Williston Observer 7/1/2021

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Pre-order party set for Williston picture book if there was enough to get started with,” said Allen. “The idea was to share their collection with the The story of Williston from the town and beyond the town. Then mid-1800s through the 20th cen- we started getting the word out tury is told with scores of historic that we were looking for images photographs and stories in a new from current residents and past book set for an Aug. 2 release. residents … and things just started “Williston — Images of Amer- to come in. Sometime in the midica” is a project of the Williston dle of the summer I finally said, Historical Society and Arcadia ‘this is workPublishing. It was reing. We are searched getting some and writgood contriten by butions.’” longtime ContribuWillistions were ton school mailed or teacher emailed to Richard Allen and Allen, who Wi l l i s t o n has penned Historical numerous Society books on VerPresident mont history, Brenda including a Perkins. history of WilThe hisliston Central torical The cover of a School. society new Williston history book Allen is also set was released this month. The full book will be a member of up a available Aug. 2. the Williston dropoff OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO Historical b o x Society and a resident of Essex. at the Dorothy Alling Memorial He and the Williston Historical Library. Allen researched www.

Society put out a call last year to newspapers.com for Williston former and current residents for stories and www.ancestry.com to photos depicting life in Williston learn about former residents. in the 19th and 20th centuries.

“There are other books on WilAbout half of the 207 images pub- liston history, but this certainly is lished in the book come from resi- the first one with a main emphasis dent submissions and local organi- on images,” Allen said. zations such as the fire department The images — and the descripand churches. The rest are from tions Allen wrote to accompany the historical society’s collection. them — are organized into eight “I had done an informal inven- sections, including the village, tory of the Williston Historical Sosee BOOK page 5 ciety’s images just to get an idea

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

Chasing invasives

The Lake Iroquois Association’s plan to apply the chemical product Procellacor to the lake in an effort to control invasive Eurasian milfoil was approved last year, and on Monday, a contractor and state official spread it in the lake’s more infested areas.

TOP: Solitude Lake Management employee Marc Bellaud completes his first pass of treatment; LEFT: Bellaud, left, and Vermont Public Health and Agricultural Resource Management Specialist Matt Wood review application rates and milfoil coverage areas; RIGHT: Eurasian milfoil near the boat access ramp in Lake Iroquois.

OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY

Ill will continues at Goodwill Employee protest leads to staff firings

BY DOUGLAS PHINNEY Community News Service At least two workers have been fired from the Goodwill store in Williston following an employee walkout last month, and working conditions for remaining employ-

ees have not improved, according to interviews with three former and current employees.

Cristin Lemieux Pullis, a former Goodwill store manager who was fired after the walkout, said two issues led to the early May protest: supervisors not receiving the second part of a two-part raise they had been promised, and issues caused by the chronic understaffing of the store.

A second former employee, who asked to remain unnamed, said they were also terminated after the walkout.

Heather Steeves, the communications manager for Goodwill Northern New England, acknowledged staffing issues in an email.

“The pandemic further complicated a tight labor market,” she wrote. “Like many employers, see GOODWILL page 24

Page 2 • Williston Observer • July 1, 2021

Truckin’ Tuesdays off to strong start Mini golf joins weekly food and music event at Adams Farm

BY DOUGLAS PHINNEY Community News Service

Last week marked the fourth Truckin’ Tuesday event of the season at Adams Apple Orchard and Farm Market in Williston.

Food trucks and customers packed into the lot of the farm market for an evening of hot food, live music and portable mini golf. The event series is now in its second year. It started June 1 and will continue through Aug. 24 for a total of 14 Tuesdays this summer.

“Our original intent was to make this as big of a community event as we could,” said Kim Antonioli, co-owner and greenhouse manager at Adams Farm, and one of the people responsible for organizing the event.

Planning for Truckin’ Tuesdays

began prior to the COVID 19 pandemic, and although the pandemic certainly offered some challenges, Truckin’ Tuesdays was able to thrive in 2020.

“People loved it. It was an easy thing for them to do and feel safe through the pandemic,” Antonioli said.

Now, with most COVID restrictions lifted for vaccinated individuals, Truckin’ Tuesdays is coming into its own.

Last Tuesday, a constant stream of customers filed in, ordering food and listening to live music.

“We have live music on the front porch almost every week this year,” said Antonioli.

No Lemon, a Burlington-based band played its second Truckin’ Tuesdays event. Families lined the lawn as the quartet set up its equipment. Four food trucks were on site.

“We’ve added two new trucks this year. Right now, we have a rotation of five trucks,” said Antonioli.

The five trucks include: The

Folks line up at one of the four food trucks on hand last week at Adams Farm.

Dizzy Dozen, cooking up donuts and deep-fried tacos; Grazers, offering burgers, fries and milkshakes; A Single Pebble, with a variety of classic Chinese cuisine; Yum, where you can order grilled cheese, mac-and-cheese, and snow cones; and Baba’s Tacos serving up street style tacos.

‘Golf on the Go’ Alongside the food and music, there is another unique entertainment option available at Truckin’

Tuesdays this year.

Mini Golf on the Go, a business established in 2020, will be present at all of the Truckin’ Tuesday events this summer.

As its name suggests, the business offers customers the opportunity to play a portable version of mini golf. The course is transportable and can be set up almost anywhere. The course consists of nine small custom-built holes, and a variety of challenging obstacles.

Peter Miller, the founder of

PHOTO BY DOUGLAS PHINNEY

Mini Golf on the Go and a sophomore at Champlain College, started the business as a quarantine project during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’ve always loved mini golf, and I taught myself how to do some woodworking and carpentry during COVID,” says Miller, standing next to the first hole of his course.

After a friend of his tested positive for COVID-19, Miller had to complete a two-week quarantine. see TRUCKIN’ page 3

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Truckin’ continued from page

2

Since he was not sick himself, he took the opportunity to create his first portable mini golf course.

“I quarantined in my garage and my bedroom, and I built the entire course when I was quarantined in my garage,” said Miller.

The course was busy last Tuesday, as children and families tried their hand on what is the second nine-hole course Miller has built.

Miller in encouraged by the response to the business.

“The teachers and the Small Business Center (at Champlain College) were a huge help to me along the way,” says Miller. “I’d love to franchise it, you know, different courses in different states.”

For now, he’ll continue to set up his course at Adams Farm every Tuesday and take the opportunities that come his way.

Miller was not the only new face at last week’s event. Many first-time customers attended, alongside those returning from last year.

Emma Rapp was among those new to Truckin’ Tuesdays. She arrived with co-workers as part of a work event. She said her only problem was deciding which truck to

order food from, as she found all of the options appealing. She plans to return Adams Farm for a future Truckin’ Tuesdays event.

Like Rapp, the Brien family was attending the event for the first last Tuesday. They were riding on the nearby bike path when they saw information for the event and decided to come. They’ve tried food from both Grazers and the Dizzy Dozen.

They, too, plan on returning again this summer.

This is exactly what Antonioli said she had in mind for Truckin’ Tuesdays.

“We wanted to make it something that was a nice thing to do for families through the summer,” she said.

So far, she’s more than happy with the success the event has seen, and she’s optimistic that it will continue. If last Tuesday’s crowd is any indication of the future of Truckin’ Tuesdays, she’s right.

The Community News Service is a partnership between the University of Vermont’s Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program and Vermont community newspapers.

Kids enjoy Mini Golf on the Go, a business venture of Champlain College student Peter Miller, last Tuesday at Adams Farm.

Miller, right, plans to bring his Mini Golf on the Go business to Truckin’ Tuesdays each week throughout the summer.

PHOTOS BY DOUGLAS PHINNEY

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Page 4 • Williston Observer • July 1, 2021

Richmond hires police chief after fraught search

BY DOUGLAS PHINNEY Community News Service

Kyle Kapitanski took over as Richmond’s new chief of police earlier this month, marking the end of a nearly year-long process of committee meetings, interviews and town forums.

Kapitanski has worked throughout Vermont, first with the Rutland County Sheriff’s Department, then the Hartford Police Department, Randolph Police Department, Berlin Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

He has worked in Richmond since 2019, first as a patrol sergeant then as acting chief.

A hiring committee received 17 applications for the position, then narrowed the field to three finalists for interviews.

Last September, Kapitanski and the other two finalists were asked to answer questions submitted by the public, many of which centered around issues of racial justice.

According to Community News Service coverage of the

event, some members of the community were disappointed in the answers they heard, and encouraged Town Manager Josh Arneson to reject all three candidates.

At the time, Kapitanski said he had not seen any evidence of systemic racism in his day-to-day work in Richmond.

“I think all of the candidates had some room for growth in their responses to racial justice,” Arneson said.

But over the past year, Arneson said he has seen growth from Kapitanski in this area. Kapitanski agrees. Although he still says he does not see direct evidence of systemic racism in Richmond, he says he now has a better understanding of how it functions in the police system.

“I think that you have to acknowledge that the way the systems were set up, and when they were set up, probably offered some advantages or disadvantages depending on your race,” Kapitanski said.

Patty Brushett, a member of the Richmond Racial Equity group,

Kyle Kapitanski was sworn in earlier this month as Richmond’s chief of police. COMMUNITY NEWS SERVICE PHOTO

said she is optimistic about the hiring of Kapitanski, saying “(racial equity) work is about to begin.”

The Richmond Racial Equity group, formed last year, is an adhoc organization that is “interested in establishing and promoting a more just culture based on racial equity,” its website states. The group has three subcommittees: Reparations, Education and Policy & Policing.

Kapitanski, Arneson and Brushett agree on a need for a

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more community-oriented model of policing in Richmond. They are all advocates of programs like the Howard Center’s Community Outreach team, which focuses on sending non-police responders to issues that police are not equipped to handle, such as issues of mental health.

“We absolutely love having community outreach available. It’s an excellent program,” Kapitanski says.

Although Brushett acknowl-

edges that the program is currently underutilized, she also believes it is a great example of a step in the right direction. Brushett and the Richmond Racial Equity group recognize that issues of racial justice and policing are complex and systemic.

This is a view that is backed up by recent data. One study, by UVM professors Stephanie Seguino and Nancy Brooks, showed that, in Vermont, black drivers are nearly four times more likely to be searched by police, even though they are less likely to be found with contraband than white drivers.

“This is not something that’s going to be fixed tomorrow,” said Brushett.

But she is hopeful that Kapitanski will help move things in a positive direction.

The Community News Service is a partnership between the University of Vermont’s Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program and Vermont community newspapers.

July 1, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 5

Sending the right signals Ham radio operator Stew Corey, above, talks to other hams around the country during amateur radio field day on Sunday in Williston. The annual exercise demonstrates that ham radios can provide reliable communications in an emergency when all other systems are unavailable. To the left are some of the temporary antennae the ham radio operators used to contact other hams around the country. Below, ham radio operators Paul Gayet (left) and Linn Hobbs contact other hams around the country using Morse code.

OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY

Book continued from page

1

families and farms, recreation, celebrations and transportation. Each chapter has a written introduction.

The book cover came out this month. It features a photo taken in 1904 of Sanford Warren and members of his family in front of their house on North Williston Road. The house is still standing today.

“The house looks very much today as it did over 100 years ago,” Allen said.

Allen and the Williston Historical Society are setting up shop inside the old Stovepipe Corner Schoolhouse on the Village Green during this weekend’s Independence Day celebration to show historical slides

and offer pre-orders of the book. Allen and members of the historical society will be on hand from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday — during and after the July Fourth parade — to discuss the book and the history of the schoolhouse.

“We hope to get some traffic from the parade-watchers,” Allen said.

Sales of the book will benefit the Williston Historical Society. The book will also be available at local book stores and online through Arcadia Publishing. Email Perkins, the historical society president, at brendaperkins135@yahoo.com for more information.

Page 6 • Williston Observer • July 1, 2021

GUEST COLUMN

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BY ERIK WELLS Williston Town Manager Greetings Williston community. The following is a short summary of news and events coming up in Williston from your local government.

COVID-19 & Town Operations On June 1, we reopened the doors of Town Hall to the public after needing to remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been great to see the community in person again at Town Hall after the nearly 15 months of the closure.

Town staff works every day to serve the community, and it was certainly a different experience during the closure that relied on creativity in establishing new systems to continue to deliver services. A big thank you goes out to town staff for their diligence and hard work to provide these services. We welcome seeing folks at Town Hall again. For the time being, we are asking anyone who is not fully vaccinated to wear a mask in Town Hall.

Tax Bills Mailed in July Property tax bills will be mailed in early July leading up to the first payment due date of Aug. 15. There are many ways to pay your tax bill, as new options added during the COVID-19 closure will be continuing.

Bills can be paid online using MuniciPAY, the town’s online payment portal. This system

supports credit card and e-check payments (different fees apply for each method). The system can be accessed on the town website. In addition, payments can be dropped off in either of the town drop boxes behind Town Hall (drive-up in the parking lot or at the back door), by postal mail or by stopping at Town Hall during regular business hours.

Please direct any questions about tax payments to Town Treasurer Mary Gratton. She can be reached at mgratton@willistonvt. org or 878-5121.

Independence Day Celebration 2021 The town’s Independence Day celebration events are scheduled for July 2-3. This year’s events include the parade, fireworks, Deb Beckett Memorial 5K Run, band concert and ice cream social, scaled down book sale and historical society open house.

The fireworks are moving to the Community Park in the Village this year and the town is piloting some added transportation options for the event. Local Motion will be providing valet bike parking, and a shuttle bus service will run from Taft Corners to Williston Central School.

I want to wish the community a happy and safe Independence Day weekend.

Introducing Hybrid Meetings Town boards and commissions have returned to providing public

in-person participation options for all meetings. In addition, staff is also working to provide a hybrid option to participate remotely for most boards.

The Selectboard and Development Review Board, with the help from our friends at Town Meeting TV, are piloting a system to allow participation over Zoom. Meeting links will be listed on agendas for boards and commissions that are able to offer a hybrid structure moving ahead. Please share your feedback on hybrid meetings as we work to establish and refine this option.

Get Involved – Be a Town Volunteer Our town volunteers serving on boards, commissions, committees and representing the town on regional entities are a critical component to Williston’s local governance. There are currently a few volunteer openings to serve the Williston community available. If you are interested in serving, please visit the town website (www.town.williston.vt.us) for the current listing of available openings. Town staff can answer any questions you have about positions if you are interested in learning more.

If you have questions about any of the topics in this column or another topic, please reach out to me. I can be reached using email at ewells@willistonvt.org or by phone at 876-1168. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you around town.

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July 1, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 7

GUEST COLUMN

The ‘Vermont Proposition’ and you

BY JOHN MCCLAUGHRY Last week, the Observer published a column by Paul Costello about the “Vermont Proposition,” a product of 22 rural summits organized by the largely federally-funded Vermont Council on Rural Development. While I pay my respects to the authors for a well-written, earnest, sometimes cogent and in places inspiring document, I do have considerable skepticism about such vision statements.

Many of the desired outcomes developed in the 26-page document are certainly worthwhile.

Uniting to put an end to racism is inarguable. Expanding economic opportunity, developing human capital, fostering innovation, creating jobs and creating a tax structure that encourages people to invest in Vermont are worthy goals, so long as the vision stops short of using government to underwrite crony capitalism for favored people and businesses.

Having said that, the Vermont Proposition is open to criticism.

First, visionary documents are constructed and promoted by people enthusiastic about grand visions, and who often want to make sure that their pet interests are favorably promoted. I daresay that most of this subset of Vermonters doesn’t spend much time thinking about how these grand visions are going to be achieved, who is going to pay for them and how much the liberties of ordinary people may be diminished.

Second, while some of the components of the desired vision can only be achieved by cultural and attitudinal changes, the vast

majority of the outcomes require mobilizing the powers of government. This latest vision rests on the unspoken premise that it’s our government’s business to tax, invest, encourage, stimulate, empower, combat, protect, expand and modernize — until the people of Vermont are pushed or pulled to fall in line with the vision.

The most popular conclusion in the Vermont Proposition is “we need to invest in …” followed by a list of progressive causes.

Full disclosure would require a recognition that “we” are those in control of state government, and the needed investments require extracting money from actual people who earned it, and may have their own ideas about how to invest it.

For example, the document repeatedly points to climate change, said to be “the existential threat of our time” that, “left unaddressed, will produce cascading catastrophic impacts on communities, states and ultimately on world civilization.”

Accordingly, it demands that the Legislature enact a carbon price (tax) or a CO2 emissions cap-andtrade plan, even if Vermont has to do it alone. A lot of Vermonters will not be thrilled with a vision that drives up the cost of their motor and heating fuel in order to produce no detectable effect whatever on the planet’s future climate.

Third, the vision dwells on the evils of “the greatest disparity of wealth within a democratic society in world history … The wealthiest among us continue to grow their resources.” The obvious remedy is to confiscate that excessive wealth and distribute it to everyone who thinks they deserve more. That’s

Free meals continue through summer at WCS The Champlain Valley School District will continue to provide free meals to children 18 and younger throughout the summer months.

Meals are available starting this week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Williston Central School from 10:30-11 a.m. or delivered to your home. The district asks that people order meals in advance online at http://bit.ly/ WillistonRemoteMeals.

The district is sponsoring similar meal service at schools in Charlotte, Shelburne and Hinesburg.

The menu will be a rotating selection that meets all federal nutritional guidelines. The menu for the first two weeks includes turkey and ham sandwiches, chicken sandwiches and pizza. All items will be sent home cold with reheating instructions if needed. The meals are intended to be consumed by children 18 years of age and under.

Contact school district food service director Scott Wagner at (802) 871-6198 if you have dietary restrictions or need alternate pickup times.

the unstated centerpiece of the vision’s recommendation for a new “war on poverty.”

Fourth, the document extols enlarging preschools to include every child up to age 5. The state will then have control of everyone’s children until they’re old enough to go to college free at taxpayer expense.

Finally, the vision exhibits a glaring disparity between its enthusiasm for “democracy” and its even greater enthusiasm for creating utterly undemocratic regional administrative bodies directed by an all-powerful State Planning Office that “would be responsible for the statewide community and economic development and land use plans on a five-year cycle.” Pre-

sumably you could still vote for governor, but that scheme looks to me more like replacing local democracy with a hugely expanded and unaccountable administrative state.

What does the vision not include? You won’t even find the words “property” and “liberty,” both being unworthy of concern.

You won’t find any mention of the state’s $5.6 billion in unfunded state retirement liabilities, or any recognition of the regulatory burdens facing Vermont enterprises, except possibly for housing that complies with “smart growth” dictates (clustered in downtowns).

Nor is there any explanation of how Vermont taxpayers are going to pay for anything close to the

state’s present $7.7 billion-peryear government once the present cornucopia of federal spending tapers off.

Costello, the executive director of the sponsoring organization (VCRD), has put out an urgent argument for adopting the vision.

“This is the moment for Vermonters to line up for action … to drive priorities forward,” led by a Vermont Action Team now being formed.

Vision statements are not without some aspirational merit, but the Vermont Proposition seriously needs to be put on the shelf.

John McClaughry is vice president of the Ethan Allen Institute, online at www. ethanallen.org.

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Page 8 • Williston Observer • July 1, 2021

Can religious schools receiving state funds discriminate?

New law and recent court cases present murky picture

BY LOLA DUFFORT VTDigger Meridith Sandherr’s heart sank when, while preparing to interview for a position at Bishop John A. Marshall School in Morrisville, she realized the school was Catholic.

She had been excited about the opportunity. Sandherr and her wife had been looking for a way to relocate to Vermont from Maryland. The couple were attracted to the Green Mountain State’s natural beauty, had many friends who lived here and liked Vermont’s “open-minded” reputation.

But Sandherr — who had been out of the closet for three decades — had no desire to hide who she was. Anxious that her sexuality would be a deal-breaker, she reached out to friends in the area, who strongly encouraged her to pursue the job anyway.

“I said, ‘What about the gay thing?’ And they were like: ‘It’s Vermont. It’s progressive. It won’t matter. Just don’t worry about it,’” she said.

Nervous, Sandherr wrote to the school ahead of her interview, asking if the fami-

lies and teachers at Bishop Marshall would accept that she was married to a woman.

“Given what you’ve shared, I do not believe you would be able to sign our employment contract, based on its terms,” Carrie Wilson, Bishop Marshall’s head of school, wrote back in response. “Wish you luck as you continue your search and hope you do end up in Vermont — it’s a lovely place to live and work!”

The independent Catholic school’s employment contract “includes language that requires employees to support the teachings of the Catholic Church,” Wilson told VTDigger. “It seemed unreasonable and unfair to expect (Sandherr) would be willing to sign off on teachings that do not support her marriage.”

It’s likely that what Bishop Marshall did could be perfectly legal, although at a public or secular private school, it would be textbook employment discrimination.

Peter Teachout, a constitutional law professor at Vermont Law School, pointed to last summer’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru, in which the court held that teachers at Catholic schools could be considered “ministers” and therefore were exempt from anti-discrimination protections.

But after a volley of litigation from

powerful conservative legal groups, schools like Bishop Marshall are now eligible for a large tranche of public funds in Vermont.

Attorneys for families seeking to send their children to parochial schools on the public’s dime successfully argued that exempt-

‘I think most Vermonters believe firmly in the separation of church and state.

And certainly, most Vermonters believe that (public) dollars should not be going to any kind of discriminatory practices.’

Brian Campion Senate Education Chair ing children at religious schools from the state’s voucher program amounted to religious discrimination.

Now, Vermont must decide if it wants to attach any conditions to those funds, although it faces a perilously murky legal landscape. Another U.S. Supreme Court case, Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, might have provided a definitive answer on the question of whether governments can condition a religious entity’s participation in a public benefit program on its adherence to anti-discrimination laws.

Instead, the court’s narrow ruling, which came out last week, ducked all the important questions.

The justices in Fulton found in favor of Catholic Social Services, a foster care agency that refused to place children with same-sex families, but did so on highly “technical” grounds, Teachout said. With Fulton, the court had been expected to overturn Employment Div. v. Smith, a Su-

preme Court decision from 1990 in which the justices held that the government could enforce regulations of “general applicability” that incidentally burdened religious practice. Instead, the justices ruled that because officials with the City of Philadelphia retained the right to grant exemptions, the anti-discrimination policy itself was not “generally applicable.”

So can Vermont say voucher money cannot be used at schools that discriminate against protected classes? Teachout believes so, as long as that law makes clear that it applies to religious and secular schools, without any exceptions whatsoever.

“The simple answer — although it’s likely to be challenged — is yes, Vermont still can do that after Fulton. As long as this law is a neutral law of general applicability,” Teachout said.

The scholar concedes this is all “in theory,” and notes that the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority, which has handed religious conservatives a series of victories, may ultimately disagree. Still, he would like to see lawmakers press the issue.

“It’s really important that taxpayers of the State of Vermont are not being asked to support with their tax dollars discriminatory policies by institutions that run counter to the fundamental values of the state, as reflected in both legislation and in the constitution,” Teachout said.

In the just-completed legislative session, lawmakers discussed whether to impose guardrails on public funds sent to religious schools, but adjourned without taking action. Still, Senate Education Chair Brian Campion, D-Bennington, said he has no intention of dropping the subject.

His committee has just been awarded extra funds from Senate President Pro Tem Becca Balint’s office, he said, to meet in the off-session in hopes of preparing a proposal for when lawmakers reconvene in January.

“We just need to be crystal clear about Vermont values on this issue. And I think most Vermonters believe firmly in the separation of church and state. And certainly, most Vermonters believe that (public) dollars should not be going to any kind of discriminatory practices,” Campion said.

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Laws on sexual consent, health, alcohol take effect this week

July 1, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 9

XANDER LANDEN VTDigger In the first five months of 2021, state legislators sent dozens of bills to Gov. Phil Scott’s desk, and he signed all but a handful into law.

Many of those new laws take effect this Thursday, the start of the new fiscal year. That includes the $7.32 billion state budget, which is harnessing a windfall of federal money to invest millions of dollars into broadband expansion, climate change measures, affordable housing and more.

Here is a rundown on some of the other laws taking effect July 1.

Sexual consent laws Legislators passed a bill this spring that strengthens and clarifies Vermont’s laws on sexual consent.

Act 68 states that people who are physically incapable of resisting, or mentally incapable of understanding or making a decision about a sexual act, cannot consent. Nor can people who are asleep, unconscious, or substantially impaired by drugs or alcohol legally consent to sexual activity.

In addition, the legislation establishes an Intercollegiate Sexual Harm Prevention Council, which will lead “a coordinated response to campus sexual harm across institutions of higher learning in Vermont.”

Under the new law, the De-

partment of Public Safety will be required to regularly provide data to the Legislature about cases of sexual violence that have been reported to Vermont law enforcement officials and are moving through the court system.

Health disparities Act 33 establishes a Health Equity Advisory Commission to address health disparities in Vermont, particularly among people of color, members of the LGBTQ community and people with disabilities.

The commission will review the “impact of current and emerging state policies, procedures, practices, laws and rules” on members of these communities, according to a summary of the bill. It will also advise the Legislature on “efforts to improve cultural competency, cultural humility and antiracism in the health care system.”

The commission will provide guidance on the development of a permanent Office of Health Equity, which will be established no later than Jan. 1, 2023.

allegations of sexual misconduct within the corrections department.

It bans sexual contact between state corrections department employees and the people under the department’s supervision.

It also creates a Corrections Monitoring Commission to promote anti-retaliation policies and advise the corrections commissioner about the reporting of sexual misconduct.

State officials are also assigned to develop training standards and a process for certifying and decertifying corrections officers. They will make recommendations to lawmakers by December.

Alcohol to go At the beginning of the pandemic, Scott signed an executive order allowing businesses to sell alcohol curbside and deliver it

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see LEGISLATION page 10

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Prison reforms A wide-ranging effort to address sexual misconduct and improve conditions for staff and incarcerated people within Vermont’s prisons takes effect July 1.

Act 56 establishes an internal corrections investigative unit to look into deaths, escapes and

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Lower property taxes Property taxes are expected to go down slightly in the fiscal year that starts Thursday, thanks to a $20 million surplus in the state education fund and lower-than-expected education spending.

In setting tax policy for the upcoming year, policymakers lowered the statewide property tax rate for education by 1.5 cents from this year’s level.

The average homestead property tax rate will be $1.52 per $100 in property value — $1,520 per $100,000 of property value.

However, about two-thirds of Vermont taxpayers pay the education tax based on their income, rather than their property value.

Banning PFAs Act 36 will ban toxic perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals — PFAs for short — from several consumer products in Vermont.

The legislation restricts the use of PFAs in fire-extinguishing foam, food packaging, rugs, carpets and ski wax. It also includes restrictions on phthalates and bisphenols, which are commonly used in plastic products.

The legislation will take effect July 1, though some of the restrictions will be phased in over the coming years.

Statehouse set to reopen to the public KIT NORTON VTDigger The Vermont Statehouse will reopen to the public next week, marking a return to normal operations after the 15-month COVID-19 shutdown.

Janet Miller, the Statehouse sergeant-at-arms, briefed legislative leaders Monday about her plans to allow the public to tour the building beginning July 6.

Miller told the Joint Rules Committee that the Statehouse will be open from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on weekdays. Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. will be added as of July 17.

Signs near the entrance will ask that if people are not vaccinated against the coronavirus, they wear masks while in the Statehouse.

Lawmakers will come back to the building July 15 for in-person summer committee meetings, using space in the Statehouse and other rooms in Montpelier’s Capitol Complex.

The Vermont Legislature has been working via Zoom since

March 2020.

House Speaker Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington, told the joint rules panel Monday that Gov. Phil Scott’s decision to lift the coronavirus state of emergency when Vermont reached an 80 percent vaccination rate had changed the thinking around reopening the Statehouse. Before Scott rescinded the emergency order, Krowinski and other leaders had been working on a reopening date in early August.

“That has moved up our timeline a couple of weeks, but staff is working hard to ensure that July 15 we’ll be ready to have in-person joint meetings at the Statehouse,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Legislative Advisory Committee on the Statehouse — assigned to report by Aug. 15 on how best to reopen the building in 2022 — held its first meeting last week. One idea discussed: requiring proof of vaccination for people to enter the Statehouse. The 13-member panel is scheduled to continue the discussion Tuesday.

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Fourth of July Preview Marshaling a foursome

Recent retirees to lead Fourth parade

BY SUSAN COTE Observer staff After a year’s absence, Williston’s Fourth of July parade is back. With its return comes an opportunity to recognize four longtime town officials who retired during the pandemic.

The town recently revealed 2021’s four parade grand marshal honorees: • Deb Beckett, retired town clerk and treasurer • Doug Hulbert, retired assistant fire chief • Rick McGuire, retired town manager • Ken Morton, retired fire chief

Choosing Williston’s parade grand marshal normally involves soliciting nominees from the community who are then voted on by the Recreation and Parks Committee. This year, with uncertainty about holding the parade, that process was not started. When it became known the parade could go on, town officials came up with the idea of honoring the four recent retirees.

The committee agreed it was a great choice.

“Usually, when a town public servant retires there is a big gathering and party, and for these four we were unable to do any of that,” said Sarah Mason, town clerk.

Because of the pandemic, “they did not get the send-off they would normally have gotten,” noted Todd Goodwin, Wil-

liston’s director of recreation and parks. “This is a chance for the community to thank them.”

Town manager for 22 years, honoree Rick McGuire recalled his first Fourth of July celebration in Williston back in 1998.

His family had recently moved to town from Connecticut.

“Here we were joining this fabulous celebration, which is so community- and family-oriented. It was spectacular,” he said.

Over the years, McGuire has been active in many aspects of the parade, as a member of the Lawn Chair Brigade, appearing on the Brick Church Music Series float, as a parade judge and as a spectator. On being named a grand marshal this year, he said, “joining the others being honored makes it extra special.”

Deb Beckett, who passed

away in 2020 soon after her retirement, loved the Fourth of July, according to Mason. “Her family is thrilled she is being honored as a parade grand marshal and with the 5K run.”

“Deb’s dedication to this town was incredible. It was not only her work, but years serving on boards and commissions, plus all of the organizations she was part of — and then her final year to go so awry with the decline in her health and the pandemic, we didn’t get to celebrate her at all,” said Mason.

Also honored this year are Williston’s former fire chief and assistant fire chief, Ken Morton and Doug Hulbert. Morton served Williston for 38 years, 28 as chief. Hulbert retired in 2020 after 35 years with the department.

Morton said, “It’s nice to be recognized by the town after so many years of service. It was a strange time to retire during COVID.” Of fellow honoree assistant chief Hulbert, Morton said, “He was a wonderful asset to the department for many years — a strong, supportive individual keeping the organization working well and never demanding credit.”

Suitably, the grand marshals will be riding on a vintage fire engine owned and restored by Morton. He purchased the 1956 Mack fire truck, which his daughter will drive in the parade, from Richmond, Va. It is one of four fire trucks he owns that will appear in the parade, as they have in past years.

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Page 12 • Williston Observer • July 1, 2021

Independence Day Map of Events BIKE VALET SERVICE:

There will be a free bike valet service by Local Motion. The Bike Valet Station will be set up in front of the Skate Park in WCP.

Friday, July 2 1 1 Library Book Sale

6 7

4 -7 pm

In Front of the Library

22

Ice Cream Social

7 pm

Village Green

3

Town Band Concert

7 pm

Village Green

Saturday, July 3

Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church

4

Displays /Ice Cream Sandwich Sales

9 a.m.12 p.m.

Old Schoolhouse, Village Green

5

Parade

10 am

Williston Road.

(From Johnson Lane

6 6 7

5K Run

5 pm

Williston Community Park

Fireworks

9:30pm

Williston Community Park

to Old Stage Road)

2 4

3

1

sto nR oa d

5

No r

th W illi

NOTE: Route 2 (Williston NOTE: Route 2 (Williston Road Road — Johnson’s — Johnson’s Farm toFarm OldtoStage Old Stage Road) parade route Road) parade route will be will be closed to through closed to through traffic from 9:309:30 a.m.a.m.

- 11:30 a.m.

- 11:30 a.m.

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FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE TO THE FIREWORKS: There will be a free shuttle service to the fireworks at Williston Community Park. Two SSTA buses will be running the shuttle starting at 8 p.m. The last trip to the fireworks will be at 9 p.m. The shuttle will be running after the fireworks until 10:30 p.m.

The Shuttle Route: Allen Brook School; Corner of Holland Lane and Stillwater Lane in Finney Crossing; Healthy Living; Shaw’s- (west side parking lot of the Shaw’s building); Williston Central School

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July 1, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 13

V E R M O N T

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Williston’s Independence Day schedule of events FRIDAY, JULY 2 4-7 p.m. Library Book Sale Location: Outside in front of the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library The library book sale will be scaled back this year from its normal scope. Book donations will not be accepted. “Save your books for 2022 when we expect to be back in the WCS gym for our usual two-day sale,” say the Library Trustees.

There will be jars on tables for people to make cash or check donations.

Patrons are asked to bring their own book bags.

7 p.m. Town Band Concert and Ice Cream Social Location: The Village Green This year’s Ice Cream Social is sponsored by Williston Federated Church. Enjoy ice cream outdoors and listen to the town band’s tunes.

SATURDAY, JULY 3 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Open House at the Old Schoolhouse Location: The Stovepipe Corner Schoolhouse on the Village Green The Williston Historical Society opens the 19th Century schoolhouse to visitors and shows a slideshow of historic Williston photographs that explain the building’s history.

The Historical Society will also be celebrating the upcoming publication of a Williston photographic history book. Preorders of the book, due for publishing in early August, will be available.

10 a.m. Independence Day Parade Parade Route: Williston Road from Johnson’s Farm to Old Stage Road NOTE: Williston Road will be closed to through traffic along the parade route from 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Parade grand marshals are honoree Deb Beckett, Rick McGuire, Ken Morton and Doug Hulbert. Registration to participate in the parade is still being accepted at www. willistonrec.org. There will be no judging of parade entries this year. Viewing is available along both sides of Williston Road.

M A R K E T

Happy Fourth of July!

5 p.m. The Deb Beckett Memorial 5K Race Location: Williston Community Park On-site registration is available starting at 4 p.m., or preregister at www.willistonrec.org. The race is sponsored by the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club. Registration fee is $25 for adults and $20 for kids 17 and under.

9:30 p.m. Fireworks Display Location: Williston Community Park The fireworks show will be based at Williston Community Park this year, moved from the traditional Allen Brook School location.

The display will be set off on the north soccer fields. Parts of North Path will be closed during the day for setup and during the fireworks display, and yellow tape will close off parts of the park for safety.

Parking is available at Williston Central School. Seating for the display is available near the park entrance, in the fields behind the school and in the surrounding playgrounds.

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Page 14 • Williston Observer • July 1, 2021

Note from Parks and Recreation Director Todd Goodwin Residents have asked why this year’s Independence Day events are on July 2-3, instead of July 3-4. This is due to July 4 falling on a Sunday. Traditionally, no Independence Day events have taken place on Sunday mornings or afternoons. The town’s July Fourth celebration will return to July 3-4 on years when the Fourth is not on a Sunday.

Also, Local Motion is looking for volunteers to help out in the bike valet that will be set up at Williston Community Park for the fireworks. They are in need of three volunteers to work with their staff from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday. Visit https://signup.com/go/irhpgGB to sign up.

— Todd Goodwin

Parade rules for spectators and parade participants

• No throwing candy or objects from vehicles or floats. Walkers may hand items to spectators along the parade route. The goal is to keep spectators safe by not causing them to enter the roadway to retrieve items or not to be hit with unexpected objects thrown into the crowd.

• Prohibited Items: waterguns, water balloons and other devices that propel water into spectators.

• Adult supervision is required on all floats and open vehicles carrying children. Drivers of all vehicles/floats in the parade must have a valid driver’s license and be 21 years of age or older.

• Participants may not sit on vehicle hoods/ trunks.

• All parade participants must be wearing safety equipment for the means of transportation they are on. Example; bikes, scooters, skateboards, horses, etc. must have protective equipment on, including helmets.

• Playing music is only allowed on the parade route during parade time. It is to be kept to a reasonable level. Sounds are not allowed to interfere with other floats or vehicles on the parade route.

• Blowing of vehicle horns is strictly prohibited on the parade route. Sirens of emergency vehicles are permitted and are to be

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kept at a reasonable level and only used when not a disturbance to parade watchers.

• If your entry includes animals, you are responsible for providing water and picking up after your animals.

• Alcohol, drugs and smoking are not allowed to be consumed by parade participants - before or during the parade.

• Police will be monitoring the parade and spectators to enforce no alcohol, drugs and smoking policy.

The Williston Recreation & Parks Department reserves the right to remove entries not obeying the rules.

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‘Dillos on the diamond

Williston Armadillos’ Jeff Boucher, above, makes the play at third during the ‘Dillos game vs. the Vergennes Dodgers on Sunday at Williston Central School. Williston Armadillos’ Ben Rose, center, gets a hit to keep the line moving. Brent Tremblay, far right, catches an infield pop-up. OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY

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June 13 at 3:41 a.m. —- Police responded to assist Williston Fire with a fire alarm activation on Brennan Woods Drive.

June 13 at 5:57 a.m. —- Police responded to assist Williston Fire with a medical alarm on Falcon Manor. The patient was transported without incident.

June 13 at 7:33 a.m. —- Police responded to a report of a vehicle blocking an intersection on Williston Road. The officer requested the vehicle be removed by a wrecker.

June 13 at 8:13 a.m. —- Police assisted Williston Rescue with a patient on Harvest Lane.

June 13 at 12:18 p.m. —- Police responded to a report of a suspicious circumstance on Allen Brook. The officer did not find any suspicious behavior.

June 13 at 12:48 p.m. —- Police responded to assist Williston Rescue on Hawthorne Street.

June 13 at 3:21 p.m. —- Police responded to a request for a welfare check on St. George Road.

The officer made contact with the individual and found that they did not need assistance.

June 13 at 3:58 p.m. —- Police responded to a motor vehicle complaint on Vermont Route 2A. The officers could not locate the vehicle in question.

June 13 at 4:26 p.m. —- Police responded to assist Vermont State Police in investigating a suspicious circumstance on Route 78.

June 13 at 4:45 p.m. —- Police responded to a report of a motor vehicle complaint on Maple

Tree Place. The officer could not locate the vehicle.

June 13 at 5:22 p.m. —- Police documented a report of threatening on St. George Road.

June 14 at 3:30 a.m. —- Police responded to an alarm activation on Harvest Lane. Upon arrival, the alarm was observed to be false.

June 14 at 7:29 a.m. —- Police responded to a report of vandalism on Commerce Street.

June 14 at 8:23 a.m. —- Police responded to a motor vehicle complaint on Old Stage Road.

The officer made contact with the operator and issued them a ticket accordingly.

June 14 at 9:51 a.m. —- Police responded to assist Williston Rescue with a medical call on Lincoln Road.

June 14 at 12:03 p.m. —- Police responded to a report of suspicious behavior on Harvest Lane.

Upon arrival, the officer did not observe any suspicious behavior.

June 14 at 12:42 p.m. —- Police documented a report of fraud at a citizen’s request.

June 14 at 1:44 p.m. —- Police responded to a report of suspicious behavior on Williston Road. The officer made contact with the individual in question.

June 14 at 2:32 p.m. —- Police responded to a motor vehicle complaint on Williston Road.

The officer found the hazard and removed it from the roadway.

June 14 at 2:38 p.m. —- Police completed a set of fingerprints

for school employment.

June 14 at 3:17 p.m. —- Police assisted Williston Fire Department with a smoke alarm on Zephyr Road. The officer directed traffic while Williston Fire cleared the alarm and found it to be false.

June 14 at 4:07 p.m. —- Police responded to a report of theft on Essex Road. The theft was documented accordingly.

June 14 at 6:23 p.m. —- Police served a temporary restraining order on Echo Place.

June 14 at 8:27 p.m. —- Police assisted Williston Fire with an alarm activation on Falcon Manor.

June 15 at 3:02 a.m. —- Williston Police assisted Essex Police Department in making contact with a civilian.

June 15 at 11:21 a.m. —- Police responded to a report of an animal problem on Williston Road.

The officer put down the injured animal.

June 15 at 12:12 p.m. —- Police provided a case number for property damage on South Brownell Road.

June 15 at 1:14 p.m. —- Police completed a set of fingerprints for school employment.

June 15 at 1:18 p.m. —- Police responded to a report of an animal problem on Harvest Lane.

The officer issued a ticket to the operator accordingly.

June 15 at 1:23 p.m. —- Police responded to a motor vehicle collision on Marshall Avenue.

Upon arrival, there were no hazards or injuries at the scene.

June 15 at 8:16 p.m. —- Police responded to a request for assistance from U.S. Border Control on Route 105. The officer assisted the Border Patrol Agent in

searching a vehicle and taking two individuals into custody.

June 15 at 9:13 p.m. —- Police responded to a noise complaint on Industrial Avenue. The officer spoke with the civilians and they agreed to turn their music down.

June 16 at 4:03 a.m. —- Police conducted a motor vehicle stop on Sheldon Road. The officer took the operator into custody for negligent operation.

June 16 at 8:29 a.m. —- Police responded to an alarm activation on Harvest Lane. Upon arrival, the alarm was observed to be false.

June 16 at 8:58 a.m. —- Police conducted a motor vehicle stop on South Brownell Road. The officer issued a ticket for no registration or inspection on a trailer.

June 16 at 10:17 a.m. —- Police responded to a motor vehicle collision on Marshall Avenue.

There were no hazards or injuries at the scene.

June 16 at 10:55 a.m. —- Police responded to an animal problem on North Brownell Road. A civilian was evaluated by Williston Rescue.

June 16 at 11:26 a.m. —- Police completed a VIN verification at a citizen’s request.

June 16 at 11:48 a.m. —- Police assisted Williston Rescue with a medical call on Cypress Street.

June 16 at 12:02 p.m. —- Police completed a background check for employment.

June 16 at 12:30 p.m. —- Police completed a VIN inspection at a citizen’s request.

June 16 at 1:17 p.m. —- Police responded to a report of an animal problem on Retail Way. The officer warned the operator of the dangers of leaving a dog in a

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June 16 at 1:34 p.m. —- Police completed a set of fingerprints at a citizen’s request.

June 16 at 5:32 p.m. —- Police responded to a motor vehicle collision at Interstate Corporate Center. There were no injuries or hazards at the scene.

June 17 at 5:55 a.m. —- Police assisted Vermont State Police in putting down an injured animal on Mount Pritchard Lane.

June 17 at 9:01 a.m. —- Police responded to a report of a suspicious circumstance on Zephyr Road. Upon arrival, the officer did not observe any suspicious behavior.

June 17 at 9:17 a.m. —- Police processed a set of fingerprints for school employment.

June 17 at 9:29 a.m. —- Police responded to a report of suspicious behavior on Harvest Lane.

The officer spoke with the individual and provided a courtesy ride.

June 17 at 9:34 a.m. —- Police processed a set of fingerprints for school employment.

June 17 at 9:39 a.m. —- Police assisted the New Hampshire State Police in contacting a citizen on Chad Lane.

June 17 at 11:31 a.m. —- Police responded to a motor vehicle collision on Essex Road. Upon arrival, there were no hazards at the scene, and one of the operators was transported by Williston Rescue.

June 17 at 2:28 p.m. —- Police conducted a VIN inspection at a citizen’s request.

June 18 at 2:08 a.m. —- Police conducted a commercial vehicle inspection on Interstate 89. The driver was placed out of service as a result.

June 18 at 9:22 a.m. —- Police responded to a report of theft on Williston Woods Road. The officer took statements from the involved parties and documented the incident.

June 18 at 10:35 a.m. —- Police responded to assist Williston Rescue with a medical call on Holland Lane. The patient ultimately refused transport.

June 18 at 1:14 p.m. —- Police responded to a motor vehicle collision on St. George Road.

There were no hazards or injuries on the scene.

June 18 at 1:46 p.m. —- Police processed a set of fingerprints at a citizen’s request.

June 18 at 3:31 p.m. —- Police processed a set of fingerprints for school employment.

June 18 at 5:50 p.m. —- Police responded to a report of a dispute at Maple Tree Place. They spoke with both parties and documented the incident accordingly.

June 18 at 5:56 p.m. —- Police see POLICE page 17

July 1, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 17

SENIORS

What to ponder before remarrying later in life Dear Savvy Senior, What types of financial or legal snags should I be aware of when considering remarriage? I’m 62 years old and have been seeing a nice man for about a year. We’ve been talking about getting married, but I want to make sure I understand all the possible consequences beforehand.

Divorced Widow Dear Divorced, Getting remarried later in life can bring about a host of financial and legal issues that are much more complicated than they are for younger couples just starting out.

Here are some common problem areas you need to think about, and some tips that can help you solve them.

ESTATE PLAN: Getting remarried can have a big effect on your estate plan. Even if your will leaves everything to your kids, in most states’ spouses are automatically entitled to a share of your

Police continued from page

16

provided a case number for property damage on Boxwood Street.

June 18 at 10:34 p.m. —- Police responded to an alarm activation on Engineers Drive. Upon arrival, the alarm was observed to be false.

June 19 at 12:50 a.m. —- Williston Police assisted South Burlington Police in processing an individual.

June 19 at 8:03 a.m. —- Police responded to a report of vandalism on Cypress Street. The officers

estate — usually one-third to onehalf. If you don’t want to leave a third or more of your assets to your new partner, get a prenuptial agreement where you both agree not to take anything from the other’s estate. If you do want to leave something to your spouse and ensure your heirs receive their inheritance, a trust is the best option.

MEDICAL AND LONGTERM CARE: As a married couple, you and your husband will be responsible for each other’s medical and long-term care bills. This is one of the main reasons many older couples choose to live together instead of marrying. Staying unmarried lets you and your partner qualify individually for public benefits, such as Medicaid (which pays nursing home costs), without draining the other one’s resources. But, if you remarry and can afford it, consider getting a long-term care insurance policy to protect your assets. See www.

AALTCI.org to help you find one.

HOME: If you’re planning on living in your house or vice versa, you also need to think about what will happen to the house when the owner dies. If, for example, you both decide to live in your home, but you want your kids to inherit the place after you die, putting the house in both names is not an

documented the incident accordingly.

June 19 at 10:38 a.m. —- Police took a statement from a complainant regarding a scam.

June 19 at 11:46 a.m. —- Police took custody of found property and contacted the owner on Marshall Avenue.

June 19 at 1:21 p.m. —- Police responded to a report of suspicious behavior on Zephyr Road.

The officers assisted in transporting the patient and issued a trespass notice from a business.

June 19 at 3:00 p.m. —- Police responded to a motor vehicle

collision on Maple Tree Place.

There were no hazards or injuries at the scene.

June 19 at 4:05 p.m. —- Police took custody of an animal brought to the department and called the owner who agreed to come to pick up their dog.

June 19 at 7:43 p.m. —- Police responded to a request for a welfare check on Harvest Lane. The officer found that the individual was well and not in need of assistance.

June 19 at 10:04

Savvy Senior

BY JIM MILLER

option. But you may also not want your heirs to evict him once you die. One solution is for you to give your surviving husband a life estate, which gives him the right to live in your property during his lifetime. Then once he dies, the house will pass to your heirs.

Social Security: Getting remarried can also affect your Social Security benefits if you’re divorced, widowed or are receiving Social Security. For instance, getting remarried makes you ineligible for divorced spouse’s benefits. And getting remarried before age 60 (50 if you’re disabled) will cause widows and widowers to lose their right to survivor’s benefits from their former spouse. For more information, see www.SSA.gov.

PENSION BENEFITS: Be aware that if you’re receiving a survivor’s annuity from a public employee’s pension, getting remarried may cause you to lose it.

In addition, widows and widowers of military personnel killed in the

line of duty may lose their benefits if they remarry before age 57, and survivors of federal civil servants that receive a pension will forfeit it if they remarry before 55.

ALIMONY: If you are receiving alimony from an ex-spouse, it will almost certainly end if you remarry and might even be cut off if you live together.

COLLEGE AID: If you have any children in college receiving financial aid, getting married and adding a new spouse’s income to the family could affect what he or she gets.

To get help with these issues, consider hiring an estate planner who can draw up a plan to protect both you and your partner’s interests.

p.m. —- Police responded to a report of a noise disturbance on Maple Tree Place. The officer asked the individuals to turn their music down, and they complied.

June 19 at 11:21 p.m. —- Police responded to a report of a noise disturbance on Seymour Street.

Upon arrival, the officer did not observe any excessive noise.

The incidents cited are not a full recount of police activity, rather a highlight of some of the events that occurred. Charges filed by police are subject to review by the Chittenden County State’s Attorney Office and can be amended or dropped.

Pick Your Own

Raspberries!

Our raspberries are plentiful…

Home is a garden overflowing with memories.

We give people the help they need to live in the place they love™

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.\

and the blueberries are coming!

There are still strawberries available, although PYO is over.

FARM STAND

OPEN FOR THE SEASON

Come and enjoy lots of our own, homegrown veggies!

Williston’s Home Town Home Care Agency 802-862-7200

GriswoldHomeCare.com/Northern-Vermont © 2019 Griswold International, LLC

Paul Mazza’s

Fruit & Vegetable Stand

HOURS: 7AM - 8PM • 7 Da ys a Week

Like us on Facebook

www.paulmazzas.com

182 Rive r Rd. Esse x 879-3760 135 Poor Fa rm Rd. Colchester 879-0102

FP-BFP0008818-02

Page 18 • Williston Observer • July 1, 2021

The Williston Recreation and Parks Department is located at the Town Hall Annex Building at 7878 Williston Rd. For online program registration, visit www. willistonrec.org. For department information, email recreation@ willistonvt.org or call 876-1160.

Historical Society will have the Old Schoolhouse open on Saturday from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. For more information on the Independence Day events or to register for the parade, visit www.willistonrec.org.

Independence Day Celebration Events

New this year, a week-long Track and Field Camp focusing on running, jumping and throwing will be offered. Athletes will have the opportunity to participate in a State Virtual Meet based on times and distances. Ages 6-14, July 12-16, 6-7:30 p.m. $50. Instructor: Elise Seraus and CVU athletes.

There is still time to register to be in the parade on Saturday, July 3 at 10 a.m. On-site registration is available at 4 p.m. for the 5K race at 5 p.m. Saturday. The fireworks display will begin at 9:30 p.m. Saturday at Williston Community Park. On Friday, July 2, there will be the library book sale from 4-7 p.m. and the Town Band Concert and Ice Cream Social at 7 p.m. The

Track & Field

REC Camp Day camp for children entering grades 1-8 in the fall. Camp

options: full days, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 pm.; mornings, 7:30 a.m,-12:30 p.m.; or afternoons, 12:30-5:30 p.m. Combine with an Enrichment Camp to make it a full day of camps, or if your child is in another program/camp, combine with the REC Day Camp to make it a full day. Check out the Camp Grid at www.willistonrec. org to plan your child’s summer.

Enrichment Camps Spots are available in the following camps: Baseball Camp, Tennis Camp, Girls Self-Defense Camp, Vermont Futbol Academy Camp, Knitting Camp, Horsemanship Camps, Arts Camps, Engineering Camp, Rocketry Camp, Lego Engineering Camp and Wow Science Camp.

Gentle Chair Yoga

Call today for a personal tour and to learn about our Summer move-in promotion!

Virtual with live instructor or in person (fully vaccinated if attending in person). Gentle stretching and range-of-motion exercises, combined with balance exercises designed to strengthen the lower body and core. Age 18-plus, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8-8:50 a.m. July 6-29. $130. Instructor: Carol Bennett

Fitness Yoga Virtual with live instructor or in person (fully vaccinated if attending in person). Yoga and pilates exercises to strengthen core along with cardiovascular exercises. Age 18-plus, Wednesdays 5:30-6:20 p.m. and Saturdays 9-9:50 a.m. July 7-31. $130. Instructor: Carol Bennett

Strength Training — virtual Each class begins with a light warm-up and proceeds into basic and functional strength training exercises that help improve muscle tone, balance and coordination. Age 50-plus, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Free to seniors. Instructor: Toni Kunker.

Ukulele Clinics — virtual Sing and play your favorite tunes and learn some strumming and chording tricks and techniques. Age 18-plus. To register, email instructor Clare Innes at ukuleleclare@gmail.com.

Let her know you saw the offering through Williston Recreation.

Ukulele Shenanigans: Wednesdays, June 2, July 7 and Aug. 4, 7-8:30 p.m. Cost: $5 per session.

Deep Dive Song Workshops: every other Tuesday in June, July and August, 6:30-8 p.m. Cost: $10 per session, or $50 for all six.

Boater Safety Age 12-plus. The course provides the opportunity to earn the certification necessary to legally operate a boat on Vermont’s waterways. Course can be taken online at any time at www.boat-ed. com/vermont.

For Over 35 Years We’ve Been Providing Assisted Care The Way It Was Meant To Be. • Experienced, 24 Hour a Day Care • All-Inclusive Monthly Pricing • Private, Spacious Apartments • Vermont Owned and Managed • Convenient Location

Come Learn What We Have to Offer!

Call Erin Knox today to schedule a Personal Tour at 802-861-4003 or visit our website: gazeboseniorliving.com 1510/1530 Williston Road | South Burlington Gazebo_Move_in_BANG)_Summer_10.25x7.75.indd 1

6/22/21 10:45 AM

July 1, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 19

CROSSWORD • SOLUTION ON PAGE 23 1

2

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4 13

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42 46 50

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35. Blue-pencil 37. Smokers’ trash 41. Friend 42. Moves very fast 44. “Eureka!”

45. Got off the settee 48. Imparted 49. Test 50. Peach seed 52. Freelancer’s concern 54. Creme brulee base

Across

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52

18. To peep out 19. Belgian currency 20. Spots

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58. Become weary 59. Indivisible 60. What ___ Beneath-2000 Ford film 62. 1984 and Angela’s Ashes, for example 66. In a ___; no win situation 68. Stratagem 70. Pitfall 71. Suitor’s gift 72. Type of excuse 73. Chinese zodiac animal 74. Start again 75. Ophthalmologist’s study 76. Remove a hole Down 1. Unfortunately 2. Asteroid area, e.g.

3. Star Wars, e.g.

4. Vigor 5. Pink-slips 6. Cuts carbs.

7. Layer 8. Employ 9. Cram 10. Unearthly 11. Duel tool 13. Navel enlistee

16. Dish cooked in a pot 17. Blue-green ___

37

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68

71

Do you love kabobs? So do we!

They’re so easy & great for any gathering! Prepare them ahead of time so you can spend more time with your guests until it’s time to fire up the grill. This recipe results in juicy beef kabobs flavored with sweet orange zest and spices with a tangy yogurt sauce for dipping.

Get your grill on and enjoy!

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Beef Kabobs with Orange, Cumin, and Tamari

70

Ingredients: • 1 Tbsp brown sugar • 1/3 cup tamari • 1 large clove garlic, minced fine • 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin • 1/2 tsp ground coriander • Pinch of cayenne • 1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper

73 76

14. Pavarotti, notably 21. Alcohol free 23. Shutter speed setting 26. Organ part 28. Winter illness 29. Computer programs, for short 30. Dugout, for one 31. Chewbacca’s buddy 32. Cubed 36. Basic belief 38. Subway alternative 39. Comparative word 40. Bar order, with “the” 43. Grease spot 46. Select, with “for” 47. Watch face 49. Ocean’s __-2001 Clooney film 51. Figure skating move 53. Eye washes 54. Charmed snake 55. Workers’ organization 56. Meaning 57. Annoying flight hold up 61. A few 63. Renaissance and Gothic 64. Similar to 65. Knocked off, in the Bible 67. Moisture on a petal 69. Concurrence

33. The sum of ___ fears

Directions: 34. Standard's partner....

In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar and tamari.

Whisk in the garlic, spices, lemon juice and orange zest.

Gradually whisk in the olive oil. Set aside 2 T of the marinade.

Toss the beef cubes in the bowl with the rest of the marinade.

Marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature or up to 8 hours in the refrigerator. Skewer the cubes leaving a little space between each cube so they’ll cook all around. Grill over med-high heat, turning the skewers to brown on all sides, about 5 – 8 minutes. You don’t want to over cook these; you want them juicy and tender. Push the meat off the skewers.

Mix the 2 T of reserved marinade with the yogurt. Serve the kabobs with warmed pita bread and the yogurt. A sprinkle of chopped cilantro is an excellent addition!

35. Blue-pencil

37. Smokers' trash 41. Friend

42. Moves very fast 44. "Eureka!"

45. Got off the settee 48. Imparted

Sourced from small family farms throughout Vermont and the Northeast. Pasture raised and grain finished.

49. Test

50. Peach seed

22. Try

52. Freelancer's concern

24. Douglas, perhaps

54. Creme brulee base

25. Roller coaster feature

58. Become weary

27. Like some peppers

59. Indivisible

D

29.r. Soaked Goslin andup his dedicated, skilled dental team provide focused

and personal care with your comfort and trust in mind through routine and complex treatments.

• 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice • Zest of one orange • 2 Tbsp olive oil • 1 1/2 lbs kabob beef (top round, tri-tip, sirloin, flank steak or skirt steak) • 8 oz plain yogurt • Cilantro

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60. What ___ Beneath-2000 Ford film

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(802) 879 - 2020 • 129 Market Street, Williston VT 05495 (802) 863 - 2569 • 222 Dorset Street, South Burlington VT 05403

Page 20 • Williston Observer • July 1, 2021

Bundle up for savings

ReSOURCE YouthBuild students gain job experience and interpersonal skills.

ReSOURCE receives $120K for youth development Ulrich is a Belgian Malinois x German Shepherd Blend, male, 10 months. He walks well on leash, loves all people is social with other dogs and would make a great hiking buddy or agility dog.

Ulrich still has some puppy behaviors which is to be expected but overall he is just a great young dog waiting for the best, forever home.

When you choose Allstate to protect what matters most, you get an expert agent who will make it easy for you to save. Like with bundling your insurance. It’s the simplest way for you to save time and money, while getting protection for the things that matter most.

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Ulrich is a great young dog, waiting for the best, forever home.

We are located in Williston! Please fill out a non-Bulldog application on our website: www.vermontenglishbulldogrescue.com SPONSOR•

62 Knight Lane • Williston www.kinneypike.com

Green Burials IT’S 7THANNUAL ANNUAL IT’SOUR OUR 6TH

Selfie Contest!

Enter now until

Labor Day

1 Snap a picture of yourself doing something fun this summer.

ORTHODONTICS

DRS. RYAN &RYAN EATON& EATON DRS. PETERSON,

ST. ALBANS OFFICE 80 Mapleville Depot 527-7100

WILLISTON OFFICE 277 Blair Park Road 878-5323

2 Post the selfie to our Facebook and/or Instagram page @champlainortho 3 Create a funny hashtag and like and share the post to be entered to win $200 Visa Gift Card!

Braces for Children & Adults — champlainortho.net k4t-ChamplainOrtho0620.indd k4t-ChamplainOrtho0620.indd 11

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OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO

The practice of natural or “green” burials dates back thousands of years. The principle behind this practice is to follow the natural cycle of life. Green burials provide a reduced environmental impact, as well as the benefits of land preservation and affordability.

To learn more, contact us today.

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ReSOURCE YouthBuild has been awarded $120,000 in AmeriCorps funding to help local kids build the skillsets and mindsets that lead to long-term professional and personal success.

ReSOURCE YouthBuild partners with opportunity youth — young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 who are neither in school nor employed — to reclaim their education, gain job skills and become leaders in their communities.

ReSOURCE has operated its YouthBuild program in Vermont since 2004. The program champions opportunity youth in Burlington and Barre who aspire to improve their lives and communities by building personal and professional skills to reach their full potential. Through YouthBuild, these young people pursue their education, prepare for future careers and grow into community leaders — building brighter futures for themselves, and their neighbors.

ReSOURCE currently trains 300 people on average each year at its stores in Burlington, Barre, Hyde Park and Williston to provide job and life skills to displaced individuals and at-risk youth, while preventing more than 1,000 tons of material from ending up in landfilsl annually.

Cam Sevakian, a 17-year-old Burlington YouthBuild student, has gained many skills through the program.

“I’ve learned a lot more and gained job skills I can use in the future,” Sevakian said. “I’ve also gained relationships with other people. Everything is good. There are no downs about this school.”

John Valverde, president and CEO of YouthBuild USA, added: “AmeriCorps’ partnership with YouthBuild has enabled tens of thousands of opportunity youth across the country to build the next greatest version of themselves. As we make our way out of the pandemic, these young people will be leading the way, rebuilding our communities and reclaiming our stake in each other. “

July 1, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 21

EMPLOYMENT

WE ARE HIRING

Tired of the usual service industry grind?

Denny’s is the place for you!

CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL TOWN OF WILLISTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA Tuesday, July 13, 2021 – 7:00 PM 7928 Williston Road – Police Station Meeting Room OR Zoom Meeting ID 823 369 798 on zoom. us/join or call 1-646-558-8656 DP 09-01.23 Snyder FC Commercial Properties LLC and Rieley Properties LLC request pre-application review of Building H (restaurant) and the urban park on Holland Lane in Finney Crossing located in the TCZD. HAAC review June 15, 2021.

DP 09-01.24 Snyder FC Commercial Properties LLC and Rieley Properties

OUR TEAM ENJOYS

» Excellent Benefits! » Competitive Wages! » Flexible Schedules! » Advancement Options!

LLC request pre-application review of Building F (senior living) on Holland Lane and Market Street in Finney Crossing located in the TCZD. HAAC review June 15, 2021.

GARAGE SALE Saturday, July 3 — Brennan Woods Drive in Williston from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Items for sale include a KidKraft desk with computer insert, sling chair hammock, three-piece table and 2 chairs for patio, drums and a large popcorn machine for some young entrepreneur to start a small business on his block, and more items.

FOR SALE FLAT SCREEN TV — Emerson 32-in.

LC320EMX LCD TV HDMI with universal remote. Works perfectly, excellent condition. Perfect for living room, den or bedroom. $90. Call Nick 802-999-9658.

PLAYER PIANO — Functioning refinished and refurbished electric Duo Art player piano - Valued at

$4,000, selling for $1,000. Comes with 200 + (new and old ) music rolls as well as a reproduced in 1956, Duo Art Reproducing Piano service manual (copyright 1927 ). Contact for pictures and more information. carpenterg@ myfairpoint.net. Title subject “player piano.“

WANTED TO BUY DECOYS — Vermont collector will pay cash for all wooden bird carvings, goose, duck and shorebird decoys. 802-2381465.

SERVICES PAINTING — Need a fresh start in 2021?

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

Project details and site plans are available online, go to bit.ly/DRBagendas. Contact Planning & Zoning Office for more information: 802-878-6704.

APPLY ONLINE

careers.dennys.com Let us feed your career. Join our team today!

Send classifieds to marianne@williston observer.com

Williston Hannaford is hiring both Part AND Full Time in most departments FT Deli Lead • FT Bakery Lead • FT Assistant Bakery Mgr. FT Meat Cutter Trainee • Overnight Asst. Stock Crew Mgr. FT Hannaford To Go Shopper • FT Hannaford To Go Expeditor FT Produce Lead • FT Produce Associate • Full Time benefits include 401k matching 5%, medical and dental insurance, disability and life insurance, health and dependent pre-tax reimbursement, company paid life insurance, tuition reimbursement, short/long term disability, discounts on pet insurance, as well as vision care plans, opportunities for advancement, and paid parental leave for up to 6 weeks.

Fire Protection Technician — Full Time Burlington VT Area

• ALL associates are eligible to receive additional My Hannaford Rewards incentives as well as access to our Employee Assistance Program.

ARE YOU LOOKING TO BUILD A CAREER? By joining our Team, you will follow a personalized career path with company provided training, meeting important certification milestones, increasing your compensation potential while protecting property and lives.

Competitive pay and benefits package!

We provide a robust health and wellness benefits package including 401(k) company matching, paid time off, company paid disability and life insurance.

Eligible for $1,500 sign-on bonus plus commission potential.

Apply today by sending your resume to: JGreenblott@impactfireservices.com If you have any questions, speak directly to our team at: (954) 673-7131 Responsibilities: • Service Fire Extinguishers, Restaurant & Suppression Systems, and Emergency & Exit Lighting (Full Training provided), identifying deficiencies and making recommendations aligned with specifics and codes Looking for individuals who: • Strong ability to service our customers and problem solve • Work independently and take on challenges • Comfortable working with technology • Ability to work with hands and possess basic mechanical skills • Occasional climbing/working in various situations, lifting/pushing objects weighing up to 50 lbs. or more • Possess Valid driver’s license • High School Diploma/Equivalent As the leading provider of fire and life safety products and services in the area, Impact Fire Services (formally FireProTec) is conveniently located in Williston, Vermont.

Established in 1962, we provide services regionally to over five thousand customers and serve a wide range of commercial clients throughout Vermont, Northern New York, and Western New Hampshire.

We provide products, installation and services on fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, advanced special hazards fire suppression systems as well as Fire Alarm and Sprinkler. Our clients are supported by remote Service Technicians throughout our service area. We are growing company with opportunities to progress in your career.

We currently have 15 additional offices in 8 states as a best in class fire protection and life safety company.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

APPLY ONLINE: www.hannaford.com/careers

Or Email Hiring Manager Becky Ashton Reashton@hannaford.com or call 802-878-0032

erver

Page 22 • Williston Observer • July 1, 2021

EMPLOYMENT To place a classified or service directory ad, email marianne@ williston observer.com or call 872-9000.

SERVICE DIRECTORY CARPET CLEANING

HOME INSPECTION

BASEMENT SYSTEMS BASEMENT SYSTEMS

HOUNDDOG HOME INSPECTION Tim Walker Licensed Inspector

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July 1, 2021 • Williston Observer • Page 23

SERVICE DIRECTORY ANTIQUE SHOP ANTIQUE SHOP

SAFES AND LOCKS

RUG CLEANING

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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RABIES BAIT

The week-long bait drop is a cooperative effort between Forestry Vermont and Services the U.S. Mulching forWildlife private and Department of Agriculture Services commercial projects to stop the spread of the potentially fatal Driveways, Ponds, Land Clearing, disease.

Trails, Farms, Ski Areas, Natural Disaster Recovery, Rabies is a deadly viral disease of the Logging Cleanup, Invasive Vegetation, Excavation brain that infects mammals. It is most often Visit our website for more information seen in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, www.vtlandmaintenance@gmail.com Brian Washburn but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also 802-434-4533 • 802-373-1755 (cell) get rabies. The virus is spread through the bite of an infected animal or contact with its

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If left BAIT untreated, rabies is almost alcontinued from page 2 ways fatal in humans and animals. However, treatmentHOME with MORTGAGE the rabies vaccine LOANSis nearly week-long drop is asoon coopera100The percent effectivebait when given after effortis between and the U.S. ative person bitten byVermont a rabid animal.

Department Agriculture Wildlife Services So far thisofyear, 23 animals in Vermont to stop the positive spread offortherabies, potentially have tested and 14fatal of Our experience disease. those have been raccoons. getviral you home.

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Page 24 • Williston Observer • July 1, 2021

Goodwill continued from page

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Goodwill has faced staffing shortages. We have worked hard to fill those staffing shortages and will continue to do so in order to provide a safe and rewarding work experience for all of our teammates.”

Lemieux Pullis said understaffing was not being addressed efficiently. This caused some shift supervisors to routinely work 50 hours a week. Before the walkout, store staff reached out to Goodwill leadership asking to adjust the store hours to reduce the overwork that employees were experiencing, but that did not happen, Lemieux Pullis said.

“In fact, they extended hours in the store instead of reducing them,” she said. “That was a pretty clear message to us that they didn’t care.”

The Goodwill in Williston has since reduced store hours. But current and former employees both say this has not solved the understaffing that the store had been, and continues to be, experiencing.

All the current and former employees interviewed for this story said they worked at Goodwill throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. They said the pandemic brought a notable increase in donation volume and that sorting through donations involves dealing with dirty items — occasionally contaminated by pet, and even human, waste.

“In the seven months that I worked at the store, we were never fully staffed, and it just got worse,” said Lemieux Pullis.

A current Goodwill employee, who asked to remain unnamed, said understaffing continues to cause challenging working conditions and high employee turnover. They said they have had several different managers and co-workers who have lasted less than two weeks.

Employees at Goodwill walked out on the job in May in protest of low pay and unsustainable working conditions.

After the protest, two employees were fired. OBSERVER FILE PHOTO

Steeves said the average employee at Goodwill’s Williston store has been with the company for two years, and that many Goodwill stores are facing similar issues.

According to Lemieux Pullis, Goodwill released a spreadsheet that illustrated the raises in employee hourly pay that would be occurring Jan. 1. This spreadsheet reflected the store supervisors receiving a onetime 79-cent raise, moving their pay from $12.53 per hour to $13.32 per hour, according to Lemieux Pullis.

After she had communicated this to Williston store staff, Lemieux Pullis said she was informed that the raise would come in two parts over the course of the year. Store staff was under the impression that the second part of the raise would come in April.

They have yet to receive it, they say.

“It put a really bad taste in my mouth, and my supervisors’ mouths, and everybody else that knew about

it,” says Lemieux Pullis. “The part that made it most difficult was that Goodwill employees across the organization are supposed to live by eight citizenship behaviors, and one of them is ‘Own it,’ meaning you own your mistakes. Well, (Goodwill) didn’t own it. (Goodwill) didn’t make it right.”

Goodwill, a non-profit, has a notable pay gap between retail employees and top executives.

According to the IRS form 990 filed by Goodwill Northern New England for the fiscal year between June 2019 and June 2020, Richard Cantz Jr, the CEO of Goodwill Northern New England, was paid an annual salary of $206,002, making him one of at least seven Goodwill Northern New England executives paid more than $100,000 for the year.

Staff say that Goodwill has since informed them that the second half of the raise is scheduled to take place

in July. But workers do not have high hopes for this happening.

“Every employee is basically thinking that (the raise) will then keep being pushed to the next month, because no one is holding Goodwill responsible to hold their promises of paying us more,” the current employee said.

“We have initiated a multi-phase compensation plan that includes a study of employee wages generally, as well as pay equity issues,” Steeves, the communications manager for Goodwill Northern New England, wrote in an email. “The pandemic delayed part of this project, but we have now resumed work on it.”

Steeves said the company has worked with an outside consulting firm to ensure Goodwill employees receive competitive compensation, and that store management will be meeting with employees individual-

ly next month regarding their compensation.

Twelve staff members actively participated in the May walkout, and other employees said they supported it. Care was taken to ensure no one would be putting their job at risk.

For example, the store remained fully operational throughout the protest.

“Goodwill is of course fully supportive of our non-supervisory employees’ rights under the National Labor Relations Act,” Steeves said.

“We also look forward to continuing to work with all of our employees to address the challenges in this tight labor market.”

Lemieux Pullis says she was fired from the Williston Goodwill just about one week after the walkout, even though she had not personally participated. She said Goodwill management cited a lapse in her responsibility as a manager for not acting to stop the walkout.

Another employee was fired the same day.

Morale at the store has deteriorated since then, according to current staff.

“It has been the worst it has ever been,” one employee said. “We have corporate people who don’t (come in) because they could care less.

They’re always on the schedule to close and open, but they rarely show up. So, it then lands on our Williston supervisor’s shoulders to open and close, sometimes six days in a row.”

Staff has been informed by Goodwill that the process of hiring a new store manager for Williston is underway.

The Community News Service is a partnership between the University of Vermont’s Reporting & Documentary Storytelling program and Vermont community newspapers.