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The Cabot Chronicle

February 2021 · 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 February 2021 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

From page 1

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds - especially after using the bathroom or blowing your nose, and before eating. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Cover your cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue. Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. Stay 6 feet away from other people. Stay home when you are sick. Wear a mask around other people. Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces regularly.

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Challenges Ahead

Creating a school budget for a small district is rarely an easy process, and this year, amidst a pandemic, there are many challenges. At the onset, we entered the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 budget cycle with significant headwinds: the statewide yield rate, forecast by the Commissioner or Taxes, is anticipated to result in a nine percent education tax increase, on average, for all property taxpayers. Cabot also received unfavorable news on several state metrics that set our local tax rate as well, including our common level of appraisal (CLA) falling, and a drop in our “equalized pupil” calculation. Adding to these woes, in FY 2020, which ended on June 30, 2020, the Cabot School District finished the year with a deficit – even after drawing down our reserve funds. When hearing the term “deficit” it is easy to rush to the conclusion of poor planning or mismanagement

– however, 91% of the overrun was attributable to four line items: $214,881 in unanticipated special education costs, $59,315 in additional Vermont State Teachers' Retirement System (VSTRS) costs, and then a deficit of $40,621 in food service for FY 2020 on top of a $44,356 deficit in that account that pre-dated FY 2020. The cumulative food service deficit was known to the board, and we had authorized the deficit to be paid down as part of our regular budgeting process for FYs 2020-2021. However, the depletion of the reserve fund means this deficit can no longer be carried forward. In summary, we entered budget planning for FY 2022 with unfavorable statewide trends and calculations, a deficit that must be addressed, and a higher baseline of special education costs. From this difficult starting point, we stared down an eye-popping tax increase and bursting through the excess spending threshold by hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Board is considering and is ready to commit to several changes and reforms to present a manageable budget to the town, outlined below: First, Cabot has long faced disproportionately high special education demands. Because the State funding formula does not exempt these costs from our total education spending, every additional dollar that we are required to spend by law on meeting students’ needs puts us closer to the excess spending threshold. This threshold was originally intended to deter wealthy districts from extravagant spending – and, unfortunately, does not distinguish between discretionary and non-discretionary costs effectively. As a board, we have grappled with this issue for years: we are legally and morally obligated to provide for all our students, and we are proud that our educators have earned a reputation of serving students with additional needs in an exemplary manner. Last year, we began discussing whether Cabot had reached the tipping point where it no longer made sense to contract with outside providers to provide behavior intervention or special services. Contracts offer flexibility to adjust as students come or go, or as needs change. However, we have concluded that the baseline need for services is not changing and replacing some of these contracted services with district employees is prudent – leading to an anticipated $180,000 in savings versus the status quo. This gain in efficiency is essential to controlling costs and will give administrators more control over the quality of services provided. Second, since the conclusion of the Act 46 process, we have taken a hard look at how to best increase educational quality, while also containing costs. The transition of the traditional elementary model to multi-age groupings for this school year has been promising – certainly in terms of resource stewardship, costs, and efficiency, and it unintentionally provided flexibility during the pandemic. The true potential of this model will likely be seen when the pandemic is over. I note this change to highlight that each year we are working to identify and address areas in which cost savings can be realized without compromising educational quality. Third, the structural deficit in food service is a result of labor costs being included in this line item in lieu of directly budgeted under personnel. This issue has been rectified for this budget year and in the future. Fourth, in lieu of attempting to pay the FY 2020 deficit in a lump sum, we have requested that a five-year note be secured to allow for the debt to be repaid over time. The district’s other debt re- lates to the woodchip fired heating plant. The past few years have seen substantial investment in upkeep and improvement of school facilities. Finally, on January 25, 2021, the board will meet again to further refine the budget. At this point we cannot assure that the final budget proposal will be at or below the excess spending threshold. Unfortunately, based on the statewide yield rate, a tax increase is all but inevitable this year, even if we are below the threshold. We are doing our best to craft a budget that is fair to taxpayers while avoiding critical cuts to direct education that will impact students.

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CABOT ♦ DANVILLE ♦ PEACHHAM

The 2021 legislative session is in full swing! Well, kind of… As many Vermonters, we legislators are working from home right now. We are getting to experience all the wonderful joys of Zoom, too much sitting, constant distraction, and subpar broadband. Believe me when I say I think we can all agree it will certainly be nice to get back to some of the norms we took for granted before. Although this is nowhere close to an optimal legislative session, I am still truly honored to be serving for the next two years. I thank all of you who helped me get here and I truly do look forward to both working with and for you. As we have all heard and seen throughout 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a way of bringing many of the underlying issues of our state and country to the forefront of our attention. The most obvious being things like broadband access, regional food supply availability and distribution, childcare access, the importance of education, and countless other vulnerabilities within our own communities. As a whole, I can say with confidence that the legislature is prioritizing many of these issues, and that our main focus this biennium will be supporting Vermonters struggling due to the pandemic, and hopefully drafting legislation to address these issues going forward. The first example of this was H48, an act relating to authorizing alternative procedures for 2021 annual municipal meetings in response to COVID-19. It was passed quickly by both chambers and was signed by the governor thereafter. The bill, in general terms, gives towns the ability to change the date of their town meeting and/or switch to Australian ballot to accommodate for the pandemic. This is just a one-year provision, let’s hope that’s all we need. There have also been some moneys earmarked for the cost of municipalities mailing ballots, which is also included in the allowances for 2021, but the amount of reimbursement was not included in the bill. I am very excited to have been placed on the Agriculture and Forestry committee. We have a terrific and diverse group on the committee, and we are all hopeful for a productive session. We will be working to ensure that all the hard-working people involved in our Ag. and Forestry sector have the relief, assistance, and opportunities they so greatly need. Our main priorities have been outlined, they range from providing relief for our farmers and loggers, needed due to the impacts of COVID-19, to working on solutions to provide more access and assistance to those interested in entering the field. (No pun intended.) We also continue to work on creating a system which will allow for the payments for ecosystem services. To oversimplify, this is a way of calculating the carbon sequestration that results from good farming practices and then reimbursing the farmers for their work. The hope is to incentivize practices that help fight climate change while boosting the agricultural economy. Once again, I am grateful to be doing the work, and please stay safe and continue to be good neighbors.

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I Got the COVID-19 Vaccine, and Here’s Why You Should Too

When the first shipments of Pfizer’sCOVID - 1 9 vaccine arrived at Boston-area hospitals last week, including Dana- Farber, I was quick to sign up. I understand both how vital getting the vaccine will be in preventing COVID- 19, and the many reasons why it is important and safe for everybody to get it. I encourage others to do the same when the vaccine becomes available to them. Why?

You can trust the science.

Fortunately, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a lot of physicians in the infectious disease department at Dana- Farber. They have been instrumental in researching not only COVID-19, but also the vaccine. They trust in its efficacy, and I do as well. Melissa Houston.

The vaccine does not give you the virus. This is one of the greatest misconceptions out there. While other vaccines contain weakened versions of a targeted virus to help the body’s immune system adjust to and then fight it off, the COVID- 19 vaccine does not. What it does contain is genetic material called modified messenger RNA (mRNA), which helps cells create a protein known as a “spike protein” on the surface of the COVID-19 virus. The body’s immune system recognizes the harmless spike protein as foreign, and creates antibodies to fight it —along with the virus.

It is our duty to contribute to an overall healthier society. Just as it would be irresponsible of me to not practice proper social distancing guidelines, wear a mask, and wash my hands, I should get the vaccine as soon as its available to further increase the chances of the U.S. reaching full herd immunity. (Herd immunity occurs when a critical mass of people become immune to a pathogen like SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.) While it’s not yet clear if any vaccines prevent COVID-19 from spreading from person to person, I know that my getting the vaccine contributes to the long-term wellbeing of my community.

Yes, it was developed fast — but still very safely. The U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) developed a new, rigorous process to ensure vaccine safety. The development process became an all-hands-ondeck when we realized the devastating impact of the virus — how many people it affected and how many were sick or dying from it. We have seen, based on the data, the safeness and effectiveness of the vaccine.

Ethical concerns have been taken into consideration throughout vaccine testing. There were many checks and balances put in place during the development of this vaccine to prevent any type of unethical treatment by race, gender, ethnicity, or any other classification. I feel confident that no ill or adverse side-effects will come to any group of people.

The truth is well-documented.

I continue to educate myself, and continue to look at the differences and similarities between this and other vaccines that people have received in the past for viruses like the flu. Do your own research, like reading the FDA and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites. You’ll gain a better understanding of why the vaccine is so vital. This is hopefully a step toward some kind of normalcy. What our new normal is going to look like, no one knows. But this is something we can all do to get there safely.

Melissa Houston has been a nurse at Dana-Farber for 17 years, focused primarily on helping patients with hematologic malignancies (blood cancers) and those undergoing bone marrow transplants. The current hope is that most oncology patients on active treatment will be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Based on evidence from flu vaccinations, the data suggests that patients with cancer would be able to mount some level of protective immune response, though a number of factors may affect the level of response. Additional research on effectiveness and safety for these patients is ongoing. Please talk to your care team if you have any questions about whether you should receive the vaccine.

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Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine

For the latest information, go to: Healthvermont.gov/myvaccine.

As The Chronicle goes to print, the appointment website is just being brought online for those 75 years and older. The link above will allow users to navigate the website for information and provide the opportunity for qualified Vermonters to sign up for an appointment online or by telephone. To avoid long wait times for telephone operators, the administration encourages scheduling appointments online, and asked family and friends to assist Vermonters not This is not an easy balancing act. We appreciate and encourage community feedback on the budget process. The Board is also going to consider delay of the school budget vote to April, consistent with H. 48, recently signed by Gov. Scott, that authorizes delay of annual meetings and voting. We hope this provides more time to refine the budget, debate the budget, and have greater clarity on state trends. We also encourage voters to pay attention to the Vermont legislature’s proposals on education finance reform, and the so-called “weighting study” prepared by UVM. These changes could greatly benefit Cabot and provide a structure that more fairly accounts for some of the challenges we face.

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 3 onward.

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There’s Got to be a Better Way

Commentary from Senator Anthony Pollina:

Many of us think it’s time to change the way we fund education. Our current system is overly complicated. It is largely based on property, which has little to do with wealth and can particularly fall heavily on seniors and others living on fixed incomes. And, even with “income sensitivity”, lower and moderate-income families pay a higher percentage of their income to fund schools than wealthier Vermonters do. It makes no sense and is not fair. We need an education funding system that is simpler, fairer and more based on income not property. So. I am glad to see that the Vermont Tax Structure Commission has issued a new report calling on the legislature and Governor to scrap the way we now fund schools and replace it with an education funding system based on income, because it is the fair way to do it. And they call for doing it now. I and others have repeatedly submitted legislation to make this change. We hope the Tax Structure Committee report will encourage the legislature to finally move forward with this long-needed reform of how we fund schools. You can read the draft report.here: https://ljfo.vermont.gov/assets/Meetings/Tax- Structure-Commission/2021-01-11/576baebcc8/DRAFT-TSC-Report-1-7-21.pdf.

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How to Schedule an Appointment for Your COVID-19 Vaccination

You will need to create an account on the website. You will be asked for your name, date of birth, email address and phone number. You will receive an email link to verify your account. Enter the patient ID number included in the email and create a password. Review and consent to the notice of privacy practices and enter your personal info. Click the button at the top to schedule a vaccine appointment. Select the name of the person the appointment is for. Only persons currently eligible will be able to schedule an appointment. Select a location – search by county or date range, then chose a specific clinic location. You will be asked a series of medical and demographic questions about bleeding disorders, other vaccinations, allergic reactions. Insurance information – insurance is not required, there’s no cost for getting the vaccine. You will be asked to sign a waiver and then provided with a link to fact sheets. You will be asked about any COVID-19 symptoms. A list will appear of appointments available for the location and date you selected. Click to choose appointment time and click submit. Your appointment information will show on the main registration page and your email.

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OBITUARIES & MEMORIALS

Elizabeth Amaden Elizabeth "Liza" Anne Johnson Amaden passed away on December 7, 2020, at the age of 77. Liza was raised by Muriel and Lawrence Johnson in New Hope, Pa., with her brother Ron and sisters Audrey and Kathy, who knew her as "Betsy." The sisters were great fans of "American Bandstand" and often had living room dance parties when they got home from school. Ski trips inspired a love of Vermont, and Liza moved to the Green Mountains in the mid-1960s; here, she married dairy farmer Jim Ameden and raised three children — Will Ameden of Cabot, Josie Ameden of Calais, and Don Ameden of Londonderry —on a farm in Londonderry. Liza helped to bring a whole new set of ideas to a historic multigenerational dairy, introducing a thriving vegetable business, occasional veganism to the family table, plastic bag recycling and enthusiastic skinny -dipping. She loved her old motorcycle, haying the fields and milking cows. Liza also brought music to the farm. She played guitar and sang, both to her family and at the local church. The three generations that have followed her have absorbed her love of music and singing together at family gatherings. Always a good teacher, Liza was a cofounder and teacher at the Green Mountains Community School House, an alternative elementary school, and also taught at the East Hill Farm School. She was involved in passionate advocacy for nuclear weapon disarmament, which included local campaigning and spearheading a group of Vermonters to march at the 1982 nuclear disarmament rally in New York City. In the mid-'80s, feeling a strong connection with the indigenous peoples of Central America, Liza went back to school and graduated from Skidmore College's "University Without Walls Program" with a degree in Spanish and

Clark Bothfeld of Northfield passed away on December 20, 2020, following brief hospice care at home with family. Clark was born to Theodore and Viola (Clark) Bothfeld on June 13, 1930, in Sherborn, MA.

In 1936, Clark moved to Cabot. After high school, including a year at Tilton Prep School in New Hampshire, Clark attended the University of Vermont and Blanche U. (Foster) Tetreault Blanche U. (Foster) Tetreault, 99, passed away on Friday, December 4, 2020, at the Berlin Health and Rehabilitation Center. Blanche was born April 23, 1921, to Alonzo and Hattie (Hall) Foster, in Cabot. She spent her adult life working as an LPN at Heaton House Nursing Home in Montpelier, retiring at Latin American studies. She spent two years living with families in Guatemala and Costa Rica, learning about their life and culture. In the early-'90s, Jim and Liza chose different roads to follow and parted ways as lifelong friends and co-parents as Liza moved to Iowa to study transcendental meditation, and then to California to earn a license as a hatha yoga instructor. She later returned to the East Coast and Massachusetts, where she worked at Maharishi Veda Health Center and contributed to the growth of Gaia Herbs, where she met her partner Mark Dello Russo. As farm manager at Gaia Herbs, Liza oversaw the company’s move to Asheville, N.C., where she and Mark lived for a couple years until the call of her beloved grandchildren — Sierra, Cody, Silas, Wesley, Georgia, Tabor, Wyatt and Clara — brought her home to Vermont. Liza had a passionate and lifelong appreciation for animals and the natural world. She was a vegetarian and would not kill a fly or a tick even if she found one crawling on her. She would just say, "Hello, little one" and brush it gently away. The gardens and the forestscape of her Topsham home were both beautiful and abundant. She loved playing with her grandchildren and had a way of bringing happiness to people around her. Liza spent the last few years of her life loved and cared for by the wonderful staff at Maple Ridge Memory Care, where her dancing, creativity, and sense of community and fun brought joy to both residents and caregivers. A celebration of Liza’s life will be held at a later date. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers or donations, those who knew and loved this wonderful woman protect and nourish their local landscape and the creatures who live there by perhaps planting a tree, hanging a pollinator house or introducing a child to gardening. Arrangements are being made through Guare & Sons Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at guareandsons.com.

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

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Cabot Creamery Biodigester Plans

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

The Cabot Creamery is currently going through the process to obtain a Certificate of Public Good for the installation and operation of a biodigester facility and a 250-kW electric generation facility off Whittier Hill Road. The petition PUC Case No. 20-3590-PET and can be found online at the PUC website (https://epuc.vermont.gov) or at the Cabot Town Clerk office. A representative of the creamery, Aaron Page, was at a special select board meeting on January 5th to present an overview of the project and obtain additional feedback from the town. He showed those in attendance the site plans and described each of the structures in the proposed project. The plan calls for an anaerobic reactor tank and a small pump house to be located between the fire protection pond and the existing natural gas facility. The 250-kW generator will be placed on the back side of the existing garage, along with an 125,000-gallon equalization tank, which will be slightly higher than the building. Additionally, a candlestick flare will be placed in the area. An access road specifically for maintenance will be constructed off Whittier Hill Road just above the pond. Aaron noted that equipment used for cultured dairy products need to be washed at least once a day, sometimes more. The creamery currently uses what is commonly referred to as “whey” trucks to spray wastewater onto fields in the area, and this project will be an adjunct to that process, not a replacement. The volume of excess wash water that is pumped up to the existing tanks on the hill and then trucked out will not be reduced. He went onto describe how the proposed project will be used to create renewable green energy. The wastewater will be pumped up from the plant to the equalization tank, which is used to regulate the flow into biodigester tank. The flow into the biodigester tank needs to be regulated because wastewater from the plant is not a steady flow. The wastewater is heated to 95 degrees before being pumped biodigester tank. The biodigester tank is 1.4 million gallons and has small pumps to circulate the wastewater in the tank. It is a bolted steel tank with insulation to keep it at the correct temperature and has a floating cover. The cover has a perfect seal, so virtually no gasses or odor can escape. The biogas generated in the tank is collected off the top of through a slight vacuum and sent through filtering media to pull out sulfur. Combusted sulfur creates sulfuric acid, which is not good for the equipment or the atmosphere. The media also pulls out any moisture in the gas before it is sent to the generator. The media must be replaced approximately once a month. The generator is much like a backup propane generator and can produce up to 250 kW of electricity that will be sold to Green Mountain Power. The proceeds from selling the electricity will pay for the project. The generator also creates heat, like an engine, and the waste heat will be pulled off and used to heat the wastewater entering the digester. If there is any excess heat, it can be used to heat the garage. The generator will have a backup fuel supply of natural gas, which can be used for maintenance and testing. When the biodigester produces excess gas that cannot be consumed by the generator, it will be burned at the candlestick flare. The biogas is mostly methane, a very potent greenhouse gas, and burning it converts it to CO2. Additionally, burning the excess gas reduces odors. Theresa Lay-Sleeper asked about the height of the proposed tanks and noted that the existing milk tanks down at the plant are 65’ high, but the proposed tanks are further up the hill. The anaerobic biodigester tank will be 89’ wide and 30’ high. The equalization tank will be 25’ wide and 35’ high. Mike Hogan asked about how the noise level will be mitigated. Aaron proceeded to review the sound study, which he noted used worst case assumptions. The generator is the main source of noise. The other motors will be within buildings. In the study, the buildings are assumed to provide minimal sound attenuation. In reality, a number of units are actually going to generate less sound. Based on a sound map of the area, the sound level at Cabot Commons is projected to be 36db, and at the brown building owned by the CCA it would be 33db. The highest levels seem to be along Elm Street where it peaks at 40db near the intersection of Elm St and Clough Ln. Aaron noted that due to the existing sound levels of the plant, at most locations the added sound from this new equipment would not be discernible. If the sound does impact people, the creamery would be willing to work with people to fix the issue.

The earliest time frame for construction of this project to start is in the spring of 2020. It is likely to be later.

At the December 15 board meeting, the discussion continued with information from a meeting with neighboring towns. Aldo Nunn reviewed what he learned at the meeting with Walden, Marshfield, Plainfield, and Calais, during which they tried to figure out how this would work. Chris Barton from the Plainfield Selectboard is going to gather a list of phone numbers to use in the field. The Cabot road crew can hear Marshfield on their radios, but cannot talk to them, and they cannot hear Plainfield. According to Aldo, the two-way radios are more likely to work better then cell phones, because phones don’t work everywhere. All the trucks have the same type of radio, and Tim Morris from Marshfield has the ability to reprogram the radios to enable inter-town communications. Fred and Aldo further described how the cooperation would work. The trucks would leave their town fueled up and fuel up before returning home. Aldo said a Cabot truck would not spend all the time in another town, it's more likely town crews will help on adjacent roads to their own town routes. Fred explained that towns would reimburse each other for costs. Mike mentioned that VLCT confirmed insurance would cover the town's trucks if they were doing work in other towns. Betty noted that Danville, Peacham, and all the surrounding towns want to be involved in this agreement.

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Emergency Coverage for Road Crew

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

What happens if the road crew comes down with COVID-19? has been a discussion at several Selectboard meetings. The topic was first discussed at the November 24 budget meeting and Betty Ritter did some research based upon the questions raised during a discussion about emergency coverage for road crew. Betty checked with Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) on whether backup drivers from the community would be covered by the town’s insurance. VLCT requested more information and she needs to follow-up her request with more information. In her discussion with VLCT, other options were tabled, such as contracting with someone with insurance, or an agreement with neighboring municipalities for mutual aid. Betty continued talking about mutual aid and said “If somebody is sick, let's say with COVID-19, here in Cabot on the highway crew, Marshfield more than likely may have that, too…. There is a chance that they can actually work in the truck because they are totally by themselves and they are not in contact with other people.” During the ensuing discussion, Fred stated he is for working with other towns. Matt Nally noted that there need to be backups in place, and he is more apt to lean on neighboring towns in exchange for subcontractors. Betty responded that every municipality is talking about this issue.

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Town Committees Suspended or Seats Filled

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer Several town committees have had open seats and the Selectboard recently addressed openings on the Development Review Board (DRB), the Conservation Committee, CVFiber, and the Cabot Community Investment Fund (CCIF). At the November 10 Selectboard Meeting Mike reviewed a letter from Adam Overbay which stated that he was resigning as chair of the CCIF committee. Mike noted that left the committee with one member, Greg Burtt, and three are needed for a quorum. Greg pointed out that they hadn’t even had a meeting since last April when Adam was appointed chair after Frank Kampf resigned in February. He conveyed that at that time the fund had been withdrawn from the market and is currently in a savings account. Mike Hogan recommended that the CCIF committee be suspended until further notice, and a moratorium on all loans and grants until after the COVID- 19 crisis and stability returns to the marketplace. He also voiced that the Selectboard does have financial oversight and fiduciary responsibility for the whole town. The discussion continued under “Other Business” at the November 17 board meeting, and after a lengthy discussion a motion to suspend the CCIF Committee was taken up by the board. The wording of the motion approved by the Selectboard from the minutes read “the CCIF Committee be suspended until July 1,2021, or until a full committee is appointed and that there would be a Moratorium on all loans (Subsidized Interest Rate Loans, Education Grants, Discretionary Grants, Town Meeting Grants) until further notice. Current subsidized interest rate loans will continue to be paid and that the Cabot Selectboard until further notice have the financial oversight for the CCIF Fund in consultation with the Town Treasurer.” It should be noted that the CCIF plan, as approved by the voters of Cabot, states the plan shall be binding upon all public officials, elected or appointed. It also further states “The Town Meeting established a committee of Cabot residents to formulate and implement the ... Plan”. In addition, it reads in section V.C.2: “No payment of CCIF funds shall be made except by authorization of the CCIF Committee, and all payments so authorized shall be made.” Full text of the plan can be found on the town website. At the November 10 meeting Betty also announced that Andy Gilbert had resigned as chair of Cabot Trails Committee and as the Cabot representative on the CVFiber board and recommended R.D. Eno to fill his CVFiber seat. The board approved the appointment. Nominees for the vacancies on the DRB were reviewed at the December 1

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CCA Update: A Better Tomorrow

There is no sense trying to sugarcoat it, 2020 was a brutal year. Families in our community suffered devastating losses and faced unemployment and food insecurity, but there was a bright side. We saw moments of true community, selflessness, caring for one’s neighbors, and acts of sheer empathy in Cabot and beyond. Community members volunteered to help elderly neighbors or those who struggled to educate children remotely despite the inherent health risks. Those acts should give us hope for the resiliency of our town. There are additional reasons to be optimistic about 2021, but those are better left to public health experts to explain. Rather, I’d like to share some of the accomplishments that the CCA board members and volunteers achieved in 2020 and look ahead to what we are hoping, with your help of course, to tackle in 2021. In 2020, our work included:  Supporting The Cabot Chronicle advisory board and advertising sales staff as we continued publication throughout the pandemic.  Working with Cabot not-for-profits and

organizations to organize and strengthen the Cabot 4th of July Celebration to promote the entire local economy [Due to COVID-19 this event was cancelled].  Expanding the Cabot Fall Foliage

event to provide opportunities for local businesses to sell their products and artists to share their work [Due to COVID-19 this event was cancelled].  Organizing an inventory of producers

of food and fiber products, which will evolve into an online directory. Additional tasks included fundraising and grant writing to support this project.  Working with the CCA Economic Development Work Group including meetings with a consultant on the reuse of the 3065 Main Street property.  Providing bookkeeping, administrative

assistance and grant research for Cabot volunteer organizations, who, because of their affiliation with the CCA, can solicit tax-deductible donations. These organizations include: Northeast Kingdom Warriors Soccer Program, Cabot Community Theater, Friends of the Cabot Public Library, Cabot Mentoring, Ride the Ridges, and Cabot’s 4th of July Celebration.  Hosting weekly conference calls during the “stay at home orders” for those that sought extra support. These calls have evolved into weekly emergency management calls to identify potential risks and locate resources.  Providing assistance to groups and businesses with determining COVID- 19 protocol and linking them with financial assistance provided by the state.  Initiating a community conversation about safe protocol for Halloween and drafting and distributing materials outlining public health guidance. In addition, the CCA partnered with the Cabot Public Library to host a Halloween photo contest. The CCA provided the nine prizes totaling $170.  Assisted Cabot Creamery in the opening of their new Farmers Store by providing support for local vendors to sell their goods.  Promoting and administering CCA grants to Cabot not for profits and grass roots organizations.  Represented the not-for-profit sector on the planning committee for the Washington County COVID-19 Governor’s Forum.

As we look ahead, we anticipate undertaking the following additional tasks in 2021:  Preparing for July 4 and Fall Foliage in the hopes we will be allowed to congregate or create a viable alternative celebration.  Launching a Cabot Marketing Association comprised of business owners and interested community members to better promote Cabot to potential homeowners and travelers.  Endeavoring to build fundraising and advertising potential to support publication The Cabot Chronicle in print and monthly.  Continuing to research and share fundraising sources and COVID-19 relief funding as it becomes available.  Improving Cabot’s presence in regional and statewide marketing efforts targeted at potential new residents.  Revising the CCA website to better represent the vitality and diversity of Cabot to attract new homeowners and business owners.

The CCA welcomes new volunteers and new ideas. If you are interested in being involved in any projects mentioned above or in joining the CCA Board of Directors, please contact us at [email protected] or 802-279- 4309.

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Marshfield Usage of Recycling Center

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer At the December 1 selectboard meeting, members of the Marshfield selectboard joined the Cabot selectboard meeting to discuss the recycling center on Sawmill Road. Chris Martin from Marshfield started the conversation by saying that John Cookson had contacted them about contributing to the expenses of the recycling center. He noted that Marshfield is spread out and residents deal with trash differently across the town as a whole, and he felt it would be more equitable if Marshfield residents individually paid for their use of the recycling center. He had also spoken with Paul Tomasi of the Northeast Kingdom Waste Management District (NEKWMD), who explained that some towns sell window stickers for the right to use a facility. Fred Ducharme and Mike Hogan both thought a window sticker was a good idea. The recycling center costs the town of Cabot about $8,000 a year and they would like to recoup some of the expense from Marshfield residents. The Cabot selectboard decided they needed to discuss this further at the next board meeting. On December 15 Paul Tomasi joined the Cabot selectboard meeting and started the discussion about the recycling center by indicating that the Marshfield selectboard doesn’t want to pay half of the expenses because they don’t know how many Marshfield residents are using the facility. John Cookson expressed that it doesn’t seem fair if Marshfield residents don’t pay anything. He mentioned that Marshfield joined the district eight years ago when there were no fees, and permitting would be difficult to enforce when it gets busy. Mike agreed that it can get busy on Saturday mornings. Fred said that a way to make it equitable is needed. Jim Wolynetz chimed in to the discussion and voiced his opinion, why not just put up a sign that says, “Cabot Residents Only”. After the lengthy discussion, no conclusions were reached, and the discussion continued at the January 5 meeting of the selectboard. John restarted the discussion by noting that Cabot residents are paying for it, but not everyone uses it; therefore, board meeting. Mike Hogan and Jeanne Johnson have previously been appointed to temporarily fill the open seats. Betty Ritter put forth Steve Hogan as a candidate to fill his seat on a permanent basis and subsequently Mike recused himself from the vote since Steve is his son. The board approved the appointment, but it was not stated which of the two seats he would be filling. The Conservation Committee appointments were visited at the January 5 board meeting when Gary Gulka, the chair of the committee, asked the board to appoint Jim Wolynetz to the committee. Jim had been actively working with the committee on several things and Gary said he would be a good addition. The board approved the appointment, which expands the number of members on the committee to six.

Marshfield residents should pay for half. Fred asked John if part of his deal with the town for collecting trash at the recycling center included dealing with the recycling. John responded that if Marshfield isn’t paying then he needs to stay neutral regarding the decisions. Fred also wondered if John was obligated to take recycling if he was taking trash. John responded that he is obligated but cannot charge for it. Mike stated that there is no easy way to distinguish Cabot residents from non- Cabot residents. At this point members of the public contributed to the conversation. First Jim remarked that if Marshfield doesn’t pay $4,000 then Marshfield residents shouldn’t have access to the property. Fred noted that they are trying to figure out how we can make it work. John is running it and he is in the trash business. Jim voiced his concern that Cabot has a town facility funded with taxpayer dollars but there is a conflict of interest because there is a private business on the town property. Whomever is running the facility should be the one that ensures only Cabot residents use the business. Trish chimed in and asked if there were Walden residents using the facility. John responded that there were a few, but he doesn’t really know who is who. Ruth Goodrich vocalized that the town should just send them a bill. It is Cabot property and its taxpayer dollars, and the board should decide, and Marshfield should pony up. She asked, what if starting July 1 we send them a quarterly bill? Fred agreed to sending them a letter but wanted to know what they would do if Marshfield refused to pay. Matt Nally remarked that it's incumbent on the town to put a person at the entrance and separates John from who can come on the premises. Trish followed up by saying if Marshfield doesn’t pay, then put up a sign. Mike volunteered to draft a letter that the board can approve at their next meeting using July 1 as the date Marshfield residents would not be able to use the recycling center without payment from the town of Marshfield.

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Outdoor Education is More Than Taking Learning Outside

As schools reopened this fall, many of them hurried to build outdoor classrooms for students. In some cases, these classrooms included electricity hook-ups and other technology, like smart boards. In effect, they moved learning outside where there could be more space and learning could continue as it had inside classrooms. Some schools, like Cabot, took a different approach to learning outside this year. Instead of simply moving the same learning outdoors, we, like others, have used this as a time to bolster our work to incorporate the natural world into our learning. Cabot School has long traditions of place-based and outdoor education that go beyond simply moving the work of learning outside. When students go outside to learn, they do so with purpose. They do so to create community, connections, learn science, learn about their environment, and learn about themselves as learners. This year began with our high school students building trails and classroom spaces for our younger grades. Students worked as a “Crew” to learn about trail maintenance. Our youngest learners then went into the forest to find their “sit spots,” that place in the forest where they could write, draw, or record their own settled feelings. They used the forest to build structures and play together, learning valuable collaboration and problem-solving skills. They researched trees in the forest and created plaques to present to other students. Community building is a hallmark of outdoor education. Creating situations where students can challenge themselves physically also creates opportuniby Susan Socks A successful season of fundraising

Cabot Mentoring would like to thank the community of Cabot for the support shown during our fall Donor Drive. The generosity of many Cabot neighbors carried us to our fundraising goal! We also would like to thank the Ride the Ridges corporate sponsors who chose to donate despite the cancellation of the 2020 RTR event. Cabot Mentoring is also a recipient of a MENTOR Vermont grant. With finances in good shape for 2021, we’re looking forward to a year of supporting our mentor/mentee matches and bringing new adults and youth into the program.

We’re seeking more participants to share the fun of mentoring! While we have temporarily suspended in-person mentoring, and the matching of new pairs, we are still accepting applications both for youth 7-17 and for adult 21+ volunteer mentors. The application and training process ties for students to practice problem solving, showing empathy and compassion, listening to each other, taking healthy risks, and so much more. Our 4-6 students experienced a high ropes course this fall to do just that. Out 8th grade students began building their leadership skills through our canoeing program, and our high school students went hiking to intentionally build community with each other. Snow outside means there are even more opportunities for students to work together during less structured times. Our 6th grade students engaged in a process to help present the expectations for outdoor play in the snow to their peers. This allowed them to take ownership of their learning, be leaders in their mixed-age classrooms, and begin to talk to each other about how to solve conflicts collaboratively. Finally, this past week, we continued the work of outdoor education with our first trip to Craftsbury to ski. The purpose of this first trip was to stick together, to be a “crew”, and to show support for each other. Students were given time to map out their route and create a plan together. The physical challenge of skiing gives students a concrete way to practice problem solving, perseverance, empathy, and compassion. This first day I heard students cheering each other on, waiting and watching first time skiers go down hills, giving pointers and offering supportive and kind words. We will continue to look for opportunities to engage in outdoor education this winter in ways that bring us together as a school community. In these challenging times, the work we do to help build connections and community is ever more important. And outdoor education at Cabot School goes far beyond simply taking learning outside.

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 7 onward.

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CABOT COMMUNITY COMMENTARY

Dear Editor:

Hey folks, my name is Ian Ackermann, and while I know many of you from living in this little town for my entire life, there are many of you that I still haven't met. If there's one thing you should know about me, it's that I wouldn't want to call any other place my home. I had a great childhood growing up and attending Cabot School while working on my grandparents' dairy farm, where I learned the ins and outs of how to manage money and write business plans that would go on to prove themselves as successful businesses. After graduating in 2005 I started a landscaping business and organic dairy farm with my brother, Jimmy. My dad, Pete, worked at Cabot School for many years, and taught me everything I know about how to be a good, fair person, and a smart, hard worker. I currently co-own two businesses in town with my wife, and have two young sons. After maple production is over in the spring, we spend our summers landscaping in Cabot and selling our maple products at farmers' markets in the greater Boston area. In our free time we like to travel, camp, hike, and explore nature as a family. I'm running for the two-year selectboard position because now that I'm older with a family of my own, I want to play a more active role in the community and bring a neutral voice to the concerns of our community members. While I know that money can't be spent on everything, we need to adhere to and use our budget wisely on pieces that make the town a better place for all of us to live. From all my experiences running our businesses, I have learned how important it is to listen to others, be flexible, and adapt to the times. I will listen to all sides and look forward to representing our town that I've lived in since I was born.

Ian Ackermann

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Chronicle Poll Results

● I prefer to receive a printed copy of the Chronicle

● I would be satisfied reading the Chronicle online

● I would rather discontinue the paper and save the money

The poll was advertised in the Chronicle, on Front Porch Forum, and on the Cabot Town Bulletin Board Facebook Page. The poll ran for over a month, and at the conclusion of the poll on December 31, there had been 121 participants. The results overwhelmingly supported continuing with the printed version of the paper with 82% of the respondents choosing to receive a printed copy. The staff of the Chronicle wishes to thank everyone that participated in the poll, and is grateful for the continued support of the Chronicle through an anby Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

During the budget process, the Cabot Selectboard questioned whether the Chronicle should continue to be printed, or shift to being an online only paper. This was with a view to save money and reduce the annual town appropriation. It should be noted that the printing and postage costs for producing the Chronicle only accounts for approximately 30% of the overall Chronicle budget. An electronic version of the printed paper has been available on the CCA web page for several years. The CCA, publisher of The Cabot Chronicle, agreed to survey the readers and created a Doodle Poll with the following choices:

Printed Online only Discontinued

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Cabot Winter Playreadings

While Cabot Community Theater’s production of “Chitty Bang Bang” remains “on hold”, we have been holding some playreadings over Zoom, open to all! In the fall, we had fun reading “Harvey” and “Arsenic and Old Lace”. We’re planning more virtual playreadings, to have a little theater action while we’re waiting to resume inperson activities! In February, we will read Oscar Wilde’s delightful comedy “The Importance of Being Earnest”, followed by a March title yet to be determined. Dates and times for the readings haven’t been finalized by press time, but will be posted on Cabot's Front Porch Forum, and announced on our Facebook page. If you’d like to join us, watch those spots, or contact Karen Mueller-Harder at 793-5617 or [email protected] and we’ll email you the info!

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Winter News from the Jaquith Public Library

We are sorry to announce we are

still closed to patrons,

service on:

However, we are open for curbside

TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY & FRIDAY: 9 AM-12 PM & 3 PM-6 PM Visit our website for lists of new adult and youth books and other materials. Then call or email the library to make your requests and set up a time for pick-up. We need to know a time for your arrival so we can make sure to be within hearing distance of our new doorbell to the right of the front door. Fornewadultboks : www.jaquithpubliclibrary.org/newbooks.html For new youth books: jaquithpubliclibrary.org/new-and-featuredkids.html

We are still offering lots of fun activities you can do online or pick-up from curbside service and do at home:

Snowshoes to Go!

We have seven pairs of snowshoes to lend out and we will be purchasing more in all sizes for all ages. You will get a pair of snowshoes and laminated cards for animal tracking and other wildlife discoveries. Call to reserve your pair today!

Snow Sculpture Garden Winter 2021

The Jaquith Public Library invites families to come to the grounds of the Old Schoolhouse Common to build snow sculptures. There will be multiple building sites clearly marked, with at least 40 feet between sites. Only one family group per site, and sites must be reserved by contacting the library. This will be an ongoing project, and once a site is reserved, families can work on their sculptures at any time during daylight hours. When a family group has completed their sculpture, they will receive a gift certificate to a local business as a thank you.

Community Zoom Discussion of The Hate U Give on February 17 at 7:00 p.m. Let’s get together for a thoughtprovoking discussion of the 2020 VT Reads selection, The Hate You Give

by Angie Thomas. Please register to attend so we can send you the link to the zoom. We have four copies to give out just request one during our curbside lending hours and join the conversation!

Exploring Red Clover Picture Book Series

Join us online as we explore Vermont's 2020/20201 Red Clover Picture Book nominees! Over the next few months, Jaquith Library is providing recorded readings of each of the 10 nominees, paired with resources for diving deeper into the book. Every two weeks until May, a new link will be available. Visit our website for the schedule and to enjoy the first four books in our program

- Planting Stores, Sea Bear, Lion of the Sky, and Fry Bread. This program is geared for 5–10-year-olds. https://www.jaquithpubliclibrary.org/redclover-award.html In the spring, kids can vote for the winner of the Red Clover Book Award! **If you are interested in the takehome craft portion of the program, please contact Deborah to sign up. You only need to contact Deborah if you want the take-home craft – access to the online portion is open to all! Email Deborah, Youth Services Librarian, at [email protected] A huge thank you to the Red Clover Book Award Committee, and Vermont Department of Libraries.

Story Time at Home!

We now have 10 different Story Time at Home bags you can check out and bring home. Each bag contains a collection of picture books (both fiction and non-fiction titles) and a related craft with all the supplies and instructions you need to complete it. Themes available are Snow, Owls, Transportation, Butterflies, Friendship, Music & Dance, Moon, Gratitude, Pumpkins, and Bedtime. Take a little of the magic of story time home with you! Have a theme you'd like to see? Let Deborah, our youth librarian, know: jaquithyouth @gmail.com.

Monthly Book Group for Adults—Fourth Mondays of the month at 7 :00 p.m. Join us for the Jaquith book group. For copies of the book, please stop by the library. New members are always welcome, and it’s only one hour a month! We are currently using Zoom for our meetings.

January 25 – The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes February – Calypso by David Sedaris March 22 – Chances Are… by Richard Russo Makerspace Kits Now Available for Checkout!

Our library of non-traditional lending items is growing! We now have 8 STEAM-focused Maker kits catalogued and ready for checkout! Robotics kit, snap circuits electricity kit, engineering, and more! For a full list and description of Maker kits, click the link and scroll down: https://www.jaquithpubliclib rary.org/new-and-featured-kids.html. Supported in part by the Vermont Humanities Council.

Chapters in History Seven; Deeper into the Middle East—Second Saturday at 2:00 p.m. A free public program series cosponsored by The Marshfield Historical Society and the Jaquith Public Library.

• February 13: The Survivor: Bill Clinton in the White House by John Harris; • March 13: Bush by Jean Edward Smith;

• April 10: A Promised Land by Barack Obama; • May 8: Leadership in Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Books are available for loan from the library. For more information, please call 454-1680. “The past changes a little every time we retell it.” ---Hilary Mantel Firewood Moisture Meter Now Available for Sign-Out We now have a wood moisture meter available for patrons to check the moisture content of their firewood. Wood with moisture content of 20% or less burns hotter, creates more heat, and emits less harmful smoke. Sign out our meter to check your woodpile. For additional information on clean wood heating see: https://dec.vermont.gov/woodburning .

Vermont Youth Book Awards - Voted by Kids!

Looking for ideas on what to read next? Or suggestions for your kids? Every year, three youth literary awards are handed out with the assistance of the Vermont Department of Libraries. The nominees are chosen by a panel, and the winners are voted on by Vermont youth. Get your reading on! --Red Clover Book Award (K-4): See above for information about our Red Clover Picture Book Program! --Middle Grade Book Award (grade 4 -8): Pick up a list of the 30 nominees for the Middle Grade Book Award - and a punch card to keep track! Read 5 from the list to be eligible to vote. --Green Mountain Book Award (teens): There are 15 amazing YA picks for the Green Mountain Book Award and voting is ongoing from now until spring. Vote for your favorite 2020/2021 nominees, as you read them. Link for voting here: https://www.jaquithpubliclibrary.org/green-mountain-book-award.html Youth Reader's Advisory

We know it can be tricky to pick out a book when you can't browse our shelves. Not sure what books to choose for our curbside lending? Let Deborah, our Youth Librarian, help you with your selections! Email Deborah with your requests for specific titles, general topics or themes, and/or any questions: [email protected]. Emails received Tuesdays through Monday mornings by 10am will be filled and ready to pick up the following Tuesday.

Our Online Services:

Online access to eBooks and audiobooks is still available through Green Mountain Overdrive/Listen-up Vermont and Libby and they can be accessed through the library's website.

Are you frustrated by slow internet service, unstable connections and poor customer service from the town’s chief provider, Consolidated Communications? Are you among those who have no cable service, and who find alternatives to Consolidated prohibitively expensive? Take heart! Help may be on the way, and you can play a part in determining how soon it gets here. A few years ago, Cabot became a member of CVFiber, a municipal communication district much like a multitown school, fire or solid waste district. CVFiber’s mission is to ensure everyone in its member towns has access to internet speeds of at least 100 Mbps (megabits per second) for both uploading and downloading data. Fiber-optic cable, installed on existing poles, is the most reliable and efficient means of providing this service. Like Cabot, many residences and businesses in CVFiber towns have limited access to high-speed broadband, and the serious disadvantages of limited Both services allow users to either stream or download audiobooks and eBooks and are free to library patrons. There are also digital resources available from the library, such as VT Online Library, Universal Class and Consumer Reports. You can find links to all of these from our website: www.jaquithpubliclibrary.org/digital.html.

Activities/Ideas/Virtual Museum Visits and more, arranged by topic: https://www.jaquithpubliclibrary.org/new-digital-resources.html COVID-19 Information: https://www.jaquithpubliclibrary.org/covid-19resources.html Homeschool/home study resources:

https://www.jaquithpubliclibrary.org/home-study-resources.html Kid’s Space: virtual story times, museums, and more: https://www.jaquithpubliclibrary.org/kidsspace.html We will continue to have free, powerful Wi-Fi available outside of the library.

Do You Need Help? Call the Library!

If you need help ordering books and materials, setting up an account, remembering your library card number, or working through the use of any of these systems, please call or email the library (426-3581 or [email protected]) and librarian, Susan Green, will be happy to help you.

We hope you all stay healthy! Let us all take care of one another during these challenging times.

Best wishes, Susan Green, Director and Adult Services Librarian, Deborah Connolly, Youth Services Librarian broadband availability have been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic as students and employees shift to remote learning and working. Slow internet access stifles economic development, creates public safety risks, limits access to telehealth services, reduces property values, and hampers residents’ abilities to access common online and digital services. CVFiber holds the promise of economic vitality in rural communities without any negative environmental impact. Since 2019, CVFiber has been conducting a community survey regarding people’s experiences with internet providers and future interest in broadband offerings. Through the survey, CVFiber collects valuable information on a wide variety of topics to help guide its highspeed broadband planning and identify the best candidate markets. The more people from Cabot respond to this survey, the sooner Cabot will be likely to benefit from “Fiber to the Premises” connectivity. CVFiber plans to begin building out its fiber-optic network this spring, and meeds your engagement and feedback to help us achieve this goal. You can get further information and take the survey on the CVFiber website (cvfiber.net), or you can contact Cabot’s appointed delegate to the CVFiber board, R.D. Eno ([email protected]). Help is on the way, and you can help get it here faster.

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Cabot EV Charging Station on Warning for Town Meeting 2021

by James Wolynetz Driving along Route 2 to and from Cabot, you can’t help but notice that East Montpelier, Plainfield, and Danville all have Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations. East Montpelier’s combined Park and Ride and EV station was funded by Washington Electric Cooperative, Plainfield’s by its citizens, and Danville’s is a commercial unit at Marty’s First Stop. Marshfield and Peacham recently reported they also are going forward with charging station installation proposals in their towns. Owning an EV myself and being a resident of Cabot, I began to wonder if Cabot should have its own station, as well, to benefit our downtown businesses and the environment at the same time. So, I began to do some research and came up with a proposal which was submitted to our selectboard to do just that. The selectboard agreed to make that proposal a warning at Town Meeting this year. The warning states:

Shall the Town of Cabot allow the installation of an electric vehicle (EV) charging station located at the Willey Building the costs of which will be ultimately paid by Green Mountain Power (GMP), a Cabot Community Association (CCA) grant and private donations in an effort to encourage tourism and patronage of local businesses while vehicles are being charged? It is intended that the costs of the electricity for charging are to be recouped from the electric vehicle owner utilizing the charging station based on the kilowatt hours used. I am asking for your support and a YES vote on this warning at Town Meeting 2021. The proposal is to install a charging station at the Willey Building at an appropriate location near the base of the VAST trail where it empties into the parking lot at NO COST TO THE TOWN. The goal is to attract visitors and tourists to Cabot for the benefit of the town. The proposed setup is an attempt to replicate Plainfield’s station, since their experience has shown it to be the most cost-effective and practical option for towns of our size. As in Plainfield, our system would be a metered cash-donation-only per-use system. It is important to note that such a system has worked very well for Plainfield and they have had no shortages in electricity revenue. The average charging session costs between $1 - $2, which the driver will calculate off the meter and then deposit funds in the cash box. The proposed location of the station is ideal because (1) it is cost-effective since an electrical conduit already exists there, which saves on installation costs; (2) it is in a highly visible area directly across from our business district, which will allow visitors to Cabot to shop or dine while charging and support our local businesses; and (3) it allows use by cars as well as new electric snow machines. Several of our downtown businesses have expressed 100% support of this project for the obvious benefits it would bring to the local economy. It’s a known fact that EV drivers are more likely to stop, shop, and spend money where EV charging is available. As stated, this will all be accomplished at no cost to the town. All costs for the charging equipment and the installation will be covered by either GMP, the Cabot Community Association grant, or private donations. We will try to reduce installation costs even more through donated labor. All donations of money or labor to help bring this benefit to Cabot will be GLADLY ACCEPTED. Additionally, EV station road signage is supplied free of charge by the State. Maintenance of the unit basically consists of collecting the money from the cash box to cover the usage costs. Downtown Cabot is an ideal site for an EV charging station due to the location of numerous businesses conveniently located across the street from the station. Visitors and tourists to Cabot will shop and dine at Harry’s Hardware, buy gifts at the Cabot Farmers’ Village Store, sip coffee at the new Cabot Café, and buy groceries at the Village Store. It’s a win-win for our local economy! For the benefit of Cabot, our economy, and the environment, please vote YES for an EV charging station at Town Meeting on March 2nd!! Thank you and stay safe and healthy! I welcome all questions at [email protected].

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

…news about Cabot, local businesses and our neighbors by Lori Augustyniak One of most popular posts on VTDigger in 2020 was one of our neighbors, actor Luis Guzman. Vermont has been home to Guzman since 1995. If you missed the piece you can read it at https://vtdigger.org/2020/09/25/luis-guzman-vermont-one-ofsafest-places-in-world-right-now/. “People don’t believe I go to the dump,” Guzman told reporter Jon Kalish. “‘What are you doing here?’ ‘Dumping my garbage.’ I get that from people who come up here for the summer.”

Cabot’s bluegrass band, Beg, Steal or Borrow will perform live and in live-stream at Stowe’s Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center this winter on March 20. The band is led by guitarist, lead singer and songwriter Jeremy Sicely. The band has won the Podunk, Grey Fox, and Thomas Point Beach bluegrass festival band competitions, hence being dubbed a “Triple Crown Bluegrass Band” by Bluegrass Today. Spruce Peak has decided to include a live audience with limited, safe, in-person attendance, as well as live-streaming this concert. Visit https://www.sprucepeakarts.org/events/beg-steal-or-borrow/ to learn more.

Congratulations to Matthew Durgin who was nominated by US Senator Patrick Leahy, US Senator Bernie Sanders, and US Representative Peter Welch to the United States Military Academy, Class of 2025. Vermont's congressional delegation selects the nominees through a competitive vetting process. Each year the Vermont delegation hosts a reception at the Vermont State House for the nominees. You can view a recording of the ceremony at https://youtu.be/OqqJxoptuOg.

You might have read on Front Porch Forum in December about a renegade emu that was spotted in Cabot. Rest assured the emu named Wanda was successfully returned home. In case you run into an emu on the loose in the future and need emu bait, their favorite snacks are bananas and cat food.

Who knew that a love of basketball could lead to a career that spans the world? A profile of Cabot native Will Voight appeared on WCAX. Voight was the first head coach of the Vermont Frost Heaves, led Nigeria to the Olympics and now hopes to do the same with Angola. Learn more at https://www.wcax.com/2020/12/11/from-cabotto-the-world-will-voigts-basketball-journey/.

It's Been a Good Ride, and Will Be Again is a great article that appeared in the Washington Electric Co-op newsletter in September about Ride the Ridges. The annual biking event benefits Cabot Mentoring. If you missed it, here is a link: https://www.washingtonelectric.coop/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Sept2020.pdf. The article and a great photo are on page 6.

The beginning of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 11.

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Cabot Trails Update - New Trails Available

by Gary Gulka The Trails Committee has been working with Chuck Talbert to establish an all -season, multi-use trail network for nonmotorized use at the family farm on Bothfeld Hill Rd. There are now several miles of trails in the sugarwoods and beyond for Cabot residents to enjoy, and thanks to adjoining landowners, the Mitchells and Andy Kaptan, the trails extend to Elm Street Cemetery. “All our wooded property is just a maze of trails, logging roads, and work roads, and I hope they can be enjoyed by others as much as they have by me,” says Chuck. Trails are marked with white and green Cabot Recreation Trail (CRT) signs, and maps are being developed. A good starting point is at the Talbert Farm sugarhouse where you can park, or in the vicinity of Elm Street cemetery. With a little more snow in the second half of the winter, these trails are a great local opportunity for a ski or snowshoe outing. The Trails Committee urges you to check it out. Please be respectful of all landowners along the trails by staying on designated trails, keeping pets under control and on leash, cleaning up after your pet, and minding farm equipment and sugaring lines.

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Cabot Fire Department Monthly Report

Cabot Fire Department went on thirteen calls in the month of December. Nine were in the town of Cabot, three were in the town of Marshfield, and one was in the town of Walden. We had eight alarm activation's, one Co2 detector, one residence fire, one grass woods fire, one medical transport out of the woods, and one motor vehicle accident. It is the time of year to keep a close eye on your heating system and chimney as we slowly move past the middle of winter. A quick weekly inspection of your chimney flue will help avoid a chimney fire. If you have a wood stove, be careful when removing the ashes. Put them in a steel covered container and place them outside the building in the yard. We have responded to many calls that the ashes were left and inadvertently forgotten on the porch, causing a fire. The department continues to practice COVID-19 safety. As I write this, many of our members have received their first vaccine! We will still be wearing masks and using hand sanitizer when we are on calls to help keep our community as safe as possible. Please also wear a mask and wash your hands frequently. Our monthly meetings and some of our trainings will continue to be on zoom to make it safer for our members, together we can get this behind us! Feel free to contact us with any questions.

Respectfully Walter Bothfeld

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Cabot Emergency Ambulance Service

by Dan Peterson Cabot Ambulance has responded to a large variety of calls during the past year; everything from medical calls for sick people, to motor vehicle accidents, to persons with trauma or injuries of some sort, and from simple lift assists, to cardiac arrest. We have done our best to get emergency medical personnel and an ambulance to anyone who needs or requests it as quickly as we possibly can. I would like to take a moment right now to thank all the current members of Cabot Emergency Ambulance Service for all they have done to help the service and respond to emergency calls; and I would like to thank Jenn Miner and Marcy Martin for their hours spent and dedication in helping with administrative work for the ambulance service; and last but not least I would like to recognize and thank Kris Schmitt, one of our newer EMTs, who responded to significantly more emergency calls than anyone else on the service during this year, and on top of that also helps me with supplies and inventory. Thank you, everyone! This past year has been difficult, trying, or stressful for many if not most people and organizations, and Cabot Ambulance was no exception. We have struggled to sufficiently staff the ambulance and cover calls before the pandemic and are struggling even more now. We were blessed to have all the students from Cabot ambulance who took the EMT course through this past winter and spring pass their tests and successfully obtain their Vermont State EMT license. However, during this past year we have also had some members who had to step down from their service with Cabot due to moving out of town or having other commitments. There were also some staffing difficulties due to members needing to quarantine at times. When I became head of the service a little over two years ago, there was concern that Cabot Ambulance would have to become a “fast squad” and contract out the transporting of patients to another town, but I was adamant that should not and would not happen, because I did not feel that would be best for the residents of Cabot and was concerned about the increased response time, the amount of time that patients would have to wait to receive necessary care and also the delay in getting them to the hospital when the transporting ambulance is 25 to 40 minutes away instead of 5 to 15 minutes.

We were blessed with a fair number of new members in the first several months of 2018, but as the pandemic grew, it became (understandably) increasingly difficult to get volunteers, to say nothing of the logistics of doing appropriate training and maintaining certifications. There was a time where there were no actual EMS certification classes happening at all due to the coronavirus, but fortunately, those classes/training are restarted now, although they are fewer and farther between than they used to be, and more expensive. Cabot Ambulance really needs more volunteers who are willing to become trained and certified and help respond to emergency calls. As much as I would really hate to lose Cabot Ambulance, or to see it become a non-transporting fast squad, I am afraid if we continue on the path we are currently on in terms of finances and staffing, we will no longer be able to maintain a transporting Ambulance Service in Cabot for more than another year or two. And it is not just Cabot, there are many other towns with volunteer agencies that are struggling as well; volunteerism seems to be at an all time low. It is totally understandable, but a real problem, nonetheless. If there is anyone who lives in or near Cabot who would be willing and able to help the ambulance service and your local residents when they are in need, we would love to have your help!! If you would like an application, you can reach out to any of our officers, including myself, Jenn Miner, and Marcy Martin, and we would love to talk to you and help you get started. The only initial certification classes scheduled right now are EMT classes in Bennington, but there may be others started or scheduled during the next few months. I believe these Bennington classes are hybrid, so, while you would have to travel down there some, a good portion of the class would occur online. The start dates for the upcoming EMT classes are February 7, April 4, and June 6. The classes are about three to four months long and would be followed by clinical time spent doing hands -on skills and getting experience, and then testing. If you have questions or would like further information or an application, the best way to reach us is through the ambulance service email that all the officers can access: [email protected]. You can also email me at [email protected]. Let’s keep Cabot Ambulance going!

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Firefighting - More Than Putting the Wet Stuff on the Red Stuff

by Chip Taylor That description of firefighting is an old bit of humor, but years ago it's essentially what firefighters did. Starting with just bucket brigades and then early pumpers, for hundreds of years the task really was just getting water on a fire. But within the lifetime of many of us there has been a dramatic change in the fire service. Some of you may recall jokes about firefighters responding to calls of cats stuck in trees. But Dennis Smith, writing in the excellent "Report from Engine Co. 82" about the situation in Bronx, NY, in the 1970s says, "If you had an emergency and called the police someone might or might not show up. If you called an ambulance one might eventually arrive. But a call to the Fire Department for any emergency and we would always quickly respond every time." Even before then, it was more than just squirting water, and that trend has evolved and expanded over time. In any kind of emergency, most of the time the fire department is called. A common non-fire emergency is vehicle accidents on the highway. A large and increasing proportion of Cabot Fire Department calls are for vehicle accidents and this is true for all fire departments. It wasn't that long ago that rural fire departments didn't have any rescue equipment for these calls. If someone were trapped in a car accident you'd see if you could find a farmer with a crowbar and a tractor to help. Now we have a variety of extrication tools to help remove a trapped occupant, along with equipment to stabilize a vehicle on its side or hanging over a guardrail. And of course, with that equipment comes the need for training. Hazardous materials? Look around your house, garage or barn and you'll find plenty. You and local businesses that may use various hazardous materials get them from a hardware store or via truck. Most of those things were unknown a hundred years ago. And the days of flushing spilled gasoline or oil from a vehicle wreck into a roadside ditch are long over. Anything hazardous must be safely cleaned up and removed. Firefighters have to first recognize the material, then understand the hazards and dangers involved. And of course, decontamination of the scene, equipment and personal protective clothing are often required. Wet stuff on red stuff? Not everything that's burning should have water applied. And if it's safe to use water, how much do you need? How much pressure loss is there in 400 feet of hose? Should you use a fog spray or a straight stream? Where is your water supply? Do you need tanker trucks from other departments? And do they know where to obtain water? Yes, it's not as simple now as it was years ago. Besides actual fires, I can remember Cabot calls for lost kids, someone with mental health problems who wandered off into the woods, a horse in a swimming pool, a cow in a manure pit, propane truck rollovers, fuel oil trucks with leaks, numerous calls for "a strange odor" and yes, once a cat stuck in a tree. As a character on Saturday Night Live used to say, "It's always something."

Have a beautiful season of snowshoeing, skiing (and maybe even Nordic skating), and we look forward to seeing you at the Cabot rink next winter.

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Cabot Skating Rink

by Susan Socks Due in part to COVID-19 concerns, the Cabot Rink will not be built this winter. While we’ll miss having the rink in the heart of the village, the Cabot Rec Committee is already planning for winter 2022. In the meantime, check the Cabot Rink Facebook page for other outdoor skating opportunities, including the excellent Nordic skating track & hockey/figure skating surfaces at Lake Morey. If you would like to donate equipment or funds, or would like to volunteer your time, please contact the Cabot Rec Committee or Susan Socks [email protected]. Susan is a former skating coach, and available to answer your general skating inquiries about equipment, learning to skate, and places to practice and have fun.

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CABOT PUBLIC LIBRARY NEWS

Thanks to all who wrote letters and emails, and to all who attended the zoom Select Board meeting to support the Cabot Library budget – your continued support is greatly appreciated. Thanks also to the Select Board for their hard work and many volunteer hours working toward a fiscally responsible budget.

Hold the date! February 13 -- Community Conversation for Pre-K Families

Missing 'Story Hour' and other gatherings in town for young ones? Looking for ways to keep your kids engaged? Join Cabot Public Library for a Zoom discussion to learn about an exciting new program we're cooking up, and share your thoughts on how we can make your life easier. Keep an eye out on Front Porch Forum for more event details.

It’s all about the books! This edition of “Cabot Public Library News” will highlight some of our new books in the collection. Enjoy perusing this list and call (563- 2721), email (cabotlibrary@ya hoo.com) or place holds on our online catalog to borrow these books (www.cabotlibrary.com). For Adults: The Archer – Paulo Coelho The Awakening – Nora Roberts The Best of Me – David Sedaris A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor – Hank Green The Book of Longings – Sue Monk Kidd The Book of Lost Friends – Lisa Wingate Caste: The Origins of our Discontents – Isabel Wilkerson Dark Tides – Phillippa Gregory Daylight – David Baldacci The Death of Vivek Oji – Akwaeke Emezi Everyone Can Bake: Simple Recipes to Master and Mix – Dominique Ansel The Engineer’s Wife – Tracey Enerson Wood Fifty Words for Rain – Asha Lemmie Fortune and Glory: Tantalizing Twenty-Seven

– Janet Evanovich Grow Food for Free – Huw Richards Guinness World Records 2021 His Truth is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope – Jon Meacham and John Lewis Homeland Elegies – Ayad Akhtar How Much of these Hills is Gold – Pam Zhang The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue – Victoria Schwab Just Us: An American Conversation –Claudia Rankine Leave the World Behind – Alana Rumaan The Lost and Found Bookshop – Susan Wiggs The Orphan’s Guilt – Archer Mayor Perestroika in Paris – Jane Smiley Ready Player Two – Ernest Cline The Return - Nicholas Sparks Ridge Runner: One Hundred Poems from Rural Vermont – Kristina Stykes The Sentinel – Lee Child Squeeze Me – Carl Hiaasen A Time for Mercy- John Grisham Twilight of Democracy – The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism – Anne Applebaum Wanderers: A History of Women Walking – Kerri Andrews What it’s Like to be a Bird – David Allen Sibley The World: A Brief Introduction – Richard Haass A Year of Forest School: Outdoor Play and Skill Building Fun for Every Season – Jane Worroll For Young Adults: Clap When You Land – Elizabeth Acevedo The Conference of the Birds – Ransom Riggs Dragon Hoops – Gene Luen Yang Heartstopper – Alic Oseman The Kingdom of Back – Marie Lu Last Bus to Everland – Sophie Cameron The Meaning of Birds – Jaye Robin Brown Midnight Sun – Stephanie Meyer A Sky Beyond the Storm – Sabaa Tahir Stamped – Jason Reynolds When Stars are Scattered – Victoria Jamieson The Tower at Nero – Rick Riordan The Universal Laws of Marco – Carmen Rodrigues For Youth: Before the Ever After – Jacqueline Woodson Before the Sword – Grace Lin Bloom - Kenneth Oppel Call of the Sound Dragon – Tracey West Camp – Kayla Miller Chirp – Kate Messner Chill of the Ice Dragon – Tracey West Click – Kayla Miller Dark Stalker – Tui Sutherland Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson’s Journal – Jeff Kinney Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Deep End – Jeff Kinney Dragonslayer – Tui Sutherland Earth Before Us: Dinosaur Empire! – Abby Howard Earth Before Us: Ocean Renegades! - Abby Howard Earth Before Us: Mammal Takeover! Abby Howard Echo Mountain – Lauren Wolk Eye of the Earthquake Dragon – Tracey West Land of the Spring Dragon – Tracey West Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus – Dusti Bowling The One and Only Bob – Katherine Applegate Prairie Lotus – Linda Sue Park Race to the Sun – Rebecca Roanhorse Some Places More than Others – Renee Watson Wayside School Beneath the Cloud of Doom – Louis Sachar We Dream of Space – Erin Entrada Kelly Wink – Rob Harrell Zenobia July – Lisa Bunker I look forward to hearing from you! Kathleen Hoyne, Cabot Library Director

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TWIN VALLEY SENIOR CENTER

4583 U.S. Route 2 P.O. Box 152 East Montpelier, VT 05651 We are complying with recommendations made by the Governor's office and the VT Department of Health, and will remain closed until further notice.

If you participate in Bone Builders class and you have weights here at the center that you would like to pick up to use at home, please call and we can set up a time for you to get them. With the temporary continued closure of the center, we want to ensure that all seniors stay connected and feel supported by your senior center staff. Please be aware that we are still monitoring all phone calls and emails that are received at the center. If you are in need of assistance, please call the center at 223-3322 and leave a brief message regarding what assistance you are seeking, or email [email protected]. Did you know that you can receive the monthly newsletter in an electronic version? Please email Rita @ [email protected] if you would like to receive the electronic newsletter.

To all the wonderful people who help us be who we are, THANK YOU

TWIN VALLEY TAX CLINIC

AARP is hard at work figuring out how to offer the usual tax clinic in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. There are only 2 sure things. The first is that it will look very different this year from what you experienced in the past. The second is that it will start later than it did in the past as we work to make it happen. The goal is to offer the usual tax preparation services while keeping everyone as safe as possible. Which means minimizing the time we spend face to face. How do we do this? What we don’t do is to sit with you for 45 minutes while we prepare and review your tax returns. What do we do? Option 1. You bring you tax documents to an appointment at Twin Valley Senior Center and leave them with the tax volunteer. We prepare your tax return from your documents, and from the information you give us over the phone if we need to call you. You then come to Twin Valley Senior Center for a short appointment where we give you a printed copy of your return and return your tax documents, answer any questions, and electronically file your return if you authorize us to do so. Option 2. If you are uncomfortable with leaving your tax documents with the tax volunteer, we will have the ability to scan your tax documents when you come for your appointment at Twin Valley Senior Center and to return them to you to take with you. We prepare your tax return using the scanned documents, and from the information you give us over the phone if we need to call you. You then come to Twin Valley Senior Center for a short appointment where we give you a printed copy of your return, answer any questions, and electronically file your return if you authorize us to do so. Our goal is to have things set up so we can start the last week in February.

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Listers Request “YES” Vote on Article 8 Inventory Tax Exemption

by Cabot Board of Listers

The Town of Cabot does not administer an inventory tax on businesses, but does tax machinery and equipment. Based on files available, Cabot Listers don’t believe there has ever been an inventory tax assessed in Cabot. As of 2019, only nine municipalities taxed inventories, and the Vermont Department of Taxes lists inventory tax in Cabot “exempt” since at least 2006. The Cabot Board of Listers requests voter support by voting “yes” for this housekeeping article in order to bring Cabot into compliance with state law.

Cabot has been acting on an assumption or decision that inventory tax is exempt from taxation. However, current Listers have been unable to find a documented town meeting vote that supports this action. Article 8 is an effort to codify the long-standing practice of not billing or collecting inventory tax. This article is revenue neutral.

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From page 14

According to the Tax Foundation, a 501 (c ) (3) organization whose mission is to improve lives through tax policy research and education that leads to greater economic growth and opportunity, “Inventory taxes violate a number of principles of sound tax policy. The tax is not transparent; few likely know that it exists. It violates neutrality as businesses with larger quantities of inventory, such as retailers and manufacturers, bear a higher cost of the tax compared to other firms.” The extra taxes, as well as the cost of complying, get passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices

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

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ADVICE FROM THE TREE WARDEN

Welcome to 2021, we can only hope it is a year that sees an end to the COVID 19 pandemic currently surging around our country. Hopefully, everyone is doing well as we endure the coldest part of winter. February is also a great time to get out and ski, snowshoe, or ride snowmobiles in the forests around Cabot. While outdoors this winter enjoying whichever winter sport you choose, please take time to look for signs of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) on the Ash trees around you as you recreate. As of the December 2020 update on Vermont Invasives map of EAB infected areas, (https://vtinvasives.org/land/emerald-ash -borer-vermont), EAB infestation is now confirmed in southern Cabot along the Cabot / Marshfield town line. Usually, by the time EAB’s presence is confirmed the insect density has increased, most likely EAB has already dispersed to new areas. Thorough the winter months EAB is found in Ash trees below the bark as larvae. The S shaped larval galleries created by the EAB larvae are usually not visible through the bark without the use of a draw knife to peel the bark away, but other signs will make it possible to identify EAB infestation in an Ash tree. These include bark splitting, woodpecker fletching, dead top branches on the Ash tree, and D shaped exit holes 1/8” wide on the bark surface. The D shaped exit holes will only be present if EAB was present in the Ash tree last winter and an adult Emerald Ash Borer exited the bark of the Ash tree in the Woodpecker fleckings spring at the beginning of flight season for EAB. If bark splitting has occurred on an Ash tree, larval galleries may also be visible if present. Another sign which should trigger a more in-depth inspection of an Ash tree is bark chips in the fresh snow at the base of the tree. This is the result of woodpecker fletching woodpeckers picking away at the bark to expose and consume the EAB larvae below the bark. For more information on identifying EAB, or to view photos of EAB damage to Ash trees, visit the Vermont Invasives website: https://vtinvasives.org/land/emerald-ash-borervermont/identify-emerald-ash-borer. Unfortunately, EAB is now here and will continue to spread northward across town at a rate of approximately one and a half miles annually.

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Global Freezing

In April 1815, a volcano, Mount Tambora, blew up. It was on an island, Sumbawa, in southern Indonesia. Buildings collapsed. Flaming ash fell dozens of miles away, starting raging fires. Up to 15,000 people died in minutes. It was the deadliest natural disaster in 10,000 years. More than 13,000 feet high, Tambora blasted its summit, 3,640 feet high, by almost a mile wide, into gases, dust, tiny droplets of sulfuric acid and rocks that shot up 25 miles. Lower down, ash fell with rain. Up high, the stratosphere is too dry for clouds. Fine particles stayed aloft, pushed around the world by wind. Gravity slowly settled floating debris for 17 months. By winter of 1815/16, a worldwide veil of ash reflected sunlight, cooling temperatures, and wreaking havoc. Extreme cold afflicted New England, Europe, China, and other places. Globally, another 65,000 people died from disease or starvation. Vermonters nicknamed 1816 Year without a Summer, Poverty Year, Year of Famine or 1800 and Froze to Death. Rain stopped in Vermont at the end of April; it would not rain again for 120 days. The climate was harsh in the early 1800s. There were cold winters, short growing seasons, and dry weather. A years-long drought continued into 1817. Forest fires added to gloomy skies. In Vermont, June 5 was hot, close to 90 degrees. Then on June 6 and 7, a large snowstorm hit northern New York and New England. Several places had six inches or more of snow. On June 9, standing water froze overnight. Shorn sheep and lambs perished with the cold. Birds flew into houses for shelter; great numbers lay dead in the fields. The temperature continued its roller coaster ride. Early August was sunny and warm. Farmers replanted, hoping the growing season would last, but on August 13, corn froze north of Concord, New Hampshire. On August 20, it snowed again in Vermont. As far south as Connecticut, frosts every month killed crops replanted during brief warm spells. Some wheat, rye and potatoes survived, but crop yields fell up to 90 percent. There was too little hay for cattle; farmers slaughtered livestock. Big game grew scarce. Some Vermonters ate pigeons, porcupines, hedgehogs, wild turnips, and boiled nettles. Corn never ripened; people ate the little grain that grew, leaving no seed for the next year. Famine loomed; food prices soared six to eight times. Vermonters traded maple syrup along the seacoast for mackerel. Mackerel Year became another nickname for 1816. On June 7, Joseph Walker, eightyeight years old, got lost in the woods at Peacham. He was out all night in the snow. Frostbite took one of his great toes. On the morning of June 8, there were snowdrifts on hills around Montpelier. In the mountains, snow was more than a foot deep. A letter from Vermont said, "This part of the country, I assure you, presents a most dreary aspect, great coats and mittens are almost as generally worn as in January, and fire is indispensable." On June 11, Benjamin Harwood, a Bennington farmer, wrote in his diary that it rained all night. Then it snowed from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. "The heads of all the mountains on every side were crowned with snow. The most gloomy and extraordinary weather ever seen." On July 17, 1816, The Reporter of Brattleborough, Vermont wrote, "It is believed that the memory of no man living can furnish a parallel to this present season. From every part of the United States, north of the Potomac, as well as from Canada, we have accounts of the remarkable coldness of the weather, and of vegetation retarded or destroyed by untimely frosts. In Montreal, on the 6th, 8th, and 9th of June were falls of snow, and from the 6th to the 10th, it froze every night. Birds, which were never before found except in remote forests, were then to be met with in every part of the city, and among the [flocks], and many of them benumbed with cold, dropped dead in the streets.

In Cabot, snow was 18 inches deep on June 8. From the northern and western parts of New York, and from Maine, we have received accounts of summer snows, and winter lingering in the lap of June; and the most gloomy apprehensions of distressing scarcity are entertained by those who witnessed the phenomena." The sky looked reddish; sunlight was weak. People saw sunspots with the naked eye. Winds and rain did not clear the air. Temperatures soared, and then fell to freezing in hours. Many feared Vermont would endure poverty years again. About 15,000 Vermonters fled west in the 1820s. Few Vermonters heard of the volcano at the time. On Christmas Eve, 2016, the Bethel United Church unveiled a Vermont historic marker commemorating 1800 and Froze to Death. The people of Bethel built the church in 1816, while enduring the hunger year. No one knew why the weather was so bad, but many prayed for divine intervention. Two centuries later, we know dormant super volcanoes are still sleeping threats around the world.

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