Williston Observer

Oct. 28, 2010

Girl Scout thanks

Williston Girl Scout Troop 30444 thanks our neighbors for all their support during our recent bottle drive. The money we’ve raised will help fund our upcoming educational trip to New York City. Thanks!

Betsey Dempsey, Williston

Ride the bus

I ride the CCTA Williston Village Bus to commute to and from my job in Burlington and I encourage you to ride the bus too. Chittenden County Transportation Authority added the Williston Village route in June and we are lucky to have this opportunity. There are numerous bus stops to take advantage of.

I enjoy taking the bus. It has forced me to get moving every day as I walk to and from the bus stop. By leaving the driving up to someone else, I get to read and relax. I have had numerous laughs with my fellow riders. I have not only saved money on commuting costs but I have also saved money by not running errands after work.

We all need to do our part in cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Williston is known for coming together, so won’t you help in filling every seat on the bus?

CCTA makes daily Monday through Friday trips from the village to Burlington at 7:05 a.m. and 8:05 a.m. and from Burlington to the village at 4:40 p.m. and 5:20 p.m.

CCTA designated the Williston Village Route as 1V for a reason. We are #1.

I hope to see you on the next Route 1V bus.

Robin Coletta, Williston

Organic or local?

I think we should do away with the word “organic” and use the word “local.” When I hear the word “organic” I see dollar signs. I realize we need to be concerned about our food and where it comes from, as well as making sure it is good, healthy food. I think we can only be concerned up to a point that is realistic.

With today’s economy, how can the average family survive on “organic” food that costs twice as much as what is sold in the supermarkets? Some of the prices at farmers’ markets are “organic” also.

Why do a small percentage of people shop at farmers’ markets? Because of several reasons such as prices, limited time available and limited products. We have a large percentage of working families today. Weekends hold precious hours for family time, recreation, cultural time and sports activities. Shopping needs include the non-food items as well as the grocery list. The supermarket is convenient as a one-stop deal.

If a large percent of the population shopped at organic/farmers’ markets, could the producers keep up with the demand? It seems to me they would have to work harder to produce more food, hire help and get bigger. Bigger has its problems. Staying small and “organic” means struggling and includes a lot of hard work from preparing the soil to planting, care of the plants, picking the produce, advertising, trucking to and from a market.

I don’t know the answer but I do know I prefer to shop “local” rather than “organic.”

I am reminded of the farmer who spent thousands of dollars for equipment, cows, feed, herd health services and more, and could never get a good price for his product and was always and is always today in debt.

Ginger Isham, Williston

Our students deserve better

Recently, the Observer reported on the Science NECAP scores of all eighth graders in Chittenden South Supervisory Union. The percentage of eighth grade students scoring proficient or above on the Science NECAP is as follows:

> Charlotte: 59 percent

> Hinesburg: 41 percent

> Shelburne: 42 percent

> Williston: 26 percent

Why did eighth grade students in all the other CSSU schools score higher on the Science NECAP than Williston eighth graders if Williston Central School is led by the same curriculum director and its teachers are responsible for teaching the same Vermont State Standards in Science as the other schools in our Supervisory Union?

I refuse to believe that Williston students are not as smart or as capable as the students in these other schools.

Therefore, the only logical conclusion is that the students in these other schools are being led by competent administrators who are held accountable by their school boards.

Don’t Williston students deserve the same?

Abby Klein, Williston

NECAP scores

On Oct. 14, Walter Nardelli, Williston School District principal, wrote in response to the yet again dismal NECAP scores, “The areas where our students struggle include inquiry, science writing and justifying results. Students on individualized education programs, also known as IEP plans, who speak English as a second language and/or who come from homes struggling to provide the basic needs for their children find the test especially challenging” (“Guest Column: Improving our science NECAP scores”).

I didn’t realize Williston had so many ESL speakers and poverty-level homes. I guess that explains it.

Patrick Etienne, Williston

Award is ‘despicable’

I want to express my utter revulsion and sadness at the news item entitled “Williston has two ‘Rising Stars’” (“Around Town,” Oct. 21 Observer).

The fact that Vermont Business Magazine deemed a volunteer coordinator at Planned Parenthood of Northern New England worthy of honor both horrifies and saddens me. That someone in any way associated in the business of murdering little babies is worthy of honor for “their commitment to business growth, professional excellence and involvement in their communities” is simply too surreal to believe! Do they not realize that “business growth” at Planned Parenthood of Northern New England is higher numbers of deaths of babies, and the permanent wounding of women’s spirits?! According to their own financial statements, abortion is the main source of income at Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.

To honor someone for their part in the snuffing out of hundreds of innocent lives is despicable, and a vivid commentary on how depraved our society has become.

Marie Chamberlin, Richmond

Brussels sprouts pack nutritional punch

Oct. 28, 2010

By Dianne Lamb

It’s time to enjoy Brussels sprouts, the vegetable that has often gotten a bad rap from kids and adults. This vegetable looks like a small cabbage. In fact, Brussels sprouts belong to the same botanical family as cabbage (Brassica oleracea).

Although the word “Brussels” might make you think that these small heads originated in Belgium, it is believed that Brussels sprouts were grown in northern Europe in the 1200s (based on oral tradition). However, the first written description of this vegetable did not appear until the late 1500s.

Brussels sprouts spread and became popular in France and England, making their way to the Americas with the early settlers. There are references to this vegetable growing in Louisiana in the early 1800s as a result of French settlements.

Brussels sprouts can be grown in Vermont and northern New England. In fact, frost enhances their flavor. Brussels sprouts grow on a stalk with the leaves of the plant on the top. The small heads (sprouts) completely surround the stalk and are harvested from the bottom of the stalk when the leaves begin to turn yellow. The sprouts should be firm, green, compact and about 1 inch in diameter when picked.

Brussels sprouts are a cruciferous vegetable, meaning that the blossom on the plant resembles a cross. Other cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kale. All of these cruciferous vegetables contain compounds that help to keep the human body healthy by reducing the risk of many diseases.

Brussels sprouts are a nutrient-dense food. One cup of cooked Brussels sprouts has 61 calories, 4 grams protein, 14 grams carbohydrate, 4 grams dietary fiber, 495 milligrams potassium, 33 milligrams sodium, less than 1 gram of fat and no cholesterol. In addition, they are high in vitamin C (97 milligrams, which is more than the daily recommended allowance), folate, carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin.

You can buy this vegetable fresh at farmers’ markets or supermarkets. The small heads may be prepackaged in pint containers, loose (allowing you to pick the ones you want) or on the stem, letting you cut them off the plant. Brussels sprouts also can be found in the frozen vegetable section at the supermarket.

If you don’t eat them, it may be that you tried them as a kid and were turned off because they were overcooked, odiferous and very strong flavored. Brussels sprouts need to be cooked until just tender. Overcooking releases the sulfur compounds in the vegetable, creating a foul smell.

Fresh Brussels sprouts need to be refrigerated. Left at room temperature, the outer leaves of the sprouts will turn yellow. When cooking, try to cook sprouts of equal size, so they will cook uniformly. Avoid puffy or mushy ones. The outer leaves are the most nutritious part, so do not remove unless they are yellowed or wilted.

When ready to use, wash the Brussels sprouts well in lukewarm water to remove any debris (soil or insects). Rinse in fresh water. Trim the stem end, but try not to cut flush with the bottom of the sprout as the outer leaves are apt to fall off. Some people score the base of the sprout with an “X” to help the heat penetrate the core of the sprout, so it cooks as quickly as the leaves.

Brussels sprouts can be steamed by bringing 1 inch of water to a boil in the bottom of a pan. Place a colander or collapsible basket in the pan. Add the sprouts and cover. Reduce heat and steam for 5 to 7 minutes or until just tender.

This vegetable also can be cooked in a microwave oven. Wash, trim and make an “X” on the bottom of the stem. Place sprouts in a 1 1/2-quart covered dish. Add 1/4 cup water. Microwave 1 pound (4 cups) for 4 to 8 minutes on high power until just tender. Stir once during cooking.

Brussels sprouts usually are too strong-flavored and chewy to eat raw, especially if they have been stored for awhile. They can be blanched in boiling water or steamed, then drained and quickly dunked in ice water to stop the cooking. Thoroughly drain again. These blanched sprouts can be marinated or used as crudités with a dip.

Or roast in the oven, add to stews, stir-fry or use in soup. Some herbs and spices that go well with Brussels sprouts include basil, caraway, dill, mustard, sage, thyme, curry, nutmeg, garlic, cumin, marjoram and savory.

Other quick ways to use Brussels sprouts include:

> Lightly steam or blanch whole sprouts for grilled shish kebabs;

> Toss cooked sprouts with vinaigrette or salad dressing. Serve as a side dish or salad.

Dianne Lamb is the Extension nutrition and food specialist at the University of Vermont.

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10/28/10

Oct. 28, 2010

Last week’s profile of Vermont House of Representatives candidate Jay Michaud contained two errors about Michaud’s past business experience. Michaud purchased Witness Tree Landscaping and Property Management, and it was not the first business he owned.

The Williston Observer is celebrating its 25th year providing news to the community. Here are some stories from past months of October:

• Williston residents were to vote on Oct. 20, 1987 on whether to hire a town manager, the Whistle reported in its October 1987 issue. A growing town had resulted in the need for more municipal employees and a greater number of services.

“As these responsibilities have grown by major proportions in the last few years, the need for professional management of town affairs has become more evident,” the Whistle reported.

A town manager would perform “day-to-day coordination and management of the various town departments to make the most efficient use of … resources” and “would also oversee the financial management of the town under the direction of the (Selectboard),” according to the Whistle. The measure passed, and Williston’s first town manager started work in September 1988.

• In its October 1989 edition, the Whistle detailed the components of a bond proposal asking Williston voters to authorize a $6.72 million expense for a building and renovation project at Williston Central School. The state would have helped fund the $7.2 million project. Plans for the five-year project included 12 new classrooms and improved traffic flow for buses and pedestrians.

• As part of the Children’s Art Exchange, paintings from American and Russian kids lined Town Hall at a reception welcoming a delegation from Vermont’s sister state, the Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic of Karella, the Whistle reported in October 1989.

• The Whistle reported in October 1991 that the Williston Central School Board had in the previous month received the Vermont Alliance for Arts Education’s annual School Board/Community Award. At the awards ceremony in September, the Alliance co-chairwoman praised the School Board for maintaining and expanding its commitment to the arts.

• In the Oct. 21, 1992 edition of the Whistle, the paper reported that a new police chief, Ozzie Glidden, would join the Williston Police Department on Dec. 7. Glidden, 47 at the time, was the police chief in Richmond before coming to Williston.

• Former Town Manager Bert Moffatt won the Vermont League of Cities and Towns’ Municipal Person of the Year Award in October 1995, the Whistle reported in its Oct. 5 issue of that year. Moffatt had served as town manager in Williston for seven years prior to receiving the award.

• On Oct. 10, 1995, the Williston Planning Commission approved a $5.4 million, 400-student elementary school, which would eventually become Allen Brook School.

• “Supreme Court Clears the Way for Wal-Mart,” read the top headline in the Oct. 26, 1995 Whistle. The state’s Supreme Court rejected the final appeal against Wal-Mart. Burlington and Citizens for Responsible Growth had appealed a state permit for Wal-Mart, but the court said only directly-affected parties, such as the town of Williston or the Regional Planning Commission, could appeal the permit; Burlington and Citizens for Responsible Growth did not qualify to appeal.

• Williston Police Sgt. Bart Chamberlain found and removed a massive marijuana plant growing on the east side of town, the Whistle reported on Oct. 3, 1996.

“I’ve picked a lot of pot in my enforcement career, but I can’t remember ever seeing a plant like this,” Chamberlain told the Whistle.

The Whistle described the plant as 6 feet tall with a stalk “as thick as a man’s wrist,” and reported that the marijuana would have fetched more than $1,000 if sold. The grower, if caught, would have faced fines and up to three years in state prison.

• Full-time members of the Williston Police Department unanimously voted to join the International Brotherhood of Teamsters labor union, the Whistle reported on Oct. 2, 1997.

• Circuit City Stores Inc. announced it would hire approximately 80 associates for its location on Marshall Avenue, which was set to open in November 1997. The Whistle reported in its Oct. 16, 1997 paper that the store would be the first Circuit City in Vermont.

The company went out of business early last year after declaring Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2008.

• Town and school officials, responding to concerns from parents, decided to study safety at the Williston Central School playground, the Whistle reported on Oct. 4, 2001. Parents showed then-Principal Elaine Pinckney pictures of jagged metal edges and exposed bolts on some of the playground equipment. Pinckney said the playground could see improvement, but she did not feel it posed an immediate danger to children.

Three weeks later, the Oct. 18 issue of the Whistle reported that the Williston School Board opted to close the playground. The board made its decision after parents presented a report completed in 1998 by a playground safety expert. The report noted potential hazards that included deteriorating wood, unsafe swings and missing safety rails.

By the time the Oct. 25 issue of the paper came out, school officials had decided to tear down the playground.

• Dorothy Alling Memorial Library Director Marti Fiske was hired in October 2005, the Observer reported on Oct. 6 of that year. Fiske joined the Williston library after serving as the head of Shelburne’s Pierson Library.

• Teachers belonging to the Chittenden South Education Association reached a contract agreement with Chittenden South Supervisory Union after months of working without a contract, the Observer reported on Oct. 18, 2007. The agreement followed nearly a year of negotiations; the previous contract had expired on July 1, 2007. Individual pay increases under the contract varied, but the supervisory union budget for salaries was set to increase by 4.3 percent in 2007-2008, 4.3 percent in 2008-2009 and 4 percent in the 2009-2010 school year.

• In 2007, Williston became the first municipality in the state to be designated a growth center. The Observer reported on Oct. 25, 2007 that the Expanded Downtown Board voted in favor of the designation. The growth center area included approximately 700 acres around Taft Corners, and the status made it easier for Williston to borrow money while encouraging development of a pedestrian-friendly downtown.

• The Williston Community Food Shelf moved to Maple Tree Place in October 2008 after operating out of the garage of the organization’s then-president Jill Lang. The Observer reported in its Oct. 23 issue that the Food Shelf was scheduled to open Nov. 1. The Food Shelf has since relocated again, and now makes its home at Suite 115 of 300 Cornerstone Drive.

• Two men died in an apparent murder-suicide at a home on Isham Circle, the Observer reported on Oct. 30, 2008. Police said Michael Putnam, 55, of Waterbury shot his estranged wife’s boyfriend, 59-year-old Gary Smith of Shelburne, before committing suicide. Police called the slaying Williston’s first murder in nearly 20 years.

• Champlain Valley Union High School’s field hockey team won the Division 1 championship in 2008. According to the Oct. 30 issue of the Observer, the 3-0 victory over previously undefeated Hartford High captured the second field hockey title in school history.

Oct. 28, 2010

Williston voters will have a full ballot to complete when they head to the polls on Tuesday.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 2 at the Williston Armory.

Locally, voters will choose two state representatives to represent Williston in the Vermont House. Candidates are Democrats Terry Macaig and Jim McCullough, and Republicans Mike Benevento and Jay Michaud.

The ballot also contains 16 candidates running for Chittenden County’s six seats in the Vermont Senate. The field includes six Democrats, six Republicans and four third party candidates.

Williston has 27 candidates running for 15 justice of the peace positions.

Statewide races on the ballot include U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative to Congress, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, State Treasurer, Secretary of State, Auditor of Accounts and Attorney General.

For a full list of candidates, visit the Vermont Secretary of State’s elections website at www.vermont-elections.org.

The ballot will also contain a question asking if voters will amend the Vermont Constitution to allow more flexibility in the voting age for primary elections.

Assistant Town Clerk and Treasurer Kathy Smardon said early ballots are available at the Town Clerk’s office. Voters can visit Town Hall to vote, to pick up a ballot or to request that a ballot be sent to a family member. Voters can also call the Town Clerk’s office at 878-5121 to have a ballot mailed to them. All ballots must be returned by the time polls close on Election Day.

— Greg Duggan, Observer staff