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New Faith in restorative justice Williston program coordinator takes helm after countywide consolidation BY JASON STARR Observer staff
Margaret McNurlan speaks at the June 30 meeting of the Champlain Valley School Board. She is among a group of Hinesburg residents alleging Open Meeting Law violations at the meeting. COURTESY MEDIAFACTORY
‘We’re asking them to start over’ Hinesburg residents file Open Meeting Law complaint seeking to invalidate school board’s artificial turf approval BY JASON STARR Observer staff A group of Hinesburg residents are charging the Champlain Valley School Board with Open Meeting Law violations following its June approval of an agreement to convert one of the athletic fields at CVU from grass to artificial turf. Bristol attorney James Dumont, representing a citizens group known as Responsible Growth Hinesburg, filed a formal complaint with the school board last Friday. It refers to an 8-3 board vote to accept a “gift agreement” and move forward with a privately-funded turf field at the high school. Dumont called the vote “a travesty” and said the board’s June 30 meeting “clearly violated Vermont’s Open Meeting Law in several important and highly prejudicial respects.” The board’s vote followed a closed-door deliberative session in the middle of the meeting. see CVU page 12
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Faith Brutus, a Champlain College graduate and UVM master’s degree recipient who most recently worked as guest services coordinator at the Harbor Place homeless shelter in Shelburne, started in July leading the Williston office of the Chittenden County Community Justice Center. She starts as the office is completing a transition from a separate restorative justice center to a satellite office of a countywide organization. The transition began under Act 180 in 2024 as the Legislature sought to expand restorative justice (as an alternative to punitive justice) statewide and bring the program under the direction of the Attorney General’s Office rather than the Department of Corrections. The new entity, headquartered in Burlington, officially launched last month, with satellite offices in Williston and South Burlington. The Williston office is a welcoming space, with soft lighting and cozy seating co-located with the Williston Police Department. From there, Brutus will oversee restorative justice meetings, guiding criminal offenders through an alternative to the justice system that seeks to work with community volunteers and victims to repair the harms of a crime. “The whole point of the program is to create both accountability and repair instead of blame and punishment,” explained Rob Michalak, a program volunteer for the past five years. “It’s a much higher level of justice, and I think it creates far better outcomes for the responsible party,
the affected party and the community at large.” Michalak helped see the Williston Community Justice Center through the transition into the countywide program. He plans to continue serving on restorative panels, but he has yet to meet Brutus.
McSweeney, stepped down shortly after the passage of Act 180 before the consolidation process began. The center’s other staffer, Mandy Ferland, participated in the transition, but stepped down in June. According to Rachel Jolly, Director of the Chittenden County Community
Faith Brutus started in July as Williston’s restorative service coordinator under the Chittenden County Community Justice Center based in Burlington. OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR
Brutus senses similarities in her new role to her previous job at Harbor Place, where she “helped people navigate homelessness in Chittenden County.” “It’s different work, but meeting people where they are is the hallmark, and navigating with people,” she said. Under the countywide model, Williston’s office will be able to offer additional services than it had in the past. The Williston CJC’s former executive director, Cristalee
Justice Center, the regional structure will allow more victim services to be offered in Williston. Known as “parallel justice,” these services include safety planning, financial assistance and emotional support to crime victims even if no charges are filed and no perpetrator is apprehended. The countywide organization plans to hire a new parallel justice coordinator to expand the county’s
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see JUSTICE page 12
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Williston Observer • August 6, 2026
Can you dig it?
Around Town Habitat ReStore to celebrate reopening after fire on Aug. 15
Traffic is temporarily diverted around a waterline installation that crosses Old Stage Road as part of the development at Old Stage and Mountain View roads. A crew from S.D. Ireland removes a trench box from the waterline installation.
After months of recovery following an April fire, the Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Williston is planning a grand reopening celebration Aug. 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ReStore is a used home goods store that helps fund Habitat for Humanity’s home-building efforts. The fire forced every item in the store to be discarded due to smoke damage. Volunteers and staff have since helped clean, repaint and restock the store. “This is a story of neighbors helping neighbors … turning a devastating setback into a story of resilience and community support,” said Habitat spokesman Seth Wilens.
Fire department honored for medical response Munson Earthmoving installs an overflow structure that is part of a stormwater control project at Williston Central School. OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY
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The Williston Fire Department has been recognized by the American Heart Association with the Mission: Lifeline Gold EMS Achievement Award for 2026. The award recognizes the department’s care for patients experiencing STEMIs (ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarctions). “This achievement reflects the dedication, professionalism and clinical excellence of every member of our department,” Lt. Tony Simanskas said. “From dispatch to patient handoff at the hospital, our personnel work tirelessly to ensure that patients experiencing life-threatening cardiac emergencies receive the best care possible. “We are honored to receive this recognition and remain committed to advancing emergency cardiac care for the residents and visitors of Williston.”
Williston
It’s official — selectboard moves library question to Nov. ballot OBSERVER STAFF REPORT The Williston Selectboard approved a ballot question during a special meeting last Wednesday seeking voter approval for $9 million in bond financing to upgrade and add to the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. The question will appear on the Nov. 3 General Election ballot, which will be mailed to all registered voters in town. It will be the third vote this year on funding a library project. A Town Meeting Day approval of $13.9 million in bond financing was overturned in May after a citizen petition forced a reconsideration vote. Since then, the Library Board of Trustees has worked to scale back the project and reduce its cost in hopes of gaining voter approval in November. Although completed ballots can be mailed in or dropped in the ballot drop box outside Town Hall, the polls will still be open Nov. 3 at the Vermont National Guard Armory for ballot drop-off. The night before — Monday, Nov. 2 — the selectboard
NOV. 3 BALLOT QUESTION Shall the voters authorize renovation and expansion of the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, associated improvements, and the issuance of general obligation bonds or notes of the Town in an amount not to exceed $9 million, subject to reduction by grants-in-aid and funds then available to the Town to pay the capital costs and related other costs of the project? will hold an informational meeting on the bond question at 7 p.m. at Williston Central School. Please see Page 7 for more information about the new library project proposal from Library Director Kevin Unrath and Town Manager Erik Wells.
RE-ELECT YOUR CHITTENDEN SOUTHEAST SENATE TEAM Thomas Chittenden • Ginny Lyons • Kesha Ram Hinsdale Experienced, effective leadership fighting for affordable housing, strong schools, accessible heath care and Vermont values.
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August 6, 2026 • Williston Observer •
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Williston Observer • August 6, 2026
State requests list of Vermont gatherings BY GRACE BERTRAND VTDigger
State and federal authorities looking for potential threats have long monitored parades, sporting events and county fairs in Vermont — and some town officials are only now finding out. Last week, town clerks throughout Vermont received an email asking if they would voluntarily hand over a list of potential public and private events of at least 2,500 attendees in their respective towns. Susan Gage, Brandon’s town clerk and treasurer, had never heard of such a request in her 12-year tenure. The email came from the Vermont Homeland Security Unit, a state entity under Vermont State Police that’s fully funded by the federal government. The unit facilitates something called the Vermont Intelligence Center, which describes as its goal identifying signs of criminal and terrorism-related activity in the state. “I suppose we just had a little fair in town, and if something horrible happened there, I would hope that there would be
people that would respond quickly,” Gage said in an interview with VTDigger. “But at the same time … we don’t need monitoring.” Gage turned down the state’s request. “I can’t help but wonder about the motivations or ‘masked’ incentives in this request,” she responded to Paul Locke, the Vermont Homeland Security Unit’s program planner, in an email she shared with VTDigger. Lia Ernst, legal director at the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont, similarly had questions about how the information is stored and shared. “When assessing whether these kinds of practices and data collection present a risk to people’s civil liberties, we would wonder what specific criteria law enforcement officials are using to assess whether an event is ‘high-risk’ or not, what tactics may be put into motion when an event is designated as such, and what safeguards are in place to ensure officials are not inhibiting people’s First Amendment rights through their actions,” she wrote in an email to VTDigger. The state homeland security unit’s annual request is part of the U.S. Department
Dan Gamelin
People take part in a Fourth of July parade in Warren this year. PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER
of Homeland Security’s Special Event Assessment Rating program, also known as SEAR. Vermont is required as part of the program to compile the list each year and forward it to the federal government, which rates the special events on a scale depending on if they meet certain criteria, such as national or international importance, potential threats to public safety and level of media attention. However, the towns have
a choice of whether they want to contribute. Using the list, the state homeland security unit can know when to prepare local and state law enforcement to assemble at events ahead of time, including concerts, parades, county fairs, marathons, firework displays, sporting events and holiday gatherings with at least 2,500 people, according to a special events form listed on the unit’s website. While the list monitors the time and see GATHERINGS page 12
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August 6, 2026 • Williston Observer •
Page 5
ACLU files federal claims against ICE over South Burlington raid BY GRACE BERTRAND VTDigger Two South Burlington residents have filed federal claims against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, alleging agents used excessive force and unlawfully detained them during a botched March 11 immigration raid. The American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont filed the claims last week on behalf of José Estrada Jerez, a U.S. citizen, and Jisella Johana Patin Patin, who goes by Johana and is an asylum seeker, under the Federal Tort Claims Act, the first step toward a lawsuit seeking financial damages from the federal government. The claims accuse ICE agents of excessive force and false imprisonment after they entered the home the pair shared. The agents were executing a search warrant for another man. “It is always true in so many of our cases that money will never make our plaintiffs whole,” said Monica Allard, senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Vermont. “It will never fix the harm that has happened to them, but it can be a powerful tool for accountability when it comes to government actions.” The two Vermont cases are part of a nationwide campaign facilitated by the ACLU that the organization says seeks to hold ICE and other federal authorities accountable for their actions. Across 17 states and Washington D.C., the ACLU has filed 54 legal claims in recent months targeting civil rights violations, excessive force and unlawful home raids by federal immigration agents. “When there’s a sort of coordinated effort on behalf of the government to terrorize broad swaths of our population, we need a coordinated response,” Allard said. ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment. During the immigration raid, Jerez and Patin Patin were sheltered inside their home with Jerez’s uncle, Patin Patin’s 4-year-old daughter and Patin Patin’s sister when ICE agents surrounded the property.
Jisella Johana Patin Patin is led out in handcuffs by federal law enforcement agents in South Burlington in March. FILE PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER
Hundreds of protesters, along with over 60 federal, state and local law enforcement officials, gathered around the house as the day went on. After ICE broke down the door with a battering ram, Jerez and his uncle were found on the floor with their hands raised, while Patin Patin and her sister were hiding in her room, they said in the ACLU’s account of the raid. Patin Patin’s daughter was safely removed from the home with the help of other adults outside the house before the agents entered. “The government is doing everything that it can to make us feel afraid, to make us feel small, and to try to push us into the shadows,” Jerez said in a press release from the ACLU of Vermont. “But people should look at what happened on March 11 and see not only the trauma we faced, but also how powerful our community is when it stands together.” The ICE agents threatened to use tear gas inside the house in search of the wanted man, flipping mattresses and busting down doors, according to the ACLU account. The chaos escalated, the account says, when an officer’s foot broke through the attic floor and his weapon discharged. Jerez was left alone in the aftermath of
the raid, as his uncle, Patin Patin and her sister were taken by ICE agents. Patin Patin was imprisoned for five days before being released on bail by U.S. District Court Judge Geoffrey Crawford. “I hope that people who hear my story will understand that no one should live in fear that the government will separate them from their children, physically harm them, or throw them in prison based only on false stereotypes about immigrants and people from Spanish-speaking countries,” Patin
Patin said in the press release. “I think the people of Vermont would agree that we all deserve better.” Along with the ACLU of Vermont, Patin Patin is being represented by Montroll, Oettinger & Barquist PC, and Jerez by Nathan Virag Law. “Agents had no business terrorizing her and her family, yet they decided to anyway,” Kristen Connors, one of Patin Patin’s lawyers, said in the ACLU press release. “This lawless mass deportation campaign endangers us all, and especially our immigrant neighbors.” Allard of the ACLU said her organization is ready to use “every tool in our tool belt” to combat the actions of the federal authorities and the damage that she says was done to Jerez and Patin Patin’s home that day. The claims filed Wednesday are the first step in bringing a lawsuit against ICE under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Now, plaintiffs will have to wait six months or until ICE either accepts the claim, rejects it or negotiates a settlement. Allard said they are prepared to wait. “Both Joanna and José were deeply impacted by the actions of ICE on March 11th and afterwards, and they will carry this with them for a long time,” Allard said.
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Shelburne Museum stays open after hours on select summer evenings with live music, food trucks, access to galleries, and fun for the whole family! 5:30–7:30 p.m. August 27. Admission is free! With live music from: Ray Vega Afro-Caribbean Jazz Ensemble
Page 6 •
Williston Observer • August 6, 2026
GUEST COLUMN
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Moving healthcare policy back into the mainstream By Gov. Phil Scott Elected officials have a responsibility to judge public policy by results — not by good intentions, political philosophy or studies that inspired it. Whether we’re talking about housing, education, energy or taxes, I ask my team the same question: Will this make life more affordable for Vermonters? Healthcare is no exception. Today, Vermont’s families, workers and small businesses face some of the highest health insurance costs in America while having fewer affordable choices than people living in neighboring states. That should concern all of us, regardless of what political party we align with. Throughout my 25 years in public service, I’ve never served in the majority. That experience has taught me an important lesson: Vermont gets much better policy when no single political philosophy dominates the debate. Our best solutions come from testing ideas, challenging assumptions and finding common ground. Unfortunately, for more than three decades, the Legislature pursued healthcare policies, culminating in Act 48 in 2011, which directed the state to design a taxpayer-funded single-payer healthcare system. Although Gov. Peter Shumlin ultimately concluded
that plan wasn’t financially viable, millions of taxpayer dollars were spent pursuing it, and much of the regulatory framework created during that period remains in place today, despite my repeated requests to bring our healthcare policy back into the mainstream.
Vermonters will need to elect legislators willing to evaluate policies based on today’s realities rather than yesterday’s assumptions. That’s why I’ve issued an Executive Order directing state agencies to use every executive authority available to expand affordable health insurance choices, reduce costs and prepare additional reforms for next year’s legislative session. We need to do this now because many young adults and working families choose to go without coverage due to costs rising faster than family budgets. Small businesses struggle to offer competitive benefits, and hospitals face growing financial pressure. Fortunately, Vermont doesn’t have to “reinvent the wheel.” Neighboring states — and most states across the country — have
SUBMISSIONS & LETTERS Deadline is Monday noon for Thursday issue. News/story tips are welcomed. Letters to the Editor should be 300 words or fewer and include your name, address and a daytime phone number so that we can verify the letter’s author. The Williston Observer reserves the right to edit or refuse submissions or advertising. Opinions expressed in the paper are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the paper.
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assumptions. When public systems stop producing affordable outcomes, government has a responsibility to modernize them. This isn’t ideological. It’s practical, and I’m an unabashed pragmatist. More affordable choices, lower costs, a stronger economy, and a Vermont where more young people can afford to build a career, raise a family, start a business, and grow old — that’s the future we desperately need, and one we can achieve if we work together. For nearly a decade, I’ve made affordability the central focus of my administration. We’ve made some progress, particularly when we’ve had legislative partners willing to embrace practical reform. But we’ve also reached the limits of what a governor can accomplish alone. If Vermonters want to modernize our healthcare system — and make similar progress on housing, education, energy and affordability more broadly — we will need a Legislature that shares those priorities. Vermonters are practical, independent people. We understand we cannot expect different results if we don’t change our approach. I believe the people of our state are ready to bring Vermont’s policies — and its Legislature — back toward the middle of the road. This is how we build a stronger, healthier and more resilient future together.
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already proven it’s possible to maintain strong consumer protection while giving families and employers more affordable insurance choices. Those ideas aren’t radical. They’re mainstream. And they work. That’s why our initiative focuses on approaches like federal innovation waivers, modernizing outdated insurance regulations, expanding affordable options for small employers, and creating a healthier insurance marketplace. In Maine, for example, they combined reinsurance with insurance modernization and reversed what had become a downward spiral of rising premiums and declining participation. There are many other examples to learn from as well. I’ve always believed every Vermonter deserves access to quality healthcare. The question is not whether we share that goal. It’s how we achieve it. If current policies leave Vermonters paying more than friends and family in every neighboring state — and they most certainly do — then we owe it to them to put Vermont on a more mainstream path. My Executive Order is only the beginning. It’s important to realize that modernizing Vermont’s healthcare system requires legislative action. That means Vermonters will need to elect legislators willing to evaluate policies based on today’s realities rather than yesterday’s
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August 6, 2026 • Williston Observer •
Page 7
GUEST COLUMN
Detailing the revised library proposal
moved this revised project forward to a November bond vote at a special meeting on Wednesday, July 29. The bond would be for no more than $9 million, with fundraising anticipated to cover the remaining budget amount. The bond question will appear on the General Election ballot in November, which will be mailed to all registered Williston voters. The changes to the project directly reflect input from residents. The revised plan eliminates
see LIBRARY page 8
HE C A
S!
After the very close bond vote and then equally close reconsideration vote this year, Library Trustees and the Schematic Design Advisory Committee have spent the past several months carefully reviewing community feedback about the proposed library renovation and expansion. Throughout that process, the goal has been simple: preserve the improvements our community needs while responding thoughtfully to concerns about affordability, scale, appearance, and the impact on the Village Green. The result is a substantially revised proposal that reduces the total project cost from $14.45 million to $9.88 million — a savings of more than $4.5 million, or nearly one-third of the original budget. The Williston Selectboard
Community feedback from the public has shaped this revised proposal in meaningful ways.
the proposed parking lots on the Village Green and instead makes better use of the existing parking along Library Lane. The building itself has also been significantly reduced, from an 11,500-squarefoot, two-story addition to a 6,700-square-foot, one-story addition. The exterior has been redesigned with traditional white clapboard to better complement the existing library and the surrounding historic district. These changes reduce both the visual impact of the project and its overall cost while still providing the additional space the library needs. You can see a detailed budget and the revised plans at www. WillistonLibraryProject.org. The redesign creates long-term benefits. A smaller, single-story building is easier for everyone to use, eliminating the need for
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Williston Observer • August 6, 2026
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Bond logic I’m not a handyman. Regardless, a few weeks ago, I found myself under my kitchen sink, working to remove a broken garbage disposal. YouTube had convinced me it would be an easy job. Three trips to Home Depot later, I was sweaty, frustrated, and had spent around three times as much as I’d planned, during a week when I couldn’t really afford to spend it. Williston isn’t trying to fix a sink. We’re trying to build a library. It’s going to be a big undertaking and I can understand David Martel’s reluctance to support an “overpriced” project (“Library looks like a ‘no’ vote in November” July 30). At the same time, there are subtleties to the process that David tends to ignore when he’s sharing his opinions in places like the Observer. Subtleties he should understand, at this point, because he’s already asked these questions and received answers. At the selectboard meeting on July 21,
Library
David repeated his desire for the town to “get bids.” He was told both by board members and the architects that the legal process requires bond approval before bids can happen. He was also told that the current proposal is for a bond “up to” $9 million and that if the bids from contractors come below that, we won’t need or use the full amount. The reasoning, as board member Jeanne Jensen put it when she was addressing David, is simple: “If we go with a $7 million bond and it really is 9, then we can’t finish the project.” Wanting this to be less expensive is reasonable. We still need to make sure we have money to finish it if “cheaper” isn’t possible. We don’t want the town to be like me, scrambling for a way to finish a project because we started it without the proper resources. (I did manage to fix the sink, though.) Stew Shearer Williston
continued from page 7
elevators and stairs while improving accessibility. The revised construction approach relies primarily on wood framing rather than a more complex steel structure, reducing construction costs and creating a more traditional appearance. Because the building is smaller, the mechanical systems, interior finishes, design fees, and future operating costs have all been reduced as well. Landscaping has also been scaled back to focus on the library entrance while avoiding unnecessary site work. The town has employed Black River Design to develop this plan and create a thorough cost estimate for expected costs. Should voters move the project forward, competitive bids will be solicited from contractors to ensure that the project is as cost-effective as possible. This process of schematic design, cost estimation, project funding through bonding and fundraising, design development, and then competitive bidding is the standard process for municipal projects in Williston, in Vermont, and
around the country. Community feedback from the public has shaped this revised proposal in meaningful ways, and we want to thank everyone who has shared their thoughts throughout this process. We are grateful to the Selectboard, Library Trustees, and members of the Schematic Design Advisory Committee, who have devoted hundreds of volunteer hours to refining the design. We also want to recognize the generous donors who have already pledged more than $750,000 toward the project so far. Our Capital Campaign Committee will relaunch the fundraising campaign this month. We will hold a series of informational meetings in the early fall leading up to the bond vote on Nov. 3. Stay tuned! As always, we are happy to answer questions or try to find the answers from someone else on our team here if we don’t have them at hand. Please reach out by email to to kevin@damlvt.org or ewells@ willistonvt.org. Kevin Unrath is director of the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. Erik Wells is town manager of Williston.
Election editorial policy The Williston Observer welcomes election-related Guest Columns and Letters to the Editor submissions leading up to local, state and national elections. We refrain from publishing election-related material in the issue immediately preceding an election.
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ACADEMIC HONORS The following Williston and St. George students, listed alphabetically, received academic honors in higher education during the spring 2026 semester.
Simeon BetanCourt was named to Justin Covey graduated from Vermont the Dean’s List at Norwich University.
Jake Bialowoz graduated from Roger Jackson DuBois was named to the Williams University.
Kaylee Bliss was named to the Hasan Aljaf was named to the President’s List at Vermont State University.
Jaden Ballard was named to the Dean’s List at the University of New England.
Ava Baron was named to the Dean’s List at the University of Connecticut.
Samuel Bartley was named to the Dean’s List at Fairfield University.
Jeremiah Batres was named to the Dean’s List at Champlain College.
State University.
Trustees’ List and President’s List at Champlain College.
Emma Brebion was named to the Dean’s List and graduated Vermont State University.
from
Audrey Brown was named to the Dean’s List at Vermont State University.
Ryan Byrne was named to the Dean’s List at Champlain College.
President’s List at the University of South Carolina.
Jada
Edwards
graduated Vermont State University.
from
Elizabeth Fisher was named to the Dean’s List at St. Michael’s College
Leo Fluery was named to the Dean’s List at the Community College of Vermont.
Zachary
Foote graduated Vermont State University.
from
Corey Caulfield was named to the Shane Geraldez was named to the Dean’s List at the Community College of Vermont.
Rich
Caulfield
graduated Vermont State University.
from
Dean’s List at St. Michael’s College.
Leland Goodenough graduated
Kyle Gorman received a Doctor of
Medicine degree from the University of Vermont.
McKenna Griswold was named to
the President’s List at and graduated from Vermont State University.
Ada Jones was named to the Dean’s List at St. Michael’s College.
Eli Jones was named to the Dean’s List at and graduated from Vermont State University.
Lawton Jones graduated from St.
Michael’s College with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
Kaitlyn Jovell was named to the Dean’s List at the University of Connecticut.
Grace Kafferlin was named to the Dean’s List at Geneva College.
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Williston Observer •
August 6, 2026
ACADEMIC HONORS Honors
Norah Munn was named to the Dean’s List at Quinnipiac University.
continued from page 9
Noah Musgrave was named to Katrina Kajenski was named to the Dean’s List at Fairfield University.
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Abigail Rock was named to the Dean’s
Romae Martone was named to the Dean’s List at the Community College of Vermont.
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Michele Waggoner graduated from Vermont State University.
Hanna Wolny was named to the Dean’s List at SUNY New Paltz.
Vanessa Worth was named to the Dean’s List at SUNY Cortland.
August 6, 2026 • Williston Observer •
SAGE learners savor flavors
A group of fifth- and sixth graders who participated in the Champlain Valley School District’s one-week Summer Academic Growth Experience (SAGE) spent part of their time writing reviews of different Pringles flavors to make commercials for each flavor. The program aims to increase student engagement in literacy and math. Students from all of the district’s sending towns participated this summer, meeting each day for half-day sessions in either literacy or math. “The goal for the literacy group really is to help students experience joy in learning, while also providing important literacy instruction,” said Natalie Lodge, a teacher who lives in Williston and works at Hinesburg Community School. Below are the students’ Pringles flavor reviews.
LIKE YOUR BACKYARD BARBEQUE Have you heard of the new Smoky Mesquite BBQ Pringles? Everyone is talking about them! Tastes of sweet and sour explode in your mouth at the same time! They smell like you are sitting next to your neighbor’s barbeque. You will not be able to resist them! — Isabella Mcintire, entering grade 5
PERFECT PRINGLES You should try the Cheddar and Sour Cream Pringle! It’s creamy, cheesy and salty in one bite. Its cheesy potato smell, and duck mouth shape make it a perfect snack. It makes me feel like I’m on a long car ride to Massachusetts, or relaxing on the couch watching the World Cup. You can smell the amazing scent a mile away. Now, run to a local store and buy the Cheddar and Sour Cream Pringle! — Clark Dickinson, entering grade 5
POPPING PRINGLES Have you ever wanted to have a barbeque in your backyard, but you do not have the supplies to? Well then, just try the new SMOKY MESQUITE BBQ Pringles! They taste like an explosion of flavor in your mouth. They are savory, sweet and salty all in one bite. They smell like your next door neighbor is having a barbeque and they
look like a wave with red barbeque seasoning. It makes you want more and more, so go to your local grocery store and get the SMOKY MESQUITE BBQ Pringles! — Juniper Slabaugh, entering grade 5
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PERFECT PIZZA PRINGLES These Pizza Pringles make your mouth burst with joy. The perfect pizza taste and the classic crunchy sound make this the ideal snack for a car ride, beach day, or just chilling on the couch. The chips are nice and tangy like a drippy cheese pizza. You can smell the flavors from a mile away. It makes you feel like you need more Pizza Pringles because it tastes like a miracle in your mouth. Don’t buy pizza, buy Pizza Pringles! — Gilligan Wellman and Paxton Lucier, entering grade 6
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Williston Observer •
August 6, 2026
Gatherings
continued from page 4
place of the events, the attendees themselves are not logged. The special events reporting form also asks for the event sponsors, any additional security controls, the expected number of attendees and whether a special events permit has been filed with state police. Vermont’s participation in the program has been ongoing since 2007, Director of the Vermont Homeland Security Unit Ronald LaFond wrote in an email to VTDigger. The exact level of needed support and resources from federal partners, along with coordination between state and federal law enforcement, is determined by a formal risk classification, according to LaFond. In the past, the state’s events have never triggered the deployment of federal resources, LaFond wrote, adding that the state’s events “have limited national impact.” “This program adds to the overall resilience of every community and helps local first responders and state public safety organizations have an overall view of large scale events in the state to better protect the citizens and guests of Vermont,” LaFond wrote. In 2025, the Vermont Intelligence Center compiled a statewide directory of events that attracted at least 1,000 people, according to the Vermont Homeland Security Unit’s website. The
request was only sent to emergency services, such as local fire and police departments. This year, however, the outreach for the list was expanded to town officials after a lack of input statewide from emergency services in previous years, Kenneth A. Deschaine, the Vermont Intelligence Center’s counter-terrorism and critical infrastructure analyst, wrote in an email to Gage that she provided to VTDigger. LaFond noted that Vermont was not doing anything unusual in relation to the program, as their efforts are similar to those seen nationwide. The list itself, he added, is maintained by the VIC for no longer than one year after the submission. Gage, the Brandon town clerk, acknowledges that what she called her “paranoia” about the program — unfounded or otherwise — comes partly in light of her disapproval of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s presence in the nation, much less Vermont. After getting the email, Gage made an effort to reach out to several other town clerks to see if they had also received it. Some shared similar concerns as she did though not to the same degree, she noted. Had the request been one town officials knew of in past years, Gage continued, she would not have been as alarmed. “That’s the kind of emotions I think that are evoked now when our government is militarized against its citizens and its citizens’ neighbors,” Gage said.
CVU
continued from page 1
After exiting the closed-door session, board member Keith Roberts moved to approve “the gift agreement that was modified during the (private) discussion that the board had this evening.” The board approved the motion on an 8-3 vote but did not make public the agreement. “No one who was present in person or by zoom had any way of knowing what was being adopted or decided by vote,” Dumont wrote in the complaint. “When a public body votes in public on a resolution the content of which is not disclosed to the public, the fundamental purpose of the Open Meeting Law is frustrated.” The school district did not release the agreement to the public until more than two weeks later. “Without (open meeting laws) we don’t have accountability to the public,” Dumont said in an interview Monday with the Observer. “I’m sure everybody on the school board is well-intentioned, but the process has gone off the rails.” Dumont, on behalf of the Hinesburg residents, is demanding that the board invalidate the June 30 vote and hold a new public meeting on the gift agreement. “We’re asking them to start over,” he said, “but this time, put all the cards on the table and then the public can weigh in and the school board hopefully will listen.”
In print and online: We’re your neighbors, committed to keeping you informed on what’s going on in Williston.
Statute requires a response from the board within 10 days of receipt of the complaint. On Monday, Superintendent Adam Bunting said he had not yet received the complaint, although Dumont said he emailed and faxed it to the district on Friday, July 31. Nonetheless, Bunting emailed a response to the Observer on behalf of
“I’m sure everybody on the school board is well-intentioned but the process has gone off the rails.” James Dumont Attorney representing Responsible Growth Hinesburg
board chair Meghan Metzler on Tuesday. In it, Metzler does not specifically address the allegation surrounding the vote but states “the board is confident that its process complied with Vermont’s Open Meeting Law.” She also says that, after reviewing the allegations with the school district’s attorney, “the board determined that no violation occurred and that no cure is necessary.” It’s unclear whether that response was sent to Dumont within the 10-day window, which expires Sunday. Dumont said his clients are
Justice
continued from page 1
victim services capacity. “Whether the victim reports to the police or not, the program still makes services available to those victims of crime, and it can offer all kinds of things,” said Jolly. “That kind of service, where, whether the person responsible is caught or not or whether the victim of crime reports to the police or not, did not exist in Williston.” The new countywide structure is also going to move community justice in Williston beyond just “pre-charge diversion,” where an offender is recommended by police for restorative justice. In time, Jolly said, the Williston office will
prepared to escalate the dispute by suing the district in Chittenden Superior Court. “I wouldn’t submit a letter like this unless I was prepared to file suit if the letter was ignored,” he said. The complaint alleges two other Open Meeting Law violations. It says the board agreed to a “term sheet” with the group offering to gift the artificial turf — led by Charlotte resident Eli Lesser-Goldsmith — back in August 2025. That term sheet formed the basis of subsequent negotiations that led to the final gift agreement in June. The term sheet was never made public. “The Board should have disclosed the existence and contents of the term sheet in the public session that was held on June 30,” Dumont wrote in the complaint. Metzler, in her response to the complaint, said the board never took a formal action on the term sheet, describing it as a part of a “commonly used (process) to establish a framework for further exploration and negotiation before a proposed contract is brought to the board for consideration.” The residents’ complaint also takes issue with the way the board entered private deliberations during the June 30 meeting, saying it did so without a lawful reason. Metzler defended the process, saying the board entered private session because the discussion “involved a contract that remained subject to negotiation.”
have capacity to handle cases referred by a state’s attorney after charges have been filed, or by a judge or probation officer during the adjudication of a crime. It will also be able to offer re-entry support for people returning to the community after serving prison time. Not all of Williston’s community justice volunteers have made the transition to the new countywide organization. But enough have, Jolly said, for restorative justice panels to begin meeting again this month. “We really want this to work for Williston volunteers,” Jolly said. “Our hope is that all the value they saw in what restorative practices are meant to do, and the community involvement in it, is going to stay the same.”
August 6, 2026 •
Williston Observer •
Page 13
Planned Parenthood looks ahead after federal cuts BY EMILY RODIN Community News Service
Abortion providers saw significant federal funding cuts last year with the passage of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill. The legislation barred certain abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood affiliates, from receiving Medicaid reimbursements for non-abortion care, leaving clinics across the country in financial crisis. The ban on Medicaid reimbursements expired last month, but the defunding took its toll. Nearly two-dozen Planned Parenthood health centers closed across the country, according to a March U.S. Senate report. Some affiliates on the West Coast survived by offering cosmetic procedures such as Botox injections. For Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, which has health centers across Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont,
planning ahead began well before the defunding became a reality. Clinics across the region are now offering expanded programs, many of which carry higher Medicaid reimbursement rates, as they look toward the future. Nicole Clegg, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, said the slate of services are “about making these patient-centered decisions” and protecting them “from the harm that Congress and Trump are trying to pass onto them.” “It’s been significant. There’s something every month that they’re doing to try and make it harder for us to provide health care,” Clegg said. Trump’s bill, which was signed on July 1, 2025, sent Planned Parenthood affiliates into a tailspin. At first, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England considered either changing the care available for patients covered by Medicaid
“There’s something every month that they’re doing to try and make it harder for us to provide health care.” Nicole Clegg President and CEO Planned Parenthood of Northern New England
or closing more health centers, Vermont Public reported last year. Even so, the affiliate had long been preparing for the worst. “Because we had already gone through one Trump administration, we started to contingency-plan over the summer and into the fall before Trump was reelected so that we could really be prepared if and when events like the defunding happened,” Clegg said.
Between 20 and 30 percent of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England patients are insured by Medicaid, which left a sizable revenue gap, Clegg said. The state continued to reimburse Planned Parenthood providers for its portion of Medicaid costs but couldn’t rely on federal funds to offset the remainder. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England said Vermont officials eventually agreed to chip in an additional $600,000 to help the organization get by. The Department of Vermont Health Access, which manages Medicaid reimbursements, didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment seeking details about the funding. Eleven other states, including New York, Maine and Connecticut, also provided bridge funds for their local affiliates, but with funding restrictions now expired, they will once again receive federal reimbursement for that care. As Planned Parenthood of
Northern New England waited for Medicaid funding to resume, its clinics began offering increased access to menopause care, vasectomy and colposcopy services, all of which receive slightly better reimbursement rates than other services, Clegg said. They also help destigmatize certain sexual and reproductive health needs, Clegg said. Menopause, for instance, is widely misunderstood, to the degree that some people don’t believe perimenopause exists, said Katie Riley, the affiliate’s director of menopause services. Riley recently started a program to train providers how to better care for women as they age. “A lot of people don’t think of Planned Parenthood as a place that provides services for sexual and reproductive care across the lifespan,” Riley said. “I think we are just automatically so well positioned to provide this care, and I think our clinicians are so see PARENTHOOD page 15
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Page 14
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Williston Observer •
August 6, 2026
Vermont Green repeat as undefeated national champions BY THEO WELLS-SPACKMAN VTDigger
The Vermont Green FC men’s team defeated the Flint City Bucks on Saturday to win a national championship. PHOTO COURTESY OF VERMONT GREEN FC
Mike Popovitch, a dyed-in-the-wool Vermont Green FC fan, spent a rainy Saturday evening in Flint, Mich., leading over 150 traveling fans in song through a megaphone. The Green won 2-1 against the Flint City Bucks that night in the national final of the United Soccer League’s second men’s tier. The win earned the club its second consecutive championship, making Vermont Green the first team to achieve that feat in over two decades. Head coach Chris Taylor’s team has not lost in the nationwide summer league, which is composed mainly of college players, since July 2024 — a 42-match unbeaten streak. “It was an amazing experience,” Popovitch said of his journey to Michigan over the weekend. Having followed the Green “since day one,” he serves as a capo — a sort of informal chant conductor — for the club’s most dedicated supporters. “It just really shows what this team has done for this community,” he said of the final’s atmosphere.
Saturday’s win comes in a triumphant period for soccer in Burlington. The University of Vermont men’s soccer team’s improbable championship win in 2024 was followed by the Green’s first national title last year. And after the club’s women’s side reached the national final in its inaugural year last month, the men’s team swept to yet another undefeated championship season. Despite controlling large swaths of a cagey match Saturday, the Green were kept unusually quiet until breaking the deadlock by way of a second-half own goal. After conceding almost immediately, Vermont pulled ahead again in the 75th minute through a penalty kick from standout midfielder Ryan Zellefrow. “I’m feeling a ton of pride,” said club co-founder Patrick Infurna in an interview Monday. “They always find a way to win.” “It’s probably the most emotional I’ve been at the final whistle,” agreed Taylor in a club statement after the game. “To do it a second year in a row … last year was magical, this is incredible.” For Infurna, it was painful to play the final away from the Green’s home see VT GREEN page 15
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VT Green
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support, which has seen Virtue Field’s 2,500-seat bleachers sold out nearly every match this season for both the men and women. Based on the team’s record, he feels this year’s playoff run should rightfully have been set in Burlington. But nonetheless, he said, the traveling Green fans rivaled the much larger home crowd in rowdiness, creating an atmosphere “worthy of a final.” Watch parties across the state also tuned in from afar, from the Mad Rose in Rutland to the Zero Gravity Beer Hall in Burlington. Over the last few years, Popovitch said, he’s been “growing to love the team — growing to love the sport — in a way that I didn’t know that I could.” In addition to his membership in the Green Mountain Bhoys, the club’s primary supporters’ group, he also co-hosts and produces the podcast “United in Green.” “You’re able to experience something that’s just joyful and
Parenthood
continued from page 13
good and doing such a good job of providing it.” The organization has also expanded its cancer screening offerings. Markie Van Orman, an advanced practicing clinician and certified nurse-midwife at the Burlington and Williston health centers, recently completed training in colposcopy. Often recommended after an abnormal Pap test, the procedure involves examining the cervix to identify any precancerous or cancerous abnormalities. Delaying or skipping a recommended colposcopy can increase the risk of cervical cancer. Previously, there were only about two or three Vermont clinicians trained in colposcopy, requiring them to travel across the state a few times a month to provide care to patients, Van Orman said. With more providers now trained to perform the procedure, patients have access to care several days a week, shortening wait times and reducing the risk that patients forgo
positive,” he said of the team. “It’s kind of an escape for people from their hectic normal lives.” The UVM Medical Center X-ray technician has seen his kids grow up around the club too, with both now holding season passes. He credits Vermont Green with creating a welcoming culture for its youngest fans,
The traveling Green fans rivaled the much larger home crowd in rowdiness, creating an atmosphere ‘worthy of a final.’ and “giving them the ability to dream, you know, that maybe they can play for this team someday,” he said. Infurna said he has outlined the long-term aspirations of his club with this next generation of fans in mind. In the background
follow-up care. Van Orman performs up to 18 colposcopies per month. “It’s not a new service, but it’s newly established in a way that’s very routine,” Van Orman said, though she acknowledged there are still gaps in care. “If we can kind of continue to expand to those more rural parts of the state or expand access for our kind of hubs like Burlington and other larger health centers, I think it’s always worth it,” Van Orman said. Over the past year and a half, the organization has also expanded vasectomy services at health centers across New England, beginning with its Burlington location, and plans to add two more sites in the near future, Clegg said. The service matches demand. A recent American Medical Association article found that vasectomy rates have increased by 26% in the past decade. “The fact that our appointments are filling up, and they’re filling up into the fall at this point, really speaks to the fact that there was a gap here,” Clegg said. Across Lake Champlain, northern New York affiliates
of on-the-field successes, he said, the club is hoping to build lasting cultural infrastructure and find even more ways to connect with the growing community of fans. “We want this to sit in people’s lives,” he said. By the time the kids watching today are adults, he added, “They get to remember it as it was, and they get to build on it themselves.” Both the Green men’s and women’s teams will be back in regular season action next May. In the meantime, Infurna hopes to celebrate Saturday’s win at a UVM sporting event soon, though many players have already dispersed across the country for their fall seasons. In any event, he said, “We’ll find ways to make sure that trophy gets around, and the people who really deserve to be a part of those celebrations get to be a part of it.” Theo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.
Williston Observer •
Page 15
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have been offering all three services — menopause care, vasectomy and colposcopy — since 2022, but have struggled to expand them in the current fiscal environment, said Crystal Collette, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the North Country New York. “It’s a tough balance for a small, rural organization to make sure that we are maintaining stability but also keeping our eye on the future,” Collette said. Recruiting and retaining clinicians remains one of the affiliate’s biggest challenges, Collette said. Because of this, the organization increased salaries over the past year and hopes to address patient demands further as staffing improves. “We are an incredibly resilient organization,” Collette said. “We can be scrappy when we need to be scrappy, we can be creative, we have people who care deeply about what we do.” Emily Rodin is an intern for UVM’s Community News Service through Report for America’s Local News Internship Program.
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August 6, 2026
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A 900-foot airstrip at the home of BETA founder Kyle Clark in Lincoln seen July 29.
Process proceeds without public hearings BY TSEHAI ALFRED VTDigger Four years ago, Lincoln residents believed Beta Technologies’ CEO Kyle Clark would not be able to fly his planes over their homes after the town denied his application for a private airstrip. But Clark’s efforts have since shifted to federal and state channels. Recently, the project has quietly inched closer to final approval. “It runs counter to how people in Vermont prefer to operate — with a lot of power in town government rather than state government coming in and telling you what to do,” said Sarah Laird, a Lincoln resident and petitioner against the airstrip, describing the approval process. The Federal Aviation Administration last Tuesday denied an appeal, filed by Laird and fellow Lincoln resident Marilyn Ganahl, to a conditional determination it granted Clark for the airstrip last summer. Now, after years of opposition, the application lies in the hands of the Vermont Transportation Board, the final step in the approval process. But recent steps have unfolded without public comments or hearings, according to FAA documents obtained by VTDigger and Evan Robinson, aviation program manager at the Vermont Agency of Transportation. A representative
for Clark maintained that the electric aviation CEO has gone through the appropriate channels who have approved the airstrip for safety, but some neighbors say their safety concerns still haven’t been fully weighed. “We just want the courts, the transportation board and the FAA to understand that there are two sides of the coin,” said Mike O’Conner, a retired marine naval flight officer and Lincoln resident who has for years opposed the airstrip. Since Clark initially proposed the private airstrip in 2022, it has been at the heart of a fierce debate over safety and the rural quality of Lincoln, even causing some supporters of Clark to lose friends. The town’s zoning administrator issued Clark a permit early that year, but Ganahl appealed it. After several public hearings, the town’s zoning board of adjustment denied the application. The following year, the town’s development review board also voted against the proposal. But in 2025, a challenge brought by Clark to state environmental court reversed that decision, greenlighting the land-use portion of the application while referring questions of noise, safety and public interest to the FAA and the Vermont Transportation Board. Opposing neighbors say that without public hearings in the recent federal and state processes, those questions haven’t been adequately addressed. “We were all told that we
PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER
couldn’t talk about safety and noise, but we would get a chance to do that when the FAA got involved in it, and Vermont Transportation Board got involved in it, and then we got to that stage, and it totally got blown out of the door,” said Dan Guy, a Lincoln resident who opposed the airstrip in environmental court. After the FAA granted Clark the determination in June 2025, the next agency to weigh the application, the state transportation board, reached out to the state Agency of Transportation for recommendations on whether public hearings were needed, according to Robinson. Because of the town’s public hearings and the court proceedings on the issue, the agency did not find public hearings necessary, Robinson wrote in a statement to VTDigger. While that decision is in line with an exception in the board’s rules and regulations, opposing neighbors say it goes against what the board previously told them. In an email to Laird last summer obtained by VTDigger, a member of the board wrote, “We will hold at least one public hearing.” The town’s selectboard asked the state board to hold a hearing for the application in a letter to the board last fall, which also detailed “Lincoln’s continuing concerns about the hazards and operation” of the airstrip. Laird, Ganahl and other opposing neighbors sent letters to several state representatives on see BETA page 17
August 6, 2026 • Williston Observer •
Beta
continued from page 16
Sunday asking the state to hold public hearings during its approval process of the airstrip. The FAA did not take public comments on the permit — despite earlier saying it would consult “interested persons” — because public consultation is only required for “controversial proposals and those that have a potential adverse effect on the users of the airspace,” an FAA director wrote in the letter denying the petition brought by Laird and Ganahl. The FAA found that Clark’s proposed airstrip did not fit that bill. But Roy Goldberg, an aviation attorney and lawyer for Laird and Ganahl, described that reasoning as circular. Because the FAA did not conduct public hearings, it did not know about the controversiality and potential adverse effects of the airstrip. A safety report, prepared by national aviation consultant Lee Moak and commissioned by the petitioning neighbors, raised concerns that the runway’s short length, around 900 feet, would impact nearby homes, schools, forests and farm animals and require a dangerously low flight path. The FAA found that these concerns were addressed when it granted Clark the conditional determination last summer, it wrote in the Tuesday letter. The petitioning neighbors, however, don’t agree. “Our expert has shown that it’s not safe, and nobody cares,” Goldberg said. The FAA, whose determinations for airport proposals are advisory, does not consider “environmental or land use compatibility impacts,” the FAA director wrote in the letter. A Vermont Agency of Transportation airstrip inspection conducted this summer was submitted to the board and found that it was suitable for operations, and that obstacles for departure and approach were mitigated. A spokesperson for the Clarks emphasized that there is no safety issue with the airstrip, pointing to state transportation agency and FAA inspections. The federal and state inspections found that the airstrip was safe to operate through an aeronautical study and site visits, recommending restricted daytime and private use to further ensure safety. The FAA’s
determination acknowledged that operations at the airport are “highly challenging due to the terrain and runway length,” encouraging safe operations by “experienced pilots with proper equipment.” The Clarks’ spokesperson said the family has continued to seek approval of the airstrip despite the local town board’s opposition because air travel is the family’s “heart and passion.” “They love the town of Lincoln,” the spokesperson said. But the town has grown incredibly divided over the issue since the initial proposal four years ago. “I’ve lost some friends because of it,” said Louella Bryant, a Lincoln resident who supports the airstrip. She described the airstrip opposition as being fueled by people not liking change and believes Clark is “doing good things.” The opposing neighbors, however, have framed the dispute as a challenge to uphold the town’s decisions. “The town did not have the money to defend itself, so I stepped forward to defend the town boards’ decision,” Ganahl said. Clark heads a multibillion-dollar publicly traded company, which earned him $15 million when it debuted on the stock exchange. The electric aviation company has since been lauded by state officials for the economic growth it is contributing to Vermont, and was selected for an FAA electric aircraft developer program earlier this year. Now that the FAA denied the neighbors’ petition to reconsider its determination, the state transportation board, a quasi-judicial board, will ultimately rule on the airstrip. The board declined to comment on when this written decision would be released. Even though the FAA’s determination is a recommendation and not binding, it encourages state boards with land use authority to consider the agency’s findings in making zoning and permitting decisions. While the current state transportation board declined to comment on the ongoing case, former executive secretary of the board John Zicconi addressed the issue of private airstrips in a 2021 letter to municipalities. “These private facilities can dramatically change the character of an area and can have negative impacts while providing a private benefit to few,” Zicconi wrote.
Page 17
RECKIDS SOCCER
FALL/WINTER PROGRAM GUIDE
The R.E.C. Guide will be mailed to Williston homes the week of Aug. 10. Registration will open for all fall and winter programs on Monday, Aug. 17. SOCCER REFEREES NEEDED
The Recreation Department is looking for fall soccer referees for our youth soccer programs. Refereeing takes place on Saturdays in September and October. If interested, please email the Recreation Department at recreation@willistonvt.org. COMMUNITY BARBECUE
Join us Saturday, Aug. 22, from 12-2 p.m. at the Pavilion at Village Community Park, 250 Library Lane for a community barbecue with neighbors and friends. Bring your favorite meats to grill, and we’ll provide delicious sides for everyone to enjoy. This is a perfect opportunity to connect with the community, enjoy the outdoors and share a meal. This event is free to attend, and registration is not required. Presenting sponsor is Associates in Orthodontics.
FAMILY PROGRAMS LINE DANCING
Ages 15-plus. Learn each week and build your confidence and abilities while having fun. Sundays, 4-5 p.m. R.E.C. Zone, 94 Harvest Lane. Instructor: Kelly Hayes. $10.
ADULT PROGRAMS FRENCH FOR TRAVELERS
Ages 18-plus. Whether you are planning a trip to Montréal, Quebec City or Paris, this fun
This is your newspaper. Email us story ideas, photos, Letters to the Editor.
editor@willistonobserver.com
and interactive class will help you in your upcoming travels. You will learn to introduce yourself, make small talk, order food in a restaurant, ask directions and shop for souvenirs. Some previous language study is required. Instructor: Louis Giancola, Program starts in September. BONE BUILDERS
Ages 50-plus. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:15-11:15 a.m., Free. Instructors: Ann Naumann and Joyce Oughstun.
YOUTH PROGRAMS SOCCER MINIS
Age 3. You and your little one will work together to develop fundamental soccer skills such as dribbling, trapping, passing, kicking and running/agility in a fun, non-competitive atmosphere. This program does not include games. No special equipment is needed. Each participant will receive a soccer T-shirt. This is a child/parent program. Program meets on Saturdays in the fall.
Ages 4-5. You and your little one will work together to develop fundamental soccer skills such as dribbling, passing, kicking and running in a fun, non-competitive atmosphere. There are no games in this program. No special equipment is needed. Each participant will receive a RecKids T-shirt. This is a child/parent program. Program meets on Saturdays 8-8:45 a.m. ROOKIES SOCCER
Grades K-2. Separate programs will be offered to K-first graders and second graders if numbers allow. Rookies Soccer is designed for individuals who want to learn, play and experience the game of soccer in a fun and engaging atmosphere. There are separate programs for boys and girls. Programs begin in September and meet on Saturdays for a 30-minute clinic and a 30-minute scrimmage. Volunteer coaches are needed. YOUTH SOCCER
Grades 3-5. Youth Soccer is geared toward those who want to learn, play and experience the game of soccer in a fun and enjoyable atmosphere. There are separate programs for boys and girls if numbers allow. Teams will have the opportunity to play other town teams. Volunteer coaches are needed. Registration deadline is Aug. 19.
Page 18release • Williston Observer dates: Aug. 8-14, 2026 • August 6, 2026
32 (26)
Next Week: A home for elephants
Issue 32, 2026
Founded by Betty Debnam
Mini Fact:
This family was photographed in 1886 in Loup Valley, Nebraska, as they traveled west.
Pioneer Women
photo courtesy National Archives
The movement from east to west in the United States started in the 1800s. The first arrivals were usually men. Gold was a big attraction between the years of 1843 and 1860. This week, The Mini Page celebrates the women who were among the first overlanders.
Building a home
The building materials that were close by determined what type of house the pioneers built. If there were trees available, families built their This sod house was home of logs. Native photographed in the Americans might have 1930s in McKenzie built their tepees with County, North Dakota. buffalo hides. Pioneers might have cut sod from the earth and formed it into bricks. Other families built adobe homes of mud bricks that had been baked in the sun.
Looking for land
Land drew many settlers in the 1860s. In 1862, the U.S. government offered 160 acres each to people who would settle parts of the West. They had to plant a crop, build a house and live there for five years before they could own the land. This was called “homesteading.” Overlanders from many different backgrounds traveled on foot and in covered wagons. Like the men, women were seeking a better life for themselves and their children. Along the trail, they suffered from disease, hunger and other hardships.
Women at work
Many Native American women had been living in the West for generations before the overlanders arrived. Mexicans were in the West, too. The women of the West This photo also included Asians who was taken on a had come by ship and South reservation in Americans who had come by Idaho in the late 1800s. ship and over land. African Americans also headed west after the Civil War.
photos courtesy Library of Congress
Who were they?
Pioneer women usually led isolated and lonely lives. Neighbors often lived miles away. Before churches and towns were built, there were few places to gather. Women had to be independent and able to survive with only the support of their family. Women were responsible for: • Sewing the family’s clothes by hand. Pioneer women made use of every scrap of material. • Preparing and cooking food on an open hearth. • Getting water for drinking and washing from a well or nearby river. • Bringing up the children and taking care of them when they got sick.
A pioneer’s life
You may have read some books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder (18671957). “Little House on the Prairie” and other books by Wilder depict the life of pioneers and the struggles Laura Ingalls they faced. Wilder Laura was born in Wisconsin, and her family moved to Kansas when she was 2 years old. Two years later, they returned to Wisconsin. The Ingalls family lived in a sod house in Minnesota before moving to South Dakota, where they suffered through a hard winter. Laura wrote about it in her book “The Long Winter.” In South Dakota, Laura met her future husband, Almanzo Wilder, while she worked for a dressmaker and attended school. At “The Long Winter” was 16, she accepted a job as a the sixth schoolteacher. book in the She married Wilder in Little House series. It was 1885, and in 1894, they and published in their children moved to 1940. Mansfield, Missouri. At Rocky Ridge Farm, she wrote eight “Little House” books.
Resources On the Web:
• bit.ly/3QkanSr
At the library:
• “Writings to Young Women From Laura Ingalls Wilder: On Life As a Pioneer Woman” by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Mini Page® © 2026 Andrews McMeel Syndication
Try ’n’ Find Williston
Observer rack locations:Mini Jokes Hannaford
Shell Gas Station (Essex Rd)
Words that remind usFarm of pioneer are hidden in this puzzle.Simon’s Mobil Williston Adams Market womenHealthy Living Williston Some words areAromas hidden backward or diagonally, and of India Home2Suites some lettersSimply Divine Café are used twice. See if you can find:
Chef’s Corner
Island Homemade Ice Cream Sonesta ESunoco E SStation G O L RTown E ofVWilliston O NOffices N UPS Store R I C A N A CVermont A NMeat K &WSeafood C Wild Meadows Books E W H A G I& Café ShopX CWilliston V T Coffee B O
Dorothy Alling Memorial ADOBE, AFRICAN, A J BKorner D Kwik I SStopE A S Library AMERICAN, ASIAN, U T KMarriott R ECourtyard D N A L ck Cote at Call Ri Fairfield Inn Men at Wok CHILDREN, CLOTHES, R E D L I W A M E (802) 373-2136 or Folino’s Pizza ail Rick@ GOLD, HIDES, D N AM&TI Bank S A F R I emDISEASE, Observer.com Gardener’s Supply Williston Ramunto’s C N E M O W Q T S HOMESTEAD, copies LOGS, if you would liketion Green Mountain Bagel ur loca H S QRehab S Gym E H T O L for yo MEXICAN, NATIVE, I D A E T S E M O OVERLANDER, PIONEER, D N E R D L I H C SETTLE, SOD, WATER, E L P I O N E E R WEST, WILDER, WOMEN.
H E I F L E R K O T D M L D O S A Z
Essex/Essex Jct. Price Chopper Essex Automotive Quality Bake Shop Why do covered Five Pauline: Corner Variety River Road Beverage wagons make bad spies? Hannaford Richmond Polly: Because they always leave tracks! Inn at Essex Cumberland Farms Penny: Why did pioneers travel in covered Mac’s Market wagons? Richmond Free Library Martone’s Richmond Market Pearl:Deli Because they didn’t want to wait years for aWilliston train!
Serving our community since 1985
Eco Note
What appears to be an
Americans who had come by Idaho in the late 1800s. ship and over land. African Americans also headed west after the Civil War.
from a well or nearby river. • Bringing up the children and taking care of them when they got sick.
• “Writings to Young Women From Laura Ingalls Wilder: On Life As a Pioneer Woman” by Laura Ingalls Wilder August 6, 2026 • Williston Observer •
The Mini Page® © 2026 Andrews McMeel Syndication
Try ’n’ Find
Mini Jokes
Words that remind us of pioneer women are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find: A U R D C H I D E S
ADOBE, AFRICAN, AMERICAN, ASIAN, CHILDREN, CLOTHES, DISEASE, GOLD, HIDES, HOMESTEAD, LOGS, MEXICAN, NATIVE, OVERLANDER, PIONEER, SETTLE, SOD, WATER, WEST, WILDER, WOMEN.
J B D I S E A S T K R E D N A L E D L I W A M E N A I S A F R I N E M O W Q T S S Q S E H T O L D A E T S E M O N E R D L I H C L P I O N E E R E T T L E P I E
Pauline: Why do covered wagons make bad spies? Polly: Because they always leave tracks!
E E S G O L R E V O N N R I C A N A C A N K W C E W H A G I C V T B O X H E I F L E R K O T D M L D O S A Z B O D A A N
Penny: Why did pioneers travel in covered wagons? Pearl: Because they didn’t want to wait years for a train!
Eco Note
Cook’s Corner
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. color of a banana (6) 2. game with kings and queens (5) 3. fall in (8) 4. wolf or lion (8) 5. a bit of burning material (5) 6. a way to see outside (6) 7. what you get from school (9)
APSE
TOR
LOW
ION
CH
WIN
SPA
PRE
DA
CAT
YEL
RK
EDU COLL DOW
ESS
The Mini Page® © 2026 Andrews McMeel Syndication
What to do: 1. Combine all ingredients except sour cream in a large bowl. Mix well. 2. Stir in sour cream. Mix to make a soft dough. 3. Turn onto a floured surface. Knead with clean hands for about 2 minutes. 4. Roll dough to about 1/2 inch thick. Cut out biscuits using a cookie cutter or drinking glass turned upside down. 5. Place biscuits on a greased baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 400-degree oven for 12 minutes or until done. Makes about 1 1/2 dozen.
What appears to be an ordinary bank of fog drifting across a valley or coastline may actually contain millions of living organisms quietly helping to clean the air. Scientists from Arizona State University discovered that bacteria suspended inside tiny fog droplets are active microbes feeding on pollutants and multiplying inside the mist itself. Some of the bacteria appear effective at consuming formaldehyde and other airborne chemicals harmful to human health, turning fog into a kind of temporary floating ecosystem. The findings challenge the traditional view of clouds and fog as purely physical weather phenomena.
adapted with permission from Earthweek.com
For later:
Look in your local newspaper for articles about women conquering hardships.
©2026 Blue Ox Technologies Ltd. Download the app on Apple and Amazon devices.
• 1 teaspoon salt • 1 cup sour cream
* You’ll need an adult’s help with this recipe.
Pioneer Biscuits
You’ll need: • 2 cups all-purpose flour • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Page 19
Answers: yellow, chess, collapse, predator, spark, window, education.
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AlFreyPhotography.com
Place your order online or email afrey202@gmail.com
AL
Page 20
• Williston Observer • August 6, 2026
SAVVY SENIOR
With Social Security uncertainty, should you claim benefits early? Dear Savvy Senior, I turn 62 early next year and plan to retire soon after. Most advice says I should wait to claim Social Security because my monthly benefit will be higher. But with all the recent news about Social Security’s financial problems, I’m wondering if taking benefits early might be the safer choice. Is there ever a good reason to claim at 62? — Ready to Retire
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Dear Ready, You’re definitely not alone in asking this. The latest Social Security Trustees Report projects the retirement trust fund could be depleted around 2032 if Congress doesn’t act. If that happens, Social Security would still collect payroll taxes and pay benefits, but retirees could face an across-the-board cut of about 22 percent. Before you rush to file, keep things in perspective. Most experts still expect Congress to step in, as it has before, to strengthen Social Security. And even if lawmakers don’t act, waiting would still produce a higher monthly benefit because any across-the-board benefit cut would apply to everyone. While claiming at 62 means collecting benefits sooner, it also permanently locks in a smaller check. That said, there are several situations where claiming Social Security at 62 can make good financial sense. HOW CLAIMING AGE AFFECTS YOUR BENEFITS
You can start Social Security
By Jim Miller at 62, but doing so permanently reduces your monthly benefit by about 30 percent compared with waiting until full retirement age (67 for those born in 1960 or later). Delaying until 70 increases your benefit by about 24 percent. For example, a $2,000 monthly benefit at full retirement age would drop to about $1,400 at 62, or rise to roughly $2,480 if you wait until 70. WHEN CLAIMING EARLY MAKES SENSE
For some retirees, claiming at 62 is a practical move. If you’ve stopped working and need income for basic expenses, Social Security can provide a steady check right away. It can also serve as a bridge if you retire early or lose a job in your early 60s while delaying withdrawals from retirement accounts or a pension. Some retirees also claim Social Security early to reduce withdrawals from their IRA or 401(k) during market downturns. The tradeoff is a permanently
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reduced lifetime benefit. For married couples, timing can be coordinated as part of a broader strategy. One spouse may claim early to bring in income while the other delays to boost their future or survivor benefit. Health is another big factor. Delaying only pays off if you live long enough to collect those higher monthly checks. The break-even point between claiming at 62 and full retirement age is around age 78 or 79. If you’re still working, be careful here too. Before full retirement age, earnings above Social Security’s annual limit can temporarily reduce your benefit, and claiming early locks in that lower amount for life. WHY DELAYING HELPS
For many retirees, waiting means a larger guaranteed monthly benefit for life and often a higher lifetime payout if you live into your late 70s or beyond. It can also provide stronger protection against outliving savings. For couples, delaying the higher earner’s benefit can increase the survivor benefit, which may help provide more financial security for a surviving spouse. Before deciding, it’s smart to review your numbers. You can create a free account at SSA. gov/myaccount to check your earnings record and estimate benefits at different ages. Tools like OpenSocialSecurity.com or MaximizeMySocialSecurity.com (a paid tool with a $49 fee) can also help you compare claiming strategies. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. For most people, waiting still makes the most sense. But if you need income, have health concerns or are coordinating benefits with a spouse, claiming at 62 may be the better choice. The key is to base your decision on your own circumstances — not fear about Social Security’s future. Send your questions or comments to questions@ savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.
August 6, 2026 • Williston Observer •
Page 21
CROSSWORD • SOLUTION ON PAGE 22
TODAY’S HISTORY: • In 1787, the “Great Debate” over the future of the U.S. Constitution began at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. • In 1926, Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim across the English Channel. • In 1945, the U.S. B-29 bomber Enola Gay dropped the “Little Boy” atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. • In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, which outlawed voting qualifications historically used to disenfranchise Black voters. • In 2012, NASA’s Curiosity rover landed on Mars. TODAY’S FACT: • In 1991, CERN computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee published the first website, which offered information about the World Wide Web project.
SOLUTION FOUND ON PAGE 22
We’re proud of our smiles! We believe that our state-of-the-art, impeccable skills; cheerful, approachable attitudes and ability to handle all your dental needs under one roof means a visit with us will always leave you with a beautiful smile. 75 Talcott Rd., Ste 20, Williston • 802- 662-5966 • DRGOOSEVT.COM
• Comprehensive Dental Care • Implant Placement & Restoration • Crowns, Partials, Dentures
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Page 22
• Williston Observer • August 6, 2026
WILLISTON
FIRE DEPARTMENT JULY 24 • 6:19 a.m. — Firefighters responded to an accidental fire alarm on Commerce Street. • 8:32 a.m. — Crews provided a citizen assist on Industrial Avenue. • 11:51 a.m. — Firefighters responded to a malfunctioning fire alarm on Day Lane. • 3:19 p.m. — Crews investigated a reported incident on Interstate 89 southbound but found no emergency upon arrival. • 5:38 p.m. — Firefighters provided a citizen assist on Tyler Way. • 8:14 p.m. — Crews responded to a malfunctioning fire alarm on Lawnwood Drive. • 9:07 p.m. — Firefighters investigated an accidental fire alarm on
Zephyr Road. • 9:40 p.m. — Crews responded to a malfunctioning fire alarm on Day Lane. • 10:50 p.m. — Firefighters investigated a false alarm on Williston Road.
JULY 25 • 2:33 a.m. — Crews responded to a fire/smoke alarm activation on Allen Brook Lane. • 12:26 p.m. — Firefighters responded to a motor vehicle collision on Harvest Lane. • 11:26 p.m. — Crews investigated a malfunctioning fire alarm on Tyler Way.
JULY 26 • 12:49
p.m.
—
Firefighters
responded to a confined appliance fire on Alpine Drive. • 5:44 p.m. — Crews investigated a malfunctioning fire alarm on Whitney Hill Road.
JULY 27 • 3:56 a.m. — Firefighters responded to a false alarm on Kirby Lane. • 12:43 p.m. — Crews were dispatched to Mohawk Avenue in Essex Junction, but the call was canceled before arrival. • 4:40 p.m. — Firefighters extinguished a vegetation/grass fire at Maple Tree Place. • 5:34 p.m. — Crews responded to a fire/smoke alarm activation at Falcon Manor. • 6:05 p.m. — Firefighters investigated a reported incident at Eagle Crest but found no emergency upon arrival.
JULY 28
• 8:47 p.m. — Firefighters responded to an accidental fire alarm on Zephyr Road. • 9:28 p.m. — Crews investigated a malfunctioning fire alarm on Tyler Way.\
JULY 30 • 6:09 a.m. — Firefighters responded to a malfunctioning fire alarm on Tyler Way. • 12:03 p.m. — Crews investigated a fire/smoke alarm activation on Essex Road. • 1:24 p.m. — Firefighters responded to a fire/smoke alarm activation on Blair Park Road. • 5:42 p.m. — Crews were dispatched to Vermont Route 116 in St. George, but the call was canceled before arrival. • 11:51 p.m. — Firefighters responded to a fire/smoke alarm activation on Timothy Way.
• 9:11 a.m. — Crews provided aviation standby coverage on Airport Drive in South Burlington.
The Williston Fire Department also responded to 34 medical emergencies during this time frame.
CROSSWORD SOLUTION
SUDOKU SOLUTION
Puzzle found on page 21
Puzzle found on page 21
GARAGE SALE 19 KATIE LANE, WILLISTON—
Something for everyone....cast iron, children’s new clothing & toys, vintage items, gently used furniture, household and some craft items at prices that can’t be beat! Dates: Fri. 8-7 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and Sat. 8-8 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) Rain or shine sale is on! Cash only.
MOVING SALE — All items must go! Canadian rocker, recliner and couch; Vintage desk and night stand; 2 Classic decorative pillows; 2 Beds - one with drawers; 2 Dining room sets - one with 4 chairs the other with 2 chairs; 2 drawer bureau and night stand; and more. Call Dennis Francis at 410-279-1487. 17 Hideaway Ln, Williston.
WANTED GARAGE SPACE — apartment dweller looking for indoor space to work on cars. Willing to rent or trade for yard/ handiman chores. Contact Ben at 802-7770177.
LEGAL NOTICE Public Auction Under SelfStorage And Operators Lien U-Haul Of Williston 5010 Williston Rd Williston, Vt . 05495 On August 20th at 9:00 am on www.storageauctions.com The contents of the following units consisting of furniture, household goods and miscellaneous personal property will be SOLD to satisfy the lien of U-HAUL as self-storage operators. This Sale Is Held Under The Uniform Commercial Code Section 16a, Paragraph 7-210 Enforcement Of Vermont Self-Storage Lien. NAME Bryant Lagasse
UNIT # 2368
Aisha Bitini
2339
Peter McClary
2630
Raylynn Giroux
1743
Melissa Lenihan
1418
Shanna Hill
1313
Charles Olar
2081
Aisha Bitini
2581
Maja Novovic
2809-11
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August 6, 2026 •
Williston Observer •
Page 23
SERVICE DIRECTORY VEHICLE CARE PROFESSIONAL CAR CLEANING
Forestry Mulching Services for private and commercial projects
INTERIOR & EXTERIOR
Driveways, Ponds, Land Clearing,
Trails, Farms, Ski Areas, RABIES BAIT Natural Disaster Recovery,
Cleaning | Buffing | Waxing of all Vehicles 62 Park Street, Essex Jct. 802-878-8440
continued from page 2
TREE SERVICES
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continued page 2and animals. However, ways fatalfrom in humans 802-862-1600 treatment with the rabies vaccine is nearly Email: info@turnbaughinsurance.com Visit Visitour ourwebsite websitefor formore more information: information www.vtlandmaintenance@gmail.com The week-long bait drop is a coopera- 100 The week-long bait dropgiven a soon cooperawww.vtlandmaintenance.com percent effective when after 188 Allen Brook Lane, Suite 1,isWilliston Brian Washburn Email: vtlandmaintenance@gmail.com tive effort between Vermont and(cell) the U.S. tive effort and the U.S. 802-434-4533 • 802-373-1755 (cell) a person isbetween bitten byVermont a rabid animal. turnbaughinsurance.com/contact Brian Washburn: 802-434-5533 • 802-373-1755 Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services Department of year, Agriculture Wildlife Services So far this 23 animals in Vermont to stop the spread the potentially fatal to stop the spread therabies, potentially fatal POWERof WASHING have tested positiveoffor and 14 of BRUSHHOGGING disease. disease. those have been raccoons. 04/22/2024 Rabies is a deadly viral disease of the Rabies is a deadly viral officials, disease ofrabid the According to wildlife brain thatxinfects It is most often brain that infects mammals. It isinmost animals often show a change theiroften norAdam Dantzscher 3.25 2 AD mammals. for Williston Observer Proprietor seen in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, seen in raccoons, foxes, bats, mal behavior, butskunks, you cannot telland whether Services: but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also anBrushhogging animal has rabies simply by looking at House Washing Specialists Spring House Washing Brush Clearing/Mulching get rabies. The virus is spread through the get rabies. The virus is spread through the it. People should not touch or pick up wild Chain-Sawing Specializing in Low-Pressure Siding with Washes bite of an infected animal Vinyl or contact its bite of anor infected contact with its animals strays animal – even or baby animals. Delivery/Haul-away Washing Decks, Gutters, Patios, Walkways & More
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Owner operated - Call Greg Mack
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BASEMENT SYSTEMS
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<:;
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Northern ..Dasemenll® -� ��--iilllo...
l-�n�fu!?n!!Ym":Js�!:.l, E RESIDENTIAL PAINTING
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South Burlington, VT 802-864-9082 tavares.tom56@gmail.com
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service service directod 802.878.6167 802.878.6167 802.878.6167 11 Maple Street, Street, Essex Junction, VT VT 11 Maple Essex Junction,
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way trea 100 SH acon pe S hav She thos dis A lead anim dor mal fro an a cre it. P fro anim
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A Multi Dealer Shop A Multi Dealer A Multi Dealer Shop Shop
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IVE CORNERS ORNERS FIVE CORNERS FFIVE C ANTIQUES NTIQUES ANTIQUES A
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Family owned and operated since 1921 Brian Bittner • 802-489-5210 • info@bittnerantiques.com Pre-planning services available Wednesday-Friday, with walk-ins to sell Thursdays 209 Falls Road, Shelburne, VT bittnerantiques.com • 2997 Shelburne Road • Shelburne (802) 985-3370
M
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HOME IMPROVEM ART ’S EN T SHELBURNE FUNERAL CHAPEL W E T S Tim Gould
Family owned PT, MS,and DPT operated since 1921 Pre-planning services available South Burlington Shelburne | MAPLEWOOD363@GMAIL.COM | WILLISTON 23(802) San 999-4240 Remo Drive 166 Athletic Drive 209 Falls Road, Shelburne, VT tel 865.0010 tel References Free985.4440 Estimates Fully Insured www.DeePT.com (802) 985-3370
42 So 23 PO te titu w
Page 24 •
Williston Observer •
August 6, 2026
Opening Doors The Doors tribute band Crystal Ship was “lighting fires” and “breaking on through” as it shared its “roadhouse blues” during the Maple Tree Place Thursday Night Concert Series on July 30. Below, a young boy smiles to his family as he grooves to the music, along with many others, bottom left, enjoying the music and the weather. OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY
Seating on the patio or in air-conditioned comfort! Serving Mon - Fri 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
Off 10% onders
sp t 1s Re litar y & Mi
Senio Thursd r a 10% Of ys f
Homemade Breakfast Gourmet Lunch Daily Specials Fresh Baked Goods Gluten Free & Veggie options
$2 Off
Catering 7 Days a Week Cookie Platters Fruit Salads Quiches Sandwiches Wraps
Any Whole Sandwich
Expires 8-31-26
MUST PRESENT COUPON
White Cap Business Park • 426 Industrial Ave. • Suite 155, Williston • 802-497-0336 • www.simplydivinecafe.com