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Cabot Historical Society

Preserving the history of Cabot, Vermont · Founded 1965

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)

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

General Order #11 of 1868: National Day of Remembrance

(above top) Cabot Congregational Church and Civil War Monument on the Cabot Green; (middle left) Methodist Church (on Danville Hill side of Common); (middle right) Cabot Civil War Monument; (bottom left) 1938 Plains School Students at Memorial Day Celebration; (bottom right) 1938 Plains Cemetery. Photos courtesy of Cabot Historical Society and Cabot residents.

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Cabot Community Theater - Chitty Bang

by Karen Mueller-Harder Come see the Cabot Community Theater production of “ Chity Chitty Bang Bang” May 4-7, at the Cabot 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!

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Invitation to Participate

…to community members’ deliberations. Once items come to vote at Town Meeting, 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.

TIME ZOOM LOCATION

6:00 p.m. √ 5:00 p.m. √

2nd & 4th Wednesday 7:00 p.m. √

As needed 2nd Monday bi-monthly 2nds Tuesday

2nd Wednesday

As needed

As needed

Last Tuesday Free and representative government depends on citizen participation. Your 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 BOARD

Selectboard 1st & 3rd Tuesday School Board 1st & 3rd Monday Planning Commission Fire Department Listers Conservation Committee CCIF Committee Trails Committee Development Review Board Cemetery Commission Willey Building Committee SCHEDULE 1st Thursday 7:00 p.m. √

TBD

7:00 p.m. √

√ 6:00 p.m.

Willey Bldg. School Library Willey Bldg.

Fire Dept.

Willey Bldg.

Willey Bldg.

Willey Bldg..

Willey Bldg.

Willey Bldg.

The beginning of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 2.

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The Ice is Out!

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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Cabot’s Beth Wade is Vermont Library Trustee of the Year

Beth Wade accepts the award for Library Trustee of the Year at the annual Vermont Library Association conference held in South Burlington on Monday, April 3, 2023.

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OBITUARIES & MEMORIALS

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 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 (Slim) Payne, Sr.

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

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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Town Prepares for Cabot’s July 4th Celebration & Parade

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 4th 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.

 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.

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

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Reorganization, Appointments 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 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 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 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.

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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 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.

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 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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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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Website Contract Awarded

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. Michelle said that KaVaCo LLC wasn’t 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.

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 6 onward.

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Cemetery Commission Investments

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 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.

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CABOT SCHOOL Kindergarten Registration

Cabot School would like to register and welcome kindergarten students for the 2023 – 2024 school year. Registration will be held May 8 - 12 from 7:30 – 3:00 p.m. Please come to the main office to pick up and complete Registration Packets. Your child’s immunization record and a copy of his/her birth certificate are mandatory at the time of registration.

No appointment is necessary.

In order to be eligible for kindergarten, your child MUST be five (5) years old BEFORE September 1, 2023.

IMPORTANT DATES: KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION MAY 8 TO MAY 12, 2023

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Meet the Mentors

In this month’s Meet the Mentors, Ellen Cairns shares her experiences.

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 Cabot Mentoring program?

On and off for about four years- I first mentored a fourth grader for about a year, but she moved away. Then I didn't have a mentee during the pandemic, and now I do again.

How many young people have you mentored? Are you still in touch? Just two - I'm not in touch with my first mentee, and I see my current mentee regularly.

What kinds of experiences have you shared/are you sharing with your mentee(s)? My first mentee and I went bowling, played laser tag once (very fun!), read books, played games, and went to some community events, such as an art show at the Marshfield library. My current mentee and I like to cook together, share books, knit, play games, and are looking forward to seeing Chitty Bang together. We have A LOT in common, so it's really fun to spend time with her.

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.

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 CCBB. 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 [email protected].

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Coordinator Onboard for Cabot Child Care Initiative

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, 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 CCCI. We offer a competitive salary and ongoing professional development. Candidates who are dynamic and energetic with experience and dedication to early childhood education are encouraged to contact Heather Smires, [email protected] or 802.473.2772 for 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 CCCI 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 contact the CCA at 802-279-4309 or [email protected].

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Forum on Respiratory Hazards of Masks

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 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 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 kids ages 7-9 Wednesdays:

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

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Listers on the Move! Property Tax Valuations Are Under Review

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.

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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Working Towards our Permanent Home!

In April, Neighbors in Action kicked off the fundraising campaign to purchase the Masonic Hall at 3339 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 check to Neighbors in Action, PO Box 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 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 9 a.m., or email us at [email protected] to find out how you can participate!

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Fresh News from the Cabot Harvest Hub

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, [email protected]. 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 3339 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- (top) Ella & Kris Price & daughter, Burdock Acres; (bottom right) Erin Rosenthal, Goldenrose Gardens; (bottom left) Kelly Kindestin, Le' Fusion Botanicals.

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 10 onward.

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Lawns are not Green

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 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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Cabot Creamery News

AGRI-MARK NAMES 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.

Guinness and The Farmer Companies take the ultimate comfort food to a whole new level with 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! That's right, when the world's most 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.

VERMONT CHEESEMAKERS 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.

AGRI-MARK/CABOT WINS BEST IN CLASS AT NATIONAL CHEESE & BUTTER 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

First Place

 Extra Creamy Premium Salted Butter  10% Plain Greek Yogurt  Triple Cream Vanilla Bean Greek

Yogurt  Agri-Mark Grade A Dairy Product

Solids  Agri-Mark Nonfat Dry Milk powder Second Place

 Extra Creamy Premium Salted Butter  Plain Nonfat Yogurt  Mild Cheddar Third Place

 Extra Sharp Cheddar  Pepper Jack Cheese 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.

May 13 – Democracy in America:

(Volumes I April, Volume II May) by Alexis de Tocqueville (1835,1840).

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.

NEW! Programing coming soon: Teen Crafting Nights Teen Herbal Self Care 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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Upcoming Events at the Jaquith Public Library

Old Schoolhouse Common, 122 School St. RM 2 Marshfield, VT 05658

[email protected]

www.jaquithpubliclibrary.org

Free Weekly NatureCamp Afterschool Program with Ange Gibbons April 11-June 8 (no program April 25-27)

For info:

802-426-3581 3:00-5:30 p.m.

Tuesdays:

Thompson Road (right off Hollister Hill Road). Sponsored by Marshfield Conservation Committee and the Jaquith Library.

The Quarry Project: The Film 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: [email protected]

Fourth Mondays from 7 to 8 p.m.

For copies of the book, please stop by the library. New members are always welcome.

May 22 – The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

Chapters in History Book Group Second Saturdays of the month Monday Book Group

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Planting the Seeds for Safety

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 at [email protected] and order 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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WCAX Super Senior: Butch Greaves

On April 6, Joe Carroll of WCAX-TV traveled to Walden to interview Butch Greaves and watch him boil sap in his sugarhouse. The 79-year old told Joe started sugaring just 15 years ago with spotty at best), consider a two-way radio with a family member or co-worker. 4. DO NOT BURN GRASS, LEAVES/BRUSH, OR DISCHARGE FIRE- WORKS 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 (802-563-2723) or Walter Bothfeld, Jr., Deputy Fire Warden (802-563- 2715). 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 [email protected]. 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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Plainfield Oprah House - Very Special Announcement

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, 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

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

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CABOT PUBLIC LIBRARY NEWS

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.

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 Birth - 5 but all are welcome! Music with Katie Trautz - Join us Tuesday, May 16th from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. for a special music themed story hour with Katie Trautz! All are welcome!

Cooking with Brock Miller - Wednesday, May 3rd & May 10th - 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. (ages 11-15) - Join Cabot Food Service Director, Brock Miller at the Cabot School Cafeteria to whip up some tasty treats together with friends. Preregistration appreciated - email [email protected].

Dungeons and Dragons - Tuesdays - 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Come play D&D after school with friends - Snacks are provided

- All are welcome!

Community Service Program for H.S. Students - 1st and 3rd Wednesday 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!

Book Club and Outdoor Exploration 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 [email protected] 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.

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.

Cabot Book/Discussion – Thursday, May 25 – 2 p.m. - Based on a Real Life - Please join in for this Book Discussion series co-sponsored by the Vermont Humanities Council and facilitated by VHC scholar Mary Hays. The second book in this four-part series is Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner. Books can be picked up in advance at the Cabot Library. All are welcome to join in lively conversation with your neighbors!

Branching Out: Author Talks at 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 2000 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 Creamery for co-sponsoring.

Yoga for Everybody - Sunday mornings - 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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SENIORS NEWS UPDATE

“When you reach for the stars you may not quite get one, but you won't come up with a handful of mud either”. A fun quote by Leo Burnett, who clearly never lived in rural Vermont! Here, you may find yourself in a predicament if you don’t have 4-wheel drive, a few friends and nerves of steel.

Twin Valley Senior Center delivers

Meals on Wheels, even in mud season, to some of the most rural areas in Central Vermont.

Call 802-223-3322 for more information and to register. We look forward to helping any way we can! Upcoming Classes, Events and Birthdays:  Friday Sing Along; in person with Pat

Mayhew on May 5th at 1 p.m.

 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; via Zoom on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00- 10:00 a.m.  Chair Yoga with Karen Kennedy; in person on Monday, May 1 and 8 at 1 p.m.  Tai Chi with Pat Boyle; in person on Tuesdays from 10:00-11:00 a.m.  SASH sponsored Bingo with prizes; in person on the 1st and 3rd 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 Clinics will be held on May 12, 17 and 26 (call ahead to schedule) Happy Birthday to Fred W. – May 9 and Kris C. – May 14! Gene Troia, TVSC P.O. Box 152 East Montpelier, VT 05651 [email protected] 802-223-3322

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Come Dance with your Neighbors

by Karen Mueller-Harder

The Cabot Community Contra Dance started up again in April, with a small but enthusiastic crowd, and everyone had a great time! Our next dance will take place on Friday May 12, 7:30-10 p.m., at the Willey Building (Cabot Town Hall), with a short intro session for new folks at 7:15. We’ve brought in Luke Donforth, a popular caller from the Burlington area, to lead the dance, who will teach you everything you need to know! Admission is on a sliding scale, $5- 10, or you can bring some finger-food refreshments to share at the break! Bring your water bottle, or water and cups will be available. Masks are welcomed but not required, and the lovely large windows will be open for good ventilation! Everyone is welcome, and anyone can dance with anyone, generally changing partners with each dance; dances will be taught with gender-free terminology. You can come to the dance alone, with a friend or sweetheart, or your whole family--all ages welcome! The dances are taught, but if you’ve never been to a dance, you are encouraged to arrive for the 7:15 session, when we will have time to practice a few basics, and then we’ll build upon what you learn throughout the evening. Hope to see you at the dance!

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Returning to Roots They Didn’t Know They Had The Burtt Family and Burtts’ Apple Orchard

The young Burtt family.

by Amanda Legare Before Keith and Johnnye Burtt and their children moved to Cabot in 1988, they lived in Tyringham, Massachusetts, where they had the largest sugaring operation in that state. Keith was also a contractor with eight employees and held other jobs. His father was a “fine carpenter,” a skill he passed down to Keith. At age 40, Keith decided he wanted to move north, where he believed the sugar content in maple sap was higher. “I was looking for a farm with open land and maples on it, which was hard to find,” he remembered. “Most farms like that were successful and not for sale.” `He eventually bought a house and 155 acres from Bob Davis on the Cabot Plains Road. Davis had a dairy farm and sugar woods. “My mother and father came up to see what I was buying,” Keith said. “I took them to the Cabot Creamery and on the tour they mentioned that Benjamin Webster was the first settler in Cabot. My mother said that her grandmother was related to Daniel Webster.” With some help from Cabot historian David Book, the Burtts discovered that not only were they related to Cabot’s first settler, their farm in Cabot was on the original one-half mile by one mile lot that Benjamin Webster had claimed. There is a sign marking Webster’s homestead near the home of Slim Payne on the Bayley-Hazen Road. “We turned full circle and through no knowledge to us, we are settled on land that belonged to our relatives in the 1790s,” Keith said. They came to Cabot with their four children. Their youngest son, Greg, was three-years-old. The others have since moved out of state. Johnnye (named after her father) started substitute teaching in area schools and eventually got her special education license. Although she was also licensed to teach high school English, she preferred working with special ed students and was a para-educator at Twinfield for ten years. Keith built up a sugaring and beef cattle business. Greg, who is 37-years-old now, owns Burtt’s Apple Orchard, a 12-acre operation with more than 40 varieties of apples, pears and tart cherries. “Like most places around here, we had lots of wild apple trees on the property,” he said. “Growing up, my friends and I would have fun climbing the trees or tossing the apples at each other. We made apple sauce and even tried to sell them from a table on the road.” The idea for an orchard came from Cabot School. “For my IOTA (Individual Opportunities to Achieve) project I made a business plan that included an apple orchard. We were doing a lot of haying crops during the summer. I wanted to have more time for fun with friends,” he said. When he was 18-years-old he worked one fall in an orchard. “I liked harvesting the fruit. I enjoyed my whole experience there,” he recalled. “Next spring (2005) Dad and I started planting apple trees in one of our hay fields.” They started with 700 trees. Four years later they opened for “pick your own.” They sold out in two weeks. In 2021 the older Burtts transferred the farm to Greg and his wife, Stefanie, whom he met at University of Vermont. They have four children: Mabel, Samantha, Tess and Malia, ranging in age from four to 11. The orchard now has about 10,000 trees, including two acres of pears and two acres of tart cherries. Maintenance includes pruning and fertilizing the trees and controlling weeds, various plant diseases and insects. “You never stop learning,” Greg said. “The customers do most of the harvesting,” he added. “I had no experience whatsoever with customer interaction. I have learned a ton there.” He is grateful for the many local folks who have worked at the orchard over the years. In February of this year he hired two Jamaicans. His favorite part of farming is being outdoors. His least favorite part is the paperwork needed to run a business. “If I don't do a good job with accounting and tend to the business end of things, I may not farm for a living anymore,” he explained. The elder Burtt still raises Angus cattle and sweet corn. Johnnye Burtt started making donuts in their house and they became wildly popular. Production of donuts now takes place in the apple stand. “Things have changed some in Cabot,” Johnnye said. “I don’t recognize a lot of the new people and we are losing the older Cabot generation. The school used to be the center of the community and it’s hard to say what will happen there. On the other hand, some of the new folks are bringing in knowledge and experience that they share with us. And it’s nice to see people like Greg, Jimmy Ackermann and Seth O’Brien staying in town and starting new businesses.” As spring temperatures warm the soil and showers green up the fields, work is well underway at Burtt’s Apple Orchard. “All four of the kids are in school now,” Stefanie said. “So, I have more time to help out in any way. I love this time of year when I can go barefoot sometimes.” “My favorite time of the year at the orchard is definitely the fall,” Greg said. “It’s great to share the experience of the harvest with so many good people. Visiting the orchard has become a tradition for families and friends and that makes growing apples here extremely rewarding.”

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