Williston
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JUNE 27, 2024
WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985
Saving ‘Big Jim’
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Les champions of lacrosse
Catamount ash trees chosen for protection from invasive beetle
BY JASON STARR Observer staff In Williston’s nearly decade-long battle against the invasive Emerald Ash Borer, hundreds of ash trees have been preemptively removed, a handful have been selected for saving, and others have been left for destruction by the non-native beetle.
One of the biggest ash trees in Vermont, nicknamed ‘Big Jim’ after former landowner Jim McCullough, was injected with a chemical to prevent emerald ash borer infection on Tuesday in the Catamount Community Forest. OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR
A 10-minute walk to the north from Governor Chittenden Road in the Catamount Community Forest stands one of the chosen: “Big Jim” as it’s known to Catamount’s land managers, named after former state representative and Catamount Outdoor Family Center founder Jim
McCullough. A few yards away is an ash tree given the name “Lucy,” after Jim’s wife Lucy McCullough. The two trees are part of a grove that was first treated in 2022 with a product called Tree-age R10. The product was developed by a Massachusetts company called Arborjet and uses the chemical emamectin benzoate, injected into the base of the trees to stave off emerald ash borer infection. The beetle is native to Asia and has been found in 36 states, according to the company. On Tuesday morning, Kevin Brewer of Arborjet returned to Catamount and the Big Jim ash tree grove to provide a second treatment. He was joined by Milton-based arborist Kris Dulmer of Ash Tree Solutions and Catamount Community Forest Management Committee member Terry Marron. Injections should be repeated every two years, Brewer said. Arborjet donated the treatment as part of its “Saving America’s Iconic Trees” initiative whose goal is “ensuring the health and longevity of the country’s most beloved trees that live in public parks and other historic sites,” the company explains. Marron nominated Big Jim and the surrounding grove for the program. After circling a tape measure around Big Jim’s trunk, Brewer said it is one of Vermont’s largest ash trees. “We’re hoping these trees see TREES page 3
The CVU boys lacrosse team won a thrilling state championship final at UVM on June 16, defeating Middlebury 13-12 to take home the Division 1 state title. The Redhawks baseball team and girls lacrosse team also played for state titles, coming up short of victory. See Page 24 for more. PHOTO BY PAUL LAMONTAGNE/VTSPORTSIMAGES.COM
School district gets federal funding to electrify bus fleet
BY INDIRA BUSH Special to the Observer The Champlain Valley School District was granted $1.2 million in federal rebates to put toward the purchase of six electric school buses as part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus program. The program is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021, which allotted $5 billion in funding for transitioning school buses in the U.S. from diesel gas to electric or natural gas. This round of funding will go to schools in 47 states and Washington D.C., along with multiple federally recognized tribes and territories. Five other Vermont school districts were selected, with total funding covering 18 new school buses in
the state. “Eighteen clean school buses means 18 fewer tailpipes blowing diesel exhaust and particulate matter into our air — cleaner air, healthier environment, fighting the climate crisis, parents not worrying that their kids are breathing in fumes as a diesel bus comes by, clean energy jobs, and school districts saving money,” EPA Regional Administrator David Cash said in a press release. Our Clean School Bus program is making a real difference in the lives of children and families across New England.” CVSD already has two electric buses. This past year was their third year in operation, making them two clean buses out of CVSD’s 60-bus fleet, according to CVSD Chief Operations Officer Gary Marckres.
“Overall, they’ve performed well,” he said. However, while one of the buses proved reliable, the other had issues with heating and charging during the winter. Marckres said the issues were mostly ironed out during the school year. “The drivers like driving them,” he said. Sen. Peter Welch said in the news release that he “will keep working … to bring these green energy investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law back to our state.” “Not only will these electric buses reduce carbon emissions, they’ll teach our next generation about the importance of protecting our planet from climate change,” Welch said.
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