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The Cabot Chronicle

January 2026 · 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 2026 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

Meet New NIA Executive Director Cyndy Phillips

by Jeanne Johnson Cabot Chronicle (CC): As a new face at Neighbors in Action, can you tell us a little about yourself and what you bring to the job?

(Cyndy Phillips (CP): I have a marketing company - I have a high-tech background - web development, commercial photography. I’ve lived in central Florida almost 40 years, moved up north in 2018 because we didn’t have anyone in Florida anymore – why would you live there if you didn’t have to? Most of the businesses I support are in Florida, but I can work anywhere. My husband was in Germany with the Army for twenty years in communication, now works for the Department of Defense. He loved Germany but now runs the largest educational program in the Veterans Administration for employees, but he can do that anywhere. We each have friends who encouraged us to consider moving to Vermont. Our daughter is an artist, and she chose to move with us. We came and visited - it took one trip to decide; five subsequent trips to find a house. We fell in love with the NEK - either it’s for you or it isn’t – it’s what it was like to live in the 80s. I’ve lived in rural areas before, I know what it’s like to travel an hour and a half to get groceries. The Kingdom is not rural; it is underdeveloped. We have technology, we just choose whether to use it or not. I really like it here. I was born in New York in Huntington, Long Island; a new company named Signa took my parents to Florida. We lived in central Florida for close to 40 years. Now it’s so populated you can’t even move anymore. Forty years ago, I used to have cows stop me when I was trying to go to school. I was in high school in 1996 and I was late in my senior year three or four times because there were cows in the middle of the road. In the area where I grew up there are now 21 new home developments. And it's not just Disney - it’s University of Central Florida, the largest college in the US. And what do we do when we go to college? We stay where we graduate. So companies started moving down because the talent pool is there. It just grew and grew. I used to pack out to the wilds of the Everglades for two weeks to hunt, hike and camp. That’s all closed down now – it’s not my Florida anymore. I was fine to leave. It’s just not the same place. And catastrophic weather is getting greater and greater. I’ll take a snowstorm. We live in North Danville village – almost ended up in seven or eight other places in the NEK, but no one had high speed internet. North Danville is delightful, gorgeous, idyllic; I’ve rollerskated down the middle of the street in a moo-moo. My daughter moved up with us, now lives in St. J and works at Frame Dames. She’s a townie.

CC: What prompted you to take time away from your business to do this?

CP: I’m part time. I was doing hospice work. I’m doing caretaking and I had a client that was food insecure, and so my friend Kerry said, “I’ve been working with this organization, Neighbors in Action, you should sign up and go get food boxes.” That sounded great. My daughter works full-time, has her own apartment, has her own car, but in the past year has noticed more and more that she was buying - I never want to say the word “unhealthy” - but maybe food that wasn’t the best choice for her because she couldn’t afford anything else. Because she is right under the poverty line, I signed her up for a food box. So, I was going to Greensboro because we have a satellite out there. I was picking up food boxes and I kept telling them, “I love (see, ‘Cyndy Phillips’, page 3)

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OBITUARY

Jane E. Fitzpatrick passed away peacefully at home in Barre, Vermont, on Friday, November 21, 2025, after a long illness. She was 87. Jane was born on April 11, 1938, in Northvale, New Jersey, to Douglas and Dorothy Zabriskie. She attended high school in Closter, New Jersey, and upon graduation worked at Lederle Laboratories in Pearl River, New York. During High School Jane met her future husband, Brendan Fitzpatrick, at a local ice cream shop. After two years they married and started a family in Dumont, New Jersey. After relocating to River Vale, New Jersey, Jane owned a ceramic store in Park Ridge, New Jersey, where she provided personalized guidance for participants to create their own pieces. In 1973, Jane sold her ceramic shop, and the family left New Jersey and relocated to Cabot, Vermont. While living in Vermont, Jane was employed at Cabot School as the school Secretary and later as the Docket Clerk at the Vermont State Supreme Court. After 17 years at the Supreme Court, Jane retired and she and her husband settled in Florida for 17 years before ultimately relocating back to Vermont.

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Cabot Garage Buyout Progress

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

Gary Gulka, chair of the Flood Resiliency Task Force, and Emily Lewis, a representative of contractor DuBois & King, presented the results of the study to find relocation sites for the Cabot Garage at the December 16 meeting of the Selectboard. Gary reminded the board that the task force had made the announcement that the town had been awarded the grant to replace the bridge across the north tributary. Then he noted that the project had been separated from the project to replace the culverts on the south tributary that run under Main Street. He recalled that the town had received a grant from Vermont Emergency Management to buy out the Cabot Garage property, the first step in the project to replace the culverts with a bridge. Gary said that part of the buyout was for the owner of the building to be compensated for the appraised value. If the relocation is successful, he stated, then the bridge project could proceed. But he emphasized that the town has not received funding for that project. He noted that they have applied for FEMA funding and hoped that the subtraction of the north tributary bridge project from the request made it more likely it would be approved. He then told the board that the task force hired DuBois & King to do a desk Dale recalled that the other day he was sitting on his couch and heard the guy coming. He said the guy went by at 50, and later that day, the same rig went the other way. He said the guy was right on his neighbor's “ass” and then passed his neighbor. He said his neighbor made a motion to get out his phone to take a picture and the guy turned around and confronted his neighbor. Dale said the guy asked if his neighbor had a problem with him and also said he had a gun. He said it's a white Tahoe, or something like that. Mike said it's an issue the county is facing, there aren't enough deputies. He added that there is a shortage of state police too. He speculated that even if they doubled the budget for sheriff patrols, there wouldn’t be any difference. Amy Monahan said that there was about $8,000 in the budget for the sheriff’s office. Betty Ritter said the deputies don’t see anyone speeding when they come out. She noted that they now have a vehicle that doesn’t look like a police car. Frank Kampf asked about speed cameras, and Betty said they have been looking at that with the sheriff’s department.

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 5 onward.

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Speeding Concerns

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

Public comment at the December 2 meeting turned into a discussion about speeding in the village. Dale Brown spoke up about speeding in a small town and noted that he lives directly across from the school. He said that people are doing 40 or 50 mph in the school zone. Dale added that even when kids are crossing the street, people are not doing 25. He said that he watched kids step into the crosswalk while looking at their phones. Dale expressed gratefulness that no one has been hit yet, and added that he didn’t know the answer. He relayed that he spoke with a friend at the Washington County Sheriff's office and they said they want to do more, but that funds are limited. Mike Hogan stated that they have had a lot of discussions about speeding. Fred Ducharme said the bottom line is that they are not spending enough on the Sheriffs. He said the town needs to spend 4-5 times the amount they have budgeted, noting that the kids are spacing, looking at their phone and not paying attention to traffic. Fred then turned to Dale to encourage him to tell the board about the guy in the pickup.

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Finalizing Town Budget

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

December 1

The Selectboard held several more meetings to finalize the draft budget. The first of these meetings was on December 1, where the board reviewed budget requests from the Highway Department, Emergency Management, the Conservation Committee, the Flood Resiliency Task Force, and the Cemetery Commission. The board also heard the appropriation requests from the CCA and the Cabot Chronicle. First up was the highway budget. Mike Hogan told the board that Sid had met with Amy Monahan earlier in the day, and asked Sid to review the budget changes. Sid said that garage maintenance was raised from $3,000 to just under $13,000. He added that they got an estimate for the salt shed door to replace the canvas that is currently being used. Sid said the wind often blows the canvas aside and the salt gets wet. Sid said he would prefer to build another salt shed, and noted that the original plans called for a 40’ x 50’ salt shed. He wasn’t sure why they ended up with a smaller salt shed. He then mentioned that he and Amy had increased chloride to $27,000. He said that the $12,000 they had only takes care of spring grading. Amy then reminded Sid they had talked about paving. Mike asked if there were any small projects in the coming year. Sid said he would like to pave Whittier Hill Road, from Main Street up and around the corner. Mike asked how much of the $50,000 that would be used and Sid said “all of it”. He added that the price for one mile is over $300,000. Mike suggested the town establish a reserve fund for paving. But said they would have to look at the overall budget and how it affects taxes. Sid and the board talked about sand and salt, and Sid mentioned that salt went up in cost, so they raised that line item from $65,000 to $70,000. Next they talked about the aging equipment, Sid listed off the ages of the various big pieces of equipment. Mike proposed an article to put before the voters that asks “shall the town of Cabot create a highway equipment reserve fund”. The board next reviewed the Emergency Management budget. Jenn Miner said there really hasn’t been a budget before, noting that if they bought supplies there was no place to store them. Jenn noted the one item they really needed was radios. She suggested that Dean Deasy add two radios to the Fire Department order that would be allocated to Emergency Management. Fred Ducharme brought up the subject of an emergency shelter, and said they need to look into generators to run the school. He said that was the only place they could reasonably house people in an emergency. Fred felt that the town keeps kicking the can down the road on that issue. There was more discussion regarding the issue, and whether the town or the school should be buying the generators. Dean said the town would need towable generators, one to run the wood chip plant, and one to run the gym.

(see, ‘Finalizing Budget’, page 6)

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Fire Department Radios

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

At the December 1 Budget Meeting, the Selectboard heard from Dean Deasy regarding new radios for the Fire Department. Mike Hogan started the discussion by reviewing a draft article he was proposing to borrow $60,000 from the bond bank for the radios. Dean said he had talked to Motorola about their lease to buy program, and went over the options he received in a quote for 3, 4, 5 and 7 year terms. Mike asked what other towns are doing and Dean said some are going with the lease program. Jenn Miner asked about batteries, and Dean responded that a minimum supply was included. Amy Monahan asked how many radios were needed. Dean, reading from the quote, listed a total of 6 mobiles, which have a life span of 18 years. Mike quickly asked about other aspects of the quote, before Dean finished listing all of the radio needs. After a somewhat lengthy discussion about radios, Dean turned to an equipment forecast the board asked him to develop. He said the plan was laid for 20 years, but noted that he also did an immediate 5 year plan. Dean told the board that the self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) will be expiring in 2027, and that in 2028 the rescue truck will be at its 20-year mark. He added that in 2029 the extraction tools will need to be replaced. Dean also said the 20 year plan included a percentage cost increase. Dean expressed concern that having the tank and the rescue truck replaced so close together in time, that it will create a hardship. Mike said that it “befuddles” him that Cabot keeps getting passed over for grants for the big ticket items. Dean said the granting authorities want to direct the grant money towards the biggest population centers. Mike asked how crucial the rescue truck is to the Fire Department. Dean said that it holds everything they need for a car accident and chimney fires. He added that it is 4x4 and can get down small roads and driveways, when the engine stays on the main road. Circling back, Peggy Miller noted that the budget shows the number of radios, reading off 6 mobile and 13 portable. Mike said they need to change it to 21 radios, with the two additional for Emergency Management. At the December 8 budget meeting, the board discussed the Fire Department radios again. Mike noted that they need to either borrow money from the Vermont Bond Bank or go with the Motorola leasing program.

Fred mentioned that other towns with more money than Cabot are only getting a few of the expensive radios and getting cheaper radios for the rest. He speculated their theory was that when the cheaper radio breaks, they would just replace it. Peggy said they need to know how long the cheaper radios last.

Skip Bothfeld said there were 15 towns sitting around the table and he asked how they were all getting radios. He relayed that some of the towns have their own radio program and are not participating in the Capital Fire radio program. He added that in Waterbury, the chief and assistant had the expensive radios and everyone else had the cheap radios. Peggy said that sometimes you don’t need the Cadillac. Skip said the guys inside the building need the radios, the guys running the pump or directing traffic don’t. He added that the chief and such are making the decision, the other guys don’t need to be involved. Dean joined the meeting and Fred told him that he had learned that other Fire Departments are only getting a few of the $7,000 radios and more of the $1,000 radios. He asked Dean how many high end radios does Cabot actually need? Dean said there are several different models, and some are not sealed. He added that he is only supplying radios to the people that need them. Dean said the cheaper radios have a shorter life span, and issues with drop tests and water seals. He said the model he selected should provide 14 to 16 years of service. He thought the cheaper radio was only 5 to 8 years of service. Fred speculated that the cost of the cheaper radios, even with a shorter life span, might be less overall. Dean said the lower priced ones are more susceptible to damage at a fire scene because they are not rated for the heat. He added that they picked the lowest cost ones of the field rated radios. Amy told the board that she did get a new quote for 21 radios, which includes the two for Emergency Management. She said that it brought it up from $111,000 to $126,000. She also got a quote from the Vermont Bond Bank for $125,000 for ten years, and said the highest payment amount was $14,000 a year. The quote contained a guesstimate of an interest rate of 2.9%. Peggy was worried about buying all the radios at the same time because they are all going to wear out at the same time. Mike proposed changing the budget to include the $14,000 bond payment for the radios.

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Finalizing Budget

(continued from page 5)

Gary Gulka presented a level funded budget for the conservation committee, a total of $1000. He also said the Resiliency Task Force was still asking for $1500 for public outreach. Mike said that it was important for the town to be prepared for the next flood, and the board concurred. Melvin Churchill told the board that he has been the chair of the Cemetery Committee for 19 years, and when he is finished with the current term it will be 21 years. He then presented a level appropriation request of $25,000. He said that $18,000 of the budget goes to pay Joe Mangan for maintaining the seven cemeteries. Lori Augustiniak presented the appropriation requests from the CCA and the Chronicle. She said that the prior year the CCA had received an appropriation of $15,000 and used that money to bring in another $50,000 into the town through fees for events the CCA supports, and grants. Lori told the board about the business directory being added to the CCA website, with 75 Cabot businesses listed to date. She also mentioned a continuing initiative of the Cabot Gift Card that was tested last year on a very small scale. Lori said they are moving slowly on the gift card program, and it basically works like cash at the business, then the CCA reimburses the business for the cashed gift cards. Lori also mentioned the children’s center operated under the auspices of the CCA, saying that it's closed right now due to staffing issues. She told the board they had been looking for a new home last year for expansion, but that it is now on hold until staffing gets back on board. The board and Lori then had a conversation about the 4th of July and potential use of the recreation field next year. Next Lori talked about the Chronicle's appropriation request, the same amount as last year at $20,000. She said they have been trying to increase the advertising, and Jeanne Johnson has raised more than $6,000 in advertising sales. Lori showed them the budget sheet, noting that printing, postage, editor, layout, and writers line items. She added that postage has gone up more than $150 a month this year. Mike noticed that the $20,000 appropriation and the $6,000 in advertising sales doesn’t cover the costs. Lori agreed that the Chronicle is operating at a deficit, and rates are only going up. She says they need to figure out where to cut costs. Mike told the board they need to decide how valuable a resource the Chronicle is to the town, and expressed that he thought it was important.

December 8 The board held another budget meeting on December 8 to review water and wastewater budgets, and the recreation department. Mike told the board that the previous board had numerous discussions about future funding of the wastewater plant, but the flood got in the way of planning. He recently reviewed the engineering report on the plant which lists repairs and maintenance that is needed. He said the report recommended a capital funding plan to cover expenses. Mike said the town has been paying for a lot of the costs for the wastewater plant out of the general fund because user fees don’t cover expenses. Amy shared the FY25 amounts, stating the income was $178,900 and the expenses, without repairs, were $268,969. She added that the wastewater fund owes the general fund over $200,000, and it is increasing because the plant is operating at a loss. Mike said that they need to find some sort of solid funding source. Mike then moved the meeting on to the Recreation Department agenda item. Jessica North spoke to the board about the coordination fee, she said she wasn’t familiar enough to speak to other aspects of the budget like the pavilion bills and the ice skating rink. Mike asked why the fees are not being divided between Cabot and the other schools. Jessica said that she understands that fee is not in the school because it won’t fit into the budget. She said that to play soccer, the kids pay a fee. Jessica added that when she took over five years ago, it was only Cabot kids playing sports, but they didn’t have enough to make a team. So they reached out to Twinfield and merged to have enough kids for a team. She said that Twinfield allows use of their gym for free, and they can’t use the Cabot gym because of conflicts with other uses. Jenn Miner relayed that Cam North said Twinfield offers other types of support in place of financial support. The board and Jessica discussed the time she spends coordinating sports and Amy noted that last year her time sheet showed she spent 210 hours. Mike proposed talking to the school to see if it could be moved into the school budget. Jessica said the conversation may already be happening because the CCSU Athletic Director reached out to her to ask about the number of hours she works. Fred said that sports are important and he didn’t think $10,000 was too much. Jenn talked about the possibility of fund raising to offset some of the costs.

December 16

The board approved the budget at their December 16 meeting, the general budget being set at $968,191, and the highway budget being set at $1,130,766.

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The Winter Garden

The winter garden is an underrated joy. Even in the deepest part of winter, a garden can be full of interest and beauty, full of different heights and textures and colors. If you would like to enjoy your garden year-round, the key is to incorporate trees, shrubs, and stemmy perennials. These plants will stand tall above the snow, provAiding birds with seeds and fruit and perching places, and giving you something to look at while the rest of the world is blanketed in white. However, it does take some advance planning. Annuals like marigold and petunias turn to mush by October, as do perennials with tender leaves, such as hosta, daylily, iris, and peony. And if you cut back all your tall, stemmy plants in fall, it will be late spring before you see them again. To have a garden with winter interest, think about a combination of the following plants, and leave your stemmy perennials standing.

Trees

There are a number of trees small enough to be used in a garden. When browsing the nursery catalog, look for “dwarf” or “weeping” as an indicator that it’s a small form tree. And always check mature height and spread before choosing a tree, to make sure it won’t overwhelm and outgrow the space. There are weeping cherry, crabapple, and birch varieties that stay very petite, and have a lovely form when the leaves drop. There are even dwarf and weeping Norway spruce, which will have really interesting shapes and stay green year-round.

Shrubs

There are many delightful small shrubs suitable for gardens. As with trees, check the mature height and spread before planting any shrub. Red twig dogwood is a native shrub that rarely exceeds four feet and has brilliant red stems throughout winter. Winterberry, another native, holds onto bright red berries till the birds finally decide they are worth eating in late winter. Hydrangeas hold their spent dried flower heads, sometimes right up till their next blooming in late summer. There are many junipers and cedars that stay small and can provide a splash of green or gold. If you are looking for a true oddity, try the corkscrew hazel, also called Henry Lauder’s Walking Stick, with wildly corkscrewing branches that really stand out when the leaves drop.

Stemmy perennials

There is a long list of perennials that have tall, cellulose-rich stems: coneflower, bee balm, aster, goldenrod, black-eyed Susan, goatsbeard, and phlox, to name some of the more common native plants. If not cut back in fall, these stems can stand right through to spring. These plants can be a winter seed source for birds and small mammals, and the stems can house stem-nesting bees. There are also non-native plants that, while having less wildlife value, still have great visual appeal, such as Autumn Joy sedum and astilbe. Have a beautiful winter, and if you don’t have a winter garden now, start thinking about one for next year! 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, email gardengoddess802@ gmail.com, call 802.498.7785, or visit www.SocksFamilyFarm.wee bly.com.

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School Behavioral Matrix

by Frank Kampf, Staff Writer

Jeanne Segretto, Vice Principal, addressed the School Board at the November regular meeting regarding the Behavior Matrix. She started by saying she renamed it the Behavior Tool, and said that she felt it needed to be rebranded. Jeanne said that the current iteration is a draft, and that she added that it is a departure from what existed before. She went on to explain that she wanted the teacher to begin with managing issues in the classroom before pulling in administration. Jeanne also mentioned a consequence tool, which has set consequences for specific incidents. Her description of the biggest change from the past consisted of moving the behavioral incidents toward legal definitions. Jeanne added that they haven’t done a great job tracking behavioral issues in the classroom, and that things are difficult right now without an elementary counselor. Chris Tormey asked for an example of how the new matrix looked different than last year. Jeanne stated that the truancy policy is pretty clear now, and teachers know exactly what they need to do. Chris said that the board has heard from parents over the past several years about how the system wasn’t clear. He asked if this document would change how things are handled. Jeanne responded that their job is to educate, and that a lot of the behaviors require education. She added that there may be a process they are following which is hard to understand from the outside. Jeanne mentioned that a lot of people want a checkbox marked off, like a kid suspended. But she said that if she has to suspend a kid, then that means they failed to bring the kid along. Chris asked about how the new tool would be made available to parents, and recalled that two or three years ago the response of a survey was that the system seemed like a black box. He added that he understood there are confidentiality concerns, and obviously the school can’t say what happened to a kid, but they could point to the options of consequences. Jeanne said that often she hears “what happened to the other kid?,” and said that she cannot answer that question due to confidentiality. Chris noted that people want to know there is a system that is operative. Melissa Pratt suggested that once the tool is complete, it would be good to have in the handbook so people know what are the actual consequences. Jeanne said that the past matrix was abstract, and the new tool will be clear about where the boundaries are. Alicia Heber said that the matrix was a huge step forward last year, and asked what are the major changes. Jeanne responded again that it is the move toward legal definitions. Matt Foster added that the definitions for a particular behavior are being made clearer. Alicia Heber recalled that restorative conversations were an issue a few years ago. She said that one of her concerns, as she has seen, is when both parties are not willing and it becomes nonproductive. Alicia added that if a student is pulled out of a learning environment, then a parent should be informed. Jeanne added one last bit of information before the conversation moved onto the next agenda item. She said that she wanted to make the response to an elopement administrative. Jeanne said that taking off into a hallway is one thing, but when a six year old takes off into the woods it becomes a much bigger issue. She added that this is different than how other schools would handle it because of the structure of the Cabot School campus.

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VT Department of Fish & Wildlife Declines to Support Joe’s Pond Association

Proposed Boat Wash & Watercraft Decontamination Station The Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife (DF&W) has refused to allow the Joe’s Pond Association (JPA) to construct and operate a boat wash and watercraft decontamination station (BWS) at the Joe’s Pond DF&W access area. Over the past year, and as a result of an infestation of Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM), the JPA has been confronted with the tremendous social, financial and ecological costs associated with containment and control of this aggressive, resilient, and dominant non-native aquatic invasive species (AIS). A fully equipped and staffed BWS is considered by the JPA to be a necessary and effective facility enhancing its ability to prevent introduction of additional aquatic invasive species (AIS) and, seemingly what should be most important to the DF&W, would help avoid export of EWM and other AIS to other currently AIS-free Vermont waterbodies. The JPA intends to secure 100% funding for construction, operation and maintenance of this proposed facility from private sources. After engaging a consultant to conduct a wetlands delineation and development of a preliminary project design, the JPA submitted a proposal to the DF&W asking for its endorsement. Citing the loss of parking spaces (two) and the encroachment into adjacent wetlands (3000 square feet in a wetland buffer area), Mike Wichrowski, Lands & Facilities Administrator for the DF&W stated in an email message to the JPA that its proposal “is not something the ANR (VT Agency of Natural Resources) is willing to support”. The JPA has argued that this decision by VT DF&W and the Department of Environmental Conservation (wetlands regulatory authority) has demonstrated misplaced priorities and rejects an opportunity to meaningfully and effectively collaborate with the local entity (JPA) most responsible for protection and stewardship of Joe’s Pond. That concern for two parking spaces (for which a mitigation proposal has been offered by the JPA) and a minor wetland buffer encroachment would outweigh the potential degradation of all Joe’s Pond-associated wetlands and aquatic resources due to AIS introduction seems, in the opinion of the JPA, to be ill-conceived. At this time, the JPA is considering its options for next steps. Barry Cahoon, JPA Water Quality Director Eurasian Watermilfoil Management Coordinator

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Come one, come all

Mid-Winter Family Bingo January 17th!!!

The Cabot Mentoring program is celebrating National Mentoring Month by hosting a family community bingo night on Saturday, January 17 from 4-6 pm at the Cabot School cafeteria.

This is an all ages event. We’ll have popcorn and apple cider and there will be bingo prizes! For more information please email: [email protected] See you there!

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Town of Cabot FY 2027 Proposed Budget for Town Meeting Vote

Summary Notes from Selectboard for Budget Forum December 11, 2025 Recording of one-hour forum is available on the home page at the Town website: Cabotvt.us

Community Budget Forum Discussion The Cabot Selectboard is proposing a draft budget for Fiscal Year 27 (July 1, 2026-June 30,2027)

The Town or Municipal Budget is comprised of the General Fund and Highway Fund appropriations, which fund all the services for the town for a full fiscal year.

General Fund

   FY26 $946,044 FY27 $967,441 Diff 2.2% Highlights • Fire Department radios are becoming obsolete with no software or hardware support. Most local fire departments are replacing theirs and that is why this is an emergency expenditure.

• We are proposing a 10-year bond for $125,000, which will raise the fire department budget by $14,000 in FY27 and will gradually decrease over the life of the bond.

Highway Fund

   FY26 $978,712 FY27 $1,130,766 Diff 15.5% Highlights • $25K Reserve Equipment fund for future large capital projects such as a new loader or excavator. This allows the town to have a reserve over multiple years with a lower impact for the taxpayers at the time of actual purpose.

Effect on Tax Rates for the Municipal Tax 2024 Grand List Tax Rate $2,719,868.15 2025 Grand List Tax Rate $2,725,058.15 0.5658

0.6425 (Draft)

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Selectboard Summary of Proposed FY27 Budget

At the recent public forum regarding the draft budget numbers for the FY27 budget I made the following comments to frame the direction for the upcoming fiscal year that starts on July 1, 2026, and ends June 30, 2027. One of the most important responsibilities of the Selectboard is to produce a fiscal budget for the Town to vote on at Town Meeting. Those duties are outlined in VSA 24 and are mandated by all municipalities. The Budget is comprised of two different funds that cover all the municipal needs of a town such as Cabot. The General Fund encompasses many town functions. Those included would be the employees who work in the Town Clerks Office, Treasurer, Listers, Library, and other miscellaneous positions.

In addition, Special Service Appropriations, Fire Department Operations, Emergency Transport Services, Village Expenses (see the list of all expenses covered in this edition of the Chronicle). One item to note is the need to replace the radios in the Fire Department that have become obsolete with no hardware or software support. We are asking the town to approve an article that will allow the Selectboard to borrow $125,000 from the Vermont Bond Bank and extend the loan for over 10 years, thereby reducing the one-time cost of this purchase. These radios are critical to the mission of the Fire Department in its role of public safety and firefighting. The overall General Fund Budget will increase 2.2% over the previous year.

(see, ‘FY27 Budget’, page 9)

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FY27 Budget

(continued from page 8)

The Highways Fund is 15% higher than the previous year's budget. The Town is mandated by statute to maintain our roads and highways. Depending on the severity of a winter, a budget can be higher than approved. Cabot has done a very good job in maintaining its roads, and that was very evident how we responded in two consecutive floods in 23-24. Two items are worth mentioning in the highway budget. The Town wants to set up a Reserve Equipment Fund for purchasing future highway equipment such as a new grader and loader. They are usually large dollar purchases with the financial impact lessened with a reserve fund to lower the overall cost to the town. It's a recommended practice that most towns are doing in the aftermath of the recent floods. That amount will be $25,000 in this budget.

The other item is very important as it pertains to the Highway Trucks that plow our roads and sand them on days like we are currently experiencing. Most trucks cost over $300,000 and take oneto-two years after they are ordered to be put into service. Our foreman found an outfit that will refurbish one of our trucks for basically half the cost. This will lengthen the life of our truck without asking the town for a large purchase in difficult economic times. With the resale of a replacement truck and the refurbishment costs, the town is budgeting $60,000 to take care of this important piece of equipment for its mission of maintaining the roads. We appreciate the Towns support in our budget discussions and ask that they approve both the General Fund and Highway Fund Articles on Town Meeting 2026.

Michael J. Hogan-Chair Selectboard

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TOWN OF CABOT JOB DESCRIPTION: TOWN CLERK

\ Nature and Scope of Position This is a comprehensive, administrative position that serves as an independent elected Town Clerk for Cabot with all the applicable Vermont State Statutes (24 Appendix V.S.A. Chapter 114E). The town clerk performs technical, administrative, and management work and is responsible for overseeing town functions in the following areas: municipal record keeping; issuance of licenses and official documents; and conduct of local, state, and federal elections. This position includes a variety of highly responsible duties that require considerable judgment, discretion, and initiative in the interpretation and application of laws, regulations, and procedures. This is a full-time, exempt position and subject to the Cabot Personnel Policy. The clerk is responsible for the discharge of all duties assigned to the town clerk’s office by state and federal law.

Duties and Responsibilities

 Serve as chief election officer of the town. Conduct all elections in accordance with

state and federal laws; manage registration of voters and direct activities of election volunteers.  Serve as clerk to Boards of Civil Authority and Tax Abatement.  Ensuring recording of all deeds and official documents.  Manage issuance of necessary documents for, and recording of, all vital statistics

(births, deaths, marriages, etc.); serve as registrar of all vital records.  Provide public with accurate municipal information.  Serve as custodian of town records; ensure safety and preservation of all records.  Ensure accuracy and attention to detail in the issuance of licenses, and legal documents; maintain associated records of documentation.  Manage the collection of fees and the proper recording of business and financial

instruments, working with the town treasurer.  Ensure good customer service for all professionals and members of the public accessing the services provided in the Cabot municipal office.  Prepare town report and website.  Process Property Transfer Tax Returns and associated revenues for the state tax

department.  Perform other duties as necessary or requested to ensure the proper functioning of

the town government.  Oversee functions of the Willey Building (including scheduling and accepting contracts for renting space for various functions), and making sure the proper fees are collected.  Ensuring the Willey Building is properly maintained.  Maintaining the public calendar.  Posting all Select Board meetings as required by statute.  Record and take minutes of all Selectboard Meetings and post on Cabot website.  Work with E911 to provide current addresses for any new building site as needed.  Maintain Town Website  Maintain functions to enable the Town of Cabot offices to run as efficiently as possible.

Work Requirements

 Outstanding people skills and genuine enjoyment in serving the public.  Ability to work in typical office setting and use equipment such as computers,

copiers, fax machines, etc.  Knowledge and training in best practices and procedures for recording documents

and preserving records.  Thorough knowledge of state statutory provisions relating to the duties and responsibilities of town clerks.  Ability to maintain accurate and detailed records.  Knowledge of basic computer applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel, as

well as NEMRC modules.  Must be able to accept constructive criticism and the ability to communicate and

work well with others.

This is an office-based job in a dynamic municipal office. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to communicate frequently with the public and other staff members, operate office equipment, and move throughout the municipal offices. The above information is intended to describe the general nature of the Town Clerk position and should not be considered a comprehensive statement of duties, activities, responsibilities, and requirements; the position expectations are subject to change, with or without notice, at any time. This job description is neither an employment contract nor a promise of work for any specific length of time. The Town of Cabot is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

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Cabot Receives 1.25 Million for Bridge Replacement

by Gary Gulka We received good news in December that we have been awarded a Community Development Block grant for our north tributary bridge project by the rec field. We've been awarded $1.25 million through the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (the funding source is federal HUD monies that the State administers). Cabot voters approved ten percent matching funds in November that will be applied to this project. There are a lot of details to be worked out before we get started on this project, including some necessary historic preservation and environmental impact reviews before we are officially awarded grant funds. The next step will then be final engineering design, working with landowners whose property is impacted (easements), and permitting. If this can all be accomplished in 2026, the earliest that construction would start is 2027. We do have six years to complete the work under the grant, but we want to move much more quickly. The south tributary project in the center of the village is much more complicated, requiring relocation of Cabot Garage and acquiring funding to construct a bridge with much greater headspace to allow for water and debris movement. We have applied for FEMA funding, but our project was ranked as an “alternate” for funding – meaning, unless a highly ranked project drops out or more FEMA federal funding becomes available, we will not be funded. The Flood Resiliency Task Force will continue to look for a solution.

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COMMUNITY COMMENTARY

Fire Department Radios

Dear Editor: I hope people understand the value of the radios the fire chief is asking for in the FY 2027 Budget. I believe the request is reasonable because what they have are dinosaurs, and it is important they have this equipment so they can communicate onsite and be safe. I asked Dean twice to justify this purchase. If I feel I have the information I need, I can support an appropriation. We can’t expect people to go into these fires without dependable equipment . This isn’t 1965, we need these radios for our volunteer firefighters. I may not always support the fire department’s requests, it depends on what issues we’re talking about, but when it comes to the radios, I am convinced this is the right thing to do. Fred Ducharme Cabot Selectboard Member

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Cabot Emergency Ambulance Service

by Ruth Goodrich Quick response can be vital for emergencies. Having your 911 location number on your mailbox or a reflective sign at the end of the driveway can save precious time when we are responding to emergencies. Unmarked houses or drives can cost precious time for everyone. Please mark your house number in visible letters so we can avoid delays!

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Alfred Hitchcock’s Connection to Cabot

On the Burtt farm, Winton Walbridge helps to locate the filming scene location for the 1954 Alfred Hitchcock movie, The Trouble With Harry. From back to front: Winton Walbridge, Winton's daughter, Gail, Greg Burtt, and Gary Gulka.

by Gary Gulka After the Trails Committee worked with the Burtt family to establish a trail at the orchard, we became aware that part of Alfred Hitchcock’s film, The Trouble with Harry (1955), was filmed in Cabot on the Burtt property, which at the time was the Walbridge farm known as Maple Glen Farm. In actuality, the majority of the movie was filmed in Craftsbury in 1954, but one very important and funny scene involving digging the grave for Harry’s body was filmed here. The person with the best recollection of the filming is 95-year-old Winton Walbridge, who had lived on the farm. He now lives in Barre but often visits the farm, and the Burtt’s have heard the stories about Alfred Hitchcock and the filming crew being at the farm. Winton has a pretty good idea where the filming took place, and it is in close proximity to the Burtt’s Orchard Trail. Hoping to preserve a little history, the Trails Committee has been curious to locate the filming spot and marking it with a commemorative plaque.

Greg Burtt invited Winton over to the farm recently to scope out the area, and drove him and his daughter, Gail, along the trail to see if the actual spot could be pinpointed. We haven’t yet nailed down the location, but we know the general vicinity and we are looking for landmarks. The vegetation has changed a lot, many large maples have died, some of the cleared land has grown over and the scenic vistas have changed. Winton recalls the film crew being in Cabot for about a week. They excavated the grave, then neatly filled in the hole and replaced the sod when they were done. He recalls Alfred Hitchcock visiting the Burtt farmhouse to make phone calls. Why they came to Cabot to film one scene is unknown. In 1955, Winton recalls going to see The Trouble with Harry in Barre, and he enjoyed it. The Craftsbury Historical Society, which has documented the filming activity, showed the film at a presentation last year. The film is available on Amazon Prime and is worth watching, as are many of Hitchcock’s great classics.

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Christmas Dinner Thanks

Thank you everybody for coming together to create a really friendly community event. So many people contribute to the effort that makes it happen – making delicious food, donating money and produce, joining us for good company, and my Shirley, who does the squash, the calling back, keeps me on track. Couldn’t do it without you!

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 11 onward.

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for

Cabot Community Theater is seeking performers for our May 7-10 performance of Quest! We need adults, teens, and kids for parts of all sizes--this play has lots of lead roles, including wizards, elves, demigods, and assorted unlikely heroes, as well as smaller parts, and ensemble roles with no solo lines. We will (as always) be flexible 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, and everyone who auditions will be included in the cast. Auditions will be held in the Cabot School Performing Arts Center, 25 Common Road, Cabot (just behind the main school building) on:

   Sunday, January 18: 1-4 pm Tuesday, January 20: 7-8:30 pm Saturday, January 24: 1-4 pm Sign up for ONE 45-minute slot (please give the name of the person auditioning, not the parent!) at: tinyurl.com/Questauditions. Everyone in the same group will do a warm-up activity, and then we'll read various scenes from the play, with auditioners trying out a variety of roles. Younger children who are only interested in a very small or non-speaking role should sign up for one of the designated slots at 1:00-1:45, where we will play some theater games to get to know the kids' personalities and skills, but they will not be asked to read from a script. Make sure kids have all parental contact information with them if auditioning without a parent there to provide the info! We will send a list of roles and a link to the script to everyone who signs up to audition. Rehearsals will take place February through April, and be largely in the daytime on weekends plus Tuesday evenings (though no evenings for younger kids until show week). Larger roles will generally have one or two rehearsals a week, while small roles might rehearse once a week or less; the rehearsal schedule will be determined after casting. Be sure to bring to auditions a complete list of your commitments and conflicts through early May--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 are interested in helping out with sets, costumes, or props, email us at: [email protected]

P.S. Be sure to catch the 2025 CCT Mummers’ Play in the Willey Building at the Cabot Twelfth Night Celebration, on Saturday, January 3, after the twilight lantern parade! The full schedule of family-friendly, free activities can be found at: cabotarts.org.

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Community Contra Dance on January 9

by Karen Mueller-Harder

On Friday, January 9, come celebrate the new year at the Cabot Community Contra Dance, featuring the friendly calling of Erin Smith! The dance takes place in the lovely third floor space in the Willey Building (Cabot Town Hall, 3084 Main Street), from 7-9:30 pm. Live music is provided by Franklin Heyburn, Susan Reid, Kenric Kite, Pam Bockes, and David Van Houten, on fiddles and guitars--feel free to just come and listen if you prefer!

If you can walk, you can contra dance! This is a traditional New England dance form that welcomes people of all ages and abilities, and everyone dances together. We use gender-neutral terminology, and generally change partners throughout the evening. The dances are easy to learn and Erin will teach you everything you need to know. 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. We ask that you bring clean, dry shoes to change into during the winter months!

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Upcoming January Events at the Jaquith Public Library

Upcoming Events for January 2026 All events are free and held at the Jaquith Public Library unless noted otherwise. For more info: 802-426- 3581 or visit our website: www.jaquithpubliclibrary.org

The Jaquith is holding a series of events about the Vermont Reads 2026 book, The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton. The Light Pirate considers climate change and the dissolution of the human-made world, and helps us see how human connection, adaptability, and a little bit of magic might guide us to a new future.

Catching up on Climate Change Thursday, January 15 at 6:30 pm

Join meteorologist Roger Hill for a climate-change update.

Book Discussion of The Light Pirate With facilitator Rachael Cohen Thursday, January 29 at 6:00 pm (Snow date Saturday, January 31 at 2 pm) Free copies of the book are available at the library.

Film Glimpses of a Maybe Future Film Series on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the Month at 6:30 pm

January 22 - A populist Presidential candidate quickly rises to the top and is elected. In the background, a monolithic global corporate donor quietly arranges for the Vice President to take control of the country.

Sunday Afternoon Poetry at the Jaquith Library January 25 from 2 to 4 pm Poets Scudder Parker and Judith Janoo will each read for 30 to 45

minutes. There will be an opportunity for participants to share one of their favorite poems. The Poetry Society of Vermont and the Jaquith Public Library are excited to announce Sunday Afternoon Poetry at the Jaquith. This monthly poetry reading series will feature two poets starting on January 25th, 2pm-4pm with featured poets, Scudder Parker and Judith Janoo. In addition to the Jaquith Library Staff, hosts for the Sunday afternoon poetry readings will be PSOV board members, David Hartnett and Elizabeth McCarthy.

Scudder Parker grew up on a family farm in Danville Vt. He has been a Protestant minister, a state senator, a utility regulator, a candidate for Governor, a consultant on energy efficiency and renewable energy and as he enters retirement, a poet. “Throughout my life I have found in poetry a place of reflection, investigation, and sometimes, healing… Now it feels that poetry is the lens through which I see and experience the world.” Scudder’s collection, The Poem of the World, 2025 and his first volume of poetry Safe as Lightning, 2020 are autobiographical.

Judith Janoo is a long time member and contributing editor for the Poetry Society of Vermont. Judith is an awardwinning poet, and Pushcart Prize nominee. Her poetry has appeared in journals including Pedestal Magazine, Fish Anthology, The Pierian, Euphony, Sow’s Ear Poetry Review, and The Bangalore Review, as well as her poetry collections; After Effects, (Finishing Line Press, 2019) and Just This, Kelsay Books, 2023.) Judith’s work is deeply informed by her life in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.

Friends Pastry Party and Meeting Saturday, January 24 at 11 am

Help us plan our 2026 events to support the Jaquith Public Library. Sign up for a 2026 Friends membership (suggested donation $10) and take home a keepsake designed by a local Marshfield artist. Open to all current and prospective Friends.

Jaquith Public Library’s Annual Invitational Group Art Show Opening Reception Sunday, January 18from 2 to 4 pm

Join us in a celebration of Marshfield’s local art scene with local artists. All these artists have previously exhibited at Jaquith Library. This eclectic exhibit is representative of each individual’s personal subject matter and choice of medium. You can view the exhibition at the library during regular hours from mid-January to mid- April. Monthly Book Group for Adults Fourth Mondays at 7 pm

Join us for the Jaquith book group. For copies of the book, please stop by the library. New members are always welcome, and it is only one hour a month!

January 26- Northwoods by Daniel Mason Winter Story Time and Playgroup Fridays from 10:30 to 12:30 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.

Baby & Caregivers Meet-up Wednesdays from 10:30 to 11:30 am

Join us for our weekly gatherings where caregivers can relax and connect while their babies play and explore in a calm, supportive setting. Geared toward babies ages 18 months and their caregivers. Siblings can come along as well.

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SELECTBOARD MEETING REPORTER SOUGHT

Our intrepid reporter, Frank Kampf, is looking for a break. Even for just a few meetings. Stipend available. The selectboard meets twice a month on Tuesday evenings, more frequently during budget season, October-December. Would you be willing to cover a few meetings a year to give Frank a break? Call 802-279-6897 or email

willing to take on this flexible, occasional task.

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CABOT PUBLIC LIBRARY NEWS

LIBRARY HOURS: Monday noon - 6 pm, Tuesday 10 am - 6 pm, Wednesday 11 - 6 pm, Thursday noon - 6 pm, and Saturday 9 am- noon. Curbside library service is still available during regular library hours.

The library will be closed from 12/22 - 1/5 for the holidays and to get the floors refinished. Thank you for your patience we look forward to seeing you soon!

Upcoming - All programs and events are free and happen at the Cabot Public Library unless otherwise

noted - all are welcome! Visit our website - cabotlibrary.com or check FPF for added programs. If you have a program suggestion or question, please email [email protected]

Intro to Drawing- (adults & youth ages 12+) - 2nd and 4th Tuesdays - January - March, 2:30 - 4:00 pm - In this 6 session course, participants will learn the basics of drawing. Topics include: gesture line, contour line, positive and negative space, sight measurement techniques, value and shading, and composition. All materials for the class will be provided. Come learn to draw in a safe and inclusive space!

Dungeons and Dragons (ages 11+) - Ongoing, Tuesdays - 3:30 - 5:00 pm - Join Losada Stoddard as DM. Learn how to build a Dungeons and Dragons character and then set out on your Adventures. Come for the mysteries and magic, tails and talons, puzzles and prophecies!

Snacks provided

Mah Jongg Meetup - Ongoing, first Wednesday of the month, 10 - Noon - Play the ancient tile game with friends and neighbors. Game sets will be available for use, no equipment is needed. Both fun and challenging, the game of Mah Jongg is said to improve memory, decision-making skills and patience.

Story & Activity Time (birth - age 5+) - Ongoing, Wednesdays - 10:30 - 11:30 am - Willey Building - Join Amanda Otto for stories, songs, crafts, snacks and open play. Visit the library afterwards to discover our new selection of picture books, take-home kits and more. All are welcome! LEGO Club (ages 5+) - Wednesday, January 21 - 2:30 - 4:00 pm - This club offers a fun, hands-on environment where kids can develop their problem-solving skills, foster their creativity, and collaborate with their peers through engaging Lego-based activities. Snacks provided

Cabot Book Group – Thursday, January 22 - 2- 3 pm - January’s book selection is Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin. Violette Toussaint is the caretaker at a cemetery in a small town in Bourgogne. Her life is lived to the predictable rhythms of the often funny, always moving confidences that casual mourners, regular visitors, and sundry colleagues share with her. Violette’s routine is disrupted one day by the arrival of Julien Sole—local police chief—who has come to scatter the ashes of his recently deceased mother on the gravesite of a complete stranger. It soon becomes clear that Julien’s inexplicable gesture is intertwined with Violette’s own complicated past. Copies of this book will be available in the library for you to borrow. Email [email protected] for more info and to be added to the book group email list. All are welcome!

Many thanks to Losada Stoddard for running our D&D program on Tuesday afternoons and to student volunteers, Katy Kowalk and Molly Paire! Additional thanks to Burtt’s Apple Orchard for donating apples for our programs. We are so grateful to our Library Trustees who provide support and direction: Angela Ogle, Leah Sare, Kurt Steinert, Erin Ruddell, and Taeryn Robbins.

See you at the library! Kathleen Hoyne - Library Co-Director Amanda Otto - Library Co-Director Christina Sacalis - Assistant Librarian

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TWIN VALLEY SENIOR UPDATE

Monday, January 26, following lunch at noon:

GENETIC TESTING FRAUD – What You Need to Know

Did you know that Medicare covers genetic testing only when it is deemed medically necessary? Unfortunately, scammers and disreputable companies are taking advantage of this benefit—billing for testing that is not needed or sometimes not even conducted.

Join Jean McDermott from the nonprofit Senior Medicare Patrol Program for an important and informative discussion covering:  How genetic testing scams work  How to detect red flags  Who to contact if you are concerned  How to know if you may be a legitimate candidate for genetic testing

This is a must-attend presentation to help protect yourself and others from fraud.

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Cabot Public Library - Annual Holiday Workshop

On December 13th, the library held its annual Holiday Workshop in which participants of all ages enjoyed decorating cookies, making wreaths, and crafting star ornaments – many thanks Sandy Atkins, Taeryn Szepi and Luke Robbins for their help making this a wonderful event and to Beth Wade and Erin Ruddell for donating icing and cookies and to Payne's Christmas Trees for donating evergreen boughs. Additional thanks to Cabot School students, Katy Kowalk and Molly Paire for serving hot cocoa and tea.

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Signs of Renewal at the Center of Town

by Jane Brown During the first Old Home Week held in Cabot in 1901, there was a special ceremony at the site of Cabot’s first meeting house and congregational church at the geographic Center of Town. The “Center” had been abandoned for some 50 years, and by the turn of the century, most of the oldgrowth timber had been harvested to make room for fields and pastures. High on a ridge east of Cabot Village once knownas “Shepherd’s Hill,” by the turn of the century the Center was barren and exposed to the elements. The remains of a oncethriving community were few: A stone wall defined the old pound where stray animals were kept until claimed by their owners, usually for a fee; and across the road, Cabot’s first cemetery remained with its rows of roughly engraved stones mined from local ledges. The eight-acre parcel deeded to the town for public use in 1790 includes a level area at its point which is known to be the site of the first Congregational Church and meeting house. Records show that the stocks and whipping post brought from the Plain in 1796 were placed in this “public space” below the meeting house. During that first Old Home Week celebration in 1901, a large boulder was put in place to mark where the Congregational Church meeting house had stood. A time capsule containing notes and significant items of the period was placed in a cavity under the boulder, to be opened in 50 years. There were speeches, a band concert, and the day concluded with a picnic spread out in the grove of maple trees near the cemetery. The time capsule was opened in 1951 with great ceremony. The items were examined and new ones added before it was returned to the vault beneath the boulder where it would remain for another 50 years. This area was carefully maintained as a park for many years. Fourth of July celebrations, Old Home Week gatherings, and other community events were held there. However, interests changed with time, the introduction of automobiles, and the demands of World War II. Gradually, the remnants of the former vibrant Center community became blurred by vegetation. Aging memories dimmed, the park was seldom visited, and its historic significance faded. At some point, markers were placed at the site of the old pound, whipping post, stocks, meeting house, school, and cemetery – possibly in the 1930s by the caring ladies of the Judith Lyford

Women’s Club. The last community gathering held at the Center was when the capsule was opened again in 2001. By then, Old Home Week had been reduced to Old Home tained, a peaceful resting place for those early settlers who were instrumental in laying the foundation of our town, and a serene spot to visit. Velma also cleaned up the park area, exposing the old pound and straightened signs. Old Center Road has been improved and is now well defined. Sadly, a few years ago vandals stole or destroyed (first graveyard sign)

Part of this story may be missing here. See the original pages, page 14 onward.

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40th Anniversary of the Space Shuttle

January 28, 2026, is the 40th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challeger disaster. I watched it live from my Florida Tech. college campus...a friend of mine took these photos.

Rollin Tebbetts photo contribution and vandalized signs, and a large new Palladio-type sign with a brief history of the area was added.

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