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MARCH 4, 2021
WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985
Voters say ‘yes’ across the board
WWW.WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM
Rover rolls on Old Stage Road
Town, school budgets pass; incumbents returned to boards
Voters approved all questions presented to them Tuesday at Town Meeting Day. A total of 1,313 people voted in Williston out of roughly 8,500 registered voters. A majority of ballots were cast by mail — about 800, according to Williston Town Clerk Sarah Mason. Approximately 500 voters cast ballots at the polls at the Vermont National Guard Armory next to Town Hall on an especially cold day. An $11.5 million town budget for the upcoming fiscal year was passed by a tally of 994 to 292. The budget will decrease town spending by about $100,000 compared to the current fiscal year. Williston voters also contributed to the passage of the Champlain Valley School District budget of $85.2 million. When combined with vote tallies throughout the district — including Charlotte, Shelburne, St. George and Hinesburg — the budget passed by a tally of
MIke Spasyk casts his ballot on Tuesday morning at the National Guard Armory in Williston. OBSERVER PHOTO BY AL FREY
3,701 to 1,446. School district voters also approved the use of $2 million in reserve funds to reduce the property tax impact of $2.8 million in yearover-year increased spending. District administrators estimate school property taxes will decrease slightly see VOTERS page 7
About 2 p.m. Saturday, a 1995 Land Rover rolled on its side after the driver attempted a turn on Old Stage Road. Williston Police responded to the scene and arrested the driver on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. No one was injured in the incident. OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTOS
Whitney Hill renovations to temporarily displace seniors Volunteers sought to help residents with the move BY EVA BENWAY Observer staff Whitney Hill Homestead, a senior living facility off Williston Road, will undergo extensive renovations this year requiring the temporary relocation of residents. Starting in April, groups of residents, some of whom are over 100 years old, will be relocated to local motel rooms for up to six weeks while their units are upgraded. The upgrades will happen in phases and continue into early next year. Beth Alpert, Whitney Hill’s SASH (Support And Services at Home) coordinator, said residents are very excited at the prospect of improvements in the building, including new appliances, sprinkler systems and siding. However, she also said that there is some anxiety about
the move. Many residents find the prospect of packing up their lives daunting. To help residents feel less overwhelmed, Alpert is looking for volunteers to help residents pack and move their belongings out, then back into, their apartments. Volunteers will be needed through the beginning of next year. Contact Alpert at Alpert@ cathedralsquare.org to sign up to help. Whitney Hill is nearly 30 years old, and the upgrades will increase safety and energy efficiency, said Cindy Reid, director of housing development for Cathedral Square, the non-profit owner of the building. Plans for the renovation have been in the works for over a year, but the process was complicated by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, making it harder for contractors to conduct onsite inspections. For much of the planning process, it was un-
The Whitney Hill Homestead is a Cathedral Square senior living facility off Williston Road. OBSERVER PHOTO BY EVA BENWAY
clear when a vaccine would be created or available to the pub-
lic. With the availability of the new vaccines, Reid said that res-
idents will be fully vaccinated before they begin their move.
Page 2 • Williston Observer • March 4, 2021
Tap, tap … sap
State opens vaccinations to teachers BY LOLA DUFFORT AND ERIN PETENKO
Mike Isham begins the sugaring season Friday on the Isham Family Farm on Oak Hill Road. Although followed by a freeze early this week, last weekend’s above-freezing temperatures allowed for the beginnings of maple syrup production. OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY
With the Johnson & Johnson vaccine coming online and the federal pharmacy program ramping up, Gov. Phil Scott announced Tuesday that school staff, child care workers and more Vermonters with high-risk conditions would become eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine starting next week. Phase 5 of the state’s vaccination program will open Monday, Scott said, which includes high-risk Vermonters aged 55 and over. Starting March 15, those with the same high-risk conditions aged 16 and over will become eligible. School staff and child care workers will also become eligible Monday. More information about how to register will be released Friday. School-based vaccination clinics will deliver the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but school staff and child care workers will also be allowed to access the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines through the state’s partnership with Walgreens. “It’s very exciting for the teachers and the people who work in the buildings,” said
Champlain Valley School District Communications Director Bonnie Birdsall. Administration officials said they expected to have all school staff vaccinated by the first weeks of April. “These are important steps forward, and with more supply Vermonters can be optimistic that we’re on pace to be in a very good place by late spring or early summer,” Scott said. The Scott administration has pressed local district officials to more fully reopen schools, and the governor has said he would like to see all K-12 students back in class five days a week sometime in April. Educators have responded that mitigation measures should not be relaxed without, at a minimum, additional protection for school staff and teachers. “Nobody wants to see students return to the state’s classrooms more than teachers, paraeducators, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians, school nurses, and administrators. But, as we’ve said all along, this can only happen when it is demonstrably safe to do so. Vaccinating school employees is a big step in the right direction,” Vermont teachers union president Don Tinney said in a statement. — Jason Starr contributed to this report
CORRECTION
The Academic Honors list published in last week’s Observer misspelled the name of one of the honorees. It should have said Ryan Lackey was named to the Dean’s list at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences for the fall 2020 semester.
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March 4, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 3
BIPOC educators slam diversity director hiring process BY JASON STARR Observer staff
OBSERVER PHOTO BY EVA BENWAY
Black Lives Matter flag rises at Town Hall After a short ceremony on a chilly morning, the Black Lives Matter flag was raised in front of Williston Town Hall on Monday. Speakers included selectboard chair Terry Macaig, Community Justice Center Director Cristalee McSweeney and resident Pat Brown. The selectboard approved the symbol in a 3-2 vote in February. “This action by the selectboard is intended to recognize the harm caused by the evils of racism,” Macaig said. “This action is not an endorsement of the organization Black Lives Matter or its
political platforms. Rather, it is a statement that black lives matter in our community.” McSweeney said the flag should be “a reminder of the obligations we as white people have to our BIPOC (black indigenous, people of color) neighbors and serve as an invitation to live with greater integrity — standing up for what is right, what is fair, what is just.” Brown closed the ceremony with a reading of the poem “I, Too” by Langston Hughes.
The Champlain Valley School District stands accused of racism in the way it is hiring for an anti-racism administrator. The district hired its first “director of diversity, equity and inclusion” last July, but that person resigned within a week, with job duties and level of authority at issue. A committee of school board members and administrators reconsidered the job description over a series of meetings last year, and the opening was reposted three weeks ago. Shortly after the reposting, during a Feb. 16 meeting of the school board, Allen Brook School paraeducator Jorge Rios, Hines-
burg Community School Spanish teacher Ainaka Luna and Shelburne Community School planning room director Yasamin Gordon criticized the job description as exclusionary. The requirement that candidates have a master’s degree precludes people who may be qualified through experience rather than higher education, they told board members and administrators. “A lot of people with great skills can’t get this job because they can’t pay for a graduate (school) diploma,” Luna said. “It is elitist and it reinforces white privilege. There are other people who have been doing so much community work and deserve to be here because they have the experience.” Rios said the district did not learn from the experience of trying
to hire for the position last year and called the hiring process racist. “We can’t start an inclusive position by excluding people,” he said. The district hired consultant Noel Green to help write the job description and qualifications. Green, who is black, is the former interim principal of Burlington High School. Superintendent Elaine Pinckney said having a master’s level requirement was Green’s suggestion. “We believed that is how we were signaling how important this position was,” she said. “The posting is about finding the very best person we can find to lead this work.” see BIPOC page 7
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Page 4 • Williston Observer • March 4, 2021
Task force proposed to deal with college sexual assaults
Restorative justice models come to forefront BY ELLIE FRENCH VTDigger Each college in Vermont handles sexual assaults on campus differently — and with a different level of resources. Advocates and survivors say this uneven system
isn’t serving Vermont students well, and they are now pushing legislation that would tackle the disparities. Most research shows that between one in four and one in five female students are sexually assaulted in college. At better-endowed schools, such as UVM and Middlebury, full-time, campus-based advocates are typically available for survivors, as well as a full-time office of
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Title IX staff. At smaller, less affluThe new task force aims to Selene Colburn, P-Burlington. ent schools, there is often just one continue the previous group’s However, with most of the ispart-time Title IX officer to help work. sues the group discussed, there was students. The group found no consen- easy consensus. One of the biggest “The options for survivors of sus on the issue of requiring that issues then and now, Colburn said, sexual assault vary widely based instances of sexual harm be listed is the need for better pathways to on where the survivor restorative justice for is enrolled,” said Sarah survivors of sexual asRobinson, deputy direcsault in Vermont. tor of the Vermont NetThe restorative work Against Domestic justice process would and Sexual Violence. allow perpetrators and A bill this sessurvivors to sit with a sion, H.183, would form mediator, outside of a task force on campus a more formal legal sexual harm that would process, and talk about allow schools to share what happened. That resources, information way, perpetrators can and best practices to understand and apolocreate more consistency gize for the harm they across Vermont’s camcaused. puses in the way schools However, just as respond to sexual viothe 2019 task force was lence. finalizing its recomIn 2019, a task mendations on that isforce of the same name sue, the Trump adminwas established by the Rep. Selene Colburn, P-Burlington, was on a 2019 task force istration rolled out new that began to tackle the problem of college sexual assault. Legislature — though That group recommended that a permanent task force be rules that did the exact the group had only six established. FILE PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER opposite. The Trump funded meetings, after rules made Title IX which it produced a report on its on perpetrators’ transcripts when cases look even more like criminal initial findings. Chief among those they’re suspended or expelled from proceedings, including cross-examfindings: The group should be school because of the offense. ination of survivors in court. made permanent because its work “We ended up being split right was just beginning. down the middle on that,” said Rep. see TASK FORCE page 5
March 4, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 5 ticular. Advocates said the prevalence of sexual harm on campuses makes it clear that more than just onecontinued from page 4 time legislation will be needed to address the scope of Sexual assault is already one of the least report- the problem. An informal intercollegiate group of Title IX ofed crimes, and Colburn said one of the things the task ficers exists, but it has no resources and no specific force routinely talked about was how to make it easier assignment, and Colburn said members of that group for survivors to seek justice. She said it’s her hope that, have told her that makes it hard to under the Biden administration, get much done. that might be possible. “Women who are col“We don’t know how those lege-aged are at the highest risk rules are going to change under in terms of experiencing sexual the new administration,” she said, assault. And campuses are small “but there was a real sense then communities,” Robinson said. that it was going to be even harder “That’s something Vermonters for survivors to have positive outknow quite well — how difficult it comes in their cases through the can be to be a victim of a crime in campus process.” a small community in which you Colburn said a formal, are likely to interact with the percriminal proceeding is extremeson who caused you harm in some ly important for some surviway, shape or form.” vors, but it often means perpeColburn said because of the trators will never acknowledge nature of campuses, it’s especially or apologize for what they’ve important to target this issue in the done. She said that’s the oppocollege setting. — Rep. Selene Colburn site of what a lot of survivors P-Burlington But it’s not just college, she are looking for. said: People in the same age group “Everything in these systems as traditional college students, but is set up for people to be like, ‘No, who aren’t in college, actually have even higher rates I didn’t do it,’ because they’re trying to avoid penalties and consequences,’’ she said. “But now, a lot of cam- of sexual assault. “I think it’s a very dynamic moment right now in puses are starting to really look at restorative models, and survivors are feeling more supported by those pro- looking at issues related to sexual violence on campus,” Robinson said. “It’s the right time to have attencesses.” tion and an ongoing dialogue about this issue in VerThe bill currently in the Legislature has several BANG_FullPage+.5Page.pdf 2 1/25/21 9:33 AM components not relating to campus sexual harm in par- mont.”
TASK FORCE
‘A lot of campuses are starting to really look at restorative models, and survivors are feeling more supported by those processes.’
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Page 6 • Williston Observer • March 4, 2021
GUEST COLUMN
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Mailing address: P.O. Box 1401 Williston, Vt. 05495 PUBLISHER: Susan T. Cote susan@willistonobserver.com EDITOR: Jason Starr editor@willistonobserver.com ADVERTISING: Marianne Apfelbaum 802-872-9000 marianne@willistonobserver.com PRODUCTION: Sue Storey sstorey@willistonobserver.com MEMBER: Burlington Area Newspaper Group
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Wages fall short of workers’ basic needs
SUBMISSIONS/LETTERS SEND TO editor@willistonobserver.com • News/story tips welcomed • Letters must be 300 words or fewer • Deadline is Monday at noon Include your name, address and a daytime phone number (so 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.
BY JULIE LOWELL How much income does a person need to live? The Joint Fiscal Office’s January release of its biennial Vermont Basic Needs Budgets and Livable Wage report answers this question. Unfortunately, it reminds us that not all Vermonters are able to meet their basic needs. In 2020, livable income levels for full-time workers ranged from nearly $13 an hour for people without children in rural Vermont to nearly $42 an hour for a single parent with two children in the Burlington area — about $27,000 and $87,000 a year respectively. The report details the cost of basic needs for seven Vermont household configurations, adjusting expenses based on household size and type: one or two parents, children, urban or rural. Needs include food, hous-
CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS SEND TO editor@willistonobserver.com Must include: • name of event & organization • date, time and place of event • contact information. We only print submissions for nonprofit groups and organizations. CLASSIFIEDS SEND TO marianne@willistonobserver.com PAID CLASSIFIEDS: There is a fee for business, real estate and help wanted ads. FREE CLASSIFIEDS: Printed on a ‘space-available’ basis; no guarantee of placement. • 25 words or fewer • Deadline is Friday at noon
The Williston Observer reserves the right to edit or refuse any submissions or advertising. Opinions expressed in the paper are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the paper.
ing, transportation, childcare and health care, among other costs. Vermont has two main policy levers to help ensure that working Vermonters can make ends meet: minimum wage and the earned income tax credit (EITC). The minimum wage provides a wage floor. The EITC recognizes that wages often cannot cover the cost of all household expenses and supplements low wages through a tax credit for households with low and moderate incomes. But Vermont’s 2020 minimum wage was just $10.96 an hour, nearly two dollars lower than what people without children in rural Vermont needed to get by, and far below what a single parent with children needed. Even Vermont’s scheduled minimum wage increase to $12.55 by 2022 will not meet any of these households’ basic needs. The
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EITC supplemented incomes for parents earning the minimum wage, but left an income gap of over $27 an hour for some families. And individuals without children earning the minimum wage do not currently qualify for the EITC. National or state action to ensure a $15 minimum wage would boost the incomes of tens of thousands of Vermonters, allowing many to meet their basic needs. State expansion of the EITC would better help fill in the gap between earned wages and needed income for additional fulland part-time workers. These steps would especially impact people of color and women, who are disproportionately employed in lowwage work, guaranteeing that these Vermonters have enough food to eat, safe housing and the resources they need to live a healthy life. While the Joint Fiscal Office report reminds us that many working Vermonters are not making enough to live on. The good news is that we already have mechanisms in place to address this problem. Making adjustments to these mechanisms — increasing the minimum wage and expanding the EITC — would provide an economic boost to thousands of people in the state. Julie Lowell is a policy analyst at the Public Assets Institute, online at www. publicassets.org.
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Have photos you would like to share? Holidays, nature, village, pets, kids, seniors, family, sports, all things Williston! We would love to publish your work! Send your high resolution digital photos to editor@ willistonobserver.com with a photo caption, photo credit, and your contact information.
March 4, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 7
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Hounding: Vermont’s wildlife failure There is a bill in the Vermont House of Representatives (H.172), that will ban bear hounding. I ask that everyone support it. There is another bill, H.316, that I hope can be expanded to include control of all dogs used for hounding — not just bear hounds, but dogs used for attacking foxes, raccoons, bobcats and coyotes, too. I am hoping legislators in both the House and the Senate will step up to the plate. Hounding is when a bunch of dogs are purposely let loose to chase and attack wild animals. They are unsupervised and are miles away from the hound-hunters, who often sit in their trucks. These hounds run on other people’s property, attack and eviscerate animals (including non-target species) and cause terror to the animals who fall victim to them. The dogs, themselves, are mistreated. They are kenneled outdoors, 24/7, unless they are hound-
Voters continued from page
1
next fiscal year. Williston voters returned school board members Josilyn Adams and Brendan McMahon to the board for new three-year terms. Both incumbents ran unopposed. They also returned Terry Macaig
ing. The training methods are not sophisticated, nor humane. It is legalized dog fighting. The Vermont Legislature has allowed this group to regulate themselves, with no oversight, and with dire consequences. Last October, an experienced hiking couple and their dog were attacked by a pack of hounds for 45 minutes. There was no hunter in the vicinity. There were no laws broken in Vermont, which gave this poor couple and their dog, all of whom sustained injuries, little recourse. Nobody has control of any dog if that dog is visually out of sight and hearing distance of the owner or handler. Hound hunters do not maintain control over their dogs and are not legally required to. If hounders and hunters regulate themselves, how is there any oversight or enforcement? Hounding is a recreational sport practiced by a few. It is a public safety risk and has no place in conservation. It needs to banned.
BIPOC continued from page
3
Alana Stevenson Charlotte
Gordon, who is among one of several new diversity coaches at the district this school year, criticized the hiring of Green, saying the district should have prioritized ideas from its own staff over an outsider. “This district has a bad habit of looking for outside sources to come in as experts,” she said. “If you look to the community, you will find the answers you are looking for instead of ignoring us and looking to people who have nothing to do with us.” Pinckney said the district had already received six candidates in the first few days since posting the position. She also agreed to revise the qualifications to say “Master’s degree from an accredited college or university or equivalent experience.” The posting also says “black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), immigrants, women, and LGBTQ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.” Candidate interviews are ex-
and Gordon St. Hilaire to the selectboard, Macaig for a two-year term and St. Hilaire for a three-year term. Both incumbents ran unopposed. Macaig will enter his 20th year on the board, while St. Hilaire begins his second term. In a contested election for a five-year term on the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library Board of Trustees, Kathleen Deluca beat out
Steve Shepard by a tally of 854 to 238. Results of a Champlain Water District infrastructure bond of $1.1 million were not available by press time. Williston voters approved the request 1,056 to 204. The water district was awaiting results from Jericho on Wednesday morning before confirming a district-wide tally. — Jason Starr
Send your letters to editor@willistonobserver.com
‘If you look to the community, you will find the answers you are looking for instead of ignoring us and looking to people who have nothing to do with us.’ — Yasamin Gordon Shelburne Community School
pected to take place this month. The director of diversity, equity and inclusion will be responsible for implementing the district’s equity policy, approved by the board in December. The policy was written to ensure “each student receives the resources and education-
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U.S. Attorney for Vermont resigns
Christina Nolan resigned from her position as U.S. Attorney for Vermont effective Sunday. Nolan started the position on Nov. 27, 2017 after recommendations from Sen. Patrick Leahy and Gov. Phil Scott and the nomination of former President Donald Trump. She was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. “I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to work for Vermonters in the fight for justice with the talented and good people of the U.S. Attorney’s Office … and to have led this outstanding
group since November 2017,” Nolan said. “Together we secured justice, promoted public safety and vindicated victims’ rights on behalf of Vermonters and the American people.” The U.S. Attorneys Office for Vermont, one of the smallest in the country, underwent unprecedented growth and restructuring under Nolan, acquiring five new full-time employee positions: three assistant U.S. attorneys and two litigation support specialists. The office also created two new supervisory positions: a supervi-
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sory paralegal and a deputy criminal chief with responsibility for oversight of drug prosecutions. The office’s productivity spiked under Nolan, with 224 defendants charged in Fiscal Year 2019, a 51 percent increase over Fiscal Year 2018 and the highest number of defendants charged in a year since 2010. The office devoted at least half its prosecutorial resources to matters involving drug trafficking, firearms and violence. It coordinated three targeted surges of federal, state and local law enforcement to conduct firearms and drug trafficking arrests in 2019. These operations occurred in the Brattleboro area, the Northeast Kingdom and the Rutland area. An 18-month peri-
od of focused enforcement along Interstate 91 netted 82 arrests for federal firearms and drug trafficking crimes, the seizure of 128 unlawfully possessed weapons, 7,511 rounds of ammunition, and kilograms of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine base. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also allocated resources to combatting human trafficking, child exploitation and white-collar crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ophardt will become Vermont’s Acting U.S. Attorney. Ophardt has been with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for six years. He will serve as Acting U.S. Attorney until a successor is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
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Dept. of Labor mails new tax forms after data exposure The Vermont Department of Labor is set to mail about 180,000 1099-G tax forms this week to those who received unemployment insurance benefits in 2020. The mailing comes after a recall of previously mailed forms that went to incorrect addresses, exposing personal information of unemployment claimants. “I thank Vermonters for their patience as teams from across state government worked to get these out the door as quickly as possible,” said Labor Commissioner Michael Harrington. Claimants will receive a 1099-G form for each program they collected benefits from in 2020. People should expect multiple 1099-G forms if they collected benefits for most of the year, especially during the spring, summer and fall, and if their unemployment was a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Labor administered several different unemployment programs in 2020. Regular unemployment refers to regular benefits received in 2020, including extended benefit weeks and the additional $600 added to weekly benefits during April 4 through July 25. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance includes an additional $600 added to weekly benefits April 4 through July 25. Lost Wage Assistance provided an additional $300 per week to eligible unemployment insurance claimants between Aug. 1 and Sept. 5. This payment was mailed in a check, separate from weekly benefit payments. The Vermont Short Term Supplemental program provided an additional $100 per week to claimants between Sept. 27 and Oct. 31. This payment was mailed in a check, separate from weekly benefit payments. Claimants had the option to have personal income taxes withheld when they enrolled in regular unemployment and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, however, taxes were not withheld from other programs. Claimants who received these benefits will need to pay state and federal income taxes on them. For more information, call the claimant assistance line at 1-877-214-3332, or go to www. labor.vermont.gov.
Vermont Lake Monsters to be sold and join Futures League The Vermont Lake Monsters will have new ownership and a new p a r t n e r league when it takes the field this summer, the team announced last week. The Vermont Expos, Inc., have agreed in principle to sell the Lake Monsters to the investment group, Nos Amours Baseball Club. The group is led by Chris English, an independent and college summer league owner and operator. The deal is contingent on a few agreements, including a new lease from the University of Vermont, which owns Centennial Field, where the Lake Monsters play. The team will play in the Futures League. “We have all been fortu-
nate to be able to share our summer evenings with you over the past 28 years,” said Kyle Bostwick, Lake Monsters vice president. “The landscape has changed and this transition will allow the Lake Monsters to create amazing summertime memories for years to come. We are all looking forward to continuing to root for the home team, and we thank all of our fans, partners, staff and supporters for an amazing ride.”
March 4, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 9
Vermont City Marathon postponed until October The 2021 Vermont City Marathon & Relay has been rescheduled for Sunday, Oct. 24 from its traditional Memorial Day weekend date. Moving the race to the fall will allow the event organizer, RunVermont, more time to prepare a safe experience for runners and the Burlington community. “We would like this race to be a celebration of our freedom to run and share that joy with our entire community. We’re optimistic that we’ll be in better shape to make that vision a reality with a few additional months to let COVID conditions settle out,” stated Peter Delaney, executive director of RunVermont. The marathon’s title sponsor, People’s United Bank, remains a key partner in the event. “A healthy community is important to us and it’s a primary
reason that we continue to partner with RunVermont,” said People’s United Bank President Michael Seaver. “RunVermont is highly capable of creating safe and unique opportunities for individuals to remain active by participating in these runs. Especially today, we all need to focus on finding activities that bring people from many differing backgrounds together for a shared positive experience.” RunVermont will be offering a socially distanced, timed running event on Sunday, May 30 in lieu of the traditional marathon. Details about the alternative event will be announced at www.runvermont. org. The October race will have a new, two-loop 26.2-mile course that includes many of the highlights of the traditional course. With many 2020 runners having
deferred their race registrations to 2021, RunVermont will not immediately accept new registrations for the October race. All 2020 registrants will be contacted with instructions to re-register for the October 2021 date or defer until spring of 2022. RunVermont may provide registration for new participants once the 2020 registrants have completed their decisions for the 2021 date.“I fully support RunVermont’s decision to postpone this year’s race, and I’m grateful for their work to both prioritize public health and ensure that this special event will continue once it is safe to gather again,” said Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger. The marathon and relay race draws over 7,500 runners and 20,000 spectators to Burlington.
Send your story ideas and photos to editor@williston observer.com
LEARN LOCAL, GROW LOCAL. Let’s start the rebuilding process for our local economy. UVM’s Center for Leadership and Innovation is designed to build stronger communities through affordable, convenient, and accessible professional development opportunities for working adults. With the recent addition of more than 100 self-paced courses, we invite you to explore our award-winning programs and discover what’s new and what can work for you. Take advantage of a limited-time offer of three FREE select courses to try through March 31st.
Learn More at
go.uvm.edu/cli
Page 10 • Williston Observer • March 4, 2021
LIBRARY
Resort-Lifestyle Residences for Sophisticated Seniors
Vermont’s only independent senior community located on a full resort. Luxury rental apartments on the campus of The Essex Resort & Spa with fantastic amenities, including: Pool & Spa World-Class Tennis Resort Dining Options Lounge & Screening Room Beautifully Landscaped Grounds
Classes & Community Events Wellness Programs Under-Building Parking Full-time staff & on-premises PT/OT Plus more!
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS! Private showings by appointment only, with enhanced safety protocols in place to keep residents and visitors safe. To learn more: Email Stan@essexrisidences.com, call (802) 861-1131 or visit essexresidences.com 5 Freeman Woods, Essex Junction VT 05452
The Dorothy Alling Memorial Library is open for contact-free porch pickup of materials 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. To place holds, request a bundle of materials or for help deciding what to read next, visit www.damlvt.org, or call 878-4918. The website has options for downloading e-books, audio books, music and video as well as up-to-date information on all programming offerings. Did you know your library account gives you access to a growing library of things that provide hands-on experience making music, coding, building and playing games? Items available to borrow include ukuleles, STEAM kits, DIY slime kits, Microbit coding kits and more. Place holds online or contact the library to reserve whatever it is that interests you. YOUTH PROGRAMS • Girls Who Code club Mondays, 4-5 p.m., March 8-May 17. Grades 6-8. Participants will meet each week via Zoom to solve real-world problems with a group of supportive peers. All skill levels are welcome, but experience coding in Scratch is helpful. Girls Who Code welcomes any member who wishes to join regardless of gender identity. Register at damlvt.org. • Meditation for kids Wednesdays, March 10 and 17, 1:15-1:45 p.m. Join us via Zoom. Ages 8-14. Parents are welcome to take part. Email programs@damlvt.org to register. • Kids in the kitchen Wednesdays, March 10 and 17, 3-3:30 p.m. Join dietician Joanne Heidkamp for a hands-on cooking series. Grades K-5 with an adult. Classes are standalone programs, so sign up for one or more. Register at www.damlvt. org to receive a Zoom link. • After-School Program in a Bag: creature bookmarks Available starting Monday, March 15. Stop by the library vestibule and pick up a kit with everything you need to make your own unique creature bookmarks. While supplies last. • Zoom Story Time: magical creatures Tuesday, March 16, 9 a.m. Join
us for stories, songs and movement about unicorns, mermaids and other magical creatures. Geared to preschoolers, but all are welcome. Register at www. damlvt.org to receive a Zoom link. MULTI-AGE PROGRAMS • Spanish conversation and meetup Wednesday, March 17, 4-5 p.m. Join us online for conversation en Español. For beginners or fluent speakers, teen to adult. Email programs@damlvt.org for a Zoom link. PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS Online programs are held via Zoom. Email programs@damlvt. org or call 878-4918 for an invitation, unless otherwise specified. • To-go craft kit: paper cranes Our winter challenge to create 1,000 paper cranes continues. Please drop off your cranes. Pick up a kit from the library vestibule. • Guided meditation Fridays, March 5 and 12, from 12:30-1 p.m. Maryellen Crangle leads a short meditation online. • Current events Wednesday, March 10, 10-11:30 a.m. Our popular discussion group continues during these interesting times. Connect with others for informal conversation about newsworthy topics. • BYOB: Bring Your Own Book Tuesday March 9, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Join us online to discuss what you’re currently reading or share a book you’ve recently enjoyed. • Cooking matters: Mediterranean cuisine Wednesday, March 10, 12-1 p.m. Join us for a discussion of healthful eating, and bring a favorite Mediterranean recipe to share. Register at www.damlvt. org to receive a Zoom link. • March new perspectives book discussion Tuesday, March 16, 12-1 p.m. Join us to discuss chapters 1-6 of “The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin. Copies available. eBook and eAudiobook available in Hoopla. • Brown Bag Book Discussion Tuesday, March 23, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Join us for a discussion of Percy Walker’s “The Moviegoer.” Copies available at the library. eAudiobook available in Hoopla.
Visit www.willistonobserver.com
March 4, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 11
SENIORS
How to choose a quality nursing home during the pandemic
Dear Savvy Senior, Can you give me some tips on how to pick a good nursing home in the COVID era? My mother had a stroke a while back and can’t use her legs any longer. I’ve been taking care of her at home, but her health has declined to the point that I absolutely can’t do it any longer. Need Help Dear Need, COVID-19 has hit nursing homes hard over the past year, making it extremely difficult for people attempting to choose a nursing home during this time. While many eldercare experts suggest avoiding nursing homes during the pandemic if at all possible, some families, like yours, find themselves in difficult situations needing long-term or rehabilitative care for their elder loved one now. To help you find a good nursing home in the COVID era, and avoid a bad one, here are some steps to follow. Make a list: There are several sources you can turn to for referrals to top nursing homes in your area, including your mom’s doctor or nearby hospital discharge planner; friends or neighbors who may have had a loved one in a nursing home; and Medicare’s nursing home compare tool at www.Medicare. gov/care-compare. This tool will not only help you locate nursing homes in your area, it also provides a five-star rating system on recent health inspections, staffing, quality of care and an overall rating. Keep in mind that it’s always best to choose a nursing home that is close to family members and
Savvy Senior BY JIM MILLER friends who can check in often, because residents with frequent visitors usually get better care. Do some research: To research the nursing homes on your list, put a call into your long-term care ombudsman. This is a government official who investigates nursing home complaints and advocates for residents and their families. This person can tell you which nursing homes have had complaints or problems in the past. To find your local ombudsman, call your area aging agency (800-6771116) or visit www.LTCombudsman.org. You should also visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website (www.data.cms. gov), which provides updated data on U.S. nursing home reported COVID-19 cases and deaths. Contact the nursing homes: Once you’ve identified a few good
nursing homes, call them to see if they have any vacancies, what they charge and if they accept Medicaid. Also, find out their staff-topatient ratio and staff turnover rate, their COVID infection control procedures, the percentage of residents and staff that have been vaccinated for COVID and their visitation policy. If visitor restrictions are in place, see if they offer smartphone, tablet or laptop technology assistance so you can have video calls with your mom. Tour your top choices: The best way to evaluate a nursing home is to visit it in person, but because of COVID, some facilities may offer limited or virtual tours only. To help you evaluate and rate a facility, Medicare offers a terrific checklist of questions that you can print at www.Medicare.gov/NursingHomeCompare/Checklist.pdf.
acl.gov) is a good resource that can help you understand and research your financial options. You can also get help from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free counseling on all Medicare and Medicaid issues. To find a local SHIP counselor, visit www.ShiptaCenter.org or call 877-839-2675.
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
Paying for Care With nursing home costs now averaging $255 per day nationally for a semi-private room and nearly $290 for a private room, paying for care is another area you may have questions about or need assistance with. Medicare only helps pay up to 100 days of rehabilitative nursing home care, which must occur after a hospital stay of at least three days. Most nursing home residents pay for care from either personal savings, a long-term care insurance policy or through Medicaid once their savings are depleted. The National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information website (www.LongTermCare.
Home is a garden overflowing with memories.
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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COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATE Vermont is now vaccinating people ages 65 and older
We give people the help they need to live in the place they love™
Make an appointment: Williston’s Home Town Home Care Agency 802-862-7200
GriswoldHomeCare.com/Northern-Vermont © 2019 Griswold International, LLC
HealthVermont.gov/MyVaccine 855-722-7878
Page 12 • Williston Observer • March 4, 2021
Demystifying indoor grow light options
BY NADIE VANZANDT Special to the Observer
With the lengthening daylight and the many seed catalogs arriving in your mailbox, it’s hard to ignore the promise of spring. Are you planning to grow your own vegetable and flower transplants this year? You may find that shopping for grow lights for indoor gardening can be mind-boggling. When navigating the numerous options in lighting products, you may encounter confusing terminology. Don’t let this intimidate you. When choosing a grow light system for your indoor garden, you only need to understand a few basic principles. Once seeds have germinated and the first true leaves emerge, light begins to play a vital role in the growth and health of seedlings. Outdoors, plants get energy from sunlight to produce their own food, a process known as photosynthesis. Successful indoor gardening depends
on grow lights that closely imitate sunlight to trigger photosynthesis without generating too much heat. Your seedlings will thrive under a quality, energy-efficient, full-spectrum light that’s evenly distributed over your growing area. To identify a quality, full-spectrum light, look at the Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) and Color Rendering Index (CRI) information on the product label. CCT, measured in Kelvins (K), describes the color of the light source in terms of warm (yellows) and cool (blues) colors. Natural light has a CCT rating of 6,500K, so a light bulb with a rating near 6,500K is ideal for grow lights. CRI is used to evaluate how well the light compares to visible sunlight. The maximum CRI rating of 100 corresponds to the natural light from sunlight. Good full-spectrum lights for indoor gardening have a CRI rating above 85, but the closer to 100 the better.
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Be sure to buy enough fixtures to evenly distribute the light over the entire area. For seedlings along the perimeter to thrive, they should receive the same amount of light as those in the center. Plants require a certain amount of light, so the distance between plants and grow lights makes a difference. That distance depends on the strength of the light generated by the light source (incandescent, fluorescent or LED). It is important to purchase adjustable RO LE F E XC E L
light fixtures so you can change the height above your seedlings as they grow. If you see browning on leaves and leaf edges, it may indicate that your lights are too close to the plants. On the other hand, if your seedlings are lanky, your lights may be too high. For optimal results, follow the height recommendations provided by the light manufacturer. Your seedlings will need 16 to 18 hours of light a day at 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. You can find inexpensive, programmable timers at most hardware stores. Plants require periods of darkness, so don’t keep the lights on continuously. Also, your seedlings may suffer if exposed to high amounts of heat, so it’s important to select light bulbs that do not dissipate too much heat. Fluorescent grow lights — T5s with high CCT and CRI ratings — have proven suitable for growing seedlings. However, T5 HO (High Output) lights give off heat that could damage your seedlings. Hanging a small, inexpensive thermometer at canopy level will help to monitor the temperature. Although pricier, LED grow lights have better CCT and CRI ratings, are more energy efficient and more durable than other lighting technologies. They are worth considering. Good lighting is indispensable to growing your seedlings indoors. With a little homework, you can start your gardening season with a bang. Nadie VanZandt is an Extension Master Gardener intern at the University of Vermont
March 4, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 13
February friends
These two snowpeople were spotted on a railing leading onto the nature trail at Williston Community Park in February. PHOTO BY LYNN ATTWOOD
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Locally handcrafted handbags, shoulder bags, backpacks, totes, clutches, wallets and other accessories made with high quality batik fabrics Each handbag or accessory is a one-of-a-kind piece designed, constructed, and hand sewn by Sue Storey. Only the best and strongest fabrics, zippers, buttons, and interfacings are used to assure quality. Visit the Bagged in Vermont website to find a bag that fits your style.
Find Us in Local Stores The Blue Cottage 30 Kailey’s Way Hinesburg, VT (802) 799-2168
Shop our website: www.baggedinvermont.com
ArtHound Gallery 21 Essex Way, Essex, VT (802) 662-4808
Contact us directly: 857-891-3600 sstorey@gmavt.net
Visit www.willistonobserver.com
CROSSWORD • SOLUTION ON PAGE 14
ACROSS 1. Minor dustup 5. Appear 8. Athlete’s concern 12. Gothic doorway shape 13. Mardi Gras feature 15. ____ exam 16. Legal prefix 17. Accused’s need 18. Discounted by 19. Far East money 20. Typical of higher level students 22. Never had a doubt about 24. Great times 25. Blender button 28. Be seated 30. Ring 34. Sometime 36. Track 38. Campaigned for political office 39. Not edible any more 40. Cooks’ “secrets” 43. Routine part 44. The __ of the land 45. Wizard, in the NBA 46. Flourish 48. Sunset __ 51. “___ Too Late” (Carole King hit)
53. ___ space 54. Liquefy 56. Bears’ hands 58. Small business owner 62. Commit a bad deed 65. In play 66. Word processor command 67. “Aha!” elicitor 69. Not mint 70. Squeals 71. “Poor me!” 72. Heredity factor 73. Yes in the navy 74. Mesh traps DOWN 1. Drain 2. Implore 3. Plot unit 4. Acknowledged 5. Concedes 6. Heating device 7. A dining-room surface 8. Buff 9. Floor space 10. Fling 11. “Who ___ is coming?” 13. King, queen or jack are ___ cards
14. Layer 21. Separation 23. In the offing 25. Swimming places 26. Ill-suited 27. Direct (to) 29. Foolish person 31. Go around the world 32. Innocent 33. Put in 35. “You betcha” 37. Grasp 41. Guidelines 42. Present 47. Black or white drink 49. Hinder 50. Pricing word 52. Mooch 55. They’re sometimes read 57. BA specialty 58. Outlet connection 59. Appear 60. Baking chamber 61. Diminutive 63. Going nowhere 64. Unmixed, to a mixologist 68. Equine beast
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Page 14 • Williston Observer • March 4, 2021
CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL NOTICE TOWN OF WILLISTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA Tuesday, March 9, 2021 – 7:00 PM Zoom Meeting ID 823 369 798 on zoom. us/join or call 1-646-558-8656 DP 21-10 Nedde Real Estate requests a discretionary permit to construct a 9,632 SF addition to the existing 13,990 SF building to improve operations and product storage for FleetPride at 60 Krupp Drive in the Industrial Zoning District West (IZDW). Communication: New England Chimney Supply Specific Plan – FYI & Process Project details and site plans are available online, go to www.bit.ly/DRBagendas. Contact Planning & Zoning Office for more information: 802-878-6704
LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE Pursuant to Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management) and 11990 (Wetlands) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) implementing regulations as set forth in Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 9, FEMA hereby provides final notice of its decision to provide Public Assistance Program funding for an action located in a floodplain and wetland. Funding would be provided through the Department of Public Safety Vermont Emergency Management to the Town of Richmond to repair and reinforce a section of Dugway Road and adjacent embankment. The proposed action is located on Dugway Road in Richmond, Vermont 05477. The project is to restore and reinforce the washed out embankment and retaining wall by installing a reinforced concrete retaining wall (approximately 61 feet long by 6 feet
wide by 8 feet high), restoring the pre-disaster slope, and armoring the embankment with stone fill. The roadway surface, base, sub-base, and guardrails will be repaired to pre-disaster condition. Underdrains will be installed beneath the road surface to facilitate passage of runoff. Equipment and materials will be temporarily staged/stored in a portion of the field to the east of the embankment. The project is located within a regulatory floodway and wetland. The project is being constructed substantially within its pre-disaster footprint and will not diminish floodplain or wetland resources. Any potential impacts to the floodway or wetland will be mitigated by compliance with permit conditions issued by state and federal agencies. A map of the area is available upon request. The project must be in a floodplain and wetland because it is functionally dependent on its location adjacent to Dugway Road. The no action alternative is not practicable as Dugway Road provides ingress/egress for nearby residents and provides emergency access. A less robust repair of the embankment was also considered and dismissed due to the increased financial burden of repetitive repairs over time. Map requests and comments about this project and potential floodplain or wetland impacts should be submitted within 15 days of the date of this publication to: Corinna Giles, Environmental and Historic Preservation Manager Federal Emergency Management Agency corinna.giles@fema.dhs.gov; (202) 6558666 and Christian Paske, Environmental and Historic Preservation Advisor Federal Emergency Management Agency christian.paske@fema.dhs.gov; (202) 704-1027
30 YEARS
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Church Office Administrator - Williston Federated Church. Applicant must have extensive computer skills and office experience. Hourly 10-20 hrs/week. $15/hr. Please direct inquiries to: 802-878-8998.
OFFICE CLEANING CARPET CLEANING FOR OFFICE/ COMMERCIAL SPACES. Scheduling Spring 2021 appointments. Contact us for a quote today. Island Cleaning Services 802-825-7124.
FOR SALE SAFE – 28-gun safe $900, “short gun” safe $400. Call Mark in Williston 802-338-5442.
American Red Cross of Northern New England The American Red Cross helps prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies. Please consider supporting the Red Cross by making a financial donation, finding a local drive to donate blood or learning a lifesaving skill to keep your home or workplace safe. To find out more please visit: www.redcross.org/local/me-nh-vt.html
TIRES: 4 Eldorado Tourmax GFT all season radials 195/65R15T. Used less than 5 months and have low mileage on them. We are selling these because we traded in the vehicle and they will not fit on our new one. $200. Call Tom at 802-318-3581.
SERVICES PAINTING - Need a fresh start to 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 winter discount.
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South Burlington Schools
NOW HIRING
Executive Director of Learning
Head Chef/Pub Manager
The South Burlington School District is seeking qualified candidates for an Executive Director of Learning. Primary responsibilities are the district’s curriculum, assessment, instructional practice, and staff professional learning.
Job Summary: Responsible for overseeing of all elements of the Club’s Food and Beverage department while keeping a positive attitude with all staff, vendors, members and guests and ensuring tasks are completed to the highest standards. Qualifications: Candidates will have prior cooking experience in a pub or restaurant. S/he will be able to demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills. This individual will be dependable, reliable, motivated, trustworthy and friendly. Flexible hours are needed to meet the needs of the golf course. Job Type: Seasonal Full-Time (approximately May 1st – November 15th) Compensation: Based on experience and performance Apply online at: kwiniaska.com/forms/view_form/application_for_employment and send resume to Charli at ckail@kwiniaska.com
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Questions: info@nenpa.com l Deadline: March 12, 2021
EMPLOYMENT
Kwiniaska Golf Club in Shelburne, Vermont is looking to fill the open position of Head Chef/Pub Manager. This is a great opportunity for a highly motivated, professional individual with a strong food background and a friendly, outgoing personality. The candidate will be joining a team of dedicated professionals who enjoy a positive work environment with respect and support. Friendly, helpful and positive customer service is of the upmost importance. This individual will be responsible for cooking food, inventory levels, compliance with food and health laws and regulations, overseeing many diverse aspects to the pub.
30 YEARS
The position has direct supervision of the Office of Learning Administrative Assistant & Grant Coordinator, the Director of Technology, technology integrationists, English Language Learner teachers, the District Math Coordinator, instructional coaches, and after-school program.The Executive Director of Learning serves as a senior member of the educational advisory team for the superintendent. Qualified candidates will hold a Vermont Educator’s license with a Director of Curriculum endorsement. A superintendent’s license or eligibility for licensure is desirable. A minimum of a master’s degree is required, with evidence of additional graduate-level coursework preferred.Three or more years in a district leadership role is required with proven analytical skills for evaluating teaching strategies and instructional materials, effective communication, decision-making, and problem-solving skills are essential. Mastery of technology skills to advance the learning capabilities of students and staff is required.A thorough understanding of universal design for student learning and commitment to diversity and inclusion is required.
Interested candidates may submit their letter of interest, resume, and credentials via www.SchoolSpring.com, Job ID# 3450546, by March 24, 2021.
To place a classified or service directory ad, email marianne@ williston observer.com CROSSWORD SOLUTION
March 4, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 15
OBITUARY Raymond Joseph Berard Raymond Joseph Berard passed away early Saturday, February 20, 2021 after a brief stay at the Respite House. Raymond was born April 2, 1932 in Shoreham, VT. He was one of 12 children, the son of Ulric and Zepherine (Angers) Berard. Raymond married Jacqueline Alice Boise on September 28, 1957 and together they began their family. Raymond was a man of strong faith and a lifelong church member. He was an active member of The Full Gospel Men’s Fellowship. He was a devoted family man and husband and was very proud of his children. He was a bookkeeper for several local businesses and owned and operated a few grocery stores. Most recently, he had a small engine repair service until his passing. He was President of Fish and Wildlife for many years and also Fire Warden for the town of St. George. He was an avid snowmobiler, fisherman and gardener who was known for growing delicious raspberries. Although he could come across as gruff at times, he had a very loving and tender side. Raymond is survived by children: Kimberly Soodak of Essex, Shawn Berard of South Burlingon, Kathleen Berard-Brown and husband, the Rev. Jeffrey Cornwell, of Fairfax, Dennis Berard, and wife Julie, of North Hero, Michael Berard of St. George, and Laura Berard and husband Timothy Williams, of Boston, Mass.; grand-children, Matthew and wife Preethi, of Boston, Mass.; Jaimee Brown of Fairfax, Kristen and husband Andrew Ortiz, of Tempe, Ariz.; and Nathan Soodak of Portland, OR.; great-grandchildren Tobias Plante and Jacqueline Brown whom he affectionately referred to as “little Jackie”. Raymond also leaves behind several nephews and nieces, including a special nephew, Allan Berard, and niece, Jackie Yates, and brothers, Adrien and Edouard along with many special friends and acquaintances. He was predeceased by his wife Jackie; son Matthew; son-in-law Lawrence Soodak; parents, brothers, Rene (June) Berard, John Berard, Roland (Clairette) Berard, Laurent and infant brother Henry Berard. Sisters, Simone (Paul) Parent, Marie (Paul) Rivers, Madeline (Don) Peltier, and Olivette (Bill) O’Brien. The family would like to offer a special thank you to Cheri Neill for the past six months, for her kind and loving care she provided for dad. Thank you to the UVM Health and Hospice Program, especially to Lisy, Carrie and Kelsey who with them, dad would not have been able to remain in his home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund. Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, 1 National Life Drive, Davis 2 Montpelier, Vt. 05620 at 802-828-1000. Or: McClure Miller Respite House, Development Office UVM Health Network-Home Health and Hospice, 110 Prim Rd. Colchester, Vt. 05446 at 802-860-4499 ext. 3812. Burial was 11:00am - 11:30am, Friday, February 26, 2021, Resurrection Park Cemetery, Hinesburg Road, So. Burlington.
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LOCAL MEATS Pastured Pork 17 kinds of pork sausage
10/08/2019 3.25 x 2 AD for Williston Observer
available for purchase! Visit our website to see current and past photos of Williston events, school sports, nature shots and more! Digital and prints available. Very reasonably priced.
Frey AL
photography
AlFreyPhotography.com Place your order online or email afrey202@gmail.com
HEIRLOOM PORK SHOP
52 Consecutive Weeks $18.00/week $936
1547 Hardwick St. E. Hardwick (802) 472-5557 leblancfamilyfarm@emypeople.net
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BUILDING SERVICES
ANTIQUES WANTED
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We can help you discover, learn about and sell:
Vinyl/Wood/Composite Kitchens & Bathrooms Sunrooms & Garages
We can field questions, review photos and coordinate estate work. Contact Brian Bittner 802-272-7527 bittnerantiques@gmail.com
www.bittnerantiques.com
PROPERTY PROPERTY MAINTENANCE MAINTENANCE
MINI EXCAVATOR • TRACTOR SERVICES
— Snow Plowing —
Hydraulic Thumb Site Work Stump Removal
Free Estimates!
Lawn Care Custom Carpentry Driveway Grading
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FLOORING ARE YOUR FLOORS UGLY? Craftsman Stephen Le can help!
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ANTIQUE SHOP ANTIQUE SHOP
IVE CORNERS ORNERS FIVE CORNERS FFIVE C ANTIQUES NTIQUES ANTIQUES A A Multi Dealer Shop A Multi Dealer A Multi Dealer Shop Shop
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11 Maple Street, Street, Essex Junction, VT VT 11 Maple Essex Junction, 11Open Maple Street, Junction, VT Mon SatEssex 10-5 Sun 11-4 Open-Mon - Sat 10-5 Sun 11-4 Open Mon - Sat 10-5 Sun 11-4 5CornersAntiques.com 5CornersAntiques.com 5CornersAntiques.com
REAL ESTATE Your Williston Neighbor
• Sales & Custom Hardwood Installations • Deep Cleaning of Your Hardwood Floors • Bona-certified Dust-Less Sanding/Refinishing • Staining -Low & Non-VOC Finishes
ECOWOOD FLOORS
Photos from the Williston Observer
Certified Organic Beef (reg. burger $7lb, lean $5lb) Pastured Lamb • Pastured Chicken, Duck
Residential and Commercial (802) 316-1396 EcowoodfloorsLLC@gmail.com www.Ecowoodfloorusa.com
CARPENTRY
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Carpentry
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24/7 On Call – Free Estimates – Fully Insured
802-355-8193
Matt Levee • HighStandards802@gmail.com
Michelle Desautels REALTOR®, PSA (802) 846-9503
BASEMENT SYSTEMS BASEMENT SYSTEMS
Page 16 • Williston Observer • March 4, 2021
2021
SPRING PROGRAMS www.Willistonrec.org • 802-876-1160 • recreation@willistonvt.org Below is a listing of upcoming programs for the Spring- March through May. Detailed information on each program can be found on the Recreation Website:
www.willistonrec.org Registrations are accepted with the Rec. Dept. or directly with the company or instructor if listed. Program offerings are Virtual w/Live instructor, Online, or In-Person.
VIRTUAL PROGRAMS Online Live The Skeleton: A Moving Introduction! Age 18+, Mondays, April 5-26 6:30-7:30pm, $60/$65 Instructor: Gillian Franks Strength Training Age 50+, Tuesdays & Thursdays 10:30-11:30am, Free to Seniors. Instructor: Toni Kunker Yoga- Gentle/Seated Age 50+, Fridays, 10:30-11:30am Free to Seniors. Instructor: Toni Kunker Ukulele Clinics Age 18+, Online Live with Clare Innes Register at- https://www.ukuleleclare. com/loca-ukulele-groups-and-events Harmonica Clinics Age 18+, Online Live with Clare Innes Register at- https://www.ukuleleclare. com/harmonicas-for-health-1 Chess Programs Age 6-12, Online Live with Chess Wizards Register at- https://chesswizards. jumbula.com/#/view-our-classes Intermediate Game Design Grades 3-5, Thursdays, May 6-June 10 3:30-4:45pm, $142/$147 Instructor: Wicked Cool for Kids
www.Willistonrec.org recreation@willistonvt.org
ONLINE PROGRAMS Boaters Safety Age 12+. The course provides the opportunity to earn the certification necessary to legally operate on Vermont’s waterways. Course can be taken online at any time. https://www.boat-ed.com/vermont/ My Healthy VT Want to be healthier and feel better? My Healthy VT can help. Find a free course that’s right for you and take online any time. https://myhealthyvt.org/
IN-PERSON PROGRAMS COVID-19 Guidelines will be followed for these programs for the safety of all. Masks are required of all participants and anyone dropping off or picking up. Youth Lacrosse- Grades 3-8 Deadline to register- March 28. Teams need to be formed and registered in leagues. A minimum number and coach are needed to have a team. Separate competitive leagues, which travel, are offered to boys and girls in grades 3/4, 5/6 & 7/8. Programs will start with outdoor practices in late April. Volunteer Coaches- are needed in each program. Be sure to sign up to coach when you register your child. US Lacrosse Membership- You will need to register or renew your child’s membership with USA Lacrosse. Best to wait until teams are formed and coaches have been found. Youth Tennis- Grades K-2 & 3-5 Wednesdays, April 28-June 2 $90/$95. The Edge at Essex K -2- 2:30-3:30pm 3-5- 3:30-4:30pm Pickleball Intro- Age 18+ Saturday, May 8, 10:00am-12:00pm $32/$37. Instructor: Corey Gottfried
Pickleball 101- Age 18+ Mon, Tues & Wed, May 10-12 5:30-7:30pm, $72/$77. Instructor: Corey Gottfried Ninja Kids- Age 4-9 4 different days offered- Tues, Wed or Fri- 4:00pm or Sat- 10:00am Sessions start- S1- March, S2- April. $60/$65. ONTA Studio Ninja Kids- Age 7-10 Thursday, 4:00pm. Sessions start- S1- March, S2- April $60/$65. ONTA Studio Ninja Teens- Age 10-15 2 different days offeredWed or Fri- 5pm Sessions start- S1- March, S2- April. $60/$65. ONTA Studio Ninja Teens- Age 13-17 Saturdays, 1pm. Sessions start- S1- March, S2- April $60/$65. ONTA Studio April Ninja Science Camp- Age 4-8 Monday-Friday, April 19-23, 9am-3pm, $295/$305. ONTA Studio Dangerous Girls- Age 14+ Wednesdays, 6:30pm. S1- Boxing 101- March, S2- Kickboxing- April $60/$65. ONTA Studio MMA for Nerds- Age 18+ Tuesdays, 6:30pm. S1- Boxing 101-March, S2- Kickboxing- April $60/$65. ONTA Studio Street Fighters 9000- Age 18+ Fridays, 7pm. Session start- S1- March, S2- April $60/$65. ONTA Studio Fighter Fitness- Age 18+ Mondays, 6pm or Saturdays, 9am. Sessions start- S1- March, S2- April. $60/$65. ONTA Studio Tai Chi Form- Age 18+ Tuesdays, 5:30pm. Sessions start- S1- March, S2- April $60/$65. ONTA Studio