As needs rise, Williston’s food shelf remains committed
BY SUSAN COTE Observer Staff
When talking with leadership of the Williston Community Food Shelf, the primary sentiment one hears is gratitude. The next message you hear is about the continued increase in need for food they are seeing, and their commitment to keep meeting that need.
Ginger Morton, president of the food shelf, says she wants to talk about generosity.
“Our community has stepped up in the last month. We have received so many monetary and food donations as a result of people responding to the cuts in SNAP benefits in the political arena. I can’t thank the public enough because we have no guaranteed source of funding,” said Morton.
“Both with our own regular advertising and the national news about hunger and about SNAP, we’re more on people’s radar than we were in the past,” said Sally Metro, the food shelf’s operations manager.
“We’re enormously grateful for the outpouring of support we’re getting from the businesses, from the individuals ... Needless
to say, the families we serve are incredibly grateful as well.”
FILLING THE SHELVES
Last Saturday afternoon, while not open to clients, the food shelf was bustling with activity.
Regular volunteers Tom Heppner and Gail Schwartz Heppner were busily opening boxes of donations, including those delivered through the food shelf’s new online donation site, then sorting and shelving the various foods and personal care items received.
At the same time, employees from Bowman Consulting, an engineering firm based in Williston, began arriving one after another in company vehicles packed with donations they had collected at tables outside of Walmart, Hannaford, Shaw’s and Healthy Living for four hours that day. In addition to the carloads of product donations, the team collected $1785 in cash.
“Big country stuff is hard for a small community to impact so you’ve just got to get local and do what you can. It’s fun to be a part of it,” said Cole LaFleche, who organized the Bowman food drive for the second year in a row.
Morton pointed to the Bowman group’s effort as an example of how and why community members support the food shelf. “They were thrilled with
Seeking and finding community generosity
This is the second year that Bowman Consulting of Williston has sponsored a food drive for the Williston Community Food Shelf. Saturday found Lucy Thayer, left, set up at Hannaford’s while at Shaw’s, below, Bailey Trahan, Vincent Monty and Harlan Monty (left to right) manned a table. There were also donation drop off locations at Heathy Living and Walmart. OBSERVER PHOTOS BY
Selectboard votes to undo cuts to social services funding
BY SUSAN COTE Observer Staff
A sharp increase in nonprofit funding requests prompted Williston’s selectboard last week to restore level year-overyear funding to the town’s social service organization grant allocation – a budget item that had seen a significant cut this year.
Each year the town of Williston designates a small portion of the town budget to provide grants to local nonprofits that offer direct social services to the community, services the Town cannot provide directly but can support through funding.
Grant applications are solicited in the fall and the Social
This year, grant requests jumped up over 30%, to $67,400, the highest total for such requests on record.
Service Organizations Funding Committee, staffed by volunteers, reviews the applications and makes decisions on what grants to award within that budget.
Last year, roughly $50,000 in grants were requested against a budgeted allocation of $32,000. Nineteen nonprofits were awarded grants, with the
largest amounts, accounting for almost half of the funding, going to the Williston Community Food Shelf, the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (which includes Feeding Champlain Valley), the Howard Center, and Steps to End Domestic Violence.
This year, grant requests see FUNDING page 3
WCS art students capturing cats
BY TYLER COHEN Special to the Observer
This year, Abbie Bowker’s art classes at Williston Central School have been learning portrait-drawing techniques while having a bigger impact. After a series of lessons where they explored texture, value, and accuracy of proportion, middle school students in the first art rotation of the year drew portraits of dogs up for adoption through the organization Passion 4 Paws.
Now, a new batch of Williston Central School students are pointing their pencils toward felines. Through a connection with Burlington’s Queen City Cats, the 5-8th graders are honing their portrait techniques by drawing cats that are up for adoption. Once complete, a selection of the portraits will be displayed at the Queen City Cat Lounge.
The students are exceptionally proud of their work—both the techniques they’ve been learning and the opportunity to show their artwork in support of a greater cause.
Around
Town
KOC winter clothing drive this month
The Knights of Columbus are collecting new and gently used winter apparel including coats, hats, scarves, gloves and mittens to assist those in need. Collection boxes are located at the Immaculate Heart of Mary church in Williston and Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Richmond. Donations for all ages will be accepted until Thursday, Nov. 27.
Williston Fire Station
hosting blood drive Nov. 22
The Williston Fire Department is hosting a Red Cross blood drive on Saturday, Nov. 22 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at their fire station at 645 Talcott Rd.
Donors can schedule online by visiting redcrossblood.org and typing in zip code 05495.
Volunteer speech and debate judges needed
CVU is hosting a statewide speech and debate tournament on Saturday, Dec. 6 and seeking volunteer community judges.
Volunteers are trained at the tournament – no qualifications, knowledge or experience are necessary. Volunteer judges listen to the students speak,
evaluate them and provide supportive comments.
The tournament begins at 9 a.m. with judge training and volunteers will be finished by 1 p.m. (speech) or 3 p.m. (debate). Lunch is provided.
If interested and available, email kkernoff@cvsdvt.org.
Participate in the Recreation & Parks Master Plan Survey
Williston’s Recreation & Parks department is inviting community member input to their master plan project through an online survey. The project seeks to assess the quality and conditions of Williston’s community parks, facilities and amenities, programs and events and to identify priorities and opportunities to enhance parks and outdoor recreation experiences in Williston.
A link to the survey can be found at the Recreation and Parks website: willistonvt. myrec.com.
Carols and treats at community tree lighting
Williston’s Village Green will be the site of the annual Williston Community Tree Lighting on Sunday, Dec. 7 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. sponsored by the Williston Federated Church and the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club.
The event will include Christmas carol singing and special music performed by the church’s children’s choir. The
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
EVENT LISTINGS TO EDITOR@WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM
FRIDAY, NOV. 14-SUNDAY NOV. 16
“Into the Woods” ♦ CVU’s fall performance. 7 p.m. Nov. 14; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Nov. 15 and 1 p.m. Nov. 16. CVU High School Theatre in Hinesburg.
SATURDAY, NOV. 15
Church food drive ♦ Donate non-perishable items and gift cards
9-11 a.m. at the Williston Federated Church, 44 North Williston Road
SUNDAY, NOV. 16
“Fill the Ambulance” food drive ♦ Donate non-perishable food and personal care items. 9 a.m.2 p.m. Williston Police Department, 7928 Williston Rd.
TUESDAY, NOV. 18
CVSD School Board Meeting ♦ 6 p.m. at the CVU High School Library, Hinesburg. Agenda and details at www.cvsdvt.org.
SATURDAY, NOV. 22
Christmas Bazaar ♦ Crafts, bake sale, plants, soups to go and more. Proceeds benefit local charities. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Williston Federated Church, 44 North Williston Rd.
Red Cross Blood Drive ♦
9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Williston Fire Station. Schedule an appointment at redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-733-2767.
Turkey Day ♦ Williston Community Food Shelf, 400 Cornerstone Dr., #130. 8-11 a.m. Drop off turkeys and gift cards. More info at willistonfoodshelf.com.
Tyler Cohen is the Champlain Valley School District communications manager.
Connor Lewis
Alexiah Many
Wesley Scott PHOTOS BY AL FREY
Town of Williston Social Service Organizations Funding
Funding
continued from page 1
jumped up over 30%, to $67,400, the highest total for such requests on record. Five new organizations submitted applications this year and existing grantees indicated greater need by increasing the size of their requests.
Compounding the challenge posed by the increased requests, this year’s town budget included just $10,000 for grants – a twothirds reduction in the funding allocated in recent years – having been decreased during last year’s challenging budget process.
At the selectboard’s Nov. 4 meeting, Assistant Town Manager Erin Dickinson highlighted the large gap between requested and planned support for social services, noting the Social Service Organizations Funding committee was scheduled to meet to make grant decisions on Nov. 12.
“We’re seeing both a sharp increase in local need and a
Around Town
continued from page 2
SD Ireland holiday truck plans to bring extra light and cheer. Cookies and hot cocoa will be served.
Donations of new hats, mittens, gloves and socks for the Williston Community Food Shelf will be collected.
decline also in other funding sources for a lot of these community organizations,” said Dickinson.
“It’s a challenging economic climate out there, and especially for organizations that provide services as nonprofits,” said Town Manager Erik Wells, while noting the need to balance this concern with other elements of the town budget.
“We’re seeing plenty of organizations in our community right now who are looking at the real possibility of having to shutter their doors ... because federal funding has been cut off entirely,” said selectboard member Greta D’Agostino, arguing to increase the funds available to the nonprofits.
Following discussion of various options, including increasing funds beyond past years’ amounts or delaying a decision until early next year, selectboard members voted unanimously to bump up this year’s allocation to $32,000, the same level as last year.
“I understand we’ve been giving this suite of nonprofits
Observer ‘Socks for Seniors’ drive is on!
The Williston Observer’s annual Socks for Seniors drive is collecting new soft, comfortable socks for men and women living in area nursing homes and other senior facilities. Community members are invited to help brighten the holidays for those who are remembered with these
money year after year and we’re cutting them just when everyone else is cutting them,” said selectboard member Jeanne Jensen. “Let’s get back to where we were last year, so we’re not exacerbating the problem.”
The board also indicated an openness to considering additional funding before the next budget season, if the committee were to make a case it was warranted.
“I do want to leave the door open, because things are really tight right now,” said Jensen.
The additional $22,000 will come out of the town’s Community Funds pool of approximately $270,000 – a reserve intended for post-pandemic community resilience and recovery projects for which the board sees many other potential uses.
Following the volunteer funding committee’s decisions this week about how to divvy up the $32,000, grants will be issued in early 2026 to the awarded nonprofits.
small gifts of comfort. Socks with anti-slip soles and diabetic socks are among those appreciated. Sock donations can be dropped off through Saturday, Dec. 13 at two locations in Williston: Williston Coffee Shop, 400 Cornerstone Dr. Sugar Maple Veterinary Center, 66 Knight Ln.
Sat., Nov. 15, 2025 9AM - 4PM Waitsfield Elementary School
SHOPPING 8 – 9 AM. Pre-buy tickets online.
must be registered online.
(& get special perks!)
A
Vermont book arrives with a bittersweet backstory
BY KEVIN O’CONNOR VTDigger
The late Burlington author Bill Mares had yet to be diagnosed with cancer when, two autumns ago, the 83-year-old received a call from Jeff Danziger, a Dummerston friend and nationally syndicated political cartoonist.
“I remember Bill sitting here by the fire,” Chris Hadsel, Mares’s wife of 53 years, recently recalled, “and, next thing we knew, Danziger was suggesting a book about what Vermont’s going
to be like in the future.”
No one foresaw how the resulting essay collection — “2050: Vermonters Take a Swipe at the Future,” set for release this weekend — would arrive with a bittersweet backstory.
In his lifetime, Mares — a beekeeper, brewer, history teacher, journalist, legislator, marathon runner and traveler to more than to 60 countries — could boast to publishing 20 books on everything from a 1,200-mile camel trek across Saudi Arabia to “Real Vermonters Don’t Milk Goats,” a 1983 humor collaboration with
University of Vermont professor Frank Bryan that sold 70,000 copies (or one for every 10 residents).
Danziger saw his book suggestion as a follow-up to his 2017 teaming with Mares on “The Full Vermonty: Vermont in the Age of Trump,” which featured 20 collaborators ranging from former Gov. Madeleine Kunin and Vermont Life magazine editor Tom Slayton to Weybridge writer Julia Alvarez and the late Brookfield artist Ed Koren.
But Mares, who had endured open heart surgery just before Donald Trump was first elected president, was reluctant to step back into the pain of politics.
“Bill felt he’d been there and done that,” Hadsel said. “He did not want this book to be consumed by the vicissitudes we thought were coming, the ups and downs, the crisis of just yesterday that now nobody can even remember because there’s a whole new one.”
Instead, Mares wanted to springboard forward a quarter century by inviting friends to share their thoughts about Vermont in the year 2050.
“This is not a book that solves
Vermont’s problems,” Hadsel said. “A couple of the essays are fanciful or fun, some are worried, but none of them are gloom and doom. There’s a common theme of hopefulness and faith that Vermonters will stick together and figure out how to work around the change that’s coming.”
In the book, Vermont Gas Systems CEO Neale Lunderville,
a gubernatorial appointee under Republican Jim Douglas and Democrat Peter Shumlin, proposes the idea of a state “reboot” through better housing, schools, business opportunities and infrastructure.
“Vermont’s future is in the strength of its communities,” Lunderville writes. “Real
The new book “2050: Vermonters Take a Swipe at the Future” is the latest and last work of the late Burlington author Bill Mares.
PHOTO BY KEVIN O’CONNOR/VTDIGGER
prosperity comes when every town, and every person in every town, has the opportunity to grow and thrive.”
Jen Kimmich, co-founder of Stowe’s Alchemist Brewery, expresses hope that all future residents will be embraced, regardless of whether they were born in the state like herself.
“In 2050,” Kimmich writes, “every Vermonter, those of us with families that have been here for generations and those of us just arriving, should be celebrated for our experiences, appreciated for our contributions, and welcomed for being here.”
Mark Breen, senior meteorologist at St. Johnsbury’s Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, calls for a disclaimer on any long-term forecasts.
“Considering how changeable Vermont
Chris Hadsel
weather has always been,” Breen writes, “it should be no surprise that we might see almost any kind of weather, in any season of the year.”
Mares faced his own storm clouds in the spring of 2024 when he was diagnosed with terminal lymphoma. Stuffing his friends’ essays into a shoebox, he focused on finishing a memoir — “Better to Be
Lucky than Smart!” — that he published five days before he died July 29, 2024, through use of the state’s medical aid-indying law.
“I feel in better shape than most and more grateful than all that I had the chance to drive the bus of my own disappearance,” Mares told VTDigger podcaster David Goodman a week before his death.
Hadsel, inheriting three-dozen forward-looking essays, was left without a book title, introduction or illustrations — just her husband’s wish that she and neighbor Jane Smith, a former Vermont journalist, finish the work.
They reached out to Rootstock Publishing of Montpelier and frequent Mares collaborator Don Hooper of Brookfield, the latter who had toted his sketchbook to Chicago as a Vermont delegate to the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
“Don sent me a doodle of an old codger who looks like Bill waving a pen that’s spearing a piece of paper,” Hadsel recalled. “I looked at the picture and said, ‘Aha!’” That scrawl is the book’s cover illustration and inspiration for its “Take a Swipe at the Future” subtitle.
Hadsel is set to debut the 140-page paperback Saturday at the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum before joining essayists for readings Sunday at Stowe’s Alchemist Brewery, Nov. 18 at the Charlotte Public Library, Nov. 20 at Montpelier’s Kellogg-Hubbard Library and Nov. 25 at Burlington’s Phoenix Books.
Former Gov. Howard Dean, quoted on the back cover, hopes the collection “will inspire people to take action.”
Disclosure: Bill Mares was a board member of the Vermont Journalism Trust that governs VTDigger.
BY BEN GORDESKY
Why Washington’s energy policy reversal will cost you dearly
As a solar developer who has spent 15 years building renewable energy projects in the Northeastern US, I’ve witnessed firsthand how smart energy policy can drive down costs for consumers while creating jobs. Unfortunately, the current political climate is steering us in the opposite direction — and American families will bear the financial burden.
Household expenses are already climbing across every sector, from food to housing to utilities. Yet rather than providing relief, recent legislative changes have eliminated the very programs that were successfully reducing energy costs for millions of Americans. The Republicanled repeal of clean energy tax credits — part of what they call their “big beautiful bill” — represents a fundamental misunderstanding of how to achieve true energy independence and affordability.
My experience developing solar installations has taught me that diversifying our energy portfolio is essential for price stability. The numbers tell a stark story: utility companies nationwide are implementing rate increases affecting nearly 60 electric and gas utilities raising utility bills for 56.7 million electric customers and 26 million gas customers this year alone.
The pace of these increases is alarming. Electricity prices have surged ahead of general inflation, with rates climbing 10% over the past year compared to just 2.4% inflation across all consumer goods. The human cost is evident: one in six American households is struggling to pay their energy bills, with collective debt to utilities exceeding $24 billion as of March.
From my perspective as someone who has been on the front lines of renewable projects, the solution is obvious: we need more power generation, not less. The market has already spoken
Rick Cote, Associate Publisher rick@willistonobserver.com 802-373-2136
EDITOR
Jason Starr editor@willistonobserver.com
PRODUCTION & DESIGN
Jan Kenney
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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 rick@willistonobserver.com, 802-373-2136
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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.
publication of Twin Ponds Publishing LLC
Member:
The clean energy tax incentives weren’t just environmental policy — they were successful economic development tools.
decisively on this issue. Clean energy sources — solar, wind, and battery storage — comprised 93% of all new American electricity capacity added in 2024. This isn’t ideology; it’s old-fashioned economics.
Traditional fossil fuel production faces inherent limitations. Despite political promises to dramatically increase drilling, oil companies have
indicated they won’t expand production without raising prices even further. Meanwhile, the infrastructure demands of our digital economy continue to accelerate, with data center construction nearly doubling between 2021 and 2024.
The clean energy tax incentives weren’t just environmental policy — they were successful economic development tools. Since August 2022, approximately 400,000 new clean energy jobs have been announced nationwide, with most located in Republicanrepresented districts. As a developer who has hired crews for solar installations, I’ve seen how jobs in solar make a difference in people’s lives. Skilled jobs that provide a decent wage and learning potential.
However, this progress is now
in jeopardy. Over 80,000 clean energy positions have already been lost or delayed since the election, demonstrating the immediate impact of policy uncertainty on private investment decisions.
The current administration’s trade policies compound these challenges. Tariffs don’t just increase food costs through higher transportation and fertilizer expenses — they directly impact energy infrastructure. Rising steel and aluminum prices from tariffs make pipelines, transformers, and other grid components more expensive, costs that utilities inevitably pass on to ratepayers.
As someone who works with grid interconnection processes, I’m particularly concerned about supply and demand imbalances. Summer electricity consumption
see GORDESKY page 7
GUEST COLUMN
Consider the benefits of adopting older pets
BY M. KATHLEEN SHAW, DVM Vermont Veterinary Medical Association
There are many benefits to adopting a senior pet, for both the pet and for you! A common worry of older pet owners is that their pets will outlive them, making them reluctant to adopt. Yet they yearn for the companionship of a dog or cat.
There are many people of all ages who don’t want the hassle of training a young energetic dog and worry about the trouble that young cats often get into. One solution is to adopt a senior pet; the benefits far outweigh any negatives and there are options for providing a home for the pet should the need arise. Research has proven, too, that owning a pet has incredible health benefits for humans.
Senior pets, especially dogs, are often passed over by potential adopters in favor of puppies
Gordesky
continued from page 6
is projected to reach a four-year peak due to extreme weather and data center expansion. The PJM Interconnection, our largest regional grid, has already seen costs increase by $9.4 billion for consumers across 13 states and DC, and for the first time is warning it might lack sufficient generating capacity under extreme conditions.
Economic analysis confirms what common sense suggests: eliminating successful cost-reduction programs will increase expenses for consumers. Research indicates the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” will add $170 billion in cumulative household energy costs between 2025 and 2034.
I find it frustrating to watch effective policies dismantled for political reasons. When federal leadership fails to support abundant, affordable energy, private industry must work harder to overcome unnecessary obstacles. Unfortunately, the increased costs and delays will ultimately appear on every American’s utility bill.
and younger dogs. The advantage of adopting a senior dog is that they have known temperaments and are fully grown. Older dogs are more likely to be housebroken and have doggie manners. If their training is still a bit lacking, they have the
The path forward requires acknowledging that energy security and economic prosperity go hand in hand. We can choose policies that accelerate clean energy deployment and job creation, or we can continue down the current path of artificial scarcity and
physical and mental abilities to pick up skills fast, unlike puppies. Senior cats are not as likely to climb your curtains and destroy your plants. Your furniture and carpet will thank you. Senior dogs and cats are just
rising costs. The choice is ours, but the impacts will be shared by every American household.
Ben Gordesky is the solar development manager for Energy Efficient Investments, Inc. and lives in Williston.
Research has proven that owning a pet has health benefits. Adopting an older dog allows you to skip the high-energy puppy phase.
OBSERVER CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
see SHAW page 10
what they did. They were thrilled with the generosity of the community. It’s amazing,” she said.
GROWING NEED
Between 2021 and 2024, the number of family visits to the food shelf more than doubled.
A large increase in food shelf clients between 2022 and 2023 was tied to the opening of Zephyr Place, a residence with affordable and homeless transitional rental apartments managed by Champlain Housing Trust.
But more than two years later, community needs have continued to grow.
Through October of this year, the nonprofit has seen another 20% increase in visits over last year – a change not yet attributable to reductions in federal SNAP funding or disbursement disruptions during the government shut down.
“We are currently signing up between four and eight new families just about every shift. I would say the majority of them are families with children,” said Metro. “I think it’s become apparent that they just can’t stretch the dollars anymore. And the great majority of them are working. It’s not like they’re on disability or seniors.”
Now new pressures on food security
are being brought about by the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) passed by Republicans and signed into law by President Trump earlier this year.
The law cuts an estimated $187 billion in SNAP food aid nationally over 10 years, about a 20% cut, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Changes to eligibility rules for the program, known in Vermont as 3SquaresVT, will make it harder for Americans between the ages of 55 and 64, veterans, homeless people and children aging out of foster care to qualify.
VERMONT TASTES LIKE
Lawfully present refugees and asylum seekers who have not yet achieved permanent resident status lost all eligibility for food aid through the program as of October 1. Many Americans who still qualify will see reduced benefits and will face more administrative hurdles to remain on the program.
Adding to these changes has been the effect of the extended federal government shutdown this month, which has led to delayed and reduced benefits.
“There’s a lot of concern and uncertainty when you’re speaking to clients and it’s very stressful for them because they aren’t sure what’s going to happen,” said Morton.
“They know that we’re here, but they get really panicky…They’re only supposed to come three times a month, but what are they going to do when they need more food. We just tell them to keep coming because we can feed them right now.”
A COMMUNITY EFFORT
Run entirely by volunteers with no paid staff, the food shelf’s primary expenses are food purchases, rent and utilities. Morton said she purchases between $10-12,000 worth of food a month, which provides most of what is given out to clients. Donations of goods from businesses and community members augment those purchases. Rent and utilities cost the nonprofit about $3,600 per month.
How you can help the food shelf
Visit the online giving site to order items for the shelf: giftdrive.org/ drive/142
Drop off donations during food shelf open hours: 400 Cornerstone Dr., Suite 130. Tuesdays, 5-6:30 p.m.; Thursdays and Saturdays, 9-11 a.m.
Contribute to one of these upcoming drives:
• Williston Federated Church Community-Wide Food Drive –Collecting nonperishable food items, Saturday, Nov. 15, 9-11 a.m. at 44 North Williston Rd.
• Williston Police and Fire “Fill the Ambulance” Food Drive – Collecting food and hygiene products, Sunday, Nov. 16, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Williston Police Department, 7928 Williston Rd.
• Williston Community Food Shelf Turkey Day – Welcoming turkeys and/ or $15-20 gift cards from local grocery stores. Saturday, Nov. 22, 8-11 a.m., 400 Cornerstone Dr. Suite 130
Mail or make online monetary donations: Williston Community Food Shelf, PO Box 1605, Williston, VT 05495 and at willistonfoodshelf.com.
Gail Schwartz Heppner (left) and Lucy Thayer (right) bring in the last of the donations collected by the Bowman Consulting on Saturday.
OBSERVER PHOTO BY SUSAN COTE
Vermonters Pay the Most in America for Healthcare.
But You Have More Affordable, Quality Options to Choose From.
Vermonters now spend 19.6% of their income on healthcare compared to the national average of just 7.9%.* That hurts every person in our community and the overall well-being of our state. Consider these comparisons of local costs:
There are many complex reasons for this crisis and no one entity or individual can fix it. That’s why our organizations have come together to be part of the solution. We invite you to join us, take action, and explore these tips to make more affordable care choices.
Compare the Options & Save
• Compare the costs of procedures at hospitals to those at accredited outpatient or ambulatory surgery centers.
• For medical imaging, compare costs at network and community hospitals and independent facilities to find the most affordable option.
• Ask your provider about using generic medications in place of more costly brand name drugs.
Get Things in Writing
• For a clear picture of your medical costs, ask the facility for a written estimate beforehand. Following your service, an itemized bill can help you understand the specific charges and confirm the details of your care.
Sponsored
By
Maximize Insurance Benefits
• If you have a health plan, it pays to understand your covered benefits in advance of a procedure or service. Review your Outline of Benefits or call your health plan’s customer service team.
• Using “in-network” providers is more affordable and can help you avoid surprise expenses.
• Take advantage of free or low-cost screenings and preventive care programs.
Consider Access & Convenience
• Ask how quickly you can get an appointment, as many independent facilities and community hospitals offer much shorter wait times, not to mention evening or weekend appointments, convenient access, and free parking.
continued from page 7
as loyal and loving as younger pets, and they would love to prove it. Dogs can be trained at any age. In fact, they can be easier to train because they are calmer and have a greater attention span than a puppy. Senior pets are instant companions, ready to go for a walk or be the snuggle buddy you need from the start.
What about the benefits for you?
Research has proven that the bond between people and their pets can increase fitness, lower stress and bring happiness to their owners. Health benefits include decreased blood pressure, decreased cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and decreased feelings of loneliness and opportunities for socialization.
Loneliness can be an unwelcome
companion as we age and can lead to depression and physical problems. A senior pet can mold their schedule and personality to you and give structure and purpose to daily life. And let’s not forget the joy of purring or tail wagging every day when you wake up.
For those worried about the care of their pets when they pass, consider including the care of your pet in your estate planning. You can name a temporary guardian and provide funds for your pet’s care. Talk to your friends and relatives –many are willing to adopt.
One of the great joys in life is living with and caring for a pet. The benefits are tremendous for you both. Remember that older dogs and cats need homes just as much as the young ones, and love has no age limit. Consider adopting an older pet and saving a life.
Food Shelf
continued from page 8
While they receive a few modest grants each year from the Town of Williston, the Williston-Richmond Rotary Club and the Vermont Food Bank, the vast majority of financial support comes from community contributions.
One of the organization’s strengths according to Metro is its openness to new ideas and creative solutions.
“We’re always open to someone coming up with an idea or a particular thing they want to do. Everybody’s creative. It’s great to put the questions out there ‘What do we do about this?’ and somebody will always come up with an idea.
“That’s when we get the best results, by opening up the possibilities and letting the people who are interested come and support us,” she said.
A recent innovation for the food shelf was the development of a website for donors to order food and hygiene products online that are sent directly to the food shelf with no shipping charge. Three students at UVM’s Grossman School of Business developed the platform.
Since going live in late August, Morton says over $8,600 worth of products have been ordered for the food shelf through the site, the majority in the past two weeks.
On Saturday, Nov. 15 from 9-11 a.m. the Williston Federated Church will hold their
annual November food drive, collecting donations for the food shelf and to benefit families of Williston Central School students in need of support during the Thanksgiving week break.
In a new effort, on Sunday, Nov. 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Williston Police and Fire departments are teaming up to hold their first-ever “Fill the Ambulance” food shelf drive at the police station.
To tie the two weekend events together, the fire department will bring their ambulance to the church on Saturday to start filling it there.
LOOKING AHEAD
On Nov. 7, the state of Vermont disbursed partial funding of 3SquaresVT benefits. With the expected end to the federal government shut down, remaining November benefits should be made available to recipients later this month.
This will solve a temporary problem. However, the longer-term food insecurity concerns for many in the community remain – and are likely to grow.
“I’m really looking forward to our Turkey Day in a couple of weeks to make sure everybody has a turkey for Thanksgiving,” said Morton.
“I’m certain the community will step up as they always do. It’s really hard for people not to have hope and that’s one thing the food shelf provides. Certainty, hope. Food is a requirement, a necessity.”
Meet your makers
Sarita Devi — Growing up in Uttar Pradesh, northern India, Sarita learned to cook family recipes throughout her childhood. Nine years after moving to Vermont with her husband, Yogi Singh, she realized her dream of opening Aromas of India to share the food she loves with others. Her flavorful vegetarian menu (Indian food is so much more than curry!) features complex flavors and textures. Everything she serves, she makes from scratch, with attention to detail that shines in every dish.
Francisco Guzman — Francisco, Carlos and Ricardo Guzman and Eduardo Fuentes have been friends since their grade school days in Jalisco, Mexico. With two other successful Tex-Mex restaurants up and running, the partners seized the opportunity to open their third, under Francisco’s leadership, when space came available in Williston. At Casa Grande, Francisco has created a colorful, lively atmosphere, where he eagerly welcomes guests to enjoy authentic dishes with the vibrant flavors of Mexico.
Craig Anthony — Craig Anthony grew up in Tamworth, New Hampshire. His love for cooking was found as
a child hunting and fishing, and grew during high school as a member of the Junior American Culinary Federation. In 2007, he relocated to Vermont, building a distinguished career with Mirabelles Bakery and Waterworks Food and Drink, before becoming Executive Chef at the Kitchen Table. Craig delights in creating a space for family and friends to gather and enjoy delicious homecooked comfort.
Samantha La Croix
— Pastry Chef, Samantha La Croix, was born and raised in Vermont where her passion for baking was sparked at an early age by her late grandmother. Classically trained in Pastry & Baking Arts at The New England Culinary Institute, Sam has delighted diners at Jupiter Island Club in Southern Florida, Hen of the Wood, The Inn at Shelburne Farms, and Mirabelles Bakery. Widely recognized as one of the best dessert bakers in Chittenden County, she loves feeding people food that brings them to a warm, familiar place.
Bobby Seaman Bobby, Director of Operations at Folino’s Pizza, has worked at the restaurant for 7 years. Bobby was the leader behind opening their Williston location in 2021. Bobby comes from a rich culinary background but has found working with pizza is the most rewarding because of the flexibility of flavors and toppings. Bobby says, “Folino’s stands out because of our attention to high-quality ingredients and naturally rising dough.” His go-to order is the Margarita pizza. “It’s a classic pizza that lets our ingredients do the talking.” With multiple Folino’s locations, Bobby says, “The best thing about working in Vermont is
Order Online for
Pickup or Delivery
The Kismet Building
Williston
Meet your makers
getting to know the communities that we are a part of and bringing a smile to people’s faces.” Visit Bobby and the rest of the Folino’s family at our Williston location!
Perry & Neil Farr — Perry & Neil Farr met as students at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY then settled in Williston (Neil grew up in Colchester) to raise their family, where they each pursued careers in food service while exploring business ideas. When they discovered Poké on a trip to San Francisco they knew they needed to bring the concept to Vermont. The Scale was born. Perry & Neil take pride in sourcing only the freshest ingredients - mostly local – and offering hungry patrons fast, healthy and delicious food with a Hawaiian flare.
Max Fath — Max Fath grew up in Williston, the son of Jon and Lucie Fath who owned and operated the original Toscano Café Bistro on Bridge Street in Richmond. With twenty years of experience in restaurant service and management, Max was eager to launch a new rendition of Toscano when the opportunity became available in Williston. Max built a team of some familiar faces from the original Toscano and some new faces he met along the way and is grateful for the opportunity to serve our community once again, blending nostalgia from the original Toscano with contemporary elegance in his newly renovated space.
Eric Kelley — Originally from Massachusetts, Eric went to college in Colorado where he began his career in the food service business. After moving to Vermont in 2009, Eric saw an opportunity to create a gathering place in Williston where locals could connect to enjoy excellent coffee, espresso drinks, and fresh baked goods. He opened Williston Coffee Shop to serve the breakfast and lunch crowd. Over a decade later, Eric can be found in the early hours baking bread, croissants, scones and pastries to the delight of his regular customers. He takes pride in his products, the friendly atmosphere of the Shop, and the many employees who have learned from him. Located on Cornerstone Drive, it’s no surprise that Williston Coffee Shop has become a Williston cornerstone.
Brian Lewis— Brian’s journey to Williston wends from his native Connecticut through Seattle, L.A., Rhode Island, and Waitsfield. After a season as Executive Chef at Sugarbush resort’s main slopeside restaurant, Lewis struck out on his own in Waitsfield, opening Toast and Eggs in 2018. After leading that restaurant through the pandemic, he purchased South Burlington’s Parkway Diner on Williston Road. He also bought the original Yellow Mustard deli while launching Filibuster Restaurant and Bar, both in Montpelier. Following the floods of 2023 he successfully reopened both restaurants. After opening his second Yellow Mustard Subs and Sandwiches shop in Burlington, Brian is thrilled to join the Williston community with his newest location in the Taft Corners Shopping Center!
Vermont’s school redistricting task force proposes voluntary mergers instead of new district map
BY COREY MCDONALD VTDigger
The majority of Vermont school redistricting task force members endorsed a proposal on Monday that would incentivize voluntary mergers of the state’s 119 school districts. Most of the committee also opposed a new school district map based around centers for career and technical education.
The nearly 170-page proposal approved by the body is a more detailed plan than the rejected career and technical education map, developed by Sen. Scott Beck, R-Caledonia, and Dave Wolk, Gov. Phil Scott’s appointee to the task force. That plan adhered more closely to the guidelines around Act 73 — that is, to draw a map of borders for new school districts.
But the approved proposal, in a way, flouts Act 73’s directive that the task force deliver at least one and no more than three new maps by Dec. 1 for the Vermont Legislature to consider in the upcoming legislative session, which starts in early January. Members of the task force who supported the proposal said it was the only responsible way forward, and argued that plans to reform the public education system would not work if school districts were forced to merge.
“We’re speculating in thinking that large scale district consolidation is going to somehow save money,” said Jay Badams, a task force member and former superintendent. “The research that we’ve consulted indicates, at best, that it might and it might not. To put the system through that much radical change for the possibility that there might be savings sure seems like a lot to ask of our communities.”
The proposal, developed by task force members Badams; Jennifer Botzojorns, a retired superintendent for the Kingdom East School District; and Rep. Rebecca Holcombe, D-Norwich, lays out a 10-year plan where districts would be incentivized to merge to access state construction aid, and to coordinate on developing regional high schools.
The proposal is a synthesis of two previous plans, one that
centered redistricting around regional high schools, and another that emphasized using regional BOCES, or a board of cooperative educational services, which are used in other rural states to help school districts collaborate on services.
Five regional cooperative service agencies would be layered over the state’s existing 119 school districts and 52 supervisory districts and supervisory unions to help those entities share services like transportation and special education.
“The key to this is voluntary participation,” Badams said. “Our feeling is that if we force this level and degree of change on our districts and our (supervisory unions), it simply won’t work.”
Wolk questioned whether their proposal meets the directives set out by Act 73.
“What’s been presented is some kind of voluntary collaboration, which I’m sure could and would and should happen,” he said. “But is it a map as directed to us by the Legislature?”
Holcombe replied that the “responsible thing is to say, that’s actually not responsible, but here’s some other things you could do instead.”
DEEP DISAGREEMENTS
The votes taken on Monday, and the discussion around the two proposals, highlight deep disagreements among policymakers around the intent of Act 73 and
“We’re speculating in thinking that large scale district consolidation is going to somehow save money.”
Jay Badams Task Force Member
foreshadow a difficult Legislative session to come.
Task force members throughout their seven meetings thus far have pointed to the lack of time to thoroughly develop plans for the kind of systemwide transformation that Act 73 envisions.
“If I had to give my advice to the Legislature, it would be, ‘It’s not ready,’” Badams said on Monday. “If we gave them a map just to give them a map, we just wasted a lot of our own time doing this stuff.”
He continued, “I think that’s the recommendation: Here’s the best we could do, this gets us started and lets us start making some headway.”
But Vermont Education Secretary Zoie Saunders did not appear to support that approach.
During a presentation to the task force on Monday, Saunders said their plan for voluntary mergers did not align with the intent of Act 73 “because it does not recommend a specific map that would satisfy the parameters of your charge as the redistricting task force.”
Also, she said adding regional service areas on top of the education system’s existing structure would create “an additional layer of bureaucracy and also cost.”
“Given that we have challenges hiring for the critical roles we have now within our system, and then maintaining the central office, and on top of that building in another layer of a BOCES, I think it does create some additional complexity for the system,” she said.
Task force members pushed back against this and pointed to research from other rural states
that show the mechanism would help the state save money.
Rep. Edye Graning, D-Jericho, the co-chair of the task force, said she was “incredibly distraught when the secretary came in and said misinformation about having our cooperative service agencies being an extra layer of bureaucracy.”
“That’s not what they are, and that’s not what they do, and I don’t want that to derail the process,” Graning said.
‘HARD
TO STOMACH’
Wolk and Beck’s proposal was the first proposal to be floated, at the task force’s halfway mark.
The map — now discontinued, at least as far as the task force is concerned — used career and technical education regions as an organizing principle.
That plan would create seven supervisory districts, concentrated in the northwest and southeast regions of the state, and seven supervisory unions with 21 school districts contained within them in southern Vermont and in the Northeast Kingdom.
The proposal would increase access to career and technical
Schools
continued from page 15
education opportunities, while “respecting historical patterns” in school choice, Beck said on Monday.
“The map is not perfect,” Wolk said. “I doubt any map that we came up with, given the timeline, would be perfect. The Legislature, understandably, will have their way, as they should.”
In her presentation, Saunders said theirs was the “only proposal that aligns with the intent of Act 73.”
But members of the task force raised a number of concerns, specifically around the size of the map’s proposed district in Chittenden County. Nearly 22,000 students would be consolidated into a single district there under the plan.
Several members questioned why much of the state was being asked to merge into single supervisory districts, while other
areas retained the supervisory union structure.
“I’m trying to figure out the logic behind why some regions should do mass mergers, and some regions are going to be asked to do absolutely nothing, really,” Holcombe said.
Other members further criticized the proposal, arguing it preserved school choice in areas with prominent private schools, called independent schools in state law.
“I think the care taken to preserve tuitioning choice in some regions, and the lack of care taken in larger school districts … is really hard to stomach,” Graning said on Monday.
The majority of task force members voted against sending the proposal to the Legislature for consideration, with only Beck, Wolk and Rep. Beth Quimby, Caledonia-3, voting in favor.
Badams, in a strong rebuke, said he didn’t “want to hand the Legislature a map that gives that pathway after hearing what I
heard today from the secretary.”
“If that ends up being used as the way to chop up the state and force the mergers,” he said,
“I don’t want to personally vote to put that forward.”
With a final report due in December, the task force will
meet for the last time on Nov. 20 to refine the report and its proposal before submitting it to the Legislature.
DIRECT CREMATION SERVICES
Vermont school redistricting task force members met on Monday and endorsed a nearly 170-page proposal that would incentivize voluntary mergers of the state’s 119 school districts. Most of the committee also opposed a new school district map based around centers for career and technical education.
PHOTO COURTEST
FAMILY PROGRAMS
VOCAL PERCUSSION AND IMPROVISATION WORKSHOP
Age 13+. Root7, Vermont’s contemporary a cappella group for 18 years, will host sight-reading sing-alongs of winter and holiday music. For beginner, intermediate, and experienced vocalists who want to learn and work in groups, ages 13 and up. Thursday, Nov. 13, or Friday, Nov. 21. Times are 7-9 p.m. Free!
ACTIVE AGERS PROGRAMS
SENIOR COMMUNITY MEALS
Age 60+. Meals have started back up. Preregistration is required to attend, and spots are limited. The Recreation Department and Age Well will offer a free meal from 12–12:30 p.m. for anyone aged 60+ and their spouse, regardless of age. Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m., with meals served at noon. Following lunch, enjoy a free senior-focused program from 12:30–1:30 p.m. Stay, connect, and take part in engaging activities tailored just for you.Check out the menu on the recreation website.
ADULT PROGRAMS
PICKUP PROGRAMS
Come out and play, stay fit, and meet new people. The programs are open to all experience levels. Pickup programs are by registration and payment only. Programs meet once a week through May. Register on the Rec. website.
Basketball: There are programs for Men’s 20+, Men’s 30+, and Women’s 19+
Table Tennis: Adults 18+. Players should bring their own paddles (a limited number of loaner paddles are available).
Volleyball: Adults 18+
JAZZERCISE CARDIO SCULPT PROGRAMS
Age 18+ Program are geared to 50+ but is open to all ages. Instructors will show you how to take it high or low. Cardio Sculpt Low/Low- Tuesdays and Fridays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Cardio Sculpt Low/High- Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 4:45-5:45 p.m. Sundays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. Instructors: Kit Sayers.
TAI CHI INTRO
Age 50+ Mondays, 9:30-10:30 a.m., Free. Instructor: Adina Panitch.
BONE BUILDERS
Age 50+. Tues and Thurs, 10-11 a.m., Free. Instructors: Ann Naumann and Joyce Oughstun.
SENIOR STRENGTH AND FUNCTIONAL MOBILITY
Age 50+. Wednesdays and Fridays, 10-10:45 a.m., Free. Instructor: Jazmine Averbuck.
ZUMBA GOLD
Age 18+. Fridays, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., $10 per visit. Instructor: Ciara Gregory
YOUTH PROGRAMS
SWIM LESSONS- SPLASH
Age 6 mos-2.5 yrs. The Recreation Dept. and The Edge on Morse Drive in Essex are teaming up to offer Tot-Preschool group swim lessons. The lessons introduce swimming techniques and increase safety skills around the water. Group lessons run year-round in the indoor pool at the Edge. Programs begin in November and Decembe, on Saturday or Sunday mornings. Check dates and times on the Recreation website.
RECKIDS BASKETBALL
Ages 4-5- Coed. This is a parent/child program designed to teach the fundamentals
of the game. Each week youngsters will be introduced to new skills and fun activities that will enhance their learning. The program meets on Fridays in January and February. Instructors: Rec. Staff. Fridays, Jan. 9- Feb. 6, 5:15-6pm. $42.
ROOKIES BASKETBALL
Grades K-2nd. There are separate boys’ and girls’ programs. The program meets on Saturdays in January and February. The hour session consists of practice and scrim mage. Parent volunteers are needed — sign up to coach when registering your child. Saturdays, Jan. 10-Feb. 14, Boys- 8-9 a.m., Girls- 9:10-10:10 a.m. Early-bird registra tion Jan. 4 to get pricing of $48.
YOUTH BASKETBALL
Grades 3rd-6th. There are separate boys’ and girls’ leagues for 3rd-4th and 5th6th. Teams meet twice a week with weekday practices and Saturday games. Parent volunteers are needed — sign up to coach when registering your child. Practices begin in December; games start in January. Early-bird registration Nov. 16 to get pricing of $68.
LEARN TO SKI/RIDE
Grades K-8th. Program is held at Cochran’s Ski Area and is lesson based with the opportunity to free ski/ride at the end of each day. Program meets Wednesdays from 2:30-4:30 and starts in January. Transportation is available after school from Williston Schools. Equipment is available. Early-bird registration is Dec. 21 to get pricing of $90
HOOPLA AND SENSORY PLAY
Age 9 and under with an adult. A joyful movement class where tots and caregivers play, move, and explore together! The program blends beginner hooping, music-led movement, and hands-on sensory play to support connection and healthy movement for all bodies. Instructor: Ms. Karla, Eat and Be Hoopy, LLC. Monday, Nov. 24, 9-10 a.m. $25
GIVE LOCAL
When the year draws to a close and the holidays are upon us, it’s a great time to think about ways to give back, to support the health and wellbeing of our community and beyond.
The Observer has compiled a list of local non-profits that would welcome your help. Scan this QR code to find the list on our website.
2025
The First Settlers
When we think about Thankgiving, we usually think of the Pilgrims who arrived at Plymouth in 1620. But earlier explorers also arrived on American shores. After several months on a small ship, many passengers probably fell to their knees and gave thanks for their safe arrival.
Jamestown, Virginia
After a voyage of almost four months, three ships anchored at Jamestown Island on May 14, 1607. A total of 104 men and boys came ashore. This was 13 years before the Pilgrims landed in New England.
While the Pilgrims were seeking the right to worship as they wished, the Virginia settlers might have called their voyage a “business trip.”
They had been sent from England by the Virginia Company of London. The company planned to make money for its investors by
Try ’n’
Find
Next Week: Mark Twain turns 190
Mini Fact: Buildings inside James Fort included homes, a church, a guardhouse and a storehouse.
sending back gold and silver. The settlers didn’t find either. But they did send back iron, wood and wood products such as tar.
The settlers named the river and landing site after King James I of England. Jamestown became the first permanent English settlement in the Americas.
Powhatan Indians
The area around Jamestown was inhabited by Powhatan tribes, and the settlers quickly built a fort to defend themselves. They harvested wood for clapboard (KLABerd) (flat pieces of wood used as siding for houses) and made glass objects to be taken back to England and sold.
In 1609, the settlers began to die of sickness caused by the local drinking water, starvation and violent conflicts with Native Americans. Chief Powhatan sent food to help the English, but by 1610, most of the original settlers had died.
More ships brought food, women and children from England to Jamestown, as well as livestock such as cattle and pigs.
The settlers who had survived the worst of the time in Jamestown began planting crops, sometimes on Powhatan lands. Tobacco became a big moneymaking crop.
Words that remind us of historic Jamestown are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
A popular story tells that Chief Powhatan’s daughter, Pocahontas, saved John Smith from being killed by the chief. However, historians aren’t sure if this story is true.
Pocahontas would have been about 11 years old when the settlers arrived in 1607. She brought them food and sometimes played with the English children.
During the wars between the Powhatan and the settlers, Pocahontas was captured and held for ransom. While living with the English, she changed her name to Rebecca, and in 1614 she declared she’d rather stay with the English.
That year, she married John Rolfe, a settler and tobacco grower who had lost his wife and child. For several years after the marriage, the settlers and the Native Americans got along well.
The Rolfes went to England to promote the new colony, but Pocahontas fell ill while they were there, and she died in 1617 in Gravesend, England.
On the Web: • nps.gov/jame/index.htm • bit.ly/MPJamestowne
Mini Jokes
At the library: • “Pocahontas: A Life in Two Worlds” by Victoria Garrett Jones
James: What did the shark say when it bumped into the whale? Rebecca: “I didn’t do it on porpoise!”
Eco Note
A new study confirms that a bright orange nurse shark hooked by fishermen in Costa Rica last year represents the first of its kind. Researchers say the shark’s striking pigmentation likely stems from both
Founded by Betty Debnam
46,
This painting by Sidney King shows the English arriving at Jamestown Island, Virginia. An interpreter at Historic Jamestowne places glass in a kiln.
A statue of Pocahontas at Historic Jamestowne.
They had been sent from England by the Virginia Company of London. The company planned to make money for its investors by
Try ’n’ Find
of the time in Jamestown began planting crops, sometimes on Powhatan lands. Tobacco became a big moneymaking crop.
Words that remind us of historic Jamestown are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar and butter until creamy.
2. Add the mashed sweet potatoes and eggs. Stir until smooth.
3. In another bowl, combine the milk, corn syrup, vanilla and salt.
4. Add milk mixture to mashed potato mixture. Pour into the pie shell.
5. Bake in a preheated 425-degree oven for 10 minutes. Lower the heat to 325 degrees and continue baking for another 40 minutes. Serves 8.
* You’ll need an adult’s help with this recipe. At the library:
“Pocahontas: A Life in Two
Mini Jokes
James: What did the shark say when it bumped into the whale? Rebecca: “I didn’t do it on porpoise!”
Eco Note
A new study confirms that a bright orange nurse shark hooked by fishermen in Costa Rica last year represents the first of its kind. Researchers say the shark’s striking pigmentation likely stems from both albinism and xanthism, two rare genetic conditions that stripped some pigment while amplifying yellow tones. Such anomalies are rarely seen in the wild, where bright colors usually make animals easy prey. But the murky coastal waters off Costa Rica may have helped conceal the animal.
For later:
Look in your newspaper for articles about people moving to new lands.
Teachers: Follow and interact with The Mini Page on Facebook!
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
Can you recommend some good online resources for writing a simple will? I’m 70 and divorced and want to get my affairs organized, but I hate paying a high-priced attorney fee if I can do it myself.
Don’t Have Much
Dear Don’t,
A last will and testament is an important document to have because it ensures that your money and property will be distributed to the people you want to receive it
SAVVY SENIOR
Best online will makers
after your death. Currently, fewer than one-third of American adults have prepared a will.
If you die without a will, your estate will be settled in accordance with state law. Details vary by state, but assets typically are distributed using a hierarchy of survivors. Assets go first to a spouse, then to children, then your siblings, and so on.
You also need to be aware that certain accounts take precedence over a will. If you jointly own a home or a bank account, for example, the house, and the funds in the account, will go to the joint holder, even if your will directs otherwise. Similarly, retirement accounts and life insurance policies are distributed to the beneficiaries you designate, so it is important to keep them up to date too.
ONLINE WILL MAKERS
If you have a simple, straightforward estate and an uncomplicated
family situation, writing your own will – with the help of a good online will making program – is a viable alternative to hiring an attorney and much cheaper. Like tax software, these online tools will guide you through a series of questions and will insert your answers into a will for you, and it usually takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish.
Some of the highest-rated do-it-yourself options include the Quicken WillMaker & Trust 2025 downloadable software (WillMaker.com) that starts at $109 and is valid in every state except Louisiana; Trust & Will (TrustandWill.com) which charges $199 for an individual will-based estate plan; and LegalZoom (LegalZoom.com), which offers will-based estate plans for $129 or $149 if you’d like assistance from an independent attorney.
Or, if that’s more than you’re able or willing to pay, two good
options that will let you make your will for free are FreeWill.com or DoYourOwnWill.com.
WHEN TO HIRE A LAWYER
If you have considerable financial assets or a complex family situation, like a blended family or a child with special needs, it would be smart for you to seek professional advice. An experienced lawyer can make sure you cover all your bases, which can help avoid family confusion and squabbles after you’re gone.
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA.org) and the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC.org) websites are good resources that have directories to help you find someone in your area.
Costs will vary depending on your location and the complexity of your situation, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $200 and $1,000 to get your will
made. To help you save, shop around and get price quotes from several different firms. And before you meet with an attorney, make a detailed list of your assets and accounts to help make your visit more efficient.
WHERE TO STORE IT?
Once your will is written, the best place to keep it is either in a fireproof safe or file cabinet at home, in a safe deposit box in your bank or online. But make sure your executor knows where it is and has access to it. Or, if a professional prepares your will, keep the original document at your lawyer’s office. Also, be sure to update your will if your family or financial circumstances change, or if you move to another state.
Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.
TODAY’S HISTORY:
• In 1887, “Bloody Sunday” took place in London, as violent clashes broke out between Irish political demonstrators and British police.
• In 1956, the Supreme Court ruled that bus segregation in Alabama was illegal.
• In 1970, the Bhola cyclone in Bangladesh ended, killing an estimated 500,000 people.
• In 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C.
• In 2015, a series of coordinated terror attacks in Paris killed 130 people and injured 368 others.
TODAY’S FACT:
• The Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba, officially known as Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, was established in 1903, when a stipulation in the Cuban-American Treaty designated the Guantanamo Bay area to be perpetually leased to the United States.
SOLUTION FOUND ON PAGE 22
CLASSIFIEDS FOR SALE
DINING ROOM TABLE—with 4 matching chairs. Upholstered seats. $150.00. Very good condition. Easy access. 802-863-3668
Hire Local! Advertise Local.
Williston Observer • South Burlington Other Paper Shelburne News • The Citizen • Valley Reporter Stowe Reporter • News & Citizen Advertise in them all with just one call! Call Rick at 802-373-2136. Or email Rick@willistonobserver.com
MARKETING & ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER
The Williston Observer, an independent community newspaper, is looking for an advertising sales professional to join our team.
The Account Manager will support a thriving local economy by helping area businesses grow through advertising in the Williston Observer and our six partner BANG (Burlington Area Newspaper Group) newspapers. The successful candidate will be someone who enjoys engaging with the community and is genuinely interested in helping others promote and market their businesses effectively.
The position requires at least one year of relevant experience in sales or customer service. Our ideal team member lives in or near Williston. Preference for candidates with knowledge of the local towns, businesses and communities served by the Williston Observer.
If you are someone who enjoys building relationships, is creative, and thrives in a collaborative, mission-driven setting, join us at The Williston Observer and make a difference in our community while advancing your career.
What we offer:
• Training and mentorship for success
• The opportunity to play a big role on a small team
• A generous base salary plus commission
• Health benefits
• Paid time off
• Flexible hours - Both part-time and full-time candidates will be considered
FULL-TIME POSITION –HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
The Town of Fletcher, VT, is accepting applications for a full-time highway employee with knowledge of highway equipment, general maintenance, and repairs. The qualified candidate must have a valid VT driver’s license with Class B CDL (or ability to obtain one), a clean driving record, and understand that the position includes random drug and alcohol testing. Duties include summer and winter maintenance of roads and bridges. Overtime required during adverse weather conditions. Pay range is $26 to $30 per hour, based on experience and qualifications. An excellent benefit package is provided.
A full job description and application are available on our website at: tinyurl.com/4kmw9525 or picked up at the Fletcher Town Offices during regular business hours (Monday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Monday evening, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.).
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Please contact the Town Office at (802) 849-6616 or town@fletchervt.net.
The Town of Fletcher is an EOE.
South Burlington School District
JOIN OUR TEAM!
Interventionist
Are you looking for meaningful work that fits perfectly with your family’s schedule? Want to make a real difference in kids’ lives and still have your afternoons (and summers!) free? We have the perfect job for you!
What You Will Do: In this role, you’ll work directly with students to build academic skills, confidence, and a love for learning — all while being part of a supportive and fun school community.
• Work the same schedule as your kids!
• Enjoy summers, weekends, and school breaks off!
• Prefer part-time or half days? We can work with that!
Salary Range: $20.48-$22.26/hour
Whether you’re a parent hoping for school-day hours, a retiree looking to give back, or someone ready to make a positive impact in education, then this could be your perfect fit. Learn more and apply online at sbschools.schoolspring.com.
“BUILDING
Looking for volunteer opportunities? The United Way of Northwest Vermont has a wide variety of options. unitedwaynwvt. galaxydigital.com
CROSSWORD
SUDOKU SOLUTION
found on page 21
Williston
ways fatal in
and animals. However, treatment with the rabies vaccine is nearly 100 percent effective when given soon after a person is bitten by a rabid animal.
So far this year, 23 animals in Vermont have tested positive for rabies, and 14 of those have been raccoons.
BAIT continued from page 2
Rabies
is most often seen in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats, but unvaccinated pets and livestock can also get rabies. The virus is spread through the bite of an infected animal or contact with its
According to wildlife officials, rabid animals often show a change in their normal behavior, but you cannot tell whether an animal has rabies simply by looking at it. People should not touch or pick up wild animals or strays – even baby animals.
saliva. If left untreated, rabies is almost always fatal in humans and animals. However, treatment with the rabies vaccine is nearly 100 percent effective when given soon after a person is bitten by a rabid animal.
So far this year, 23 animals in Vermont have tested positive for rabies, and 14 of those have been raccoons.
According to wildlife officials, rabid animals often show a change in their normal behavior, but you cannot tell whether an animal has rabies simply by looking at it. People should not touch or pick up wild animals or strays – even baby animals.
Shelburne display lead dors from creemees. from SHELBURNE continued
