Williston Observer

Blue-green algae found in Lake Iroquois

Oct, 27, 2011

By W.C. Wright

September brought a bloom of blue-green algae (aka cyanobacteria) back to Lake Iroquois for the second consecutive year. These blooms are caused by excessive nutrients entering the lake from stream erosion, shoreline erosion, poor management procedures during construction of buildings and roads, road erosion, wastewater disposal systems (septic systems) and stormwater runoff.

The “pea soup” appearance of the water and the blue-green-yellow sheen (looking like spilled paint) on the water surface are characteristic of cyanobacteria blooms. The toxin that is sometimes produced by this algae is known to have caused illness and death of dogs that drank the water.

Upon seeing the new bloom, we notified the Water Quality Division of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and health officials in the towns of Hinesburg and Williston.

Rocky Martin of the Hinesburg health office responded by contacting the Vermont State Health Department and — with the help of Lake Iroquois Association Board member Dan Sharpe — collected samples from the southwest corner of the lake, where the bloom was most apparent. Signs were also placed at the fishing access and beach area warning people to avoid the algae and to keep their dogs out of the bloom.

Sample water tests confirmed the presence of blue-green algae toxins, but thankfully in lower concentrations than those known to cause disease in humans or animals.  Because tests were done at a single location and time, it is likely that toxin levels could have been higher or lower if tested earlier or in a different location.

This bloom of toxin-producing algae is a concern to all of us who use and enjoy Lake Iroquois. We have read reports of blooms in Lake Champlain, especially in Missisquoi Bay, that limit swimming and the use of the water for cooking and other domestic purposes.

The Lake Iroquois Association is committed to attacking these problems. Studies have been done to identify some of the major sources of nutrient loading, and plans are underway to remedy some of them.

It is essential that all who enjoy the lake become involved to protect and improve it. Boaters, fishermen, beach users, those who have properties in the watershed, and the towns of Hinesburg, Williston, Richmond and St. George all need to contribute their efforts, time and money to make this lake a viable, enjoyable and safe place for us all in the future.

Hopefully, together we can make Lake Iroquois a model for others of how interested, dedicated individuals, organizations and towns can improve the quality of a lake — now and for future generations.

For more information on this and other lake issues go to the Lake Iroquois Association web site: www.lakeiroquois.org

W.C. Wright is a board member of the Lake Iroquois Association.

Fancy French pie

Oct. 27, 2011

By Kim Dannies

A favorite special occasion dessert is Apple Tarte Tatin, a succulent upside-down apple pie. Officially known as La Tarte Desmoiselles Tatin, this classic is named for the French sisters who created it in 1898.

Tarte Tatin is extraordinary due to the intensity of flavor from caramelized sugar, apples, and butter. A fundamental of French pastry cooking is “color equals flavor,” so don’t be alarmed if your caramel topping is quite dark — that is considered très bien!

PÂTE BRISÉE  (PASTRY CRUST)

In a food processor, combine 4 cups white pastry flour, 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 cup chilled butter, cut into small chunks. Pulse quickly until coarse flour forms. With the motor running, add ½ cup cold water and let the dough form. Add small drops as needed to incorporate all of the flour. The dough must pull cleanly off the sides of the working bowl. Remove the pastry and wrap in plastic wrap, store in the fridge.

TARTE TATIN (APPLE TART)

Peel and core 12 to 14 golden delicious apples; slice a thin layer off each bottom to even the base and then slice each apple in half. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. On the stovetop, in a large (12-by-14-inch) cast iron pan or deep copper tart pan, melt 1 cup butter with 2 cups sugar. Turn off heat. In a concentric circle arrange the apples, standing them tightly against each other — back-to-belly style — until the pan is filled.

Caramelize the apples on medium heat for about 30 minutes, or until dark syrup bubbles up and you can smell the cooked sugar. Let the apples cool slightly, then roll out the pastry and fit on top of the apples, working quickly and tucking in the edges. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until pastry is golden brown. Cool tart 10 minutes; gently unmold tart onto a round serving platter. Don’t panic if all of the apple does not release! Simply use a spatula to re-paste the apples, scraping up as much color as possible. As the tart cools it will solidify to perfection. Serve slices with a dollop of crème fraîche; serves 14 to 16.

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

Metamorphosis of life

Oct. 27, 2011

By Karen Wyman

Over the past few weeks, the girls and I have been fostering caterpillars and watching with amazement as they transitioned into beautiful monarch butterflies. Soon, the time came to release them and let their journeys begin. We watched in awe as they spread their wings and left our home, and I couldn’t help but get teary-eyed at the symbolism. Some day, my two little ones will also leave home to begin their journeys. I remembered I had a similar feeling a few months ago when we planted our garden. After the butterflies flew out of sight, I went inside and found the girls’ memory books — where I poured out my sentiments during the spring.

May 2011: “I know it is wet and the sun is not sunny, but we can have lots of good fun that is funny.” Dr. Seuss provided my daily mantra for one of the rainiest Mays on record.

“All you two wanted to do was go outside and ride your new bicycles, so I had to be extra creative to keep you entertained. I decided to think of a theme, and each day we would do something new related to it. As you groaned and complained how bored you were, the idea hit me — a garden! Now I know what you’re thinking, ‘Um, mom remember it’s raining outside?’ We wouldn’t actually plant the garden until Memorial Day; however in the meantime, we had lots of planning and research to do!”

“My ultimate goal was to instill in you a love of organic fresh vegetables, with the hope you’d become more adventurous eaters if you were involved from ground to plate! Luckily, it wasn’t hard to sell you on the idea. You couldn’t wait to dig in the dirt. We started out at the library, where we discovered many books on gardening. We figured out what zone we were in and what would grow well in our region. You both loved to look at the pictures and see beautiful vegetables that you had never even heard of. You each chose some vegetables that you wanted to grow, and then it was off to the grocery store to actually touch them and bring some home to sample.”

“We spent another afternoon mapping out the backyard to decide where the garden would get the best mix of sun and shade. You loved drawing pictures of veggies on the different layouts, trying desperately to envision our finished product. Next, it was time for us to shop for supplies. It was so much fun visiting all of the gardening stores right here in Williston. At the first one, we purchased two tiny pairs of ‘Dora the Explorer’ gardening gloves, and a small spade and trowel. At the next store we spoke with a wonderful gentleman who patiently answered all of your questions. He helped us buy tomato cages and poles for beans, and he convinced me a birdbath would look beautiful near our garden. I’m not sure if he worked on commission, but I bought the birdbath just to thank him for answering so many questions!

We spent an amazing day (yes day!) at one of the other local stores, learning all about how to care for our garden. After you each picked out your seeds, another knowledgeable and kind man helped us design each square foot. We decided on a raised bed garden kit and some topsoil and compost. Thank goodness there was an onsite café, because we needed to refuel after all of that planning.

“Before we knew it, the sun was sunny and Daddy helped us build our garden. Every morning filled me with delight when you two would wake up and race outside to see if anything had sprouted yet. You had spent an entire month on this project, and as you should, you both felt extremely invested and proud. I was proud of you also. You were both so helpful and committed every step of the way. I started to cry thinking how fast you were growing up and how someday you won’t want to spend a summer gardening with your mother. Then the wise Dr. Seuss came to mind again. ‘Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.’ I will always be thankful for that rainy May.”

As I closed the memory book, I vowed to appreciate and enjoy every moment of the girls’ childhood — after all, it won’t be long until my two little ones will be begging to fly to Mexico for spring break. Hopefully my two little butterflies won’t want to leave for a long time.

Karen Wyman has been a Williston resident for six years, and lives with her husband and twin 4-year-old daughters.

Ahead of their time

Oct, 27, 2011

By Bill Skiff

At Cambridge High School in the 1940s, we teenagers were blessed with two wonderful role models: Father Marcoux and the Reverend Bob Harding. Father Marcoux was the parish priest in Cambridge and Rev. Harding was the minister for the Congregational Church in Jeffersonville.

Each Friday afternoon, the two men held religious classes at our high school. These classes were well attended and enjoyed. But it was the relationship between these two religious leaders that had the most impact on us.

In those days, the two faiths were well respected. However, we kids recognized that the adults saw the two faiths as different. We did not witness much tolerance or understanding of the others’ point of views. For instance, my mother had two fears: first, that I would drink and second, that I would date a Catholic girl. I was always falling for Catholic girls who liked to drink. I never found them any different from the Protestant girls; in either case, we did not spend much time discussing religion.

When Father Marcoux and Rev. Harding entered our lives, it was a blessing. We witnessed them sharing ideas as well as their religious beliefs. We saw their deep respect for each other. We sensed that they liked us kids. Both men loved sports and attended all our ballgames, many times sitting together. They taught us many lessons, both in and out of church. I’m surprised how many apply to today’s challenges.

Rev. Harding came to Jeffersonville in 1946 to serve as the minister for the Congregational Church. It was his first church, as he was fresh out of seminary. He arrived with a new wife, a new 1946 Ford Coupe, and now had a new church.  I liked all three (especially the Coupe). He let me drive it once.

One day we were playing basketball on our dirt basketball court when he came over and watched. After a while he asked, “Can I play?” and “Why are you all playing in your sock feet?” We said, ”Sure you can play” and “The reason we play in our sock feet is because we can’t get our shoes dirty. If we do our mothers will kill us. When we get home we throw our socks away and our mothers never know the difference.”

He said, “Well I guess if you can fool your mothers I can fool my wife.” He took off his shoes and started playing. He won all our hearts that day; no matter what church we attended.

One day I was having a terrible time on the baseball field. Coming in from my position, after making an error, I was swearing. Rev. Harding stopped me on the way to the bench and said, “Bill I don’t think that kind of language is a good representation of you or our church.” Because of my respect for him, and the fact that I knew he was right, I never did it again.

Father Marcoux was a robust man with a booming voice and a kind heart. He always wore the cloth, but mingled with us kids with an ease that won our trust. During his Friday afternoon classes at school he would keep the Catholic kids mesmerized with his stories and good humor. A couple of times, I skipped my religious classes just to hear him.

As a priest, Father Marcoux did not have many material possessions but loved his big black automobile. He always drove a Buick or an Oldsmobile. And he drove them like a “bat out of hell.” During my freshman year at Middlebury College, he picked me up hitchhiking home. I was terrified during the entire trip. When I looked at the speedometer — on the many flat stretches between Middlebury and Cambridge — it read 80 miles per hour.  The whole time he was asking me questions about my classes, sports and my plans for the future. By the time he dropped me off in front of my house, I was exhausted from nervous tension.

Just before he left, he said, “Bill it sounds like you are doing well. Always remember what your parents and your faith have taught you, study hard, trust in the Lord, and you will do alright.” For someone who was away from home for the first time, and struggling with difficult classes, it was just what I needed to hear. I never forgot his words of encouragement

The best lesson he taught us boys came prior to an important basketball game: the state tournament at Burlington. The Catholic boys suggested we attend a Mass and have Father Marcoux give the team a blessing. After the Mass, we gathered and he blessed the team. Some of us were thinking, “How can we lose? Not only are we good, but now we have Father Marcoux’s blessing.” Just as we were walking out the door, he said, “Boys, one last thing. When you go out on the court tomorrow night, remember — the Lord will not be in uniform.”

Too bad the Lord wasn’t in uniform. We could have used him.

Bill Skiff grew up on a farm between Cambridge and Jeffersonville. After a career in education, he now lives in Williston, where he is a justice of the peace and Fourth of July frog-jumping official. In “Places I’ve Played,” he shares his experiences of growing up in Vermont. Comments are welcome at [email protected]

Courtesy photos by Glenn Fay Jr.

The Redhawks boys soccer team opened the 2011 Division I playoffs with a 4-0 victory over Brattleboro on Oct. 25.