Williston Observer

Chittenden South Supervisory Union’s negotiating team and the local teachers union failed to agree on a new contract Thursday night. Scott Cameron, the lead negotiator for CSSU and a Montpelier lawyer, said representatives from the Chittenden South Education Association walked out of the negotiations about three hours into the meeting at Williston Central School.

According to a press release issued by CSSU Friday afternoon, both sides remain apart on the issues of step increases and teacher payments towards health care premiums, among other concerns.

The CSSU board has given the Chittenden South Education Association until Jan. 31 to accept the CSSU proposal or make a “reasonable counter offer,” Cameron said. He added the CSSU school boards may decide to impose a one-year contract to complete the process.

Lisa Bisbee, chief negotiator for the Chittenden South Education Association, did not return calls from the Observer on Friday afternoon. In the past, the teachers union has met with a lawyer to discuss the legalities of a strike.

The Chittenden South Education Association is made up of teachers from Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, Williston and Champlain Valley Union High School.

The Observer will feature more in the Jan. 27 issue.

Six from CVU receive lacrosse season honors

File photo - Champlain Valley Union High lacrosse player Nick Hart (left) defends a Mount Mansfield Union player during a game in April. The senior midfielder was named to the Division 1 first team by the Vermont Lacrosse Coaches Association. Hart was also one of two Vermonters named to the National Senior All-Star team and one of six to receive a U.S. Lacrosse All-America honor.

Two players from the Division 1 runner-up Champlain Valley Union High boys lacrosse team were named by coaches first team all Division 1, while three earned places on the second team.

But the honors did not stop with players. Dave Trevithick was named the Coach of the Year by the Vermont Lacrosse Coaches Association.

First team slots went to senior midfielder Nick Hart, a key figure for the Redhawks at all sectors of the field, and senior defender Cully Millikin, who led a standout backfield unit.

In addition, Hart was one of two Vermonters named to the National Senior All-Star team and one of six to receive a U.S. Lacrosse All-America honor.

Millikin was one of six Vermont players to receive the VLCA’s Green and Gold Outstanding Player of the Year award.

Second team selections went to CVU’s Taylor Gingras, who potted better than 50 goals for the season, scorer and assist-meister Lawrence Dee and excellent backstop Eric Palmer. All three are juniors.

Joining Hart with the other selection to the National All-Star team is Mount Mansfield Union High’s Tucker White, who was named to the Division 1 second team as a midfielder. White, also a senior, was a Green and Gold honoree.

Former CVU athletes recognized

Veteran Champlain Valley Union High softball catcher Emily Himberg, a senior, was named to the North team for this past weekend’s annual North-South three-game set won by the South, two games to one.

After bowing twice on Saturday, Himberg’s North team fought back Saturday with a 7-3 victory at Castleton State College.

Katherine Goller, a former all-around athlete at CVU and now a Plymouth State sophomore, was named to the college athletic director’s academic honor roll, which requires a cumulative grade point average of 3.3. Goller skies and plays soccer at the New Hampshire school.

By Mal Boright
Observer correspondent

As the American Legion baseball summer schedule rolls into the final half, the number of games dwindle down in which the S.D. Ireland team can make a serious playoff run.

“We almost have to win out,” coach Jim Neidlinger said Monday as his players took batting practice following a forfeit victory over Waterbury at the Champlain Valley Union High field. The league (Northern Division) mark for S.D. Ireland, which includes players from Williston, now stands at 4-6.

The Irelands were preparing for a five-game tournament in Saratoga and Glens Falls, N.Y., which opened Tuesday with two games followed by a singleton on Wednesday before another pair of games Thursday at noon and 3 p.m.

After off days Friday and Saturday, the Irelands return to league play at noon Sunday against Franklin County in St. Albans. The two teams meet again in Hinesburg at 5:30 p.m. Monday.

The OEC Kings from the Northeast Kingdom will be at the CVU field for a 5:30 p.m. contest Tuesday.

Hopes were high going into the annual trip to Glens Falls, where, as assistant coach Onnie Matthews pointed out, the team went 2-2-1 last year against tough competition.

“We are getting better,” Neidlinger said. “There are still some little things here and there but overall we are better.”

The forfeit win on Monday lifted the squad to an overall 7-11 mark.

Last weekend the Irelands were in a three-day tournament in Granville, N.Y., where they went 1-2, the victory a 6-2 triumph hurled by starter and winner Nicky Elderton with solid relief from Dan French.

“Nicky pitched well, just gave up a couple of homers,” Matthews said.

On Sunday, in the Granville finale, the Irelands lost to Post 31, 12-11 in 10 innings after pushing across two runs in the ninth to force the extra inning.

Big bopper of the day for the Irelands was outfielder Jared Badger with two doubles and a single that produced a trio of tallies. Drew Nick poled a double and single.

Prior to the Empire State trip last Thursday, the Irelands pasted Waterbury, 12-0 on the road behind Theron Fuller’s five-hit pitching.

The swatting muscles were provided by Curt Echo with a three-run homer and Ryan Machavern with a two-run clout, both blasts launched over the fence in right.

LEGION TEAM BOWS TWICE IN TOURNEY

The S.D. Ireland American Legion baseball team got nipped 5-4 by New York Post 168, and then took an 11-5 loss at the hands of the TriCity Eagles Tuesday in its opening games in the annual Coopers’ Cave Tournament at Saratoga-Glens Falls, N.Y.

July 8, 2010

Courtesy photos

The Champlain Valley Field Hockey Camp took place at Williston Community Park last week.