Williston Observer

Nov. 19, 2009

By Tim Simard

Observer staff

The budget season began in earnest last week in the Williston School District. School Board members received their first look at the 2010-2011 school budget but are still awaiting news on how much next year’s planned reconfiguration will cost the district.

The board did receive some good early news. According to figures provided by Chittenden South Supervisory Union Chief Operations Officer Bob Mason, Williston’s baseline budget for next year is lower than in years past. If the district begins next school year with the same services and staff as this year, the district is looking at a 1.05 percent increase from the current budget. In total, the baseline budget adds up to roughly $16.49 million.

“That’s a good place to start from,” District Principal Walter Nardelli said.

As for reconfiguration, Nardelli said he’s still awaiting final enrollment projects for next year. Once the administration has the numbers, it will be able to determine whether or not a sixth upper house will be needed within the school. Nardelli said the enrollment projections should be ready for the board’s next budget meeting on Dec. 3.

In next year’s reconfiguration, pre-kindergarten through second grade students will be housed at Allen Brook School and third through eighth graders will be housed at Williston Central School. There will also be a mix of two-year and four-year houses for grades five through eight.

The cost of the reconfiguration is something School Board members are cognizant of, board Chairwoman Darlene Worth said at the meeting. There is also pressure from state officials to keep budgets level funded. Department of Education Commissioner Armando Vilaseca sent a letter to superintendents last week urging districts to keep budget increases to a bare minimum and to look for ways to cut costs to help taxpayers during the recession.

But reconfiguration could make that difficult, Worth said. Last year, the district kept its budget increase low at .03 percent.

“I’m not sure we can do that this year,” Worth said.

School Board member Deb Baker-Moody said once the board hears from the administration on reconfiguration costs it will be able to move forward in determining the rest of the budget. She said reconfiguration will also establish what may need to be cut from the budget.

“That’s what we’ll have to decide,” Baker-Moody told the Observer after the meeting.

Also on Thursday, the board heard presentations on technology, operations and special education budgets for next year. Technology Director Bonnie Birdsall presented student work to the board, showing how technology plays into all subject areas. Next year, the technology department will need to replace 53 desktop computers and 37 laptops, Birdsall told the board. She may also push for more SmartBoards so every teaching team in the school has one. SmartBoards are interactive white boards that can cost up to $3,500.

Special Education Director Carter Smith said his department may require additional staff and paraeducators to best meet student needs. With additional students that may need special education focus in the early grades, Smith estimated his department would be looking at a $213,000 increase.

Operationally, Williston Central needs a new boiler system. The school has three large boilers used for heating, all of which are nearly 45 years old. The age of the heating units means less efficiency and higher costs when parts break down. Allen Brook Principal John Terko said each boiler costs roughly $100,000. He said this is a pressing need, although all three would not have to be replaced at once.

Terko also said the board should consider leaving money in next year’s budget for the removal of the temporary classrooms at Allen Brook. He said the Charlotte school district may be interested in acquiring them for renovations. If not, the modular’s builders might be able to take the classrooms back.

The next Williston School Board budget meeting is scheduled for Dec. 3 at 4 p.m. at Williston Central School. A regular board meeting is scheduled to begin afterwards at 6 p.m.

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Nov. 19, 2009

By Tim Simard

Observer staff

Despite cool temperatures and sunshine filtered through milky clouds, Warren Colomb knew there was a good chance he could get his solar-powered water pump working. The Champlain Valley Union High School senior from Williston aimed a solar panel toward the sun rising above the school’s northern roof. Like magic, the pump pulled water from a clear plastic tray up through a cylindrical column. Groups of students watched as water spilled over the column and back into the tray.

“If this were a warm, summer day, this would be overflowing,” said Colomb’s friend, senior Jacob Hinsdale of Charlotte, as he helped demonstrate the pump.

The two students, members of the CVU’s Advanced Physics course, displayed their projects for the high school’s Renewable Energy Day last Thursday. The one-hour event was open to all CVU students and celebrated the school’s efforts to use more renewable energy resources on a daily basis, said Adam Bunting, the event organizer and director of Snelling Core, an academic team at CVU.

Bunting, a former student at CVU, said the new focus on renewable resources at the high school represents a “cultural shift.”

“We weren’t having these conversations when I was a student here,” he said.

It’s a change physics students embraced during their project demos. Outside in the fall chill, physics students explained how their small-scale projects could be transformed into large-scale practices. Colomb said the water pump demonstration could be used anywhere in the world that has sufficient sunlight. Instead of running up electric bills, cities and towns could employ solar power to run water lines.

While students generated small amounts of energy with their projects, a new solar panel recently installed above CVU’s front entrance supplied power to the school. As part of CVU’s Renewable Energy Day, the school unveiled the solar array. The panel, which will provide about 1 kilowatt of energy per sunny day, will be a perfect learning tool for CVU science students, said science teacher Phil Surks.

The panel will be used to power one classroom’s lights and computers, “but it’s technically pushing that (electric) meter back the other way,” Surks told students.

The solar array was paid for with a grant from the ski and snowboard company Rossignol and Protect our Winters, a nonprofit environmental group.

While fellow students concentrated on solar power, Hinesburg sophomore Jake Berino said he was interested in wind. Inside the high school cafeteria, Berino displayed his mini wind turbine. When one of his friends found an old box fan within the school, the two were able to demonstrate how the wind generated power into small multi-cell batteries. Berino said his best results yielded six volts of electricity. He built the turbine using household materials.

“I originally wanted to make it out of galvanized steel,” Berino said.

Berino said much of his research focused on wind turbine design and engineering, including models built by Hinesburg-based NRG Systems. The alternative energy company specializes in wind technology.

Phil Pouech, NRG System’s director of manufacturing, praised CVU’s solar panel and the student projects as steps in the right direction for further renewable energy resources at the high school.

Speaking to students, Pouech said developing environmentally friendly designs will be a key in the fight against global climate change.

As a high school student in the 1970s, Pouech said he remembered an alternative energy craze that began during the oil shortages, but quickly ended when oil prices dropped in the 1980s. He drew parallels between 30 years ago and today’s world.

“I wonder if this time things are going to change and I think it is,” Pouech said.

Hinsdale believes his generation is already ingrained with using as much renewable energy as possible in everyday life. Standing outside the cafeteria, Hinsdale used a small solar panel to collect enough of the sun’s energy to power a motor that lifted a 20-gram weight.

“The sun can power almost anything,” Hinsdale said. “We know this.”

The sun’s power can also make for creative cooking devices. Students enjoyed cinnamon buns cooked in a solar oven and Williston senior Chris Nigh attempted to cook hot dogs by using only tin foil and a concave homemade oven. The cool temperatures slowed the process, but the project proved to be a fun experiment for the student who plans to study engineering in college.

For Colomb, the lessons he’s learned at CVU have already paid off. He plans on attending Montana State University next year to study renewable energy and physics.

“I’ve always loved physics and anything to do with it,” Colomb said. “I’ve decided to make this my focus.”

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Nov. 19, 2009

Embezzlement

Travis Hightower, 29, of Richford was cited on a charge of embezzlement and possession of a controlled substance on Nov. 9 after police received a call from Kinney Drug in Blair Park regarding alleged employee theft, according to police reports. He was cited to appear in court.

False information

Melinda J. Morgan, 28, of Hinesburg was cited on charges of driving with a suspended license and giving “false information to a police officer to implicate another” on Nov. 15, according to police reports. No other information was released. She was cited to appear in court.

Domestic assault

Kevin S. Perry, 44, of Waterbury, was cited on charges of domestic assault and driving with a suspended license on Nov. 12, according to police reports. After an argument with his girlfriend, Perry allegedly struck the back of her vehicle while “chasing her” en route to her workplace, according to a police affidavit. The two vehicles continued to the woman’s workplace, where she ran inside and locked the front door, according to the affidavit. Perry allegedly hit the front door of the business trying to “gain entry,” and then left in his vehicle, the affidavit notes.

Perry’s license had been criminally suspended for a previous driving under the influence conviction, and he has three prior DLS convictions, the affidavit states.

Police apprehended Perry and he was taken to Chittenden County Correctional Center, after bail was set at $1,050, according to the affidavit.

Driving under the influence

• Following a motor vehicle stop on Nov. 12, Domingo Rodriguez, 42, of Essex Junction was cited on a charge of driving under the influence, according to police reports. His blood alcohol test registered .144, according to the report. The legal limit for driving in Vermont is .08. He was cited to appear in court.

• Gregory D. Alling, 38, of Essex was cited on a charge of driving under the influence on Nov. 13, according to police reports. His blood alcohol test registered .141, according to the report. He was cited to appear in court.

• Following a motor vehicle stop on Nov. 14, Jennifer A. Murphy, 38, of Williston was cited on a charge of driving under the influence, according to police reports. Her blood alcohol test registered .130, according to the report. She was cited to appear in court.

Theft

• Donald J. Clogston, 36, of Burlington and Tina M. Rice, 33, of Burlington, were cited on charges of retail theft from Wal-Mart after allegedly stealing $38.85 worth of merchandise on Sept. 14, according to police reports. They were cited to appear in court.

• Troy Parker, 46, and Lucy Tompkins, 33, both of Williston, were cited on charges of retail theft from Wal-Mart, after allegedly stealing $70 worth of merchandise on Oct. 9, according to police reports. They were cited to appear in court.

Driving with suspended license

• Christopher Clark, 20, of Hinesburg was cited on a charge of driving with a suspended license on Oct. 9, according to police reports. He was cited to appear in court

• Tim A Gardner, 20, of Barre was cited on a charge of driving with a suspended license on Oct. 17, according to police reports. He was also cited on charges of “numerous vehicle violations,” the report notes. He was cited to appear in court.

• Virginia Garcia, 26, of South Burlington was cited on a charge of driving with a suspended license on Nov. 10, according to police reports. She was cited to appear in court.

Drug sale

Following an investigation, Clifton H. Bevins, 24, of Winooski was cited on charges of selling regulated drugs on Sept. 17, according to police reports. No other information was released. He was cited to appear in court.

Fraud

On Sept. 18, Jeffrey W. Sanford, 40, of St. Albans was cited on a charge of “false pretenses or tokens,” according to police reports. No other information was released.

Multiple charges

• Philip J. Pelkey, 29, of Milton was cited on a charge of driving with a criminally suspended license on Sept. 18, according to police reports. He was also cited on a charge of retail theft from Home Depot for allegedly stealing $161 worth of merchandise, the report notes. He was cited to appear in court.

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Thanksgiving pig-out

Nov. 19, 2009

By Kim Dannies

Want to blow your collective family gathering away this year at the Thanksgiving table? Serve praline bacon on anything — anything at all — and they will go berserk. This bacon is more than just a trendy kiss from hog heaven — in my kitchen it’s already a tradition.

I know it’s shameful, but I have always found the traditional Thanksgiving menu a bit lackluster; now that there is going to be a little pork action at the table, I’ll be much happier. Praline bacon freezes well, so do it ahead and dole your stash out like a crack addict. This holiday I am torn between embedding precious chunks among roasted sweet potatoes, or topping creamy cheddar crackers with it. Maybe I’ll do both — after all, Thanksgiving is the official pig-out.

Praline Bacon

(From Chef Robin Schempp; rightstuffent.com)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a wide, shallow dish combine 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup roughly ground almonds or pecans, 2 teaspoons dry mustard, 1 1/2 tablespoons of coarse ground pepper, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/3 cup mustard seeds.

Separate 2 pounds of bacon into strips. Dip and press each slice into the sugar mixture on both sides. Lay bacon strips on a large, rimmed baking sheet covered with parchment. Sprinkle excess sugar mixture over the bacon slices in the pan. Roast the bacon until fat begins to render, about 6 minutes. Rotate the pan front-to-back and continue roasting until the bacon is crisp and brown, 8 minutes. Cool; cut bacon into bite-sized pieces.

Sweet Potatoes

Peel and chunk-cut desired amount of sweet potatoes. Toss potatoes in a bit of olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt. Roast at 400 degrees for 45 minutes; gently flip the batch halfway through cooking for even roasting. Pour potatoes into a serving bowl and stud with lots of praline bacon.

Cheddar Cheese Hors d’oeuvres

In the bowl of a food processor, chop 1 pound of very sharp white cheddar cheese. Add 3 tablespoons of milk and pulse until the mixture forms a creamy paste. Meanwhile, caramelize apples by sautéing 5 peeled and chopped apples in 1 tablespoon of butter until soft (but not mushy.) Spread cheddar on a plain rice cracker; add a layer of apple, top with a chunk of praline bacon.

Kim Dannies is a graduate of La Varenne Cooking School in France. She lives in Williston with her husband, Jeff; they have three college-aged daughters who come and go. For archived Everyday Gourmet columns go to kimdannies.com.

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Ready … or not

Nov. 19, 2009

By Katherine Bielawa Stamper

“With my mom in and out of the State Hospital, it was like we were living a little like gypsies because different people were always taking care of us,” Ed Ball remembers.

Ed grew up in Montpelier. His dad died when he was 9. His mother, struggling with mental illness, was left to care for him and his younger sister. The family moved to an apartment in northern Vermont.

Lamoille County Mental Health soon stepped in and moved the entire family into a foster home. The goal was to keep the family intact while providing additional support. Ed’s mother moved to a group home after one year. The children remained.

“I liked the stability my foster parents provided,” Ed reflects. “They gave me a solid foundation to grow from, and I still keep in touch with them because of all the things they did for me.”

Ed earned a high school diploma and hatched a plan to move to California.

“At 18, I drove as far as Illinois and then chickened out. At 19, I made it to Nebraska before turning around,” Ed laughs.

“When I was 24, I left Vermont with a buddy in an ’87 Honda Prelude. We broke down in Green River, Utah. A guy named Virgil picked us up in a wrecker, and helped us out,” he recalls.

Car repaired, they returned to the road, arriving in sunny Mission Viejo, Calif.

“I slept in a garage for a month and then got an apartment with friends,” Ed remembers. “I spent five years in California working lots of different jobs.”

He was a salesperson at a pool supply store, an assistant to an entrepreneur and a shipping clerk.

“The shipping clerk job was really mundane,” he says.

A friend picked up on Ed’s broader aspirations and gently nudged, “You need to go to college. You should think about joining the Army to pay for it.”

College was something he never thought he’d do. He just wasn’t quite sure how to make the numbers work.

At age 29, Ed found himself signing on the dotted line in a Los Angeles recruitment office. He committed to two years, noting something in the fine print about the Individual Ready Reserve, and reported to Fort Knox, Ky. for four months of basic training to be a Calvary Scout (19D).

“Most of my fellow soldiers were younger than me, kids out of high school or married people looking for a way to support their families,” Ed recalls.

Basic training was about discipline, push-ups and heeding this warning from his drill sergeant: “If you embarrass me in front of my peers, I will @#&% crush you in front of yours.” Ed made a mental note while keeping his room spic and span and his locker reflecting the standard.

Ed shipped out to the 4th Squadron 7th Calvary Regiment at Camp Gary Owen near Sonyuri, South Korea. A mere six kilometers separated Ed and his comrades from the communist regime of Kim Jong-Il. Close proximity and strained relations would require an elaborately choreographed military response in the event North Korea violated the border.

Although trained as a cavalry scout, Ed became a commander’s driver after about seven months on post. It was a privileged job.

“People stopped messing with me,” Ed laughs.

When you’re low soldier on the totem pole, folks who outrank you sometimes use their position to “inspect” your room or “require” push-ups. Ed drove around South Korea in a HMMWV, military-speak for a Humvee.

Ed’s contract with the United States Army concluded two years later. He walked away with $32,000 and immediately enrolled in a Vermont state college. He studies hard and works long shifts on weekends performing patient intake at a Vermont hospital.

A letter arrived last February, threatening to disrupt his college career. The Army called him up through the Individual Ready Reserve, acting on the fine print of his enlistment papers. He was ordered to report to Fort Jackson, S.C.

“I didn’t really know what to do,” Ed recalls. “I called to explain I was in college with one semester left.”

Ed carefully followed instructions to seek a deferment. He sent the Army a copy of his transcript indicating strong grades. One of his professors wrote a letter stating it would be detrimental to his education to interrupt his studies. The Army listened.

Ed earns a bachelor’s degree in Business Management in December. Four weeks later, he reports for duty. The Army owns him for 400 more days.

“I’m going to show up with a duffle bag and a toothbrush and I’m just going to hang on,” Ed laughs.

He’ll pack a book on Zen philosophy and, in his free time, make plans to backpack through Europe and earn his MBA.

“No matter what happens, if you’ve got a good attitude, it makes life easier.”

Well said, Ed. Anticipating his job search at the conclusion of his studies, I raised the question of why someone should hire him: “That’s easy,” Ed says with a smile, “I’m a hard worker. I’ve a sense of humor. I like a challenge. I’ve lots of experience working at many jobs.”

Oh, yeah, and he’s a veteran too.

Katherine Bielawa Stamper lives in Williston. Reader comments are welcome at [email protected] or [email protected]

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