The Champlain Valley School Board approved a two-year contract for Superintendent Adam Bunting last Thursday.
The extension takes Bunting’s contract through 2028 and comes after the school board completed a performance review of Bunting’s nearly two-year tenure leading the district. Bunting was promoted to interim superintendent in 2024 after the departure of Rene Sanchez
and named permanent superintendent in the middle of the 20242025 school year. He is the former principal and a student alumnus of CVU High School.
“We think that Adam has done an exemplary job, and we’re really grateful for his efforts for the district,” board chair Meghan Metzler said.
Bunting has spearheaded the district’s development of a “student and community engagement” protocol, an evolution of Sanchez’s efforts at “diversity, equity and inclusion.” It is guided by a framework known in the district as the ICPD Framework, an acronym for student identity, connection,
proficiency and direction.
“That’s been a really extensive undertaking for the past two years,” Metzler said.
The district’s website lists several goals of the initiative: “increased student motivation, academic success, and retention; a school culture rooted in belonging, equity, and restorative justice; stronger community partnerships that support student growth; and empowered educators and engagement facilitators driving meaningful change.”
Metzler explained: “Adam is trying to improve overall student engagement and making sure we can measure and understand how
our students are doing. While things like test scores are really important, it’s also a lot of other things like their identity, their connection and their direction. All those things have to come together to make sure that we have students who are ready for the next chapter of their lives when they leave CVSD.”
Bunting has also led the district through the challenges of staffing cuts, the specter of statewide school district consolidation under Act 73 — which he has spoken out publicly against — and a federal inquiry into the district’s policy of permitting students to participate in sports based on their gender identity.
Vermont State reimagines Williston campus
Master plan seeks to increase campus vitality
BY JASON STARR Observer staff
The Williston campus of Vermont State University is spared building closures recommended in a master plan involving its sister campuses in Lyndon, Castleton, Johnson and Randolph. Instead, the plan recommends ways to give the campus — shoehorned as it is into a former Taft Corners shopping center — a more vital, collegiate feel.
The master plan was commissioned in 2023 after the merger of Vermont State Colleges and Vermont Technical College. It
is the university’s response to declining enrollment and underused infrastructure. It was made public this year through a public records request from
Danville-based publication North Star Monthly, which reported on the plan in February.
“VTSU faces significant challenges because of declining
enrollments, an ageing and oversized physical plant, and a constrained resource base,” the plan states. “The university … seeks to meet this defining
moment by embracing hard decisions through a collaborative process, identifying specific buildings for rightsizing, and devising cost-effective strategies to promote vibrancy and enhance the student experience.”
The master plan recommends decommissioning dozens of buildings across the other campuses. But Williston’s campus, by far the smallest of the five, is not pegged for downsizing. Instead, the plan focuses on making better use of the courtyard at the center of the campus by adding seating areas and landscaping.
“It can be a focus for exterior campus informal activities and gracefully accommodate the daily back-and-forth between buildings,” the plan states.
The plan does describe a
Adam Bunting VTDIGGER FILE PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL
A rendering of a reconfigured Williston campus of Vermont State University, with a welcoming green. COURTESY OF VERMONT STATE UNIVERSITY
A vote of support
Voters participating in last week’s Town Meeting Day dropped off hundreds of cereal boxes, along with some cash, for the Williston Community Food Shelf. The food shelf will hold a similar food drive in this year’s August Primary elections.
OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR
PROPERTY TRANSFERS APRIL 2026
• Virginia Soriano bought a condominium on Chelsea Place from Cheryl Parizo for $460,000.
• Gordon Grant bought a mobile home on Stonehill Road from the Joyce Goldsmith Life Estate for $265,000.
• Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity bought a home on Oak Hill Road from the Nelson A. Lefebvre Revocable Trust for $660,000.
• Sara Barnier bought a home on Hillcrest Lane from Tyler Sullivan for $1.2 million.
• Theogene Bandyatuyaga bought a home on 2 acres on South Brownell Road from NFI Vermont Inc. for $500,000.
• Dale Long bought a condominium on Commons Road from Mandell Chernoff for $482,000.
• Rivers Edge Building Development LLC bought 3 acres on Mountain View Drive from Jacob Glaser for $1.34 million.
• Thomas Gerard Buffo bought a condominium on Cedar Lane from Horizon
Management LLC for $349,000.
• Russell Johnston bought a home on Hanon Drive from Laurence Rutherford for $812,000.
• Jackson Applebaum bought a home on 2 acres on Highlands Drive from the Karp Living Trust for $950,000.
• Nee Warehouse LLC bought a commercial condominium on Leroy Road from Dagesse Farm LLC for $425,000.
• GMG Hangar LLC bought a commercial condominium on Leroy Road from 55 Leroy Road Suite 30 LLC for $425,000.
• Raymond McGuinness bought a condominium on Bittersweet Circle from the Estate of Penny Lane for $546,000.
• Raymond McGuinness bought a condominium on Bittersweet Circle from Edward Costello for $546,000.
• 137 James Brown Drive LLC bought an acre of open land from Duane Merrill & Company for $235,000.
EVENT LISTINGS TO EDITOR@WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM
FRIDAY, MARCH 13
American Red Cross Blood Drive. 8 a.m.-12 p.m. CVU High School main gym. To make an appointment, go to redcrossblood. org and search by zip code, or call 800-7332767.
Education and Enrichment for Everyone lecture. 2-3 p.m. Faith United Methodist Church, South Burlington. Speaker: Elizabeth A. Bundock, Chief Medical Examiner, Vermont Department of Health. www. eeevermont.org.
TUESDAY, MARCH 17
CVSD School Board meeting. 6 p.m. CVU High School. Agenda at www.cvsdvt.org. Williston Selectboard meeting. 7 p.m. Town Hall. Agenda at www.town.williston. vt.us.
Williston Planning Commission meeting. 7 p.m. Town Hall. Agenda at www. town.williston.vt.us.
SATURDAY, MARCH 21
Bill Skiff Story Slam. 6-8 p.m. Williston Central School. Presented by WillistonRichmond Rotary Club. Portal.clubrunner. ca/1453/page/bill-skiff-story-slam.
TUESDAY, MARCH 24
CVSD Celebrate the Arts Night. 5:308:30 p.m. CVU High School.
Williston Development Review Board Annual Growth Management meeting. 7 p.m. Town Hall. Agenda at www.town. williston.vt.us.
SATURDAY, MARCH 28
American Red Cross Blood Drive. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Williston Fire Station, 645 Talcott Rd. To make an appointment, go to redcrossblood.org and search by zip code, or call 800-733-2767.
Around Town
Many are funny, some are moving, and all the short stories are true and personal, shared by
local folks who get on stage for a few minutes to connect with an appreciative audience.
That’s the draw of Williston’s
new tradition, the Bill Skiff Story Slam hosted by the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club. Now in its third year, the story slam serves as a fun community gathering, a place for creative expression open to anyone willing to spin a yarn about their life’s experience, and a tribute to the founder of the club, Bill Skiff, who was known around town as a storyteller extraordinaire.
The event also serves as an important fundraiser for one of the club’s longtime causes, home heating fuel assistance, as well as service projects and grants targeting other local needs.
This year’s event takes place Saturday, March 21 from 6-8 p.m. at the Williston Central School auditorium. The theme is “The Snowstorm,” and judges with just the right credentials will rate the stories on delivery, audience engagement and adherence to the theme. Judges include longtime WCAX
meteorologist Gary Sadowsky, Williston snowplow operator Bernie Peine, and local author Bill Schubart.
Fans of NPR’s “The Moth” story hour will recognize the format. Attendees can plan to tell a story or just come for the fun of listening.
Tickets can be purchased online by visiting the club’s website at portal.clubrunner. ca/1453/page/bill-skiff-storyslam, or at the door (or use the QR code in the ad on page 14 in this week’s issue of the Observer.) Refreshments are included in the ticket price.
Applications open for Lions Club scholarships
The Williston Area Lions Club is currently accepting
applications for its annual Herb & Rita Goodrich Memorial Scholarships for graduating seniors at CVU High School.
These $1,000 scholarships have been doubled from last year thanks to fundraising support from the communities the club serves: Williston, St. George and Hinesburg.
The scholarships are named in honor of the club’s longest-serving members and can be used for any post-graduation education expenses.
To apply, email a copy of the CVU Unified Scholarship Application to club president Greg Paulman at greg. paulman@yahoo.com, or call (802) 777-7798 for instructions.
This year’s Bill Skiff Story Slam is set for March 21 at WCS.
Addiction recovery shelter opens in Burlington
BY CARLY BERLIN VTDigger
A new shelter has opened in Burlington for unhoused people seeking recovery from addiction.
The Bridges Recovery Shelter will be the first of its kind in Chittenden County and among just a few in the state. It will be operated by the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity in a building owned by the Howard Center, a site that used to host a detox facility.
“We know there is a real gap in our system. People complete residential treatment and have few stable and recovery-focused places to go. Others are working hard on their sobriety in environments that make that work even harder,” said Sandy McGuire, CEO of the Howard Center, a mental health and substance use services nonprofit. “This recovery shelter was designed to meet those needs.”
For many people experiencing homelessness in Vermont, the first stop off the streets is a “low barrier” shelter that lacks strict rules around sobriety. That model offers a critical option to get people who use drugs indoors, but these low-barrier settings can be difficult places to stay sober.
“Witnessing someone who is trying very hard to maintain recovery in an environment that is just not as supportive as it could be to them, is absolutely heartbreaking,” said Sarah Russell, emergency services director for CVOEO.
CVOEO plans to take referrals from other shelters for the 10 to 12 beds at Bridges, in order to open up spaces at low-barrier shelters for people leaving unsheltered homelessness.
The Bridges shelter will be supported by clinicians on site, as well as regular recovery group meetings and peer-topeer support systems.
The shelter is awaiting certification from the Vermont Alliance for Recovery Residences, which uses national standards to try and ensure a uniform code of ethics and quality of services in recovery housing. The Bridges shelter is teed up to be the second certified recovery shelter in the state; the other is run by Good Samaritan Haven in Barre Town.
Operators of recovery housing facilities often have to face the thorny challenge of tenants relapsing. If a shelter guest is found using substances at the Bridges shelter, staff will first work closely with the person to understand their situation, said CVOEO Executive Director Paul Dragon. If the behavior is repeated, employees will aim to place the person back into a low-barrier setting, at least temporarily.
“We are going to make sure we don’t put people back on the street, and then they can have an opportunity to come back in when they’re ready,” Dragon said. The state Agency of Human Services provided about $879,000 to support the shelter’s first year, according to Dragon. The city of Burlington contributed $104,000.
State officials and some lawmakers have argued that Vermont must open more specialized shelters like this one, as the state tries to ramp down the use of motel rooms for people experiencing homelessness.
This story was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.
The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity and Howard Center opened the Bridges Recovery Shelter for people experiencing homelessness and substanceuse disorder in downtown Burlington on Monday.
Howard Center CEO Sandy McGuire, left. PHOTOS BY ZOE MCDONALD / VERMONT PUBLIC
New National Guard leader takes helm
Harder confirms hundreds of guard members deployed in Iran war
BY EMMA GREEN VTDigger
On a stage in South Burlington flanked by a Black Hawk helicopter and an F-35, Maj. Gen. Henry “Hank” Harder took command of the Vermont National Guard on Saturday.
The ceremony took place in a cavernous metal hangar at the 158th Fighter Wing, marking Harder’s assumption of leadership from Maj. Gen. Gregory C. Knight, who is retiring after seven years as adjutant general.
Harder assumes leadership of the roughly 2,700-member guard as the force faces heightened attention about overseas deployments, including confirmation that Vermont Air National Guard members are participating in the U.S. war in Iran. Harder was confirmed by the Legislature in February.
Saturday’s ceremony was marked by nostalgia and reflection, as Knight, Harder and Gov. Phil Scott addressed a crowd of about 500 people. A video recapping Knight’s time as leader of the guard drew tears from some in the crowd.
The day was shadowed by the perilous position of the hundreds of Vermont guard members deployed to the war in Iran.
“I want to recognize those who cannot be with us today,”
an interview at the ceremony. “Especially when we’re at war, I wanted to be here to show my support.”
In an interview after the ceremony, Harder said a few hundred members of the Vermont guard have been deployed to Iran, but he couldn’t comment on the legality of the conflict.
“Our job is to be ready for any missions, so we do that. And then we rely on the executive branch, and the legislative branch and the judicial branch, to make sure that we’re doing missions that are appropriate.”
Nancy Bandman & Bill Ennen wish to extend grateful thanks and appreciation
Stephanie Hersey, Oasis Day Spa 300 Cornerstone Drive, Williston and to
Chief Aaron Collette Lt. Tony Simanskas FFII/EMT Jim Wells Williston Fire Department
for their care and concern after Nancy’s fall in January 2026.
Harder said in his remarks at the ceremony, “many of them in harm’s way.”
Knight also called out deployed members of the guard and their families in his remarks, as did Scott.
“None of us can predict where this will end,” Knight said.
Members were previously deployed to the Caribbean as part of an operation against Venezuela.
Vermont’s federal congressional delegation has decried the war in Iran, arguing that it is unconstitutional. A survey released this week indicated that 64% of Vermont respondents opposed the U.S. attack on Iran.
“I wanted to be here because I know Vermonters and families of service members are concerned that we don’t know the scope of this mission, or the reasons, at this time.” Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., said in
Harder said he didn’t know when guard members deployed to Iran would return home.
“While we don’t have control of them while they’re out of the state of Vermont, we can certainly leverage our resources for the families, and we’ve been doing that,” Harder said. “We’re supporting them from afar, and we know what it’s like. We look forward to them completing their mission and coming home.”
Harder previously served as assistant adjutant general for air before retiring from that role in August 2025. Earlier in his career, he flew combat missions in Iraq with the guard’s 134th Fighter Squadron.
Knight led the guard through a period that included pandemic and flood response missions, overseas deployments and major infrastructure investments at guard facilities across the state.
Vermont National Guard members stand in formation during a change-of-command ceremony in which Maj. Gen. Henry “Hank” Harder was sworn in as Vermont’s adjutant general.
PHOTO BY EMMA GREEN/VTDIGGER
Hank Harder
PHOTO COURTESY OF VERMONT NATIONAL GUARD
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Vermont’s economic moment is now
BY AMY SPEAR
As Vermont lawmakers return to Montpelier following Town Meeting break, the legislative session enters the phase where ideas must become decisions. For Vermont’s economy, those decisions carry real consequences.
The first half of the session is often defined by hearings, proposals and policy exploration. The second half is where priorities are tested and choices become outcomes.
Over the past several years, Vermonters have done something important. We have invested significant time and energy into planning for the state’s economic future. The Vermont Futures Project’s Economic Action Plan brought together the perspectives of more than 5,000 Vermonters and established measurable goals for workforce growth, housing development and long-term economic opportunity.
That effort produced something Vermont has historically lacked: a shared economic roadmap grounded in data.
EASTER
But a roadmap alone does not move the state forward. Vermont has long excelled at identifying challenges, but progress requires moving beyond epi-
Over 17,000
Vermonters are projected to retire annually this decade, while far fewer young workers are entering the labor force.
sodic decision making toward sustained economic strategy.
The question now is whether Vermont will translate that planning into policies capable of addressing the economic pressures businesses and families are experiencing today.
Those pressures are real.
Nationally, the economic outlook entering March reflects cautious resilience paired with continued uncertainty. Inflation remains above the Federal
Reserve’s long-term target; interest rates remain elevated, and many industries report difficulty finding workers while managing rising costs.
For Vermont, these national dynamics are amplified by structural challenges closer to home.
Recent economic competitiveness data place Vermont near the bottom nationally on measures including economic momentum, long term outlook and workforce demographics. These rankings underscore the structural challenges the state must address to strengthen affordability and economic opportunity.
Demographics alone present a stark reality. Over 17,000 Vermonters are projected to retire annually this decade, while far fewer young workers are entering the labor force. To maintain economic stability, Vermont must add roughly 13,500 workers each year through population growth and workforce expansion.
At the same time, housing shortages continue to constrain that growth. The state will need
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tens of thousands of additional housing units to support the workforce Vermont’s economy requires.
When businesses cannot find workers, expansion stalls. When housing is unavailable or unaffordable, recruitment becomes nearly impossible. When regulatory timelines stretch into years instead of months, investment flows elsewhere.
Employers across Vermont are experiencing these pressures simultaneously.
There have been encouraging signs of progress. Conversations about health care affordability, housing infrastructure and workforce recruitment reflect a growing recognition that Vermont’s affordability challenges are interconnected.
Vermonters are confronting rising property taxes and education costs that are intensifying the broader affordability conversation across communities. Recognizing the challenge, however, is not the same as solving it. If Vermont is serious about improving affordability and strengthening economic opportunity, several principles should guide the decisions ahead.
First, Vermont must strengthen fiscal predictability. State spending has grown significantly in recent years, placing pressure on the tax base that supports essential services. Businesses and families alike need stability and transparency in fiscal policy to make long term decisions about investment, hiring and where to build their future.
Second, Vermont must modernize the regulatory systems that shape housing and economic development. Employers consistently report that permitting timelines and regulatory complexity increase costs and slow projects that communities need.
Third, Vermont must confront the reality of demographic change. A shrinking working age population is not a temporary challenge, but a structural shift that will shape Vermont’s economic capacity for decades. Addressing it requires coordinated strategies to recruit new residents, retain graduates and expand housing and
Excessive addition
I am writing to express my concerns regarding the recent vote to approve a $14.5 million addition to the Williston library. While I am not opposed to improving our library, the cost of this project is excessive.
To put this figure into perspective, $14.5 million could purchase 29 homes valued at $500,000 each in our town. It is difficult to understand how a single addition reached such a high valuation.
If voters had rejected this initial proposal, the town would have been encouraged to present a more fiscally responsible plan. This negotiation process is essential to
Spear
opportunity for the next generation of Vermonters.
These priorities reflect the areas the Vermont Chamber identified at the start of the legislative session and continue to guide our work in Montpelier as the session moves into its second half. These issues are not simply business concerns.
When businesses grow, they create jobs, support local tax bases, and sustain the services
Letter Policy
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Please include your name, town or city where you live and a daytime phone number (which we won’t print) so we can verify you wrote the letter.
The deadline is Monday at noon for letters to be printed in Thursday’s paper.
Email: editor@ willistonobserver.com or mail to Williston Observer, P.O Box 1401, Williston, Vt. 05495
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
ensure that we receive the facilities we need without overtaxing our residents.
Unfortunately, by voting yes, we have accepted a significant financial burden that will inevitably lead to higher taxes and rents.
I believe this outcome reflects a lack of common sense regarding our town’s spending. We must be more diligent in the future to ensure that public projects are reasonable and affordable for all taxpayers.
David Martel Williston
Still essential
March is Long Covid Awareness
communities rely on, from schools and infrastructure to the small-town economies that define Vermont’s identity.
The Vermont Chamber of Commerce works to bring these economic realities into policy discussions every day in Montpelier. Representing employers of all sizes, industries and regions of the state, the Chamber’s role is to ensure that the perspective of Vermont’s business community is part of the decision-making process.
Vermont has done the planning. The data is clear. The
Month, a reminder that, for many Vermonters, the effects of the pandemic are not over.
After nearly 30 years in education — including 17 years in Head Start and time supervising early childhood programs — I returned to the classroom in 2020 when educators were called essential. We implemented health screenings, masking, improved ventilation and provided access to testing. Protecting staff and children was treated as a shared responsibility.
By fall 2022, much of that infrastructure quietly disappeared. Mask mandates ended, testing became less available and messaging shifted to “the pandemic is over.” Classrooms stayed open — which
goals are defined.
The weeks ahead will determine whether Vermont translates that planning into policy and whether those policies lead to the action necessary to strengthen affordability, competitiveness and opportunity across the state.
Vermont’s future is not predetermined. It will be shaped by the policy choices made in Montpelier in the weeks ahead.
Amy Spear is president of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.
families depend on — but conversations about cumulative exposure risk largely stopped.
At the same time, staffing instability grew. New educators often exhausted their limited leave before accruing enough time, especially when repeated illness or caring for sick children was involved. That created pressure to work while unwell in order to maintain employment — a difficult position in settings where exposure is daily and repeated.
Research now shows that a significant percentage of children and adults experience prolonged symptoms after Covid infection, and that reinfections may increase that risk. Long Covid is not rare, and its effects can interfere with work, school
and daily life.
I now live with Long Covid. I also know educators with underlying health conditions who continue working because their families depend on their income and health insurance.
This is not a call to close classrooms. It is a call to remember what we demonstrated was possible: attention to ventilation, accessible testing during surges, clear exclusion guidance and adequate sick leave. Protecting early educators helps protect the stability families and employers rely on.
If educators are essential, they should be protected as such.
Ylan Roy Williston
The following Williston and St. George students, listed alphabetically, received academic honors in higher education for the fall 2025 semester.
Emma Allaire was named to the President’s List at Bentley University.
Jacob Armstrong was named to the Dean’s List at the University of New England.
Ava Barron was named to the Dean’s List at the University of Connecticut.
Alison Bates was named to the Dean’s List at St. Lawrence University.
Jeremiah Bates was named to the Dean’s List at Champlain College.
Kaylee Bliss was named to the Trustees’ List at Champlain College.
Emma Brebion was named to the Dean’s List at Vermont State University.
Karina Bushweller was named to the Dean’s List at St. Lawrence University.
Corey Caulfield was named to the Dean’s List at Community College of Vermont.
Jasmine Counter was named to the Dean’s List at Roger Williams University.
ACADEMIC HONORS
Milo Dippel was named to the Dean’s List at Vermont State University.
Ashley Eaton was named to the Dean’s List at Vermont State University.
Elizabeth Fisher was named to the Dean’s List at St. Michael’s College.
Leo Fluery was named to the Dean’s List at Community College of Vermont.
Flavia Foote was named to the Student Honor’s List at Community College of Vermont.
Brodee Fournier was named to the Dean’s List at Vermont State University.
Shane Geraldez was named to the Dean’s List at St. Michael’s College.
Aidan Greer was named to the Online Dean’s List at Champlain College.
McKenna Griswold was named to the President’s List at Vermont State University.
Ada Jones was named to the Dean’s List at St. Michael’s College.
Braedon Jones was named to the Dean’s List at St. Michael’s College.
Eli Jones was named to the Dean’s List at Vermont State University.
Kaitlyn Jovell was named to the Dean’s List at the University of Connecticut.
Leigh Kerbaugh was named to the Dean’s List at the College of the Holy Cross.
Amber Lacroix was named to the Student Honor’s List at Community College of Vermont.
Chase Leonard was named to the Dean’s List at St. Lawrence University.
Carmella Martone was named to the Dean’s List at Clark University.
Romae Martone was named to the Dean’s List at Community College of Vermont.
Thomas Mathon was named to the President’s List at Southern New Hampshire University.
Kaiden McClure was named to the Dean’s List at the University of Tampa.
David Merchant was named to the Presidential Honor List at the New York Institute of Technology.
Alexandria Montgomery was named to the Dean’s List at the University of Connecticut.
Norah Munn was named to the Dean’s List at Quinnipiac University.
Noah Musgrave was named to the Dean’s List at the University of Tennessee.
Taylor Norris was named to the Student Honor’s List at Community College of Vermont.
Diego Ortiz was named to the Dean’s List at Community College of Vermont.
Tomas Peach was named to the Online President’s List at Champlain College.
Jack Richburg was named to the Dean’s List at Springfield College.
Christopher Robinson was named to the Dean’s List at St. Michael’s College.
Abigail Rock was named to the Dean’s List at Lasell University
Kinsley Sampson was named to the Dean’s List at St. Lawrence University.
Grace Steinman was named to the Dean’s List at St. Michael’s College.
Samuel Thurston was named to the Student Honor’s List at Community College of Vermont.
Jacob Underhill was named to the Dean’s List at Norwich University.
Abigail Usher was named to the Dean’s List at Vermont State University.
Lauren Vaughan was named to the Dean’s List at Roger Williams University.
Renee Wolny was named to the President’s List at Southern New Hampshire University.
The benefits of late-winter pruning
BY DEBORAH J. BENOIT Special to the Observer
Late winter is often the best time to prune deciduous trees and shrubs while they’re still dormant in your garden.
Pruning during dormancy poses less stress on trees and shrubs than when they’re actively growing. The absence of foliage allows unobstructed observation of their structure. It’s easier to identify damage and crossing limbs and to assess their overall health.
Look for broken, damaged, crossed or diseased branches to be removed. Check for limbs that meet the trunk at a narrow (less than 45-degree) angle. They’re more likely to be weak and susceptible to breaking.
Consider whether branches should be thinned, making foliage less dense and allowing more light in and better air circulation to help minimize foliar diseases. Once you’ve determined what needs to be done for the plant’s health, consider whether pruning might improve or maintain shape or height.
While many trees and shrubs benefit from late winter pruning, some don’t. Avoid late winter pruning of plants that bloom in early spring, such as lilacs, azaleas and forsythia — or you’ll see far fewer flowers this year. They set buds soon after flowering and are best pruned right after their flowers fade.
You’ll need some basic tools for pruning. Bypass-style hand pruners are useful for trimming small branches. Loppers come in various sizes and can handle branches up to 2 inches in diameter. A pruning saw works best for larger branches.
Be sure your tools are clean and sharp. You’re more likely to be injured by a dull blade, and it’s more difficult to make a clean cut. A dirty blade could spread disease (even in winter).
Don’t forget to wear eye protection and gloves for safety.
Take the time to assess the shrub or tree and decide on an end result before you make that first cut. Prune judiciously. You can always remove additional pieces, but it’s impossible to undo a careless or excessive cut.
Select a branch and locate a bud to identify a node near where you want to make the cut. Prune
just above the node (bud), cutting downward at a 45-degree angle. This helps avoid moisture accumulation that could encourage disease.
If removing an entire branch, cut outside the branch collar (the area of raised bark where the
(Pruning) gets you back into the garden, and isn’t that what we’re all dreaming of in the waning days of winter?
branch emerges), but don’t leave a large stub.
Disinfect pruning tools between cuts. This is particularly important when removing diseased parts. Don’t compost diseased prunings.
Prune thoughtfully. Plan your cuts. Avoid cutting straight across
the top of the whole plant in an attempt to control growth. Often referred to as “topping,” this can encourage fast, weak growth and damage the tree or shrub’s health.
To avoid stressing the plant, don’t remove more than one-third of a shrub or tree.
If pruning to rejuvenate a mature shrub, select no more than one-third of the largest and oldest branches and cut them back to the ground. Reduce height by pruning the remaining branches by one-third, back to a bud. Do the same for the next two years.
If you’re still wondering why you should prune in late winter, consider this: it gets you outdoors and doesn’t involve shoveling. Better yet, it gets you back into the garden, and isn’t that what we’re all dreaming of in the waning days of winter?
Deborah Benoit is a UVM Extension Master Gardener who volunteers as a garden columnist and participates in Bennington County Extension Master Gardener Chapter activities.
Late winter is a great time to prune most shrubs and trees. Look for limbs that cross or rub others to remove.
PHOTO BY DEBRA HELEBA
An inside look at Beta’s big plans for Vermont
Electric aircraft company poised to impact Vermont’s economy, workforce
BY THEO WELLS-SPACKMAN VTDigger
Beta Technologies opened its nearly 200,000-square-foot aircraft manufacturing facility at the Burlington International Airport less than three years ago. The company is already bursting at the seams and planning to knock down walls.
The building is literally running out of desks — its finance team has been relocated to a balcony overlooking the production floor, amid snaking metal pipes and some carefully placed house plants. And in the next 18 months, the company plans to roughly double its Vermont workforce, adding 1,000 new positions in its bid to become a dominant player in the nascent electric plane industry.
In a recent tour of the facility with VTDigger, Blain Newton, Beta’s chief information officer, gestured toward a wall that will soon come down in order to make room for the firm’s burgeoning staff. Leadership also plans to more than double the number of planes the company can produce by the early 2030s.
Beta, Newton said, wants to make Vermont a “superpower” in the expanding electric flight industry.
Newton said Beta has been offered “hundreds of millions” in incentives to move its operations elsewhere, but has declined. The company isn’t going anywhere, he said, and won’t be a flash in the pan. Vermont-born CEO Kyle Clark has long cited personal commitment to the state, in addition to Beta’s advantageous access to airport facilities and support from Vermont officials, as a primary reason for staying put for the long haul.
“This is a 100-year company,” Newton said.
State leaders are hopeful that Beta’s expansion will further strengthen Vermont’s workforce and economy.
“Beta Technologies’ growth has already been transformative,” said Lindsay Kurrle, secretary of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development. “This is potentially another IBM success story.”
IBM, a technology company
that became the largest private employer in Vermont during the second half of the 20th century, left the state in 2015. Despite significant job losses associated with the transition, semiconductor maker GlobalFoundries still employs nearly 2,000 Vermonters in the firm’s former facility.
Beta’s billion-dollar arrival on the stock market in November made it one of a small handful of publicly traded companies in Vermont. It’s also one of a few main frontrunners in a competitive niche of aviation, vying for public, private and military development contracts.
The company, founded by Clark in 2017, is working toward one primary technological goal: making an electric plane that can take off vertically. Having already test-flown versions of the aircraft over 100,000 miles, the company is readying itself to begin selling planes to the public.
Ramping up production to meet rising demand is central to the company’s plans, though experts say the facility at the edge of the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport tarmac is already ahead of the competitive curve.
Yet the company faces stiff headwinds. Beta has still not received the Federal Aviation Administration’s approval for most of its designs, and competitors are racing to snap up major contracts first. And operating costs combined with a number of financial transitions saw the company report a net loss of nearly $750 million last year in its most recent financial update
The jury is out on Wall Street, too, about whether the newly public company can pull off its ambitious vision. Investors have grown skittish lately about the risks of cutting-edge aerospace technology, according to Chris Pierce, the primary analyst covering Beta for Needham and Company, which was among the underwriters for the company’s IPO. The company’s stock fell by over 20% in February and nearly 50% since November, hitting a new low in early February.
Beta also took a potential reputational hit after the U.S.
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Engineers examine components next to an electric aircraft at the Beta Technologies manufacturing facility in South Burlington.
PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER
Beta selected for federal program, set for medical flights this year
‘Advances
our business model by more than a year’
BY THEO WELLS-SPACKMAN VTDigger
Department of Justice released files appearing to link company board member Dean Kamen with Jeffrey Epstein. Kamen has vigorously denied wrongdoing but resigned from his position at the company last week “to avoid potential distractions.”
But there are lights on the horizon. The company was recently approved for a new federal pilot program, allowing it to bypass certain FAA certification steps, and use its aircraft for some commercial and medical cargo sooner than expected.
Some big players have also made bets on the company, including asset management behemoth BlackRock, General Electric and Amazon’s climate fund, which holds 11.7 million shares in the company.
‘BUILT FOR SCALE’
Analysts say that Beta has taken a somewhat different tack compared with its competition as it seeks to get off the ground.
The company “built for scale right away,” Pierce said in an interview last week, a strategy that is “unusual” for this niche of the economy. Similar companies have ordinarily tended to concentrate their resources into achieving a near-final design in a smaller workshop setting.
“You could say that Beta is ahead, because they’re building planes, right now, in their high capacity factory,” Pierce said.
While competitors in the electric aircraft industry, like Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation and Vertical Aerospace are expanding rapidly too, Pierce said they
PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER
have yet to prove their facilities are equal to Beta in terms of capacity and readiness. None have begun producing aircraft from their primary large-scale facility yet except the Vermont company, Pierce said.
For Newton, getting planes built as soon as possible was
In the next 18 months, the company plans to roughly double its Vermont workforce.
non-negotiable.
“I think they’re missing a trick in a couple of ways,” he said of competitors.
Newton said Beta’s early assembly work on the production floor has allowed engineers to address more practical problems sooner. Walking past a plane under construction, he indicated several places on the body where red tape had been placed as a message to the design team: “Somebody come look at this, and tell us if it’s okay.”
And since the vast majority of the company’s engineers live and work in Vermont, he said, that’s an easy conversation to have.
“We chose (the) strategic value (of) having the person who designed the part a mile down the road,” he said.
Though Newton said the company’s current supply chain has left Beta “good for the first couple of years of production,” parts of that network are “expanding very significantly.” He hopes to bring more components closer to, or
Beta Technologies announced Monday that the company has been selected for a federal pilot program that will allow the South Burlingtonbased electric airplane maker and its partners to begin medical flights to and from Vermont this year.
In a call with investors Monday morning, Kyle Clark, the company’s founder and CEO, called the initiative a “huge opportunity” that was effectively “advancing our entire business model by more than a year.”
Though the company
reported a net loss of nearly $750 million last year in its financial update on Monday, Beta’s stock jumped by over 10% later in the day for its highest close in over a month.
The pilot program was created by the Trump administration last year and is designed to fasttrack selected electric aircraft through the rigorous Federal Aviation Administration approval process.
Beta will work with Metro Aviation and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to operate “medical and cargo logistics” flights between Vermont and New York, Monday’s statement said. New York is the “lead state” on the project.
Metro Aviation, a medical helicopter transportation company, already flies medical equipment and cargo back and
forth across Lake Champlain. Beta was approved for seven of the eight projects within the program that the company applied for, leadership said in the statement. Projects will take place in at least 10 states.
“Congratulations to the great American innovators behind each of these exciting pilot programs,” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said in a statement Monday.
Selection for the program will also be a boon to Beta’s electric aircraft charging network, which has expanded across much of the eastern United States, according to company leadership.
“This advances our strategy to maintain ownership of the network that controls the flow of energy into electric aviation,” Clark said Monday.
50 HALFMOON LANE WILLISTON 50 HALFMOON LANE WILLISTON
Blain Newton, chief information officer at Beta Technologies, explains a detail of the cockpit of an electric aircraft at the company’s manufacturing facility in South Burlington on Feb. 12.
continued from page 11
even into, Vermont.
The company already runs a battery facility in St. Albans, which allows testing and development to occur just miles from the business’ main campus. In the initial years of Beta’s expansion, Newton said it’s been “huge to have that so close.”
The company wants to build on its advantage.
Right now, the production floor’s size allows for a maximum output of about 300 planes per year, with a short-term goal of six per month by the end of this year. After the expansion, construction for which could begin this spring, the facility should be able to complete about 700 aircraft each year, Newton said.
In a December earnings call, Clark said the company had received 891 aircraft orders — many of which come from commercial airlines and charter companies — valued in total at around $3.5 billion.
Company leadership has said the airplanes may in part be used as short-distance private “air taxis” but are also intended to transport medical personnel and cargo.
Pierce said he believes a best-case scenario for Beta in coming years would also include significant orders from various military customers. The company has positioned itself to try to cash in on such opportunities in a number of areas, and already has a small contract with Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the U.S. military’s emerging technologies agency.
Beta released a military-focused rendering of its flagship aircraft design, “ALIA,” in the lead-up to its stock exchange debut. A “Defense” page on the company’s website includes profiles of five retired U.S. generals that make up Beta’s Defense Advisory Board.
“We expect multiple military branches to use ALIA defense (aircraft) in their operations,” company leadership said in filings with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission last fall.
Clark also met with European NATO leadership recently, he said in the earnings call.
“We are right there in the conversation,” he said of potential contracts emerging from that relationship.
‘THE FIRST DOLLAR’
Meanwhile, Beta has become one of the largest and fastest-growing private employers in Vermont, which experts say could have ripple effects across the state’s economy.
Frank Cioffi, president of the Burlington area regional development corporation, said the company’s impact on the region’s economy has already been “tremendously significant.”
Beta’s growth might pave the way for a partial resurgence of the state’s manufacturing sector, which has shrunk by more than 50% statewide (though not in excess of national trends) since IBM’s heyday in the 1990s, Cioffi said.
Kurrle, who is also the state’s former labor commissioner, said Vermont jobs in transportation manufacturing tend to pay roughly one-third better than the statewide average salary. It is a difference that
will trickle through to entire communities, she said, as employees begin “turning around and spending their money.”
“These are significant jobs for Vermonters,” she said.
An entry-level employee at Beta could expect to start at between $26 and $32 hourly, while engineers can earn an annual salary of well over $100,000. No portion of Beta’s staff is unionized, a company spokesperson said.
Cioffi added that manufacturing employers like Beta that export goods play another major role: They connect Vermont’s finances with cash flow outside the state.
“They bring the first dollar into the Vermont economy before it starts to multiply,” Cioffi said of such outfits.
And importantly, he said, Beta is also “leading the way” in connecting with the next generation of Vermont’s workforce.
Roughly 75% of the 300 hires Beta has made over the last few months have been Vermonters, a company spokesperson said.
Newton added that one of the company’s goals is to “capture” the “brain drain” that sees highly qualified Vermonters leave the state for work.
Beta Workforce Development
Specialist Sarah Deshaw, a graduate of the University of Vermont, said the company has done outreach across the state that focuses on pre-professional programs.
Beta operates an academic “coop” with UVM’s Grossman School of Business that allows students to gain work experience at the company as part of their degree, Deshaw said. The company has also retained 92 of its interns, Deshaw said, of whom about 35 are UVM graduates and roughly 45 are Vermontborn young professionals who attended college elsewhere.
The company participates in the U.S. Department of Defense’s Skillbridge program, which gives people nearing an exit from the military an option to develop skills elsewhere in the workforce.
“That’s enabled a lot of Vermonters who’d been in the service to come back,” Deshaw said.
Younger students have remained a focus, too.
Last year, Beta took its mobile flight simulator to all 17 Vermont high school technical education centers, according to Deshaw. A number of schools have also participated in curricula Beta created around composite metal manufacturing, one of the company’s primary points of focus. Kits for teachers included scrap materials from the South Burlington production floor.
Such exposure is particularly helpful for students who want to join the workforce immediately after high school, which Deshaw emphasized is a legitimate pathway for those seeking an entry-level position at Beta.
“They have carbon fiber and composites experience on their resume,” Deshaw said of the many students who have applied for internships after passing through such programs. “They’re going to the top of the stack.”
Kurrle underlined how much is at stake for Vermont in Beta’s ability to execute its plans.
“If their plans come to fruition the way they’ve laid them out … we’re going to see transformation,” she said.
A team meets on the floor of the Beta Technologies manufacturing facility in South Burlington. PHOTOS BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER
left to right: One of many taps start to flow on a spring day in the Pidgeon’s sugarbush on Pumpkin Hill in Williston. Blue sap lines crisscross the Pidgeon’s sugarbush funneling the sap dripping from the taps into a main feed line as the Vermont sugaring season starts in earnest. The sap from thousands of taps pours into the holding tank at Yandow’s Sugar Tree Maple Farm on Bradley Lane in Williston.
CENTER, left to right: Mark Yandow checks the specific gravity of the maple syrup to verify that it meets Vermont’s standards. Steam pours from the stacks of Yandow’s Sugar Tree Maple Farm as they start their first boil of the season on Monday.
BOTTOM, left to right: Amy Yandow feeds the fire burning under an evaporator. The maple sap boils in Yandow’s evaporator until it reaches the proper sugar content for the desired grade of syrup.
TOP,
Dorothy Alling Memorial Library hours:
• Monday and Wednesday: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Visit www.damlvt.org to register for programs. Need help? Call 878-4918 or email daml@ damlvt.org.
YOUTH PROGRAMS
Children in fourth grade and younger must be supervised by someone over 16 years of age.
STORYTIME
Tuesdays, March 17 and 24.
Drop in for stories, songs and fun.
BABY TIME
Wednesday, March 18, 10:30-11 a.m. Suggested ages 0-18 months. Enjoy gentle literacy, bonding and socializing activities.
AFTER SCHOOL CRAFT
Wednesday, March 18, 2-3 p.m. Paint a wooden trinket to take home.
MUSIC AND PLAYTIME
Thursdays, March 19 and 26, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Drop in for music, and stay to play.
ELEMENTARY DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
Saturday, March 22, 1-2 p.m.
A mini session of D&D for children ages 7-10. No prior experience required. Please register each individual child who plans to participate. Adults should expect to stay and help their campaigner.
TEEN GAME NIGHT
Monday, March 23, 5-6 p.m. Ages 12-18. Drop in and have fun with different Switch games at the
Story Slam
library. Bring your own Switch controllers, or use the library’s.
AFTER SCHOOL STEAM FUN ACTIVITY
Wednesday, March 25, 2:15-3 p.m. Make a moving paper-cup bot using small solar panels, batteries and more.
MULTI-AGE PROGRAMS
READ TO A DOG (LOLA)
Thursday, March 26, 3:304:30 p.m. Call to sign up for a 10-minute session to read to (or hang out with) Lola the therapy dog.
ADULT PROGRAMS
For online programs or to join a book club, email daml@damlvt.org.
TEA CLUB: DA HONG PAU OOLONG
Stop by for a free sample while supplies last.
ADULT MEDITATION (ONLINE)
Friday, March 13 and 20, 1212:30 p.m. Join our guided meditation to relax and re-center.
MAH-JONGG
Friday, March 13 and 20, 1-3 p.m. All skill levels welcome.
FRENCH CONVERSATION
Saturday, March 14, 10:45 a.m.-12 p.m. Drop in and brush up on your language skills.
BOOK CLUB BUFFET (ONLINE)
Tuesday, March 17, 12:301:30 p.m. “The Liar’s Club” by Mary Karr.
COOK THE BOOK: WILLISTON HISTORY COOKBOOKS
Wednesday, March 18, 12-1 p.m. Take a deep and tasty dive into the Williston Historical Society’s collection of local group cookbooks. Stop in to browse these books and copy a recipe to bring to our potluck.
SPANISH CONVERSATION (ONLINE)
Wednesday, March 18, 5-6 p.m. All skill levels welcome.
VERMONT READS: VT HUMANITIES BOOK TALK (HYBRID EVENT)
READER’S ROUNDTABLE
Tuesday, March 24, 12:301:30 p.m. “The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore.
CURRENT EVENTS (HYBRID)
Wednesday, March 25, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Drop in to discuss a variety of topics with community members.
FLOATATION/VIBROACOUSTIC THERAPY TALK
Wednesday, March 25, 6-7 p.m. Are you looking for a way to de-stress, relax and relieve physical pain? Justin Morgan-Pawmet of Float Away, a new local wellness spa, is offering a talk on the benefits of this therapy for those with chronic pain conditions as well as those dealing with stress and mental fatigue.
Wednesday, March 18, 6:30-8 p.m. Join us for a book discussion of this year’s Vermont Reads selection, “The Light Pirate.” This discussion will be facilitated by Rachael Cohen. All are welcome.
Meet the Marsupials
You don’t have to travel all the way to Australia or South America to see marsupials. Many of them can be observed at zoos in the Northern Hemisphere.
Marsupials (mar-SOO-pee-uhls) are mammals that carry their babies in a pouch on the mother’s abdomen. This week, The Mini Page learns more about these unusual animals. At birth
When a marsupial is born, it is hairless and weighs less than an ounce. It crawls into the mother’s pouch and attaches itself to her teat, where it nurses and grows until it can live on its own, usually for several months. Even after a joey, or baby marsupial, ventures out from the pouch, it returns there to sleep and when there is danger.
Kangaroos
Kangaroos are part of the macropod family. There are four species of large kangaroos: the red kangaroo (largest marsupial in the world), eastern gray kangaroo, western gray kangaroo and antilopine kangaroo. These are all found in Australia.
Other macropods include tree kangaroos, wallaroos, pademelons, quokkas and rat kangaroos. These comprise about 60 species. Kangaroos are the only large mammals that hop on two feet to move around. The large red kangaroo can hop up to about 40 mph.
Try ’n’ Find
Kangaroos are herbivores, or vegetation eaters. They eat grasses, shrubs and fungi. A group of kangaroos is called a mob
Although many of kangaroos’ original predators are now extinct, they can be threatened by dingoes, foxes, feral, or wild, cats, and domestic and feral dogs.
Koalas
Koalas may look like bears, but they are not. Their closest relatives are wombats. They are found only in Australia, along the eastern and southern coasts.
Koalas spend most of their lives in trees and move around at night. Their only food is the leaves of eucalyptus trees. They may sleep for 20 hours a day.
Koalas live to be 13 to 18 years old in the wild. They have few predators, including dingoes, pythons and some birds. Through their lives, their chewing teeth wear down, and eventually they are unable to eat.
Wombats
Wombats are well known for the long tunnels they burrow with their teeth and front feet. They are native to Australia. The female has a pouch that faces backward so it does not fill with dirt when she is burrowing. Wombat scat, or poop, is cube-shaped.
that remind us of marsupials are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
Tasmanian devils
You may know Taz, the cartoon character, from Looney Toons cartoons, but Tasmanian devils are real animals.
In the wild, they are found only on the island of Tasmania, just off the southeastern tip of Australia.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Tasmanian devils are classified as endangered. This means they are likely to become extinct in their native homes.
Tasmanian devils are about the size of a small dog. Unlike many other marsupials, Tasmanian devils are carnivores: They hunt prey and eat carrion, or dead animals. They have the strongest bite strength relative to their body size of any mammalian carnivore. One of their favorite prey is wombats. Devils have a bad odor and a loud screech. Their black fur and fierce teeth give them a frightening appearance.
activewild.com/list-of-marsupials
bit.ly/3M8sE35 At the library:
“Spotlight on Nature: Kangaroo”
Mini Jokes
Kyle: What do you call a lazy baby kangaroo? Kaylee: A pouch potato!
Kimmy: What do stylish kangaroos wear? Kevin: Jumpsuits!
Mini Fact: This koala was photographed on French Island in Victoria, Australia.
Next Week: Back to the moon
Founded by Betty Debnam
photo by Nathan Rupert
Kangaroos are the only large mammals that hop on two feet to move around. The large red kangaroo can hop up to about 40 mph.
Try ’n’ Find
Words that remind us of marsupials are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
Kimmy: What do stylish kangaroos wear? Kevin: Jumpsuits!
Eco Note
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Spread each sheet of pastry with 1 1/2 tablespoons of Vegemite and sprinkle 1 cup of cheese evenly over each sheet.
3. Roll each sheet tightly into a scroll and slice the scroll evenly into 12 pieces.
4. Place the pieces on the tray and bake for 10 to 15 minutes. Serves 2.
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. hornet’s weapon (7)
2. cook in an oven (4)
3. work out at the gym (8)
4. make a copy (9)
5. animal you can ride (5)
6. tasting like sugar (5)
7. very valuable (8)
exercise, duplicate, horse, sweet, precious.
A 13-year-old pet cow in Austria named Veronika is the subject of the first scientifically documented case of tool use by cattle. Writing in the journal Current Biology, researchers say they observed her using a wooden broom to scratch hardto-reach parts of her body, deliberately switching between the bristled end and the smooth handle depending on skin sensitivity. Across 70 trials, Veronika repeatedly picked up, oriented and applied the tool in a goaldirected and flexible fashion. Scientists say this behavior meets the criteria for true tool use, a cognitive skill previously documented in animals such as chimpanzees, elephants and crows.
For later:
Look in your local newspaper for stories about unusual animals.
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
My adult kids keep warning me about scams, but it’s hard to know which calls and messages are dangerous. What scams are most commonly aimed at seniors right now?
— Almost 80
Dear Almost,
Your kids’ concerns are well founded. Financial fraud is a massive — and rapidly growing — problem for older Americans. In 2024 alone, scams cost older adults an estimated $81.5 billion, according to the Federal Trade Commission. That staggering figure includes both reported losses and the many crimes that likely go unreported.
While many scams target people of all ages, older adults are often singled out or suffer the greatest financial harm. From urgent phone calls and alarming emails to online
Theodore W. “Ted” Conant
Theodore W. “Ted” Conant passed away peacefully in his home on Dec. 5, 2025 after living a full life.
He was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1937, grew up in Rutherford, NJ, raised his family in both Sparta, NJ and Richmond, VT, and retired in Hague (Silver Bay), NY after personally building his dream home there. His final years were spent in Raleigh, NC, closer to family, who he deeply loved.
SAVVY SENIOR
Top senior scams and how to avoid them
romance schemes and bogus investment opportunities, scammers use high pressure tactics, fear and emotional manipulation to convince seniors to hand over money or sensitive personal information.
Knowing the most common scams is the first line of defense. Here’s a list of scams seniors should watch for:
Imposter and government scams: Fraudsters pretend to be from Social Security, Medicare, the IRS, the police, banks, or utility companies. They claim there’s a problem requiring immediate payment or personal information and may threaten arrest or loss of benefits.
Tech support scams: Calls, emails or pop-ups warn that your computer has a virus. The scammer offers to “fix” it but instead steals money, personal data or access to your device.
Grandparent or family emergency scams: Callers pose as a relative, often a grandchild, in distress and urgently request money. Some even use AI to mimic a loved one’s voice.
Investment and cryptocurrency scams: Offers for “too good to be true” investments, including crypto or high-yield retirement schemes, often promise big returns but lead to large financial losses.
Romance scams: Scammers build fake
relationships on social media, dating sites and other interactive platforms, then invent emergencies or investment opportunities to get money.
Medicare scams: Calls or texts claim to be from Medicare, asking you to verify your number, offering special plans, or warning of fraud. Medicare will not contact you this way.
Sweepstakes and lottery scams: You’re told you’ve won a prize but must pay fees or taxes first. Real lotteries never require payment.
Charity scams: Scammers call or email, asking for donations to fake charities, often after disasters.
Phishing and online fraud: Emails, texts and pop-ups that look like they’re from banks, Amazon or PayPal try to steal passwords and account numbers, or trick you into clicking harmful links.
Employment scams: Seniors seeking part-time work or ways to supplement their retirement should watch out for fake job offers on LinkedIn, Indeed and other online job sites. Scammers promise easy income or work-from-home opportunities but ask for upfront fees and personal information, or involve illegal tasks like package reshipping.
OBITUARIES
He is predeceased by his parents: Elizabeth “Betty” Conant and regionally known artist H. Weston Conant, and sister Joyce Buchanan (Denis). He is survived by his wife of 62 years: Winifred “Wini” Conant; his children: Sandi Conant, Bill Conant (Kathy), Bob Conant (Chari); his grandchildren: Grace Conant, John Conant, Kayleigh Conant; and several nieces and nephews.
Although he was an electronics engineer with the Federal government for his career, his knowledge and abilities reached far beyond that: he was always there to help others with a project, (ESPECIALLY if it involved using his collection of tools), and share his knowledge, often with a dose of his witty sense of humor.
Ted served his community as a volunteer EMT for over 32 years. During this time, he was known for his expertise with moulage (simulated injuries) for immersive medical training. His final act of service was to donate his body to the anatomical department at a local medical school for training the next generation of doctors.
A memorial service will be held at a time and place TBD. In lieu of flowers, please support your local EMS (fire/rescue/first responders) with your time or donations. Condolences and favorite stories about Ted can be sent to TedConantFamily@gmail.com.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
Awareness and caution are your best defenses. Slow down when a call, email or text pressures you to act immediately. That sense of urgency is a red flag. Hang up and don’t click suspicious links. Verify any requests by calling the organization directly using a number you look up yourself, or by checking with a trusted family member.
Never send money using gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency. Legitimate organizations will not ask for payment this way. Stay informed through trusted resources like the AARP Fraud Watch Network (aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork), the National Cybersecurity Center (nationalcybersecuritycenter.org) and the Federal Trade Commission (consumer.ftc.gov).
Protect your accounts by setting up bank alerts, regularly checking your credit reports, and using strong, unique passwords. Some seniors also find it helpful to have a trusted family member or financial ally review unusual account activity. Report suspicious calls, messages or offers at reportfraud. ftc.gov.
Being informed, cautious and deliberate can greatly reduce your risk of fraud,.
Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.
Eleanor F. Newton
Eleanor F. Newton passed away on Feb. 24, 2026 at the UVM Medical Center in Burlington at the age of 95 years following an extended illness.
She was the second child of Col. William A Newton and Elizabeth Sprague born on April 4, 1930 at Barre City Hospital.
Eleanor attended the Hollow School, a one room schoolhouse in North Ferrisburgh. She graduated from Burlington High School in 1947. Her three youngest siblings
fondly recall her teaching them to make paper mache puppets of Mother Goose characters which they then used to act out stories.
She graduated UVM in 1951, Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in linguistics, concentrations in English, Spanish, Latin and Russian. After graduation she enlisted in the WACS and was honorarily discharged in February of 1954. She worked at the American Bible society and for Harcourt, Brace and World Book Publishers in New York City editing and translating text books from English to Spanish and Russian.
Throughout her life she battled significant illnesses, but worked to make the best of each day. She enjoyed sharing and listening to other’s life stories and developed fond friendships with many care givers.
She was predeceased by her parents, two brothers, Edward A. Newton and William, Jr. and one sister, Shirley Kivelowitz. She leaves behind three sisters, Elizabeth Packer of Long Island, NY (formerly Williston), Dorothy Newton, Williston and Louise Riekert, of Enola, PA, and many nieces, and nephews.
The family is planning a graveside service at the North Ferrisburgh Cemetery in the spring.
CLOCKWISE (l to r): Chittenden goalie Maddie Roy makes the save on a Kingdom shot during the Charge’s 1-2 loss to the Blades on Feb. 25 at Cairns Arena.
Chittenden’s Eva Masur gets away from Kingdom’s Isabel Gaudreau. Hadia Ahmed looks to get off a shot.
Chittenden’s Cadence Tessie looks to start a fast break.
The Chittenden Charge is a Division I high school girls’ ice hockey co-op team that combines players from Mount Mansfield, South Burlington, and Champlain Valley Union (CVU) high schools.
Student chefs to compete Saturday at the Expo
Fifty-five teams of elementary, middle and high school students — including two from Williston Central — will gather for the 18th annual Jr. Iron Chef VT event Saturday, March 14 in a culinary competition hosted by Vermont Afterschool.
The event will take place at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction.
Teams have been busy preparing for the competition throughout the school year, spending time after school researching and testing potential recipes with local and seasonal foods. On Saturday, they’ll work together against the clock and other teams to prepare a dish that appeals to the taste buds of local judges.
Family-friendly activities for spectators include crepe spinning by the Skinny Pancake; a photo booth by 802 Event Group; taste tests by Shelburne Farms; a composting activity by the Chittenden Solid Waste District; a mobile dairy experience by New England Dairy; an educational activity by the Vermont Agency of Education; and a lemonade STEM activity by Vermont Afterschool.
Visit www.vermontafterschool.org for more information.
Audubon to unveil new brand identity
The Green Mountain Bird Alliance, formerly The Green Mountain Audubon Society, invites folks to the unveiling of the organization’s new name and logo, as well as a presentation on “The State of Vermont’s Birds” by UVM Professor Allan Strong, director of the UVM Wildlife and Fisheries Biology Program.
The event is Sunday, March 15, from 6-8 p.m. in the Shelburne Town Hall, 5376 Shelburne Rd. — attached to the Pierson Library.
The event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required at www. greenmountainaudubon.org/events. Light refreshments will be served.
TODAY’S HISTORY:
• In 1912, the Girl Guides (later renamed the Girl Scouts of the USA) was founded in Savannah, Georgia.
• In 1930, Mahatma Gandhi and more than 70 supporters began a 240-mile march protesting the British salt tax.
• In 1947, President Harry S. Truman introduced the “Truman Doctrine,” a policy that provided military and economic aid to Greece and Turkey to prevent the spread of communism.
• In 2002, the U.N. Security Council approved Resolution 1397, endorsing the creation of a Palestinian state.
TODAY’S FACT:
• Former President Harry S. Truman was the holder of the first Medicare card, which President Lyndon Johnson symbolically presented to Truman on the passing of Medicare legislation in 1965.
SOLUTION FOUND ON PAGE 22
Lawmakers target AI in health care, mental health
BY MONA ABOU Community News Service
As artificial intelligence proliferates, Stephanie Winters is concerned for Vermonters’ protections and privacy in health care.
“The rapid development of artificial intelligence and neurotechnology raises legitimate questions about privacy, autonomy, transparency and protection from misuse,” Winters, the deputy executive director of the Vermont Medical Society and Vermont Psychiatric Association, told the House Committee on Health Care on Feb 27.
revoke it at any time, after which their records would be destroyed within 10 days.
H.814 would also restrict health care insurers from using AI to deny, delay or modify a customer’s health care based on medical information, instead deferring to a licensed human health care provider. Additionally, Vermont’s Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council would have to report on ethical and responsible AI use in health care, human services and education to lawmakers by next January.
Legislative Committee for the Vermont Psychological Association, said the organization supports H.814. But he cautioned lawmakers about restricting chatbots because the U.S. Food and Drug Association encourages their use.
“We don’t want to get dinged, violating these new laws for using an FDA approved product,” Barnett said during the Feb. 25 meeting.
CROSSWORD SOLUTION
Puzzle found on page 21
SUDOKU SOLUTION
Puzzle found on page 21
Lawmakers are weighing two bills — H.814 and H.816 — that would create a new set of protections from neurotechnology in Vermont and regulate usage of artificial intelligence in mental health services, respectively.
The first bill, H.814, would regulate chatbots that act as standins for mental health professionals; require disclosures when generative AI is being used in health care settings; and restrict how health plans use AI in evaluating medical care.
The bill, which has 14 sponsors, also includes provisions to protect health data when using “brain-computer interfaces,” which use neural signals to control devices such as robotic limbs. Patients would have to consent to share their data and be able to
H.814 goes hand in hand with H.816, which would regulate how mental health professionals use AI. More specifically, it would prohibit them from advertising mental health services that use AI to provide therapeutic judgement, diagnosis or treatment.
Lynn Currier, executive director of the National Association of Social Workers, testified in support of H.814, saying that it would help Vermont set standards around an emerging technology. She raised concerns about the capabilities of AI therapy chatbots in Vermont and wants them banned.
“At best, it’s unlicensed practice. At worst, anything that’s attached to a large language model is potentially very dangerous,” Currier told the House Committee on Health Care on Feb. 25.
Dr. Rick Barnett, a licensed psychologist who chairs the
Winters, of the Vermont Medical Society, said she agrees with H.816’s goal to ensure AI doesn’t replace licensed professionals, but she advised lawmakers to tighten the wording so it doesn’t ban helpful tools.
“The practical consequence could be increased administrative burden and reduced adoption of tools designed to reduce clinician burnout,” Winters said. “H.816, as written, does not currently include an explicit supervised use exception clarifying that AI assisted outputs are permissible if reviewed and approved by a licensed professional.”
Lawmakers are continuing to hear testimony on the bills and have not yet voted on either of them.
Community News Service is a University of Vermont journalism internship.
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New Vermont State University president appointed
BY COREY MCDONALD VTDigger
Vermont State University’s Board of Trustees appointed Sherry Kollmann as the university’s new president and system vice chancellor Monday.
Kollmann, currently the chancellor of the New Mexico State University Global Campus, will succeed outgoing President David Bergh, who announced his retirement last year.
Since her 2020 appointment in New Mexico, Kollmann helped grow online enrollment and develop more robust degree and certificate programming, according to a press release. She previously worked in the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, and prior to that worked in various roles at Southern New Hampshire University and at New England College.
Elizabeth Mauch, the chancellor of the Vermont State Colleges System, which oversees the Community College of Vermont and Vermont State
University, said in a press release that Kollmann “brings to this role a proven record of expand-
ing access to higher education and leading bold advancements that build and strengthen academic programs.
“It is precisely what is required of VTSU at this critical juncture,” she said in the release.
“Her experience developing new pathways for students of all ages and at all phases of their lives
will be essential as VTSU continues to grow and as we deepen collaboration across the entire system.”
Kollmann, in an interview Monday, said she was drawn to the role after meeting staff and faculty members on the university’s campuses.
“Getting to meet the individuals around the various campuses, they have so much grit and determination and such a passion for what Vermont State University is and what it could be,” she said.
Kollmann will join the university in its third year of an integrated statewide university system. The Vermont State Colleges System in 2023 merged Castleton University, Northern Vermont University and Vermont Technical College into a single institution.
But the university, like many higher education institutions in New England, faces enrollment challenges.
The university has bucked longer-term trends in recent semesters. VTSU enrolled more than 1,700 new students in the
2024-25 academic year –– a 14% increase from the year prior — while out-of-state enrollment rose by 13%. The university also saw a slight increase in enrollment in the fall 2025 semester compared with the previous fall’s enrollment.
Kollmann said her goal is to shape the university as a leader in local online classes, and to “create an opportunity for Vermonters and our surrounding states to be able to help those adult learners, who have some level of college but no degree, achieve their baccalaureate degree.”
She also wants to pursue more public-private partnerships.
“We need to be able to partner with industry and look at, what are the careers of the future, and how are we supporting students (to) achieve those goals, and make sure that they’re leaving our institution with the right information to secure those positions,” she said.
Kollmann will officially start in July, following Bergh’s planned retirement.
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more ambitious idea: removing the road that encircles the campus (Lawrence Place) and reorganizing parking to create an extended green space. That would not only promote a campus-like feel, but also create a location for potential future building replacements or additions.
The master plan recommends against investing in the campus’ current buildings “given their poor quality.”
“(They) were built as part of the Blair Park commercial center and are pre-engineered structures,” it says. “(They) are difficult to upgrade.”
Total enrollment in Williston dropped by nearly 20 percent between 2019 and 2022, and stood at 365 students as of 2022. The small residential building on the southern edge of the campus housed 37 students, with the rest commuting to classes. But enrollment has since rebounded to 594 students in Williston, the Rutland Herald reported in November.
Sherry Kollmann is the new president of Vermont State University.
