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The Cabot Chronicle

July 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 July 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

Cabot United Church Major Repairs Contemplated

Thanks to a donation of $10,000 to Cabot Community Association for the purpose, funds are available to address repair and maintenance issues for the iconic center pin of the Common and village area. Build in 1806 in the old center of town, the church building was taken down in 1826 and rebuilt at the northeast corner of the Village Common. A few years later, it was moved to the present location, the northwest corner of the common, and the lower story, which included a kitchen and dining/meeting room, was added. Originally constructed as the Congregational Church, it is currently in use as Cabot United Church ( informationprovidedby www.cabothistory.com, the website of the Cabot Historical Society). A building condition assessment was performed in June by Scott Newman of 106 Associates of Burlington, in cooperation with the Preservation Trust of Vermont. Church leadership agreed that the assessment document was thorough and reasonable, listing priorities for repair work and giving approximate costs. The assessment identifies almost $85,000 of work that needs to be done, with about $26,000 of highest priority. At least $16,000 worth of steeple work is included in this high priority category. The report author recommended a twenty percent contingency for conditions that cannot be seen in a nondestructive investigation, and assumes that some work will be assisted by volunteer effort. The report concludes: “Repairs now will return a number of deferred maintenance details to a condition requiring only routine maintenance; conversely, these problems will accelerate shortly if not addressed. Employment of tradesmen with demonstrated expertise in historic building repairs – even though they appear more expensive than others

– will avoid most maintenance problems created by unskilled repairs.” The unnamed contributor of the $10,000 recognizes that more money will be needed, and wishes the church leadership to work with the Cabot Community Association to pursue additional fundraising and apply for possible matching grants for the repair work. Church members voted to accept the donation with gratitude, and intend to apply it toward the priority work on the steeple, and begin work with Cabot Community Association on fundraising and grant writing. Community support is sought. Financial contributions can be used to match anticipated grant funding. Assistance on the grant application process would also be very much appreciated by both the church and Cabot Community Association. In addition, the report made it clear that the price will exceed the $85,000 estimated without volunteer work to help with some tasks, such as improving drainage around the foundation, removing, restoring and reinstalling the clock faces, repainting the tower and exterior, including wood restoration and painting lower levels of the building. The roof needs to be removed and replaced with a new standing seam metal roof, ensuring that the wood shingle roof underneath is removed. If that cannot be accomplished this year, the professional services of a roofer are required to inspect the existing roof for leaks and rust through, and if the roof cannot be replaced within two years, it should be primed with a rust inhibiting primer, then painted to protect the metal from further deterioration. Leaking roofs are the most common source of expensive deterioration to historic buildings. Purchases will also be required, from oil-based primer and paint to heavy-duty fire extinguishers, and a chimney stainless steel liner. The church is exploring purchasing heat from the town with a tie-in to the school’s woodchip heating system. Should this not happen, the church’s existing furnace should be replaced with a higher efficiency one. To see the report, join the project planning team or volunteer group, make a contribution, or just see how you can help, call Skip Bothfeld at 563-2715 or Beth Wade at 563-2110 for information. You can also call Debra Zimmerman at Cabot Community Association in the Willey Building at 563-3338, or stop in on Monday or any other day you see her car in the parking lot.

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Cabot Community Service Award

Photo by Kelly Gochey, honoree's granddaughter

The Cabot Select Board and School Board honored Andy Luce, First Assistant Fire Chief, with the 2014 Cabot Community Service Award at Cabot High School Graduation on Friday, June 13. This is what Chris Tormey, School Board Chair, said as he presented the award: “In an effort to celebrate the valuable contributions made by many people to our community, the Cabot Select Board and the Cabot School Board have, each year, for a number of years, presented the Cabot Community Service Award during this Cabot high school graduation. The graduates whose accomplishment we are celebrating this evening have all benefitted from a wide range of people in Cabot who, year in and year out, donate their time to making our town better.

In previous years, this award has been presented to coaches, mentors, and organizers of community-wide activities; last year’s award was presented to our town tree warden, Slim Payne, whose diligent and careful efforts to beautify our town is apparent every time we drive through the village. This year’s recipient of this award has spent much of his adult life ensuring that emergency help is available in a hurry when our town’s citizens need it most. This individual has served as a member of the Cabot Ambulance Squad for twenty-six years, as a Forest Fire Warden for two decades, and as a member of the Cabot Volunteer Fire Department for forty years. It gives me great pleasure to present this year’s Cabot Community Service Award to the First Assistant Chief of our Cabot Volunteer Fire Department, Mr. Andy Luce.”

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Cabot Town Garage News

The Town has two updates to share with Cabot citizens: 1. The town closed on the purchase of the property on South Walden Road on June 6. This was a critical step in the plan. 2. Thanks to a grant from the Cabot Investment Fund (UDAG), we have hired a grant writer, and the application for a grant to pay for most of the work is almost complete as of the third week in June, and is probably submitted when this newspaper goes to print. We could never have completed all the grant application requirements so quickly nor so well without the support of the grant and the professional grant writer. We expect this will place the town in a much stronger position in the race to obtain state and federal funds, because our application will be received sooner (first come, first served) and it will be more expertly done than town personnel would likely be able to do. We are making progress.

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COUNTRY COMMENTARY

By Laura Lee Smith, Greetings and well wishes to one and all, HA! I dare you to start a little game. It’s called “Pay It Forward”. Yuppers, that’s what I said. I would like to see everyone anonymously help someone, and if not anonymously, then at least let the person(s) know that you would like them to pass on the kindness. I think we should all think this way all the time, but even I am human and miss an opportunity, not on purpose mind, just because. Do I sound preachy or peachy? Well perhaps I am both, if only to remind myself, as much as any of you that might need a little reminder. None of us are perfect by any stretch, and sometimes it is more difficult than others to remember to be aware of those opportunities to put the good vibe out there amongst the wanting masses. Use your imagination in the ways that you might make the world a better place. I would love to know what some of you come up with. I believe that taking care of our animals is as important as taking care of each other. They need love as much as anyone, and hope. Adoption is one way, but making a donation, though distant and not as involved, is certainly appreciated. Volunteering at an animal rescue organization or a nursing home for humans are other options. So, even if we do not have cash to donate, our time is just as precious and sometimes worth so much more. We are all pebbles being tossed in the big pond, and whatever we put out into the world radiates from us, but it also returns to us, so I suggest being as positive a person as one can be. I know from experience that sometimes we become angry or annoyed, but we don’t have to take it out on others. We can go running or exercising in whatever way you wish to work off the negative emotion. Now, take in a slow deep breath, breathing in the peaceful energy that surrounds us, breathing out and away any negativity of the day, out and away. Breathing slowly, imagining you are in a special place that makes you feel safe and happy. Breathing in all the unconditional love of the universe and the peaceful energy. You feel relaxed and energized. You feel relaxed and ready for anything. That may have sounded a bit woo woo, but it really works if you take it seriously. I have worked with hundreds of people and it has worked for them. I used to teach, among many other things; oddly, I was even a Sheriff’s deputy, if you can believe that. I wore a Smoky the bear hat and everything, including the badge and gun, not to mention handcuffs. OY! The many jobs I have had are a result of becoming easily bored with the jobs, as I have gone from one to another. I have worked at the Vermont State Hospital before it flooded and Washington County Mental Health. In all those places I learned that you respect the person if not the behavior. Kindness and humor are most healing, so maybe make someone smile today. Give it a whirl. What ever you come up with to make the world a better place, I would so love to hear from YOU! Just put in the subject line of your email: "Chronicle" and email to Fizgig- [email protected]. It’s as easy as that! And I thank you all for letting me stand on the soapbox. You are great people out there and have a marvelous sense of understanding. Well, that’s it for today, I hope to hear from you; it would be fun and you might get printed. Now wouldn’t that be cool? In the meantime, I just want to wish everyone kindness and compassion, Fields of buttercups and sunshine until next time, Laura Lee Smith

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Lolli Runs for Assistant Judge

Freelance writer and sheriff’s deputy Tony Lolli announced he is running for Assistant Judge in Washington County. Lolli, from Cabot, said only Vermont has Assistant Judges, and that is unique. “This is a rare opportunity for citizens to participate in the judicial process,” he said. “For two hundred years, Vermont’s Assistant Judges have helped Presiding Judges by assisting with determining matters of fact. When two parties appear in court, judges must hear the facts and come to a decision. Often the facts brought by the parties are in contradiction. Assistant Judges help the Presiding Judge decide which party is more believable. The intent of the original statue provides for a layperson to represent the perspective of their community.”

Lolli said his 20 years in higher education administration have prepared him for the responsibilities of an Assistant Judge. “For many years, I was a hearing officer at several colleges and universities, making decisions about student conduct. I have experience with this process.” “I’ve also had considerable experience building and overseeing budgets in higher education. Assistant Judges are responsible for preparing maintenance budgets for County-owned property,” he said.

Tony Lolli, candidate for Washington County Assistant Judge.

Lolli concluded by saying, “This is a wonderful opportunity to participate in the judicial process, and many more Vermonters should share the experience and discharge the responsibilities of this elected office.”

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OBITUARIES & MEMORIALS

Robert E. Brown Robert "Bob" Earl Brown, 64, Greensboro Bend, died peacefully at Vermont Respite House in Williston after a courageous battle with cancer. Bob was born May 24, 1949, in Barre, VT, the first child of Betty Brown and the late William Robert Brown. Bob made his home for many years in Cabot. He was employed at Cabot Creamery for his early working life. For the last several years he was a mail carrier for both Marshfield and Cabot post offices. Bob was an active member of the Hardwick Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. He was known as a bold evangelizer, and he made it his life's occupation to honor his God Jehovah to the best of his ability.

Susan Lindsay Tobias

Susan Lindsay Tobias died April 30, 2014, in Leominster, MA, after a long struggle with Alzheimer's and a brief illness. Born March 6, 1943, in New York City, she was a graduate of Oberlin College and earned a master's in social work from the University of Chicago. Married for 33 years to Peter S. Tobias, she had two daughters. She attended Union Theological Seminary briefly and later obtained a master's of divinity from Bloy House in Claremont, CA. Susan dedicated much of her life to social justice and helping others, both as a social worker, running outreach centers to teenagers and the homeless, and later as an Episcopal priest. Susan was ordained in the San Diego diocese in 1986, as one of the first women to achieve this goal. She served as a deacon at St. James by the Sea in La Jolla, CA, then as rector at St. David's Church in Claremont, CA, and finally at St. John's

Irene I. McCarthy

Graveside services for Irene Isabelle McCarthy, who died March 29, 2014, at Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin, were held Saturday, June 21, 2014, in the Durant Cemetery in lower Lawrence W. Cookson

On June 17, 2014, Lawrence Wesley "Broat" Cookson was called to rest. He battled cancer for the past two years and was a courageous warrior to the end. Broat was a loving father, grandfather and best friend, with a huge and generous heart. He resided for the past 20 years in Walden. He was born May 12, 1943, in Hardwick, the son of the late Daniel C. Cookson, Sr., and Mary (McGill) Cookson. He attended Woodbury public schools. He spent most of his working career in construction and excavation, he loved his work and had a great vision with an eye for detail and perfection. Broat was a member of the Elks Club in Barre, Coles Pond Sledders and a past member of the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers. He had an infectious laugh and spent countless hours with his many friends enjoying a good game of cribbage. He loved hunting and, especially, the time spent with friends at hunting camp. Survivors include his companion, Betty Ainsworth, of Barre; a daughter, Laurie Cookson Silvestri, and her husband, Joseph, of Farmingdale, New Jersey; two stepchildren, Alan May, of East Montpelier, and Evon Maag, of Massachusetts; two brothers, Daniel "Bunch" Cookson Jr., of Cabot, and Chet Cookson, of Plainfield; five sisters, Helen Fletcher, of Florida, Sue Foster, of Graniteville, Marguerite Hill, of Florida, Ruth Rathburn, of Woodbury, and Martha Foster, of Walden; five grandchildren, Isabella Silvestri and Joseph L. Silvestri, both of Farmingdale, Mandy Lumsden, of Walden, Hailee May, of Cabot, and Alana May, of Hard- Bob is survived by his wife of 20 years, Gigi Brown; his mother, Betty Brown, of Marshfield; his son, David Brown, of Grand Isle; and his daughter, Sarah Brown, of Phoenix, Arizona. He is also survived by his brothers, Mervin, Mitchie, Clinton and Randon; and his sister, Patty, and her husband, Archie. There are numerous cousins, uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews who loved Bob. A great many people were honored to have Bob as their friend, and he will be dearly missed. There was a Bible-based funeral talk on Sunday, May 25, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Hardwick, VT. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Vermont Respite House, 99 Allen Brook Lane, Williston, VT 05495. in Hardwick, VT. Susan retired in 2005 to spend time with her beloved goats and chickens, in Cabot, finally achieving her adult life's goal of retiring on a small homestead in what she firmly believed to be the most beautiful place on earth. After retirement, she continued to reach out to those around her, helping to give others a start on achieving their own dreams. Susan is survived by her friends and family, who will be telling stories of her for years to come. She will be sorely missed by her daughters, Sara Savage and Abigail Tobias, son-in-law, brother, sister, niece, nephews, grandchildren and, of course, her beloved dog. Donations in her memory are gladly encouraged to the Hardwick Area Food Pantry, 39 Church St., Hardwick, VT 05843, and to the Leominster Crossings Associates Fund, 1160 Main St., Leominster, MA 01453. A celebration of her life was held June 28 at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, Hardwick, VT. Cabot. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the United Church of Cabot, P.O. Box 127, Cabot, VT 05647. Northern Vermont Funeral Service in Hardwick handled arrangements.

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

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ADVICE FROM THE TREE WARDEN

By Roland (Slim) Payne

Invasive plants and trees—what are they? What do they do? Why are they bad? They are not native and they disrupt the native ecology by taking over and crowding out native plants and trees. One thing they do is leaf out early and shade out the native plants so they can’t grow, and in the fall the leaves stay on longer to not give natives a chance. Most of them grow real thick and reproduce rapidly, and seeds are spread by birds and animals. Bush honeysuckle: The stems have strips up them in different shades of brown, and if you cut a small branch off, it will be hollow, such as O center hollow. If you want to look at some, go up Whittier Hill Road from the Commons Building up to where the hedgerow ends, where the fields come right to the road. That hedgerow is mostly honeysuckle. There is a tremendous amount of it all the way to Route 2, and that end near Route 2 has a lot of it, both sides and out in the woods, it is taking over. That is a good road to look at, but just about any road will have some. There is so much of it I don’t know how to schools in Barre and Montpelier for several years. Most recently, he worked for Dr. Janet Hinzman, where he retired in November 2012. Upon retirement, he moved to Inverness with his life partner of 39 years, Thomas Houston. He enjoyed cooking, knitting, swimming, biking, hiking and kayaking. Both parents and his one brother predeceased him. At his request, no services will be held. Remembrances may be sent to [email protected] or Thomas Houston, 3490 S. Winding Path, Inverness, FL 34450.

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PLANTING A GARDEN?

Consider planting a row for the Cabot 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 - Potatoes Carrots Onions Squash Cabbage Beets Sweet Potatoes

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What is Good Quality Habitat? The Community Level

By Eric Sorenson This is the second in a series of articles discussing good quality habitat from different scales or perspectives. This time we focus on natural communities. This article is submitted by Cabot Conservation Committee.

If someone asks you about “good habitat”, what comes to your mind first? Is it the dense hemlock forest where you expect to find deer in the winter? Is it the rich woods in the valley bottom that has the most outrageous display of spring wild flowers? Is it the log-strewn cold stream where you know the biggest brook trout are lurking, or the cattail marsh where you’ve repeatedly seen the elusive American bittern, frozen in position with its head pointed skyward? Or is it the large blocks of unfragmented forest where many wildlife species move freely, or the young aspen stand where ruffed grouse and chestnut-sided warblers are abundant? Of course, all of these are good habitats! And the important point about habitat is that each species (plants, animals, fungi, and all the rest) has its specific habitat requirements. One useful way to think about these habitat requirements, and what is needed to conserve them, is to view habitat from different scales or levels. At the broadest or landscape scale, there are many species that need large blocks of unfragmented forest and safe connecting habitat between these forest blocks for all or part of their life cycles – this scale was discussed in the last newsletter. At the community level (the scale at which wetlands, natural communities, and riparian areas occur), groups of species are typically closely associated with a particular physical environment – this scale is the focus of this article. At the finest scale, or species level, special attention is needed to address the particular habitat needs of those species that are not captured by landscape or community level conservation – this is the focus of a future newsletter article.

So, what is good habitat at the community level? There are four types of habitat that I’d like to explore: natural communities, riparian habitat, wetlands, and vernal pools.

A natural community is an interacting assemblage of plants and animals, their physical environment, and the natural processes that affect them. As these assemblages of plants and animals repeat across the landscape wherever similar environmental conditions exist, it is possible to describe these repeating assemblages as natural community types. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department recognizes about 90 natural community types. Examples of upland natural communities include Northern Hardwood Forest, Lowland Spruce-Fir Forest, and Temperate Calcareous Cliff, while examples of wetland communities include Northern White Cedar Swamp, Cattail Marsh, and Black Spruce Woodland Bog. Some natural community types are rare and some are common. Some natural community types, like Northern Hardwood Forest, occur over large areas, while others only occur as very small patches, like Black Gum Swamp. The highest quality examples of natural communities are those that are mature, have few invasive species, and that occur in a landscape that has little fragmentation from roads and development. Maintaining high quality examples of natural communities is an important step in conserving the many plant and animal species associated with each community. In addition, understanding the natural communities on a property provides a powerful tool for making sound forest management decisions, as each natural community type has its own set of qualities and constraints and the natural community concept is based on the potential vegetation of the site instead of the existing vegetation.

Riparian areas are the lands adjacent to streams, rivers, and lakes. Although riparian areas are highly vari- Natural Communities Riparian Areas able in terms of community composition, they consistently provide some of the most important ecological functions found in our landscape: they protect water quality; they contribute food base, structure, and shoreline stability to the adjacent aquatic ecosystems; they support many rare and uncommon natural communities and species due to the dynamic nature of the associated waters; and they provide critical habitat and movement corridors for many species of wildlife that are tied to this water -upland interface. Maintaining natural vegetation in riparian areas is the best way to protect these ecosystem functions. The width of riparian areas needed to protect ecosystem functions varies both with the particular location and with the function. For example, in an active floodplain of a larger river, protecting channel stability and the uncommon Floodplain Forest community would suggest maintaining natural vegetation cover on the entire floodplain. For a riparian area with stable, bedrock shorelines, a relatively narrow vegetated area is needed to protect surface water quality, but 300 feet or more is needed to maintain wildlife corridor functions. Riparian areas are especially susceptible to invasion by non-native species and control of these is important to protecting many of the biological functions.

Wetlands are well-known as critical habitat for many species. Wetlands come in many forms, but all provide important ecological functions and all have characteristics of abundant water, specially adapted vegetation, and saturated soils that distinguish them from adjacent uplands. Swamps are dominated by trees and shrubs, marshes are dominated by herbaceous plants, and peatlands (bogs and fens) have permanently saturated, deep organic soils. On a primarily upland property, the presence of even a small wetland of an acre or two adds significantly to the biological diversity of the property. It would not be uncommon to find 75 to 100 plant species in some small wetlands – mostly species that don’t occur in the surrounding uplands. Many species of wildlife rely on wetlands for all or part of their life cycles, including waterfowl, wading birds, furbearers, black bear, and amphibians. Although most wetlands are protected from development by state regulations, it is also important to consider the ecologically sensitive characteristics of wetlands and their buffers when conducting forest management activities.

Vernal pools are critical habitat for breeding amphibians. These small, ephemeral pools that occur in natural basins within upland forests are most obvious in the early spring when they contain standing water and the loud chorus of calling spring peepers and wood frogs. They typically become dry in mid to late summer, but can still be recognized then by the stained leaves marked by seasonal high water, sparse vegetation, and wetland soil characteristics. Vernal pools typically lack trees, but are shaded by trees growing in the surrounding upland forest. Spring peepers, wood frogs, spotted salamanders and other amphibians migrate to vernal pools on warm, rainy, spring nights for a couple of weeks of breeding, before returning to the upland forests where they spend the remainder of the year. The best protection for vernal pools and their amphibian inhabitants is to maintain a 100 foot protective buffer in which the forest is maintained in a natural condition. It is also recommended that forest management up to 600 feet from the pool edge maintain canopy cover, minimize creation of ruts from heavy machinery, and avoid direct mortality of migrating amphibians by not operating during spring migrations. These are just some of the important community level habitats we find in Vermont. Considering and conserving these habitats as part of forest management and land use planning will help to maintain the diverse values of our forests. The next article in this series will explore habitat quality at a smaller scale, with a focus on critical habitats. Eric Sorenson is an ecologist with the Nongame and Natural Heritage Program of Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. He can be reached at 802-241 -3714 or [email protected]

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May’s Got Fish? A Success

Organizers Elena Gustavson, Sarah Mangan and Bobby & Stephany Searles reported a fantastic turnout for Cabot’s Local Business Expo and Children’s Fishing Derby on Saturday, May 17, with dozens of kids and their parents enjoying the fishing derby and over a hundred folks over the course of a cool and rainy day pass through the Expo, explore our town and village businesses and participate in the door prizes. In support of local business, a Cabot Investment Fund (UDAG) grant covered the cost of the tent and media outreach to advertise the event beyond Cabot’s borders and attract potential customers. The organizers reported that it was invigorating for local business owners to meet neighbors, share products and services, as well as connect with each other as peers. Anecdotal conversations with local residents and people from neighboring towns expressed a desire to see more “street-side” gatherings like this over the summer, in the form of a regular outdoor market (i.e.

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New Name for Danville Post Office

This June, the House of Representatives approved legislation introduced by Representative Peter Welch (HR 1865), naming the postal facility at 35 Park Street in Danville, VT, the Thaddeus Stevens Post Office. In August 2013, the Senate approved an identical version (S. 885) of the bill, sponsored by Senator Sanders and cosponsored by Senator Leahy. President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law. Senator Sanders, a lifelong admirer of Thaddeus Stevens, drafted the legislation with residents of Danville. Stevens was born in Danville on April 4, 1792, and attended the University of Vermont and Dartmouth College. He died in 1868. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1849-1853 and 1859-1868, representing Pennsylvania. As a Member of the House, he was a leading opponent of slavery and discrimination and proponent of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which was adopted the same year he died. Vermont was the first state to ban slavery in its constitution. It is believed Thaddeus Stevens carried on this conviction in the fight against slavery during the years up to, during and post-civil war reconstruction.

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From page 4

(a) Designation- The facility of the United States Postal Service located at 35 Park Street in Danville, Vermont, shall be known and designated as the `Thaddeus Stevens Post Office'. (b) References- Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the `Thaddeus Stevens Post Office'.

Passed the House of Representatives June 17, 2014. Attest: KAREN L. HAAS, Clerk.

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Cabot Community Association

The Cabot Community Association (CCA) office is open to the public from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Mondays. Debra Zimmerman, the Cabot Community Association Coordinator, will also be available by appointment. Call 802- 563-3338 to schedule.

The Cabot Community Association office is located in the Willey Building on the first floor, shared by The Cabot Chronicle and Cabot Connects mentor program (which also has space at the school). Stop in to share your thoughts.

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P.I.E. Contest

Jean McCallum shows her first prize blue ribbon in the Cabot Partners In Education dessert contest, part of the CPIE Spring Fling BBQ for June Term. McCallum won for her blueberry pie entry. Judges were Will Walters of the Hardwick Gazette, Mike Mooney, principal of Twinfield Union School and his wife, Brenda Mooney. There were six entries in the first annual CPIE event. Will Walters photo.

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Area Resident Graduates From University of New England Medical School

Biddeford, ME.

Bryden Considine, D.O., son of Tom and Cia Considine of Cabot and a member of the graduating class of 2014 at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, was awarded the degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at commencement ceremonies held at the Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, on Saturday, May 17, 2014. UNE graduated 116 physicians at the ceremony, including 25 Master of Medical Education Leadership degree recipients. Bryden Considine, D.O., was hooded by his wife, Dr. Emma Considine, a UNE graduate of the class of 2013. The Hooding Address was delivered by William G. Anderson, D.O., F.A.C.O.S., Past President of the American Osteopathic Association. Dr. Considine accepted an Internal Medicine Residency at The University of Connecticut, working at Hartford Hospital (Hartford, CT), St. Francis Hospital (Hartford, CT) and The Farmington Medical Center (Farmington, CT). The University of New England is a top-ranked independent university with two distinctive campuses located in the coastal communities of Biddeford and Portland, Maine, and a new campus in Tangier, Morocco. UNE’s College of Osteopathic Medicine is located on UNE’s oceanfront Biddeford Campus and emphasizes the education of primary care physicians. The College has graduated more than 2,800 osteopathic physicians since its founding in 1978, and is the number-one provider of physicians for the state of Maine. U.S. News & World Report has recognized the College for its national leadership in primary care training, geriatrics, rural medicine and family medicine. UNE is the leading provider of healthcare professionals in Maine; it offers more than 40 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs and has internationally recognized scholars in the liberal arts, sciences, health and medicine. For more information, visit www.une.edu.

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Cabot Recreation Department

By Michelle Delaney The Recreational Department is doing upgrades to the recreational field this summer and we would like to ask that everyone keeps off the areas that will be marked off. We will be having pick up soccer at the Marcotte Field: From 3-4:30 p.m. Sundays are for family pick up soccer for all ages, this is organized by Lars Maine-Torres (563- 2757 or [email protected]). From 4-5:30 p.m. Mondays are for players entering the 5th through the 8th grade, this is organized by Michelle Delaney (563-2427 or [email protected]) From 5-6:30 p.m. Tuesdays are for players entering 1st through 4th grade, this is organized by Donna MacKinnon ( 5 9 5 - 9 4 2 9 o r [email protected] ). From 4-5:30 p.m. Wednesdays are for players entering 8th through 12th grade, this is organized by Michelle Delaney. Donna MacKinnon is organizing fall soccer and is collecting signup forms now. Please sign your child up now so we know how many teams we will have and can plan our games accordingly. Please e-mail Donna if you did not receive a sign up form from the school. Home schooled children are welcome. I do not usually encourage sedentary activities- but get your kids watching the World Cup if at all possible this summer!

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Cabot’s Annual 4th of July Celebration

The Cabot School PTO will be hosting their annual 4th of July celebration on the 4th. Come and join us in the wide range of activities that will be going on throughout the day:

• ·Rummage Sale & Yard Sale - Cabot School Gym - 8:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m.

• ·Historical Society Exhibits - 9:00 a.m. –1:30 p.m.

• ·Parade – 11:00 a.m. on Main Street

• ·Chicken BBQ at noon on the Recreation Field

• ·Live Music from the Malicious Brothers with special guest Micah Carbonneau on the Recreation Field.

• Food off the grill, soda and snow cones, games for the whole family! We hope you can join us in Celebration! Free parking on the town common; the recreation-field is reserved for handicapped visitors and the elderly. For information or questions about the festivities, please call Wendy Barnett at 563-9907

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

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WEBSITE VOLUNTEER NEEDED NOW

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 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.

Please call 802-563-3338 or

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

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My Exchange Year in Cabot

By Laura Stőmke is an exchange student from Halle (Saale), Germany, staying with the Mueller-Harder family. She left Germany August 22, having finished tenth grade, and when she returns, she will still have two more years of school. She won’t get credit for her time here because the school system is so different. She expects to take fourteen different subjects next year.

Ten months ago, I arrived in Cabot, not knowing what to expect and knowing nobody. Today, Cabot is my home, Cabot High School is my school, and I have a family here! I cannot believe that my exchange year is almost over - time never went by faster. It was an amazing experience, and I want to thank everybody who made my exchange year so fantastic. To share my adventures and to show my experience being an exchange student, I wrote the following essay: “Why do you want to do an exchange year?” my family and friends as well as everyone else asked me. I had a lot of reasons and still could not explain it to others. I imagined how my exchange year would be, but I actually had no idea. I talked with former exchange students about their experiences, but looking back now, I see that they had a totally different year. You cannot describe what an exchange year is before you do it yourself. It is not like moving to a new city or spending a vacation away from home. You go by yourself, knowing that you will not return for the next ten months. You know nobody and nobody speaks your language. An exchange year is meeting new people. You leave your family and friends behind. From time to time you will feel alone, but you will find new friends and even a new family. Not that you forget everybody at home, but your family will become bigger. An exchange year is meeting people you never talked to before but who know your name. An exchange year means new traditions. You will experience new holidays and celebrate others differently. Your family and friends will explain them to you, and you will show them some of your culture. You think about your holidays back home and about small traditions your family had. An exchange year is learning. You study and go to school, sometimes with no idea what is happening. You keep on trying and you will learn a new language. At the same time, you will forget your own language, and are just barely able to remember your new one. You learn to ask for help and to not give up. You learn that you do not always have to worry and that it gets better when you just wait. An exchange year is thinking. Thinking about people back home and why you are not there. Thinking about school, homework and free time. You think about your past and how things will be when you go back home. About how much you love the people you did not even know a year ago. You think about how strange things were back at home, things you did not even question before. You think about things you want to do when you are back home and about all the things you still want to do before that. And you will question how your family used to do things, because you start to forget old traditions and new ones become normal to you. An exchange year is millions of feelings. A former exchange student described an exchange year like a ride on a roller coaster. You wait, excited and nervous, a long time before it starts. But when it finally starts, you leave the ground behind you and cannot really see what is in front of you. You get doubtful feelings, questioning yourself if all of this was a good idea. And then an unbelievable ride begins: there are ups and downs, fast turns and upside down parts. At the end, you are sad that it is over and wish you could do it again, but you are also proud to have survived it. An exchange year is being open to new things. An exchange year is making the uncomfortable comfortable. You have to be open to new traditions and a lot of unknown things, even if some of them seem stupid to you. When I imagined my exchange year, I never thought about a place like Cabot. I knew it would be unlikely to live in a gigantic city like New York, but I never imagined myself living in a place like Cabot. But I suspected even less that I would fall in love with this “tiny” town in the middle of nowhere with more than half a year of winter. An exchange year changes you. You develop with every new and unexpected task. You find out what is important to you, and what you are not going to do. You get used to the unknown, and once unknown situations become known to you, you learn to live. An exchange year is not a year in your life. It is a life in a year. You cannot describe this. You can only experience it.

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Healing Power of Pets

By Helen Morrison All of us have heard of the benefits of having pets, that they can lower blood pressure, relieve anxiety. They can sense an epileptic seizure coming on, can help bring us out of our shell, lift our spirits, and literally make us feel physically better. There are stories of folk who are physically or emotionally challenged being opened up by loving and caring for a pet. Those who are incarcerated can be softened, become more vulnerable, let their guard down, and begin to reach out for re-entry into society by tending to a pet. Certainly in my own life, when I have felt sad or unwell, one of my cats is right there with me, just being a caring companion. They don’t ask for anything. They just lie right up against me, there until I feel better. For all the stories in the news, it is comforting to run into these stories first hand. Over the past year and a half, while working at the Kingdom Animal Shelter, there have been numerous stories of the healing power of pets. Several adopters came in because they had cancer and had received good reports on their present status. For one, adopting kittens was a celebration of hope and the future. For another, she wanted a companion. And, as it turned out, both the cat and the woman discovered the healing power of each for the other. It is absolutely heart-warming to see these two so happy together. Another story involves a much older person who was dying. Her cat stayed right by her side, never left, through the entire journey.

After the woman passed, the family very much wanted to bring the cat into their home because the cat had been such a good companion to their mom. They wanted to, in a sense, keep their mother’s spirit with them in the presence of her cat. Still another adopter was having a difficult time with depression. Bringing kittens into her home has, in her words, “given her something to center her, something that needs her love and care”. And as a result, her depression is lifting. And these kittens have a wonderful loving home. And finally, a story from one of our volunteers. Her stepson and his fiancée visited this volunteer one weekend. The fiancée went upstairs to take a nap. One of the house cats, who is very shy and usually disappears when guests come, followed her upstairs, snuggled up to her, and began licking and pushing at an area on her neck. He just wouldn’t stop. Ultimately, the fiancée got up and checked her neck...and found a lump. On her return home, she had the lump assessed and it was malignant. It seems the cat had sensed that. Had that not happened, it is hard to know how long it would have been before she found the lump. More and more, as I work at the Shelter, I love the cats, of course. But it isn’t just about the cats. It is about the cats, it is about the people who adopt them, and about what they bring to each other’s lives. It’s about finding the right match of a particular cat, a particular person, and their unique situations.

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Kingdom Animal Shelter

By Helen Morrison Luna is a one-to-two-year old female with a sweet moon face and very long tufts in her ears. She is a little shy but warms right up when petted. She would love to come to a safe and loving home. Come and visit her at Kingdom Animal Shelter on Memorial Drive in St. Johnsbury. Check our website for adoption hours: www.kingdomanimalshelter.com.

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CABOT INVESTMENT FUND (UDAG) SCHOLARSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS

These individuals fulfilled the requirements for scholarship awards according to the UDAG plan, and their names were announced at Cabot High School Graduation on Friday, June 13.

Jena Bastress Caleb Domey Theron Lay-Sleeper Kassandra Morse Mazie O’Connor Olivia Bellavance Lars Hammer Shelby Maurice Timothy Mueller-Harder Eugenia Schumacher Criteria was limited to following instructions and meeting eligibility requirements; size of award was influenced by quality of essay and community service to Cabot.

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Potentially Deadly Horse Disease

You may have noticed a posting last month on Front Porch Forum about a mare in the area with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) not diagnosed early and euthanized. This is not a disease often seen in Vermont. According to Hardwick Veterinary Clinic personnel, equine encephalitis is usually more of a concern. It can be spread by mosquitoes, but a vaccination is available. EPM has not been prevalent in Vermont, but as opossums (the primary vectors) move north, more cases can be expected. The infection is caused by a parasite carried by the opossums, and horses can pick it up if they graze or drink water that has been contaminated by opossum fecal matter. The best way to safeguard horses from the dangers of opossums is to avoid leaving food available to attract them and maintain good rabies prevention. It is not spread horse-to-horse. Once infected, the symptoms of EPM, such as changes in gait and appearing lame, may be overlooked, and by the time diagnosed, EPM may be well established. There are different stages of the neurological disease, some with less severe symptoms, and treatments have mixed results. Some horses have lived long lives, but a neurologically-damaged horse cannot be ridden, and over time, advanced symptoms can kill the horse. The best strategy is prevention. More information is available about EPMathiswebsite : www.thehorse.com - search for EPM.

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Cabot Ride The Ridges Special Rate for Cabot Residents

The Second Annual Cabot Ride the Ridges will be on Sunday, September 14, on the Cabot Green. It is a fun and challenging mostly dirt road bike ride through the scenic landscapes of Cabot and Peacham to benefit the Cabot Connects mentoring program. We have rides for everyone:

· a Family Fun 10 km,

· the Sturdy 30 km,

· the Rugged 60 km and

· the Warped 100 km. There will be aid stations along the way for refreshments and help with bikes. One of the best parts of this event, besides the beautiful views and fun, will be the fantastic wood fired pizza from Woodbelly, the gourmet cheeses of Cellars at Jasper Hill, the specialty goat cheeses of Vermont Creamery, Kingdom Creamery Ice Cream, Vermont Switchel, Kicking Horse Coffee, Burtt's apples, Sweet B's Bakery bars, and NECI cookies.

Kids 12 and under are free! All Cabot residents get the special rate of $10.00! Many thanks to all our sponsors: Bourne's Energy, Cellars at Jasper Hill, Concept 2, Hunger Mountain Coop, National Life Group, Northeast Vermont Regional Hospital, Union Bank, Vermont Creamery, Washington, Electric Coop, Woodbury Mountain Toys, and Zutano. And thanks also to a fantastic team of people helping to put this all together: Lori Augustyniak, Mark Bromley, Mark Christensen, Cia Considine, Andy Gilbert, Jacqueline Lumbra, Matt Moody, Lynn Rockwell, Paul Wade and Tim Walker. Special thanks also to Jeannie Johnson and Todd Jones for their support. If you have any questions or would like to register, please call Kathleen Hoyne at 563- 3338.

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From page 9

Take me out to the ball game. Tuesday, July 9 is our night! The Mountaineers have named July 9 Cabot Night, and Cabot Community Association is working on a deal to save you money and give you a carefree night with your family, mentee, friends and neighbors. The Cabot Chronicle will be the beneficiary of the 50/50 raffle split that night. If enough people want to go, the Cabot Community Association will hire a bus (the school cannot help) to take us to the game and back. We hope to keep the price at $10 per person, or $30 for a group of four, for a round trip on the bus and admission to the ballgame. You won’t have to pay for parking, and you’ll be dropped off near the admission gate. We need to know by July 6 how many people want to go, to determine if this is feasible. Please email [email protected] or call Cabot Community Association at 563-3338 by July 6 if you want to reserve seats on the bus. If we don’t get enough people to charter a bus, we’ll try to arrange car pooling.

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at Unadilla Theater, Calais

By Bruce Westcott The best 100 minutes you'll ever spend: romping through British silliness. And with beautiful music! Something about a sailor, his captain, his true love and mistaken identity. Come see some great singing by your Cabot neighbors: Lynn McKinney, Sue & Sam Carpenter, James Haugland, Ellie Blachly and others. Performances on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m., for the first two weeks in July. Details are at www.unadilla.org.

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July 1 - July 3, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

For questions or to arrange pickup of your items before July 1, please call 279-6818.

Cannot accept computers, TVs, printers, encyclopedia, mattresses.

Rummage sale proceeds benefit

Cabot PTSO programs. Your support is appreciated.

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TWIN VALLEY SENIOR CENTER

4583 U.S. Route 2 P.O. Box 152 East Montpelier, VT 05651 Twin Valley Senior Center News By Rita Copeland

Twin Valley Senior Center has grown acquainted with our new Center since our move in mid-May. We are very comfortable and enjoy the extra space. We are meeting new friends, having recruited a couple of new volunteers whom we welcome with open arms. They are Ann Bailey and Andrea Blanchard, and they both work as hostesses in the dining room on different days. We are hoping to recruit more volunteers so that we may reach our goal of being open five days a week. Volunteers are needed as follows: ∗ Meals on Wheels, to learn all aspects of the process so you might fill in for vacation and days off of regular volunteers. Activity Planner, to plan and schedule in-house activities as well as booking day trips, etc. Event Planner to plan and book people that would be interested in doing presentations at the Center for both our members and the community. This could include local historians, artists, authors, musicians, or any entertainment that Seniors and community members would enjoy. Exercise Leaders to learn the Bone Builders and Tai chi programs to lead sessions so that we may expand the times and days offered. We would like to have a volunteer join us that would like to plan and oversee evening and weekend events. We need volunteers that would be willing to help oversee and work fundraising events.

∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ Of course, we are always open to ideas and suggestions from community members for programs and events they would like to see happen in our area. If you can spare any amount of time and would like to help, please contact us at 223-3322. TVSC now has a great space that is centrally located that we would like to offer to all of the six towns we serve, giving each the opportunity to use our space for different functions, which, in turn, will help support the Center. In the very near future, please watch for details of events we will host, cater or lease our new space to help with our extra expenses. The phone number to TVSC is (802) 223-3322, mailing address is P.O. Box 152, East Montpelier, VT, 05651 and the physical address is 4583 US Route 2, East Montpelier. Some times have changed due to our move:

We are open 9:00a.m.-2:00 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays-Fridays Bone Builders: 10:45 a.m.-11:45 a.m. Tai Chi Class, Mondays 1:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m. Scheduled In-House Presentations: 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. (longer if needed) Lunch served at 12:15 p.m. (unless delayed) We will be closed on Friday, July 4th. We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday. July 2nd we will be having an outdoor barbecue at the Center July 9th & July 30th Foot Clinic July 21st SASH July 21st Grand Open House 10:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m., BBQ & Music at noon July 25th Day trip with details to be announced We invite everyone to just stop by and see the our new digs. We invite you to join us for a nutritional lunch with suggested donation of $4.00 age 60+ and $5.00 all others. Save your treasures for August to rent a table at the TVSC Flea Market, which we are now planning. If you can spare any amount of time please consider contacting us at 223- 3322.

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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, 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 8th – 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 15th - 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 22nd – 7:00 pm – Mayfly with Katie Trautz and Julia Wayne Mayfly, Americana/Old-time duo, is a Vermont based band that performs old-time 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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Vermont Children’s Theater Season

The Vermont Children's Theater is pleased to announce their summer theater schedule. All show are familyfriendly and feature local children from 7 years old through graduating high school seniors. This year we are pleased to present:

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jr.

Thursday, July 10 at 7:00 p.m. Friday, July 11 at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, July 12 at 2 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

West Side Story

Thursday, July 17 at 7:00 p.m. Friday, July 18 at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, July 19 at 7:00 p.m. Friday, July 25 at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, July 26 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

The Vermont Children's Theater provides the children in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont with a practical introduction to theater, developing theatrical technique, self-confidence and personal responsibility regardless of their ability to pay. The VCT is committed to the pleasure, enjoyment, sense of self worth and accomplishment of children, collectively and as individuals. Family members are invited and encouraged to take an active role with their children, as volunteers in the many support activities required for the success of the program.

The Vermont Children’s Theater is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and contributions are tax deductible.

The Vermont Children's Theater PO Box 701 2283 Darling Hill Road Lyndonville, VT 05851

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