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The Cabot Chronicle

December 2013 · 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 December 2013 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

Gym Make Over

Three volunteers, Lauren Bellavance, Taylor Abbott, and Jasmine Tetreault, hard at work on the Cabot School gym face lift.

By Frank Kampf

The Cabot School Gym is undergoing a face lift. A larger than expected group of volunteers are donating time and some supplies to refresh our beloved gymnasium. A girls varsity basketball player commented that, when visiting teams come here to play, their impression of the school is influenced by the image of our gym. We want everyone to think we have a good school, and a good -looking gym is important. Other volunteers noted that both the school and the town will benefit from the improvements to the gym. The town utilizes the gym for major town events, such as festivals and town meeting. Work started the week of November 7, with a thorough cleaning from the foot boards to the ceiling. With ladders and scaffolding here and there, the first coats of paint were applied on Sunday, November 13. New padding for the ends of the court have been ordered, and the new colors will make the gym look brighter. Most of the work must be done in the evenings, but progress has been surprisingly fast. The hope is to have most of the painting done before the first home basketball game. Despite all the work, activities in the gym are going on as scheduled.

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Cabot Town Garage Working Group (Round #5)

By Jack Daniels, Selectboard Chair

THIS MONTHS THEME:

Slow but steady progress

THE BIGGEST NEWS SINCE THE LAST UPDATE:

The Town of Cabot may qualify for a Community Development Block Grant/Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) grant because the existing town garage site was affected during the May 2011 flood, which was a FEMA qualifying event. The grant announcement reads, “The project moves critical municipal infrastructure out of the floodplain or fluvial erosion hazard area,” which is exactly what relocating the town garage to the South Walden road would accomplish. The CDBG/DR grant requires a 10% match, and the project must be completed within two years of the award date. Should the Town of Cabot qualify for this grant, funds would become available to purchase the land for the new garage site, construct the garage facility, and, at the existing site, demolish the old garage, restore the river bank to its original configuration and install a storm water filtration system, which would mitigate future flooding. Before the Town can apply for a CDBG/DR grant, we must first complete an Environmental Review (ER), which is what Karen Deasy and I have Stafford town garage exterior Stafford town garage interior been working on for several weeks. The ER process is lengthy and complicated, but almost done, thanks to the incredible efforts of Karen, our Zoning Administrator and Town Planner. Our goal remains to submit the ER not later than November 30, and sooner if possible; we will keep you posted. The Town Garage Working Group (WG) has been making use of Karen Deasy’s credentials as an architect on this project. The WG has developed a plan for the site, determining locations for the main garage with attached storage unit, salt shed, sand pile and septic system. The garage design---modeled after Stafford’s town garage---is pretty well set, allowing Karen to take the drawings to the next level, which includes drain design and location, office and storage location, and placement of work benches and the like. All town vehicles will be able to fit into the garage at the same time--including all trucks with snow plows (a first)--that will make winter weather operations both more efficient and safe. In fact, safety for town personnel will be significantly improved once garage operations have been relocated to the new site, as well as out of the flood plain.

On the permitting front, a PERK test was administered on November 8, and the results indicate that the tested area is suitable for either a “performance based” mound system, or “a mound with a curtain drain.” The engineer who conducted the test recommends a gravity flow Presby mound system with a curtain drain, which in his words “would be a relatively small mound: with the subsurface drainage uphill from the mound (estimated system cost: $9,000- $13,000).” The second environmental requirement is a Wetlands Delineation report. Shannon Morrison, the District Wetlands Ecologist for the VT Department of Environmental Conservation, who inspected the proposed site, said that while it appears there is plenty of room on the site to construct a town garage facility, the project will require a permit to build a road across the swale near the road frontage, which is a class II wetland. Ms. Morrison recommended that the town hire a consultant to delineate the wetland required for the permit, and that process started Friday, November 15. The delineation report should be completed by November 30. The good news from the permitting arena is that the town will be able to construct a garage on this site, if purchased. Lastly, the survey of the site, performed by Lisa Ginnet, has been completed and the eight acres have been measured and pinned. Where does this leave us? I believe in excellent shape, as we work to have site drawings, building design drawings, and solid cost estimates completed before the end of this year, allowing time in January and February to conduct public hearings and to apply for the CDBG-DR grant. We will continue to finalize an Environmental Review, as well as make every effort to keep you posted on this exciting and long over-due project. In the interim, we’ll just keep working.

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COUNTRY COMMENTARY POETRY CORNER Haiku You!

I was talking to someone just the other day about poetry. Poetry takes on many forms but one in particular became the topic of our conversation, Haiku, which originated in Japan. According to some Internet resources which seemed consistent, there were four Masters of this particular artistic and sparse usage of words; Basho, Buson, Shiki, and Issa. I hope you plan to look them up on the Internet and read some of their works or go to the library to see if they have any examples of Japanese poetry in the form of Haiku. The most common structure of a poem in Haiku is three lines, the first and last are five syllables and the second line consists of seven syllables. These poems do not rhyme. They are meant to evoke a feeling or stir the senses. However it is not a hard and fast rule to have three lines of five-sevefive syllables. English Haiku uses fewer syllables, as few as ten, if you can imagine. Haiku is always present tense and, again, it is to stir the senses of the spirit, of the soul, so to speak. I have written quite a few pieces, some powerful, some beautiful and still others rather dorky. Yes, I said dorky. Now I will provide you with a few examples, and then, after you read them, I challenge you readers to write your own Haiku and send it to us. We love to hear the grind of a mind churning and burning with the brilliance of genius that I know you all have. To help you further in educating you about Haiku, let me just say that you want it to be an observation using present tense and using words to evoke the senses, taste, smell, touch, sight, or even pain. This kind of poetry also tries to indicate the season for which the poem was written. Not as easy as it seems, but darn fun:

Leaves fall silently Wind blows cold and loneliness Autumn colors bright and warm

Elephant dances Bones revered, sacred, ancient Heart beat rhythm blood

Creativity Soulful serene swans swimming Imagine beauty

Over fifty now Chemical imbalances Charting a new world

Unbalanced spirit Psychiatric rodeo Pills more pills help me

Universe in mist Quantum singularity God particle, schist

In the last haiku, I broke a rule, I rhymed. I do tend to bend, if not break, a few rules now and again. Poetic license, don’t you agree? Purist or not, just have fun with it. It’s a good exercise for the brain, at the very least. Looking forward to your Haiku, I hope they will stir our souls.

In Happiness,

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

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COUNTRY COMMENTARY

Country Commentary, Well, with all the Holy Days and with food being a part of the celebration, I will give you a recipe. I think I originally got it off the Domino sugar bag…The Holy days for me are centered around FOOD, yes FOOD and more FOOD! Let there be food for everyone out there and feel blessed that we have FOOD! LOTS OF FOOD! YUM! Food GOOD! The Cabot Chronicle is your paper and a part of our community so please make it even better with your recipes or craft ideas and things. For fun for yourself or gift for someone else try this recipe! Seriously! When I first made them from the recipe on the back of the Domino sugar bag some twenty-odd years ago, I received a great many compliments, and as far as how easy they are to make, let’s just keep it a secret between you and me!

Melt in Your Mouth Butter Candies Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature

• 2 Tablespoons cream

• 4 to 5 drops of extract flavor of choice peppermint is a favorite but black walnut is not bad either. Have fun and experiment you mad scientists of the kitchen.

• 3 drops of food coloring of choice I like all colors so if you were to get a box or bag from me, beware! You might have a packaged rainbow… 4 cups (1 pound box) confectioners’ powdered sugar To prepare, cream together softened butter, extract flavoring of choice and food coloring of choice in a big bowl. Beat the ingredients until well blended. Add confectioners' sugar, 1 cup at a time, blending at high speed until combined and is dough-like consistency.

Knead this dough until smooth. Roll pieces of the sugar dough into long snakes or ropes about 1/2-inch in diameter. Using a sharp knife, cut into 1 -inch pieces and place on baking sheets. Cover loosely with paper towels and place in a cool place overnight to harden some. If you want to make lots of colored butter candies just take the plain dough, leaving out the food coloring and flavoring, split the dough into different batches and proceed as before mentioned. The sugar dough may be used with molds by pressing a ball of colored and flavored dough into the molds, or you can roll into 1/2-inch balls and flatten slightly before drying. These butter candies may also be dipped into melted chocolate after drying. Butter Candies, especially mint or orange, but any flavor you choose, make a great holiday gift. Wrap in a beautiful array of tissue paper and place in a nice box! Wrap as a gift or place ribbon or a bow on it! This recipe makes approximately eight dozen I had help with this version from the internet, and I would like to thank who wrote it out, but I went through so many recipes to find it in the first place, I can’t remember and can’t find who did it, but I suppose I can still say thank you so, THANK YOU! May we count our blessings and our friends and family that are true, and may this Holiday Season be filled with joy and love, especially for you! Peacefully and filled with love for you all, Laura Lee Smith

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LEGISLATIVE REPORT.

By Representative Catherine (Kitty) Toll

The 2014 Legislative session will begin on Tuesday, January 7.

The Speaker of the House requested that all House Committees meet prior to the opening day to set priorities, allowing for work on new legislation to begin immediately. The House Appropriations Committee met during the first week of December to begin the budget adjustment process. The 2014 state budget runs from July 1, 2103, through June 30, 2014. The state budget is built on estimates based on current demands and history from prior years. These estimates are compared to actual spending year-to-date, and adjustments are made to keep the budget balanced. This fiscal year, adjustments to Vermont’s General Fund are less than 1% of projections. The $6.23 million state budget for fiscal year 2014 is made up of several revenue and spending streams. The General Fund represents 29.4% of the total state spending; K-12 education comprises 27% of expenditures and Medicaid is 23.7% of disbursements. Revenues for the first quarter of the fiscal year were true to forecast. The General Fund was up 0.1%, the Transportation Fund was up 1.7% and the Education Fund came in on target. Following the budget adjustment process, which will be voted on in January by both the House and the Senate, the Appropriations Committee will begin its work on the 2015 state budget. Another difficult budget year is anticipated. At this time, it is projected that there is approximately a $70 million gap between expected revenues and spending. It has been the practice of the Legislature to pass a balanced budget, even though Vermont is not required by law to do so. Tough choices will be made, but it is vital to maintain our practice of presenting and passing a balanced budget. Due to continued technical problems with Vermont’s Health Connect’s website, the deadline to enroll has been changed to March 2014. Individuals and small businesses will have the option to continue coverage through existing plans through March 31, 2014. Small businesses will be able to enroll in Vermont Health Connect plans through the website, paper applications, or by phone. Additionally, small businesses can enroll directly through Blue Cross Blue Shield (1-800-255- 4550) and MVP (1-888-687-9872). Individuals and families can keep existing coverage through March 31 or have the flexibility to enroll at any time before this date. Trained navigators are available to assist individuals by calling 1- 855-899-9600 (toll-free) or 1-855-499- 9800 for businesses. As of early November, 11,074 Vermonters have established an account on VermontHealthConnect.gov; 2,603 Vermonters have chosen a plan through the website; and over 113,000 unique visitors have explored the website. To follow actions of the legislature or the status of a bill, visit www.leg. state.vt.us, or contact me for information, to share your thoughts and concerns or to attend a committee meeting.

[email protected] [email protected] PO Box 192 Danville, VT 05828 802-684-3671 802-828-2228

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UDAG 2014 Town Meeting Grant Requests

UDAG 2014 TOWN MEETING

GRANT APPLICATIONS Project Cost $ Applicant Description Cabot School Art Program 600.00 Guest Artist Program Cabot Ambulance Service Cabot Community Association 15,004.09 Power Stretcher Computers for Cabot Chronicle & Cabot Connects 3 Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)

3,750.00 Cabot Fire Department 14,160.00 TOTAL REQUESTED:

$33,514.09 The UDAG Plan allows money available from the UDAG fund to be granted to any Cabot community organization or Cabot governmental agency for capital projects that meet the goals of the UDAG Plan. Eligible applicants include community groups, non-profits, civic organizations, fraternal organizations, and similarly organized groups in the Town of Cabot, as well as such other committees, agencies, organizations, or commissions that are created by the Town of Cabot or the Cabot School District. Eligible applicants include the Recreation Committee, the Conservation Committee, the Cemetery Commission, the Library Trustees, the Cabot Historical Society, et. al. Individuals are not eligible to apply for these grants, and no assets purchased with these grants may be owned by or distributed to any private party or be installed permanently on private property. An application for a Community Grant must be submitted to the UDAG Committee by October 1 of each year. The Committee will review grant proposals to determine whether a proposed grant meets the goals of the UDAG Plan. When such a determination is made for all grants proposed, a warned information meeting on the grants the Committee considers consistent with the UDAG Plan will be hosted by the Committee at its regularly scheduled meeting on the 3rd Thursday of December (7:00 p.m. December 19, 2013 in the Willey Building). The grant proposals determined by the Committee to be consistent with the UDAG Plan will be voted on by Australian ballot on Town Meeting Day. The submission of the grant proposal to the voters does not constitute an endorsement of any grant proposal by the Committee. Each voter must decide if a particular grant proposal is a worthwhile use of UDAG funds, and cast their vote accordingly.

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Planning Commission Update

By Gary Gulka, Chair The Planning Commission is continuing to work on the first draft of new land use (zoning) and subdivision regulations with our consultant, Brandy Saxton of PlaceSense. In January, we hope to have our first solid draft of all chapters of the regulations. We will be holding a second public meeting in January to update Cabot residents on the contents of the draft and also focus on a discussion of subdivision regulations – a new addition to our zoning. The regulation development process with our consultant will wrap up by early May, when the Planning Commission will seek more formal comment on the draft and then present a draft to the Select Board for their consideration. Draft documents and other information about our progress can be followed at: http://www.placesense.com/The Planning Commission, working in conjunction with the Main Street Study Group, is preparing a state application for Village Center Designation through the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. Village Center Designation will show Cabot’s commitment to enhancing our village center for residential, commercial, civic, and cultural functions. Upon receiving Village Center Designation, buildings in town that serve a commercial function will be eligible for state tax credits, and the town will be eligible for preferences in certain municipal grant programs. The Planning Commission invited a representative from the River Management Program of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation to a recent Select Board meeting to discuss the town’s options for better protecting development from flood hazard inundation and erosion effects by mapping and establishing a river corridor zone. This new river corridor boundary approach takes into account the natural movement of the river and large tributaries over time, and will help assure that new development is kept out of harm’s way. The Planning Commission is seeking an additional new member, as Lars Torres is stepping down after several years on the Commission. Lars was with the Planning Commission through the process of developing the current Town Plan and the first part of redrafting zoning regulations. We thank Lars for his years of service and thoughtful insights. If you are interested in finding out more about serving on the Planning Commission, please contact Gary Gulka at 563-2284.

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With Katie Trautz and Shady Rill In Cabot on Sunday, December 29

Katie Trautz, Cabot-born fiddler and vocalist, joins Shady Rill, the Vermont team of singer-songwriter Patti Casey and multi-instrumentalist Tom Mackenzie, guitarist Lee Blackwell of Cabot and Alec Ellsworth for an afternoon of traditional and contemporary roots music followed by a Cajun dance, on Sunday, December 29 at 3:00 PM in the Willey Building on Main Street in Cabot. Over the last decade, Katie Trautz has been garnering acclaim throughout the U.S. and abroad for her accomplished musicianship on fiddle, guitar and banjo. In addition to fronting several ensembles and performing alongside such roots icons as Dirk Powell and Riley Baugus, Sheesham and Lotus and Matt and Shannon Heaton, she has released many CDs and co-founded the Summit School of Traditional Music and Dance in Montpelier. Katie has recently added music from the Cajun heritage of Louisiana to her repertoire of Old-Time mountain melodies. Shady Rill brings together two of Vermont’s most brilliant and bestknown performers, Patti Casey and Tom Mackenzie. Their eclectic repertoire ranges from Canadian and Old- Time country dance tunes through gospel to Tin Pan Alley, and includes their own compositions as well. Patti has been a guest on Prairie Home Companion and won songwriting contests at the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas, Merlefest in North Carolina and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Tom is one of Vermont’s most popular Contra Dance musicians, a well-known teacher of banjo, ukulele and hammer dulcimer, and a member of numerous ensembles, most recently Woods Tea Company, with whom Patti also toured.

An Old-Time New Year and Cajun Dance is presented by Cabot Arts and the Cabot Community Association. Admission to the event is by donation.

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Select Board Approves Village Center Designation Application

At the November 20, 2013, Select Board meeting, the board unanimously approved the recommendation from the Town Planning Commission to apply for the Village Center Designation program run by the State. This program recognizes and supports local revitalization efforts with dedicated staff and funding to help designated municipalities build and foster strong communities. There is no cost to the Town. Once a community is designated, building owners, lessees, and the municipality are eligible for the following benefits:

- 10% Historic Tax Credits

- 25% Façade Improvement Tax Credits

- 50% Code Improvement Tax Credits

- Priority Consideration for HUD, CDBG And Municipal Planning Grants

- Priority Consideration by State Building and General Services (BGS)

- Special Assessment Districts Zoning Administrator Karen Deasy will provide additional information about this program, should the Town of Cabot obtain Village Center Designation status.

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Cabot Agricultural Network (CAN) Survey Shows Need For Marketing Support for Cabot Businesses and More...

By Sjon Welters It looks like Cabot businesses want help selling their products, not only to the local market, but beyond that, as well. The CAN survey also showed some other interesting needs and wants, such as joint supplies and fuel buying, transportation help, interest in a shared farm stand somewhere along U.S. Route 2, a local farm equipment repair and parts shop, equipment sharing, and disaster preparation, to name a few. The CAN Task Force has opportunities to work with UDAG and other organizations to assist the Cabot agricultural business community in making these needs a reality. As we join our efforts through the Cabot Agricultural Network, getting practical assistance might actually become possible and tangible for many of us. We did get to hear from a great number of Cabot businesses, but you can still send in your survey or just write us to tell us about your agricultural business and your needs. The more information we have, the better we can address the issues that are keeping your business from reaching its potential. As the Task Force moves into 2014, our objectives are becoming clear, thanks to your participation and input. Thank you very much and please stay tuned for updates from the Cabot Agricultural Committee.

Reach the CAN at: The Cabot AG Network, 752 Danville Hill Road, Cabot, VT 05647 or email [email protected]

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Cabot Community Association Next Meeting December 11

At the November meeting, it was decided the best way to accomplish the work approved at Town Meeting 2013 is on an employee basis rather than contractual. Personnel policy and job description will be developed in preparation for the December meeting, using the town’s policy as a starting point. Funding for publication of December and January issues of The Cabot Chronicle (approximately $1,500 per issue) was moved from the CCA administrative fund to The Cabot Chronicle budget. With Maple Fest, advertising and the town appropriation, the budget is still short approximately $3,000 for the year. It was also recommended that The Cabot Chronicle invite student interns to contribute reporting, advertising sales and website development in order to develop resume skills and support the newspaper. CCA will be talking with all three VCRD Committees (Art, Communications and Agriculture) to see what goals have been set and what support is needed from CCA. The December meeting will focus on approving a personnel policy and job description for the position identified in the 2013 Town Meeting Warning. Meetings are 7:00 p.m. in the Willey Building on:

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ADVICE FROM THE TREE WARDEN

By Roland (Slim) Payne

By the time you read this, Thanksgiving, deer and bear hunting seasons will be gone for this year, except muzzleloader season in December for deer. So far this fall it has been warm and a few days cold. Have a good and safe hunting season - if you don’t get a deer, at least have fun. Now for trees. I am ordering ten trees for May 1, or when weather permits. This year, they arrived late because the ground was frozen, and they couldn’t dig them as early as they normally do. When the trees come, I need some help planting them. The town forest gate is still closed, but the town is working to have it removed. We are looking at making a turnaround as the road enters the forest, so no one has to turn around on private property. Hopefully, this will happen sometime in spring of 2014. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

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OBITUARIES & MEMORIALS

Iva M. Stevens Iva Marion Stevens, 95, formerly of Woodbury, died Wednesday, October 30, 2013, at the Berlin Health & Rehabilitation Center. She was born April 22, 1918, in Cabot, the daughter of Carl and Sadie (Celley) Rehn. She attended East Hill School in South Woodbury. On February 8, 1936, she married Howard Wayne Stevens in North Montpelier. She was employed for more than 40 years at Hardwick Knitwear. She retired in 1981. She was a member of the Church of God of Prophecy in Marshfield. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, picking berries and being outdoors. Survivors include a son, David Stevens of Marshfield; two daughters, Iva Chirgotis of Tampa, FL, and Carole Demag of East Montpelier; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; a sister, Amy Parizo of Montpelier; many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her husband, Howard, on April 12, 1976; a brother, Andrew Rehn, and three sisters, Rena Blaisdell, Frances Brimblecombe and Anna Chartier. A memorial service was held Saturday, November 2, at the Church of God of Prophecy in Marshfield, followed by burial in the South Woodbury Cemetery. Northern Vermont Funeral Service, Hardwick is in charge of arrangements.

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Kingdom Animal Shelter

By Helen Morrison

Mandy and Miranda

Mandy is a dark tortoiseshell calico and Miranda is a somewhat rare female orange tabby. They are four-month-old sisters who love rough and tumble play together. They have extra toes, all the better to get into mischief with.

Leo Parlo, who volunteers at the shelter, is holding Mandy. And Emma Sestito, a friend of Leo's and a volunteer, holds Miranda. Emma is the daughter of Dr. Lisa Whitney of Danville Animal Hospital, and Leo is the son of Lori Augusyniak and Todd Parlo of Walden Heights Nursery.

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Shelters: Kill or No-Kill

By Helen Morrison People love to hear that a shelter is a no-kill shelter. It makes them feel better about that shelter. Some shelters feel they are able to say they are a nokill because the actual euthanizing doesn’t happen within its walls. If an animal has been there too long, or is too old, or is too shy, they are sent out to another facility where they are put down. But true no-kill shelters have their own issues. The animals are there until they are adopted or they develop some incurable and fatal health condition. Because an animal is there for life, there are fewer spots in that shelter to bring in animals from the outside needing care and a good home. Those that could be brought in and might find a good home are left out. It is a dilemma, for sure. Of course, I fall on the no-kill side. There are a number of reasons that I think no-kills are good. If a shelter culls out the old, the shy, the special needs animals, then the kind of animals available becomes limited. They tend to only have kittens or puppies. If they are older, the animals tend to be friendly, in good health, with no issues. So if a person is looking for a not-so-common type of animal, they are harder to find in “kill’ shelters. Kingdom Animal Shelter in St. Johnsbury is a true “no-kill” shelter. If the cat finds a place in our shelter, they are there and loved and tended to until they are adopted or until they become mortally ill. Along with kittens and friendly, ordinary cats, we have elderly cats; we have shy cats; we have grumpy cats; we have special needs cats. A couple came in a few weeks ago looking for a shy cat. They had one shy cat; and they wanted another so that both would feel comfortable. They looked all over Vermont, and in looking at our website, they settled on Diego, a beautiful buff cat who is, indeed, shy. Probably at another shelter, he would have been put down. He came from a terrible and dangerous situation, and he was in rough shape. But with time and care, he became more and more friendly. And he looked healthy and beautiful. On another occasion, one of our board members was walking by a house and a woman came out and handed her two tiny all black kittens and said, “Here. I don’t want them. I am going to get rid of them any way I can.” They were taken to the vet, tested for FeLV and FIV (they were negative). One of the vet techs then called us with the news that one of these kittens was a “cerebellar” kitten. Cats and kittens with this condition have a motor coordination problem caused by being born of a mom who had spiked a fever during pregnancy. Did we want them to put him down? Of course, we said, no. And so, Felix (and his brother, Oscar) are our Special Needs kittens. They are now six months old. They are gorgeous, sleek and black. Oscar’s motor skills are fine. But Felix often walks in circles; he can lose his balance. He eats by throwing his head back so the food goes down more easily. When he uses his litter box, he puts his forehead on the side so that he can keep his balance. He figured all this out on his own. He has no idea anything is wrong with him. He is playful, loves life, loves to eat, and loves his brother, Oscar. Surely, he would have been put down at another shelter. And yet, here is this wonderful little being that has the joy of living and will bring someone a real gift when he and Oscar are adopted. So, being a no-kill shelter has its challenges. But to look at all our cats, some of whom are not perfect, for sure, and to know that their life has value, in itself and for the companionship they will offer to some lucky human, makes the challenges all worthwhile. I cannot imagine deciding to have any of our cats put down because they may not be “adoptable”. Come and visit us at the shelter at 1664 Memorial Drive in St. Johnsbury. Our hours are Monday Through Thursday, 4-6:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, noon to 3:00 p.m. If you would like a private tour (which I love to do), call me at 563-2488 and we can make a date. Also visit our newly refurbished website at www.kingdomanimalshel ter.com. It has been reworked by a freshman at St. Johnsbury Academy, who is also one of our volunteers. And finally, if you would like to purchase the cutest calendar in the world, you can buy a 2014 Kingdom Animal Shelter Calendar at the Cabot Public Library, Hastings Store, The Joe’s Pond Craft Shop, The Diamond Hill Store in Danville, and Aquarealm in St. Johnsbury.

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Cabot Emergency Ambulance Service, Inc.

As we approach winter months, we would like to express to everyone the importance of being prepared for cold emergencies. Always be prepared when going outside. Dress appropriately! All too often, we see children waiting for school busses with not much on, other than a sweatshirt, jeans, and sneakers, or any combination of clothing attire not suitable for cold weather waiting. Elderly are also more susceptible to cold emergencies. Please check on your local elderly neighbors to make sure they are staying warm. Should you find a problem, seek assistance from the Council on Aging to help find a resolution. When driving in inclement weather, keep your windows and lights clear of snow and ice for maximum visibility, and by all means, SLOW DOWN when driving in bad weather conditions. In other ambulance related news, we recently applied to the UDAG committee for a grant for a new power stretcher. This would allow safer transitions for patients where they are picked up to the ambulance and further to the hospital. It also will help alleviate back injuries for our responders when lifting. The stretcher is rated for up to 600 lbs. We are in hopes that the community will approve our grant request at Town Meeting in March. We are seeking volunteers to take EMT or EMR courses and assist us with keeping our ambulance service thriving for our coverage area. Our volunteer base is thinning down, and we are coming to a critical state of needing volunteers. If we have no volunteers, ambulance service will need to be sought from other services. This would mean a large increase in taxes to have ambulance coverage available. Currently, we are trying to keep the cost as low as we possibly can; however, due to increased education requirements by the state, we will be asking for more appropriation monies at Town Meeting to keep our responders certified, and, hopefully, bring on more volunteers who would be interested in helping us keep the ambulance service actively working. Please contact any ambulance member if you are interested in affiliating, or you may contact Sheila Brown, 279-8751, or email [email protected] for an application and to find out more about becoming a volunteer and licensed EMR or EMT. If we have several interested people, I would like to host an EMR course in the upcoming months. We also have certified CPR instructors that are willing to do community CPR classes, if anyone is interested. We are also inviting anyone that may want to help out in other ways if they’re not particularly interested in the medical/patient care aspect of going on calls and spending hours being trained. We are always open to anyone that has fund raising ideas and is able to facilitate such activities. We look forward to hearing from you! Have happy and safe holidays!

Sheila Brown, President

Cabot Emergency Ambulance Service, Inc.

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First Cabot Community Christmas Dinner

Begun as a vision of Fred and Shirley Ducharme to share their sense of good fortune and love of the community, the idea of coming together as an extended family has grown as neighbors hear about it. Many people don’t have a lot of family nearby, and some cooks just don’t enjoy preparing a special meal just for themselves or only a couple of people. This is an opportunity to enjoy companionship, a free shared meal of homecooked food, and appreciate the benefits of living in a small, close community, regardless of religious affiliation. All are welcome. The idea is blossoming, as people hear of it and sign up to help. The Lay- Sleepers have offered to help coordinate. Transportation may be available for seniors who have challenges getting around. People have offered to assist with the cooking. Help with meal components is still sought – turkeys, stuffing, vegetables, cranberries, desserts are all needed. Please call the Ducharmes (563-2102) or the Lay-Sleepers (563-2016) to make your reservation, offer help or let us know that you need assistance with transportation. The more that come, the more fun it will be. Please make the call. We look forward to hearing from you and welcoming you on December 25.

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from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at the Cabot School Performing Arts Center.

Seeking actors of all ages and levels of experience-- Small and large roles are available

To be performed in early April.

No preparation or appointment is necessary-- Just come and read from the script with us!

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Auditions for Cabot Community Theater THE MOUSE THAT ROARED

By Karen Mueller-Harder

Auditions for Cabot Community Theater's production of "The Mouse That Roared" will be held Saturday, December 7, & Sunday, December 15, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at the Cabot School Performing Arts Center. We are seeking actors of all ages and levels of experience --small and large roles are available for this satirical comedy to be performed in early April. No preparation or appointment is necessary--just come and read from the script with us! We are welcoming, supportive, and inclusive, and we have a great time while producing high-quality theater. We like to have a mix of experience and ages, so we all can learn from each other- -it's especially nice when multiple family members are involved. If you're feeling tentative, shy, or over-committed, there are small roles that would only require a few rehearsals prior to the run-throughs and dress rehearsals just before performance, so you can be part of the experience without it being a big time commitment. (This is a non-musical comedy, so no singing ability is required.) Here are a few of the roles available-most can be cast as either male or female, and could be played by actors of lesser or greater years:

-Gloriana the 12th, the young ruler of Grand Fenwick, who's clever and unflappable -Tully Bascomb, a forest ranger who is chosen to lead the invasion of the United States -Count Mountjoy, an aristocrat and leader of Grand Fenwick's Anti- Dilutionist Party, and also Gloriana's uncle -the President of the United States, who ignores Grand Fenwick's declaration of war until it's too late! -Professor Kokintz, a brilliant nuclear scientist -General Snippet of the US Army, blustery but competent -Several American tourists, who are tickled to be interviewed about their experiences in Grand Fenwick -Several soldiers, who manage to successfully invade the United States without anyone noticing -Several students at Columbia University -Ann, a grape-stomping peasant girl ...and many more! Please consider joining our theatrical community this winter --the more people we have, the better, as everyone brings some thing to the group. If you have questions, contact Karen Mueller-Harder, the director, at karen@praxis works.org or at 563- 2669.

Cabot’s own Todd Jones, paginator for The Cabot Chronicle, has just been nominated for broadwayworld.com’s "Best Featured Actor in a Musical" for the state of Vermont 2013 (for his performance in Valley Players’ Young Frankenstein)! During the opening days of online voting, Todd was in the lead, but at the time this paper went to print, a Stowe campaign had edged him out. Cabot being a small town, it may be hard to push Stowe out of the lead. But anyone can vote by going to http:/broadwayworld.com/Vermont, clicking on “Voting Underway for the 2013 BroadwayWorld Awards!”, then scroll down and click on “Vermont”, then

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 7 onward.

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Help A Cabot Resident Rise To The Top 2013 Awards

“Best Featured Actor in a Musical”. There, you can see who’s in the lead and vote for your candidate of choice. You can only vote once, and voting runs until December 31. Winners will be announced in early January. Help one of our local thespians get the recognition he deserves - make your vote count, and put Cabot on the map! Please share this with anyone you think would be interested.

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NORTHEAST KINGDOM CHORUS CONCERTS

The Northeast Kingdom Chorus—recently merged with the Cabot Community Chorus and under the directorship of Cabot’s Lynn McKinney —has announced the dates for their December concerts.

Both groups have had a long history of performing in the area. The NEK Chorus, formed in the 1980s, has been known for singing mostly sacred works, while the Cabot Chorus, begun in 2003, has performed a variety of music in different formats. In the spirit of the merger, the combined chorus will perform holiday music of both types. The concert will also feature performances by trios and quartets drawn from the membership.

Admission for the Cabot concert is by donation.

Refreshments will be served after the concert.

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MISS VERMONT TEEN USA® Cabot’s Ashley Maurice a Contender

On November 23 and 24 at the Burlington Hilton Hotel, contestants from across Vermont competed in interview, swimsuit and evening gown competition, and Madison Cota was crowned MISS VERMONT TEEN USA 2014. She is the daughter of Jennifer and Casey Cota of Bellows Falls. Madison is a senior at Vermont Academy. She describes herself as Athletic, Creative and Driven. Twenty-four girls qualified to compete for the title, and Ashley Maurice of Cabot was contestant #15. The daughter of Brigitte and Mark Codling and Jason & Valerie Maurice, she is a student at Danville High School, where she enjoys playing basketball and pursuing her interest in Environmental Science. While Ashley did not bring home the crown, she presented herself with poise and grace in a black cocktail dress, red floor-length gown and plum two-piece swimsuit. Her elegance and confidence on stage made it difficult to believe she’d never competed in a pageant. According to an article by blogger Lisa Quast, “The techniques women learn to compete in pageants are the same ones they can use to climb the proverbial career ladder.” “You don’t have to be a pageant queen to use the techniques of pageant contestants to excel in your career. So stand tall, be knowledgeable, know your strengths and show them off, dress for the position, and smile! Then watch out – you just might earn that coveted promotion, even if it doesn’t come with a crown! ” Ashley said it was a fun experience, and she enjoyed meeting girls from around the state, three of whom she already knew from other interests.

Ashley said she is grateful to those who supported her. Miss Maurice’s sponsors for the Miss Vermont Teen USA Pageant were Cabot Creamery, Lamoille Valley Ford, Poulin Lumber, Caplin’s of St Johnsbury, family and friends.

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Faith in Action’s 4th Annual Toys for Girls and Boys

Our Annual Toys for Girls and Boys Giveaway is in progress. Last year, we matched a few children with their specific “gift wishes”, and this year we would like to do the same. So, in addition to holding our regular toy and warm clothing giveaway on December 14 and 17, 2013, we also want to give you the opportunity to recommend a specific child for a gift-match. If you know a child or children (your own or a neighbor’s) who is in need this holiday season, please call us at Faith in Action, give us the age, sex and toy or clothing gift wish of the child(ren) and we will do our best to fill that wish. If you would like to be on the giving side of a gift-match and fill a child’s wish, contact us.

We are accepting new and gently used toys (only new stuffed animals and good condition used books, please). Our Giveaway is scheduled for December 14 at 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon and December 17 from 5:30 p.m.– 8:00 p.m. Contact us at 563-3322 or [email protected] to recommend a child or to sponsor a Cabot child’s holiday wish.

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Isaac James Performs at Cabot Church December 8

Isaac James, 25, of Cabot, is a classical pianist who has performed in many prestigious arenas, including Carnegie Hall. Sunday, December 8, at 3:00 p.m. he will perform at the Cabot United Church. James started “fiddling around” on the piano when he was six-years old, but didn’t formally start taking piano lessons until he was 12 years old. “I was doing pretty well playing by ear,” he explained. “But that gave me six years of learning really bad habits.” He was encouraged by his parents, and over the years, has trained with numerous prestigious musicians. While James has performed nationally, he considers his time on the stage at Carnegie Hall his most memorable experience. “Normally I’m more nervous about preparing for a concert, not for the performance itself,” he said. “I looked out at the stage and that long Steinway concert grand looked like a tiny ant.” He played a sonata by Beethoven and some Rachmoninoff pieces, and was thanked with a standing ovation. “To know that was the same hall where Tchaikovsky conducted brought me to tears,” he remembered. “I hope I get a chance to perform there again, it was a privilege.” Meanwhile, Cabot area residents will have the chance to hear him play December 8. Music by Brahms, Chopin, Debussy, Schumann, Scriabin, and Rachmaninoff will be performed. James has been a member of the local Cabot Chorus and teaches in the area. He is the organist at Marshfield’s Christ Covenant Anglican Catholic Church. “I love performing at the Cabot Church, because there is such a strong sense of community,” he said. “I can always relate with the audience.” When not traveling as a professional musician or giving classes locally, James spends most of his time practicing and at his other favorite pastime, flying.

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VAST Snowmobile Safety Courses

Anyone born after July 1, 1983, and who is 12 years of age and older, must complete and pass a six-hour safety course.

Date: Sunday, December 1, 2013

Time: 8:30 a.m.—3:00 p.m.

Location: Hartland Rec Center, Hartland, VT Must preregister. Bring a lunch. Please call Andrew at 802-674-5656 or Mark at 802-683-9869 to get a manual to read.

Date: Saturday, December 7, 2013

Time: 9:00 a.m.—3:30 p.m.

Location: Lyndon Town School Cafeteria, Lyndonville Call 802-754-9385 to register for the class. If no answer, leave your name and phone number and we will call you back. Sponsored by the Lyndon SnoCruisers.

Date: Saturday, December 7, 2013

Time: 8:30 a.m.—3:30 p.m.

Location: Waterford Clubhouse, St. Johnsbury. Registration 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. Lunch provided free. Call 802-748- 3833 to register. Sponsored by the Caledonia County Snowmobile Trail Club.

Date: Friday & Saturday, December 13 & 14 Time: 6:00— 9:00 p.m. Friday and 9:00 a.m. - noon Saturday morning Location: Coventry Community Center 6 hour class split between Friday evening and Saturday morning. Call 802-754-9385 to register. Sponsored by Orleans Snow Stormers, Glover Trailwinders & North Country Mountaineers. Must attend both sessions. To find more classes, which may have been added since The Cabot Chronicle went to print, go to www.VTVAST.org,, click on Events, then Safety Class Schedule. Safety courses are usually offered in November and December, since the instructors want to ride during the season. If you are unable to attend one of those, there is an online alternative . “Today’s Snowmobile Rider Course Vermont” is available on-line. This online course was not designed as a replacement for the classroom course but an alternative for those persons who must be certified by law (any person born after July 1, 1983, who is 12 years of age or older) and are not able to attend or find a course in their area. Go to http://colespondsledders.vtvast.org/VAST/Safety/Safety-Classes/Web- Based-Safety-Course.html

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 9 onward.

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Do Right By Your Christmas Tree

By Meghan Oliver

Illustration by Adelaide Tyrol

“What a horrifyingly garish sight,” I said to my friend as we surveyed my Christmas tree last year. We had just finished decorating it and my eyes were sending messages to my brain, like, “Hey, this is really tacky.” Truth is, the décor I had accumulated after years of city dwelling in my sassy twenties looked awfully out of place in my humble Vermont cabin. What I once thought dazzling – glitter-coated icicles, a miniature disco ball, a purplefeathered bird with jeweled eyes, flocks of shiny gold and green balls – now looked as out of place as a pink flamingo at my bird feeder. Even the duck decoy my great uncle carved seemed to give the gaudy fiasco an alarmed stare. Such a tree no longer belonged in my world. Looking around my cabin – at the milkweed on the window sill, the dried Canada lily stalks by my window, the turkey feather on my bookshelf – I had an idea. Why not lavish my tree with favorite things – things I find on walks? After selecting a bunch of woodsy items for my tree last year, I thought I’d share some of my favorites.

Ferns and Pods: There are a variety of dried plants awaiting your picking. Ferns, especially sensitive ferns and ostrich ferns, are particular favorites of mine. Now in their seeded-out glory, pull these ferns out of the ground with as much stalk as you can; this will make them easier to stick in among your trees’ branches. I like to hollow out a handful of milkweed pods and placed them so they are cupping individual lights on the tree. If you have a tough time aligning a pod to a light, you can use gardeners’ yarn to tie the stalk of the milkweed to a branch to get it right where you want it. Alternatively – if you’ve got some time and a lot of patience – individual pods can be cut from the stalk and glued to individual lights. Exercise common sense: if you’ve got old-fashioned lights that burn hot, this is probably not a good idea. The dried flowers of goldenrods will add texture to your tree, while a few twigs of beech, with orangey leaves intact, add color.

Clammy ground-cherry seed pods can still be found along some riverbanks this time of year. These Japanese lantern-like pods are now a light brown and transparent, and you can often find a stem with an entire row of lanterns neatly lined up. I prefer their natural colors, but if you want a little shine, you can spray-paint these plants gold or silver.

Vines: love strings of popcorn twirling up the tree as much as the next gal, but there are wild vines that can make interesting substitutes. Virgin’s bower and bur cucumber can be found entwined among thickets and plants along woods edges, streambanks, and fencerows.

Virgin’s bower offers fluffy, white seed clusters, while bur cucumber has spiky, oat-colored seed pods. Untangling these vines from the plants they’re gripping can be tricky. It’s best to gently tug the vine in segments, unentwining as you go, rather than trying to rip it out in one go. Plan your transport of these delicate vines ahead of time. If you have to hoof it pretty far, bring a large garbage bag in which you can store the vines loosely. If you’re able to drive up to the vines, plan on laying them across your backseat or in the trunk.

Berries: Highbush cranberries are one of my favorite red fruits to spot in the dead of a snow-white winter. These berries, along withwinterberry and mountain ash, can be found all winter long, and a few sprigs of them add a nice dose of color to your tree. If you’re unfortunate enough to see the woods around you tangled in bittersweet, you can at least make temporary good of this invasive by clipping sections of the plant to decorate your tree. While the plant is an aggressive invasive, the berries are pretty. Be sure to throw them in the woodstove or discard them in a plastic bag after the holiday so the seeds don’t germinate in your compost pile. While this décor a la Mother Nature suits my taste, I still can’t resist tradition … and glitter. I will still place colored lights throughout the branches, top my tree with a glittery silver reindeer, and string dried star fruit around and around the boughs. A sparkly owl, a ceramic kitten, and mini-stockings for my cat and dog will all be placed on the tree again this year. If such natural decorations whet your whistle, make haste: many of these goodies are far more difficult to pluck and pull from the earth once the snow stacks up.

Meghan Oliver is the assistant editor at Northern Woodlands magazine. Reprinted with permission.

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Youth Hunting Memories Contest Callout

Vermont Fish & Wildlife

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is seeking submissions for the seventh annual Youth Hunting Memories Contest. This year’s contest has been updated to include a variety of entry types including a drawing, painting, photograph or video. Submissions should demonstrate why hunting is important to the young hunter and should demonstrate one of their most memorable hunting experiences. Entries will be judged based on creativity as well as a strong display of hunter ethics, good landowner relations, an appreciation for wildlife, a respect for hunting heritage, a strong hunting skillset, and a connection to family. “This year we decided to move beyond a simple essay contest to include visual and multimedia submissions,” said Chris Saunders, hunter education coordinator for Fish & Wildlife. “We’re asking young hunters to creatively commemorate their time in the field on a hunt. Bagging game is not a requirement, as the most unforgettable hunts are the often ones where no game is harvested.” Hunters nine years old and younger are asked to submit a drawing or painting. Hunters 10 – 12 years old should submit a photograph, while hunters 13

– 16 should submit a YouTube video three minutes or less in length. Entrants may choose to include a short narrative essay along with their art submission. One winner from each age group will be announced at the Yankee Classic Sportsman Show in Essex Junction in January and will receive a prize from the Fish & Wildlife Department. Submissions should be sent via email to Nicole Corrao at nicole.corrao@ state.vt.us or via mail to 2013 Youth Hunting Memories Contest, Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, 1 National Life Drive, Davis 2, Montpelier, VT 05620. For more information, go to our website at: tinyurl.com/YouthMemories 2013. This contest is open to all Vermont hunters aged 16 and under. Submissions must be received before January 1st, 2014. Contest Rules: Videos must be uploaded to YouTube.com and sent to Nicole Corrao as a link. Please disable comments on all youtube videos. All video entries must be three minutes or less in length. Drawings or paintings must be the original work of the youth hunter alone. Photo entries may be of the youth hunter or by the youth hunter. Limit one entry per person. All entries are considered property of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and will not be returned. This contest is open to all Vermont hunters aged 16 and under. Submissions must be received before January 1st, 2014.

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TWIN VALLEY SENIOR CENTER

By Rita Copeland, Executive Director

Twin Valley Senior Center sends a very “Merry Christmas” wish to you and your family. TVSC would like to thank all of you for your support during this past year. Whether it was a donation, your time, vegetables or other food donations, remember, you make a difference. You help us fulfill our mission to facilitate the social, emotional and physical well-being of independent senior citizens by providing access to community resources and providing services and activities that maintain senior citizens’ independence and wellness (and to remain in their own homes).

“Blizzard Bags:” Every year, the Twin Valley Senior Center, through their Meals on Wheels program, prepares a Blizzard Bag for our home-bound vulnerable seniors, in case of a bad weather emergency. The aptly-called “blizzard bags” consist of items to help recipients get through a major storm, when the Meals on Wheels drivers may not be able to reach them. The bags will be packed with nonperishable food and drinks – juice, soup, crackers, pudding, applesauce, cereal and dried milk. By anticipating this important need for seniors living in our communities during these frigid winter months, we make sure they have something on hand to eat until we can reach them again. Our Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver meals to 30 residents, three times per week. They count on us. At this time, the expense of the emergency supplies allows us to cover only one day. We hope to build on this part of the program so that we can supply more days of coverage with the Blizzard Bags. We would like to add items such as socks, throw blankets, hats, mittens, etc. If you have any suggestions or ideas for this program, please feel free to contact Rita @ 426-3447 or email RitaC- [email protected]. Twin Valley Seniors will be having their Christmas Party and Dinner on Monday, December 23, at the Center. We would like to extend an invitation to you to join your loved one, neighbor or friend for our party and dinner. We hold a Yankee swap that our dedicated volunteers put together for everyone to enjoy. Our dedicated Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver a Christmas bag to our homebound and disabled residents, as well. During these difficult economic times, we are trying our best to prepare for this special event, but we would like your help. Do you knit/crochet or know someone who does? Would you make hats, scarves, mittens, socks, etc? We would welcome these items for use in the Christmas packages. Purchased items such as word search/crossword books, toiletry items, and nutritional snacks are all great gifts for Seniors. TVSC will be delivering Meals on Wheels before Wednesday, December 25, for the holiday. The Center will resume regular deliveries on Friday, December 27. We will be closed on New Year’s Day. Christmas Day our own Board Member, Fred Ducharme, wife Shirley and friends are hosting a “Free Christmas Dinner” in Cabot. This is a wonderful gift to people in our rural area and I encourage you to make contact at 563-2102 if you can volunteer, donate food items for the meal such as turkey, potatoes, squash, rolls, stuffing or desserts. The last Foot Clinic of 2013 at TVSC will be held on December 11 at the center. If you have not made your appointment, please do so by calling 223-1878. TVSC will not be hosting a take-out dinner on December 29. We will resume the take-out dinners in January. We really appreciate community members who purchased these dinners, because it helps us so much with the overall operating costs of the Center. The dedicated volunteers put much time and effort into these events in many capacities. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Happy Holidays to you all.

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FROM THE CABOT PUBLIC LIBRARY

Programs Holiday Cake Pops with Beth Hoffman – Tuesday, December 10 – 6:00- 7:30 p.m. Join Beth Hoffman to learn how to make this fun holiday treat! Please call in advance as space is limited.

Holiday Craft Making Workshop for Youth – Wednesday, December 11 - 3:00-4:30 p.m. Make your own holiday gifts! We’ll have jewelry making, holiday ornament making, candle luminaries, and homemade holiday cookies!

Cabot Old Time Contra and Square

Dance – Saturday, December 14 – 7:30 p.m. Dances will be held on the 2nd Saturday of the month from September through May, sponsored by the Cabot Library. The dances are taught and are easily learned by young and old. There is a small suggested donation to help cover the cost of the caller. For more info, please call David Carpenter at 802- 426-3225 or email [email protected]

Special Holiday Preschool Story Hour – Tuesday, December 17 - 10:30-11:30 a.m. We’ll have stories, crafts, and special holiday treats!

Community Book Group – Wednesday, December 18 – 10:30 a.m. We will read Jeeves in the Offing by P.G. Wodehouse in December. All are welcome to join in! Copies of this book will be available in the Cabot Public Library.

Yoga & Wellness Classes – Friday 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. (through December 20) - Willey Building Alicia has switched to teaching yoga on Friday mornings! Join her for an energizing yoga practice, deep relaxation, and inspiration to keep track through the Holidays! All levels welcome – contact Alicia for more info at 802-563-3220 or [email protected].

Thank You!

Special thanks to Tim Walker for all his help with the various maintenance projects around the library. Many thanks to Ben Hewitt for another great reading and discussion of his latest book, $AVED: How I Quit Worrying About Money and Became the Richest Guy in the World – which we happen to have here in the library. Thanks to everyone who so generously donated books and art work for the Kingdom Animal Shelter sale at the Apple Pie Festival. We have 2014 Calendars of the cutest cats ever for $15.00 to benefit the Kingdom Animal Shelter. Thanks also to David Carpenter for organizing the Contra dances in Cabot every month.

See you at the Library!

Kathleen Hoyne and Anne Walker

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A Day in the Life: DRIVE

By Julia Hewitt

On December 13, 2013, seniors from Cabot High School will present DRIVE, an event highlighting Vermonters and their fields of expertise. The objective is for students to curate an event that focuses on trailblazers and passionate people engaged in theirwork . Through this, students develop an understanding of what it means to be passionate and driven in life so they may one day do the same. Through digital stories and photo essays, the seniors will explore what Vermonters are passionate about and what brings a sense of purpose to their work. The event will also include live interviews with Jon Groveman, the lead attorney for the Agency of Natural Resources; Heloise Williams, the first artist to be signed to Elijah Wood’s record label; Kris Gruen, musician and program director for WDGR- WGDH; Amy Levine, the Director of Marketing and Sales from the Cabot Creamery; and Geof Hewitt, Calais poet and reigning Vermont Slam Champion. Come join us at DRIVE, December 13 at 6:00 p.m., for what promises to be an inspiring night exploring the passions and purposes that Vermonters bring to their work.

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Vermont Alert Launched

Vermonters have a new tool at their disposal to stay informed of pending disasters, weather conditions, public health notifications, and countless other alerts that could affect themselves or their loved ones. Vermont Alert (www.vtalert.gov) is a free service for users. It allows the public to sign up and receive notifications through a number of delivery systems, including text, e-mail, telephone, or even a game console. Vermont Alert is hosted and maintained by the Vermont Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (VT DEMHS) and is available to all emergency response agencies in the state in order to allow for localized alerts. “We’ve seen over the past couple of years the value of speedy and accurate information as emergency situations develop,” Gov. Peter Shumllin said. “This new system will give Vermonters a head start in preparing for storms or other hazardous conditions.” Users will create accounts, then chose their local area and what types of alerts they wish to receive, as well as which delivery system they prefer. For example, you can set up traffic alerts for your route to work and be alerted of any traffic tie-ups directly to your smart phone via a phone call. Local fire departments can issue alerts encouraging you to stay clear of a fire scene. You can also receive weather advisories as they are issued from the National Weather Service. “We have worked long and hard to bring Vermont Alert to fruition,” Vermont Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Director Joe Flynn said. “This provides not only the state, but local responders with another tool to mitigate the effects of disasters on Vermont and its citizenry – at no direct cost to those local response organizations.” Vermont Alert is modeled after New York Alert, which has been in operation since 2006, and was designed by the state of New York. Vermont paid $58,000 for the system.

Examples of use:

• There is a large structure fire in a downtown. The local fire department can write and distribute a press release through VT Alert. Can contact the public directly with an evacuation notice (phone, text, or e-mail), issue a travel alert for motorists to avoid the area, and alert the public of any public health hazards from smoke.

• A wildfire is burning. Nearby towns can issue evacuation orders and notify residents in the affected area directly (via hone, text, or e-mail). Press releases can be written on and distributed through Vermont Alert and the National Weather Service can issue an Air Quality warning if the fire warrants such a notification.

• An accident on Interstate-91 is blocking the road. The State Police can write and distribute a press release regarding the accident. The Agency of Transportation can issue a travel advisory and outline alternate routes. VTrans can then notify the public when the road has re-opened.

• A tropical storm is occurring in Vermont. In the state Emergency Operations Center VT DEMHS and state partners can: � Prepare and release Emergency Alert System messages. � Prepare and distribute press releases and special notifications regarding conditions � Post state road closures � Post public health alerts � Post locations of emergency shelters � Automatically populate social media with information abov � The National Weather Service can issue storm Watches and Warnings � Local communities can: � Issue evacuation warnings � Post local road closures � Post public health alerts � In the aftermath of a storm the state and federal government can post notifications about disaster aid to individuals and communities. Sign up for an account today by visiting www.vtalert.gov.

By J. Scott Davidson Sudoku Golf, Masters Loop-Course Challenge is a math challenge done on correctly completed Sudoku puzzles. The object of the game is to create an 18 “hole” path with the lowest overall score. You start and end the loop course in the 2nd row as indicated. Add the squares as you go and find the path with the lowest total, as in golf. You may move to any adjacent square not already in the path, including diagonals. (Only one hole in one is allowed). Solution for last months puzzles are shown below (upside down)

4 PUZZLE EXTRA: (1-9 = A-J, Word: DECIDE), PUZZLE EXTRA: (DATE: 12/25/13 CHRISTMAS)

START FINISH 3

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Happy Happenings Arts & Crafts

Sponsored by Heart of Vermont of Commerce in conjunction with local businesses Featuring: Pottery, Poinsettias, Jewelry, Fashion Accessories,

Preserves, Ornaments, Bath & Body Lotions, Maple Products and other fine crafts by local artisans Also on December 6th, 7th and 8th:

Visit local businesses participating in First Friday and on Saturday check out the United Church of Hardwick Christmas Bazaar. Sunday attend the Hardwick Kiwanis Senior Holiday Meal at the K of C Hall and in the evening enjoy the lighting of the Hardwick Memorial Tree.

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Consider A Donation To

As the year comes to a close and you think about tax-deductible contributions, consider a donation to the Cabot Community Association to support the Cabot Chronicle. A 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, your contribution is taxdeductible as allowed by law. And your money will be put to work right in Cabot to keep information flowing and the community growing. Invest your money locally where it’s needed – right here in town, performing a service for you and the people you know. It’s not just a paper—it’s our common link.

Checks can be mailed to CCA at P. O. Box 245, Cabot, VT 05647, or use the pre-addressed envelope enclosed in this issue. You will know exactly where your money is going, and it will be very much appreciated.

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