Decision day approaches for library expansion
Bond, budget questions highlight Town Meeting Day ballots
BY JASON STARR Observer staff
Library boosters have gotten a substantial head start on funding a proposed expansion of the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library.
Private pledges have come in from about 30 Williston and St. George residents to the tune of roughly $650,000, according to Library Director Kevin Unrath. It’s an encouraging development for supporters of the project — which would double the library’s size with a second-floor addition, refurbish the existing library space and upgrade the adjacent Town Green — but only a fraction of the $14.5 million cost.
For the project to move forward, a voting majority will still need to answer ‘yes’ on a bond question on the Town Meeting Day ballot. That would authorize town borrowing of up to $13.9 million.
Unrath and the Board of Library Trustees plan to continue to seek individual pledges of financial support leading up to Town Meeting Day, March 3, and thereafter if voters approve the bond. Private funds raised will offset the amount the town would need to borrow, Unrath said, easing the impact of debt service on property taxpayers.
According to Town Manager Erik Wells, the tax impact of the full bonded debt would amount to an increase of about $40 for every $100,000 of assessed
property value on a Williston home.
VTDigger reported last week that Williston’s library bond question is the largest municipal bond question in the State of Vermont this Town Meeting Day.
The Champlain Valley School District is also seeking voter approval to take on bonded
debt. The school district ballot that voters will see on March 3 has a $13 million bond question to finance maintenance and improvements across four of the district’s school buildings. Projects include a new gym floor and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) at Williston Central School; a new roof, HVAC and fire alarm
system at CVU; and a variety of projects at Charlotte Central and Hinesburg Central schools.
According to school district administrators, the bond would not raise property taxes because the debt would replace older debt that the district has paid off.
The polls will be open for voting from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Vermont National Guard
Town Meeting Day schedule
MONDAY, MARCH 2
• CVSD Annual Meeting, 5 p.m., CVU
• Town of Williston Annual Meeting, 7 p.m., WCS
TUESDAY, MARCH 3
• Voting at the National Guard Armory, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Armory next to Town Hall on Williston Road. Early voting is available by request through the Town Clerk’s office.
RISING BUDGETS AND TAX RATES
The largest single question voters will face on March 3 is whether to approve the school district’s $107.8 million budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. The budget would increase spending over the current fiscal year by $5.1 million (5%). 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 of health insurance for employees is also set to jump 7%.
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% on their annual property tax bill if voters
Around Town
Girls on the Run registration opens
Girls on the Run has opened registration for the spring season at www.gotrvt.org/programs.
No debate: WCS students top state competition
A team of eight Williston Central School students competed Saturday at the Vermont State Speech and Debate Championships. The team finished first in the debate and poetry categories and second in the impromptu speaking and team categories.
Knitting circle looks to grow ‘red hat’ protest project
Knitters of all experience levels are invited to join the local Melt The ICE Red Hat Project every Friday from 2-4 p.m. at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library.
The project is an effort provide red hats to people participating in local immigration policy protests. It was inspired by historical accounts of women who knit hats during World War II as a form of peaceful protest.
and follow on social media @ melt.the.ice.williston.
HAM radio convention upcoming
The Northern Vermont Ham Radio Convention (HAM-CON) will take place on Saturday, Feb. 28 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Hampton Inn in Colchester. HAM-CON is a convention for amateur radio operators and electronic enthusiasts featuring forums and demonstrations of radio communications and electronics.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
EMAIL EVENT LISTINGS TO EDITOR@WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM
FRIDAY, FEB. 20
Education and Enrichment for Everyone lecture. 2-3 p.m. Faith United Methodist Church, South Burlington. Speaker is UVM President Marlene Tromp: “Navigating New Terrain: Higher Education in 2026.” www.eeevermont.org.
TUESDAY, FEB. 24
Williston Development Review Board meeting. 7 p.m. Town Hall. Agenda at www.town.williston.vt.us.
THURSDAY, FEB. 26
Williston-Richmond Rotary Club breakfast meeting. Speakers Carol and Warren Coolidge, toastmasters. 7:15 a.m. Williston Federated Church. RSVP to rotaryclubofwillistonvt@ gmail.com.
SATURDAY, FEB. 28
The program is open to girls in grades 3-8 and takes place after school at Williston Central School and other schools across the state.
The season begins March 16 and is capped with a celebratory 5K at the Champlain Valley Expo on May 30.
“Similar groups are forming in communities across the country, and locally, and the movement is gaining momentum as people look for constructive, nonviolent ways to respond to current events,” organizer Jayne Ragland said.
For more information, email melticehatproject@gmail.com
An electronic flea market will offer items for purchase. Attendees can operate an onsite ham radio station to make contacts all over the world. Information will be provided on how to obtain an amateur radio license. There is also an online option where one can attend remotely from home. Details can be found at https://ham-con.org/.
Wellness and ailment prevention session. Tips to prevent and overcome health problems and reduce stress. 2:30-3:30 p.m. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. Presented by Janet Smith, Vermont TM Center. Register by emailing jsmith@tm.org or call/text (802) 923-6782.
MONDAY, MARCH 2
Champlain Valley School District Annual Meeting. 5 p.m. CVU High School.
Annual Town Meeting. 7 p.m. Williston Central School.
TUESDAY, MARCH 3
Town Meeting Day. 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Voting at the National Guard Armory on Williston Road.
THURSDAY, MARCH 5
SBA Vermont District Office Open House. Meet the new staff at SBA Vermont. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 400 Cornerstone Drive, Williston.
An ode to Williston’s ongoing legacy of mentorship
BY REBECCA MARTELL Special to the Observer
National Mentoring Month was celebrated in January, so perhaps it would have made sense to write this article last month. After all, we have 60 mentoring pairs at Williston Central School this year, and National Mentoring Month seems the perfect time to highlight the positive impact adult mentors are having on young people in our community
But as the Connected Youth Mentoring Coordinator at Williston Central School, I wanted to take some extra time last month to fully appreciate our inspiring corps of mentors and the ways they empower, encourage and light the way for our students as they embark on a journey of lifelong success.
At Williston, a group of extraordinary adults proves that one hour a week can change everything. Our mentors understand that the heart of growth is a strong relationship. Because our mentor/mentee pairs stay together for an average of four years, they form deep connections that evolve as the student grows. It is a privilege to watch these mentors shape the future of our young people, and we hope they take immense pride in the lasting difference they make.
Some of what I saw last month included a pair baking together and challenging themselves to try different, more complex bakes. I witnessed pairs learning new games and using curiosity to try new hobbies. One pair is making Adirondack chairs for the community to enjoy. Another is planning a garden that they will work on this spring. Most often, the pairs look forward to learning something new together and talking about their week, their challenges and their successes.
The strength of Williston’s CY Mentoring Program is the unwavering commitment of our community partners. We owe a special debt of gratitude to the Rotary Club of Williston-Richmond; their efforts in recruiting new mentors and their consistent contributions to the Guardian Angel Fund have been invalu able. The entire school community is deeply moved by the many supporters whose generosity, empathy and read iness to serve continue to exceed our expectations.
With January in the rearview mir ror, I want to extend a sincere “Thank You” to everyone who has made the CY Mentoring Program a remarkable success.
Rebecca Martell is the Connecting Youth Mentoring coordinator at Williston Central School.
Alan Brown and Richard Rosenfeld swap stories while playing a game of cribbage during one of their recent mentoring get-togethers. OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO
Float spa opens on Cornerstone Drive
BY JASON STARR Observer staff
Justin Morgan-Parmett discusses his new Float Away Wellness Spa with the evangelical verve of someone whose life has been profoundly improved by flotation therapy.
The Williston resident and UVM professor is open about his years-long search for relief from fibromyalgia pain. He first tried flotation therapy in 2023 and quickly became a regular at Satori float spa in Shelburne.
When Satori’s owner was ready to retire, Morgan-Parmett recognized an opportunity to not only continue his therapy and that of other Satori clients, but also to introduce new people to the benefits of the modality.
“I bought all of his equipment and decided to open this place,” he said, sitting in the lobby of the spa he built in a unit on the first floor of the office and retail center at Cornerstone
Drive. “I believe in it, and when I believe in something, I am very passionate.”
The spa offers 60- and 90-minute sessions in warm water infused with magnesium-laden epsom salts. The salts create buoyancy, allowing muscles to relax. The tank can be optimized for darkness and silence (although there are light and music options), creating an environment of reduced sensory stimulation designed to reset the nervous system.
“I slept amazing last night,” said one first-time user interviewed the day after an hourlong session at Float Away. “I felt a sense of mental and physical relaxation that I am still feeling the next day.”
“It’s almost a zero gravity experience,” Morgan-Parmett explained. “We don’t often get this quiet space. We’re usually so inundated with noise.”
The spa’s ambiance is an inviting contrast at Cornerstone
Drive, with its mix of cafés and various professional offices. Morgan-Parmett completely refurbished the unit with homemade wooden pieces, soft lighting and new floors.
“It’s important to me that as soon as you enter it’s calm and relaxing,” he said.
He offers guidance to new clients on how to fine-tune their experience in the float tank, explaining the various options with the insights of an expert related to lighting, sound and whether to close or keep the tank door open.
At UVM, Morgan-Parmett teaches public speaking and gender, sexuality and women’s studies. He’s also studying health and wellness coaching and plans to add that as a spa service in the coming years.
Float Away has two float therapy tanks and two vibroacoustic tables. Online booking is available at www. vtfloataway.com.
Justin Morgan-Parmett welcomes customers into the new Float Away Wellness Spa on Cornerstone Drive.
OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR
VT farmworkers could face declining wages
Federal rule shift gives farm owners a break on labor costs
BY AUSTYN GAFFNEY VTDigger
Vermont farmworkers could earn significantly lower wages this year under new federal rules, a shift that could affect more than 100 workers hoping to find jobs in the state this spring.
The farmworker wages fall under a federal program administered by the Department of Labor called H-2A, a temporary visa status for agricultural workers who come to the United States and stay for up to 10 months. The program has been around since the 1950s as a way for farmers to legally hire needed foreign workers.
Under the new rules, which were adopted by the U.S. Labor Department in October, employers will be allowed to lower wages from previous years and also deduct a portion of housing costs from H-2A workers wages, according to the rule. Farmers could save an annual average of $2.4
billion over the next decade, or $5,500 per worker, according to the rule.
Some Vermont farmers who advertised lower wages on their requests for jobs under the
program told VTDigger they still plan to pay returning workers as much or more than they made last year, emphasizing their reliance upon H-2A workers, largely from Jamaica, who’ve returned for years if not decades.
“The morale of the bunkhouse and the morale of the workers is really important, and it would be deflating to see their wage go down,” said Barney Hodges, co-owner of Sunrise Orchards in Cornwall. “I think it would have a very negative effect on productivity.”
The change comes as Vermont farms finalize hiring decisions that shape who fills essential agricultural jobs and at what cost. Labor advocates warn the change could accelerate a race to the bottom in an already fragile workforce, while state officials argue the flexibility could keep farms afloat. The outcome has implications beyond the fields, affecting
food prices, worker housing stability and the long-term viability of an industry central to Vermont’s economy and landscape.
“We expect what we’re going to see is an increase in the H-2A workforce and a decrease in everyone’s wages, which is obviously bad for everyone involved except the growers themselves,” said Antonio De Loera-Brust, communications director for United Farm Workers of America, a farm labor organization that filed a lawsuit against the new rule in November.
The changes impact the Adverse Effect Wage Rate, or the minimum hourly wage employers have to pay H-2A workers to prevent them from inadvertently lowering the pay of U.S. farmworkers — those who are citizens or legal permanent residents. Along with wages, employers must provide a kitchen to cook in and
Owners Christa Alexander and her husband Mark Fasching, rear, work at Jericho Settlers Farm in Jericho earlier this month.
PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER
BY KAJ SAMSOM
Yes, it’s another opinion piece about the cost of housing, education and healthcare. I’ll skip a lengthy lead-up, making the case that all three are demonstrably off the rails, because I think that’s almost universally acknowledged by now. So how did we get here and how do we get back to seeing and feeling affordability and value? The vitality of our state depends on it.
We got here because the frameworks for delivering and financing education and healthcare have a structural lack of accountability and misaligned incentives that have enabled and even encouraged cost escalation. Complexity and lack of transparency in these frameworks contribute to our struggle to even get 20% of voters to weigh in on school budgets, and why most Vermonters do not know the true cost of their healthcare and its drivers. Tweaks or modifications will not fix the problem, nor will more money. In fact they will only enable more of the same. More
Be bold — give change a chance
and more Vermonters of all political persuasions recognize that structural reform is necessary to get back on track.
So, is the stage finally set for the bold reform we need? Maybe.
For some, the lack of guaranteed outcomes in reform proposals stands in the way. Making huge policy changes is difficult when there is so much at stake and not everything can be known. When the status quo guarantees bad outcomes and continued harm, as it does in our big three affordability issues right now, we can’t ignore that in our decision making. Yet it appears year after year we do.
We are afraid of losing Vermont’s character, so we avoid bold permit reform to enable responsible home construction. Meanwhile homelessness increases, jobs go unfilled and a family’s dream of homeownership waits another year — or they move out of state.
We are afraid that healthcare reforms could impact equity, access or quality of care. Meanwhile, this year
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Member:
…the frameworks for delivering and financing education and healthcare have a structural lack of accountability and misaligned incentives that have enabled and even encouraged cost escalation.
thousands more Vermonters will be forced to forgo care and go uninsured due to the price of insurance, and businesses, schools and nonprofits will continue to watch more of their budget going to healthcare.
We are afraid of the impacts
on local control, small schools and teachers if we implement Act 73 reforms. Meanwhile double-digit property tax increases compound the housing problem, the education fund demands more state revenue while educating fewer kids and seeing declining quality in our schools.
I’m not saying we should jump without a parachute. It is critical to be skeptical and know the risks. But we have to apply that same level of skepticism and scrutiny to the status quo. Failing to do so is a decision-making bias against change that we all suffer from and have to overcome. John F. Kennedy succinctly addressed it in a different policy arena 1961: “There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction.”
“Win-win” policies are few and far between. All
transformational policies come with uncertainty. The governor and legislators across the aisle have supported bold proposals to address our big three challenges.
Some will look for yet more revenue to treat the symptoms and not the root cause, while others will want guarantees of success before moving forward. Unfortunately, there is only one guarantee in housing, education and healthcare right now — more of the same cost escalation and quality decline if we choose “comfortable inaction.”
There are well thought out solutions on the table. Whether you are a voter, bureaucrat or elected official, make your voice heard and give change a fair chance.
Kaj Samsom is commissioner of the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation.
“We are so grateful for the opportunity to work with Kristin and the rest of the team at Polli Properties for the sale of our condo. Every element of the process was thoughtful, supportive, and also fun! It’s a great group of people to spend time with. We felt very safe with their expertise and seamless systems. They were so patient with us when we had to move a bit slower than anticipated and really rose to the challenge when our buyers needed a speedy sale. It definitely took some magic but they made it happen! Thank you!”
GUEST COLUMN
Energy efficiency past, present and future
BY PETER WALKE
The cheapest energy is the energy we don’t use. This simple fact has guided Efficiency Vermont for over two decades. It remains critical for Vermont’s energy future.
As Efficiency Vermont plans for the years ahead, we’re listening to feedback from Vermonters. Our latest three-year proposal to the Vermont Public Utility Commission is informed by surveys of nearly 900 residents and hundreds of businesses. That proposal sharpens our focus on affordability — and removes $3.75 million from our proposed budget.
Vermonters know efficiency is a solution to high costs. Vermonters will save more than $3.5 billion over the lifetime of the efficiency investments our state has made since our work began in 2000. Without these investments, our homes and businesses would be buying 15% more electricity than they do now.
Understanding efficiency reveals why it’s one of the most powerful tools we have to keep energy bills affordable.
Almost every home or business in Vermont connects to our shared electric grid. It sends the electricity we need to run a refrigerator, control our thermostats, and connect us to the internet.
Making electricity costs money. Power plants burn fuel to generate electricity. Or they rely on sophisticated equipment like hydroelectric dams, wind turbines, or solar panels. Skilled workers ensure there’s safe, reliable power at all hours of the day.
Moving that electricity through transmission lines, poles and wires also costs money. This network requires constant maintenance and investment. As electricity demand rises, expanding this system costs money, too.
When we pay our electric bill each month, our bills cover the costs of running the entire electricity system. Efficiency is key to keeping those costs low, because it’s cheaper to use less electricity than it is to make and distribute more of it. Efficiency allows us to get more out of the system we’ve already paid for.
Efficiency isn’t just about lower costs. It’s about living better with lower costs. It means a more comfortable home with more affordable bills through weatherization and efficient appliances. At work, it means lower costs and a stronger bottom line thanks to optimized equipment.
More efficient homes and buildings cost less to keep running. They’re more resilient to extreme weather like winter storms and floods. They’re better prepared to switch from fossil fuels to cleaner technologies like EVs and heat pumps. Efficiency lowers Vermont’s greenhouse gas emissions and reduces power use when the grid needs it most. That makes electricity cheaper and expands capacity for things we want, like more homes, new business opportunities and economic development.
Weatherization makes homes and businesses more comfortable while reducing energy costs. That’s why weatherization is a major focus in our new proposal. Federal funding has supported this work in recent years — but no longer.
Vermont policymakers wisely devote our state’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) revenues to weatherization. This provides critical, dedicated funding. As other states look to redirect
Without efficiency investments, our homes and businesses would be buying 15% more electricity than they do now.
RGGI revenues for short-term initiatives, Vermont’s approach ensures we’ll continue to support the long-term affordability that weatherization provides.
In our proposal, we’ll bring the comfort, savings and climate benefits of a weatherized home to more Vermonters with our rebates and programs. We’ll also strengthen our partnerships with Vermont’s Weatherization Assistance Programs by directing an additional $1.5 million each year to support projects for the low-income households.
The next three years also demand deeper investments in energy efficiency across Vermont’s economy. We’re updating our heat pump programs to deliver more comprehensive heating solutions. We’ll also prioritize business projects with big impacts on our shared energy system, like improved industrial processes, refrigeration systems, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades. This will help businesses invest in improvements, while strengthening our shared energy system.
OFFICIAL TOWN WARNING TOWN OF WILLISTON
MARCH 2 & 3, 2026
Please note the starting time
Town Meeting Activities (March 2, 2026)
7:00 PM Official Town Meeting
Following Official Meeting:
- Town Australian Ballot Articles Public Information Hearing
- School Budget Presentation
The legal voters of the Town of Williston are hereby warned and notified to meet at the Williston Central School Auditorium in Williston, Vermont at 7:00 PM on Monday, March 2, 2026, for the Annual Town Meeting. Following the meeting, the Articles to be voted by Australian ballot will be reviewed during a public information hearing and there will be an opportunity for questions and comments.
Article 1: To elect a Moderator
Article 2: Shall the voters authorize that current taxes be paid to the Town Treasurer in three equal installments with due dates of August 18, November 16 and February 16 as authorized by 32 V.S.A. § 4871?
Article 3: Shall the voters of the Town of Williston accept the reports of the Town Officials as presented in the Town Report?
Article 4: To transact any other business to be brought before said meeting.
The legal voters of the Town of Williston are hereby further warned and notified to meet on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Vermont Army National Guard Armory located at 7846 Williston Road beginning at 7:00 AM, at which time the polls will open, until 7:00 PM, at which time the polls will close, to vote by Australian ballot upon the following articles:
Article 5: Shall the voters authorize General Fund Expenditures of $17,015,375 of which $9,010,000 shall be raised by taxes, for the year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027?
Article 6: Shall the voters authorize renovation and expansion of the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library and associated improvements to the Village Green and the issuance of general obligation bonds or notes of the Town in an amount not to exceed Thirteen Million Nine Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($13,900,000.00), subject to reduction by grants-in-aid and funds then available to the Town, to pay the capital costs and related other costs of the project?
Article 7: Shall the Town of Williston establish a reserve fund (which may be initially funded at some later date) to be used solely for the initial and recurrent training, certification, and recertification of emergency medical technicians, including, but not limited to, advanced emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and mobile integrated health care providers employed by the Williston Fire Department?
Article 8: Shall a tax of one half of one cent continue to be assessed on the grand list with the proceeds (estimated to be $110,000) to be deposited into the Town’s Environmental Reserve Fund for the purpose of permanent preservation and protection of open space areas and public lands within the Town of Williston?
Article 9: Shall the voters elect to the Selectboard one member for a term of two years beginning March, 2026?
Article 10: Shall the voters elect to the Selectboard one member for a term of three years beginning March, 2026?
Article 11: Shall the voters elect the office of Town Clerk for a term of three years beginning March, 2026?
Article 12: Shall the voters elect to the Board of Listers one member for a term of three years beginning March, 2026?
Article 13: Shall the voters elect to the Board of Listers one member for two years remaining on an unexpired three-year term that began in March, 2025?
Article 14: Shall the voters elect a representative to the Champlain Water District for a term of three years beginning March, 2026?
Article 15: Shall the voters elect to the Library Board of Trustees one member for a term of five years beginning March, 2026?
Article 16: Shall the voters elect to the Champlain Valley School District Board one director for a term of three years beginning March, 2026?
Article 17: Shall the town employ or contract a professionally qualified assessor and eliminate the office of elected lister by deleting the title and all of the present text in Section 14(c)(3) of the Charter of the Town of Williston and replacing them with the following underlined text?
§ 156-14. Local elected officials
(c) Elected officers; duties, responsibilities, and conduct
(3) Assessment of Propert y
(A) The Town shall employ or contract with a professionally qualified assessor who meets, prior to conducting any assessment work for the Town, the training requirements established by the Director of Property Valuation and Review under 32 V.S.A. § 4052 (as amended from time to time).
(B) The professionally qualified assessor hired or appointed in (A) above shall have the same powers, discharge the same duties, proceed in the discharge of those duties in the same manner, and be subject to the same liabilities as are prescribed for listers or the board of listers under the provisions of Title 32, Vermont Statutes Annotated.
(C) The term of office of any lister in office on the date the Town votes to eliminate the office of listers shall expire on the 45th day after the vote or the date upon which an assessor is hired or appointed pursuant to (A) above, whichever last occurs.
Copies of the complete Charter amendment proposal are on file for public inspection in the office of the Williston Town Clerk at the Town Offices and copies thereof shall be made available to members of the public upon request. HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE: There is no deadline to register to vote. You will be able to register to vote on the day of the election. You can register prior by visiting the Town Clerk’s Office or going online to vote.vermont.gov
REQUEST EARLY or ABSENTEE BALLOTS: You or a family member can request early or absentee ballots from the Town Clerk at any time during the year of the election at the Town Clerk’s Office in person, in writing, by telephone, email, or online at vote.vermont.gov
Dated this 20th day of January 2026.
continued
We’ll achieve these goals without increasing costs for Vermonters. In fact, we’ve removed $3.75 million in spending from our proposal. Streamlining our budget helps us focus on impactful projects while supporting affordability for all Vermonters.
By focusing on these goals in the years ahead, we’ll continue to help Vermonters reduce their household energy costs. We’ll weatherize more homes and businesses, support more cost-saving projects, and strengthen the investments Vermonters have made in our
shared grid over the last 25 years.
But you don’t have to wait. Efficiency is a solution available today. Call 1-888-9215990 to speak with our Energy Advisors about your home or business. Everyone can share the benefits of efficiency now, and with this new proposal, for years to come.
Peter Walke is the managing director of Efficiency Vermont. He was previously the commissioner of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and deputy secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Election editorial policy
The Williston Observer welcomes election-related Guest Columns and Letters to the Editor submissions leading up to local, state and national elections. We refrain from publishing election-related material in the issue immediately preceding an election.
Value proposition
The Dorothy Alling Library Capital Campaign Committee is pleased to share that we have secured more than $650,000 in pledges from over two dozen Williston and St. George residents. These commitments reflect strong local support from neighbors who believe in the vital role of our public library.
One donor shared: “Libraries are fundamental to our democracy.” Another noted that expansion will “help Williston realize its full potential as a community.”
Fundraising is just beginning, with new pledges arriving weekly. If the library bond (Article 6) passes this March on Town Meeting Day, the committee will continue raising funds through 2026 to reduce the impact on taxpayers.
Libraries are among the most fiscally and environmentally responsible investments a community can make. By sharing resources and spaces, they save money and reduce environmental impact. For every $1 in operating expenses, Dorothy Alling Memorial Library returns $2.79 in community value. Last year alone, more than 56,000 children’s books were checked out — a value exceeding the library’s total operating budget.
The proposed project is estimated at $14.45 million, including:
$7.7 million for construction and furnishing of the addition
— $2.8 million to renovate the existing building, including energy-efficiency upgrades
—
$1.7 million for site work, traffic safety and stormwater mitigation
— $1 million for Village Green improvements, including accessible walkways and an outdoor performance space
— $1.2 million in contingency funds to prevent budget overruns
These estimates assume a spring 2027 construction start
and account for projected inflation. For a median assessed home of $300,000, the estimated impact is $10 per month, or $120 per year. Continued fundraising will lower that cost to taxpayers.
Since the last expansion, Williston’s population has grown by 50%, and library usage has increased by 92%. The library ranks first in program attendance and second in circulation among peer libraries, yet eighth out of 10 in space. Today, adding a book requires removing one.
Learn more about project needs, benefits, costs and how to pledge your support at www. WillistonLibraryProject.org.
This letter was submitted by the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library Capital Campaign Committee
A vision of expansion
We are members of the Friends of Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, a volunteer group that actively supports the many programs, activities and growth of the Williston library.
We are aware of the growth that has taken place in Williston and the burgeoning task of meeting the needs of Williston residents with the current library, which is stretched far beyond its current limits.
By comparison with 10 Vermont towns of similar size, the library ranks No. 1 in program attendance and No. 2 in circulation of materials, but No. 8 in the size of the library building. Since the 1998 renovation, the population of Williston has grown 50%, while library visits have grown an astounding 92%.
The library is bursting at the seams with books and materials. The library also needs more space for programs, community events and meetings.
The proposed library expansion will provide the space that meets the needs of Williston today, while preparing for
tomorrow and decades to come. We can shape the future of Williston by sharing the vision of numerous residents who completed a survey affirming that a larger, welcoming library and a vibrant Village Green will bring together people of all ages.
A refreshed Village Green will have a new performance space in addition to the historic bandstand, and graded pathways for a variety of community connections.
We invite you to visit the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library website (www.daml. org) to learn more about the Williston library renovation and expansion plans. Feel free to contact the library staff or Friends of the Library to learn more. Your support on March 3 for the bond vote will be greatly appreciated.
This letter was submitted by members of the Friends of the Library: Joanne Arsenault, Cindy Ortego, Ann Park and Faith Leach
The heart of town
When our family pulls up to the Williston library, my kids jump out of the car and head straight to the children’s section without waiting for me. After school, middle schoolers fill the space, gathering with friends in the kind of “third place” youth mental health experts say young people desperately need.
Over the summer, I worked at outdoor tables and struck up a conversation with a group discussing current events. In a town with an excess of banks, the library is the closest thing we have to a community center — arguably the heart of our town. That’s why I’m voting in support of the library expansion. I do so with a mind towards Vermont’s affordability crisis. Some argue that we should pay for our “needs, not wants.” That framing is understandable, yet
the math tells a different story: The affordability crisis is driven by the soaring cost of essentials.
Vermont’s health insurance premiums are among the highest nationally. That cost ripples through our economy. Since 1990, costs of other essentials like housing and childcare have increased by two to six times. When essentials cost so much, cutting shared civic spaces will not fix the problem. Meanwhile, our library now sees twice as many visitors compared to 1998.
The library expansion would cost about $40 per $100,000 of assessed property value, assuming no fundraising. That amount is not nothing, but it is within the realm of what every taxpayer could recover through seeing the library expansion as an investment in our community.
Our era faces numerous, less quantified problems, including a loneliness epidemic, youth mental health crises, and a political environment where disembodied conversations happen online rather than in person. The library can help with these problems.
So, my vote is that we expand community engagement through our library. We can seize this moment to work together to
determine what we need — and can give — to help ensure that this investment causes our community to thrive.
Alli Wannop Williston
A half-penny for preservation
On Town Meeting Day, voters will have the opportunity to vote on Article 8, which is a renewal of Article 6 from last year, to continue assessing a half-penny tax on the grand list for the purpose of protecting open space and public lands within the Town of Williston.
Last year, the article passed by a 3-to1 margin, with 75% of voters approving the tax. After approval, Article 6 raised a little over $110,000 for the Williston Environmental Reserve Fund, and only cost households about $20 in their total tax bill. Article 8 would continue this tax in exactly the same way for the coming fiscal year, if approved by voters.
As the chair of the Williston Conservation Committee, I wanted to share how these funds are being considered for use as a long-term benefit for the town. The commission is exploring opportunities to provide public access points for several existing conservation areas that currently lack clear points of
entry in Williston. We’re also looking for opportunities to grow or expand areas with existing conservation and recreation opportunities.
Creating new points of public access, or growing our existing conserved lands, means creating new opportunities for families and neighbors to explore the beautiful landscapes in Williston. It also puts more neighborhoods in closer proximity to permanently conserved lands and eases pressure on the high-use areas that many residents already take advantage of.
These are important investments for the future of our community and town, and last year when Williston adopted the new Town Plan it committed to conserving 30% of Williston lands by 2050. This is an ambitious goal to further invest in the permanent protection of Williston’s open space, working landscapes and important wildlife habitat areas. Continuing support for the Environmental Reserve Fund will enable ongoing and targeted progress toward this goal.
For more information about Article 8, the Environmental Reserve Fund, and conservation areas in Williston, please visit the “Natural Resources” section of the town’s website (www.town.williston. vt.us).
Dave Westman
Williston Conservation Commission
In print & online: We’re your neighbors, committed to keeping you informed on what’s going on in Williston.
With an average class size of 16, Rice is small, but not too small. Students receive individual attention and are truly known, supported by teachers who are focused on their growth. Dedicated College Prep, Honors, and AP classes allow faculty to meet students at their level and shape discussions that challenge, engage and inspire a love of learning.
The benefits of journaling your way through gardening season
BY ANDREA KNEPPER Special to the Observer
Many home gardeners rely on memory and tradition to guide the timing and layout of their gardens. People remember when lilacs bloom, know where to put peppers so they get enough sun and estimate the optimal timing for fertilizing.
However, we don’t have to rely exclusively on memory to get the best garden results. Even the most experienced gardeners can benefit from the simple habit of keeping a gardening journal.
A gardening journal can be as simple or as fancy as you like. You can use a notebook, a wall calendar or scraps of paper kept in a binder. I prefer a simple composition notebook. The important thing is to record what happens in the garden throughout the season. Over time, you will start to notice patterns and trends that can help you maximize your time, efforts and yields.
A good place to get started with your garden journal is by recording plant varieties, planting dates and garden layout. This
PHOTO BY DEBRA HELEBA
information can be especially helpful in future years when you want to remember the tomato variety your family liked best or where to rotate different crop families. Keeping track of weather can also help you understand why your garden struggled or thrived. Over time, these notes can even help predict your garden’s frost dates.
Starting plants from seed was new to me a few years ago. I kept track of my successes and problems and recorded new information I learned about seed-starting in my journal. That level of detail, along with my personal observations, helped me refine my system and improve my outcomes.
Your journal is also a great place to record your harvest times and yields. The information on seed packets provides helpful guidelines, but dates to maturity can vary depending on the conditions of your garden. Using your journal can support planning for future years, especially if you garden in a small space and rotate plantings.
After a few years of recording the appearance of pests and diseases, I noticed that tomato hornworms usually appeared during the last week of July or first week of August.
With that information, I began checking my tomatoes more carefully during that time and prevented much of the damage I had seen in previous years. Knowing what pests and diseases might show up, and when, can help you plan ahead, or, at the very least, let you know when to be on the offensive.
General observations are also valuable to record. You may notice that one variety of flower attracts more pollinators than another, or that water pools in a certain part of your garden. These notes can help you plan for your garden goals and make adjustments to avoid potential problems.
A gardening journal is more than a planning tool. It becomes a record of your garden over time, documenting the growth of both your garden and you as a gardener.
During the offseason, reviewing notes, sketching new layouts, organizing favorable varieties and remembering gardens past is a relaxing and worthwhile way to stay connected to your garden and the growing season.
Andrea Knepper is a UVM Extension Master Gardener volunteer from Fayston.
Many things can be used as a gardening journal: a lined notebook, a calendar, loose notes and a computer spreadsheet. Select the option that will best help you record gardening information throughout the season.
Justice system experiments show mixed results
Fast-track criminal court shows promise, while pretrial supervision languishes
BY CHARLOTTE OLIVER VTDigger
Lawmakers are grappling with whether to continue a program designed to prevent defendants awaiting trial from committing more offenses.
Two years ago, Vermont lawmakers noticed competing issues. State prisons were filling up with more detainees who were held ahead of trial. At the same time, when courts didn’t hold people in jail, they often committed more crimes.
Lawmakers and experts reasoned that defendants who continued to commit crimes ahead of trial often grappled with mental health issues, substance use and housing instability. So lawmakers decided those people might be better off — and more likely to follow the law — if they were placed under closer supervision while their legal cases were pending.
In 2024, lawmakers launched their experimental pretrial supervision program, which has so far rolled out in three counties. Now, Gov. Phil Scott wants legislators to spend $200,000 to take the program statewide.
But the pretrial program has seen scant use. And it’s recently been coupled with another justice system experiment that has the same goal but takes a different approach: a pilot court initiative in Burlington that expedites trials for repeat offenders.
With officials touting the court’s success — and pointing to the pretrial program’s low numbers — lawmakers must decide if they’ll continue to invest in both programs or choose just one.
“Which way should we go?” asked Rep. Angela Arsenault, D-Williston, during a recent meeting in the House Judiciary Committee.
The pretrial supervision program started as a pilot in rural Essex and Orleans counties with a road map to eventually take the program statewide. Its expansion was contingent on available funds.
But few people have actually used the program since it was launched, and only one person in the state is in the program now,
according to David D’Amora, who evaluates the program for the Council of State Governments.
When the program was first piloted in Newport, fewer than 10 people took part, D’Amora told lawmakers last month. And since the supervision program was moved to Chittenden County this fall, only six people have been referred into it, he said.
The low enrollment has left lawmakers wondering: Is it worth another investment?
Meanwhile, as the Burlington
pilot court sunsets this month, officials have praised its success — and considered replicating its model in other counties. Scott has asked lawmakers to spend half a million dollars this year to expand the court.
In the Burlington pilot court, defendants saw their cases fasttracked through the legal process if they faced charges in five or more legal cases. While focused on moving cases quickly, the court also embedded social workers in the courtroom and connected
defendants with social services.
Some key players in the justice system think the pilot court model fixes the issue better than the pretrial program, making the latter initiative unnecessary. But others think the pretrial program could still be useful, and believe it would see increased enrollment if it was expanded statewide.
For a defendant to end up in the pretrial program, they have to be referred by an attorney or judge — and they have to meet certain criteria.
Someone is only eligible for the pretrial program if they have at least five pending court cases against them. They must also pose a safety risk or be unlikely to appear in court. A defendant could also be eligible if they were charged with violating a condition of their release from jail. The Vermont Department of Corrections has to approve a defendant for the program based on their risk of committing more crimes.
If someone is admitted into the program, a supervision officer with the corrections department monitors them while they’re released from jail. Under lower supervision, a defendant is only monitored through a program on their phone. But a defendant under closer oversight might have to call their supervision officer every week and meet with them in person every month.
When launching the program, lawmakers hoped that placing people under closer supervision would help them show up for their court dates. The goal was to connect people with services and get them to show up to court.
But the pilot docket showed that there’s a different way to do that, and on a larger scale, said Vermont Superior Court Judge Thomas Zonay. The docket had cleared 702 of the 972 cases assigned to the court as of Feb. 6.
The pre-trial program didn’t get much use when it was offered
Prosecutor Zach Weight, right, speaks with public defender Sandra Lee during a break at the Chittenden County Community Accountability Court in Burlington.
FILE PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER
New federal work requirements put food security at risk
BY THEO WELLS-SPACKMAN VTDigger
New federal work requirements limiting eligibility for the nation’s largest food assistance program will take effect for many in Vermont on March 1.
Roughly 3,000 people may lose benefits on that day, according to Ivy Enoch, director of policy and advocacy at Hunger Free Vermont, a food security nonprofit. About half of them are people experiencing homelessness, she added, citing data from the Vermont Department for Children and Families.
“This is a crucial moment,” Enoch said.
The main “work rule” limiting eligibility for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, expanded last year in a number of respects — including raising its upper age threshold and eliminating exemptions for potentially vulnerable groups. The shift comes as part of a raft of changes to the program in last July’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which congressional Republicans said would help combat wasteful spending on such services.
SNAP, called 3SquaresVT in Vermont, serves roughly 65,000 people statewide. Data on rates of employment vary widely, with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimating that about 30% of Vermont recipients are members of working families, and the Food Research and Action
Center reporting that between 2019 and 2023 an average of 72% of SNAP households included a member who was working.
Adults up to age 64 (increased from 54 in this rule’s previous language) will now have to prove they are working, volunteering or training the requisite 80 hours per month to receive food stamps. This requirement will also be newly imposed on unhoused people, and with less widespread effects on veterans and former foster care charges.
“If you are experiencing homelessness, it is extremely difficult to report information,” Enoch said. “We are deeply concerned.”
The work exemption for households with children was narrowed — only guardians with children under 14, rather than 18, will now qualify. Other exemptions — like pregnancy — remain unchanged.
The State of Vermont used its discretion to delay this change to eligibility requirements, and other rules governing SNAP have deferred the new policy’s full impact until March, Enoch said.
According to Enoch, many people who might otherwise see benefits dry up in March may be eligible for another, broader exception: the “personal barrier” rule. In certain cases, someone can be deemed unable to work because of other circumstances in their life, like a lack of access to transportation. But in order to qualify, a physician or other service provider has to submit the request form on behalf of their client.
“This is not a work requirement,” Enoch said of the new expansions to the work rule. “This is a paperwork requirement.”
Julia Burgess, 35, enrolled in 3SquaresVT last year amid a professional transition that made it hard to cover the cost of groceries. The administrative burden of staying in the program has been “exhausting,” she said — the paperwork and long phone conversations have sometimes made it difficult to do her job as a private therapist.
In fact, she’s been without benefits for several months while she works out how to report a new level of income. She’s been grateful for the help she’s received from a caseworker at Vermont Foodbank, who has assisted with the trickier parts of the paperwork.
Justice
continued from page 11
in Chittenden County because people who were eligible for it had their cases resolved quickly, said Zach Weight, the pilot court’s prosecutor.
In any other court, defendants might wait months between each time they have to appear in court, Weight said. But in the pilot court, the court had the resources to schedule court appearances only a few days apart.
Unlike in most courts, the pilot program hired social workers to sit in the courtroom every day and connect defendants with resources for housing or recovery when they came in for their first court date, Weight said.
Adults up to age 64 (increased from 54 in this rule’s previous language) will now have to prove they are working, volunteering or training the requisite 80 hours per month to receive food stamps.
“Without supports like that, more and more Vermonters are going to go hungry,” Burgess said.
Because defendants were accessing social services and coming to court frequently, the supervision program wasn’t getting much use, according to Weight.
“We didn’t need it,” he said.
Weight said the supervision program could be useful, though, in other counties where it might take months to resolve someone’s legal case.
“I think it would be helpful when we know cases are going to take awhile, but defendants are struggling to follow their conditions of release,” he said.
“I view it as a way to assure public safety and supervision, short of putting them in prison.”
No matter where the pretrial program is rolled out, Defender General Matt Valerio said he
“These programs are almost designed to keep people out.”
Organizations like the Foodbank and the state’s community action agencies have been reaching out to clients wherever possible to warn them of the incoming changes, and assist them however possible, Enoch said.
One central ask from food assistance advocates to legislators this session has been increased funding for “benefit assisters,” a set of new staff positions at various service organizations dedicated to helping people navigate the increasingly complex paperwork for SNAP and Medicaid.
“We need to make sure that (the) message is actually being received by the folks who need it,” Enoch said.
thinks the pretrial program will always be barely used because of how cases practically play out in the justice system.
A defense attorney would only agree to put their client on pretrial supervision if their client’s only alternative is to be held in jail, Valerio said. Otherwise, the defense would advocate for their client to be in the least restrictive setting, likely on conditions of release, he said.
Valerio, similar to Zonay, said he thinks the pilot court and the pretrial program set out to do the same thing. And the pilot court was successful, resolving the problems the pretrial program sought to address.
“It is an overlap,” Valerio said.
A client visits the HOPE food shelf in Middlebury.
Farmworkers
continued from page 5
free transportation between their housing and their work site.
Vermont’s House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry plans to take testimony from the state Labor Department on the wage change, but it’s not clear what the state can do to offset it.
Sen. Joe Major, D-Windsor, vice chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, said in an email that the Legislature could look to complementary actions like investments in farmworker housing, access to health care, workforce protections, and programs stabilizing farm income “so that the burden of federal policy changes doesn’t fall entirely on workers or farmers,” Major said.
Last year, all H-2A jobs paid $18.83 per hour. This year, the majority of Vermont farms that have posted H-2A jobs by the end of January advertised the lowered starting wage for this year of $15.96 an hour, sometimes including a housing deduction of $1.61 an hour. For higher-skilled workers, or those with two or more
months of experience, the wage is $19.23 per hour, or $17.42 after the housing deduction. Virtually all H-2A workers require housing.
Vermont farmers advertised 836 H-2A jobs on more than 80 farms in 2025. This spring, at least 112 workers could be affected, according to a count by VTDigger of job listings so far, with many more likely to come.
At her organic vegetable farm in Jericho, Christa Alexander has hired H-2A workers for eight years and plans to hire four Jamaican workers this season.
While her official job listing for Jericho Settlers Farm lists a wage of $15.96, that wage reflects a lower skill level. Her returning farmworkers will take home a bit more than the $18.83 they were paid last year. Those workers have “really transformed the labor situation on our farm,” Alexander said, because they return with needed skills, and they’re available, while many U.S. farmworkers have disappeared, farmers told VTDigger.
Over the last decade, the H-2A program has ballooned nationally, growing 185%, according to the American Farm Bureau, an agricultural advocacy group that
“We expect what we’re going to see is an increase in the H-2A workforce and a decrease in everyone’s wages, which is obviously bad for everyone involved except the growers themselves.”
Antonio De Loera-Brust United Farm Workers of America
supports the new wages. More than 415,000 H-2A positions were requested last year, a new record.
“Growers have been and continue to be under significant financial pressure and this change allows them flexibility in pay so they can pay based on years of experience,” said Alyson Eastman, deputy secretary for Vermont’s Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets. The H-2A wage rule, known as AEWR, increased
by 32% between 2000 to 2025, Eastman said. She said she believes the change was positive for both workers and employers.
Some farm owners say they worry about pay discrepancies cropping up under the new rule, which would make it harder to ensure fair wages in the state. Hodges, of Sunrise Orchards, said he’d talked to a few other growers via text but that there was no organized effort to get on the same page about how growers planned to handle changed rates.
“It does seem a little strange that the federal government is giving people an option. It makes it more confusing,” Hodges said. He’s hired H-2A workers from Jamaica since 1987, and some have been with him for almost 40 years.
Even though times are tough — he faced two weather events, a frost in 2023 and the drought in 2025, that each damaged half his crop — he planned to maintain workers’ prior wages. Other farmers who spoke to VTDigger for this story described approaches that varied based on margins, scale and philosophy. Zachary Suddaby, of Suddabee’s Honey, for example, said it would feel
like an insult to drop the pay for two women from South Africa who work on his farm.
Others worried about the impact this could have nationally if larger operations outside Vermont significantly dropped their wages.
“The cost of production could go way down for larger-scale operations,” said John Wagner, of Bear Roots Farm, “whereas in our case we feel a personal responsibility to pay these guys a decent wage.”
But not every farmer shares, or can afford, that goal. At Singing Cedars Apiaries, a beekeeping operation in Benson, Deborah Smith said in an email that she planned to pay the $17.62 rate for returning H-2A workers, including the housing deduction of $1.61 an hour.
“We were going broke paying the higher rate,” Smith said in an email.
“Our employees have been very good workers,” Smith said. “They are like family to us. But this arrangement has to be a good deal for us and a good deal for them. And farming is very marginal.”
All tied up
CLOCKWISE (l to r): CVU’s Ezra Ziter looks to start a fast break during the Redhawks’ 3-3 tie with the South Burlington Wolves on Feb. 14 at Cairns Arena. Eric Weinberg and South Burlington’s Elijah Butler battle along the boards. Sawyer Wellman chases down the puck in a crowd. Jameson Yandow drives to the goal. Tiegen Holmes looks to get by South Burlington’s Sam Kelly. Hays Arnoldy plays the puck up the boards away from South Bulington’s Trey Smith.
OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY
Soaring Redhawks overcome Wolves
CLOCKWISE (l to r): CVU’s Gracie Sanchez reaches for the vault during the Redhawks’ win over the South Burlington Wolves on Feb. 13 at the Green Mountain Training Center. Dasha Gaina works on one foot in her floor routine. Chloe Crowder does a pirouette on the beam. Jasmine Dye leaps high above the balance beam. McKena Lesage strikes a pose in her floor routine. Center, Gabriella Serafini finishes her tumbling pass.
OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY
Sponsors wanted
Do you own a Williston business? Do you want to support the community? Are you looking for an event your employees can help with? If yes, we are looking for you!
Become a sponsor with the Recreation Department. Your sponsorship can help with these special events: Movie in the Park (September), Glow Fun Run (October), Turkey Trot & Toss (November), Drivein Movie (December). Email recreation@willistonvt.org for details.
FAMILY PROGRAMS
FAMILY BINGO NIGHT
All Ages. Friday, Feb. 20, 6-8 p.m. at the R.E.C. Zone, 94 Harvest Lane. Join for a
fun-filled evening of free family Bingo. Bring the whole family, play a few rounds and see if you’re lucky enough to win a prize.
FAMILY & FRIENDS CPR
Ages 12-plus. Family & Friends CPR is for people who want to learn CPR but do not need a CPR course completion card. This course is ideal for new parents, grandparents and babysitters. Saturday, March 28, 8-10:30 a.m. $25.
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. for a suggested donation of $7. Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m. Following lunch, enjoy a free senior-focused program.
BANG
BUCK!
JAZZERCISE CARDIO SCULPT PROGRAMS
Ages 18-plus. Cardio Sculpt Low/Low — Tuesdays and Fridays, 8:30 a.m. and Mondays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m. Cardio Sculpt Low/High — Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 4:45 p.m. and Sundays, 8:30 a.m. Cardio Sculpt High/High — Mondays, 4:45 p.m.
R.E.C. ZONE PROGRAMS (94
HARVEST LANE)
TAI CHI INTRO
Ages 50-plus. Mondays, 9:3010:30 a.m., Free. Instructor: Adina Panitch.
BONE BUILDERS
Ages 50-plus. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10-11 a.m., Free. Instructors: Ann Naumann and Joyce Oughstun.
SENIOR STRENGTH & FUNCTIONAL MOBILITY
Ages 50-plus. Wednesdays and Fridays, 10-10:45 a.m., Free. Instructor: Jazmine Averbuck.
ZUMBA GOLD
Ages 50-plus. Fridays, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., $10 per visit. Instructor: Ciara Gregory.
YOUTH PROGRAMS
LEARN TO SWIM
Preschool and level 1 and
2 are offered for ages 2.5 and older. Lessons are taught by instructors at the Edge of Essex. March programs start Wednesday, March 4. Register online at www. willistonrec.org. $105.
DRIVERS ED
Ages 15-17. There are still openings in the March program that starts Wednesday, March 4. $875.
YOUTH LACROSSE
Grades K-8. For grades 3-8, there are separate programs for boys and girls. Register by March 11. Teams practice on weekdays, and games are on weekends. The season starts March 30. $74. For ages 4-5 sessions are Fridays, May 1-29, 5:15-6:15 p.m. $36. For grades K-2, sessions are Saturdays, May 2-June 6, with boys from 8-9 a.m. and girls from 9:10-10:10 a.m. $43.
FOUNDATIONS OF MAGIC
Grades 3-6. Led by magician Billy Martin, participants will learn the foundations of classic sleight of hand and beginner friendly magic with props. Mondays, March 16-April 14, 2:50-4:15 p.m. $160.
INDOOR SOCCER
Grades 3-5. This program will focus on playing different types of soccer games and scrimmages.
Teams will be remade each week. Open to all levels of experience. Wednesdays, March 18-April 15, 1:50-3:15 p.m. $30. SAFE AT HOME
Grades 4-6. This program teaches youngsters how to practice safe habits, prevent unsafe situations, and what to do when faced with dangers to prepare youngsters to care for themselves. Thursday, March 19, 2:30-4 p.m., $30. LEGO MOTION
Grades 3-5. Explore forces and motion using LEGOs. Create an obstacle course and compete in a relay race, bobsled competition and hockey game. Instructor: Wicked Cool For Kids staff. Thursdays, March 26- April 16, 2:50-4:15 p.m. $117.
SUMMER CAMPS
Detailed summer camp information is available online at www.willistonrec.org. The following camps are offered: Woodworking & Technology, Kids Kitchen, Baking Fun, Advanced Baking, Tennis, Fun With Food, Designer Art, Artist Studio, Comics & Manga, RECO Robotics, Character & Cartoon Cuisine, Horse Camp, Minecraft Mania, Safe Sitters, Culinary Adventures, Slimescapades, Hogwarts Express, OUR Camps and REC Camps.
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 property taxes — $308 more per $100,000 of property value. However, school district administrators expect state lawmakers to “buy down” the property tax increase by shifting general funds into the state education fund. Tax rates won’t be finalized until the new fiscal year begins in July.
School 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.
The Town of Williston’s budget proposal also carries a spending increase. The town seeks approval for $17 million in spending, an increase of $1.1 million (6.75%) over the current fiscal year.
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 adds two new firefighter positions, funded with increased ambulance revenue rather than property taxes, according to Wells.
If approved, the budget would result in an estimated tax rate of $414 for every $100,000 of assessed property value, an increase of $24 for every $100,000 (6.2%) over current tax bills.
Town spending accounts for roughly 17% of property tax bills, while school district spending accounts for about 83%.
UNCONTESTED ELECTIONS
None of the elected positions on the town or school district ballots will be contested, with a single candidate running for each available seat. On the school board, Erin Henderson is running unopposed to retain her three-year seat. On the town selectboard, current board member Jeanne Jensen is the lone candidate for a three-year seat and newcomer
McKew Devitt is running unopposed for a two-year seat. Current board member Mike Isham is not seeking re-election.
Other incumbents are running unopposed for re-election, including Liz Royer for Champlain Water District representative, Sarah Mason for town clerk and Stephen Perkins for library trustee.
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 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.
Family Fun Page COLORING PAGE
Girls in Science
Have you ever watched a baby or toddler move around a room? As they play, babies are constantly doing experiments. They are tiny scientists!
Science is all about …
• asking a question: “Why do my blocks fall down?”
• testing an idea: “If I put the bigger blocks on the bottom, will my stack stay standing?”
• and finding an answer: “I must need the bigger blocks on the bottom!”
It doesn’t even matter if an idea about how to answer a question is the right one. What matters is the process of inquiry, or questioning.
This week, The Mini Page finds out more about keeping science fun and interesting for kids as we explore Expanding Girls’ Horizons in Science and Engineering Month in March.
The Expanding Your Horizons Network organizes more than 100 conferences throughout the year all over the U.S. Volunteer scientists meet with middle and high school girls to answer questions and help with activities.
At the conferences, girls can meet adult female scientists, or mentors, and do handson science activities. (A mentor is someone who advises or counsels another person.)
A natural process
Babies may be the youngest scientists, but experts say children remain naturally curious about how things work. However, when kids
Try ’n’ Find
Next Week: Our states: Colorado
Mini Fact: Experts say many adults in scientific jobs liked science as children and stayed interested through the eighth grade.
get to be 11 or 12 years old, things can change, especially for girls.
Traditionally, boys have been encouraged in science, engineering and math. Girls have been steered toward other subjects, such as English or history. But one expert says that if kids can maintain an interest in science through the eighth grade, they have a better chance of choosing a career in a science-related field.
A different age
When your great-grandparents were young, there were many jobs for adults in manufacturing, or making things. We called this the industrial age.
Why girls are important
You might not think it would matter who our scientists are. But girls and boys are different, just like kids from one part of the country can be different from kids from another part. One example:
An educator at Saint Louis Science Center challenged students to come up with a new source of fuel that was:
• renewable
• cost-free
• able to heat a box oven to a temperature high enough to cook something.
The students were all inner-city kids, many of whom didn’t have a washer and dryer at home. Many of the girls were used to taking their family’s clothes to a laundromat to wash and dry them.
The girls thought about the large trash cans full of dryer lint at laundromats. They wondered if the lint could be used as a fuel source.
They made briquettes, or small, dense bricks, out of clothes dryer lint. They used the briquettes as fuel to heat their box oven — and it worked!
Today, our economy is more based on information and creative services. Many scientific fields are also now related to other areas. For example, a geologist may have to know a lot about chemistry and biology.
With modern challenges such as climate change and protecting our environment, we need more and more good minds asking questions and testing answers to solve our problems.
Mini Jokes
Experts pointed out that using dryer lint might not have occurred to the boys in the class, since they might not do as much laundry. And a student who lives in a home with a washer and dryer might not have thought about the huge amounts of lint that are available as a free, renewable source of fuel. Words that remind us of girls in science are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
Sam: What do you get when you cross a shark and a parrot?
A creature that talks your ear off! Sarah: What is a shark’s favorite game? Santana: Swallow the leader!
Sienna:
Founded by Betty Debnam
Try ’n’ Find
Words that remind us of girls in science are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
ANSWER, BIOLOGY, BRIQUETTE, CHEMISTRY, CREATIVE, CURIOUS, ENGINEERING, FUEL, GIRLS, IDEA, INFORMATION, JOBS, MENTOR, PROCESS, QUESTION, SCIENCE, SUBJECT, TEST.
Cook’s Corner
Zesty Bow-Tie Salad
You’ll need:
• 1 (14.5-ounce) box bow-tie pasta (about 9 cups cooked)
• 1 (12-ounce) bag frozen broccoli florets (about 4 cups)
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
What to do:
• 1 cup sliced black olives
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup Italian dressing
• 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Mini Jokes
Sam: What do you get when you cross a shark and a parrot? Sienna: A creature that talks your ear off! Sarah: What is a shark’s favorite game? Santana: Swallow the leader!
1. Cook pasta in large pot as directed on the package. While pasta is cooking, microwave frozen broccoli as directed.
2. Drain pasta and place in large bowl. Add broccoli, tomatoes, olives, salt, pepper and dressing. Mix well. Stir in cheese.
3. Cover bowl and refrigerate for several hours or until chilled. Serves 8.
7 Little Words for Kids
Use the letters in the boxes to make a word with the same meaning as the clue. The numbers in parentheses represent the number of letters in the solution. Each letter combination can be used only once, but all letter combinations will be necessary to complete the puzzle.
1. Luigi’s video game brother (5)
2. place to store a car (6)
3. they open locks (4)
4. very smart (11)
5. rings and bracelets (7)
6. fruit that grows on a vine (5)
7. moving stairway (9)
jewelry, grape, escalator.
Rwanda’s mountain gorillas, once rescued from the brink of extinction, are now facing a new crisis — overcrowding that fuels deadly battles between silverbacks and leaves many infants dead. Rangers described heartbreaking scenes of infant gorillas being slammed to death and mothers retreating in grief. To relieve overcrowding, the government has pledged to expand Volcanoes National Park by nearly a quarter.
For later:
Look in your local newspaper for articles about women making advances in science.
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
What resources can you recommend for researching good places to retire in the U.S.? My husband and I are interested in relocating to a warmer climate when we retire next year.
Looking to Relocate
Dear Looking, It’s exciting to think about relocating in retirement! Whether you’re considering seasonal escapes or a permanent change, there are a wide variety of resources that can help you find and research new locations.
Lorraine A. Iby
Lorraine A. Iby passed away peacefully at home in Vergennes, VT on Jan. 29, 2026, at the age of 91 with her loving husband Henry E. Iby of 71 years by her side. Lorraine was born in Burlington, the daughter of Leon and Sarah (Cubit) Bundy. In November 1954 she married Henry and together they raised seven children. She lived on Mountain View Road in Williston since 1959, in the house her husband grew up in and only moved away when their health declined. She retired from Grand Union.
SAVVY SENIOR
Tools to help you find the perfect place to retire
WHERE TO RETIRE?
There are many factors to think about to ensure the move supports your lifestyle, financial goals and overall well-being. You need to consider things like cost of living, climate, taxes, health care, housing, crime, access to social and recreational activities, access to transportation and proximity to family and friends.
A good starting point is BestPlaces.net. This site compiles demographic data from numerous reliable sources, updates it regularly and lets you compare cities using different criteria, such as housing cost, climate, crime, religious practices, voting patterns and education level. It also offers a 10-question “Where is the best place for me to live?” quiz, which may suggest some locations you never have thought of.
There are also news and financial publications like U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, WalletHub, Bankrate and The Motley Fool that
She was active for many years in the Wild Boomers Boomba Group. Her hobbies included bowling (where she participated for 25 years in national bowling tournaments), bingo, reading, crocheting, and camping. The greatest joy of her life was her family.
Besides her husband Henry, Lorraine is survived by her children and their spouses Deanna (Timothy) Heath, Susan LaBerge, Sheryl (Paul) Latreille, Lorraine M. Iby, Wendy Iby, Hope (John) Hatch, and Henry H. (Robin) Iby. Also surviving is her sister Wanda Mardanes, sister-in-law June Bundy, brother-in-law David Wisell, and several grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Besides her parents, Lorraine was predeceased by brothers Loren, Dean, and Warren Bundy, sister Patricia Ward, brothersin-law Richard Ward and Louis Mardanes, sisters-in-law Shirley Wisell and Virginia Bundy, sonin-law Carl LaBerge, and great grandchildren Amanda (Smart) Charbonneau, Michaela Smart, and Mark Johnson-Dion.
The family will hold a private service at a later date.
publish “best places to retire” ranking lists on their websites each year. These can give you an idea of popular retirement locations based on different sets of criteria.
Additional considerations are…
Cost of living: Affordability is often the No. 1 factor when deciding where to relocate. To research and compare the cost of living of your current location to where you would like to move, use the previously mentioned BestPlaces. net, the Economic Policy Institute Family Budget Calculator at EPI. org/resources/budget, or Bankrate’s cost of living calculator at Bankrate. com/real-estate/cost-of-livingcalculator. Because housing is a big expense, you can take a deeper dive into these costs at Zillow.com and Realtor.com.
Taxes: Some states are more tax friendly than others. To investigate how states treat retirees when it comes to income, sales, property and other taxes, see Kiplinger’s tax
OBITUARIES
Sandra Bourgea
Sandra Bourgea of Williston, VT passed peacefully on Feb. 6, 2026.
Sandra was born on Jan. 19, 1936 in Burlington, the daughter of Leath (Wells) and Harold McGrath. Sandra grew up in Burlington and graduated from Cathedral High School, where she met the love of her life and husband of 69 years, Gill Bourgea.
guide at Kiplinger.com — search “Taxes on Retirees: A State-by-State Guide.”
Crime rate: To evaluate how safe a community or area is, the FBI Crime Data Explorer (cde.ucr.cjis. gov) allows you to explore crime statistics at the national, state and local levels.
Climate: You can find U.S. climate and weather information at National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI.noaa.gov). And to research climate change factors and the risks of extreme temperatures, wildfires, floods, hurricanes, severe storms, earthquakes and drought in different locations, use ClimateCheck.com and FEMA: Hazards.fema.gov/nri/map.
Health care: If you’re enrolled or planning to enroll in original Medicare, check the coverage and availability of providers in your new location. Search by ZIP code for health care providers and facilities at Medicare.gov/care-compare, and
Together they raised their children in Burlington where Sandra worked at the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
She also served as administrative assistant at the Diocesan Tribunal office at Cathedral Parish.
After retirement Sandra and Gill enjoyed many years at the incredible family home they built in Montgomery, Vt. This home was where the whole family gathered, creating memories and stories that will live on for generations. Sandra and Gill watched their grandchildren grow in their loving and nurturing home through all the seasons. The “snowed-in” winter stays were the best! Friends and family knew that they were always welcome and felt at home.
Williston became their home in more recent years.
Sandra is survived by her husband, Gill and children Sue Chastenay (Tom), David (Donna Brassard), Greg (Cindy) and Carolyn Radin (Ed), 10 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
Sandra was predeceased by her mother Leath McGrath Dunton, stepfather Virgil Dunton, father Harold and siblings Mary Leath, Harry and Jack.
check star ratings for quality of care. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan and you move out of the coverage area, you’ll need to find a new plan in your new area.
Transportation: If you plan to travel much, or expect frequent visits from your kids or grandkids, convenient access to an airport or train station is a big advantage.
Once you have narrowed down your choices, spend a couple weeks in each location at different times of the year to get a feel for the seasonal weather changes, and carefully weigh the pros and cons of living there — you may find that you like the area more as a vacation spot than as a year-round residence.
If possible rent for a year before buying a home or making a commitment to a retirement community.
Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.
The family wants to thank Bayada Hospice Services and the Birchwood Terrace staff for the wonderful care they provided.
A very special acknowledgment to Tara Jarvis, Sandra’s granddaughter and caregiver extraordinaire. Because of Tara’s loving care, Memere could stay at home until very late in life, which was so important to both Sandra and Gill.
Sandra’s faith was strong throughout her life and carried her along her life’s journey.
A memorial service was held Feb. 14 at Vibrant Church in South Burlington.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bayada Hospice, 463 Mountain View Drive. Suite 100, Colchester, VT 05446, in memory Sandra Bourgea.
Arrangements are in the care of the Chittenden County Cremation Society, a division of the Ready Funeral and Cremation Services. To send online condolences, please visit www.cremationsocietycc. com.
TODAY’S HISTORY:
• In 1807, former U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr was arrested for treason.
• In 1878, Thomas Edison received a patent for the phonograph.
• In 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, allowing the internment of Japanese Americans.
• In 1945, about 30,000 U.S. Marines landed on Iwo Jima.
• In 1963, Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique” was published, sparking a new wave of feminism in the United States.
TODAY’S FACT:
• The hottest planet in the solar system is Venus, with an average surface temperature of 867 degrees Fahrenheit.
CLASSIFIEDS
LEGAL
TOWN OF WILLISTON
DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA
Tuesday, Feb.24, 2026 – 6:00 PM Board Training
7:00 PM Public Forum and Hearings Town Hall Beckett/McGuire Meeting Room (7900 Williston Road, use rear entrance) or Zoom Webinar ID 813 6162 7981 on www.zoom.us/join 6:00 PM Board Training
7:00 PM Public Forum
7:00 PM Public Hearing
DP 26-08 Richard and Sue Brownell request pre-application review of a proposed four-lot subdivision of a 26.7-acre lot into one existing dwelling, two new dwellings, and one open space lot at 518 Lincoln Road in the Agricultural Rural Residential Zoning District.
DP 24-08.1 Jim & Lucy McCullough, LLC request preapplication review of a proposed development with 32 dwelling units at 88 Mountain View Road in the Residential Zoning District. Continued from Jan. 27, 2026
OTHER BUSINESS
DP 24-01 Final Plan Filing Deadline Extension Request. Continued from 1/27/2026
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
Want to advertise?
LEGAL NOTICE
Public Auction Under SelfStorage And Operators Lien
U-Haul Of Williston 5010 Williston Rd Williston, Vt . 05495
On February 26th at 9:00 am on www.storageauctions.com
The contents of the following units consisting of furniture, household goods and miscellaneous personal property will be SOLD to satisfy the lien of U-HAUL as self-storage operators. This Sale Is Held Under The Uniform Commercial Code Section 16a, Paragraph 7-210 Enforcement Of Vermont Self-Storage Lien.
&
saliva. If left untreated, rabies is almost
ways fatal in humans and animals. However, treatment with the rabies vaccine is nearly 100 percent effective when given soon after a person is bitten by a rabid animal.
continued
So far this year, 23 animals in Vermont have tested positive for rabies, and 14 of those have been raccoons.
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
or
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.
display lead dors from creemees. from
Shelburne
2026 TOWN MEETING DAY PREVIEW
The Town Budget is the spending and funding plan to provide Williston’s municipal services.
Williston’s proposed town budget for FY 2027 is just over $17 million—a 6.75% increase from the current year. The municipal budget guides service delivery for the next year— from public safety, to road maintenance, to parks and our library, with all administrative functions in between.
Balancing growth, demand, and affordability
What This Means For a Homeowner
The proposed budget would raise $570,000 in new property tax revenue, an increase of $6/month for the median assessed Williston home.
Want to know more?
For more information about the budget and other articles being considered at Town Meeting Day, and to view the Town Report: Visit town.williston.vt.us/townmeeting or stop by the Town Hall.
Additional Budget Details
The proposed budget increase is primarily driven by personnel costs needed to maintain essential town services facing growing demand. Wage and benefit expenses represent approximately two-thirds of the entire budget. Additional factors affecting the budget expenses increase include professional services and overhead costs for service delivery.
Two Fire Department positions were added in late 2025 to address service growth:
40% increase in call volume over five years
25% of the time, multiple calls occur simultaneously
The new Fire positions provide peak staffing during busier periods and are fully funded by ambulance revenue—meaning no additional tax burden. The year to year budget increase is 5.3% when the new Fire positions are not included, given the funding source for the positions is ambulance revenue.
Library Bond
Article 6: Investment in Community Spaces
The Village Library Vibrancy Project proposes expanding/renovating the Library and Village Green. Since the Library’s last expansion nearly 30 years ago, Williston’s population has grown 50% and library visits have increased 92%. Among similar Vermont towns, our Library ranks near the top in use, but near the bottom in size.
What’s Included
• Increased shelving capacity for materials
• Larger, flexible community room for events and programs
• Smaller meeting rooms for study, tutoring, and collaboration
• Revitalized Village Green with outdoor event space and accessible paths
• Traffic safety improvements near Williston Central School
Town Meeting: Monday, March 2nd 7 PM
Williston Central School Auditorium (in-person)
Funding
The project combines $550,000 in existing town funds and $13.9 million in bonds (pending voter approval) with any private fundraising lowering the bond amount.
Tax Impact
Estimated at $120 per year for a median assessed home ($300,000) starting in the 2027 - 2028 tax year. Per year cost will decrease as bond is paid off over 25 years.
Learn more: WillistonLibraryProject.org
Voting at the Armory: Tuesday, March 3rd 7 AM - 7 PM
Early and absentee voting available