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The Cabot Chronicle

February 2015 · 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 February 2015 pages (PDF)

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

In This Issue

OUNTRY

Let us talk about limitations. We all have them some more obvious than others. The only way I can learn where my limits are is to try to go beyond them. Sometimes I surprise myself at other times I merely end up in the middle of a disaster and physically ill on top of it. I have to learn to work with and around my limitations. It can be quite frustrating especially since I haven’t quite accepted these limitations yet! I suppose the reason why I have chosen to talk about limitations is because, if you believe in them, you will have them. If I am determined enough, I know I will be able to accomplish many things, some may even be great, but I won’t know until I do, so I am doing. I am making a concerted effort to imaginate (imagine + create) my dreams. SO far I have achieved a bit, now I need to move to the next level. baby steps. Baby steps,

With whatever limitations we have, from no legs to a lack of education, we

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By Roland (Slim) Payne

About another bug: The Spruce Budworm. They are coming back. I had a small infestation about thirty years ago - about one acre of mature fir and spruce that started at the top and turned red as it worked down the trees. I had a forester look at them, and he said clear cut about two acres and that may stop it. I cut two acres, and it did stop it. I don't know if it was spruce bud worms, but they prefer mature trees and work from the top down, which they did. The worms are brown, about one inch long, and thin. The name seems wrong because they prefer balsam fir, but also will eat white, red and black spruces. They are native to the northeast forests and are here all the time, but only four or five to a tree. About every thirty to forty years, for some reason, they show up in huge numbers, around 20,000 worms per tree, and over huge areas. Quebec right now has eight million acres defoliated, dead and dying spruce and fir forests. In the 1970 to 1980 period, Maine and New Brunswick, Can-

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The Cabot Chronicle Submission

The Chronicle welcomes letters written length is recommended to be no longer than and length or returned to the author with suggestions mentary published in The Cabot Chronicle necessarily the opinions of staff. The Cabot Chronicle reserves the right to terial for our readers. Letters will not be considered companied by a phone number. We will gladly cation. The Cabot Chronicle is not responsible for Cabot Chronicle assume responsibility for claims services advertised on these pages. If you have editorial questions or would like

Letters and other inquiries can also be sent VT 05647.

DEADLINE: 15th of the month prior

Coordinator: Jeannie Johnson

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OMMENTARY

can still achieve. It is a matter of choice and determination, along with focus. Focus is so very necessary “ To keep your eyes on the prize” - truer words have never been spoken. If we want to reach our goals, we have to know what we can do and focus on that. We already know what we can’t do. So many things we can discover when we just try, experiment, take an adventurous first step. don’t learn anything new unless out and do! You you go

I am still experimenting and learning, I am still on safari through the jungle of the many things I can do. Make it an adventure, it is much more fun that way. Find your passion, find your bliss! You never know what you will discover in every day and this new year may be more than any adventure you ever have had, without even leaving the State! Many blessings and may you find the magic in the snow,

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T REE W ARDEN

ada, each had millions of acres defoliated. Maine lost 130 million cord of wood due to this worm, and New Brunswick about the same. Maine has traps out along the border and interior of the northern part of the state, as the feeling of the experts is that the bud worms are coming. The larvae pupate and emerge as moths in July and take to the air, sailing on the prevailing winds in vast numbers, and land in forests far away. So, if winds are in the right direction, their arrival can be fast and devastating to fir and spruce forests. The first warnings will be the pheromone traps, which use sexual attractants to lure bud worm moths. traps in northern Maine have large increase in moth numbers The had a in the last five years. So, the experts think it is going to happen again soon. I don't know what Vermont and New Hampshire are doing to combat the worm when or if they come.

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Guidelines

with an economy of words. The maximum 400 words. Letters may be edited for clarity for re-submittal. All letters and comrepresent the opinions of the authors and not

reject letters that may contain unsuitable mafor publication unless signed and acconsider articles and photographs for publi-

errors in submitted material. Nor does The arising in connection with products or

advertising information, call our office at 563

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By Representative

The 2015 Legislative session commenced on Wednesday, January 7, with a message from Representative Shap Smith, who was unanimously elected to return to the position of Speaker of the House. In his address, Speaker Smith emphasized the challenges the Legislature will face this session, as well as the positive attributes of living in the state of the Vermont. Health care, education funding and governance, the 2016 state budget and property taxes topped the list. Legislators heard from the Speaker that, even with the Governor’s announcement to drop his plan to publicly fund health care, the legislature must still address the continued rising costs. Additionally, Smith stated that education reform is also on the front burner in order to ensure all Vermont students receive quality educational opportunities, as well as to address escalating property taxes that have become unaffordable to many Vermonters. This year, the House Education Committee, which has historically worked solely on education policy, will now consider the education budget when determining policy. This is a much needed change, essential to responsible budgeting and governance. Smith also addressed the projected $94 million gap between state expenditures and revenues. Vermont always passes a balanced budget, and the Speaker advised the budget must be shaped carefully and thoughtfully, while considering affordability and essential services. Following the Speaker’s remarks, House committee assignments were announced, allowing committee work to begin immediately. Change in committee composition was evident, with more leadership positions assigned to a mix of political parties. I am hopeful that this will allow for more bi-partisan work and solutions to important issues, with less emphasis on political parties and more attention to what is best for all Vermonters. At the end of 2014, the Speaker of the House asked for concerned Vermonters to voice opinions and ideas regarding education finance reform by sending written communication directly to him. Eighty-five responses were received. Again, the Speaker is asking for public input, this time regarding bolstering jobs and energizing economic development in the state. Send your thoughts and ideas by Feb. 3 to Speaker@leg.state.vt.us, or by mail to Speaker’s Office, 115 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05633. January 8 marked the date of a Joint Session of the Legislature to elect the Governor of Vermont, and, on a vote of 110 to 69, Peter Shumlin was reelected. I made my position clear for this vote in the December edition of this publication. I firmly believe that, in any race, every vote counts, and in a democ-

is distributed the first is provided locally free of charge. ~ Mission Statement ~ is to regularly publish local news that will help readers become better

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Catherine (Kitty) Toll

ratic system, Vermonters expect their votes to count. My vote went to the candidate with the greatest number of votes in the General Election. The election was followed by the Governor’s Inaugural Address in the afternoon. Governor Shumlin's remarks focused on clean energy policy and water quality in Vermont. On January 15, the Governor addressed both chambers of the legislature to present the executive branch’s 2016 budget proposal. This budget has been widely publicized as the "toughest” budget in recent history. The Governor noted in his address that state expenditures have out-paced revenues in recent years, increasing at approximately 5%, while revenues have increased by approximately 3.5% annually. Previous budgets have been balanced using federal stimulus money, cuts in services and programs and other one-time funding sources. The Governor proposes using $12.73 million in one-time funding in the 2016 budget, in comparison to $53 million in one-time sources last year. Some highlights in the Governor’s plan to close the projected $94 million gap include eliminating 11 state government positions, eliminating the state’s contribution to the Low Income Heating Assistance Program, restructuring the state library system to save $500,000, reducing the judiciary budget by $500,000, and reducing the Working Lands Enterprise Program by $700,000. At the end of January, the state’s economists presented an updated revenue forecast to legislators and projections indicate an additional $18.6 million shortfall in expected revenues making the budgeting process even more challenging. The budget is now in the House Appropriations Committee for full consideration. Each legislative committee has an online information page. This tool enables the public to follow the work of the legislature and key in on issues of interest. These are live pages and are updated regularly. Additionally, please contact me directly with your questions and concerns. As always, it is an honor to represent our communities at the State House. kittytoll@live.com, ktoll@leg.state.vt.us

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Amber Bothfeld

My name is Amber Bothfeld. I am running for town clerk and treasurer because I love working with the public. I have been nominated and elected as a Cabot Library Trustee for two terms, and hold the treasurer position. I also have had some experience working with the recreation department. I currently hold the position of being a Sunday School teacher at the Cabot United Church and have done other volunteer work within the town as well. I feel right now is the right time for me to run for town clerk and treasurer, since my two children are starting to reach school age, and I have completed my education at Community College of Vermont with an A.S degree in Administrative Management. Please consider electing me as your next town clerk and treasurer.

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Jennifer Curschmann

Hello, Cabot residents. My name is Jennifer Curschmann and I am running for Town Clerk and Treasurer. For those of you who do not know me, I would like to give you a little background about myself. I grew up in Cabot and graduated from Cabot High School in 2000. I started working right out of high school, performing such tasks as data entry, shipping and receiving, writing reports and miscellaneous management duties. I took a few years off to be a stay at home mother, but for the past four years, I have managed my own cleaning business, as well as been an active community volunteer. I have coached T-Ball and started a women's softball team. I am currently the Assistant Troop leader for the Girl Scouts. I have been doing the advertising for the Cabot 4 th of July Celebration for the last three years, as well as assisting with the rummage sale. I have acted as the Health Officer for the Town of Walden and the Town of Cabot. I am a good candidate for the Town Clerk and Treasurer position because I am an active member of the community with a familiar face to most. I enjoy working with and supporting people, and I feel that I could offer many skills to this position. I also enjoy a wide range of responsibilities, have a strong work ethic and am highly organized. Thank you for your support.

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Jamie Gockey

Jamie Gokey of Cabot VT is announcing candidacy for Cabot Town Clerk and Town Treasurer. Jamie has been a resident of Cabot since 2003. She has two children that attend Cabot High School and Middle School. Jamie has volunteered since moving to Cabot in many non profit organizations. She has worked on the Cabot PTSO for more than ten years, including the Cabot 4th of July and Halloween Social. Other groups that Jamie volunteered with include, Food Drops, Destination Scouts. Imagination and Boy

Jamie has been employed at the Cabot School for the past seven years. In addition to her employment at the school, she has coached middle school basketball and youth sports. Prior to working at Cabot school, Jamie worked as a licensed insurance agent and bank specialist. Working on computers to write new policies for personal and business accounts and servicing them were part of some of the experience she had working in insurance. Jamie also opened new checking accounts, savings accounts, certificate of deposits and loan accounts. She worked in this field for five years. Thank you for considering her for this Candidacy.

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Betty Ritter

My name is Betty Ritter and I am not only running for the position of Town Clerk/Treasurer, but also earnestly hope to attain that position. I am sure that some of you do not know me, as I live “on the other side of Town,” but nevertheless, I am neighbors to some mighty fine people on both sides of Cabot. As for my experience, I worked for the Court Administrator’s Office/ Vermont Supreme Court for nine years. In this position, I worked closely with all the courts, recruiting personnel for each position that opened in the Judiciary, trained personnel in all the courts throughout the State of Vermont, served on the Personnel Committee of the Judiciary, along with many other duties. Many a time I had to wear “different hats” several times a day! After that, I left to work for several years with a local attorney, Gleb Glinka, as his paralegal, running a busy law practice. We worked closely with ordinary people who needed legal help, including land record research, taxes, wills, and bankruptcy. I have a fluent knowledge of Quick Books, Excel, and Word. Since then, I work with a company that has lots of customer contact and requires attention to minute details. Besides all this, I very much enjoy working with the public and helping folks in whatever situation comes up. If I cannot help them, I will find the person that likely will. It isn’t easy saying this about oneself, but I really am very hard working, meticulous, scrupulously honest, and responsible. I would appreciate your vote on Town Meeting Day for this position and look forward to meeting many of you in the days ahead. If you have any questions for me, please give me a call at 426 -3757. If I’m not available right away, I will call you back. Many thanks. Betty Ritter

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Bruce Wescott

Bruce Westcott has lived in Cabot village since 2007 with his wife, Ellen Blachly. During most of that time, Bruce has worked on-line for a global software development firm; Ellie is an upholsterer who has her studio at the Old Schoolhouse in Marshfield. With family roots in Rhode Island, Bruce was born and raised in Ohio, went to college in New Hampshire, and lived in Boston for two years earning a Master's in Business Administration degree. Bruce and his family lived in Montpelier for decades after graduate school. People

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February 2015 ~ page 3

who shop in Montpelier may know Bruce's daughter, Juliana, who has probably checked out your groceries at the Coop. Bruce is also step-dad to Ellie's daughters: Heidi is finishing her University work in North Carolina, and Sophie lives in Plainfield while working for High Mowing Seeds in Wolcott. Bruce plays the piano/organ in the Cabot United Church, has sung with the Cabot Community Choir, and is president of the Board of Directors of

our non-profit economic development corporation. Bruce's professional life has been focused on technical and financial management in Vermont state government and non-profit organizations (in addition to commercial software development.) He was appointed by Governor Kunin to start Vermont's digital mapping program (GIS, or geographic information systems), and continued that work in the Snelling and Dean Administrations. He served as Executive Director of the non-profit Vermont Center for Geographic Information, which was a major partner with the Vermont E911 Authority in setting up our statewide emergency response system. He has done contract training and consulting for state agencies in New York, Minnesota, Washington, and elsewhere, and for Federal agencies. Bruce most recently served as Director of Finance & Administration for the non-profit Vermont Youth Conservation Corps in Richmond. Bruce feels that what all towns need is a Clerk/Treasurer who first and foremost handles Town funds with integrity and accuracy, and provides the Select Board and citizens with their public information responsively and cheerfully. Cabot voters need a Clerk/ Treasurer who is completely objective and sympathetic, and who is fair with all parties. The Clerk/Treasurer does not make decisions on town taxes and expenditures, ordinances and permits, but must administer these and other duties of State law without fear or favor. Cabot residents and tax-payers may be upset with their government's choices or with their neighbors, but they should expect to bring their town business to a clerk who is cordial, calm, and fair. Bruce hopes he can be that Clerk/ Treasurer for Cabot.

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Kevin Patrick O’Riordan

Kevin Patrick O'Riordan, 62, of Harrison Avenue, Barre, passed away Wednesday, December 31, 2014, at his home. Born on February 20, 1952, in the Bronx, NY, he was the son of John Francis and Geraldine Veronica (Martin) O'Riordan. He attended St. Catherine Elementary School in Blauvelt, NY, and the Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from the Manhattan campus of Empire State College in 1980 and a master's degree in education, applied behavioral analysis, from Johnson State College in Johnson, VT, in 1985. On July 10, 1976, Kevin married Helena Frances Roness in Brooklyn, NY. Following their marriage, they made their home in Brooklyn, NY, and Cabot, VT, before moving to Barre, VT. Kevin taught special education for the Barre City school system, served as program director at Washington County Mental Health Services for many years, and was executive director of human services at Sterling Area Services in Morrisville for 18 years. He was a tireless advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities to help ensure their best possible quality of life. He and his wife, Helena, were foster parents and home providers for children with disabilities for over 30 years. They were the first to have their own biological children and their foster children in the same home.

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Russell Therrien

Russell "Russ" Therrien, 92, of Cabot, passed peacefully December 2, 2014, in the Calvin Coolidge Nursing Home, Northampton, MA. He was the beloved husband for 67 years of Doris (Cheney) Therrien; loving father of Gwenn Therrien of Wakefield, MA, Alan Therrien and his wife, Sue, of Boxford, MA, and wife, Ginger, Michele Voner and husband, Jeff, and Jonathan Decker; doting great-grandfather of Gavin and Cale McGinnis, Lillie and Zachary Therrien, and Daniel and Andrew Voner. He is also survived by his two sisters, Ruth Merryfield of Groton, and Eula Foster of Bristol, CT; sister-inlaw, Mildred Therrien of Westford; plus many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers, Wendell,

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Barbara Ann Ferguson

Barbara Ann Ferguson, 79, formerly of Cabot since 2005, passed away on Sunday, January 18, 2015, in Berlin Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was born to the late Harold Michael and Charlotte Avery Mooney on January 8, 1936, a twin with Richard Mooney, her brother. Barbara attended and graduated from Bayshore High School in Bayshore Long Island, NY, where she grew up. She then went to school and graduated as a Lab Technician. She became the head Lab Technician at the South Side Hospital in Bayshore and worked there for 12 years. In 1969, she and her husband, Duncan, bought and administrated the Ferguson Rest Home in Clinton, MA, for more than 36 years. Barbara was an active member of the Sterling Seventh-day Adventist Church in Sterling, MA, working with the youth Pathfinder Club for years. Barbara was an avid animal lover, and over the years, she trained and competed her horses and cats and won

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EMORIALS

Kevin was a member of St. Monica Catholic Church in Barre, where he taught religious education for several years, and Knights of Columbus of Barre. He was a former member of the Montpelier Elks Lodge 924. His interests were gardening, reading and traveling. He especially enjoyed time spent with his children and grandchildren. Survivors include his wife, Helena O'Riordan, of Barre; his children, Michael O'Riordan and his wife, Erin, of Pomona, NY, Kristen O'Riordan and her partner, Michael Kelley, Elizabeth O'Riordan, Joseph O'Riordan, Skylar O'Riordan and his wife, Christi, Logan Merrill-O'Riordan and her partner, Curtis Sherman, all of Barre, and Heith O'Dell, of Brookfield; five grandchildren, Colby, Brendan, Shea, Levi and Briella; his sister, Ellen O'Riordan-Madeya, and her husband, Ray, of White Plains, NY; his brother, John Brian O'Riordan, of Pomona, NY; brothers-in-law; sisters-inlaw; nieces, nephews and cousins. His parents predeceased him. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on January 7, 2015, in the Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Wayne, NJ, followed by interment in the Maryrest Cemetery in Mahwah, NJ. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Kessler Foundation, 300 Executive Drive, Suite 70, West Orange, NJ 07052 (email: give@kessler foundation.org) or to the Ronald McDonald House Charities, 16 S. Winooski Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401.

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CABOT ARTS COMMITTEE - On

December 28, the Cabot Arts Committee held a wonderful Cajun music dance concert at the Willey building. Many folks really enjoyed the event and were said to be “dancing up a storm.” It was rumored that not even one more pair could fit on the dance floor! On January 18, pianist Diane Huling and violinist Raymond Malone gave a performance that was absolutely outstanding. Once again, R.D. Eno and the Cabot Arts Committee put together a totally enjoyable and memorable musical event for the public. Mr. Eno reported that the Brahms was his favorite selection, and he commented about the excellence of the United Church of Cabot as the concert venue. In his review for the Times-Argus , Jim Lowe wrote a rave review of the Huling and Malone performance and said that the

turning Cabot into “a tiny arts Mecca.”

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CABOT AGRICULTURAL NET-

WORK - The Association’s Agricultural Network Committee (C.A.N.) pulled together “Conversations from the Working Landscape”, a series of workshops on food producers and business promotion and marketing. The first in the series on January 10 featured Chris Pierson, the Cabot Creamery Northeast Marketing and Community Relations Manager. Mr. Pierson presented on “Bringing Product to Market: How the Market Works.” Mr. Pierson shared information and engaging stories; several of the twenty some attendees participated in a question and answer segment. tasty The Cabot Creamery donated cheeses for the refreshment table. On January 24, at the second in the Saturday morning speaker series, Calley Hastings of Fat Toad Farm in Brookfield presented her story in the Cabot town hall auditorium to a crowd of about 30 people who became enthusiastically engaged in the question and answer segment. The next presentation in the speaker series on February 7 at 10:30, will feature Greg Georgakilis, founder of Farmers-to-You, speaking on The New Economy: Collaboration and the Future of Sustainable Agriculture, how everybody wins when businesses and consumers direct and manage the economy to-

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By Sjon Welters

At the time of this writing, the first installment of the "Conversations from the Working Landscape" Speaker Series just concluded. An engaged crowd learned about how to bring product to market; setting price, negotiating the waters of distribution and retailing successfully, and other bells and whistles involved in becoming or establishing a flourishing business. The second installment will take place as the Chronicle goes to press, but is sure to attract a lively group once again. The third installment, on February 7, will touch on a subject that has come home for many, as "sustainability", "cooperation", and "local economy" have become part of our daily vocabulary: The New Economy: Collaboration and the Future of Sustainability. Our speaker, Greg Georgakilis, founded Farmers-to-You to build, together with farmers, processors, and consumers, a

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Everyone Invited

safe, just and regenerative food system, "one farmer at a time, one family at the time," as their website so beautifully states. Our fourth installment will include Jackie Folsom, well-known within our community as dairy farmer and former president of the Vermont Farm Bureau, who, together with Jeremy and Leslie Michaud of Kingdom Creamery of East Hardwick, will examine how the market has changed, how to adapt for success, and tell their stories. Coming in March, Mateo Kehler of Jasper Hill Farm on Who's Your Market - more on that in the March Chronicle . Everyone is invited to come and hear our speakers and join the conversation that surely will ensue, as it did at our first "Conversations". Dates are Saturday, February 7 and 21, and March 7, 10:30 a.m. at our Cabot Town Hall (Willey Building).

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Letter to the Community:

I am sad to announce that I will be closing the door to DownStreet Eats. It has been a tough winter, and after a good deal of soul searching, we have made the decision that our last night being open to the public, will be Friday, January 16. This has been a difficult decision to make, not just because we love what we do, but because of the amazing support and enthusiasm we have received. I feel

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Letter to the Editor

"Sarah's Country Diner" has reached a very successful first year! We would like to thank all those who made it such a great one. With the new year, we will also have some additions to make the coming year an even better one. To start out, for

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By Ben Davis

On Town Meeting Day, Cabot voters will be asked to approve the annual budget of the Northeast Kingdom Waste Management District, to which we belong. The District, or the NEKWMD, as it is known, services Cabot’s Recycling Depot. The Recycling Depot on Sawmill Road in Cabot provides recycling and trash collection for residents of Cabot and surrounding towns every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until noon. The Depot is operated locally and is serviced by the NEKWMD, which is responsible for picking up recyclables and providing waste management options for residents. What, exactly, is the NEKWMD? The Northeast Kingdom Waste Management District is a chartered municipality created by the passage of Act 78, Vermont’s solid waste law, in 1987. Act 78 began the process of closing Vermont's unlined landfills and required every Town in Vermont to assume responsibility for managing wastes generated within the Town boundaries. Towns could go it alone, by developing their own solid waste plans, or they could form Solid Waste districts that managed wastes for member towns. The NEKWMD was chartered in 1991, and originally consisted of 43 member towns spread throughout Essex, Caledonia, and Orleans counties. The District shrunk to 29 towns that remained its core for the next seven years. In 1993, the District began recycling operations in Lyndonville, first out of the Sheffield Potato Company building, and later (1995) moving to its current operation on Church Street in Lyndonville. Beginning in 2001, 18 additional towns joined (or rejoined) the District. 49 towns are now members. Towns are spread throughout Caledonia, Essex, Orange, Orleans, and Washington counties. Both Cabot and Marshfield are member towns. The District gets its funding from three sources: 1) a $22/ton surcharge on trash; 2) the sale of recyclables; and 3) an annual grant from the State of Vermont. The surcharge accounts for about 65% of the District's revenue. The impact of the $22 per ton surcharge on trash costs the typical residence (throwing away 30 pounds of trash each week) about $17 per year. That's it! Sale of recyclables collected by residents typically grosses over $100,000 each year, although markets can fluctuate widely. Sale of recyclables typically

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OMMENTARY

much gratitude that I had the opportunity to feed this welcoming community and provide a place to gather for these last 18 months. The good news is that DownStreet Eats will continue to live on via pop ups and catering events, through our latest incarnation, Vermont Serendipity, and maybe even a bit of specialty food production down the road, so we will keep you in the loop as things develop.

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Elena, Will,

and the DownStreet Eats family

the locals who love their coffee, there will be Coffee Cards - nine cups of coffee and your tenth cup will be free. Remember to pick these up! A new menu will also be coming out soon. There will be more new things, so keep in touch with us.

find us on Facebook.

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District?

accounts for about 20% of District revenues. White paper, cardboard and mixed paper generally stay in New England, upstate New York, or Canada. Plastic usually heads south to North Carolina. Tin and aluminum either go to Pittsburgh, PA, or Montreal, PQ, (for export to Italy). E-wastes go to Middlebury, VT. Single-use and rechargeable batteries also go to Pittsburgh. Glass goes to Littleton, NH. Tires go to Corinna, ME. All materials are recycled, except tires and glass. Glass is crushed and reused for engineering projects. Tires are shredded and reused for civil engineering projects or burned for fuel. Lastly, Act 78 set up a fund to collect $6 per ton of trash. This money gets cycled back into the waste districts around the state. NEKWMD receives around $50,000 each year from this fund. The remaining 8% of District revenues come from fees for services, such as tire disposal and recycling route pickups. Please note that individual Towns are not assessed any money to fund District operations. When you vote on Town Meeting Day to approve the District budget, you will not be incurring any additional tax burden on your town (no annual per capita assessment). The district has a full time staff comprised of a Director, Operations Manager, Bookkeeper, Outreach Coordinator, Material Handling Technicians and Truck Drivers. A Board of Supervisors made up of representatives from each member town governs the District. The Board meets monthly and sets budgets and district priorities. Cabot and Marshfield are represented by Ben Davis. In addition to operating the recycling depots, the District provides a wide range of waste disposal services for member towns. These include: Household Hazardous Waste Collection Food Scrap Collection and Outreach Scrap metal Collection Tires, used motor oil, used oil filters, aerosol cans, fluorescent light bulbs and car/truck/marine battery collection Computers and Television and other electronics (collected for free) Educational workshops Home composting and recycling bins Assistance for businesses Compliance services for each member town to ensure towns are fully compliant with Act 78. Information on these services is available from the District by calling 800-7344602 or www.nekwmd.org,

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By Frank Kampf

The town of Cabot, like many other small towns in Vermont, would not function without the hard work of volunteers. Without volunteers, the town would not have a government, nor would it have the various organizations that put on the many town events. Volunteers laid down the sod on the rec field, volunteers assembled the ice skating rink on the green, volunteers run the Apple Pie and Maple Festivals, as well as the July 4 th Celebration. Cabot would be a much less vibrant community without volunteers. If you are reading this paper, then like me, you value the uniqueness that the Chronicle brings to Cabot. It is one of the few very small town newspapers in Vermont. The Chronicle is not your typical local newspaper. Papers like the Hardwick Gazette , the Times Argus , and the Caledonian Record operate as forprofit newspapers that charge for copies, and charge for advertising to cover their expenses. The Cabot Chronicle is a nonprofit newspaper that exists solely to provide a service to the local community. A free copy is mailed to every household in the community, and free copies are made available at stores in Cabot and surrounding communities. The Chronicle survives on the charity of volunteers and businesses willing to advertise in a paper with limited circulation, and the generosity of the local town’s folk. The Cabot Chronicle does not charge the school, town government or volunteer and nonprofit groups in town for postings or writeups. The income to cover the Chronicle's expenses are derived from paid advertisements, Maple Fest proceeds, out-of-town mailing subscriptions, town funds, and direct donations. Without the tireless efforts of the volunteers, Cabot would not have a newspaper to call its own, and the community would not have a source for local information that is not found in the surrounding newspapers serving larger locales. Over the years, the Chronicle staff has slowly decreased as volunteers burn out, and is now mostly published with two staff members. Though the staff receives a small stipend for their efforts, this does not account

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p.m., Willey Building

Association (C.C.A.) Task Force on a business plan for The Cabot looking for ideas on how to increase expenses, and improve the service pro-

and a half of your time to come and Input would be greatly appreciated. Association and Chronicle number— leave a message if you have questions.

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Future

for all the hours they put into the paper each month. Each year, the current staff struggles to make ends meet, while managing to publish a paper each month. Recently, the staff of the Chronicle approached the

which manages the finances for the paper, and asked the CCA board to help develop a business plan for the future survival of the Chronicle, the biggest problem being the burn out of the few remaining volunteers. The CCA appointed a few CCA members (board and non-board members) to form a committee and work on ideas and develop a plan for the future. After several meetings, the committee came to two conclusions. The first conclusion was that, if the Chronicle was to lose any more staff, it would be hard to find a replacement, and the paper would cease to exist. In an effort to make the positions more attractive, we decided that stipends for the staff, which have been reduced over the years, should be increased to make the positions more appealing. Secondly, we also decided that we need more ideas and input from the community on how to continue funding the Chronicle , and how the paper can be improved, or costs reduced. Please join us at a public forum scheduled on Wednesday, February 11, at 7:00 p.m. in the Willey Building. We will entertain any ideas on how to increase revenue, decrease expenses, and improve the service provided to the community.

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Cabot Speaker Series. 10:30 a.m.

Everyone invited. The recent program “ bring product to market” was well received. Greg Georgakilis, founder of Farmers-to-You , will touch on the subject The New Economy Collaboration for the Future of Sustainability. Cabot Town Hall. Auditions for 9 th Annual Kaleidscope Talent Show at Spaulding High School Auditorium. Benefit for Green Mountain United Way. Amateur vocalists, instrumentalists, comedians and dancers invited. Cash prizes awarded in four age groups! Show March 7. Performer application available at http:// www.gmunitedway.org/kaleido scope.shtml.

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Dance, Sing and Jump Around! 3:00

p.m.-4:30 p.m. An inter-generational fun afternoon; a lively time for folks of all ages. Circle and line dances and singing games, all taught and called. Snacks! Live music by Kenric Kite and Erika Mitchell. Plainfield Town Hall Opera House, 149 Main St., Route 2. Suggested donation $5.00 Adults, FREE for kids.

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Friday, 2/13

Starting today Twin Valley Senior Center will be hosting AARP tax-aide volunteers for free tax clinic sessions. Volunteers will be on hand Fridays, BY APPOINTMENT ONLY for the preparation of individual 2014 Federal and

leave your

preparation is for all low income, disabled and senior residents.

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Mother Daughter String Band. 7:30

p.m. Benefit performance for Cabot Connects Mentoring Program at the Cabot School Performing Arts Center on Cabot School Campus. Lyn Hardy and Abby and Rosie Newton will be playing some good stomping music. American fiddle, celtic airs, jigs, reels and original songs.

Cabot Post Office hours changed January 24: Facility retail hours 7:00 11:00 a.m. and 12 noon-2:00 p.m. weekdays, with access to mail receptacles 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Saturday window service hours are not reduced. Girl Scout Cookies . Please support Cabot Girl Scouts by buying a box. Cookies will also be on sale at Town Meeting. Contact Cecelia Gulka 5632284. Pathfinder Fridays 3:00 p.m.- 5:30 p.m. Cabot Public Library. Role playing game puts you in the role of a brave adventurer fighting to survive in a world by magic and evil. Fiddle Lessons -Katie Trautz. Monday afternoons. All levels and abilities, ages 4-100. Old time Irish, New England, Cajun and Swedish styles. For more information katietrautz@yahoo.com or

Lego Club at Cabot Public Library, Tuesdays 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. LEGOs provided to build creations of your imagination.

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Pet Safety Planning

As we prepare for winter storms, we also need to remember to prepare for our companions. Prepare for them as you would prepare for yourself. Vermont Department of Emergency Management has provided standard veterinary record forms and emergency checklists that will be available at the Town office. Please fill them out when you take your pets for their vaccinations this year and keep them with your emergency supplies. In a disaster situation, copies of these records will be important if you need to shelter or evacuate with your pets.

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Assistance Center

Planning an addition or remodeling? Contact the Efficiency Vermont, Energy Code Assistance Center. They offer a free consultation service to assist homeowners with technical services and support. Efficiency Vermont can be reached

connect you with programs, rebates and services. In addition, free copies of the

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Culvert Replacement

With new mandates and requirements for culvert sizing on locations that are considered perennial stream crossings, consideration as to water flow during storm events must be taken into account. You will start to hear a lot about erosion control and stormwater management from our roadside ditch systems; consider thinking of them as mini watersheds. Undersized culverts scour the ditches and transport sediment. This sedimentation affects our water quality, as well as that of communities downstream in our watershed. New management practices are being implemented statewide, and Cabot will be required to follow these new best management practices. Please contact Karen Deasy, Zoning Administrator and Town Planner at

zacabot@fairpoint.net.

the at

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CSPAC on Cabot School Campus

We are so pleased to have Lyn Hardy and Abby and Rosie Newton of the Mother Daughter String Band play their music in a benefit performance for the Cabot Connects Mentoring Program on Saturday, February 28th, 2015 at 7:30pm at CSPAC on the Cabot School campus. Lyn, Abby and Rosie are three quarters of the Mother Daughter String Band. They have performed together in different configurations as duos, trio and the full quartet for the past several years. Lyn and Abby’s musical collaboration goes back to the mid 1970’s with the Putnam String County Band and both Rosie (Abby’s daughter) and Lyn’s daughter Ruthie, have made big splashes on the American music scene over the past 15 years. Their repertoire includes Old Time American fiddle music and songs, Celtic airs, jigs, reels and original tunes and songs. Abby Newton is well known for her groundbreaking work in the revival of the cello in American and Scottish traditional music. She has produced and performed on over a hundred folk recordings including 17 CDs with Scottish singer, Jean Redpath. Abby's solo CDs "Crossing to Scotland" and "Castles, Kirks, and Caves" have earned her critical acclaim both in the US and abroad. She has appeared several times on Prairie Home Companion and Fiona Ritchie, of the nationally syndicated NPR show Thistle and Shamrock , did a feature program on Abby’s music and her influence on the folk cello movement. She currently performs with her band Ferintosh ( Scottish Traditional/ Baroque crossover ), The Mother Daughter String Band and free lances on the cello with different singers and harpists. Lyn Hardy’s singing has been described as rich, honest, strong, stirring and straight from the heart. She is known for her rock solid rhythm guitar playing having played for square, contra and swing dances for more years than she would like to admit! Her performances draw from a vast and varied repertoire of music. She can touch your heart with a country song, make you laugh the next minute and then reach into your soul with a sultry blues number. She currently performs with The Cupcakes. And along with her daughter Ruthie, and Rosie and Abby Newton they perform as the Mother Daughter String Band. Lyn has recorded CDs with her former group The Rude Girls and more recently with The Cupcakes. Rosie Newton grew up immersed in the rich folk music scene of Woodstock, NY, and began playing the fiddle when she was eight. She attended college in Ithaca NY and found herself swept up by the area’s music scene, which infused her with a deep appreciation for the beauty and diversity of roots music. Rosie’s interests span a wide range of musical styles, from Irish and old time to country and pop. She recently toured the Northeast playing zydeco fiddle with Louisiana legend Preston Frank. Rosie currently performs in a duo with Richie Stearns, tours with The Duhks, Red Dog Run , and the Evil City Stringband , and when possible she joins The Mother Daughter String Band . She has recorded two CD's with her duo projects.

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Registration fee includes…

• Reservation in the Gymnasium for Maple Fest • Priority locations available on a first registered, first choice basis • Free Group advertising for the event. • 2 Tickets for Pancake Breakfast (special vendor seating at 8:30 am)

Vendor fee $25 before February 28 $30 after March 1

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By Michelle Delaney

The elementary basketball teams got started early this year in order to get in more practice time. The PK-K clinics were coached by Ray Bothfeld and the 1 -2 clinics were coached by Aaron Fuller. The 3/4 co-ed team is being coached by Brian Hale, the 5/6 boy's coach is Mike Jarvis, and the 5/6 girl's coach is Dave Creighton. We want to thank all of the coaches, time keepers and referees who help make elementary sports happen, and, of course, Lynn Lehoe, who has handled the game scheduling for sev-

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Cabot Basketball

DATE VARSITY Feb. 2 Feb.4 Feb.6 Mon. H Craftsbury @ Cabot Wed. H Whitcomb @ Cabot Fri. A Cabot @ Whitcomb Feb. 9 Mon. H Chelsea @ Cabot Feb.12 Thur. A Cabot @ Chelsea Feb.14 Fri. Cabot @ Whtichester Cabot @ Rochester Feb.16 Mon. H Sharon @ Cabot Schedules are subject Feb. 14 Feb. 21 Last Day for Girls to Play Las Day for Boys to Play 4:00 Departure time means as soon DATE MIDDLE SCHOOL Feb. 4 Wed. A Cabot @ Craftsbury Feb. 6 Fri. H Orange @ Cabot Feb. 7 Sat. A Cabot @ Concord Feb. 10 Tue. A Cabot @ Millers Run Feb. 17 Tue. A Cabot @ Websterville (Barre Auditorium )

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Updates

eral years. A special thanks to Aaron Fuller, who attended the basketball referee course, and is teaching some of our high school players to referee, and to Jim Abbott, who steps in wherever he is needed. From coach Mike Jarvis: "The 5/6 boys team has made tremendous gains this year. Our team is made up of Walden and Cabot kids. Many of our players have never played with each other before, in fact they didn't even know each other. It has taken a bit of time for them to begin working as a team, but now that they have, our record is show-

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Schedules 2015

GAMES DEPART Girls 5:30 Boys 7:00 Boys 7:00 Boys 7:00 5:15 Girls 5:30 Boys 7:00 Girls 5:30 Boys 7:00 4:00 Girls 2:30 Boys 1:00 2:30 Boys 5:30 to change.

as the big bus returns from its route. GAMES DEPART Boys 5:00 4:15 Girls 5:30 Boys 6:45 Girls 1:30 Boys 3:00 12:15 Girls 5:30 Boys 6:45 4:00 Boys TBA TBA ing it. We now have four wins under our belt, with one loss. I am very proud of these boys for the work they have put into learning the game of basketball. This is my first year coaching in Cabot. I am so thankful for all the energy and appreciation from the Cabot community. From coach Dave Creighton: "The 5/6 girls this year are enjoying a season of learning the fundamentals and rules of basketball. We have traveled to many nearby schools and played with great enthusiasm and sportsmanship. We are a team of the tall, the small, and the brand new. Four of our seven players are 4th graders, so it is really a 4/6 team. I would like to thank the players, parents, officials, and the recreational department for the support of our team this season." The 3/4 co-ed team is having another successful year with their crew of dedicated athletes. If you are between the ages of 4 and 12 and are interested in playing baseball this spring, contact Chuck Talbert at wdchuck@pivot.net. If you are between the ages of 8 and 16 and are interested in playing spring soccer for the Northeast Kingdom Warriors Soccer Club, contact Michelle Delaney at mpsoccer2@aol.com.

Girls 5/6 grades team: Front Joelle Schumacher, Emily Fuller, Middle: Cadence Celley, Mia Preston, Back: Shanice Nunn, Lexi Phillips, Lucia McCallum, and Coach Dave Creighton.

Boys 5/6 grades team: Front: Evan Fuller, Alan Moody, Alec Moran, Malcom Audet, Back: Coach Mike Jarvis, Tyler Harvey, Ethan Socks, David Moody, Jonah Socks, John Schumacher, Brody Moran, Missing: Alex Anair and Leo Parlow.

3/4 Grades Team:Front Row L-R Tyler Donahue, Victoria Pike, Dominick Hale, Denver Lindstrom, Back row L-R Coach Brian Hale, Keith Greaves, Mark Ducharme, Willem Talbert, Neil Alexander, Riley Dunham, Chase Alden.

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School Board Chair

At our meeting on January 19, 2015, the Cabot School Board approved the proposed Cabot School budget for the 2015-2016 school year. This proposed budget will be considered, discussed and voted on by town voters at our Cabot School District annual meeting, to be held this year on Monday, March 2, at 7:00 p.m. in the Cabot School Gym. The proposed budget for the 2015-16 school year totals $3,702,958 in expenditures. That figure is up 0.75%, or $27,541, above the expenditure figure for the current 2014-15 school year. If the proposed budget is passed in March, it will result in an increase in the local Homestead Tax rate of 5.99%. There are a number of changes reflected in the budget proposed for next year. These include added funds to purchase a new bus and to paint the high school, as well as reductions in teaching and paraprofessional personnel. Specifically, the personnel reductions include the elimination of the Design Technologist position, the reduction of our paraprofessional staff by 1.85 FTE (full time equivalent) positions, a reduction of our school guidance counselor position from 1.0 to 0.80 FTE, and the reduction of our high school language arts and social studies positions from 1.0 to 0.62 FTE. Each year during the budget-building process, we attempt to reach a balance between the elements needed to provide our students a quality education with the ability of our community to financially support that education. During this school year, for example, Cabot property taxes accounted for approximately 2.4 million dollars of the 3.7 million dollars of revenue required to operate our school. This past December, it became apparent that this year’s property tax rate

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Cabot Selectboard Chair

“IF” on Tuesday, March 3, 2015, the voters approve the use of an additional $200,000 in UDAG funds to complete the Town Garage project, necessitated by the $1,000,000 CDBG-D/R grant request being approved at $700,000, we will be able to build the Town Garage this year. The revised Town Garage budget is as follows: $700,000 – CDBG-D/R grant – approved in 2014 $100,000 – Town Funds – approved at the 2014 Town Meeting $200,000 – UDAG Grant – approved at the 2014 Town Meeting $ 50,000 – Grant Request for Salt Shed – grant application pending $200,000 – UDAG Grant – to be voted on at the 2015 Town Meeting $1,250,000 – Total Project Cost If voters approve the Town Garage UDAG Article on March 3, the Town will be constructing a $1,250,000 Town Garage at a cost to Cabot taxpayers of $100,000. The Selectboard and members of the Town Garage Working Group (TGWG) ask that the voters support the Article to be voted on by Australian Ballot at Town Meeting authorizing an additional $200,000 in UDAG funds to complete this project. CDBG-D/R grant funds can not be released until the Town provides a revised budget detailing the source of the additional $200,000 required to complete the budget. Without this additional funding we will not be able to secure the $700,000 grant.

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Cabot School

would rise dramatically (by 12%) if we chose in the 2015-2016 budget to retain all of the elements of the current year’s budget and to include additions for facilities maintenance and contracted salary and benefit increases. There are several of factors involved in determining the local tax rate. Under the current Vermont state education formula, one of the most important factors is the local school’s cost per pupil. In this system, a school with an annual budget of $3,000,000 and 200 students will have a lower tax rate than a neighboring school with the same annual budget but 150 students. The name that the state of Vermont uses for this cost per pupil figure is “Education Spending per Equalized Pupil”. Next year in Cabot, we’re looking at an increase in the total education spending because of our $27,000 proposed budget increase along with a $74,000 decrease in offsetting revenues. In addition, our “equalized pupil” number has decreased. The result is that the “Education Spending per Equalized Pupil” is up. If the proposed budget is approved by voters in March, that figure’s increase of 7.25% will translate into an increase this year in Cabot’s Homestead property tax rate of 5.99%. The “equalized pupil” figure is a calculation made by the state of Vermont annually for each school. It averages the prior two year’s “average daily membership” of students and factors in several adjustments that take into account the varying costs of different students (preschoolers versus high school students, etc). To protect schools (especially small schools) from the potentially large tax impacts that would result from a sharp decline in students in just one year, the “equalized pupil” figure is limited to a 3.5% decrease in any one year regardless of the actual decline. The term “phantom students” has been used recently to describe the difference be-

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Town Garage

OTHER UPDATES: The TGWG continues to meet on a regular basis and is focusing on the following areas in the January/February time frame: 1. Issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to Pre-Qualify Contractors who will be invited to bid on the Town Garage project if additional funding is approved by the voters; 2. Issue an RFP to hire a Clerk-of-theWorks for the project, subject to voter approval of additional UDAG funding. The Clerk-of-the-Works position is required under the terms of the CDBG-D/R grant; 3. Prepare the RFP to hire a General Contractor to construct the Town Garage. If the voters approve the use of additional UDAG funds at the upcoming Town Meeting, this RFP will be issued immediately after Town Meeting so that we don’t lose critical time. SCHEDULE: Assuming all of the above falls into place, we anticipate construction beginning in May and the new Town Garage being completed and ready for occupancy in October. Work to demolish the existing Town Garage and restore the site to mitigate future flooding in this area will take place in the October to December time frame. Our goal remains to close out the CDBG-D/R grant at the end of this year. Once again, we wish to thank Cabot residents for your support of this major project. We ask you to support the Australian Ballot Article to be voted on March 3, 2015, that will provide the final piece of UDAG funding required to build the Town Garage in 2015. tween a school’s actual number of equalized pupils in a given year and the number the state uses to calculate its tax rate using the 3.5% decline limit. In our case here in Cabot, we had an increase and then a subsequent drop in our student numbers during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years. Since then, our numbers have leveled off, but are lower than they were in 2011. Using the actual “equalized pupils” figure (not limited to the 3.5% annual decrease described above), Cabot’s figure rose from 196 to 209 in 2012, dropped to 199 in 2013, and has been 179 and 180 over the past two years. Despite the fact that our school numbers seem to have leveled off in the past two years, the same protection against a rapid decline that limited our equalized pupil decline to 3.5% three years ago means that this “protective equalized pupils” figure is still dropping in this year’s budget. As a result, this figure used to determine our school’s cost per pupil is still showing a 3.5 % decline for the 2015-16 school year. Because of this decline along with the increase in education spending described earlier, the proposed budget to be considered by Cabot voters this March will result in a 5.99% homestead tax increase even though the overall budget is up by less than 1%. When faced in December with the prospect of a much larger potential tax increase, our board asked our school administrators to look carefully at the parts of our budget and return with a list of proposed reductions. With an understanding that some reductions in staff would likely be necessary to bring the budget down to an acceptable level, we asked them to identify those positions whose reduction or elimination would result in the least impact on student learning. Although the design technologist position that was added to our staff last year is a valuable school-wide asset, our administrators could not justify continuing it, given our situation this year. Because of changes in student needs, they also recommended a reduction of 1.85 paraeducator positions. Based on statewide recommendations for students served, they also recommended that we reduce

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By Niels Larsen

The leaders of the programs offered in 2014 met late in the year to review what had worked well and what had not worked as we had hoped during the first year of the reintroduction of 4H in Cabot. The main points of that review was a decision to move forward by adopting two approaches designed to engage Cabot’s youth in agriculture related activities as explained below. The first approach will be programs less formal than the traditional 4H club, such as this year’s Snacking with the Seasons program and the Rice Growing program, which we will refer to as the Cabot Agricultural Network Youth Program. What seems to have worked for these programs was that each session was an independent experience and did not require attendance by all participants in every session. Each session had a hands on component, immediate enjoyment of the activity, in the case of the Snacking program, and something to take home in the case of both. Brad Alexander has structured his woodworking class, scheduled for February 21, following that prescription. These programs may be anywhere from a one-time event offered to try out an idea or to see if it will be something that a potential leader will enjoy, to a series of sessions for more in depth exposure to an aspect of our rural economy. As in the case of the Rice Growing program, leaders are free to include parents and other adults with an interest in a particular activity. We ask anyone with

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February 2015 ~ page 9

our current full-time guidance counselor to four days a week or .8 FTE. In our high school, our administrators looked at our course offerings and staffing across all the subject areas and determined that, although not ideal, a reduction in both the high school social studies and language arts positions from full-time to .62 FTE would not adversely affect students in those subject areas. During a lengthy discussion, they described that the actual time students spent in language arts and social studies would not be lessened next year despite the proposed reductions, and that, given the nature of the subject areas, combining students from two grades in a given class made more sense in the humanities than in other subjects like math or science. The purpose of this article has been to provide Cabot residents with an outline of the proposed 2015-2016 budget for Cabot School, that budget’s potential impact on our local property tax rate, and a discussion of factors beyond the budget figure itself that affect that tax rate. In crafting the budget this year, we have, as board members, had to make several difficult decisions concerning staffing levels in our school, as we work to continue to provide a high quality education for our town’s students at a price that our town can afford. At our budget forum on January 14 , we answered questions and listened to concerns from a number of interested community members. We very much appreciate that input. We will be holding an informational meeting on the warned budget on the evening of Monday, February 16, to answer any questions residents may have in advance of the budget vote in March. If you can’t attend that meeting, please feel free to contact any school board member with questions you may have about the budget proposal. We look forward to seeing you at the Cabot School District annual meeting on March 2.

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4H Programs for 2015

an idea that they would like to try to

email at nolarsen@aol.com. The Berminghams have offered to make their farm’s trail network available for activities such as snow tracking, tree identification, birding and local wildlife biology, if someone will step forward to lead one or more such sessions. The second approach will be another attempt to reintroduce more traditional 4H projects. Many Cabot residents have mentioned that the life skills offered by 4H program's sustained engagement with animal husbandry or other activities related to our rural economy - recordkeeping, presentation skills, acceptance of judgment of one's work and respectful cooperation with leaders and peers - have helped them prepare for a productive life. Unfortunately, we were not successful in attracting leaders and participants into such projects in 2014. We will try again in 2015, hoping for better luck by initiating the effort earlier in the year. With the help of the UVM Extension Service, we will also reach out to existing clubs in neighboring towns that may be willing to accommodate youth from Cabot. Lynn and Martha Rockwell’s well designed Dairy Goat program, which they offered in 2014 without attracting sufficient interest, will be offered again this year and opened up for youth from other towns. Stay tuned for news on information sessions and programs as our plans take further shape.

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Executive Director

05651

The TVSC Pamper Raffle tickets are available at the center, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. The drawing will be held February 25 at the Center. Come soon and buy yours. Tickets are $5.00 each or five for $20.00. You may win and be able to be “pampered,” and at the same time, you have helped the seniors at TVSC. Buy yours today! TVSC has wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, commodes, and other medical equipment that are available to be loaned to seniors. If you are having a scheduled surgery and know that you will need some of this equipment, please

will need after you return to your home. TVSC is here for you…there is no need to go out and buy this equipment. they If anyone has equipment that no longer use, and would like to donate it to the TVSC, please call 232. TVSC donations, cash or equipment, are tax deductible. Again, this is a FREE service from TVSC. In December, the Death Cafe started meeting the first Friday of each month at TVSC, at 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. You may bring your lunch or buy a lunch at the center for a $4.00 donation. This cafe has no agenda, no speeches. You may speak if you would like or just listen to the experiences of others dealing with the death of a loved one, or how someone may be preparing for death. These cafes are very popular now over the entire world. Tea is served, and whatever is spoken, is totally confidential. This cafe is held in a separate room from other seniors who are not taking part in the conversation. This is a FREE service at TVSC. TVSC has a large, spacious, warm, comfortable dining room, and every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, hot, nutritious lunches are served at 12:15 p.m. A $4.00 donation is requested from seniors, but no one is turned away if unable to pay for a meal. Our dining room is also used for card games, puzzles, Sudoku, music, singing, piano music, movies and many other activities. If anyone knows how to play the piano, please call

have you play some tunes on a wonderful Spinet piano, recently donated by Lorraine Wilder of Berlin, in memory of her mother, Gladys Pillsbury Anderson 3/26/1910 - 1/5/1994. We would love to have you serenade our seniors!

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Early Bird Exercises

Our exercise room is used three days a week, starting at 10:45 a.m. for all the seniors and Tai Chi classes are every Monday and Friday at 1:00 p.m. Do not forget - these classes are FREE, and NO membership fees. Join us. All seniors are welcome always and we would love to meet you. We have a lot of fun and we would love to have you join us. After lunch on Wednesdays, join us for Bingo! We have a Volunteer who wants to teach Cribbage at the center, so we can have a Cribbage Team and take on some competition. So come on, all you men and women, and help us get competitive! We always welcome new entertainment at the center so if you have a specialty you

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Meals on Wheels

If you know someone that is homebound and could benefit from Meals on Wheels, please call Rita. Our volunteers delivered 6,500 meals in the past months and no one should be without food in our communities. We are here to serve and help our seniors!!! Have you started to look at the Seed Catalogs that have started to arrive in the mail? If you order vegetable seed packets, would you please order one extra one and plant it for TVSC? We loved all the vegetables from local gardens that were donated to us during the summer and fall. We use every one of them, preparing fresh meals for the seniors, and it saves the center a large amount of money. Remember; order one more seed packet for TVSC. Seniors love fresh garden vegetables. Twin Valley Senior Center wants to send a very large thank you to the Roy Hart family on Route 2 for their kindness and thinking of others at their family Christmas. Every year they donate to the Center in a way that always includes helping the seniors at the Center and the homebound seniors. Last year it was a donation of groceries that seniors could choose from and take home. This year they made up Christmas Bags of nonperishable items that were delivered to the homebound Meals on Wheels recipients. We can never find enough words to thank them for their generosity and thoughtfulness in helping us take care of our seniors.

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Tax Season for 2014 Returns

Starting February 13, the Twin Valley Senior Center will be hosting the AARP Tax-Aide Volunteers for free tax clinic sessions. The volunteers will be on hand on Fridays, by appointment only, for the preparation of your 2014 Federal

turns. We will begin scheduling appointments in January. Many of you are familiar with this service, and we look forward to seeing you again. We work under procedural requirements established by AARP in partnership with the IRS and the Vermont Department of Taxes, completing our training and certification exam in January. Starting with an Interview Form to make certain we have all the relevant information, we make every effort to finalize your returns completely and accurately and in strict confidence. Each set of returns is printed and reviewed with you by a second preparer to make certain that you are fully in accord with its contents. At that point, and with your signature (both signatures for a joint return!), we can file your returns electronically or we can print them for you to mail. In either case, you will have a printed copy for your records, as well as all of your back-up information. If you wish, and if you bring a blank check from which we can copy the bank routing and account numbers, you can arrange for direct deposit of any refund you are due. What should you plan to bring to your tax appointment? — The Interview Form, if you’ve completed it ahead of time (doing so makes the process quicker and easier for everyone involved); — Social Security cards (or mail from Social Security) with the full names of both spouses and any dependents you’ll claim - names and SSN’s must exactly match the agency’s records or the it will be returned for correction. Also dates of birth for any dependents you’ll claim;

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Tuesday, February 10 – 6:30 – 7:30

p.m. Sixteen years ago, Bruce Westcott got restless and decided to go bicycling during February -- in Cuba(!) He joined a Toronto-based tour group, and went to the Caribbean island for eight days to find the country to be beautiful, unspoiled, and productive, and to meet the people: curious and very hospitable. Now that our country is removing many of the long-time blockages to normal relations with Cuba, perhaps you've read and thought about these close island neighbors. Bruce has slides and stories to share, but be warned: they involve cigars, oranges, rum and sunshine.

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Dance – Saturday, February 14 –

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 Ben Bergstein . 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

man@sover.net.

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Community Book Group – Wednes-

day, February 18 – 10:30 a.m. The theme for the spring session is “Portraits of the Artists: Novels about Painters.” What happens when the visual arts and the literary arts meet? How do fiction writers interpret the lives of famous painters, and the canvases they leave behind? This month’s title is La Tour Dreams of the Wolf Girl by David Huddle. All are welcome to join

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PRIZES INCLUDE:

• 90 minute massage, • One night at the Inn at Montpelier, • Breakfast for four at the Marshfield • and much more. All proceeds support

— Photo ID for both spouses - identity theft is a big concern and we need to check this! — All your ‘tax information ’reporting income - wages (and tips), retirement and Social Security benefits, unemployment, dividends and interest, proceeds from sales (and the cost of assets sold), earnings from selfemployment, gambling winnings, etc. etc; — Records of expenses, including mileage, you might claim as deductions from your self-employment income or as itemized deductions, and any payments of estimated taxes; — Your 2014-5 property tax bill if you own your home (to claim the Property Tax Adjustment); — Landlord’s Certificate (signed original) for Renter Rebate; — Your 2013 tax returns for reference and comparison; — For Property Tax Adjustment or Renter Rebate, the name, SSN and income of anyone else who shares your home (required to be reported as

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Reminders:

• Tuesday 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. ** Story Hour at 10:30 am ** • Wednesday 2:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. • Thursday • Saturday 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. • Closed Sunday, Monday & Friday • ECHO Pass – Allows up to 2 adults and 3 youths, $4 each admission price, into the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center in Burlington.

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Raffle

to be sold in drawing.

Inn Motel, Meals-on-Wheels.

part of the ‘Household Income’used to calculate the Adjustment or Rebate); — If you are expecting (or maybe just hoping for) a refund, and you want it to be directly deposited into your checking account, a blank check that has the bank routing and account numbers to be entered in your tax return filing. We are trained to prepare most ordinary returns. However, if you have income from rental property, a business with employees, inventory, depreciable assets or expenses in excess of $10,000, those schedules are ‘out of scope’ for us. We can handle capital gains or losses from the sale of securities or your primary residence if you have the cost or ‘basis’ information. There are a few other unusual items that may be ‘out of scope’- if you have questions about whether or not we can prepare your returns, please leave your name and number at Twin Valley Senior Center’s office: happy to call you back.

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By Helen Morrisson

Chase has a face to win over hearts. Sweet, sweet eyes, and those diminished ears (probably from frostbite). He looks so healthy. And he is healthy, except for the fact that Chase is an FIV positive cat. He was hanging around one of the homes of a vet tech. She fed him, cared for him, took him in on cold nights. Because she works at Littleton Emergency Vet Clinic, she took him in to get him checked. And, to her dismay, he tested positive for the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. But all is not lost for sweet and friendly Chase. Cats who are positive for FIV but who are not symptomatic (i.e. they do not have feline AIDS) can be wonderful, healthy, and long-lived pets. The key to adopting an FIV+ cat white long-haired tabby book-ends, is to not let him outside, so he doesn’t Marmalade and Fluffernutter. pass it on. And one can have him inAnd they were adopted into a home that side with other cats who are also FIV+ understands that there are no risks to or with whom he gets along. FIV is not other cats, as long as they don’t go outeasy to pass on. It is a bit like side and don’t fight seriously with one HIV. There has to be body fluid exanother. change. For a cat, that means serious So, take a good look at Chase. Isn’t fighting that includes deep puncture he precious? He would be a wonderful wounds, or mating. addition to the right understanding KAS has found good and loving home. homes for three FIV+ cats. One of Nothing to be nervous about. We think we have a good home those was with his FIV negative coming up for Chase. But there will be brother. They were together for years, more FIV+ cats who are healthy and and the brother never became posifriendly and sweet, just looking for the tive. They are two gorgeous orange and right home.

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United Church Awarded

Members of the Cabot United Church are very happy to hear that their building received a Christmas present—the church learned in late December that it has been awarded a matching grant of $19,067 from the Vermont Division of Historic Preservation. An announcement on the state agency’s website says that grant funds will address high-priority repairs to the 1849 structure, including roof and tower repairs, carpentry work and exterior painting. “This will make a big difference for the building and for the town,” said church member Beth Wade, who worked on writing the grant in collaboration with representatives from the

and with CCA Coordinator, Debra Zimmerman. “We’ve been heartened to see all the support we’ve had,” said Wade. After a conditions assessment of the building done last summer, with partial funding from the Preservation Trust of Vermont, indicated that about $85,000 in repairs were needed (with $26,000 of them high priority in the bell/clock tower), the church received an anonymous gift of $10,000 for the purpose. Numerous smaller donations have been received, and a fund-raising concert was held in October. “We knew we had to try for the state’s matching funds,” said Wade. “With them, we’ll be able to get things rolling.” Wade credits CCA members with keeping the grant application on track and helping solicit the preliminary bids required with the application. What happens next?

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By Cecilia Gulka

Cabot Girl Scouts are busy taking orders for the 2015 G.S. cookie sale. Be sure to contact a local girl to place your order. This year, seven varieties are available: Thin Mints , Trefoils (shortbread), Do-Si-Dos (peanut butter sandwich), Samoas (caramel delights), Tagalong s (peanut butter patties) , Savannah Smiles (lemon) and a new oatmeal raisin cookie, Rah-rah-raisin . Cookies are once again $4.00 a box. We expect cookies to arrive between March 6 and 10. If you didn’t get a chance to preorder your cookies, don’t worry. The girls will be setting up a booth sale at the annual Cabot School meeting, March 2 and the annual Cabot Town Meeting,

FAITH IN ACTION COMUNITY

Late February to renovations when Watch outside and a

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$19,067

“We need a more formal bid process, with the scope of work approved by the state,” said church Executive Board member Skip Bothfeld, who will be the project manager. “And a little more fund-raising—we’re very close.” The state funds are provided on a reimbursement basis, after the work has been completed, Bothfeld pointed out, so there may be additional upfront costs. There will also be volunteer opportunities. The conditions assessment pointed out that “volunteers can easily handle the wood restoration and painting work at lower levels of the building, with some instruction as required.” “That sounds an awful lot like a painting party come spring!” said Wade. While available funds and the grant will cover about half the cost of work the conditions assessment identified, the executive board has written a preservation plan to schedule the rest over several years. According to CCA Chair Bruce Westcott, “Everyone knows that the tower of the Cabot United Church is a big part of our shared image of the commons. Whether we live in the Village or attend services at the Church, most everyone has been there for a celebration, a supper, or a concert. “We have a great chance to build on these grant funds: everyone can help with a donation of matching funds or volunteer labor to keep this magnificent and historic building healthy, beautiful, and useful to us all.” Most of all, says Wade, “We’d like to tell the state and everyone who’s helped, thank you.”

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Sale

March 3. Also on sale only at Cookie Booths will be a new gluten free cookie: Toffee-tastic , a shortbread-like treat with bursts of toffee sweetness. Because we are bringing you the highest quality in a gluten-free product, the Toffee-tastic cookies will be $5.00 a box. This year the girls voted to donate their Gift of Caring cookies to the local food shelf. If you would like to donate cookies to this cause and support Girl Scouting at the same time, you can do this through your neighborhood Girl Scout or at one of the Booth Sales. New girls are welcome to join Girl Scouts at any time. If you have any questions, call Cecilia Gulka at 5632284 or visit the Girl Scout website at www.girlscoutsgwm.org. Meetings are held twice a month at Cabot School.

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Friday 5:00 -7:00 p.m. Entertainment

Saturday 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. … and much more …

Business Name: _ Table staffed by:_ Phone: _ E-mail: _ Products ofered:_ Cabot Maple Fest listed on A, Yankee , Vermont Life, VermontVacation.com and WCAX websites. Vendor Rules of Operation: Setup completed before 9:00 a.m. Saturday (pancake breakfast available 8:30 a.m.) Furnish your own table and table cover, chairs and change Remain in operation until 3:00 p.m. Please, no food service; packaged food to go is fine

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← From the Cabot Chronicle