Selectboard considers upgrade options at S. Brownell-Marshall Ave. intersection
BY JASON STARR Observer staff
Traffic engineers consulting with the Town of Williston are advocating for a roundabout at the fourway intersection of South Brownell Road and Marshall Avenue.
But industrialists who truck heavy loads through the area are wary of the idea.
The crossroads is “the industrial center of Chittenden County and probably the state,” said Ryan Carroll, a manager at Wood’s CRW Corporation. The company is headquartered on the southeast corner of the intersection and provides construction equipment to job sites throughout New England and New
York. Down the road is a regional hub for FedEx, with its steady flow of 18-wheelers coming through the intersection.
“Our concern is the ability of
these wider loads to be able to navigate that roundabout,” Carroll said during a Town Hall meeting last week when engineers from Stantec presented plans to the selectboard.
Doctors, volunteers work overtime to open free health clinic
BY JASON STARR Observer staff
A group of UVM Medical Center doctors are volunteering on Saturday mornings to offer their services free to uninsured and underinsured patients.
A Williston entrepreneur has helped them launch the effort under the name Free Access Health Clinic, operating as a non-profit from an office on Swift Street in South Burlington.
The clinic quietly opened in November, offering appointments in a variety of specialties
including dermatology, neurology, cardiology and primary care from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Saturdays. The under-the-radar start allowed the volunteer staff to smooth out operational kinks.
Now, the clinic is ready to welcome a higher patient volume; it issued a press release earlier this month announcing its presence.
Abdool Khan of Williston is the organization’s operations and communications manager. South Burlington neurologist Waqar Waheed is its medical director.
“It’s an extraordinary group of people who have come together to
work on this,” Waheed said.
It’s taken about four years for the clinic to go from Waheed’s original concept to opening its doors. The doctor said he received permission from UVM to launch the clinic. The clinic has the potential to reduce UVM’s costs by caring for patients before health conditions deteriorate.
“Some patients who are uninsured and underinsured, they delay or forego care until crisis happens,” said Waheed. “And when that happens ... they end up in the ER, and they have multiple
This would be the first true roundabout in Williston (excepting the small traffic circle between parking lots at the Maple Tree Place shopping center).
“New configurations can be challenging, but these are being built around the world,” Stantec engineer Sean Neely said. “And as we’ve seen in Waterbury, Burlington and other areas of Vermont, after construction and after some use, generally public perception grows to be positive around them.”
Neely presented another option for upgrading the intersection: adding turning lanes and truck aprons while keeping the four-way traffic light. He said the roundabout would cost less and move traffic through the area more efficiently and safely.
“They do reduce the number and severity of crashes in comparison to typical four-way, signalized intersections,” Neely said.
The selectboard plans to choose an option at a future meeting. Board member Mike Isham previewed his vote.
A rendering of a roundabout at the intersection of S. Brownell Road and Marshall Avenue was presented last week to the Williston Selectboard. IMAGE COURTESY OF STANTEC
Outside the Free Access Health Clinic on Swift Street in South Burlington.
Around Town
The Vermont State Police barracks in Williston that was built on Route 2A in 2023 recently won an award for sustainability from Efficiency Vermont.
The 22,500-square-foot building, designed by SAS Architects, was recognized for its stormwater management, electric heating and cooling systems, insulation and lighting efficiency. The complex includes a 911 call center and an 11,000-square-foot storage facility.
Airmen, F-35s return from Japan
About 200 members of the Vermont Air National Guard and multiple F-35 jets returned from deployment in Japan on Tuesday to their headquarters at the Burlington International Airport.
The months-long deployment included training with pilots from allied countries including Japan, Australia, India and the Republic of Korea.
One injured, home destroyed in Hinesburg fire
One person was injured, a home was destroyed and two other homes were damaged in a structure fire Sunday evening in Hinesburg. Firefighters from Hinesburg, Williston and Richmond responded to the scene on Wile Street about 5:30 p.m.
According to Hinesburg Fire Chief Prescott Nadeau, firefighters found one home engulfed in flames and two others smoking. One victim was transported to
the hospital with life-threatening injuries, Nadeau said. The fire is under investigation but not considered suspicious.
CVU students to lead Socratic discussion
The Champlain Valley School District invites community members to an evening of student-led discussion on the question: How does our understanding of time influence how we live?
The event will take place Monday, May 12 from 6:30-8 p.m. at CVU High School under the name The Socrates Café. It will be conducted using the principles of the “harkness method,” a mode of learning based on inquiry and discussion that is gain
ing popularity at the high school.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
EMAIL EVENT LISTINGS TO EDITOR@WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM
THURSDAY, APRIL 24
Williston-Richmond Rotary Club
breakfast and speaker ♦ Cathy LeClair and Jodi Girouard from NAMI Vermont speak on community support for mental health. 7:15 a.m. Williston Federated Church. More information at https://portal.clubrunner.ca/1453/.
SUNDAY, APRIL 27
Richmond Historical Society annual meeting ♦ Richmond Land Trust gives presentation on effort to save Gillett Pond dam. 3:30-5 p.m. Richmond Free Library. For more information, contact RHS@richmondvthistory.org.
“Socrates Cafe is incredibly special in the way that it provides a rare opportunity to gather with a diverse group of community members and communicate in a safe and supported environment, allowing all participants to not only connect but find curiosity in possible new perspectives,” CVU junior Emma Jean Armstrong said in a news release. “At the end of the discussion, every contributor walks away with an experience that has either shifted, added to, or confirmed their original thoughts.”
Refreshments will be served. RSVP online at bit. ly/socrates2025.
TUESDAY, APRIL 29
Williston Town Plan Informational Open House ♦ Learn about the 2025 update to the Town Plan with members of the Williston Planning Commission. 5:30 p.m. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library.
SATURDAY, MAY 3
Green Up Day and Town Fair ♦ Town Band concert, ice cream, e-bike demos, town staff meet-and-greet, and pick up trash bags for Green Up Day. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Town Green. More information at https://www.bit.ly/greenup05495.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 7
Sharing Heat ♦ An interactive workshop exploring local heating solutions for Williston’s homes and businesses. 7-8:30 p.m. The Rec Zone, 94 Harvest Lane.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 7
First Strides kickoff ♦ For women beginning or returning to running and/or walking. 5:45-6:45 p.m. Village Community Park. Register firststridesvermont.com.
The Vermont State Police barracks, built in 2023 in Williston.
PHOTO COURTESY OF EFFICIENCY VERMONT
Firefighters extinguish a house fire in Hinesburg on Sunday.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HINESBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT
Roundabout
continued from page 1
“I love roundabouts,” Isham said. “Change is hard sometimes. I think this is a good change.”
In addition to the industrial uses, the intersection is also home to a preschool on the southwest corner. Jason Adams owns the preschool parcel as head of Adams Properties and said he drives through the intersection multiple times a day.
Clinic
continued from page 1
complications. This significantly increases health care costs, but more importantly, it impacts the quality and quantity of life too.
“Sometimes they present at a stage where, as a physician, you feel there is a lot we could have done had they come earlier rather than when it’s too late.”
The clinic accepts all adults (18plus) who make an appointment at www.freeaccessclinic.org. Walk-ins and emergency care are not offered. The doctors hope to eventually expand hours and specialties.
“We really want to start slow and then move gradually on that,” Waheed said.
“As long as it factors in large truck traffic, I think the roundabout would be a way better alternative,” he told the board. “This is a really busy intersection, and it gets really backed up. It’s pretty unsafe with the signal there now.”
The roundabout design incorporates truck aprons and is designed to accommodate trucks, Neely said. But he asked Carroll, of Wood’s CRW, to send him the specifications of the vehicles they operate so he can tweak the design to work for
The non-profit welcomes volunteer staff inquiries and financial contributions at freeaccessclinic. org/donate/ or by contacting Khan at abdool@freeaccessclinic.org.
Donations will cover medical equipment, operational expenses and diagnostic services. The office space is being donated rent free.
“Our goal for the first year is to serve as many uninsured and underinsured patients as possible while growing our volunteer base and establishing long-term financial sustainability,” the clinic’s April 9 news release states.
In an email to the Observer, UVM Health Network Spokesman Phillip Rau said the organization supports the doctors’ efforts.
“Our employees volunteer in many different ways, from
them.
The roundabout would encroach on more private land than the current intersection, and would require public acquisition of that land from the four adjoining parcels.
“On almost every metric, a roundabout makes the most sense, but if it doesn’t make the most sense for our existing businesses and our industry we have in this town that we are working to cultivate, then it doesn’t make sense,” selectboard member Greta D’Agostino said.
coaching youth sports, to being part of Vermont’s medical reserve corps, to participating in community service projects, to volunteering their time at free clinics like the recently opened clinic in South Burlington, or others in Barre and Middlebury,” Rau said. “We are proud of our providers for using their skills and time to operate this free clinic, and are grateful to all of our staff for their dedication in their daily work, as well as in the volunteer and philanthropic pursuits to which they donate their personal time and expertise.
“When patients served by this clinic need more advanced follow-up care or medication,” he added, “they are connected with our financial services team and resources to help them receive and afford that care.”
• Baked Pastries and Seasonal Desserts A TASTE OF VERMONT’S
• Made-To-Order Omelets with Fresh Ingredients
• Classic Eggs Benedict
• Carving Stations with Salmon and Prime Rib
• Build-Your-Own Waffle Bar Served with Pure Vermont Maple Syrup
THINKING SUSTAINABLY • ACTING RESPONSIBLY
A communal way to energize our town
Getting to work on Thermal Energy Networks
BY MATTHEW WOOD Williston Energy Committee
With all the news about tariffs and trade wars, you might not know that Vermont is third on the list of states that rely most heavily on imported energy. While we have some of our own energy sources, such as solar, wind farms and power plants, we depend heavily on Canada to supply us with electricity, gas, oil and propane.
That means we’re especially vulnerable to both the economic and practical impacts caused by
the current economic uncertainty. Fortunately, we have many untapped local energy resources that can be harnessed right here in Williston. Here’s how the creation of local Thermal Energy Networks supports our sustainable growth and thriving village centers and can bring multiple benefits to our town, residents and businesses.
CAPTURING LOST HEAT
Thermal Energy Networks (TENs) are not new technology but are a new idea to many of us in Vermont. Basically, a TEN extracts heat from either groundwater or waste heat from commercial/industrial locations and uses
it to heat or cool several buildings at one time.
Many TENs include shallow geothermal boreholes, which pull warmth from the moderate
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temperatures available year-round in underground water — a constant 50 degrees or so in Vermont. TENs can also capture and distribute excess heat that is otherwise vented outside or flushed down the drain from sources such as breweries, bakeries, grocery stores, laundromats and industrial sites, to name a few. Even our sewer
A Thermal Energy Network shares heat among multiple buildings that would otherwise be discarded, such as heat from breweries, bakeries, grocery stores, laundromats, industrial sites, sewer lines and pump stations.
lines and pump stations can be tapped to capture heat that would otherwise be lost.
These highly efficient energy systems use ground source heat pumps and water in pipes to circulate thermal energy among buildings. Inside buildings, ground source heat pumps draw thermal energy from the network to provide heat and hot water, or they can reject excess heat back into the network to cool a space, keeping us comfortable in summer and winter.
Because the network uses constant, moderate temperatures, those ground source heat pumps use far less electricity than other solutions, and are the most efficient thermal solution we have.
Reducing electricity demand helps all of us by freeing up electricity to use where it’s most needed without having to expand our electrical network.
THERMAL NETWORK — A COMMUNITY BENEFIT
TENs provide safe, healthy, affordable thermal energy to many homes and businesses at once, while increasing resilience and fitting seamlessly into our neighborhoods and green spaces. As a Williston resident, I feel that making new and existing housing more efficient and affordable is a top priority for our community. Having a home or business on a TEN will reduce the cost of
heating and cooling that building over the long term.
While creating a TEN may sound bold, perhaps beyond what our limited town resources can manage, TENs are perfectly suited for areas that have the density and diversity of buildings that are being prioritized in Williston
SHARING HEAT WORKSHOP
An interactive workshop exploring local heating solutions for Williston’s homes and businesses.
• When: Wednesday, May 7, 7-8:30 p.m.
• Where: The Rec Zone, 94 Harvest Lane
town planning. Based on the TENs cases we have studied, these networks can reduce energy use, slash carbon emissions and lower our energy bills. In particular, they can support the new housing development we need to help Williston thrive now and in the future.
We can choose how our TENs are owned, operated, and financed. Our municipality can own and operate TENs, just like they do our water and wastewater services. A group of local businesses can also establish a TEN, operating as a cooperative in which each member has a vote. There is the
GREEN
option to contract with companies that design, construct, manage and finance these systems, and then offer ownership when we can all see that the system works as promised.
Regardless of which model we choose, TENs can be financed without raising taxes. Unlike roads or schools that cost taxpayers money, TENs create revenue from the monthly bills customers pay, allowing the upfront costs to be paid back over time.
LEARN MORE AT UPCOMING WORKSHOP
On May 7, town committees, Sustainable Williston and local businesses are hosting an interactive workshop on how we can make the best use of TENs in Williston. Whether you’re a resident or business owner, energy expert or novice, we hope you’ll join us to explore how using the heat we already have can help make Williston more livable, equitable and affordable.
We welcome your questions and ideas as we consider this opportunity together. This will be a great opportunity to have fun and connect with our community.
The workshop will run from 7-8:30 p.m. at The Rec Zone, 94 Harvest Lane in Williston. Light refreshments will be served, provided by sponsors Healthy Living, Twincraft Skincare,
Williston Energy Committee, Williston Housing Committee, Sustainable Williston, Vermont Community Thermal Networks and Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation.
RSVP at: https://bit.ly/TENsworkshop (case sensitive). To learn more about Thermal Energy Networks, visit the Vermont Community Thermal Network website at https://vctn.org.
To participate in Williston’s energy future, reach out to your Williston Energy Committee at energy@ willistonvt.org or attend a public meeting held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. The agenda for upcoming meetings is posted on the Town of Williston website (www. town.williston.vt.us). For more information, visit https://www. willistonvtenergycommittee.org.
Defending due process, free speech and humane treatment
BY REP. LAURA SIBILIA
Recent detentions of legally present
— raise urgent questions about whether our institutions are upholding core American principles like due process, free speech and equal protection under the law. These aren’t just immigration
cases. They’re about whether people in Vermont and across the United States can rely on our legal systems to work fairly, regardless of their background or beliefs.
Take Mohsen Mahdawi, a green card holder who has lived in Vermont since 2014. He had a citizenship interview scheduled for April 14. Instead of completing the process, he was taken by hooded plainclothes federal agents in handcuffs from the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USICS) office in Colchester. He wasn’t charged with a crime. According to his lawyers, the government is seeking his removal based on political speech he engaged in as a student organizer at Columbia University.
Rumeysa Ozturk, a doctoral student in Massachusetts, was detained and transferred to Vermont. She has not been
charged with a crime either. Her co-authorship of an op-ed found common cause with an organization that was later temporarily banned from campus. Both individuals were in the country legally and are protected by the U.S. Constitution.
The government cannot detain or deport people without fair process. That’s not a political opinion, it’s a legal standard guaranteed by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. These rights apply to all people on U.S. soil, not just citizens. Courts have upheld this principle time and time again.
Due process means the right to know the charges against you, to access legal counsel, and to be heard in court. Transferring people across state lines before they can speak to a lawyer or judge undermines those rights and erodes trust in the entire legal system. There is growing evidence of
federal authorities using such tactics without notifying legal representatives.
Freedom of speech and assembly aren’t limited to citizens. These rights are guaranteed to all people in the United States. If these detentions are in any way connected to peaceful protests or political expression — especially on issues like war, human rights or foreign policy — then the government’s actions are not just alarming. They’re unconstitutional.
As Vermont Congresswoman Becca Balint said: “Without due process and the right to free speech, this is not the America we thought we lived in.”
There’s no single definition of being “legally in the U.S.” It includes:
Rick Cote, Associate Publisher rick@willistonobserver.com 802-373-2136
EDITOR
Jason Starr editor@willistonobserver.com
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Susan T. Cote susan@willistonobserver.com
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Friday at 5 p.m. for the next Thursday issue rick@willistonobserver.com, 802-373-2136 CLASSIFIED
story tips are welcomed. Letters to the Editor should be 300
or fewer and include your name, address and a daytime phone number so that we can verify the letter’s author.
Sibilia
U.S. or naturalized
— Green card holders, lawful permanent residents like Mr. Mahdawi
— Student visa holders, people in the U.S. for education, like Ms. Ozturk
— Asylum seekers and refugees, individuals fleeing persecution or violence
— Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients, those from countries facing crisis
In these recent cases, both detainees were legally present. And even for those who are undocumented, the Constitution still applies. They still have the right to due process, to free speech and to humane treatment.
These detentions are not abstract for Vermonters. State Sen. Becca White was present when Mr. Mahdawi was taken. The Vermont Senate is reviewing the state’s relationship with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Gov. Phil Scott has expressed concern about the treatment of detainees in out-of-state ICE facilities, a concern shared by many in our state.
Vermont cannot directly control federal enforcement, but we can and should review any agreements between local law enforcement and federal immigration agencies. The state has the power to demand transparency and ensure that people have access to legal representation. We should not be complicit in violating civil
liberties or using federal power to silence dissent.
These incidents aren’t isolated. They’re signs of deeper stress on the democratic systems meant to hold power in check. No one should face deportation for protesting a war. No one should be taken from a citizenship interview into a van with no markings, no explanation and no access to counsel.
What happened to Mohsen Mahdawi and Rumeysa Ozturk may not meet the strict definition of human trafficking, but the methods — hooded agents, transporting uncharged individuals across state lines without legal access — violate democratic norms and constitutional rights. When law enforcement
uses intimidation and secrecy instead of transparency and legal process, it does more than erode public trust. It puts our entire system at risk.
If you’re looking for ways to help, consider supporting the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project or AALV. Both organizations provide legal and integration support for Vermont’s immigrant and refugee communities.
We must do better. Upholding the Constitution isn’t about abstract ideals. It’s about action, accountability, and protecting the systems meant to protect all of us.
Laura Sibilia represents portions of southern Vermont in the Vermont House of Representatives.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Governor’s voice needed
Gov. Phil Scott, where are you?
Your voice I heard daily during the Covid pandemic. You were a comfort. Your voice I heard during Vermont’s severe storms and flooding disasters. You were a reassurance. Vermonters need you to speak out against the Trump administration’s civil and human rights roll backs, the arrests and deportations of student activists and immigrants — disregarding free speech and due process. We need
you to protest the massive budget cuts and firing of federal workers, incapacitating many governmental departments.
But where are you now? We must raise our voices against this inhumane chaos. If our state and country ever needed you, a person of power, to speak out, we need it now.
Growing up in South Carolina, I looked to Vermont as one of the leaders of change in our country. We offer hope for many, and they look to us for it.
Mary B. Oliphant Williston
March 16 at 7:01 a.m. — Male sleeping in the vestibule at EastRise Credit Union. Male was moved along.
March 16 at 9:47 a.m. — Abandoned vehicle with drugs inside found on Cypress Street. Vehicle was towed due to it being in a handicap parking spot. Drugs were seized and destroyed.
March 16 at 10:36 p.m. — Following a motor vehicle crash, male operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.
March 17 at 10:44 a.m. — Assisted Chittenden County Sheriffs with an eviction on Zephyr Road.
March 17 at 2:28 p.m. — Threats made toward a male on Zephyr Road. Suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for violation of conditions of release.
March 18 at 12:21 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Old Navy. Male suspect was gone before officer’s arrival.
March 18 at 4:13 p.m. — Following a traffic stop, male operator was issued a citation to appear in court for driving with a criminally suspended license.
March 18 at 4:35 p.m. — Male causing a disturbance on Williston Road. Male was brought to the correctional facility for detox.
March 19 at 9:40 a.m. — Report of a male at Sandri who had been trespassed. Male was located and issued a citation to appear in court for unlawful trespass.
March 19 at 2:40 p.m. — Female taken into custody who had an active arrest warrant. Female was transported to the correctional facility.
March 20 at 7:06 a.m. — Suspicious female in Walmart. Female was issued a citation to appear in court for unlawful trespass.
March 20 at 4:03 p.m. — Report of a stolen vehicle on Christmas Lane. Vehicle was located in Colchester a short time later and returned to the owner.
March 20 at 8:20 p.m. — Report of a male lying in the road on Harvest Lane. Male was located and transported to the hospital due to being intoxicated and wanting to harm himself.
March 20 at 8:59 p.m. — Suspicious female reported at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Female had an active arrest warrant. She was issued a citation to appear in court. March 21 at 11:23 a.m. — Retail theft reported at Home Depot. Male suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.
March 21 at 3:47 p.m. — Stolen vehicle recovered at Walmart. Owner was contacted and came to pick up the vehicle.
March 22 at 2:02 a.m. — Following a traffic stop, female operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.
March 22 at 1:22 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. Male suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court.
Officers also conducted 68 traffic stops and responded to nine alarm activations and 11 motor vehicle crashes during this time frame.
Dorothy Alling Memorial Library hours:
• Monday and Wednesday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Visit www.damlvt.org to apply for a library card and 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.
TEEN NIGHT: DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
Friday, April 25, 4:30-5:55 p.m. Ages 1218. Campaign is currently full.
SATURDAY MUSIC
Saturday, April 26, 10-10:30 a.m. Start your weekend with Linda Bassick’s preschool music.
READING ADVENTURE
Monday, April 28, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Ages
6-plus. While adults meet for Parenting Book Club, kids can explore Australia with facts, stories and activities.
PRESCHOOL STORYTIME
Tuesdays, April 29 and May 6, 10:30-11 a.m. Drop in for stories and fun.
BABY TIME
Wednesday, April 30 and May 7, 10:3011 a.m. Ages 0-18 months. Enjoy gentle social and bonding activities with your little one.
AFTER SCHOOL BOOK CHATS
Wednesday, April 30, 2-3 p.m. Talk about what you’re reading and enjoy bookish activities.
MUSIC AND PLAYTIME
Thursdays, May 1 and 8, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Come for music with Linda Bassick, then stay to play.
SATURDAY STORYTIME
Saturday, May 3, 10:30-11 a.m. Stop by the library for storytime with Cindy.
STEM ADVENTURE
Monday, May 5, 3-4 p.m. Suggested
ages 6-plus. Explore weird food science with different activities. (One activity will include peanut butter and be done outside.)
AFTER SCHOOL GAME
Wednesday, May 7, 2-3 p.m. Enjoy board games after school.
LEGO TIME
Thursday, May 8, 3-4 p.m. Build
something exciting with the Library’s LEGO collection.
MULTI-AGE PROGRAMS
GREEN UP DAY/WILLISTON TOWN FAIR
Saturday, May 3, 9 a.m.-noon. The library will have a table at the Green Up Day
During a fortuitous break in the rain, hundreds of kids and parents turned out for the 25th annual Bill Mikell Easter Parade and Egg Hunt held last Saturday on the grounds of Williston Central School and the Village Green. After parading around the library, children raced to scoop up thousands of candy-filled eggs. Event hosts, the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club, awarded Easter baskets to finders of special eggs marked with the Rotary logo. The Williston Police and Fire departments joined the fun, along with the Easter Bunny, of course.
OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS
1540 Williston Road, S. Burlington (802) 862-8666 burlingtonpodiatry.com
SAVVY SENIOR
Protect yourself from identity theft scams
Dear Savvy Senior,
I am very concerned about Elon Musk and the so-called DOGE team getting access to my Social Security number and personal financial information through their government office raids. What can I personally do to help protect myself from this identity theft mess?
Worried Senior
Dear Worried,
It’s a great question! I’ve been hearing from many older readers around the country who are deeply troubled by the news that the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been granted access to millions of Americans’ Social Security records that include highly sensitive personal information.
The major concern among data privacy experts is what could
By Jim Miller
happen if your Social Security number, bank account information or tax records somehow get leaked or breeched in all the data shuffling. If your information gets in the wrong hands, it could lead to identity theft, which means
scammers could use your personal information to open credit card accounts, bank accounts, telephone service accounts, and make major purchases — all in your name.
If you’re concerned about the privacy of your personal information, the best way to protect yourself is to put a “fraud alert” — or better yet a “credit freeze” — on your credit file.
A fraud alert is a notification placed on your credit report that signals to potential creditors to take extra steps to verify your identity before extending credit in your name. A credit freeze completely restricts access to your credit report, essentially preventing anyone from opening new accounts in your name without your explicit authorization.
A credit freeze provides much stronger protection than a fraud see SAVVY SENIOR page 14
TODAY’S HISTORY:
• In 1898, Spain declared war on the United States.
• In 1916, the Irish Republican Brotherhood began the Easter Rising in Dublin, seizing several key locations and proclaiming Irish independence.
• In 1980, the United States launched Operation Eagle Claw, an unsuccessful attempt to free American hostages in Iran that resulted in the deaths of eight U.S. servicemen.
• In 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was launched from the space shuttle Discovery.
TODAY’S FACT:
• The Hubble Space Telescope’s successor, the James Webb Space Telescope, was launched on Dec. 25, 2021. NASA estimates that Hubble will make its natural atmospheric re-entry in the mid- to late 2030s or later.
If left untreated, rabies is
ways fatal in humans and animals. However, treatment with the rabies vaccine is nearly 100 percent effective when given soon after a person is bitten by a rabid animal.
Savvy Senior
continued from page 12
Rabies
alert, but there is a drawback. When you freeze your credit, you won’t be able to open new credit cards or get a new loan while the freeze in place. It does not, however, prevent you from using the credit cards you already have open.
TransUnion — either by phone, online or by mail. You only need to contact one of these agencies, and they will notify the other two. Here’s the phone and website contact information for each of the three bureaus.
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
If you do need to get a new credit card or some type of loan, you can always lift the freeze on your account until you get the card or loan approved, and then refreeze it.
To place a classified ad, email rick@williston observer.com or call 802-373-2136 Deadline for classifieds is Monday.
You’ll also be happy to know that a credit freeze is completely free to put in place and lift, as are fraud alerts. And neither action will affect your credit score.
FRAUD ALERT SET-UP
To set up a fraud alert, you’ll need to contact one of the three major credit reporting bureaus — Equifax, Experian and
So far this year, 23 animals in Vermont have tested positive for rabies, and 14 of those have been raccoons.
• Equifax: 800-685-1111 or Equifax.com/personal/ credit-report-services
bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. A credit freeze lasts until you unfreeze it.
But remember, before you apply for a new credit card or loan, you’ll need to temporarily lift the security freeze by following the procedures from each of the credit reporting bureaus where you placed the freeze.
continued
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
• Experian: 888-397-3742 or Experian.com/help
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.
• TransUnion: 888-909-8872 or TransUnion.com/credit-help
If you haven’t been a victim of identity theft, you’ll need to set up an “initial fraud alert,” which lasts for one year, although you can renew it for additional oneyear periods.
CREDIT FREEZE SET-UP
To set up a credit freeze, you’ll need to contact each of the three previously listed credit reporting
If, however, you don’t want to set up a fraud alert or credit freeze, you can still keep an eye on your credit file by reviewing your credit report regularly. You can get a free credit report each week from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion by going to AnnualCreditReport.com.
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.
Shelburne display lead dors from creemees. from
REUNION
CVU CLASS OF 75 — will be celebrating their 50th Reunion on Sunday September 21, 2025 at Buck Ridge Barn in Hinesburg VT 4 -10 p.m. If you haven’t already, please send contact information to Christine Corytsas LaPointe cdclapointe1980@gmail.com
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TOWN OF WILLISTON NOTICE OF ADOPTION
On April 15, 2025, following a public hearing, the Williston Selectboard adopted an amendment to the Sewer Allocation Ordinance referred to as “Attachment A” - an existing ordinance pertaining to the allocation of sewer system capacity. This attachment will designate the portion of the uncommitted reserve capacity that will be available for use during the next fiscal year which starts July 1, 2025.
The approved amendment is as follows:
CLASSIFIEDS
The amendment to this ordinance will take effect on June 14, 2025, unless a petition signed by at least five percent of the voters of Williston is filed with the Town Clerk by May 29, 2025, asking for a vote to disapprove the adoption. If a petition is received, the Selectboard will warn a special meeting and the voters may vote on that question pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 1973.
Copies of the text of the complete ordinance are available on the Town’s website at https://town.williston.vt.us. (Public Records & Documents - Ordinances).
Any questions about this ordinance amendment should be directed to Matt Boulanger, Planning Director by mail at 7900 Williston Road, Williston, VT 05495; email mboulanger@willistonvt.org; or phone (802) 878-6704.
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Dated at Williston, Vermont this 17th day of April 2025.
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TOWN OF WILLISTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 – 7:00 PM
Town Hall Meeting Room (Town Hall, 7900 Williston Road, use rear entrance) or Zoom Meeting ID 846 5863 3532 on zoom. us/join or call 1-646-558-8656
DP 25-09 Town of Williston requests discretionary permit review for proposed installation of a 1200 SF pavilion w 5’ pathway adjacent to the Recreation Path at the Village Community Park at 250 Library Ln in the Village Zoning District (VZD).
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, and April 8, 2025.
DP 24-05 Armand Fournier requests discretionary permit review of the proposed 4- lot subdivision of an existing 28± ac lot to create (1) 4.4± ac lot for the existing dwelling, (2) 1.1± ac lots for 2 proposed dwellings, and (1) 21± ac lot to be conserved as open space at 615 Butternut Rd in the Agricultural/Rural Zoning District (ARZD).
Project details and site plans are available on the website, town.williston.vt.us, under “Public Records and Documents”, then “Agendas & Minutes”, and “Development Review Board”. Contact Planning & Zoning Office for more information: 802878-6704 or email planning@willistonvt. org
Girls Flag Football!
Open tryouts & walk-up registration
continued from page 9
Sat. May 3, 9:30 Burlington High Open tryouts & walk-up registration Sat. May 3, 9:30 Burlington High
Town Fair on the Village Green. Stop by for your Green Up bags, coffee and snacks, raffles, giveaways and more!
CRAFT CIRCLE
Monday, May 5, 5-6 p.m. All ages. Bring a project and work on it in the company of other crafters.
ADULT PROGRAMS
Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt and come discuss with other parents and guardians in the first of three discussions.
MAY SPICE CLUB: EPAZOTEM — A MEXICAN SPICE
Stop by to pick up this month’s sample with information about tasting notes, suggestions for use and a few recipes to try. While supplies last.
PUZZLE SWAP
abilities welcome.
ADULT CRAFTERNOON: BEADED BRACELETS
Tuesday, May 6, 2-3 p.m. We have beads, beads, beads! Come make a bracelet for yourself.
SPANISH CONVERSATION (ONLINE)
Wednesday, May 7, 5-6 p.m. Join us to brush up on your language skills.
MEET-AND-GREET OPEN HOUSE
Time to shine: Spring ’25
Time to shine: Spring ’25
WHO: Girls grades 3-9
WHERE: BHS & St. Mike’s
WHEN: Saturdays May 3-June 7
Register now at chittendencountyflagfootball.com
For online programs or to join a book club, email daml@damlvt.org.
ADULT MEDITATION (ONLINE)
Fridays, April 25 and May 2, 1212:30 p.m. Join our meditation.
PARENTING BOOK CLUB
Monday, April 28, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Read what you can of “The
Bring in your gently used puzzles, 300-1,000 pieces, and bring home something new to you.
ADULT RPG
Thursday, May 1, 6-8:30 p.m.
Join our fantasy role-playing game for adults. Register online.
MAH JONGG
Friday, May 2, 1-3 p.m. All
Thursday, May 8, 6-8 p.m. Stop by the library after hours and join library trustees, new library director Kevin Unrath, Town Manager Erik Wells, and project architect John Hemmelgarn from Black River Design for an open house to learn about library expansion plans and ask questions.
• Something for Everyone | 3-story townhomes, 2-story paired villas & 1-level carriage homes
• Modern Design | Efficient, innovative homes; main level owner’s suites
• In the Heart of Williston | Access to town bike paths; Close to shopping
• Focus on Fun | Park, pool, and bike paths Townhomes, Paired Villas & Carriage Homes Starting from the upper $500s
