Wiliston Observer 07/23/2026 by Williston Observer

Williston

Beyond their Wildest dreams

Observer owners open bookstore and café

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

Other than esteem for the printed word, it may not be apparent the symbiosis between a community newspaper (this community newspaper) and a bookstore and café.

But Susan and Rick Cote, owners of the Williston Observer, have launched a business they believe complements the newspaper and furthers its multi-faceted mission. Wild Meadows Books & Café opened its doors in June and is now humming with book sales, food and beverage service, occasional events and a gathering space in the heart of Williston’s Taft Corners.

“It all comes down to community, community, community,” Rick Cote said. “Our mission is to celebrate community.”

The Observer has been effectively homeless since 2020, when we vacated our former offices at Cornerstone Drive amid the deepening pandemic. The Cotes bought the paper a few months later. In 2024 they began thinking about ways to bring the Observer under one roof again, but in something more than a traditional office setting.

“We were interested in a physical space to even better fulfill the mission of the paper,” Susan Cote said. “We got the idea for a bookstore, because Williston doesn’t have a bookstore, and a bookstore tends to be such a community gathering space — a place where people want to come and hear stories and share ideas. It seemed like a natural complement to a community paper.

“And we felt that it needed to have a café as part of it to bring that idea more fully to life.”

In addition to celebrating community, the newspaper’s stated mission is to build a unique sense of place, create a space for dialogue, to foster civic engagement and support a thriving economy. And while one

shouldn’t confuse Wild Meadows for the Observer’s newsroom, the Cotes are brainstorming ways journalism will have a presence in the store, including through events.

“I think the bookstore complements every part of the Observer’s mission,” Rick Cote said.

It also fills a need for Williston. Café seating was filled Tuesday morning with the laptop worker crowd and friends meeting in conversation. The children’s corner of the store is home to regular story times with more events in the works. The store is adorned with whimsical wall art, living room style furniture and a colorful labyrinth of book and product displays.

Daily hours are 10-6, but the store has extended hours until 9 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. With wine and beer on the menu, the café offers an alternative

atmosphere for a drink on the town.

“Our aim was to create a space where people could meet as a group or just come on their own and enjoy some food and maybe drink in an environment that, frankly, doesn’t have TVs on the wall,” Rick Cote said. “It isn’t a bar setting. It’s a quieter spot.”

Williston resident Josilyn Adams lives within walking distance of the store. Her children, at ages 10 and 12, are too old for the Wild Meadows children’s corner, but she’s excited for them to have a hangout spot they can bike to with friends.

“I could totally see that being a place where they start off, they get themselves a pastry or a yummy drink, then from there, possibly walk to Ulta or over to Dick’s or

see WILD MEADOWS page 2

Parking lot, turn-lane cut from library project

Selectboard to vote Tuesday whether to go to ballot

BY JASON STARR Observer staff

The Dorothy Alling Memorial Library Board of Trustees has approved new reductions in scope to its library expansion proposal in hopes of winning voter approval to finance the project in November.

The Williston Selectboard is expected to vote next Tuesday whether to place a bond question on the Nov. 3 general election ballot to finance the project. The total project cost estimate from Black River Design Architects is now $9.9 million. The selectboard plans to seek $9 million in bond financing.

The trustees had already reduced the project scope from $14 million after voters defeated a bond proposal in May. The defeat came as a reconsideration of the Town Meeting Day approval of a $13 million bond for the project.

The new reductions will save roughly $300,000, according to Library Director Kevin Unrath.

They include an elimination of a new parking lot that was planned to be paved onto a section of the Village Green as well as elimination of a left-turn lane exiting

Susan and Rick Cote, owners of the Williston Observer, opened Wild Meadows Books & Café in June. OBSERVER PHOTO BY AL FREY

Don’t forget to register!

Deadline is August 14th. Rates go up on August 1st for late registration. Take advantage of early pricing and secure your spot today.

Payment plans and scholarships are available to help make registration more accessible.

Around Town

An evening of books, horror fiction, conversation and community

and appetizers and beverages will be available.

best interests in juvenile court cases, which usually involve allegations of abuse or neglect.

A GAL works closely with the child’s attorney, meets with the child regularly and gathers information from people involved in the child’s life to understand the child’s needs and advocate for their best interests in court.

buccaneersfootballvt.org facebook.com/buccaneersyouthfootballvt instagram.com/cvsdbucs

The SuperStore in Williston is hosting New York Times bestselling author Paul Tremblay for a live author conversation, audience Q&A, and book signing to celebrate his newest novel “Dead But Dreaming of Electric Sheep.” The event, hosted in conjunction with Wild Meadows Books & Café and Fiddlehead Brewing Company, will also feature author Eric LaRocca. Books will be on sale

The event runs from 6-9 p.m. on July 29 at the SuperStore on Blair Park Road. RSVP at https://superstorevt.com/pages/ paul-tremblay-book-signing.

Vermont Judiciary seeks ‘Guardians ad Litem’

When the Department for Children and Families seeks to take a child into their custody, Vermont law requires the court to appoint a Guardian ad Litem (GAL). GALs are volunteer, court-appointed advocates who protect a child’s

The GAL’s goal is to ensure the child has a safe, stable and permanent home as quickly as possible. Right now, there is an urgent need for volunteers, according to a recent news release from the Vermont Judiciary. More information is available at VermontJudiciary.org/GAL, or by email at VermontGAL@ vtcourts.gov or phone at 800-622-6359.

New volunteer trainings are scheduled for Sept. 8, 15, 22 and 29.

Library

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The interior, above, and exterior of Wild Meadows Books & Café, which opened in June in Williston’s Finney Crossing neighborhood.

Wild Meadows

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Central School Drive. Other reductions include an adjustment to the location of the building’s mechanical infrastructure and a reduction of new furniture.

The cost remains too high for Dave Martel, a resident who led the successful campaign to overturn the original plan. Martel believes the reduced project could be built at less than half the estimated $9.9 million cost saving taxpayer money.

“I’d love to see this pass, but I don’t want to see it pass at $9 million,” he said during Tuesday’s meeting of the selectboard. “If it were $4 million, I would vote for it.”

advertising dollars in their communities instead of shipped off to social media corporations.

Best Buy,” Adams said. “It’s like the mall experience that I used to have. The bookstore could be sort of the heart of that for preteens and teenagers.

“I think Wild Meadows is exactly what Williston needed.”

There’s another connection newspapers and bookstores share, one of underdogs in the digital age. Independent booksellers have been a bulwark against the gravitational pull of Amazon for decades, while newspapers have been fighting to keep local

Both of the Cote’s businesses are aligned in opposition to those trends and serve a growing appetite for offline experiences.

“People are tired of looking at their devices. People are tired of shopping online. People want ‘in real life,’” Rick Cote said. “And that presents an opportunity for stores like Wild Meadows and testifies to the importance of community newspapers like the Williston Observer.”

Gerald Ortego said he understands the cost-saving imperative, especially for residents living on fixed incomes. But as a member of the Friends of the Library committee and someone involved in the original project design, he described the expansion as a tangible local investment.

“The money spent by taxpayers for this project will go directly to the improvement of Williston, not to the State of Vermont where it would be absorbed into the bureaucracy,” Ortego said. “You will be able to see and enjoy the results of your contribution directly.”

OBSERVER PHOTOS BY AL FREY

Coming Together

FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2026

A B O U T U S

For five years, Coming Together has connected our community, elevated recovery, & driven change. Our summit brings together individuals, families, professionals, providers, advocates, & policymakers to build a stronger, healthier Vermont

This event is free and open to the public. Whether you ' re seeking support, looking to help a loved one, or wanting to make a difference this summit is for you

Together, we raise awareness, expand access to resources, strengthen partnerships, and save lives Recovery is possible No one has to do it alone

A recovery program featuring inspiring guest speakers and presentations. We have some surprises too!

100s of Recovery and Recovery-Related Booths Excellent networking and resource opportunities We look for programs that model success

We are highlighting several Key Summit Goals Listening and learning from “boots on the ground” input.

The current state of electric car charging in VT

BY KEVIN THORLEY Williston Energy Committee

Until recently, it was not uncommon to hear responses such as “I need to wait for the charging infrastructure to improve” or “what about range anxiety?” when someone was asked if they think electric vehicle (EV) ownership is right for them. This was a legitimate concern in the past, but it’s time to take another look at EV charging in the Green Mountain State, specifically fast charging throughout Vermont and New England.

Fast charging is a method of recharging electric vehicle batteries using higher power levels than standard level-2 home chargers. As a fast charger uses direct current, the electricity does not need to be converted from AC to DC to be compatible with your EV battery.

Fast chargers have capabilities of delivering from 50 kilowatt (kW) to as much as 250 kW in ultra-fast charging stations. On average, this delivers 10 to 40 times as much power as a home level-2 charger. With this kind of power, you can charge up to 70-80% of your car’s battery in about 20-30

minutes, depending on your vehicle and the station’s capacity.

According to website DCFCTracker.com (DCFC stands for Direct Current Fast Charging), there have been 39 new or renovated fast charging stations installed in Vermont in the last two years. These stations represent many different charging networks and providers, with a total of 114 fast charging plugs that are available to all EVs, regardless of manufacturer.

This buildout of charging infrastructure goes beyond the interstates, with fast charging available throughout Vermont on state roads from southern Vermont to the Green Mountains, Champlain Valley and Northeast Kingdom.

Longer distance trips beyond Vermont’s borders are also well-supported, with recent fast charger installations in the Adirondacks, New Hampshire’s White Mountains and throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Trips that were once difficult in an EV, such as deep into the Adirondacks or across New Hampshire to the coast of Maine,

As the number of EVs on the road increases, the number of companies installing chargers has also increased.

now have many options in convenient locations.

As the number of EVs on the road increases, the number of companies installing chargers has also increased. With this increase comes more competition for more, faster and more reliable chargers in more convenient locations. Trips that once relied on a small number of charging networks such as Tesla, ChargePoint and ElectrifyAmerica now sport options from newer providers such

as Rivian, Ionna and MercedesBenz, with these new networks providing some of the fastest charging speeds available.

One thing that remains true is that the location of EV fast chargers isn’t always obvious if you don’t know where to look. Fortunately for EV drivers, many of today’s EVs have charger locations built into the car’s navigation system, and many of these cars will include the charger and account for charging stops in route planning. For other cars, or if you’re just interested in learning more about where chargers are and what an all-electric trip might look like for you, the PlugShare and ABetterRoutePlanner apps are excellent resources.

An important part of EV ownership, especially on trips, is to charge when the car is otherwise sitting idle. This includes the most obvious example of charging at

home or work, which is where most EV owners do the majority of their charging. But, it also means looking for convenient charging on trips. The PlugShare app is great for this, and even has search filters to find charging near hotels, campgrounds, etc. Charging overnight at a hotel, or for a few hours at your destination, means less time (sometimes no time) spent charging on the drive. As a side benefit, many hotels and other businesses offer this charging as a free perk to their customers. So how much charging time is actually required for a longer trip in New England today? Let’s take an example trip from Williston to Cape Cod (specifically Barnstable, Mass.) in a Hyundai Ioniq 5. The Ioniq 5 is one of the top selling EVs in the country, and in its AWD trim has a rated range of around 270 miles.

GREEN

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Optimally, this 282-mile trip, about 4 hours 40 minutes nonstop (and ignoring the ever-present traffic of the Boston area) requires a single charging stop of less than 10 minutes to complete the trip. With destination charging (such as at a hotel, campground, restaurants, etc.) you can start the trip home with a full charge, for a total charging time of just over 15 minutes for that 9-plus hour, 565-mile roundtrip.

EXPERIENCE

Graduate of Champlain College & Vermont Police Academy. Chittenden Deputy Sheriff for 40 years, Sheriff for 3½ years.

INTEGRITY

Professionalism and transparancy. Treat every person with respect and compassion.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Modernizing services to ensure safer communities. Providing police patrol services to four municipalities. Delivering security to businesses, non-profits and courthouses.

COMMITMENT

As a lifelong Vermonter, I have been here and will continue to be here to support our community, help it thrive and keep us safe, as I have over the last 45 years.

With EV ownership continuing to be more common, the need for fast chargers will continue to increase as drivers will

want to travel longer distances without stopping for extended periods of time. Trends indicate that installation of DC fast chargers will rapidly overtake Level-2 chargers, removing the range anxiety that long distance EV travelers have had in the past.

To participate in Williston’s energy future, reach out to your Williston Energy Committee at energy@willistonvt. org or attend a public meeting held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. The agenda for upcoming meetings is posted on the Town of Williston website (www.town.williston. vt.us). For more information, visit, https:// www.willistonvtenergycommittee.org. EVs

‘Range anxiety’ for electric cars is being quelled by installation of fast charging stations throughout Vermont.

PHOTO

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Member:

Remaining respectful in disagreement

BY MEGHAN METZLER CVSD Board Chair

I write today to share the Champlain Valley School Board’s perspective on the process that led to our June 30 vote to enter into a Gift Agreement for a new field at CVU. The decision was not made lightly or quickly. It followed months of community input and deliberation, along with a sincere effort to balance student safety and opportunity, environmental responsibility, community concerns, and the evidence available to us — a process we should have better explained to the public on June 30.

Since the Community Field Project first approached Champlain Valley School District with an offer to fundraise for a new field at CVU, the board has wrestled with both the potential benefits of the gift and its possible unintended consequences. We understood from the beginning that our first responsibility was to the safety of our students and broader community and that any decision would also have implications for the trust we have worked to build with our communities over many years.

We did not fully see just how polarizing this proposal would become. But it did.

The board began exploring the proposed gift last fall. The

proposal grew out of long-standing concerns about CVU’s fields. During the process we heard about injuries and lost opportunities for students, as well as the possibility that a more reliable field could expand access to athletics, student activities, school events and community use.

We did not fully see just how polarizing this proposal would become.

At the same time, significant concerns emerged about PFAS, groundwater and drinking water, long-term environmental impacts, and the proximity of the proposed field to the Hinesburg water supply.

Those concerns shaped the board’s process.

In April, two separate community meetings presented differing perspectives on the proposal. On April 8, the Community Field Project explained its proposal and responded to questions. On April 10, Responsible Growth Hinesburg hosted an event focused on environmental and public health concerns associated with artificial turf. Board members attended when they could and watched recordings of the

events to hear the presentations, research, questions and concerns directly.

Importantly, the board did not begin substantive deliberation until both community meetings had taken place. Board members wanted to hear the arguments on both sides before moving more deeply into discussion.

Following the board’s first discussion in April, members charged the superintendent and chief operating officer with answering 12 specific questions raised by the community about safety, cost and practical use. In May, the board reviewed those answers during that month’s board meeting and commissioned an independent environmental study to examine the community’s most significant concern: the potential impacts on surface water, groundwater and public drinking water. The board was clear that it would only proceed once satisfied the project would not pose an unacceptable risk to drinking water.

When the study was completed, its findings did not identify an unacceptable risk to surface water, groundwater or public drinking water from the proposed field under the conditions studied. The study did not answer every conceivable question or eliminate all uncertainty. No decision involving emerging science or environmental risk can honestly make that claim. It did, however, provide

independent evidence directly addressing one of the most significant concerns raised throughout the process.

Ultimately, a majority of the board voted to move forward with entering into a Gift Agreement because, after months of public input, exposure to differing perspectives, answers to specific questions, independent analysis, and thorough review of the available evidence, a majority of members concluded that the benefits of the proposed field outweighed risks.

That decision should not be interpreted as a dismissal of those who remain concerned. Reasonable people can review the same information and reach different conclusions about what level of uncertainty is acceptable. We also know that the health of a community is measured not only by whether we agree, but by whether we can remain in a constructive and respectful relationship when we do not. We remain focused on being in relationship with our community even in the face of disagreement.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to write, speak, ask questions, share expertise, attend meetings, watch presentations and participate in this process.

Meghan Metzler of Charlotte is chair of the Champlain Valley School Board.

Citizens protest pays off

Bank ends relationship with federal prison contractors

OBSERVER STAFF REPORT

Activists protesting federal immigration enforcement are counting a victory after last Friday’s announcement from Citizens Bank that it will no longer work with two private prison operators, CoreCivic and GEO Group.

Protesters, including a group of about 50 people from Champlain Valley Indivisible and Williston Equity and Democracy who held signs outside the Williston branch of Citizens Bank on Saturday, have been ramping up pressure on the bank to stop financing the two federal prison contractors, which have held immigrant detainees.

“(This) is an important victory for the people who refused to let a major bank finance human suffering brought on by ICE detention activities of the current

federal administration,” a statement from the “De-ICE Citizens Bank Coalition” says. “While Citizens Bank frames this exit as a purely ‘business decision’ dictated by evolving commercial circumstances, the reality is clear: public conscience and community resistance matter and have paid off.”

Citizens Bank acknowledged being “targeted” by activists over the past year because of its relationship with CoreCivic and GEO. But it said in its announcement that both companies have begun selling several detention facilities to the federal government, reducing their need for Citizens Bank financing.

“Given how these companies’ capital needs and financing structures have evolved, and their reduced need for a bank with Citizens’ full range of capabilities, Citizens has determined that it is now appropriate to exit the credit facilities for these clients.

Protesters demonstrate outside Citizens Bank in Williston on Saturday. The bank recently announced it is cutting ties with private prison companies that house federal immigrant detainees.

PHOTO BY MOLLY PARENT

from Champlain Valley Indivisible and Williston Equity and Democracy.

Catholic Church aims to protect Rice high school by selling it

This is a business decision based on changed commercial circumstances and does not reflect any change in our view regarding these companies’ business models or operations.”

The bank touted its philanthropic record and says activists “have tried to define us through a narrow lens inconsistent with who

we are.” It also said that it is unlawful to deny banking services to businesses based on political or religious considerations.

Activists are asking for assurances that the bank won’t work with CoreCivic or GEO in the future, urging individuals and municipalities to “consider terminating their relationships with Citizens Bank” and “align their personal values with banks they do business with.”

BY KEVIN O’CONNOR VTDigger

Vermont’s Roman Catholic Diocese, aiming to reorganize its depleting finances in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, wants to sell its parochial Rice Memorial High School to supporters to protect the 400-student, grade 9-12 South Burlington campus from potential liquidation.

The state’s largest religious

denomination has asked a judge for permission to sign a contract with a new nonprofit entity, RMHS Inc., which has offered to purchase Rice’s two-story, 42-classroom building and surrounding 27 acres of athletic fields, parking areas and wetlands for $4.3 million.

“Both the diocese and the purchaser are ready, willing and able to move forward with the proposed sale of the purchased

assets as soon as possible,” church lawyers have written in a motion seeking court approval. They say the move would “ensure the continuity of the charitable, educational and religious purposes of RMHS in advance of the 2026-2027 academic year.”

Judge Heather Cooper is scheduled to consider the sale and its potential impact

Activists protesting Saturday outside the Williston branch of Citizens Bank included a group of about 50 people

PHOTO BY MOLLY PARENT

Rice Memorial High School in South Burlington.

VTDIGGER

Waterbury elevator back in service

BY OTIS ROESSLER Community News Service

Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont internship, on assignment for the Waterbury Roundabout.

After more than five months of being out of order, the elevator in the Green Mountain Seminary apartment complex has been fixed, the building’s owner said last Thursday.

The development comes less than a week after the Waterbury Roundabout published a story detailing the frustrations of the tenants, some of whom are elderly or disabled. Fire department officials said they’d had to manually move patients down the stairwell of the three-story building. One man, an 84-year-old veteran with cancer, said he filed a complaint about the situation with the Vermont Human Rights Commission.

The building owner, Downstreet Housing & Community Development in Barre, hired Otis Elevator to fix the problem. But over the last few months, the company missed several deadlines and had provided no concrete timeline for when the elevator would be up and running.

Finally, on Wednesday, July 15, Otis Elevator employee Garrick Cassavant emailed Downstreet’s Leah Sare to inform her that the

ground floor, the door began to close slowly and the alarm began to ring. Ramos said that same alarm rang before the elevator initially broke. However, after exiting the elevator and trying again, it ran smoothly.

Ramos believes that without the elevator’s newfound notoriety, it might have taken longer to be repaired.

“I don’t think they would’ve fixed it,” she said.

PHOTO BY OTIS ROESSLER

elevator was back in service, according to emails obtained by the Roundabout.

“It’s nice that there’s some good news,” Downstreet’s executive director Angie Harbin told the Roundabout on Thursday.

Delays in the repair process have taken a toll on building residents.

After five and a half months of living without an elevator, Victoria Maradiaga Ramos said she is hesitant to believe that the saga is over. In February, Ramos called emergency responders after a fellow tenant had gotten trapped in the elevator with her infant son.

“I don’t trust it,” Ramos said at the building last Thursday.

In Ramos’ view, the elevator is still faulty. Upon entering the elevator for a trip from the first to the

The Seminary Apartments on Hollow Road are one of four apartment complexes owned and managed by Downstreet in Waterbury. While she said she was relieved to have the elevator repairs finally done, Harbin said she wants to avoid a similar situation at other properties in the future. She said Downstreet now is looking into funding to inspect every elevator in its portfolio. With lengthy elevator repair times and numerous buildings with just one elevator, Downstreet officials said they hope they can get in front of future malfunctions.

“I’m hoping I’ll be able to secure those (funds) within the next month,” Harbin said, explaining that this is “backup” for which her organization needs to request further grant money.

With proper analysis, Harbin said, Downstreet will be able to document any issues with its elevators and estimate the cost of preemptive maintenance and repairs.

Seminary Apartments resident Victoria Maradiaga Ramos takes the building’s newly fixed elevator last Thursday in Waterbury.

on creditors at a hearing in Burlington on Aug. 28 — four days before the start of classes.

The diocese filed for Chapter 11 protection in the fall of 2024, arguing that a past series of priest misconduct settlements had reduced its highest-level bank-and-building holdings by half, to about $35 million. As part of the process, the church preemptively has sold a few of its properties, including its South Burlington headquarters for $3.13 million and Rutland’s former Loretto Home senior living facility for $1 million.

Behind the scenes, the diocese has spent the past year discussing a potential Rice sale with its school board and a group of supporters interested in purchasing the property, according to court records.

“The proposal is intended to preserve Rice’s Catholic identity while providing a strong foundation for future generations,” Christina DeGraff-Murphy, chair of the Rice School Board,

said Monday in a statement to VTDigger. “Students and families should expect no material changes to their Rice experience. Rice’s mission, educational programs, traditions, faculty and staff and commitment to Catholic education will remain intact.”

The school has been working with unnamed “dedicated donors who are helping make this opportunity possible,” DeGraffMurphy said.

“Because this matter remains subject to ongoing legal proceedings, we are limited in our ability to comment further at this time,” DeGraff-Murphy added before concluding: “Simply stated: Rice will remain Rice.”

The school’s market value is estimated at between $4 million and $6 million, according to White + Burke Real Estate Advisors of Burlington. The firm based the figure on the property’s proximity to a residential community.

“This location lends itself well to the school use but might be problematic for other commercial uses such as an office

building campus or high density residential because of the limited access and neighborhood concerns,” White + Burke wrote in a report included in the court filing. “Absent Rice, the property would likely be repurposed into housing development.”

Supporters initially offered $2 million for the school before increasing the figure to $4.3 million after negotiations with the diocese, according to court records.

Church lawyers couldn’t cite any recent sales of Vermont high schools, but listed such campus purchases in the past decade as Marlboro College for $1.7 million, College of St. Joseph in Rutland for $2 million, Goddard College in Plainfield for $3.4 million, Green Mountain College in Poultney for $4.5 million and Southern Vermont College in Bennington for $4.6 million.

The diocese is asking the judge to allow a private sale.

“Significant concern exists that a fully public sale process would severely and negatively impact student enrollment

at RMHS, which the purchaser indicated would force it to reduce and potentially withdraw its offer,” church lawyers wrote in their court motion.

“Additionally, the diocese will not be required to make commission payments to any brokers or agents, increasing the net proceeds available for the bankruptcy estate.”

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.

Rice 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.

The potential sale comes as attorneys for the church and clergy abuse claimants fight in court over who should have access to what assets.

The diocese is arguing that its holdings are limited to auxiliary

buildings such as its now-sold headquarters, Loretto Home and Rice. But a creditors committee representing more than 100 abuse claimants has asked for authority to pursue an estimated $500 million of local parish property and possessions that were placed in trusts in 2006 to shelter them from court verdicts.

Under federal law, both the court and creditors must approve any Chapter 11 reorganization plan. The ongoing disagreement between the two sides has cost the diocese $2 million in legal bills and counting, according to court records.

Cooper has threatened to dismiss the case if the church doesn’t submit a larger reorganization proposal by fall. Ending the process without a solution would further endanger the diocese’s finances by reviving abuse lawsuits placed on hold by the bankruptcy filing. The church has paid $34.5 million to settle 67 clergy misconduct claims in the past two decades, according to records, only to still face 119 more dating as far back as 1950.

VT loggers in lurch after paper mill closure

BY CHARLOTTE OLIVER VTDigger

Loggers and foresters around Vermont say they’re anticipating the industry will suffer after a New York paper company announced Friday that it will close part of its operation.

Finch Paper’s decision to close its pulp mill in Glens Falls, N.Y., will continue to stress Vermont’s

already burdened logging industry, warned Vermont logger Sam Lincoln.

“It’s going to have an enormous impact,” said Lincoln, who owns Lincoln Farm Timber Harvesting in Randolph Center. He also formerly served as deputy commissioner of the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.

Industry experts say that Finch Paper plays an important role in Vermont’s logging industry

because it purchases low-grade pulp wood. The company is one of only a few of its scale in the region that has a pulp mill, which processes wood that’s otherwise undesirable because of its knots, shape or other defects.

It’s the most recent regional mill to shut down, after a spate of big paper mill closures over the last 40 to 50 years in Maine, New Hampshire and along the Hudson

A logging operation in Tunbridge in Feb. 2023.

File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

Loggers

continued from page 11

River in New York. That’s on top of more recent closures among Vermont’s timber mills, including the A. Johnson Company in Bristol and Mill River Lumber in Clarendon.

Finch Paper said it would close its pulp mill and would instead begin exclusively buying the pulp that’s used to make its paper products rather than making it.

“In the last 20 years, the market has shifted dramatically, and Finch can now reliably purchase

pulp less expensively than it can produce on site,” the company said in a statement.

The company previously made 60% of its own pulp and bought the other 40%, according to John Brodt, a spokesperson for the company.

Finch Paper declined to say how much wood it processed or where the wood is sourced, but local industry experts said the paper company’s purchases from Vermont played an important role in maintaining the health of the state’s industry.

Oliver Pierson, the director of

forestry for the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, estimates the pulp mill processed about 50 to 80 truckloads of wood per day from around the region.

Although low-grade woods aren’t as valuable as whole logs, loggers are facing high overhead costs, including those required to meet environmental sustainability and water quality standards, Pierson said. That means that a logger might not be able to turn a profit if they’re harvesting just timber and leaving everything else behind, he said.

“But if you can also get the low-grade wood materials out, then you have a sort of economically viable job,” Pierson said.

Responsible forest management is expensive, he added, and requires maintaining culverts, putting down hardened roads and building bridges.

Lincoln, who’s been a logging contractor since 1998, said that he’s trying to get out of the business this winter because the last two years have been unprofitable. He thinks the mill’s closure will have a significant ripple effect on those in the industry, creating obstacles for landowners and loggers alike.

Whenever he contracts with a landowner to harvest timber, a high percentage of the wood harvested is low-grade, Lincoln said. Vermont has a lot of Hemlock trees, which usually have a lot of low-grade wood.

Without a nearby mill that can take a high volume of low-grade wood, loggers aren’t going to take on projects involving many hemlocks, according to Lincoln. As a result, land that’s covered in hemlocks becomes less valuable to landowners, he said.

Bill Sargent, a retired forester who lives in Shaftsbury, said that he believes the only other local pulp mill comparable in size is in Ticonderoga, N.Y. It’s likely the Finch closure will leave too many loggers scrambling to send their wood to Ticonderoga, he said.

That leaves loggers with limited options, according to Sargent, who suggested they might instead turn their low-grade material into firewood — though that could flood the market.

Without cutting for pulp, responsible forest management is next to impossible, he said.

“You need to remove that lowgrade material from the woods in order to grow the better material that you leave standing,” Sargent said.

Celebration of Life Service

David Charles Cronin

A Celebration of Life service for David Charles Cronin (Feb. 10, 1946 – Nov. 26, 2025) will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 2 p.m. at Buck Ridge Barns, 8472 Route 116, Hinesburg, Vermont (near Rocky Ridge Golf Course).

Later that day from 5-7:30 p.m., a Celebration of Life reception hosted by Jan and family will be held at Lindsey and Chris Burnett’s home, 205 Acadia Lane, St. George. We invite all friends and family whose lives were touched by Dave to join us in friendship and food as we share stories of Dave’s life well lived.

Dave and his wife, Jan Carpenter Cronin, made their

homes in Bennington, South Burlington, and Shelburne, before retiring to Satellite Beach, Fla.

Dave loved to return to Vermont to visit the communities he was such a big part of.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Forever a Hero through the Health First Foundation at hf. org/give or by mail to Health First Foundation, 1350 South Hickory Street, Melbourne, Fla., 32901, or to the charity of your choice. A full obituary will be available at the service.

Denise ‘Denyse’ Marie Guariglia

Denise ‘Denyse’ Marie Guariglia (née Couët), aged 90, died peacefully in her sleep July 11, 2026 at Harmony in

OBITUARIES

Glasgow in Newark, Del.

Born to Cécile Couët (née Lefebvre) and Adolphe Couët in Trois-Rivières, Quebec Canada on Aug. 3, 1935.

Denyse moved to Williston in 2004 from Yonkers, NY with her husband Edoardo to be closer to her grandchildren and the vacation home in Quebec. Edoardo passed during the holidays in 2006. Denyse built a life without Edoardo in Williston. She remained socially active with her friends from Ian Place and Chatham Woods as well as being a member of the Alliance Francaise of the Lake Champlain Region and the Vermont Italian Cultural Association.

After 18 years in Vermont, Denyse moved to Delaware in 2022 to be closer to her other grandchild. After a few years in assisted living, that is where Denyse finally passed after a full and fulfilled life.

Denyse is survived by her children, Maurice (Hélène) Guariglia, MaryAnne (Marco) Morin and Pierre (Judy) Guariglia. Her grandchildren Béatrice Guariglia, Bruno Guariglia and Cielle Guariglia. Her sister-in-law Maria Marrocco. Nieces and nephews Natalie Couet, Martin Couet, Dominique Desrochers, François Desrochers, Louis Desrochers, Michele Marrocco and Patrizia Marrocco.

Denyse was preceded in death by her husband Edoardo Guariglia. Her parents, Cécile

and Adolphe Couët. Her brother Marcel (Béatrice) Couët. Her sister Estelle (Pierre) Desrochers. Her brother-in-law Nicola Marrocco.

A funeral Mass for Denyse Guariglia will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026 at Saint Francis Xavier Church located at 3 Saint Peter Street in Winooski.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in memory of Denyse Guariglia to an animal welfare organization of your choice or to your local animal shelter.

Further information can be found at https://www. nicholsgilmore.com.

In print and online: We’re your neighbors, committed to keeping you informed on what’s going on in Williston.

Constance Ewell Storer

Constance Ewell Storer, 80, passed away peacefully on June 25, 2026. Born to Richard W. Ewell and Claire C. Regan in 1945 in Springfield, Mass., Constance, known to all her friends and family as Connie, lived a life devoted to learning, teaching, creativity, and compassion. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology before following her calling as an elementary school teacher, serving for decades at the Champlain Elementary School in Burlington where she touched the lives of countless children with her patience, encouragement, and unwavering belief in

every child’s potential.

On July 8, 1972, Connie married the love of her life and husband of 54 years, John Winthrop Storer, in Hingham, Mass. They moved to Williston, where they raised two sons, Jason and Matthew. There, they enjoyed a life of quiet peace and tending gardens at home with their dogs, punctuated by frequent travel to places both familiar and exotic.

Education was more than a profession to Connie — it was a lifelong passion. Drawing upon decades of experience in the classroom, she authored “Connecting Children to the World,” a book that reflects her thoughtful approach to teaching and her conviction that education should inspire curiosity, empathy, and a deeper understanding of the world. She was immensely proud to share her ideas with fellow educators and parents through her writing.

Outside the classroom, Connie expressed her creativity in many ways. In her early years, she created beautiful hooked rugs and lovingly created numerous Halloween costumes for her sons, each one crafted with remarkable skill, imagination, and attention to detail. These handmade gifts reflected the generosity and care she poured into everything she did. Every room in their home and all across their land bore the imprint of her artistic vision. Through

paintings, furniture, color, carefully chosen décor, curated landscape and gardens, she created an environment that was both elegant and deeply personal.

Connie also had a deep love for animals. Throughout her life, she faithfully supported organizations dedicated to their welfare, including the ASPCA, Best Friends Animal Society, and Soi Dog Foundation, reflecting the compassion that guided so many aspects of her life.

Connie is survived by her sons, Jason Wesley Storer and Matthew Brewster Storer, and extended family members and friends, who will forever remember her love, wisdom, encouragement, and steadfast devotion to her family.

Connie will be remembered as a loving mother, a gifted teacher, an accomplished writer, a talented craftswoman, and a woman of quiet kindness whose influence reached far beyond her own family. Her legacy lives on in the many children she inspired, the family she nurtured, the book she authored, and the countless acts of compassion that defined her life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the ASPCA, Best Friends Animal Society, or Soi Dog Foundation in honor of Connie’s lifelong love of animals.

Carol Marilyn (Perrotte) Hamner

Carol Marilyn (Perrotte) Hamner, a lifelong resident of Chittenden County, passed away peacefully on July 11, 2026, with her loving family by her side. She fought heroically against the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease, determined to keep enjoying life to the fullest and share her warm, caring spirit with all who knew or encountered her.

Carol was born in Winooski on Feb. 1, 1940 to parents Walter Albert and Eleanor Genevieve (Provost) Perrotte. She attended Winooski public schools and graduated class valedictorian one year early in 1957. She headed straight to work after that as one of the original hires at the newly opened IBM plant in Essex Junction. Around this time she met the love of her life, Richard “Dick” Fay Hamner of New Haven. They married on Sept. 12, 1959 in St. Stephen’s Church, Winooski.

They made their first home in Burlington, then moved to Essex Junction where their three sons grew up and went to school. Mom and Dad took an active interest in their children’s academic and athletic pursuits, attending countless ball games and school performances. While Dick coached little league and church basketball for many years, Carol regularly participated in Catholic Daughters social and charitable functions. They both enjoyed league bowling and golfing together enormously,

OBITUARIES

and Carol continued to bowl for quite some time after Dick’s untimely passing. The family traveled together often for the kids’ extra curricular activities, to attend Major League ball games in Boston and Montreal, or just to experience the wonder of places as diverse as Niagara Falls, Washington DC, and the Maritime Provinces.

After Dick’s passing, Carol embarked on many years of travel with friends, meeting new ones along the way. She loved her many cruises and group tours all over the world as well the famous scenic train ride across Canada and the Rockies.

Once the children fledged the nest, Carol and Dick took advantage of an early retirement offer from IBM. Dick enjoyed it for five years before illness took him away, but Carol, with a inner resolve not often glimpsed beneath her gentle demeanor, carried on in her newly built home in Williston for 28 years as revered matriarch and genuine friend to many.

Along with her parents, Carol

was predeceased by her husband Richard in 1998, her brother Neil Perrotte in 1983, and her youngest son Brian (Judi) in 2014. She leaves behind her loving sons Scott of Richmond, Ca., and Brett (Cathy) of Kerrville Texas, as well as her beloved daughterin-law Judi (Tim) of Georgia, Vt.

Brett and Scott are eternally grateful to Judi for helping Mom get to all her appointments and important events, especially during the last three most difficult years.

Carol is also survived by six adored grandchildren, Brendan Tyler Hamner of Texas, Chelsea Elizabeth (Korey) Hamner of Vermont, Derrick Alexander Hamner of Texas, Kiah Marie (Brandon) Chadwick of Vermont, Amy Fay Hamner of Ontario, and Ryan Edward Richard Hamner of Ontario, as well as by five precious great-grandchildren, Ava Hamner, Charleigh Hamner, Maverick Marsh, Tripp Chadwick, and Millie Chadwick.

Lastly, she leaves behind friends and family members too numerous to count, including three longtime friends in her Williston neighborhood, Mary Lee Brooks, Stephen Cook, and Steve’s little dog Heidi of Williston, who lavished on a doting Carol her boundless canine affection.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at Holy Family Church in Essex Junction on, July 16, Father Charles Ranges, SSE, officiating, with interment immediately following in Holy Family Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Carol’s memory to the Vermont Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association or a charity of one’s choice.

The family would like to thank and recognize the devoted and loving staff of Mansfield Place Assisted Living (most recently the memory care unit) and Bayada Hospice Services. The professional and compassionate care was truly overwhelming.

Armadillos roll over Monties

WILLISTON POLICE WILLISTON FIRE DEPT.

June 6 at 2:48 a.m. — Traffic stop conducted. Male operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.

June 6 at 7:48 p.m. — Suspicious male and female on Shunpike Road. They were located and moved along.

June 7 at 9:23 a.m. — Traffic enforcement conducted on Mountain View Road.

June 8 at 5:25 p.m. — Assisted with a vehicle that broke down near Boxwood Street. Vehicle was towed.

June 8 at 8:41 p.m. — Verbal argument on North Williston Road. Parties were separated.

June 9 at 8:39 a.m. — Report of a stolen motorcycle from Industrial Avenue. Motorcycle has not been located at this time.

June 9 at 9:06 a.m. — Report of cars broken into on Chamberlain Lane.

June 9 at 3:00 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. Female suspect located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

June 9 at 7:59 p.m. — Female in Best Buy who had stolen previously. Female was located and issued a notice of trespass.

June 10 at 9:23 a.m. — Female standing on the side of the road, falling into traffic. Female was located and refused all services. She left the area.

June 10 at 2:46 p.m. — Male in REI threatening employees. Male was moved along.

June 11 at 3:39 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Marshalls. Female suspect was located and issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

June 11 at 9:30 p.m. — Traffic stop conducted. Male operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.

June 12 at 4:14 p.m. — Suspicious female in Home Depot. Female was moved along.

June 12 at 11:24 p.m. — Verbal argument at Zephyr Place. Parties were separated.

June 13 at 2:29 a.m. — Traffic stop conducted. Male operator was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI. Male passenger had an outstanding arrest warrant. He was transported to the correctional facility.

June 13 at 3:49 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Dick’s Sporting goods. Vehicle was located with suspects inside. Vehicle was a stolen vehicle. Female passenger had an active arrest warrant and was transported to the correctional facility.

Officers also conducted nine traffic enforcement operations resulting in 40 traffic stops and responded to seven alarm activations and 14 motor vehicle crashes during this time frame.

JULY 10

• 6:11 a.m.: Firefighters responded to a fire alarm activation on Falcon Manor.

• 7:02 a.m.: Firefighters responded to a fire alarm activation on Falcon Manor.

• 12:31 p.m.: An alarm on Falcon Manor was determined to be accidental.

• 1:20 p.m.: Firefighters provided a lift assist on Meadowbend Road.

• 1:30 p.m.: Crews performed an elevator rescue on Blair Park Road.

• 8:56 p.m.: Firefighters investigated a reported incident on Walker Hill Road, but found no emergency.

JULY 11

• 10:58 a.m.: Firefighters provided citizen assistance on Whitewater Circle.

• 11:27 a.m.: Crews provided a lift assist on Brookside Drive.

• 12:19 p.m.: Firefighters investigated a fire alarm on Eagle Crest.

• 7:16 p.m.: Crews responded to a fire alarm on

Maidstone Lane.

• 8:47 p.m.: Firefighters checked an authorized controlled burn on Callaway Drive.

JULY 12

• 1:36 a.m.: Firefighters responded to a fire alarm on Eagle Crest.

• 1:46 a.m.: A call on South Brownell Road was canceled before crews arrived.

• 8:59 a.m.: Crews investigated a fire alarm on Day Lane.

• 3:05 p.m.: Firefighters responded to a fire alarm on Eagle Crest.

JULY 13

• 3:41 p.m.: Firefighters responded to a motor vehicle crash on Interstate 89 South.

JULY 14

• 1:27 a.m.: A malfunctioning fire alarm prompted a response on Tyler Way.

• 1:29 a.m.: A mutual aid response to Observatory Road in Hinesburg was canceled before arrival.

• 2:41 p.m.: Firefighters provided citizen assistance on Williston Road.

• 4:36 p.m.: A mutual aid response to Commerce Street in Hinesburg was canceled before arrival.

• 6:11 p.m.: Firefighters investigated a reported incident on Harvest Lane. No emergency was found.

• 7:46 p.m.: Crews provided citizen assistance at Falcon Manor.

JULY 15

• 12:39 a.m.: Firefighters assisted at a structure fire on Pheasant Hill Ridge in Shelburne.

• 9:52 a.m.: A malfunctioning fire alarm was investigated on Chloe Circle.

• 1:11 p.m.: Firefighters performed an elevator rescue on Blair Park Road.

• 1:22 p.m.: Crews responded to a motor vehicle crash on Industrial Avenue.

• 7:44 p.m.: Firefighters investigated an alarm activation on Cedar Lane.

JULY 16

• 2:23 a.m.: Firefighters responded to a fire alarm on Eagle Crest.

• 3:45 a.m.: Crews responded to a motor vehicle crash on Mountain View Road.

• 12:28 p.m.: Firefighters performed an elevator rescue on Blair Park Road.

• 6:30 p.m.: Firefighters provided citizen assistance on Southview Lane.

• 8:45 p.m.: Firefighters responded to an accidental fire alarm on Falcon Manor.

These items represent the Williston Fire Department’s non-medical call responses. The department also responded to several medical emergencies during this time frame.

Meet Me in Idaho

Idaho, our 43rd state, lies in the mountainous northwest of the country. It has a small border with Canada — only 45 miles long. Idaho joined the Union in 1890.

The capital, Boise (BOYzee), is also the state’s largest city, with fewer than 1 million people in its metropolitan area.

Idaho’s history

Native Americans lived in the area for more than 15,000 years. Tribes included the Nez Perce in the north and the Shoshone in the south.

The first Europeans to explore Idaho were probably Capts. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and their Corps of Discovery, in 1805. It was one of the last states settled by Europeans. Idaho was part of the Oregon, Washington and Dakota territories before becoming the Territory of Idaho in 1863. Some of the first non-Indigenous people in Idaho were Mormons and Chinese immigrants.

Living in Idaho

The state is the top producer of potatoes; almost a third of U.S. potatoes are grown there. Other important industries include lumber and wood products, food products, electronics manufacturing, mining and tourism. One of its nicknames is the Gem State because of the many precious and semiprecious stones produced there.

Idaho has a wide variety of natural areas,

Mini Fact: Idaho has two time zones, Mountain Time and Pacific Time.

including mountain ranges, gorges, lakes and rivers. There are six national parks, reserves, historic sites and monuments in Idaho, along with numerous state parks. Yellowstone National Park lies partially in Idaho.

Fun in Idaho

Skiers love to visit Sun Valley, one of the oldest ski resorts in the United States and home of the first chairlift. Engineers from the Union Pacific Railroad designed the chairlift based on a machine used to load banana boats.

Beneath the surface, several ice caves can be found in Idaho. Some of these can be toured by visitors, but others are closed to tourists.

The state has three universities with Division I sports teams, along with professional hockey and soccer teams.

Important Idahoans

• Chief Joseph led the Nez Perce in a fight against the U.S. after the government tried to force his people onto a reservation in Idaho. The reservation land was one-tenth of the land they held under treaty. Chief Joseph is famous for his words after his people’s defeat: “I will fight no more forever.”

• Philo Farnsworth was one of the most important contributors to the invention of the television. He first thought of how to make his television when he was still in high school.

In 1927, when he was 21, he built his first TV. Others had invented parts of the TV, but his invention successfully used electricity to send pictures.

Unfortunately, a big company claimed it had invented the TV first. He had to fight a long battle in court to gain the rights to his invention. Finally, in 1935, the U.S. Patent Office gave him the rights to his invention.

Do you ever do “The Hokey Pokey”? This song probably originated in Scotland in the 1800s, but in 1950, three musicians called the Sun Valley Trio released a record of the song for visitors to Sun Valley to dance to.

On the Web: • bit.ly/4wRI2U6 At the library: • “Idaho Fun Facts for Kids: The Curious Kid’s Travel Guide to the Gem State” by Funpics Press

Try ’n’ Find

Aromas of India

Observer rack locations

Mini Jokes

Call Rick Cote at (802) 373-2136 or email

Rick@WillistonObserver.com

if you would like copies for your location Williston Adams Farm Market

Words that remind us of Idaho are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:

Chef’s Corner

Dorothy Alling Memorial Library

Fairfield Inn

Folino’s Pizza

MORMONS, MOUNTAINS, PARKS, POTATOES, RESORTS, RIVERS, SKIING, TELEVISION.

Healthy Living Williston Home2Suites

Island Homemade Ice Cream

Korner Kwik Stop

Marriott Courtyard

Men At Wok

M&T Bank

Ramunto’s Rehab Gym

Gardener’s Supply Green Mountain Bagel Hannaford

Shell Gas Station (Essex Rd)

Simon’s Mobil Williston

Simply Divine Café

Sonesta

Sunoco Station Town of Williston Offices

UPS Store

Vermont Meat & Seafood

Williston Coffee Shop

Essex/Essex Jct.

Essex Automotive

Five Corner Variety

Price Chopper

Quality Bake Shop

Isabelle: What do you call a smart potato?

Hannaford

Isaac: An edu-tater!

Inn at Essex

Mac’s Market

River Road Beverage

Richmond

Cumberland Farms

Inez: Why did the farmer plant his spuds in the road?

Martone’s Deli

Richmond Free Library

Ike: Because he wanted mashed potatoes!

Richmond Market

Founded by Betty Debnam Issue 30, 2026

photo by Joan Amero

photo by Thomas Hawk

Bald Mountain in Idaho has 75 runs where skiers can test their skills.

Chief Joseph

Philo Farnsworth in high school, 1924

State because of the many precious and semiprecious stones produced there. Idaho has a wide variety of natural areas, a record of the song for visitors to Sun Valley to dance to.

Try ’n’ Find

Words that remind us of Idaho are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:

CANADA, CHAIRLIFT, FARNSWORTH, GEMS, HOKEY POKEY, IDAHO, JOSEPH, LAKES, LUMBER, MORMONS, MOUNTAINS, PARKS, POTATOES, RESORTS, RIVERS, SKIING, TELEVISION.

Cook’s Corner

Good Old Baked Potatoes

You’ll need:

• 4 baking potatoes

• coarse salt

• dab of butter

• shredded cheese (your choice of type)

What to do:

1. Wash potatoes well. Pierce each potato several times with a fork.

2. Rub salt all over outsides of potatoes.

Mini Jokes

Isabelle: What do you call a smart potato?

Isaac: An edu-tater!

Inez: Why did the farmer plant his spuds in the road?

Ike: Because he wanted mashed potatoes!

Eco Note

3. Place potatoes in middle rack of a preheated 375-degree oven and bake for 45 to 60 minutes.

4. Remove from oven. Skins should be crispy.

5. Serve with butter or cheese or both. Serves 4.

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

Scientists have documented two humpback whales making separate record-breaking journeys between Australia and Brazil, revealing that the giant mammals can travel much farther than previously known. By comparing thousands of photographs of unique whale tail markings, researchers identified one whale that traveled roughly 8,800 miles and another that crossed more than 9,300 miles between opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean. Humpback whales usually follow inherited migration routes between Antarctic feeding grounds and tropical breeding waters to the north.

For later:

Look in your local newspaper for articles about potatoes and other crops grown by farmers.

By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior,

After my mom passed away, we discovered a few small accounts and an old insurance policy we didn’t know she still had. It made me wonder how often families uncover forgotten or unclaimed money like this after a parent dies. Is it common, and where should I start looking?

— Searching Sarah

SAVVY SENIOR

Find lost money after a loved one dies

Dear Sarah,

It’s actually quite common. After a parent or spouse dies, families often come across small, forgotten accounts, uncashed checks or old insurance policies that slipped through the cracks over the years. In many cases, paperwork was misplaced, accounts were opened decades ago or loved ones simply weren’t aware the assets existed.

According to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, billions of dollars in unclaimed assets are currently being held by state governments and federal agencies, waiting to be claimed by rightful owners or heirs.

Unclaimed property usually comes from financial accounts

…billions of dollars in unclaimed assets are currently being held by state governments and federal agencies, waiting to be claimed by rightful owners or heirs.

or benefits that became inactive because the owner moved, changed names or died. In many cases, heirs were never aware the money existed or did

not know where to look. These assets can include savings or checking accounts, uncashed dividend checks, utility security deposits, life insurance proceeds, pension benefits, tax refunds, matured savings bonds and unpaid wages.

By law, banks, employers, insurance companies and other institutions must turn these assets over to the state if they cannot locate the owner or next of kin after a set period, usually two to five years. Once turned over, the money is held indefinitely for families to file a claim.

WHERE TO START

MissingMoney.com, is a free site endorsed by the National Association of Unclaimed

Property Administrators and the National Association of State Treasurers. It allows users to search for unclaimed property in 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico at once. Hawaii is not included but can be searched through a link on the site.

When searching, check every state where your mother lived, worked or did business. Be sure to search under maiden names, married names and common misspellings. Using just a first initial and last name can also uncover accounts that do not appear under a full name search. Each state’s site will indicate whether property is listed and explain how to file a claim.

OTHER PLACES TO CHECK

State treasuries are only part of the picture. Families should also check several other common sources of forgotten money.

Pensions and 401(k)s: To search for lost or forgotten retirement benefits left behind with an old employer, use the U.S. Department of Labor’s Retirement Savings Lost & Found Database at lostandfound.dol. gov and the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits at unclaimedretirementbenefits. com. Or, to search for unclaimed retirement benefits from private-sector plans that have closed down, use the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation search tool at pbgc.gov/workers-retirees.

Savings bonds: It’s very common for people to lose track of U.S. Saving Bonds because see SAVVY page 22

TODAY’S HISTORY:

• In 1962, the Telstar 1 satellite transmitted the first live, trans-Atlantic TV broadcast, featuring CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite.

• In 1967, the 12th Street Riots began in Detroit, ending five days later and resulting in 43 people dead, hundreds injured and more than 1,400 buildings burned to the ground.

• In 1999, with the launch of Columbia, Eileen Collins became the first woman to command a U.S. space shuttle flight.

TODAY’S FACT:

• Comet Hale-Bopp, discovered on this day in 1995, was visible to the naked eye for a record 18 months, from May 1996 to December 1997. The previous record holder, the Great Comet of 1811, was visible for about nine months.

SOLUTION FOUND ON PAGE 22

CLASSIFIEDS

GARAGE SALE

BITTERSWEET — Bittersweet

Village Condos Multi-Family Community Wide Garage Sale. Saturday August 1st. 8 am to 3 pm. Bittersweet is on the right heading to Essex Junction from Taft Corners on Rte. 2A.

LEGAL

TOWN OF WILLISTON

DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD AGENDA

Tuesday, July 28, 2026 – 7:00 PM

Town Hall Beckett/McGuire Meeting Room (7900 Williston Road, use rear entrance) or Zoom Webinar ID 813 6162 7981 on www.zoom.us/join

DP 26-02.1 Blair Knowles and Matt Parisi request pre-application of a 3-unit development at 7997 Williston Road in the VZD. The existing structure will remain 1 dwelling unit and a commercial office. 2 new dwellings constructed in the rear of the lot. Continued from June 9, 2026.

APP 26-02 The Big Three, LLC c/o Alex Kourebanas appeals the Deputy Zoning Administrator’s issuance of a Zoning Violation regarding the golf course driving range located at 1400 Mountain View

Road in the RZD.

Project details and site plans are available on the website, town.williston.vt.us, under “Public Records and Documents”, then “Agendas & Minutes”, and “Development Review Board”. Contact Planning & Zoning Office for more information: 802-878-6704 or email planning@willistonvt.org

Development Manager, Planning & Zoning

Lead development review, serve as Zoning Administrator, oversee DRB permitting and compliance. Bachelor’s degree + 2 years’ experience required. Salary range $67,000$78,000 DOE with excellent benefits package.

Town Engineer, DPW

Lead infrastructure design, construction management, capital planning for wastewater, stormwater, streets, and paths. Civil engineering degree + 6 years’ experience required. Salary range $102,000 - $112,000 DOE with excellent benefits package.

Apply at www.colchestervt.gov.

they are often given to children as gifts, then forgotten before the bonds reach maturity. Visit your state’s unclaimed property office using unclaimed.org. Search the state of residence at the time of the securities purchase or last known address.

Lost life insurance: To track down a lost or forgotten life insurance policy, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, an insurance regulatory support organization, offers a free policy locator service at eapps. naic.org/life-policy-locator.

Other refunds: To search for money left at an FDIC-insured bank or credit union that has gone out of business, visit closedbanks.fdic.gov/ funds. Federal tax refunds can be checked at irs. gov/refunds or by calling 800-829-1954. FHA mortgage refunds can be checked at entp.hud. gov/dsrs/refunds. And unpaid wages are listed at dol.gov/agencies/whd/wow.

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