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The Cabot Chronicle

March 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 March 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

Five Things You Need to Know About the FY24 Cabot School Budget

1. The budget is not subject to any form of penalty and is well below the excess spending threshold for FY 2024.

With projected per pupil spending coming in at $20,786, we are well below the excess spending threshold of $22,204. Despite the increase in requested spending, Cabot’s increase is below what many other districts are proposing. For example, Twinfield Union’s proposed budget is projecting a 12.9% increase in education spending, translating to per pupil spending of $22,555. Likewise, Danville is also projecting a 12% increase in education spending – resulting in $21,241 in per pupil spending. Each district faces its own unique challenges – from enrollment to facilities. Ultimately, if each district approves its budget, Cabot would have the lowest per pupil spending versus our neighbors for the first time in many years. The excess spending threshold has been suspended in anticipation of major changes to Vermont’s education finance system in FY25. It has always been an imperfect measure that attempted to prevent schools from overspending – but made no allowance for special education costs or student demographics, much to Cabot’s detriment.

2. The increase in education spending is below the rate of inflation. The projected $173,246 increase in Under $47,000 94 $47,000 - $90,000 238 $90,000 - $137,000 35 Over $137,000 82

- Total 449 education spending constitutes a 5.3% increase. The increase is led by a 12% increase in healthcare costs (negotiated at the state, not local, level), increased costs of services and supplies, budgeting for positions that were previously grant funded or supported, and finally the Board decision to replenish the capital reserve fund with $40,000 that was drawn down in prior years. We felt this was critical given the uncertainties of the State’s commitment to PCB mitigation in schools and concerns over the reliability of the wood chip heating plant. In sum, for households paying on homestead value, this will amount to a $0.03 increase in the projected tax rate versus the rate approved by voters last year ($1.74 per $100 of homestead value). The actual rate was $1.68 for the current year based on the legislature committing part of a $92 million dollar surplus in the education fund that reduced approved rates statewide.

3. 74% of Cabot Homesteads pay either 2.0% or 2.36% of their income in education property taxes – not by the homestead tax rate

For years, the myth or misconception that the education tax rate is disproportionately impacting those on a fixed or limited income has persisted. This is simply not the case, so long as the Vermont Property Tax Credit is claimed as part of annual income tax filings.

(see ‘Five Things’, page 3) CABOT HOMESTEAD DEMOGRAPHICS 21% Flat rate – 2.00% of income Income sensitivity rate - 2.36% of 53% income Combination of income sensitivity rate and homestead tax rate Homestead tax rate - $1.77 or $1,770 8% 18% per $100,000 of homestead value

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 1 onward.

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Who’s Running for What? Questions You Might Have Asked

by Jeanne Johnson Only two elected offices this year are contested – a two-year selectboard seat and a three-year selectboard seat. (See ballots in this issue to see all candidates, challenged or not.) The Cabot Chronicle asked each candidate for the two contested seats the following four questions: Answers follow each question in alphabetical order by candidate last name. Shannon Smith confirmed she received the questions, but did not provide answers by the time the paper was prepared for printing.

1. Thank you for being willing to serve. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO RUN?

Larry Gochey: I am running for selectboard to serve my hometown.

The Board recognizes there are many reasons why voters may choose to support or not support the proposed budget. We do, however, want to ensure voters understand whether the anticipated homestead tax rate has a direct impact or not. The Board works hard to keep rate increases to a minimum, with the limited metrics we can control. For more information on the Vermont Property Tax credit, visit: https://tax.vermont.gov/property/tax-credit.

4. Income sensitive households will see a slight decrease in their tax liability. Because the education finance “income yield” is calculated differently that the “property yield,” those paying education tax on homestead income will see a slight reduction – irrespective of what the Cabot district budget is, since this is a statewide rate. The increase in the income yield means the income sensitive rate drops from 2.49% to 2.36% - reducing education tax liability for a majority of households in Cabot. The table shows the potential scenarios for Cabot residents:

5. The drop in the Common Level of Appraisal will trigger a reappraisal

The common level of appraisal (CLA) is based on actual home sale prices versus assessed home values. The drop in

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 1 onward.

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One of Cabot’s Finest Has Retired After a Long Career in Agriculture

Governor Scott presented Diane a flag flown over the State House to honor her service to Vermont Diane Bothfeld retired in January from the Agency of Agriculture with the official title of Director of Administrative Services. Diane held many positions along the way. She was dairy specialist, Deputy Secretary, a trouble shooter, a budget builder and budget watcher, and a problem solver. But Diane’s finest title was “Friend of the Farmer.” Diane’s roots in farming can be traced to a backroad in Cabot on a road named after her family. There she learned to feed the calves, milk the cows, toss hay bales, cut the corn and volunteer to make her community a better place. Those early days shaped a career in Agriculture grounded in hard work, common sense, and hope. From UVM to Franklin County to the St. Albans Co -op, Diane tackled each task like a farmer. There aren’t many who can keep pace with Class 1 milk price differentials and butter trends coming out of some office in Chicago. Diane did, and she was a national expert and respected from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin to California and Washington. Her talent led to policy in DC and across the country. She was never a complainer and Diane did her work with professionalism and fun. A world traveler, from Africa with the cheetahs to the beer halls of Germany, to the Sand of Turks and Caicos, it’s time for Diane to tackle new adventures outside of state houses, board rooms and barn yards. May Diane’s retirement be filled with dairy and a double IPA, pickleball and golf. We are grateful for her consistent leadership, helping our farmers and Vermonters, and wish her well in her new journey that all began on a hillside in Cabot.

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Starting Vegetables from Seed

It’s that time of year, when your zealous garden friend/neighbor/family member is telling you about the tomatoes they started in February, “to get a jump on things”. No doubt this leaves you feeling like you’re hopelessly behind, why even bother . . . . Well, actually, you’re not behind. Not even close to behind. You’ve still got plenty of time, and you’ve probably saved yourself a ton of work. Seedlings started in February need a LOT of care to make it to May planting: ever-larger pots, more potting soil, lots of space, and air movement. Without it, these early-planted seedlings become spindly, rootbound, and susceptible to fungus & edema. At our homestead in the hills above Cabot village, we do three rounds of seed starting: late March, early May, and early June. Late March seeding is for plants headed to our unheated greenhouse: tomatoes, peppers, onions, cucumbers, herbs, greens, and annual flowers. Early May seeding is for our outdoor vegetables: winter squash & pumpkins, and sweet corn. Early June is directsowing of seeds into prepared beds outdoors: beans, carrots, beets, chard, radishes. So why wait so long? Two reasons. First and foremost is soil temperature. Plants don’t really take off and thrive till the soil has warmed. Soil warms much more slowly than the air. If you don’t believe me, go outside on a 70F day in late April and stick your fingers 4” in the ground. Brrr! Even through most of May, the soil remains chilly. In my experience, you can plant seedlings weeks apart, and they’ll all look about the same in late June, because early-planted seedling will sit and wait till the soil is warm enough, and late-planted seedlings take off immediately. And remember, you don’t have to start from seed at all. Several local places sell excellent vegetable plants in late spring. It costs more than starting from seed, but it’s less work for you, and supports a local business. Happy growing!

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

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Cabot Rink Update

by Susan Socks It’s been a tough year for those who love winter sports. Local downhill ski spot Burke Mountain didn’t open most runs till mid January. The beautiful four -mile nordic skate track at Lake Morey has not opened as of mid February. The Islands Ice Fishing Derby in Lake Champlain was canceled. The Rideau Canal Skateway, usually open in January in reliably cold Ottawa, has yet to open, and may miss its first season since its inception in 1971. And Cabot Rink, despite valiant efforts, has been closed more than it’s been open. The rink was flooded January 14. It was skatable several days later, but then we experienced the first of many wet, heavy snows in January. Once the temperatures finally dropped, the rink was re-flooded and re-surfaced, to repair the damage caused by the wet snow. Unfortunately, mid-February brought more challenging weather, with temperatures above freezing even overnight, and more wet snow. Warm temperatures combined with snow is the worst possible combination for an outdoor rink. With the slab temperature just barely below freezing, any snow that falls compresses and melts, causing a layer of slush between the slab and the snow. Pretty quickly, there isn’t a “surface” at all anymore, just a gradient of snow, watery slush, slightly lesswatery slush, and porous ice. We will keep our fingers crossed for cold weather late February, and do our best to have the rink open for as many skating days as possible. Thank you to the Cabot Recreation Committee, Cabot Volunteer Fire Department, and all the many volunteers who make the rink possible each year. For the most current rink updates, visit the rink page on Facebook, www..facebook.com/CabotRink.

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Who’s Running

(see ‘Who’s Running’, page 3)

Karen Larsen: Cabot Selectboard membership is something that I have been considering for several election cycles. The next few years will be important ones for the future of Cabot, and I would love to contribute to community conversations and decision making in ways which will help to shape that future. My family and I have lived in Cabot for eighteen years, I am a business and homeowner, and I follow the issues and deliberations of the Selectboard closely. I believe I have the skills, experience, and enthusiasm to be a contributing member of the Selectboard and -most importantly

– to be helpful to the community. From a more personal perspective, I am aware that Cabot Selectboard membership requires time, availability, and substantial work beyond the bi-monthly meetings. I take membership on the Selectboard seriously and wanted to make sure that I could be fully committed to this important position before seeking election. It is only in the last year that some of the professional and family responsibilities that have hallmarked my life for the last two decades have begun to shift in ways that make space for this kind of service. 2023 is the right time to (finally) launch my candidacy for a twoyear seat on the Cabot Selectboard!

Shannon Smith: For a small town Cabot has many committees, a wide range of people with a variety of needs. I want to be part of solutions for Cabot as it changes and grows.

2. WHAT DO YOU PERSONALLY STAND FOR? What are your greatest interests and what attributes do you bring to the table?

Fred Ducharme: I stand for representing the community and listening to the community; always asking questions. I’m just a guy who works with my hands to make a living, like a lot of people. I’ve worked to bring our town buildings to a high standard for public use to make the community proud. I’m passionate about our town and care deeply about what happens in it. My goal is to make public buildings of use to the community. I pushed to get the Willey Building fixed and the Masonic hall brought up to standards to make the community proud and the buildings useful to everyone.

Larry Gochey: I stand for honesty and commitment.

Karen Larsen: I am a team player. I believe that strength and achievement comes through working with other people and that each person deserves recognition, respect, and civility. I think that we have a responsibility to care for each other in the present and to work toward a positive future. I am a curious and outgoing person and my interests are varied; I am an athlete and a coach, I raise chickens and garden, I ride motorcycles, and love fishing, swimming, and being in the forest. My house is full of books and I make a pretty good Swedish almond cake. Raising my son and taking care of a multigenerational household, which also includes both of my elderly parents, has been a major focus for many years. Being a single mom has its challenges, but I have been blessed with the support of remarkable friends, an incredible community, a great family, and a loving partner. I know myself to be fortunate and I am profoundly grateful. The attributes that I can bring to Selectboard service are also varied, and relevant. I hold a Masters in Public Administration from Princeton University but, more importantly, have spent my entire professional life working in complex organizations to deliver timely projects while meeting the needs of multiple stakeholders. I have a background and skillset which includes both non-profit and private sector finance, budgeting and business management, grant proposal development and project management. In this last decade I have spent four years with the Institute for Sustainable Communities focused on community planning and climate change resiliency, and six years working in executive support and communication for the National Life Group. Closer to home, I am both business and homeowner in Cabot and have a keen interest in the current functionality of community infrastructure, opportunities for development, tax considerations, and livability.

Shannon Smith: I personally stand for fairness and a common sense approach to problems and solutions. What are your greatest interests and what attributes do you bring to the table? I believe I am bringing diversity to the select board because I am a mom of two grade school children and a college student; I am newer to the community, and have a different perspective than current board members.

3. WHAT COMMUNITY ISSUES ARE MOST IMPORTANT, how do you feel about them, and what do you see as the Selectboard’s role? Do you have specific goals?

Fred Ducharme: An important community issue is putting a generator up at the school because it’s the only place where we could provide emergency shelter in a disaster. At the school, we could feed, shower, and shelter community members and pets, with a walk-in freezer and industrial kitchen, so we could feed people that don’t have a place to eat if we lost power for weeks.

Larry Gochey: One of my biggest interests is in keeping the town clean and well -kept so as to be welcoming to everyone.

Karen Larsen: I sat with a member of the road crew at the Cabot School/Red Cross blood drive earlier this month and tend to agree with what he recommended for the Selectboard, “focus on the basics first.” To me that means management and maintenance of the things that we need for a community that is liveable and attractive to both residents and businesses: well maintained roads and working infrastructure, functional and affordable water and sewer systems, responsible waste disposal, informed environmental management, forward thinking planning which takes into consideration future needs and expenditures, and good communication with residents. It also means careful and informed stewardship of current financial resources as well as exploration and development of new income streams so as to not further stress taxpayers as we meet evolving needs and priorities. Over $430,000 of ARPA funds came to Cabot during the pandemic years (please see page 19 of the Town Report for a breakdown of how those funds were allocated) but -at the State level- there remains an additional half-billion dollars of Federal funds available to communities pursuing targeted projects. As a town we have several current opportunities to invest in and upgrade our public infrastructure, consider our housing and zoning needs, and develop plans and funding streams for a new public safety building, to name just a few projects. The Selectboard must expand their current involvement in those State-level funding conversations and actively leverage those available Federal and State resources so that the cost of needed investments do not fall solely on Cabot taxpayers. I intend to be involved in those discussions and have already assisted the Selectboard in communication and outreach to our State representatives on these matters.

Shannon Smith: I believe that all town residents are concerned with the budget, how are tax dollars are spent and why decisions are made. My specific goal is to be fair, open-minded and be a good representation of the residence of Cabot’s needs.

4. HOW WILL YOU ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF CABOT RE- SENTS IN TOWN DECISIONS?

Fred Ducharme: I talk to people, encourage them to come to meetings; I go around and talk to people in town about what’s going on, I share what I know and learn from people when they share with me. Everywhere I go I tell people we need your input; if people show up at meetings, we can make better decisions as a board. Zoom makes it easy to participate without even leaving your house. We need your involvement – it’s your community, too. Whether you’ve been here all your life or just recently moved in

– you’re part of the community.

Larry Gochey: I will strive to attend every meeting.

Karen Larsen: If there is a weak point in the functionality of the current Selectboard, it is communication and public engagement. This is not anyone’s “fault” and everyone is doing their job: the Town Clerk faithfully warns meeting and posts Agendas, minutes are taken, meetings are recorded, and Frank Kampf takes exhaustive notes (thank you Frank!) to be published in the Cabot Chronicle each month. Our current Selectboard members -Mike, Fred, Ian, Skip, and RD- all have busy professional and personal lives and dedicate many hours of service to Cabot. I do think, however, that much could be done to better communicate with residents the ongoing work of the Selectboard and to invite more voices into discussion. I would like to help the Selectboard draft and implement a communication plan that might take the form of several ‘touch points’ including more extensive (and engaging) use of social media, a “top three” outreach newsletter for updates and pending topics that might be sent to a mailing list or pushed out through MailChimp or a similar CRM platform, and brief community surveys on targeted topics. I would also like to see the Selectboard consider partnering with other community institutions to strengthen the communication that serves us all. Cabot’s municipal website (https://cabotvt.us) is, in my humble opinion, in need of a significant refresh. I would also like to find ways to encourage youth participation in town government; to engage the perspectives of those who while they might not yet be able to vote have important perspectives on what makes Cabot a great community and an attractive place to raise a family. Thank you for your vote, I welcome questions, comments and shared conversations both before Town Meeting Day and in the months to come. -Karen Lars e n , 8 0 2 - 5 6 3 - 2 9 4 , klar [email protected].

Shannon Smith: Allow for more communication of Meeting Agendas; invite more town members to attend, maybe send electronic reminders.

Thank you, selectboard candidates, for offering voters a choice, and thank you to all candidates for willingness to serve.

Cabot’s CLA from 87.95% to 75.69% this year signifies that Cabot properties are selling significantly above their appraised value on the town’s grand list. The CLA has fallen to the point that Cabot must initiate a re-appraisal. If the increase in CLA was not offset by the State property yield rate and slight increase in equalized pupils, the rate increase would be $0.18! Fortunately, its impact was blunted – but imagine if the CLA had held steady – we would be looking at a tax rate reduction! Further explanation is provided in the annual report mailed to voters. A reappraisal will bring Cabot’s CLA back to a normal level – thereby reducing Cabot’s education tax rate. However, a reappraisal will likely result in increased homestead values, meaning the amount paid will generally work out to be the same if both metrics are accurate. CLA, more than any other factor, makes comparing town to town rates difficult – for example, because of varying CLAs, Marshfield (projected $1.91 per $100 homestead value) and Plainfield (projected $1.45 per $100 homestead value) have different education tax rates, despite both supporting Twinfield Union School.

Conclusion

The Board respectfully requests that voters support the proposed budget, and thank the community for the support!

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OBITUARIES & MEMORIALS

Carrie Jean Legus Carrie Jean Legus, age 61, of Vt. Route 15, died at her home in Walden, Vt., January 2023. Carrie was born in Minneapolis, MN, on July 2, 1961, daughter to the late Jerry T. and Shelia (Thomas) Legus. She grew up in Bloomington, MN, and graduated from Bloomington-Jefferson High School in the Class of 1979. She then matriculated to Macalester College, receiving her BA in 1983. She went on to graduate school to study comparative literature, earning an MA from the University of Minnesota in 1992, and a Ph. D in 2000. While writing her dissertation, she began studying law, earning a Juris Doctorate from Vermont Law School in 1996. Carrie has resided in Walden since the late 1980’s. She practiced law in the firm of Legus & Bisson located in Montpelier. Carrie was an avid outdoor adventurist, loved to travel, spoke many languages and was fluent in Spanish. She enjoyed snowshoeing, gardening and pressing flowers, liked dogs, but cats were her

James Melodini

James Melodini, 73, of Cabot passed away on January 20, 2023. James was born on January 4, 1950, in Harrisburg, PA, to Americo and Jean Melodini. He graduated from Windham College in Putney, VT.

Madeleine Menard Bellavance Beauregard, age 87, of Hardwick, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 4, 2023, lovingly surrounded by family in the comfort of her own home.

Madeleine was born at home in Hardwick, on December 22, 1935, to the late Joseph Menard and Lucie Brochu. She was the first-born of eight children. She was always happy to share stories about “helping Daddy on the farm.” She attended Center School for seven grades and completed her eighth grade at the school in East Hardwick. Once she completed school, she was a live-in nanny for families in town. On May 29, 1954, Madeleine married the late Leon Bellavance at St. Norbert’s Catholic Church in Hardwick. They made their home at the “brick house” in Walden, where they were blessed with six children. Madeleine took pride in her homemaking. In addition to the typical daily tasks, she sewed clothes for herself as well as her children, she made bread from scratch, she wallpapered the walls and ceilings, tended the Sam Daniels coal furnace and she even raised a litter of seven pigs. In addition to her own six children, Madeleine provided care for thirteen foster babies over a seven-year period. Madeleine drove the school bus for Walden one-room schools for many years and she was a teacher’s aide at the Star favorite. She was a published writer. She authored articles, book chapters, and newsletters for the Vermont Law Review, Defense Research Institute, and the American Bar Association. She was an assistant editor for the University of Minnesota Institute for International Studies, and provided editorial assistance for the Yale Law Review. She was also an accomplished academic translator. She translated poetry and philosophy from Spanish academic articles to English for numerous journals. Her works focused on legal theory and feminism. Survivors include her son: Dylan Legus-Sleigh of San Diego, Calif., her sister: Laurie Legus (Shelly Christman) of Brooklyn Park, Minn., brother Glen Legus (Suzanne) of Gold Canyon, Ariz., and her nieces and nephews Nicole Olsen (Karge), Scott Legus, Maxwell Legus -Christman, Sheila Legus-Christman, and Lily Legus-Christman. A memorial service was held on Saturday, February 4, at the Macalester College Chapel in St. Paul, MN. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.saylesfh.com.

James is survived by three siblings and three nieces. A memorial service will be privately held in Pennsylviania. The family wishes to gratefully acknowledge the care and comfort extended to James and his family by local friends, including Sue Holmes of Hardwick.

School. She was fondly known as “Mrs. B” to all of the students who knew her. Madeleine was always able to provide for her family by working outside the home as a bookkeeper for various businesses until she retired from Leader Evaporator in St Albans. After she retired, Madeleine moved home to Hardwick. Her door was always open and we have often joked that her home was like “Grand Central Station” because family and friends were always stopping by for a cup of tea or coffee and a visit at the kitchen table. Madeleine is survived by her children, Annette (Nathan) Foster of Walden, Denise Bellavance (Ronnie) Cato of Lawrenceburg, TN, Daniel (Joanne) Bellavance of Barre, Philip (Wanda Gauthier) Bellavance of Walden, and Elaine Bellavance of Walden. She is survived by 17 grandchildren, and 23 greatgrandchildren with 2 more on the way. She was affectionately known as “Memere Beau.” Madeleine also leaves her sisters, Claire Stanley, and Georgette Brochu, and brothers, Louis, Paul, and Raymond Menard. Madeleine was predeceased by her first-born child, Andre Bellavance, two grandsons, Joshua and Micah Gayner, and two brothers, Roland and Rene Menard. A funeral Mass was held at St. Michael’s Catholic Church on Feb. 11, 2023. Burial will be held in the spring in St. Michael’s Cemetery. The des Groseilliers Funeral Home in Hardwick has the honor of Madeleine’s arrangements. Please share condolences and memories with the family at dgfunerals.com.

Clifton J. Rock Clifton J Rock June 21, 1927 ~ February 3, 2023 (age 95) June 21, 1927 ~ February 3, 2023 (age 95) Clifton J. Rock, 95, of Walden passed away on Friday, February 3, 2023 at Maple Lane Nursing Home. Clifton was born June 21, 1927, to John and Dorothy (Casswell) Rock in Hardwick and remained a local, lifelong resident. He farmed for years before taking a position with the Walden town road crew where he worked for 23 more years until retirement. In honor of Clifton's wishes, private services will be held in the summer. Condolences and memories may be shared at dgfunerals.com.

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COMMUNITY COMMENTARY

My name is Karen Larsen, and I am writing to ask for your vote for the twoyear position currently open on Cabot’s Selectboard. As a Selectboard Member, I will have a single focus: service to community. In addition to the usual details and priorities of town budgeting and management, there are several ‘once in a generation’ issues that will engage the work of the Selectboard in the coming months. I believe that I can offer relevant experience and an approach to public dialogue and service that is informed and inclusive, respectful and communicative. My family and I moved to Cabot and the South Walden Road eighteen years ago. We came to the community with the intention of making a home and building a business, and with a commitment to work with and invest in this town. We believed that we could make not just a living, but a life here. All these years later I maintain those same intentions, those same commitments, and those same beliefs. I think that most of my neighbors share those aspirations; Cabot is not perfect, there is work to do, but we are a great community and I am proud to live here. My background is in education, administration and finance. I started my career as a high school history and economics teacher in Northern Maine, served in the Peace Corps in Eastern Europe, and worked in international and urban development in the years that followed. When we moved to Cabot, I taught at Montpelier High School and Saint Johnsbury Academy before shifting into non-profit business administration. In recent years, I have worked in the executive offices of the Institute for Sustainable Communities and, currently, for the National Life Group helping to develop and steward high-impact projects to completion. I am a seasoned professional, a team player, a good communicator, and have skills that I believe will be helpful to the Selectboard and the community. Service to community, and to Cabot in particular, is not new to me, and I hope that earning a place on the Selectboard will be a continuation of the engagement that I have been able to offer to our town. As the parent of a son who has spent his entire academic career at Cabot School, I have done the usual things: volunteer soccer coach, traveling chaperone, ski support for winter wellness, and with a background in education and finance, I served on the working group that helped to inform the School Board and the community as we wrestled with the implications of Act 46 and the difficult questions of consolidation, taxation, and what it means to deliver a high-quality, equitable, and accessible education alongside tax rates that are acceptable to voters. I am also a business owner in Cabot. Along with two partners, I founded Cabot Village Ventures (CVV) just before the pandemic hit. CVV’s sole purpose was to purchase, restore, and return to productive commercial use a crown jewel of Main Street: the old Cabot Inn, affectionately known as the ‘yellow building,’ ‘Goldie’s,’ or 3075. Although none of us were real estate developers, we knew that if someone did not step in to rescue a landmark in crisis that the impact on the current circumstances and future prospects of our downtown would be significant. I am proud of what we were able to accomplish during the pandemic years - the complete rehabilitation of a historically significant building which has since hosted four successful businesses and a residential unit. There are weighty issues that will come before the Selectboard in the coming months, questions of public infrastructure, housing and zoning, the consideration of a new public safety building, to name just a few. These, in addition to meeting the expectations of the community for careful and ongoing management of town resources and services. I hope that the citizens of Cabot will consider my experience and offer me an opportunity to continue to serve the community through membership on the Selectboard. Thank you for your vote, I welcome questions, comments and shared conversations both before Town Meeting Day and in the months to come. -Karen Lars e n , 8 0 2 - 5 6 3 - 2 9 4 , klar [email protected].

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Clark Sawmill Dam Meeting

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

The dam workgroup had its first meeting on January 23. The members of the workgroup are Gary Gulka, Jennifer Miner, Keith Cubbon from Central Vermont Regional Planning Commision (CVRPC), and Michelle Braun from the Friends of the Winooski River. Gary ran the meeting and introduced himself as the long time chair of the Conservation Committee and explained why he is in the workgroup. He expressed his interest for being involved because he wants to ensure the dam was removed in a safe way for aquatic habitat, and potentially for public access along the river. Jenn introduced herself as the Emergency Management Director and also the chair of the Planning Commission. She noted that she owns property very close to the dam, and she said she has an interest that the community remains safe and the project also meets the property owner’s needs. Michelle introduced herself as the executive director of the Friends of the Winooski River and expressed their interest is in removing the dam to restore natural conditions. Keith introduced himself and said he found this dam was part of the Hazard Mitigation Plan, and he thinks the dam is nearing its end of life. He wants to make sure there was a plan, whichever way the town decides to proceed. After introductions, Gary proceeded by mentioning Keith’s past visit to the Selectboard and that the Selectboard had established this workgroup to determine what to do about the dam. He said the workgroup's role is advisory. Gary went on to describe the background of the dam. He talked about its historical significance, as it was the last having non-emergency vehicles in the way of fire trucks trying to exit. There seemed to be an understanding that having visitors on the property for whatever reason could pose a problem during emergency use. The concept of a paid staff at the building was also discussed. Dean stated that they are not planning for the next five to ten years, but are hoping the building could last 100 years. He said there is only a day room planned, and no bedrooms. He said that a full time Fire Department is “pretty far out there.” The location of the siren was also discussed, and Dean said it would remain on the present building. Nathan said that even with pagers and cell phones, members also rely upon the siren because they are not always in an area that has coverage. Dean added that when he became chief, he put a time lock on the siren and it will not come on after 11 pm. Dean noted that at the next meeting they will have a diagram showing the design of the building.

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New Firehouse Meeting

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

The Public Safety Building Committee held its second meeting on February 9, the previous meeting had been held on November 3, 2022. The Chronicle was not able to report upon that first meeting and the minutes for that meeting can be found on the town website. The building committee consists mostly of Fire Department (FD) members: Chair Dean Deasy (Fire Chief), Will Ameden (FD), Nathan Smith (FD), Andy Luce (FD), Allison Dolbier (FD), and Kriss Schmitt (Cabot Ambulance). There was no public comment, so the meeting proceeded into the various agenda items. Dean spoke about the current status of the site located at 2466 Main Street. He mentioned that the temporary silt fence and safety fence is erected, and will remain in place until demolition is completed. He went on to talk about the destruction and dumpsters, indicating that materials had been sorted, recorded and removed. He said there were a total of six dumpsters. Dean then spoke about the asbestos testing and said 32 samples had been taken and all results were negative. He noted that the samples were taken from things like the exterior, roofing, caulking, adhesives on ceiling tiles and flooring. He stated that the absence of asbestos avoids a change order and saves money. He went on to say that the EPA and Vermont Department of Health reviewed the reports on asbestos and lead. Dean then spoke about Dig Safe and that all utilities had been marked. He said they discovered a buried phone line between 2466 and 2454 Main Street. He mentioned that Consolidated had been consulted and they deemed the phone line inactive. He added that Green Mountain Power had disconnected the power at the beginning of the year, and the Town Clerk had confirmed that the water valve was in the off position. This guaranteed the town's water system was isolated before demolition commenced. The next subject covered was regarding the wetlands. Dean said it had been determined there was an area of gray silt loam and the Agency of Natural Resources would be marking the area where no construction would be permitted. Dean also noted the Conservation Committee was involved and had reviewed the asbestos report but was unable to attend the meeting. Dean then read an email from Gary Gulka, the Conservation Committee chair. The email related to the removal of the underground tank and Dean read that Gary has complete confidence in the contractor (referred to as the Better Group). The email concluded with a recommendation to rely upon the advice of the consultant and be guided by science and not speculation. The contents of the house before demolition was also discussed. Dean said the Fire Department and Cabot Ambulance had removed all their belongings. He added the household items were the responsibility of the contractor. He added that the contractor would be selling some of the items and would be donating the money back to the project. The site layout was another subject discussed, and Dean referred to an easel displaying a large diagram of the property, indicating the driveways and the building location. Dean said that due to a manmade ditch, the proposed visitor parking lot had to be reduced to five spaces. The change would provide enough clearance from the drainage ditch. Dean also talked about the curb cuts, and noted they had been simplified. Originally there were two driveways entering main street, one for visitor traffic and one for emergency vehicles. But that plan had been updated and the curb cut had been reduced to a single wider driveway, with the divider starting back a short distance from main street. He also talked about the proposed screening on both sides of the property so the adjacent owners would regain privacy, which was lost when the building was demolished. He said that Kris was going to spearhead the planning of the live edge screening, and that a berm is being considered to block lighting from headlights as trucks travel in and out of the firehouse. After discussing what is expected to happen in the spring, Dean said they would stake out the location of the building so people could conceptualize where it would be situated. The committee then took action to approve paying the contractor for the work that had been completed to date. Dean said the job is 48.75% complete, which was billed at $20,200. He itemized the segments of the job that were finished or partially finished and said that $20,820 remained to be billed. Dean concluded his presentation by reviewing the remaining timeline. He said getting a total construction price for the new building would take most of the summer, but the committee is hoping to have a proposal for the 2024 Town Meeting ballot. If approved, he expected the building would be completed and occupied by the start of 2025. The meeting then opened up for questions and further discussion. Tricia Scribner, an abutting resident, asked about lighting. Dean said the committee is looking at pinpoint LED lighting known as “Dark Sky”. The lights would be directed downward to the walkways and there would be minimal dispersion to the surroundings. There were discussions regarding other possible uses of the building, and Dean expressed that the reason the visitor parking was separate from the emergency vehicle parking was to prevent commercial water power saw mill. He also noted that it is the last dam on the Winooski River. He described the condition of the dam as reported upon by the dam safety program. He said it was filled with silt and is considered a low hazard dam. He said the owner is Ed Larsen, but the dam and the sawmill has been abandoned. Gary reported that back in 2016 and 2017 there were discussions regarding the dam removal as part of a FEMA buyout and many steps were taken as part of the site investigation process. This included soil samples and historical research. He said there is a relatively small amount of petroleum contamination but does not require further action unless it was developed for residential use. He also said a dam removal feasibility study was completed by an engineering group at that time. Some of the benefits identified by the study include restoring the river channel to its natural condition, and improvement of the aquatic habitat. He added that the danger of collapse and uncontrolled sediment downstream was identified as a hazard to downstream aquatic habitat. He mentioned that flood inundation reduction upstream would also be a benefit. Gary recalled that when these studies were completed, the Selectboard was not interested in pursuing the dam removal. He believes the work basically stopped at that time. However, Michelle explained that the Friends of the Winooski continued with the Vermont River Conservancy in an attempt to see if dam removal could be done without the town, but the owner of the property wanted three times the appraised value and they were not able to buy it.

Michelle went on to say that the owner is still interested in selling the property and felt that an important early step would be to get a market appraisal of the property. She said her group might have some funds available to pay for it. Michelle also talked about other funding sources that could be used to help buy the property. Michelle proposed three different ownership options. She said Ed could remain the owner and agree upon the dam removal, but he would benefit and possibly sell the property for more than he could now. She said the Vermont whether they should give up the business, which generally just breaks even. They were living on a farm that had been in Killoran’s family for generations, but had outgrown the barn, and new property in the area was prohibitively expensive. Killoran and Southwick expect their business to expand in its new home. They have a stallion, five mares, and a waiting list for foals, and plan to bring more mares to the farm in coming years. Killoran said she enjoys showing visitors around and introducing them to the horses. “If anyone wants to listen to me talk about them, I am happy to talk,” she said. “Just shoot me an email.” ([email protected])

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Correction

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

I would like to correct wording used in the “Building Demolition Controversy” article published in the February edition of the Chronicle. The references to the contractor performing the demolition should have read “Stephen Hogan” and his company should have been referred to as “Hogan Excavating”.

I try hard to accurately reflect what is said at meetings of the town boards and committees, but we are all human and will make mistakes. Sometimes I will transpose what is said incorrectly, or sometimes someone will use an incorrect reference and I will capture that reference unknowingly propagating the mistake. I also do not always have access to the correct spelling of everyone’s name, and can only hope for understanding from our readers.

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New Faces and a New Name for the Former Water Tower Farm

by Anne Wallace Allen After 35 years in the care of one family, the former Water Tower Farm on Route 2 changed hands in mid-January and became home to a horse breeding program. Margo Killoran and David Southwick moved to the farm from Hamilton, MA, and renamed the property Three Fold Farm. Killoran and Southwick breed Canadian horses, a type of equine that is little-known in the U.S., but is the national animal of Canada. They’re accustomed to answering questions about the sturdy, friendly horses, which have long, wavy manes and tails. “A Canadian what? A Canadian warmblood? A Canadian thoroughbred?” is a common query, Killoran said.n “Nope, just a Canadian.” The horses, which are rare in the U.S., once played an important role in North America. They date back to the time of Louis XIV, who ruled France for 75 years until 1715. “They helped found Quebec,” Killoran said. “They’re super-versatile. They would plow fields and haul logs.” Three Fold Farm has an active breeding program underway, with clients on the East Coast and in Quebec; Killoran said one of the attractions of the Marshfield property was its proximity to Canada, where the couple travels frequently for their horse breeding program. The 41-acre farm, which has an indoor riding arena, pastures, and dozens of horse stalls, will also be used for educational events. The two are working to raise the profile of the regal-looking horses, which are now used mainly for riding and driving. “We’ve been attending expos, going to equine affairs, and giving presentations to educate people over the last 15 years,” Killoran said. “One of the reasons we bought the place was to give us a platform to have open houses and expositions so people can really see the breed.”

Killoran and Southwick bought the farm from Dick and Dianne Lashoones, who had been breeding and showing Tennessee Walking Horses there since arriving in 1988. Dianne, a physical therapist, started a therapeutic riding program called Rhythm of the Rein in 1999, and that program — and its horses — are staying in place in one of the two large barns, at least for now. The program provides riding therapy to people with physical, social and emotional challenges. Killoran and Southwick “were incredibly generous to offer Rhythm of the Rein the opportunity to keep the program running here,” Dianne said in a Facebook message to clients recently. Dianne is also stepping back from her role as de facto director of the program she founded, and is looking for a new home in New York. Dianne has been a mentor and a friend to many in and out of Rhythm of the Rein, said Beth Belote, the barn manager and an instructor for the program, which serves clients from as far away as Burlington and New Hampshire. “She’s extremely caring and compassionate, and she’s willing to help everybody who comes through these doors,” she said. “You don’t see that kind of person every day.” The hillside farm is home to a 1927 water tower that was built by Green Mountain power, and it’s a landmark in Marshfield, drawing in passers-by from all over the world. Dianne recalled some Russian tourists who stopped by one summer day and asked if they could ride the horses. She let them. “They were really upset I made them wear a helmet,” she said. Southwick and Killoran said they’ve had a friendly reception in Marshfield. When Southwick got an ATV stuck on a snowbank soon after arriving, he said, a neighbor stopped to help him get it out. Another neighbor showed up at the house with a cheesecake to welcome the family to town.

They haven’t had much time to explore yet, but they like what they’ve seen. “The library is fantastic, and the deli at the general store is world-class,” Southwick said. The “three fold” name arises from the family’s spiritual and philosophical belief in the three fold law, which holds that everything you do —good or bad —returns to you three times over. Like many Vermont farmers, the two have jobs off the farm. Killoran works full-time for a financial planner in Boston, and Southwick is an IT project manager for a commercial bank. The move to Marshfield, they said, enabled them to keep breeding horses as a side business. As their herd grew in Hamilton, they had talked about

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

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CVFiber Begins Laying Cable

by R.D. Eno It is actually happening! CVFiber, the non-profit Communications Union District of which Cabot is a member, has begun laying the fiber optic cable that will bring high-speed, affordable broadband service to twenty towns in central Vermont. Crews in Calais are lashing fiber to supporting steel lines in the first miles of what will be a 1,200 mile-long network. Some addresses in Calais could be “lit” and receiving service by mid-spring, and the goal for 2023 is to complete 400 miles of construction (including in Cabot), one-third of the entire system. That device suspended on a line in the photo, taken by CVFiber board member David Healy, is not a Chinese UFO but a machine called a “spinner”, and when you see one of these puppies in the vicinity of workers from Eustis Cable Enterprises on any roads in any of the towns around Cabot, you’ll know that fiber is on the way. (To see how these gadgets actually work, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T5- AuDy45Y for a video showing cable being strung. You can also access the video on CVFiber’s webpage, https://www.cvfiber.net.) Cable can’t be strung when the temperature falls below 20°, but we’ve lucked out, and this mild winter has allowed the system build-out to proceed almost without interruption. Some Cabot residents may wonder whether it’s worthwhile to sign up with other providers of high-speed internet service at this time, with fiber optic on our threshold but not yet through the door. As Cabot’s representative to the CVFiber Board of Governors, I wouldn’t discourage anyone from seeking a satellite or commercial cable alternative to the slow and unstable copper-line service most of us are stuck with. I would only suggest avoiding long-term contracts, because fiber optic technology is the fastest, most reliable option, and CVFiber’s monthly rates will start at $79 (with vouchers available for qualifying household) for symmetrical 100 gigabyte, which is at least 12 times faster than anything I’ve ever enjoyed. You wouldn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to subscribe to CVFiber as soon as it comes to your road. Whether or not you decide to sign up with another provider, you can register with CVFiber now, without obligation, and you will be notified when fiber optic service becomes available in your neighborhood. The CVFiber website will also have regular updates about buildout progress, and you can consult the Planning Atlas for an estimate of when construction will begin. (This year in Cabot!)

River Conservancy could own the property, and would own it throughout the restoration process and potentially give it to the town when restoration is complete. The last option would be the town owning the property, but the Selectboard has already expressed concerns regarding liability. The workgroup discussed these various options, their benefits and detractors. The workgroup came to a consensus that an appraisal should be the first step. Michelle confirmed funding would be available for an appraisal if the town is on board. Michelle also agreed with Gary that the next phase should be held off until the ownership issue is resolved.

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Director and Lead Teacher

* Child Care Certificate (Career Ladder level III for Northern Lights) or

* 21 credits in Early Childhood Education

* Within one year of employment complete a 3 college credit course in managing an early care and education program that includes budgeting and financial management, approved by the division.

* minimum two years experience

* Understanding of the Vermont Early Learning Standards and the Vermont Child Care Licensing Regulations Duties:

* Strong communication and organizational skills

* Dedication to exploring nature and the natural environment

* Strong knowledge in developing and implementing a developmentally appropriate curriculum for children

* Be skilled at time management and be able to handle multiple tasks

* Work well as a team member

* Maintain a positive and encouraging attitude

* Demonstrate the ability to communicate positively with Elementary age children

* Ability to plan fun and engaging activities

* Great organization skills when it comes to paperwork This is a full time, year round position, Monday through Friday. We offer a competitive salary and ongoing professional development. Benefits: ABC and LOL LLC, Offers: Paid vacation and sick time IRA plan with 3% match Supplemental l insurance Paid Professional Development opportunities Employee Child Care discount Gym Membership Paid planning time Educational counseling and support to further your education and many other benefits For more information: [email protected] or Heather Smires 802.at 473.2772

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A Celtic Equinox

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with "Irish Session on Main" featuring, singer Norman Kennedy

An afternoon of song, stories, music, and dance - all celebrating the music of Ireland and songs of Scotland.

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Saturday, March 18 at 7 pm

Willey Building Auditorium 3084 Main Street in Cabot, VT

Tickets: Advance $17, at Door $20

Doors Open at 6:30 pm - Music Starts at 7 pm To reserve your seat visit: http://www.cabotarts.org For Info call 802-793-3016 or email:

[email protected] Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with some of Vermont's finest traditional musicians: Geordie Lynd on fiddle, Hilari Farrington on button accordion and harp, Nick Edwards on fiddle, Benedict Koehler on uilleann pipes, Meghan Lydon on fiddle, John McKelvy on flute, dancer Yasi Zeichner on fiddle, and Louli Zeichner on banjo, and Scottish singer, Norman Kennedy.

About the band:

Since 2011, Irish musicians have been gathering on Main Street in Montpelier to play traditional Irish music, first at Bagitos, and later at Rabble Rouser. Over time, that gathering has evolved into a traditional session renowned across North America and Ireland, and it has attracted such luminaries as singer Norman Kennedy, Liz Carroll, Seamus Connolly, Michael Tubridy of the Chieftains, the band Full Set, Alasdair Fraser, Ivan Goff, Brian McNamara, Mike McHale, and many others. Just before the pandemic, Scottish singer Norman Kennedy and the musicians in Irish Session on Main began work on a recording to document Montpelier's vibrant Irish music scene. Recently, the project has been taken up again, and their album, "The Wild Geese", is slated for completion sometime this year.

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Trails to Hire Administration

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

Gary Gulka was present at the February 7 Selectboard Meeting to discuss the hiring of a part time administrative assistant to help manage the grant the Trails Committee is receiving. At the meeting, Gary explained the position relates to the trails grant that has yet to be received, and noted that $10,000 of the grant was planned for the position. He went on to explain that the administrative assistant would help with all the grant commitments and deliverables in the project. He reminded the board that they had talked about the position a couple of months before, and at the time the board wasn’t in favor of a part-time employee, and would prefer it to be a contractor. Gary had looked into the requirements for a contractor and said the position would not meet the requirements set forth by the State or the IRS. He said the position would be for 200 hours over a period of two years, and the committee would be doing a lot of oversight. He explained the IRS requires a contractor to work independently. He went on to list a set of stipulations from the State and said if any of them occur, it is not considered a contract. He emphasized to the board that he thought the position needs to be a part-time town employee, at roughly 200 hours a year. He asked the board for guidance and approval. Betty Ritter added that she had also checked with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT), and she relayed they said the same thing, that the position cannot be a contractor. Mike asked a clarifying question, that it would be a temporary employee, part time and without benefits. Gary agreed and said the committee would put together advertising and come to the board to get approval for the person they select. Fred wanted further clarification, and asked if the committee would basically be telling this person what to do, and they will keep track of things. Gary agreed they would supervise and direct them as to what needs to be done. Mike asked if there would be any town money involved, and Gary said no. The position would be funded by the grant. The board approved the position as a temporary part time town employee.

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Join the Cabot Harvest Hub Fundraiser!

During the month of March, the Harvest Hub is running a fundraising campaign for its summer markets. Established in June 2021, the Hub became an important online shop for Cabot and people who like to shop local and support their neighbor’s small businesses. Since the Harvest Hub has teamed up with Neighbors in Action, a local nonprofit organization, its impact on the local economy goes beyond the online shop. Neighbors in Action has established numerous connections with Harvest Hub producers, and regularly buys fresh produce and local food products through grants to then give away for free to food share clients. Harvest Hub producers also get invited to teach food and art related workshops at Neighbors in Action and thereby enrich the local community with unique knowledge. In 2022 the Harvest Hub generated over $20,000 in sales for its producers. The Hub ran eight successful inperson farmer’s markets in 2022 that featured local vendors, kids’ activities and live musicians. Our Hub is run differently than most other farmers' markets, as it is a not-forprofit project, which means that Neighbors in Action keeps costs low for producers to encourage small gardeners and artisans to bring home the most profit possible. Therefore, Neighbors in Action relies on donations from the community to continue to support producers and our hyper-local economy. Currently the Hub has 25 different vendors who sell their locally produced food products and handmade gifts in eight different categories - baked goods/bulk foods, tea and coffee/ dairy and eggs/fresh produce and fruit/ gardening, gifts and crafts/ health and beauty/ meat and seafood/ prepared food/ and specialty and added value items. Please support us in continuing the Harvest Hub’s positive impact in 2023 and make a donation today! An anonymous donor will match up to $1000 in donations. Donations can be made in three different ways: Donate directly on the Harvest Hub website at www.cabotharvest hub.org, through the Neighbors in Action website at www.neighborsinactionvt.org or by check. Please write check out to Neighbors in Action with Harvest Hub as the subject and mail it to PO Box 157 in Cabot, VT 05647. Please email Hub manager Sarah Spletzer at [email protected] if you have any questions.

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Neighbors in Action’s Community Saturdays!

by Elizabeth Vitale Neighbors in Action’s mission is not only to provide food for those in need, but also to provide socially enriching programming around food and wellbeing. We strive to connect neighbors with neighbors, creating spaces where elderly and youth alike can enjoy each other’s company and hopefully come away from the program with new knowledge, skills, or just a better appreciation for their community. To achieve this goal, Neighbors in Action has begun Community Saturdays! We seek to create a space filled with opportunities for all! The day begins with local gardeners, farmers and artisans coming together to sell their products through our online farmer’s market, the Cabot Harvest Hub. Not only can you purchase items online Monday – Thursday to support these hard working entrepreneurs, you can also purchase some items in person at the Hub pickup from 10 am-11 am! If you haven’t seen what your talented neighbors are doing, check it out at www.CabotHarvestHub.org. Just this past month, we were excited to begin hosting a Community Walking Group. Currently the group is meeting Saturday mornings at 10 am in the Neighbors in Action parking lot. They then embark on a walk through town, or carpool to other locations around Cabot. This is a wonderful way to get outdoors, enjoy some moderate exercise, and spend time with friends, new and old alike! If you’d like to join the group, you can be added to the email list by emailing Elizabeth@NeighborsinAction VT.org or you can just stop by on Saturday morning! We are also thrilled to be offering a FREE yoga class Saturday mornings at 11:15 am. Led by local nurse and Cabot resident Molly Jones, participants enjoy a welcoming space and a class designed to meet their individual needs and abilities. If you haven’t tried Molly’s classes yet, we hope you’ll take a moment to check them out. Whether your goal is to bring more flexibility into your movements, or feel more centered in your life, Molly helps get you there with a cheerful and caring demeanor.

In the afternoons, Christina Markwell of Two Hearts One Love volunteers to run a Makers Space from 1 pm-3 pm. This program for crafters of all ages offers not only a warm, comfortable space for you to bring your own crafts to work on (knitting, paper crafting, crocheting, etc.), but you can also get one-on-one support from Christina as she leads you through your own sewing project. So far we have made quilt squares, heat-able corn bags, and even a purse! Starting in March, we are thrilled to be adding some new workshops around food: Grow What You Eat! Farmer Ama of Nama Farm in Cabot will be hosting a Seed Swap event on March 18, 9 am-10:30 am. FREE to all! We’ll have Seedy Snacks and Seed Packs. Bring your seeds to swap or just come with a gardening idea, Ama will answer questions and help you find out about what you need! Ama Peyman is the perfect person to host this event, as she is a CGCVT SEEDHUB and has hundreds of seeds and tons of experience to share! And, on March 25, 9 am-10:30 am, Farmer Ama will be back with a Tomato Celebration! We’ll have Tomato Snacks and Tomato Seeds to share, and Farmer Ama will walk us through starting our own tomato plants for summer. Bring your favorite tomato recipe to share or just bring your questions and enjoy some of Ama’s Tomato Jam! We hope you will spend a Saturday with us at Neighbors in Action, meeting new community members and enjoying time with your friends and neighbors. If you have an idea for a community program, let us know! We are always happy to welcome community members’ thoughts and suggestions for expanding our connections. Please RSVP for our workshops and programs at www.NeighborsinActionVT.org. All of our programs are FREE but we donations to support our efforts are always appreciated.

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Cabot Mentoring Re-Launching Reading Buddies Program

Calling all book lovers! Do you love reading with young people? Do you have an hour a week to volunteer? Cabot Mentoring is excited to announce the relaunch of our Reading Buddies program for students in grades 1-4 at Cabot School. Volunteers will provide reading support to individual students in their classrooms during regularly scheduled times, when students are practicing their reading skills. Reading Buddies is an easy way for community members to try out mentoring in a school setting. And it's a great way for younger students to meet and build friendships with caring adults from Cabot. A total win-win! To apply or find out more, contact Karen Hatcher, Program Coordinator at [email protected].

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Upcoming Events at the Jaquith Public Library

Living Wills, Powers of Attorney & More! with Lawyer Michael Caccavo

Thursday, March 2 from 3:30 - 5 p.m. Learn about and have your questions answered regarding Living Wills, Powers of Attorney, Advanced Health Directives and Health Guardianship.

NEW!! Spring Gardening Workshops! Second Thursdays of the month at 6:30 p.m. Kick off a great gardening season with these workshops. March 9 FRUITS & BERRIES: There is always more to learn about growing apples, pears, blackberries, raspberries, and other fruits. With Nicko Rubin of East Hill Tree Farm and Jeff Swift. April 13 VEGETABLES & HERBS: How to grow common and uncommon vegetables and herbs, from starting seeds, preparing garden beds, transplanting and caring for plants all the way to a great harvest. With Donna Hisson of Crabapple Hill Homestead. May 11 FLOWERS: Everything about growing flowers & flower & herb seeds with avid perennial flower gardener Lani Seifert and flower and herb seed grower Sarah Graves of the Magic Bean Farm.

Movies at the Jaquith Library on the Big Screen Second Wednesdays at 7 p.m. March 8 - After their steel mill shuts down, a group of unemployed workers finds an unusual way to supplement their meager dole payments.

Monday Book Group:

Fourth Mondays from 7 to 8 p.m. For copies of the book, please stop by the library. New members are always welcome. March 27- All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr Chapters in History Book Group: Second Saturdays of the month at 2 p.m. A free public reading-discussion series co-sponsored by the Marshfield Historical Society and the Jaquith Library. Books are available for loan at the library. March 11 - William Henry Harrison: The American Presidents Series, The 9th President, 1841 by Gail Collins (2012)and- John Tyler: The American Presidents Series: The 10th President (1841- 1845) by Gary May (2008)

Story Time and Playgroup:

Fridays at 10:30 a.m. For Kids 0 to Age 5 Get ready for some fun with Sasha during story and activity time. This science, art, and nature-based program will cial to wildlife. Ordering online is easy and quick at: https://conservation-plantsale.square.site/ where you can also see color photos of each of the plant offerings. The Conservation Committee and Cabot Library will be sponsoring a presentation, Bear Aware Vermont, on March 23, 7 pm at the Cabot Library. This is a great opportunity to learn about bear ecology and how humans and bears can co-exist and avoid conflicts. In April, we are planning a presentation on ash tree management and emerald ash borer. More details will follow in a later edition of the Chronicle and Front Porch Forum.

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Cabot Trails Committee, Town of Cabot Job Description

SUMMARY OF POSITION The Cabot Trails Committee is seeking a motivated and organized individual

assistance in implementing a two-year grant from the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, & Recreation. The position is part-time over two years (400 – 450

Committee (CTC), and volunteers to build out and maintain Cabot’s network of multi-use, non-motorized public trails.

RESPONSIBILITIES

following responsibilities: Ensure grant implementation, completion and reporting in a timely and

organized manner.

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

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From page 13

The Shrub & Tree Sale benefitting the Cabot, Marshfield, and Plainfield Conservation Commissions is accepting orders until March 10. There is still some time to small and large fruits and berry plants as well as trees and shrubs benefiencourage creativity, exploration and time for parents and caregivers to share child rearing practices and challenges. We will be outside if the weather permits, moving inside when there is inclement weather.

NEW! Programming coming soon: Teen Crafting Nights Teen Herbal Self Care

This Spring: Nature mentoring after school program with Ange Gibbons!

Just Food Hub Fundraiser for the Jaquith Library:

The Jaquith Library is raising money by collaborating with Just Food Hub, a profit-free, volunteer-run coop in Marshfield that helps raise funds for organizations and groups. When you go to jaquithlibrary.justfoodhub.us to order, the Jaquith gets 30% of all purchases. You can pick up your food at the Jaquith during library hours two days after your order or any time thereafter, have it shipped to you, or have it delivered for free (Marshfield or Plainfield.) With Just Food Hub you can order regularly, so eating healthy, ethically sourced food becomes second nature. New Products: The new Cross Atlantic Chocolate Collective comprises chocolate farmers from Grenada, Jamaica, Malawi, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago. The group aims to decolonize the chocolate market by enabling members to participate at all stages of chocolate production. Their box of chocolate bars contains nine 20g dark chocolate bars from three of the following origins: Trinidad and Tobago 70% cacao, Ghana 70% cacao, Grenada 75% cacao, or Nigeria 67% cacao spiced with coffee and cardamom. Origin mix will vary and is selected randomly. The Drinking Chocolate Collection comes from St. Lucia and Malawi.

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Pond Ice Out

by Michelle Walker Residents are anxiously awaiting the “official start of spring,” when the ice goes out on Joe’s Pond. Soon the Joes Pond Association will place the block/flag on the ice that will sink and stop the clock to mark the official Ice Out date and time. Last spring, the ice went out on April 19 at 4:51 AM. There were three people whose guess was within four minutes. Those three split the proceeds after expenses and won a little over $2,000. The remainder of the proceeds will be used by the Joe’s Pond Association to help fund Association activities. Tickets are available at Cabot Village Store, Marshfield Village Store, and Hasting’s Store, as well as in St. Johnsbury, Danville, Barre, Montpelier and online at www.joespondvermont.com. This winter has been unusually mild and there are places where the ice is fragile. News outlets have warned about the safety of ice across Vermont. Early this winter a gentleman and his dog fell through the ice on Joe’s Pond. Fortunately, the incident was witnessed. A resident quickly helped while another person called 911. The emergency response was very prompt. The dog was fine and his owner spent a couple of hours at a local hospital being treated for hypothermia. During the first part of February, in two separate incidents near Grand Isle in Lake Champlain, three men lost their lives when they fell through the ice. These situations remind us that no ice is safe ice.

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CABOT PUBLIC LIBRARY NEWS

Please come out Tuesday, March 7, to support programs for kids and teens and vote YES to continue having a Youth Librarian in our town. Visit our website : cabotlibrary.com for more info. The Cabot Public Library is open! Come visit in person Monday 3 - 6 pm, Tuesday noon – 6 pm, Wednesday 2 - 6 pm, Thursday 9 am - 6 pm, and Saturday 9 am- noon. Book delivery available upon request for those unable to get to the library. Ask us how to access thousands of free online e/audiobooks through Libby/Overdrive. Special thanks to Beth Wade, who is stepping down after 14 years as a Library Trustee- she has held the positions of Chair, Treasurer and Scribe throughout her time at the library. Beth has volunteered in so many capacities for the library – thank you, Beth, for countless Story Hours, Book Sales, grant writing that allowed the library to hire a Youth Librarian, cataloguing new books, desk duty, and even refinishing the library’s floors! Beth’s skills, perseverance, generosity, and heart have had an immense impact in the life of our library and community. Story Hour - Tuesdays 10:30 - 11:30 am 3rd Floor of the Willey Building. Join youth librarian Amanda Otto for stories, songs, snacks, crafts and open play. Ages Birth – 5, but all are welcome!

Dungeons and Dragons - Tuesdays - 3:30 - 4:30 pm. Come play D&D after school with friends – Snacks provided – All are welcome!

NEW! Book Club and Outdoor Exploration Program (ages 7-11) Thursdays - March 16 - May 18, 3:30 - 4:30 pm. Join Amanda Otto for fun outdoor adventures. We'll bring a good book and hit the Cabot trails. Participants will also make crafts using natural materials and learn how to identify local flora and fauna. Snacks are provided!

NEW! Community Service Program for H.S. Students - 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month -- 3:30 - 5:00 pm, Wednesday, March 22 - Wednesday, May 17. Are you interested in volunteering at the library to earn community service hours? Do you want to help plan youth programs and events for the summer? Come work with your peers to help youth librarian Amanda Otto get ready for our Summer Reading Program. Snacks are provided! Please email amandaotto.cabotlibrary @gmail.com with questions or to express interest. Space is limited for the Book Club/Outdoor Exploration Program sign up today!

Family Pizza & Popcorn & Movie Night – Thursday, March 2 – 6:30pizza, 7:00 pm movie. A dazzling, enchanting, and gorgeously drawn fairy tale that will leave viewers a little more curious and fascinated by the world around them. Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer 97%, Audience score of 96% Inventive, surprising, artistic, adventurous, humorous . . . let us know if you’d like pizza so we know how much to make – thanks!

Seed Growing Workshop – Friday, March 17 – 6:30 pm – pizza, 7:00 pm –

presentation with Anne Miller – How to grow and save viable and shareable vegetable seeds. We’ll have some free seeds with Farmer Ama and the Cooperative Gardens Commission: coopgardens.org. Join Ama Peyman the following day (Saturday, March 18, 9-10:30 am) at Neighbors in Action for Seedy Treats and Free Seed Packs - bring seeds to share.

Cabot Book/Discussion – Thursday, March 23 – 2 pm. All are welcome to join in lively conversation with your neighbors – Books will be available for pick up at the library. This month’s choice TBA.

Bear Aware Vermont –Thursday, March 23 – 7 pm – Cabot Conservation Committee and the Cabot Library are sponsoring this Vermont Fish And Wildlife presentation on bears in Vermont. This is a great opportunity to learn about bear ecology and how humans and bears can co-exist and avoid conflicts.

Branching Out: Author Talks at Cabot Library – Spring 2023 Series – Tuesday, March 28 – 7 pm.

The first in an eight-part series – Jane Brown co-author of West Danville, Vermont, Then and Now, 1791 – 2021

is Danville Historical Society’s most recent publication. Danville Vermont Historical Society: The Danville Historical Society is a non-profit educational institution whose mission is to promote an understanding of the history of Danville, VT, by collecting, preserving, exhibiting, and interpreting that history and its relationship to the region and nation beyond to audiences of all ages and interests. Yoga for Everybody - Sunday mornings - 10:30-11:45 am. Join Christyn King at the Willey Building for an accessible, playful, skillful invitation to land in your body, just as you are right now. Stressed out? Not flexible? Too old, too young? Skeptical of new adventures? These are great reasons to come try it anyway. As a community we will expand our sense of aliveness, strengthen, stretch, breathe, and have fun doing it! Yoga for Everybody is open to all, suggested donation $10/person. Some mats and props will be available, but bring your own mat, cushion, and blanket if you are able. Thanks so much to the Library Trustees for their hard work and support to the library: Grace Hoffman, Niall McCallum, Angela Ogle, Kurt Steinert and Beth Wade, and our student representative, Ila Steinert. See you at the library! Kathleen Hoyne – Library Director Amanda Otto – Youth Librarian

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SENIORS NEWS UPDATE

The promise of spring is just around the corner! As we look forward to the warmth and sunshine March has to offer us, we encourage you to share some company and a meal with our seniors. 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 even in mud season 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:  Friday Sing Along; in person with Pat

Mayhew held the 1st Friday each month at 1 p.m.  ·Introduction to Digital Culture; in

person on Mondays and Wednesdays 10:30 a.m. ending March 15  ·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 Mondays and Wednesdays 9:00-10:00 a.m.  ·Chair Yoga with Karen Kennedy; in

person Mondays at 1 p.m.  ·Tai Chi with Pat Boyle; in person

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

held every 1st and 3rd Monday at 1 p.m. in person  ·Blood Pressure Clinics are the 2nd

Wednesday of the month from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.  ·Mystery Book Club is held in person

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 Mud season will soon be upon us. Homebound? Call us. The process to start Meals on Wheels only takes a few minutes to complete. We look forward to hearing from you and hope to see you soon!

Gene Troia Twin Valley Senior Center P.O. Box 152 East Montpelier, VT 05651 [email protected] 802-223-3322

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Cabot Ambulance - Youth at Work

Cabot Ambulance is excited to share that we are growing our Junior First Responder roster! We now have three active junior members who are working hard to support us on calls and pursue additional training as they explore careers in EMS. Our junior members are Vermont EMS First Responder Certified and work under the mentorship of our more experienced responders. We couldn’t be more proud of their willingness to learn and put in so much time toward their education. We are especially grateful for their new ideas and enthusiasm for serving the residents of Cabot. As Cabot Ambulance’s new training officer, I sat down recently with Neil Alexander, Silas Robbins and Aysha Russell, and asked them to share a bit about themselves and their passion for first response. It was a delightful and inspiring conversation. You may see these friendly students around town or on calls. Be sure to say hello! When I asked our junior members what motivated them to volunteer, all three immediately shared that the people aspect of first response is an incredibly interesting and rewarding part of their work. As they pointed out to me, it also creates numerous chances to explore careers in public service and build important skills that translate to all aspects of life.

For Aysha, this path toward helping others opens up local job opportunities and provides great experiences working within a team. Knowing community is her focus, Aysha is currently in the EMS program at Central Vermont Career Center and hopes to take the test to become a certified EMT later this year. Neil and Silas found their way to Cabot Ambulance through their work as fire fighters. They pointed out that supporting both agencies gives them the best of both worlds – fighting fires and getting to interact with people. As Neil said, “the interaction with fire and EMS in Cabot has given me a passion and an idea for what I want to do for a career.” Neil is headed to Southern Maine Community College this fall to study Fire Science. Silas will remain a bit more local, attending the Community College of Vermont as he considers a career in wilderness first response. Knowing that all three of our juniors are incredibly busy being students, I asked what inspired them to stay involved and take on the additional responsibility of getting trained as Vermont EMS First Responders. Silas stressed that, “it’s just generally useful to have. The more people you have in a small community that are able to provide support in an emergency situation, the more likely you are able to help somebody on one of their worst days.” Neil shared a story of when he responded to a call that allowed him to see just how much of a positive impact a few people with the right skills can have on a patient’s health. “It could have been grim,” he said, “but it wasn’t, and I got to help with that.” Aysha reminded us all that we make a difference by simply showing up to help people, “even if it's just holding their hand.” Lastly, I asked the group what they want Cabot residents to understand about being first responders in our community. Once again, I was surprised and inspired by how much the group was in agreement. “I want the Cabot community to know they're in good hands, since we have great, kindhearted people in our service. We’re doing our best and we really do care.”

Interested in supporting Cabot Ambulance? Have a student that may want to learn more about getting VEFR certified and becoming a junior member?? Please reach out to Heather Winner at [email protected], Kriss Schmitt at [email protected], or Jennifer Miner at [email protected]. Or, pop by and visit us at one of our lively team meetings – the fourth Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. We love guests!

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