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The Cabot Chronicle

April 2017 · 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 April 2017 pages (PDF)

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

In This Issue

By Representative

As of this writing, the Fiscal Year 2018 budget is in the final days of preparation before the bill is brought to the House for consideration. Closing the gap between estimated revenue and expected expenditures is the primary focus of the committee. Reducing annual spending to align future years’ revenue to expenses is critical for sustainability and affordability; however, agreeing on the reductions is proving to be difficult. It is a priority of the House Appropriations Committee to pass a balanced budget. Reserves will be fully funded to statutory requirements, as well as fulfilling required contributions to state employees’ and teachers’ retirement/ health care funds. Adding additional dollars to the “Rainy Day Fund” to prepare for reductions at the federal level is also a priority. New taxes and fees will not be used to support the FY 18 budget. A full report on the budget as passed by the House will be highlighted in the May issue. There was a flurry of activity in the State House following the Town Meeting break. March 14 was the crossover deadline, the date in which bills that contain no funding had to be passed out of House and Senate committees in order to be considered this year. Any bills that contained funding had to be passed by March 24 and were then referred to Appropriations or Ways and Means/Finance for further consideration. A full listing of these bills and the status of all bills can be found on the Vermont State Legislative website. The House Commerce Committee has been working on several bills and has taken extensive testimony on H.119, H.223 and H.323, bills relating to classification of employees and independent contractors by focusing on the test applied to determine employee classification for the requirements of Worker’s Compensation and Unemployment Insurance. The com-

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Catherine (Kitty) Toll

mittee is working on a committee bill that seeks to help grow the Vermont economy while protecting the rights and responsibilities of employees and employers. It is the goal of the committee to create one test for both Workers’ Compensation and Unemployment Insurance that provides clarity for self-employed individuals, employers and employees. H. 197 – an act relating to mental health parity for workers’ compensation was introduced to the Committee from Healthcare and focuses on incorporating Mental Health, particularly PTSD, into Worker’s Compensation coverage for fire fighters and other first responders. The bill is now in the Commerce Committee. Additionally, the House Commerce Committee passed H. 462 – an act relating to Social Media Privacy for Employees. The bill prohibits employers from coercing employees/job applicants to share the contents of personal social media accounts (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat) as it constitutes a breach of privacy. There is a "carve out" in the bill for Vermont Law Enforcement Agencies, enabling them to review a law enforcement officer's social media account(s) to ensure there is no real or potential bias in the discharge of their duties. The committee felt this was important for ensuring public safety and trust of law enforcement agencies. The bill was voted out by a 10-0-1 vote. For additional information on any bill or actions in the House or Senate or standing committee, please visit www.leg.state.vt.us. These are live pages and are updated regularly. 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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The Cabot Chronicle Submission

with an economy of words. The maximum length suggestions for re-submittal. All letters and commentary

to reject letters that may contain unsuitable material gladly consider articles and photographs for publication. for errors in submitted material. Nor does The

like advertising information, call our inquiries can also be sent to: The Cabot Chronicle,

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The Cabot Chronicle is distributed

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Thanks for the Support for MapleFest

Miss Vermont, Rylee Field, and Miss Maple, Shaniah Bartlett for participating so enthusiastically. Marvie Domeey and Marion Morrison for the most fantastic homemade maple baked beans. Scott St. John for the outrageous fromscratch tomato soup. Cabot Creamery for the cheddar and American cheese and other dairy products provided. Boyea Fassetts for fresh bread and hot dog rolls. McKenzie of Vermont for their great hot dogs for sugarhouse dogs. Cabot Village Store for the ice for sugar on snow and groceries. Vermont Sugarmakers Associaton for the use of their mobile sugarhouse to make sugar on snow and Cabot sugarmakers for the scrumptious syrup for pancakes and sugar on snow: Ackermanns, Bothfelds, Carpenters, Denton/Maynard, Goodriches, and Talberts. And Anson and Vicky Tebbetts and family for running the Sugar Shack and serviing sugar on snow. Fred and Shirley Ducharme for running the breakfast and lunch food service. Kelly Gochey and Jo Thibault for keeping the food service running smoothly. Frank and Irene Kampf for operating

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Guidelines

the cotton candy booth the inflatables under control event. Caleb Domey for running the and inflated slide. Brigitte Codling keeping the dining neat and stocked. Paul Wade for supplies in and and cleaning up

school and into Lynn Jones for all the money Ted Domey for and solving problems. Amy Hornblas afterwards, when

for behind the scenes help.

As they say—it takes a village.

is recommended to be no longer than 400 words. Letters may be edited published in The Cabot Chronicle represent the opinions of

for our readers. Letters will not be considered for publication unless

Cabot Chronicle assume responsibility for claims arising in connection

the first day of the month and is provided locally free of

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is to regularly publish local news Area. Our purpose is to share information better involved in their Community.

05647 2016 by The Cabot Chronicle 1942-0943 without express written permission from Cabot Chronicle. Publisher is not responsible is contingent upon publisher’s approval and agreement by advertiser on claims based upon contents of advertising. Publisher does not assume liability of space occupied by individual item in which the error appeared. per year ~ Half year subscriptions $12.50

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hronicle

and helping get after the

and Robyn Hall bounce house

and family for hall clean,

helping move out of school afterwards. Mark Codling for the moving ridiculously heavy inflatables into and and school Mark the driver team for ed moving back them out of storage. keeping track of and sales and taking tickets

for cleaning up everyone is spent. Barry Hayes, Katie Trautz and Julia Wayne for performing in CSPAC.

Lori Augustyniak and Jan Westervelt

for clarity the authors and

signed and

with products

us at in-

charge.

to

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April 15,

By Vermont law, property owners whose homes meet the definition of a Vermont homestead must file a Homestead Declaration annually by the April filing deadline. If eligible, it is important that you file so that you are correctly assessed the homestead tax rate on your property. Here is the information you as the property owner need to know about filing your Homestead Declaration.

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Declaration?

In Vermont, all property is subject to education property tax to pay for the state’s schools. For this purpose, property is categorized as either nonresidential or homestead. A homestead is the principal dwelling and parcel of land surrounding the dwelling, owned and occupied by the resident as the person’s domicile. All property is considered nonresidential , unless it is declared as a homestead . The education property tax rate levied on nonresidential property differs from the rate levied on homestead property. It is your responsibility as the property owner to claim the property as a homestead if you meet, or expect to meet, the following requirements: — You are a Vermont resident — You own and occupy a homestead as your domicile as of April 1, 2017 Please note: If you meet these requirements, except that your homestead is leased to a tenant on April 1, 2017, you may still claim it as a homestead if it is not leased for more than 182 days in the 2017 calendar year. In Vermont, all property is subject to a statewide education property tax to pay for the state’s schools. For this purpose, property is categorized as either nonresidential or home-

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Act 46 Update

(continued from page 1) At upcoming meetings, the committee will review estimates of the potential cost and benefits of including a Project-Based Learning Academy for high-school students from across the four towns of the potential merged district at Cabot School, in addition to maintaining Danville High School and Twinfield High School as choices for students in a merged district. Following that analysis, the committee will discuss and reach a decision: whether to move forward with that “three high school choices” plan in a merged district, to go with an alternate plan where only Danville and Twinfield High Schools remain as options in a merged district, or to step back from merger discussions altogether and seek, as individual school districts, to propose an alternative plan to meet the goals of increased student opportunities and improved financial efficiency outlined by Act 46. Assuming that the Act 46 Committee agrees upon some form of merger plan over the next several weeks, community members in each town will have an opportunity in early April to hear the de-

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What is not a Homestead?

Property is considered nonresidential and therefore not a homestead if one of the following applies: — Your property is leased for more than 182 days out of the calendar year. — The property is used exclusively for a commercial, including rental, purpose. — The property is used for a second home, camp, vacation, or summer cottage. Find out more about important filing deadlines and instructions on how to file at: http://tax.vermont.gov/propertyowners/homestead-declaration.

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CCIF

(continued from page 1)

tails of the proposed plan and to offer input on how it might be improved. The Cabot Community Forum to discuss the proposed school district merger and its ramifications for Cabot is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday evening, April 12 , at 6:30 p.m. in the Cabot School Library. Following the discussions and input from those community forums, final changes to this merger plan would be made by the Act 46 Committee later in April, prior to the plan being submitted to the Vermont Agency of Education the last week in April. If the plan is approved by the Agency of Education and (later in May) by the Vermont State Board of Education, then voters in the towns of Cabot, Danville, Marshfield and Plainfield will vote on the merger plan during mid-June of this year, 2017. All the Act 46 committee meetings are open to the public. We encourage interested parents, students, and community members to attend and become better informed about the potential opportunities and challenges of merging. The next Act 46 Committee is scheduled for Wednesday, April 5, in the Cabot School library at 6:00 p.m.

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Rufus Simeon Whittier (1849-1937)

One of my favorite Cabot characters is Sim Whittier who lived on the smaller of the two Joe’s Pond Islands. Sim was born in Lowell, Massachusetts in 1849, but his mother, Sarah Heath, was from Cabot. We have no information about Sim’s father, Sam Whittier. Rufus Simeon Whittier joined the U. S. Navy when he was 20 years old, and spent two years at sea visiting ports in Europe, the Caribbean and the Pacific. He left the navy and returned to Vermont in 1871 to find his mother seriously ill and his 11 year old sister caring for her. He worked for the St. J & L. C. Railroad and helped care for his mother until she died in 1872. After placing his sister with relatives, he joined the U. S. Army and went to North Dakota Territory to fight Indians under General Custer. He was ordered to remain at the encampment with a small group of soldiers while Gen. Custer took 190 men to look for bands of Indians. Custer found the Indians, but his small army was overwhelmed, and the engagement became “Custer’s Last Stand.” When Custer failed to return to camp, Whittier and the others searched for him and found the horrific evidence of that battle. Whittier resigned from the army in 1878 and headed east. His whereabouts is unknown for the next 12 years, but he once told a friend he was shanghaied by the French Navy. He claimed he jumped ship one night when they were close enough to land for him to make it to shore, and narrowly escaped being discovered. Once back at Joe’s Pond, Whittier built an island around a big boulder a few yards off the north shore of the pond. He used his sturdy rowboat to carry stones from the mainland for the foundation, and then brought earth the same way to fill in and build up his island. He then built a small house there and lived on the island year around for most of the next 40 years, traveling by boat to the mainland and walking on the railroad tracks to get to whatever jobs he could find in West Danville. He was a painter, paper hanger, sometime “sitter” for children, boat repairman, expert fisherman, carpenter, and “could splice a rope so you’d hardly notice when it went through the sheave.” “Sim” was proud to have served with Custer, and liked to tell stories about those days. He also liked an occasional drink, and during prohibition managed to keep a bottle or two safely anchored just below the surface of the pond where only he could locate it. When he couldn’t get whiskey, he was known go into West Danville an buy any of the various alcohol based “extracts” on the market in those days. He would walk north on the railroad tracks, “three sheets to the wind,” barely able to make it to where he’d left his boat, but once in the boat he would row straight to his island and land the boat perfectly without even once checking to see where he was going. When the Town of Cabot passed a special regulation imposing a tax on residents for the maintenance of roads, Whittier refused to pay, saying he had no need for and did not use the roads, therefore should not have to pay the tax. As far as we know, the town agreed. Sim died in 1937 and is buried next to his mother in Cabot Plain Cemetery. His little house was sold and moved on the ice in the 1940s to a spot on the west shore. It was demolished a few years ago to make room for a new home. In 1955, Bud and Lucia Pearl bought the island for $150. They put up a small cabin there and their daughters still own the island. Jane Brown, Archivist Cabot Historical Society www.cabothistory.com

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Douglas K. Bessette

Douglas K. Bessette, 71, of Goldsbury Woods Road in Barre Town, died on Monday, March 20, 2017, at The Arbors in Shelburne, Vermont. He was born on August 24, 1945, in Barre, VT, the son of Edward and Evelyn (Eastman) Bessette. Doug graduated from Montpelier High School in the class of 1963. In 1966, he received an associate degree in business management from Champlain College. He worked for the state of Vermont beginning in August 1981 for the Department of Motor Vehicles and until his position was moved to the Department of Taxes in 1991, where he worked as a supervisor for the Motor Fuel Audit division. Doug retired in July 2008 after serving the state of Vermont for 27 years. On May 1, 2004, he married Terry Wells-Restelli. Doug was a life member of the Canadian Club in Barre. He was also an organizer and coach for the Vermont state employee softball league for many years. He enjoyed hunting and the outdoors, as well as traveling, classic cars and trips to Fenway Park to watch the Boston Red Sox. Survivors include his wife, Terry Bessette, of Barre Town, his daughter,

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Ethel Loretta Byrd

Ethel (Santor) Loretta Byrd, 96, passed away peacefully at the Woodridge Nursing Home in Berlin on Sunday, March 12, 2017. Born on March 1, 1921, in South Hero, she was the daughter of the late Albert O. and Selina (Lawrence) Santor. On November 11, 1938, Ethel married Donald Clarence Byrd in South Hero. Ethel attended school in South Hero and then, with her family, moved to Burlington, where she worked at the Chase Woolen Mills in Winooski, VT. Coming to Waterbury in 1953, Ethel started work at the Vermont State Hospital as a psychiatric aide. She remained there until 1979, when she was forced to retire from a work-related injury. Ethel leaves behind three children who loved her dearly, Donald F. Byrd and wife Sharon, of Duxbury, Larry and wife Carol, of Cabot and Largo, FL, and Linda Lamson, of Waterbury; seven grandchildren, Donald F. Byrd Jr., of Fayston, Edward Byrd, of Waddington, NY, Michael Byrd, of Eden, Rachel Bolduc, of Duxbury, Tracie LeBoeuf, of Moretown, Daniel Byrd, of Middlesex, and Donna Gonsalves, of Norton, MA; 12 great-grandchildren and four great-great -grandchildren; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. Ethel was predeceased by her husband of 66 years, Donald, on April 7, 2005; her special son-in-law, Donald

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EMORIALS

Jillian Bessette, of Berlin; son, Rob Bessette, of Montpelier, son, Aaron Bessette and his son, Aiden, of Cabot; stepchildren, Nikki Cristofalo and her husband, Jason, and their daughter, Naomi, of Orlando, FL, Danielle Scott and her husband, Michael Scott, and their children, Brody, Onyx, Jacoby and Harmony, of Groton, VT, Nathan Restelli and his wife, Laurie, and their children, Emma, Riley and Sebastian, of North Haverhill, NH; siblings Sandy Farnham and her husband, Allan, of Plainfield, VT, Terrance Bessette and his wife, Alma Jean, of Albuquerque, NM, Sherrie Brewster, of Shelburne, VT, Bonnie Burkholder and her husband, Steve, of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Penny Hannigan and her husband, Francis, of Montpelier; and several special nieces and nephews. Doug was predeceased by his parents and a son, Michael Bessette. . A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 1, 2017, at Guare & Sons Funeral Home. Those wishing to express online condolences may do so at www.guareandsons.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the Vermont Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, www.alz.org/vermont, 300 Cornerstone Dr., Suite 130, Williston, VT 05495; or to The Leukemia And Lym-

4343, Burlington, VT 05406, www.lls.org.

Lamson; great-grandson, Dana Byrd; and six brothers and sisters, Bertha Peck, Grace Tatro, Corrine Farnsworth, Lester Santor, Maurice Santor and Edward Santor. Ethel has enjoyed her last five years living on Joe's Pond in the summer and Largo, FL, in the winter, living with her son, Larry and daughter-in-law Carol. She really enjoyed traveling places and seeing new things. One of her favorite pastimes was watching and feeding the ducks. She always enjoyed gardening, country music and crocheting in her earlier years. Ethel will be missed by many but is now in heaven with Donald, the love of her life. Services and burial will be at a later date in Holy Cross Cemetery in Duxbury. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Waterbury Area Senior Center, 14 Stowe St., Waterbury, VT 05676. Assisting the family is the PerkinsParker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury. To send online condolences, please visit www.perkinsparker.com or the funeral home Facebook page.

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Dear Editor,

March 23, 2017 There has been a lot of publicity recently about federal cuts in Meals on Wheels due to President’s Trump’s proposal to eliminate the Community Development Block Grants. In Vermont, Meals on Wheels are not funded by this program, so this cut will not affect Vermont’s Meals on Wheels; however, the program is still vulnerable to other reductions in the federal budget. During the national discussion about budget cuts, some have questioned whether this well-established nutritional program for seniors works. We believe it does work! In central Vermont, we served over 200,000 meals last year! Meals on Wheels improve nutrition, reduce food insecurity and falls, and reduce the cost of institutional care. There are even benefits beyond the nutritional, as participants have lower loneliness scores. Government funding for meals on wheels is already inadequate and has been for a decade. Meal sites in Central Vermont do not have enough funding to

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Cabot NEKWMD Representative

Cabot and Marshfield residents, along with other Northeast Kingdom residents, are doing a really good job at recycling our wastes. Here’s the proof: Americans generate on average about 4.4 pounds of garbage every day. That is material that ends up in landfills, or in some areas, is burned in incinerators. (Source: U.S. EPA) By contrast, residents of the Northeast Kingdom Waste Management District (NEKWMD) generated a mere 1.46 pounds/ person/day. This is considerably below even the State target of 2.7 pounds/person/day. That is because we are diverting 45% of our wastes into recycling and reuse markets, including composting organic wastes. Nationally, only 34% of wastes are recycled.

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Zoning Administrator and Planner

Water Wastewater System Good news, accounts for water and wastewater have been merged for transactions. What this means: Each utility will continue to create its own budget and fee schedule. Payments to the Town can be a single payment now, separate checks will not be necessary any longer. Landowners on the system will receive a single bill for payments. The Town is also now accepting Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express for payments. Transactions will require payment of a 3% transaction fee based on the total charges. The transaction fee will be billed to the customer in addition to their payments. This service will be available April 1, 2017, for all Town transactions. .

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OMMENTARY

meet the needs of our growing population of aging citizens. The meal sites are relying more on private donations and foundations to make up the difference and may have to resort to waiting lists in the future. So, Vermont is not facing cuts yet, but we continue to face shortages of federal funds because of flat funding for a decade or more. How can we deal with such uncertainty? Please consider how you can support your local programs that provide Meals on Wheels or other senior services! Senior centers and meal sites are in need of donations as well as volunteers. To find out about your local meal site, please call Central Vermont Council on Aging

Vermonters are full of ingenuity and creativity, and together we will get through these uncertain times. Beth Stern Executive Director, Central Vermont Council on Aging

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News

The hottest recycling item for the NEKWMD right now is cardboard, whose commodity price is nearing $200/ton. Although the price might not stay this high for long, right now, it is providing significant revenue for recycling programs. As always, please clean any food residues off your recycled food containers. Cleaner is better, and reduces financial penalties for contamination. The word on the street is that the NEKWMD continues to provide a steady stream of high quality recyclables. The Cabot Recycling Center, located on Sawmill Road in Lower Cabot, is open every Saturday from 8 AM until Noon. Trash is collected at the site for a fee. Please do not drop off any items for recycling or disposal at any other times. A list of the many items now being recycled and collected is available at the Center, and on line at http://www.nekwmd.org/ services/Cabot.

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Notes

way require authorization from the Town, and sometimes permits. The Town is working to clarify access for landowners and are developing a policy to assist. Driveway improvements, utilities and roadside ditching and drainage are several examples. Any utilities that cross the road right of way must be approved by the Town and installed per specifications. Landowners are liable for work that they perform that affects the road surface and may be back charged for corrective action required by the Town.

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Town Plan

The Planning Commission has completed the Town Plan update and has submitted it to the Selectboard for adoption. The Selectboard will be scheduling a public hearing, as required, and copies are available on the Town web site and posted on the notice board at the Town Hall.

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By Terri Hallenbeck

@TERRIVT Excerpt Reprinted with permission from Seven Days Newspaper At the Danville Town Meeting lunch last week, Sen. Jane Beattie Kitchel and Rep. Kitty Beattie Toll squeezed into pintsize seats next to one another in an elementary school cafeteria and dug into the ham and baked beans. As tradition dictates, each had been tasked with bringing a dish to share. Kitchel made pickled beets; Toll brought spice cake. Well, actually, Toll carried the cake into the building. Kitchel baked the cake on her sister's behalf. "I had to go to the Cabot informational meeting last night," Toll explained. "Janie's the better cook anyway." In their personal lives, the two sisters look out for one another. Kitchel cooks; Toll offers technological advice — and the occasional wardrobe consultation. But their sisterly solidarity may be tested this spring at the Vermont Statehouse, where they both serve as Democratic state legislators. Toll and Kitchel are almost certainly in a unique position in U.S. politics: Two sisters chairing the powerful appropriations committees of both the House and Senate. As Vermont lawmakers determine how to spend the state's money next fiscal year, the Beattie family and tiny Danville (population 2,196) will have an outsize influence over the outcome. Nearly two months after Republican Gov. Phil Scott pitched his version of the 2018 budget, Toll and her colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee are close to completing their own writethrough. Once the full House signs off, Kitchel and the Senate Appropriations Committee will take a turn. Toll's and Kitchel's budgets are certain to differ — not just in their details but in their approach to closing the state's $70 million budget gap. They'll also both have to determine whether to challenge Scott's pledge to avoid new taxes and fees. In April or May, two women who grew up around the same dinner table will face off across a Statehouse committee table to resolve the differences between their respective budgets. Will the state close a prison or stop funding public television? Will childcare subsidies get a boost, or should the state colleges — or is neither feasible? Kitchel and Toll will be the chief negotiators tasked with answering such questions. Kitchel, 71, and Toll, 57, insist their status as siblings will have no bearing on the outcome — that the decisions come down to policy and the will of the two chambers they represent. And, while endof-session budget bargaining has been known to fray tempers and trigger outbursts among negotiators, the sisters say that's not their style. "I think people are going to be disappointed," Toll said. "I've never fought with my sister. We're polite to each other." House Speaker Mitzi Johnson (DSouth Hero), who appointed Toll to succeed her as Appropriations Committee chair this year, is even more emphatic. "I think it's irrelevant," she said of the sisters' relationship. Toll, she argued, is a committed House member who will represent her chamber's point of view regardless of who else is at the table.

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Purse Strings

Still, there's a fascination — in the halls of the Statehouse and on the streets of Danville — about how Kitchel and Toll will divvy up the dough. "It's going to be interesting to watch the conference committee," said Rep. Johannah "Joey" Donovan (D-Burlington), whose legislative service overlapped for six years with that of her brother, former senator Jim Leddy. "It's an interesting dynamic," echoed Scott, who'll ultimately have to negotiate with the Beattie sisters on the final budget. "But they are two different people."

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Family Affair

Kitchel and Toll indeed have their differences — 14 years separate the sisters, after all — but they are clearly cut from the same cloth. Both have sweet, reserved smiles, the same wave to their short blond hair and trim builds that belie their ages. They speak with the same cautious style, and they base their politics in the same socially conscious vein. Kitchel is the second-oldest and Toll the youngest of 10 children raised on the family dairy farm of Harold and Kate Beattie in the hills outside Danville village. "We grew up in a family where we were very connected to public service," Kitchel said. Their mom and dad were once named Danville citizens of the year. They were reared on the McDonald dairy farm, where their mother was raised. In addition to milking cows and harvesting hay and corn, Harold Beattie served on the town selectboard. But it was their mother who ran the farm, as well as a gourmet kitchen. She was active in the Vermont Farm Bureau, served on the district environmental board and spent one term in the Vermont House. "She was very strong," Toll said of their late mother, with whom she shared the first name Catherine. "Our father played games with us. He read stories to us ... He had a softer side than my mother." Politics were frequently discussed at home. The Beattie parents were supporters of Democratic governor Phil Hoff and active in his party, but they were also friendly with U.S. senator Ralph Flanders, a Republican. Though the Northeast Kingdom was and is tilted toward the GOP, the Beatties were socially liberal Democrats, Toll said. "They believed in taking care of people," she added. Their parents would send one of the children to raise a red flag from the barn as a signal that they had leftovers to share with two neighboring men, Earl and Ray, who lived together, according to Toll. Earl, who typically dressed in women's clothes, and Ray would come to the house to pick up the food — no questions asked. That was a powerful lesson in acceptance and helping others, Toll said. "Sometimes you need more than a friend and a neighbor. You need real assistance," she said. "That's very, very important to me." Decades later, Toll's and Kitchel's political views hold true to family tradition: Both Democrats lean socially liberal, fiscally moderate. As they delve into their budget-writing duties, both say their in-

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April 2017 ~ page 5

tent is to balance the budget without raising taxes, but neither will take that option off the table. Discerning the differences between the two sisters' politics is tough. Neither is prone to championing causes or particular bills. But a look through organizations' legislative scorecards reveals some differences between them. The liberal advocacy organization Vermont Public Interest Research Group last year gave Toll a 92 percent rating for her votes on issues ranging from voter registration to renewable energy. The group rated Kitchel at 55 percent, a mark that reflected her support for restrictions on wind turbine siting. Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, another left-leaning group, also scored Toll higher. In a 2013-14 scorecard, she earned an 86 percent rating while Kitchel scored 60 percent. The difference: Kitchel voted against a toxic-chemical regulation bill that Toll supported. The group Gun Owners of Vermont last year listed them both as "anti-gun" because they voted for a 2015 bill barring felons from possessing firearms. Kitchel and Toll are the only ones among the 10 siblings to run for office, though politics appears to be in the blood. The family has always been close, according to brother Marty Beattie, who owns Marty's 1st Stop market in Danville. All but one of their living siblings remain in the Danville area. Oldest brother Harold Jr. died in 2012. They still gather nearly every Sunday for dinner. Toll hosts. Kitchel cooks. Marty Beattie is the grill master. "Jane is the best cook in the family," he confirmed. "Kitty's very good at organizing." Having grown up 14 years apart, the two are almost of a different generation, according to Kitchel. She occasionally refers to her sister as "Baby Kitty." "We always thought she was the most indulged," Kitchel said. " We would have to cook supper." The older sister still indulges the younger. When Toll is too tired, Kitchel will drive — even if it's not her turn. Nearly every legislative day, Kitchel makes lunch for Toll, as well as for several of her Senate colleagues: sandwich, chips, fruit and baked goods included. "That's her therapy, like somebody else would knit," Toll said. Her own therapy, Toll said, is raising money for community organizations. Her church's capital campaign is within $6,000 of its $200,000 goal. "I just find that exciting," she said. "I won't be done with that until I find the last $6,000." Beattie said that it's true his sisters don't fight. "They have a lot of respect for each other," he noted, adding, "It's competitive." Kitchel showed off some of that sibling rivalry when she heard her brother had weighed in on their relationship. "Did he tell you I'm thrifty and she's not?" she asked.

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Montpelier Concert Crawl 6:00 p.m.-

9:00 p.m. 3HOMES, 3MEALS, 3 CONCERTS Montpelier. Tickets $60.00 available www.eventbrite.com Walk from house to house in Montpelier's Liberty Street neighborhood for music with “Breakfast” with Old Sky, MCO String Quartet and Strings and Swing, wine, gourmet food and community. 5 th Good Beginnings Baby and Child Expo 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. 372 Paine Turnpike, North Berlin. Ages 0 and up, parking large lot adjacent to Montpelier High School. Restrooms. The Expo is a fun and friendly community event that connects expectant mothers and families with young children to a wide variety of local resources. Parents-to-be can connect with local midwives and doulas and talk to representatives from the Birthing Center and connect with parents' groups, early education providers, holistic and alternative health providers, and statewide advocacy efforts such as Let's Grow Kids. www.gbcvexpo.com or ashley@goodbeginningscentralvt.org.

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Cabot School Budget Australian Bal-

lot Re-Vote , 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Willey Building. Act 46 committee meeting 6:00 p.m., Cabot School library. And Still I Rise Movie Series , 6:008:30 p.m., free movie and dinner, Cabot Public Library. Classic Film Series 7:00 p.m. Marshfield. Rick Winston will introduce the film, and afterwards lead a discussion. For more information contact Tom Blachly at or at blachly@together.net. Event held at the Jaquith Public Library.

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Permaculture with Keith Morris

11:00 a.m. Marshfield. Keith Morris , founder of Prospect Rock Permaculture in Johnson, will discuss the philosophy and practice of his trade. He will discuss creating natural landscapes incorporating perennial edible plants while sustaining and supporting the land. Event is free and held at the Jaquith Public Library, 122 School Street.

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Rock Farmer Records present Pat-

$10,000, 2 nd prize $2,000, 3 rd Prize $1000, rick Ross and the Mountain Money 10 prizes of $100. $100.00 per ticket, one All Stars 7:00 p.m. Chelsea. Nine musiticket admits two adults. Free Cocktails cians grace with fiddle and banjo celebraand Hors D'oeuvres. For tickets, call Cody tion at the Chelsea Town Hall. Tickets

www.PATRICKROSSMUSIC.com or lierrotaryraffle@gmail.com. Central Ver-

mont Memorial Civic Center, 10 Gallison

Sunday, 4/9 Road. No one under 21 admitted. Dress is

casual. Winners are responsible for all

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Dance, Sing and Jump Around 3:00

taxes, you do not have to be present to p.m.-4:30 p.m. Plainfield. A family dance win. Winning ticket stub must be prefor all ages. Circle and line dances taught sented to claim prize. by Liz Benjamin and Ethan Guiles, singing games, with live traditional music. Remedies for Emotional Well Being Free for children, suggested donation and Hormone Balance. 7:00 p.m. $5.00 per adult. Soup and bread supper Marshfield. Acupuncturist Baylen Slote after the dance. Plainfield Town Hall will share a variety of holistic healing Opera House Rte. 2 (High Street). tools to help create emotional stability by strengthening and balancing your hor-

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St. Johnsbury Maple Festival 8:00

a.m.-8:00 p.m. 394 Railroad Street. Ages 0 and up. Free Admission. A day filled with maple related festivities. 8:00 a.m. Sap Lap 5k Fun Run, 8:30 Pancake breakfast, 10:00 Street festival begins, 11:00 a.m. King of Silly, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Labor days, 1:00 p.m. King of Silly, Live music, Kids Fun Zone. Railroad Street will be closed as well as the lower part of Eastern Avenue to traffic. Www.worldfestival.org

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Upright Citizens Brigade 7:00 p.m.

Lyndonville. Kingdom County presents World-Class Improv Comedy Laugh-outloud troupe in the Alexander Twilight Theater, Lyndon State College, 1001 College Road. Tickets $32.00, $24.00, $15.00, Students FREE. Call 802-7482600 ext 2, speak with Box Office facilitator.

Theatre. Directed by Kim Allen Bent. 39 M a i n S t r e e t . T i c k e t s info@lostnationtheatre.org

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By Karen Mueller-Harder

Don’t miss the opportunity to see this year’s Cabot Community Theater production: Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka, based on the wonderful book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” is full of humor, music, dancing, and fun, with just a bit of weirdness! This amazing production is the labor of love of 45 community members, so you’re likely to know at least a few; please come and share in the joy of what your friends and neighbors have been preparing for you this winter! We will be performing this show for one weekend only, right after the publi-

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By Tom Blachly

Looking for a good laugh during these uncertain times and a way to benefit a good cause at the same time? There will be a staged reading of Larry Shue’s hilarious farce, THE FOREIGNER, on Saturday March 25, at 7:00 p.m., at the Maple Corner Community Center, located at 64 West County Road, in Maple Corner, VT. Admission is by donation, and proceeds will go to the Southern Poverty Law Center, a non-profit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights. Larry Shue wrote THE FOREIGNER back in 1983, but, if anything, the play is more timely today than it was then. A hilarious send-up of American nativism, the play takes place in a hunting lodge

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Danger to Dogs -

There is a new danger for our animal companions, especially dogs, that most pet owners are completely unaware of until it's too late and their dog is dying or has died already. The product is Xylitol. It is a sweetener found in a great number of products, especially peanut and nut butters. It takes a very small amount to poison a dog . . Symptoms of poisoning come on very fast after consumption, and include vomiting, weakness, lethargy, loss of coordination, seizures and collapse. Xylitol can be found in many products in your home, especially if they contain peanuts and nut butters. It is now found not only in nut butters but also health and beauty products, food products, over the counter drugs, supplements and prescription medications, to make them more palatable for humans. It is especially prominent in peanut and nut butters. Dogs love the smell and taste of them, and unfortunately people often feed them to their dogs as treats, because they are unaware of the toxicity to dogs.

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Willy Wonka!

cation of this issue of the paper, so be sure to come see it! There will be 7:00 shows on Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1, and 2:00 matinees on Saturday April 1 and Sunday, April 2. Performances will be at the Cabot School Performing Arts Center, and tickets are $10 general admission, and $8 for students and seniors. For reservations or

time we did a musical, all performances were sold out, so we recommend making reservations to be safe. See you at the show!

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March 25

deep in the woods of rural Georgia. Charley, visiting from England, decides to pretend he can't speak English in order to mask his acute shyness, leading him to overhear more than he should, including a nefarious plot to take over the lodge by the K. You will laugh throughout, but also be reminded of the dangers of intolerance and prejudice. A wonderful mixture of farce and social commentary, and great for the whole family. The cast consists of Nancy Toulis, David Schutz, Bob Hannon, Peter Lind, Geof Hewitt, and Tom, Adam, and Susannah Blachly. Sound effects will be courtesy of Artie Toulis. "I laughed start to finish at one comic surprise after another." – The New Yorker Review of “The Foreigner.”

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Xylitol Poisoning

A dog who finds and gorges on an entire jar of a product containing xylitol is at high risk for harm. If the dog found and devoured a jar of xylitol peanut butter when the people were gone and the dog was home alone, the dog could die before the owners returned. In humans, xylitol is absorbed slowly from the products they eat containing it. This is not true for pets. Since ingredients in products are usually listed in alphabetical order, not quantity, any xylitol in the product will be at the end of the list, so many people assume there is very little, and therefore, safe. Owners often use a toy, like a kong or a puzzle box, and put peanut butter in them to keep the dog busy while they are gone. Become aware of any and all things in your house that contain xylitol and be sure they are kept where your dog cannot get to them. April Frost Animal Communicator Walden, VT

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Victor and Nadia

Victor (the grey tabby on the left) and his sister, Nadia (on the right), are currently in a foster home. Victor is still shy of humans but with patience and good treats, such as chicken, he will warm up to you. Victor enjoys other pets and will be much happier in a home with a playful dog or cat or both:) If you want a buddy for your dog or cat, Victor's the cat for you! Nadia is known as "Princess Nadia" because she wants to be number one! Nadia has been living with dogs and cats, but would be fine in a home without

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Chronicles of The New Merlin.

A quick search of the internet brings a host of ancient mythology related to the honey bee and how it was revered as a sacred divine being. “The bee was an emblem of Potina the Minoan-Mycanean "Mistress", who was also referred to as "The Pure Mother Bee" . Her priestesses received the name of "Melissa” ("bee") . In addition, priestesses worshipping Artemis and Demeter were called "Bees". Appearing in decorations, Mycenaean tombs were shaped as beehives. The Delphic priestess is often referred to as a bee.” –Wikipedia, After some thought, I decided it would be a good time to introduce you to a subject very few people have knowledge of. It’s the reason I chose the word “Shaman” to be in the title of my column. Ancient societies understood the sacred significance of the honey bee quite early on. Not only do they provide food in the form of the honey, the products they produce have been used as medicinal supplements for thousands of years. The bodies of the bees, themselves, along with the bee sting venom, has been used to treat many ailments. Bee Sting Therapy, “Apitherapy”, has become common practice in general practice offices in Europe over the last 20 years. Particularly in the treatment of arthritic inflammation or related auto immune issues. Because of my personal fascination with the subject, I look forward to the research that is coming out of various institutions from around the world. It’s time western science catches up with the indigenous wisdom that our

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Apiary

ancestors were quite familiar with. Our western world is behind the curve in this regard. Our collective skepticism and short sightedness has prevented us from applying the same scientific methods to these older practices that we require of modern medicine. For thousands of years, these healing practices have kept people alive and connected to the natural rhythms of life. Science only works if the evidence is gathered in the proper way using the scientific method. The same methods used to prove a theory must be used to disprove an idea as well. Non-evidence based cynicism doesn’t count as fact. The survival of the people was dependent on that connection being forefront. The shamans of old and today understand that nature is not only a sustainable provider of all the medicines we need, but if preserved, it is a medicine itself. Working with honey bees has taught me this. The word “Shaman” can mean many things. At its core, it is a person that holds a heart centered vision of human potential. They have faith in each soul fulfilling its highest potential. They keep the wisdom and spiritual connection to the divine alive so that when people need it, they can incorporate that perception into their lives. They see the sacredness in all people and life as a natural law, not as a religious doctrine. It’s quite different from the western mindset of sterile reduction and impersonal categorization. This spring, I will be teaching a season-long beekeeping apprenticeship course. Also, try some local raw honey. If interested in details go to www.theshamanstouch.com.

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Athletic Director, Cabot School

The Lady Huskies and newly-hired head Coach Darin Barber had a regular season record of 14-6, overall record of 16 -7, and were the fourth seed in their division this year for basketball. Coach Barber joined the Cabot Athletics family back in 2014 as an assistant coach with Alan DeLaricheliere for the Cabot Varsity boys. He became the varsity girls' head coach for the basketball 2016-2017 season. The varsity girls responded extremely well to a new style of coaching and a new process, and it showed in every game. The girls started the season strong and finished the season at the Barre Auditorium (the “Aud”). The varsity girl's season and playoff experience was one we in Cabot will never forget. hosting Blue Playdowns with Cabot Mountain and a victory of 38-25 continued the team's dream of going to the Aud alive. The win led them to the quarterfinals as they hosted Arlington. Arlington, being a team Cabot does not usually see in the regular season, had to prepare for anything and everything. During the quarterfinals against Arlington, Cabot held the lead up until the fourth quarter, when Arlington was able to tie the game with a three-pointer, making it 42-42. Cabot was able to win our lead back and continue our success with Zoe Hislop hitting a free throw, followed by Kiley Currier hitting a free throw, to give us the big win of 44-42 over Arlington and sending us to the Barre Auditorium for the semifinals. The trip to the AUD to play in the semifinals was an exciting and new experience for every player on this team, including our only senior on the team, 1000-point scorer Alicia Celley. With the Town of Cabot supporting the Huskies, Cabot would face one seed Mount Saint Joseph, another team Cabot does not usually play in the regular season. Mount Saint Joseph was known to win games in the regular season by 30, 40 and even 50+ points, but this was not going to stop the Cabot Huskies. The Huskies started the game winning the tip off and putting points on the

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in Over a Decade

quarterfinals: Back row: Zoe Hislop, Taylor Celley, MIchaela Gokey, Evlyn Hislop. Cheyenne Phillips, Brittany Persons,

board. Mount Saint Joseph fought back. At half-time, the score was 21-11, Mount Saint Joseph. The coaches and fans knew the Huskies would not give up and would fight to the very last second, and that is just exactly what they did. Kiley Currier hit a final threepointer in the last seconds, to give a final score of 43-39, Mount Saint Joseph. Kiley Currier was named "Player of the Game" for the night. "The girls played their hearts out. The turnovers hurt us, but they kept grinding and didn't quit. I'm proud of them all and cannot think of a better group of girls to coach at the Aud," said Coach Barber Alisha was able to finish her high school basketball career with points adding up to 1,388, which is an amazing success. The community is going to miss her, along with her team and her coach. "Alisha is an example of the perfect student-athlete. Tenacious work ethic and extremely smart. She is a joy to coach and I will miss her and miss her on the court; and have I mentioned, I will also miss her height under the basket," said Coach Barber. Coach Barber went on to say, "How receptive to change the girls were this year. They worked very hard with a lot of determination to improve aspects of their team play. My first year as their coach was an extremely fun and rewarding experience. I am excited for next year!" It is safe to say that the Cabot community and fans are excited to see the team's success next basketball season and watching the ladies on the court.

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By Cynthia Russell of Cabot & Montreal

If you’ve been thinking of a trip to Montreal, but are concerned that the French language might be intimidating, I encourage you to re-think. I suggest you consider visiting the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (mbam.ca). As one of the hundreds of thousands of Quebec citizens who left the province in the 1970's when, if you didn't have a French name and even if you did, but weren't bilingual, you would find it difficult to live and work, until recently, I was sad and occasionally angry about feeling that I was forced to leave. Then, in 2016, I felt a tug to return after reading about the Montreal Museum of Fine Art's Art Therapy program. I was intrigued. They needed English speaking guides. The job I left in 1973 was, coincidentally, at the Museum of Fine Arts, in the Department of Education (Service Educatif). Since then, I had 43 wonderful years in Vermont- many in Cabot - raising a family, having a full career (mostly in education) and then…it was time for change. My husband, Phillip, and I, after considerable soul searching, decided to give Montreal a chance. Today, as I write, I'm sitting in the window of our apartment in a quiet part of the downtown, across the road from a nuns' retirement home. (I think it's called the Mother House.) After an interview in July, which surprised me by being mostly in French somehow, I rose to the occasion - I was accepted into the program. I learned that three employees in the Education Department had evolved into many, many. There would be an entire new pavilion opening in November 2016, and the new group of guides would be taught an approach requiring dialogue rather than lecture. This approach matched my own educational philosophy, practiced in English Composition classes at CCV. Each guide would have an opportunity to develop his/her own tour, on a theme of one's choice. After over a year of training and practice, the guides would be eligible to work with a diverse population that visited the museum - from refugees to visitors from shelters - i.e. not the usual "privileged" museum visitors. The tours would be designed to fit the needs of each group. In educational circles, this is called "student-centered learning." Because I retained my Canadian citi-

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By Roland (Slim) Payne

As I write this, I think these are the coldest and windiest days this winter. Yesterday morning, my weather station read -20 degrees with 25 miles per hour wind, and showed -63 degrees’ wind chill. So, I stayed in the house. Today is a little better - at 1:00 p.m., 5 degrees and wind child of -18 degrees – cold but better. Next in line is a Northeaster for a couple of days. Now is the time to get tools ready to prune apple trees when it warms up a little. It is also about time to start veggie pants. Correction from last month: I said I have six horse chestnut trees about one foot tall, but they ae American chestnuts.

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Montreal

zenship, moving back hasn't been inordinately difficult, and we have high hopes that Phillip's application for status as a landed immigrant will be approved very soon. We managed to rent our house in Cabot, and still have access to our small guest cottage across the Cabot Road. Fifty years after entering McGill as a naive freshman, I went back to school. (Goodness!). On September 20, 2016, I packed a lunch, gathered up my laptop, took a deep breath and went to my first class, this time at Concordia University. Concordia and the Museum of Fine Arts' Educators developed the curriculum for the potential guides together. We would spend the mornings learning and practicing museum dialogue, and the afternoons in the galleries. Its goal is to engage families and schools, seniors and local communities. Nathalie Bondil, the Director and Chief Curator of the Museum, described the partnership’s goals of the Art Therapy program, housed in the Peace Pavilion: "As a result of this collaboration, our permanent collection will be enhanced by pedagogical content designed by university researchers.... For the first time ever, an art hive - a unique community studio space - will be established at a museum, and the MMFA will participate in the art education certification process of Concordia. Today, peace and harmony unite for the well-being of our society to develop projects for the well-being of society." I encourage you to visit! If you do, please don't hesitate to let me know (zynia13@yahoo.com) and if I'm in town, would love to show off my new workplace. Check out the exhibits—The Sounds of Mark Chagall - music accompanies the very colourful show: (mbam.qc.ca - in French and English

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T REE W ARDEN H ELPER

I want to thank the Selectboard for the plaque for years of service as the Tree Warden (thank you). I had to give it up because of health demands at home, but I will still be involved some. My son, Roland, took the Tree Warden job if I would help him, and I will.

A guy went into an Island Pond barber shop for a shave. The barber placed a wooden ball in the customer’s mouth to stretch his cheeks for a closer shave. “Buff, whaf iff I wallow iff by miftake”?, the fellow asked. “No problem,” replied the barber. “Just bring it back tomorrow, like everyone else does.”

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Check us out at

www.twinvalleyseniors.org We at Twin Valley Senior Center want every resident in the towns we serve to know how grateful we are for your support at your Town Meeting for approving our appropriation request. As Director, I feel it is important for you to know that we operate TVSC on a very small budget. This is largely possible thanks to our dedicated staff of volunteers who work so hard at the Center. Our volunteers dedicate their time because they care deeply about our elderly and disabled residents. They, along with me, want to make certain our seniors receive from TVSC any and all the help we can offer to allow these residents to remain in their own homes. We moved to our present location, 4583 US Route 2, due to lack of space and the rising need for the services we offer to the residents in the six towns we serve. We know what we do makes a difference in the lives of our elderly population. We have increased our Bone Builder’s classes to three (3) times daily except on Fridays, when there are just two (2) classes. We have increased Tai Chi classes to four (4) times weekly. The Center is now holding Feldenkrais classes, added classes for art, pastel and chorus. We have weekly Cribbage teams, Rummy, Pinochle, and Mah Jongg

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C ENTER

games. We also provide blood draws, tax preparation, blood pressure and foot clinics and yes, medical equipment that can be loaned out to whomever needs any of the items we have available. We have wheelchairs, walkers, canes, shower accessories, and men and women’s Depends. Please call us if you are in need or know someone that is. We are serving between 25-35 people on-site meals three (3) times a week and, currently, our Guardian Angel Meals on Wheels drivers are delivering 192 meals weekly to our homebound residents. These same drivers deliver food for our residents’ pets. The pet food is purchased through a Pet Grant fund we received. We reapply annually for funding so we can keep this program going for the pets of the seniors. This program not only includes food purchases, but a visiting veterinarian and pet groomer that make house calls to ensure the pets receive proper medical care and grooming, which is important to their health. Our seniors’ pets are the most dedicated companion to many of our homebound residents that we serve. We strive to use as much local food as possible in our home-cooked meals. This is only possible with the wonderful support and donations we receive from neighbors, friends, and local farmers. This, along with a lot of support from the outstanding program we are associated with, Community Harvest of Vermont. The income raised from our monthly fundraising events is used to help keep things afloat with the ever-rising cost of food and other expenses. There is no frivolous spending, as every penny goes to support the continuation of the programs we offer, which help keep our seniors and disabled residents out of the hospitals and nursing homes. Our work, along with other outside agencies, helps them remain in their own homes and communities. homes helps money. Staying in their own you, as taxpayers, save

Again, we thank you for your continued support. We cannot do this alone, and are very grateful for you listening to our needs and supporting all we do.

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by TVSC:

for info. of Vermont & New Hampshire. The full time tour manager, admissions to all Mill in Quechee, VT. Cost per person

at Weston Playhouse. What’s included: full-time tour manager and luxurious Vermont Country Store. Matinee at 2:00

Gondola Ride. What’s included: Leaf ride on the Stowe Gondola Sky Ride at the summit & Stowe Mountain Lodge, & lunch on your own at the Cliff House resavailable.

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Meditation Group – Third Wednes-

day, April 19 – 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Meeting the third Wednesday 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. And Still I Rise - Movie Series –

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Wednesday, April 5 and 12 – 6:00-8:30

p.m. Movie, free rice pasta supper (bring dessert to share if you wish) and conversation. We will continue looking at perspectives on recent history in America with the movie 13 th . Join us as we look into the past so we can learn more about how to approach our future in this country.

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Please RSVP so we know how much

food to make. Please indicate if childcare is need. “Between the lines, “13th” boldly asks the question if African-Americans were actually ever truly “free” in this country. We are freer, as this generation has it a lot easier than our ancestors who were enslaved, but the question of being as completely “free” as our white compatriots hangs in the air. If not, will the day come when all things will be equal? The final takeaway of “13th” is that change must come not from politicians, but from the hearts and minds of the American people.” –Odie Henderson.

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Cabot Old Time Contra and Square

Dance – Saturday, April 8 – 7:30 p.m. This dance series consists of monthly dances the second Saturday of the month September through May. All are invited. Music will be provided by David Carpenter and friends. The dances taught are easily learned by young and old. The contra and square dances are traditional

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P UBLIC L IBRARY

Vermont and New England social dances. Music is provided by an assortment of piano, 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

email samlyman@sover.net.

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April 20 – 6:30 p.m.

Come learn the basics of tree planting, with Nicko Rubin of East Hill Tree Farm Nursery, from siting and soils through fertilizing and fencing. The workshop will include discussion as well as a planting demonstration, with plenty of time for questions, so you can go home and plant with confidence.

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Thank You!

Thanks so much to Jen Boucher for all the work in preparing for the movie series/dinners held in March and April. Many thanks also to Paul Wade for the fun program on 3-D printing. The continued volunteer help is very much appreciated – thank you to Jennifer Barlow, Lorelai Bastress, Susan Dineen, Billie O’Connor, Vicki Palmer and Beth Wade. Much gratitude to all the folks who help with regular ongoing programming: Daria Babbitt, David Carpenter and Jonah and Ethan Socks.

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Story Hour 11:00 am - NEW TIME

• 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, into ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center in Burlington.

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I was looking at your website- it's

beautiful and got me excited for gardening season. Are you already busy getting ready? When is your busiest time of year? We start planting at the end of February. We're busy all summer, especially from May to the middle of July. The greenhouse and the nursery are really two businesses and they are both busy at the same time, so that makes it stressful. Greenhouse bedding plants are popular in the early part of the summer. Perennials, shrubs and trees maintain interest throughout the season. Some nurseries do landscaping- we have one customer that we do that for, which is Cabot Creamery. We plant and maintain the shrubs and flowers there. ner, who will be six next month, enjoys

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Do you hire help during the busy

gardening and helping us. Our kids all season? worked with us when they were here— Yes - Peter Lanoue, our neighbor, and our youngest left in 2005. That was the several high school students. We also try to have someone else, especially while school is still in session. Our three children, Sara, Jon, and Elliot, are grown, but they all come back to help when they can. Sara lives in the Burlington area and she comes back every Memorial Day Weekend to help us on our busiest weekend of the year. Her son, Hudson Wagend of in-house labor. Several dozen local people have worked with us over the years.

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What are some of your favorite

memories from those 28 years? Any not-so-good experiences? Any changes you've seen? Probably one of the things we enjoy most, other than growing, is having contact with the people who've come here. Some of the memories that stand out are of disasters - we have survived ten floods, and the year when it was 19 degrees on June 11 and we lost 200 tomato plants planted in the field. We've grown tomatoes under cover since then. We've changed what we grow - when we first started, we grew and sold vegetables. Increasingly, people are buying through a CSA, co-op or supermarket. Now, we grow mostly ornamentals, as well as vegetable starts for our customers who have their own vegetable gardens, and the only vegetables we grow are for ourselves. We started easing into the horticulture business little by little. Now, we grow everything from pansies to twentyfive-foot oak trees.

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What do you like about having your

own business? Gary, with a chuckle: They say people who are in business for themselves can't work for anyone else. Vicki: We get to create our own products and design things. Basically, he's the grower here - he does the planting and grafting. I'm a visual person and create the plant combinations. For Gary, it's a lot about the technical aspect growing strong, healthy plants in the greenhouse requires control of everything in the greenhouse, from the water pH to what kind of fertilizer to use. For instance, we have very alkaline water, and many of the kinds of plants that are popular don't like alkaline water.

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hronicle

ers, but we're very conscious of what we use. We try to stay away from anything that would be harmful to humans. That makes it challenging - standard practice in greenhouse growing is to drench and spray on a regular schedule. We try to favor conditions that allow the healthy growth of plants without using fungicides, pesticides and growth regulators. Also, it's hard physical work. We're getting to the point where we have to figure out how we are going to get the work done. You don't see many young people going into this field – it’s getting harder for a small family run business to survive. The gardening trend has declined since the 90's. It is becoming more difficult for people to own their own home, and a small business like ours depends on the residential customer.

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Is there anything else you'd like our

readers to know? We appreciate the support and partnership of our friends, neighbors and customers. We're happy to have participated in this with our fellow citizens of Cabot and the neighboring towns. We hope to keep doing it for a while longer. Cabot Greenhouse website is: http:// www.cabotgreenhouseandnursery.com. Local Business Matters is brought to

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 or email

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← From the Cabot Chronicle