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The Cabot Chronicle

December 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 December 2024 pages (PDF)

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

In This Issue

December Contra Dance

by Karen Mueller-Harder This month’s Cabot Community Contra Dance will fall on Friday, December 13th, so it’s only fitting that Karen Mueller-Harder, our caller for the evening, was born on a Friday the 13th, and considers it a very lucky day! Please join us in the lovely dance space in the Willey Building (Cabot Town Hall, 3084 Main St), from 7-9:30pm. Live music is provided by The Usual Suspects, a great group of local musicians--feel free to just come and listen if you prefer! Everyone is welcome, and anyone can dance with anyone, generally changing partners throughout the evening. You can come alone, with a friend or sweetheart, or your whole family! All dances are taught, but if you’ve never been to a contra, you are encouraged to arrive right at 7:00, as we will start with the simplest dances, and then we’ll build upon what you learn throughout the evening. No special footwork is needed, and the dances are easy to learn. Admission is on a sliding scale, $5-10 suggested, but nobody is turned away for lack of funds! Water is provided, or bring your own water bottle. Masks are welcomed but not required, and we ask that you bring some clean, dry shoes to change into, if it's wet out that day!

Cabot Comunity Memorial

Tre Lighting on the Comon

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6:00 p.m. Tree Lighting

For many years, the people of Cabot have purchased Christmas Tree bulbs in memory of loved ones. The tree will be on the Common. Bulbs are $3.00 for each name listed. Please fill out the names you wish to be read at the tree lighting ceremony. All are welcome to participate. You can have names listed by filling out a form found at the Cabot Store (payment may be made at the store, or sent to Cabot

the following link: https://tinyurl.com/25sb98sw.

Names to be read (use back of page for extra names):

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At Cabot Community

by Karen Mueller-Harder

Cabot Community Theater will be holding auditions the first two weekends in January for our spring performance of The Little Mermaid! We need kids, teens, and adults for parts both large and small! We hope to have performers of all ages involved in the show, and plan (as always) to have flexibility in our casting in terms of age and gender, to offer performing opportunities to as many participants as possible. Everyone is welcome to audition, whether you’re from Cabot or a nearby town. Auditions will be January 5 and 11 or 12, in the afternoons, in the Cabot School Performing Arts Center (CSPAC). Exact details are still being worked out regarding timing and signups, and will be announced in the January issue of the Chronicle, and also on Front Porch Forum and on our Facebook page. Plan to sing a song you know well--if you’re not an experienced performer, a

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Cabot Tree Warden

Climate resilience has become especially important in the past few years. There are steps that you can take to add climate resilience to your forest if you own land. Taking steps toward climate resilience and flood resilience will benefit both you and everyone downstream from you if you take the proper precautions. As climate change progresses and extreme weather events become more powerful, these steps could prevent damage and erosion. The first step is to know your woodlands and assess any vulnerabilities, such as erosion. A small ditch can quickly become a large gully during events like those we experienced the past two summers in July. It is crucial to slow and sink water from runoff paths as quickly as possible before it becomes channelized. Waterbars or dips are remarkably effective at pushing water flow off your wood’s roads and into the forest, allowing it to sink into the soil. Protecting soil and water is important for forest health and resilience. Doing so will ensure the forest can persevere and grow in the future. Focusing on forest regeneration will mean having multiple generations of trees in your forest, improving its resilience. The forest should include trees that are young and old, meaning early successional species, young trees, and mature trees. As forests grow and in-

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newspaper devoted to telling the

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Theater

song your family likes to sing in the car, or your favorite silly song makes a great choice, and if you want to be in the chorus, you can sing with a friend or family member. Accompaniment is available if you bring sheet music. If you’re interested in a solo role, we’ll also have you read from the script. Everyone who auditions will be included in the ensemble in some way, but we want to have a chance to see and listen to everyone first. Rehearsals will begin in late January, and mostly be on weekend afternoons, with some early evenings (though not for younger kids). Some major leads will be shared by more than one performer, to give multiple people the chance to have a big role, and those people may have two or three rehearsals per week, smaller leads one or two, and chorus folks will average one rehearsal a week; schedule details will be determined after casting. We are hoping to have performances in CSPAC in early May; dates will be announced along with audition information!

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THE T REE W ARDEN

clude more tree species of various sizes, ages, and conditions (including standing dead trees), they will develop greater structural complexity. Dead trees, though seemingly undesirable, also have a place in your forest by protecting soils, retaining water, and cycling nutrients back into the soil. If dead trees present obvious hazards, remove them for safety. Fallen dead trees will cycle nutrients into the soil and provide food and shelter for many organisms. Managing forest stressors is another important part of improving forest health. Forest stressors include invasive species, insects, over-browsing by wildlife, and wind events. Reducing forest stressors is a crucial step in improving overall forest health. Favoring tree species that are future-adapted—meaning they will do well as temperatures increase due to climate change—is also beneficial. Protecting the rare, unique, and significant plants in your forest will improve biodiversity. The importance of biodiversity in our forests cannot be overstated, given the global crisis of habitat destruction and loss. Lastly, monitor your forest and plan for unexpected events. If you do not feel comfortable assessing your forest’s condition, contact a consulting forester who has the knowledge and skillset to assist you in effectively managing your forest. Roland Payne Cabot Tree Warden

of charge.

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Rec Field Work

by Chris Tormey Sixteen months after flood waters spread up to a foot of sand, rocks and uprooted trees across Cabot’s Recreation Field, the field is starting to look like it will be usable again next year. In addition to funds from the State and Federal governments, the field’s renovation this year would simply not have been possible without the skilled and willing help of a broad range of community members. In this narrow valley in the Winooski River’s headwaters we’ll continue to deal with big rain events in the future, but it’s been really positive to witness the work that’s been done in our town to respond to the damage from those events both this year and last. The Rec Field is one example. After Dana Calkins spent over a week with his excavator removing most of the flood sediment and debris from the field last July, volunteers worked to remove the smaller pieces lodged in the soccer goals, backstops, bleachers, etc. When the FEMA team visited Cabot last summer they committed to fund a majority of the cost of the field’s renovation. Meanwhile the Athletic Committee looked into the potential for installing a drainage system in the field to allow more use of the field throughout the year, and a soils engineer from Peacham named Tim McKay helped to draw up a plan. With funds from the Select Board and two state grants, Ben Ackermann spent a week this June installing a drainage system under the soccer pitch portion of the field. To improve the soil before reseeding, several inches of topsoil and composted manure were spread across the field before being rototilled in.

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High School Merger

by Cabot School Board A couple of months ago, there was an article discussing the pros and cons of considering a merger of our high school with Twinfield. Since that time, as you may have also read in the articles covering the School Board meetings, the Board voted against forming a committee to study the possibility of that merger. In addition, the Sustainability Committee has decided not to host a forum on a potential merger, and is instead focusing on how to sustain the school in its current PK-12 state. We do hope to send a survey to all Cabot residents in the next few months to gather information that will be useful as we continue to discuss the different options for school sustainability. As always, School Board meetings and Sus-

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Cabot Emergency Ambulance

Cabot Emergency Ambulance Service Inc. has reorganized under new leadership. Cabot Ambulance wishes to thank Jennifer and Charles Miner for their decades of service & commitment to the community. They recently retired and will be greatly missed. Many new members have joined and trained at the VEFR level and three will be taking the upcoming EMT classes in St. Johnsbury in January. With several new drivers and Ben Ackermann and crew installing drainage system at the Cabot Recreation Field, May 2024.

The newly-seeded grass grew well through mid-July, before a part of the field was again covered over with a new (thankfully thinner) layer of sand and debris in this July’s flood. After volunteers cleaned off the stones and branches, Morgan Churchill used his equipment to level off the sand and add a new mix of manure and topsoil to the re-flooded section , and it was (again) reseeded and mulched. Along with the invaluable contributions of Ben Ackermann, Morgan Churchill, and Skip Bothfeld to this extended project, thanks again also to volunteers who helped out, including Paul Yamamoto, Lynn Rockwell, Billie O’Connor, Jason Monaco, and Jenn, Nora and Sam Churchill.

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Talks

tainability Committee meetings are open to the public, and we encourage community participation. If you would like to express any views on this or any other school board business but are not able or prefer not to attend meetings, you can always write to Ellen Cairns, School Board Chair, at ellen.cairns@ccsuvt.net, or call her at

We are also still seeking community members who home school their children or do not have school-aged children to serve on the Sustainability Committee. It is important that all views are heard! The committee meets once a month and there is always a Zoom option. If you are interested, please contact Chris Tormey at chris.tormey @ccsuvt.net.

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Service, Inc.

more in training, we are very excited about our improved responses in the community and the ability to provide more mutual aid to our surrounding services. We thank the community for your support. If you want to know more information or like to join our team, contact Ruth Goodrich at goodrichsmaple@yahoo.com

Respectfully Submitted, Glenn Goodrich, President

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Cabot Mentoring

I am very excited to announce that we have three new Mentor/Mentee Matches this month. These consist of adult volunteer Mentors who are matched with kids in the Cabot community and have some similar interests. The Mentors have been interviewed and background checked and commit to a year (and hopefully longer) where they will spend fourto-six hours per month with their Mentees doing fun activities of their choice. Some Matches spend their time “InSchool Mentoring” which occurs during school hours. Other pairs are “Community Mentoring” Matches and spend their time together either after school or on weekends. These are the first new matches since I’ve taken the job of Mentoring Coordinator, which is a great success! At present, I have a list of kids who would like to have an adult Mentor. They are all ages, including some middle and high

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Cabot School 10th Grade Student

Hey Cabot Community! We've been busy here at Cabot. We've hosted community events and more, so here's a quick recap of what we've been up to. The week before Halloween, our prom committee put together a wonderful haunted house with the help of community members and staff. Additionally, we hosted a Trunk or Treat event, which included "Touch a Truck." An array of trucks were provided by various community members and everyone had a fun time hopping in and out of each one. During the week of Halloween, we had a Spirit Week with lots of participation from both students and staff. The days included Orange and Black Day,

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Cabot Planning Commission

The Cabot Planning Commission has been working for the last year and a half reviewing and updating the Town Plan. The Town is required to update the plan every eight years in order be eligible for various State grants and programs and to participate in Act 250 hearings. The new Plan will need voter approval at the March 2025 Town Meeting. The proposed changes include updated information, requirements due to changes in State laws and regulations,

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Program

school kids, some of whom would benefit from a mentor who would spend time with them learning about their work lives. That could be indoors or outdoors and could be on the farm or any work site or office, giving opportunity for the Mentor to share about their work trade. Many of these kids are curious about what it’s like to have a job and would benefit from exposure. We try our best to match adults and kids who have similar interests. The Mentoring Program is open to all Cabot youth ages 7-22, including homeschool and private school kids. If you would like more information about the program, please contact me or visit our website: Mark Christensen, Cabot Mentoring Coordinator

Email: cabotmentoring@gmail.com Website: cabotmentoring.org

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Report

Twin Day, Crazy Hair or Hat Day, and Wear Your Costume Day. Our middle school band also put on a concert, performing songs by Fleetwood Mac, Jack Johnson, and The Beatles. All grades came to watch, and an enthusiastic dance party ensued! Looking ahead, our upcoming events include a Harvest Dinner on November 26. The meal will be open to parents and guardians. We look forward to sharing a meal with them. Be sure to mark your calendars for the Christmas Market December 14, where the Prom Committee will be selling fudge and our Chemistry of Cleaning class will be selling their homemade soap. We look forward to seeing you there.

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Town Plan Update

and consideration of the impact of the floods and other changes as we look to the future. We welcome your feedback on this important document. A draft of the proposed revision is available for review on the town website. The Planning Commission will hold a hearing on December 2, 2024, at 6 pm at the Willey Building, and the Selectboard will hold another hearing on January 7. You can also send questions or comments to the Planning Commission at zoning@cabotvt.us or contact Planning Commission members.

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OMMUNITY OMMENTARY

by his mother The views, opinions and information expressed in the Community Commentary (LTE), Grace, brother Steve Doten and sisters Glenn E. Doten, 66, Tina Doten of Barre, Tami Doten of of Marshfield passed Hardwick, Sandy Price of Barre, Vicki away from heart fail- Keel of Berlin and Susan Buska of ure at his home on Marshfield. He also had several nieces November 1, 2024. and nephews and extended family. He was born on Glenn was predeceased by his father April 30, 1958, in Robert Doten and brother Randy Doten. Randolph, VT, to Robert M. Doten and Services are scheduled at Pruneau Gracelyn (Preston) Doten. Glenn had Polli Funeral Home 58 Summer St. many hobbies. One of his favorites was Barre, VT on November 30 from 5:00 to cutting and polishing stone that he 8:00 p.m. Burial will be in the Veterans would craft into unique jewelry. He also Cemetery in Randolph in June 2025. enjoyed venturing out on nature walks. In lieu of flowers, please consider a Glenn was a collector of knives and memorial Send donations donation to: in Sons memory of American of Glenn. swords and would proudly show his fam- Legion Post #3, 21 Main Street, Montpeily and friends his latest find. Glenn lier, VT 05602. served in the U.S. Navy from, December Arrangements are in the care of 1976 – December 1982. After many Pruneau-Polli Funeral Home in Barre. years of employment with Cabot CreamThose wishing to express online condoery, he retired in 2020. lences may do so at www.pruneaupolli funeralhome.com.

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Greg Burtt

Thank you Cabot! I am grateful to have been elected as state representative and look forward to getting to work. I have already been in several meetings and have started preparing for the legislative session in January. My main goals are to bring balance to the legislature and to listen to and make decisions in the best interest of our communities. BlessingsGreg Burtt, Owner

283A Cabot Plains Rd Cabot VT 05647

Ann Watson looking forward to getting to work on affordability, housing, and climate I just want to say a quick thank you! change in the new session. to the voters of the Washington District for their vote and their faith in me to Thanks! represent them in the Senate again. I'm Anne Watson

School Board Retreat is scheduled, that someone checks with the Secretary of I am following with inter- State to see if such a gatherest the conversations on ing complies with Verschool mergers, and I see mont's open meeting laws. mention of a "board retreat" Sincerely, including the Cabot and Jessica Noyes Twinfield school boards. I hope, before this retreat

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Budget Discussions (Part

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer The Selectboard has been holding a number of budget meetings through the months of October and November, with the target of finalizing the budget in early December. The process is to review the proposed budget of all the town entities, as well as appropriation requests from town entities over the course of several meetings. This series of articles will cover the discussion of all the meetings to date. At the first meeting Mike Hogan reminded the board that the budget they were reviewing and preparing was for the next fiscal year, which will start on July 1, 2025, and end on June 30, 2026. Up first was a request from the Development Review Board (DRB). Jeanne Johnson presented the board's budget request which was $600, a $150 increase of the prior year budget of $450. She noted that postal rates are expected to rise. Amy Monahan, Town Treasurer, noted that the actual expenditure for 2024 was $400, and its not even halfway through the fiscal year. Next, Kathleen Hoyne presented the budget for the library. She said their proposed budget was $121,034.35, a 3.85% increase from the previous year. Kathleen said the trustees felt it was a reasonable increase. The board asked about salaries and Kathleen said she and Amanda were receiving a 2.5% Cost of Living (COLA) increase. She said that Amanda’s salary was being raised an additional 2% on top of the COLA increase, and her salary was being raised an additional 1% on top of the COLA increase. The board discussed with Kathleen the costs of the fiber internet connection, and she stated that the increase was due to disconnecting from the Vermont Department of Libraries system, and Cabot will no longer receive the subsidy. The board also asked Kathleen about fundraising efforts and she said that she did not know of any libraries that do fundraising. The listers then presented their budget to the board. Mike noted they were budgeted $6300 in the previous fiscal year. R.D. said the request was very precise at $7937. Mike said they would round that to $8000. Jeanne explained that the increase was for a new computer, and that the listers replace a computer after six years. This is a new computer every other year to cover three listers. Gary Gulka presented the Conservation Committee budget request, and noted the current allocation is $500 and he was increasing the request to $1000. He stated that the committee is going to have to do more work after the contractor completes the natural communities study. Then he discussed the conservation fund with the board. Gary noted that in the past it has been a warned article, but the Selectboard had agreed to put it in the budget this year. He also wanted to increase the annual amount from $1000 to

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$2000. Karen Larsen asked how the fund was used, and Gary said that when the funds were approved, the parameters were established and required the committee to get approval from the Selectboard. He said in the past, $3000 was used for matching grant funds. Gary also presented the budget request for the Flood Resiliency Task Force. He said that for the current fiscal year they had an allocation of $1500, and are requesting the same amount. Cam North presented the budget request for the Recreation Committee. He said the committee has been keeping within $10,000 for years, but they want to increase the request to $12,000. He said the additional money would be used to pay for concrete bases for lights that will be installed at the new basketball court. Next, the Trails Committee made their budget request to the board. Kris Schmitt spoke for the committee and said they are asking for level funding of $2000. Mike then asked about some of grants they were receiving. Kris noted that they have one grant for $62,500 and have spent about half of the money. She added that the other grant was for $75,000 and was specifically for flood recovery. Amy asked how long they had to spend the flood recovery money. Kris responded two years. The board asked about what is allowed on the trails, and Kris said no motorized vehicles. Dana Glazier added that some landowners do not allow horses, either. Mike noted that they have a real problem with dirt bikes on the trails. Kris said they have put in some deterrents and a barrier, but the culprits just go around it. At this meeting, the Tree Warden was last, and talked about the Ash Borer being confirmed in three places across Cabot. He noted that his budget included some training for the road crew which didn’t happen this year.

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Community Forum on Budget

The public is invited to a community forum to review the town budget with the selectboard. Under development since October, this is the last chance to request budget changes before finalizing on the 17 th and printing for the Town Meeting Australian ballot. After this, the only option will be voting yes or no on the entire budget. Sponsored by community members at the request of the selectboard. the quality of community life for those in the governance and management for the purpose of keeping community via Zoom for those who would like Forum, or you can call the Town Clerk's by clicking on "Selectboard Meetings.

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Budget Discussions

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

At the second budget meeting, Sid Griggs gave an update to the board about ordering a new truck. He said they can’t get an automatic truck anymore, it will have to be a standard but it will lower the price by $10,000. Sid also said they can get a single frame instead of a double frame. He expects to see the truck sometime in the spring. The board and Sid then reviewed the highway budget line by line. Mike said the budget for the current fiscal year is $1,041,393. Sid said the cold patch needs to be increased by 2500, also $1000 for garage supplies. The board and Sid discussed the amount for fuel for some time and decided the amount was sufficient for next year. Mike Hogan and Sid discussed the truck lease and wondered if $71,237 was enough to cover the lease payments on the new trucks. Sid then talked about paving, and explained when he talked to the guy who paved the areas damaged by the flood, he estimated the Whittier Hill Road apron would cost about $50,000. Sid said they can do some aprons with the $40,000 in this fiscal year. He felt they could do about three aprons in the spring. The board and Sid agreed to increase paving line items at $50,000. The board and Sid discussed Old Route 2, and Sid recommended paving it instead of grinding it. He compared the costs of the gravel and said it would cost a lot more than paving it. R.D. Eno asked about the apron on Thistle Hill Road, and Sid said the state is responsible for that apron. They then discussed Class IV roads, and Mike said they put $10,000 for the roads in last year’s budget. Sid said it was plenty and talked about what possibly might be enough. Sid stated that he put some gravel on Dubray Road, and graded

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Town Meeting Articles

Voters are invited to a community forum to learn about questions that will appear on the Town Meeting Australian ballot. Learn why each article was submitted, by whom, ask any questions, and learn the impact of a yes or no vote. Sponsored by your neighbors to retain the best of in-person town meeting while offering more community members the opportunity to vote on issues that Australian ballot provides. At time of printing, we know there will be articles on a proposed change to the CCIF Plan, a statutorily-required update of the Town Plan, a request for property tax exemption for 2024 from Neighbors in Action, who have been granted tax exempt status for 2025-on, and any other articles proposed by community members by the January 16 deadline, signed by 5% of registered voters (60). residing, doing business, and visiting of our town. members informed about issues to listen in person. Instructions for

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(Part 2)

three of the Class IV roads the previous week. Karen asked if there were any Class IV roads that could be bumped up to Class I. Sid stated that if the town changed the status of these roads, it would add time to highway maintenance which would need to be budgeted. He suggested that they work with the Class IV roads and do a little more grading and gravel to keep them passable. The board agreed that many of the roads can’t be upgraded without a huge effort and expense. Fred Ducharme said that most people will be happy with a little bit of work to keep the road passable. Mike said people have to realize how Class IV residents need to know how the road is maintained. He felt a lot of people don’t know and that realtors don’t tell them. Sid said that the signs and guardrails line item should be increased from $10,000 to $15,000. R.D. pointed out that in the previous fiscal year most of the amount wasn’t spent. Sid said that he wants to move some guardrails and a lot of signs have been stolen. The board and Sid discussed equipment needs. Sid said the grader is shy of 6,000 hours and they add about 1,000 hours a year. He talked about the cost of the 6,000 hour service and the options they have. Fred asked how long they should keep the grader and Sid said that it would be best to replace it at 10,000 hours. Sid said that fenders for the grader would cost around $7,000. He said that since they don’t run chains because they have snow tires, they can add the fenders and avoid stones and mud being thrown onto the windshield. Mike said he wanted to get a larger excavator, and it would pay for itself over a couple years. Skip Bothfeld asked how big of an excavator could fit onto the trailer, and Sid said the excavator they have now is just over the limit of the trailer. He added that they would have to get a new trailer for a larger excavator. Sid said the current excavator is worth around $50,000, which is 18,000 pounds and the next level would be $30,000 pounds. Sid said they could use a new chipper. He admitted they don’t use it a lot, and a new one is $65,000. Sid then talked about working with other towns and trading use of equipment, or possibly renting equipment that they don’t use often. Mike and Sid talked about the internet service at the garage. Sid described when there is an issue it sets off the fire alarm. Mike suggested Starlink and Karen noted that where she is located she is in the shadow of the escarpment for Starlink. She said it might be something to look at but noted that at some point fiber will come up the road. R.D. said Cabot is next on the list for fiber installation. Sid said they might be able to wait. When the board finished with the highway budget, they looked at the (see ‘Discussion (Part 2), page 6)

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Discussion (Part 2)

Willey Building Budget. Betty Ritter presented a request of $60,000 for the Willey Building Committee, an increase of $10,000 over the current fiscal year. She said that the electricity costs have increased due to the heat pumps. The board talked about repairs that need to be done on the building. Betty said they are having an increase on the number of items on the repair list. The board then asked Betty about the Town Clerk’s Office needs. Betty talked about replacing the large machine that prints out the surveys and maps and said it would cost about $9,000. She said she thinks the budget should be the same, except for the need for a new machine. Karen said she didn’t have any issue with adding the $9,000 for a new printer, and the board agreed after a lengthy discussion about leasing versus buying one. Fred brought up the subject of parking and said they keep talking about marking spaces on Main Street, or in the Willey Building lot. He said it makes a big difference when spots are marked out. On this night, the board concluded the budget meeting talking about salaries. Amy Monahan stated that the cost of living adjustment (COLA) was 2.5%, and copying the library increase of an additional 1%, determined what the budget increase would be with a 3.5% increase. Mike said the 3.5% increase works out to a $12,500 increase in the budget. He pointed out that it doesn't include Amy’s salary. R.D. said that the increase was modest and noticed that she had also increased the Selectboard stipend. Amy admitted that was her mistake, and Betty mentioned the voters have to approve an increase to the Selectboard stipend. The stipend will remain at $1000 a year. Mike talked about Shirley Ducharme continuing at full time in her position as Assistant Town Clerk.. Fred said his personal opinion was that it was up to Betty. Mike said that the board has the authority over salaries. Fred responded that Betty is an elected official and does not report to the Selectboard, and she gets to hire her assistant.

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Budget Discussions (Part

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer The last meeting covered by this series of articles included several nongovernmental organizations. The first one to present an appropriation request to the board was Cabot Ambulance. Glen Goodrich wanted to know if there was a plan going forward before he presented his request. He noted that they are currently operating on an annual contract, and they need two things, a place to park the ambulance and a new ambulance. He said that on an annual renewal basis it would be hard for an organization to make such a large capital outlay. Mike Hogan talked about the funding for the new fire station and confirmed that the new building could not hold the Ambulance. He then asked about the condition of the ambulance. Ruth Goodrich responded that the ambulance was in good shape, but it was old. Karen Larsen noted that most busi-

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UPDATE UPDATES UPDATE SS S

Mike asked if it's justifiable to have three full time people working in the office. Karen said that when Michelle was working for Betty, the scope of the work was covered by two people. She asked Betty if the scope of work has expanded to need three people. Betty responded that her work has expanded, but she could not say immediately what has expanded. She mentioned the elections have needed more work, and the population has increased by at least 100. Betty said that they have not been keeping up with the deeds for the cemetery, and they are working with Melvin to straighten it out. She said they have increased fees, so they are handling more money. She added that in the last year, the workload has increased significantly. Jeanne said that every year the workload increases. R.D. noticed that Jeanne's salary as a lister has decreased when everyone else’s salary has increased. Amy said that Jeanne was only budgeted for 600 hours and she worked about 1200 hours. Jeanne said that even wasn’t enough. R.D. said Jeanne’s hours are obviously underbudgetted. He said he doesn’t understand why they are under budgeting the number of hours. Karen pointed out that last year included the statistical reappraisal, and this year might be less hours. Amy agreed that maybe they need to budget for 10 hours. Mike did the math, adding in Amy’s salary, calculated that the payroll would increase about $73,000. He then asked Amy if health insurance would increase too? Amy explained the research she had done and explained that MVP would be cheaper than Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Amy said it would be about a $400 difference. The board agreed to look into the difference in the plans. R.D. asked how they handle a change in an expense line in the middle of the fiscal year. Mike pointed to the fund balance of $225,465, effective June 30, 2024. He said that part of that fund balance could be used to offset new expenses. R.D. suggested some of it could be put into the sinking funds.

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nesses establish a sinking fund for large capital expenses. She then asked if Cabot Ambulance had such a fund. Glen pointed out that the board cut their budget last year, and that they operate a year at a time. He emphasized it would be silly to spend a quarter of a million dollars and not have a contract renewed. He acknowledged they have neglected setting up a sinking fund. He said they are hoping for a grant to help buy a new ambulance but restated that might be hard to find when they operate on an annual contract. The board and the Cabot Ambulance representatives discussed a few details about the $45,000 request, and about how income was generated. Then Fred Ducharme asked the general rate of charge for the ambulance service. Ruth explained that CALEX charges $43 per capita. She estimated that Cabot had about 1400 population, which makes their charge about $27 per capita. Fred noted that CALEX charges Danville about $100,000 for ambulance coverage. Karen proposed another way of looking at costs would be on a per call basis. She speculated that if Cabot Ambulance responded to between 88 and 100 calls a year, then it’s about $500 a call. Up next, Lori Augustyniak presented

and the Cabot Chronicle appropriation requests. She stated that the CCA was requesting the same amount as last year. Lori then highlighted some changes in the organization, with additional part time workers, and the addition of Bobby Searles and Johanna Thibault to the CCA board of directors. She also noted that the Cabot Child Center is going well and is full with 14 toddlers attending. Lori added they are having staffing issues just like every childcare center, but haven’t had to close due to staffing shortages. Lori noted that Cabot Arts is no longer part of the CCA and has spun off to be its own non-profit. Dana Robinson presented an appropriation request for Cabot Arts. He admitted he was new to the process and said that he wants help to support the Cheese and Culture festival. He pointed out that it is the biggest event in Cabot and attracts more people than the 4th of July. Dana said the festival was a free event and has been supported by the Wiswell Foundation. The Wiswell Foundation was created to support economic development in the Cabot community. This private foundation was formed in honor of Dr. Sherburne L. Wiswell, the local doctor and a resident of Cabot from 1854 to 1904. He said the foundation would like the town to set up and take on some of the costs, and eventually the foundation would become a matching grantor. Dana proposed for the coming year that the town appropriate $5000 and the foundation would provide the remainder. The board proceeded to speculate about the return of the Apple Pie festival, and there was some general discussion about having an event for all four seasons. Amy Hornblas made the appropriation request for Neighbors in Action (NIA). She said it would be the same as last year and noted that $500 helped pay for the Senior Adventure events. She also said that $2000 of the appropriation went towards the food shelf, which brought the total to $2500. After the non-profit town entities made their requests, the board returned to hearing from municipal entities. Melvin Churchill presented the Cemetery Commission budget request, which was the same amount as last year. Melvin talked about the trees that need to be taken down and noted that the quote for two of the trees was $7500, and there were four trees that needed to be removed in South Cabot. Next up was the Planning Commision, and Bobby Searles made a budget request for $3000, up from the $2500 last year. R.D. corrected him and said that last year the budget was $2650, so Bobby amended his request to $3150, a $500 increase. He said the additional amount was to cover the cost of Brittany Butler taking some courses to help her in her role as an assistant to the commission. Brittany said the Zoning budget would remain the same, at $1000. She noted that the money was mainly for postage since every mailing she does goes certified mail, which costs about $4 to $5 each. She noted that zoning does not have a computer since she uses her lister computer for zoning, too. The last municipal entity to present a budget to the Selectboard for the night was the Fire Department. Mike clarified to everyone that the budget was for operating out of the temporary fire station. Dean gave a quick summary and talked about 135 run sheets per year, and the department is up to 30 members, stating that morale is excellent. Karen asked Dean to explain why the temporary building can’t be used as a permanent fire house. Dean said there are no sprinklers, and there are no facilities for firefighter safety, or decontamination of equipment or personnel. He said that showers within an hour cannot be done, and air flow is combined for the entire building. Mike asked if they could stay in the building throughout 2025, and Dean said they would have to get an extension to the waiver from the state. R.D. asked what was happening with the FAST squad. Dean said there has been some back and forth with Cabot Ambulance, but that it is not warm and fuzzy. He stated that there are certain items that need to be included in the agreement, and that they are at a roadblock. Dean said he needs to feel comfortable with the agreement and that things need to be in writing. Karen pointed out that the contract between the town and Cabot Ambulance has a section that contains a commitment to develop an operational agreement with the Cabot Fire Department. She asked if it would be helpful for someone from the state to come and help be a voice on the requirements and stated that Cabot Ambulance needs to honor the contract. The Goodriches stated through Zoom messages that they are willing to sit down and discuss the agreement, indicating all options are on the table. The discussion turned back to the Fire Department budget, which Dean said totaled $119,468, $336 less than last year. Mike recalled that they had budgeted $122,000 for the Fire Department last year. Dean also said that the temporary building was a wild card, and they do not have a track record on the costs to run the building. He stated that the number is not fixed. Dean went on to talk about the cost of truck repair because the tanker is past its end of service life. He added that there are three big ticket items. The breathing apparatus (SCVA) are old and they are down to 9 from the original 12. He mentioned it would be about $90,000 to replace them. He also said they are running out of mobile radios, and the ones they have are no longer serviceable. He estimated it would cost $95,000 to replace them. And he finished by saying the tanker needs to be replaced, which would be about $525,000. Mike said that is why the fire department needs a sinking fund. Dean explained that they did start a sinking fund a couple years ago and R.D. asked how much is in it. The board discussed the fund with the treasurer and concluded the sinking fund was part of the fund balance. The board decided they needed to set the money for the sinking fund aside. Dean said that the annual contribution was $10,000, but Fred said that isn’t enough. Fred felt it should be $30,000.

(see ‘Discussion (Part 3), page 7)

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Discussion (Part 3)

(continued from page 6) The discussion turned to the rescue truck, and Dean said it has several years of life left. He speculated that they might consider offloading the rescue truck and obtaining a mini-pumper that could be used on small roads and long driveways. He said the rescue is currently used in the woods and for car accidents. R.D. asked about the FAST squad, and asked, if they had a working agreement with an ambulance service, how soon could the fast squad be operational? Kris

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Wake Boats on Joe’s

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer Representatives of the Joe’s Pond Association were present at the November 19 Selectboard meeting to ask the board to become co-petitioners on a petition regarding wake boats they have submitted to the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR). Dave Kidney spoke for the association and said he owns a camp on Joe’s Pond. Dave provided background for the board by explaining that wake boats started to appear on Vermont lakes and ponds a number of years ago. Wake boats generate a larger wake than conventional motorboats, and people use the wake to surf, as opposed to water skiing. Dave said that when wake boats first appeared on Vermont lakes, it became immediately apparent that they were not compatible with traditional uses, such as kayaking, pontoon boating, etc. He went on to explain that normal motor boats have their propeller parallel to the water and while moving they plane on the water. Dave said that wake boats contain huge ballast tanks that get filled with water so the boat travels bow high above the water and stern deep in the water. He said this allows the boat to produce ocean sized waves. He added that the propeller also acts like an egg beater on the bottom of the lake in shallow water. Dave said one of the problems of wake boats is environmental. He said the bottom of lakes contain a lot of dormant phosphates, which is fine. But when it gets disturbed the phosphates promote blue green algae growth. Dave said that studies have determined wake boats should not operate in water less than 20 feet deep and can't create a wake too close to shore. The larger waves cause damage to structures like docks and the shoreline. He said that the conservative estimate is that wake boats create the same wave action on shore at 600 feet from shore, as a normal motor boat 200 feet from shore. He said the more liberal estimate is 10 feet. Dave said that another concern regarding wake boats is invasive species. He said that the ballasts are filled and emptied on the lake. But, he added, when they are emptied a small amount of water remains, about 5-6 gallons. Dave said when the wake boat is moved to another lake, that remaining water is mixed with the lake's water and if any invasive species are present they are

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UPDATES

said that they were at the mercy of the state and it could be from a week to 60 days. A question was posted on Zoom asking how many structure fires the fire department responded to this year. Dean said he didn’t have that data with him. The discussion returned to the working agreement between the Fire Department and Cabot Ambulance, and after some general discussion it seemed like the decision was to have the two sit down together with representatives from the state to hash out the agreement.

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Pond

discharged when the tanks are emptied. He added that Joe’s Pond has one of the longest running inspection programs to prevent the introduction of invasive species, but they can’t inspect the inside of ballast tanks. Dave said that last summer they discovered milfoil on the lake. He said it can’t be proven it was the result of wake boat ballast tanks, but regardless they are trying hard to eradicate it. Dave went on to explain that the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) held numerous hearings due to a petition to protect Vermont lakes and ponds, and as a result proposed a rule that wake boats can only operate 600 feet from shore, in water at least 20 feet deep, and in an area that is at least 50 acres. He added that if that rule had been adopted, wake boats would have been prohibited on Joe’s Pond. However, he explained, ANR changed the rule from 600 feet to 500 feet and that created a 54 acre area on Joe’s Pond where wake boats are permitted to operate. This area encompasses most of the broad part of the lake. Dave went on to explain that ANR did acknowledge wake boats are not considered normal use, and Vermont law gives difference to normal use when it conflicts with non-traditional uses. He added that ANR did not consider safety and said it would consider that when individual lakes petition the ANR. He said the ANR rules prohibit wake boats from operating on 43 of the 73 lakes and ponds in Vermont. Dave added that nine of the remaining 30 lakes have filed petitions, and the Town of Danville has already joined their petition. He said their biggest concern is that as the number of lakes where wake boats are allowed gets smaller, the usage on the remaining lakes by wake boats will increase. Dave said that Joe’s Pond is unique in that it is a very busy lake. The broad lake is used by sail boats, pontoon boats, and kayakers criss-cross it to paddle from the boat access to the wetland portion of the lake. He said that a four foot wave makes it very dangerous for all of those activities, and that when a wake boat is making a wake, it has limited visibility to the front. He concluded by requesting the Town of Cabot join the petition. The board asked a few questions and R.D. Eno was prepared to make a motion to join the petition. Karen pointed out that they were in public comment, and since the vote would impact community use of the lake, folks should have an opportunity to speak on the subject. The board agreed to put it on the agenda for the next board meeting. Gary Gulka told the board that the conservation committee had reviewed

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CCIF Committee Against

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer The Selectboard reviewed the potential articles that will be voted upon at Town Meeting at the November 12 meeting. One of the articles relates to a new plan for the Cabot Community Investment Fund (CCIF), formerly UDAG. The proposed change was presented to the board by R.D. Eno back in October and was reported on by the Chronicle in the article “CCIF Change Proposed” which was published in the November issue. Mike Hogan noted to the board that he and R.D. had been talking for quite a while about changes to the CCIF plan, and said that it was due for changes. He stated that the former UDAG fund was for economic development and asked R.D. to briefly review the proposed plan. R.D. read parts of the proposed plan and concluded his overview by saying that the Selectboard will be empowered to make rules to implement the plan. He also said the Selectboard will have the charge to hunt projects up, to be proactive, not reactive. R.D. noted that the plan is shorter because it does not have to define the actions of the CCIF committee. Mike then said that he felt the flood of 2023 changed everything and thought the new plan was a good idea. Chris Tormey spoke from the public in attendance and said that he and Greg Burtt are on the committee, and relayed that the committee was universally not in support of the proposed plan. Chris went on to say that in the past four years, the membership of the committee has been consistent, and that they have tried to build up the funds after they had been depleted. He explained that R.D. came to the committee with this push to get these funds out the door for some projects in town. Chris went on to say that the current plan has done that. He pointed out that the fund went from about 2.7 million dollars in 2013 to 1.2 million dollars in 2022. He then listed a number of big capital projects the money was spent on. Chris then said that the current plan has the capacity to draw out big chunks of money for capital projects, and that has been done in the past. Chris said that the fund is broad in its reach and has the ability to reach smaller players who are looking for funds they might not be able to get through grants. He added that the fund is currently managed by professionals through the bank. The fund has benefited from having a broad diverse group of people sitting as members on the committee.

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Changes

He added that the Selectboard has had a large say on how the funds are used over the last decade, and they will continue to have a say. He said the committee is hesitant to have the control narrowed down to a group that can already ask the voters for anything it wants. He felt that narrowing down the control of the fund would limit access to the funds for other entities in town. Chris reiterated that the current plan is working and the committee is not in favor of the proposed revision. Greg concurred with Chris and then spoke with a concern he had about how projects are pursued. He used the word authenticity to explain his concern. He wants people in the town to be more involved and expressed worry that if large capital projects were being pursued, the players would not be from Cabot. Karen Larsen then said that everything has to go to a vote at Town Meeting. She felt that if they do have a large scale project leveraged by CCIF funds, then the discussion can happen at Town Meeting. Greg agreed that R.D. made it clear that the check and balance was a vote at Town Meeting. But he said that in the past, the town has often voted on such articles without really being educated on the subject. He expressed that he liked that R.D. put more in the proposed plan to involve the town, but he didn’t think it was enough. R.D. said that two years ago he recommended the town freeze all activity in the CCIF fund. He stated that the committee had made a terrible mistake at the beginning of the pandemic and liquidated the fund from the market. He said it was due to lack of experience and was disastrous to the fund balance. Chris responded to R.D. 's accusation and said that Greg was around when the fund was removed from the market, and that the committee was fairly depleted then. Greg concurred by stating the committee was only Adam Overby and himself at that time. He stated that he told the Selectboard not to withdraw the money from the market, but the Selectboard made the decision, not the committee. Greg then said this is not something worth arguing. Karen stated that the town has had access to this pot of funds for a long time. She said she hears two things, either maintain the fund and make small allocations, or spend all the “moldy” money. Karen asked if there was a strategy. She wondered if there should be guardrails in (see ’Against Changes’, page 10)

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GivingTuesday is December 3, 2024

GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical generosity. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, it has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. Join the movement and give, whether it’s some of your time, a donation, or the power of your voice in your local community. It’s a simple idea: whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to contribute toward building the better world we all want to live in. We encourage you, if you donate, to consider donating locally.

cause is more important than ever. Thankfully, we also have volunteers with the experience to meet the growing demand and a permanent home in Cabot from which to deliver our services. Whether you are a new donor, or one of our existing supporters who has made it possible to achieve our mission so far, the impact of your Neighbors in Action: Our volun- funds will be multiplied, and will be teers have contributed countless applied directly towards nourishing hours providing food relief and posi- your neighbors. tive social activities in our community https://www.neighborsinactionvt.org/ since 2004. Twenty years into serving Amy Hornblas, Executive Director our mission, we are finding that our

In order to continue this tradition we need your help. Please support this event by becoming a sponsor or making a donation. Here’s how! Donations are tax deductible. Checks can be made out to: Cabot

opportunity for residents of Cabot and Or log on to www.CabotArts.org. surrounding communities to come Scroll down the Home page to find the together and participate in a truly “donation” button on the lower right unique, community-made, arts ex- side of your screen. perience. Questions? Email Dana at direcFor three years running we have tor@cabotarts.org. Find out more at offered 12th Night FREE-OF- www.CabotArts.org. CHARGE TO ALL PARTICIPANTS. Dana Robinson, Executive Director

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December 8, 2024 , 2 p.m.-4 p.m.

nity. Whether it be donating money to a charitable cause or volunteering, Giving Tuesday is a day set to benefit the community. If you are choosing to celebrate Giving Tuesday on December 3, please consider keeping your donation local and support one of the projects of

Giving Tuesday donations are also a great holiday gift idea or can be used to honor a friend or family member.

tion, Inc. (CCA) works with community members to enhance educational and recreational opportunities in Cabot and support a strong local economy. Please consider supporting one of these efforts:

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Friends of Cabot Trails Net-

work supports the more than 15 miles of trails, mostly on private land, for Cabot residents and visitors to enjoy. Donations are tax-deductible. You can find donation information on-line at www.CabotVermont.org or send

245 Cabot, VT 05647 and we will direct your contribution to the organization of your choice.

is left alone in the face of an emergency.” (Red Cross) Giving Tuesday is a day that encourages people to do good, worldwide, last year $3.1 billion was received in donations which is the highest ever, only by.06%. Not all donations have to be monetary, many people volunteered, performed acts of kindness, as well as people’s time and goods were given. Help us make this year even better! Cabot Historical Society

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Against Changes

(continued from page 7) the proposed plan. She didn’t see anything about business size and noted that most small businesses without support fail in the first three years. R.D. said he wanted to avoid that kind of micromanagement. He felt the town should be able to seize any opportunity and the Selectboard should be able to make a cogent decision. R.D. said the town would decide, regardless of size.

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Reports to the Board

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

Chris Tormey reported back to the School Board on the progress of the Sustainability Committee at the August 26 and the October 28 meetings of the School Board. In August, he started by providing some background. Chris recalled that in the spring, the board had considered hiring a consultant to help with the process. He said that due to his proposed schedule, the board decided to form a committee. The decision was covered in the June edition of the Chronicle in the article titled “Community Conver-

He continued by saying the committee has been having great conversations, and there were lots of diverse points of view. Chris said the first forum was held before school let out for the summer and covered the topics of what is going well and what needs to be worked upon. Chris then said the committee decided on subsequent topics for forums: classroom climate and behavioral issues, project based learning (PBL), report cards, and student led conferences vs parent teacher conferences. He added that the school was in the best place to discuss potential changes regarding behavior and they concluded they didn’t want to waste community time. Jennifer Blake, interim principal, said that she had a lot of time to talk to the staff, and they were working on a behavior matrix. She added that their vision was to roll it out to the parents as part of the newsletter, once it was completed. Chris said that this was something the administration was aware of and can work upon. He said the bigger question of the community was PBL. He explained that the school is PBL based and many people don’t understand how students learn what is needed for college. He added he thinks the school is at a point to strengthen and continue in that direction. He then touched on the subject of a merger, and said that they have a lot of energy with the committee. He mentioned that the previous administration “pooh-poohed” the committee. Chris added that he felt they know the community well, and should be able to work this out and come up with some agreement. Amy Richardson, a teacher at the school who is on the sustainability committee, talked about a survey they did of the staff. She said that one of the issues that came out of the community forum

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UPDATES

Jeanne Johnson spoke as a former CCIF committee member and offered a third option. That was to spend all the money and then apply for more. Mike said that the town would never find a pot of money like this again. Chris commented about the term “moldy” money and noted that the fund had gone down from 3 million dollars to 500 thousand dollars over several years. He emphasized that the town has been spending the money.

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UPDATES

was how the learning situation was impacted by behavioral issues. She said that they identified some spots and took it to the leadership team to determine how to move forward. Chris was not present at the September board meeting, so he gave the next update at the October 28 meeting of the board. He talked about the committee’s last meeting which was held on October 9. He explained the committee reviewed the two activities they did in September, a cookout and a PBL forum. He stated after the success of the cookout, they wanted to get word out about PBL. He noted that only about 6 people attended the PBL forum, so the committee discussed how to improve it. Chris mentioned that the principal would have a PBL newsletter, and the art teacher would work on a brochure. He said they also talked about creating a video explaining PBL. He then relayed that the committee talked about how to attract more kids to the school. Chris said the committee then discussed the topic for the next forum and mentioned that Ellen proposed it should be about the option of school mergers. He mentioned that the committee had a discussion regarding a merger and the merits of doing that at this time of year. He recalled that the board promised the community last winter they would explore all options. However, he explained the discussion was more about the town voting at the last Town Meeting to keep the school in its current configuration. The article voted upon at Town Meeting read “Shall the voters of Cabot School District advise the School Board that they desire to maintain the school in its current PK-12 configuration.” According to the Town Clerk, the article passed with 344 yes votes to 252 no votes. Chris stated that the committee decided not to have a forum on merger options and decided to focus energy to get more students to come to the school. He mentioned surrounding schools have school fairs, and in the past Cabot School has participated, and there was interest to pursue getting involved again. Ellen expressed disappointment that the committee opted not to hold a forum regarding a merger and listen to our community and share ideas about a merger. She said the committee felt it didn’t have enough information to report out and expressed that she didn’t agree that is the function of a forum.

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706b Study Committee

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

During public comment at the October 28 meeting, Rory Thibault spoke against the forming of a 706b committee. He said that he is a fan of exploring a union high school, but felt it should be broader than just the two schools, Cabot and Twinfield. He said it would be more advisable to use board retreats and other public meetings to pursue discussion. Rory explained that he was worried Cabot could be forced to have a vote on a union school when the board did not want it to go forward to a vote. Later in the meeting the board discussed the topic of a 706b study committee, and Ellen Cairns started the discussion by saying she was disappointed that the sustainability committee did not have a forum to listen to the community. She said the committee felt it did not have enough information to share. Ellen went on to say that she is not pushing for a merger, but she did some research. She went on to describe that Cabot High School has the least number of students of any high school in Vermont, with the exception of Woodside Juvenile Detention (NOTE: Woodside was closed in 2020). She also said there are only three high schools out of the 82 high schools in the state that only serve one town: Cabot with 54 students, Craftsbury with 62 students, and Danville with 131 students. She added that Twinfield has 133 students, but serves two towns. Ellen stated that they have to ask why Cabot is a high school operating for so few students. She went on to share some information about how school districts with less than 10 students cost significantly more money. She added that this is just a financial view and does not account for the pros and cons of a small school. She then went on to talk about how a union high school does not threaten the existence of the elementary school. Ellen explained that a union high school would be its own school district and could not force a vote to close the elementary school. She added that there are a lot of different options, and if the board decides the

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Flip The Campus

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

Holly, a representative from Black River, who was hired as a consultant to study the prospect of flipping the school campus, presented their report to the School Board on October 28. She explained that they were tasked with determining if such a flip would work and said the short answer was “Yes”, but that there were caveats. She started describing the options on how the elementary would fit into the main building, and said the rooms were a bit smaller than desired. Holly also said there is no coat room in the building, and that coats can’t be hung in the hallway due to fire codes. She added that there is no art room in the main building, either. Holly went on to talk about another option for the main building, and explained that it was a “big question mark.” She explained that one of the driving factors for the flip was security, and the pro-

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Decision

school is not sustainable, they could alternatively propose limited school choice because there would still be some cost controls. She noted that there are limits on what public schools can charge, but no limits on private academies. Erica Fucello cautioned the board on the power that a 706b committee holds. She said if they think it's a great idea, they can force a vote. Ellen said the committee would bring a recommendation to the board and the board would vote on it. Chris Tormey said that in 2014 there was a 706b committee formed with Danville, Twinfeild and Cabot. He said the members were based upon town population, and the draft was supposed to be developed around the idea of each town keeping a high school. He said it was clear back then that all the students would fit into Danville and Twinfield. Chris said that he and Ry Hoffman, the other Cabot board representative, pushed to keep a high school presence in Cabot, but the committee voted the idea down. He went on to explain that the Cabot School Board thought the merger would harm the town and voted the proposal down. However, the 706b committee had the authority to put the question on the ballot. He said that it was a bulk vote and it did fail. Erica said that they could use board retreats instead of a committee, and Chris said that last time when they talked with the other school districts, they had met unofficially for about a year. Alicia Heber said that at the last meeting there was a sense of urgency because the budget won’t pass. She proposed they don’t vote on a 706b study committee until the spring, and not until they see the improvements the new administration has made. Alicia said they can have more board retreats. Ellen said that she is not tied to a 706b study committee, but she is tied to doing the research. The board voted on forming a 706b study committee, and the motion was defeated. Ellen then said that they can put the idea of a committee to bed now, and they can have a conversation about how we can hear from the community.

posal includes moving the main entrance to where the nurse is currently located. She explained that a checkpoint could be placed there, and it would also be wheelchair accessible. The satellite buildings were then discussed, and Holly noted that Pre-K would stay where it is, and the junior high would be above it. It was not clear if she actually meant the middle school grades. Erica Fucello asked why the proposed option had an art room in the main building as well as the art building. Jennifer Blake, interim principal, said that she struggled with the idea of such a small space for the art room and proposed keeping all art classes in the art building and using the space in the main building for something else. Holly told the board that the plan needs to be flexible. She noted that if you have a large 5th grade class and a small Kindergarten class, you might have to (see ’Flip the Campus’, page 11)

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Flip The Campus

(continued from page 10) move things around. She also explained that they tried to fit the high school into one satellite building, but moving the students around would not work. She also said that there are not enough bathrooms in the main building for the elementary school. The plan proposes adding two bathrooms on the upper level. One would take space from the conference room, and the other could be located more flexibly. Jennifer asked about the price of a bathroom and Holly said it was around $50,000 for the upstairs. She said adding one downstairs would be more expensive because it would require ditching. Alicia Heber said that ADA access needs to be solved better. Holly said that flipping the campus does not inherently solve the ADA issue. She added that anything that is touched will need to be ADA compliant. Alicia recalled that she raised a question two meetings ago, and wanted to know what problem they were trying to solve. She said that she did not think there was a clear reason. Erica responded that she thought it was a solution to the behavior problem, as well as some safety issues. Alicia said the larger issue seemed

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for the 12th Night Celebration

The 5th annual Cabot Village 12th Night Celebration is scheduled for January 3 and 4, 2025. Since its launch in January of 2020, 12th Night has become a beloved winter celebration for all ages. The festival features live music, community theater, storytellers, dances, singing, craft making, family activities, bonfires, and a sunset parade around the Village Common where folks can get out their noisemakers to ring in the New Year as a community. 12th Night is a free event. No admission fee is required for any of the festival’s many activities. The festival is supported in large part through generous grants from the Vermont Arts Council, the Vermont Community Foundation, and Ben and Jerry’s Community Action Team. Remaining costs (about half the festival’s budget) are provided by local business sponsors and private donations. Executive Director Dana Robinson comments, “We are a small community and the vitality of the festival really depends on community investment and participation.” Besides providing fabulous and fun arts experiences, 12th Night benefits the community by initiating partnerships between various Cabot organizations

Plus households in Hardwick, Full year for one low price! E-mail

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UPDATES

to be ADA compliance and security. She added that at $50,000 for a bathroom, the money could be used for something more impactful. Erica asked if the plan just included changing the campus, or if any repairs were included, like updating the roof. Holly said repairs are not included in the plans. Chris Tormey spoke about how the $500,000 could be better used to fix the issues with the building, and that a better approach to dealing with the kids behavior was a more comprehensive approach. Jason Monaco also asked if the flip was necessary. He commented that they had gotten pushed in this direction. Jennifer agreed that they don’t need to go down this route at this time and asked about the wording of the article for the loan the town voted upon. Ellen Cairns said the language did refer to flipping the campus. Matt Foster pointed out that the money hadn't been borrowed since the loan was set up as a line of credit. They had only spent $5,000 for Black River to do the study. The board unanimously approved a motion to the warning at Town Meeting include an article that allows use of the allocated funds for the campus flip for other facility renovation projects in the school.

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DIRECTORY

Reach up to 20 households by the first of each month in Cabot, Marshfield and and West Danville Plainfield, Danville and beyond! for more information: Sponsored by VT Rug Hooking Studio and the Sisters Rug Hooking Groups. Lots of beautiful rugs, and many more fiber arts. Also, sales of hand-made fiber art (scarves, hats, etc.)

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Center of Town - School

by Jane Brown When James Morse, Esq. came to Cabot from Barre, Massachusetts in 1789, he chose to build his log home at about the geographic center of the township near the “four corners,” where Old Center Road and Menard Road now meet Danville Hill Road. Other than the Bayley Hazen military road, there were only blazed trails connecting the few small settlements or solitary homesteads in the wilderness of this region. People traveled on foot, dragging a hand sled or cart with their belongings. According to town records, Morse was the first to settle in that section of Cabot. At that time, only dozen or so families lived in all of the approximately square most six-mile Center Gathering in 1901 township, Committee collection of them were along the Bayley-Hazen military road on Cabot Plain. Morse’s closest neighbors were John Whittier, a mile or so south of his homestead, and Fifield Lyford a mile or so north. Oliver Walbridge, William Osgood, David Haines, Robert Lance, and others settled nearby later. Morse, being an enterprising man, built the first tavern in town. It was a small one-room log cabin with a bar and a bed. The accommodations were hardly more than shelter from the weather and whiskey for courage for the few travelers who came to this region, but having the tavern may have helped Morse’s popularity as he was quickly accepted as a leader and served as moderator for the town’s first town meeting. He was appointed Justice of the Peace and as such attended to most of the legal business of the town for several years, including Center of Town, FirstCemeteryInCabotBefore1906 performing the first marriage it town by uniting David Lyford and Judith Hill on July23, 1795. In 1790, Jesse Levenworth, Major Hitchcock, and Asa Douglas deeded eight acres of land “for public use” at the geographic center of the town. Three years later four acres had been cleared and a log schoolhouse built. The Center became School District 2 and as the community grew, as many as 90 children attended school there. With a growing concentration of inhabitants at the Center, it was decided that the business affairs of town should be moved there from the Plain. This was not a popular decision for people living on the Plain. They protested strongly, but a vote was taken and by 1796 all town business was conducted at the Center. According to John M. Fisher in the Vermont Historical Gazetteer, the

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District No. 2

only actual town property moved from Cabot Plain were the stocks and whipping post. These items were apparently rarely used and Fisher notes that only one whipping ever took place in Cabot. Benjamin Parker was whipped for breaking into a store, but the officer in charge admitted he went easy on Parker, saying he merely wanted to warn him what would happen if he continued his bad behavior. A pound was built at the Center to contain stray livestock and an acre of land was purchased for a burial ground. William Osgood was the first to be buried there in 1801. The new community tinued to congrow and in October 1801, the first Congregational – Cabot Oral History Church in Cabot was organized. Clement Coburn from Charleston, Massachusetts was deacon and Evans Beardsley served as clerk. However, there was no regular minister. Occasionally there was an itinerant preacher, but mostly men from the community presided over the regular services held in the schoolhouse or someone’s barn. Moses Stone, Joseph Smith, Henry Walbridge, Eiiphalet Adams, and Luther Wheatley were appointed to plan and build a proper church, and the framework was in place by 1806. The process of completing the church was slow and materials hard to come by. The building was large, with two rows of windows, a high belfry, over 50 pews plus a gallery on three sides, and could accommodate 300 people. Services were held there every Sunday for 17 summers but moved back to the school or someone’s barn during the winter because the walls of the new church were un-plastered and let in the cold. The community was thriving. There was a grand Fourth of July celebration in 1820, with two military companies, speeches, music and “a bountiful repast.” However, once again, the population shifted. Mills, shops, taverns, and stores dotted a two-mile stretch of the Winooski River in the valley about a mile below the Center, and just as had happened 50 years before at the Plain, the town’s business affairs moved to be closer to the growing communities of Cabot Village and Lower Cabot. Those early 1800s were a time of religious awakening as Baptist, Methodist, Advent, and Congregational organizations competed for members. When attendance at the Congregational church at the Center declined, it was decided in 1824 to dismantle the still u n f in ish e d church and move it to the northeastern side of the common in the village, where the school is located today. With the church gone, Luther Wheatley’s little store that Hector McLean OHW Center of Town, 1901, ran for several years closed and Morse’s tavern was abandoned. Soon mothing remained except some stones marking the foundation of the church, the old pound, and the graves of some 90 men, women, and children in Cabot’s first cemetery. By 1846, the community at the Center had all but vanished. There were farms on the outskirts of the eight acres dedicated as the Center of Town, but except for occasional celebrations when people from the surrounding communities gathered for picnics, rallies, or other celebrations, the Center has remained abandoned. In 1901, at the first Old Home Week celebration, large stone marker was placed where the Congregational church had stood. For several years, Old Home Week included festivities at the Center, but eventually that, changed. too,

Charley Sign, Center Cemetery, 2024 McCarty was interviewed by Amanda Legare for the oral history, Cabot, Vermont, Memories of the Century Past, published in 1999. He told about Luke Fisher, then cemetery commissioner, removing the headstones from the abandoned Center cemetery and planting potatoes there during WWI. The U. S. Government subsidized

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Consulting and Gardening

When you think of holly, you probably picture green, glossy, spiny leaves, with bright red berries. This is the English holly, Ilex aquifolium . But there are many holly species, with fruits of yellow or orange, leaves with and without spines, growing in both tropical and temperate climates. Altogether, there are around 480 species of holly worldwide, including a few that are native to our New England region. With a few exceptions, the leaves and fruit of holly species are toxic to humans…leave them for the birds and other wildlife. Holly fruits aren’t berries at all, technically speaking. They are drupes, meaning they have a pit, like peaches or plums, where the seeds are located. Yerba mate, a tea with fairly high caffeine content, is brewed from a South American holly, Ilex paraguariensis. A farmers to plant extra potatoes to help feed the military. Fisher was reprimanded by the townspeople and told to put the gravestones back where they belonged, which he apparently did. We will never know if this is a true story, but the J.Donaldson collection circumstances seem to fit. The cemetery remained neglected for years until about 1995 when Ruth and Glen Goodrich brought a group of friends from their church to cut brush to reclaim it. The following year Velma Urban Smith became sexton and finished the job with the help of the cemetery commission and some high school students. They also reclaimed the park area at the historic site. Now the little cemetery is routinely cared for, but unfortunately, the rest of that historic site has been neglected. The big stone marker for the Congregational church was vandalized with graffiti several years ago and was removed temporarily to prevent further damage. It has been returned to its proper place, but the signs designating church and the pound are gone and the cemetery sign is damaged. A new trail from the village makes access to this historic spot easier, and there are plans by the Cabot Historical Society to once again clear the brush and restore this lovely spot that is an important part of Cabot’s early history. Jane Brown Cabot Oral History Committee

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plant on holiday cards

holly native to the southeastern part of the US, with the somewhat unfortunate name Ilex vomitoria, is brewed for Yaupon tea. In ancient European cultures, the holly tree was associated with the summer solstice, and the waning periods of sunlight. It remained green through the winter, providing decorations for doors and homes when most other plants are dormant. Some considered holly to be good luck, or protection against evil spirits. During Saturnalia, Romans used holly as decor and attached sprigs to gifts. In some Wiccan traditions, the Holly King is an aspect of the Sun God, ruling during the darker months. In heraldry, holly symbolizes truth. Nearly all holly species are dioecious, with some individuals producing staminate flowers (“male”), and others producing pistillate flowers (“female”). What this means in practical terms for gardeners, is this: if you want your holly plants (see ’Holly’, page 13)

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Saturday, December 7 from 3 to 5

pm Free workshops for all ages: Cookie decorating, card making and sing around the fire with Coco Kallis. Gift swap: Bring a new (or almost new) item to donate and pick something up for someone in your life! All are welcome to participate whether bringing a donation or not. Cosponsored by Marshfield Resilience Hub and the Jaquith Library.

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Tuesdays 4:30 to 6 pm

and the fourth Saturday of every month 11:30 am to 1 pm Bring whatever craft you are working on or start a new project. All ages are welcome if they are old enough to be sitting and working on a craft. Knitting and spinning maven, Donna Hisson from Marshfield, is the host of the group.

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Offices to be Elected at

It takes many hands to accomplish the business of running a town. Significant dedication and problem solving is required. According to the 2024 Annual Town Report, the following positions will be voted on at the next Town Meeting in March. Consider how you may be able to serve fellow community members:

Town Meeting Moderator one year term Selectboard Member 3-year term Selectboard Member 2-year term Lister 3-year term Delinquent Tax Collector 1-year term Grand Juror 1-year-term Cemetery Commissioner – 3-year

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Holly

(continued from page 12) to have lovely bright red fruits, you need to source a female plant, and a male plant. If the genetics are not known, plant several to increase your odds of fruiting. The holly species native to our region all prefer damp soil and partial to full sun. If you have a wet or slightly boggy area in your yard (a problem spot for more traditional garden plants), consider planting winterberry ( Ilex verticillata ),

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Second Saturday of the month at 2

pm A free program series of reading and discussion co-sponsored by the Marshfield Historical Society and the Jaquith Public Library. The public is welcome and encouraged to participate. Books are available for loan from the library. December 14 American Colossus: The Triumph of Capitalism by H.W. Brands

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Fourth Monday of the month at 7

p.m. Join us for the Jaquith book group. For copies of the book, please stop by the library. New members are always welcome, and it’s only one hour a month! January 27 Night of the Living Rez by Morgan Talty February 24 The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

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Town Meeting 2025

term, 3 positions School Director 3-year term School Director 2-year term Library Trustee 3-year term, 2 positions CCIF Committee 3-year term Willey Building Committee 3-year term, 2 positions

Contact the Town Clerk for information on where to find details about position responsibilities, deadlines and how to get your name on the Town Meeting ballot.

Deadline: January 27 to file petition with minimum 12 registered voter signatures with Town Clerk

inkberry ( Ilex glabra ), or mountain holly ( Ilex mucronata ). Their colorful fruits persist all winter, becoming more palatable to wildlife as they soften through freeze and thaw cycles. Happy holidays, and happy hollydays! This garden article is brought to you by Susan Socks, aka the Garden Goddess. Stay tuned for upcoming articles on green lawn care, pruning, garden tools, edible landscapes, and more. For gardening help, visit www.SocksFamily Just wanting to give you a heads up on this, in the hope that you can fit it into your holiday plans! I attended the performance of the Messiah the last two years at the Barre Opera House- so powerfully beautiful! I'm excited to be singing this year with my friends Connie Hourihan, Sandy Atkins, Sandy Pond and Janet Newton! The first time I sang the Hallelujah Chorus I was sixteen in the Montpelier High School Chorus-I remember getting goosebumps it was so powerful! So...it's been a while! There are two performances; Friday Evening December 6 7:30 p.m.at St Augustine's Catholic Church on Barre Street in Montpelier and Sunday December 8, at 2:00 pm at the Barre Opera House. A great way to begin the Christmas Season!! Lynn Maxfield

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Deadline December 13, Pickup December 18

Dear Cabot Families, We are excited to announce our annual fundraiser in partnership with

students will be selling a variety of local maple products to raise funds for spring field trips and June Term workshops. These workshops, led by talented community members, provide students with hands-on learning experiences in a variety of topics including intro to car maintenance, pizza-making, fishing, self defense, financial literacy, garden projects, and much more! The funds raised will be used to purchase materials and offer stipends to thank local experts for sharing their time and expertise with our students. Orders are due by 5 pm on Friday, December 13th, and all products will be ready for pick up at Cabot School on Wednesday, December 18th. This is a wonderful opportunity to support a local business while helping our students enjoy meaningful educational experiences. To order, go to the school website at www.cabotschool.org and click on the Maple Syrup Fundraising Form at the bottom of the home page. Thank you for your continued support of our school and community. We look forward to a successful fundraiser and appreciate your participation! Sincerely, Cabot School Fundraising Team

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Unleash a Cheddarific Dog Toy Collaboration!

Bringing Joy to Furry Friends Across the Nation Pet Lifestyle and You (P.L.A.Y.) and Cabot Creamery Cooperative, two Certified B Corporations, have teamed up to roll out the Seriously Sharp Squeaker dog toy on November 19, 2024. Inspired by Cabot's iconic Vermont Seriously Sharp Cheddar Cheese, this eco-friendly toy embodies the quality and community spirit both brands are known for. "We've always known that Cabot cheddar brings people together, and it turns out our four-legged friends want in on the fun too," said Sara Wing, Director of Community Marketing at Cabot Creamery. "Partnering with P.L.A.Y. to create the Seriously Sharp Squeaker toy is our way of sharing Cabot with the whole family. It's a playful nod to the joy and quality we're committed to, ensuring even the dogs get their share of smiles." Made with P.L.A.Y.'s signature PlanetFill® eco-friendly stuffing— crafted from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles—the Seriously Sharp Squeaker toy crinkles and squeaks, giving pups plenty to melt over. It features AZO-free dyes for safe play, and the tag is crafted from FSC-certified mixed materials, emphasizing sustainability in every detail. Perfect for both play and snuggles, this toy is also washer and dryer friendly, making clean-up a breeze after your pup has had their fill of fun. Retailing at $12, the Seriously Sharp Squeaker Toy will be available on PetPLAY.com, CabotCreamery.com and in select local boutiques. It's perfect for holiday gifting or adding some sharp playtime to your pet's day.

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C ABOT P UBLIC

LIBRARY HOURS: Monday noon - 6 pm, Tuesday 10 am - 6 pm, Wednesday 2 - 6 pm, Thursday noon - 6 pm, and Saturday 9 am- noon. Curbside library service is still available during regular library hours. Dungeons and Dragons (ages 9 - 13) Ongoing - Tuesdays, 3:30 - 5:00 pm - 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! Story and Activity Time (ages birth - 5+) - Ongoing - Wednesdays, 10:30 - 11:30 am - Willey Building 3rd Floor - Join youth librarian Amanda Otto for stories, songs, snacks, crafts and open play! All are welcome! Holiday Workshop (all ages) - Saturday, December 14 from Noon - 2 pm - Stop in the library to warm up with a cup of hot cocoa or tea and stay to decorate your own sugar cookie or make a simple evergreen wreath and ornament. All materials are provided! For more details, visit our website: cabotlibrary.com and Front Porch Forum The Cabot book group meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 2 pm at the Cabot Library and will be adding an additional meeting the fourth Wednesday of the month at 6 pm, starting in January. This month’s selection In the Distance by Hernan Diaz will meet on Thursday, December 5 at 2 pm – different from the usual time due to the holidays. All are welcome – if you can only come some of the time, that’s ok too! Email cabotlibrary@yahoo.com for more info and to be added to the email list. The first novel by the Pulitzer Prize– winning author of Trust , an exquisite and blisteringly intelligent story of a young Swedish boy, separated from his brother, who becomes a legend and an

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November 15

Congratulations to 8th grader Mary Rogerson on being selected as a Vermont Legislative Page for the 2025 session! This is a fantastic achievement and a testament to their hard work, leadership, and commitment to learning. As a Legislative Page, Mary will have the incredible opportunity to assist lawmakers, deliver important messages and documents, and observe the legislative process firsthand, gaining a unique perspective on how state government works. We’re so proud of Mary’s accomplishments and look forward to hearing about their journey in Montpelier!

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L IBRARY N EWS

outlaw. A young Swedish immigrant finds himself penniless and alone in California. The boy travels east in search of his brother, moving on foot against the great current of emigrants pushing west. Driven back again and again, he meets criminals, naturalists, religious fanatics, swindlers, American Indians, and lawmen, and his exploits turn him into a legend. Diaz defies the conventions of historical fiction and genre, offering a probing look at the stereotypes that populate our past and a portrait of radical foreignness. BIBLIO+ All Cabot Public Library patrons are now able to access a FREE video streaming service called Biblio+ using your library patron number. If you don't know your number or would like a library card, call, stop in or email cabotlibrary@yahoo.com. Biblio+ offers free and unlimited access to films, TV series and documentaries ad-free on any device! UVM Libraries for all! Did you know that Vermont residents are able to borrow materials from UVM Libraries? It’s true! They offer guest borrower’s cards to all Vermont residents who are 18+. They only ask you to update them in the event your address, phone number, or email changes. Stop by Howe or Dana Health Sciences Library to get the application started. Thanks so much to the Library Trustees for their devotion and hard work: Niall McCallum, Angela Ogle, Kurt Steinert, Taeryn Robbins, and Erin Ruddell. Additional thanks to Jennifer Tidd for hosting our second Paint & Snack Program. Many thanks to the following youth volunteers: Losada Stoddard, Stella Heber, Aspen Long and Ella Senkowska. Many thanks to Grace Hoffman for help with shelving and weeding and to Vicky Palmer and Beth Wade for volunteer subbing on Saturdays. Happy Holidays everyone - See you at the library! Kathleen Hoyne – Library Director Amanda Otto – Youth Librarian

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← From the Cabot Chronicle