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The Cabot Chronicle

May 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 May 2023 pages (PDF)

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

In This Issue

Invitation to Participate

Free and representative government to community members’ deliberations. depends on citizen participation. Your Once items come to vote at Town Meetby Karen Mueller-Harder

Come see the Cabot Community Theater production of “ C h i t t y Chitty Bang Bang” May 4-7, at the C a b o t School Performing Arts Center. This show, featuring a huge multi-generational cast of community members, promises to be a delight for all! If you haven’t experienced a CCT show yet, prepare to be won over by the group’s engagement and joy in performing, as well as a wonderful array of familiar and new faces and amazing and talented voices. We’ve been waiting since 2020 to perform this show for you, and the time is finally here! This musical is a glorious romp, and will be fun for all ages! The production is directed by Karen Mueller-Harder, with music direction and piano accompaniment by Mark Violette, and choreography by Daria Babbitt. We will be performing this show for one weekend only! There will be 7:00 shows on Thursday through Saturday May 4-6, and 2:00 matinees on May 6 and 7. Tickets are only $10 general admission, and $5 for students and seniors. Our shows have sold out in the past, so be sure to call for reservations at 802-279 -4309. We hope to see you at the show! vote DOES count, and so does your opinion, but only if you exercise them. Many citizens contribute to positive community changes by volunteering on boards or committees. Here is a list of regular Cabot meetings. Please consider attending or listening on Zoom when possible and contributing your thoughts

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BOARD SCHEDULE

Selectboard 1 st & 3 rd Tuesday School Board 1 st & 3 rd Monday Planning 1 st Thursday Commission Fire 2 nd & 4 th Wednesday Department Listers As needed Conservation 2 nd Monday Committee bi-monthly CCIF 2nds Tuesday Committee Trails 2 nd Wednesday Committee Development As needed Review Board Cemetery As needed Commission Willey Last Tuesday Building Committee

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M AY 29, 2023

ing, it’s too late for unput – you can only vote items up or down. The more community input there is on local decisionmaking, the better those decisions will reflect the values of the community. Meetings are subject to change due to holidays, date conflicts, etc. Keep posted with Front Porch Forum notices.

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Design/Pagination: Todd Jones

No part of this paper may be reproduced without express written permission from The Cabot Chronicle . Publisher is not responsible for typographical errors. Acceptance of advertising is contingent upon publisher’s approval and agreement by advertiser to indemnify publisher from loss or expense on claims based upon contents of advertising. Publisher does not assume liability for errors in any advertising beyond the cost of space occupied by individual item in which the error appeared. Subscriptions available $20 per year ~ Half year subscriptions $12.50 ~ www.cabotvermont.org

Cabot Chronicle Mission Statement: The Cabot Chronicle is a home-delivered newspaper devoted to telling the story of the Cabot community.

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May 11

Carpenter placed plantings around the base, and on Sunday, August 16, 1992, the new memorial was dedicated. There were about 200 people in attendance on the lawn of Willey Memorial Hall that day. Prayers were offered by the Rev. Jack Baker, voices rang out in song, and a variety of officials spoke of the heroism and dedication of Cabot’s brave men and women. There was a feeling of both pride and sadness as the service closed to the notes of Taps by Debra Bothfeld. As if the heavens were shedding tears, there was a brief shower that day, just as when the Civil War monument was dedicated over 100 years before. An additional plaque was recently added honoring Cabot servicemen and women lost in Korea and Viet Nam. No Cabot men or women are on record as having been lost in Iraq or Afghanistan. At the Willey Building Auditorium 3084 Main Street in Cabot, VT

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$15 at the door

Doors open at 6:30pm Music Starts at 7:00 pm For advance tickets, visit: http://www.cabotarts.org

Mikahely’s Website: https://mikahely.com The Cabot Folk Club presents Burlington-based singer-songwriter from Madagascar, Mikahely! Mikahely draws inspiration from traditional Malagasy rhythms to create his own unique and healing sounds on guitar and valiha (a zither-like instrument made from bamboo). Singing his all original music in his native language of Malagasy, Mikahely transcends boundaries.

Cabot’s Cemetery Commission oversees placing fresh American flags on the graves of men and women who served our nation during all wars and are buried throughout the town’s seven cemeteries. Many towns have parades and ceremonies honoring the fallen, but Memorial Day has also become a time to gather for picnics to celebrate the beginning of summer with friends and family. It’s possible the original meaning of the holiday is becoming lost. Perhaps we can pause one minute, at 3:00 p.m., to honor the men and women who gave their lives while serving our country. (1) 1948 Cabot Veterans Memorial; (2) Albert May, builder of Veterans Memorial 1992; (3) 1992 unveiling of new Cabot Veterans Memorial; (4) 1992 Veterans memorial with John Hobbs and Frank (Larry) Thompson. Photos courtesy of Cabot Historical Society and Cabot residents.

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The Ice is Out!

by Jane Brown The clock stopped on the Ice-Out Contest April 17 at 10:18 p.m., so the official time is 10:18 p.m. on 4-17-23. WCAX announced on April 24 that the winners are Mark Turner of St. Johnsbury and his wife and son, who pooled their money and bought 80 tickets. One of the tickets was for the exact time of the ice out.

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Elaine C. Metcalf

Elaine C. Metcalf, born May 5, 1943, passed away peacefully, with her husband by her side, on Sunday, February 26, 2023, at St. Johnsbury Health and Rehab. She is survived by her husband, Cecil R. Metcalf Jr., three sisters, Barbara Pope, who lives in California, Carol Fitzgibbon in Oregon, and Christine Stava, currently in Italy, as well as her son, Robert B. Rathbone, of Cabot, and grandson, David C. Rathbone. Elaine was born in Ware, MA. She was the eldest daughter of William and Caroline (Robak) Churma. She went to Catholic School for her elementary grades then graduated from Ware High School in 1962. Soon after that, at age 19, she met and married Robert A. Rathbone (deceased 2005). They had a son Robert B. Rathbone, and she decided to settle in in Marshfield, VT, after the divorce. In 1972, she and Cecil Metcalf started a relationship, which would last 50 wonderful years. They built a home from the ground up in Cabot, where they resided. On October 9, 2016, Elaine had a massive stroke, and the next six and a half years were spent fighting the health problems associated with that, but she and Cecil never lost their love for each other. There was about a year and a half after the stroke that she did make some

Roland Roland (Slim) (Slim) Payne, Payne, Sr. Sr.

A memorial service honoring Roland (Slim) Payne, Sr., is planned for Sunday,

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$15 at the door

Doors open at 6:30pm Music Starts at 7:00 pm For advance tickets, visit: http://www.cabotarts.org

Website:& Videos: https://mikahely.com Richard Ruane and Beth Duquette are an their strong songwriting and their imaginative pared to classic sibling harmony duos. Ruane sings and provides inventive instrumental mandolin and ukulele, while Duquette contributes cals. Ruane and Duquette perform with that comes from many years of collaboration

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EMORIALS

progress, but after falling and breaking her hip, she needed more intensive care than what could be provided at home, and spent her last 1,248 days of her life at St. Johnsbury Health and Rehab. The last year of that was under hospice care, and Cecil went to visit her almost every afternoon to spend time with Elaine. Elaine had many interests and passions in life. Everyone she touched came out for the better. No doubt she had a green thumb, and she grew an incredible garden every summer. She loved to travel, and went to Italy or the Caribbean almost every spring. Painting, cooking and sewing were things she loved to do. She was incredibly talented and ‘crafty’… she could make something beautiful from something as simple as a rock or piece of driftwood. The last 20 years before she retired she was a rural mail carrier in Cabot, and later, Plainfield. She loved that job and took great pride in it. Elaine was predeceased by her parents, William and Caroline Chumura, both of Ware, Mass. Special thanks to St. Johnsbury Health and Rehab and Dr. Mary Ready and her nurses from Caledonia Home Health and Hospice and all of the great staff at St. Johnsbury Health and Rehab. A special thanks to Des Groseilliers Funeral home for their prompt and courteous service. A celebration of Elaine’s life is in the planning stage and will be announced when plans are made in the spring.

June 25, at 11:00 a.m. at Cabot United Church. See June Cabot Chronicle for additional details.

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Sandra (Sandy) Sicely (Foster)

Sandra (Sandy) Sicely (Foster) 81, of Cabot passed away peacefully in Barre, Vermont, on Monday March 27, 2023. A native Vermonter, Sandy was born on March 17, 1942, to Herndon and Natalie (Bartlett) Foster. She attended school in Cabot, graduating as the salutatorian of her class in 1960. Sandy was an active member of the local community and proud member of the United Church of Cabot. Sandy was one of the very first payroll clerks at Cabot Creamery and was an active member of the Eastern Star, a Masonic appendant body that focuses on members with spiritual values and believes in fidelity, constancy, loyalty, faith, and love. She earned the title of Worthy Matron in the Eastern Star, becoming the presiding officer of her chapter. Sandy was known for her kind and caring nature that she showed throughout her life. After receiving a degree in psychology from Vermont Community College, Sandy became a teacher's aide at Cabot School, focusing on helping children with special needs.

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4th Celebration

by Sandy Atkins The Annual 4th of July Celebration in Cabot returns this year on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. Cabot’s proud tradition of celebrating Independence Day started more than 50 years ago and features the Cabot 4 th of July Parade stepping off at 11 a.m. This year’s parade has the theme “Get Outside” to help celebrate all the outdoor activities available to enjoy in Cabot. The parade entries will be judged and cash prizes of $100 are awarded for Cheesiest, most Historic/Patriotic and best Get Outside theme. There is no need to pre-register to participate in the parade, but all participants are required to fill out the parade participation form, available to download at www.cabotvermont.org. Please note that travel on VT Route 215 through the Village of Cabot will be restricted on July 4 from 11 am until the parade concludes. In addition to the parade, Cabot is hosting the following activities: On October 31, 1960, Sandy married the love of her life, Richard (Dick) Sicely. They went on to have three sons, raising them in Cabot, where they built their home. Together, Sandy and Dick spent much of their time bowling, playing cards, and dancing at the Barre Moose Club. Sandy was proud of Dick’s accomplishments in music and would look forward to tuning in to his radio station every Saturday morning, waiting for her weekly song dedication. Sandy was a loving and dedicated mother, always making it clear how proud she was of her three sons. She also enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, reading books or playing board games. Sandy is survived by her three sons; Michael Sicely of Cabot, Richard Sicely and his wife Michelle of St. Albans, Ronald Sicely and wife Tammy of Alton Bay, NH, six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband Richard (Dick) Roy Sicely, mother Natalie (Bartlett) Foster, father Herndon Foster, brother Arnold (Bart) Foster, and granddaughter Jessica Sicely.

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& Parade

 Annual rummage sale in the Cabot School Gym, starting at 8 a.m.  Annual book sale at the Cabot Public Library, starting at 9 a.m.  Food vendors and village businesses will be open,  The Cabot Art Barn opens at 10 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. Following the parade, until 2 p.m, the celebration continues on the town Recreation Field with family games and activities, Cabot Harvest Hub Farm Market, live music and more. If you will be in Cabot on July 4 and would like to help for an hour or two,

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and Executive Sessions

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer The Selectboard held its first meeting after Town Meeting Day on March 21 and welcomed a new member, Karen Larsen, and elected its officers. The Selectboard now consists of Mike Hogan (Chair), Fred Ducharme (Vice-Chair), R.D. Eno (Clerk), Skip Bothfeld, and Karen Larsen. After the reorganization and election, the board got to business. The board moved onto other topics in the agenda, and then took action to make the town appointments. For most positions, the current appointee was reappointed. The subject of appointing a constable was tabled, Karen mentioned that she had previously brought the idea of having a woman serve in that position. She wanted to know if the other members of the board had given this any consideration, and pointed out that a woman would be beneficial especially related to domestic issues. R.D. agreed, and noted that there are the two positions, and the positions are not hierarchical. He noted that if they can find a woman willing to serve, they could be the second constable. Stephen Hogan was appointed first constable by the board, with Mike abstaining. The next set of appointments that didn’t materialize as a simple reappointment was with regard to the members of the Development Review Board (DRB). Mike noted that there were seven members, all with one-year terms. He stated that there needs to be some consistency on these types of boards and proposed staggering the terms. The board discussed moving all the positions to threeyear terms. Then Mike also expressed that he wanted to hear back from people before they made the appointments, and suggested deferring the DRB appointments. Karen asked if it would be appropriate to send out a Front Porch Forum (FPF) post to extend this opportunity to the community. She noted that if they get a full slate, then as a board they could look at balancing viewpoints. Mike asked Betty Ritter to do the post. The Willey Building Committee members also were not appointed at this meeting. There were vacancies on the committee and Betty said the committee hadn’t met to evaluate the possible candidates. At the April 4 meeting of the board, they revisited the DRB appointments. Amy Hornblas, the chair of the DRB, stated that the DRB had met and everyone on the board wanted to continue to serve. She added that she was reelected as the chair, and they had a proposal for staggered terms. Mike mentioned that R.D. had notified the board that Rory Thibault had expressed interest in serving on the DRB

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CCA promotes their mission to enhance

is to empower Cabot residents to participate writer to cover selectboard and other meetings, be able to attend. Most meetings are available are posted regularly on Front Porch available on the Town website, CabotVT.US

in anticipation someone would resign. The board had discussed the possibility of expanding the DRB to nine members and asked Amy if that would be unmanageable. Amy responded that it would make it difficult. Karen then spoke about Amy’s FPF post explaining the importance of the DRB. She went on to note that the concept of the DRB is one of the best kept secrets on how some of the things in town do move forward. She expressed that since the board is so important, she was wondering if the board should still consider an outreach, and then doing a genuine appointment. Mike added that the board has no oversight of the DRB, other than through the appointments. He said that if they did what Karen was suggesting, and they had two or three people interested, then which current members would they replace? Jenn Miner spoke up at this point and pointed out that she has served on the DRB and the Planning Commision for a number of years, and historically when there was a vacancy, the DRB would invite candidates to a meeting and bring a recommendation to the Selectboard. She added that many committees operated that way, and if the Selectboard was going to change it, they should change it for all the committees. Mike agreed and said that he would prefer having the committees making the recommendations. R.D. seemed to disagree, and state that the difference with the DRB is that it is quasi-judicial. He said that the DRB was crucial in economic development, and that it was vital to him that the DRB be an engine of development, and a facilitator of development. He also expressed that he opposed rubber stamping appointments. The board continued to discuss the DRB for some time and ultimately decided to put the decision off until the May 2 meeting. After this lengthy discussion, the board turned to the position of second constable. Betty spoke for Ruth Goodrich, who was sick, and said that she was interested in the position. Ruth was on Zoom and spoke about the military and police background in her family and noted that her 20 years of experience as an EMT would also benefit her as a second constable. Karen suggested Nell McQueeney and spoke about a personal experience she had regarding a tragedy and how Nell, as a teenager, took personal initiative to offer support to the community. Karen noted that constables do not have an enforcement capacity, but they can be hugely instrumental in defusing situations between neighbors, or at meetings that become rowdy. She went on to say that ideally the constables can act as a team, when one is available and the the quality of community life for those in the governance and management for the purpose of keeping community via Zoom for those who would like Forum, or you can call the Town Clerk's by clicking on "Selectboard Meetings.

other is not, or when one is better suited for a situation. R.D. thanked Ruth for volunteering but expressed that it was time to bring someone new and nominated Nell. The board approved Nell to the second constable position. Some other actions taken by the new board included executive sessions. At the time of this writing the board has only had three meetings since it was reorganized, and in those meetings it has had two executive sessions. On March 21 and on April 18 the board had two separate executive sessions regarding highway personnel. Executive sessions are closed to the public, and thus the Chronicle has no access to what was discussed during the sessions. For the session on March 21, the board identified the specific provision under state statute for which they

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Jerry Jam Festival

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer David Pransky, Spanish teacher at Cabot School, and Judy Pransky, founder of Manifestivus, introduced a representative from The North Country Community Radio (NCCR), a non-profit radio station based in Littleton, NH. The subject was about a new festival to be hosted at the Pransky farm this summer. Nate Alberts, executive director of NCCR, explained to the board that NCCR was a small FM and internet based radio station. The staff is all volunteer and mostly serves Northern New Hampshire and a bit of Vermont. He went on to say they had recently acquired the Jerry Jam Festival and were hoping to bring it here to Cabot. He went on to say this would be the 26th year for the festival, and the radio station was started ten years ago. Nate then introduced Dan Webb, the founder of the music festival, and described it as a three-day event. Fred Ducharme asked how many people would be attending, and Nate responded that their goal was to keep it to about 1800 people. Dan Webb then described the music festival. He said it started as a small family gathering in his backyard. He described that it evolved over the years, becoming popular as more people wanted to come. He then noted about 15 years ago they got more organized, got insurance, promoted it, and it has gone well since. He went on to say they rarely have an ambulance call, and when they do, it’s for things like dehydration. He stated there are no fights and no arrests. Dan also added police have supported the event over the years, and it's mostly family oriented. Dan went on to say they’ve gotten praise from neighbors, and past communities have been supportive. He said they have moved several times, but it is always on a farm. He said they like to give the land a break from the foot traffic. Dan has attended a Manifestivus event in the past, and since the radio residing, doing business, and visiting of our town. members informed about issues to listen in person. Instructions for

were entering executive session as 1 V.S.A. § 313(a)(3) “The appointment, employment, or evaluation of a public officer or employee, provided that a public body must make the final hiring or appointment decision, and explain its reasons for the decision, in open meeting.” Earlier in the meeting, it was casually mentioned the session had something to do with the highway commissioner position. According to the minutes, there was no action taken by the board after exiting executive session. Regarding the session on April 18, the specific provision was not identified, and the agenda only listed “Personnel Issues Highway”. The minutes were not yet posted to the website at the time of this writing, and it is unknown if any action was taken after exiting executive session.

reached into Vermont, he thought it would be good to spread the love across the river to Cabot. The proposed dates are July 14, 15, and 16. Dan said that since it got larger, they hire private security out of Burlington. He added that they give away water. He emphasized it is not like a Live Nation concert, and they have a lot of kid programs throughout the weekend. He also mentioned it would be good for local businesses, and it would likely be their best weekend of the year as far as sales. R.D. Eno asked about the music and Dan said it was rock and roll, but softer, more like a folk rock. He added there is not any hip-hop nor heavy metal. He said they also have some bluegrass bands. Mike Hogan mentioned that for the last concert the town had issued a conditional use permit. Mike also noted that Judy, as the landowner, would probably have to be the permit holder and the contact. Robert Rathbone spoke up as a concerned neighbor. He recalled a very bitter taste from the last concert held on the Pransky farm, which ran until 4:47 in the morning. He did acknowledge that this festival sounds like it might be a little less psychedelic. Robert went on to say that he is hoping this event isn’t Manifestivus in a different coat. He noted after 10 p.m., there are no sheriffs around here. He felt there should be a police presence during this event. He added that he is not entirely against the event, maybe about 80%. Karen Larsen asked about which communities had hosted this event before and noted that 1800 people is a lot for the size of Cabot. Dan Webb said the festival was in Bath, NH, for ten years, and prior it was in Sugar Hill, NH, for four to five years, and initially in Littleton, NH, back when it was really small. Robert asked Dan about how late it would run and Dan said all amplified music would be done by midnight. R.D. asked about admission, and Dan said there is a charge for admission. (see ‘Jerry Jam Festival’, page 6)

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Jerry Jam Festival

(continued from page 5) There was some discussion about how it would benefit businesses, and Bobby Searles, owner of the Cabot Village Store, said that Manifestivus was a windfall in the past, and he would support the new festival. Mike told them they have to follow the process they did before. The conditional use permit comes from the Development Review Board (DRB), and they

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Website Contract

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer The subject of the Town Website surfaced again at the March 21 meeting of the Selectboard during “Other Business”. R.D. Eno said he was delighted to see improvements to the town website. Mike Hogan spoke about there being so many web developers and that he doesn’t want to hurry up and make a decision on this and wanted the board to take its time making a decision. Karen Larsen said she is late to this conversion, being the new member on the board, and would also like to take some time choosing a vendor. She added it seems going back to the vendor that has designed the website needing an overhaul is questionable. R.D. pointed out that they didn’t budget anything this year for an overhaul of the website but added that he is not sure he wants to wait. He added that it seems for a little money this company could make significant improvements. Michelle LeClerc, Assistant Town Clerk, identified the company they were talking about and said, if they go with Rural Solutions, it could cost $12,000. She said she does not want to use someone who was going to charge a lot of money. She noted that currently the town pays about $400 a year for maintenance. A more formal discussion of the town website was on the agenda for the April 4 board meeting. Mike started the conversion by reviewing conversations about website and changes needed. He thinks it needs a refresh, not a full rebuild, to make it more usable for taxpayers that use it a lot, and added that it's for housing information, various forms, and permits. Mike then announced the board asked a few people to come that night and indicate what they might be able to do. Mi-

online and was trying to reach out to them. She said she did have a copy of their proposal. Next up was Seth O’Brien. Seth said his proposal is basically for redoing the website. He said, from a technical standpoint, the current website is a bit clunky to access some parts. He added that some parts appear ported from the old website. Seth said, while it would be possible to spruce up and make certain updates, in his opinion, for someone else to go in, it would cost more to make updates. The current website is Wordpress, which is what he would recommend, and even starting fresh, all the content could be preserved. He estimated the work would consist of making the website accessible will need to be consulted. He said they could revisit this decision in April. At the April 18 board meeting, Amy Hornblas, chair of the DRB, relayed to the board that the DRB took a look at the existing conditional use permit and found that it is still effective. She said they also looked at past minutes and found all the issues that were brought up had been previously addressed. The board agreed that the festival could proceed as planned.

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Awarded

for mobile devices, compatible for ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) (hard of seeing), and all the documents on the website properly accessible. He mentioned that he offers two different services. He can create the website and train people on how to update it, or he can offer a yearly contract to do the updates. He said he tries to make it easy to use and not lock his customers into needing him to make updates. Seth said he also offers web hosting and technical service, adding that about 95% of his customers choose to host through him. His rough cost estimate was $2500 to $3500 to do a quick rebuild. In response to some questions from Mike, Seth relayed his background. He said he has done a fair amount of IT work for towns and has been in the IT business since graduating from Cabot High School in 2007. He worked at IT for 11 years but left to run his business here in Cabot. After more exchanges with some details of website needs with Seth, the board then turned to the other contractor present on Zoom, David Brizendine of MacDragon. David explained that he started his company in 2006. He noted they currently maintain about 100 websites and when they develop a website they ask three questions: who are you talking to, what are you trying to say, and what do you want them to do. He explained creating a new home page to improve layout and navigation is the important starting point. He also added that the website can support online forms. He proposed doing a new homepage with a theme builder to address four elements. He went on to explain the first element is the function which consisted of ease of navigation, dissemination of information, and filing out of forms. Second is the content, third is the layout, and fourth is the style. He proposed to use plugins that add functionality, and they could show Michelle how to make forms. David went on to say their proposal includes at least two hours education and training. He added they want to work with Cabot to identify and solve problems. David said the company has a team of four people that manage and maintain websites. David explained the website would be hosted on top tier servers, and they would plan quarterly updates to the Cabot website. He summed the costs as $125 a year for hosting, $125 a quarter for updating, and $4500 for the website refresh. R.D. wanted to make a motion to select the contractor, but Mike interrupted him and said that since it was an agenda item for discussion, the board really can’t make a decision that night. So, the board revisited this subject on April 18 At the April 18 meeting, Mike quickly summarized what happened at the previous meeting and restated the three

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Cemetery Commission

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer Melvin Churchill attended the March 21 meeting of the Selectboard to seek approval from the board to transfer a gift to the Cemetery Commission into an Edward Jones Investment Account. He noted the commission had the opportunity to open a certificate of deposit (CD) for $25,000 at an interest rate of 5.3%. The board granted permission, but Melvin returned at the April 18 meeting quoting a famous character from the movies: “I’m back”. He said he had started this quest to invest the gift in January. After his death, Richard Spaulding donated a sum of 25K and Melvin had called a special meeting of the commission. The commission authorized him to invest with Edward Jones at 4.7%. After receiving permission from the Selectboard, he said that Edward Jones’ legal counsel asked for a copy of the town's investment policy. He continued to describe the terminology from the policy and thought Edward Jones met

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Demolition Update

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer Dean Deasy, Fire Chief, attended the April 18 Selectboard meeting and spoke under the “Other Business” agenda item regarding the continued demolition of 2466 Main Street, the site of the proposed new Public Safety Building (a.k.a. Firehouse). Dean started by saying he had two things to cover. First was an update on the demolition of 2466 Main Street. He said the slab and bricks had been removed, as well as the buried oil tank. The tank turned out to be a 275-gallon tank that was never rated to be buried underground. He noted the tank had started to fail at the bottom, and the Better Group detected a small amount of soil that was contaminated. He went on to explain that the contaminated soil had been placed into drums, as well as the sludge from the bottom of the tank. He then said the contractor, Hogan Excavating, had uncovered an old two post cylinder hydraulic lift system buried under the bay area of the concrete slab. Dean said they recommended having the Better Group properly remove, cut and drain all oils, and test the soil beneath the lift. He added that they suspect there is a small hydraulic tank also buried below the floor. He also recommended having the Better Group trace the old floor drains to see if it goes to a tank, since they believe the floor drains might be connected to the old septic tank. Dean provided an estimate for the additional work. He said the Better Group estimate was $4,421.92, and there would be additional excavating and removal costs of roughly $3,000 by Hogan Excavating. Dean noted the additional costs were for work above and beyond the original contract. He pointed different contractors: Seth’s Computer Service, MacDragon Web Design, and KaVaCo. Seth was present and the board asked him a few clarifying questions before approving a motion to hire him as the new website contractor.

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Investments

the requirements. It wasn’t made clear if there was an issue with Edward Jones legal counsel. Mike Hogan articulated that the Cemetery Commision was a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and not part of the town. R.D. noted that if the commission is a free standing 501(c)3, then they do not come under the town’s investment policy and thought the commission could follow their own investment policy. Melvin noted that he had looked at what the commission had invested with Union Bank, and after bank fees they had only gained about $1,000 last year. When he calculated what that same amount would have made in a CD at Edward Jones, he said it was around $9,000. R.D. asked if they had the articles of incorporation for the 501(c)3 and Melvin was not sure. After the meeting, the Chronicle searched the IRS Tax Exempt Organization database and could not find a listing for the Cabot Cemetery Commission.

out that this was in the original bid and explained that the additional items are for equipment cost time, and the cost per ton of dirty soil. Dean said he wanted to get this going as quickly as possible, and get it cleaned up for the neighbors. Even though this was not warned in the agenda, the Selectboard took action to approve a motion to approve the additional expenses. Dean had a second request for the Selectboard regarding grants. He explained that the town policy requiring all grants to go to the Planning Commision (PC) hampers the Fire Department when trying to apply for grants. He said it's a tedious process and doesn’t make sense, and that often grants are found only days before they are due. He requested the Fire Department be designated as exempt from the policy, since the acceptance of a grant is up to the Selectboard. He also requested the ability to log in and apply for grants. Currently only the Town Clerk and Assistant Town Clerk have access to apply for grants. R.D. Eno and Mike Hogan agreed that the process is cumbersome, and Mike added he didn’t think that was the original intent of the policy. He recalled that the Planning Commision was mostly interested in grants that related to development and land use. The grant policy posted on the town website states that its purpose is to “ensure that all grants are administered according to the requirements of the particular grant program, and to ensure accurate reporting of grant activity to federal, state, and granting agencies.” The board again approved a motion made under “Other Business” to approve the exception for the Fire Department from the town grant policy.

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What made you decide to become a

mentor? I really enjoy being around kids, and I was looking for something I could do to give back to the community. This seemed like a great fit! Did you have mentors in your life as a young person? If so, who were they and how did they affect your life? Yes - I would say my stepmother and grandmother were both mentors in a way. I learned so much from both of them, just as far as having a positive attitude, speaking up for myself, and so many other things. I also had an advisor in high school who was sort of a mentor as well. She was someone I could go to for advice about anything in my life, and I still remember some of her words of wisdom. I wrote to her many years later as an adult to thank her. How long have you been part of the

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Forum on Respiratory

by Amy Hornblas, VIHF vtmasksurvey@mail.com The Vermont Emergency Forum to Assess the Respiratory Hazards of Masks will be held on Friday, May 12 in Burlington City Hall. The Forum will begin evaluating the effects face masks are having on respiratory health in our state. The Covid Federal Emergency is scheduled to expire May 11. However, approval for masks and other emergency authorized products is not expected to end. Vermont Emergency Forum organizers point out that mask requirements have, and continue to be, imposed on people of all ages and abilities, without any of the basic protections offered to employees who wear an N95-style respirator at work. Forum organizers address the respiratory hazards of masks with a presentation by their keynote speaker, Dr. Christina Parks, who holds a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology. Dr. Parks will address the importance of respiration to all the systems of the body, and the

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What have you learned from your

mentee(s)? I can't think of one particular thing, but mainly just learning about what it's like to be a young person these days. Oh and I've definitely learned some teen-age lingo! I'm sure I will learn a lot from her as we continue to spend time together. What do you think is the most common misconception about mentoring? I'm not really sure, but I've heard someone say they thought mentoring was only for kids with behavior issues, and that is definitely not true - I think just about any young person can benefit from having a mentor.

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What would you tell other adults

who may be considering becoming a mentor? I would tell them that the process is really geared to finding a match so that both the mentor and mentee will enjoy their time together. I get as much enjoyment and benefit from doing activities with my mentee as she (hopefully) gets from spending time with me. It doesn't have to cost any money to be a mentor as a matter of fact, the mentor program is paying for our tickets to CB. It's just a great way to be engaged with other members of the community that you might not otherwise have the chance to do. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Cabot Mentor, contact Karen Hatcher, program coordinator at cabotmentoring@gmail.com.

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Hazards of Masks

effects of prolonged mask use on those systems. She will address specific concerns for children and other populations, as well as the use of masks while physically exerting or otherwise under stress. While most schools have dropped school-wide mask policies, at least one school in Vermont has continued to require students and staff in specific classrooms to wear face masks again this year at the advice of their special education team. To address this issue, participants will learn how to provide safe and appropriate special education accommodations in schools, and why masks are neither, will be supported later in the morning by Megan Mansell, a former district education director over special populations integration, with experience in appropriate PPE supervision as well as writing and monitoring protocol implementation in the public sector under full ADA/ OSHA/IDEA compliance. Employers and employees in all fields will be instructed in the afternoon on responsible mask policies by Occupational (see ’Masks’, page 11)

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Executive Director

The Cabot Child Care Initiative (CCCI), currently a project of the CCA Economic Development Work Group, is thrilled to have contracted with Heather Smires for leadership and coordination to provide quality, affordable childcare for the families of Cabot and local employers. Heather has had a passion for early childhood education since she was in high school. She operated a childcare center in Danville, VT, the year after she graduated high school that grew from serving six children into a center for 39 children. In 2011, Heather opened ABC & LOL Child Care Center in St. Johnsbury that is now a 5-Star rated, high quality center with three locations, serving 250 children with 65 staff members. In November 2021, Heather contracted with a not for profit in Peacham to open the Peacham Children’s Academy, which serves small children from infancy through pre-school, and the Peacham Afterschool Learning which uses space at the Peacham Elementary School. Heather is a very well experienced and respected childcare specialist,

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Cabot Board of Listers

It’s that time of year when listers try to capture the changes in property attributes that occurred over the past year so property tax bills will be correct. Property owners may hear from us to follow up on new construction progress, or to clarify homestead declaration status. If there have been changes in your property value, you will receive a change of appraisal notice around the end of May. If you receive such a notice and don’t agree, please call or email us immediately. If there’s an error, it’s easy to deal with at this stage. Once tax bills go out, changes are much more difficult, and a grievance could result in a property value change that you didn’t expect – it could go either way. So, talk to us.

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Initiative

and we are fortunate to have her leading the Cabot team through state regulations and identifying grant prospects. We are still searching for a full-time Director and Lead Teacher for the CI. We offer a competitive salary and ongoing professional development. dates who are dynamic and Candienergetic with experience and dedication to early childhood education are encouraged to contact Heather Smires, hhud-

more information. An MOU (memorandum of understanding) has been signed with representatives of the United Church of Cabot to grant space in the church ground floor meeting room. Current grant funds will allow the CI to make necessary renovations to the space to meet fire and safety regulations. A lease is currently being negotiated. Community members who would like to get involved or have questions can

Cabot Employment Opportunity: Full-time Director and Lead Teacher for Cabot Child Care Initiative. Work locally with good salary and benefits.

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Are Under Review

If a property is enrolled in Current Use, you can also expect a notice of allocation as a courtesy, even if there’s been no change to your parcel value, so you will see how your current use benefit will impact your property tax bill. Listers and the Property Valuation & Review Division of the Department of Taxes are dealing with new software that is rolling out slowly (read here: behind schedule). As a result, we have not been able to begin working on Current Use calculations or Homestead Declarations in a timely fashion. We are hoping all issues will be resolved in time to accomplish everything needed before statutory tax billing deadlines, and there won’t be any unintended consequences. Fingers are crossed.

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Fresh News from the

by Sarah Spletzer

This month we are excited about a couple of new producers that joined our local online farmers market, the Cabot Harvest Hub! Burdock Acres is selling fresh cut flowers and houseplants. Herbalist Erin Rosenthal from Goldenrose Gardens creates tea blends and other herbal products, such as poplar bud salve. And Le’ Fusion Botanicals offers environmentally friendly packaged wellness and beauty products. All of these products make great gifts as well! And did you know that you can not only buy fresh ingredients such as fruit and vegetables, eggs and bread from the Harvest Hub shop? You can also order tasty prepared meals! Back Roads Farm’s “Cabot Mini Quiche” is a popular go-to and Stephanie Hering from NEK Catering creates new classic American and world cuisine meals every week! Take a look at www.cabotharvesthub.org and make your choice for a prepared weekend meal! While the Hub offers a lot of variety (over 300 products in nine different categories) we are still looking for a smallscale farmer, who would like to sell raw cow milk through the Hub. Are there any other products you would like to see added to the Cabot Harvest Hub? Please send your suggestions and comments to Sarah via email, cabotharvesthub@gmail.com. May is also the time when you will find the first Vermont-grown greens and plant starts at our in-person Harvest Hub Market! Markets take place on the last Saturday of each month. Live music and kid’s activities make it a fun and nourishing family event to go to! We are excited about yet another project that is going to be realized at Neighbors in Action, our mother organization. We are going to build a community garden at our 39 Main Street location and form a Neighbors Garden Group! Farmer Ama from Nama Farm, one of our producers at the Harvest Hub, kicked off the first of our Grow What You Eat workshop series in March with a Seed Swap. Elizabeth Vitale from Elysium Valley Farm, another Hub pro-

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Consulting and Gardening

Most of us have a lawn around the place we live. There are good reasons to have a lawn: it’s a place to play, to relax, and to get from one part of the property to another. In our area, shorter vegetation also means fewer ticks. However, most lawns are far from green, no matter what color they are. Lawns are a desert for pollinators, provide little to no wildlife habitat, and make no food for humans. Lawn maintenance uses huge quantities of gasoline, fertilizers, and pesticides. In drier climates than ours, they require huge quantities of water. In the USA, more water is used to irrigate lawns than any other agricultural crop. That’s right, lawns are our #1 irrigated “crop”, despite

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Cabot Harvest Hub

(top) Ella & Kris Price & daughter, Burdock Acres; (bottom right) Erin Rosenthal, Goldenrose Gardens; (bottom left) Kelly Kindestin, Le' Fusion Botanicals. ducer and Executive Director at Neighbors in Action, is going to give a workshop on hay bale gardening on May 13 from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m., which will be our first outdoor workshop. The idea for the Neighbors Garden Group is to meet every second and fourth Saturday morning of each month. If you are interested in joining this group please email Sarah at cabot@neighborsinac tionvt.org or RSVP on the website at www.neighborsinactionvt.org. The garden itself will consist of four raised beds, the hay bales and an archway for climbing plants. The final harvest of the community garden will benefit the community in many ways: The fresh produce can be used in Neighbors in Action's monthly community dinners, or as raw material in a food processing workshop later on this year. And participants of the gardening group will get a fair share as well. I personally can't wait to celebrate a little Harvest Thanksgiving Feast, surrounded by greens! We hope to see you there! Sarah Spletzer

not being tasty at all. But before you just quit mowing and let it all go knee-high, consider some of these easy ways to “green” your lawn instead.  Mow high. Set your blades to 3-4 inches. This allows some flowers to bloom, helping out pollinators. It also provides more cover and habitat for insects and other arthropods.  Keep non-grass plants in the mix. Don’t yank out or poison dandelions, clover, and other broadleaf plants. Having a diverse mix of plants makes your lawn more resilient to dry spells and creates better habitat as well.  Leave clippings on the lawn. The clippings will fertilize your lawn for free.  Use electric tools. There are great electric mowers and string trimmers on the market. They are quiet, and you don’t reek of gas fumes after you’re (see ’Lawns are not Green’, page 11)

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Neighbors in Action

In April, Neighbors in Action kicked off the fundraising campaign to purchase the Masonic Hall at 39 Main Street. Our efforts included social media posts, mailings and our new sign out front of the building! A huge thank you to Thomas Dunbar and the Cabot high school Crew for their help in getting our fundraising sign painted and installed! We are also bringing the FUN to FUNdraising with Thursday night Bingo! Open to all, the bingo games will be held from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. May 4, 11, 18 & 25. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. There will be a $1 per card charge and a $5 prize for each winning card! Snacks and drinks will be available for sale as well. Thank you to everyone who has already made a donation! If you are interested in helping us make this our permanent home, please go to our website at www.NeighborsinActionVT.org and click on the ‘Donate’ button at the top of the page. You are also welcome to mail us a

157, Cabot, Vermont 05647. Any amount is greatly appreciated and will make it possible for us to continue to support our Cabot community! In addition to providing food distributions twice monthly, Neighbors in Action also hosts many community programs

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Permanent Home!

throughout the year, such as Senior Adventures, Kids in the Kitchen, foodresiliency workshops, Chair Yoga and regular Yoga classes, Foot Clinics, monthly Community Take-Out Dinners, a Toy & Warm Clothing Share each December, as well as the Harvest Hub – Cabot’s own Farmer’s Market! We work diligently to provide these programs for free or at a very low cost to participants. Our unique neighbor-helping-neighbor volunteer model enables us to engage community members, create lasting community partnerships and provide enriching experiences for everyone! This May, in addition to Bingo Nights, Neighbors in Action will be hosting a blood drive in partnership with the American Red Cross to be held on Friday, May 5, from 12 p.m.-4:30 p.m. We hope you’ll stop by! And, this spring we are starting a Neighbors Gardening Group which meets Saturday mornings. Together we will be building a community garden at Neighbors in Action. In addition to sharing skills and knowledge, the garden will be incorporated in our programming for older adults and low-income residents attending our food shares. If you are interested in joining our Neighbors Gardening Group, please stop by Saturday at a.m., or email us at Cabot@NeighborsinActionVT.org to find out how you can participate!

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NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO

David Lynn promoted to President and CEO Mark Chairman of the Board, James "Cricket" Jacquier, announced that David Lynn has been named President and CEO of the cooperative, ensuring a seamless leadership transition. Lynn had been serving as the organization's interim CEO since September 2022. "Dave has shown exemplary leadership," said Jacquier. "He has engaged and energized our employees and farmers. He has made significant progress that we are eager to see continue. We are confident in Dave's vision and strategic direction for our cooperative and our brands." Lynn has been with Agri-Mark for five years. He started as SVP Operations and was promoted to SVP Top Operations in September 2020. Lynn has nearly 28 years of experience in consumer packaged goods and food manufacturing. Prior to Agri-Mark, Lynn worked for the Kroger Company for 12 years, including three years as Vice President of Operations for Kroger's subsidiary, Turkey Hill Dairy. Lynn's experience includes roles with L'Oréal USA, Hillshire Farm and seven years in the United States Navy.

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Guinness Macaroni & Cheese

Available just in time for St. Patrick's Day, the super-premium boxed macaroni & cheese is crafted with Guinness Stout and award-winning Cabot Farmers' Reserve Cheddar . How do you improve the ultimate comfort food? Add the remarkable flavor of Guinness! world's most That's right, when the popular stout meets Cabot Creamery Co-operative's World's Best Cheddar, you get a rich velvety Macaroni & Cheese that is simply irresistible. Guinness Boxed Macaroni & Cheese contains no alcohol and is a bold and magnificently malty flavored take on one of the world's most popular comfort foods, Mac & Cheese. And it doesn't disappoint. The Guinness stout-flavored blend is made with award-winning extra sharp Cabot Farmers' Reserve ready-made cheese sauce combined with organic radiatore pasta. Each box contains approximately three 3.7-ounce servings and takes about 15 minutes to prepare. In addition to the original Guinness Macaroni & Cheese, VCPI plans to add several more flavors to the Guinness line, including Caramelized Onion, Cracked Black Pepper, and Black Truffle.

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FESTIVAL RETURNS

VT Cheese Fest returning in 2023 and is again nominated for USA Today's Best Food Festival Awards The Vermont Cheese Council has announced the return of the Vermont Cheesemakers Festival in a new location featuring some 40 cheesemakers as well as nearly that many specialty food and beverage producers. On Sunday, August 13, from 11:30 to 4:00, the Festival will be open to the public at the new location, The Highland Center for the Arts in Greensboro, VT. Marty Mundy, Executive Director of the Vermont Cheese Council, announced "Attendees can meet cheesemakers and taste the cheeses of Vermont, enjoy the creations of artisan food producers, savor the local wine, mead and cider production, and experience the skills of craft brewers and master distillers." The announcement of the Festival's return comes just as USA Today announced that Vermont Cheesemakers Festival has once again made their list of top food festivals. Cabot was one of the founding members of the Vermont Cheese Council and consistent sponsor of the Vermont Cheesemakers' Festival. Tickets for the Festival itself are $69.50 per person for general admission. Tickets are available online at vtcheesefest.com. Historically, the Festival sells out well in advance of the event date, so early ticket reservations are encouraged. Education and pairing sessions popular at past festivals will return this year and will be announced in the coming months.

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COMPETITION

Cabot Creamery/Agri-Mark had five best in class finishes at the United States Championship Cheese Contest last month. The contest is considered the nation's premier technical cheese, butter, and yogurt competition and it has been hosted by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association biennially since 1981. Below is a listing of Cabot/Agri-Mark's awards at the United States Championship Cheese Contest

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Masks

(continued from page 7) But-

Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certified health and safety experts Tammy Clark and Kristen Megan Kelly. Clark and Kelly have been sharing their expertise to employers around the country and educating them about existing standards requiring them to assess the hazards of masks. They are also raising the awareness about the OSHA standards intended to bring Vaccine or Mask policies, which have been put in place for medical facilities in response to Covid, to all workplace settings. A panel discussion will bring the forum presenters together with local business owners, employees, teachers and students who have stood up to protect themselves

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Tuesdays:

kids ages 7-9 Wednesdays: kids ages 10-12 Discover the magic of the spring season outside learning with the land. Join us exploring the fields and forests, and along the Winooski River. Play games, share gratitude, nature stories & songs. Make crafts, listen to the birds, discover wild edible and medicinal plants. Build a shelter, learn to make food and cook over a fire and follow tracks. Make new friends and amazing discoveries and have lots of fun! Let’s celebrate and learn together what the land can teach us. This Afterschool Program is funded through the Vermont Afterschool & Summer Expanding Access grant.

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Spring Wildflower Walk

with Naturalist Brett Engstrom Sunday, May 14 from 1 to 4 p.m. We will meet at the Stranahan Town Forest parking lot at the beginning of

and others from the hazards of mask requirements. The panel will be facilitated by Dr. Rob Williams, founder of Vermont Independent. The day-long Forum will conclude with the presentation of a Breathing Champions Award, presented by former Deputy State’s Attorney Tom Kelly to the Desautels Family, who have been standing up for three years to defend the legal rights of students and employees through the Vermont court system. Sponsors for The Vermont Emergency Forum to Assess the Hazards of Masks include Vermont Institute for Human Flourishing, Vermont Stands Up and CCTV Productions. More information and registration is available at the Vermont Mask Survey website: vtmasksurvey.com.

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Wednesday, May 31 at 7 p.m.

The Quarry Project, conceived and directed by Hannah Dennison, was a site -specific dance/theater piece created for Wells Lamson, one of the oldest, deepest granite quarries in the country, situated in the small village of Websterville, Vermont. After the 40-minute film there will be discussion with the artists and ensemble. The film director and editor is Lukas Huffman, co-founder and content director of Huffman Studio, an awardwinning digital production agency, now based in his hometown of Montpelier. Lukas comes to media production after a career as a professional snowboarder. For questions: ctgahannah@gmail.com

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Story Time and Playgroup:

For Kids Birth to Age 5 on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. Get ready for some fun with Sasha during story and activity time. This science, art, and nature- based program will encourage 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.

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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 2 days after your order or any time thereafter, or have it shipped to you, or have it delivered for free if you live in Marshfield or Plainfield. Just Food Hub enables you to order regularly so eating healthy, ethically sourced food becomes second nature.

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Planting the Seeds for

It’s that time of year, Folks! We are all itching to tackle new projects while the sun shines. Whether it’s a big spring cleanup, home and equipment repairs, digging into our gardens, or starting up that ATV, it’s the season of getting out and getting things done. Cabot Ambulance and Cabot Fire want to encourage everyone to take a moment and plant a seed for safety this spring. Here’s a handy spring safety checklist to help keep us all safe! 1. Check that you have a current first-aid kit! The American Red Cross recommends basics such as adhesive bandages, cloth tape, antiseptic wipes, gauze pads, tweezers, roller bandages, gloves and a cold compress. 2. Make sure you’ve purchased and hung your green E911 address sign! Easy to spot addresses can greatly reduce response times - help us find you! If you haven’t clearly marked your house number with this handy sign, contact the fire department and order at secretary.cfd.vt@gmail.com one today. You can also visit the town clerk. They have forms and can take payment with credit cards for the $10 sign. 3. If you’re working alone, have a plan in place if you have an emergency. Whether you’re working on the roof, on the tractor, or in the woods, accidents happen. We want you to be able to call for help. Tell someone where you’re headed. Consider carrying your cell phone at all times, and if that’s not possible (we know coverage is

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Very Special Announcement

by Steven Light, Events Coordinator (plainfieldartvt.org)

After more than 50 years in central Vermont Kathy and I have made the decision to move to Minneapolis. This is evoking many emotions and we are feeling the need to celebrate our rich musical connections within this incredible community. This is the announcement about our first one for The Fyre and Lightning Consort, Saturday, May 6 - 7 p.m. at the Plainfield Opera House - Medieval, Renaissance and traditional music from Spain,

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Safety

spotty at best), consider a two-way radio with a family member or co-worker. 4. DO NOT BURN GRASS, LEAVES/ BRUSH, OR DISCHARGE FIREWORKS WITHOUT A PERMIT. Items permitted to burn limited to the following: Natural wood - timber, logs, boles, trunks, branches, limbs, stumps, untreated lumber, clean wood pallets, leaves, and brush. All other items are prohibited . Grass and understory material can be very dry this time of year. Spring winds are brisk, and a small fire can get out of hand very fast! Please contact your Cabot Fire Warden for a permit if you plan to burn or boom: Andy Luce, Town Fire Warden

Deputy Fire Warden (802-5632715). Permits are required whenever there is no snow on the ground and you MUST have yours on hand during the burn or the fire department will be required to extinguish the burn. 5. Fireworks Display permit must be issued by the Fire Chief 15 days in advance of the fireworks display . If you have questions or to apply for a fireworks display permit, contact the Chief of Cabot Fire Department at Chief@Cabotfiredept.com. Cabot Fire and Cabot Ambulance continue to actively recruit new volunteers and plan fun and informative trainings to better serve our community. Be sure to say hello when you see us out and about. Stay tuned for more info on the return of a great tradition – the Cabot Fire Department Pancake Breakfast!

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Butch Greaves

his now ex-wife. But he says he has no intentions of doing anything else until he can’t get up. Read the whole interview at https://www.wcax.com/2023/04/06/ super-senior-butch-greaves/.

Belgium and the British Isles. The others are: The Nisht Geferlach Klezmer Band Saturday, May 27 - 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Church of Montpelier - Still Vermont's best (and only) klezmer band for your listening and dancing pleasure. Gamelan Sulukala Saturday, June 3 - 7 p.m. at the Haybarn Theater on the Goddard College campus - American and Indonesian music for Javanese gamelan. We feel like the best good-bye is a musical one!

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Sharing a Genealogy Find

East Indies 180 years ago. No idea what by Grant (Chip) Taylor happened to the original handwritten I've been getting some things about letter. Rather amazing that it actually the Grant family ready for the London- made it all the way back to his family in derry Historical Society, as my Grant Philadelphia. Somewhere, someone was grandparents lived there. I just scanned good enough to transcribe it to save for an interesting letter from my Great future generations. Truly amazing. Great Grandfather, Samuel Grant, Jr. A (And Samuel Grant, Jr., survived his rather amazing letter from a 19-year old travels, returned home to be a Customs boy, not yet a man, who was a crewman Broker, and have among his children on a sailing vessel traveling around the Edward Grant, my Great Grandfather.) world. It was written from the Dutch

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S ENIORS N EWS U PDATE

“When you reach for the stars you may  Bone Builders with Cort Richardson; not quite get one, but you won't come up via Zoom on Mondays, Wednesdays with a handful of mud either”. A fun and Fridays from 7:30-8:30 a.m. quote by Leo Burnett, who clearly never  Arthritis Foundation Exercise Prolived in rural Vermont! Here, you may gram with Sue Carey; via Zoom on find yourself in a predicament if you Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00don’t have 4-wheel drive, a few friends 10:00 a.m. and nerves of steel.  Chair Yoga with Karen Kennedy; in son, Twin Meals to Valley on some in Wheels, Central of Senior the even Vermont. most Center in rural mud delivers areas sea-   person p.m. Tai Tuesdays SASH Chi sponsored on with from Monday, Pat 10:00-11:00 Bingo Boyle; May with 1 in a.m. and person prizes; 8 at on in 1

person on the 1 st and 3 rd Monday of each month at 1 p.m.  Blood Pressure Clinic is on Wednesday May 17 12:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.  Mystery Book Club is held in person on Thursday May 4 and the first Thursday of each month  In-person Art Class (preregistration required) 4 Fridays, April 28 - May 19 3:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. — Foot Clin-

information and to register. We look (call ahead to schedule) forward to helping any way we can! Happy Birthday to Fred W. – May 9 and Upcoming Classes, Events and Birth- Kris C. – May 14!

 Friday Sing Along; in person with Pat East Montpelier, VT 05651 Mayhew on May 5 th at 1 p.m. director@twinvalleyseniors.org 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 is 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.

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Story Hour - Tuesdays 10:30 - 11:30

am – REC FIELD PAVILION - Join youth librarian Amanda Otto for stories, songs, snacks, crafts and open play. Ages with May special Katie Birth 16th Katie - music Trautz! 5 but from Trautz themed all 10:30 All are - Join welcome! - story are 11:30 us hour Tuesday, welcome! a.m Music . with for a

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H.S. Students - 1st and 3rd Wednes-

day of the month - through Wednesday, May 17 - 3:30 - 5:00 p.m . - 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!

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Program (ages 7-11) Thursdays -

through May 18, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. - 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! Please email amandaotto.cabotlibrary@gmail.co m with questions or to express interest. Sky Party! The week of May 22 - 25 – 8 p.m. – Cabot Rec Field Pavilion Please join Mazie O’Connor and Amanda Otto as we look through the library's telescope at the night sky. We will pick the best weather day and announce it on our website and Front Porch Forum.

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Wyatt Searles – Vermont Adaptive

Ski & Sports - Thursday, May 18 – 7 p.m. - Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports is an organization centered around making sports in Vermont accessible to people of all abilities. As a winter intern with Vermont Adaptive, Wyatt Searles assisted during skiing lessons and even got the opportunity to lead some himself. After his experiences with the organization, Wyatt hopes to bring awareness of the program to the folks in Cabot to get more people involved with adaptive sports.

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Cabot Library – Spring 2023 Series –

Tuesday, May 9 – 7 p.m. - The fourth in an 8-part series – Rebecca Wallick While still working as a (recovering) family law attorney, in 20 Rebecca began plotting her escape by attending nonfiction writing courses. That led to publication of freelance magazine articles and eventually, her first book, Growing Up Boeing: The Early Jet Age Through the Eyes of a Test Pilot’s Daughter (2014). A contributing editor at The Bark magazine from 2004-2019, Rebecca has also had articles published in Aloft (Museum of Flight), Flight Journal , UltraRunner , Seattle , and CityDog magazines. Born and raised in Seattle, Rebecca spent 15 years living in Idaho’s Salmon River Mountains before moving to Cabot in 2021. She is passionate about writing, running, dogs, forests, wildlife, and the natural world. Tuesday, May 23 – 7pm - The fifth in an eight-part series – Elizabeth Blair Elizabeth Blair is a poet, editor, and workshop leader with an extensive background in music and the visual arts. Her publications include full-length collection because God loves the wasp (Unsolicited Press 2022), two chapbooks— We He She/It (Dancing Girl Press 2016) and without saying (Ethel Press 2020)—and poems in a variety of journals, including Harpur Palate , Feminist Studies , cream city review , and Juked . Her monthly newsletter, lullabies & alarms , explores the craft of poetry. She has been artist-in -residence at the Atlantic Center for the Arts, Wildacres, the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, and ACRE. In 2022 she received a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts to complete her second book, a poetry novel. Many thanks to Rebecca Wallick for organizing this series and to the Cabot

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Yoga for Everybody - Sunday morn-

ings - 10:30-11:45 a.m. - 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 Erin Ruddell and our student representative, Ila Steinert. See you at the library! Kathleen Hoyne – Library Director Amanda Otto – Youth Librarian

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← From the Cabot Chronicle