July 2, 2009

In Bloom blossoms with donations

On behalf of the Williston in Bloom Committee, we would like to thank the Williston Observer for supporting our fundraising efforts this spring.

Williston in Bloom is a volunteer organization relying on donations and volunteers to help with plantings along town roadsides, around the bandstand, welcome signs and the hanging baskets now seen along Marshall Avenue and Route 2 in the village. The May 14 article “Where have all the flowers gone?” resulted in donations from town residents and businesses. Without these donations, Williston in Bloom was in jeopardy of folding.

Special thanks to all who contributed money and plants. Because of your generosity, we are able to continue to plant these gardens again this year. We hope to have all of these areas planted in time for the Fourth of July festivities.

Enjoy the flowers!

Susan Stanne and Joan Fox-Cota, Co-chairwomen of the Williston in Bloom Committee

Bottles for Babe Ruth

On Saturday, June 20, the Williston Babe Ruth held a very successful bottle drive — raising funds to help defray equipment costs and umpire fees. Organized by Joy Schell and Eric Fontana, the event raised $935.

Thanks to the community members who donated cans, bottles and money to the cause. Also, thanks to the parents and players who collected the donations.

Finally, special thanks goes to Bernie Perreault for receiving all the cans and bottles and for adding a monetary donation.

Mike Benevento, Williston Babe Ruth coordinator

Welch’s idea for progress

Imagine your job does not pay you enough to afford both rent and food. To pay your rent and food you borrow money (the same as the government printing currency that they don’t have) to make ends meet. The more you borrow, the more difficult it becomes to repay your creditors. Every company the government lends money to that cannot afford to repay in full (GM including all those free car warranties, AIG, Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac), the deeper the economic hole grows. Vermont increasing spending 3 percent with revenues dropping over 17 percent is a good example of how government causes this economic spiral.

Like all economic bubbles, the printing of currency that is not backed always ends up the same way. There comes a point where people you are buying from or selling to stop trading. U.S. trade (import/export) decreased over 70 percent from 1928 to 1933. The United States, China, Japan, Korea and Germany are all heavily dependent upon trade. Even a modest decrease in trade will heavily impact all trade dependent countries. If those overseeing the banks cannot provide a stable currency (stable costs for capital and other essential goods), things will financially disintegrate. The currently proposed “Cap and Trade” U.S. energy policy will decrease the average person’s disposable income by 25 percent to 45 percent. Say goodbye to solvency for decades to come.

Shelley Palmer, Williston