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The Cabot Chronicle

February 2022 · Issue Record

← From the Cabot Chronicle

The community record for this issue of the Cabot Chronicle, extracted from the original pages. Reprinted with permission from the Cabot Chronicle.

Original issue: Download the February 2022 pages (PDF)

Automated extraction, spot-checked. Advertisements, the business directory, and puzzles are omitted; obituaries appear as individual entries.

In This Issue

Henry Pearl

As I’m sure we all were, I was hoping things would be a bit more “back to normal” by now…. However, as the pandemic continues to keep us all on our toes, we in the legislature are striving to find the balance between the best ways to serve Vermonters and keeping everyone as safe as possible. This has resulted in this session looking somewhat like a hybrid model in which we are in person in Montpelier, but members of both the assembly and the public can participate remotely for safety and optimal access. Your House Agriculture and Forestry Committee began the year by hearing a broad range of updates from the Office of Legislative Counsel; the Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets; Rural Vermont; the Commissioner of Forests, Parks, and Recreation; and Vermont Farm Bureau. We heard from the Task Force to Revitalize the Vermont Dairy Industry. They emphasized the ongoing struggles of dairy in Vermont and acknowledged that the largest negative impact to dairy is still inadequate milk pricing, which is largely out of the state’s control. They spoke to some of the potential solutions and/or incentives to help our state’s dairy producers increase efficiency and stay viable in today’s challenging market. Dr. Sara Via, a Professor and Climate Extension Specialist from the University of Maryland, testified regarding her work to quantify the benefits of certain practices, such as cover cropping and no- and low-till, in terms of carbon sequestration. We also took testimony from members of the Vermont Climate Council regarding their

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♦ PEACHHAM

work on carbon sequestration. We are working to ensure that Vermont is leading the way in best agricultural practices and the fight against climate change. This theme continued as we had discussions with a group of Agri-Mark farmers and a representative from the GUND Institute. We also took testimony on the animal welfare situation in central Vermont, in which debris from fiber installation was left in a farmer’s field and caused the death of animals and significant financial harm. We are trying to determine how we can prevent these circumstances and ensure that farms are compensated. Much of our work in the legislature continues to be around addressing the impacts of the pandemic and navigating how to best utilize the federal dollars that are coming from both ARPA and the Build Back Better initiative. Whether you agree with the policies at the federal level or not, there is no denying that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hopefully invest in our state in ways that can benefit Vermonters for generations to come. ARPA funds and their optimal usage came up throughout many of our discussions in committee. One area on which we focused was an increased request of $2 million for the Working Land Enterprise Initiative to the Appropriations Committee for the FY22 Budget Adjustment Act. This initiative issues grants to improve and increase local food production, processing, and access. The request was unanimously supported by our committee. As always, stay safe and feel free to reach out with your questions or concerns.

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CVFiber Community

by R.D. Eno, Cabot Representative

The big news this month is that CVFiber has reached agreement with the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC), a professional services company that provides network design, project management, construction management, inspection, and other related services for the deployment of broadband networks. Next up will be to contract for network operation and an internet service provider, which we expect to accomplish before Town Meeting Day. CVFiber’s High-Level Design contractor, Vantage Point Solutions, will finalize its work by mid-January. The pole inventory is now complete in three towns, Middlesex, Moretown, and Worcester, nearly done in Calais and East Montpelier, and will soon get underway in Cabot, now that grant funding is in hand. CVFiber has joined a consortium of districts partnering to buy 2,000 miles of fiber this month. The $7 million purchase is a joint effort by the Vermont Communications Union District Association, the Vermont Community Broadband Board, the Vermont Community Foundation and the Vermont State Employees Credit Union. This transaction is likely to be the first of many bulk purchases designed to prevent supply-chain delays and possible price hikes due to high demand for fiber and other materials. The 2,000 miles should supply construction needs for Vermont’s CUDs for all of 2022 and part of 2023. CVFiber has committed $800,000 to purchase 300

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Chris Tormey

nine times a year and is provided locally

05647 ~ Published by the Cabot Community

express written permission from The Cabot Chronicle is contingent upon publisher’s approval and agreement claims based upon contents of advertising. Publisher does occupied by individual item in which the error appeared.

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Update

miles of that total, which is enough fiber for one-quarter of our entire network. More details can be found in this VTDigger article: https:// vtdigger.org/2021/12/13/in-push-for-rural -broadband-vermont-groups-partner-tobuy-2000-miles-of-fiber-optic-cable/. The redesigned CVFiber website (https://cvfiber.net/) is online now. It’s easier to navigate and provides information that wasn’t available before, with more to come. The website also includes every past issue of our monthly Community Updates, links to stories about CVFiber in the news, CVFiber’s Annual Report for 2021, meeting schedules and minutes for CVFiber’s Governing Board and committees, and a complete list of Requests for Proposal (RFP), both past and present. Our aim is to provide complete transparency in CVFiber’s contracting processes. CVFiber is a nonprofit municipality and we welcome your input. You can post inquiries on our Contact page. You can also reach out to your representatives on the Governing Board, which includes one delegate and one alternate from each of our 21 communities. A list of delegates and alternates can be found on our Governing Board page or you can contact your delegation on our Contact page .

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CCA 2021 Town Meeting

We began 2021 with great promise, envisioning a post-pandemic future with hopes of creating a new normal for Cabot events and activities. But as the return to normal still eludes us, the

Board of Directors and volunteers worked through 2021 to support the following CCA programs/projects – Greater Cabot Area Working Landscape Network, Economic Development Workgroup, Cabot Visual Arts, Fall Foliage Festival and The Cabot Chronicle.

Specifically, our work in 2021 included: --Launching the Cabot Harvest Hub - an online farm and artisan market to promote local agriculture and art businesses. The pandemic heightened interest in buying local food and this project created an easier way to connect buyers with sellers. The CCA was able to leverage private donations and grant funding (state and foundations) to support this project. After our successful pilot program for the summer 2021 season, we have transferred the project to Faith in Action, so that they might add their expertise on community food security issues to further enhance The Hub. --Hosting a 2-day Cabot Fall Foliage event to provide opportunities to promote local businesses (local food sellers, Cabot Harvest Hub vendors and Smith Farm) and provide an outdoor, safe way for the community to gather during the pandemic. --Supporting The Cabot Chronicle advisory board and advertising sales staff as we continued publication throughout the pandemic.

assistance (i.e., hosting virtual meetings and assisting groups to accept online donations), office space and grant research to eight local grass roots organizations/projects who, because of their affiliation with the CCA, can solicit taxdeductible donations. -Continued updates to the CCA web presence to better represent the vitality and diversity of Cabot to attract new homeowners and business owners, and provide an uncomplicated way for community not-for-profit leaders to communicate. [Completion anticipated in February 2022]. --Securing funding to improve Cabot’s presence in regional and statewide marketing efforts targeted at potential new residents and visitors. This project stalled due to the pandemic, but will resume this winter. --Promoting and administering CCA grants to Cabot not-for-profits and grass roots organizations, including grants to village businesses for beautification this spring and summer, the Faith in Action winter toy & clothing drive and Cabot Arts 12 th Night Celebration. --Assisting other organizations and businesses with event promotion and grant writing. --Initiating a new relationship with the Community News Service of the University of Vermont to assist with reporting and training for The Chronicle . --Provided support, financial and administrative, to the electric vehicle charging station at the Willey Building. --Maintained contacts with legislative

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Report

representatives. --The CCA Economic Development Work Group (EDWG) continued to strategize best use of the 3065 Main Street property. In December, the CCA sold the building to a private investor who can make site improvements much more quickly than the CCA could. --The EDWG is instrumental in creating new relationships with Cabot Creamery administrators to address housing and childcare in Cabot. --The EDWG has also researched the history of the Cabot Community Investment Fund (formerly UDAG) to account for how Cabot has applied the funds over the 30+ years. State authorities had made the lack of accounting a barrier for Cabot in applying for larger economic development, infrastructure, and housing grants, but now that barrier is eliminated. The history is also interesting and helps us more fully understand the impact these funds have had in Cabot. --Published nine issues of The Cabot Chronicle, the only local news source that reaches every household in Cabot. The Chronicle helps bridge the communication gaps in town by offering free advertising space to local not-for-profits and community groups and providing extensive space to town government for coverage of town business and outreach.

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Expenses CCA Administration The Cabot Chronicle

Administrative 995 expenses Insurance 3,947 Economic 3,600 Development Projects Working Landscape 1,000 Network Projects CCIF loan payments, 5,323 taxes, municipal fees for 3065 Main St property CCA Grant Fund 7,603 Awards Office rent & utilities 2,649 Printing & Postage 76 5,935 Payroll & payroll 14,049 12,936 expenses Total Expenses 39,242 18,871

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Net Income 3,738 640

We welcome new volunteers and ideas. If you are interested in being involved in any projects mentioned above or in joining the CCA Board of Directors, please contact us. Respectfully submitted by the CCA Board of Directors: Paul Wade, President Frank Kampf, Vice President Jan Westervelt, Treasurer Jeannie Johnson, Secretary Roz Daniels R.D. Eno Gwen Hallsmith Susan Robinson Lori Augustyniak, Exec. Director

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Cabot Trails Update

by Gary Gulka Trail maps are posted at both places. The McQueeney Trail network has The Trails Committee has been busy over three and a half miles of easy to the last couple of months with trail moderate terrain and many people are marking and applying for a grant. We using it for cross country skiing and encourage you to sample some of our hiking. There is parking at the trailtrails this winter on snowshoes or skis. head and kiosk on McQueeney Road. The Talbert Farm Trails, accessible The Cabot Winter Trail network runs from Elm Street Cemetery or the from the end of Dubray Road to DanTalbert sugar house on Bothfeld Hill ville Hill Road (one mile in length). Road, provide five miles of trails There is another section of the Winter through fields and forests. Parking is Trail that stems from the end of Taylor very limited at Elm Street Cemetery Road to Dubray Road. The newly and more accessible at the sugar house. marked Langone Road trail runs from the end of Dubray Road to Menard Road. We will have trail maps posted at all trailheads and maps on the web site soon. The Trails Committee has applied for a major trail grant through the VT Department of Forests, Parks, & Recreation to support new trails, as well as tools, equipment, and trail building materials. We are scheduled to hear back in mid-February. In the coming year we hope to start a trail steward program with volunteers to assist with trail maintenance. We thank the many landowners in Cabot who have allowed public access to non-motorized trails on their properties. Our trail network is growing, and we see great possibilities for expanding local recreation.

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Cabot Awarded

(Continued from page 1) other dairy products in addition to the McCadam brand of New York Cheddar, Pepper Jack and other cheeses. AgriMark has also invested in operations to manufacture and market valuable whey proteins globally while also marketing fresh fluid milk from its local farm families to the region's largest dairy processors. For more information about AgriMark, visit our web site at www.agrimark.coop.

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Jason Anzback

Jason Anzback was a brilliant artist and animal lover. He loved animals, and they loved him freely. Wild birds would land on his shoulders for a brief second before flying away. He never met a dog that didn't adore him, and he loved them right back. With his art, he depicted a world in which he saw landscapes, people, cars and cities beautifully rendered and crafted with care. He was impulsive, passionate and talented, and he had a deep capacity for love. Born in New York City, he spent his early years

Leonard Leonard H. H. Spencer Spencer

Leonard Spencer, 76, Holmes of Cabot, passed away unexpectedly last week at his home in Cabot, where he had lived for nearly 50 years. He was born April 26,1945, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to Leonard R. and Avery (Holmes) Spencer. He grew up in Pittsfield, moving to Becket, Massachusetts, in his teens where they lived next door to his Spencer grandparents’ farm. He graduated from Waconah Regional High School and went on to earn a BA in Art History from Williams College and an MA in Education from Clark University. He then moved to Vermont and taught for several years in Enosburg Falls, East Montpelier and Cabot schools. In 1977, he started a building restoration business. His specialty was recreating historic paint colors with an emphasis on Victorian-era buildings. He worked on private homes, churches and public buildings throughout Vermont and leaves a legacy of handsome edifices. He was deeply interested in history and served as president of the Cabot HisDonald Donald Walker Walker

Donald (Don) Walker of Montpelier and Joe’s Pond passed away at the age of 94 on December 16, 2021, at Central Vermont Medical Center. Don was born on February 8, 1927, in Rutland to the late Hazel and Rufus Walker. He graduated from Rutland High School in 1945. On December 17, 1944 (77 years ago), Audrey and Don Walker went on their first date and became inseparable. They were married on September 25, 1948. Besides his parents, Don was preceded in death by his wife Audrey (2018), his brother Rufus and his grandchild John Donald Picard. Don is survived by daughters Michelle Walker; Megan Picard and her spouse, John; his son Wade Walker and his spouse, Carolyn; brother in law Richard Tower and his spouse, Betty; grandchildren Suzanne Picard Lowden and her spouse Kent; Melissa Picard Vickers and her spouse, Ted; and Jessie Picard Alfarone and her spouse, Paul, Geoffrey Walker and his partner Cydney Barrett, Nathaniel "Nano" Walker and his spouse, Tory, Lindsay Walker and her partner Richard

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EMORIALS

in Louisville, KY, before moving with his mother to Vermont. He is survived by his mother, Cecile Johnston, of Cabot; siblings Sarah Coffman of Las Vegas, NV., and Ferdinand Sawyer of Portland, OR; father, Harald Anzback, of Pownal VT.; grandparents Janet Sawyer and Jerome Tauber of New York City; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and chosen family who cared deeply about him. His sudden death has left us heartbroken, and we ask that you plant trees, feed birds, donate to an animal shelter and support artists in his memory. He will be remembered at a celebration of life at a future date and buried in East Hampton, N.Y.

torical Society for many years. Traditional music was another of his passions, particularly shape note singing; he was involved with groups of singers all over New England. Leonard was a strong supporter of Cabot School and served on the school board for several years. He was a member of Cabot United Church where he sang in the choir and was also on the executive board. He wrote and published a history of the church, "Cabot Church: Biography of a Building." In his youth, he had written poetry; in 2012, he published a book of his poetry, "Winter Butterflies: Poems of a New England Youth." Leonard was predeceased by his parents and a sister, Linda Brazeau. He is survived by his wife, Susan (Aldrich) Spencer; two daughters, Cerelia and Mandy; and a son, Jonathan. He also leaves friends in the Cabot area. Leonard had his faults but he was basically a kind and caring person. very intelligent and creative. He took being a Christian very seriously and tried to live accordingly. He will be missed by many people. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be left at www.guareandsons.com.

Harper; and great-grandchildren Nikola, Jelena, Eva, Teddy, Biruk, Oscar, Hazel and Finley. He also leaves behind his dog, "Toto”. In 1953 Don moved to Montpelier and, with his father, established Walker Motors Inc. (a Ford Franchise). He later added a Jeep franchise to the store. During his time as a Ford Dealer, Don was active on many Ford boards. He retired in 1992. Don spent his life being very active in the community. He proudly served on the board of directors for many years and served as Chairperson for the Central Vermont Medical Center. He was one of the official scorers for the Barre High School Basketball Tournament for over 40 years. He was the official scorer for the Montpelier High School Girls Basketball Team, the Spaulding Boys Basketball Team and the Montpelier High School Boys Ice Hockey Team for many years. He was the first President of the Montpelier Boosters Club. He served on the Advisory Board of the Chittenden Bank for many years Don spent his summers at Joes Pond for 53 years. He was very active in the Joes Pond Association, the Ice Out contest (he was nicknamed the “Iceologist”) and Commodore of the sail boat races. Don took up tennis in his mid-50s and played until he was 80. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to The Office of Development, Central Vermont Medical

Patricia Patricia Murphy Murphy Wheeler Wheeler

Patricia "Patti" Murphy Wheeler, 72, of Cabot passed away peacefully on December 7, 2021, at the McClure Miller Respite House in the town of Colchester after a valiant struggle with cancer. Patti was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister who will be deeply missed by her entire family. Born in Montpelier on September 2, 1949, she was the youngest of three children born to James and Irene (Harvey) Murphy. James and Irene later divorced. Patti and her two siblings (Ann and Dennis) later became the stepchildren of Frank Judson Kelley after he and Irene married. Patti and her siblings soon became part of a larger family with the birth of three stepbrothers (Judson, Peter and Scott) and a stepsister (Laurie). On February 10, 1968, Patti married Phillip "Skip" Partridge in Barre. Their marriage resulted in the birth of one daughter (Shannon). Phillip and Patti divorced in July of 1971. On May 18, 1991, Patti married Lawrence "Larry" Wheeler in Montpelier. forming a blended family with Patti’s daughter, Shannon, and Larry’s two children, Eric and Josie. Patti worked for 30 years in various administrative positions for the State of Vermont, retiring in February of 2009. In her retirement, Patti enjoyed traveling, especially to the Maine coast, flower and vegetable gardening, attending the outdoor, summer concerts in Island Pond, feeding and watching the birds, and spoiling her grandchildren and greatgranddaughter as much as possible.

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first baby of 2022

Kempton and Carrie Randolph of Cabot with their child Keziah Anne, the first baby born at North Country Hospital in 2022. ( Photo by Christopher Roy) Christopher Roy, staff writer for The Newport Daily Express, reported January 5 the first baby of the new year born at North Country Hospital is Keziah Anne Randolph. Her parents are Kempton and Carrie Randolph of Cabot. The world welcomed Keziah Anne at 8:20 a.m., Tuesday. She weighed in at just over eight pounds. or to Central Vermont Home Health, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641, in honor of the excellent care Don received. A service will be held in the spring of 2022.

But in the spring of 2021, Patti’s health began to decline from numerous causes. After being diagnosed with cancer in September of 2021, Patti retained her cheerfulness and good spirit right to the end. The family would like to thank the loving and caring medical staff at the UVM Medical Center in Burlington and the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester for keeping Patti as comfortable as possible during this troubling time. Patti leaves behind her loving husband, Larry Wheeler; children, Shannon Partridge, Eric Flanagan and Josie Lang; a sister, Ann Murphy; stepsiblings, Judson Kelley, Scott Kelley and Laurie Kelley. Patti also leaves behind grandchildren, Jeremy Bigelow, Shelby Bigelow, Kayla Page, Samantha Flanagan, Zoe Lang and Benjamin Lang; and great-granddaughter, Kinsley Bigelow; along with numerous nieces and nephews. Patti was predeceased by her father, James Murphy; mother Irene Kelley; stepfather Frank Judson Kelley; brother Dennis Murphy; stepbrother Peter Kelley; and brother-in-law Bob Murphy. A service of remembrance will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2022, at 10 a.m. in the Eaton Cemetery in Marshfield, Vermont. In lieu of flowers the family would like to ask that donations be made to the Good Samaritan House, 105 North Semi-

(www.goodsamaritanhaven.org). Arrangements are in care of the des Groseilliers Funeral Home, 97 Church St. in Hardwick. Memories and condolences are welcome at dgfunerals.com.

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To Mask Mandate or Not

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer NOTE: at the time of these meetings, the predominant COVID-19 strain was Delta, at the time of this writing it has become Omicron, which is generally considered more contagious. The subject of a mask mandate was on the agenda for the December 7 Selectboard meeting. Mike Hogan started the discussion by explaining to those in attendance how he wanted the meeting to proceed and why the subject matter was being discussed. Mike stated that the governor wasn’t interested in a mask mandate, and the state legislature wasn’t interested in creating one, so they passed legislation authorizing individual towns to enact face covering rules. Mike explained that it would not be an ordinance, if enacted, but a rule. When the Selectboard votes to adopt a rule, it remains in effect for 45 days. He told the public in attendance that there was no requirement for the board to take any action tonight, and they might continue the discussion in another meeting so everyone has a chance to speak. He noted that we are not epidemiologists, and this agenda item is about masks and the wording in any proposed rule. Unlike some meetings in other parts of Vermont, everyone at this meeting was respectful and took their turn speaking from the designated table or on Zoom. This article is presenting the debate at the meeting and nothing stated as fact by anyone has been verified. Lynn Maxfield was the first member of the public to speak, and stated her support for Amy in her stand. She explained that people can’t breathe and can’t see other people’s smiles. She wants masks to be a choice. Gwen Hallsmith spoke next and commented in favor of a mask mandate since it significantly decreases the chance of spreading COVID. Richard LaSalle then took his turn and stated he was opposed to a mandate. He said that after two years of pandemic, the authorities have been wrong all the time. We are the most vaccinated in the country with the highest caseload. He further stated that people can wear two masks because he is not wearing one. Susan Robinson spoke next in favor of the mandate and agreed with Gwen. She stated that the data does show that masks help protect against COVID. Next up was Amy Hornblas, and she referred to a survey she conducted about the harm against any potential benefits of wearing a mask. She refuted the CDC and said they are not using high quality data. She called masks gas chambers on people’s faces because they are experiencing three times the normal level of CO2. Viki Palmer then presented a solution. She said the Selectboard should just follow the CDC guidelines. The guidelines base the mask requirement on how many cases you have in the town or county. She expressed that you can’t tell whether someone without a mask is vaccinated, and if they are carrying COVID. She promotes their mission to enhance is to empower Cabot residents to participate to cover select board and other meetings, able to attend. Most meetings during meetings virtually through Zoom are

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(Part 1)

added that she loves to shop at the village store but it makes her nervous, and if Montpelier has a mandate she would shop there instead. Oliver Welters stated he was against a mandate, and thought it would be divisive because a mandate would have to be enforced. Elizabeth Vitale noted that there are already businesses that enforce a mask mandate, and she doesn't see it necessary for the board to mandate . Cecilia Gulka also expressed that businesses should make that decision on their own. She stated that a cloth mask protects other people, and Delta is causing asymptomatic spread, which is different than other respiratory illnesses. She told everyone that she has been caretaking elderly people, and she has known people who have died in long term care facilities. She divulged that she is afraid of catching COVID and spreading it to the elderly. Carrie Randolph revealed that she contracted Delta this past fall and was at Dartmouth for a week. She said she takes this seriously but is still letting people choose what they want to make them feel safe. She added that the cloth face masks really don’t do much, we really need to be wearing N95 masks. She stated that the policy should be based upon science, but after two years we don’t need more community conflict. Mike responded to the worry about community conflict and said that most of the towns that have looked at a mandate have not put any enforcement in the rule. He expressed that it would probably break a town apart. Greg Burtt spoke as a business owner. He expressed concern about the people behind the counter that have to wear the mask all day. He said he thinks science is really inconclusive right now and that we need to respect people’s personal beliefs. He told the board that he hopes they err on the side of giving people the freedom of making their own health decisions. R.D. Eno recalled when there was a statewide mask mandate, and almost everyone who went into the village store wore a mask. He said if masks are mandated, people will wear masks even if they don’t want to. Allison Despathy, a resident of Danville, spoke next and said that we are all individuals, we have the right to make that decision for ourselves, everyone should have the choice of what they need to do to feel safe. We live in a free society, our decision about our health is our own. She stated that science will always be divided and people can best assess what is right for themselves and their families. Jenn Miner, the emergency management coordinator, came forward and said that a lot of people have made a lot of valid points, and there is some validity to everything said. She noted that it has to be a personal decision, and there might be someone in this room that isn’t wearing a mask for a medical reason. Mike concluded the discussion by stating a decision would probably be made at the meeting next Tuesday. the quality of community life for those in the governance and management for the purpose of keeping community this time of Coronavirus are available posted regularly on Front Porch Forum,

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To Mask Mandate or Not

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer NOTE : at the time of these meetings, the predominant COVID strain was Delta, at the time of this writing it has become Omicron, which is generally considered more contagious. The conclusion of the mask mandate debate occurred on December 12 with a room full of mostly unmasked individuals, and many others connected through Zoom. Mike Hogan started out by noting if enacted it would be a temporary rule. However, by his count the current board opinion is 3:1 against enacting the rule. Mike said he felt it was important for the people in Cabot to speak their mind, and he would like to hear from people who didn’t speak last week. This article is only covering remarks by people that didn’t speak in the first meeting regarding the face mask mandate. Sarah Welters spoke first against the mask mandate specifically because she has small children that won’t wear it. She relayed that over the last year they have become socially unwelcome. Alexandra Jump took a turn and spoke in the capacity of an eldercare clinician. She said people she cares for are over 60 and homebound, and that she takes special precautions to ensure she doesn’t bring COVID to them. However, she stated that a mask mandate puts undue pressure on businesses. She expressed that people have already made their decisions, and a mandate will create a dynamic that will just make it more divisive. Ruth Goodrich then spoke about the mask mandate they have had in their facility since early 2020, and will continue as long as it takes. She relayed that most visitors are good about it, only a few have been a stick in the mud, and only one was asked to leave because they got nasty. She stated that she appreciates all who wear masks for the safety of others. Jenn Boucher spoke in favor of a mask mandate. She mentioned she has many elders in her family that she wants to keep safe. She also said she is a caregiver for someone who is extremely immunocompromised. She expressed that if there is a sign on the door to wear a mask, most people will wear a mask. Jason Monico stepped forward and said he opposes a mandate. He expressed it is ok if you want to wear a mask, if you don’t, it's ok to chose not to. He noted that other states like Florida and Texas have already gone through the surge. He said

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Class 4 Roads

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

The subject of Class 4 roads was brought back to the Selectboard’s attention at the first board meeting of the year, on January 4. Irv Robbins, who was consulted by the Selectboard at prior meetings, spoke during public comment. Irv started off by asking if the board had put any money in the budget for Class 4 roads, and if so, how would it be administered? residing, doing business, and visiting of our town. members informed about issues via Zoom for those who would like to or you can call the Town Clerk's office

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(Part 2)

they currently have the lowest case rates, and at some point we will gain a natural immunity. Beth Wade went next and said she wasn’t going to argue about apples to apples and would just like to say, masking is more about source control, then protecting yourself. She continued stating that people are protecting others, not themselves when they wear a mask. Christine Scalais asked the board to listen and keep an open mind. She stated she is in favor of a mask mandate. She revealed that she lost her mom to COVID -19 at the very beginning of the pandemic. She wondered if her mom would still be here if the woman she contracted it from was wearing a mask. She concluded by saying when she sees other people who wear a mask, she sees someone who is caring for the people around them. Chris Tormey then stated he is in favor of a mandate for a short period of time. He noted that masks are not a perfect solution, it's one part of the solution. He continued by explaining how we are going into the holidays with the Delta variant and another variant coming at us from all over New England, and there is a need to protect everyone. David added to the discussion by pointing out a nuance without expressing his opinion. He put forth that if people don’t have to wear a mask, then when can the elderly access the store? And if people have to wear a mask, then when can people who don’t wear them access the store? Kurt Stienert focused on the new variant, stating it is much more transmissible. He added that it's not so preventable through the vaccine and we should exercise caution and require masks. Allisa Mulligan shared that her sister had multiple myeloma, and she wore a mask and washed her hands constantly. It ended, but not because of COVD-19. She said they didn’t ask the world to protect her sister, her sister just didn’t go to certain places, and that’s the best way to deal with the situation. Allison Hogan was the last to speak, and talked of her 4-year old and 10-month old. She expressed that a mandate would actually cause her to shop at Walmart because her 4-year old will not keep the mask on. She felt that shopping at Walmart would be even more dangerous. After hearing from the public, the board approved a motion from Mike to decline to act upon making a rule to require masks at locations open to the public.

Mike Hogan responded with a no. He said to Irv that the last time the board discussed the subject, they decided to do an evaluation and that the board was not going to put anything in the budget until there is a plan. Mike expressed that putting a pile of money aside for a pile of gravel would not accomplish anything. He further conveyed that the board needs something before they can act upon it, that they need a plan. Mike also pointed (see Class 4 Roads, page 6)

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Continued from December/January

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer This is the second of two articles that summarize the actions taken by the Selectboard over the second half of 2021. Though there are many topics discussed at Selectboard meetings, not all topics require action (motions) and some topics do not conclude with a decision by the board and are left open. The record of all meetings are the minutes, which are posted on the town website. According to the Vermont Secretary of State Guide to Open Meetings: The open meeting law requires that minutes “give a true indication of the business of the meeting,” covering all topics that arise. At 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. 1 V.S.A. § 312(b)(1). This article only covers motions made by the board that carried but does not cover motions that involve town meeting articles, appointments, agendas, and minutes. To show the record, this article quotes the motions as recorded in the posted minutes. If the wording is not clear it is due to quoting the minutes directly. Pandemic - The Selectboard was put in the position by the state legislature of having to make a decision, or not, regarding a face mask rule in places open to the public. The board dedicated two meetings to hear public opinion on the subject and the following excerpt from the minutes is a summary of the board’s decision: “At this point, Mike closed the comments. He then proposed a motion Cabot Select Board Decision Regarding a Temporary Face Mask Rule Requiring Individuals within the Town of Cabot to wear face coverings while indoors at locations open to the public. The Cabot Select Board declines to enact a temporary rule in the Town of Cabot requiring the wearing of face masks at locations open to the public. The Select Board understands that any kind of mandate would be very difficult to enforce and could be divisive and cause further division in the town. Therefore, we recommend that people respect the wishes of any local store owners or other public locations that request people to wear a mask upon entering their establishments. COVID is not going away, but please respect the opinions of others though they may be different than yours. The Select Bboard and our Emergency Management Coordinator will continue to monitor COVID caseloads pertaining to Cabot and other information coming out of the Governor’s Office and the Department of Health. There was a second by Fred. Motion carried.” ARPA - The Selectboard is responsible for allocating and disbursing the funds received by the town under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). These funds are approximately $428,000 and can only be spent on things that are allowed under the act. At the July 6th meeting of the Selectboard, the board did the necessary actions to set up what was required to receive ARPA funds:

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Edition

“Mike moved that the Town/Village/ City of Cabot accept its allocation of Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funding (CLFRF) from the US Treasury, along with the Award Terms & Conditions and Assurances of Compliance with the Civil Rights Requirements that are requirements of accepting these funds. This was seconded by Fred. Motion carried.” “Fred then moved that we appoint Michael J . Hogan to serve as the Town/Village/City’s “Authorized Representative” as required by the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funding (CLFRF) from the US Treasury, to sign the Award Terms & Conditions and Assurances of Compliance with the Civil Rights Requirements by [x date] with a second by Matt.” “Mike then moved that we name Betty Ritter & Michelle Leclerc to be the “Contact Person” for the Town/ Village/City’s CLRFR Award from U.S. Treasury with a second by Matt. Motion carried. ” At subsequent board meetings, the board allocated monies to specific expenditures: “Land Records Software – According to the information received from ARPA, the first thing is to allocate this money which will be under $20,000. A motion was made by Mike to allocate under $20,000 with a second by Ian, motion carried. We now need a motion to spend the ARPA money for the Land Records Software. Mike motioned that we spend under $20,000 for Land Records Software with a second by Fred, motion carried.” “Water, Office Equipment/Recycle/ Willey Building Repair Requirements … A motion was made by Fred to approve ARPA funding for no more than $30,000 to upgrade the Cabot Water System with a second by Ian, motion carried.” “We are able to purchase a new copier for the Town Clerk’s office. Mike motioned that we approve the ARPA money of not more than $3,000 for a new copy machine in the Town Clerk’s Office with a second by Fred. Motion carried.” Finances - The board is responsible for the town’s budget and authorization of loans. The following action was taken in the second half of 2021: “Approve Line of Credit – Passumpsic Bank – Every year we have a line of credit from Passumpsic Bank in the amount of $500,000. A motion was made by Mike with a second by Ian. Motion carried.” Grant Applications - the Selectboard must approve all grant applications made on behalf of the Town by its committees. The action was taken by the board: “Trails Committee and Recreational Grant Application – Gary to looking for an approval of a grant application for parks and recreation in the amount of $62,500… A motion to approve the Forest Parks and Recreation grant of $62,500 over two years by Fred with a second by Ian. Motion carried.” Water/Wastewater - The board spent a lot of time this past year talking about repairs and upgrades to the water and wastewater plant. During the second half of the year, the board took these actions: “Dufresne Engineering won the bid for the contract for mandatory evaluation of plant in the amount $48,750. This will be reduced by one-half after the certification is completed. ANR has a program to pay it off in five years with zero interest. A motion was made by Fred with a second by Ian, motion carried.” “Mike will be sending a letter (via email) to Agri-Mark for a pretreatment fund regarding the wastewater plant. We are not under obligation; this is just a letter supporting their efforts. A motion was made by Fred with a second by Ian. Motion carried.” Taxes - The board is responsible for approving loans and approving changes to the grand list, which is used for property tax calculations. The following actions were taken by the board during the first half of 2021: “Errors and Omissions – There was a mistake in the Spectrum tax bill that creates a deficit in the grand list. The decimal was put in the wrong spot. A motion was made by Fred with a second by Ian. Motion carried.” “Errors and Omissions – Jeanne stated that the current use file is frozen, and she couldn’t enter current use reductions into the system until Property Valuation and Review finished working with the files, which was after tax bills went out. There was no change to these property values, but tax due changed. The final one was three parcels merged into one. A motion was made to approve by Mike with a second by Fred. Motion carried. Events & Permits - The board is responsible for approving Liquor Licenses and some events held in town. The following actions were taken by the board during the second half of 2021: “Application for Special Event at Holiday Market-St. Johnsbury Distillery A motion by Mike to approve with a second by Fred. Motion carried.” “Cabot Arts is asking for a Resolution for Highway Closure for 12th Night. It will be from Danville Hill to the Willey Building and will take 45 minutes. Mike moved that we do this with a second by Fred. Motion carried. Matt will come in and sign this also.”

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Ordinances and Policies - The board

is responsible for enacting town ordinances and policies. An ordinance governs the residents of Cabot, whereas a policy governs how the town and its employees shall operate. The following policy was adopted by the board: “Municipal Parking Policy – Mike read the policy and would like to add another line, which he read. This is a temporary policy until the Planning Commission

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Class 4 Roads

(continued from page 5) out that Ian was going to work with Irv to evaluate the Class 4 roads. Irv said “I have a hard time with that. I’ve heard the same song every year.” He sympathized that money has always been tight. However, he recalled that the voters of Cabot had always passed the road budget, and that in the past people on class 4 roads had a small property tax reduction, but that ended in 2020. Irv proposed that the board find out what the reduction of taxes were in 2019 for all the people on Class 4 road and apply that to Class 4 roads. He felt that those on Class 4 roads would then be paying their own way for improving and taking care of the Class 4 roads. Irv further identified that the Town of Cabot has set offers a new more detailed policy on the ballot for Town Meeting in 2022. This revision will be offered as a temporary policy. A motion was made by Ian with a second by Fred, motion carried. Highway - in the later half of 2021, the board had several discussions regarding who will plow the sidewalks and fire hydrants in the village. This topic has been a topic since last winter. The following action was taken at the beginning of winter by the board “Bid for Snow Removal on Sidewalks –A motion was made by Mike to hire an individual to clear the fire hydrants and sidewalks, with a second by Ian. Motion carried. An ad will be placed in the Times Argus, Caledonia Record papers, Front Porch Forum, and Cabot Connects starting next week.” Leases - the town leases Larry’s Ballfield and the board is responsible for approving the contract. The following action was taken: “The contract for the ball field needs to be approved. There is an addendum that needs to be added that we received from Agency of Natural Resources. Fred moved to approve the contract with the addendum about mowing with a second by Matt, motion carried.”

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Executive Sessions - The board

entered executive session once in the second half of 2021. According to the Guide to Open Meetings, “a motion must be made in open session that indicates its reason for doing so...” The following lists the executive session motions: ” Personnel Issue Matt moved that we go into executive session with a second by Fred. Motion carried and we went into Executive Session at 7:13 p.m. ” Actions cannot be taken during executive session and must be done after returning to an open meeting. Per the minutes, “ We came out of Executive Session at 7:46 p.m. and went back into open session. The SB met in Executive Session on July 20 to discuss the need for Aldo Nunn to pass his Class A license test. Having failed the second test, the Board hopes he can pass the third test on August 11, 2021. A motion was made by Mike to review his situation at that time. The Select Board is suspending the letter of February 2, 2021, and extending it to August 11, 2021, with a second by Fred. Motion carried. ”

a precedent since 1994, in that homes on Class 4 roads received a small reduction on the assessment which equated to a reduction in taxes. He explained that money would be important for anyone on Class 4 roads. Irv continued to describe how some people on Class 4 roads will not do anything to help maintain the road while others plow and grade the road. He also pointed out that Class 4 roads were in much better shape many years ago, but the road crew seems to be stretched too thin. Mike responded and said “I’m not disagreeing with you” and restated that class 4 roads need to be evaluated. He stipulated that until the board has a plan together, they don’t know how much to put in the line item. Fred expressed agreement with Mike.

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Town Meeting 2022 :

As of January 13, the Vermont House and Senate have approved S.172 (awaiting the Governor’s signature), which allows municipalities to authorize alternative procedures for town meeting. Unfortunately, this year’s Town Meeting looks like it will be postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis with all articles voted on by either Australian Ballot in person at the Willey Building on March 1, 2022, from 7 a.m. -7 p.m., or by mail in ballot. The Selectboard at its 1/12/2021 meeting approved mail in ballots for the 2021 Town Meeting vote according to 2021Act 60 passed by the Legislature. That same authority will carry forward to 2022 according to what the Legislature is proposing in similar legislation. Further details will be coming forth shortly with information on Front Porch Forum and the Town of Cabot Website.

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FY2023 Budget for July 1, 2022-June

30, 2023 The next fiscal year (FY 2023) budget that covers the period of July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, has taken considerable work at multiple budget meetings. The Board has set aside an hour or two for special budget meetings each week to discuss expenses needed to meet the financial demands of the Town. At these meetings (10 to be exact), various entities of the town that comprise both the General and Highway Funds presented their FY2023 budget requests. We have had a fair amount of public input and that is very appreciated.

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January 4, 2022, meeting to be voted

on by Australian Ballot on March 1, 2022:  FY2023 (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023) General Fund Operating Budget is $693,815 as compared to last year's budget of $674,200, an increase of $19,615. There are no General Fund projects this year. All social service appropriations will be outlined in Article 22 and were fully funded as requested by the organizations that will be listed in the town report.

3075 Main St.,

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Serving a variety of baked goods,

coffee, sandwiches, soup of the day Sunday Take Home Meals Classic & Creative Grilled Cheese Sandwiches “Bringing Grilled Cheese to the next level” Starting January: We will have an expanded menu and inside seating Check us out on facebook for specials and  The FY2023 (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023) Base Highway Operating Budget totals $823,725 as compared to last year’s base budget of $818,840, an increase of $4,885. There are no projects scheduled as we have finished the Porter Road Project that has been in the works for a couple of years. There will be some small patch paving and repairs in some needed areas.

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Plan Act) Update :

The Federal Government has given the state of Vermont $1.25 billion to be disbursed to all towns and municipalities throughout the state to be used for a variety of needs that have come out of the pandemic. Cabot will be receiving $428,361 in two payments. The first has been sent to the town this year of $214,180 and the second will come in the spring of 2022 for the remaining $214,180. The town has until 2024 to obligate the monies and 2026 to spend all the funding for the various needs of the town. The Selectboard has had various public meetings and will continue throughout the upcoming year and beyond to consider how these funds should be spent. Thus far the following has been allocated and spent:  $20,000 to digitize town records,  $30,000 for water system upgrades  $3,000 for color printer for town clerk’s office  $25,000 allocated for youth librarian  $45,000 for wastewater system upgrades. Other requests have come from various groups such as trails, recreation, and for Willey Building ventilation upgrades.

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Lumbra, Brittany Butler

2020 was a terrible year to perform a town-wide reappraisal! Not that we had a choice: Cabot was mandated by the State to do so, according to statute, and we had begun the process to contract for that reappraisal in 2017. The good news is that Listers were able to maintain the accuracy of the previous reappraisal values since 2006, through changes in ownership, construction updates and deterioration of properties over time. That made the money spent on the 2005/2006 reappraisal an excellent investment. It was accurate at the time of appraisal, and the Listers had the tools to maintain the accuracy of the data for more than twelve years.

Year

2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 Grand List (1% of total property value $164,764,120 $162,904,693 $160,610,608 $159,711,539 $158,899,732 $159,287,640 Common Appraisal 87.95% 97.25% 99.26 99.84% 99.31% 100.75%

You can see from the chart above that the 2017 order to reappraise was triggered by the CoD. After the 2019/2020 reappraisal, the CoD is well within limits. But the CLA fell to an unsatisfactory level within the first year after reappraisal. A reappraisal is very expensive and intensive; it behooves us to bring that CLA within range as quickly as possible. Because this is a statewide problem, we are hoping the State will give us time to work on it. A significant effort on the part of Listers, in concert with our partners at the State, will be required to determine what actions we can take to make appraised values in town fair to all and closer to fair market value. We may need to conduct a partial reap-

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New Year! New Website!

by Janet Van Fleet

Have a look at my spiffy new website , still at https://www.janetvan fleet.com. I've kept the old site (that you know and love) intact and available on the Archive tab on the far right, so people who want to can still see all the other stuff I've done over the last 25 years! The new idea is that I've started an e-commerce site, selling prints of my fun wine foil collages, my ABC book, and some of the original collages. You can have a look at what's for sale on the SHOP page on my website https:// www.janetvanfleet.com/shop and, if you're interested in buying something, click on SHOP NOW to go (after a brief

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of Whack

2020 and COVID-19 brought a double whammy. Appraisers were not able to enter structures for health reasons, leaving interior inspection data dependent on conversations with homeowners, when possible, or appraiser speculation. We have no idea how much was missed in the way of added value or updates, and Listers never had the chance to review each parcel with the contracted reappraisers because of safety precautions required for doing business during a State of Emergency On top of that, nationwide pandemic concerns fueled a hot Vermont real estate market, which was experienced across the state, not just in Cabot. Property sale prices $100,000 and more over listed assessments, resulting in values up to 200% of appraised value, were not uncommon over the last two years, throwing the appraised value way below fair market value. Level of (CLA) Coefficent of Dispersion (COD) 13.5% 7.71% 27.47% 26.9% 32.38% 21.83%

praisal if we can isolate a particular class of property (e.g.: single family homes, farms, open land) or identify a particular part of town (e.g.: Joe’s Pond, Coits Pond Road, Main Street properties) where prices are inconsistent. We will be working with the State to identify actions we can take to make appraisals fair and consistent without requiring another whole town-wide appraisal so soon after the 2019/2020 one. That would be a huge financial burden. Property owners may be hearing from Listers as we struggle to bring our listed values up to fair market value. In Rory Thibault’s article for the Cabot School Board this month, you can see the effect fluctuations in the CLA have on property tax bil ls.

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New Idea!

re-direct notice that Google insists on doing) to the commerce site where people can order by credit card. I will be filling orders and speeding them on their way! Feel free to share with anyone you think may be interested. And have a great New Year !

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Cabot Tree Warden

Winter is a wonderful time to go outside, get exercise and appreciate the trees in our local forests. Improving winter tree ID skills is a must for people interested in identifying the deciduous trees in the forests. During the summer months when leaves are present, identification by leaf shape is the main identifier of tree species for most of us. In the winter, relatively few of our deciduous trees have leaves present. Beech and oak trees typically retain some leaves during winter months, though the leaves change color, turning brown in the fall. The characteristic shapes of the beech and oak leaves are still present for means of tree identification. Beyond these two deciduous tree species, one must look at other means of identification for deciduous trees during the winter months. Other identifying characteristics useful for trees in winter include tree shape, twigs, buds, and bark. With the aid of a tree guide or a smartphone with an app for tree ID, these identifying traits can make winter tree ID a simple task.

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ARDEN

In a dense stand of trees within the forest, the shape of an individual tree may be difficult to view, and tree shape is sometimes not available for tree identification purposes. A tree’s twigs, buds, and bark will always be readily available to view and determine a tree species. Bark is a good identification means for most trees. Ash, white birch, and black cherry are all easy to identify by looking at only the bark. Ash has bark that is dark gray to brown with parallel ridges. White birch has bark that is white and paper like. Underneath the inner bark is bright orange. On young black cherry, the bark is red brown to black with white lenticels. Lenticels are one of the many raised pores on the stem of a woody plant that allows gas exchange between the atmosphere and the internal tissue. On older black cherry trees, the bark is broken into irregular plates that are dark and scaly. The terminal buds at the end of twigs and lateral buds along the sides of twigs have distinct colors, characteristics, and position which are good indicators for tree identification. The lateral buds are positioned on the sides of twigs in (see Tree Warden, page 9)

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Overview

By Vermont law, property owners whose homes meet the definition of a Vermont homestead must file a Homestead Declaration annually by the April filing deadline. If eligible, it is important that you file so that you are correctly assessed the homestead tax rate on your property. Here is the information you as the property owner need to know about the Vermont Homestead Declaration. In Vermont, all property is subject to education property tax to pay for the state’s schools. For this purpose, property is categorized as either nonhomestead or homestead. A homestead is the principal dwelling and parcel of land surrounding the dwelling, owned and occupied by the resident as the person’s domicile. All property is considered nonhomestead (formerly "nonresidential"), unless it is declared as a homestead . The education property tax rate levied on nonhomestead property differs from the rate levied on homestead property. It is your responsibility as the property owner to claim the property as a homestead if you meet, or expect to meet, the following requirements:  You are a Vermont resident You own and occupy a homestead as your domicile as of April 1, 2021

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Filing Deadlines

You must file a Homestead Declaratio n an n u ally by th e April filing deadline. If you file after April 15, your municipality may assess one of the following penalties:  Up to a 3% penalty if the nonhomestead (formerly "nonresidential") rate is higher than the homestead education property rate, Up to 8% if the nonhomestead rate is lower than the homestead education property tax rate.

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Tree Warden

(continued from page 9) either an opposite or alternate configuration. For terminal and lateral buds, other traits may be described, such as smell or taste. As you learn more about winter tree identification, the methods of identification used during the winter will become useful during the summer, making tree ID easier. A good tree guide will also have multiple photos and thorough descriptions of twigs, terminal buds, lateral buds, and bark characteristics for each tree species in the field guide. Using tree ID apps such as LeafSnap, iNaturalist or PlantNet are great options if you choose to carry your smart phone while out hiking, snowshoeing, or cross country skiing this win-

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Overview

The Vermont Property Tax Credit assists many Vermont homeowners with paying their property taxes. You may be eligible for a property tax credit on your property taxes if your property qualifies as a homestead and you meet the eligibility requirements. The maximum property tax credit is $8,000.00

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Eligibility

To file a property tax credit, you must meet ALL of the following eligibility requirements: Your property qualifies as a homestead, and you have filed a Homestead Declaration for the current year's grand list. You were domiciled in Vermont for the full prior calendar year.  You were not claimed as a dependent of another taxpayer.  You have the property as your homestead as of April 1. You meet the household income criteria (see form for current year income limit).

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How to File

You need to file the following two forms to apply for a property tax credit. You can submit your claim electronically

return.  Form HS-122, Homestead Declaration and Property Tax Credit Claim Section A: Homestead Declaration  Section B: Property Tax Credit Claim Schedule HI-144, Household Income. Learn how to determine household income at https://tax.vermont.gov/ indiduals/household-income.

ter. A tree guide, though larger than most smartphones, is also a great choice. A simple Ziplock bag will keep your field guide dry in your pack or pocket during even the most inclement weather. Enjoy your time outside recreating this winter, improve you tree ID skills, and learn more about the trees in our local forests as you go. Good field guides for tree identification are below. Forest Trees of Vermont by Trevor Evans is available at the Cabot library. The National Audubon Society Field Guide to Trees by Elbert L. Little Forest Trees of Vermont by Trevor Evans National Wildlife Federation Field guide to Trees of North America by Bruce Kershner

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Q&A for Selectboard Candidates

by Jeanne Johnson, Editor

Once again, because of pandemic precautions, The Cabot Chronicle and

sponsoring a candidate forum to allow candidates and voters the opportunity to discuss issues in person, but we CAN ask questions and bring you the answers. Our goal is to empower voters to make informed choices at the ballot box by bringing them information they want. Candidates for open seats on the Cabot Select Board are not required to register their candidacy until the day before we send The Cabot Chronicle to the printer. For that reason, we are not able to bring you answers from candidates in this issue, but we will print them in the March edition, which will be mailed February 24, before Town Meeting Day voting March 1. For early voters, we will make those answers available through other means

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The Cabot Chronicle Submission

The Chronicle welcomes letters recommended to be no longer returned to the author with suggestions The Cabot Chronicle represent staff. The Cabot Chronicle reserves for our readers. Letters will not The Cabot Chronicle is not responsible by a phone number. for errors We in submitted will gladly ity for claims arising in connection with products or services advertised

05647.

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SELECTBOARD CANDIDATES:

1. What do you think is the most important issue facing the Selectboard? 2. What strategies will you use to solicit opinions of Cabot residents? 3. What has the pandemic taught you about how the Selectboard could better serve the needs of Cabot residents? 4. How do you think the Selectboard can engage local businesses and organizations to facilitate economic development? 5. How do you propose to ensure the Town uses ARPA funds in a fair and equal way to benefit all residents of Cabot? 6. What would you suggest the Selectboard do to improve communication with the Creamery?

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Guidelines

written with an economy of words. The maximum length is than 400 words. Letters may be edited for clarity and length or for re-submittal. All letters and commentary published in the opinions of the authors and not necessarily the opinions of the right to reject letters that may contain unsuitable material be considered for publication unless signed and accompanied consider articles and photographs for publication. material. Nor does The Cabot Chronicle assume responsibilon these pages. If you have editorial questions or would our website, www.CabotVermont.org or email us at by Rebecca Tatistcheff, Principal Dear Cabot Community, In June of 2021, we welcomed you back into our community for a final Exhibition of Learning. This outdoor showcase featured work produced by our high school students. Students and community members gathered around a fire in June to hear original stories in the style of a hero’s journey . They spent time at the river learning about the health of the Winooski watershed and educated folks around labor movements. And we were able to hear the band play on CSPAC lawn. We ended the 2019-2020 school year with a closing circle on the common, graduation outside, and a moving up ceremony to usher in the senior class and welcome our newest faculty members. Joy and hope characterized the end of the school year. This sentiment has continued. This year we have focused our energy on truly being One School. One Community. One Crew. In this report, I outline some of the major accomplishments we have experienced this year as well as the continued challenges that education within a pandemic calls for us to address. I hope that, as you read, you can share in my amazement and joy at the strength and resilience of our small community. One School: At the end of the 20202021 school year, the Instructional Leadership Team met to reflect on our work and to plan forward into the new year. As a result of that work, we devised a k12 scope and sequence that built on our work of identifying Graduation Expectations that reflect 21st Century skills necessary for students to successfully bridge their local goals with a global economy. There is a curriculum map of projects from grade k-12 and collectively we committed to our values of Respect, Responsibility, Kindness, and Engagement in all grades. We meet across grade levels to talk about our work and, as a result, there is greater consistency in students’ experiences across the school. On a k-12 campus, it is easy to become divided into three disparate schools. We have made a conscious effort to break down those boundaries.  Adults engage with each other in what we call Staff Crew. These heterogeneous groups offer staff the opportunity to get to know each other across the school and share their practice.  Students meet in cross grade collaborations; 5th and 6th graders joined the 7th and 8th grade choral students. Students hike together in multi-grade groupings at the beginning of the year and created tie-dye shirts symbolizing their unique contributions to a common community.  A student leadership team comprised of students from grades 6-12 meets weekly to plan for school-wide events. Collaborative co-teaching teams now support multi-grade classes throughout the school. From grades 1-12, students experience flexible and multi-age grouping that reflects the developmental and personalized needs of each student. In the elementary grades these partnerships include a Special Educator and General Educator for each classroom. One Community: Cabot School is, as you know, uniquely positioned as a pre-k to 12 school located in one township. Your school is literally and figuratively a part of the village community. This year we made a conscious effort to acknowledge the position of Cabot School as a community school. We were awarded a three-year grant under Act 66, the Community Schools Act. The first year of this grant brought us over $160,000 in additional funding to build connections between the school community and wider Cabot community. Highlights from this work include:  An increased partnership with local arts organizations. Cabot Community Theater hosted an afterschool program this fall that was made possible by the joint efforts of Community Theater and funding that allowed us to bridge the timing gap between the school day and afterschool programming.  The hiring of a Community Coordinator to build a robust and sustainable afterschool program based on student interest, family need, and wider community involvement.  The development of localized and personalized internship programming for our High School Seniors.  The use of the Willey Building as a site for our Exhibition of Learning on the lives and cultures of Indigenous Peoples.  Visits to local and regional museums.  Increased availability of Siskin Outdoor Leadership Programming. The reboot of the Cabot School Parent Teacher Organization which partnered with the Rec Committee to host the Trunk or Treat and Halloween Walk. These are just examples of some of the ways in which we are continuing to partner with local and regional resources to build bridges between the school day and out of school opportunities. One Crew: We talk a lot as a school community about “being Crew” and the phrase “we are crew not passengers.” In times like the one we are in where uncertainty and disruption are part of our everyday lives, it truly takes a Crew to be able to sustain the work of educating our young learners. Our staff and students step in and step up consistently this year to manage an ever-evolving COVID-19 situation and keep school open and vibrant. As Crew we have:  Ensured that there is a cohesive testing system in place along with other mitigation strategies to create a healthy space for students to learn.  We have worked to be flexible as families continue to navigate their personal choices in a pandemic world. This has meant delivering food and work to homes, checking in with families regularly when there is need, and operating across the school to cover classes when staff shortages occur.  Our students have worked to be helpful members of the community across the school, working in partnership with classroom teachers in younger grades to support and mentor young learners, helping in the kitchen, clearing the ice rink, tending to our gardens, and maintaining trails in the woods that a landowner graciously allows for our use. As Crew we continue to work to educate all our students, who have a range of academic, social, and emotional needs, and all of whom have experienced significant disruption in learning. This means assessing students where they are and building their proficiency as readers, writers, mathematicians, artists, historians, and scientists. We are working together and building our collective sense of responsibility and accountability to each other.

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Cabot School Board Chair

On January 13, 2022, the Cabot School Board voted to approve the FY 2023 school budget proposal – projecting a minor increase of 1.7% on the tax rate, or $0.03 per $100 of assessed value. For this year’s budget cycle we had two primary goals: (1) ensure stability and consistency in staffing and programming, and (2) to minimize any impacts on Cabot taxpayers. We believe the proposed budget meets these goals. Here are some highlights:  Per pupil expenditures are below the “excess spending threshold” – meaning we would not be subject to a penalty (note: the legislature suspended enforcement of the penalty in FY22 & FY23).  We added equalized pupils to Cabot School this year, favorably impacting the tax rate, and more importantly, enriching the community with new families and classmates for our students.  The Board did not add new programming or cut programming/ instructional positions. The increase in total expenditures are tied primarily to a change in state funding for special education, increases in salary and benefits for school staff, and allocations to cover inflation related to higher costs for fuel, transportation, services, etc. .  The Statewide property tax yield rate changed favorably, but this positive impact was offset by a large drop in Cabot’s common level of appraisal (CLA) value – in simple terms, Cabot property values appreciated significantly versus the assessed values on record, resulting in upward pressure on the tax rate (please read Jeannie

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HAPPY

As I write this, I am looking out the windows of the school onto the common where our young people play alongside older generations skating and wassailing together. It reminds me of how we begin and end the year, in a circle on the common, the literal and figurative centerpiece of our collective community. It is in these moments that I am reminded that it will be small and local communities that ultimately prevail with hope and joy in these uncertain times. This work is, for all of us here at Cabot School, deeply personal and could not be done without the support of the caring and kind community that is Cabot. Respectfully, Rebecca Tatistcheff, Ed. D Principal

Johnson’s informative article in this edition of the Chronicle). Neither of these metrics is controlled by the Board, but it is worth noting that, if not offset by other factors and spending decisions, the change in CLA would have resulted in a $0.10 cent increase by itself! As noted, consistency was a big goal for this budget cycle. In the past five years, the Cabot School has right-sized and restructured its school programs and staffing, and also began the process of changing how special education services are delivered to increase efficiency. Adding to the challenge of these changes has been the need for faculty and staff to face down the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are cautiously optimistic that FY 2023 will be the year we finally get to enjoy the benefits of stability and that the Cabot School community can focus exclusively on making sustained gains in educational outcomes. The demands on our educators and staff have never been higher – in addition to teaching, the Cabot School team has had to serve as de facto public health officials, administering contact tracing and testing protocols, while they still work to fill the gaps between student needs and what other community-based services can offer. The Board is incredibly grateful for the professionalism demonstrated by Cabot’s educators and staff, and their flexibility and commitment to our students during this challenging time. On behalf of the Board, I humbly request that Cabot voters support this budget on Town Meeting Day. An informational meeting will be held via Zoom on February 28, 2022, at 6:30 p.m., and voting will be by Australian Ballot on March 1, 2022, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Willey Building.

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2-year term

Hello everyone, I moved to Cabot in 2010 so that our four children could attend Cabot's middle and high school. I served on the Cabot Schoolboard for seven years, from March 2014 to June of 2021. I am currently the Assistant Preschool Teacher at Walden School. I am interested in helping the town of Cabot to attract young families with children to our community. The more children we have to send to our school, the more affordable our school taxes become. I believe that it is important to grow our stock of affordable housing, help establish more childcare options in Cabot and strengthen the relationships among the various stakeholders in our community. I would be honored to receive your vote on Town Meeting Day and will do my best to serve the Town of Cabot to the best of my abilities.

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the Central Vermont Career Center

by Chris Tormey High school students in towns across central Vermont have for years had the opportunity to develop skills in a variety of fields- ranging today from building trades and electrical technology to natural resources and digital media arts at the Central Vermont Career Center in Barre. The Career Center (formerly known as “the tech center” or “Barre Tech”) currently offers one- or two-year programs in 12 disciplines on the campus of Spaulding High School. This year these programs attracted over 350 applicants but could accept less than 300 due to space and staffing limitations. Although students from six different school districts (Barre, Montpelier, U-32, Harwood, Cabot and Twinfield) currently benefit from the career preparation offered by the Career Center, at this time its budget is annually developed by the Barre School Board and voted on only by residents of Barre. On Town Meeting Day voters in all of the school districts now served by the Career Center will vote on a proposal to form a new Central Vermont Career Center School District that would, if approved, permit residents of all towns served by the Center to have input and make decisions on its programs, budget, and future growth. The attached flier provides more detail on the benefits of forming this school district. If the proposal is approved, it will not change how the Center is funded or property-tax bills in individual towns

Advertising in

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History of Cabot’s

two members of the UDAG Committee in History 1997 remember a letter from Richard Hattin that stated that the Town “asked tion, a community newspaper and more. too really many answer”. questions” Cabot that felt it he was “couldn’t on its

tion The requirements initial agreement for the listed Creamery, construc- in- own. The “in perpetuity” goal remained in

cluding paying the loan back to the town, the Plan and became embedded in the which was done by 1996. The Town was political leadership of the Town until to spend those funds for activities “eligible 2004, when it was revised to “manage under Title I of the Housing and Commu- and use the Fund to be able to continue to nity Development Act of 1974, in accor- meet the long-term needs of the commudance with the grant agreement and in nity”. The Committee’s repeated requests accordance with the provisions of 24 CFR to the Selectboard to hire a part-time adPart 570”. At the time, 24 CFR 570 was ministrator finally happened in 2001 for aimed at a mix of economic development, a brief time, but the UDAG Committee education & training and housing activi- has been supported only by volunteers for ties. In the 30+ years since, that section of a long time. the Federal Register has gravitated to In 2013, the name of the UDAG Comaddress solely housing and no longer ap- mittee was changed to the Cabot Complies. munity Investment Fund. However, the closeout agreement between the federal government, the Town, Summary of UDAG distribution, 1992-2020, from the information in and the Creamery, executed in April 1992, noted that, once the agreed-on activities were completed, the funds would be considered “miscellaneous revenues” and could be spent on any activities “eligible under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974” and “not governed by 24CFR 570”. After a voter petition and town meeting action, Cabot created a committee to oversee use of the funds and develop a plan to guide the fund’s distribution and procedures. This provided several benefits, including a secondary level of accountability, and expanded volunteer capacity in a small town with little staff. Also, the plan has been a carefully thought-out guide, approved by voters, on distribution of the funds. In the beginning, Central VT Economic Development Corporation (CVEDC) supported the town in developing loan review and approval procedures. Over time, the town has used Northern Community Investment Corporation (NCIC), Union Bank and others for that service. Most local Vermont banks and credit unions have fielded questions from the Cabot UDAG Committee over time. Initially, the plan described four funding areas: commercial loans to existing Cabot businesses and residents, loans for public works, educational loans for residents who planned to work in Cabot and development of an “incubator building” in South Cabot. The plan evolved regularly, to allow for more flexibility and broader access to support community develop-

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Town Reports:

 Grants for Public Facilities and Community Life:~$1.92 million  Loans for Public Buildings: $1.64 mil lion Commercial Loans: listed in only a few

Town Reports, but at least $270,000  Educational Grants: ~$175,000 to more than 100 recipients The small town that received a massive $2 million grant that it was told to spend, has managed the Fund carefully for more than 30 years and spent close to $4 million on important community infrastructure. Wow, excellent job, Cabot! Have we satisfied state and federal granting agencies questions of “What happened to the $2 million Urban Action Development Grant (UDAG) awarded to Cabot?” Find out in the next installment of this story that will appear in the March issue of the Chronicle.

ment. The first three funding areas remained for 30+ years, the incubator building The idea closeout disappeared agreement, early. executed

April 1992, included a specific condition that Cabot “use, and not accumulate the revenue…in a timely fashion”. The town was accounting also supposed on use to of provide the money an annual to the

regional U.S. Housing & Urban Development (HUD) office in Concord, NH, and hasn’t. Oops. When the Cabot voters approved the 4583 U.S. Route 2 first UDAG Plan in 1991, it included a East Montpelier goal (among others) to “preserve the fund TwinValleySeniors@ in perpetuity to serve the greatest num- Myfairpoint.net ber of people in the community”. The Town with Richard maintained Hattin an at active the regional conversation U.S. Serving: Cabot, Calais,

Housing & Urban Development (HUD) East Montpelier, office in Concord, NH, in the early years Marshfield, Plainfield & Woodbury and sent him Plan drafts. It appears both the Town and the regional office were not reading each other’s documents. At least

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T WIN V ALLEY S ENIOR C ENTER

 Free Door to Door Transportation  Free Tax Preparation  Health Clinics  Medical Equipment to Borrow  Monthly Newsletter Meals – Every Mon., Wed. & Fri. 9 am-2 pm  Bingo & Games  Exercise-Bone Strengthen & Tai Chi  Entertainment, Parties and Celebrations  Volunteer Opportunities  Donations & Contributions always appreciated

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CABOT COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS DINNER

Thank you to all the wonderful community volunteers who made it possible, sharing energy, money, and time We could never have enjoyed that great day without generous help with baking delicious and photo-worthy desserts Delivering meals on a snowy, icy day Donating locally-grown vegetables Preparing and cooking pans and pans of turkey, stuffing, gravy, potatoes, squash and rolls Cleaning up after all that cooking and packaging Paying for Cabot Chronicle ads Contributing money for items we had to purchase Thank you, it was a great day! Mark Your Calendars for Christmas Day Next Year With Gratitude, Shirley and Fred Ducharme by Peter Dannenberg

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Taking a Break for February

Cabot Arts Show and Tell invites visual artists (folks that make things we can see) of all kinds to join us once a month on a Sunday afternoon from 2:00 to 4:00 in the Willey Building for discussion of works presented and happenings in the area.

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Roz Daniels

(Clough) Joyal, held her four children at the foot of the stairs in their Cabot Village home. She prayed they would be safe from a howling gale and flying debris outside. They were, but Vermont lost five lives in New England’s worst hurricane. Vermont had few deaths, but the Northeastern Seacoast was decimated. The storm hit with no warning. Ships were warned to avoid the area and antennas snapped, so there were few radio reports. Predictions were it would stay at sea. Instead, it crashed into Long Island in mid-afternoon. The monster screamed into Connecticut and Rhode Island at 60 miles per hour. Gusts tripled wind speeds. The storm surge dragged hundreds of shore homes into the sea and sank thousands of boats. The “Long Island Express” killed almost 700. It destroyed or damaged more than 57,000 homes. It took months to clear washed-out back roads. In Rhode Island winds funneled high tide into Narragansett Bay, straight at downtown Providence. A 40-foot-high wall of water slammed the coast. Seawater flooded city streets to 14 feet. It was quitting time. Commuters drowned in cars carried off by the torrent. Rhode Island had 400 deaths; in Massachusetts, 99 died. Charging up the Connecticut River, the storm veered across the Green Mountains. Skies turned yellow, then black. Heavy rains the week before worsened flooding. Some towns had more damage than in the 1927 flood. Power and telephone lines tore apart. Roofs, siding, and barn doors flew from buildings. Rain fell and wind howled until 9:00 p.m. Wind toppled one-third of New England’s forest. More than 2,000 miles of Vermont roads were blocked, some for months. In Montpelier, salt spray, from 120 miles away, was on windows. Winds leveled orchards and sugar woods. A sugar maker in Cabot lost 2,600 of 3,500 maples; a Walden sugar maker lost 4,000. The hurricane uprooted the equivalent of five years of New England’s timber harvest. The Forest Service reduced forest fire threats and salvaged logs before insects and rot ruined them. It created the Northeastern Timber Salvage Administration (NETSA) to harvest, process, purchase, store, and set prices of timber. In the 1930s, the Great Depression meant people struggled to make ends meet. Unemployment did not fall below ten percent, until the US entered World War II in 1941. President Roosevelt created jobs in the Civilian Conservation Corps, Works Progress Administration, and other relief programs. The crews did hazard removal. A logger quipped, “FDR tried to make jobs for years; the hurricane did it in five hours.” Clean up went on for almost three years. In cold weather, there is no danger from insects, stains, or decay, but, in warm weather, logs deteriorate. NETSA stored wind-thrown logs under water or under cover, until sawing into lumber. The first logs arrived 60 days after the hurricane. NETSA did not log; it paid owners 90 percent of the value of salvage. They set up more than 800 receiving sites, bought and stored logs, sawed or contracted for sawing, and sold lumber. NETSA ended in 1944. It bought more than 660 million board feet of saw logs and 35,000 cords of pulpwood from 13,000 owners. NETSA salvaged nearly half the blowdown. Lumber dealers and manufacturers bought it to build barracks and ship interiors in the war. The program saved hundreds from economic ruin. In Vermont, active farmland meant smaller forests than in more urban states. The hurricane ripped up woodlots and sugar bush. Maple syrup was a vital cash crop for Vermont farmers. Many barely stayed afloat in the depression. Trees were farmers’ “bank accounts,” when bank failures wiped out life savings. Loss of sugar bushes and orchards rang the death knell of scores of hill farms. Many could not farm and also clear tangles of downed trees to haul logs. Hardwood trees grew in Vermont’s abandoned fields. Brilliant fall foliage replaced vacated hill farms. Today, autumn tourists enjoy stunning scenery planted by the 1938 killer storm. Weather forecasting is better now, but warmer seas spawn knock-down tempests more often. There is still little choice but seek shelter, batten down the hatches, and wait for gales to pass.

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Library Director

The Cabot Public Library is open! Come visit in person Monday 3pm – 6pm, Tuesday noon – 6pm, Wednesday 2pm-6pm, Thursday 9am-6pm and Saturday 9am-noon. Curbside library service will still be available during regular library hours. Two new youth programs are underway at the Cabot Public Library. Please

amandaotto.cabotlibrary@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like to attend an upcoming session.

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Community Service Program (ages

15-18) -2nd and 4th Thursday of the month - 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM - January 13th - March 24th Learn techniques to calm your mind and relax your body. Get involved in community service projects that make an impact! Hours can count toward H.S. community service requirements.

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Outdoor Story and Activity Time

has been postponed until further notice but don't let that stop you from coming to the library to pick out books or sign out one of our many Storytime Kits! We have several snow kits in addition to our dinosaur, rain, color and frog kits. Each kit comes with books, materials for crafts, sensory activities and handouts. In addition, you can access the corresponding PDF (found on our website under the "Library Resources" tab) with links to songs, videos, healthy snack recipes and ideas for additional crafts and activities. Cabot Book Group – The new series will be African American Experience: The Harlem Renaissance, facilitated by Vermont Humanities Council scholar,

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N EWS

Gina Logan. All are welcome! “During the 1920s, New York’s Harlem neighborhood hosted an explosion of AfricanAmerican cultural expression. This series features a history of the era alongside texts that have come to define it.” The remaining two sessions are as follows: Thursday, February 24 th – 2pm – Plum Bun – Jesse Redmond Fauset Thursday, March 24 th – Their Eyes Were Watching God – Zora Neale Hurston Librarian’s Picks : A few of my recent favorite reads:

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Finding the Mother Tree: Discov-

ering the Wisdom of the Forest – Suzanne Simard – Suzanne comes from a family of loggers in British Columbia and has a strong hunch that there has to be a better way than clearcutting. Her commitment and persistence in devising experiment after experiment against a community of disbelievers is so inspiring. A great look at the life of a scientist in the field. Very readable.

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Breath: The New Science of a Lost

Art – James Nestor – I’m not even halfway through this book and I can’t stop thinking about it. A book that can literally change your life. Nestor writes about some amazing science on breathing that ancient cultures have known for centuries that will surely surprise you. Thanks so much to the Library Trustees for their ongoing work for the library: Linda Gabrielson, Jeannie McCallum, Angela Ogle, Kurt Steinert and Beth Wade and our student representative, Ila Steinert. Special thanks to Jim Goodrich and Beth Wade for their countless hours cleaning up and updating our computers. See you at the library! Kathleen Hoyne – Library Director Amanda Otto – Youth Librarian

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Free Trees and Shrubs

verted to lawns, rooftops, roads, and driveways. These surfaces, including lawn, reduce the amount of rainfall and snowmelt an area can intercept and absorb, increasing the volume of runoff. Excess runoff carries pollutants such as phosphorus, sediment, pet waste, herbicides, and pesticides to waterways, causes

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February 13, Sunday from

9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Join tracker and naturalist Jonathan Shapiro of Fox Paw School for a morning exploration of the Stranahan Town Forest. We'll check out animal tracks and interpret their behavior, listen for winter flocking birds, and talk about how our wild neighbors are earning their livings during this cold winter month. Come dressed for the weather. Co-sponsored by the Jaquith Public Library and the Marshfield Conservation Commission. Meet at the Stranahan Forest in Marshfield at the Thompson Road entrance off of Hollister Hill Rd. Please preregister for this event because we need to cap attendance at 16 participants.

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February 28 – Deacon King Kong by

erosion of private and public property, and makes streams more erosive and “flashy”. While one parcel may not contribute enough stormwater volume to make much difference, the cumulative effect of many small deforested parcels can become quite large. Stormwater runoff is one of the main contributors of pollutants to Vermont’s streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. The Friends of the Winooski River’s Lawns to Forest project seeks to help landowners restore the benefits of forests to reduce stormwater runoff and improve water quality. All Cabot, Marshfield, and Plainfield residents are eligible for the program. The non-profit organization will plant trees free of charge on selected properties, working with landowners to choose appropriate native trees and shrubs. Priority sites have runoff reaching a stream, river, or pond. The Friends of the Winooski River pays for all the plants and recruits volunteers to do the planting. Multi-resident properties are also eligible. The primary impact of forests on water quality is the prevention of water pollution by reducing the volume of stormwater runoff. Trees and other woody vegeta-

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February 27 th )

Featuring storytelling and a sing-along around the fire-pit, a circus type performance (fire dancer/juggler), soup and bread & hot drinks , a story walk on the recreation path, and if there is snow, snow sculpting and snow painting . We are looking for volunteers to help with the event.

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First week of March

through June 10 th The grant funds three days a week of afterschool programming on 3 of the following days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. The after-school program will provide directed and selfdirected outdoor and indoor activities ranging from science-based nature workshops, arts and crafts, and STEM activities to sports. Funded through a grant from the Association of Rural and Small Libraries

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Available For Checkout!

STEAM-focused catalogued and Makerspace ready for kits checkout! Robotics kit, snap circuits electricity kit, friendship bracelets kit, origami/ Calligraphy kit, toothpick/play dough building kit, pattern block kit, marble run kit and bird watching kit. We also have games, puzzles, snow shoes and more. For a full list and description of Maker kits, click the link and scroll down: https://www.jaquithpubliclib rary.org/new-and-featured-kids.html

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Humanities Council.

tion capture and store water by intercepting rainfall, promoting infiltration, and improving the soil’s water storage capacity. Leaves catch rainfall, keeping as much as 30% of rainfall volume from reaching the ground, and the plants act as water pumps, carrying water in the soil to the atmosphere and increasing the soil’s water storage capacity. At the same time roots and leaf litter slow runoff and create conditions that allow water to soak into the soil. Trees and shrubs also improve air quality, lower urban air temperatures, provide wildlife habitat, store carbon, and improve aesthetics and mental health. When lawn is converted to woody vegetation mowing, fertilizer, pesticide, and fossil fuel use is reduced, further reducing pollutants in runoff and CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. Shawn White is the Project Manager for the Friends of the Winooski River. Contact her at shawn@winooskiriver.org for more information about the Lawns to Forest program and the Friends of the Winooski River’s many other efforts to protect and restore the Winooski watershed.

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← From the Cabot Chronicle