Williston Observer

Child treated and back in class

By Greg Duggan
Observer staff

A Williston student who had a staph infection has returned to school, and even as the district awaits the results of a test for a second student, school personnel and state and local health officials say there should be little health concern.

On Monday, parents received a notice from the school district nurse Kathy Shea that said, “ Williston School District has had its first case of confirmed MRSA.”

MRSA, or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a type of bacterium commonly known as staph with resistance to typical antibiotics including methicillin, ampicillin and other types of penicillin. If the infection is not identified and treated with other antibiotics, it can lead to more serious infections, pneumonia or blood stream infections, according to Dr. Cort Lohff, Vermont Health Department’s state epidemiologist.

Shea did not give many details about the case and did not identify the school in which the child is a student, but said the health office referred a child to a physician last week. The confirmation of staph came back on Monday.

“People get understandably hyper about this. There are two schools in the district. The message I’m trying to get through is to be proactive and wash hands,” Shea said. “We’ll never know where it came from. Staph is everywhere.”

Distric Principal Walter Nardelli said the child had returned to school earlier this week after being put on medication that could combat the infection.

“Once (the child) is on antibiotics, (he or she) is fine to return to school,” Shea said.

Nardelli said the schools are waiting on the results of a test for a second child, who the principal identified as a friend of the first.

Once the schools had identified a potential case of MRSA it brought in custodians over the weekend to clean common areas, phones, door handles, railings and the tops of desks, according to Nardelli. Buses were cleaned this week, and Nardelli and Shea said the district has switched to a stronger cleaning agent.

The health office will no longer provide students with extra clothing it had available.

Staff was reminded to frequently wash hands, and encourage students to do the same.

An adequate response

Though not required to do so unless it faces an outbreak, the school reported the staph infection to the state Department of Health.

State and local officials believe the school reacted appropriately to the staph infection.

“The health department and nurse and school have this under control at this point,” said Terry Macaig, Williston’s health officer and Selectboard chairman. “The things they’re doing are responsible things. Disinfecting, clothing not being shared, physical contact limited.”

Lohff said that although MRSA exists and can be spread from person to person, “the likelihood that it’s passed in a school setting is low.” He identified ways the infection could be passed as skin-to-skin contact, sharing towels, razors or other personal items.

“Generally, in a school itself where there’s not a degree of risk from those sorts of activities, the risk is low for other people getting an infection from one person.”

Lohff recommended washing hands and covering any open cuts or lesions.

A local pediatrician, Ann Wittpenn of University Pediatrics in Williston, had similar recommendations.

“The important thing is to step back from all the anxiety developing over this, and go back to good basic hygiene. Good basic skin care,” Wittpenn said. “Staph aureus has been around for years.”

Wittpenn also recommended washing hands – which at this time of year she said can also help prevent the common flu.

Parents who the Observer attempted to contact did not wish to comment or did not return phone calls by press deadline.

Shea said that anyone with questions about staph should contact their physician. Symptoms, according to Lohff, include any evidence of a skin infection, which could look like a sore, be red, have pus or be painful.

“Like any other skin infections, it should be brought to the attention of a child’s healthcare provider,” Lohff said.

More information about staph infections are available online at www.healthvermont.gov.

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Town seeks in-fill projects at Taft Corners Park

By Greg Elias
Observer staff

New zoning rules could clear the way for more development in a long-dormant retail center that includes many of Williston’s big-box stores.

The Selectboard later this month will review 17 chapters of the revised zoning ordinance called the Unified Development Bylaw. The chapters cover administrative procedures, development standards and the agricultural-rural zoning district.

But the most notable changes concern the mixed-use commercial zoning district. The district includes the western portion of Taft Corners Park, home to Wal-Mart and The Home Depot, and some adjacent land. For years, no new development has occurred despite ample open land.

“The zoning over there has frozen everything in place,” said Town Planner Lee Nellis. “The changes are designed to let landowners and developers do something creative.”

Nellis said the new rules will permit additional in-fill projects while moving away from the type of development that has occurred in the past.

“You could not build another box, either large or small, that looks like the existing boxes,” he said.

The type of store Nellis refers to is typified by Wal-Mart. That store and others in Taft Corners Park have often been criticized because of their box-like appearance and huge parking lots that discourage pedestrians.

The new zoning ordinance summarizes the problem: “There are currently a large number of large, monolithic, single-story buildings in this zoning district, most of which have long dead walls and are surrounded by large expanses of pavement.”

Precise comparisons with the existing rules are difficult because the new ordinance consolidates several existing zoning districts that govern Taft Corners Park. Current rules are different for each district.

But in general the new zoning specifies what uses are permitted rather than trying to forbid certain types of development, which Nellis said was the case with the existing rules. The idea is to allow flexibility while furthering the town’s goal of creating compact, pedestrian-friendly development.

The new rules require sidewalks to directly link buildings to sidewalks along streets. Parking must be located on the side or rear of a building.

The revised zoning takes a carrot-and-stick approach: exceptions will be permitted if a project provides the type of development the town wants.

For example, building heights are restricted to 36 feet. But structures may be 52 feet high if affordable housing or a parking garage is part of a project.

Flexibility is promoted by allowing developers in essence to pick their own requirements. The new ordinance lists nine design elements, and each new project must have at least three of them.

The list includes smaller shops wrapped around a larger retail space, sidewalks wide enough for outdoor dining, a small park or sports venue. Other options include affordable housing, a mix of retail and service businesses or multiple stories.

Jeff Davis, managing partner of Taft Corners Associates, which owns Taft Corners Park, acknowledged criticism of his development but noted shoppers continue to flock to its stores.

Davis said he is proud of the retail center as it now stands. But he said the zoning changes would allow him to fill in vacant spaces between the big-box retailers.

“There’s lots of development potential in Taft Corners Park,” he said. “I think what the town is headed for is a more downtown presentation.”

Taft Corners Park covers 209 acres, Davis said, of which roughly 45 acres is undeveloped. The development has about 500,000 square feet of retail space.

Zoning enacted several years ago to prevent more big-box development “made things so restrictive that you can’t do anything,” Davis said. He cited building dimension requirements as one rule that prevented the construction of even smaller retail outlets. And he also noted that changes in the market have made it tougher to attract large retail stores. Indeed, since Marshalls opened in 2002, no new stores have been constructed in Taft Corners Park.

The town struck an agreement with Davis in 2000 that allowed him to build two more box stores. Marshalls was one of them. But for years now, the lot where that third store is permitted has sat vacant.

Nellis said the new zoning will not supersede that agreement, which was made amid town officials’ fears of out-of-control big-box development. Davis will still be permitted to build that final 40,000-square-foot store.

But Nellis said zoning that prevents any development actually hurts the town, which needs a critical mass to construct grid streets that will tie together a future downtown. “There’s nothing to be gained by the town of Williston by having these lots growing weeds,” he said.

A public hearing on the new zoning ordinances will be held during a Selectboard meeting on Monday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. The session takes place in the Town Hall meeting room.

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By Sky Barsch
Observer correspondent

A 21-year-old Army soldier was killed in Iraq Monday when an improvised explosive device detonated near the Humvee he was in, a family friend said.

U.S. Army Pvt. Adam Muller, of the Jonesville section of Richmond, was at the tail end of a convoy when the roadside bomb exploded, said Susan Wells, the mother of Muller’s best friend and the person speaking on behalf of the Muller family.

“He was a sweet, unselfish, caring person,” Wells said. “As my son put it, he was the perfect person. There was nothing to dislike about him.”

The Department of Defense had not confirmed the death as of press time.

Wells said Muller attended Vermont Technical College in the mechanics program. He joined the Army, in large part to pay off his student loans. He was trained as a military policeman.

Wells did not have many more details about the incident that led to Muller’s death. She said he was based in Fort Drum, N.Y., and had been in Kirkuk, Iraq, but she was unsure whether he died in that region.

Muller was married for almost a year to a 19-year-old Michelle Muller, whom Wells called his soul mate.

“They were high school sweethearts,” Wells said. “So in love.”

When the Observer called the house of Michelle Muller’s parents, it was told by her father she was too distraught to comment.

“He was just a very sweet boy,” Wells said. “He was so innocent. He couldn’t hurt a fly.”

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sander’s office released the following statement: “Another Vermonter has paid the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. I join those who mourn his loss.”

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By Susan Green
Observer correspondent

After his mother began experiencing short-term memory problems and his father spoke of feeling “cloudy,” Eric Lazarus sensed it was time to make some changes.

The 63-year-old Burlington resident, whose suburban New York parents moved to a Miami independent living complex in 2001, embarked on a path familiar to many baby boomers. Along with one of his brothers, he assumed responsibility for his parents’ finances.

Gustav and Sally Lazarus, both nonagenarians, were essentially ready to turn over the reins.

“My father had some trouble focusing,” their son explained. “I told him, ‘You’re with me, kid.’ I wanted to assure him that I would fill in whatever ways were necessary. He was hugely relieved.”

Not every family undergoes as smooth a transition when faced with such decisions. And not every elderly person automatically has someone to count on.

Some might turn to organizations like the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging, or CVAA, which matches fixed-income clients facing challenges such as dementia with volunteers recommended by the U.S. Social Security Administration. These individuals must cite references and undergo a security clearance.

Seniors with more significant resources who acknowledge the need for help frequently can afford to hire a professional.

Robyn Young of Williston just happens to handle both roles. Since late 2004, she has been the CVAA’s “representative payee” for Anita, a Winooski woman with Alzheimer’s disease.

“I receive and pay her bills, first checking that they’re accurate, make sure she has money for groceries and do the paperwork for her benefits,” said Young, who also manages finances for private clients with savings and investments.

“Most of those elderly clients are able to live on their own, but have no family nearby or don’t want them to be involved,” Young noted. “I’m usually referred by an investment advisor or estate attorney. They’re often tipped off when the person calls asking questions like, ‘What’s my bank balance?’ That can be a sign there’s difficulty keeping track of things.”

Dianne Pallmerine specializes in elder law. The Shelburne attorney tries to establish advance planning systems for people in all sorts of situations.

“They may be sharp enough, but it can just become physically exhausting to deal with financial matters,” Pallmerine said. “Or perhaps their hearing isn’t perfect for dealing with automated phone menus when calling banks or brokerages.”

She typically devises Durable Power of Attorney documents that appoint someone to make decisions about finances.

“Trusts are another way of managing assets, with a set of instructions,” Pallmerine pointed out. “A trustee can manage everything.”

A third approach administers all aspects of the client’s life under a court-supervised guardianship.

Many of these options carry some risk, according to Pallmerine.

“I warn clients that these measures are very powerful,” she said. “I meet with the elderly person more than once because everyone has bad days. I’m trying to determine if he or she is competent and has the legal ability to sign this document.”

When Eric Lazarus became immersed in his parents’ financial affairs, “they had a lot of confidence in me. That made it all very comfortable.”

Their move to Florida meant that much of his oversight was long-distance.

“At first, I visited them once a month and looked through their mail to pay the bills,” he said. “After a while, my father said, ‘Isn’t this ridiculous? You’re doing all the work and I’m signing the checks.’ So we went to a bank in the same building where they live and put my name on their accounts as a joint owner.”

Lazarus also arranged for the bills to come directly to him, whether online or via snail-mail. In order to cover them, he periodically had to transfer funds from his parents’ brokerage account into their checking account.

A computer program called Quicken allows Lazarus to reconcile the figures on a monthly basis.

“It’s all under control,” he said.

Under control, that is, until Lazarus realized that his father was continually withdrawing sums of cash from the bank.

“I couldn’t get him to stop, even though they didn’t go anywhere and only spent money on bingo,” he recalled. “I’d go through his clothing looking for it but, ultimately, $1,500 was never found. Maybe he was giving it away in tips. He didn’t necessarily remember.”

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Olivia Loisel youngest member of any town board

By Greg Elias
Observer staff

Close your eyes as Olivia Loisel speaks and it’s possible to imagine she is a grown woman. Her words are measured and mature. Only a girlish voice betrays her age.

The 12-year-old is the newest member of the Williston Recreation Committee and likely the youngest member, ever, of any Williston town board or committee. The Selectboard appointed her to the position last week.

A brief interview preceded her appointment. Olivia’s answers and the way she handled herself wowed board members.

“She’s one of the most precocious grade-schoolers I’ve seen,” said board member Ted Kenney.

When he asked Olivia if she could stand up to adults, Kenney, who is a lawyer, said her smooth answer “was better than most law students in their first moot court.”

She also seemed unflappable in a lengthy interview last week at her home. But Olivia said the Selectboard experience was scary.

“It was extremely nerve-wracking for me,” she said. “When I saw the television camera, I said ‘Oh my God.’ I didn’t want to make a fool out of myself.”

Olivia lives in the Brennan Woods subdivision with her parents, Steve and Sandy Loisel, and her sister, Emily, a junior at Champlain Valley Union High School.

Sandy Loisel said Olivia has been raised to speak her mind in a civil way, even with adults.

“She tells us her opinions, sometimes respectfully, sometimes not so respectfully,” Sandy Loisel said with a rueful smile.

A seventh-grader at Williston Central School, Olivia is heavily involved with sports, playing on both the school and town youth league basketball teams. She has also played softball.

While acknowledging she is something of a jock, Loisel said she has other interests. She plays violin in the Vermont Youth Orchestra and drums in the school band. She also enjoys hanging out with her friends, watching movies and playing video games.

Now she’ll add Recreation Committee meetings to her busy life. The seven-member group advises Recreation Director Kevin Finnegan on facilities and programs.

The committee’s work is mostly low-key, but it has occasionally found itself in the middle of controversial issues. The most recent debate involved the town’s youth basketball program, which had been coed but moved this year to separate teams for older girls and boys.

That includes Loisel’s team. She said she can see both sides of the issue. She liked playing on coed teams, but noted that other girls feel left out when boys won’t pass the ball to them.

WANTING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Loisel has a more clear-cut opinion on another issue facing Williston. She said the town needs more youth activities – and a new facility to host them.

“I think we need a recreation center,” she said. “A building where people could go play sports and hang our with their friends would be really beneficial for the community.”

Loisel said the facility could serve the numerous latchkey kids her age who wind up hanging out in the library or elsewhere when school lets out. And she echoed an oft-heard complaint that youths often run out of things to do in a suburban town like Williston.

A community center serving youths and perhaps seniors has long been discussed in Williston. But town officials say funding for what would likely be a multi-million dollar project remains problematic.

“It’s a great goal, but I don’t see how we can afford it in the near future,” Kenney said, pointing to bond debt the town has for new fire and police stations, as well as ever-present pressure to hold down property taxes.

Recreation Committee member Tim O’Brien agreed the town needs the facility.

“A teen center is the most pressing unmet need in the community,” he said, noting that many neighboring towns offer one.

But O’Brien also doesn’t think the town can afford a new building. Instead, he hopes Loisel can help the committee find space in an existing facility in Williston.

Loisel fills a seat on the Recreation Committee designated for a youth representative that was formerly held by Tianna Tomasi, who was 16 when she was appointed in 2005. It’s been about a year since she stepped down, O’Brien said, and the committee has missed having a younger person’s viewpoint.

“It’s invaluable to have a youth perspective as we try to improve recreational offerings for the community,” he said.

Loisel said she would have no problem debating issues with committee members old enough to be her parents. Though she enjoys talking with kids her age, she said she feels more comfortable discussing weighty issues with adults.

“I’d actually be more hesitant with kids,” she said. “Adults are just more mature and intelligent.”

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