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Cabot Historical Society

Preserving the history of Cabot, Vermont · Founded 1965

The Cabot Chronicle

April 2014 · 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 April 2014 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

From page 1

Yes 189 No 93 Art. 16. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot grant to the Cabot Community Association (CCA) the sum of $6,500 from UDAG funds in 2014 for the purpose of helping to hire a part-time Economic and Community Development Coordinator to coordinate volunteer activities in support of economic, educational, and community development in Cabot, write grants seeking funding in support of local economic, educational and community development activities, and undertake such other duties as may be assigned by the Board of the CCA? [Australian Ballot] Yes 139 No 142 Art. 17. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot grant to the Cabot Community Association (CCA) the sum of $6,500 from Town funds in 2014 for the purpose of helping to hire a part-time Economic and Community Development Coordinator to coordinate volunteer activities in support of economic, educational, and community development in Cabot, write grants seeking funding in support of local economic, educational and community development activities, and undertake such other duties as may be assigned by the Board of the CCA? [Australian Ballot] Yes 119 No 154 Art. 18. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot grant to the Town of Cabot the sum of $77,000 from UDAG funds for the purposes of making energy efficiency improvements to the Willey Memorial Building? [Australian Ballot] Yes 186 No 93 Art. 19. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot exempt the so-called Cabot Historical Society buildings owned by the Cabot Historical Society, Inc., a nonprofit organization, for real property taxes for a period of five (5) years, pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 3840? Affirmative Art. 20. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot approve the sum of $44,000 to defray the expenses of the Cabot Fire Department? Affirmative Art. 21. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot approve the sum of $54,648 to support the Cabot Library? Affirmative Art. 22. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot approve the sum of $20,000 to support the maintenance of the Cabot Cemeteries? Affirmative Art. 23. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot approve the sum of $15,000 to support the Cabot Ambulance? Affirmative Art. 24. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot approve the sum of $500 to support the Cabot Senior Citizens group?

Affirmative

Art. 25. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot approve the sum of $6,000 to support The Cabot Chronicle? Affirmative Art. 26. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot approve the sum of $12,000 to support the Cabot Recreation Committee? Affirmative Art. 27. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot approve the sum of $350 to purchase flags for Memorial Day? Affirmative Art. 28. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot appropriate the following sums for the following purposes: Affirmative Art. 29. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot appropriate the sum of $2,350,700.00 to repair and maintain the highways of the Town including summer, winter and special treatment, of which an estimated $1,869,000.00 is to come from income and $481,700.00 from local taxes? Affirmative Art. 30. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot appropriate the sum of $757,046.00 to defray the General Expenses of the Town, with an estimated $286,080.47 to come from income and $470,965.53 from local taxes? Affirmative Art. 31. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot grant to the Cabot School Arts Program the sum of $600 for materials and supplies in connection with its guest artist program from the UDAG funds available for Town Meeting grants in 2014? [Australian Ballot] Yes 200 No 83 Art. 32. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot grant to the Cabot Community Association the sum of $3,750 for computers for the Cabot Connects Mentoring Program and the Cabot Chronicle from UDAG funds available for Town Meeting grants in 2014? [Australian Ballot] Yes 180 No 99 Art. 33. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot grant to the Cabot Fire Department the sum of $14,160 for 3 Self- Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBA) from UDAG funds available for Town Meeting grants in 2014? [Australian Ballot] Yes 201 No 83 Art. 34. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot grant to the Cabot Emergency Ambulance Service, Inc. the sum of $15,004 for a power stretcher from the UDAG funds available for Town Meeting grants in 2014? [Australian Ballot]

Yes 192 No 89 Art. 35. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot authorize the Northeast Kingdom Waste Management District to appropriate and expend a budget of $694,978.00 at no cost to the taxpayers? [Australian Ballot] Yes 253 No 27 Art. 36. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot approve an amount not to exceed $343,804 to construct a new sidewalk along Main Street, beginning at the bridge at the North end of the Village and extending to the existing sidewalk that begins across the street from Common Road (across from the Church) with $275,000 to come from federal and state grants and an amount not to exceed $68,804 to come from local taxes? [Australian Ballot] Yes 114 No 166 Art. 37. To transact any other business that may legally come before said meeting.

Art. 38. To adjourn this meeting.

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Good Progress On Cabot Town Garage Project

By Jack Daniels, Select Board Chair No, this article is not an April Fools joke. Someday there really will be a new town garage in Cabot, and yes, we are making progress to make this happen. Are we there yet? Nope, but, we are making progress and that’s no joke. Three things: 1. Thank you, Cabot voters, for approving four Articles at March Town Meeting which will allow us to continue the process to apply for a Community Development Block Grant for Disaster Relief to help pay for a new town garage. Because the voters said yes on Town Meeting Day, we continue to march forward with this project. 2. An Option Agreement to Purchase eight acres of land at 2691 South Walden Road is in the process of being executed for the period April 1 through May 31, 2014, whereby the seller agrees to hold the land until we have completed the required Environmental Review. Until such time as the Environmental Review has been successfully completed and accepted by both State and Federal officials, we can not purchase the land or even apply for the grant. That’s just the way it is. 3. The Environmental Review is just about complete. Yes, yes: this will be the third time we have declared victory, but in spite of our best efforts and optimism, we must complete two other steps before the Environmental Review will be complete. Specifically, we have to complete an Eight-Step Wetlands Review, and that requirement should be completed the week of March 31. We also have to complete a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment on the existing Town Garage site, and that, too, is supposed to be completed not later than April 4, 2014. After that, we have to reissue a Public Notice stating that the material is available for review in the Town Clerks Office for a fifteen day period, and then, after that, both State and Federal officials have fifteen days to review our Environmental Review submission to check for completeness and accuracy. And that’s where we stand as of April 1, 2014. Hopefully, when your May 1 Chronicle arrives, it will include good news about the status of the Environmental Review and the grant application process. In the interim, we’ll just keep working. And, again, thank you for your support of this critically important project at Town Meeting. I can assure you that all members of the Select Board are very appreciative of your support.

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Voting Results of 2014 Cabot Town Meeting

The Legal Voters of the Town of Cabot met at the Cabot School Gymnasium, Cabot, Vermont, on Tuesday March 4th A.D., 2014 at ten o'clock in the forenoon [10:00 a.m.] to transact the following business: HAUR polls were open from 10:00 A.M. until 7:00 P.M.]

Art. 1. To elect a Moderator for the ensuing year. Ed Smith was elected from the floor.

Art. 2. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot vote to approve the minutes of the previous Annual Town Meeting of March 5, 2013? Approved Art. 3. To elect a Selectperson for a term of three years. [Australian Ballot]

Fred Ducharme was elected by 257 of 285 votes.

Art. 4. To elect a Selectperson for a term of two years. [Australian Ballot]

Jeff Gabrielson was elected by 221 of 283 votes.

Art. 5. To elect a Town Clerk for a term of three years. [Australian Ballot]. Tara Rogerson was elected y 230 of 285 votes..

Art. 6. To elect a Town Treasurer for a term of three years. [Australian Ballot]

Tara Rogerson was elected by 227 of 285 votes.

Art. 7. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot hear and act upon the reports of the Town Officers? Affirmative Art. 8. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot pay its Real and Personal Property taxes to the Town Treasurer on or before November 20, 2014, with delinquent taxes having interest charges of one percent per month for the first three months and one and one-half percent per month thereafter and an eight percent penalty charged from the due date? Affirmative Art. 9. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot elect all Town Officers required by law, according to law? Affirmative Art. 10. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot authorize the Library Trustees to apply for and receive grants and gifts and to spend any grants and gifts received?

Affirmative

Classifieds:

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

By Representative Catherine (Kitty) Toll

Following Vermont’s town meetings, the House Ways and Means Committee, which reviews and make recommendations to the state’s tax structure and policy, analyzed school budget results from across the state. The thirty-five budgets that were voted down were done so for a variety of reasons, but the committee, as well as the legislature as a whole, took note of the concerns and frustrations voiced by voters. It was clear that the education financing system must ensure fairness and transparency for all Vermonters. The Ways and Means Committee is working on a property tax rate bill that is responsive to the concerns raised about the immediate homestead rate increase and unsustainable future education costs. The miscellaneous tax bill will raise an additional $4.4 million to support the state budget. These two important tax bills were still under consideration at the time of this writing, and a complete report of the tax packages will be in the May issue. On March 21, the House Education Committee passed an education governance bill. This bill, if passed by both chambers and signed by the Governor, will make the biggest changes to the Vermont school system in over one hundred years. The bill proposes to set a minimum school district size of 1,200 students by the year 2020. At present, Vermont’s declining student population is less than 90,000. The committee believes the current system is top heavy with administrators and lacks curriculum consistency among districts. The new districts would be governed by one superintendent and one school board. It is unknown if this proposal would reduce costs, but the committee predicts it would slow the rate of cost increases. Many believe this plan would create more flexibility, provide equitable educational opportunities and address rapidly increasing costs. Others fear it will interfere with local control. This bill will be considered by two additional House committees before it is debated on the House floor. The House Appropriations Committee voted out the fiscal year 2015 budget to be considered on the House floor by the legislature. The budget was based on the Governor’s proposed budget submitted to the legislature in January. The Governor filled a $14 million gap between estimated revenues and estimated expenditures with an increase to the claims assessment, a fee assessed on every health insurance claim. This proposal has been rejected. House Appropriations identified additional savings to reduce the gap. The two largest savings include a move in Medicaid funding for new adults and a reduction in health care estimates for inmates. The budget also reflects a $400,000 savings from the Vermont Veterans Home in Bennington. The Administration and the Vermont State Employees Association agreed, just before the budget was completed, to allow the hiring of 14 part-time employees, creating a significant reduction in overtime expenditures. At the end of the day, difficult choices in funding were made by majority vote. The Governor proposed a 2% increase in Medicaid reimbursements to providers; however, the House committee passed only a .75% increase. Higher education funding was reduced from a 2% increase to 1%. The Working Lands initiative, an economic driver for the state, was fully funded, as the Governor recommended. Identified savings that were one-time money will not be used for on-going expenses. The committee was focused on not creating additional pressures on next year’s budget. For additional information on any bill or actions in the House or Senate or standing committee please visit www.leg.state.vt.us. These are live pages and are updated regularly. Please contact me directly with your questions and concerns. As always, it is an honor to represent our communities at the State House.

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

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COUNTRY COMMENTARY

Many warm wishes, Every one of us has heard “April showers bring May flowers”. As Vermonters we know whoever came up with it didn’t live in Vermont. But, happily, sugaring season is on its way, just one more season that most states just don’t have. We are lucky to have such a trade. It does bring in tourists, and we love that, but I can tell you I love maple syrup, sugar and fudge just about more than anything. Sugaring season also reminds us that Mud season cometh. Oopy, gloppy, oozing mud, with black fly season not far behind. I personally could live without black flies. I like mud season, as it is a time for the wee buds on trees to start popping out and one can smell spring everywhere. There is nothing better than a spring breeze with all its many promises of green. I like sugaring season, not just because of the syrup (yum), but because it is also a time for the crocuses to be popping their wee heads out from under the snow. These things are magical to me, and treasured even more so with having had a cold bitter winter. The sky seems bluer as spring marches in, and the sun seems stronger and warmer. I think we all breathe a sigh of relief from the long winter months as spring arrives. Cabin fever, which can certainly make you itch and go wild, seems to ease, as well, with the snowmelt. I am getting the urge to start some young plants for when the planting season comes just after black fly season. I love flowers and growing our own veggies. We can some and we dry some, but that’s a few more seasons off. I hope you all appreciate the glorious sun, as our days grow longer and the promise of spring to come. Enjoy nature’s beauty and magic! Our chickens are so ready for spring, too; they love to forage for their own food. They love to eat Japanese beetles, of all things, and thankfully so. The cats and the dog are beginning to take naps on the deck in the sun. We are wearing lighter weight jackets and have been out walking more, taking in the beauty and wonder that is all of Vermont, nestled here in the bosom of the Green Mountain State that shall be green once more. YAY! Wishing you the very best spring and happy days, Laura Lee Saorsa Smith

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Domey and Payne Honored at Town Meeting

At Town Meeting on March 4, 2014, two of Cabot’s finest were recognized by the select board for their outstanding contributions to the greater Cabot community.

Carleton Domey received a plague in recognition of his many, many years of service as a Lister, in addition to his other untold contributions to Cabot, including Zoning Administrator and Willey Building Committee member. Carlton has served Cabot extremely well over multiple decades, and for that we wish to say thank you for all that you have done. Carlton has, indeed, made Cabot a better place to live, and he represents the best in all of us.

Roland “Slim” Payne, Sr. was recognized for his work as Cabot’s Tree Warden and for his efforts to revitalize the Town Forest. Cabot residents, for decades to come, will benefit from the efforts Slim has made, planting trees throughout the village. Slim’s efforts to improve the Town Forest---a true Cabot gem---must also be recognized. Thank you, Slim, for all that you have done and continue to do for the Cabot community. We are grateful.

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Draft Zoning Regulations to be Discussed

By Gary Gulka After ten months of work to redraft Cabot’s Zoning Regulations, the Planning Commission is preparing to bring it to the people – by inviting the Select Board and residents to a series of meetings to review in detail the content and format of the draft regulations. Hard copies of the draft will be made available and the draft will be reviewed and discussed – article by article, chapter by chapter. Given that it’s been over 30 years since major revisions have been proposed, there are numerous changes that would affect the way that future development is managed – including zoning districts, to lot sizes, building in flood hazard areas, sign regulations, lighting, subdividing land and more. Some proposed changes address lack of detail and clarity in existing regulations, and some changes are intended to manage future growth in ways that can help us retain the character of the town’s settlement pattern of a village center and working landscape of farms, forest and open land. With Cabot’s population more than doubling and the number of housing units tripling since 1970, change is happening, though it may not seem like it from one year to the next. The meetings are not a part of any formal regulation adoption process, but intended to help the Planning Commission further refine the draft document. Meetings are scheduled for April 17, May 1, and May 15 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM in the Willey Building. Copies of the draft regulations will be available at the Town Clerk’s Office by April 14 and on line at: http://www.place sense.com/cabot . It would be beneficial to obtain and review a copy prior to the meetings.

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Cabot Agricultural Network Update: Marketing Cabot And Its Businesses

By Sjon Welters Do you want to sell your products to a larger market? Join others in finding distributors, sharing marketing costs, and take advantage of the fact that we all live in a unique and, thanks to the Cabot Creamery, nationally known town? Several Cabot businesses will be putting together their heads in the coming weeks to work on a road map that will bring us there. One goal is to have a Cabot businesses booth at a national food expo in September, where we can show off our products to thousands, and interest stores to sell our products. We also want to look closer to home and find state and regional shows to find buyers at a smaller scale.

Meanwhile, the Cabot Ag group has taken the initiative to get kids and parents together to see how and where we can stimulate a renewed enthusiasm for farming, crafts and homesteading skills. 4H educator Michael Wilson is spearheading this. Check out Front Porch Forum for more info. A myriad of other practical ideas are being considered to stimulate economic development and address critical social issues. As Rome was not built in one day, persistence, prudence, and patience will eventually yield tangible results for all to see and benefit from. Stay tuned.

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Interest in Reintroducing 4H in Cabot

By Niels Larsen An information meeting about 4H on March 8 was well attended. This confirmed informal expressions of interest in reintroducing 4H in Cabot. Mr. Michael Wilson, UVM Extension Service 4H Educator , Washington and Orange County, gave an enthusiastic and informative overview of the philosophy guiding 4H pro gra m s. The emphasis is on developing good life skills, including skills of lasting value such as how to grow things and care for soil and animals, cooperating with others, planning and documenting the projects undertaken and how to explain to others what has been learned. The Cabot Agricultural Network and the Cabot Community Association are committed to once again make 4H an important part of our community. Follow-up meetings with Mr. Wilson have been scheduled for March 22 April 5, both meetings at 4:00 p.m. at the Cabot Library. The main focus will be on soliciting ideas on specific topics of interest to 8-18 year olds and individuals willing to lead such projects. The possibilities includegrowing vegetables, berries and fruit, raising and caring for animals (pigs, cows, horses , goats, and poultry ) , home economics-type projects (bread baking, cooking, sewing , handcraft, woodworking). Willing leaders will be able to draw on an extensive library of proven leadership guides available from the Extension Service. The determining factor in what will be offered is finding individuals who would like to lead. It would be a great achievement if, among all the possibilities, it will be possible to offer a handful of programs. Please come and learn more about this worthwhile community effort and to help shape its direction.

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Cabot Town Forest

On Wednesday, January 29, 2014, the Selectboard conducted a Public Hearing in accordance with Title 19 V.S.A. to determine if the access road off the South Walden Road leading to the Town Forest should be converted to a Class IV road. At the hearing, Jack Daniels, Selectboard, Slim Payne, Tree Warden and Carlton Domey, Lister, provided testimony on the Town Forest. Mr. Shaun Brooks, a landowner and abutter to the Town Forest, and whose land bounds the access road from the South Walden Road to the Town Forest, also testified. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Selectboard voted to initiate a road survey in accordance with 19 V.S.A. 33. That survey was completed on February 16, 2014.

At the conclusion of a sixty day period, which will occur on March 30, 2014, the Selectboard will decide whether to change the access road to a Class IV road or leave it as it currently exists. The Town Forest will be an Agenda Item at the April 1 Select Board meeting, at which time the Selectboard should vote on this matter. In accordance with Title 19, should the Selectboard vote to create a Class IV road leading to the Town Forest, the abutter has the right to submit an appeal to Superior Court. We will keep you fully apprised of all developments in this area. Stay tuned. And, if you have never visited the Town Forest, add it to your 2014 bucket list; you will be in for a very pleasant surprise, as it is one of Cabot’s hidden gems.

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What is Good Quality Habitat? The Birdseye View

By Jens Hilke Note: Over the next few issues of the Chronicle, the Cabot Conservation Committee will be providing some informative articles, written by staff of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, on what makes for good quality wildlife habitat from a variety of scales or perspectives. This first article looks at wildlife habitat from the birdseye view. Several years ago, I was involved in a project to reshoot a series of photos that had been taken from the air just after the 1927 flood. Our team logged many hours in a small Cessna flying the river valleys of Vermont trying to capture the same angles a photographer had used some eighty years ago so we could document the changes in the landscape, creating a matched pair of “then and now” photos. From a plane the details of the terrain blur and you’re left with simply the mosaic of towns, forests and farmland. The more we compared the old photos with the distant terrain viewed from the plane window, the more history blurred as we imagined the changes that had taken place; how early clearing for farming in the 1800s led to the increased flooding and erosion seen in 1927, and how those fields have grown up into the varied habitats we see on the land today. So, when we ask the question of what is good quality habitat on our land, we should begin by “looking out the plane window.” This “birdseye view” shows the mosaic and patterns of forests and fields on the land as well as the history of a changing landscape. And, certain landscape patterns become quite obvious at this scale. When we look at our land in Vermont from the air or in aerial photography, we are likely to see broad expanses of forests that haven’t been built up. They are bordered by roads and development, but include continuous mixes of different natural communities, from evergreen and deciduous forests to meadows, streams and wetlands. I call these areas continuous habitat blocks and use them to represent biological diversity. The combination of varied topography, climate and physical features, like bedrock, creates more niches where more wildlife species can find homes. As a result, bigger blocks of continuous habitat have more species diversity than smaller blocks. This direct correlation allows us to look at our landscape and derive some sense of biological diversity simply based on the size of the blocks. It is not an absolutely comprehensive measure of diversity, however, since many rare species and significant natural communities have been shaped by development but are still important. But this method does give us a quick and easy sense of where diversity might be greatest. These blocks often include working forests and lands important for recreation, as well as other values that are compatible with wildlife habitat. So, we’re not defining lands that are free from human use, but simply lands that aren’t developed. This includes the mix of working lands and lands that don’t see much use by people (which are also important to some wildlife species). This concept of continuous habitat blocks allows us to see our land from a landscape perspective and get a quick idea of diversity based on the size of the block. In many places in Vermont we see “islands” of isolated forests surrounded by development and agriculture. This is forest fragmentation and it is a modern problem with an interesting history. Before colonial settlement, Vermont was almost entirely forested, but by 1850 only about 20 percent of the land was covered with trees. Today, the reverse is true, with forests covering almost 80 percent of the state. But, the forest that has grown back is different than the previous one and is being increasingly surrounded by development. We are losing wildlife habitat as development continues to isolate these blocks and as we hide development within these forest blocks, reducing their quality. However, there is no minimum or maximum number of acres to define contiguous habitat. It is more meaningful to consider the size of the contiguous habitat block, as well as the associated plant and animal species, within the context of the level of fragmentation in the region. The habitat’s configuration is also important when identifying contiguous blocks. For example, a forested habitat area with a highly irregular shape and a large amount of forest edge may be less functional for some species than forest habitat of the same acreage with a regular shape. From our birdseye view we see that many of our forests or continuous habitat blocks are often connected through narrow bands of greenspace. Sometimes these “connecting lands” follow river corridors and sometimes they are upland. They may include roads, lightly developed lands or even less suitable lands, but they provide a means for wildlife species to cross between big blocks of forests and wetlands, using these areas as corridors. These lands are incredibly important because of this connectivity function, effectively increasing the size of the habitat blocks. At a landscape scale, we often look at the needs of far-ranging species, such as black bear or moose, as representing a variety of the smaller-ranging species living within the far-ranging species’ home range. If we manage enough land to meet the survival needs of these farranging species, we’ve also provided for the host of smaller-ranging species within that area. Identifying the continuous habitat blocks, as well as connecting these blocks, not only serves these far-ranging species but also brings along a host of lesser-known, smallerrange species. History also plays a role in our birdseye view. As we look at the same mosaic of forests, fields and development, we must keep in mind that the history of the land use has helped form this mosaic. For example, some of the lands now covered in white pine were badly eroded sheep pasture in the 1800s, and grew back in the pine we see today instead of the mixed hardwoods they’d once been. This serves to remind us that the landscape is constantly changing and reflects the decisions of people for hundreds of years. Our mosaic is in large part a pattern of our own making and has shown many other patterns over the land’s long history. The land use decisions we make today of improving or degrading quality wildlife habitat are clearly visible in the patterns of our landscape tomorrow.

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OBITUARIES & MEMORIALS

Curtis Archer, Sr.

Curtis Van Buren Archer, Sr. 71, of Walden died Tuesday evening, March 4, 2014, at his residence in Walden. Curt was born April 21, 1942 in Winchester, Massachusetts, the son of the late Fred and Marian (Lawson) Archer. In 1971, he moved to rural Vermont and bought an old farm house on Noyestar Road in Walden. The house didn’t even have a bathroom, and he spent many days over the years improving the building and barn. After moving to Vermont, he married Betty White and they had two children, Irene Harvey of Cabot and Curtis Archer, Jr. (“CV”), of Hardwick. Curt had two children from a prior marriage who still live in Massachusetts. Curt was always involved in his community. In the 70’s and 80’s he served as trail master for Coles Pond Sledders, and worked with his daughter, Irene, to hand draw trail maps. Irene’s success as a buck saw world champion and world record holder can also be attributed to her dad. The many hours she spent in her youth helping him clear trails using the buck saw helped develop her sawing skills. He also had a very large garden, which helped supply his daughter when she ran the farmer’s market on the Cabot Common. His gardening exuberance had led him to be a charter mem-

Una I. Trepto Una I. (Clark) Trepto, 94, died March 3, 2014, at Berlin Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was born Februry 9, 1920, in Northfield, the daughter of Frank and Myrtie (Glidden) Clark.

She attended schools in Northfield, Hinesburg and Montpelier, graduating from Montpelier High School in 1939. She married Raymond E. Trepto, Sr., on March 19, 1945, in Plainfield. They lived most of their married life at the Horn of the Moon in East Montpelier. Una worked for the Montpelier Steam Laundry, M.H. Fishman Co., and did general housecleaning. For several years, she cooked hot lunch for the Horn of the Moon School. She is survived by her daughters, Nancy Trepto, of Graniteville, and Ginger Baker and her husband, Jeff, of Hyde Park; son-in-law John Graves of ber of the Buffalo Mountain Co-Op in Hardwick many years before. Curt volunteered on the Walden Fire Department during the 80’s and 90’s. His son, CV, carried the same torch and was a volunteer Assistant Chief of the Wolcott Fire Department (recently retired). Another part of Curt’s community involvement came when he accompanied his first granddaughter, Carrie Harvey, to preschool. He actively helped in her third year and fourth year preschool class. But he had to cease the effort when he wasn’t allowed to accompany her to Kindergarten. In his working life, Curt was coowner in Dicur Small Engines, which was located in the building across from the House of Pizza in Hardwick. Dicur Small Engines was named after him and his father-in-law, Dick White: “Dic” for Dick and “cur” for Curtis. He also worked many years for Lanphear Sales & Service, in the same building. He retired from his working life in 1993 due to ill health, at which time he was employed as the manager of the rental department at Demar’s Hardware in Morrisville. In his later years, he still enjoyed spending time outside and with his family. He loved the outdoors, and cherished the small pond on his property. He also enjoyed riding a snowmobile around his property with his granddaughter, Shannon Harvey. He was a member of Touch of Grace Church in East Hardwick and worked with the Gideon organization to help spread the word of faith.

East Montpelier; grandchildren Brian Graves and Robin of Cabot; Scott Graves, Terry Richardson, Darci Coleman-Graves and Elisha Coleman of East Montpelier; Richard Craig and Stephanie of Morrisville; Heather Houser and Edward of Sudbury, Mass.; Karen Boyce and Ray of West Brookfield; Hanna Chamberlin of Graniteville; and Mindy Baker of Barre. She is also survived by 18 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband in 1981; granddaughter Sarah Graves in 1966; daughter Sally Graves in 1998; and son Raymond Trepto, Jr., in 2010; and 13 brothers and sisters. A committal service and burial will be held in the spring at Cutler Cemetery in East Montpelier, VT. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, New England Division, 55 Day Lane, Williston, VT 05495; the Vermont Heart Association, 312 Hurricane Lane, Williston, VT 05495; or to a charity of one's choice.

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ADVICE FROM THE TREE WARDEN

By Roland (Slim) Payne

Winter is sure hanging in tough this year. With cold and snow, hopefully it will start to go the other way, and we will get back to bare ground so we can do something in the woods. I can’t walk in the snow or snowshoe like I used to, but I can go on bare ground pretty well. There is a good article in The Northern Woodlands Magazine this month that is interesting, from the people at Proctor Maple Research. They had a small maple with a broken top, so they cut it off at chest height and put a plastic bag over the stump with a vacuum line in it and pulled sap, and it just kept coming and coming. They are thinking that this may be a new and quicker way to set up a sugar operation, with trees starting to produce syrup in five to seven years, instead of about 40 years. I guess we will see if some producers try this. The equipment will probably have to be different. OK, next thing to come is sap season. Hopefully the weather will cooperate for a good season. Now it is time to start veggie plants. I am going to start mine on or about March 25 and hope for a little less rain this summer and things will grow. I haven’t heard anything on Town Forest Road yet.

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Joe’s Pond Ice-Out Contest 2014

By Jane Brown It’s a spring ritual, betting on when the ice will be out of Joe’s Pond. Contest tickets are available at local businesses and on line right up until 11:59:59 p.m. on April 1. So, if you don’t get your guess in by then, indeed, the contest is over for you, but for ticket holders, it’s like Yogi said, “It isn’t over ‘til it’s over.” The Joe’s Pond Ice-Out Contest isn’t over until the famous clock stops. We’re thinking, the way things have been this winter, that could be sometime in July. Just kidding. The contest isn’t rocket science; it isn’t even complicated, but in case there are some folks who are unfamiliar with the mechanics of the game, here’s how it works. First, let me say that at $1.00 each, the price of a ticket is one of the few things that hasn’t gone sky high in the past couple of decades. They are available at various businesses and on the Joe’s Pond website, www.joespondver mont.com. Until April 1, that is; however, records show the ice on Joe’s Pond may remain well into April or even May. In 1992, it held until May 6. The earliest the ice has gone out in the 26 years of the contest was on April 5, 2010. That was a nail biter year for the Ice-Out Committee; nobody before had ever asked the question, “What happens if the flag goes down before April 1?” Ice gone in March? Not likely! Thanks to that experience, there’s now a contingency plan in place. Sure, the trend towards earlier iceouts got a boost that year and, again, in 2012, when it went out on April 8, but 2014 may blow the global warming theory right out of the water. I’m writing this during the biggest snow storm of the year, on March 11-12, and with mostly below-zero nights for another week at least, and over two feet of ice to melt – that ice isn’t going out any time soon. Back to how everything works. There’s a pallet with a cement block and a flag all wired together that gets dragged out onto the ice around the end of March, when ice fishing is over and the pickup trucks, cars, snowmobiles and ATV’s are all mostly gone. A rope from the pallet is attached to a little disconnect gadget inserted into the cord of a big round electric clock on shore, and when the ice melts under the pallet so it sinks, or when water opens up so the pallet on its floe moves up or down the pond enough to tighten the rope, break the connection and stop the clock

– that is the official time the ice is declared “out.” Now, what happens to all those tickets after the April 1 cutoff? For years, Joe’s Ponder Jules Chatot took bets from his buddies and kept track in a shirt pocket notebook, but when the game “went public” in 1988 and became the Joe’s Pond Ice-Out Contest, record keeping needed to be more precise. Jules’ daughter created a computer list of the thousand or so entries that first year. Twenty-six years later, there are about 15,000 tickets sold, and logging them in is a huge job. Tickets are picked up from the various outlets and delivered to the data specialist periodically, but most tickets come in during the last two or three days before the contest closes. Some come by regular mail, and that can take several days. Each postmark is examined to be sure the letter was mailed on or before April 1. During this time, of course, contest officials are doing interviews with newspaper and television crews, and everyone is watching the clock. Checking the clock and flag is easy. As of last year, there are web cams watching 24/7, so no more twice-daily visits to the clock site through mud and over potholes. Anybody can see the clock and flag on www.joespondvermont.com, using Internet Explorer as your browser. Click “Webcam” and follow instructions. When the clock stops, we alert the media. Our data person scans the computer entries for a match, which takes only seconds, but there’s protocol – the actual winning ticket has to be located among the 15,000 more or less, and compared to the data entry; if everything checks, we contact the winner. Only after everything is verified and we’ve actually spoken to the winner do we announce the name or names to the media. We’ve had multiple winners three times, with as many as four people guessing the exact date and time. Recently the 50/50 split after expenses has amounted to about $5,000 each for the winner(s) and Joe’s Pond Association. Finally, we haul the pallet out of the water and put away the clock for another year. Everyone is invited to watch the big Fourth of July Fireworks Display on July 3 (rain date July 5) – a direct benefit of the Joe’s Pond Ice-Out Contest. But even before the first rocket is fired off, the cycle will have begun again and 2015 Ice-Out Contest tickets will be available at Hastings Store in West Danville and on the web site. It’s not really just for spring, anymore.

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Glenn & Ruth Goodrich Retire from Cabot Ambulance

Glenn & Ruth Goodrich retired in January from Cabot Ambulance after many years of service. “It has been interesting and rewarding serving the community in this capacity, and it gives you a great sense of service to the community.” Volunteer services, such as fire and rescue, are always in need of people who care and wish to serve. It is the best way to help your neighbors and be there for them in times of need. It is critical to have people close by who can respond quickly. For Glenn & Ruth, the turning factor was the timing of continuing education requirements for recertification. Their very busy sugaring season did not allow for the extra-curricular training time.

It is their hope that others in the community will step up to the plate and help Cabot Ambulance continue to be a vital part of the community

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 5 onward.

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Maple Fest A Success Thanks to Sugar Makers and Volunteers

In spite of a late season, Cabot sugar makers rallied to the cause and provided local syrup for the March 15 Cabot Maple Fest. Some operators were “all out”, and one or two reached down for the last container, but pancake eaters were treated to syrup from Jimmy Ackermann, Cedric Alexander, Will Ameden, Skip and Rose Bothfeld, Keith and Greg Burtt, Sue Carpenter, Morgan and Jennifer Churchill, Marcia Maynard and Ken Denton, Glenn and Ruth Goodrich, Richard Spaulding and Kenneth and Chuck Talbert. The Goodrich’s also supplied maple sugar for fantastic maple cotton candy. “We don’t know exactly how many breakfasts were served, but we had 250 tickets, and we ran out of them while pancakes were still flying out the door,” reported organizer Jeanne Johnson. Scott St. John and Fred Ducharme ran the kitchen with Brigitte Codling, Cindy Hastings, Shelby and Ashley Maurice, Jasmine Tetrealt, Seth Herrick and Kyler Loveless, and Lela Jones staffed the dessert table. The Silent Auction, displayed in CSPAC for the first time (previously in the gym), was run by Jeanne Johnson and Todd Jones, while Timothy Mueller-Harder provided CSPAC technical support. Cabot’s own The Limes and Montpelier’s Goat Ropers performed in CSPAC, where Screenings of The Dragon Wall and previews of The Green Knight were aired. Anson, Vicky and Alden Tebbetts made sugaron-snow in the mobile sugar shack provided by the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association, which Frank Kampf hauled to Cabot from Williston. The National Guard provided their climbing wall, along with all the harnesses and safety spotting. Richie and Connie Hourihan turned the Goodrich’s maple sugar into hundreds of cones or bags of cotton candy, and Caleb Domey came home from college to oversee kids on the bouncy house and inflated slide. That slide weighs hundreds of pounds, requiring Jim Abbott, Harry Huntley, Todd Jones, Ted Domey, Seth Herrick and Jasmine Tetreault to move the slide and bouncy house into the gym and then back out. In the Masonic Hall, the Twin Valley Senior Center organized Bingo as a fundraiser for their meals on wheels program. And Amy Hornblas stopped by after all the fun and games and cleaned up after us, when we were too tired to do it ourselves. On top of all that, Pete Ackermann, Connie Withers, Deb Bothfeld and Linda Savoca were very gracious in helping us plan and organize the use of school facilities. Thank you so much to all. Maple Fest is the annual fundraiser for The Cabot Chronicle, and is estimated to have brought in about $3,500 toward operating expenses. The Cabot Chronicle staff and volunteers are grateful to the community members who turned out to visit the 45 crafters, eat pancakes, homemade beans and sugar on snow or cotton candy, donated to and bid on silent auction items, and let their kids play on the inflatables. We are also thankful for the crafters and vendors, who serve as an anchor for the event. We hope you had fun, and would be glad to hear your suggestions for making future Maple Fests events you want to

3338). Thank you for your support. At least for now, the newspaper is in the black!

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The Mouse That Roared!

Cabot Community Theater proudly presents The Mouse That Roared! This satirical comedy will appeal to young and old alike (though those of us old enough to remember the Cold War will find more levels of humor in the play!). Performances will take place in the Cabot School Performing Arts Center on Friday and Saturday, April 4 and 5 at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, April 6, at 2:00 p.m. Admission price is once again only $5/person at the door, and reservations can be made by calling 563-3338. In this comedy, which was made into a movie starring Peter Sellers in the 1960s, the tiny nation of Grand Fenwick turns the question of worldwide balance of power on its head, as it plans an invasion of the United States to rectify its grievance against it! This production features a multi-generational cast of local actors committed to excellent, affordable, inclusive community theater. The show features local actors Lori Augustyniak, Adam Blachly, Sam Carpenter, Barb Colf, Sawyer Estivill, Clara Mueller-Harder, Declan O'Connor, Maggie and Marion Palmiero, Leo Parlo, Dick Payne, Lily Scott, Aeden Scribner, Jonah Socks, Lila and Lori Stratton, Laura Stuemke, Fianna, Olivia, and Travis Verret, and Megan Walker. Direction is by Karen Mueller- Harder, design by Janet Van Fleet, and technical staff includes David Moody, Susie Socks, Paula Davidson, Todd Jones, Emily Dale, Susannah Blachly, Bruce Westcott, and Jeannie Johnson.

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2014 Homestead Declaration and Property Tax Adjustment Claim Filing online is EASY, QUICK, and FREE!

2014 Vermont Homestead Declaration Form HS-122 Section A Vermont resident homeowners must annually file a Declaration of Homestead on their principal dwelling as of April 1, 2014.

2014 Property Tax Adjustment Claim Form HS-122 Section B Eligible Homestead owners must annually file a claim to receive an adjustment to property tax. Generally, an adjustment is not available to households whose income is $105,000 or more.

You may be eligible for an adjustment if:

· You have filed a Vermont Homestead;

· You were a Vermont resident all of calendar 2013; and

· You are not claimed as a dependent of another taxpayer for tax year 2013.

Documents you will need to file:

· Copy of 2013/2014 property tax bill

· Income information for you, your spouse/civil union partner, and all other members of the households such as W-2, 1099, SSA-1099, SSA-1042S, RRB-1099, RRB-1045, business income information

To file online, go to: https://secure.vermont.gov/hd/index. To begin, you will need your SPAN number from your property tax bill and your social security number.

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Do You Qualify? From Green Mountain United Way

For EITC, that is. What’s EITC? It’s the Earned Income Tax Credit available from both the federal and state governments for many Vermonters. It was established a few years ago as sort of a reward for working Vermonters. Thousands of people are missing out on this credit each year because they do not request it when completing their income taxes. The IRS estimates that 20% of all eligible taxpayers do not file for EITC. Who qualifies? Generally, taxpayers may be able to claim the credit if their incomes in 2013 did not exceed the following limits:

· $14,340 (or, $19,680 if married and filing jointly with no qualifying children)

· $37,870 (or, $43,210 if married and filing jointly with 1 qualifying child)

· $43,038 (or, $48,378 if married and filing jointly with 2 qualifying children)

· $46,227 (or, $51,567 if married and filing jointly with 3 or more qualifying children)

Is it worth filling out the one form if you qualify? Many people, until they see what they can actually receive for a tax credit or refund, think not. However, the following shows the maximum credits available for those who qualify based on the same categories as shown above:

· $487.00

· $5,372.00 For those who qualify, requesting the credit can mean a significant amount that reduces their tax burden or assists them in paying bills and putting some aside as savings. In 2012, more than 45,000 Vermonters claimed EITC on their taxes and received a combined average refund of more than $2,000. It is definitely worth requesting the credit if you qualify. It could mean money in your pocket. Keep EITC in mind when completing your taxes. You might be very happy you did.

· · $3,250.00 $6,044.00

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APPLICATIONS DUE MAY 1

The purpose of the Cabot UDAG Plan is to provide financial resources, through a fair and consistent process, to local individuals and groups for activities and projects that serve to strengthen the economic, cultural, educational, environmental, and social well-being of the Cabot community. In any given year, up to 4% of the trailing six quarters’ average balance to March 31 of any year in the Scholarship Endowment may be disbursed as scholarships to eligible Cabot residents. Eligible recipients are residents pursuing posthigh school education/training, and/or continuing education or professional development, who have been Cabot residents for at least twelve months as of the application deadline and who will be Cabot residents on the award date. Eligible activities that may be funded with these scholarships include the purchase of books and equipment required in connection with educational activities and the payment of tuition and fees for degree programs, courses and seminars. A scholarship application packet must include six (6) copies of each of the following: � Completed application form (available at http://www.cabotvt.us/docs/

udagscholarships.pdf); � A no-more-than 500 word personal essay that describes your personal and career goals, how your choice of educational coursework will help you meet those goals, and a description of your extra-curricular involvement and/or volunteer experience(s), if any); � An acceptance letter to the school or program or proof of enrollment, if available; � A copy of your transcript, if you are a high school student.

Application packets must be postmarked on or before May 1

Scholarship Committee (P.O. Box 125, Cabot, VT 05647). Late or incomplete applications will not be considered for funding.

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

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October 15, 2014

No Property Tax Adjustment Claims accepted after this date No Renter Rebate Claims accepted after this date

Extended 2013 Income Tax Return Due Online forms available at: http://www.state.vt.us/tax/individual.shtml

You must file a Property Tax Adjustment Claim every year in order to receive one. Use NEW Form HS-122 to file the claim. The filing due date is April 15, 2014. Claims may be filed up to October 15, 2014 ($15 late filing penalty applies). No Property Tax Adjustment Claims accepted after October 15.

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31st Annual Tree and Trout Sale

Trees:

The Winooski NRCD's 31st Annual Tree Sale will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at our offices in Berlin and Williston. The sale is open to residents of Chittenden, Washington, and parts of Orange County. We will have a wide variety of bareroot trees and shrubs available at very low cost including Northern White Cedar, Sugar Maple, Witchhazel, Winterberry and Beaked Hazelnut, and fruit trees and berries including Apple, Pear, Apricot, Strawberries, Blackberries and more. In addition to a great selection of native plants, fruit trees, berries, this year we will offer native trees and shrubs and organic perennials locally sourced from wild populations. Wild populations have greater genetic diversity than cultivated stock and have evolved with local diseases and competing species. This year we purchased locally-sourced plants from the Intervale Conservation Nursery in Burlington, VT; Arcana Nursery in Jericho, VT; and the State of New Hampshire Division of Forest and Lands nursery in Concord, NH. Vermont has a strong localvore movement; purchasing locally-sourced native plants such as Balsam Fir, Red Osier Dogwood, Elderberry and more supports the local economy and the local environment!

Orders must be postmarked by Monday, March 24 and all material must be picked up on April 26 between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM. We have limited quantities of certain species and orders will be processed on a first come, first served basis so order early! Depending on remaining quantities, late orders may be accepted. Select perennials will be available for purchase on sale day and free Tree Planting Workshops plus a raffle will be offered at both sites.

Trout:

WNRCD is also happy to announce a Spring Trout Sale. This is a great opportunity stock your pond with small and medium sized brook and rainbow trout purchased directly from the District. This year’s sale will be on Tuesday, April 29 from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm at Rusty Parker Memorial Park in Waterbury, Vermont. Pre-orders will be accepted until Friday, April 11. Proceeds from both sales allow us to bring high-quality conservation programs to the people in our District.

For more information visit www.winooskinrcd.org Cleaning Bird Feeders Can Prevent Spread of Disease

Feeding birds in the winter is a lot of fun, but it can also cause diseases to spread quickly among wild birds, which is why the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department says it is important to clean your birdfeeders regularly. Bacteria and fungi can cause diseases such as aspergillosis, salmonella and conjunctivitis. Species commonly affected by bird feeder diseases are redpolls, pine siskins, goldfinches, sparrows, and cardinals. All feeders should be thoroughly cleaned on a monthly basis. A solution of one part bleach to nine parts hot water is recommended to kill bacteria. Hot water with unscented dish detergent also does an excellent job. Wear rubber gloves to avoid any contamination. Be sure to clean inside and outside surfaces. Bottle brushes work well in tube feeders. It is very important to thoroughly rinse and dry your feeder to prevent residual chlorine from being ingested by birds. Then, dry the feeders well before filling them again. Any remaining moisture could lead to mold and mildew that can cause rotten, unhealthy seed. Also, take time to remove seed and droppings in nearby areas where birds congregate. Birds can spill seed and leave debris several feet away from feeders. Clean birdfeeders and feeding areas will attract more birds and keep them healthier for birders to enjoy. diseases at bird feeders can be found at: http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/fact_sheets/coping_with_diseases_at_ birdfeeders.jsp.

Vermont Trout Unlimited Launches Fourth Annual Fly Fishing Summer Camp for Teens

Vermont Trout Unlimited announces year four of their fly fishing camp for Vermont teens, ages 13 to 16, to be held Sunday, June 22, through Thursday, June 26, at Quimby Country Lodge & Cottages, in Averill, Vermont. Teens interested in learning the art of fly-fishing or improving their skill level alongside some of Vermont's most accomplished fly anglers are invited to apply. To apply for camp, download and print the pdf camp application available at http://www.vermonttroutcamp.com/contact register/, provide the necessary information and mail back to the address listed.

All potential campers are required to write an essay about why he/she would like to attend Trout Camp and what they hope to get from the experience. In addition, a written recommendation from a teacher, counselor or mentor is needed. The essay and recommendation are very important. Applicants will be graded and selected by these, so be sure to make them the best they can be. All applicants must be age 13 through 16 by May 1, 2014. All application materials must be received by April 15, 2014.

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Kingdom Animal Shelter FIV Cats in Littleton

Mickey and Bob, brothers adopted a year ago by their current owners, had likely been abused. They were skittish around humans and would make ideal barn cats. The brothers had never been separated, so the current owners adopted them as barn cats to keep the mouse population down. With the weather brutally cold this winter and the barn not heated, the owners brought the boys into the house. There, they discovered two affectionate creatures who loved to cuddle and spend their time around people. A happy ending for two lovely cats? Unfortunately not. One of the owners has an allergy made unbearable by being around the two cats. She’s made several doctor visits and is on an inhaler and medication. The doctor strongly advises the cats be re -homed for her wellbeing. With two beautiful cats that are loving and affectionate, this shouldn’t be a problem. But, it is. Bob has FIV. His brother doesn’t. The brothers have never been separated. The current owners’ wish is that they find a home together. However, the negativity around FIV cats makes finding a new home for them together, a problem. FIV cats can live perfectly long, happy and healthy lives, with no symptoms at all. FIV is a cat-only disease, and cannot be spread to humans or other non-felines. FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) is a slow virus that affects a cat’s immune system over a period of years. It is not transmitted easily between cats, not spread casually in litter boxes or water and food bowls, not even with close contact such as snuggling and playing.

How is the virus spread? It is spread through badly infected gums, serious penetrating bite wounds or blood transfusions. Bite wounds are extremely unlikely to happen with other cats, if they are properly introduced to each other. Biting is the primary source for transmitting the disease, and is most likely to happen with cats that are known fighters. Since Bob and Mickey are attached siblings this is highly unlikely if they are kept indoors, as the only cats of a household. In a larger home, they should not be a threat to other cats if they are thoughtfully introduced into the household. An FIV cat’s longevity is no different than with any other cat. There is no proven shortening of life expectancy. Owners do need to stay on top of any infections, as these secondary infections can exasperate the condition. An FIV cat’s immune system is unable to respond properly to infections. If promptly treated, secondary infections can be effectively treated with antibiotics. We are appealing to cat enthusiasts to open their hearts and home to these beautiful and affectionate cats so they can live a long and happy life. Please contact Kingdom Animal Shelter at [email protected] or call 802-741-7387 and leave a message stating your interest and a board member will return your call.

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Thanks from Kingdom Animal Shelter Volunteers

Kingdom Animal Shelter of St. Johnsbury would like to thank the voters of Cabot for approving at Town Meeting an appropriation of $500 to help defray the costs of the Shelter. KAS is a no-kill, all-volunteer, non-profit Shelter that cares for stray and surrendered cats until we find them a safe and caring forever home. Our annual budget is $50,000 so the help you have given us is so very much appreciated. We also wish to thank the Cabot Public Library for sponsoring our booth at the Cabot Maple Fest.

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Brian Boyes and Peter Stratman Awarded Rowland Fellowship

By Julia Hewitt Cabot teachers Brian Boyes and Peter Stratman have been selected as Rowland Fellows for 2014. The honor comes with $100,000 awarded to Cabot School to support their work, research and sabbatical next year. Brian and Peter shared their vision for their fellowship: “In our work at Cabot School, we are building the next generation of a project -based learning (PBL) pedagogy: rigorous, realworld, collaborative, interdisciplinary experiences infused with the arts and informed by social-action. Project-based learning is highly regarded for creating relevant and engaging opportunities for students, but highquality PBL can be daunting to plan and more challenging to manage. In the initial stages of project development, teachers are often able to conceptualize solid cross-curricular themes, driving questions, and culminating products for a learning expedition. "Mapping" the project—embedding artifacts, opportunities for assessment, proficiencies, and reflection—becomes increasingly complex. We aim to make PBL more accessible and meaningful for students and teachers by building an innovative curriculum planning tool that scaffolds best-practice in project design. Our vision is PBL Launchpad an iPad or web app that serves as a teacher-hub for planning expeditions, sharing ideas, and accessing dynamic instructional resources. This "next-gen" curriculum mapping tool will assist educators in developing, mapping, and managing holistic, interdisciplinary projects. At its core, PBL Launchpad will provide scaffolded support for building authentic, proficiency-based learning experiences reinforced with the essential components of bestpractice PBL. Launchpad will showcase exemplary instructional strategies and offer examples of high-quality artifacts that demonstrate student learning over the course of an expedition. The resource will also offer tips for fostering student reflection, metacognition, and Habits of Mind and Heart. In the future, we envision the potential for PBL Launchpad to connect students and educators across schools and communities so that teachers can share ideas and collaborate to build meaningful, realworld projects. Ultimately, a strong and relevant curriculum positively impacts school culture and leads to deeper engagement for all stakeholders.

Brian Boyes and Peter Stratman, Cabot School [email protected] [email protected] jects with visual artists. A huge jazz fan, David Budbill is a veteran of combining poetry with music, but he is best known for his awardtion at the door, but seating is limited. For information, call 802-272-5975.

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Update from the Cabot School Board

By Chris Tormey, Cabot School Board Chair

The 2014-2015 Cabot School operating budget that was passed at Town Meeting in March is about 1% larger than this year’s budget. Due to several other factors, however (including a decrease in our number of students and a steep increase in the statewide property tax rate), the budget will result in a homestead property tax increase of over 4% this year for Cabot homeowners. We appreciate the continuing support for the school from Cabot voters and taxpayers, and welcome any and all input from community members as we work to maintain a strong and effective school at a reasonable cost to taxpayers. Next year’s budget includes funding for two additional staff: one is an additional elementary teacher and the other is a “design technology” teacher that will work across grades 5- 12. The additional elementary teacher restores a position that was eliminated last year because of the small numbers of students that were expected to be in the 5/6 level when we built our budget last year. Those numbers have since doubled. The design technology teacher will be based in the tech-ed building, and will collaborate with teachers to integrate inquiry and design into projects that challenge students to address real-world problems. This position represents an expansion of elements of the successful, interdisciplinary SEED program that has been available to high school students for the past several years. Other additions to the budget include an additional hour per day for the part-time school nurse and funds added for busing of high school sports teams.

To limit the size of the budget’s increase, we reduced for next year the line items for technology and construction. We have allocated more money during the past couple of years to take care of some outstanding needs in the maintenance of our buildings (roof repairs, drainage systems, etc), but have limited the number of projects next year. Built into our school’s technology plan is a replacement cycle for the computers that play an increasingly large role in students’ work; the reduction in the technology budget next year means that some of that equipment will have to go a year longer before being replaced. A major effort for our board in the coming months will be to find a new principal to replace Karen Stewart, who will be leaving Cabot School at the end of June. In February, our school board decided to hire an interim principal for the 2014- 2015 school year, and to spend some time next fall looking at our school’s governance model and the demands of the job before advertising for our next long-term principal next winter. In March, a committee of parents, teachers, and school staff met to determine the skills and qualities needed in an interim principal, drafted a job description, and advertised for the position. We hope to hire an experienced leader to assist our teachers and staff next year in the range of efforts now underway to improve our school. We expect to select final candidates in May, and we will organize a time for them to meet with students, parents, school staff and community members before making a final decision on who will serve as our school’s principal next year.

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Cabot Student, Clara Mueller-Harder Vermont State Geographic Bee Semifinalist

Clara Mueller-Harder, Cabot eighthgrader, has been notified by the National Geographic Society that she is one of the semifinalists eligible to compete in the 2014 Vermont State Geographic Bee, sponsored by National Geographic Society, Google and Plum Creek. This is the second level of the National Geographic Bee competition, which is now in its 26th year. Bees were held in schools with fourth- through eighthgrade students throughout the state to determine each school's Bee winner. School-level winners then took a qualifying test, which they submitted to the National Geographic Society. The National Geographic Society invited the students with the top 100 scores in each of the 50 states, District of Columbia, Department of Defense Dependents Schools and U.S. territories to compete at the state level. The 2014 Vermont State Geographic Bee will be held at Middlebury College on Friday, April 4, 2014. The state winner will receive $100, the "Complete National Geographic on DVD" and a trip to Washington, D.C., to represent Vermont in the National Geographic Bee finals to be held at National Geographic Society headquarters, May 19-21, 2014.

The national winner will receive a $50,000 college scholarship and lifetime membership in the Society. The national winner will also travel (along with one parent or guardian), all expenses paid, to the Galapagos Islands, where he/she will experience geography firsthand throne' up-close encounters with the islands' unique wildlife and landscapes. Travel for the trip is provided by Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic. Visit www.nationalgeo graphic.com/geobee for more information on the National Geographic Bee. National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo WILD will air the final round of the 2014 National Geographic Bee, moderated by new host Soledad O'Brien, on Thursday, May 22 at 7 p.m. ET (to be followed on public television stations). Check local television listings for date and time.

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MASH-UP ON MAIN STREET: POETRY AND JAZZ WITH ARNOWITT AND BUDBILL IN CABOT

Michael Arnowitt, among Vermont’s premier pianists, and David Budbill, whom Booklist Magazine called "one of the most readable American poets ever" join for an afternoon of poetry and improvisation at the United Church of Cabot, on the Common, Sunday, April 13, at 3:00 p.m. Michael Arnowitt has performed throughout Europe and twice as piano soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, playing piano concertos of Bach and Beethoven. The Washington Post said of a piano concert Arnowitt gave at the National Gallery of Art last summer, "He played with an exquisite sense of touch, color and musical imagination." In recent years, Arnowitt has branched into jazz and improvisational performance prowinning play, “Judevine”. His "Moment to Moment: Poems of a Mountain Recluse" was chosen by Booklist as one of the ten best books of poetry for 1999, and Garrison Keillor has read almost fifty of his poems on National Public Radio, "The Writer's Almanac." In a format reviving the coffee house traditions of New York and San Francisco, Budbill will read from his forthcoming "Tumbling Toward the End" and his newly published "Happy Life" (2011) to Arnowitt’s improvised accompaniment. Together they will explore themes of the seasons, birds, mountain and city life in a unique and unrepeatable performance. This performance is a presentation of Cabot Arts and the Cabot Community Association. Admission is by dona-

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

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TWIN VALLEY SENIOR CENTER

By Rita Copeland Renovations are ongoing at Blueberry Hill. As with all projects, there are unexpected delays, and we certainly have hit some. I am hopeful, as this goes to print, the reasons for the delays will be settled and work completed. Our March 1st deadline has come and gone, as well as March 31, but we are hoping that by mid-April, all will be completed. To date, we have reached only 25% of our total budget of $75,000 for our project, and that is because good friends like you have contributed. We are hoping that additional businesses will step up to help us. Happily, the Town of Woodbury has provided us with a grant that is available in the very near future. Other forms of fundraising continue: the TVSC fundraising committee, under the direction of Joyce Fowler and her elves, put on Bingo at the Cabot Maple Fest. We thank her and her elves very much, as well as the people who attended Bingo. Think Spring!! We will have our Perennial Plant Sale on May 10 under the leadership of Linda Fowler. She personally donates the greatest perennials which are freshly dug from her gardens, and many other gardeners donate plants for the sale, as well. And this year, thanks to a Plainfield couple, Mitch & Vicky, we’ll also host a book sale at this event. They will pick up your books anytime to sort, store and prepare for May 10. They have the space to store them, so please, if you have immediate donations of CLEAN, UNDAMAGED BOOKS, CDs and DVDs, we would appreciate them. Please, no encyclopedias, Readers Digest, or mass market paperbacks (the small paperbacks). Remember - free pickup - so please contact Vicky at 802- 322-8031 to make arrangements. We are still looking for volunteers to help in different areas, so feel free to call Kass or Rita at 426-3447.

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FROM THE CABOT PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Library Trustees would like to add a Cabot High School Student Representative to the Library Board of Trustees in order to help the Cabot Library stay informed as to the needs of the student population. Please submit a short letter of interest to: Cabot Public Library, P.O. Box 6, Cabot, VT 05647. This time spent would be greatly appreciated and work toward the community service hours required by Cabot High School. The Library board meets on the third Tuesday evening of the month. Stay tuned for the Night of 1000 Stars coming in May! We are inviting you to read a small selection (5-10 minutes) of your favorite book. Any age reader and children’s books are welcome!

Programs:

Cabot Old Time Contra and Square

Dance – Saturday, April 12 – 7:30 p.m. Lausanne Allen will call the dances and there will be the world debut of a new band - Sugarhouse. The band consists of two fiddlers - David Carpenter and Amy Cann - and one guitarist - Rick Klein. Sugarhouse will be touring this summer in France. Dances are held on the second 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] Reintroduction of 4-H Program in Cabot – Saturday, April 5—4:00 p.m.

Michael Wilson of the UVM Extension Service for Washington Country will explain what assistance is available for 4H clubs, as well as the experience of other communities with active 4H programs. The meeting is organized by the Cabot Agricultural Network to explore the level of interest among potential leaders, parents of children who might be interested and others who might contribute facilities such as barns or stables for the reintroduction of 4H programs in Cabot. If the meeting shows sufficient interest in this project, the plan is to establish a community group to organize the creation and implementation of a program tailored to the wishes of the participants.

The Making of an Organic Farmer – Tuesday, April 8- 6:30 p.m.

The making of an organic farmer from DDT to beyond organic, with Cabot farmer and author, Ed Smith.

Special Story Hour – Spring Egg Hunt – Tuesday, April 15 – 10:30 a.m.

Stories, songs, arts & crafts, and a special egg hunt to celebrate the coming spring season. All are welcome!

Community Book Group – Wednesday, April 16 – 10:30 a.m. We will read Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James in April. All are welcome to join in! Copies of this book will be available in the Cabot Public Library.

Bike Maintenance Workshop with Jon Vara – Saturday, April 19 – 10:00 a.m. - noon Bring your old rusty bike in for some tender loving care and learn some of the basics of bike cleaning and maintenance. Meet at the Masonic hall parking lot.

Fiddle Lessons - Katie Trautz – Monday afternoons

All levels and abilities, Ages 4-100! Old time Irish, New England, Cajun and Swedish styles. For more info: [email protected] or 802-279-2236 New! Lego Club – Tuesdays in April

– 3:00-4:30 p.m. All are welcome! We’ll have Legos for you to build creations. The Legos will stay in the library. Dungeons & Dragons – Friday, 3:00

- 5:30 p.m. Join the group, conquer the obstacles, and get out of the dungeon alive! All are welcome. Thank You! We wish to thank the Cabot community for approving our budget for 2014 – we look forward to serving you in the coming year. Many thanks to Brad Alexander for facilitating the installation of the beautiful new windows in the library. Thanks so much to Susie Socks for organizing the Lego Exhibition and for the yummy Lego cookies! Many thanks to Niels Larsen for helping to bring a 4-H Club back to Cabot. Thanks, as always, to David Carpenter for organizing the fun Contra dances in Cabot every month, Cynthia Russell for helping facilitate the Community Book Group and Lisa Olsen for the many hours supervising Dungeons and Dragons.

See you at the Library!

Kathleen Hoyne and Anne Walker

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Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22

The Earth Day Network is supporting a campaign to reach A Billion Acts of Green, which has been so successful that they are now moving toward Two Billion Acts of Green. To learn how you or your school can get involved, or what has been done in the past, go to www.earthday.org. Below is one recommendation of how individuals can make positive change.

Ecological Footprint

Everyone knows eating fresh fruits and vegetables is an important part of any healthy diet. But did you know that if you buy your produce at a supermarket or grocery store, chances are you’re buying fruits and vegetables that have lost nearly half of their original nutritional value? According to the Institute of Food Research, one of the world’s leading food science organizations, the majority of produce in grocery stores has often lost nearly 45% of its nutritional value by the time you purchase it!

Produce actually begins losing nutrients as soon as it is harvested. Once fruits and vegetables stop receiving nutrients from their parent plant, vine, or tree, they begin to break down their own organic material for energy. As a result, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and other key nutrients begin to disappear. The longer the produce sits, the more nutrients it loses. Since most produce at supermarkets and grocery stores has to be transported several hundred miles from the farm, to a warehouse, to your store, on average it takes seven days before the fruits and vegetables arrive at the produce aisle. That means nutrients have been breaking down for a whole week! No wonder the produce only has half of its original nutrients. To make matters worse, transporting the food over such long distances emits hundreds of pounds of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. So not only is the produce you’re buying not as healthy as it could be, it’s also contributing to climate change! Luckily there is a solution: buy local produce. If you are buying local produce from a nearby farm, chances are it was picked less than 24 hours ago and had to travel less than 100 miles to get from the farm to your plate. This means you’re getting nearly all of the original nutrients and actively reducing your carbon footprint. Talk about a win-win!

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Varsity Girls Basketball Team Fundraisers

By Cindy Hastings With Cabot High School Athletics Department funds depleted for the 2013/2014 calendar year, students and parents are taking the initiative to raise funds to purchase much-needed team uniforms for the Varsity Girls’ Basketball Team. Numbers are peeling off and team uniforms are not presentable for games at other schools. These uniforms are not scheduled for allocation again this coming season, so fundraising is a must. The fundraising campaign consists of: •A 50/50 cash raffle at $5.00 per ticket,

winning ticket drawn on Friday, May 2, at 6:00 p.m. in the Cabot School Gymnasium; •An ongoing bottle drive - to donate or

schedule a bottle pick-up, see contact information below; •A car wash in the school parking lot exact date and time will be posted; •Other fund raising ideas, such as a coin drop on Main Street, are also in the works. The minimum goal is $1,100 by May 2 to cover the cost of 15 uniforms. Parents and team members, however, hope to exceed the goal to replenish the Athletics Department budget. To purchase tickets or make a donation , contact Susan Celley ((802) 563- 2727 or P. O. Box 241, Cabot, VT 05647) or Cyndi Tetreault ((802) 595-9238 or P. O. Box 24, Cabot, VT 05647. Please make checks payable to Cabot School Athletics with “Varsity Girls Uniforms” on the memo line. Thank you - your continued support of the children in our community really is appreciated! They are our future, so let’s all help them SHINE!

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Back L-R Coach Dave Creighton, Aeva Pope-Howe, Lexi Phillips, Lily Bailey

Front L-R Emily Fuller, Mia Preston, Lucia McCallum.

5/6 Girls Basketball Season:

The 5/6 girls played the whole season with six players, including one 3rd grade girl who stepped up to play with them. The girls had a great season with Coach Dave Creighton coming back to coaching after a several year break. With the height and rebounding of Lexi Phillips and Lily Bailey, the fearless ball stealing of Aeva Pope-Howe, the speed dribbling of Lucia McCallum, the accurate passing of Mia Preston, and the determination of Emily Fuller, the team had several wins and a lot of fun.

L-R Samantha Villeneuve, Claudia Farnham, Lauren Bellavance, Gabriella Ambroz, Michaela Gokey, Taylor Abbott, Cheyenne Phillips, Natalie Mudgett– Fox.

Girls 7-8 Basketball, By Brett Bellavance

The middle school girls’ basketball team has had a great year. They have worked to develop fundamental skills that will prepare the girls for play at the next level. Each of the girls has shown a lot of improvement in their skills and confidence. The hard work and determination of all the girls has allowed us to play competitive basketball against bigger teams. No matter what the outcome has been, these girls never gave up, and played the game with good sportsmanship. They received many compliments from the officials throughout the year.

Back L-R Jonah Socks, Willem Talbert, Kurtis Greaves, Logan Cookson, Wyatt Searles, Brody Moran, Chase Alden. Coach Brian Hale Front L-R Jesse Mudgett, Alec Moran, Dominick Hale, Keith Greaves, Neil Alexander, Mark Cruz-Ducharme

Boys’ 3/4 Basketball Team, By Coach Brian Hale

It was such a pleasure to be invited to coach this team of boys. I enjoyed working with this group, they were focused, played well as a team and each player showed a large amount of talent for this age group. Every player should be proud of their accomplishments and contributions on the court. We ended our season with a 7-1 record. Keep an eye out for this talented group in the future.

Co-Athletic Directors

Deb Bothfeld and Linda Savoca with Varsity Team Manager Ian Nally.

Girls Varsity Basketball, By-Coach Kim Dickinson (Below right)

As a first year coach for Cabot, I was impressed with how hard the girls worked for me. I noticed that even though their past record wasn't outstanding, the girls still had a passion for the game and a desire to be successful. I felt, as a coach, that we tore down a few walls and laid a new foundation for the future of girls’ basketball at Cabot. Having lost only one senior, Olivia Bellevance, we're still a young team. Personally, I think we'll see a big change in the coming years for the Varsity Girls Team - looking forward to it!

Back L-R Coach Ian Burfoot-Rochford, Jonah Socks, Logan Cookson, John Schumacher, Kurtis Greaves and Ethan Socks.

Front L-R- Brody Moran, Evan Fuller, Leo Parlo and Alec Moran. Not pictured Malcom Audet.

5th/6th Grade Boys Basketball This team fought hard and improved every single game this year. Due to small numbers, the team was built with 3rd. 4th, 5th and 6th graders, but this didn’t slow down the effort or desire to win from any of the boys. Down low the Socks brothers (Ethan and Jonah) constantly snatched up rebounds for the team. Leo and John our assist men on the corners, always made the smart pass. Logan and Brody our feisty defensive juggernauts pressured offensive players on every possession. Kurtis our most improved player of the year, scored in three consecutive games. Malcom was our fastest player on the court constantly flying down the court. Alec and Evan pushed the tempo off the dribble and were fits for defenders. All in all it was a great year for the 5th/6th grade boys basketball team.

Back L-R Zachary Churchill, Samuel gokey, Enoche Schumacher, coach Jamie gokey.

Front L-R mason castle, Mathew Lexie, Ryder's lomia, Robert nally. Samuel herick-Trombly is missing from photo.

Boys 7-8 Basketball, By Coach Jamie Gokey

The Cabot middle school boys basketball team played a great season this year. They were a younger team, made up of boys from Walden and Cabot. They became stronger players this year, learning to work together and showing great team work.

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