Williston Observer

Kids and nature

As a parent of a young child, I try to spend time outside with my son every day in one of Williston’s abundant green spaces. Yet unsafe and inappropriate conditions in many places mean that kids spend most of their time indoors, missing out on the richness of the natural world and suffering from what some have called “nature deficit disorder.”

In 2010, Burlington filmmaker Camilla Rockwell made a film about the relationship between kids and nature, and its challenges. On Monday, Oct. 1, Williston Green Initiatives and the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library will co-sponsor a free community screening of this film, “Mother Nature’s Child,” with a Q&A afterwards with Liz Thompson, local mother and biologist who is featured in the film. Refreshments and childcare will be provided, and the event goes from 5:30-7:30. I hope to see you there!

— Allaire Diamond
Wlliston

In support of Tom Nelson and Jay Michaud

Jim McCullough and Terry Macaig stopped by my home recently while campaigning and each dropped off some nice leaflets. Each leaflet touts the candidate’s support of the business community — Jim’s goes so far as to be the first line under his name claiming to be “a voice for business.” I decided I would check the veracity of these claims. Over the past three legislative terms, Jim has averaged just 28 percent agreement on the Vermont Chamber of Commerce Legislative Report Card. Twenty-eight percent is hardly a voice for business. Terry has fared little better, with an average of 36 percent in his two terms. I like both Jim and Terry and have interacted with them on several occasions, but Williston needs new representation in Montpelier. I believe Tom Nelson and Jay Michaud will work to lessen the burden of taxes and government regulation that stifles investment in business and drives our youth out of state to find employment.

Tom’s experience as a state police captain shows he has the leadership qualities necessary to work with and for people with varied interests. He can work to protect our environment, help our schools, and create a better economic climate without further encumbering our taxpayers and job creators.

Jay’s experience starting and running several businesses indicates his understanding of the real economic world. He knows what it takes to make a payroll and also knows which legislation coming out of Montpelier would hinder expansion and investment. He has also proven to be a calm and steady voice of reason on the Williston Selectboard.

I have no doubt that Jay and Tom will each use their background and experience to be superb representatives for Williston and all of Vermont.

— Jake Mathon
Williston

Should marijuana be legal?

The proposition of a medical marijuana dispensary has gotten me thinking about the topic that has been argued over for decades. I haven’t thought about this issue in a long time. The dispensary brings up the question once more: should marijuana be legal for medical purposes? I’ve heard many opinions over this issue in school. Last year, at CVU, I participated in Model UN, a gigantic project where the whole freshmen class debates over issues as if they were the real United Nations. One of the topics was how to stop the drug wars in Mexico. The solution I kept hearing over and over again was to legalize marijuana.

This would theoretically stop most of the violence in Mexico. I agree that if we wish to stop the drug wars in Mexico, that may be our only option. There are a couple problems with this plan, but one of the biggest ones is what this might do to the future of the United States. All you have to do is look around for an example of what could go wrong. Tobacco is a perfect example of a legal drug that is abused. Every year, thousands die from lung cancer caused by tobacco. If we legalize marijuana, I believe the same thing will happen: people will abuse the drug and some will die. Even if it is only for medical purposes, abuse can easily occur. So, do we really want to support this new idea of a drug that has commonly been viewed as a harmful addiction for years, or not? We have to decide.

— Conor Bauman
Williston

By Tom Vilsack   

After spending much of August out of Washington, Congress is back—and rural America is watching closely, hoping for passage of a Food, Farm and Jobs Bill as soon as possible.

With farmers facing the worst drought in decades this summer and the current Farm Bill set to expire on Sept. 30 of this year, time is running out for Congress to act.

You and I both know the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Since early this summer, when the Senate passed a comprehensive, multi-year Food Farm and Jobs Act, the administration has expressed its preference for such comprehensive legislation and urged Congress to act before the current law expires.

Let me tell you why:

A comprehensive, multiyear Food, Farm and Jobs Bill would ensure a strong safety net for our producers. This includes disaster assistance for those who have been impacted by the drought—especially by providing help for livestock and specialty crop producers and providing a new support system for dairy producers.

Just as important, a new multiyear bill would ensure certainty for all farmers and ranchers in the coming years.

It would help USDA to continue growing agricultural trade. We’re in the four best years for agricultural exports in our history, and we can’t afford to stop now.

It would enable USDA to continue the record investments we’ve made since 2009 in America’s small towns and rural communities. USDA could continue to modernize water and electric utilities for millions of Americans, expand broadband access and help rural businesses grow. And it would give us tools to continue expanding the production of advanced biofuels and bio-based manufacturing, creating more good jobs that can’t be shipped overseas.

It would allow USDA to continue the groundbreaking agricultural research that’s ongoing today, both here and at universities across America—important research the likes of which helps agriculture through tough times, such as the current drought.

A Food, Farm and Jobs Bill would enhance USDA conservation efforts, ensuring that vital conservation programs that enable rural Americans to protect the land and water don’t expire.

It would enable USDA to continue helping millions of American families—folks who are working hard, playing by the rules, but still having trouble making ends meet—to provide food for their children.

And if Congress acts, we’ll be able to continue our efforts to ensure the safest food supply on earth.

As America recovers from economic recession, rural Americans are leading the way and USDA is supporting their efforts. It’s not time to let up now, and that’s why we need Congress to pass a Food, Farm and Jobs Bill as soon as possible.

Tom Vilsack is the United States Secretary of Agriculture. 

Connecting Youth recently announced highlights of a web survey it conducted with Chittenden South Supervisory Union parents over the summer as part of a grant study with the Vermont Department of Health.

The survey was part of a project aimed at addressing underage drinking. The project includes a parent social marketing campaign called “Lead by Example,” which aims to raise awareness about the consequences of underage drinking, the effects of alcohol use on adolescent brain development and positive parenting strategies to prevent teen alcohol use.

During the campaign, CY reported a slight shift in key parental attitudes and behaviors around underage drinking, including:

Parents who disagreed with the statement “Allowing use at home teaches teens to drink responsibly” went from 56 percent in 2009 to 68 percent in 2012.

Parents who disagreed with the statement “It is OK for people under the age of 21 to drink alcohol” went from 63 percent in 2009 to 75 percent in 2012.

Parents who said they would never allow their teen to drink alcohol at home went from 50 percent in 2009 to 57 percent in 2012.

Parents who said they were “aware of the legal penalties around serving alcohol to minors” went from 74 percent in 2009 to 83 percent in 2012.

For more information or to get involved, contact CY Program Director Christine Lloyd-Newberry at 802-383-1230 or [email protected]

—Observer staff report

St. George and Williston children between the ages of 3 and 5 are eligible for publicly funded prekindergarten for the current school year.

Prekindergarten includes six to 10 hours per week of early development and learning experience. There are still enrollment slots available in several private locations.

Chittenden South Supervisory Union partners with 20 community early care and education programs, including the Bellwether School, Heartworks, Kinderstart and Williston Child Care Center. Contact CSSU for a list of other participating programs and contact the center directly to confirm space availability.

The program is tuition-free, but private centers may charge families the difference between their operating costs and what Chittenden South Supervisory Union pays.

For more information, or to apply, contact Wendy Clark at 383-1235 or [email protected] Students must be enrolled by Oct. 5, 2012.

Vermont Premier Soccer executives Malcolm Wilson (far left) and Iain Manson (far right) flank a group of local players during an Aug. 24 camp at the Essex Tree Farm Recreational Fields. (Courtesy photo)

By Luke Baynes

Observer staff

Don’t let the lack of furnishings at Vermont Premier Soccer’s Cornerstone Drive office space fool you. The newly founded soccer company is open for business and is ready to teach footballing skills to youths across the region.

“It’s kind of twofold, what we do,” said VPS Director of Operations Iain Manson. “One is player education, and two is coach education. So we’re looking to basically bring up the level of soccer that is played and taught in America.”

Manson, a Scot, is joined at VPS by Technical Director Malcolm Wilson, an Englishman. Manson, who was a midfielder at the University of Dundee, said his work at VPS combines two of his passions.

“Soccer—what we call football—has always been something I’m passionate about, and I get to combine working in the game of soccer with working with kids, which is really good,” Manson said. “I enjoy working with kids in that teaching and facilitating role, so it’s kind of a perfect match that I get to work in a soccer environment and also be involved with working with kids.”

Vermont Premier Soccer is an offshoot of Global Premier Soccer, an entity that formed after Massachusetts Premier Soccer expanded into other states across the Northeast and down the Eastern Seaboard. Notable GPS alumni include Major League Soccer players Bryan Gaul, who suits up for the Los Angeles Galaxy, and Aaron Schoenfeld, who takes the pitch for the Columbus Crew.

VPS was also formed as a partnership with Nordic Spirit Soccer Club, an Essex Junction-based organization that was founded in 1986 and hosts the annual Nordic Cup tournament, which brought more than 200 soccer squads to Chittenden County in 2012.

Jim Goudie, director of operations for Nordic Soccer, used a romantic analogy to describe the three levels of partnership the Nordic board considered when establishing a relationship with VPS. Level one, he said, is dating, level two is engagement and level three is marriage. Right now, Nordic and VPS are just dating, although it remains to be seen how the relationship will blossom in the future.

“We have decided as a club to go in at level one, so we’re going to be using their staff to work with our kids and our teams all year round,” Goudie said. “They’re providing us with professional, qualified coaches.”

Goudie pointed out that while most Nordic coaches have day jobs and are strictly part-time, the partnership with VPS will allow for greater player development through VPS day camps and summer clinics.

“The main goal for both organizations is player development,” Goudie said. “We want to be able to offer kids of all abilities a good soccer experience.”

VPS, which hosted a day camp at Williston Community Park on Wednesday, will also hold a four-week series of Friday evening clinics in Williston, beginning Sept. 28, which will pit goalkeepers against strikers in an intensive program.

Manson, who moved to Vermont this year, said he’s impressed with the level of support for soccer in the area.

“I’ve only been here a short period, but even just driving around, you don’t see American football goals, you see a lot of soccer fields,” Manson said. “Soccer’s definitely growing. You see the success of the men’s national team—but especially the women’s national team, they’re doing really well right now—and that’s only good for the game.”