Williston Observer 10/09/2025

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OCTOBER 9, 2025

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WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985

School district considers level-service budget

WWW.WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM

Aerial response

BY JASON STARR Observer staff After two years of cutting staff and deferring maintenance in the Champlain Valley School District, Williston school board representative Brendan McMahon believes it’s time for a budget that retains all the district’s current programs and personnel.

During a meeting Tuesday of the board’s finance subcommittee, McMahon said local schools are still absorbing the impact of recent years’ reductions.

“I think we need to let the faculty and staff normalize what we’ve done the last few years and level-service the budget for next year,” he said.

A level-service budget, which would retain all of this school year’s staff and programs through next school year, would require a roughly $6 million increase in spending, according to district Chief Operations Officer Gary Marckres. The increase is due in part to teacher salary increases of 15 percent over the next three years embedded in the employment contract the board and teachers union agreed to earlier this year. Marckres is also planning for employee health insurance costs to increase by 12 percent in the coming fiscal year.

“We know there is a continuing challenging fiscal environment in Vermont,” Marckres said.

District staff and school board see SCHOOL page 5

A U.S. Forest Service helicopter collects water from Lake Iroquois to drop on a 1-acre wildfire burning on Brownell Mountain on Saturday.

PHOTOS BY LISA ANGSTMAN

National helicopter called in to fight Williston wildfire

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

Residents around Lake Iroquois were astounded to see a helicopter descend on the lake’s surface Saturday, draw up water through a dangling hose and fly off northbound.

Nancy Stone was lakeside at the time, unaware of what she would later learn — that the helicopter was helping fight a wildfire on nearby Brownell Mountain. “(It was) quite a commotion

of sound, wind and waves,” she wrote in an email to the Observer. “It was a most unusual sight to see on our quiet little Lake Iroquois.”

The helicopter is an asset of the U.S. Forest Service that was moved to Lebanon, N.H., this fall by the National Interagency Fire Center as the Northeast descended into persistent drought.

“It was a pre-emptive decision,” said Megan Davin of the Vermont Department of Forests, see FIRE page 5

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Page 2 •

Williston Observer • October 9, 2025

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• Jordan Yana bought a home on Wildflower Circle from Relo Direct Government Services LLC for $750,000.

• David Jones bought a home on 2 acres on Plateau Road from Naeem Haider for $1.36 million.

• Frans Van Boden bought a home on Raven Circle from Jeffrey and Amanda Boliba for $925,000.

• Daniel Claflin bought a condominium on Casey Lane from Brian Martin for $666,000.

• The Katherine and McKew Devitt Revocable Trust bought a home on 1 acre on Beebe Lane from Steven Reiman for $695,000.

• Justin Jenny bought a condominium on Old Creamery Road from Katherine Mullins for $410,000.

• Tashina Leyden-Robare bought a home on Eden Lane from The Snyder Williston Properties LLC for $655,465.

• Matthew O’Morrow bought a home on 2 acres on Old Creamery Road from James Tenda for $710,000.

• Tyler Sullivan bought a home on Coyote Lane from William Vien for $1.15 million.

• Damyon Corbin bought a condominium on Southview Lane from Clark Conway for $345,000.

• The SE Gotlieb Trust bought a home on Half Moon Lane from Eric Berger for $840,000.

• Ryan Hohl bought a home on Lefebvre Lane from Jonathan Rodd for $689,000.

• Jordan Black-Deegan bought a home on Eden Lane from The Snyder Willison Properties LLC for $607,625.

• Mkrtich Tutunjian bought a home on North Brownell Road from Sharon Griggs for $500,000.

• Daro Hem bought a home on Essex Road from TRI R Properties LLC for $350,000.

• John Stewart bought a condominium on Honeysuckle Lane from Richard and Michelle Morton for $559,000.

• Bright Loud bought a home on Stirrup Circle from Jennifer Ashley for $555,000.

FEATURING

COMMUNITY

CALENDAR EMAIL EVENT LISTINGS TO EDITOR@WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM FRIDAY, OCT. 10

Education and Enrichment for Everyone series ♦ Burlington International Airport director Nicolas Longo presents “Vermont’s Aviation Innovation — a Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport Story.” 2-3 p.m. Faith United Methodist Church, 899 Dorset Street, South Burlington. More information at https://eeevermont.org.

SATURDAY, OCT. 11

Williston Fire Department Open House ♦ Open house at the station in observance of national Fire Prevention Week. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. 645 Talcott Road.

Food drive ♦ Boy Scouts and Masonic Lodge members will collect food outside Williston grocery stores for donation to the Williston Community Food Shelf. 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Hannaford, Shaw’s and Healthy Living.

TUESDAY, OCT. 14

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Williston Development Review Board meeting ♦ 7 p.m. Town Hall. Agenda at www.town.williston. vt.us.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 15

ADUs and You seminar ♦ Learn about subdividing and building accessory dwellings on your property. 6-8 p.m. Town Hall.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 15-SATURDAY, OCT. 18

BURLINGTON WATERBURY CENTER STOWE

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The Williston One Acts ♦ One-act plays to inaugurate the new Vermont Repertory Theatre space. 7-9 p.m. 179 Commerce St. More information at www.vermontrep.com.

October 9, 2025 • Williston Observer •

ICE plans to boost social media surveillance from Williston office

BY SHAUN ROBINSON VTDigger

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to use a hub in Williston to bolster its digital surveillance capabilities as the agency ramps up operations across the country at the direction of leaders in President Donald Trump’s administration.

According to federal contracting records, which were first reported by the technology magazine Wired, ICE plans to hire at least a dozen contracted workers for the effort at its National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center, which is located in an unassuming business park off Industrial Avenue in Williston. In addition, the agency would hire at least 16 contracted workers at a similar intelligence-gathering facility in Santa Ana, Calif.

The Vermont center is located a short drive from Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport. It is largely unmarked from the outside and, according to Wired, handles investigations from across the eastern part of the country.

Workers there already generate leads for ICE’s Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations, according to agency documents, compiling information field agents can use to locate people ICE is targeting for deportation and other enforcement.

Draft plans published last week state, however, that ICE has had “limited success” using social media platforms and other information that’s available on the open web — which includes sites accessible to the public via search engines — for enforcement. The plans refer to an existing contractor though do not provide any specifics about it.

Under the latest plans, a contractor would use sites such as Facebook, Instagram and X — and could, in addition, use powerful online commercial, law enforcement and federal government databases — to generate leads about “individuals who pose a danger to national security, risk public safety or otherwise

A Department of Homeland Security office off Industrial Avenue in Williston on Tuesday.

PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER

meet ICE enforcement priorities.”

Details collected could include people’s social media posts and the locations tagged in them, according to the plans.

The contractor could also be asked to find information about targeted people’s “associates,” including family members and coworkers, for the purpose of determining someone’s whereabouts, the plans from last week state.

The documents are a Request for Information, meaning the government is looking for details on the feasibility of its plan but is not yet actively soliciting contractors. Work on the plan could begin in May 2026, per the records.

ICE’s media relations office did not immediately respond to a request for comment or additional information about its plans for contracted work at the Industrial Avenue office.

That location is just one of several ICE facilities in Vermont. They include another one close by in Williston, next to the Maple Tree Place shopping center, called

its Law Enforcement Support Center.

That office is ICE’s national hub for coordinating with other law enforcement agencies and also houses the infrastructure for a major tip line.

ICE also has a field office in St.

Page 3

Albans where it holds mandatory meetings with people it is monitoring and, in at least one recent high-profile case, held someone the agency had previously arrested overnight.

The plans are not the first time ICE has sought contracts to bolster its surveillance operations. Earlier this year, for instance, the agency inked an agreement with Palantir Technologies, the firm co-founded by the billionaire Peter Thiel, to build software aimed at streamlining the process of identifying and deporting people the agency is targeting. The plan has faced sharp criticism from privacy and immigrant rights advocates.

James Duff Lyall, head of the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont, said in an emailed statement Monday that the plans for the Williston office warranted greater scrutiny to ensure they would not undermine people’s privacy.

“Any increase in ICE presence or activity must be scrutinized, given the agency’s long history of abuse, lack of accountability, and disregard for our constitutional rights,” Lyall said. “That includes its reported expansion of digital surveillance efforts, a project which will be staffed in our own backyard and will involve surveilling the online activity of large swaths of the general public.”

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Page 4 •

Williston Observer • October 9, 2025

Around Town

Help Rotary plant daffodils along the Rec Path The Williston-Richmond Rotary Club invites community members to join in planting daffodil bulbs along a section of the Williston rec path on Saturday, Oct. 18. Meet at 9 a.m. in the parking lot of the Allen Brook Nature Trail on North Williston Road behind the Korner Kwik Stop. Bring work gloves and bulb planters if you have them. Daffodil bulbs will be provided by the club.

Halloween Trunk-or-Treat

All charged up on electric vehicles

Ingrid Malmgren of Jericho, a senior policy director for Plug In America, discusses her all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning truck at the Williston Energy Fair on Saturday at Maple Tree Place.

OBSERVER PHOTO BY SUSAN COTE

Williston’s Halloween Trunkor-Treat event returns this year on Saturday, Oct. 25 from 2-3:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Village Community Park at 250 Library Lane. This free family celebration is sponsored by the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club, Williston Federated Church and the Town of Williston. It will take place rain or shine.

Community members who wish to participate by giving out treats, register by Friday, Oct. 24 at 4 p.m. by email to A4nier@hotmail.com or call (802) 343-0777.

Kids participate in a With Love From Vermont meal packing event in Essex Junction for the benefit of the national nonprofit Feed My Starving Children.

OBSERVER COURTESY PHOTO

Help starving children worldwide at local meal packing event Local nonprofit With Love From Vermont and international nonprofit Feed My Starving Children are recruiting volunteers from Williston to help pack meals for starving children around the world. The packing event is planned for Oct. 17-18 at Albert D. Lawton School in Essex Junction.

The annual event attracts hundreds of Williston residents who help pack about 100,000 meals over the two-day event. Volunteers also drop off non-perishable food goods to benefit local families in need.

Register to volunteer to pack and/or donate to the cause at give. fmsc.org/vermont

Wheels for Warmth a ‘win-win-win’ The Casella Waste Systems location at 220 Avenue B in Williston will be a collection and sale point for the annual Wheels For Warmth event Oct. 23-25.

Donate tires on Oct. 23-24, either in driving condition or worn-out, for a $5 fee. On Oct. 25, inspected tires will be sold for $15-$30 apiece. All funds raised from the collection and sale will go toward providing home heating assistance. The event also helps keep discarded tires out of waterways and provides low-cost tires for purchase.

For more information, follow the social media handle @ wheelsforwarmth.

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October 9, 2025 • Williston Observer •

Fire

continued from page 1

Parks and Recreation’s Wildland Fire Division. “There was a worry that if something was to catch fire, we might need additional resources.”

Brownell Mountain rises between Route 2A and South Brownell Road on the south end of Williston. The fire there was first reported by the pilot of a passing airplane around 3 p.m. Saturday, and was quickly confirmed by the Williston Fire Department. The department summoned resources from fire departments in Hinesburg, Richmond, Essex, Charlotte and Underhill, as well as from the state Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. It also called in a request for the helicopter, which made multiple runs from the lake to the fire on Saturday afternoon.

“The fire was not easily accessible for ground crews,” the Williston Fire Department wrote in a news release, citing steep terrain and waning daylight on Saturday.

About 35 firefighters were on scene with air temperatures in the 80s Saturday afternoon.

The American Red Cross was called in to provide food and hydration for the firefighters.

By Monday, the fire was “contained but not out,” said Devin Healy, incident com-

“Persistent dry conditions coupled with dry falling leaves create a high risk for rapid fire spread.”

Dan Dillner State Forest Fire Supervisor

mander with the Vermont Wildland Fire Division. “We are continuing patrolling and monitoring it.”

The fire was about 1 acre in size, on private land. No cause has been determined. No injuries or structure damage were reported.

Northern Vermont did

receive soaking rains of about 1 inch on Tuesday and Wednesday that were sure to help with the Brownell Mountain fire, but not amount to significant relief of the statewide drought. The U.S. Drought Monitor currently classifies northern Vermont as in a “severe drought” with central parts of the state in an “extreme drought.”

“There are multiple fires popping up around the state right now,” Davin said Monday before the rain. Those fires were able to be contained by local fire departments, and did not need state Wildland Fire division help.

In late September, the state issued a statewide ban on debris burning.

“Persistent dry conditions coupled with dry falling leaves create a high risk for rapid fire spread,” state Forest Fire Supervisor Dan Dillner said in announcing the ban. “With ground water deficits, fires will burn into the soil, consuming dried organic matter as fuel. These fires require considerable resources to contain and extinguish.”

School

continued from page 1

members are in the early stages of developing a budget plan for the upcoming year. A first draft to the school board is due in November.

The board hopes to approve a proposal in January to put to voters at Town Meeting Day in March.

Board chair Meghan Metzler said the tax impact of the $6 million increase in the level-service budget — which would increase school spending from the current $102 million to $108 million — is not yet clear.

“The tax impact is impossible to tell at this time,” she said.

Meanwhile, Marckres is recommending the board approve a Town Meeting Day bond question asking voters for borrowing authority of up to $13 million for school building maintenance and upgrades. He predicts the district’s buildings will need up to $50 million in maintenance and upgrades in the next five years.

“Our facilities continue to age, and our systems are reaching the end of their useful life,” he said.

As the district prepares its

Page 5

budget, the Legislature and Gov. Phil Scott are pressing forward with foundational changes to the way public education is funded in the state. Under Act 73, a School Redistricting Task Force is redrawing school district lines that pare the state’s current 119 separate school districts down to 14.

In a first draft of district maps released in September, the towns in the Champlain Valley School District — Williston, St. George, Hinesburg, Shelburne and Charlotte — would be part of a 22,000-student district encompassing the greater Burlington area. The Champlain Valley School District currently serves about 4,000 students. Any new school district map would have to be approved by the Legislature in 2026.

In an op-ed released Monday, Gov. Scott urged state education leaders to proceed with the education funding overhaul.

“Consolidating into fewer districts will help to equalize the taxbase, increase educational opportunity and flexibility, and eliminate the ‘haves and have nots,’ while allowing us to pay teachers in smaller or poorer schools the same as the best paid teachers in our most affluent communities,” he wrote.

Page 6 •

Williston Observer • October 9, 2025

GUEST COLUMN

Unpacking Gov. Scott’s executive order on housing

BY BEN KINSLEY As Vermonters, many of us have felt the pinch of our state’s housing shortage. It manifests itself in our high rents, shortstaffed workplaces, increasing property-tax burden, aging population and rising healthcare costs.

Making our state inaccessible to young working families has significant consequences.

Our annual deficit of over 5,000 housing units means families are being priced out, young people are leaving and our economy is suffering. Last week, Gov. Phil Scott signed Executive Order (EO) 06-25, a sweeping directive aimed at promoting housing construction and rehabilitation. As a public policy wonk, I dug into this EO in an attempt to determine if it’s simply bureaucratic tinkering or if it’s a bold attempt to cut red tape, lower costs and get more homes built.

While it’s too early for hard data on outcomes, the order’s

provisions could deliver real relief if implemented effectively. I will also say, there’s much more to it than our Vermont news outlets portrayed. Most coverage cast this action as a rollback of energy efficiency measures (which were already among the most stringent in the country).

But there is much more to it than that. The actual text of the EO stretches for 10 pages and contains eight different provisions.

Let’s break down its potential impacts for homeowners, housing production and permitting speeds.

Housing in our state has become unaffordable partly due to stringent regulations that drive up the cost of construction. This has been repeatedly pointed out by the bipartisan group Let’s Build Homes. The EO tackles one of these regulatory hurdles by offering flexibility in energy standards: Builders can now choose between the 2020 or 2024 Residential Building Energy Standards.

This move prioritizes

The order requires state agencies to inventory underutilized public lands for housing development. affordability without abandoning environmental obligations, as the Department of Public Service will continue training and encouraging higher standards voluntarily, and the 2020 standards are still some of the highest in the country. Of course, critics might worry about longterm energy bills, but the order mandates a 2026 report to analyze these trade-offs, ensuring decisions are data-driven.

Additionally, the EO directs

agencies to propose fee reductions for multi-family projects targeting median-income families, and allows fee deferrals until project completion. These changes could ripple through to lower rents and home prices.

The EO also relaxes wetlands regulations — limiting oversight to mapped Class II wetlands and shrinking buffers to 25 feet in designated growth areas like downtowns and opportunity zones — providing developers with greater certainty and faster approvals. This is intended to unlock growth for programs like the Vermont Housing Improvement Program, which has rehabbed about 1,000 units since 2020 at roughly $40,000 (in state funds) each.

The order also requires state agencies to inventory underutilized public lands for housing development, offering

below-market sales or long-term leases to builders. Additionally, extending the Brownfields Economic Revitalization Alliance further targets contaminated sites for redevelopment.

Early commentary from legal experts calls this “the most ambitious reform effort to date” for Vermont’s inadequate supply. While the scale depends on private investment, these steps could help close the 5,000-unit gap, especially in counties losing working-age residents.

Finally, one of the order’s (potentially) strongest provisions is speeding up the notoriously slow permitting process, which critics have long argued deters investment. Agencies must now prioritize housing applications, halve discretionary review periods (aiming for 50

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Williston’s Community Newspaper Since 1985

www.willistonobserver.com P.O. Box 1401, Williston, VT 05495 | 802-489-5499 ADVERTISING Rick Cote, Associate Publisher rick@willistonobserver.com 802-373-2136 EDITOR Jason Starr editor@willistonobserver.com PRODUCTION & DESIGN Jan Kenney jan@willistonobserver.com

ADVERTISING SPACE DEADLINE Friday at 5 p.m. for the next Thursday issue rick@willistonobserver.com, 802-373-2136 CLASSIFIED ADS Deadline is Friday 5 p.m. There is a fee for business, real estate, help wanted and legal ads. Free classifieds must be 25 words or fewer and are printed on a space available basis.

PUBLISHER Susan T. Cote susan@willistonobserver.com

SUBMISSIONS & LETTERS Deadline is Monday noon for Thursday issue. News/ story tips are welcomed. Letters to the Editor should be 300 words or fewer and include your name, address and a daytime phone number so that we can verify the letter’s author.

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The Williston Observer reserves the right to edit or refuse submissions or advertising. Opinions expressed in the paper are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the paper.

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Hunters encouraged to bring deer in for data collection Youth, novice deer hunt set for Oct. 25-26 Hunters who harvest a deer during Vermont’s Oct. 25-26 youth and novice deer hunting weekend are encouraged to bring their deer to one of 18 biological reporting stations to help state wildlife biologists gather data on the health of Vermont’s deer population.

“Examining deer during this weekend is our best opportunity to assess the deer herd,” said the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s deer project leader Nick Fortin. “Biologists will be collecting data on age, weight and antler development to help guide future deer management decisions.”

Hunters are required to report deer in person at a big game reporting station during the youth and novice weekend. Visit https://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/hunt for a list of reporting stations. Online reporting will not be available.

The reporting requirement allows biologists to collect information from as many deer as possible over the weekend.

Kids 15 and younger who have successfully completed a hunter education course must purchase a hunting license and obtain a free youth weekend deer tag to participate.

People ages 16 and over who have purchased a hunting license must obtain a free novice weekend deer tag to participate. The requirements apply to all participating novice hunters, including novice hunters who are also landowners.

Youth hunters must be accompanied by an unarmed adult who holds a Vermont hunting license. The adult may accompany up to two youth or novice hunters. The accompanying adult must have direct control and supervision of youth hunters, including the ability to see and communicate without the aid of artificial devices such as radios or binoculars.

Landowner permission is required to hunt on private land. Hunters are encouraged to secure permission well in advance. Youth and novice hunters and their mentors are strongly encouraged to wear hunter orange.

A youth or novice hunter may take one deer of either sex during the Oct. 25-26 hunt.

Antler restrictions that apply in other deer seasons do not apply.

October 9, 2025 • Williston Observer •

Kinsley

continued from page 6

percent faster turnaround), and issue decisions within 60 days of hearings — or deem them approved if deadlines are missed.

Concurrent reviews across departments, rather than sequential ones, are intended to eliminate bottlenecks, and a new multi-disciplinary team will meet weekly to fast-track large projects. The order even requests judges prioritize housing appeals, potentially resolving frivolous delays that scare off capital investments.

There are tradeoffs with almost anything we do in public policy. However, I believe the goal here should be addressing

the need for and accessibility of affordable housing, particularly owner-occupied housing that is accessible to young families and builds generational wealth. If we can reduce friction, real or perceived, that is a win. After all, a new home (even built to the 2020 standard) will be significantly more efficient than a home built in 1975 (the average for Vermont’s housing stock).

In a state where well-intentioned regulations have sometimes backfired, the governor’s executive order seems to strike a pragmatic balance: It maintains environmental safeguards and health protections while urging reforms to move Vermont forward in addressing our housing shortage.

Page 7

Environmental advocates may raise valid concerns about relaxed standards, but the order’s focus suggests a measured approach that still maintains high environmental and energy efficiency standards.

As Gov. Scott noted in his announcement, this is about ensuring “affordability and the state’s economic vitality.”

Vermonters should watch closely. Contact your legislators to support these efforts, and hold agencies accountable.

Ben Kinsley is the interim executive director for Campaign for Vermont, an advocacy group seeking to grow the state’s middle class.

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Williston Observer • October 9, 2025

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Three Norman Rockwell paintings gifted to Shelburne Museum

BY MARIE SPAETH Community News Network Shelburne Museum Curator Carolyn Bauer sat down recently to talk about the lasting impact of Norman Rockwell’s work and the excitement that new Rockwell acquisitions are generating at the museum.

Rockwell (1894-1978) lived in Arlington, Vt., from 1939 to 1953 and featured Vermont in some of his most famous art. All three of the works gifted to the museum were commissioned by the Rock of Ages granite quarry and monument maker in Barre. Bauer also shared news about a Rockwell exhibit planned for next year.

Q. How did the museum acquire the three Rockwell paintings?

A. I received a phone call from a group called Polycor Inc., which owns Rock of Ages. They’re out of Canada, and they approached us saying they have these three works at Rock of Ages in Barre, and they’re hoping to find a new home for them, hopefully in Vermont. I visited and saw the works. We chatted about how Shelburne Museum handles being stewards of these works, and they were very happy to give them as gifts, as donations to us.

Q. Normal Rockwell lived from 1894 to 1978 and remains popular today. Can you tell me a little bit about him as an artist?

A. He’s multi-generational in his reach, even today. During his prolific career, he was well known as an illustrator for the Saturday Evening Post, which was a weekly publication that came to your mailbox. But what is really unique, what we’re excited to constantly explore at Shelburne Museum, is his connection to Vermont, which is really deep in the sense that he became an honorary Vermonter in many ways.

Q. Can you describe the paintings?

A. “Kneeling Girl” (1955) was the first commission Rock of Ages asked Rockwell to create.

It is a small adolescent girl who is kneeling near a head marker, a gravestone with daisies in reverence or memoriam to someone else. In “The Craftsman,” (1962) we see a stone engraver creating a head at their factory. Having both

Shelburne Museum Curator Carolyn Bauer stands beside “The Craftsman,” one of Norman Rockwell’s pieces in the Webb Gallery at Shelburne Museum.

PHOTO BY MARIE SPAETH

the sketch as well as the final work of art helps us understand his process, looking into his mind of how he approached the painting, what changes he did between the final sketch and the final painting.

Q. How long have the paintings been displayed at the museum?

A. They went on view in May. Public reception has been great.

There’s been a lot of excitement around having Rockwells here in Vermont accessible for the public to view.

Q. What would you say makes Norman Rockwell a compelling artist in this day and age?

A. What makes the three paintings special now is understanding the context of placing Rockwell in Vermont, with a Vermont company, for a product that is important to Vermont: granite. I think what was true for Rockwell back then and continues is the story, the narrative. It’s changed over the years, but you’re still creating and sharing stories around these works, which was the same thing that happened when you would get your Saturday Evening Post in 1934 and have a conversation around the family table.

Q. Which painting is your favorite?

A. I think the sketch for “The Craftsman” (1961-1962). It’s not

polished, it’s rough. It’s an artist working. More than that, you get inside his head. You can see his hand quite definitively through different pencil marks, paint marks that make it feel like a very personal rendition of the work that I’ve grown to really love.

Q. Why do you like curating at Shelburne Museum?

A. You’re constantly working on multiple projects at once, often many years in advance. It’s kind of this revolving door, but it’s exciting. What I love the most about curating is communicating with our visitors to, hopefully, instill not only appreciation in art, but perhaps topics that you learn and think about while in the exhibition that you bring into someone’s life, even if just for a second.

Q. Are there any upcoming exhibits or events you’d like to talk about?

A. Next summer, our exhibition “Norman Rockwell: At Home in Vermont” will open on June 20, 2026 and run through October 25, 2026. We’re going to have fabulous loaned works by Rockwell, as well as his friends from Arlington, Vt. Community News Service is a University of Vermont journalism internship. For more information about Shelburne Museum, visit https:// shelburnemuseum.org.

October 9, 2025 • Williston Observer •

Page 9

Vermont Green plans to make women’s team permanent ‘We’re trying to take it to another level’

BY SHAUN ROBINSON VTDigger Vermont Green FC, the semi-professional soccer club in Burlington whose men’s team won a national championship in August, plans to field a women’s team for a first-ever full season in 2026, its owners announced Tuesday.

The Green’s men’s side has played four summertime seasons — and found runaway success — since its founding in 2022. Over the last two years, the club has also fielded a women’s team for several exhibition matches, all of which Vermont has won. Those games weren’t part of any formal league or tournament, though, and instead meant to test the waters for a more permanent women’s team at some point in the future.

Now, the club is set to join United Soccer League’s USL W, a nationwide summer competition made up largely of collegiate women’s players who often aim to get recruited to play professionally. It’s a parallel of the semi-professional men’s league — United Soccer League

2 — that the Vermont Green men’s team plays in.

The club said its women’s team plans are contingent on two other clubs joining what would be a new, five-team “Northeast Division” within the national USL W league. In addition to Vermont, two teams based in Connecticut have agreed to join so far.

In its 2025 season, which ended in July, USL W had 93 teams across 15 regional divisions. Vermont Green is confident that two more Northeast teams will come on board in time for the 2026 season, Patrick Infurna, one of the club’s co-founders, said Tuesday.

“We’re just incredibly excited to continue growing soccer in Vermont,” he said.

Infurna said local hype around Vermont Green’s women’s exhibition games has made developing a permanent side a matter of when, not if. Those three games all drew sold-out crowds to the team’s home turf on the University of Vermont campus.

The team has also gotten a boost from a big name.

Ahead of its first exhibition match in 2024, it recruited Sam Mewis, who see GREEN page 10

Vermont Green FC’s women’s team plays an exhibition match against Flower City of Rochester, N.Y., at the University of Vermont in Burlington in June.

PHOTO COURTESY OF VERMONT GREEN FC

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Page 10

•

Williston Observer •

October 9, 2025

Green

continued from page 9

won the 2019 World Cup with the U.S. women’s national soccer team, to coach and help train its players. Mewis moved to Vermont last year after retiring from her professional soccer career in the U.S.

“We’ve seen amazing enthusiasm over the last two summers, not only from the fans, but also from some of the nation’s top players in their desire to play here in Vermont.”

Sam Mewis Vermont Green coach

and the U.K. Infurna said he expects Mewis to stay involved with the club when it fields a permanent women’s squad in 2026, though he isn’t sure yet what her role will be.

“We’ve seen amazing enthusiasm over the last two summers, not only from the fans, but also from some of the

nation’s top players in their desire to play here in Vermont,” Mewis said in a club press release Tuesday.

Currently, there are no active professional or semi-professional women’s soccer teams in the state, according to Infurna. Vermont Fusion, a soccer club in Manchester, has fielded a team in the semi-pro national Women’s Premier Soccer League — which is separate from USL W — in the past, though didn’t do so this year or in 2024.

Meanwhile, he pointed to how the state has a likely little-known piece of women’s soccer history: Vermont State University Castleton, in the 1960s, was one of the first colleges in the country to give women an opportunity to play competitive soccer against other schools, predating the implementation of Title IX rules requiring equal athletic opportunities.

With its women’s team, Vermont Green is “following up on an already well-established and well-supported soccer community in Vermont,” Infurna said. “But, you know, we’re trying to take it to another level.”

Vermont Green said in the release that information about tickets and game schedules for the women’s team would be available early next year. The club expects to sell separate season tickets for its men’s and women’s teams.

Under the Harvest Moon On Friday, Al Frey captured the moon glowing in the Williston evening sky in its waxing gibbous phase. It reached its full stage on Tuesday. The October full moon is known as the Harvest Moon. It is the first Supermoon, when the moon’s orbit is closest to the Earth and appears noticeably larger and brighter in the sky.

OBSERVER PHOTO BY AL FREY

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October 9, 2025 • Williston Observer •

Yum! Dine In!

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Page 11

Page 12

•

Williston Observer •

October 9, 2025

DINE IN!

EAT LOCAL!

Tuesday - Friday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Yum!

TAKE OUT!

Meet your makers

Saturday - Sunday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

31 Cottonwood Drive Williston

Sarita Devi — Growing up in Uttar Pradesh, northern India, Sarita learned to cook family recipes throughout her childhood. Nine years after moving to Vermont with her husband, Yogi Singh, she realized her dream of opening Aromas of India to share the food she loves with others. Her flavorful vegetarian menu (Indian food is so much more than curry!) features complex flavors and textures. Everything she serves, she makes from scratch, with attention to detail that shines in every dish.

Francisco Guzman — Francisco,

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Carlos and Ricardo Guzman and Eduardo Fuentes have been friends since their grade school days in Jalisco, Mexico. With two other successful Tex-Mex restaurants up and running, the partners seized the opportunity to open their third, under Francisco’s leadership, when space came available in Williston.

At Casa Grande, Francisco has created a colorful, lively atmosphere, where he eagerly welcomes guests to enjoy authentic dishes with the vibrant flavors of Mexico.

Craig Anthony — Craig

The Kismet Building • 373 Blair Park Road • Suite 101 • Williston

Anthony grew up in Tamworth, New Hampshire. His love for cooking was found as

a child hunting and fishing, and grew during high school as a member of the Junior American Culinary Federation. In 2007, he relocated to Vermont, building a distinguished career with Mirabelles Bakery and Waterworks Food and Drink, before becoming Executive Chef at the Kitchen Table. Craig delights in creating a space for family and friends to gather and enjoy delicious homecooked comfort.

Samantha La Croix — Pastry Chef, Saman-

tha La Croix, was born and raised in Vermont where her passion for baking was sparked at an early age by her late grandmother.

Classically trained in Pastry & Baking Arts at The New England Culinary Institute, Sam has delighted diners at Jupiter Island Club in Southern Florida, Hen of the Wood, The Inn at Shelburne Farms, and Mirabelles Bakery. Widely recognized as one of the best dessert bakers in Chittenden County, she loves feeding people food that brings them to a warm, familiar place.

Bobby Seaman— Bob-

by, Director of Operations at Folino’s Pizza, has worked at the restaurant for 7 years.

Bobby was the leader behind opening their Williston location in 2021. Bobby comes from a rich culinary background but has found working with pizza is the most rewarding because of the flexibility of flavors and toppings. Bobby says, “Folino’s stands out because of our attention to high-quality ingredients and naturally rising dough.” His go-to order is the Margarita pizza. “It’s a classic pizza that lets our ingredients do the talking.” With multiple Folino’s locations, Bobby says, “The best thing about working in Vermont is

October 9, 2025 •

DINE IN!

EAT LOCAL!

TAKE OUT!

Williston Observer •

Page 13

Yum!

Meet your makers

getting to know the communities that we are a part of and bringing a smile to people’s faces.” Visit Bobby and the rest of the Folino’s family at our Williston location!

BRUNCH

SATURDAY-SUNDAY 9 A.M.-1 P.M.

Eric Kelley — Originally from Massa-

Perry & Neil Farr — Perry & Neil Farr

met as students at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY then settled in Williston (Neil grew up in Colchester) to raise their family, where they each pursued careers in food service while exploring business ideas. When they discovered Poké on a trip to San Francisco they knew they needed to bring the concept to Vermont. The Scale was born. Perry & Neil take pride in sourcing only the freshest ingredients - mostly local – and offering hungry patrons fast, healthy and delicious food with a Hawaiian flare.

Max Fath — Max Fath grew up in

Williston, the son of Jon and Lucie Fath who owned and operated the original Toscano Café Bistro on Bridge Street in Richmond. With twenty years of experience in restaurant service and management, Max was eager to launch a new rendition of Toscano when the opportunity became available in Williston. Max built a team of some familiar faces from the original Toscano and some new faces he met along the way and is grateful for the opportunity to serve our community once again, blending nostalgia from the original Toscano with contemporary elegance in his newly renovated space.

chusetts, Eric went to college in Colorado where he began his career in the food service business. After moving to Vermont in 2009, Eric saw an opportunity to create a gathering place in Williston where locals could connect to enjoy excellent coffee, espresso drinks, and fresh baked goods. He opened Williston Coffee Shop to serve the breakfast and lunch crowd. Over a decade later, Eric can be found in the early hours baking bread, croissants, scones and pastries to the delight of his regular customers. He takes pride in his products, the friendly atmosphere of the Shop, and the many employees who have learned from him. Located on Cornerstone Drive, it’s no surprise that Williston Coffee Shop has become a Williston cornerstone.

Brian Lewis— Brian’s journey to Williston wends from his native Connecticut through Seattle, L.A., Rhode Island, and Waitsfield. After a season as Executive Chef at Sugarbush resort’s main slopeside restaurant, Lewis struck out on his own in Waitsfield, opening Toast and Eggs in 2018. After leading that restaurant through the pandemic, he purchased South Burlington’s Parkway Diner on Williston Road.

He also bought the original Yellow Mustard deli while launching Filibuster Restaurant and Bar, both in Montpelier. Following the floods of 2023 he successfully reopened both restaurants. After opening his second Yellow Mustard Subs and Sandwiches shop in Burlington, Brian is thrilled to join the Williston community with his newest location in the Taft Corners Shopping Center!

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•

Williston Observer •

October 9, 2025

DINE IN!

EAT LOCAL!

Yum!

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Casual-Fine Dining in the of Williston!

Lunch: 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

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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

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Page 14

October 9, 2025 •

Saint Mike’s triples down on affordability options for Vermonters

New financial aid initiatives at Saint Michael’s College aim to make the cost of attending the Colchester college more affordable.

New initiatives include: — Free Tuition Vermont.

Vermont residents whose household income is $100,000 or less will have their tuition fully covered after the allocation of Pell and Vermont Student Assistance Corporation

(VSAC) grants. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 to continue receiving free tuition.

— UVM Match. Vermont residents whose household income is above $100,000 will pay the same tuition and fees as students who attend the University of Vermont, after scholarships. This initiative aligns with the college’s new Flagship Match program, through which out-of-state students pay the same

tuition and fees as their state’s flagship institutions, after scholarships.

— Commuter Commitment.

Students who are permanent residents within a 35-mile radius of St. Mike’s and do not need room and board because they commute to campus will pay $11,500 per year in tuition, after scholarships.

These tuition rates are all available to new and transfer students as

early as the spring 2026 semester.

“Initiatives like those we’ve recently made available to Vermonters are grounded in our belief that education — especially a St. Mike’s education — should be within reach for anyone who seeks it,” said Saint Michael’s College President Richard Plumb.

More information and other new financial aid initiatives can be found at smcvt.edu/freevt.

Vermont State expands free tuition

Vermont State University announced its new Freedom & Unity program this week, providing free tuition to Vermonters with household incomes of $65,000 or less.

Managed by the Vermont Student Assistance Corp (VSAC), the program will make two- and fouryear college degrees free for nearly half of Vermont households.

“This initiative reflects our mission to strengthen Vermont’s workforce and communities by ensuring every Vermonter has the opportunity to invest in themselves, pursue their goals, and shape their future,” said Vermont State Colleges Chancellor Elizabeth Mauch.

Vermont State has five

campuses, including one in Williston, and offers about 100 degree programs, including engineering, healthcare, education and business. Learning options are flexible, from in-person, online and hybrid formats.

“By expanding access to degrees, state leaders have created an historic opportunity for Vermont

DON’T HIBERNATE. BUTTON UP. Sign up for Weatherization Wednesdays!

Every Wednesday in October, we’re hosting a free webinar from 12:00 - 1:00 pm: •

October 8: Is it time to (re)insulate your attic and basement?

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students of all ages to gain the skills they need for a brighter future,” said VSAC President and CEO Scott Giles.

Freedom & Unity — named after Vermont’s state motto — was created with support from Gov. Phil Scott and the Vermont Legislature. For more information, visit vsac.org/unity.

Williston Observer •

Page 15

The Williston Community Food Shelf is seeing more families in need every month.

We need basics like peanut butter and jelly.

Thanks for your support!

When you shop for yourself, Remember the Shelf!

WILLISTON COMMUNITY

FOOD SHELF 400 Cornerstone Drive, Suite 130, Williston Mail Donations: PO Box 1605, Williston, VT 05495 Hours: Tuesdays 5-6:30 p.m.

Thursdays 9-11 a.m. | Saturdays 9-11 a.m.

Page 16 •

Williston Observer •

release dates: Oct. 11-17, 2025

October 9, 2025

41 (25)

Next Week: Have a Halloween party!

Issue 41, 2025

Founded by Betty Debnam

The Marvelous Maple

Sweet and sappy

Mini Fact:

Vermont has more sugar maples per square mile than any other state.

photo by Stephen Goodhue, courtesy State of Vermont

Nature’s changing colors

In the fall, maple trees glow with the brightest colors of all trees. Summers with warm days and cooler nights produce the brightest fall colors.

Sometimes there are even more spectacular autumns when the summers have been dry. When there is little rain, fungi, such as mold, mildew and mushrooms, don’t grow as much, so they don’t suck as much moisture from the trees.

Trees that are under stress from drought or insects sometimes change colors earlier in the fall. If conditions are really bad, they might go straight from green to brown, without changing to the reds and yellows.

Helicopter seeds

All maple trees have papery wings attached to their seeds, which help them travel to new ground each fall. They are often called “helicopter seeds” because they spin in the wind.

Transformation

Leaves (and all other objects) get their color from the chemicals they are made of. In the summer, leaves contain a substance called chlorophyll (KLOR-uhfil), which gives them their green color.

In the fall, cooler temperatures signal the tree to stop producing chlorophyll. As the chlorophyll breaks down, the leaves The brightest reds appear in the red take on new colors, maple, and not just in depending on what the fall. It always has other chemical building some red on it — either blocks are still present red buds, flowers, leaf stems or leaves. in them.

Chlorophyll helps shield the leaf from sun damage. But even more important, it helps the tree capture sunlight.

Plants use sunlight to create food. This process is called photosynthesis (foetoe-SIN-the-sis).

Chlorophyll is like an engine that uses sunlight to turn water and carbon dioxide into sugars the plant can eat.

It produces oxygen as a waste product. Chlorophyll turns leaves into little factories that produce sugar and oxygen.

photo courtesy State of Vermont

Do you love pouring syrup over your pancakes? Are leaves turning bright colors in your neighborhood? There’s a good chance that the syrup and the bright autumn colors both come from maple trees.

This week, The Mini Page learns more about the marvelous maple tree.

The Mini Page® © 2025 Andrews McMeel Syndication

Try ’n’Williston Find

Almost all maple syrup and maple sugar comes from the sugar maple tree.

Its sap has more than twice as much sugar as any other kind of maple.

The sugar maple grows naturally only in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. When planted anywhere else, it almost never flowers.

The maple tree is so important to Canada that its leaf is the country’s symbol.

Because sugar maples live for a long time, they can produce a lot of sap during their lives. Some maple trees have been tapped for 100 years and are still producing sap.

Making sap

Around March, when the snow starts melting, tree roots warm up. This signals the trees that it is time to start growing leaves. Trees need to move the food stored in their roots up to the leaf buds so leaves can grow. This food is the sugary sap.

Sap flows for about six weeks. However, there might be only five or six times during those weeks when the sap is actually dripping from the holes made in the tree.

These times are called sap runs. A sap run might last a few hours or a few days.

Resources On the Web:

• bit.ly/MPmaple

At the library:

• “Whiz and the Secret Science of Maple Syrup” by Bumpa and Riley • “October Is Having a Party!” by Caitlin Friebel

Observer rack locations Mini Jokes Goodwater Brewing

Rehab Gym

Essex/Essex Jct.

Price Chopper

Adams Farm Markettrees are Hannaford Quality Bake Shop Words that remind us of maple hidden in this puzzle. Shell Gas Station (Essex Rd) Essex Automotive Simon’s Mobil Williston Healthy Living Williston Aromas of India Five Corner Variety River Road Beverage Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters Manny: What does a maple Simply Divine Café Home2Suites Chef’sif Corner Hannaford tree like to watch on TV? are used twice. See you can find: Richmond Dorothy Alling Memorial

Island Homemade Ice Cream Sonesta

AUTUMN, CANADA, Library S I CKorner H LKwikOStop R O P HSunoco Y LStation L Z M CARBON DIOXIDE, Town of Williston Marriott Courtyard Fairfield Inn P G C A R B O N D I O X I DOffices E ck Cote at Ri ll Ca UPS Store Men At Wok CHLOROPHYLL, COLORS, Folino’s Pizza l ai A N S E V A E L W N M U T U A em or (802) 373-2136 erver.com Gardener’s bs FLOWERS, FUNGI, Supply S U DM&T M Bank A P L E S DVermont J ZMeat L &PSeafood R WillistonO Rick@DRY, copies e lik ld ou w Williston Coffee Shop Ramunto’s Green Mountain Bagel u yo if HELICOPTER, LEAVES, F F L V W A T E R R E G R U O for your location MAPLE, OXYGEN, SAP, V E R M O N T A E F E E K R H C A N A D A C P P R L W S Y Y SEED, STEMS, SYRUP, TAP, S M E T S X F S W L T B O S R TREE, VERMONT, WATER.

Inn atMelody: Essex Sap operas! Cumberland Farms Mac’s Market Richmond Free Library Martone’s Deli Richmond Market

Eco Note Williston

Tropical birds are disappearing fast, and scientists say extreme heat from climate change is largely to blame. A new study shows these birds are suffering

each fall. They are often called “helicopter seeds” because they spin in the wind.

into sugars the plant can eat.

It produces oxygen as a waste product. Chlorophyll turns leaves into little factories that produce sugar and oxygen.

At the library:

• “Whiz and the Secret Science of Maple Syrup” by Bumpa and Riley • “October Is 9,Having Party!” by • Page 17 October 2025 • aWilliston Observer Caitlin Friebel

The Mini Page® © 2025 Andrews McMeel Syndication

Try ’n’ Find

Mini Jokes

Words that remind us of maple trees are hidden in this puzzle.

Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find: AUTUMN, CANADA, CARBON DIOXIDE, CHLOROPHYLL, COLORS, DRY, FLOWERS, FUNGI, HELICOPTER, LEAVES, MAPLE, OXYGEN, SAP, SEED, STEMS, SYRUP, TAP, TREE, VERMONT, WATER.

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

Manny: What does a maple tree like to watch on TV? Melody: Sap operas!

Z M D E U A P R U O R H Y Y S R L D R F

Eco Note Tropical birds are disappearing fast, and scientists say extreme heat from climate change is largely to blame. A new study shows these birds are suffering dramatic population drops — as much as 38% since 1950 — due to more frequent and intense heat waves. Birds in places such as the Amazon face around 30 days of dangerous heat per year, compared to just three in the mid-20th century. While habitat loss is also a major threat to the birds’ survival, researchers warn that climate change is now a bigger driver of declines in the tropics. adapted with permission from Earthweek.com

You’ll need: • 1 1/2 cups cooked plain white or brown rice • 1/2 cup real maple syrup • 3 large eggs, beaten • 2 cups low-fat milk, heated

• 1/2 cup raisins or peeled, chopped fresh or dried apple pieces • 1 teaspoon vanilla • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

What to do: 1. Combine all ingredients in a greased 1-quart casserole.

2. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve warm with whipped cream. Serves 4.

The Mini Page® © 2025 Andrews McMeel Syndication

Vermont Maple Apple Rice Pudding

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

Cook’s Corner

For later:

Look in your newspaper for articles or photographs about trees changing colors.

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

Photos from the Williston Observer are available for purchase!

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

AlFreyPhotography.com

Place your order online or email afrey202@gmail.com

AL

Page 18

• Williston Observer • October 9, 2025

SAVVY SENIOR Is long-term care insurance worth it?

Dear Approaching, There are two key factors you need to consider that can help you determine if purchasing a longterm care (LTC) insurance policy is a smart decision for you and your husband. One factor is your financial situation and second is your health history. Currently, around 7.5 million Americans own a policy.

By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, My husband and I have been thinking about getting a longterm care insurance policy, but we hate the idea of paying expensive monthly premiums for a policy we may never use. Is longterm care insurance worth it?

Approaching Retirement

WHO NEEDS LTC INSURANCE?

As the cost of LTC — which includes nursing home, assisted living and in-home care — continues to rise, it’s important to know that most people pay for LTC either from personal savings or Medicaid when their savings are depleted, or through a LTC insurance policy.

Average costs for nursing home care today are over $100,000 a year, according to the Genworth Cost of Care survey. Assisted living facilities and home care aides average more than $65,000 a year.

While national statistics show that about 70 percent of Americans 65 and older will need some kind of LTC, the fact is, many people don’t need to purchase LTC insurance. The reasons stem from a range of factors, including the fact that relatively few people have enough wealth to protect to make purchasing a policy worthwhile.

Another important factor is that most seniors who need LTC only need it for a short period of time, for example, when they’re recovering from surgery. For

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those people, Medicare covers in-home health care and nursing home stays of 100 days or less following a hospital stay of more than three consecutive days.

So, who should consider buying a policy?

LTC insurance makes the most sense for people who have investable assets of $500,000 to around $2 million that they want to protect. Anything less, and you will likely deplete your resources and go on Medicaid for LTC coverage.

Anything more, and you can probably afford to pay for care yourself.

Another factor to weigh is your personal health and family health history. The two most common reasons seniors need extended long-term care is because of

dementia and/or disability. And, almost half of all people who live in nursing homes are 85 years or older. So, what’s your family history for Alzheimer’s, stroke or some other disabling health condition, and do you have a family history of longevity?

You also need to factor in gender too. Because women tend to live longer than men, they are at greater risk of needing extended LTC. CHOOSING LTC COVERAGE

After evaluating your situation, if you’re leaning towards buying a LTC policy, be aware that premiums can vary widely. According to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, premiums for a policy see SAVVY page 20

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October 9, 2025 •

Williston Observer •

Page 19

CROSSWORD • SOLUTION ON PAGE 22

TODAY’S HISTORY:

• In 1635, Roger Williams, the eventual founder of Rhode Island, was banished from Massachusetts Bay Colony as a religious dissident.

• In 1888, the Washington Monument opened to the general public.

• In 1986, the musical “The Phantom of the Opera” opened in London’s West End. • In 2006, North Korea claimed it had performed its first nuclear test.

TODAY’S FACT:

• John Lennon was first introduced to the round spectacles that became his signature look while filming the 1967 movie “How I Won the War.” The glasses were part of his character’s wardrobe, but Lennon continued wearing them after filming ended.

SOLUTION FOUND ON PAGE 22

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Page 20

• Williston Observer • October 9, 2025

Savvy

OBITUARIES

continued from page 18

bought by a couple who are both age 65 for a benefit pool of $165,000 each, with a 3 percent inflation rider, ranged from $7,137 to $8,493 a year.

You can buy LTC insurance from an insurance company or through an agent. Or you might also be able to buy a policy at work. Be sure to get quotes from several sources for the same coverage to compare prices.

There are two main types of long-term care coverage you’ll want to consider.

Traditional LTC insurance, which is “use it or lose it.” And hybrid policies that combine LTC coverage with life-insurance benefits.

These policies promise that if you don’t end up needing long-term care, your beneficiaries will receive a death benefit. Both types of policies require medical underwriting to qualify.

Another hybrid product to consider is an income annuity that includes a provision to increase your payout if you need LTC. However, the payout may not cover the full cost of care, and the added cost of this provision, known as a rider, can reduce the standard payout from the annuity.

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

Jean C. Bright Jean C. Bright, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and greatgreat-grandmother, passed away peacefully on Sept. 27, 2025 at the age of 84.

Born in Burlington to Gladys and Joe Gannon, Jean spent her life in Richmond, where she built a home filled with warmth, creativity and unwavering love. She married

Building homes, changing lives in Northwest Vermont.

her high school sweetheart, Carl S. Bright, and together they shared 67 beautiful years of marriage — a testament to enduring love and devotion.

Jean was a dedicated homemaker and also worked as a secretary for the local Catholic church. She found joy in knitting, lovingly crafting sweaters for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was an avid doll collector and had a special love for raising poodles, finding companionship and delight in their loyal presence.

She will be forever in our hearts.

Jean was predeceased by her beloved parents, Gladys and Joe, her dear siblings Joe Gannon and Jimmy Gannon, her cherished daughter Angel Marie and her precious granddaughter Amanda Dennis.

Jean is survived by her beloved husband, Carl S. Bright; her children Carla (Raymond) Miller of Richmond, Jim Bright of Hinesburg, Danny (Penny) Bright of Essex, David (Kellie) Bright of Jericho and her grandchildren Raymond Miller Jr,, Sarah (Rob) Potito, Amber (Carlos) Ansley, Jessie (Brent) Renoylds, Heather (Shane) Cole, Erin (Brett) Casselman, Eric(Tammy) Bright, Ryan (Sarah) Bright, David (Danielle) Bright II, Samantha Bright.

She is also survived by great-grandchildren Dixie Miller; Noelle Bright; Briella Potito; Caden, Cayne and Aria Ansley; Chance

and Maya Reynolds; Mykaela and Madison Casselman; Callie Bright; Jaxon Bright; and great-great grandchild Aizlyn.

Jean leaves behind her sibling Kay Gannon of Essex, her sister-in-law Annette Gannon of Tracy, CA (wife of the late Jimmy Gannon); also special friends Barbara Breen (and her late husband Tom) of Constable NY; Winnie Lavigne, Cathy Brace and Pamela Vosburgh and many other dear friends and neighbors whose companionship enriched her life.

A special tribute is extended to Carl’s family and Jean’s in-laws whose love and support and shared memories helped shape the beautiful life Jean lived. Their presence in her journey brought joy, laughter and strength and she held each of them close to her heart.

Jean will be remembered for her gentle heart, her creative hands and the love she poured into every corner of her life. Her memory lives on in the many stories shared, the sweaters worn, the poodles she adored and the generations nurtured.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Oct. 6, 2025 at St John Vianney Church Burlington. Interment followed at Resurrection Park in Burlington.

Arrangements are in the care of the Ready Funeral and Cremation Services. To send online condolences, please visit www.readyfuneral.com.

Aug. 31 at 12:18 p.m. — Assisted a female who wanted to report identity theft.

Sept. 3 at 11:06 p.m. — Following a traffic stop, male operator was issued a citation to appear in court for ignition interlock requirement, driving with a criminally suspended license and violation of conditions of release.

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Aug. 31 at 6:27 p.m. — Report of a vehicle driving erratically all over the road. Officers could not locate vehicle.

Sept. 1 at 1:06 p.m. — Wallet stolen out of a vehicle on O’Neil Lane. Suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for false pretenses and false personation.

Sept. 1 at 4:51 p.m. — Responded to a disturbance at Zephyr Place. All parties were separated and left each other alone for the rest of the night.

Sept. 1 at 5:24 p.m. — Female called and wanted to report her vehicle was stolen. Property manager had the vehicle towed.

Sept. 2 at 1:21 a.m. — Female called to report that her vehicle was stolen from the Walmart parking lot.

Vehicle was located on the side of the building.

Sept. 2 at 1:24 p.m. — Report of a customer who threw a pair of shoes at an employee’s head in Walmart. Male suspect was given a referral to the Community Justice Center.

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Sept. 2 at 8:56 p.m. — Report of a male jumping out of the bushes at Chili’s and scaring people. Male was gone before officer’s arrival.

Sept. 3 at 3:12 p.m. — Report of a runaway juvenile from DCF. Juvenile was located and released back into DCF custody.

Sept. 4 at 11:07 a.m. — Assisted AOT with trespassing people from the park and ride.

Sept. 4 at 4:23 p.m. — Abandoned vehicle reported on Shirley Circle. Vehicle was not stolen and owner of property was advised they could tow it if they wanted.

Sept. 5 at 8:11 a.m. — Assisted with trespassing a male off the property of O’Brien’s Store.

Sept. 5 at 9:42 p.m. — Assisted Marshalls staff with a female they thought was going to leave without paying. Female paid for all her items and left the store.

Sept. 6 at 11:16 p.m. — Assisted Sandri with issuing a notice of trespass to a female they did not want in the store.

Sept. 6 at 9:07 p.m. — Report of a male that didn’t pay for his meal at Texas Roadhouse. Male then left and hit another vehicle on his way out of the parking lot.

Case is still under investigation.

Officers also conducted 37 traffic stops and responded to nine alarm activations and 12 motor vehicle crashes during this time frame.

October 9, 2025 • Williston Observer •

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

FRENCH STORYTIME

Saturday, Oct. 11, 10:15-10:45 a.m. Drop in for stories read aloud by a native French speaker.

Visit www.damlvt.org to apply for a library card and register for programs. Need help?

Call 878-4918 or email daml@ damlvt.org.

Please note, the library will be closed on Monday, Oct. 13, in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Tuesdays, Oct. 14 and 21, 10:30-11 a.m. Have fun with storytime. Outdoors when weather permits.

BABY TIME

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 10:30-11 a.m. Ages 0-18 months. Drop in for gentle bonding and socializing activities with your little one.

AFTER SCHOOL CRAFT

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2-3 p.m.

Get creative after school with a paper greenhouse collage.

MUSIC AND PLAYTIME

Thursdays, Oct. 16 and 23, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Enjoy Linda Bassick’s preschool music and

TEEN CRAFTERNOON: SLIME

Monday, Oct. 20, 5-6 p.m.

Ages 12-18. Make your own slime to take home.

AFTER SCHOOL STEAM FUN ACTIVITY

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2:15-3 p.m. Learn something new and enjoy hands-on experiments.

LEGO TIME

Thursday, Oct. 23, 3-4 p.m.

Build something exciting with the library’s LEGO collection.

MULTI-AGE PROGRAMS READ TO A DOG (LOLA)

Thursday, Oct. 16, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Sign up for a 10-minute session to read to (or hang out with) Lola the therapy dog.

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

TEA CLUB: JEUNG CHA GREEN TEA

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

Bring in gently used complete puzzles (500-1,000 pieces only) 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)

a.m. Drop in to practice your language skills. All abilities welcome.

COOK THE BOOK

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 12-1 p.m. It’s all about chocolate this month. Copy a recipe from “The Chocolate Spoon” by the Silver Spoon Kitchen and join us for a potluck with your chosen recipe.

SPANISH CONVERSATION (ONLINE)

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 5-6 p.m.

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

STAR GAZING WITH THE VT ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 7-9 p.m.

Meet in community park and be guided by experts as they point out what’s happening in the night sky. Rain date: Oct. 22.

BOOK CLUB BUFFET (ONLINE)

Fridays, Oct. 10 and 17, 1212:30 p.m. Join our guided meditation to relax and recenter.

Tuesday, Oct. 21, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Register to join us online to discuss “Open Season” by Archer Mayor.

MAH JONGG

CURRENT EVENTS

Fridays, Oct. 10 and 17, 1-3 p.m. All abilities welcome.

FRENCH CONVERSATION

Saturday, Oct. 11, 10:45-11:45

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Drop in to discuss timely topics with other community members.

In print and online:

we’re your neighbors, committed to keeping you informed on what’s going on in Williston.

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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.

STORYTIME

stay to play. Outdoors when weather permits.

Page 21

Page 22

• Williston Observer • October 9, 2025

CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL

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 carriage-style 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 38.5-acre 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 DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA Tuesday, October 28, 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

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DP 26-05 Bill Eriskine requests a discretionary permit to modify the building envelope on Lot 4 of SUB-99-1, at 818 Sunset Hill Road in the Agricultural/Rural Residential Zoning District (ARZD). Conservation Commission review on October 15, 2025.

DP 26-06 Steve Hayes requests a discretionary permit to modify the building envelope on Lot 1 of SUB-07-12, at 413 Butternut Road in the Agricultural/Rural Residential Zoning District (ARZD). Conservation Commission review on October 15, 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

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CROSSWORD SOLUTION Puzzle found on page 19

SUDOKU SOLUTION Puzzle found on page 19

Want to advertise?

Ads, Service Directory, classifieds and yard sales.

Contact Rick Cote rick@willistonobserver.com or call 802-373-2136

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Williston Observer •

October 9, 2025

SPORTS

Net win CLOCKWISE (l to r): CVU goalie Charles Wallace leaps high for the save during the Redhawks’ 3-0 win over the Colchester Lakers on Friday in Colchester. Stefan Arsovski and Colchester’s Kieran Kadosh battle for ball possession.

Henry Galloway makes a pass up the field.

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‘Hawks swoop Wolves CLOCKWISE (l to r): CVU’s Sierra Rainey looks to make a pass during the Redhawks’ 3-0 win over the South Burlington Wolves on Saturday in Hinesburg. Charlotte Clark and South Burlington’s Julia Conway battle for possession. Lillian McClain looks to get by South Burlington’s Lila Hamme.

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