Williston Observer 12/10/2020

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DECEMBER 10, 2020

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‘A pivotal moment’ for Vermont Tech, state colleges Report recommends merging Williston college with state universities

BY JASON STARR Observer staff Despite steady enrollment growth and expanded programs, the Williston campus of Vermont Technical College is entangled in

the Vermont State College System’s financial struggles. A legislative report released Friday suggests the college merge with Northern Vermont and Castleton universities to create a single institution as a key to sustaining the system.

“We don’t keep a separate budget for Williston,” said Vermont Technical College President Pat Moulton. “It’s all one Vermont Tech budget and ultimately, it’s all one Vermont State Colleges bud-

get. So we’re all in this boat together.”

The state college system needs a one-time infusion of $45 million in the upcoming fiscal year to stay afloat, according to the report, in addition to its typical annual appropriation of $30 million — which covers just 17 percent of the system’s costs, Moulton said.

The report was commissioned last year after the now-former chancellor recommended the out-

right closure of Northern Vermont University and the Randolph campus of Vermont Tech to address a roughly $25 million structural deficit. After that plan was rejected, the Legislature convened a committee and consultant to study ways to sustain the system and continue to meet the post-high school education needs of Vermont residents.

Moulton said the report’s conclusion that all four state colleges remain open is encouraging, but

more investigation is needed about the three-way merger. The report suggests a second option of just merging Castleton and Northern Vermont universities, while keeping Vermont Tech and Community College of Vermont (CCV) separate institutions. The idea of merging Vermont Tech and CCV has also been discussed, Moulton said.

“There’s a lot in (the report) see COLLEGES page 5

Williston artist creates virtual holiday experience Christmas tradition continues despite pandemic

BY SUSAN COTE Observer staff Williston resident and artist Victoria Fraser has performed Christmas stories for live audiences for 39 years. Over time, she has written seven stories, which meld the imagery of Christmas and of the natural world, performing them in cycles, one each year. In 2020, amidst the pandemic, she has found a new way to carry on this tradition.

As a child, Fraser loved Christmas. In adulthood, like many, she yearned for a more soulful experience of the holiday. Unlike many, she decided to do something about it. Using her German heritage and the origins of the Christmas tree as a jumping off point, she embarked on a journey of discovery into the iconography of Christmas that included interviewing leaders of different Christian traditions, including protestant, Catholic and Orthodox churches, and studying artwork on the subject, its images and symbols.

From her research she developed a deeper understanding of Christmas and its place in humankind’s experience of Earth’s seasons, in particular how the darkness of winter in the northern hemisphere prepares our planet for rebirth. With this, she created her stories to share these meanings with others.

First performed during services at Christ Church, Presbyterian in Burlington, in recent years Fraser’s stories have been staged at Burlington’s North End Studios. Back in March, Fraser again reserved a theater for

Victoria Fraser records one of her Christmas stories from her Williston home.

OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO BY JUDSON KIMBLE

this year’s event. As the months progressed, however, it became apparent the COVID-19 crisis would make her usual approach unworkable.

Skipping this year was not an option.

“People who have come to my stories

have been nourished and supported by them.

This wasn’t the year for me to not do my story. If people needed the stories, I needed to produce them,” said Fraser.

The idea of capturing the experience on video was born. She had long wanted to doc-

ument the stories and to be able to share them with friends around the world. This year that desire became a necessity.

Filming a video, which Fraser did from her own living room in Williston with the help of Burlington videographers from RetroMotion, was a much different challenge than a live performance. Extensive work went into preparations, including lighting, sound equipment and a set. COVID safety precautions had to be followed. Not being a sound-proof location, the team had to contend with one interval of F-35 flight noise, her cat was boarded offsite for a day so her attention-seeking meows wouldn’t end up on tape, and even the refrigerator had to be unplugged.

The resulting video, titled “The Great Tree of Christmas,” presents the first of the seven stories in Fraser’s Christmas Cycle.

According to a new website she developed about her project, she first told this story in 1982, focusing on how the evergreen Tree of Life came into our hearts and homes through the journey of St. Boniface and the Germanic tribes.

There are two ways to experience this year’s event. Saturday, Dec. 19, an inaugural video screening will be followed by a Zoom gathering and carol sing featuring Vermont pianist Thomas Jones. From Sunday, Dec. 20 to Tuesday, Dec. 22, on-demand access will be available for the performance video only.

Tickets for both options may be purchased at www.christmascycle.com/2020. Fraser does not wish cost to be an obstacle, so tiered pricing is offered.

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Page 2 • Williston Observer • December 10, 2020

Judging begins for holiday decorating contest

Holiday Decorating Contest homes Displays will be up for public viewing through Dec. 30

The lights are up and décor is on the lawn. Forty-two households have adorned their homes as participants in the Williston Recreation and Parks Department’s inaugural Holiday Decorating Contest. Residents are welcome to view the homes through Dec. 30 (see addresses, this page); judging will take place Friday, Dec. 11 through Monday, Dec. 14, by members of the Williston Recreation and Parks Committee. Winners will be announced Dec. 17, and prizes will be awarded by contest sponsors, including Polli Properties, Williston Coffee Shop, Healthy Living Market, Vermont Meat & Seafood and Hannaford.

There are three residential categories: traditional/refined; fun/ festive and multi-family housing. The public is invited to judge the three business displays in the contest at Heirloom Décor, 22 Chad Lane; Woodhaven Health, 600 Blair Park Rd.; and North Williston Cattle, 238 Fay Lane. OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY

TRADITIONAL/ REFINED 1171 Ledgewood Drive 126 Coyote Lane 1320 Sunset Hill Road 151 McJay Drive 152 Maple Road 155 Coyote Lane 188 Hanon Drive 218 White Birch Lane 276 Lawnwood Drive 284 Isham Circle 286 Tamarack Drive 37 Hassett Lane 406 Zephyr Road 424 Metcalf Drive 4517 Oak Hill Road 501 Brennan Woods Drive 531 Metcalf Drive 55 Overlake View 551 North Williston Road 557 Brennan Woods Drive 670 Ledgewood Drive 730 Brennan Woods Drive 75 Wildflower Circle FUN/FESTIVE

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December 10, 2020 • Williston Observer • Page 3

Catamount forest plan implementation begins Foresters to grind trees to create bird habitat

BY ETHAN TAPPER Special to the Observer Management to improve wildlife habitat at the Catamount Community Forest will begin this winter. It is part of the implementation of the property’s forest management plan adopted over the summer by the Town of Williston.

Habitat management will occur over one week in late December or early January and will be funded by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. It will be supervised by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Chittenden County forester, Audubon Vermont and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Why are we doing this work?

The main goal of this project is to create “early successional” or “young forest” habitat. This type of habitat, which is created when a large-scale disturbance occurs in the forest, is extremely valuable to many species of wildlife, and critical to several, including ruffed grouse and American woodcock. This is also a habitat type that is underrepresented on Vermont’s landscape compared to historical levels, and that many conservation

partners across the region are working to increase in order to create a more resilient, ecologically functional landscape.

Within the project area, efforts will also be made to create and enhance pockets of “shrubland” habitat. This habitat is critical for the golden-winged warbler, a bird species of concern and a focus of extensive habitat improvement and conservation efforts by Audubon Vermont. Additional areas of Catamount are scheduled to be managed for golden-winged warblers at a later date.

A secondary goal of this work is to control invasive exotic plant infestations at the Catamount Community Forest. Several species of invasive exotic plants — most notably common buckthorn, shrub honeysuckle, multiflora rose and Japanese barberry — are established on the parcel. We will target these species for removal as part of this project, and additional federal funding will allow us to treat invasives that re-sprout over the next few years.

How will we do it?

The project will consist of grinding trees and shrubs with a “brontosaurus” — a heavy duty grinder head mounted on the body of an

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Chittenden County Forester Ethan Tapper, left, and Andrea Shortsleeve of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department will advise on the implementation of the Catamount Community Forest management plan, which will begin this winter with bird habitat improvement.

excavator. The machine will grind invasive exotic plants and unhealthy trees of a variety of species. Grinding will occur in two areas, a 1-acre patch and a 5-acre patch. The result will be messy, with lots of trees, treetops, branches and wood lying on the ground. This is intentional. These features are critical to providing habitat for a wide range of wildlife species.

What does this mean for using Catamount Outdoor Family Center’s trails?

We are working closely with the Catamount Outdoor Family Center to disrupt trails and trail usage as little as possible, and to avoid busy weekends. We will have to close a section of one major trail (Woods

Machinery will be stationed at Catamount Community Forest for a week this winter grinding trees to create bird habitat.

Trace) and two minor trails for 1-2 days each for safety, but all other trails will remain open and will be safe to use throughout the duration of the project.

What’s next?

The wildlife habitat management project is the first step in the implementation of Catamount’s forest management plan. The overarching goals of the plan are to create and maintain a healthy, diverse, resilient forest with a wide array of wildlife habitats while demonstrating responsible forest management in an open, transparent and inclusive way.

The next project prescribed in the plan will begin in late summer/early autumn 2021, when the Catamount Community Forest will partner with the University of Vermont on a long-term research project to help

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Page 4 • Williston Observer • December 10, 2020

Hinesburg parents call out remote school inequities

BY ERIN GALLAGHER Special to the Observer

Parents in Hinesburg are voicing concerns that their children, especially middle-schoolers, have received less live instruction time than other students in the Champlain Valley School District.

Dozens of parents attended a school board meeting in October to speak about the issue. Parents say students at Hinesburg Community School are getting less live instruction on remote days than the other middle-schoolers in the district.

District leaders say all the schools were ready for a typical year, but that this has been complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic, so they are looking at ways to re-allocate teachers’ time.

Several next steps were proposed — in both the near- and longterm — including a possible merger of Hinesburg Community School and Charlotte Central School.

Parents’ estimates for how much remote live instruction per remote day their children were receiving at HCS varied from anywhere between zero to 90 minutes. Sever-

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al people in the meeting asked for concerned about the issue until they a breakdown of how many minutes began receiving emails in October. are being spent on live instruction in “I think that we’ve been totally each school. transparent,” she said. “I don’t think “My fifth-grader is currently that the issue of how many minutes being taught by an unlicensed para- there were for any particular thing professional while her teacher is on ever came up until then.” sick leave for multiple weeks. And Jeff Evans, the director of learnso there is less than 30 minutes of ing and innovation, said that the remote instruction happening for my kid on remote days,” said Christine Deeley, a Hinesburg parent.

Parents also pushed back on the idea of assigning more work for students to complete alone in lieu of live instruction time.

“Kids need frequent feedback. They need social learning.

They need face time with teachers. They need someone walk- Hinesburg Community School. OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO ing them through the process,” said Becky Alford, parent problem is due to teacher ratios. The to a third-grader and sixth-grader at smaller schools have three teacher HCS. teams instead of four teacher teams, Despite the concerns, many of which means they are not easily the parents expressed gratitude for divided into remote and in-person the work that teachers and adminis- instructors, he said. The ratio is the trators have been doing. Stacy Riley, same, but the hybrid model complia Hinesburg parent, said “I applaud cates it. the teachers at Hinesburg … I just “The three teacher teams really think we can be doing better.” mean that we have to decide where “I think parents are struggling we prioritize,” said John Pontius, big time,” she added, “and Hines- HCS co-principal. “Because we’re burg teachers are struggling. And three teacher teams, it has allowed us kids are struggling,” said Riley. in a way to prioritize in-school learnMeghan Metzler, a Charlotte ing, which means at Hinesburg the parent, said there is a similar trend at student staff ratio is smaller in fifth Charlotte Central School. through eighth grade than you’re goElaine Pinckney, CVSD super- ing to see elsewhere in the district.” intendent, said the administration Another challenge Pontius dewas not aware that parents were scribed was the lack of walls that

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open in HCS. “The reality is we were resourced and staffed for one reality and now we’re facing a very different one,” said Evans.

Pinckney, Pontius and the other middle level teachers emphasized the concept of equity, and the work that has been done to ensure that all the students are doing the same amount and level of schoolwork across the different towns.

Jaqueline Parks, Williston Central School principal, said, “I think that’s the case as it is across all of the middle schools, that there’s different challenges based on the resources that we have, the human resources, the physical resources.”

Lynne Jaunich, the chair of the school board, and Josilyn Adams, a school board director from Williston, both brought up the idea of combining HCS and Charlotte Central School as a long-term solution.

Adams also asked, “So for next year, will our incoming freshmen, regardless of town, be coming in at the same spot?”

In response, Evans said that the students in grades kindergarten through eight are currently being assessed in order to ascertain “where our students are relative to our learning expectations.”

Keith Roberts, another select board member, said “We’ve heard an explanation about why we are where we are, a perfectly reasonable, lucid and rational explanation about why we’re in this situation and the difference between a pandemic situation and a non-pandemic situation. But the fact of the matter is, we’re in a pandemic situation. And the normal things, although they probably work pretty well, they’re not working right now.”

Multiple parents brought up the idea of circulating parent satisfaction surveys, an idea that Jaunich supported at the end of the meeting.

Many also emphasized the importance of workable, creative solutions.

“Whereas the parents seem to think that it’s an issue of, there aren’t enough people, it’s probably more an internal issue of how they organize the day and who does what,” Pinckney said. “We just need to think about how we might do it differently and better.”

Erin Gallagher is a reporter with the Community News Service, a collaboration with the University of Vermont’s Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program.

December 10, 2020 • Williston Observer • Page 5

Colleges continued from page

1

that makes a ton of sense,” she said. “The emphasis on serving students is spot on, so there’s a lot in the report to like. But there are other things that just raise questions.

“The burden is on us to figure out what we can implement and will it in fact move the needle.”

Merging the three colleges — the report suggests the new name “Vermont State OBSERVER PHOTO BY AL FREY University” — would have been put on hold, according to Moulton. mean a single administrative team, unified The campus is working to continue to business model, less competition for students attract not only traditional college-age stuand shared debt burden. It would allow stu- dents, but older adults who are retraining for dents to take courses at different campuses new careers. without the need to submit a new college ap“There’s growing demand for the proplication. grams we have in Williston, which is a great “A major reason for unifying institutions thing,” Moulton said. “We’ve seen some is to reduce costs through greater efficiency pretty steady (enrollment) growth.” that leads to improved affordability for stuThe report shows that Vermont Tech dents,” the report states. spends about $31,000 annually per student, The legislative committee is tasked compared to about $24,000 for similar colwith continuing to refine the recommen- leges nationwide. Moulton said there may dations through 2021. Then it will be up be lessons Vermont Tech can use in those to lawmakers and college leaders to imple- findings. ment it.

“I want to ask, ‘how are they able to “How will (the Legislature) act on this deliver this education so inexpensively?,’” report? Will it be like many other reports in she said. “We might take a page from some my history in state government that go sit on of those peer institutions, so I’m anxious to a shelf and nothing ever happens, or will it know more about them.” be something that they embrace parts of and With continued additional state fundmove forward?” Moulton said. ing in the ballpark of $40 million, the state Vermont Tech was already working on college system can eliminate its $25 million its own transformation before the legislative deficit over a five-year period, the report committee was convened. The school has shows. two campuses — in Williston and Randolph “This is a pivotal moment for the Ver— and was simultaneously working to ex- mont State College System. The (report) has pand capacity in Williston and shed unneeded provided a clear roadmap to address the urresources in Randolph. Plans to acquire more gent needs of the Vermont State Colleges for land around the intersection of routes 2 and now and into the future,” Board of Trustees 2A, where the Williston campus is located, Chair Lynn Dickinson said.

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on Facebook Live @WillistonFederatedChurch United Methodist and United Church of Christ An Open and Affirming, Reconciling Congregation Children’s Christmas Pageant Sunday, December 13 ~ 9:30 a.m. on FB Live Longest Night Service Wednesday, December 16 ~ 6:30 p.m. on FB Live 4th Sunday in Advent Sunday, December 20 ~ 9:30 a.m. on FB Live

Opening Day to Cut Your Own Tree Saturday, Nov. 21 Friday, November 27: • Wear your Santa costume to the farm to get $10 off a Christmas tree • Group Santa photos at noon 1st prize half gal of Isham Family Farm maple syrup

Christmas Eve Thursday, December 24 ~ 5:30 p.m. on FB live A Traditional Christmas Eve service with lessons & carols.

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For every tree sold at regular price this year, the farm sends $5 to the Energy Independent Vermont group (up to $3,000) • Open Weekdays 2pm - 4:30pm, Weekends 9am - 4:30pm • Must wear mask in sugarhouse/parking lot area • Isham Farm supports the 4B's: Birds, Bugs, Bees and Butterflies

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Send your story ideas and photos to editor@willistonobserver.com

B

Page 6 • Williston Observer • December 10, 2020

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GUEST COLUMN

Adoption as prevention

BY TRICIA COATES Today, 110 Vermont children in foster care are waiting to be adopted.

Their names and their pictures hang on our office walls at Lund.

We carry their images with us every day as we do the careful work of connecting these children with their forever adoptive families.

We picture Jason. By the time Jason was 5, he had already lived in three foster homes. The foster families were always welcoming, but Jason went to bed every night worried that any day he could be moved to another family, another neighborhood, another school. His anxiety grew, and he acted out in school and with his foster parents.

On the day his adoption was complete, Jason’s new mom baked him a cake that said, “Welcome home, Jason!” Over time, his anxiety diminished, and he was able to fully engage in school and fully enjoy his relationships with his new family.

Permanency means no more last minute moves to a new foster family. No more waiting to find out

if the home you are in will be your forever family and will commit to your adoption. Permanency has the power to transform lives. For children who have already experienced the trauma of leaving their family of origin behind and who have lived through the uncertainty of foster care, permanency offers security and confidence in the future.

A prominent 2019 study compared outcomes of two siblings in foster care where one was adopted and the other was not. The foster sibling who was adopted “tended to have considerably better outcomes in adult age in educational achievement, income, criminality, disability and suicidality.” (“Outcomes in adulthood of adoption after long-term foster care: A sibling study,” Hjern, 2019).

The State of Vermont has made a strong commitment to finding adoptive families for children in foster care for this very reason: prevention. Project Family, a 20year partnership between Lund and the State of Vermont, is committed to finding forever families for children in foster care who are legally freed for adoption.

In 2019, 335 adoptions took place in Vermont. Of those, 246 were of children who had been involved with the Department of Children and Families. Those 246 children now have a better chance at a strong and healthy future.

Last month, we celebrated National Adoption Day, honoring the incredible faith and generosity of families who welcome children into their homes and lives. We think about the 150,000 children in foster care nationwide who are waiting for permanent families.

And we think of the faces on our office walls, the 110 young Vermonters waiting for their forever families.

For more information about adoption, Project Family and Lund’s work to support adoptive families, visit www.lundvt.org.

on town-owned forests in Chittenden County, including recent projects at the Hinesburg Town Forest and LaPlatte Headwaters Town Forest in Hinesburg, and an ongoing project at the Andrews Community Forest in Richmond.

How can I learn more?

Tricia Coates is president and CEO of Lund, a Burlington nonprofit focused on empowering families to break cycles of poverty, addiction and abuse.

For more information, visit www.lundvt.org.

Catamount continued from page

Best wishes from the Paw Print team for a happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year!

30 YEARS

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The wildlife habitat management project at Catamount Community Forest is part of a growing network of demonstration projects

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You can learn more about this project by visiting the story map online at https://arcg.is/mfyWG. You can also watch a recorded webinar on the project from this spring at www.youtu.be/yg-IUAMvPRk. Also, sign up for the Chittenden County forester’s email list by emailing ethan.tapper@vermont. gov or calling (802) 585-9099.

Ethan Tapper is the Chittenden County forester.

He can be reached at ethan.tapper@vermont.gov or (802) 585-9099.

Send your story ideas to editor@ williston observer.com

December 10, 2020 • Williston Observer • Page 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Snowmobile-only permission As all snowmobile clubs across Vermont complete the marking of snowmobile trails for the 2020/2021 season, the Williston Hill Hawks Snowmobile Club would like to remind all residents that permission to use these trails are granted only for snowmobiling.

Most of the 21 miles of Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) trails in Williston are on private property. Permission for snowmobiling is requested annually by the club to mark and maintain the trails.

Permission for other uses of the trails would need to be requested of the landowners by those wanting to use the trails.

The number one reason for snowmobile trail relocations in Vermont is unauthorized use of the trails.

Please be respectful of your neighbors’ permissions.

Patrick Poulin Trail Master, Williston Hill Hawks Snowmobile Club

Sanders launches 11th annual State of the Union essay contest Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has launched his 11th annual State of the Union essay contest.

Each January, the president of the United States delivers a “State of the Union” address to a joint session of Congress, which outlines priorities for the coming year. To encourage young people to become engaged in the political process, Sanders created a State of the Union essay contest — an opportunity for Vermont high school students to describe a major issue facing our country and propose what they would do to solve it.

The 250-500-word essays can be on any issue of national importance. A volunteer panel of Vermont teachers will judge the essays on the students’ ability to articulate an issue and propose a solution. Sanders will enter the essays of the 10 finalists into the Congressional Record — the official archive of the U.S. Congress.

“I started this essay contest 11 years ago to help our students be actively engaged, no matter where they stand on the issues,” said Sanders, who serves on the Senate Education Committee. “This year,

our state and nation face a health and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with a renewed fight for racial justice. Many of you have seen family members struggle because of lost wages or health concerns, you have been asked to learn online, and you face a future that may feel uncertain. To my mind, the unprecedented nature of this time makes it more important than ever to hear perspectives and innovative ideas from you, our young people.”

More than 4,600 students from high schools throughout Vermont have written essays in the past 10 years about issues like climate change, access to mental health care, the rising cost of college and much more. Last year, Isabelle Hiller from Woodstock Union High School was selected as the winner from 536 submissions for her essay on criminal justice reform.

The deadline for student essay submissions is Jan. 12. More information is available at www. sanders.senate.gov/stateoft heunion or by calling (800) 3399834.

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Worker injured in electrical fire at Rhino Foods An employee at Rhino Foods on Boyer Circle was injured Friday morning when an electrical explosion occurred in the building, the Williston Fire Department reported.

The explosion created a small fire that was extinguished by employees. The injured employee was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries to his hands. Two other workers were in the area during the explosion, but were uninjured. There is no suspicion of foul play, according to the department.

Essex Rescue, the Williston Police Department, Vermont State Police and the Vermont Fire Marshal’s Office also responded to the incident. Rhino foods

Police and fire vehicles respond Friday morning to an electrical fire at Rhino Foods on Boyer Circle. OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO

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Managing stormwater from new Fedex warehouse AIDAN SCANLON Special to the Observer

Champlain’s flora needing the phosphorus for nutrients, too much of it can be harmful, causing algal blooms and excessive plant growth.

“Development across the Lake Champlain Basin actually contributes more phosphorus on a per-acre basis than other land uses like agriculture or forested lands. So we do need to be aware of that as development pressures increase across the Lake Champlain Basin,” Howe said.

A new FedEx warehouse, visible along Interstate 89 from Williston and South Burlington, will use top-of-the-line water management practices to curb damage to the nearby Muddy Brook, a Lake Champlain tributary.

The FedEx building will be one of the largest in the area. Nearby Technology Park Center, which is 275,000 square feet, and Keurig Green Mountain Coffee, which is 228,000 square feet, still dwarf the new FedEx hub, which measures in at 143,000 feet, according to plans submitted to the South Burlington Department of Planning and Zoning.

The warehouse sits between the The FedEx warehouse under construction is seen from the Whales Tails Whales Tails vantage point just off I-89. Construction crews are installing artificial sculpture next wetlands to mitigate water damage to the adjacent Muddy Brook tributary. to I-89 and the OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO BY AIDAN SCANLON Muddy Brook.

The site takes up most of the meadow the David Wheeler, the Assistant Stormsculpture was built in. The construction site water Superintendent at South Burlington is a stone’s throw away from the sculpture Department of Public Works, said that large itself. developments similar to the warehouse can About 18,000 square feet of class three have significant impacts on nearby waterwetlands — a class unprotected by Vermont’s ways like the Muddy Brook. wetlands rules — will be paved over during “When you put pavement down, you’re construction according to plans submitted to preventing water from soaking into the South Burlington’s Department of Planning ground so it has to go somewhere. And so, and Zoning. especially when you put in a bunch of catch Eric Howe, program director of the basins and pipes and things like that, you Lake Champlain Basin Program, said that can get that water to move rather quickly,” the Muddy Brook has had issues with phos- Wheeler said. “So suddenly you can have a phorus, which could be worsened by devel- significant amount of water coming off the opment unless precautions are taken. site where previously maybe the majority Phosphorus is in fertilizer, manure and human and animal waste. Despite Lake see FEDEX page 9

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Hinesburg votes in favor of running its own ambulance service

BY ERIN GALLAGHER Special to the Observer The Town of Hinesburg voted in favor of operating its own ambulance service during last month’s general election. The vote came in the wake of St. Michael’s college discontinuing its service effective July 2021.

A total of 1,911 residents voted in favor of the ambulance service, and 1,030 voted against.

The alternative to a Hinesburg-run ambulance service would have been contracting out from the surrounding towns; both Charlotte and Richmond sent out contracting proposals.

“I am surprised by the ambulance vote, because it’s a lot of money, and these are very uncertain times,” said selectboard member Merrily Lovell. She added, “That’s what the people of the town want. That’s wonderful. And it’s wonderful that the fire department has done so much hard work to make that a possibility.”

“I was pleased it passed,” said assistant fire chief Eric Spivack.

Fedex continued from page

“We’ll move toward what the voters want. We’ll start putting (the ambulance service) together.”

Hinesburg residents Terry Wilson and Nancy Anisfield offered to donate the ambulance itself, according to the Hinesburg Fire Department website and selectboard meeting minutes. According to the website, the ambulance is one of the “two biggest expenses to starting an ambulance service.”

The ambulance service will be staffed by a new full-time EMS person during the day and fire department staff at night, said Spivack.

The department estimates the cost of running the service at $186,315 in the current fiscal year.

The selectboard and the fire department will work together to put together a final budget, said Lovell.

“We’ll be working with the selectboard to move forward to the next steps,” Spivack said, adding that having a town ambulance means quicker response times and potential revenue.

Lovell said she was unsure

what would happen if town voters rejected the annual budget at Town Meeting Day in March. In the past, “big projects that the voters didn’t approve the money for, people went back to the drawing board and came back with a new proposal that didn’t cost as much.

So maybe that could be a possibility,” she said.

The other possibility could be returning to the idea of contracting out.

“Optimistically, by mid-summer, we should be able to start operating,” Spivack said.

Erin Gallagher is a reporter with the Community News Service, a collaboration with the University of Vermont’s Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program.

8

soaked into the ground.”

This increase in water runoff can cause small streams to swell to sizes they wouldn’t normally. This causes the banks to erode, which then further increases the amount of phosphorus in the water. A significant chunk of the phosphorus in Lake Champlain comes from streambank erosion, Wheeler said.

The other concern with stormwater runoff is a build up of pollutants on surfaces like pavement.

“The best way to think about it is like the color of the snow on the road in the wintertime, brown and nasty compared to the white.

That’s happening all year round you just don’t see it as much in the summer and fall and spring. That material that accumulates on impervious surfaces when it rains, it all washes off,” Wheeler said.

The FedEx building was permitted under the most recent stormwater mitigation standards, and construction crews are installing two subsurface gravel wetlands, which are top-of-the-line in stormwater treatment practice, Wheeler said.

The subsurface gravel wetlands use a surface marsh, and a subsurface gravel bed to remove pollutants from the water. Phosphorus in the water absorbs into the stone, removing most of it from the water to make it safer for tributaries, Wheeler said.

This makes the impact of a development site much less than some existing buildings that don’t have stormwater treatment prac-

tices because they were built before these standards were in place, Wheeler said.

Aidan Scanlon is a reporter with the Community News Service, a collaboration with the University of Vermont’s Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program.

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Lawmakers poised to expand vote-by-mail to Town Meeting Day

BY XANDER LANDEN VTDigger Vermont lawmakers plan to pass legislation in January that will allow towns to send Town Meeting Day ballots to residents via mail, or postpone the date that voting takes place.

The proposal, which lawmakers are poised to send to Gov. Phil Scott’s desk within the first two weeks of the legislative session, would also give school officials the same flexibility for budget votes, which also typically happen in person.

The proposed legislation comes after Vermont temporarily expanded its statewide mail-in voting system for the November general election to mitigate health risks during the COVID-19 crisis.

It also comes after the governor said in November that he believes municipalities should send residents Town Meeting Day ballots via mail in 2021, as the pandemic

continues.

Town Meeting Day is March 2, and Sen. Jeanette White, D-Windham, told a joint meeting of the House and Senate Government Operations Committees on Friday that she hoped the legislation could reach Scott’s desk by Jan. 19 — two weeks after the legislative session begins.

“There’s probably never been a bill that’s passed in such a short time frame, but I think that is what we have to do,” said White, who chairs the Senate panel.

White said some towns, including Dummerston, would like to hold in-person votes, but want to wait until the spring when they can hold socially distanced meetings outdoors.

In addition to giving town officials the ability to conduct elections via mail, the bill would give officials the option to push back the date for in-person votes.

“Some towns may want to have their Town Meeting in March, and mail out bal-

lots … some may want to change the date to May,” White said.

“I see this as permissive rather than as telling towns what to do,” she said.

Sen. Alison Clarkson, D-Windsor, raised concerns about postponing votes on school budgets in 2021, noting that the Legislature needs to know what school spending is going to look like in the upcoming fiscal year before it can set property tax rates.

Lawmakers and the governor are facing a possible 9 percent increase in property taxes next year, unless they take action in the upcoming session.

“We can’t set that rate until we know what the school spending is going to be, and the school spending is determined by those folks. It’s sort of a Catch-22,” Clarkson noted.

But White said lawmakers should “have faith” that town officials will vote on school budgets before lawmakers adjourn in May. “They’re not going to set their town

meetings for August or September because that’s too late. Probably May is around the latest that I can imagine any town would do it,” White said.

Kendal Smith, Scott’s director for policy and legislative affairs, told legislators Friday that the governor is “actively considering” plans to include the funding for Town Meeting Day mail-in ballots in his upcoming budget proposal or budget adjustment proposal for the current fiscal year.

Smith said that the cost would likely be $1 million to $2 million.

Montpelier Town Clerk John Odum said he expects voter participation will soar in municipalities that conduct Town Meeting by mail. In November, Vermont’s expanded vote-by-mail system drove a new turnout record.

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Restaurant workers face difficult choices as cases rise

BY KATYA SCHWENK VTDigger When Pizzeria Verità in downtown Burlington reopened for indoor dining in August, Dan Schloemer, a worker in Verità’s kitchen, worried for his safety.

“It was hard having to face the fact that customers had to come back in for business,” he said. “But it’s not like I had a choice. What am I going to do, like, not work?”

In an industry dependent on crowds and enclosed spaces, navigating the pandemic can be hazardous. As Burlington’s downtown restaurants have struggled to stay afloat, workers say they are facing difficult choices — and dwindling wages.

When Gov. Phil Scott instituted sweeping lockdown orders in response to Vermont’s November surge in coronavirus cases, he shuttered bars and limited inter-household gatherings, but left restaurants open for in-house dining. The state has defended the decision by saying contact tracing data shows that restaurants are driving less virus spread than private social gatherings. But that data is limited.

Now that winter weather has meant the end of outdoor dining for most restaurants, it has been left up to businesses to decide whether to continue serving customers indoors during some of the worst weeks of the pandemic, or cut back their services.

‘I felt coerced’ “Our hands are completely tied,” said Eileen Lynch, a server at Pizzeria Verità. “And it’s not just the servers or the kitchen staff.

It’s the business owners, too. We have to stay open, because the state hasn’t closed us. But it’s an unstable and unsafe situation.”

The day after Lynch spoke with VTDigger, Pizzeria Verità closed for indoor dining, citing concerns about the rising case count.

“We were doing what we could to mitigate the situation,” said Leslie Wells, co-owner of Pizzeria Verità. She had installed a new ventilation system in the restaurant, and limited customer capacity. But when cases began to rise after Halloween, she became nervous, and staff members started raising concerns.

“We were listening every week for when the state was going to shut down in-house dining,” she said. “It was just pins and needles.”

The state never did. So ultimately, Wells and the management team made the call. “We had some real concerns about our ability to keep staff and customers safe,” she said. For now, the restaurant plans to wait out the winter with its takeout business, and hopes to bring

American Flatbread has a banner announcing the Burlington restaurant is open for take out.

Pizza Verita in Burlington is closed for indoor dining. The restaurant is open for take out. PHOTOS BY GLENN RUSSELL, VTDIGGER

back outdoor dining in the spring.

When restaurants do stay open, workers face difficult tradeoffs.

In May, one employee at Sweetwaters, a bistro in downtown Burlington, was working the morning shifts. The worker, who asked not to be named in order to speak candidly about her situation, would clock in at dawn to do prep work, and left before the kitchen was too crowded. It was for her own safety, she says: she is immunocompromised.

But then, she says, her manager gave her an ultimatum: start working full time at the restaurant, including busy evening shifts, or he would report her for refusal to work, leaving her ineligible for unemployment benefits. “I felt coerced,” she said. “He was very aware of my health conditions.”

When she brought the matter to the owner, David Melincoff, he apologized, she said, and was accommodating. But she still re-

household at the same table.

That has proven a challenge, some workers say. Before Verità closed, Lynch said she would seat tables of customers clearly from different households — groups of people out celebrating a birthday, or several older couples dining together. When asked, she said, “you would just hear the pause. And then the, ‘yeah, same household.’”

“And then, add in that they’re probably going to be, the way business has been going, the only tab that breaks $100 that night,” she said.

That was one factor in the restaurant’s decision to close, Wells said. “You would hear people, say ‘oh, I just came in [to Vermont] from this state, or that state,” she said. “They weren’t necessarily following the rules. Maybe they didn’t know what the rules were.”

Some restaurants that have remained open say they are finding ways to enforce the rules. Jed

signed, giving two weeks’ notice.

“I realized that this just wasn’t right,” she said.

(Melincoff said the story “makes me sad,” but that the restaurant had done “everything we could” to resolve the issue, which he described as an isolated conflict.)

One former worker at a downtown restaurant, who spoke to VTDigger on the condition he not be named, said he too quit when his restaurant opened for indoor dining at the end of the summer, due to safety concerns.

“I didn’t feel comfortable doing that, and I had some money saved up,” he said. “It wasn’t really worth it for me. I thought [reopening] was a dangerous mistake.”

A key component of the governor’s lockdown order is the ban on household gatherings. This affects the restaurant industry, too: Under the order, restaurants cannot seat people from more than one

Vermont is seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases.

• Do not get together or socialize with anyone you don’t live with.

• Avoid non-essential travel, even in Vermont.

Thank you for doing your part to keep our businesses and schools open, and Vermonters working.

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Looming layoffs Faced with cold weather and reduced foot traffic downtown, Burlington’s restaurants are scaling back hours and services, whether they’re open for indoor dining or not. For workers in the industry, that means fewer tips, dwindling hours and the looming threat of layoffs. Many have already taken a see CHOICES page 23

Protect her future.

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Vermonters must act now to slow the spread.

• Anyone returning or traveling to Vermont must quarantine.

Davis, owner of the Farmhouse Group, which runs several restaurants in Chittenden County, has kept his flagship restaurant, the Farmhouse Tap and Grill, open into December.

Guests are “triple-screened” before they eat, Davis said, and asked to sign a paper saying that they hail from the same household.

He calls the restaurant open for “locals-only dine-in.” Still, he admits, the plan is dependent on the honesty of customers.

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Page 12 • Williston Observer • December 10, 2020

UVM administration stands by plan to cut humanities programs Layoffs may be on the horizon

BY KATYA SCHWENK VTDigger University of Vermont administrators are rushing to defend a proposal to cut 23 programs from the university’s College of Arts and Science, despite resounding protests from students and faculty.

Bill Falls, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, proposed the budget reductions in a Dec. 3 memo without consulting faculty or students. The decision “does not mean we are not invested in liberal arts,” Patricia Prelock, the university provost, told reporters Monday. The provost is the university’s chief academic officer, reporting directly to the president.

Though thousands of students, faculty and alumni have protested the cuts, Prelock said she stands by the decision, describing it as part of a years-long effort to restructure the college.

“Even if we had not had the pandemic, we would have had to do this,” she said, citing depressed enrollment and the school’s $8.6 million deficit. “We need people to think about the larger university vision. Maintaining programs that are low enrollment is just not sustainable.”

It prevents investment in the

university’s other, more popular humanities majors, she said.

Under the proposal, 12 of 56 majors, 11 of 63 minors and four of 10 graduate programs in the college will be terminated, including majors in religion, geology and classics. Other programs, like arts and theater, will be consolidated.

In an email to a student, which was shared on social media, Falls wrote that the consolidation would “save $600k to $800k in administrative costs.”

All of the majors that are being terminated have graduated an average of seven or fewer students in the last three years, though many more students still enroll in their courses. Critics say the university’s neglect of the humanities contributed to those low numbers in the first place.

Prelock noted that some classes in those programs will still be available to students, and in some cases, a minor would remain.

“It doesn’t mean that [students] wouldn’t have that content,” she said.

The changes also aren’t technically finalized. Program terminations must go through a faculty senate review process before they take effect, and then must be approved by the Board of Trustees.

But Thomas Chittenden, the faculty senate president, told VTDigger last week that he is skeptical the administration will go back on its plans. Still, the board will have the final say.

Changes in the programs won’t start until the next academic year, the administration says, and students enrolled in programs slated for termination will be able to complete their degrees.

The College of Arts and Sciences was just “ahead of the game” in announcing plans for consolidation, Prelock said Monday.

“Every single college” at UVM, she said, is expected to roll back or consolidate programs in the near future. “I expect some recommendations from all the other colleges and schools in mid-February,” she said.

Because the College of Arts and Science has had longstanding budget issues, it disclosed program cuts earlier than the rest of the university, Prelock said. The faculty union says the financial problems have been “manufactured” by university administrators.

In the months ahead, the leaders of UVM’s other eight other schools and colleges will consider similar changes. “I’ve directed all

the deans to look at low enrollment,” Prelock said.

“I hope that the other deans will consult with their faculty before they make these decisions, and take that consultation very seriously,” said Julie Roberts, president of UVM’s faculty union.

Roberts and others say they are frustrated that they weren’t consulted before Falls’ announcement — and they don’t buy the university’s rationale behind cutting low-enrollment programs.

“There are many factors in terms of how many students come.

And some of it is how many students apply, obviously. But another one is how many you accept,” Roberts said. “The administration has total control over acceptance.”

The faculty union says the uni-

versity has reduced the number of applicants admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences over the years.

“Fewer accepted students results, unsurprisingly, in lower enrollments,” the union wrote.

And the college’s smaller departments were hit harder by the university’s hiring freeze, Roberts said, harming course offerings.

Layoffs may be on the horizon. Though Roberts said she had no specifics yet, “there certainly have been signals from the upper administration that they are planning on personnel or faculty cuts.”

“It really pains us, because there are great faculty there,” Prelock said. But ultimately, she said, Falls “needed to lay out there what needs to be done.”

Lawmakers continued from page

10

out, the general elections have a higher turnout. With all mail, they equalize,” Odum said.

Lawmakers appeared in agreement Friday that they should move forward with the plans to give municipalities added flexibility for Town Meeting Day when they return in January.

“We’re in a worse situation today with the pandemic than we were back in the spring, or certainly earlier in the fall when this was all happening,” said Rep. Jim Harrison, R-North Chittenden.

“And we should do everything we can to encourage mail balloting for this election, and then hopefully we’re beyond that later in the spring and then we can talk about how to go forward in the future,” he added.

Lawmakers also plan to give Brattleboro the ability to once again hold its town meeting remotely, via Zoom.

Brattleboro is the only municipality in the state that has a “representative” town meeting system in which 150 residents are elected to represent town residents.

The town held its first remote town meeting earlier this year.

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December 10, 2020 • Williston Observer • Page 13

Burlington Dem to take over as Speaker of the House

The Vermont House Democratic Caucus has nominated Rep. Jill Krowinski of Burlington to serve as Vermont Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 2021-22 legislative biennium.

Krowinski currently serves as House Majority Leader, a role she has held since 2017.

Krowinski will be joined in House leadership

by Rep. Emily Long (D-Newfane), who was elected House Ma- Jill Krowinski jority Leader, Rep. Mike McCarthy (D-St. Albans City), who was elected Vermont House Majority Whip, Rep. Martin LaLonde (D-South Burlington), who was elected Assistant House Majority Leader for Strategy and Development, Rep. Marybeth Redmond (D-Essex), who was elected Assistant House Majority Leader for Communications, and

Rep. John Bartholomew (D-Hartland), who was re-elected At-Large Member of the Rules Committee.

The Vermont House Democratic Caucus leadership election took place virtually on Saturday and was streamed live due to the current safety restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Vermont House Democrats have held a majority in the House for over 15 years.

“The Vermont Democratic Party extends our congratulations to Reps Krowinski, Long, McCarthy, LaLonde, Redmond and Bartholomew,” said Bruce Olsson, chair of the Vermont Democratic Party. “As the pandemic continues, we know that our incoming House leadership will work tirelessly to build a path for recovery that will ensure the health, well-being and equity of all Vermonters.”

Gov. Scott moves to bring police training under state control

BY GUY PAGE Special to the Observer The Vermont Department of Public Safety wants public feedback on its plan to “modernize policing across Vermont” by centralizing under state control policies for diversity hiring, use-of-force, body cameras, banning invasive surveillance and more.

If enacted, the plan would centralize police policy powers now exercised at the local level under municipal police agencies.

Gov. Phil Scott’s Public Safety Reform Initiative, created through executive order, directs the commissioner of public safety to “actively engage with communities, particularly those communities that have been historically marginalized or harmed by policing, as we develop and deploy best policing practices.”

Public Safety Commissioner Michael Schirling, the plan’s architect, defended the need for statewide policing standards and practices.

“We’ve reached a point where disparity of operation is not the way the public expects for things to function,” Schirling said. “We have years of studies.

They all say the same thing. Duplication and having that kind of variation is not the way to run these kinds of operations.”

The Public Safety Reform Initiative includes: • New hiring and promotion systems of police and police executives in “all law enforcement agencies statewide.”

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Page 14 • Williston Observer • December 10, 2020

GMP pioneers vehicle-to-grid energy technology

Green Mountain Power has announced the successful deployment of a first-of-its kind vehicle-to-grid charger to reduce energy use on the grid during peak demand. GMP is the first utility to install and successfully integrate this new charger technology with the grid and one of its electric fleet vehicles to draw energy from the car to help lower demands on the grid when peaks in energy needs occur. This innovation shows how electric vehicles and the clean energy they store can become a reliable source of power to reduce peak demands, which will in turn save money and reduce carbon.

“This is an important first-step in proving that vehicle-to-grid technology is possible. GMP has long committed to using advancements in energy technology to increase clean energy storage capabilities so that we can deploy that power when it’s needed most to reduce carbon and costs for all customers,” said Mari McClure, GMP’s president and CEO. GMP installed a bi-directional Fermata vehicle charger at its Colchester office in October. The charger is now drawing energy from the company’s 2019 Nissan Leaf during ener-

gy peaks. The vehicle is regularly used by employees, charges at the GMP office and has joined GMP’s growing network of stored energy.

GMP has also stored energy in home batteries like Tesla’s Powerwalls. The Nissan Leaf battery holds about four times as much energy as one Powerwall, showing great promise in the amount of energy storage that can be achieved using vehicles, especially as more and more Vermonters make the switch to electric vehicles.

The project is known as vehicle-to-grid energy sharing. The technology has long been viewed as an important part of a cleaner, more resilient energy system. The energy sharing helps reduce demand on the grid during energy peaks, when power can be most expensive and carbon-intensive.

“In 2020, we estimate that GMP and its customers have stored and dispatched 6.7 gigawatt-hours of energy, equivalent to powering 550 homes for a full year,” McClure said. “We have been able to shave peak demand this year by 177 megawatts, reducing $3.2 million in costs for customers

and reducing carbon by about 6.8 million pounds, which is like taking 660 gas- powered cars off the road for one year.”

Jared Duval, executive director of Energy Action Network, added: “This is an exciting example of how electric vehicles can help transform the grid. Transportation is the top cause of carbon pollution in our state, so shifting to electric vehicles is one of the most important things we can do.

We see this innovative work that GMP is doing as yet another way to harness the many benefits that driving electric offers to Vermont and Vermonters.”

A company that grew in GMP’s incubator Inspire Space four years ago, Virtual Peaker, makes the software platform that GMP will be using to integrate the charger and dispatch the battery during energy peaks. Virtual Peaker’s software is already used by the company to manage Powerwall batteries. GMP also partnered with Fermata Energy on this project.

GMP plans to launch a pilot program for customers in the coming year and offer this option to businesses that are electrifying their fleets of cars and buses.

GMP warns of scam targeting customers Green Mountain Power is alerting customers about a sudden increase in scam calls claiming to be from the power company and demanding payment with threats to cut off electricity.

Dozens of customers alerted GMP about the scam calls Saturday. Scam calls often increase around storms, and a weekend Noreaster affected parts of GMP’s service area.

“We want customers to know we never threaten immediate shut off or demand immediate payment by credit card or pre-paid cards. If someone does this, just hang up,” said Mary Morris, GMP manager of customer care. “We’re so glad our customers are reaching out to help warn others and are not falling for it.”

Customers who receive scam calls are encouraged to report it to the Vermont Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program at 800-649-2424 or www.ago.vermont.gov/cap.

Also: • Do not provide payment or personal information • Do not engage with the caller • Do not call back the number • Call GMP Customer Service at 888-835-4672 to report the call, and any details about it, including the number it came from, the caller’s name and what the caller said.

Send your story ideas and photos to editor@willistonobserver.com

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December 10, 2020 • Williston Observer • Page 15

Attorney General vows to uphold Global Warming Solutions Act Deputy Attorney General Joshua Diamond has written to the Gov. Phil Scott Administration about the intention of the Attorney General’s office to defend any legal challenges to the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA), passed earlier this year by the Vermont Legislature.

The letter was prompted in part by comments attributed to Secretary of Administration Susanne Young at the first meeting of the Climate Council that indicated the administration may seek judicial action on the GWSA.

The GWSA provides structure and guidance to achieve reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

It establishes a Climate Council to develop a Climate Action Plan to provide a framework for the Agency of Natural Resources to create rules to achieve mandated reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

“The Global Warming Solutions Act is constitutional and good policy,” said Attorney General T.J. Donovan. “Vermont should be a leader in addressing global warming and should do

what we can to meet our climate goals. There is nothing wrong with holding government accountable to the will of its people.”

In his letter, Diamond asserts that the GWSA provides sufficient policy guidance and standards, overcoming a potential challenge on the grounds that the Legislature can’t delegate its legislative authority to the executive branch. The letter also refutes the notion that the GWSA is unconstitutional because it usurps the executive branch’s authority.

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Page 16 • Williston Observer • December 10, 2020

Celebrating the recovery of bald eagles in Vermont Species recommended for removal from endangered species list

Vermont’s bald eagle population has been soaring in recent years.

The species is well on its way to recovery. In fact, both Vermont’s Endangered Species Committee and the Scientific Advisory Committee on Birds have recommended that bald eagles be removed from the state endangered list and officially be considered recovered.

The bald eagle has been on the list for roughly 30 years.

The Department of Fish & Wildlife, Audubon Vermont, National Audubon Society, Outreach for Earth Stewardship and numerous community scientists have

been involved in the effort to bring eagles to a point where they can be “delisted.”

If bald eagles are delisted, several measures will be in place to ensure their continued success. Biologists and community scientists will continue to monitor the population and protect breeding sites from disturbance and habitat loss, and there will be criteria in place for relisting the species if it experiences significant declines. Legal protections will also be in place to protect eagles and their breeding habitat through the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

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Bald Eagles were one of the first species to be listed as “endangered” on both the federal and state lists of endangered species. They were removed from the federal list in 2006, but have remained listed as an endangered species on Vermont’s list since 1987.

The approval of the motion to remove bald eagles from the state’s endan- OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO gered list is just one important step in the process and ‘80s, when other Northeastern of delisting bald eagles. Next, the states were actively working to reAgency of Natural Resources will cover the species through reintroreview the motion and send it to duction efforts, Vermont did not the natural resources secretary for receive the funds to take a role. In approval. Then it will go to the 2003, however, an appropriation Vermont Legislature. After a public sponsored by Sen. Jeffords supcomment period, the Legislature plied the funding needed to reinwill make a formal rule to delist the troduce eagles into the state. At bald eagle. the time, Vermont was the last The recovery of bald eagles in holdout in the lower 48 — the Vermont has been a long, collab- only state without any breeding orative process. During the 1970s eagles. Twenty-nine young ea-

gles were reintroduced over three years at Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area. At the same time, Vermont discovered its first breeding pair, which likely came from a neighboring state.

For more information on bald eagle recovery in Vermont, visit www.vt.audubon.org/eagle.

This article was provided by Audubon Vermont, based in Huntington.

December 10, 2020 • Williston Observer • Page 17

Grow your own herbal centerpiece for the holidays

BY MELINDA MYERS Special to the Observer

Dress up the table and your holiday meals with a centerpiece of fresh herbs. You and your family will enjoy snipping a few fresh sprigs to season your meal to your own taste.

Purchase plants so they will be ready to harvest for the holidays. Many garden centers now carry herb plants year-round and some grocery stores sell herb plants in their produce department.

Include herbs your family likes and those that complement your menu. Grow plants in individual containers or plant several in one larger decorative pot. Select a container with drainage holes and one that complements your table setting.

Double pot plants when using a decorative container that lacks drainage holes. Plant herbs in a smaller pot with drainage holes.

You can set several individual pots in a larger container. Place pebbles in the bottom of the decorative pot. Theses elevate the inner pots above any excess water that collects in the bottom of the decorative pot, better for the plants and less work for you.

Use a quality, well-drained potting mix when moving herbs into another container.

An edible herbal centerpiece allows guests to snip herbs to season their meal.

OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO

Be sure to place a saucer or tray under the pot to protect your furniture. Set on a decorative placemat for added protection and add a few seasonal items to complete your display.

Include some basil to dress up a pizza, salad or soup with just a few leaves. Add some oregano for seasoning any tomato-based dishes such as pizza and pasta. Use

fresh thyme to add flavor to cheeses, eggs, tomatoes and lentils. Lemon thyme makes a nice tea.

Chives’ mild onion flavor is great on potatoes, but consider adding it to soups, dips, seafood dishes and omelets. Just snip a few leaves and cut them into smaller pieces before adding them to your dish.

Parsley is high in vitamin C and often

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added to soups, pasta, salads and dressings.

Harvest a sprig at the end of the meal to freshen your breath.

Always water plants thoroughly when the top inch of soil is starting to dry. Basil likes slightly moist soil, but not soggy wet. Pour off excess water that collects in the saucer or elevate the pot on pebbles above any water that lingers in the saucer or tray.

And don’t forget the snips. Let everyone add their own favorite herbal seasonings to their meal. Encourage everyone to make the cut above a set of leaves. This keeps the plant looking good and the wound will close quickly. Don’t be timid; regular harvesting encourages new growth for future harvests.

When the herbal centerpiece is not dressing up the table, move the plants to a sunny window or under artificial lights.

Avoid drafts of hot and cold air. Continue watering it thoroughly as needed.

Everyone will appreciate the fresh flavor and fun of flavoring their own meals right at the table during your holiday meal.

Melinda Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Her web site is www.MelindaMyers.com.

Page 18 • Williston Observer • December 10, 2020

Afterschool program grant funds doubled

The Vermont Community Foundation has announced it will use $50,000 from its COVID-19 Response Fund to create a second round of “Afterschool for All” grants. The funds will nearly double the amount in the competitive grant program, with over $110,000 available in one-time grants to increase access to out-of-school-time programs across Vermont.

“We know that young people deserve to be well supported in this uncertain time, and that afterschool programming is an essential service that helps youth be safe, healthy, educated and engaged,”

said Sarah Waring, vice president for grants and community investments at the Vermont Community Foundation. “We are excited that our COVID-19 Response Fund can help to nearly double the grants available for these programs across the state.”

Administered by Vermont Afterschool, the Afterschool for All grants started with one-time tobacco settlement funds allocated by the Vermont Legislature to Vermont’s Child Development Division in 2018. An oversight committee for the first round selected 12 projects out of 101 applicants that would

Programs can apply for one-time grants of $2,500-$15,000 with funds to be spent in 2021.

Visit www.vermontafterschool.org for more information. start or expand afterschool, before school, summer, expanded learning and third space programming for Vermont youth in grades K-12.

“Thanks to this contribution from the Vermont Community Foundation, we can continue to help programs start up or expand,” said Vermont Afterschool Exec-

utive Director Holly Morehouse.

“Now, more than ever, we know programs need help to continue their important role in local communities by keeping kids safe, helping students learn on remote school days, and providing support for working families.”

The competitive grant pro-

cess will prioritize programs that increase access for low-income children and youth; create or expand options in underserved areas of the state; serve adolescents and teens; and/or foster skills in science, technology, engineering and math. Funds can also be used for summer learning programs, COVID-19 expenses related to providing in-person programming and school-age child care on remote learning days.

“We know that afterschool and youth-serving programs are an integral part of COVID recovery efforts,” Morehouse said. “It’s about building a stronger support system and working together to expand opportunities for youth to thrive.”

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Natural Gas Safety: Detecting Leaks & Winter Safety Tips Detecting a Leak: Smell Natural gas is normally odorless. A distinctive, pungent odor,similar to rotten eggs, is added so that you will recognize it quickly. Sight You may see a white cloud, mist, fog, bubbles in standing water or blowing dust. You may also see vegetation that appears to be dead or dying for no apparent reason. Sound You may hear an unusual noise like a roaring, hissing, or whistling.

If You Suspect a Leak: Move immediately to a safe location outside the building.

Call VGS at 1-800-639-8081, or call 911, with the exact location. Do not smoke or operate electrical switches or appliances. These items may produce a spark that might ignite the gas or cause an explosion. Do not assume someone else will report the condition.

Protect Meters & Vents from Ice and Snow: Don’t push or pile deep snow around meters and ensure whoever removes snow from your property knows meter and appliance vent locations. Use extreme care when clearing snow surrounding, or large icicles above, meters and vents. If your meter gets encased in thick ice, please call us.

Wishing you a safe a nd healt hy holiday season, from yo ur friend s at VGS!

December 10, 2020 • Williston Observer • Page 19

SENIORS

How to write an online will

Savvy Senior

BY JIM MILLER Dear Savvy Senior, Writing a will has never been a high priority to me, but this lingering coronavirus crisis has changed my thinking. Can you recommend some good do-it-yourself resources to help me write a simple will?

Getting Older

Dear Getting, The coronavirus crisis has changed the way a lot of people look at things, including wills.

Currently, fewer than half of American adults have prepared a will. But having a last will and testament is important because it ensures that your money and property will be distributed to the people you want to receive it after your death.

If you die without a will, your estate will be settled in accordance with state law. Details vary by state, but assets typically are distributed using a hierarchy of survivors. Assets go first to a spouse, then to children, then your siblings, and so on.

You also need to be aware that certain accounts take precedence over a will. If you jointly own a home or a bank account, for example, the house, and the funds in the account, will go to the joint holder, even if your will directs otherwise.

Similarly, retirement accounts and life insurance policies are distributed to the beneficiaries you designate, so it is important to keep them up to date, too.

Online Will Makers If you have a simple, straightforward estate and an uncomplicated family situation, writing your own will — with the help of a good online will-making program — is a viable alternative to hiring an attorney, and much cheaper. Like tax software, these online tools will guide you through a series of ques-

tions and will insert your answers into a will for you, and it usually takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish.

Three top-rated, do-it-yourself options include the Quicken WillMaker & Trust 2021 downloadable software (available at www.nolo. com) that costs $100 and works with Windows and Macs and is valid in every state except Louisiana; LegalZoom (www.legalzoom. com), which offers basic wills for $89 or $99 if you’d like assistance from an independent attorney; and Trust & Will (www.trustandwill. com) which charges $89 for a basic will.

If that’s more than you’re willing to pay, consider FreeWill (www.freewill.com), which is a completely free will-making resource made possible with the support of nonprofit organizations.

When to Hire a Lawyer If you have considerable financial assets or a complex

family situation, like a blended family or child with special needs, it would be smart for you to seek professional advice. An experienced lawyer can make sure you cover all your bases, which can help avoid family confusion and squabbles after you’re gone.

The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (www.naela.org) and the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (www.naepc.org) are good resources that have directories to help you find someone in your area.

Costs will vary depending on your location and the complexity of your situation, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $200 and $1,000 to get your will made. To help you save, shop around and get price quotes from several different firms. And before you meet with an attorney, make a detailed list of your assets and accounts to help make your visit more efficient.

Make it Valid Be aware that to make your will valid, you must sign and date it and have it witnessed according to the laws of your state. Most states require two witnesses who are not listed as beneficiaries in your will to watch you sign it. Some states also require that a notary witness the signing, as well. The website www.Nationalnotary.org can tell you if a notary is needed to legalize

a will in your state, if remote notary services are available and how to access such online services to execute your will if you are sheltering at home during the pandemic.

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.

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Peace of mind for families near and far.

We can help with day to day logistics or more intensive care 24/7.

It’s a different time for all of us, let us know how you are choosing to spend your holidays during the pandemic.

Send us a short story about your family plans to editor@willistonobserver.com along with your contact information.

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Page 20 • Williston Observer • December 10, 2020 tures. For K-2, Tuesdays, Jan. 26-March 9, 4:45-5:45 p.m. $142. Registration deadline: Jan. 12.

CREATIVE CODING STUDIO W/TYNKER (ONLINE)

The Williston Recreation and Parks Department is located at the Town Hall Annex Building at 7878 Williston Road.

For online program registration, visit www.willistonrec.org. For department information, email recreation@willistonvt.org or call 876-1160.

the Learn to Ski/Ride Program fits into this order, as it is not a league and one of the collaborators in this program is Williston Schools.

SNOWMOBILE SAFETY COURSE (ONLINE)

HOLIDAY DECORATING CONTEST Judging takes place this week, Dec. 1114, 4:30-7 p.m. each night. Winners will be announced Dec. 17. Viewing of the residential displays can happen any time prior to Dec. 30. For a map of the registered homes, visit www.goo.gl/maps/p3XQyeBu3PPpyk7C9 Recreation & Parks Committee members will judge residential displays. The public can judge the business displays. A judging form can be filled out at www.forms.gle/ PpnwgBR2tphDg9Ee9.

LEARN TO SKI/RIDE PROGRAM Registration is still on hold currently due to the Governor’s orders pertaining to recreation programs. We are seeing where

The online course provides the opportunity to earn the certification necessary to legally operate on Vermont’s statewide snowmobile trail system. Everyone born after July 1, 1983, and 12 years of age and older, are required by law to take and pass an approved snowmobile safety course to use the trails.

Register at www.vsp.vermont.gov/recreation/snowmobile.

WICKED GROSS SCIENCE (ONLINE) This program is online and live with a Wicked Cool for Kids Instructor. The gross yet fascinating things in life hide many science secrets. Classify some creepy crawlies and neutralize smelly smells. Make some model mucus, create alien slime, have fun with other grossly amusing science adven-

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NEW ONLINE EXHIBITION A. Elmer Crowell: Sculptor, Painter, Decoy Maker Explore the artistry and innovation of the acclaimed carver’s ornamental birds.

This program is online and live with a Wicked Cool for Kids Instructor. Discover programming through art, music and math.

Collaborate to plan and build amazing projects using visual programming. Start with coding sounds and music, make a band and program beat-boxing gnomes. Animate dragons and learn to draw and color computer animations. For grades 3-5, Thursdays, Jan. 28-March 11, 4:45-5:45 p.m. $142. Registration deadline: Jan. 12.

NINJA KIDS AND TEEN PROGRAMS (IN-PERSON) Try a four-week introduction to kids martial arts. Ninja classes help girls and boys realize their full potential in an environment that is playful, supportive and fun. The play-based curriculum of tumbling, parkour and martial arts increases kids’ strength and self-confidence and the moving meditation series helps kids manage their emotions.

ONTA Studio instructors. There are three age group offerings: Ninja Kids 4-9, Ninja Kids 7-10 and Ninja Teens 10-15. Programs start the week of Jan. 5-9. Times vary. $60.

DANGEROUS GIRLS (IN-PERSON) Dangerous Girls is a practical self-defense class designed for teens and young women. With a combination kickboxing and grappling, you’ll learn real fighting while bouncing to sweet tunes and laughing with friends. It’s fun, social and before you know it, you’ll be able to kick butt. Each four-week session delves into a different martial discipline. ONTA Studio instructors. Age 14-plus, Wednesdays, Jan. 6-27, 6:30-7:30 p.m. $60.

BETTER SLEEP (ONLINE) This four-week Zoom program will give you tips on how to relax your nervous system and hence your body, so sleep comes more easily to you. In the Feldenkrais Method, all the movements are gentle and easy — and other tips are included. All that’s needed is to be in a warm place, in comfortable clothing on the floor, so the instructor can see all of you. Instructor Gillian Franks. Age 18-plus, Mondays, Jan. 4-25, 6-7 p.m. $45.

UKULELE AND HARMONICA VIRTUAL PROGRAMS Join Clare Innes for great ukulele or harmonica programs. These are Zoom Programs. Offerings in December and January.

see RECREATION page 21

GIFTS THEY’LL CHERISH. FROM A PL ACE YOU LOVE .

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December 10, 2020 • Williston Observer • Page 21

Master Gardener course offered for all abilities Whether your interests lie with food production, fruits or flowers, you can expand your home horticulture knowledge by enrolling in the upcoming University of Vermont Extension Master Gardener course.

The 16-week non-credit online course runs from Jan. 8 through May 21. Enrollment is open to gardeners of all levels who want to learn about vegetable gardening, annuals, perennials, sustainable landscaping, pollinator gardens, entomology and tree, shrub and lawn care, among other topics.

UVM faculty and green industry experts will present information through recorded lectures, live Q&A webinars, discussion forums and other weekly activities. Participants should have basic computer skills and expect to spend up to five hours a week on course work, assignments and quizzes.

The deadline to register is Jan. 8. The fee is $400 for Vermont residents, $550 for non-residents.

Partial scholarships are available for Vermonters with applications

Recreation continued from page

accepted until Dec. 31. To register or for information on financial aid, go to www.go.uvm.edu/mastergardener.

To request a disability-related accommodation to participate, contact Beret Halverson at beret.halverson@uvm.edu or (802) 656-1777

by Dec. 20.

Three separate tracks will be offered. Track 1 is for gardeners seeking certification as a UVM Extension Master Gardener volunteer, which requires a 40-hour internship after completion of the course.

Track 2 is for anyone not interested in Master Gardener certification, only in studying home horticulture. Gardeners taking this track will earn a Vermont Certificate of Home Horticulture. Track 3 covers the same information as the other two tracks but is entirely self-paced with no certification.

For more information, contact the UVM Extension Master Gardener Program Office at (802) 6569562 or master.gardener@uvm. edu.

20

STRENGTH TRAINING (ONLINE)

ONTA STUDIO PROGRAMS, 18-PLUS, (IN-PERSON)

Online live with Toni Kunker, Age 50-plus, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free to seniors. Visit www.willistonrec. org for directions how to join the program.

Fighter Fitness — Mondays, Thursday or Saturdays, starting week of Jan. 4-9, times vary. $60.

Tai Chi Form — Tuesdays, Jan. 5-Feb. 9, 5:30-6:30 p.m. $90.

MMA for Nerds — Tuesdays, Jan. 5-26, 6:30-7:30 p.m. $60.

Dangerous Girls — Wednesdays, Jan. 6-27, 6:30-7:30 p.m. $60.

Cardio Kickboxing — Thursdays, Jan. 7-28, 6:30-7:30 p.m. $60.

Street Fighter 9000 — Fridays, Jan. 8-29, 7-8 p.m. $60.

GENTLE/SEATED YOGA (ONLINE) Online live with Toni Kunker, Age 50-plus, Fridays, 10:30-11:3 a.m. Free to Seniors Visit www. willistonrec.org for directions how to join the program.

CROSSWORD • SOLUTION ON PAGE 23

ACROSS 1. Manual boat mover 4. “The windows to the soul” 8. Have a hankering 12. Prepare, as a turkey 15. Season of fasting 16. Type of guard 17. Word in many Agatha Christie titles 18. Luck 19. Fax, say 20. Robin Hood weapon 22. Cooking plant 24. Birthday card subject 25. Ring 27. Pertained 29. Slowing the car 32. “How exciting!”

33. Half a fortnight 34. “Come on baby light my ___” 36. Fighting force 40. Made a meal of 41. Chumps 43. Sympathetic attention 44. Pre-entree course 47. Mass of tissue 48. Big cheese in Athens 49. Net judge’s cry 51. Corporate marriages

53. Math with letters 57. Be a monarch 58. Happy hour hangout 59. Unbending 61. Among 64. Item in a writer’s notebook 66. Sacred cow 68. Jean fabric 70. Home paper 71. Elan vital 72. Wear away 73. “Loose” things 74. Shirt button 75. ___ lands DOWN 1. Kooky 2. Part 3. Back end 4. Dungeons & Dragons figure 5. Agreed!

6. Put data in 7. Music maker 8. Obstinate equine 9. Swindler 10. Depend 11. Terminated 13. Window cleaner’s blemish 14. Jarring surprise

21. Trace of odor 23. Group 26. Part of “the works” 28. “There it is!”

29. Software test version 30. Falter 31. He has a stable job 33. ‘’Who __ that masked man?’’

35. One sought for advice 37. Big game 38. Rodent scavengers 39. Renaissance, for one 42. Red Cross supply 45. It may come in cases 46. Balance sheet item 48. Tributary 50. Drops behind 52. Coast 53. Stand for 54. Weighed down 55. Rapacious desire for wealth 56. Sit in on 60. Good source of protein 62. Cold covering 63. “High” or “low” water 65. Promotional efforts 67. Chaired 69. Assembled

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Page 22 • Williston Observer • December 10, 2020

Abenaki Land Link Project sows resiliency

BY EMILY WANZER Special to the Observer

The Abenaki Land Link Project, a partnership to grow food for Abenaki citizens between the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation, the Vermont Farm to Plate Network and the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont wrapped up its pilot year this fall.

Beginning in spring 2020, 15 growers from around Vermont planted traditional Abenaki crops with seeds provided by the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk. Many of these seeds were originally sourced by Dr. Fred Wiseman and the “Seeds of Renewal” project.

The growers sowed, tended and harvested Koasek/Calais mix and Calais flint corn, true cranberry, skunk and Mohawk beans, and Algonquin squash, yielding over 520 pounds of squash, 30 pounds of beans and 30 pounds of cornmeal. All of the food is being returned to Abenaki citizens this winter with priority being given to elders, those with disabilities and those who are food insecure.

According to Don Stevens, Chief of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk, the question being answered by the project is, “how do we help our citizens gain access to natural foods, but also to live in the means that our ancestors did?”

The seeds being shared with growers,

Calais flint corn. OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO

which are at the core of the Abenaki Land Link Project and have been passed down for generations, are the key. In Vermont and across the country, native people are disproportionately affected by poverty and health issues. This leaves many without access to nourishing foods and more susceptible to diabetes and heart disease.

“There are specific crops that we have that we want to keep control of or be stewards of because they were given to our ancestors to feed us and we can process them,” says Stevens. “They’re unique to our bodies.”

However, the project is about much more than just the nutrition provided by the food being grown. The Abenaki people in Vermont today are survivors of hundreds of years of a ruling culture that aimed to drive them to extinction though war, disease, fa-

milial separation and the eugenics movement. For Stevens, this project is also about working within the system so that “our kids can be proud of who they are and stay involved with the tribe. Without our kids, our culture and traditions could become extinct.”

The project also offers an opportunity for non-native Vermonters to give back to First Nations people who helped and provided for European settlers. For many of the growers, that opportunity in and of itself is a gift. Through the seeds, the growing process and working with the native crops, participants in the project were able to learn different ways of connecting to the food source they were stewarding.

“You are but one strand in the web of life and not dominion over it. We must acknowledge and work with all of the various strands

to uplift our people and be in harmony with our place in the world,” Stevens said.

One of the main tenets of the Abenaki Land Link Project was that it was never mandated or prescribed by external institutions; it was centered upon what Stevens was looking to do for his tribal citizens. According to Shane Rogers, the Farm to Plate communications manager at the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, and Livy Bulger, education and engagement manager at the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont, the Abenaki Land Link Project is not about charity, nor showing off social justice projects.

“It’s about building resiliency into the Vermont food system and not letting people fall through the cracks,” Rogers said. “And for the white-led organizations and growers that are involved, part of this work is also about recognizing the horrific relationship between European colonists, the United States government and native people, examining the ways in which that relationship is perpetuated today and taking a small first step in repairing and healing those relationships here in Vermont.”

“Food provides connective tissue between people,” says Bulger, “and hopefully fosters empowerment.”

Learn more about how to get involved or make a donation at www.vtfarmtoplate.com.

Emily Wanzer is the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund community access intern.

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GOT NEWS? Email editor@willistonobserver.com

December 10, 2020 • Williston Observer • Page 23

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BUILDING SERVICES 11

financial hit this year.

Lynch says her income has changed “astronomically” since the start of pandemic. She estimates that, as a server, her weekly pay a year ago was three or four times more than what it is now. And now that Verità has shut down its inside dining, there are even fewer hours to go around.

“I’m filing for unemployment again, because the hours that are available don’t meet my needs for survival,” she said.

Wages were a serious concern “across the board,” says the former Sweetwaters worker. When workers were furloughed in the spring, many got on enhanced unemployment — and often saw an increase in their income. “People in this industry finally had enough money to go beyond living paycheck to paycheck,” she said. It was nerve-racking to return to work, where wages were lower and far less certain.

All of the restaurant owners that VTDigger spoke with for this story said they had either reduced hours for employees or cut staff since the beginning of the fall. Melissa Baldwin, the general manager of Leunig’s Bistro downtown, said the restaurant was operating with a fraction of the staff it had before the pandemic. Davis said he has done “a round of layoffs” across the restaurants he owns.

BEAGLE BUILDERS, LLC The worst may be yet to come. In the restaurant business, January, February and March are the slowest months of the year. At that point, the holiday rush has simmered down, and the weather has turned wintry.

“Right now, in December, we’re doing January-February-March numbers,” said Melincoff of Sweetwaters. “So what is March going to look like?”

Lynch said she fears that, without outside support, Burlington’s eclectic restaurant scene could look very different on the other side of the pandemic. “In Burlington, there are so many independent, individual-run restaurants,” she said.

“That’s really special.”

Wells said she expects those independently owned restaurants, like Pizzeria Verità, to be the hardest hit. “We just run at a much smaller margin,” she said, when compared to corporate chains.

Many restaurants, like Verità, have been surviving off Paycheck Protection Program loans — but that federal aid money will run out at the end of this month. For restaurants, and their workers, the clock is ticking.

“We’re just being left out to dry,” Lynch said. “It’s like, ‘feed ‘em until you can’t.’”

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Page 24 • Williston Observer • December 10, 2020

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