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The Cabot Chronicle

June 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 June 2014 pages (PDF)

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

In This Issue

TVs, printers,

encyclopedia, mattresses. Rummage sale proceeds benefit Cabot PTSO programs. Your support is appreciated.

ternoon, I staked out tree locations by the Town Hall. Monday, I called Dig Safe and had to wait until Thursday, still have to clean up and mulch the trees. I have been driving around town

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The Cabot Chronicle Submission Guidelines

The Chronicle welcomes letters written with an economy of words. The maximum length is recommended to be no longer than 400 words. Letters may be edited for clarity and length May 8, to dig any holes. On Friday, May 9, I had Deb Bothfeld and 12 students from Cabot School to dig holes and plant trees. They worked really well, planting eight trees in two-and-ahalf hours. Saturday, Richard Eno, Declan O’Connor, my son Roland, Jr., and I planted the last two trees May 10. Declan is a small boy with a big ambition; he is Richard Eno’s mentee. Volunteering together is something good other mentors and mentees can do. I want to give a big thanks to each and some, and I am amazed at how much or returned to the author with suggestions for re-submittal. All letters and commentary pubbush honeysuckle is growing in this lished in The Cabot Chronicle represent the opinions of the authors and not necessarily the town; it is everywhere, and Cabot is not opinions of staff. the only town with a lot of it. I will keep The Cabot Chronicle reserves the right to reject letters that may contain unsuitable matechecking the giant hogweed on Elm rial for our readers. Letters will not be considered for publication unless signed and accompaStreet to see how nied by a phone number. We will gladly consider articles and photographs for publication. much comes back The Cabot Chronicle is not responsible for errors in submitted material. Nor does The Cabot Chronicle assume responsibility for claims arising in connection with products or serthis year. vices advertised on these pages. Watch for If you have editorial questions or would like advertising information, call our office at 563-

ready by May 15. 05647.

The Cabot Chronicle is distributed the first day of the month and is provided locally free of charge. ~ Mission Statement ~ The mission of The Cabot Chronicle is to regularly publish local news for the residents of the Cabot Area. Our purpose is to share information that will help readers become better involved in their Community.

DEADLINE: 15th of the month prior

Coordinator: Jeannie Johnson Printed in Vermont ~ Copyright 2014 by The Cabot Chronicle

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Design/Pagination: Todd Jones

Web Master: Christine Friese Event Calendar: Mary Beth Churchill

Find current news, great links to your community, discussion forums and more about our paper on No part of this paper may be reproduced without express written permission from Cabot Chronicle. Publisher is not responsible for typographical errors. Acceptance of advertising is contingent upon publisher’s approval and agreement by advertiser to indemnify publisher from loss or expense on claims based upon contents of advertising. Publisher does not assume liability for errors in any advertising beyond the cost of space occupied by individual item in which the error appeared.

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Dear Editor,

We write to share our feelings of anger, frustration and sadness that some voters of Cabot did not support safe passage in town when they voted down the expansion of the village sidewalk to extend to the recreation field. Some argued that there is not a safety issue, and it was merely an issue of property values, even after hearing from our youth that they do not feel safe walking on the side of the road to go to the recreation field for athletic games and practices. Unhappily, we share with our Cabot community a clear example of the safety risk a lack of safe sidewalks presents. Our daughter, when walking home from school, was on the bridge before the recreation field when a garbage truck and a car both drove onto

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Logan Allan Cookson

On May 24, 2014, the skies opened up and took a beautiful angel home, Logan Allan Cookson. Logan was born on May 11, 2004, in Berlin, the youngest child of Scott and Tammy Cookson of Cabot. He formerly resided in East Barre and attended Central Vermont Catholic School. The last two years, he attended Cabot School. Logan touched many people in some small way throughout his short yet memorable life. Logan’s life would seem too short to many, but those who were touched by him understood that the quality of existence far exceeds the quantity of time one lives. He was a country boy at heart. He loved everything from exploring the woods to hunting, camping, mowing the lawn, and stacking wood with his Dad. He always looked for something to fix or take apart. basketball, He also enjoyed playing soccer, hockey, and chess. Since moving to Cabot, he enjoyed guiding his mom through the woods, showing and teaching her the wonders of nature. Logan and his brother, Brock, mentor and best friend, were inseparable. They enjoyed animals, farming, and playing outside. Logan spent many hours on the floor playing with his army men and wrestling figures. He also loved to talk on the phone. He had a passion for party planning. He would often make calls to family and friends to arrange get-togethers. Logan was especially proud of his greatest accomplishment, passing the hunter safety course. Family members that live on to honor and remember Logan’s life include his parents, Scott and Tammy Cookson; his best friend and brother, Brock “Brockie”, also, brother, Shayne of Burlington and sister, Shantal Cookson of Barre; maternal grandparents, Kenneth Allan Adams and Jacqueline Bissonnette Adams of Berlin; paternal grandmother, Connie Martin Murray of Waterbury; and great- grandmother, Elva Martin of Waterbury. Aunts and Uncles include Maureen Adams and companion, Ron Lackey of Stowe, Jody and Jaime Fewer of Barre Town, Andrew and Karen Adams of Cabot, Nancy McLaney of Crestview FL, John Cookson and companion Shannon Buziak of Cabot, Dan Cookson of Waterbury, Tammy and Kevin Johnson of East Calais, Dawn Cookson of New

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OMMENTARY

the bridge from opposite directions. Our daughter was almost struck by the truck and had to cling to the railing to avoid being hit. Unfortunately, something from the truck flew off and hit our daughter in the head, resulting in a concussion. It would be a tragedy for another child to have the same experience our daughter had, or worse. Even a near miss is unacceptable when considering the safety of our children. No parent should have to experience the anxiety and fear that we have felt since this event. Every day we now worry about whether or not she will make it home safely. Does another child need to be injured before we, as a community, recognize the need for safe passage for our youth? Sincerely,

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EMORIALS

Hampshire, and Angela and Gary Ward of Cabot; a nephew, Trenton Cookson of Plainfield; cousins include Spencer, Camryn, Julia, and Seth Fewer of Barre Town, Karissa, Lindsay, and Kaden of Crestview, FL, Courtney Cookson, Christopher, and Kyle Johnson of East Calais, and Garan Ward of Cabot. He was predeceased by his paternal grandfather, John Cookson. He also left behind his pets, three chickens and a bunny. With Logan’s passing, we remind others that his life is one to be celebrated. Although we will miss him every day, he will forever remain in our hearts. In his short ten years, we were able to create many wonderful memories, and it has been a privilege and a blessing from God to be his parents. Calling hours will be held on Friday, May 30, at the Hooker and Whitcomb Funeral Home, 7 Academy Street, Barre from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. A mass of celebration in honor of Logan’s life will be held on Saturday, May 31, at 1:30 p.m. at Saint Monica Catholic Church in Barre. In honor of Logan and his country ways, we ask that those that attend dress casually, either in denim or in camouflage. Those who wish to make donations in Logan’s memory may contribute to the Cabot School, Main Street, Cabot, VT 05647, Central Vermont Catholic School, 79 Summer Street, Barre, VT 05641, or Vermont Fish & Wildlife, 1 National Life Drive, Davis 2, Montpelier, VT 05620.

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Christmas Dinner

Last year, many people donated items from their own vegetable gardens for the Community Christmas Dinner organized by the Ducharmes and friends at the school dining facility. Please consider thinking ahead and planting something extra in your garden to contribute to the local mix, such as -

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Dear Cabot Planning Commission,

I feel badly that I’ve flooded this website with comments, questions, and concerns. them I know that wading through all means an extra work load for the commission. I have also been disappointed often with the responses to citizen concerns aired here and at the public hearing. So, I’m just going to make a few general statements and be done with it. First of all, I apologize that by criticizing this document, I am probably hurting the feelings of the people who have worked on it for the past year. I know it took hours and hours, and was very, very tedious. I am really sorry about that. However, I would like you to weigh all that time and energy against the amount of time, energy, and money that these regulations will cost the generations of landowners who will have to live under them. In that light, the effort involved may be worth it. When I moved to Cabot and read the zoning regulations, I thought that most of them seemed reasonable. I’m not a lawyer, but I felt like I could understand them. I trust that a roomful of townsfolk could generally agree on what they said. These proposed regulations are way too complicated. How would an interested buyer figure out what would be permitted on the land they want to buy? Would they need a lawyer to figure it out? Or would the town need to pay a ZA full time to offer interpretations of what the DRB “may” allow? [ The Development Review Board is a new quasi-judicial board proposed by the Town Plan and draft zoning regulations. ] Are we really against "development" as it currently stands in Cabot? How many current structures will become “noncompliant” if these regulations are passed? Do you have an estimate? There could be severe repercussions for folks who fall into that category. With all the regulations, it seems most folks would be out of compliance with them for some reason or another, and the proposed grandfather clause is not nearly inclusive enough. As I look at Cabot’s Census data, I see our homeowner housing costs are higher and our incomes are lower than the county and state averages. These proposed regulations greatly increase the need for permit fees, site visits, engineer plans, surveyors… for nearly every project a homeowner needs to do. Have you estimated how much the associated costs would go up for the average landowner, and what this added hardship would mean for families? I’m also confused about the intention of the proposals. I was taught that it is not the role of government to make us safe. That is our job. A lot of regulations could be passed in the name of public safety. The risks to safety do not seem to balance with the added burdens and costs these proposals will put on landowners. Especially when there are already state, federal, or other rules (like insurance policy regulations and inspections required for mortgages) that cover those concerns. Why should every landowner pay the town to enforce regulations which already exist elsewhere? It’s impossible to protect the “rural character” and water quality, if we can’t make any regulations limiting the big polluters of the world. There aren’t any real polluters in Cabot, as far as I can see. Just people living and loving their land, trying to make a living, in the way

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June 2014 ~ page 3

they see fit. If folks already are out of compliance, and things are fine, then what are we worried about? If the FEMA maps need to be included because, if they’re not, we will lose FEMA funding in case of a disaster, I can see where folks would feel threatened by that. How many of the proposed changes are connected to offers of funding from the government, or other grantors? Will the costs to landowners outweigh the benefits of some of these monies? Yes, the document allows a lot of exceptions for things, but extended permit processes are needed for most of them. Also, permission would be under the jurisdiction of a DRB and a ZA who “may” grant us a permit. I couldn’t count the number of times this document uses the words “may,” “will strongly encourage,” and “will consider” to how decisions would be made. This gives a lot more leeway to the ZA and the new DRB in a lot more situations, than exist in the current regulations. The idea of relinquishing our current two-board system (P.C. and ZBA) for a one board system feels like we are surrendering local control. I like the idea of keeping the check and balance system here, with my neighbors. I can’t imagine that the boards we have now are so swamped with permit applications that they can’t keep up. If that’s the case, then a two-board system still makes the most sense- more hands mean lighter work. Finally, what’s the rush? tions such as these are being Regulapassed all around Vermont, the U.S., and the world. Why not wait awhile and see how it goes for the others? Let them work out the bugs and constitutional issues. Why make our townspeople fight those fights? I could go on and on about the ways this document puts excessive burdens on landowners, while not even accomplishing the intentions it claims to. I apologize for making so many comments on this website. I know it makes me sound burdensome, myself. However, this document seems to open the door for great abuses of power, and seems to go against our very constitution. That is probably why the town has to submit, willingly, to these regulations. If passed, we will end up not only living under these restrictions, but paying for their enforcement against us through our local fees and taxes. If we have a choice in the matter, and can return the decision to approve regulation changes to the voters, I suggest we take it. Thanks for your consideration.

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By Jane Brown

We had two Ice-Out winners this year, Kelsey Phillips, who lives in Iowa City, Iowa, the eight-year old granddaughter of Chris and Dot Wilson, who have cottage on West Shore Road. ticket Grandpa Chris purchased a for each of his three granddaughters, and Kelsey's had the exact date and time, April 29 at 10:06 a.m. The other winner, William "Bill" Brochu, was brought up in the Hardwick area and is the nephew of Jane and Garey Larrabee (Hastings Store) in West Danville. When I talked to Bill on the phone to let him know he was a winner, he told me he almost didn't get in the game this year. Apparently, he had tickets, but forgot about them until April 1, when the contest closes, and

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CABOT PROPERTY

Caitlin Corkins of the Agency of Commerce Development will speak at an informational Monday evening June 9, at 6:00 p.m. Ms. Corkins will explain tax credits available income producing properties within the designated The June 9 informational meeting will floor meeting room at the Willey building.

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If you provide your email address,

we will email you electronic versions of poster and event signs to share with friends, family, and your own posting locations and the time was 10:06 am. Maps available sale day at locations all over town

didn't have time to get them to the post office. That evening, he went to the pay on line ticket site on the Joe's Pond website, www.joespondvermont.com, and made out ten tickets, getting them in the contest just under the wire before 11:59:59 p.m. Luckily, one of those ten tickets was for April 29 at 10:06 a.m. It isn't rare to have more than one winner; we have had as many as four people select the exact date and time, in 2002 and again in 2008. We had three winners in 2006. This year, each of our two winners received over $2,900.00. In recent years there have been local winners, and we were able to have a brief presentation ceremony, but this year, since both winners are out of state, that wasn't possible. But each will receive an Award Certificate along with the check.

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Strawberry shortcake,

Grilled Ice hamburgers cream sundaes, & hot dogs S S S S T T T T T T T T H H H H RA RA RA RA E E E E W W E E W W E E D D D D L L L L E E E E B B B B E E E E L L L L E E E E BRA BRA BRA BRA I I I I RR RR C C RR RR C C I I I I O O O O T T T T U U U U E E E E S S S S

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Ensemble

Concert led by Larry Gordon with special guest singer Titiana Sarbinska, 7:30 p.m. 18 young adult singers and instrumentalists perform traditional music from many cultures, American shape-note songs and Renaissance songs at the Old Schoolhouse Common in Marshhfield. Admission at the door $10, $5 students and seniors.

Benefit the Jacquith Public Library.

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Central Vermont Humane Society

22 nd Walk for Animals. Recreation Field Pavilion at Poolside Drive in Montpelier. Celebrating 50 years of saving animals' lives. 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. To help support shelter animals. Ages 0-up. Participants are asked to collect pledges for shelter animals. All walkers who raise at least $50 receive a Walk t-shirt, Prizes awarded. Free food, giveaways, dog training demos. Come for the walk, stay for the fun and being a voice for animals who cannot advocate for themselves.

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Green Mountain United Way Bowl-

ers Unite!! Join us on the lanes at Twin City Family Fun Center at 1:00 p.m. in Berlin on the Barre-Montpelier Road. Bowlers of all skill level are welcome. Play two games. Prizes, bowling shoes and bowling balls will be on the house or bring your own. Gather a team of 4-5 bowlers, download team sign-up sheet. For more information contact Michael Knight or http:// www.gmunitedway.org/bowlingwas.shtml. NOTE: Deadline to sign-up Tuesday, June 3rd

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Faith in Action Free Community

Chicken Dinner with Dan Goodrich band. Dinner 5:30 p.m., Music 6:00 p.m. Masonic Hall, Main Street, Cabot. More

2 nd Annual Spring Celebration Tractor Raffle and Bob Amos CD Release Concert , 7:00 p.m. Concert featuring Bob Amos and Catamount Crossings. Raffle winner announced during the concert intermission for the Yanmar Se 2400F TL 24hp 4wd Sub-Compact Tractor with Loader. One in 250 chances to win. Raffle tickets with complimentary concert ticket is $100. Concert only tickets are $10 for members, non-members $12. Proceeds to benefit Catamount Film and Arts. North Congregational Church, Main Street, St. Johnsbury. Contact Catamount Arts Box Office 802-7482600 ext. 100.

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FREE Vermont's open-water free

fishing day. The one day in the summer when residents and non-residents may go fishing in the Green Mountain state without a fishing license. Great opportunity for young people to give fishing a try. Check out www.vtfishandwildlife.com, click on fishing and then on kids fishing

been looking for a good excuse to give fishing a try, here it is. Touch-A-Truck at Montpelier High School, 11:00 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. If you like trucks and cars, come to their annual Touch-A-Truck day, where kids young and old can touch, honk, climb on the many vehicles on display, such as firetruck, ambulance, backhoe, snowplow, dump and garbage trucks, semi. Ages 2 and up. Cost $8 family, $3 adult, $2 child. Concessions and other activities,. Entry fee includes a free day pass to Montpelier Recreation Department

Craft Brew Races, The Stoweflake Mountain Resort in Stowe, $45.00$65.00, 12:00 noon. A 5K road race followed by a local craft beer festival. Runners and walkers are welcome to participate in the 5K; the post race beer festival will be open to non-runners as well and separate tickets are available on website. The craft beer festival will be held immediately following the race, featuring 20+ local breweries. This is a 21+event. Contact Matt Gray 401-3182991.

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Annual Bread and Puppet Museum

Open House 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Celebrate its thirty-eighth season with a festive event. Music, ceremonial opening of museum doors and small shows start at 2:00 p.m. At 4:00 p.m. puppeteers present a performance at the Bread and Puppet Farm, Route 122, Glover. Call for

site www.breadand puppet.org.

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Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before

Dark , KIDS Theatre, Vermont Children's Theatre, 2283 Darling Hill Rd., Lyndonville. Theatre performers ages 710. Thursday, June 26, 7:00 p.m.; Friday, June 27, 7:00 p.m.; and Saturday, June

Join Jack and Annie on their adventure back in time to experience an amazing group of dinosaurs face to face . info@vermontchildrenstheater.com

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Postcard Painting Show June-July

12 . Postcards From the Keys, Florida Winter paintings by David Smith. At the Jaquith Library, Marshfield. Bingo! Every Wednesday at Twin Valley Senior Center, 4583 US Rte. 2, East Montpelier, 1:00 p.m. Come join us for friendly fierce competition and laughter. Sponsored by Twin Valley Seniors.

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June 2014 ~ page 5

of the art observatory to see a demo of the main telescope and Ash Dome and collection of portable telescopes at Northern Skies Observatory (on the hill) behind Peacham Elementary School, Peacham. Contact Damon@nkaf.org or www.nkaf.org. Classic Film Night, first Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. with Rick Winston and Tom Blachly. Jaquith Public Library 4263581, Marshfield.lib.vt.us

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Astronomy

Foundation invites you to their open house on the second Saturday of each month.1:00-4:00 p.m. Tour the state of the art observatory to see a demo of the main telescope and Ash Dome and collection of portable telescopes at Northern Skies Observatory (on the hill) behind Peacham Elementary School, Peacham. Contact Damon@nkaf.org or www.nkaf.org.

(CCA) office will be open to the on Mondays beginning in June. Association Coordinator, will

office is located in the Willey by The Cabot Chronicle and Cabot has space at the school).

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LAUGHING TURTLE

We have a strong tradition of learning to live in health, harmony and respect in every part of our lives. Our first priority is having fun together while learning to take personal responsibility for our choices. Our goal is to develop caring, connected and capable young people who share a strong and abiding commitment to themselves, their community, and the natural environment. Our staff is variously gifted in music, drama, creative arts, outdoor living, hiking, sports, backpacking, outdoor, carpentry, gardening and leadership skills. They reflect the values we most appreciate and share a commitment to providing positive and healthy learning experiences which foster creativity and promote feelings of independence and self-esteem. At camp we help kids understand that they are special and that summer is about the fun they create as they find new friends and face new challenges.

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$800 with Ticket #99

Five moose hunting permits also are offered in an auction with a bidding deadline of August 15. Bids must be submitted on the department's moose per-

Women’s League Softbal sold by Jasmine Tetreault Dozens of other prizes were also awarded, and coffee & cake were provided in appreciation of community support Wanted; Women to play on our Women’s League Softbal 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 fe Thank you for making it possible to purchase new uniforms for Cabot Girls Varsity Basketball 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:

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Cabot Community Service Award

In an effort to celebrate the valuable If you know of an individual wellcontributions made by many people to our community, the Cabot Select Board and the Cabot School Board are soliciting nominations for the 2014 Cabot Community Service Award. This award will recognize a Cabot resident whose contributions of time, talent, and energy over a number of years have had a June 2014 Schedule significant positive impact on Cabot School and/or the larger Cabot commuHOME GAMES - 6:30 pm AWAY GAMES TO BE ANNOUNCED nity. Previous recipients of this award have contributed to the strength and vitality of our community in a variety of

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SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

ways: through planting trees, coaching, mentoring, organizing and helping with 2 3 4 5 6 7 community-wide activities, and serving VM @ VM @ Holyoke on various boards and committees. Last Holyoke Laconia @VM year’s recipient of the Cabot Community Service Award was Roland “Slim” 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Payne. VM @ N. Adams VM @ VM @ VM @ Sanford @ VM Holyoke Plymouth Danbury deserving of this award, please send a letter of nomination prior to June 4 that describes his/her contributions, to either the Cabot School Board or the Cabot Select Board at the addresses listed: Cabot Select Board Jack Daniels, chair c/o Town Clerk’s Office Willey Building Cabot, VT 05647 Cabot School Board Chris Tormey, chair c/o Cabot School 25 Common Rd. Cabot, VT 05647 Thanks very much! Chris Tormey Chair, Cabot School Board

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WEBSITE VOLUNTEER NEEDED NOW

15 Sanford @ VM 22 16

23 17 Keene @VM 24 18 VM @ Laconia 25 19

26 20 Laconia @VM 27 21 VM @ Holyoke 28 Ocean State @VM

29 30 Danbury @VM Plymouth VM @ @VM Sanford VM @ Keene Sanford @ VM N. Adams @VM The Cabot Chronicle needs someone to update the paper's website each month, starting right away. Work involves uploading approximately thirty articles at the beginning of each month, removing

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“Double Take”

This year's spring soccer U19 team has five pairs of brothers playing--how cool is that?! Worthy of recognition!! They are as follows (older brothers in the back): back: Camden Celley,Caleb Maxfield, Hugh Burke, Mark Schumacher, Ian Nally. front: Darren Celley, Jeremy Maxfield, Henry Burke, Frank Schumacher, Will Nally outdated material, and occasional midmonth updating when special events are going on, such as the community map for the townwide lawn sale.

The need is continuous, but even if you can only help for a month or two, WE NEED YOU NOW! It would be a real help to the community.

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Richard Danner at the Museum

Peter MacLeod, a historian from the Canada War Museum in Toronto, Ontario, left, talks to Richard Danner of Cabot after his speech at the Connecticut River Museum's dinner talk about the War of 1812 recently. MacLeod spoke at the Old Lyme Country Club in Old Lyme, Connecticut. Danner, a member of the Connecticut River Museum, went to hear about Vermont's involvement in the war. MacLeod said Vermonters provided a lot of food to the Canadians during the war. Photo by Will Walters

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ABOUT OUR NEW HOME

Twin Valley Senior Center moved to its new home on May 14. See our new contact information in the box on this page. This would have not happened without each of you in the community support in each of the towns that we serve, which are Cabot, Marshfield, Plainfield, Woodbury, Calais and East Montpelier. Special thanks to the Woodbury Foundation, Harris & Francis Block Foundation of Marshfield and The Home Depot of Williston. There was also a grant from Senator Bernie Sanders' office which enabled us to get the stove, dishwasher and freezer for the Meals on Wheels program. I personally know that the new space would not be as functional as it is without the dedication, guidance and carpentry work of Stanley Fowler and son Denis Fowler of Plainfield. They have been two great assets during this project that I never could have done without. They both worked so closely with us throughout this whole project for months. They have contributed so much time, thought and knowledge to this project for everyone to enjoy. I really have grown very fond of both of them and have enjoyed our close contact just about every day for the last few months. They have received hardly any compensation for their time, knowledge and hard work. Please, when you meet them, say “thank you” for all they have done for the seniors and the community. I cannot find enough words to thank them and tell them how much I have appreciated them all the way through this whole project. Bob Morse of the Colburn Road in Plainfield has also been a terrific help to each of us through this project by volunteering his time and help whenever needed. There are many, many more thank yous and recognition that I will certainly pursue as time allows. Everyone that has attended the center seems very

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F ROM T HE C ABOT P UBLIC L IBRARY

pleased with the outcome. Some are sad we left the Marshfield space. There was no choice, as there was not room at the Old School House Common to grow as we have strategic plans to do. Our new center allows us to be more efficient, comfortable and accessible to the towns that we serve. We are pleased to to have fundraising projects on site and room for future growth. TVSC will be open on the same schedule as always to begin, with the three days from 9:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m., Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. However, lunch has been changed from 12:00 p.m. to 12:15 p.m. to accommodate in-service programs that we want to present. We still have door-to-door transportation, free of charge to all six towns with no annual dues. Our first strategic plan is to open five days a week, and in the near future expand to bring programs that can be done on evenings and weekends. However, before we can accomplish that, we need to recruit new volunteers to help us do the things we want to do. We are asking you to join us, giving some of your free time to help. We are looking for volunteers (any amount of time you could give) for the following areas: Meals on Wheels: Readying the meals on wheels for different delivery routes by packaging, labeling and keeping logs. Activities: Planning in-house activities, picnics and day trips

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Overall Volunteer: Learning the

overall functions of the center to be a back-up person as needed. Exercise Leader: Be trained to fill in and maybe be a leader for future classes of exercise programs. No matter how much time you can spare on weekdays, nights or weekends, there are a lot of functions that take place at TVSC that we can find to fit your schedule. As we move forward, we will be looking for local talent, programs, etc., that we want to bring into the center for all community members to enjoy. Please contact Rita at 232 or email me at ritaccope@myfairpoint.net if you are interested in becoming part of the family at TVSC or want to bring new projects for everyone to access in the communities.

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2014 Cabot Public Library’s Summer Reading Program

This summer’s theme is science . All programs are free and open to children and adults of all abilities. Sign up for the summer reading program and win prizes, t-shirts and enter our raffle to win a $25.00 gift certificate for The Galaxy Bookshop. The Thousand Page Club continues. Sign up as soon as school is out! Evening Programs: (Days and times vary.) Tuesday, June 17 th – 6:30 pm – Fizz, Boom, Read! Kickoff with Ken Klingler! Pizza and Ice Cream for everyone! Sign up for the Summer Reading Program and check out the array of prehistoric artifacts from the Paleolithic period, the Archaic stage, and the Woodland period from Ken’s collections. Ken will present information and artifacts pertaining to these 3 periods in human history. Ken is an artist, sculptor, an avocational archaeologist, and an Associate with the Vermont Division of Historic Preservation. Thursday, June 19 th – 7:30 pm - What’s Up! The Sky at Night with Brad Vietje and Mazie O’Connor These educators with the Northern Skies Observatory, will guide us through the stars, planets, galaxies, and comets. Using globes, planispheres, models, and planetarium software, your tour guides to the universe will help children understand what’s up at night, getting to know the constellations, and learning to recognize the bright stars, and the visible planets. Tuesday, June 24 th – 6:30pm - The Science of Archaeology with Scott McLaughlin This program engages kids of all ages in a simulated archaeological dig based on an actual archaeological site. Participants examine artifacts and features found on the surface level and then “excavate” the site to discover what the site’s function was and what life was like 100 years ago.As the mystery unfolds, participants are provided with resource materials to help them interpret the life and times associated with the site.

Thursday, June 26 th -6:30pm - Middle School Pizza Party! Come for a reunion of your school buddies and pick up your books for the summer! The middle school has a required reading list and books will be available for your children to pick up. Tuesday, July 1 – 6:30pm - Project MICRO with Janet Schwarz Remember the first time that you looked through a microscope??? Project MICRO (Microscopy in Curriculum, Research-Outreach) exposes Vermont youth to the wonders of their microscopic world. They may observe bizarre bugs, “filch” fingerprints and be mesmerized by miniscule pond water inhabitants. We bring all of the microscopes (both dissecting and compound), eye loupes, and pocket microscopes. Project MICRO is sponsored by the UVM College of Medicine Microscopy Imaging Center and is largely dependent upon volunteers . Suggested age: 8 and up. Tuesday, July 8 th – 6:30pm - The Biology and Management of Vermont’s Moose with Cedric Alexander Cedric Alexander, Moose Project Leader, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Dept., will review the history of the presence of moose in Vermont, the extrication and restoration, current status, management, and future projections of their health. Tuesday, July 15 th - 6:30pm - Action Origami with Gail Martin Back by popular demand! Participants will make and decorate some of the following from paper: spinners, helicopters, flapping birds, hopping frogs, hang gliders, poppers, windmills, and a skeletal octahedron. Come see a display of samples sent in advance by Gail! Friday, August 22 nd – 7:00 pm – Mayfly with Katie Trautz and Julia Wayne Mayfly , Americana/Old-time duo, is a Vermont based band that performs oldtime New England and Appalachian music, as well as original songwriting on guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo and vocals. Mayfly has been performing for over 10 years, touring throughout the USA and Canada. The ladies have two albums, one of which won ‘Best Traditional Album of the Year’ in Vermont. Mayfly intersperses close harmony vocals with strong instrumentals influenced by blues, ballads, and American roots music.

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Always the last Sunday of each month

Rita Copland with Stanley Fowler 4583 U.S. Route 2 P. O. Box 152 Sunday, June 25 East Montpelier, VT 05651 (former Blueberry Commons) at the new Senior Center at Website: Twinvalleyseniors.org Blueberry Hill Commons facebook: Twinvalleyseniors. U.S. Route 2, East Montpelier. Lunches at 12:15 each day TVSC is open. Pulled Pork on a Roll, Reservations not needed Coleslaw, Corn Pudding and Dessert. unless 5 or more people. Pick up between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. No annual fees and free bus service. Monthly Fundraising Dinners last Sunday of each month.

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Friends of the Winooski

Cabot students at the end of the day. In early May, the Friends of the Winooski River and its volunteer partners planted trees on the banks of the Dog and Winooski Rivers in Berlin, Cabot and Marshfield, kicking off the spring season with a series of successful restoration events. On May 6 and 7, students from the Cabot School and then volunteers from Cabot Creamery joined the Friends for plantings in Cabot. The Cabot Creamery sponsored these events. “It is great to be able to get out and have so many volunteers help protect the shores of these rivers,” said Ann Smith, Executive Director of Friends of

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Cabot School Board Chair

At our May 5 meeting, the Cabot School board approved the hiring of Gail Curtis as the interim Principal of Cabot School for the 2014-2015 school year. A longtime resident of Proctor, Vermont, Ms. Curtis was chosen from a group of applicants by a selection committee comprised of parents and school staff. Ms. Curtis has worked as a teacher or administrator in Vermont schools for over three decades. She has spent much of her career as a classroom teacher in the upper-elementary grades, and has also worked extensively with other teachers to improve teaching methods and students’ success. In addition, she has experience as a principal at the elementary and middle school level. Ms. Curtis brings a broad range of valuable skills and experience to our school, and we are excited to welcome her to Cabot. High school graduation will take place this year on Friday, June 13, in the school gymnasium beginning at 6:00 p.m.. Fifteen graduating seniors will receive their diplomas on that evening. We’re pleased to welcome former Vermont governor Madeleine Kunin as our graduation speaker this year. Ms. Kunin was asked to attend by one of our graduating seniors, and we’re excited that she has accepted the invitation to join us. The Baccalaureate ceremony for Cabot’s graduating seniors (along with their friends and families) will once again be sponsored this year by the United Church of Cabot. That program will be held at the Church on Sunday, June 8. Eighth-grade graduation will take place this year on Thursday, May 12, at 5:30 p.m. in the Cabot School Performing Arts Center. The eighth grade students recently returned from their endof- the- year trip to Washington, D.C. A

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River

the Winooski River. “Riparian restoration is key to the health of any river. The small trees and spikes we planted over the past week will help protect the water quality of the Dog and Winooski Rivers by controlling erosion and reducing water pollution.” This year, the Friends will plant a total of 1,800 trees, including a mix of native floodplain species of willows, dogwoods, alders, elderberry, maples and other species. Over the past eight years, the Friends have planted 14,000 trees and shrubs on 35 acres throughout the Winooski watershed.

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Update

great deal of learning takes place in a short time for those students during that week-long visit, and the trip could not happen each year without the combined energy, organization, and fundraising efforts of the middle school teachers and parents. May is a time of students completing this year’s courses and of teachers and administrators planning courses and the schedule for next year. This year, high school students are taking exams in advanced-placement calculus and biology, and seniors are completing their Senior X internships and projects. Next year, students in a marine biology/ anthropology class will travel in the spring to Belize on the Caribbean coast of Central America to study in the rain forests and coral reefs. It’s challenging to schedule within a small school, and we appreciate the work of our school staff in making the varied courses that comprise our kids’ experience fit together and work. Finally, on a financial note, the Vermont Legislature has, in the 2014 session just recently concluded, taken action that will affect the size of Cabot residents’ school property taxes this year. Just prior to its adjournment, the Legislature set the statewide base property tax rate at 98 cents per $100 of assessed homestead value. Since this is a reduction of three cents from the $1.01 expected rate from which we built our 2014-2015 Cabot School Budget, it means that the budget passed by Cabot voters on Town Meeting Day will now result in a lower Homestead Tax Rate for Cabot property owners. That rate will now stand at $1.5736, rather than the $1.6050 figure that was approved at Town Meeting. Boiling all that down, it means that school taxes for the coming year will be 2.4% higher than this year’s, rather than the 4.5% increase we had expected it to be at Town Meeting time.

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By Helen Morrison

Bella is a friendly eight-year-old spayed female. Her elderly owners had to go into senior housing and they weren't allowed to take her. Bella likes to cuddle, sit on your lap, and sleep with you in bed. She loves to have her head and nose softly petted and massaged. Bella also loves the sun and loves when her bed is placed in front of a warm place. Bella is an amazingly sweet girl and manages to acquire an amazing purr when she is relaxed! Bella is very sad that her owners had to leave her and is wanting a good, loving, and quiet home. If you would like to meet Bella, come to Kingdom Animal Shelter on Memorial Drive in St. Johnsbury. Check our website for adoption hours: www.kingdomanimalshelter.com.

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By Helen Morrison

All of us are aware of domestic tailless cats. Many of us know them as Manx cats. They are appealing to some folk, mainly for their unusual lack of a tail. These cats exist mainly due to breeders crossing cats who have shorter and shorter tails until they get kittens who have no tails. But here is the rub. In a litter where you may have one or two healthy manx kittens, there can be others with serious genetic and physiological abnormalities. They are born with a condition called sacrocaudel dygenesis. Their tail bone is not only missing but the backbone up into the body and the sacrum are missing or deformed, along with the nerves coming from that part of the spine. The kittens appear to be normal for about a month. The mom takes care of any fecal matter or urine by licking and cleaning them. But as they begin to grow and move about, it becomes clear that something is deeply wrong. They cannot defecate normally; their back legs often do not work. And if you cannot find someone willing to help them express their fecal matter several times a day and help them move about, then they need to be euthanized. And it is hard to find someone willing to take on this extra care. At the Kingdom Animal Shelter, we received a surrendered family of cats ... a mom and five kittens, all a beautiful coal black. The mom's tail was normal in length. One of the kittens' tails is normal, two have bob tails, and two have no tails. They are sweet, sweet, sweet. One of the bobtail kittens suddenly lost all ability to move, and needed to be euthanized. As I said to the foster parent, with one genetic ab-

Member FDIC

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of Tail-less Cats

normality, there may be more, and perhaps that is what happened to this kitten. And now that they are beginning to try to walk, one of the tailless kittens' back legs don't work properly. His back legs move like a frog's legs move. It does not bode well, not only for walking, but also for the ability to eliminate. Meanwhile, there is a kitten at one of the vets we use who is an absolute sweetheart, long black silver fur, friendly, playful, loving his food. He was found as a stray. But he can't eliminate and his back legs don't work properly. He is tailless. If there is a vet tech or someone willing to work with him, help him eliminate daily, maybe fashion something for him to walk, he could have a good and happy though challenging life. I have heard of a vet tech who took such a kitten, kept it in diapers, and it lived a good life for 8 years. But it takes a special person willing to tend to the special needs. So, there appear to be some pockets of cat communities in the area that have the genes for shorter tails, and this is leading to a number of kittens with sacro-caudel dysgenesis. It is particularly hard for me to understand why we must cross breed and cross breed to get a particular trait that is really a genetic abnormality and which leads to who knows how many kittens being thrown away to get a few that are viable and healthy and able to be sold. Here are these beautiful little beings, trapped in bodies that don't work, all because we are after some peculiarity, some novelty that may sell. It is extremely unfair. If you think you might be a person who could take on the care of one of these special needs kittens, give me a

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← From the Cabot Chronicle