⚲  Open Saturdays 1–3 p.m. · 3216 Main Street, Cabot, Vermont Contact Us
Established for the People of Cabot

Cabot Historical Society

Preserving the history of Cabot, Vermont · Founded 1965

The Cabot Chronicle

April/May 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 April/May 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

GREEN UP, CLEAN UP!

Green Up means clean up Our pretty state If you are keen to make it green Don’t hesitate, don’t wait! Making Vermont green can be fun Just grab a friend, Put on a mask, It can be a new trend! Meet your friends, All you do is pick up trash It’s an activity That doesn’t cost you cash! Vermont has beautiful mountains And amazing views, There are so many They keep making the news!

Foliage, maple syrup, and more Skiing, boating, fishing, and fun Cleaning up Vermont Keeps us number one! Vermont is truly the best place To quarantine. And the best place To make things green! How long has it been? 51 amazing years. Keep up the good work So cheers, cheers!

Casey Kendall, Grade 4 Ryegate, VT

↑ contents

Cabot Artisans Rebuild

As we have witnessed this year, the pandemic has brought challenges and opportunities. One of the challenges for the Cabot Community Association (CCA) was deciding to close the Cabot Artisan’s Gallery. The Gallery was not viable for a number of reasons, but the pandemic certainly did not help, so the CCA and gallery members are creating a new program to integrate the visual arts into the daily fabric of the Cabot community and work to advance visual art locally. We don’t have much information to share, because we are at the very beginning of building this program, but ideas so far include integrating arts shows into community events (for example. the fabulous quilt show at the Willey Building at the Fall Foliage Festival in 2019), creating outdoor art throughout town, promoting art classes locally and fundraising for scholarships so art classes are accessible by all Cabot residents. Our first meeting will be in April and you don’t need to be an artist to be involved – just an interest in advancing visual arts and culture, ensuring broad access to the arts and improving the quality of our community. If you have art to display, are interested in learning more, sharing ideas or participating, please contact the CCA at info@cabotvermont,org or 802-279-4309.

↑ contents

Tuesday, April 6, 2021 ~ 7:00 a.m.—7:00 p.m. Willey Building ~ Australian Ballot Only

All health safety protocols and election security procedures in place

All voting by Australian Ballot. Ballots mailed in advance to address of record for all legal voters. Voted Australian Ballots may be returned to Town Clerk for tabulating one of three ways: Mail received at Cabot Post Office by 2:00 p.m. closing time on election day, or Hand delivered to drop box at back of building no later than 7:00 p.m. election day, or Voted in person at Willey Building Town Hall on election day between 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.

  

See ballot on page 10 of this edition or Warning on page 3 of Annual Report of the Cabot School District.

↑ contents

Community Meeting with Representative Henry Pearl

The Cabot Community Association (CCA) hosted a Zoom meeting with Henry Pearl, Vermont State Representative for the Caledonia-Washington-1 state house district which includes Cabot. Many leaders in the Cabot community were invited, and more than a dozen people attended the meeting. Present were representatives from the school, Cabot Creamery retail stores, Planning Commission, Board of Listers, Cabot Emergency Management, CCA Board of Directors, Greater Cabot Working Landscapes Network (GCWLN), Economic Development Workgroup (EDW), and the Cabot Chronicle. After introductions, the executive director of the CCA, Lori Augustyniak, started the meeting by explaining to Rep. Pearl the purpose of the CCA and its role in the community. She listed the many activities of the CCA, including Fall Foliage, July 4th management, the Community Grant Program, and the various programs of the CCA, which include the GCWLN and the EDW. Then Allison Gulka Millard started the discussion with Rep. Pearl by explaining the current GCWLN initiatives. She described how the pandemic spawned an idea of connectivity around local food producers, and how the group is building a food and farm directory to be a resource for the community. The rollout of the online directory is targeted for early June. Then over the summer the group is hoping to explore expansion of the directory to support e-commerce, such as an online farmer’s market or food hub. Peg Elmer Hough explained that she had been researching funding opportunities and asked Rep. Pearl to alert them to anything that might appear at the State House. Rep. Pearl responded that the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board is funded through the Agriculture Committee; it is probably the best opportunity for this project, but it’s a tight budget. He said he would continue to advocate for programs like Allison described. The topic shifted to broadband, as R.D. Eno asked if Rep. Pearl knew what Cabot might receive under the (federal) American Rescue Plan. Rep. Pearl agreed that it is “a hot button issue”, but he doesn’t have a lot of information. The Energy and Technology committee is working on it and can’t yet say when and how much any town is going to get.

He explained his committee assignment is Ag and Forestry, and unfortunately, in the Zoom environment, the normal small talk that occurs in the hallway and cafeteria isn’t happening. The next big topic of conversation centered around 3065 Main Street, the “Brown Building”. Lori explained the history of the building and the planning process that has been underway for the last two years. Peg continued by describing how all the major land and business owners, including the creamery, have been involved in the planning. She explained how the group eventually arrived at plans for a park and outdoor venue. [See article on page XX.] Peg said she had heard of Commerce and Economic Development Bill H.159 that includes $1.5M for the Better Places Program, a place-based economic development project sponsored by the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. Rep. Pearl noted that he had been involved in these types of programs in Danville and knows how important it is for a community. He said he would definitely look into H.159. He explained that he is still learning how things work at the State House, but it is a great help knowing that the people on the call are available as a resource. He told everyone “don’t hesitate to reach out” and mentioned that if his committee comes across items that are of interest to Cabot, he will let us know, and that he may reach out to recruit people to provide testimony on relevant bills

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 2 onward.

↑ contents

Local Business Matters From Food Truck to Main Street

The Cabot Cafe by Chronicle Staff Writer

No one would have predicted that Cabot's village business district would have expanded during a world-wide pandemic, and yet it has! One of the new enterprises is the Cabot Café, located at 3075 Main Street. Remarkably, the proprietors, Renee Proteau and Joe Graves, opened two businesses 2020, in addition to running their grilled cheese food truck. The Chronicle conducted a virtual interview with the fearless duo to welcome them to Cabot and learn more about them and the café.

Chronicle: Tell me a bit about your businesses- how did you get started in the restaurant trade?

Renee: We both have always had a passion for eating good food. Seriously, we both enjoy cooking. Joe has loved baking since he took "food trades" in high school. Both of my parents are good cooks and enjoy making food for people. This instilled a love of cooking in me and making people happy with food. We knew we wanted our own business and it seemed natural to do what we love.

Chronicle: Why/how did you decide to open a cafe in the middle of a global pandemic, and why in Cabot?

Renee: That is a good story. Opening a cafe was actually not in our plans at all. We had been running a highly successful food truck the previous four years and we were making plans to expand it. A friend had heard the space in Cabot was available and suggested we look at it. A few days later we met with the owners of the building. We fell in love with the space and the community. We knew immediately that this was where we were supposed to be and what we wanted to do. It was a feeling of coming home.

Chronicle: How has the response to the café been so far?

Renee: The community has welcomed us with open arms and has been absolutely amazing in their support. Every day we look at each other in awe and say how grateful we are and how fortunate we feel to be here.

Chronicle: What is it like operating a food business during a state of emergency?

Renee: In many ways it has been a blessing. Opening during a time when there are not a lot of tourists has made us feel closer to the people who come in to see us. The local community is who returns every week (and in some cases every day). Having the opportunity to get to know people and develop relationships is exactly what we love most about being here. There is an overall feeling of being a part of something bigger than just our business, and that means everything to us.

Chronicle: What is/are your signature menu items?

Renee: That list is continually growing. We came here having made a name for ourselves with our grilled cheese sandwiches, using locally made breads and cheese. Since opening, our baked goods have become the center point of our businesses and the reason why people come back several times. Joe is constantly tweaking recipes and trying new things to get the exact flavors and textures he is looking for. He is becoming well known for his cinnamon rolls and sticky buns, as well as his muffins (especially the gluten free ones). A couple of other items that are receiving rave reviews are his pretzel rolls and NYC-style bagels.

Chronicle: Monday, April 12, is National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day, do you have any plans to celebrate?

Renee: We do! We are normally closed on Mondays; however, we are going to be open that day. It is going to be so much fun! We will serve a specialty sandwich we serve in our food truck, a deep-fried grilled cheese! It is totally sinful, but so darn worth it.

Chronicle: What are your other enterprises?

Renee: As I mentioned, we have a grilled cheese food truck, called The Melted Cheesiere. We also own a building at the Champlain Valley Fairgrounds and are looking forward to being a vendor at the Fair this year.

Chronicle: What are your goals for the summer and beyond?

Renee: This summer's goals are to be able to offer outside seating and to expand the menu. Having a place where people can come to meet a friend for coffee and something to eat while catching up is the atmosphere we envision. We would like to offer more for "breakfast" items as well as offer charcuterie boards, baked breads, and cold sandwiches. Something people can take with them on Joe in baking mode.

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 2 onward.

↑ contents

~ CORRECTION ~

Doing Their Part Cabot’s Young Health Care Professionals In March 2021 Cabot Chronicle Sarah August’s name (page 10, seventh paragraph) was mistakenly listed as Darah August, a mistake brought to our attention by her Mom, Cathleen Besch. Thanks, Mom. Apologies to Sarah.

↑ contents

Income Tax and Homestead Declaration Filing Due Dates Extended

By Vermont Department of Taxes On March 17, the IRS extended the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021. By Vermont law, the Vermont personal income tax filing due date for tax year 2020 is also extended to May 17, 2021. This means taxpayers can file their 2020 personal income tax return, and pay any tax owed, by May 17, 2021, without any penalties or interest. If a taxpayer is expecting a refund, they are still encouraged to file as soon as they have all of their tax information and are able to do so, in order to get their refund as soon as possible. The best way to get your refund quickly is to file electronically and select direct deposit for your refund. This extension also applies to Homestead Declarations and Property Tax Credit Claims. Taxpayers can file these along with their personal income tax return by May 17 without penalty or interest. Please be aware that at this time, the due date for any tax year 2021 estimated payments due on April 15, 2021 has not been extended, and should still be paid by April 15, 2021. Further updates and additional information is available at https://tax.vermont.gov/filing-season-updates.

↑ contents

Help Determine What Events in Cabot Look Like in 2021

In April, Governor Scott is expected to issue guidance and recommendations for events this summer. While we do not anticipate a traditional July 4 event in Cabot this year due to the pandemic, we are hopeful we can host some sort of celebration with our neighbors. If your organization can participate or you are interested in helping plan summer and fall events in Cabot that bring us together while keeping us safe, please contact the CCA at [email protected] or 802-279-4309.

↑ contents

Spring Shakespeare Open Readings

By Karen Mueller-Harder During the past year, while live theater remains “on hold”, Cabot Community Theater has been holding play readings over Zoom, open to all! This spring, we are featuring some wonderful Shakespeare comedies, and we’d love to have you join us--you can read a small or large role, or just listen while you knit or do some house or garden work. The readings are on Sunday afternoons, 2:00-5:00 p.m.:

April 11: Twelf th Night May 16: As You Like It If you’d like to participate, email Karen Mueller-Harder at karen@praxis works.org for the Zoom link. You can also invite non-Cabot friends and family to attend as well, even if they live far away (the silver lining of virtual events!) --everyone is welcome, and there are plenty of roles! You don’t need to have the scripts, as they are available online at shakespeare.mit.edu. Looking forward to seeing some of you soon!

↑ contents

Green Up Day - Saturday, May 1

By John Cookson, Cabot Coordinator

About Green Up Vermont: Started in 1970 by Governor Deane C. Davis, Green Up Vermont is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to raise public awareness about a litter free environment, culminating with a statewide clean up event called Green Up Day. Always the first Saturday in May, Green Up Day is a statewide initiative where volunteers from over 240 Vermont communities and local businesses clean up litter from roadsides and waterways. Green Up Vermont also offers an educational component for grades K-12 with free activity booklets and other materials and activities that build their civic engagement and pride for clean environments. Green Up Vermont will celebrate its 51st Anniversary this May. Green Up Vermont relies on the generous support of businesses, grants, and individuals to fund the organization. www.greenup vermont.org

↑ contents

CABOT GREEN UP/ CLEAN UP DAY Saturday, May 1, 2021

Drop off Green Up Bags of Roadside Litter at Cabot Fire Department

9:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m.

Roadside trash in Green-Up bags Tires Collected from Roadsides No household trash, recyclables

or personal tires, please

Pick up Green-Up bags at Town Clerk’s Office Harry’s Hardware Cabot Village Store Cabot Recycling Center Or pick up at Fire Department that morning

Questions? Call John Cookson, Coordinator—279-2466

↑ contents

OBITUARIES & MEMORIALS

Ruth Fletcher Ruth E. (Wheeler) Fletcher, 93 passed away at Barre Gardens Rehabilitation Center on Monday January 25, 2021. A Marcia Ann (Rixe) (Murphy) Goff Marcia Ann (Rixe) (Murphy) Goff, age 75, died on Saturday, February 13, 2021, at Field Crest Assisted Living in Cottonwood, MN. A service for family and friends will be held in Little Falls, MN, when the lilacs bloom, with a private burial in Graceville, MN. Marcia was born on April 28, 1945, in Clinton, MN, to Katheryn (Murphy) and

Isabelle “Peggy” Montgomery Isabelle Marjorie "Peggy" Montgomery passed away at The Gardens in Williamstown on March 8, 2021. She was born in Cabot, the daughter of Fred and Julia Joan Sheehey Pfeifer passed away on February 27, 2021. She was surrounded by family and loved ones at her home. Born to Vera Hathaway Sheehey and John W. Sheehey in Essex on December 30, 1923, in 1924, she moved with her family to Burlington, where she attended Mount Saint Mary’s from K-12, spent two years at Trinity College, and pursued her nursing degree at Bishop Degoesbriand Hospital. Joan spent the first three years of her nursing career in New York City and then moved back to Vermont to continue nursing at American Red Cross. In 1957, Joan married her beloved husband, Edward J. Pfeifer, on her birthday and celebrated 58 memorable anniversaries together. Just a few years after she wed, Joan retired from the American Red Cross in 1961 to raise her family.

Richard L. Smith Richard L. Smith, 81, passed away February 27, 2021 at St. Johnsbury Health and Rehabilitation Center in St. Johnsbury after a long fight with Diabetes. Richard was born in Jeffersonville on July 9, 1939, to Carroll R. and Mary C. Smith. In 1944 they moved to Greensboro Bend where they farmed. Richard spent most of his life either farming or driving truck. Richard is survived by two children; Michael L. Smith and his life partner Sandra Neuman of Lyndonville, and Connie Hope and her husband Elihu Goodell of Hyde Park. He also leaves behind his sister, Bonnie and her husband Gary Langdell of Wolcott as well as Spring burial will be at the convenience of the family in the Village Cemetery in Cabot. A complete obituary will be available soon.

Carl Rixe. Marcia joined a sister, Shirley, and a tribe of cousins that are still close friends. Marcia graduated from Clinton High School and then the University of Minnesota-Morris. While in Morris, she met our dad, Ron Goff. They married and started a family. Both new teachers, they taught in Gary, SD; Duluth, MN; Cabot, VT; and Winona, MN. Arrangements by Sunset Funeral and Cremation Association in Echo, MN. Additional information available at www.sunsetfuneralassociation.com.

Maynard. She was married to Harold James Montgomery on Oct. 10, 1942, at St. Monica’s Church in Barre, Vermont. Arrangements are being made through Guare & Sons Funeral Home. Further information can be found and online cond olencesmaybeleftat www.guareandsons.com.

Once her children were in school, Joan was quick to reallocate her time to volunteer for Meals on Wheels, The American Red Cross Blood Bank and many other organizations. In 1990, the couple retired to Cabot, where they spent many of their happiest years working on their home, taking long walks, entertaining their children and grandchildren sledding on the hill behind their home, and enjoying family gatherings at the beloved camp down the road. She is survived by her four children and their spouses, Justine and Frank Landry of South Burlington, Elizabeth Sweeney of Montpelier, John and Brenda Pfeifer of South Burlington and Marty and Julie Pfeifer of Dedham, MA. She is survived by eight grandchildren, Nick (and Martha) and Matt Landry, Colin, Jessica and Jen Sweeney, Hannah (and Christopher) Guilmette, Josh and Ben Pfeifer; and two great-grandsons, Jack and Fynn Guilmette; along with her god children; and many more loving nieces and nephews.

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

↑ contents

Selectboard Reorganized

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

At Town Meeting this year, there were two seats up for election on the Cabot Selectboard. The first seat was a two-year term for which Ian Ackerman and Ruth Goodrich were vying, and Ian won the election with 467 votes to 86 votes for Ruth. The second seat was a three-year term for which Mike Hogan and Ruth Goodrich were competing, and Mike won with 381 votes and 156 votes for Ruth. The Selectboard met for the first time after Town Meeting on March 9, where Mike and Ian were sworn into office. Each of them swore the Vermont Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Office. For the Oath of Allegiance, they read “I … do solemnly swear that I will be true and faithful to the State of Vermont, and that I will not, directly or indirectly, do any act or thing injurious to the Constitution of Government thereof.” For the Oath of Office, they read “I … do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of Selectboard for the State of Vermont and will therein do equal right and justice to all persons to the best of my judgement and ability, according to state law.” After the swearing in, the Selectboard moved onto reorganizing the board. Mike was elected chair, and Fred Ducharme was elected vice-chair. The board also elected Ian as the Selectboard Clerk. According to Betty Ritter, the Town Clerk, there are no statutory responsibilities of the Selectboard Clerk, and the duties vary from town to town. In Cabot, all the duties are performed by the Town anyone further.

In March, as part of reorganizing the Selectboard, while the board was reviewing the list of town committee vacancies, they appointed Greg to be chair of the CCIF Committee. Since he was originally appointed as vice-chair by the School Board, his seat became vacant and will need to be filled by the School Board. Greg recommended the Selectboard fill the other vacant seat on the CCIF Committee with Alex Underwood and the board agreed. After the Selectboard meeting, the first CCIF Committee meeting in over a year was held via Zoom. The meeting started with Frank speaking during public comment. As a former chair, he wanted to help bring the new members up to speed and inform everyone of a pending issue. He explained the CCIF plan gives the committee an annual spending authority of 4% of the running six quarter average balance. For the year 2021, he estimated the amount to be roughly $32,000. However, by the end of the year it could be as low as $24,000. Since Article 10 had been defeated in the recent Town Meeting, he wanted the committee to be aware of the pending issue. The annual expenses for the committee are mostly the town audit and interest rate subsidies, as there have been no Town Meeting grants authorized under the plan. This totals to between $6,000 to $9,000, but the Town Treasurer can calculate an accurate amount. The difficulties lie in an article approved by the voters in 2015 which stated “Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot issue bonds in an amount not to exceed two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) toward the construction of a new town garage, to be repaid from UDAG investment income?” He postulated that if one reads this article literally, then when there is no income, the payments cannot be made. He mentioned that Jan Westervelt was the UDAG (CCIF) chair at the time of the article, and he had explained that the “investment income” meant the 4% allocated annually to the CCIF committee. The garage loan payment is $24,789.31 annually. Adding that to the other estimated expenses, the total distributions might be within the authorized amount this year, but could exceed the authorized amount next year. Greg acknowledged that this will become an issue, and it is something the committee will have to handle in the coming year.

↑ contents

CCIF Committee Restarted

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

The CCIF Committee had not met since February 27, 2020. Prior to that meeting, Frank Kampf had resigned as the Committee Chair, and Adam Overbay had been appointed as the new chair. In the months following that meeting, Adam resigned, followed by the resignation of Jeff Haslett, leaving Greg Burtt as the sole remaining member and vice-chair. Although Jason Monaco had been elected to the CCIF Committee at the Town Meeting in 2020, it was overlooked and lost during this tumultuous period of committee resignations and start of the pandemic. It wasn’t until February 16 of this year that the Selectboard addressed the vacancies on the CCIF Committee. At the Selectboard meeting Greg informed them he had recently learned that Jason had been elected last year, and all he needed was one more member to have a quorum. There were several names floated during the discussion, and ultimately the board chose to appoint Melvin Churchill. The board decided to wait until after Town Meeting to appoint Clerk, so the title of Selectboard Clerk is mostly symbolic. The board also adopted Roberts Rule of Order for Small Boards. Before voting on the motion, Mike addressed the board by saying “we have to speak as a board with one voice. We have to work through things no matter if we have different opinions.” He continued to explain the need to come to compromises. He also reviewed some aspects of Open Meeting Law. He asserted they can’t discuss issues via email. The sending out of information is one thing that can be done by email but sending emails back and forth with three or more members creates a meeting. Mike further reiterated for the Selectboard, and all other town committees, that all meetings must be warned, and minutes must be taken and sent to the Town Clerk within five days. He asked the Selectboard members to answer texts and emails within a timely manner. He noted that sometimes there is a need for an emergency meeting, and there is a need to figure out the best method for contacting each member. He stressed that the board members should take turns signing orders on Mondays. He also emphasized that only warned items are actionable. The topic of “Other Business” in the agenda is for informational purposes only. The board decided that regular meetings will still be held on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, at 6:00 p.m. The meetings will continue to be Zoom meetings until there is new direction from the state.

As the meeting continued, Greg reviewed the current state of the fund. He only had records for the general fund, and needed to get more information from the Town Treasurer with regard to the education fund. The general fund had a balance of $583,977.66 as of January 31. The fund appeared to currently be invested in a saving account collecting minimal interest, but the actual instrument was unknown. There was discussion between the committee and the public in attendance that the fund needed to be reinvested so it can gain more income. Greg noted that he wanted to have a meeting with Union Bank and Granite Financial, the current portfolio managers, to get their advice. Mike Hogan suggested the committee seek advice from a financial advisor he recommended from the St Johnsbury area. R.D. Eno also asked about the money that was due back from the town for the wastewater bonds. He wasn’t sure when they were due, and Frank was able to respond that according to his notes the $405,000 was due back in 2027 and the $75,000 was due back in 2031. Greg had wanted to discuss changes to the CCIF Plan, but the meeting was running late and he stated he’ll postpone the discussion until the next meeting. The committee agreed to change its regular meeting day to the second Thursday of each month. The next meeting will be April 8 at 6:00 p.m.

↑ contents

CCIF Funds Distributed for School Roof

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

At the first meeting of the CCIF committee this year, Frank Kampf spoke during public comment and referenced a letter he had sent the committee. In the letter, he asked “Why was there a $71,500 payment in January of 2021 to Cabot School for the school roof grant approved in March of 2018?” Frank was the CIFF Committee Chair back in 2018, and he further stated that the project was finished in 2018. Both he and Michelle Leclerc had spoken with the Washington Northeast Supervisory Union (WNESU) Business Manager, Robin Miller, at that time, and were assured the town had received all the invoices for the project. It was reported in the Town Report the following year that a total of $129,343 had been distributed by the end of the 2018 calendar year. Furthermore, Frank noted that according to his calculations, adjusting for the additional $71,500, the total amount paid to the school district appeared to be $200,843, which exceeds the approved amount of $200,000. The language in the article that was approved states “no more than $200,000 from CCIF funds … for the purpose of replacing the roof on the Cabot School Gymnasium.”

Greg Burtt, the CCIF Committee Chair, also agreed that the payment was unusual, and that submitting an invoice for payment several years after project completion is an issue for bookkeeping and tracking the balance of the fund. Michelle explained that the invoice had been recently found by the new business manager at Caledonia Central Supervisory Union (CCSU), and he noticed it had never been paid for by the grant. It should be noted that Cabot School is now part of CCSU as part of the state mandated merger. She said she had carefully checked the date on the invoice, which was August 23, 2018, before making the payment. Michelle wasn’t sure about the total amount exceeding the amount allocated in the grant and sought direction from Greg, who asked her to check, and if there was an overpayment, to seek a return of that amount from CCSU. There was some discussion about having time limits on obtaining grant payments, but only grants governed by the CCIF plan can enforce time limits. All the large CCIF grant articles voted on at Town Meeting have been either created by the Selectboard, or by petition, and thus are not governed by the plan. Those articles being voted upon would need to include wording stating a time limit on payment.

↑ contents

Town Meeting 2021 Article Votes

Art. 1.1 Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot authorize payment of real and personal property taxes on August 19, 2021 and November 18, 2021 by delivery to the Cabot Town Hall postmarked on or before that date; and, Establish that overdue taxes will bear an interest at a rate of one percent per month or fraction thereof for the first three months and thereafter one and one-half percent per month or fraction thereof from the due date of such tax pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 5136; and, Establish the amount of the penalty charged by the collector of delinquent taxes for payments made after the due date for payment to 8 percent of the tax collected pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 1674(3))A) (Australian Ballot)

YES 431 NO 107 BLANK 31

Art. 8.Shall the Town of Cabot vote to exempt 100% of inventory tax of manufactures and merchants pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 3848? [Australian Ballot]

YES 385 NO 117 BLANK 67

Art. 9.Shall the Town of Cabot approve the installation of an electric vehicle (EV) charging station located at the Willey Building, the costs of which will be ultimately paid by Efficiency Vermont and through 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? [Australian Ballot]

YES 403 NO 153 BLANK 13

Art. 10.Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot direct the CCIF committee to pay off, in single lump sums from the CCIF Fund, the interest rate subsidies totaling approximately $13,250 and the town garage loan commitments of $115,156.98, when the total annual expenses and payments for all commitments are projected to exceed the annual limit as authorized by the CCIF Plan? [Australian Ballot]

YES 215 NO 325 BLANK 29 Art. 11.Shall the Town of Cabot authorize the Select Board to sell a piece of property located on 3339 Main Street, Parcel Id #10-103.000 the Green Mountain Masonic Lodge, with the Masons having a lifetime estate to occupy the third floor, currently assessed value of $262,264 (according to last year’s town report inventory list) with the proceeds of the sale to be deposited in the General Fund as a land sale? [Australian Ballot]

YES 271 NO 277 BLANK 21

Art. 12. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot appropriate the sum of $674,199.55 to defray the General Expenses of the Town, with an estimated $74,200 to come from income and $599,999.55 from local taxes? [Australian Ballot]

YES 406 NO 131 BLANK 32

Art. 13. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot appropriate the sum of $794,342.38 to repair and maintain the Highways of the Town including summer, winter and special treatment, of which an estimated $132,600 is to come from income and $661,742.38 from local taxes? [Australian Ballot]

YES 459 NO92 BLANK18

Art. 14.Shall the Town of Cabot authorize utilizing funds from the CCIF fund, to be used to forgive the outstanding Willey Building Loan balance in the amount of $24, 532.78? [Australian Ballot]

YES 238 NO 311 BLANK 20

Art. 15. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot appropriate the sum of $1,000 to support the Cabot Conservation Fund? [Australian Ballot]

YES 397 NO 149 BLANK 23

Art. 16. Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot approve the following appropriations? (all amounts listed below are approved as requested and included in Article 12)

YES 444 NO 110 BLANK 15

↑ contents

Sale of Masonic Hall Article Defeated

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

There was an article at Town Meeting this year asking the voters to authorize the Selectboard to sell what is commonly referred to as the Masonic Hall. The article was defeated with 277 no votes versus 271 yes votes. The subject of selling this building had been discussed at several Selectboard meetings preceding Town Meeting, and the public voiced a plethora of opinions at the town informational meeting on February 23. The discussion concerning Article 11 started by Ruth Goodrich addressing comments on social media. She stated that evicting Faith in Action (FIA) has never been a consideration. Their lease comes up for renewal every year and it is always renewed. The board noted the building had been purchased for one dollar, and the Town has made a lot of improvements to the building over the years. Fred Ducharme detailed some of the repairs: foundation reinforced, drainage inside, new roof, chimney liner, windows, wiring and a new electrical panel. The ceiling had been insulated and the heating for the upstairs separated. John Cookson asked if there was a sprinkler system, and Fred responded that the only sprinkler in town is in the Willey building. Ruth reported a total of $236,000 of improvements to the building over the years, and queried Michelle as to how much income the town makes for rent annually. Michelle Leclerc responded with the sum of $9,600.

John pointed out that maintenance is approximately $10,000 a year. When the board was asked about the procedure for selling the building, Ruth explained the procedure to sell property in the past was to put it out for bid after the board received approval from voters. She continued that today the board received information from legal counsel regarding two methods for the conveyance of property. The first option is for the board to give notice of a proposed sale at least 30 days prior to conveyance. She speculated the board could work out an agreement with FIA and post for 30 days, and if 5% of the voters objected, the board would have to have a vote at town meeting. The second option is getting prior approval from the voters and then put it out to bid. Fred stated that the board is asking the voters if they can sell the property. Ruth continued and explained that the board has been talking with FIA but have not discussed price. Carla Payne asked if the building meets required standards. The board replied that the Fire Marshal and inspector have been there and have not noted any problems. R.D. Eno stated he had never favored owning the building and asked if the Selectboard will make a commitment to give FIA first option. Rory Thibault wanted to know if the voters do approve the sale of the building, what is the goal of the Selectboard? He suggested the town could put some encumbrance on the sale requiring that the building be used for non-profit activities. John responded that, until the board gets approval, they can’t even discuss how they would sell it. Ruth emphasized that to move forward, the board needs to have authorization from the voters. She further stated that getting authorization doesn’t mean the town has to sell the building. Johanna Thibault expressed confusion over why it was purchased in first place, and why the town is anxious to get rid of the building. Fred commented that the board wanted to give the voters an idea of how much money the town is putting into the building, and this article would “get the discussion going.” Will Ameden expressed in the Zoom chat window that “It seems like this is a backwards way of doing it. If the town wants this building to end up being an asset to the town, work a deal then come to the town for approval.” Mike recounted that when the board looked at the deficit situation, they looked at ways to retire the deficit. Selling the grader shed and Masonic Hall, and a couple other line items would offset the deficit. Mike asked if R.D. could tell the town’s history with the building. R.D. recalled that “We got the building for a $1” because the Masons couldn’t afford to maintain it anymore. R.D. continued his comments by questioning why a previous Selectboard had burdened the town with the building without asking the voters. At the first Selectboard meeting after Town Meeting, Karen Larsen asked the Selectboard, since the article concerning the sale of the Masonic Hall has been defeated, what are the next steps? Mike explained that the Town is still interested in selling the building. He noted that there are other avenues under state statute, and since this is the first meeting after Town Meeting, nothing has been discussed. The board needs to bring the new Select Person, Ian Ackermann, up to speed. He committed that there will be further transparent conversations in the future.

↑ contents

WORKING ROAD COMMISSIONER (30 HRS/WEEK)

Supervises paving, culverts, grading, plowing, summer maintenance and mowing, winter sidewalk clearing, hydrant care, spring cleanup, sweeping, etc. CDL Class A license required. Administers highway budget, represents road issues with Select Board, applies for grants and other funding. Manages road crew personnel, scheduling, and efficiency issues. Backup driver as needed. Reports to Cabot Select Board. Six-month probation, three-year appointment, reviewed annually. Competitive wage, health insurance, and retirement. Submit resume to Town of Cabot, PO Box 36, Cabot, VT 05647 by Monday, May 3, 2021.

↑ contents

Cabot Resident Hits Nashville Country Artist Jeff Paladino to Release Singles

On February 28, 2021, Elysium Records/Playmaker Studios recording artist Jeff Paladino released a cover of the #1 Billboard Hit “Golden Rings” with Georgette Jones Lennon (daughter of the legendary George Jones and Tammy Wynette) and originally recorded by George Jones and Tammy Wynette in 1976. “George and Tammy were my life growing up in the country, said Jeff. “This is an opportunity of a lifetime for me to record with Georgette Jones Lennon.” Following the release of “Golden Rings,” Paladino will be releasing a country style remake of Diane Warren’s hit song “Just Like Jesse James,” originally recorded by Cher in 1989. The amazing cover of “Just Like Jesse James” is slated for release in late March, and features world-renowned musicians Wesley Musik, Joseph Shackelford (fiddle), and Jamie Lennon (Steel), who currently tours with Easton Corbin. Jeff returned to his love of music in 2018 and has been moving up the music charts ever since. “Golden Rings” and “Just Like Jesse James” will be available on iTunes along with Jeff’s other music here: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jeff-paladino/1409675053. In addition, in April, Georgette Jones and Jeff have another song coming out, “Till a Tear Becomes a Rose”.

Follow Jeff Paladino On the Web: OficialSite : htps : / /www.JeffPaladino.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeffPaladino47 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Jeff_Paladino Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JeffPaladino Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user -jwood7131 Spotify: htps : / / open . spotify . c o m /artist/6UXS2RALjepIIV1FHQr98g? si=yWRH3aYERt2HIyVTqItk1A Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbjiVoTp72GaYOf_x0oEz-g

↑ contents

Cathie Helfand’s New Book on Amazon

by Israel Helfand After 35 plus years of working with couples as a Marriage and Sex Therapist, Cabot resident Cathie Helfand's book, The YUMMY Marriage is coming out in April.

Her husband Israel and she have been running Marriage Retreats at their Cabot Homestead for the past couple decades. The book is modeled after their retreat work. It is a summary of their seminal work on marriage and how to keep it alive.

↑ contents

Joe’s Pond - Shanties Off, Ice Out

SHANTIES OFF: Vermont state law requires that ice fishing shanties be removed from the ice before the ice weakens, according the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. The shanty must be removed before the ice becomes unsafe or loses its ability to support the shanty out of the water, or before the last Sunday in March -- the 28th this year -- whichever comes first. All contents, debris, wood, and supports must also be removed so they do not become a hazard to navigation in the spring. The fine for leaving your ice fishing shanty on the ice can be $1,000, and shanties may not be left at state fishing access areas.

ICE OUT: There are four ways to purchase ice out tickets at $1 Per Ticket: 1. Purchase online in groups of ten at https://www.joespondvermont.com/store/p6/10_Ice_Out_Tickets.html or just Google “Joes Pond Ice Out 2021” 2. Print tickets and send them to JPA at https://www.joespondvermont.com/uploads / 1 / 3 / 5 / 0 / 1 3 5 0 9 8 4 2 /ticket_online_5_final.pdf . Be sure to fill out each ticket with your name, phone, and email so you can be contacted if you are a winner. Fill out form online, print and mail ticket(s) with check for total to: JPA, P.O.Box 111, West Danville, VT 05873. Tickets must be in or postmarked by April 1 at the latest. 3. Email for tickets: [email protected] or [email protected] Email with the number of tickets you would like and your physical address. Tickets will be mailed to you. Fill them out with your guesses, enclose a check, and return them. 4. Buy at these locations: West Danville Hastings Store Danville Bakery / Larrabee’s Building Supply /Marty.s 1st Stop Cabot Harry’s Hardware Marshfield Village Store Walden Azalea Sun / Bentley’s Cabot Village Store / Corner Stop-Inn Shop

↑ contents

Why Your School Costs What It Does (and why it’s worth every penny)

Over the past six years, there has been a great deal of debate, both in town and at the State leadership level, over the risk/reward nature of maintaining a small, village-based PK-12 school. Through the years of the Act 46 debate, and in the years since, there has been a healthy debate about whether Cabot can afford to maintain its local school. Some have been animated by comparing a high school with 40-50 students against a much larger school of a thousand students, and have asked, “How can Cabot compete? Wouldn’t our students be better off in a large school like U-32 or St. Johnsbury Academy?” Others have looked at the relatively small enrollment in grades K-8 and asked, “How can we continue to educate our elementary students in classrooms with 8-10 students and a teacher? Isn’t that costly?” Good questions, and if the school had stood its ground, stuck in the teaching and learning model of the 20th century, the answers would be, “Cabot High School can ‘t compete,” and, “Cabot Elementary is too expensive.”

What’s Changed?

Cabot school is not an ordinary school. It prides itself on innovation and adapting to the changing needs of students. Three years ago, the high school abandoned its traditional instructional model of standalone, content-oriented classes with set class times and topics. The 20th century model of educating high school students was rigid, and the contentorientation, combined with the relatively small high school enrollment, limited the number of courses the school could afford to offer. In response, Cabot High School committed 100% to a project-based studio model of instruction, where most student coursework is accomplished in thematic studios that combine several content disciplines together to achieve an integrated learning outcome focused on achievement of learning proficiencies in place of traditional grades. This studio model is the most complete expression of the Legislature’s 2015 directive to create a 21st century learning model that is student-centered and student guided that exists anywhere in the State of Vermont. Instructors set the framework, students help to design the curriculum around a set of consensus interests and proficiency needs, and then the students learn. One measure of the success of the studio model over the past two years is that Cabot High School students have opted to stay at Cabot High School instead of opting out for Early College in their senior year. The frosting on this cake is the expansion of learning opportunities came at a reduced price for teaching at the high school level. Last year, facing a difficult budget projection, former Principal Glenda Cresto, in her final year at Cabot School, did her homework and led the elementary faculty in a redesign of the elementary school that shifted from the traditional one teacher, one grade model to a multi-grade model that has students in grades 1-3 and 4-6 learning together in “pods” with two teachers, one special educator, and one interventionist dedicated to each of the pods. By dedicating teaching staff in this model, the school achieved an overall reduction of two fulltime teachers and three classroom support staff; this reduction in staffing allowed the school to present a budget to the community that resulted in an overall school tax reduction for the first time in several budget cycles.

The FY22 Budget Challenge.

Having just outlined all the ways that Cabot School has adapted over the past few years to improve the quality of education without increasing the cost of education, we find ourselves in a bit of a pickle with the FY22 budget that will be put before the voters on April 6. Like most things with education financing, it takes a bit to explain, but I am hoping when I am done you will understand that even though we have put forward a budget with a tax increase, we have not put forward a wasteful budget. Here are the key factors behind budget planning:

Most of what we spend is for personnel - Approximately 70% of every public-school budget is consumed by salary and benefit costs for the staff that work in the school. The other 30% goes to things like transportation, food service, field trips, building maintenance, and supplies. Costs for salary and benefits go up every year as negotiated salary increases and the Board’s share of the cost for employee health insurance go up. Cabot School has managed the unusual feat of trimming staff and improving instruction, both at once. We feel that the staffing levels of the school are at the absolute bare minimum needed to support a diverse student population with a wide range of sometimes expensive learning needs. Having modernized the instructional models in the high school and the elementary school, we are at a point where any additional staff reductions would impact our ability to deliver quality instruction and we don’t want to start breaking what is just now working so well.

Cabot School has an unusually expensive high-needs student population - When it comes to education financing, Special Education is, well, “special.” I don’t mean that in any negative way. What I mean is that federal and state law (to say nothing of moral obligation!) tells us that no matter how complicated or how expensive, we are obliged to meet the educational needs of our special population. Special Education is my area of expertise as a teacher, and I believe strongly in the benefit that our special population derives from extra instruction and other services that makes school a welcoming and supportive environment. Sometimes that brings with it some significant challenges and costs.

It is hard to budget for Special

Education – Sometimes we are spot on, sometimes we miss, and sometimes we miss badly. In FY20 (the 2019-20 school year) - we missed badly - when we had several new families move into town with high-needs students that we did not plan for, on top of challenges with other students that forced us to place these students in another school outside of Cabot. The net result is that we overspent the FY20 Special Fund budget by $214,881.

Food Service Deficit - Additionally, Cabot School has been carrying a deficit in its Food Service fund (Fund 5) for a few years. We were able to get away with that because the General Fund had an offsetting surplus, but going into the FY22 budget cycle, we have exhausted previous General Fund surpluses and can no longer carry a deficit in the Food Service fund. We must “pay off” the entire food service deficit at once. That deficit amounts to $84,977.

Teacher Retirement Expenses - Four (4+) years ago the State decided to increase the funding in the State Teachers Retirement Fund (VSTRS) by charging the Districts a 19.3% fee for all salary dollars paid from Federal grants. This assessment was not properly booked in FY18, FY19 and FY20, resulting in a requirement to pay retirement assessments for past years in the amount of $59,315. The booking problem has been fixed for FY21 (current year) forward, so this is another one-time deficit that we are resolving with the FY22 budget.

Summary of Deficits - The total of the three deficits explained above is $359,173. Because they all result from expenditures prior to FY21, they must be dealt with in the FY22 budget. We obviously don’t have $359,173 laying around, so the deficit will be resolved using a fiveyear deficit note that adds approximately $51,000 (in principal and Interest) to the budget for each of the next five years.

Digging Out of a Tax Hole - The first draft of the FY22 budget (early helping to support a great

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 9 onward.

↑ contents

Looking Past the Pandemic

by Susan Socks It’s been a long, hard year for everyone. To different degrees, we’re all feeling tired, lonely, anxious, and disconnected. A silver lining to these unpleasant feelings is that it helps us appreciate what is meaningful in our lives. When the current pandemic crisis is behind us, how will you honor the meaningful things you have been missing? I hope you will consider becoming a mentor. Joining a child or teen on their life journey is a wonderful way to be both a teacher and a learner. If you are interested in mentoring, you can start the process right now, and be matched with a youth once pandemic restrictions are lifted. What a great way to celebrate the end of the pandemic: make a new young friend, make a difference in their life, and have them make a difference in yours!

Getting the most out of life isn’t about how much you keep for yourself, but how much you pour into others. - David Stoddard Mentors don’t necessarily have the answers, but they can help you find your own answers. -Amelia Rope “Blaze a trail that will help others begin their journey and it will never be lonely at the top.” -Carlos Wallace January) reflected the impact of the FY20 deficits, a further decline in the Common Level of Appraisal, a $235 reduction in the Yield Rate, and the loss of nearly four Equalized Pupils. Every one of these changes put upward pressure on the local tax rate, resulting in a firstdraft proposed tax increase of $0.52 (52cents) per $100 of assessed value. ($0.22 of that increase resulted solely from the penalty resulting from going over the Excess Spending Threshold.) Over a series of five revisions, the administration and Board carved out savings in our discretionary spending. Some of the savings came from announced teacher retirements and departures. Some resulted from moving certain contracted services to in-house staff. As a result, what started as a 52-cent tax increase was whittled down to 9.2-cents. Half of that increase is due to being slightly over the Excess Spending Threshold. We tried hard to get under the penalty threshold, but the one-time costs in this year’s budget made that impossible without cutting staff. Going into the next school year, when we hope to have all our students back for inperson instruction, we need all the staff to help these students overcome learning losses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. For next year (FY23) we are looking forward to the implementation of some foundational changes to how students are “weighted” based on their educational needs. The weighting study and its implications is a separate topic; for now, I can say that all the changes being finalized in the Legislature this year lean heavily in Cabot School’s favor, which means we are looking forward to a fairer funding stream that is not biased against small, rural schools.

To learn more, visit www.cabotmen toring.org or email [email protected].

↑ contents

School District Annual Meeting Voting

Please note the following information regarding School District Annual Meeting Australian Ballot Voting on Tuesday, April 6, 2021: The Ballots for Town Meeting were mailed in March for all registered voters in Cabot. Because of this, you need not call for an absentee ballot. Please do call at 563-2279 if you have not yet received your ballot. These ballots can be returned in several ways to our office:

1. We have a drop box to the right of the door that you can safely put your ballot envelope in. We do check this several times a day. 2. You may drop it in the mail (it is postage paid). If you mail it, it must be at the Cabot post office by 2:00 p.m. on April 6. I would recommend that, if you wait until closer to April 6, it would be best to put it in our drop box or drop it off at our office on April 6. 3. You may come in on the day of election (April 6 from 7:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.) to either drop your ballot off or bring your blank ballot in and vote in person. (All safety precautions will take place at the polls, including wearing a mask and sanitizing after each voter.) On April 6 you will be voting only on School Articles. The school district annual report should have been mailed to you, but if you need a copy, call the Town Clerk, who will check the accuracy of your address on file and request a report for you from Caledonia Central Supervisory Union office.

Betty Ritter Cabot Town Clerk/Treasurer

↑ contents

Spring News from the Jaquith Public Library

Curbside Hours: TUESDAY through FRIDAY: 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. & 3:00- 6:00 p.m. and Saturday morning. Requested items will be placed on a table outside the front door. Call or email the library to make your requests and set up a time for pick-up. Send requests to [email protected], or call 426-3581.

We just added 200 DVDS to our collection! They were donated to the Jaquith Library by Joe Bookmyer, film aficionado from Yonkers, NY. For new adult books and movies: https://www.jaquithpubliclibrary.org/newadditions.html. For new youth books: jaquithpubliclibrary.org/new-and-featured-kids.html.

New Youth Book Bundle Request Form!

Since you can't browse our shelves, Deborah can make selections for you. Enter your preferences in our Youth Book Bundle Request form at: https://forms.gle/QFXLzVp7LktHoTbN7. Responses sent Tuesdays through Monday mornings by 10:00 a.m. will be ready to pick up the following Tuesday. You will be contacted to arrange pickup.

Exploring Red Clover Picture Book Series

Join us online as we continue to explore Vermont's 2020/2021 Red Clover Picture Book nominees. Every two weeks until May, a new link to the recorded readings of each of the ten fantastic nominees will be available. Visit our website for the schedule and to enjoy the first seven books in our program.

Story Time at Home!

We have ten themed Story Time at Home bags you can check out and bring home. Each bag contains a collection of picture books and a related craft.

Monthly Book Group for Adults:

Fourth Mondays at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. For copies of the book, please stop by the library. April 26- Cringeworthy: A Theory of Awkwardness by Melissa Dahl May 24- French Exit by Patrick deWitt Makerspace Kits Now Available for Checkout!

For a full list and description of Maker kits, click the link and scroll down: https://www.jaquithpubliclibrary.org/new-andfeatured-kids.html .Supported in part by the Vermont Humanities Council.

Green Mountain Book Award

There are 15 amazing teen 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. For a list of the 15 nominees and for voting go here: https://www.jaquithpubliclibrary.org/greenmountain-book-award.html.

Chapters in History Seven; Deeper into the Middle East Second Saturday afternoons in 2021 at 2:00 p.m. Books are available from the library. For more information, please call 454-1680. A free public program series co-sponsored by The Marshfield Historical Society and the Jaquith Public Library. 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.

↑ contents

ADVICE FROM THE TREE WARDEN

Spring is here and the trees will soon spring to life with a new growth of leaves. The first sign of Spring I have seen are the Canadian geese returning on the trip north. The winter’s snowpack is still about 18 inches deep, with more fresh snow falling as I am writing my article. The signs a change of season has begun are visible and welcome in mid-March after a snowy winter. Along with spring will come the emergence of insects as the temperature increases enough. Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is now present in the southern end of Cabot and will have an emergence from the Ash trees it has infested during the latter part of May. The emergence of EAB will occur when the conditions are right and the EAB adults will emerge as the emerald-colored insects we are familiar with from photos. This is the start of the flight season when the adult EAB exit the Ash trees leaving D shaped exit holes approximately 1/8” in diameter. After exiting the Ash trees, the EAB adults will spend the summer flight season high up in the Ash tree canopies, making it unlikely an adult EAB will be spotted from the ground. The most likely signs of the presence of EAB will be found as woodpecker fletching of Ash tree bark, and the D shaped exit holes from EAB adults. If bark is splitting from the Ash trees which have been infested, then it may be possible to see the S shaped galleries created by the EAB Larvae. While enjoying time outside this Spring, please look for these signs on the Ash trees around you. If you see signs of EAB, please report it on the www.vtInvas ives.org website. It is important to keep track of the infestation as it spreads northward to understand the extend of the EAB infestation. The Cabot Ash tree management plan currently being created is in the first rough draft stage. The Cabot town roads have all been marked up on a map of Cabot’s roads for Ash tree density. Also, the location of Ash trees larger than 20 inches diameter at breast height have been marked on the map. Ashley, the GIS planner at the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission, now has the marked-up map and Roadside Ash tree inventory. Ashley is currently writing the first rough draft from the map and Ash tree inventory I have created for Cabot. Moving forward, the rough draft will go through the process of review and revision many times on the way to becoming a final draft, a completed Ash tree management plan for Cabot. Adult Emerald Ash Borer (actual size is approximately .5 inch long)

↑ contents

Homestead Declarations and Lister Review Why Would a Lister Call You About Your Homestead Declaration?

by Cabot Board of Listers

The 2021 filing season opened on February 12, 2021, when the IRS and the Vermont Department of Taxes began accepting tax returns. The 2021 income tax filing due date is now May 17. That deadline also applies to Homestead Declarations and Property Tax Credit claims. In Vermont, all property is subject to education property tax to pay for the state’s schools. For this purpose, property is categorized as either nonhomestead or homestead. A homestead is the principal dwelling and parcel of land surrounding the dwelling, owned and occupied by the resident as the person’s domicile. Property is considered nonhomestead if one of the following applies:

•The property is leased for more than 182 days out of the calendar year. •The property is used exclusively for a commercial, including rental, purpose. •The property is used for a second home, camp, vacation, or summer cottage. By Vermont law, property owners whose dwellings meet the definition of a Vermont homestead must file a Homestead Declaration annually by the April 15 filing deadline (extended to May 17 due to COVID-19 for 2021). The Department of Taxes downloads Homestead Declaration data to the Town for incorporation into the town’s Grand List to assure properties are taxed at the correct rate. The Tax Department asks the listers to both review their weekly downloads of Homestead Declarations and respond back if any of the following apply to these declarations:

NR –not a town resident NS –SPAN has no match –can’t match this to a property in town SP –Incorrect SPAN reported – provide correct SPAN NF –Non-filer –this is a primary residence, but no HS-122 filed to date Listers are also responsible for making the necessary valuation allocations to establish homestead and nonhomestead values based on the following declared conditions: Business or rental use: As long as the property meets the requirements of a Vermont homestead, a part of the homestead property(dwelling)may be used for commercial purposes or as a rental. If more than 25%of the dwelling is used for business purposes, then that portion must be reported as nonhomestead on the Homestead Declaration. However, if ANY part of the dwelling is a rental, then the percentage that is a rental must be reported. Business use of outbuildings: Outbuildings used for business or rental are considered nonhomestead. When there are multiple outbuildings on a parcel and the owner has indicated business use of outbuildings on their declaration, Listers may need to call the homeowner to establish the correct outbuilding in business use, because it will be taxed at a different rate than a homestead outbuilding. Included with outbuildings used for business would be ALL farm buildings that are enrolled in Current Use. Below are some commonly asked questions and scenarios that listers may encounter: —Property located in two adjoining towns: The Homestead Declaration must be filed in both towns. —What happens if the property is transferred to a new owner after April 1?? If the property is transferred to a new owner after April 1, the new owner will wait until the following year to file the Homestead Declaration if the property qualifies. —What if the homestead dwelling is also rented through Airbnb?: Property owners are required to enter the percentage of the dwelling that is rented. All rental use is required to be reported, even if it is 25% or under. The rental percentage is calculated as shown in the following example: An 1,800 square foot home with 365 square feet rented. The 20.27% rental use (365/1,800) is rounded to 20.00%. Eighty percent of your home will be taxed at the resident rate and 20% at the nonresidential rate. More information on these topics can be found at https://tax.vermont.gov/property-owners/homestead-declaration.

↑ contents

Hillcrest Chairs Open For The Season

by Sandy Ducharme We have been very busy this winter restocking our inventory of Adirondack furniture. With the Covid-19 pandemic, Richard has been in his workshop almost daily creating his furniture. Our lumber is Ash hardwood, which has been locally harvested, milled, and dried. We take great pride in the quality of the wood and the durability of Ash lumber. Richard hand-paints every chair with three coats of durable exterior latex paint. This is a pains-taking process, however, ensures that each piece is beautifully finished. We offer a rainbow of beautiful colors from bright and bold to quiet and calm. The workshop is open with a fulllineup of beautiful chairs, gliders, loveseats, tables, porch swings and footrests. Now is the perfect time to order yours in the color(s) of your choice. Please visit our shop to see a full display of the colors we offer. We are open daily and offer delivery with applicable fees.

Richard and Sandy Ducharme 849 Ducharme Road Cabot, VT www.hillcrestchairs.com 802-563-2745

↑ contents

Localvore Passport - Smart Phone App for Free Lunch in Cabot and Other Communities

by Cabot Board of Listers

Use your Localvore Passport app and call Cabot Café at 802-560-5999 any day they are open to order your free lunch.

There are 68 participating restaurants throughout the state, and two are in Cabot: Cabot Café and The Den. In addition, Three Ponds in Danville and Front Seat Coffee in Hardwick participate, as well as several restaurants in Barre and Montpelier and many in Chittenden County. You can include everyone in your family on your account and pick up meals every day an offer is available. With free ways to discover local food and unique businesses everywhere and with over 200 exclusive offers, the Localvore Passport app is nourishing community members and creating business for local vendors and suppliers. Download the app for free and join the movement: https://www.localvorepass port.com/. Verify your eligibility, choose a password, download the Localvore Passport App, login and see what meals are available near you. For those without a smart phone, go to https://vteveryoneeats.org/.

↑ contents

Lets Grow Kids - The Big Picture

by Judy Pransky In 2000 Rick Davis, realizing that change was needed at a systems level, collaborated with his friend, Carl Ferenbach and co-founded the Permanent Fund for Vermont’s Children, which is now Let’s Grow Kids. Let’s Grow Kids (LGK) is a statewide movement to make Vermont the absolute best place to raise a family by building an equitable, accessible, and sustainable childcare system. Education experts and advocates in Vermont believe that every child deserves the opportunity to live a bright and successful future which begins with early education in a high-quality setting. Let’s Grow Kids is committed to working to bring about changes in the childcare system which will support Vermont’s children, families, workforce, and economy. LGK has become a childcare and early education champion advocating that our state invests in what’s essential; quality early care and education for all of Vermont’s children by 2025. Let’s Grow Kids just announced its legislative policy agenda and three-year timeline to transform childcare for Vermont children birth to five. Direct change in public policy in childcare programs and in communities across Vermont are necessary so that all families and children will receive the quality care and early educational experiences they need to grow and thrive and be prepared as they enter our schools. New science tells us that 80% of the brain develops in the first three years of life, and 90% by age five. However, research has shown that many Vermonters were not aware of the significant development that occurs during this period. Funded by a strong collaborative of independent foundations, LGK has worked with Vermont’s communities, organizations, businesses, and individuals to close this awareness gap. Vermont has a rich history in leading the nation on important issues affecting children and families. Let’s Grow Kids, with its collaborating funders, is seeking to establish Vermont as a model for the nation in early learning. The research is consistently showing that the first five years are the most critical time in a child’s development. Children who experience high quality learning have greater success in school, relationships, and life. Vermont is committed to establishing policy that supports this partnership with the private sector; for excellence that places a priority on early care and learning. We must provide the necessary funding for excellence for an early care and education system that is affordable for all children. To achieve our mission, LGK is working with partners across the state, including volunteers to advocate for increased investment in childcare so that it is affordable for families and pays an equitable wage to early educators. Hard work and dedication have grown this campaign into a statewide movement and a powerful force for change. Vermont is a small, solution-oriented state. We are nimble, we build consensus, and we move quickly to accomplish great things. Vermont is in a great position to be a model for how a determined community can deliver affordable access to high quality childcare and early education for all. Let’s Grow Kids continues to support these efforts while maintaining our commitment to bring more high quality, accessible and affordable early care and education to children and families across Vermont by focusing on underserved areas and supporting the development and establishment of more quality programs across Vermont.

↑ contents

From page 12

…successfully and cared and provided early education to the children of employees as well as children in our community until the Creamery was purchased and the new owner closed the center. My experiences led me to know that we needed something more across Vermont to galvanize parents and educators into action. When the folks from Let's Grow Kids proposed their project to the Vermont Early Educators Advocacy Alliance, I was over the moon!!! Finally, we were going to address these issues in a comprehensive and educationally based program and bring the changes to support quality early care and education to every child and family across Vermont. My love and commitment to early care and education, to increasing the quality and availability of childcare programs across Vermont and increasing the funding for these programs endures. I currently work with Let's Grow Kids in the effort to be able to support a highly trained work force with H.171, a bill which has just passed the Vermont House with virtually unanimous support. We will continue these efforts to bring the best to the children of Vermont.

The beginning of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 12.

↑ contents

National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day

The Chronicle learned that April 12 is National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day. We turned to the creamery for ideas.

Recipes courtesy of Cabot Creamery Co-operative.

– Makes 4 sandwiches – Ingredients 2 tablespoons Cabot Salted Butter, softened 8 slices of your favorite bread 8 slices of cooked bacon 4 slices of large tomato (or 8 slices of small/medium tomato) Salt and ground black pepper to taste 6 ounces Cabot Cracked Peppercorn Cheddar, thinly sliced Directions Prep: 15 mins i Cook: 5 mins i Total: 25 mins BUTTER both sides of bread slices and season with salt and pepper.

PREHEAT a large skillet or griddle over medium-low heat.

ASSEMBLE cheese sandwiches with sliced cheese, tomato and cooked bacon.

TRANSFER to skillet or griddle and cook until golden on underside, reducing heat if needed. Turn over and cook until golden and cheese is melted.

CUT each sandwich in half on diagonal and serve.

– Makes 4 sandwiches – Ingredients 2 tablespoons Cabot Salted Butter, softened 8 slices of your favorite rye bread 1 jar sliced dill pickles 16 thin slices salami 6 ounces Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar, thinly sliced Directions

Prep: 15 mins i Cook: 5 mins i Total: 20 mins BUTTER both sides of bread slices.

PREHEAT a large skillet or griddle over medium-low heat.

ASSEMBLE cheese sandwiches with sliced cheese, salami and pickles.

TRANSFER to skillet or griddle and cook until golden on underside, reducing heat if needed. Turn over and cook until sandwiches are golden on second side and cheese is melted.

CUT each sandwich in half on diagonal and serve.

– Makes 4 sandwiches – Ingredients 2 tablespoons Cabot Salted Butter, softened 8 slices of your favorite bread 1 ripe avocado 1 jar roasted red peppers, sliced 6 ounces Cabot Pepper Jack cheese, thinly sliced Directions Prep: 15 mins i Cook: 5 mins i Total: 20 mins BUTTER both sides of bread slices.

PREHEAT a large skillet or griddle over medium-low heat.

ASSEMBLE cheese sandwiches with sliced cheese, mashed avocado and sliced roasted red peppers.

TRANSFER to skillet or griddle and cook until golden on underside, reducing heat if needed. Turn over and cook until sandwiches are golden on second side and cheese is melted.

CUT each sandwich in half on diagonal and serve.

↑ contents

Judy’s Story

I'm Judy Pransky. I have been an educator for over 53 years. I began my career as a principal in the Boston Public Schools teaching 1st and 2nd grade children in Roxbury during Desegregation. It was an amazing adventure, and I loved all five years of that amazing work! I moved to Vermont in 1973 and taught a combined 1st through 3rd grade classroom in Twinfield until I had my first child, David, in 1976. I moved on after my second child, Jaime, and taught teachers to teach reading at Goddard College and took on teaching remedial reading at Peacham School while I was raising funds to support that private school. In 1980, I founded CREEP, the Caledonia Rural Early Education Project in Danville, Walden, Barnet and Peacham. CREEP was a home-based and center-based early childhood program for 3- to 5-yearold children. The program moved to the schools when I left to open my first childcare center in 1985 and is still operating successfully in the schools for over 35 years. I have had five state-licensed centers over the years. I now own and operate Cherry Street PlayCare, a 5 STAR in St. Johnsbury. It was incredibly clear to me and my colleagues that early education, early intervention with quality programs, sets the table for a child's future success in school and in life. I felt that I could accomplish this critical mission by opening my first childcare center at Emerson Falls in St. Johnsbury and establishing a high-quality program focusing on early education and child development. I also established a wonderful care and early learning center in Cabot for Cabot Creamery in 1986. That program ran

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

↑ contents

The Stuarts, Gravestone Carvers

Mary L. Dexter donated a signed copy of her new book, “On the Trail of Coffin Man, Researching 19th Century Gravestone Carvers of Central New York State” to Cabot Historical Society. The book centers on the Stuart (or Stewart) family, originally from Claremont, New Hampshire. The book documents 45 years of research, beginning as a 1987 thesis. Information discovered after 2006 is about the Stuarts who lived in Cabot; it is the last part of the book. Three members of the family lived in Cabot at the end of their lives – mother, Mary “Polly” (Grimes) Stuart, 1747 – 1823, father, Jonas Stuart, 1740 – 1825, and one son, James Grimes Stuart 1776 – 1814. The Center Cemetery has two gravestones carved by Jonas and 33 carved by James. Jonas carved 1,573 gravestones in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts. In his brief life, James Grimes Stuart carved 417 gravestones in New Hampshire and Vermont. The Stuarts seem to have worked full time as gravestone artisans. Many early carvers worked part time; they were fulltime masons, carpenters, or farmers. Before railroads, it was hard and timeconsuming to move heavy stones. Early carvers used many kinds of stones. Vermont stone cutting included marble, granite, and slate. Typically, carvers of that era worked with local fieldstones. Stones had to be soft enough to split and carve with hand tools, but durable. When powered tools and transportation became available, heavy, dense marble and granite replaced slate. Carving grave markers was a way to express artistic talents and eke out a living. Folk art symbols were common on early gravestones. Among the motifs in early round-shouldered stones are winged death’s heads, skeletons, bones, scythes, coffins, the grim reaper with his scythe, and hourglasses. Headstones warned life was short and may end soon. By about 1750, a soul flying to eternity replaced death’s heads. Winged cherubs and the soul effigy lingered for decades until urns and willows became popular, around 1800, as people became interested in ancient Greece and Rome. Urns symbolized souls. Ancient Greeks kept ashes of the cremated in urns. Weeping willows symbolized mourning. Epitaphs, and religious verse became common later, beneath information about the departed. By the mid- to late 1800s, square tops replaced rounded top gravestones. Dexter’s book has many illustrations of old gravestones, showing details of stylistic changes over time. Copies are $20 from [email protected]. James Grimes Stewart died November 23, 1814, when he was 38. His father carved James’ gravestone, which is in the Center Cemetery. Jonas did not move from New Hampshire to Cabot until 1823, the year his wife died, at age 75. He died on September 9, 1825, at 84 years old. All three rest in Center Cemetery.

↑ contents

CABOT SCHOOL DIRECTOR CANDIDATES

Two candidates are running for two vacant school board director positions. Since the candidates are unopposed, The Cabot Chronicle did not subject them to a list of questions in lieu of a community forum. However, we did invite them both to write a letter to the community, explaining why they are willing to serve the Town of Cabot in this capacity. Their responses are printed below.

Why I am Running for School Board

by Rory Thibault

It was just five years ago this month that Johanna and I visited Cabot for the first time to look at our home. We loved the house and the location, but we were not sure what to make of the small school. We made an appointment to meet with then-Principal Dave Schilling

– he told us all the good, was honest about the challenges facing small town Vermont schools, and then gave us a tour of the campus. In the end, Dave didn’t have to sell the school – the faculty and students did it for him. We saw happy, outgoing students, and witnessed an educational environment we wanted for our kids. We didn’t hesitate to put an offer on the house, feeling that this is a place we would thrive. A year later, the Act 46 process was at its peak, and my foray into school board politics began. I found a way that my legal background and advocacy skills could help Cabot hold onto the soul of this town – its school. Through that process and still today I believe that, for a small town like Cabot to thrive, we must keep our school strong and accentuate what a small school can offer to

Why I am Running for School Board

by Frank Kampf

A good education is important in preparing our youth for a successful future and having access to a good school to provide that education is paramount to a small community in a rural state. There are many points of view on how to provide that opportunity, but no one option solves all the issues we have before our community. Some feel school choice is the solution, and others feel a local school is the best answer. However, neither of these solutions will provide for the needs of everyone in our community. The idea of school choice greatly increases the divide between those with resources and those without. Additionally, when access to private schools is included, the potential for descrimination, both inadvertent or overt, increases. Alternatively, when a school becomes too small, the educational opportunities to the students become limited due to budgetary pressures. As enrollment declines, costs increase, and cuts need to be made to keep the school affordable to the community. Until the inequities in the State school funding model are changed, rural and impoverished towns will struggle with these choices, and our students will be disadvantaged. All the children in our community deserve to have an equal opportunity to succeed. If the opportunities are limited, then their potential for success will also students that are lost in a big school environment. Our challenge is how to ensure success while also considering differing viewpoints on school structure, budget pressures, and shifting state education law. As a school board member, I have frequently asked questions and challenged the status quo – I love and support the school but remain open minded about exploring options that might alter how we operate, what our relationships look like with other schools, and how to respond to budget challenges. I am running for re-election because important work remains to be done. I want the Cabot School to be a reason families decide to move and stay in Cabot, as it has my family. Our school and its unique approach is a huge asset in a world that increasingly, and wrongly, assumes that bigger is better and standardization is key. I hope the reforms and changes we make to Cabot School today inspire this generation to raise their families here. We will reach those goals by embracing change, trusting the advice of our faculty, staff and administrators, and convincing Montpelier that the current education funding system is unfair and antiquated.

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

↑ contents

Place your order now online

…for the best selection of bare root trees & plants for spring planting.

Local orders will be available for curbside pick up starting in May.

The beginning of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 13.

↑ contents

TWIN VALLEY SENIOR CENTER

4583 U.S. Route 2 P.O. Box 152 East Montpelier, VT 05651 Fundraising: The month of March was Meals on Wheels Month. I want to thank each and every one of you that supported our curbside dinner fundraisers for our Meals on Wheels Program. The events were successful and raised needed funds for the program.

Appropriations: I also thank taxpayers again for their support of Twin Valley Senior Center’s request for appropriations. These appropriations are such a big part of our financial stability. It is great to know the residents in the towns we serve believe in the senior center enough to support it.

Returning to Normal? In April I will be attending Zoom meetings with state connected agencies to look at the possibilities to re-open senior centers. Just the possibility is so very exciting, to think that we may be able to have seniors back with us. I know many are just waiting for that time to be back at the center as they tell me when I speak with them.

Volunteers: April 18 through 24 is National Volunteer Week. There are no words to express our appreciation of volunteers who have stood by the center and our Meals on Wheels program during the past year. Each and every one of them not only worked the meals program, but some of our healthy living classes via Zoom and in person. I can only say the following people went above and beyond, putting our seniors before their own health and safety to make sure they received proper and nutritional meals plus some form of exercise. With that I can only say thank you to each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart! Following are some of Twin Valley’s dedicated angels:

 Meals on Wheels Packers: Lorraine Checchi, Gail Falk, Doug Lapoint, Mary Clark, Kit Gates, Doug Kievit- Kylar and Heidi Wilson.  Meals on Wheels Drivers: Fred Wilber, Brett Engstrom, Elaine Rossi, Lewis Graham, Bill Wheeler, Cliff King and Ellen Halperin  Zoom Arthritis / Bone Builder classes by Sue Carey. Tai Chi classes by Pat Boyle and Susan Crampton. If I overlooked anyone, please accept my apology.

↑ contents

CABOT PUBLIC LIBRARY NEWS

MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, and THURSDAY:

We’re open for curbside library service, interlibrary loans, monthly book group, and have thousands of options for online e/audio books through the Libby app – call or email if you need any help with these services. We’re hoping, as the weather warms, we will be able to offer Outdoor Story Hour – stay tuned for more information to come. And we are looking forward to opening our doors with safety protocols in place as soon as the Select Board gives us the go ahead.

Stories/Arts/Craft Activity Bags to go!

– For preschool families. Call or email to pick up your Activity Bag to go! Each themed bag has picture books, fun crafts with instructions and all materials needed, and lots of ideas for more Storytime fun at home. Currently we have “Winter-”, “Rain-” and “Frog-” themed bags. Many thanks to Amanda Otto for putting them all together!

Cabot Book Group - The Cabot Book Group continues to meet monthly, generally on the fourth Thursday of the month at 2:00 p.m. The latest four-book series, Farms and Gardens, is cosponsored by the Vermont Humanities Council and folks will read/discuss Jamaica Kincaid’s My Garden (Book) and meet via Zoom Thursday, April 22, at 2:00 p.m. with scholar Gina Logan. The May discussion will be on Thursday, May 27, at 2:00 p.m. with Jane Brox’s Here and Nowhere Else: Late Seasons of a Farm and Its Family. Please call or email if you would like to attend, as copies of the book are available for curbside pickup, and all are welcome.

Become a Magician! - Contact the Cabot Library for info on this self-guided course in which you will learn enough magic and performance skills to put on a FABULOUS 30-minute magic show with simple props found at home. Included in the course is a 30-minute magic show with Tom Verner and Janet Fredericks using the tricks.

Red Clover Book Award - The Red Clover Book Award is designed for children in kindergarten through fourth grade. Each year thousands of Vermont school children read the ten nominated picture books and vote for their favorite in the spring. Call or email to borrow the 2020-2021 Nominees.

Vermont Golden Dome Book Award

- The Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (formerly the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award) was created to honor excellence in children's literature. Each year since 1957, Vermont students in grades four through eight have selected their favorite book from a list of 30 nominees. It is recommended that students read at least five of the year's nominated titles before voting. Voting takes place in the spring, generally beginning in April. Call or email for the current list, pick up a punch card and borrow these amazing children’s books.

Green Mountain Book Award - The Green Mountain Book Award (GMBA), 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

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

↑ contents

3065 Main Street - the Sequel

Enquiring minds want to know, what is going on with the vacant and ugly building in the middle of the village? While the building is vacant, Economic Development Workgroup of the Cabot Community Association (CCA) has been engaged in determining the building’s next use. The CCA purchased the building in January 2018 and the Economic Development Workgroup spent the years since going through required steps and reviewing community options for the future of the property. The building is in terrible condition from the foundation on up (classified as salvage by the Cabot town listers) but it is a building in Cabot’s statedesignated village center and historic district. In order to gain access to state or federal funds to re-use the property, certain steps would need to be followed for any action from demolition to renovation. In 2019, the Preservation Trust of Vermont and a consultant architect helped the Economic Development Workgroup assess the condition of the structure, identify repairs, provide rough cost estimates for repairs and recommend viable options for future use of the building and/or site. This assessment confirmed that restoration of the existing building would be messy and extremely expensive. There’s not much there that is salvageable. This answer, and a tour of the building, satisfied those of us who had held on to hope that something of the historic structure might be saved. The “unsalvageable” conclusion left the CCA with a choice to demolish and replace with a new building that would fit the character of the village or demolish and re-use the property as mostly open space. Over 2020, the Economic Development Workgroup had deep discussions, mulling ideas for the property provided by community members, including a detailed outline from Cabot Arts Executive Director, Dana Robinson, on a possible arts complex. CCA Executive Director Lori Augustyniak checked with the regional non-profits regarding use of the site for workforce housing. It’s such a great village location for housing, being within easy walking distance to the school, stores, library, post office and church. But she learned that the buildable part of the site is just too small – it would support too few housing units to be of interest to housing organizations and there is no off-street parking, making the site further unsuitable for housing or most other uses. The idea of the site for a park, directly opposite the library and town office, providing a view and access to the river as well as tying the waterfront of adjacent properties together, took hold of the Workgroup members’ imaginations. Adding a pavilion with power for outside events would add to the draw to Cabot village for eating out, performances, and other festivities. During this COVID-19 year, the Economic Development Workgroup applied for and was awarded a grant from the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI), a program of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, to work with consultants to assess the options for the site as a park. The Workgroup received two designs which provided a comparison between least cost to more expensive options. Then they asked for a composite drawing which omitted most of the more expensive ideas. The Economic Development Workgroup did apply for funding to create a more public process of developing or evaluating the site options, but was not successful in receiving funds. Beyond Zoom, it has been a difficult year for public participation! The park’s highlights could include a covered outdoor pavilion (with power) to add to Cabot’s community events, a wheelchair- accessible path to the river, connection along the river to adjacent properties, and an outdoor performance “pad.” The Economic Development Workgroup has discussed ideas like storage under the pavilion and the opportunity for some stormwater management. What do you think? Please contact the CCA with your thoughts and dreams for this downtown location. Email [email protected] or call Lori Augustyniak at 802-279-4309.

The CCA purchased 3065 Main Street in January 2018 with a plan in mind that did not materialize, so the CCA Economic Development Workgroup has spent the years since going through required steps and reviewing options for the future of the property, with an eye toward adding to the economic vitality of the village. This plan is for a park with a covered outdoor pavilion (with power) to add to Cabot’s community events, a wheelchair- accessible path to the river, connection along the river to adjacent properties, and an outdoor performance pad. The drawing is available to view full size at CabotVermont.org.

↑ contents

Wondering What You Can Do Now That You’re Vaccinated?

The CDC's new guidance for vaccinated people reflects Vermont protocols. Dr. Levine, VT Health Commissioner, welcomed new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control for people who have been fully vaccinated (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html). “I was happy to see it really shows Vermont is once again ahead of the curve when it comes to deliberate easing of guidelines, while still maintaining important protections like mask protocols,” Dr. Levine said. The guidance includes:  You can gather indoors with fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask or staying six feet apart.  You can gather indoors with unvaccinated people from one other household (for example, visiting with relatives who all live together) without masks, unless any of those people or anyone they live with has anincreased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.  If you’ve been around someone who has

COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested or quarantine unless you have symptoms (with some exceptions). Vaccinated people should still take steps toprotect themselves and othersin many situations, like wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds whenever you are:  In public  Gathering with unvaccinated people

from more than one other household  Visiting with an unvaccinated person

who is atincreased risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19or who lives with a person at increased risk Find updated guidance around prevention, gathering, travel and close contacts on the Department of Health website: https://apps.health.vermont.gov/COVID/

↑ contents