Williston
PAGES 2-4
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Permit #15 Williston,VT 05495 POSTAL CUSTOMER
JULY 6, 2023
WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985
Runners loop the Village in Beckett’s honor
WWW.WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM
A show of Independence
BY TAYLOR ANTONIOLI Special to the Observer
The Deb Beckett Memorial 5K Race/Walk kicked off Williston’s Fourth of July celebration weekend Saturday, taking participants on a loop around Williston Village from Village Community Park. Kids ages 4-12 had their own half-mile event earlier in the day. “It was a great event for the kids. I hope they do it again,” said Bridget Devine, mother of one of the half-mile participants. While the kids’ part of the event was new, the 5K has been a part of Williston’s Fourth of July activities for years. In 2021, it was renamed in honor of longtime Williston Town Clerk Deb Beckett. Beckett’s son, Sean, was one of the runners this year. He shared that he comes every year because he wants to honor his mom but also because it’s a great way to see extended family who have come to do the same. In addition to family, many of Beckett’s friends also came to participate. “I can’t think of a better way to memorialize Deb than to do something I’m not qualified for,” said Sam Porter, who worked with Beckett See BECKETT page 2
A fireworks show over Williston Village on Tuesday caps an epic Fourth of July weekend celebration. See pages 2-4 and page 24 for coverage of the parade, ice cream social, town band concert, library book sale and 5K fun run.
A pack of runners start out on the Deb Beckett Memorial 5k Race/Walk at Williston’s Village Community Park on Saturday morning.
OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY
OBSERVER PHOTO BY AL FREY
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