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The Cabot Chronicle

December 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 December 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 Town Clerk Stepping Down

Well, it has been seven years and it’s time for me to step down as Cabot Town Clerk and Treasurer. I’m announcing my resignation now so there will be plenty of time for people to consider running for election at the March 2015 Town Meeting. In the meantime, I will continue to perform my duties to the best of my ability and I hope those who are interested will feel free to contact me if they have questions about the office. Working with so many personalities these past years has been a strange mixture of wonderful, insane, heartbreaking, enlightening, and overall has been incredibly fulfilling. I have witnessed personal aspects of my neighbor’s lives, many I likely would have never known, and internally shared their triumphs and joy, their desperation, their loss and sorrow…It’s overwhelming now, thinking back over all that has happened since we moved to Cabot in 2007. I’ve grown very grateful of the people who work so hard to make this Town function, especially the volunteers. They keep this town running. I’ve never seen such committed people of every age spectrum, spending thousands of work hours every year (tasks taken on by way too few) in the attempt to benefit our community as a whole. They teach our children, put together social events, beautify our town, fundraise for students, the elderly and poor, help our municipality plan for the future and enrich our lives in ways we probably don’t even recognize or appreciate. Individuals who collaborate and build upon prior efforts, making Cabot a thriving community that brings people together. You are my heroes. And my sincerest appreciation to those who lent their support and taught me so much over these years. To serve as your Town Clerk and Treasurer was my pleasure. But mostly, I am really going to miss working with Michelle. Efficient, genuine, eternally optimistic and just plain fun to be around, she is truly the foundation of the Town Office and the town couldn’t be in more capable hands to assist during this transition. I am grateful for her dedication, work ethic and friendship. Looking toward the future, I would like to be reelected as Lister at the upcoming Town Meeting. The Lister’s Office needs to prepare for a town-wide reappraisal in the coming years and it will be a welcome opportunity to dedicate time to that office. But mostly, I am looking forward to spending time with my family, hopefully, for the first time in years not preoccupied with nagging thoughts of work and juggling the mental list of what’s to be done. After deciding with my husband to resign this position, I started creating a new list– tea party picnics with Mary (at every opportunity), working with Eli and Ian on the backyard garden I have only visualized so far, reorganizing the entire house and finding things we haven’t seen in years- I’m really looking forward to having time to concentrate on my family again.

Tara Rogerson Cabot Town Clerk and Treasurer

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Cabot Postmaster Heading To Hinesburg P. O. Hours Cut

As of December 1, Hinesburg Post Office operations will be transferred to Sandra (Sandy) Curtis, Cabot's postmaster of many years. At the time of publication, a replacement has not been named, which may result in delay of her departure, until the slot is filled . Within a month, Cabot Post Office business hours will be reduced to six hours per day (three in the morning and three in the afternoon) and the Danville Post Office will be responsible for Cabot operations. These changes occur as the U.S. Postal Service changes its business plan, closing down post offices and reducing hours of service. The changes impact not only consumers but postal employees, who find themselves without a fulltime position after years of service. If the Cabot Post Office does not maintain its current level of business under these reduced hours, further reductions may be in store. Sandy says she would still like to see Cabot residents continue to do business in Cabot to keep the Post Office open, because the quantity of transactions is reevaluated every year.

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Principal Search and Buildings Proposal

By Chris Tormey, Cabot School Board Chair

In addition to working on building a proposed budget for Cabot School for the 2015-16 school year, the School Board has held a couple of community forums this fall to gather input on topics that will impact the school beyond that single year. In October, we hosted a forum to develop a list of qualities that our next principal should have to effectively lead our school. (Our current interim principal, Gail Curtis, will be leaving us at the end of this school year.) We have used that list to develop a job description for the position, and hope to begin interviewing candidates in December. On November 17, we hosted a second community-wide forum to outline the current condition of the buildings that comprise our school’s campus, give a snapshot of our current bond payment situation, and to propose a way to address, in the next several years, a portion of our school facility’s most significant needs. Our school gymnasium and the “satellite buildings” that comprise our elementary-grades campus were all built in 1971. The gym was re-roofed in the early 1980’s, but the standing-seam roof has developed a number of leaks since then. The roof deck, insulation, and walls have all experienced some degree of decay as a result. However, engineers that assessed the gym during the past decade concluded that the major components of the gym’s structure (the foundation, the concrete slab, and the laminated wood arches that support the roof) are sound. The satellite buildings have been serving our youngest students for the past forty years, and are in need of a major renovation or rebuild. We have decided, as a school board, to develop over the next year a building proposal to renovate the gym and to renovate or rebuild the elementary campus. The 2015-16 school budget will include the last bond payment of the 1.6 million dollars that our town’s taxpayers have paid over the past twenty years for the 1995 school renovation that built the present library and cafeteria along with other improvements. We are in the process of forming a committee to develop that proposal, which we hope to bring before voters at Town Meeting in March 2016. If you are interested in serving on that committee, please contact Cabot School Board chair Chris Tormey by phone at 522-9502.

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What Does A Town Clerk/Treasurer Do?

From the Vermont Institute for Government, It's YOUR Turn: A Call to Local Office: The Town Clerk and the Treasurer are elective offices. The clerk keeps the records of birth, marriage, and death, the land records, and runs elections. The treasurer keeps the financial records of the town and collects current property taxes. Often both positions are held by the same person. Having a good town clerk can make all the difference to a town. Good town clerks are the glue that holds the town together, regularly mediating between warring factions and helping everyone, officer and citizen alike, find their way through the maze of local government. Some Vermont clerks have served for more than fifty years. Others stay only a few years before moving on to something else. Clerks and treasurers need good office skills, the patience to handle detail, and the diplomacy to keep everybody comfortable.

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

By Representative Catherine (Kitty) Toll

The 2015 Vermont Legislative session will begin on Wednesday, January 7, 2015. I would like to sincerely thank the voters of Cabot, Danville and Peacham for re-electing me as your state representative. It is an honor and a privilege to represent our towns in Montpelier. The upcoming session is again full of challenges. Issues topping the list are increasing property taxes, funding public schools, developing an affordable and equitable health care system, and managing a balanced state budget. All of us hold tightly to our opinions and convictions; however I am confident that legislators will return to Montpelier with open minds and a willingness to work together to move forward on issues critical to the success of Vermont. Funding our education system is not only a hot topic, but also a very emotional one. Our own educational experiences, the experiences of our children, where we live and personal situations, to mention only a few, directly influence our position on education governance and funding in the state. Finding common ground will be challenging because Vermonters across the state have expressed strong views from different ends of the spectrum. Geographic area and school size has not defined sentiments. Vermonters in the same town and on the same street, living next door to one another, have expressed very different visions of paths forward. This does not mean one opinion is right and the other is wrong; it means that we need to come to the table as a group, listen, understand facts and projections, and be part of the solution. The roll out of Vermont Health Connect, our state’s insurance exchange, has been a debacle. The exchange does not determine the future of universal health care in Vermont; its purpose is to provide Vermonters with a venue to make informed decisions when purchasing health care plans. Technological and managerial problems forced the exchange off-line and applications and changes had to be made manually. In mid-November, the site was restored and is now up and running for the new enrollment cycle, which will run through February 15, 2015. State Auditor Doug Hoffer has scheduled a performance audit of the system and findings will be available in March. One of the first tasks of the newly elected Legislature will be to elect the Governor. The Vermont Constitution requires this process for the offices of governor, lieutenant governor and treasurer when a candidate does not receive more than 50 percent of the vote. This year, Governor Peter Shumlin received 46.43% of the vote and challenger Scott Milne received 45.34%. Five other candidates for the top seat secured 8.23% of the vote. History shows there have been 23 Vermont elections in which a gubernatorial candidate did not receive 50% of the statewide vote. Again, this year, more than two candidates in the race increased the chances that no candidate would receive 50% plus one vote. In these instances, the Vermont Legislature is asked in a joint session to make the final decision. For well over 150 years, the Legislature has chosen the candidate with the most votes, regardless of party. I believe that your vote is your voice and, when considering the outcome of a statewide race, I agree the candidate with the most votes should be elected. The first task of the House Appropriations Committee will be to make the necessary adjustments to the current budget. When a budget is developed, a number of estimates and projections are used. The budget adjustment is the process by which these estimates are balanced with actual spending and revenues. Once this process is completed, work will start on the development of the fiscal year 2016 budget. Preliminary projections indicate that reductions will be necessary, in yet-tobe-identified spending areas, in order to produce a balanced budget. While Vermont is the only state that does not require a balanced budget, the legislature has a practice of keeping spending in line with available revenues and thus maintaining a balanced budget. I look forward to returning to Montpelier and working on issues important to Vermonters. The session promises to be full of challenges, and I am committed to work hard to find solutions. To follow actions of the legislature or research the status of a bill, visit www.leg.state.vt.us. Please contact me for information, to share your thoughts and concerns or to attend a committee meeting.

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COUNTRY COMMENTARY

By Laura Lee Saorsa Smith many people to talk about different natural fibers and felting or just spinning yarn. I love going and with my friend Ruth. We just have a ball (of yarn), haha. We drool over all the different colors of roving and some of the really cool things that people are making out there and selling. Felting may be for you or not, but you never know unless you give it a try. If you want a nifty hobby, this might be one for you. Besides, how cool would it be if you crochet felted a wonderful scarf. You would be the envy of us all. There are different techniques, but generally they are similar. Heck, YouTube has lessons on line, which is great, it’s free and if you have Internet at home you can learn from the comfort of your easy chair. Research is something I always recommend because, well, I am just not perfect, I know it’s hard to believe,. But it never hurts to hunt down your own information. You end up learning so much more that way, and you get some pretty accurate information, too. I love that you can learn just about anything using You- Tube as a resource. Also, some specialty yarn stores have classes for a reasonable price to learn how to knit, crochet and felt. In the old days, the ladies would get together and clean the fibers and chat as they did so, making the work a social activity. You could always start a felting circle or spinning group. It would be a way of meeting new people and being inspired by others’ ideas. Why, I might find you at the farmers’ market with your own stall set up with felted hats and scarves and little animals made from felt. If you see me give me a holler and we’ll chat, maybe over a cup of hot cider and a bit of felting. Woodstoves burning and warm cinnamon buns to you.

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Felt this!

The art of felting has grown in popularity. There are some of us out there needle felting, using a barbed needle to felt roving into whatever creatures or adornments we want. Needle felting is much different than wet felting, using hot water and soap with either rolling or putting your partially felted piece in the washer to be felted to the consistency that you want it to be. What is roving? Well that’s the wool that has been cleaned and carded, a process using brush-like implements to create something to spin into yarn or felt. You can also do knitted felting or even crochet felting. By knitting or crocheting with wool, and then running it through the washing machine, you can make some amazing things! There are patterns out there for this sort of thing, and I always use the Internet or information gleaned from the brains of some poor soul that I have been talking to who has the knowledge. Making your own yarn is an art all by itself. Mine comes out with lots of slubs. I just don’t practice enough. Some people own their own alpaca, sheep, llamas, bunnies, etc. to use their fur to make yarn. I am not so lucky on that front, but I know people who do own these critters, and sometimes I can get some raw material to card and clean myself and felt away. You can felt rugs and make beautiful designs in the felting process. Some of these rugs won’t end up on the floor, but on the wall, instead, because of their artistic value. You can pick up felting kits giving you the directions and materials you will need to do a project, and get a feel for felting, whether it be needle or wet felting. A great place to find anything to do with felting is at the Tunbridge Wool Festival. It’s a great time, and there are so

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

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Special Town Meeting and General Election Results

This data is available on the Town website, at www.cabotvt.us

Thank you all for a wonderful turnout at the 2014 Special Town Meeting and General Election Vote! There were 490 ballots cast out of 1,083 registered voters (about 45% turnout). As many of you know, the Justice of the Peace ballot was entirely blank this year and, of the 99 separate write-in candidates submitted by the voters, the top seven were Fred Ducharme, Caleb Pitkin, Sue Carpenter, Carla Payne, Cedric Alexander, Judy Pransky and Larry Gochey. Congratulations!! Also, the Special Town Meeting vote treasurer and auditors about their proper roles.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO RUN FOR OFFICE?

Towns that elect officers by Australian ballot require candidates to submit a nominating petition signed by 30 voters or one percent of the checklist whichever is less. The petition must clearly indicate the office and term length on the petition prior to circulating it for signatures. The nominating petition must be filed with the municipal clerk by 5:00 p.m. on the sixth Monday preceding the day of the election (late January for March Town Meeting Day). The person who receives the most votes on Town Meeting Day wins (even if it is a plurality of votes rather than a majority). In many towns it is difficult to find people willing to run for every town office. If no one is elected at town meeting, the office is vacant. The selectboard must appoint someone to fill the vacancy.

INCOMPATIBLE TOWN OFFICES

(a) An auditor shall not be town clerk, town treasurer, selectman, first constable, collector of current or delinquent taxes, trustee of public funds, town manager, road commissioner, water commissioner, sewage system commissioner, sewage disposal commissioner, or town district school director; nor shall a spouse of or any person assisting any of these officers in the discharge of official duties be eligible to hold office as auditor. A selectman or school director shall not be first constable, collector of taxes, town treasurer, results were 408 YES and 54 NO, with 28 blank ballots. The article read: “Shall the Voters of the Town of Cabot require that all zoning bylaws, bylaw amendments, or bylaw repeals shall be adopted by vote of the town by Australian ballot at a special or regular meeting duly warned on the issue in accord with the provisions of 24 V.S.A. § 4442 with the further understanding that the adoption of this procedure shall be prospectived and shall not effect or invalidate any zoning bylaw or ordinance lawfully adopted by the Town prior to the enactment of this provision? [Australian ballot]”

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COMMUNITY COMMENTARY

Dear Editor, Congratulations to Cabot voters, who reclaimed their right to vote on zoning regulation changes in their town! With a landslide of 408 votes in favor, and 54 against, the voters demanded to be the decision-makers on land use issues. With only 28 blank ballots, we must have done a great job of informing the voters. The ballot question was posed on election-day due to a provision in Title 24, section 4442, which allows rural towns to petition for this ballot question to be posed. As far as I know, Cabot is the only town in Vermont which has taken advantage of this option. As I circulated the petition, I realized how many folks didn’t even know their decision-making power was taken away from them in the first place. Once aware, people were very interested in getting their right back. I met dozens of fantastic neighbors I didn’t know I had, and am grateful to live in such a great community. I encourage other towns to go through this process, to reclaim their decisionmaking right. In a time when our rights are being stolen on every front, poor and middle-class people are seeing expenses go up across the board, and laws are being passed to restrict our ability to survive on our own land, this fundamental right is precious. It could make the difference between being able to afford to stay on your land, and having to move away. The voters of Cabot made it very clear that they understand this connection, and are not going away. Folks like me didn’t buy our land as an investment, but as a commitment. I care for the land, and am grateful for the gifts I glean which sustain me. I plan to share my bounty, and don’t want that right taken from me or future generations. I am grateful to the voters who came out last week to reclaim our right. Together, we did it!

Sincerely, Amy Hornblas, Cabot, Vermont

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What Does A Town Clerk/Treasurer Do?

(Continued from page 1) The Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) lists the following responsibilities: http://www.vlct.org/vermont-localgovernment/understanding-townoffices/

Town Clerk:

° Administers oaths of office and the voter’s oath, and is automatically an ex-officio notary public; ° Records all proceedings of town meetings; ° Issues various licenses, including marriage and dog licenses, and fish and game licenses, among others, and may register vehicles; ° Records all land records (deeds; liens; restrictions on deeds; hazardous waste site information and storage and disposal certifications; underground storage tank information; and local permits attached to real property); ° Records all vital records (deaths, births and marriages); ° Serves as presiding officer of all elections except non-Australian ballot town meetings unless the municipality by vote or charter provides otherwise, and has many other election and town meeting responsibilities; and ° Works with the listers on setting the grand list and on tax appeals. ° Clerks have many additional responsibilities scattered throughout the statutes. See VLCT’s Handbook for Vermont Municipal Clerks for further detail.

Town Treasurer:

Approximately 180 treasurers are also the clerks for their municipalities. The treasurer also serves as school district treasurer unless the district has voted otherwise. The town may vote to have the treasurer collect current taxes. Whether or not the treasurer actually collects the taxes, when the bills are prepared, the treasurer credits the general, highway and school funds, and debits the general funds as taxes are received. Current taxes include all municipal taxes and, under Act 60, nonresidential school property taxes. If the amount collected in non-residential school property taxes is higher than the school budget, the treasurer shall turn the excess over to the state, half on December 1 and half on June 1. School taxes on declared homesteads are paid directly to the state Department of Taxes. The treasurer shall keep accounts of the money, bonds, notes and evidences of debt paid or delivered to him or her and of all monies paid out. The treasurer also shall pay all orders (warrants) drawn by the selectboard and shall keep records thereof. The treasurer must work closely with both the selectboard (which has the authority to draw orders or warrants, borrow in anticipation of taxes, develop the budget and make investment decisions) and with the auditors (who will annually review the finances of the town and report to the voters on the financial status of the town). The statutes in this area are vague and archaic, and have caused more than one confrontation among the selectboard, auditor, or town agent. A selectman shall not be lister. (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, if a school district prepares and reports its budget independently from the budget of the town and the school district is audited by an independent public accountant, a person shall be eligible to hold office as auditor even if that person’s spouse holds office as a school director. (Added 2009, No. 44 (Adj. Sess.), § 5.) Resources: Vermont Secretary of State's office: https://www.sec.state.vt.us Vermont League of Cities and Towns: http://www.vlct.org/vermont-localgovernment/understanding-townoffices/

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

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OBITUARIES & MEMORIALS

Adena A. Martin Adena August (Belville) Martin, 95, formerly of 55 East State Street, passed away at Sunrise Assisted Living in Stamford, CT, on October 28, 2014. Born on November 24, 1918, in Montpelier, Vermont, she was the daughter of Charles and Emily (Vigeant) Belville. She attended Goddard Seminary in Barre, VT, and graduated from Johnson Normal School (currently known as Johnson State College) with a Bachelor of Education in May 1945. Adena married Howard Wesley Martin on July 24, 1951, at the Trinity United Methodist Church and lived on East State Street most of her married life. In 2009, she lived with her daughter in Stamford, CT, until she moved to Sunrise Assisted Living in Stamford in 2010. Adena was an elementary school teacher and began her career as a demonstration teacher for the state of Vermont. Her first year as a teacher in 1941 was in South Cabot, VT, in a oneroom schoolhouse called Hookerville with eight to ten students in various grades. Her second year of teaching was with 35 children in three grades in Marshfield, VT. She then taught in Springfield, VT, where the school burned down, and then to Hingham, MA, before returning to Vermont, where she taught in Barre and then Montpelier until her 65th year. She continued to be a member of Delta Kappa Gamma until her death. She retired to Briny Breezes in Boynton Beach, FL, in the winters, where she enjoyed travel club, chorus club for their nondenominational church, water aerobics and going out to the early birds many evenings a week. Adena loved the warm weather and all her friends at Briny Breezes from all over the country. Adena was also a homemaker and the best mother. She was very proud of her home on East State Street and worked hard to maintain her property and keep her tenants happy. She spent countless hours with her daughter, preaching about higher education, respect for others, and the need to always be ethical. Adena is survived by her husband, Howard Wesley Martin, and her beloved daughter, Diane Martin-Tryhane, and her husband, Peter Tryhane, and her grandchildren, Wesley Martin Tryhane and Katie Anne Tryhane, all of Stamford, CT. Her funeral service and celebration of life was November 8, 2014, in Montpelier. Contributions in her memory may be made to Delta Kappa Gamma, c/o Donna Legare, 155 Forest Drive, Unit 3, Montpelier, VT 05602 or Briny Breezes Memorial Fund, 5000 N. Ocean Blvd., Boynton Beach, FL 33435.

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Cabot Community Association Update

By Debra Zimmerman, Coordinator Volunteer Appreciation

The Cabot Community Association (C.C.A.) would like to use this space to express our sincere gratitude to the dozens of folks who have volunteered their time, talents, and energy over the past few months to make Cabot a happening kind of place! Thank you goes out to the individuals who helped the Association load and return 17 tables to the gymnasium for the Apple Pie Festival. Thank you to Michelle Delaney for sending four soccer players to assist with the move and thank you to Caleb Domey and Paul Wade for the muscle power. And more appreciation goes to everyone who helps with the Chronicle, including the Cabot school students who worked on the inserts in the November issue. Appreciation also goes to all those who do the committee work and are essential to the following events and projects:

Church Preservation Project

On October 6, the Cabot Community Association partnered with the United Church of Cabot to submit a Historic Preservation grant application to repair the church clock tower and other parts of the church building. If awarded, the church will be required to match the grant, dollar for dollar. The church planned a couple of fundraisers to meet the matching requirement. Consequently, dozens of enthusiastic and spirited people came together to create a wonderful October 19 benefit concert. Thank you to everyone who helped with all of the planning and preparation for this concert. Another big thank you goes to the many musicians who gave their time and performances for the event, including Isaac James, Diane Huling, Bob Blais, Skip Potter, Eric Kroncke, Megan McCormick, Mary Jane Austin, Lynn McKinney, and Karen Miller. Hopefully we haven’t missed anyone who deserves to be thanked—so many contributed! It was reported that the concert was “wonderful” and “phenomenal!” The donations will support not only the church preservation project, but also the cost of piano tuning.

Cabot Arts

Another phenomenal concert was organized by the Cabot Arts Committee of the Cabot Community Association (C.C.A.). On Sunday, November 9, about 50 people attended the “Blues in the afternoon” concert at the Willey Building. Appreciation goes to Michael Taub, R.D. Eno, and others who helped to make this event happen. According to R.D. Eno, “Blue Sunday Sizzled.” Eno sent out an email stating that “Guitar wizard William Lee (Bill) Ellis, Martin Grosswendt and Michael Taub put their chops on the grill and set the place on fire.” Eno also states that Martin’s singing partner, contralto Suzanne Salem-Schatz, “was just torrid.” A big thank you goes out to these performers, plus to Tim Berry, who sat in with Michael and Bill, to Gwen Hallsmith who provided a birthday cake for Michael Taub. Thank you to Janet Westervelt, who provided baked goods, and to Declan O’Connor who helped with setup. The Cabot Arts Committee also reports that on December 28 at the Willey building there will be a Cajun New Years’ dance with Katie Trautz.

The Cabot Chronicle

A small Cabot Chronicle task force has been meeting, and major progress has been made on the Chronicle business plan. The group decided to organize a Public Forum on The Cabot Chronicle on February 11, 2015, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Willey Building. At the forum, the public will be asked for ideas on increasing revenue, decreasing expenses, and generally improving the service provided to the community. Sweets will be provided!

“CAN” (Cabot Agriculture Network) or, the Agriculture Committee, Sjon Welters, Chair of the Cabot Agriculture Network, reports that a small group of Cabot business owners met with Jan Westervelt and Chris Pierson of the Cabot Creamery. The topics of discussion were marketing and methods for selling product. The Agriculture Committee meets on the third Tuesday of every month. The Committee is planning to offer a series of educational workshops in 2015 that will benefit food producers and businesses in the Cabot area. The C.C.A. Coordinator will assist the Committee with logistics, outreach;, and publicity. Watch for more information in upcoming Cabot Chronicles and in Front Porch Forum listings.

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Town Garage Project Update

By Jack Daniels, Cabot Select Board Chair

Work on the Cabot Town Garage project continues to move forward, albeit at a slower pace than we would have hoped. The good news is that, a year from now, our new town garage should be built and in use. Actually, when one considers how long this project has been discussed in Cabot, that’s “great” news.

CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE: Part A: Our plans call for issuing bids to construct the new garage facility in the February/March 2015 time frame, with construction commencing in May or June. Thus, we anticipate the new facility will be ready for use next fall (we are shooting for a September 2015 completion/occupancy date). Part B: Also required under the terms of the grant, involves demolishing the existing garage and reconfiguring the site to minimize future flooding at this location. We hope to have the demolition and site work completed in the September-November 2015 time frame, so that we can close out the grant by the end of next year.

GRANT OUTCOME:

While the Town submitted a grant application for $1,000,000 (the maximum available under the terms of the grant), the amount awarded was $700,000. After an inquiry to find out the reason for receiving less than the requested amount, we learned that the grant amount was reduced to $700,000 because it did not include Low and Middle Income (LMI) factors, consistent with grant issuances for other Vermont towns. Still, $700,000 is nothing to sneeze at and we are grateful for having been awarded this very significant grant.

PERMITTING:

Permit applications for the town garage project were submitted in October, and hopefully the Wetlands permit will be approved soon, the last one we require before work at the site can begin. And, if it’s not too late, with winter just around the corner, the access road onto the project site will be built in 2014. If not, it will be the first piece of construction undertaken in 2015.

BUDGET: As noted in the November issue of the Cabot Chronicle, the project still has a budget shortfall of $190,000 that the Selectboard continues to address. We anticipate finalizing a plan to address this budget shortfall within the next couple of months to ensure that the garage will be built in 2015.

SUMMARY: we remain optimistic that the Town will have a new town garage one year from now, a project that has been talked about in Cabot for at least two decades and probably longer. But it’s going to happen within the next year and that’s the good news of the day. Thank you again for your continued support of this critically important project.

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Cabot Community Theater Presents New Directions Showcase

By Karen Mueller-Harder

Cabot Community Theater will be breaking new ground in the spring, as we host an evening of one-act plays directed by novice directors from within our community. We've had an ongoing mission to foster leadership and expand horizons, and this will be a great opportunity to help folks challenge and empower themselves by taking on leadership roles. The directors will each choose a script, and run rehearsals for their own plays, but Karen Mueller-Harder will serve in an advising/mentoring capacity, to help as needed, and sit back whenever possible. Auditions, scheduling, and production meetings will be handled by the full directing team. We're hoping a number of the teens in the community will be interested in this opportunity, but adults are also encouraged to throw their hats into the ring. So, if you have ever thought that you would like to direct, but were daunted by the thought of tackling a full-length play or musical, or with the idea of pulling together all the logistics, here's your opportunity to try it in a supportive atmosphere. Please email Karen ([email protected]) if you're interested, and we can talk more! If you'd like to participate as an actor, auditions will be held in January; see the January issue of Cabot Chronicle or Front Porch Forum for dates and times. And, for a dollop of fun theater at the dark of the year, be sure to attend the Cabot contra dance on December 13, when a comedic band of Cabot Community Theater performers will bring you something never yet seen on stage!

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Consider Supporting

As the year comes to a close and you think about tax-deductible contributions, please consider a donation to support The Cabot Chronicle. Your money will be put to work in Cabot to keep information flowing and the community growing. Invest your money locally where it’s needed – right here in town, performing a service for you and the people you know. It’s not just a paper—it’s our common link. Checks can be mailed to “Cabot Community Association—Chronicle.” The CCA is a 501 ( c) (3) charitable organization, so your contribution is tax-deductible as allowed by law. The CCA’s address is P. O. Box 245, Cabot, VT 05647, or use the preaddressed envelope enclosed in this issue. You will know exactly where your money is going, and it will be very much appreciated.

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Cabot Planning in Progress

By Karen Deasy, Zoning Administrator-Planner

Water System Extension

The Town of Cabot is eligible to receive funding to assist with installation of an extension to the Water System to Lower Cabot, Please let us know if you are interested in connection to the Town water system. There will be a survey sent out shortly to determine interest. This extension will include fire protection and hydrants through this zone, as well as Town water.

Wastewater Efficiency

Our wastewater treatment facility is a highly balanced system. Seasonally and during large storms, we have high wastewater flows at the facility, which cause us to haul wastewater off site, not very efficient. We have been investigating the sewer lines and believe we have determined at least one area of water infiltration into the system. As you read this, we will have completed resealing manholes on Danville Hill Road and installing additional drainage to divert the water flows. Efficiency Vermont has also completed an energy audit at the wastewater treatment facility, and there are upgrades that are eligible for funding from Efficiency Vermont that we may be pursuing to make our system more efficient.

Zoning Rewrite

The Planning Commission is working hard to revise our current zoning ordinances to update them to meet new State requirements and to make them more flexible for landowners. Public comment is encouraged as this process continues. Meetings are the First and Third Thursday of the month at the Willey building, bring your questions and concerns.

Shoreland District

Property Owners in the new Shoreland district may require a State Shoreland permit to work on their property, including tree and brush cutting. Please contact us if you are unsure if this new legislation impacts your parcel.

Hazard Mitigation

Cabot has completed several hazard mitigation projects, including the culvert on Main Street and one on Mack Mountain Road, with assistance from the State and from FEMA. We are in the planning process for several additional projects, one on Porter Road and one location on Danville Hill Road. We have applied for grant assistance to complete some of this work, as these larger projects are eligible for grant funding.

Grants Completed

We applied for and received funding from Better Back Roads program for culvert replacement on the Baily Hazen Road, this work was completed this summer. Funding from VTRANS was also received to install a Park and Ride, which paid for construction of a new parking area & installation of lighting and site preparation work at the Masonic Hall. Please contact Karen Deasy, Zoning Administrator-Town Planner, at 563- 3139 if you have questions, or email [email protected].

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ADVICE FROM THE TREE WARDEN

By Roland (Slim) Payne

I don't know if anyone noticed, but I didn't trim all the new trees around the village. They all seem to be doing quite well. Let us touch on the town forest again. The forest has many values to the town, from watershed protection, wildlife habitat and forest products, to public recreation, outdoor classrooms and neighborhood gathering places, or just a quiet place to go. To celebrate these important community assets, I know the forest access has been a long time coming, but, hopefully, it will come around early next summer. Until then, people can use the existing road, but be warned, that the grade coming up onto lower Walden Road is steep and gets icy, and if you get stuck, you won't be able to get out without equipment to pull you out. Other than that, go for it. Use it. But treat it with respect, please. And don't disrespect the abutting land owner. I wish everyone a great hunting season. Good luck. And, I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving, and was able to give thanks for all that has happened in the last year.

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Watering Animals In Winter

How to Prevent High Electric Bills By Karen Mueller-Harder

Do you use too much electricity to heat water for your outdoor livestock so it won't freeze, or too much time breaking ice several times a day to save that money or electricity? Read on! You've probably noticed that moving water doesn't freeze, but may not have realized that this fact could be of use to you with the water in your stock tank or outdoor dog dish. By using a 5-watt electric air pump meant for an indoor fish tank, I've kept our horse trough water from freezing for much of the typical Cabot winter. When Dean Deasy put the GFC outlets in our barn a few years back, he mentioned hearing about this idea, but didn't know exactly what equipment would be needed. I did a bunch of sleuthing on the internet, and asking at local pet shops and farm suppliers, but could find absolutely nothing about it! Finally, I ordered a few different items from an aquarium equipment supplier, and tried them out. The solution that worked cost less than $20 including shipping, and has saved us more than that in electricity use each winter month since then. The electric air pump is meant to be an indoor item, so it either needs to be in a weatherproof spot inside a building, or you could build an enclosure to keep the rain and snow off it, with a GFC outlet in that case. It sends air to the water tank/bucket through narrow tubing, and that tubing can run a fairly long distance (mine is 25 feet), but needs to be somewhere it's not being trodden on or anything. The end of the tube, being full of air, needs to be weighted down to effectively issue its bubbles from the bottom of the tank. I've found that attaching it to a clean stone with a thick rubber band from a head of broccoli works perfectly, then you drop the weighted end in the center of the tank. Having a couple of spare stones around is handy (gather them before they're buried in a foot of snow!), as you really don't want to reach down through 2 feet of cold water if you drop the stone! To give you a rough idea of what to expect: I have a 70-gallon stock tank, with bubble foil insulation around it, on the south-facing side of our barn. If the daytime high is around freezing, with a little sun, the air pump will keep the tank from freezing at all if the nighttime low is in the 20s, and will retain an unfrozen area big enough for my horse to drink with a low down to about 15 degrees. The ice that does form is much easier to break up, due to the bubbles, either by my horse, or me in the morning. In colder weather, I'll run the pump during the day, but use the heater at night, or run the heater constantly in the really cold weather--the pump isn't for those times! If you turn the pump off, either because you're running the heater, or if it's above freezing, take the tube out of the tank, so it doesn't slowly fill with water. You can blow air through it to clear the water, but if it happens to freeze up in the meantime, you'll need to bring it into the house to melt the ice. I found the items I needed at drsfostersmith.com, which sells several different air pumps. I bought their Azoo pump a few years ago, but it seemed to be wearing out after several years of hard use, and when I went to their website this fall, I noticed that the Fusion air pump provides greater pressure and air flow for a similar price. I bought the 500 model, for $12, and it seems to be doing a great job so far. For all the pumps, they list the size of tank they're meant for, as greater depth of water means greater air pressure needed. They also sell the 3/16" airline tubing you'll need, for $1-2. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: [email protected] and I'll tell you anything I can--I want to share this idea far and wide!

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February 11, 2015, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Willey Building

A Cabot Community Association (C.C.A.) Task Force has been working on a business plan for The Cabot Chronicle. We are looking for ideas on how to increase revenues, decrease expenses, and improve the service provided to the community. Please come and share your ideas. Input would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to call the Association and Chronicle number—802-563-3338, and leave a message if you have questions.

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White Envelope Project - The Story For the Man Who Hated Christmas

By Nancy W. Gavin It’s just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past ten years or so. It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas–oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it–overspending… the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma—the gifts given in desperation because you couldn’t think of anything else. Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way. Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended; and shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes. As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler’s ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford. Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. And as each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn’t acknowledge defeat. Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, “I wish just one of them could have won,” he said. “They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them.” Mike loved kids – all kids – and he knew them, having coached little league football, baseball and lacrosse. That’s when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition –one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on. The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning, and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure. The story doesn’t end there. You see, we lost Mike last year due to dreaded cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more. Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing to take down the envelope. Mike’s spirit, like the Christmas spirit, will always be with us.

Editor’s Note: This true story was originally published in the December 14, 1982, issue of Woman's Day magazine. It was the first place winner out of thousands of entries in the magazine’s “My Most Moving Holiday Tradition” contest, in which readers were asked to share their favorite holiday tradition and the story behind it. The story inspired a family from Atlanta, GA, to start The White Envelope Project and Giving101, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating youth about the importance of giving. Permission is granted to reprint or perform this story in other publications or mass distribution channels, as long as it is not for sale, readers have free access, and proper attribution is included.

Cabot Chronicle editor's note: I believe it was 2007 when I first read this tale; ironically, while on active duty in Iraq. I've never forgotten the story. I've kept it in mind as I bought toys for Giving Trees or Toys for Tots. Then, with the loss of each of my parents, I have taken it a little farther by redirecting the funds I used to spend on my parents (and more) to some project to benefit someone I don't know. I try to keep it as local as possible. It is a small way to keep my parents' memory alive and relevant, and honor the principles they modeled. It also helps me continue to feel their presence over the holidays. jj

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

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Request An Envelope

Inspired? Let us know your plans for a White Envelope gift for someone else, and we’ll send you a free white envelope, embossed card, and story print to place on your tree!

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Good Samaritans Rescue Kitten

On Thursday, November 13, two young people were following another car in St. Johnsbury. They witnessed the car in front of them toss a kitten out of the moving vehicle. Luckily, the two young people stopped. The little black kitten was about four weeks old and in trouble. They took the kitten to the vet. We named the kitten Ebony. He was taken in to Western Avenue Veterinary Clinic, given a preliminary assessment, given some nice wet food, and a snug, safe place to be. Ebony ate well, and snuggled in for a nap. Unfortunately, he was badly damaged. He had trouble walking, his tail was broken at a right angle up near his body. Did his injuries come from being thrown out of a moving car? It certainly didn’t help. Had he already been mistreated for most of his very short life? Probably. Was there something wrong with him and that was why these people felt he was disposable? Maybe. One thing is sure. He passed away some time during the night. He had a good meal. He had a warm, cozy blanket to sleep in. And he is at peace now, after a short and horrific life. The other thing that is sure is that these two young folk took the time and care to stop and try to help. That is wonderful, and we are proud and thankful that you did that. Whoever you are, you deserve our deepest thanks. You made a difference to Ebony in his last hours. It is hard to believe that anyone would do such a thing, toss a kitten, perhaps a sick kitten, out of the window of a car, like so much trash. This little guy did not deserve that. No living thing deserves such disrespect.

Helen Morrison Board, Kingdom Animal Shelter

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Second Honors

Grade 12 Mark Schumacher Grade 11 Caleb Maxfield Grade 10 Rowan Lanxner, Jeremy Maxfield, Isabella McCallum Grade 9 Matthew Lehoe, Samantha Villeneuve Grade 8 Gabriella Ambroz, Brooke Fontaine, Matthew P. Lehoe Grade 7 Lillian Bailey, Mason Ecklund-Gustavson

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FROM THE CABOT PUBLIC LIBRARY

Programs Cabot Old Time Contra and Square

Dance – Saturday, December 13 – 7:30 p.m. This dance series occurs on the second Saturday of the month from September through May. All are invited. The caller for the evening is Peter Johnson. There will be special dances by the Midnight Capers. The dances are taught and are easily learned by young and old. The contra and square dances are traditional Vermont and New England social dances that have been danced for many generations in the town halls, barns, and kitchens around Vermont. The music is provided by piano and an assortment of fiddles, mandolins, guitars, and the occasional surprise instrument. Musicians are always invited to sit in and join with the fun of playing traditional dance tunes. There is a small suggested donation to help cover the cost of the caller. For more info, please call David Carpenter at 802-426-3225 or email [email protected].

Holiday Craft-Making Workshop – Tuesday, December 16 – 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Make your own holiday gifts – we’ll have supplies and volunteers to help you make jewelry, ornaments, paper quilling, cookie decorating, and other crafts.

Community Book Group – Wednesday, December 17 – 10:30 a.m. The fall series theme is memoir and the fourth book will be Speak, Memory by Vladimir Nabokov. All are welcome to join in! Copies of this book will be available in the Cabot Public Library. “‘Speak, memory' said Vladimir Nabokov. And immediately there came flooding back to him a host of enchanting recollections - of his comfortable childhood and adolescence, of his rich, liberalminded father, his beautiful mother, an army of relations and family hangers-on and of grand old houses in St Petersburg and the surrounding countryside in prerevolutionary Russia. Young love, butterflies, tutors and a multitude of other themes thread together to weave an autobiography which is itself a work of art.” – Goodreads.

Special Holiday Preschool Story Hour – Tuesday, December 23 10:30- 11:30 a.m. We’ll have stories, songs, crafts, and special holiday treats!

Community Cookie Exchange – Tuesday, December 23, 5:00 p.m.

Bakers of all ages encouraged to participate. We’ll need a minimum of 6 cookie bakers. Bake three dozen of your favorite holiday cookies and package into 6 bags of one-half dozen cookies per bag. Exchange your cookies and receive six different kinds of cookies of one-half dozen each. Please provide a list of ingredients and call Cabot Public Library at 563-2721 to sign up by Wednesday, December 17. Fiddle Lessons - Katie Trautz – Monday afternoons All levels and abilities, Ages 4-100! Old time Irish, New England, Cajun and Swedish styles. For more info: [email protected] or 802-279-2236.

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

Pathfinder – Fridays, 3:00 - 5:30 p.m.

The Pathfinder role-playing game puts you in the role of a brave adventurer fighting to survive in a world beset by magic and evil! Join the group - all are welcome.

Thank You!

Special thanks to Karen Fox for donating many new boxes of Legos for our growing Lego Club. Thanks so much to Andy Luce and Beth Wade for their help with organizing and teaching CPR Certification, Sharon O’Connor and Lisa Olson for help with the Winter Clothes Drive, David Carpenter for organizing and playing music for the Contra dances, Cynthia Russell for facilitating the monthly book group, Beth Wade and Christine Harris for help with Story Hour, Katie Trautz for bringing music to the library, and Lisa Olson for facilitating Pathfinder.

See you at the Library!

Kathleen Hoyne and Anne Walker

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TWIN VALLEY SENIOR CENTER

4583 U.S. Route 2 P.O. Box 152 East Montpelier, VT 05651 By Rita Copeland TWIN VALLEY SENIORS ARE SO PROUD OF THEIR VOLUNTEERS

The following volunteers have been retrained and recertified in Tai Chi and Bone Builders programs at TVSC. These dedicated people put many hours into the programs and classes that enable people to stay strong, well balanced and improve their breathing. Following our dedicated team is here to help each and every one of you free of charge. Call 223- 3322 for information on how to take part in our healthy Living Programs.

Certified Trainers:

Michaela Rowan, Sandra Menella, Laura Johnson, Hildegard Wegner, Marvie Domey, Joanne Martin, Suzy Greaves, Judy Dix, Kathryn Phillips and Cort Richardson. Cort will be leading an early morning class in Bone Builders starting on December 1. The classes will be from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 a.m. Monday and Wednesdays. If you are interested, please call class trainer Cort Richardson at 223- 3174. To everyone who came to our New England boiled dinner fundraiser, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. The event was truly well supported, and a happy, overwhelming time to myself and the volunteers who generously put their time and hard work into the event. Many thanks go out to Paul and Sandra Cate for donation of fresh vegetables, as well as Charlie Bothfeld from Cabot. To Jayne and Ferguson McKay from Cabot for their donation toward the purchase of Corned Beef. Cooks Bruce McDonald, Dennis Jewett and all the center volunteers who helped do the prep work of all the vegetables. Dennis Jewett’s homemade rolls, the dining room staff that worked so very hard keeping up with it all. To our friends and neighbors for so many wonderful homemade apple pies, we are truly grateful. We want to express our sincere condolescences to Gary Carter and family for the loss of their wonderful wife and mother, Shirley Carter. Shirley was a long time member of our Meals on Wheels program. In lieu of flowers, the Carter family had donations come to the center in Shirley’s memory. For that, we want them to know that Shirley, we are sure, would be very happy to know that she will be helping the less fortunate receive the nutritional meals that will help them remain in good health and in their own homes. Shirley always thought of others, and as we prepare and deliver meals, she will be in our thoughts at TVSC, forever grateful. To the many, many people who attended our fifth annual Hunter and Community Breakfast Buffet, we thank you so much. It was a tremendous success that is going to financially help the center operations. As Director, I also want to apologize to everyone who attended later in the morning, only to find that we were short or out on some of our buffet items. I personally take full responsibility for that happening, with only the following explanation. It was our first breakfast in the new location, and, again, we never expected such a fantastic turnout. We are so grateful for that, and now that I know, between the location and the great advertising done by my volunteer from Montpelier, Irene Stewart, I can assure you I will be much better prepared, and will never have a low food supply for this event or any other. You are so kind to support us, and I assure you that there will be plenty for all in the future. If anyone attending was dissatisfied, please contact me with suggestions and a refund of your money for the event. You can contact me via email at [email protected] or call me at 223-3322.

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8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at TVSC

You should bring clippers, a basin, a towel, liquid soap and lotion. The cost is $15.00. Please arrive 15 minutes before appointment to allow time for feet to soak. If you are unable to make your scheduled appointment, please call to cancel at least 24 hours prior to appointment. In the event of inclement weather, please look to see if Twinfield is closed. When Twinfield closes, the TVSC foot clinics are cancelled. Cancelled clinics will not be made up. We encourage appointments every six weeks, so you can sign up for either Clinic Schedule 1 or 2.

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at the Greensboro United Church of Christ

Featuring a mixture of sacred and secular holiday music, as well as group performances. In the sacred category: “What Sweeter Music” by contemporary English composer John

Rutter; “Mary, Did You Know” by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene; “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks” with music by Handel and lyrics by J.S. Bach; “Carol of

the Bagpipers”, a traditional Sicilian Xmas song; A traditional English carol “Good King Wenceslas; and perhaps the feature attraction in this category, “Glory Be to God in

Secular compositions include: “The Twelve Days After Christmas” by Frederick Silver; the Highest” by Italian composer G. B. Pergolesi.

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

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Cabot Community Memorial Tree Lighting on the Common December 7, 2014

6:00 p.m. – Caroling 6:30 p.m. – Tree Lighting Soup & Sandwiches in church

following tree lighting For several years, the people of Cabot have purchased bulbs in memory or honor of loved ones. Bulbs are $3.00 for each name listed. Please provide the names you wish to be read at the lighting ceremony and return your request with payment by December 1 to Cabot United Church, P.O. Box 127, Cabot, VT 05647, or give to any church board member.

All are welcome to participate. Sponsored by Cabot United Church.

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Sunday December 7, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. The Spruce Camp Base Lodge at Stowe Mountain Resort in Stowe The concert is free and open to the public. ~ Featuring Rusty DeWees ~

The Vermont National Guard and the Office of the Adjutant General are proud to present “Vermont’s Own” 40th Army Band Concert Band performing a free concert . The program, “Vermont Holiday Treasures” will feature holiday favorites including Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride,” “Chanukah is Here,” “Christmastime Again In Woodchuckberry,” and a special telling of the poem “’Twas the Night Before Christmas”. This holiday concert will feature Rusty DeWees as a guest musician and narrator. Chief Warrant Officer David A. Myers, bandmaster, will be conducting the band. Chief Myers has been a member of the band for over thirty years, serving as stage band director and staff composer before assuming command of the group in 1996. He is well known throughout Vermont and nationally as a composer and conductor of band music. Rusty DeWees, the featured guest musician and narrator, is known throughout New England and New York for his self-written / self-produced One Man Comedy Show, “The Logger.” In addition to his appearances on television and film, Rusty DeWees donates much of his time to numerous human service organizations each year in Vermont. Members of the 40th Army Band serve one weekend a month and two weeks of Annual Training each year in the Vermont Army National Guard. As civilians the rest of the year, they are engaged in such diverse occupations as education, law, security, technology, medical, and sales.

The GPS address for the Spruce Camp Base Lodge at Stowe Mountain Resort is 7416 Mountain Road, Stowe, Vermont 05672. Please note, GPS directions have been known to produce mixed results, so please call 800-253-4754 if more information is needed. For further information about the 40th Army Band, call the unit's office in Colchester, weekdays, at (802) 338-3480, or you can find them on Facebook and Twitter at 40th Army Band.

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