Voters rescind Town Meeting approval of library expansion bond
BY JASON STARR Observer staff
It turns out Williston isn’t ready for a library expansion.
Voters on Tuesday rescinded their Town Meeting Day approval of a $13.9 million bond to finance the project, which would have doubled the size of the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, reoriented its entrance, added a parking lot and upgraded the Village Green.
The margin was close — 1,597 to 1,537. The result eschews three years of studying, planning and design work and brings the Board of Library Trustees back to the drawing board on a possible path forward.
About 650 more people voted Tuesday than did on Town Meeting Day, when the project was approved by 47 votes. Since that time, a group of residents opposed to the scope of the project circulated a petition to force a reconsideration. Lawn signs sprouted throughout town and those both opposed to and in favor of the project began to campaign.
Cindy Roy stood outside the polls throughout the evening voting rush Tuesday, holding a sign urging voters to reject the project.
“We’ve tried to educate people to make sure they saw the whole picture,” she said.
Roy believes many Town Meeting Day voters approved the bond after only reading the
question on the ballot, without realizing the full scope of the project — the Village Green improvements and traffic plan, for example.
A few yards away from Roy was Sherry Pidgeon, a leader of the pro-expansion campaign.
Voter education was also a key piece of her efforts — especially drilling home the counterintuitive fact that those in favor of the project had to vote ‘no’ on Tuesday.
“We know there are a lot of people who want the library (expansion) and we wanted them to understand to vote ‘no,’ because it is confusing,” Pidgeon said.
Illustrating the point, a woman
entering the polls intending to support the expansion asked Pidgeon for confirmation of how to vote.
“If you support the library,” Pidgeon told her, “vote ‘no!’”
With a Williston Selectboard meeting scheduled to start shortly after the polls closed at 7 p.m., Town Manager Erik Wells walked to the armory to pick up the results from Town Clerk Sarah Mason. He returned to share them with the board.
“The library project is now not approved,” selectboard member Ted Kenney announced.
The Board of Library Trustees, where the expansion plan originated, is set to meet
Tuesday to discuss the results and later hold a joint discussion with the selectboard on possible paths forward.
David Martel, who launched the reconsideration petition drive shortly after Town Meeting Day in March, said he is open to supporting a scaled back library renovation.
“I think the library is definitely due for a makeover,” he said. “It’s a little outdated. It could use some TLC. Could it use an expansion to create a little bit more space? Probably. I’m for that. But I don’t want to spend $14 million … We need to talk about what’s affordable, what’s practical.”
Windswept Farm, town agree on long-term lease
BY JASON STARR Observer staff
The Town of Williston has agreed to a lease with Windswept Farm for use of 31 acres on Old Stage Road. The town acquired the land in January as part of a home-building plan with former owners Jack and Caitlin Glaser.
Home construction has begun on the part of the parcel that remains in private ownership, with 107 homes and two new roads approved to be built in the coming years.
Windswept Farm, a neighboring equestrian center, had used the land for hay and horse pasture under an agreement with the Glasers. As part of the development plan, the Glasers donated the land to the town, and the town assured Windswept Farm owners Mike and Christina Mauss that they would be allowed to continue to use the land for horse operations.
Voters line up to to cast their votes Tuesday on the town library budget referendum. See more photos on Page 24. OBSERVER PHOTO BY AL FREY
Around
Town
Memorial Day
Observance planned for Monday
The Williston-Richmond Rotary Club is hosting Williston’s annual Memorial Day Observance on Monday, May 25 at 9 a.m. at the War Memorial Park between Town Hall and the Town Hall Annex.
The community is invited to join in remembrance of military personnel who sacrificed their lives for our safety and freedom. The program will include music, inspiration from club and community members as well as verbal recognition of deceased veterans from the community and veterans who are honored with an engraved brick on the patio of War Memorial Park. Light refreshments will follow. In case of rain will move to Town Hall Beckett/ McGuire Meeting Room.
Police,
Fire departments plan
‘Stuff the Ambulance’ summer food drive
Help Williston’s Fire and Police departments “Stuff the Ambulance” when they team up to collect non-perishable food and personal care items to stock the Williston Community Food Shelf before school lets out for the summer.
That’s a time of year when families can face additional challenges keeping food on the table.
On Saturday, May 30 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., community members can bring donations to the Williston Fire Department at 645 Talcott Rd. Items needed include canned fruits and vegetables; peanut butter and jelly; pasta, rice and cereal; soup and canned proteins; baby food and formula; toiletries and hygiene products.
Discussion: The revival of Vermont’s forests
The Williston Historical Society will host the presentation “When the Trees Came Back: The Great Battle to Save Vermont’s Forests” by Robert Mello on Saturday, June 6 from 1-2 p.m. at Williston’s Old Brick Church.
The talk explores the long campaign to reverse the deforestation that decimated Vermont’s ancient forests following early settlement in the mid-1700s.
Free Summer Meals Program returns June 25-Aug. 13
The Champlain Valley School District’s Free Summer Meals Program runs from Thursday, June 25, through Thursday, Aug. 13, providing free meal boxes for local children.
Meal ordering will be available beginning Sunday, June 14 via weekly emails that will be sent to all CVSD families.
Meal pickup will take place Thursdays starting at 7 a.m. at St. Jude’s Church, 10759 Route 116, in Hinesburg, VT, 05461. Email
Colleen French at cfrench@ cvsdvt.org for more information.
Champlain Valley Union High School senior Chloe Ngu has been selected to receive a $2,500 STAR Scholarship from the Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) Sisterhood.
The scholarship is for women who exhibit excellence in leadership, academics, extracurricular activities, community service and potential for future success.
Chloe is a student representative on the Champlain Valley School Board, a Student Council and Class Council member, president and founder of Together for Mental Health Club and a volunteer at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library in Williston.
She plans to attend Wake Forest University in the fall to pursue a degree in psychology with a goal of becoming a psychiatrist.
Visit www.peointernational. org for more about the P.E.O. Sisterhood.
Richmond Farmers’ Market opens May 29
The Richmond Farmers’ Market kicks off Friday, May 29 with a lineup of new and returning vendors, live music and family events.
The market is held every Friday from 3-6:30 p.m. on the Volunteer’s Green in Richmond through Oct. 9. Shoppers can find local produce, meat and fish, prepared food, baked goods, artisanal crafts and more.
“I’m most excited to see our market continue to be a place where neighbors connect, friendships old and new grow, and community truly comes together,” said Sophie Evans, market co-manager. “There’s something especially joyful about watching children dig into fresh ice cream while adults catch up with an armload of fresh seasonal veggies, fish, honey, or flowers, all while supporting our local farmers and small businesses.”
Shoppers looking for a meal will find two new prepared food options, plus familiar favorites. The Boerie Roll will bring smashburgers and South African-inspired street food. Leo’s BBQ serves wood-smoked barbecue platters with fire-grilled flatbread, roasted vegetables, handmade pickles, and flavorful sauces.
Returning vendor Las Hermosas will bring tacos and festive Mexican cooking, Samosaman will have handcrafted samosas and traditional meals, and Pie Empire will return with
handheld savory pies.
Shoppers will find lots of ways to support their local community food system, too.
“This will be my sixth season selling vegetables at The Richmond Farmers Market, and I absolutely love it,” said Stoni Tomson, who owns New Traditions Farm. “It is such an incredible hub of community connectedness, fun and resilience. I became a farmer because I rejoice in feeding my neighbors the highest quality vegetables, and I love that the market allows me to have face-to-face conversations with them. You just don’t have that kind of experience … at a grocery store.”
In addition to New Traditions, the farm lineup includes longtime cornerstone Last Resort Farm, specializing in organic berries, veggies, herbs, jams, pickles and more. The market will also feature honey and honey treats from Bee Happy Vermont, sustainably caught seafood from Community Dock Seafood, and fresh flowers from Richmond-based Happy Glads and others.
Delicious baked goods and treats will be on offer from LB’s Gluten Free Creations, the Crazy Cotton Candy Lady, Kingdom Creamery, Wildflower Baking Company, Grain, Nalu’s Hawaiian Shaved Ice, and many more.
The market will also host a rotating lineup of Vermont artisans and crafters, providing plenty of options to pick up gifts for yourself or others, as well as musicians playing every Friday from 4-6 p.m.
Market sponsors include Farm Credit East, the Richmond Animal Hospital and Northfield Saving Bank.
For more information, visit www.richmond-farmers-market. square.site
Chloe Ngu
Stoni Tomson of New Traditions Farm.
Four arrested at protest against ICE at Williston facility
BY EMMA GREEN VTDigger
Four people were arrested last Thursday at the White Cap Business Park in Williston during a protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the latest in a series of similar actions around the state.
The protesters blocked entrances to a portion of the business park at 426 Industrial Avenue, where ICE runs a digital surveillance center. The surveillance center “analyzes data in numerous law enforcement and immigration databases to develop leads on removable noncitizens” for field offices across the country, according to an ICE document.
A second ICE facility in Williston is based nearby at 188 Harvest Lane.
The protest came as demonstrators in Vermont have sought to keep pressure up against ICE’s actions in the state and across the country. In February, state police arrested 11 people and cited two others for trespassing on the property during a similar protest. Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George declined to prosecute any of those arrested or cited in February.
Four protesters inside the building, ranging in age from early twenties to late seventies, were arrested on charges of unlawful trespass and resisting arrest, according to the Vermont State Police. The property manager, Normand Stanislas, said he asked police to remove the protesters inside the building after they refused his request to leave the premises.
Peter Booth, one of the protesters who was arrested, said the action had succeeded in impeding ICE’s operations for the day. Booth was previously cited for criminal trespass at the February protest.
“The hunting of black and brown people in this country has got to stop, and the Vermont State Police are 100% complicit in this situation,” Booth said as he was carried by his arms and legs out of the building by three uniformed Vermont State Police officers and placed into a waiting police car. Williston police and a handful of U.S. Department of Homeland Security officers were also present at the scene.
After the arrests, a group of about 15 people continued to chant outside one of the building’s entrances.
The Rev. Becca Girrell, pastor at a United
Methodist church in Morrisville, said her faith had led her to take part in the protest.
“The harm that happens out of this building, the surveillance and targeting of human beings, is immoral and unethical, and cannot be tolerated,” Girrell said. “This perpetuates the violence that ICE commits across the country, right out of my home state of Vermont.”
“We want the building management and ownership and other tenants to reconsider their relationship with this corrupt and awful organization that is leasing this property,” she added.
In an emailed statement, an unnamed ICE spokesperson said the agency “fully supports the right to peaceful protest, but condemns the dangerous and unlawful actions that are obstructing federal operations and endangering the safety of everyone involved.”
The U.S. General Services Administration, which leases the space from White Cap Ventures, LLC, pays about $860,000 each year to rent a portion of the building, according to public data on federally leased properties from the GSA. That LLC is owned by J. Graham Goldsmith, according to the Vermont Secretary of State’s office. Goldsmith could not be reached for comment.
Stanislas, the property manager, said that while protests take place near the road outside of the business park regularly without issue, he considered Thursday’s protests to be in a different category.
“The protests that occurred today, with blocking four doors to Homeland Security so that tenants could not get into the building or out of the building, is not a good way to get any consideration from anybody,” Stanislas said, referring to protesters’ demand that the building’s management cancel the ICE facility’s lease.
Protesters said they blocked five doors at the facility, not four.
Stanislas added that the protesters also impacted other businesses located within the building, saying that a cafe in the building chose to close for the day.
He said that he was disappointed that the state’s attorney did not prosecute those who were arrested in February, and that he hoped she would prosecute those arrested in Thursday’s action.
The protesters are expected to appear in court in Burlington on June 30.
Vermont state police officers,
Protesters, left, outside an entrance to the White Cap Business Park building during a protest against ICE operations there on May 14.
below, carry Peter Booth out of a White Cap Business Park building as they arrest him during the protest.
At 20, Front Porch Forum pivots toward employee ownership
BY JASON STARR Observer staff
The year was 2006, and Burlington resident Michael Wood-Lewis and his wife, Valerie, were bringing their fourth child into the world. Roughly simultaneously, they birthed what has become a cornerstone of Vermont civic life: Front Porch Forum.
Now, all of the Wood-Lewis children are young adults and exploring career paths that don’t involve taking over the family business. With that in mind — and in concert with Front Porch Forum’s culture as a “public benefit corporation” driven by an underlying social
mission — Wood-Lewis is planning to hand ownership off to his employees.
He’s been working with the Vermont Employee Ownership Center to evaluate different employee ownership models.
“It jibes well with Front Porch Forum’s social mission of more resilient Vermont communities,” Wood-Lewis said. “It brings with it a lot of positives. We’ve always been angling in that direction, but it’s hard.”
Wood-Lewis is not a fan of the most common form of employee ownership, known as ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan). He points to the recent bankruptcy of another Vermont company, Gardener’s Supply, as a cautionary
tale. Gardener’s Supply was acquired by an out-of-state corporation after bankruptcy in 2025. Its ESOP was dissolved and employees lost any guarantee that their ESOP-based retirement plan would be honored.
For Front Porch Forum, an EOT (Employee Ownership Trust) has become the most appealing model. An EOT offers more protection against outside buyers and a simpler setup for profit-sharing, according to the Vermont Employee Ownership Center.
Last year, an exercise machine manufacturer in Morrisville (Concept 2) became the first Employee Ownership Trust
Saturday, May 30, 2026
Run/Walk: 9:00 am
Malletts Bay School Register today: uvmhealth.org/jog
Michael Wood-Lewis is interviewed by Judy Woodruff for a segment that aired in 2025 on PBS. PHOTO VIA FRONT PORCH FORUM
WILLISTONHUB
J.Crew opens at Maple Tree Place
Clothing brand J.Crew opened a new retail location at Maple Tree Place in Williston last Thursday.
The store opened in a space in the shopping center that formerly was home to a Mexican food restaurant.
J.Crew specializes in men’s and women’s apparel and accessories.
“We are excited to welcome J.Crew to Maple Tree Place,” said Maple Tree Place Property Manager Justin Kelley. “J.Crew is a well-established and highly regarded brand, and its arrival further strengthens the center’s diverse retail mix while enhancing the shopping experience for our customers.”
The store is one of several national brands that have opened at Maple Tree Place since the property was acquired by Acadia Realty in 2024.
Front Porch Forum
continued from page 4
in Vermont. The international outdoor clothing company Patagonia is perhaps the most high-profile EOT company.
“That’s what we’re leaning toward,” said Wood-Lewis.
In preparation for the transition, Wood-Lewis has been working to solidify the company’s 31-person workforce, its management system and its financial health. He plans to stay on as chief executive officer after the transition.
“There’s a lot of planning, and a lot of preparation,” he said.
Front Porch Forum’s reach in Vermont has grown over 20 years from just one Burlington neighborhood to statewide ubiquity. Any Vermont resident can find a local forum to join. According to the company’s 2025 impact report, there are 250,000 active users of the service. About 90 percent use it by email, publishing and reading posts in hyper-local forums. A minority of users access their neighborhood forum on the company’s mobile app, launched in 2020, or on frontporchforum.com.
Revenue comes through user donations and advertising. The company announced earlier this month that its annual spring fundraising campaign from users had generated $200,000.
Advertisers are offered one of four products. A newly created “feature ad” allows businesses to put a message and logo at the top of a forum. Other options show advertiser messages in the body of a forum, interspersed with user posts.
The company continues to strike a balance between readability and incorporating visual elements. It only started allowing advertiser logos two years ago,
when it simultaneously began allowing users to post pictures alongside their written posts.
While the company has a small reach beyond Vermont, with forums in some upstate New York and western Massachusetts communities, it has no plans to expand regionally or nationally. Other startups, notably NextDoor, have attempted to replicate Front Porch Forum’s model in other states.
“Employee ownership brings with it a lot of positives.”
Michael
Wood-Lewis
Co-founder and CEO Front Porch Forum
Wood-Lewis has kept a running tab of companies that have tested the concept in other parts of the country and internationally. At one point, he said, it reached into the 200s.
“They are all pretty much gone now,” he said.
NextDoor remains. It was founded by “big tech” refugees with billions of dollars of investment, Wood-Lewis said. He views it as a harmful replication of the Front Porch Forum model that promotes sensationalism and conflict.
He is hopeful about a new company called Roundabout, which is piloting local forums in a handful of communities around the country. Wood-Lewis has advised its founders.
“Our model is hard to replicate,” he said. “We had a first-mover advantage. It’s much harder to start in an environment where people are like ‘I already have local online stuff and it’s toxic, so you’re telling me to sign on for another one? No thanks.’”
June 3 – June 6
J.Crew has taken up residence at 28 Walnut St., Suite 180 of Maple Tree Place.
OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR
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Member:
Vermont businesses vs. big credit card
BY WES HAMILTON
A couple of giant credit card companies have enormous power over how businesses like Three Penny Taproom operate. They set the rules, they set the fees, and they apply them across the board. There is no negotiation and no way around it.
If you want to stay open and serve your customers, you accept cards and absorb the cost. That cost has grown into one of the most significant pressures we as small business owners face.
We have now made the call to pass credit card fees on to our customers. It is not something we wanted to do, but at a certain point, the math leaves you no other option. When the fees are this high and completely out of your control, absorbing them means cutting somewhere else that matters just as much.
That reality is part of a much bigger picture. It reflects the environment most small businesses in Vermont are operating in right now. Costs keep moving in one direction — food, labor, insurance, utilities. None of it is static, and none of it is getting easier to manage.
At the same time, there is only so much you can charge before you start losing the very people who keep your business alive. So you’re constantly threading that needle, trying to stay viable without pushing prices too high.
Credit card fees have become one of the most significant and least controllable costs we deal with. Nearly every transaction runs through a card now. That means every time someone walks in, sits down and pays their bill, a percentage of that total goes out the door before we ever see it.
That percentage is applied to the full transaction, not just what we sell, but everything on the bill — including taxes we collect for the state, and tips that go directly to our staff. Those dollars never stay in the business. They move through us. They are not revenue. They are obligations. But the fee still applies to them.
When you see it once, it doesn’t jump out at you. When you see it every day, on every transaction, it becomes something else entirely. Over the course of a week, a month, a year, it turns into a steady drain on the business. It shows up in decisions about whether you can hire, whether you
can give someone a raise, whether you can fix something that’s been put off, or whether you just have to keep holding the line.
And it’s important to be clear about where that pressure is coming from. These are not local costs. These are fees set by large, multinational credit card companies that operate far from Vermont but take a percentage out of every transaction that happens here. It’s a substantial pot of money leaving local businesses and local communities every single day.
That’s why S.135, a bill now before the Vermont Senate Finance Committee, matters and I urge the committee to take it up and move it forward.
S.135 is a focused, practical change that addresses this specific problem. It would stop credit card companies from charging percentage-based credit card fees on the tax and tip portions of a transaction. It keeps the payment system in place, with one important adjustment. Fees are applied to what a business actually earns, not to the dollars that pass through it.
We collect taxes because the law requires it. We pass tips through because they belong to the people who earned them. Those
dollars are part of the transaction, but they are not part of the business’ income. S.135 brings the fee structure in line with the reality of how those transactions work. It recognizes the difference between revenue and pass-through dollars and adjusts accordingly.
The payment system already handles complexity at a level far beyond this. Every transaction already separates out base price, tax and tip. Every receipt shows it. Every point-of-sale system tracks it. Applying fees to the appropriate portion of that transaction fits directly into how the system is already structured. This is about aligning what already exists with how the money actually flows.
For those of us who are still here, still operating, still rebuilding from prior challenges and trying to move forward, this kind of targeted, practical change makes a difference. It doesn’t solve every problem we face, but it addresses one that shows up every single day. That’s what makes it worth doing, and why it should move forward now.
LETTER POLICY: We ask that letters run no longer than 300 words. We edit for length, clarity, style, spelling and grammar. Please include your name, town or city where you live and a daytime phone number (which we won’t print) so we can verify you wrote the letter. The deadline is Monday at noon for letters to be printed in Thursday’s paper. Email: editor@willistonobserver.com or mail to Williston Observer, P.O Box 1401, Williston, Vt. 05495
Wes Hamilton is the owner of the Three Penny Taproom in Montpelier.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Reasons for beavers
The Allen Brook Nature Trail offers a refuge to animals and plants native to our area. Since development has encroached on the natural habitats that animals such as beavers need to thrive, this area is vital and much needed for their survival.
This may mean that, on occasion, we may have to wear waterproof boots to navigate the trails or even bypass them for a time so as not to destroy or disrupt their habitat.
Three years ago, we noticed a change to the planks leading up to the Allen Brook Wildflower Circle/Keystone Drive/ Creek’s Edge bridge (“The bridges of Allen Brook” May 14). We weren’t sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing.
Research and interviews with town employees, environmental experts, as well as wildlife experts, led us to a better understanding and appreciation of the beavers’ role in the natural world.
We learned that beavers are a keystone species, meaning that their role is critical in maintaining local biodiversity. They bring more variety and an increased population of fish, amphibians, mammals and birds. The beaver
dams, ponds and bogs slow the effects of climate change, minimize droughts, create natural firebreaks, and naturally clean the streams.
You are invited to share our journey by viewing our documentary film “New Neighbors the Beavers of Allen Brook”. We hope you will find the answers we found as surprising and enlightening as we did.
The film is available at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library and is broadcasting and streaming on Vermont Public, and on YouTube.
Jim and Grace Heltz Williston
Who can still afford to stay?
I heard a heartbreaking story recently — one I’ve heard far too many times in recent years.
A young family of four from Williston visited our farm. The parents, both in their mid-30s, are raising two small children. Their roots in Vermont stretch back for generations. They are hardworking, educated and deeply connected to this place.
And yet, in the middle of our conversation, they shared that they are seriously considering leaving Vermont because they simply can’t afford to stay.
Stories like theirs stay with me. They are becoming more common, and each one represents another thread pulled from the fabric of our communities. As more working-age Vermonters leave, the weight of rising costs falls hardest on those who can least bear it —families with limited means who don’t have the option to move, and
Remembering fallen Vermont Submarine Sailors
On this Memorial Day of 2026, the Green Mountain Submarine Veterans Chapter of the United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. (USSVI), remembers the following Vermonters who lost their lives while serving in the Submarine Service during war and peace time.
These men who volunteered to serve in the Submarine Service are always remembered; not forgotten:
If anyone remembers fellow Submariners and would like to tell us, please e-mail cmattoon@vermontel.net. We would like to hear from you.
Though we are highlighting our Submarine shipmates that lost their lives while on active duty, we extend to the families of all the Vermont Submarine Sailors who have been lost and have served in the Submarine Service our sincere gratitude and heartfelt sympathy.
To all the service members’ families who have lost loved
our elderly neighbors already stretched thin.
The consequences of this growing unaffordability are becoming impossible to ignore.
We are seeing more homelessness, more visible hardship and more of the big city problems Vermont has long been sheltered from. These changes signal a community under strain — a place where the cost of living is beginning to push people to the
Richard K. Clough 26 Randolph 1/24/1942 USS S-26 (SS-131) Sam Kane 19 Burlington 3/05/1943 USS Grampus (SS-207) Gene R. Rice 21 Springfield 7/11/1943 USS Runner (SS-275)
ones through the years, their service and sacrifice in protecting our country is not forgotten; without them we would not have
margins instead of pulling them in.
What makes Vermont so special is its historical background and the generations of people who built and cared for this state. Their values, their work and their deep sense of place shaped Vermont into the community we all cherish today.
This is why we love Vermont, why we want to stay here, move here and raise families here.
remained free for 250 years. C. William (Bill) Mattoon U. S. Submarine Veterans Green Mountain Base
Losing young families means losing the very people who would carry that legacy forward. Ultimately, keeping our young families here, giving them a real chance to build a life in the state they love, matters profoundly to me. They are the ones who will carry Vermont into its next chapter. And right now, too many of them are slipping away.
Helen Weston Williston
May 8
WILLISTON FIRE DEPT.
• 5:47 p.m. — Fire crews were dispatched to Drury Drive in Essex Junction for a reported incident that was later canceled before emergency action was needed.
May 9
• 8:58 a.m. — Firefighters responded to Krupp Drive in Williston for an accidental fire alarm.
• 12:42 p.m. — A response to Pine Haven Shores Road in Shelburne was canceled prior to arrival.
• 1:13 p.m. — Crews investigated an authorized controlled burn on Shady Lane in Williston.
• 3:12 p.m. — An accidental alarm activation on Williston Road in Williston was determined to be a false alarm.
• 3:31 p.m. — Fire personnel assisted a resident on East Street in Essex Junction with a lift assist call.
• 6:10 p.m. — A reported incident on West Street in Essex Junction was canceled before crews arrived.
May 10
• 5:42 p.m. — Firefighters responded to Maple Tree Place in Williston for a confined cooking appliance fire inside a structure.
• 10:06 p.m. — Crews were called to Loubier Drive in Essex Junction for a structure fire inside a residence.
May 11
• 7:18 a.m. — Fire crews investigated a fire or smoke alarm activation at Falcon Manor in Williston.
• 10:29 a.m. — A call to Richard Street in Winooski was canceled before crews arrived.
• 6:10 p.m. — Firefighters responded to Cornerstone Drive for a fire or smoke alarm activation.
May 12
• 10:10 p.m. — Crews investigated a fire or smoke alarm on Terrace Drive in Williston.
May 13
• 12:08 a.m. — Fire personnel provided a lift assist for a resident on West Main Street in Richmond.
• 12:25 p.m. — Crews assisted a resident with a lift assist call on Brookside Drive in Williston.
• 1:13 p.m. — Firefighters responded to Helena Drive in Williston for an electrical hazard.
May 14
• 9:50 a.m. — Crews responded to Industrial Avenue in Williston for a citizen assist/service call.
• 12:31 p.m. — Firefighters investigated an accidental alarm activation at Market Street in Williston that was determined to be a false alarm.
• 5:52 p.m. — Crews responded to a fire or smoke alarm activation on Zephyr Road in Williston.
• 11:03 p.m. — Fire personnel provided a citizen assist/ service call on Texas Hill Road in Hinesburg.
These items represent the Williston Fire Department’s non-medical call responses. The department also responded to several medical emergencies during this time frame.
WILLISTON POLICE
April 12 at 2:37 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Male suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.
April 12 at 4:26 p.m. — Male in Best Buy that had previously stolen. Male was located and issued a notice of trespass and issued a citation to appear in court for a different case.
April 13 at 3:36 p.m. — Report of a male and female in Sandri that were drinking. Both male and female were located and issued a notice of trespass.
April 14 at 9:33 a.m. — Assisted Williston Rescue with an unresponsive female on Marshall Avenue. Female was transported to the hospital.
April 14 at 2:28 p.m. — Report of a vehicle at Sandri where the occupants could be intoxicated. Vehicle was gone before officer’s arrival.
April 14 at 7:30 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. Male juvenile was located and issued a referral to the Williston Community Justice Center.
April 14 at 8:41 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Dick’s Sporting Good. Male suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.
April 15 at 2:17 a.m. — Traffic stop conducted. Female operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.
April 15 at 9:00 a.m. — Paperwork service at Zephyr Place.
April 15 at 12:52 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. Female suspect was
issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.
April 15 at 3:24 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Male suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.
April 15 at 5:10 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. Male suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.
April 16 at 4:48 p.m. — Report of a suspicious female in Petsmart. Female was located and declined all services for help. She left on foot.
April 17 at 3:06 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Walmart. Female suspect was gone before officer’s arrival. An arrest warrant was issued.
April 17 at 8:08 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Marshalls. Female suspect was issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft. Male operator driving the vehicle involved was issued a citation to appear in court for driving with a criminally suspended license.
April 17 at 8:53 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Female suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.
April 18 at 10:00 a.m. — Death investigation conducted. Nothing suspicious.
April 18 at 10:48 a.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. Female suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.
April 18 at 4:03 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Male suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft and violation of conditions of release.
Officers also responded to eight alarm activations, nine motor vehicle crashes and conducted 92 traffic stops during this time frame.
Reconciling with the community
Dismas House
hosts meals and housing for formerly incarcerated people
BY SIMONE TRAYNOR Community News Service
On a weeknight on East Allen Street in Winooski, people gathered in kitchens, living rooms and over dinner tables, sitting down to share the highlights of their days.
Passing the potatoes, one shared a memory of a dinner cooked during childhood. Others discussed tattoos, weekend plans or a bike ride taken earlier in the day.
This meal was one of the Winooski Dismas House’s community dinners, a nightly event for formerly incarcerated people and volunteers.
“It’s the most personal thing you can do with somebody, to break bread. When you sit down, and you’re eating a meal with
somebody and talking around the table, it allows for conversation and a chance for people to really get to know each other,”
Executive Director Jim Curran said.
Dismas of Vermont is a nonprofit organization that reintegrates formerly incarcerated people into society through sober living, employment support and shared meals.
“If we call someone a criminal, they will always be a
criminal. If you do not give people another chance to prove that they are better than the worst day of their lives, they are not going to be. It’s really important that we all recognize that we would never want to be judged for the worst thing that we’ve done,” Curran said.
People who want to live at a Dismas house can either connect with a caseworker who submits an application on their behalf, or apply themselves. House
and we bring people back to the community. It is a very good experience,” Winooski House Director Francine Mbayu said. Dismas works with the Department of Corrections to find housing for incarcerated individuals who are ready to leave jail and reintegrate into society.
directors interview candidates and determine whether they would be a good fit.
“I go to the jail to interview people and discuss with my colleagues if this is a good fit,
“There are a lot of people who the Department of Corrections is ready to release from prison. They’re no longer a threat to the community. They’ve served their sentence, or enough of their sentence, that Corrections is ready to parole them or release them on furlough. But they don’t have a place to live,” Alec Ewald, former board member of Dismas and professor of political
A community dinner at the East Allen Street Dismas House in Winooski.
PHOTO COURTESY OF FRANCINE MBAYU
South Burlington wrestles with USPS delivery woes
BY ERIN PETENKO VTDigger
Dan Bowles first noticed the issue when his father sent him a birthday card from Florida and told Bowles to expect it in the mail in the next few days.
The card took more than a month to arrive, he said.
At the time, the South Burlington resident chalked it up to post-Christmas holiday delays that are typical around that time of year. But in mid-February, he ordered a package and noticed it was taking awhile to arrive. So he checked its status online.
“It basically was set for
delivery, and then the status changed to something like, ‘We don’t know when we’re gonna deliver this,’” he said.
Bowles is not alone. Several South Burlington residents have told VTDigger and posted on social media that, over the past three months, they’ve experienced a significant reduction in the number of deliveries they receive each week, as well as delays in getting packages and other big mail items.
The city is the latest in a series of Vermont communities that have reported challenges with the state’s branch of the U.S. Postal Service.
Earlier this year, Montpelier also complained of weekslong mail
delays and packages not arriving. Postal advocates have warned that recent USPS changes to its mail delivery policy might be affecting delivery times.
In an email, a representative from the Postal Service blamed staffing difficulties for the delays, as with Montpelier’s situation.
“There are routes in South Burlington impacted due to employee availability issues,” said Judy Ferriera, a spokesperson for the New England districts of USPS. “The Postal Service has implemented contingency plans to cover the routes on most days, including splitting or staggering the routes, until permanent carriers can be assigned.”
She added that the Postal Service is hiring and that anyone interested in a career with the service could attend a weekly job fair that takes place at the Homewood Suites in South Burlington.
Ferriera said most Burlington area residents are still getting their mail on time. Data from the Postal Service shows that 82% of first-class mail for South Burlington’s 05403 ZIP code has been on time so far in fiscal year 2026, below the 89% on-time performance standard. However, the service does not have data for that ZIP code for the most recent time period that residents have complained about.
South Burlington residents
shared with VTDigger how the mail delays have affected them. Roger Herod said he seemed to be receiving mail “no more than once every four or five days,” and he’s still missing an important letter that was mailed to him.
Jane and Bob Miller said via email that their neighborhood gets mail deliveries twice a month. The pair is forced to travel to the Pine Street post office to try to get their parcels within a reasonable timeframe.
But Andreas Eriksson, another local, said via email that when you go to the post office, the mail isn’t organized there, so it’s hard for the employees to find it.
Dismas
continued from page 9
science at the University of Vermont, said.
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Residents begin their days by going to work, participating in their individualized sobriety programs or staying at the house. Every weeknight ends with the community dinner.
The community dinners are a cornerstone of the Dismas environment, allowing residents to bond with one another and volunteers.
“We have residents that didn’t really come from a ‘pass the potatoes’ kind of family. There are people with the history of never actually sitting down and having a family dinner. It creates a space where you start learning about new norms,” Curran said.
Weeknight dinners are cooked by volunteers and brought to the house to be shared between residents, staff and volunteers. Mbayu said the dinners allow staff members to allocate their resources toward events and other necessities that keep Dismas functioning.
“Without our volunteers, we couldn’t do this. It would be a lot of money on Dismas to buy food every single day. But we are very blessed that we have at least 22 days of the month covered by volunteers,” Mbayu said.
Most residents coming to Dismas are overcoming a history of substance abuse.
“Our favorite way to work towards helping someone in
Dismas’ mission is twofold: reconciling formerly incarcerated people with the community and reconciling the community with formerly incarcerated people.
recovery is a contingency management program, which is a reward program for positive successes around sobriety, with (drug tests) that show no sign of alcohol or drug use. There’s a small reward every week for passing, and those types of programs are typically the most successful programs,” Curran said.
Mike, a resident at the East Allen Dismas House, said living at Dismas has been helpful on his sobriety journey.
“One thing (Dismas) has helped me with is that I’ve stayed clean. I’ve had a place to stay, and I knew I wasn’t gonna touch it again,” he said. “At least I knew I felt safe enough in the house where I knew I wouldn’t drink because there’s plenty of people in the house to talk to. That made it tremendously better for me.”
The day-to-day routine in the house is mellow, according to Mike.
“Everybody does pretty
much their thing. It’s an outlet to just get your life straightened out, so you can eventually rent your own place. I do a lot of walking, and lately it’s been bike riding,” Mike said. Dismas’ mission is twofold: reconciling formerly incarcerated people with the community and reconciling the community with formerly incarcerated people.
Curran said there are many misconceptions about a house like Dismas, and people may rule out volunteering there out of fear.
“Not everybody’s scary. They’re just people,” he said.
Heidi Williams is the volunteer coordinator for the University of Vermont Prison Partnership, a club that volunteers at Dismas. She said everyone deserves a fair chance at reentering society.
“If we as a society are deciding to incarcerate people, if that’s how we’re enforcing punishment and laws, then we as a society have a responsibility to welcome people back into our communities,” she said.
Dismas staff and residents said their door is always open for those who want to volunteer and attend events.
“I recommend it for anybody that’s trying to come out, really. I think it’s a lot better than a lot of the programs out there. It’s a fun place to be. It’s not all serious. It’s a homey environment, and we need more volunteers. It’d be nice to see new faces,” resident Mike said.
Vermonters are reevaluating home heating options
Soaring fuel costs strain household budgets
BY THEO WELLS-SPACKMAN VTDigger
For Lynn Knight, who lives in an 18th-century Georgia farmhouse with her partner and his 90-year-old mother, having a reliable heat source is non-negotiable.
But starting next winter, Knight plans to switch from an oil furnace to a pellet boiler system. The cost of home heating oil has become unmanageable, particularly over the last few months, she said, and it’s not clear when it’s likely to come back down.
“I’m on quite a restricted budget,” said Knight, a former Vermont-based employee of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “I’m really, really worried about where things are right now.”
As fuel costs continue to increase, many Vermonters are feeling the strain — particularly those who were already pressed to make ends meet. And for some, like Knight, the trend has already contributed to big decisions, like switching out a primary source of heat.
Energy prices across the country climbed again in April to nearly 18% above a year earlier, according to Consumer Price
USPS
continued from page 10
Bowles said one of his frustrations with the mail delays is that it is often a “black box” as to where the mail is. “I don’t even know” who to call when a package or a piece of mail is delayed, he said. Some days, he’s received 30 to 40 pieces of mail all arriving at once.
“You don’t really know when we’ll get what, which is OK most of the time, but we’ve got pressing things in the mail for work or tax season,” he said. He’s had to wait for his dentist bill to arrive when it’s being mailed from just down the road. He’s
Index data released last week by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. And the national trends are showing up locally: Home heating oil rose from under $3.50 per gallon last September to over $5.50 in April, according to data compiled by the state of Vermont. Average gasoline prices in the state have risen 50 cents in the last month to roughly $4.50, or about 50% above this time last year, according to AAA.
Economists attribute the surge in oil prices to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz since the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran in late February. As conflict wears on in the region, energy rates continue to rise.
Though chilly temperatures extended well into May, Vermonters are largely done heating their homes for the season. But one immediate problem the state’s fuel companies and customers alike remain worried about is how to work out the fixed-price agreements that allow households to lock in their oil rates for next year, according to Matt Cota, who lobbies for those dealers at the Statehouse.
Ordinarily, Cota said, May, June and July would be busy months for fuel companies looking to sell contracts to customers and place wholesale orders of their own. But that activity has “slowed down
had to hold off on changes to his retirement finances while he waited for the paperwork to arrive.
But Bowles is most concerned for people who may not realize that they could miss out on a bill or important notice. While his household pays bills electronically, “there’s still people that pay via check, or they can’t really miss payments, or they can’t miss bills,” he said.
“You have this idea that the post office is very reliable, it’s always been there and it always is there,” he said. “But there’s this, you know, general theme in the past couple years (that) a lot of our institutions are not doing well.”
DR. WILL DOWLING, DMD
significantly” as buyers and sellers alike eye an inflated and volatile oil market, according to Cota.
“We don’t know what the future holds,” he said.
Major events in the oil market have historically led Vermonters to seek alternative
heat sources, Cota added, including propane, which tends to be more stable in price.
Price guarantees were a tool that Knight used last winter to lock in a maximum rate of $3.29 per gallon up to a certain amount of oil. But based on the early estimates she
A fuel truck delivers propane to a home in St. Albans Town last January.
Windswept Farm
continued from page 1
The agreement, approved by the Williston Selectboard on Tuesday, runs through 2030 and is set to automatically renew for successive five-year terms through 2045, unless either party provides at least a year’s advanced notice of their intent not to renew. Rent is set at $10 per year during the first five-year term.
Uses of the land are to be confined to haying, horse pasture and equestrian training. Growing other crops or keeping other animals must be pre-approved by the town manager. Hunting is not allowed, except with prior approval from the town manager.
The lease would cancel in
Heating
continued from page 11
30
2-9pm
got from local fuel dealers for another such contract for next year, future oil costs might be “impossible” to afford, she said.
Knight’s concerns over rising fees were echoed by Bob Stevens, an 83-year-old Weathersfield resident, who said he’d been astounded at the bill last month when his oil tank was refilled. Heating this winter in general, he said, had been far more expensive than he had anticipated.
“It’s really gone nuts really
LOOKFORUS ON DOO R DASH ANDUBEREATS
quickly,” he said. “It’s killing us.”
Stevens too is considering shifting away from oil, likely to a heat pump system. At this rate, the large upfront cost of such a switch would soon be paid for by the savings in energy bills, he said.
‘THAT MUCH MORE PRESSURE’
The long winter and the jump in fuel prices have placed a new burden on the budgets of households already struggling to get by, according to social service providers.
Travis Poulin, community action network director at the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, said in an interview last week that the near-freezing overnight lows in late April and May had worsened matters for his clients.
“Especially if they’re living in housing that is not well weatherized, they’re continuing to have to use their home heating fuel to keep their homes warm during this period,” Poulin said.
Support is available in Vermont to help people cover their heating bills — but extended chills can place a greater burden on that system. The Seasonal Fuel Assistance program, which draws funding from the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance program, is granted by the state in a single block to each household in November. Crisis Fuel, a similar public program for one-time stopgap assistance that’s administered by organizations like Poulin’s, ends in April.
the event of “bankruptcy or incapacity of the lessee … being determined at the sole judgment of the town manager,” the lease states.
Mike Mauss was in attendance Tuesday when the selectboard approved the lease. He expressed gratitude toward town staff and the land developers, and said he has no plans to slow down.
“They helped us stay in business, and we hope to keep going for quite a long time,” Mauss said. At the same time, the home construction will change the way the farm has operated, he indicated.
(This process) has been very painful,” Mauss said. “I farmed that land for 50 years, and to see it all torn up is something that no one wants to see.”
According to Poulin, the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity made about 10% more emergency deliveries using both state and private funds in March and April this year than the same time last year. Meanwhile, costs have ballooned. The oil deliveries never cost more than $500 last year, while this year many cost over $600.
For the people Poulin serves, he said, no financial problem exists in isolation.
“It’s a ripple effect,” he said. “It’s going to put that much more pressure on their entire budget.”
Sue Rossi, the energy and outreach manager at Capstone Community Action in Barre, said part of what makes fuel such a difficult expense for struggling Vermonters is the high bar for delivery orders. Unlike food, stopgap fuel measures are often extremely pricey, she said. Fuel dealers won’t deliver unless someone makes a large enough order to meet the minimum, which in nearly all cases is 100 gallons or more.
“So, $5.50 a gallon for oil — they aren’t going to come unless you have that $550,” she said.
The cost of living has been difficult this winter in general, Rossi added.
“Food, fuel and gas for vehicles are the killers,” she said. “We had, like, the perfect storm this year.”
Theo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.
Windswept Farm will continue to operate on town-owned property off Old Stage Road after the agreement Tuesday on a long-term agricultural lease.
OBSERVER FILE PHOTO
Yum!
Mobile Pet Food Shelf supports Chittenden County pet owners in need
BY ISABELLE FITZGERALD Community News Service
Across Chittenden County, a folding table stocked with pet food, treats and supplies is making a difference for pet owners facing hard times.
At least once a week, Stephanie Gingras sets up the Mobile Pet Food Shelf at locations like motels, churches and community centers, offering free supplies to anyone who needs them.
The organization, which Gingras founded in 2023, relies on donations to keep items stocked.
Gingras is an animal control officer in Colchester, and she said the idea for the project came from what she was seeing at work: more families struggling to afford basic care for their pets.
“Just because people can’t afford food right now doesn’t mean that they don’t love and care for that pet,” Gingras said. “They weren’t
always in this circumstance, and with a little bit of assistance, maybe they don’t have to stay in that circumstance.”
The Mobile Pet Food Shelf visits Winooski, St. Albans, Williston, Essex, Colchester and Burlington once a month, helping bridge the gap for pet owners facing difficulties.
In addition to distributing food and supplies, the organization provides information about low-cost veterinary resources. Gingras said connecting people to these services is a key part of the mission.
“One thing that sets us apart from just going to the food shelf would be giving people information about low-cost vaccines and hosting free clinics,” she said. “We also give out information about programs like the Humane Society of Chittenden County’s Community Pet Clinic and the Vermont Spay Neuter Incentive Program.”
Gingras says her organization
plans to host a free vaccine clinic in July, continuing its effort to support both pets and their owners beyond immediate food needs.
Right now, she said the organization’s greatest need is donations of cat food and cat litter.
Community members can also volunteer or learn more about accessing services through the Mobile Pet Food Shelf website, mobilepetfoodshelf.weebly.
com.
Looking forward, Gingras hopes to expand the program into Addison County, reaching even more communities in need.
Community News Service is a University of Vermont journalism internship.
Stephanie Gingras sits at a folding table at a Mobile Pet Food Shelf site.
Order on the court
CLOCKWISE (l to r): CVU’s Ben Fina slams back his opponent’s serve as doubles partner Freddy Boardman waits on alert at the net during the Redhawks’ match against the St. Johnsbury Hilltoppers on Saturday morning in Shelburne. The two teams gather for introductions and pairings before the beginnings of the match which the Hilltoppers eventually won. Monte Rosenfeld volleys at the net. Sawyer Lake makes a backhand return. Using a two-handed backhand Ty Tota defends his side.
SPORTS
OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY
An ultimate win for the Redhawks over
Mt. Mansfield
CLOCKWISE (l to r): CVU’s Julian Olin makes a running catch during the Redhawks’ 15 - 8 win over the Mount Mansfield Cougars on Friday in Hinesburg. Avery Howe lays out full length to snag the disc. A clam-shell catch by Ethan Revoir keeps the disc for the Redhawks. The team takes a moment to discuss thier strategy. Brady Jones’ leaping catch leads to a a score
Now is a great time to put together a list of books you’d like to read this summer! The Mini Page is happy to help with some fresh suggestions.
• If you’re looking for a summer reset before school starts again, try “Inspiring Stories for Amazing Boys” by Amelia Kinsley. This book about self-confidence, friendship and courage shares stories from everyday kids, reminding readers that everyone faces challenges sometimes.
• Summer is a terrific time to take on a project, and actor/ woodworker Nick Offerman wants to help! “Little Woodchucks: Offerman Woodshop’s Guide to Tools and Tomfoolery” presents 12 projects that kids and adults can tackle, from toast tongs to a hayloft bench.
• For a story you can sink your teeth into, check out “The Forgotten Summer of Seneca” by Camryn Garrett. Rowan, 12, has lost her dad and is spending the summer with her aunt in New York City. While exploring Central Park, she finds a world out of place and time.
Summer Reading Observer rack
Try ’n’ Find
Next Week: Our states: Montana
Mini Fact: Reading over the summer can strengthen skills like focus and empathy.
• Did you know that washing our hands is a relatively new practice? “Keep It Clean!” by Don Brown is a colorful graphic novel that explores the idea of public health — using cleanliness to help prevent the spread of illness.
• You might not think having to wear an eye patch could give you a superpower — but you’d be wrong! In “Penelope Positano Sees It All,” Penelope’s family is looking for a new dog, and they can’t agree on what kind of dog to get. When she’s wearing her eye patch, Penelope sees things others don’t — like the perfect pet.
• Kestrel, who’s named for a bird of prey, isn’t too happy when her mom relocates them to Montana. She’s afraid of the dogs her mom is working with and mad about her life being upended. In “Kestrel Takes Flight” by Joy McCullough, her story of overcoming life’s complications is told in verse.
• Those looking to explore poetry might want to look for “Melodies of the Weary Blues,” with poems by Langston Hughes and artwork by well-known Black illustrators.
Langston Hughes (1901-1967) was a poet, novelist and social activist who was born in Joplin, Missouri. His first published poem was called “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” (1921). To learn more about him, read “Who Was Langston Hughes?” by Billy Merrell.
Words that remind us of summer reading are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
AUTHOR,
• “A Potion, a Powder, a Little Bit of Magic: Or, Like Lightning in an Umbrella Storm” by Philip Stead might be a challenge, but its creative telling is part of the entertainment. With out-of-order chapters, Latin phrases and moral highlights, Stead’s book makes for memorable reading.
• As Finn Connelly, 13, struggles at school and copes with the loss of his father, he gets a challenge: Hike all 46 Adirondack High Peaks. “The Trouble With Heroes” by Kate Messner tells Finn’s story in verse as he goes “climbing out of trouble.”
Share your list
What’s on your reading list for summer? Write down some titles, and share your choices with friends. Don’t forget to reserve your favorites at the library!
Mini Jokes
Benny: What’s a librarian’s favorite food?
Billy: Sssshushi!
Brianna: Why does Bilbo Baggins always have his lunch at noon?
Bekka: Because he’s a creature of Hobbit!
Founded by Betty Debnam Issue 21, 2026
called “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” (1921). To learn more about him, read “Who Was Langston Hughes?” by Billy Merrell.
Try ’n’ Find
Words that remind us of summer reading are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
Brianna: Why does Bilbo Baggins always have his lunch at noon?
Bekka: Because he’s a creature of Hobbit!
Eco Note
2. Brush lemon juice on cut surfaces of apple wedges to keep them from turning brown.
3. Spread cream cheese evenly on top of apple wedges.
4. Lightly drizzle honey on cream cheese. Arrange 3 to 4 raisin “ants” on top. Serves 2.
7 Little Words for Kids
Use the letters in the boxes to make a word with the same meaning as the clue. The numbers in parentheses represent the number of letters in the solution. Each letter combination can be used only once, but all letter combinations will be necessary to complete the puzzle.
1. shellfish with big claws (7)
2. “wordy” board game (7)
3. dad (6)
4. country “Down Under” (9)
5. spread for bread (6)
6. reflected sound waves (4)
7. give up (9)
father, Australia, butter, echo, surrender.
Mexico’s overwintering population of monarch butterflies increased by 64% this year, covering about 7.24 acres of forest — the largest area since 2018. The annual survey by WWF Mexico measured the extent of forest occupied by the insects rather than counting individual butterflies. But monarch numbers remain well under the 15 acres scientists say are needed for longterm survival. Monarchs occupied more than 45 acres of forest in 1995. Habitat loss from deforestation, climate change and herbicide use that kills milkweed continue to threaten the species’ epic migrations.
For later:
Look in your local newspaper for items about summer reading programs at libraries or community centers.
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
My husband and I are retiring later this year and hope to travel more while we’re still healthy and active. Our budget will be tighter, so every dollar counts. Are there worthwhile senior travel discounts you can tell us about, and at what age do they begin?
— Ready to Roam
SAVVY SENIOR
Travel discounts: How to save on your next trip
Dear Ready, Retirement is the perfect time to start checking destinations off your wish list. Senior travel discounts can make a real difference. Whether it’s airfare, hotels, cruises, train tickets or attractions, the savings can add up — sometimes hundreds of dollars per trip — if you know where to look and compare.
To qualify, you’ll need to meet the age requirement, which varies by company. Some start as early as 50, but most don’t kick in until 55, 60, 62 or 65. Knowing these benchmarks helps you plan and save as soon as you’re eligible.
WAYS TO SAVE
One of the best ways to uncover senior travel deals is through membership organizations. AARP, with membership starting at 50,
offers the deepest travel discounts, including savings on hotels, rental cars, cruises and vacation packages. AAA provides travel-planning services and member savings on lodging and car rentals to adults of any age.
Another simple but often overlooked strategy is to ask. Many hotels, tours and attractions don’t advertise senior discounts but may offer one if you inquire. Keep in mind, though, that the “senior rate” isn’t always the lowest price. Promotional sales, advance-purchase fares and seasonal specials can sometimes be cheaper, so compare before booking.
Flexibility is another powerful money-saving tool. Traveling midweek, avoiding peak holidays, booking during shoulder seasons, or adjusting your dates slightly
Whether we are building a traditional neighborhood at Spear Meadows or innovative new designs at The Annex, we are building the backdrop for your life. As a family-owned team living right here in Chittenden County, we take every nail personally.
To our neighbors, thank you for being part of our story. We can’t wait to build the next 50 years together.
can significantly lower costs. You may also find last-minute deals on cruises, rail trips and guided tours, especially during slower travel periods when companies are eager to fill unsold space.
Here’s a rundown of some different discount deals currently available:
Airlines: Senior airfare discounts are less common than they once were, but some still exist. AARP members can get discounts on select British Airways flights, about $65 off economy and up to $200 off business class. United and Delta may offer limited senior fares, usually for travelers 65 and older, on select routes if booked by phone or using “Senior” search tools. Loyalty programs can also add value through free checked bags or seat upgrades.
Trains: Amtrak offers about 10 percent off for travelers 65plus on many routes, with some cross-border discounts starting at 60. Rail passes and multi-city tickets may provide additional savings.
Rental cars: AARP members can save up to 30 percent with companies like Avis and Budget, often with perks like a free additional driver and reduced rates on optional coverage. Hertz offers discounts through its 50 Plus Program.
Hotels: Many hotel brands offer senior or AARP rates, typically 10 to 15 percent off including;
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (Days Inn, Ramada, Super 8, La Quinta), Best Western, Choice Hotels (Comfort Inn, Quality Inn), Cambria, and Rodeway Inn. Booking directly or through AARP usually ensures the rate.
Cruises: Some lines offer discounted fares for travelers 55-plus on select sailings, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, MSC, and Viking River Cruises. AARP members may receive additional onboard credits through affiliated providers. Off-peak sailings often provide the best value.
Restaurants: Many chains offer senior menus, complimentary beverages, or percentage discounts for ages 55 or 60-plus, including Applebee’s, Arby’s, Burger King, Chili’s, Chick-fil-A, Denny’s, IHOP, Boston Market, and CiCi’s Pizza. Participation varies by location.
Entertainment and attractions: Museums, theaters, zoos, aquariums and golf courses often offer reduced admission for seniors 60 or 65-plus. One of the best bargains is the America the Beautiful Senior Pass from the National Park Service. For $20 per year or $80 for a lifetime pass (available at 62), it provides access to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.
Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.
TODAY’S HISTORY:
• In 1856, Lawrence, Kansas, was sacked by pro-slavery activists.
• In 1881, the American Red Cross was established.
• In 1901, Connecticut became the first state to enact a speed-limit law, limiting motor vehicle speeds to 12 mph in the city and 15 mph on country roads.
• In 1979, former San Francisco city supervisor Dan White was convicted of manslaughter in the deaths of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk.
TODAY’S FACT:
• In 1927, Charles Lindbergh landed in Paris after leaving Long Island, New York, the day before, completing the first solo nonstop transAtlantic flight. On the fifth anniversary of the event in 1932, Amelia Earhart landed in Ireland after taking off from Newfoundland, completing the first solo nonstop trans-Atlantic flight by a female.
SOLUTION FOUND ON PAGE 20
Library hours:
• Monday and Wednesday: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Visit www.damlvt.org to apply for a library card and register for programs. Need help? Call 8784918 or email daml@damlvt.org.
SUDOKU SOLUTION
Puzzle found on page 19
In preparation for the Friends of the Library’s July Fourth book sale, we are accepting books in good condition during the month of June. Donations are accepted Monday and Wednesday, 12-2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 12-2 p.m. and Saturday 11-2 p.m. Limit three boxes per day. Please note the library will be closed on Monday, May 25 and Thursday, May 28.
YOUTH PROGRAMS
Children in fourth grade and younger must be supervised by someone over 16 years of age.
ELEMENTARY DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
Saturday, May 23, 1-2 p.m.
Registration required. A mini session of Dungeons & Dragons for children ages 7-10. No prior experience required. Register each child who plans to participate. Adults should stay and help their campaigner.
STORYTIME
Tuesdays, May 26 and June 2. Drop in for stories, songs and fun. Outdoors, weather permitting.
AFTER SCHOOL STEAM FUN ACTIVITY
Wednesday, May 27, 2:15-3 p.m.
Explore different STEAM concepts after school with hands-on activities.
TEEN GAME NIGHT
Friday, May 29, 5-6 p.m. Ages 12-18. Bring a Switch controller (or use one of ours) to compete in different games.
BABY TIME
Wednesday, June 3, 10:30-11 a.m. Suggested ages 0-18 months. Join us for gentle bonding and socializing activities with your little one.
AFTER SCHOOL GAMES & PUZZLES
Wednesday, June 3, 2-3 p.m. Relax after school with board games and puzzles.
MUSIC & PLAYTIME
Thursday, June 4, 10:3011:30 a.m. Drop in for music, followed by playtime. Outdoors, weather permitting.
ADULT PROGRAMS
For online programs or to join a book club, email daml@damlvt.org.
SEATED TAI CHI WITH ADINA (ONLINE)
Every Thursday, 1-2 p.m. Quiet your mind and reduce stress with this gentle exercise form from the comfort of your own home. Call the library for registration.
ADULT MEDITATION (ONLINE)
Friday, May 22 and 29, 1212:30 p.m. Join our guided meditation to relax and re-center.
READERS ROUNDTABLE
Tuesday, May 26, 12:301:30 p.m. “The Vaster Wilds” by Lauren Groff.
CURRENT EVENTS
Wednesday, May 27, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Drop in to chat with community members on your topic of interest.
TECH TUTOR
Tuesday, June 2, 1-4 p.m. Make an hour appointment for help with your tech.
ADULT CRAFTERNOON — VEGETABLE PRINT TOTE BAGS
Tuesday, June 2, 2-3 p.m. Use veggies, fruit and fabric paint to make fresh tote bags.
WHEN THE TREES CAME BACK: A WILLISTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESENTATION
Wednesday, June 10, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Angie Grove, Revolutionary War historian from the Ethan Allen Homestead, will discuss Vermonters’ lives during the War for Independence, which coincided with a push for Vermont to become an independent republic.
Nancy W. Zoller
On May 7, 2026 at 10:25 a.m.Nancy W. Zoller, 73, of Williston, died. She left behind a husband, Larry, 76, two children, Sarah (45) and Daniel (42), and two grandchildren, Aurora (15) and Madeleine (11). Others who mourn her loss include her older sister Carolyn and her younger sister Barbara. They are joined in grief by Sarah’s husband Craig, Barbara’s husband Jim, Carolyn’s husband Arthur, and several nieces and nephews.
It may seem like a cliché, but it is impossible to properly state the effect that Nancy had on the people that she touched. Nancy was a 1st and 2nd grade teacher for more than 40 years and her students adored her as did the parents of her students. Needless to say, her passing has left a huge hole in the hearts of all of us who loved her.
As I write this I realize there are more than fifty people who would like to be contacted with information about Nancy. If you discover that you have been excluded, please do not be upset. That is not something Nancy would have wanted. Just realize it was inadvertent.
On Monday, May 25, at 2 p.m., we will have a Celebration of Nancy’s life at Temple Sinai in South Burlington. After the ceremony, we will travel to Ahavath Gerim Cemetery, Fielding Ln., So. Burlington where her ashes will be interred. Following the burial, we hope you will join us at our home for good food and better memories, 175 Creeks Edge Drive, Williston, VT 05495.
Lastly, please do not send flowers or food. Both Nancy and I discussed this and would like, if you see fit, to send a donation to the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge Lois McClure-Bee Tabakin Building, 237 East Ave.
Burlington, VT 05401. Nancy stayed at the Lodge when she was not well and they could certainly use your help.
Arrangements are in care of LaVigne Funeral & Cremation Service. To send condolences to her family please visit www. vtfuneralhomes.com.obituaries
Richard Leonard Morrill, Jr
Richard Leonard Morrill, Jr of Richmond VT, also known as Dick, Dickey, Rocky Morrill Jr, passed away at the age of 71 on April 23, 2026.
He was born on Feb. 5, 1955 in Burlington, the son of Richard Morrill, Sr. and Mary Tyrell. Dick lived for his family and loved being around all his grandchildren and extended a warm touch to everyone he knew.
Dick was known for his humor and singing. He loved his German Shephard dogs and would often get them howling while he was singing. He was also known for his generous heart and trying to help out as much as possible. He loved carpentry and would even help his son on some jobs often, as he never wanted to stop working.
Dick served in the Army briefly. He was the Jack of all Trades and loved teaching his family his knowledge of painting, plumbing, electrical, working on cars and especially carpentry, where he had his own business. He enjoyed playing Cribbage, watching Gunsmoke, fishing, camping, Poker and cook-outs with his family.
He married his beloved wife Nadine Kinkle and had an amazing 40 year marriage. Dick left behind his daughters Brandi, Toni and Jaimie Morrill, his sons Kristopher Morrill, Adam Morrill, Shawn Morrill and Lucais Buchanan. They also
OBITUARIES
adopted and took care of their nephew Shane Morrill and grand daughter Madison Buchanan at a very young age who they loved and cherished dearly. Together they have fifteen grandchildren.
Dick is survived by his sisters: Bridget Morrill, Barbra Mendez, Angie Morrill and Brother Chad Morrill. His children and spouses: Kristopher (Katie) Morrill, Adam (Amy) Morrill, Lucas Buchanan, Shawn Morrill and his fiancé, Morgan Seagroves , Jamie Morrill and her significant other, Raymond King.
Dick was predeceased by his wife, Nadine Morrill, sisters Brenda Morrill, Janet Valaquette, brother Jay Morrill, son Jesse Buchanan, nephew Shane Morrill, and grandson Logan Buchanan.
Dear Dad, we will love and cherish your wisdom, humor and memories forever. We will love and miss you forever!
The family would like to thank UVM Medical Center and The Cancer Treatment Center for caring for our father. Thank you to Lori and Crystal whom he considered his best friends.
The family will hold a Celebration of Life at a later date. Please reach out to Shawn or Adam Morrill if you would like to attend and share memories.
Gene Smith Parent
It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Gene Smith Parent, lifelong Vermonter, who left us on January 5 at the age of 87. Born in Burlington on February 17, 1938, and raised in Richmond, Gene was the son of Kedrick and Gladys Smith Parent. He was a graduate of Richmond High School and the University of Vermont, Class of 1960.
He married Evangeline
Marion Howe on June 12, 1965, in Northfield, and they made their home in Brookfield, welcoming two children, James and Sera. Gene was a deeply patient, kind and loving father who always took time to be with them. He and Evangeline celebrated 60 years of marriage in 2025.
Gene possessed many talents and passions. An avid gardener and gifted artist, he captured the beauty of Vermont landscapes and people in watercolor, pastel, oil and pen. He received many awards for his artwork which were on display in the Upper Valley, Stowe and other locations in Central Vermont.
His professional life was devoted to the Small Business Administration in Montpelier where he was highly regarded for his interpersonal skills and financial expertise. Following retirement, he enjoyed working at the Porter Music Box Shop in Randolph, conversing with visitors from all over the world. Gene was a licensed pilot who also possessed a deep love for music and languages, as well as for his community. He lived out this dedication through his involvement with the Shriners Club, Elks Lodge, Masonic Temple, Brookfield Community Singers and the Barre Paletteers.
He is survived by his wife, Evangeline, and his children, James Howe Parent and Sera Anderson, as well as grandchildren Asa and Iris, and Caden Anderson. He was predeceased by his mother and father and
brother Cedric and children, Mary and Jon.
Those who knew Gene will remember his warmth, sense of humor and deep devotion to his family. He left behind a legacy of kindness, love & loyalty, as he touched the lives of many who knew him.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at the Northfield United Methodist Parish,152 South Main St. Northfield, VT 05663. Refreshments to follow. Family and friends are invited to attend. Private burial services were held at an earlier date.
In honor of Gene’s memory, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Vermont Chapter 75 Talcott Rd., Suite 40 Williston, VT 05495.
The family wishes to thank everyone for their kindness and support during this difficult time.
Looking for volunteer opportunities?
The United Way of Northwest Vermont has a wide variety of options.
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GARAGE SALE
June 7. Churchview Drive, Williston.
TOWN OF WILLISTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA
Tuesday, May 26, 2026 – 7:00 PM Town Hall Beckett/McGuire Meeting Room (7900 Williston Road, use rear entrance) or Zoom Webinar ID 813 6162 7981 on www.zoom.us/join
DP 25-04 Charlotte Isham Marcotte Trust c/o John Marcotte requests Discretionary Permit to subdivide a 197-acre parcel to create 8 new dwelling lots and 2 open space lots from a vacant parcel on Caboose Lane in the ARZD.
DP 26-12 Asch Enterprises LLC c/o Doug Goulette requests a discretionary permit to construct a new 50-space parking lot at 685 Marshall Ave in the IZDW.
Project details and site plans are available on the website, town.williston.vt.us, under “Public Records and Documents”, then “Agendas & Minutes”, and “Development Review Board”. Contact Planning & Zoning Office for more information: 802-878-6704 or email planning@willistonvt.org
benefits/PTO/Holiday/Will train $2,500 sign on bonus
LEGAL
TOWN OF WILLISTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA
Tuesday, June 09, 2026 – 7:00 PM Town Hall Beckett/McGuire Meeting Room (7900 Williston Road, use rear entrance) or Zoom Webinar ID 813 6162 7981 on www. zoom.us/join
DP 24-01.1 P&P Septic Services, Inc c/o Jacob Wechsler seeks to amend final plans for DP 24-01 by adding a 15,996 squarefoot building with 18 parking stalls at 581 Shunpike Road in the GZDW.
DP 26-02.1 Blair Knowles and Matt Parisi request pre-application of a 3-unit development at 7997 Williston Road in the VZD. The existing structure will remain 1 dwelling unit and a commercial office. 2 new dwellings constructed in the rear of the lot. Continued from March 24, 2026 and continued to June 9, 2026.
DP 26-13 Michael Fontaine, c/o Doug Goulette requests pre-application of a proposed 6-lot subdivision into 3 housing lots, 1 open space lot, and 2 deferred lots on a 118-acre parcel at 2660 & 2738 North Williston Road and 255 Chapman Lane in the 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: 802-878-6704 or email planning@willistonvt.org
To place a classified ad, email Adam@williston observer.com or call (802) 338-1655 Deadline for classifieds is Monday.
RABIES BAIT continued from page 2
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
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.
bait drop is a
tive effort between Vermont and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to stop the spread of the potentially fatal disease.
So far this year, 23 animals in Vermont have tested positive for rabies, and 14 of those have been raccoons.
Rabies is a deadly viral disease of the brain that infects mammals. It is most often seen in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also get rabies. The virus is spread through the bite of an infected animal or contact with its
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.
A steady stream of voters arrive at the Williston Armory, top left, to cast their votes on the town library referendum. Outside of the Armory, David Martel, center, holds a sign voicing his opinion on the referendum. Alex Waskow, right, casts his ballot on the issue. Above, voting official Carter Smith enters early and mail-in ballots into the voting machine on Tuesday.
