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The Cabot Chronicle

October/November 2018 · 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/November 2018 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

Resumes Publication

by Paul Wade, CCA President

The Cabot Chronicle has been on hiatus for several months, but is resuming publication on a bi-monthly schedule starting October 2018. The paper will concentrate on Cabot events and organizations. The Cabot Community Association feels strongly that the paper is important for community development and communications and development. Like all small newspapers, the Chronicle struggles financially. The Town of Cabot has been generous, but the Chronicle had been running a deficit, which finally became too large to continue monthly publication. The CCA, sponsors of the Chronicle, has worked to find a manageable financial plan. The potential for advertising in Cabot is limited, so we must work within available resources. Publishing every other month seems to fit the available resources, both financial and human. When the Cabot Chronicle was revived about 10 years ago, a number of volunteers were involved, including an advisory council. That number has dwindled down to two staff members, Jeanne Johnson and Todd Jones. The CCA has asked Lori Augustyniak and Frank Kampf to act as an editorial advisory board, but more help is needed. Volunteers would be welcome to write or help produce the paper.

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Cabot Selectboard Update

The Selectboard meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. For many years, few or no people would show up for a meeting, with little or no public comment. This summer and fall, we have had more folks show up, expressing more interest in town affairs. I think this is good for democracy, and I hope we have more discussions of this type. It was asked of us to make a list of what projects are underway and some ideas we have for future or potential projects that will benefit the town. The board has taken a proactive role in its responsibilities, rather than a reactive approach. We want to look ahead and see what is needed to improve the economic climate of the town and strengthen its tax base. These are not in any order, but a brief description of where we are at the time this article was written.  Danville Hill Water Line- This project was worked on throughout the summer to replace the main service line. As with any projects, there were some delays due to road closings. We think the contractor did a very good job replacing a line that was leaking thousands of gallons of water. The final closeout list of items outstanding is currently being completed so that the town can sign off on the project.  Wastewater Plant- We are in the process of replacing an older control panel whose components are no longer available.  Cemetery Tree Removal- The Cemetery Commission and the Selectboard discussed removal of trees from the various town cemeteries. Many of the trees are rotting at the base and need to be removed before they fall on power lines or into the cemetery, causing damage to head stones that have a personal and historic value to the town. Alexander Tree Service was the lone bidder. There will be another round of tree cutting as more funds become available.  Old Route 2 reconstruction. The Route 2 multi- year reconstruction project has used Old Route 2 in moving materials and has caused some damage to the road surface. After meeting with Contractor JA Mac- Donald, Agency of Transportation and home owners who use the road, it was discussed that grinding down the existing road rather than repaving it at a considerable cost to the town would be a better solution. Various culverts have to be repaired and replaced to round out the project. The state is willing to help with grant funds. There are some other approaches being discussed other than grinding, with a plan needing to be in place soon before the snow flies.  Porter Road Culvert- Replacement of existing culvert spring 2019 paid for under a FEMA HMGP grant.  Sawmill Dam- We have had various meetings over a long period of time with the Department of Environmental Conservation, Ottauquechee Regional Planning-CDBG Grant folks on a project to remove the collapsed buildings on the sawmill dam site as a beginning phase, and eventually through other funding to remove the dam to lessen upstream flooding. The grant covers all expenses to the town. The landowner is paid 75% of the assessed value and all other expenses are covered. There has been some contamination found at the site and noted in the Executive Summary and Conclusions/ Recommendations from a 300-plus page report. We are waiting for more test results this week to define what areas of remediation (reversing or stopping any environmental damage) need addressing. The Selectboard will be deciding on September 18 to go ahead with the grant or forego the project.  Sawmill Yellow House- Possible site for redevelopment. Would need grant funds to pursue any kind of renovation.  Lower Cabot Store: A recommendation from Department of Environmental Conservation as a potential buyout project. Landowner is working with FEMA. It could take years before there is any availability of federal monies.  Proposed Fire Department/Ambulance Facility: The working group is meeting monthly on the last Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. and making progress. A recent meeting had some town folks show up with very good questions and recommendations. I urge you to speak to fire department and ambulance volunteers with any questions regarding the need for this facility and the ongoing problems with the current location.  Route 2 Town Parcel- the Town owns a 3.9-acre parcel from a tax sale that needs action. Redevelop, sell or what?  FY 2020 budget development will start in early November. If you have any questions, please free to call us or stop by the Town Clerk and leave a message.

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Lister Corner

Current Use Program Annual Certification for Agricultural Land and Farm Buildings is Due November 1 Annually by November 1, owners of enrolled agricultural land and/or farm buildings must certify that their agricultural land and farm buildings continue to meet the requirements for Current Use Program enrollment.

HOW TO CERTIFY

The Vermont Department of Taxes will mail Form CU-313, Use Value Appraisal Program Agricultural Land Buildings Certification, to each landowner at the address it has on file. This is a preprinted form with specific parcel information maintained by the Department. No generic form is available. A landowner must complete, sign, and either postmark or hand deliver Form CU-313 by November 1. Mail completed forms to:

Vermont Department of Taxes Current Use Program PO Box 1499 Montpelier, VT 05601-1499 Or hand deliver completed forms to: Vermont Department of Taxes, 133 State Street, 1st Floor, Montpelier, VT.

FAILURE TO CERTIFY Failure to certify by November 1 will result in the removal of agricultural land and enrolled farm buildings from the Current Use Program. When the land and buildings are removed from the program, the property taxes are based upon the assessed value of the property, not the use value, which will increase property taxes for the landowner.

HOW TO KNOW IF YOU NEED TO CER- TIFY

Available beginning September 10, 2018, a landowner may look up their School Property Account Number (SPAN) using the online search found on the Department of Taxes website, http://tax.vermont.gov/propertyowners/current-use/placing-propertyinto-current-use/certification or Google Annual Certification: Agricultural Land and Farm Buildings. You will see a button to click that says “FIND MY SPAN”. This list of SPANs will display the parcels requiring annual certification. This list does not indicate whether Form CU- 313 has been received by the Department. It is important to follow through on this process if you wish to continue benefiting from enrollment in the Current Use program.

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From page 2

The Cabot Chronicle is a home-delivered newspaper devoted to telling the stories of a diverse, and evolving community that provides the information people want, need and deserve to know about their community. The Chronicle is as much about building trust and inspiring engagement as it is about reporting, writing, and editing. The CCA will devise a cost-effective way of producing rich, engaging content that encourages readers to slow down and spend time with The Chronicle. We will identify the content the community cares about most and that which promotes the CCA mission while it sets the tone and tells the story of Cabot. Through The Cabot Chronicle the CCA will nurture and grow the community to be successful and promote the CCA mission to enhance the quality of community life for those residing, doing business, and visiting Cabot, VT.

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The State of the CCIF Trust

by The CCIF Committee Did you know that, at its inception, the CCIF (formerly known as UDAG) Trust was one of the largest grants received by a town in Vermont? The fund is unique for a small town in the state of Vermont and has provided Cabot with rare opportunities over the past decades. However, spending in the past several years has seriously depleted the amount of money available in the investment fund, which, in turn, has decreased the amount of money available to the CCIF Committee for Town Meeting Grants. The amount of money the CCIF Committee can make available to grant programs is 4% of the average balance over a specific period of time, basically the expected minimum average earnings of the fund. As the fund decreases, the 4% average also decreases. When all of the money awarded in the 2018 town meeting articles by the voters of Cabot is withdrawn, the fund is projected to fall below the $1,000,000 level for the first time in recent history. Many of the recent grants presented in town meeting articles have been either through the petition process, or generated by the select board, which falls outside the purview of the CCIF committee. The CCIF Committee is charged with preserving the fund so as to be able to continue to meet the needs of the community for many years into the future. The CCIF Committee is also charged with managing four grant programs: (1) Town Meeting Grants, (2) Subsidized Interest Rate Loans, (3) Educational Endowments (a.k.a. scholarships), and (4) Development Grants. The Education Fund is managed separately, and thus scholarships have not been impacted by the town meeting grants. The subsidized interest rate loans are approved for a ten-year period and as such are about the same amount each year. The town garage loan was approved at town meeting, to be paid for by the earnings of the CCIF Trust Fund. When the cost of those two programs are subtracted from the earnings available to the CCIF Committee, the amount left for town meeting and development grants is less than $20,000 each year. The CCIF Committee is reviewing and updating the CCIF plan in an attempt to protect, preserve and grow the fund for the future benefit of the Cabot Community, while still providing money for investments in the economic development of the town. If you are interested in our discussions, the committee meets at the Willey Building on the second Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. We hope to be able to present an updated draft plan to the Select Board in the fall for their review and approval, to be put to the voters in the 2019 Town Meeting.

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Lynn Jones Graduates from Snelling Center for Government’s Vermont Leadership Institute

The Snelling Center for Government is pleased to announce that Lynn Jones of Cabot has graduated from the Vermont Leadership Institute. The Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2018 was held on June 2, 2018 ,at Basin Harbor Resort in Vergennes, with Speaker of the House Mitzi Johnson delivering the keynote address. Jones is currently the Coordinator of Training and Compliance at Washington County Mental Health Services in Montpelier. As a participant in the Vermont Leadership Institute, Jones joined 22 other leaders from around the state for eight overnight sessions totaling nineteen seminar days between September 2017 and June. Speaker Johnson congratulated the class on their hard work and accomplishments to date and offered tips for creating change as they continue their quests to better their communities and Vermont. As Vermont’s preeminent leadership development program, the Vermont Leadership Institute was created in 1995 with the goal of stimulating citizen enthusiasm for and participation in public service. After becoming immersed in some of the most important issues facing Vermont, the Class of 2018 became the 23rd graduating class, with Jones joining a professional network of over 900 Vermont Leadership Network Alumni, including more than 500 VLI graduates who are making a difference in Vermont: leading innovative businesses, creating award-winning non-profits, serving in the legislature and state government, and volunteering in their communities. To learn more about the Vermont Leadership Institute and the Snelling Center’s other professional development programs, please visit www.snellingcenter.org or contact SuzaneTraheyatsuz [email protected] or 802-859- 3090. The Snelling Center for Government is a non-partisan, non-profit organization committed to fostering responsible and ethical civic leadership, encouraging public service by private citizens, and promoting informed citizen participation in shaping public policy in Vermont. For more information, please visit our website at www.snellingcenter.org.

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Cynthia Stuart New Executive Director at Faith In Action

by Susan Bussolotti Cynthia L. Stuart has been chosen as the new Executive Director of Faith in Action. Cynthia is a native of the Northeast Kingdom who spent over 25 years in the banking and regulatory industries prior to establishing Stuart Consulting, a business focused on assisting local organizations to achieve meaningful outcomes. Cynthia received her bachelor’s degree in English, with a minor in Business Administration, from Trinity College in Burlington, Vermont, and an MBA from Plymouth University in Plymouth, New Hampshire. With a strong desire to give back to her community, Cynthia serves on many local boards, including the new Kingdom East School District, Northern Counties Health Care, Sid’s Food Pantry, and the Town of Concord Planning & Zoning Board.

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Due November 15

by Cabot Town Clerk Betty Ritter

Tax bills were mailed in July. The first payment was due on August 30, 2018, for the municipal tax. Your second payment is due November 15, 2018 for the school tax. Both payments need to be paid in full by November 15, 2018, to avoid penalty and interest. If you have any questions regarding your state payment or didn’t receive one and thought you should, please contact the Department of Taxes at tax.individualincome@ver mont.gov or by calling 802-828-2865. If you did not receive your tax bill, please call the Cabot Town Clerk to provide your correct mailing address and phone number so that we can call you if your mail comes back to us.

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Anson Tebbetts

by Amanda Legare Anson Tebbetts, 53, was raised in Cabot on a small jersey farm. He is now the Vermont Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets, and he oversees 135 employees and a budget of $30 million. “I had a wonderful childhood in Cabot,” he remembered. “I got a great education and we had lots of fun. Most of my friends were from farm families,” he continued. “We did chores in the morning and again after school.” After graduating from Cabot School in 1983, he went to Emerson College in Massachusetts, where he majored in Mass Communications. “The work ethic I learned from farming prepared me for college, “he said. “I always signed up for the 8:00 a.m. classes. “My plan was to become a radio broadcaster. I was fortunate to be hired by WDEV in 1987. My first job was writing commercials, and I then moved to the news department.” “I had my toe in farming at the same time, and was milking morning and nights. I had the best of both worlds.” That world ended when his father, Arnold Tebbetts, died in a car accident in 2001. “That afternoon we still had cows to milk.” Eventually, the family decided it would be best to sell the cows. “That was the second most difficult day in my life, after my father’s death, the day the cows were loaded.” He is grateful that neighboring farmers are still keeping the Tebbetts’ fields open. He left the radio station in 1994 when he was hired by WCAX to be a reporter. “For my first job, I moved to Rutland and got familiar with southern Vermont. That was very valuable. I was down there alone, so it was one of the few jobs where you carried your own camera. “I was transferred to the Montpelier office in 1995. I stayed there until I was asked to join the Ag agency as deputy secretary.” Tebbetts worked for the State for three years when Marselis Parsons asked if he wanted to return to WCAX as news director. He accepted and held that job for seven years, supervising reporters and photographers. He continued to live in Cabot and raised a few animals, including three pigs. He used the pigs to entice a potential girlfriend, Vicky Parra, to visit his home. “I bought two potted plants and put photos of the pigs inside with a message, ‘come visit me,’ and left them on her front steps.” She did visit, and fell for the pigs and Anson. The couple was married in 2000 and now have two children, Alden, 16, and Adelie, 12. “I warned Vicky not to get attached to the pigs because fall was butchering time.” One of the pigs was a sow named “Clearwater,” and when the Meet “Stratton.” The friendly giant weighs 2500 pounds and is ten years old. Thanks to Gail Billings, I got to ride him at the Champlain Valley Fair . His teammate “Briggs” is back at the farm. Gail brings Oxen to Fair each year. Courtesy photo.

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 4 onward.

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Reviews its Goals and Priorities

by Gary Gulka The Conservation Committee was formed in 1994. Since that time, we have been involved in a number of activities, including: helping to write the Natural Resources section of the town plan, Green Up Day, water quality monitoring, public outreach and education, and advising the town on natural resource conservation issues. This year, we undertook a planning process to look at our goals and priority actions over the next five years. Here is what we came up with.

CONSERVATION COMMITTEE GOALS

1. Educate and motivate the general

public to improve the quality of air, land and water, and appreciate and understand Cabot’s natural resources. 2. Encourage private and public land

stewardship. 3. Know what Cabot’s natural assets

are (flora, fauna, natural communities, etc.). 4. Undertake action-oriented projects

to protect and enhance natural resources. 5. Support responsible natural resources stewardship by the municipality, town committees and other organizations in Cabot.

CONSERVATION COMMITTEE PRIORITY ACTIONS

Sponsor workshops and presentations on topics such as managing backyard woodlands for wildlife, managing invasive plants, and bird identification walks. Regularly include educational articles in the Chronicle on conservation topics. Conduct a town-wide natural resources inventory to better understand Cabot’s natural communities of plants and wildlife. Sustain a Conservation Fund (with annual town support) and other voluntary contributions that can be used for special projects and matching funds for grants. Assist the Planning Commission with natural resources issues in the Town Plan. Advise the Select Board on environmental aspects of various infrastructure projects and improvements. Help with the management of public lands, including the municipal town forest and Molly’s Falls Pond State Park, as well as any future public lands. Collaborate with other community groups and statewide organizations on projects that benefit or enhance our natural resources and recreational opportunities. The Conservation Committee generally meets the second Monday of every other month at 7:00 p.m. and invites public involvement in our projects. Current committee members include Cedric Alexander, Dawn Andrews, Ken Denton, Chris Duff, and Gary Gulka.

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Cabot Trails Committee

by Andy Gilbert The Cabot Trails committee was established by the Cabot select board this year with goal of developing a network of non-motorized trails throughout Cabot. The focus is on identification, development, and maintenance of a trail system connecting the village with the spectacularly beautiful landscapes throughout Cabot. Being at the headwaters of the Winooski, we have some of the finest panoramic views in the state, and we would like to increase access, attract visitors, and maintain a natural legacy for generations to enjoy. We believe an active and supported trail system will increase public appreciation of our open spaces, support community economic development through both local and destinationbased tourism and increase our overall wellbeing and quality of life. The committee is working to identify existing class IV and legal trail public rights of way, along with working with private landowners willing to support trail access. Usage is currently envisioned as walking, hiking, running, snow shoe, cross country skiing and bicycle where appropriate. We would also like to potentially include other nonmotorized use in the future as opportunity dictates.

Our initial work has been to establish protocol for trail use, landowner permission, to walk through potentially interesting areas, and to assess existing trails, including informal as well as legacy trails, like the Cabot "winter trail". We are also working on grant funding opportunities and hosting a Cabot town forest "trail day" to increase awareness of that resource and learn a bit about how to maintain and care for an existing trail. Finally, we are working to establish an on-line presence for communication, mapping, trail guidelines, and more. Priority areas we might like to connect include the village center and recreation fields, the village center and access to the old town center area, access to the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT), Cabot plains, the area around the Town Forest, and a corridor to Molly's Falls State Park and the Groton State forest. The committee meets monthly, and anyone with interest is encouraged to attend. We also hope to host more activities like the town forest trail day to get volunteers and the community involved in development, support and maintenance of an awesome trail system!

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OBITUARIES & MEMORIALS

William D. Blakeney William Douglas "Bill" Blakeney, 66, of Cabot, passed away after a long illness Tuesday, February 13, 2018, at the McClure Miller VNA Respite House in Colchester, with his loved ones by his side.Bill was born July 3, 1951, the son of Raymond and Evangeline (Bisson) Blakeney, and grew up in Barre with his five siblings. In 1991, he met the love of his life, Joanne Vecchiola. They married in 1993 and together raised Joanne's three sons, Ben, Daniel and Damien "Bucky" Dunham. Bill and Joanne founded Dunham Brothers Painting, Inc., more than 23 years ago and devoted their time and energy growing and fostering their business together. Today, it continues under the stewardship of Bucky and his wife, Jen. An accomplished and talented wood-turner, Bill preferred raw materials that showed unusual and interesting qualities. When Bill wasn't working in his shop, he deeply enjoyed traveling, spending time with his grandchildren,

Phyllis M. Dailey Phyllis Marie Dailey of South Woodbury, 69, died Monday, April 16, 2018, in her home with family at her bedside.She was born March 27, 1949, in Hardwick, the daughter of Leon and Pearline (Martin) Hayford.She graduated in 1967 from Williamstown High School. On April 1, 1967, she married Lloyd Arnold Dailey in Craftsbury Common. Survivors include a son, Walter Dailey,

Roy Steven Emrick

Roy Steven Emrick passed unexpectedly on June 3, 2018, in Cabot, Vermont. He was born on January 26, 1951. He

Walter Ira Goodrich of Cabot passed away peacefully at his Cabot home, where he was born, with family at his bedside, following his 90th birthday.Walt graduated from Cabot High School in 1946 and Vermont Technical College, with an agriculture degree, in 1949. He married Sally Ann McCutcheon of St. Johnsbury in 1950, and together, they raised six sons. Walt was well-known and respected for his strong work ethic, farming knowledge and overall wisdom, running the sixth-generation Molly Brook Jersey Farm with wife Sally. More recently his son, Myles, and wife Rhonda, continue to build on the farm legacy. Walt was very resourceful and could weld or repair anything mechanical.

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

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OBITUARIES & MEMORIALS

Francis George Wilhelm Voigt of Cabot, cofounder of New England Culinary Institute, died at his home in Cabot on May 21, 2018, following a long illness."Fran," as he was known to everyone, was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa, on March 27, 1940, to parents who had emigrated from Germany in 1936. He graduated from Wesleyan University in 1962 and earned a graduate degree in political theory at the University of Iowa, where he met his wife, poet Ellen Bryant Voigt. The couple came to central Vermont as educational idealists in 1969, when Fran accepted a teaching position at Goddard College. His gifts for administration and creative educational design were quickly apparent and during his 10 years at Goddard, he developed pioneering programs in social ecology, art therapy and other fields. With the founding of NECI in 1980, Fran found the vehicle for far-reaching educational innovation. In his unique curriculum design - combining hands-on learning, competency-based assessment, internships in the industry and a low faculty-student ratio - "the NECI way" was first endorsed by Julia Child, then confirmed by the many international accolades still being received by NECI alums, and recognized with second place in the 1994 National Small Business Person of the Year competition. Although he often described himself as "just a friendly guy from the Midwest," Fran was also committed to active citizenship in his adopted state and provided leadership to the Vermont Business Roundtable, Rotary International, and the Cabot School. The Vermont Chamber of Commerce named him Vermont Citizen of the Year in 2000. Despite all these achievements, and the eccentricity of his signature bow tie and antique Citroëns, he maintained his deeply-engrained modesty and his kindness toward others, which inspired confidence and reciprocal loyalty. He is survived by his wife, Ellen; his daughter, Dudley; his son, Will; his grandchildren, Mia, Colby and Nala; his brothers, David Voigt (Sue Neufeld) and Rick Voigt (Annemarie Riemer- Voigt); and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his name to the NECI Scholarship Fund or the Vermont Foodbank.

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For The New School Year

On the first day of school, August 30, students in all grade levels circled up to get ready for the 2018-2019 school year. This year, 167 students will be pursuing their education at the Cabot School. We are also very proud to announce four of our seniors are pursuing early college opportunities at Vermont Technical College, Johnson State College, Norwich University, and CCV- Montpelier. Join us in welcoming new faculty and staff: Molly Finlayson (Grade 2 teacher), Samantha Scribner (Elementary Guidance Counselor), Alex Hall (High School English), Anthony Christiano (High School Social Studies), Joshua Prue (High School Math), Dana Nelson (Physical Education), Polly Jerome (Design Tech), and Jackie Batten (High School Guidance Counselor), Molly Dawson (Literacy Intervention), Carol Mangan (Special Education), and Glenda Cresto (Principal).

Together, this group of educators brings a wealth of training and experience to our community. They have studied at Brown University, University of Vermont, Johnson State College, Merrimack College, Columbia University, Harvard University, Champlain College, Smith College, and Goddard College. Members of our new faculty have lived in South Korea, Colorado, Peacham, and everywhere in between. They bring a wide range of experience in education and schools, and in other fields (including work as a park ranger, small vegetable and flower farmer, builder and cabinet maker, professional bee keeper, theatre director, and manager of youth radio). All of our new faculty are very excited to be part of this extraordinary school. Check out our Facebook page for their pictures and more information about each of them.

CABOT SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE

The annual Cabot School September Open House was held on September 12 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Parents, students and members of the Cabot Community joined us for an evening of exploring the Cabot School, including our new high school curriculum, Cabot Leads, our Partnership with Siskin Science, and our positive behavior incentive system. Watch for information on all of these initiatives in future editions of the Cabot Chronicle.

SISKIN OUTDOOR PROGRAM AGAIN PARTNERS WITH CABOT SCHOOL

The Siskin Outdoor Program provides hands-on, physically active science programming to students in all grade levels. Siskin Ecological Adventures has worked with the middle school for numerous years, and last year started connecting their secondary ecology/leadership curriculum with programming at the younger grades focusing on outdoor science and healthy lifestyles. Teacher’s collaborate/co-teach with Siskin educators, increasing our capacity for further integration of content and transferable skills targets. The overarching goal of Siskin science is to encourage students to 'think like a scientist' and appreciate the benefits of being outdoors. Throughout the series, students will participate in a variety of hands-on activities that explore the natural world, with a special emphasis on the flora and fauna in our own backyard. Students work independently and in small groups. Science lessons and investigations will incorporate art, math, and history, and will provide ample opportunities for additional connections with our core curriculum.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR COMMUNITY

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School Board Update

As this 2018-19 school year starts at Cabot School, we’re excited to welcome back our students and a number of new, highly-qualified teachers and administrators who’ve been hired since last spring. Along with our new principal Glenda Cresto, many of these new staff were attracted to Cabot because of its strong reputation. Since starting in July, Ms. Cresto has worked with our staff to improve our efforts to develop and maintain a strong, respectful school culture. She has also formed a shared-leadership team of staff to enhance communication and decisionmaking. In addition to Principal Cresto, we have hired ten new staff, including three high school teachers, two school counselors, and a new Health/PE teacher. We’re also very positive about a major renovation to our school’s physical plant that was completed over the summer. Thanks to a $200,000 grant from the Cabot CCIF (formerly UDAG) that was approved by voters on Town Meeting Day, the gymnasium roof’s insulation and metal roofing were replaced. A roofing crew from Watershed Construction led by Cabot resident Brad Alexander removed the existing metal roof, plywood sheathing and fiberglass insulation that was installed in 1980. After that, the crew then inspected and repaired the roof structure and a second crew from Green Mountain Foam of Cabot sprayed an energy-efficient and water-tight layer of foam insulation. Following that, the roofing crew replaced the plywood decking, covered it with waterproof membrane, and installed a new standingseam metal roof over the entire structure. We want to extend our appreciation to both of these contractors for a job well done, and to the voters of Cabot. As we focus on making this 2018-19 school year the best yet for all of the students in our school, we also continue to be involved in the state-level Act 46 process that could impact how our students are educated in the future. After submitting an AGS (Alternative Governance Structure) proposal to the State last December, proposing Cabot remain an independent (unmerged) preK-12 school district, the Vermont Secretary of Education recommended to the Vermont State Board of Education that Cabot and Danville be merged into one unified school district beginning on July 1, 2019. In an August hearing at the State House, our Board made a presentation to the State Board of Education, stating that we would be willing to either remain an independent district and collaborate with other districts or operate our school as part of a unified school district with Danville. At the same hearing, the Danville School Board voiced its unanimous opposition to a merger with Cabot. The State Board is scheduled to make its final decision on which school districts in Vermont will be forcibly merged and which will be allowed to remain independent by November 30. Whether you’re a parent of students at Cabot or a community member, please consider checking out the CabotScholwebsite (cabotschool.org) for news about specific events and presentations at the school.

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Taylor Abbott will attend Castleton State University where she will study nursing

Lauren Bellavance will be attending the University of Vermont and plans to major in biological sciences.

Katlyn Bashaw plans to further her education at the Community College of Vermont while working part time.

Michaela Gokey plans to expand her knowledge and abilities as she seeks a career that matches her many talents.

As Shannon searches for a niche in the world of animal care, she plans to consider what matters to her and how she can make her corner of the world a better place.

Evlyn Hislop will study at Lyndon State College in the fall and plans to pursue a degree in pre-med tech.

Having spent the past year at Norwich University for early college, Paxton LaFoe will matriculate there as a cadet in the fall.

Matthew Lehoe will attend Norwich University, where he plans to study criminal justice.

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Cameron Mueller-Harder

Alexis Lovely is joining the world of work and will be bringing her warmth and friendliness to everyone she meets.

Connor Towndrow will be attending Community College of Vermont in the fall.

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 Cameron Mueller-Harder

Cameron Mueller-Harder will matriculate to Amherst College in the fall.

Having spent the past year at early college, Abigail Walker will matriculate to Hampshire College as a rising sophomore.

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 Natalie Mudgett-Fox

This fall, Natalie Mudgett-Fox will begin her studies at Wheaton College where she plans to major in psychology.

Breanna North is excited about launching her career as an event planner.

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General Guidelines for Blood Donation: 

 Be in good general health and feeling well.  Be at least 17 years old in most states (16 years

old with parental consent in some states).  Weigh at least 110 pounds. Additional weight

requirements apply for donors 18 years old and younger and all high school donors.  Have not donated blood in the last 56 days.

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with 2018 Service Award

1. Church Clock: Jan spent an incredible amount of time, effort and labor--and probably some of his own funds--to get the town clock in the church steeple repaired. The town clock would likely still be broken had it not been for Jan's efforts and leadership, but it is working perfectly, now. 2. UDAG (now CCIF): For years, Jan served on the UDAG Committee as chair and treasurer, maintaining the financial records and completing the bookkeeping and accounting requirements, all pro bono. 3. Purchase of white house on Main Street, now being converted to Arts and Crafts Studio: Jan purchased the little white house on Main Street and is currently having the building transformed into an arts and crafts studio where Cabot residents can display and sell their works. 4. Improved south entrance on Route 215 into Cabot village: Jan purchased an old vacant building across the street from the fire house, had it torn down and replaced by beautiful landscaping with handsome rock walls installed by Richard Ducharme, significantly improving the entrance into the village. 5. Served as Town Moderator for several years; 6. Served on the Cabot School Board; 7. Provided leadership on the Cabot Village Revitalization Committee, recently renamed the Cabot Economic Development Committee, which will soon publish its first report prepared by Consultant Peter Fairweather. 8. Key player in reactivating and revitalizing Cabot Community Association: Jan has helped CCA support many Cabot volunteer initiatives, freeing townspeople doing good work from worrying about many accounting, insurance and banking legal responsibilities. He was also active in CCA’s purchase of the brown building on Main Street, working toward developing a more robust future for that property. In summary, the Cabot community is a much better place to live because of Jan's many significant contributions over the decades. Thank you Jan.

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An Interview with Gallery Manager Sandy Ducharme

by Lori Augustyniak What was the original intent when coming up with the concept for The Cabot Artisans Gallery?

The intent was/is to have a nice place in Cabot to showcase the work of the many talented artisans right here in our local community. We now have 39 juried members. We want to give visitors more reasons to come to Cabot!

Who else was or is involved?

The community has been very supportive of this new effort. We are amazed at the quality of the artisans' work and hope to expand further next season. This is a major volunteer effort and all volunteered our own expertise in growing this into a business for Cabot. It would not have come together without the generosity and vision of Jan Westervelt. He purchased the building and rents it to the Cabot Community Association for a very reasonable fee. Roz Daniels, Ruth Kaldor, Ken Klingler, and Janet Van Fleet have been instrumental in participating on different committees to organize and run the Gallery. We also have working members who work in the Gallery four shifts per month.

What will a visitor to the gallery see or experience? The Cabot Artisans Gallery is a unique addition to the village. We offer a place for local artisans to display and sell their work. Many of them do not have their own studios, and found it difficult to sell their work. The Gallery has wonderful watercolor and oil paintings, great photography, many different fiber arts, pottery, unique jewelry, amazing wood carvings, books by local writers, maple syrup and many other items. This is a great place for shoppers to purchase locally made gifts for weddings, birthdays, and holidays.

What made you decide to become the founding manager of the gallery? I felt this was a good opportunity to help the community develop a special gallery for our local area. It is rewarding to work with other residents in making Cabot a better place. I was the manager of the Artisans Hand Craft Gallery for several years and have been a fiber artist for more than 30 years. I enjoy working with other artisans.

Sandy Ducharme, Gallery Manager How do you find the artists for the gallery? We developed a management committee and identified local artisans. We did an outreach letter to the community, announcing our intentions and inviting individual artisans to apply for membership. As the word spreads, we have artisans reaching out to us wanting to become members.

Are there any deciding factors that may make you want to include or not include a particular artist? This is a juried gallery, we want high-quality, hand-made items. We are small and do not want to duplicate too much of the same type of work. We focus on the local artisans and then surrounding area artisans.

What can we expect to see next from the Cabot Artisans Gallery? We are looking at developing/sponsoring artisan workshops next year. Education is something to be offered to local residents, as well as bringing in folks from other areas. We hope to continue expanding the membership and offering more categories, such as: glass blowing, stained glass- and who knows what we might find out there!

What is the rewarding part of all of this for you? The community has welcomed this Gallery with interest. It is rewarding to see this all come together. Local artisans are excited to have a place to showcase their work. The Creamery has been supportive in sending visitors to our Gallery. We are all getting to know our neighbors better.

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Bothfeld Family Reunion

by Amanda Legare The Bothfeld family had their annual reunion at the farm in August. Brothers and sister, from top right, Charley Bothfeld, 99; Walt Bothfeld, 91; Mary Bothfeld Golden, 95 and the baby - Clark, 89. Mary lives in Maine and Clark lives in Northfield.

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WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENTS

L to R: Nick Rushman, Ella Belenky, Knight Ducharme, (Edward & Julia) Johnny Maxfield, Lillian Alexander, Shane Gochey. (Courtesy photo)

Gulka-Jenkins Wedding

Julia Gulka (Cabot, VT) and Edward Jenkins (Tunbridge Wells, England) Married September 1, 2018 Ceremony at McPherson Pond, Urban Farm Road, Cabot Reception at the Gulka residence, Urban Farm Road, Cabot Julia is a 2009 graduate of Cabot and 2013 graduate of Middlebury College. Edward is a 2010 graduate of Hull University, U.K.. Both Julia and Edward are currently finishing their masters degrees in Conservation Biology at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, CANADA. Their research has focused on feeding behavior and ecology of seabirds in Newfoundland.(Courtesy photo)

Cobb-White Wedding Mary Elizabeth Cobb of Cabot and Elijah White of Corinth were united in marriage September 8, 2018, in Corinth VT. The bride is the daughter of Rev. Dr. Bill and Mary Cobb of Cabot. The groom is the son of Karen and Tracy Storey of Plainfield and Charles and Elaine White of Corinth. The bride is a graduate of Cabot School, SUNY Cobleskill, and the University of Vermont, and is an insurance agent specializing in farm insurance. The groom is a graduate of Oxbow High School and owns Fort Waite Holsteins dairy farm in Corinth with his father Charles. The ceremony was officiated by the bride’s father and attended by family and friends.

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Cabot Public Library’s Smallest Readers Gather to Celebrate New Play Structure

Saturday, October 6, at 10:00 a.m., library patrons age 2-12 will climb, slide, and swing, officially inaugurating the new play structure behind the Cabot Public Library. “We’ve been eagerly awaiting this day and invite all Cabot residents. We’ll have some treats and bubbles on hand to celebrate,” said Kathleen Hoyne, the library’s Director. “It’s our hope that the structure will enhance our Story Time programming and attract more children and their adults to the library.”

There are so many people to thank that helped in this process – the Library Trustees, Karen Larson, the Willey Building Committee, the Select Board, Karen Deasy, the Town Clerk’s office, the Development Review Board, the Town Road Crew, the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, and Lilly Talbert. It’s truly been a community effort. Hope to see everyone Saturday, October 6th from 10-noon. Bring your running shoes and be ready to play!

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Cabot Theater Gearing Up for Spring 2019

by Karen Mueller-Harder If you saw Mary Poppins this spring, you know there’s some great theater happening in Cabot. We had over 50 community members involved, from age 5 to 75. Thanks to everyone who participated or came to enjoy the show! Cabot Community Theater has now started planning for our spring 2019 show! This year, we’ll be doing a nonmusical comedy, with plenty of room for everyone who wants to be involved. We are in the process of choosing the show--the title will be announced in October on Front Porch Forum, our Facebook page, and Cabot Connects. If you have a suggestion of a family-friendly show with lots of roles, or might be interested in directing , pleasemail [email protected] by early October. If you’d like to be on stage, or on the design or production team, watch FPF, FB, and the December Chronicle for audition dates and tech sign-ups in early December!

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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

Twin Valley Senior Center would like to take this opportunity to say many thanks to all who have generously donated fresh vegetables and berries to the center. It is so great to receive these items that we serve fresh and also process for freezing. Joanne Martin of Plainfield has been very busy making homemade pickles for the center, which we so appreciate. It all tastes so good during the long winter months. Following are scheduled activities for October and November. Look for more information on Front Porch Forum, our newsletter, local media or call 802-223-3322.  October 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00

noon Flu Clinic  October 19 11:45a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Cycle of Life Café (All welcome)  October 19 Fundraiser at Canadian

Club  October 10 & 31 Foot Clinics  November 10 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Hunters Breakfast (All welcome)  November 12 Veterans Day Luncheon (free lunch for Veterans)  November 16 Cycle of Life Café (All

welcome)  November 19 Seniors Thanksgiving

Luncheon

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CABOT PUBLIC LIBRARY HAPPENINGS

by Kathleen Hoyne, Librarian

Thanks to all who participated in Cabot Public Library’s Summer Reading Program – Libraries Rock! It was a tremendous success, with 74 youth participating and 22 taking the 1,000 page challenge. Modern Times Theater came out with all kinds of songs, stories, comedy and trouble galore. Southern Vermont Natural History Museum brought in record crowds with live animals, including a raptor, owl, snake, rabbit and turtle. The Friends of the Library organized another successful Book Sale, which helps the library for special programs and projects throughout the year. Mazie O’Connor taught library patrons how to make colorful sculpey dragons, and Katie Trautz brought down the house with standing room only sing–a–long family folk songs. Thanks to Billie O’Connor for bringing Story Hour and books into the community and to Beth Wade for Story Hours at the library this summer. We have lots to look forward to this fall! Preschool Story Hour is every Tuesday morning starting at 10:00 a.m. and follows the school schedule. Every Thursday afternoon until Thanksgiving there will be a Play with Arts & Crafts from 3:15-4:15 p.m. for children 6-9 years old. Adults are welcome to stay or drop kids off, and adult supervision will be provided. Cabot’s Fall Foliage Festival includes old time fiddle tunes and stories of Vermont with David Carpenter Tuesday, October 2, at 11:00 a.m. There will be a Play Structure Grand Opening Saturday, October 6, beginning at 10:00 a.m., with treats, bubbles and play! Contra Dances will be held the second Saturday of the month at 7:30 p.m. from September through May – mark your calendars for October 13 and November 10 for the next two dances. Chris Wood from BALE (Building a Local Economy) will come to show his documentary, Dancing with the Cannibal Giant - five inspirational stories that “get to the heart of the great matters in human history” Tuesday, October 16 – 6:30 p.m. dinner/7:00 p.m. movie & discussion. Stay tuned for more information about an upcoming film series/dinner/discussion on climate change. We have lots of new books, audiobooks, etc. in the library – and if we don’t have it, ask to use our interlibrary loan system. Also – ask us how you can download free audio and ebooks through Listen Up Vermont!

See you at the Library!

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Cabot Recycling

2018 has been a busy year in the recycling world. China ‘s decision to stop accepting heavily contaminated American single-sort recyclables resulted in a glut of unprocessed single sort materials. The problem: after glassladen recyclables go through a crusher truck, broken glass is embedded in cardboard and paper. In addition, many non-recyclable items are also thrown into single sort containers. Many single sort recyclables are now ending up in landfills. Fortunately, the 43 Towns of the Northeast Kingdom Waste Management District (NEKWMD) separate all recycling at the collection sites. The result of source separation: clean, uncontaminated materials with ready markets. In particular, the NEKWMD has secured top quality markets for dry paper. The Recycling Center, located on Sawmill Road in Lower Cabot, is open every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until noon. An attendant is present to assist you. Tires and trash are collected for a fee. Please do not leave materials at the site when it is not open. The most basic requirement: make sure all materials are on the Acceptable List. Many types of plastic items, coated papers, zip-lock bags, plastic/foil food bags, etc., cannot be recycled. Please check before you add them to the big boxes and bags at the Center. The second requirement: All materials must be clean. Bottles, cans and plastic should have food residues rinsed off. A quick swish of water is generally all that is needed. Cardboard and paper must not be soiled or wet. For the complete list of materials collected at the Recycling Center, visit the NEKWMD website at http://www.nekwmd.org. If you click on Cabot on the District map, you’ll get a list of all materials collected in Cabot.

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Cabot Mentoring

by Susan Socks Cabot Mentoring is having a great year, and we’d love for YOU to join us! We currently have ten mentor/mentee pairs, and are aiming to have fifteen (or more!) by spring 2019. Everyone has busy lives, but please consider making time for mentoring. One hour a week is all it takes! No special skills needed; just bring your life experiences, an open mind, and a friendly smile. Mentoring has many benefits. Youth feel supported and cared for by their community. Adults stay connected to the up-and-coming generation. Substance abuse and school dropout rates decrease. Intergenerational friendships make stronger communities! All Cabot youth age seven to high school senior are eligible to be mentees, whether attending public or private school, homeschooled or unschooled. Mentoring is a great way for motivated youth with particular interests (visual art, science, reading, music, sports, mechanics, farming, technology) to connect with a like-minded community member. It’s also great for youths just looking for an older friend who likes to have fun, and is a good listener. Cabot Mentoring offers both community-based (year-round, four-to-six hours per month, outside school hours) and school-based (September to June, four hours per month, during school) programs. We are primarily financed through fundraisers, donations and grants. The program was awarded a 2018-19 grant by Mobius Mentoring. Our “Ride the Ridges” fundraiser attracted over 150 bike riders, provided a great day for a lot of people, and really showcased our town’s scenery and hospitality. Our annual Donor Drive will happen later this year, during the Thanksgiving/Christmas season. Please visit us on the web at www.cabotmentoring.org or w . facebok . c o m /cabotmentoring/. On our website, you’ll find program info, our current mentors and advisory board members, corporate and community sponsors, profiles of youth seeking mentors, and application forms for both mentors and mentees. We can be reached by email, [email protected], by phone 563-2289 ext. 204, or in person at the Cabot Mentoring office at Cabot School.

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LLOYD PLUMBING

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