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The Cabot Chronicle

August/September 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 August/September 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

Just Announced Statewide Mask Mandate Effective August 1st

July 24, 2020 Montpelier, VT – As the state continues its sustained efforts to encourage mask use as a tool to limit the spread of COVID-19 and protect the most vulnerable, Governor Phil Scott today announced strengthened mask requirements in public places and congregate settings. “Based on national and regional data on how the virus is spreading – and rather than waiting like other states have – I feel we need to act now to protect our gains, which have allowed us to reopen much of our economy,” said Governor Scott. “That’s why today I signed an Order, which will strengthen our current mask mandates, so that we do not take steps backwards and we can stay open into the fall as people move more of their interactions indoors,” Governor Scott added. Effective Friday, August 1, 2020, the amendment requires all Vermonters to wear masks or cloth facial coverings any time it is not possible to maintain a physical distance of at least six feet with Article continued on page 2 others from outside their household. Those who are not required to use masks include those exercising outdoors, those under the age of 2, those with a medical or developmental condition that is complicated by a facial covering and those with difficulty breathing. Businesses and other entities may require customers to wear masks, including signage explaining mask requirements and denial of entry or service to those who decline to wear masks. “Unfortunately, this issue has become polarized and, I’m still worried that a mandate will create unnecessary conflict and resistance,” Governor Scott said. “Attacking, shaming, and judging isn’t going to help; but understanding, educating, leading by example, meeting people where they are, and maybe a little kindness and understanding will,” Governor Scott encouraged. Developed in consultation with the Vermont Department of Health (VDH), this amendment is critical to the state’s strategy to limit the spread of COVID-19 in (see ’Mask Mandate’, page 2)

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How the Creamery Copes with Coronavirus

After seeing creamery employees redeployed from stores and offices to plants, changes to physical plant and an army of Care Team members screening employees and vendors, The Cabot Chronicle could see an intense impact and wanted to know more:

CC: How did it all start for the Creamery?

Bill Beaton: Covid preparedness started for us in late February and early March as we watched numbers in Asia grow exponentially. We watched South Korea start temperature screenings in February and took note of their preventive actions. We actually began ordering PPE (personal protective equipment) and thermometers to get ready. We sought declaration of food makers as essential workers in NY, MA, and VT immediately. We had exceptional leadership at our plants. Our supervisors started sanitizing practices at every touch point long before there were industry guidelines. For us, protecting our people was paramount.

CC: What were you thinking?

BB: With facilities in western Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont, it was a frightening time as numbers in New York grew. Though we imagined that our rural plants in Chateaugay and Cabot may have been ‘safer’, we did not hesitate to protect our plant workers in all three states in which we operate plants, and that includes West Springfield, where virus numbers soared through May. Our thoughts remained on how to keep our employees safe and keep Covid out of our facilities.

CC: What kind of choices did you have to make? How did you know how to begin? What was needed?

BB: Who could work at home? How do our information technology teams work rapidly to support office workers ordering and billing and selling remotely from homes across many locations throughout the region and the country? We prepared for worst case scenarios. Do we need overnight accommodations? We had a local inn prepared to take in workers with Health Department and Governor’s Office dispensation. What if the food supply is cut off? We got help from the Cabot Hardware Store imagining how we’d get bulk food to our employees – like rice and beans if all food shipment stopped. How do we track trends among all locations and plants? We developed a screening tool that linked all plants and locations to Human Resources in order to monitor who was being tested and who was allowed in the plants, all compliant with health privacy laws. We restricted access into any of our facilities to only employees required to carry out the essential manufacturing needed to continue to make and distribute products. We supplied facial coverings for all employees in the facilities when social distancing was a challenge. Together we imagined what to do without a playbook, motivated entirely on how to keep folks safe. Every department was engaged. We closed retail stores so folks could join other departments to keep the lines going to meet the growing demand for our products. SugarSnap made meals for employees and their families in all plants and delivered to all locations twice – just to show appreciation for working extra-long days and weeks. We secured what PPE was needed locally when none was available to buy anywhere – thanks to friends, family and The Sewing Basket in Barre and Vermont Natural Coatings in Hardwick. We secured enough to give to freight haulers and milk truck drivers during the initial few months.

CC: What has been most difficult dealing with this pandemic? BB: The most difficult task is for folks to not let their guard down when they get off work. Keep your masks on when out of the home or at gatherings. Masks are now a part of everyday life. We risk so much if we think this pandemic is over before there is a vaccine. That, and in March, taking temperatures outside when it was so cold outside. We’re so grateful that our maintenance teams secured construction pods so our temperature and screening Care Teams can have shelter 24/7.

CC: What worries you the most?

BB: You can’t worry. You can plan and take precautions. You can audit. You can remind. You can order more masks and sanitizer. You can improve your screener and boost WIFI to share information faster. Worry is something farmers and those who work for them can’t do. You prepare, you save, you pray, and you do your job well and, when needed, you work harder at whatever it takes.

CC: What has this meant for employees?

BB: I think every employee has new respect for the jobs each of us do. We have had to swap roles. For example, team members from every department have gone into the warehouses or have joined the cutting and wrapping lines or perform the sanitizing job through the night shift. Every employee knows we are doing all we can to protect one another. And the farmers are grateful for this: their good wishes went up as signs around the plants the first week of April. The video several farmers created among themselves for the staff should make every consumer of Cabot understand the love and care behind our products (see video website address below).

CC: Is the impact on creamery operations the same in every state? BB: COVID-19 hit much harder in Massachusetts, but our protection and procedures were consistent among all locations.

CC: How have guidelines from government agencies influenced company decisions? BB: I think our early action influenced state officials. Ask Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts if he’d agree. He was the first one we called for an exemption to ask an Inn to open to us, to have us declared essential, among his fellow Commerce and Agriculture Secretaries. He joined us on the pre-dawn sanitizing duty Week One and at the testing of the Care Team pods Week Two.

CC: How much would you estimate this has cost Cabot Creamery? BB: Can’t answer this question. We are still spending what is necessary to keep our team members safe for the farmers’ plants to remain open and running continuing to make award-winning products and to ensure a home for their milk. And this pandemic is a LONG way from over without a vaccine.

CC: Do you think business operations will ever be the same again? If not, what kind of changes do you expect? BB: Our business has not changed. Our operations have taken safety to a microbial level. Masks will likely be a forever part of the uniform. We will be up and down on the RED alert mode; trying not to burn folks out. And importantly, reaching out to potential employees, who want a life-long, two-way commitment to them and their families to join our team with great benefits and steady work to come live around our plants and join our communities.

CC: What do you see for the future?

BB: More sales direct to consumers through eCommerce. Fewer luxury or designer products. Greater appreciation of what we are as a co-op and a B Corp. A company that does not lay folks off when times are tough. I also see increased sales of Cabot, and the entire northeast’s products as a symbiotic, commercial enclave of self-reliance and a mecca for families who believe in a future for communities, who build businesses, education, health and lives together.

To see the video put together by farmers to thank the creamery for continuing to provide an outlet for their milk, go to: https://cabot.imagerelay.com/share/f1ff7f382e7a4368b54a45ac9527bf8e.

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CABOT ♦ DANVILLE ♦ PEACHHAM

Vermont’s 2020 legislative session has certainly been one for the history books. When the legislature convened in January, no one would have predicted that the session would run into the final days of June or that Representatives and Senators would be working remotely from home and using Zoom to conduct committee meetings and to conduct official legislative business outside of the State House. Only one other time in Vermont’s history were legislators forced to conduct business for an extended period outside the State House. This occurred in 1857 when the second Vermont State House was destroyed by fire. Much has changed since 1867; amazingly, within weeks of shutting down the State House in March, the House Speaker organized trainings to prepare members to continue vital work remotely. Meetings were convened that could be accessed by the public for transparency, testimony was taken and votes were held. Major pieces of legislation were passed, including a budget appropriating funds for the first quarter of the State’s fiscal year which runs from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021. Following an official revenue update scheduled for August 12, Legislators will return in August to complete its work on the budget, appropriate remaining federal relief funds and consider other important bills not addressed in June. In late June, approximately $1 billion of federal aid from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) was appropriated to help Vermonters and Vermont communities rebuild the State’s economy. Strict federal guidelines require that the $1.25 billion Vermont received in federal CRF funds be used for Covid-19-related expenses. The funds cannot be used to replace lost revenue or be used for previously budgeted expenses at the state or local level. Additionally, the funds must not only be appropriated by December 30 but must also be spent by December 30, 2020. Any of the funds that are not spent or not spent according to the guidelines must be returned to the Federal Government. Listed below are highlights of areas receiving CRF money to help with stabilization and recovery efforts:

Economic Development: $228 Million (including $38.5M for Agriculture related activities) Housing Assistance: $85 Million Connectivity Assistance: $30.2 Million Food Insecurity: Health Care: Higher Education: $63 Million Public Schools: Municipalities: Family Supports (including Childcare & Vulnerable VTers)

When the legislature returns in August, it is likely all work will continue to be conducted remotely. In addition to completing the budget, the Legislature will address funding Vermont’s public education system that has seen a substantial decrease in support from taxes due to the pandemic. Additionally, the Legislature will focus work on any other emergency needs caused by COVID-19. Actions of the House and Senate can be followed live on YouTube. For additional information on any bill or actions in the House or Senate or standing committees please visit www.leg.state.vt.us. These are live pages and are updated regularly. Please contact me directly with your questions and concerns. As always, it is truly an honor to represent our communities at the State House.

[email protected] [email protected] PO Box 192 Danville, VT 05828 802-343-3144 (Cell) 802-684-3671 (Home)

$21.7 Million $367.3 Million

$50 Million $15 Million $14.7 Million

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Comet Neowise, July 17 Over Cabot

Paul Wade was one of many observers in the Northern Hemisphere to catch a glimpse of Comet NEOWISE as it zipped through the inner solar system before speeding away into the depths of space. He took this photo on July 17. Discovered on March 27, 2020, by NASA’s Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) mission, Comet NEOWISE put on a dazzling display for skywatchers before disappearing, not to be seen again for another 6,800 years.

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Faith in Action Awarded Vermonters Feeding Vermonters Grant

The Vermont Foodbank awarded Faith in Action, located in Lyndonville and Cabot, a Vermonters Feeding Vermonters Grant to purchase produce directly from local farmers in the area. The Vermont Foodbank Vermonters Feeding Vermonters (VFV) program supports purchases of high-quality fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, and eggs directly from Vermont growers to share with Vermonters facing hunger. As a Vermont Foodbank network partner, Faith in Action distributes food to those in need. In 2019, Faith in Action distributed 237,128 pounds of food to 1,860 local community members in 738 households. Faith in Action Executive Director, Cynthia Stuart, stated, “The Vermonters Feeding Vermonters grant award allows Faith in Action to purchase locally grown, healthy, and fresh produce to distribute to community members. In addition, we are supporting local food producers, including Burtt’s Orchard, Provender Farm, Wilder Farm, and Gingue Farm.” The Vermont Foodbank Vermonters Feeding Vermonters program is entering its third year, with the plan to purchase about 500,000 pounds of fresh produce directly from local farmers during the 2020 growing season. The goal is that the VFV program leads to improved health for Vermonters facing hunger, security for farmers, a stronger Vermont economy, and a reduced environmental footprint. Faith in Action’s mission is to serve food insecure community members, offer socially enriching programs, and advance opportunities to increase self-sufficiency in the communities of the Northeast Kingdom and Washington County, while deploying the neighbors-helping-neighbors volunteer model to instill hope and leave an enduring impact. For further information, please visit the Faith in Action website at www.faithinactionvt.org.

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OBITUARIES & MEMORIALS

Peter Ackermann In the home that he built on a lush, green hill with an amazing view of the Green Mountains, Peter John Ackermann peacefully passed away in his own bed while he slept. He had impeccable timing, passing away on his father's birthday, Tuesday, July 21, 2020, at the age of 64. His two sons were sitting on the beautiful patio that he designed, and his wife was quietly reading next to him. He wanted a goodbye party to say farewell to his lifelong friends and family, and that is what he got. For a week, a steady stream of hundreds of people with stories to tell and tears to shed showed up, called, and wrote letters. They laughed and played the card games that he loved to play, retold the jokes that he loved to tell, and sat on the Harley that he loved to drive. They ate ice cream (his favorite food) and stared at his tractor collection. His four grandchildren called him 'Grampy', and boy did he love them fiercely. Pete spent his free time doing puzzles and building scale models of

Mary Field Belenky Mary Field Belenky, resident of Kendal at Hanover, NH, died peacefully after months of declining health on July 10, 2020, at the age of 87. Her husband, Bob, was with her.

Mary was born on June 22, 1933, in Ann Arbor, MI, the middle of three sisters. Her siblings predeceased her. Mary loved education. She attended the Park School in Buffalo, NY, Antioch University, the University of Chicago, where she and Bob met — they were married in 1957; finally Harvard University, where she received her Ph.D. in 1977. Mary and Bob first settled in the Boston area. They raised two children, Alice and Michael. In 1970, the family moved to Vermont. Mary taught psychology and education at Goddard College.

Elizabeth Jayne Colgrove Elizabeth Jayne Colgrove, 72, of Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, originally of Cambridge, VT, passed away on September 14, 2019, at home in Bay Saint Louis. For the last five years, Jayne suffered from Alzheimer's disease and ministrokes. Jayne was born October 4, 1946, to Marion J. Barnett and Henry E. Barnett. She was one of seven children. Her surviving brother is Wallace E. Barnett of North Carolina. Predeceased are her

Laureen Arena

The Cabot Chronicle has learned of the passing in July of Lauren (Lolly) Arena of farm equipment. He taught his two sons how to run a dairy farm, use power tools, build, and do electrical work. Peter was born in Meadville, PA, on March 3, 1956, and he was raised in Cabot, which he called home for 60 years. He made every person he met feel special and poured his heart and soul into every job he did. Pete is survived by his wife, Susan Ackermann, two sons and their spouses; James and Sara Ackermann, Ian and Caitlin Ackermann, stepson, Kevin Bell, as well as four grandchildren; Allie, Andee, Blake, and Bryce. He also leaves behind his mother, Elizabeth Ackermann, and brother, Walter Ackermann. Peter's family imagines him walking into a large hayfield in a sunny Heaven dressed in jeans, flannel shirt and a baseball cap while being greeted by his smiling dad, Albert, and excited younger brother, Owen. He put all he had into making everything he did his own version of perfect. A perfect family, perfect home, perfect life. Up until his last day he saw that they were. Pete perfect. In keeping with Peter's wishes, a private celebration will be held at a later date. The des Groseilliers Funeral Home is in care of arrangements. Memories and condolences may be conveyed to the family at dgfunerals.com.

When the children were early teenagers, she went on to pursue her doctorate at Harvard, commuting between Vermont and Massachusetts. Mary went on to write about women’s moral and intellectual development. Most notable, co-authored by three colleagues, was Women’s Ways of Knowing. Mary loved nature. She gardened and fed the birds, especially hummingbirds. She rode her mare, Stormy, over many back trails. In her later years, she loved to discover remote nooks for picnics. During her last weeks of life, bird songs played continuously on her bedside iPad. Mary is survived by daughter Alice and husband, Ted Armen, and sons Max, Oliver and Simon. And by her son, Michael, his wife, Uli, and their daughters, Sofia and Ella. A celebration of Mary’s life is planned for Kendal at Hanover, NH, as COVID- 19 conditions allow. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Vermont Community Foundation are encouraged.

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

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BIRTH ANNOUNCMENT

Caroline Anne Griggs Caroline Anne Griggs, 7 lbs .13 oz, born 2:24 a.m. June 16 to Sid and Kelly Griggs, who are building the house on Vermont Route 215 North. Caroline joins big brother, Sidney.

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Cabot Trails Update July 2020

“Winter Trail”, by this winter hopefully! And we are considering a public activity for the Town Forest. Again, this planning is subject to considerations of safety and protocol. Finally, we need volunteers! We have had more than a few people express support to do field work and encourage anyone else with similar interests to let us know. You don’t have to come to committee meetings to help make this happen. In fact, we need a good group of volunteers that are willing to go out and mark, map, clear, sign, and steward our goals into a reality. Stay tuned, keep getting outside if you can, and wishing everyone the best though these times. Staying active benefits both mental and physical wellbeing. The Cabot Trails committee was created to identify, establish, and maintain non-motorized recreational trails in town. Meetings are typically held on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Willey Building or virtually until the situation changes. 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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From the Cabot Conservation Committee

by Dawn Andrews The tough roots build topsoil, provide erosion control, and help rainwater infiltrate the soil. (Also, goldenrod does not cause hay fever—the culprit is ragweed, which blooms at the same time.)

Milkweed and asters are particularly important to many species of butterflies and moths, as well as many bees.

Fireweed can quickly spread in disturbed soils, especially after a fire, providing erosion control, shade for regenerating plants, and vivid color.

Plantain (not the banana) is a common weed that forms a flat rosette of edible leaves that can be mashed or chewed to make a poultice to ease the effects of bee stings and other bites. Hummingbirds and bumblebees love jewelweed flowers. The juice of its stems reduces the itch of mosquito bites and poison ivy rashes when applied to the skin. It also grows fast enough in the early summer garden to shade out other weeds but is easy to pull when you get around to it. Also known as “touch-menot,” the ripe inch-long seed pods will explode when touched, providing entertainment for small children (and others).

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Save the Date September 12

The COVID-19 situation has challenged all of us on many levels over the past few months. Our thoughts go out to those directly affected, and our thanks to all those helping others, as a provider, caregiver, family member, friend, neighbor. The committee has managed to use the time to complete the planning exercise we began last winter in conjunction with the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission. We plan to share the final report with the community on September 12. We hope to do this in a public, possibly outdoor venue. But we will consider safety, protocol, and the situation first. If we don’t feel it can be held safely in person, we will schedule a Zoom or GoToMeeting. Or perhaps some combination of the two. More details will be communicated through Front Porch Forum as it becomes available. In the meantime, we continue efforts to reach out to landowners. We had a meeting with a supportive landowner this Spring that offers a good opportunity for a new trail network. Further development here is pending additional landowner support and consideration. We also are continuing to work on agreements to formally re-establish the

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

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Weeds to love (and not)

What is a weed? Just plant in the wrong place? Who says? People of course… There are many weeds that are vexing problems in our gardens and farm fields. Some are natives, but many are invasives that people have brought here from faraway, sometimes intentionally and sometimes accidentally. Some examples are bishop’s weed, garlic mustard, dandelions, coltsfoot, giant hogweed, cow parsley. There are other, usually native, plants that are sometimes called weeds, but are important and valuable to our ecosystems. Here are a few that are common in Cabot. There are 100 or so species of goldenrod in North America. It is one of the best groups of plants for native bees that rely on its pollen, as well as an excellent source of nectar for honey. It is also an extremely important food for caterpillars used by birds to feed their young, and a source of seeds for many small creatures.

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Property Tax Bills Delayed

Tax Bills for the Town of Cabot are usually mailed by the end of July. Due to the Coronavirus lockdown, the Federal and State governments delayed the deadline for filing both state and federal taxes from April 15 to July 15. The State Tax Department has been overwhelmed with tax filings in July. If you qualified for a property tax credit, the Town of Cabot will not receive this information until September 1. Because of this delay, tax bills will not be mailed until September 3, 2020, with the first payment due October 29, 2020, and the second payment due January 14, 2021. This may be subject to further change. We will provide updates on our website (https://Cabotvt.us) and Front Porch Forum. We are deeply sorry for these delays, but we have no control over the current situation.

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Current Use Program Due Dates and Values

September 1 Applications must be submitted or postmarked to the Property Valuation and Review Division for new enrollments and additions to existing enrollments to the Current Use Programs with three copies of the current use map.

October 1

For new parcels and additions to enrollment with managed forest land or conservation land, a signed copy of the management plan and three copies of the current use map are due to the County Foresters. Transfer applications and all required submittals are due to the Current Use Program and the County Forester 30 days after a transfer has been recorded.

2020 Current Use Land Values -Agricultural Land $382/acre -Forest & Conservation Land $151/acre -Forest Land & Conservation Land Greater than one mile from a Class 1, 2, or 3 Road $113/acre Additional Information

https://tax.vermont.gov/property-owners/current-use

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

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School Reopening Plans Coming Soon

On June 17th, the Vermont Agency of Education (AOE) and the Vermont Department of Health (VDH) issued a joint memorandum to school districts titled A Strong and Healthy Start: Safety and Health Guidance for Vermont Schools. You can read the entire memorandum at https://education.vermont.gov/documents/guidance-strong-healthystart-health-guidance. This joint effort, led by AOE and VDH with input from a number of Superintendents, Professional Groups, VT- NEA, and a range of medical experts statewide, lays out a set of guidelines and best practices for schools to consider as we make plans to reopen in the fall. In CCSU, we were already a month into our conversations about reopening schools, and this guidance document has been instrumental in helping us to bring focus to our planning. We are committed to issuing formal plans for all our schools by the first week of August. Here is where we are in this important work. There are three Steps for school operation defined in the Strong and Healthy Start guideline. Step I is the school is closed for all in-person instruction (this is where we were from March - June). Step II, the school is open for inperson instruction with enhanced physical distancing measures. Step III, the school is open with distancing measures in place. By directive, schools will reopen in the fall at Step II; transportation will start at Step III. The Secretary of Education hopes to move all schools to Step III a few weeks after opening. When our CCSU schools reopen, all will have these practices and procedures in common:  Procedures for admitting people into school - everyone entering a school will be required to do a health check, no exceptions. Adults will be required to wear face coverings, no exceptions.  Restrictions on who is allowed in the school building when students are present. There will be some restrictions on parents coming into the buildings when school is in session.  Common policies and procedures to determine when children and staff must stay home or be sent home.  Masks are required of all students to ride a school bus. Social Distancing will be enforced; siblings from the same household may be allowed to sit together.  Masks/face shields are required for staff and students. We know - and the guidelines acknowledge - that mask wearing will be challenging for some students. Students with health issues (e.g. Asthma) or sensory issues will be excused from this requirement after the family follows a review protocol involving the school nurse and possibly the Director of Special Services.  Each school building will maintain separate spaces for isolating symptomatic students and staff who arrive at school and are waiting to go home from others who need routine nursing (e.g., a skinned knee at recess).

 There will be a standard suite of supported technology for Remote teaching and Learning. Staff and students will receive training on the use of these tools.  General limitations on Social Distancing & Physical Contact will be reflected in the school plan. A Hybrid Learning option will be available (read on).

Hybrid Learning

A lot of families are asking about remote learning (what we did March- June) and whether that will be an option for the fall. We have from the first days of our planning anticipated the need to provide remote learning in some form, but there were a number of niggly issues around attendance taking, counting of student days, etc. that had to be worked through by the AOE. On July 15th, the Agency released its guidance on what has come to be called Hybrid Learning (https://education.vermont.gov/sites/aoe/files/documents/edu-hybridlearning-during-the-2020-2021-schoolyear_0.pdf). This memorandum does not address how we provide that option, it just affirms that we can provide that option and how we must account for our students who are participating. Hybrid Learning is one area that could look quite different from school to school, and the formal guidelines will say more about that.

Calendar Adjustment

Finally, as we have looked more closely at the feedback we received from families and staff about our crash course in remote teaching and learning this spring, we have decided to bring a bit more order to our practices from a technology perspective, and to come up with new delivery methods so that remote learners can participate at home in core instruction with their classmates who are receiving in-person instruction. Please understand that we believe we can open the schools safely, and that we would prefer to have all of our students in classes with their peers, but for those students who cannot attend daily we are aiming for a more enriching learning environment. We also recognize that we continue to be at the mercy of a virus that knows no physical boundaries, and so we are preparing for the eventuality that one or more of our schools could find itself at Step I - closed for in-person instruction - at some point during the upcoming school year. In order to be sure that we are ready to provide a more effective remote learning environment, I have asked for, and received, permission from the AOE to convert three of our instructional days into additional teacher professional development days at the start of the school year. A revised school calendar is available at (https://bit.ly/3juhfY2), but the changes are summarized as follows:  Teachers will report back for inservice on Friday, August 21 as previously planned.  In-service will continue through all the following week, through August. During those additional three days of inservice, teachers will have an opportunity to become more comfortable with the use of remote teaching tools, along with planning for enhanced socialemotional learning that will occur in the first few weeks when students return. The first student day is changed to Monday, August 31. The entire first week will be an early release schedule, with students dismissed at 1:00 p.m. During the first week, students will be focusing on social-emotional activities and spending time with their teachers learning/improving skills that are critical to successful remote learning, should we ever find ourselves having to close the school again as we did this spring. Teachers will use the time between 1:00 p.m. and the end of their contracted day to reflect on and refine their practices, to resolve their own technology challenges, to discuss what they have learned about the needs of their students that day, etc. I know that early release days can be difficult for some families, and we worked collaboratively with our Associations to eliminate early release days from our calendar, so I am mindful that this will feel like a step backwards. But having been forced into a remote teaching model in March with no real time to prepare, I believe our teachers and students need to invest the time now to be ready for the next time, if the next time comes to be. You can expect completed plans by the first week of August. We will be offering a remote teaching model for those families who do not wish to send their children back to school. The calendar has been tweaked a bit to provide some additional prep time for our teachers before school begins again. I hope you and your family are finding ways to enjoy this tropical summer weather and finding ways to rest and recharge.

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Heart of an “Elder” Invitation for Home School Discussion

by Sandy Pond Making decisions concerning your children's education, especially in these trying times, has got to be tough! You can read up on it, but I have found experience is the best teacher. In the early 1980's l homeschooled my two sons until 7th and 8th grade, and am happy to share the good, the bad and the ugly. I invite you to come and share your concerns, your experiences, (as a homeschool child or the parent), address your fears about the present situation and hear from other experienced parents. As the current owner of the historic marker for the Reid School, District 6 out of 14, we can go back to the 1800s and start there. By walking a few "rods," we can sit under the old maple and remember How it can work - simply and safely: I have plenty of parking at the barns, lots of room for our "circle." And rooms or spaces for breakout groups. We will gather on Thursday, August 6, at 10:00 a.m. (bring your mask, a blanket or chair, a snack, if needed, and an umbrella, as it will be rain or shine. After a short stroll to the historic marker, we will return for our circle of concern till noon. Please call me with RSVP, if possible, or ideas or questions at 802-917-8883. My address is 201 Urban Farm Way in Cabot - first property on left.

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Seeking Wisdom in Uncertain Times

As I enter this role in the new school year in a new community, I am struck by the many messages inundating society about what can and should happen with schooling this fall. With all the questions in the news media, on social media, and in our store fronts or social circles, who do we listen to and how do we sift through those messages toward a decision that makes sense for the Cabot school community. Over the past few months, I have looked to those who are leaders in their fields to help me make sense of these messages and choices. I am not a health professional, so I look to respected professionals in the fields of public health, pediatrics and mental health to help me make sense of what it means to safely return to school. I am a long time educator, but my lens is also limited by my own experience, so I look to those well regarded in the field of education to understand what remote and in person instruction can look like in the fall. I am new to the Cabot school community, so I have looked to families and staff members to help me learn about the needs and values that are uniquely Cabot. Here’s what I am learning.

Medical understanding of COVID- 19 is continuing to evolve; therefore, school policy and procedures will also need to evolve. While it can be frustrating to hear a seemingly different message from health professionals from week to week, it is also reassuring that infectious disease professionals are working to issue guidance that is based on the most up to date scientific evidence. I have been reading commentary from infectious disease experts to help me understand why it is okay to go back to school in the fall. In an article entitled: COVID-19 Transmission and Children: The Child Is Not to Blame (published in July), the authors, two infectious disease doctors from University of Vermont Medical Center, conclude that evidence from multiple studies across contexts is supporting the conclusion that children are not the primary drivers of the spread of the virus. This does not mean that we should abandon caution. In his July 9th commentary about school reopening, Benjamin Linas, an epidemiologist and infectious disease doctor, cautions us against looking at one story. He notes that all data is currently suggesting that schools should try to reopen in the fall. However, he also notes that there should be contingencies to ensure, as new data and information emerges, we can shift course quickly. These preparations include health screening, testing, isolation, and contact tracing, all of which are already a part of Guidance on Reopening Schools from the Vermont Department of Health that we will follow at Cabot School.

Being together is important for the social, emotional and academic well-being of young people. On Friday, July 10, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers, and the School Superintendents Association released a joint statement encouraging the safe reopening of schools. They, like many others, cited the important role school plays in the social, emotional, and academic development of young people, as well as the important ways that schools work to mitigate inequities. In her blog, Cult of Pedagogy, Jennifer Gonzalez outlines the ways inperson learning should be different from on-line learning. Notably, she says, community building and active learning should be prioritized during in-person instruction. Community building and active learning are hallmarks of projectbased learning (PBL), so we are uniquely positioned to be able to make in person instruction active and joyful for our young people.

How families have experienced these past few months is different, even in one community. Over the past month, I have been able to connect with numerous families about returning to school in the fall. Each experience of this time is unique. For some young people, remote learning has been fraught with challenges. Taking instruction from an at home adult can put strain on at-home relationships. Inconsistent internet connectivity can be frustrating to navigate, especially for our youngest students. Economic uncertainty, a lack of routine, and increased isolation can place strain on students emotionally. Connections with teachers and other students are not the same through a screen. On the other hand, many families have experienced joys these past few months. There have been chances to reconnect, pursue passions, be outside more. For some students, connecting through technology has boosted their interest in learning and school. These are important contexts for our staff community to consider as schools reopen. Cabot School is small and nimble. Our community looks forward to welcoming students and staff back for in-person instruction. To begin, this will not be full time in-person instruction, but a mixture of in-person and on-line learning. We will adhere to the health and safety protocols set forth by the state. Students and staff will be required to wear face coverings; they work to create safe physical distance, but we will not be socially distant. Students will have opportunities to learn and play together, safely. Many of our classrooms and projects will move outside when the weather is nice. We will look to you, as our community, to support our safe and welcome return by donating face coverings (there is a drop off at Cabot Village Store) and materials for outdoor classrooms (let me know what you can donate).

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Cabot’s Linda Gabrielson Inducted into DAR

by Cabot Chronicle Staff Writer

On June 17, Cabot resident Linda Gabrielson was inducted into the St. John de Crevecoeur Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.), whose mission it is to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism. The objectives of the society are ‘to perpetuate the spirit of the men and women who achieved American Independence; to promote the development of an enlightened public opinion; and to foster patriotic citizenship.’

Cabot Chronicle: The D.A.R is a women’s society established in 1890 whose members are descendants of patriots of the American Revolution. Can you tell us what you know about your ancestors who were involved in the American Revolution? Linda Gabrielson: I joined the D.A.R. through an ancestor on my mother’s side of the family. It felt right for me to follow my mom’s side of the family to honor the female heritage of this society. This ancestor who fought in the Revolutionary War was Nathaniel Irwin. His family arrived in America several generations before the Revolutionary War. Interestingly, the family lived, from the time they arrived in America through when my mom grew up, in the same small area of Pennsylvania, outside Philadelphia. Nathaniel was a farmer. However, there was also a Thomas Crosby (an ancestor on my mom’s mother’s side of the family) who was a private in the American army and fought during the Revolutionary War. I haven’t learned much about him, except he ran into financial ruin later in his life and died while residing at the local poor farm in his town. My grandparents on my father’s side were members of D.A.R. and S.A.R. (Sons of the American Revolution) respectively, and so there are at least two other patriots through whom I could have joined (Jacob Yount – on my grandmother’s side; Joseph Woods - on my grandfather’s side). I don’t yet know much about Jacob Yount. I know that Joseph Woods, after the revolution moved to what is now Turkey Hill, IN, and the family still has descendants in that area. Joseph was also a farmer. In each case, my ancestors qualified as patriots because they were soldiers in the war. A person can qualify, for D.A.R. purposes, as a patriot if there is documentation that they aided or assisted the revolutionary cause in some way, as well as fighting in the war.

Cabot Chronicle: As a new member of the St. John de Crevecoeur Chapter of the D.A.R., do you think your ancestor’s involvement in the American Revolution has changed how you think of the Revolution? Or do you think family history has the potential to enliven the events of world history? Linda Gabrielson: I originally started conducting genealogical research for a different purpose than joining D.A.R. In my family heritage, there was a man (Jesse Ferrell) who was not a member of the family, but who we’ve honored for generations. He, at a time when it was legal to pay someone to serve your term in the military, was paid to serve in the army in place of my great-great grandfather who was a farmer and had a family to support. Because my great-greatgrandfather was not off fighting and stayed home in Pennsylvania during the war, my great-grandfather had the opportunity to be born. The family later employed Jesse Ferrell, and he stayed close to the family. I’d hoped to learn more about this man and his activities; that is why I started doing genealogic research. As I got involved in the research, it was interesting to investigate other ancestors and see what I could learn. In the process, many aspects of life in earlier times have come alive for me. It is interesting to see what people did for a living, how they were schooled, where they stayed or moved to, etc. This does enliven events of world history quite a bit. I see a whole line of relatives who came from Ireland around the time of the famine, and some who came from Scotland fleeing political turmoil – I still don’t know which side of the law those fleeing relatives were on!

Cabot Chronicle: In researching your family’s past, can you recommend any useful research tools to someone interested in delving into their family history? Linda Gabrielson: I started my research using U.S. Census records – there is interesting information there. Then I opened an account with Family Search (which was free). Later, I opened an account with Ancestry, which I found to be especially useful in digging into newspaper archives, town and state records, cemetery records, etc. There is a tremendous amount of information available online. I remember my grandparents traveling to different places to visit cemeteries and town halls to complete their research. Now, you can do a large amount from the comfort of your home. Cabot Chronicle: So much has been curtailed due to the pandemic, but is there an upcoming heritage activity with the Vermont State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution that you are looking forward to, now that you are a member? Linda Gabrielson: I am still so new to the organization, I’m not sure of the extent of their activities. I have joined their Service to Veterans committee. This was near and dear to my heart since my husband is a veteran (22 years of service) of the military. I do look forward to visiting D.A.R. Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., when things settle down after the pandemic. It holds many historical artifacts, a great genealogic library, and overall beautiful architecture that I’m told is worth seeing.

 ·If you receive a text or email, don’t click the link. Hit delete!

Vermonters may also report such scams to the Vermont Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program at UVM by calling 800-649-2424 or by email to [email protected].

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Be Alert to Scams

Scams Related to Federal

Economic Impact Stimulus Payments There is talk in Congress of one or more additional stimulus payments. Scammers are coming up with new ways to steal your information and your money. The IRS is seeing a significant increase in criminals trying to gather information needed for the stimulus payments. Both individual citizens and tax preparers are being targeted. The messaging from these fraudsters includes variations of language such as "in order to receive your/your client's stimulus payment via direct deposit, we need you to confirm the banking information." In this way, they are gathering personal information via telephone or directing victims to click on a link that takes them to a fake website where they enter their banking information. It is important to always remember that neither the Vermont Department of Taxes nor the IRS will call, text, or email you to verify your banking information for stimulus payments. If you receive such a call, text, or email please follow the following guidelines:

 If you receive a phone call, don’t talk with them. Hang up!

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

…news about Cabot, local businesses and our neighbors Happy Birthday Cabot - Cabot was chartered on August 17, 1781 by the Vermont State Legislature. Cabot started out as an army town. When the town was officially organized, eight years after the chartering, six out of seven people elected to fill town offices had been commissioned Continental Army officers (the odd civilian was elected to the office of highway surveyor). It has been said that a person could live in Cabot for seventy-five years and have been a resident of four counties without ever leaving one’s place of birth. The town has been successively part of the Vermont counties of Cumberland, Orange, Caledonia and, since 1855, Washington.

College Student News

Recent graduates from the Practical Nursing program at Vermont Technical College in the Spring 2020 semester include local residents Lauren Bellavance of Cabot and Carolyn McTigue of Marshfield.

Andrew Little was named to the Castleton University Dean’s List for the spring semester of the 2019-20 academic year. To qualify for this academic honor, the student must maintain full-time status and a semester grade point average of 3.5.

Jeremy Maxfield was named to the Castleton University President’s List for the spring semester of the 2019-2020 academic year. To qualify for this highest academic honor, the student must maintain full-time status and a semester grade point average of 4.0.

Ryder Lalomia graduated from the Civil & Environmental Engineering Technology program at Vermont Technical College in the Spring of 2020. In addition, Ryder achieved Dean’s List Honors for the spring semester of 2020 and was nominated for Student Engineering Technician of the Year by program faculty for demonstrating academic excellence, student leadership, professionalism, and engineering-based analysis and problem solving.

Alisha Celley, a senior women’s basketball player and exercise science major helped lead the NVU-Lyndon Lady Hornets to clinch a playoff berth in the North Atlantic Conference. Celley is one of eighteen Northern Vermont University-Lyndon student athletes named to the North Atlantic Conference All- Academic Team for the Winter 2019-2020 and Spring 2020 seasons. Alisha is a local legend for her record of scoring more points than any female player in Cabot basketball history.

Kasey Long and Sarah Peterson of Cabot were named to the Spring 2020 Student Honors List at the Community College of Vermont. This honor recognizes part -time students with a 4.0 grade point average.

Stay connected during COVID

Group phone calls are a great way to stay connected to friends, family and fellow members of community building efforts while we are staying at home. CCA staff can help assist you in arranging a group phone call or zoom meeting for any group meeting. If you are interested, email the CCA at [email protected] or call 563- 2064.

What to do with 13 tons of sour cream?

Cabot Creamery has responded valiantly in the face of the coronavirus – office employees being deployed to manufacturing, care stations established to constantly monitor the health of employees, and making donations to communities who are providing pandemic food aid. In mid-July, the Baltimore-based Italian Cultural Center of Maryland faced a happy, if very strange, problem – the sudden donation from Vermont-based Cabot Creamery of 5,376 tubs of sour cream. They weren’t the typical 8 oz. containers you would buy at the grocery store. They were 5 lbs. each.

Monica Lapenta, president of the Italian Cultural Center, said “It’s one thing to see the quantity on a piece of paper. It’s another thing to see it in front of you.” Lapenta and a handful of volunteers worked non-stop, from morning until 3 a.m. the next day, finding churches, community organizations and individuals to take the sour cream, and figuring out logistics. “I’m amazed at what people can accomplish together,” Lapenta said. What 26,880 pounds of sour cream looks like. (Photo courtesy of the Italian Cultural Center of Maryland)

Shape Your Future

The census is critical to federal funding for Vermont. Currently, VT is among the lower responding states in the nation. The average response rate as of July 9 was 50.4% in Cabot, 55 .5% in VT, 62.1% for the nation. Census results help determine how billions of dollars in federal funding flow into states and communities each year. The 2020 Census takes just a few moments to complete. Visit 2020census.gov for details.

Additional food security for seniors

The Danville Senior Action Center/Mealsite serves delicious, homemade meals every Tuesday and Thursday at noon at the Danville United Methodist Church, 84 Park Street. The suggested donation for meals is $4 for those over age 60 and $5 for those under age 60. Meals are available for pick-up from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Call (802) 684-3903 for the menu and to make your lunch reservation. The Danville Senior Action Center is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, partially funded by the Northeast Kingdom Council on Aging and donations from the local community.

Love Where You Work? – Take the Survey!

During the pandemic, many people have come (or returned) to Vermont to “shelter in place” – sometimes bringing their remote job with them. A survey project launched by the Vermont Futures Project and the University of Vermont asks people if they think they might stay in Vermont when things return to more normal. And what Vermont might do to keep them here. Whether you work as an artist, writer, engineer, teacher, trainer…you are encouraged to submit your responses at https://www.uvm.edu/cas/vermontresearch/vermont-demographics.

Local Quilter Member of Global Exhibition

Roz Daniels’ quilt Joy from the Basement was selected to be part of the Studio Art Quilt Associates Global Exhibition - Musica! running from Mar 1, 2020 until Dec 31, 2022. Musica! is a celebration of Music - with a Visual Twist, exploring all the wonderful ways in which music can serve as inspiration for the creative process. Roz’s artist statement about this quilt reads: All of the sympathy I received when folks heard I had a beginning drummer in the family was completely unfounded. I loved every minute of that music making. Each note sounded like joy coming from the basement! But I could never hold on to the notes that drifted up the stairs. This piece is my attempt to grab some of those flying notes and hold onto them visually now that the house is quiet.

The beginning of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 9.

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Food Insecurity During a Time of Uncertainty

Reports of long lines at National Guard-distributed food drives highlight just how easily and quickly the average Vermonter can become food insecure. Every car in the line tells the story of a family who is living with the uncertainty of how they will provide adequate nourishment for the ones they love. Many families do not experience the personal, physical sensation of hunger, but they live every day with food insecurity resulting from a lack of available financial resources for basic needs. Economic uncertainty and a lack of hope about the future are at the heart of food insecurity. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Food insecurity is a complex societal issue, and the extreme financial challenges and fears created by the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbate the problem. People who are food insecure may be at an increased risk for a variety of adverse health outcomes and health disparities, including decreased nutrient intake, hypertension and obesity. Even though food insecurity is closely related to poverty, not all people who live below the poverty line experience food insecurity. Overlapping issues, such as a lack of affordable housing, limited transportation, chronic health problems, low wages, and social isolation often exist in food insecure households. As reported by the Welfare Info website that compiles US census data, the poverty rates in Washington and Caledonia Counties of Vermont range from 11.8% to 12.3%. In Essex County, the poverty rate jumps to 15.5%. An average of one out of every 8.8 residents of Vermont lives in poverty. These are our neighbors, friends, and family members who deal with financial struggles to meet their basic needs, such as housing, transportation, and food. In the spring of 2020, the pandemic and heightened concern over resource availability substantially increased the requests for food support at Faith in Action. From March to April 2020, the Cabot and Lyndonville Faith in Action locations experienced an 83% monthover-month increase in the number of community members needing supplemental food support. The unprecedented and immediate increase in food support demand has continued into May and June, and the higher demand is expected to persist through the fall and winter.

Nonprofits like Faith in Action fill a critical need in our Vermont Communities, especially during a time of crisis. While many food pantries closed in the spring of 2020 due to the pandemic and lack of available employees and volunteers to distribute food, Faith in Action increased food-related support services while adjusting distribution methods to ensure volunteers, employees, and the community are kept safe. In Cabot, drive-thru food shares occur twice monthly so recipients can stay safely in their car while volunteers load the food. Lyndonville expanded the pantry hours and provide delivery services upon request to homebound community members. The Vermont Foodbank Vermonters Feeding Vermonters (VFV) Program supports Faith in Action’s purchase of high-quality fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, and eggs directly from Vermont growers to share with Vermonters facing food insecurity. Through the VFV program, Faith in Action is supporting local food producers, including Burtt’s Orchard, Provender Farm, and the Wilder Farm. As part of another critical pandemic related program, the Farmers to Families Food Box Program, Faith in Action distributes milk, cheese, vegetables, and chicken at our Cabot and Lyndonville locations. This new program supports community members now and into the fall and winter when the need for food support is likely to increase. Food support provides relief to already stretched households experiencing financial constraints and resulting food insecurity. During a time of crisis, even small acts of support help folks get through a challenging time and, as a result, lessen household stress. An example is Sally (name changed to protect privacy), who called a Faith in Action volunteer on a Saturday, as she needed an emergency food box. Sally has three small children at home, and she was waiting on a delayed unemployment check. The box of food provided by Faith in Action included pasta, rice, bread, meat, cheese, milk, cereal, canned and fresh vegetables, and treats for the children. Sally’s appreciation was witnessed first-hand through her tears of relief and expressed gratitude for helping her family get through the week ahead. Faith in Action’s programs are delivered and driven by a neighbor-helpingneighbor model where dedicated community volunteers contribute hours to sort, prepare, and distribute food. Many volunteers deliver boxes of food and, in turn, provide essential community connections to homebound neighbors. Often Faith in Action volunteers also qualify as clients who receive needed food, and their willingness to volunteer provides ownership and pride to the process of supporting others in the community. The neighbors -helping-neighbors model is part of the Faith in Action culture and has been woven into the food delivery process since the organization’s inception back in 2004. Faith in Action is a 501(c)(3)3 nonprofit organization with offices in Cabot and Lyndonville, Vermont. As a Vermont Foodbank network partner, Faith in Action distributes food along with providing a drop-in center, socialization opportunities, healthy living and eating programs, and community support in the form of transportation and aid to those in need. If you or someone you know from tanced activities: walks, biking, a chat on opposite sides of the porch. As a mentor myself, it has been great to see my mentee in person again, even if the six-plusfoot distance feels a bit forced. Cabot Mentoring is looking forward to the time when it is safe to resume all in-person time, and start matching new mentor/mentee pairs. If you are interested in becoming an mentor, or know a youth who would like to be a mentee, please contact us at [email protected] . We are still bringing people into the program, so we’re ready to make great matches post-pandemic. Be well!

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More Than Words: the importance of in-person communication

It’s been an interesting time for the Cabot Mentoring program. As a program dedicated to providing youth with inperson, non-screen time with a community member, having to stop all in-person interactions has been a real challenge. Our mentors have been creative by continuing their connections with their mentees through phone calls, video chats, texting, and online gaming. But there’s no substitute for the connections we build when we’re together in the same space. It’s remarkable to experience the difference in communication…so much of how we communicate goes beyond words: posture, expression, gestures, pauses in speech all matter, and add meaning to our conversations. Some mentor/mentee pairs have begun meeting outdoors for socially disthe Cabot or Lyndonville area can benefit from supplemental food during these challenging times, please contact Faith in Action by calling 802-563-3322 in Cabot or 802-626-1212 in Lyndonville. Food share dates and pantry hours can be found online at www.faithinac tionvt.org.

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Cabot/Marshfield Recycling

Reminders from the Northeast Kingdom Waste Management District during Vermont's Covid-19 State of Emergency

Please help protect public sanitation employees and reduce the burden on the solid waste collection system. For the safety of yourself and others please follow these recommendations:

 Properly sort, bag, and contain recyclables.  Practice social distancing at the recycling center.  Cover nose and mouth with a face mask.  Wash hands regularly with soap and water.

The Cabot Recycling Center, located on Sawmill Rd. in Lower Cabot, remains open every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until Noon only. During this time, please do not visit the Cabot Recycling Center if you are feeling ill or have flu-like symptoms. The Cabot Recycling Center accepts a wide variety of post-consumer packaging, as well as electronics, batteries, hardcover books, light bulbs, food scraps, and more. The Center is staffed, and trash is collected for a fee. If you are new to the area, stop by and see for yourself. If you are a regular, you are already doing a great job of keeping recycling materials free of food residues and other nonrecyclable trash. The NEKWMD, representing 49 Towns in Essex, Orleans, Caledonia, Washington, and Orange counties, provides a wide variety of recycling and disposal options for many products, including household hazardous waste and mercury lightbulbs and thermostats. Information of other recycling services in Cabot, Marshfield, and surrounding towns is available at nekwmd.org.

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Central Vermont Fiber Update

by Andrew Gilbert This morning, as I got ready for work and another round of “important” meetings, the DSL went out…. Granted, it was stormy. But again? And as I took the trek up Thistle Hill in pouring rain to get a few bars on the cell phone to put out a message to colleagues that I would miss some meetings, it really brought home some frustration. The obvious mistake we have made in not treating connectivity as infrastructure has truly been brought home by recent events. For this moment, it was just an inconvenience to me. But lately, too often, for too many, it’s more than that. Poor connectivity directly impacts our quality of life. And our economic viability. Without going into the diatribe of how we got here, I want you to know that some great people are making a lot of effort, volunteering, to try to fix this. The VT legislature was busy this spring and worked extremely hard to pass H.966 as part of Coronavirus Relief. We have some quality representatives in our legislature, which should not be taken for granted. This effort included specific funding for use by CUD’s (of which CVFiber is one) for administration and planning purposes. In addition, it contains specific funding for acceleration projects for specific needs, such as telehealth and education, etc. The details are a bit numbing, but in general, there are good opportunities we are working on to potentially accelerate progress. One of the challenges is around the rules that Congress included in how and when the money must be spent.

https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/document/2020/19/Bill/274297#documents-section

In addition to this, CVFiber has completed a feasibility study and shared this with the Vermont Department of Public Service. Given the plan, we then engaged Interisle, our consultant partner, to develop a business plan. We have received the draft of this plan and are currently reviewing it. The hope is that, with this, we can pursue capital loan funding through VEDA. The intent would be to fund initial construction projects to provide service to a targeted area in one or more CUD communities. We are also actively pursuing several other funding sources, including major federal programs. We are communicating with many potential partners, including utilities, other CUDs, and existing but locally owned ISPs. To remind everyone, CVFiber is a group of now 20 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. All CVFiber meetings are public and warned. They typically are on the second Tuesday of the month in the elementary school in Berlin, or currently virtually. The website is at https://cvfiber.net/. If you have any questions please feel free to email me, Andy Gilbert, at [email protected].

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ADVICE FROM THE TREE WARDEN

Hopefully, everyone is enjoying summer, though it has been hot lately. By now, the new normal of face masks and physical distancing has become part of the daily routines for most of us. Though masks do not exactly make summer more enjoyable, they are a first line of defense against COVID-19 during this pandemic we are trying to keep under control. Another not-so-visible threat we are all exposed to during this time of year is ticks. Ticks are present in many of the places we spend time during the summer months. A couple of nights ago, I had a tick get on me in the kitchen from a spinach plant pulled from my garden. While cleaning and processing the spinach in the kitchen sink, the tick made its way on to my clothing, and then my skin. The tick was removed before it could attach and burrow into my skin. Unfortunately, tick encounters like mine are quite common and should illustrate the need for vigilance and regular tick checks during summer months. There are several types of ticks present in our forests and yards. Deer tick/Blacklegged Tick are associated with Lyme disease and most people are familiar with these ticks. There are several other types of ticks which are present and may carry other diseases. The American Dog Tick, the Lone Star Tick, and the Woodchuck Tick are also found in Vermont. The Lone Star Tick is rarely found in Vermont but occasionally are transported on birds moving north during migration. Prevention and regular tick checks are the proper steps to keep ticks off you if spending time in your yard, garden, or woodlot. For clothing, the preference is light colored clothing for easier spotting of ticks if one gets onto your clothes. Prevention includes applications of Insect repellent with up to 30% DEET to skin, and Permethrin to boots, clothing, and gear. If you choose to apply Permethrin, please read and follow the guidelines for application on the packaging (Do not apply to skin!). After returning home, a tick check is paramount to removing any ticks that may have gotten past the insect repellent and Permethrin. Permethrin is readily available in many types of containers, including aerosol containers, spray bottles, and quart sized containers of Permethrin concentrate - with the quart sized containers being the most economical way to purchase Permethrin. Clothing is also available that is impregnated with Permethrin, with protection lasting through 50 washings. If using Permethrin concentrate, please follow the instructions and wear gloves while diluting and mixing for use into a spray container. The steps above may seem too much trouble for some but will protect against ticks if heading outdoors. Please be tick smart and enjoy your time outdoors this summer.

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Cows Cabot

Cabot’s Main Street propelled a legal case all the way to Vermont’s Supreme Court. ISRAEL CUTTING Qui tam vs. JOSEPH STONE Caledonia March 1835. Israel Cutting wanted a fine of $10 from Joseph Stone. Stone rescued his cow from the Cabot pound, where Cutting confined it. Cutting was a canny businessman. Fisher’s history of Cabot said, “In 1840, a starch factory was built below the shops on the river, by Israel Cutting, which like everything else in his hands, proved lucrative In connection with his factory, he built a grist and a sawmill which he ran a few years.” Cutting’s claim was based on an 1819 law that provided selectmen, on proper application, are to “lay out and establish the limits and bounds” of a village. It established penalties, for allowing cattle, horses, geese, etc. to run at large within legal village bounds. The statute allowed impounding horses and cattle to enforce the penalty. Vermont statutes included:

§ 3451. Cattle, horses or swine - If a person suffers his or her neat cattle, horses, or swine to run at large on the highways or commons, any person may impound them. The owner shall pay the charges of the impounder and poundkeeper, and the poundkeeper shall not release such animals until the charges are paid.

§ 3483. Hindering retaking - A person who hinders or impedes a poundkeeper or impounder in retaking an animal shall be fined $10.00 and shall pay the damages to the person injured.

§ 3484. Taking beast from, or impeding impounder - A person who rescues an animal from the custody of a person driving or about to drive it to pound, or resists him in so doing, shall be fined $10.00 and shall pay the damages to the person injured The first appeal of the fine was to Caledonia County Court. (Cabot was in Caledonia County until 1855.) Stone’s final appeal went to the Vermont Supreme Court. The Supreme Court found the selectman did receive an application and established a village. They also properly posted notices of the new village. Stone’s cow did wander onto neighboring property on Main Street. What the selectmen did not do was properly describe limits and bounds of the village. Instead of citing physical points at the village edges, or having village borders surveyed, the selectmen defined the village by listing real estate owners in the village. This was too vague for the court. The court could not definitively determine if the cow was grazing inside or outside legal village limits. Cutting did not get ten dollars from Stone. (The $10 would be worth $300 in 2020.) Stone’s plodding cow slowed establishing legally enforceable village limits until more than 30 years later, in 1866. The village merged back into the town in 2010.

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Online Public Hearings on Hunting Regulation Changes

Two public hearings will be held by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Board on proposed changes to the turkey hunting regulation and the regulation on reporting requirements for hunters who take big game during hunting seasons.

Turkey Hunting Regulation Change

The turkey regulation proposal deletes unnecessary definitions, defines youth and novice hunters, establishes a novice turkey hunting weekend at the same time as the youth turkey hunting weekend, sets requirements related to hunting licenses and the attendance of an unarmed adult hunter for youth and novice hunters, and amends shot size to allow smaller shot.

Big Game Reporting Regulation Change

The big game reporting regulation proposal allows the Commissioner to authorize hunters to report turkey and deer electronically, by telephone or any other method. It also allows the Commissioner to allow electronic reporting of moose and bear in an emergency.

Turkey and Reporting Rule Virtual Public Hearing Information

Date: Monday, August 24, 2020 Start time: 6:30 p.m.

Meeting ID: 862 2360 4609 Meeting Link:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86223604609 Dial in Phone Number: 929-436-2866 Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2020 Start Time: 6:30 p.m.

Meeting ID: 879 2805 7824 Meeting Link: https:/us02web.zoom.us/j/87928057824 Dial in Phone Number: 929-436-2866 Public comments will be taken during the online hearings and over the phone but can also be provided by sending them to ANR.FWPublicComment @vermont.gov by Wednesday, September 2, 2020.

A little help from Efficiency Vermont helps all Vermonters live better while

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 12 onward.

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From page 12

Efficiency Vermont provides objective advice, technical services, and financial support to help you create healthier, happier, more comfortable spaces. Here’s how Efficiency Vermont can help you:

Help buying products

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TWIN VALLEY SENIOR CENTER

4583 U.S. Route 2 P.O. Box 152 East Montpelier, VT 05651 At Twin Valley Seniors, we want you to know that we understand your concerns about bringing prepared food into your home from other areas during this difficult time. I want to reassure you that Twin Valley Senior Center takes the highest sanitary precautions for food preparation. These precautions are not only taken just through the pandemic, but are followed every time there is any meal preparation at the center. The center contracts with Central Vermont Council on Aging, which helps cover the costs of meals produced. We are paid $3.65 per meal toward the cost of production. Any person age 60+, regardless of ability to pay toward meals, can receive as many meals as needed to help them have proper nutrition throughout the week. Each person getting meals may also get a quart of milk weekly. The cost to the center for producing these meals, including wages, supplies for packaging, and food (other than free Food Bank meats we can secure, fresh vegetables provided by local residents and Community Harvest of VT) averages out to approximate $9.00 per meal to produce. The dedicated delivery volunteers receive a small token of $.58 per mile if they wish to accept, some mileage is donated monthly. Our menu is prepared a month in advance and approved by a registered Dietician (or changes are made if the nutritional values are not properly met). At the center, the meals are prepared by the cook, packaged by one or two Meals on Wheels volunteers, and then delivered by volunteer drivers to the clients’ homes. The Senior Center doors are locked to the public all day. The cook and the 2-3 helpers working the meals, myself and an assistant are the only ones at the center weekly. All of us wears mask, use rubber gloves where needed, hand wash frequently, and keep a safe distance from each other throughout the day. The volunteer drivers are not allowed in the center. Their delivery bags are placed on the porch, where they pick them up for delivery. The drivers have all been issued the state guidelines, and have been furnished with rubber gloves, masks and hand sanitizer. They do not go into the homes of their clients. They leave the meals in coolers that the clients have outside their doors. Drivers call or check to see if clients are at their windows to see the drivers. After the driver’s completion of delivery, they return the delivery bags to the porch at the center. The bags are brought inside the center and are sanitized for the next delivery day. We hope that by sharing this information, people may have an easier time deciding whether to sign up for Meals on Wheels deliveries. Your health, well being and nutrition are important to us, and we look forward to seeing you again in the near future! I encourage you to contact the center if you have any questions about our home delivered or curbside meals. Center phone # is 802-223-3322 or email [email protected].

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 14 onward.

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CABOT PUBLIC LIBRARY NEWS

Curbside library service has been busy throughout the summer. It’s great that so many people have been taking advantage of the new books, audiobooks, magazines, and DVD’s the library has to offer. Call (563-2721), email ([email protected]) or browse our online catalog on our website (www.cabotlibrary.com) to request items. Pick up times are coordinated with patrons Monday through Thursdays. If you need a library card, we will set you up over the phone or by email. Stay tuned as we determine our next steps in the reopening process.

Instructions for using the online catalog: 1. Go to our website:

www.cabotlibrary.com 2. Click on THE CPL CATALOG 3. Reserve item by clicking “Request

Hold” to the right of selected item 4. We will gather the materials 5. We will call you or email you and set

up a pick-up time Monday through Thursday. 6. Materials will be bagged, labeled with

your name, and put on a cart in the back foyer at your pick-up time. Don’t know what you want to read? We’ll help you pick out something!

Summer Reading Program- Cabot Public Library's Summer Reading Program - Imagine Your Story - is underway! As you finish up your goals, call or email for your T-shirt and prize! Feel free to request any of the new middle school (formerly DCF) and Green Mountain Book Award books.

State Park and Echo Center Passes

– Call or email to borrow the Vermont State Parks Pass, which is good for FREE ENTRY into any Vermont State Park day use area - up to eight people in one vehicle. If you are not a library patron, we'll get you set up over the phone or email. Also - starting July 10, Echo Leahy Center for Lake Champlain will be open Fridays through Mondays – 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Tickets must be reserved online in advance for a timed entry. Call or email the library to find out how to get a discounted half price rate for the Echo Center.

Online resources: RB (Recorded Books) Digital – Over 9,400 downloadable audiobooks, 725 downloadable e-books. There are no holds or waiting lists for core titles; they are always available. 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 - Covering everything from newspaper articles to DIY car repair, the Vermont Online Library (VOL) can help with any topic. Available for free to all Vermonters, VOL has options for all ages from elementary school through adult. You can even use it to read current articles from the NY Times, Washington Post, the Economist, and more. Use the link on our website. Free ebooks – https://www.gutenberg.org Wi-Fi- The Wi-Fi will stay on, as always, and patrons can access it from outside the building.

Fall Educational Plans – As schools manage reopening – whether online, in person, or a combination of both, we are here for you. We can help navigate online resources and help access research materials available throughout the state. Many thanks to our Library Trustees – Linda Gabrielson, Jeannie McCallum, Angela Ogle, Kurt Steinert, Beth Wade and student representative, Mekiah Smith for all their support and help throughout these uncertain times. Kathleen Hoyne Library Director

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Drawing September 25

by Sarah Mangan Christ Covenant School in Marshfield is having a quilt raffle! The drawing for the quilt will be held at the last seating of the Christ Church Harvest Supper on Friday, September 25. Plans for how the Supper will work are in the beginning stages. Due to what restrictions might be in place at that time, perhaps only carry-outs will be available. However, first choice would be supper with a variation of safe seating, so everyone can see and greet old friends and new—to serve the meal to guests and visit at the church. However, the “how” of the meal will depend upon the restrictions in place for gathering at the time of the meal, but the when and what is still a “go”. The Menu for the supper is: meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, coleslaw, and apple cider, with apple pie and coffee for dessert. If you are interested in the supper, please call (802) 426-3744, leave a message and someone will get back to you. Father David Mulligan was interviewed for this article:

What is the fundraiser for? “We use the money we raise to keep our school open and operating. We, of course, have to pay all town and school taxes like everyone else, but on top of that, we have to finance our own parish school out of pocket. We receive not one penny of government funding. It’s quite a challenge and sacrifice to keep the school going. The Church Supper is a major fundraiser for us. We also make and sell Christmas wreaths in November.”

How many years have you held the Harvest Supper and how many quilts have been made? “We’ve held our Supper for more than 30 years now. I think we’ve made quilts for about half of them.” Who makes the quilts? “The women and girls in our church.” Is it part of the learning that happens at school? “We have had some ‘home economics’ type classes that included quilting. I don’t think it’s on the schedule for this year.”

The quilt is made of new material and scraps from other quilt projects. The women make a handmade wedding quilt for each newly married couple and a baby quilt for each baby born. Each school quilt is a unique design, because they use up fabric so that nothing is wasted. This is much like our forebears.

Please support this project by purchasing quilt raffle tickets! They are $2 each or six for $10. For ticket sales, please call Sarah Mangan at (802) 563-3124.

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