Williston Observer

Allen Brook School kindergarteners visited Sugartree Maple Farm in Williston Monday, learning how to tap trees, collect sap and boil syrup. (Observer photos by Stephanie Choate)

More than 20 acts performed to a full house of more than 300 people during the annual community variety show Saturday, a Families as Partners benefit event that raised $2,500 for the Williston school system. (Observer photos by Jayson Argento, www.lakechamplainphotography.com)

 

The fire department served 1,102 hungry residents at the annual Williston Fire Department pancake breakfast on Saturday at the Williston Fire Station. 

Observer photos by Marianne Apfelbaum

Observer photos by Jayson Argento (www.lakechamplainphotography.com)

 

Spring officially arrived in Vermont March 20 on a frosty bed of powder, and now we are scrambling to prepare religious holiday menus in late March. Something doesn’t feel quite right. If the rites of spring have caught you still hibernating, here’s a festive and fun menu to bridge you gently into the spirit of things. Splurge on some lamb chops or lamb kabobs and fire up the grill. Lamb pairs nicely with fresh asparagus and sweet potatoes: two good veggies for bookending this kooky winter-spring season.

Spring Asparagus Salad

Wash and snap off the tough base of desired amount of fresh, thick-stalked asparagus. Coat in olive oil and grill until blistered and lightly charred, about five minutes. Line a serving platter with fresh arugula. Arrange asparagus on arugula. Grate one hard-boiled egg over the stalks. Drizzle with a bit more olive oil. Scatter a few pinches of sea salt, fresh pepper and some finely grated orange zest over asparagus. Finish with a few chopped pistachio nuts.

Sweet Potato Soufflé

Lightly coat 4 soufflé cups (125 ml/half-cup size) with nonstick spray.

Peel and thinly slice one large sweet potato (1 pound). In a saucepan, combine sweet potato, 3/4 cup of orange juice, and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer until soft, about 25 minutes. (Add a bit more water if needed, draining extra.)

Heat oven to 400 degrees. To the sweet potato add 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Puree with immersion blender. Transfer mixture to a medium bowl. In another bowl, beat 2 egg whites until soft peaks form. Gently fold half of the egg whites into the potato mixture with a rubber spatula. Quickly fold in remaining egg whites until mixture is the color of a creamsicle. Spoon batter into prepped cups, place on a baking sheet, and bake 20 minutes.

Mint Sauce

De-stem two bunches of fresh mint. Gently chop the leaves. Add mint to a mason jar along with two minced garlic cloves, a pinch of sea salt and fresh pepper. Add 3/4 cup best-quality olive oil and 1/4 cup orange juice. Cover and shake well. Drizzle over meat.

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. Archived Everyday Gourmet columns are at kimdannies.com. [email protected]

Police seek suspect 

On March 24, police received a report of a man causing a disturbance at Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart employees said he was attempting to return an item to the store, and when a Wal-Mart assistant manager told the man he would only exchange the product, the man became upset and started yelling profanities at store employees, according to police reports. When the man was asked to leave, he became confrontational and started to threaten the assistant manager, according to the report. When police were called, the man left the store. Police are looking for help in identifying the man. Anyone with information is asked to call Williston Police at 878-6611.

Multiple charges

• Anthony M. Whitcomb, 23, of Ryegate, was cited on a charge of driving with a suspended license on March 18, according to police reports. He was also cited to appear in court on a “warrant,” the report notes. No other information was released.
• Melinda J. Morgan, 31, transient, was cited to appear in court on May 6 on charges of unlawful trespass and violation of conditions of release, according to police reports.
• Jackson T. Hathaway, 19, of Brookfield, Conn. was cited on charges of speeding and possession of marijuana on March 23, according to police reports. He was also issued a civil violation complaint for going 40 mph over the speed limit on Interstate 89, the report notes. He was cited to appear in court.

Theft

• An iPod and medication were taken from an unlocked car parked in the Friendly’s parking lot on March 18, according to police reports. The case is under investigation.
• A catalytic converter was reported stolen from a vehicle parked at Berlin City auto center on March 20, according to police reports. The case is under investigation.

Warrant

Jerry Romero, 57, of Williston was transported to Chittenden County Correctional Center on a warrant on March 18, according to police reports. No other information was released.

Driving with suspended license

Samantha Houghton, 21, of Jericho was cited on a charge of driving with a suspended license on March 21, according to police reports. She was cited to appear in court.

Intoxicated person

Police transported a woman to Chittenden County Correctional Center on March 22 after she was reportedly “staggering in the middle of the roadway,” and found lying in the middle of the intersection of St. George Rd. and Williston Rd. on March 22, according to police reports.

Driving under the influence

Joseph G. Corner, 34, of Richmond was cited on a charge of driving under the influence on March 24, according to police reports. His blood alcohol concentration was .142, the report notes. The legal limit for driving in Vermont is .08. He was also cited on a charge of careless and negligent operation of a vehicle, according to the report.

Police cruiser damaged

A Williston police cruiser sustained “extensive front end and undercarriage damage” as well as damage to a rear bumper cover on March 20 after a car crash involving another vehicle on Butternut Road, according to police reports. An investigation showed that police had responded to the area to remove a vehicle which slid off the road the previous night on a very steep section of the road. While the officers were out of their police cruiser assessing the situation, the cruiser began to slide down and subsequently went off the road into a snow bank, causing it to become stuck.
A few moments later, the unoccupied Central Service truck that has responded to the scene also began to slide down the road, striking and causing heavy damage to the police car before sliding off the opposite side of the road and into the ditch, according to the report. The road was subsequently closed so a town highway truck could sand the road and tow trucks could remove the vehicles, the report notes.

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.