CVU’s new activities director hits the ground running
Ricky McCollum is bringing years of experience from every level of student athletics to his new role at Champlain Valley Union High School.
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A champion of mentoring passes the torch – Williston Observer
After 20 years captaining Williston Central School’s mentorship program, Nancy Carlson has stepped ashore to let it sail on under new leadership.
“I’ve had an amazing run and it feels like the right moment to move on,” she said, adding later, “I feel that I’ve been a part of the magic sauce that helped create a really beautiful program that is woven into the heart of the school."
“I’ve had an amazing run and it feels like the right moment to move on,” she said, adding later, “I feel that I’ve been a part of the magic sauce that helped create a really beautiful program that is woven into the heart of the school."
July 4th parade packs the village – Williston Observer
With Covid seemingly in the rear view, this year’s Fourth of July parade and activities on the Village Green spread much joy and appreciation.
People from all around Williston, young and old, began lining the parade route through the village as early as 9 a.m. on Monday. The warm air and clear sky made for ideal parade conditions, and leading participants rolled out from the Johnson Farm like clockwork just before 10 a.m.
People from all around Williston, young and old, began lining the parade route through the village as early as 9 a.m. on Monday. The warm air and clear sky made for ideal parade conditions, and leading participants rolled out from the Johnson Farm like clockwork just before 10 a.m.
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CVU’s new activities director hits the ground running
Ricky McCollum is bringing years of experience from every level of student athletics to his new role at Champlain Valley Union High School.
Village tour sparks zoning discussion – Williston Observer
Williston Senior Planner Emily Heymann, center, leads a tour of the village to spark discussion about proposed zoning updates in the historic district. – Observer photo by Karson Petty
Williston Senior Planner Emily Heymann outlined proposed updates to Williston Village zoning regulations as she led a group of curious residents along Williston Road last Thursday.
The consensus among attendees: Officials need to balance the desire for more development with preserving the village’s historic character.
Williston Senior Planner Emily Heymann outlined proposed updates to Williston Village zoning regulations as she led a group of curious residents along Williston Road last Thursday.
The consensus among attendees: Officials need to balance the desire for more development with preserving the village’s historic character.
A champion of mentoring passes the torch – Williston Observer
After 20 years captaining Williston Central School’s mentorship program, Nancy Carlson has stepped ashore to let it sail on under new leadership.
“I’ve had an amazing run and it feels like the right moment to move on,” she said, adding later, “I feel that I’ve been a part of the magic sauce that helped create a really beautiful program that is woven into the heart of the school."
“I’ve had an amazing run and it feels like the right moment to move on,” she said, adding later, “I feel that I’ve been a part of the magic sauce that helped create a really beautiful program that is woven into the heart of the school."
Subs, suits and sweets for Finney Crossing – Williston Observer
Three new businesses are set to open next to L.L. Bean
Jersey Mike’s Subs, Men’s Wearhouse and Crumbl Cookies will be opening in the Finney Crossing building anchored by L.L. Bean over the next several months.
This will be the first Vermont location for both Jersey Mike’s and Crumbl Cookies. The New Jersey-based sandwich chain will be the first of the three new businesses to open.
Jersey Mike’s Subs, Men’s Wearhouse and Crumbl Cookies will be opening in the Finney Crossing building anchored by L.L. Bean over the next several months.
This will be the first Vermont location for both Jersey Mike’s and Crumbl Cookies. The New Jersey-based sandwich chain will be the first of the three new businesses to open.
Community comes together for concert, ice cream social, book sale – Williston Observer
Sunday evening’s Independence Day events attracted music fans, avid readers, and ice-cream lovers of all ages.
The Dorothy Alling Memorial Library started off the events at 4 p.m. by opening the doors for the library’s annual book sale at Williston Central School.
After two hours of people book browsing, the Village Green went relatively quiet until 7 p.m., which gave the Town Band time to warm up their instruments, and the Williston Federated Church time to ready the Ice Cream Social station.
The Dorothy Alling Memorial Library started off the events at 4 p.m. by opening the doors for the library’s annual book sale at Williston Central School.
After two hours of people book browsing, the Village Green went relatively quiet until 7 p.m., which gave the Town Band time to warm up their instruments, and the Williston Federated Church time to ready the Ice Cream Social station.
July 4th parade packs the village – Williston Observer
With Covid seemingly in the rear view, this year’s Fourth of July parade and activities on the Village Green spread much joy and appreciation.
People from all around Williston, young and old, began lining the parade route through the village as early as 9 a.m. on Monday. The warm air and clear sky made for ideal parade conditions, and leading participants rolled out from the Johnson Farm like clockwork just before 10 a.m.
People from all around Williston, young and old, began lining the parade route through the village as early as 9 a.m. on Monday. The warm air and clear sky made for ideal parade conditions, and leading participants rolled out from the Johnson Farm like clockwork just before 10 a.m.
Courtesy of Emily Heymann
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Inaugural town fair full of smiles, sunshine and service – Williston Observer
The Williston town tent at the fair featured hands-on exhibits and handouts for visitors from town departments and committees, the library, and the American Red Cross. Observer photo by Karson Petty
“Folks were happy to green up and interact with the town in a new way”
Over 200 residents stopped by the Williston village green on Saturday to take part in the first-ever town fair.
Town planners hoped to usher in a new springtime tradition for Williston with the fair, one to go along with Vermont’s 50-year-strong tradition of greening up roadsides across the state.
“Folks were happy to green up and interact with the town in a new way”
Over 200 residents stopped by the Williston village green on Saturday to take part in the first-ever town fair.
Town planners hoped to usher in a new springtime tradition for Williston with the fair, one to go along with Vermont’s 50-year-strong tradition of greening up roadsides across the state.
Leaving a musical legacy – Williston Observer
Martin Hain, longtime music director at Williston Federated Church, stands with his cello. PHOTO BY KARSON PETTY
The melodic sounds of a choir with cello and piano accompaniments fill the Williston Federated Church on a Sunday morning. They are performing an anthem called “Think on These Things,” selected by church Music Director Martin Hain, who is also the cellist.
Hain knows as he draws his bow across the strings that this April 24 service marks the start of his last month as music director.
The melodic sounds of a choir with cello and piano accompaniments fill the Williston Federated Church on a Sunday morning. They are performing an anthem called “Think on These Things,” selected by church Music Director Martin Hain, who is also the cellist.
Hain knows as he draws his bow across the strings that this April 24 service marks the start of his last month as music director.
Inaugural Town Fair to accompany Green Up Day – Williston Observer
Williston town planners are trying something new for Green Up Day 2022.
With spring in the air and Covid restrictions becoming more relaxed, planning staff aim to bring the community together this Green Up Day with a new town fair.
The fair is scheduled to coincide with this year’s green-up efforts on Saturday, May 7.
Starting at 10 a.m. on the Village Green, the town fair will feature free refreshments and giveaways, tours of the old schoolhouse provided by the Williston Historical Society,
With spring in the air and Covid restrictions becoming more relaxed, planning staff aim to bring the community together this Green Up Day with a new town fair.
The fair is scheduled to coincide with this year’s green-up efforts on Saturday, May 7.
Starting at 10 a.m. on the Village Green, the town fair will feature free refreshments and giveaways, tours of the old schoolhouse provided by the Williston Historical Society,
Schools work toward Clean Water Act compliance – Williston Observer
All six schools in the Champlain Valley School District will soon need to meet new standards for stormwater drainage.
CVSD schools are among the 70 Vermont schools and colleges that need to improve their stormwater management infrastructure under the Vermont Clean Water Act of 2015.
The schools will need a “3-acre general permit,” which applies to all properties that have 3 or more acres of paved or roofed surfaces, making it difficult for rain and snowmelt to soak into the soil.
The new stormwater rules also serve to update the permits that were issued under standards prior to 2002 and give permits to properties that do not currently have stormwater permits.
CVSD schools are among the 70 Vermont schools and colleges that need to improve their stormwater management infrastructure under the Vermont Clean Water Act of 2015.
The schools will need a “3-acre general permit,” which applies to all properties that have 3 or more acres of paved or roofed surfaces, making it difficult for rain and snowmelt to soak into the soil.
The new stormwater rules also serve to update the permits that were issued under standards prior to 2002 and give permits to properties that do not currently have stormwater permits.
Courtesy of Steven Shepard
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Why a man who’s been to over 100 countries calls Williston home – Williston Observer
On a chilly evening in a pueblo outside of Madrid, Spain, villagers crowded into a one-room apartment to sing and dance flamenco with an American family.
With stomachs full of authentic Spanish cuisine, bodies warmed by a charcoal brazier, and hearts warmed by good company, they could forget their poverty under the reign of Generalissimo Francisco Franco.
A 14-year-old Steven Shepard, in 1969, couldn’t believe a family of seven crammed into a sparse apartment could keep on smiling.
With stomachs full of authentic Spanish cuisine, bodies warmed by a charcoal brazier, and hearts warmed by good company, they could forget their poverty under the reign of Generalissimo Francisco Franco.
A 14-year-old Steven Shepard, in 1969, couldn’t believe a family of seven crammed into a sparse apartment could keep on smiling.
Photo by Williston Observer
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Taft Corners zoning rewrite slowed by developer opposition – Williston Observer
A plan by Snyder Homes to develop the 54-acre meadow between the Allen Brook and Route 2A in Williston has received preliminary approval by the Planning Commission, but may not conform to new form-based code rules still being finalized. OBSERVER FILE PHOTO BY JASON STARR
A disagreement over whether a pre-planned development project in Taft Corners should have to conform to a new set of zoning rules came to light during last week’s meeting of the Williston Planning Commission.
A disagreement over whether a pre-planned development project in Taft Corners should have to conform to a new set of zoning rules came to light during last week’s meeting of the Williston Planning Commission.
Photo by Williston Observer
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Town budget squeaks by – Williston Observer
Not since 2008 has there been a Williston town budget vote as close as Tuesday’s.
After three weeks of early voting, a full day at the polls, and a half-hour of vote-tallying, town officials announced the 971-to-788 passage of the town’s $13.1 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
The budget’s $1.6 million (14 percent) increase over the current year — with funding for nine new firefighters and a new energy coordinator — stirred up a level of opposition among residents not seen in 14 years.
After three weeks of early voting, a full day at the polls, and a half-hour of vote-tallying, town officials announced the 971-to-788 passage of the town’s $13.1 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
The budget’s $1.6 million (14 percent) increase over the current year — with funding for nine new firefighters and a new energy coordinator — stirred up a level of opposition among residents not seen in 14 years.
Courtesy of the Williston Planning Commission
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Developer opposition grows to Taft Corners zoning changes – Williston Observer
Developers pushed back on proposed rule changes to turn Taft Corners into a walkable downtown area at the latest Williston Planning Commission meeting.
The Feb. 15 meeting was the second one held by the planning commission where Williston residents and developers could weigh in on changes to a working draft of new zoning rules. The rules are called form-based code, which was formally introduced in a Feb. 1 planning commission meeting, but has been in discussion for about a year.
“There’s been a lot of comments from developers about this process being rushed or only having two weeks to react,” said Alex Daley, a planning commission member.
The Feb. 15 meeting was the second one held by the planning commission where Williston residents and developers could weigh in on changes to a working draft of new zoning rules. The rules are called form-based code, which was formally introduced in a Feb. 1 planning commission meeting, but has been in discussion for about a year.
“There’s been a lot of comments from developers about this process being rushed or only having two weeks to react,” said Alex Daley, a planning commission member.
Courtesy of the Williston Planning Commission
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Developers push back on proposed Taft Corners zoning rules – Williston Observer
A map presented during the Feb. 1 Williston Planning Commission meeting shows proposed form-based code and natural and green space designations in the growth district.
Proposed rule changes that aim to make Taft Corners more walkable and people-friendly were met with pushback by local developers at a Williston Planning Commission meeting held on Feb. 1.
The new rules, known as form-based code, do away with the notion of residential and commercial districts. The rules would put more priority on the town’s goal of creating more pedestrian-focused developments that are pleasing to the eye.
Proposed rule changes that aim to make Taft Corners more walkable and people-friendly were met with pushback by local developers at a Williston Planning Commission meeting held on Feb. 1.
The new rules, known as form-based code, do away with the notion of residential and commercial districts. The rules would put more priority on the town’s goal of creating more pedestrian-focused developments that are pleasing to the eye.
McCullough introduces bill to limit microplastic emission from Casella facility – Williston Observer
A new bill that will restrict release of tiny plastic pieces found in local fertilizer — also known as microplastics — was introduced by Williston Rep. Jim McCullough Feb 1.
McCullough (D-Williston) said the drafted bill puts regulations on the quantity and size of microplastics that can end up in Vermont soil.
“Microplastics are a huge problem for the planet, and they’re an emerging problem in Vermont,” said McCullough before introducing the bill.
McCullough (D-Williston) said the drafted bill puts regulations on the quantity and size of microplastics that can end up in Vermont soil.
“Microplastics are a huge problem for the planet, and they’re an emerging problem in Vermont,” said McCullough before introducing the bill.