Williston Observer

Guilty, as charged

April 28, 2011

I confess. I’m a stalker. There is simply no defense for my obsession with the magnificent vegetable, asparagus. When those spring stalks land in my kitchen crosshairs, I cook them into every conceivable dish until even my piggy pugs refuse them.

The simple-sublime way to enjoy asparagus is to start with a big bunch of fat-fingered stalks. Asparagus preparation is easy: simply remove the bottom stems by snapping the bases. If the stalks feel a bit tough, peel them gently. Toss the spears in a little olive oil. Fire up the grill and roast the asparagus until they blister and glisten, about 5 minutes. Asparagus is cook-friendly: you can roast it, steam it, sauté it, or zap it in the micro with fine results.

I like to serve a big batch of asparagus on a platter sprinkled with sea salt and fresh pepper. If I have an orange, I’ll grate a bit of the zest and then squeeze the juice over the spears. Finely chopped hard-boiled egg looks great, too. There is no better accompaniment to grilled asparagus than a spicy herb aioli. Chop 6 to 8 garlic cloves and a bunch of mint leaves in a mini-processor. Add 2 cups of mayonnaise. Season to taste with hot sauce and salt. Blend well. This dish alone will keep me on my best behavior — at least until strawberry-stalker season begins.

Orecchiette Spring Fling

Boil water to cook a pound of Orecchiette pasta. Chop a large onion. Heat a large pan. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Sauté the onions 15 minutes; stir often. Prep and cut 2 pounds of asparagus stalks into thirds. Add to the sauté along with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 3 chopped garlic cloves. Sauté for 5 minutes more, stirring often.

Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Add the pasta water to the sauté pan along with a 1 cup of ricotta or crème fraiche. Stir well. Fold in pasta. Blend well, season to taste. Cover and heat for 5 minutes. To serve, top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh chives. Serves 4.

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.

April 28, 2011

Construction work to widen the U.S. 2 Checkered House Bridge in Richmond over the Winooski River has begun. Until the temporary bridge opens this summer, travel may be reduced to one lane. The entire re-construction project will take approximately three years to complete. For more information, visit www.checkeredhousebridge.com.
Drivers are asked to please use caution.

Information provided by the Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization

April 28, 2011

Careless and negligent driving

While “running stationary radar” on Interstate 89 on April 22, a vehicle was observed traveling southbound on I-89 at a speed in excess of 100 mph, according to police reports. The vehicle was clocked on radar at 115 mph in a 65 mph zone, the report notes. The driver, Kelly M. Roberts, was subsequently cited on a charge of careless and negligent driving, and also issued a “Vermont Civil Violation for Interstate Speed Limits,” according to the report. Roberts was cited to appear in court on June 6.

Domestic assault

On April 20, at 11:30 a.m., police were notified by Fletcher Allen Health Care that a Williston resident was being treated for what appeared to be a “puncture type wound to the right shoulder area,” according to police reports. Police investigation disclosed that the injury was related to a domestic incident between a husband and wife living at Maple Tree Place apartments. Based on physical evidence and statements, Tawnya Burton, 31, of Williston was cited on a charge of first degree aggravated domestic assault involving her husband, age 36, who was treated for a non-life threatening injury and released, according to the report. Burton was processed and lodged on $10,000 bail at the Chittenden County Regional Correctional Center.

Multiple charges

Patrick J. Tidridge, 31, of Winooski was seen driving a motor vehicle near Maple Tree Place on April 24 after having walked away from the Vermont State Police barracks in Williston, where he is required to report daily as part of his “court ordered Conditions of Release,” according to police reports. He was cited on charges of driving with a suspended license and violation of conditions of release, according to the report. He was cited to appear in court.

On April 25, Tidridge was cited on charges of domestic assault, violation of conditions of release and unlawful mischief after police investigated a report of assault at a Richmond apartment, according to police reports. Tidridge, who police described as “intoxicated and belligerent,” had allegedly assaulted the homeowner and had to be restrained by neighbors, according to the report. He was lodged at Chittenden County Correctional Center on $1,000 bail.

Driving with suspended license

Following a motor vehicle stop for a traffic violation, Meagan Roy, 23, of Burlington was cited on a charge of driving with a suspended license-criminal on April 18, according to police reports. She was cited to appear in court on June 6.

•Alyssa M. Page, 31, of Essex was cited on a charge of driving with a suspended license on April 25, according to police reports. She was cited to appear in court.

•Pete F. Joseph, 31, of Colchester was cited on a charge of driving with a suspended license on April 6, according to police reports. He was cited to appear in court.

Traffic hazard

Police received a report on April 22 that there was debris in the road on Vermont Route 116 near Cheesefactory Road. Upon investigation, police discovered a “substantial amount of debris over several miles” including mailboxes, signs and logs, according to police reports. The items were removed. No other information was released.

Burglary/Theft

An Essex Road resident reported to police on April 22 that the home had been burglarized, according to police reports. The burglar(s) broke into the house’s lower level and entered through a window, the report notes. The case is under investigation.

Personnel from a Williston Road antique shop reported to police on April 23 that four chairs had been stolen off the front lawn, according to police reports. The case is under investigation.

Police notes are written based on information provided by the Williston Police Department and the Vermont State Police. Please note that all parties are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

April 28, 2011

BASEBALL
Thursday: at South Burlington, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday: MOUNT ABRAHAM UNION, 11 a.m.
Tuesday: at Essex, 4:30 p.m.

SOFTBALL
Thursday: at South Burlington, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday: MOUNT ABRAHAM UNION, 11 a.m.
Tuesday: at Essex, 4:30 p.m.

GOLF
Monday: BURLINGTON, COLCHESTER, ESSEX AT ROCKEY RIDGE
Wednesday: at Champlain Country Club (St. Albans)

BOYS LACROSSE
Friday: at Mount Mansfield Union, 4 p.m.
Tuesday: BURLINGTON,
4 p.m.

GIRLS LACROSSE
Saturday: at Mount Anthony (Bennington), noon
Wednesday: BURLINGTON, 4:30 P.M.

BOYS TENNIS
Thursday: at Rice Memorial (Callahan Park), 3:30 p.m.
Friday: SOUTH BURLINGTON, 3:30 p.m.
Monday: BFA-ST. ALBANS, 3:30 p.m.

GIRLS TENNIS
Thursday: RICE MEMORIAL, 3:30 p.m.
Friday: at South Burlington, 3:30 p.m.
Monday: at BFA-St. Albans, 3:30 p.m.

TRACK AND FIELD
Thursday: BURLINGTON AND RICE MEMORIAL, 3:25 p.m.
Wednesday: at South Burlington, 3:25 p.m.

April 28, 2011

BOYS LACROSSE TEAM HEADS TO COUGARS’ LAIR

A Champlain Valley Union boys lacrosse player battles for possession with an Essex player during CVU’s 10-8 win on April 21. (Observer photos by Shane Bufano)

With its home session with Middlebury postponed on Tuesday by wet grounds, the undefeated Champlain Valley Union boys lacrosse team will chase their sixth victory Friday afternoon at Mount Mansfield Union in Jericho Center.

The Cougars are 2-2 for the season. CVU will return home Tuesday (4 p.m.) to take on 1-2 Burlington.

The Redhawks’ latest came on April 23, a 12-1 shellacking of BFA-St. Albans at home. Lanky attacker Taylor Gingras unloaded four goals and helped out on three others to lead the potent CVU attack.

Lawrence Dee collected three scores and a helper. Nathaniel Wells and Chris Bulla added a pair and Jake Marston scored once. Wells and Marston also had assists.

Goalie Eric Palmer blocked eight BFA shots with the Bobwhites getting their lone tally in the third period.

The triumph followed a 10-8 nipping of defending Division I champion Essex on April 21 on the Burlington High School turf, after a switch from the Hornets’ grass due to wet conditions.

Griffin Brady and Justin Beaudry fired in late scores to help the Redhawks prevail in their first encounter of the campaign.

Wells had three goals and Dee added a pair. Marston, Gingras and Robbie Dobrowski also scored for CVU. Palmer had some big stops in the nets.

Ben Adams (two goals, three assists) led the Hornets, who lost several key operators from the 2010 title crew. Marty Harrison and James Olsen also had two tallies.

The makeup date for Tuesday’s postponement of the Middlebury game hasn’t been determined but could happen in mid-May.

CVU SOFTBALL BATS BOOM IN INITIAL VICTORY OF SEASON

After getting the bats untracked Monday with their first victory of the season over visiting Rice Memorial, the Champlain Valley Union softball Redhawks enter a stretch of three tough games with visits to South Burlington on Thursday and Essex on Tuesday, and a home fixture on Saturday against Route 116 neighbor Mount Abraham.

Held to but two runs total in season-opening losses to Mount Mansfield (17-0) and Missisquoi Valley Union (14-2), coach Sara Armstrong Donegan’s charges took powerful and productive swings on a rainy afternoon in crunching the visiting Green Knights 18-3.
The Hawks got off to a fast start when Susan Parmalee led off the home first with a single, Kenzie Roberts reached base and No. 3 batter Leah Leister smashed a pitch over the fence in centerfield for a three-run homer, the Hawks’ first behemoth blast of the campaign.

The offensive assault continued after Rice got the first two outs in the second inning. The swift Parmalee and Roberts legged out infield singles before Leister brought them home with a double. Sophomore Alannah Roy (two hits in the game) got bopped by a pitch and Kayleigh Colbeth plated the runners with a single. Colbeth later scored on a wild pitch, giving the Hawks an 8-0 lead after two frames.

From there, CVU kept adding runs. Parmalee wound up with three hits and Roberts had two. Senior pitcher Cayla McCarthy worked the first three innings and whiffed six. The game was called after six innings.

Tuesday’s scheduled contest against Vergennes was postponed until Wednesday because of rain.

RAIN PLAYS HAVOC WITH TENNIS AND GIRLS LACROSSE SCHEDULES

Tuesday’s soggy field conditions led to postponement of the Champlain Valley Union girls lacrosse team’s visit to Essex until Wednesday afternoon. Monday’s tennis matches for the CVU boys and girls teams were switched to Friday afternoon (3:30 p.m.) with the boys hosting South Burlington at the Shelburne courts and the girls visiting the Rebels in South Burlington.

-Mal Boright