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The Cabot Chronicle

October 2016 · 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 October 2016 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

Shane Smith

By Sarah Spletzer Welters

Shane Smith (42) and Christy Aucoin (38) live at the Blackwell Roots Farm at the end of Walbridge Road, where they farm the land, produce fermented vegetable products and homeschool their children, Mekiah (12) and Harper (8). For the interview I am meeting with Shane Smith at the Blackwell Roots Farm. Blackwell Roots Farm is a long standing enterprise started decades ago by Lee Blackwell and Ruth Richards. At the farm, Shane is showing me the fields of cabbages, carrots and beets; the processing room in which the vegetables are washed, cut and mixed with salt, the incubator space in which the barrels with vegetables are put for the fermentation process, and the two large coolers.

Shane, how did you come to live on this farm? I came here, to the farm, in the fall of 2009, during harvest season. Lee called me up, he was feeling shorthanded for the carrot and beet harvest, which at that time they still did completely by hand. So, I just came here to help and never really left. I helped with some washing in the winter. And each year I took on a little bit more.

What did you do before you went into the fermented vegetable business? Christy and I were seasonal workers and travelers. We did outdoor education, like rock climbing and mountain biking with kids. I worked as a firefighter at some point and ran a

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 1 onward.

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October 20, 2016, 7:00 p.m. Cabot School Gymnasium

The legal voters of the Town of Cabot are hereby warned and notified to meet in the Cabot School Gymnasium in the Town of Cabot on October 20, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. to transact the following Town business from the floor, and immediately thereafter, to transact the following School business from the floor:

Convene Town Meeting Article 1. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot adopt its Town, Highway, and Special Service Appropriations articles by Australian ballot pursuant to 17 V.S.A. § 2680 (c)?

Article 2. To adjourn Town Meeting Convene Cabot School District Meeting Article 1. Shall the voters of the Cabot School District adopt its budget article or articles by Australian ballot?

Article 2. To adjourn Cabot School District Meeting

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From page 1

Please support Cabot history and the community by attending, selling your crafts, donating to the silent auction or baking

pies to sell. Consider entering your pie into the Pie Baking Contest - you could go home with a trophy .

Monday, 10/24 Monthly Book Group for Adults 7:00 p.m. at Jaquith Public Library. Join the Jaquith book group. Selection for October “Between the World and Me” by Ta- Nehisi Coates. Books available at the library. Marshfield.

Tuesday,

Author's Talk, Anthony Pauly 6:30 p.m. Author of Chronicles of the New Merlin series. Merlin Veto: Chronicles of the New Merlin. The story is about an eleven year old navigating her new life as a young teenager. Cabot Public Library, Cabot.

Wednesday,

Intro Ham Radio Workshop 7:00 p.m. Join David Hale and David Ferland with their 25+ years as ham operators in central Vermont. Learn about ham radio equipment, the art of entering the exciting world of amateur radio. Contact David Ferland about the workshops 454- 1177. Jaquith Public Library , Marshfield.

Friday,

Greg Brown singer-songwriter has been writing, touring and performing since the 80's and recorded two dozen albums. He is a storyteller with warmth, humor and deeply human musical vision. From a small town in Iowa, and strong ties in Vermont every performance is a unique experience. This show is in part as a benefit for the Tom Sustic Fund to support bone marrow transplants for children with life-threatening conditions. Tickets and time by calling the Chandler Box Office, Noon to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday (802)-728-6464,Chandler Main Stage, Chandler Center of the Arts, 71-73 Main Street, Randolph.

Monday, 10/31 HAPPY HALLOWEEN—be safe, trick or treaters!!

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COUNTRY COMMENTARY

The apples have fallen from the trees and we have picked some before the fall. Canning some applesauce with the fragrance wafting throughout the house. Autumn is here and all its wonders. It is so lovely to just take a walk on a cool sunny day. To breathe in the lusciousness of this beautiful time of year is simply delightful. No bugs to speak of to annoy one, which is really nice. White fluffy clouds scudding across an azure sky. Autumn has lovely connotations for me. The apple pies to be baked and crisps, the trees turning their lovely leaves afire with glorious colors. The magnificent, magical days of autumn, nothing like it. It is also the harbinger of winter, but that is OK by me, as I have come to terms with winter and her bitter cold. Winter means curling up in front of the stove and reading good books with a purring cat on the lap. Or hot cups of tea that are more appreciated for their warmth in this season than any other. I am looking forward to winter as she nears though she hasn't hinted yet at arriving. We wouldn't want her to come too soon. Winter does come soon enough. Winter is a time of rest for those of us who deal with the harvest and having to do all that weeding all summer long. Autumn is my favorite time of year and I hope that all of you find comfort and joy in the end of summer. The kids are back to school and life keeps going one day at a time. The days grow shorter, and watching "Harry Potter" marathons are fun things to do with pop-corn and chocolate. We make most nights a movie night and have marathons on the weekends.

Our favorite shows we watch again like "Castle" and" Blue Bloods" and "Bones". They seem like old friends and they leave us feeling good. Oh, we have our sci-fi too. Mustn’t forget that. these are the things that keep us busy to while away the hours of day light we have and entertain ourselves until bed time. Books we read by the ton. We especially love James Rollins books, they keep you on the edge of your seat and they are fascinating, as well as being full of super action. He really is a great author. My partner and I often talk about the books because we both love them and they are so very good. Something that we share, which is nice. We listen to classical music to wake up to and have a good breakfast to begin our days. They are always full, but we make them that way by taking classes or having puppies, nope we don't have them yet, still anxiously waiting for them to be born, but they have been conceived. I find that being retired, myself, I am always busy doing something. I am learning to play the guitar, I am not good at it, yet, but I am improving little by little. I always wanted to play, and as long as you have two arms and hands that work, why, it is never too late. There is enough time to sleep when the end of our days come, I want to stay busy, alive and happy. It is a choice and there are always ways around things to get what you want. Barter being one of those ways. I am determined to make things happen in my life and things do. I am hoping to be a part of a writers' group this fall which will keep me on track and accountable for my writing. It is important to me and I realize I need some encouragement, and so I go out and find a way to get that. It isn't always easy, I am anxious in crowds and especially around people I don't know, but I feel the fear and do it any way. I have lived most of my life in this way, and it seems to work out for the best most of the time. Well, in closing, I want to say that I wish you a lovely autumn and I hope for those of you that are not enamored of winter may we have a mild one. Looking forward to next time and in the meantime make things happen in your life! In peace and love, Laura Lee Saorsa Smith fizgigdragon@com.

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CABOT ♦ DANVILLE ♦ PEACHHAM

By Representative Catherine (Kitty) Toll much an individual or group (such as a PAC) can spend if they are not directly related to a campaign. However most states, including Vermont, require these groups to report where the money is being spent. To access these reports, as well as the reports filed by candidates and political parties, visit the Vermont Secretary of State website at https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections.aspx. Additionally, campaign finance law can be researched at this site, as well as a accessing a Campaign Finance Guide. Early voting for the November 8 General Election is available now through November 7. Just stop by your town clerk’s office and vote early or take your ballot with you. You can also contact your town clerk and request a ballot to be mailed to you. The last day one can register to vote in the General Election is November 2. Register at your Town Clerk’s office or on-line at https://olvr.sec.state.vt.us/. It was a pleasure to participate in Cabot Connects’ ‘Ride the Ridges’ fundraiser to support Cabot’s Youth Mentoring Program. Congratulations and thank you to the organizers and the riders! It is an honor to represent our communities at the State House. I always appreciate hearing from you and look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail.

[email protected] [email protected] PO Box 192 Danville, VT 05828 802.684.3671 www.kittytoll.com Campaign Finance Reports

All states require political candidates to report details regarding campaign contributions and expenditures. These reports, called campaign finance reports, list all funds used to support political candidates, political action committees (PACs) and political parties. Public disclosure through these reports are intended to provide transparency of a candidate’s campaign contributions and expenditures in order to ensure all activity follows state laws. In Vermont, all political candidates must register with the office of the Secretary of State and provide regular updates regarding financial activity to one’s campaign. Campaign finance reports for 2016 legislative and statewide candidates, as well as for PACs and political parties, were first due on March 15. Subsequent reports were due on July 15, August 15, September 1 and October 1. In the event of “no activity,” a report must still be filed to ensure transparency. Prior to the General Election on Tuesday, November 8, additional campaign finance reports must be filed on October 15 and November 4. Two weeks after the election, on November 22, all candidates are required to submit an updated report. A final report is due on December 15. Also on December 15, PACs and political parties must file an End of Cycle Report. Contributions to Vermont State Representative Candidates are limited to $1,000 per election cycle from a single source or PAC and contributions from political parties are unlimited. Contributions to State Senate and County Office Candidates are limited to $1,500 per election cycle from a single source or PAC and again unlimited for political parties. Statewide candidates may receive up to $4,000 per election cycle from a single source or PAC and unlimited contributions from political parties. Political Committees (PACs) may receive up to $4,000 per election cycle from a single source or PAC and $4,000 per election cycle from a political party. Finally, contributions to political parties are limited to $10,000 per election cycle from a single source or PAC and $60,000 from a political party. Following the U.S. Supreme Court rulings in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, states cannot limit how The Cabot Chronicle reserves the right to reject letters that may contain at 563-3338, visit our website, www.CabotVermont.org or email us at

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Local Business Matters COMMUNITY COMMENTARY

By Ellen Cairns This month I chatted with Janet Newton, who, with her husband Dale, owns Fruitlands Berry Farm and Bed and Breakfast. Fruitlands has two rooms for guests- the Alcott Suite and the Butternut Room. Cabot Chronicle: You've been here quite a while, right? When did you start Fruitlands, and how has it evolved over the years? Janet Newton: We built the house in 1976 and planted raspberries within the first year or two. We added blueberries a few years later. The first couple of years, we sold the berries through local stores, but once we were here awhile, people knew about us and came to pick their own. We sugared and made syrup for about 20 years, but we stopped when the gray squirrels stole about 500 taps. We eventually found them in a hollow tree. We were going to start again when Dale retired from teaching, but we decided not to. Tapping the trees up on a hillside on snowshoes is a lot easier when you're in your twenties! We started the B & B in 2004. We were pretty busy for awhile - guests would reserve months ahead - but then things slowed down when the economy crashed in 2008. Vermont is marketed differently than it used to be - people used to come and explore the back roads, but now there are more specific destinations, like Cold Hollow and Ben and Jerry's – so that has changed. Sometimes, we get people here who are coming to the creamery- that happens occasionally. There was one man - he was British and also spoke German - who had a medium-sized van and would bring a group of about a dozen German tourists here every foliage season for about ten years. It seems like people who come here now are looking for more specific experiences than just exploring Vermont. CC: Any good stories about interesting guests that have stayed here? JN: We have had a lot of international guests over the years, from as far away as Australia, Russia, Israel, and a lot of European countries. Everybody's interesting that stays here.

CC: Have you ever had any bad guests? JN: Not really. One couple that came from down south… I usually do blueberry pancakes or waffles, so people can have maple syrup. I don't serve meat and I always tell people that in advance, but this one couple was unhappy with the breakfast and missed their bacon and eggs. CC: What kinds of animals do you have? JN: We had llamas for twenty years, but they eventually died - a parasite took the last three. We also used to raise Siberian huskies. We have Guinea fowl and chickens now - we use the eggs for the B & B, and when we have extras we sell them at the Cabot Store. CC: What's your favorite thing about having the berry farm and B & B? JN: I like meeting the people. People who stay in a B & B like to make a connection with the hosts. Travelers who want to be left alone go to a motel. CC: What do you do when you're not busy with Fruitlands? JN: Ride our motorcycle or take our boat out on Marshfield Dam. Spend time with our grandchildren. Dale ran the ski programs at Hazen and Twinfield for years, and now runs the school skiing programs at Burke Mountain. CC: Anything else you'd like to share with our readers? JN: We have kayaks and will take guests around to any of the local lakes, though we've only had one guest take us up on that so far. If anyone has family members coming to visit and needs a place for them to stay, we're close by. (EC: Full disclosure: my sisters recently came for a visit and stayed at Fruitlands. It was very convenient and comfortable.)

Local Business Matters is brought to you by Cabot Community Association. Ellen will be contacting local business people over the next few months. If you have a business and are interested in being highlighted or have other ideas you’d like to propose, we’d love to hear from you. Call us at 563-3338 or email [email protected].

What do you like about your work?

I like the idea that what I am doing is nourishing me, my family and the wider community. It is a lot of hard work, but, at the end of the day, I can say what I am doing and be proud of it.

Compared to the summer and fall how much less work do you have in the winter? Shane makes a zero sign with his hand and smiles: It is not that much different, actually. We also bottle and ship our products in the winter, and since we have quite a bit of space in our coolers, we can store a lot of vegetables and start selling them, when all the other farms run out in the winter. We wholesale beets and carrots and any excess cabbage, and, of course, the spinach. So, we often still work all day - except, the days are shorter in the winter!

How do you like to eat your fermented vegetables? We all like sauerkraut or Kimchi as a topping on our sandwiches, usually ham To the Editor, Cabot Chronicle:

On October 20,, a Special Meeting of the Cabot School District will be held to vote on the following question: “Shall the School District of Cabot adopt its budget article or articles by Australian Ballot?” The meeting to vote on this question is being held now because a petition requesting the change in voting was signed by over 5% of the registered voters of Cabot and delivered to the Cabot Town Clerk in August. Clearly, there is interest in considering this change, which would, if approved, mean that the Cabot School Budget would in the future be voted on as we now vote for Selectmen, School Directors and other elected officials on Town Meeting Day: registered voters would stop in at the polling place sometime during its hours of operation on that day, check “Yes” or “No” on a ballot form asking if they support the proposed school budget, cast their ballot with the help of the Justices of the Peace present, and be on their way. This is an important question for our town to decide. As school board members, we believe that the annual School District Meeting held the Monday evening before Town Meeting Day provides a crucial opportunity for Cabot community members and voters to hear information about current initiatives, challenges and successes at Cabot School, as well as essential information about the proposed budget, before voting on that budget. The District Meeting also makes it possible for community members to voice concerns, get questions answered, and offer suggestions or appreciation in a way that educates and often benefits the entire meeting. It also provides a means for voters to make changes to the budget. Several years ago we switched the time of our annual Cabot School District Meeting to the evening before Town Meeting Day, to give as many people as are interested the opportunity to make it to the Meeting and learn about and vote on the budget. We value that opportunity for education and communication prior to voting on our school’s budget, and hope very much that it continues. Sincerely, The Cabot School Board of Directors: Jackie Folsom, Ry Hoffman, Lisa Olsen, Sharon O’Connor , Chris Tormey categories – reuse and recycling. Goodpoint makes most of their money from repairing and selling used electronics. Things that cannot be repaired are stripped, separated, and marketed for recycling in North America (US, Canada, and Mexico). There is still a demand for analog TV sets in Mexico, so that’s where those go. Most everything else stays in the states. Several people have asked about what happens to the aerosol cans we are taking. They are drained, the vapors are filtered, and the residue liquids are drained, mixed and shipped as flammable hazardous waste. Finally, the metal is recycled. Please be sure all your containers are clean before dropping them off at the Center. That means rinsing all plastic containers. Please note that we are asking residents to leave the lids on their plastic containers if possible (they tend to collect in the bottom of the baler and are time consuming to clean out). At this time, only plastic containers smaller than two gallons and labeled #1, #2, #3, and #4 are being recycled. All other plastics go in the trash. Plastic bags can be recycled only if they have a #2 or a #4 on them. Many bags, such as tortilla chip bags, are not recyclable. Some of the other items now being collected in Cabot include used motor oil and oil filters, batteries of all types, hard cover books, cell phones, consumer electronics, appliances, metal, and tires (for a fee). Please visit the Center for a complete list of what is now being taken. Trash is also collected for a fee. The Cabot Recycling Center is now fully staffed. The Center is located on Sawmill Road in Lower Cabot. Hours of operation are 8:30 through noon on Saturdays. Please do not leave items at the Center until it is opened by the staff. More information is available at nekwmd.org.

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Cabot Recycles

By Ben Davis, NEKWMD Representative

Except for plastics and glass, recycling markets have been picking up over the past few months. Plastic recycling continues to be hampered by the low price of oil, and glass does not have a lot of end uses right now. The Northeast Kingdom Waste Management District (NEKWMD) is shipping glass to a processor in New Hampshire, but it is not a revenue generator. Light bulbs of all types are now collected at the Cabot Recycling Center. The cost of the disposal program is paid for by the light bulb manufacturers. All of our e-wastes go to Goodpoint Recycling in Middlebury, VT. Goodpoint is a world leader in e-waste recycling. We are lucky to have them in Vermont. Once the materials get to Goodpoint, they are separated into a couple of different

or turkey. I often use it instead of lettuce. I like to mix it with a little mayonnaise. The fermented ginger carrots are great on a tuna sandwich or egg salad or with hummus. Anyone ever heard of sausage or kielbasa with sauerkraut? Our sauerkraut is not the same as what you get in the can.

If you are curious about Blackwell Roots Farm and the fermented vegetable products, visit www.blackwellroots.com and on facebook www.facebook.com/BlackwellRootsFarm.

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OBITUARIES & MEMORIALS

Cassondra Lynn James June 8, 1967- September 11, 2016

Cassondra Lynn James (Mangan) of Champion, NY, went to be with her Lord September 11, 2016, surrounded by her family. She had a fought a very courageous fight with Multiple Myeloma for two years and passed away from the complications of the disease. She will be dearly missed by her husband of 29 years, Fr. Thomas James, her children, Isaac, Alice, Philip, Jenni, Christian, Thomas, Eben, and Noah, all of Champion, NY. Priscilla Mulligan (James) and her husband, Nicholas Mulligan, their children, Sean and Isabelle Lynn. Also her siblings, Denessa Glassford, twin brother, Charles Mangan, Alissa Mulligan, Micah Mangan, and David Mangan; all of their spouses and 90 nieces and nephews. Also two aunts, Sr. Sandra Voight and Sr. Michelle LaGesse. Cassondra was a beautiful wife, mother, daughter, sister, grandma, and teacher. She lived a very full and busy life: marrying her husband Thomas in Marshfield, VT, where they were blessed with six children. She followed her husband to New York when he was called by God to become a priest in the Anglican Catholic Church. In New York, they were blessed with three more children and she was very instrumental in helping her husband plant Christ Anglican Church in Carthage, N Y.

Cassondra gave her life freely to her children as a stay-at-home mother and also to the church as a priest’s wife. She raised her children to love and serve the Lord. She loved the simple life that she lived with her family as well as raising them and baking their food. She enjoyed playing board games and cards, going for walks, bicycle riding, swimming and traveling together and also tending to her vegetable and flower gardens before she became ill. As a priest’s wife, she made many beautiful vestments and banners, started a summer bake sale, pancake breakfast, taught Sunday School, volunteered with the local village ecumenical ministries’ “Angel Tree” program during Christmas time, and made many beautiful gifts for her church family. During Cassondra’s illness, she always strove to press on to live her life even through her pain and exhaustion. She spent many hours praying for others on her prayer list and always had a smile ready. She was a witness to all of God’s love and made many new friends. She very much appreciated the staff of SUNY Upstate Cancer and Medical Center in Syracuse, New York. A mass and burial service will be held at Christ Church, 167 Creamery Street Marshfield, Vermont 05658 on September 17, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. with viewing starting at 9:30 A.M.

“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.” Proverbs 31:10

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Stories From The Cabot Historical Society Restoration of West Hill School House - Stage Two

Above: Wall, desk and benches By Jane Brown Students enrolled in the Heritage Class, a high school elective course at Cabot School in 1996 brainstormed for a project that would qualify to be underwritten by the Learn & Serve component of Vermont Rural Partnership (VRP). The class was led by teacher David Book, and when someone suggested picking up the restoration begun 20 years earlier at the old West Hill School, it seemed like a perfect fit. As Book later wrote in the Community Works Journal, it was “place -based, hands-on learning and a great opportunity to partner with a community organization.” The objective would be for students to research and collect artifacts and information to renovate the interior of the building and create a “living history” site that would become a permanent and accessible community resource. Town records and Cabot Historical Society archives provided a wealth of information for the students. They worked closely with Henry Bissex, an expert on early schools and education, and adults in the Cabot community to gather oral histories and photos to display at the building. They were able to collect books, furniture, slates and various utensils that would have been used in the school during the time it was open

– from 1886 to 1919. They built a raised platform for the teacher’s desk and used blackboard paint where the original large slate blackboards would have been. They built a wall desk and bench, and found kerosene lamps, a water bucket and ladle, portraits of Washington and Lincoln, and pull-down maps – all authentic for the period. David Book wrote in the fall of 1999: “The final phase of the project will be to create a living history laboratory. This component would address how the building will be used after it has been sufficiently restored.” The students envisioned it as an opportunity for people to learn through “tours, reenactments, workshops or research laboratories conducted by students and adults for select audiences.” The students not only effectively created an authentic museum at the old school, in the process they forged a strong bond with the community and deepened Below: Pail, water ladle and cup their appreciation of their community’s heritage. To walk into the building today is to take a step back in time to when students age four to fifteen, sometimes as many as 35 of them, came to learn in one room with one teacher. They were warmed by a big wood-burning stove in the center of the room and were cooled by a drink from a pail of water brought from a nearby spring. The teacher very likely boarded with a nearby family, and was unmarried – unless the teacher happened to be a man. Married female teachers in those days were not allowed to teach. They were, however, allowed to discipline their students, using a ruler or a switch, if needed. The West Hill School house was valued at a mere $50 in the town inventories after it was closed. The town used it as a garage for heavy road equipment in the 1950s and later rented it to neighbor Chris Barbieri for storage for $1.00 a year. The town agreed to turn it over to the Cabot Historical Society in 1975. Now it is one of the most authentic old one-room schools around, and priceless as an historic Cabot building. It is a resource for students and teachers and has hosted many Historical Society meetings and tourist groups over the years. The Heritage Class certainly achieved their goal, and we thank those dedicated students and Mr. Book for their foresight, effort and careful attention to detail in helping to complete restoration of West Hill School. Thanks also to David Book for his cooperation in providing information for this article. Contact Cabot Historical Society president, Bonnie Dannenberg, 802-563-3396, if you would like to visit the restored West Hill School.

Jane Brown is volunteer archivist for Cabot Historical Society. She is a native of Cabot and graduated in the Class of 1948 at Cabot High School. Brown coauthored with Barbara Carpenter and Amanda Legare Cabot Vermont, A Collection of Memories From the Century Past, published in 1999 and available at the Cabot Historical Society, Cabot Creamery Visitors’ Center or from the authors.

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NOTICE OF ORDINANCE ADOPTION

In accordance with 23 V.S.A. §§1007 and 1008, and 24 V.S.A. §§1971 and 2291(1), (4), and (5), (19) V.S.A. §304 (a)(6) Vermont Rule of Civil Procedure 80.9, and such other enactments as the Cabot Selectboard amended the Town of Cabot Traffic and Parking Ordinance. A vote on whether to disapprove the amendments may be called by presenting a petition signed by not less than five percent of the qualified voters of Cabot. Such petition must be submitted to the Town Clerk or the Selectboard no later than November 20, 2016. If no such petition is received, the amendments will take effect November 20, 2016. 24 V.S.A. §1972, 1973 The full text of the amended ordinance may be seen at the Cabot Town Clerk’s Office, 3084 Main Street, Cabot, VT 05647, or on the Town’s website at www.cabot.us. For questions contact the Town Clerk at 563-2279.

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New Faces at the Cabot School

By David Schilling, Principal

As the school year kicks into full swing, I’d like to introduce some of the new faces here at school. We are lucky to be joined this year by a new group of experienced and extremely skilled teachers in some very key roles.

Nene Riley will be taking over as librarian, as Holly Kruse begins a welldeserved retirement. Nene joins us most recently from Concord School, and has been a librarian, teacher, principal and college writing instructor. She brings a wealth of information and a passion for reading. Nene’s goal is to nurture the library program to continue to inspire a love for books...real books… schoolwide. In the area of reading, Nene will be joined by MJ Wright, who will be starting as our new elementary literacy specialist, working to develop a program that makes sure every student develops the skills they need at an early age to be lifelong readers. MJ has most recently worked at the Fayston School, where she built a strong literacy program through creativity, excitement and a strong focus on data-informed improvement. To help better facilitate a positive school climate, John LeClair will be working with us as a behavior analyst in partnership with Washington County Mental Health Services. John is excited about helping students and teachers build common plans for making classrooms positive learning environments for all. New health teacher Rachel Popoli joins us, having taught most recently at Union Elementary School in Montpelier. Rachel is no stranger to the classroom, having worked as an elementary classroom teacher for years, but is newer to the field of Health education.

She is excited to put her recent Master’s degree in child wellness to work, and will be seeing most classes one day per week.

Aviva Carey will be our school nurse, in partnership with the Plainfield Health Center. Aviva joins us from the Saranac Lake area, and has worked in a variety of nursing roles, all focused on a caring and considerate approach to health care. Last, but certainly not least, Cabot resident and experienced teacher Randilee Raynor deserves special mention, having put a great deal of skill and effort into a very challenging last minute assignment. Randilee will be filling in for Spanish teacher Kait Nascimento’s two-month leave, and was daring and committed enough to take a temporary assignment outside of her area of expertise. Randilee has made lemonade of a sour situation, in which a hired long-term substitute left his position the day before school started. While we are excited for Kait’s return, we are strongly grateful to Randilee for her enthusiasm and strength in holding our World Language program together.

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Fourth Annual Ride the Ridges a Success

By Jennifer D’Agostino What’s a little rain, thunder and lightning on a bike ride? For Ride the Ridges, it’s a tradition! A record 120 riders turned out for the fourth annual bike ride on September 11. The day started with a delay, thanks to Mother Nature, but, eventually, 12 brave souls lined up under pouring rain at 8:30 a.m. to begin the 100K, taking them through Cabot, Danville and Peacham. As the weather cleared, over a hundred more riders lined up for the 60K; 30K and the 10K, featuring bikes of all types- including fat tire bikes and even a couple of unicycles! A huge thank you goes out to all riders who came out to participate in this year’s event. Ride the Ridges is the major fundraiser for Cabot Connects Mentoring Program. 2016’s ride not only saw a record number of participants, but also a record for funds raised- netting over $5,000. All proceeds will be used to support our current mentoring matches and to grow the program, ensuring that every child who wants one is matched with a supportive and committed adult mentor. A special thank you to over 20 event sponsors who were pivotal in helping us to keep registration fees low and revenues high. Thank you, also, to Cellars at Jasper Hill, Woodbelly Pizza, Burtt’s Apple Orchard and Sweet B’s Bakery for keeping our riders and supporters well fed throughout the day. And finally, an event of this magnitude could not happen without a state-ofthe-art-team. You may have seen them in the days leading up to the event, whether it was putting up signs for the bike routes, organizing registration packets and station supplies or setting up on the day of the event and keeping the riders safe and checked in, and we’d like to offer a heart-felt thank you. Without the many people who helped, 2016’s Ride the Ridges would not have been the success it was this year. Thank you! For more information on Cabot Connects Mentoring Program, visit cabotconnectsmentoring.org.

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Stormwater Permitting and our Highways

By Karen Deasy, Cabot Zoning Administrator and Planner

Cabot is well on the way to becoming more effective when it comes to highway maintenance. Roads that are resilient require less work after a storm. The Town’s ability to drain stormwater off a road quickly is key to this. You will see more stormwater turnouts along the sides of the road, and we are working to improve filtration areas. Our culverts and storm water infrastructure is also no longer permitted to directly discharge into waters of the state. Wastewater and stormwater systems must be separated, as well. Over the next two years, we will be assessing Cabot's infrastructure, with technical assistance from the State, Central Vermont Regional Planning and VTRANS. This will come in the form of site inspections, technical assistance with sizing of culverts for proper drainage, and funding and project assistance for implementing changes. The benefits to the Town are what we take from this: More resistant roads to flood damage require less expense to maintain or keep up after seasonal storms, which equals less repair, so in the long run, it is a winwin for us. Funding is also available now for implementation of these changes. We are actively looking for funds to help stretch our tax dollars. We recently received a matching grant from VLCT (VT League of Cities & Towns) for new safety equipment (our second in two years). This funding has helped us purchase road cones, work zone signs, chain saw chaps, back up cameras for equipment and a variety of other required safety gear. We also received a Better Roads grant this year that is paying for 80% of the culvert work we completed on West Shore Road and South 215 this year. We are currently also reviewing the draft to our Hazard Mitigation Plan. This document is Key for accessing funds for larger scale infrastructure projects. Areas of concern listed here are given priority in funding review and have helped Cabot leverage funds for infrastructure improvements in the past, projects such as relocating the Cabot Town Garage.

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Traveling or Moving with your Canine Companion to New Locations

If you are moving to a new location where you will now live, or just on a vacation accompanied by your canine companion, be sure to have copies of all the vaccinations that will be required. Proof of current rabies vaccination is the most important and mandatory one,, but find out well in advance what other vaccinations will be required, as well. Some states require more proof of current vaccinations than others. A rabies tag is not adequate, you need the certificate. Be sure to have current photographs of you and your dog together in case you become separated. Take a selfie of you and your dog together. You’ll want to take pictures of your dog for any identifying body marks, patterns, etc., so he or she can easily be easily identified if you were to become separated. If you are traveling outside the United States, find out the vaccination requirements for that country before leaving home. If you are traveling by water, be sure you have a life jacket appropriate for your dog that fits correctly if you want to take him or her with you canoeing or kayaking. Brachiosyphalic breeds require a flotation device that goes underneath their chin to keep their head up out of the water. There are dog life jackets you can purchase especially designed for these breeds, such as pugs, English bulldogs etc. If you are going on a cruise ship, they will have plenty of life jackets for all the people, but do not carry any life jackets for dogs, so be sure that you bring your own and that it fits your dog properly. Whenever possible, carry your own water supply that your dog is used to drinking, so you can gradually add it to the water available in new locations. Bring your own clean up bags so you can immediately clean up when your dog defecates. Also, be aware that dogs are not allowed in hotel swimming pools. If your dog has to be left alone in the room while you go to dinner or swimming, be sure that you bring the dog’s own crate that he or she is used to staying in while you are out.

Warmest Regards, April Frost

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ADVICE FROM THE TREE WARDEN

By Roland (Slim) Payne

I hope everyone had a good summer. It was good for this area. We had a lot of sun and hot weather, and enough rain to keep things green. A lot of areas did not

– south of us, it has been and still is very dry. The Emerald Ash Borer has not been found in Vermont, yet, which is good. Every state around us is looking for a way to control them. Someone came up with an idea that is showing some results in the purple traps you see around with bait to attract them, adding a mimic of a female ash borer to attract male borers; when he tries to mate, he gets zapped with something like a fly zapper, and it seems to be working. Forest caterpillars are defoliating some areas of forest here. These are not tent caterpillars. About this time, they go to the ground and get under the litter for the winter, and lay eggs that hatch late spring and early summer. The concern is there may be a lot more next year. The plant chervil has fern-like leaves and is phototoxic. It grows in wet areas and hay fields, and can take over areas of hay fields and is not good for the hay. It seems to be moving north, which is thought to be because of global warming. It has been found in lower Cabot this summer. Just a word of caution: chervil sap can burn and blister like cow parsnip and hogweed.

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From page 9

A fellow went into a Barre bar. When he came out to the parking lot a few hours later, he saw that someone had painted his ATV bright red. He stormed back inside the bar. “Alright,” he yelled, “which one of you painted my ATV red?” A huge man rose to his feet, towering over the room. “I did,” he said. “Right,” said the ATV owner. “Just wanted to let you know the first coat is dry!”

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Grants Available for Local Businesses

The Working Lands Enterprise Board announces the availability of $550,000 in grant funds for business and entrepreneurs active in the Vermont Working Landscape. The Greater Cabot Working Landscape Network is glad to announce the availability of another round of grants for Cabot businesses and entrepreneurs who want to start a business that involves the land. The Working Lands Enterprise grants are there to assist you financially if you meet certain requirements. Early October there is a chance to find out more about what Working Lands Business Grants are available and how to apply through a series of informational webinars:

Want to finance business growth or realize your business startup plans? Sign up! For more information, go to: http://workinglands.vermont.gov/.

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TWIN VALLEY SENIOR CENTER

4583 U.S. Route 2 P.O. Box 152 East Montpelier, VT 05651 By Rita Copeland, Executive Director

FLU CLINIC

TVSC is hosting a Flu Clinic October 3 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. No appointment is necessary. Please bring your insurance cards.

FELDENKRAIS CLASS

October 5 is the first Feldenkrais class, and it begins at 1:00 p.m. If you missed the introductory class on September 28, drop in to the first class to see if you would like to participate. Classes are at 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. each Wednesday. Donation for the six classes is $35.00.

HARVEST DINNER

October 6th: come join us at TVSC for a Fall Harvest Dinner October 6. Eat in or take out, and it will be by donation, with a 50/50 raffle. Menu is ham, cabbage, beets, potatoes, turnip, carrots, rolls and apple pie w/cheese. Time will be 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Come enjoy the last of the great Summer vegetables.

CANADIAN CLUB RAFFLE DIN- NER

Canadian Club Takers Wanted: Twin Valley Senior Center is holding another Dinner Raffle on October 21 at the Canadian Club in Barre. Cocktails are at 5:30 p.m., Dinner 6:30 p.m. Raffle starts at 7:30 p.m. Dinner choices are: Prime Rib, Stuffed Chicken or Vegetarian Lasagna. A ticket is $100.00, which includes dinner for two and two other attendees with entrance fee covered only. The second two must pay for their meals. Cash Prizes are: First number called prize is $100. 2nd place is $500, 3rd place $1,000 and grand prize is $2,500. Only 100 tickets will be sold. Call George at 454-7731, Joyce at 454-8306 or TVSC at 223-3322 for tickets or more information.

EARLY BIRD ARTISAN FAIR

Artisans Wanted Saturday, October 29, 2016 10:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m. At the Twin Valley Senior Center, East Montpelier Limited space available indoors—call today 223-3322. $30 per six-foot table. Also available outdoor flea market spaces for $25. Bring your own setup.

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FROM THE CABOT PUBLIC LIBRARY

Congratulations to Jessica Mangan and Emmett Steinert for their incredible reading goals this past summer. Jessica read more than 14,000 pages and Emmett read over 12,000 pages. Jessica said she was glad to have had the time to read this past summer and especially loves historical fiction. Emmet reads pretty much everything we have in the collection and visits surrounding libraries for more. We are so grateful to be one of six Vermont libraries chosen to receive the Children’s Literacy Foundation’s (CLiF) Rural Libraries grant. This allows us to choose over $2,000 worth of high-quality children’s books for the public library, $500 in new books for the school library, a total of four storytelling presentations at the elementary school, brand new books for all children birth-grade 6, and a $250 mini grant to support a special initiative in our public library. The first storytelling presentation will be Wednesday, October 19, at the Cabot school - parents and community members are invited to attend.

Programs Story Hour – Tuesdays – 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Preschool story hour – stories, songs and crafts – all are welcome!

Yoga with Alicia Feltus– Tuesdays, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. and Thursdays, 9:00- 10:15 a.m. Alicia’s training is Integral Hatha Yoga. She blends yoga, breath, relaxation, aromatherapy, affirmation & reflexology! All ages and levels welcome – contact Alicia for more info 802-563-3220 or [email protected]. Suggested donation $10.

Pathfinders – Wednesdays – 3:00-6:00 p.m. The Pathfinder roleplaying 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.

Meditation Group – First and Third Wednesdays, Oct 5 and 19 – 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Meeting on the first and third Wednesdays of the month. Daria Babbitt has been teaching meditation for over 25 years and will introduce different meditation techniques designed to reduce stress. There will also be time for discussion about various healing techniques and inner spiritual growth. This workshop is open to all and donations are gratefully accepted.

Tai Chi for Health and Wellness – Thursdays, 5:00- 6:00 p.m.

This set is derived from the classical Yang style in a simplified way and can form the basis for further practice and more advanced study. Each class will also include a posture from the qigong eight pieces of brocade. Stretching and strengthening will also be part of each session. Classes are offered by Marsha Kameron. Marsha’s approach is to emphasize health and wellbeing, making this introductory class excellent for all ages and abilities. All the postures are done standing. Marsha has been teaching for seven years. Classes are free to the public, though suggested donation of $5 per class is welcome. It is requested that no outdoor shoes be worn on the wooden floors. Bare feet or clean indoor shoes are suitable. Advance registration requested. Call Marsha at 802- 4 2 4 - 6 0 8 ormarshakam [email protected].

Pokemon Club – Saturdays, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. All are welcome – bring your own cards if you have them, but not necessary. Call Ethan Socks for more info at 563-2073.

Cabot Old Time Contra and Square

Dance – Saturday, October 8 – 7:30 p.m. This dance series consists of monthly dances on the second Saturday of the month September through May. All are invited. Music will be provided by David Carpenter and friends. Dances are taught and are easily learned by all. 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].

Community Book Group – Wednesday, October 19 – 10:30 a.m. Cabot Community Book group generally meets the third Wednesday of the month. This month’s selection has yet to be determined. All are welcome to join in! Copies of books will be available in the library.

Author’s Talk – Anthony Pauly – Tuesday, October 25 – 6:30 p.m.

Anthony Pauly, Jr. is the author of the Chronicles of the New Merlin series, of which Merlin’s Veto: Chronicles of the New Merlin, is the first volume. In the story, ancient wizardry and secret mystery school lessons deeply affect Christine, an eleven-year old girl. Navigating the complexities of her new life as a young teenager, Christine crosses a gateway into an ancient mystic world, filled with tragedy, anguish, betrayal, and selfdiscovery, healing her wounded spirit in the process. She is initiated and trained to be a high priestess and leader of her people by finding the empowerment and light within herself to fend off her brother’s distorted magical ambitions. For more info, visit www.theshamans touch.com or call Anthony at 802-324- 5769.

Thank You! Thanks so much to Lorelai Bastress, Susan Dineen, Kristi Jemtegaard, Linda Gabrielson, and Beth Wade for their continued help with shelving, weeding, story hour and many other various projects.

See you at the Library!

Kathleen Hoyne

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Cabot School Budget Thursday, October 20

In late August, the Cabot School Board received a petition signed by 69 registered voters of the Town of Cabot, requesting that a vote be held to consider the following question: “Shall the School District of Cabot adopt its budget article or articles by Australian Ballot?” At our meeting on September 12, 2016, the Cabot School Board set the date for the Special Meeting of the Cabot School District to consider this question for Thursday, October 20, at 7:00 p.m. in the Cabot School Gym...That meeting will be held in conjunction with a meeting of the Town of Cabot to consider using Australian Ballot for Town of Cabot articles in the future. At the Special Meeting on October 20 there will be an opportunity for discussion of the question. Following the discussion, the registered voters present will vote from the floor (either by voice vote or paper ballot) to approve or reject the petitioned request to have the Cabot School District begin using Australian Ballot to adopt its budget articles. We encourage all Cabot residents to attend this important meeting on Thursday, October 20. Sincerely, The Cabot School Board of Directors:

Jackie Folsom Ry Hoffman Lisa Olsen Sharon O’Connor Chris Tormey

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Cabot Arts Presents

DANA AND SUSAN ROBINSON CELEBRATE NEW CD RELEASE WITH

CABOT TOWN HALL CONCERT ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16 American folk duo, Dana and Susan Robinson, fresh from a late summer tour of the UK, return for a second home -town concert at the Cabot Town Hall (Willey Building) on Sunday, October 16, to celebrate the release of their latest CD, Angel’s Share. The new recording includes eight originals by Dana, recently appointed executive director of Montpelier’s Summit School of Traditional Music and Culture. Angel’s Share weaves together reflections on the couple’s transcontinental wanderings and the poignancy of environmental and social change with a longing for rootedness that has brought them to the tranquility of an old schoolhouse in lower Cabot, by the Winooski River. The lyrics float on simple arrangements for guitar, mandolin, fiddle and banjo, releasing the “angle’s share,” a breath of sweetness that evaporates from whiskey during distillation. The Robinsons have criss-crossed the US and toured widely in the UK for over a decade. Susan is an environmental grant writer and classical pianist, while Dana has been recording and performing since 1994. Their close harmonies and accomplished musicianship mark them as among Vermont’s most outstanding folk-roots artists. They have been hosting home concerts in their converted schoolhouse since 2015. Dana and Susan Robinson, presented by cabot arts, in co-operation with the Cabot Community Association, will appear at the Cabot Town Hall, 3084 Main Street, on Sunday, October 16

at 3 PM. Admission will be by donation at the door.

Coming Attractions!

Next month, Benedict Koehler and Hilari Farrington return to cabot arts with their repertoire of Irish music for uillean pipes, whistle, accordion and harp. Once again they will be joined by the great Scottish balladeer and raconteur Norman Kennedy, and this time their special guest will be Scottish harpist and singer Dominique Dodge. Join us for this Celtic Harvest Gala on Sunday, November 13.

And on Sunday December 4, folk-roots masters Martin Grosswendt, a fingerpicking and bottleneck guitar icon for nearly half a century, and Susanne Salem-Schatz revisit cabot arts with a program of blues, rags and ballads for guitar, mandolin, banjo and voice. Additionally, they will be offering a workshop in co-operation with the Summit School in Montpelier on Saturday, December 3.

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Cabot School Board Act 46 Update

The combined Act 46 study (706) committee, including representatives from the Cabot, Twinfield and Danville school districts, met for the first time at Cabot School on September 14. ,At that first meeting, the committee discussed goals and concerns, agreed on a meeting schedule, and selected a chairperson. The eleven-member committee includes two representatives from Cabot (Ry Hoffman and Chris Tormey), along with four representatives from Danville and five from Twinfield. During its discussion, the group reviewed their charge (to try to develop a plan in which the three school districts would consolidate into one district) and the time frame to do so. The committee will begin by meeting twice a month, with the goal of completing their work during the next four to five months. If a consolidation plan is eventually developed by the committee and approved by the Vermont State Board of Education, voters would have to approve the plan by July 1, 2017, in order to qualify for financial incentives built into Act 46 by the Vermont Legislature last spring. The study committee will meet next at the Cabot School library on Wednesday, September 21, at 6:00 p.m. The first 15 minutes of each meeting will be set aside for public comment, and interested community members from all three of the districts are encouraged to attend these meetings to become better informed as the process continues. The following meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 12, at the same location and time. During the next month, a website will be set up to act as a clearinghouse for information relating to the committee’s discussions and research on consolidation as well as more general information on Act 46 (the law passed last year intended to move small school districts towards consolidation). That website will be able to accessed by a link from the school websites of Danville, Twinfield and Cabot Schools. Interested community members who are unable to attend these meetings in person are encouraged to either call a school board member or consult this soon-to-beoperational web site. We hope to build into the site a feature by which community members’ specific questions about the process can be communicated and answered. If you are interested in this process that may indeed lead to a change in the way the children of our town are educated, we encourage you to stay informed via one of the means mentioned above. Our Cabot School Board will, in addition, be including community updates and discussions on this process this fall. Chris Tormey, Cabot School Board

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