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The Cabot Chronicle

March 2010 · Issue Record

← From the Cabot Chronicle

The community record for this issue of the Cabot Chronicle, extracted from the original pages. Reprinted with permission from the Cabot Chronicle.

Original issue: Download the March 2010 pages (PDF)

Automated extraction, spot-checked. Advertisements, the business directory, and puzzles are omitted; obituaries appear as individual entries.

In This Issue

Superintendent

(Continued from Page 1) I had the honor of working with Dr. Marc Hull, a long-time resident of Cabot, a good friend and my role model as an educational leader. In addition to my roles at the Department of Education, I have been teacher, instructional assistant and board member for 10 years on the East Montpelier School Board. After 17 years with the Department of Education, I left to become Director of Special Services for the Caledonia Central Supervisory Union in Danville. I come to Washington Northeast Supervisory Union from Washington Central Supervisory Union (the U32 district) where I have served as Director of Special Services and Assistant Superintendent for the past seven years. I believe all of our children can be successful, contributing members of our communities, with our support. Small rural schools, especially those that serve children from pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grade, provide unique opportunities for those students to become lifelong learners and creative, responsible citizens within the school, the community and the larger world. The residents of Cabot, Plainfield and Marshfield are involved and committed to their schools in ways that enhance education for students and enrich the community. This is so clearly demonstrated with the creation of the wonderful new Cabot School Performance Arts Center. These are economically challenging times. board With our strong school staff, and community, I am confident that the Cabot School will thrive and continue to meet the challenges of the future. Creative solutions for the future can include collaboration with neighboring schools and use of the internet for distance learning so even more opportunities can be made available to Cabot’s students. I want to hear what you value about your school and your hopes and concerns for the future. I am excited to serve you and the children of this community as your superintendent.

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Feedback

Love us or hate us, the community Chronicle thoughts and comments. I've read over the proof of the gratitude to all of you, especially Todd effort confirms the value of the Chronicle leadership as community resources. – I take the Cabot Chronicle with “Cabot has a newspaper?” Even people cle . We love you too. – Ed.

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UDAG Requests

The following organizations have UDAG requests scheduled for consideration on Town Meeting day. Below, the organizations have submitted explanations for their requests. warning for Town Meeting asks: Shall voters of the Town of The

Cabot grant to the Cabot School the sum of $400.00 toward the purchase of supplies and equipment for an after-school art program from $59,018 of UDAG funds available for Town Meeting grants in 2010? [Australian Ballot] Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot grant to the Cabot Fire Department the sum of $12,000 toward purchase of a Thermal Imaging Camera that would enable Cabot firefighters to detect fire, hot spots and the presence of bodies inside buildings and locate them before entering, from $59,018 of UDAG funds available for Town Meeting grants in 2010? [Australian Ballot] Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot grant to the Cabot School the sum of $25,000 toward retirement of a debt of $72,219 still owed on the Cabot School Performing Arts Center, an eligible capital project, from $59,018 of UDAG funds available for Town Meeting grants in 2010? [Australian Ballot] Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot grant to Faith in Action Northern Partnership, Inc., a non-profit corporation, the sum of $3,829 toward the purchase of kitchen equipment and furniture for an office to be opened in the Masonic Hall, from $59,018 of UDAG funds available for Town Meeting grants in 2010? [Australian Ballot]

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School UDAG Funding Request

The art program at Cabot School would like to extend art opportunities to the community and students by offering after school art activities and workshops during the school year. In the past the TLC program has supported after school art classes, however this past year funding was cut from their program.

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for

is always welcome to send the This month, we got lucky. UDAG insert with warm feelings of Jones for hanging in there. The and the work of its staff and R.D. Eno me where I go and people always say outside of Cabot love the Chroni-

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for Town Meeting

In the past After School Art Programs have offered a range of seasonal activities such as Pumpkin carving, Ukrainian egg decorating, Holiday Note Cards & Clay Ornament Making, and lots more. Weekend art workshops have included guest artists such as Carolyn E. Guest (Polish Paper Cutting), Jerry Geier (Woodblock Prints) and Ukrainian Egg Decorating. This year After School Art will be offered every other Wednesday. A winter schedule will be planned after winter vacation. We would like the winter schedule to include local guest artists if we are able to secure enough funds. These classes would be offered to the community as well as Cabot students. Depending on the artists’ schedule and the project, we may schedule these classes on Saturdays. This would accommodate families as well. The funds requested from UDAG and the PTSO will cover the art materials in excess of those available from the school art supplies. There will be a suggested donation, as well, for each class to cover any additional expenses. Thank you for your consideration and the opportunity to make this request.

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Cabot Fire Department UDAG Re-

quest On Town Meeting day, the Cabot Fire Department will be asking the voters for a $12,000 UDAG grant to replace our thermal imaging camera. The Department will be doing a 25 % match of $4,000 for a total of $16,000. The $4,000 match came from the sale of the old rescue truck. This imaging camera is a new tool to the Fire Department. They have only been in the fire service for around ten years. The imaging camera has proved to be a very useful tool to the Fire Department. This camera works on heat deprivation. You can go into a pitch black smoke filled room, scan the camera across the room, and if there is a person in there it will show an image of them on the camera. We use the camera on chimney fires to find the hot spots in a chimney. It can also be used in search and rescue when looking for lost people. You can scan large areas very quickly when looking for lost people. When the Firemen are doing an interior attack they can scan the walls and floors to see where the hot spots are. The Fire service keeps finding new uses for this tool. As you can see, this camera is a very useful tool to the Fire Department, so we are asking for your support on Town Meeting. Thank you.

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Center UDAG Funding Request

Cabot School is requesting a grant of $25,000 from the UDAG Grant Fund this year to help pay off costs remaining from the construction of the

day of the month and is provided

~ Copyright 2010 by The Cabot

without express written permission from Cabot of advertising is contingent upon editor’s and loss or expense on claims based upon contents beyond the cost of space occupied by individual

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hronicle

school’s new performing arts building (CSPAC). The 2900 square-foot facility was built during the 2008-2009 school year using the combined labor of a high school building class, community volunteers, and professional contractors. The CSPAC held its first performance by Cabot students last June. Since then, in addition to providing a valuable space for music teaching and practice during the school day, the CSPAC has hosted a variety of evening performances ranging from traditional music to drama to African and gospel music. The overall cost of the CSPAC project came to $259,000. Higher-thananticipated expenses for labor and materials pushed the eventual price tag beyond our original projections. For that reason, fundraising activities for CSPAC are continuing this year, and this UDAG grant request is part of that effort. In addition to the $75,000 commitment made towards the project by Cabot taxpayers, $130,000 has been raised thus far for the CSPAC through a combination of grants, individual donations and fundraising events. Approval of the $25,000 UDAG grant request by Cabot voters on Town Meeting Day will get us a good ways toward paying off the $54,000 remaining in costs from the building’s construction.

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Faith In Action Northern Commu-

nities Partnership Having completed lease and reconstruction work contracts with the town, Faith In Action is moving ahead with the work required to bring the community kitchen area up to code and to create room for its Food Share Program, which distributes 4,500 to 5,000 pounds of free food to Cabot area families twice per month. Our UDAG funds request covers file and other office equipment for the Food Share Program (about 1/3 of our request), with the rest to go toward tables and chairs for the community room and appliances and utensils for the kitchen. The latter items make up 2/3 of the funding request and are available for anyone using the community room and/or kitchen. In actuality, all these funds will be used for community services, the majority of which will be available to anyone using the hall, which should be 'up and running' by late March. Thank you for your past and continuing support of Faith In Action and its numerous free services to the Cabot community. An 'open house and free community dinner' is being planned for everyone to see the work Faith In Action and the town have completed in Phase 1 of the renovations.

Find current news, great links to your community, discussion forums and more about our paper on the web at

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By Jeanne Johnson

On March 2, 2010, Cabot residents will be asked to vote on five questions pertaining to the Cabot UDAG program. Four will be requests for Town Meeting UDAG grants, and information about these grant requests is available in related articles in this edition of the Chronicle . The fifth item will be a proposed revision of the UDAG Plan, which was mailed to all Cabot residents as an insert in the February edition of the Cabot Chronicle . The UDAG Committee hopes interested voters will review the proposed changes and direct any questions The to insert committee in the members. February Chronicle

included a summary of Town Meeting grant requests, current board members, a history and background of the UDAG grant funds in Cabot, and an explanation of the recommended changes. The modifications are designed to make the

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for Spring Thaw Cabaret

The Northeast Kingdom Arts Council (NEKArts) will kick off the Sesquicentennial, celebrating 150 years, of the Hardwick Town House on April 17 with its first annual Spring Thaw Cabaret. Young people in grades 7 through 12 from Hardwick and nearby towns are invited to audition for this event on March 16 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Hazen Union School auditorium. The NEKArts Board of Directors is hoping the event will feature family-friendly acts, each a maximum of 10 minutes in duration, which can be a skit, a song, a duet, a dance, stand-up comedy, or any other act designed to entertain. For those who would rather be backstage than on it, the board is also looking for volunteers to help with the behind-thescenes work involved in this fundraiser. All proceeds will benefit the historic Hardwick Town House. An audition sign-up sheet will be available at the guidance desk at Hazen Union School; or register to audition by e-mailing bjg.imn@hotmail.com. For more information on the programs and projects at the historic Hardwick Town House, visit www.hardwicktownhouse.org.

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ANNOUNCEMENT:

Lunch is served! At the Cabot Town Meeting March 2, at noon, in the Cabot School Cafeteria Menu includes hot entrees, salad, rolls, drinks and desserts Cost of $5.00 donation benefits the United Church of Cabot

The Cabot Chronicle wishes to congratulate and thank everyone who has spent their time and energy putting their skills to work for their community in the past year. Whether you serve on a town board or committee or volunteer with the school or other community groups, your efforts are appreciated. fund a more valuable economic asset for the Town of Cabot and its residents, preserving the most valuable practices and improving the programs least used by Cabot residents, taking into consideration lessons learned since 1992. Key components of the 2010 recommended changes can be seen in the attached sidebar. The current plan is available at the Town Office, on-line at http:// www.cabotvt.us/Documents_Library.html or from the UDAG Committee chair, R.D. Eno, rdeno@fairpoint.net. The Town Meeting warning will read: “To approve a revision of the 2006 UDAG Plan as published in the Cabot Chronicle of February 2010.” The UDAG Committee hopes voters will consider these proposed changes and share your thoughts with members, and hopes to see everyone at Town Meeting, or during voting hours on March 2.

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By Kitty Toll

The 2010 Legislative session is dominated by cuts in the budget and reduced revenues. Highlights of the Governor’s budget proposals to close the $150 million gap for 2011 include $53 million in cuts to Human Services, a $10 million reduction in the 2011 General Fund by moving part of Teachers Retirement to the Education Fund, a $38 million savings through the Challenges for Change initiative as well as using $17 million in federal stimulus money. The Governor’s proposed $10 million reduction to the General Fund is the first phase of a 4 year recommended transition of the Teachers’ Retirement to the Education Fund. This proposal is now being reviewed in the House and Senate Education Committees. The Challenges for Change legislation has passed the Senate and has been voted out of committee and will be brought to the House floor for a vote. This initiative, supported by both the Legislature and the Administration, identifies efficiencies and savings in state government that produce better outcomes at a lower cost. The House and Senate committees are actively reviewing the Administration’s recommendations. Committee testimony continues and public hearings are scheduled in order to fully understand our citizens’ needs and the impact of cuts to programs and services. As of this writing, proposed changes to Current Use legislation continues to be deliberated in the Senate. The Senate is considering the following: eliminating the moratorium passed by the House for landowners who applied by September 9, 2009. Landowners would be allowed to enroll land in Current Use as of April 1, 2010; assessing a one -time only property tax surcharge on enrollees to meet the $1.6 million target. This surcharge would be included in the 2010 – 2011 tax bills; establishing a September 1, 2010 date for landowners to withdraw some or all land enrolled. If land is withdrawn by this date, the Land Use Change Tax would be calculated under the current formula and paid at the time the land is developed; changing the Property Transfer Tax rate to 1.25% as of April 1, 2010. These funds, approximately Key components of the 2010 UDAG recommended changes are: 1. Making business located in Cabot eligible for Economic Development Loan subsidies, even if the owners or borrowers live elsewhere; 2. Creating an annual Development Fund of $10,000 from which the UDAG Committee may award grants to support feasibility studies and grantwriting costs for public projects; 3. Requiring Community Grant recipients to purchase goods and services in Cabot as much as possible, to report periodically to the UDAG Committee, and eliminate the 25% match currently required of community organizations. 4. Increasing the Scholarship Endowment’s share of UDAG assets to make more significant scholarship aid available to Cabot residents.

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Dominate Legislative

$300,000 for fiscal year 2010 and similar appropriations in 2011 and 2012, would be used for the electronic administration of files and maps. Every three years, Vermont’s fee structure is reviewed by the Legislature. H.759 – Executive Fees for 2010 passed the House and is now in the Senate for consideration. There are 133 fees associated with this year’s bill. The two main purposes these fees serve are to reimburse government for a service rendered, such as calibrating scales, and for using a common asset of the state, such as a license for hunting or fishing. Legislative action on Vermont Yankee has been on hold as we continue to receive updates about the tritium leaks, well and ground water contamination and the possibility of tritium in the Connecticut River. Natural Resources and The House Energy Committee along with several other Senate and House Committees held a joint hearing and heard from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, Vermont’s Department of Health, the Agency of Natural Resources and Vermont Yankee employees – all of whom are working around the clock (with their services paid for by Entergy VY) to monitor tritium levels on-site and to locate the source of the leak(s). Trust in the owners of Vermont Yankee and reliability of the plant is in question. However, it is important to note that the Legislature can only vote on the economic impact the plant has on the state of Vermont. Senator Shumlin recently announced that the Senate will possibly vote on the future of Vermont Yankee before town meeting day. S.117, a bill that moves the Primary Election date from the second Tuesday in September to the fourth Tuesday in August was passed in the House by a vote of 139 to 6. The federal government, in response to the MOVE Act (Military Overseas Voter Empowerment Act), passed legislation in 2009 that requires that a request for an absentee ballot be sent 45 days before the election. This will allow enough time for ballots to be sent overseas to registered Vermont voters serving in the military or living abroad for other reasons. This bill passed out of the Senate in the first half of biennium and passed by an overwhelming margin in the House.

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CORRECTIONS

for February, 2010

Open Offices Available at Upcoming Town Meeting: Should have read Jon Vara (not John Vera) and Amy Cooke (not Coke). ♦ Ways to Help the People of Haiti: Should have read, Robert Belenky,” not Belenki . ♦ In the 2009 Cabot Town Report, the Library incorrectly said that the book, P. Allen Smith’s Bringing the Garden Indoors was given “in memory” of Roberta Bothfeld. It should read “in honor” of Roberta Bothfeld. We sincerely apologize to Roberta’s family and friends and to the community. ♦ Correction to Feb. 2009 real estate transactions (listed on page 11): 11/3/09 should read, “Jacklyn and Roy Folsom, sale of development easement to U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, Parcel #3, 17.65 acres, $18,700. Ownership of property is retained by the Folsoms.” In addition, Anne Nadel was not the author of this item.

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Session

On February 17, The Vermont Fire and Rescue Coalition hosted a reception in the Cedar Creek Room at the Capitol for legislators. It was a pleasure to see Skip Bothfeld who was there representing Cabot and Vermont State Firefighters. The reception gave legislators and firefighters the opportunity to discuss current legislation. I look forward to meeting Cabot Town Clerk Tara Rogerson on Local Government Day in the Legislature on February 24. The Vermont League of Cities and Towns organizes this event to give local officials the opportunity to attend legislative committees, receive updates on legislation affecting local government, meet with the Governor and Speaker of the House, and participate in sessions discussing the state budget, education funding, and health care. I hope all those who attend find the day productive and informative. In the Agriculture Committee, we have taken testimony and are considering bills including the following: a Committee Bill relating to establishing the VT Agricultural Innovation Authority, a Committee Bill to create a livestock care standards advisory council, H.525 relating to beef promotion and research, H.518 relating to a dairy farmsolar initiative, H.528 relating to criminal penalties for illegal cutting, removal or destruction of forest products, and H.241 relating to amending the Vermont agricultural credit program to include forestry, timber harvesting, and forest products manufacturing The Agriculture Committee has also been taking testimony and discussing the 2011 budget, milk pricing, farmers’ markets, biomass, farm worker housing, winter manure spreading rules, buffer zones, GAP (good agricultural practices) certification, and more. Deliberative activities in the House and Senate chambers as well as committee meetings are always open to the public and I encourage all to stop by when visiting Montpelier. I always appreciate hearing from you. I can be reached by email at ktoll@leg.state.vt.us or by phone at 684 -3671 or at the State House at 8282228. For more information on bills that have be proposed or passed, visit the Vermont Legislative website at www.leg.state.vt.us .

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An Editorial by Anne Nadel

That old saw about March coming in like a lion is all too often true in Vermont, but not so much the lamb portion of the saying, as sometimes March goes out the same way it comes in. On the other hand, even the most ornery month of March carries with it the promise of spring, if you slow down enough to notice. March, you see, is Vermont’s fifth season. There are those who say the fifth season is mud. Mud is just one of the arbiters of spring brought by the unrelenting Marchness of the month. It also heralds the worst of the frost heaves on the dirt roads (the heaves that give way to the sucking, axle-dredging mud and send a 50 pound Chevrolet truck airborne), the first tint of pink to the underbrush (look for a gauzy overlay of rose tint, like the gentle touch of the watercolorist’s brush), and most importantly, maple season. More specifically, Sugar-On-Snow season. For this writer’s family, no March is complete without a visit to Bragg Farm in East Montpelier on their first day serving the sweet concoction. Extra pickles and hot tea are a must, and we cannot leave until the last bit of maple syrup and the last crunchy, salty bite of pickle have been vanquished. We sit and enjoy our taste of spring and watch befuddled tourists wonder at the inclusion of garlicky pickles in the serving of this quintessentially Vermont treat. We tell them, “You just have to trust,” and watch the understanding dawn on their faces as they eat. For me, March is a gateway to spring. Not spring but not quite winter. The groundhog announced six weeks of winter in early February. If you live in Vermont and there are not six more weeks of winter in early February, then something is very wrong. On the other hand, by March, the clock is winding down on that longest of seasons. Snow still falls, but daytime temperatures climb, making quick work of the snow. Frost heaves rise and fall like waves, giving way to ruts that pull cars from side to side on back roads. The woods gradually come to life as the animals that call them home begin to make appearances. And for a few golden weeks, Vermonters and a lucky few visitors savor sweet maple and salty pickles, fried doughnuts and a drink. Then they get in their cars and head out through the pink tinted woods, over the frost heaves, ruts and mud, enjoying all the gifts of Vermont’s fifth season.

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Greetings!

The Cabot School Farm to School group would like to start off our Implementation Grant year with some food and some fun. Anyone interested in joining in? For the School Board Budget meeting on March 1, we would like to do a Rutabaga Fries Taste Test for the community. (We taste tested them with the students already and they were a big hit!) We will have a display table and family survey for Cabot residents, and nothing gets folks to the table like some yummy food. The rutabagas come from Blackwell Roots Farm in Cabot (where they have been kept fresh in the root cellar since the fall). We are looking for a few folks who are available to help prepare the fries before the meeting. It should only take about an hour to peel and cut them up, then another 1/2 hour to cook them and set up the display table.

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OMMENTARY

The next meeting of the Farm to School Committee is going to be on Wednesday, March 24, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. in the Cabot School Library. Join us as we make plans for a very exciting year. All welcome. If you want to volunteer to help with the above activities, or have other suggestions/questions/comments to share,

email me at: amyhornblas@gmail.com. Thanks! Sincerely, Amy Hornblas Cabot School Farm to School Coordinator

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Research a New Pumper Truck

By Walter Bothfeld Jr., Chief In October of 2010, the Cabot Fire Department’s current pumper truck will be 20-years-old. It has served the town well, but the time has come to replace it. By upgrading this truck, the department will be brought to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommendations. NFPA is the law of the fire service. According to NFPA, a fire truck should no longer be the Primary Fire Protection Unit after the age of 20 years. NFPA vehemently contends that a 20-year-old truck does not have the features required to be SAFE in today’s world from a technology standpoint. NFPA has found that there are reliability issues as a truck reaches this age, and as a result, it should be replaced. Parts wear out and do not function properly or break just sitting around for 20 years. The Cabot Fire Department has three options for the upgrade of this truck: The first is the purchase of a new truck. The advantage of this is that the department has a new unit that is 100 per cent NFPA compliant. It also comes with the 20-year NFPA life span. The disadvantage is that it is likely to cost the most of the three options. The department could also buy a used truck. Once again, the caveat to this option is the NFPA’s recommended twenty year life span. To buy a truck that is older than 7 years would not be a wise purchase. Buying a used fire truck is like buying a used car. The result may be an excellent, well-maintained truck, or the fire department getting someone else’s problem. Finally, the Cabot Fire Department can rebuild or refurbish the pumper it already has. A fire truck company would take this truck and go over it from one end to the other. They will repair the pump, fix any rust or other body problems, sand blast and repaint the whole body. The biggest disadvantage to this is that no matter how much refurbishing is done, it results in a 20-year-old truck which still may not meet all the SAFETY features required by NFPA when you are done. The Cabot Fire Department understands the current economy. Members are tax payers, too. The people have to understand that it is not wise to sacrifice SAFETY to save a few dollars. The Fire Department has to go by these regulations for the SAFETY of its fire fighters, so they can better serve and protect the town. In the next year, the Fire Department will carefully consider these three options. At the 2011 Town Meeting we will be asking the town to vote on what we feel is the best buy for the Fire Department and the town. Editor’s note : The word SAFETY was left in all capitals at the request of Mr. Bothfeld.

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Dear Cabot Residents and Taxpayers:

Cabot Connects is a youth mentoring project of the Cabot Coalition, whose mission is to reduce alcohol, tobacco and other drug use by young people. Cabot Connects serves Cabot youth ages 9 to 17 and seeks to make caring connections between adults and youth in the community to assist youth in developing a positive vision for the future. We submit this letter of proposal to request $3,500 from the Town of Cabot in 2010 for the purpose of developing new mentoring matches, sustaining our current 30 matches (more than 20% of the eligible student population in Cabot), and to provide essential support and services to the community members who serve as mentors and the youth who participate in the program. This request represents 9% of the total Cabot Connects budget. Additional funds are received from grants, hundreds of hours of volunteer work, local businesses, individual donations and fundraising.

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Description of how funds will

strengthen our mentor program Cabot Connects will utilize these grant funds to: • Provide on-going and regular training/education to staff, parents and mentors on youth issues; • Assure a high-quality experience to adult volunteers, including: training, proper insurance coverage and recognition for their service; • Continue our thorough evaluation process to measure program value and identify areas for improvement; • Compensate the coordinator to manage all 30 matches to ensure highquality matches; • Pay a small portion of operating costs; and • Training for advisory board members to increase fundraising capacity. The Cabot Connects Mentor Program is just one part, and an essential part, of the Cabot Coalition’s comprehensive plan to address alcohol, tobacco and other drug use in our community. In 2009, our independent evaluation report found that: “ Cabot Connects has shown consistency and development and has become an integral part of the Cabot community. It has demonstrated its ability to meet the real needs of youth and families, and the flexibility to find alternative ways for adults to be involved with young people. Program satisfaction among participants is high and mentors, parents, and youth express deep appreciation for the program and their partners.”

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Cabot Connects Mentors

& Advisory Board Members Susan Alexander John Hammer Lori Augustyniak Kathleen Higbee Amy Bothfeld Connie Hourihan Deb Bothfeld Amber Ksepka Raquel Bigelow Ashley Ksepka Sheila Booth Billie Marcotte Judy Boucher Tracy Mauck Mark Bromley Cathleen Maine Greg Burtt Karen Mueller-Harder Richard Bushey Suzy North Patrick Campbell Leonia Pike Jennifer Churchill Tara Rogerson Mike Cookson Linda Savoca Michelle Delaney Christa Scholz Ken Elmer Jackie Scribner Alicia Feltus Susan Tobias Susan Freeburn Lars Torres Jim Goodrich Lynn Rockwell Gail Greaves Jon Vara Johneal Hale Connie Withers Thank you for considering our request.

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Increased Bus Service

Twin Valley Senior Center in Marshfield, serving seniors in Cabot, Calais, East Montpelier, Marshfield, Plainfield, and Woodbury, is pleased to announce increased bus service for seniors who want to attend the center’s lunch gatherings on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. TVSC is now able to reach those seniors who live in the more remote areas. Anyone who has always wanted to come to the center for lunch, socializing, games, interesting speakers, parties, and other events, or would just like to take a peek in, can now be provided free bus service no matter where they are located within the six towns. The center is wheelchair and oxygen accessible. Come relieve some of these late winter dreary doldrums. Call Rita

rangements. February was a busy time at the center, with visits from Cong. Peter Welch, State Senators Bill Doyle and Phil Scott, famous weatherman Roger Hill, and local author Vincent Feeney. Bingo, foot clinics, tax preparation, and socializing also kept visitors busy. busy. March promises to be equally On March 8, attendees will learn how to avoid fraud, taught by Bill Carrigan of the VT Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities, and Health Care. On March 15, the center will be hosting a foot clinic. There is a $15 charge. appointment. On St, Patrick’s Day, there will be merriment as everyone

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Calendar:

3/1: Vacation & School Budget Meeting/Vote 6:00 PM

3/2: Vacation

3/4: TLC Open House 5:00-6:30 PM

3/4: Mandatory Drivers Ed Parent Meeting 6:00 PM

3/5: Mid Quarter 3 closes

3/5: Grades 8/9 Visit BTC

3/11: Grades Pre-K–8 visit Barre Opera House

3/12: Grades 3-6 Ski and Snowboard Day

3/22: Faculty Development Day (School Closed)

3/23: Late Start @ 10:20

becomes Irish for the day and enjoys a feast of corned beef and cabbage and a “bit o’ blarney.” This dinner is open to the entire community. The cost is a mere $4 for those aged 55 and older, and a wee bit more expensive, at $5, for the young folks. Please call 4263447 by March 12 to make reservations. This lunch can sell out, so call early. Be sure to gather for the shenanigans. March is Meals on Wheels Month and Twin Valley Senior Center is trying to do its part. While Senior Nutrition Programs across the United States share problems common to all of them, including a growing aging population and limited resources, Senior Nutrition Programs in rural areas face unique challenges such as time, distance, cost and labor. At Twin Valley Seniors, we cook, package, and deliver Meals on Wheels to homebound residents. This is all done by dedicated volunteers giving of their time a few hours a week. In addition, seniors living in rural communities are more likely than others to ‘age in place.’ The need for services is growing weekly and we at Twin Valley Senior Center can use help from the community. The combination of time it takes to make deliveries, the distances to be traveled, the cost per meal and size of the volunteer workforce involved in preparing and delivering meals needs volunteers to continue to serve the rural community. Although challenges themselves are evident, with volunteer help of just two to five hours per week, the center can address the challenges. The need is growing constantly and community members can help TVS deliver services. some It does not cost money, just free time working with our dedicated volunteers. At Twin Valley Senior Center, community volunteers can help make sure that everyone is doing whatever possible to make sure no senior in the center’s six towns of Cabot, Calais, East Montpelier, Marshfield, Plainfield, and Woodbury goes hungry for lack of our service. Anyone interested in volunteering should call at 426

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MORRISVILLE

She was born Oct. 12, 1927, in Burlington, daughter of Max and Priscilla the Salls Davison. She grew up on the family dairy farm, where the most important sideline was making maple syrup. Barb graduated from Peoples Academy in Morrisville, and married Robert Percy Davis on July 13, 1946. Barb and Bob lived in Morrisville, Bradford and eventually settled in Cabot, where Bob was general manager of Cabot Creamery Co-op. They built the family home on Cabot Plains where they produced prize-winning maple syrup. Barbara took great pride and satisfaction in their maple sugar operations and was named a director of Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association. Barb and Bob expanded their sugar operation by buying a neighboring farm and started a herd of registered Jersey cattle. Barbara played a major role in management and breeding of the herd. Barbara always worked hard but enjoyed spending time at their summer cottage on Caspian Lake. She loved to dance. After retiring they returned to Morrisville where they built a home.

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SPRINGFIELD

Claire E. Ducharme, 88, formerly of North Barre Manor and Cabot, passed away peacefully on Friday, Jan. 15, 2010, at the Springfield Health & Rehabilitation Center in Springfield. Born in East Elmore on Sept. 20, 1921, she was the daughter of the late Servand and Hosanna (Bessette) LeBlanc. Claire attended school in Hardwick and Cabot and, as a teen, she worked in New York at a Catholic school. In 1940, she married Albert Ducharme, Sr., and was married for 40 years. She lived on their farm in Cabot for 46 years, was a devout Catholic, and was an active member of the North American Martyrs Catholic Church, until she later moved to Barre and was a member of St. Monica Catholic Church. Claire was a founding member of Twin Valley Senior Center and also spent time volunteering for Barre Elementary School as well as Barre's Aldrich Public Library. Survivors include 15 children, Catherine Houston of Barre, Felix Ducharme of White River Junction, Michael Ducharme of Newark, Robert Ducharme of Bandon, Ore., Louie Ducharme of Plainfield, Frederick Ducharme of Cabot, Eugene Ducharme of Burlington, Laura Ducharme of Barbara is survived by her husband of 62 years, Robert "Bob" Davis; three children, Daniel Robert Davis and wife, Mary Jo, of Newark, Vt.; William Davison Davis and wife, Debbie, of Bloomfield, Mich.; Laurie Beth Davis Callahan and husband, Jack, of Montpelier, Vt.; three grandchildren, "Tad" Davis and his wife, Maura; Heather Gulla and her husband, Shawn; and Beth Ann Davis; and a great-granddaughter, Faye Davis. Also surviving Barbara are her four sisters, Betty Post of Lakewood, Colo., Pat McDonald of South Burlington, Vt., Rhoda Rochat of Exeter, N.H., and Mary Amanda Parker of Indiana, Pa.. A funeral service was held Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Puffer United Methodist Church in Morrisville. Interment will take place in the Spring at Pleasant View Cemetery. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Proctor Maple Research

VT 05490; the Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641, or to the Puffer United

ville, VT 05661. The White-Fiess Funeral Home of Morrisville is in charge of arrangements. Church officiated. Arrangements were under the direction of Dian R. Holcomb of Northern Vermont Funeral Service, Hardwick. Berkeley, Calif., Christopher Ducharme of Portland, Ore., Florence Painter of Amelia, Va., Sophie Graves of Turners Falls, Mass., Theresa Crowley of Millers Falls, Mass., Hosanna Dukeshire of Westminster Station, John Ducharme of Hillsboro, Ore., and Mary Gaspar-Damon of Millers Falls, Mass. She also leaves behind her sisters and brothers, Dolores Richardson, Joseph Leblanc, Vincent LeBlanc, Lumina Brown, Rosaria Carlson, Louise Nye and Georgette Guinizzi. At the time of her passing she also had 44 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Albert Ducharme Sr., and her sons Albert, Jr. and Peter. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 2 p.m., in St. Monica Catholic Church at 79 Summer St., in Barre. Entombment followed the Mass in Elmwood Vault in Barre. A later spring burial will be in the Durant Cemetery in Cabot, to be announced. Donations in Claire's memory may be sent to the Twin Valley Senior Cen-

05658. Arrangements are in the care of the Pruneau-Polli Funeral Home, 58 Summer St., Barre.

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By Jeannie Johnson

CURDS to Cabot community members and school board members for their response to the current fiscal crisis. Many folks are sharing inspiring and creative ideas of how to improve academic success while maintaining fiscal prudence. Keep the ideas coming. CURDS to Stephen Watkins for organizing the first annual Willem van Hees Memorial Snowshoe Event and pot luck on Saturday, February 13, on Houston Hill Road in Cabot. A great event for a Cabot resident with an amazing, littleknown history. See article on page 9. WHEY for committees that regularly use executive session to do business, derailing the obligation for public accountability. An executive session is a portion of an otherwise public meeting in which the public is excluded, minutes are not taken, and the contents of the discussion are treated as confidential. Executive sessions should be used rarely, only when the privacy of an individual or individuals is at stake. CURDS to the many Cabot residents that will participate in Town Meeting, whether attending the public assembly or marking the ballot. While it’s difficult for those who work outside of town to squeeze in time to participate or vote, so many still do it. Though inconvenient, it’s a privilege citizens of many regions of the world only dream about. Thank you for making the effort.

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By Anne Nadel

The tale is told that the Joe’s Pond Ice Out evolved out of a bad case of cabin fever on the part of a seasonal resident. Now, it is a local institution, and tickets for the 2010 Ice Out are making their way into the world. In the middle of the 1980s, Jules Chatot was a long-time summer resident of Danville’s idyllic vacation enclave who also regularly spent time in his camp in the colder months. At its inception, the Ice Out was a friendly game of wagering between Chatot and his family and friends about when the pond’s thick ice would break through, signaling the final end to winter’s harsh embrace. He kept records of who bet how much in a small notebook, much like friendly pools about sporting events. This speculation, however, had the wildcard variable of Vermont winter to consider. Late in 1987, Chatot and his friends decided it was time to make the conjecture a real game, intended to benefit the Joe’s Pond Association. They decided that a wager of one dollar per guess was fair, and then had to come up with a foolproof place and spot for some sort of timing device.

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EWS

CURDS, on the Chronicle’s second anniversary, to all the community-minded people who submitted articles, agreed to be interviewed, advertised, donated, submitted photos, provided ideas, leadership or technical expertise. Cabot is a very rich and diverse community, and the Chronicle is a better newspaper because of it. CURDS to the students of Cabot and Twinfield High Schools, who work together every year to organize the dualschool prom held each spring. They are a shining example of cooperation. As a result, their prom is always intimate, unique and personal, unlike those of bigger schools. CURDS to the people and businesses that conceived of, built and now maintain the ice rink on the green. WHEY to early February’s groundhog for predicting six more weeks of winter. But then, CURDS to that same critter, because if we only have six more weeks of winter in the beginning of February, then spring is coming early to Vermont! CURDS to obviously increasing daylight hours and the arrival of Daylight Savings time on March 14. Don’t forget to set your clocks one hour ahead. A little whey to the loss of one hour. Note to readers: We are looking for a writer, or collector, of Curds & Whey. If you want to see the column continue, and believe you can be even-handed in your

offer your services.

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the Minutes of Ice Out

The web site for the event explains the system best, wherein an “old electric clock (now estimated to be at least 40 years old) on Homer and Elsie Fitts' deck, (is) tethered to a cinder block wired to a wooden pallet placed 50 feet or more out on the ice just off the fishing access by the Fitts' camp, and there it was-the perfect solution to inevitable arguments about when the ice was actually out of all the nooks and crannies and coves of the pond. When the block went down, the clock stopped, and that was it-the "official" ice-out time. Whoever guessed closest to the date and time the clock stopped won the contest.” The winner of the contest gets half the proceeds of the ticket sales. The balance is used to underwrite the Joe’s Pond Association’s free public fourth of July fireworks display. That first year, a few hundred people participated in the game. Since then, it has grown to thousands of players, from all over the nation, and even some from “overseas” according to the web site. Winning dates had varied widely, with April 16 being the earliest, and May 6 the latest the ice has melted on the pond. (See Joe’s Pond, Page 7)

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By Chip Taylor

I have a reproduction of a nineteenth century poster advertising gargling oil for horses. It always gets a laugh from those who see it. The notion of getting a horse to gargle is silly. But some of the folks who laugh will, with a perfectly straight face, recount how they use acupuncture on their pets, take ginkgo biloba to help their memory, or express amazement at how accurate their daily horoscope is. Others will claim that the World Trade Center buildings fell “faster than free fall” thus somehow proving they were actually blown up, or that in the photos the Lunar astronauts took there are no stars in the sky thus proving the photos and the Moon landing were faked . There are all kinds of silly concepts taken seriously by otherwise intelligent people. What’s going on here? We live at the beginning of the twenty-first century, when hearts and lungs are transplanted, space probes explore the planets and a phone the size of a deck of playing cards can connect to the internet or a family member in Tokyo. Yet some people still think they can talk to dead family members via a psychic, or worry about being kidnapped by aliens. Oprah tells us about “The Secret”, where money and good health can be yours just by thinking positive thoughts, and cyberspace is rife with conspiracy theorists claiming JFK was actually shot by the limousine driver, the moon landing was faked on a sound stage, and a “secret space weapon” destroyed the World Trade Center. Really? Part of it may be because we are hard wired by evolution to see meaningful patterns in everyday things: A stump in your yard at twilight becomes a bear. Your clothes on the chair in the corner of your bedroom at night become a burglar about to attack you. If our distant cave man ancestors mistook a lurking saber tooth tiger for a rock they might not survive the encounter. The other way round and it would be just a simple mistake to laugh about the next day. So we see patterns in clouds, tree stumps at dusk and even grilled cheese sandwiches. And it’s in our nature that we struggle to come up with an explanation for something we find baffling. For example, someone might say, dreamed about my friend Bob last night, and this morning his wife called to say he was in a car accident that evening. It must be precognition.” And let’s face it: The unexplained is cool. A weather balloon or an orbiting space satellite is far less interesting

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Joe’s Pond

(Continued from Page 7) This year, according to Diane Jejer, Assistant Post Mistress for West Danville, Ice Out ticket sales have been slow to get going, which may or may not be attributable to the poor economy. Still, tickets are moving out the door. 2010 tickets are available until April 1 at Harry's Hardware in Cabot; Joe's Pond Country Store and Hasting's Store both in West Danville; Marty's 1st Stop and Diamond Hill in Danville; Thurston Auto, Caplans and St. Jay Hardware in St. Johnsbury; Barre Subway, Dente's Market, Hope Cemetery, Barre Optical, Berg Carmolli and Kent, and Yankee Clipper Barber Shop in Barre; Walker Volkswagen in Montpelier; and Natural Provisions in Williston. They are also available for printing online or by contacting Joe’s Pond Association (email, jpwebmaster@fairpoint.net). Ticket

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Weird Things?

than an unknown object that might be an otherworldly spacecraft piloted by benevolent aliens sent to help us. A “ghost” haunting an old house gives a hint at an afterlife. A perpetual motion energy machine raises the hope of unlimited power and the opportunity to thumb our noses at those greedy utilities and their dangerous power plants. Simple errors in perception or the belief that men never landed on the moon may be harmless. But belief in quack medicine, refusing to vaccinate your kids because of autism fears, putting your savings into free energy machines, or buying bomb detecting dowsing rods can cost not only money but lives. Resources like the internet, books in your local library, your favorite news show or your Ph.D. neighbor’s opinion may or may not be helpful in sorting out the accurate from the inaccurate. What’s really helpful in analyzing weird things in life is being able to apply some good critical thinking skills to everything from TV ads for miracle cures to your neighbor’s claim that he really did see Champ swimming off Battery Park. But critical thinking has to be learned. After all, when we are young we tend to be very credulous, believing what our parents or authority figures tell us. And sadly, neither parents nor schools always do a good job in teaching critical thinking skills. Fortunately, there are plenty of first rate resources. The late Carl Sagan, in his excellent book, “The Demon Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark” proposed a “Baloney Detection Kit” as a tool to use in examining those weird things and questionable claims we encounter. That’s an excellent starting point. And there are plenty of books and Internet sites that show how science, and the scientific method can (and should) be used to examine claims of the unusual. It was Dr. Sagan who said, “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.” We are bombarded every day with more and more claims, some valid, some bogus. More than ever, we need to very carefully analyze these claims and act accordingly. If, in reading this, you conclude that I am skeptical about a lot of things that you might think are real, you’re right. And why should you believe me over your favorite “guru?” You shouldn’t. I might be wrong. Dig out that Baloney Detection Kit; learn about the scientific method, be aware of faulty thinking and what I’d call “junk science.” Yes, I agree with you that it’s important to keep an open mind. Just not so open that your brains fall out. stubs should be returned, with the proper amount of money, to JPA,

Tickets must be in or postmarked on April 1 at the latest.

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ANNOUNCEMENT

Attention readers: The deadline for the May issue of the Cabot Chronicle will fall two days earlier than the usual date. The deadline for May will be April 14. If you have something to submit, please have it to

or we will not be able to use it.

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March 1, through Saturday, March 6

The librarians would like to let everyone know that the last of the shelving project is happening the week of March 1 through the 6. Due to the dust, chaos, and reorganization necessary due to the work of carpenter Paul Council, the library will be closed on Tuesday, March 1, through and including Saturday, March 6. Tuesday, The library will reopen on March 9, just in time for Ben Hewitt’s book talk. Join Cabot resident Ben Hewitt on Tuesday, March 9, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., for a reading from his new book, “The Town That Food Saved,” which will be published by Rodale on March 16. Hewitt spent a year examining the past, present, and potential future of Hardwick's evolving local food system, which has been the subject of recent national media attention. From the young entrepreneurs that are energetically promoting the region's unique agricultural make up, to the old timers wary of the spotlight, “The Town That Food Saved” considers the ways in which food can be the basis for both nourishment and community. Open discussion will follow. Elsewhere in this Cabot Chronicle is an article about strange beliefs and how some may be harmful. If you want to learn more, come to the Library on Tuesday, March 30, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., when Chip Taylor will speak on Critical Thinking and Weird Things, and will attempt to do a “really accurate” horoscope for anyone present, show why

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New Moon in Pi-

sces- March 15 The new moon is a time to look inward, and Pisces is dreamy sign. During this new moon in Pisces we may want to take some time alone, to let our minds drift. This is an ideal time to get in touch with our inner feelings, and we may become overwhelmed by them if we are not careful. Our boundaries between self and other may become blurred. Think constructive sensitivity .

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AM

Aries is a Cardinal sign (along with Cancer, Libra and Capricorn), which means it sets out first, leads the way, initiates action. Those born under the sign of Aries tend to share the pushy and adventurous natures of their symbol, the ram and their element, fire. Some even say that Aries people look a little like the ram, sometimes in their face but more commonly in their athletic bodies which seem to stay in shape whether they exercise or not. They can exhibit lots of physical energy, and also embody the other extreme, resting and putting things off

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Library

multi-tasking (such as texting while driving) is actually impossible, test a counterfeit detecting pen against real and counterfeit money, and perhaps even demonstrate the effects of overdosing on homeopathic sleeping pills. (If he falls asleep he promises that there will be a video you can watch.) Coming soon to the library will be the book, “Come, Thou Tortoise.“ According to Lisa Moore, author of “Alligator,” Jessica Grant’s “Come, Thou Tortoise” should be issued with a health warning: you will split your sides laughing, your eyes will leak, your heart rate will accelerate, and the abundance of wit will rewire the synapses in your brain. This book is astoundingly unique. [It is] a novel about fathers and daughters, love and loss, the wisdom that accumulates over the ages, and that ancient instinct to come home. Joyful. A tortoise de force." Other recent titles ordered for the library include Christopher Bohjalian’s “Secrets of Eden”, Daniel Coyle’s “Talent Code : Greatness Isn’t Born, It’s Grown, Here’s How,” Jim Faye’s “Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood : Practical Parenting”, Jeff Hertzberg’s “Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day : 100 New Recipes,” Chalmers Johnson’s “Nemesis : The Last Days of the American Republic,” Hilary Mantel’s “ Novel,” Alexander “Unbearable Lightness Wolf Hall : A McCall Smith’s of Scones,” Marie McSwigan’s “Snow Treasure,“ Howard Frank Mosher’s “Walking to Gatlinburg,” Arthur Ransome’s “Swallows and Amazons,” and Kathryn Stockett’s “Help.”

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March 20

On the Vernal Equinox, the day and night are of equal length. We sit at the cusp of spring, a time when the days will be longer than the nights and the added light will speed up the growth around us. The beginning of the new growing season, this is a good time to make plans and focus goals.

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Libra – March

29 The full moon is often a time of high energy, sociability, and external focus. Coupled with Libra, the sign of partnerships and group vibes, this promises to be a good time to connect. Libra is also interested in beauty, justice, romance and other issues of community and balance.

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Mountain Youth Symphony’s

Cabot's Lars Hammer will perform with the Green Mountain Youth Symphony at the orchestra's Waltz Night. Photo courtesy of Waltz Night committee.

Lars Hammer, student at Cabot School, will be performing with the Green Mountain Youth Symphony at its first annual Waltz Night on Saturday, March 13, from 7 to 10 p.m., in the auditorium of the Montpelier City Hall, which will be transformed into a Viennese ballroom for the evening. Hammer, who plays French Horn with the senior orchestra of GMYS, has been putting in extra practice time preparing for this event. Adults and chil-

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By Jane Youngbaer

This year, Cabot will have three teams at the Vermont Destination Imagination Tournament, which takes place at Burlington High School on Sat., March 20, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. A brand new team of rising stars is working on the challenge entitled “Weighty News.” This is a noncompetitive challenge for the youngest participants. They are building a structure out of newsprint and tape, and will present a creative newscast about the discovery of the structure. A commercial about how to be healthy will also be included. School This team includes Cabot and local home-schooled students, Mae Dunham, Blue Christensen, Victoria Mayo, Lucia McCallum, David Moody, Alan Moody, and Mia Preston. Paula Davidson is team manager. Another team consists of seven girls in grades two through four. The central challenge they selected is “Breaking D.I. News,” which involves newspaper in a variety of ways. Using only newspaper and glue, they must build a structure that is small and light, but strong enough to hold heavy weights. In their skit they will “reduce” their props to fit into a creatively decorated box, “reuse” a true news story from another nation as the basis for their skit, and “recycle” newspaper to make a costume or prop. The students on this team are Taylor Abbott, Natalie Mudgett-Fox, Desiree Chadderton, Lela Jones, Isabel MaineTorres, Billie O’Connor, and Helen Sawyer. The team managers are Jane Youngbaer and Todd Jones. Joining D.I. veterans Wyatt Ameden and Seth Herrick-Trombley on a middle level team are new members Isabella McCallum and Alisha Celley, with team managers Jane Youngbaer and Alison Panzer. Their challenge is “You’re

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Waltz Night

dren of all ages are invited to this family -friendly event featuring live waltz music performed by the three orchestras of the Green Mountain Youth Symphony (GMYS). The evening will begin with a 30-minute session of professional waltz instruction to prepare everyone to whirl the night away. Fancy dress is encouraged, but optional. In addition to the great music and dancing, there will be a dessert bar, door prizes and a silent auction. Founded in 2001, the mission of the Green Mountain Youth Symphony is to create a community of young musicians from Central and Northern Vermont through the performance of great music. GMYS consists of three orchestras and more than 100 participants from approximately thirty towns throughout central and northern Vermont. The orchestra has performed at First Night Montpelier, Farmers Night, and Montpelier's Independence Day Celebration and other venues throughout central and northern Vermont. All proceeds from Waltz Night will benefit GMYS, including its scholarship fund and educational programs. Tickets for Waltz Night are affordably priced at $12 for adults, $6 for students/ seniors, and children younger than fiveyears-old are admitted without charge. Tickets can be purchased directly from an orchestra member, at Vermont Violins at 24 Main Street in Montpelier, or e-mail info@gmys-vt.org.

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Burlington

Gonna Flip,” which requires a puppet character and a non-puppet character (and others) in a skit about a “flip” or change in point of view. This challenge also requires teams to create a piece of live visual art during the performance. Side trips that showcase special talents and skills are also included in every performance, Each team participates in an instant challenge, a short activity that involves teamwork and creativity while thinking on their feet. The instant challenge is unknown to each team ahead of time, and kept secret until after Global Finals. The overall score that determines trophy winners comes from a combination of the scores from the central challenge and instant challenge. There are also other awards that honor outstanding creativity and teamwork, regardless of score. Something new is being offered this year for the first time; KEVA planks. This is an open-ended building activity with wooden pieces, all about 1/4 inch thick, 3/4 inch wide and 4 1/2 inches long. Structures are built by simply stacking the planks, without glue or connectors. From preschoolers to architects, each person builds at his or her own skill level. From 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., KEVA planks will be available for everyone at the tournament to use, free of charge. Destination Imagination is non-profit from the local to the international level. All team managers and appraisers are volunteers. Vermont Affiliate Director, Pasquale DiLego, founded creative problem-solving in Vermont, and has volunteered for more than 30 years. Last year he received a Governor’s Award for Outstanding Community Service for this wonderful dedication to Destination Imagination and the creative kids of Vermont.

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By Amy Hornblas

On the chilly final Sunday in January, seniors from Cabot High School gathered with teachers, family, friends and mentors to share their IOTA projects in the Cabot School Performing Arts Center. The Individualized Opportunity to Achieve (IOTA) program offers guidance to students while they take a yearlong educational course of their own design. Students begin their projects in the spring of their junior year. They choose a subject, find a mentor and community members to support them, document their progress along the way and present what they’ve learned through a display table, paper and public presentation. The students seemed nervous and excited as they set up the stage, microphone and visual aids for their presentations. Displays around the room displayed the far-reaching scope of the chosen projects. The students were creative in their use of all senses to share their experiences with the gathered crowd. Ashley Ambroz served crepes alongside her display, Robin Considine brought in a cage for the young goat who would be arriving later to enhance the effect of her presentation. Amber Graves was the first person to present, breaking the ice in the room with heart-warming stories about helping her dog to overcome fear and anxiety. Like other students in the class, Amber’s project related to her current interests, and will also continue to be an area of exploration throughout her life. Body-mind theater techniques were shared by Brittany French, who plans to continue her work with children and theater direction. students shared A number of other post-graduation plans to continue their IOTA studies formally, such as Dorè Grier, who plans to go to medical school and pursue an interest in treating cancer. Many students chose to focus on serious topics, and included altruistic themes. One student helped collect funds to find a cure for juvenile diabetes. Other students pursued personal interests and focused on developing

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Teachers

Greaves stand together by her display.

practical skills, such as jewelry making, baking cakes, caring for equine livestock and woodworking. All reached out to find resources in the community to support and guide their projects. Pure academia was also represented by Elijah Schumacher, whose project focused on the effect of World War I on English literature, and Samantha Lewis Rock, who researched forensic science. A couple of the students said they didn’t feel the IOTA program was time well spent. One of them explained that they already engage in experiential learning and so didn’t feel the need for the school to structure this for them. For another, the format was too foreign. Opportunities for independent studies do arise throughout the grades, but not all students gravitate towards that kind of learning. The IOTA project gave them all a chance to learn in an independent manner, and for the students who were working on a project that continued to be relevant and interesting to them throughout the year, it seemed to be a more rewarding experience. The contrast between IOTA and traditional schooling was clear to both those who enjoyed the process and those who felt uncomfortable with it. The public speaking component appeared to be the most stressful part of the program for nearly everyone. Each student, no matter how prepared for the moment, seemed relieved once it was over. After his or her presentation, each student responded to questions from the audience. A wealth of knowledge was shared, as the seniors adopted the role of teacher. The individual nature of each student’s chosen topic seemed to hint at the separate futures each of them is preparing to make after graduation. Friends congregated, talking together during the down time between presentations. The class seemed to have a feeling of camaraderie, and perhaps a little nostalgia as well, as completing their projects brought them that much closer to the close of their senior year in high school, and the start of those separate futures.

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Tobacco March

Cabot residents Becky Blaisdell, Donovan Main Street in Montpelier as part of the bacco) is a statewide initiative for students get involved in community work and raise

Students from the Cabot Coalition’s Vermont Kids Against Tobacco (VKAT) group joined 51 other VKAT groups from across the state to participate in the bi-annual State House Rally in Montpelier on January 27. The event celebrates youth empowerment and the success throughout 2009 of VKAT programs in reaching more than 21,000 Vermonters with tobacco prevention and education activities. Thousands of youth have taken part in VKAT since it began in 1995 and Cabot has had an active group for nearly 10 years. Cabot’s VKAT chapter calls themselves KAPOW! (Kids in Action emPowering Our World) and are part of the statewide initiative for students grades. in fifth through eighth

Participants in VKAT, with help from adult advisors, have worked together to help decrease smoking rates among Vermont’s young people. According to the Health Department’s 2009 Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey, seven per cent of eighth graders had smoked one or more cigarettes

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Recreation Department

It’s time to oil up the mitts. Little League planning has already started. Organizers are inventorying equipment and have established dates for sign up times. are for players as well Sign-ups as anyone interested in volunteering, including coaches, umpires, and concessioners. All “on field” volunteers need to come to registration with a valid driver’s license or other form of identification. It is very important that kids sign up as early as possible in order for us to have the proper number of teams in each level. The CVLL schedule is finalized in mid-March. Once the League schedule is writ-

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Come Learn:

(cid:1) Why teens do what they do (cid:1) Better ways to talk and listen to teens (cid:1) How you can help protect teens from drug and alcohol use

Bigelow and Lyrica Stelle march down VKAT Rally. VKAT (VT Kids Against Toin fifth grade through eighth grade who awareness about tobacco advertising.

during the previous 30 days. Overall, smoking rates for Vermont youth have been cut in half during the past decade. The efforts of KAPOW! participants and their peers have resulted in consistently lower smoking prevalence rates at schools. A decline in the smoking rate happens more quickly and earlier in schools with a VKAT presence. “The Vermont Kids Against Tobacco members are dedicated to informing their peers about the risks of tobacco use,” said Health Commissioner Wendy Davis, MD. “We have to continue to encourage a new generation of Vermonters to make healthier choices, like being smoke-free.” Prior to the group march down Montpelier’s State Street to the State House, VKAT members listened to a brief presentation by Chittenden Representative Bill Frank and Rebecca Ryan, director of Health Communications & Policy for the American Lung Association. The VKAT program is sponsored by the Vermont Department of Health, with funding from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For more information about VKAT, go to www.goVKAT.org.

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Update

ten, it is not possible to add additional teams. Farm League and T-Ball players have the most fun on smaller teams. If you are unable to come to one of the sign-up dates, please contact

know about your players. Little League sign-up dates and times will be on Friday, March 5: from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, March 6, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Both events will be take place in the school gym. The cost of registration had not been established by the CVLL at press time. When: Tuesday, March 16, 6:308:30 pm Where: Montpelier High School Sponsored by Central Vermont

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Auditorium New Directions Coalition, Com-

Who: Parents of teens and pre- munity Connections, Montpelier teens High School, Montpelier High Why: Because it is THAT impor- School Booster Club, Main Street tant, interesting, and em- Middle School PTO, Trinity powering. Church.

Presented by : Ivy Zeller, Central Vermont New Directions Coalition,

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Memorial Snowshoe Event

Lynn Rockwell, Gwen and Robin Considine, attendees of the first annnual Willem von Hees snowshoe event, take a break during their trek. Photo credit to Cia Considine. On February 13 about 30 people and Willem came to the United States a few dogs gathered and walked snow- after World War II and settled in Vershoe trails on the van Hees property in mont. Although he left the state for Cabot to honor the memory of an inspi- twenty years, he chose Cabot as his rational resident. home upon his return. He passed away Willem van Hees was born in 1919 in at his home on April 20, 2008. Many of Haarlem, The Netherlands. He lived the folks who attended the February through the Nazi occupation of his town event said they remember him fondly and witnessed first hand the methods and found inspiration in his stories and they used and the effects of the social his spirit. control tactics on his community. Those The snowshoe trails were marked experiences seemed to have instilled in out in advance and the event was coorhim a strong sense of freedom and its dinated by Stephen Watkins. value.

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By Jeanne Johnson

For anyone who ever wished for something yummy for dinner, but you did not have the time, imagination, ingredients, or the energy to prepare something scrumptious, there is a new option, without the need to travel to Barre, Montpelier or St. Johnsbury. Now, anyone who would appreciate a nice, hot lunch and the perfect place for a break while snowmobiling, skiing or hiking near Joe’s Pond has got a delicious option. In a scenic trolley on Joe’s Pond beach, right on Route 15 just north of the intersection with Route 2, the Green Mountain Trolley is also right on the snowmobile trail, with plenty of parking for both cars and sleds. The trolley is the brainchild of Chef John Woods, proprietor of Up in Smoke BBQ and Cabot Caterers on Cabot Plains Road. Asked about his specialty, he described it as upscale comfort food with a chef twist – global eclectic cuisine. He plans to offer a little bit of everything. He says his market is everyone who lives here – “from the farmer in barn boots to the guy coming home from Montpelier in penny loafers.” He’ll offer dishes from Shepherd’s Pie to Shrimp Scampi and Eggs Benedict on Texas Toast. Chef Woods revealed the trolley came from Arkansas - which means no insulation. When he first set it up, he ran into climate-related problems. It was very cold inside, and he ran out of propane and the water froze. So, now, it’s insulated Vermont-style, by a straw blanket. When asked about the unusual idea of setting up in a trolley, John explained that he wanted to do everything himself. There is only room for one person to cook in the trolley, with possibly enough room to add a cashier on occasion. He does all the prep work at home, where he has a commercial kitchen, and can do all the

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Cheddar Cheese

The Chronicle staff left a block of Cabot Creamery’s Spicy Cheddar Cheese for people Chocolate to try. Comments varied. Here’s what the taste testers had to say about the unusual concoction. “I’d like to taste more chocolate.” “I thought it sounded gross, but actually really liked it! Tasted like a good, qual-

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By Robin Considine

The Long Field Farm on Houston Hill Road was recently recognized by Vermont’s Dairy Industry Assofinishing work himself in the trolley. He has plans to add a caboose sometime in the future. ciation for high quality goat milk. Award. This award is based on sevWhen asked what kind of ingrediOn Thursday, January 28, the eral measures of milk quality, inents he uses and where he gets them, 76 th Vermont Farm Show Dairy cluding flavor, milking system saniJohn replied that everything is sourced Farmers’ Appreciation Banquet was as locally as possible. He uses Burling- held at the Barre Auditorium. Each ton Food Service and Black River Pro- year, Vermont farmers congregate duce, companies that started out the to receive various dairy industry same way he has (“two ski bums out of awards. This year was the first time a van”). In the summertime, local products will comprise 70 per cent of that goat dairies were recognized his ingredients; in winter, he can only along with the cow dairies. find 30% because of the climate. He Lynn and Martha Rockwell, owngets eggs from Keith Burt, greens from ers of Long Field Farm, were named Pete’s Greens and pork from a farm in 2009 Second Runner Up for VerHardwick. mont’s Highest Dairy Quality “It’s a little more work to get ingredients from here and there, rather than tation, hygiene procedures and herd health. Long Field Farm was established in 1996. It sells its milk to the Vermont Butter and Cheese Company. The farm also offers goat breeding services, and sells hay and young goats for milk or meat. In 2004, Long Field Farm was recognized as a Vermont Dairy of Distinction.

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VACINATION CLINIC

all from one place, but they give me business, so why not give back?” He says he tries to promote local products anything to keep business in the state Vaccination Clinic Sponsored by and small businesses growing. With the snowmobile trail running right behind the trolley, he counted 65 sleds the day this writer interviewed him, and plans to cater to the sledding crowd. The snow bank has been cut down so the trolley can be seen from the trail, and when the groomer comes through, he has asked them to make a loop with the drag. The access ramp is wide and easy from the trail, and there’s plenty of room to maneuver sleds in the yard. Winter hours are 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and dinner is available Friday and Saturthe Danville Animal Clinic Rabies Vaccine: $10 All Other Vaccines: $15 Saturday, March 13 th from 9:00 – 11:00 AM At the Walden Fire Station

The Cabot Town Clerk will be there so you can get vaccines and dog licenses all at once!

day until 8:00 p.m. It is closed Mon-

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DOG REGISTRATION

days. Hours and selections are subject to change based on experience. The menu will be advertised in the Caledonian Record and the Cabot Chronicle . The deadline for Cabot residents to Watch for seasonal menu changes. register their dogs is April 1 st .

have menu mailed, or email

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Review

ity cheddar with a hint of spice and a base note of chocolate.” “Tastes good without being overwhelming.” “Wow! Good cheese!” “Yummy. I’m not sure I can decipher the chocolate, but I can feel the zing!” “Excellent. Immediate chocolate taste with a slight bite afterwards.” Some people could really taste the chocolate, and others couldn’t taste it at all. Rumor has it that Cabot Creamery is no longer going to be making this variety. Folks who want to try some for themselves will need to hurry.

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By Chuck Wooster

Here’s an important point to make for those of you deeply concerned about climate change: We’re not going to solve the problem by growth. promoting forest

It’s true that trees sequester carbon, a byproduct of our fossil fuel addiction and a leading cause of global warming. It’s also true that during photosynthesis, trees and other plants draw carbon dioxide from the air, mix it with water taken from air or soil, and, in the presence of sunlight, create sugars and other carbohydrates, all of which contain carbon. If you could throw an enormous plastic bag over a tree and measure the flow of gas in and out of the bag, you undoubtedly would find that the tree was removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in the wood. This simple botanical truth, however, has led to a larger fiction: that forests could sequester enough carbon to prevent further changes in our climate. They can’t. What some policymakers suggest by promoting carbon sequestration is that if a much bigger plastic bag were placed over all the forests of the world we would find that the trees and plants were working, collectively, to scrub the atmosphere of excess carbon dioxide. Our forests can never do that; and the reason, in part, is that while some trees and plants bloom and grow, others simultaneously die and rot, releasing carbon back into the atmosphere. It’s a closed loop. Although there are times when certain forestlands do accumulate more carbon than they release – such as when they are fast growing on oncecutover land or when they are very old, living on thick, carbon-accumulating soils – the net global balance from wooded land over time is essentially zero. Deforestation is another story altogether. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, established by the United Nations, has estimated that deforestation is currently responsible for 20 percent of our annual carbon dioxide emissions. When forests are turned into farm fields, housing sites

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Wanted-

ambitious, driven self-starter to sell advertising for the Cabot Chronicle. Retirees fine, particularly anyone with some experience in sales. Must have own car and be able to govern your time independently. This is a commissioned position. Please send brief resume and contact information to coordina-

the subject line.

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Wanted-

experienced, talented writers to write articles for the Cabot Chronicle. Knowledge of Associated Press style a definite plus, functional literacy a must. May waive experience qualifications with highquality writing sample submissions. Ability to express yourself clearly is the most important thing. This is a freelance job. Please send resume and queries to edi-

subject line.

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Change

and parking lots, these carbon dioxide emissions increase. So keeping existing forests intact will certainly help curb future emissions. But even if we stopped the loss of forestland, this wouldn’t reverse the burgeoning atmospheric carbon levels. And that’s because the other 80 percent of our carbon dioxide emissions come from burning fossil fuels, such as oil, gas and coal, which are the byproducts of the decomposition of trees and other plants that grew hundreds of millions of years ago. No matter how cleverly we manage our forests, no matter how many trees we plant, we can’t compensate for the carbon dioxide and other pollutants released from these fuels. “But”, you might ask, “Isn’t managing our forests still important?” Absolutely. But managing forests for maximum carbon storage also would mean not managing them – or at least not managing them as much – for other things our modern society enjoys. Here in the Northeast, we presently manage our forests for many reasons – to use them as wilderness and aesthetic sanctuaries; to harvest them for timber, firewood and pulpwood; to use them for recreation, crisscrossing them with trails and roads; and to use them as refuges for wildlife and biodiversity. This last point is perhaps the most critical: A full range of plants and animals requires a full range of forest types, from the very old to the very young and from the vast expanse to the tiny plot. If we settle on just one type of forest – the one that ends up storing the most carbon over the short term – we’ll be inevitably compromising on the rest. “Plant a Tree – Save the Earth” is a catchy slogan that has validity only if you accept that your tree for a while will suck up the carbon given off when another tree is cut. It’s a feel-good exercise. You won’t be compensating for the carbon emitted as you drive to work or fly off on vacation. This not to suggest we ignore the message of Arbor Day. Trees bring shade, quiet beauty, lumber, firewood, birds’ nests and raccoon hideouts. In the grand scheme of things, that ought to be enough.

of $2 (not including help wanted or employment

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Wanted-

Volunteer Webmaster needed for The Cabot Chronicle. Webmaster will administer website, uploading articles monthly, ensure proper operation of hardware and software, generate and revise web pages and examine traffic through the site. Contact cabotcoalition@fairpoint.net if you want to be part of an exciting team of people who love local news.

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Alcohol Campaign!

Vermont Snowmobilers have a choice to make about drinking and riding before venturing out on the trails. A new International Zero Alcohol Campaign urges every snowmobiler to take personal responsibility for choosing to be 100% alcohol-free prior to going snowmobiling and during any ride. This is a peer-to-peer recommendation among riders to ride responsibly and alcohol free - it's your smart choice for safer snowmobiling.

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A Case For Zero Alcohol

The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers advocates Zero Alcohol prior to going snowmobiling or during any ride. Even though it is not a legal requirement, adopting the Zero Alcohol position for snowmobiling makes sense for many reasons, with the primary consideration being to reduce fatalities and injuries. Incident data clearly shows that alcohol consumption is a major contributor to a large percentage of snowmobiling tragedies. When combined with other contributing factors such as excessive speed, night riding or riding unfamiliar terrain, alcohol is especially lethal. Simply put, alcohol increases the risks associated with snowmobiling to an unacceptable level. Operating a snowmobile is inherently a much higher risk activity than driving an automobile. As an off-road activity, snowmobiling takes place in an unpredictable and uncontrollable natural setting very different from highly regulated, engineered, maintained, uniform and relatively predictable public roads. Consequently, snowmobilers are simultaneously confronted with a greater range and mix of potentially dangerous variables. The unexpected and unfamiliar are far more likely to happen without warning while snowmobiling. At the same time, snowmobiles offer fewer structural and safety features to protect participants, being more like motorcycles than automobiles. Safe snowmobiling requires that each operator at all times maintain peak vigilance and caution, constant situational awareness, and sharp driving coordination and reaction abilities. The onus is squarely on each individual snowmobiler to exercise sound personal judgement and make smart choices in the continuously changing surroundings typical of snowmobiling. Any physical or mental impairment of any of these abilities poses

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Campaign

a serious threat to the operator, passenger and to other participants. Alcohol research clearly shows that at a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08% a person is 11 times more likely to get killed while driving a car than at .00% BAC. Given that operating a snowmobile is much riskier than driving a car, the Zero Alcohol approach makes sense for safer snowmobiling. Studies also prove that impairment starts with the first drink. Alcohol sneaks up on you. Unlike other beverages and foods, alcohol doesn’t have to be digested. Within minutes, it’s absorbed directly into the bloodstream. Though you may perform more and more poorly, the alcohol makes you feel as if you’re riding better and better. The physiological effects of alcohol consumption dramatically diminish one’s ability to perform multiple tasks or to quickly assimilate multiple stimuli, as required when operating a snowmobile. Since even small amounts of alcohol affects different people in unpredictable and uncontrollable ways and at varying rates, one sure way to reduce fatalities and injuries is not to take any chances…always ride at .00% BAC – Zero Alcohol. There are other important considerations for embracing Zero Alcohol. Snowmobiling is increasingly vulnerable to external criticism and opposition. Alcohol is one Achilles’ Heel on which the snowmobiling community can take positive international action with measurable results: Zero Alcohol is a good news story that will help change public perception of snowmobiling and increase good will among media, government and nonsnowmobilers. A strong Zero Alcohol stance is also an excellent risk management strategy that will help protect our overall insurability and reduce liability. Within the context of the Go Snowmobiling Campaign, Zero Alcohol also promises to be a positive factor in recruiting new participants. With Zero Alcohol, the snowmobiling community takes a strong and unequivocal stand to sustain organized snowmobiling. United behind Zero Alcohol, we can save lives and benefit significantly from making snowmobiling even safer. Zero Alcohol is a reasoned, rational approach in line with current societal thinking and with our own long held positioning that snowmobiling is a safe, family-oriented activity. Zero Alcohol is the right banner for organized snowmobiling to carry into the 21st century.

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← From the Cabot Chronicle