⚲  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

July 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 July 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

Cabot’s Birdman, Edmond Menard WCAX Super Senior

The story begins, “On a back road in Cabot, Edmond Menard’s world is for the birds. The 78-year-old says carving birds from cedar was his destiny.” On Thursday, June 17, Joe Carroll of WCAX TV put Edmond Menard of Danville Hill Road in the spotlight, interviewing him about the complex birds he carves from a single piece of cedar grown on his own property and how that came to be his therapy. To hear or read the conversation, go to https://www.wcax.com/2021/06/17/super-senioredmond-menard/, or search WCAX.com for Super Senior.

↑ contents

Fourth of July Committee Wishes You A Safe And Happy Fourth

Have Fun This Year And Help Us Plan For Next Year

Earlier this spring the Cabot 4th of July Committee made the difficult decision to not host Cabot's traditional July 4 activities - parade, rummage sale and chicken barbeque - this year. There are some July 4 activities being planned by community members, businesses, and organizations to celebrate July 4, which you can learn more about on Cabot Connects Bulletin Board facebook page. The Cabot 4th of July Committee looks forward to a return to normal for July 4, 2022, and will start organizing this fall. We hope everyone enjoys a safe July 4.

↑ contents

West Danville History Ready to Publish Reserve Yours Now

The Danville Historical Society is hoping to have the long-awaited history of West Danville ready for publication later this summer. The committee members are working hard to put finishing touches on this detailed history of West Danville and the Joe’s Pond area titled, “West Danville, Vermont, Then and Now, 1781-2021.” The book is written by people you know: Patty (Houghton) Conly, whose grandfather Edgar Houghton, lived in Cabot and later West Danville; Jane (Bolton) Brown, who grew up in Cabot and coauthored Cabot’s oral history book; and the late Dorothy (Ayer) Larrabee who grew up, raised her family and owned Larrabee’s Building Supply in West Danville. All three of these women are well-known from their stories in the North Star Monthly, and other publications. The late Jane Larrabee also served on the committee and shared photos and stories for the book. The book will be soft-covered and has chapters on the railroad, power plant, granite industry, citizens, and happenings in this area, as well as stories about the cottage owners and evolvement of the community surrounding Joe’s Pond. There are many photos, including many from glass negatives made by Harold E. Hatch of West Danville in the early 1900s. For the Historical Society to get a better idea of how many books they need to order, they ask that you send them an email with your name, address, phone number and the number of books you are likely to purchase. The email address is: [email protected], or contact Jane Brown at 802-563-2381 to have your name added to the list of interested potential purchasers. Having your name on this list does not obligate you to purchase the book, and you are not asked to pay anything now. It is only to find out how many books will be needed so that everyone who wants one to be able to get it.

The West Danville History Committee Joe was born in 1739, in Louisbourg, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. He was a member of the Mi’kmaq Atlantic coast tribe. He described his father as a "landowner with neat cattle, jacks and horses." Mi’kMaqs were allies of the French in wars against the British. In November 1745, during King George’s War, British and New England forces attacked the Fortress of Louisbourg. Six-year-old Joseph became an orphan. He remembered, "Red Coats come. Indians run. Drove Indians off, took all land." Abenaki survivors fled west to St. Francis village, near the St. Lawrence River. The Abenakis took Joe with them. St. Francis was a refuge for Indian survivors from several tribes until attacked and burned by Rogers Rangers, to retaliate for raids, in 1759. During the Seven Year’s War (1754 – 63), Joe went on a raid to Vermont, near Newbury. Settlers drove off the Indians.

Joe, badly wounded, got as far as Cabot Plains. He could go no farther. A settler’s family, who decided Joe was no longer a danger, found him. They harbored Joe all winter and became friends. In spring, he went back to Saint Francis, but promised to warn of future raids. In St. Francis, Joe wooed and won Molly from her brave. To escape her furious husband, Joe brought Molly and her two young sons, Toomalek and Muxa-Wuxal, to Cowass. Joe fished and hunted to support his new family, sometimes trading for beads and cloth. He warned settlers of hostile Indians waiting in ambush. Joe helped settlers in Morristown survive a brutal winter by giving them moose meat. The St. Francis community eventually discovered that Joe was warning settlers. Some hated Joe for revealing their plans and running off with Molly. Joe and Molly fled from Cowass to "Injun Joe's Island," in the northwest of Joe’s Pond. His pursuers feared evil spirits and dared not follow. Joe never went back to Canada. There were attempts to capture him. St. Francis Indians kidnapped Molly from a wigwam in Derby years later, to lure Joe into a trap. Joe trusted Molly would escape; he did not follow. Molly got away. Joe also told how he tracked a moose for two days before it crossed into Canada. Joe said, “Goodbye Mr. Moose” and abandoned the chase, refusing to reenter Canada. After Joe and Molly fled from St. Francis, they built a tiny cabin in Walden. There, Joe became friendly with Militia Captain Enoch Foster, who employed Joe as a hunting guide for years. Jacob Bayley, who was a militia general, in command of northern frontier forces, during the Revolution, hired Joe as a scout while building the Bayley- Hazen Military Road. Joe helped locate Indian trails that the road followed. Joe also served as a scout under Moses Hazen. Joe served one year in Captain John Vincent's Company of Indian Rangers in the Service of the United States of America. Thirteen of the rangers were from the St. Francis tribe. John Vincent was an old friend. Throughout the war, as was common practice for Native Americans, they paid Joe with rum and blankets. After the Revolution, Joe received a letter of appreciation from General George Washington. It invited Joe to Washington's headquarters at Newburgh, New York. Joe and Molly went by canoe and on foot. Joe was proud of this visit, often relating that he shook Washington’s hand. Joe and Molly then roamed throughout northeastern Vermont, camping and hunting. Local settlers knew both well. Joe shared hunting skills readily and game occasionally, especially in hard times. Molly won respect for herbal remedies and cooking. She shared recipes, provided childcare, and showed settlers how to make clothes and shoes from hides. Although Joe and Molly never settled at Cowass village, they sent their boys there, to live among the native community. Joe did not get a federal pension for his war service. His time as a scout did not count toward a pension; it was not enlistment. However, the year in Captain John Vincent's Indian Rangers did qualify. In their declining years, petitions to the Vermont Legislature asked for payments for their care. In 1792, the State of Vermont passed an act to provide Joe and Molly a grant through a guardian. In 1798, Joe and Molly were in Derby where they got grants, also through a guardian, totaling $86. In 1801, a new act cut Joe’s annual grant to $30. Molly was unnamed; she may have died at Derby before November 1801. Joe moved to Newbury. In 1809, described as "aged and infirm," he got an annual grant of $70. By then, Joe was "Old Joe." During the Revolution, he was "Captain Joe," an honorary title for Native Americans who were guides or scouts in colonial forces. Old Joe roamed Newbury alone after Molly died. By 1819, 79-year-old Joe was weak, but continued hunting and his independent lifestyle. He fell during a February hunt and suffered severe frostbite. Joe died on February 19, 1819. In spring, he was buried in the Oxbow Cemetery in Newbury, Vermont. Joe’s last guardian was Frye Bayley of Newbury, nephew of General Bayley. He paid for Joe’s funeral. Many came to the military funeral; Joe’s rifle fired the salute. In 1935, a stone marked the grave. He lies near his old friend and supporter, General Jacob Bayley. The monument says, "Erected in Memory of Old Joe, the Friendly Indian Guide." https://glcp.uvm.edu/landscape_new/aset _ store / 1 7 / 1 3 / L S 1 7 1 3 2 /LS17132_000_thumb_3.jpg

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

↑ contents

Cabot Harvest Hub

The June Cabot Chronicle described a Cabot Community Association initiative, the Cabot Harvest Hub, supported by a “2021 Local Food in Your Community Grant” from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, the National Life Group Charitable Foundation, Inc., and the Cabot Community Association. The purpose is to support our local farmers and artisans while providing an easy way to buy their products. A threemonth pilot phase starts on June 28 and will run to early October and, if successful, will continue beyond that. Elizabeth Vitale is leading the project and Cynthia Stewart of Faith in Action has made the Masonic Hall available as a pick-up site. A Steering Group consisting of Lori Augustyniak, Marc Dolbier, Gwen Hallsmith, Niels Larsen, and Sandy Pond are helping guide the project. Our focus so far has been on enlisting a representative group of producers from Cabot and surrounding towns of a wide range of food and artisan products. You can access our web site http://cabotharvesthub.org now to see the current list of producers, their range of products and browse products that will be offered from the outset. Included on that page is a ‘Member Q&A’ which explains the whole process. We know that it will take time to change shopping habits, for producers to adapt, and the Hub to make the logistics work smoothly. We expect that as more families sign up, more producers will offer products. Additional producers have committed to join later this summer. We are running a promotion for a FREE six-week ‘Seedling’ level Membership if you sign up in July, just use code PILOT2021 at checkout. But it would be great if you would show your support of the project by joining at the $10 ‘Harvest’ member level and commit to the full 15 weeks of our pilot program. Also, because of the support we’ve received thus far, we are offering NO PROCESSING FEES for the month of July! Please help build momentum for the project by joining now and start shopping at the end of the month! We appreciate your patience during the start-up while we streamline the policies and the logistics of the weekly cycle. The planned three-month pilot phase should give us time to assess the level of community interest in making the Cabot Harvest Hub a permanent part of our community.

↑ contents

Joe & Molly

In the 18th century, many Native Americans lived in Northeast Vermont. They traded, fished, and hunted here, sometimes in seasonal camps, sometimes in year-round villages, like Cowass, near Newbury. Many residents of Cowass village came from St. Francis (Saint François du Lac, Quebec). Cowass village existed until after the American Revolution. It was a refuge from wars, a staging area for hunting, and fertile land for planting. The best-known Native Americans in northeastern Vermont were a hunter and guide, who introduced himself as “Joe Indian," and his wife Molly. Joe and Molly never settled in Cowass village. They camped in many places - Newbury, Ryegate, Barnet, Peacham, Danville, Cabot, Walden, Morristown, Hyde Park, Derby, and Marshfield, among others. They stayed on an island in Joe's Pond in West Danville, in a makeshift wigwam in Peacham, in caves in Ryegate and Newbury, and on Butternut Island in the Lamoille River. Waterways immortalize Joe and Molly – Molly's Brook and Molly’s Pond in Cabot, Molly’s Falls Pond State Park in Marshfield, Joe's Pond in West Danville and Cabot, Joe’s Brook, which exits the pond, and a smaller Joe’s Pond and Molly Pond in Morrisville.

↑ contents

Current Use Program - What Does It Do for Us?

Vermont’s Current Use (Use Value Appraisal) Program began in 1980 with the enrollment of fewer than 120,000 acres. As of 2020, this number soared to 2,531,733 acres (about one third of Ver- 2021 Use Values mont’s total land) and includes 15,669 landowners and 19,259 parcels. Based upon ZIP codes of the owners, 4,449 of the enrolled parcels are owned by out-ofstate persons (23%). The Vermont statute regulating the Current Use Program is found in 32 V.S.A. Chapter 124.

The Current Use Advisory Board established the Use Values for the 2021 tax year on January 28, 2021:

Property Type

Agricultural Land Forest Land & Conservation Land Greater than one mile from a Class I, II, or III Road Savings to Property Owners Tax Year

2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 Upcoming Deadlines Municipal Tax Savings to Enrolled Landowners

$16,507,284 $15,504,096 $15,553,659 $14,918,075 $14,519,248 $14,530,332 $13,890,827 $13,384,246 $12,549,456 $12,288,566 $11,585,297 $10,712,418 Education Tax Savings to Enrolled Landowners

$47,594,167 $45,385,579 $45,360,286 $45,247,428 $44,609,223 $45,161,146 $43,110,537 $41,209,109 $40,668,894 $40,191,533 $37,385,819 $33,913,934 Amount

$405/acre $152/acre

$114/acre Total Savings to Enrolled Landowners

$64,101,451 $60,889,675 $60,913,948 $60,165,503 $59,128,471 $59,691,478 $57,001,364 $54,593,355 $53,218,350 $52,480,099 $48,971,116 $44,626,352 Applications must be submitted or postmarked for new enrollments and additions to existing enrollments to the Current Use Program. Parcels that do not have managed forest land, three (3) copies of the current use map. For new parcels and additions to enrollment with managed forest land or conservation land, a signed copy of the management plan and three (3) copies of the current use map are due to the County Forester.

September 1 October 1 The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation’s Use Value Appraisal Manual is available on their website (https://fpr.vermont.gov/UseValueAppraisal). This manual includes forest management standards, a template for a forest management plan, and the data entry sheet that must accompany your forest management plan and forest management plan updates. Please contact the county forester if you have additional questions on the plan or relating standards.

Subordination of a Lien

Per Act 20, (S.154) of the 2019 Legislative Session: Effective July 1, 2019, all current use liens have become contingent liens. This statutory change affects all property enrolled in the Agricultural and Managed Forest Land Use Value Program, also known as the Current Use Program. It applies to all new enrollments and retroactively applies to all property enrolled since the inception of the program in 1978. Prior to July 1, 2019, when land was enrolled in the Current Use Program, the Tax Department filed a lien in the land records to secure payment of the land use change tax upon development of that land. Under the 2019 legislation, the lien that is filed is a contingent lien that will convert to a current lien upon development of the land. For the immediate future, the Department of Taxes will continue to use the current use application as the contingent lien document. The Legislature made this change to facilitate financing for current use property and sales on the secondary mortgage market without the need for a subordination agreement. Because the current use lien is now a contingent lien, a subordination agreement is no longer needed.

The Department has stopped issuing subordination agreements as of July 1, 2019. To that end, the Legislature repealed 32 V.S.A. § 3777(f), effective July 1, 2020, which provided for lien subordinations. If the land is developed and therefore the land use change tax becomes due, the Department of Taxes will record a lien for the amount of tax that is due.

↑ contents

From page 3

The purposes of the Use Value Appraisal program as defined by 32 V.S.A. § 3751 are to:  Encourage and assist the maintenance of Vermont’s productive agricultural and forest land;  Encourage and assist in their conservation and preservation for future

productive use and for the protection of natural ecological systems;  Prevent the accelerated conversion of these lands to more intensive use

by the pressure of property taxation at values incompatible with the productive capacity of the land;  Achieve more equitable taxation for undeveloped lands;  Encourage and assist in the preservation and enhancement of Vermont’s

scenic natural resources; and  Enable the citizens of Vermont to plan its orderly growth in the face of

increasing development pressures in the interests of the public health, safety, and welfare.

↑ contents

OBITUARIES & MEMORIALS

Virginia Lehoe Virginia Dougherty Lehoe, 77, passed away peacefully in her home on Wednes-

JoAnne Molleur JoAnne Molleur, 74, passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side on Thursday, May 13,2021. She was a loved wife, mother, sister, grammy and great grammy. She is survived by her husband, Mutt of 53 years along with their four children, 12 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, her two brothers as well as Mutt’s 13 brothers & sisters. Mom was liked by everyone who knew her and loved by most. Her kind heart and generosity made it easy to love her. She was a working mother who did the books for Mutt's business, put herself

Calvert Norris Foster, Jr.

Calvert Norris Foster Jr, better known as Chip, passed away at his home in Boynton Beach on Friday May 28th at the age of 56. Chip was born December 10th 1964 in Bristol, CT the son of Calvert N. Foster, Sr. and Patricia (Cronin) Foster. He grew up in Cabot, VT for a few years then moved to Hardwick, VT and attended the local Elementary schools and Hazen Union High School then went on to be a Vermont National Guardsman. He worked with his family at Riverside Beverage in Hardwick and Caspian Arms Ltd. in Wolcott. Chip and his partner of 28 years Kevin W. Lange were married in 2010. He and Kevin split their time enjoying the homes they renovated together in Bakersfield, VT and Florida.

Gail M. Parent Gail M. Parent, 60, of Northfield passed away suddenly on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. She was affectionately recognized as a kind, generous and giving person; focused on helping others in any way she could. Born on August 21, 1960, in Hudson, NY, she was the daughter of Victor and Margaret (Joyal) Parent, Jr. Gail attended local elementary schools and graduated from high school in Millbrook, NY. After high school, she made her home in Wassaic, NY, before moving to Vermont in 1993, settling in Marshfield until she moved to Northfield five years ago. After she moved to Vermont, she attended Vermont College, where she graduated with an associate degree. While in New York, Gail was a direct support professional at the NY Cardinal Hayes Home for children in Millbrook. After moving to Vermont, she worked for Twinfield Union High School, starting in 2001 doing various positions for 16 years day May 12, 2021. A Graveside Burial Service was held at the Durant Cemetery in Lower Cabot on Monday May 17, 2021.

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

↑ contents

CCIF Committee Update

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

The CCIF Committee composed of Gregg Burtt (chair), Alex Underwood (secretary) , Jason Monaco, and Melvin Churchill, has met on the second Thursday of each month. While the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have been in place, the meetings have been held outside at the Recreation Field pavilion. According to the April minutes, the committee discussed re-investing the fund back into the stock market. They also discussed the possibility of changing the current plan and set a target of this fall to decide. The choice being “to either: invest in capital projects/town for economic development purposes in order to dissolve fund or divide the fund for use between the select board and the school board.” At the May meeting, Peg Elmer Hough spoke during public comment and mentioned that the CCA Economic Workgroup (EWG) has been meeting with the creamery regarding land that the creamery owns but does not intend to use. There is interest in working with the town to get affordable housing built on the property, which could help the creamery workers. The CCIF Fund creates problems when the CCA approaches government entities for grants, such as the Community Development Block Grant Program. The existence of the fund affects the ability to qualify for grants. Peg pointed out a need to dispel the myth that the town is sitting on two million dollars. She said that she would be willing to develop a document on how the money has been spent over the years and look back at the original plan. Both Frank Kampf and Ruth Goodrich voiced their experiences and mentioned that records going back more than ten years may be hard to find. Melvin Churchill

↑ contents

Open Meetings Explained - Part 2

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

One aspect of the Chronicle’s mission is to empower Cabot residents to participate in the governance and management of our town, and to that end this is a second in a series of articles explaining the intricacies of Vermont’s Open Meeting Laws. In this article, the requirements for agendas and minutes will be addressed. Other topics will be covered in future editions.

Agendas: According to the Vermont Secretary of State (SoS) Guide to Open Meeting Law: “At least 48 hours prior to a regular meeting, and at least 24 hours prior to a special meeting, a meeting agenda must be posted to a website that the public body maintains or designates, if one exists.” In addition, and within the same timeframes, the agenda must be posted “in or near the municipal office and in at least two other designated public places in the municipality.” The Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) Open Meeting FAQs explain that “The Open Meeting Law does not contain a definition of agenda.” However, the VLCT continues to explain that “it is clear from the intent of the Law that an agenda must be drafted so that it provides actual notice of the specific topics to be addressed and the actions that may be taken at that meeting.” For example, an agenda item should read as “proposed contract with Green Mountain Power for EV charging station,” rather than “GMP contract discussion,” which does not provide notice to the public about what will be discussed and decided. The SoS Guide also notes that “if a public body wishes to add or delete an item from an agenda after it has been posted, it may only do so as the first act of business at the meeting.” The VLCT FAQs further advise that the law “does not give a public body free rein to alter a meeting agenda at the last minute,” and “items should only be added to that agenda when necessary to deal with an unforeseen occurrence or condition requiring immediate action.” Other adjustments to the agenda, such as reordering agenda items, may be made at any time during a meeting.

Minutes: The SoS guide notes that minutes must be taken at all public meetings, and they are a permanent record of the action taken by the public body. It further states that, at a minimum, “minutes must include: the names of all members of the public body who are present at the meeting; the names of all other active participants; all motions, proposals, and resolutions made, and their dispositions; and the results of all votes, with a record of individual votes if roll call is taken.” Additionally, “if a public body maintains or designates a website, minutes must also be posted to that website no later than five calendar days after the meeting.” It should be noted that the law does allow for draft minutes to be replaced with updated minutes, but also stipulates that posted minutes must not be removed from the website for at least one year. The VLCT FAQs add to that requirement by noting “many public bodies make it a practice to create a set of minutes labeled draft or unapproved and subsequently correct and approve those minutes at a subsequent meeting. This is done as an acknowledgement that the body has read the draft minutes and agree that they accurately reflect what took place at the meeting.”

↑ contents

Grader Breakdown

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

The Selectboard held an emergency meeting on Friday, May 7. The Chronicle was not notified of this meeting and the following is based upon the available minutes. At the meeting was Jason from Nortrax, the John Deere Dealer in Burlington, to discuss repairs needed to the grader. The grader needed “repairs to the clutch pack and related transmission.” Jason recommended hauling the grader to their dealership to be evaluated. Bellavance trucking could haul the grader on the following Monday, and Jason estimated the repair could probably cost in the range of $40,000 to $50,000 to replace a transmission. The board discussed renting an excavator while it was being repaired or see if one could be used from another town. At the next regularly scheduled meeting on May 17, the board discussed the grader. Ian Ackermann stated that they were thinking of renting a grader from Marshfield. He added if they rent it from them, it includes one of their guys. He didn’t want the town to be in a position of added that originally the town was asked to invest or spend the money, and the town voted to invest it and use the income on projects. Greg Burtt continued the meeting by announcing that the fund was being reinvested into the stock market by Union Bank. Union Bank was proceeding slowly with the reinvestment in a strategic manner. Greg then went on to discuss possible ideas on how to use the fund. He outlined ideas such as creating an exclusive Cabot Cheddar Cheese, but the creamery is not interested. He also spoke about another possible use for the fund, making a really nice trail in Cabot, like the rail trail, or supporting a trail network that was connected to other stuff. Additionally, he noted that the CCA is looking for funding to tear down the brown building, and there is always the town and school that would benefit from the monies. Greg voiced that if the fund were to be spent, it should be on something that wouldn’t normally be done. The June meeting was cancelled, and Greg was kind enough to provide the Chronicle with an update. He said he has been exchanging emails with the Principal of Cabot School about the playground. The school needs replacing the play structures. Greg said he thinks ”it fits right in with our current goals,” but would “need to go through a petition.” He has also been meeting with members of the trails committee and the CCA to discuss potential projects that could involve the CCIF. Also, he is working on other ideas for the future of the fund to review with the committee at future meetings. He noted that during June, the CCIF committee has awarded six scholarships of $500 each. it breaking while being driven by a Cabot town employee. The cost would be $70 per hour, but they “don’t need a grader this week.” He also wanted a post on Front Porch Forum about the breakdown. Matt Nally asked, “how many hours are they going to need to grade the roads?” Ian answered it could probably be done in a week with good weather. He also commented that, with a breakdown costing as much as $50,000, the budget needs to account for expensive repairs. By the June 1 meeting of the Selectboard, the grader had been fixed and tested out. Ian said they hadn’t gotten a bill yet, but thinks it's around $47,000, but they are trying to get it down to $42,000. He noted the town had an aftermarket filter on the grader. At the June 15 meeting, the board had a bill from Nortrax for $41,990 and approved paying it. Ian noted that even though the grader was running, and they are trying to grade the roads, they don’t have a truck running to work with it. The truck they were using to spread chloride after grading almost caught on fire and had to be towed. There are three trucks broken down for various reasons and the town does not currently have a spare.

↑ contents

Masonic Hall Discussion

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

The Selectboard continues to explore selling the Masonic Hall to Faith in Action (FIA). At the May 17 meeting, Mike Hogan relayed that he and Cynthia Stuart, the executive director of FIA, had a conversation about the vote result at Town Meeting. Cynthia attended the Selectboard meeting and added that many people in the community want FIA to stay in the building. She indicated FIA has been researching grant funds and would like to talk with the Selectboard about moving forward. She felt an appraisal would be appropriate and wanted to talk about how the process would work. She felt that clear messaging about the building and process was needed, including a history of the building and financial documentation. Mike responded that the town could put together the costs and renovation work and wanted to set up a timeframe for meeting. Cynthia pointed out that she could meet with up to two members of the Selectboard without violating Open Meeting Law. Cynthia also added that FIA is paying over $10,000 a year in rent, and the town is paying approximately $4,000 to $,5000 a year in expenses. She wanted the board to keep that in mind as the lease comes up for renewal in June. The subject of the Masonic Hall surfaced again at the June 15 meeting of the Selectboard, with Mike informing the board that he and Fred Ducharme had met with Cynthia and talked about two things; the lease and the potential conveyance of the building to FIA. Regarding the lease, Cynthia asked the board to keep it at the same rate for the coming year, $850 a month. Fred added that they “do serve a lot of Cabot.” The board agreed and approved renewing the lease at the same rate. Mike then moved on to the subject of conveying the property, noting the processes permitted by state statute. Ian Ackermann mentioned that the recent vote at Town Meeting didn’t pass. Mike continued that FIA really wants the building, and they are going to start opening for meals. He said during COVID-19 they gave out a lot of food. Mike vocalized that the next step would be to get an independent appraisal, and a motion is needed to proceed. Additionally, FIA would like to have a survey map that would give the actual form of the property. The conversation quickly shifted to how the deal would be made when Ian brought up the subject of including a first right of refusal. Mike responded that they could put all sorts of things in the

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

↑ contents

ADVICE FROM THE TREE WARDEN

Native plants are an overly broad topic, and I felt one article was not sufficient. Native plants are defined as the plants that were found growing in a region before colonization by the Europeans. Many of the European invasive plants found in our region are a result of these plants being brought here for landscaping purposes. The native plants found in our fields and forests are the foundation of the biodiversity in our forests. Native plants are adapted to the local precipitation and soils present, which means they will require less upkeep to prosper in our gardens and yards when planted. Another Important aspect of planting native plants is that some birds need them for shelter during the summer. Also, birds consume the berries produced, which is an essential food source, especially prior to long migration flights in the fall. In recent years many of our bird populations have been reduced due to many factors, including climate change and habitat degradation. One does not have to look far to realize this has occurred; the Red Winged Black Bird population, for example, is a mere fraction of what it was previously. Native plants are also essential to our region’s pollinators. The region’s pollinators need a variety of native plants to provide a steady and consistent source of pollen throughout the entire summer. Some plants such as Goldenrod fill gaps in available pollen sources and are essential for pollinators since pollinators have no other significant source of pollen when Goldenrod is flowering. Flowering schedules of plants is an important consideration when selecting native plants for your yard, both for pollinators and us. Selecting native plants with varied flowering times will lead to a continuous source of pollen for pollinators. It will also provide more enjoyment from our landscaping plant choices with longer periods of flowering plants. In last month’s article I gave several sources for information on selecting native plants for landscaping. Hopefully, this was helpful and has directed at least a few more people toward choosing native plants for future plantings in their yards and gardens.

↑ contents

Community Dancing Returns to Cabot! Your Two Cents Worth Requested By Contra Dance Team

Given the improving state of public health in Vermont, the Cabot contra and square dance group hopes to resume our monthly dance this fall! With the passing of David Carpenter, the longtime organizer and lead musician for the dance, we are regrouping, and figuring out how the dance will start up again under new leadership. In addition to her role as occasional caller, Karen Mueller-Harder will coordinate and engage guest callers. Dana and Sue Robinson have graciously agreed to take on the role of lead musicians and music coordinators, bringing in other local folks to play music as well. And the dance will move underneath the friendly umbrella of Cabot Arts, to increase the range of our publicity. It is our fervent hope that the dance can become a cornerstone of community engagement and connect with a larger and wider group of people than ever before. Over the past many months, we have all come to realize how important to our well-being those friendly social connections are, when they were stripped from our lives in so many ways. Towards that end, we would love for you to fill out a short survey to tell us what YOU would like to see in the Cabot Community Dance: what would bring you there and feel welcomed, what would help the logistics work for you and your family, what would make the dance a priority in your life? Whether you’ve attended the dance in the past or not, please take a few minutes, preferably before July 10, to share your thoughtsat : htps : / /www.surveymonkey.com/r/2CHBPV5. We will take your input into account as we re-envision the dance; watch for an announcement in the August/September Chronicle about plans for the fall!

↑ contents

Register by July 16

Cabot Community Theater will once again hold our kids’ theater camp this summer, and we welcome new as well as returning thespians! The camp will run Monday-Friday August 2-6, from 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m., outside the Cabot School Performing Arts Center (CSPAC), culminating in a public outdoor performance on Friday afternoon. The camp will involve rehearsing and performing a comedic play, plus assorted theater games and activities, and working on voice and performance techniques. We will also design and create our own sets and costumes for the performance. We are looking for kids 8-14 who are ready to take some risks and find their voice! We are an inclusive and supportive community, and welcome kids of all deal, but Ian felt they should “get all their ducks in a row before we spend money on an appraisal.” He added that they should post this, and Fred interjected that people didn’t have enough information at Town Meeting. Mike wrapped up the discussion about the process by mentioning the board is “required to post it, “and if there is an objection, then the board “would have to step back.” Fred voiced that he thought the board was “going about it the right way.” However, Ian said “I’m trying to not spend money before we have to back track.” The board approved a motion to get an appraisal to determine the value of the property.

↑ contents

Cabot Community Theater Camp Returns

By Karen Mueller-Harder racial and gender identities, abilities, and backgrounds. We plan to hold all activities outside, with a canopy tent for shade or rain protection, which will enable us to work without needing to wear masks. (If we need to work inside at some point, due to truly inclement weather, participants will need to wear masks unless fully vaccinated.) For actors to learn their lines without too much time pressure, we plan to cast the play before camp begins, and we’ll need to know how many kids are attending to choose a play which will work for the group we have. The cost will be $80 for the week, payable on the first day of camp, but financial aid is available to all who need it--we’d like everyone to be able to participate. If your child would like to join us, please register at https://tinyurl.com/cctcamp2021 by July 16. If your child needs any accommodations to be able to participate fully, let us know on the registration form, and we’ll be in touch to talk about what we can do to make this a great experience for them!

↑ contents

Cabot Introduces New Farm Trail

Visit farms throughout New England and Upstate New York – creemee shops, farm stands, corn mazes, and B&Bs are just some of the activities folks can enjoy on the new trail

Just in time for summer, Cabot has launched the Cabot Farm Trail (https://www.cabotcheese.coop/farm-trail/), a unique way for people to visit and meet some of the co-operative's farm families across New England and upstate New York. People can use the newly launched web page to find farms with creemee shops, farm stands, corn mazes and other businesses that welcome visitors. The website can be filtered by geography, season, interest, and activity, families can create their own perfect summer getaway. "Cabot is owned by hundreds of dairy farms families in the Northeast and many of them have offerings beyond the high-quality milk that goes into the "World's Best Cheddar," states Rose Gomez, Member Marketing Integrator. "Many of our farms are open to the public and our farmers are excited to welcome visitors to enjoy a taste of the farm. From farm tours to cozy B&Bs, to scrumptious local foods – including award-winning Cabot Cheese – there's so much to see, taste, and enjoy on Cabot farms."

Cabot has grown from a single butter plant in the town of Cabot to four creameries producing over one thousand varieties of dairy products and cheeses being distributed in every state and 22 countries. Since its founding, all profits have been returned to the farm families who own the co-op—a practice that continues to this day. Cabot Creamery Cooperative has been in continuous operation in Vermont since 1919, and makes a full line of cheeses, Greek yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese and butter. Widely known as makers of "The World's Best Cheddar," Cabot is a cooperative of hundreds of dairy farm families of Agri- Mark, the Northeast's premier dairy cooperative. Agri-Mark/Cabot farms are located throughout New England and upstate New York. For more information, visit:http://www.cabotcheese.coop. Cabot Creamery Co-operative is the world's first cheese maker and dairy cooperative to achieve B Corporation Certification.

About B Corps: Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. For more information, see https://bcorporation.net/about-bcorps.

↑ contents

Many Dog Licenses Still Overdue

by Betty Ritter, Cabot Town Clerk

By state law, dogs must be licensed as of April 1 of each year. We understand the pandemic made everything more inconvenient, but we still need to register many family dogs. We are missing renewals on almost half.

Fees: Neutered/Spayed $10 Male. Female $15 To register a dog as a “working farm dog” there will be an additional $5.00 charge.

Please call the town clerk’s office at 563-2279 to ensure rabies vaccinations are up to date, then you can drop off a check at the lockbox at the back of town hall or mail your check in to PO Box 36, Cabot, VT 05647. No late fees assessed.

↑ contents

Cabot Introduces Decadently Delicious Snack

Triple Cream Yogurt Line Launched with Six Flavors

As consumers continue to spend more time at home and seek out premium, indulgent comfort foods, Cabot releases a new line of 8 oz Triple Cream Yogurt that draws indulgent seeking consumers into the yogurt aisle for a decadent snack with what the company calls “a health halo.” The line includes six flavors; chocolate mousse, salted caramel, cupcake, red velvet, vanilla chai, and orange ginger, each offered in 8 oz resealable containers. “Cabot’s newest addition to their yogurt line-up brings something uniquely indulgent to the category, driving both incremental sales from existing consumers and bringing new consumers into the category.” States Rachael Richards, Cultured Category Manager. “Our new Triple Cream Yogurt line offers an indulgent snack option that’s packed with more healthy protein than other dairy-based treats. And the six crave-worthy flavor offerings are decadently rich and delicious!” Cabot 8 oz Triple Cream Yogurts were developed to capitalize on the indulgent snack trends and bring those trends to the yogurt category. The Triple Cream Yogurt line is available throughout New England and Upstate New York.

↑ contents

Free DIY Toolkit for Employers to Change the Story

On June 8, over 250 people gathered virtually for the launch of the new Leaders for Equity and Equal Pay (LEEP) Toolkit. The Toolkit is a unique and powerful DIY resource, containing an excel-based Equity Management Tool and a companion Playbook, that provides Vermont’s small to midsize employers with information and methodology needed to conduct in-house, ongoing gender and racial pay equity reviews. The full color, 60-page Playbook provides a wealth of information for anyone interested in learning more about compensation philosophy and building organizational equity. The Toolkit is free of charge and can be downloaded from changethestoryvt.org/payequity.

Currently, the gender wage gap in Vermont stands at 16 cents, which means all women on average make 84 cents to the $1.00 paid on average to men. When broken out by race and ability the wage gap is much wider. Nationally, Black women are paid 37% less, Latinx women 45% less, Indigenous women 40% less, and Asian American and Pacific Islander women are paid up to 50% less than white men. Vermont women with disabilities are paid on average 26% less than men without disabilities. Mothers are paid on average 30% compared to fathers. The COVID pandemic disproportionately impacted women, with more than two million women leaving the workforce over the last year. The LEEP Toolkit will provide smaller organizations with the methodology and resources to lead the way out of the “she-cession.”

↑ contents

Levitt Amp St. Johnsbury Music Series 2021

Dog Mountain, St. Johnsbury, July 11-September 4, 2021 Time: 5p.m.-7p.m.

Catamount Arts will present the fourth Levitt AMP St. Johnsbury Music Series on Dog Mountain, a breathtaking dog-friendly destination in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom Rural Enterprise Assistance Project Zone. With new accessibility features in place, the 2021 series is poised to bring together people of all walks of life from “St. Jay” and beyond, and will continue to enliven this former industrial area through diverse arts programming.

Presented by Catamount Arts, a nonprofit full-service arts center dedicated to promoting the arts throughout northern Vermont and New Hampshire, encouraging appreciation, participation and cultivation of the arts as an integral part of community life, in partnership with Dog Mountain, Town of St. Johnsbury/St. Johnsbury Police Department, St. Johnsbury Chamber of Commerce, KCP Presents, and Northern Vermont University - Lyndon. Check out the concert lineup here: https://www.dogmt.com/Summer-Music- Series.html.

↑ contents

Cabot Church Summer Supper Takeouts

The Cabot United Church will hold take out summer suppers on the following dates:

July 8 -- Barbecue Chicken July 22 -- Pulled Pork August 3 -- Barbecue Chicken August 19 -- Pulled Pork

All dinners will be takeout, but seating is available in the church hall if desired and space is available. Meals will be available from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. If you would like to bring your own containers, please feel free to do so. Meals include entree, salads, beans/mac and cheese and dessert. The church will also hold its Annual Red Flannel Hash Harvest Supper on September 9--more details to follow. Call 563-2715 or 563-2110 to reserve a meal or for questions. Hope to see you there!

↑ contents

Managing Forests for Pollinators

by Ethan Tapper The Conservation Committee is continuing to provide Cabot residents with educational materials on how we can help our pollinator populations. This excellent article points out the importance of thinking beyond the meadow of wildflowers in supporting pollinators.

In recent years, there has been an increase in interest in managing our yards and meadows for pollinators. Simply put, pollinators are the creatures that help our flowering plants reproduce by carrying pollen between flowers. 60- 80% of Vermont’s plants, including many of our food crops, require the assistance of pollinators. While many people think of pollinators as critters of wildflower meadows, most require healthy forests to thrive. Many different species pollinate plants – bats are a pollinator of bananas, for instance – but when we talk about pollinators, we’re usually talking about bugs. In scientific terms, “bugs” are invertebrates, animals without spines, a category that includes everything from crayfish to spiders, insects, and snails. About 90-97% of all the species on earth are invertebrates; 1.25 million known invertebrate species (as many as 30 million may actually exist), compared to 60,000 species of vertebrates (what most of us would call “animals”). Vermont is home to about 21,000 species of invertebrates, compared to 58 species of mammals; “bugs” represent a massive share of our local and global biodiversity. While perhaps our most-celebrated pollinator, the Eurasian honeybee, is not native to North America, Vermont is home to about 300 species of native bees, many of which are important pollinators of both wild and domestic plants. Vermont’s bees and butterflies get the lion’s share of the credit, but equally important pollinators are flies, beetles, slugs, and moths. In fields and yards, we can improve pollinator habitat by encouraging a diversity of plant species; mowing less and planting or encouraging native annual and perennial plants. We can introduce more complexity by planting native shrubs like dogwoods and Viburnums, which provide habitat for pollinators in addition to other wildlife species like songbirds. Excellent resources about managing for pollinators in open areas abound, but a good place to start is with the Xerces Society (xerces.org). In focusing on yards and meadows, most people don’t realize the profound importance that forests play in maintaining pollinators on our landscape. While some pollinators, like the monarch butterfly, spend most of their life in the open, most of Vermont’s pollinators are completely reliant on, and adapted to, forests. These pollinators may visit your yard, but they live in the woods. Many species of bees, for instance, nest in tree cavities, rotten wood and in leaf litter, and a huge number of moths and butterflies rely on native trees to complete various parts of their life cycle. Forests also need bugs; in addition to helping plants reproduce, pollinators perform other critical ecosystem roles like acting as decomposers and feeding larger species like songbirds. To protect and enhance pollinator habitat in the woods, the answer is a mix of good forest stewardship and addressing biodiversity threats. Vermont’s dynamic forests support a wide variety of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants that occur on different sites at different stages in forest development. Managing Vermont’s relatively young, simple forests to be more diverse and complex provides opportunities for a wider range of flora to thrive, in turn providing a more diverse array of niches and habitat opportunities for pollinators. We need to recognize the importance of tree mortality in providing growing space for diverse plant and shrub communities, in addition to creating features like dead wood, critical habitat for pollinators like our wood-boring bees. Managing forests for complexity can also help make them more adaptive and resilient in a changing climate, ensuring that there is habitat for pollinators into the future. Providing habitat for pollinators involves much more than the flowers in your yard; any threat to forests is an existential threat to pollinators. Protecting forests from fragmentation and development is critical to pollinators, not to mention to forests’ ability to clean our air and our water, provide habitat for wildlife, and to sequester and store carbon. When we think about protecting pollinators, we need to expand our efforts to include things like controlling the invasive exotic plants and addressing deer overpopulations, both of which can have a massive negative influence on diversity in our forests. In providing habitat for pollinators, as with many other things, forests are behind the scenes, subtly and unpretentiously making the world work. They are what allow us to enjoy beautiful native wildflowers and the food in our gardens and farmer’s markets. To protect pollinators, we need to think beyond the meadow. Ethan Tapper is the Chittenden County Forester. He can be reached at [email protected] or at (802) 585-9099

↑ contents

Jaquith Public Library Summer Events Schedule 2021

Afternoon Summer Program at the Jaquith Public Library July 6 to 30, Tuesdays through Fridays from 2:00 to 5:30 p.m. The Afternoon Summer Program will take place outside and will provide both directed and self-directed activities including sports, games, arts and expression, science and nature explorations and more. For 20 children kindergarten through sixth grade.

Jaquith Public Library's "Tails and Tales" Summer Reading Program Story and Activity Time: Kids Birth to Age 7, Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. - July 7 through August 11

Get ready for some "tail-wagging" fun! This summer, we will host thematic Story and Activity Times for our youngest patrons on Wednesday mornings in July and August, inspired by the theme "Tails and Tales". From safari adventures to wildflower wonderlands, these science, art, and nature based programs will encourage exploration and critical-thinking, and lots of fun! A full schedule of our events is available here: www.jaquithpubliclibrary.org/summer.html

Family Fun Nights for people of all ages, Wednesdays Evenings 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

July 7 Wildlife Tales with Southern

Vermont History Museum. Take a literary journey around the world as our very own Storytelling Naturalist shares tales of animals and magic from around the world. With each story, a live animal will visit to bring a natural history piece to the myth and legends!

July 14 Fairies and Dragons, Ponies and Knights with Dirt Road Theater. An episodic adventure story for humans of all ages! In the beginning everyone was nice. But over time, so slowly that no one could say when, or how, or why it started, the Fairies and the Ponies got...mean. Beatrice knew this because, although she couldn’t prove it yet, she knew that the Fairies and Ponies had stolen her egg. And stealing a dragon’s egg, in Beatrice’s opinion, was going too far. But to confront them she would need the help of a Knight. Presented by Dirt Road Theater of Northfield, VT.

July 21 A2VT. Representing Somalia, Tanzania and Burundi and currently living in Burlington, Vermont, A2VT synthesizes their native African musical and dance roots with Western pop and Hip-Hop sensibilities. Their songs, performed in up to eight unique languages, reflect their journey from Africa to America, and celebrate the musical collision of two continents and the party that ensues!

July 28 5-Hole Frisbee Golf!

Join in for some casual, homemade style frisbee golf on Solar Panel Field at the Marshfield Old Schoolhouse Common. Play with a friend. Play with your family. How many throws will it take you to hit the targets? Add up your 5-Hole throws and declare a winner! Frisbees and scorecards included.

Storytelling & Improv Theater Camp with Dirt Road Theater August 10-13, 2:30 – 5:30 p.m. Suggested ages: 8-12. Registration Required. Space is limited.

This fun and playful camp is a great introduction to theater and acting, as well as an excellent way to further the learning of those with some previous experience! In addition to learning basic theater terms and concepts, we will explore the process of creating characters using the powerful tools of our bodies and voices. We will also emphasize the importance of working as an ensemble to build cooperation and communication skills and to create effectively together. Through a variety of acting and improvisation games, we will learn that theater is a fantastic way to express yourself, make friends, and gain confidence!

Free Summer Concert Series - Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.

Come on down to the Old Schoolhouse Common gazebo for free summer concerts! Enjoy great food from local food vendors or bring your own picnic. Baked goods, refreshments and books will be for sale by the Friends of the Jaquith and you can bid on fantastic items. Bring a chair or a blanket to sit on. Who knows, you may even be inspired to get up and dance!

July 22 Kava Express: Kava Express is a seven-piece central Vermont-based band playing an eclectic and energetic blend of rock and soul classics.

July 29 Dave Keller Band: “Dave Keller performs original soul/blues music with his band. He has earned two Blues Music Award nominations for Best Soul/Blues Album. His new album, “You Get What You Give” features duets with some of the finest singers in the soul and blues world: Johnny Rawls, Trudy Lynn, Joe Louis Walker, Annika Chambers, and many more. It reached #6 on the Living Blues radio chart, and is a benefit album for racial justice and equity.” Info at www.davekeller.com.

August 5 Atom & The Orbits: "We’ve taken the iceberg lettuce of 1950s rock and roll and sprinkled it with a healthy dose of Louisiana dance hall tradition. This is modern dance music served up the old-school way."

August 12 Nina Sklar and the

Weather Birds: “Nina Sklar and the Weather Birds (Preston Murphy, Nina Skylar and friends) brings jazz and swing to brighten up your evening. Combining classic covers and original music the group is sure to delight and make you dance the night away.

Drive-in Movies Saturdays, come at 8:00 to settle in, movie starts at 8:15 p.m. Movie Titles to be Announced Soon

August 7, August 14, 21, 28, and September 4, 11 (No movie if it is raining).

All Events Will Be Held at The Old Schoolhouse Common, 122 School St., Marshfield, VT 802-426-3581 [email protected]~~ www.jaquithpubliclibrary.org

↑ contents

Cabot School’s Exchange Student Success

Nika Marshania, who attended Cabot High School last year as an exchange student from the Republic of Georgia, is in the center of the photo as he competes in his country's National Biology Olympiad. He ultimately placed second and was named to his country's national team.

by Frank Kampf Cabot High School has been the host to many exchange students from countries around the world over the past decade, including Germany, Korea, Spain, Thailand, Mexico, and the Republic of Georgia. When an exchange student attends our local school, it expands the knowledge of our students beyond the confines of Cabot and brings a taste of the world beyond our borders. It also helps people from around the world to get a better view of the US and brings a long-term attachment between our town and other communities that differ greatly from ours. My family had the privilege of hosting the most recent exchange student, Nika Marshania. Nika hails from the city of Kutasi in the Republic of Georgia. His country is bordered by Russia to the north, Turkey to the south, and the Black Sea to the West. Nika’s stay here was cut short by the pandemic. In April of 2020, his country decided to repatriate all the exchange students on a charter flight back to Georgia. Nika was saddened to leave all the friends he had made but was glad to know Cabot School would allow him to complete his school year from Georgia since all classes were fully remote. Nika was here under the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program run by the U.S. Department of State. The U.S. funds this program to “improve mutual understanding and develop and strengthen long-term relationships between citizens of the United States and other peoples and countries”. It is a competitive, merit-based scholarship program, and all the students must earn a spot in the program. Nika was one of 8,000 applicants in his country and was one of only 80 selected to come to the US as part of the FLEX program. While at Cabot School Nika participated in the sports program, as well as the scholar’s bowl. His classes included AP Biology and he studied hard to ensure his grades were high. Considering English is his second language, this was no easy feat. But his stay here prepared him for his future success. The country of Georgia holds an annual Biology Olympiad, and Nika relied on his education at Cabot School to compete. He initially struggled through local and regional rounds before reaching the national round, where his abilities and knowledge shone.

Nika placed second in the national finals! And has been named to the national team to compete internationally. When Nika and I chatted, I asked him about his success and his experience here in Cabot:

Do you attribute your success in the Biology Olympiad to the school year

you spent at Cabot School? “There is no doubt that I improved in many ways thanks to Cabot School. AP biology class was my favorite, it taught me a lot and got me much more interested in biology then I ever was. In my opinion, Cabot School played a major role in my recent success.”

What was the most memorable thing you did at Cabot School? “Honestly, it is very difficult to choose one thing ‘cause I had so many memorable moments. Although, if I had to pick, I would go with group activities such as skiing trips, scholar's bowl tournaments and class projects.”

What was your favorite project at

Cabot School? “Among many great projects one sticks out the most in my mind. It was the final project for the class where we learned the art of storytelling and I had to prepare a speech. Getting ready for the project and giving a speech was such a good experience and one of the most memorable moments for me.”

What career path have you chosen?

“I decided to become a doctor. In particular, I want to become a surgeon. I am planning to start university in Georgia and then continue learning in the U.S.”

What did you like most about your

time living in Cabot? “My experience in Cabot was so wonderful that I could probably talk about it endlessly. Most importantly I met lots of great people. My host family, friends and teachers made my year very memorable, and I can't thank them enough. In general, everyone was so nice, I always knew I was welcome wherever I went.” This was not the first time my family has hosted an exchange student, nor will it be our last. Hosting is completely voluntary, and the only rewards we get are knowledge about the world beyond the horizon, and a lifelong relationship with a new member of our family. This fall, if you happen to see a student that looks or sounds like they are from another country, know that they are here to learn from us, and we should be willing to learn from them.

↑ contents

Veterans Invited to Share Stories at Vets Town Hall

Community invited to attend and listen at in-person, outdoor events All community members are invited to attend outdoor Vets Town Halls held this summer throughout Vermont. Veterans are invited to stand before their community and speak for up to ten minutes about what it was like to serve their country. Non-veterans are encouraged to attend and listen. These events are nonpolitical, and all perspectives are valued. "We often hear about veterans, but we very rarely get to hear from them, to hear their own voices talking about their experience," says Marty McMahon, the host of the Newport location. "We can't have a real dialogue with veterans until we take the time to listen with no judgment." "For many veterans, it may be difficult to speak of their experience out of concern of judgment or misrepresentation," adds Jon Turner, who will host the Middlesex and Burlington events. "Having an opportunity to gather with community members assists with the reintegration process and makes it possible for us to move beyond a narrative of conflict by honoring and sharing our stories. Attending these gatherings is a reminder of the community we wish to embrace after military service." Vets Town Halls were originated by author Sebastian Junger (War, Tribe) with the aim of increasing communication and understanding between veterans and civilians in their communities. The first event of this kind in Vermont was a November 2017 Burlington town hall spearheaded by local event coordinator Kristen Eaton, with support from many individuals and organizations. The events, including additional locations coordinated by Community College of Vermont, have continued annually, with a break in 2020 due to the pandemic. This summer will be the first time that Vets Town Halls have been held in Middlesex and Newport.

"Support of our military does not start with a 'support the troops' bumper sticker and culminate with grilled chicken on Memorial Day weekend," says Kyle Aines, CCV's Associate Director of Veterans and Military Services, and the host of the Rutland event. "As military members struggle to reintegrate back into society, it is imperative that society have a clear understanding what they are transitioning from. The Vets Town Hall is that bridge and connection." Veterans who would like to speak can indicate that when registering. Time permitting, veterans are also welcome to sign up to speak during the events themselves. RSVPs are optional but encouraged at vtvetstownhall.eventbrite.com. Questions may be directed to Kristen Eaton at [email protected].

↑ contents

From page 10

Kyle Aines, who will host the Rutland Vets Town Hall, grew up in the small mountain town of Tinmouth, Vermont. He joined the army in 2003 and served two tours in Iraq as a combat medic. He graduated from Castleton with a degree in criminal justice before joining Community College of Vermont as a Veteran & Military Resource Advisor, and now as CCV's Associate Director of Veterans and Military Services. He has been with CCV since 2014 and his office is in Rutland, although he travels throughout the state in his role. After a period of service in the Air Force as a medic, Marty McMahon (Newport's event host) returned to academic studies in literature, language, and rhetoric, receiving an MA and an MLitt from Middlebury College. Marty has worked as a high school teacher, a chimney sweep, and a field technician in alternative energy (including working as a contractor and crew chief on the Navy TACTS program, installing wind and solar systems on their offshore platforms). He has taught at CCV, Vermont College, and Norwich (supervising cadets while teaching Military Literature to Special Ops personnel in their Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis online program). For five years at CCV he served as a Veteran & Military Resource Advisor while also facilitating Veteran Reading Group for the Vermont Humanities Council.

Jon Turner, who will host the events in Middlesex and Burlington, served with the Marines between 2003-2007 and deployed to Haiti, Fallujah and Ramadi, Iraq. Since his discharge, he has traveled extensively and worked with various communities to assist in the veteran reintegration process from paper-making to outdoor recreation and farming. In 2014, Jon began to utilize the agricultural landscape as a classroom for community members interested in resilient food systems through service learning projects, internships, and site visits for K-12, college students, and military veterans. Jon is the founding and former chair of the Vermont state chapter of the Farmer Veteran Coalition, recipient of the National Farm to School Innovations Grant, Sierra Club Military Outings Leader, and currently operates Wild Roots Community Farm in Bristol.

↑ contents

CVFiber Hires Project Manager

CVFiber is pleased to announce that it has engaged Jerry Diamantides, resident of Berlin, as a consultant to provide project management services for the development of the CVFiber Community Network. Mr. Diamantides has 25 years of national consulting experience with David Miller & Associates, Inc., in construction planning, project evaluation, and project management. He holds a Doctorate in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics from the University of Rhode Island. He is very familiar with CVFiber and its ambitious project, having served on the CVFiber Governing Board as a Delegate from Berlin, until resigning to become the Treasurer. As Project Manager, Diamantides will leverage his considerable experience and knowledge for the benefit of CVFiber and the residents of its twenty member communities. As CVFiber transitions from planning to design and construction, Diamantides’ organizational skills will be vital. One of his first responsibilities will be to oversee a comprehensive inventory of utility poles which will begin in July. An accurate inventory is necessary for the design and engineering of the community network. “I’m very excited to be bringing Jerry onboard as CVFiber is starting to build fiber broadband for Central Vermont's underserved residents,” said Jeremy Hansen, chair of the CVFiber governing board. “His project management and financial skills in addition to an impressive attention to detail will help us both to deliver fast internet access to our future subscribers and be responsible stewards of public funding.” “While I am disappointed I must resign as Treasurer, bringing reliable and affordable broadband service to CVFiber’s member communities takes advantage of my experience and is a highlight of my career. It’s a privilege to be a part of the team performing this invaluable work for our community,” he said.

↑ contents

From page 11

As I write this, Governor Scott has just announced that Vermont has reached it’s 80% vaccination goal and all pandemic restrictions have been lifted! While the pandemic isn’t yet over, we are now entering the “new normal” phase, and part of that is the resumption of mentoring matches. As the new program coordinator, I am in the process of connecting with existing mentoring participants and hope to be making new matches soon. Please consider celebrating the end of the pandemic by volunteering to become a mentor! You will make a new young friend and make a difference in their life and yours.

If you would like more information, visit www.cabotmentoring.org or email me at [email protected]. I would be happy to have the opportunity to meet you and talk with you about the program.

↑ contents

From page 11

CVFiber is a Communications Union District (CUD) municipal organization made up of twenty (20) Central Vermont communities. CVFiber has a single goal: deliver fast, dependable, and affordable Internet to every Vermonter within its member towns. The twenty communities that are a part of the CVFiber district are: Barre City, Barre Town, Berlin, Cabot, Calais, Duxbury, East Montpelier, Elmore, Middlesex, Marshfield, Montpelier, Moretown, Northfield, Orange, Plainfield, Roxbury, Washington, Williamstown, Woodbury, and Worcester. For more information about CVFiber: cvfiber.net.

↑ contents

From page 11

Our voices: contentious, polarized, as if our force expended, in any direction, could somehow shift the balance into peace. Let me stand in stillness following nothing, but the flow of my own breath, acknowledging the perfection, sifting down from heaven like light. I had forgotten that it is not I who creates peace nor I who must find every solution. I have only to walk on the road that is given, the one that appears before me, when I follow my breath, instant by instant, Into the future the creator has given me.

Alexander Anlyan Tebbetts Road

↑ contents

2021 Joe’s Pond Ice Out Wrapup

According to the National Weather Service, meteorological spring begins on March 1 and astronomical spring, also known as the spring equinox, began this year was March 20, 2021. Not so if you follow the annual Ice Out Contest on Joe’s Pond. This year spring officially started on April 10, 2021, at 4:57 p.m. That is the date and time that the block sitting on the ice in front of Bill and Diane Rossi’s home on West Shore Road fell through the ice, marking the official start of spring on the 299-acre pond in Vermont’s North East Kingdom. This year’s Ice Out is the third earliest in the contest history. On April 5, 2010, the ice went out at 2:46 p.m. and on April 8, 2012, it went out at 5:32 p.m. The latest Ice Out was on May 6, 1992. This is the 34th year of the contest. A total of 12,531 tickets were sold, 4,330 were purchased on-line and 8,131 were paper tickets. Each ticket sold for $1.00. It would seem as though the COVID-19 Pandemic did not have a significant effect on tickets sold. One year ago, at the beginning of the pandemic, 10,966 tickets were sold. The proceeds are split 50/50 after expenses. The Joe’s Pond Association profited over $5,000 to support Association activities such as maintenance of water quality and the 4th of July Fireworks. The 2021 winner of the Ice Out is Galina Mesko from Newport, Vermont. She purchased 60 tickets and had the closest guess at April 10, 2021, at 4:59 p.m., just two minutes off. Ms. Mesko has been entering the Joe’s Pond Ice Out contest since 2013, when she participated in a college project on the Ice Out. This piqued her interest, and she has purchased tickets yearly since. She will receive a check for over $5,000. The ice was a bit more unpredictable than in previous years. Fishing shanties appeared on the ice soon after the ice covered the bay at the south end of the pond near the State Fish and Game Access Area. At most times there were no more than seven shanties, and all were tucked up close to the east shore. The ice in that area was reported as six inches thick while some points near the islands had about twelve inches. Late in December, a track-drive All-Terrain Vehicle became lodged engine and front wheels down, in a thin area of ice about halfway across the bay from the Access Area. It was after dark, close to zero degrees and extremely windy. Fortunately, there were no injuries other than substantial repairs to the ATV. The ice in the area was said to be three inches deep, lending truth to the warning that “no ice is safe ice.” Another successful year of the Ice Out Contest is in the books. The Committee thanks all who worked to make the contest possible again this year and all those who purchased tickets waiting patiently for the block to fall through the ice and usher in another spring and summer on Joe’s Pond.

Diane Rossi, MaryAnne Cassani, Michelle Walker, Henretta Splain, Larry Rossi

↑ contents

Primitive Camping as Close as Groton

Primitive camping is available in state forests, at some undeveloped state parks as well as some Wildlife Management Areas. This is not car camping -you must backpack in at least 1,000 feet from any road. There is no public drinking water or toilet facilities, no reservations or assigned sites. Vermont does not offer free, dispersed car camping on it's state lands. For more information on primitive camping, please call the district office that manages the land or go to https://fpr.vermont.gov/recreation/activities/camping/primitive-camping. Permits are not required.

Primitive Camping Guidelines for FPR Lands

 Primitive camping is allowed within

designated areas of selected state lands.  Camping must be at least 100 feet

from any stream or body of water  Camping must be at least 200 feet

from any trail or property line, and 1000 feet from any traveled road.  Camping is allowed up to three consecutive nights in the same area.

 Groups of eleven or more individuals must obtain a permit from the District Office in order to primitive camp.  Only dead and down trees or branches may be used for firewood.  Camping above 2500 feet in elevation is prohibited unless otherwise designated.  We require one responsible adult for every 4 campers under the age of 14.  If you carry it in - carry it out!  Leave your campsite so clean that no one else can find it.  The use of backpacker stoves with selfcontained fuel is urged.  Some areas have remote lean-tos for overnight camping

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 11 onward.

↑ contents

Vermont Mask Survey Results Expose Severe Health Risks

by Amy Hornblas For the past year the Vermont Mask Survey has been collecting evidence from across the state which proves that wearing masks is causing people to experience symptoms of oxygen deprivation and other expected difficulties. This month the author released the Final Report, which shares data from the Vermont Mask Survey as well as from other relevant surveys, studies, and warnings from experts at leading institutions in the field. Vermonters of all ages and abilities have been required to wear masks for the past year without any protections or training. Last July health educator Amy Hornblas began conducting a statewide survey out of concern about the obvious impacts they can have on health. It appears to be the only attempt in the state so far to assess the health implications of this mandated medical intervention. Results of the Vermont Mask Survey provide evidence that people in our state are experiencing the following difficulties: people with pre-existing conditions are not able to access basic services, people with hearing impairment are unable to communicate with others, preexisting conditions (such as PTSD, asthma, COPD and heart conditions) are being exacerbated, and masks cause a drop in blood oxygen during pregnancy. Patients are being required to wear masks, even with an oxygen requirement.

Recently, the governor updated his mask mandate to require their use only by those who are not vaccinated, including children, despite the fact that their safety in community settings has not been established, and evidence of the dangers is growing. The Vermont Mask Survey Final Report concludes by encouraging a full assessment of the effectiveness and safety of using masks in community settings so that we can prevent and mitigate the harms. The author hopes it will serve as a reference guide to support and inspire those who would like to assist in this process, whether they are decision-makers, bystanders, or on the front lines. The Vermont Mask Survey Final Report is available at: vtmasksurvey.com.

↑ contents

Hamming It Up on Cabot Plains

(Reprinted from the Cabot Chronicle Archives with permission from the author)

The cross-country skiing has been great, but now the sun is about to go down and the thermometer is already headed for the basement. I make for home, pour a cup of coffee, and turn on the ham (amateur) radio and the computer. Yes, even in the computer age ham radio is alive and well. In fact, computers and the Internet have greatly expanded what can be done with amateur or “ham” radio. The first thing I do is get on line and check NOAA’s “Space Weather” site: There are no geomagnetic disturbances, and no aurora is predicted. That means the high frequency bands hams use for long distance communications should be good. Then I look at a real time “greyline” map - this shows where the sunset/sunrise line is around the world. Communications along this ‘terminator” line are often enhanced, and it’s almost sunset here in Cabot. Then I check a favorite ham DX (distance) “spotting” site. This works like a worldwide chat room in which hams can post real time notices of what foreign ham stations are currently operating on various frequencies. I’m reminded how convenient this is: I see a spot (announcement) for a Dxpedition (group of hams operating from a rare, often uninhabited location) on Bouvet Island. It’s so remote they had to make a two-week sea voyage just to get close to the island, and then bring their gear and themselves ashore by helicopter. This operation will cost well over $200,000! But I have already contacted them the day before, when they were having problems with high winds and sub-zero temperatures. Now it looks as if they are doing OK, so I’ll let others “work” (contact) this rare location. Ah, but here’s another spot for 3B8CF, “Jacky”, who’s on Mauritius Island in the Indian Ocean. I’ve contacted him on other frequency bands, but not the one he’s on now, and the “greyline map” indicates his signal should be good. He’s on “CW” (Morse code) and sends fast, but it’s worth a try. So now it’s time to move from the computer to my ham transceiver (transmitter and receiver in one unit), and zero in on Jacky’s frequency. Yes, there he is, calling CQ (“Hello, I am looking for someone to talk to” in ham speak) with a good signal. I give him a call, and he comes right back: On Morse code he sends, “Hello DR Chip, FB sigs, 599. WX HR sunny and 32C, HW CPY Cabot?” (Hello dear Chip. Your signals are “Fine Business”-very strong and clear. The weather here is sunny and hot. How do you copy me in Cabot?) Well, Jacky makes thousands of ham contacts a year and obviously he didn’t remember mehe just quickly checked my call and location on an Internet “look-up” site as we talked. The Internet IS handy! But my CW is rusty, and others are standing by to work him. So, I keep it short. And as I am finishing up, I hear another call break in, “ W1AIM DE VE9DX up 5”. That’s my friend Andy from New Brunswick, Canada, asking me to move up frequency a bit to chat. Andy can send VERY fast, so when I move up in frequency, I ask him to “PLS QRS” (Please send slowly). He obliges and we chat a bit- He just wants to wish me a Happy New Year and ask when I’m next going to visit. After I sign off with Andy I move up into the “phone” (voice) part of the band and tune around. I hear some Spanish from South America -obviously, local hams chatting with one another, as the universal ham language between countries is English - and I continue to tune up the band. I hear various stations from all over. Ah, here’s a frequency with no one there. So, I try a short CQ of my own, adding my call and mentioning that I am in Vermont. (A handy trick, as Vermont hams are somewhat rare, and many hams, particularly those in foreign countries, are always looking to contact all fifty states for a nice piece of “wallpaper” (Certificate to hang on the wall). As soon as I stop transmitting, I get a call from a loud station who is just outside of London in England. After we exchange the usual small talk about names, weather, and the equipment we are using he asks me if I’m near Montpelier. It seems that some years ago, when he retired, he and his wife vacationed in New England, and stumbled upon Camp Meade in Middlesex. Turns out he’s a bit of a military history buff, and for the next 20 minutes he regales me with stories of being a little boy in London during the Blitz, and what it sounded like to hear German Buzz Bombs hitting London. Wow, a fascinating conversation with someone who experienced German bombing raids in WWII! But it’s getting late, and I sign off for dinner, making a last-minute on-line check for any really rare ham locations that might be on the air. There’s not much going on, but while I’m on-line I make a quick e-mail check. In among the spam is a message from a ham in North Dakota. He needs Vermont in his quest for WAS (Worked All States) on the Two Meter band. Normal range for that VHF (Very High Frequency) band is around 200 miles, but he’s suggesting a Meteor Scatter “QSO” (Contact) in which the ham stations bounce their signals off ionized meteor trails. There’s a meteor shower coming up, so I reply with a suggested time and frequency for a try. And here’s an e-mail from my friend Krassy, a Bulgarian now living in Massachusetts. He wants to know if I plan on returning to St. Paul Island for another DX-pedition. I’ll need to give that some thought: St. Paul Island is off the coast of Newfoundland, and I went there a couple of years ago with Krassy and several Canadian hams to give other hams around the world a chance to contact this uninhabited spot. One of our generators fell in the water, Krassy fell off a tower breaking his leg and had to be evacuated by a Canadian Forces helicopter, and I almost drowned in heavy seas getting off the island after living in a tent for a week. I’m not sure I’m up to another adventure like that for a while! As I turn off the radios and head downstairs for dinner, I reflect on how many various things can be done with ham radio: emergency message hanof running our school and celebrating the teachers and students. Now that the Covid Emergency has ended, I encourage the people of Cabot to come visit our school during one of our many presentations of learning and see for themselves the truly innovative and incredible work that is going on right here in Cabot.

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

↑ contents

Cabot School Board

I am so thankful that the legislature has at least temporarily addressed the inequities of penalizing towns like Cabot who have higher per pupil costs due to factors that we cannot control. I am glad that we can now get back to the business dling, radio contesting, hidden transmitter hunts, talking through amateur space satellites, bouncing signals off the moon, even using ham television. And that none of them require a subscription and payment to a faceless cell phone provider. In fact, hams can even talk with a foreign king or queen, a Nobel Prize laureate, or astronauts on the International Space Station. Try doing THAT with a cell phone! For more information check out the Website of the American Radio Relay league: www.arrl.org.

↑ contents

Things to Do in Cabot

Enjoying the Newest State Park at Molly’s Falls Pond

Molly’s Falls Pond is a reservoir located on US Route 2 in Cabot. The property consists of 1064 acres including the 411-acre pond. U.S. Route 2 traverses the northern edge of the property and there is a dam at the western end of the reservoir that is owned by Green Mountain Power Company. A Vermont Fish and Wildlife Access Area at the northern end of the property includes a concrete ramp for trailer boat access to the pond and two fishing platforms for shore fishing. This 411-acre lake is largely undeveloped and is an excellent spot for swimming, boating and fishing. Anglers will find a variety of fish including rainbow trout, brown trout, northern pike, pickerel, smallmouth bass and yellow perch here. Camping and picnicking along the shores has been a long tradition. There is a wetland along the southern shore that is a spruce-fir wetland that is not ecologically state-significant. The shoreline provides access for wildlife such as moose, deer and shoreline nesting habitat for waterfowl. The Common Loon has been on the pond for a number of years. There is important ecological linkage with the mostly forested habitat for wildlife between the pond and Groton State Forest to the south.

History

Native Americans called the pond, now known as Molly’s Falls Pond, Mali Bowk, and the falls Mali Pan-jah-lok (Molly’s Waterfall) after an Indian maiden who lived in this area. Molly’s Falls Dam Pond is the name of the reservoir created when the dam, constructed in the 1920s by Molly’s Falls Electric, Light and Power Company was built on Molly’s Brook between the pond and the falls. The reservoir flooded many acres of farmland called Petersville, a community near South Cabot, and caused the relocation of the road between Danville and Marshfield. The dam was finished in the fall of 1927, and the power plant it served in Marshfield was the only plant

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

↑ contents

TWIN VALLEY SENIOR CENTER

4583 U.S. Route 2 P.O. Box 152 East Montpelier, VT 05651 Have You Noticed Changes at Twin Valley Senior Center as You Drive by? Thanks to an anonymous donor through Meals on Wheels of America and Senator Bernie Sanders office from his mitten photo on inauguration day, we were able to spruce up the front of the senior center. It not only makes the center look more attractive, but it is also a much easier and better system for our dedicated Meals on Wheels delivery volunteers to load and unload their vehicles. With a drive-up point to the front area, it not only becomes easier for the loading and unloading of meals, but much safer for the driver’s departure onto the main highway. With some excellent landscaping done by Susan Crampton, a new sign designed by Fred Wilber and the finished product done by Sign Here of East Montpelier, we think we are looking pretty spiffy for the upcoming days.

We Need Your Help!

Twin Valley Seniors’ doors will be open on Wednesday, July 7. We will resume delivery of meals three (3) times weekly, and we need you. We are short of volunteers in our dining room and in our Meals on Wheels packing area. We can also use help in the kitchen, especially during the growing season so we can process the wonderful local vegetables and berries. The times vary depending on the position you are interested in. We need someone on Wednesdays & Fridays in the dining room from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. In the packing area of Meals on Wheels we need regular back-up and someone to do Friday’s packing. Time averages from 6:30-7:00a.m. until approximately 9:30 a.m. Need for the kitchen help depends on produce, etc., and when the cook would need the help. Please give volunteering some thought for Twin Valley Senior Center. You will find the work extremely rewarding and at the end of the day you can be assured that you will feel good about yourself, knowing you helped others. We can be flexible with time in some areas. We are working at developing new activities and expanding existing classes. We are hoping to have volunteer leaders and instructors to teach the leaders. If you are interested in any of these volunteer/instructor needs, please contact me as soon as you can by calling 802-223-3322 or email [email protected]. I will be waiting to hear from you!!!

Rita

↑ contents

CABOT PUBLIC LIBRARY NEWS

The Cabot Public Library is back open to our regular (new!) hours. Come visit in person Monday 3-6 pm, Tuesday noon–6 pm, Wednesday 2-6 pm, Thursday 9am-6pm and Saturday 9am-noon. No appointments needed. As we go through this transition, we ask you to keep visits brief (15 minutes) computer use (30 minutes). COVID-19 precautions (mask, social distancing, and hand sanitizer) are strongly encouraged for those who are unvaccinated. Curbside library service will still be available during regular library hours.

Thanks to a generous grant from Vermont Afterschool, the Cabot Public Library, Jaquith Public Library and Cutler Memorial Library were able to collaborate to bring our communities a variety of exciting programs for youth of all ages. Read below for more details and check out our neighboring libraries for their listings.

“Tales and Tails” Summer Reading Program– all ages - pick up your summer reading packet with stickers anytime during regular library hours –read for 15 minutes each day for 15 days - tshirts and prizes for everyone!

“Tales and Tails” Outdoor Story and Activity Time – Tuesdays – 10-11:30

am – No appointments necessary! At Tales and Tails Storytime, children and their caregivers are invited to enjoy stories and songs, and then re-imagine them through crafts and play together. Stay after for snacks and more active play on the swing sets, sand box and fields for hiking and birdwatching. Meet at the Cabot Rec Field shelter where there are 6 well-spaced picnic tables available. Dress for the weather!

Artful Activities Workshop series:

July 9 through July 30 – Fridays – 9- 10:30 am – ages 7+ Children are naturally drawn to creative expression! Join Amanda Otto in this fun and playful series. Kids will be exposed to various Modern artists and engage with a range of art making activities and active learning. Please sign up in advance. Meet at the Cabot Rec Field shelter.

STEAM Workshop series -July 12 through August 2– Mondays – 10 am

- noon- ages 7+ Science, technology, engineering, art, and math are incorporated in this highly engaging series! Join Noella Krakowski as we take a journey into science. We will investigate the world around us through four fun events. From what's in our backyard to our solar system, we'll explore everyday things around us through a variety of hands on activities. Please sign up in advance. Meet at the Cabot Rec Field shelter.

Graphic Novel Workshop series: July 15 through August 5 – Thursdays – 10 am-noon –ages 7+ Join Abby Walker and explore the wonderful world of Graphic Novels- our bookshelves are overflowing! Kids will have the opportunity to use high quality art materials to further develop or learn how to write comics and tell a story through pictures. Please sign up in advance. Meet at the Cabot Rec Field shelter.

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”, “Frog”, “Color” and “Dinosaur” themed bags.

StoryWalk - StoryWalk® is an innovative and delightful way for children —and adults! — to enjoy reading and the outdoors at the same time. Laminated pages from a children's book are attached to wooden stakes, which are installed along an outdoor path. As you stroll down the trail, you're directed to the next page in the story. Come see Cabot’s StoryWalk starting at the Rec Field shelter featuring “On Duck Pond” by Jane Yolen. Bring your binoculars or borrow the library’s pair for some excellent birdwatching. Check out our website at www.cabotlibrary.com for the latest info on upcoming programs. Email [email protected] or call 802-563-2721. Ask about downloading audio and eBooks for free through Listen Up! Vermont and remember we have Wi-Fi in the entire parking area. Much gratitude to the Library Trustees for their many volunteer hours dedicated to the library: Linda Gabrielson, Jeannie McCallum, Angela Ogle, Kurt Steinert and Beth Wade. See you at the library! Kathleen Hoyne – Library Director of previous awards include expenses of Cabot Arts-sponsored

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

↑ contents

Living With Black Bears

Seeing black bears in their natural surroundings is exciting. But when bears venture into human territory, problems can occur and bears often pay the price.

↑ contents

Nuisance Bears: A Fed Bear is a Dead Bear

People often encourage bears to come out of the forest by providing food without realizing it. When bears become used to these food sources and have frequent contact with humans, they are often considered "nuisance bears." This is bad news for the bears. Relocating a nuisance bear is nearly impossible and frequently they must be killed. The most common sources of food that attract bears are: pet food, bird feeders, barbecue grills, garbage, household trash containers, open dumpsters, and campsites with accessible food and food wastes. Purposely feeding a bear is not just bad for the bear, it’s also illegal. If you see a bear in a residential area or you encounter an aggressive bear, please contact the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.

↑ contents

Protecting Your Home and Property

Vermonters must take reasonable measures to protect their property from bears before lethal force can be taken. Some of these measures include:

 Keep chickens and honeybees secure within an electric fence or other bear-proof enclosure.  Never feed bears, deliberately or accidentally.  Feed your pets indoors.  Feed birds from December to March only.  Store trash in a secure place. Trash cans alone are not enough!

The Fish & Wildlife Department will not reimburse claimants for bear damage to livestock, fruit, or bees. Farmers will be reimbursed as long as their land is not posted against hunting. Persons suffering bear damage should contact the nearest Vermont Fish & Wildlife office or local state game warden prior to taking any control action on their own. Fish & Wildlife personnel will recommend appropriate measures or control strategies that can lessen the problem. It is your responsibility to avoid attracting bears. Bears are wild animals that belong in their natural habitat—the forest.

↑ contents