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The Cabot Chronicle

April/May 2020 · 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/May 2020 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

Hello Fellow Cabot Community Members

I wanted to take a moment and introduce myself to you all. My name is Jennifer Miner and I was appointed on March 5, 2020, as the new Emergency Management Director for the Town of Cabot. I come to this position with over 20 years in the medical field including working with Cabot Ambulance, Cabot Fire, Marshfield Fire and the EMS District 6 EMS board in a variety of roles. With my connections and background, I have been able to step into this role in the midst of the Corona Virus (COVID-19) outbreak and stay apprised of current changes and recommendations at the local, state and national level. Even in the face of this virus, I have started taking trainings and completing tasks that will make our community as prepared as it can be for the constant changes ahead. I am currently looking for volunteers to join my team and together we will get through this!

Below I have provided some reputable resources that you can use to stay informed about the changes, as well as watching for posts on Front Porch Forum, The Cabot Ambulance Face book Page, the Town of Cabot Webpage and the Cabot Town Bulletin Board Face book page.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019 https://www.healthvermont.gov/Please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or text or call 802-498-8245. You can also reach out to one of the Town Clerks who are also on my Emergency Operations Team. Or obtain information from the Cabot Ambulance Community Outreach email @ [email protected]. Respectfully, Jennifer Miner Emergency Management Director Town of Cabot

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Green Up Day 2020 is Saturday, May 2

In light of health advisories, this may be the most unusual Green Up Day in 50 years. To learn what is going on in the state regarding Green Up Day, go to the website at https://greenupver mont.org/. While surely very different than past initiatives, it is still a good opportunity to get outside, enjoy some sunshine, and improve our surroundings. Residents can maintain social distancing and enjoy some non-group exercise and health-giving fresh air and sunshine by walking the road and area around their own homes to pick up detritus that accumulated over the winter. We expect Green Up trash bags to be available at Harry’s Hardware and the Cabot Town Clerk’s office, as usual. Disposal methods may be different than past years, but stay tuned. In addition, an activity/coloring book for kids can be found at https://greenupvermont.org/client_media/files/Activity%20Book.pdf. In lieu of traditional Green Up activities, donations can be made on the website, as well as donating on your income tax return. To ensure adherence to COVID-19 safety measures, Google Centers for Disease Control or Vermont Department of Health for the latest information. For safety advice on handling roadside trash from the Department of Health, go to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019ncov/index.html.

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The Australian Ballot Dilemma

by Frank Kampf There were several people at Town Meeting this year that voiced concern over voting early, and they wished they had voted after hearing the floor discussions on the articles. They indicated they would have voted differently. The controversy started when the town budget article came up for discussion, and several in attendance expressed concern that the Special Services Appropriations had been reduced, and some organizations were slated to get $0. Before the Town of Cabot adopted the use of Australian Ballot for all financial articles, budgetary items like the Special Services Appropriations could be amended on the floor at Town Meeting. Initially when the town switched to Australian Ballots for all financial articles at Town Meeting in 2017, the Special Services Appropriations were warned in a separate article even though it was included in the General Fund Budget. But in the last few years, all items included in the General Fund Budget have been wholly contained in a single article. At town meeting Carrie Harvey proposed there be two Town Meetings, one PO Box 192 Danville, VT 05828 802.343.3144 (Cell)

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Dear VAST Members.

After consultation with the Governor’s Office, the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) has decided to officially close snowmobile trails in Vermont for the season, effective March 25. Given the public health situation we find ourselves in, this is the right decision for the safety of our members and the public. We would like to thank our members, the landowners and club volunteers who do so much for snowmobiling in Vermont. And remember, if we all do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19, we can look forward to getting back to snowmobiling in December!

We hope you stay safe and healthy.

VAST Board of Directors and Staff

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Town Meeting Report

State Budget The first order of business for the House Appropriations Committee is to make needed adjustments to the current year budget to ensure the budget remains balanced. “Budget Adjustment” occurs midway through the fiscal year. The fiscal year 2020 adjustment was relatively small with less than a one percent change in the General Fund. This budget adjustment was supported with internal transfers and additional revenue as reported in both July 2019 and January 2020. The Governor’s Budget Address in January reveals the Administration’s proposed budget recommendations for the upcoming fiscal year, July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021. The recommendations fund the work and the programs of all of state government. Following the Budget Address, the Appropriations Committee began its work to create a balanced budget for consideration by the House of Representatives. To involve Vermonters in the process and give community members the opportunity to voice opinions on the Governor’s proposals, the Committee held nine public hearings across the state, including two at the State House. Over 350 Vermonters shared their thoughts and concerns regarding proposed investments and changes to current funding. For a summary on the Governor’s proposed budget please visit: https://finance.vermont.gov/budget/budgetrecommendations/operating-budget/fy2021

Message from Vermont’s Treasurer

The State Treasurer’s Office is responsible for reuniting Vermonters with lost financial property. Last year, over $6 million in unclaimed property was returned to more than 18,000 claimants and the Treasurer’s Office currently has over $94 million waiting to be returned. Common types of unclaimed property include:  Bank accounts and safe deposit box

contents  Stocks, mutual funds, bonds, and dividends  Uncashed checks and wages  Insurance policies, CDs, and trust funds Utility deposits and escrow accounts If you would like to receive the unclaimed Representative Kitty Toll

Cabot-Danville-Peacham property listing, please send an e-mail to [email protected] or call 802-828- 2407 or toll-free in Vermont at 800-642- 3191. There is no charge to the owner for the recovery of these funds directly through the Treasurer’s Office.

H.688-An Act Relating to Climate Change

H.688 – passed the Vermont House and is now before the Senate for consideration. The bill establishes the Vermont Climate Council which is responsible for analyzing and evaluating strategies and programs to ensure the reduction of Vermont’s greenhouse gas emissions. The bill requires greenhouse gas reductions consistent with Governor Scott’s Paris Agreement promise and VT’s 2016 Comprehensive Energy Plan.  26% below 2005 emissions levels by

2025  40% below 1990 emissions levels by

2030  80% below 1990 emissions levels by

2050 The bill also includes a Cause of Action provision. This provision does not allow the State to be sued for damages but rather would force the Agency of Natural Resources to advance efforts to meet the emissions requirements. Vermont has the highest level of greenhouse gas emissions per capita in the Northeast and is the only state whose emissions have increased in the last 30 years. These reduction requirements would be similar to other Northeastern states. Massachusetts passed a law over 10 years ago mandating less greenhouse gas pollution and has seen a 25 percent reduction in emissions, and a more efficient energy system. Connecticut, Maine and New York have all established a Global Warming Solutions Act and New Hampshire has a bill under consideration in its legislature. The House passed the bill on a vote of 105-37 and is in the Senate for consideration.

The House Ways and Means Committee has worked to reform the renter rebate program. Renter rebate has long been a source of frustration for many. The goals of renter rebate reform include: simplifying the process; reducing the error rate of returns (currently at 66 percent).

Renter Rebate The House is working on a proposal to redefine income for this program, moving away from modified adjusted gross income, and to revise the program so that the landlord certificate is significantly simplified. To calculate rebate, the Committee proposes to use HUD numbers by county for both income and fair market value of rental properties to provide more consistency and fairness within the program. The bill has passed the House and is now in the Senate for consideration.

As Vermont has evolved over the past 50 years, so have the challenges facing our state. The proposed changes update and modernize Act 250, improve the permitting process and proposes initiatives to better protect Vermont’s environment. The proposal maintains the current system of District Coordinators and District Commissions. The bill supports development in downtown areas by lifting jurisdiction in certain designated growth areas (designated downtown development districts and neighborhood development areas) where Act 250 review may be duplicative with local regulations. This provision creates an incentive for growth in downtown areas and also provides a similar provision to lift jurisdiction for village districts with municipal plan, zoning and subdivision bylaws that include river corridor protection. The proposed environmental/working land protections include:  Expanding jurisdiction to better protect

ecologically-sensitive high elevation areas, natural areas, and working lands;  Expanding jurisdiction to address development around interstate interchanges;  Adding criteria to protect forests and

increase protections for wildlife habitat;  Adding criteria to address climate

change through transportation and energy criteria, and incentives to concentrate new development in our designated town centers;  Improving protections for river corridors by requiring the Agency of Natural Resources to create a flood plain and river corridor permitting program that will increase resiliency in the face of more frequent, more intense flooding events brought about by a change in climate; Supporting the forest products industry through greater flexibility in permitted hours of operation and delivery of wood heat fuels. Improved public participation is a focus of the legislation. A provision has been added to include a pre-application meeting to enhance public participation and to allow applicants and interested parties the opportunity to learn about and discuss a proposed project, identify issues, and reduce points of conflict before applications are finalized. The bill is now in the Senate for consideration.

The Transportation Budget proposed for fiscal year (FY) 2021 is a $641 million program that funds transportation projects across the state. This reflects a $25,510,077 increase over last year’s budget. However, funding for town highway programs reflects a decrease over the FY 2020 budget, dropping from $63.6M to $62.1. This trend reflects a 10% decrease since FY19. Last year, the General Assembly established a pilot Electric Vehicle (EV) incentive program that rolled out in December 2019. This program has already helped fund more than 50 new plug-in car purchases. The House is currently considering a $3 million proposal by the Governor’s to continue promoting EVs, including more public charging infrastructure. About 45 percent of Vermont’s carbon emissions currently come from transportation and investing in EVs will help reduce carbon emissions.

S.23 - The Minimum Wage bill calls for raising the minimum wage from $10.96 to $12.55 per hour by 2022. A poll conducted by VPR – Vermont PBS showed 41% of those polled supported raising the minimum wage to $12.55 over the next two years; 33% of those polled believed the wage should be higher; and 22% supported leaving the minimum wage where it is now. This bill passed both the Senate and the House and was vetoed by the Governor. The Senate voted 24 to 6 to override the Governor’s veto and on February 25th the House voted 100 – 49 to override the veto.

Paid Family and Medical Leave

H.107 – The Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance bill was passed by both the House and Senate and was vetoed in January by the Governor. The House held a vote to override the Governor’s veto and was unsuccessful in its attempt on a vote of 99 – 51. Two-thirds of House members present was needed to override the veto. The bill would have guaranteed up to 12 weeks of paid parental or bonding leave and up to eight weeks of paid leave to care for family members.

The Vermont Legislature recessed for a week to help ensure that members, staff and visitors did not contribute to the community spread of the Corona Virus. On Fridays, 150 House members and 30 Senators leave the State House to return to communities throughout Vermont. On any given day it is not unusual for 100s of people, including school groups, to be in and out of the Capitol. The high number of individuals in one building, coming from all areas – including other states - identified the building a high risk. During the week recess, the building was thoroughly cleaned and open to only needed personnel. House and Senate leadership, legislative committees and all members have been meeting remotely to plan a path forward to complete legislative business. At the time of this writing, the Senate is planning to return to continue work on an emergency COVID-19 bill passed by the House before the recess. The budget is the only “must-pass” bill and plans to vote out this bill and other priorities are being developed. Please visit the following cites for information to help support Vermonters:

COVID-19 Updates: www.healthvermont.gov/covid19 Unemployment Insurance: 877-214- 3330; www.labor.vermont.gov Small Business Help: https://accd.vermont.gov/about-us/disasterplanning/covid-19-guidancevermont-businesses Essential Families needing childcare: 877-705-9008; https://webportalapp.com/webform/essentialworkers Childcare provider question: 800-649- 2642/802-241-0837; ahs.dcfcddchildcarelicensing@vermo nt.gov These are very troubling times and it is important that we all join together to support one another. If you need any assistance, please contact me:

[email protected] [email protected] before the articles are finalized, where the public can offer amendments, and the regular meeting. Ruth Goodrich, of the Cabot Select Board, noted that the board’s budget meetings are open to the public. Carrie expressed that everyone present cannot fit into the Willey Building (the budget meetings have been held in the town clerk’s office with limited room for public attendance), and others mentioned that the agenda for the budget meetings are too vague and do not identify on which day, or at which time, specific line items within the budget will be discussed. Since transitioning to Australian Ballots for financial articles in 2017, the attendance of Town Meeting appears to have not changed much. Town meeting minutes do not indicate attendance, but the number can be extrapolated from cast paper ballot when an article was contentious enough for the floor to call for a paper ballot. In 2015, before the transition to Australian Ballots, Article 24 received a total of 112 paper ballot votes. This year, the paper ballots cast for Cemetery Commissioner totaled 100. In contrast, in 2015 there were approximately 333 Australian Ballot votes cast, and this year there were 528. The average since the transition to Australian Ballot has been approximately 520 over the last 4 years. In contrast, at the Annual School Meeting in 2015 there were 112 paper ballots cast on the school budget article. And at this year's Annual School Meeting, there were 32 people in attendance, not including those seated along with the School Board to conduct the meeting, which consisted of 14 people and 3 students. The discussion over the town’s budget process continued during public comment at the first Select Board meeting after Town Meeting, on March 5th. Since the last action taken before the adjournment of Town Meeting was the approval of a non-binding resolution requesting a binding vote next year to return to the traditional Town Meeting, this debate may continue over the coming year.

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From page 2

I am honored to serve Cabot, Danville and Peacham in the Vermont House. Vermont’s legislature is made up of citizens from across the state. Each town or city is represented by community members who bring their neighbors’ voices to the House, where issues are debated. I want to thank everyone who has reached out to me so far during the 2020 session. Your feedback provides valuable perspective as we work through bills. This session, the House advanced and passed a number of bills to build a strong Vermont economy, invest in our communities, protect the needs of vulnerable Vermonters, and to prepare for the future. Please continue to be in touch with me during the session.

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2020 Town Meeting Australian Ballot Local Election Results

For School Director – 2 Years

Undervotes – 149 Michael Taub – 367

Write-in – 12 Steve Hogan – 1 Brock Miller – 1 Sally Rushman – 1 Rollin Tebbetts – 1 Damon Mulligan – 1 Michael Hogan – 1 Blank – 4 Beth Nishball – 1 Anyone else – 1

For School Director – 3 Years

Undervotes – 141 Lisa Olson – 378

Write-in – 15 Steve Hogan – 1 Lydia Pitkin – 1 Jeremiah Breer – 1 Angela Ogle – 1 Ben Levitt – 1 Rollin Tebbetts – 1 Chris Mulligan – 1 Anyone - 2 Vicky Tebbetts - 1 Miranda Hunt – 1 Cecilia Gulka – 1 Blank – 1 Beth Nishball – 1 Isiah Mulligan – 1

For Selectperson – 2 Years

Undervotes – 107 Matt Nally – 411

Write-in – 10 Frank Kampf - 1 Susan Carpenter – 1 Kelly Everheart – 1 Terri Nunn – 2 Brian Greaves – 2 Steve LaPage – 1 Peter Lloyd – 1 Blank - 1 For Selectperson – 3 Years

Undervotes – 97 Fred Ducharme – 417

Write-in – 14 Steve Godin – 1 David Pike - 1 Nedahe Stoddard - 1 Anybody - 1 Steve Hogan – 1 Isiah Mulligan – 1 Rick White – 1 Gwen Hallsmith – 1 Caleb Pitkin – 1 John Doe – 1 Terri Nunn -1 Peter Lloyd – 1 Blank – 2

For Town Treasurer – 3 Years

Undervotes – 96 Betty Ritter – 413

Write-in – 19 Michelle Leclerc – 8 Janet Newton – 1 Jessica Miller – 4 Kathleen Besch – 1 Jan Westervelt - 1 Anyone – 2 Blank - 1

For Town Clerk – 3 Years

Undervotes – 96 Betty Ritter – 411

Write-in – 21 Michelle Leclerc – 12 Janet Newton – 1 Jessica Miller – 5 Janet Westervelt – 1 Anyone – 1 Blank - 1

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Vermont’s Economy by the Numbers

 The 42nd Annual National Movers Study conducted by United Van Lines, showed in 2018 Vermont ranked #1 for highest percent of inbound moves.  US News & World Report ranks Vermont as the 5th Best State based on more than 70 metrics.  U.S. News ranks Vermont first for economic equality.  At 2.2%, Vermont’s unemployment rate is at an all-time low.  According to the Small Business Administration Vermont has 7,783 small businesses and 158,098 small business employees.  Vermont is 8th least expensive for personal auto insurance - 22.24% below the national average according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).  For the 4th consecutive year, Vermont has been named the healthiest state in the country by the United Health Foundation.  Vermont consistently ranks as one of the happiest states in the Union.  U.S. News ranks Vermont as one of the top states for health care access.

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OBITUARIES & MEMORIALS

Ruth Marie (Amidon) LaRose Ruth Marie Amidon LaRose, age 86, passed away at the St. Johnsbury Health and Rehabilitation Center in St. Johnsbury, following an extended illness, on February 14, 2020, surrounded by her loving family.

Ruth was born in St. Johnsbury on July 22, 1933, daughter to the late Merton and Annetta (LaBranche) Amidon. She was raised and educated in St. Johnsbury, at Mount St. Joseph Academy. As a young woman, she worked as a dental assistant in town. She met her husband, Maurice LaRose, at his sister Yolande’s wedding. They married on May 1, 1954, and shared 63 years together—until his death in 2017. They made their home in St. Johnsbury, raising five children, and moved to Danville in 1971. Ruth and Maurice established LaRose Public Trucking in 1969, and Ruth managed all the billing and paperwork until their retirement in 1996. They built a new home in Danville in 1987, where they lived out their retirement. Ruth and Maurice moved back to St. Johnsbury in 2007. They wintered in Florida for over 15 years with the last several being in Webster. Throughout the years, Ruth was an active parishioner at St. John the Evangelist, including teaching religious education classes and serving as a Eucharistic Minister. Ruth and her beloved Maurice were avid square dancers, and she sewed many of the outfits they wore. Ruth was talented

Barbara J Morse Barbara (Jeanie) Morse (80) finally joined her partner in crime and the love of her life, husband Cecil “Buggy” Morse, early Thursday morning after her battle with COPD and lung cancer. Barbara was born the daughter of Aimard and Frieda Lamberton of Marshfield in February 1940. She was a 1958 graduate of Marshfield Schools and later graduated from cosmetology school in Burlington working in several salons throughout VT. She met and married Cecil “Buggy” Morse of Cabot where they owned and operated the Lower Cabot General Store for over 25 years together until the sale of the store in 1985. Following the sale of the store, they started a new chapter planting and growing Christmas trees, operating Morse’s Tree Farm in Cabot for many years, selling thousands of Christmas trees and wreaths until her husband’s death in 2016. Together they enjoyed wintering at their home in Zephyrhills, FL and tending their trees during the summer and fall in VT. Each December at the end of tree season, they made the trek to FL to hibernate until signs of spring in VT. There they were able to visit and connect with fellow snowbirds. She also enjoyed being with her husband growing their with knitting needles and her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were the recipients of beautiful sweaters, hats, mittens, and afghans. Ruth is predeceased by her beloved Maurice of St. Johnsbury, her brothers Edward LeDoux, Richard Amidon, Lawrence Amidon, and her sister Darlene Martin. Ruth is survived by her five children: Susan Pierce and her husband, Wayne, of Essex Jct.; Jeanne Ward and her husband, Denis, of Monroe, NH; Thomas LaRose and long-time companion, Jacqueline Lumbra, of Danville; Marc LaRose and his wife, Diane, of St. Johnsbury; Patricia Pallis and her husband, Joseph, of Tolland, CT. Additionally, Ruth is survived by her eight grandchildren: Jessica Pierce-LaRose, Aaron Pierce, Kaitlin Ward, Jackie Gaouette, Jay Handy, Jon Pallis, Maggie Cofrancesco, and Sam Pallis. She leaves behind seven great-grandchildren: Mercy, Michael, Abel, Quinn, Mattingly, Maddax, and Elliott. Additionally, Ruth is survived her brother, Frank Amidon of Goose Creek, SC, and her sisters-in-law Rita Amidon of Fort Wayne, IN; Yolande Bates of Waterford, Jacqueline Greenwood and her husband, Robert, of Webster, FL, and several cousins, nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Friday, February 21, at St. John the Evangelist Church in St. Johnsbury, with private burial at the Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Memorial Donations may be made to the St. Johnsbury Meals on Wheels & Meal Site, PO Box 21, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.saylesfh.com.

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

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From page 4

Marjorie Bissell, 79, went to be with the Lord Monday, February 24, 2020. She passed quickly from a heart attack. She was born October 22, 1940. She was raised in Cabot and lived in Skagway and Fairbanks, Alaska, for 50 years. Bob ters Debra (Terry) Meroney and Robin Moran, sons; Daniel (Belinda) Bissell & Timothy (Kathy) Bissell. Brothers; Howard (Nancy) Houston, James (Joanna) Houston, and Michael (Ann) Houston, sisters; Jean Gaboriault, Patricia Rouelle & Linda (Wendell) Barney, sisters-inlaw, Barbara (Bob) Sicard, Betty Cochran & Carolyn French & brother-in-law, Ralph Bissell. She adored her 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren! Her passion was playing bingo twice weekly with her friend Vicky (Dan) Lynch of Rocky Mount, VA. She loved everyone she came in contact with and her smile would light up the room! She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Doris Houston, sister, Carol Houston and daughter-in-law, Tammy Lynne' Bissell. Her cremains will be buried in Cabot in the spring or summer. Arrangements were made by the Conner Bowman Funeral Home and Crematory in Wirtz, VA.

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

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Elected and Appointed Town Officials

Names

Chuck Marian(Chair) Bobby Searles by Betty Ritter Office

Planning Commission (7 members – 1 year terms) Kate Chatot Office

Moderator Town Clerk TOWN OFFICERS Name

RD Eno Betty Ritter Term Expires

2023 2022 2023 Jen Miner Bitty Ritter, Secretary Jeff Haslett Dawn Andrews Development Review Board Kate Chatot (7 members – 1 year terms) Amy Hornblas Susan Socks, Alt Larry Gochey Oliver Welters Jeffrey Haslett Assistant Town Clerk & Treasurer Michelle Leclerc Town Treasurer Collector of Lease Land Rentals Betty Ritter Selectpersons Chuck Marian, Chair Brad Alexander Gary Gulka Chris Duff Roland Payne, Jr Dawn Andrews Bill Wheeler Betty Ritter John Cookson Conservation Committee Cedric Alexander Ken Denton Fred Ducharme, Chair Ruth Goodrich, Vice Chair 2021 2022 2021 2022 2023 2022 Melvin Churchill, Chair 2021 Frederick Pike Chris Tormey Rory Thibault Sharon O’Connor, Chair 2021 Lisa Olson, Vice Chair 2023 Michael Taub Beth Wade Kurt Steinert Angela Olge Linda Gabrielson Jeanne McCallum Mary Saggerson, Chair Non-term Cameron North, Vice Chair Non-term Jessica North, Coordinator Non-term Stefanie Burtt Brock Miller Chair (Appointed by Selectboard) Greg Burtt (Appointed by School Board) (Appointed by Selectboard) Adam Overby Jeffrey Haslett Fred Ducharme Brad Alexander Paul Wade Bill Wheeler (Appointed by Selectboard) Dan Dunham (Appointed by Library)

Master of Colors Road Commissioner Town Attorney District Representative Regional Planning Committee Representative Emergency Management Coordinator Newspaper NEKSWMD Representative Ben Davis NEKSWMD Rep. Alt.

Listers Delinquent Tax Collector Grand Juror Cemetery Commissioners School Directors Library Trustees Recreation Committee CCIF Committee Willey Building Committee Appointed by Selectboard Matthew Nally Michael Hogan, Clerk Brittany Butler Jeanne Johnson Jacqueline Lumbra Susan Carpenter Dave Pike Deb Bothfeld Gwen Hallsmith Angela Ward 2019 2022 2021 2022 2023 2021 2023 2022 Non-term 2022 2021 2020 2022 Amy Hornblas Jen Miner Bill Walters Water / Wastewater Superintendent Ruth Goodrich Pound Keeper Animal/Dog Control Officer Fence Viewers Inspector – Coal, Wood, Lumber, Shingles Anson Tebbetts Tree Warden Fire Warden Health Officer Town Energy Coordinator Zoning Administrator Cheryl McQueeney William Ameden Glenn Goodrich Roland Payne, Jr Andrew Luce Val Covell Michael Socks Brittany Butler David Pike October 2021 March 2023

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Cabot School Board

by Sharon O’Connor It's hard to know what to write with so many changes by the hour. What is new is that Lisa Olson is now Cabot School Board Chair and Rory Thibault is Vice-Chair. We will most likely be moving to virtual meetings while one member is at a designated place-with primarily only essential matters-and roll call votes. Those details are currently coming together. The Caledonia Central Supervisory Website (http://www.ccsuonline.org/) has the most recent information on COVID- 19. Superintendent Mark Tucker has written six Newsletters to the sevenschool community at the time of this writing, and more updates will be added as information changes.

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Message from Superintendent Tucker

March 18, 2020 Caledonia County Supervisory Union

Dear Cabot Community, I was asked to provide an update for the readers of the Cabot Chronicle on Cabot School’s efforts to support our students during the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. I am writing this on Wednesday (3/18), the first day that school has been closed to students, knowing that by the time you read this in the Chronicle, some of what I say here may be out of date or superseded by events that have yet to arise. When we received the directive from Governor Scott last Sunday (3/15) to prepare to close our schools, we had already been making plans in anticipation that we might have to close – those plans had been underway for at least two weeks prior to the announcement. Planning for future events when you don’t have all of the parameters is challenging, but I want to commend the work that Principal Cresto, her leadership team, and all of the staff and faculty at the school had accomplished before last Sunday. Without that thoughtful pre-planning – at Cabot and every other school in CCSU – we would have been “back on our heels” this week. Here’s what I can tell you right now: Effective today, Wednesday 3/18, Cabot School is closed to all student instructional activities. The school closure is in effect until April 6th, but in all likelihood will be extended beyond that date as the course of this pandemic unfolds. Additionally, the school campus is closed to any use by outside groups. This means the gym is closed for athletic events and other gatherings, and CSPAC is also closed. (There is a separate directive in place statewide that limits gatherings of 50 or more persons.) We are requesting persons who do not have official business on the campus to stay away. This request is based on our need to complete thorough sanitizing protocols in all of our buildings, some of which will be closed off once they are cleaned. The Governor’s directive told us to ensure that students who depend on the food service (breakfast and lunch) provided at the school can still have access to those meals during the school closure period. I won’t go into the specifics here, except to say that we are providing breakfast and lunch to any child who wants it and we have set up a delivery system to homes utilizing the school buses. The school reached out to all of the families of Cabot School, but if we somehow missed you, please contact the school if you need breakfast and lunch delivered for your school-age children at home. The Governor’s order stated that schools are closed to students but school employees are to report to work throughout the entire three week period. There are exceptions made for certain employees relating to their own health and their need to care for their own children at home because schools are closed statewide.

We are continuing to pay employees throughout the closure period – we are not going to deprive our employees of paychecks and impede their ability to pay for their own health insurance. This was part of the Governor’s order, but I had already made that decision on my own. We have put a great deal of effort into developing Educational Continuity plans for our students. These plans will take various forms and will partly be determined by the age of the student and his/her ability to interact with staff using online connections. We have a good sense of who is, and isn’t connected to the larger online community, and students who are not will receive packets in the old way – printed format. Your child’s teacher is your contact point for these plans. At this writing we are still working on how we will respond to the specific needs of students on IEPs who receive direct instruction, given some of the complexities of need for some of our students. Last evening (3/17), the Governor issued another order directing schools to provide daycare for children ages six through grade eight if those children live in homes where one or more caregiver is defined as an “Essential Person” in terms of their need to be available to work to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. This includes educational staff, medical professionals, police, and other first responders. It does NOT mean that we are opening childcare for all families in Cabot; in fact, at this writing it has not been absolutely decided that Cabot will be a site for this service. We are looking at school locations throughout the Supervisory Union and beyond, and we will be making decisions on the best sites as determined by where our Cabot families actually work. It may well be the case that it is more convenient for these families to drop and pick up their children at another school facility that is closer to their place of work, and the Governor’s directive specifically allows families to make that decision. (This is clearly one situation that will be “out of date” by the time you read this.) Governor Scott has repeatedly said “This is a time of service for all Vermonters” in his public statements, and I echo that sentiment. I never imagined that at some point in my career I would be working on – indeed, consumed by – crisis management of this scale. What I want the Cabot community to know is that EVERYONE in our system is dedicated to caring for all of the children in Cabot throughout. We will be successful because Cabot School is a community within a community. I want to thank all of the staff at the school for their hard work and for stepping out of their comfort zone to do so much more than we ever ask them to do, and I want to thank the community for its patience and understanding as we continue to work through the shifting issues over the next several weeks.

Mark Tucker, M.A.

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Cabot Lister Office Closed

by Cabot Board of Listers

In light of Coronavirus advisories, the Cabot Lister office is closed. Closure will most likely follow the school closing schedule. We will keep the public advised via Front Porch Forum. Listers will do their best to meet your needs via email or telephone. Please call 563-3139 and leave a message, if no one is in the office at the time of your call, or email [email protected] and let us know what you need and how we can help you. We will respond as quickly as possible. We will continue downloading homestead declarations as they are received from the State, processing the calculations required for Current Use benefits, and supporting the townwide reappraisal process, as well as recording property transfers that occur until April 1 (State law requires tax bills be sent to the owner as of April 1 of each year, so we are required to suspend recording transfers in the Grand List from April 1 until tax bills are produced). The Townwide Reappraisal under order from the Department of Taxes is still ongoing. We are being sensitive to Centers for Disease Control guidelines for social distancing, and following the Department of Taxes Division of Property Valuation and Review best practices, but we are also still trying to meet the deadline for filing this updated grand list in time to produce this year’s tax bills. That plan, of course, is subject to change. For the time being, interactions between property owners and the reappraisers are completely within the control of the property owners, and are limited to confirming outside dimensions, which requires no interpersonal contact, and verbal exchange of information, which can be conducted from a safe distance or over the phone. We are doing our best to complete the work that needs to be done without jeopardizing anyone’s health. We will keep you posted to let you know if we are able to do that within the current timeline. We wish everyone good health and hope to minimize any inconvenience to townspeople.

Jeanne Johnson, Jacqueline Lumbra and Brittany Butler

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Childcare Needs for Essential Persons - From CCSU as of March 23, 2020 What is New

We are in the process of soliciting staff volunteers to work shifts at possibly one or two schools, running a childcare facility in the selected school for children of Essential Persons who are being called on to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Until we know that we have staff available to perform this important work, we cannot simply "open the schools for daycare," as one correspondent urged me to do. If and when we do open any childcare centers in our schools, attendance will be restricted to qualifying children of Essential Persons. I do not think it is possible to staff a facility at all seven schools in CCSU, so we will be strategic in selecting an appropriate site. I have received a number of thoughtful suggestions on how to accomplish this mission - I do appreciate hearing back from the community. One thing I cannot do is to allow persons who have not been subject to a background check to work in a school, even on a volunteer basis, and we are being somewhat hamstrung by local law enforcement agencies closing or limiting the hours of the fingerprinting services, a critical step in the background check process. We hope to be ready if and when the demand pushes us to open a site. Staff volunteers are agreeing to go work in any school that we open, not just the one they usually work at. I have designated a staff member on my Central Office team to take over as point person for the seven schools. If you are in a household with a designated Essential Person, you have a child aged six through eighth grade, and you find yourself in need of childcare, please contact Jessica Monahan at 684-3801 x 214 or by email at [email protected]. It would be easier for us if our resident families in the eight communities served by CCSU contacted us directly - the reporting out of the Vermont Emergency Management website is episodic and we do not have direct access to look at it whenever we might want to. Contact Jess Monahan. I absolutely need to emphasize that if we do get requests from our resident families with Essential Persons needing childcare, we will first need to arrange the necessary staffing at the school, so do not bring children to your school without first ensuring we are set up to care for them. In the meantime, we are feeding children and supporting their educational needs as I reported to you previously.

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Cabot Trails Update

by Andy Gilbert The Cabot Trails committee is currently in the process of wrapping up and completing the planning exercise we began last winter in conjunction with the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission. This is the culmination of a year of community outreach, meetings, and discussion around what residents are looking for in trails, what community concerns might be, how to best secure the support and cooperation of private landowners, and some initial getting out in the field and looking at trail opportunities. The final report that summarizes the work will be complete this spring. We will hold a community event, pending COVID-19 concerns, when possible to summarize and communicate. In the meantime, we have started securing some landowner agreements for trails access and are working to identify and establish areas where we can move forward with real trails! Stay tuned, keep getting outside if you can, and wishing everyone the best though these times.

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Spring Ephemerals

Spring what? Spring ephemerals are the first blooming wildflowers that we encounter in the forests and fields as soon as the snow starts receding. ‘Ephemeral’ means transitory or fading quickly, and that is exactly what these spring bloomers do. These wildflowers are a perfect example of habitat adaptation. We often come across these flowers near the end of the sugaring season in the deep rich deciduous forests before the trees leaf out for the summer. Spring ephemerals will bloom and often become dormant in the few weeks that the sun hits the forest floor. They are always a welcome sight to our winter-weary eyes, bringing color and cheeriness to the brown forest floor. Some of our more common spring ephemerals are spring beauties, trout lilies, dutchman’s breeches, squirrel corn, trilliums, bloodroot and anenomes. Most folks who have ventured into the woods at this transition time of year will be familiar with some of these flowers. Often the spring beauties will carpet an entire sugarbush with what looks like dainty white-pink flowers no bigger than a dime. While they look dainty, they are actually very hardy little flowers, putting up with spring snows, variable temperatures, and cold ground. The trout lilies are always a welcome sight with their bright yellow dangling flowers. Some trout lily patches may be a hundred years old. The dutchman’s breeches and Above: Dutchmans Breeches Below: Trout Lily squirrel corn are close relatives to our cultivated bleeding heart and prefer very rich moist soils. The dutchman’s breeches flower looks just like a tiny white pair of pantaloons. They are good indicators of healthy rich forest soils. The trilliums are familiar to most of us with their three petaled flowers in several different colors; the ‘painted trillium’ with candy striped pink and white flowers, the pure white ‘wake robin’ trillium and the deep maroon ‘stinking willie’ or red trillium. They are beautiful and welcome harbingers of spring. Another welcome harbinger of spring is the white daisy-like bloodroot flower with its big lobed leaves that linger awhile after the flower is past. A great place to view bloodroot is along the Bayley- Hazen Road up on the Cabot Plains in late April. Spring Ephemerals are interesting plants that have adapted to the forest floor habitat. They pop out of the ground as soon as the snow is gone, bloom for a week or so, set their seeds and gradually die back as the shade from the tree canopy darkens the forest. They are critical early pollen sources for the bumblebees before much else is blooming. Their seeds are very high in lipids and fats and a primary food source for ants, that will gather the seeds and store them in the rich forest soils, thus ensuring future populations. Spring ephemerals are also slow growing, and some may take seven years or more from seed to flower, so it is critical not to disturb these scattered populations.

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From page 7

The Cabot Trails committee was established to identify, establish and maintain non-motorized recreational trails in town. Meetings are typically held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Willey Building. Anyone is welcome to attend, and you don’t have to be on the committee to help. The success of the effort will be quite reliant on folks that like to do things versus come to meetings and talk. If anyone is interested in knowing more or helping please contact myself, Andy Gilbert ([email protected]), or the Town Clerk.

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Cabot Dog Licensing Due April 1

Late Fees Delayed to May 1

by Betty Ritter, Cabot Town Clerk Due to many of the Rabies Clinics closing because of the Corona Virus, the Town of Cabot will waive the late fee for licensing your dog until May 1, 2020. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DATE FOR LICENSING IS STILL DUE ON APRIL 1, 2020. You can do this by dropping a check in the mail, or we have a drop box right outside the door that you can put your check in, made out to the Town of Cabot. We will then register your dog and send back a copy of the license and the new tag. The fee for this is $13.00 for dogs that are not neutered or spayed and $9.00 for dogs that are spayed or neutered. Our mailing address is P. O. Box 36. If you need to check to see if your dog's rabies vaccine is current, please give us a call at 563-2279. The Hardwick Veterinary Clinic has set up two additional days for getting your dog vaccinated. I am listing below the information: Again, the Town of Cabot is waiving the late fee until May 1, 2020 but a reminder that the date for registering your dog is April 1.

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ADVICE FROM THE TREE WARDEN

by Roland Payne, Jr.

It has been a long winter and spring is just around the bend. But first, we must navigate the spring mud season and spring cleanup of the damage winter’s storms have done to the trees in our yards. During spring cleanup, any broken branches should be removed from trees, and the branch then cut off at the branch collar with a disinfected pruning saw. This will allow the tree to grow over and seal the wound from the broken branch. Any pruning tools, particularly saws used to prune trees, should be cleaned and disinfected before pruning each tree. This will prevent the spread of any diseases or pathogens present in one tree to the next during pruning. For disinfecting of pruning tools, Lysol disinfectant spray and denatured alcohol are both good choices for disinfecting solutions. If possible, spray saws with a hose first to dislodge all particles, then give a thorough wipe down with a rag coated with the disinfecting solution of choice. Good luck with spring cleanup and pruning chores. For residents next to a stream or the Winooski River, prior to spring vegetation growth is the time to look at stream/riverbanks for signs of erosion and the possible need for any erosion control or bank stabilization. Spring run-off is usually very significant from mid to late April, making any hydraulic vulnerabilities along our waterways obvious. The Conservation Commission would appreciate input if you see any new signs of erosion occurring along our town’s streams or the Winooski River. Improving flood resilience needs to start at the top of the watershed; flood prone areas may be signs of a need for reforestation or some plantings in the riparian zone of a waterway. The end goal is to slow the flow of water downstream during heavy rains. The resulting erosion from heavy rain causes both sediment transportation and siltation problems downstream. Improved water quality benefits everyone and starts with acts as simple adding water bars or siltation fencing around ongoing projects in our yards. A simple google search of “erosion control” will provide many sites with instructions and standards for water bar construction and siltation fence installation. Currently, H.673, the tree warden bill, is being proposed by our legislators and has been referred to the House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry. The bill contains many changes to Vermont’s tree warden statutes. If the proposed legislation is approved, I will cover the highlights in a future article, but anyone interested can find the proposed bill at the following URL https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2020/H.673.

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Saturday, June 27, rain or shine.

Space on the Common (bring your own table and tent): $10 Your home site address listed on townwide map: $5

Hot dogs and hamburgers for sale on the common.

Please send payment to Cabot United Church, P O Box 127, Cabot, VT 05647. Contact info is 802-535-4545, [email protected]

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CABOT COMMUNITY COMMENTARY

by your own community Pandemic Economics The state legislators gave themselves a recess before addressing some of the problems that the declaration of a public health emergency and mass quarantine creates. Not many legislators need to worry about paying their rent and mortgage when they are not working (the legislative job does not pay much and many of them are retired or live on passive or family income), but for the vast majority of working Vermonters, the closures, cancellations, and delays cause serious economic distress. The fact that Phil Scott vetoed paid family leave which would have made it possible for sick workers to stay home without penalty puts all of us in a lot more jeopardy now than we would have been otherwise. The delay in a long overdue raise in minimum wage also means that low wage workers simply do not have enough of a financial cushion to survive periods like this. Now with schools closing, we are faced with new life-threatening economic realities. Most working parents do not have adequate income to afford full time care for young children, so they have brutal choices – leave young children home alone, stop work and potentially lose their jobs, or find options where the children might be exposed to additional illness to make ends meet. How can the legislature make sure the most vulnerable among us don’t suffer additional hardship in this very difficult time? Our elders, our children, our friends and families with high risk conditions deserve better. Here are some things our elected representatives might consider doing, even remotely, while they are protecting themselves from getting sick:

Expand unemployment benefits to cover people who are temporarily out of work because of the pandemic, not just those who have been ordered to stay home because they are sick. Reduce the paperwork required, make the benefits easy to obtain for small business owners and others who would normally have a hard time collecting the benefits. Enact a moratorium on utility shut offs, rent, and mortgage payments, putting barriers in place so people won’t lose their homes or critical services when they can’t work. This has been a successful strategy for pandemic containment in Italy, in addition to relieving families of unnecessary stress. Provide emergency funding to the Vermont Food Bank, area food shelves and community meal sites so people who have suddenly lost their income can eat. Subsidize the purchase of take-out containers for all the schools and senior meal sites in the state. Pay delivery drivers for their time and mileage. Expand the income eligibility for the program that provides Vermonters with subsidies for childcare for people who need to continue to work through this crisis. Vermonters are resilient and resourceful, yet this pandemic presents challenges even the hardiest among us have never faced before. We are fast to come to the aid of neighbors who need help, our small communities are tight knit places where people know each other and notice when something is amiss. Yet now it is wise for all of us to stay home, contact with other people potentially exposes us to sickness or worse. We need to work together to set up mutual aid networks and check on elderly friends and neighbors who might need extra help and for whom this disease could be deadly. With a lot of economic activity shut down, we also need to find new ways to trade and exchange with each other that don’t use the scarce dollars we do have. Time Banks like the Onion River Exchange, which allows people to make exchanges using time instead of money can help. Organizations like the VBSR Marketplace that facilitate business barter arrangements also can keep people employed and keep businesses running. If Vermont had its own public bank, finding the resources for all these emergency measures would not be so fraught with the looming overburden of debt we’ve had since we borrowed millions of dollars from Wall Street to rebuild after Hurricane Irene. Germany, Costa Rica, Taiwan, even North Dakota have these public institutions that allow the state to issue credit the same way banks do, and any interest that is paid on the lending comes back to the state. The 10% for Vermont program enacted back in 2014 proved that the concept worked, the $35 million that was put into circulation by the Treasurer’s office paid back much better interest than we get on our deposits held in the large Wall Street banks. But further efforts to use a public bank for all our public deposits have been stopped in their tracks by politicians like Beth Pearce who fear the bankers more than they care about protecting the interests of the majority of Vermonters.

(see ‘Community Commentary’, page 9)

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The CCA and Economic Development

Community members are curious why the Cabot Community Association (CCA) has become so concerned with economic development in the town. The CCA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that works with community members and other organizations to enhance the quality of community life for those residing, visiting or doing business in Cabot. Community economic development is an obvious strategy to implement the CCA mission and here is a timeline of how CCA participation in and leadership of these efforts has evolved. In June of 2010, economic development was on the minds of community leaders when a community-wide survey, conducted by the Cabot Planning Commission, revealed that residents identified “a healthy economy” as the number one factor in maintaining a high quality of life in Cabot. Economic Development is included in multiple goals of a comprehensive update of the Cabot Town Plan adopted in June 2012. In September of 2012, the CCA facilitated the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD) Community Visit in Cabot (https://www.vtrural.org/sites/default/files/content/reports/community% 2 0 visits /Cabot_community_visit_2012.pdf). Many priorities were identified, but the top three were to:

 Develop a Cabot Agricultural Network  Develop a Community Arts Center  Improve Community Communications An additional priority that received attention was economic growth within the community. Economic development was not listed as a priority in the Community Visit Report and Action Plan because it was already included in the 2012 Cabot Town Plan, adopted just a few months before the Community Visit. The three priorities in the VCRD report are essential economic development tools and continue to be actively addressed through programs of the CCA the Greater Cabot Working Landscape Network, Cabot Arts, and The Cabot Chronicle. In 2014, the Town of Cabot applied for and received Village center designation, which supports the revitalization efforts of small and medium-sized historic centers. This designation makes it possible for smaller communities to access financial incentives, training and technical assistance needed to attract new business and enhance village vitality. A partnership between the CCA and Town of Cabot began in 2016 with the submission of an application to the VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development for a Municipal Planning Grant. Cabot was awarded the grant and work began in 2017 to evaluate the constraints and opportunities for Cabot’s Designated Village Center, to create a plan to revitalize the village and solidify its place as the economic and civic hub of the community. The plan was completed in May 2018 and a copy can be found at https://www.cabotvermont.org/economicdevelopment-workgroup/. Also in 2016, the CCA created the Economic Development Workgroup (EDW) to facilitate the work funded by the grant. The EDW included representatives from Town government including the Select Board, Conservation Commission, Planning Commission as well as village business owners. In 2018, the CCA purchased the brown building at 3065 Main Street, as it is a contributing structure to future economic development in the village, and began work to implement some of the strategies identified in the Village Revitalization Plan. (Cabot Artisans Gallery, local Broadband connections and internet accessibility, recreational trails, and consolidate and/or strengthen festivals and arts events) The CCA further invested time and resources in initiating a new Municipal Planning Grant project in 2019 identifying trails as a new and successful economic development tool to promote local recreation and connect the village with assets the State of VT is investing in – Molly’s Falls Pond State Park on Route 2 and the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. New opportunities to promote the local economy are numerous, but for the time being, the EDW is focused on three tasks—how to address the property at 3065 Main Street, working with other downtown property owners to address village vitality and enhancing communication within and beyond the Cabot community.

The CCA believes that as a community we need to establish a holistic approach to economic development (not just focused on tourism) that involves all key partners to identify strategies that will serve residents and visitors alike. If you are interested in learning more or getting involved with the CCA or the Economic Development Workgroup please email [email protected] or call 802-563- 2064.

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From page 8

• Building Assessment of 3065 Main Street by Vermont Integrated Architecture with support from the Preservation Trust of Vermont recommending demo and

• Zoning Improvements to Village District approved

• Municipal Planning Grant for Recreation Trails awarded to map and expand recreational trails

• Village Revitalization Plan complete, priorities include Support community to improve trails-based recreation, Improve coordination of arts programs/community events, Address key buildings in village center

• Municipal Planning Grant for Village Revitalization Plan awarded

• CCA establishes its Economic Development Workgroup

• Cabot received Village center designation

• Vermont Council on Rural Development Community Visit & Report, led by the CCA in partnership with the Town of

 Develop a Cabot agricultural network, Develop a community arts center, Improve community communications

• Cabot Worx—convened as part of the now defunct Cabot Coalition- to address the concerns of local business owners and the local economy. Cabot Worx disbanded

• Cabot Community Planning Survey conducted by the Cabot Planning Commission

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Cabot Skating Rink - New Lead Volunteer Needed

by Susan Socks The Cabot rink had a successful, if short, 2020 season. We poured the water January 20 and had the final skate March 16. A fantastic new addition this year was the skate shed, which kept 32 pairs of good-quality skates clean, dry, and non-rusty. The skate shed not only makes skates easier to find, it will also extend their life, and extend the time between sharpenings. Shed base and skate shelving was built by the Cabot Tech Ed classes, under the very capable direction of teacher Polly Jerome. Another improvement in 2020 is the Cabot Rink facebook page, where we posted daily conditions. The rink depends on a large crew of volunteers to build, maintain, and store the rink. We depend on donations of skates and sticks for borrowing, and the community has been incredibly generous over the years. The rink also depends on rink patrons…seeing people use and enjoy the rink makes all the work worthwhile! I’d like to thank everyone who helped this year, everyone who donated equipment, and everyone who came out to skate. I went to an outdoor rink in Portland, Maine, this winter, with a roof, boards, and a Zamboni. While impressive, it also cost our family of 3 nearly $35 for an evening on the ice. I am very proud of our FREE facility, including free equipment use, run by volunteers, in our lovely village center. We have one of the best village rinks I’ve seen (though I may be slightly biased…). After nearly a decade as the lead volunteer coordinating the rink project, I am seeking a successor. I’d love to pass the project to someone who loves skating, so they will be invested in the project, and enjoy the time it takes to keep the rink in good condition. If you spend time at the rink, and are looking for a way to be involved and supportive in our community, please contact me at [email protected].

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Mentoring is for mentors, too!

by Susan Socks It’s clear that mentoring benefits youth. But did you know it also benefits mentors? Adults who mentors youth:  Have the satisfaction of making a

difference in the life of a youth  Know they matter in their community  Gain connections to a younger generation  Gain an appreciation for the diversity of people in our community  Add a person to their life who shares

their interests  Have a lot of fun!

I am a mentor, and I love spending time with my mentee. We go for walks, bake & cook, create art, and talk. Sometimes we go out for a day to a museum or concert, and sometimes we stay in. But it’s always a special time. Mentoring is an important and rewarding part of my life. We are currently seeking mentors for a number of youth. Their anonymous profiles can be found on our website, www.cabotmentoring.org, on the “Youth Seeking Mentors” tab. A great youth may be waiting for you! If you’d like to mentor in our community, contact me at [email protected] or 563-2289 ext 204.

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Chitty Bang Postponed

Cabot Community Theater’s production of Chitty Bang has been postponed until it's safe to gather enthusiastic and supportive audiences of 120 people again! When we have a date, it will be posted on Cabot's Front Porch Forum and on our Facebook page, and will be in the next Chronicle if it’s after June 1. In the meantime, we are holding online videoconference rehearsals to practice our lines and music, review our choreography (well, mentally, at least!), build our acting skills, and just to see each other! Once the weather gets warm enough, we may have giant outdoor rehearsals on the common where we can practice our choreography on a magnified scale (six feet apart!), so you may see us in action! After three solid months of rehearsals, it’s frustrating to have to put everything on hold, just when we were nearing our first run-throughs, but we plan to hit the ground running when we can, and hope to see all of you at the show!

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Spring Open Studio Weekend Celebrates 28 Years in 2020

Bright yellow signs compete with a multitude of greens along Vermont's roads enticing visitors to the studios of craftspeople and other artists across Vermont during the 2020 Spring Open Studio Weekend taking place over May 23 & 24, Memorial Day Weekend. Open Studio Weekend is a statewide celebration of the visual arts and creative process, offering a unique opportunity for visitors to meet a wide variety of local artists and craftspeople in their studios, and purchase high quality, handmade artwork. The self-guided Open Studio tour features the work of glassblowers, jewelers, printmakers, potters, furniture makers, weavers, ironworkers, painters, sculptors, quilt makers and wood carvers. Many participating galleries will host gallery talks and feature special exhibits in conjunction with this event.

The Vermont Crafts Council publishes a free map booklet with directions to participating sites. The Vermont Open Studio Guide is available throughout the state at Tourist Information Centers, galleries and studios. Request a map on theVCwebsite , h t p : / /vermontcrafts.com/OSW/springmap.php or by calling 802-223-3380.

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Point of Clarification *Cabot Fireman’s Association Information*

The Cabot Fireman’s Association (CFA) is a Cabot-based non-profit 501c3 organization that has grown since a collective of Fire Fighters began efforts in the early 1990’s. This organization is a separate entity from the Cabot Volunteer Fire Department, and thus separate from the town of Cabot.The CFA funds are used to provide support that falls outside the scope of the Cabot Volunteer Fire Department town approved budget. CFA is solely funded by donations, gifts, “in lieu of flowers”; contributions from people within and outside the town of Cabot.The CFA has not and does not receive tax funds, and none of the organizers or members receive payment for their efforts. The main use of this Organization’s funding has been focused on recruitment, retention and overall support of Cabot Volunteer Fire Department members. CFA funding has been used to pay for the annual Thank You dinner, supplies to put on the annual Pancake Breakfast, training fees-so the members do not have to pay out of pocket, awards for years of service, parade and non-gear outfits-hats, shirts, jackets, consultation to support members and deal with Attorney fees at times of legal or insurance investigations. Our most recent donation, not taxpayer funds, has been used to upgrade the computer system at the Cabot Fire Department for documentation and record keeping, as technology is always becoming obsolete. This upgrade was prudent to ensure secure on-site and remote access. CFA will continue to grow in its efforts to support all volunteers of the Cabot Volunteer Fire Department, and thus helping residents of Cabot and surrounding mutual aid communities.

Respectfully,

Andy Luce President Cabot Firemen’s Association [email protected]

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Community Commentary - Pandemic Economics

(see ‘Community Commentary’, page 9) It’s true that Vermont is a small state and taking on the banking and insurance industries to have truly public finance and health care is hard to do. The companies we challenge with these policies have lots more money than the State of Vermont, and they deploy many local lobbyists to make sure their interests are protected. Our lack of political will to do it leaves us short in times like this when the economy is collapsing, and we have a serious health care crisis on our hands. Perhaps the pandemic will have a silver lining and the folks we elect to represent us in Montpelier will find it in their hearts and minds to take on Wall Street and the medical insurance establishment for the good of all of us.

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The New Coronavirus Can Live on Surfaces For 2-3 Days - Here’s How to Clean Them

Reprinted with permission from NPR

When an infected person touches a surface, like a door handle, there's a risk they leave viruses stuck there that can live on for two to three days. Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg via Getty Images Originally published on March 14, 2020 How long can the new coronavirus live on a surface, like say, a door handle, after someone infected touches it with dirty fingers? A study out this week finds that the virus can survive on hard surfaces such as plastic and stainless steel for up to 72 hours and on cardboard for up to 24 hours. "This virus has the capability for remaining viable for days," says study author, James Lloyd-Smith, an assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Los Angeles, who researches how pathogens emerge. Although the World Health Organization had previously estimated the survival time on surfaces to be a "few hours to a few days" based on research on other coronaviruses, this is the first study by scientists at a federal laboratory to test the actual virus causing the current pandemic, SARS-CoV-2. The study is out in preprint form and expected to be published. Interestingly, some surfaces are less hospitable to SARS-CoV-2. For instance, the virus remained viable on copper for only about four hours. It's useful to know how long it can stay alive of course, because the virus can contaminate surfaces when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Virusladen respiratory droplets can land on doorknobs, elevator buttons, handrails or countertops — and spread the virus to anyone who then touches these surfaces. To test the survival time of the virus, scientists at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Montana, part of the National Institutes of Health, conducted a series of experiments comparing the novel coronavirus with the SARS virus (a similar coronavirus that led to an outbreak back in 2003). In the lab, "they'd pick up the virus from the surfaces that had been contaminated and then put HaUR virus] into cell cultures," he explains. Then the researchers documented whether the virus could infect those cells in the dish. They did this multiple times, for both the viruses, at various time points. "Big picture, the Had\ viruses] look very similar to each other in terms of their stability in these environments," Lloyd-Smith says. Lloyd-Smith says these findings establish a good ballpark estimate for the survivability of the virus on these surfaces. "In a laboratory experiment, the conditions are pretty carefully controlled and constant," he says. By comparison, "in the real world, conditions fluctuate" — conditions like temperature, humidity and light. So the survivability may vary, too. For instance, if the virus contaminates a sunny windowsill or countertop, it may not last as long.

"Ultraviolet light can be a really powerful disinfectant and we get a lot of UVA light from the sun," says Daniel Kuritzkes an infectious disease expert at Brigham and Women's Hospital. "Direct sunlight can help rapidly diminish infectivity of viruses on surfaces," he says. He was not involved in the new research. Much is still unknown about the virus's survivability on other types of surfaces like clothing, or carpeting. Kuritzkes says that based on prior research, it seems that "flat surfaces and hard surfaces are more friendly to viruses than cloth or rough surfaces." And how about food? "Food is probably not a major risk factor here," Kuritzkes says. That's because most infection from the new coronavirus starts with the respiratory system, not the digestive tract. So infection comes from getting the virus on your hands and then touching your own eyes, nose and mouth. "Of more concern would be utensils, and plates and cups that might be handled by a large number of people in a cafeteria setting, for example," he says. So, what can you do to protect yourself? Well, you've likely already heard this. Wash your hands. And wipe down shared surfaces.

Follow these tips for cleaning surfaces — your own and public ones.

Wipe right: Use ammonia or alcoholbased products. Skip the baby wipes. Maintaining awareness of the many surfaces you touch during the day and cleaning them with approved products will help curb the spread of the coronavirus. Max Posner/NPR "The good thing about COVID-19 is that it does not require any unique cleaning chemicals to disinfect hands and surfaces," says Andrew Janowski, an infectious disease expert at Washington University School of Medicine and St. Louis Children's Hospital. COVID-19 is the disease caused by the current coronavirus, Good old-fashioned soap and water does the trick. You can also use a wipe, but make sure you use an alcohol-based wipe, not baby wipes, which may not be effective, Janowski says. And given that wipes are hard to come by at many stores at the moment, you can instead buy an EPA-registered disinfecting spray, such as one on this list from the Center for Biocide Chemistries (https://www.americanchemis try.com/Novel-Coronavirus-Fighting- Products-List.pdf), recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and by Dr. David Warren, an infectious disease specialist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Or make a bleach-based spray yourself. You can make a DIY cleaning spray by mixing 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water, according to the CDC.

Wash. Your. Hands. (Seriously!)

Yes, you've heard it a hundred times. So do it, already! Especially after you've been out in public, touching a lot of surfaces. Lather up with soap and scrub for 20 seconds. (Two times the "Happy Birthday" song, or sing "Baby Shark" —you'll get midway through Daddy Shark). And be thorough. Spend some time rubbing the backs of your hands as well as the front, interlace your fingers and pull them through, soap up each thumb with the opposite hand and, finally, to keep your fingernails virus-free, lightly scratch them against your palm. (For more detail, listen to NPR Short Wave's Maddie Sofia give a lesson here: https://www.npr.org/2020/02/28/810501490/handwashing-101-a-guide-to-properwashing-and-drying.) Hand-washing is so important that if everyone followed good hand-washing hygiene, it could prevent an estimated 1 in 5 respiratory infections, according to the CDC — that's the equivalent of about 6 million cases of the flu this year.

Hand sanitizer: DIY in a pinch?

Hand sanitizer is effective at killing viruses, too, although hand-washing is preferred, according to the CDC. If you can't get to a sink, hand sanitizer is a good backup plan — just make sure it's at least 60% alcohol.

Given the shortage of hand sanitizers in some stores and reports of pricegouging online, there's lots of interest in DIY hand sanitizer. We've seen lots of recipes calling for a combination of rubbing alcohol and aloe vera gel, like this one from Wired (https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-make-hand-sanitizer/).

"On paper, if a recipe can maintain the alcohol concentration above 60%, it should be effective against SARS-COV- 2," says Andrew Janowski, but he says getting it just right might be trickier than you think. If in doubt when making these homemade sanitizers, soap and water are still effective against the virus.

Your smartphone is like a third hand. Wipe it down One way to fend off germs: Clean your phone. Your phone is your "third hand"; one that harbors the multitude of germs and bacteria we come into contact with each day. Photo Illustration by Max Posner/NPR So you've just washed your hands and you're feeling squeaky clean. Then you pick up your cellphone, and guess what? It's covered with potential pathogens. "Studies have shown that smartphones surfaces are covered in bacteria, including bacteria that can cause serious infections like Staphylococcus species," says Judy Guzman-Cottrill, an infectious disease expert at Oregon Health & Science University. And phones are often held close to the eyes, nose and mouth, where germs can enter the body. So wipe it down often. And you don't have to rub down your phone for long if you're using an alcoholbased sanitizer. "Just a few seconds should be sufficient to disinfect," says Janowski.

Try this stinky trick to stop touching your face Having trouble remembering not to touch your face? Try rubbing a raw onion after hand-washing. Photo Illustration by Max Posner/NPR Your face offers multiple entry points for the virus. So every time you touch your eyes, nose and mouth with grubby hands, you risk infection. "If you have touched a table or a doorknob or some surface contaminated HdVaU the virus] and then touch your eyes, nose or mouth, you have a chance of inoculating yourself with the virus," Kuritzkes says. But, as a matter of habit, most of us touch our faces multiple times an hour without even realizing it. So, here's an idea. "After you wash your hands really well, touch a piece of raw onion," says Catherine Belling of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. With this strong smell on your fingers, "you'll notice when you touch your face," she says. Sure, it may make you a tad antisocial, but it could be a good way to train yourself to touch less.

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

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Your Tax Money and Cabot Fire Department

If you live in Cabot, you should know that your Fire Department is not experiencing a crisis. Not just yet, anyway. But there is both danger and opportunity of which you should be aware. The danger is twofold: The fire station is not in compliance with several health, safety and access laws that are very expensive to resolve. But, of more importance, even with spending more and more of your money to attempt to bring the building into compliance(as the select board is doing against the fire department’s wishes), at the end of the day, it will still not be adequate to meet 21st century needs for the Town. The Fire Department will still need to eventually relocate. Years ago, fire stations were often called "The Barn," as that's what most actually were. But now, more is needed besides a simple barn... or your present fire station. Space requirements become an issue as apparatus gets larger and more complex. Is it time to add a small 4WD engine that can access winter driveways and class 4 roads? How do you find room to safely decontaminate firefighters, turn-out gear and apparatus after a fire? Where do you find room for offices, a meeting area, and file storage? Dispatching in an event of a major town wide incident? How do you find space for training drills when weather prevents outside drills? The bottom line is the taxpayers of Cabot have spent over ten thousand dollars in less than eight months in a couple of sinks, a small heater and a few sheets of sheetrock, some paint and a metal door. This is just the beginning! Even after thousands and thousands of more dollars get dumped into the existing building, it still won’t be big enough or comply with all the safety issues. Is that what you want done with your tax money, or do you think it’s time and more cost effective to build a new building on property that the Town already bought for just this reason, and to safeguard the volunteers. That would be a good “Thank you” to all volunteers. That the town folks care about their health and the new modern dangers of firefighting that are around us that we face potentially every day. Your 20th century fire station cannot meet 21st century Town needs. That's a danger that may eventually result in a crisis. But the good news is that there IS opportunity. There is land available for a modern building and grant money may be available to help. Different funding is being investigated (we’re taxpayers, also). Perhaps the town (you) could sell the old Fire Department building to a private entity. That money could be put towards the new building. It will also make all the violations that the Town is liable for go away. Your fire department would like to hear from ALL Cabot residents. Please email us at [email protected] or contact Chief Bothfeld. We'll listen to your concerns, provide information, discuss various options, share our concerns with you, show you statistics, and answer questions. If you've not been in your Fire Station lately, we'd be glad to show you around. As In the past, we will respect your wishes for confidentiality if you wish. And if you agree with any of our concerns, please voice your concerns with your neighbors. This is your fire department, and we, the volunteer members, ask for your support to meet health, safety and facility needs for our volunteer members that help you in time of need. We’re Neighbors helping neighbors. Respectfully, Walter Bothfeld, Jr., Chief Cabot Fire Department sure to check the NEKWMD website at nekwmd.org for a complete listing of what is and is not recyclable in our area. A calendar of special collections is also on the website, including household hazardous waste collections and bulky furniture collections. One bulky day will be held in Cabot on August 22 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This is a chance to dispose of large items like couches and furniture.

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Cabot Recycling

Despite the slow decline in global recycling markets throughout 2019, the Northeast Kingdom Waste Management District (NEKWMD) kept a wide variety of recycling services available for the 49member District towns. A big thank you to Cabot and Marshfield residents for keeping their recyclables clean and sorted. For people who are not able to backyard compost, household food scraps are now accepted at the Recycling Center. This summer, the District is hosting a series of workshops for residents who want to learn how or improve their backyard composting. One workshop in the area will be on June 25 at the United Church Fellowship Hall in Greensboro from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. The Cabot Recycling Center will remain open through the summer. Hours are 8:00 a.m. through noon every Saturday. A wide variety of post-consumer materials are collected for recycling. The Center is staffed, and trash and tire collection are also available for a fee. Be

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APRIL 19-25, 2020

National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to celebrate the impact of volunteer service and the power of volunteers to tackle society's greatest challenges, to build stronger communities and be a force that transforms the world. Cabot runs on seemingly endless volunteer support. Thanks to every volunteer that is sharing time and energy to make our community

healthy and strong!

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CCA Community Grants Make Christmas Bright and Help Organizations Do Good

With support from the Cabot Community Association’s Community Grant Program, eighty-five Cabot resident children received Christmas gifts this past year through the Faith in Action Annual Toy Share. The Toy Share assists families who are dealing with the financial challenges of the long winter months by allowing parents to pick out unwrapped toys for their children. Cynthia Stuart, Executive Director of Faith in Action shared, “The CCA grant helped Faith in Action brighten the holidays for our neighbors who need assistance. We very much appreciate the partnership with the CCA to support the Cabot community.” For the past 15 years, Faith in Action has supported the Cabot community with twice monthly food distribution, community meals, Senior Adventure Morning, and the annual Toy & Warm Clothing Share. For additional information about Faith in Action, please visit www.faithinactionvt.org. The CCA Community Grant Program allows the CCA to support communitybased projects and events that further the mission of the CCA and is funded by the generous support of the Cabot Creamery and other donations.

In addition to supporting the Annual Toy Share, the Cabot Community Grant program also awarded funds in 2019 to support:  The Cabot Chronicle  Cabot’s July 4 Celebration  Fall Foliage Festival  Apple Pie Festival  Cabot Mentoring  Working Landscape Network Pollinator Initiative  Cabot Arts  Friends of the Cabot Library  Ride the Ridges  Cabot 8th grade trip to Washington, DC  Yoga for Every Body  Cabot Village 12th Night Celebration  Central VT Warriors Boys & Girls Basketball All not-for-profit and community led initiatives that serve Cabot residents are eligible to apply for a grant. Funds will only be awarded to nongovernmental groups or organizations for operational expenses and not for capital investment. The maximum amount that can be requested is $500. For more information, or to apply for a grant, please email info@cabotver mont.org or call the CCA at 802-563- 2064.

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From page 12

From Route 2: take West Shore Road (west end of Joe's Pond) to Cabot Plains Road. Cemetery will be on the left after Dubray Road.

From Route 15: Take Route 215 toward Cabot. Turn left onto Cabot Plains Road. Go past the A.M. Foster Bridge. The cemetery will be on the left.

From Main Street/the Village: Take Main Street/Route 215 North up the hill to Cabot Plains on the right. Follow up the hill almost to Dubray Road; the cemetery is on the left.

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Dancing in the Time of Corona

by Karen Mueller-Harder

The Cabot Old Time Family Contra and Square Dance is normally held on the second Saturday of the month, September to May, but these times are certainly not normal. We plan to resume dances as soon as it is safe and advisable to do so, but as of press time, it’s impossible to predict when that will be. Contra and square dancing involves contact, we are in an unprecedented holding pattern right now. The dances we have scheduled for the rest of this season are: April 11 with Lausanne Allen, and May 9 with Robin Russell, both at 7:30 in the Willey Building in Cabot village. As those dates roll around, we will be announcing on Front Porch Forum and Facebook whether the dances will be held. If you don’t have access to one of those sources of information (and it’s not obvious that public gatherings are still not happening), feel free to call David Carpenter at 426-3225 or email [email protected] to verify. We hope to resume our monthly series with renewed vigor and enthusiasm for community in the fall on September 12, and also hold a “family dance” at some point on a weekend afternoon, with very easy and playful dances and movement games for humans of all ages.

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The Cabot Artisans Gallery

by Sandy Ducharme The Gallery Board members have been busy researching options for the 2020 season. We are excited to offer new opportunities to our members. There are many changes for the coming year. We are looking at reducing costs to zero so that all the monies the gallery takes in can go towards promotion and advertising for our members. We continue to be excited about welcoming new Cabot-area artists and artisans to join our gallery community. If you are interested, contact Sandy Ducharme at: [email protected] or 563- 2745. The Gallery will not be open for retail business on a weekly basis. However, we have many opportunities for members to sell their work through the Gallery. We will host Artisan Exhibits and Receptions throughout the season. There will also be several “Pop-Up Galleries” for special events and days to include 4th of July, fall foliage, Christmas holiday season, as well as coordination with other Cabot community events. We will offer artisan workshops for our members as well. Members will be able to hold workshops at the gallery.

We are anticipating holding many different workshops. The website will be developed to include links to members’ websites and create a better web presence for all our members. There is the possibility of “coworking” studio space at the Gallery. We have a couple of artisans expressing interest in having their workshop in a portion of the Gallery. We look forward to other artisans taking advantage of the space opportunity.

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CCIF/UDAG Scholarship Applications Deadline May 1

Post-secondary education scholarship applications are due at the office of the Cabot Town Clerk by May 1, 2020. The application is available on the town website under Community/Cabot Community Investment Fund (CCIF)/CCIF Education Grant: https://cabotvt.us///wp-content/uploads/2019/05/CCIF-Education-Grant- Application-Form-Revision-May- 2019.pdf. Complete Education Grant applications include six (6) copies each of (collated):

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 13 onward.

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Central Vermont Fiber Update

by Andy Gilbert The recent concerns about Consolidated Communications service and the ongoing challenges of COVID-19 have only reinforced the importance of having a reliable high-speed internet solution for the residents of Cabot. While we are not there yet, progress is being made and there is more good news to share. First, Cabot residents did a great job responding to the CVFiber survey. This is very much appreciated! A more detailed document that outlines the survey results for Cabot and all the member towns of CVFiber will be posted to Front Porch Forum soon. But a brief summary follows. Cabot had 133 respondents out of 776 households, for a 17% rate. This put us in the top five communities for response rate. Further 57% of respondents said they “definitely would” and 36% said they “likely would” subscribe to a competitively priced solution. Wow. Some pent-up demand there. In addition, 67% of respondents indicated they would consider a “pre-subscription” arrangement to help bootstrap the construction costs. Second, we are currently in the process of working with the Interisle Group to complete the initial feasibility and planning exercises needed to design and build a solution for our towns. This study will be completed this spring. The current plan is we will then be able to apply for VEDA construction loans based on the work. This will be a huge next step. And while a lot of important activities and decisions remain, it would mark a big transition from planning to activity. To remind everyone, CVFiber is a group of 18 communities working together to bring a better Internet to our underserved residents and businesses. Cabot has been a member since mid- 2018. While the task is complex and will take patience, we feel it is vital to the long-term economic development and health of our communities. And it’s pretty clear it won’t happen if we just wait. All CVFiber meetings are public and warned. They typically are on the second Tuesday of the month in the elementary school in Berlin. The website is at https://cvfiber.net/. There is also a Facebook page at https://w . facebok . c o m /CentralVermontInternet/. Finally, all our revenue is currently through either grants or donations. Anyone interested in supporting this effort can contribute through the donation link available on the website. Funding $$ at this point are both critical to bootstrapping the effort and highly leveraged, as they are typically used to match grant awards. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me, Andy Gilbert, at [email protected]. Thank you!

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Older Americans Month 2020

Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads our nation’s observance of Older Americans Month. We are pleased to announce the 2020 theme:

Make Your Mark

This theme was selected to encourage and celebrate countless contributions that older adults make to our communities. Their time, experience, and talents benefit family, peers, and neighbors every day. Communities, organizations, and individuals of all ages are also making their marks. This year’s theme highlights the difference everyone can make – in the lives of older adults, in support of caregivers, and to strengthen communities. We invite you to celebrate Older Americans Month and make your mark in May!

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CABOT PUBLIC LIBRARY NEWS

Well, by now you’re probably well aware the library has closed its doors in order to help stem the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The library Trustees and I will reassess the situation continually but will not reopen earlier than April 6. All library programs and events are postponed and community use of library spaces is suspended. We will be monitoring the official recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Vermont Department of Health and the Vermont Department of Libraries. Due to the lack of reliable information about the relative risk of “curbside” services to patrons, we will not be offering this option. Our courier service for Interlibrary loans has suspended their service and we will also be suspending interlibrary loans until it is deemed safe to resume these operations. For the same safety concerns with library items potentially being vectors of transmission, please do NOT drop off library items in our drop box. Please hold onto them until we’re back open again. Don’t worry about items being overdue. Below are several excellent online options for you and your family to explore during your time at home. You’ll need your patron card information and an access number, which can be obtained by calling the library (802-563-2721) or emailing ([email protected]). If you are not already a registered borrower, call the library and we’ll get you registered.

RB (Recorded Books) Digital – We received a group discount from the Vermont Department of Libraries and have contracted with RB Digital to offer you over 9,400 downloadable audiobooks, over 725 downloadable e -books, Pimsleur language EAudio, and Great Courses (ex. Practicing Mindfulness, Financial Literacy, The American Civil War). The best thing about RB Digital is that there are no holds or waiting lists for these titles; they are always available.

Additional titles are added quarterly. Contact the library for sign up info. Green Mountain Library Consortium/Overdrive/Listen Up! Vermont – 17,000 audio/e-books downloadable and free. Everything and anything. Contact the library for sign up info. Universal Class – Access over 500 online courses free. This might be the perfect time to take that class you’ve always wanted to. Contact the library for sign in details. Vermont Online Library – lots of free articles and reference books online. Available through the link on our website (www.cabotlibrary.com) Freboks – htps : / /www.gutenberg.org TumbleBooks, a world leader in online children’s book databases, announced they will make these resources available for free to all public libraries until August 31st. These resources include animated talking picture books, read-alongs, ebooks, quizzes, lesson plans, and educational games. Call or email the library for access info. Wifi- The wifi will stay on, as always, and patrons can access it from outside the building. Health Commissioner Mark Levine, MD, provides periodic updates on the state’s response to COVID-19 and its mitigation strategy. Dr. Levine stressed the importance of social distancing and other precautionary measures. To view the latest case and testing data, and imp ortanthealthguidance , visit healthvermont.gov/covid19. Special thanks to our Library Trustees –Linda Gabrielson, Jeannie McCallum, Angela Ogle, Kurt Steinert, and Beth Wade - who helped make these very difficult decisions with little to no notice. Thanks also to everyone for your patience and understanding. I will truly miss seeing you these next few weeks, possibly longer. It is one of my favorite parts of being a librarian. I will be thinking of you and wishing the best for your health and safety.

Kathleen Hoyne Library Director

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National Geography Bee

Cabot School has a longstanding tradition of participating in the National Geographic Bee. Open to students in grades four to eight, the competition involves thousands of schools across the United States and is designed to help motivate students to learn about the world and how it works. After careful consideration, National Geographic Society made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 National Geographic GeoBee and GeoChallenge competitions. This includes the state-level GeoBee competitions and regionallevel GeoChallenge competitions scheduled for Friday, March 27, 2020 as well as the GeoChampionships scheduled in May 2020 at National Geographic headquarters. Vicki Phillips, Executive Vice President and Chief Education Officer at the National Geographic Society explained, “The goal with the GeoBee and GeoChallenge is to provide competitions that inspire and reward students' curiosity about the world. That will always remain the North Star for these competitions. Although we won’t be able to move forward with the next levels of the competition as originally intended, we are immensely proud of our GeoBee and GeoChallenge communities and the inspiration and ingenuity they showcase every day.”

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Where in the World is the Cabot Chronicle?

Just a short time ago we were able to freely gather: close to home (at the Den) with Marie and Lori Thompson and Maria Acchione-Goodrich. Photo by Jim Goodrich.

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Fire Trucks in Cabot

by Chip Taylor Quick question: How many fire trucks does the Cabot Fire department have? Two?, three?, four?. The answer is "none," but, this is a trick question. And you can be forgiven if you are confused. We often use words that are incorrect, but everyone still knows what we mean. Unless your car is all electric, it has an engine and not a motor. But if you pull into a service station and tell a mechanic that your motor is making a strange sound, the mechanic will know what you are talking about even though you used the wrong term. Why no fire trucks in Cabot? The Town fire department has one fire engine, one tanker, and one rescue vehicle. Call the latter two "trucks" if you must, but fire purists will insist that a "fire truck" is a vehicle whose purpose is to carry and utilize ladders. There's a fire truck up on Cabot Plains. Feel free to call it a ladder truck if you wish, but either way, it's a "truck", and not a fire "engine". Still confused? Use whatever term you wish, unless you're visiting a big city fire department and want to make an impression. Because there, fire departments have a very distinct division of labor. An Engine Company operates a vehicle with a pump, water tank and hose. A Truck Company operates a ladder truck, and those assigned to it are called "Truckies". Their primary job is using hooks and Halligan tools to force entry into a building, open roofs for ventilation, perform search and rescue, salvage, and yes, to use ladders. Their fire "truck" carries a variety of ladders and, of course, is primarily an aerial platform

- that's a big hydraulic ladder that can reach a hundred feet or more. So technically, the Cabot Fire Department does not have a fire truck... not yet anyway. Thanks to Mutual Aid, the Department can request a ladder truck from a town that has one. It would just take a while to arrive, however. There IS a genuine fire truck - a ladder truck - in Cabot, but it's privately owned by the author in what he calls the Cabot Plains Fire Department. You may have seen it in the Cabot 4th of July Parade. It's a 1960 Maxim with a 75-foot hydraulic ladder and several wooden ground ladders. It originally belonged to the Franklin, NH, Fire Department. Just as some people collect stamps or Beanie Babies, there are people who collect antique fire apparatus. Most of us are quite satisfied with just one vehicle, but there are serious collectors who have more... far more: A collector in Wallkill, NY, has over 200! And naturally, there is an organization for people who collect fire apparatus. It's SPAAMFAA. The Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motorized Fire Apparatus in America. Should you want your own fire engine or fire truck, they have an extensive classified listing. A perfect opportunity to start your own private fire department just like the one up on Cabot Plains.

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History of 3065 Main Street

The last Cabot Chronicle had a piece about 3065 Main Street, the vacant brown building across from Willey Hall. It said, in part, “The building is believed to have been constructed in two parts beginning in 1845 (north side), with the south side added in 1880 or shortly thereafter. The building appears to have been used largely on the main floor for mercantile through the mid-to-late 20th century.” The building itself, and Main Street in Cabot Village, were different in their 19th century heyday. In History of my Generation in Cabot Vermont 1874 – 1951, Fred Blaney Blodgett wrote: “In the eighties, Mr. S. C. Voodry and his mother, from Woodbury, bought the house where the Wesley Talbert store now stands.” (Wesley Hastings Talbert was Chuck Talbert’s grandfather.) “Mr. Voodry was a very dapper fellow about thirty and unmarried. He first built a small store, as an addition to the house, in the rear to the north, quite a bit back from the street. Here he carried quite an assortment of groceries and general merchandise, but specialized as a drug store and filled prescriptions, as did also the Wells and Rogers store. Mr. Voodry was a Democrat, and when Grover Cleveland was elected president, (1885) was appointed Post Master. He extended the store to the street, something as it now is and had the post office in the front of the store. He married Myrtle Walbridge, daughter of Levi Walbridge, a long time leading farmer and feed dealer, on the road to Walden Depot. About twenty-five years ago, he did sell the store and he and his wife and the family of Walter Ford of Lower Cabot, migrated to California. After a little, the store was closed until Mr. Talbert took it over a few years ago and has done a successful business there.” Until about a century ago, anyone could buy potent drugs in Vermont general stores without prescriptions. A clerk behind the counter, without medical training, might hazard a diagnosis and suggest patent medicines. Entering Voodry’s, the post office was on the left (south), the small general store on the right. There was one apartment where the Voodrys lived. The 1884, Gazetteer of Washington County, Vermont includes: ·VOODRY, FLORENCE C. Mrs., (Sedgwick C., Voodry & Co.) resides with her son Sedgwick C. ·VOODRY, SEDGWICK C. & CO., (Mrs. Florence C.) dealers in standard groceries, fruit, salt, fish, farming tools, drugs and proprietary medicines, physicians' prescriptions carefully compounded, telephone in store, Main. ·VOODRY, SEDGWICK C., (S. C.

Voodry & Co.) owns house and lot.

A 1910 business directory states S. C. Voodry & Co. sells sap spouts and sugar makers’ supplies. On June 1, 1881, the population of the village was 258. There were “64 dwelling -houses; 2 stores; 1 millinery shop; 1 hotel; 2 blacksmith shops; 1 carriage manufactory; 1 tin shop; 1 harness shop; 1 cooper-shop; 1 grist-mill; 1 saw-mill; 1 graded school; 2 churches.” The Vermont Legislature incorporated Cabot Village, November 19, 1866, when it bustled with small businesses. Much has changed. An empty lot, next to Willey Hall, held the Winooski Hotel until 1914. Shops and mills no longer hum with Winooski River waterpower. The two churches merged in 1935. Cabot School used the former Methodist Church building for a time. Now it is unoccupied and the future of the school is unsure. At the 2010 census, village population was down to 233. Cabot voters merged Cabot Village government back into the town, effective January 1, 2011. The article suggested the Voodry building might soon follow these into history. If it fades to a faint memory of penny candy and penny postcards, perhaps Cabot Historical Society’s Museum might preserve some small architectural detail. It might help us imagine horses hitched in front of Voodry’s, so riders could use the telephone or have a cure-all concocted to relieve lumbago, catarrh, rheumatism, vapors, dyspepsia, and chilblains. Peter Dannenberg is Treasurer of Cabot Historical Society

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