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The Cabot Chronicle

June 2012 · 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 June 2012 pages (PDF)

Text extracted from the original pages and checked for reading order. Advertisements, listings, the calendar and puzzles are omitted. Where part of a story could not be converted cleanly, it is marked and the full story is in the PDF.

In This Issue

Blurbs From The Blogosphere Our First Day in Aluze, France

Gwen and Robin Considine in the “goathouse” at Le Chevrerie les Filletieres in Aluze, France.

This is an excerpt from a blog of impressions by Cia Considine, on assignment in Europe for the Chronicle, to report on the Cabot-initiated, ‘Must Love Goats’ Project. For more information about the project or to link to more of this blog, go to: http://mustlovegoats 2012.blogspot.com/2012/05. This morning we learned that the owner of Le Chevrerie des Filletieres in Chekov's would expect the girls (Gwen and Robin) at 4:00 p.m. for introductions to their internship. We had most of the day to become accustomed to the village of Aluze (sometimes refered to as the ‘Light of Burgundy’). The girls and I took a walk about the village, through narrow cobbled alleys and steep switchbacking streets, but we were back to the house we are staying at in time for the daily delivery of the fresh bread from the baker in the next village. Each day, the baker comes by announcing her presence on the mix of streets with a long loud toot of the horn. We heard the baker’s approach just after 11:00 a.m.. Gwen and Robin bought a croissant and baguette right from the back of the baker van and I just giggled and took photos of this charming ritual. So, we feel that we are a part of this community and truly have arrived. The Goathouse (as they call it in English), Le Chevrerie les Filletieres, is about a 25 minute drive and, contrary to our understanding, the owner does NOT speak English. Thankfully, there is a worker there who will help with translation. Philippe and Mathi’, our host’s parents and neighbors here in Aluze, have been wonderfully helpful and really go out of their way to help us make connections here. In fact, another couple living here are from England, and arrangements were made for them to accompany us to the farm, since they were interested to see the goat farm and to help possibly translate any directions. We began our tour with the farm owner Michel Lacharme. The farm was very clean and situated in the centre of And there’s still more:

Lindsey Perry: cards etc. - “Z” Leonard Spencer: Cabot Churches history Laura Shaw: paintings Shirley Paire: produce David Carpenter Farm: produce Sarah’s: baked goods Molly Markwell: soap Dawn Haycook: painting, stained glass, etc. Gina’s Brookside Bakery: baked goods

(Continued from page 1)

Chenoves along a well-travelled road for locals and tourists. The farm had a small sign and it was very much a farm, not dressed up to attract tourists, but clearly welcoming visitors, since their cheese shop was open all the time. This was interesting and pleasingly less touristic. Perhaps there was not a need to solicit shoppers of cheese, since we learned that this Chevrerie has attained many awards both in Burgundy and in all of France for their cheese. We bought and we tasted. There were these tiny thimble-sized cheese bites, complete with their own young rind. They were really different and tasted a bit like Halvah to me. There were both soft ‘frais’ cheese, aged only 1 to 2 days and there were small hockey puck cheeses that were very hard and aged about 5 months. This chevrerie did not have any cheeses mixed with herbs or other varieties, except that which was traditional to Burgundy. Remember, this is largely wine country, and honestly, what could possibly be There is nothing general about this marketplace of local wares. The Searles family has created a small showplace where other businesses can grow. Renovations to the Cabot Village Store are complete and a new 900 square foot retail space has been created. Plans for this space are not final and leasing it to a new business could be an option. August 9, 2012, will mark the sixth year Bob & Stephany have owned the store.

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“Your Local Grocer”

Signs in the window of Cabot Village Store promote Cabot Cheese, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and "Buy Local"

By Alyssa Bernadino

Just about a year ago, Cabot was ravaged by torrents of vicious water. Main Street buckled and buildings were badly damaged as floodwaters invaded the village. One of those hardest hit: The Cabot Village Store, owned by Bobby & Stephany Searles. Twelve months later, a look inside this iconic store shows little evidence of those devastating days. What it does show is hope for the future, and the strength, determination and resiliency of a family dedicated to community. This may look like any other general store offering basic groceries, a deli and a place to keep up on local gossip. Look closer, and you will see the Searles family give the slogans ‘Buy Local’, ‘Neighbor to Neighbor’ and ‘Farm to Table’ a tangible definition. From produce to greeting cards, the Cabot Village Store, employing nine Cabot residents, sells products from more than twenty small businesses throughout Vermont. Those businesses employ more than fifty of our family members, friends and neighbors.

Cabot Creek Creations

(Cabot) The Jones family takes pride in creating quality products, and expands their line each year. The toiletries section holds lip balm, lotion balm and, their newest product, Lotion One.

Talbert’s Maple Products

(Cabot) As long as there have been Talberts in Cabot, they’ve made maple syrup, right at the base of Bothfeld Hill.

Rhapsody Natural Foods

(Cabot) Organic Egg Rolls and Tempeh, handcrafted on Danville Hill, contain only wholesome ingredients.

Kingdom Creamery of VT

(East Hardwick) Five delicious flavors of ice cream and six luxurious yogurts. Maple Ice Cream, crafted with maple syrup and maple sugar (instead of cane sugar), is the most popular.

Red Door Bakery

(Marshfield) That delicious ice cream may be best paired with a mocha brownie with the Red Door logo. Located just five miles south of Cabot, the bakery offers fresh home-baked goods, such as bars, cookies and granolas.

Burtt’s

(Cabot) You can find local eggs and a variety of apples branded with the well-known Burtt’s ‘B’.

Amanda’s Greenhouse

(Cabot) In season, you can find the freshest flowers grown right on Cabot Flats. Follow your nose to the produce section and you may find herbs cultivated in Cabot, too.

Dancing Carrot Farm

(Cabot) For almost two years, Dancing Carrot Farm has been delivering non-certified organic produce directly from the farm to the Cabot Village Store.

Country Made Essentials

(Cabot) These handcrafted bath and body products emit a relaxing aroma in the Vermont Gifts section.

Old Crow Farm

(Cabot) A long-time Cabot resident takes great pride in her candles of all shapes, sizes and fragrances.

Cellars at Jasper Mines

(Greensboro) Although not a regular product, on occasion you will find a small selection of cheeses aged to perfection in the hills of Greensboro.

(see “Cabot Village Store”, page 3)

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School Choice in Vermont

By Brigitte M. Codling Webster’s Dictionary defines “School” as an organization that provides instruction and “Choice” as the power of choosing. When these two words are put together as School Choice, they tend to evoke a variety of thoughts and emotions. The concept of school choice has been around for a very long time. Before the mid-1800s, elementary and secondary education was based entirely on parental choice. However, time passed, local populations changed, the structure of schools changed, and ideas related to schooling changed along with it. By the early 1900’s, all public schools, including the one-room school houses, were regulated by state government. Parents have always had the right to home school their children, but not all parents can, are comfortable doing so, Classifieds:

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THE FLYING FARMER

…most common in my case. It was buried vertically for some reason, so the round part I first found was the very end of the handle. After a day of soaking in diesel fuel, much time on a wire brush and a shiny coat of red paint, it was as good as new. I used it drawing out wood with my team of Belgians, and it still hangs in my Dad’s shop today. It is so important for our farm viability to not only

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 2 onward.

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Proposed Town Plan Headed to Select Board Public hearing

By Gary Gulka The Cabot Select Board has completed review of the proposed Town Plan presented by the Cabot Planning Commission. Some minor modifications have been made and the proposed Plan will be noticed for a public hearing on June 28. The Planning Commission held its required hearing on the proposed plan December 15. The Plan contains ten sections on topics that include natural resources, historic resources, housing, land use, energy, economic development, transportation, and community facilities and services. The Land Use section, in particular, contains recommendations for changes to zoning regulations and a recommendation to establish subdivision regulations. The Town Plan itself cannot amend zoning regulations. The Planning Commission intends to begin work on zoning revisions once the Town Plan is adopted, and this will be a public process with meetings and hearings. Zoning regulations cannot be amended unless the town has an up to date Plan. The Town Plan may be adopted by the Select Board after public hearing with or without modifications. If significant modifications are made to the Plan, then the Select Board must hold another public hearing before considering adoption. Copies of the proposed Plan will be available at the Town Clerk’s Office and Library and will be made available on the Town’s web site.

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Lost and Found, Old Tools

An old picture of me with Tom & Jerry in the mid 1980′s. The sheds are in the background.

By Will Ameden

My friend Rollin sent me a photo recently of an old grease gun he found on his nearby family farm, with the caption, “I can see Dad now“. We now live in a throwaway society, where durable goods just need to last ten years; where it is cheaper to go buy a new grease gun than fix the plunger on an old one. The problem I run into here on the farm is this; with manyhelp ing visitors, the kids doing their chores, and a “too many places at once” farmer, tools are lost, misplaced, or are simply not kept track of. Up to the time of my Grandfather’s generation, tools on the farm (this went for everything in life as well from milk cans, to sewing machines, ovens and automobiles) were treasured and well taken care of possessions which were passed down through the generations. Thinking about Rollin’s found grease gun, and the use of well designed and longlasting tools, sparked a memory from my childhood. We had an “ell” on our dairy barn, which was a series of sheds: one for sawdust, two for tools and equipment and the one on the end was an old ice house.** I was in my teens and digging around in the dirt in the floor next to the ice house (I cannot remember why) when my shovel struck something rounded and hard. The spring ground was still frozen, but I was intrigued and determined to figure out what this was.

Tebbett’s Grease Gun These are some old tools my brother dug out of my grandfather’s shop. There are 2 chain-binders on the left.

Administrative Advisor: Jeannie Johnson After repeated trips to the milk house for hot water and much prying with a crowbar, I unearthed a beautiful and ornate chain-binder. Chain-binders are used to take up slack in a chain that is binding down a load…..logs, equipment being the have tools and equipment that are built well and designed to last, but to put that thought and care into the things we produce, as well. We need to have a “farm infrastructure” that is based on those same principals: well designed, built to last, well taken care of, and hopefully, if misplaced, found and restored to good use. I will check in with Rollin to see if he has grease flowing in his lost and found tool yet. **This old ice house had double walls filled with sawdust and a cement floor. My grandfather would cut ice blocks from the pond during the winter, pack them in sawdust which would keep the ice frozen through much of the summer. This ice was used to cool the milk, and in ice box in the house to cool food until electricity came to the farm and refrigerators could be used.

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Vermont Council on Rural Development: Community Visit Program - Is Cabot a Candidate?

Paul Costello, Executive Director of Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) in Montpelier, met May 24 with a diverse group of Cabot residents to talk about the Council’s Community Visit Program. The Council is meeting with representatives of a few communities to set their work plan for the coming year. Cabot Community Association and UDAG invited VCRD to Cabot to learn more about the program and for Costello to assess Cabot’s readiness to make full use of it. The Community Visit program is a way for towns to engage and bring together their residents, set common goals and directions in a neutral and facilitated structure, and access resources that will help them take action on those goals. The Community Visit Program, provided at no cost to communities, gets citizens engaged in working for their communities and connects them to the resources they need to be successful. The group will be asking the Cabot Select Board to make an official invitation to VCRD to consider Cabot for the Community Visit Program, at the next Select Board meeting at 7:00 p.m. on June 7. For more information, come to the Select Board meeting, or go to www.vtrural.org and click on the Community Visits box. Reports from other communities will illustrate what has been accomplished in the twenty communities that have been visited since 1996.

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Corridor Revitalization Committee

When Cabot received a Transportation Enhancement Grant, a group of residents concerned with traffic, bike and pedestrian issues pulled together a group called the Cabot Corridor Revitalization Committee to oversee the grant and work together on Main Street safety issues that can be improved locally. The group’s first responsibility was to manage the process for requesting proposals from engineers to conduct a bike and pedestrian scoping study and develop recommendations for bicycle and pedestrian safety and beautification. The first meting was held April 26, and meetings continue on the first and third Thursdays each month at 5:00 p.m., prior to the 7:00 p.m. Select Board meetings. A request for proposals was issued, and the results will be discussed on June 7. The group is also independently working on projects to address safety and noise concerns citizens have voiced. Topics discussed include creating a safe path for students to get from school to the recreation field, a pedestrian bridge across Route 215 at the intersection of Route 215 and South Walden Road, speed-triggered flashing lights, speed bumps, trees and bump-outs.

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The Searles Family

3109 Main Street, Cabot, Vermont ~ (802) 563-2438 wanting of an excellent pairing of Burgundy wine and cheese? The beginning work schedule was planned. The girls will work all day at the farm beginning tomorrow in the cheese creamery. They will be milking and also selling and delivering to the main market in Chalon-sur-Saone over the weekend. There is also a festival early next week that they will attend in Buxy/Montagny. I will be driving them, exploring on my own and then returning to get them in the evening. This area has miles and miles of a ‘Great Wine Route’ posted everywhere as you drive. The roads (some only suitable for tractors it seems

– like Vermont), meanders for miles and miles through small villages, each with their own wine makers and caves. The road also criss-crosses actual vineyards. Imagine the backdrops of old, old stone villages and houses – some in disrepair—and miles of hedges and stone walls that line the fields. So many pictures and so little internet power to load them all

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 3 onward.

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MEETING WITH SCHOOL BOARD JUNE 11

Cabot Residents are invited to join the CABOT SCHOOL BOARD on June 11, 2012, 6:00 p.m. at the CSPAC Building in Cabot , VT, solely to discuss parental concerns, possible issue resolutions, and potential for improvements to communication. If you are concerned about Cabot School please attend and be heard!

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Legislative News

The 2012 Legislative Session came to a close on Saturday, May 5, one week earlier than scheduled. I continued my work this year on the House Appropriations Committee. This committee is responsible for the state’s yearly budget, and this year was charged with solving a $60 million gap. Substantial increases in spending due to the destruction caused by Tropical Storm Irene resulted in the state budget exceeding $5 billion. This is the largest budget in the state’s history. Approximately 50% of the increases in budget expenditures were caused by the tropical storm. Additionally, provisions were made in this year’s budget for potential surpluses; 25% of surpluses will be put into a true “rainy day” fund, 25% will be reserved to help replace future federal cuts, and 50% will be allocated to the education fund to help reduce pressure on the property tax. The budget passed both the House (113-18) and the Senate (25-3), with support from all political parties. Similar to the state budget, Tropical Storm Irene damages greatly impacted the state’s transportation budget. The state’s transportation infrastructure continues to be repaired and rebuilt following the tremendous devastation from the storm. The $658 million budget is the largest in history, but will be significantly funded with federal dollars to help pay for the storm’s unexpected damage. Transportation budget highlights include the following: ♦ $104 million for paving projects ♦ $102 million for interstate and bridge

work ♦ $133 million for all town highway

programs ♦ $66 million for roadway construction The most contentious bill this year was S.199 – The Immunization Bill. As passed by the Senate on a vote of 25-4, the bill removed the philosophical exemption which allows parents to opt out of some or all vaccinations before entering school or a licensed day-care facility. The House version kept the philosophical exemption intact, but required educational information for parents detailing the risks of not immunizing. This version was not accepted by the Senate and the bill was referred to a Committee of Conference. The committee is made up of three members of the House and three members of the Senate to create a solution that a majority of the House and Senate members could support. At the end of the session, a bill passed that kept the philosophical exemption with educational materials for parents seeking the exemption, added reporting requirements concerning immunization rates for schools, and an additional provision allowing students with immune system deficiencies to attend a different school with a higher rate of immunization. This year’s Capital Bill was designed to invest in our recovery from Irene. Funds are allocated for the creation of a new system of mental health care to replace the Vermont State Hospital, and are also dedicated to the restoration and re-use of part of the Waterbury State Office Complex. Together, these investments will improve the future delivery of services. These facilities will be used to care for Vermonters who need help, to keep our communities safe, and to ensure the efficient operation of state government. Tropical Storm Irene did what many Vermonters had wanted to do for several years – it closed the Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury. The storm also made available a capital funding opportunity to repair and rebuild affected state infrastructure. As a result, legislation was passed to strengthen Vermont’s existing mental health care system with a new hospital to replace the lost Waterbury facility, enhance community and peer services and add acute inpatient beds throughout the state. Included are: ♦ 14-bed unit within the Brattleboro

Retreat ♦ six-bed unit within Rutland Regional

Medical Center ♦ temporary contract for 7 to 12 inpatient beds at Fletcher Allen Health Care ♦ inpatient services at a temporary location in Morrisville ♦ new 25-bed acute care inpatient hospital in central Vermont ♦ secure five-bed residential facility Last month’s issue outlined the process of redistricting Vermont’s legislative districts, also referred to as reapportionment. Cabot, Danville and Peacham will continue to make-up the Caledonia- Washington-1 district. The Legislature set a goal to honor overwhelming public sentiment to make as few changes to districts as necessary and avoid splitting towns and villages. By constitutional mandate and state statute, reapportionment must maintain equality of representation as nearly as is practicable based on the 2010 census numbers. Difficult decisions were made to balance these goals. Because population has shifted northward, Burlington was given an additional seat, eliminating one from a southern area of the state with population decline. Fifty districts had absolutely no change, with the exception of a possible name change. For complete information on all bills and actions, visit the State of Vermont website at www.leg.state.vt.us, or contact me at [email protected] or by phone at 684-3671 or 563-2627. I want to thank the voters of Cabot, Danville and Peacham for giving me the opportunity to represent our communities in Montpelier. It is an honor to serve as your State Legislator.

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OBITUARIES & MEMORIALS

Elizabeth P. Hatch Elizabeth "Betty" Pike Hatch, 91, a Walden resident, died Wednesday, May 16, 2012, at her home. She was born April 19, 1921, in Roxbury, MA, the daughter of the late Clarence Alden Pike and Emily May (Tiffany) Pike. She graduated from Lyndon Normal School in Lyndon Center. On January 13, 1945, she married Lee Brewster Hatch III. She was an elementary school teacher for more than 17 years. She taught school in several communities. She later assisted her husband on the family dairy farm. She was a member of the Walden United Methodist Church. She was chairwoman of the Walden Historical Committee, co-author and editor of the Walden 200 historic publications, co-author of a history of Walden, chairwoman of the Northeast Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival, founder and president of the Walden Home Demonstration Group, 4-H leader and a correspondent for the North Star, Caledonian- Record and Hardwick Gazette. Survivors include three daughters, Judith Clifford of Walden, Janet McKinstry of Middlesex, and Joanne Foster of West Danville; seven grandsons; 16 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband in 1995 and a sister, Anita Clark. Arrangements were handled by Northern Vermont Funeral Home in Hardwick. Funeral services were held May 21, 2012, at the Walden United Methodist Church in Noyesville. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Walden School for the education and enrichment of students, c/o Judith Clifford, PO Box 54, West Danville, VT 05873.

David A. Ross David Allen Ross passed away on Sunday, May 6, 2012, at his home in Cabot. David was born in St. Johnsbury on February 21, 1947, to Guy "Buster" Ross and Dorothy "Dot" Ross. David worked for the State of Vermont Agency of Transportation for over 20 years. David was an avid fisherman and, among his many talents, was an excellent wood craftsman. Always quick with a joke, David will be missed. David is survived by his sister, Bonnie Ross, of Baldwinsville, NY; his son and daughter-in-law, Justin and Kelly Ross, of St. Albans; along with his grandson, Andrew Ross. Friends and family met on Saturday, May 12, in Barnet for a gathering. Donations can be made to the humane society in David's honor.

Gerald L. Smith Gerald L. Smith, age 75, of Stratford, CT, beloved husband of Dolores Kafara Smith, passed away peacefully on May 5, 2012, in Bridgeport Hospital with his loving family by his side. Gerald was born on October 28, 1936, in Cabot, VT, and was the son of the late Murdo and Marion Morrison Smith. He worked as a senior buyer for Harvey Hubbell for 40 years. Gerald enjoyed golfing, traveling to Vermont, spending time with his family, especially his cherished grandchildren. Gerald is survived by his loving wife of 50 years; two sons, Jeff Smith and wife Susan of Orange and Gregory Smith and wife Dana of Orange; one daughter, Sharon Talbott and husband William of Ft. Collins, Colorado; four grandchildren, James Smith, Jacob Smith, Alec Smith and Meghan Smith; two sisters, Joyce Drummond of New Hampshire and Virginia Buck and husband Thomas of Lyndonville, Vermont; one sister-in-law, Irene Smith of Lyndonville, Vermont; lifelong friend George Dreyer; and several nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by two brothers, Murdo Smith and Fred Smith. Funeral services were held on Thursday May 10, 2012, in St. Joseph's of Stratford National Catholic Church followed by interment in St. Joseph's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, those who so desire may contribute to St. Joseph's of Stratford National Catholic Church, 1300 Stratford Road, Stratford, CT 06615.

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CABOT FOURTH OF JULY!

The Cabot PTSO is looking for new volunteers to help with the annual Fourth of July events. As most of you know, this is one of the town’s biggest celebrations, and it takes a lot to put it on. We need a few community members to help with the preparations, the set up, and the clean up. As always, we are also looking for new ideas. If you are interested in helping keep the Fourth of July Celebration alive, please contact Wendy Barnett at 563- 9907.

Thanks, the Cabot PTSO

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$5/ticket - Only 5,000 tickets sold!

For more information and to buy tickets online go to www.rt15duckrace.com.

To Buy tickets locally: Aubuchon Hardware, Hardwick / Bucks Furniture, Wolcott / Cabot Community Association, Cabot / Connies Kitchen, Hardwick / Hardwick Kiwanis - Connie Bellevance / Merchants Bank - Pat Lemay, Hardwick To buy from Cabot Community Association, call 563-3338 or stop in at the CCA/Coalition office.

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"Welcome back from Washington, D.C.,class of 2016!

Trusting you all have wonderful memories of your trip!

Remember the lesson you learned in middle school about reaching

your destination-just as important is "enjoying the journey" on your way there! Congratulations!

The Maxfield Family

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TWIN VALLEY SENIOR CENTER

Seniors participating in our first Tai Chi class which concluded May 7th. Additional classes are scheduled. See accompanying article.

By Betsey Bolt

TVSC wants to thank all the businesses and individuals who donated plants and baked goods for the Center's Fourth Annual Perennial Plant and Food Sale on May 12. To all who stopped by and purchased items, a very grateful thank you for helping us raise money for the operation of the center. We could not have had such a successful sale without Cheryl Bell, Joyce Fowler, Linda Fowler, Tom & Jackie DiMatteo, Sue Remington, Ellen Nolan, Goddard & Suzy Graves, and above all, Todd Berte of Lucky Day for allowing us to use his place of business to host the event. Our first Tai Chi class ended May 7 and another began May 25, which will run six weeks, into the first week in July. This class is a “seated” variety that is well suited for people with knee and balance issues. Class instructor is Mary Beth Churchill from the Neighbor to Neighbor/Americorps programs, in conjunction with the Council on Aging and the Arthritis Foundation. It will overlap with a third class beginning later in June. Please contact Rita at TVSC for details, 426-3447. Those who participated in the first class are anxious to begin another. Join us!

The Second Annual Lasagna Dinner for the benefit of TVSC will be on June 16 at the Plainfield Fire Department from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.,with eat in or take out. The price is $10, which includes meat or vegetarian lasagna, green salad, garlic bread & dessert. Call the center at 426-3447 for additional information. Foot Clinics continue through the summer months: June 1, July 2 (Monday), July 25, August 15. Remember to call CVHHH for an appointment. You will need to have your own equipment, so ask one of the providers for the particulars. Their number is 802-223-1878.

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Cabot Recreation Department

By Libby Hale (for the last time)

Little League is well under way. This spring we have a T-Ball team and a Farm team. We are lucky to have knowledgeable and fun-loving folks eager to coach and teach our kids about baseball. We would like to thank Chuck Talbert, (town Little League Rep. and coach), Brad Alexander and Ry Hoffman (both coaches) for volunteering their time and energy to allow baseball to happen in our town. This is all volunteer effort and it takes time and energy to keep things running. The Recreation Department will run its summer soccer camp in the first full week of August. We will offer half-day camp for the younger kids and a full day camp for the older ones. Please watch for more information on this next month and through the Friday information from the school. Contact Rebecca Nally at 563-3503. The next season always seems to come along sooner than we expect. With this in mind, please look for sign-ups for fall soccer during the summer. Because sign-ups need to happen before school starts, we can’t count on Friday folders to get the information to you, so please reach out a bit for information. When the time is righ,t we will have registration forms for camp and fall soccer in the School Office and at the Town Clerk’s Office. We have heard about an interest in creating a skate park in Cabot and it seems to be gaining momentum. Please contact Rebecca Nally at 563-3503 or Amber Bothfeld at 563-2147 to share thoughts about this idea. We are planning an equipment sale just before school starts in August, so please save your usable sports stuff to donate for the sale. All types are welcome, but must be in usable condition. Watch for more on this next month, too. As always, your ideas and participation are welcome and appreciated. Recreation Department meetings are the second Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. in the Willey Building. All are encouraged to attend and be a part of the fun! Thank you to –

• Amber Bothfeld for stepping up to many administrative tasks

• Michael Socks for taking over the trails

• Chuck Talbert for taking on Little League

• Karen Alexander for taking on soccer

• Susie Socks for doing the ice rink

• Lynn Lehoe for taking over scheduling of games the unknown one who will take on basketball

• and, of course, Rebecca Nally, who has kept us on course for the past (many) years with her good sense and chronological excellence, and put up so graciously with my lack of memory and (lack of) diplomacy

• AND thank you all for the opportunity to contribute to this very special community through this department and for all the support you have given over the years. Signing off…Libby

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Cabot Worx: Projects and Developments

In the last article about Cabot Worx, we touched on the group’s identity and projects under way or completed. We also presented some of the questions we feel need exploring to direct Cabot’s present and future development. Part of the Cabot Community Association (CCA), our group wants to help get things moving and done. Too often, where organizations are concerned, great ideas are presented and talked about – with little progress made. To prevent this, a core group has become as a kind of “steering committee”, which will serve in the role of project management. The group will provide coordination, planning, and task accountability for all the projects that community members would like to see completed. This way, (hopefully) projects won’t fall through the cracks and get hung up in “limbo”. The projects themselves will be based on ideas from community members. Some will be short-term and easily completed, others will take a bit of planning, muscle, and funding to accomplish. This is where the whole Cabot community gets enlisted. We need your ideas – and we will need bodies to complete them! We know meetings aren’t for everyone, but we hope community members are willing to at least share their ideas and donate time to see a pet project become a reality. So, if there are any community projects you would like to see take shape – ones you are most passionate about and are willing to volunteer some time to help get done – let us know! We are currently working on the overall project schedule now and will share the list in an upcoming article so we can see what ideas the community as a whole decides to support going forward. To volunteer ideas or your time, email Cabot.Development @yahoo.com, or all 563-3338. Small steps reap big rewards, and working on projects this way can let everyone impact the overall community vision and feel good about playing a part in building Cabot’s future. A winwin scenario for everyone!

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You support your community!

Each month the Cabot Chronicle gives

local businesses the opportunity to reach local buyers. But advertising in the Cabot Chronicle does more than that. It helps support local community and that’s a message that isn’t lost on your customers.

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FROM THE CABOT PUBLIC LIBRARY

Please join us for the Cabot Public Library’s Summer Reading Program! Children of all ages are welcome to sign up as soon as school is out. We’ll help them keep track of the books they’ve read and win t-shirts and prizes! Last summer, ten youth participated in the Thousand Page Club and read over 24,330 pages! Read to young children over the summer months – it will help them maintain and improve their reading skills. Encourage older children to spend time this summer reading – we also have a wide selection of audio books for your car rides! People of any age – please consider submitting a “This I Believe” essay – see an example in this issue of the Chronicle – thanks!

Programs – please see our Dream Big – READ! lineup of summer programs in this issue of the Chronicle.

Yoga & Wellness Classes - Mondays 6:00-7:30 p.m. with Alicia Feltus. For more information contact Alicia: 802-563-3220 or [email protected].

Dungeons & Dragons – Fridays 3:00

-5:30pm on school days. Join the group, conquer the obstacles, and get out of the dungeon alive! All are welcome.

Universal Class - Universal Class is an educational service providing high quality online courses for patrons interested in the lifelong pursuit of knowledge for either personal or professional reasons. Over 500 online Continuing Education courses are available for free. These classes are provided by Recorded Books, Vermont Department of Libraries, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. For info on registering, stop by the library, call us at 563- 2721, or email at [email protected]

Thank You! Thanks so much to Heidi Crossman for teaching us how to make delicious Austrian tortes and strudels. Many thanks go to Jon Vara for his thoughts on luck in our first in a series of “This I Believe” essays. Thanks also to Shirley Ducharme for always doing an amazing job of cleaning the library for us.

See you at the Library!

Kathleen Hoyne and Anne Walker

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Cabot Public Library – Summer Programs 2012

Please join us for the Cabot Public

Library’s Summer Reading Program! This summer’s theme is

about all things nocturnal, dreams, stars and planets, bats, owls, spooky stories, and more. The programs are free and open to

children of all abilities.

EVENING PROGRAMS: Tuesday, June 27—6:00-8:00 p.m.

Murder Mystery Gather clues and test your detective skills at this special murder mystery event. Designed for youth aged 10 and up.

Tuesday, July 3—7:00-8:00 p.m.

Shivery Tales!

Join funny, scary guys Ron Lay Sleeper and Russ Brown around the campfire for tales to make your bones shiver! Afterward, we’ll make our own Tie Dye T -shirts. Bring a T-shirt or buy one for $1 at the library.

Tuesday, July 10—9:00 p.m.

It’s a Star Party!

Join our Cabot stars, Chip Taylor, Paul Wade and John Hammer, for an evening of stargazing at the night skies. We’ll meet at the Cabot Plains Cemetery. Back -up evening in case of stormy weather will be the following Tuesday, July 17. Remember—Keep looking up!

Tuesday, July 24—6:30 p.m.

Chuck Meese and the Red Wing Puppet Theater Look forward to a fast-paced blend of music, stories, physical comedy and puppetry. This summer’s show will feature “goodnight songs” by folk song writer Woody Guthrie, known for his funny songs about trying to get kids to fall asleep.

Wednesday, August 1—6:30 p.m. sharp! Owls and their Calls at the Jaquith Public Library This program by VINS—Vermont Institute of Natural Science—features two live owls, along with a presentation that includes owl calls for the local owls of Vermont and touchable artifacts. Discover the incredible adaptations owls have that enable them to be fierce predators in our nighttime skies.

STORY HOUR PROGRAMS:

Tuesday, June 27—10:30-11:30 a.m. Shadow Puppet Theater Come join us in making our own shadow puppets and theater. Afterward, we’ll perform Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak.

Tuesday, July 3—10:30 a.m.

Dream Big at the Beach!

Come dressed to get wet. We’ll start with beach stories and end up outside with beach volleyball, bubbles, water games and cold treats!

Tuesday, July 10, 10:30 a.m. Follow Your Dreams—Super Heroes!

Come dressed as your favorite Super Hero—we’ll read super hero stories and make our own super hero challenges and Bat Mobiles.

Tuesday, July 17—10:30 a.m.

It’s a Pajamarama!

Come dressed in your favorite pajamas and bring your favorite stuffed animal for the best bedtime stories and songs ever. We’ll have bedtime snacks and make our own dream catchers.

Tuesday, July 24—10:30 a.m.

Creatures of the Night Get lost in wonderful adventures of bat friends in these fun stories of these fascinating mammals whose forelimbs form webbed wings capable of flight.

July 27—10:30 a.m.

Bats at the Library—at the Jaquith Public Library Jerry Schneider, a Vermont native, has performed nature programs for the past ten years using wonderful slide photographs by Merlin D. Tuttle and Bat Conservation International. This program introduces audiences to local and tropical bats. Audiences learn about bats in our attics, building bat houses, vampire bats, migration and hibernation.

Tuesday, July 31—10:30 a.m.

Look Whooooo’s Reading We’ll read about adventures with owls and about three owl babies on their own in the middle of the night.

We are once again gratefully collaborating with the Jaquith Public Library in Marshfield and many thanks to the Cabot Creamery for their ongoing sponsorship of the Cabot Public Library Summer Programs.

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A Public Dialogue About Belief One Essay At A Time

Featuring Jon Vara I believe that we know a lot less than we think we do. Consider something simple, like telling the difference between good luck and bad luck. You’d think that this should be obvious to everyone, but that’s not the way it works. True story: Quite some time ago, I went on a weekend fishing trip to Massachusetts with two friends, who I’ll call “Ken” and “Caleb.” At some point, Ken’s new nine-foot surf fishing rod got closed in a car door, cleanly snapping off several inches at the tip. Bad luck. But being a resourceful guy, Ken found a nail in one of his pockets, filed off the head, and stuck it into the hollow center of the rod as a splint, then wrapped the area with electrician’s tape. Fast forward to another trip with the same cast of characters, twelve or fifteen years later. This time, we were fishing on a tidal inlet in Maine, from a small, unreliable boat with a small, unreliable outboard motor. When the propeller shear pin unexpectedly snapped, we looked desperately around us for a small metal rod we could use in its place to get us to safety. (The fact that we were only a hundred yards from shore at the time is unimportant—it could easily have been much further.) Things were looking bleak until Ken realized that he was still using the taped fishing rod that had been broken and repaired so many years before. Unwrapping the tape, he pulled off the rod tip, and extracted the nail. We soon had the motor running again. Good luck. Of course, luck doesn’t always reveal its true nature so clearly, or after the passage of so much time. Much more often than not, in fact, it never reveals itself. That painful blister that cut your hiking trip short a few years ago probably didn’t prevent you from being hit by lightning. Or did it? Think of the number of small misfortunes—and even some bigger ones—that you’ve experienced in life. How many of them weren’t what they seemed at the time? This I Believe is an international project engaging people in writing, sharing, and discussing the core values and beliefs that guide their daily lives. As part of the Cabot Public Library’s Summer Reading Program, Dream Big – READ, we invite people of any age to participate – here are some suggestions to guide you through the process:

• Tell a Story – be specific. Your story need not be heartwarming or gut– wrenching – but it should be real. Consider moments when your belief was formed, tested, or changed.

• Be Brief – 350-500 words.

• Name your belief – Consider focusing on one core belief rather than writing a list.

• Be Affirmative – say what you do believe- not what you don’t believe.

• Be Personal - Make your essay about you; speak in the first person. Edit and simplify it until you find the words, tone and story that truly echo your belief and the way you speak. For examples of essays, visit www.thisibelieve.org Please submit to the Cabot Public Library, either in person or by mailing to Cabot Public Library, P. O. Box 6, Cabot, VT 05647, or emailing to [email protected] And thanks for participating!

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Our Pets - Flea Myths

By Andrea Gilbert, DVM

Here are some common misperceptions about fleas and flea control that we hear frequently. “I only see 1 or 2 fleas, so I do not have a flea problem.” One adult flea can lay 2,000-3,000 eggs. So, even one or two fleas can turn into a big infestation quickly when conditions are right. The correct conditions are warm weather, some humidity and a host (your pet).

“Flea drops last 3 months.” One dose lasts one month. It comes in a three-pack, which is treatment for one animal for three months. One dose does not last three months.

“Only the dog has fleas, the cat is not itchy. So, I only have to treat the dog.” Fleas will jump and feed on both animals. And the untreated flea is laying 2,000-3,000 eggs, whether it is on the dog or the cat. Cats might be less itchy and they groom themselves well and remove the evidence of the fleas. But fleas are on both animals. You have to treat all animals in the house monthly to get on top of your flea problem.

“I see worms on my animal’s rear end. I do not know why they keep appearing.” Pets get small white ‘worms,’ which are actually the egg packets, by eating a flea. If you see tapeworm, you most likely have fleas - even if you do not see fleas.

“It is cold outside, so the flea season is over.” Don’t forget, it is warm in your house, and the flea season continues inside. Eggs can hatch in your house year round if conditions are right. They do not hatch as readily in winter when it is dry. But they lie there and will hatch the second the conditions are right.

“My dog is itchy, he must have allergies.” He could have allergies, but he could have a few fleas that you do not see. If you go to a Dermatologist to investigate allergies, the first thing the doctor will do is treat the animal for fleas. Some dogs can have severe reactions to the flea’s saliva. And it takes only one bite to set them off. So, treat fleas before trying to figure out the potential allergen. Changing one thing at a time can make the problem easier to figure out.

“Topical treatments are waterproof.” While the products do not wash off in the water, frequent baths, swims and even UV light exposure makes the product less effective. There are oral options for flea control that might be better for animals that get frequent baths or swim daily.

“The flea drops I bought at the hardware store are the same as the more expensive ones.” Maybe, maybe not. Topical products usually contain something to kill the adult fleas and something to inactivate the eggs. Some cheaper products only contain the product to kill the adults. It can be hard to control your flea problem by only attacking the adults. Read the ingredients and compare products.

“I can take a little of the dog’s drops and use it on the cat.” Be careful. These products are chemicals. And cats are sensitive. Some dog products are very bad and will kill your cat. The emergency vet visit will cost more than the savings you got by sharing the product between your pets.

“I am a week late with my flea treatment. No big deal.” It depends on your specific situation. If you have an active flea infestation, the week is a big deal. Back to the 2,000- 3,000 eggs an adult flea can lay. During that week, all the adult fleas are untreated and their eggs will hatch. So, it will take you even longer to get your flea infestation under control. There are new options for flea control. Talk to your veterinarian about what is best. It is much easier to prevent a flea infestation than to eradicate fleas once they have settled in your house and yard. But eradication is possible with the newer products.

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The Hardware Store - A Letter To The Community

By Julie Ackermann We found ourselves at a crossroad and came to the conclusion it just didn’t make sense to continue. Thank you for understanding how difficult this decision was. Looking ahead, it’s awful to think this wonderful building could stay shuttered up. In the spirit of keeping Main Street viable, discussions have sparked some interesting ideas for this space besides a hardware store:

• Shipping & receiving center

• Fax, phone, copy and free wifi availability

• Coffee shop

• Welcome center

• Public restrooms

• Showcase for local goods and services

• Laundromat

• Bottle redemption center

• Year-round display of historical memorabilia

• A collaborative effort • A community store Whatever it may be, the broader the offering, the more folks it will serve. This location can continue to be a place in common where friends and neighbors stay connected. The hardware store is for sale. Contact BCK Realty for details. Matt Lumsden can be reached at 802-279- 5957, or visit BCKrealestate.com. An open house is scheduled for Saturday, June 2, from 10:00 a.m. to noon. You may also contact the Cabot Community Association at 563-3338 to learn more about Cabot UDAG funds and other valuable resources to put a plan into action.

The hardware store in the early 1900’s. Jane Brown remembers buying men’s jeans in the late 40’s from owner Paul Hopkins and altering them because nobody manufactured women’s jeans. During WWII, photos of all the service men and women from Cabot were displayed in the front windows.

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Vermont’s Health Care Reform Listening Sessions on Benefit Design

This spring, the Agency of Administration is seeking input from the public on the benefits to be included in the design of Green Mountain Care, the single payer health care system for Vermont. Under Act 48 of 2011, the Shumlin Administration will recommend benefits as part of the financing plans to be considered by the legislature in 2013. Approval of the Green Mountain Care Board also is required for the benefit recommendations. The format for the listening sessions will be similar to the format used for the financing listening sessions last fall/winter. The presentation will include information about current benefit design, the charge in Act 48 regarding benefits, and the process for designing the care and benefits provided by Green Mountain Care. Participants will use the informational presentation and their own experiences to offer input on the potential impact of different benefit designs. Listening sessions were held earlier this spring in Brattleboro, Burlington, and Rutland. The Agency of Administration will host three more listening sessions around the state. In addition, the Administration will hold a joint public hearing with the Green Mountain Care Board. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

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Flag Day

Inspired by three decades of state and local celebrations, Flag Day - the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 - was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916. While Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years after Wilson's proclamation, it was not until August 3rd, 1949, that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America And to the Republic for which it stands, One Nation under God, Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

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