Williston Observer 08/13/2026

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Handy buys Taft Corners landmark

AUGUST 13, 2026

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

Landowner Joe Handy is planning a makeover of the 1840s-era Blair House at the center of Taft Corners and looking for new tenants at the Interstate Corporate Center next door.

Handy, a prominent Burlington-area landowner, bought the 4-acre parcel — which includes the Texas Roadhouse

WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985

restaurant — in March after TD Bank foreclosed on the property.

The bank attempted to auction it off last fall, but there were no suitable buyers, and it held onto it over the winter. Five members of the Handy family incorporated as Estier Investment Group LLC bought it for roughly $3.5 million, according to Town of Williston property records.

Judge Development Corp. of South Burlington had owned the

property since the 1980s up until the 2025 foreclosure. The exterior of the Blair House, a nineteenth-century tavern and one of the first structures built at the now bustling corner of Routes 2 and 2A, has fallen into disrepair over the past few years.

In an interview Friday, Joe Handy vowed to improve it.

“It’s a highly visible corner.

Everybody sees it and it’s not see HANDY page 3

Primary Day, Tuesday, was perfect weather-wise for those coming to cast their ballots and for those who were gathered outside the Williston Armory where the voting was taking place.

OBSERVER PHOTO BY AL FREY

WWW.WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM

The Interstate Corporate Center buildings at the corner of Routes 2 and 2A have been purchased by the Handy family.

OBSERVER FILE PHOTO

If there is going to be a change in Williston’s representation in the Legislature, it will have to come in November.

All three incumbents in the Chittenden Southeast Senate District fended off two challengers for the Democratic nominations in Tuesday’s primary election. The trio — Thomas Chittenden of South Burlington, Ginny Lyons of Williston and Kesha Ram Hinsdale of Shelburne — will face Republicans Bruce Roy of Williston and Javen Sears of South Burlington in the Nov. 3 General Election. Roy and Sears won uncontested bids for the Republican nominations Tuesday. There are three available seats in the district, which represents Williston and 10 other Burlington-area municipalities.

In the House of Representatives, the majority of Williston is in the Chittenden-2 District, where incumbent Democrats Angela Arsenault and Erin Brady advanced

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Incumbents carry the day

Tuesday unchallenged for the two Democratic nominations. No Republican or Progressive candidates sought their parties’ nominations, but a challenger could emerge before the General Election.

In the Chittenden-8 District, representing a portion of southern Williston and a section of South Burlington, both the Democratic incumbent Bridget Burkhardt and Republican Mitchel Cypes won their respective nominations in uncontested elections. The South see VOTING page 2

Additional coverage Sarah George defeats Bram Kranichfeld for State’s Attorney Dan Gamelin defeats Kevin Bloom for County Sheriff Amanda Janoo defeats Aly Richards for Democratic governor nomination See pages 4 and 9.

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Page 2 •

Williston Observer • August 13, 2026

Primary views of Tuesday’s voting

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Voting

continued from page 1

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Willistonians took time out from their busy days and summer activities to take part in Primary Day voting at the Williston Armory on Tuesday.

Outside the Armory candidates and supporters set up their signs, top.

Indoors, voters made their way around the various stations to sign in and cast their votes.

OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY

Burlington residents will face each other for the district’s lone House seat in November.

According to Williston Town Clerk Sarah Mason, a total of 2,507 town residents voted in the primary, out of roughly 9,000 registered voters. The vast majority — 2,180 people — chose to vote on Democratic nominations. A total of 318 people voted in the Republican primary, and nine weighed in on the Progressive ballot.

The Vermont Secretary of State reported the following districtwide vote totals for the Democratic candidates in the Chittenden Southeast Senate District: Chittenden 9,332; Lyons 9,149; Ram Hinsdale 8,425; Elizabeth Hunt 6,571; Joanna Grossman 5,131.

Roy received 1,187 votes and Sears received 773 votes in their uncontested race.

For uncontested House nominations, Brady received 1,480 votes; Arsenault 1,415; Burkhardt 673; and Cypes 86.

— Jason Starr

August 13, 2026 •

Handy

continued from page 1

good,” said Handy. “I don’t want it looking like that. We’ll work on it and get it looking beautiful again.”

The improvements will include exterior painting and landscaping, he said.

“Over the past couple years they just sort of let it go and didn’t put anything into it,” said Handy. “We’ll be fixing it all up and taking care of it.”

The current tenant, a preschool called Crockett Academy, plans to continue to call the Blair House home. “(Crockett) is going to sign a new lease with us,” Handy said.

Paula LeBlanc of Peet Law Group said the law firm is also staying put amid the ownership transition. It occupies office space in one of the two Interstate Corporate Center buildings, which were built in the 1990s as government office space.

“We’re good,” LeBlanc said.

“We have a lease.”

But things went off the rails with the primary tenant in the other Interstate Corporate Center

building — Regus. A Texas subsidiary of London-based International Workplace Group, Regus began offering flexible, professional co-working space when the buildings were still owned by Judge in 2025.

Over this past winter — as ownership transitioned to TD Bank — tenants to whom Regus subleased offices began experiencing a variety of problems and disruptions in their ability to use their spaces.

“It was pretty much a train wreck,” said Jennifer Mayhew, whose business, Vermont Healthcare Consulting, was named the Vermont WomanOwned Business of the Year for 2026 by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Vermont District Office.

Mayhew began paying about $870 in monthly rent to Regus starting last October.

Over a period of six weeks in February and March, she said, there was an intermittent alarm sounding in the building, and during a three-day stretch in March, tenants were locked out of their offices due to a power outage. Mayhew said the outage

The historic Blair House at the corner of Routes 2 and 2A is about to get a facelift under the new ownership of Joe Handy.

OBSERVER FILE PHOTO

was due to failure to pay the electric bill to Green Mountain Power, but it’s unclear whether Regus or TD Bank was responsible for the unpaid bill. She also said the building’s heating system had problems and that Regus didn’t provide the onsite staff that it had promised tenants.

“They didn’t really honor their contract,” said Mayhew.

Then, in late July, Regus abruptly vacated the premises, leaving tenants just days to pack up and leave.

The Observer was unable to reach a Regus representative for comment.

Since Aug. 1, Mayhew has

Williston Observer • Page 3

scrambled to find a new home for Vermont Healthcare Consulting.

Along with another Regus refugee, Paul Dame, chair of the Vermont Republican Party, she has landed at Kimball Avenue.

Handy also has a grievance with Regus. He asked the company to stay in the building under a new lease, but several months of back-and-forth did not yield an agreement.

“We kept asking, ‘please sign the lease,’” Handy said. “I got thrown from one person to another person … The next thing they told me is ‘we’re closing shop. We’ll be out at the end of July.’”

Handy said Regus still owes him rent for May, June and July.

“They never paid us anything,” he said. “They screwed us.”

The building now sits vacant and is listed by VT Commercial as “a mix of large, open spaces with a few singles, common area bathrooms (and) lots of windows allowing for nice views and lots of natural light” at $25 per square foot per month.

Handy said he’s in discussions with prospective new tenants.

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Page 4 •

Janoo defeats Richards for Democratic governor nomination

Williston Observer • August 13, 2026

BY SHAUN ROBINSON AND GRACE BERTRAND VTDigger

Amanda Janoo narrowly won Vermont’s Democratic primary for governor Tuesday after a campaign that called for sweeping progressive policy changes and limiting how much the state relies on federal funding.

Janoo, an economist, has never run for office before and was virtually unknown before announcing her campaign. She beat out Aly Richards, the former head of a prominent childcare lobbying and advocacy group who also had the backing of a well-endowed political action committee, with 49% of the vote as of 11 p.m. Tuesday, the Associated Press reported.

Richards had 46% at that point.

In a victory speech at her campaign’s election night watch party in Burlington, Janoo said that when she decided to run for

governor, she knew “it was going to be a long shot.”

“We didn’t have the establishment for support, or big political kingmakers on our side,” she told a crowd of at least 250 people.

“But we had something so much more powerful. We had you.”

Janoo’s comments echoed how she framed herself on the campaign trail this year: the race’s anti-establishment choice. She was openly critical of the power and influence of large technology companies, calling for a new tax on advertising revenue they earn and new state regulations on large data centers used for artificial intelligence.

She also made the case that the federal government could not be trusted to fully fund key human services programs and proposed finding new revenue at home instead. That includes using a surcharge on personal income over $500,000 to pay for free primary care for every person in the state,

Amanda Janoo celebrates her victory in her race to be the Democratic nominee for governor in Burlington on Tuesday.

PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

her campaign has said.

In a statement issued around 11:30 p.m., Richards conceded the race, calling it “the honor of a lifetime to run for governor of this amazing state.” She said she

would do everything she could to help Janoo beat Republican Gov. Phil Scott this fall. Scott did not have an opponent in Tuesday’s GOP primary for governor.

“Now that the primary is

behind us, it’s time for Vermonters to come together and rally behind Amanda,” Richards said.

Janoo’s win means Democrats will again have a gubernatorial see JANOO page 8

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Williston Observer • Page 5

Rising healthcare costs are squeezing Vermonters.

Here’s how everyone can make more affordable choices.

Vermont has some of the highest healthcare costs in America. This hurts everyone in our community and the well-being of our state.

So, it’s the perfect time to learn ways to make care more affordable. Consider these costs comparisons for common procedures: Bone Density Study

Breast Biopsy

Cataract Surgery

CT Chest Scan

Gallbladder Removal

Hip Replacement

Laparoscopic MRI Hernia Repair of Spine

Upper GI Endoscopy

Vaginal Delivery

$913

$16,054

$9,785

$3,495

$35,057

$51,432

$30,361

$4,438

$7,768

$28,912

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital

Winsdor Hospital

Dartmouth Hitchcock

Northeastern VT Regional Hospital

Northeastern VT Regional Hospital

Dartmouth Hitchcock

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital

North Country Hospital

University of VT Medical Center

$359

$8,262

$4,806

$1,396

$16,262

$24,642

$17,569

$2,560

$3,626

$18,248

Porter Hospital

University of VT Medical Center

University of VT Medical Center

Vermont Open Imaging

Springfield Hospital

Dartmouth Hitchcock

Rutland Regional Medical Center

Northeastern VT Regional Hospital

Central Vermont Medical Center

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital

$64

$2,597

$2,712

$1,222

$13,293

$23,558

$10,761

$1,410

$1,928

$10,135

Thomas Chittenden Health Center

Northwestern Medical Center

VT Eye Surgery and Laser Center

Vermont Diagnostic Imaging

Central VT Medical Center

Central VT Medical Center

Central VT Medical Center

Vermont Open Imaging

Green Mountain Surgery Center

Northwestern Medical Center

(Spine or Pelvis)

(with Imaging)

Source: Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Axis Cost Transparency Data Averages, Spring 2026. Costs include facility and provider costs.

There are many reasons for this affordability crisis and no one entity or individual can fix it. That’s why our organizations continue working together to be part of the solution. We invite you to join us, take action, and explore these tips to save on your care.

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Cut Prescription Drug Costs

• Costs for procedures can vary widely between hospitals, outpatient facilities, surgery and imaging centers. Knowing your options can help you save hundreds or thousands of dollars.

• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about options, such as generic medications instead of more costly brand name drugs.

• Carefully consider when it’s best to visit your doctor, urgent care or the emergency room. Telehealth can be a convenient, low-cost option for common health issues, including mental health support.

Know Before You Go

• See if getting a 30-day, 60-day or 90-day supply of your medications can help you save.

• Compare costs and look for discount coupons on websites like ArrayRx, GoodRx, RxSaver, WellRx, SingleCare, Cost Plus Drugs, and the new federal website TrumpRx.

Review Your Health Insurance Benefits

• For routine procedures, there is usually ample time to explore care options, understand costs, and look for savings.

• Ask for a written estimate before your procedure, so you have a clear picture of the costs beforehand. Afterward, review your itemized bill to understand the charges and confirm they are accurate.

• This Open Enrollment season is a great time to revisit your health plan’s benefits, premiums, deductibles, and copays to determine what makes sense for your health needs and budget.

• When planning your care, check for “in-network” providers, which are more affordable and can help avoid unexpected expenses.

S p o n s o re d B y

Visit our website to get more cost comparisons, helpful tips, and free resources.

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Williston Observer • August 13, 2026

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willistonobserver.com P.O. Box 1401, Williston, VT 05495 802-489-5499

ADVERTISING Adam Geffken, Account Manager adam@willistonobserver.com 802-338-1655 Rick Cote, Associate Publisher rick@willistonobserver.com 802-373-2136 EDITOR Jason Starr editor@willistonobserver.com PRODUCTION & DESIGN Jan Kenney jan@willistonobserver.com PUBLISHER Susan T. Cote susan@willistonobserver.com BILLING INQUIRIES Michael McCaffrey office@willistonobserver.com ADVERTISING SPACE DEADLINE Friday at 5 p.m. for the next Thursday issue adam@willistonobserver.com 802-338-1655 CLASSIFIED ADS Deadline is Friday 5 p.m. There is a fee for business, real estate, help wanted and legal ads. Free classifieds must be 25 words or fewer and are printed on a space available basis.

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.

Gov. Scott’s baffling data center bill veto

BY BEN EDGERLY WALSH Let’s start with what isn’t in dispute. The data center bill Gov. Phil Scott vetoed, H.727, was among the strongest such laws written in any state. AI data centers are driving up electric bills across the country, and having major impacts on air, water and climate pollution in the process. And here in Vermont, that now-dead bill that would have addressed each of those issues passed both the House and Senate with overwhelming support from both Democrats and Republicans, before being killed by Gov. Scott and the 52 Republican representatives who voted to sustain his veto.

You may hear that the final bill was somehow “worse” than the earlier House version — a fumble, a bill that “shape-shifted” into something that demanded a veto.

The truth of the matter is that the final bill built on what the House started, and protected Vermonters more effectively in almost every way than the initial version.

Let’s take a look at what actually changed.

The earlier version the governor preferred directed utilities to mitigate the risk that other electric ratepayers would have to cover “unwarranted” data center costs.

To “mitigate” means to reduce impacts, not eliminate them, meaning the governor’s preferred bill inherently allowed data centers to pass on even some unwarranted costs to Vermonters.

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Vermont needs these protections before we suffer the harms people are already experiencing in other states.

Lastly, the governor argued “existing Vermont law already provides substantial regulatory authority to prevent harmful impacts.” In essence, “we’re fine, I’m not worried.”

That question, whether Act 250 and other Vermont laws already have us covered, was one of the very first things the Legislature dug into when they took this bill up. The answer? Perhaps on paper, but there were clearly gaps.

In the context of an industry with numerous players that count their market value well

into the hundreds of billions or even trillions of dollars, that can hire armies of lawyers unlike an Act 250 district commission or even Vermont’s Public Utilities Commission has ever seen, that is steeped in a “move fast and break things” mentality, the Legislature chose to do everything it could to fill those potential gaps.

In essence, seeing massive costs and pollution from AI data centers around the country, the Legislature took a “better safe than sorry” approach. The Legislature handed the governor the strongest data center protections in the country: narrowly written, hard on costs and pollution, leaving every other Vermont business or potential business untouched.

The governor’s veto of a bill to protect Vermonters from AI data center costs and pollution is baffling. Vermont needs these protections before we suffer the harms people are already experiencing in other states. Data centers aren’t going away, so we’ll be back next session to fight for Vermonters again.

In the meantime, if a representative (or governor) tells you the bill they helped kill was too strong, ask them the one question they still haven’t answered: Which protection, exactly, were Vermonters better off without?

Ben Edgerly Walsh is the Climate and Energy Program Director at Vermont Public Interest Research Group.

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narrowly targeted, at data centers alone, at a time when state after state is tightening regulations on “large loads” across the board, sweeping in any business that draws a lot of power. Vermont’s Legislature deliberately chose not to go that route.

H.727 applied to data centers and only data centers, a single and uniquely power-hungry class of user. It answered the governor’s stated concern before he ever raised it.

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The Legislature rewrote that to require other ratepayers to be “insulated from all costs” tied to data center deployment.

On pollution, the Legislature turned vague language into hard requirements. It required data centers to maximize on-site renewable energy. It required them to fund energy-saving projects in surrounding communities to offset their inherent environmental impact. And it barred them from running on-site fossil fuel generators except in a genuine emergency, preventing the kind of practices that have spiked air pollution in communities across the country.

So put the question plainly to every representative who voted to sustain the veto, every organization like Vermonters for a Clean Environment that has since complained about this stronger version of the bill, and Gov. Scott: Which of those provisions made the bill worse? Was it the one that shields power ratepayers? The one that cuts pollution? The one that delivers benefits directly to any communities hosting data centers?

The only way the “it got worse” math works is if weaker protection for Vermonters is the goal.

The governor also offered another reason for his veto. In his veto letter, he wrote that the bill imposed “new and unnecessary regulatory systems” that were only “seemingly aimed at data centers” and would drive other businesses away.

The reality is that the bill was

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Williston Observer • Page 7

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Calling on community to stabilize blood supply As a member of the American Red Cross Vermont Chapter Board, I am deeply concerned about the nation’s current blood crisis. For only the second time in its history, the American Red Cross has declared a national blood crisis as blood donations have fallen to a four-year summer low and hospital demand continues to outpace supply.

Here in Vermont, the situation is especially urgent. Over the next two weeks, 46% of blood donation appointments across the state are unfilled. Without immediate action from our community, patients who depend on lifesaving transfusions could face delays in care.

Blood cannot be manufactured or stockpiled. It must be donated by generous volunteers and continually replenished. Right now, supplies of the most-needed blood types, especially Type O, are at critically low levels, and hospitals across the country are feeling the

strain.

Every day, trauma patients, cancer patients, mothers experiencing childbirth complications and others rely on blood products to survive. A single donation can help save more than one life.

The good news is that this crisis is solvable. If just a few more donors came to every blood drive, we could help stabilize the blood supply and ensure hospitals have the blood they need for patients.

I encourage all eligible Vermonters to make an appointment to donate blood as soon as possible. Donating is a simple act that takes about an hour but can make a lifesaving difference for someone in need.

To schedule an appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or call 1-800-RED CROSS. Elise Polli Vermont Chapter Board member American Red Cross Northern New England Region

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Become an informed library voter As a member of the Board of Trustees of the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library as well as a member of the schematic design committee, I am very proud of the work we have done on the library expansion project. We listened carefully to opinions expressed not only by our friends and neighbors but also at the June town meeting/listening session.

We obtained additional guidance from the survey we conducted. The result is a proposal for a smaller addition to the library and elimination of the proposed improvements to the Village Green.

The new proposal was accepted unanimously by the selectboard on July 29 when it voted to put a bond vote of $9 million on the November ballot. This is a significant decrease from the original proposal. The design committee carefully looked at the most urgent needs of the

library and concluded that a 6,000-square-foot addition would suffice.

The cost estimate came from the work of a professional cost estimator employed by the library’s architectural firm, Black River Design. The bond amount covers not just the cost of the proposed addition but also the cost of updating and retrofitting the existing library to bring it up to code and make it more energy efficient. This includes a new roof as well as a new HVAC system.

The library trustees are well aware that the tax increase to pay for this project might seem out of reach of some members of our community, and we respect that.

All details of the project are on the project website (www.

Williston Librar yProject.org).

Whether one chooses to support this project or not, it is important for everyone to access accurate information before the November vote.

Barbara Mieder Williston

Letter Policy The Williston Observer welcomes your letters to the editor.

A few ground rules: 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

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Janoo

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nominee who has never held state-level office before. Janoo, who grew up in Strafford but now lives in Burlington, has made the case that her experience working with think tanks and international development organizations, both in the U.S. and abroad, gives her the know-how to tackle the state’s biggest economic and social challenges.

Her challenge now will be to sell her ideas to voters across the political spectrum, many of whom — including Democrats — have for years supported Scott in general elections.

Scott remains the most popular governor in the country, according to the firm Morning Consult, though another poll from the University of New Hampshire showed his job approval rating slouching in recent months.

This year’s Democratic primary was the most competitive

in years. Janoo and Richards both raised more money for their primary campaigns than any Democratic candidate for governor since 2020.

Notably, Janoo’s support proved strong enough to overcome an eleventh-hour purchase of more than $200,000 worth of digital advertising by a PAC created to support Richards, but that was not affiliated with Richards’ campaign.

Pro-Richards ads have blanketed websites and social media feeds in Vermont over the past week.

Several of Janoo’s supporters said at the watch party that they decided to vote for her because of her policy positions. Jackie Stanton of Johnson, for one, cited Janoo’s views on healthcare, taxes and housing as what drew her to the campaign.

“She is by far the most progressive candidate for governor we’ve ever had,” Stanton said. “This is a people-powered movement, and

so many everyday people have worked very hard to bring us to this moment.”

As live music played throughout the evening, people clapped and sang along to lyrics such as, “All these fascists got to lose” and “Out with the old and in with Janoo, that’s what Vermont has got to do.”

At the start of the event, attendees were instructed to go up to at least one stranger, introduce themselves and share their astrological sign and the first concert they attended.

Janoo told her supporters during her victory speech that, even with her uncertainty about the result, she’d only prepared one version of the address.

“In all honesty, I really only wrote one speech this evening because when I sat down and thought about what I wanted to say if we won or if we lost, I realized it was pretty much the same thing: Thank you,” she said.

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Williston Observer • Page 9

Molly Gray wins Democratic primary for lieutenant governor

BY THEO WELLS-SPACKMAN VTDigger “What a ride!” said Molly Gray in a speech to applauding supporters Tuesday evening.

“Tomorrow, we’re going to get back to work.”

Gray had just prevailed in a closely watched Democratic primary for Vermont lieutenant governor. She will face Republican Lt. Gov. John Rodgers in November’s general election.

Gray, who previously held the position from 2021 to 2023, weathered challenges from Ryan McLaren, a former top aide to U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Esther Charlestin, who was the Democratic nominee for governor in 2024. Around 10 p.m., Gray held about 61% of the vote, while McLaren and Charlestin registered 27% and 11% respectively, according to the Associated Press.

In her words after Tuesday’s result, Gray leaned into previous promises to support Vermont officials in resisting

overreach from their federal counterparts, and warned that national interests could exert influence over the general election in November.

“If we’re not holding the line in Vermont, who is holding the line?” she said.

McLaren, who lives in Essex Junction, emphasized housing development in his campaign, creating a plan to repurpose the large sums lawmakers have recently used to “buy down” property taxes into a tax credit scheme for communities that allow new homes to be built.

Gray, who hails from Newbury and previously worked as an assistant Vermont attorney general, also prioritized housing, advocating for landuse reforms that relax regulations on development. She, like McLaren, supports universal primary medical care for the state.

“What I am most proud of is the coalition we built,” she told supporters Tuesday evening, referring to endorsements from

labor and legislative leaders, as well as a broad volunteer base.

Charlestin, a Burlingtonbased consultant who previously worked at Middlebury Union Middle School, shared her opponents’ focus on housing and healthcare. As a daughter of immigrant parents, she told VTDigger, she has also been focused on supporting Vermont’s immigrant communities amid growing federal policy challenges.

“Most of what I’m feeling is this, like, intense sense of gratitude,” said McLaren in an interview just before polls closed on Tuesday. “I love this place, I love its people.”

He jumped into the race, he said, because he understood the urgency and frustration Vermonters felt in relation to the state’s housing, education and healthcare systems.

“My opponent in this race is not a person,” McLaren said, repeating a much-used campaign mantra. “It’s nihilism.”

In an interview after Tuesday’s

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result, Charlestin thanked voters who turned out “for exercising your voice,” and said she hoped for a “blue wave” in November.

“I hope we continue to build Vermont to be a more affordable place,” she said.

Gamelin holds onto Sheriff’s nomination Chittenden County Sheriff Dan Gamelin fended off a challenge from progressive contender Kevin Bloom for the Democratic nomination for Sheriff on Tuesday According to unofficial results from the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office, Gamelin won 48% of the vote to Bloom’s 37%.

Gamelin spent more than 40 years as a sheriff’s deputy before becoming sheriff in 2022. Bloom runs a music studio, works for an audio software company and does not have a law enforcement background.

No candidate sought the Republican nomination, making Gamelin’s re-election in the Nov. 3 General Election all but assured.

Sarah George beats Kranichfeld for State’s Attorney

Incumbent Sarah George narrowly won the Democratic nomination for Chittenden County State’s Attorney over challenger Bram Kranichfeld during Tuesday’s Primary Election.

Vote totals reported by the Vermont Secretary of State shows George won 49% of the vote to Kranichfeld’s 46%.

With no Republican seeking a nomination, George is expected to win another two-year term in the Nov. 3 General Election.

“I think that it really showed that voters and constituents care more about our values and the people in our community than they do money and power,” George said in a Wednesday interview with Vermont Public.

“Money does not buy elections in Vermont. It does not buy elections in Chittenden County, and people do see through false messaging and false promises.”

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•

Williston Observer •

August 13, 2026

Kinney Drugs puts brakes on ‘Burt’ bot

Frustration with AI pharmacist causes course change

BY TSEHAI ALFRED VTDigger

When Kathy Callaghan called her local pharmacy for a prescription refill last Wednesday, she expected to hear the usual AI voice that had attempted to assist her for the last three months.

Instead, a pharmacist picked up.

“We were thrilled,” she said, describing her and her partner Dave Bellini’s reaction to the voice.

The call came as the pharmacy, Kinney Drugs, recently pulled back its AI assistant, John Marraffa, president of the Vermont and New York pharmacy chain, told WCAX. In May, Kinney Drugs had implemented the AI tool, named Burt after the pharmacy’s founder, to improve patient communication and refill services. Customers, however, complained that it was coinciding with a range of issues, including medication delays, inaccurate refill

information and general confusion.

Privacy experts raised concerns surrounding the security of protected health information, a characterization Kinney Drugs denied.

“Burt is designed to supplement pharmacy teams by handling routine, non-clinical interactions so staff can focus more time on direct patient care, clinical questions, and in-pharmacy services,” a Kinney Drugs representative previously wrote in a statement to VTDigger.

But Marraffa acknowledged in his interview with WCAX that the new technology had been creating issues for customers, saying it did not get customer experience “right,” while defending the AI tool’s security. Marraffa and a Kinney representative did not respond to requests for comment Monday from VTDigger.

The scaling back of the AI tool means that the pharmacy has returned to its previous prompt-based, touch-tone phone system for patient calls, Marraffa told WCAX. The AI tool will still be used for prescription refill texts. Now, however, patients must opt in to receiving these texts.

Kinney Drugs in Essex Junction.

Previously, any customer who provided their telephone number to Kinney Drugs automatically consented to interacting with the AI tool, according to the pharmacy’s terms. That lack of transparent consent was one of the many issues that both customers of Kinney Drugs and experts had with the AI. Callaghan previously told VTDigger that she would frequently receive calls from the AI tool requesting refill orders on her

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prescriptions. Caught off guard, she would approve the requests, believing they were accurate. Often, however, they were not, and she received refills on prescriptions she did not need more of, she said.

“They got a winning team there, and they got great humans,” Bellini said. “They should have never gone to robots. Most of their customers are old, or they got an illness. They don’t want to deal with that.”

Bellini, who previously told

VTDigger that the AI tool was eroding Kinney Drugs’ smallscale feel and personable customer service, said he also brought his issues to the company itself, calling their corporate office to voice his concerns.

A Kinney Drugs representative previously told VTDigger that the company was “aware that some patients have experienced frustration with Burt, especially during rollout,” and that it was reviewing each concern and attempting to reach each patient.

The implementation of the AI tool came as other healthcare systems nationwide are embracing the new technology. Legal experts said the implementation was outpacing regulation, leaving consumer protection thin. In Vermont, a new data privacy bill signed by Gov. Phil Scott in June does not take effect until 2028.

“The company finally admitted that it was a mistake,” Bellini said.

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Page 11

Champlain Valley Dinner Train stays on track

BY EMILY RODIN Community News Service

Just after 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, Griffin Carrier laid out nearly 170 salad plates on the kitchen counter of the Champlain Valley Dinner Train.

Carrier, a first-time cook on the train, and three other cooks had a long night ahead of them. They were responsible for cooking and plating 91 beef entrees, 50 chicken dinners, 27 fish entrees and three vegan ravioli dishes, along with appetizers and dessert.

Mark Williams, who oversees front-ofthe-house kitchen operations, stepped over to help Carrier with the salad plates.

“I’m right behind you with the cukes,” he told Carrier, moving from the fridge to the prep counter.

The kitchen, on rail or otherwise, is where Williams truly thrives. His restaurant in Rutland, Southside Steakhouse, has catered the Champlain Valley Dinner Train since the service began in 2018. The dinner train runs seasonally from July to October, offering a three-course gourmet dinner.

For the last couple of years, the train has gone from Burlington to Vergennes and back, but this year, the route goes about 12 miles farther to Middlebury. The round trip

Passengers aboard the Champlain Valley Dinner Train enjoy scenic views during a three-hour train ride from Burlington to Middlebury and back.

PHOTO BY EMILY RODIN

takes about three hours.

For the denizens of the kitchen car, the dinner train experience is a mixture of chaos and precision: getting orders right while also keeping their balance as the train rumbles along the rails. The diners, meantime, sit in blissful ignorance as they watch some of Vermont’s most scenic vistas roll by.

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“This is a full restaurant kitchen where it’s done just like it’s done in the restaurant.

So that sets us apart from a lot of different dinner trains,” said Selden Houghton, president of Vermont Rail System, which operates the train. “You’re able to have a much better quality product because of it.”

Right around 5 p.m., the train started

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moving. It took a couple of minutes for everyone in the car to get their balance as they navigated the narrow galley kitchen. Ten servers, dressed in black with gray ties in half-Windsor knots, loaded plated salads onto serving trays.

This year, the train has a new head chef, Patrick Norton. He has been in the industry for years, but became business partners with Williams in 2017.

“Pat is the true genius when it comes to palate and flavor profiles,” Williams said.

Norton has a simple approach. He seasons the steak, the most popular menu item, with just salt and pepper.

“It doesn’t matter what you do in the kitchen, if you can’t execute it, it doesn’t matter,” Norton said. “I’d rather do something simple that you can execute than something complicated that you’re gonna screw up.”

Several trays of 8-ounce New York sirloins sat in racks beside the small stovetop.

Dinner was to be served at 6 p.m., so Norton had to have the steaks ready by 5:45 p.m.

At 5:15 p.m., the steaks were put in the oven and then rested for 15 minutes to let the juices set.

“The longer they sit the better they’ll be,” Norton said. see TRAIN page 12

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Williston Observer •

August 13, 2026

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Patrick Norton (left) and three other cooks are responsible for cooking and plating nearly 170 entrees along with appetizers and dessert on the Champlain Valley Dinner Train from Burlington to Middlebury. PHOTO BY EMILY RODIN

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One railcar ahead, classical music played softly on the speakers while passengers glanced out the windows to the greenery outside.

New Jerseyans Greg and Virginia Stinemire were taking the train for the first time.

“We came sightseeing up in Burlington, so we saw this train and thought it’d be exciting,” Virginia Stinemire said.

The train gets a mix of locals who come back every year as well as tourists, Houghton said.

With four dining cars on the train, servers get around 12,000 to 25,000 steps each shift, said Abigail Noritz, a server assigned to the furthest car.

“It gets heavier and longer

every time,” she said.

Noritz and her coworker, Kaj Jewell, paused in the vestibule to get some air after another trip from the kitchen.

As 6 p.m. rolled around, the kitchen grew noticeably more tense as dinner service peaked.

“Three fish, one beef,” Williams yelled as he handed plates to servers.

Every few orders, servers hurried back to the kitchen as they discovered a hiccup with the train’s new food ticket system, which allows passengers to order meals in advance. The list had been printed the night before but not again on Saturday, after several changes had been made.

“So far, problems. Whether those problems are gonna be resolved tomorrow or if they’re going to be enduring, I can’t tell

you,” assistant manager Alex Schwarzmueller said.

Dinner service began winding down around 6:40 p.m. By the time the strawberry shortcake was served, the rush had subsided.

The kitchen that had buzzed with shouted orders only minutes before settled into a quieter rhythm as passengers finished their meals and the train continued north toward Burlington.

Norton, the head chef, was ready to clock out.

“This is the time when I start to think about drinking beer,” he said.

Emily Rodin is an intern for UVM’s Community News Service through Report for America’s Local News Internship Program. Community News Service is a University of Vermont journalism internship.

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Williston Observer • Page 13

A day in the life of a UVM Extension Master Gardener Sue Stanne of South Burlington has volunteered for 23 years

BY ELODIE REED Special to the Observer One Thursday in June, at 9 a.m. on the dot, a landline telephone rang in UVM’s Plant Diagnostic Clinic. Sue Stanne picked up the receiver.

“UVM Extension Master Gardener Helpline,” she said. “This is Sue speaking.”

On the other end, a caller from Windsor County tried to describe a displaced, overabundant and “weird” vine.

Stanne suggested what might help is for the caller to go through the Helpline’s online ticket system, and send a photo of the vine in question.

“Our online system makes it so much easer to identify problems,” she said.

Using the caller-provided photos, the Vermont Invasives website and the Extension Foundation’s “Search Extension” tool that finds science-based resources from Extension organizations across the country, and in consultation with Deb Heleba and Lisa Chouinard from UVM Extension’s Community Horticulture Programs — Stanne was

able to provide some answers. That vine?

It was bittersweet.

The caller had some pigweed and yellow rocket growing, too. For all three plants, Stanne shared more information and management tips, including hand-pulling.

“Normally we might say something about solarization to smother the plant,” she said. “But this was in her garden — you can’t smother everything else.”

Answering the Helpline phone from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursdays between April and October, then following up afterwards with callers, is part of Stanne’s role in providing science-based gardening education as one of Vermont’s 442 Master Gardener volunteers.

Stanne has been a Master Gardener since taking the certification course in 2003, and she’s personally been gardening “pretty much forever.” During her childhood, her father grew flowers, blueberries and strawberries.

“You think you know something about gardening until you take the course,” Stanne said. “Then you realize how much you don’t know, but you learn.”

She’s been continually learning for 23 years now. She’s received a Lifetime Achievement Award, given to Master

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UVM Extension Master Gardener Sue Stanne maintains a community gardening shed at The Farm at South Village in South Burlington.

PHOTO BY ELODIE REED

Gardeners who have volunteered for 1,000 hours. Her projects have included: — Leading the gardens at the former Vermont Respite House in Williston for 13 years; — Managing a plot at the Williston Community Garden, where all the

produce was donated to the Williston Community Food Shelf; — Answering any questions fellow gardeners had at the Williston Community Garden; — Tabling at local fairs, farmers markets see GARDENER page 14

Page 14

•

Williston Observer •

August 13, 2026

Gardener

continued from page 13

Sue Stanne says she has been gardening “pretty much forever” and has been a Master Gardener volunteer for 23 years.

PHOTO BY ELODIE REED

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More recently, in addition to volunteering for the Helpline, Stanne has taken on a new project: a community gardening shed at The Farm at South Village, which is an “agrihood” development in South Burlington.

Along with members of the South Village Stewardship Committee, she’s set up the shed as a hyper-local resource hub.

Gardeners can access donated seeds, borrow tools, look over a provided planting schedule and get the latest information packets tacked under the “Current problems in our garden” sign.

“I’m starting to warn people about cucumber beetles,” Stanne said during an interview this summer. “And flea beetles are already here.”

It’s efforts like these that make Stanne the embodiment of what the Extension Master Gardener Program values in its volunteers. That’s according

to Deb Heleba, who leads the Extension Master Gardener and Vermont Master Composter

“You think you know something about gardening until you take the (Master Gardener) course.

Then you realize how much you don’t know, but you learn.”

Sue Stanne UVM Extension Master Gardener

programs.

“Not only is she among the kindest humans I’ve met, but she is also committed to sharing her deep gardening knowledge with fellow Vermonters,” Heleba said.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have volunteers of Sue’s

caliber representing UVM Extension.”

Stanne said being a Master Gardener gives her something useful to do in her spare time.

And in fielding questions about soil test results, how much compost to apply, what to do with f looded gardens, and many, many more topics, she said it’s rewarding to learn enough about an issue to be able to provide some answers.

“They really feel like they’re stuck on a problem, and they call in, or they put in a ticket, and realize, oh, it’s not as bad as they think,” she said.

“They really appreciate being able to get the information.”

Learn more about the Extension Master Gardener Program, including the certification course, at w w w. u v m . e d u /e x t e n s i o n / m a s t e r g a r d e n e r/ex t e n sio n master-gardener-program.

Elodie Reed is communications manager for the UVM College of Agriculture and Life Science Extension.

August 13, 2026 •

Williston Observer • Page 15

Turning your ‘greens’ and ‘browns’ into black gold Tips, resources and classes to create compost from food and yard waste

BY DEBORAH J. BENOIT Special to the Observer Gardeners call compost “black gold” for good reason. It adds nutrients to soil, improves soil texture and helps keep organic materials out of landfills.

Contrary to common misconceptions, composting at home doesn’t have to be complicated, time-consuming, bad-smelling or pest-attracting. In fact, home composting can be as simple as an out-of-sight pile of yard waste behind the garden.

Compostable materials fall into two categories: “browns” (rich in carbon) and “greens” (typically, fresh or wet materials, rich in nitrogen). Greens include vegetable scraps, yard waste, coffee grounds, fresh leaves and grass clippings.

Browns include dried leaves, straw, sawdust, bark, pet hair, shredded paper (untreated, not shiny) and cardboard.

Avoid adding oils, dairy, meat, fish or bones to your compost. They can slow down the process and may attract pests.

Never compost dog or cat waste.

Since most compost piles don’t get hot enough to kill seeds or pathogens, avoid adding diseased plants or weeds that have gone to seed.

When building a compost pile, keep in mind the proper proportion of greens and

Extension Master Gardener volunteer Steve Sides demonstrates feeding and turning a compost tumbler during a UVM composting course.

PHOTO BY DEBRA HELEBA

browns. In general, aim for a ratio of one-part greens to two- or three-parts browns, by volume.

A “part” can be a bucket, wheelbarrow or any container. Just be sure to use the same container to measure greens and browns to keep the proportions right.

Composting requires both

water and oxygen. A compost pile should be moist but not wet.

If it dries out, decomposition can stop. During dry spells, a sprinkle of water from the hose can help. An overly wet pile can become anaerobic and smell bad. If this happens, turn the compost and add more browns.

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The easiest way to compost is to make a pile of greens and browns and let it break down on its own. No turning or watering needed, just let the microorganisms do their work. Choose a location in your yard where it won’t be a visual nuisance.

Gather yard waste to start your pile, keeping in mind the ratio of browns and greens needed to create an effective composting system. A larger pile will create more heat and be more efficient. While easy, this method may require more space and take more time to decompose, and it isn’t the most attractive option.

Compost bins offer structure and look neater. You might build (or purchase) multiple large bins to separate different stages of decomposition. For smaller yards, a single bin or a compost tumbler might be more suitable.

To get a good mix when adding material, alternate layers of browns and greens. Smaller pieces break down faster, so tear cardboard and cut up larger plant material. Keeping additions in the correct proportions, maintaining proper moisture levels and periodically turning the contents to aerate the pile can help speed up the process.

If you primarily compost only food scraps, consider “vermicomposting.” That’s a fancy name for using red wiggler worms (Eisenia fetida) in a bin where they’ll happily feed on your food scraps and provide worm castings.

Whether you compost in a

pile, bins or a container, composting is one of the best ways to supplement the soil in your garden.

If you’d like to learn more about composting, consider taking the Vermont Composting Short Course. The course runs from Sept. 11 to Oct. 23 with meetings on Thursday evenings on Zoom and additional in-person workshops.

See: https://go.uvm.edu/ vtcompostingcourse for more information and to register by Sept. 4.

See the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation publication, “The Dirt on Compost,” at: https://go.uvm. edu/thedirtoncompost for more information on backyard composting. For more on vermicomposting, visit https://go.uvm. edu/vermicomposting.

Deborah Benoit is a UVM Extension Master Gardener who volunteers as a garden columnist and participates in Bennington County Extension Master Gardener Chapter activities.

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Page 16 •

Williston Observer •

August 13, 2026

Vermont’s butterfly blitz is on Volunteer naturalists help scientists survey the state’s butterfly populations

BY ERIKA TALLY Community News Service

Above, volunteers use a field guide as part of their participation in the Greensboro Area Butterfly Blitz in July.

PHOTO BY ERIKA TALLY

A white admiral butterfly, left, perches on Kent McFarland’s hand.

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A dozen naturalists looked on as the light swish of a butterfly net cut through the misty July air in Greensboro, snaring a darting white speck. A quick transfer to a specimen jar revealed that their find — a small white moth — was not one of their intended targets: butterflies.

“Moths look like they have anxiety when they’re flying around; butterflies look like they have a plan,” said Dana Williams, the community science coordinator for the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, before releasing the insect.

The group was taking part in the Greensboro Area Butterfly Blitz, one of the seven surveying events organized by the ecostudies center this summer. The scientists are teaming up with citizen naturalists to collect data over a period of five years for the state’s 2nd Vermont Butterfly Atlas, which will map butterfly species and their health across the state. The last atlas was published in 2007.

“We’re trying to go out and collect as many butterflies as we can, or records of butterflies,” said Williams, who led the Greensboro blitz.

Each atlas is created using data gathered over a five-year-period, with the last collection period occurring between 2002 and 2007.

The ecostudies center believes it may be the first state in the country to undertake the creation of a second butterfly atlas.

During each “blitz,” volunteers and scientists survey one of the 184 “priority blocks” across the state. In each of these 9-squaremile plots, the group searches for butterflies, often seeking out their favorite spots, such as patches of milkweed.

Once a butterfly has been spotted, the race is on to identify the species before it takes flight. Bug nets, detailed field guides and even cell phones are used by participants in the field to get a better look at the insect. Once the species has

been identified, they are released.

The data collected is just a snapshot in time but reveals a lot about each species, said Kent McFarland, co-founder of the ecostudies center and project director for the butterfly atlas. Each blitz collects information that can be used to analyze how populations, habitat ranges, lifespan and seasonality have changed for each species since the last atlas.

The project is run in close partnership with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, which uses the data collected in Vermont’s Wildlife Action Plan, a blueprint for future conservation efforts by the state.

McFarland said the atlas will help Vermont’s conservation efforts since a species can’t be included in the plan without data detailing its condition.

“Are there as many monarchs as there used to be 20 years ago?

(The information) can be used to analyze how populations, habitat ranges, lifespan and seasonality have changed for each species since the last atlas.

Have Canadian tiger swallowtails changed over the two five-year periods? Those are some of the different things we can look at,” he said.

Volunteers are key to the project, McFarland said, estimating that they help cut the data collection time in half.

“I think now, 20 years later, we really do have a great butterfly-watching and butterfly-conscious community in Vermont.

We’re blessed to have that, all those people that really want to help do something like this

butterfly atlas,” he said.

Volunteers at the Greensboro blitz embodied that sentiment on that chilly July day, when butterflies were unlikely to be active.

By the end of the blitz, the final butterfly tally was still 0, which Williams attributed to the insects preferring temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees.

Yet, Williams didn’t see the day as a complete loss, saying that participating in the count at all is valuable in itself. The collaboration helps people better understand the process of science, she said, and giving volunteers the opportunity to be more involved fosters a greater sense of environmental stewardship.

“It’s actually the people who live here who were on the ground collecting the data to make the management plans for their own state, for their own community,” she said.

While the ecostudies center only has a few more blitzes planned for this summer, volunteers don’t have to attend an organized event to contribute to the atlas, said Amber Jones, a staff biologist at the center who led the Greensboro blitz with Williams.

Participants can “adopt” and regularly survey a priority block from the map on the ecostudies center’s website (vtecostudies. org). They can use apps such as iNaturalist and eButterfly to upload photos of butterflies they spot for verification by biologists.

Jones recommended that volunteers adopt a block in an area they frequent, such as their own backyard. She also offered words of encouragement for those who may not know where to start when it comes to finding and identifying butterflies.

“A lot of it really is just looking,” she said. “That sounds really simple, but it’s truly just taking the time to actually look.”

Community News Service is a University of Vermont journalism internship.

August 13, 2026 • 10:30-11:15 a.m. Suggested ages 1-5. Get ready for giggles, stretches and smiles in this kids yoga class. Children and caregivers will explore, stretch, sing and have fun together.

STORYTIME

Tuesdays, Aug. 18 and 25, 10:30-11 a.m. Drop in for stories, songs and fun.

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 878-4918 or email daml@damlvt.org.

KIDS YOGA

Saturday,

Aug.

15,

SATURDAY MUSIC

Saturday, Aug. 29, 10:30-11 a.m. Start your weekend off with Cindy’s Storytime.

Saturday, Aug. 22, 10:30-11 a.m. Sing and dance with Linda Bassick.

ELEMENTARY D&D

Wednesday, Aug. 19, 10:30-11 a.m. Suggested ages 0-18 months. Drop in for gentle bonding and social activities with your little one.

PLAYTIME

AFTER SCHOOL GAME DAY

Thursday, Aug. 20, 10:3011:30 a.m. Stop by the library for parallel or group play with toys.

Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2-3 p.m.

Get ready for games and fun.

DINOSAUR STOMP PARTY

Children in fourth grade and younger must be supervised by someone over 16 years of age.

exciting with collection.

Saturday, Aug. 22, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. A mini session of Dungeons & Dragons for children ages 7-10. No prior experience required. Please register in advance. Adults should expect to stay and help their campaigner.

BABY TIME

YOUTH PROGRAMS

snacks. Wear something dinosaur-themed to really get in the spirit.

Friday, Aug. 21, 4-5:30 p.m.

Celebrate your summer of reading with different activities, such as a dinosaur storytime, face-painting, spray tie-dye (weather permitting), games and

MUSIC & PLAYTIME

Thursday, Aug. 27, 10:3011:30 a.m. Drop in for live preschool music, followed by playtime.

LEGO TIME

Thursday, Aug. 27, 3-4 p.m.

(All ages). Build something

our

LEGO

SATURDAY STORYTIME

MULTI-AGE PROGRAMS SUMMER READING CHALLENGE: “UNEARTH A STORY”

Thank you for an enthusiastic summer of reading fun! All earned prizes must be picked up by Saturday, Aug. 22. Raffle prizes can be picked up at a later date by arrangement.

ADULT PROGRAMS For online programs or to join a book club, email daml@damlvt.org.

Williston Observer • Page 17

COOK THE BOOK

Wednesday, Aug. 19, 12-1 p.m. Cook something from the cookbook you won at Culinary Bingo or bring your own recipe to share at our potluck.

ADULT MEDITATION (ONLINE)

Every Friday, 12-12:30 p.m.

Join our guided meditation to relax and re-center.

MAH JONGG

Fridays, Aug. 7, 14 and 21, 1-3 p.m. Drop in to play this popular tile game.

READERS’ ROUNDTABLE

Tuesday, Aug. 25, 12:301:30 p.m. “My Friends” by Fredrik Backman.

CURRENT EVENTS (HYBRID)

BOOK CLUB BUFFET (ONLINE)

Wednesday, Aug. 26, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Drop in to chat with community members on your topics of interest.

Tuesday, Aug. 18, 12:301:30 p.m. “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah.

Coming in September: Adult Puzzle Swap.

B uffet ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT

EVERY SUNDAY • 11AM - 2:30PM

Shop for School.

Build Stronger Communities.

From homework stations to dorm rooms, find more for less at Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity ReStores.

Locations: Swanton | Milton | Williston Shop local. Help local.

Building homes, changing lives in Northwest Vermont.

104 Robin Hood Dr., Swanton 528 Essex Rd/Route2A, Williston 414 Route 7, Milton vermonthabitat.org @greenmountainhabitat

Reservations Accepted ♦ (802) 876-7809 202 Cornerstone Drive ♦ aromasofindiavt.com Mon. - Weds. 11 am - 2:30 pm | 4 pm to 9 pm Thurs. - Sun. 11 am - 9 pm

Experience Authentic Indian Cuisine

DINE IN | TAKE OUT | CATERING | FOOD TRUCK

www.WillistonObserver.com

Page 18release • Williston Observer • August 13, 2026 dates: August 15-21, 2026

33 (26)

Next Week:

Animal shelters Issue 33, 2026

Founded by Betty Debnam

Bond Across Decades

Mini Fact:

Carol Buckley and Tarra, an elephant, have spent more than four decades together! photo courtesy of carolbuckley.com

Did you know that elephants are a lot like people? Both elephants and people are friendly, enjoy playing, are intelligent and have long childhoods, becoming adults around the age of 20.

Many elephants have been taken from the wild in Africa or Asia to live in zoos and circuses. In zoos and circuses, elephants may be confined to small spaces. Imagine if you were forced to sit still in school all day, with no recess and no playtime after school or on the weekends. It would not be healthy for you, and you would not be happy. Elephants need to be able to move around as well.

This week, The Mini Page learns about an elephant and the woman who has been taking care of her for decades.

Carol meets Tarra

Carol Buckley was a co-founder of the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee and is founder, president and CEO of Elephant Aid International in Georgia. Her dream of a sanctuary began in 1974 when she met an unusual friend, a baby elephant. The baby’s name was Fluffie, but Carol later changed it to Tarra (TAR-ruh).

When Carol was a child, she often brought animals home. Her family had a large backyard that became like a little farmyard. There were rabbits, chickens, ducks, guinea pigs, dogs, cats and other animals.

Carol went to college to learn how to care

for animals in a zoo or circus. She met Tarra when the elephant was walking down Carol’s street with her owner, Bob. Bob had bought the Asian elephant to be a mascot for his tire store in California. Carol was delighted when Bob said she could help care for the little elephant. Finally, he allowed Carol to buy her.

Carol and Tarra began a new life together.

A new life

Carol and Tarra started performing together at an amusement park circus. Carol taught Tarra to hold a stick and play an instrument called a xylophone.

Then Tarra learned how to play a drum, a bell, a whistle and a harmonica. Kids were amazed that Tarra could pick up a little harmonica with her big trunk.

Asian elephants have a kind of finger at the end of their trunks. photo courtesy of carolbuckley.com (African elephants have two.) Elephants can pick up small objects with these “fingers.” They can also lift whole trees with their strong trunks.

They have more than 100,000 muscles in their trunks.

Carol and Tarra later went on the road with their show, entertaining thousands of people. They eventually appeared on TV shows and in movies.

Building a sanctuary

Tarra and Carol lived at an animal park in Canada for a while. There they met Scott Blais, an elephant keeper at the park. Tarra was unhappy there, and Carol and Scott dreamed of building a good home for elephants. They bought 110 acres of land in Hohenwald, Tennessee, in 1995.

The sanctuary covers 3,060 acres and is the largest natural-habitat refuge for elephants in America. There, elephants can roam as they do in Africa and Asia. There is enough room at the sanctuary to keep 100 elephants.

In 2009, Carol founded Elephant Aid International, which brings attention to the welfare of elephants.

Carol has spent a lot of time in Asia, teaching owners and trainers how to care photo courtesy of Elephant Aid International for elephants using a humane method she invented called Compassionate Elephant Care. She also teaches them about foot care and foot trimming for elephants.

Today, Tarra lives with two other elephants at Elephant Refuge North America in Attapulgus, Georgia.

Resources On the Web:

• bit.ly/4uVlm3y

At the library:

• “All Things Elephants for Kids” by Animal Reads

The Mini Page® © 2026 Andrews McMeel Syndication

Try ’n’ Find Observer rack locations Mini Jokes

Shell Gas Station (Essex Rd) Essex/Essex Hannaford Williston Jct.the Price Chopper Words that remind us of elephants are hidden in this puzzle. Some Ernie: Why didn’t Healthy Adams Farm Market Essex Automotive words are hidden backward or diagonally, and Living someWilliston letters are Simon’s Mobil Williston elephant have Quality Bake Shop used twice. SeeAromas if youofcan find: Simply Divine Café Home2Suites India Five Corner pajamas Variety at camp?

River Road Beverage Chef’s Corner

Island Homemade Ice Cream Sonesta

AFRICA, AID, ASIA, E Q W T Kwik N AStopH P E LSunoco E YStation R D R Korner Dorothy Alling Memorial BELL, CAROL, Library S A CMarriott I RCourtyard F A Z T FTown E ofDWilliston D ROffices O CIRCUS, CORRAL, L A R R O C I W H I S T L E S UPS Store Men At Wok Fairfield Inn Rick Cote at DRUM, CallDREAM, Folino’s Pizza R E NM&T OBank H P O L Y XVermont S HMeat C &ASeafood L email (802) 373-2136 orerver.com Williston Coffee Shop Ramunto’s Gardener’s Supply ELEPHANT, HOME, bs X B S C U U O M M T E L O M E nO to is Rick@Will would like copies SMART, Green Mountain Bagel N P TRehab M Gym T N Z C U R N L A P C if youSANCTUARY, r your location foTARRA, N W L S A U A W R U N E R A A TRUNK, E M O H I R A S D N E B R T R TENNESSEE, WHISTLE, L B Q N D S T R I K T V A M O XYLOPHONE, ZOO.

Ella: She forgot to packRichmond her trunk!

Hannaford Inn atEli: Essex Cumberland Farms What’s as large as an elephant but weighs Mac’s Market Richmond Free Library nothing?

Martone’s DeliIts shadow! Richmond Market Embry: Williston

Eco Note A new study from researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggests that some seeds may

ducks, guinea pigs, dogs, cats and other animals.

Carol went to college to learn how to care

At the library:

with their show, entertaining thousands of people. They eventually appeared on TV shows and in movies.

• “All Things Elephants for Kids” by Animal Reads

The Mini Page® © 2026 Andrews McMeel Syndication

August 13, 2026 • Williston Observer •

Try ’n’ Find

Mini Jokes

Words that remind us of elephants are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find: AFRICA, AID, ASIA, BELL, CAROL, CIRCUS, CORRAL, DREAM, DRUM, ELEPHANT, HOME, SANCTUARY, SMART, TARRA, TRUNK, TENNESSEE, WHISTLE, XYLOPHONE, ZOO.

Page 19

E Q W T N A H P E L E S A C I R F A Z T F E L A R R O C I W H I S R E N O H P O L Y X S X B S C U U O M M T E N P T M T N Z C U R N N W L S A U A W R U N E M O H I R A S D N E L B Q N D S T R I K T C I R C U S D W Y A L

Y D T H L L E B V S

Ernie: Why didn’t the elephant have pajamas at camp?

Ella: She forgot to pack her trunk!

R D R D R O L E S C A L O M E A P C R A A R T R A M O T E L

Eli: What’s as large as an elephant but weighs nothing?

Embry: Its shadow!

Eco Note

Cook’s Corner • 1 cup fresh blueberries • 2 cups fat-free whipped topping

What to do: 1. Prepare lemon pudding according to directions with 2 cups milk. Chill for 20 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, chop peach into small chunks and combine with blueberries.

3. Spoon 1/4 cup pudding into 4 dessert dishes. Layer 1/4 cup whipped topping next.

4. Divide fruit mixture in half and spoon 4 equal portions on top.

5. Repeat layers of pudding, whipped topping and fruit. Serves 4.

The Mini Page® © 2026 Andrews McMeel Syndication

You’ll need: • 1-ounce package instant sugar-free, fat-free lemon pudding mix • 2 cups reduced-fat milk • 1 large peach

* You’ll need an adult’s help with this recipe.

Pudding Parfait

A new study from researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggests that some seeds may “hear” rain or, more precisely, sense the powerful vibrations produced when raindrops strike soil or shallow water and use that signal to decide when to germinate. Working with rice seeds submerged in shallow water, scientists found that seeds exposed to the sound and vibrations of falling droplets sprouted 30% to 40% faster than identical seeds kept in silence. Writing in the journal Scientific Reports, scientists say vibrations from falling rain disturb tiny gravity-sensing structures inside seeds, jolting them out of dormancy and triggering growth. adapted with permission from Earthweek.com

For later:

Look in your local newspaper for stories about animals.

Photos from the Williston Observer are available for purchase!

Visit willistonobserver.com to see current and past photos of events, school sports, nature shots and more!

AlFreyPhotography.com

Place your order online or email afrey202@gmail.com

AL

Page 20

• Williston Observer • August 13, 2026

SAVVY SENIOR

Smartphones made simple for seniors

By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, My 79-year-old mom just upgraded from a flip phone to a smartphone, but she’s having trouble figuring it out. Is there a way to make it easier for her to use?

— Only Daughter Dear Only, Switching from a flip phone to a smartphone can be a big adjustment. What seems second nature to younger users can feel overwhelming to someone who’s never used a

WILLISTON

FIRE DEPT. JULY 31 • 8:49 a.m. — Firefighters responded to a fire/smoke alarm on Essex Road.

• 3:45 p.m. — Firefighters responded to an alarm on Day Lane.

AUG. 1 • 1:27 a.m. — Firefighters responded to a fire/smoke alarm at Falcon Manor.

• 5:18 a.m. — Firefighters responded to a fire/smoke alarm on Oak Hill Road.

• 7:19 a.m. — Firefighters provided a citizen assist/lift assist on Half Moon Lane.

• 8:31 a.m. — Firefighters provided a citizen assist/lift assist on Zephyr Road.

• 9:16 a.m. — Firefighters responded to a malfunctioning alarm on Tyler Way. • 11:46 a.m. — Firefighters provided a citizen assist/lift assist on Zephyr Road.

• 1:21 p.m. — Firefighters conducted an elevator/escalator rescue on Holland Lane.

• 2:21 p.m. — Firefighters

touchscreen.

Even though the screen is bigger, the text can still be tiny, the buttons hard to tap, and one accidental touch can open an app or change a setting.

Even simple tasks like texting or taking a picture can suddenly feel frustrating.

The good news is that smartphones can be surprisingly senior-friendly. Both iPhones and Android phones have built-in accessibility features that make them easier to see, hear and navigate. The exact steps vary depending on the phone, but here are some of the most helpful settings to look for.

easier to use.

The Accessibility section in Settings offers several helpful tools.

VoiceOver reads whatever is on the screen aloud, Zoom enlarges small text or photos, and Voice Control lets her open apps or dictate messages simply by speaking.

For a simpler home screen, try Assistive Access. It creates a clean layout with large buttons and fewer apps, and you can lock it with a passcode so it won’t accidentally switch back. For someone moving from a flip phone, this can make using the phone much less intimidating.

APPLE iPHONE

If your mom has an Apple iPhone, start by opening the Settings app, then tap Display and Brightness.

From there, she can make the text larger, turn on bold text and use Display Zoom to make icons, buttons and menus bigger. These small changes can make the phone much

If your mom uses a Google Pixel, open Settings, then Display, and select Display size and text. She can make words, buttons and icons larger and increase color contrast to make everything easier to see.

Swipe gestures can be confusing for first-time smartphone users. Switching to the traditional

responded to a malfunctioning alarm at Falcon Manor.

responded to a fire/smoke alarm on Blair Park Road.

AUG. 2

• 2:56 p.m. — Firefighters conducted an elevator/escalator rescue on Blair Park Road.

• 1:42 p.m. — Firefighters responded to a malfunctioning alarm at Falcon Manor.

• 7:04 p.m. — Firefighters responded to a false alarm on Whitney Hill Road.

• 9:01 p.m. — Firefighters responded to accidental alarm on Tyler Way.

AUG. 3 • 5:25 a.m. — Firefighters responded to a malfunctioning alarm at Falcon Manor.

• 9:47 a.m. — Firefighters responded to a fire/smoke alarm on Tyler Way. • 2:16 p.m. — Firefighters responded to a malfunctioning alarm on Bittersweet Circle.

• 7:40 p.m. — Firefighters responded to a malfunctioning alarm at Falcon Manor.

• 10:28 p.m. — Firefighters responded to a malfunctioning alarm on Zephyr Road.

AUG. 4 • 3:51 a.m. — Firefighters responded to a structure fire involving a room and its contents on Orchard Terrace in Essex Junction.

• 11:51

a.m.

—

Firefighters

GOOGLE PIXEL

• 5:27 p.m. — Firefighters responded to a fire/smoke alarm on Horseshoe Drive.

AUG. 5 • 3:29 a.m. — Firefighters responded to a fire/smoke alarm at Eagle Crest.

• 10:46 a.m. — Firefighters responded to a hazardous-materials incident involving a chemical release on St. George Road.

• 12:25 p.m. — Firefighters responded to a fire/smoke alarm at Eagle Crest.

• 2:40 p.m. — Firefighters responded to a fire/smoke alarm at Falcon Manor.

• 9:49 p.m. — Firefighters provided law enforcement support on I-89 southbound near mile marker 80.

AUG. 6 • 6:14 a.m. — Firefighters conducted an elevator rescue at Falcon Manor.

The Williston Fire Department also responded to 37 medical emergencies during this time frame.

three-button layout brings back simple on-screen buttons for Home, Back and Recent Apps, making navigation much easier.

In Accessibility, TalkBack can read text aloud, Magnification zooms in on parts of the screen, Live Caption adds subtitles automatically, Sound Amplifier makes soft sounds louder, and Voice Access lets her control the phone by speaking.

SAMSUNG GALAXY

If she has a Samsung Galaxy phone, start by turning on Easy Mode. Open Settings, tap Display and turn it on. This enlarges text and icons, simplifies the home screen, and adds a slight delay to reduce accidental taps.

She can also adjust font size, screen zoom, and switch navigation from gestures to buttons.

Accessibility settings improve contrast, offer captions or hearing aid connections, and let her operate the phone with voice commands.

EXTRA TIPS

Clean up your mom’s home screen by removing apps she doesn’t use and placing her most used apps — such as Phone, Messages and Photos — on the first screen. Choose a simple wallpaper, turn up the ringtone and alert volume, add favorite contacts for one-touch calling, and increase the screen timeout so the display stays on longer.

Remember, the goal isn’t to master every feature. Start with the basics — answering calls, sending texts and taking photos — and give her plenty of time to practice. A little patience goes a long way.

With a few simple adjustments, her smartphone can become a tool she actually enjoys using.

Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

WILLISTON

POLICE

June 21 at 4:28 a.m. — Vehicle off the road on Old Creamery Road. Male operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI. June 21 at 3:00 p.m. — Assisted Essex Police with issuing a notice of trespass to a male at Zephyr Place.

June 21 at 3:10 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Suspects were gone before officers’ arrival.

June 22 at 12:00 p.m. — Suspicious male at Walmart sitting on employees’ cars.

Male was moved along.

June 22 at 6:31 p.m. — Report of a suspicious male and female at Interstate Corporate Center. Male and female were issued a notice of trespass and moved along.

June 23 at 9:19 a.m. — Male and female causing a disturbance on Boxwood Street.

Male and female were issued a notice of trespass and moved along.

June 23 at 8:40 p.m. — Suspicious male and female in Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Male noticed employee on the phone and they dropped everything and left the store.

June 24 at 1:22 p.m. — Advised that someone dug up and stole a shrub from Harvest Lane. Female was located and issued a notice of trespass.

June 24 at 8:26 p.m. — Report of fireworks on Day Lane. Nothing found.

June 25 at 5:23 a.m. — Report of a suspicious vehicle on Zephyr Road. Female operator was issued a citation to appear in court for driving with a criminally

suspended license.

June 25 at 11:38 p.m. — Suspicious vehicle on Beebe Lane. Male was night fishing in Lake Iroquois.

June 26 at 2:25 a.m. — Disturbance reported on St. George Road. Male suspect was issued a citation to appear in court for simple assault.

June 26 at 9:19 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Shaw’s. Female suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

June 26 at 3:34 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Marshalls. Female suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft and unlawful trespass.

June 26 at 9:25 p.m. — Traffic stop conducted. Male operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI. June 27 at 4:38 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Marshalls. Female suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft and unlawful trespass.

June 27 at 5:28 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Marshalls. Female suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft and unlawful trespass.

Officers also conducted 10 traffic enforcement operations resulting in 67 traffic stops, and responded to five alarm activations and six motor vehicle crashes during this timeframe.

August 13, 2026 •

Williston Observer • Page 21

CROSSWORD • SOLUTION ON PAGE 22

TODAY’S HISTORY:

• In 1521, Hernando Cortes captured the capital of the Aztec empire, Tenochtitlan (later Mexico City), after a three-month siege.

• In 1907, the first metered taxicab took fares in New York City.

• In 1918, Opha May Johnson became the first woman to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps.

• In 1961, East German soldiers began constructing a barbed-wire barrier between the eastern and western parts of Berlin.

TODAY’S FACT:

• Alfred Hitchcock never won an Academy Award for directing.

When he was honored with the Academy’s Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 1968, his speech was five words long: “Thank you, very much indeed.”

SOLUTION FOUND ON PAGE 22

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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

• Whitening, Veneers • Clear Braces • TMD, Sleep Apnea & 3D Imaging • Smile Design & Restoration

Page 22

• Williston Observer • August 13, 2026

CLASSIFIEDS

GARAGE SPACE

MOVING SALE 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.

LEGAL

NOTICE OF 19 V.S.A. SECTION 502 PUBLIC HEARING STATE OF VERMONT AGENCY OF TRANSPORTATION RE: ST. GEORGE STP 021-1(36) VT ROUTE 2A & VT ROUTE 116 ROUNDABOUT PROJECT

Apartment dweller looking for indoor space to work on cars.

Willing to rent or trade for yard/ handy-man chores.

Contact Ben at 802-777-0177.

SUDOKU SOLUTION Puzzle found on page 21

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) hereby gives notice to property owners, parties interested in land or with rights in land, and municipalities affected by the proposed construction of the abovecaptioned transportation project, that VTrans will conduct a 19 V.S.A. Section 502 public hearing at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at the St. George Town Hall located at 21 Barber Rd, in St. George, Vermont. VTrans is holding this hearing to receive suggestions and recommendations for changes from the public. The full hearing, along with any questions or comments will be recorded and transcribed for the hearing record.

VTrans will accept oral or written statements or exhibits at the hearing and for ten (10) days after the hearing via mail

or email. VTrans will make these materials part of the hearing record. To submit statements or exhibits after the hearing, please contact the VTrans Project Manager, Michael LaCroix.

Mailing Address: Vermont Agency of Transportation c/o Michael LaCroix 219 North Main Street, Barre, VT 05641 Email Address: michael.lacroix@vermont. gov The intersection of VT Route 2A and VT Route 116 has been a high crash location for many years. The proposed project will improve the safety conditions at the intersection with the installation of a modern roundabout. The acquisition of easements is required to construct the roadways and, in some areas, maintain constructed features such as slopes, drainage structures and waterway channels, and features for permitting requirements.

VTrans is notifying by certified mail all parties it knows who may be, but not necessarily will be, affected by the proposed project. VTrans will conduct property owner meetings with all the parties affected by the proposed project after the public hearing, at a later date.

Members of the public may see a copy of the 502 hearing figure plans and handout at the hearing, where VTrans representatives will discuss the tentative schedules for right-ofway easement acquisition and construction.

Dated at Barre, Vermont, this 16th day of July 2026.

JOE FLYNN, SECRETARY AGENCY OF TRANSPORTATION VTrans ensures that all public meetings

CROSSWORD SOLUTION Puzzle found on page 21

and locations are accessible to persons with disabilities. Any person with a disability may request accommodation in order to fully participate in any public meeting held by VTrans. Requests for translation, interpretive, or other services for accommodation, must be made at least ten (10) calendar days prior to the date of the meeting for which services are requested.

Please make requests to: Colleen Montague Director of Civil Rights, Civil Rights Bureau | Finance & Administration Vermont Agency of Transportation 219 North Main Street | Barre, VT 05641 802-777-2654 | colleen.montague@vermont. gov

LEGAL

TOWN OF WILLISTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA Tuesday, August 25, 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 27-02 Matthew Fraser requests DP to amend the building envelope to construct accessory structures at 144 Cherrywood Lane in the ARZD. DP 27-01 TransEastern Truck Center c/o Casey Danforth requests DP for the addition of a 1,440 square-foot office structure at 137 Avenue A in the IZDW. DP 26-08 Richard and Susan Brownell request DP for a proposed three-lot subdivision of a 26.7-acre parcel into one existing dwelling, one new dwelling, and one open space lot at 518 Lincoln Road in the ARZD. DP 24-06.1 River’s Edge Development c/o O’Leary-Burke Civil Associates requests DP amendment to remove one single family lot, reducing total unit count to 106 dwellings, and modify the private neighborhood amenities in Windswept Meadows Development on Trails Bend Drive in the RZD. DP 27-03 Developmental Disabilities Housing Initiative c/o The Snyder Group, Inc. requests pre-app review of 9 dwelling unit building with site improvements at 12 Southridge Road in the VZD. 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@willistonobserver.com or call (802) 338-1655 Deadline for classifieds is Monday

SERVICE DIRECTORY VEHICLE CARE PROFESSIONAL CAR CLEANING

INTERIOR & EXTERIOR Cleaning | Buffing | Waxing of all Vehicles 62 Park Street, Essex Jct. 802-878-8440

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WELLNESS

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We offer an infrared sauna, massage, bodywork, a salt room and more.

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August 13, 2026 • Williston Observer •

Page 23

4

SERVICE DIRECTORY LAND MAINTENANCE

AUDIOLOGY Plattsburgh, NY

Shelburne, VT

Forestry Mulching Services for private and commercial projects

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Page 24 •

Williston Observer •

August 13, 2026

British mania hits Williston Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, top, takes the stage as Britishmania bringing the Beatles vibe to the Maple Tree Place Thursday Night Concert Series on August 6. Left, “Paul McCartney” (Jim Miller) sings lead as he strums his left-hand bass to the good-sized crowd, above, that braved the rain showers which hit just before showtime. Experiencing the music of her grandparents, this young fan, right, had to get up and dance.

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