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OCTOBER 30, 2025
WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985
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Town to seek voter approval for library expansion BY JASON STARR Observer staff
Williston voters will be asked to fund an expansion to the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library and improvements to the Town Green during Town Meeting Day in March. The Williston Selectboard unanimously approved a motion last week to seek voter approval for the town to take on $15 million in debt for the project. Known as the “Village Vibrancy Project,” the plan has been developed over the past three years under the leadership of the Library Board of Trustees, incorporating public input and architectural consultants. It calls for roughly doubling the size of the library, building a new outdoor performance space on the Town Green and improving parking and traffic flow around Library Lane and in front of Williston Central School — including the addition of a left-turn lane exiting Central School Drive.
A rendering of the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library after a proposed expansion. COURTESY OF BLACK RIVER DESIGN ARCHITECTS
The library trustees are planning to seek private donations of about $1.5 million to supplement town funding, contingent on voter approval of the $15 million bond. “Knowing that we are going to go forward with a bond vote will enable us to go out and secure pledges from those donors,” Library Director Kevin Unrath said. In a news release Monday, Town Manager Erik Wells noted that Williston’s population has increased by 50 percent and library visitation has nearly doubled since the library’s last addition, roughly
30 years ago. “Usage keeps increasing while space has not, resulting in overfull shelves, an overbooked event space, and general crowding that detracts from a central goal of any library: to provide a pleasant space to read, study, and work free from distraction,” the release states. The library addition would create a new entranceway, a preschool “wiggle room,” a teen space, a makerspace, a larger community room and new meeting spaces and work spaces. “We have heard from the
community a desire for an expanded library to fit the size of Williston today,” library trustee chair Charity Clark said. “We know our library is seen as a critical ‘third space,’ a community gathering place that is free and open to all. The Village Vibrancy Project is designed with this in mind … The goal of the trustees is to continue to nurture and cultivate this treasured hub of Williston to meet the needs of the community.” According to Town Finance Director Shirley Goodell-Lackey,
the debt for the project would amount to a tax increase for property owners of $40 for every $100,000 of assessed property value. “An increase in taxes does come with a cost in affordability,” selectboard member Mike Isham said. If the bond is approved, construction is expected to start in the spring of 2027, with a completion date toward the end of 2028. Models of the expansion can be viewed at the library and on the town website (www.town.williston.vt.us). Wells said the town will host more opportunities for residents to learn about the project in the lead up to Town Meeting Day. “We need to leave it up to the community to decide if this is how they would like their money spent,” selectboard member Greta D’Agostino said. “I am strongly supportive now more than ever that we need increased community spaces and that we need our library to be strong and utilized and encourage its utilization, and this is the way forward.”
Things are getting a little squirrelly on the WCS stage Williston Central School drama students rehearse last week for their upcoming presentation of “Flora and Ulysses” at the school’s Al Myers Theater. The play, by John Glore, is based on a book by Kate DiCamillo about the relationship between a rescued squirrel and a 10-year-old girl. The show is directed by Angela Pollock. Above, the main characters, from left to right, are Dr. Meescham (Lucy McCoy), Ulysses (Zach Langevin), Tootie/Mrs. Tickham (McKenna Adams), Flora (Helen Carr), Phyllis (Collins Bardot), William (Aiden Desautels) and George (Jonas Dufresne). At right, McCoy and Langevin rehearse a scene. Showtimes are Thursday, Nov. 6 at 6:30 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 7 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m.
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