and those around you are safe and sound.” TIPS FOR PARENTS

Here are the top tips for parents to keep in mind while getting their kids ready for Halloween this year:

➊

Make your cloth mask part of your costume. A costume mask is not a safe substitute for a cloth mask. Avoid wearing a costume mask over a cloth mask as it can make breathing difficult.

➋

Plan outdoor activities and avoid indoor events where the risk of virus trans-

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➌

Bring hand sanitizer with you while trick-or-treating and use it after touching objects or other people. Wash your hands when you get home.

➒

Only visit homes that have a porch light on, and never go inside.

➓

➍

Make sure a grown-up checks the goodies before eating. Make sure to remove loose candy, open packages and choking hazards. Discard any items with brand names that you are not familiar with.

➎

TIPS FOR TREAT GIVERS

Avoid trick-or-treating in large groups, and social distance from others around the neighborhood. Make sure trick-or-treaters can see and be seen. Give kids a flashlight to light their way and consider adding reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags.

➏

Plan the trick-or-treat route vance and make sure adults know their children are going. A parent sponsible adult should accompany children door-to-door.

in adwhere or reyoung

➐

It’s not only vampires and monsters people have to look out for. Be cautious around animals, especially dogs.

➑

Walk only on the sidewalks, not in the street. Avoid running. Look both ways before crossing the street, and cross only at the corner. Don’t cross between parked

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For those planning to welcome trick-ortreaters to their homes, follow these safety steps:

➊ Give out treats outdoors, if possible. ➋ Avoid direct contact with trick-ortreaters by setting up an area with individually bagged treats for kids to take. Wash your hands before handling treats.

➌

Maintain social distancing and wear a cloth mask. Light the area well so young visityors can see.

➍

Sweep leaves from your sidewalks and steps. Clear your porch or front yard of obstacles someone could trip over.

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October 28, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 9

Enjoy these unique local events offering thrills and goodies.

Spook A Lot Event October 30th The Unity Dance Complex invites the community to a short, narrated Halloween performance that moves through their parking lot and building and ends with a trunk or treat. Tours will begin every 20 minutes. The event runs from 4 – 6 p.m., with the last performance starting at 5:40 p.m., at 188 Krupp Drive, Williston. The event is free with optional donation. Costumes are encouraged, but optional.

Trunk or Treat Event October 31st The Williston-Richmond Rotary Club and the Williston Federated Church are teaming up to host a Halloween Trunk or Treat event on Oct. 31 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. at the tennis courts area of

the Williston Central School. This is a free event for children to enjoy the holiday in a safe and friendly environment. For more information contact Armand Fournier at 802-343-0777.

Halloween at Ira Allen Chapel Enjoy the ambience of historic Ira Allen Chapel, lit for effect on Halloween Sunday! Hear the Chapel Organ and enjoy readings of ghoulish stories accompanied by University Organist David Neiweem. Mood music begins at 7p.m., with a recital of organ favorites and readings beginning at 7:30 p.m. The program concludes at 8:30 p.m. Admission is free and the event is open to the public. Masks required, costumes encouraged! Call 656-3040 for further information or visit us at www.uvm. edu/cas/music. The Ira Allen Chapel is located at 26 University Place, Burlington.

Costumed volunteers ready to hand out goodies at the Williston Federated Church’s Halloween drive-through trickor-treat event last year. OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO

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Page 10 • Williston Observer • October 28, 2021

OBSERVER PHOTO BY AL FREY

A creepy sight,

both day and night! This home, on Southfield Drive off Old Stage Rd. in Williston has created an outstanding display for Halloween with ‘ghoulies and ghosties and long-legged beasties and things that go bump in the night.’

OBSERVER PHOTO BY MARIANNE APFELBAUM

OBSERVER PHOTO BY AL FREY OBSERVER PHOTO BY MARIANNE APFELBAUM

October 28, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 11

Can you help the witch find her way through the maze to get to the Halloween party?

Page 12 • Williston Observer • October 28, 2021

Williston’s Cameron Clark named 2021 Fantastic Farmer

A new award program launched this year has recognized Cameron Clark, a dairy owner and operator from Williston, for her commitment to sustainable agriculture, land-use diversity and her eighth-generation family farm. This first award also recognizes the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic. Established by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Foods & Markets (VAAFM) in collaboration with the Vermont Community Foundation, the Fantastic Farmer award brings with it a grant of $5000 recommended by the Pizzagalli Family and the A. Pizzagalli Family Farm Fund. In her own words, Cameron describes her farm operations and mission at Riverhill Farms: Q: Please describe your role on the farm (worker, manager, owner, co-owner, etc.), your key responsibilities, and how many years you have been involved. A: I own and operate my fam-

ily farm with my mom. I manage and do all the work for the dairy side of operations and all field and pasture work. I have been farming my whole life here and have been in charge since our transition to organic in 2012. Q: Please provide a brief description of the farming operation including its main products, markets and resources (acreage, facilities, labor force, partnerships with others). A: We have a small organic grass fed dairy, I milk 35-40 cows and raise all my own heifers, we own 560 acres of pristine farmland that has been in my family for eight generations. About 250 acres are pasture and forage that we rotationally graze and harvest all of our hay from, the remaining land is forest that we harvest firewood from and use for maple sugaring. We are currently expanding our maple operation from 400 to 2000 taps with additional future expansee CLARK page 13

Cameron Clark, owner and operator of Riverhill Farm in Williston.

OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO

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October 28, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 13

Clark continued from page

sion to follow. My mom operates an equine boarding and trail riding facility on our farm and does all the farm bookkeeping. Q: Briefly describe the farm’s land stewardship goals and how you assess progress toward them. A: We are committed to keeping our land in the family and as working land, in the most low impact, natural ways possible. I firmly believe organic production is the best way for us to do this and maintain for years to come while using our resources to their potential, i.e., grazing and permanent forage, maple and timber production. Q: What are the key soil conservation/soil health practices used on the farm? A: Rotational and managed grazing, perennial forages, forage production and manure management aligned with animal numbers that don’t exceed our capacity. Q: What steps are taken on the farm to manage water quality, nutrients and/or prevent soil loss? A: Same as above, as well as fencing animals out of waterways. Q: Are there other sustainable or innovative practices you would like us to know about?

A: I am one of few farmers successfully practicing once-a -day milking, I have been doing this for 3.5 years now.

ations, we strive to keep things simple and use our time and resources efficiently. Q: How has the farm responded to the pandemic and related community service issues, and how do these actions exemplify the values of giving back and entrepreneurism? A: We have continued operations as usual and welcomed people here throughout this time. The many people that ride horses here were incredibly grateful to have an outdoor activity they could enjoy with plenty of space to do so.

Q: Have you worked with any conservation programs? A: Yes, the Environmental Quality Incentive Program of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, to install fencing and water lines for grazing and forest and manure management plans. Q: How have you helped others develop their farming skills and/or dreams? Or, how have you supported the success of other farmers? A: I have spoken at the organic dairy producer’s conference about once-a-day milking in 2020 and 2021. Q: How does the farm interact with and connect to the community? Are there other ways you and the farm give back to the local or regional community? A: We are one of only three working dairy farms left in Williston and maintain one of the last large open tracts of land left in this town. My mom offers riding lessons and horse leasing to people who don’t have their own horses. Q: Briefly describe any changes you’ve made to the operation to increase farm efficiency or production (for example, new farm products, new processing

Cameron Clark won the Fantastic Farmer award for her commitment to sustainable agriculture, land-use diversity and her eighth-generation family dairy farm. OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO

methods, new markets) and the outcome of those efforts. A: I practice once-a-day milking, use nurse cows to raise calves, and became grass-fed certified two years ago in addition to being organic for almost 10 years now. All of those changes have improved quality of life for myself and my animals.

Q: What other innovations have taken place on the farm in the areas of business structure, energy use, efficiency, labor management and/or farm succession? A: My mom and I are the primary owners and operators, we each have a part-time employee for the dairy and equine oper-

Q: Is there anything else we should know? A: Our maple expansion is the next big enterprise for us that we feel is a valuable use of our resources that will help sustain the farm’s viability for many years to come. On a historical note, my farm is part of the original Thomas Chittenden homestead and has been in the Clark family since 1835 when the Clarks bought the farm from the Chittendens.

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Page 14 • Williston Observer • October 28, 2021

Scientists discuss protection of rare species on Lake Champlain shore in Colchester

BY LANA COHEN VT Digger

The tension between protecting Vermont’s natural heritage and building a region fit for the future is again drawing attention as a crucial issue facing the state. The topic was highlighted at a presentation by Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department staff at Delta Park on the shores of Lake Champlain. “On one hand we need housing to support population growth and density to prevent sprawl out in the countryside,” said conservation planning biologist Jens Hawkins-Hilke, “but on the other hand we need to maintain these interconnected islands of natural habitat.” Standing on a marshy wetland littered with bone-white pieces of driftwood, the department staff discussed the protection of imperiled species and diverse ecosystems in Vermont, presenting their work to CEO Sean O’Brien of the national conservation group NatureServe, who is traveling around North

America visiting natural heritage sites. Fish & Wildlife staff work to protect a variety of ecosystems that are home to rare, threatened or endangered species across the state — whether that be in the Northeast Kingdom or in Chittenden County, the state’s population center. Delta Park, a 55-acre area located where the Winooski River flows into Lake Champlain, encompasses a wide range of ecosystems — floodplain forest, marsh, wetlands and natural sand beach. It is also home to multiple rare plant and animal species. Delta Park was created in 1984 in light of concerns that offroad vehicles had become a serious threat to the area’s natural ecosystem. Although there are many protected and natural areas in Vermont, conflicting interests can make it challenging to protect the environment. Vermont is preparing for the future — building infrastructure, expanding broadband access and increasing housing capacity. At the

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same time, Vermonters are trying to figure out how to protect the Green Mountain State’s natural resources and environment — the clean air, vibrant rivers and abundant flora and fauna that call many to the area in the first place. According to Hawkins-Hilke, those two interests are often at odds. “I think there is a tremendous amount of support for valuing and maintaining natural landscapes in Vermont,” he said. “But it’s a complicated world. We want a lot of different things. There are people that move to Vermont that expect suburban services, and then there are people that live here that recall a proud rural tradition.” Hawkins-Hilke said this clash of expectations can make it difficult to arrive at proper decisions and raises big questions about what Vermonters want the future to look like. Toni Mikula is familiar with some of the parks’ most threatened species. Crouching down on a small patch of sandy wetland, the Fish & Wildlife specialist moved a cream-colored, weathered-looking piece of shell back and forth between her thumb and forefinger. “I’ve stopped here because I’m actually standing next to a spiny

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Toni Mikula, a Fish and Wildlife specialist, presents about the spiny softshell turtle on Wednesday, Oct. 6, at Delta Park in Colchester. Eastern spiny softshells have been listed as threatened in the state of Vermont since 1987. In 2005, they were listed as a “species of greatest conservation need” by Vermont Fish & Wildlife. PHOTO BY RILEY ROBINSON/VTDIGGER

softshell turtle nest that was dug up and eaten by a predator,” said Mikula. Eastern spiny softshells have been listed as threatened in the state of Vermont since 1987. In 2005, they were listed as a “species of greatest conservation need” by Fish & Wildlife. Lake Champlain hosts the only known population of the species in all of New England and Quebec. The biggest threat to the species is the loss of nesting habitat, according to Mikula. “There is little undeveloped [Lake Champlain] shoreline left,” she wrote in a follow-up email. Some of the last remaining is in Delta Park. “While losing nesting habitat, softshells are also faced with predators like raccoons and skunks, which thrive in human-dominated landscapes,” she added. Other rare species, such as the tiger beetle and a grass-like plant called Wright’s Spikerush, also live in Delta Park. Tracking and protecting rare species is crucial to maintaining healthy ecosystems and combating climate change, said Mark Scott, director of wildlife for Vermont Fish & Wildlife. “Every cog in the wheel is important,” he said. “If you own an automobile, and you hear a little clunking noise or something falls off the car when you’re driving down the road, you better stop and get it fixed. The same thing is true with the earth. Our living systems

are interconnected and every little part is important.” Many Vermonters broadly support both conservation and development in the abstract, but those issues often come to a head at the local planning, zoning and development level, said Tom Little, who served on Shelburne’s zoning board for a decade and is the chair of Chittenden County’s Act 250 Environmental Commission. This is evident across Chittenden County. A conflict over wetland protection recently suspended the development of a health care center in Charlotte. South Burlington is working on pushing through new zoning and development amendments that protect large blocks of forested land while encouraging new affordable housing. “The challenge of matching and having complementary goals of providing for good employment and safe and affordable housing and retaining and enhancing natural resources is one of the keys and one of the challenges in South Burlington and beyond,” said Paul Connor, director of planning and zoning for South Burlington. Regina Mahony, planning program manager for Chittenden County Regional Planning, added that different resources require different levels of protection. “Figuring out how to develop and conserve is about making tradeoffs and defining and prioritizing resources.”

October 28, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 15

Green Up Vermont receives CSWD grant to fund refillable water bottle stations Williston, VT – The Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) recently announced that Green Up Vermont will be receiving $79,834.60 for the third and final Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) awarded by CSWD and approved by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. This project will fund a grant program to supply and install refillable water bottle stations in schools and high-use municipal properties across Vermont. Green Up Vermont is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization that fundraises 100% of its operating budget each year. Founded in 1979 to manage the efforts of Green Up Day, a successful litter cleanup effort first launched in 1970, Green Up Vermont’s mission also includes working year-round to implement special awareness projects and build environmental stewardship throughout the state. Green Up Vermont will manage the water bottle refill station project with technical assistance provided by CSWD as needed. “While Vermonters are very good about recycling at home and are making great strides at work, recycling ‘on-the-go’ remains a challenge,” said CSWD Executive Director Sarah Reeves. “Helping Green Up Vermont address this waste-prevention gap is right in line with our mission.”

The goal of the water bottle refill station project is to reduce the use of single-use beverage containers — and the waste and litter associated with them — by providing convenient access to refillable water bottle stations at public and private schools and municipalities throughout Vermont. The grants will fund the purchase of and up to $1,000 in installation costs for indoor and outdoor units. “I am very pleased to have Green Up Vermont, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, and CSWD teaming up on this project,” said Kate Alberghini, Executive Director of Green Up Vermont. “As important as Green Up Day is, it is just as important to fulfill initiatives that teach good habits for reducing waste and creating the mindset of reducing and reusing resources instead of just using disposables. These yearround initiatives are an important part of our stewardship mission that we extend to Vermont residents.” Green Up Vermont will be releasing details on how to apply for the Water Station grants to various constituents statewide in the coming weeks. Recipients will be chosen in early December. For more information and to apply, please email greenup@greenupvermont.org.

New podcast shares stories about forest connections

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uct producers and members of the podcasting team talk about their connections to Vermont’s woods. Episode 2: Landowner Journey. Four woodland owners de-

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Page 16 • Williston Observer • October 28, 2021

SPORTS

Redhawks face playoffs BY LAUREN READ Observer correspondent

Girls soccer eyes state championship FIELD HOCKEY

After winning four of their final five games, the Champlain Valley field hockey team earned the No. 4 seed in the upcoming Division I postseason. The Redhawks, who finished with a 9-5 record, will take on No. 5 Rice (7-7) on Saturday at 10 a.m. at home. CVU beat the Green Knights in both their matchups — winning the first 2-0 and the second 2-1. If the Redhawks can get the win, they will likely face undefeated and No. 1 seed South Burlington in the semifinals — the Wolves handed CVU two of its five losses. FOOTBALL

CVU’s Angelos Carroll takes the ball and fights his way through his Essex defenders to score a touchdown during the Redhawks vs. the Hornets game on Friday night in Essex. OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY

Teams make their final push in the regular season BY LAUREN READ Observer correspondent BOYS SOCCER

Champlain Valley 6, South Burlington 1: A four-goal first half helped propel the Champlain Valley boys soccer team to a win over South Burlington to wrap up the regular season on Saturday. Holden Batchelder had a hat trick for the Redhawks, who finished the regular season with a 9-3-2 record. Riley Gauthier added a goal and an assist, while Tyler Wuthrich and Thomas Roberts each scored a goal. Aiden Jaremczuk stopped seven shots to earn the win in goal. GIRLS SOCCER

Champlain Valley 4, BFASt. Albans 1: The Champlain Valley girls soccer team finished the regular season with a win over BFA-St. Albans on Friday.

Chloe Pecor tallied three goals for the Redhawks, who clinched the No. 1 seed in the Division I playoffs with the 4-1 win. Lauren Knudsen added a goal, while Zoe Zoller dished out two assists. Emma Allaire and Ella Polli combined to make three saves. CVU finished the regular season with a 11-1-2 record. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Essex 3, Champlain Valley 1: Champlain Valley fell to undefeated Essex in the final game of the regular season on Friday in girls volleyball. The Hornets won the first set 25-20, but the Redhawks came back and won the second set 2515. But Essex won the third set (25-18) and fourth set (25-15) to clinch the win. It was the first loss of the regular season for the Redhawks, who finished with a 12-1 record.

FIELD HOCKEY

Champlain Valley 7, Middlebury 1: The Champlain Valley field hockey team broke out the offense in the final game of the regular season on Thursday. The Redhawks beat Middlebury 7-1 to end the season with a 9-5 record. Ava Bartlett scored three goals, Peyton Jones tallied twice, while Tess Everett chipped in with a goal and two assists. Grace Ferguson made four saves to earn the win in goal. BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Champlain Valley 3, Essex 1: Champlain Valley dropped the first set but came back to beat Essex to finish the season with an undefeated record. The Redhawks won the second set (25-16), third set (26-24) and the fourth set (25-22) to get the win. CVU finished with a 15-0 record and the top seed in the Division I playoffs.

The Champlain Valley football team dropped its final game of the regular season to set up a matchup with Middlebury on Saturday in the Division I first round. The Redhawks finished with a 5-2 record and earned the No. 3 seed — which earned them a rematch with No. 6 Middlebury at home on Saturday. CVU beat the Tigers in the second-to-last week of the regular season, 35-14. The Redhawks will look to rebound from the loss to Essex to beat Middlebury for the second time in three weeks. If the Redhawks get the win, they will advance to face the winner of No. 2 Hartford vs. No. 7 BFA-St. Albans. CVU did not face the Hurricanes but beat BFA 35-7. GIRLS SOCCER

The Champlain Valley girls soccer team takes aim at another state championship appearance when the postseason starts this week. The Redhawks, who finished with a 11-1-2 record, earned the top spot in the Division I playoffs for the fifth year in a row. CVU will wait for the winner of No. 8 North Country (10-2-2) and No. 9 Mount Anthony (7-6-1) after earning a bye into the quarterfinals. The Redhawks did not face North Country during the regular season and played Mount Anthony in the first game of the year — a 6-1 win.

BOYS SOCCER

The Champlain Valley boys soccer team rebounded from two straight losses to beat South Burlington in the final game of the regular season to earn the No. 3 seed in the Division I playoffs. The Redhawks (9-3-2) took on No. 14 Spaulding on Tuesday in the D-I playdowns. If CVU gets the win in the playdowns, they will take on the winner of No. 6 Burr and Burton and No. 11 Mount Mansfield in the quarterfinals. That game would take place on Friday at 3 p.m. in Hinesburg. Mount Mansfield handed CVU a loss in their third to last game of the season, so a rematch would be a chance for revenge for the Redhawks. CVU beat Burr and Burton but it was in the first game of the season. BOYS VOLLEYBALL

The Champlain Valley boys volleyball finished with a 15-0 record and the top seed in the Division I playoffs. The Redhawks earned a bye into the quarterfinals, where they await the winner of No. 9 Vermont Commons and No. 8 BFA-St. Albans. The quarterfinals will be played on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in Hinesburg. CVU will look to win their fifth straight D-I state title after there was no title awarded last season due to COVID-19. The Redhawks beat BFA-St. Albans 3-0 in both regular season matchups but did not play Vermont Commons. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

A loss in the final game of the regular season — their first of the year — moved the Champlain Valley girls volleyball team to the No. 2 seed in the Division I playoffs. The Redhawks, who finished with a 12-1 record, played No. 15 Harwood on Tuesday, beating the Highlanders 3-0. CVU won in straight sets 25-17, 25-21 and 2513. With the Redhawks avoiding the Highlanders upset attempt, CVU will play No. 7 St. Johnsbury who beat No. 10 Mount Anthony 3-0. Champlain Valley will host the Hilltoppers on Friday at 4:30 p.m. in Hinesburg. The Redhawks beat St. Johnsbury 3-0 in their only meeting of the regular season.

October 28, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 17

Armadillos win their 5th title After not having a season in 2020, the Williston Armadillos returned to the field this summer in the Vermont Senior Baseball League. The season began in late May, about a month later than usual. It was a bit of a rocky start for the Dillos, going 2 and 2 in their first four games. They found their groove as the season went on, however, and finished the season in second place, with a record of 9 and 3. The Armadillos defeated Mad River Valley 6-1 in the first round of the playoffs and then defeated the Randolph Jays 6-2 in the league semi-finals. After a two-week delay due to weather and poor field conditions, the Dillos faced Chelsea Bat Company, the regular season champion, on October 10th in Chelsea for the league title. After taking early leads of 1-0 and 3-1, the Dillos fell behind in the bottom of the fifth inning when Chelsea scored four runs, with two of them coming on back-to-back contested calls

SPORTS

at home plate. Rather than get discouraged, this seemed to ignite the Armadillos. Reid Crosby led off the sixth inning with a single and one batter later Jeremiah Brooks homered to right center to tie the game. The Armadillos broke the game open one inning later, scoring seven runs in the seventh with RBI doubles by Todd Johnson and Dan Peck keying the rally. Brooks and Peck led the team with three hits apiece, with Crosby, Johnson, Mat Robinson, and Corey Hevrin each having two hits, including a solo home run by Hevrin. Crosby picked up the win throwing four shutout innings in relief of starter Ken Freeman. This is the fifth championship for the Armadillos, having previously won the league title in 2007, 2012, 2013 and 2018. For more information, visit the Vermont Senior Baseball League web site at https://www. vermontseniorbaseball.com/index.php

Front row: Reid Crosby, Mathew Robinson, Dan Peck, Eli Roque, Jeremiah Brooks. Back row: Dann van der Vliet, Andrew Godiksen, Todd Johnson, Ken Freeman, Corey Hevrin. Not pictured: Brian Biunno, Jeff Boucher, Andy Farrar, Mike Hemingway, Jason LeFebvre, Jeff Pecor, Ben Rose, Darin Savard, Brent Tremblay. OBSERVER CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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Running strong Mark Albertson from Williston finished 12th overall in the People's United Bank Vermont City (half) Marathon and Relay on Sunday. The marathon, considered one of the the best marathons in New England, is traditionally held on Memorial Day weekend, but was rescheduled this year to October because of Covid concerns. OBSERVER PHOTO BY AL FREY

Get a great photo shot? Send it to us! Email your unedited photo to editor@willistonobserver.com

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Page 18 • Williston Observer • October 28, 2021

SENIORS

How to find a better Medicare prescription drug plan Savvy Senior By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior, Is it important to compare Medicare Part D prescription drug plans every year? My pharmacist highly recommends it, but it’s such a hassle sorting through all those different plans. Is there an easier way to shop and compare Medicare drug plans? Lazy Beneficiary

Dear Beneficiary, Because Medicare’s prescription drug plans can change their costs and benefits from year-toyear, comparing Part D plans every year during the open enrollment season (which is Oct. 15 – Dec. 7) is always a smart idea. Even if you’re happy with your current coverage, there may be other plans out there that you’re not aware of that offer better coverage at a lower cost. You never know until you look. Here are some tips to help you shop and compare Medicare drug plans. MEDICARE ONLINE

If you have internet access and are comfortable using a computer, you can easily shop for and compare all Medicare drug plans in your area and enroll in a new plan online if you choose, and it only takes a few minutes. Just go to Medicare’s Plan Find-

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Provided by the United Way of Northwest Vermont

MEALS ON WHEELS NEEDS YOU! – Age Well has an urgent need for Meals on Wheels volunteers. Volunteers can deliver meals, grocery shop, help with budgeting, and/or share friendly visits with older neighbors. Areas

with the greatest need are Burlington, Winooski, Essex, Middlebury, Vergennes, Bridport, St. Albans and Swanton. Some wonderful folks are just waiting to share some time with you! For information, contact the Age Well

er Tool at Medicare.gov/find-a-plan, and choose the type of coverage you’re looking for, enter your ZIP code, financial assistance (if you receive any), select the drugs you take and their dosages, and choose the pharmacies you use. The plan finder does the math to identify the plan in your area that covers your drugs at the lowest cost. This tool also provides a fivestar rating system that evaluates each plan based on past customer service records and suggests generics or older brand name drugs that can reduce your costs. When you’re comparing drug plans, look at the estimated drug costs plus premium costs that shows how much you can expect to pay over a year in total out-of-pocket costs. Also, be sure the plan you’re considering covers all of the drugs you take with no restrictions. Most drug plans today place the drugs they cover into price tiers. A drug

placed in a higher tier may require you to get prior authorization or try another medication first before you can use it. Any changes to coverage you make will take effect Jan. 1, 2022. If you take no action during open enrollment, your current coverage will continue next year.

Volunteer Team at 662-5249 or email volunteer@agewellvt.org. GIVING THANKS – Burlington Dismas House is looking for volunteer individuals and groups to cook Thanksgiving dinner at their Buell Street location. Volunteers will be asked to coordinate with the Assistant House Director to be sure there is a wonderful meal for guests. Volunteers are also invited to join the residents for dinner. Contact Cory

Bragg at 658-0381 or email cory@ dismasofvt.org. ROLL OUT (AND MIND) THE BARRELS – The Salvation Army is rolling out their toy donation barrels at various sites in Chittenden County and are looking for volunteers to check on the barrels from November 9 through December 21. Volunteers collect the toys and deliver them to the Salvation Army or to a Williston collection site. A great family

NEED SOME HELP?

If you need some help choosing a new plan, you can call Medicare at 800-633-4227 and they can help you out over the phone. Or contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free Medicare counseling. They also conduct seminars during the open enrollment period at various locations throughout each state. To find a local SHIP counselor see ShiptaCenter.org or call 877-839-2675. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

If you’re lower-income and are

We’re listening. From Green Burial to Pet Memorials, our goal is to provide the services and care you need. To learn more, contact us today. • Burial/Cremation Services • Green Burials • Traditional Funerals • Memorial Services

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having a hard time paying your medication costs, you may be eligible for Medicare’s “Extra Help” program. This is a federal low-income subsidy that helps pay Part D premiums, deductibles and copayments. To be eligible, your income must be under $19,320 or $26,130 for married couples living together, and your assets (not counting your home, personal possessions, vehicles, life insurance policies or burial expenses) must be below $14,790 or $29,520 for married couples. For more information or to apply, call Social Security at 800-772-1213 or visit SSA.gov/ extrahelp. 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.

opportunity! Contact John Welsh at 872-0354 to sign up for a location(s) near you. CREATE & SERVE A MEAL – Cathedral Square is in need of volunteers to cook at Memory Care at Allen Brook in Williston, home to residents with memory impairment. Volunteers work onsite to prepare and serve the meal and clean up. All ingredients are provided. Training provided. Contact Beth Alpert at 859-8870 or email alpert@cathedralsquare.org. THE ART OF GIVING – Art from the Heart offers art making opportunities at and to Medical Center patients and their caregivers and families. They currently need volunteers on Tuesday afternoons from 2:30 to 5:30 at the Burlington City Arts Center, 135 Church Street to help create the art making kits to be delivered to the hospital. No special art experience needed. Contact Rebecca Schwarz at 865-7166. PROVIDE A MEAL – ANEW Place has resumed serving shared donated meals with guests at their North Street shelter. They are looking for community members, local churches, and businesses to provide meals, visit the sober shelter, and establish a supportive relationship with those in need. Volunteers must either be vaccinated or provide a negative test result within a week of providing the meal if they wish to stay and share the meal. Sign up athttps://www. anewplacevt.org/meals.html

October 28, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 19

CROSSWORD • SOLUTION ON PAGE 23 1

39 44

ACROSS 1. Hampton, for one 4. Lincoln or Ford 7. Get into a stew? 10. Catch forty winks 13. “This ___ shall pass” 14. Be a false witness 15. “A long time __ in a galaxy ...” 16. Have a payment due 17. Creeks 19. Like sushi 20. Waterlogged 21. Fall shade 22. Beethoven’s “Choral” Symphony 24. Book with maps 27. All-comers tournament 29. Cooking instruction 32. Bing, bang or boom 33. Free from 34. Crowd motion 35. Kind 36. Figure out 37. Summer temperature in some areas 38. Piece of football gear 39. Typical first-grade age 40. Lumps 44. Rabble 45. In between black and white 49. Knight’s “suit” 50. Fashion line 51. Unrefined

Across

1. Hampton, for one 4. Lincoln or Ford

7. Get into a stew?

10. Catch forty winks

52. Bargain 53. Locate 54. Men 55. Unshakable 57. Reporter’s query 59. Grayish hue 61. ‘’What’s more’’ 62. Toughest 66. Musician’s tapper 67. It’s sold in bags 68. Bring out in the open 69. Senate declaration 70. Final chapter 71. Place for a home office, maybe 72. Crack, so to speak 73. Place for a stud

13. "This ___ shall pass" DOWN

1. “___ me” (phone response)

Common negative 14. Be a false witness 2.3. “Neither rain ___ sleet ...” 4. Contract provision

at 15. "A long time __ in5.aPoints galaxy ..."

6. Touched up, like old masters 7. Took in 8. Once more 9. ______ houses 10. Type of “Man” in a Beatles title 11. Floor 12. Special favorite 18. Clear, as a disk 23. Holier ___ thou

16. Have a payment due 17. Creeks

19. Like sushi

20. Waterlogged

24. Carpenter, for one 25. Bathtub submarine, e.g. 26. Below the nose 28. Crater 30. Play a part 31. Your, to a Quaker 34. Recipe direction 36. Engine need 37. Point 38. Proportionately 39. To an extent 40. Enraged 41. ‘’We Three Kings of Orient ___’’ 42. Broke up 43. Play alone 44. Shook hands with, say 45. Wonderful 46. Manage 47. Recipe direction 48. Favorable vote 50. Concealed 51. Bright red 53. From then on 56. Put 58. “I am not my ___ “ India Arie 59. Downed a sub, say 60. Prodigal one 63. It takes in the sights 64. Davy Jones’s domain 65. Veteran seafarer

Curried Kabocha Squash with Toasted Almonds

Ingredients:

Directions:

1 kabocha squash, peeled, seeded and chopped into cubes

In a large soup pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the ginger and sauté until fragrant. Add the curry powder and fry until very rich and deep in flavor.

29. Cooking instruction2 Tbsp butter 1 Tbsp curry powder

32. Bing, bang or boom 33. Free from

34. Crowd motion 35. Kind

1 Tsp fresh ginger, grated or chopped 1-2 cans coconut milk or 2 cups cream Kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper

36. Figure out

37. Summer temperature in some areas

Add the squash and enough coconut milk to just barely cover all the squash. Mix well and bring to a boil. Reduce the mixture to a simmer. Cook until the squash is very soft and falling apart. When it is done, transfer the cooked squash to the bowl of a food processor. Use a slotted spoon so you don’t get too much liquid in the puree. Process until smooth, adding as much of the cooking liquid as you need to make it smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

38. Piece of football gear 39. Typical first-grade age 40. Lumps

44. Rabble

pp Core Sho

DEAL!

45. In between black and white

21. Fall shade

49. Knight's "suit"

22. Beethoven's "Choral" Symphony

50. Fashion line

24. Book with maps

51. Unrefined

27.r. All-comers tournament Goslin and his dedicated, skilled dental team provide focused

52. Bargain

Kabocha squash has tender, sweet, orange flesh that embodies quintessential fall flavors like pumpkin and sweet potato. Adding curry gives it a new twist, and the coconut milk makes this puree silky smooth and velvety. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, this would make a great addition to your lineup of sides. Enjoy!

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Page 20 • Williston Observer • October 28, 2021 AFTER-SCHOOL DOCUMENTARY

Wednesday, November 10, 2-3 p.m. Grades 5 and up. Enjoy a BBC series about the seven continents. This week: Discover South America, where rarely seen animals stalk rainforests, climb mountains, and swim through one of the largest rivers on earth! Register. TEEN NIGHT: FANDOM TRIVIA

The Dorothy Alling Memorial Library is open for in-person service during the following hours: Monday/Wednesday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday/Thursday/Friday,

10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The library will be closed Thursday, November 11, in observance of Veterans’ Day. Visit www.damlvt.org to

DELIVERY DRIVERS WANTED SIGN ON BONUS $500 (SOUTH BURLINGTON VT)

place holds, apply for a card, renew materials, get updates on programming, and access digital offerings. Public wifi is available 24/7 from the patio. Ages 2 and up must wear a mask inside the building.

YOUTH PROGRAMS Children 5th grade and up may use the library unattended, while 4th grade and younger must be supervised by a person over 16 years of age. Register for youth events at damlvt.org or by calling 8784918. PRESCHOOL STORY TIME ON THE GREEN

JRG Inc. is hiring local package delivery route drivers. No CDL license required. Home nightly. Paid 2 week training provided. Safe and dependable drivers only need to apply. We offer IRA benefits, and paid vacation. We have several well paying positions to fill must be 21 or older. We are also looking for part time drivers as well to do daily pick ups. Willing to pass a background check and a drug test. For more information or to apply contact Dan at 802-274-1703 or dan@jrgvt.com. We are offering a $500 sign on bonus after 90 days. We also offer a Holiday bonus and Quarterly Safety bonus!

Tuesdays, November 2 and 9, 10-10:30 a.m. Join Danielle for stories, songs, and rhymes. Register once for all sessions. AFTER-SCHOOL LEGO TIME & BOARD GAMES

Wednesday, November 3, 2-3 p.m. Grades K-4. Enjoy the library’s gigantic collection of LEGOs and games. Register. PRESCHOOL MUSIC ON THE GREEN

Thursday, November 4, 10:3011:00 a.m. Sing along with musician Linda Bassick, then stay and play with the library’s early learning toys. Register once for all sessions.

Monday, November 15, 5-6 p.m. Grades 7 and up. Calling all fans of Harry Potter, Doctor Who, Avatar: the Last Airbender, Pokemon, and more! Come chat about your favorites, play trivia, and win prizes. Register.

MULTI-AGE PROGRAMS PUMPKIN CARVING ON THE GREEN

Saturday, October 30, 10:3011:30 a.m. Register to receive a pumpkin and a carving kit. Limit of one per household. READ TO A DOG

Thursday, November 4, 3:304:30 p.m. Read to Lola, certified Therapy Dog. Call 878-4918 to reserve a 10-minute visit. STORYWALKS®

At the Community Park: “Stumpkin” by Lucy Ruth Cummins. See if a stemless pumpkin can find a home in time for the Big Day! On the Town Green: “Hands Up!” by Breanna McDaniel. Celebrate the many reasons we put our hands up.

PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS All online programs are via Zoom. Email programs@damlvt. org or call 878-4918 to receive an invitation, unless otherwise specified.

ONLINE GUIDED MEDITATION

Fridays, October 29 and November 5, 12:00-12:30 p.m. Maryellen Crangle leads a short Zoom meditation. ADULT CRAFT KIT: GLITTER LEAVES

Available starting November 1, while supplies last. Pick up a kit to make sparkling fall leaves from recycled book pages. COOK THE BOOK: SUGARED ORANGE

Wednesday, November 3, 12-1 p.m. Stop by and select a recipe from “Sugared Orange: Recipes and Stories from a Winter in Poland.” Share at our online gathering. Register at damlvt.org. FROM HOMEBREW TO THE HOUSE OF FERMENTOLOGY

Wednesday, November 3, 6-7 p.m. Join Vermont Humanities Council presenter Bill Mares for an in-person discussion of the history of beer and Vermont’s place in the homebrew industry. Register at damlvt.org. MAH-JONGG

Friday, November 5, 1-3 p.m. Come to the library and play with other members of the community. All levels welcome. CURRENT EVENTS DISCUSSION

Wednesday, November 10, 10:30-12:00 p.m. Connect online to talk about newsworthy topics. NEW PERSPECTIVES BOOK DISCUSSION

Tuesday, November 16, 12-1 p.m. Join our online discussion of Ann Lamott’s “Stitches: A Handbook.” Available as eBook or eAudioBook in LUV/OverDrive or in print from the library. BROWN BAG BOOK DISCUSSION

Tuesday, November 23, 12:301:30 p.m. Join us online to discuss “Dear Edward” by Ann Napolitano. Available as an eBook or eAudioBook in LUV/OverDrive or in print from the library.

Photos from the

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are available for purchase! Visit willistonobserver.com to see current and past photos of Williston events, school sports, nature shots and more! Digital and prints are available.

All job opportunities can be viewed at www.lamoille.org/careers. LCMHS has a great benefit package including, health, dental, 401(K), paid time-off, and much more! Please apply today at jobs@lamoille.org. 72 Harrel Street, Morrisville, VT 05661 Phone: 888-5026 • Fax: 888-6393 LCMHS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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October 28, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 21

OBITUARIES Robin Elizabeth Corey

Our brave Robin boarded the express train to heaven on Oct 8th 2021. First class. She was the beloved first born daughter of the late Richard “Dick” Corey and his wife Eveline (Boulanger) Corey. Robin was cognitively and physically disabled since birth in 1961. She lived at home until she was 6 yrs old, then resided at Brandon Training School until it closed in 1993. After a short time living in a group home in Rutland, we were blessed to learn that Lance & Terri Monger and their family wished to welcome her into their home. Robin comfortably resided there for the next 22 yrs. Our family is forever grateful to the Monger family for the attention and loving care they provided to her over that time. We would like to give a heartfelt thanks to Melody Bell for providing a loving home for Robin over the past 3 years, and acknowledge Dana McMahon, Public Guardian of the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living for her compassionate support and guidance. Robin had an infectious laugh, loved music, Christmas, babies, and animals. Getting kissed by a dog and having a cat on her lap brought her joy, but having a baby in the room was the all-time best. She frequently kept a doll named “baby” in her lap and she would think it funny to occasionally fling it across the room to get attention. Those witnessing this would most likely cover up a laugh. Robin didn’t go college, have a career, buy a house, get married or have kids. She didn’t vote, pay taxes, give speeches, sit on any advisory boards or have a driver’s license. She’s never been on a plane, ridden a bicycle, skied, or run a marathon. Because of her disability she was not capable of doing any of these things. She was however, a human being capable of feeling joy, sadness, pain, love and kindness and expressing it in her own unique and special way to those around her. Lessons could be learned if you were paying attention. Our lives would have turned out very differently if Robin were different. For that we are eternally thankful and feel divinely blessed that she was born into our family. She was predeceased by her father Dick Corey, and leaves behind her mother Eveline Corey of Williston, Kim Corey of Colchester, Dan Corey and his wife Beth of Colorado Springs, and Heidi Corey of West Rutland. We will dearly miss her presence on earth, but feel a peace knowing that she is finally free from the burden of her brain and limitations of her body.

So walk, run, dance and sing our sweet Robin. I will take good care of “baby” doll, but every now and then I may have to fling it across the room to get some attention. Say hi to Dad for us. A private graveside service was held at Resurrection Park in South Burlington on Oct. 21. Contributions may be made in Robin’s memory to either Community Care Network | Rutland Mental Health | Rutland Community Programs (rmhsccn.org), Special Olympics or any Animal Rescue of your choice.

MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS SPECIALIST Position is embedded within local VT State Police services supporting individuals who are experiencing emotional stress and can benefit from a crisis specialist response. It is a field-based position and requires some evening and weekend hours

New Competitive Salaries, Great Benefits, Flexibility! Come join our team of amazing individuals making a difference every day! All job opportunities can be viewed at www.lamoille.org/careers. LCMHS has a great benefit package including, health, dental, 401(K), paid time-off, and much more! Please apply today at jobs@lamoille.org. 72 Harrel Street, Morrisville, VT 05661 Phone: 888-5026 • Fax: 888-6393 LCMHS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Why have a job you love? Why not have a job younot love? Join our dedicated team together build a community Join our dedicated team andand together we’llwe’ll build a community where everyone participates and belongs. Champlain Community Services, is proud to be voted as one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” and we want you as part of our team. At CCS employees find a positive work culture, excellent training opportunities as well as a strong benefits package including paid time off, holidays, affordable health coverage, a $500 sign on bonus and so much more.

Direct Support Professional

OPEN YOUR HOME, MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR A CHILD!

Shared Living Provider We are currently seeking a home provider for a 10-year-old girl with an Intellectual Disability. This is an in-home position and the child would need their own bedroom in the home. We are looking for a quiet home with no other children located in Lamoille County. Tax-Free Stipend plus Room & Board To learn more about this opportunity contact Ross King at (802) 888-5026 ext. 202.

Come join our team of amazing individuals making a difference every day! More information and all job opportunities can be viewed at www.lamoille.org/careers LCMHS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Join our Direct Support Professional team to provide individualized supports to someone with an intellectual disability in the community, at their home or at their workplace. This is an excellent job for applicants entering human services or for those looking to continue their work in this field.Send your cover letter and application to: Karen Ciechanowicz at staff@ccs-vt.org

Shared Living Provider

Open your home to an individual with an intellectual disability or autism and make a positive impact on their life and yours. · Provide an accessible home to a young gentleman who enjoys listening to music, getting out into the community and being a part of a dynamic lifestyle. He has strong family supports and a comprehensive team as well as respite and weekday supports. The ideal provider will have strong interpersonal communication and personal care skills. • Support a humorous gentleman with autism who enjoys walking, drawing, bowling and working on the computer. The ideal provider will have a good sense of humor and therapeutic outlook on life. For more informarion contact: Jennifer Wolcott at jwolcott@ccs-vt.org ccs-vt.org EOE

Page 22 • Williston Observer • October 28, 2021

Girls on the Run Vermont names Moran new board chair

The Board of Directors of Girls on the Run Vermont announced that Nicole Moran will become the new Board Chair. She will succeed Sybil Keefe of Charlotte, who has been Board Chair since 2017. “Nicole has played a vital role in advancing our mission over the last five years and I am thrilled that she will continue to bring her strong leadership skills to this important role. Her unwavering commitment to this program will propel GOTRVT into the next chapter of our organization while we continue to navigate through the pandemic,” says executive director Rachel De-

sautels. As the Chief Clinical Operations Officer at VNA and Hospice of the Southwest region, Moran’s professional experience in healthcare offers a significant perspective as it pertains to GOTRVT’s programming and upholding safety standards and best practices. “The GOTR curriculum provides tools for building confidence and strong character through caring and compassionate connections. During these unprecedented times, our girls need this program more than ever. The isolation experienced from stayat-home orders and social distancing

is challenging for all of us, not only our youth,” says Moran. Moran volunteered as a GOTR coach at Rutland Town School in the spring of 2021 and had the opportunity to coach her own daughter in the program. Moran said “I have benefitted personally and professionally from my various roles in GOTR, and have witnessed my daughter, along with other girls, transform throughout the program. I am honored to be a part of such an exceptional and important organization and look forward to the future of GOTR Vermont.” Find out more at gotrvt.org.

JOB FAIR OCT. 29 • DEC. 10 1-5pm McClure Gymnasium 1138 Pine Street, Burlington

Please join us to learn more about Howard C enter

CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL TOWN OF WILLISTON Selectboard Notice of Public Hearing Tuesday, November 16, 2021 7:15 PM

•

The Williston Selectboard will hold a public hearing to receive comment on proposed changes to the existing Williston Unified Development Bylaw (WDB), pursuant to 24 V.S.A §4442 and the Williston Unified Development Bylaw. The public hearing will take place on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 7:15 PM in the Beckett/McGuire Meeting Room of the Williston Town Hall located at 7900 Williston Road with remote participation offered using the online platform zoom with access information listed at the bottom of this hearing notice.

•

802-488-6946 howardcenter.org

General clean up to correct typographical errors and incorrect citations, as well as provide clarity to existing standards and definitions.

If adopted, the amendments to the Bylaw will go into effect 21 days after adoption unless a petition is filed for a popular vote to repeal the amendments within 20 days of the adoption vote as provided for in 24 V.S.A. § 4442. The above is a summary. Copies of the entire text of the proposed Unified Development Bylaw amendments are available for review during regular business hours at the Town Hall located at 7900 Williston Road, Williston, VT and can also be found on the Town’s website at http://town.williston.vt.us by navigating to public records & documents then legal notices.

The proposed amendments to the Town’s Unified Development Bylaw include:

Rewarding Work • Flexible Schedules • Great Benefits 802-488-6946 howardcenter.org

work in this area must comply and that documentation of compliance is required prior to issuance of a local permit.

Amend the school, recreation, and transportation impact fee chapters (WDB Chapters 43 through 45) to identify a procedure and criteria by which these fees may be waived by the Selectboard for certain affordable housing developments.

Contact Matt Boulanger, Planning Director & Zoning Administrator at (802) 878-6704, or at mboulanger@willistonvt. org with any questions. Zoom Participation: https://us02web. zoom.us/j/84359024455 (web link)

Amend the watershed protection buffer regulations (WDB Chapter 29) to allow flexibility for existing nonconforming residential properties that were constructed prior to the 2009 adoption of watershed protection standards.

Phone: 1-646-558- 8656; Meeting ID: 843 5902 4455

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Amend the parking standards (WDB Chapter 14) to 1) allow flexibility for new and redeveloping properties to minimize the area devoted to surface parking while still ensuring that there is a reasonable supply of parking, 2) encourage shared parking, and 3) and provide clarity around bicycle parking and end-oftrip facility requirements.

SERVICES PAINTING — Need a fresh start in

2021? Let Lafayette Painting give your home a beautiful new look. Our painters can do a lot in a day. LafayettePaintingInc. com or call 863-5397 to hear about our discounts.

Allow the retail sale of medical or recreational cannabis in the event the Town votes to opt in for retail cannabis sales (which has not occurred) in the Gateway Zoning District North and Mixed-Use Commercial Zoning District, subject to certain procedures and restrictions.

To place a classified ad, email rick@williston observer.com or call 373-2136

Amend the Permits and Exemptions standards (WDB Chapter 4) to identify an area of Class IV groundwater around the Commerce Street Superfund Site and to state the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules under which excavation

Deadline for classifieds is Monday.

SERVICE DIRECTORY REAL ESTATE Your Williston Neighbor

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October 28, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 23

SERVICE DIRECTORY RABIES BAIT continued from page 2

RUG CLEANING

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Page 24 • Williston Observer • October 28, 2021

Vermont Guard partners with Austria

The Vermont National Guard will welcome Austria as the third member of its State Partnership Program. The partnership was announced as part of U.S.-Austria defense talks last week at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. Delegations from the U.S. Department of Defense and the Austrian Ministry of Defense participated in the talks. Austria will join North Macedonia and Senegal as state partners with Vermont. “This new strategic partnership is a testament to the respect the Vermont National Guard has earned in Washington D.C. and around the world,” Gov. Phil Scott said. “I am excited to see our new partnership with Austria develop, because, as we’ve seen, not only does the State Partnership Program support military efforts, but economic and cultural relations as well.” Austria and Vermont have a long relationship that goes beyond the Von Trapp’s emigration to Vermont in the midst

of World War II — a journey made famous by the 1965 film “The Sound of Music.” Since 1983, the Vermont National Guard’s Army Mountain Warfare School, U.S. Army Biathlon Program and the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) have partnered with military counterparts in Austria. “Similarities between Vermont’s terrain as well as its economic and agricultural industries make the creation of a formal partnership with Austria full of opportunities,” said Vermont Adjutant Gen. Gregory Knight. “This provides the perfect chance to … (use) our military relationships as a springboard to further civic engagement and business cooperation.” In addition to shared mountain expertise, the Vermont National Guard has performed trilateral events with Senegal and Austria for six years through the Physical Security and Stockpile Management Program, focused on safe munitions storage and

disposal of expired munitions. This program is designed to train and mentor partner countries, and prevent disasters like the one recently experienced in Beirut. The Vermont National Guard and North Macedonia’s State Partnership began in 1994 and has included over 350 military activities, including collaborative events in Europe and the United States as well as a shared deployment to Afghanistan in 2010. The Senegal and Vermont Guard partnership originated in 2008 and has included engagements in disaster management, domestic response, force management, peace and stability operations and intensive medical exercises. The Vermont National Guard is now the fifth guard unit with as many as three state partners. “This is a result of the hard work and dedication of our members participating in events with our host nations,” Knight said. “Their efforts made partnership with Austria a reality.”

The Sugarsnap Trio and guest artists performed October 20 at Nectar’s to benefit Vermont Stage. COURTESY PHOTO BY DANIEL BROOKS

COPE celebrates 30 years, holds benefit concert

Cope & Associates, Inc. (COPE), a Williston-based management consulting firm, this year celebrates 30 years in operation. Every five years, COPE holds a benefit concert to support a local nonprofit. This year’s recipient was Vermont Stage, Vermont’s home for contemporary theater. The concert was held on Oct 20, in partnership with Nectar’s who provided the venue. Over $4,000 was raised for Vermont Stage. The Sugarsnap Trio, Collin Cope, Luke Hausermann and Chris Page, headlined with guest

artists: Ira Friedman, Cody Sargent, Andy Kareckas, Dawn Irwin, Dan Rome, Matt Francis, Gordon Goldsmith, Trevor Michalak, David Titus, Erich Meisberger and Dan Rahilly. Vermont Stage had its first-ever summer season this year and with two shows performed in Williston. “Popcorn Falls” was held at Isham Family Farm and “Maytag Virgin” on Blue Heron Drive. Tickets are on sale for their upcoming season at www.vermontstage.org/subscribe-2122. html.

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