Williston Observer

Very berry season

July 28, 2011

By Ginger Isham

 

I’d give anything for a 30-degree temperature so I could make a fresh berry pie! For now I will settle for berries on my cereal and ice cream. If by chance you wish to do some baking/cooking, try the following:

 

Raspberry refresher drink

8 cups raspberries, fresh or frozen

1 1/2 cups sugar

2/3 cup cider vinegar

1/2 cup water

2 liters of ginger ale, chilled

2 cups cold water

Crush berries in a saucepan and stir in sugar, vinegar and water. Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes. Strain to remove seeds. Put in refrigerator and, when ready to use, stir in ginger ale and water.

Makes about 3 quarts.

 

Raspberry sauce

1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries

1/4 cup raspberry jam with no sugar added

1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup

1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon vanilla

Pinch of allspice

Puree raspberries and strain to remove seeds. Return to food processor and add rest of ingredients and puree until smooth. Drizzle over your favorite brownies or frozen yogurt/sorbet.

 

Greek style blueberry pie

Pie pastry for a 9-inch pie shell

1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts or nuts of your choice

3 tablespoon honey or maple syrup

1 package cream cheese (8-ounce size)

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon grated lemon rind

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1 cup unflavored yogurt

1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries

Add nuts to pie pastry and roll out to fit 9-inch pie plate. Prick in few places and bake 10 to 12 minutes on 450 degrees and cool. Cream honey and cream cheese, add lemon juice, rind and allspice. Blend. Fold in yogurt gradually. Fold in blueberries. Pour into cooled crust and chill for 24 hours before serving.

Hint — if you have crushed raspberries that have been sitting, put in a saucepan with a little water and cook a few minutes. Strain. Add juice to ice tea with maple syrup or honey as a sweetener. Add fresh mint or a lemon slice.  Delicious!

Ginger Isham lives with her husband on a fifth generation family farm on Oak Hill Road.

Yes, elections have ramifications

July 28, 2011

By Mal Boright

Observer correspondent

In 2008,we elected Democrats to the presidency and control of Congress. In return we got a needed but little understood health care law that mostly takes effect a couple of years from now, plus some overreaching by the Donkeys.

Then came 2010 and more Republicans — partly as a result of Democratic failures in job creation and making the case for health care — took over the U.S. House with many state governorships and legislatures.

That gave us gridlock, a possible U. S. Treasury default and in general, chaos in Washington and several states.

In the words of former Alaska Gov. (resigned with two years left) and Republican Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, “How’s that hopey, changey stuff working out for ya?”

Just ask the good citizens of Minnesota, where a GOP legislature hammered a no taxes pledge and a Democratic governor shut down state government for two weeks because a new state budget created a stalemate. Compromise was no longer in the political dictionary.

Take the query to Wisconsin. In Madison, newly elected Republican Gov. Scott Walker and a GOP-controlled legislature chopped up public employee unions even though the unions agreed to some pension cuts. It should be noted that Walker exempted the police and firefighters’ unions that supported him during the election. The governor and legislators of both parties are now facing recall votes.

And, as of this past Monday, ask stock and bond holders (perhaps yourself), how this past Congressional election that brought more than 100 rabid conservative ideologues to the U.S. House is working out for ya. These Tea Party enthusiasts are major contributors (but not the only ones) to the cuckoo’s nest atmosphere that has enveloped Washington, leaving the nation at the brink of default on its debts.

Leadership is thus far not very effective. House Speaker John Boehner and Whip Eric Cantor have to play to their hard core Tea Baggers, who themselves got elected in gerrymandered districts by hard core GOP voters.

No new taxes and stop big government were the basis of their elections. Oh yes, that and blind, almost fanatical opposition to anything President Barack Obama might propose. As a result, there were no compromises.

Senate leadership appears to be somewhat more flexible and that was where a glimmer of action was taking place at the start of the week.

While the Elephants are holding fast to their ideological positions, the Democrats are just as obstinate about entitlements, essentially Social Security and Medicare. So far they rigidly oppose even small changes around the edges.

Many believe this too will end with the required hike in the debt ceiling before default is reality. Don’t be too sure. The fault lines in Congress are as deep as they have ever been and that goes back to the pre-Civil War days.

A recent book, “1861—The Civil War Awakening” by Adam Goodheart, tells a lot about attitudes in a divided Congress during that tumultuous year.

According to columnist Thomas L. Friedman in Sunday’s (July 23) New York Times, help may be on the way but much too late to assist in the present crisis. Friedman writes that a third party “Americans Elect” is about to appear on the electoral stage and open the presidential nomination process from the Republican and Democratic parties that seem only interested in their ideologies and power.

This new movement would govern from the middle of the spectrum, which would give it far more flexibility in resolving issues

That sounds good. But it does not at first blush solve the vexing situation that our election by big bucks has gotten us into. To win election to national office, the hopeful needs big time party support and the largesse of individual and corporate givers who put their money where their self-interests are.

Since House and Senate members — when winning for the first time — look at their newly won office as a nice plush career, the stakes become much higher, the quest for money becomes much more vital, and the chances of casting a vote that disturbs either loud constituents or well heeled special interests are much more rare.

Congresspersons and, in some states, legislators who would vote for their nation or state first and career second are an endangered species.

Confession: This scribe was raised in a Northeast Kingdom Republican stronghold where it was said by citizens, “By golly I would vote for that fence post if it were Republican.” Much later when it came to national political parties, this individual decided, “a plague on both their houses.” However, the Republican Party now in Washington in no way resembles the thoughtful GOP members in the Kingdom years ago.

Farewell, and a look at Israel

July 28, 2011

By Kayla Purvis

Editor’s Note: This week is the final installment of “Right to the Point.” Kayla Purvis has been the columnist for “Right to the Point” since June 2010. We wish her luck in college next year and beyond. The Observer will no longer run political columns but looks forward to beginning its “Life in Williston” series in the near future.

I was privileged enough to spend last week in Washington DC for a conference known as Christians United for Israel.

I learned many things during this conference, one of which was that the Observer has chosen this to be the last of the bimonthly political columns. I am disappointed, but fully understand the need to move on. I would like to use my farewell column to advocate for a wholly worthy political cause, and the subject of the CUFI conference: Israel.

And yes, I’m going to get Biblical.

The people of Israel started with Abraham. In Genesis 12, God says to Abraham, “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed by you (Genesis 12:2-3).” So Israel would be the nation to rise from Abraham, and anyone who blesses Israel will be blessed, and anyone who curses Israel will be, well, not blessed.

A perfect example of this is the United States. We are, as it stands, Israel’s one true ally. And look at our nation! Look at how quickly we advanced, how many privileges we have that other nations do not. And look at the Six-Day War. Israel had a stunning victory over Egypt, Jordan, and Syria and gained control of the Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, West Bank, East Jerusalem and Golan Heights.

The Jewish people have historical and biblical rights to Israel; they are not “occupying” it. They own it! And anyone — including the United States — who tries to remove them from that land is going to be torn down.

There is question about America’s loyalty to Israel right now. There are calls to destroy and delegitimize Israel, to divest from them, and even to return the Jewish people to Germany and Poland “where they came from.” Helen Thomas, a former member of the White House Press Corps, has been recorded saying that the Jews need to “get the hell out of Palestine” and go back to Germany and Poland and the U.S.

Listen to me carefully. Bad things will happen to the United States if we abandon Israel. Enemies surround Israel; one of which is also threatening to wipe out the U.S. There is the ruthless Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, radicals in Syria who received $1.56 billion from Iran and has allies in Turkey, Al Qaeda presence in Yemen; Libyan rebels with strong ties to Al Qaeda.

Then there is Iran, which is a huge problem. President Barack Obama, you will not be able to negotiate with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. You must prepare for military actions because Ahmadinejad wants us to feel powerless and powerful at the same time. Iran will soon have the capabilities to wipe out our entire electronic infrastructure; from traffic lights and cell phones to Wall Street, banks and our military intelligence system.

Iran’s nuclear missiles are capable of reaching our eastern states so it’s not just Israel’s problem. They call Israel “Little Satan” and call the United States “Big Satan.” We’re a target.

I will leave you with these few statements that were our talking points for our Congressional meetings: Israel is not the problem. Pressure on Israel is not the solution. We need to provide security aid to Israel. We need to stop Iran.

Williston resident Kayla Purvis is a 2011 graduate of CVU High School.

 

ELAINE SARAH GAY

Elaine Sarah Gay, of Williston, died peacefully at Fletcher Allen Health Care on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, surrounded by loving family and friends. Elaine was born on Valentine’s Day, 1956, in Pittsburgh, Pa. to Samuel Moss and Ina (Mandel) Moss, who predeceased her. She was educated in Monroeville and Pittsburgh, Pa. area schools, then attended the University of Vermont, where she met her husband and life-partner, Paul. While at UVM they were VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) volunteers in southern Vermont and were married in Windsor in 1975. Elaine remained committed to progressive social issues for her entire life. Elaine was employed in the health care field for her entire adult life. Most of that time was spent as a clinical research coordinator in geriatric medicine, psychiatry and most recently, nephrology. She was passionate about her work and leaves behind many close colleagues, patients and friends. Elaine genuinely enjoyed life. Her many hobbies included cooking, reading, kayaking and gardening. She will be terribly missed by those who had the good fortune to know her. Elaine is survived by her loving husband, Paul; their son, Daniel of Worcester, Mass. and his wife, Amy, and their children, Imogene, Mirabel and Jarvis; and their son, Neale of Greenfield, Mass. and his wife, Christina, and their daughter, Clara. She also leaves behind two sisters, Lynda and Stephanie, and a brother, Frederick, all of California. The family would like to thank Drs. Steven Grunberg, Janet Ely and Ruth Heimann, as well as the many wonderful nurses and staff who cared for Elaine during her cancer treatment in FAHC. A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 22, 2011, in the Boucher and Pritchard Funeral Home, 85 No. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Visiting hours were in the funeral home on Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Arrangements are by Boucher and Pritchard Funeral Directors. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Elaine’s memory to the American Cancer Society, 55 Day Lane, Williston, Vt. 05495.

Williston’s Blaine nominated for United Way award

July 28, 2011

United Way of Chittenden County announced this year’s 29 nominations for its “Hometown Hero” volunteer awards on July 20, which recognize the impact community volunteers have on the quality of life in Chittenden County.

Williston resident Elizabeth Blaine was nominated for her service as an RSVP volunteer to the Cathedral Square Corporation, a non-profit organization based in South Burlington that owns and manages properties for seniors and individuals with special needs.

This is the tenth year the annual awards will be made by the United Way of Chittenden County Volunteer Center, according to a news release from the organization. The winners will be announced on Sept. 9 at the Sheraton Burlington Hotel & Conference Center. In all, the nominations honor 64 individuals and 3 businesses, with more than 546 combined years of service and more than 9,324 combined hours of service annually in Chittenden County.

For more information about United Way of Chittenden County and the Volunteer Center, visit www.unitedwaycc.org, call 860-1677 or email [email protected]