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The Cabot Chronicle

February 2023 · 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 2023 pages (PDF)

Text extracted from the original pages and checked for reading order. Advertisements, listings, the calendar and puzzles are omitted. Where part of a story could not be converted cleanly, it is marked and the full story is in the PDF.

In This Issue

Cabot Public Safety Update

The Cabot Public Safety Building Committee (CPSBC) would like to give Cabot folks an update regarding the proposed new Public Safety Building project and the activity happening at 2466 Main Street. With five contractors submitting bids to remove the existing abandoned structure, Hogan Excavating was the lowest at $39,000 and the Selectboard accepted his bid, with the chair abstaining from the vote due to conflict of interest. Because the town-owned abandoned structure is near other homes, great care was taken to protect the abutting landowners on both sides. CPSBC is now in almost daily contact with the neighbors on the status of the project. We wish to thank them for their outreach and cooperation during this difficult complicated task. Input from the community is valuable to us as we continue to get data and review options for the proposed project. Before any demolition of the existing structure began, asbestos testing was performed by a certified third party. There were many samples taken. The results from the testing agency lab were negative for asbestos. We have been working with Conner Contracting out of Berlin, who is providing input and direction free of charge, regarding this process to make sure everything is being done properly by the demolition contractor. After the building removal is completed and the existing foundation carted away, it will be replaced with clean fill and seeded. We hope to then mark the four corners of the proposed building site so folks can see the proposed Cabot Public Safety Building location positioned way back from the road. Agency of Natural Resources was contacted, and they will ensure the wetland delineation line is set so this project does not interfere with the natural wildlife that comes and goes on the existing pond/brook that is on the Town lot. A contact person within the CPSBC is also in charge of designing /working with the proposed live edge screening that will line the entrance, consisting of fruit trees and blueberry bushes, intermixed with evergreens, providing an attractive natural “soft” screening for the abutting landowners. I have received a few repeated questions from others that I would like to answer here.

Q: “Are you moving the town siren to the proposed site?”.

A: Being that the proposed Public Safety Building is set back behind two homes, the town siren will not be relocated to the new proposed Public Safety Building location. Yes, the siren is still highly critical and used even with today’s modern technology. This is due to several “dead spots” within the Cabot Fire district that our emergency pagers (or cell phones) do not work for notification of a call. The siren at its present location can be heard from miles away.

Q: “Are you placing a traffic light at the entrance of the proposed location?”.

A: Due to good “site lines” where the proposed driveway will connect to Main Street, a traffic light is not required. This will help to maintain the current aesthetics of the town. When the demolition is mostly behind us and the removal/testing of the site for hazards such as the buried oil tank, etc., is left to do, we are starting the process to see what the cost of the proposed Public Safety Building will be. This is being done free of charge by Conner Contracting, who has built many Public Safety Buildings, with the most recent one right in East Montpelier. Getting to a total project cost with all the details and State and Federal regulations required for such a building will take most of 2023. Paralleling this timeframe, the CPSBC will continue to hold public meetings to review data and present the status of the project, and will also research different funding availability. Yes, there will be some cost to the town, but the CPSBC is working hard to keep that to a minimum by utilizing grants, donations, etc., wherever possible. It’s our hope to utilize maintenance-free material and make the proposed building “Net 0” and a “green” building. It will allow us to have a proper decontamination bay and the modern infrastructure necessary to keep our members safe and the environment clean. We hope we will be on the Town Meeting ballot in 2024, and if approved, start construction shortly thereafter. Keeping it cost-effective by utilizing a metal building design, the building goes together much quicker with little to no wasted material. If approved by the voters of Cabot, the construction timeline should be mostly completed and the building occupied by Cabot Ambulance and Cabot Fire Department by the start of 2025. The CPSBC will continue to have public meetings that are posted, and we encourage you to attend. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at Chief@Cabotfire dept.com Be Safe! Dean Deasy, Chief Cabot Fire Department

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TOWN & SCHOOL ANNUAL MEETINGS

All items to be voted are contained in the Warnings from the Town and the School District (Town Warning printed in this issue of the Cabot Chronicle). The Warning, details about the annual meeting and reports of the past fiscal year are included in the Annual Reports.

THE TOWN ANNUAL REPORT IS NO LONGER MAILED AUTOMATI- CALLY TO ALL REGISTERED VOTERS to avoid the taxpayer expense of wasted postage and printing costs. The report is available in the Town Clerk’s office for pickup. It will also be cheerfully mailed to voters who call or email (802-563-2279 or [email protected]). The school annual report will be mailed to registered voters.

TOWN INFORMATIONAL MEETING (In person or via Zoom)

Tuesday, February 21, 7:00 p.m. at Willey Building

ANNUAL TOWN MEETING (In person or via Zoom)

Tuesday, March 7, 10:00 a.m. at Willey Building To conduct business not involving Australian Ballot CABOT SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET INFORMATIONAL MEETING (In person or via Zoom)

Wednesday, February 22, 7:00 p.m. at Cabot School Library

CABOT SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNUAL MEETING (In person) Monday, March 6, 6:30 p.m. at Cabot School Performing Arts Center

To transact business not involving Australian Ballot ALL AUSTRALIAN BALLOT VOTING

TOWN AND SCHOOL DISTRICT Tuesday, March 7, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Willey Building ( 3084 Main Street)

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Chitty Cast Announced!

by Karen Mueller Harder Cabot Community Theater is pleased to announce the amazing cast for Chitty Bang Bang! We have 41 cast members of all ages, from Cabot, Walden, Danville, Peacham, Marshfield, Plainfield, Barre, East Monpelier, Woodbury, Elmore, East Hardwick, and Craftsbury, who have begun rehearsing this delightful show for your entertainment pleasure the first weekend of May! Multiple talented kids will share the roles of Jeremy and Jemima, to allow as many kids as possible to have the opportunity to play a leading role in a performance. Caractacus Potts: Jesse Clayton Truly Scrumptious: Jessica Della Pepa Jemima: Sycada Barnes/Cora McIntyre/Althaea Irwin/Sage King Jeremy: Lucas Vitale/Dylan Meacham/Charlie Lander/Mack Hofmann Grandpa Potts: Thomas Dunbar Baron Bomburst: Colin Netzley Baroness Bomburst: Alexandra Dick Boris: Victoria Mansuri Goran: Becky Browning Toymaker: Melanie Crawford Lady Scrumptious: Erin Barry Childcatcher: Lynn-Marie Ducas Mr. Coggins: Darren Usinowicz Junkman: Spencer Vitale

With the parking available along main street, at the Willey Building during non -business hours, and the parking available at the recreation fields, there is enough parking space within walking distance to support future growth in the village of Cabot.

Miss Phillips: Mavis Hall Sid: David Irwin Violet: Elizabeth Vitale Turkey Farmer: Poppy Gletsos Captain: Spencer Vitale Soldier: Ellie Melen Stephen: Alexander Clayton Marta: Marlow Dunbar Toby: Ariabella Clayton Chef: Lynn-Marie Ducas Inventors: Luna Dunbar, Iris Jacobs, Melissa Jacobs, Darren Usinowicz, Ben Vitale, Clare Waterman Ensemble: Silas Irwin, Crosby Lynd, Kate McIntyre, Smith Reynolds, Champlain Reynolds, Evan Thompson, Moirah Usinowicz, Orion Vitale Chitty will be directed by Karen Mueller-Harder, with musical direction by Mark Violette, and choreography by Daria Babbitt. Technical staff includes Lori Augustyniak, Sam Avery, Jennifer, Wesley and William Barlow, Jeremiah, Abe, and Manny Breer, Blue Christiansen, Charlotte Foster-Fell, Barbara Halada, Megen Hall, David Irwin, RJ Johnson, Jonah Meacham, Kellon and Maia Mencucci, Cameron and Tuesday Mueller-Harder, Wolf Muller, Todd Parlo, Ama Peyman, North Reeves, Erin Rosenthal, Christina Sacalis, Louis Searles, Ewa Senkowska, Susie Socks, Emmett and Ila Steinert, Barclay G. Tucker, Elizabeth Vitale, and Paul Wade.

The planning commission asks for your support in voting “YES” on these articles to help grow the future of Cabot. If you have any questions about these articles, please reach out to members of the planning commission for further details.

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In Person or Absentee Register to Vote

Absentee voters are able to vote on all Australian Ballot items on the printed ballots. Voters attending the meeting in person and via Zoom will have the opportunity to vote on additional items from the floor, in addition to Australian Ballot items.

REGISTER TO VOTE:

There is no deadline to register to vote. You will be able to vote on the day of election. You can register to vote prior to voting by visiting the Cabot Town Clerk’s Office or going online to olvr.sec.state.vt.us. Registration will be available at the Town Clerk’s office on any day prior to the election between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Registration will be available on Election Day during the hours the polls are open, which is 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Willey Building, 3084 Main Street, Cabot, VT.

EARLY or ABSENTEE BALLOTS:

The latest you can request ballots is the close of business in the Town Clerk’s office on March 6, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. The voter or family member may request an early or absentee ballot in person, in writing or by telephone. Other persons may request an Absentee Ballot for another registered Cabot voter (in person or in writing), and the Town Clerk’s Office will mail that Absentee Ballot to the registered voter.

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Planning Commission Articles for Town Meeting

For many of us, the wording of the articles on the town meeting ballot can be confusing. We ask ourselves, “should I vote yes, or should I vote no,” or even, “what does this mean?” I would like to take a few moments to clarify for the voters of Cabot what this year’s Planning Commission articles mean for them. If you vote “YES” on the Fences Article question, it will provide a homeowner and the zoning administrator more flexibility in approving the placement of fences that are “non-agricultural/ nonlivestock.” This would mean that a homeowner would not have to place their fence based upon a zoning set back, allowing better use of their personal property. Some restrictions and permitting will still be required, but if the fence does not obstruct highway view for drivers or is not over six feet tall, your ability to obtain a permit could be significantly simplified with a “YES” vote. Many of you may recall an article last year regarding a Village Center Designation (VCD) map, and that this article passed, so why are we voting on this again, you may ask? The Town of Cabot lost their VCD in 2022 and the Planning Commission has worked diligently to get this designation back. Our application is being presented on January 23,2023, to the Downtown Board that approved VCD. The new map will need to be approved to be added to the Town Plan, as we have expanded the previous VCD area to include the recreation field at the north end of the village, and Agri Mark (dba Cabot Creamery) to the south. We would like to have this map added to the current town plan so that future VCD renewals are seamless for those involved in the process. The third article asks for a “YES” vote to remove some of the parking space requirements that exist in our current zoning regulations for places of public assembly, restaurants, offices, business services, clinics, and commercial businesses. The planning commission wants to promote future growth in the VCD area, and by removing these parking requirements we can encourage businesses to consider moving into this area.

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NOTICE Town of Cabot New Water Ordinance

On January 19, 2023, the Selectboard of the Town of Cabot, Vermont, adopted a new Water Ordinance replacing the Ordinance of August 18, 2015. This notice is published pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 1972 to inform the public of this new Water Ordinance and of the citizens’ right to petition for a vote to disapprove this new Water Ordinance. This new Ordinance regulates the use of the municipal public water system, in particular connections, allocation of system capacity, metering, backflow prevention and user fees and penalties. The full text of the Ordinance may be examined at the Cabot Town office at 3084 Main Street and may be examined during regular office hours. CITIZENS’ RIGHT TO PETITION FOR VOTE Title 24 V.S.A. § 1973 grants citizens the right to petition for a vote at a special or annual Town Meeting to disapprove the updated water ordinance adopted by the Selectboard. To exercise this right, citizens must present to the Selectboard or the Town Clerk a petition for a vote on the question of disapproving the Ordinance signed by not less than five percent (5%) of the Town’s qualified voters. The petition must be presented within forty -four (44) days following the date of the adoption of the Ordinance. Unless a petition requesting a vote is filed pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 1973, the updated Cabot Water Ordinance shall become effective sixty (60) days from the date of said adoption. Additional information pertaining to this Ordinance may be obtained by contacting Betty Ritter, Cabot Town Clerk, at 3084 Main Street, or by calling 802 563-2279 during regular office hours.

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The Realities of 911 Response in Rural Communities

Some of us more vintage folks will remember watching programs like “Emergency” and others on TV. The vision of a fully staffed crew of paid employees at the station waiting for the tones to go off and race out to rescue the citizens in peril can lead you to believe that is how it is. When you dial 911, a response is not instant. Reality is that we live in a rural area with volunteers who do not live at the station waiting for that call. This calendar year, 2023, will be the 56th year for Cabot Ambulance. The members of Cabot Emergency Ambulance Service are dedicated volunteers who continue to be here for the Cabot community 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Many people may not know that Cabot Ambulance is not a town entity – but an actual business. It was started by Dr. and Mrs. Caffin in 1967. Dr. Caffin was a doctor that had a private practice in Cabot. They started the ambulance after a patient died in the office waiting for an ambulance to come from another town. We currently have 21 people on our roster. Of that 21, five are listed inactive (which means they are not currently responding to calls), four are listed as minimal (which means they may respond to one or two calls a year), and one is not certified as a first responder. So, of that 21, that leaves:  1 Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT)  4 Emergency Medical Technicians

(EMT)  3 Vermont Emergency First Responders (VEFR)  2 Junior VEFRs (which means they

are certified as VEFRs but cannot drive due to age)  1 CPR/Driver Vermont Emergency First Responder category was started this year by the state of Vermont. It is an introductory level certification that is based on the American Heart Association Heartsaver First Aid CPR/AED certification. To earn this certification, participants take a two-day class that teaches bleeding control, basic cardiac arrest management and a few other skills focused on addressing immediate life threats. Over the years we have had many dedicated people who have carried a heavy load of call responses, often at great sacrifice to self and family. In 2022, we have had 104 911 calls. Those calls have been for various reasons, from a person requiring a lift assist without injuries to an unresponsive person. We have participated in numerous community outreach activities throughout the year, including hosting COVID- 19 vaccination clinics and two VEFR classes. We also participated in the Cabot Fourth of July parade and the Halloween Trunk or Treat and supported the Summer Arts and Music Festival with medical care and the ambulance on site. We would like to remind everyone to have your address numbers clearly posted on your house or at the end of your driveway so that they are easy to see, even in the dark. The extra time it could take us to locate your home in an emergency could be the difference between life and death. Volunteerism is down nationwide. Volunteer and paid ambulance services are seriously struggling to maintain sufficient staff to continue operations. When you or a loved one is having an emergency or an accident, the time before help arrives can seem like an eternity. Other ambulance services may be busy and then it falls into a chain of availability, making mutual aid response time lengthy. No one really thinks much about our medical and fire responders till you need them. That’s why it is so important to be a part of that emergency response team for our town. We need our volunteers in our community. If you have ever considered volunteering for the ambulance service, we would love to talk to you!

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The Cabot Fire Department Could Be the Place For You!

by Dean Deasy, Cabot Fire Chief Firefighter The most comprehensive role in the department. You can expect three twohour meetings per month; business, training and maintenance, plus fire calls—we average about 80 per year.

Associate member

For those who have received the required training from CVFD or another department but are only available on a seasonal basis.

Staff member

For those who want to serve but do not wish to be a fire fighter. Staff members do a wide assortment of tasks at various time commitments. This is a great position for members who have limited time, and or specific skill sets they could give to the department.

Junior member

For persons between the ages of 14 and 18, who have an interest in firefighting and/or service to the community.

We are a fully volunteer municipal Fire Department and can't do our job without you, the residents of Cabot. We need your support! Here’s how you can help keep our community safe and cared for:

Join our ranks! Firefighters - Staff Members - Associate Members - Junior Members. We need more volunteers and warmly welcome and train those who want to help make a difference in their community. We meet three times per month for business, training and work detail meetings. We welcome your questions and feedback. If you see a firefighter in the store, or at recycling on a Saturday morningsay hello; we would love to tell you more about what we do.

Volunteer Opportunities in CVFD Are you a Crafter….silversmith, potter,

weaver, small antiques dealer,…? Are you looking for a great venue to show off your talents?

Peacham Corner Guild is looking for crafters to become members in our co-operative shop. We are open May-December, plus a successful Christmas Show/Shop. Low commission rate, select days to work, become a part of a unique community in picturesque Peacham, VT. For more information or an application please contact: Pat Blake, 802-683-0448 or [email protected] We look forward to hearing from you!

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From page 3

“Being voted as a select board member is an opportunity to support other town people, develop community strengths, and assist in improving our town while preserving and respecting its history.” Shannon Smith and her family moved to Cabot about 2 years ago, wanting to be part of a smaller community. She has been actively involved in committees including Cabot Recreation and Cabot School PTO, which started the annual Cabot Trunk or Treat. Prior to moving to Vermont, Shannon served on the board of Directors for several non-profits including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Night to Shine, and Community Life. Shannon is currently working as a Premium Insurance auditor for Workers Comp and General Liability business policies, the position requires knowledge on how a variety of businesses operate, reading documentation on laws and policies, as well as understanding financial records and managed expenses and labor. Prior to that Shannon spent 20 years in outside account management in the construction and business communication industries, both positions required listening to the needs of others, writing proposals, and creating bids for services including Federal and State contracts with several school districts and military bases. This brief background provides you knowledge that Shannon L. Smith will be dedicated, dependable and service driven as a select board member.

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Two Nights of Twelfth Night A Huge Success

by Dana Robinson Thank you, Cabot! The Cabot Village 12th Night Celebration was an outstanding success! From Friday night with the Clash of the Tartans and Rusty Dewees, to Saturday with Odds Bodkin, Morris Dancing, Diane Huling, the Paper Lantern Parade, the Dead Ringers, and everything in between. Every event was well attended and well received. Special thanks to our volunteers, local business sponsors, the Cabot Community Association, and Neighbors in Action for cooking up a delicious community dinner. We couldn’t have done it without you!

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OBITUARIES & MEMORIALS

Francis Edward Atkins Francis Edward (Pete) Atkins, 82, of Cabot, formerly of Brattleboro, died on January 6, 2023, at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington. He was born July 6, 1940, in Brattleboro, the son of Alfred Winslow and Priscilla (Snelling) Atkins. He was a graduate of Brattleboro Union High School in 1958, and joined the Air Force in 1958, training in Texas and assigned to Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., where he spent his military career. While in North Dakota he met and married Sandra Menge, and they were married for 62 years. He first worked for Burrows Sport Shop in Brattleboro after leaving the military, and was a ski mechanic on weekends at Mount Snow. Pete worked at the Vermont Guide Service for several years. He drove delivery trucks throughout New England for C.E. Bradley Laboratories in Brattleboro, and later worked for St. Johnsbury Trucking in Westminster, and drove for Stow Mills (later United Natural Foods) in Chesterfield, NH. He drove more than a million miles throughout New England and the East Coast during his driving career. He owned and operated the Trading Post Sport Shop in Bellows Falls with his family. He was a member of the Bellows Falls Elks Lodge 1619 for many years. Pete was an accomplished bare-bow archer and, with his family, was a member of Abenaqui Archers of Brattleboro and the Vermont Bowmen, regularly competing in state and New England archery tournaments. He placed second in the New England Field Archery Tournament in 1963. Trap shooting was another competitive sport he enjoyed and he earned many trophies in trap shoot-

David J. Nichols passed after a long battle with Alzheimer’s on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at the age of 75. He was born on May 5, 1947, to Lawrence and Edith (Menard) Nichols in Northfield. He graduated from Cabot High School in 1965. After graduation, he enlisted in the Air Force where he was stationed at Otis Air Force Base in Bourne, MA. David married Cheryl Blondin on November 5, 1966, in Cabot. He leaves behind his wife Nicole Nichols, children,

Shirley Paire Shirley A. LeBeau Paire, 69, of Keene NH, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family January 1, 2023, at Cheshire Hospital in Keene. She was born in Hanover, NH, on October 20, 1953, to Eugene and Antoinette LeBeau. She moved to Keene when she was young and attended Catholic and Keene schools. She married her lifelong soulmate and parting competitions. Pete hunted extensively with family and friends in Newfoundland, Canada, for moose, Montana for mule deer and pronghorn antelope, Idaho for elk, and Anticosi Island, Quebec for whitetail deer; Cape Cod and the lakes and ponds of northern Vermont for ducks, Minnesota for whitetail deer, as well as every deer and bear season in Vermont for more than 70 years. His last hunting season was November with friends in Middlesex. Pete and his family took up bird hunting in the early ’80s, and, with their trained bird dogs, enjoyed hunting woodcock, ducks, geese, partridge and pheasant. An avid fisherman, he fished on Cape Cod, Maine, Florida, California, Quebec and the brooks and rivers of Vermont. An accomplished canoeist, he led canoe trips as a member of the Vermont Guide Service, as well as joining canoe trips on the St. Johns and Allagash Rivers in Maine. With his son Michael, he participated in white water canoe races on the West River in Jamaica and on the White River in Vermont. Having lived with his family in Brattleboro for many years, the family bought land in Cabot, building a small off-the-grid hunting camp on a trail. The camp was expanded with more solar power and became a retirement home in 2003. Pete is survived by his children Michael Peter (Anne Corey) Atkins, Marie Atkins Blackwood, Erik Mitchel (Karen Freitas) Atkins, and Kristen Rae Atkins; a sister, Ann (Snelling) Magrone; six grandchildren, his best dog Lizzie, and nieces and nephews. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: No services are planned at this time, but a memorial gathering will take place this summer. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cabot Emergency Ambulance Service, 2947 Main St., Cabot, VT 05647.

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

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COMMUNITY COMMENTARY

January 12, 2023 Dear Secretary French and the Vermont State Board of Education, Most schools in Vermont have required students and staff wear to face masks over their noses and mouths at all times in order to attend school and participate in activities since 2020. Last spring, Secretary French urged schools to drop their mask requirements, yet schools in Vermont are continuing to mask students and staff again this year through a confidential process, using special education laws. Most people assume that if the Agency of Education is allowing schools to make children wear masks, they must have ample evidence to assure concerned parents that it is safe. However, after three years of mask mandates in Vermont schools, we finally have this admission by the Vermont Agency of Education:

“...in response to your public records request, dated 1/9/2023, seeking ‘public records that contain any evidence the Agency of Education has used to determine that the use of face masks are safe for any age student, including students with special health needs, for both short and prolonged periods of time.’ After consulting with relevant Agency staff, I can and do certify pursuant to 1 V.S.A. § 318(b)(4) that no records as specified by your request exist at this Agency.” If the AOE possess no evidence of safety, then there is only the evidence of harm to consider. For three years school administrators have been hearing complaints from parents, students, and staff. Not only has there been public testimony at school board meetings, but complaints have been received behind the scenes, as well. Through a FOIA request last spring, I acquired all the email correspondences concerning masks to and from the superintendent of the Caledonia Central Supervisory Union. The emails show that as soon as school began in the fall of (see ‘Open Letter to AOE, page 5)

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COMMUNITY COMMENTARY

She insists that her so-called personal research on the safety and efficacy of masks is sound (it is not) and thus must overrule all the guidance we received from medical professionals, from the CDC to the State Health Department. We have consistently ignored her nonprofessional advice and deferred to medical professionals. We are no longer requiring the wearing of masks in school, though we do defer to the judgment of individual staff members and parents of our students to make that decision for themselves and their children. I support my school nurses who are empowered by professional training and Health Department guidelines to make clinical decisions for our students, something they have done long before anyone heard of COVID-19. And if we were to have a case where an immunocompromised student needed the protection of masks to access their education, I would not hesitate to support that, too; in fact, if I did not, I would be in violation of federal law and subject to discipline. Beyond all this, Ms. Hornblas is entitled to her opinions and to speak her mind in public, and we are entitled to ignore her, which we do. One last point - the Secretary of Education does not have wide-scale authority to second guess or overrule decisions by school boards. His authority is limited to situations in which a school board has clearly violated a statute or exceeded their authority under statute. This rarely happens, and I am aware of no circumstances where the Secretary’s authority intersects with questions about school health policy in the way that Ms. Hornblas seems to ask for.

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CONTINUED

Open Letter to AOE

(continued from page 4)

2020, the district received complaints. One student received treatment at the emergency room. Families pulled their children from school, and staff resigned. “Compliance” issues arose, and staff were reprimanded. Many of the complaints were identical with the types of hazards known to be caused by wearing PPE. The symptoms people are suffering in Vermont schools as a result of wearing masks are precisely those described by the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration. In July of 2021 I wrote an Open Letter to your agency referencing all of these resources, describing the basic OSHA workplace protections which your agency is not granting to the children and staff in your schools, and asking the Board to make a plan to assess and address the harms being done. Educators are not PPE experts, nor are they trained in the proper supervision of respiratory protection, yet they feel they are empowered, even required, to mask themselves and others under authority of the AOE. School board members are not only squelching efforts to raise this issue at public meetings, but have also asked staff and board members not to read correspondence from or respond to concerned members of the public. The AOE needs to step up and provide clear guidance, based on the evidence, since the legal ramifications of inaction continue to mount. There are numerous laws and regulations being violated, and it is only a matter of time before the courts recognize this. A recent Vermont court decision regarding the authority of school boards to impose mask mandates on students cites Title 16 in the Vermont Statutes: [Local school boards] May take any action that is required for the sound ad- Mark Tucker, Caledonia Central Supervisory Union Superintendent As we entered the 2022-23 school year, school health guidance reverted to past practice, where school nurses use their clinical judgment in determining whether and when it is advisable for a student or staff member to wear a mask. There is no specific directive from AOE requiring the widespread use of masks in school; in fact, the AOE has not required the wearing of masks in school since the Governor lifted his emergency order in the summer of 2021. Instead, the current guidance sets two narrow situations in which persons in school may be asked to put on a mask. The first case is where a student presents with symptoms of a respiratory illness and the nurse has exercised his or her clinical judgment to send the student home; in that case, the nurse may ask the student to wear a mask while waiting to be picked up by a family memministration of the school district. There doesn’t appear to be a legal definition for the word sound, but common definitions include: unharmed, healthy, and a sound policy would consider longterm consequences over all groups of people, not just the good intentions behind the policy. Whatever school boards decide about the soundness of using masks, the final decision as to whether or not an action is sound lies with Secretary French, as section 16 VSA continues to explain: “The Secretary, with the advice of the Attorney General, upon application of a school board, shall decide whether any action contemplated or taken by a school board under this subdivision is required for the sound administration of the district and is proper under this subdivision. The Secretary’s decision shall be final.” It is time to stop passing the buck. The responsibility for deciding what is sound policy in Vermont schools lies with the Secretary of the AOE. Deferring to the Department of Health is not acceptable. If the Department of Health possessed any evidence to support the use of masks in schools, why haven’t they shared it by now? As the final decision-maker, this is information Secretary French should already possess. Secretary French has already urged schools not to re-impose mask mandates, or follow CDC guidance concerning community infection levels because they are irrelevant to our small state. By these actions, he acknowledges that federal “guidance” does not supersede the Secretary’s authority or responsibility. Now is the time to stand by those decisions based on his own authority, and backed by the evidence. A thorough and transparent assessment of the use of masks in Vermont schools will assure the public that his decisions on these matters are sound. Sincerely, Amy Hornblas Licensed Health Educator

ber. This is not specifically limited to COVID-19 and applies to any respiratory illness (e.g., Flu, RSV) in addition to COVID-19. The second case, which seems to be the focus of Ms. Hornblas’ letter, occurs in limited cases where a student is immunocompromised and the wearing of a mask by the student and staff who often work in close contact is advisable from a health perspective. This guidance, as I recall the memo from the State, came to us via the U.S. Dept of Education Office of Civil Rights, and derives from Section 504 regulations that require public schools to provide access to education regardless of learning or medical challenges. I understand that Ms. Hornblas has complained to the school board and superintendent in a neighboring district about just such a case in one of their schools. In CCSU we have no such cases, so I am puzzled why Ms. Hornblas is raising this matter in Cabot. Ms. Hornblas has stridently opposed the wearing of masks in school since the first days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Show Those Garden Tools Some Love!

Garden tools have a hard life. They get shoved into muddy, abrasive, stony soil. They endure all sorts of impact, from the twists of a trowel to the stomps of a garden fork to the prying of too-large rocks with too-small shovels. And then the final insult; they are left out in the sun and rain, sometimes forgotten through an entire winter. And yet somehow, we expect them to work well when we need them. Furthermore, we’re surprised and annoyed when they are twisted, dull, have splintery handles, or are just plain missing. A little loving care can patch up the relationship between you and your garden tools. Take some simple steps, and they will be there when you need them, ready and able to work.

Rinse

After a day in the garden, rinse off the dirt. Soil can be both wet and acidic (in VT), leading to corrosion on metal tool blades. Spend a minute to rinse off tools, preferably after each day’s use. Set them in a way that they can dry promptly, and not sit wet.

Store

Put tools away at the end of the day. Easy to think “I’ll be back tomorrow, or this weekend, anyhow” and just leave the rake by the garden. But chances are you’ll get busy, with Aunt Harriet’s retirement party and the Patriot’s game and the latest series on Netflix, and whoops, that rake has been sitting out for three weeks. Even the most avid gardeners aren’t using every tool every day all season, so there’s no reason to leave them out to the ravages of sun and rain (not to mention getting lost in tall grass or run over by the lawn mower).

Sharpen and oil

At the end of the season, sharpen tools which have cutting edges (shovels, trowels, hoes, loppers). A grinder works great, or if you have time on your hands, a chainsaw file will do. Pruners are best sharpened with a small sharpening stone. Finally, wipe down all the wooden handles and metal components with a little mineral oil. Wood handles can stay in great condition for years, smooth and non-splintery. I have garden tools with wood handles that I “borrowed” from my parents 20+ years ago; they look better now than the day they came into my possession.

Be reasonable

Tools have limits and will bend and break if pushed too far. If you have a two -inch diameter sapling to remove, don’t force your loppers; go get your saw. If you have a great big ol’ rock to dig up, spare your garden fork (even though it’s already in your hand) and get a rock bar, or at least a sturdy shovel. Be good to your tools, and they’ll be good to you!

This garden article is brought to you by Susan Socks, aka the Garden Goddess. Stay tuned for upcoming articles on lawn care, pruning, garden tools, edible landscapes, homesteading, and more. For gardeninghelp , visit www.SocksFamilyFarm.weebly.com or call 802.498.7785.

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All ARPA Funds Allocated

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

The Selectboard is responsible for allocating and spending the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds received by the Town. The Town received a total of $430,583.43 from the Federal Government during the 2021 and 2022 calendar years. The money has collected $93.33 in interest, resulting in a total of Recipient

Town of Cabot Recycling Center Wastewater System Water System Willey Building Town Clerk & Listers Selectboard Rec Committee & Rec Field Trails Committee Fire Department Library Non-Profits & Cabot School District Cabot Ambulance Cabot School Cabot Chronicle CVFiber Total Money Allocated

Left over money from completed projects Balance of Total Projects issued money

The Recycling Center allocation was for repairs to the facility, mostly for replacing the back door and the roof, as well as improving lighting within the building. The funds allocated for the Wastewater and Water system were for several pump upgrades and repairs. There were new heat pumps installed at the Willey Building, and funds were also allocated to replace the windows in the Town Clerk’s Office. The Town Clerk and Listers received funds to upgrade their computers, as well as for color copiers. The Town Clerk’s office was also allocated funds to purchase software and to make the land records available on-line. The Selectboard also used APRA funds to purchase the video conferencing technology known as the “OWL” they are using for board meetings. At the recreation field, funding was assigned to install electricity in the pavilion. And the recreation committee was allocated money for port-a-potties, sport shirts, a bicycle pump track, and solar panels for concerts and movies. The trails committee was also allocated funds for a 20% match to the Lamoille Valley Trail grant they received. The Selectboard allocated money to the Fire Department to purchase a myriad of new equipment, including a hose washer and a gear dryer. The Fire Department was also allocated money to repair the generator at the fire station. Since the Fire Department is overseeing $430,676.76 under the auspices of the Selectboard. The regulations governing the ARPA funds required the Selectboard to allocate the money by the end of 2024 and spend the money by the end of 2026. The Town Clerk’s Office provided an accounting of how the ARPA funds were allocated by the Selectboard. The following table breaks down the allocations by recipient.

Money Allocated 376,882.53 51,365.00 63,000.00 30,000.00 69,000.00 41,226.53

999.00 28,625.00

2,667.00 65,000.00 25,000.00 65,000.00 5,000.00 50,000.00 441,882.53

11,218.81 430,663.72 the demolition of the building at 2466 Main Street, it was allocated some funds to cover a portion of the cost of demolition. Cabot Library received funds to hire a youth librarian for the FY2023 fiscal year, with the understanding the Library Trustees would determine how to fund the position in the future. The Selectboard also allocated money to non-profits and the Cabot School District. Cabot Ambulance was allocated funds to help purchase a new piece of equipment to replace one that was failing. The 3rd/4th grade class at Cabot School was allocated funds towards their fundraising to build a new playground at the school. The Cabot Chronicle was allocated enough funds, in addition to the normal town appropriations, to publish an edition on a monthly basis for the FY2023 fiscal year. And the board allocated funds to CVFiber to match grants that would be allocated for building the fiber network within Cabot. Details of individual allocation amounts can be obtained from the Town Clerk.

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Building Demolition Controversy

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

At the January 3 Selectboard meeting, both neighbors of 2466 Main Street were present to express their concerns regarding the demolition of the building and the planning process During the public comment portion of the meeting, Tricia Scribner started the discussion by expressing concerns about availability of meeting minutes and recordings on the town website. She said she found the Cabot Chronicle to be more informative. A lengthy discussion ensued regarding the website before Ama Peyman asked how they, as neighbors to 2466 Main Street, go about being invited to the planning meetings. Tricia also questioned why the meetings are not announced. Mike Hogan responded that the meetings are announced, and Tricia pointed out if you don’t go to the village store how would one see the announcement. She asked why they are not on the town website, and why is the fire department overseeing the project. R.D. Eno answered that the Fire Department is part of the Town. He added the Fire Department may be managing it, but the Selectboard has ultimate responsibility. Eric Scribner asked how the board could pursue this project when it was voted down five years ago. Mike said the vote was only advisory and it was defeated by six or nine votes. The vote occurred on August 14, 2018, and the article read as follows: “Shall the Town of Cabot advise the Selectboard to pursue various funding options to construct a future Fire Department/Ambulance facility on recently purchased property at 2466 Main Street, Cabot?” According to the Town Clerk, the results of the vote were 195 Yes and 218 No, a margin of 23 votes (47% Yes/53% No). Mike said the Fire Department did a lot of work and the board approved their recommendations. R.D. added the board went to the town to get a sense of public opinion, but the Selectboard, on its own authority, decided to move forward with the project. Mike noted state statutes give the Selectboard the authority. Tricia asked why the Selectboard didn’t follow the results of the advisory vote and she said sarcastically “I like how you always use the word authority.” She explained that their house was their retirement home and she moved there specifically because she was raised in this town. Ama reiterated her request that neighbors get invited to the planning meetings. Dean Deasy, Fire Chief, responded that they had not set a new date for another meeting. Mike asked Dean how everyone was going to be notified and Dean responded with postings and they were going to use Front Porch Forum. Mike mentioned the Cabot Connects page on Facebook, and Dean said they could do that, too. John Cookson queried the board regarding going to the voters to ask how to pay for a new building. Mike answered that when the Fire Department puts together an actual plan, it would eventually go before the voters. Tricia asked about a demolition plan, or lack thereof, and Mike explained that they received bids from contractors and Hogan Construction was awarded the contract. R.D. said that Steve Hogan had the most complete bid, and it was the lowest. He added that the board had very good reasons for accepting his bid. There was some discussion about how the funding of the demolition was being accomplished and that the Fire Department budget was contributing some of the money. John Cookson said the way this is being run seemed “sheisty” to him, with the Fire Department throwing money into it when they don’t have a building approved yet. Ruth Goodrich asked if the Fire Department put money towards the purchase of the building, and Michelle responded that they provided $15,000. The discussion ended, but then resumed when the agenda reached the line item regarding the demolition of 2466 Main Street. At that point, Betty Ritter told the board about an email she sent them regarding the “hoops” that need to be jumped through to get an asbestos inspector. Steve Hogan added that there is a firm out of Burlington that does the testing. He said he hired them, and if there is asbestos, he’ll remove it safely, and a report will be submitted to the Town. Tricia asked how notification would be sent to neighbors. She noted she works from home and there are children in her home. R.D. agreed the town needs to address how we are notifying these two homeowners directly and expressed that he shares their concerns. Mike said that was the assumption the board made when Dean said he would talk to the neighbors. Tricia retorted that no one had knocked on her door. She said she would be more understanding if she was informed of what was going on. Dean stated that when he stopped to see Nate and Ama Peyman, he knocked on the Scribner’s door. Ama said she was really concerned about communication. She explained that they had made it happen. And they made Dean talk to them. Ama went on to express concern about a toxic release when the ground is dug up, and was worried about leaching. Tricia also asked about state inspections. Steve explained that no approvals are needed, as only Town rules and regulations apply, and there are currently none. He added that the state only requires approval regarding asbestos. Dean ended the discussion by stating he wants to follow up with the Scribners and Peymans. He explained the town does have Connor Contracting overseeing the project, and they are not rushing by any means. He said they are taking the right steps. He added Connor Contracting is a third party and has been doing demolitions for many years.

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Jane Brown, “That corn-fed Cabot girl”

by Amanda Legare Jane (Bolton) Brown, 91, is a fifthgeneration Vermonter and the third generation to grow up and live in Cabot. As a child, Jane loved being outside. Her great-grandfather, John Bolton, first came to Cabot around 1865, after serving in the Civil War, and began farming on 120 acres of land on Cabot Plain. Over the years, his youngest son, Aaron, (Jane’s Grandfather) increased the property to become one of the largest and most successful farms in Cabot. He milked “upwards of 50” registered Holsteins on 960 acres on the Plain. It was the highest working farm in Vermont, having at one time or another cattle, horses, turkeys, chickens, swine and sheep. Jane grew up on the farm. She was an only child and enjoyed hunting, fishing and working on the farm with her father. Her mother, Arletta Bolton, grew up in East Barre and became a schoolteacher. “I drove tractors and drove horses. I would do almost anything to get out of doing housework,” Jane said. “But I didn’t milk. My mother said that would ruin my hands. She was afraid I would end up as a farmer’s wife.” Jane enjoyed her childhood in Cabot. “Those were wonderful years, endless days of being kids. After work we would go swimming in the pond, usually I was with a host of cousins. We were responsible for getting the cows in and doing some farm work.” Her mother’s first teaching job was at the Plains School where she had 31 students. She also taught in West Danville and later in Cabot Village. The Plains school was a standard school built on land donated by Jane’s grandparents. “My mother was definitely hands on and had control of her students. I’m sure she would have been fired today,” she said. “Everyone walked to school. In the winter our boots and mittens were frozen. We always knew the older kids had our backs,” she remembered. Jane graduated from eighth grade in the Plains School in 1944 and then went to Cabot Village for high school, and rode her bike to the village every day (more than four miles each way) until snowfall. “Then I boarded in town until the roads were passable again in the spring. I boarded with Ned and Julia Barnett, who lived one house up Whittier Hill Road from what was Dr. Burbank’s, where Westervelts live now. Ned was overseer of the poor and operated a small dairy farm there. I helped Julia with housework, and they had another high school student, Dick Blodgett, living there who helped Ned on the farm, and they also took care of an elderly woman, so there was plenty of work to do.”

Jane Brown Although Jane describes herself as “a cut-up” in class, she stayed out of serious trouble. “We were taught to be respectful, there was not a lot of disruption,” she said. Her class started out with 14 members and at graduation in 1948 they were down to six. She graduated with Jeannette Bickford, Howard Carpenter, Murial Pike, Larry Thompson, and Beverly Walter. “My mother wanted me to be a nurse. Fortunately for me, I couldn’t get into the fall class in 1948 and I was all set to work on the farm with my dad; but my mother was a force of nature. When our class got home from our graduation trip to New York City, I was told I was enrolled in the Burlington Business School. So, I learned bookkeeping, shorthand and typing, skills that helped me the rest of my life.” Her first job was for Fairbanks Scales in St Johnsbury, where they called her “that corn-fed Cabot girl.” “In the 1950s I got an itch to be an airline stewardess,” she remembered. She attended McConnell Airline School in Minneapolis. “I was only 20, but Eastern Airlines hired me and assigned me to a ticket office in New York City until my 21st birthday, when I’d be old Jane, Dance class, about 1937 CHS Chearleaders, about 1946. Velma Urban and Jane Bolton enough to be a stewardess. I soon discovered I couldn’t make enough money there to support myself, so I came home.” She married Raymond Dimick in 1953 and they had three children – Bill, Bob, and Jamie, all of whom now live close by. Her husband died in 1969 when he was 42 years old. “The boys, then 11, 9 and 5, and I were on our own for about 13 years.” She held numerous jobs during those years, often more than one at a time, in St. Johnsbury area, including working for the school district and operating a cross-country ski shop. She also worked in Peacham for William J. Lederer, the author of “The Ugly American.” In 1979 she started working for the Social Security Administration in Montpelier. She met her second husband, Fred Brown, there and they were married in 1983 and lived in a mostly unwinterized cottage at Joe’s Pond, in Cabot. Her mother died in 1991 and her father died four years later. Jane and Fred moved into the house her father had built in 1962, overlooking Joe’s Pond. “I had always enjoyed writing and while at Social Security I took various adult education courses, including journalism.” She ended up writing freelance for area newspapers, something she continues to do today. She was active in the Joe’s Pond Association (JPA), serving as co-chair of the boat parade, Ice-Out Contest, and recently retired after 20 years as secretary. She still maintains a blog, “Joe’s Pond Reflections.” “Around 1995 Velma Smith approached me to work with her to update burial records in Cabot’s seven cemeteries. They were all in sad shape at the time and Velma was working to restore and reclaim each one. “We got permission from Peg Abbott and May Wheeler to use the documentation they had done in 1984, and updated burials; then we constructed maps of each cemetery showing numbered lots and placements, indexing accordingly.

“Those maps are still being used in the town office. After completing the updating and mapping, I put all the information into a database to be used at the town clerk's office. I don't know what happened to that. At one time there was a dedicated computer set up for public use to aid in researching.” She was also an auditor for the town for a number of years. She co-authored 24 Jane Graduates from Air Hostess School 1951

“Cabot, Vermont, A Collection of Memories from the Century Past” (published 1999) and most recently co-authored, “West Danville, Vermont: Then and Now 1781 – 2021,” which took eight years to research and write. She became active in the Cabot Historical Society (CHS). “I began collecting, archiving and digitizing documents and photographs, perhaps in 2006 or so. I'm guessing I've put together perhaps three dozen albums altogether, and still consider myself the CHS archivist. I also published several books and pamphlets for the CHS, created their original website, and made a DVD of old photos of the town. “I had a good working relationship with Bonnie and Peter Dannenberg for many years. When Fred became ill, I turned the website over to CHS and Peter has done a great job continuing it. Fred Brown died in 2020. “I have a wonderful family and many friends, and I appreciate that I get to live where I do, in a town and state that I love, and that I can spend my time writing, painting, reading, lunching with friends, or whatever else I choose to do,” she said recently. Her friends describe her as “energetic and smart,” “phenomenally sharp,” and “a really practical problem solver.” “Above all she is really kind,” concluded Diane Rossi of Joe’s Pond.

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Neighbors in Action Wintertime at our Food Share

by Elizabeth Vitale As we move into this milder winter, the food share at Neighbors in Action continues to speed along. Compared to 2021, demand for food in the months of November, December and January nearly doubled! That means that we distributed 770 boxes of food over seven food shares in the winter of 2021 compared to 1350 boxes of food over the same time in 2022! Our hearts are warmed to know we were able to support so many families during the holidays. Between our two locations, we are consistently distributing food to people in need from 70 different towns in Vermont – mostly central Vermont and the NEK. While we are ever hopeful that the increases we’ve seen will soon level off, with the continuing reduction of pandemic support, we are finding it more and more tricky to keep up! Neighbors in Action staff and volunteers have really stepped up to the challenge though – expending numerous hours of time and effort to make sure no one walks away empty handed or goes hungry as long we can help them. One of our biggest challenges recently has been dog and cat food. You may not be aware, but not only does Neighbors in Action feed human family members, we also don’t want our clients’ furrier family members to go hungry. We have not been able to get the same donations of pet food that we have in the past. Therefore, for the month of February, Neighbors in Action will be holding a Pet Food Drive! We hope you will help by donating unopened bags of dry dog or cat food, canned food, or other pet supplies. You can drop off donations at Neighbors in Action at 3339 Main Street in Cabot Thursdays, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. or call us at 802-563-3322 to schedule a time to donate. Looking forward to the spring, we are also hoping you, our local gardeners and farmers, can help with the everincreasing food prices. Food prices are continuing to go up for everyone and growing a garden for yourself is an excellent way to save money at the register! With minimal extra effort, you can also make a huge difference to your neighbors in need. When planning your garden, please consider planting an extra row for our food share! Food donations are always appreciated at Neighbors in Action, and we are happy to provide a letter for tax purposes for any donations made. We know that we will all make it through these challenging times because together we are stronger, and we have such a wonderful, supportive community! If you are interested in donating or volunteering for Neighbors in Action, please check out our website at www.NeighborsinActionVT.org

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CLA Decline

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

The Common Level of Appraisal (CLA) is a statistical number the state determines based upon recent home sales. This number represents the accuracy of the current appraised values of properties in the town and is used to determine the school tax rate. The CLA does not affect town or highway tax rates. Jeannie Johnson, Board of Listers Chair, announced at the January 3 Selectboard meeting that the listers had been anticipating a drop in the CLA. She explained the CLA is the relationship between the value the listers put on property compared to market value. She said ever since COVID-19 hit, the CLA has fallen significantly. She noted some properties have sold for as much as double the appraised value. She said this is nothing the town has any control over and stated that the State orders a reappraisal when the CLA drops below 85%, or exceeds 115%. The CLA for Cabot has dropped to around 75%. The board discussed with Jeannie the cost of doing a reappraisal, and they recalled that in 2020 the cost was around $80,000. Jeannie explained there is a possibility of doing a statistical reappraisal for about $20,000. The process would involve looking at a distribution of properties to confirm the accuracy of the current listings, and then using the available data to update the underlying tables that determine the appraised values for all the properties. Jeannie explained that since a large number of towns are being affected by a significant drop in the CLA, they all can expect a reappraisal order from the State. She noted there are not enough appraisers in the state to handle all those towns doing a full reappraisal at the same time. She continued to explain the listers would work with Property Valuation and Review Division of the Tax Department toward approval from the State to use the statistical method. R.D. Eno recalled the board had talked about a reappraisal fund and Michelle Leclerc responded with an amount of $63,000. R.D. then asked if it would be out of line to seek appraisers now and be the first in line. Mike Hogan asked what the benefit was to being sooner or later. At this point, Rory Thibault, chair of the School Board, explained to the Selectboard that the CLA is used by the State to equalize school taxes across towns. He speculated that even if the school district level funded the budget, when the CLA drops, the school taxes go up.

Rory continued to explain that there is a huge change in school tax calculations coming the year after next, and that having a balanced CLA would help show that Cabot is benefiting from the changes made by the State. A member of the public, Tricia Scribner, speculated that the reappraisal seemed like it would affect a lot of people in a lot of different ways. She wanted to know how that would be communicated. Jeannie said that the listers tried to keep everyone informed for the last reappraisal through the Cabot Chronicle. Mike then asked if the statistical method involved inspection of homes. Jeannie said a certain percentage would be revisited to validate the lister data. Rory was concerned about which homes would be evaluated. He expressed that when he looked at the State’s data, he saw that a few expensive properties were significantly skewing the CLA downwards. Jeannie explained that she thinks the test sites will be a spectrum of properties just to validate the data entered into the appraisal software. Jeannie recounted the process done for the last reappraisal. The town put out a Request for Proposal (RFP) and only got two bids. Mike asked the board if they wanted to “chew on it” or be proactive. Then he asked Jeannie if she could get back to them in two weeks with more information on a statistical reappraisal. Jeannie responded that February would be a better goal. The Selectboard decided to revisit the subject at the January 19 meeting, and Jeannie was present to answer questions. Mike queried Jeannie as to whether there was any new information. Jeannie said she had been talking with the district advisor and relayed that she thought a statistical appraisal was appropriate. She felt that it shouldn’t be assumed the town would contract the same appraiser, and she had started the paperwork to move forward. Mike asked if she was pursuing a statistical reappraisal and she affirmed that was the assumption she was working under. She reassured the board that the State and the last appraiser agreed that a statistical reappraisal was all that is needed. Mike then asked if the town should get into the queue, and Jeannie said it was necessary to keep the CLA under control. She added that she was assuming that the reappraisal would have to go out to bid but suspected the town may only get one bid. The board subsequently approved a motion to request an RFP for a statistical appraisal.

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Girl Scout Cookie Season

Preorder cookies or look for booths starting mid-February Girl Scouts have kicked off the 2023 Girl Scout Cookie season. If you know any Girl Scouts, ask them how to get cookies! Most Girl Scouts are already taking orders in person and online and can personally deliver cookies to their local customers starting about February 10. Order your favorite cookies for shipment directly to your front door starting February. 27, including the new Raspberry Rally cookie or favorites like the Thin Mint or Samoas. In addition to online ordering, you may use the Cookie Finder to locate a booth near you and purchase cookies in person from girls at the iconic cookie booths, which will run from mid- February through March 19. New this year, the Raspberry Rally cookie is exclusively offered through digital channels for direct shipment only, enhancing girls’ e-commerce sales and entrepreneurial skills. This latest approach will help guide their evolution of the cookie program for the digital future.

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Annual Report to the Community

The CCA supports the following programs – Cabot Visual Arts, Greater Cabot Area Working Landscape Network, Economic Development Workgroup, Cabot Child Care Initiative and The Cabot Chronicle, and grassroots efforts led by Cabot residents. Activities this past year include:  Working with a large team to coordinate Cabot 4th of July, reported to be the biggest and best organized parade, collaborating among CCA, Fire Department, the Town of Cabot and other team members. We promoted local business to ramp up food offerings for profit and organizations developed fundraisers, which we will build on for the 2023 event.  Hosting the Cabot Fall Foliage event to promote local businesses (Burtt’s Orchard, Molly’s Falls Farm, Goodrich’s Maple Farm, The Den, Cabot Village Store, Cabot Art Barn) and enjoy Cabot’s fall foliage (Cabot Trails, Shutterbug car tour). An important success this year was convincing the NEK Fall Foliage committee that Cabot deserved a weekend day, not a Tuesday, to maximize the economic impact.  Publishing 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-forprofits and community groups and providing extensive space to town government.  Providing bookkeeping, administrative assistance and grant research to seven local grass roots organizations/projects who, because of their affiliation with the CCA, can solicit tax-deductible donations. These groups are Cabot Christmas Dinner, Friends of Cabot Mentoring, Ride the Ridges, NEK Warriors Soccer Club, Friends of Cabot Library, Friends of Cabot Trails, and Cabot Community Theater.  Updating the CCA website (CabotVermont.org) to better represent the vitality and diversity of Cabot and provide information on how residents can get involved in the community.  Promoting and administering CCA Community Grants for not for profits and grass roots organizations, totaling $10,000 to thirteen projects, including grants to village businesses for spring beautification, the Neighbors in Action winter toy & clothing drive and Cabot Arts 12th Night Celebration.  Maintaining the work of the Economic Development Work Group, which seeks opportunities to support and recruit local businesses. The EDWG maintains relationships with Cabot Creamery and state agencies to assist in its efforts.  Creating the Cabot Child Care Initiative to address the urgent need for childcare, including representatives from Cabot Creamery, Cabot School, United Church of Cabot, and childcare professionals. The CCCI received a $27,000 grant for a Project Coordinator and renovation of a space.  Perhaps most important, leveraging the town’s investment of $10,000 last year in CCA to secure more than $75,000 in fees, contributions, and grants, that directly support projects for Cabot residents. Respectfully submitted by the CCA Board of Directors: Paul Wade, President; Frank Kampf, Vice President; Jeannie Johnson, Secretary; Roz Daniels; R.D. Eno; Susan Robinson; Lori Augustyniak, Executive Director

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Vivian Leva and Riley Calcagno

On tour from the Pacific Northwest, Vivian Leva & Riley Calcagno write and perform old-soul roots music with stunning breadth and originality. Both Leva and Calcagno grew up in the Appalachian stringband tradition, have noted parents in the old-time scene, and spent formative years running wild around festival campgrounds. They are steeped in an instrumental culture of hard-picking and virtuosic musicianship.

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February 23, 2023

Willey Building Auditorium 3084 Main St, Cabot, VT 05647 Tickets: $12 Advance $15 Door Doors open 6:30 p.m. Music Starts 7:00 p.m. For advance tickets, visit: http://www.cabotarts.org For info call 802-793-3016 or email: [email protected] Cricket Blue’s Website: www.cricketbluemusic.com The second artists in Cabot Arts's new "Cabot Folk Club" concert series will be Burlington-based indie folk duo from Burlington, Cricket Blue. When you first hear the haunting chamber folk of Laura Heaberlin and Taylor Smith, you might think of Simon & Garfunkel or of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. Cricket Blue were voted "Best Folk Group" in Vermont's Seven Daysie Awards and they've played stages and folk festivals around the United States and Canada. NPR Music calls Cricket Blue "master storytellers" and the All Scene Eye says Cricket Blue "sets a new standard for fiction-folk." For more information specifically about the Cabot Folk Club, visit https://www.cabotarts.org/folk-club and the Substack essay "The Cabot Folk Club."

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Cabot Harvest Hub

by Sarah Spletzer-Welters, Manager

What to do with that January Winter Blues?

When December, full with celebrations and lights on strings, turns into January, I often feel like winter is just . . . so long! And dark. One of my favorite things to do when I get into that winter-blues-kind of-feeling is to look at pictures of last summer and to try to remember what it actually felt like - and that it will come back eventually! I either look at family albums or one of Erin Benzakein's flower books. Or I take out a jar of pickles for lunch and think of how I picked them in our green, greenhouse in August. The Harvest Hub offers plenty of opportunities to remember summer and soak up (or soak in) a little bit of sunshine. We've got tea, we've got tangerine calendula bath, we've got pickles and honey and jams and . . . you get the idea. And best of all? They were all grown right here, by your neighbors, under a bright Vermont sun. Do enjoy.

Order between Monday at noon and Thursday at 5pm at www.cabotharvest hub.org. Pick up your order on Saturday mornings between 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. at the Neighbors in Action building on 3339 Main Street in Cabot.

Big news: CVFiber has begun construction on our 1,200-mile fiber network! We'll begin offering service to our first customers this spring. 2023 is off to a good start, thanks to our recent mild weather. We're planning to keep the work going continuously throughout the year. This is the time when all the dreams, the planning, and all the hard work start to become reality! Here are the headlines:  Network construction began in December.  We're preparing for a very active 2023 construction season.

 You can now sign up to be notified when CVFiber reaches you.  A federal map of Internet availability is badly inaccurate in Vermont. We're asking you to check your address and report errors.  In December, the Governing Board adopted a budget for 2023.  As our operations grow, we're seeking volunteers to join us in the work. To volunteer for a committee or sign up to receive regular updates, go to cvfiber.net.

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Five Photos Selected as Standouts in Community Contest

Cabot School is excited to announce the winners of The Meaning of Cabot Photo Contest. Clockwise from left to right in the collage: “Summer Sunset” by Cabot School ninth-grader Ian Bailey (first place); “Winter Visitor” by Cabot School staff member Angela Ward (honorable mention); “Burtt’s Orchard on Foggy Morning” by Cabot resident Rosalind Daniels (third place); “Fond Friendliness Found in Cabot” by Cabot resident Frank Kampf (second place); and “Sleigh Ride in Lower Cabot” by Cabot School 12th-grader Anthony Butts (honorable mention). The winners and finalists, along with written comments from the photographers about their work, will be featured in an exhibit at Cabot School Performing Arts Center this winter. The public is invited to the opening on February 9 from 6-7 p.m. This free event will include live music with Cabot student musicians and a guest artist, refreshments, and a silent auction of signed prints from the contest, with proceeds going toward the construction of a new playground at Cabot School. Now in its second year, The Meaning of Cabot Photo Contest is an opportunity for people who live, work or attend school in Cabot to reflect on their community and what it means to them through their original photos. Of the 19 submissions received this year, Cabot School staff selected 12 as finalists. The community chose the winners — without knowing the photographers’ identities — during voting that began at the December 17 Holiday Market in Cabot Village and continued online through December 31. Ninety-nine ballots were cast in the contest, which for the first time was open to school staff and community members in addition to Cabot students.

Note: Donate blood in February for a $10 Gift Card by email from

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

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From page 12

In June of 2022, we graduated a class of nine students, all of whom had robust post-secondary plans. They are now attending college, have become certified EMTs, have traveled, work in education, and are members of Americorps. The class of 2022 is a showcase of our work as a community school. This graduating class was the first to complete Senior X, an extension of what some of you might remember as IOTA. Senior X asks students to deeply consider their passions and then to take action through an internship experience and share their learning with the larger community. The portrait of a Cabot graduate is not unidimensional; we do not graduate students into just one path. The learning they experience is deeply personalized and community based. They graduate ready to be contributors wherever their path may lead. That path starts with you, our community members, and the support you show for ushering them into the world. Cabot is a Community School. Last year, my report focused on this sentiment. This year we have deepened that commitment through our project-based, arts integrated learning, community connections, and commitment to being crew not passengers.

One School. In June of 2022 we gathered together to reflect on our work across the school community to deepen our arts and literacy integration into project-based learning. The literature regarding COVID-19 recovery is clear; in order for students to actively engage in learning, they must feel it is relevant to them. Gone are the days of compliance and simply doing what you are told. Young people across the globe will be expected to apply their learning to be the next generation of leaders. We have long had the commitment to this work at Cabot School and that commitment has continued throughout our teaching and learning. In June 2022, the high school wrote

and performed an original mix-tape musical that performed to a packed house. This interdisciplinary study allowed students to deepen their historical knowledge, gain important writing skills, and demonstrate their learning creatively (all hallmarks of 21st Century learning). Our middle school students shared

their deep commitment to ocean health during their June exhibition of learning where they created visual arts pieces to compliment their studies. Two co-teaching teams and our community coordinator attended a summer Project Design Lab to create arts integrated projects that will utilize the expertise of teaching artists in Spring 2023. Our Kindergarten students created

and performed a play of their adaptation of the children’s book, Not Your Typical Dragon. Students worked with our art and theater teachers to create their props and performance.

Our 3rd and 4th grade students are

embodying what it means to be change-makers in their community with their work to design and fundraise for a new playground. Their passionate letters are professional and inspiring. Consistently, students across our school community are applying their learning in unique and creative ways.

One Community. We are now in our second year of a large Community Schools grant to help bolster our community connections and deepen our work as a Community School. Since March of 2022, we have seen our commitment to collaboration come to fruition in multiple ways.

In March 2022, our first session of afterschool programming began. Led by Sonia Scherr, our community coordinator (funded through the Act 67 Community Schools grant opportunity), this unique programming brings together community organizations such as Cabot Arts, Cabot Community Theater, and numerous other talented community members. Our afterschool program has continued and is now being used as a model in other communities. Students in grades 7-12 act as cofacilitators and are gaining valuable work experience, community service, and, thanks to grant funding, this is a paid work opportunity for them as well. We are looking forward to engaging in more intergenerational opportunities across our community (an intergenerational pottery class is currently in session). Cabot Mentoring is now housed within the school and working to rebuild their matches. A small group of community members meets quarterly to support community service opportunities across boundaries. All high school students engaged in gleaning this fall and will work with Neighbors in Action this spring.

One Crew. Being Crew means that we are responsible for each other’s wellbeing and the well-being of our community. The past two years have demonstrated that members of our community consistently show up for each other. With all of this, it is no wonder to me that our young people return to us. Recent alumni are working in our afterschool program and substitute teaching in our lower grades on their school breaks. I am always grateful for the incredible support you, as community members, show to young people; they are truly the joy of my work in Cabot and we could not do this work without your support. Respectfully, Rebecca Tatistcheff, Ed. D, Principal

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From page 13

Like some of you, I have benefitted from mentorship throughout my life. I didn’t know it was mentorship back then, but upon reflection, I see that whether it came from a softball coach, a troop leader, an adult neighbor, a boss, a colleague, or an expert in my career field, I have definitely been mentored. Mentoring relationships, whether formal or informal, can provide us with special individuals you can trust, who see and believe in you. Those who are up ahead to help you chart a path forward and develop new skills, a deeper understanding, a greater resilience. In my case, one of my dear mentors also became a longstanding friend. When you’ve received the gift of mentorship, deciding to pay that gift forward just feels right. At least it did for me. I became C.’s mentor when she was in third grade. Having recently moved to the area and a new school following her parents’ divorce, she was cautious but curious to see how this relationship collection and wood shop.

She’s teaching me things, too. I’m reading a graphic novel series that she recommended. I’m learning about online games and have become curious about virtual worlds. I’m thinking about the role cell phones and digital devices play in the lives of young people. I’m remembering how challenging growing up can be and seeing how the world is a harder place to grow up in now. Another benefit of my relationship with C. is that it keeps me grounded in mentorship as I do the work of coordinating the Cabot Mentoring program. I get to “walk the walk” as I help other mentors navigate the complexities of relationships with mentees. If you’ve received the gift of mentorship in your own life, I hope you will consider becoming a mentor to a young person in our community. Cabot Mentoring has been around a long time, but we always need mentors. We will take you through a background check, provide training, match you with a mentee, and support you as you go. You can opt to meet at school or in the community. No matter your background, if you work with your hands, think on your feet, or lead with your heart, kids need what you can offer. If you have the inclination to mentor and about an hour a week, you’ll be surprised at how much you get back. To apply or find out more, contact me at [email protected], check our website at cabotmentoring.org, or like our FB page https://www.facebook.com/cabotmentoring. Karen Hatcher, Program Coordinator Cabot Mentoring

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Cabot Trails Update

by Gary Gulka The Trails Committee is gearing up for a busy trail season this spring, summer, and fall, as we begin work under our two-year recreational trails grant from Vermont Forests, Parks & Recreation. In December, four committee members participated in a two-day chainsaw safety training program (Game of Logging, Levels 1 & 2) that was held on Will Ameden’s farm. Using grant funds, this trail season we plan to construct a one-mile trail at Burtt’s Orchard, improve several parking areas at trailheads, and install benches and informational kiosks. Work will continue linking the Cross Vermont Trail in Marshfield with the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT) in Cabot and Walden – about 16 miles of mostly offroad and backroad travel on private and public lands. We hope to make the Town Forest more accessible with improved parking and new trails. With the newly completed LVRT, we will be participating as one of six towns between Hardwick and St. Johnsbury on the trail to develop an amenities and safety plan, identify potential parking areas, and create a plan to promote points of interwould go. Her parents were supportive and hoped that having a mentor would help her build confidence and feel more connected. We started meeting weekly at school for about 45 minutes, playing games, doing simple sewing projects, chatting about our families, our likes and dislikes. By the time the school year ended, she surprised me by deciding that she would be comfortable transitioning to a community-based mentorship so we could see each other over the summer. Since then, C. has become part of our family, spending time at our home, playing games, baking, working on puzzles, engaging me and my husband in rounds of “fun facts.” Every so often we do something special like wander around Montpelier, take a big hike, go swimming, fly kites. Mostly we just like to hang out and talk. This once cautious child shares just about everything that’s on her mind. Turns out that we enjoy a lot of the same things. We love word puzzles, Scrabble, checkers, and we’re learning to play chess together. We bake, we sew. We discuss government and world events, building on what she’s learning in school. She’s interested in my husband’s rock est off the trail in our respective towns. We hope to develop a Volunteer Service Agreement which will allow us to bring on volunteers under the town’s liability insurance policy to help with trail monitoring and maintenance. Our trail maps can be found at https://www.cabotvermont.org/cabot-trails.html and are available in paper at our informational kiosks.

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SENIORS NEWS UPDATE

P.O. Box 152 East Montpelier, VT 05651 802-223-3322 [email protected] During this season of love, let’s focus on loving more than just those closest to us. Come join our seniors at the Center and feel the warmth of our kitchen, kindness of our volunteers and the fellowship of folks who enjoy being with others. We are a group of individuals dedicated to providing nutritious meals and activities that are entertaining and accommodating to all ages and abilities. Call ahead to register for lunch served at noon every Mon/Wed/Fri. We’d love to have more, hungry folks come and join us! Need a ride to and from the Center? We can arrange for transportation from your house to the center and back again. Give us a call at 802-223-3322. We also offer Meals to Go and Meals on Wheels for those needing either. These services are vital to keeping seniors in their own homes and only happen because of the team of volunteers we have and the donations we receive. Thank you for your contributions to our community! Upcoming classes and events at Twin Valley: Introduction to Digital Culture; in person on Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. starting February 13 while helping to support a great

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

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Cabot Rink is open for Winter 2023

Thanks to a hardworking crew and careful weather watching, the Cabot Rink is open for the season. The warm temperatures in January made icemaking very challenging. The rink ice depth is 3- 6”, depending on dips and rises of the ground it sits on, and the total volume of water inside the rink frame is approximately 20,000 gallons. It takes three-tofour days of temperatures well below 32 F and no snow to freeze that much water into a good solid surface. We filled the frame with water on January 14. While late, it wasn’t the latest fill we’ve done. That record is a January 20 fill in 2020. There was also a January 10 fill in 2019. There’s definitely a pattern to be seen. We’ve built rinks since 2012, and the three latest fill years are 2019, 2020, and 2023 (no rink 2021). Rink closures and conditions will be posted on the Cabot Rink facebook page.

Bone Builders with Cort Richardson;

via Zoom on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7:30-8:30 a.m. Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program

with Sue Carey; in person on Mondays and Wednesday from 9:00-10:00 a.m. Chair Yoga with Karen Kennedy; in

person on Mondays at 1:00 p.m. Tai Chi with Pat Boyle; in person on

Tuesdays from 10:00-11:00 a.m. SASH sponsored Bingo with prizes is

held every first and third Monday at 1:00 p.m. in person Blood Pressure Clinics are on the second Wednesday of the month from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Mystery Book Club is held in person on

the first Thursday of each month Central Vermont Home Health and

Hospice provides Foot Clinics on a monthly basis In-person Art Classes are advertised

periodically as well One thing we can be sure of- with winter here, spring is not far to follow! In the meantime, stay warm and safe, friends. We hope to see you soon! Please remember us when you vote on Town Meeting day.

Eugene Troia, Executive Director P.O. Box 152 East Montpelier, VT 05651 Telephone (802) 223-3322 [email protected] As in past years, there are skates for borrowing in the sheds between the benches. Please put skates away and latch the doors when you’re done. We also have sticks, nets, and pucks available; please put things away after use. If you’d like to join the rink crew, we have plenty of volunteer opportunities! Contact me at [email protected] if you’d like to join up. Huge thank you to the rink crew volunteers who set up the rink site and lined and filled the rink frame: Christy Aucoin, Shawn Everhart, Irene Harvey, Pete Hipko, Frank Kampf, Silas Robbins, Lynn Rockwell, Mary Saggerson, Harper Smith, Shane Smith, Michael Socks, Luca Socks, Netdahe Stoddard, Chuck Talbert. Special thanks as well to Thomas Vondra for snowblower service, Dean Deasy for fire department equipment, and the Cabot Recreation Committee and Town of Cabot for providing administrative and budget support.

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Conservation Corner: Conservation Committee Update

by Gary Gulka Here are few details about upcoming events that may be of interest. The 25th Annual Tree and Shrub Sale is underway, supporting the Cabot, Marshfield, and Plainfield Conservation Commissions. This is an opportunity to purchase garden and yard trees, fruits, and shrubs that have been selected for their benefits to wildlife and pollinators, not to mention a wide variety of mutually beneficial (wildlife and humans) berries and fruits. Look for plant sale flyers posted locally and a link to plant sale information on the town web site and Front Porch Forum. For convenience, you can order online: https://conservation-plantsale.square.site/. Supplies are limited, so please order early. The ordering deadline is earlier this year – March 10. Other upcoming events include the following:

 February 19, 1:00 p.m. – Outdoor Winter Animal Tracking, co-sponsored with the Cabot Library. This is a family friendly event to look for winter signs of animal activity. We will walk the McQueeney Trails starting at the trailhead on Cabot Plains Road near the cemetery and Bayley Hazen Rd. We have some snowshoes to lend out, animal tracking cards, and hot coco. More details coming. Inclement weather date: February 26.  March – Presentation on bear biology, behavior and living with bears. Cosponsored with the Cabot Library. Further details will be forthcoming.  April – Emerald Ash Borer and Ash Tree Management – Presentation on the invasive insect that is now present in Cabot. Identification and management of the problem. Further details will be forthcoming.

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WITH DEEPEST APOLOGIES . . . .

In the January 2023 issue of The Cabot Chronicle, the obituary for Joanna Houston was erroneously titled “Rachel G. Hood,” which was accidentally left over from the December 2022 Cabot Chronicle. We sincerely apologize to the friends and family of Joanna Houston and offer our deepest sympathy.

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Programs for Kids and Teens at Cabot Library

On Town Meeting Day (March 7, 2023), the voters of Cabot will have the opportunity to voice their support for the Cabot Library’s Youth Librarian, and the wide variety of programs she has developed for families in town over the last 18 months. The current Youth Librarian, Amanda Otto, was hired in the Summer of 2021, and since then has made tremendous progress developing programming geared toward Cabot youth. Programs have ranged from Story and Activity Hour, which has attracted 21 new families, to afterschool programming for elementary students, middle-schoolers and teens, including dedicated Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) offerings, cooking classes, outdoor adventure book groups for preteens, mural painting workshops, and so much more. These programs have also provided mentorship and community service opportunities for teens, including collaborations to beautify the Rec Field Pavilion area with the installation of new play equipment, a sandbox, and Story Walks. By securing grant funds, Amanda has been able to hire, train, supervise and provide real-world work experiences for nine Cabot teens over the past two summers. Without your support, these programs will come to an end at the conclusion of the fiscal year in June 2023. The following article will be put before the voters: “Shall the voters of the Town of Cabot appropriate the sum of $25,000 to the Cabot Public Library, to support the continuation of a part-time Youth Librarian position and maintain existing, youthoriented library programming in the Town of Cabot? This would supplement the $78,344 in the general budget submitted by the Selectboard, resulting in an increase over the prior year’s budget allocation of $16,092 and would cost taxpayers an additional $8.90/$100,000 household worth. A vote against the measure will result in the elimination of most current programs geared toward children and youth at the Cabot Library. The total amount ($103,344.31) has been approved by the Library Trustees.” The Library’s Board of Trustees recognize this is a significant request, and wanted to provide a bit of history, to put this effort in context. The Youth Librarian position, and associated programs, were originally funded by one-time grants from organizations including Vermont Afterschool, The Vermont Children’s Trust Fund, and with a Federal ARPA grant, provided with the support of the Select Board, from the allocation the town received to aid communities in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. These grants are no longer available. Over the past 18+ months, however, the need for youth programming has been made abundantly clear. “For many years, every surrounding town of our size has had a Youth Librarian,” said Kathleen Hoyne, Cabot Library Director. “The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for structured youth programs in the community, particularly for families with young children, home-school families, and those needing a safe, nurturing environment for their kids during the summer and outside of school hours. We’re way past due for this kind of service and support for youth in Cabot. It’s also important to note that the Youth Librarian works closely with the staff at the Cabot School to coordinate efforts to ensure the availability of a rich and varied set of program offerings for the community.” Cabot youth and their families have responded enthusiastically to programs, as highlighted in these testimonials:  “We have been so grateful for all

Amanda has done for the community” – Cabot parent  “Story & Activity Time with the Cabot

Library this summer was an engaging social and learning activity for our whole family. Weekly story hours have become an important part of our routine. It has allowed our kids opportunities to explore themes in creative ways and interact with their peers through structured and free outdoor play. We especially loved using new materials for ocean-themed art projects and going on a scavenger hunt.” – Story and Activity Time participant  “I just wanted to say again how much

my kids are loving the book club - thank you so much for doing it.” – Cabot parent  “I had a wonderful time working on the

mural and with everyone! Thanks so much for the opportunities this summer!” – Teen employee  “I really don't know what could've made

the experience better. It was an amazing experience!” – Teen employee  “I have had a lot of fun during this project and I’m proud of what I’ve done.” - Mural workshop participant  “I learned how to make friendship

bracelets and now I do it all the time. It was really fun doing this club because there were a lot of fun things to do each time we met up.” – Cabot youth program participant The reason this article has been added to the Town Meeting Day ballot, rather than included in the Cabot Library’s annual budget is because the Cabot Library Board of Trustees put forward the full amount needed to support the Youth Librarian position and associated programs in the original Library budget proposal. Because it involves support for a ‘new’ position, the Select Board indicated that they would like to put the question directly to voters, which is why this has been put forward separately. While the $25,000 allocation is significant, it actually represents only a $16,092 increase over the prior year’s budget and would cost taxpayers $8.90/$100,000 household worth. In exchange, families in Cabot will continue to enjoy a full year of engaging and much-needed programs geared toward kids. The Cabot Library Trustees, and many families support the petition to include this question on our ballots. A ‘No’ vote will eliminate the Youth Librarian position and the vast majority of Library programs geared toward youth in the community, programs that have helped make Cabot a much more welcoming place for young families to settle, in the process contributing in a meaningful way to the town’s economic health and overall vitality. Please vote ‘Yes’ to continue these critical programs and invest in the future of Cabot.

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ADVICE FROM THE TREE WARDEN

Winter has given us quite a mixed bag of weather so far. Hopefully we will see more snow and cold before winter is over and warmer weather returns. Vermont’s native plants and insects are adapted to cold weather, but many of the invasive plants and insects (invasives) are not adapted. These invasives typically are introduced to Vermont’s forests accidentally through human activities or transportation of materials. Insects such as emerald ash borer and spotted lanternfly are originally from a warmer climate zone in China and were accidentally transported to the United States during the last twenty-five years of global commerce. Both invasive insects are very well established in the United States and spreading. Climate change is also affecting our winter weather. The northeastern United States has been seeing warmer weather longer each fall. Warming is typically coming earlier in the spring, thereby reducing the duration and number of cold spells our region experiences each winter. Without extended cold weather to slow the population increase of invasive insects through mortality from extended cold, invasive insect populations will continue to expand rapidly. Many invasive plants arrived as landscape plantings that were allowed to spread beyond the yards and gardens. The plants spread into the forest or forest edges and outcompete native plants to Spotted lanternfly Emerald ash borer thrive. Invasives such as bush honeysuckle, Japanese barberry, and tree of heaven were often planted as ornamental plants and are now problematic invasive plants. Tree of heaven is also a favorite host of the spotted lanternfly and should be removed if present as an ornamental tree in your yard. As with EAB, which was found in Vermont in 2018, the spotted lanternfly will eventually come to Vermont, most likely as a passenger on a shipment of landscaping plants. This happened two years ago in Rutland County, but the spotted lanternflies were found during unloading and destroyed. If it is not found during the unloading of plants on a future shipment of landscaping plants, the spotted lanternfly may establish a population in Vermont like emerald ash borer. It will then spread quickly as it has in Pennsylvania, where it first arrived from China on a shipment of landscaping stone. This spring when choosing landscaping plants for your yard, please purchase native plants from a local nursey. There are many sources to find native plants on the web with sites such as https://homegrownnationalpark.org/, easy to find with a quick internet search.

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