Williston
ECRWSS PRSRT STD US Postage
PAID
Permit #15 Williston,VT 05495 POSTAL CUSTOMER
OCTOBER 29, 2026
WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985
School board takes aim at budget target
Initial proposal would lead to staffing cuts BY JASON STARR Observer staff
The Champlain Valley School Board has set a budget target for the upcoming fiscal year of $112.5 million, an increase in spending of $4.6 million (4.3 percent) over the current year’s budget.
“There will be some really difficult reduction conversations …” Gary Marckres Chief operations officer Champlain Valley School District
The board met last Tuesday for an early look at potential budget targets, kicking off a process that culminates at Town Meeting Day in March, when voters in the five-town district will have a chance to approve or reject the board’s proposal. The board plans to work with school administrators to refine the budget over the coming weeks — including an estimation of the impact the increase will have on property taxes — and finalize its proposal in mid-January. The $112.5 million
target came recommended by the board’s finance subcommittee. It roughly tracks the year-over-year inflation rate as measured by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index for the Northeast region. However, it is over the target that Gov. Phil Scott has set for education spending statewide, according to Champlain Valley School District Finance Director Nicole Lee. “The governor came out and said ‘I’d like to constrain education spending by 3.2%,’” Lee said. The school district’s chief operations officer, Gary Marckres, said spending would need to increase by $7.1 million (6.5%) to $115 million in order to cover the district’s increasing annual costs and provide the same level of service as the current year. The increasing annual costs are largely tied to multi-year contracts the board agreed to this year with the union representing teachers and education support professionals; both contracts have annual salary increases of about 5%. The school board’s budget target of $112.5 million will mean a reduction of $2.5 million from a budget that would provide the same level of current services. That equates to about 25 job losses across the district, Superintendent Adam Bunting see BUDGET page 8
WWW.WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM
Different stages of learning
Williston Central School Drama Program students rehearse last week for their upcoming performance of “Soundscapes,” a triumphant, coming-of-age musical about a young girl with synesthesia. Running a scene that takes place in an art class, above, are Lucy McCoy as teacher (far left), Caro Adams (third from left) playing Iris and Eric Desautels (second from right) who has the part of Tony along with other members of the cast. Performances are scheduled for Nov. 12-13 at 6:30 p.m. in the WCS auditorium. More photos are on Page 2. OBSERVER PHOTO BY AL FREY
Plans shelved for White Cap expansion
BY JASON STARR Observer staff
The owner of the White Cap Business Park on Industrial Avenue has abandoned expansions plans. The property, owned by White Cap Ventures LLC of Burlington, has been the site of recurring protests of its lease agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Last year, the Williston Development Review Board gave preliminary approval to construct a new 30,000-square-foot office building on a wooded lot across the
parking lot from the current ICE offices. Jacques Larose, representing White Cap Ventures, said at the time that the new building would be used for “public administration.” The approval cleared the way for the application to proceed to final review. But it has now expired, according to Williston Senior Planner Emily Heymann. Any revival of the expansion would have to start from scratch. “I’ve not had any correspondence with them in a long time, so I am not anticipating a filing, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t submit an application
Have dinner aT THe diner!
Serving SouTHern-inSpired diner ClaSSiCS & Half-priCed CoCkTailS friday/SaTurday
189 Bank Street, Burlington • 802-497-1668 • burlsdowntown.com
out of the blue,” she said. ICE does plan to increase staffing at its Williston locations, according to a recent report from VTDigger. Larose, an engineer with Civil Engineering Associates out of South Burlington, said he’s received no further direction from the property owner and is not currently working on the project. “If the owner never does the things they need to do to continue moving the application forward, we don’t babysit our clients and say ‘why aren’t we moving forward?’, Larose said. see WHITE CAP page 8
Page 2 •
Williston Observer • October 29, 2026
Around Town Wheels for Warmth tire collection Do you have a set of tires you no longer need? Put them to good use by donating them to Wheels for Warmth. Donated tires will be sold to raise money for emergency fuel assistance programs for Vermont families in need. Tire drop off is from 2-6 p.m. on Oct. 29 and Oct. 30 at Casella Waste, 28 Ave. B in Williston.
Williston Craft Show The Williston Craft Show returns on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Williston Central School. Over 100 crafters, artists and specialty food vendors will be on hand offering their creations. Admission and parking are free. Run by Families as Partners, the show raises funds for Williston’s schools.
Local media discussion to focus on election coverage The monthly meeting of Journalism Club takes place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5 at Wild Meadows Books & Café in Williston. The meeting is timed two days after the General Election and the
topic is how journalists approach election coverage and informing voters. Speakers include VTDigger reporter Shaun Robinson and Vermont Community Newspaper Group editor-in-chief Tommy Gardner. Boston Globe reporter Paul Heintz will moderate the discussion and an audience Q&A. For more information and to RSVP, visit https:// wildmeadowsbooks.com/events.
Discussion: present-day and future Williston Join in a conversation about Williston’s future with Williston Planning Director Matt Boulanger and Vermont Futures Project Executive Director Kevin Chu. They will discuss what is happening in Williston today and share a vision for the town’s future. Start time is 6:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. The event is co-sponsored with the library by the Williston Historical Society as part of its Williston History Series, celebrating the 250th anniversary of America’s founding. The evening will also serve as the annual meeting of the Williston Historical Society, featuring a review of the year’s activities followed by the election of officers.
COMMUNITY
CALENDAR EMAIL EVENT LISTINGS TO
EDITOR@WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM FRIDAY, OCT. 30
Sound and stage The cast and crew from the WCS production of ‘Soundscapes,’ above, takes a moment off from rehearsal for a group picture. Left, Caro Adams paints a picture at her easel during a scene that takes place in an art class. Eric Desautels finds his mark on stage, bottom right. Delivering her lines, Lucy McCoy strolls across the set as Adams sits in ‘class.’ OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY
Education & Enrichment for Everyone series. 2 p.m. Faith United Methodist Church. 899 Dorset St., South Burlington. “Forecasting the Midterm Elections: An End to Unstable Majorities?” with Middlebury Professor Matthew Dickinson. www.eeevermont.org. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 4
The Magic of Comics. 6:307:30 p.m. Dorothy Alling Memorial Library. Hands-on workshop exploring comics as art and communication tool. THURSDAY, NOV. 5
Williston-Richmond Rotary Club Meeting. 7:15 a.m. Williston Federated Church and Zoom. Speaker: Brett Johnson, CEO, Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity. RSVP to RotaryClubofWillistonVT@ gmail.com. Journalism Club. 6 p.m. Wild Meadows Books & Café. How elections are covered. wildmeadowsbooks.com/events. SATURDAY, NOV. 7
Williston Craft Show. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Williston Central School. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 11
Host your next gathering in the Community Room at BCA Studios Perfect for holiday parties, weddings, performances, film screenings, meetings, concerts, and more. Every event supports BCA and our local arts community! Scan for rental rates and details or visit burlingtoncityarts.org P: Renée Greenlee and Michelle Ramirez
Veterans Day Observance. 9 a.m. Williston War Memorial Park (between Town Hall and Town Hall Annex). Indoors if inclement weather at Town Hall’s Beckett/ McGuire Meeting Room. Hosted by the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club.
October 29, 2026 •
Williston Observer • Page 3
Candyland? Brilliant sunshine lit up a warm and festive Trunk-or-Treat in the Village Community Park parking lot on Sunday. The annual event is hosted by the Williston Federated Church and Williston-Richmond Rotary c Cub. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
Giveaways + Enter to Win!
Special Event November 6-7th
Barre, Williston, St. Albans & Plattsburgh, NY M-F 10-6, Sat 10-5, Closed Sun Shop Online: LennyShoe.com Free gift with purchase while supplies last.
Page 4 •
Williston Observer • October 29, 2026
GREEN
THINKING SUSTAINABLY • ACTING RESPONSIBLY
E-motos — giving e-biking a bad rap
BY KEVIN BATSON Williston Energy Committee
Electric bikes are attracting more and more people, encouraging them to go outdoors and get exercise while enjoying Vermont’s beautiful hills and valleys. E-bikes are also very handy for no sweat commuting around town. Pedal-assist e-bikes can make cycling more fun while still providing a workout similar to a pedal-only bicycle. E-motos, which are electric motor scooters or dirt bikes, are also gaining in popularity. But before you go shopping for the holidays, you may want to have a better understanding of the difference between an e-bike
and an e-moto. The differences may not be as obvious as one might think. Some e-moto companies and retailers appear to purposely blur the distinctions with advertisements that are t 2026 BDay V2.pdf argeted to teens and misrepresent them as e-bikes. Manufacturers have also added “for show only” pedals that can mislead consumers and many police departments that believe, if it has pedals instead of pegs, it is an e-bike and not an e-moto. The difference is important because e-motos have limits on where they can be ridden, as well as age and registration requirements. In addition, e-motos carry an increased risk of accidents due to faster acceleration and higher
speeds. E-bikes are traditional bicycles equipped with an integrated electric motor and rechargeable battery that assists you with your forward motion by adding power to your pedaling. An e-moto may look like an e-bike but has a throttle-controlled motor like a motorcycle and does not require pedaling. With or without pedals, if it has a motor power of greater than 750 watts and a maximum speed greater than the pedal-assisted e-bike speeds of 20-28 mph, then it is an e-moto. As such, e-motos must adhere to the same state laws that apply to any motorcycle. The vehicle must be registered and the operator see E-MOTO page 5
A visual cue of an e-moto is the lack of bike pedals, as opposed to an e-bike. VTDIGGER FILE PHOTO
How do journalists cover elections in Vermont? Your financial life is more than an investment account. It’s a set of goals, resources, and values unique to you. Mascoma offers comprehensive wealth management solutions that help you plan wisely, invest smartly, and navigate your financial future with confidence. Matthew C. Little Wealth Advisor 180 Battery Street, Suite 205 Burlington, VT 05401 802-280-4976 matthew.little@mascomabank.com
mascoma.bank/wealth-management NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE • NOT A DEPOSIT • NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL AGENCY • MASCOMA BANK IS NOT A REGISTERED BROKER DEALER
Thursday, Nov. 5, 6 pm • Wild Meadows Books & Cafe • 27 Market St., Williston
Join us just two days after the midterms to talk with VTDigger state government and politics reporter Shaun Robinson and Vermont Community Newspaper Group editor-in-chief Tommy Gardner about how they approach their work to help voters make informed choices. The discussion will be moderated by Boston Globe reporter Paul Heintz and will include audience Q&A. RSVP at wildmeadowsbooks.com/events or scan the QR code THE JOURNALISM CLUB is a monthly gathering of news producers and consumers to discuss the reporting process. It takes place at 6 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month at Wild Meadows Books & Cafe. Williston
Serving our community since 1985
October 29, 2026 •
Williston Observer • Page 5
GREEN E-moto
continued from page 4
must be at least 16 years old and be licensed. They are not allowed on sidewalks, bike paths, urban bike lanes or on non-motorized mountain bike trails.
Some e-moto companies and retailers appear to purposely blur the distinctions with advertisements that are targeted to teens and misrepresent them as e-bikes. E-bikes have been used in our community for over a decade, but the recent explosive growth of both e-bikes and e-motos and the sometimes rude or risky behaviors have rightly attracted a lot of negative attention and wrongly given e-bikes a bad name. Many readers of this article may have a story about outrageous e-moto riding behaviors on bike paths or on roadways. These bad behaviors are intolerable, and they are amplified by the power and speed of e-motos. As we should not expect that the police will be available to prevent
every misuse, it is important for everyone to limit speeds on shared paths to 20 mph and 12 mph when passing others. Being courteous goes a long way, and parents need to ensure that their children know how and where to ride safely and know the rules of the road. From 2023 to 2026, the rate of scooter and e-bike/e-moto related ER visits for children and adolescents has increased 7.5 times (that’s 750% according to USA Today). And with higher speeds, the injuries are more severe, with over 30% being head and neck injuries. It is for good reason that it is recommended that children under 12 years old should only ride traditional bikes without any motor assist. Even when riding cautiously, any bike has its risks. But using traditional bikes and pedal assist e-bikes can contribute to an active lifestyle and long-term health benefits more than many other activities. These benefits do not extend to e-motos. To participate in Williston’s energy future, contact the Williston Energy Committee at energy@willistonvt.org or attend a public meeting on the second or fourth Wednesday of each month. Meeting agendas are posted on the Town of Williston website at town.williston.vt.us. More information is available at willistonvtenergycommittee.org.
Your business cares about the environment. So do our readers!
2026 WILLISTON COMMUNITY
Place an ad in the Living Green section of the Observer. The section - which prints every 4th week of the month - focuses on sustainability and the environment.
Call Adam Geffken today
GREEN
at 802-338-1655 or email Adam@ willistonobserver.com
A special pullout guide that will contain a list of local nonprofit organizations.
GIVING GUIDE
For more information contact: Non-profits: email susan@willistonobserver.com Advertisers: email adam@willistonobserver.com
Publishing Nov. 12, 2026 Williston
Serving our community since 1985
Page 6 •
Williston Observer • October 29, 2026
GUEST COLUMN
Williston
Let’s bend but not break
Serving our community since 1985
willistonobserver.com P.O. Box 1401, Williston, VT 05495 802-489-5499
ADVERTISING Adam Geffken, Account Manager adam@willistonobserver.com 802-338-1655 Rick Cote, Associate Publisher rick@willistonobserver.com 802-373-2136 EDITOR Jason Starr editor@willistonobserver.com PRODUCTION & DESIGN Jan Kenney jan@willistonobserver.com PUBLISHER Susan T. Cote susan@willistonobserver.com BILLING INQUIRIES Michael McCaffrey office@willistonobserver.com ADVERTISING SPACE DEADLINE Friday at 5 p.m. for the next Thursday issue adam@willistonobserver.com 802-338-1655 CLASSIFIED ADS Deadline is Friday 5 p.m. There is a fee for business, real estate, help wanted and legal ads. Free classifieds must be 25 words or fewer and are printed on a space available basis.
BY DAN JONES Many folks I know are becoming more despondent about the course of events in the world. Rapidly rising prices for fuel, food and rent make life ever more precarious. A delusional president, a Congress paid for by billionaires, ICE shooting people in the street, and AI developing the capacity to invade any computer system all have left most of us feeling that the traditional guardrails of our lives and government can no longer be trusted. Commentators and public figures now openly raise the specter of financial and social collapse, echoing the fears that many of us have long been afraid to talk about. Amid this environment of growing fear, I was pleased to attend, along with 500 other Vermonters, the recent Vermont Summit at UVM. Sponsored by the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources and the Blittersdorf Family Foundation, this daylong event featured the popular podcaster Nate Hagens. His podcast is called The Great Simplification, and in it he frames a future with much less fossil fuel not as collapse, but as an
Our addiction to personal cars and trucks, driving on well-maintained roads, will make it really hard to shift to a shared-resource future. But the times are changing. unavoidable simplification of our current expectations. Nate’s work has focused on the effects of our “energy blindness”: our inability to understand how crucial fossil fuels are to the continued operation of our industrial modernity. His baseline message is that all of our simultaneous system failures are not simply a bunch of separate problems to be solved. Rather, our current moment must be seen as a predicament, which cannot be solved, only adapted to. Instead of fearing and assuming our “collapse” into a chaotic and painful future, Hagens suggests we consider finding
A show made FOR crafters, from hobbyists to professionals
SUBMISSIONS & LETTERS Deadline is Monday noon for Thursday issue. News/story tips are welcomed. Letters to the Editor should be 300 words or fewer and include your name, address and a daytime phone number so that we can verify the letter’s author. The Williston Observer reserves the right to edit or refuse submissions or advertising. Opinions expressed in the paper are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the paper.
Craft. Create. Learn. Explore! Tools, materials, demonstrations, and workshops for makers of all experience levels.
Member:
This is not a traditional craft fair featuring finished handmade goods. This is a show made FOR crafters, designed to help you discover new techniques, explore equipment, and find resources for your next project.
Burlington Area Newspaper Group
Champlain Valley Expo
A publication of Twin Ponds Publishing LLC
BANG
November 7-8 Learn More at: VTGatherings.com
happiness by making our lives and expectations much simpler. At a society-wide scale, he frames that approach to the future as the Great Simplification. He offers an alternative to the feared collapse by suggesting we work toward a future in which we “bend, not break.” The bending is our collective movement toward a much less resource- and energy-dependent future, one that will still provide a modicum of comfort, civility and happiness to all of us. To begin a conversation about simplifying our current needs and demands, I thought I might lay out a sampler of critical areas in which we have to rapidly consider change. By offering this variety of hints at possible directions, I hope to prompt deeper conversations about what changes in expectations might soon be demanded of us all. Until our current fraught moment, these would have been considered impossible and foolish. Each of these areas will require personal decisions from all of us and policy responses from our elected officials. Then we will have to live with our decisions. While far from an exhaustive list of needed adaptive changes, this hopefully lays out a framework
that must be addressed and some possible approaches to consider. FUEL PRICES AND STAYING WARM
Despite our best wishes, the price of oil products will not be coming down. Too many facilities have been destroyed, crippling international trade in oil products, while Trump has alienated producing countries. Heating fuel and diesel fuel will keep getting more expensive, steadily ratcheting up the cost of keeping warm and keeping products moving. Staying warm in future Vermont winters will require a lot more insulation in homes and offices. Heavy sweaters will become a real fashion statement. Heat pumps, if they are available, will become widely used, though they are challenged in extreme cold. Items that require extensive shipping will become more expensive. All this means that we must have public policy and cost debates based on the reality of our future housing needs, rather than on wishful thinking that we will return to “normal.” Before central heating, previous generations survived, but there were ever so many stories of the discomforts of winter. see JONES page 7
October 29, 2026 •
Jones
HEALTH CARE
continued from page 6
FOOD SYSTEMS
Parts of America’s food growing regions are drying up, while others flood. Diesel costs are already affecting the prices of food on the store shelves. Over time, local food will beat the supermarket on cost. But for Vermont to feed itself, we must rapidly work on creating a local food economy. We should find a way to transfer farmland that is not being used to feed us to young farmers who can use it for all our benefit. Milk and maple must stop being the only iconic agricultural products of Vermont. We need many more working produce farms, with tax benefits for those actually growing the food we need at home. If we are really successful, we could export not only milk and maple syrup, but also vegetables and grain. Doing this will require shared transport to get that food to towns, large-scale storage capacity, and greenhouses for winter production. The economics of local food must move from luxury to necessity very soon.
The magic of medical breakthroughs in the past 100 years has been breathtaking, and dependent on massive public and philanthropic spending. Lives have been extended and made possible by drugs, surgeries and vaccines. This required a complex system of chemical and drug manufacturing, hyper-specialized skills training, and an entire supporting insurance industry. That complex system is now bankrupting all of us. A locally focused primary care system would make sure everyone is getting basic care. Studies have shown that such early care can prevent the need for many advanced drugs and procedures. Yes, access to the amazing magic of the current system might no longer be available, but for most of us, real, locally provided health care can reduce the need for much of that medical magic. TRANSPORTATION
For the moment, let’s imagine that the cost of gasoline and diesel continues to climb, perhaps so high that many of our jobs and assumptions about regular travel and commerce rapidly become
As times get harder and many of our complex systems stop working predictably, we will be thrown on the kindness of our neighbors, and they on us. unaffordable. Vermont is a rural state with a lifestyle of homes dispersed across the hillsides. Of course, there are working farms, etc., but without cheaper gas and diesel, getting into town and running farm machinery is becoming much more expensive. In this emerging reality, simplification would require us to look at shared services and resources. Instead of personal cars, perhaps folks near population centers would consider sharing the cost of microtransit. For those who live well away from town, a return to the old local bus routes, perhaps mixed with school buses, could save money and resources. Our addiction to personal cars and trucks,
RE-ELECT Hardworking, responsive, analytical leadership for South Burlington and Williston
Bridget Burkhardt Vermont State Representative for Chittenden-8 House Committee on Ways & Means
• Fairer tax system • Strong, sustainable schools • Affordable healthcare • Housing for all • Environmental responsibility • Civil rights protected Reach out to Bridget today! Paid for by Burkhardt for Vermont PO Box 9383 South Burlington, VT 05407
burkhardtforvt@gmail.com burkhardtforvt.com
MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE BY 11/3 AT VOTE.VERMONT.GOV
Williston Observer • Page 7
driving on well-maintained roads, will make it really hard to shift to a shared-resource future. But the times are changing.
Keeping the streets plowed, the schools open and the electricity on will pose challenges we haven’t had to worry about for almost 100 years.
OUR COMMON ENERGY
It’s no secret that the rapid rise in the costs of food and fuel is challenging all of us. Getting angry and demanding fixes from the government may provide temporary emotional release, but adapting to completely changed circumstances will require much more civility and sacrifice. This won’t be easy, and it should prompt a deep conversation at all levels of our state, from the governor to the local book groups. Vermont’s motto of “Freedom and Unity” must define our common mission. To preserve any measure of freedom in the future, we must work together to adapt to the emerging, difficult reality. Vermont, with the right leadership and imagination, may have the capacity and resources to demonstrate how we can all bend not break in the face of the coming trials.
As we move away from our addiction to the conveniences and privileges that cheap fossil fuels have provided us, we still yearn for a reasonable level of humane civility. That shift requires challenging the very notion of the primacy of markets as the determinant of value and return for a sustainable future. Given the costs of fuel, economic disruptions, and associated climate crises, the mass industrial society and mass government that the fossil fuel revolution has created cannot be maintained. To build from strength, then, we have to start with the energy to be found in ourselves and in our small communities. As times get harder and many of our complex systems stop working predictably, we will be thrown on the kindness of our neighbors, and they on us. If the old folks up the street can’t afford enough heat, can we invite them in to sit with us by our fires? In a couple of years, our food pantries and community lunches may become critical to all our well-being.
Dan Jones of Montpelier is the founder of the Sustainable Montpelier Design Competition and former director of the Sustainable Montpelier Coalition.
Page 8 •
Williston Observer • October 29, 2026
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Concerning churn at Zephyr Place As Chittenden County faces a severe housing crisis, building new units means nothing if we fail at housing retention. When public housing dollars are used to drive displacement, it directly worsens the emergency it was meant to fix. Behind every court filing is a low-income worker, a senior on a fixed income, or a neighbor struggling to stay afloat. A stark gap between public mission and reality is unfolding at Zephyr Place in Williston. Operated as a 72-unit property backed by Low-Income Housing Tax Credit financing, Evernorth and the Champlain Housing Trust, its mandate is to provide secure, supportive housing. Instead, public records show it operates as a revolving door for evictions. Local court dockets reveal management has initiated roughly 12 formal eviction proceedings — a 16% formal turnover rate, nearly eight times Vermont’s statewide average. When factoring in
Budget
continued from page 1
1 AD PURCHASE. 7 PAPERS.
THOUSANDS OF READERS. THOUSANDS OF POTENTIAL CLIENTS
said. “We do have some areas we can make some reductions because of declining student enrollment, but ($2.5 million) is not an easy number to get to,” Marckres said. “There will be some really difficult reduction conversations that go along with that.” The board’s finance committee considered a $115 million proposal that would carry forward all the district’s current staff and programming, but ultimately decided that taxpayers would be unlikely to support the required $6.5 million spending
White Cap
continued from page 1
Burlington Area Newspaper Group Reach readers in northern Vermont’s most prosperous communities!
adam@willistonobserver.com • (802) 338-1655
“I presume the project is done for now. Maybe they will want to pick it up someday in the future.” Meanwhile, the Williston Selectboard is actively trying to uproot ICE from Williston as the agency’s immigration enforcement tactics have become
unrecorded cash-for-keys buyouts used to pressure vulnerable residents out before reaching a judge, the actual forced turnover rate reaches approximately 20%. One out of every five families and individuals in the building is being cleared out. This forced displacement operates more like a high-turnover transient motel than a stable home. Money judgments against low-income tenants are legally uncollectible. Instead, management uses an eviction assembly line to reset leases, wipe out maintenance complaints and draw fresh public subsidies. This churn creates an environment of intimidation. We cannot solve Vermont’s housing crisis without prioritizing tenant retention. When public providers rely on mass displacement over compassionate stewardship, the true cost is borne by real people pushed back into homelessness. Jonathan Smith Williston incease. “That is clearly well above what we know our community will support,” board member Dave Connery said. At the same time, replicating only the current $107.8 million budget for another year “would create too many cuts,” he said. The district has eliminated 82 positions since the 2022-2023 school year, following a staffing surge that occurred during the pandemic. Enrollment has dropped by 300 students during that time. The board meets again Nov. 17, when administrators are expected to provide an initial estimate of the property tax impact of the budget proposal. increasingly aggressive. The board requested an appearance from a federal representative at its Oct. 20 meeting to learn about what the agency does inside the offices, but the request was ignored. Board chair Ted Kenney has now penned a letter to Vermont’s Congressional delegation about local objections to the ICE presence. A discussion about that letter is on the agenda for the selectboard’s Nov. 4 meeting.
October 29, 2026 •
Williston Observer • Page 9
State senator from Rutland County arrested on domestic assault charge BY ALAN J. KEAYS VTDigger
Sen. Terry Williams, R-Rutland, at the Statehouse in Montpelier.
A Vermont state senator from Rutland County has been jailed on a charge of domestic assault, according to Vermont State Police. Terry Williams, 74, of Poultney, was set to appear Wednesday at 12:30 in court for an arraignment on the misdemeanor charge. Williams, a Republican, has served as a state senator since 2022 and is facing re-election on Tuesday. Williams was arrested after state police received a report
around 5:40 p.m. Tuesday that a domestic assault had taken place in Poultney, according to a state police press release issued Wednesday morning. An investigation revealed that Williams “had caused pain and injury to a household member one day earlier” on Monday, the release added. Williams was placed in custody and taken to the Rutland state police barracks for processing, according to the release. He was then taken to the Rutland jail on $500 bail. No additional information
was immediately available from state police. More information is expected to be made public following his arraignment and the release of the police affidavit filed in support of the charge. In a statement, Senate Republican Leader Scott Beck said: “The Vermont Senate Republicans are aware of the Vermont State Police incident report that was released regarding Senator Terry Williams. We are not aware of any details beyond the report ... Expect an additional press statement after the arraignment hearing.”
FILE PHOTO BY GLENN RUSSELL/VTDIGGER
NOW TAKING ORDERS Fresh Vermont
Turkeys Order Deadline 11/11/26
Freshly Baked Pies, Rolls, Maple Bread and more! And don’t forget the cider and applesauce! Like us on Facebook!
Check out adamsfarmmarket.com or stop by to see what we have available!
@adamsfarmvt
Old Stage Rd. Williston apple orchard & farm market ADAMSFARMMARKET.COM
879-5226
Market Open Daily 9-5
Page 10
•
Williston Observer •
October 29, 2026
Hunting season begins with trapping, muzzleloaders
A trapper makes a beaver set beneath the ice.
W happenhat’s at Wild ing next Meado ws?
PHOTOS COURTESY OF VERMONT FISH AND WILDLIFE
• Sweet
SPINE-TINGLING?
Vermont’s animal trapping season opened Saturday and runs through March. Traps can now be set on land for species such as fox, coyote and raccoon through the end of this year, and in the water or under ice for species such as beaver, muskrat and otter through the end of March. These species have healthy populations in Vermont that can sustain regulated trapping for fur and food each year, according to the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. State Wildlife Biologist and Furbearer Project Leader Brehan Furfey warned people and pets venturing outdoors to be aware of potential animal traps. “Vermont has had regulated trapping seasons for decades and Vermont hikers, hunters, skiers, trappers and others have a good track record of sharing the same landscape safely and respectfully,” he said. In December 2023, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board
$1e1a.ch95
adopted amended regulations that require trappers to use traps that reduce harm to captured animals and to follow safety measures to minimize conflicts with pets and other outdoors users. It is illegal to interfere with lawfully set traps in Vermont. Anyone who finds a trap that appears to be in violation of Vermont’s trapping regulations should contact a game warden. Anyone whose pet is caught in a trap should report the incident to a game warden after freeing their pet. Also this week, the state’s antlerless muzzleloader season begins Friday. This four-day season is only for hunters who received an antlerless deer hunting permit and have a hunting license and muzzleloader license. Vermont’s regular deer hunting season is scheduled for Nov. 14–29 and a second antlerless muzzleloader season is scheduled for Nov. 30-Dec. 13. Only one antlerless deer may be taken per antlerless permit.
Local author Carla Solomon brings you…
A Ghostly Adventure Series
End the month with author events! Friday, October 30, 6 p.m. Join us for conversation and book signings with Amber Roberts, author of Haunt Your Heart Out and Lindsay Lovise, author of Gingerbread Bones. Saturday, October 31, 4 p.m. Join us for conversation and book signings with Steven C. Schlozman, M.D., author of The Zombie Autopsies: Secret Notebooks from the Apocalypse and Tony Magistrale, co-author of King Noir: The Crime Fiction of Stephen King. For complete event details, visit wildmeadowsbooks.com/events 27 Market St., Williston • 802-755-5986 Sun-Wed: 8 am-6 pm • Thurs-Sat: 8 am-9 pm
Awardg!! Winnin
A great cozy mystery for anyone who likes a spooky adventure! Use QR code to order today!
“Equal parts charm and chills! A perfect read around the campfire.
csolomonauthor.com Visit Carla at Williston Craft Show on 11/7 for a special bundle price! Get $2 OFF online with coupon code: 2DollarsOffAGT (limited # of coupons, so act now!)
—JL DuRona, acclaimed author of the Berge Sisters
October 29, 2026 • Williston Observer •
Burlington selects new chief of police Anthony Geraci has 24 years of police experience in New York BY TIERNEY FLAVIN VTDigger Burlington’s mayor has selected a longtime New York police official to be the city’s next police chief. Anthony Geraci served in various New York police departments throughout his career, beginning with the New York City Police Department in 1998. He later moved upstate to Albany, and served as police chief in Watervliet and Newburgh, according to Seven Days and Vermont News First. Most recently, Geraci worked for Strategic Government Resources, a Texas-based recruitment firm. “He is an exceptional candidate with the experience, character, and values to meet our community safety challenges, and I am confident he will be a strong leader to bring the Burlington Police Department into its next chapter,” Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak wrote in a statement Monday. Mulvaney-Stanak had yet to publicly announce her decision when the selection was first reported by Vermont News First on
“He is an exceptional candidate with the experience, character, and values to meet our community safety challenges.” Emma Mulvaney-Stanak Burlington Mayor
Sunday. His appointment follows a months-long selection process which began in July. Geraci will replace Burlington’s interim Police Chief Shawn Burke. Burke stepped down as South Burlington’s police chief to take on the interim role beginning in March 2025. Former Police Chief Jon Murad did not seek reappointment in 2025 after he and Mulvaney-Stanak, a Progressive, clashed over their approaches to public safety, as Burlington has debated reducing its police force by 30% since 2020. The city has struggled to manage homelessness and drug use, asking Gov. Phil Scott for help in August. Geraci, leaves behind several controversies from his time in New York. Efforts to reach him
Your vision. Our expertise!
for comment on Monday were unsuccessful. The city of Watervliet placed Geraci on leave after 10 months, claiming it was facing budget constraints related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Watervliet’s police union backed him when he was asked not to return, telling a local news outlet that Geraci’s firing was “personal in nature.” The union said they believed his dismissal was a result of changes he made in the department which deprioritized profit from ticketing motorists, The Times Union reported. Geraci then served as chief for Newburgh between 2021 and 2024. He left the department amid accusations of misconduct by three women, according to Hudson Valley News 12. Geraci told the news outlet that an independent investigator cleared him of any official wrongdoing, and he then moved to serve as the director of security for Newburgh schools between May 2024 and February 2025. Geraci said he left that position after changes in district leadership “no longer aligned with my personal values,” Westchester News 12 reported. Burlington’s city council is expected to vote on Geraci’s appointment at a meeting on Nov. 9.
Page 11
Sat., Nov. 14, 2026 9AM - 4PM Waitsfield Elementary School
SPONSORS
EARLY SHOPPING 8 – 9 AM. Pre-buy tickets online. CONSIGNMENT must be registered online. VOLUNTEER (& get special perks!) www.waitsfieldpta.org/ski-and-skate-sale
Let us help with your
Fall Clean Up SERVICES INCLUDE Leaf blowing/Debris removal Landscape bed clean-out Lawn mowing, weeding & edging Hedge trimming
Please come visit o u showroom. r
Monday – Fr iday 8 a.m. – 4 p. m.
theyardbarbersvt@gmail.com theyardbarbersllc.com
…and more!
For help with your pet call the
Mobile Vet!
Dr. Bri Letaw brings compassionate veterinary care to dogs and cats in the Williston area. Making house calls for wellness, illness or end of life care.
We believe beauty and function can be affordable. 100 AVENUE D, WILLISTON • 802-864-9831
EMAIL: SHOWROOM@BLODGETTSUPPLY.COM
Phone: 802-441-0144 Website: www.ridgerunnervt.com Appointment Only: 9am-5pm M-F
Page 12
•
Williston Observer •
October 29, 2026
Supporters raise offer for Rice Memorial High
Bid to save parochial school from potential Chapter 11 liquidation increased to $5.9 million BY KEVIN O’CONNOR VTDigger
Supporters wanting to save the Vermont Roman Catholic Diocese’s flagship Rice Memorial High School from potential liquidation in the church’s ongoing Chapter 11 financial reorganization case have upped their offer from $4.3 million to $5.9 million. The state’s largest religious denomination asked a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge this summer for permission to privately offer the grade 9-12 South Burlington campus to the new nonprofit entity RMHS Inc., whose principal officers are the nine members of the Rice School Board. But a creditors’ committee representing more than 100 people who have filed clergy abuse claims against the diocese contested the plan’s initial price tag — spurring all sides to hold mediation talks this fall and supporters to raise their bid. “The diocese has discussed the purchaser’s offer with the official committee,” church lawyers have written in court papers filed this month in advance of a scheduled Nov. 20 hearing on the issue. “The
The football field at the grade 9-12 Rice Memorial High School in South Burlington. PHOTO BY KEVIN O’CONNOR/VTDIGGER
committee consents to the proposed sale.” An attorney for the creditors’ committee confirmed that consent to VTDigger, although the group has yet to formally affirm its approval in a court filing. Any sale during the Chapter 11 process also requires a judge’s sign-off. That could come just weeks before the diocese is set to ask to withdraw its financial reorganization
case at a Dec. 8 hearing, although an affirmative ruling on the latter request isn’t guaranteed and could take time. The diocese asked the bankruptcy court for help in the fall of 2024, saying a past series of nearly 70 priest misconduct settlements had reduced its bank-and-building holdings by half — to about $35 million — with more than 100 other abuse claims
dating as far back as 1950 yet to be resolved. As part of the process, the church asked the court in July for approval to sell Rice’s 42-classroom building and surrounding 27 acres to a group of unnamed “dedicated donors.” Supporters said their initial $4.3 million offer came after White + Burke Real Estate Advisors of Burlington issued a seven-page estimate of the school’s market value at between $4 million and $6 million. In response, the creditors’ committee questioned why the proposed price wasn’t closer to a more comprehensive 31-page church-commissioned appraisal by Champlain Valley Appraisal Services of Waterbury that valued the campus at $30.5 million. Abuse claimants called for higher bids in hopes of raising more money for settlements. Rice began in 1917 as Cathedral High School in downtown Burlington before moving to a new name and its current South Burlington location in 1959, according to its online history. The 400-student Rice campus is one of three Catholic high schools in Vermont, alongside Mount St. Joseph Academy in Rutland and St. Michael School in Brattleboro. The diocese hasn’t announced any plans for the latter two institutions or its 10 schools for elementary and middle grades.
Don't Buy New. Find Something Better. Unique finds, budget-friendly prices, and a more sustainable way to shop for your home.
vermonthabitat.org 104 Robin Hood Dr., Swanton 528 Essex Rd/Route2A, Williston @greenmountainhabitat (802) 857-5296 414 Route 7, Milton
October 29, 2026 • Williston Observer •
Page 13
Vermont commits $15 million to expand heating assistance Funds are for households heating with oil and kerosene BY THEO WELLS-SPACKMAN VTDigger Vermont officials approved a $15.3 million state funding package to expand home heating aid programs last week. The state administers lump-sum seasonal fuel assistance benefits for financially qualifying households and also directs funds to a program that provides aid in crises when eligible people run out of fuel later in the heating season. The new state money approved Friday will increase the amount of seasonal aid that Vermont can provide this year for households heating with oil and kerosene, which have skyrocketed in price. More than half of the roughly 15,000 qualifying households across Vermont that received help from the program last year rely on those two fuel types, officials said. The package will also double the “crisis fuel” program’s capacity, allowing an extra 2,400 households to be able to receive payments to avoid a heating emergency this winter. Residential heating oil prices have risen by about 76% since last fall, with kerosene prices soaring by 61% over the same period, officials estimated. A number of state and federal officeholders in Vermont have expressed increasing concern in recent weeks about their constituents’ ability to keep warm this winter in a state that depends heavily on
oil for heating. Vermont’s Emergency Board, which includes Republican Gov. Phil Scott and the four Democratic lawmakers who chair committees that oversee state finances, unanimously passed the proposal Friday. In the past, seasonal heating benefits have generally covered about 45% of recipients’ anticipated fuel needs, drawing primarily on funds from the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which is set to send Vermont nearly $23 million this year. The newly bolstered state program can likely cover about 62% of fuel needs this year for Vermonters using oil or kerosene, according to Miranda Gray, who leads the Economic Services Division of the Department for Children and Families. About 38% of fuel assistance recipients in Vermont use home heating oil, and 14% use kerosene, according to her department, with others relying on alternatives like propane, wood or natural gas. The current cost pressures are “unique,” according to Sen. Andrew Perchlik, D/P-Washington, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee and sits on the emergency board. His goal while helping negotiate the proposal, he said, was to keep low-income Vermonters’ winter fuel costs essentially in line with last year. Time was running out to make such an adjustment to the program, Perchlik said, given that Vermont generally dispenses lump-sum fuel assistance benefits in November. Gov. Scott likewise underlined
REPAIRS APPRAISALS
Ring Sizing • Cleaning • Stone Tightening • Rhodium Plating
Performed by Our Graduate Gemologists
91 MAIN STREET, STOWE ~ 802.253.3033 ~ STOWE@FERROJEWELERS.COM @FERRO_JEWELERS_STOWE ~ FACEBOOK.COM/FERRO.JEWELERS WWW.FERROJEWELERS.COM
the measure’s importance in the emergency board meeting, saying it would “give some comfort to those who we need to protect across Vermont.”
Residential heating oil prices have risen by about 76% since last fall, with kerosene prices soaring by 61% over the same period. He added that the sharp increase in fuel prices “could have been avoided, but hasn’t been,” appearing to refer to the Trump administration’s decisions with respect to the Iran war. House Ways and Means Committee Chair Emilie Kornheiser, D-Brattleboro, agreed, adding that other cost pressures
— like food — are weighing on her constituents simultaneously. “So many of us don’t have any extra wiggle room at all in our budgets,” she said, saying protecting Vermonters’ access to bare necessities is “the basic minimum that a government can do.” It’s a message that Travis Poulin, community action network director at the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, is hearing more often as temperatures begin to drop. “Any additional funds that can help prevent a family from running out of home heating fuel, from having their pipes burst, is money well spent,” he said in an interview Thursday in advance of the board’s meeting. Fuel prices will inevitably put a strain on households across the state, affecting vulnerable families and older Vermonters the most, Poulin said. “It’s going to be a difficult winter,” he said. The funds for Friday’s proposal
will be drawn from a pot of money that lawmakers set aside last year as a cushion to shore up state agencies affected by federal funding cuts. Friday marked the second time the emergency board has drawn from those reserves, after it approved a state-funded stopgap for food assistance payments during the federal government shutdown a year ago. Vermont’s congressional delegation has also sounded the alarm over heating assistance in recent weeks, with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., calling for a broad expansion of federal LIHEAP funding. If more federal funding does become available, unused money from Friday’s proposal could be returned to the state’s reserves, Gray said. Some state legislators are cautious about expecting such a windfall. “I’m not going to hold my breath,” said Perchlik. Theo Wells-Spackman is a Report for America corps member who reports for VTDigger.
Page 14
•
Williston Observer •
October 29, 2026
VT officials stake out plans to protect election
BY SHAUN ROBINSON VTDigger
Top state officials on Monday urged Vermonters to turn down the temperature amid an uptick in what one called “heated” confrontations between voters and local city and town clerks about the integrity of next week’s general election. The rhetoric from people who are “agitated” and unsure of the process is fueled by “a lot of misinformation that’s coming out of Washington, D.C. — daily, nightly social media posts from the president — about how elections work,” said Sarah Copeland Hanzas, Vermont’s Democratic secretary of state, at a press conference in Montpelier. She was joined by Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican. Scott said the state government and Vermont law enforcement will “do whatever we have to do” to help town and city officials run the Nov. 3 election safely and securely. That could include preventing federal officials from
exerting undue influence over the voting process, which is run by the state, he said. President Donald Trump’s administration has taken unprecedented steps to assert more control over elections during Trump’s second term. Last week, for example, the federal government moved to preemptively challenge the certification of Alaska’s U.S. Senate election if the Republican candidate there narrowly loses. “The (U.S.) Constitution is clear on this: The elections are the responsibility of the states. We take that very seriously,” Scott told reporters. “So, from our standpoint, we will do everything within our power to protect the process — and we will counter anything that comes up.” Copeland Hanzas, who is Vermont’s top election official, said she was not aware of any specific threats to polling places in the state as of Monday and added that the heated rhetoric she described was not centered
on any one geographic area. The press conference came as about 101,400 people had already cast a Vermont general election ballot as of Monday morning, according to Copeland Hanzas’ office. That’s about a fifth of the 500,700 total registered voters in the state. The number of people who’ve voted early is down from recent years, though. At this point in 2024, about 141,500 ballots had been cast; at this point in 2022, that figure was just shy of 113,400, Copeland Hanzas said. Turnout is consistently higher in years with a presidential election, like 2024, than in midterm years, like 2022 and 2026. Copeland Hanzas said it’s also possible people have less confidence in the security of mail-in voting this year than in the past because Trump has tried to curtail people’s access to mail-in voting, plans that have so far been struck down in court. Scott, meanwhile, said the well-documented mail delivery
delays around Vermont have meant some voters still have not received their ballots. Anyone who has not received a ballot by this point, and who wants to vote early, should go to their local clerk’s office and fill one out there, Copeland Hanzas said. She and Scott said the state is planning for “any number of contingencies” during next week’s voting, including power outages, internet outages or other communications disruptions, physical threats to election workers and the appearance of federal immigration agents at polling locations. The Trump administration said earlier this month that it would not send U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to polling locations around the country en masse, but it would not rule out their presence entirely. Vermont officials would be unlikely to get much if any heads up about such activity from the feds, Copeland Hanzas said.
Scott said the state Agency of Digital Services has taken additional steps this year to protect the secretary of state’s website and online election management system out of a concern for cyberattacks. State officials have also been meeting with city and town clerks, as well as local law enforcement and the Vermont State Police, to make sure there’s a shared understanding of the rules governing where and how people can observe the voting process and what activities are permitted at the polls. Federal law prohibits the military or federal officials from stationing “troops or armed men” at polling locations, according to the secretary of state’s office, though federal agents are generally allowed to operate in any public place that’s near a polling station. The goal, Copeland Hanzas said, is that “our law enforcement partners will be able to respond and be prepared to uphold Vermont law.”
Now in Williston | Accepting New Patients!
Blaze new trails with new hips! Same-day, computer navigated, anterior total hip replacement Over 3,000 performed since 2010.
See What Rice is Like STUDENTS - Attend Knight for a Day
We treat your hip pain so you can live an active lifestyle again! Easily accessible building No long wait times and time for our patients Small, personable team Operating at Green Mountain Surgery Center 426 Industrial Ave. Williston
Dr. Ivan Tomek, MD FRCSC
Call 802-755-7171
to make an appointment today!
Learn more at BurlingtonOrthopedics.com
Friday, 11/6 or 2/5, 8:30-11:15am 8th grade students are invited to spend a half day on campus: attend short classes, meet our teachers, connect with other prospective students, and experience Rice firsthand.
PARENTS - Talk to a Rice Parent at BBCo.
Wednesday, 11/11, 5:30-7pm Come meet some of our current parents, ask real questions, and find out why they chose Rice. Cash bar & appetizers provided. Please register.
REGISTER
admissions@rmhsvt.org 802-862-6521x2246
www.rmhsvt.org
October 29, 2026 • Williston Observer •
Page 15
East Charlotte tractor parade brings generations together BY ALEX FINKELBERG Community News Service
On Sunday, Oct. 11, tractor owners and families gathered in East Charlotte for the annual tractor parade, bringing vintage tractors, longtime farming connections and a new generation of participants to Green Mountain Hay on Spear Street. For many attendees, the parade is about more than showing off their tractors. This year’s event highlighted how tractors and farming traditions are being passed between generations, from longtime participants who grew up farming to younger drivers taking over family tractors. Cameron Day, 15, participated in the parade for the first time with a 1940s tractor that belonged to his grandfather, who had bought it secondhand in the late 1960s. The machine was used mainly for logging. “He used it in the woods for a long time, and he’s kind of passed it on to me,” Cameron said. “And so now I’m kind of trying to make it live on.” The day began at Green Mountain Hay, where parade participants were invited to gather for lunch at 11 a.m. By 12:30 p.m., tractors began lining up for the procession, which was scheduled to start at 1 p.m. The 4.5-mile route started on Spear Street, turned onto Hinesburg Road, went down Bean Road, then Prindle Road, before looping back to Spear. Farther up Spear Street, the intersection with Hinesburg Road became the main gathering point for spectators. Vendors and Remember Baker, a five-piece string band, filled the area around the Charlotte General Store. Children played nearby as families waited for tractors to arrive. The parade was part of a larger day of activities along Spear Street. Besides putting its tractors on
display, Green Mountain Hay hosted food vendors and children’s activities, including a pedal tractor track, a route lined with hay bales that participants traversed with John Deerebranded tricycles. Other attractions were spread farther up the route. Some participants have been part of the parade since it started more than 20 years ago. Mike Cook, this year’s grand marshal, farmed full-time but is now retired and helps out at Green Mountain Hay. Cook thinks he may have been participating in the tractor parade since it started. This year, “I’m going to be the leader,” he said. Others return because the parade keeps them connected to a farming community they have known for much of their lives. Ken Gebo, a local farmer, gathered with other longtime participants in Green Mountain Hay’s barn before the parade, enjoying a hot dog lunch. Gebo grew up around farming and said his reason for returning to the event is simple. “Just love tractors,” Gebo said. Gebo and the men around him talked about growing up on farms and knowing many of the people at the event. Although some no longer farm, their connections to tractors and local farming communities remain. For Ashley Clark, of Twin Oaks Dairy Farm, the traditions center on her family. Clark, her husband and their four children decorate their tractor and wagon with a fall or Halloween theme each year. They spent hours decorating before this year’s event, going all in on the Halloween theme. This year’s float was complete with wilted corn husks, spider webs, scarecrows and ghouls. “We look forward to this weekend every year,” she said. “It’s spending time with family and not
having to worry about outside stuff.” Clark also said the slow pace of the parade gives her a different view of the landscape around her. “In a car, it’s not the same,” she said. “It’s the slowness, and you get to see things that you’ve always taken for granted.” For another family, this year marked the start of the tradition for a new generation. Nathan Bonneau of Williston has participated in the parade every year since October 2010. This year, his daughter, Everly, joined him for her first parade. Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship, for the Charlotte News
Nathan Bonneau of Williston sits with his daughter, Everly, at the East Charlotte tractor parade. Bonneau has participated every year since 2010; this was Everly’s first parade. PHOTO BY ALEX FINKELBERG
Brand new state-of-the art facility! Providing Peace of Mind for Families and Loved Ones
ACCEPTING
NEW
Discover the Advantages of Comprehensive Estate Planning Our Services: Customized Estate Planning with Trusts and Wills Protecting Your Assets While Planning for Long-Term Care Helping Young Families Plan for the Future Trusted and Efficient Trust Administration (802) 879 7133 26 Railroad Avenue Essex Junction, VT unsworthlaplante.com
Members of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys & National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
PATIENTS!!! 426 Industrial Ave. Suite 132, Williston LOCALLY OWNED • VETERAN OWNED
DR. WILL DOWLING, DMD
Request appointment at 802dental.com or call 802-266-1515
Page 16 •
Williston Observer •
October 29, 2026
SPORTS
Girl ‘Hawks sweep Lakers
CLOCKWISE (l to r): CVU’s Sam Boisjoli gets a kill from the right pin during the Redhawks’ quarterfinal three-set sweep of the Colchester Lakers on Oct. 21 in Hinesburg. Keeping her eyes on the ball Maya Lewis prepares to set the ball for a hitter. Emma Cote delivers a jump serve. OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY
Quarterfinal wins for ‘Hawks CLOCKWISE (from above): CVU’s Ryan Burriitt sets the ball for Willcox Elliott during the Redhawks’ quarterfinal, three-set sweep of the Montpelier Solons on Oct. 21 in Hinesburg. A bump from Zachary Pratt keeps the ball in play. John Beaumier’s kill gets past the defenders. Luke Halverson sends the ball skyward. Henry Shrier gets low for a dig. OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY
Comprehensive Dentistry SUPPORTS
WILLISTON CRAFT SHOW Saturday, November 7 9 AM - 4 PM Williston Central School
Quality Care for Your Entire Family
Gentle, Expert Dental Care for your Beautiful Smile ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS Emergencies seen promptly. We now contract with all major dental insurances.
195 Central School Drive, Williston, VT
Jewelry, artwork, woodcrafts, pottery, fiber arts, holiday and gifts, specialty food items, live music & food trucks! For Map & More Info:
www.WillistonCraftShow.org
@WillistonCraftShowVT
165 Dorset Street South Burlington, VT
802-860-3368
www.dorsetstreetdental.com
In print and online: We’re your neighbors, committed to keeping you informed on what’s going on in Williston.
October 29, 2026 • Williston Observer •
Page 17
OBITUARIES
Donna Marie Mallette Donna Marie Mallette, age 76 of Williston, VT passed away peacefully after a long battle with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Donna was born on April 6, 1950, daughter of Rupert and Ruth St. Peter. Donna worked hard all her life. She retired from UVM Medical Center after nearly 20 years. After retirement she started a daycare out of her home in Williston, which she ran for 14 years. Donna is survived by her husband Carl of 58 years, her son Carl Jr. of Wisconsin, her daughter Dawn (Bill) Owen’s of Virginia Beach, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren, brother Raymond (Lynda) St. Peter of Mass. She was predeceased by two brothers Rupert Jr. and Bryan St. Peter and one sister Brenda Berg. A special and heartfelt thank you to all the employees and volunteers at Memory Care at Allen Brook. A Celebration of Life was held at the American Legion Post 91 in Colchester Oct. 26. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the VT Chapter of Alzheimer’s.
while dealing with dementia. Bill was born in 1937 in Hardwick, VT. He was a graduate of Hardwick Academy and proud to be a member of the class of 1955. He then went on to the University of Vermont and spent most of his adult life in the Burlington area, most recently living in Williston for the past 30 years. He was a Commercial Real Estate Agent for the majority of his working time. Summers were spent at the family camp, on Caspian Lake in Greensboro Vermont that has been in the family since 1945. He loved his time at camp, and playing golf at Mountain View Country Club. Bill was predeceased by his parents Harland (Bub) and Jennie Rowell. He was also predeceased by his wife Cherry, and daughter Jill. Shortly after High School Bill married Janice Lamonda from East Hardwick and they moved to Burlington to attend college. Soon they had their son Dale, and later daughter Elizabeth. They divorced in 1973. In 1995 Bill married Cherry Robertson. They enjoyed many years together spending winters in Florida, and summers at the lake. Cherry also added two more children to the family from her previous marriage, Scott, and Jill. Bill is survived by his son Dale and wife Diane, daughter Elizabeth, son Scott and partner Debbie. Also his grandchildren, Colby, Calsey (husband Caleb), Paige (husband Paul), Jack, Ben, Nick, and Kyle. Also Great
Grandchildren Landon, Gordie, and Addison. The family would like to thank everyone at The Residence at Otter Creek for the wonderful care they gave to Bill while he was there. There aren’t enough kind words for you. Also thanks to Alicia Fleming of Golden Guide Real Estate for everything she has done over the past 4 years for all her help with both Cherry and Bill in so many areas from getting them into proper elder care, to selling their home. You are beyond the best. Per Bill’s request there will be no calling hours or services. Online condolences can be made at vtfuneralhomes.com.
.
Sonia “Sonny” Cassani
Sonia “Sonny” Cassani, age 83, tender-hearted wife of Richard “Dick” Cassani, and mother extraordinaire to Kara and Daren Cassani, passed away peacefully on Oct.8, 2026, after a long journey with dementia.
Order Online for Pickup or Delivery
William (Bill) Rowell William (Bill) Rowell, 89, passed on Oct. 20, 2026 at The Residence at Otter Creek in Middlebury VT. He had been a resident there for the past year
The Kismet Building • 373 Blair Park Road • Suite 101 • Williston
She’s known to most as “Sonny,” a nickname given early on by friends, who recognized her cheerful, loving spirit. Sonny was born on March 4, 1943 in Rochester, NY and is the daughter of the late Charles and Pearl Weaver. She made her way to Vermont, attended UVM and married Dick; a friend recently said that Dick struck gold when he met Sonny. They settled in South Burlington, Vermont. Sonny’s nursing career included working as a VNA nurse, as a childbirth educator, and as a school nurse for 20 years in the South Burlington School District. During her time in the school setting, she earned a MEd., became a Kripalu yoga teacher and worked for a year as the VEHI Wellness Coordinator. Following retirement, Sonny continued to share her gifts by teaching educators, offering yoga classes and helping build a mindfulness program to support school employees’ well-being. Those who were fortunate enough to know Sonny were touched by her heartfelt passion for spreading loving kindness. She dared to live with an openheart and cared not what others thought. Kady and Oli Cassani, Sonny’s adored grandchildren, had the wonderful and fortunate opportunity to have “Nonna” be ever-so present in their lives. She didn’t just watch them grow up, she lived and experienced their childhood joy with them. She opened their eyes to the natural world, showed
them gentleness toward animals and people, and joined their family on vacations. Sonny’s son-in-law, John Oliver, and daughter-in-law, Malaika DosRemedios, were welcomed with unconditional love and warm acceptance. Sonny is also survived by her dear brother, Tom Weaver, her brothers-in-law and sister-inlaw, and nieces and nephews, whom she all cherished. Our heartfelt thanks go to the caregivers at The Residence at Timber Pines, who looked past her dementia and saw Sonny’s delightful, happy spirit and surrounded her with kindness. Thank you to her close friends, family and neighbors, who offered Sonny, Dick, Daren and Kara their compassion, love and support, near and far. Words Sonny once shared with her own mother, which feel just as fitting for Sonny herself and to whom she loved: “May the sun shine long upon you; May all love surround you; and May the pure light within you guide you on your way.” To Mom, Nonna, Sonny/Sonia: we will miss you so, so deeply with all of our hearts. A celebration of Sonny’s beautiful life will be held in the spring of 2027 in Vermont. In place of flowers or donations, Sonny would love for you to wander peacefully in nature, breathe with intention, and hold her spirit close to your heart as you send loving wishes to her and her family.
Page 18 • dates: Williston Observer6, 2026 • October 29, 2026 release Oct. 31-Nov.
44 (26)
Next Week: Veterans Day
Issue 44, 2026
Founded by Betty Debnam
Our States: Oklahoma Oklahoma became the 46th state in the U.S. on Nov. 16, 1907. Oklahoma comes from two Choctaw Indian words. “Okla” means “people,” and “humma” means “red.” The state capital is Oklahoma City. It is one of the largest cities in land size in the country. It ranks 20th based on largest area. It is the 28th most populous state with 4.12 million people. The Mini Page learns more about Oklahoma this week.
Oklahoma history
Oklahoma is a southwestern state and home to more Native American tribes than any other state. It has 38 tribal headquarters. Powwows, or modern Native American festivals, are held all over the state. They feature authentic Native American food, dancing and art. Oklahoma is a land rich in natural resources with its many plains, forests, fertile farmlands and four mountain ranges. It is a leading producer of oil and gas. Farmlands cover three-fourths of the state. Beef cattle are important, and Oklahoma is a top producer of wheat. The land was opened to homesteaders
Mini Fact: Oklahoma is home to 400 miles of Route 66, which is the longest drivable portion of the road in the U.S. all photos by Hollie Westring
in the late 1880s. Some tried to claim the land before that date and came sooner than the others. Oklahoma was nicknamed the “Sooner State.”
Fast facts
• The state capital is Oklahoma City. It is one of the largest cities in land size in the country. • The fiddle is the state musical instrument. • The state bird is the scissor-tailed flycatcher. • The American bison is the state animal. • Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado are the states that border Oklahoma. • In 2025, the Oklahoma City Thunder won their first NBA Championship. • Famous Oklahomans include: musicians Blake Shelton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood; Mickey Mantle, baseball player; Jim Thorpe, gold medal Olympian; S.E. Hinton, author; Joy Harjo, first Native American United States Poet Laureate; Kristin Chenoweth, Tony- and Emmy-winning actress, singer and author; Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson of the band Hanson.
The Mini Page® © 2026 Andrews McMeel Syndication
Try ’n’ Find
Route 66
Route 66 is a historic highway in the U.S. that starts in Chicago, Illinois, and spans all the way to Santa Monica, California. It goes through eight states and was a major path of transportation when it opened in 1926. Nov. 11, 2026, marks the 100th anniversary, or centennial, of Route 66, which is also known as the “Mother Road.” Oklahoma has 400 miles of Route 66 within its state lines, so the Mother Road has a lot of signage and attractions there. The Round Barn in Arcadia, Oklahoma, is the only round barn on Route 66 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s said that William Harrison Odor made the barn round because at the time (1898), round barns were thought to be tornado-proof. While that has not been scientifically proven, people traveling along Route 66 in Oklahoma have enjoyed stopping and touring the barn for many years.
Resources On the Web:
• bit.ly/4aXnRuE • bit.ly/4vInUlr
At the library:
• “O is for Oklahoma: Written by Kids for Kids” by Boys and Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County
Observer rack locations Mini Jokes
Shell Gas Station (Essex Rd) Essex/Essex Jct. Price Chopper Essex Automotive Quality Bake Shop What do you call a FiveOmar: Corner Variety River Road Beverage sleeping cowboy in Oklahoma? Island Homemade Ice Cream Sonesta Chef’s Corner Hannaford Olivia: A bull-dozer! Richmond Sunoco Station Korner Kwik Stop Dorothy Alling Memorial Inn at Essex Cumberland Farms ART, BARN, BISON, R A R T G E V O P O F B A R N Oswald: How does a cowboy greet his horse Town of Williston Offices Marriott Courtyard Library Mac’s Market CATTLE, CENTENNIAL, in Oklahoma? Richmond Free Library G E M Q S A G O K D N U O R T UPS Store Men At Wok Fairfield Inn Martone’s Deli Ordell: “Hay there!” Richmond Market F M I M&T L Bank E S N L Y R Vermont O T Meat S &I Seafood H ll Rick Cote at l FIDDLE, CaFARMLAND, Folino’s Pizza ai em or ) 373-2136 (802FLYCATCHER, H C T A C Y L Williston F W Coffee V GShop P Williston r.com GAS, Gardener’s Supply A R ERamunto’s illistonObserveMILES, Rick@WHISTORY, es pi R E Z X D H R W N T R I B A L co e lik Rehab Gym Green Mountain Bagel if you would Eco Note n Williston
Hannaford
Words that remind us Farm of Oklahoma thisWilliston puzzle. Some Simon’s Mobil Williston Healthy in Living Adams Market are hidden words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are Simply Divine Café Home2Suites Aromas of India used twice. See if you can find:
locatio OIL, for yourOKLAHOMA, POWWOW, ROUND, ROUTE, SOONER, TRIBAL.
M L L D A D N I
C K O U P E K E L T V M L A I N N E T N A W O W W O P O Z Z E T U O R I Q G O P
T E L I
A C Q O
C R Z Z
Some areas of the planet experienced record-
important, and Oklahoma is a top producer of wheat. The land was opened to homesteaders
At the library:
Tony- and Emmy-winning actress, singer and author; Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson of the band Hanson.
• “O is for Oklahoma: Written by Kids for Kids” by Boys and Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County October 29, 2026 • Williston Observer •
The Mini Page® © 2026 Andrews McMeel Syndication
Try ’n’ Find
Mini Jokes
Words that remind us of Oklahoma are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find: ART, BARN, BISON, CATTLE, CENTENNIAL, FARMLAND, FIDDLE, FLYCATCHER, GAS, HISTORY, MILES, OIL, OKLAHOMA, POWWOW, ROUND, ROUTE, SOONER, TRIBAL.
Omar: What do you call a sleeping cowboy in Oklahoma? Olivia: A bull-dozer!
R A R T G E V O P O F B A R N G E M Q S A G O K D N U O R T F M I L E S N L Y R O T S I H A R E H C T A C Y L F W V G P R E Z X D H R W N T R I B A L M L C K O U P E K E L T T A C L D V M L A I N N E T N E C R A D A W O W W O P O Z Z L Q Z N I E T U O R I Q G O P I O Z D F I W J F N O S I B S O U D
Oswald: How does a cowboy greet his horse in Oklahoma? Ordell: “Hay there!”
Eco Note
Cook’s Corner * You’ll need an adult’s help with this recipe.
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter • 1 cup ice
What to do: 1. Place all ingredients in blender. 2. Blend until smooth. Serves 1.
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.
OSE
EST
GN
GOV
EZE
ION
TH
SI
NUE
OR
AVE
FRE
NOR
QU
ERN
CL
Some areas of the planet experienced recordbreaking storms of sand and dust during 2025, including northern China and the U.S.-Mexico border, the U.N.’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says. El Paso, Texas, had its dustiest year since the Dust Bowl era, while northern China endured its worst storm in a decade. Tiny particle levels in the air rose many times above what health experts consider safe. Dust naturally carries minerals across continents and oceans, but drought, damaged soils and poor land and water management are making dust storms more frequent and destructive. The WMO says early dust warnings are essential. adapted with permission from Earthweek.com
For later:
Look in your local newspaper for articles about Oklahoma.
©2026 Blue Ox Technologies Ltd. Download the app on Apple and Amazon devices.
You’ll need: • 1/2 cup orange juice • 1 (4-ounce) container yogurt (any flavor) • 1 medium banana, cut into chunks • 1 1/2 teaspoons honey
The Mini Page® © 2026 Andrews McMeel Syndication
Nutty Banana Smoothie
Answers: sign, avenue, question, close, north, freeze, governor.
1. a red one tells you to stop (4) 2. wide street (6) 3. it has an answer (8) 4. shut (5) 5. this pole is in the Arctic (5) 6. make very cold (6) 7. leader of a state (8)
Page 19
Photos from the Observer are available for purchase! Visit willistonobserver.com to see current and past photos.
AlFreyPhotography.com
Place your order online or email afrey202@gmail.com
AL
Page 20
• Williston Observer • October 29, 2026
SAVVY SENIOR
Can my children get Social Security benefits when I retire? By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, I’m getting ready to start my Social Security retirement benefits and have two children at home, ages 17 and 15. I’ve heard they may also be eligible for benefits on my record while I’m collecting. Is that true, and if so, how does it work? How long would they receive benefits, and is there anything I need to do to apply for them? — Retiring Parent Dear Retiring, Yes! If you’re 62 or older and raising kids, Social Security can put
a little extra cash in your family’s pocket. Here’s how it works. When you claim your retirement benefits, each of your children may get up to 50 percent of your primary insurance amount (PIA), which is your benefit at full retirement age. Even if you take a reduced benefit by claiming early, your children’s payments are still based on your full retirement amount, which is 67 if you were born in 1960 or later. You can apply for your children’s benefits at the same time you file your own Social Security retirement claim, or separately afterward if needed, but doing it together is usually the simplest approach. To qualify, children must be unmarried and under 18. If they are 18 or 19 and still in high school, they can receive benefits until they graduate or reach age 19 years and two
months, whichever comes first. If they work, the usual earnings test may apply. In 2026, Social Security reduces benefits by $1 for every $2 earned above $22,320. Special rules apply to children with disabilities. Since your youngest is 15, your spouse can also receive benefits on your record — even if she is under full retirement age. This is a “child-in-care” spousal benefit that is available when a spouse is caring for a child under 16. That benefit can be up to 50 percent of your PIA and ends when your youngest child turns 16. It can be especially helpful in households where one parent has stepped back from work or is focused on caregiving. There is also a limit on how much Social Security can pay a family, called the family maximum,
Entering Our Next Great Chapter!
usually between 150 and 180 percent of your PIA. If total benefits exceed that amount, payments to family members (except yours) are reduced proportionally. For example, if your full retirement benefit is $3,000 per month, the family maximum might be around $5,289. That leaves $2,289 to divide among your children — about $1,144.50 each. If your spouse also qualifies, her benefit would further reduce the amount available to be shared, though the total family payment remains capped. Children can also receive benefits if a parent becomes disabled — usually up to 50 percent of the parent’s disability benefit — or if a parent dies, in which case they may receive up to 75 percent of the deceased parent’s basic benefit. These benefits won’t cover
everything, but even modest support can make a meaningful difference for a family. KEEPING BENEFITS ON TRACK
Social Security automatically stops children’s benefits when they age out or graduate. Knowing when payments start and stop can help you make the most of this support. If your children’s circumstances change — such as graduating early, getting married or starting full-time work — be sure to notify Social Security so payments stay accurate. For more details, see SSA Publication No. 05-10085, “Benefits for Children” at ssa.gov/pubs/EN05-10085.pdf. Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.
ALIGN IT’S NOT A GYM. IT’S A FITNESS COMMUNITY. ALL LEVELS INDOOR CYCLING AND STRENGTH TRAINING. GROUP FITNESS CLASSES FOR ALL AGES. TWO STUDIO LOCATIONS. OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK.
Now Managed by LCB Senior Living:
Independent, Assisted Living & Memory Care Living
ALIGN
More Than 30 Years of Excellence
2 Freeman Woods, Essex Junction 802-760-6302 mapleridgeessex.com
PRESENT THIS COUPON FOR A FREE CLASS EXPIRES 12.31.26
31 COTTONWOOD DR., WILLISTON
WWW.ALIGNSTUDIOVT.COM
274 MARKET STREET, SOUTH BURLINGTON
802-876-7122
INFO@ALIGNSTUDIOVT.COM
October 29, 2026 • Williston Observer •
Page 21
CROSSWORD • SOLUTION ON PAGE 22
TODAY’S HISTORY:
• In 1929, the New York Stock Exchange crashed in what came to be called “Black Tuesday,” marking the beginning of the Great Depression. • In 1966, the newly formed National Organization for Women held its first national conference. • In 1969, the first connection on ARPANET (the precursor to the internet) was made between computers at UCLA and Stanford Research Institute. • In 2004, European leaders signed the first constitution of the European Union. • In 2015, China announced the end of its one-child policy after 35 years.
TODAY’S FACT:
• Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was Africa’s first female elected head of state.
SOLUTION FOUND ON PAGE 22
We’re proud of our smiles! We believe that our state-of-the-art, impeccable skills; cheerful, approachable attitudes and ability to handle all your dental needs under one roof means a visit with us will always leave you with a beautiful smile. 75 Talcott Rd., Ste 20, Williston • 802- 662-5966 • DRGOOSEVT.COM
• Comprehensive Dental Care • Implant Placement & Restoration • Crowns, Partials, Dentures
• Whitening, Veneers • Clear Braces • TMD, Sleep Apnea & 3D Imaging • Smile Design & Restoration
Page 22
• Williston Observer • October 29, 2026
FAMILY PROGRAMS ALL AGES OPEN GYM
WILLISTON
Join us for an evening of indoor fun on Friday, Nov. 20 at Williston Central School. Shoot hoops, kick around a soccer ball, or bring your favorite indoor equipment to enjoy with friends and family. There’s something for everyone, so play, move and make the most of the evening. This free event takes place from 6-8 p.m.
Recreation • Education • Community
VOCAL PERCUSSION & IMPROVISATION WORKSHOP
Recreation & Parks
Ages 13-plus. Vermont’s contemporary a cappella group, Root7, will host sight-reading
1-Bed, 2-Bath Home on 0.13± Acres LIVE AUCTION:
FRI. | NOV. 20 | 11AM OPEN HOUSE: WED. | NOV. 4 | 11AM-1PM ADDRESS: 68 Catherine Street Burlington, VT 05401
This charming 2-story bungalow home built in 1926 has 1,560± sq. ft. with a loft and a detached garage, all within walking distance of downtown shops, restaurants, churches, parks, and Lake Champlain.
LEGAL NOTICE Public Auction Under SelfStorage And Operators Lien U-Haul Of Williston 5010 Williston Rd Williston, Vt . 05495 On November 12th at 9:00 am on www.storageauctions.com The contents of the following units consisting of furniture, household goods and miscellaneous personal property will be SOLD to satisfy the lien of U-HAUL as self-storage operators. This Sale Is Held Under The Uniform Commercial Code Section 16a, Paragraph 7-210 Enforcement Of Vermont Self-Storage Lien. NAME
UNIT #
Keagan Horton
0130
Robert Sweeney
1423
Alexander Radley
2185
Phillip Hoffman
0152
Rosana Miller
2232
Beverly Owens
1125
THCAUCTION.COM 802-888-4662
CROSSWORD SOLUTION Puzzle found on page 21
sing-alongs of winter and holiday music. For beginner, intermediate and experienced vocalists who want to learn and work in groups. Thursday, Nov. 19, 7-9 p.m. Free. LINE DANCING
Ages 15-plus. Learn each week and build your confidence and abilities while having fun. Class is held Sundays, 4-5 p.m. $10 per session. The R.E.C. Zone, 94 Harvest Lane. Instructor: Kelly Hayes.
ADULT PROGRAMS DOG TRAINING PROGRAMS
Starting Saturday, Nov. 21 there will be two programs offered: Basic and Beyond Basic. ProgramsADVERTISEMENT can be taken with or EMAILED without a dog.INSERTION ORDER ADVERTISING
BASKETBALL
Come out and play, stay fit and meet new people. This program is for the not-so-serious players looking to play, get exercise and have fun. Pre-register. Men’s 20plus and 30-plus, and women’s 19-plus. TABLE TENNIS
Come out and play, stay fit and meet new people. This program is open to all experience levels. Players should bring their paddles (a limited number of loaner paddles are available). Pre-register. SENIOR MEALS
Meals for anyone aged 60plus and their spouse (regardless of age) are offered Tuesdays 1212:30 p.m. Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m., and meals are served at
Thomas Hirchak Company FROM: Cathy Morneault Phone: 802-888-4662 Email: Advertising@THCAuction.com
and reductions for affordable homes, as follows: •
Providing Clarifications for multiunit buildings with 2-4 units to ensure proper ownership structure and a mechanism for maintenance of common elements
To participate remotely: zoom.us/join or call (646) 558-8656 TODAY’S DATE: 10/23/2026
•
Providing an administrative process for conveyance of each unit of a 1-4 unit multiunit building independent from each other but with shared interest in common elements
NAME OF Meeting FILE: 10292026_WO_ Zoom ID 873 0175 0819 DATE(S) TO RUN: 10/29/2026 The Williston Planning Commission
YOUTH PROGRAMS RECKIDS BASKETBALL
Ages 4-5. You and your little one will work together to develop fundamental basketball skills in a fun, non-competitive atmosphere. Fridays, Jan. 8-Feb. 5, 5-5:45 pm, $42. ROOKIES & ROOKIES 2 BASKETBALL
Grades K-2. Rookie Basketball is an opportunity to learn the game, improve skills and enjoy playing. Programs begin in January and meet on Saturdays for one hour. There are separate programs for boys and girls. Rookies
CLASSIFIEDS
LEGAL To: Rick & Susan Cote Notice of Public Hearings Paper: Williston TOWN OFObserver WILLISTON MaxNovember Length 17, 12.5 2026, 7:00 PM - Town Hall Annex Meeting Room
noon. Space is limited; advanced registration is required. Age Well has a suggested donation of $7 per meal per person.
will hold two public hearings to consider • Codify that payment in lieu for amendments to the Williston Unified market rate projects is paid on Development November per unit basis prior to issuance of SIZE OF AD: Bylaw 1/16 on page (2” x 17, 5”) 2026 at 7:00 PM in the Town Hall Annex a Certificate of Occupancy for a Meeting Room in the Town Hall Annex at dwelling but backed by Letter of 7878 Williston Road. The public hearings Credit or Escrow. EMAILED TO: Rick@Willistonobserver.com may also be attended virtually on Zoom. • Projects that include affordable Public comment at these hearings is homes must guarantee payment-inwelcomed and encouraged. lieu with Letter of Credit or Escrow Publishes in Williston Observer Public Hearing on Package 2 – Housing in case the project does not build Supportive Bylaw Amendments: the required amount of affordable homes. SECTION: Auctions to the Town’s Proposed amendments Unified Development Bylaw related to • Payment-in-lieu rates go to PO# Burlington clarifying administrative procedures Selectboard fee schedule and for multi-unit buildings with 2-4 units, increase each fiscal year with payment-in-lieu fees, impact fee timing inflation/COLA
SUDOKU SOLUTION Puzzle found on page 21
•
Establish transportation and recreation impact fee reductions/ waivers for affordable homes
•
Impact fees are due at time of Certificate of Occupancy rather than at issuance of Administrative Permit
Public Hearing on Package 3 – Nuisance, Design Review and Contributing Structure Bylaw Amendments: Proposed amendments to the Town’s Unified Development Bylaw related to: •
Reconnecting and clarifying the standards for signage, parking lot landscaping, and design review of existing non-conforming developments and buildings in the Taft Corners Form-Based Code Zoning District that existed prior to the October 2022 adoption of FormBased Code
•
Strengthening the review standards for non-residential uses proposed near residential uses to protect residents from operational nuisances
•
Modify the Contributing Structure Determination process from administrative to a Development Review Board public hearing following guidance from the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation to uphold Certified Local Government (CLG) requirements and in support of potential future Tier 1A Status.
View the proposed changes at The Planning Office, 7900 Williston Road or online: https://bit.ly/willistonbylaw_ publichearing Contact Matt Boulanger at the Williston Planning Office at (802) 878-6704 or mboulanger@willistonvt.org for additional information.
LEGAL
Request for proposal for TOWN-WIDE REAPPRAISAL Issued by: Town of St. George, VT 21 Barber Road St. George, VT, 05495 Date of Issue: October 21, 2026 Due Date for Proposal: November 12, 2026, at 4:00pm Contact: Justin Mason, Assessor, Town of St. George, VT: assessor@stgeorgevt.com
October 29, 2026 • 2 is just for second graders with practices and scrimmages. Volunteer coaches are needed. YOUTH BASKETBALL
Grades 3-6. The Rec. Youth Basketball program teams have the opportunity to play other town teams. Volunteer coaches are needed. Practices start in December, and games start in January. LEARN TO SKI/RIDE
Grades K-8. All participants are required to take a weekly lesson. The program
meets in January and February from 2:404:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at Cochran’s Ski Area. Transportation is available to Allen Brook and Williston Central school students. Equipment loan is available.
Williston Observer • Page 23
Hire Local.
Find workers right in your neighborhood. Advertise in The Observer.
SWIM LESSONS
Monthly swim lessons are offered through the Edge of Essex. Lessons are for children ages 2.5-5 and 5-plus. Lessons meet weekly for a month. Under 5 years old, 4-4:30 p.m.; ages 5-plus, 4:30-5 p.m.
email Adam@willistonobserver.com or 802-338-1655.
SERVICE DIRECTORY TREE SERVICES
RESIDENTIAL PAINTING
HOUSE CLEANING
• TREE REMOVALS • TREE PRUNING • TREE PLANTING • ORNAMENTAL & FRUIT TREE PRUNING • SHRUB & HEDGE PRUNING • STUMP GRINDING Maxwell Curtiss maxheartwd@myfairpoint.net • LOT CLEARING • LOT MANAGEMENT ∼ FULLY INSURED ∼
RNR Cleaning
Availability for Winter/Spring 2027 Plan Ahead! Lock in Prices!
Relax & Rest
TOM TAVARES RESIDENTIAL PAINTING
802-879-4425
Contact Us: 802-540-0030 • rnrcleaners.com
ANTIQUES
LANDSCAPING/STONEWORK
ANTIQUES WANTED
Now scheduling 2027 projects!
Decluttering? Downsizing?
We can help you discover, learn about and sell: WATCHES • JEWELRY • COINS • SILVER • ARTWORK
South Burlington, VT 802-598-3598 tavares.tom56@gmail.com
Cleaning made easy for your busy life
INSURED/REFERENCES • SINCE 1977
ANTIQUES ANTIQUE SHOP
IVE CORNERS ORNERS FIVE CORNERS FFIVE C ANTIQUES NTIQUES ANTIQUES A
Commercial and Residential Landscaping Design, construction and installation
-Landscape design installations -Stone work/stone veneer
-Excavation services -Mowing/property maintenances
A Multi Dealer Shop A Multi Dealer A Multi Dealer Shop Shop
LET’S GET GARDENING
802.878.6167 802.878.6167 802.878.6167
11 Maple Street, Street, Essex Junction, VT VT 11 Maple Essex Junction, Maple Street, Junction, VT Mon -Mon SatEssex 10-5 SunJunction 11-4 15611Open Railroad Street #3, Open - SatEssex 10-5 Sun 11-4 Open Mon - Sat 10-5 Sun 11-4 5CornersAntiques.com Open5CornersAntiques.com Mon-Sat 10-5 • Sun 11-4 5CornersAntiques.com
LLC
Brian Bittner • 802-489-5210 • info@bittnerantiques.com Wednesday-Friday, with walk-ins to sell Thursdays
bittnerantiques.com • 2997 Shelburne Road • Shelburne
www.kingfishvt.com
INSURANCE
TREE SERVICES
5CornersAntiques.com
Fully Insured 30+ years experience
LAND MAINTENANCE
PRUNING AND REMOVALS Covering Your Life’s Journey
802-922-3545 (call or text) judsonkimble@gmail.com www.judsonclimbs.com
Email: info@turnbaughinsurance.com 188 Allen Brook Lane, Suite 1, Williston turnbaughinsurance.com/contact
JUDSON’S TREE SERVICE
BASEMENT SYSTEMS
BARBERSHOP
<:;
Matt Clark's
Northern ..Dasemenll®
Responsible Waterproofing® ���
LOCAL INDEPENDENT OWNER/OPERATOR
☛ MIKE’S CLASSIC BARBERSHOP LLC
• Basement Waterproofing • Crawl Space Repair • Sump Pump Systems • Foundation Repair • Spray Foam Insulating • Egress Windows
-� ��--iilllo...
l-�n�fu!?n!!Ym":Js�!:.l, E
Driveways, Ponds, Land Clearing, Trails, Farms, Ski Areas, Natural Disaster Recovery, Logging Cleanup, Invasive Vegetation, Excavation
Visit Visitour ourwebsite websitefor formore more information: information www.vtlandmaintenance@gmail.com www.vtlandmaintenance.com Brian Washburn Email: vtlandmaintenance@gmail.com 802-434-4533 • 802-373-1755 (cell) Brian Washburn: 802-434-5533 • 802-373-1755 (cell)
Want to advertise?
an dA 19 ntiq 40 ue tch s-1 Po es 980 ck . R s et am ole M an ilt x, ilita d dit on Om ry , ion , E e . lgin ga, ,
0
Customized & Affordable Services Free estimates • Fully insured
T CH T E ED S
802-862-1600
Forestry Mulching Services for private and commercial projects
Quality Men’s Haircuts BY APPOINTMENT ONLY MON/WED/THURS/FRI: 8AM - 6PM SAT: 8AM - 1PM
Located within Sola Salon Studios 2141 Essex Road, Williston • (802) 318-6477
BOOK ONLINE: MIKESCLASSIC.GLOSSGENIUS.COM
Ads, Service Directory, classifieds and yard sales.
Contact Adam
E E
E S R F U S!
Adam@willistonobserver.com or call (802) 338-1655
H
O IT
Page 24 •
Williston Observer •
October 29, 2026
CVU freshmen learn life-saving skills from Hinesburg first-responders
BY TYLER COHEN Champlain Valley School District Three hundred freshmen at CVU are learning basic life-saving skills from Hinesburg’s rescue professionals this week. In a collaboration with Hinesburg’s Police and Fire departments, all of CVU’s ninth graders spent their wellness classes on Monday and Tuesday learning and practicing CPR, how to use an AED, and the basics of critical wound care.
“The whole intent is to come away feeling more confident … We want you to have the confidence to know when and how to act.” Prescott Nadeau Hinesburg Fire Chief
While CPR and AED awareness are a required part of health education in Vermont, training of this scale rose to the forefront following a September medical event, when a fast response by students, coaches and medical professionals saved the life of CVU girls soccer coach Chris Smith. “One of the reasons we’re doing this training is that a lot of people did the right thing that day,” TJ Mead, a wellness teacher at CVU, told students. “We want
to make sure you are gaining confidence in these skills so that you can help.” Mead said the students are lucky to be learning in this way — alongside all of their peers and with the support, guidance and leadership of the Hinesburg Police and Fire departments. “It’s useful to know, just in case,” said freshman Theo Tallman, who appreciated the opportunity to learn from first-responders who practice and use life-saving skills regularly. “He knows a lot and seems very trustworthy,” Tallman said while practicing chest compressions alongside Hinesburg Fire Chief Prescott Nadeau. “This is what a video wouldn’t teach me.” Chief Nadeau taught rotations of CPR, AED awareness and Stop the Bleed to seven groups of students alongside Hinesburg Police Chief Christopher Romance. “This training is impressively large,” Nadeau said. “Also, the timing is great as we now have eight CPR/AED/First Aid instructors in our department after a recent push to offer community CPR training.” The chief was excited to share his knowledge with students of the school he graduated from in 2005 — particularly after September’s life-saving response. “The reason that fire, police and EMS is involved today is because of a wild success after a sudden cardiac arrest,” Nadeau told students. “The whole intent is to come away feeling more confident. We want to teach you the physical skills, and we want you to have the confidence to know when and how to act.”
Members of the Hinesburg Police and Fire departments have been teaching CVU’s ninth graders CPR, use of an AED and basic critical wound care during wellness classes. PHOTO BY TYLER COHEN