Williston Observer 09/25/2025

Homeless families to vacate former police barracks

New shelter to open in Burlington

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

The time is coming to a close for the former Vermont State Police barracks in Williston to house homeless families as a shelter under the Vermont Department of Children and Families.

Last fall, with the state’s motel housing program contracting and cold weather looming, the department swiftly converted the former police headquarters into housing for up to seven families. It hired an out-of-state contractor to manage the shelter through the winter, and, in May,

OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON STARR

the nonprofit Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity took over.

The building is located just

Redhawks sink Seawolves on Saturday

north of the Exit 12 interchange of Interstate 89. It became vacant in 2023 when the state police moved into a new headquarters on the south side of the interchange.

According to Lily Sojourner, director of the Department of Children and Families’ Office of Economic Opportunity, the sheltered families will be moving to a Champlain Housing Trust property in Burlington in February. The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity will continue to be the shelter’s managing organization.

Champlain Housing Trust

Director of Community Relations Chris Donnelly said the shelter is under construction near downtown Burlington with hopes to have it open shortly after the new year. Families will begin moving out of Williston in January.

“We meet as a team every other week to talk about the transition and the logistics of what will need to happen,” Sojourner said. “It’s definitely a significant effort, but we have the time to prepare for it.”

The Observer received an anonymous complaint from a

see BARRACKS page 11

Spectrum’s car detailing enterprise closes

Detail Works helped at-risk youth gain skills, experience

OBSERVER STAFF REPORT

Detail Works closed up shop last week on Avenue C in Williston after nine years as an employment training project of the nonprofit Spectrum Youth and Family Services.

The car detailing service was launched to provide employment opportunities, job skills, confidence and experience for teens and young adults who face barriers in traditional workplace settings. Based in Burlington, Spectrum serves people ages 14-24, helping them meet their basic needs, access mental health and substance use disorder services and learn employment and independent living skills.

The organization cited “rapidly escalating employee health insurance costs” as the reason it could

Detail Works, an offshoot of Spectrum Youth and Family Services, closed up shop last week.

OBSERVER PHOTO BY JASON

no longer sustain the enterprise.

“Over the past five years, these costs have more than doubled for the organization, creating unsustainable financial pressures that can no longer be absorbed without compromising other critical youth

see SPECTRUM page 7

CVU’s Connor Nichols runs for daylight during the Redhawks’ 23 - 14 win over the Burlington-South Burlington Seawolves on Saturday in Hinesburg. More photos on the back page.

The former Vermont State Police barracks in Williston was converted into a homeless family shelter in 2024. That use will end in early 2026.

STARR

Williston’s library — then, now and in the future

People gather on the Village Green on Saturday to celebrate the 120th anniversary of library services in Williston. The Williston Town Band performed as part of the event, and information was presented about the library’s history and its proposed future expansion.

Around Town

Breast cancer walk taking place Oct. 5

The Making Strides Against

Breast Cancer walk will take place on Sunday, Oct. 5 at Veteran’s Memorial Park in South Burlington. The annual event

raises funds for breast cancer research and honors local breast cancer survivors and metastatic breast cancer thrivers, caregivers and families.

Registration opens at 10 a.m. The walk begins at noon. To learn more, visit MakingStridesWalk. org/Northernvt or call 1-800-227-2345.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

EMAIL EVENT LISTINGS TO EDITOR@WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM

FRIDAY, SEPT. 26

Education and Enrichment for Everyone series ♦ Former Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger of Let’s Build Homes discusses “Vermont’s Housing Abundance — Why We Need it, How We Build It.” 2 p.m. Faith United Methodist Church, 899 Dorset Street, South Burlington. More information at https://eeevermont.org.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1

Three-week Mountain View Road closure to start

Starting Monday, Sept. 29, Mountain View Road is scheduled to be closed to westbound traffic at its intersection with Route 2A for approximately three weeks. Westbound vehicles will be detoured via Old Stage Road. Eastbound travel will be maintained.

The closure is part of an overhaul of the intersection, including Industrial Avenue.

The project caused a shutdown of water service for some area residents this week as crews worked on Champlain Water District infrastructure along Route 2A.

In print & online: We’re your neighbors, committed to keeping you informed on what’s going on in Williston.

Cyclocross bike race series ♦ Explore the challenge of cyclocross in this weekly race series. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Catamount Outdoor Family Center, Governor Chittenden Road.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2

Rotary speaker and breakfast meeting ♦ Zach Bennett, assistant professor at Norwich University, speaks on “The Election of 1860.” 7:15 a.m. at Williston Federated Church and via Zoom. RSVP to RotaryClubofWillistonVT@gmail.com.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4

Williston Energy Fair ♦ Meet business representatives and experts in the fields of solar power; home weatherization; heat pumps; electric vehicles, bikes and shopping trolleys and more. 1-4 p.m. at Maple Tree Place. Email energy@willistonvt. org for more information.

SATURDAY, OCT. 4

Williston Woods Annual Bazaar ♦ Craft tables, bake sale, basket raffle, white elephant sale. Lunch. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 126 Williston Woods Rd.

Student artists draw on passion

BY TYLER COHEN Champlain Valley School District

This year, Abbie Bowker’s art classes at Williston Central School have been exploring texture and value — while making bigger connections.

In support of Passion 4 Paws, a local nonprofit that rescues homeless, abandoned or neglected dogs, 5-8th graders have been drawing portraits of dogs to be displayed at numerous upcoming adoption-related events.

“It’s really cool that my artwork is going to be displayed,” said Collins Barbot, a sixth grader, who drew a dog named Lou. Harper Hawgood, a 7th grader who drew a dog named Jefe, agrees: “I feel proud because my artwork is going to be up somewhere.”

Along the way, students have learned about various portrait techniques using graphite pencils, including how to create a

replica image with the grid method, how to work together on a portrait, and how to add texture and value.

“Students have been thinking about proportions using the grid system,” said Bowker. “They’ve worked collaboratively to create large-scale portraits as a group and individually to create really special moments.”

For Bowker and the students, the lessons have been about more than the art.

“I’ve been working to create meaningful experiences between what we are doing and the world around us,” Bowker said.

“People will get to see my artwork and know there are actual dogs that they can support through this organization,” Barbot said. “It’s a really cool way to show that through artwork.”

Tyler Cohen is the Champlain Valley School District communications manager.

CLOCKWISE (l to r): WCS students have been drawing dog portraits in support of the nonprofit Passion 4 Paws. WCS art teacher Abbie Bowker helps student Clara Downing. From left, students Callie Brayden, Lauren Batdorf and Hadley Dolan display their drawings.

PHOTOS BY TYLER COHEN

GREEN

THINKING SUSTAINABLY • ACTING RESPONSIBLY

The heat pumps you haven’t met

BY PAT RATKOWSKI Williston Energy Committee

When most of us think of heat pumps, we think of air-to-air ductless or “mini-split” heat pumps (Fujitsu and Mitsubishi are two brands common in our area). Each “split” usually handles a single room or area in a home, making it easy to dial in the comfort you want.

Even if you have an HVAC system, radiators or baseboards, minisplits can help share the energy load without requiring new internal duct or pipe installation. According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost to install a mini-split is $3,000 and ranges from $2,000 to $6,000.

As effective as mini-splits are, this article isn’t about them. Instead, we’re looking at other, lesser-known heat pump systems that may be a better fit for your home or business. Many are more efficient than minisplits and have a longer lifespan. Their upfront costs, however, can be higher, and there are fewer contractors in northern Vermont that currently install them. With those caveats, we’ll use excerpts from a recent Consumer Reports summary (in quotes) to step through these options:

DUCTED AIR-SOURCE HEAT PUMPS

“Ducted air-source heat pumps

look and operate a lot like a central AC. There’s an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, both of which have aluminum fins and coils to release or collect heat, connected by a refrigerant line filled with fluid that transports heat between the two units. The outdoor unit also has a compressor, which compresses and circulates the refrigerant. The indoor unit hooks up to ducts inside your home, and a blower circulates the warm or cool air through those ducts and out of air vents placed around your house.”

Ground-source heat pumps absorb and release heat underground, where the temperature is a constant 50-60 degrees all year.

If you already have a central HVAC system, ducted air-source heat pumps may be a good option, especially if you don’t like the look or expense of installing multiple mini-splits. According to a recent

Invest in COMFORT

Consumer Reports member survey,

Heat pumps

continued from page 4

the overall median price for purchase and installation of ducted airsource systems is about $8,500.

AIR-TO-WATER HEAT PUMPS

“Air-to-water heat pumps (AWHPs) usually use outdoor units similar to air-to-air models, but they distribute heat through hot-water radiator systems. They’re common in much of Europe but not currently in the U.S., even though many homes in the Northeast and Midwest rely on hydronic radiators for heat.”

If you have radiant floor heating, an AWHP may be worth a look. The maximum water temperatures most AHWPs can currently achieve are about 40 degrees cooler than furnace or boiler temperatures. This disparity is not an issue for radiant floor heating; 130 degrees is plenty warm enough. But it can complicate using an AWHP with hydronic baseboard heaters.

There are ways to address this gap (e.g., high-output baseboards, AWHPs with built-in resistance heat boosters), but most area installers we’ve contacted pair AWHPs solely with radiant floors. Recent consumer surveys indicate that these systems typically cost between $15,000 and $20,000 to purchase and install.

GROUND-SOURCE (GEOTHERMAL) HEAT PUMPS

“Ground-source heat pumps absorb and release heat underground, where the temperature is a constant 50-60 degrees all year. They are

highly efficient because they don’t have to compensate for big temperature swings the way air-source heat pumps do. But because the heat-exchanging pipes are buried underground (either horizontally or vertically), ground-source systems can be impractical for small lots or those with certain types of soil or landscapes.”

These systems typically circulate a water/anti-freeze solution through buried flexible plastic tubing (the loop field). They don’t need a large outdoor unit, and they are usually extremely quiet. As with AWHPs, however, not many local contractors have been trained on installation yet. Ground-source systems can cost from $25,000 to $40,000 or more for purchase and installation.

WATER-SOURCE HEAT PUMPS

“Water-source heat pumps work like the ground-source systems (described) above, except the loop field is laid at the bottom of a body of water rather than underground. If you have an appropriate body of water on your property, these can be easier and less expensive to install than ground-source systems.”

These closed-loop systems can be used with ponds, rivers and lakes, typically supplying radiant heating or domestic hot water. They are extraordinarily efficient, but require regular maintenance, and are probably the least common heat pump option. Pricing for water-source heat pumps varies widely; a ballpark range is $10,000 to $25,000.

GREEN

MORE INFORMATION

You can find more information on heat pump options at Efficiency Vermont, Consumer Reports and Redwood Energy. In addition, Efficiency Vermont’s “Find A Pro” search and the Vermont Department of Public Service’s Vermont Energy Saver site can help you find contractors in our area with heat pump experience.

Vermonters tallied almost 11,000 new heat pump installations in 2024. Roughly 90 percent of those were ductless mini-splits. The heat pump technologies described here make up the other 10 percent — relatively small, but with big potential. As more contractors become familiar with the technology and a new generation of tradespeople enter the field, these heat pumps could thrive.

To participate in Williston’s energy future, reach out to your Williston Energy Committee at energy@willistonvt.org or attend a public meeting held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. The agenda for upcoming meetings is posted on the Town of Williston website (www. town.williston.vt.us). For more information, visit: https://www. willistonvtenergycommittee.org.

State identifies climate resilience priorities

The State of Vermont has released its “Resilience Implementation Strategy,” which prioritizes actions to reduce the impacts of climate change.

Vermont’s climate-related hazards include flooding, landslides, heat waves, drought, wildfire smoke, and declining water quality. The strategy prioritizes actions that state government can take to help communities become more resilient, support those hardest hit by disasters, and reduce future damage to Vermont’s infrastructure, economy and natural environment.

Virtual public meetings in late October will offer an opportunity for the public to hear directly from state officials about the strategy.

“Climate change is having significant impacts on Vermont,

Public meetings about the strategy will be held on Oct. 23 and Oct. 27 at https://climatechange. vermont.gov/resilience.

from widespread flooding in 2023 and 2024, to the drought conditions we are currently experiencing,” said Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore. “The Resilience Implementation Strategy is a comprehensive plan that will guide the work of state government to protect Vermonters and build resilience.”

Of the listed priorities, the State Treasurer’s Office measured the cost of over 60 actions, which amount to approximately $270 million in one-time funding and $95 million in ongoing see CLIMATE page 7

VERMONT

Respect and responsibility — cornerstones of democracy

REP. LAURA SIBILIA

Michael Coburn - Agent 802-658-7800 1134 South Brownell Rd. Williston, VT 05495

michaelcoburn@allstate.com We’re

we all share to govern ourselves. Too often, when people talk about those they disagree with, I hear “they” or “them.” Used this way, these words are vague and dehumanizing. They create distance and make it easier to dismiss or demonize.

The same happens with phrases like “those people,” “the left,” “the right,” “the politicians,” “the media,” or “the elites.” All of these labels lump people together and let us avoid dealing with what individuals are actually saying or doing. Being as specific as possible keeps us accountable to one another and makes government work through real dialogue, decisions and action.

There is an old teaching from the Stoic philosopher Epictetus: “It is impossible for a person to learn what they think they already know.” The lesson is simple. Once we decide we already

know everything about “them,” we stop listening. And once we stop listening, we stop learning.

In Vermont, that matters at every level, whether it is sitting across from a neighbor at town meeting, serving on a selectboard, or working side by side after a flood. Real prog-

Democracy cannot survive if we citizens don’t participate.

ress starts when we stay open to learning from one another. If we stop listening, we stop learning, and if we stop learning, we stop participating, and democracy cannot survive if we citizens don’t participate.

So here is the question I am trying to keep front and center,

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SUBMISSIONS & LETTERS

Deadline is Monday noon for Thursday issue. News/ story tips are welcomed. Letters to the Editor should be

or

and include your name, address and a daytime phone number so that we can verify the letter’s author.

and I invite you to do the same: What does respect look like to you? How do you show it to someone you disagree with? The answers matter. Because respect is the foundation of dialogue, and dialogue is the foundation of democracy.

That commitment to respect is not abstract. It shows up in the way we govern and in whether people feel safe enough to step forward and serve. At the Vermont Statehouse, we now have more security, and this summer, legislators received safety guidance from our Sergeant at Arms. That is not normal. But it is where we are. What worries me most is that fewer people might step forward. The government is not someone else’s job — it is everyone’s job. Vermont works best when citizens feel safe enough to serve.

see SIBILIA page 7

‘People vs. Big Tech’: Vermont town hall series launches

A statewide town hall series, “People vs. Big Tech: Vermont,” launches in October to engage Vermonters in conversations about data privacy, digital advertising and artificial intelligence. The free, public events will feature expert speakers, audience dialogue, practical advice and policy prescriptions.

Registration for the events is open at www.peoplevsbigtech. com. The schedule includes a Oct. 27 stop at the South Burlington public library from 5:30-7 p.m. The series is hosted by Vermont State Rep. Monique Priestley of Bradford and the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG).

Sibilia

continued from page 6

And the need for participation goes far beyond the Statehouse. Our communities are already under real stress: flooding, housing, health care, workforce shortages. This is when showing up matters most. Neighbors serving on selectboards, volunteering on fire departments, or running for the Legislature all strengthen our state’s ability to meet these challenges together.

It is easy to get discouraged

Climate

continued from page 5

costs year-over-year.

The high-priority actions focus on:

— Empowering municipalities with technical and financial resources to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

— Equipping individuals with the information and tools about steps they can take to address climate-related health concerns.

— Emphasizing nature-based solutions, leveraging wetlands, floodplain and upland forests to mitigate flooding and support biodiversity.

— Investing in the design, reinforcement and relocation of our roads, bridges, culverts and energy systems necessary to become more resilient.

— Improving early warning systems and ensuring fast, effective emergency response to climate-related disasters such as flooding and landslides.

The strategy also identified

Subjects to be covered include: What is privacy: A quick primer on the history of privacy rights in the U.S.

Why it matters: Real-world examples of harms and risks for consumers, small businesses, nonprofits and local government.

Tech realities: How data is collected and used; the state of digital ads; what AI’s rapid expansion means for work, ethics and rights.

Policy and innovation: Why states often lead; how regulation and innovation fit together; where federal rules fall short.

Practical protections (when

by national headlines. But Vermont’s strength has always come from citizens willing to take responsibility locally, even when they disagree. Town meetings, a planning commission, or helping after a flood — these are not small things. This is the work of democracy. Every act of participation reminds us that the government is all of us, and it only functions when we each do our part.

National politics has grown more unstable, with threats, lies and violence replacing dialogue. We are already seeing

a smaller number of priority actions that state agencies will be working to implement in the near term, including:

— Sustained funding for the Flood Resilient Communities Fund, which supports proactive projects that reduce future flood risk.

— Expanded capacity to conduct dam safety and emergency action tabletop exercises that would improve dam safety in the event of damage or failure.

— Ensuring no-cost financing is available to Vermont towns immediately following a disaster by reinvesting in the Municipal Climate Resilience Fund.

— Conducting studies to improve site-specific understanding of shifting riverbeds in highrisk populated areas, which will help identify interventions that could reduce future flood risk.

— A targeted outreach campaign about the benefits and costs of flood insurance, which could save property owners money after a flood.

policy lags): Tips and tools you can use today, without putting the burden entirely on individuals. Taking action: How to help advance people-first tech policy in Vermont.

“Technology shouldn’t be something that happens to us, it should be shaped by us,” said Zach Tomanelli, consumer protection advocate at VPIRG.

“These town halls will give Vermonters the chance to learn about the threats big tech poses, to voice their own concerns, and to provide Vermonters with the information they need to protect themselves.”

some of that emerge here in Vermont, with outside groups working to inflame division. We need to be careful not to follow that path. We are losing balance, and we need to find it again. The Legislature, the administration and Vermonters in every community share responsibility for lowering the temperature and keeping space for disagreement.

Laura Sibilia represents Dover, Jamaica, Somerset, Stratton and Wardsboro in the Vermont House of Representatives.

Spectrum

continued from page 1

services,” an announcement of the closure states.

“We are deeply proud of what Detail Works has accomplished over the past nine years and grateful to the youth, staff and community members who made it possible,” Spectrum Executive Director Mark Redmond said in the announcement. “This decision was not easy. Our commitment now is to ensure a smooth transition for those directly affected, while keeping Spectrum’s focus on our mission and sustaining the many programs that help young people thrive.”

The closure eliminated the jobs of two full-time Spectrum employees and 10 youth Detail Works staff.

“Spectrum is already working closely with each of the youth to find new employment opportunities,” the announcement states. “The organization will also provide financial assistance during the transition.”

‘It couldn’t come at a worse time’

Vermont grapples with the potential end of Covid-era federal subsidies for marketplace health insurance

BY OLIVIA GIEGER VTDigger

Almost 30,000 Vermonters are covered by health insurance purchased on the individual market of the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace. Many can afford that coverage because of federal subsidies offered through the Affordable Care Act, which were expanded during the Covid-19 pandemic.

But those enhanced subsidies are set to expire at the end of this year, and with it, those insured Vermonters stand to lose a collective $65 million if Congress does not extend those expanded tax credits soon.

“There would be the immediate and devastating impact on the families who rely on the Affordable Care Act, (and) there would be a ripple impact of higher rates with the cost shift on the rest of the insurance market,” Vermont Sen. Peter Welch said in an interview with VTDigger. “And it would come at a time when we in Vermont are absolutely overwhelmed with the price spikes in the cost of health care. It couldn’t come at a worse time.”

In Washington, Welch is sounding the alarm about the end of these credits: As he and his fellow Senate Democrats negotiate over a bill that would continue to fund the federal government past

Sept. 30, the potential extension of the tax credits has taken a central role. Republicans need seven additional ‘yes’ votes to push the budget measure through and avert a government shutdown. Welch and his fellow Senate Democrats have positioned a permanent extension of expiring federal tax credits for health insurance as a central bargaining chip in these negotiations. Its passage could preserve access to health insurance for thousands of Vermonters.

UNDERSTANDING THE TAX CREDITS

When the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, it included tax credits to subsidize the costs for people who earn up to 400 percent of the federal poverty limit, when they purchased individual health insurance plans on the health care marketplace. In Vermont, that’s Vermont Health Connect, where Blue Cross Blue Shield and MVP sell plans.

In 2021, as part of the American Rescue Plan, Congress expanded these tax credits. The so-called enhanced credits both increased the amount subsidized for people already eligible and also expanded the population of people eligible to those making more than 400 percent of the federal poverty line. Under that expansion, the purpose was to cap a household’s health care premium

expense at 8.5 percent of its income. Both expansions of the tax credits were extended as part of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022.

Now, these enhanced tax credits are set to expire at the end of 2025.

More than 24 million people across the U.S. are enrolled in the marketplace, a participation that exploded from the 11.4 million participants in 2020 after the enhanced credits’ passage. Nearly all of those 24.3 million participants (92 percent) receive some amount of premium tax credit.

Vermont is no exception to those trends: The broadened credits made marketplace insurance affordable for thousands more Vermonters, and led to a boom in enrollment in the plans.

As of this January, 95 percent of Vermonters who buy their insurance on the marketplace receive federal premium tax credits, according to data from the Department of Vermont Health Access.

Consultants working for the department estimated that expanded subsidies equaled roughly $65 million in support for Vermont individuals and families, according to a 2024 report submitted to the Legislature. The amount that households in the state receive in enhanced subsidies is roughly one-fifth of the overall amount received through the federal Affordable Care Act premium tax credits.

Open enrollment for 2026 health insurance plans begins on Nov. 1, which is when all of the purchasers who have been benefiting from the enhanced tax credits will face the prospect of higher out-of-pocket premiums

next year for the same coverage they’ve been receiving.

On average, that net premium for the entire subsidized population will more than double, said Adaline Strumolo, the department’s deputy commissioner overseeing Vermont Health Connect.

ESTIMATING THE IMPACT

Beyond an average, it’s hard to generalize the impact of the enhanced tax credits’ end, since each subsidy is individualized, based on household size and income. Households making less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level and those making more than 400 percent will see the biggest impact from the loss of the credits; they can expect to see the largest percentage of their income go toward their insurance.

KFF, a nonprofit that provides health policy analysis and news, has created a calculator to help people determine how much they can expect their premiums to increase. VTDigger tried out some scenarios that illustrate what the loss might look like for Vermont families who buy insurance on the marketplace: For example, a single person in Windsor County who makes 150 percent of the federal poverty limit ($23,475 annually) would go from paying nothing for a silver plan each month to $82 a month, or $984 per year.

A family of four that earns $112,525 a year — 350 percent above the federal poverty limit would go from paying $680 per month in premiums for all four members to get insurance on the marketplace, to $934 each month in premiums. That’s an increase of $3,048 for the year.

But the people who stand to lose the most support are those whose income is just above the line of 400 percent of the federal poverty limit — that is the population that will lose eligibility for the federal subsidies entirely, when the enhanced tax credits end. A single person making $63,000 a year (403 percent above the federal poverty line) would go from paying $446 a month for a silver plan’s premium on the marketplace to $1,277 a month;

for a bronze plan, they would go from paying nothing each month to $808. For either plan, the expense totals almost an additional $10,000 annually.

For a family plan, the change becomes even more extreme: a household with two parents and two children earning 403 percent of the federal poverty limit would go from paying $918 a month to $3,587 a month in premiums for the silver plan. That is an increase from $11,013 per year in cost to $43,045 a year. That $32,000 increase amounts to a shift from 8.5 percent of their income to 33.2 percent.

There are about 6,000 Vermonters who make above 400 percent of the federal poverty limit and receive these enhanced ACA subsidies, according to Strumolo. This population can expect to see the most drastic loss of federal support in total dollars.

“There is a practical reality that the price pressure is going to cause some people to go without coverage. That’s the thing we’re really concerned about,” she said. When people forgo health insurance entirely, it’s usually younger, healthier people, who make the financial gamble that being uninsured represents. When that happens, insurers generally raise premium prices for those remaining in the insurance pool, who are generally older or less healthy. In August, Vermont’s state regulator approved low premium increases for plans sold on the individual and small group marketplaces in the coming year, which included a price increase to account for the anticipated shift in behavior.

Strumolo stressed that while the end of the enhanced tax credits stands to be a massive loss for all those who benefit from it, the original subsidies will still exist for those making less than 400 percent of the federal poverty level — albeit in smaller amounts. She expects that the loss of the enhanced credits may also mean many people opt for a lower-tier plan.

“For the people who are still under 400 percent, there are a lot of options that are quite affordable at the bronze level, but even at the gold level,” she said.

Peter Welch

VTDIGGER FILE PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL

‘NO STATE CAN COVER THE FULL GAP’

The state also has its own version of tax credits called Vermont Premium Assistance, which is available to households making 300 percent of the poverty level or less. Right now, around 11,000 people rely on both subsidies, but many do not even need to dip into the state assistance, since the federal credits cover the entire cost of their plans. Strumolo says that she expects the end of the enhanced subsidies to mean that more people will need the state subsidy. As of January 2025, the state’s premium assistance totaled around $4.3 million of support annually.

Still, it’s nowhere near enough: The state does not have the $65 million it would take to use Vermont Premium Assistance to fill the entire gap left by the enhanced federal tax credits, Strumolo said, citing her department’s 2024 legislative report.

“That is not something we’re able to do on the state level. No

state can cover the full gap,” Strumolo said. “That value is not one that a state budget can typically backfill.”

If the federal credits do expire at the end of the year, she expects that her department will look for “creative solutions” in the state budget during the coming legislative session, to try to soften the drop-off for those right over 400 percent of the poverty line. Still, those changes would not likely come before people start to enroll in 2026 marketplace plans.

Yet Strumolo has not totally lost hope that the federal government could pull through with an extension of the subsidies.

Senate Democrats are currently planning to withhold the votes needed to pass a bill to avert a shutdown of the federal government. A permanent extension of the enhanced tax credits is one of their primary requirements for their support.

Sen. Bernie Sanders also said he is prepared to vote on a federal budget if Republicans agree to expand these tax credits as part of the resolution.

“When you talk about raising

“There is a practical reality that the price pressure is going to cause some people to go without coverage. That’s the thing we’re really concerned about.”

Adaline Strumolo Vermont Health Connect

the premiums for people on the Affordable Care Act very very high, which means that people simply aren’t going to be able to go to the doctor, that ain’t making America healthy,” he told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins.

The continuing resolution that is currently funding the federal government ends at midnight on Sept. 30.

Strumolo hopes that at least people will know whether they will be able to rely on the enhanced tax credits before open enrollment begins. But if not,

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and an extension of the enhanced subsidies occurs after enrollment opens on Nov. 1, “a lot of damage will be done,” she said. “People will see what they’re facing for 2026 and make coverage decisions” that they might then want to rethink if subsidies are extended.

Yet, she said that in that scenario her department would “bend over backwards” to make sure people can get enrolled at that point.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

In Washington, Welch and Sanders both have repeatedly called their colleagues’ attention to the immense costs this will incur for all their constituents, as has Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt. Welch believes that for a permanent extension of the enhanced premium tax credits to really get traction, President Donald Trump needs to weigh in.

“I’ve heard a number of my Republican colleagues say that they want to do it, but they won’t do it unless President Trump says, ‘Okay,’” Welch said, adding that for now Trump is insisting on

no negotiations with Democrats. “We believe that extending premium support should absolutely be a bipartisan priority — everything that’s going to happen to Vermonters is going to happen to folks in West Virginia or Wyoming.”

He worries about what it will mean in a state with an already extremely strained health care system.

“We have this enormous pressure on the private insurance market in Vermont, where we’ve seen very, very high premium increases. We pay among the highest insurance rates anywhere,” he said. “What happens when the providers don’t get reimbursement from the government or from Medicaid, Medicare or the Affordable Care Act?”

On Capitol Hill, legislators are gearing up for a week where this question will be at the center of the negotiations surrounding whether Democrats will vote on a federal budget resolution. Welch hopes that back at home, Vermonters will not need to learn the answer the hard way.

Burlington musician launches early bid for Chittenden County sheriff

Bloom: ‘The sheriff’s department could be such a resource for the community’

BY GRETA SOLSAA VTDigger

Longtime Burlington musician Kevin Bloom is trying their hand at politics, announcing their early bid for Chittenden County sheriff on Sept. 9. After landing on the ballot for the 2026 race, Bloom has carried on collecting signatures across the county as means of getting the word out about their campaign.

As of Monday, Bloom, 31, has garnered 168 signatures from 14 of the 18 municipalities in the county: Burlington, South Burlington, Winooski, Williston, Colchester, Essex, Essex Junction, St. George, Huntington, Shelburne, Richmond, Jericho, Hinesburg and

Charlotte.

“It’s been amazing. I’ve been going around to different towns and just talking to people,” Bloom said. “I’ve talked to a bunch of landlords. I’ve talked to tenants. I’ve talked to young people. Older people. People my age. People who have lived here for a while. People who just moved here. Immigrants to America. People whose families have been here for a while.”

Bloom’s main platform as a Democratic candidate for Chittenden County sheriff is to end the blanket enforcement of evictions, which they called “a radical investment in our community, that would have some pretty profound results.” Bloom said they would like to cultivate relationships with tenants, landlords, housing developers and community organizations, and connect people with resources to prevent them from losing housing.

“What’s affecting everyone in the county is the housing crisis, and so people who I have talked to on all ends of the political spectrum have agreed that this is a pretty serious problem that’s affecting people in our community in immeasurably negative ways,” Bloom said. “A common theme has been a real resonance with the idea that we should address the problem and stop throwing people out into the street, especially families and especially children.”

Bloom said they did not support people withholding rent, and acknowledged there are some uncommon circumstances where eviction may be necessary.

But Bloom said eviction could be avoided in the vast majority of cases if people were connected with new housing options, job

there should be more of an effort to connect people with help rather than letting them slip through the cracks.

Along with addressing the “omnipresent” housing issue in Chittenden County, Bloom said they would like to be a resource to community members facing wage theft, hate crimes, racial profiling, and violence against the unhoused, helping connect people to the right entities to report crimes and gain justice.

“These are small or large acts of violence against a community that people in power seem to not really care about,” Bloom said.

Bloom said they would not assist federal Immigration, Customs and Enforcement officials’ actions in the county if requested. Bloom also said they want to serve as a mechanism of police oversight to provide accountability to address cases like

Musician Kevin Bloom of Burlington is running for Chittenden County Sheriff.

PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

Bloom

continued from page 10

Burlington police officers being accused of using excessive force this year and in previous years.

Acknowledging the fear many may feel around law enforcement, Bloom said they want to change the relationship between the community and the Chittenden County Sheriff’s Office, if elected, by listening to residents’ needs.

Bloom also heads the Burlington-based experimental, psych-rock band The Dead Shakers, which released their sixth album, “Now That’s What I Call Missiles & Bombs 4 Kidz!,” on Sept. 19. With songs titled “To Conflate Jewishness With Zionism Is Itself A Profoundly Anti-Semetic Act, And I Question The Motives of Those Who Do Things Like This” and “Silence is Violence,” Bloom said they worked to ensure their songs were “unco-optible into anything other than political statements.”

Bloom takes issue with the current direction of the sheriff’s office led by Daniel Gamelin, who has increasingly offered private businesses security services for hire,

racking up hundreds of thousands of dollars for the department in 2024, according to Seven Days reporting.

“The difference between a sheriff’s deputy and a private security guard is that the sheriff’s deputy is allowed to shoot someone if they deem it necessary, and I

“I think community interaction is a huge component that they’re just not doing right now. The Sheriff’s Department could be such a resource for the community.”

Kevin Bloom

just don’t think that’s a service that should be offered by the state,” Bloom said.

In the past election cycle, Gamelin was uncontested for the role in both the primary and general election, so Bloom said they are

offering the county an alternative. Gamelin wrote in an email Friday that he intends on running as an incumbent in 2026 but did not immediately respond to VTDigger for more information on his platform.

“I want to continue the proud tradition of the Chittenden County Sheriff Office,” Gamelin wrote. “I have a great team here in Burlington and want to continue to build on that.”

Bloom is not collecting campaign donations, believing word of mouth is powerful enough to spread their message. Bloom said the funds would be “better spent buying a meal for someone living on the street and handing it to them.”

“That would have a much bigger impact immediately,” Bloom said.

Until Election Day in 2026, Bloom said their goal is to talk with constituents to generate ideas on how to help individuals and the county thrive.

“I think community interaction is a huge component that they’re just not doing right now,” Bloom said. “The Sheriff’s Department could be such a resource for the community.”

Barracks

continued from page 1 mother residing in the shelter with her child in April suggesting that staff for the original managing contractor — IEM International based in North Carolina — had engaged in acts of “intimidation and retaliation.”

“Positions of power are being abused,” the resident wrote in April. “Some of us feel helpless because of our situations and the need to remain in housing.”

The department hired IEM last fall because the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity was not yet ready to manage the facility, Sojourner said.

“We were looking for a really quick startup, and being able to leverage the contractor helped get us going quickly,” she said. “But we were really pleased to be able to transition it to a community operator. It brings the operation more in line with how we support other shelters across the state.”

Sojourner doesn’t recall any “significant issues” arising between staff and residents under IEM’s management. She said state agencies were “very much in close

communication on every kind of challenge or issue.”

The new location in Burlington will be larger and likely able to accommodate at least one more family, Sojourner said. It will be part of a network of shelters funded through the state’s Housing Opportunity Grant Program, the capacity of which has increased over the past few years to about 150 families.

Before converting it into a shelter, the Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services had planned to sell the property. Williston Town Manager Erik Wells initially expressed interest with state leaders in the town acquiring the property, but later reconsidered.

With the town no longer interested, the state is “presently evaluating the future for the building, which could include sale or another state use of the site,” said Cole Barney, Communications & Legislative Affairs Manager for the Department of Buildings & General Services.

In addition to its use as a shelter, the building also currently serves as storage space for public safety equipment, Barney said.

UVM Medical School alum chosen as NASA astronaut candidate

BY OLIVIA GIEGER VTDigger

UVM Larner College of Medicine alum Imelda Muller is one of NASA’s 10 new astronaut candidates, out of a pool of 8,000, the space agency announced Monday.

“With upcoming exploration missions, we are pushing the boundaries of human performance,” Muller said during NASA’s announcement at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. “The lessons that we learn, the knowledge that we gain, all of these things are going to help us excel not just in space but in areas of human health here on Earth. The future of

medicine is now, and I’m incredibly honored to be here with this team.”

Muller, an anesthesiologist, graduated from the medical school in 2017 and then worked as an undersea medical officer following training at the Naval Undersea Medical Institute, in Connecticut. She studied in the Naval Medical Center in San Diego and became a naval lieutenant. She did her residency in anesthesia and critical care medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

“That experience gave me the opportunity to work with multidisciplinary teams in experimental and saturation diving, and I developed a passion for learning about the way the body adapts in extreme environments,” Muller said at the announcement event. “This led me

to pursue medical residency training in anesthesia, where I deepened that understanding of how our body responds when it’s under stress. I am incredibly excited to be here alongside this team and to build on that foundation.”

Before coming to UVM, Muller studied behavioral neuroscience as an undergraduate at Northeastern University.

Now, she and the other nine candidates will go through two years of NASA training to become eligible for flight assignments. The program will include spacewalk simulations and survival training.

Muller is one of two in the astronaut training class with a medical background and, at 34, is one of the

youngest on the team.

“The UVM community is thrilled to see Dr. Imelda Muller joining NASA’s newest cadre of astronaut candidates,” UVM President Marlene Tromp said in the university’s press release. She also attended the announcement event at the Johnson Space Center.

UVM is part of the Vermont Space Grant Consortium, a NASA partner program that connects those interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics projects with opportunities to work with the space agency. Many Larner students have participated in a four-week Aerospace Medicine Clerkship at the Johnson Space Center.

A court program to help parents with substance use will end as federal funding dries up

BY ETHAN WEINSTEIN VTDigger

A Chittenden County program that convenes addiction recovery resources in family court will shutter at the end of the year due to a lack of federal funding.

Vermont Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Reiber announced the family treatment docket’s end in a Sept. 10 letter.

In 2018, spurred by the state Supreme Court, the Vermont Judicial Commission on Family Treatment Dockets began studying ways for the legal system to address the burgeoning opioid epidemic and its impact on children. At the time, abuse and neglect cases in family court were skyrocketing, up 68 percent between fiscal years 2013 and 2018, according to the commission’s report.

The commission’s work helped launch the Chittenden County family treatment docket in 2021, the only program of its kind in Vermont currently, though the model is used across the country. Other special treatment dockets exist in Chittenden, Rutland, Washington and Windsor counties, according to the state judiciary’s website, but those programs aren’t operated within family court and tend to involve people who have already pleaded guilty to certain crimes.

The family treatment docket

seeks to steer eligible family court cases toward treatment and services. Parents in the program have often, through legal intervention, lost full custody of their children. In order for a case to be referred to the program, all parties need to agree that the goal would be to reunify the parent with their children if not for substance use standing in the way.

The docket’s mission is to “improve the safety and well-being of children who have experienced abuse, neglect, or have been placed at risk of harm due to a caregiver with a substance use disorder,” according to Reiber’s letter. Toward that end, the special docket helps lead participants to substance use and mental health treatment, housing assistance and parenting coaching.

The program is funded solely through a three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, according to the letter, a source the court expects will dry up by the end of the year. Vermont received a nearly $900,000 grant to fund the docket, which had annual operating costs around $300,000, according to Teri Corsones, Vermont’s state court administrator, who added that one court position hired specifically for the program would end.

“Under past experience we anticipated that DOJ would have issued a new round of solicitations

for federal funding by now, but to date there has not been one,” Reiber wrote.

“We want to be clear: the decision to suspend the program if there is no funding is not a reflection of the program’s value or effectiveness,” he wrote. “It is a reflection of the financial reality we face.”

The docket has seen relatively sparse use — there are currently six participants, according to Corsones. As of April, 33 parents had participated in the docket, incorporating a total of 55 children, since its creation, according to a report conducted by the public policy organization Children and Family Futures.

The report noted that children who reunified with their parents after their parents’ participation in the program spent less time in out-of-home settings than children who were ultimately adopted and not reunified with their parents. As of April, just more than 20 percent of participants successfully graduated from the docket, and 30 percent remained active participants, according to the report’s findings, while just under 49 percent of parents did not complete the program.

The Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office is “devastated” that the docket is ending, Sarah George, the county’s top prosecutor, wrote in an email.

William Gardella, a

Chittenden County deputy state’s attorney who primarily handles the county’s child-in-need-of-supervision cases, or CHINS, said the family treatment docket empowered the court to do something rare.

DCF wants you to work with, they’re bringing them to you,” Gardella said, explaining how the docket cut through road blocks to accessing treatment.

Gardella said the program has been operating at full ca-

“The court is actually trying to solve a problem and repair a relationship,” he said.

Rather than ordering treatment, which might occur in a regular family court case, the family treatment court brings peer advocates into the process from the addiction recovery nonprofit Turning Point Center of Chittenden County and staff from the Howard Center, a social services organization.

“All the service providers that

pacity over the last year or so. Participants, service providers and court officials meet regularly — weekly, every other week or monthly depending on the case, according to Gardella. Peer support is central to the process as well.

“We’ve heard about hiking groups starting out of this program,” he said, “ongoing connections that people were going to build to look out for people in the community.”

Vermont Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Reiber speaks during a hearing in Montpelier in 2023. VTDIGGER FILE PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL

Imelda Muller was selected by NASA to join the 2025 astronaut candidate class.

NASA COURTESY PHOTO BY BILL STAFFORD

UVM opens maple syrup testing lab

The University of Vermont’s Extension Maple Program was awarded a $200,000 grant from the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships to establish lab testing and educational outreach related to the quality of maple syrup.

The project is a partnership between UVM and the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association, providing quality control services to Vermont maple producers.

“Maple quality is such a foundational part of the Vermont Maple brand and the pride that the state’s sugar makers have in their products,” said Allison Hope, executive director of the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association. “Additional resources to help ensure that producers continue to make high quality syrup that meets the state’s regulations are beneficial to the entire industry and provide value to consumers as well. We look forward

to … sharing information with our members about how to access the new quality lab.”

Over the past four years, the UVM Extension has identified that some of the maple syrup in retail settings doesn’t meet Vermont Grade A standards.

This finding aligns with data from retail inspections published by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. When maple syrup that fails to meet Grade A standards and reaches the marketplace, it can impact consumer trust in the entire industry.

The new UVM lab will test syrup for compliance in all four attributes of Grade A quality: color, clarity, density and flavor. The lab is equipped with the staff and instrumentation required to perform testing to discern syrup quality accurately and consistently. The lab is housed within

UVM’s Proctor Maple Research Center, a facility that has worked side-by-side with Vermont’s maple producers for more than 75 years.

Producers may submit up to four samples at no cost during the initial phase of the project. Details about how to submit samples can be found at the UVM Extension Maple Program website: www. uvm.edu/extension/maple and by calling (802) 656-7564.

Samples may be sent directly to the lab, or they may be dropped off at UVM Extension offices around the state. A directory of UVM Extension offices is available at: https://www.uvm.edu/ extension/office-directory.

Another aim of this project is to host workshops and other educational programs to help more Vermonters increase their knowledge around grading syrup quality.

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Defrauded Burke Mountain EB-5 investors to be compensated $183K apiece

BY ALAN J. KEAYS VTDigger

More than 120 people who invested in the redevelopment of Burke Mountain, then were defrauded in a high-profile scandal that rocked Vermont, are set to receive some of their money back.

The foreign investors will get about one-third of their investment from the recent sale of the resort and a previous settlement with a financial institution.

Michael Goldberg, the lawyer overseeing the Northeast Kingdom’s resort receivership for more than 10 years, gained approval last week from a federal judge to distribute $183,322 to each of the 121 EB-5 investors in the Burke Mountain ski area.

Each of those investors put up at least $500,000 through the federal visa program in hopes of obtaining permanent U.S. residency, or green cards. To receive that, their investment in the resort would have had to meet certain job creation requirements.

The resort eventually fell into receivership when the developers were accused by regulators of misusing funds they obtained from EB-5 investors for not only the Burke Mountain development, but upgrades and expansion at nearby Jay Peak ski resort and projects in Newport.

Jay Peak resort had previously sold for $76 million with EB-5 investors who put money into projects at that ski area also receiving pay outs from proceeds of that sale.

In April, Goldberg, a court-appointed receiver, reached a deal to sell the Burke Mountain resort for $11.5 million to Bear Den Partners LLC, a group of entities with longstanding ties to the ski area.

Goldberg late last week received approval to distribute the proceeds from that sale to the foreign investors as well as another roughly $10 million from a larger settlement he had reached with the financial firm Raymond James. Raymond James had handled transactions for one of the resort’s developers: Ariel Quiros, who owned both Jay Peak and Burke Mountain ski areas at the time.

All totaled, the receiver wrote in his court filing last week, he had roughly $22 million to distribute equally to the 121 foreign investors

in Burke Mountain, or $183,322 each, representing about 36 percent of the $500,000 they each contributed.

That resolution, Goldberg added, “treats all Burke investors equitably based on their original investments.”

The EB-5 development projects in northern Vermont were led by Quiros as well as former Jay Peak resort president and CEO Bill Stenger and attorney William Kelly, a close adviser to Quiros.

All three were indicted on federal criminal charges in 2019 and later sentenced to prison, specifically for their roles in one of the EB-5 financed projects in Newport that never came to fruition, the construction of a $110 million biomedical research facility.

Goldberg has served as the receiver overseeing the properties at the center of the financial scandal since 2016. That’s when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission first brought a civil enforcement action in connection with the developments and the misuse of the funds.

Regulators brought that action in federal court in Miami, which was where Quiros resided in 2016 and where many of his other business entities were located.

Judge Darrin P. Gayles, who presides in federal court in Miami and oversees Goldberg’s receivership, on Friday approved Goldberg’s fund distribution plan to the Burke Mountain EB-5 investors. Goldberg could not be reached Monday for comment.

Dorothy Alling Memorial Library hours:

• Monday and Wednesday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

• Saturday: 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Visit www.damlvt.org to apply for a library card and register for programs. Need help? Call 878-4918 or email daml@ damlvt.org.

YOUTH PROGRAMS

Children 4th grade and younger must be supervised by someone over 16 years of age.

SATURDAY MUSIC

Saturday, Sept. 27, 10:30-11

a.m. Start your weekend with Linda Bassick’s music.

STORYTIME

Tuesdays, Sept. 30 and Oct. 7, 10:30-11 a.m. Have fun with storytime. Outdoors when weather permits.

BABY TIME

Wednesday, Oct. 1, 10:30-11 a.m. Ages 0-18 months. Drop in for gentle bonding and socializing activities with your little one.

AFTER SCHOOL GAMES & PUZZLES

Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2-3 p.m. Have fun socializing and working on puzzles or playing board games after school.

MUSIC AND PLAYTIME

Thursdays, Oct. 2 and 9, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Enjoy Linda Bassick’s preschool music and stay to play. Outdoors when weather permits.

SATURDAY STORYTIME

Saturday, Oct.4, 10:30-11 a.m. Drop in for storytime with Cindy.

AFTER SCHOOL MOVIE

Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2-3:20 p.m. PG. When the Pumpkin King gets tired of being spooky,

DON’T HIBERNATE. BUTTON UP.

There’s never been a better time to weatherize your home.

• Up to $9,500 off project costs

• Free services for income-eligible Vermonters

• 0% financing options

Sign up for webinars at ButtonUpVermont.org

he embraces Christmas…but accidentally brings the spooky with him.

LEGO TIME

Thursday, Oct. 9, 3-4 p.m. Build something exciting with the Library’s LEGO collection.

MULTI-AGE PROGRAMS

READ TO A DOG (ROCKO)

Thursday, Oct. 2, 3-4 p.m. Sign up for a 10-minute session to read to (or hang out with) Rocko the therapy dog.

CRAFT CIRCLE

Monday, Oct. 6, 5-6 p.m. All ages. Bring a project and drop in to work on it in the company of other crafters.

ADULT PROGRAMS

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

TEA CLUB: JEUNG

CHA GREEN TEA

All month long. Each month, we will highlight a true tea (made with tea leaves) and provide a sample, a description of the history of that type of tea,

and instructions on brewing and tasting. While supplies last.

PUZZLE SWAP: ALL MONTH

Bring in gently used complete puzzles (500-1000 pieces only) in to swap for one new to you. Please keep our swap supplied with quality puzzles.

MYSTERY DATE WITH A BOOK*

Between Oct. 1-13, sign up for a mystery book to be chosen for you from these categories, Historical Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Whodunit, or Surprise Me. On Oct. 14, pick up your specially curated mystery book, wrapped and ready for you to take home and enjoy.

ADULT MEDITATION (ONLINE)

Fridays, Sept. 26 and Oct. 5, 12-12:30 p.m. Join our guided meditation to relax and recenter.

SPANISH CONVERSATION (ONLINE)

Wednesday, Oct. 1, 5-6 p.m.

Join us to brush up on your language skills. All abilities welcome.

ADULT RPG: WHITE BOX

Thursday, Oct. 2, 6-8:30 p.m.

Join our campaign.

MAH JONGG

Fridays, Oct.3, 1-3 p.m. All abilities welcome.

**NEW**LET’S TALK ABOUT IT

Saturday, Oct. 4, 12-1:p.m. Meet community members and chat about what’s on your mind. Group meets the first Saturday of each month.

AUTHOR TALK: WILD CHOCOLATE

Saturday, Oct. 4, 3 p.m. James Beard Award winning author, Rowan Jacobsen, comes to talk about his book, “Wild Chocolate: Across the Americas in Search of Cacao’s Soul.” Free artisanal chocolate tasting.

TECH TUTOR

Tuesday, Oct. 7, 1-3 p.m. Sign up for an hour slot to get help with all your tech needs.

ADULT CRAFTERNOON: FELTED PUMPKINS

Tuesday, October 7, 2-3 p.m. Join us for this introductory class in needle felting.

CURRENT EVENTS

Wednesday, Oct. 8, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Drop in to discuss timely topics with other community members.

Welcome to Oregon

Oregon, a state in the Pacific Northwest, is our 33rd state. Its western boundary is the Pacific Ocean. It joined the Union in February 1859.

People have lived in the region for at least 15,000 years. Native American groups included the Chinook, Nez Perce, Coquille and Klamath.

Spanish explorers first arrived in the area in the mid-1500s. The Lewis and Clark expedition was looking for a water passage to the Pacific when they explored Oregon in the early 1800s, and by the 1840s, the Oregon Trail was bringing settlers from points east. The introduction of railroads helped Oregon’s cities grow as they traded lumber, wheat and products.

Modern Oregon

Today, Oregon is home to more than 4 million people; most of them live in the Portland area. The state capital is Salem. Oregonians raise berries, hazelnuts, fruits, cattle, sheep and chickens.

Others work in technology, health care and government. Both Nike and Adidas have headquarters in Oregon. Tourism is also important to the Oregon economy.

Next Week: Birds on the move

Famous Oregonians

Mini Fact: Much of Oregon’s state capitol in Salem was constructed out of marble.

deepest lake in the U.S., at almost 2,000 feet deep. The lake was created about 7,700 years ago in the caldera, or crater, of a collapsed volcano, Mount Mazama.

Oregon is home to several public and private universities and colleges.

Natural Oregon

The state’s highest point is Mount Hood, at more than 11,000 feet. Crater Lake is the

Try ’n’ Find

The state has rainforests, deserts, forests and rivers. Multnomah Falls, a 620-foot-tall waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge, attracts many visitors.

Oregon fun

The Portland Trail Blazers (NBA), Portland Thorns FC (women’s soccer) and Portland Timbers (MLS) play in Oregon. A WNBA team, the Portland Fire, will start in 2026. Minor-league baseball teams and college teams also attract sports fans.

Folks from Oregon like to hike, bike, windsurf, ski, kayak, snowboard and snowshoe.

Words that remind us of Oregon are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:

BERRIES, CALDERA, COAST, DESERT, FALLS, HAZELNUTS, HOOD, LAKE, LUMBER, NORTHWEST, OREGON, PACIFIC, PASSAGE, PORTLAND, RAILROADS, SALEM, TOURISM, TRAIL.

• Beverly Cleary, a beloved author of children’s books, was born in McMinnville, Oregon, in 1916. She died in 2021.

You may be a fan of some of her books: “Henry Huggins,” “Ramona and Beezus” and “The Mouse and the Motorcycle.”

Many of her books are set in Portland, Oregon.

• Matt Groening, who created “The Simpsons,” was born in 1954 in Portland. His father, Homer, was a cartoonist, and he has two sisters, Lisa and Maggie. “The Simpsons” started as animated short films on another show; the first half-hour episode aired in December 1989.

• Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the United States, grew up in Newberg, Oregon, after both of his parents died. During World War I, Hoover was appointed head of the U.S. Food Administration. He later served as secretary of Commerce before being elected president in 1928.

Mini Jokes

Ollie: Why is Santa thinking of moving to Oregon? Olive: Because of the rain, dear!

In 2025 Finland experienced its longest heat wave since records began in 1961, with temperatures over 91 degrees for 22 consecutive days. Reindeer, which thrive in frigid temperatures, have struggled in

Founded by Betty Debnam Issue 39, 2025

photo by M.O. Stevens

Crater Lake is the 11th deepest lake in the world.

Beverly Cleary

Matt Groening

Herbert Hoover

Kids snowboard at Crater Lake National Park.

photo by Philip Romano

Natural Oregon

The state’s highest point is Mount Hood, at more than 11,000 feet. Crater Lake is the snowshoe.

Try ’n’ Find

Words that remind us of Oregon are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:

BERRIES, CALDERA, COAST, DESERT, FALLS, HAZELNUTS, HOOD, LAKE, LUMBER, NORTHWEST, OREGON, PACIFIC, PASSAGE, PORTLAND, RAILROADS, SALEM, TOURISM, TRAIL.

Cook’s Corner

Chocolate Chess Pie

You’ll need:

• 1 1/2 cups sugar

•3 1/2 tablespoons powdered cocoa

•1/8 teaspoon salt

•1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

•1 tablespoon cornmeal

What to do:

• 1/2 cup pecans, chopped

•3 eggs, beaten

•1/2 cup milk

•1 tablespoon vanilla

•1 pie shell

1.Combine the first six ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well.

2.In a medium bowl, combine eggs, milk and vanilla. Mix well.

3.Combine dry and milk mixtures in large bowl. Mix well.

4.Pour into pie shell.

5.Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 45 to 50 minutes. Serves 6.

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.take prisoner (7)

2.handbag (5)

3.blood-pumping organ (5)

4.it comes before thunder (9)

5.Luke Skywalker, to Leia (8)

6.bring in the crops (7)

7.facial hair (5)

Mini Jokes

Ollie: Why is Santa thinking of moving to Oregon?

Olive: Because of the rain, dear!

Eco Note

In 2025 Finland experienced its longest heat wave since records began in 1961, with temperatures over 91 degrees for 22 consecutive days. Reindeer, which thrive in frigid temperatures, have struggled in the heat, and herders report some deaths due to overheating. The animals are now abandoning their usual habitats in search of shade and relief from biting insects. In some cases, reindeer have wandered into people’s backyards or joined swimmers at beaches to cool off.

For later:

Look in your newspaper for sports stories about the new Portland Fire WNBA team and other Oregon teams.

Teachers: Follow and interact with The Mini Page on Facebook!

By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior,

My pet-loving mother has two cats and a dog, but her knee and back problems make caring for them increasingly difficult. Are there pet care products you can recommend that help pet owners with mobility problems?

Searching Susan Dear Susan, Great question! For older pet owners with limited mobility, daily tasks like feeding, walking or cleaning up after their pets can become physically challenging. Fortunately, there are a variety

SENIOR

Top pet products for seniors with mobility issues

of products that are specifically designed to make pet care more manageable.

With the help of Next Avenue, a nonprofit digital publication for older adults, here is a rundown on some top products that can help your mom care for her pets no matter her mobility.

AUTOMATIC PET FEEDER

Just like you, your pet needs to eat a few times a day. But lifting heavy food bags or bending to fill bowls can strain a bad back. An automatic pet feeder can help keep your mom’s pets well-fed without having to stoop or bend much.

The Petlibro Air Automatic Feeder (Chewy.com, $50) has a locking food tank to prevent between-meal snacking and can hold up to 16 portions. It runs on batteries that last 180 days, so you can put it anywhere you want. You’ll

have to refill it now and then, but this product means a lot less bending and lifting.

AGE-FRIENDLY LITTER BOXES

Bending or stooping over to fill or clean out the kitty litter box can be challenging for many mobility challenged cat owners. To alleviate this, LoftyLoo (LoftyLoo.com) sells an elevated litter box for $289. Compatible with stairs and ramps for older cats, LoftyLoo’s raised litter box furniture has options for anyone living with chronic pain or recovering from surgery. It’s also fully wheelchair accessible.

Another option that can make kitty litter clean up easier is the Litter-Robot 4 by Whisker (LitterRobot.com, $699). This automatic, self-cleaning litter box eliminates scooping and reduces odor and waste removal.

LONG-HANDLED POOPER SCOOPER

Stooping over to clean up after your dog can be challenging if you have back, hip or knee problems. Long-handled waste scoopers can make this cleanup task much more manageable.

The ShinyDew Pooper Scooper (Amazon.com, $24) is a foldable, 32-inch-long dog poop picker-upper, so you don’t have to bend to pick up your pet’s waste. You can use it with one hand and also attach waste bags to the scooper for even easier disposal.

HANDS-FREE LEASH

Most dogs love their daily walk and need the exercise for their own optimal health. But for seniors who use a cane, walker, wheelchair or have pain in their upper body, using a traditional leash can be challenging. If walking a pet

is difficult, hands-free leashes or harnesses can make the experience more manageable.

One option is the Hands-Free Dog Leash with Zipper Pouch (iYoShop.com, $22), which clips around your waist, has a reflective safety strip for visibility and includes two shock absorbers to prevent tugging. But this product should only be used with small pets that cannot pull the walker down.

PET TREADMILL

If your mom can’t walk her dog any longer, she can still give them plenty of exercise by getting a pet treadmill. The PETSITE Dog Treadmill (Amazon.com, $286) has 12 preset programs and three incline options.

The large running belt measures 39 inches long by 14.5 inches

SAVVY page 22

TODAY’S HISTORY:

• In 1513, Spanish explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean.

• In 1789, Congress proposed 12 constitutional amendments and sent them to the states for ratification; the 10 that were ratified would eventually be known as the Bill of Rights.

• In 1957, U.S. Army troops stood guard as nine Black students were admitted to Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, racially integrating the school for the first time.

• In 2005, the Irish Republican Army officially disarmed.

TODAY’S FACT:

• Of the 165 nominations to the Supreme Court since 1789, 12 were rejected by the Senate.

SOLUTION FOUND ON PAGE 22

Lynn (Waller) Camara

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Lynn Camara, who left us unexpectedly while hiking with a dear friend on Sept. 13, 2025.

Born in Burlington, Vermont Aug. 19, 1968, Lynn brought light, wisdom, and compassion into the lives of all who knew her. She was 57 years old, a beloved mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend.

Lynn’s greatest joy in life was her two children, Safi and Abe Camara. She was their biggest fan, their fiercest advocate, and their most loyal supporter. Whether on the sidelines of soccer, lacrosse, or basketball, Lynn never missed a game. She cheered with unwavering pride, celebrating not just their athletic gifts but the values of teamwork, dedication, and kindness they carried onto the field and court. Her presence at every

practice, match, and tournament became a source of inspiration — not only for her children, but for every parent and player who witnessed the way she showed up, heart first, in all that she did. Lynn dedicated her professional life to supporting and guiding young people. As a counselor in the Champlain Valley School District, most recently at Williston Central School, she dedicated herself to creating safe and nurturing spaces where students felt seen, heard, and valued. Known for her empathy, insight, and ability to find the right words in any situation, Lynn left a lasting imprint on countless lives. Her students, colleagues, and community will remember her not only for her professionalism but for her humanity.

A lifelong learner, Lynn excelled academically. She graduated from Charlotte Central School and Champlain Valley Union High School and went on to earn her degree from Skidmore College. She later pursued graduate studies, completing an MBA in Art History at the University of Iowa and a degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Antioch University. Her passions extended far beyond her career. She was an avid reader, a lover of travel, and someone who found deep joy in African dance, culture, and art.

Lynn is survived by her children, Safi and Abe Camara; her husband, Simbo Camara; her mother, Debbie K. Ramsdell; and her brother, Seth N. Waller. She was predeceased by her father, Arnold D. Waller, in 2003. She

OBITUARIES

leaves behind an extended family of colleagues, friends, and students whose lives are forever enriched by her presence.

A memorial service was held in Lynn’s honor Sept. 20 at Holly Hall in Bristol, VT in remembrance of her life, her laughter, and the love she gave so freely.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to support her children’s future at the GoFundMe Link: https://www.gofundme. com/f/honor-lynn-by-supportingsafi-and-abe.

Lynn was one of the most empathetic and genuinely caring people to ever walk this earth. She meant what she said, and she said what she meant. She will be remembered for her integrity, her kindness, her love for her family, and her gift for making every person feel valued. Her legacy will live on in the lives of her children and in the memories of all those fortunate enough to have known her.

Oliver James Gardner

The seas have sailed our beloved Ollie to the shores of Fiddler’s Green, a mythical paradise where seasoned sailors gather to toast their arrival to the afterlife! Ollie’s earthly journey came to an end on June 16, 2025 when his ‘off watch’ became a reality.

As the youngest child of Charles and Madeline Gardner, Oliver was born March 13, 1948 in New Hampshire, joining his older siblings, Sharon and Fred. He spent his childhood in Easton and Presque Isle, Maine, where no doubt the snowy winters and agricultural bounty piqued his curiosity to ski the mountains and ‘planted the seed’ for his future in horticulture.

In the early ‘70s, he left Maine and Vermont became his next quest,

lugging along with him white ash baskets that he peddled on Church Street, testing his talents at milking cows and doing his share of apple picking for pocket money and survival!

From Church Street to Essex Junction, Ollie joined the faculty at Albert D. Lawton School for 3.5 years teaching English and reading at the middle school level. He was a master of storytelling and grammar.

He will also be remembered for his passionate commitment and involvement as a coach and mentor, encouraging his students to participate in the school’s skiing and hiking clubs. He taught kids that there was much to learn in and outside of the classroom!

He loved to drift from one adventure to the next, each one having a profound impact on him and his fellow travelers. Ollie and his good friend, Ray Clavelle, shared ownership of a Christmas tree farm in New Brunswick, Canada. Despite the unique stories (and there were plenty!), the trees made it back to the states in time for holiday sales. His love for tending to his evergreen grove led him to study horticulture at the University of Vermont.

With new confidence and an opportunity for ownership, Oliver opened the 4 Seasons Garden Center in Williston, Vermont. Following 25 successful years, he decided to ‘uproot’ the business and ‘transplanted’ it to a brand new, modern nursery across the way to nearby Taft Corners, which quickly became the hub for every gardening enthusiast, regardless of skill levels. Ollie was a master gardener, knowledgeable of all things that grew in and above ground. He eventually sold his thriving business to Gardner’s Supply and remained as a consultant until his retirement five years later, in 2013.

Oliver’s enjoyment wasn’t limited to the land; he was equally enchanted by the sea. His love for the ocean began at age 10, sparked by the television series “Adventures in Paradise” — an incredible coincidence given the shows main actor’s off-screen name was Gardner McKay!

Raising the sails and settling into the familiar comfort of his captain’s chair brought Ollie a deep sense of contentment. He christened his boat the “Panacea,” a name that symbolized a cure-all for life’s afflictions. Panacea navigated him across countless oceans, sometimes for months at a time. Oliver’s captain’s

log was filled with a whole host of voyages to many islands including the Caribbean, Panama, San Blas, the Galapagos, Hawaiian Islands and the South Pacific — a mere sampling of his ports. He always returned with a handful of new memories, stories and what he would call, “successful ocean therapy!”

For the past ten years, Vermont winters gave him the perfect excuse to venture to his favorite island in French Polynesia: Huahine, nicknamed “The Garden of Eden.” There, it didn’t take long for the locals to befriend the mariner, initiating him into their culture and traditions. Dubbed the “Pied Piper,” it was a common sight to see Ollie wheeling into town, surrounded by children and pets, on his way to the docks. There, he would spend the day swapping stories with the fishermen, as they traded tales of their seafaring excursions! The islanders became some of his most cherished friends.

Among his many accomplishments, Oliver was a partner in the Champlain Mill Restaurant (later became The Prime Factor); imported and sold heavy equipment from Europe with business partner, Dick Eastman; served on the Board of Directors for both the Opportunities Credit Union of Chittenden County (establishing the Gardner Small Business Loan Fund and the Live Like Benjo Foundation); and partnered with Marco Llona in “My Garden Post” adventures, to name a few. He was also recognized and honored as the 2005 Vermont Small Business Person of the Year.

Oliver’s life was a journey of land and sea, a constant adventure guided by his fierce independence and an incredible ability to navigate every challenge that came his way. His path was never defined by the wheelchair he used for over three decades. Instead, his motivation was an inspiration to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. Oliver was blind to boundaries. That was one of his greatest strengths. He found and appreciated beauty everywhere he looked, starting with the colorful, manicured gardens surrounding their stunning home, the majestic backyard views of Mount Philo, many peaceful nights down by the patio firepit and to the brilliant sunrises and sunsets … this was Ollie’s home. In a moment of quiet contentment, he once looked at his wife Gayle and commented, “Critch, we did pretty good, didn’t we?” Indeed!

Oliver is survived by his wife of 33 years, Gayle Critchlow, who served as a partner in every aspect of his life. The void in her heart is also felt by Gayle’s siblings and their spouses, along with their families; his nephews Brett, Nate and Jonathan Gardner and their families; many cousins including his occasional partner-in-crime, Robert Gardner!

He will be deeply missed by his cherished friends Paul Goldman, Bill and Karen Doris, Ray Clavelle and Bob and Sue Levine.

Also remembering Ollie are his many sailing mates, his revered Garden Center staff, the “Locker Rooms Boys” from the Edge, his treasured Huahine friends who became family and all those who had the ultimate privilege of being part of his life.

The personal and professional care provided by UVM Home Health to Ollie over the past 2½ years was incredibly appreciated. Sincere gratitude is also extended to Audrey, his valued caregiver, who brought Ollie laughter and joy, even allowing him to break the rules on occasion - a true gift.

Join us to celebrate the life of Oliver Oct. 5, from 1-4pm at the Gardner home in Charlotte. RSVP to OGARDNER145@comcast.net.

Please bring your favorite stories and memories to share.

On-site parking will be limited. Carpooling is encouraged. Arrangements are in place for parking at the Charlotte Central School (1½ miles away) with scheduled shuttle service.

battle with Frontal Temporal Dementia and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Don utilized medical assistance in dying and died with dignity.

He was the second oldest of twelve children, raised on a farm in Holland VT, where he learned the value of hard work, perseverance and the importance of family. He graduated with high honors with an AS degree from Vermont Technical College in 1973 and graduated Cum Laude from the University of Vermont with a BS Degree in Civil Engineering in 1977. He remained involved with his fraternity Phi Gamma Delta for many years.

Don worked as a project manager for Pizzagalli and Engelberth Construction companies before going into business on his own, starting DG Morin Construction Company. Outside of work and family life, Don enjoyed a variety of passions and interests. He was a storyteller, a connector and a builder. He enjoyed card playing, gardening, working with stone, family gatherings, deer camp, hiking, traveling and biking. He cared deeply about the environment, sustainable practices and community service work. He was a motivated competitor and curious explorer of the world around him.

Don is survived by his wife, Bonnie Morin of Richmond. They recently celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary on Aug. 25. He is also survived by his children, Danielle Morin of Richmond, Justin Morin, husband Matthew Silvia, and grandson Baker of Ashland MA, and Emily Morin and partner Dave Williams of Richmond VT.

A Celebration of Don’s Life gathering will be held at the Morin family home at 142 Mountain View Rd. on Friday Oct.10 from 4 p.m.– 7 p.m. All are welcome. There will be refreshments and sharing of Don’s stories.

Newport.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Don’s memory may be sent to Age Well Vermont and University of Vermont Hospice and Palliative Care Program.

David J. Ward Sr

David J. Ward Sr., 83, of Williston, VT, passed away peacefully Sept. 13, 2025, at the McClure-Miller Respite House after a brief illness, with his loving family by his side. David served in the Army National Guard. He worked at IBM in security and manufacturing. After his retirement, he worked at the Medical Store and later held a few part-time jobs before fully retiring. David and his wife, Shirley, enjoyed vacationing in Maine.

David is lovingly remembered by his wife, Shirley Ward (Metivier); his daughter, Pamela Ward and her partner Levi Pearce; his son, David Ward Jr. and his wife Kelly; and his granddaughter, Ashley Barton and her husband Justin. He also leaves behind two cherished great-grandchildren, Jase and Brynn Barton.

David is survived by his sister, Carolyn Daignault, and his nephews, Steven Daignault, Thomas Ward, and James Ward. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hugh and Clarabelle Ward (Dudley), and his brother, Ronald Ward.

Advertising

Donald G. Morin, 73, of Richmond, VT passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his loving family on Sept. 5, 2025 following a 6-year

A graveside funeral service will be held at Westlook Cemetery II in Glover, VT at the corner of Routes 16 and 122 at 11 a.m. on Saturday Oct. 11, 2025. Following the service a reception will be held at Le Belvedere at the Emory Hebard Bldg. at 100 Main St in

A private gathering in his memory will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the McClureMiller Respite House.

May his memory bring comfort to those who knew him.

Advertise in the Williston Observer, South Burlington Other Paper, Shelburne News, The Citizen, Valley Reporter, Stowe Reporter, and News & Citizen. Choose two — choose them all — with just one email or phone call!

Donald G. Morin

WILLISTON POLICE

Aug. 17 at 2:32 a.m. — Assisted Burlington Police with locating a vehicle that was involved in a shooting.

Aug. 17 at 1:15 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Ulta Beauty. Female suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

Aug. 17 at 8:57 p.m. — Report of a driver who was driving with hazards on and going different speeds. Operator was having car issues and was trying to get it home.

Aug. 18 at 8:04 a.m. — Report of a male who was asking for money near Shaw’s. Male was located and issued a notice of trespass.

Aug. 18 at 12:57 p.m. — Assisted Williston Fire with a capsized sailboat on Lake Iroquois. No injuries reported.

Aug. 18 at 8:10 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Marshalls. Male suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

Aug. 18 at 10:31 p.m. — Suspicious vehicle located at Marshalls. Male operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.

Aug. 19 at 5:32 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Marshalls. Male suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

Aug. 19 at 7:35 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Plato’s Closet. Male suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

Aug. 20 at 10:06 a.m. — Assisted Williston Rescue with an unresponsive female. Female was transported to the hospital for evaluation.

Aug. 20 at 3:03 p.m. — Suspicious female at Home Depot. Female was located and issued a notice of trespass.

Aug. 20 at 3:54 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Shaw’s. Female suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft and false information to a police officer. The female also had an active arrest warrant. She was transported to the correctional facility.

Aug. 21 at 1:55 p.m. — Attempted retail theft from Marshalls. Marshalls staff

confronted suspect and they dropped everything before leaving.

Aug. 21 at 6:54 p.m. — Responded to a disturbance at Zephyr Place. Female involved had an active arrest warrant. She was issued a citation to appear in court for failure to appear.

Aug. 22 at 1:58 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Hannaford. Vehicle was located at Walmart. Vehicle was a stolen vehicle out of Burlington. Male operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI. Female passenger was referred to the Community Justice Center for unlawful trespass.

Aug. 22 at 9:20 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Walmart. Male suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft and violation of conditions of release. Female suspect was referred to the Community Justice Center.

Aug. 23 at 1:07 p.m. — Assisted with picking up needles in the REI parking lot.

Officers also responded to eight alarm activations and seven motor vehicle crashes, and conducted 65 traffic stops during this time frame.

Savvy

continued from page 18 Yum!

WILLISTON

Some of the best eateries and restaurants in the area are advertising in the Williston Observer!

If you would like to have your establishment included in this section please call Rick at 802-373-2136 or email rick@willistonobserver.com

wide with a slip resistant running surface and safety fences along the sides. It also comes with a remote to adjust speed and automatically turns off after 30 minutes.

AUTOMATIC BALL LAUNCHER

Another way to exercise a dog, is with an automated ball launcher.

The Joyhound Electronic Ball Launcher (Petsmart.com, $120) comes with three tennis balls and can lob them 10 to 40 feet. Your mom can rest on her patio while her dog gets a challenging and entertaining workout.

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

MISSING

LOST CAT — two-year-old graystriped tabby, Lucy, went missing Aug. 9 from Chelsea Place in Williston. She is very shy and skittish. Please call 802-2384488 with any information.

TOWN OF WILLISTON DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA

Tuesday, October 14, 2025 – 7:00 PM

Town Hall Beckett/Maguire Meeting Room (7900 Williston Road, use rear entrance) or Zoom Webinar ID 813 6162 7981 on www.zoom.us/join

DP 26-04 Brian and Sarah Meisenzahl request a discretionary permit for an average setback exception to reduce the 50’ front yard setback at 2707 Mountain View Road in the ARZD.

DP 26-03 Civil Engineering Associates c/o Michael Koch requests a discretionary permit on behalf of C3H8 Holdings LLC for a 3,304 SF boundary line adjustment and to establish outdoor storage and demise the existing building at 59 Avenue C in the IZDW.

DP 26-02 Blair Knowles and Matt Parisi request pre-application of a 5-unit development at 7997 Williston Road in the VZD. The existing historic home (currently an office use) will be converted to 2 dwellings, the garage/barn converted to a carriage home, and 2 new carriagestyle homes constructed at the rear. HDAC review scheduled October 7, 2025.

DP 25-10 Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) c/o Krebs & Lansing requests a discretionary permit for a Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) with a 68,750 SF building footprint and approx. 4-acres coverage area on a 38.5acre lot at 1411 Redmond Road in the Industrial Zoning District East (IZDE). Conservation Commission advisory review on July 16, 2025 and October 1, 2025. Hearing continued from August 26, 2025. Conservation Commission review July 16, 2025 and October 1, 2025.

Project details and site plans are available on the website, town.williston.vt.us, under

“Public Records and Documents”, then “Agendas & Minutes”, and “Development Review Board”. Contact Planning & Zoning Office for more information: 802-878-6704 or email planning@willistonvt.org.

LEGAL

TOWN OF WILLISTON Selectboard Notice of Public Hearing Tuesday, October 21, 2025 7:05 p.m.

The Williston Selectboard will hold a public hearing to receive comment on a proposed Class IV Groundwater Use Ordinance. The purpose of the ordinance is to protect human health and the environment by prohibiting the extraction, consumption, use of or exposure to groundwater from certain land located in the Town of Williston within the designated Class IV Groundwater Area as defined by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.

The hearing is held under the authority of 24 V.S.A. § 2291, which allows municipalities to adopt ordinances to protect public health, establish health and safety standards, and define and regulate public nuisances.

The public hearing will take place on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 7:05 p.m. in the Beckett/McGuire Meeting Room of the Williston Town Hall located at 7900 Williston Road with remote participation offered using Zoom with access information listed at the bottom of this hearing notice.

Following the hearing, the Selectboard may adopt the ordinance. If adopted, the ordinance will take effect 60 days after adoption unless a petition signed by at least five percent of voters is filed within 44 days, pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 1973.

A copy of the full text of the proposed ordinance is available for review during regular business hours at the Town Hall, 7900 Williston Road, Williston, VT, and on the Town’s website at http://town.williston. vt.us under Public Records & Documents → Legal Notices.

Contact Erin Dickinson, Assistant Town Manager, (802) 876-1176, or edickinson@ willistonvt.org with any questions.

Zoom Participation: https://us02web. zoom.us/j/87008957911

Phone: 1-646-558- 8656; Meeting ID: 870 0895 7911

GARAGE SALES

WILLISTON WOODS ANNUAL BAZAAR — Saturday, Oct. 4, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Craft tables, bake sale, basket raffle, white elephant sale. Serving lunch of homemade soups, sandwiches & more at 126 Williston Woods Rd. Located off North Williston Rd. Watch for the signs.

and bats, but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also get rabies. The virus is spread through the bite of an infected animal or contact with its

SPORTS

One goal more

CLOCKWISE (l to r): CVU’s Emery Thompson steers the ball through the defenders during the Redhawks’ 2 - 1 win over the Colchester Lakers on Thursday in Hinesburg. Amelia Oppenheimer takes aim on the ball before sending it off to a teammate. Driving the ball up field Hannah Jones out-races her opponent. Cordelia Thomas brings the ball in on a penalty corner.