It took less than a week for school administrators to name Williston Central School’s new principal following the retirement announcement of longtime principal Jacqueline Parks.
Parks announced her plans to retire at the end of this school year in the Jan. 9 edition of the school’s e-newsletter, the Wildcat Buzz. By Thursday Jan. 15, Champlain Valley School District Superintendent Adam Bunting announced the restructuring of Williston Schools leadership, with Greg Marino taking over as WCS principal in July.
Marino has served as the Lead Principal of Williston Schools since 2015. That position, which oversees both WCS Principal Parks and Allen Brook School Principal Angela Fillion, will be discontinued in the restructuring.
Instead, the district plans to create a new assistant principal position for WCS. It is setting
Table set for Town Meeting
BY JASON STARR Observer staff
In simultaneous meetings Tuesday night, the Williston Selectboard and the Champlain Valley School Board both approved ballot questions and budget proposals that will define this year’s Town Meeting Day. Absentee ballots will be available through the Town Clerk’s office starting mid-February, and live voting will take place at the Vermont National Guard Armory in Williston Village on March 3.
A plethora of weighty questions await voters.
SCHOOL
BUDGET AND BONDS
The school board placed a question on the ballot that seeks approval to take on $13 million in bond debt to fund a variety of school building upgrades. The projects include a new gymnasium floor at Williston Central School as well as new lighting controls and HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) systems. At CVU, the bond would fund roofing, HVAC and a fire alarm system. At Charlotte Central, a new elevator, siding and bathrooms are planned. And at Hinesburg Central, new
roofing, HVAC and electrical systems are needed.
According to CVSD Chief Operations Officer Gary Marckres, the bond would be
of health insurance for employees is also set to jump 7%.
Wording on the ballot estimates a 2.7% increase in spending per pupil if the budget is ap -
WEIGHTY QUESTIONS
ON THE TOWN MEETING DAY BALLOT, MARCH 3
School budget ($107.8 million)
Town budget ($17 million)
School building upgrade bond ($13 million)
Williston library expansion bond ($13.9 million)
Town charter change (eliminate office of lister)
paid off over a period of 30 years and is cost-neutral in the upcoming fiscal year budget due to retiring of prior debt.
The upcoming fiscal year budget is also on the ballot. The school board approved a $107.8 million proposal Tuesday that would increase spending by $5.1 million (5%) over the current fiscal year. The spending increase results mostly from a 5.5% increase in teacher salaries that the board and teachers union agreed to in their current employment contract. The cost
proved, bringing spending per pupil to $15,962. Dave Connery, a member of the school board’s finance committee, said the district’s per pupil increase is lower than the statewide average.
“It’s a delicate balance knowing the weight it puts on our taxpayers … but I believe this is the right budget for this time,” Connery said.
The property tax impact of the budget varies by town in the five-town school district. Williston property owners would see an increase of 8.7% in
the school portion of their annual property tax bill if voters approve. The new tax rate, which would take effect in July, would be $2,030 for every $100,000 of assessed property value. That’s an increase of $138 per $100,000 over the current fiscal year.
St. George homeowners would see a 16.4% increase in the school portion of their property taxes — $308 more per $100,000 of property value.
Voters will also be asked to support a $250,000 bond to finance two school buses and two minivans, and to use $1 million in reserve funds as revenue to offset spending.
TOWN BUDGET AND BOND
The Williston Selectboard is also presenting a multi-million-dollar bond question to voters this year. An article on the town ballot approved Tuesday seeks voter approval to borrow $13.9 million to expand the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library.
The expansion would roughly double the size of the library, add a second floor and reorient its entrance. The project also comes with parking and traffic
The Williston Selectboard on Tuesday approved a $17 million budget proposal and $13.9 million bond question for voters to consider at Town Meeting Day in March. OBSERVER PHOTO
Greg Marino
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
SATURDAY, JAN. 24
Book launch celebration.
“Dangerous Characters: The Life and Crimes of Williston’s Notorious
Outlaw Duo” by Elizabeth Allen. 1-2:15 p.m. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library.
MONDAY, JAN. 26
Dorothy Alling Memorial Library Board of Trustees meeting. 7 p.m. at the library. Agenda at damlvt.org.
TUESDAY, JAN. 27
Development Review Board meeting. 7 p.m. Town Hall. Agenda at town.williston.vt.us.
THURSDAY, JAN. 29
The Williston Central School ‘Wired Cats’ celebrate their top-four finish at last weekend’s Vermont FIRST Lego Robotics League State Championship at GlobalFoundries in Essex Junction. The team won $500 toward a
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Williston-Richmond Rotary Club breakfast meeting. Speakers: CVU Chapter of Amnesty International. 7 a.m. Williston Federated Church. RSVP to rotaryclubofwillistonvt@gmail.com.
THURSDAY, FEB. 5
Williston-Richmond Rotary Club breakfast meeting. Speakers: Sean Leach and Lesley Adams, Vermont Odyssey of the Mind. 7 a.m. Williston Federated Church. RSVP to rotaryclubofwillistonvt@gmail. com.
Around Town
‘Wired Cats’ have
winning weekend
The Williston Central School Lego robotics team was one of four Vermont middle school teams to qualify for nationals last weekend at the Vermont FIRST Lego Robotics League State Championship at GlobalFoundries in Essex Junction.
The “Wired Cats” are planning a trip to the American Robotics
Open Championship taking place June 6-7 at the Liberty Science Museum in Newark, N.J.
GlobalFoundries presented a $500 check to the team after Saturday’s event to help fund their trip. Team members plan to continue fundraising with a goal of $5,000 to go to the event.
According to coach Allan Miller, the team is the first in Champlain Valley School District history to qualify for a national level competition.
“It’s really exciting, but sort of a new adventure for everyone too,” he said.
Donations are being accepted at the school’s front office. Contact Coach Miller at akmiller@cvsdvt. org for more information.
CVSD faces federal investigation over transgender policy
BY AUDITI GUHA VTDigger
The Champlain Valley School District, Vermont’s largest, is being investigated under federal allegations that it has violated laws surrounding transgender student athletes’ participation in sports.
CVSD is among 18 entities in 10 states being investigated by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) “based on complaints submitted to OCR alleging that they have violated Title IX,” according to a press release issued by the department Wednesday.
“In the same week that the Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the future of Title IX, OCR is aggressively pursuing allegations of discrimination against women and girls by entities which reportedly allow males to compete in women’s sports,” Kimberly Richey, assistant secretary for the Office of Civil Rights, said in the release.
Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education. CVSD is the only Vermont school district named in the release.
The notification of the investigation and the following press release publicizing it was “highly disconcerting,” Superintendent Adam Bunting said. It did not give the district any time to communicate the information to the school community, particularly to students who might be feeling vulnerable, he said.
“Apparently, there was a complaint filed. Traditionally, the OCR would tell you what that complaint is. At this point, we’re unaware of what it
is,” he said Thursday.
A memo Bunting put out after he received the notification Wednesday states the district was specifically targeted for “following a Vermont state policy that permits students to participate in sports and to access restrooms and locker rooms in accordance with a student’s gender identity.”
“I want to assure you and all of our students that we remain steadfast in our commitment to honoring the identities of every learner,” Bunting wrote in the memo.
While communication from the federal government and the Office of Civil Rights is not uncommon, a press release notifying the public about decisions pertaining to education is, Bunting said.
“One of the core elements, I think, of any educational system, is around belonging,” Bunting said. “And that means that we need to see the identities of each and every learner that we have.”
The school district, which serves about 3,700 students in Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, St. George and Williston, was among the first in Vermont to craft a policy in 2023 affirming the rights of trans and gender nonconforming students.
“The Champlain Valley School District school board’s policies center on what’s best for our students and our community and are aligned with best practices and state guidance,” Meghan Metzler, the school board chair, said in an email. “We stand with our transgender and gender nonconforming students and are dedicated to all of our students’ success, growth and belonging.”
That policy was modified in 2025 in accordance with Vermont’s Public Accommodations Act. It removed references to former President Joe Biden’s Title IX accommodations, according to Bunting. Still, school systems following statewide guide-
“One of the core elements, I think, of any educational system, is around belonging. And that means that we need to see the identities of each and every learner that we have.”
Adam Bunting Superintendent Champlain Valley School District
lines seem to be in conflict with the Trump administration’s current rules, he added.
Earlier this year, the Department of Education reversed Biden-era protections for LGBTQ+ students to Trump’s 2020 Title IX rules on the basis of biological sex in schools and on campuses. But protections for LGBTQIA+ students remain enshrined in Vermont law and have not been diminished by federal action, the Vermont Agency of Education confirmed last year.
CVSD’s updated guidelines allow transgender students to use their
chosen names and pronouns in most cases, to use facilities according to their gender identity, and to participate in activities that align with their gender identity, according to the updated policy.
The U.S. Department of Education considers such policies a threat to “the safety and the equal opportunities of women in educational programs and activities,” according to the press release.
Bunting said it’s hard to pinpoint how many students identify as trans in the district. Identifiable student information is confidential per the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
“We are absolutely committed to protecting the identity of our students. We also don’t feel that there’s anything that we have to hide,” Bunting said.
Student and advocacy groups are pushing back on what they see as further federal attacks on trans youth.
Aaliyah Wilburn, coordinator of culture for the student-run statewide nonprofit group Vermont Student Anti-Racism Network, said she believes everyone has a right to play sports.
“As a college athlete, when I’m on the field or court, I’m not thinking about another player’s sexual orientation or gender identity, I’m focused on how I can support my team, improve, and win. That should be the reality for most athletes. Sports are about teamwork, growth and competition, not policing who someone is,” she said in an email.
The continuing debate over transgender athletes’ participation in sports is “a distraction” and “disconnected
from reality,” according to a newsletter this week from the statewide LGBTQ+ youth nonprofit Outright Vermont.
“Transgender youth are not a talking point. They are real, brilliant and amazing people” who deserve being supported and not attacked by adults politicizing the issue, Executive Director Dana Kaplan wrote.
There are very few transgender youth athletes nationwide and even fewer across individual states, he said, and they just want to “have a healthy outlet and participate in school sports alongside their peers.”
Meanwhile, Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark last week joined 11 others to sue the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for “unlawfully conditioning” federal health, education and research funding based on states’ agreement to discriminate against transgender people.
The lawsuit refers to the federal government forcing compliance with a presidential executive order that “seeks to deny the existence of transgender people and impose rigid, unscientific definitions of sex in violation of state laws that protect transgender people from discrimination.”
“This is yet another illegal attack by the President and his administration on transgender people,” Clark said in a press release. “I will continue to stand with transgender Vermonters and use every tool available to defend their rights in our state. I also will continue to fight back against this Administration’s efforts to coerce public institutions into ideological submission.”
WILLISTON: BUSINESS HUB OF VERMONT
Italian eatery opens at Finney Crossing
BY JASON STARR Observer staff
It may seem like Finney Crossing has it all — homes, hotels, grocery store, retailers and restaurants. But one thing had been missing from the mix: a family style Italian-American diner. That changed last week with the opening of Spaghet Red Sauce Joint, the latest concept from serial restauranteur Jed Davis. With a menu of pasta, parmesans, salads and sandwiches, Spaghet fills a niche of approachably priced fare that will be familiar to all Italian food lovers. There is seating for 60 inside the restaurant, with online ordering and catering operations
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in the works.
For now, the restaurant is dinner-only, serving nightly from 4-9 p.m. Lunch hours will begin closer to spring.
“We’re going to tip-toe into lunch” Davis said. “I just want to make sure we do it right and we don’t overextend the (staff). Let’s knock dinner out of the park and then add lunch in eventually.”
Spaghet is currently hiring. Two of its three managers transferred from the Bliss Bee restaurants that Davis launched several years ago in Williston and South Burlington.
Davis is also the owner of the Farmhouse Group, which opened a second location of its flagship Farmhouse Tap and Grill in Finney Crossing in 2025. That
restaurant is just a stone’s throw from Spaghet.
“I’ll go for walks around this neighborhood,” Davis said, “and it’s really nice. There is a lot happening here. Some really good, locally-owned-and-operated businesses have opened here that I think are great to affiliate with.”
Spaghet is co-located in a building with Jane Boutique, a women’s clothing store, and Wild Meadows Books and Café, which is planning a spring opening. Construction of the building was completed earlier this winter as the final piece in the Finney Crossing neighborhood, which first broke ground with apartments and condominiums in 2007. Check out Spaghet’s menu online at www.spaghet.com.
C A R E
Spaghet staff prepares for opening day last Friday, from left, Troy Johnson, Jason Plank, Travis Fannin, Sarah Cipollini and owner Jed Davis.
OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR
HUB Happenings
Ernie Rossi
Local
The firm will now operate as 802 Real Estate.
“Our new name … is a tribute to the community that has supported us for many years,” said owner Ernie Rossi. “We wanted a brand that felt as local as the service we provide.”
The rebrand includes a new logo and revamped website designed to streamline the homesearch experience.
Lenny’s customers contribute $665 for Humane Society
HUB
The fundraiser will continue at Lenny’s Williston store through the month of January.
GameStop store closes
Williston’s GameStop store at Maple Tree Place closed in January, part of a rash of store closures nationwide for the video game retailer, according to a report by WPTZ in Burlington.
The GameStop store at the University Mall in South Burlington remains open.
State unemployment rate ticks up
rates for Vermont’s 14 counties ranged from 2.3 percent in Chittenden County to 4.3 percent in Orleans County.
“The numbers tell a story beyond statistics — they represent Vermonters looking for work and local businesses trying to hire,” Vermont Labor Commissioner Kendal Smith said.
Value-added producer grants available
Report quantifies tourism sector impact
Visitation and tourism spending in Vermont showed modest increases in 2024 compared to 2023, according to a study commissioned by the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing. In 2024, 16 million people visited the state and spent a record $4.2 billion, the study found.
rebrands
real estate agency
Rossi & Riina Real Estate, an independent brokerage located in Williston that specializes in residential sales, relocation and investment properties across Vermont, has announced a rebranding.
Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel donated $665 worth of pet food and supplies to the Humane Society of Chittenden County in December. The donation was made possible through the contributions of Lenny’s customers, who participated in an in-store coin-drop game.
The unemployment rate in Vermont increased to 2.6 percent in November from 2.5 percent in September, according to the Vermont Department of Labor. October data was unavailable due to the federal government shutdown at that time. December unemployment data will be available by Jan. 27, the department said.
The November unemployment
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program opened for applications Jan. 15. The program supports farmers, ranchers and producer-based businesses looking to grow through value-added products. Approximately $25 million is available nationwide in grants of up to $200,000 apiece.
Applicants can begin the application process with an online VAPG self-assessment survey at vapg.rd.usda.gov/s/ self-assessment
It also found the visitor economy directly supports 31,780 jobs (10% of Vermont’s workforce), compared to the national average of 4.6%, and accounts for 9% of Vermont’s gross domestic product, compared to a national state average of 3%.
“As we think about economic impact, it is important to recognize that visitors to Vermont are essentially temporary taxpayers, bringing in outside money that helps to make Vermont more affordable for all of us,” said Heather Pelham, commissioner of the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing.
Vermont has one of the oldest populations in the nation, a severe housing shortage and rising healthcare costs. As the legislative session begins, new research offers evidence about an investment that addresses these realities: age-specific, affordable housing with supportive services for adults age 55 and older.
A recent study from NORC at the University of Chicago tracked older adults who moved into age-specific housing communities over a two-year period. Rather than experiencing the decline many assume comes with such life transitions, residents showed significant improvements in health, longevity and quality of life.
Many people find these results surprising, but I don’t. At Cathedral Square, we’ve witnessed these transformations firsthand for nearly 50 years. Today we provide homes and services to over 1,300 people in 28 communities across Vermont, and the pattern holds true. We’ve seen people arrive thinking they’re nearing the
end of their lives, only to become more healthy, happy and active once they settle in. We have residents who have lived with us for more than 40 years.
The report’s findings challenge a persistent misconception that moving later in life is inherently harmful. What we’ve learned is the opposite. When older Vermonters move into housing designed for their needs, with services that support independence, they thrive. They connect with neighbors. They belong to a community. They access health care before small problems become emergencies. They remain independent longer than they would have otherwise. A key part of this success is coordinated healthcare.
In 2009, Cathedral Square partnered with other housing and services organizations to create SASH (Support and Services at Home), which has been available statewide to Medicare recipients free of charge since 2011.
SASH celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, and it exemplifies what the research confirms: When healthcare coordination is built
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We’ve seen people arrive thinking they’re nearing the end of their lives, only to become more healthy, happy and active once they settle in … They connect with neighbors. They belong to a community. They access health care … They remain independent longer than they would have otherwise.
into housing, outcomes improve dramatically and the growth in healthcare expenditures decreases in a significant way.
This matters now because Vermont faces converging challenges. We have more Vermonters aging into their 70s and 80s each year. We have a housing affordability crisis that hits people on fixed incomes especially hard. And we have healthcare costs that spiral when people can’t access preventive care or fall through gaps in coordination. SASH addresses these challenges head-on. Care coordination prevents health problems from becoming crises.
People stay connected to their communities and support systems. And no one has to choose between paying rent or buying food and medications.
Here’s something people don’t always consider: When older adults move into affordable housing designed for their current and future needs, they free up housing in the community for individuals and families. Creating more age-specific housing helps address Vermont’s broader housing shortage.
The economic case is clear. Every dollar invested in affordable housing with coordinated care and support services returns
dividends through reduced emergency room visits, avoided hospitalizations, and longer independent living.
We have nearly 1,400 people on the waitlist for Cathedral Square apartments. The demand is real. The need is urgent.
As legislators consider appropriations for housing and healthcare, they should recognize that these aren’t separate line items. For older Vermonters especially, housing IS healthcare. Stable, appropriate housing with coordinated services keeps people healthier, longer at lower cost to the healthcare system. SASH has proven this works.
The question isn’t whether we can afford to invest in housing and coordinated care programs for older adults. With Vermont’s rapidly aging population, the question is whether we can afford not to.
Kim Fitzgerald is chief executive officer of Cathedral Square, a Vermont-based nonprofit that has provided affordable housing and supportive services for older adults and people with diverse needs since 1977.
I’d like to give a big thank you to Vera and her team at Polli Properties for seeing me through my home-buying adventure… Tony, buyer
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Activists target ICE digital surveillance site in Williston
BY AUSTYN GAFFNEY VTDigger
Activists ramped up their objections to federal immigration enforcement last week by dropping a bright yellow banner at a Williston business park where a digital surveillance operation run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials is located.
The banner, spread out across six windows of a building in the White Cap Business Park on Industrial Avenue, read “ICE Violates Rights Here.” It was dropped on the night of Jan. 11 and removed in the early morning hours of Jan. 12, according to activists who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation.
“ICE is currently using this office to spy on innocent people across the country and identify targets for kidnapping and deportation,” the anonymous activists wrote in a statement sent to VTDigger.
ICE did not respond to a request for comment.
The banner drop came four days after Renee Good, a mother in Minneapolis, Minn., was fatally shot by an ICE agent while driving her vehicle on Jan. 7. Protesters gathered in communities across Vermont after the killing as part of nationwide “ICE Out for Good” vigils.
Activists who asked to remain anonymous said the banner drop was in response to the death of Good, along with Keith Porter, who was shot by an off-duty ICE agent on New Year’s Eve, and the 32
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deaths that have happened in ICE custody since January.
The killing of Good, a U.S. citizen, took place during what the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has called “the largest immigration enforcement operation ever,” when roughly 2,000 federal agents were sent to Minneapolis earlier this month. During President Donald Trump’s second term, ICE has become the largest and best-funded federal law enforcement agency in the country.
The expansion has led to a growth at ICE offices in Vermont.
“(We) will continue the pressure on the landlord, the Town of Williston and public officials, and the mass public to shut it down.”
Vivan Bose-Pyne Party for Social Liberation
The Williston facility houses the National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center, which runs investigations including social media surveillance on the East Coast, while a similar facility, the Pacific Enforcement Response Center in Santa Ana, Calif., gathers intelligence on the West Coast. Personnel in the offices collect data from publicly accessible sources to help ICE officials target individuals for arrest, according to a federal work order filed in October.
The banner came after a series of noise demonstrations outside the office meant to disrupt ICE surveillance work, according to activists. On an early morning in November, activists sounded their car alarms every 90 seconds, mimicking the rate of ICE arrests that happen every minute and a half, according to a flyer for the event.
Two more noise demonstrations happened in December — the second captured on a social media account by the Party for Social Liberation — and were organized by other groups including Migrant Justice and the Green Mountain Democratic Socialists of America.
Participation in the noise actions has ranged from small groups of 30 to large groups of about 300, according to Vivan Bose-Pyne, a member of the Party for Social
Liberation who helped organize the demonstrations but said they were not involved in the banner drop.
“ICE has provided no response,” Bose-Pyne said. “They are aware that with enough public pressure they will not be able to carry out their goals.”
Bose-Pyne said activists had been talking with building management and tenants, and have been told that ICE has a long-term contract.
“(We) will continue the pressure on the landlord, the town of Williston and public officials, and the mass public to shut it down,” they said.
The building is not the first in Williston that’s been targeted by people dissatisfied with federal immigration enforcement actions.
In October, a Homeland Security building on Harvest Lane was vandalized with graffiti that included violent phrases like “shoot yourselves” and “die.” The graffiti came about a week after news broke of the department’s plans to expand digital surveillance in Williston.
The White Cap Business Park, less than 2 miles from Harvest Lane, also houses the Burlington District Office for the Vermont Department for Children and Families, along with a cafe, a bicycle tour operator, and a gym, among other businesses.
Protesters have been calling the management agent for the White Cap facility and asking them to cancel the lease. The management agent did not respond to a request for comment.
Activists hung a banner protesting ICE activities outside an Industrial Avenue business park where U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement runs a digital surveillance operation.
PHOTO VIA VTDIGGER
Gov. Scott forecasts comeback for nuclear power
BY AUSTYN GAFFNEY VTDigger
Gov. Phil Scott, long a proponent of nuclear energy, threw his weight behind a bill Tuesday that could usher in a comeback for nuclear in 2026.
“There’s a better way to lower energy prices and reduce emissions much faster if you’re willing to work with us to change course,” Scott told lawmakers in his budget address on Tuesday.
The governor voiced support for ideas included in H. 601, a bill introduced by House Minority Leader Rep. Pattie McCoy, R-Poultney, earlier this month. That bill would alter an existing state law — the Renewable Energy Standard – that requires all Vermont utilities to reach 100% renewable energy like solar and wind by 2035. Under the bill, the law would be renamed the Clean Energy Standard and would include zero-emission sources of energy like nuclear power.
The standard in place today is
inflexible, Scott told lawmakers Tuesday. He urged them to adopt his administration’s proposal that could get utilities to “100% clean energy by 2030 at a substantially lower cost,” he said.
“It’s time we join other northeastern states who have already recognized that proven renewable and clean sources like solar, hydro and yes, even nuclear, must be part of the solution,” Scott said.
The changes could lower Vermont’s renewable energy requirement from 100% for most utilities by 2030 to 75% by 2032, according to the bill. Rep. Kathleen James, D-Manchester, chair of the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee heard testimony on the proposed Clean Energy Standard last spring. Estimates provided by the Department of Public Service indicated that rolling back the requirements and allowing utilities to get credit for buying nuclear power would save about $4 million a year, out of the roughly $1 billion Vermont spends on electricity every year, according to James.
That would save between 20 to 38 cents off a monthly electric bill of $95, James said, or up to $4.50 per year for the average Vermonter, assuming all the savings go directly to ratepayers.
Low-income Vermonters have struggled with their electric bills. Vermonters face some of the highest energy burdens in the nation, some paying 10% of their income on their energy, Scott said in his address. Utility disconnections because people can’t pay their bills have increased 31% between 2022 and 2025, according to the Public Service Department. When Scott’s office was asked whether $4.50 in annual savings justified nuclear initiatives, VTDigger was referred to the Public Service Department for an explanation on the numbers.
“Some have said that higher electricity and heating costs are the price we must pay to fight climate change,” Scott said in his speech. “I just don’t believe that’s true.”
The bill would open the door to nuclear in other ways, James said. “Importantly, H. 601 would repeal current law that gives the
legislature the ability to approve or deny the construction of any new nuclear power plant in our state,” James said, which could “make room for more nuclear power plants like Seabrook in New Hampshire and Millstone in Connecticut.”
In addition, the bill could undo a 2006 law requiring public engagement around new nuclear plants in Vermont. It could also make changes to nuclear waste storage at the state’s former nuclear site, potentially allowing in waste from other states.
Back in 2010, Scott was one of only four state senators who were in favor of relicensing the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station.
For decades, Vermont has pushed energy efficiency and weatherization efforts to lower the bills of homeowners and renters. But while Scott linked the high bills to the state’s efforts to lower carbon emissions, others blame the high costs on the state’s continued reliance on heating oil and propane.
“We’ve got among the highest percentage of our residents using
oil and propane for heating in the nation, which are two of the most expensive heating sources you can use,” said Ben Walsh, climate and energy program director at Vermont Public Interest Research Group, an environmental advocacy organization.
The state’s only nuclear plant, the 650-megawatt Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station, once produced more than a third of the state’s electricity before closing in 2014, outcompeted by cheap natural gas and opposed by decades of anti-nuclear activism. The plant is expected to be completely decommissioned by the end of the year, four years ahead of schedule, according to a September report.
Energy production left about 1,000 tons of nuclear waste behind that will remain at the site indefinitely. Right now, the Trump administration’s Energy Department is looking for a temporary place to store the nation’s stranded nuclear waste, including beginning conversations with communities like Vernon.
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Town Meeting
continued from page 1
flow improvements as well as upgrades to the Village Green.
Meanwhile, the selectboard’s budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year comes in at $17 million, carrying a spending increase of $1.1 million (6.75%).
The majority of the spending increase comes from a 3.4% staff wage increase, an increase of up to 3.4% in retirement contribution costs and a 5% increase in health insurance costs.
The budget funds two new firefighter positions, a new parttime administrative assistant and new human resource software.
The spending increase would raise property taxes in Williston
Marino
continued from page 1
up an interview committee consisting of school staff and community members to guide assistant principal hiring.
Marino and the assistant principal “will share responsibilities for instructional leadership, operations, and student behavior,” Bunting said.
“The specific distribution of
SPRING/SUMMER PROGRAM GUIDE
The Recreation and Parks Department’s Spring/Summer Program Guide will be mailed home on or after Feb. 5. Registration for programs in the guide opens Feb. 9 at 8 a.m.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
SNOWPERSON
BUILDING CONTEST
From Jan. 1-31, anytime the snow flies, get outside and show off your snow-building skills. Build a snowperson, a snow creature, a snow animal or any snowy creation in a local park, or in your own yard. The more creative, the better. To enter the contest, take a picture of your creation and email it to recreation@willistonvt.org.
All entries will be posted on the Rec Department’s Facebook page, and the picture with the most likes wins a prize from contest sponsor
by an estimated $24 for every $100,000 of assessed property value — a 6.2% increase over current tax bills. The town’s portion of property tax bills is roughly 15%, while the school district accounts for about 85%.
Also on the town ballot, the selectboard seeks approval to dissolve the board of listers — a request that came from the town’s assessor department and is supported by the current three-member board of listers. The listers are responsible for approving the town’s Grand List annually and deciding any appeals to individual property valuations. Those duties would fall to the town’s assessor department staff if the board is dissolved.
The change would require
grade-level and team focus areas will be finalized once the search process is complete, ensuring we leverage the unique strengths of our new leadership team,” he added.
Marino, a resident of Williston, was formerly the principal of Essex Elementary School before joining CVSD. He is a native of Long Island in New York.
A celebration of Parks’ 20year career as WCS principal is planned for later this year.
Turner Toys! FAMILY BINGO NIGHT
All Ages. Friday, Feb. 20, 6-8 p.m. at the R.E.C. Zone, 94 Harvest Lane. Join a fun-filled evening of family bingo, and see if you’re lucky enough to win a prize. Free. No registration required.
ADULT PROGRAMS
SENIOR COMMUNITY MEALS
Ages 60-plus. Pre-registration is required; space is limited. The Recreation Department and Age Well are offering meals on Tuesdays from 12–12:30 p.m. Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m. Following lunch, enjoy a free senior-focused program. Check out the meal menu online at willistonrec.org.
JAZZERCISE CARDIO SCULPT PROGRAMS
Jazzercise New Year sale: $99 for two months of unlimited classes. Programs are geared to people ages 50-plus but open to all ages. Instructors will show you how to take it high or low.
Cardio Sculpt Low/Low — Tuesdays and Fridays, 8:30-9:30 a.m.; Mondays and
voter approval to change a portion of the town’s charter.
Voters will also be asked to fund the town’s Environmental Reserve Fund for land conservation to the tune of $5 for every $100,000 of assessed property value, and create a new fund for the future training of emergency medical technicians.
In addition, the selectboard seats currently held by Mike Isham and Jeanne Jensen, the Town Clerk position currently held by Sarah Mason, and the Champlain Valley School Board position currently held by Erin Henderson are all up for election. Interested candidates must submit a petition to the Town Clerk by Jan. 26 to appear on the Town Meeting Day ballot.
“Though there is no replacing a seasoned professional like Jackie Parks, I look forward to the prospect of welcoming a new member of our team who will bring new insight and perspectives,” Marino said. “It is a privilege to continue my leadership work at WCS under this new structure. Change often brings new challenges, but just as we remind the students, that’s when we learn and grow.”
Online registration for days camps is now open at willistonrec. org. Or pickup the guide booklet at Town Hall, the library or the R.E.C. Zone.
Let the Games Begin!
Italy welcomes the world to the XXV Winter Olympic Games starting on Feb. 6. Last week, The Mini Page explored the European country shaped like a boot. This week, let’s dive into the Games themselves.
The torch
The Olympic flame began its journey from Ancient Olympia in Greece toward Milan, Italy, on Nov. 26. Along the way, 10,000 torchbearers will visit 300 towns throughout Italy.
The torch itself was designed by an Italian architect, Carlo Ratti, to highlight the flame itself.
Try ’n’ Find
Next Week: Our states: Nebraska
Mini Fact: The 1998 Winter Olympics featured snowboarding for the first time.
Mascots
Each host of the Olympics creates mascots to represent their city, their nation and the Olympic spirit. This spirit, or feeling, is that the Olympic athletes come together to compete in peace, friendship and fairness.
Pictogram
Quiz-a-Roonie
A pictogram (PIC-toe-gram) is a symbol that represents something. For example, in ancient times, people drew pictograms (or pictographs) on rock walls to tell stories about their lives.
With each Olympics, pictograms are used to identify the events.
The Mini Page challenges you to a matching game! Try to match these 2026 pictograms to Winter Olympic events.
The mascots for the 2026 Italy Games are Tina and Milo, two cheerful stoats. (A stoat is a small mammal whose fur turns pure white in the winter.) Tina represents the Olympic Games, while Milo is the face of the Paralympic Games, which will begin on March 6.
Tina and Milo are accompanied by six little snowdrops called “The Flo.” Venues
While most of the Games will take place in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, there are six other venues, or sites, for the competitions. The opening ceremony will take place in Milan at the San Siro Olympic Stadium.
The closing ceremony on Feb. 22 will be held in the Verona Olympic Arena, a stadium built in 30 A.D. for gladiator battles. In addition, the opening ceremony for the Paralympic Games will take place there.
Words that remind us of the Winter Olympics are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
Wendy: Because they always follow the right track!
Otis: What can be plowed but not planted? Olive: Snow!
Founded by Betty Debnam Issue 04, 2026
photo Jostein Vedvik / Lillehammer 2016
photo by Prelvini
Armin Zöggeler, two-time Olympic champion in luge from Italy, holds the 2026 Olympic torch in Olympia, Greece.
San Siro Olympic Stadium in Milan.
Try ’n’ Find
Words that remind us of the Winter Olympics are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
Wendy: Because they always follow the right track!
Otis: What can be plowed but not planted? Olive: Snow!
Eco Note
1. Combine cantaloupe, tomatoes and chopped red pepper in a medium bowl.
2. Mix the two juices and honey in a smaller bowl.
3. Pour juice mixture over fruit and vegetables. Sprinkle with salt and stir well to mix flavors.
4. Refrigerate or serve immediately. Makes 4 to 6 servings.
A new study finds that tropical house crickets readily consume polyethylene microplastics when the particles are small enough to fit in their mouths, suggesting the insects cannot distinguish plastic from food. Researchers say that crickets ate more plasticcontaminated food over time even when uncontaminated food was available, and their growth was not stunted by what they ate. As the crickets in the study grew larger, their expanding mouthparts let them consume even bigger fragments, grinding those plastics into tiny nanoplastics that can remain much longer in soil and water.
For later:
Look in your local newspaper for news about the Winter Olympics. Which events will you be watching?
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
I have been thinking about planning my funeral in advance so my kids won’t have to later but would like to inquire about prepaying. Is it a good idea to prepay for a funeral that you might not need for a while?
Aging Annie
Dear Annie,
Planning your funeral in advance is definitely a smart move. Not only does it give you time to make a thoughtful decision on the type of service you want, it also allows you to shop around to find a good funeral provider — and it will spare your adult children the
SAVVY SENIOR
What you should know about prepaid funeral plans
burden of making these decisions at an emotional time.
But preplanning a funeral doesn’t mean you have to prepay. In fact, the Funeral Consumer Alliance, a national nonprofit funeral consumer protection organization, doesn’t recommend it unless you need to spend down your financial resources so you can qualify for Medicaid. Here’s what you should know.
PRENEED ARRANGEMENTS
Most funeral homes offer what is known as “preneed plans,” which allow you to prearrange for the type of funeral services you want and prepay with a lump sum or through installments. The funeral home either puts your money in a trust fund with the payout triggered by your death or buys an insurance policy naming itself as the beneficiary. If you’re interested in this route, make sure you’re being
guaranteed the services you specify at the contracted price. Some contracts call for additional payments for final expense funding, which means that if the funeral home’s charges increase between the time you sign up and the time you sign off, somebody will have to pay the difference. Here are some additional questions you should ask before committing:
— Can you cancel the contract and get a full refund if you change your mind?
— Will your money earn interest? If so, how much? Who gets it?
— If there is an insurance policy involved, is there a waiting period before it takes effect? How long?
— Are the prices locked in or will an additional payment be required at the time of death?
— Are you protected if the funeral home goes out of business or is bought out by another
OBITUARIES
Therese M. (Lavallee) Carbino, 96, of Williston, VT passed away Jan. 10, 2026. She was born Jan. 18, 1929, in Burlington, VT to the late Armand J. and Gertrude Nantel Lavallee. She married Kenneth E. Carbino on June 19, 1954, at St. Joseph’s Cathedral. He preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her son, Gregory E. Carbino; three brothers, Bernard, Reginald, and Robert; a little sister, Marie Jeanette; and many favorite aunts and uncles, cousins, and life-long friends.
Therese is survived by her children; daughter Katherine St. Amand and her husband Martin St. Amand of Charlton NY (grandchildren Michael and
Danika); son Douglas Carbino and his wife Kathy of Burlington, VT (grandchild Michelle Whitford and her husband Zachary Whitford of Queensbury, NY); son David Carbino of Charlton, NY; daughter, Susan Allman and her husband Fred Allman of South Burlington, VT; along with many beloved nieces and nephews and their families.
Therese was a 1947 graduate of Cathedral High School in Burlington, VT. While working as a factory worker at General Electric, she met the love of her life, Kenneth E. Carbino. They raised their five children in Underhill and later Burlington. They retired in Williston.
— What happens if you move? Can the plan be transferred to another funeral home in a different state?
— If there’s money left over after your funeral, will your heirs get it, or does the home keep it?
If you decide to prepay, be sure to get all the details of the agreement in writing and give copies to your family so they know what’s expected. If they aren’t aware that you’ve made plans, your wishes may not be carried out. And if they don’t know that you’ve prepaid the funeral costs, they could end up paying for the same arrangements.
OTHER PAYMENT OPTIONS
While prepaying your funeral may seem like a convenient way to go, from a financial point of view, there are better options available. For example, if you have a life insurance policy, many policies
will pay a lump sum when you die to your beneficiaries to be used for your funeral expenses. The payment is made soon after you die and doesn’t have to go through probate.
Or you could set up a payableon-death (or POD) account at your bank or credit union, naming the person you want to handle your arrangements as the beneficiary. POD accounts also are called Totten Trusts. With this type of account, you maintain control of your money, so you can tap the funds in an emergency, collect the interest and change the beneficiary. When you die, your beneficiary collects the balance without the delay of probate.
Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.
and was an artist painting portraits and landscapes.
She took great pride in her roles as wife, mother, and homemaker, always giving from her heart to her family.
Therese had immense strength, perseverance and determination in most endeavors. She loved playing Bingo and watching classic movies and musicals. She enjoyed opera and religious songs, a favorite “How Great Thou Art”.
Therese will be remembered best as devoted homemaker and talented artist. She worked three jobs as a teenager after her father’s death to help her mother and siblings through this difficult life transition.
Therese was a lifelong Vermonter and devout catholic.
The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to all who provided medical, social, or pastoral care during Therese’s final years, and to neighbors and friends, for their support and prayers.
Arrangements were entrusted to the care of the Ready Funeral Home, South Chapel, Burlington, VT, where a private small gathering of immediate family came together to celebrate the life of their family matriarch, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial accorded at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Williston, VT, and her body interred at Resurrection Park Cemetery, South Burlington, VT, alongside her husband, Kenneth Carbino.
TODAY’S HISTORY:
• In 1901, Britain’s Queen Victoria died at age 81, after a thenrecord 63-year reign.
• In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its landmark ruling in the Roe v. Wade case, legalizing elective abortion nationwide.
• In 1997, Madeleine Albright was confirmed by the Senate as the first female U.S. secretary of state.
• In 1998, “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski pleaded guilty in Sacramento, California, and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
TODAY’S FACT:
• The Apple Macintosh computer was unveiled in a Super Bowl ad directed by Ridley Scott on this day in 1984.
I. Public Forum
II. Certificate of Appropriateness
III. Public Hearing
DP 24-08.1 Jim & Lucy McCullough, LLC request pre-application review of a proposed development with 32 dwelling units at 88 Mountain View Road in the Residential Zoning District.
IV. Communication, Final Plans and Other Business
V. Minutes of December 9, 2025
VI. Adjourn
Project details and site plans are available on the website, town.williston. vt.us, under “Public Records and Documents”, then “Agendas & Minutes”, and “Development Review Board”. Contact Planning & Zoning Office for more information: 802-878-6704 or email planning@willistonvt.org
Hire Local!
Find workers right in your neighborhood. Advertise in The Observer!
email Rick@ willistonobserver.com or 802-373-2136.
REFRESH YOUR MARKETING FOR 2026 WITH PROMO!
Visit our showroom, The Promo Place, to meet our team and see samples before you buy.
BAIT
continued from page 2
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Rabies is a deadly viral disease of the brain that infects mammals. It is most often seen in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also get rabies. The virus is spread through the bite of an infected animal or contact with its
those have been raccoons.
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According to wildlife officials, rabid animals often show a change in their normal behavior, but you cannot tell whether an animal has rabies simply by looking at it. People should not touch or pick up wild animals or strays – even baby animals.
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Wildcat wins
The Williston Central Wildcat boys B team (in blue) posted a 3420 win over Camels Hump Middle School Jan. 15 in Williston. Austin Gray, top left, makes a drive to the hoop. Bisimwa Mulabwe, center, puts up a short jump shot. Reo Pena, bottom left, gets into the paint for a bucket.
Grayson Sanford, top right, got the Wildcat boys A team’s game going on a positive note winning the opening tip in the 53-31 win over Camels Hump Jan. 15 in Williston. Sullivan Campbell, bottom right, looks to outmaneuver his opponent’s defensive move. OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY
