CCRPC sets housing targets as construction headwinds mount
BY JASON STARR AND HELEN ARGRAVES
New state laws ask the Town of Williston to chart a path toward the construction of thousands of new homes in a coordinated effort with other Chittenden County municipalities to improve the housing market.
Williston’s share of the county’s housing target range — developed by the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) under direction of the HOME Act of 2023 — is between 1,402 and 4,212 new homes by 2050. As of 2023, Williston had 4,725 housing units. The county’s other cities and towns were given similar targets, based on their infrastructure, historic population growth rates and land available for development. Williston’s target range is the highest among the county’s suburban towns, with only the cities of Burlington, South Burlington and Essex Junction assigned higher targets.
“For decades, housing production hasn’t kept up with the needs of our communities, making it difficult for families to put down roots, workers to live near their jobs, and employers to find staff,” the CCRPC wrote in a news release last week announcing the targets. “These targets … take into account the housing Vermont needs — not only to house new residents, but also to accommodate downsizing seniors, replace older homes that can’t be repaired, and help address homelessness.”
To comply with the HOME Act and last year’s follow up Act 181, the
town is expected to incorporate the housing targets into its Town Plan, which Williston planners are currently rewriting for adoption later this year.
“There is no penalty for failing to achieve the municipal housing targets provided that municipalities can demonstrate (through the regional approval and confirmation of the municipal plan) that they’re making substantial progress toward meeting the targets,” CCRPC documents explain.
The CCRPC is accepting public feedback about the housing targets through May 19 at www.ccrpcvt. org/housing in hopes of finalizing the targets by June.
Meanwhile, a convergence of economic headwinds — federal interest rates at 4.5 percent, labor shortages and the uncertainty of tariffs affecting supply chain costs — is suppressing the appetite among some home builders to move forward with construction.
‘A DAMPENING EFFECT’
Yves Bradley, a partner at V/T Commercial brokerage, said interest rates have been a key factor in decisions to cancel, defer and scale back new development of housing and commercial properties in the last two years. Higher interest rates mean developers stand less of a chance of covering the costs required to build.
“It’s completely feasible that you can borrow more money to build a
see CONSTRUCTION page 5
Town explores private fundraising for library expansion
The Town of Williston has hired CPG Enterprises of Burlington to test the willingness of local philanthropists to help fund an expansion of the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library and improvements to the Town Green.
The Library Trustees have endorsed a two-story concept designed by local architect John Hemmelgarn that would roughly double the library’s square-footage and reorient its main entrance. With an estimated price tag of $13.4 million that would likely require voter-approved debt, the selectboard is exploring the idea of seeking donations for a portion of
the cost.
On Tuesday, it gave CPG Enterprises the go-ahead to conduct
“We’re not asking for funding at this point. It’s really more of a hypothetical to put in front of potential donors.”
Maeve McBride CPG Enterprises
a “capital campaign feasibility study.” The study will involve having discussions with “high capacity” area philanthropists about their interest in helping to fund the expansion, said Maeve McBride of CPG.
“We’re not asking for funding at this point,” she said. “It’s really more of a hypothetical to put in front of potential donors.”
She expects to talk with about 25 potential donors with a goal of determining the likelihood of about $3.5 million in support. She plans to report her findings back to the selectboard this summer.
— Jason Starr
The cast of ‘The Lion King Jr.’ during a recent rehearsal. This Williston Central School Drama Department production will be presented April 10-12. See Community Calendar, page 2, for show times, and more photos on page 3.
‘Maple Day’ — WCS students tap Village sugarbush
BY EVAN DAUDELIN AND SEBBY WAYMAN WCS seventh graders
On Tuesday, March 18, Williston Central School seventh and eighth graders got the opportunity to see and learn all about sugarbushes and how maple syrup is made.
This unique event was in collaboration with Shelburne Farms and the WCS Farm to School team, along with expertise from Tim Rademacher of the UVM Maple Research Center and Amy Yandow of Sugartree Maple Farm in Williston.
Students were rotated through four stations related to maple trees and syrup. They learned about how maple syrup is made, got an opportunity to ask questions of maple experts, and gained an understanding of forest habitat ecosystems in sugarbushes.
Around Town
Industrial intersection makeover begins
Crews broke ground this week on intersection improvements at Industrial Avenue and Mountain View Road. Traffic was slowed on Route 2A as single-lane closures went into effect from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Work started with the relocation of a Vermont Gas line at Industrial Avenue.
The project includes widening on Route 2A and is expected to be complete by the fall of 2026.
Citizens needed for town boards
The Town of Williston is seeking volunteers to fill a number of positions on its citizen-led boards, committees and commissions. Current openings include Cemetery Commission, Conservation Commission, Development Review Board, Energy Committee, Health Officer, Historic and Design Advisory Committee, Housing Committee and Regional Planning Commission.
Applications can be completed online at town.williston.vt.us. Call Erin Dickinson for more information at (802) 878-1176 or email edickinson@willistonvt.org.
CVU Empty Bowls dinner to benefit hunger relief
CVU High School will be the site of the second annual Empty Bowls fundraising dinner on Thursday, April 10 from 6-8 p.m. to address food security.
Each attendee will choose a ceramic bowl crafted by a local potter, then enjoy a dinner of soups made by local restaurants, artesian bread donated by local bakeries, and ice cream from Sisters of Anarchy. Guest speakers will discuss hunger in Vermont.
The event will also include a silent auction featuring products donated by local businesses, pottery bowls and wooden cutting boards crafted by CVU woodworking students.
Tickets must be purchased in advance at: cvsdvt.ce.eleyo.com/course/2773/emptybowls-fundraiser-25/2nd-annual-cvu-empty-bowls-dinner.
Learn about Habitat for Humanity
Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity will host “Habitat 101,” an informational session about the organization’s mission and programs, including homeownership and volunteering, on Saturday, April 12 from 1-2:30 p.m. at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. The free event will feature a craft for kids ages 6 and up. No registration is required.
Easter parade and egg hunt set for April 19
The 25th annual Bill Mikell Easter Parade and Egg Hunt for children 12 and
They also got to sample four different flavors of maple syrup differentiated by color, learned about the tools used for tapping trees and tapped trees for themselves eight maples located behind the Old Brick Church in Williston Village. Students have been collecting and storing the sap, and the buckets will be there until the sap run ceases for the season.
In collaboration with the WCS food service team, the WCS Garden Club and local citizens, students have made maple popcorn, tried to boil the sap to make syrup, made sap soda for students to sample, and donated sap to a local novice sugarmaker interested in honing their skills.
Students were surveyed about the experience. Out of 62 responses, 35 reported that the taste testing station was their favorite, and 25 students enjoyed the tree-tapping station the most.
under will take place Saturday, April 19 at Williston Central School, rain or shine. The parade begins at 9 a.m.
Easter baskets with prizes will be awarded to children who find specially marked Easter eggs. Other prizes will be given to children wearing Easter costumes. Children are encouraged to bring their own Easter baskets.
The event is hosted by the WillistonRichmond Rotary Club. For more information, contact Andy Mikell at AndrewDMikell@gmail.com.
Monthly racial equity meetings continue in April
Rob Michalak, executive board chair of the Williston Racial Equity Partnership, is leading a series of meetings on the fourth Monday of each month through June at the Williston Community Justice Center, 7928 Williston Rd. The next meeting will take place April 28 from 6-7:30 p.m.
The meetings include a discussion of “Seeing White,” a 14-part documentary podcast series that delves into the historical origins of whiteness and racism in the U.S. Find the series at https://sceneonradio.org/ seeing-white/.
Contact the Williston Community Justice Center at (802) 764-1151 for details.
Seeking cat food for food shelf
Affectionately Cats of Williston is holding a canned cat-food drive to benefit the Williston Community Food Shelf through April 18. Drop off unexpired cans of cat food at Affectionately Cats, 60 Commerce St., Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m.5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
CSWD offers compost workshop, facility tour
The Chittenden Solid Waste District is hosting a backyard composting workshop
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
EMAIL EVENT LISTINGS TO EDITOR@WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM
THURSDAY, APRIL 3
Rotary Club breakfast and speaker ♦ 7 a.m., Williston Federated Church. Tamira Martel, development director for the Governor’s Institutes of Vermont. RSVP to RotaryClubofWillistonVT@gmail.com.
SATURDAY, APRIL 5
“New Neighbors - The Beavers of Allen Brook” ♦ Screening and filmmaker Q&A, 12 p.m. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library.
FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, APRIL 4-6
“The Student One-Act Plays” ♦ Presented by CVU Theatre students. Tickets at the door at CVU or online at ticketsource.us/cvutheater.
TUESDAY, APRIL 8
Development Review Board meeting ♦ 7 p.m. Town Hall. Agenda at town.williston.vt.us.
THURSDAY, APRIL 10
Empty Bowls fundraiser for hunger relief ♦ 6-8 p.m., CVU High School.
THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, APRIL 10-12
“The Lion King Jr.” ♦ Presented by the Williston Central School drama department, 7 p.m. April 10-11; 2 p.m. April 12. Al Meyers Theater at WCS. Tickets at the door and online at willistoncentral. seatyourself.biz.
SATURDAY, APRIL 12
Can-Am Con 2025 Scale Model and Contest ♦ 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Williston National Guard Armory. $5, children free. www.mountmansfieldmodelers.com.
SATURDAY, APRIL 12
Habitat 101 ♦ Informational session about Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity. 1-2:30 p.m. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library.
Williston Central School seventh graders learn to tap maple trees behind the Old Brick Church in March.
OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO
The start of construction on Industrial Avenue intersection improvements this week included relocation of a Vermont Gas line, slowing traffic along Route 2A.
Hakuna matata
CLOCKWISE (l to r) Olivia Higa, as Rafiki, practices the number that will welcome the audience to the Williston Central School Drama Department’s production of ‘The Lion King Jr.’ next week. ScarAidan Wisell (l); Mufasa - Harley Everitt (c); and Zazu - Mia DaSilva (r) work on their blocking. The “hunt” ensemble polish their choreography. Most of the cast appears onstage for the opening number, ‘Circle of Life’ for a run through.
Around Town
continued from page 2
and tour of the Green Mountain Compost facility on Redmond Road on Saturday, April 19. The tour starts at 9:30 a.m. and the workshop at 10:30 a.m. Both are one hour long. Come for one or both. The event will offer composting tips and troubleshooting, and a live look at the composting process.
Register online at https:// cswd.net/event/backyard-compost-workshop-green-mountaincompost-tour-2/
Willistonians win flower show awards
Williston residents Liz Young and Doris Van Mullen took home
awards in March at the Vermont Flower Show at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction. Van Mullen was one of the event organizers, along with fellow Williston residents Karen Villanto and Dana Mann.
Join Williston in Bloom for town beautification
Williston In Bloom seeks volunteers to help beautify town. Volunteers help with plantings at the Police Station, Town Hall, Route 2 and on the Town Green.
The organization began 22 years ago under the town’s Public Works Department. Residents interested in helping should contact Public Works Director Bruce Hoar by email at bhoar@willistonvt.org.
OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY
State to keep Williston, Waterbury shelters open
BY CARLY BERLIN VTDigger
This story, by Report for America corps member Carly Berlin, was produced through a partnership between VTDigger and Vermont Public.
State officials plan to extend two shelters for families experiencing homelessness in Williston and Waterbury that had been slated to close down on April 1.
Chris Winters, the commissioner of the Department for Children and Families, said state officials want to avoid disrupting the school year for children.
“We don’t know for sure if folks have other options, but even if they do, you know, that might require them to move,” Winters said. “The concern there is that kids not be uprooted and
potentially not stay in school through the end of the year.”
The state is extending a contract with North Carolinabased IEM International, which will continue to operate the family shelter at the former state police barracks in Williston until midMay, Winters said. At that point, the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity will take over the shelter.
The anti-poverty nonprofit will operate out of the Williston space for a few months as it develops a new family shelter location in the Burlington area. The transition to a new location is anticipated to happen by December, Winters said.
The new shelter would accommodate eight or nine families, according to Paul Dragon, executive director of CVOEO.
“The goal is to move them on
as quickly as possible to permanent housing,” Dragon said.
The Waterbury shelter, located at the former National Guard armory, will remain open until June 13. While the shelter will shut down during the warmer months, the state is interested in using the space as a winter weather shelter again.
“We’re in conversation with both the town and a potential service provider to continue the operation of it next year during the cold weather months,” Winters said.
State officials opened the two shelters in November, during a wave of evictions from Vermont’s motel voucher program last fall. New time restrictions on motel stays — paired with a lack of family shelter capacity statewide — resulted in some unhoused families pitching tents.
Since November, the Williston
and Waterbury shelters have served 36 families, according to Winters. Twenty families have since moved onto other arrangements. Eight families have gone to live with relatives, and five have found permanent housing, Winters said. Two families have moved out of state. Three were granted access to the motel voucher program when a primary care provider noted a health condition that made living in the “semi-congregate” family shelter untenable. One family decided to pay for their own hotel room, and another moved into a program with Lund.
State employees have offered housing and employment resources onsite at the two shelters. While the sample size is small, Winters noted, he argued that the wraparound services there helped shelter guests get connected to
the resources they needed more quickly than the motel voucher program.
“While it costs more, you really do get better results with this form of shelter versus the hotel-motel program,” Winters said.
Operating the two shelters ultimately cost $2.9 million between November and March — about what state officials had anticipated at the outset. The funding has come out of DCF’s budget. The department hopes to use the shelters as a model for future shelters that keep specific populations together, such as veterans or people in recovery, Winters said.
The state ultimately ditched plans for a third family shelter in Montpelier last fall due to cost constraints and the inability to find a local service provider, Winters said.
building than the building will be worth in our market when you’re done, and that is not a healthy condition,” said Bradley.
The interest rates have “a dampening effect,” agreed Don Baker, northern New England commercial market president at TD Bank. “Anytime you have a higher priced good of any kind — interest rates are the cost of borrowing to the developer — they’re going to be buying less.”
TD Bank locally has seen some projects it lends to be scrapped or deferred in response to interest rates. Baker expects interest rates to go down in 2025 but at a slower rate than economists had been predicting toward the end of 2024.
Developers for big projects like CityPlace in Burlington have cited interest rates in their reasoning for changing course on construction. The downtown Burlington development, originally planned to include 420 housing units, has been scaled back to 350 units.
Maura Collins, executive director at the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, said her organization has
also seen projects scaled back in response to interest rates. That includes building smaller or foregoing add-ons like solar panels.
For example, a Colchester housing project co-developed by Evernorth paid an additional $100,000 in construction costs when interest rates climbed from 3 percent at its conception in 2022 to 7.5 percent at the time of its completion, according to Kathy Beyer, senior vice president of real estate development at Evernorth.
TARRIFS AND THE SUPPLY CHAIN
Affordable housing projects tend not to be as dependent on federal interest rates, explained Collins and Beyer. Funding for those projects often comes from an array of sources, including investor bonds and tax credits. Those sources can be more stable in times of high interest rates, Collins told VermontBiz, and lending organizations like VHFA and Evernorth can pass lower interest rates onto developers as a result.
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Donating to the Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity ReStores helps support a ordable housing construction. Our ReStores are locally run and bene t VT families!
We accept furniture, hardware, appliances, electronics, and more.
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disruptions for goods used in building homes, leading to higher prices. People are already anticipating those effects.
“We are already being asked to sign construction contracts that pass on the cost of tariffs to the developer,” Beyer said.
Beyer mentioned heat pumps, which she said depend on an international supply chain and are used frequently in home construction. She worries what could happen if the supply for those products, or their parts, is interrupted.
What developers may find most concerning for those kinds of projects in 2025 is the looming uncertainty around trade policy and federal funding.
“We can plan for the construction loan interest rate. We can’t plan for this uncertainty around impact on pricing of tariffs, the impact on supply chain delays,” Beyer said. When suppliers face uncertainty, Beyer said, they tend to increase the price of goods. And tariffs have the potential to cause supply chain
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She compared the possible effects of supply chain disruptions from tariffs to those that took place during the Covid-19 pandemic. If the effects are similar, she said, developments would not only cost more but be delayed, costing developers even more in construction loan interest.
Kelley’s Field II in Hinesburg, a construction project co-developed by Evernorth that started in 2023, was delayed by several months after supply chain disruptions for switchgear, a technology that increases the safety and efficiency of electrical equipment. The product that developers planned to use came from
Construction at Cottowood Crossing is seen in 2022. Two of the project’s five phases are nearly complete.
House tackles education transformation
BY REP. ERIN BRADY
On Friday, the House Education Committee, where I serve as Ranking Member, voted out our highly anticipated bill to chart the course for transformation of public education based on extensive feedback from educators across Vermont and an analysis of the governor’s proposal. We are serious about long-term solutions, which demand systemic reforms, but we must remember that systems are made of real people. Our students, teachers and school leaders are not just some line that can be moved on a map or column that can be eliminated in a spreadsheet without having a tremendous real impact. Change must be done carefully on a realistic timeline.
The House bill addresses our challenges and builds for a more stable future by moving us towards scale, creating statewide cohesion and ensuring appropriate state level governance and support for our system. Any one of these changes would be huge all by themselves.
DISTRICT SCALE: DEFINING NEW DISTRICTS IN 2026
Achieving scale is critical to educational quality and increased efficiency. Vermont currently has 119 school districts in 52 supervisory unions, each with finance experts, special education leaders, curriculum leaders and a superintendent. This can create redundancy and a lot of time spent managing so many school boards. Superintendents from every corner of Vermont have been an incredible resource throughout this session and they have been bold: Many of the people who are going to lose their jobs at the top of these districts agree fewer and larger is better for kids and taxpayers, but the details matter. There have been calls for legislators to draw these lines now or to arbitrarily set a number. But it became clear to our committee that this vital transformative move must be made by people with educational expertise in Vermont who best understand where changes could bring more equal access to opportunity and save everyone some money.
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Community Conversation
WHO: Rep. Erin Brady and Rep. Angela Arsenault
WHERE: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library
WHEN: Monday, April 14 6:30 p.m.
House bill solution: Charge a new subcommittee of the Commission on the Future of Public Education to come back to the Legislature by December 2025 with no more than three specific school district map proposals. The subcommittee will include five former superintendents and school district business managers with extensive experience in Vermont. They are directed to create districts with a minimum of approximately
4,000 students and to coordinate with the Commission’s public engagement process to maximize public input.
After reviewing the proposed new maps, the Legislature will create these new districts in 2026 and begin the complex process of setting up electoral districts to vote in new school boards in November of 2028. Based on what we know from educational research and extensive modeling of Vermont’s current system, it is likely that this process will result in between 10 and 25 districts. It is important to keep in mind that these new districts may become the largest political districts in our state (likely larger than current Senate districts) so this work must be done carefully to ensure all Vermonters are represented and can remain connected to their local schools.
SCHOOL SCALE: MOVING TOWARD REGIONAL MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS
Vermont schools will always be small by most national standards given our rural nature, but we have schools with extremely small class sizes and multiple grades being combined, not because it is an educational choice but because it is a staffing necessity.
We have many very small high schools whose students might be better served in schools with more programmatic opportunities. We also operate parallel systems — public and private schools — using public education dollars. We have a town tuitioning program for areas that do not operate schools, and while the four historic academies operate successfully as quasi-public schools, there has been a steady increase in the number of students using vouchers and an increase in the number
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Decibel distinction
The 65 decibels you mention in your article “F-35 impact zone smaller than anticipated” (March 27) is not the exact noise level people are exposed to. It is the average noise level taken over 24 hours, 365 days a year.
To average 65 decibels over 24 hours and 365 days, the F-35s have to be piercingly and dangerously loud for the few seconds they are passing over.
You later write about actual measured noise levels of “occasional spikes over 100” decibels during F-35 training flights. Those measured noise levels may have made readers wonder what the 65 was all about, and whether the problem for the health and safety of people is those occasional spikes as the F-35s take off so close to homes thousands of times a year.
The Air Force itself has said children suffer impaired cognitive development, including reading, concentration, memory and problem-solving, from repeated exposure to such high aircraft noise levels.
Having F-35s training in a location that harms the children in the 2,400 homes your article mentions is a violation of the Air Force and Vermont Air National Guard’s own policies and should stop now.
James Marc Leas South Burlington
Beavers — beauty and tragedy
As an 80-plus-year-old reader, hunter, trout fisherman, bicyclist, outdoorsman and observer of nature, I enjoyed reading about the beaver documentary in the Williston Observer (“Leave it to the Beavers” March 27).
Beavers on small tributary waters have been around forever, including all over Williston. There’s been a very active colony on Mountain View Road across from Katy Lane. It’s great for all the good environmental reasons.
But in 1984, there was an Amtrak event off Redmond Road that wasn’t that great. A train crash was caused by heavy rains that breached a beaver dam (or dams) to the south of the railroad tracks. The culvert couldn’t handle the volume.
Five people lost their lives on that day, and many others were seriously injured. Very tragic.
Beavers, as always, will be co-habitants with people. Finding a way to coexist has and always will be a challenge — for the beavers and humans. They are as persistent as humans. Typically they move on and abandon their wetland creations when their food sources dry up.
I’ve caught some beautiful brook trout in active beaver dam areas. These areas are typically spring fed with cold water. It’s fun to play in this environment.
Jerry Martin Williston
of schools where those vouchers go. This scatters our public education dollars in more directions, including out of state and out of country.
House bill solution: Set our legislative intent to move towards public schools that operate grades 6-12 (or a subset of those) to have at least 450 students. This work will take time and investment but it will begin by reestablishing a school construction program with highly targeted incentives for regionalization; school size goals will only be possible with a statewide commitment to school construction aid, which has not existed since 2007.
It will also require approved independent schools meeting the following criteria in order to accept public tuition: must be located in Vermont, approved under current law on or before July 1, 2025, have at least 51 percent of the total student enrollment attending on public tuition, and comply with the new average class size minimums (see below).
CLASSROOM SCALE: SETTING AVERAGE MINIMUM CLASS SIZES
Class size is pivotal in Vermont’s education policy decisions, especially given its rural context, declining enrollment and fiscal challenges. Average class sizes in Vermont are already smaller than those outlined in research, which
can create challenges for effective instruction. This can force grade configurations (for example, a multi-age classroom for grades K-3) that change yearly and make it difficult for teachers to use flexible grouping strategies in the classroom.
House bill solution: Require average class size minimums to be implemented by the 2026-27 school year in all public schools and independent schools receiving public tuition as follows (most CVSD classes already meet these minimums): Kindergarten — minimum of 12 students; grades 1-4 — minimum of 15 students; grades 5-12 (in all required content areas) — minimum of 18 students; multiage classrooms for kindergarten through grade 8 will be limited to two grade levels.
Important exceptions for average class sizes will include tech center classes, flexible pathways, AP courses, driver’s education, small groups for special education, English learner instruction, and specialized interventions.
If a school is unable to comply due to geographic isolation or if they have developed an implementation plan (such as consolidation or merger) to meet the standards, the school board may ask the State Board of Education for a waiver.
Simply put, these new minimums are a big deal and could have a significant impact on staffing needs and bending the cost curve, while providing a better classroom experience for kids. By contrast, the
Governor’s proposed new funding formula relied on class size minimums of 15 students for kindergarten through grade 3 and a minimum of 25 students per class in grades 4 through 12.
STATEWIDE COHESION AND CAPACITY
For many years now, there has been extraordinary frustration in schools about the lack of capacity and leadership from the Agency of Education (AOE), and many important positions in the state are unfilled. For any transformation to become a reality, it is vital that the AOE execute several transitions before larger districts can be operational, and even more important, that the agency build trust with our educational leaders. Each of the steps outlined below is complex, and many are long overdue for a state as small as Vermont.
House bill solution: Require the following steps to ensure transitions are on schedule:
AOE will recommend standards for statewide graduation requirements to the State Board of Education by Jan. 1, 2026.
AOE will recommend a statewide school calendar to be in place by 2028-29 school year
— AOE will create a plan for statewide financial data and student information systems for use by FY29.
— AOE will create a plan for a school construction division within the agency.
— AOE will create clear guidance regarding the business processes necessary to facilitate the merger of current school districts
see BRADY page 16
Construction
Mexico.
The delay pushed back the project’s certificate of occupancy and cost developers more than $200,000, according to Beyer. Beyer’s message is that more situations like that may emerge if tariffs on trade partners like Canada and Mexico continue.
“What’s happening nationally is not going to be good for the housing market or making progress on the housing crisis,” she said. “That’s clear.”
AWAITING IN WILLISTON
In Williston, a few housing projects that have made it at least partway through the town permitting process over the past several years have stalled or put off groundbreaking. One example — a building of apartments and street-level retail space proposed for the green in front of the Polly insurance agency on Route 2A — received preliminary approval early last year. At six stories, it would be the tallest building in town, and have about 60 apartments.
According to Williston Senior Planner Emily Heymann, landowner
Do you have spring planting or digging projects?
Jeff Mongeon has until August to finalize the permit. Otherwise a new permit application will be required.
Since the preliminary approval, the town has lowered its height allowance in that section of town, governed by its “form-based” land use regulations.
“We dropped the building height a story so that the maximum would be five stories,” Heymann said. “So if (the permit) were to expire and they have to come back for re-permitting, it would not be able to be six stories.”
In the residential zoning district, the “Summerfield” project received
permits in 2022 to convert the majority of the Catamount Country Club golf course into a neighborhood of 148 homes. Three years later, the golf course remains intact.
Based on conversations with the project’s developers, Chris Senesac of Ethan Allen Holdings and landowner Alex Kourabanus, Heymann said she expects construction to begin this year.
“They’re working on the development agreement and the public and private improvement guaran-
“What’s happening nationally is not going to be good for the housing market or making progress on the housing crisis.”
Kathy Beyer
Senior Vice President Real Estate Development Evernorth
tees. So once those documents are in place, then we can issue an administrative permit,” Heymann said. “We anticipate them to submit those final versions fairly soon.”
Transcendental Meditation Center on a housing project of about 40 homes.
The project received preliminary Development Review Board approval in 2023, but their one-year deadline to file a final application has expired.
“We are anticipating a new preliminary application for a slightly revised layout this year,” Heymann said.
On the outskirts of the Taft Corners area governed by the form-based code, Allen Brook Development has constructed four buildings in the mixed-use Cottonwood Crossing neighborhood since receiving its 2016 permit approvals. With the 2022 adoption of form-based code, the land use regulations for future phases have changed. Phases 1 and 2 of the project are nearly complete. There are three future phases that have preliminary approvals, but can now be redesigned to include more units under the form-based code.
“It’s been almost a decade,” Heymann said of Cottonwood’s original approvals. “The land use design and development standards in that district have fundamentally changed. There are a lot of opportunities there that weren’t there before.”
If you plan to do any type of digging on your property, you or your contractor must contact Dig Safe™ at 811at least 48 hours prior to digging.
Dig Safe will notify member utilities, who will locate of buried facilities they own and ensure they are clearly marked. If you plan to work within 18 inches of the marked lines, please make sure it is dug by hand.
How to Detect a Gas Leak
Smell: Natural gas is normally odorless. VGS adds an odorant similar to the smell of rotten eggs, so it can be easily recognized.
Sight: You may see a white cloud, mist, fog, bubbles in standing water, or blowing dust. You may also see vegetation that appears to be dead or dying.
Sound: It may result in an unusual noise that replicates the sound of roaring, hissing, or whistling.
Move immediately to a safe location. Call VGS at 800639-8081 or call 911 with the exact location. Do not smoke or operate electrical switches or appliances. These items may produce a spark that might result in a dangerous condition. Do not assume someone else will report the condition.
Scan the QR Code or visit vgsvt.com/be-safe for more safety information.
About a mile to the west on Mountain View Road, former state legislator Jim McCullough is working with the Vermont
Helen Argraves is a reporter with Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship.
3-9
Recreation & Parks WILLISTON
CAMP COUNSELORS WANTED
The Williston Recreation and Parks Department is looking for creative, fun, dedicated, self-motivated people to work in its summer day camps for children entering grades 1-8. The goal of each camp is to provide children the opportunity to learn and grow in a fun and safe environment.
Become part of the dedicated team of staff members that shares a love of working with children and providing memories that last a lifetime. Apply by emailing a cover letter and resume to recreation@ willistonvt.org.
FAMILY PROGRAMS
ROOT7 VOCAL PERCUSSION & IMPROVISATION WORKSHOP
Ages 13-plus. Root7, Vermont’s contemporary a cappella group, will host sing-alongs for beginner, intermediate and experienced vocalists who want to learn and work in groups. Thursday, April 17, 7-9 p.m.
BOATERS SAFETY
Ages 12-plus. This course is required for any motorboat operator born after Jan. 1, 1974. The eight-hour course is offered over four days. Instructor: Jon Fick. Monday and Wednesday, May 5-14, 6-8:30 p.m.
ADULT PROGRAMS
BACKYARD BEEKEEPING INTRO
Ages 16-plus. Learn more about bees and get inspired to start a few hives of your own. Instructors: Deborah Rubin and Rick Stoner. Thursdays, April 10-May 1, 6:30-8 p.m.
DRIVER TRAINING
Ages 18-plus. This program focuses on driving skills, road rules, hazardous conditions, defensive driving and preparation for the VT DMV road test. You must possess a Vermont Learner’s Permit or Driver’s License to participate. There is six hours of virtual classroom, and six hours of behindthe-wheel instruction. Instructor: Brandon Gordon, Epic Driving, LLC. Thursdays, April 24-May 8, 6-8 p.m.
AI WORKSHOP
Ages 18-plus. Meet two GenAIpowered tools — ChatGPT and
Copilot. Learn how to construct effective prompts, check out a few useful applications, and have some hands-on practice. Instructor: Deb Helfrich. Sunday, May 4, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
ZUMBA GOLD
Ages 18-plus. A modified version of Zumba geared toward active older adults seeking lower-impact workouts. Each class introduces easy-to-follow choreography that focuses on balance, range of motion, and coordination. Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; $10 per class at the R.E.C. Zone, 94 Harvest Lane. Instructor: Ciara Gregory
ACCESSIBLE YOGA
Ages 18-plus, geared toward folks ages 50-plus. Vinyasa Yoga Flow. Each class begins with a brief meditation and then moves into an easy practice that can be done on a yoga mat, in a chair or both. Instructor: Robin Zabiegalski. Mondays, 1-2 p.m., $5 per class at the REC Zone, 94 Harvest Lane.
YOGA FLOW
Ages 18-plus. Each class will start with a brief mindfulness meditation, then move into an easy Vinyasa Flow practice. You will practice a flow of yoga shapes both on the ground and standing, then, you will settle on some longer stretches. Instructor: Robin Zabiegalski. Fridays, 1-2 p.m., $10 per class at the REC Zone, 94 Harvest Lane.
JAZZERCISE CARDIO SCULPT PROGRAMS
Ages 16-plus. This program is geared to 50-plus but is open to all ages. Instructors will show you how to take it high or low. Cardio Sculpt Low/Low, Tuesdays and Fridays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. and Mondays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Cardio Sculpt Low/High, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 4:45-5:45 p.m. and Sundays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. Instructor: Kit Sayers. The R.E.C. Zone, 94 Harvest Lane.
SENIOR COMMUNITY MEALS
Ages 60-plus. On Tuesdays, the Rec Department and Age Well will host free community meals. Space is limited, and advanced registration is required. Registration closes one week before the scheduled meal date. Following the meal, a program tailored to seniors will be offered. To register, call (802) 876-1160 or
email recreation@willistonvt.org.
BONE BUILDERS
Ages 50-plus. A program of the United Way of Northwest Vermont. This free, low-impact weight training program is designed to prevent and reverse osteoporosis in older adults. Classes are held twice per week. Instructors: Ann Naumann and Joyce Oughstun. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10-11 a.m. at the REC Zone, 94 Harvest Lane.
TAI CHI INTRODUCTION
Ages 50-plus. The ancient art of Tai Chi improves balance, increases mindfulness and relaxes the mind and body. This class will present sequences of movements derived from the Sun style, which is slow, smooth and upright in posture. Instructor: Adina Panitch. Mondays, 9:3010:30 a.m. Free. The R.E.C. Zone, 94 Harvest Lane.
SENIOR STRENGTH & FUNCTIONAL MOBILITY
Ages 50-plus. This program will concentrate on developing upper and lower body strength, improving balance and strengthening your core. In this dementia-friendly class, participants are encouraged to work within their abilities. Instructor: Jazmine Averbuck. Wednesdays and Fridays, 10-10:45 a.m. Free. The R.E.C. Zone, 94 Harvest Lane.
YOUTH/TEEN PROGRAMS
SAFE@HOME
Grades 4-6. This after-school program teaches children about being alone for a short time when parents are away. In this one-day program, children will learn how to stay safe, prevent unsafe situations and a whole lot more. Instructor: Rec Staff. Tuesday, April 29, 2:504:25 p.m.
RECKIDS LACROSSE
Age 5-6. Coed, Child/Parent. This program teaches the fundamentals of the game using a fun and energetic curriculum that has been tailored to this age group. Players are encouraged to learn and play with a parent and each other. Instructors: Rec staff. Saturdays, May 3-June 14, 8-9 a.m.
ROOKIES LACROSSE
Grades 1-2. Separate programs for boys and girls. Rookie Lacrosse is geared toward those who want to learn, play and experience the game of lacrosse in a fun atmosphere. The program is on Saturdays, starting May 3, consisting of skill-learning and scrimmages. Volunteer coaches are needed. Early bird registration deadline is April 20. Saturdays, May 3-June 14, 9-10 a.m.
Representing the U.S.
Think about the last time you visited friends or family who live in another city or state. Did they show you around their town?
Maybe you were the special guest at a party.
The United States has friends around the world, too. But you can imagine that it would be hard for Americans to invite a whole country to visit and see our favorite things about our country. So instead, we have embassies in most other countries, and we deliver American pride and hospitality to them.
An embassy is an official government office for an ambassador and other diplomats. An ambassador is a representative of a country (or another group). The U.S. has 173 embassies and consulates around the world. The foreign service is part of the U.S. Department of State.
This week, The Mini Page finds out more about what U.S. ambassadors and embassy staff do in foreign countries.
What is diplomacy?
Diplomacy is the art and practice of managing relations with other countries. Diplomacy is also a profession and a career in public service and in foreign service.
U.S. diplomats serve in different countries and at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. They represent the United States to other countries and to international organizations such as the United Nations.
Diplomats need to know history and understand current issues and concerns
Mini Fact: The U.S. Embassy in Mozambique moved into a new building in 2021.
in American life. They also need to be knowledgeable about other countries and available to serve throughout the world.
U.S. diplomats promote peace and democracy, bring nations together to address global problems such as trade, and protect and help American businesses and citizens overseas.
Learning the lingo
It helps diplomats to know the language of the country they’re working in. Before they move to a new country, diplomats get language training at the Foreign Service Institute outside of Washington, D.C., which is like a college campus.
Sharing our values
Ambassadors and embassies hold events and sponsor visitors to share American culture. The embassy might host U.S. musicians, artists, authors and others, as well as scientists and representatives from Congress.
Programs such as Art in Embassies bring the work of American artists to embassies so it can be experienced by people around the world.
Next Week: Shakespeare’s birthday
Foreign service kids
Diplomats move every couple of years to a new country, which means their kids get to live in many interesting and unusual places. Life growing up in the foreign service is exciting and also difficult at times.
A few years ago, The Mini Page spoke with Aidan, a 9-year-old foreign service kid who lived in Jordan at the time.
Q: What are the good things about moving every few years? What are the bad things?
A: You get new friends, and sometimes that’s fun. Sometimes it’s hard to leave your really good friends.
When I first got to Jordan, I was scared about finding new friends. The first two weeks of school I was really shy until a person named Carter came over to me. He’s been my best friend ever since.
Q: What is your school like?
A: It’s nice, and the teachers are nice! My school in Jordan is probably the nicest school I’ve been to. In China, they had 78 buses so it was hard to find your bus.
Q: Are you interested in being a foreign service worker when you grow up?
A: I do want to be in the foreign service because I like to move and I want to visit different countries.
“Inside a U.S. Embassy: How the Foreign Service Works for America” by Shawn Dorman
Eco Note
Founded by Betty Debnam
The ambassador’s home in Bangkok, Thailand. Diplomats may live on the embassy grounds or elsewhere in the city where they serve.
Programs such as Art in Embassies bring the work of American artists to embassies so it can be experienced by people around the world.
Try ’n’ Find
Words that remind us of U.S. embassies are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
AMBASSADOR, ART, CAREER, COUNTRY, DEMOCRACY, DIPLOMACY, EMBASSY, FOREIGN, HISTORY, HOME, ISSUES, KIDS, LANGUAGE, PEACE, REPRESENT, SERVICE, TRAIN, VALUES.
Mini Spy Classics
Mini Jokes
Ernest: What do you call an owl magician? Emma: Whoooodini!
Eco Note
Temperatures at the North Pole soared 36 degrees Fahrenheit above normal in early February, reaching just above freezing in normally frigid midwinter. Julien Nicolas of Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service attributed the unusual warmth to a deep low-pressure system over Iceland, which funneled warm air toward the North Pole. A similar pattern in February 2018 caused the North Pole to reach 35 degrees. The spike this year followed Arctic sea ice levels shrinking to the second lowest on record for January.
For later: Look in your newspaper for articles mentioning U.S. ambassadors.
Teachers: Follow and interact with The Mini Page on Facebook!
by Dan Thompson
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
My local Social Security office was recently shut down because of staff layoffs and large-scale downsizing by the Department of Government Efficiency. All this disruption makes me very nervous, as I’ll be applying for my Social Security retirement benefits later this year. My question is, how are we supposed to get help with our Social Security questions or problems now that our office is permanently closed? What can you tell me?
Anxious Aaron
Dear Aaron,
I’ve been getting a lot of questions on this very topic. The Social Security Administration (SSA) is facing massive budget cuts and layoffs under President Donald Trump’s administration, which is leading to dozens of office closures and a lot of angst across the country.
Led by Elon Musk and the Department of Government
SAVVY SENIOR
Navigating Social Security as it downsizes
Efficiency, many Social Security experts believe these deep staff cuts could cause interruptions in monthly benefit payments, an increase in improper payments, delays in the processing of new benefit applications and disability claims, and longer wait times for Social Security help.
There are 73 million Americans who currently receive Social Security benefits, including seniors, children and people with disabilities. Many rely on these benefits for the bulk of their income, so any disruption or errors in payments or other service delays could cause a lot of problems for beneficiaries.
Advocacy groups are urging concerned Americans to contact their members of Congress and demand protections for the program. To find your elected members’ contact information, go to Congress.gov/members/ find-your-member.
With that said, here’s how you can best navigate the SSA as they downsize.
USE SSA.GOV
Most Social Security business today can be conducted online. To get started, just go to SSA.gov/ onlineservices where you can create a personal online “my Social Security” account. There you can
view your latest statement and earnings history; apply for retirement, disability and Medicare benefits; check the status of an application or appeal; request a replacement Social Security card; print a benefit verification letter; and much more.
Their website also has a wealth of information and answers to frequently asked questions that you can access at SSA.gov/faqs.
PHONE ASSISTANCE
If you can’t conduct your Social Security business online or you need some extra help, you can also get phone assistance by calling your nearby field office (see SSA.gov/locator for contact information) or by calling the SSA national number at 800-772-1213 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
This number has many automated service options you can use without waiting, but if you do need to speak to a representative, wait times are typically shorter early in the morning (between 8-10 a.m.) or later in the afternoon (between 4-7 p.m.). You may also experience shorter wait times later in the week (Wednesday to Friday) and later in the month.
If you need to visit your nearby SSA office, it’s best to call and make an appointment first as walk-ins have much longer wait
times. To make an appointment, call 800-772-1213 or contact your local SSA office.
BE PATIENT
Also remember to practice patience and plan ahead. With all the SSA staff cuts, delays and longer wait times will be inevitable. And if you’re planning to start drawing your Social Security benefits in the near future, it’s best to apply as early as possible as the SSA recently announced that new applicants who cannot properly verify their identity over the agency’s “my Social Security” online service will be required to visit an SSA field office in person to complete the verification process. That could take some additional time.
This change will also apply to unverified existing recipients who want to change their direct deposit information.
You can apply for benefits up to four months before you expect to receive them. Applying as early as possible can help ensure the benefits are available when needed.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
WILLISTON POLICE
Feb. 23 at 3:29 p.m. — Male called and advised that he was hit by a car in the Walmart parking lot. Male talked to the female who hit him and decided he did not want police to respond.
Feb. 23 at 7:43 p.m. — Bag of marijuana found on the floor at Walmart. It was confiscated and destroyed.
Feb. 24 at 1:59 p.m. — Conducted a VIN verification on South Brownell Road. Feb. 24 at 4:00 p.m. — Report of an argument between an employee and customer at a business on Essex Road. Customer left and business advised no police needed.
Feb. 25 at 12:12 p.m. — Report of a drone flying above the allowed elevation in the Walmart parking lot. No drone located. Feb. 25 at 12:47 p.m. — Report of a female walking down the middle of the road on Essex Road. Female was located and had an active arrest warrant. She was issued a citation to appear in court.
Feb. 25 at 5:38 p.m. — Suspicious female in Old Navy. Female had an active arrest warrant. She was transported to the correctional facility.
Feb. 26 at 3:33 p.m. — Report of a motor vehicle crash where one of the operators fled the scene. Male was located and had active arrest warrants. He was transported to the correctional facility.
Feb. 26 at 6:00 p.m. — Report of a vehicle off the road on Industrial Ave. Male operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.
Feb. 27 at 2:33 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Old Navy. Female suspect was issued a notice of trespass and a citation to appear in court for retail theft.
Feb. 27 at 3:40 p.m. — Suspicious male at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Male was moved along and issued a notice of trespass.
Feb. 27 at 8:17 p.m. — Report of a male harassing customers in the parking lot of Shaw’s. Male was moved along.
Feb. 28 at 2:28 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Marshalls. Female suspect left before officer’s arrival. An arrest warrant was issued for her.
Feb. 28 at 10:16 p.m. — Report of suspicious male on South Brownell Road. Male was issued a citation to appear in court for driving with a criminally suspended license.
March 1 at 6:29 p.m. — Male made statements about causing a disturbance at Ignite Church. Extra patrols were conducted during Sunday services.
March 1 at 7:40 p.m. — Vehicle fled from police and started a pursuit. Officers terminated the pursuit a short time later due to unsafe driving. Male was identified and an arrest warrant was issued for driving with a criminally suspended license, eluding, grossly negligent operation and excessive speed.
Officers also conducted 19 traffic stops and responded to 13 alarm activations and 10 motor vehicle crashes during this time frame.
TODAY’S HISTORY:
• In 1865, Union forces captured Richmond, Virginia, the capital of the Confederacy.
• In 1882, American outlaw Jesse James was killed by Robert Ford, a member of James’ own gang who hoped to earn a state reward.
• In 1948, President Harry Truman signed into law the Marshall Plan aid bill, which was designed to help rebuild war-torn Europe.
• In 1996, “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski was arrested at his cabin near Lincoln, Montana.
• In 2010, Apple Inc. released the first iPad tablet.
TODAY’S FACT:
• After Marlon Brando returned his script for “On the Waterfront” twice, Frank Sinatra was cast in the lead role. Brando was ultimately convinced to star and went on to win an Oscar for his iconic performance.
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DP 24-12.1 Duane Merrill & Company and Brickliners Custom Masonry & Chimney Services c/o O’Leary-Burke Civil Associates requests discretionary permit review of a 9,900 SF building and associated 10-space parking lot on proposed lot #3 at 137 James Brown Dr. Continued from February 11, 2025.
DP 25-06 Scott and Summer Batdorf c/o Civil Engineering Associates request a discretionary permit for a proposed two-lot subdivision of a 7.33-ac parcel to create one new dwelling at 1876 Mountain View Rd in the Residential Zoning District (RZD).
DP 25-08 Williston Woods Homeowners Association c/o Watershed Consulting requests discretionary permit review of stormwater treatment improvements with construction of two infiltrating sand filters on a common land parcel at the intersection of Middlewood Rd and Williston Woods Rd in the Agricultural/Rural Residential Zoning District (ARZD).
DP 24-06 Rivers Edge Development c/o O’Leary-Burke Civil Associates requests discretionary permit review of a 107-unit residential subdivision in accordance with SP 23- 01 Glaser Specific Plan on a ±94.66-ac undeveloped parcel at the southwest corner of Mountain View Rd and Old Stage Rd with ±48.42 ac of protected open space offered for Town ownership in the Residential Zoning District (RZD). Continued from January 14, 2025. Continued to April 8, 2025.
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”.
saliva. If left untreated, rabies is almost always 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.
the spread of the potentially fatal disease.
Rabies is a deadly viral disease of the brain that infects mammals. It is most often seen in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also get rabies. The virus is spread through the bite of an infected animal or contact with its
So far this year, 23 animals in Vermont have tested positive for rabies, and 14 of those have been raccoons.
is a deadly viral disease of the brain that infects mammals. It is most often seen in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, but unvaccinated
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.
lead dors from creemees. from
Shelburne display
continued
into larger districts. This must include how to merge data systems, asset and liability transfers, and issues around collective bargaining agreements. Importantly, the report requires an estimate of the costs associated with such work.
In a more consolidated system, it is essential to ensure that the State Board of Education is an independent and transparent body. The governor’s bill proposed a dramatic shift in rulemaking responsibility away from the State Board of Education and to the AOE. The House strongly disagreed with that approach and instead sought to strengthen the Board of Education and make it more representative of public education. Now more than ever it is important to strengthen our open, public-facing bodies.
Our House bill would allow the Legislature to make two appointments to the State Board (currently, the governor appoints all members) and resource the board to do a comprehensive review of their rules and determine those that can be sunsetted and rules that need to be updated to support transformation.
Ad-venture
The Williston Observer was awarded a first place recognition in the category of Local Display Ad by the New England Newspaper & Press Association (NENPA) at last Saturday’s annual conference in Portland, Maine. The ad, created by Observer designer Jan Kenney, featured local business Williston Hot Yoga.
Next in the process, the House Ways and Means Committee will add finance transformation steps to the bill. This will likely include a careful transition to a foundation formula.
I am excited about the prospect of this more stable, predictable funding mechanism rather than politically charged school budget votes. But again, the details matter. I will be watching this work closely as it is estimated there would be very substantial reductions in funding for Champlain Valley School District students under the governor’s proposed formula. Educators and families in our community are already grappling with many staff reductions that were made in order to arrive at the smallest-ever increase to a CVSD budget.
The Senate has their own ideas of what transformation could look like, as does the governor, so the work is far from finished. But this is a great start.
Rep. Arsenault and I strive to be accessible and responsive. Please reach out by email anytime at ebrady@leg.state.vt.us or aarsenault@leg.state.vt.us with your questions, concerns, or ideas.
Erin Brady represents Williston in the Vermont House of Representatives.
