Applaud student’s courage

Harking back to the days of Jesus, and more recently the Constitution, free speech is an unalienable right. Perhaps the unanimous decision by the eight-member board “Trinity Baptist School”… Observer, March 22) doesn’t understand that which is written… I applaud Master Oblak’s courage and recommend a good attorney.

Brian M McConnell

Williston

Hope Oblak family sues

I was appalled by the article “Trinity Baptist School suspends student for essay.” While I don’t have all the facts, if the tone of the essay is consistent with the excerpt cited in the article, it is hard to believe that in this day and age there could exist an educational institution that is so narrow-minded. I hope the Oblak family sues. Some things are so wrong, you have to have the conviction to fight it.

Pamela Cowan

Williston

Dogs off leash

In the spirit of balance in opinion, I want to add my perspective on dogs off leash. I have walked, run, biked, cross-country skied and roller bladed on the rec path since the beginning of the path. I am on the path more days of the year than not. I have yet to see an irresponsible, inconsiderate owner of a dog off leash. I understand a person apprehensive about dogs, especially large ones, is made nervous being approached by a dog off leash, but we should not tether all dogs for a few people’s fears. Dogs ON leashes present risks, as well. Anyone on a bike, or roller blades, approaching the back of a person with a dog on a leash, have feared the dog leash acting like a trip line.

I am thrilled with all the use the rec path gets from an eclectic population. The enjoyment of the path takes on many forms and tolerance is in order.

Sharon Gutwin

Williston

SEARCH FOR NEW POLICE CHIEF CONTINUES

As the search continues for a permanent replacement for retired Police Chief Roy Nelson, Williston Town Manager Rick McGuire said interest in the position has been high.

“There have been well over 50 applications I received,” McGuire told the Williston Selectboard at its March 19 meeting. “I’m going to start the interview process next month.”

McGuire said he plans to assemble an interview panel that will include one Selectboard member, one staff member and at least one police professional who works outside the town of Williston. McGuire previously solicited public comment through a questionnaire posted on the town Web site that asked respondents to rank desired core competencies of the new chief in order of importance.

The salary range for the police chief position is $54,410-$78,168. McGuire said he hopes to have the position filled by June 1.

Acting Police Chief Doug Hoyt, who is currently in the midst of a five-week vacation, will continue to serve in an interim capacity until a replacement is found.

Sgt. Justin Huizenga has been placed in charge of the department in Hoyt’s absence.

KIDS Summer food program guidelines

The Vermont Department of Education has announced the availability of funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the 2012 Summer Food Service Program for Children (SFSP). This program is intended to assure that children who rely on free and reduced price meals during the school year continue to have access to nutritious meals during the summer.

Schools, private non-profit organizations, government entities and non-profit residential camps are eligible to sponsor the program at one or more sites.

Children 18 and under who are members of food stamp households, receive Reach Up benefits or meet income guidelines are automatically eligible to receive free meal benefits.

For more information about the Summer Food Service Program contact the Vermont Department of Education at (802) 828-5155.

Green Up Day

Williston’s Senior Planner Jessica Andreoletti is preparing for the town’s annual Green Up Day, set for May 5.The Town will have a booth at Williston Community Park with trash bags and refreshments. “It would be good to get teams of folks to walk the Allen Brook to collect trash, as well as along the roads and in our neighborhoods and parks. I am looking for food/beverage donations from local restaurants/coffee shops/grocery stores,” Andreoletti wrote in an email to the Observer.

Residents may sign up early and pick up their bags at the Planning Office in April, or may show up on Green Up Day at the concession stand at the Community Park starting at 8 a.m. to enjoy refreshments, pick up trash bags and select an area to “green up.”

Questions should be addressed to Andreoletti at 878-6704 x 4 or by email [email protected]

KINDERGARTEN PRE-REGISTRATION

Pre-registration for fall kindergarten has begun. If your child will be 5 years old by Sept. 1, 2012, visit the Williston School District’s website (wsdvt.org) or call 879-5806 to start the process. Kindergarten registration will be held April 4-6. Appointments can be scheduled via phone or online.

Benefits of health care reform

By Senator Patrick Leahy and Congressman Peter Welch

In the two years since President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, Americans are seeing the benefits. Nearly 86 million Americans have received free preventive services such as routine check-ups and cancer screenings. Over 105 million Americans no longer have lifetime limits on their insurance coverage. Two and a half million young adults up to the age of 26 now have affordable insurance through their parents’ health plan. And 360,000 small businesses have taken advantage of tax credits to help them provide health insurance for two million workers.

In Vermont, as a result of the law:

•  4,300 young adults up to age 26 now have health insurance through their parents’ plans
•   24,000 children and 120,000 adults have health insurance that provides free preventive services
•  82,000 seniors have received Medicare preventative services free of charge
•   6,800 seniors have saved $4.8 million on prescription drug costs, an average savings of $710 per senior
•  700 small businesses received tax credits to maintain or expand health care coverage for their employees
•   $37.9 million in public health care grants have been awarded to community health centers, hospitals, doctors and other health care professionals to improve health outcomes

Additionally, the Affordable Care Act has limited the amount of money health insurers can spend on expenses unrelated to health care and required justification for rate increases of 10 percent or more.

Starting in September, the law will also require health insurers to provide Vermonters with clear and consistent information so they can easily compare health care options.

New retail building on Route 2A to break ground in May

By Luke Baynes

Observer staff

Two projects that will change the landscape of Williston’s growth center received final approval at Tuesday’s Development Review Board meeting, while a third project that will improve the connectivity of the town’s system of hiking trails also got a green light.

Jeff Nick, president of J.L. Davis Realty, appeared before the DRB to present final plans for a development known as the “Lot 30 project.” Nick previously received discretionary permit approval for the project on Aug. 23, 2011 – subject to final conditions of approval, such as improved landscaping.

Lot 30 will involve the construction of an approximately 29,000-square-foot mixed-use retail building on Vermont 2A, adjacent to the Ponderosa Steakhouse. Verizon Wireless and Panera Bread both plan to locate stores in the development.

The project also calls for the extension of the eastern entrance road of Hannaford supermarket, plus the replacement of Bishop Avenue with a grid street more equidistant from Marshall and Wright avenues that will contain traffic-friendly curb cuts.

The DRB unanimously voted to approve the Lot 30 final plans, with one board member abstaining.

“You did a great job,” DRB Vice Chairman John Bendzunas told Nick.

Nick said his company plans to break ground on the project in May.

FINNEY CROSSING

Phase 1-B of Finney Crossing – a mixed-use residential and commercial subdivision that will be located on the 107-acre former horse farm north of Maple Tree Place – also received the DRB’s stamp of approval.

The building stage involves the construction of eight row houses, 22 townhouses and 18 single-family homes.

Williston Senior Planner Matt Boulanger told the Observer on Wednesday that the varied forms of housing of the latest phase of the project will give developer Snyder Homes the flexibility to attract different kinds of tenants.

“It means they can respond to demands and market conditions and be a little more flexible,” said Boulanger.

Construction is already underway on Phase 1-A of the project, which involves the erection of a 43-unit apartment complex east of The Hamlet development and an extension of Zephyr Road to provide access to the building.

SUCKER BROOK ‘CROSSING’

The final item on the evening’s agenda saw the approval of a different type of crossing – a 50-foot-long, 3-foot-wide pedestrian footbridge over the Sucker Brook and its associated floodplain off Vermont 2A, between Butternut and Old Creamery roads.

Boulanger said the bridge will provide access from Vermont 2A to trails that run toward Sunset Hill.

“It provides a trailhead and an access on 2A that we don’t have right now,” said Boulanger.

By Luke Baynes

Observer staff

The high school segment of Trinity Baptist School in Williston will shut its doors at the end of the school year due to lack of enrollment, although the K-8 portion of the school and the Little Lambs Preschool will remain in operation.

Pastor Darrin Forehand confirmed the news in an email to the Observer.

“The school board decided to temporarily suspend the high school (9-12),” wrote Forehand. “Our preschool and K-8 is planning on remaining in operation.”

The announcement came less than two weeks after the school board decided on a different form of suspension, when it ruled on March 11 that 17-year-old junior Jonathan Oblak be suspended for the remainder of the school year following an essay he wrote for an English class assignment that criticized the school’s dress and conduct codes.

Prior to learning about TBS’ decision to close the high school, Oblak said he would not attend the school for his senior year.

“I do know that I don’t want to go back to Trinity,” Oblak said. “It would just be awkward.”

Oblak’s mother, Sylvia, said affected parents who also attend Trinity Baptist Church were informed of the school board’s decision on March 21. Parents who send their children to the school but aren’t members of the church were told the news on March 22.

“This came out of the blue,” she said. “It’s a shock to everyone that has students in the high school.”

TBS Administrator Randy Krystowiak told the Observer that he wasn’t part of the decision making process because he isn’t a member of the school board.

“I really don’t have a say in what the school will look like next year – I just work with whatever I am handed,” Krystowiak wrote in an email.

Forehand was unable to confirm how many students will be affected by the school’s closing.

“I’m not sure the exact count of high school students right now,” Forehand stated.