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The Cabot Chronicle

June 2024 · 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 June 2024 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

Call to Serve

by Henry Pearl Originally posted in April 27

Front Porch Forum Now that another legislative biennium is in its final days, it’s time for members to make the decision whether or not to run for office again. It’s been a difficult question that I have wrestled with both last election cycle and now again this time. In a job where you're sure to not please everyone, the questions of my effectiveness and performance have always weighed heavy on my mind. However, at the end of the day I always try to remember that, although I don't always get it right, I have always tried my best to do what I have felt is best for our community and our state. The greatest challenge of the job has always been finding the capacity to feel well informed on so many complicated issues that we are tasked with making decisions on. Being a parent of young kids and a small business owner has been crucial to keeping me grounded and relevant to the true struggles of my neighbors. But those same attributes make it difficult to invest the time really needed to fully understand and parse out every issue we must vote on. As I wrestle with the question of what really makes a good legislator, it seems as though the answer changes regularly and is probably some balance of many things. However there is one question that I keep coming back to, and I think it may be because it’s the only one I've figured out the answer to.... The challenges, the conflicts, the problems, and the questions will always be here, no matter the year or the person elected. But the one thing that will not always be here is the opportunity to spend the most time I can being a part of my kids’ lives as they grow up. Making it to their basketball games, or just making it home to have dinner as a family, or hear about their day at school is something I just don't want to miss another day of. So, for that reason, I have decided that I will not be running for re-election this year. I will certainly miss the work and hope to run again in the future if there is a need, but for now I have decided to step back and focus what is most important to me. I strongly encourage people who are interested in running to give it a shot, it has been an invaluable experience and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity and support from so many!

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Principal of Cabot School Moves On

Dear Cabot Community, On Monday, May 6, I asked the School Board to release me from my contract for the 24-25 school year. I appreciate the Board’s willingness to make this shift in order for me to pursue other opportunities that allow me to spend more time with my family. In light of that decision, I am writing to let you know that my last day as principal at Cabot School will be June 30, 2024. I am committed to ensuring that the systems and structures we have put in place to support learning can sustain beyond my tenure. I have learned a great deal in my time at Cabot and we have accomplished many things together. When I began at Cabot School, we were in the middle of a pandemic while also navigating a change in the grade band organization of the school based on several years of budget cuts. At the same time, we were navigating a still new high school reorganization and philosophical shift to project-based learning. At that time, I met with the leadership team to establish a strategic learning plan and begin to codify the vision and practices that are unique to Cabot School. Over the past four years we have solidified our high school programming, documented curriculum at each grade level, established an afterschool program, engaged in multiple exhibitions of learning, sent students into the world with robust post-secondary plans based on extensive field experiences in their senior years and much more. There is much to be proud of at Cabot and will always be more to do. Cabot is a truly special place, and it has been an incredible learning experience to lead such a dedicated, forward thinking, and hardworking staff. Thank you for allowing me to take part in the lives of your young people for the past four years. It has been joyful to be present for their learning. I have the utmost hope for the future of Cabot as a school and as a community. Respectfully, Rebecca Tatistcheff

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SAVE THE DATE ~ SATURDAY, JULY 13 - 1:30-6:30

Cabot Public Library Presents: After the Flood - A Wave of Gratitude - Festival and Commemoration- Join the town of Cabot to mark and celebrate one year after the flood. Food, music, art, and family-friendly activities – Willey Building parking area. A series of interactive and informative exhibits are being planned by the Flood Resiliency Task Force to offer inspiration to residents to improve flood resilience. This event is made possible by a grant from the VT Flood Response and Recovery Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation and the WaterWheel Foundation.

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Anne of Green Gables a Success CCT Musical Up Next

by Karen Mueller-Harder Cabot Community Theater had a fantastic run of “Anne of Green Gables,” with over 500 community members in the audience, 48 performing on stage, and another two dozen involved behind the scenes. We are already in the throes of discussing what musical we will be performing in 2025! In the meantime, please be sure to catch our mummers’ play at the flood commemoration event on July 13, and the performance of our summer camp on July 19 (watch for details here and on FPF!) For those who have kids: CCT will be hosting a week-long kids’ theater camp July 15-19, and we welcome new as well as returning thespians! The camp will consist of two Monday-to-Friday half-day programs, culminating in a joint performance late Friday afternoon. The morning session (9:00 a.m.-noon) will be oriented towards kids age 7-12, and include theater games to develop movement, voice, and teamwork skills, and rehearsing and performing a short comedy. The afternoon session (12:30-3:30 p.m.) will be for kids aged 11-16 who would like a deeper dive into acting skills and techniques. We will engage in acting exercises which explore the subtleties of portraying more realistic characters, and work on a short comedy-drama. There is space in both sessions as of press time, but they may be full by the time you read this--you can check at: tinyurl.com/cctcamp2024. The cost for the week will be $75 for the half-day program, or $150 for the full day, payable on the first day of camp. We have scholarship aid available, so if the cost is a problem, please just let us know on the registration form. We welcome kids of all abilities, genders, backgrounds, levels of experience, and towns of residence. Age limits may be flexible: email [email protected] if you would like to discuss your child’s situation.

Mr. Phillips (Spencer Vitale) punishes a tardy Anne (Caroline Brooking Metcalf) by having her sit with Gilbert Blythe (Nic Ingram).

The cast of 48 included 6 actors sharing the role of Anne, as well as 3 Dianas and 3 Matthews!

The kids at Sunday school discuss the new arrival in Avonlea.

Farmhand Jerry (Marco Welters) samples some of Anne’s baking while Matthew (Darren Usinowicz) puzzles over Anne’s whereabouts.

Rachel Lynde (Luna Dunbar) greets the Rev. and Mrs. Allen (Harper Smith and Sage King)

An almost-grown Anne (Susannah Harman) is congratulated by Matthew, Marilla, and Rachel (Jonah Meacham, Becky Browning, and Luna Dunbar)

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Vermont’s New Child Care Law is Already Paying Dividends for our Rural Communities

by Vermont Rural Legislators

For many families in Vermont, child care has become a crisis. The lack of affordable, quality child care has a direct impact on our state’s economy, causing families to save less, work less and have fewer kids. Last year, two Democratic legislators worked together with a Republican and an Independent colleague to pass Vermont’s newest child care law, Act 76, which expands eligibility for child care tuition assistance. Beginning in early April, a family of four earning $124,800 per year with two young children in care could qualify for tuition assistance, saving them as much $260 per week. By the end of 2024, over 7,000 additional Vermont children and their families could be eligible for tuition assistance. "Act 76 provided funds that have helped the Cabot Children's Center find and train staff to serve 14 Cabot area children, families that struggled to find quality child care before we opened our doors," explained Heather Smires, Cabot Children's Center Operator.

In many parts of rural Vermont, families rely on home-based child care programs. In July, Act 76 will give even more support to family child care homes by providing an additional increase in payments. These funds will better support current providers and make it easier for those thinking about starting a family child care program to begin offering that essential service to their community. Lori Augustyniak, CCA Director, said “Increasing accessibility of quality child care in Cabot was a top priority for the Cabot Community Association (CCA). Without Act 76 funds we would not have been able to open our doors so quickly and expand to meet an increasing need for Cabot's young families."

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From U.S. Library of Congress

(https://www.loc.gov/item/today-inhistory/june-14/)

On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress approved the design of a national flag. Since 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson issued a presidential proclamation establishing a national Flag Day on June 14, Americans have commemorated the adoption of the Stars and Stripes in many ways–displaying the flag in the front of their homes, parades, and other patriotic observances. Prior to 1916, many localities and a few states had been celebrating the day for years. Congressional legislation designating that date as the national Flag Day was signed into law by President Harry Truman in 1949; the legislation also called upon the president to issue a flag day proclamation every year.

The Birth of Old Glory from Painting by Moran. Percy Moran, artist; photomechanical print, [Red Oak, Iowa]: Thomas D. Murphy, Co., c1917. Prints & Photograph Division.

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 3 onward.

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School Board Update

by Ellen Cairns, Chairperson

The School Board appreciates that the Chronicle now has a reporter covering our meetings, and we will also from time to time update you here on our ongoing work. Apologies if some of the information is redundant. Besides the usual work of the board, we currently have two additional tasks. First, as you may already know, our school principal will be leaving us at the end of June, which means the Board will be working with our incoming superintendent, Matt Foster, to hire a new principal. Rebecca Tatistcheff has been the Cabot principal for four years, and has been an extremely dedicated administrator. She was a steady presence during the upheaval of the COVID-19 years, a leader in executing the shift to project-based learning in the high school, an effective grant-writer who brought in more than a half-million dollars in additional funding, and so much more. Becca went above and beyond in so many ways, and the school is stronger for her leadership. She has our gratitude and our best wishes for her future success. The other additional item the Board is working on is establishing a long-term plan to make our school more sustainable. We have established a committee made up of two board members (Chris Tormey and Kerri Moll), two parents with students in Cabot School (Melissa Pratt and Johanna Thibault), two parents who have sought other educational options for their children (Shannon Smith and Stefanie Burt), two members of the community who do not have school-aged children (Theresa Lay- Sleeper and Robert Johnson), a teacher (Rebecca Nally), and possibly a highschool student. The task of this committee is to plan one or more community forums so that we can continue to share information and hear from you. Our goal is first to see if we can sustain the school in its current Pre-K to grade 12 configuration by increasing enrollment. We will also be sharing information about the ongoing financial needs of the school so that you, the voters, will have complete information and an idea of what to expect in the upcoming years. We know that whatever happens, it won’t please everyone in the community, so the main goal is to ensure everyone is fully informed and engaged in the process of decision making. As we promised before Town Meeting, we are working hard to plan for the future of the school. Your input is welcomed and appreciated, and we look forward to seeing you at a community forum soon!

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OBITUARIES & MEMORIALS

Chris Curschmann Celebration of Life Please join us in celebrating the life of Chris Curschmann, who passed away suddenly in December. This event will take place on Saturday, June 29, at 3:00 p.m. at the American

Martha Pauline Laber Martha Pauline Laber, 90, of Nashua, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 13, 2024. Born on November 22, 1933, in Hyde Park, she was the daughter of the late Fred and Laude (LaPlante) Churchill.

Martha grew up in Cabot after moving there at the age of five, where her parents owned a farm. She was a loving wife to her husband Robert and devoted Mother to her wonderful children. As her children grew older and her husband began to retire from the U.S. Army after 20 years, she worked at J.F. McElwan for some time. Martha enjoyed traveling with her family, sewing, soap operas, watching the wildlife out of her window, and enjoyed the Churchill family reunions

Ann Peck Harding

Ann Peck Harding, 88, passed away on April 30, 2024 in Zephyrhills Florida. Born In New Hampshire in 1936, Ann was the daughter of Raymond and Ruth Peck of Cabot. She graduated from Cabot High School in 1953, and Lyndon State Teachers College in 1957. Ann taught second grade in the Manchester,

Wallace Hood of Whittier Hill Road, 97, died May 20, 2024. A full obituary will be published in the July Cabot Chronicle. An article about Wally by Ferguson & Jane Coyle McKay

Ferguson McKay and Jane Coyle McKay celebration of life. Friends and family of Ferguson & Jane McKay are invited to attend a celebration of life service for both Ferg and Jane, who passed away on December 2 and December 16, 2023, respectively. The service will be held in the United Church of Cabot on June 22, Legion Gateway Riders Post #7 in Hardwick, VT. This event will be a time for us all to gather, share stories, honor memories that celebrate his remarkable life, and remember the joy, laughter, and love that Chris brought into our lives. Please bring any photos you may have and mementos that you would like to share. Lite snacks will be served and a cash bar will be available.

She is survived by her sons Raymond A. Laber and wife Karen of Merrimack, NH, Larry A. Laber and wife Barbara of Francestown, NH, Robert W. Laber and wife Kathy of Fisherville, KY; daughterin-law Mary Laber of Nashua, NH; grandchildren Angela Norton of Newmarket, NH, Amy Laber-Brinkler of Hillsborough, NH, Tony Laber of Francestown, NH, Kerri Laber of Merrimack, NH, Candace Snowdale of Auburn, NH, Joshua Laber of Louisville, KY, Christi Thomas of Taylorsville, KY, William Blunden of Madison, MS, and Robert Blunden; and 6 greatgrandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband Robert D. Laber and son Barry A. Laber. A time of remembrance was held Friday, May 10, 2024, at Zis-Sweeney & St. Laurent Funeral Home in Nashua, NH, followed by a burial at St. Louis De Gonzague Cemetery in Nashua, NH.

Connecticut, School system for more than 30 years, retiring in 1991. Ann then relocated to Colorado, before moving to Florida. Ann is survived by her husband of 68 years, Vene Warren Harding, her daughter Jill Loucks of Colorado, her Grandson Sam Harding of Colorado, and her son Joel Harding of Cabot. No services are planned at this time.

Amanda Legare, including a military photo, appeared on page 9 of the December 2022 Cabot Chronicle, available at CabotChronicle.org.

2024, at 11 a.m., followed immediately by a graveside service at the Cabot Village Cemetery. Arrangements are with Tossing Funeral Home in Rutland, Vermont.

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Cabot’s Christopher Furey a “Top Doc” Walking in Frank Caffin’s Shoes

By Amanda Legare Dr. Christopher Furey, Cabot School graduate, class of 2000, was recently featured on the cover of “Rhode Island Monthly Magazine,” to illustrate an article about Rhode Island’s “top doctors.” These were physicians voted by their peers as the best in their field. Christopher is a primary care doctor at Care New England Medical Group in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. He also serves as an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine (clinical) at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He is married and has a nine year-old daughter. He typically sees 15 - 20 patients a day. While he loves his patients and the interaction, he laments the fact that for every hour he spends with a patient there’s up to an hour of paper work to do. He calls the paperwork “a second full-time job.” Because of the heavy workload and because primary care doctors are one of the lowest paid specialties, there is a national shortage of primary care doctors. Furey says he chose that field in part because he grew up in Vermont. “Pretty much all of medicine when I was growing up was done by the primary care doctors. That was medicine.” He was particularly influenced by Cabot’s primary physician, Dr. Frank Caffin, who took care of patients with just about every health problem, including Furey’s case of chicken pox as a child. Dr. Furey graduated from the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. His parents are Maria Acchione-Goodrich and Michael Furey.

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Ambulance Service Bids

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer The Selectboard had placed the topic of reviewing ambulance service bids in executive session for the May 7 meeting, but when approving the agenda, they changed the agenda and moved the topic to open session. Traditionally, public comment is one of the first items on the agenda, and this night was no different. Ruth Goodrich spoke and read from a letter she wrote to the Selectboard. The letter started with “In recent SB meetings there have been instances of disrespectful treatment of highly respected elders of the community by board members.” Ruth continued reading with further accusations and recounted a recent phone call by one board member, concluding with “…these kinds of actions indicate poor leadership….” Jenn Miner then spoke and said it has been brought to her attention that many in the community were being told to not dial 911 because no one will come, but she assured those present that Cabot Ambulance is still serving the community, and no one should avoid calling 911. Later in the meeting, when the board reached the topic of the review of bids for the ambulance service, Mike Hogan stated he didn’t want to spend a ton of time on the subject. R.D. Eno then addressed the matter and said he looked at what passed for a response to the Request for Proposal (RFP) and said it was not very impressive. It was later revealed that there was only one bid received by the town of Cabot for the ambulance service and it was from Cabot Ambulance. R.D. continued to note that the RFP called for a number of documents, of which they only received one as part of the bid. He also stated he was prepared to reject the bid as it didn’t respond to anything in the RFP. Glenn Goodrich responded that their proposal was to continue to provide the service they have provided over the past years. He said that the response rate request wasn’t something they could guarantee, and added that is why the mutual aid system is in place. Karen Larsen then spoke about the RFP and noted the level of service requirement had been stripped out. She stated that it is important the public understands the reason we go through the process to develop an RFP. She said it was so the taxpayers of Cabot could understand from a contractual point of view what kinds of service the Cabot Ambulance could provide. Karen went on to say how the RFP had been whittled down from ten pages to five, and how she voted against it because it would not shed light onto Cabot Ambulance. She then summarized all the requests listed in the RFP and how the proposal from Cabot Ambulance didn’t address most of them. And concluded her point by saying what they did receive was a two paragraph response from Cabot Ambulance. She then proceeded to read the bid response. R.D. then expressed that he felt personally deeply disappointed. He stated that he “personally went out on a limb and urged you to respond to the RFP.” He said he endangered his relationship with other members of the board, and added that he felt personally insulted by this response Glenn responded by saying “no insult was intended.” He then summarized some of the issues they didn’t address in the bid. He pointed out that where to park the ambulance is currently unknown and it is being temporarily housed. Glenn pointed out that any space in the temporary firehouse isn’t adequate because it would not be secure enough for the medications. He also pointed out there would be a vehicle positioning problem in the building. He concluded by saying they put what they could guarantee in the response, and perhaps there are some things missing. He said there was no intent to offend anyone. Fred Ducharme then said that he thinks the town wants them to work it out, and if they had this attitude months ago, then they would not be where they are now. He said there are ways we can work with the organization to move towards something that is functional. Fred proposed that the contract contain what was asked for in the RFP. He said that members of the board can help obtain the information. Mike said he didn’t want to keep going through this conversation, and that they need to come to some sort of consensus. He pointed out that they are going to start building a permanent building and there will be space in it for an ambulance. Skip Bothfeld asked Glenn if Cabot Ambulance could build their own building, and if so how long of a contract would be needed because a one year contract would not be sufficient for a bank. Glenn responded that five years would be wonderful, but a three year contract would be acceptable. Skip said he believed Cabot Ambulance wanted to stay private, but Glenn said that wasn’t necessarily the case. The board then discussed the timeline of the new firehose with Dean, and Glenn said that when the space is available they could revisit the discussion. He pointed out that projects often do not go according to the planned timeline. Jenn then turned the conversation back to the possibility of Cabot Ambulance becoming part of the Town. She said membership of Cabot Ambulance had concerns regarding the proposal R.D. had put together. But she continued to say that many of the membership said they could move forward with full Selectboard support. She relayed that nobody wants a boss they can’t stand, and wants to know the five bosses are going to be cooperative in solutions. Karen stated that the board is accountable to the taxpayers, and asked Glenn if they are willing to accept that is good progress. She said there is that real question, that needs to be guided by contract, what Cabot Ambulance is able and willing to disclose. Jenn responded that she agreed with Karen, and asked what is the first step. She pointed out there has never been a contract in the 55 years Cabot Ambulance book and bake sale, and if you don’t have time to pack a picnic there will be a different vendor at each concert ready to sell you delicious food. Come on down and hear some music, visit with neighbors, dance, bid on fantastic items in the Silent Auction and have a good ol’ time!! July 4 Myra Flynn July 11 The Faerie Godfathers July 18 The House Band July 25 Pit Crew August 1 Atom and the Orbits August 8 Dave Keller Band

Read and win an “Adventure Begins at Your Library” T-shirt, a book and a prize! Here’s how: 1. Come to the library and sign up to read! We will give you a reading log and stickers so you can keep track of your own progress. 2. For every 15 minutes you read, or you are read to, put a sticker on your reading log. Jot down the title of your book. Earn 25 stickers--WIN a T-shirt, a book and a prize of your choice.

Museum and State Park Passes Did you know you can visit a museum, go for a swim or hike at the Vermont State Parks, and visit a historical site all for free? Jaquith has free Vermont State Park and museum passes for one- and three-day loans. You can use the Vermont State Park Day Pass in any of the state parks. We added a new free museum pass to the Granite Museum in Barre. We also have a family card to the Echo Museum that reduces the admission to $7 per person. We have free passes to the Fairbanks Museum, the Vermont History Museum in Montpelier, Shelburne Farms and the Huntington Bird Museum. The Montshire Museum offers discounted admission to a family if just one member can show a Medicaid card, an EBT card or a letter stating a person is eligible for free school lunches.

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Executive Sessions

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

Both the Selectboard and the School Board have held executive sessions at their recent meetings, but the two boards have a different approach and style regarding executive sessions. The School Board went into executive session at the April 22 meeting. When discussing the agenda, which listed an executive session, Jason Monaco questioned that the description does not seem appropriate for executive session. The topic of executive session was listed as grievances. Ellen Cairns agreed that she wasn’t sure executive session was appropriate and read the grievance section for executive session from state statute. Mark offered a correction, and said the reason for executive session was due to student records, and that the board can’t discuss anything in open session that falls under The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The board acknowledged that student records were confidential. When time came, the motion for executive session was made by Kerri Moll, citing the reason for the executive session from state statute: 1 V.S.A. 313(a) (7) - Student academic records, suspension, or discipline. After the executive session, the unapproved minutes recorded the results of a motion: “A motion to not grant a request to tuition a student to another school by Chris Tormey and seconded by Erica Fucello. Motion carried with Ellen, Erica and Chris voting aye, Kerri and Jason voting nay.” At the special School Board meeting held on May 6, while discussing how to choose the members of the proposed Community Conversations Committee, the board discussed the possibility of entering executive session. The purpose of the committee is to plan for community engagement for discussions regarding the sustainability of the school. Chirs Tormey suggested going into executive session to discuss the parents that had volunteered to be on the committee. Kerri also asked if they could go into executive session. Ellen told the board she had to check the state statutes. Ellen then responded that she didn’t see where the discussion would fall under executive session, and suggested that if they limited their discussions to mentioning if the parents' kids were in high school or middle school, and not their specific grades, that would be ok. The board continued in open session discussing the merits of each applicant for the committee. As the discussion continued, the principal, Becca Tatistcheff, reminded the board that they were in open session and were being recorded. Ellen responded “I don’t think we have a leg to stand on to go into executive session.” The board concluded that all the applicants were good candidates for the committee, but there were more applicants than the board wanted on the committee. The board wanted equal representation among non-parents of school age children, parents either homeschooling or sending their children to private school, and parents with children attending Cabot School. Since most applicants were parents or guardians with children attending Cabot School, the board decided to choose two from that category by drawing names out of a hat. The Selectboard had an executive session on their agenda for the May 7 board meeting. The agenda listed three topics for the executive session: (1) Review Town Treasurer’s Applications (2) Review Emergency Ambulance Service Applications, (3) Real Estate. At the beginning of the meeting, Mike Hogan said the board was pulling the review of the Emergency Ambulance Service bids out of executive session and the board would discuss it in open session. When time came for the executive session, Mike Hogan made a motion to “go into executive session.” Maria Acchione-Goodrich asked the board about the executive session. She expressed that she was glad the Ambulance topic was moved to open session, and that she understood why the applications for town treasurer need to be discussed in executive session, but questioned the reason of “Real Estate.” Maria queried if she could ask the board about what real estate, and asked “are you preparing to purchase or have a lease?” Mike responded that the board was “going to be talking about some things out of the lister’s office, that the board felt we could do in executive session. Maria clarified that it doesn’t have anything to do with negotiating or securing of real estate purchase or lease options, referring to the reason in state statute regarding real estate and executive session, 1 V.S.A. 313(a)(2). She added that she thought the public should be privy to the discussion if it was another reason to discuss real estate. Next, Kris Schmitt asked when things that are talked about in executive session get talked about in open session. Mike pointed out that after executive session, the board has to come out and re-enter open session to make any decisions. After answering Kris, the Selectboard then went into executive session.

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Community Conversations

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

At their first meeting after town meeting, on March 25, the School Board started their discussion regarding how they would proceed with community conversations regarding the sustainability of the school. Ellen Cairns started the conversation by stating that it was a very wide open question. She postulated that they may need several committees. She also told the board about John Castle of Vermont Rural Education Collaborative, who is currently working with Craftsbury regarding their facility needs. Chris Tormey expressed that coming out of the vote, the board has to demonstrate that they are trying to make the school more sustainable. He said they need to show an effort to get more support for the school, and they need to get a higher number of students in school to bring the tax rate down. He went on to say they need to have discussions with current parents on how to improve the school, and reach out to families not using the school. He also expressed that they need to work with Twinfield and Danville to vastly increase the education opportunities. Ellen said there was a meeting set up among the chairs of the three high schools to talk about collaboration. She also said she has heard Cabot doesn’t provide enough social opportunities to students. She added that no school is going to be perfect for everyone. Chris talked about the community forum the school held years ago and how that worked well using a small table model. He added that one benefit of the small table model is that it is more conducive for having people open up. Ellen suggested that they invite John Castle to a meeting to see how he can help facilitate a community conversation. The board held a special meeting on April 11 with John Castle. The meeting started with John introducing himself, and relaying that he had engaged in conversations with Becca Tatistcheff. Ellen explained that the board would like help engaging different parts of the community. She pointed out to him that the town passed the budget, but the board made promises to engage the community in discussion about the future of Cabot School. Chris added that the board wants to figure out what they should do to make the school more sustainable and less of a tax burden. He postulated that if they had a conversation to explore possibilities, and involve the community in that process, then everyone would be on the same plane. He said his goal would be to have the community understand. Ellen proposed that alongside the conversations, the board does a survey to hear from as many people as possible. Jason Monaco then asked John how he could help. John explained that he was currently stretched for time, and suggested a timeline that would allow the board to have something to present to the voters in November. He encouraged the board to have a very small group of people to create the template and structure, then have larger groups after summer, at the beginning of the school year. John stated that he sees groups being eight to eleven people, and those groups would dig into the information and vet ideas. Then a core group would refine it and then bring it to the large group. He proposed a timeline but Ellen said it seemed too long for her. She emphasized that she would like to have something by the end of the school year. John pointed out that he didn’t have the time available to help on so short a timeline. Becca asked what was driving the speedier timeline, and Ellen explained that she wants to make sure the board follows up with the conversations they had with community members before town meeting. The board then asked if there was any money available in the budget to pay John, should they decide to hire him as a consultant. Becca wasn’t sure and the board concluded they needed to ask the business manager at the supervisory union office. Ellen told John that they had not warned any decision would be made that night, and she would reach out to him when they made a decision at a later meeting.

The School Board revisited the discussion on April 22, at the board’s regular meeting. Ellen told the board that she had gotten a response from Mike Concessi, the business manager, and he was concerned about the budget. She relayed that he didn’t believe there was going to be any money left to hire a consultant. The board proceeded to talk about a committee, and Erica Fucello suggested it would be prudent to have a committee that is made of more than just school committee members. She felt homeschool parents, elderly and people of limited income should also be on the committee. Ellen said she agreed 100%. After further discussion by the board, Ellen concluded that they didn’t want a committee of forty, but rather one of ten people. She then listed the possible representation on the committee: two school board members, two homeschool members, two school parents, and two taxpayers with no school connections. The School Board made their decisions on May 6; at this meeting the board decided unanimously to not hire John. The discussion before the vote centered around the availability of funds to pay him, as well as the availability of his time in the near term. The board also selected the members of the communications committee. The board had more applicants than the size limit of the committee that they had set. Ultimately after much debate, the board chose from the applicants that had children attending Cabot School randomly. The selected committee also includes two people with no current connection to the school, one homeschool parent, and one parent with children in private school. The board also wanted to have a student and a teacher on the committee, but there were misgivings regarding including a teacher. Some spoke about the lack of time a teacher may have, and others talked about how it might be difficult for a teacher to participate in conversations that might affect their job.

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 Camryn Hoffman - Having recently finished her early

…college year at the Community College of Vermont, Camryn Hoffman is excited to continue her education at Smith College this fall. There, she will study Biology on the Pre-Med track. She extends her gratitude to the wonderful people who helped her along her journey here, including family, friends, teachers, and the Cabot community.

The beginning of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 8.

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 Silas Robbins - Silas just finished early college at CCV and

…will attend the University of Vermont this fall. He intends to study STEM, with a focus on medical sciences and also aims to incorporate Emergency Medical Services into his time there.

The beginning of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 9.

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 Aysha Russell - Aysha Russell will attend Husson University

…in the fall, where she will pursue a degree in nursing. Nursing has always been a passion of hers, and she can not wait for her next journey. This summer, she will spend a lot of quality time with family and friends.

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The beginning of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 9.

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Grow Your Own Potatoes!

A couple decades ago, I was a new gardener with a small plot at a community garden. One of the more experienced gardeners had tall, lush plants with white flowers. I was surprised to learn that these were potato plants! They were lovely, but I was puzzled why anyone would devote space in a tiny garden to these large plants, when potatoes are so cheap, and available at every grocery store. Fast forward a couple years, and I was no longer a city dweller with a small garden plot. Instead, I was in Cabot, with plenty of room to grow whatever I wanted. I still thought that potatoes were a silly thing to put in a garden, but I was eager to try to grow new things. I ordered potatoes, read the directions, cared for them all summer, and was pleased to get a pretty good crop in the fall. But the real revelation came when I baked my first batch of homegrown potatoes. They were creamy, full of flavor, even fragrant…what a difference from store bought potatoes! And because I ordered different varieties, I now had an assortment of potatoes for cooking. I found that some made excellent fries, while others were wonderful mashed, or held their shape in soup, or dissolved to make thick tasty stew. I was hooked, and I’ve grown potatoes ever since. Fun fact: there are over 4,000 varieties of potato. Think about that; how many types are sold in the grocery store? Potatoes can have skins of white, yellow, red, blue, or russet. There are potatoes that have nearly black skin and deep purple insides. There are tiny fingerling potatoes, and huge baking potatoes. Some taste buttery, or earthy, or nutty. Are you ready to grow your own? Here are some basics:  Purchase “seed potatoes”. These

are potatoes which have been stored through the winter, and checked for disease. You don’t want to introduce pathogens into your garden, so start with healthy “seed potato” stock.  Yield: for every pound of seed potatoes, you can expect 10 lbs of potatoes in the fall.  Soil: potatoes can grow in a lot of

soil types, but they like an even amount of moisture. If you have sandy soil, plan to mulch in order to keep soil moisture stable. If you have loam or clay soil, you may be able to skip the mulch. Don’t plant in very heavy, waterlogged soil; your potatoes will rot.  Planting and hilling: plant potatoes in mid-May, when the garden soil has warmed up and dried out. As a general rule, if dandelions are blooming, it’s time to plant potatoes. Plant them an inch or two below the soil surface. Once the plants are 6” tall, add soil around the stems until just the top couple inches of leaves are showing. This is called “hilling”, and will help your potatoes have better root systems. Unlike most plants, potatoes can grow roots from their stems. These additional roots will help the plant regulate moisture, and bring in more nutrients. Some folks hill once, and some hill twice. Either way is fine.  Pests: the biggest pest problem is the Colorado potato beetle. The adult beetles aren’t too damaging, but their babies can chew all the leaves off a potato plant. To control Colorado potato beetles, squish their egg masses, pick off any adult beetles, and any beetle larvae. Egg masses are yellow or bright orange, found on the underside of leaves. The adults are about the size of your pinky nail, very rounded (like a marble cut in half) with stripes. Larvae are red or dark brown, and start tiny, but soon grow to adult beetle size.  Disease: the most damaging disease of potatoes is late blight. Late blight is caused by a fungus, which first appears on leaves as sunken or waterlogged-looking areas. The fungus spreads to the stem and into the potatoes, turning them into an inedible rotten mess. This fungus, Phytophthora infestans, is the fungus which caused the Irish potato famine. There are methods to prevent or slow late blight, but they are too numerous to discuss in this short article. Do a little reading on it, and be sure to check your plants daily, especially in mid-late summer. Note: potato plants naturally die back as their tubers mature. If you see yellow or dried-up foliage, don’t panic! Most often, it’s just part of the natural life cycle of potato plants.  Harvest: when foliage has died back, leave potatoes in the ground for 1-2 weeks. This allows the tubers to cure, getting them ready for a long winter in storage. Carefully lift potatoes from the soil with a shovel or garden fork, taking care not to break the skins. If you nick one, set it aside for tonight’s dinner, because it won’t keep in storage.  Storage: potatoes can be kept for several weeks in the refrigerator, or all winter in a root cellar. Best storage temperature is just above freezing, around 34-35 degrees Fahrenheit. No need to wash them, or even dust them off. Cleaning can damage the skin and shorten storage life. With careful handling and storage, you can be eating home-grown potatoes from August to May. Now you just need some butter and sour cream…some herbs…maybe a bit of bacon….

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June Update on the Cabot Youth Council

I haven’t updated in a bit, but I have been hard at work ordering for the two proposals that won the youth vote in February–the CSPAC teen-led arts space project and the Rec Field project. Though the Cabot Youth Council hasn’t officially met, some students at the school have worked with Jonny Flood to plan and order what they’ve determined they need to create a teen-led arts space in CSPAC. One of the biggest purchases was an up-to-date, complete sound system that can be used for live performance and for audio recording. Young folks are hoping to hold an event before the end of the year, with plans to hold more in the fall. Simultaneously, I’ve been working with the indefatigable Cameron North to plan purchases for the Rec Field. We are just about to order a storage shed that will stand next to the basketball court and will hold sports equipment and games, which we’ll also purchase with the grant money. As work finishes up with the basketball court, you’ll also see new benches, another large picnic table, and a bike rack, as well as some workout bars. A huge thanks to Jonny Flood and Cameron North for all they’ve been doing to make these projects a reality. I also have to thank my husband, Colin McCaffrey, who has volunteered time to help with the CSPAC sound system. Later this spring or next fall, I’d love to reconvene Cabot youth who’d be interested in continuing work with the Cabot Youth Council and planning its next steps, beyond the work of the Vermont Afterschool grant. Anyone who wishes to get involved or anyone who has questions or concerns can contact me directly at [email protected].

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News from the Jaquith Public Library

Art and Author Night Friday, May 31 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. Art Opening with works by Marge Pulaski and Frederick Rudi. Marge Pulaski: These paintings/drawings are the result of my response to the colors of the world I live in. Frederick Rudi: Paintings: big, small, old and new. 6:30 p.m. Reading with Poet Charlie Barasch Charles Barasch has had two books of poetry published, Dreams of the Presidents and Home Movie. He has lived in Vermont for over 50 years. Refreshments will be served.

Join us for Summer Fun Nights For people of all ages on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. starting on June 19 through July 31. We have great presenters to amaze and amuse us all! Here are some of the exciting programs:

Southern Vermont Museum of Natural History will delight us with their beautiful raptors, Diana Winn from the Rebops will lead us in fun musical activities, Tim Jennings with entertain us with storytelling and song, Jerry Sneider will teach us all about Bats and Anne Miller will show us a movie.

We have a Morning Program with Nicky Auerbach for Kids Birth to Age Seven Six weeks of Fridays

from June 21 to July 26th with Story time and snack at 10:30 a.m. followed by activities until 12 p.m. Join Nicky for fun activities based on the theme “Adventure Begins at Your Library”. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting wet and messy! Nicky has a Master Degree in education and loves to create fun learning opportunities for children.

This year at our Summer Concert Series we have fantastic bands playing in the Old Schoolhouse Common bandstand on Thursday nights from 6:30 p.m. until dark starting on July 4th through August 10th. We will have our has served the community. Jenn said there should have been some foundational conversations. She rebuffed when some said they were not meeting expectations when those expectations were never defined. R.D. said they could negotiate a contract with Cabot Ambulance, and that contract would include the metrics which were not included in the bid response. Fred proposed two people from each side work together on this, and Karen agreed. Jenn said she would reach out with two names and Mike said the board would discuss it amongst themselves and come up with two members, as well.

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CABOT PROPERTY SALES - APRIL 1, 2023, TO MARCH 31, 2024

Grand List Year, by Statute, Runs April 1 to March 31, Each Year (Not including $0 transfers among family members or creation of life estates and trusts.)

Closing Date Seller

4/12/2023 4/19/2023 4/21/2023 5/12/2023 5/31/2023 6/5/2023 6/29/2023 7/24/2023 8/1/2023 8/14/2023 8/18/2023 8/24/2023 8/29/2023 8/31/2023 9/1/2023 9/15/2023 9/19/2023 10/13/2023 10/31/2023 11/3/2023 11/9/2023 11/23/2023 11/30/2023 12/14/2023 12/19/2023 12/21/2023 12/22/2023 2/1/2024 1/17/2024 2/23/2024 3/1/2024 3/22/2024 3/25/2024 3/26/2024 3/28/2024 3/29/2024 Scott O'Grady Buyer

Angela Hemwall Address Ducharme Road 241 Dubray Road Ducharme Road 814 Whittier Hill Road 137 Coits Pond Road Bolton Road 5422 VT Route 215 North 1236 Churchill Road Acres

2.1 4.39 & DWL 0.14 6 & MH 4.7 & DWL 4.4 12.37 & MH 1.2 & DWL 92.05 & DWL 82 & DWL 2.2 & DWL 11.5 & DWL .62 & DWL 2.2 & MH 1 & DWL 1.33 & DWL 25 52.65 .5 & DWL Sale Price

$8,300 $280,000 $1,000 $170,000 $445,000 $49,800 $90,500 $195,000 $900,000 $530,000 $200,000 $590,000 $775,000 $122,500 $305,000 $205,000 $50,000 $180,000 $175,000 Richard Walbridge Spaulding Trust James & Kathleen Lehoe Wendell Wheeler & Harold Bean Francis & William Kampf Andrick Deppmeyer & Rachel Feldman Roland & Deborah Geissler Andrew Leinoff & Gwenyth Jones William & Sally Young Linda Darling Wayne & Christina Markwell Richard Walbridge Spaulding Trust Michael Baskin & Lillian Alexander 110 Dubray Road John Mullens Living Trust Tyler & Kimberly Mayo Joanne Vecchiola Jerome & Lauren Keating Richard & Carlene Badeau Ellis Jacobson Laura Martin-Moran Rachel O'Donnell Randy Greaves Erma Perry Michael & Ann Cookson Richard McLain Walter Ruf Michael Paladino Herkimer's Hill Farm Co-Housing Mark Christensen & Jennifer Boucher 195 Herkimer Way Walter Jr. & Rose Bothfeld David Barry David Ludt James Melodini Estate Glenn & Jane Erickson Vene & Ann Harding 3242 Main LLC Ellen Afzelius Johan North Landover LLC Hill House Estates, LLC Jules & Kathleen Chatot Lori Underwood John & Jessica Hagan Town of Cabot Gerson Katz & Vicki Yamasaki Christopher & Ruth Roy Sherri Glebus Jordan Rich James, Tanja & Taylor Tucker Victoria Mayo & Nicholas Crum Jacquelyn & Melissa Pratt Kathleen & Steven Demars Larissa & Andrew Buckley 2158 Coits Pond Road 6726 VT Route 215 North 1313 VT Route 215 South 1539 West Shore Road 133 Cathy Road Harrison & Hannah Martin-OBrien 4159 VT Route 215 North Mary Jane Koren Oliver Welters Tyler & Kimberly Mayo Mary Papineau & Michael Chartier 105 Danville Hill Road Gregory Moore Hill House Estates, LLC Grant Currie Greg & Julie Mansius James Shores III & Risa Shimizu Heath Farnsworth Highlands Preservation Rev Trust Stephen & Ruby Baker Donna Lasick Natasha & Kyle Erickson Cabot - 3242 Main St, LLC Kimberly Coldicott Shaun Brooks William & Regina Meduski Ryan Raymond Jamie Satenstein 2542 Cabot Plains Road Old Center Road VT Route 215 North 3102 Main Street 2211 US Route 2 52 Meadow Lane 714 Churchill Road Blodgett Road 3795 VT Route 215 North 625 Houston Hill Road 864 Walbridge Road Houghton Road 4463 Cabot Road 3242 Main Street 3201 Main Street 3133 South Walde Road Danville Hill Road 2211 US Route 2 West Shore Road 0.19 & Garage $150,000 1.55 & DWL .51 & DWL 2 & DWL Lot #4 100 1.0 & MH 8.3 & DWL 10.1 & DWL 59.4 .75 & DWL .25 & APT .1 & DWL 17 & DWL 12.4 1.55 & DWL 9.86 .85 & DWL 7.5 & DWL .5 & Bldg $250,000 $401,000 $497,500 $10 $385,000 $76,500 $218,250 $45,000 $159,000 $309,000 $285,000 $210,000 $135,000 $80,000 $285,000 $100,000 $210,000 $260,000 $147,500 Peter & Sharon Hamilton (1/2 interest) 1159 West Shore Road Kelly Sewell Faith in Action DBA Neighbors in Action 3339 Main Street Teachers and staff have worked hard to involve students in building a positive classroom climate by using a variety of tools (Restorative Conversations, Collaborative Problem-Solving, and Random Acts of Kindness), as well as improving their skills in addressing minor distractions within the classroom. The school is also staffing a “Wellness Center” room where students can get help making a plan to improve their classroom behavior. Despite the improvements, Rebecca acknowledged that there is still work to be done to close the loop with families and to build collaboration with families to have conversations with teachers. She suggested that families reach out to start proactive conversations using the methods she described in a recent memo home about communication between home and school. Next steps? School staff will continue to refine and improve their approach to fostering a positive climate for learning at the school, and a digital survey to gather families' perspectives on school climate will be conducted during the next month.

39 West Shore Drive

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Cabot School Climate Update

by Chris Tormey, Cabot School Board

Along with exploring, researching, and demonstrating their learning in a variety of ways this year, students and staff at Cabot School have been working to improve the overall climate for learning at the school. According to an overview provided by Cabot School principal Rebecca Tatistcheff at the May 20 school board meeting, the approach and procedures in use over the past year appear to be having a positive impact. Reviewing the system in use, Rebecca described that student behaviors that are harmful or disruptive are ranked according to their impact. Minor disruptions (“Tier 1”) are handled by the teacher within the classroom. More disruptive Tier 2 or Tier 3 behaviors are referred to Assistant Principal Sarah Ainsworth and parents are contacted. The school records Tier 2/Tier 3 incidents, and Principal Tatistcheff reported in her review that those more serious disruptions had decreased by about 50% this year. What’s responsible for this drop? Rebecca discussed a number of factors.

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June Community Contra Dance

Come to the final Cabot Community Contra Dance of the season on Friday, June 14, featuring the wonderful calling of Don Stratton, of Bristol, VT! The dance takes place in the lovely third floor space in the Willey Building (Cabot Town Hall, 3084 Main Street), from 7:30 -10 p.m., with a short intro session for new folks at 7:15. Live music is provided by a great group of local musicians--feel free to just come and listen if you prefer! All dances are taught, and don’t require any special skills or level of coordination. Everyone is welcome, and anyone can dance with anyone (the dances don’t rely on gender), generally changing partners with each dance. You can come to the dance alone, with a friend or sweetheart, or your whole family! We’ve been building a lovely, friendly community, and would love to have you be a part of it. Admission is on a sliding scale, $5-10 suggested, but nobody is turned away. Masks are welcomed but not required, and we’ll have the large windows open for fresh breezes. Hope to see you at the dance!

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CABOT PUBLIC LIBRARY NEWS

LIBRARY HOURS: Monday noon

- 6 pm, Tuesday 10 am – 6 pm, Wednesday 2 - 6 pm, Thursday noon - 6 pm, and Saturday 9 amnoon. Curbside library service is still available during regular library hours. Save the Date - After the Flood - A Wave of Gratitude - Street Festival and Commemoration - Saturday, July 13th from 2 - 6:30 PM - Join the town of Cabot to mark and celebrate one year after the flood. Food, music, art, family friendly activities and workshops will be provided! This event is made possible by a grant from the VT Flood Response and Recovery Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation and the WaterWheel Foundation.

Summer Programming - Join us for another fun summer full of special programming. For updates, check cabotlibrary.com & FPF. All programs are free!

Summer Reading Program (ages birth - 18) - Starting June 18! Come to the library, pick up your reading chart and stickers to earn prizes. It's easy! Read or be read to for 15 minutes a day for 15 days. Participants earn a T-shirt, book and an additional prize of their choice. Sign up for the 1,000-page club and earn a free pint of ice cream from the Cabot Village Store. Get ready to read! Dungeons and Dragons (ages 9 - 13) - Ongoing - Tuesdays, 3:30 - 5:00 PM

until June 18 - Join Losada Stoddard as DM for our newest D&D campaign. Learn how to build a Dungeons and Dragons character, and then set out on your Adventures. No experience necessary! Come for the mysteries and magic, tails and talons, puzzles and prophecies! Snacks provided. New members are welcome anytime!

Storywalk - Starting June 5 - Cabot

Rec Field Pavilion - Enjoy Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer while you take a stroll around the pavilion grounds.

Story and Activity Time (ages birth - 5) - Wednesdays 10:30 - Noon - June 19 - July 31 - Join youth librarian Amanda Otto for stories, songs, crafts and activities! Stay after for snacks and more active play on the swing sets, sand box and fields for hiking and birdwatching. All are welcome!

Southern Vermont Natural History

Museum & Pizza (all ages) - Water & Aquatic Field Study - Thursday, June 20 - Pizza at 5:30 PM - program starts at 6PM Join us for a fun, hands on immersion into your local water resources. Participants will learn to use water quality test kits and capture aquatic life to measure the health of their local water resources.

Ready-To-Read Storytime (ages 5 - 8)

- Tuesdays - June 25, July 9 and July 23, 3 - 4:30 PM This drop off program is designed to support your emergent reader by sharing a sample of stories & series that are geared toward various levels of early readers & get them excited to use their new reading skills on the sequels later! Space is limited. To express interest, please email [email protected]. Cabot Book Group – Thursday, June

27 – 2pm The Cabot Book Group meets monthly on the 4th Thursday of the month at the library. All are welcome! This month’s selection is TBA and books will be available for pick up in advance.

Yoga for Everybody is on break for the summer – see you back in the fall! Thanks so much to Erika Nichols-Frazer and Sean Prentiss for sharing their insights on writing with our community of writers. Many thanks to Christyn King for all the Yoga sessions on Sunday mornings – see you again in the fall. Special thanks to Ila Steinert for her four years of dedicated, thoughtful volunteer service in the library and on the Library Board of Trustees – best of luck - we will miss you!

Thanks also to the Library Trustees for their devotion and hard work: Niall McCallum, Angela Ogle, Kurt Steinert, Taeryn Robbins, and Erin Ruddell.

See you at the library! Kathleen Hoyne – Library Director Amanda Otto – Youth Librarian

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