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The Cabot Chronicle

May 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 May 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

Marker

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides markers for veterans no matter where they are interred. Markers can be upright or flat, and they come in bronze, marble, and granite. VA Headstones and Markers (800) 697-6947 Burial Flag

The federal government provides burial flags free of charge. To receive a burial flag, simply take the deceased veterans discharge to the closest United States Postal Office.

Military Funeral Honors

The Vermont National Guard has a professional honor guard team that performs at more than 300 funerals each year. They are a precision team, and during their honors may perform an appropriate gun salute, complete a flag folding ceremony, present the flag to the next of kin, and play Taps. Vermont National Guard Honor Guard Detail (802) 338-3490 Presidential Memorial Certificate

The President of the United States issues memorial certificates to the families of deceased veterans. Visit the National Cemetery Administration’s website for application instructions.

Are Funds Available to Assist with Funeral Arrangements?

Yes. Both the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the State of Vermont have programs to assist.

(See page 5, Final Honors)

Calendar:

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Draft Zoning Regulation Discussions Continue

By Gary Gulka The Planning Commission held its first in a series of meetings to review the draft zoning regulations on April 17. Two Select Board members and one additional resident attended. Most of the discussion focused on Article 2, Zoning Districts, and the proposed changes that would realign districts and create new districts. The proposed districts are as follows: Village Center District, Lower Village District, Village Neighborhood District, Commercial Industrial District, Developed Shoreland District, Rural District, and Conservation District (see map). Each zoning district has specific lot sizes, building setbacks from property lines, and allowable uses that reflect current uses and patterns of development.

There were discussions about commercial development along the Route 2 corridor and the type of uses that would be allowed under the new proposal. Concern was raised that there should be more allowances for retail development along Route 2. The Planning Commission commented that they have incorporated the Route 2 corridor into the Rural District, and the allowable uses would be the same as in this district. The Commission agreed that Route 2 development needs to be addressed further in future planning efforts. Public meetings on the draft will continue until the entire draft is reviewed, section-by-section in detail. Meetings are currently scheduled for May 1 and May 15, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm in the Willey Building.

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Options for those who’ve served

The State of Vermont operates the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph Center. The cemetery provides an eternal resting place for veterans, their spouses, and some dependents. The cemetery has a nondenominational chapel that is available for services. Veterans who are interred at the cemetery receive perpetual care of their lot, a marker, and funeral honors free of charge. Spouses who are interred at the cemetery receive perpetual care of their lot and a marker for a nominal charge.

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

By Representative Catherine (Kitty) Toll

The final days of the 2014 Legislative session are upon us. This point in the session marks the time of year when many bills are sent to a Committee of Conference for further consideration. It is the responsibility of a Committee of Conference, made up of members from both the Senate and the House, to discuss differences, find agreement, and recommend a bill to the House and Senate for a final vote. In early April, the House passed H.889, a bill setting the property tax rate. The House Ways and Means Committee presented a proposal to lower the estimated property tax rate down from an initial seven cent increase made by the tax department, based on projected school budgets, to four cents for residential homeowners, resulting in a 98 cent tax on the base rate for homeowners and a $1.52 rate for commercial payers. In addition, a change has been proposed regarding the total amount of income sensitivity rebates that can be distributed to an individual household. The total benefit has decreased from $8,000 to $6,000, but excludes Vermont homestead owners who are 65 or older. Taxpayers who earn less than $47,000 a year will see no change in their income sensitized rebate under the plan. The House was able to reduce the seven cent increase to a four cent increase due to school budgets coming in lower than estimated. Budgets were based on a 3.8% increase, and the actual was 3%. In addition, the following adjustments were made to current law:

· Lowers the total income sensitivity adjustment from $8,000 to $6,000 for homeowners under the age of 65. There is no change in the rebate cap for those 65 and older. Taxpayers who earn less than $47,000 a year will see no change in their income sensitized rebate under the plan.

· Creates an anchor that ties excess spending increases to inflation from fiscal year 2014 to the present, as opposed to current law, which ties the increase to the previous year’s spending. If a district spends above its allowable increase, the additional spending counts twice for the purpose of calculating the district’s tax rate.

· Reduces the percentage of rent that counts as “allocable rent” from 21 percent to 19 percent.

· Extends the slope of middle-income taxpayers who qualify for income sensitivity by raising the house site value used to calculate income sensitivity adjustments for people over $90,000 in household income from $200,000 to $250,000.

· Invests any fiscal surplus equally into thirds to fund the Education Fund, the Rainy Day Fund, and retired teachers' health care.

· Eliminates small school grants beginning in 2019, except for small schools which are geographically challenged. This gives these schools three years to plan. Beginning in 2019, the grants will be phased out in thirds through 2021. H.889 passed the House and is being considered by the Senate. I supported an amendment to remove the elimination of the small schools grant from the bill, however, the amendment did not pass. This provision will be carefully considered in the Senate. H.112 - an act relating to the labeling of food produced with genetic engineering passed the Senate on April 16 on a vote of 28 in favor and 2 against. The bill will return to the House to approve changes made in the Senate and, if it passes, will then be sent to the Governor to be signed into law. If H.112 is enacted, Vermont will be the first state in the nation to require labeling of genetically modified organisms, and the law would go into effect on July 1, 2016. The Vermont Attorney General’s office anticipates constitutional challenges from the biotech industry. The bill allows for a $1.5 million special fund to support possible legal challenges, and to fund this special project, money has been identified through private donations, state appropriations, and settlements. Vermont Health Connect (VHC) data shows that, to date, approximately 34,000 Vermonters have automatically transitioned from VHAP/CHAP to expanded Medicaid, an additional 50,000 individuals have directly enrolled for health insurance through VHC, and 35,000-40,000 Vermonters have enrolled in VHC plans through insurance carriers. In the June edition I will provide a detailed update of the actions of the 2014 session taken by the Legislature. 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

By Laura Lee Saorsa Smith

Spring. Spring, glorious spring, Snow-melt is on its way in rivulets across verdant fields that had been sleeping beneath a fine white blanket of snow. Trees are beginning to bud out and some are ready to burst into leaf. Lilacs are generally in bloom and pollinators are abuzz. The richness of even the very air we breathe brings such joy. Sun, warm and full of vigor on our faces and the faces of the early flowers like daffodils and crocuses, filling us with vitality. What more words can be said for the miracle of spring? Probably many more and we won’t mention black fly season. Life is full of give and take, all things in balance. It is naturally as it is supposed to be. Without the negative things in life, we could not compare and appreciate what is positive nor could there be a positive. Black and white, up and down, are all a part of the balance in the universe. Birds are nesting and choosing their mates. The deer are bringing new life into the world. The wonders abound and are infinite. After the lack of sun through the long winter months, we can sigh in utter relief as the days grow longer and longer still. Abundance is everywhere; life is at its peak in all ways. I love the many seasons that Vermont offers as I can appreciate those days that are perfect, and there are so many. We are blessed to live in a primarily rural vacation state. There is no doubt. There is so much offered here that can’t be duplicated anywhere else. The Green Mountains of Vermont, I am proud to say, is where my heart is and always will be in the end. This past March, I was fortunate to see a bobcat on more than one occasion. It was a young one and was not quite sure what to do with the human who talked to him. Yes I talked with him, though he didn’t seem to have much to say in return, as inexperienced as he appeared to be. I also saw a barred owl swoop from tree to tree. Beautiful creatures are the owl, and somewhat mysterious as they so very silently fly. It is my hope that everyone can be thankful for the beauty that surrounds all and us and the tiny miracles. Even in the cities of Vermont, wildlife can be found, I have actually seen deer crossing in a residential area and cardinals in many a yard offering black oil sunflower seed. Moose are such a regal beast and elegant in their way, although I have heard some people call them ungainly. To each their own. I would never trade my days here, though I hail from New York I feel I have been here for long enough to be a transplant rather than an ordinary flatlander. I have earned my rank as transplant for the length of time I have been here and the lifestyle I have chosen. I live off grid with my life partner and love Rick. We love our chickens and I thank them every day for the hard work they do in laying eggs. The dog guards and protects all of us, including the cats, ‘though she isn’t quite sure what to think of them when they rub all over her. I guess my commentary is really about life and the living of it, being in the moment, moments that should be treasured and remembered. Who knows how many moments we have. Let us all make the very best of each one. LOVE MORE; GRUMP LESS. Sweet fragrant rose petals and candle light to you.

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Continued Progress on Cabot Town Garage Project

Progress continues on the Town Garage project, albeit at a slower pace then we hoped for. But, work on this critically important project continues, and we do have two significant accomplishments to report. First, the Environmental Review was resubmitted on April 17, after having completed a Phase II Environmental Survey of the existing garage and an Eight-Step Wetlands Review of the proposed South Walden Road site. We are now in a 15 day waiting period, required under the regulations, while the Environmental Review is being evaluated for completeness and accuracy. Ideally, we will receive word in early May that it has been accepted, thus allowing for the grant process to go forward.

We have also executed a new Option Agreement to purchase the eight acres located at 2691 South Walden Road; which runs through June 6, 2014. Assuming the Environmental Review is accepted, it remains our plan to purchase the land in May. Meanwhile, we have just started working on writing the grant itself and while this will be a major undertaking, we are willing to tackle this very large job because it is so important to Cabot. And, in the interim, we’ll just keep working. Thank you, Cabot residents, for your continued support of this critically important project.

Jack Daniels Chair, Cabot Select Board The Cabot Community Association Board of Directors is working with its members and partners to build a list of suggested activities in which she might be able to support us. Community input will be valued, and the public is encouraged to attend CCA meetings, next scheduled for Wednesday, May 28, 7:00 p.m. in the Willey Building. Although additional funds requested to provide a more robust budget for this initiative were not approved at Town Meeting 2014, funds authorized at Town Meeting 2013 will be utilized to begin this work.

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Key Elements of our Cabot Community

By Sjon Welters, Cabot Agricultural Network Chair

A paper published by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization during the 2011 UN Climate Change Conference highlighted how the food sector can solve energy challenges now to secure tomorrow's food supply. Just what we were thinking at the Vermont Council on Rural Development's Cabot Community Visit in 2012! It said: "Using local renewable energy resources along the entire food chain can help improve energy access, diversify farm and food processing revenues, avoid disposal of waste products, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions, and help achieve sustainable development goals". Again, exactly what we're trying to do in Cabot. It continues: "Where good solar, wind, hydro, geothermal or biomass energy resources exist, they can be used as a substitute for fossil fuels in farming . . . operations. They can also be used in food storage and processing." In rural Vermont, wood is the abundant, renewable and primary substitute source of energy when boiling maple sap down. A wise and smart choice, and in line with FAO recommendations. With all those cows around, biogas (methane) instead of propane would be a simple and cheap substitute, too. Interestingly, in China, more than 100 million households are using biogas to run their stoves. We can, too. Smallscale anaerobic digesters, actually, are not a new phenomenon here in Vermont. The State of Vermont supports it and Green Mountain Power is actively reviving that through their Cow Power program (see http://www.greenmoun tainpower.com/innovative/cow/). So, let's think about the options that are out there right around us, for all of us. As a consumer, one close-to-home initiative comes to mind: the Cabot General Store has made it a point to sell local foods. By simply buying these products from your local grocer, we make a positive impact on our environment and support the local economy. It's a good start. The Cabot Agriculture Network group is here to help your business in Cabot plan and act for the future. Please join us. We meet every third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Willey Building.

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SHEESHAM, LOTUS & SON Bring High Voltage, Low-Tech, Old-Timey Show to Cabot, May 16

Sheesham Lotus & Son, the ferociously talented and incomparably zany Canadian trio, together with Mayfly, the old-timey partnership of Katie Trautz and Julia Wayne, will appear together at the Cabot Town Hall (Willey Building) on Friday, May 16 at 7:00 PM.

Sheesham, Lotus & Son

specialize in the country and ragtime repertoire of string and jug bands from the early days of sound recording, delivered with amazing musicianship and an outrageous performance style recalling the last days of the medicine show. With instruments ranging from the Sousaphone to the cello banjo, augmented by low-tech home-made oddities like the Sepia-phonic Monophone, Sheesham, Lotus & Son have created a unique musical and theatrical presentation sizzling with cornball energy and unmistakable artistry.

Mayfly has been performing close vocals and old-time instrumentals throughout the US and Canada for over a dozen years. Their 2007 self-titled CD was named “Traditional Album of the Year” by the Times Argus, and their latest, Sweet Is the Morning, produced by Dirk Powell, has just been released. Cabot native Katie Trautz is widely known as an outstanding fiddler (and the director of Montpelier’s Summit School of Traditional Music and Culture), and Julia Wayne is an accomplished player of the guitar, banjo and mandolin. This event is presented by Cabot Arts and the Cabot Community Association with Catamount Arts of St. Johnsbury. Tickets are $17. Seating is limited, so advance reservations are strongly recommended. Tickets can be purchased at: https://tickets.catamountarts.org/.

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4H is Coming to Cabot

By Niels Larsen After three information meetings organized by the Agricultural Network Committee and moderated by Mr. Michael Wilson, 4H Educator for the Orange and Washington Counties of the UVM Extension Service, it is now certain that 4H projects will once again be launched in Cabot. Not all the details are fully resolved, but here is what we know. The first to be launched is a project on Growing Rice, to be led by Sjon Welters. This will be a seven-session hands-on program from planting to harvesting, starting on April 27 and ending in November. There will be no fee for up to ten participants. Brochures with registration forms are available by contacting Sjon at 563-2172. Next, Susan Socks will lead an eightsession “Snacking with the Seasons” project, the objective of which is learning harvesting and cleaning techniques, and ways to prepare fresh produce and the making of delicious light dishes or jams for immediate consumption, or in some cases freezing. This project is limited to eight participants. Examples of the fruits and vegetables covered include strawberries, blueberries, salad greens, green beans, broccoli, kale, tomatoes, sweet corn, potatoes, and squash. It will be a hands-on experience, ending each session with a tasty and healthy snack. For more information and registration, call Susan at 563- 2073. Irene Harvey and Lindsay Perry will lead a Gardening group for eight to ten participants at 84 McKinstry Road, starting on May 17. Tentative plans include four once-a-week two-hour sessions, including garden preparation; planting the cold hardy crops (e.g., peas, lettuce, kale, beets, carrots, leeks, broccoli, cauliflower); planting the more tender crops (e.g., corn, beans, squash, tomato, pepper, potato; garden maintenance and weeding). For more information, call Irene at 563-2225. For the fall, Lynn and Martha Rockwell will lead a Dairy Goat project involving six threehour sessions, tentatively scheduled to start on September 6 through October 18, for up to ten participants. For information, call 563-2999.

Finally, Brad Alexander will lead a woodworking project after the end of the soccer season for four or five children.

Anyone else with an interest in engaging the youth of Cabot in developing hands-on life skills are welcome to join in! Contact Niels Larsen at 563- 2062.

The 4H program is organized under the umbrella of the Cabot Community Association.

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Cabot Community Association

By Bruce Westcott Cabot Community Association Hires Development Coordinator

The Board of the Cabot Community Association has voted to offer a parttime coordinator position to Debra Zimmerman (Glover, VT), commencing immediately. After selection by the hiring committee, she was able to meet board members at their regular meeting April 23 for an opportunity to exchange views and ask and answer questions. Debra now has a good handle on some of the main community development currents in Cabot, and is eager to learn more.

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Private Property Rights

By Amy Hornblas ing me some signatures, but that’s my opinion.

Local Emergency Action Plan

(LEAP): As part of Cabot’s participation in the FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Plan (NFIP), the town needs to participate in a coordinated emergency response system. (The S.B. already adopted updated FEMA mapping to comply with the NFIP regulations in February. Also, many of the proposed zoning regulation changes are related to compliance with this program.) The board discussed the upgraded radios that will need to be purchased to comply with LEAP. The radios in all the road crew vehicles will have to be replaced, so they can communicate on a new wavelength with FEMA and Homeland Security. The repeater and new radios for this upgrade will cost around $30,000 altogether, plus the school will need to purchase new radios. The zoning administrator (Z.A.) said there may be Homeland Security grants to pay for the upgrades. The deadline for Select Board approval of our town plan is May 1. Select Board Meeting April 15, 2014 Members Present: Caleb Pitkin, Fred Ducharme, Jeff Gabrielson, and John Daniels Officials Present: Tara Rogerson (Town Clerk) and Karen Deasy (Zoning Administrator)

Complaint About Public Works Billing Process: A resident who is building his home in Cabot brought a complaint about the fact that he has begun receiving bills for wastewater utilities, even though he hasn’t built his house and doesn’t have a line yet. The Z.A. said it was the practice, and part of the ordinance, to begin billing as soon as a permit is approved. She explained that the approved wastewater permit is necessary to receive a building permit, so this means folks are billed the entire time they are working on their structure. The ordinance section she was referring to, which was not available at the meeting and refers to a structure (not a permit), states:

Section 1001 -- Annual User Fees The Select Board shall impose an annual user fee upon every person having a building or structure on his/her premises that is connected or required by this ordinance to be connected to the Wastewater System, whether or not the building or structure is occupied, in accordance with the procedure described in Section 1002 below. Each account shall be in the name of the property owner(s), business owner(s), or corporate owner. Bills shall be sent by the Town and collected by the Town Treasurer. The bill is about $100 a month. The Z.A. said that the wastewater regulations are about to expire and will need to be rewritten anyway. She said solutions may include a fee to hold the builder’s spot, a fee to disconnect and reconnect, or a fee to reapply. The Select Board decided to have a working session, followed by a public session for feedback on the issue. In the meantime, it seems the billing will continue. “We won’t let this drag on” one member promised. A tentative work session was scheduled for Monday, April 28, at 9:00 a.m. Jack Daniels will warn the meeting once it is official.

Better Backroads Grant: The Z.A. shared a grant opportunity she discovered at an Agency of Natural Resources conference recently. It is a grant intended to improve water quality by controlling erosion, and could provide 80% of the funding for erosion and culvert work on class 4 roads. She suggested the idea that the landowners on the road could provide the 20% match needed for the grant, and the grantors liked the idea. This would require the landowners to sign an agreement with the town. When asked about the agreement, the Z.A. said it would require the landowners to agree to continue to maintain the road (no specifics about this agreement were given). The grant is due May 5, and so the Select Board elected to discuss it at the special meeting on April 28.

Class 4 Roads and Trails Policy:

About eight residents of the Bailey-Hazen Road attended the meeting to complain about the fact that the road has not been maintained in the usual way for the past two years. They reported that, for at least the past 24 years, the road has been raked or graded every spring when it first dries out. Failure to do any work on it this year has made a mess. There was discussion about the current rules applying to class 4 roads, and there are some regulations described under the highways tab on the town website. Some of the residents brought copies of it. It reads:

Class 4 Highways: A class 4 highway may be “maintained to the extent required by the necessity of the town, the public good and the convenience of the inhabitants of the town.” 19 V.S.A. § 310 (b). Accordingly, the town is not required to regularly maintain a class 4 highway. However, VLCT interprets state law to require towns to maintain culverts and bridges on class 4 highways. In addition, towns may be obligated to repair an out of repair or unsafe class four highway if a petition to repair the road is filed by three citizens or taxpayers in the state in accordance with 19 V.S.A. § 971. The residents explained that when they complained this year to the road crew, they were told to go to the Select Board. One board member suggested that it might have something to do with the 3” of stone the town put in the road, making it impossible to rake or grade. When the landowners complained last year, they were told they could not fix it themselves. John Daniels distributed a draft of new Class 4 Roads and Trails policy and procedures that he is proposing to the Select Board. It includes a provision to allow residents to improve their roads themselves:

Permission for repair, maintenance, improvement, or restoration shall not be unreasonably withheld by the Select Board. The road shall be left in as good or better condition as when permission is granted. The policy is 2 ½ pages long, and will be considered at an upcoming meeting. It includes a section about plowing, which will need the permission of the Select Board if done by private parties, and grants the Select Board the power to exercise control of class 4 roads by prohibiting wheeled vehicle use during mud and snow season. “Signs and barriers may be utilized to accomplish this purpose.” It was suggested that the road residents consider forming an association, so they could better organize their road maintenance efforts. Correction from the meeting: There is, in fact, is a section in the proposed zoning regulations related to class 4 roads. It states:

3B-01.C: To create or develop a lot that will be accessed from a Class 4 town road or legal trail that the town does not maintain for vehicular travel yearround, the landowner will require approval from the Select Board. The Select Board may require the landowner to upgrade the road and to be responsible for maintenance.

Local Emergency Action Plan

(LEAP): The Select Board looked over the final version of the Local Emergency Operations Plan, prepared by the Z.A. There was updated information from the school included. The school cafeteria and gym is one of the primary relief sites, but there was concern about the electricity supply. They discussed the need for generators, and where to find grants for them. There is a training that all the S.B. members need to attend. They adopted the emergency plan with no further discussion. The Z.A. passed out copies of the revised Stream Alteration General Permit rules, which “provides for the authorization of activities that may change, alter, or modify the course, current, or cross section of any watercourse within or along the boundaries of Vermont either by movement, fill, or by excavation of ten cubic yards or more in any year. In authorizing emergency measures, a municipality must comply with the emergency measure standards, the reporting requirements, and public notice requirements established by the Rules.” The Z.A. explained that, by signing onto the Local Emergency Operations Plan, they had signed our road crew onto following the rules in the document, as well as any updates that are made at a future date.

Legislature Receives Complaint: A State legislator informed Jeff Gabrielson that they had received a complaint from a community member about the availability of S.B. meeting minutes. It was discussed that the reason the S.B. minutes are not posted outside the Willey building is due to workload. In the past, the S.B. chair would post them, or the town clerk. According to state law, the minutes need to be available within 5 days. The idea of hiring an administrative assistant was discussed. The town clerk agreed to try and post them out back of the Willey building and on the website. It was also suggested that the meetings could be recorded, and the audio files available online, as well. Cabot Planning Commission April 3, 2014 Members Present: Frank Kampf, Charles Marian, Gary Gulka Officials Present: Karen Daisy (Zoning Administrator) and Brandy Saxton (Professional Consultant)

Public Feedback on the Zoning

Regulations Draft: A draft of the proposed zoning regulation changes has been available online for public feedback. There was also a public hearing held in February in the Willey Building. Altogether, the Planning Commission has gathered feedback, suggestions, and concerns from about 20 citizens. At this meeting, they discussed the specific feedback they received, and decided most of the feedback was due to citizens misunderstanding the regulations, or the reasons for them. General comments were tabled. Charles and Gary were going to check on the buffer regulations from the State, which they were in some disagreement about. (The proposed regulations impose a 100’ buffer on each side of every brook, stream, river and natural pond, and the width has been challenged numerous times.) After over two hours of discussion, no changes were made to the document.

Public Hearings on the Draft: Plans were made to best explain the regulations over the next three public hearings. These hearings are scheduled for three upcoming Thursdays: April 17, May 1, and May 15, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. in the Willey Building. The public is encouraged to attend. Copies of the draft document are available at the Town Clerk’s office, or found online at: placesense.com. Cabot Planning Commission April 17, 2014 Members Present: Frank Kampf, Charles Marian, Gary Gulka Officials Present: Karen Deasy (Zoning Administrator) and Brandy Saxton (Professional Consultant) There were two Select Board members (Jeff Gabrielson and John Daniels) and one community member present at the hearing. The group reviewed the first few sections of the document, including the zoning districts. The P.C. made a few minor changes in the wording of the document, based on S.B. input. It was explained that the proposed regulations were based on the town plan, which was revised recently. This is how the regulations related to aesthetics were developed. The changes in what is permitted in the zoning districts are related to the State’s plan to move future development into the villages, and discourage it elsewhere. There will be two more final hearings to hear public input before the draft is presented to the Select Board (or the voters, we shall see) for approval. They are on May 1 and May 15 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. in the Willey Building.

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A Cabot Update

Recently I was tipped off to the fact that zoning regulations are being changed everywhere. Not just in Vermont, where over the past five years, nearly every town has gone through or begun revisions, and not just in every state in the country, but all over the world. A lot of the revisions and proposed changes have to do with waterways and other natural resources, and our rights to them. “Check your local ordinances” was the message I kept hearing, so I did. Lo and behold, I found that Cabot is going through the exact same changes right now. That’s when I began attending the Cabot Select Board (S.B.) and Planning Commission (P.C.) meetings to find out what was going on. Many folks have expressed an interest in being informed about the revision process, but cannot attend the meetings themselves. What follows is a brief summary I wrote, intended to inform you of the facts. It is not an official report of any kind. I only included agenda items relevant to land rights, although there were other agenda items discussed at these meetings. Recordings from three of the meetings described below are (or soon will be) available on the town website. Select Board Meeting April 1, 2014 Members Present: Caleb Pitkin, Fred Ducharme, Jeff Gabrielson, and Ted Domey Officials Present: Tara Rogerson (Town Clerk) and Karen Deasy (Zoning Administrator)

Returning Zoning Regulation

Changes to the Voters: Four citizens attended the meeting to hear the Select Board’s discussion and decision on whether or not to return decisions about future zoning regulations back to the voters. The Select Board members agreed to discuss the item under public comment, because they forgot to warn the issue (as promised at their March 18 meeting). The options were discussed: 1) Put the current draft of zoning regulation changes, currently proposed by the Planning Commission, to the voters for approval by Australian Ballot. 2) A procedure change that would put all future bylaws, bylaw amendments, or bylaw appeals to the voters for approval by Australian Ballot. 3) Put all future ordinance changes of any kind to the voters for approval. 4) The voters’ right to appeal Select Board bylaw changes through a petition process. After discussion of the issue, they each made the following statements: Caleb Pitkin: I’m willing to say that I would... support putting it HaUR current draft zoning regulations proposal] before the town, because it’s a whole new… zoning ordinance. And I think it’s important enough. It seems clear to me that there will be a petition no matter what happens, so, I would just as soon go right to the town with it. But that’s just me… And if we do… pass it secretly one night, you can do the petition-thing and it’ll go to a vote anyway. Fred Ducharme: I agree with Caleb on that. I would want the voters to be in on this. Jeff Gabrielson: I’d have to go the same way. I think there’s been enough interest in the town to deal with it. It sounds like you’re almost asking us if we’re going to sneak it through on a real quick vote, and so far, I haven’t seen anything… a lot of times, we take a whole month just to read our minutes, to make sure they’re right. So, I don’t think the zoning ordinance is going to happen from one meeting to the next... I think Jack said that at the last meeting, that he was in favor of putting it out for a town-wide vote. Ted Domey: So as a board, I think we are going to skip that step [making townsfolk sign a ]RaVaV\[J and put it HaUR current draft of proposed zoning changes] on a ballot in either September or November… [As for a change in procedure,] I don’t agree with that, so I don’t know if I would personally, as a Select Board member, put that on a ballot without somebody bring-

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 4 onward.

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OBITUARIES & MEMORIALS

Harlan H. Edwards Harlan H. Edwards, 75, of Barre Hill Road, Barre, passed away Friday, April 18, 2014, at the Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin. Born on June 28, 1938, in Northfield, he was the son of Hugh and Helena (Davidson) Edwards. He attended Putnamville Elementary School and Montpelier High School until 1957 and received an equivalency diploma while in the Air Force. Harlan served in the United States Air Force from 1957 to 1961. He received electrical training in Illinois and then was stationed in Dover, Delaware. On June 28, 1958, Harlan married Joanne M. Martin in the Grace United Methodist Church in Plainfield and made their home in Plainfield in a house that he constructed with the help of his family. After his discharge from the service, he worked for Seguin Heating Oil in Montpelier. Harlan began reaching his goal of becoming a master plumber by serving his apprenticeship under Franz Kluckner Plumbing and Heating in Waitsfield. Later, he went to work for the former Averill's in Barre. In 1985, he purchased the plumbing and heating portion of the business and operated Averill's Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning until 2005, when he retired. Harlan was a member of the Barre Elks Lodge 1535. In earlier years, he was

Richard G. Spaulding RichardG . Spaulding, 60, a beloved husband, son, father, brother, educator, principal, mentor and friend, died unexpectedly Friday, April 4, 2014. Born in Burlington on September 30, 1953, he was a son of Walter and Phyllis (Buck) Spaulding. On December 30, 2004, he married Lisa Daniels Dunlavey and became a loving and devoted father to her children and later their offspring. Dick attended Cambridge Elementary School, graduated from Lamoille Union High School, and then received his Bachelor and Master of Education degrees from Johnson State College. Dick had a lifelong passion for education, as an 18-year-old becoming the youngest school board member in the state of Vermont. He started his early teaching career in Wolcott and then Berkshire. Subsequently, he served concurrently as principal and teacher in Belvidere, later as principal of both Newport Center and Burke. More recently, he was a responsive interventionist counselor at Cabot School. Throughout his career, Dick was a role model to both other educators and most importantly to him, his students. Dick was constantly expanding his deep understanding of geography, history and science, and shared his wealth of knowledge with all who would listen. Dick was extremely eclectic in his interests, which ranged from hiking and wilderness exploring, to custom woodworking and playing the harmonica. Dick was an avid runner, cross-country skier, and cyclist. Dick was selfless; he would give you the shirt off his back if he thought it could help the current situation. He played multiple roles in bettering many Vermont communities and the lives of others. Recently, he was team leader of an ecumenical outreach trip to Valdosta, Georgia, where over 350 young a member of the Central Vermont Square Dance Club, the Plainfield, Marshfield, and Cabot Cribbage Club, and the Plainfield Jaycees. He was a scoutmaster of the Plainfield Boy Scout Troop for several years. Harlan enjoyed playing cards, fishing, camping and traveling with his family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Joanne Edwards of Plainfield; two sons, Gary Edwards and his wife, Lucile Yu, of San Jose, Calif., and Richard Edwards and his wife, Ina, of West Suffield, Conn.; a daughter, Sherry Goulette and her husband, Gary, of Plainfield; four grandchildren, Tiffany Goulette, Miranda Goulette, Ashley Edwards and Hayley Edwards; a brother, Donald Edwards and his wife, Elaine, of East Montpelier; a sister, Ivonne Peters of Riverside, Calif.; a brother-in-law, Franklin Cutler of Wolcott; a brother-in-law, Stanley Martin and his wife, Joanne, of Plainfield; a sister-in-law, Joyce Grant and husband, Robert, of Plainfield; a brother-in-law, Steve Martin and his wife, Jane, of Statesville, S.C.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by two brothers, Harrison Edwards and Arnold Edwards, and a sister, Yolunda Cutler. His funeral service was held on Wednesday, April 23, 2014, in the Hooker and Whitcomb Funeral Home. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Barre Elks Lodge 1535 Scholarship Fund, 10 Jefferson Street, Barre, VT 05641; or to the Central Vermont Medical Center, PO Box 547, Barre, VT 05641. adults from all over America spent a week repairing and painting houses of people in need. He leaves his beloved wife, Lisa Dunlavey Spaulding; mother, Phyllis Spaulding; children, Richard Spaulding, Jr., and his wife, Kristy, Stephanie Spaulding, Tucker Dunlavey and companion, Danielle Nelson, Brendon Dunlavey and companion, Liza Jost, and Shannon Dunlavey; grandchildren, Elijah, Natalie and Nicholas; brother, Mike Spaulding; sister, Beverly Minor and husband, Tom; mother-in-law, Marilyn Daniels; brothers-in-law, Michael Jennings, David Daniels, and Marc Daniels and wife, Marybeth; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends. He was predeceased by his father, Walter Spaulding; and sister, Cindy Spaulding. A celebration of Dick's life was held Saturday, April 12, 2014, in the Church of God, with the Rev. Nathan Strong and Pastor Lawrence Wall, officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Dick Spaulding Memorial Scholarship Fund, 1558 Delano Road, Irasburg, VT 05845.

Mary Sayers Green hood in Urbana, IL, moved with her parents, Richard and Margaret Green, to Gainesville in 1971, where she attended J.J.Finley Elementary School and Gainesville High School, and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at University of Florida in 1989. She married Norman Carvalho, and while devoting herself to raising their two children, she taught at Gainesville Country Day School. She loved her work as a preschool teacher, and was recently employed in teaching 3- and 4year olds at Santa Fe Little School, where she delighted the children with her acting, singing, and story-telling. She was preceded in death by her father Richard H., brother Richard J., and sister Annie, and is survived by her mother Margaret Green, summer resident of Last Road, her sister Elizabeth Gaines of Fort Myers, daughter Rosemary Carvalho, son Daniel Carvalho, brothers John of Philadelphia and Larry of Bardstown, KY, and her fiance’ Robert Taylor. She was a member of the choir at the United Church of Gainesville, FL, for many years and the memorial service was held there Tuesday, April 15.

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April’s The Mouse That Roared!

The military forces of Grand Fenwick return triumphant with their captives after a successful invasion of New York City, in a rehearsal for Cabot Community Theater's recent production of The Mouse That Roared. (from l to r: Adam Blachly, Travis Verret, Sawyer Estivill, Leo Parlo, Dick Payne, Clara Mueller-Harder, and Lily Scott).

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Final Honors

(Continued from page 1)) Burial Allowance

The VA provides funds to help offset burial and funeral costs for veterans. Many different factors are involved to determine the amount provided. We recommend families contact the VA directly to find out if they are eligible. VA Memorial Benefits (800) 827-1000

Burial of Destitute Veterans

Veterans who die destitute are guaranteed an appropriate burial by the State of Vermont. For more information, contact your local Economic Services Division Office at 1-800-479-6151. In addition, we recommend the families of destitute or low income veterans consider the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery because of its quality and low cost.

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From page 5

The VVS Supportive Services for Veteran Families grant, funded through the V.A., is a statewide program serving very-low income veteran families who are literally homeless or at imminent risk of losing their housing. The VVS Jail Diversion/Trauma Recovery grant, funded through SAMHSA and the Department of Mental Health, is a statewide program to divert veterans who are facing incarceration from jail by linking them to treatment and services for trauma-related issues and co-occurring conditions.

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The 22nd annual NALC National Food Drive is Saturday, May 10, 2014.

NALC is once again teaming up with the U.S. Postal Service and Feeding America. The 2013 food drive of the National Association of Letter Carriers collected more than 74 million pounds of food to help restock food banks, pantries and shelters around the country—an impressive result rendered all the more necessary by the struggling economy and the multiple recent natural disasters. "This demonstrates in clear fashion the value of the unique postal network, which goes to 151 million addresses six days a week," NALC President Fredric Rolando said. "It also shows the remarkable connection between letter carriers and the communities they serve—a bond that serves the nation well." The nation's largest single-day food drive, the NALC effort is held annually on the second Saturday in May in 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam. From major metropolitan areas to small rural towns, residents put out non-perishable food donations on that day, which letter carriers collect as they deliver mail along their postal routes. "Letter carriers see first-hand the needs in the communities where we work, and we're honored to be able to help people in need by leading an effort that brings out the best in so many Americans," Rolando said. The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive never has been more important than in these times, with hunger a growing problem—affecting about 50 million people around the country, including 17 million children and nine million senior citizens. Pantry shelves filled up through winter-holiday generosity often are bare by late spring. And, with most school meal programs suspended during summer months, millions of children must find alternate sources of nutrition.

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Cabot Partners in Education Spring Fling Barbecue Fundraiser

By Cynthia Lubas On Saturday April 5th, members of Cabot Partners in Education came together to discuss fundraising for the anticipated Cabot School June term activities. After consideration of many options, it was determined an opportunity to bring to the community together while getting out and enjoy the spring weather was the best way to go. After all, it has been one tough winter and who doesn’t love a good barbeque. CPIE will host a barbecue that will include all the traditional barbecue fare and activities on the Village Green May 23, 2014. Hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken, salads and desserts will be offered. Food will be served from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Prices are $6 for adults, $4 for children and $20 for a family. Activities including three-legged races, horseshoes and sack races will run from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The bouncy house will be up and going and for $5 there will be all event access. A “Chance” auction will be set up and hopefully will include some great local products and services. There will also be a 50/50 raffle and great door prizes. Entertainment will be provided by Cabot’s very own The Limes. Just to keep things interesting, CPIE will be holding a dessert contest. Contestants may enter their best dessert recipes to win prizes. The desserts will be judged on uniqueness, overall appearance and taste. The cost to enter is $5, but you can also donate a dessert of any kind, instead. All entries must be received by 6:30 p.m. to be judged by 7:00 p.m. Winners to be announced by 7:30 p.m. If you have been looking for an opportunity to show off your best and sweetest treat, here it is. When the activities wind down and the vittles are gone, you will have an opportunity to work it all off when a dance party will crank up at 8:00 p.m., with a $5 admission price. Music will be compiled by Cabot students, and maybe they can even teach those of us out of practice a few of the latest dance moves. No better way to end the night than with a little laughter. Hopefully, the weather remains warm and dry but in the event of rain or if the common is not the green grassy area we are all anticipating, the event will be moved into the gymnasium. No matter the weather, this is sure to be a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the beginning of, hopefully, a warm and wonderful summer with family and community members. CPIE is still looking for volunteers to help with the organization of this wonderful event. If you are able to help in any way, or if you can donate to the chance auction, please contact Sharon O’Connor at 563-2144 or Cynthia Lubas at 456-1361.

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Cabot School Update

By Chris Tormey, Cabot School Board Chair

Cabot School lost a great asset on April 4, when Dick Spaulding died suddenly at his home in Albany. Dick served our school officially as the “behavior interventionist” on campus; in this role, he helped students in all kinds of situations to clarify what the current problem or challenge was and how to get through it. His ability to listen, his fairness, and his overarching interest in our kids’ success were all integral to Dick’s large and positive impact on our students. As a former classroom teacher and school principal, Dick understood well the stresses and challenges facing teachers, as well as students, and his experience and positive approach were invaluable in a wide range of situations. Dick will be sorely missed by all of us at Cabot School. When classes begin next fall, there will be three new teachers greeting our students in the elementary grades. Ian Burfoot-Rochford and Austin Fay are departing Cabot to pursue their careers elsewhere, and an increase in student numbers at the 5/6 grade level means that we will be adding back a full-time teaching position at that level. We’re pleased to welcome Chelsea Demers, Sarah Daye, and Claire Gallagher to our elementary staff next year. Ms Demers is a graduate of Lyndon State College and currently teaches at the Buffalo Mountain School in Hardwick; she will be teaching next year alongside Mr. Lewis in grades 5/6. Ms. Daye is a graduate of Johnson State College, and has taught for several years at Walden School in a variety of capacities. She will teach third- and fourth-graders next year. Ms. Gallagher is a recent graduate of the University of Vermont and has taught this year at Flynn Elementary School in Burlington; she will join Ms. Daye next year at the 3/4 grade level. We are also pleased to announce that Dave Schilling will be joining our staff next year as our Design Technology teacher. For the past several years, Mr. Schilling has led and taught the SEED Program at Cabot as an employee of the Barre Technical Center. The SEED Program is a project-based learning program for students in grades 9/10, integrating career and technical education with academic learning. Mr. Schilling will be working next year at Cabot with teachers and students in grades 5-12, collaborating in math, science, and social studies, and helping to integrate inquiry and design into the curriculum. We are in the process of reviewing applications for the position of Interim Principal for Cabot School for the 2014- 2015 school year. During the next several weeks, the search committee will be interviewing candidates, and the finalists will visit the school to meet with students and staff. By mid-May, we hope to have the top candidate chosen, and we will schedule a time for families and community members to meet the man or woman who will be guiding Cabot School next year. We will keep you posted.

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Cabot Girl Scouts

Cabot Girl Scouts: Victoria, Joelle, Haylee, Charlotte, Camryn, Summer, Sophie, Cheyenne, Victoria & Scarlett. Missing: Madalyn & Cadence

By Cecelia Gulka

The Cabot Girl Scouts would like to thank the community for their wonderful support of the 2014 Girl Scout cookie sale. Cabot girls sold 1,150 boxes of cookies, with Thin Mints the most popular. Of these, 22 boxes were donated to members of the armed services overseas, through the G.S. Operation Cookie program, and 10 boxes were donated to the Cabot Fire Department, our hometown heroes. The sale earned the Cabot G.S. troops $694.40 to use to support their activities. Individual girls also earned $253.90 in “Cookie Dough,” which can be used to purchase uniforms, attend G.S. events or help pay for summer camp. This year, there are 12 girls active in scouting, ranging from kindergarten age to fifth grade. They meet once a month at Cabot School. In the fall, activities focused on animals. This spring, they have shifted their attention to gardening. On April 23, the girls will be taking a trip to the Pump House, an indoor water park at Jay Peak. They are also in the process of planning their big spring trip. Girl Scouting is girl led, and so the girls are using their meetings to decide where they want to go and then working out a budget to accomplish this goal. The Cabot Girl Scouts will wrap up the year with an award ceremony in May, where girls will be presented with the badges they have earned this year. Girls can get a jump on registration for the 2014-15 Girl Scout year during early registration from April 15 – May 30. For more information and to register, go to the Girl Scouts of the Green & White Mountains Council website: girlscoutsgwm.org. Be sure to indicate that registration is for the 2014-15 year, which starts October 1, 2014, and not the current year.

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CABOT SCHOOL CHILD DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION DAYS PRESCHOOL SCREENING

For 3 and 4 year olds Developmental screening will be held for all three and four year old children in Cabot at the CABOT SCHOOL PRIMARY BUILDING. The purpose of the screening is to assess overall development, identify children

who may be in need of services, and talk to our Early Education Staff.

Call 563-2289 EXT 210 after May 14 For an appointment

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

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TWIN VALLEY SENIOR CENTER

Twin Valley Senior Center News By Rita Copeland

TVSC will be closed on May 26 in observance of Memorial Day. My sincere apology to Sandra Mennella of Cabot Commons for omitting her name from our list of wonderful volunteers in the April newsletter. It truly was an oversight on my part, as Sandra is an important volunteer at the Center. Sandra has worked hard taking classes in Tai Chi to become a certified instructor for TVSC. Sandra also volunteers on Fridays at the Center to read a book of their choice to the seniors. Sandra’s work and dedication at the Center is a tremendous asset and appreciated. It is with deep sadness that we announce the loss of two wonderful family members at the Center. To the families of Madeline Kreuzer and Irene Brown, please know that we will miss each of these two wonderful people very much. We are grateful for the time we had with them, and they will be in our hearts and our memories forever. Rita says many thanks to the following people who were such a big help on March 29, assisting with a partial move from the Old Schoolhouse Commons to Blueberry Commons on US Route 2 in East Montpelier. The move could not have gone as smoothly without the donated use of their moving truck by BCK Real Estate of Barre and the hard work of Fred Hunt, Bond Auto, Kevin Copeland, BCK Real Estate, Merle & Keough Darling and Timothy Golden (Keough & Timothy are Twinfield High School students). We thank each of you from the bottom of our hearts for helping us get this phase of the move done. Up-Date on Move: As this information reaches you, I would like to think this is the last time of an up-date on the move to our new space. We started with a move date of March1, then into April, and now it is looking like (if lucky) the week of May 5. The reason for the delayed move is a very understandable one. The Home Depot store #4501 in Williston stepped up to help us with our project. With a grant of $14,000, they are going to donate as well as install the kitchen cabinets, countertops, and kitchen sink. Home Depot has also donated a volunteer team to do the painting that needs to be done at the new location.

Their grant process has been followed with the above results, however it extended our timeline to complete our project and final occupancy, a small price to pay. I, as well as Project Manager Stanley Fowler, believe that our close work with Home Depot will result in a kitchen space that meets the needs of our cook, as well as our volunteers. We are all anxious to get to our new home. I wish to thank each of the staff members, seniors and volunteers for their support and understanding during this period of transition. I think I can say with all honesty that the present way of operating at the Center, (a throwback to days of yore or deva vu all over again), will only make everyone appreciate our new home more. There will be information via Front Porch Forum, our Facebook page, www.twinvalleyseniors.org and other news media regarding the final move to TVSC at 4583 US Route 2 in East Montpelier as the renovation work is completed and we have an actual date for the move. A big Thank You goes out to AARP tax preparers for their assistance with tax preparations for 24 seniors and low in-come residents free of charge. The tax preparers were Georgia Valentine, George Phillips, Jack Pauly, Jim McQuesten, Joan Stepenske, as well as Vern Mackey, who worked with me arranging a date, and then making possible a second day for TVSC. AARP has discussed with me the possibility of making TVSC a permanent tax site to assist area residents beginning in 2015. As Director, I welcome the idea as it helps many people in the six towns we serve. Seniors & Volunteers appreciated the invitation to attend the Cabot Community Theater’s production on April 6 of The Mouse that Roared. Our own volunteer, Dick Payne, was a member of the cast and we all wanted to make sure we saw his performance. Many thanks to Karen Muller-Harder for thinking of us at TVSC and reserving special seating with special accommodations as needed. We would in appreciation like to extend an open invitation for cast and crew to join us for lunch once we have relocated to our new space.

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FROM THE CABOT PUBLIC LIBRARY

Isabella McCallum has volunteered to be the 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. She will attend the monthly Library Trustee meeting for the balance of this school year – thank you Isabella!

Programs Fitness with Michelle Delaney – Tuesdays and Fridays, May 2, 5, 9, 12, &16, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Join a five-session fitness class led by certified personal trainer Michelle Delaney and sponsored by the Cabot Public Library. Learn how to use resistance bands to build muscle and how to design your own strength and cardio interval training. The sessions will be in the Willey Building or Recreation Field, weather permitting. Please call Michelle at 563-2427 or email at [email protected] to sign up.

Cabot Old Time Contra and Square

Dance – Saturday, May 10, 7:30 p.m. The May dance will feature Peter Johnson as the caller and the band, Sugarhouse, which consists of two fiddlers - David Carpenter and Amy Cann and one guitarist - Rick Klein. 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].

Community Book Group – Wednesday, May 14, 10:30 a.m. We will read A Morbid Taste for Bones: The First Chronicle of Brother Cadfael by Ellis Peters in May. All are welcome to join in! Copies of this book will be available in the Cabot Public Library.

Night of 1,000 Stars! – Tuesday, May 27, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

You are invited to read a small selection (five minutes or less) of your favorite book, poem, short story, essay etc. All ages are welcome to read and there will be a celebration afterward. Libraries throughout Vermont will be participating and hoping to reach a collective total of 1,000 readers. It’s helpful to know in advance if you plan to read, but not required. Family and friends invited! 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.

Lego Club – Tuesdays in May, 3:00- 4:00 p.m. All are welcome! We’ll have Legos for you to build creations with.

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! Thanks so much to Niels Larsen for setting up several meetings to help reintroduce the 4-H program in Cabot. Thanks also to Ed Smith for sharing his incredible knowledge of organic farming with us. Many thanks to Beth Wade for helping each week at Story Hour, but especially for our Spring Egg Hunt. Thank you, Jon Vara for once again helping us get our bikes back on the road again with your bike maintenance workshops. Many thanks to Heather Burak for helping with Lego Club and to Karen Fox of Woodbury Mountain Toys, for donating an awesome set of Star Wars Legos! 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, Lisa Olsen for the many hours supervising Dungeons and Dragons and Katie Trautz for the lively fiddle music every Monday afternoon.

See you at the Library!

Kathleen Hoyne and Anne Walker

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Thanks from Cabot Connects

by the Cabot Connects Mentor Advisory Board

The Cabot Connects Mentor Advisory Board would like to thank the Cabot community for their generous support during the 2014 Annual Donor Campaign. Expectations were exceeded with $4,525 being raised so far! We are also especially grateful for the businesses who have been sustaining partners in this mentoring effort: Bourne's Energy, Cabot Creamery, Cellars at Jasper Hill, Vermont Butter and Cheese Creamery, Woodbury Mountain Toys, and Zutano's. Please consider joining your friends and neighbors in supporting the Cabot Connects Mentoring program. Checks may be sent to: Cabot

05647. Please also save the date for our Second Annual Ride the Ridges cycling event on September 14!

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Ode to Blade

By Helen Morrison If I had any more room in my house for another cat, I would take Blade. He is just a wonderful cat. He is a burly, solid dude, but sweet as can be. And playful! He loves to chase these tiny little toy mice. Watching this great big cat carry around a tiny little pink mouse is pretty funny. Blade has a very unusual coat. It is black on the outside, but if you separate his fur, the undercoat is a light silver grey. Blade loves to drink out of the faucet. And he loves to sit next to you in companionable quietness. He needs to be an only cat. If you are looking for a good feline friend, he’s your guy. If you would like to meet Blade, come to Kingdom Animal Shelter on Memorial Drive in St. Johnsbury. Check our website for adoption hours: www.kingdomanimalshelter.com.

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ADVICE FROM THE TREE WARDEN

By Roland (Slim) Payne

The snow is melting away. The maple sugar season seems to be going well, the people I have talked to say they have about half a crop. Hopefully, the weather will hold a couple more weeks. Last year, I started some oak trees from acorns. They did well last summer, but I don’t know how they did last fall with freezing and thawing with no snow, and the same with my garlic (it is wait and see time). My tomato plants and basil plants are up and look good; next is cabbage family plants next week.

In a week or so, I need to walk my woods and the town forest to look for winter damage, both snow and wind. The town has applied for Class 4 road status for the road to the town forest, and if the land owner doesn’t appeal, it should go through. Vermont Fish and Wildlife says take down your bird feeders so you don’t have a bear problem. They are out and about, and I saw a sow with a cub yesterday. I will have trees to plant in about three to four weeks.

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Boys Varsity Basketball

By Patrick Tibbetts This year’s boys’ varsity basketball team was unfortunately in a rebuilding state again, due to seniors graduating and the loss of players choosing not to return. The players that did come out this season accepted the challenge and represented Cabot to the best of their abilities. The players, as individuals and teammates, progressed nicely over the season. Their overall play was much improved and managed to pull some toughfought wins out of the season. I thank all the kids, parents, faculty, staff and townspeople for supporting us this season. I especially want to thank Ian Ackerman for his help with the team and Ian Nally for being our Team Manager and Scorekeeper. I strongly encourage the basketball alumni of Cabot to help us shore up the basketball program in hopes of getting it back to its competitive days. Our competition is playing in summer leagues and AAU basketball programs. I encourage our kids and townspeople to help Cabot basketball do the same to help us keep pace with our competitors. This will not happen overnight and will take extra effort, proper people, time and investment. I'm proud to be a coach at Cabot and thank you all for the opportunity.

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WOMEN’S LEAGUE SOFTBALL

Wanted; Women to play on our Women’s League Softball Team, the "Cabot Creamers". You MUST be at least 16 years old

to play. The season starts in June, and games are played on Thursday nights at 6:15 p.m. in Hardwick. There is a $10 league fee

Even if you have never played before but have always wanted to try it out, we play to have fun and would love to have you join our great team of Ladies.

Interested parties should contact: Jennifer Persons at 563-2058 or Jenny Dunham at 563-2203

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 11 onward.

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Sunwise Surveying

Specializing In Boundary Surveying Lisa M. Ginett, RLS & Uriah Paire

193 McKinstry Rd. Cabot, VT 426-3025 P Under New Management!

Mon12-6, Tues-Fri 10-5:30, Sat by Appt.

We specialize in lovingly restoring & renewing your favorite things & creating new things especially for you! Mending, altering, custom, & up-cycling Prom & Bridal wear ~ Tailoring & home decor New, well-loved & vintage clothing

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 12 onward.

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