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The Cabot Chronicle

January 2025 · 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 January 2025 pages (PDF)

Text extracted from the original pages and checked for reading order. Advertisements, listings, the calendar and puzzles are omitted. Where part of a story could not be converted cleanly, it is marked and the full story is in the PDF.

In This Issue

Cabot Teen a Budding Horsewoman Rodeo Riding Right in Vermont

…to rodeos with Babe last summer. She set up barrels in Ruta’s field to practice. “It was fun getting to run the barrels,” she said. Competition introduced her to a world of other riders and their horses, some of them experts. She also watches western riding events online. “I’m not like those pro rodeo girls,” she said. “I’m just starting out, and I’m learning a lot.” The gymkhana circuit has grown in Vermont over the last 20 years, said event judge Tracy Webb of Swanton, who organizes the gymkhana series. The events, held in Barton, usually include barrel racing, pole bending, and then games. “20 years ago, I knew of two series, and now you can go somewhere almost every weekend, and some weekends you can go Friday, Saturday and Sunday” in the warmer months, Webb said. A different series, a high school rodeo team based in Essex, has grown too. Last June, four junior high girls from Vermont competed in Iowa, and another five high school girls competed in a national competition in Wyoming. Churchhill wants to grow as a barrel racer, and ultimately she’d like to be a horse trainer. “Hopefully I can improve where I need to,” she said. “I just want to be with horses.”

The beginning of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 1.

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Passions to awaken, dreams to achieve. An endless sense of possibility sparked through mentoring

Each January, we come together as a community to ignite these passions and help

and help turn these wildest dreams into reality with National Mentoring Month. By harnessing our collective voice, MENTOR advocates for supportive relationships for young people, mentoring as a legislative priority, and raises awareness around how mentorship can change a young person’s life. Join us for exciting opportunities throughout the month to grow the moment, celebrate the power of meaningful mentor relationships and appreciate mentors for all they do!

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CRITICAL DATES FOR TOWN MEETING 2025

JANUARY DEADLINES Thursday, January 16, 5 p.m., Deadline to submit petitions to place an Article on the Town Meeting ballot; 5% of registered voters signatures required (min. 60 recommended)

Monday, January 27, 5 p.m., Deadline to submit candidates for office to submit petitions with 1% of registered voters signatures (min. 12 recommended) for name to be on Australian ballot.

JANUARY EVENTS Tuesday, January 7, 7 p.m., Selectboard Hearing on proposed changes to Cabot Town Plan.

Thursday, January 23, 6 p.m., Community Forum on Town Meeting Articles – community members can

learn about questions they will face in the voting booth and learn the impact of their yes or no votes from those who proposed the Articles. Food and drink provided. Last chance to request changes to Town budget.

Goal: no surprises in the voting booth.

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Cabot Ambulance

Looking back over the incidents we have responded to in the town, many of them were responses to falls. Tripping hazards are often the cause, or at this time of year, slippery surfaces. Check on older neighbors & residents who may live alone. If they do not have life alert, a fall can result in long delays in medical help. There were a couple of motor vehicle events as well. In December, to date, we have had five incidents, including two motor vehicle accidents. Snow covered roads always seem to surprise people when they drive like the road is dry and discover they have a four-wheeled toboggan when they apply the brakes. COVID-19 is still making its rounds, so remember to use hand sanitizer and wash hands often. Other respiratory viruses are going around, too.

We have new members, new leadership and several members are taking an upcoming EMT class as well. Stay safe & healthy! Wishing all Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year 2025! Cabot Ambulance Members

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Sign Up On The Town of Cabot Website

WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL MUNICIPAL WEBSITE FOR THE TOWN OF CABOT To receive important announcements and notices, sign up on the town home page for emails to keep informed. This could be road closures, emergency information or other critical news. Your information will not be shared, sold, or used in any commercial way.

It is critical that homeowners, residents and voters provide up-to-date contact information so official mail from the town reaches you. If mail is undeliverable, every effort will be made to get your mail to you, but if we have no email address or phone number, and your mailing address is out-of-date, your defective election ballot, tax bill, or other communication will not find you and you may lose the opportunity to take appropriate, timely action.

Please go to the town website to update your contact information and sign up for notifications. Keep informed about the things you need to know.

www.cabotvt.us

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From page 2

The Star of Life logo as we all know it today is a symbol of healing. You see it on medical or EMS uniforms, ambulances & more. Most people do not know how it came to be. Interestingly enough, it dates back to biblical days. You can find it in the Old Testament of the Bible. When Moses was leading the Israelites through the desert after the exodus from Egypt, they came to be in an area infested with venomous snakes. Being bitten meant certain death. Many died. They went to Moses, their leader & prophet, for a solution. He planted a staff with a coiled metal serpent wrapped around it in the central area of the camp so all could see it. If someone was bitten by a snake, all they had to do was look to the staff and they would live. Some did not believe the solution could be so simple and did not look to the symbol, and died. Today, it represents those who serve in many capacities, from emergencies in the field to hospitals.

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January 7 Selectboard Hearing Important Cabot Town Plan Update

The Selectboard will hold a hearing Tuesday, January 7, at 7:00 p.m. in the Willey Building to hear from Cabot residents on recommended changes to the Cabot Town Plan, before the Town Meeting vote. This will be an Australian Ballot article for Town Meeting 2025. The Cabot Planning Commission held their own hearing on their recommendations on December 2. 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, 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 under the Planning Commission tab (https://cabotvt.us/planning-commission/). You can also send questions or comments to the Planning Commission at [email protected] or contact Planning Commission members.

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What’s So “Temporary” About The Temporary Fire Station?

The temporary Fire Station has become a subject of interest and speculation as Cabot recovers from the flood of 2023. Built partly with FEMA funds after the old station was condemned by the State of Vermont and demolished, the structure at 137 South Walden Road will be available to the Town for purchase from FEMA (at a highly depreciated cost) and reuse once a permanent Public Safety Building (PSB) is completed. But why, people wonder, can’t the temporary structure become the Fire Department’s permanent home? The simplest answer is that it was never designed to be a permanent fire station – it’s just a building shell intended to get equipment into a climate-controlled environment as quickly as possible. The state even waived the requirement for a sprinkler system, since it was expected that the Fire Department would relocate within 15 months.

But, more important, the temporary building has no room for a decontamination facility, nor was it designed to meet the air quality control requirements for all new permanent firehouses announced by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), whose standards have been recognized and adopted by the State of Vermont. Over the last 50 years, most homes and places of business have either been built or renovated using very durable compounds such as PVC, PCBs, acrylics, and recycled plastics which emit toxic fumes and carcinogenic “fly ash” when they burn. Our volunteer firefighters wear protective gear when near or entering burning premises, but unless the crews can decontaminate their gear, their equipment and their bodies when they return to the station, the poisons deposited on them will crosscontaminate clean equipment, and – worse – find their way into lungs and skin and street clothing.

(see, ‘Temporary Fire Station, page 3)

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Village Flood Mitigation Debris Removal from Main Street

The removal of woody debris – dead and fallen trees – and a good deal of accumulated sediment, including stoney rubble, have been removed from the tributary that runs through the twin culverts under Main Street in Cabot village. Heavy rains on July 10 of both 2023 and 2024 swelled the tributary and propelled trees and boulders against the culverts, blocking them and causing the floods from which the Town is still recovering. Clearing detritus from the stream was recommended as a first step by SLR, the engineering firm engaged to plan a comprehensive flood mitigation strategy for the village. The work was carried out by Hogan Construction and paid for with $10,000 of funds received by the Town this year from a state of Vermont budget reconciliation distribution. Additional flood mitigation measures will be carried out as funding becomes available.

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Temporary Fire Station

(continued from page 2)

Firefighters, whether paid or volunteers, expose themselves to serious health hazards to perform a vital public service. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has found that firefighters face a 9% increase in cancer risk and a 14% increase in cancerrelated deaths compared to the general population. But, without decontamination facilities, firefighters bring those toxic materials into their homes, businesses and gathering places, spreading that risk to their families, friends and communities. The installation of specialized decontamination equipment to meet the NFPA’s standards cannot be accomplished in the temporary building, and half-measures will not comply with those standards or meet with state approval. Another question people ask is: What will become of the temporary building once the Fire Department vacates? Assuming the Town elects to buy the temporary building from FEMA once the new public safety building is finished, the community will decide what to do with it, and already several competing proposals have started to circulate. Happily, the temporary building was designed to allow easy retrofitting with windows and additional roll-up doors facing the parking lot, so it would suit a variety of public and municipal needs, though the voters might also elect to sell or lease. There will be public forums and probably at least one Town Meeting vote before we choose among the alternatives.

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SAVE THE DATES

Community Process for Annual Town Meeting Decisions

Tuesday, January 7, 7:00 p.m.—Selectboard Hearing on Cabot Town Plan.

Opportunity to comment on changes recommended by Planning Commission, charged with statutorily mandated update of the 2017 Town Plan.

Thursday, January 23, 6:00 p.m. – Community Forum on 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).

Thursday, February 20, 6:00 p.m.—Selectboard Informational Meeting on Australian Ballot Items.

Selectboard presentation of Australian Ballot items for voter discussion and clarification of any issues. Australian Ballots and Town Annual Report are already printed and no changes to Australian Ballot items is possible.

Monday, March 3, 6:00 p.m.—Annual School District Meeting.

School Board presentation on programs and budget; school board seats filled by Australian Ballot vote.

Tuesday, March 4, 10:00 a.m.—Annual Town Meeting.

All non-Australian Ballot items will be voted from the floor in traditional Town Meeting style. Early Australian Ballot voting begins February 12, 9:00 a.m. and ends March 4, 5:00 p.m.

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OBITUARIES

Winton Irving Goodrich Winton Irving Goodrich, a husband, father, grandfather, and educator, passed away at his home in West Berlin, Vermont, on November 29, 2024, at the age of 72. Winton was diagnosed with a brain tumor on August 29, 2024. He had surgery the Tuesday after Labor Day. The diagnosis was Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. The eternal optimist, he fought hard. Even though his prognosis was terminal, he chose radiation and two rounds of chemotherapy. With Valerie, his devoted wife of 51 years by his side, he embraced the time he had left by flying to Chicago to visit family, spending time in Maine and golfing as much as possible. Thanksgiving was spent at home with family by his side. Right before he passed, he enjoyed watching his grandchildren sled and ate Thanksgiving leftovers. He was born on December 17, 1951, the son of Sally (McCutcheon) and Walter Goodrich. He was the eldest of six sons raised on Molly Brook Farm in Cabot. Winton attended Cabot High School. It was during this time that he started playing sports. His passion for athletics and strong leadership skills led him to pursue a higher education. He attended Lyndon State College as a student athlete. His sophomore year he volunteered to lead Freshman Orientation. This is where he met his “lovely bride”, Valerie. The couple married in 1973, the year before he graduated with a B.S. in PE. Winton began his professional career at Blue Mountain Union Schools as a Health and Physical Education teacher and coach. Next, he accepted a teaching/coaching position at Northfield Middle/High school, followed by Mainstreet Middle School in Montpelier. Simultaneously, his desire to grow professionally led him to pursue a M.Ed. from UVM. This opened the door for his first administrative position as Assistant Principal at Peoples Academy. The commute from Peoples Academy took time away from family. Winton jumped at the opportunity to work closer to home at the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce building relationships between businesses and schools. Although he took a break from serving in schools, he continued to be involved in education. His next professional move was also close to home, serving as Associate Director of the Vermont School

Walter Bothfeld, Sr.

Walter Bothfeld, Sr., passed away peacefully in his home in Cabot on December 21, 2024. He was born December 22, 1926, in Shelborne, Massachusetts, and the family moved to Vermont in 1936 to the farm on Bothfeld Hill Road in Cabot. He graduated from Cabot High School in 1944 and Vermont Technical College in 1946 with a degree in Agriculture. In 1948, he married Roberta Perry. Walter was very active in his community. He served as selectman in Cabot for nine years and was a member of the County Committee for the Natural Re- Boards Association. He was able to coach his children’s sports teams and be more involved with his family. This involvement included continuous projects at the family homestead with his wife and young children. Winton had worked for the Vermont State Police during his stint at Northfield. His Snowmobile Patrol brought him to a lovely piece of property in West Berlin. He had a vision for the wooded 25 acres. Walter and Valerie cleared the land, designed and built their post and beam home. Winton’s father-in-law always said, “if you’re going to do a job, do it right”. Winton embraced this in every job he undertook. While at VSBA, Winton began the Doctor of Education program at the University of Vermont. Additionally, he was a pioneer for the Vermont School Crisis Planning Team and instrumental during their early development. In 2011, he returned to public education as an Assistant Superintendent at South Burlington Schools. His final position was serving as Superintendent at Franklin Northwest Supervisory Union. He retired in 2018. Retirement. If you knew Winton, you weren’t sure he would ever take this path. But he did and lived every day to its fullest. Together with Valerie, they spent warm days kayaking, Septembers in their pop-up camper at Hermit Island Campground in Maine and visiting with family and friends as much as possible. Winton leaves his wife, Valerie, and his two children, Hilary Goodrich, Brasstown, NC, and Garrett and wife Gina Goodrich, Hawthorn Woods, IL. Winton leaves his brothers, Glenn and wife Ruth Goodrich, Cabot, VT, Myles and wife Rhonda Goodrich, Cabot, VT, sisters-in-law, Maria Acchione, Cabot, VT, Tami Godfrey, Stowe, VT, and Ruth Godfrey, Montgomery Center, VT, and mother, Sally Goodrich, Craftsbury, VT. Winton was preceded in death by his father, Walter Goodrich, father-in-law, Wallace Godfrey, mother-in-law, Violet Godfrey, brothers, James Goodrich, Rodney Goodrich, Thomas Goodrich and brother-in-law, Peter Godfrey. Known as Pa and Grandpa, he will be greatly missed by grandchildren Ellie, Leah, and Cora Black, Brasstown, NC and Violet, Brady, and Jade Goodrich, Hawthorn Woods, IL. There will be a celebration of his life to be determined at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Winton’s name to Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, 77 Alpine Drive, Pico Mountain, Killington, VT 05751, (802) 846- 7063, www.vermontadaptive.org.

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

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Wake Boat Decision

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

In the last issue, the Chronicle covered a presentation from representatives of the Joe’s Pond Association regarding a petition to ban wake boats on Joe’s Pond and the potential of the Town of Cabot joining the petition. The board decided to hold off on making a decision until the next meeting, which occurred on December 3. Mike Hogan wasn’t present for the previous meeting, and started the discussion by saying he was aware it had been discussed. At this meeting, there were two opposing points of view presented to the board. David Kidney spoke first, as the representative of the association. David noted that he had presented the petition at the last meeting and provided a brief explanation to refresh the board on the subject. He explained how the state came up with the rules allowing wake boats to use a 54 acre parcel area of Joe’s Pond, covering most of the broad lake. David restated that the petition expresses a conflict of use with normal uses on the lake, like sailing and kayaking. He also noted that the lake is very busy and everyone wants to be on the broad part of the lake, and wake boats make the broad part of the lake unusable for normal uses. He pointed out that at the last meeting he went into much more detail on the subject, and Danville has already joined the petition. He also noted the Cabot Conservation Committee unanimously voted to recommend the Town of Cabot join the petition, and the Agency of Natural Resource (ANR) has a hearing planned for December 12. Mike asked who enforces the regulations, and David said it was up to the Fish and Wildlife Department. He also stated they were confident that their neighbors would abide by the regulations. One of those neighbors spoke next, Jim Kurrle of Meadow Lane. He said he was present to speak for the other side. He asked the board to refrain from joining the petition. Jim emphasized that ANR had conducted a lengthy process. He stated that ANR adopted rules that reflected a compromise addressing concerns about safety and environmental impacts. Jim went on to say that all Vermonters have rights to use the lakes and ponds. He said the petition proposes an outright ban which is not supported by evidence, law, or a fair representation of all Vermonters. He added that the wake boats on Joe’s Pond only make up 0.8% of the total boats on the pond. Jim stated that the claims of wake boats ruining recreational activities are exaggerated. Jim also pointed out the petition didn’t have overwhelming support of the association membership. He said, of the over 245 property owners, only 64 attended the meeting and the vote was 46 for the petition, and 18 against. Mike asked when the meeting occurred, and David told him it was around July 4th. Jim said decisions should be made by credible evidence, and not mere popularity. He said the current regulations balance safety, environmental protection and lake use. Jim said claims of shoreline erosion, water quality degradation, and invasive species spread are unsubstantiated. He spoke at length about other sporting activities which have spurred controversies in the past, and compared that to the controversy of wake boats. Karen Larsen asked Jim if he could take his wake boat to another lake, and Jim pointed out that the ANR rules require wake boats to designate a home lake. He explained that if a wake boat is transported to another lake it has to be taken to a state certified decontamination site. David responded to Jim’s counter assertions, saying that ANR said they did not consider safety when making the rules, and has invited individual lakes to petition for restrictions on wake boat usage. He emphasized that Joe’s Pond is just barely over the 50 acres minimum required for wake boat sports. David added that a wake boat needs to travel a minimum of 3000 feet to enjoy the sport. He also countered Jim’s assertion about a home lake requirement by stating ANR didn’t implement the rule for the summer of 2024. He went on to state that the issue wasn’t about the present, but the future. He said at present there are only two wake boats on the lake, but in the past there were five. He speculated that if Joe’s Pond was one of the few remaining lakes in Vermont where wake boats were permitted, then there could be 10, or maybe even 20 wake boats. Kathleen Chatot spoke about the ANR rules and said that there seems to be no reason why ANR changed the distance in the original proposed rule from 600 feet to 500 feet. She said that made the difference whether wake boat sports were permitted on Joe’s Pond. Jim countered David’s assertion about safety not being considered by ANR, and said that there were several public hearings where people complained about safety. He stated that they only go out and use the boat in wake mode when the lake is not busy. R.D. reminisced that the discussion reminds him of the debate over ATV usage of public roads in Cabot. He said that ANR made rules, but offered exceptions for petitions. R.D. told Jim that he has no reason to question his use of his wake boat responsibility. But he added that he thinks the petitioners may not feel the same. Karen states that the Selectboard needs to balance use of public space and the rights of citizens for legal use of public space. She pointed out that they did not vote on the subject at the last meeting so they could have a full discussion on the topic. Then she offered a motion for the Town of Cabot to join the petition. The board approved the motion unanimously.

Karen Larsen noted that there were two line items that made up the majority of the increase. She said one was $30,000 for a fire department sinking fund, and the other was $33,000 for the Willey Building. She added that the town appropriations also increased by about $5,000. R.D. proposed that they could make a bunch of little cuts and get substantial savings. Mike added that they were looking at what the town was getting from Rural Solutions for their computer support. Amy noted that the town signed a threeyear contract with them, and that when she added up the fees, the town was paying them $1,473.50 a month, plus anything that went beyond the contract. Mike estimated the total cost was $17,600 a year. Amy also said the actual office expense for the last fiscal year was very high, and she wasn’t sure why. She added that for the current fiscal year, they had a $7,000 budget, but have already spent $4,400. Mike said that the Ambulance asked for an additional $5,000, and suggested they could level fund them, and tell them they have to live with it. He added that the fire department submitted a budget, but Dean wasn’t sure about the accuracy of the estimated costs for the temporary building because it was new. Mike also suggested level funding the recreation committee, and that would reduce the budget by another $2,000. Mike noted that they had saved $9,000 by just “playing around”. He also asked the board if they want to spend the proposed amount on the ash borer. The board seemed unsure what the amount proposed for the ash borer was based upon. Karen said that the tree removal was $10,000 and $3,000 was training for the road crew (total $13,000). Mike suggested they reduce the total to $10,000. Karen said that would leave only $7,000 for tree removal and Fred said he didn’t think a lot of trees could be removed for that amount. R.D. said the power companies did a lot of clearing and he wasn’t sure how many ash trees remain. He also speculated that he wasn’t sure if Roland Payne, the Tree Warden, knew, either. R.D. concurred to dropping the total to $10,000. Karen asked about the jump in the Willey Building expenses. Amy said that the approved budget for fiscal year 2024 was $50,000, but the actual expense was $88,000. She said the cleaning of the (see, ’Budget Trimming’, page 6)

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Budget Trimming

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

The December 2 Selectboard budget meeting was all about trimming the proposed budget that will be voted upon at this year's Town Meeting. Mike Hogan said that he and Amy Monahan, the Town Treasurer, had worked on the budget that morning. He went on to talk about the fund balance and noted they don’t know the ramifications of flood expenses yet. He said the fund balance was at $214,000, but the auditors suggested not touching it until they know how much is needed for the current fiscal year. R.D. asked if there was a way to sequester sinking funds so they are not part of the fund balance. Mike said they are tracked as separate line items on the books, but they could ask the accountants. R.D. asked if the town was supposed to spend everything, and if they are required to apply the fund balance to the following fiscal year. Mike concurred that was true for the general town budget, but not the highway budget. He added that when they are figuring out the tax rate, they reduce the expenses by the amount of income, but the income will be less in the coming fiscal year. Mike then told the board that the current proposed budget was an $86,000 increase over last year, which was about a 4.6% increase. Amy said the money from the sale of the Masonic Hall occurred in the last fiscal year, since they received the check on April 1, 2024. She said the income for the current fiscal year is $63,000. R.D. spoke about school taxes increasing by 5.9% on top of a potential town increase of 4.5% and said that would be painful. The school tax increase mentioned by R.D. was a projection from the state for the average increase across the state. At the time of this meeting, the Cabot School Board has not determined the projected tax rate for the coming year. R.D. then noted that the library expense was more than the Fire Department budget. He suggested they have the library trustees back for another discussion. He noted that they are not setting the librarian’s salary, but just the total for the budget and the trustees can allocate it however they want. Fred Ducharme pointed out that the board has tried to reduce the library budget before, and the trustees petition for an article to make up the shortfall, which the voters have always passed.

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Draft School Budget

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

Mike Concessi, business manager at the Caledonia Central Supervisory Union (CCSU), presented the administration's budget proposal to the School Board at their November 25 regular meeting. Mike started first by covering the SU budget before delving into the Cabot School budget. He stated that the SU budget was $14,000,000, noting that they pay a lot of bills, many of which are statutory. Mike explained that the SU does not raise tax revenue because the school districts have the taxing authority. He added that every dollar the SU spends is reimbursed by the federal or state government, or is billed back to the individual school districts. Mike described that every year, he waits for the actuals, and if too much was charged to a school he returns the extra as a refund. If he doesn't charge enough, he has to charge the deficit to the individual schools. Mike explained that typically happens when special education costs increase because a new student moves into town. He then noted the actual amount of the proposed budget for the SU was $13,893,034, of which about $10 million is special education costs. Mike said that they receive money for special education from the state in two forms. The first is the Act 173 consensus block which is gradually being decreased every year at about $100,000 a year. Mike added that the second source of special education funds come from the Act 173 Extraordinary Reimbursement grant. He described that as when there are children with higher needs, exceeding $68,000 per year. Mike explained his interpretation as the state saying they are giving the schools less and less general help, but if the school has higher needs children, they will give some extra money. Chris Tormey asked how the state determines the amount of the block grant. Mike responded with an explanation about using a two year spending amount based upon the number of students. He then divides the grant to the different schools in the SU based upon the number of students on individual education plans (IEPs). Chris asked if the $100,000 decrease is because the number of students is decreasing across the SU. Mike affirmed his supposition but noted that they are getting more money from the Extraordinary Reimbursement grants and the SU is about breaking even. Mike then said that the total special education costs that aren’t covered by grants and reimbursements is $4,048,890, which is assessed to the individual school districts. He said that Cabot’s special education share was $22,964, which is down over $50,000. He said the administration made some tough decisions, looking at caseloads and IEPs to make sure resources are appropriately stacked. He said they were able to save the equivalent of 11 Full Time Employees (FTE) across all the schools. Chris asked if there were any positions cut? Mike said they only made the equivalent of 0.5 FTE cut to staffing, adding that it was just a redefinition of the number of teachers that provide services. Mike then said that there is a new facility director that has to be at the SU level according to the state. He explained that it didn’t mean Cabot was losing a facilities staff, it just meant that they had to share the staff with other schools. Mike further explained that it looks like a FTE was being added, but it's really a shuffling of positions. Then Mike gave the news to the board, he said that the budget is looking like it will be a flat budget. He mentioned he has never been able to present a flat budget to the Cabot Board in the last 12 years. Mike noted that there were collective bargaining increases and health care increases. But he added that assessments are down by over $50,000, and the school doesn’t have a deficit loan anymore. He said that with the same budget amount as last year, they are able to increase the amount being put towards repairs. Mike added that the boiler is up and running, so they won’t have to have the additional expense for fuel oil. Chris noted that the big “0” for the debt service line item, and the fact food service is down by $215,000 is making the difference in the budget. Mike explained that $100,000 of that amount is because he is not anticipating a deficit because the boiler is working. He also reminded the board of the deficit note that they had to take when food service racked up a debt which was stuck in the old books for when Cabot was in the Washington Northeast Supervisory Union (WNESU). Ellen noted to the board that the state is reinstating the excess spending threshold and heard it might be in the $16.000 range. She asked Mike if he knew what Cabot’s per pupil cost would be for the budget. Mike said that they are waiting for the numbers from the state. He explained that the per pupil cost is based upon the Average Daily Membership (ADM) set by the state. Ellen said last year the per pupil cost was in the $13,000 range, and Mike agreed that he didn’t think Cabot would reach the penalty level. Chris asked about the small things they were able to include in the budget this year. Mike said he could review the items that were over $10,000. The first time he mentioned extracurricular leadership stipends. He said they should have been in the budget last year but had to be cut and there is $15,000 in the proposed budget. Jennifer Blake, the principal, explained that the stipends were centered around team leadership, mentoring, and other such things critical to the school. Mike also said administration increased the professional development tuition line item by $10,000. He noted that there are a lot of new teachers, and Jennifer said they need to take classes to (see, ’Draft School Budget’, page 7)

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Flood Recovery Stipends

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

The board discussed the possibility of giving stipends to Dean Deasy, Peg Elmer Hough, and Gary Gulka, who volunteered a large amount of time towards the flood recovery efforts. At the December 3 meeting, R.D. Eno explained that Peg and Gary have written a number of grant applications and have spent a lot of time working on the flood resilience task force. He added that in Dean’s case, Dean neglected his private business to look after town business. R.D. recommended awarding them $1,000 each in the current fiscal year. He felt there was enough cash on hand to cover the stipends. Mike Hogan said that it was a loaded topic. He agreed that everyone worked their butts off for the last two floods, but to him it was an equity thing. He felt that many people could be given a stipend, and that he would love to give Dean even more money. He stated that he personally knows how much Dean put aside on his business. Mike added that he wasn’t sure the timing was right since they had a budget meeting the previous night where they were trying to reduce the town’s budget for the 2026 fiscal year. R.D. stated that their reverence for volunteerism will only take them so far. He added that the extraordinary amount of time Dean, Peg and Gary put in for the town service represent special circumstances. He added that if people put in that amount of time, the town might consider making it a practice to recognize them. Mike noted that last year the board added stipends to the fire department budget to recognize the amount of time the members put into their efforts. But he added that he was not sure what the town would think of giving these three a stipend. R.D. pointed out that the board had previously talked about hiring a grant writer, and noted that they got the serthe town had a $200,000 deficit vote, most people hammered on the reduction of the special appropriations. The board then discussed using some of the fund balance to help reduce the budget, and R.D. said if they took the savings they already suggested and applied $30,000 of the fund balance to the sinking fund, they could save $50,000. Mike agreed that would bring them down to a small difference. R.D. suggested he inquire if the CCA would assume the $3,000 expense to support Cabot Arts and the Cheese and Culture Festival. (R.D. is a board member of both the CCA and Cabot Arts). Karen asked the board what they should do about the request from the Fairbanks Museum. R.D. suggested they have them petition for an article. After discussing FEMA and the future use of the temporary building, the board asked Amy about delinquent taxes and she said the total was currently $186,000.

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Community Contra Dance on Jan. 10

by Karen Mueller-Harder

On Friday, January 10, come celebrate the new year at the Cabot Community Contra Dance, featuring the friendly calling of Don Stratton! The dance takes place in the lovely third floor space in the Willey Building (Cabot Town Hall, 3084 Main St), from 7-9:30 pm. Live music is provided by 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. We use genderless terminology and 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.

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Draft School Budget

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

(continued from page 6) become licensed. Mike then said he added legal fees, which were removed last year from the budget. He explained show that the decrease would be 6.7%). Chris asked why the LTADM number had been reduced by the state. Matt responded that the explanation he was given was that the number had been “better scrubbed”. What that meant, he wasn’t sure. Then Matt proposed an idea of including the $500,000 in the budget to avoid taking a loan and paying the additional interest, and edited the spreadsheet to show the effects. The tax rate changed to $1.39. Chris said that would be a 5 cent increase. Chris expressed that he would prefer going to the town with a tax decrease. He said that he hadn’t seen a school tax decrease in decades. The discussion then turned to the income sensitive tax rate and the nonresidential tax rate. The income sensitive tax rate (for incomes between $47,000 and $90,000) was calculated to be 2.33% of income. Chris noted that was a 16% decrease from last year’s rate of 2.76% of income. The tax rate for incomes below $47,000 is set by the state and remains 2.0% of income. Cabot has typically been one of the few towns where the non-residential tax rate has been lower than that residential tax rate, but in the presented calculations that appeared to no longer be true. The projected non-residential tax rate was shown to be $1.34, 9 cents higher than the residential tax rate. Matt reminded the board that 69% of Cabot households pay based upon the income sensitive tax rates. The state adjusts tax bills for income sensitive tax rates by issuing rebates to the town to pay part of the tax bill. The adjustment is based upon the individual tax forms filed by the household. The board decided to wait until early January to approve the budget since some of the numbers might change in the coming weeks. Matt expressed that the state often changes the numbers and has even done so after all the schools in the state have finalized their budget.

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Draft School Tax Rate

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

The School Board held their regular meeting a week earlier than normal due to the Christmas Holiday. At this meeting the administration presented a projected tax rate based upon the numbers they had been receiving from the state, which had been changed just hours before the meeting. Matt Foster, the CCSU Superintendent, presented the budget and tax information due to a scheduling conflict that prevented Mike Concessi, the CCSU Business Manager, from attending. Matt explained that the numbers in the slide were based upon what they had received from the state, which had just been changed earlier in the day. He said the biggest change they received that day was a decrease in the Long-Term Average Daily Membership (LTADM), which replaced the equalized pupil count last year. This number is used to calculate the per pupil cost. He said that Mike had to increase the budget by $30,000 to account for two updates to the draft budget; the first being a $20,000 payment to pay off the loan on the wood boiler and the later being an additional $10,000 to account for interest payments on the $500,000 loan approved last year by the voters. Matt then shared that based upon an LTADM of 313.88, the education spending per pupil was projected to be $14,285. The excess spending threshold set by the state is expected to be $15,927. He went on to talk about the chart that shows how the tax rate was calculated using a CLA of 96% and concluded with noting the projected homestead residential tax rate would be 1.25. The charts showed last year’s tax rate based upon numbers from before the reappraisal and did not reflect the actual tax rate issued by the town. Chris Tormey commented that last year’s tax rate was $1.34 after the reappraisal, and said that meant there would be a 7.5% decrease in taxes (calculations that these types of expenses have to be budgeted because they occur regardless. He went on to explain that $34,000 were added for non-technical repairs and property services. Mike said that in the past there was never enough room in the budget to include money for repairs.

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Farmers Invited to Gather ALL WELCOME

A meeting for Cabot and area farmers will be held Thursday, January 16, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., at the Willey Building (town hall), 3084 Main Street, Cabot, VT. Jessica Hayes Lucas, Grassroots Organizer for the Northeast Organic Farmers Association, NOFA VT, will hear from you and share strategies to be presented to the upcoming legislature, helping ALL VT FARMS with immediate resources after a climate or environmental disaster. Gregg Burtt, Representative-elect, who is a Cabot farmer, will be with us to hear your concerns, and carry them directly to the State House. Let’s give him a strong welcome and send him with our support. Vermont is iconic because of our farms, the backbone of our economy and way of life. They hold generational wisdom, a work ethic to be desired, critical thinking our children need to learn, and provide an economy that reaches far beyond vegetables. From Christmas trees to maple syrup, and the woods also heat our homes. Fields and pastures for cows producing beef, milk, cheese, and other by-products. Lamb, turkeys, chickens, herbs, honey and medicinals, as well as fruits and berries that fill our bellies. Rivers and streams flowing with fish, their banks rich with greens to forage, mushrooms, and wild game abound. Just imagine all the by-products artistically created from them. Our economy depends on how well our farms produce before, during and after climate and environmental disasters. It affects us all! Financial support from the State level is critical, keeping farms resilient in climate disasters. You are encouraged to come as a farmer, maker or consumer. Voice your concerns, and support. Climate and environmental disasters are affecting all of us and together we can protect our families’ futures! You are welcome to RSVP nofavt.org/events Hosted by Sandy Pond ~ 802 917 8883 ~ Back Roads Farm LLC Cabot Vt.

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ADVICE FROM THE TREE WARDEN

The new year will bring new problems and challenges for each of us to prepare for and manage as we encounter them. Our trees face similar challenges each year, varying with the seasons. Due to climate change, these challenges now occur year-round. In the summer months, we experience droughts or extended periods of very wet weather. Sometimes, these extremes happen within the same summer, as if a switch was flipped, transitioning from drought conditions to heavy rains or heavy rain to drought conditions. In recent years, we have experienced similar events during the winter months. For example, between December 10 and December 11, there was knee-deep snow followed by heavy rains, reducing the snowpack to about one-third of its original depth, causing flooding in some areas. These fluctuations are manageable if short-lived but can cause problems for our trees if warming persists for extended periods at this time of year. During the winter months, trees should be dormant and remain so until late March or early April. In Spring and Fall, the extremes can be even more severe, with warm weather followed by heavy frost in just a matter of days. If the trees have started to grow leaves and a frost occurs, the stress on the trees is significantly worse. As you probably know, climate change is having a profound impact on our trees. Forest trees are somewhat better off in most cases than trees in yards and green spaces. These trees also contend with some additional challenges such as plowing and high salinity due to road salt, which can have detrimental and lasting effects. It’s important to be mindful of leaving snow cover around trees when plowing to protect the roots and reduce how deep the frost penetrates the ground. Also, there’s the obvious hazard of hitting the trees with plowing equipment. Treat the trees in your yard well and they will provide years of shade, comfort, and beauty to enjoy throughout the year.

Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year!

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Town Officer List

OFFICER TERM EXPIRES

Appointed by Selectboard 2025 Ballot and require petitions signed by only one percent of registered voters (about 12), certified by the Town Clerk, filed with the Town Clerk by 5 p.m. Monday, January 27, 2025.

These town positions are currently filled with the individuals listed below, and those with terms expiring are highlighted in yellow. Selectboard and School Board positions are elected by Australian OFFICER APPOINTED BY SELECTBOARD Moderator

Town Clerk Town Treasurer

Selectpersons NAME Jeanne Johnson

Betty Ritter Amy Monaco Michael Hogan, Chair TERM EXPIRES

2025

2026 Appointed

2027 Water/Wastewater Administrator Pound Keeper Animal/Dog Control Officer

Fence Viewers Inspector of Coal, Wood Lumber, Shingles Tree Warden Fire Warden Cheryl McQueeney

David Pike Fred Ducharme, Vice Chair 2026

R. D. Eno, Clerk

Walter (Skip) Bothfeld, Jr. 2026

Karen Larsen

Brittany Butler

Jeanne Johnson

Jacqueline Lumbra Listers Grand Juror

Cemetery Commissioners Dave Pike 2025

2026

2025

2026 2025 Health Officer Town Energy Coordinator 5-year term – 2027 3-year term – 2025 7 members, 3year terms Brittany Butler

Glenn Goodrich

Betty Ritter

7 members, 1year terms Susan Carpenter

Stephen Hogan

Wolfgang Krutak

Cedric Alexander 2027 2025

2025

2026

2025

2026

Chris Tormey, Vice Chair 2025

Erica Fucello

Alicia Heber

Jason Monaco

Kurt Steinert, Chair

Grace Hoffman

Niall McCallum

Angela Ogle

Erin Ruddell School Directors Library Trustees Melvin Churchill, Chair Cedrick Alexander

Deb Bothfeld

Ruth Goodrich

Angela Ward

Ellen Cairns, Chair 2025

2027

2026

2027

2025

2025

2026

2026

Non-Term Chris Duff Road Commissioner Vacant

Town Attorney Tarrant, Gillies & Shems, LLP District Representative Greg Burtt

Regional Planning Committee Representative Emergency Management Coordinator Newspaper Brittany Butler Recreation Committee Stefanie Burtt, Chair Cameron North, Vice Chair Non-Term

Brandy Goodrich, Secretary Non-Term

Brock Miller, Treasurer

Jessica North, Coordinator Non-Term

Mary Saggerson

Shannon Smith Willey Building Committee Melvin Churchill Jason Monaco

Brad Alexander Fred Ducharme

Dan Dunham Non-Term

Non-Term 2025 2026

2026 2027

Appointed by Library NEKWMC Representative NEKWMD Rep. Alternate Vacant Barre Times Argus & Caledonian Record Betty Ritter R. D. Eno Cabot Chronicle

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NAME Dana Robinson Paul Wade Cabot Town Clerk/Treasurer Cheryl McQueeney Ruth Goodrich

Glenn Goodrich Anson Tebbetts Roland Payne, Jr. Andrew Luce R.D. Eno, Acting Michael Socks Zoning Administrator Brittany Butler Planning Commission Bobby Searles, Chair Development Review Board Conservation Committee Master of Colors Dawn Andrews

Kate Chatot

Peg Elmer Hough Jeanne Johnson, Chair Brad Alexander

Larry Gochey

Kempton Randolph

Gary Gulka Dawn Andrews

Roland Payne, Jr.

Bill Wheeler

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Auditions for

by Karen Mueller-Harder

Cabot Community Theater is seeking talented performers for our May 8-11 performance of The Little Mermaid! We need kids, teens, and adults for parts both large and small! We will 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 held in the Cabot School Performing Arts Center, 25 Common Road, Cabot (just behind the main school building) from 2-5 on Sunday, January 5 and 1-5 on Saturday, January 11. We are asking people to sign up for a one-hour slot at https://bit.ly/cctmermaid (though if you are not interested in a solo role, you will probably only need to stay for a half hour or so). If your child is auditioning without a parent present, please make sure they have all relevant contact information with them. Please prepare a song you feel comfortable singing; if you don’t want a solo part, you can sing with a family member if you wish. Accompaniment is available if you bring sheet music. We’ll also want to see how you move, so wear or bring shoes you can dance in. Anyone interested in a lead role will also be asked to read from the script. Everyone who auditions will be included in the show in some way, but we want to have a chance to see and listen to everyone. Rehearsals will begin in late January, and be largely on weekend afternoons, with some early evening weeknight rehearsals (though not for younger kids). Some major lead roles will be shared by multiple performers, to give more people the chance to have a big part, and those people may have two or three rehearsals per week, while smaller leads might have one or two, and chorus members will average one rehearsal each weekend. The rehearsal schedule will be determined after casting. Be sure to bring to auditions a complete list of your commitments and conflicts through May 11--we can probably work around your availability, but only if we have all the information at the outset! If you have questions or are unable to make any of the available slots, or you’re interested in helping out with sets, costumes, or props, email [email protected] vt.org. And be sure to catch the 2025 CCT Mummers’ Play at the Cabot Twelfth Night Celebration, on Saturday, January 4 at 4:00 pm on the Cabot Common! The full schedule of family-friendly, free activities can be found at: cabotarts.org.

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12th Night Cabot Trails Scavenger Hunt!

by Gary Gulka In collaboration with Cabot Arts, the Cabot Trails Committee is sponsoring a scavenger hunt for kids of all ages on the McQueeney Trials as a kickoff to the 12th Night activities on Saturday, January 4. Join us between 10:00 am and 11:30 am at the McQueeney Trails trailhead on Cabot Plains Road – near the old historic schoolhouse and the junction with Bayley Hazen Rd. Look for the check-in tent and park along the road as directed by volunteers. Complimentary hot chocolate will be available. All participants will get a sticker, a small prize, and a complimentary raffle ticket to win a $75 gift certificate to Woodbury Toys in Montpelier. The winner will be announced at 1:00 pm at the Willey Building. All children must be accompanied by an adult. See cabotarts.org for more information.

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School District No. 3, Lower Cabot

Col. John Stone was the first to settle in the area that would become known as Lower Cabot, or locally as “the lower village.” Col. Stone arrived in Cabot in 1797 and chose a spot on the Winooski River about three miles north from Marshfield village where he built a mill and a home. Stone and his wife Betsy Huntoon of Kingston, NH, had seven sons and three daughters. Four of their sons became Congregational ministers. Stone was a distinguished soldier who served in the 1st. regiment, 3rd brigade 4th division of the Vermont militia. In 1823 he and Elihu Coburn each donated one acre of land for a cemetery. Col. Stone died on February 20, 1856, and Betsy died two days later. They were buried together in the same grave. A tall granite obelisk marks their final resting place in Durant Cemetery. Elihu Coburn arrived on horseback in 1799 and built one of the first frame houses in town, not far from Col. Stone’s small mill. The cleared land near the river was soon transformed into a fertile valley where Coburn farmed, raised a family, and ran a popular inn known as “Farmer’s Tavern.” That farm later became the Gould farm, and the valley was known as “Coburn’s Flat” and later “Gould’s Flat.” Lower Cabot was a bustling community by the late 1800s and early 1900s. Hector McLean opened a store in 1825 and later started a potash business. He also had a blacksmith shop and in 1836, a hotel. In 1870 a post office was opened in the community with Cornelius Smith postmaster. By 1881 there were 30 dwellings, a wheelwright shop, several mills and associated businesses, and a large woolen factory in the Lower Village. There were two churches, the First Adventist Church, built in 1957 about across from West Hill Pond Road, and for a short time there was a Baptist church by the road to Southwest Hill. The Baptist church was never really finished and never had regular services like the Adventist Church did. It became Paquin’s Pain Shop and eventually was torn down around 1930.

Lower Cabot view from Ducharme Road looking NE c. 1907. Photo courtesy of the Cabot Oral History Committee.

Lower Cabot School, c. 1910. Photo courtesy of the Cabot Oral History Committee.

B.F. Davis Store, Lower Cabot; c. 1890. Photo courtesy of the Cabot Oral History Committee.

The Winooski River supplied power for the Hanes woolen mill. This very large mill processed wool cloth from bales of raw wool that was washed in river water on the lower level of the factory and then moved to the upper level where it was spun into yarn and loaded onto bobbins ready for the looms. Women were employed to run the looms, weaving various weights of cloth for everything from fine soft shawls to rugged wool work pants for men. When sheep farming was no longer profitable, the mill closed and the building stood vacant for several years. When Horace Haines sold the mill, it was converted into a sawmill and wood-working shop where butter boxes and other wood products were manufactured. The building burned in June 1925.

There were several sawmills operating in Lower Cabot in the early 1900s. Harry Clark took down the old Baptist Church building and built a small sawmill on the site of the former Haine’s mill. Local builder True Town had a large sawmill and cabinet shop that was later owned by Fowler Ford and his son, Walter. Another Lower Cabot builder, Bud Bruce, owned it when it burned in 1936. There were smaller mills on Jug Brook and at West Hill Pond. The first mercantile business in Lower Cabot was located opposite the cemetery. The store was built by a man named Oaks and operated there for some 60 years by John Edgerton, Mr. Ketcham, and others. The first school building in the lower village was located on the south side of the road to West Hill Pond. It was replaced in about 1874 by a new building, complete with a belfry, near Ducharme Road. Not everyone in town was in favor of a new two-story school building, and hearing the bell was a constant reminder of the battle lost, which resulted in the bell disappearing one night. Nobody knew where it was or who was responsible for taking it. Many years later, the bell was found at the bottom of a nearby mill pond. Rev. Fred Blodgett, a former student, wrote glowingly of those who graduated from the District 3 school over the years, among them Burnham Coburn, a New York businessman; brothers Walter and Seldon Smith, who both graduated from Dartmouth College, one became a lawyer and the other a partner in Ginn & Co. Publishing; their sister Pansy Smith went on to hold a prominent position at Ginn & Co.; Prof. George N. McDaniel was a Harvard graduate; Prof. Wilfred E. Davison became Dean of English at Middlebury College; Prof. Archie W. Stone became an author and principal at Derby Academy; Dr. Carl W. Fisher became a veterinarian; Fisher’s brother Dean was an officer and director in the General Ice Cream Co.; Dr. Carl Harvey became a surgeon ; Prof. Abbie (Smith) Babbitt graduated from Boston University and got her Ph.D. from Columbia; Royce Pitkin became president of Goddard College; the Haines brothers, Carleton and Gerald, both became surgeons; and there were others – teachers, ministers, and other professionals who all received a solid elementary school education at District 3. The late Jennie (Smith) Donaldson taught at Lower Cabot in the early 1930s. She recalled in an interview for Cabot, Vermont, A Collection of Memories of the Century Past, published in 1999 that she taught 40 students in six grades one year. She told about the hot lunches that parents provided for the students. A different mother made lunch for the children each day. Those were depression Main Street, Lower Cabot. Photo courtesy of the Cabot Oral History Committee.

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

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Jaquith Public Library Upcoming Events

All events are free and held at the Jaquith Library unless noted otherwise. For more info: 802-426-3581 or visit our website: www.jaquithpubliclibrary.org

Puzzle Competition Saturday, January 4 from 10:30 am

We have 5 identical puzzles. Sign up your team to compete! Team size maximum is 5 people. Registration is required. Please call or email to sign-up. Whichever team finishes first wins a $50 gift certificate to Positive Pie in Plainfield.

Gardeners’ Summit and Potluck Sunday, January 12 from 1 to 3 pm

Join other gardeners and growers to discuss the challenges faced in our changing climate. Swap advice, share what is working for you now and what isn’t. Bring a dish made with something harvested from your garden to share and taste.

Friends Pasty Party and Meeting Saturday, January 25 at 11 am

A bite-sized brunch will be served, and attendees can sign up to help support spring fundraising events, order a Friends of the Jaquith Library T-shirt, and more. Open to all current and prospective Friends.

Stop the Bleed: Bleeding Control

Monday, January 20 from 6 to 8:30

This free one-hour class is designed to teach the skills needed to save a life if bleeding occurs. Different methods of controlling bleeding and providing immediate lifesaving assistance will be learned. The course is capped at 12 people. If you are interested or have any questions, please reach out: [email protected].

Jaquith Public Library’s Annual Invitational Group Art Show Mid-January through Mid-April

Join us in a celebration of Marshfield’s local art scene with local artists. All of these artists have shown before at the Jaquith Library. This eclectic exhibit is representative of each individual’s personal subject matter and choice of medium. The exhibit may be viewed during regular library hours. Opening Reception T.B.A.

Monthly Book Group for Adults Fourth Mondays 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

Chapters in History Book Group Second Saturdays of the Month Starting in February at 2:00 pm

The public is encouraged to participate in this free reading and discussion series of presidential biographies. Books are available for loan from the library.

January 11 Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President by Candace Millard (winner of the Edgar Award in 2012)

February 10 Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President by Candace Millard (winner of the Edgar Award in 2012).

A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency of Grover Cleveland by Troy Senik

Winter Story Time and Playgroup Wednesdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

For children birth to age six and their grown-ups. We follow the Twinfield Union School calendar and do not hold the program the days Twinfield is closed.

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Seed Storage

It’s that time of year…the seed catalogs have arrived, and it’s time to submit your order for veggies, herbs, and flowers. While buying seeds is a good use of your hard-earned money (in my opinion, anyway), you don’t have to buy all your seeds fresh each season. While some seed types do have a naturally short life, others can be used for years.

Seeds you can store:

Long term storage (2-5+ years):

 Kale, mustard, radish, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, rutabaga, turnip (crucifer family) Cucumber, squash, melon (squash family) Tomatoes, eggplant, peppers (nightshade family) Chard, beets, spinach (amaranth family) Lavender, lemon balm, sage, thyme, oregano, basil (mint family) Carrot, celery, dill (carrot family) Corn (grass family) Sunflower, lettuce (aster family) Short term storage (1-2 years):  

   Green beans, dry beans, peas (pea family)

Seeds to buy fresh each year:

 Onions, shallots, chives, leeks (onion family) Parsnip, parsley (carrot family)

I’ve grouped plants by their families, because in most cases, closely related plants will have similar seed storage viability. That said, parsnip and parsley (carrot family) have very short seed viability, and carrots, celery, and dill (also carrot family) have long seed viability. Why? I don’t know. Plants are complex and fascinating, and there is always more to learn!

Storing seed To keep your seeds alive, keep them dry and cool. The refrigerator or freezer is the best place, in sealed glass jars or good quality plastic bags. If you’re fortunate to have a cool dry basement, that can also work. When heading out to the garden, only take the seeds you need. Keep the packets closed and dry, and don’t leave them in the sun. As soon as you are done, put them away. If you leave them somewhere “just for a minute”, there’s a good chance they will be forgotten, and exposed to heat and rain. By the time they are re-discovered, they will be of no use.

Testing seed

If you’re ever in doubt of seed viability (like after you accidentally left them out in the garden “just for a minute”) you can use the paper towel test. Dampen a paper towel, just evenly moist, not dripping wet. Spread several seeds on it, and cover with a second damp towel. Place in a sealed container so it can’t dry out. Label the container with the date, and seed type. Check seeds after four or five days. If no sprouts occur, give them another four or five days. If there still aren’t sprouts, they are most likely dead, and you’ll need to get a fresh supply. Enjoy your seed catalogs, take good care of your seeds, and happy gardening!

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 the Garden Goddess page at www.SocksFamily Farm.weebly.com, email [email protected], or call 802.498.7785.

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Cabot School Project-Based Learning Night January 21

Please join us on Tuesday evening January 21 at 6:00 PM for an introduction to what project-based learning looks like this year at Cabot School. A light dinner will be served in the cafeteria starting at 6:00 PM, and at 6:30 a panel of teachers and students will present and answer questions there about how PBL works. From 7:00 to 7:30 both middle- and high school students will be presenting what they’ve learned from their first-semester projects in a variety of forms.

This event is sponsored by the Cabot School Sustainability Committee, as part of our ongoing efforts to educate Cabot residents and the broader community about the diverse learning experiences taking place at the school. We hope that you can join us on January 21.

Chris Tormey Cabot School Sustainability Committee

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Celebrate National Mentoring Month

…with Mid-Winter BINGO Fun! Come One, Come All!

January is National Mentoring Month, and to celebrate, the Cabot Mentoring Program is hosting a Community Bingo Night on Saturday, January 18 from 4 to 6pm in the Willey Building Auditorium. This is a family event and all ages are invited! We’ll have popcorn and apple cider and there will be prizes! For more information please email: [email protected]. See you there!

Mark Christensen

The beginning of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 14.

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Reprinted from Cabot School Newsletter of December 20: From the Cabot School Board

We are pleased to share some exciting news! The board accepted the recommendation from Superintendent Matt Foster and unanimously approvedoffering a two-year contract to our principal, Dr. Jennifer Blake. The board and administration have been extremely impressed with Dr. Blake's performance as our interim principal. Our superintendent also conducted a survey of the Cabot staff regarding our current administration, and the results were overwhelmingly positive. We feel very fortunate that Dr. Blake has agreed to continue the great work she has started here at Cabot. Please join me in congratulating Jennifer on this well-deserved selection. We look forward to her leadership and the continued positive impact she will have on our school community.

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